Roger Goodspeed, US 1639

Generation One:

Roger Goodspeed- b. abt. 1618 at England; m. 1 December 1641 Alice Layton at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA; d. 1685 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA, aged 67 years.

Their Children:

1. Nathaniel b. 6 October 1642 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA; m. November 1666 Elizabeth Bursley; d. May 1670 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA , aged 27 years.

2. John b. 15 June 1645 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA

3. Mary b. July 1647 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA; m. 14 December 1664 Samuel Hinckley

4. Benjamin b. 6 May 1649 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA; m. Mary Davis

5. Ruth b. 10 April 1652 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA; m. 2 February 1675 John Davis

6. Ebenezer b. December 1655 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA; m. 15 February 1678 Lydia Crowell

7. Elizabeth b. 1 May 1658 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA

Roger Goodspeed arrived during 1639, where he is found in Barnstable, Barnstable, MA. He was one of the founders (proprietors). It is thought that Roger was from wither Devonshire or Somersetshire, England. In the History of the Barnstable Church, the diary kept by Mr. Lothrop does mention: “Alice Goodspeed joined December 31, 1643; Roger Goodspeed joined July 28, 1644.”

Roger was a yeoman, planter, or farmer. “In the conveyance of land by Thomas Allyn to Roger Goodspeed in 1665, it is stated that the latter held his land in free and common soccage and not in capite or by knight service, by the rents and services thereof due and of right accustomed, and held it in the same way as of the King’s manor in east Greenwich, Kent, England.” (History, p. 30)

Roger’s originally assigned land was a considerable portion of the eastern part of the present village of Barnstable. The two lots assigned to him was about eight acres. In addition, Roger received a portion of the salt marsh to the northward. “The boundaries of his two lots were probably as follows” On the west by the present road running north and south past the old well near the state road at the entrance to Bow Lane; on the north by the line in the present northern cemetery hill; on the east by a line about fifteen rods east of the custom house; and on the south by the road running east and west and projecting on the south into Bow Lane. The present Masonic Hall, schoolhouse, cemeteries, and meeting house stand on his lot in the common, and the customhouse.” (History, p. 31)

"The Record of ye Land of Roger Goodspeed In ye year 1653.

1. Six acres of Upland be it More or Less bounded Southerly by Paupmunacke Land Easterly Into ye woods & Westerly by ye River Commonly called ye Oyster River.

2. A neck of Upland Lying Northerly from ye aforesaid Six acres Containing 15 acres be it More or Less bounded "Westerly by ye aforesd River Easterly Into ye woods.

3. A parcel of Meadow Containing six acres be it Jlore or lass bound- ed Southerly by Jonathan Hatches bounded Westerly by ye Sd River Running up to ye head of ye River where ye Upland Comes to ye River the sd Upland being by ye Indians Commonly Called Misteake.

Later the following was added to this entry:

The aforesaid Roger Goodspeed did personally appear & acknowl- edge his resigning up all his Right title and Interest unto ye above sd six acres unto ye Town ye 29 of January 1667.

The first mentioned six acre tract and the fifteen acre tract were together on the east bank of Goodspeed 's river and a short distance south of the present village of Marstons Mills. It was upon this tract that Roger built his first house at the new home. A short distance north of this land was the second six acre tract mentioned above extending north- ward to the lands called "Misteake" by the Indians. His second house at Misteake was built on the tract he bought on the "ponds" of Thomas Allen in 1665, and it was this house and six acres there which he re- served when he conveyed the bulk of his property to his two sons John and Ebenezer. In 1667 the town granted him sixteen acres adjoining his house lot. "While in his first house at Misteake, hLs nearest neighbor was the famous Sachem Paupmunnucks of Massapee. No doubt Roger and his boys could speak well the language of the Indians. (History, p. 34)

“The following is taken from the records at Barnstable: "John Cooper being in hand paid and fully Satisfied by Roger Goodspeed hath by these presents fully and absolutely sold, given and granted from him and his unto ye sd Roger Goodspeed & his for ever, all that Little Neck aforesd butting Southerly Into ye pond with ye eight Acres of Upland against it bounded as aforesd this 9th of May 1659." The total was about six- teen acres.

