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DEACON JOHN DOANEAND

HIS DESCENDANTS.

1 JOHN 1 DOANE came over from England and settled in Ply-

mouth. He was the founder of the Doane family in America.Nothing is yet known of his history in England, but the same is true

also of the greater number of the Pilgrims who repaired to these NewEngland shores before the middle of the seventeenth century. Arecord was kept of those emigrants who on leaving England took the

oath of loyalty to the English Crown and promised conformity to

the Established Church. As a large number desired to avoid this

enforced allegiance and to settle in the land of their adoption, free

to follow their own religious inclinations, they took no legal depar-

ture but sailed away with more or less secrecy and were therefore

not enrolled in the official records of the government.

Of John Doane's early life, of his parentage, the place of his na-

tivity, the family name of his wife, the name of the vessel on whichhe came nothing whatever has yet been discovered. From the fact

that he was one of the principal men in the affairs of the PlymouthColony, we infer, however, that he was heir to a good birthright,

that in some broad field education and friction had developed a man-hood and strength of character that inspired the confidence of his

Plymouth associates.

John Doane was the first of the name in America and was the pro-

genitor of a numerous posterity. Savage's Genealogical Dictionary

of New England, Vol. n, p. 55, gives a John Done, aged 16, whoembarked at London on the Truelove in Sept., 1635 ; also a HenryDoane of Watertown 1643, and a Richard Doane of Rhode Island in

1672. It has been suggested that John of the Truelove was the sonof John Doane of Plymouth. In 1706, John Doane, Jr., of Plymouth

(1)

* THE DOANE FAMILY.

was about seventy-one years old, according to his own testimony inhis will, and therefore was born about 1635, the year the Truelovesailed from London.

The year of John Doane's arrival in the Plymouth Colony can beonly approximately determined. The Rev. Enoch Pratt, in his His-tory of Eastham, published in 1844, states that he came over in oneof the "three first ships," but his authority is not given. It is nowcertain however that he did not come in the Mayflower, Fortune orAnn, the first three ships to arrive at Plymouth. His name does notappear in the list of Plymouth settlers in 1627, when the lands of theColony were divided among the members of the community. In thenotice of his daughter Abigail's death found on page 21 of this book,it is stated that he "came to Plymouth with his wife in 1630." Thisnotice, printed in a Boston newspaper in 1735, is tolerably good evi-

dence as to the time of his arrival in the Plymouth Colony. Mr.Nahum Mitchell, author of the History of Bridgeivater, Mass., in aletter dated Jan. 26, 1849, says : "Mr. John Doane came over toNew England about 1629, when history informs us that thirty- five

of the Leyden Company, with their families, arrived at Plymouth.He no doubt was one of these and a member of Mr. Robinson'schurch."

While it is not definitely known from what part of the UnitedKingdom originally came the founder of the Doane family in Amer-ica, there is a tradition that he was from "Wales, west of England."This tradition and the statement in Ormerod's history, that the last

Sir John Done of the Cheshire family, during the troubles of theseventeenth century, adopted the cause of parliament and imbibedPresbyterian tenets, lead us to believe that our American ancestordescended from the ancient Dones of Cheshire. The Cheshire familyvery early spread out into Shropshire and other counties and possiblyinto Wales, while the name is found on the registers of several ofthe parish churches of London as early as 1590.

John Doane was a prominent man in Plymouth as soon as his ar-

rival there about 1630. He was one of the few who bore the title of"Mr." The Pilgrims were very careful to give no titles where theywere not due. The late Amos Otis, genealogist of Early BarnstableFamilies, says

:

In the Plymouth Colony the Governor, deputy governor, the magistratesand assistants, the ministers of the church, school-masters, officers in themilitia, men of great wealth or connected with the gentry or nobility were

DESCENDANTS OF DEA. JOHN DOANE. 6

entitled to be called Blister and their wives 3Iistress; this rule was rigidly

enforced in earlier Colonial times, and in all lists of names it was almost

the universal custom to commence with those who stood highest in rank

and to follow that order to the end.

John Doaue must have been known to the Pilgrims previous to his

coming to Plymouth. There are strong suggestions that he was in

partnership with Ml John Atwood who was of London until 1635.

The Done family are found in London at this period and in former

generations there were not a few John Dones. He was a strong

man. His associates and the offices he was bidden to undertake by

the Governor, the Court and by the suffrages of his townsmen, show

him to have been a man of superior quality. A larger knowledge of

his ancestry and of his previous career will confirm, we have no doubt,

this estimate we make of him. This knowledge will be a source of

delight and inspiration to his numerous descendants.

The following verbatim et literatim extracts are from the several vol-

umes of the Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England,

edited by Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D. and printed by the Common-wealth of Massachusetts in 1855. These extracts comprise all

references of importance to John Doane found in the Colony

records. The notes are information and explanations drawn from

various sources, some of which sources are noted. In many cases

we suppose there are reasons for debate, but this has not been

entered upon. The purpose of these extracts and notes is to show

the career in Plymouth of Deacon John Doane, not to show a manabove his fellows, but a strong man among strong men.

