Four Sons of Thomas and Phebe West

Wests in Essex County, Massachusetts:

Four Sons of Thomas and Phebe West

Compiled by Joy Ikelman, April 2014. Revised, June 2014. Disclaimers apply. Note: The use of double dating, such as 1630/1631, reflects the difference between the Julian and Gregorian Calendars.

Background: Judah West (b. 11 Sep 1765; d. 9 Apr 1825) was added to West DNA Family Group #5 in 2007. [1] He is a descendant of Thomas West (b. 1630/1631; d. 23 Dec 1720). This is the sixth in a series of articles about this line of the FG#5 West families.

Currently (April 2014) Henry West (1629-1703) and his brother Thomas West (1630/1631-1720) are the earliest documented members of Family Group #5.

Four Sons, Many Descendants

This article is about the four sons of Thomas West and his first wife Phebe Waters West—Samuel West, Joseph West, Benjamin West, and John West. There are many descendants today from these brothers.

A more complete lineage, with additional branches of this family tree, will be posted on the West Family DNA Project—Group #5 site in the future.

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(1) Samuel West (1659/1660-1685)

Summary: Samuel West lived in Salem and Bradford, Essex County, MA. He had a short and difficult life. He died at about age 25. He married Rhoda Meacham. A son, Samuel Jr., was born after his death.

Early Years of Samuel West

Samuel West was born 23 Mar 1659/1660 in Salem. [2] He was baptized on 25:1:1665 (March, Julian calendar) at First Church, Salem. [3] He was baptized with his brothers Benjamin and Joseph, and his cousin Elizabeth (daughter of Uncle Henry West and Aunt Elizabeth West). When he was 15 years old, his mother died and his father remarried. The West family moved to Bradford in 1678. [4]

Samuel West’s Head Injury

In 1679, his father brought a case to the Essex County Court: [5]

Thomas West, in behalf of his son, Samuell West v. Anthony Wood. For striking up the heels and violently striking said Samuel down. Verdict for plaintiff.

Today “kicking up our heels” means having fun. In the 1600s, it meant “to be killed.” [6] A footnote to the case reads:

John Bennet, aged about 35 yrs, deposed that a little while after his apprentice, Samuel West, came to live with him he complained of a pain in his head and said it came from a blow he received about a year before. “In the time of the war Thomas West was at my house and desired me that I would let Samuell West his sonne to keep a little out of the way in the time of the press but said if he should be prest I do not fear but that I shall get him freed because he had hurt himselfe by a fall.” Sworn in court.

In the deposition, Thomas West told Bennet to make allowances if there was a “press” on Samuel at “the time of the war.” A press was a military draft. The war was probably King Philip’s War—also called the First Indian War, 1675-1678. [7]

The Last Years of Samuel West’s Life

Samuel West became a member of First Congregational, Bradford on 6:8:1683 (October, Julian calendar). [8] His name is mentioned in a deposition at the Essex County court on 29 Jun 1685. [9]

He may have died in the summer of 1685. An estate inventory for “Samuell Westt” was taken on 14 Aug 1685, and presented in Essex County court. The inventory listed:  “cloath left at James Holtons, 10s; 2 old Coates, an old pr. of Breeches & an old Shirt & Hatt, 10s; an old pr. Of shoos, 1s; total £1, 1s.” [10, 11]

This was a very poor man. It is not clear if this was the son of Thomas West. However, West researchers often use this date because of the guardian record (below). Samuel West married Rhoda Meacham before his death, and she was pregnant when he died. [12] Rhoda named their baby Samuel West, Jr.

Samuel West, Jr.

We do not know the exact date of Samuel, Jr.’s birth, but we can use available information for an estimate. He was baptized on 21 Jun 1691 at First Congregational, Bradford. [13] Rhoda Meacham West died before Apr 1694. Jeremiah Meacham’s Will of Apr 1694 stated: “Item 4. My daughter Rhoda being deceased my will and desire is. . . her Son Samuel West Shall have . . . five pounds.” [14]

On 23 Mar 1695/1696, official guardianship of Samuel, Jr. was granted to Thomas West. Here is an abstract:

“An Essex Co. Mass., probate file #29372-“We Thomas West of Bradford, (Meaning-we, Thos. & Henry.) as principle, being appointed & allowed Guardian unto Samuel West Son of Samll West decd & Rhoda his wife also decd being a minor ten yrs & upward & Henry West of Salem as surety,” were bonded 23 Mar. 1695/6, for Thomas’ guardianship of his grandson Samuel.” [15]

According to this document, Samuel, Jr. would have been born in 1685/1686 if he was 10 years old. If he was more than 10 years old, his birth year would be earlier than 1685/1686. Thus, the Samuel West who died in the summer of 1685 (in the inventory of Aug 1685) was possibly his father.  In 9 Nov 1722, Samuel West, Jr. received a portion of his estate from his grandmother Mary Tenney West. [16]

Samuel West, Jr. Married Dorothy Eggleston

Samuel West, Jr. married Dorothy Eggleston on 24 February 1708. The couple settled in Windsor, CT. Many West descendants came from this union. [17] Their children were [18]:

1. Joseph West (b. 2 Mar 1711)

2. Samuel West (b. 28 Oct 1714)

3. William West (b. 27 Mar 1717)

4. Thomas West (b. 21 Jul 1719)

5. Asa West (b. 19 Nov 1721)

6. Dorothy West (b. 19 Aug 1723)

7. child (b. and d. 26 Feb 1726)

8. Hannah West (b. 13 Aug 1727)

9. Elizabeth West (b. 7 Jun 1730)

10. Benjamin West (b. 1 Aug 1733)

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(2) Joseph West (1663-1739)

Summary: Joseph West lived in Salem, Bradford, and Andover, Essex County, MA, and also Enfield, Hartford County, CT. He and his brother, Benjamin, obtained land in Connecticut about the same time. Joseph West spent his later years in Bradford and Andover with his wife Bethia.

Early Years of Joseph West

Joseph West was born 3:7m:1663 in Salem (September, Julian calendar). [17] He was baptized on 25:1:1665 at First Church, Salem. [18] He was baptized with his brothers Samuel and Benjamin, and his cousin Elizabeth (daughter of Uncle Henry West and Aunt Elizabeth West).

When he was about 11 years old, his mother died and his father remarried. When he was 15, he moved with his family from Salem to Bradford. By age 20, he was living on his own in Enfield.

Joseph West’s Land in Enfield, Connecticut

In 1679, the selectmen of the town of Springfield, Hampden County, MA created a plantation (land for farming) south of their boundaries at Freshwater Brook. The first settlers from outside of Springfield were from Salem—some called it “Salem Colony.” [19] A surveying error placed the settlement of Enfield in Massachusetts Colony instead of Connecticut Colony. This was officially corrected in 1749. [20] Today Enfield is part of Hartford County, CT.

On 18 Jul 1683, the Committee for Enfield granted to “Joseph West a homelot of 12 acres, of field land 26 acres, and meadow four acres” provided that he “settle at Enfield by micalstide [autumn] come two years or else such grant to be void.” [21] West’s homelot is shown on a hand-drawn map prepared by the Enfield Historical Society: Town Plat of Enfield, Conn. and its Extension Through the North and South Fields, 1680-1700. [22]

Benjamin West, Joseph’s brother, was granted 35 acres forfeited by Nathaniel Mun of Springfield. [23] Their brother-in-law from Salem, Isaac Meacham, also settled in Enfield about the same time. Isaac’s sister Rhoda Meacham had married Samuel West (another West brother). [24]

Joseph West’s land was in Northfield First Division. Benjamin’s land was in Southfield Fourth Division. Isaac Meacham’s land was on the east side. [25]

On 7 Jan 1691, the Enfield selectmen listed 26 men (mostly first settlers) who had not taken part in clearing bushes in August. The men were told to do the job by the following June or pay a fine. Joseph and Benjamin West were mentioned in this list of men. [26]

In 1693, Joseph West exchanged homelots with Zechariah Booth. [27]

On 13 Nov 1695, Joseph West transferred his land to Benjamin. “Joseph West of Bradford in Essex to his brother Benjamin West living in Enfield, all lands and rights in Enfield.” [28]

Joseph West Marries Bethia Marston

On 22 December 1703, Joseph married Bethia Marston of Andover. [29] They had no children.

I located three records for Joseph West in Bradford Town Records [30]. In each he was chosen as a tithingman—20 Mar 1710/1711; 13 Mar 1715; and 12 Mar 1716. A tithingman maintained order during church services, enforced the Sabbath laws, and monitored disorderly conduct.

