An American Family History

The Goodhue Family

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American colonists continued to use British monetary units, namely the pound, shilling and pence for which £1 (or li) equalled 20s and 1s equalled 12d. In 1792 the dollar was established as the basic unit of currency.

New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, Volume 1 edited by William Richard Cutter

William Goodhue, the immigrant ancestor, was born in England about 1612, and came to America in 1635-36, settling in Ipswich, Massachusetts. He had a good education for the times. He was deacon of the First Church of Ipswich, and held various offices of trust in the town; moderator, selectman, deputy to the general court. He was admitted a freeman, December 7, 1636. He had a house lot as early as 1638 and afterwards much other land by grant and purchase. His house was on the street called the East End.

He was a weaver by trade. He subscribed to the Denison fund. He was a leader in the revolt against Sir Edmund Andros when he violated the charter rights of the colony, and with the minister, Rev. John Wise, and four others, was arrested, committed to the Boston jail, and denied the right to give bail. They were tried, convicted of contempt, and kept in jail three weeks. William Goodhue had a fine of twenty pounds imposed, and had to give bonds in the sum of five hundred pounds and pay costs. These fines were later paid by the town ofIpswich. In his advanced age he gave up his Ipswich home, and went to live with his son William in Chebacco, now Essex, where he died in 1699.

He married (first) in England, Margery Watson, native of Kent. She died in Ipswich, August 28, 1668. He married (second) Mary Webb, widow, February 7, 1669-70, and she died at Ipswich, September 7, 1680. He married (third) July 26, 1682, Bethiah Grafton, who died December 6, 1688. He married (fourth) in 1689, Remember Fisk. of Wenham, Massachusetts, who survived him and died at Ipswich, February 16, 1701-02.

Children, all by his first wife:
Joseph [Goodhue];
William, born in Ipswich;
Mary.

Deacons played a respected and important role in early New England churches. They sat in a raised pew near the pulpit and had special duties during communion.

Coverlets (Coverlid) are woven bedcovers, used as the topmost covering on a bed.

Salt marshes which are between the ocean mud flats and grassy uplands, were desired by colonial farmers because salt marsh hay is more nutritious for cattle.

New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial by William Richard Cutter

Joseph Goodhue, son of William Goodhue, was born in 1639 in Ipswich. He married (first) July 13, 1661, Sarah Whipple, daughter of Elder John Whipple. She was born in 1641, and was a woman of great piety. In an instrument executed on the day of marriage by William Goodhue Sr. and Margery, his wife, by John Whipple and Sarah, his wife, according to an agreement made previously Joseph Goodhue enters into possession of his father's farm and is declared to be entitled to his father's house and lot after the death of him and his wife, and twenty-two acres of salt marsh which had been bought with ten pounds of the twenty-five pounds sent by Joseph's grandfather, Watson, from England in 1646.

Sarah (Whipple) Goodhue died at Ipswich, July 23, 1681. She left a farewell address to her husband, children and friends written in very pious and affectionate terms, mentioning her parents as still living, evidently meaning her husband's parents.

Joseph Goodhue married (second) October 15, 1684, Rachel Todd, widow, who died in Ipswich in 1691.

He married (third) July 4, 1692, Mercy Clarke. He died at Ipswich, September 21, 1697, aged fifty-eight. He served the town as moderator, selectman, assessor, deputy to the general court and was deacon of the Ipswich church.

Children of first wife:
Joseph, born May 13, 1662, died young;
Mary;
William, 1666;
Sarah [Kimball];
Margery;
Susannah [Kimball];
Elizabeth [Estey];
John, born 1679;
Hannah, July 20, 1681.

Children of second wife:
Ebenezer, July 25, 1685;
Joseph, 1687;
Benjamin, January 25, 1690, died December 3, 1697.

Child by third wife:
Samuel

In early New England towns policy was set by a board of 3 to 5 selectmen. They oversaw public responsibilities such as the policing, roads, and fences.

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©Roberta Tuller 2023
tuller.roberta@gmail.com
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