Stukeley's and Rosannah's reltationship to Mrs. John Sweet, 1600s, RI
I am relatively new to research on the Westcott (and Sweet) family and I need help with the following issue: Was Westcott the maiden name of Mary, the wife of the John Sweet who came from England to Salem (Massachusetts Bay Colony) and whose family moved to Providence Plantation (now Rhode Island) about the time of his death in 1637-1638? The widow Mary (maiden name unknown, or "MNU") Sweet then married Ezekiel Holliman, a widower.
Like most of you, I have seen the various submissions to the Latter Day Saints ("LDS") database (www.familysearch.org) stating that John Sweet's wife was a Mary Perriam. Many people subscribe to this idea, as can be seen from the numerous family trees posted on the World Connect (www.rootsweb.com).
Others, however, state that Mrs. John Sweet's maiden name was Mary Westcott (or Wescott).
Here is what I have found on the issue.
At the Rhode Island Historical Society Research Library in Providence, in the manuscript collection, there are boxes of old handwritten records (three linear feet of boxes) that contain what are called the "Warner Papers". They span the period from 1642 to 1800. To verify this, see the website below.
http://www.rihs.org/msssubgde.htmhttp://www.rihs.org/msssubgde.htm
The Rhode Island Historical Society
The Research Library: 121 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02906, Phone: 401.273.8107 Fax: 401.751.7930
This guide lists the Society's manuscript collections by subject. Each manuscript collection is listed here under one of fifty-four subject areas. Links to full finding aids are available for some of collections, with many more on the way. To find selected words or phrases in our inventories, use the search box in the sidebar on the left.
Government: Town
Date range Collection # Collection title Lin. ft.
1642 - 1800 Mss 778 Warner Papers 3 lin. ft.
I have NOT personally reviewed these papers, but according to a man by the name of John Chandler, who is apparently a Sweet researcher, there is relevant information in these Warner Papers. On a discussion board, John Chandler posted the following statement (and I quote, verbatim):
"On 1685 Apr 12, John Warner stated that Renewed Gereardy was a cousin to Amos Wescott, son of Stukeley Wescott. [Warner Papers, p. 274] Since Renewed (Sweet) Gereardy was the daughter of John and Mary (___) Sweet, it would seem that either Mary was Stukeley Wescott's sister, or Stukeley's wife was John Sweet's sister. I think the latter has been ruled out. QED. Note: I haven't verified this stuff myself, but it seems pretty straightforward. The only problem is that "cousin" could have meant various things other than 1st cousin, in which case, the whole thing blows up."
My own research has shown that Stukeley Westcott was married twice. His first marriage, about 1619, was to a Julia Marchant, and was probably in the area of Yeovil, in Somersetshire, England. After she died, he reportedly married a Rosannah Hill. He had children by both wives, but I believe the Amos Westcott referred to was by the second wife, and was born after 1631 (I think he was listed as age 4 on a 1635 passenger list, but please verify this for yourself). I also believe that Renewed (Sweet) Gereardy was married to John Gereardy about 1651, and if she was between 18 and 25 at marriage, then she was likely born between 1626 and 1633. This date of birth makes her a contemporary of Amos Westcott, and likely of the same generation, and thus first cousins.
As Mr. Chandler states, one of TWO natural, logical interpretations (or inferences) from the Warner statement about "cousins" is that Mrs. Mary (MNU) Sweet was the sister of Stukeley Westcott. Mr. Chandler also states, quite correctly, that it would also have been possible that Mrs. Stukeley Westcott was John Sweet's sister. As he notes, that possibility has, more likely than not, been ruled out (Stukeley Westcott's two wives were Julia Marchant and Rosannah Hill, NOT "Miss Sweet”).
Unfortunately, Mr. Chandler has completely overlooked another possibility. Amos Westcott and Renewed Sweet could have been cousins if their MOTHERS were SISTERS. In other words, Mrs. Mary (MNU) Sweet might have been the sister of Rosannah Hill (Stukeley's second wife and, presumably, mother of Amos). I do NOT believe that anyone has explored this possibility, and so I do not think it can be ruled out. Therefore, until further research can be conducted, it is not really kosher to say that John Sweet's wife was Mary Westcott. Has anyone explored the possibility that Mary was born a Hill, sister of Rosannah?
Stukeley Westcott was reportedly the son of a Guy Westcott and Mary Stukeley (thus his "odd" first name). It would not have been out of the ordinary for this couple to have named a daughter Mary, and, in fact, some researchers have jumped to this conclusion and submitted information to that efftect to the LDS database. The name "Mary" is not (and was not) exactly "rare" however, and so it would not be especially strong or weighty evidence that she "must have been" a Westcott. The problem is, no one cites a parish register from England (possibly available on microfilm through an LDS Family History center???) stating with certainty that there was such a Mary Westcott born at the right time as a sister of Stukeley.
ASSUMING (foolish, I know) that John Sweet's wife was Mary Westcott, then to meet, court and marry her, John Sweet would have had to have been living somewhere near the Westcotts, i.e., near Yeovil, in Somersetshire. There were certainly Sweet families in Somersetshire, and I think this adds another brick to the mounting wall of evidence that John Sweet was NOT from Modbury, Devonshire (which is not even close to Yeovil). Back in the early 1600s, people simply did not look too far beyond their own community (or a neighboring one) to find a spouse (except the wealthy nobility, perhaps, who were forging dynasties of wealth and "connection"). Such wealthy people typically did not emigrate to New England, however.
So, does anyone have an easy drive to the RIHS Research Library in Providence, to verify that the Warner Papers do state the cousinship of Amos Westcott and Renewed (Sweet) Gereardy? And does anyone know if Mrs. Mary Sweet might have been the sister of either Rosannah Hill or Stukeley Westcott (of Somersetshire, England)?
Please contact me directly if you have any information, at [email protected].
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Re: Stukeley's and Rosannah's reltationship to Mrs. John Sweet, 1600s, RI
Duane Boggs 3/16/10