When Thomas West died in 1720, Joseph was listed in the estate document with other surviving adult children. [31]

It is likely that Joseph and Bethia lived in Bradford until 1727. At that time they transferred their church membership to First Church, Andover. [32] Joseph West died 26 Nov 1739 and Bethia West died 8 Feb 1739/1740. [33] Joseph West’s Will was settled on 11 Dec 1739—the estate executor was David Foster of Andover. [34, 35]

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(3) Benjamin West (1665-1733)

Summary: Benjamin West was the great-grandfather of Judah West and Aaron West. He lived in Salem and Bradford, Essex County, MA; Enfield, Hartford County, CT; and, Middletown, Middlesex County, CT.

He was born 1 Oct 1665 in Salem. [36] Benjamin married Hannah Shadduck (or Shaddock) on 14 Mar 1692. [37] I found five children listed in various Connecticut records—Hannah West, Phebe West, Benjamin West (Jr.), Mary West, and Abigail West.

Benjamin West was mentioned in his Uncle Henry West’s Will of 1703. More about Benjamin West and his descendants will be provided in a future blog entry.

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(4) John West (1667-1739/1740)

Summary: When he was very young, John West moved with his family from Salem to Bradford, Essex County, MA. He stayed there the rest of his life. John West married Mary Webster of Bradford. He was a planter (farmer). John and Mary had 10 children.

Early Years of John West

John West was born 9:7m:1667 (September, Julian calendar) in Salem. [38] He was baptized on 20:1:1668 at First Church, Salem. [39]

This John West was one of three “John Wests” in Essex County during the 1600s. The other two were John West, b. ca 1615 and John West, b. 1661, son of Twiford West. John West (b. 1667) is sometimes mixed up with Twiford’s son because of their close age. At the writing of this article (April 2014), only John (b. 1667) is part of West DNA Family Group #5. It is very likely that these two John Wests knew each other. They lived in the same county, and both West families married into the Tenney family. [40]  

John West’s Land in Essex County

Thomas West co-signed on a purchase of land with his son, John, in Apr 1695. [41]

Thomas West of Bradford, husbandman, having purchased of Abiel Mower of Haverhill, 12 A. there, 15 Apr., 1695, acknowledges son John West as a joint purchaser with him, 16 April, 1695. Wit. By Benj. Rosse, Robert Clements. Vol. XI, folio 16.

John West Marries Mary Webster

John married Mary Webster the next year, 25 Mar 1696, in Salem. [42] They had ten children. All of the children are listed in Vital Records of Bradford. [43]

            1. Mary West (12 Jan 1696/1697)

                        m. 24 Jun 1724 Samuel Heath

                2. Hannah West (b. 6 Jul 1699; d. 26 Jul 1699)

                3. Sarah West (b. 28 Jun 1700)

                4. Abigail West (b. 18 Feb 1702/1703)

                        (intention) 26 Aug 1736 Thomas Coverly

                5. Rebeckah or Rebecca West (b. 20 Jun 1706)

                        m. 22 Aug 1728 Joseph Gray

                6. Bethiah West (b. 19 Apr 1709)

                        m. 11 Sep 1735 Enoch Poor

                7. John West, Jr. (b. 6 Dec 1711)

                8. Isaac West (b. 31 Jan 1714/1715)

                        m. 29 Nov 1739 Phebe Swan; 3 sons, 6 daughters

                9. Thomas West (b. 10 Aug 1717; d. 28 Oct 1782)

                10. Joanna West (b. possibly 1721)

Mary joined First Congregational, Bradford on 21:6:1698. John joined the church on 24:5:1701. This merited a special note in the church records: “John West, that hath waited from the 31 of 3d ’97 to this day, 4 years.” [44]

I located three records for John West in Bradford Town Records: [45]

10 Mar 1695/1696: John West was chosen as one of several “serveyors of Hige ways and to view fenses.”

13 Mar 1715: John West was chosen as one of “survayors of high ways & fences for the West End.”

3 Mar 1719: John West was chosen as a “thitheing man.”

When Thomas West died in 1720, John was listed in the estate document with other surviving adult children. [46]

John and Mary lived out their years in Bradford. John West died possibly 1739/1740. His Will was dated 12 Apr 1739 and mentions children John, Isaac, Thomas, and daughters Mary Heath, Rebecca Gray, Sarah West, Bethia Poor, and son-in-law Thomas Coverly. [47, 48] An estate inventory was completed on 5 Feb 1740. [49] This is Essex County Probate File #29352, dated 20 Apr 1741 in Bradford. [50]

Next: West Connections to the Salem Witch Trials

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References and Additional Notes

1. West Family Group #5 results are at http://web.utk.edu/~corn/westdna/west5.htm#FG5.

Samuel West

2. Essex Institute, 1916: Vital Records of the Town of Salem, Volume I—Births, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 413. His name is spelled “Samuell” in the record.

3. Essex Institute, 1974: The Records of the First Church in Salem, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 27.

4. Harry Irwin West, Jr., 1997: Descendants of Henry West (1629-1703) of Salem, Massachusetts with Some Collateral Lines of Interest, Anundsen Publishing Co., Decorah, Iowa, p. 4A. West sourced this as Essex Institute Historical Collections, Volume 16, p. 78, which I could not find.

5. George Francis Dow, editor, 1921: Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Volume 8, Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 6. Also referenced as “EIQC,” with volume number, and page number—EIQC:8:6. Presented at the Ipswich Quarterly Court on September of 1680.

6. Christine Ammer, 2013: The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms, Second Edition, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, p. 252. “This expression originated about 1600 with a totally different meaning, “to be killed.” The modern sense, alluding to a prancing horse or exuberant dancer, dates from about 1900.”

7. “King Philip’s War.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Philip’s_War

8. J. D. Kingsbury, 1883: A Pictorial History of Bradford, Massachusetts; from the Earliest Period to the Close of 1882, C.C. Morse and Sons, Haverhill, Massachusetts, p. 36.

9. EIQC:9:483.

10. EIQC:9:560. Reviewed by the court, Nov 1685.

11. Essex Probate # 29371, 24 Nov 1685. M.L. Sanborn, compiler, 1987: Essex County, Massachusetts Probate Index, 1638-1840, Salem, Massachusetts. On-line index at ancestry.com.

12. Sidney Perley, 1926: The History of Salem Massachusetts, 1638-1670, Volume II, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 304.

13. Topsfield Historical Society, 1907: Vital Records of Bradford, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, Topsfield, Massachusetts, p.166. “Samuel, s. Samuel, deceased, bp 21:4m:1691, C.R.I.” The notation “C.R.I.” refers to “Church Record of Bradford, First Congregational.”

14. Will of Jeremiah Meacham, 1694.  http://judyharper.info/Geneology.htm.

15. Beatrice West Seitz, 1971: West, Barker, Hodges: New York to Wisconsin, 1836-1846. Janesville, Wisconsin, 202 pages.

16. A.H.D., 1906: “Answers, Genealogical Department,” Boston Evening Transcript, June 20, 1906, Boston, Massachusetts, p. 21.

17. The genealogy written by Beatrice Seitz (Reference 15, above) follows many of these descendants.

18. Henry R. Stiles, 1892: The Histories and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut; East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891.  Volume II. “Genealogies and Biographies,” Hartford, Connecticut, p. 789.

Joseph West

17. Vital Records of Salem, p. 411.

18. Records of First Church, Salem, p. 27.

19. David Pease, 1869: A Genealogical and Historical Record of the Descendants of John Pease, Senior, Late of Enfield, Connecticut, Samuel Bowles and Company, Springfield, Massachusetts, p. 397.

20. Ruth Bridge, editor, 1977: The Challenge of Change; Three Centuries of Enfield, Connecticut History, Enfield Historical Society, Phoenix Publishing, Canaan, New Hampshire, p. 18.

21. Cleveland Abbe and Josephine Genung Nichols, 1916: Abbe-Abbey Genealogy, in Memory of John Abbe and his Descendants, Tuttle, Morehouse, and Taylor Company, New Haven, Connecticut, p. 14.

22. Bridge, p. 14-15.

23. Francis Olcott Allen, editor, 1900: The History of Enfield, Connecticut, Volumes 1- 3, Wickersham Printing Company, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In Volume 1: “Committee Book; An Introduction to the Records of the Town of Enfield, A.D. 1683.”

24. Sidney Perley, 1926: The History of Salem Massachusetts, 1638-1670, Volume II, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 391.

25. History of Enfield, Connecticut, Volume 3. Various pages in “Deeds—Enfield,” p. 1905-2142.

26. Abbe and Nichols, p. 15.

27. History of Enfield, Connecticut, Volume 3, “Deeds—Enfield,” p. 1937.

28. Ibid, p. 2139.

29. Topsfield Historical Society, 1912: Vital Records of the Town of Andover, Volume 2—Marriages and Deaths, Topsfield, Massachusetts, p. 567.

