Person Page

     Sarah Porter was born on 6 January 1706 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married Thomas Dodge, son of Josiah Dodge and Sarah Fiske, on 23 June 1724.¹ She died in 1795.¹
     She and Thomas had the following known children: John (b 4 April 1725), Lydia (b 20 April 1727), Benjamin (b 11 March 1730), Israel (bapt 30 March 1732, d 25 February 1736), Sarah (bapt 4 June 1734), Israel (bapt 14 April 1736).²

     Hannah Dodge was born on 7 July 1699.^1,2 She died on 19 April 1704 at age 4.^1,2

     Andrew Dodge was born on 26 November 1703 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^1,3 He married Lydia Bridgeman on 27 January 1725.³ He died in March 1741 at age 37 in the assault on Cartagena, Columbia.^3,1
     He and his wife Lydia settled in Windham, Hartford Co. (now Windham Co.), Connecticut.³ On 23 May 1725 he received land in Windham from his father, "for and in consideration of the good service my son has done for me."³
     He joined the forces under Adm. Vernon against the Spanish in South America, and was killed in the assault on Cartagena, Columbia, in March 1741.^1,3
     He and Lydia had the following known children: Hannah (b 12 April 1728), Irene (b 29 March 1729), Lydia (b 23 May 1731), Andrew (b and d February 1726), Andrew (b and d 4 April 1732), Rufus (b 22 March 1734), Andrew (b 21 February 1735, d 22 February 1735), Abel (b 9 February 1736), Sarah (b 10 March 1737), Andrew (b 14 February 1739), Isaac (b 25 February 1739, d 20 October 1806).⁴

     Lydia Bridgeman married Andrew Dodge, son of Andrew Dodge and Hannah Fiske, on 27 January 1725.¹
     She and her husband Andrew settled in Windham, Hartford Co. (now Windham Co.), Connecticut.¹ They had the following known children: Hannah (b 12 April 1728), Irene (b 29 March 1729), Lydia (b 23 May 1731), Andrew (b and d February 1726), Andrew (b and d 4 April 1732), Rufus (b 22 March 1734), Andrew (b 21 February 1735, d 22 February 1735), Abel (b 9 February 1736), Sarah (b 10 March 1737), Andrew (b 14 February 1739), Isaac (b 25 February 1739, d 20 October 1806).²

     Henry Kerley married first Elizabeth White, daughter of John White and Joan West, on 2 November 1654 in Lancaster, Middlesex Co. (now Worcester Co.), Massachusetts.² He married second Elizabeth Ward on 18 April 1677 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died about 1713 (his will was written 17 May 1708, and proved on 27 January 1713/14).¹
     He and his first wife Elizabeth lived in Lancaster, Middlesex Co. (now Worcester Co.), Massachusetts.¹ He served during King Philip's War, and in February 1675/76 traveled to Boston with Rev. Joseph Rowlandson to ask the authorities for help in defending the town. His wife Elizabeth and family stayed with her sisters Mary Rowlandson and Hannah Divoll in a garrison in Lancaster. At sunrise on 10 February 1675/76 Indians attacked the garrison, killing Elizabeth and their son Henry, and Hannah's husband John Divoll and their children John and Josiah. Mary Rowlandson and her children Joseph, Mary, and Sarah, and Hannah Divoll and her children Hannah and William, were taken captive.^3,4
     He and his second wife Elizabeth had two children.¹

More Information / Background

• King Philip's War
  
• Lancaster raid.
  

     Henry Kerley was born on 11 February 1657.¹ He was killed by Indians on 10 February 1675/76 at age 18, in an attack on a garrison in Lancaster, Middlesex Co. (now Worcester Co.), Massachusetts.¹

     William Kerley was born on 22 February 1658.¹

     Elizabeth Kerley was born about 1660 in Lancaster, Middlesex Co. (now Worcester Co.), Massachusetts.² She married Daniel Howe, son of Abraham Howe and Hannah Ward, on 12 October 1686.² She died in 1735 in Marlboro, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.²
     She and Daniel had the following known children: Martha (b 30 July 1697, d 1 July 1755), Hezekiah (b 19 June 1690), Daniel (b 29 November 1692, d 6 February 1740), Jonathan (b 23 April 1695, d 25 July 1738), Elizabeth (b 13 October 1697), David (b 27 April 1700), Zerviah (b 13 December 1702).³

