Ahnentafel #1072 - William Janes

signature of William Jeanes

William Janes

Born: 1610, Essex, England

Died: September 20, 1690, Northampton, MA

Buried: Northampton, MA

Married: 1) Mary (--?--) by 1635 in England - a William Janes md. Marie Hewes June 12, 1632 in London. This is a possibility as William may have been a member of Rev. John Davenport's church in London. 

2) Hannah (Bascom) Broughton, November 20, 1662, Northampton, MA

Occupation: teacher and teaching elder/minister in the church

Immigration: 1637 

Biography:  William Jeanes or Janes, came from England in 1637, settled in New Haven, June 4, 1639, and was admitted a freeman in 1648. He was by profession a school-master, and taught in New Haven for a number of years. In 1651, he proposed that the town should pay a portion of the salary of the teacher, instead of the whole being paid by the parents of the children. He went to Wethersfield soon after, and New Haven offered him "£10 from the town and the rest from the parents to teach boys and girls to read and write."  He did not accept this offer, but came to Northampton ca.1656.  His home lot of two acres was the second one on the easterly side of Pleasant Street. One of the earliest settlers of Northfield, he carried on religious exercises there, in the capacity of Teaching Elder, till the town was destroyed by the Indians, in 1675. There is a tradition that divine services were held in the open air before a meeting house was built, and that during the first summer, Elder Jeanes preached under an oak tree. He did not return to Northfield after it was first abandoned, and died in Northampton, in 1690. He was twice married, his second wife being Hannah, daughter of Thomas Bascom, and widow of John Broughton. 

Mr. Jeanes appears to have been a man of more than ordinary ability, and was sufficiently educated for the grade of schools he was called upon to teach. An excellent penman, he was chosen recorder lands in 1657, which office he continued to hold for many years. He it was who made the first entry on the church book of records, and the first thirteen pages of that volume, written in a clear, plain and even hand, are still as legible as when they were inscribed nearly 250 years ago.  No record of his appointment or election as Teaching Elder has been found, and it is not known when he attained to that position. He is first named Elder after his removal to Northfield.

The immediate future of the school after the year 1667, is somewhat uncertain, and could not have been very satisfactory.  Nothing of importance can be gleaned from the records for the next three years, and in fact very little has been learned respecting them during the seven years following the engagement of Mr. Jeanes. He was hired for but one year, and no mention is made of further service. He went to Northfield in 1670. The next allusion to schools was in March, 1669, when the town voted "that they are willing to have a scole master for the yeare insueing." 

Records:

1639 - June 4 - New Haven, CT - First official meeting for the colony of New Haven held. A covenant was signed by 419 men including William Jeanes. They organized a civil government, drew up laws and set forth the regulations for the colony. 

1639 - October - New Haven, CT - William received a houselot on the corner of Chapel and Church streets. It was known as Cutler Corner and now is part of the historic town green.  Here he built his first house.  The lot measured 139 feet on Church Street and 235 feet on Chapel. 

1643 - New Haven, CT - The Janes family consisted of 5 people and his estate valued at ￡150, 20 acres of land in the first division, 4 acres in the neck, 10 acres in the meadow and 40 acres in the second division. 

1648 - New Haven, CT - William is a member of the General Court. 

1652 - Wethersfield, CT - the people of Wethersfield invited William Janes to come and be their teacher.  He did move there, but didn't stay long and moved back to New Haven.

1654 - Northampton, MA - William Janes moves his family to Northampton.