30. John E. Hardy and Melinde Lutz Byrne, transcribers, unknown date: Bradford Town Records, 1668-1743, p. 5, 37-38, 63, 66. Original documents and transcriptions at: http://www.bradfordburialground.com/town-records-1668-1743.htm

31. A.H.D., 1906: “Answers, Genealogical Department,” Boston Evening Transcript, June 20, 1906, Boston, Massachusetts, p. 21.

32. Essex Institute, 1922: “Andover Church Records—Admissions to the First Church (South Parish),” Essex Institute Historical Collections, Vol. 58, p. 255.

33. Vital Records of the Town of Andover, p. 567.

34. Essex Probate #29356, 11 Dec 1739. M.L. Sanborn, compiler, 1987: Essex County, Massachusetts Probate Index, 1638-1840, Salem, Massachusetts. On-line index at ancestry.com.

35. G.H.S., 1905: “Answers, Genealogical Department,” Boston Evening Transcript, October 11, 1905, Boston, Massachusetts, p. 25. G.H.S. writes: “The Wests connect in some land swaps with William Foster of Boxford and John Jackson. Notes not at hand in order to refer to. Joseph West died Nov. 26, 1739, estate settled by David Foster, executor; wife Bethiah died Feb. 8, 1740.”

Benjamin West

36. Vital Records of Salem, p. 410.

37. History of Enfield, Connecticut, Volume 2, “Enfield Town Records, Marriages,” p. 1756.

John West     

38. Vital Records of Salem, p. 411.

39. Records of First Church, Salem, p. 28.

40. M.J. Tenney, 1904: The Tenney Family of the Descendants of Thomas Tenney, of Rowley, Massachusetts, 1638-1904, Revised, The Rumford Press, Concord, New Hampshire, p. 337-338. John West (son of Twiford) married Sarah Tenney, a sister to Mary Tenney West (John’s step-mother).

41. Eben Putnam, 1895: “Pedigrees from Deeds Recorded in Essex County, Massachusetts,” Putnam’s Monthly Historical Magazine, Volume III, January-December 1895, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 110.

42. Essex Institute, 1918: Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849, Volume IV—Marriages, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 454. The record says, “John, and Mary Webster, both of Bradford, Mar. 25, 1696.”

43. Vital Records of Bradford, p.166.

44. J. D. Kingsbury, p. 37.

45. Bradford Town Records, 1668-1743, p. 32, 66, 71.

46. A.H.D. (1906), p. 21.

47. A.H.D. (1906), p. 21.

48. Boston Registry Department, 1898: Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, Rockwell and Churchill. Joseph Gray m Rebecca West in 1728, p. 143. Thomas Coverly gave his intention to marry Abigail West in 1739, p. 225.

49. A.H.D., 1905: “Answers, Genealogical Department,” Boston Evening Transcript, November 6, 1905, Boston, Massachusetts, p. 12.

50. Essex Probate # 29352, 20 Apr 1741 (in Sanborn, 1987). A.H.D. (1906) p. 12, refers to the Will as Salem Probate 324-554, 6.

More about Thomas West (1630/1631-1720) of Salem and Bradford

Wests in Essex County, Massachusetts:

More about Thomas West (1630/1631-1720) of Salem and Bradford

Compiled by Joy Ikelman, 2014. Disclaimers apply.

Background: Judah West (b. 11 Sep 1765; d. 9 Apr 1825) was added to West DNA Family Group #5 in 2007.[1] He is a descendant of Thomas West (b. 1630/1631; d. 23 Dec 1720). Thomas West had a brother, Henry West (b. 1629; d. Sep 1703). Therefore, Henry West is also part of FG#5. This is the fifth in a series of articles about this line of the FG#5 West families.

Currently (April 2014) Henry West (b. 1629) is the earliest documented member of Family Group #5. His brother, Thomas West (b. 1630/1631) is discussed in this article.

Finding Thomas West

For more than 100 years, descendants of Revolutionary War brothers Judah West (1765-1825) and Aaron West (1763-1840) have attempted to take their line farther back in time. Family lore mentioned a Benjamin West of Connecticut as a key to solving the puzzle.

By the 1970s, a few researchers made a leap and said the ancestors were Thomas West and Phebe Waters of Salem in Essex County, Massachusetts. It was an intuitive leap. The available data implied a connection, but original data were difficult to find.

In 2013, when I began research on Thomas West, many of the documents were on-line. However, at least three separate “Thomas Wests” appeared within Essex County, MA, records of the 1600s. [2] There were very few clear identifiers for these men.

After four months of endless searching and sorting, I gave myself a deadline. If I did not find the verifiable proof I needed by the end of the year, I was done. Period.

I reviewed everything I had one more time. This caught my eye: I had never read Henry West’s Will (1703) all the way through.

Item, I give to my brother Thomas Westt if he survives me ye Three pounds Ten shillings which is due to me by obligation from his son Benjamin who lives at the Southward. [3]

This established that Henry had a brother whose name was Thomas, and Thomas had a son, Benjamin. It narrowed the search between two of the Thomas Wests living at the time. Only one Thomas had a son named Benjamin. This son was living exactly where he should be in 1703—Connecticut.

I discovered this on New Year’s Eve, 31 Dec 2013, at 11 p.m.

A Timeline for Thomas West

Note: Dates are presented exactly as found in original records. The odd formats and double dating reflect the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

1630/1631. We use 1630/1631 as the birth year for Thomas West. This is calculated from the date on his tombstone—23 December 1720. See “References and Additional Notes” for an explanation. [4]

1631-1657. Thomas West’s earliest years are a mystery. There is no documentation that the Thomas West (b. ca 1600) living in Essex County, MA, was the father of brothers Thomas and Henry. [5] We do not know if the brothers were born in England, in America, or if they lived elsewhere in Massachusetts before Salem.

11:8:1658. Thomas West married (1) Phebe Waters in Salem (October, Julian calendar). [6] This is the earliest record of Thomas West in Essex County, MA. Phebe Waters was the daughter of Richard Waters and Joyce (also known as Rejoice) Plasse. [7] She was born in perhaps the late 1630s to the early 1640s. [8]

       

Children of Phebe and Thomas West were:

1. Samuel West (b. 23 Mar 1659/1660; bapt. 25:1:1665; d. perhaps summer 1685)

        m. about 1683/1684 Rhoda Meacham

2. Joseph West (b. 3 Sep 1663; bapt. 25:1:1665; d. 26 Nov 1739)

        m. 22 Dec 1703 Bethia Marston

3. Benjamin West (b. 1 Oct 1665; bapt. 25:1:1665; d. 11 Dec 1733)

        m. 14 Mar 1693 Hannah Shaddock (in Connecticut)

4. John West (b. 9:7:1667; bapt. 20:1:1668; d. probably 1739)

        m. 25 Mar 1696 Mary Webster

All of these sons were born in Salem, Essex County, MA and baptized at First Church, Salem. More information about these sons will be presented in the blog entry “Four Sons of Thomas West,” soon to be published before the end of April.

10 Mar 1658/1659. Thomas West bought a house and one acre of land from Thomas Hale in Salem. In the deed, Thomas West is called a planter. [9] This is the earliest record for Thomas West found in the Essex Deeds books.

23:12:1662. Thomas West bought 10 acres in the “north neck” of Salem. In 1675, he sold this land to Lieutenant Joseph Gardner. [10]

14 Mar 1663/1664. “Granted to Tho: West 20 akers of lande of the lands neare the 7 mens bounds of that lande we were allowed by the towne to dispose of if he can finde any there convenient for him that is not disposed of to any other.” [11] The “seven men’s bounds” refer to boundaries set by the original founders of Salem in about 1639. [12] The current Salem selectmen were re-granting land that was probably not being used. Thomas West did not have to buy this land, but he was able to sell it later.

4: 1:1665. March, Julian calendar. Thomas West and brother Henry and his wife Elizabeth West joined First Church, Salem. [13]

25:1:1665. March, Julian calendar. Thomas West’s sons Samuel, Joseph, and Benjamin were baptized together, along with Elizabeth West (daughter of Henry and Elizabeth West). [14]

29 April 1665. Thomas West bought three-fourths of an acre “situated in the glass house field.” [15]

14:6:1665. August, Julian calendar. This is the first mention that I found in the Essex County court records. Thomas West witnessed another man stealing thatch. [16]

29 Apr 1668. Freeman status was granted to Thomas West (age 37) and Henry West (age 39). [17] Freeman status meant they were given privileges such as the right to vote and serve on juries. Thomas West served in court various times, including on grand juries. He signed his name to depositions. In his later years, he signed his mark.