The names of the Freemen of the Incorporacon of Plymouth in

New Eugland. An: 1633

Edward Wynslow Govr

Capt. Myles Standish

William Bradford

John Howland

John Alden

John DoneStephen Hopkins

William Gilson

Cowncell.

— Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 3.

[Jan. 1, 1632-33] Likewise Mr. Wm Bradford, Capt. MylesStandish, John Howland, John Alden, John Done, Stephen Hopkins

4 THE DOANE FAMILY.

& William Gilson were chosen for the Councill the same yeare at the

same Court who held & received the oath.— Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 5.

[June 10, 1632] Thomas Brian the serv1 of Samuell Eedy wasbrought before the Gov 1" & Mr. Will. Bradford, Mr. John Done,

Stephen Hopkins & Will. Gilson, Assistants, because the said

Thomas had runne away & absented himselfe five daies from his

master's service, and being lost in the woods & found by an Indian,

was forced to returne : and for this his offence was privately

whipped before the Govr & Councell afore-menconed. — Ply. Col.

Rec. Vol. i, p. 7.

According to an order in Court held the 2nd of January [1632-33]in the seaventh yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne lord Charles

—

by the Grace of God, King of Eng 1

, Scott, France & Irel, defender

of the faith &c. the psons heare under-menconed were rated for pub-

like use by the Gove. Mr. Will. Bradford, Capt. Myles Standish,

Joh Alden, Joh Howland, John Done, Stephen Hopkins, Will. Gil-

son, Sam Fuller Senior, John Genny, (Jenny) Godbert Godbertson

& Jonathan Brewster to be brought in by each p'son, as they are heere

under written, rated in corne at ms p. bushell, at or before the last

of November next ensuing, to such place as shall be heere after pa-

pointed to receive the same. And for default heereof the value to

be doubled & accordingly leavied by the public officer for yl end.

Edward Winslow Govr


London : and his services were sold by Mr. Atwood for a period of five

years. This lease of Harris' service was transferred by John Done in April,

1633 to Henry llowland for £14 sterling.

[July 1, 1633] That Capt. Myles Standish, John Done, Stephen

Hopkins, Joshuah Prat, Edward Bangs, Jonathan Brewster & RobHeeks devide the medow grownd in the bay equally according to the

proporcon of shares formerly devided to the purchasers at or before

the last of Aug. next ensuing.— Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 14.

[Oct. 28, 1633] At this Court John Done presented an inventory

of the goods and chattels of Martha Harding deceased, who in be-

half of her son was allowed the administracon of the said Martha.—Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 18.

Note. The widow Martha Harding was taxed in Plymouth in 1632, andwas living there in March, 1633. It has been suggested that she was a sister

of Mr. John Doane. Martha Harding's inventory was presented Oct. 28,

1633. It states that she died without will, leaving a son in the custody of

Mr. John Done, in behalf of whom Mr. Done is allowed to administer. Herestate amoiinted to £20. 18. s 6. Her debts to £33.

9

s 1. John Done charges

her estate with £9. 9. s1 money lent to, or paid out for Martha Harding.

Phoebe Harding married John Brown, Jr., of Duxbury, Mar. 26, 1634.Winnifred Harding married Thomas Whitten in 1639. John Harding wasprobably the " Capt. Harding " sent to treat with the Narragansetts ml 645.

In 1652, Joseph Harding of Eastham was presented to the Grand Enquest," for carrying an Indian's gun into the smith's to bee mended in his uncle's

name." Would John Doane have paid out over nine pounds for the widowHarding, if she was not a relative? Unless a relative, would Martha Hard-

ing have left a son to the custody of John Doane when she evidently hadother children in Plymouth grown to manhood and womanhood?

[Nov. 11, 1G33] It was ordered that whereas Peter Browne died

without will, leaving divers children by divers wives, his estate

amounting to an hundred pounds or thereabouts it is ordered that

Mary his wife who is allowed the administracion of the said Peter,

forwith pay downe fifteen powncls for the use of Mary Browne, daugh-

ter of the said Peter, to Mr. Joh Done of Plymoth aforesaid w Ul

whom the said Court have placed the said Mary for nine yeeares ; at

the end whereof the said John is to make good the said fifteen powndsto her or her heires, if in case she die.

—

Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 18.

[Oct. 10, 1644] Memorand, the tenth of October 1644, that

whereas Mr. John Doane had some tyme since xv 11, the childs

porcon of Mary Browne whom he was to keepe and bring up until

6 THE DOANE FAMILY.

shee should accomplish the age of seventeene yeares, and should have

the use of the said p'con until then. Now the said terme oeing ex-

pired the said John Doane hath deliverd wth the consent of the said

Mary Browne, and by order of the Court, unto John Browne of Dux-

borrow two cowes, two cowes at xii" and forty shillings in swyne

and wheate and is by the Court discharged of the said xv 11

, and the

said John Browne is to keep the said two cowes and their encrease

for their milk w1h the rest of the stock as afores t] untill the said Maryshall be marryed or thought fitt to marry, whereunto the said Maryhath consented.

—

Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. ri, p. 76.

Note. Peter Browne came in the Mayflower in 1620. He deceased before

Oct. 10, 1633. His last wife was Mary who administered upon his estate.

