| Corresponded with author | | N |
| A Contributor to Houghton Surname Project | | N |
| Birth | circa 1631? | if actually 4 years old in 1635 |
| Immigration | Jun 20, 1635 | Charlestown, Suffolk Co., MA, USA, Anderson: "John Houghton
Origin: Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire.
Migration: 1635 on the Abigail (on 20 June 1635, "Jo[h]n Houghton," aged 4 [sic], with a certificate of conformity from the justices of the peace and the minister of Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire, was enrolled at London as a passenger for New England on the Abigail [Hotten 89]).
First Residence: Unknown
Comments: Savage says that this immigrant "was not of Watertown, as Farmer had said, for Dr. Bond finds not the name, so that we may assign him to Concord or to either of the three or four towns then inhabited between the seashore and the central wilderness; removed to Lancaster about 1652" [Savage 2: 469]. Pope states that "He seems to be the John, of Dedham, who m. Beatrix _____..; removed to Lancaster" [Pope 241].
Both of these writers apparently assume that the age at migration, four years old, is correct (even though Hotten himself suggests that the age should be forty [Hotten 89]) and that John Houghton does not appear in New England records until attaining adulthood. The first record for him in New England is in 1651, when he is included in a Dedham tax list [DeTR 1: 184]
The problem with this argument is that the justices of the peace and the minister of Eaton Bray would not have issued a certificate of conformity to a four-year-old boy (and examination of the original passenger list shows that to be the age recorded). Nor would they have issued such a certificate to a fourteen-year old, so the youngest that this immigrant can be in 1635 is twenty-four, and so he would have been born in 1611, or earlier if some other age is actually correct.
If, then, he was an adult in 1635, where did he hide during the sixteen years before 1651? We conclude that the passenger of 1635 was not the John Houghton of Dedham and Lancaster."
New World Immigrants: "20 June. In the Abigall de Lond. master Hackwell, bound for New Englnd, per certificate, &c. from two Justices of Peace and minister of Eston Bray in com. Bedford. Jo. Houghton, 4 years old."
Immigrants: "1635...from Eaton Bray, Beds: John Houghton 4"
C. Smith: "On the 20th June, 1635, "Joh: Houghton, 4 yrs. old," landed at Charlestown from the "Abigail de London," Captain Hackwell. His certificate was signed by the minister of Eaton Bray, near Dunstable, County Bedford, England. this may, perhaps, afford a clue to his parentage and birth-place."
Filby: Joh 4, New England 1635, 9151, p. 28; John 4, Boston, Mass, 1635, 263, p. 162; Jon 4 & 40, New England, 1635, 3283, p. 89
NEGHR: "XXTH jUNE 1635 "In the Abbigall de Lond. Hackwell bnd for New England p'r cert. fro of his conformitie from justices of the Peace and mister Eaton Bray in com. Bedford Joh: Houghton 4 yers old" (Bray is near and west of Dunstable)
Pope: claims John of Dedham and this John the same2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| Note | | CJV: Francis W. Houghton postulated that this John was John III the emigrant, as son of Thomas and Katharine Hoghton, a pure speculation on how Ralph and John could be cousins (through brothers Sir Richard and Thomas); CJV: John Houghton the emigrant was christened in 1624 making this a pure speculation11 |
| Biography | | Keizer: p. 5: "John Houghton, who was christened 19 May 1593 in St. Mary's Church in Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire where his father John Houghton was buried 28 Apr. 1618."; "20 Jun 1635 a passenger from London in the Abigail master Hackwell, John Houghton, 40 years old... certificate of his conformity from justices of peace and minister of Eaton Bray...returned to England"; p. 87 John Houghton, who came to New England in 1635, in the "Abigail," was in the years 1629 and 1630 Churchwarden of St. Mary's Church, Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire. During his wardenship the tower of this anchient church was reapaired."
JWH, p. 72 : "John Houghton, christened May 1593. Married Demaris Buckmaster, and had ten children. He was a passenger on the Abigail in 1635 where his age was entered by mistake as four years, an error probably through carelessness."