Promptly in the Spring of 1654, the first settlers arrived to take possession of the newly purchased plantation.  No information concerning the route they pursued has been obtained.  In all probability they followed the course which afterwards became the traveled way to the southern towns. This roadway, designated in some old deeds as the "cartway," and in others as the "common cartway as we go to Windsor," entered the town very nearly where West Street is now located. The crossing at Mill River was at or near the site of the present bridge, and the line of travel very nearly coincided with that of the old highway to Easthampton, Southampton, and Westfield. Whether they brought their household goods on horse back, in ox carts, or left them to come by way of the river, is unknown.  How many composed the first band of settlers where they selected their home lots, and the day of their arrival, have never been recorded. That some of them came in 1654, is unquestionable. Imagination  pictures the little company on a mild day early in the month of May, halting wearily upon Meeting House Hill. Calm and peaceful stretch the wide expanding meadows, already smiling under the kindly influence of the genial season. The two mountains, covered to their summits with green, are dimly seen through the intervening forests, as the setting sun illumes their wooded heights.  On every hand spreads the boundless forest.  The eye sweeps around and beyond the bare tree trunks, noting an occasional open space, fit location for the log cabins that will soon shelter the adventurers who have left kindred and friends so far away. Dimly through the forest rises the smoke of the Indian wigwams, and possibly between the trees are seen glimpses of their dusky owners, watching the new comers with eager interest. They have little time to dwell upon the beauties of the landscape. They know that the broad river winds through the fertile meadows and they can see the little stream that divides their plantation.  Satisfied that their journey has come to an end, they unload their weary beasts, partake of their evening meal, and provide temporary shelter.  That these pioneers should have brought their families with them, on their first coming, is problematical. Naturally an advanced guard of men, prepared to stake out their claims, and build their houses, would precede all the rest.  

It is undoubtedly true that the first comers selected their home lots wherever there was an open space of land adapted to the needs of the house builder, and requiring the least labor in preparation. The men of that day were not adepts at clearing away forests, though nearly all of Northampton's pioneers had already some experience in founding new settlements. The meadows were the principal attraction, and facility of access to them would of course govern in the location of a permanent residence.

The homesteads first occupied in this town were situated on both sides of what is now Pleasant Street. It was first named Bartlett Street in honor of Robert Bartlett, one of the first men to locate there. Quite a number of settlers whose names are not found among those already mentioned must have accompanied the first body of emigrants. If proximity to Meeting House Hill is any indication of priority of settlement, then but few of the earlier promoters of the enterprise were among the first to arrive.

There is nothing to show by what method the uplands were distributed or how the adjustment of home lots were determined.  While it might be inferred that, what was afterwards known as Meeting House Hill, would become the central point in the location of these lots, it is evident that such was not the case. All of the first selected homesteads were situated east of a north and south line intersecting that elevation. The uplands were undoubtedly more densely wooded that the section nearest the meadows hence the work of clearing them for occupancy was proportionately reduced. Then the land on the streets named had many of the characteristics of meadow soil, which were lacking in other portions of the town, and consequently was more desirable. 

The eight settlers whose names were appended to the original petition were Edward Elmer, William Miller, Thomas Roote, William Holton, William Janes, William Clarke, Robert Bartlett and John Webb.  It is quite probable that four of these men were among the first to arrive:  Bartlett, Elmer, Holton and Webb.  The first three named among them settled on the west side of Pleasant Street.  Bartlett's lot was at the lower end of the street, next to the meadow, and was nearly identical with the homestead of the late Wm. R. Clapp.  Elmer and Holton had the next two lots north of Bartlett.  Root, Webb, Miller and Janes, resided elsewhere.  John and Richard Lyman, Joseph Parsons and Alexander Edwards were also among the early arrivals, but their names do not appear upon either of the already  quoted documents.  

On the east side of Pleasant Street were five home lots. Three of them belonged to persons who signed the original petition. John Webb had two acres, bounded north on Main Street and east on the (Pomeroy) brook; next to Webb, bounded west on Pleasant Street, and north on Main, was Alexander Edwards, (these two lots afterwards comprised the homestead of Gov. Caleb Strong); south of Webb and Edwards was William Janes; next came Thomas Root, and joining him on the south was Thomas Mason. All these lots were bounded west on Pleasant Street.  Samuel Wright Sr. had a home lot of four acres, extending from King Street to the brook, bounded south on Main Street, which included the site of the First National Bank and contiguous property. 