The Barnstable Town records show that the following additional tract had been granted to and was owned by Roger after the Town's examina- tion January 29, 1667: "The lands of Roger Goodspeed, fifteen acres be it More or Less boimded Easterly by ye New Path that leads from his house to ye Indian field, Southerly by ye South Side of a white wood Swamp & partly by a line Running thence by a green pine tree to ye River & bounded "Westerly & Northerly by his own land."

At a town meeting July 15, 1670, John Thompson was given the "right of way over Goodspeed's River to his marsh" across the lands claimed by Roger, providing he "would make good any damage to ye sd Roger Goodspeed" . . "and it is also agreed by ye sd town that ye sd Roger Goodspeed shall have and enjoy ye rest of ye land which he hath now fenced in for conveniency to safeguard his marsh to him his heirs and assigns forever." “ (History, pp 36-37)

“ Roger was indiscreet enough on one occasion to get himself into rather serious trouble, as shown by the following complaint and pro- ceedings on the records of Plymouth Colony:

"John Jenkins, of Barnstable, complained against Roger Goodspeed in an action of defamation to the damage of fifty pounds, in his charg- ing of the said complainant to be a Iyer, and that he had stolen his kidd, biding all the people there to take notice thereof; this being on a lec- ter day, in September last, in the publicke meeting house there, before sundry people.

"The jury find for the plaintiff twenty pounds damage, and the coste of the suite, or an acknowledgement to the satisfaction of the Court, and the coste of the suite."

Roger accepted the alternative as shown by the following entry taken from the same record :

"THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ROGER GOODSPEED.

"These are to certify whom it may concern, That what words passed from mee, Roger Goodspeed, att the meeting house att Barnstable con- cerning John Jenkins, his stealing my kidd and lying, were rash, unad- vised and inconsiderate words ; and upon due consideration I see I had noe cause soe to say, and ame sorry for soe saying, and desire him to passe it by. Roger Goodspeed x his mark." (History, p. 37)

The following is an exact copy of the legal instrument by which Roger conveyed to his two surviving sons, John and Ebenezer, practically all of his estate upon the conditions named therein :