JWH, p. 296: "christened on May 19, 1593, passenger on the Abigail in 1635... The second John Houghton above, married Damaris Buckmaster; the third John married Beatrix. John Houghton, who came to New England in 1635 in the Abigail, was in the year 1629 and 1630 church warden of St. Mary's Church, Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire. During his wardenship the tower of this ancient church was repaired. This church was built in the beginning of the twelfth century (1205), was repaired ____ but the tower had been untouched and needed repair. Both Bishop Ely and Vicar Mr. Sutton think that were the descendants of John Houghton to now come forward with donations for the repairing of the tower it would indeed be a graceful act and a brass in memory of John Houghton would be fastened in the walls of St. Mary's as a recognition of his worth and in appreciation of his descendants. Therefore the object is so praiseworthy and distinguishing, the descendant ought to use every effort to provide for the said repairs. Few descendants of the early settlers have such an opportunity to distinguish themselves and the chance should not be allowed to slip. The kindness of the Vicar and Bishop Ely in furthering the genealogical inquiry shall never be forgotten and we ought by all means to show our appreciation."
The foregoing is taken from a correspondence and statement, and has reference to an application made by Bishop Ely and Vicar Sutton to the descendants of Timothy Houghton to aid in the repair of the tower of the above named church."
M. Tepper, New World Immigrants (I: 47): Immigrated 1635, age 4 to MA via Abigail from London.
Colonial Families of the United States of America: Volume 7:
"Tradition says the American founder of this family is descended from Sir Richard HOGHTON, Bart., of Houghton Tower, Lancashire, England. His family fought for the King although Ralph HOUGHTON of Lancashire is said to have fought against [p.260] the King. The HOGHTONS of Hoghton Tower are descendants of Roger DE BUSLI, one of the followers of William the Conqueror, A.D. 1066. The earliest ancestors of John the emigrant, known in the genealogy and his descent through three generations is: John HOUGHTON, I, buried at Eaton Bray, 23d April, 1618, no further record. John HOUGHTON, II, christened May, 1593, m. Damaris BUCKMASTER and had ten children. He was a passenger on the Abigail, 1635, where his age was entered by mistake as four years, an error probably through carelessness. He was in 1629 and 1630 Warden of St. Mary's Church, Eaton Bray. During his wardenship the tower of this ancient church was repaired. This church was built in the beginning of the twelfth century. In the year 1635 the ship Abigail 300 tons, Capt. Sir David KIRK'S flagship, sailed from London with many families and servants because of the religious troubles disturbing old England. Many of those who came out were Puritans and others had Puritanical leanings, and among those who sailed from London in the Abigail was John HOUGHTON, II, the progenitor of Capt. Timothy HOUGHTON. This John was christened 19th May, 1593, in St. Mary's Church at Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire, where his father, John HOUGHTON, I, was buried 28th April, 1618. The following is a transcription of the passenger list 28th June, 1635, passengers from London to New England in the ship Abigail, HACKWELL, Master, John HOUGHTON, III, four years old, certificate of his conformity from Justice of the Peace and Minister of Eaton Bray, in county of Bedford, England. This gentleman did not remain in New England but returned to England, where he had left his family, after the trouble had subsided. 24th December, 1624, John HOUGHTON, III, son of John II, who sailed in the Abigail was born. He came to New England about the year 1647 with his wife, Beatrix and his cousin Ralph HOUGHTON, with his wife Jane STOWE. The inscription on his tombstone in the old Granary Burying Ground, shows that John, III, died on the old Common 29th April, 1684, aged sixty years. An incidental proof of John HOUGHTON'S connection with the Houghtons of Lancashire, England, is found in the fact that one of his descendants in this country has now a sword said to have been brought from England by John, as the eldest son and heir. It has the rose and thistle on it, previously mentioned as belonging to the family coat of arms granted by King James I in 1612, by writ under the privy seal, to Sir Roger as an augmentation to his coat of arms. This sword is now in the possession of one of his descendants in Washington, D. C. He m. Beatrix, surname unknown, circa 1648-1649; after her husband's death she m. Benjamin BOSWORTH and d. 8th January, 1711-1712."
