Person Page

     Hannah Bancroft was born on 5 March 1701/2 in Lynn End, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She probably married Joseph Gowing on 10 April 1722.¹

     Joseph Gowing probably married Hannah Bancroft, daughter of John Bancroft and Elizabeth Eaton, on 10 April 1722.¹

     Timothy Bancroft was born on 20 January 1704/5 in Lynn End, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married first Elizabeth Gerry, daughter of Benjamin Gerry and Elizabeth Damon, on 12 March 1738/39.¹ He married second Mary Harriman on 1 November 1757 in Lunenburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died about 1775.¹
     He served as fire warden and also as hog reeve (an official whose duty it was to make sure that all hogs had nose rings and yokes).¹

     Abigail Aborne was born on 7 May 1680 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married Raham Bancroft, son of John Bancroft and Elizabeth Eaton, on 2 November 1717.¹ She died between 1756 and 17 April 1758.¹
     On 11 July 1755 she was appointed guardian of her son Raham, who was of unsound mind.¹

     Raham Bancroft was born on 12 August 1718 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died before 1799.¹
     He worked as a laborer.¹ He became of unsound mind, and his mother was appointed his guardian on 11 July 1755.¹

     Elizabeth Gerry was born on 5 April 1724.¹ She married Timothy Bancroft, son of John Bancroft and Elizabeth Eaton, on 12 March 1738/39.¹ She died on 28 January 1756 at age 31.¹

     Mary Harriman married Timothy Bancroft, son of John Bancroft and Elizabeth Eaton, on 1 November 1757 in Lunenburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died on 4 February 1776.¹

     Timothy Bancroft was born on 18 November 1746 in Lunenburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died young.¹

     John Bancroft was born on 14 November 1753 in Lunenburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married Mary Newhall, daughter of Elijah Newhall and Mary Cheever, on 20 June 1776 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died on 16 June 1822 in Union, Broome Co., New York, at age 68.²
     At age three, after the death of his mother Elizabeth, John Bancroft was taken in by his uncle John Bancroft of Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, to whom he later became indentured.²
     He served in the Revolution at various times from 19 April 1775 to 4 November 1775, in Capt. Ezra Newhall's Co., Col. Mansfield's Regt; in Capt. Callender's Co., Col. Gridley's Artillery Regt., and in Capt. Newhall's Co., Col. Israel Hutchinson's Regt. He participated in the alarm of 19 April 1775.²
     He settled in Rindge, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, in 1777.² In 1820 he moved to Union, Broome Co., New York.²
     He and Mary had the following known children: Polly (b 6 sep 1777), John (b 4 November 1779, d 15 July 1819), Elizabeth (b 24 December 1781, d 12 January 1810), a daughter (b 17 November 1784, d 28 November 1784), Ebenezer (b 13 March 1786, d 30 March 1823), Onesimus (b 30 March 1786 (sic), d 28 October 1792), Mehitable (b 24 March 1790), Timothy (b 5 July 1792, 7 February 1880), Elijah (b 15 December 1795, d 8 September 1877).^2,3,4

     Timothy Bancroft was born on 14 August 1755 in Lunenburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died young, apparently.¹

     Molley Bancroft was born on 5 June 1761 in Lunenburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.¹

     Mary Newhall married John Bancroft, son of Timothy Bancroft and Elizabeth Gerry, on 20 June 1776 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died on 26 October 1833 in Union, Broome Co., New York.¹
     She and John had the following known children: Polly (b 6 sep 1777), John (b 4 November 1779, d 15 July 1819), Elizabeth (b 24 December 1781, d 12 January 1810), a daughter (b 17 November 1784, d 28 November 1784), Ebenezer (b 13 March 1786, d 30 March 1823), Onesimus (b 30 March 1786 (sic), d 28 October 1792), Mehitable (b 24 March 1790), Timothy (b 5 July 1792, 7 February 1880), Elijah (b 15 December 1795, d 8 September 1877).^1,2,3

     Thomas Bancroft was born about 1625 (based on depositions given on 15 June 1675, when he gave his age as 50, and in 1680, when he gave his age as "about 58") in England.¹ He married first Alice Bacon, daughter of Michael Bacon, on 31 March 1647 ("31: 1 mo.") in Dedham, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married second Elizabeth Metcalf, daughter of Michael Metcalf and Sarah Ellwyn, on 15 September 1648 ("15: 7 mo.") in Dedham, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died on 19 August 1691 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     Exactly when Thomas Bancroft came to New England is unknown. His father died in England in 1627, and his brother John emigrated to America in 1632. Thomas was then just 7-10 years old, however, so it seems likely that he remained in England with his stepmother. He may have come to Massachusetts in 1640, after his stepmother's death in 1639. A history of Lynn, Massachusetts, states that "Lieut. Thomas Bancroft" was one of the new arrivals in 1640. At that time he was 15-18 years old, and therefore not yet a "Lieut.," but he was known by that title later on.¹
     At the annual town meeting in Dedham, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, in the spring of 1648, he was admitted as a townsman.¹
     On 19 December 1649 (19th of 10th mo.), he was judged to be behind in his highway work, in the amount of 6s. This amount was forgiven two months later, provided that he work for two days at delivering fencing materials for "enclosing the high way thru John Bacon's lott."¹
     On 12 December 1650 (12th of 10th month) he was granted a tract of land in Dedham, not more than three acres, under the condition that it be improved within four years.¹ He must have already owned other land there, however, because four days later, on 16 December 1650, he was given permission to take down his fence and add a lean-to on the back side of his barn, as long as it did not interfere with the local right-of-way.¹
     His name appears in the tax records in Dedham from 1648 to 1652.¹ By 1648, however, he had moved to Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, when he was made a freeman there. His family must have remained behind in Dedham, based on the birth dates and places of his son Thomas, and twins Elizabeth and John.¹ He was a member of the First Parish Church in Reading by at least 29 September 1648.¹
     Thomas Bancroft led the Reading Infantry Co. for a time, and was ensign for many years. His name is also among those listed as being impressed for military service on 10 December 1675. On 15 October 1679 he petitioned the General Court in Boston, asking to be excused from service due to being "under some indisposition of body," and the request was granted.²
     He often served as a trial juror for the Court in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, between 1666 and 1681. He also was constable in Lynn in June 1681.³
     He bought 60 acres of land near Beaver Dam in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, in 1670.¹ He made several land purchases in Essex Co. over the years, starting on 6 September 1670 ("6, 9, 1670").¹ On 28 April 1691 he transferred part of his homestead to his son John.¹
     He died intestate, and his estate was administered by his son Ebenezer.¹