The daughter Mary who for eleven years was under the guardianship of

John Done, in 1644 chose her uncle John Browne of Duxbury as her guar-

dian. The daughter Priscilla was under the guardianship of Wm. Gilson

and likewise chose her uncle John Browne, in 1644, as her guardian.—Vide

N. E. Hist, and Geneal. Begister, 1883 : p. 276.

[Nov. 11, 1633] At this Court Phineas Prat appointed to take

into his possession all the goods & chattels of Godbert Godbertson

& Sarah his wife & safley to preserve them according to an inven-

tory upon oath to be true and just by Mr. John Done & Mr. Steph.

Hopkins.

—


[Feb. 14, 1633-4] Joh Coomb, gent, hath sold unto Joh Done& his heires forever a dwelling howse & misted w th the inclosure &out bowsing thereunto belonging next adjoining to the late dwelling

howse of Godbert Godbertson on the West side thereof & the herring

wire on the est. for & in consideracon of nine pownds, ten shillings,

whereof eight pownds to be paid to Mr. Will. Bradford & the other

thirty shillings to Josias Wynslow.

—


Note. Godbert Godbertson, who was fromLeyden, came to Plymouth in

1623. He contracted marriage with Sarah, a sister of Isaac Allerton, wasin full communion, says Winslow, with the purposes of this English com-

pany in Holland and New England. He died in 1633. The estate in 1633

was appraised by Mr. John Done and Mr. Stephen Hopkins. It is possible

that Sarah the wife of Godbertson had been the widow of John Vincent

and of Degory Priest and that her daughters Mary and Sarah, who becamethe wives of John Coombs and Phineas Pratt, were daughters of DegoryPriest. It would appear that the estate of Godbert Godbertson and wifeSarah was much involved. The same date on which John Done was ap-

pointed an appraiser of the personal effects of the family in possession of

Phineas Pratt, he—John Done—bought of John Coombs house and land


adjoining the homestead of Godbertson. The estate of Godbertson mayhave largely belonged to his wife Sarah and possibly it was really the rem-

nants of the estate of Degory Priest. It is a debated question whether

John Coombs and Phineas Pratt married daughters of Degory Priest.

They certainly were the daughters of Sarah, the wife of Godbert Godbert-

son. The families were all highly connected, but have afforded several

genealogical puzzles.

[January 2, 1633-34] At this Court Mr. John Done being for-

merly chosen to the office of a deacon in the Church at the request of

the Church & himselfe was freed from the office of an Assistant in

the Comon Weale.

—

Ply. Col. Bec.Vol. i, p. 23.

Note. John Doane preferred to be a Deacon in the Church rather than

an Assistant to the Governor in the affairs of the Colony. His position

would suggest that he deemed the offices inconsistent one with the other.

The question of the day was "separation" and "independence;" hence wecan slightly appreciate his course of thought in deciding. Nevertheless, Mr.

Doane, henceforth, was frequently summoned to act upon committees for

the welfare of the community.

Note. The Plymouth policy of separating Church and State was this

year illustrated in the case of John Doane, who, having been elected and

ordained deacon, was for that reason voluntarily discharged as one of the

Governor's Council.—Goodwin's Pilgrim Bepublic, p. 376.

Note. In 1633 a fever carried off Thomas Blossom and Richard Master-

son of the late comers. They were deacons of the church at Plymouth.

Their offices were filled by Wm.^Paddy and John Doane, also recent comers.

Goodwin's Pilgrim Bepublic, p. 378.

[Jan. 5, 1635-36] At this Court was chosen to assist ye Gover

& Councell to sett shuch rates on goods to be sould & labourers for

their hire as should be meete & juste.

John Done John Jenney

John Winslow John Browne

Manasah Kemton John Barnes

Kenelme Winslow—Fly. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 36.

[July 5, 1635] At ye same Court it was agreed to be needfull to

build a mille : and these 4 whose names are under written were by ye

Courte appoynted to collecte ye money for the building of ye same,

as also to agree with workmen and order other all things for ye

dispatch thereof.

Captaine Standish John Done &Mr. William Collier John Winslow.

—Ply. Col. Bee. Vol. i, p. 85.

8 THE DOANE FAMILY.

Note. Stephen Deane, who came in the Fortune in 1621, was a miller. In

1632, he desired "to sett up a water-worke to beat corn." In this he was en.

couraged. He deceased in Sept., 1634. In July. 1635, John Doane was one

of a committee to build a mill. The project of a public mill was futile, for

in March, 1636, John Jenny was given liberty to build the mill which wasoperated by him and his son for more than forty years.

[Mar. 1, 1635-36] It was ordered that Mr. John Done, John

Jenny, Manasseh Kempton, Josuah Pratt, John Winslow, Edw.

Bangs & Stephen Tracy be added to the Gov 1' & Assistants for the

ceasing of men for the publick charge of this first present year.

—Ply. Col. Pec. Vol. i, p. 38.

[Oct. 4, 1636] The ordnance of the colony & corporation being

read, divers were fownd worthy the reforming, others the rejecting

& others fitt to be instituted & made. It was therefore ordered and

agreed that four for the town of Plymouth, two for Scituate and two

for Duxburrow, shall as Comittees for the whole be added to the

Gov 1' & Assistants to rectefie & prepr such as should be thought

most convenient, that if approved they may be put in force the next

Generall Court. The p'ties mencioned for the towne of Plymouth.

