Cummings, John
John CUMMINGS (1630 - 1700) and Sarah HOWLET (1634 - 1688)
my double 9g-grandparents
John CUMMINGS, son of Isaac and Anne CUMMINGS, was born in Mistley, Essex, England, probably in early 1630, as he was baptized on 8 May 1630. [JP, p. 240]
As further evidence for the date of birth, [CM, p. 3] tells us "On the list of Freemen, 1672, his name precedes Isaac's. In 1673, he testified in court to being 40 years old; in 1678, 43 (47?) ; in 1679, 50."
So John was about 5 years of age in 1635 when he and his parents, and his older sister Ann (6), and younger brother Isaac (2), immigrated to America, and soon settled in Topsfield, Massachusetts Bay Colony.
John and Sarah were my double 9g-grandparents, because Sampson FRENCH was my 6g-grandfather, and his parents, Joseph FRENCH and Elizabeth Kinsley CUMMINGS, were 1st cousins, both grandchildren of John and Sarah.
John CUMMINGS and family in Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony
Place names and boundaries in New England changed often in the 17th Century. The Town of Boxford was earlier part of a larger area called Rowley Village. John CUMMINGS owned 500 acres there [HB, p. 29].
1796 map of northwestern MA, showing parts of Middlesex and Essex counties. The CUMMINGS families lived in Ipswich, Topsfield, Rowley and Boxford in central Essex county, and in Dunstable and Hollis, northern Middlesex, on the MA/NH state line, formed in 1740. (Grafsch is the German word for county. Most of the settlers here were English, but this was a German map.) [source]
John married Sarah HOWLETT/HOWLET, born 1633 or 1634, probably in Boston or Ipswich, daughter of Ensign Thomas HOWLET and Alice FRENCH. Sarah was my first ancestor born in America.
John was deeded his father's 40-acre farm in Topsfield, and in 1658 John and Sarah moved to neighboring Boxford, where presumably all their children were born.
U.S. and International Marriage Record
Name: Sarah Howlett
Birth Place: MA
Birth Year: 1633
Spouse Name: John Cummings
Spouse Birth Place: MA
Spouse Birth Year: 1630
Marriage Year: 1656
Marriage State: MA
The record above indicates that John and Sarah were both born in MA. However, other records indicate that John, at least, was born in Mistley, Essex, England. The record in New England Marriages says that the marriage was in Boxford, MA, 1655, and that John died in 1700, Sarah in 1688. Other records have Sarah's death in 1700.
Dunstable
In 1680 John and Sarah removed to Dunstable, where John and his older sons were counted among the first settlers. He was selectman in 1682, a member of the church in 1684, and for several years he was town clerk.
Dunstable, originally over 200 square miles, was cut in two pieces by the formation of the state line in 1740, and also, at various times, divided into the Massachusetts towns of Dunstable, Pepperell, Townsend and Tyngsborough, the New Hampshire towns of Hudson, Nashua and Hollis, and parts of other towns as well. For clarity, I will refer to the original Dunstable as Old Dunstable.
Old Dunstable map from 1846. The "old line" indicates the boundary, with more recent boundaries superimposed. The "First Meeting-House" appears as an icon, above the large B in Dunstable. The current town of Dunstable, MA is in the lower center. From [CJF, p. 14]
Indian Attacks
From its first settlement around 1656, for the next 70 years, Dunstable was on the frontier of the English settlements, and suffered many attacks by local Indian tribes. Some of the houses were fortified as garrisons, where neighbors would gather, in case of an attack. These garrisons also provided temporary housing for soldiers, as they moved to protect the settlements.
Of course the historical accounts passed down to us by the English settlers only present one side of the conflict. The settlers also destroyed Indian villages, and committed atrocities, most of which are which are lost to history. I can only present the facts that I have found.
The family of John and Sarah CUMMINGS was particularly hard hit by Indian attacks. On 2 Nov 1688, their sons Isaac and Ebenezer were killed by Indians. For some reason, their bodies were not buried until several days later. On 3 Jul 1706, John and Sarah's son John and his wife were attacked. She was killed, and he suffered a broken arm, hiding overnight in a nearby swamp. On 5 Sep 1724 a group of 14 soldiers was attacked by Indians at Thornton's Ferry. All but one of the soldiers were killed, including the commander, Ebenezer FRENCH, and Ebenezer CUMMINGS, both grandsons of John and Sarah. Also killed was Lieut. Oliver FARWELL, husband of Mary CUMMINGS, granddaughter of John and Sarah. Two other grandsons, Josiah CUMMINGS and William CUMMINGS, were members of the ill-fated party of Capt. John LOVEWELL that started from Dunstable in April, 1725, for Pequawket, but they were sent home before the massacre, because William was sick. It was Josiah who first ran Thornton's Ferry.