Rosalind Alley, 2019: Strangely there are no Houghton entries in Eaton Bray parish register after 1648. Where did they go? America? One report says that johhn born 1624 emigrated c1647.
The john Houghton who emigrated in 1635 on the Abigail apparently had a certificate of conformity issued by the vicar of Eaton Bray. He was aged 4, which some think was 40. But John baptised 1593 was baptising children in Eaton Bray until 1646.
BUT in the list of children above there's a gap between 1634 and 1641. What if they emigrated in 1635 after Deborah; and the children 1641 onwards are a different John? They all disappeared though! I have just seen one report which says that John returned to England, where he had left his family. It would explain the gap between 1634 and 1641.
There's no burial of John in Eaton Bray in 1646.12,13,14 |
| Research | | The Abigail left London, England April to July 1635 with her master, Robert Hackwell, arriving in Massachusetts Bay.
Alphabetical by family with age and roll number:
Houghton Jo. 4, #25 (John, from Eaton Bray, Befordshire to Dedham, Mass. Ref: Pope. 36 pg 1)
Subject: SHIPS AND PASSENGERS:.......1635....ABIGAIL.....
Planters of the Commonwealth: 1620-1640; Charles E.Banks, Boston,Mass,1930
--
ABIGAIL of London, Richard Hackwell,master. Listed passengers for New England from June 4 to July 24,and sailed from Plymouth(Eng) as her last port of departure,
about Aug.1, with 220 passengers and many cattle. She arrived in Boston Oct 8., many infected with smallpox. Among those coming in this ship but NOT listed were Sir Henry Vane, son and heir of Sir Henry Vane, comptroller of the King's household, traveling, incognito; the Rev.Hugh Peter, pastor of the English church at Rotterdam, and the Rev.John Wilson, who was returning to Boston, with his wife, her first appearance in New England.also: Houghton, John...4..of Eaton Bray,Co.Bedford...to Dedham
Bruce Callahan, 2021:
Robert Hackwell may have very well been the master but the Abigail had been, and probably still was, Kirke's flagship. At the time of this voyage Kirke was likely still in negotiations regarding the return of Quebec to France or perhaps already taking up governorship of Newfoundland.. The English King (Charles?) used the prize (Quebec) to leverage a substantial payment from the King of France in exchange for the return of Quebec to the French.. As consolation for his loss, Kirke was Knighted and made governor of Newfoundland which gave him the privilege of fleecing the substantial international fishery conducted about Newfoundland.. The people at Ferryland seemed to indicate the Abigail was still his ship or at least that of Kirke and his business partners during his governorship. Kirke himself was a Royalist and so on the outs when the tide turned so to speak. He is said to have died in an English jail. The whole thing was a business venture. Kirke and his partners held Letters of Marque issued by the English monarch which allowed them to act as privateers. Unfortunately for them, the war with France had actually ended prior to their capture of Quebec.
I think the ship was heavily armed as it, in conjunction with the rest of their little fleet, defeated a French supply convoy under an Admiral Roquemont after a protracted naval engagement. This is what enabled them to obtain the surrender of Champlain in Quebec as the French there were starving. I don't know if there was any connection between "my" John Houghton and the Houghton of Eaton Bray. I believe there is a genealogy out there that purports to connect the two. It is, if I recall correctly, somewhat fanciful. I imagine that the people who concocted such things in the latter 1900's were motivated to connect their clients to nobility, the gentry, or other people of note. I note that in the town of Houghton Regis adjacent to Dunstable, there is a Houghton Hall so perhaps that explains it all.
One has to wonder why a 4 year old was journeying to the New World in 1635? |
| Research | | of ship Abigail, 1635; Not same John Houghton |
| Research | 1631 | MA, USA, Eaton Bray, England; age 4 |