Mr. Will. Brewster John DoneMr. Ralph Smith Joh Jeney

—Ply. Col. Pec. Vol. i, pp. 43, 44.

[Nov. 15, 1636] Whereas, at his Malies Court held the 4 th & 5th

of Octob 1' in the 12 th yeare of the raigne of our Sov. Lord Charles by

the Grace of God King of Eng 1 Scott, ffr. & Irel. Defender of the

ffaith &c. It was ordered that Mr. William Brewster, Mr. Ralph

Smith, Mr. John Done & John Jenny for the Town of Plymouth

:

Jonathan Brewster & Chris [topher] Wadsworth for Duxborrough &James Ciulworth & Anthony Annable for Situate should be (added)

to the Gov 1' & Assistants as Committees for the whole body of this

Comon weale should meete together the 15th of Nov 1" at Plymouth

above menconed and there to p' use all the lawes orders & consti-

tucons of the plantacons in this Govenment, so that those that are

still fitting (might) be established, those that hath made (un)necesary

might be rejected & others that are wanting might be preprd that so

the nex (t) Court they might be established.

Now being assembled according to the said (order) and having

read the Combinacon made at (Cape) Cod the 11 th Novb 1' 1620 in the

yeare of (the) raigne of our late Sov. L. King James of Eng1ff (&)

Irel. the eighteenth & of Scotland the fifty (fourth) as our letters

DESCENDANTS OF DEA. JOHN DOANE. V

Patents confirmed by (the) honorable Councell his sd Matle established

& (granted) the 13 th of January 1629 in the fefte yeare of the raigne

of our Sov. Lord King Charles. And finding that as freeborne sub-

jects of the State of Engl, we hither came indewed with all & sin-

gular the priviledges belong to such, in the first place we thinke good

that it be establish (ed) for an act. That according to the & due

priviledge of the subject aforesaid no imposicon law or ordnance be

made or imposed upon us by ourselves (or others at) present or to

come but such as shall be made (or) imposed by consent according

to the free liberties (of the) State & Kingdom of Engl. & no other-

wise.

—

Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. n, p. 6.

Note. In 1636, Elder Brewster, Pastor Smith and Deacons Doane and

Jenney of Plymouth, Jonathan Brewster and Christopher Wadsworth of

Duxbury, James Cndworth and Anthony Annable of Scituate were joined to

the Governor and Council for the preparation of a regular system of laws.

They began with the declaration of the Mayflower Compact, &c. Until now,

1636, there was no law establishing the offices of Governor, Councillors or

Constables. By general consent, for fifteen years, they were chosen annu-

ally.—Goodwin's Pilgrim Republic, p. 401.

Note. They assembled according to the Order and having read the com-

bination made at Cape Cod the 11 th of Nov., 1620, on board of the Mayflower,

they performed the important work for which they were appointed. This

was the first revision of the laws of the Colony ; and to be appointed one of

the Committee for this work was a mark of distinction showing that Deacon

Doane was respected for his wisdom and integrity.—Pratt's Hist, of Eastham,

p. 16.

[March 14, 1635-36] That widow Billington have the marsh

against her owne grownd & what is too much for her is for Mr. Done.—Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 40.

[June 7, 1636] John Done, yeoman entreth an acco of slander

& layeth it in an 100 lb against Helin Billington widow.

—

Ply. Col.

Rec. Vol. i, p. 41.

At this Court an action of slander was tried between John Done,

plaintiffe & Helin Billington defendant wherein the defend 1 was cast

in five pownds starling to the plaintife and adjudged to be sett in the

stocks and whipt.

—


Note. Billington's name seemed for a time to be one of ill-omen. His

widow succeeded to his farm at Plain Dealing (two miles North of Plymouth

Kock), and for her cattle, was, in 1636, authorized by the Court to mow the

adjacent grass ; but " what is too much for her " was to go to Deacon John

Doane. A controversy ensued, doubtless as to tins " too much," and the

10 THE DOANE FAMILY.

deacon charging the dame with slander sued for £10 damages. The Courtgave the complainant nothing ; but evidently finding slander very flagrant

sentenced the defendant to a fine of £5, to sit in the stocks and to be publickly

whipped.—Goodwin's Pilgrim Republic, p. 343.

Note. Nov. 25, 1633, Mr. Thomas Prence and Mr. John Doane were ap-

praisers upon the estate of Francis Eaton. The last wife of Francis Eatonwas Christian Penn, who afterwards became the wife of Francis Billington.

[Dec. 30, 1636] "Whereas the now dwelling howse with all & sin-

gular the outhousing, lands & enclosures in the use & occupacon of

John Done of Plymouth, neere unto Playne Dealing, were in p't'ner-

ship between the said John Done & John Atwood, late of London,Gent. : Now know ye that upon accounts between the said Job, &John, the said John Atwood for & in consideracon of three score

pownds, hath bought out the said John Done, his heires & assignes so

that it remayneth wholly to the said John Atwood & his heires for-

ever.