More information on Indian attacks can be found on the John CUMMINGS Jr page, and on the King Philip's War page. The fatal mission in which Oliver FARWELL was killed was led by Ebenezer FRENCH. See the Samuel FRENCH page for this.
The Church in Old Dunstable
The CUMMINGS family were Puritans, and several of the CUMMINGS men were deacons of their local churches. Puritans believed in Biblical law. When they were subject to a government that passed any laws not directly from the Bible, they had to move on. This drove much of the fearless drive westward. They were undaunted by the hardships of pioneering life, including severe winters, crop failures, and Indian attacks, leaving their fate in the hands of God.
Everything the Puritans said or did was related to their religious beliefs. Biblical scripture encroached in every conversation, and affected every activity. A great effort was made to introduce local Indians to Biblical teachings, and a group of "Praying Indians" met regularly at the Meetin-House in Old Dunstable. (My 9g-grandfather, and father-in-law of Sarah (CUMMINGS) FRENCH, was William FRENCH, of Billerica, MA. He wrote a text for this purpose, called Strength out of Weakness, published in 1652.)
Any Puritan community was centered around the Congregational church, and construction of a building for church services was an early priority. The Meeting-House at Old Dunstable was begun about 1675, but was interrupted by King Philip's War, 1675-8. During this time almost all of the inhabitants fled to larger communities to the south and east. Many returned in 1678, and the Meeting-House was completed, as shown in the sketch below. It was near Salmon Brook, in the part of Old Dunstable that became Nashua, NH. It was small and inadequate, so a new Meeting-House was built in 1684.
For six years this rude building was used for religious purposes, but as yet no church organization was formed. In 1684 a new meeting-house was built, and the next year a church was legally organized, consisting of seven male members, viz.: Jonathan Tyng, John Cummings senior, John Blanchard, Cornelius Waldo, Samuel Warner, Samuel French, and Obadiah Perry who was killed by the Indians six years afterwards. John Blanchard and Cornelius Waldo were chosen deacons. On the same day that the church was organized Mr. Weld was ordained; and the 16th of December, 1685, marks the real birth-day of the church of Old Dunstable. [FCD, p. 11]
John CUMMINGS brought his family to Old Dunstable about 1680, and in 1685 he was one of the 7 men, considered founding members of the church. Among the 7 men were Samuel WARNER, whose daughter, Priscilla, married Thomas CUMMINGS, and Samuel FRENCH, who married Sarah CUMMINGS.
Descendants
John and Sarah had 11 children, and died 6 days apart, in Dunstable; John died 1 Dec 1700, and Sarah died 7 Dec 1700. They were my 9g-grandparents.
1 John CUMMINGS bapt: 8 May 1630 in Mistley, Essex, England, d: 01 Dec 1700 in Dunstable, MA, age 70
+ Sarah HOWLETT b: 1633 in MA, m: 1656 in MA, d: 07 Dec 1700 in Dunstable, MA, age 67
......2 John CUMMINGS b: 1657 in Boxford, MA
..... + Elizabeth KINSLEY b: 22 Nov 1657 in Braintree, MA, m: 13 Sep 1680, d: 03 Jul 1706, age 48, killed by Indians
......2 Thomas CUMMINGS b: 06 Oct 1658 in Boxford, MA, d: 23 Oct 1722 in Dunstable, MA, age 64
...... + Priscilla WARNER b: 25 Sep 1666, m: 19 Dec 1688 in Dunstable, MA
......2 Nathaniel CUMMINGS b: 10 Sep 1659 in Boxford, MA
...... + Abigail PARKHURST m: 14 Apr 1697
......2 Sarah CUMMINGS b: 27 Jan 1661
...... + Samuel FRENCH b: 03 Dec 1645 in Cambridge, MA, m: 28 Dec 1682 in Dunstable, MA, d: 04 Nov 1727, age 81
......2 Abraham CUMMINGS d: Bef. 04 Sep 1707
...... + Sarah WRIGHT b: 1668, m: 28 Feb 1687, d: 25 Dec 1752, age 84
......2 Isaac CUMMINGS d: 02 Nov 1688, killed by Indians
......2 Ebenezer CUMMINGS d: 02 Nov 1688, killed by Indians
......2 Eleazer CUMMINGS (twin) b: 05 Aug 1671
......2 William CUMMINGS (twin) b: 05 Aug 1671, d: 30 Mar 1672, age 7 mos.