"This Ind made the 6th Day of April In ye year of our Lord one Thou- sand six hundred seventy and Bight between Roger Goodspeed of ye Town of Barnstable In ye Government of New Plymouth in New England yeoman of ye one part & John Goodspeed and Ebenezer Goodspeed of ye same Town and Government abovesd of ye other part witnesseth that ye Sd Roger goodspeed as well for ye Natural Love and affection which he beareth towards ye Sd John Goodspeed & Ebenezer Goodspeed ye Natural Sons of ye Sd Roger Goodspeed as for Divers other Considera- tions him at this time hereunto moving Especially for ye maintenance of himself & Alice his now wife During their Natural Lives hath given granted Enfeoffed and Confirmed & by these presents doth give grant Enfeoff and Confirm Unto ye Sd John Goodspeed & Ebenezer Goodspeed their heirs and assigns for Ever all that ye Lands and Meaddows of ye Sd Roger Goodspeed Lying at ye South Sea and at ye ponds where he now lives Except six acres of Upland More or Less During ye Natural Life of ye Sd Roger Goodspeed & Alice his now wife Lying at ye ponds Neer his now dwelling house bounded Southerly by ye Cart way & Westerly by ye Cart Way Easterly by ye pond Northerly from ye North End of ye pond Running west by ye Cart Way with all and singular ye Rights Members and appurtenances together with all orchards garden yards feedings pastures woods Underwoods ways profits Commodities Commons of pas- ture hereditaments and appurtenances Whatsoever to ye Sd Lands or Meaddows or to any part or parcel of ym belonging or in any wise ap- pertaining. All which lands and Meaddows with Every of their Rights members and appurtenances Whatsoever before In and of these presents Mentioned or situate lying or being within ye Township of Barnstable aforesd & now or late in ye tenour or Occupation of ye Sd Roger Good- speed or his assigns & ye Reversion & Reversions Remainder and Re- mainders of all and Singular the before Mentioned premises and also all ye Estate Right title and Interest use possession property Claim & Demand Whatsoever of him ye Sd Roger goodspeed of in or to ye Same Except as in before Excepted to have and to Hold ye sd Lands and Meaddows and all and Singular ye premises hereby granted with all and Every of their Rights Members and Appurtenances whatsoever Unto ye Sd John Goodspeed & Ebenezer Goodspeed their heirs and assigns for Ever to ye uses Intent and purposes hereafter in these presents Limited and Declared & Upon Condition that ye Sd John Goodspeed and Ebenezer goodspeed Joyntly and Severally their Heirs Executors and assigns ad- ministrators and assigns and Every of them from year to year and Every year During ye Natural Life of ye Sd Roger goodspeed & Alice his now wife Shall and will and Faithfully till and Improve ye above sd Excepted six acres of Upland for ye use and behoof of ye abovesd Roger goodspeed & Alice his Wife as is abovesd by planting ye one half thereof with In- dian Corn every year and to tend it well and at harvest to gather it and to Carry it into the hoiise ye other half of ye sd six acres of land to sow with English grain and ye same to harvest and Carry Into ye Barn & to Maintain a good and Sufficient fence about ye sd Lands and to manure by laying twelve good loads of Dung upon ye Same Every year and to Draw all ye wood yt ye sd Roger Goodspeed & Alice his wife shall have necessary use to Expend in firing during ye Life of Either of them provided always yt ye sd Roger Goodspeed Cut ye wood or Cause it to be Cut & also Carry or Cause to be Carried all ye Corn to mill & bring home ye Meal that ye sd Roger goodspeed & Alice Shall have occasion to Spend In ye family for their Sustenance during ye lives of either of them and further ye sd John Goodspeed & Ebenezer Goodspeed Shall and Will Sufficient and well with good hay Winter four Cows for ye Sd Roger Goodspeed & Alice his wife yearly or every year during ye Life or Lives of Either of them as also to Winter two horses for ye use of ye sd Roger and Alice by providing and giving them Sufficient and good hay Every Winter & to pasture them in good pasture within fence in ye Summer year after year During ye life or Lives of Either of ye sd Roger Goodspeed or Alice his Wife and ye abovesd Roger good- speed as well for the Natural Love & affection which he beareth towards ye sd John Goodspeed & Ebenezer Goodspeed ye Natural Sons of ye sd Roger goodspeed as for ye Considerations above Specified hath given granted and Confirmed Unto ye sd John Goodspeed & Ebenezer Good- speed four oxen to have and to Hold all & Singular ye oxen as aforesd to ye aforesd John Goodspeed & Ebenezer Goodspeed their executors administrators and assigns to them and their o-\vn proper uses & behoofs for ever therof & therewith to use and dispose at their will and pleas- ure as of their own proper goods and Chattels. Witnesseth now further this Indenture & it is hereby Explained and Declared that it is the true Intent and Meaning of ye sd parties to these presents that all and Singu- lar ye Lands and Meaddows and Oxen above Mentioned with all their Rights Members and appurtenances be equally divided between ye sd John Goodspeed & Ebenezer Goodspeed party to these presents their or either of their heirs Executors administrators or assigns when Either of them or Either of their heirs Executors administrators or assigns Shall please and if it Shall happen that any of ye Conditions ahove Men- tioned Shall be Unperformed & Not Made good by ye abovesd John Goodspeed «& Ebenezer Goodspeed their or either of their heirs Execu- tors administrators or assigns being Lawfully Required thereunto that then and from thence and at all times after it Shall and May be Lawful To and for ye sd Roger goodspeed his Executors administrators and as- signs Into ye sd Lands and Meaddows with ye appurtenances & into Every part and parcel thereof Wholly to Reenter & ye same to have again Repossess and Enjoy as in his or their former Estate. In witness whereof ye parties above Named Unto these presents Indentures Inter- changably have Set their hands and Seals ye Day and year above written.