—

Ply. Col. Bee. Vol. i, p. 47.

Note. John Atwood died abt. 1644. He came over from London about1635, and at once assumed a prominent place in the affairs of Plymouth. Hewas an Assistant to the Governor in 1638 and was Deputy for Plymouth from1641 to his death.

He was treasurer of the Colony in 1641. He resided near the " Rock " in

a house which he purchased of Governor Prence. His widow Ann removedto Boston. She deceased June 1, 1654. Wm. Crowe was a nephew andRobert and Mary Lee were kinsmen. Both Mr. and Mrs. Atwood left wills.

John Atwood was prominent and wealthy. At times he was called JohnWood. His Plymouth estate was sold to Benjamin Vermayes who marriedMercy, dau. of Gov. Bradford. The scales of widow Ann Atwood weredeclared by the General Court to be " standard." In 1641, Mr. Atwood wasthe agent of James Sherley of London. Mr. Sherley was ever actively

promoting the interests of the people of Plymouth. In 1624 he made a gift

to Plymouth and also in 1638.

Note. Several are the instances where the names of John Atwood andJohn Doane are associated. They had dealings with each other more thantwo years before the coming of John Atwood from London about 1635, andit maybe that their partnership reached farther than the joint ownership ofa houselot in Plymouth. Perhaps Mr. Doane was a partner in business in

London with John Atwood. Mr. John Doane and Mr. John Atwood werepartners in a dwelling house and enclosures near unto Playne Dealing in

Plymouth previous to Dec. 30, 1636, not long after Mr. Atwood's arrival fromLondon. These references which seemingly unite them are strong sugges-tions not only of partnership in Plymouth, but likewise before either of themventured to the Plymouth Colony. In 1636, Mr. Atwood purchased the por-

tion of Mr. Doane by the payment of three score pounds. They had further

dealings with each other, and June 2, 1639, John Doane promised at the


Court of Assistants to pay John Atwood the sum of £3.17* sterling within

a year and Mr. Atwood promised to forbear until that time.

[Mar. 7, 1636-7] Concerning the trade of beaver, corne & beads,

&c. wth the Indians, it is agreed by the consent of the Court, that

they that now have yt shall hold yt untill the next Court the be-

gining of June; and then further conference to be had for the

mannageing thereof, that such further course may be taken therein as

shalbe thought fitt. And in the meane season Mr. Hopkins, Mr.

Atwood, Mr. Done & Jonathan Brewster shalbe added to the Gouvr

and Assistants to advise upon such p'p'ositions and wayes so as the

said trade may be still continued to the benefit of the Collony.—Ply.

Col. Bee. Vol. i, p. 54.

[June 22, 1637] John Done of Plym. Gent. Suritie for Thomas

Butler of Ducksborrow.— Ply. Col. Bee. Vol. i, p. 63.

Note. Thomas Butler removed from Duxbury to Sandwich in 1640, and

returned to Duxbury before 1657. He may have been of Lynn before 1637.

Just why Mr. Doane was surety for him is not known. He may have been

one of his workmen.

[Oct. 2, 1637] Seaven acrees of land are graunted to William

Hodgkinson upon the north side of Winslows Walk towards the

Cedar Swamp where Mr. Atwood & Mr. Done have lands.—Ply. Col.

Bee. Vol. i, p. 66.

[Oct. 2, 1637] Ten acres graunted to Mr. John Done in the same

place (Playne Dealing) northward from Winslowes Walk toward the

Cedar Swamp to belong to his house at Plymouthe & to be therewth

all used and not sold from it.— Ply. Col. Bee. Vol. i, p. 65.

Note. Deacon John Doane had frequent grants of land from Court,

which must have been because of his many services in behalf of the Colony.

He was continually rendering services as Deputy from Plymouth or Eastham

and serving on Committees where interests were at stake and on the Grand

Jury. His original grant at Eastham was because he was one of the " Pur-

chasers "or "Old Comers;" but his various grants at Jones River, now

Kingston, at Rehoboth, to the north of Taunton, etc. etc., were undoubtedly

because of his many public services.

Note. "Playne Dealing," where some of the land of John Doane was

situated, was at "Seaside" in northern part of the present Plymouth. Wins-

lows "Walk" (obsolete word for pasture) was in this vicinity also, near

High Cliff. "Doane's Field," mentioned in many records, is that tract em-

braced largely by the Plymouth Cemetery Association.

[Sept. 14, 1637] Mathew Osborne by his indenture beareing date


the third day of May in the xiii year of his Matios now raigne &c.

hath bound himself apprentice to John Read of Waymouth, for the

terme of six yeares next after the date of the said indenture wUl divers

other covenants on both pts to prformed contained & expressed in

the said indenture. Now the said John Read for and in consideracon

of the suine of eight pounds to him in hand payd by John Done of NewPlymouth hath with and by the consent of the sd Mathew Osborne

put him over to the said John Done, to serve all the residue of his

tyme according to the s (1 indenture.