......2 Benjamin CUMMINGS b: 23 Feb 1673
......2 Samuel CUMMINGS b: 28 Dec 1677
Siblings John and Sarah were both my 8g-grandparents, since John's daughter Elizabeth married Sarah's son Joseph. See the John CUMMINGS Jr page and the Samuel FRENCH page.
Very little seems to be known about the younger children of John and Sarah.
1. John CUMMINGS Jr was born about 1657, in Boxford. He married on 13 Sep 1680 to Elisabeth KINSLEY, daughter of Samuel KINSLEY and Hannah BRACKET, of Billerica, MA.
John and Elizabeth were my 8g-grandparents. See the John CUMMINGS Jr page.
Ebenezer CUMMINGS, son of John and Elizabeth, was killed in the mission in which his cousin Ebenezer FRENCH, and his cousin Mary CUMMINGS' husband Oliver FARWELL, were killed.
2. Deacon Thomas CUMMINGS was born 3 Jan 1658 in Boxford. He married on 19 Dec 1688, to Priscilla WARNER, born in Ipswich 25 Sep 1666. Along with his father, Thomas was an early settler of Dunstable, although Thomas and Priscilla lived in Boston for several years. Life in Dunstable was difficult, due to Indian attacks, and the village was nearly deserted at times. Thomas died on 23 Oct 1722, at age 64.
Priscilla WARNER may have been a daughter of John WARNER and Priscilla SYMONDS [CM, p. 12] or perhaps she was a daughter of Samuel WARNER and Mercy SWAN [CG, p. 6].
1 Thomas CUMMINGS b: 06 Oct 1658 in Boxford, MA, d: 23 Oct 1722 in Dunstable, MA
+ Priscilla WARNER b: 25 Sep 1666 in Ipswich, Essex, MA, m: 19 Dec 1688 in Dunstable, MA
......2 Priscilla CUMMINGS b: 01 Oct 1689, d: 13 Sep 1728
......2 Mary CUMMINGS b: 25 Apr 1692
...... + Oliver FARWELL b: 21 Nov 1692 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, MA, d: 05 Sep 1724 in Naticook Brook, NH
...... + Benjamin PARKER b: 08 Oct 1702 in Newton, Middlesex, MA, m: 07 Dec 1727 in Newton, Middlesex, MA
......2 Thomas CUMMINGS b: 24 Oct 1694, d: 02 Jun 1695 in Boston, MA
......2 Sarah CUMMINGS b: 15 Sep 1696 in Boston, MA, d: 10 Sep 1758 in Newton, Middlesex, MA
...... + Noah PARKER b: 1694 in MA, m: 21 Apr 1715 in Brookline, Norfolk, MA,
......2 Ann CUMMINGS b: 06 Feb 1699
......2 Thomas CUMMINGS b: 10 Apr 1701
......2 Jonathan CUMMINGS b: 03 Jul 1703 in Dunstable, NH (now MA)
...... + Elizabeth BLANCHARD b: 25 Apr 1697 in Dunstable, m: Abt. 1726, d: 28 May 1774 in Merrimack, Hillsborough, NH
......2 Ephraim CUMMINGS b: 10 Mar 1706, d: aft. 1770
...... + Elizabeth BUTLER b: 4 Sep 1704 in Woburn, Middlesex, MA, m: abt. 1732
......2 Samuel CUMMINGS b: 12 Apr 1708, d: 20 Jan 1723
Jonathan CUMMINGS married Elizabeth BLANCHARD, daughter of Capt. Joseph BLANCHARD and Abiah HASSEL. He bought about 600 acres of land in Merrimack (then still part of Old Dunstable) about two miles west of Thornton's Ferry, and there settled, and raised 6 children. He later sold a part but kept a large farm bordering on Naticook pond. It was very good land but considerably uneven. He was one of the founders of the church in Merrimack, and one of the first two deacons. Jonathan was a leading man in affairs of the town, and a deacon many years. (Paraphrased from [CG, pp. 15-6].)
