| The Eveleth Ancestry of Kathleen Kilgallon Eveleth - This geneology ends with Jason Scott Eveleth (father of Kate) | ||
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Background
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1. SILVESTER EVELEIGH, baptized in the parish of Exeter St. Thomas 16 Feb. 1603/4 as "Euelie, Silvester", married at Exeter St. David on 21 Sept., 1630, Susan Nubery, who must have been born about 1607, as she gave her age as 50 in a deposition of 1657. There were still in Exeter St. Thomas in 1633, but do not appear there after that date, following which I lose track of them for a decade. Silvester and family arrived in Boston, Mass. Probably at 1642. The earliest known mention of them in New England is in the rolls of Admissions to the First Church in Boston: "The 19th Day of the 1st Moneth 1643: Susan Evylith the wife of one Silvester Evylith a baker." only briefly, and the same church’s dismissals show "The 12th Day of the 3rd Moneth 1644 Our Sister Susan Evylith had with the Consent of the Church by their silence letters of Recommendation granted unto the Church at Glocester." It is interesting to note that Silvester either declined or was not permitted to join the church at this time. Indeed, in the Salem session of the Essex Quarterly Court for 11 Sept., 1649 there is a citation ordering "Silvester Evely of Gloster for defaming the Church there to publicly confess." However, this does not imply that he was a religious dissenter, as some have stated, for he presumably joined the church before becoming a freeman in 1652, and was definitely a member by 1658. We can only speculate on the reasons prompting Silvester’s emigration, if not religious in nature. As there is no direct evidence, an important clue is the date, for 1642 marks the end of the great Puritan migrations and the start of the English Civil War. At that time the Royalist forces held most of Devon and Cornwall, but many of the Devon ports declared for Parliament, and destructive fighting ensued. Against this background, Silvester may have left Devon simply to seek a safer residence. A number of the wealthier Devon Eveleighs, whose relation to Silvester is unclear, were Royalists, but if Silvester had subscribed to such views, Massachusetts would be an unlikely choice of residence. It is tempting to speculate that Silvester quickly moved from Boston to Gloucester because he had acquaintances or relatives from Devon there. Interestingly, William Stevens of Gloucester, whose eldest son, James, married Silvester’s daughter, and whose granddaughter, Abigail Coit, married Silvester’s son, was married himself at Ottery St. Mary, Devon (6 June, 1614), a parish which appears to have been one of the ancestral homes of the Eveleigh family. Silvester soon established himself in the fishing and farming village of Gloucester, Massachusetts. On Dec. 13, 1647 "Silvester Eveleth… (was) chosen by the Towne for orderinge of Towne affairs…" (i.e., as Selectman). The next year, "10 mo 48", he was granted property out of the town common lands: "12 acres of swamp and upland on the north side of the Millpond." Immediately following this record, mention is made of " his house on the Meeting-house Hill; having Capt. Perkin’s lot on one side, and the hightway on the other." He had another half-acre of land laid out to him in June, 1650; a subsequent record indicates further land "laid out by Lott" which was probably the large tract on Little River and Story Cove on the west side of Annisquam (about 70 acres) where Silvester lived in later life. He was made a freeman (full citizen of the colony) and chosen constable 29 June 1652, and served again as constable in 1656 and 1669. During this period Silvester’s children reached maturity. Two of Silvester’s daughters married important residents of Gloucester: Mary Eveleigh married Thomas, the son of "Brother" Thomas Millett, Elder of the church and preacher at Gloucester. In a list of subscriptions for the latter’s support dated 30 March, 1658, Silvester is listed for 1 pound 10 shillings, one of the largest amounts subscribed. The husband of Susana Eveleigh, James Stevens, was the eldest son of William Stevens, the shipbuilder, who was one of the more important early residents of Gloucester, and also one of its largest landowners. James likewise played an important part in public affairs and was Selectman from 1674-1686, as well as serving as deacon of the church. Silvester thus became allied with some of the more important political and economic powers of the town. Silvester’s wife Susan died in Gloucester 14 Sept., 1659. He married for the second time, Gloucester 6 Sept., 1662, Mrs. Bridget Parkman, a widow with seven children, some of whom came with her to Gloucester. Her first husband was Elias Parkman, a mariner of Dorchester, Mass. and Windsor, Conn. It was perhaps around this time that Silvester and his sons acquired a sloop, a third share of which appears in the administrations of both Silvester and his son, Isaac. In 1666 Silvester was licensed to establish an inn, or tavern. The license was renewed in 1667, 1668, 1669, and 1670, and the inventory of his estate shows ample evidence of this activity. He must have been