Witnesses The mark of Roger R Goodspeed (seal) ". Joseph Lothrop

Edward Crowell."

The mark made by Roger to this instrument was a rude R. As he was at this time, so far as known, in the enjoyment of good health, this would seem to imply that he could not write his name. (History, pp. 43-45)

"The Last will and testament of Roger Goodspeed of Barnstable in the Collony of new plimouth in New England.

"I Roger Goodspeed being weak of body but through the mercy of God of Sound and disposing mind memorye & Calling to minde the uncer- tainty of this transitory Life, & that all must yield to death whensoever God Shall Call & being willing & desireous According to my duty to Sott things in order before I goe hence Doe therefore make this my Last will & testament in manner & forme following: & I doe hereby Revoke & Annull all former will or wills testament or testaments by me hereto- fore made Either by word or writing; & doe Constitute & declare this only to be my Last will and testament: viz Impremis I doe give & Be- queath my Soule to God in Jesus Christ: who gave it: & my body to decent burial : as to my Executor hereafter named Shall Seem meet and Conveniant: And first of all Concerning my temporal Estate, which God hath been pleased Above my deserts to give unto mee. I will that all my debts: which in Right or Conscience owe to Any person Shall be first discharged out of my Estate within Convenient time after my decease: Item I will and bequeath to Alice my Loving wife for her support & stay of this Life the use of all the Rest of my Estate interest ( ?) Chattel Household stuff or whatsoever Else it may be In: Dureing her natural Life & to dispose of it as shee shall see meett after her decease Except- ing such Legacies as by this my Last will is hereafter named: Item I will and bequeath to my son John & to my daughter Ruth: to each of them one shilling: & to my son Ebenezer After my wife the sd Alice her decaase my now dwelling house & my best bedstead table and Cub- bard : Item I give and bequeath to my Grandson Benjamine hinckley my second best f etherbed after my sd wife her decease : & to Every one of the rest of my grand children one shilling Apeice & for as much as I did : many yeares since give unto my son Nathaniell at his marriage a parcell of Land being About six Acres be it more or Less : my will is to Confirm the sd Land unto his son Nathaniell my Grandson: & the house which his father my sd son Nathaniell built before his decease : Item : I will and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth besides the two Cowes I have already Given her the sura of twenty pounds in Cattell or household stuff After my sd wife her decease if it please God there be soe much Left unspent by my sd wife at her decease & If there shall be more of my Estate Left : I leave it to be at my sd vdie her free disposall as she shall see Cause: & I doe hereby Constitute and Appoint my Loving wife the sd Alice to be my sole Executor or Executrix to perform this my last will & testament : In witness whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand & Scale this sixt day of Aprill Anno Domini one thousand six hundred Eighty & five. Roger Goodspeed R & a Scale."

"Signed sealed and declared in the prjence of

Thomas Hinckley Senr

Jonathan Russell."

"Mr Thomas Hinckley senr made oath that he saw Roger goodspeed sign scale & declare this lustrum 'tt to be his Last vdll & testam'tt & that he was in good disposeing mind when he did It: In Court Jun: 1685. Nath'll Clarke Secretary."

"The Reverend Mr Jonathan Russell made oath that he did see Roger goodspeed signe scale & declare this lustrum 'tt to be his Last will & testament and that he was of disposing mind when he soe did this 25th of June 1685 before Barnabas Lothropp (not plain)." (History, pp.45-46)

Below is an attachment to Roger Goodspeed's Inventory

Generation Two:

John Goodspeed- b. 15 June 1645 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA; m. Experience Holway; d. 1719 at Marston Mills, Barnstable, MA, aged 73 years.