Ephraim CUMMINGS married Elizabeth BUTLER, daughter of Deacon John and Elizabeth BUTLER of Pelham, N. H. He first settled on land in the south easterly part of what is now Hudson (then still part of Old Dunstable), that was originally laid out to his father, Thomas. After marriage in 1732, the couple settled in Nottingham West, where they lived from its incorporation in 1733 to at least 1770. Their 7 children were born there. Ephraim was one of the prominent, early citizens of the town of Nottingham West. He was moderator of annual town meetings for several years, was a member of the board of selectmen seven years, and was delegate to the General Court of New Hampshire, in 1760. (Paraphrased from [CG, p. 16].)
3. Nathaniel CUMMINGS was born 10 Sep 1659. He married on 14 Apr 1697 to Abigail PARKHURST of Chelmsford. Nathaniel died before 3 Feb 1729. They lived in Old Dunstable, and had at least 4 children.
1 Nathaniel CUMMINGS b: 10 Sep 1659 in Boxford, MA, d: 1729, age 69-70
+ Abigail PARKHURST b: 11 Mar 1664 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, MA, m: 14 Apr 1697 in Dunstable
......2 Capt. John CUMMINGS b: 14 Jan 1698, d: 15 Aug 1770, age 72
...... + Elizabeth FRENCH b: 1715, m: 1736, d: 02 Jul 1793, age 77-78
......2 Nathaniel CUMMINGS b: 08 Sep 1699 in Dunstable, d: 1760, age 60-61
...... + Elizabeth WHITNEY b: 1702 in Dunstable
......2 Eleazer CUMMINGS b: 19 Oct 1701 in Dunstable
...... + Mary VARNUM b: 28 Jun 1706 in Dracut, Middlesex, MA, m: 28 Jul 1734 in Nottingham, Rockingham, NH, d: 17 Sep 1759 in Hudson, Hillsborough, NH, age 49
......2 Joseph CUMMINGS b: 26 May 1704 in Dunstable
...... + Jemimah WHEATON b: 11 May 1704 in Mendon, Worcester, MA
Capt. John CUMMINGS married his 1st cousin 1x removed, Elizabeth FRENCH, who already had CUMMINGS-HOWLETT blood on both sides! The children of John and Elizabeth have John CUMMINGS and Sarah HOWLETT in their tree 3 times.
Eleazer CUMMINGS settled in Hudson about 1728, when it was still part of Old Dunstable. He married twice, but had only 2 known children, both from his 2nd wife. His farm was on the east bank of Merrimack River, and he established the first ferry to Dunstable, across the Merrimack River near Taylors Falls, and also the first tavern in Hudson. He was on the first board of selectmen in 1733 at the time of incorporation of Nottingham West, now Hudson. (Paraphrased from [CG, pp. 22-3].)
4. Sarah CUMMINGS was born 28 Jan 1661. She married on 24 Dec 1682 to Lieut. Samuel FRENCH, son of Lieut. William and Elizabeth FRENCH, of Billerica, MA. They lived in Dunstable, where they had 8 children.
Sarah and Samuel were my 8g-grandparents. See the Samuel FRENCH page.
5. Abraham CUMMINGS was born about 1663 in Boxford, Essex, MA, and died about 1704. He married on 28 Feb 1686/7, to Sarah WRIGHT, of Woburn, MA, born 25 Feb 1669/70, and died 25 Dec 1752, Sarah was a daughter of Deacon Joseph WRIGHT and Elizabeth HASSELL. After Abraham died, Sarah married on 4 Sep 1707, to Aaron PRATT, born 1654 in Charlestown, MA, and died 23 Feb 1735, son of Phinehas PRATT and Mary PRIEST. Sarah had a very extensive practice in midwifery at Hingham and its vicinity.
