Mary (Ward) Miller (abt. 1594 - 1664)

Born about 18 Nov 1594 in Suffolk, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of John Cutting — married 13 Aug 1619 (to 20 Nov 1659) in St Stephen, Ipswich, Suffolk, England

Wife of John Miller — married before May 1662 (to 12 Jun 1663) in Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 6 Mar 1664 at about age 69 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Mary (Ward) Miller migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Mary Ward, daughter of Edward and Judith (___) Ward, was born about 1592.

Her father, Edward, was of Little Wratting, Suffolk when he wrote his will on January 9, 1620/1, which was proved at Ipswich, Suffolk, on March 7, 1620/1. Daughter Mary received a legacy of L20. ^[1]

Mary's sister, widow Susan Browne, wrote her will on March 22, 1626/7, and left a bequest to sister Mary Cutting, among others. ^[1]

1664: May 27: Her brother, Nathaniel Ward, left bequests in his will to his sister Cuttings son, Kinsman Noys. ^[1]

1639: Mary Cutting petitioned Governor Winthrop, asking he seek for her compensation, regarding an indentured man whom her husband had bound in England for 8 years service. She states that the servant was brought here 'this year' to accompany other seaman. The servant asked to be released to Captain Thorneback, his kinsman, who was in the bay on a ship from Virginia. Her husband agreed providing he was compensated for service owed. Mary stated the, while her husband was 'on the Bay', the servant took her 'shallop' and goods and with intent to go with Thornebeck. ^[2]

c1648: On April 12, 1655, Tristam Coffin deposed that 5 to 7 years prior at Newbury, he witnessed Mrs. Cutting as attorney for her husband John Cutting who was at sea, bargain for two lots as Salisbury with Joisah Cobham and Richard Currier. ^[3]

Husbands and Children

Mary married Captain John Cutting on August 13, 1619 at St, Stephen, Ipswich. ^[1] Her husband John was captain of the ship Francis that embarked for New England from Ipswich in April 1634. ^{[1] [4]} He was later master of the ship New Supply which sailed from England in 1637. ^[1]

• 1636 July and 1637 Jun: John Cutting had three land grants in New England. ^[1]
• 1641: They were living at Newbury. ^[1]
• 1648: John Cutting purchased a house and land at Charlestown. ^[1]
• c 1656: They returned to Newbury. ^[1]

Daughter, Mary born ___ in England; married by 1641, Nicholas Noyse who was born about 1616, son of Reverend William Noyes, of Cholderton, Wiltshire. ^{[5] [6]}
Daughter, Sarah born ___ ; baptized October 16, 1629 at Woolverstone, England ^[1]; married by 1647 James Browne who was born about 1604, as his second wife; married second by February 28, 1682/3, William Healey. ^{[7] [8]}
?Son, John, Jr.,not mentioned in Captain John Cutting will written in 1663, possibly died before then. A John Cutting Jr. lived at Charlestown briefly. 1641: Captain John Cutting and his apparent son were joint masters of the ship Desire as they were preparing for trip back to England. 1642:^[9] gave an affidavit of process service in a civil suit brought by this Captain John Cutting . Supposed father of Mary Cutting Moody. Based on her estimated age it is likely John would have been born prior to 1618, unless he fathered her at a young age. Possibly a child of a previous marriage of Captain John Cutting.

John Cutting died at Newbury on Nov. 20, 1659^[10]. Her husband John's will was written on October 22, 1659 and proved on March 27, 1660. His wife Mary was executrix and her legacy was all the lands, goods and chattels, as long as her remained unmarried ^[1] He further specified the divisions should his widow remarry, naming:

• daughter Mary, wife of Nicholas Noyse
• daughter Sarah, wife of James Browne of Charlestown
• granddaughter Mary, wife of Samuel Moody
• and portions for all his grandchildren and great grandchildren ^[1]

Widow, Mary Cutting was remarried to John Miller^[1] between March 27, 1660 - 27 May 1662 when, as Mary Miller, she granted to her daughter Sarah Browne 'the freehold that my husband Cutting had' and the share in Plum Island that belongs to it. This was done with the consent of her husband John Miller who signed the deed with her.^[11]

Death and Will

She died at Newbury on March 6, 1664^[12][13].

Mary Miller's will was written on November 26, 1663 and proved on March 29, 1664. In it she mentions:

• daughter Sarah, wife of James Browne
• daughter Mary, wife of Nicholas Noyes
• grandaughter Mary Moody, wife of Samuel
• James Browne, appointed executor ^{[1] [13]}

Know all men by theise prsentes that I Mary Miller widdow [aged] of body but of perfect memory do here make my last will and testament Disposeing of my worldly goods as followeth