     Hannah Kerley was born on 8 July 1663.¹ She died young.¹

     Mary Kerley was born on 4 October 1666 in Lancaster, Middlesex Co. (now Worcester Co.), Massachusetts.² She married Jonathan Johnson about 1689.²
     She and Jonathan had the following known children: Timothy (b 18 May 1690), Jonathan (b 13 June 1692), Mary (b 5 September 1694, d young), Sarah (b 25 March 1697), Jotham (b 30 March 1699), Martha (b 26 January 1701), Mary (b 2 October 1704), Joseph (b 2 March 1707), Hannah (b 2 March 1707).³

     Joseph Kerley was born on 28 March 1669.¹ He died before 1708.¹

     Martha Kerley was born on 10 June 1672.¹ She died before 1708.¹

     Daniel Howe married Elizabeth Kerley, daughter of Henry Kerley and Elizabeth White, on 12 October 1686.¹ He died on 13 April 1718 in Marlboro, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     He was keeper of a garrison house in Marlboro, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, from 1708 to 1713, and is referred to as "captain" in the town records.¹ He was a large landowner in Marlboro, Lancaster, and Westboro, Massachusetts.¹ His estate was valued at £1264.¹
     He and Elizabeth had the following known children: Martha (b 30 July 1697, d 1 July 1755), Hezekiah (b 19 June 1690), Daniel (b 29 November 1692, d 6 February 1740), Jonathan (b 23 April 1695, d 25 July 1738), Elizabeth (b 13 October 1697), David (b 27 April 1700), Zerviah (b 13 December 1702).²

     Jonathan Johnson married Mary Kerley, daughter of Henry Kerley and Elizabeth White, about 1689.¹ He was killed by Indians on 12 October 1708 in Marlboro, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     He and Mary had the following known children: Timothy (b 18 May 1690), Jonathan (b 13 June 1692), Mary (b 5 September 1694, d young), Sarah (b 25 March 1697), Jotham (b 30 March 1699), Martha (b 26 January 1701), Mary (b 2 October 1704), Joseph (b 2 March 1707), Hannah (b 2 March 1707).²

     Joseph Rowlandson was born in 1631 in England.¹ He married Mary White, daughter of John White and Joan West, in 1656 in Lancaster, Middlesex Co. (now Worcester Co.), Massachusetts.¹ He died on 24 November 1678 (the Descendants of John White says 23 November 1678) in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.^3,1
     He graduated in 1652 from Harvard College in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, the only graduate that year.¹ He began preaching in Lancaster, Middlesex Co. (now Worcester Co.), Massachusetts, in 1654¹, and was formally ordained as a minister in 1660.¹
     In February 1675/76, during King Philip's War, he traveled to Boston with Henry Kerley to ask the authorities for help in defending the town. His wife Mary and family stayed with her sisters Elizabeth Kerley and Hannah Divoll in a garrison in Lancaster. At sunrise on 10 February 1675/76 Indians attacked the garrison, killing Elizabeth and her son Henry, and Hannah's husband John Divoll and their children John and Josiah. His wife Mary and their children Joseph, Mary, and Sarah, and Hannah Divoll and her children Hannah and William, were taken captive.^4,2
     After her release, he and his wife Mary lived for a short time in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts,¹ then moved to Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, about April 1677, when he was appointed there as a minister.^3,1 His final sermon, "A Sermon of the Possibility of God's Forsaking a People That Have Been Near and Dear To Him," was delivered three days before his death, and published as a addendum to early editions of his wife's book about her capture and captivity.⁵
     On 24 April 1679 the inventory of his estate was presented in court in Hartford Co. His widow Mary was appointed administrator, and Rev. Joseph Haynes, Gershom Buckly, and Samuel Talcott were appointed to assist her. The estate was finalized on 2 December 1680.³

More Information / Background

• King Philip's War
  
• Lancaster raid.
  