—


Note. Matthew Osborne was probably a son of John Osborne of Wey-mouth. He deceased in 1041 at Weymouth. His age was not stated, but he

was probably a man grown as many of the "indentured" men, indentured

themselves to men of means who had employment, for the purpose of pay

ing their passage across the ocean or of working out some indebtedness

caused by misfortune or loss in business.

[June 4, 1639] Mr. John Done is allowed to draw wine until the

next Court.

—


[June 2, 1640] Also we p'sent Mr. Done for selling wine con-

trary to order made by Court. It was mistaken by the grand inquest

and so he was discharged by the Court the 3 rd Septembr 1640, and

appoynted by the Court to be thus rased out.

—

Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i,

p. 156.

[Jan. 7, 1644-5] Whereas Mr. John Done is lycensed to draw

wyne in Plymouth, and that James Cole is likewise lycensed to keepe

the ordinaiy there wchis very inconvenyent to many persons, the

Court hath therefore lycensed the said James Cole from this day

foward to draw wyne if he shall agree wth Mr. Done to take off those

wynes hee now hath in his hands. Agreement was after made be-

twixt them.

—

Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. n, pp. 79, 80.

[Sept. 7, 1641] Mr. John Done, Mr. Willm Paddy & Nathaniell

Sowther are appoynted by the Court to view James Luxfords bookes

and to certify the Court what they find therein.

—

Ply. Col. Rec. Vol.

ii, p. 24.

Note. James Luxford ran an unsavory course during his years in NewEngland. He was of Cambridge and of Duxbury. He may or may not have

deceased when the committee " viewed " the " books."

[Mar. 3, 1644-45] It is ordered that Mr. Miles Standish, Mr.

John Done & John Dunhame shall take the accounts of Mr. Thomas

Prence for his treasurership of its receipts and payments and certefye

the Court thereof.

—

Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. n, p. 82.


Note. Governor Prence served the Plymouth Colony in many capacities.

In his removal to Eastham it was his wish to retire as much as possible from

public service. The above auditorship may have been an annual affair, but

appears to have been the closing of his service as treasurer.

Note. Rev. Ralph Smith came to New England in 1628. In 1629 he set-

tled in Plymouth where he was pastor until 1636. From 1631 to 1634 Rev.

Roger Williams was his assistant. Mr. Smith resigned in 1636, but con-

tinued to reside in Plymouth until 1642 when he removed to Manchester to

be the minister of the church there. He died in Boston in 1661. When he

removed from Plymouth, John Doane as agent for the church at Plymouth

gave him six score pounds for his house, buildings and garden plot together

with six acres in the " Newfleld," and every other right he may have in Ply-

mouth. This home of the pastor was soon deeded by Deacon John Doane to

Rev. John Reyner, who served as minister at Plymouth eighteen years. Rev.

Mr. Reyner began his pastorate about 1636 and removed to Dover, N. H., in

1644 where he died in 1669.

Note. In the list of one hundred and forty-seven in all between the ages

of 16 and 60 years, able to bear arms in Aug., 1643, are the following who

have the honorable prefix of " Mr." attached to their names. There were

others resident in Plymouth who at this time were not able to bear arms.

William Hanbury William Bradford

John Atwood Thomas Prence

John Done John Reynor

William Paddy

[Sept. 27, 1642] Mr. Prence, Mr. Done, Mr. Paddy, Mr. Jenny

and Joshua Pratt are appointed to lay forth all the lands above

graunted.

—

Ply. Col. Bee. Vol. n, p. 48.

About this time there was a desire on the part of many in Plymouth

to take up new lands. The new charter had given three parcels of

land into the hands of the " Old Comers," and these people were on

the lookout, for land which could be more profitably cultivated.

Nauset or Eastham was one of the three tracts reserved to the "Pur-

chasers," on the transfer of the Warwick Patent to the Colonists in

1641. Affairs at Plymouth had not been prospering as formerly.

There was not sufficient upland. There was without doubt a slight

division in the Church, which made those persons of similar minds

and ambitions to think of removal to Nauset.

In 1644 the movement towards the new settlement at Nauset began,

but the final removal was in 1645. The leaders in the enterprise were

Ex Governor Thomas Prence, Deacon John Doane, Nicholas Snow,

Josiah Cooke, Richard Higgins, John Smalley (Small) and Edward

Bangs.


The fortunes at Plymouth were even at a lower ebb after this emi-

gration. Strong men in Plymouth had already deceased, such as

Brewster, Atwood, Hopkins and Jenny and now the removal of other

strong leaders brought double discouragement to the hearts of the

Pilgrims. Bradford and Howland still remained, but they were aged.

Bradford, in his wonderful history says : "Thus was this poor church

left like an ancient mother grown old and forsaken of her children

(though not in their affections), until she had made many rich became

herself poor."

[Feb. 19, 1645] Memorand.—That Mr. John Done doth acknowl-

edg that for and in consideration of the sum of tenn pownds sterl.

to be payd by Mr. William Hanbury of Plymouth w th in the space of

one whole yeare now next ensuing hath freely and absolutely bar-

gained and sold unto the said Willni Hanbury all that his dwelling

house and garden places, barne and buildings in and upon the same

wth all the fruit trees now growing thereon scituate in Plymouth

aforesaid wth all and singular th apprnts thereunto belonging and all

his Right title and Interest of and unto the said pr'miss and every

part and p'cell thereof wth the fences about the same. To have and

hold the said House and garden places, barne & buildings wth all

the fruit trees and all and singular the apprtences thereunto belong-

ing unto the said Willm. Hanbury his heirs and Assignes forever to

the onely pper use and behoofe of him the said Willm. Hanbury his

heires and Assignes forever.