involved in brewing, for he gave oath that "he would abide by the order of the Generall Court of Oct., 1667, concerning four bushels of barley malt to be put in one hogshead of beer." This fairly sedentary activity was perhaps occasioned by an attack of gout or arthritis, for he was excused from common military training in 1666, "being in detrebed in his limes." At the General Court (Provincial Legislature) of 7 May, 1673, Gloucester was represented by "Left. Silvester Evilly." Shortly thereafter, he was wealthy enough to establish a residence in Boston while retaining his property in Gloucester, and was admitted to the Old South Church there 29 May, 1674. His residence was near that of his daughter Margaret Gallup, who was widowed about 1670, and the house likely burned in the great fire of 1679. Silvester did not forsake Gloucester affairs in the meantime, for he bought a further 12 acres of Thomas Price 11 Jan., 1679/80. Bridget, Silvester’s second wife, was living as late as a deed of 5 Feb., 1682/3, but he probably married for a third time, in the last years of his life, widow Pilgrim (Eddy)(Baker) Steadman, as she does not seem to have possibly been the wife of any other Eveleth. She had married first, 22 April 1656, William Baker of Boston, and secondly a Mr. Steadman. The will of widow Pilgrim Eveleth, made in Boston, Nov., 1797 and proved 26 Jan., 1708 does not mention any other Eveleths. Silvester returned to Gloucester permanently about 1687. This was the time of Andros’ unpopular rule, so the move may have been influenced by the political situation as well as by failing health. He died in Gloucester 4 Jan., 1688/9, aged 85, intestate. Administration of his estate was granted in Suffolk Co. Probate Court 7 March, 1688/9 to his son Joseph. It includes: The inventory of the Estate of Sylvester Eveleth of Gloucester in County of Essex of N. England dec’d on the 5th day of Jan 1688-9. Drawne and p’ticulars therein contained prized by William Goodhue jr. and Joseph Allen the 19 day of Jan 1688-9. Impris By 24 acres Upland – 2 of meadow, 30 £; 3 acres meadow 6 £ 36 By homestead orchard house and outhousing 55 By salt marsh adjoyning to the homestead 21 By wearing cloathes 2 10 Chamber By Bedstedd & furniture 3 12 By 3 pillows, 8s; 6 Cushions, 7s; 2 table cloathes 7s. By 3 pillowbeeres, 12s; 10 napkins, 13s 1 2 By 2 brass kettles 1 £ 2s; 3 skillets 5s; skimmer & ladle 7s 1 14 By 9 platters 2 basons a plate 1 11 By 3 porrengers, 3s; 1 flaggon 4 old pott 6s 9 By 2 old basins and other old pewter 8 6s By 2 morters & pestle 5; earthen potts & panns 6 11 By 3 candle stick 1 jugge 4: three tramells 8 12 By paire of andirons 9, 3 tonges & slice 4s, 6 13 6 By 2 scales & weights 14; 2 Iron potts 14 1 8 By iron kettle 6, little pott 3s, 6; 2 pott hookes 2 11 6 By a fender & trowill, 2-3; spitt 2 frying panns, chafeing dish 7 9 3 By a barrell of porke 2 £; barrell beefe 1 £, 10 3 10 By two glasses, a jugge, 2-6; lanthorn & tunnell 2 4 6 Lower Room – By Bedd bedstead & furniture 2 4 By Coverlidd, 18,; a Cupboard & cloth, 16 1 14 By Wainscott chest, 15; 4 old chests, 15 1 10 By bridle & Crupper, 6-6; bushells Indian corn 12 18 6 By 3 bushells Rye, 6; Bushell Mault 2-6 8 6 By chourne & cooler, 4-6; dishes cheese vat, 2, Barell tubbs, 5 11 6 By a table cheese presse 6; chairs, 7, a fowling piece and lock, 18 1 11 By Anker, 13; Yoake chains span shackle, 8 1 1 By 2 Axes a betle Rings & a piece of an Iron Barr 5 6 By third of an old sloop 7 10 By 3 cowes 1 steere 1 hiefer 10 8 By 3 swine, 18; 3 blanketts, 13 1 11 By 4 pr sheets, 1 £ 10, warming pan 8 1 18 By 2 silver cupps, 14; by 7 silver spoones & Cupp, 4 8 By a Cannone & Cable, 14; spade & old Iron, 3; Hyde 6 10 By Cash 19 17 By money due by bills, 71-9-8; one from Thos Bray, 15 72 4 8 £273 18 9 Of the land here mentioned, the "24 acres Upland" probably included the twelve acres bought of Thomas Prince. The homestead and "salt marsh adjoyning" is the land on Little River, while the "12 acres.. above the old mill" is Silvester’s original grant of 1648. If the homestead lands had the same bounds as the property his son Joseph held ten years later, Silvester’s land holdings amounted to about 93 acres. The records do not show that he ever sold any of the land he acquired, and the whole of the real estate passed intact to his eldest son Joseph Eveleth. The younger son, Isaac, predeceased his father, leaving several young children. The children of Silvester and Susan (Nubery) Eveleigh were: 1. Margaret, b. ca. 1631; d Boston 11 Aug. 1698; M. Boston 11 June, 1652 Nathaniel Gallop 2. Mary, bp. Exeter St. Thomas, Devon 30 June, 1633; d. Gloucester 7 Jan., 1687/8; m. Gloucester 21 May, 1655 Thomas Millett 3. Susana, d. ca. 1689; m. Gloucester 31 Dec., 1656 James Stevens 4. Joseph, b. about June 1641 (see below)5. Hannah, bp. Boston 8 Oct., 1643; d. Boston 19 November, 1670; m. 1669 Nathan Kettel 6. Isaac, b.ca. 1645; d. Gloucester Nov. 2, 1685; m. Gloucester 13 Nov., 1677 Abigail Coit (daughter of John Coit and Mary Stevens). Children: a. Isaac, b. March 22, 1679/80 b. Hannah, b. March 9, 1680/81; m. Peter Bennet Feb. in Gloucester, MA. in 1703/04 c. Job, b. March 19, 1682/83 d. Mary, b. April 10, 1684/85. d. Apr. 7, 1686. |