Oct 1668. The General Court (in Boston) declared increased taxes upon imports, exports, cattle, and grain. [18] There were individual town responses from Salem, Marblehead, Springfield, Northhampton, and Hadleigh (Hadley) signed by more than 500 men. Their petitions stated that merchants were unfairly targeted. Thomas West and his brother Henry West signed the petition for Salem.

1670. Thomas West and eight other men were given permission to cut down some trees. West was allowed 6 trees. [19] The trees were mostly used for buildings or fencing.

16:2:1674. Phebe Waters West died in Salem (April, Julian calendar). [20]

14:8m:1674. Thomas West married (2) Mary Tenney in Salem (October, Julian calendar). [21] Mary Tenney (b. 24:7:1646) [22] was the daughter of William and Katherine Tenney. She died on 12 May 1731. [23]

               

Children of Mary and Thomas West were [24]:

            1. Mary West (b. 31:11:1675; bapt. 12 Mar 1676 at First Church, Salem)

            2. Elizabeth West (bapt. 1 Jul 1677 at First Church, Salem; d. possibly 1738)

                m. (possibly) 4 Dec 1721 Anthony Colby (his second wife)

            3. Phebe West (b. 30 Sep 1679 in Bradford, Essex County, MA)

                m. 30 Dec 1718 Zechariah Eastman (his second wife)

            4. Ebenezer West (b. 24 Nov 1681 in Bradford; d. 1 Apr 1683 in Bradford)

            5. Deliverance West (b. 26 Feb 1684 in Bradford)

            6. Sarah West (b. 10 Mar 1686/1687 in Bradford)

            7. William West (b. 16 Sep 1689 in Bradford; d. 8 May 1712)

31 Jan 1677. “In consideration of the marriage of his daughter, Mary Tenney, with Thomas West of Salem, Mass., to said West, William Tenney gives deed of sixty-seven acres of land in Rowley Village, now Boxford, Mass. Dated 31 Jan., 1677. Ipswich Deeds, Volume 4:267.” [25]

11:4:1677. Tithingman status was given to Thomas West and his brother Henry West. [26] A tithingman maintained order during church services, enforced the Sabbath laws, and monitored disorderly conduct.

9 Mar 1678. Thomas and Mary Tenney West moved to Bradford, Essex County, MA. [27] Thomas West is listed as a “First Settler” of Bradford. [28]

11 Mar 1678. Thomas West trades his remaining Salem properties for 28 acres of Bradford, MA, land. “On 11 Mar 1678, Thomas West (husbandman) of Salem granted to Thomas Tyler (seaman) of Boston. . . for 5 pounds money, 10 pounds in wheat, rye & Indian corn & 28 acres of land at Bradford near Merrimac river (as appears by an instrument of sale of this date given by said Tyler), 2 parcels of land in Salem, his 1 and one-fourth acre homestead with his dwelling house bounded W by the glass house field so called . . Essex County Deeds, 4:621.” [29]

1680. Thomas West appeared in Essex County court. “Thomas West, in behalf of his son, Samuell West v. Anthony Wood. For striking up the heels and violently striking said Samuel down. Verdict for the plaintiff.” [30]

1682. Thomas West was compensated for sheltering an apprentice who was being abused by his master and had escaped. Charges were filed against the apprentice and the master. [31]

Apr 1682. Thomas West was one of the eighteen founding members of First Church, Bradford. Mary (Tenney) West and the other women signed separately. [32] Thomas and Mary were members of the Haverhill church before this.

1683. Thomas West and son (probably Samuel or John) witnessed a theft of a steel trap in Bradford. [33]

Aug 1685. There is an estate inventory for “Samuell West.” It is unclear from the court record if this is the son of Thomas West or someone else. However, West family researchers have used this as the date of his son’s death because of the guardianship record (below). [34]

25 Oct 1691. Katherine Tenney (Mary Tenney West’s mother) “as executrix of her husband’s will, to her son-in-law, Thomas West of Bradford, for her support, transfers five acres in Rowley.” [35]

23 Mar 1695/1696 Guardianship of Grandson Samuel. Beatrice West Seitz (1912-1997) was a genealogist for the descendants of the Samuel West line (son of Thomas). She wrote [36]:

“An Essex Co. Mass., probate file #29372-“We Thomas West of Bradford, (Meaning-we, Thos. & Henry.) as principle, being appointed & allowed Guardian unto Samuel West Son of Samll West decd & Rhoda his wife also decd being a minor ten yrs & upward & Henry West of Salem as surety,” were bonded 23 Mar. 1695/6, for Thomas’ guardianship of his grandson Samuel.”

Apr 1695. Thomas West buys 12 acres in Haverhill, Essex County, MA, co-signing with his son John. [37] John West married Mary Webster the next year.

23 Dec 1720. Thomas West died intestate in 1720. His estate was settled in Jun 1721. [38, 39] Samuel West, Jr. received his portion of the estate on November, 1722. [40]

Next: Four Sons of Thomas and Phebe West

References and Additional Notes

1.    West Family Group #5 results at http://web.utk.edu/~corn/westdna/west5.htm#FG5

2.    The three Thomas Wests in Essex County, MA, were: (1) Thomas West, b. circa 1600; (2) Thomas West, b. 1630/1631; and, (3) Thomas West, b. about 1640, son of John West. At his time (April 2014), only Thomas West (b. 1630/1631) is known to be part of West DNA Family Group #5.

3.    Harry Irwin West, Jr., 1997: Descendants of Henry West (1629-1703) of Salem, Massachusetts with Some Collateral Lines of Interest, Anundsen Publishing Co., Decorah, Iowa, p.17.

4.    Thomas West died in 1720. His tombstone at Bradford Burial Ground, Bradford, Massachusetts reads: “Here lyes buried the body of Mr. Thomas West who died December ye 23 1720 & in the 90^th Year of his age.” This means he was 89 years old, which is his 90^th year since birth. A photograph of Thomas West’s tombstone is at: http://bradfordburialground.com/thomas_west_site_584.htm.

        Thomas West’s birth month is later than December. His birth month could be in January or February 1630 (Julian), March through November 1631 (Julian), or January through November 1631 (Gregorian).

5.    Two publications contributed to the error that Thomas West (b. ca 1600) was the father of Henry and Thomas West.

                (1) Charles Henry Pope, 1900: The Pioneers of Massachusetts; A Descriptive List, Drawn from Records of the Colonies, Towns and Churches, and other Contemporaneous Documents. Charles H. Pope, Boston, Massachusetts, p. 487. He stated that “Henry and Thomas seem to be his sons.”   

                (2) William Cutter, 1908: Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, Volume I, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, p. 559. He stated that Thomas West (b. ca 1600) was the father of Henry and Thomas West.

                As of April 2014, I have found no wife or children recorded for this Thomas West in any of the official town, county, or State records. Pope’s and Cutter’s statements about this Thomas West (b. ca. 1600s) cannot be verified or documented.

6.    Essex Institute, 1924: Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849; Volume IV—Marriages, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 455.

7.    The Waters Family has been extensively studied. For basic information see:

                (1) Henry F. Waters, 1891: Genealogical Gleanings in England, New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Volume 2, p. 1341-1343.

                (2) Sidney Perley, 1924: History of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume I, 1626-1637, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 382-384.

8.    Phebe Waters’ birth date has not been established by researchers. It is highly likely that she was baptized into First Church, Salem, as her mother became a member on 23:3:1641. Reference: Essex Institute, 1974: The Records of the First Church in Salem, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 11.

9.    Essex Deeds Book 1, Leaf 61 (10:Mar:1658/1659). This is cited in Sidney Perley, 1904: “Thomas Flint House,” The Essex Antiquarian, Volume 8, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 31. By 1700, the property was owned by Thomas Flint.

10. West, p. 10, cites Essex Deeds, Book 2, Leaf 195. John Norton, carpenter, sold 10 acres to Thomas West, planter. The property was sold on 22 July 1675 to Joseph Gardner (Essex Deeds, Book 4, Leaf 120). This information is cited in Frank A. Gardner, 1902: “Thomas Gardner, Planter, and Some of His Descendants,” The Essex Institute Historical Collections, Vol. 38, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 74.

11.  Essex Institute, 1913: Town Records of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume II, 1659-1680, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 44.

12. Essex Institute, 1869: Bulletin of the Essex Institute, Volume 1, No. 7 and 8, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 101.