The corne now groweing in the garden is excepted wth some half

a dosseu of smale fruite trees wch the said Willm. Hanbury shall give

the said John Done at the fall or spring.

—

Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. xu, p.

136.

The value of the homestead of John Doane at Plymouth does not

betray affluence. On removing to Nauset he sold his homestead for

£10. Perhaps his business ventures in common with others had not

been successful. This was doubtless a large reason for his fresh

adventure at Nauset when he was fifty-five years old. But rich or

poor his wisdom and counsel were ever sought and respected.

The territory of Nauset, purchased of the Indians, for which they

paid "moose skins, Indian boats, wampum and little knives," em-

braced the greater part of the present town of Orleans, Eastham and

Wellfleet. The deed from the Indians confirmatory of the purchase,

was given Nov. 9, 1666. Nauset is an Indian name, and was ap-

plied by the Aborigines to a particular locality in the present town


of Easthani. Our forefathers gave the name to the whole purchase,

and so it was called until 1651, when the Court at Plymouth promul-

gated an order that henceforth Nauset should be called Eastham.

Deacon Doane settled on the north of Town Cove. The early

records do not show the amount of land laid out to him at the time

of the settlement. The History of Eastham says : "He took pos-

session of about two hundred acres, and his house stood near the

water." At various times after he became a resident of Eastham he

bad land granted him by the Court as well as by the town. It is

claimed that stone posts beariug his initials, and marking the bound-

aries of his large farm were standing as late as 1844.

Iu Eastham towu affairs John Doane was an important man. Hewas appointed by the Court June 1, 1663, to solemnize marriages and

to administer oaths to witnesses. He was a deacon of the First

Church there and served the town as selectman for many years. In

1649, 1650, 1651, 1653 and 1659 he was a Deputy to the Colony

Court for Eastham as he had been in 1642 and 1643 for the town of

Plymouth.

On Dec. 2, 1681, John Doane conveyed by deed, in which he is

styled "Gent., Tayler," his Eastham homestead to his daughter

Abigail as appears by the following extract from Ply. Col. Rec.

Vol. 5 of Deeds, p. 89 :

"To all people to whom these prsents shall come. Greeting. Know

yee thatt I, John Doane, Gent. Tayler of the Towne of Eastham in the

Jurisdiction of New Plymouth in New England in America, for divers con-

siderations, mee thereunto mouving, and especially for that love and naturall

affection, which I bear to my daughter Abigaill Doane; hath freely, fully

and absolutely given, granted infeoffed and confirmed; and by these prsents,

doth give, graunt, enfeoffe and confirm unto my said daughter Abigaill

Doane of the Towne and Jurisdiction aforesaid ; to her and her heires,

executors, administrators and assignes, forever, my dwelling house withall the upland and meddow about the said house ; The land being'by estima-

tion twelve acrees, more or less, and two acrees of meddow, be it more or

lesse, in a place comonly called the acrees, or the Comon Cove in the boate

meddow ; The said house land and meddow is sittuated and being in the

Towne shipp of Eastham ; with all and singular the appurtenances to the said

given prmises, or any yte or p rsell of them forever" etc.

In his will dated May 18, 1678, Mr. Doane declares his age

"eighty-eight years or thereabouts." If his own statement is cor-

rect he was born not far from 1590. He died Feb. 21, 1685, aged

about ninety-five years. His inventory taken by his neighbors


Joseph Snow and Joshua Bangs, says "aged about 100 years." His

wife's name appears as Abigail. They were undoubtedly interred in

the old cemetery at Eastham, the first burial ground of the town.

On Sept. 10, 1869, a Doane Family memorial meeting was held at

Eastham to witness the erection of a granite post on the site of

Deacon John Doane's house. This site is on the eastern side of the

town, perhaps three hundred yards from the waters of Nauset Bay

extending to the south, about one-half mile from the Atlantic shore

and two and one- half miles from Barnstable Bay on tbe west. Theold cellar now overgrown with wild grass is in a field of about fifteen

acres, owned by Mr. Benjamin Higgins. The stone, a rough block

of granite, was erected by the Hon. John Doane of Orleans (291) on

which occasion an historical address was delivered by Heman Doane,

Esq. (319) followed by the singing of an original hymn.

The following is a copy of all documents in the settlement of John

Doane's estate found in the Registry of Probate at Barnstable, Mass.

The will of Deacon John Doane.