[Imprs?] I give and bequeath eleven pounds due to me in Rent from Benjamin Roafe [Rolfe] unto my Daughter Sara the wife of James Browne as also foure Cowes that is in the possession of the said Benjamin Roafe unto my said Daughter Sara Browne and the [ ] that is in Henry Tewksburyes hands I give unto Mary Moody the wife of Samuell Moody the said Samuell paying to my aforesaid Daughter Sara Browne twenty shillings [ ] two oxen that is in my 'son Nicholas Noyes his hands I give to my said son Nicholas, provided that he pay also to my said daughter Sara Browne eight pounds out of the said oxen as also I give my said Daughter Sara Browne thirty five shillings that Henry Tewksbury oweth unto me and thirty shillings that Samuell Moody oweth unto me, and ten shillings that is behind of rent in the hands of John Davis and fifty shillings in the hands of Nicholas Noyes of my rent since last year. I also give unto my said Daughter Sara Browne and a feather bed I give also unto her my said daughter also a silver spoone and the little [ ] my daughter Mary the wife of Nicholas Noyes and the [ ] dram cup I give unto my Grandchild Mary Moody and my Linnen and cloathes & other goods left I dispose of to be devided equally among them my two daughters [and] grandchild abovesaid as also I appoint my Son James Browne to be the executor of this my last will and testament [ ] my debts & funerall being discharged novemb: 26th 1663 In witness whereof I have set my hand
Mary Miller
Her X Marke
Witness Anthony Somerby
Henry Short

[ ] by the oaths of Henry Short & Anthony Summerby to be the last will & testament (in court held at ypswich the 29 of march 1664) of Mary Miller
P me Robert Lord cleric

An Inventory of the Goods and Chattells of Mrs Mary Miller widdow who deceased this life the sixt day of March In the yeare of our Lord 1664

Impr foure Cowes prised……………………………18-00-00
Three oxen prised………………………………………21-00-00
Her wearing apparel…………………………………..20-00-00
And four pr of sheets 5 pillow beares two tablecloths
6 napkins…………………………………………..............3-10-00
One feather bed one boulster 3 pillowes one rug 2
blanckets with curtaines and pillows………….12- 0 – 0
Six platters………………………………………………....1– 10 -0
Five cushions………………………………………………1 – 0 – 0
A chest a box with drawers a looking glasse.1 – 0 – 0
One silver spoone one silver wine Cupp and a silver
dram cup………………………………………….............1 – 0 – 0
Sum is................................................................79-00-00

Prised by Henry Short Anthony Somerby

This is a true inventory of the estate – into court at ypswich the 24 of march 1664 upon the oath of James Browne
P me Robert Lord cleric"^[14]

Research Notes

• In their wills, they mention their granddaughter Mary Moody. Mary Cutting married Samuel Moody at Newbury in 1657, so they had a son that was the father of this Mary Cutting Moody, but I find no reference to him in the wills. I find no records for Mary Cutting Moody that name her parents. Supposed father is John, Jr.

• Some texts indicate the first wife of James Browne, was Judith Cutting, supposedly another child of this couple, although I am unable to find a source to confirm the relationship. Nor is there a mention in the will's of any children of a daughter named Judith

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14} >Mahler, Leslie. "The English Origin of Nathaniel Ward of Hartford, Connecticut and of Hadley, Massachusetts, Mary (Ward) Cutting of Newbury, Massachusetts, Rebecca (Ward) Allen of Newbury and Their Nephew William Markham of Hadley," in The American Genealogist, Volume 83, New Haven, Connecticut, 2008-9 p. 13- 18
2. ↑ Gov. John Winthrop Papers, Vol. 1-5, 1557 to 1649, Vol. 4: p. 89. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2016.)
3. ↑ The Essex Antiquarian, Vol. 1, Salem, Massachusetts, 1897 p. 178 (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006.)
4. ↑ The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 8, NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts, 1854 p. 137
5. ↑ Anderson, Robert C. Nicholas Noyes in: Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P, NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts, 2007, p. 286-92 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.)
6. ↑ Noyes Pedigree in: New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 53, NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts, 1899 p. 36
7. ↑ Anderson, Robert C. James Browne in: Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to N.E. 1620-1633, Vols. I-III, NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts, 1995 p. 252-4. (Originally Published as: New England Historic Genealogical Society. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols., 1995)
8. ↑ The New England Genealogical and Historical Register, Vol. 29, NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts, 1875, p. 184
9. ↑ Salem Quarterly Court Records and Files in: The Essex Antiquarian, Vol. 4, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 123 (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006.)
10. ↑ The Essex Institute, Vital Records of Newbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849 Vol. II, Pt. 2 Marriages and Deaths (Salem, Mass. 1911)(Free e-book) p. 577
11. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9ZZ-BP9J?cc=2106411&wc=MCBG-9NP%3A361613201%2C361849601 : 22 May 2014), Essex > Deeds 1673-1681 vol 4-5 > image 194 of 711; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. Essex Deeds 4:158
12. ↑ The Essex Institute, Vital Records of Newbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849 Vol. II, Pt. 2 Marriages and Deaths (Salem, Mass. 1911)(Free e-book) (Records are also available at ma-vitalrecords.org) p. 660
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Case 18445: p. 1-5: Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)
14. ↑ Essex County Probate Court- Docket No. 18445