13. The Records of the First Church in Salem, p. 108. “Edmond Gale, Henry West, and Elizabeth West his wife and Thomas West being non-members having stood propounded a moneth, and no exception against them, they made their confession, and were on the Lords Day following received unto membership.”

14. The Records of the First Church in Salem, page 27.

15. West, p. 11. He cites Essex Deeds, Book 2, Leaf 314. This field was the location of glass slag. As early as 1638 this was used to make windows and bottles in a glass works business.

16. George Francis Dow, editor, 1913: Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Volume 3, Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 276. Also referenced as “EIQC,” with volume number, and page number—EIQC: 3:276.

17. EIQC:4:38.

18. Wm. B. Trask, compiler, 1855: “Petitions Against Imposts, 1668,” The New England Historical and Genealogical Register and Antiquarian Journal, Volume IX, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, p. 81-91.

19. Essex Institute, 1913: Town Records of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume II, 1659-1680, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 118.

20. Essex Institute, 1925: Vital Records of Salem to the End of the Year 1849, Volume VI--Deaths, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 323.

21. Essex Institute, 1924: Vital Records of Salem to the End of the Year 1849, Volume IV—Marriages, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 455.

22. Essex Institute, 1928: Vital Records of Rowley, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 214.

23. Douglas Richardson, 1997: “The Tenney Family of Lincolnshire and Rowley, Massachusetts,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register, July 1997, p. 340.

24. Two sources:

                (1) Records of First Church of Salem, page 31.

                (2) Topsfield Historical Society, 1907: Vital Records of Bradford, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, Topsfield, Massachusetts, p. 166.

        Children Mary and Elizabeth West were baptized at First Church, Salem. The other children were born in Bradford.

25. M.J. Tenney, 1904: The Tenney Family of the Descendants of Thomas Tenney, of Rowley, Massachusetts, 1638-1904, Revised, The Rumford Press, Concord, New Hampshire, p. 337-338. Mary Tenney’s sister, Sarah, married John West. He was the son of Twiford West who is not known to be DNA-related to FG#5 (as of April 2014). John and Sarah Tenney West also received land.

26. EIQC:6:290. Also, Town Records of Salem, Vol. II, p. 240.

27. West, p. 4A, referenced Essex Institute Historical Collections:16:78, which I could not find.

28. Gardner B. Perry, A.M., 1821: Discourse, Delivered in the East Parish of Bradford, December 22, 1820; Two Hundred Years after the First Settlement in New-England; Containing a History of the Town, Burrill and Hersey, Haverhill, Massachusetts, p. 68. Next to the Phillips Patent and the Haseltine Patent, “followed the lot(s) of Thomas West, whose house stood near where Abijah Gage now lives. . .”

29. Essex Society of Genealogists, 2003: Essex County Deeds, 1639-1678—Abstracts of Volumes 1-4, Heritage Books, Essex County, Massachusetts, p. 338.

30. EIQC:8:6.

31. EIQC:8:301.

32. J. D. Kingsbury, 1883: A Pictorial History of Bradford, Massachusetts; from the Earliest Period to the Close of 1882, C.C. Morse and Sons, Haverhill, Massachusetts, p. 35.

33. EIQC:9:38.

34. EIQC:9:560.

35. Tenney, p. 627.

36. Beatrice West Seitz, 1971: West, Barker, Hodges: New York to Wisconsin, 1836-1846. Janesville, Wisconsin, 202 pages.

37. Eben Putnam, 1895: “Pedigrees from Deeds Recorded in Essex County, Massachusetts,” Putnam’s Monthly Historical Magazine, Volume III, January-December 1895, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 110.

38. Essex Probate # 29383, 05 Jun 1721. M.L. Sanborn, compiler, 1987: Essex County, Massachusetts Probate Index, 1638-1840, Salem, Massachusetts. On-line index at ancestry.com.

39. (Initials C.H.A.), 1906: “Answers, Genealogical Department,” Boston Evening Transcript, June 20, 1906, Boston, Massachusetts, p. 21. This was a newspaper section devoted to genealogy inquiries. C.H.A. stated that “The children who signed the paper were Joseph West, Hannah Eastman, Phebe Eastman, John West, Mary West, Anthony West, Elizabeth West, Richard Kimball and one other signature not readable.” In this family there was no Anthony West nor Hannah Eastman, so perhaps these are errors in C.H.A.’s transcription. Richard Kimball was probably a witness. Son Benjamin West was still alive, so we might expect to see his signature as well.

40. Ibid. Correspondent C.H.A. (above) wrote, “Samuel West received of his grandmother, Mary West, wife of Thomas West, in Bradford, Nov. 9, 1722, his portion of the estate (Salem Probate).”

West Family Given Names

West Family Given Names

Contributed by John G. West

I was reading over some of the research that has been conducted on our West family branches.   And I decided to look over some of my notes on families with the West surname that I have encountered over the last 30 plus years to check for any connections to these newly discovered branches.  One thing I discovered was that the West families that are related to us did not want to have many of the males given unusual names.  They really wanted names like Richard, William, John, Robert, James, Philip, with some named Charles.  But, the all time favorite seems to be Thomas!  Granted because they had so many sons that you can find some named Henry, Claibourne, Ignatius, Nathaniel, George, Samuel, Edward and a few more names common to the times, but there were very few exceptionally unusual names.

Often, in a particular small area, you can find many Thomas West all about the same age or several possible fathers & sons mixed in with a nephew or two.  Sorting all of these Thomas’s out is very difficult and often times easily confused in people’s research results.  This is why we, as researchers, need to be very careful not to assume “who is who” and their relationships.  Once assumptions are made, it becomes difficult to correct, especially over time.

By the time my grandfather came along less common names were being used for many of the boys.  My grandfather Warner West is an example with a less than common name among the hundreds of other West males in the area (although there were at least two other West’s with that name in Christian County, Kentucky).  Warner had a brother, Gaither who died at age 22 of an appendicitis attack.  Warner named his only son after his brother, but added a middle name – my father was named Gaither Glennis West.  Dad named his first born son (my older brother) Gaither Glennis West, II… who named his first son Gaither Glennis West, III. 

You may have noticed that in recent times the West family (at least my branch) strayed away from such common names and actually picked some rare ones.  However, they did not quite get it right, since they just made the more unusual names very common in the family!

The family called Dad, Glennis; my brother, Glen and my nephew, Glennie.  Glen did make an effort with giving his second son the name of Scott Wilhelm West.  Mom & Dad named me John Gregory West, how many Greg West or John West’s do you know?  They tried a little harder with my younger brother Donald Gene West!  But, what did I do with the names of my 3 sons?  Phillip, John & James… back to the common names!!!  My only grandson is named Evan West… going in the right direction.  Evan’s middle name is John – oh, well!

Some Descendants of Henry West (1629-1703) of Salem [Article Four]

Wests in Essex County, Massachusetts:

Some Descendants of Henry West (1629-1703) of Salem

Compiled by Joy Ikelman, 2014. Disclaimers apply. Note: The use of double dating, such as 1630/1631, reflects the difference between the Julian and Gregorian Calendars.

Background: Judah West (b. 11 Sep 1765; d. 9 Apr 1825) was added to West DNA Family Group #5 in 2007. He is a descendant of Thomas West (b. 1630/1631; d. 23 Dec 1720). Thomas West had a brother, Henry West (b. 1629; d. Sep 1703). Therefore, Henry West is also part of FG#5. This is the fourth in a series of articles about this line of the FG#5 West families.

Currently (March 2014) Henry West (1629-1703) is the earliest documented member of Family Group #5.

Ten Generations

Dr. Harry Irwin West, Jr. (1925-2004) was the foremost genealogist for Henry West (1629-1703). In 1997, he published Descendants of Henry West (1629-1703) of Salem, Massachusetts with some Collateral Lines of Interest (Anundsen Publishing Co., Decorah, Iowa, 256 pages). He traced his line back ten generations to Henry West.

Dr. West’s publication has great detail on the dates, marriages, migrations, and lives of this West family. The following summaries were compiled from his publication.

Saddlers

Six generations of this family lived in Salem before the first family members moved to “The West” (Indiana). The first three generations were mostly saddlers by trade. Saddlers made harness, bridles, saddles, and other leather goods. The saddler trade was taught from one generation to the next, or by apprenticeship. Henry West (1629-1703) was a saddler. Sons Samuel and Henry were taught the trade by their father. Grandsons Samuel, John, and Daniel were also saddlers.

Mariners

By the 1750s, the Wests of Salem were fishermen, ship owners, master mariners, merchant marines, privateers, and importers.

1760s: The Wests owned and managed shipping vessels for fishing, and also for foreign trade.

1770s: West-owned merchant ships travelled as far south as the West Indies and north to Newfoundland, carrying supplies for coastal businesses.