Eastham in the Colony of New Plimouth in New England this 18th of May1768 I John Doane aged eighty and eight years or thereabout in considera-

tion of my many Infirmitees that daily attend me and may in a moment close

up my Life and therfore do think it meet to make this my last will and tes-

tament; and first I give my soul to god that gave it and my body to a

decent burial in the earth from whence it was taken. And for my outward

estate I do dispose of it to those that God hath given me In the Bonds of

Nature and it being of Little valine in your journey heavenward I do exhort

you all to Labour after Indeuer and be Laying out for the kingdom of Right-

eousness thereof and an Inheritance amongst the saints in Light and then

all your needs and wants will be supplied. And to my Loving wife I give

Loane and bequeath my now dwelling house Scituated and being in the Townof Eastham with all the upland and meadow about y

e sd house and twoacres of meadow more or less In a place comonly called y

e Acres Likewise

I give to my Loving wife all my moveables of all kinds as household stuff

cattle of all kinds or whatsoever are mine I give wholy and fulley for her

comfortable subsistence during her Life, And after decease I give the house

land and meadow above specified to my daughter Abigal Doane I make myson John Doane whole and sole executor and to my sd John Doane I give

twenty seven acres of upland more or less seven acres of it Lyeth Joyning

to a parcel of land the Towne granted him and fifteen acres of it Lyeth on

the west side of llockharbonr mouth and the other five acres Lyeth at Nauset

Joyning to my sd Soun John his Laud And I give to my sd sonn John Doaneeight acres of land at poche Island with all my right and Interest in the

Towne of Eastham as being a Towne purcheser and to my sd son John I


give a tract of Land granted to me by the honnoured court holden at pli-

mouth by his magesties order Invested with power to do equity and Justice

to his poor distresed Subjectes the grant was a hundred acres of upland and

meadow Answerable to it.

I give to my son Daniel Doane all that Land which he now Liveth upon

and twenty acres of land nere a place called the dry swamp ; and I give to

my sd son Daniel four acres and a half of meadow scituate and being on the

southerly side of the boat meadow I give to my son Ephraim Doane twenty

acres of upland and four acres of meadow be it more or less scituate and be-

ing at little Billingsgate.

I give to my granddaughter Margaret Hixs one Truuk and one payer of

sheets.

I give to my above sd son John Doane my great Table and the forme that

belongs unto it and I make him whole and sole executor of this my Last will

and testament that after my wife is deceased and the debts paid out of myestate to devide what is Leift equaly amongst all my sons and daughters.

And so I leave you all to the Lord in whose hand I desire you may be all

kept by his allmighty power threw faith unto salvation which is my great

and earnist desire for you all and rest and under hopefullness that you will

Live in Love and peace here walking in Love one with another and the Godof Love and peace be with you and bring you to the kingdom of peace at

Last.

Signed and sealed

In the presence of us John DoaneSamuel Freeman. a(seale)

Gershom Hall.

Samuel Freeman made oath in Court ye 2d June 1686 that he see John

Doane signe seal & declare this to be his Last will and Testament & that he

was of disposing mind when he so did.

As Attest John Walley Assist.

Gershom Hall made oath in the prerogative Court in Barnstable May ye 31th

1687 that he saw John Doane signe seal and declare this to be his last will

and Testament and that he was of a disposing when he did so.

Attest Joseph Lothrop D R

Truly Transcribed out of the (tfiginal duly compared therewith and en-

tered June ye 8th 1687.

Attest Joseph Lothrop Depy Registar.

An Inventory of the estate of Mr. John Doaue deceased the 21 th of Feb-

ruary 1685 aged about a hundred years.

It. one fether bed two bed bolsters and one pillow 02-15-00

It. one Rugg 00-12-00

It. three bed blankets 00-16-00

It. one payer of sheets 00-16-00

It. three pillow Bears 00-06-00

It. two Table Clothes 00-10-06

2


It. three napkins 00-04-00

It. two Towels 00-01-00

It. two pewter platters 00-06-00

It. one porenger, two sausers 00-01-06

It. one Beere bowle, one wine cup 00-01-06

It. one Brass cullinder, one skimer 00-02-00

It. one Skillet one payer of Scales and weight 00-04-06

It. one half pint pott ten trenchers one earthern pott -01-11

It. 4 earthern pots two chesevats one brush 00-02-04

It. one cubbord 1 Box one Desk 00-13-06

It. 3 chests one Tray 00-09-00

It. one payer of tongs one fork one morter and pessel 00-06-00

It. one payer of Andirons old pewter 00-09-09

It. one pressing Iron two Chaires 00-08-06

It. one Smouthing Iron one tunnel 00-01-09

It. old Iron one little Box one chaire one whele 00-05-04

It. 9 Books a glass Bottle a sword hammer foot handsaw 00-13-00

This 21th of may 1686 this Inventory

was prized by usJoseph SnowJoshua Bangs

s

It. one spit one Bullit of about 3

It. two small old baggs one Brass plate

It. one payer of large pot hooks.

It. one Looking glass :

these other things come to 00-05-00

This 29 may 1686 Abigal Doane made oath to the truth of this Invintory

before meJohn Freeman, Assist.

Truly transcribed out of the original duly compared therewith and entered

June the 8 th 1689.

Attest JosErn Lothrop DR.

Children of Deacon John Doane

2 i Lydia, 2 b. .

3 ii Abigail, 2 b. Jan. 13, 1632.

4 iii John, 2 b. about 1635.

5 iv Daniel, 2 b. about 1636.

6 v Ephraim, 2 b .

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