     Samuel Talcott was born about 1635.¹ He married first Hannah Holyoke on 7 November 1661.¹ He married second Mary White, daughter of John White and Joan West, on 6 August 1679.¹ He died on 11 November 1691 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.¹
     He graduated in 1658 from Harvard College in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He was selected as a freeman in Wethersfield, (now Hartford Co.), Connecticut, in 1662¹, and eventually became a wealthy farmer there.¹ He served as a deputy to the General Court from 1669 to 1684, and as Assistant from 1685 until his death in 1691.¹ He was also a member of the War Council in Connecticut during King Philip's War.¹
     His will was dated 22 April 1691 proved 23 January 1691/92. He left land to his sons and money to his daughters. His wife Mary, for as long as she remained a widow, was left £10 per year, a room in his house with use of an oven, land for a garden, and two cows.¹ His estate was valued at £1820, and included 200 acres of land granted to him by the colony of Connecticut for his services.¹
     He and his first wife Hannah had sons Samuel, John, Elizur, Joseph, Benjamin, and Nathaniel, and two daughters.¹

     Mary Rowlandson was born on 15 February 1658 in Lancaster, Middlesex Co. (now Worcester Co.), Massachusetts.¹ She died on 11 January 1660 at age 1.¹

     Joseph Rowlandson was born on 7 March 1661 in Lancaster, Middlesex Co. (now Worcester Co.), Massachusetts.² He married Hannah Wilson, daughter of Phineas Wilson, about 1695 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.^3,2 He died on 22 January 1712 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, at age 50.²
     He was captured during the Indian raid on Lancaster, Middlesex Co. (now Worcester Co.), Massachusetts, on 10 February 1675/76, along with his mother and sisters. He was held for three months or more, and released at Portsmouth sometime between 12 May and 11 July after payment of a ransom by "the gentlemen of the town."¹
     In 1707 he and David Jesse were accused in court of getting their brother-in-law Nathaniel Wilson drunk in June 1702, and sending him by ship to Virginia where he was sold into servitude, possibly so they might gain control of his estate. Nathaniel was the brother of Joseph's wife Hannah, and David's wife Mary. He was "a wild young man" who had married into a well-to-do family; his wife Susannah was the daughter of William Jones, who served as Deputy Governor of Connecticut. In September 1702 David Jesse presented evidence in court that Nathaniel had died. Nathaniel's wife Susannah disputed the evidence, but in April 1703 the court declared the evidence valid. By the time the estate was being settled in 1707, Susannah had died, leaving behind two children apparently born out of wedlock.
     In September 1707 Nathaniel Wilson (or someone claiming to be him) reappeared, making the accusation against Joseph Rowlandson and David Jesse. Joseph denied the charge, but the court didn't believe him, and he was arrested. (Jesse was then in Boston, outside the court's jurisdiction.) By February 1707/08 Nathaniel Wilson had suffered an apparent mental breakdown, and control of the estate was given to the local officials for his support.
     Years passed, during which David Jesse died, and his wife Mary was remarried to Joseph King. In May 1718, Joseph King and his wife Mary petitioned the court saying that the man claiming to be Nathaniel Wilson was actually an impostor named Joseph Clements. In 1720 the Connecticut General Assembly denied the petition, saying that in this case "certain truth is not likely to be gain'd by human testimony."³
     He and Hannah had one known child, Wilson (b 8 January 1703, d 3 July 1735).⁴

     Mary Rowlandson was born on 12 September 1665.¹

     Sarah Rowlandson was born on 15 September 1669.¹ She died on 18 February 1675/76 at age 6.¹
     She was wounded during the Indian raid on Lancaster, Middlesex Co. (now Worcester Co.), Massachusetts, taken prisoner with her mother and siblings, and died 8 days later.¹

     Hannah Wilson married Joseph Rowlandson, son of Joseph Rowlandson and Mary White, about 1695 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.^2,1
     She and Joseph had one known child, Wilson (b 8 January 1703, d 3 July 1735).³