During the Revolutionary War, all six of William West’s (1728-1803) sons became privateers: William, Nathaniel, Ebenezer, Edward, Thomas, and John. They “played significant roles in furthering the cause of the Revolution through their exploits on the high seas as privateers,” and William West “played a significant role in backing such ventures.” (West, p. 32) Ebenezer and Edward West spent several years on a British prison ship.

1790s: Wests owned and captained voyages to Cuba, South America, and Europe. Ebenezer West (b. 1758) was the first captain from New England to sail to China.

1800s: Captain Thomas West (1777-1849) sailed his cargo vessel from Boston to Calcutta on a trade route that took eleven months to complete. Hamburg was added to the route later. He made 21 voyages. He was a privateer during the War of 1812.

1840s: George West (1810-1852) owned 28 vessels. Benjamin West (1820-1877), brother to George West, owned 22 vessels.

The Triangle Trade

Dr. West wrote: “William West [1728-1803] was a merchant, a distiller, and collector of the excise tax. At that time the distilling business in Salem was quite common. Molasses came from the West Indies by ship, in this case was landed at William West’s wharf, jutting out from the passage way over the North River, and was then made into rum. The rum saw ready local consumption, but most was used as export, replacing French brandy in many parts of the world.” (West, p. 31-32.)

The West family shipping business was part of the Triangle Trade. The rum was exported to ports abroad where resale brought profits to the buyers. The buyers used the profits to buy slaves from West Africa, who came through the Middle Passage to work the sugar cane plantations in the West Indies. The molasses was then shipped to New England to make rum. For more information on the Triangle Trade go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_trade.

William West’s ships worked two sides of the Triangle Trade—import of molasses and export of rum. New England’s profit from the Triangle Trade was one reason that the anti-slavery clause was kept out of the Declaration of Independence.

Lt. Benjamin West (1755-1775)

Lieutenant Benjamin West of Salem, son of Samuel and Mary Massey West died at the Battle of Bunker Hill on 17 Jun 1775. A memorial stone is located at the Harmony Grove Cemetery in Salem.

Benjamin Franklin West (1818-1854)

Benjamin West, son of Thomas West and Elizabeth Mosely, was noted for his ship paintings. His work is found at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem: http://travelphotobase.com/v/USMAB/MALP233.HTM.

The more famous Benjamin West, artist of Pennsylvania, is part of West DNA FG#3.

Capt. Nathaniel West (1758-1851)

Nathaniel West, one of William West’s sons (mentioned in the “Mariners” section) was well-respected in Salem. A miniature portrait is at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. View it at:

http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/captain-nathaniel-west-32797

Some of the furniture from Nathaniel and Elizabeth Derby West’s Oak Hill estate home is in the Art of Americas Wing at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. An example: http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/interior-finish-from-the-oak-hill-parlor-38200

In 1834, Captain West built a home on the site of the West estate in Salem. Today this home is part of Salem Inn. http://www.saleminnma.com/thewesthouse.html.

Nathaniel West, Jr. (1788-1843)

A portrait of this ancestor is at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. He was the son of Captain West, above. View it online at: http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/nathaniel-west-jr-34658. Nathaniel West and his wife Mary Bowles West moved to Indianapolis in 1836 to buy land. He was a lawyer, merchant, farmer and manufacturer. He owned a cotton mill and a grist mill. He was a State Senator from 1841-1843.

Nathaniel West, III (1814-1896)

Nathaniel West bought land in Kentland, Newton County, IN. This was the g-g-grandfather of genealogist Dr. Harry Irwin West. Descendants moved to AL, CA, CO, FL, ID, IL, ME, MN, ND, NH, NY, OH, SD, TX, WI, WY and also to England, France, Italy, and Jamaica.

Line of Henry West (1629-1703) to Dr. Harry Irwin West, Jr. (1925-2004)

Here is a very brief accounting of ten generations from Henry West to Harry Irwin West, Jr. A more complete lineage, with additional branches of this family tree, will be posted on the West Family DNA Project—Group #5 Web site in the future.

1. Henry West (1629-1703)

    2. Samuel West (1666/1667-1732)

        3. Samuel West (1691-1776)

            4. William West (1728-1803)

                5. Nathaniel West (1758-1851)

                    6. Nathaniel West (1788-1843)

                        7. Nathaniel West (1814-1896)

                            8. Charles H. West (1862-1937)

                                9. Harry Irwin West (1888-1977)

                                    10. Harry Irwin West, Jr. (1925-2004)

Next: More about Thomas West (1630/1631-1720) of Salem and Bradford

More about Henry West (1629-1703) of Salem

Wests in Essex County, Massachusetts:

More about Henry West (1629-1703) of Salem

Compiled by Joy Ikelman, 2014. Disclaimers apply. Note: The use of double dating, such as 1630/1631, reflects the difference between the Julian and Gregorian Calendars.

Background: Judah West (b. 11 Sep 1765; d. 9 Apr 1825) was added to West DNA Family Group #5 in 2007.[1] He is a descendant of Thomas West (b. 1630/1631; d. 23 Dec 1720). Thomas West had a brother, Henry West (b. 1629; d. Sep 1703). Therefore, Henry West is also part of FG#5. This is the third in a series of articles about this line of the FG#5 West families.

Currently (March 2014) Henry West (1629-1703) is the earliest documented member of Family Group #5.

Dedicated to Dr. Harry Irwin West, Jr.

Dr. Harry Irwin West (1925-2004) was the foremost genealogist for Henry West (1629-1703). In 1997, he published Descendants of Henry West (1629-1703) of Salem, Massachusetts with some Collateral Lines of Interest. He traced his line through Samuel West (b. 1666)—Henry West’s first son. [2] Dr. West earned his PhD in physics from Stanford University in 1955. He retired from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California, in 1990, after 45 years of service. [3] He spent many years researching his ancestry.

I have verified all of Dr. West’s early Salem-related information against original records. In the “Reference and Additional Notes” section, I have cited the original source. Then I have referenced the page number from Dr. West’s publication, if he also used the information.

Henry West, Sexton

Henry West’s name first appeared in Salem records in March of 1661: [4]

            Agreed with Henry West to ringe the bell and make cleane the meetinge house for the years insuinge and to be pd for the yeare five pounds more he is to have 18d for each grave he shall Digge onely from the midell of 10^th mo to the midell of the 12^th mo he shall be allowed as he and the pties by whom he is imployed shall agree and if they cannot agree with him then they are at libertie to agree with any other

                also laide out to Henry West on the north side of Tho: Tucks frame a plott to build a house of 2 Rodd in lenth and 20 foote in bredth at one end and 18 foote the other end.

Henry West was paid 5 pounds a year for ringing the bell, caring for the meeting house (which was also the church), and digging graves between December (the tenth month, Julian calendar) and February (the twelfth month).

We do not know if the house lot was part of the agreement.  He kept his sexton job until 1670/1671: “Hennery West Desir’d to be Dismis’d from Ringing the bell, And the Towne Reffer’d it to the Select men to make choice of another . . . “ [5]

Henry West, Saddler

Henry West was born in 1629. [6] His earliest years are a mystery. There is no documentation that the Thomas West (b. ca 1600) living in Essex County, MA, was the father of brothers Henry and Thomas. [7] We do not know if Henry and his brother were born in England, in America, or if they lived elsewhere in Massachusetts before Salem.

Henry West was a saddler—making saddles, harnesses, and bridles. [8] He would have been apprenticed to someone to learn this trade before he started his own business in Salem. Was he apprenticed in England? Was Henry apprenticed in Massachusetts Colony? Was his father a saddler? We do not know.

Henry West taught his sons Samuel and Henry, Jr. the saddler trade. His grandsons Samuel, John, and Daniel were also saddlers. [9] A line in his Will (1703) mentions the Saddler tools [10]:

        Item. I give unto my Sonns Samuel & Henry all my Tools & all my Stock of Sadlery Wares to be Equaly Divided betwixt Them also ye remainder of my Cloths.

On 29:9:1675, Henry West and Hilliard Veren, Sr. inventoried the estate of Samuell Crompton (or Crumpton). [10] Crompton had been a saddler in Salem. Perhaps Henry was asked to inventory this estate because of expertise in his trade.

Henry West’s Salem Properties

The land that was originally given to Henry West in 1661 was a house lot in town, across from the town common area. This was located at Washington Street and Essex Street in today’s Salem. [12] In 1671 or 1680, he sold this land to John Marston [13], whose descendants would later marry into his brother’s (Thomas West’s) family.

