It wasn't until much later that the Strait line's
aversion to Juniors emerged. So for
Henry Straight, the first American generation, it was only natural to name his
son...Henry Straight. As usual with
these early generations, most of what my Dad knew, he obtained from public
records.
Henry
Straight was the first born son of Henry Straight, born in 1677. His first marriage, on February 13, 1696 was
to Hannah Tolman of Waterton ,
Massachusetts
On
March 18, 1698 Henry Straight Sr. of East Greenwich, gave a deed to his son
Henry Straight Jr., of his right to the following; a house, barn, orchard, shop
or hovel, with ten acres of land in East Greenwich adjoining George Vaughn on
one side and William Allen on the other side and butting on a highway.
On
December 5, 1702 Henry Straight Jr., of East Greenwich
sold the ten acres to George Vaughn,
On
October 22, 1713 Henry Straight Sr., with his wife Mary releasing her dower
rights sold to his son Henry Straight Jr. one half of his remaining lands in East Greenwich .
On
February 13 1696, Henry Straight married his second wife (my Dad makes no
direct reference as to what happened to the first wife), as shown by the
following Warwick
"These
are to signify unto all Ministers of Justice that Henry Straight Jr. of East
Greenwich in ye colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, took Mary
Webb of ye town of Warwick in ye colony aforesaid, widow in only a shift and no
other garment, in ye presence of Avis Gorton Mary Collins and Presillah
Crandall, witnesses, and was lawfully married in said Warwick August 1, 1725,
by me, John Warner, Justice." I am
told this form of marriage was to save the new husband from any liability for
debts of the widow's former husband. (Shift and no other garment? I wander if that is what my Dad is referring
to as part of the 'form'.)
Henry
Jr. had two children with his first
wife, Henry, who died early (thus ending the Henry line before having to
have a third, or as Southerners say - 'Trey') and Rebecca (1719). There was a veritable army by the second
wife. The children with Mary were
Samuel, John, Thomas, Joseph, Elizabeth
His
will was dated October 21, 1732, and since no wife is mentioned, it is assumed
that she had died before that date, The
inventory of his personal estate amounting to L 172-19-6 (no, I don't know
what my Dad meant by that notation), was taken October 26, 1732, so his
death must have occurred between the 21st and 26th. The will was proved November 4, 1732. He bequeathed to his eldest son Samuel a
double portion or one third of his estate after debts and legacies to the seven
daughters had been paid; to his four sons John, Thomas, Joseph and Henry each
one-sixth of the estate, Henry to be brought up and educated from his own part;
to daughter Rebecca Bailey, 5 shillings; to daughter Elizabeth Straight, 5
shillings; to daughter Hannah Waistcoate, 5; to daughter Mary Straight, L 5 in two years; to daughter Abigail Straight
5, when 18; to daughter Mercy, L 35 for her bringing up and education; son
Thomas to be executor, and guardian of Henry and Mercy, and to have estate to
pay debts, legacies and his four brothers' portions, Witnesses were Mary Sweat, Nicholas Whitford,
Jonathan Picher, and John Jenkins. (Will
information from East Greenwich Probate records).
I'll have to keep researching, but I think 13 will
hold up as a record number of children from one of the direct line descendants. And not only did Henry Jr.
have two marriages like his father, but both second wives were named Mary.
In the 1st paragraph you say
ReplyDelete"His first marriage, on February 13, 1696 was to Hannah Tolman of Waterton, Massachusetts."
In the 5th paragraph you:
"On February 13 1696, Henry Straight married his second wife"
That's the same date (for both marriages).