1 Abraham CUMMINGS b: 1663 in Boxford, Essex, MA, d: Abt. 1704
+ Sarah WRIGHT b: 28 Feb 1669 in Woburn, Middlesex, MA, m: 28 Feb 1687 in Woburn, Middlesex, MA, d: 25 Dec 1752
......2 Abraham CUMMINGS b: 07 Oct 1690 in Woburn, MA, d: Mar 1755 in Attleboro, Bristol, MA
...... + Mary RICHARDSON b: 03 May 1696 in Woburn, Middlesex, MA, d: Aft. 1749
......2 Joseph Capt. CUMMINGS b: 01 Sep 1692 in Woburn, MA, d: 22 Apr 1794
...... + Sarah Abigail ESTEY m: 01 Dec 1714, d: 1749
...... + Priscilla LAMSON m: 11 Nov 1751, d: 19 Aug 1780
......2 Sarah CUMMINGS b: 10 Feb 1694 in Woburn, MA
......2 Jacob Capt. Dea. CUMMINGS b: 03 Jan 1696 in Woburn, MA, d: 27 Feb 1776 in Ware, Hampshire, MA
...... + Martha BROOK b: 24 Mar 1697 in Killingly, Windham, CT, m: 28 Mar 1716 in Killingly, Windham, CT, d: 1719
...... + Abigail WILSON m: 09 Nov 1720 in Killingly, Windham, CT
......2 Josiah CUMMINGS b: 12 Jul 1698 in Dunstable, MA, d: 08 Feb 1761
...... + Miriam PROCTER b: 30 Jun 1696 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, MA, m: 26 Nov 1732 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, MA
......2 Eleazer CUMMINGS b: 09 Apr 1704 in Dunstable, NH (now MA), d: 1735 in Nottingham West, Hillsborough, NH
...... + Rachel PROCTOR b: 05 Jan 1702 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, MA, m: 26 Oct 1729 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, MA
Josiah CUMMINGS "probably lived in Litchfield for several years, where he established and kept the first ferry over the Merrimack river at that place, which was later known as Lutcick's Ferry, and still later as Thornton's Ferry, as the place is at present known. At an early date it was called Cumming's Ferry. He was assessed in this town from 1741-56 inclusive, also the years '58, '60 and 1761. About 1740 he settled on a part of the original Joseph Hill's farm, and later owned by Richard Marshall. The house was on the west side of the highway. He was one of the party of Capt. John Lovewell that started from Dunstable in April, 1725, for Pequawket, owing to disability or sickness of his cousin, William Cummings, who was also a member of the same company, he was ordered home with him." [CG, p. 8]
Capt. Joseph CUMMINGS was 12 when his father died, about 1704, and Joseph went to live with Thomas HOWLETT and Rebecca CUMMINGS. (Joseph and Rebecca were 1st cousins 1x removed.) Joseph's 1st wife was Sarah Abigail ESTEY, sister of Hannah ESTEY, who married Isaac CUMMINGS, 2nd cousin of Joseph. He lived to age 101, and was said to be physically active and mentally keen until the end.
Abraham CUMMUNGS Jr married Mary RICHARDSON, of Woburn. There were two Mary RICHARDSONs born in Woburn, born 10 Aug 1689 and 03 May 1696. There has been some discussion regarding which one married Abraham CUMMINGS, but [MR] seems to settle the case, for the latter. Abraham and Mary settled in Attleboro, Bristol, MA.
6. Isaac CUMMINGS was killed by Indians, or possibly drowned, along with his brother Ebenezer, on 2 Nov 1688, Dunstable, buried 20 Nov 1688.
7. Ebenezer CUMMINGS was killed by Indians, or possibly drowned, along with his brother Isaac, on 2 Nov 1688, in Dunstable.
8. William CUMMINGS was born 5 Aug 1671, and died 30 Mar 1672, at age 8 months.
9. Eliezer CUMMINGS was born 5 Aug 1671. His twin William, died at age 8 months.
10. Benjamin CUMMINGS was born on 23 Feb 1672/3.
11. Samuel CUMMINGS was born on 28 Dec 1677 in Topsfield, Essex, MA.
Sources
[CTCD] Isaac Cummings, of Topsfield, Mass., and some of his descendants (1899) by Clark, Towne, Cummings and Dow
[CFW] Comins Family Website
[CG] Cummings genealogy : Isaac Cummings, 1601-1677 of Ipswich in 1638 and some of his descendants (1904) by Albert Oren Cummins
[CJF] History of the old township of Dunstable : including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N.H. ; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass (1846) by Charles J. Fox
[CM] The Cummings memorial, a genealogical history of the descendants of Isaac Cummings, an early settler of Topsfield, Massachusetts (1903) by George Mooar
[FCD] History of the first church in Dunstable-Nashua, N.H. : and of later churches there (1918) by John Wesley Churchill and Charles Carroll Morgan
[MNH] Marker #29 Old Dunstable by Mike in New Hampshire
[MR] NEHGR, Vol 158, Jul 2004, page 228-230,'Mary Richardson, Wife of Abraham Cummings of Woburn and Attleborough, Massachusetts by Sherry Milham'
Updated 26 Apr 2021 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.