More Information / Background

• Puritan migration to New England (1620–1640)
  
• New England's Great Migration.
  

     Elizabeth Metcalf was baptized on 20 September 1626 in St. Benedict's, Norwich, England.¹ She married Thomas Bancroft on 15 September 1648 ("15: 7 mo.") in Dedham, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died on 11 May 1711 in Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, at age 84.¹
     She joined the church in Dedham, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, on 14 December 1651 ("14th, 10th mo.").¹ She gave up this membership on 16 June 1662 ("16th, 4th mo."), when she joined the church in Reading.¹

     Michael Metcalf married Sarah Ellwyn.¹

     Sarah Ellwyn married Michael Metcalf.¹

     Alice Bacon married Thomas Bancroft on 31 March 1647 ("31: 1 mo.") in Dedham, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died on 29 March 1648 ("29: 1 mo.").¹

     Thomas Bancroft was born on 11 January 1648 in Dedham, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died on 24 January 1648 in Dedham, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹

     Thomas Bancroft was born on 14 July 1649 in Dedham, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹ He was baptized on 28 October 1651.¹ He married Sarah Poole, daughter of Jonathan Poole and Judith Jacobs, on 10 April 1673 in Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died on 12 June 1718 at age 68.^1,2 He was buried in the burying ground at the First Congregational Church in Wakefield, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     He served as an officer during King Philip's War in 1675/76, and was selected as a lieutenant in a company from Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, on 12 July 1689. On 30 August 1689 he was named lieutenant for the lower Middlesex regiment, a group of men drafted to march against the Indians. During Indian attacks in areas around Old Dunstable, he and his men performed heroically. According to Rev. Cotton Mather, on 5 July 1690 the Indians attacked Capt. Hilton's garrison at Exeter, and Lieut. Bancroft and his men relieved them, leading such a vicious charge that the Indians "fled without scalping the fallen."¹
     He joined the First Parish Church in Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, on 1 September 1677.¹
     On 11 May 1691 he was appointed guardian of Abigail Stimpson.¹
     His will was dated 15 January 1713 in Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and proved 8 July 1718. The witnesses were John Goadwin, Jonathan Poole, John Wesson, and Ebenezer Bancroft.
     His wife Sarah was left the west half of his dwelling; use of the garden; thirty shillings and three cords of wood to be delivered each year by his son Thomas; fifty shillings and two cords of wood to be delivered each year by his son Raham; five pounds and four cords of wood to be delivered each year by his son Samuel; and his household goods not specifically left to others, until her death, when they were to go to his daughters Sarah Briant, Judith Parker, and Elizabeth Lampson. Samuel was also to provide her a horse "to ride to meeting on" and for other occasional use.
     His son Thomas was left all his upland, meadow land, and swamp, north of his lower lot, and his best cloak and his Bible with Clark's annotations. His daughter Judith Parker was left six pounds, and his son-in-law Jonathan Parker was left seven (?) shillings. His son Raham was left fourteen acres of land, plus eight acres of his upper lot, and was to pay his (Raham's) sister Sarah Briant nine pounds, and Mehitable Briant thirty shillings. His son Samuel was left his homestead and its lands in Reading, along with all the farm tools, and was to pay his (Samuel's) sister Elizabeth Lampson fourteen pounds, and "grandson Jonathan Bancroft" thirty shillings. His history books were to be divided equally between his sons Thomas, Raham, and Samuel, and his divinity books, except for his "Bible with Clark's annotations," were to be divided equally among his six children. His clothing, except for his best cloak, was to go equally to his sons.¹

More Information / Background

• King Philip's War.
  

     John Bancroft was born on 3 November 1650 in Dedham, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died on 25 January 1650/51 ("25th, 11 mo. 1650").¹

     Elizabeth Bancroft was born on 4 November 1650 in Dedham, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died on 25 January 1650/51 ("25th, 11 mo. 1650").¹

     Elizabeth Bancroft was born on 7 December 1653 in Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married Joseph Browne, son of Nicholas Browne and Elizabeth (?), on 26 May 1674.¹

     Joseph Browne was born on 10 December 1647.¹ He married Elizabeth Bancroft, daughter of Thomas Bancroft and Elizabeth Metcalf, on 26 May 1674.¹ He died between 9 July 1708 and 7 September 1708.^1,2