On 2 Jun 1670, he bought “twenty rods of land” in Salem from Edmond Batter, adjacent to Batter’s house. On 17 Jun 1670 he bought twenty more rods of land from Batter. [14] These are lots in town. This land was eventually willed to son Henry. [15]

Henry West also bought land from in Salem from “John Hathorn Situated in Salem nigh Mr. Parkmans.” This was willed to son Samuel. [16] A map Part of Salem in 1700 shows two separate lots labeled “Henry West.” These are across the street from each other on what today is near the corner of Summer Street and Essex Street. [17] This may have been the location of Henry’s house and his saddler shop. The map shows Parkman’s lot next to West’s lot.

Dr. Harry West (1997) wrote that this property is part of the Salem Inn, at 7 Summer Street. Nathaniel West (1756-1851), g-g-grandson of Henry West, built a house there in 1834. “The land had originally been the site of the West Estate where he was born.” [18]

Henry West Marries Elizabeth Merriam

        Henry was married to Elizabeth Merriam 7 Sept. 1664 by her father, George Merriam of Concord. The Merriams were from Tunbridge, England. Elizabeth was the second child of this family born in the new world. There are good records of the family from as early as the 16^th century. The children of Henry and Elizabeth were . . . Elizabeth (1665-before 1672); Samuel (1666,7-1732); Susannah (1668-    ); Henry (1670-1715); Elizabeth (1672-    ); and, Mary (1675-ca 1750,2). [19]

Henry West was 35 years old; Elizabeth Merriam was 23. Henry and Elizabeth West, and brother Thomas West joined First Church, Salem, and baptized their first children at the church on 25:1:1665. [20] Elizabeth West died on 26 Aug 1691, at the age of 50. She is buried at the Charter Street Cemetery in Salem. [21]

Henry West, Freeman and Tithingman

On 29 Apr 1668, Henry West (age 39) and Thomas West (age 37) took the oath of freemen, along with nine other men. [22] Freeman status meant they were given privileges such as the right to vote and serve on juries. Sometimes this status meant that a man was finally free of all paid service to others—such as apprenticeships, or paying for passage to the Massachusetts Colony.  

Tithingman status was given to Henry West and brother Thomas West on 11:4:1677. [23] A tithingman maintained order during church services, enforced the Sabbath laws, and monitored disorderly conduct. The tithingman worked under supervision of a constable.

Henry West seems to have had more than his share of tithingman duties. He and a fellow tithingman would walk in the Town of Salem, often in the evenings, looking for illegal activities. Tithingmen were supposed to be given respect. This didn’t work out very well.

In 1677, Richard West (not related) heard an outcry at John Mason’s house. He found people drunk and fighting. Then, Henry West showed up at the scene.

        Henry West testified that Mr. Samuel Gardner came looking for his man and they went in together, whereupon Goody Mason tried to strike him with an andiron, calling “thou West, thou Harry, thou Devil!” several times. Someone took the andiron away from her and she took up a chair. She was very much in drink, not being able to stand upon her legs, but fell down. Mackene and one Humphrey Williams were also observed to be much in drink. Urged by Mr. Gardner to do his duty as tithingman, deponent [Henry West] requested assistance of [Peeter] Joy as he appeared to be the soberest, but he refused.

The wife of John Mason was “fined to be whipped for drunkenness, and abusing by words and offering to strike Hen. West, a tithingman.” Peeter Joy, “the soberest” at the party, was fined for refusing to assist Henry West. [24] From this account, we learn that Henry was called “Harry.” And, at least once, he was called the Devil.

In an incident in 1678, Henry West and William Dounston, tithingmen, were going on their rounds and found constables smoking and drinking. [25] They believed this set a bad example and said so. One of the constables left with them. They passed a drunk on the street. The drunk constable ignored him, “but goodman west spak to him and asked from wenc he came.” Dounston asked the constable for help:

      . . . but he Replyed that wee Could not Requir him but said it was an abus atorrity and said that he must bear testimony because he was in drink but he was willing to goe thence and wee broft him away and by the way he said I have ben a Captain for the kontry and fout against the Ingans and now to be handled by such pitiful fellows a pox tack you al with many other unkoomly words till we cam to mister gidnes hous.

Henry West usually kept his cool around “unkoomly words,” but not always. In 1678, he was accused of swearing. The witnesses against him were long-time irritants who had been previously hauled to court by West. [26]

Petitions Signed by Henry West

Petition to Repair Reverend Higginson’s Property. A petition of 30 Jun 1668 requests attention to the property of Reverend John Higginson. [27] This petition states that the issue had been brought up in two Salem town meetings but was not given the proper attention. The petitioners asked the court to take care of this, as “any sad in convenyencies may follow to the dishonor of God, the discouragement of the ministry & dishonor of ye people heare.” The elder Thomas West (b. ca 1600s) made his mark; Henry West signed his name after him. This does not confirm that the two men were related, but that they knew each other. Henry West was a member of First Church, Salem, and Thomas West was a long-time friend of Reverend John Higginson.

Petitions Against Imposts. In October 1668, the General Court (in Boston) declared increased imposts—equivalent to taxes—upon imports, exports, cattle, and grain. [28] There were individual town responses from Salem, Marblehead, Springfield, Northhampton, and Hadleigh (Hadley) signed by more than 500 men. Their petitions stated that merchants were unfairly targeted. Henry West and his brother Thomas West signed the petition for Salem. The pleas of the various towns did not stop the imposts, but there were a few compromises to the plan.

Petition Against Ashby’s Ordinary. In 1670, Henry West signed with other men of Salem requesting that Anthony Ashby be kept from having an “ordinary.” [29] An ordinary was a public place for drinking—a pub. Ashby was apparently a menace and unfit for such an endeavor; he’d already been selling beer without a license.

Petition Against the New Meeting House. In July 1680, there was a petition by some selectmen to build a new meeting house (which was also First Church) in Salem. Only 2/3 of the townspeople could fit in at once for the “publike worshipe of god upon the Lords day.” [30] The freemen responded that they had witnessed:

      . . . great Indeavours in a private way to draw many of the free men of this place to signe a writeing for the Aproveing of the building of a new meeting house we conceaiving such a practice to be illegall and tending to devition & disturbance their being noe apparent nessesite of itt doe by subscribing hereunto declare against the thing and maner of proceeding at this time desireing that when there shall be need It may be done in a faire Legall way by mutall Concurenc with out disturbance to the peace of the church and towne.

In other words, some of the freemen (including Henry West) knew there was some illegal maneuvering going on. Their counter-petition worked. No new meeting house was built in 1680. Records show that it was enlarged in the early 1700s. [31]

During the Salem Witch Trials . . .

        Henry West, sen., and John Mascoll, jr. were empowered, 1693, to inspect “the families of Salem and take an account of all inmates or strangers, that are now in or may hereafter come into towne and returne their names to the selectmen every moneth, and if used be, to warne them to depart.” [32]

Twenty years before, in 1673, the General Court had declared that inhabitants of Salem, Boston, Charlestown, and Portsmouth should “not entertain strangers except by leave of the Government or his Deputy, or two magistrates.” Violation was punishable by a fine. It is doubtful that there was much crowd control during the time of the “Salem Delusions” (February 1692 to May 1693). It is very likely that Henry West witnessed most of the events, including the hangings.

Henry West’s Will and Inventory

The title of the Will is “The Last Will and Testament of Henry West of Salem, Massachusetts, 1703 October 4.” Dr. West says this was the cover sheet of the Will, but the estate inventory is dated 25 Sep 1703. The Will was proved 30 Sep 1703 according to the Probate List for Essex County. Dr. West concluded that Henry West probably died earlier in September. He was 74 years old. [33] His final resting place is unknown.

Signature for Henry West, from his Will dated 1700/1701. He was

about 70 y.o. at the time. This was in the genealogy by Dr. Harry West

Next: Some Descendants of Henry West (1629-1703) of Salem

References and Additional Notes

1. West Family Group #5 results at http://web.utk.edu/~corn/westdna/west5.htm#FG5

2. Harry Irwin West, Jr., 1997: Descendants of Henry West (1629-1703) of Salem, Massachusetts with Some Collateral Lines of Interest. Anundsen Publishing Co., Decorah, Iowa, 256 pages.

3. Don Johnston, editor, 2004: “Harry Irwin West,” Newsline, Public Affairs Office, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, July 30, 2004, p. 2.

4. Essex Institute, 1913: Town Records of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume II, 1659-1680, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 24. West, p. 9-10. The date of the meeting was 6:1:1661—that is, March 6, 1661 according to the Julian calendar.