Their Children:

1. Mercy b. 18 February 1669 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA; m. 14 January 1688 Matthew Jones at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA

2. Samuel b. 23 June 1670 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA; 26 February 1712 Mary Howland at Tiverton, Bristol, RI

3. John b. June 1673 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA

4. Experience b. 14 September 1676 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA

5. Benjamin b. 31 May 1679 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA

6. Rose b. 20 February 1681 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA

7. Bathsheba b. 17 February 1683at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA

John (3) passed the first few years of his life at Barnstable, but after about 1647 lived uninterruptedly at Misteake. Upon his marriage, his father no doubt gave him a small tract of land at Misteake for a home, probably the nucleus of the estate owned by him there afterward. After reaching the proper age, he was made a freeman and townsman. In 1675-6 he participated in the " Narragansett Wars" of King Philip and his allies. He was in the third expedition under Capt. Thomas Howes, of Yarmouth, and very probably was in one or more of the other three expeditions. This is renderd likely by the fact that in the division of the gratuity of land granted the soldiers of these wars, John received 112 lots, while his brother Ebenezer, who also participated, received but 85 lots. It would seem, therefore, that John served twice and Ebenezer but once. They seem to have participated in the bloody battle of Reho- beth March 26, 1676, where the white mortality was very great; but the power of Philip was largely crushed (see under Ebenezer (7) for more concerning this service). (History, pp. 78-79)

John's admission as a townsman entitled him to participate in the division of the lands of the town propriety. As told elsewhere, his father, in 1678, transferred to him and his brother Ebenezer all of the old homestead except six acres, in consideration of their maintaining him and Alice during the rest of their lives. The old homestead at Misteake (now Marstons Mills) is early referred to in the records as "at the South Sea," and the Goodspeeds were called "South Sea men." John seems to have been unfilial to his mother Alice in her old age and after the death of Roger. As a consequence, in her will, she cut him off with a shilling, and directed that what he owed her should be paid "to her loving son Ebenezer."

About 1686 the following grant of land was made: "To John Good- speed common of swamp Lying between his fence and a Common fence on ye West Side of ye River by his ground being about an acre or Acre and a half." The following appears of record at Barnstable under date of 1703 :

"The other Lots on ye west side of Indian pond viz John Goodspeed, Ebenezer Goodspeed & Andrew Lovell are bounded Westerly from j^e Commons by the Herring River and on the Southerly into the Land of those two Goodspeeds are bounded beginning at a white Oake tree stand- ing by sd Herring Swamp a little to the southward of John Goodspeeds house & thence bearing to a white sapling marked in a bottom neer Ebe- nezer Goodspeeds Land and To a stone in ye Ground by the fence & with a small offset bearing to a forked white aoke with a stone at ye root then running easterly again to a Stone Sott in ye ground before sd Ebe- nezer Goodspeeds Door then ranging Easterly againe to a stone Sott in ye ground by a white oake stake on the hill and thence ranges Northerly to a white oake sapling marked by the swamp & by said swamp and the pond. Ebenezer Goodspeeds Land at the old house bounded easterly from ye Commons by the old Ditch from end to end." (History. pp 80-81)

The following explains itself:

"Granted by ye Town to ye Undertakers of ye fulling Mill whose Names are underwritten Eight or Ten acres of Land at Goodspeed 's River for Ever providing they set up a fully mill at sd River and Maintain ye Same for twenty years and full and Dress ye Town's Cloth upon Rea- sonable Terms & price and ye benefit of ye Stream therefor to full Cloth so long as they Keep up a fully Mill there fit for ye use aforesaid." "Mr. Samuel Allen. "Meletiah Lothrop.

Ensign Shubal Dimock. John Goodspeed.

Samuel Hinckley Sr. Joseph Crocker.

John Otis. Elisha Pain.

Nathaniel Bacon. Jeremiah Bacon."

Thomas Hnehans. " ( dated 1689 ) .

The marshes at South Sea and about Oyster Island were set off to persons living in that part of the town ; and Mr. Otis says that, about 1696, among the "South Sea men" were John, Benjamin and Ebenezer Goodspeed. This Benjamin was probably the son of Ebenezer (7). (History, p. 81)

See John's Inventory in the attachment below. "He was evidently a farmer, judging by the inventory of his estate.Among his possessions, as will be seen, were a looking glass worth 5s, glasses 6s, books 6s, and a £2 gold piece ($10). Otis says, "he left a large estate," though his personal property was worth less than $1,000. It was large for those times." (History, p, 85)