5. Sidney Perley, 1926: The History of Salem Massachusetts, 1638-1670, Volume II, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 64. The bell had been installed in 1638. Perley wrote: “After being in use more than a score of years, the old bell was removed, and a new one was bought for eighteen pounds in 1657, and it was raised and hung at an expense of five pounds.”

6. The birth year of Henry West is determined by several court records that mention his general age in years. For example:  “Henry West, aged about forty-nine years, and John Norton, aged about forty years, deposed. Sworn, 10:4:1678.” [EIQC:7:56] Also, “Henry West, aged about fifty-six years, and John Maskoal [Mascoll], aged thirty-four years, testified . . .” (25 Jun 1685). [EIQC:9:473] These court depositions point to 1629 as his year of birth. West, p. 5.

7. William Richard Cutter, 1908: Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, Volume I, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, p. 559. Cutter wrote that Thomas West (b. ca 1600) was the father of Henry and Thomas West. This cannot be documented or verified. I have found no wife, children, Will, or death date for this Thomas West (as of March 2014).

8. Robert Charles Anderson, 1996-2011: “Edmond Batter,” The Great Migration, New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Boston, p. 207. Essex Land Records:6:108 and Essex Land Records:3:86 refer to the transactions of Edmond Batter, merchant, and Henry West, saddler.

9. West (1997), various pages.

10. Essex Will Probate No. 29341. West, p. 17-19. The estate inventory mentioned “Sadles Ware & Sadlers Tools” worth 20 lbs.

11. George Francis Dow, editor, 1917: Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Volume 6. Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 103. Also referenced as “EIQC,” with volume number, and page number. EIQC: 6:103. The Quarterly Courts documents contain about 35 references to Henry West, from 1666 to 1685—estate inventories, juries, grand juries, witnessing in cases. He was very much involved in the Town of Salem.

12. William P. Upham, 1904: “Notes on the Report of the Authenticity of the First Meeting House in Salem,” The Essex Institute Historical Collections, Volume XL, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 25. A map on page 28 shows the location of the Fogg property, which was adjacent to Henry West’s.

13. There is confusion between two sources. Upham (p. 25) listed the date as 1671, and cites the original source as Essex Deeds Book 5, Folio 74. Dr. West (p. 11) gives a date of 2 Apr 1680 from Essex Deeds Book 5, Leaf 347. West quotes the sale: “Henry West sells to John Marston, Jr. (carpenter) land lately given to him by the town of Salem with a dwelling house two or three poles Bounded on the west by the land of Ralph Fogg, north by the common land or street and the south by land or property of Thomas Tuck (lately). Henry West sig. & sealed; Eliz. West, mark.” I did not have access to the Essex Deeds Books to verify either possible dates.

14. Anderson, p. 207.

15. West, p. 17. “Item. I give to my Sonne Henry Westt ye homsted where I now dwell viz the dwelling house out housing Shope & garden & yards & Land with the appertenanus there onto belonging to be to him said Henry West & ye hiers of his body. . .”

16. Ibid. “Item. I give unto my eldest Sonne Samuel Westt one des what I formerly gave him that piece of land which I lately bought of Coleo. John Hathorne Situated in Salem nigh Mr. Parkmans to be to ye said Samuel West his heirs & assigns for ever.”

17. William W.K. Freeman, compiler, 1933: Part of Salem in 1700, From the Researches of Sidney Perley. James Duncan Phillips, Salem, Massachusetts. http://www.salemin1700s.com/description.aspx

18. West, p. viii and p. 33. Pictures of the “Captain Nathaniel West House” at Salem Inn are at the Web site: http://www.saleminnma.com/thewesthouse.html. Dr. Harry Irwin West was a direct descendant of this Nathaniel West.

19. West, p. 10, page 4A. Dr. West cites EIHC:4:44 as one source for this information.

20. Dr. West cites EIHC:16:8 as the source for the church membership. I could not find this. However, this is also in Essex Institute, 1974: The Records of the First Church in Salem, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 108. Dr. West gives the date as 4:11:1665, which is a typographical error. The date of church membership is 4:1:1665 and the baptism occurred on 25:1:1665. Henry and Elizabeth West’s daughter Elizabeth, and also Thomas West’s sons Samuel, Joseph, and Benjamin, were baptized on this day according to the First Church records (p. 27).

21. Jane Devlin, transcriber, 1849: “Inscriptions from the Burying Grounds in Salem, Massachusetts,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 3, April 1849, p. 128-132, and July, p. 276. Online at http://dunhamwilcox.net/ma/salem_inscr.htm. This is also known as Burying Street Cemetery on Charter Street, Salem. “Here lyes ye Body of Elizabeth West, Wife to Henry West. Aged 50 yrs, d. 26 Aug 1691.”

22. EIQC:4:38. West, p. 11.

23. EIQC:6:290. Salem Town Records, Vol. II, p. 240. West, p. 11.

24. EIQC:7:3. West, p. 14.

25. EIQC:7:110-111. West, p. 14-15.

26. EIQC:7:81. He was admonished by the court but not fined.

27. EIQC:4:44-45. Reverend John Higginson came to Salem in 1659 and was pastor of First Church until his death in 1708.

28. Wm. B. Trask, compiler, 1855: “Petitions Against Imposts, 1668,” The New England Historical and Genealogical Register and Antiquarian Journal, Volume IX, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, p. 81-91.

29. EIQC:4:315 and 325.

30. EIQC:7:402-403.

31. Upham, p. 28 (map). The original meeting house was built in 1634 and enlarged in 1639. It was enlarged again in 1670, 10 years before the petition, and not again until 1718.

32. Joseph B. Felt, 1845: Annals of Salem, Volume I, Second edition, James Munroe & Co., Boston, p. 166 and 359. West, p. 15.

33. West, p. 17-19. Dr. Harry West obtained a copy of the Will of Henry West from the Courthouse in Salem. Other West Wills are also recorded there. The Will was signed by Henry West, and Dr. West included a copy of Henry West’s signature in his publication. The estate inventory was valued at about 292 lbs—a higher than average amount of wealth during that time in Salem.

DNA Testing

FTDNA West Surname y-DNA Results

by John G. West (this article was previously published on the West, Fike and Affiliated Lines on the MyFamily.com web site and edited for this blog). 

I want to list some interesting facts about some of the results for the West Surname Project at FamilyTree DNA http://web.utk.edu/~corn/westdna/.   Our WEST surname ranks 115th in frequency in the U.S.  Because WEST is a geographic name, it was adopted by many unrelated individuals when surnames came into use.   In addition to the original adoption of surnames, new lines are created when a surname change occurs as a result of adoption, marriage, and other events.  Y-chromosome DNA gives us the ability to identify genetic relationships when the paper record has been lost.

357 males named West have their results posted in the FTDNA results with 117 unrelated lines (of these there are 38 groups with 2 or more individuals). There are 80 (if I counted correctly) of the 117 lines being individuals without any matches, yet!  A number of these 80 may not come from a West ancestor... meaning there was an adoption, name change or a "paternal mix-up." However, some will get matches and will become a group.

Our group is Group #5 (of the 38)... we currently have the most (slightly) with 20 participants matching. We are unique in that among most surnames, we have the value of 10 for marker #385a with few others having that value. Of the 38 groups in our West surname there are only 2 groups of the 38 and none of the unmatched that have a value of 10 for marker #385a. The other group is #27 with only 2 individuals that otherwise do not match our group. This means that there are only 22 of 357 that have that value of that marker in the West surname project!

Being the largest group with 20 participants, we are still only 5.6% of the total tested by the West name. This means that there is a 94.4% chance that if you meet someone by the name of West that they will not be related to you!  Of course, that is assuming that our DNA sampling is even remotely representative of all people named West. I will suggest that it is somewhat reliable to expect that most people you happen upon with the name West will not be related.

The fact that most people named WEST are not related to us, should encourage us to get as many people we meet with the WEST surname to take a y-DNA test. These results can become even more important since we can prove that they are not related and eliminate another line from our research. It will be a way to 'weed' out some of the Lord Delaware and other suspected, but un-related lines!

Hal Beumer and I corresponded for quite some time trying to connect his West family to mine… we finally decided that we could not find any documentation to prove a relationship and agreed to stop correspondence, at least to a time that we might find something new.  Several years later, Hal wanted me to take a y-DNA test to see if I matched with one of his West cousins.  I was really skeptical of the results and felt the cost was too much for me to speculate on this tool for genealogical research.  Hal talked me into taking the test to once and for all settle the question… were we related or not (we thought there might be a good chance that we were related). We were! His cousin and I matched.

As we can see, DNA testing can eliminate an unrelated West line or it can prove a relationship.  Then it is worth all of the time to document that relationship.  If you have not done a DNA test, please consider  taking a test to see who you match.