Trumbull, James. History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from Its Settlement in 1654, Northampton, MA: Press of Gazette, 1898.

1657 - June 25 - Northampton, MA - It was voted that William Janes became a citizen of the town. 

1659/60 - Feb. 19 - Northampton, MA - William became the town recorder.  

The first existing book of consecutive town records was commenced in 1661.  With the exception of a few items relating to the very earliest transactions, the proceedings quoted in the foregoing pages, were not transferred to this volume. On it the bounds of the plantation, the first meeting of the petitioners, copies of the original Indian deeds, and several documents not of general interest, precede the regular town meeting records.  Probably the proprietors' registry of deeds was the old book referred to below.  The first entry of town business is found on page 6, and is as follows: - 

19th february 1660

The day and yere aboue written It was voted affirmatiuely by the Town of Northampton that a Committee should be chosen to Consider what was orderly and of vse in the old Towne booke and to appoint some to Transcribe the same into the new booke, those that were impowred for this worke were these 7 vizt: William Clarke, David Wilton, William Holton, Richard Lyman, Joseph Parson, Robert Bartlet, Samuel Wright Junior. these 7 aforesaid appointed and agreed with William Jeanes [Janes] the Town Recorder to Transcribe all that was ord'r'ly and of vse in the old Towne booke into the new booke.

Mr. Janes began his records with the preceding vote, followed by another passed at the same time, noting the choice of Nathaniel Phelps as constable. He then goes back to June, 1657, ignoring all business that had been transacted in the previous years. From that time, however, it is presumed that all meetings, legally called, were duly entered, though they do not follow each other in regular chronological order. The dates of the years, and of the months of the same year, are frequently intermingled. This lack of uniformity is often confusing, and when the atrocious writing and worse spelling of some of the clerks is taken into account, there is great liability to error, which is in no degree modified by the several methods of dating then in use. In later years this second book was copied in a fair and legible manner, but the quaint and venerable appearance of the original, as well as the amusing interest in its execrable orthography, are missing.

1660 - June - Northampton, MA - William, Joseph Parsons & Robert Bartlett were chosen to lay out 41 acres to be used as income property for the payment of parish expenses. 

1661 - April 18 - Northampton, MA - the church was formally established and covenant adopted. "Wm. Jeanes" subscribed his name thereunto.

1663 - March 31 - Northampton, MA - court case, this is difficult to read:

At a County Co't held at Northampton March 31'st 1663.  --- Jeanes of Northampton pltf contra Increase Turner of Northampton for making a fire my house that was sometymes his agt leave burning the house --- --- come to ye vallue --- damage of sixteen pounds

1672 or 1673 - Northfield, MA - William and 25 other men moved their families north to settle the town of Northfield.  Here he preached the first sermon after their arrival under an oak tree. 

1675 - September 2 - Northfield, MA - The town was attacked by Indians during King Philip's War and destroyed.  Two of William's sons Ebenezer age 16 and Jonathan age 14 were killed in the attack.  He moved his remaining family members back to Northampton.  

1676 - May 21 - Northampton, MA - Widow Ann Bartlet left 20 shillings to William Jeanes

1678 - February 8 - Northampton, MA - "Mr. Wm Jeanes" appears on list of those who took "The Oath of Aleagence w'ch By order from Our Honored Gen'll Corte was to be taken Respectively in Each Town of this Countie and was administered by ye Worshipfull Majo'r Pynchon to ye severall Inhabitants & Persons within ye Townshipp of Northampton being convened together on ffeb'r 8 1678." 

1679 - July 8 - Northampton, MA - William's father-in-law Thomas Bascomb wrote his will.  It was probated on September 26, 1682:

to "my son William Janes . . . my cloth suit"

Children by Mary (--?--):

Joseph b. 1636 never married

Elisha b. 1639, d. 1662 never married

Nathaniel b. 1641, d. 1662 never married

Abel

Abigail b. 1647

Ruth b. 1650 md. 1) 1667 John Searl killed in the 1704 Deerfield Raid. Ruth was severely wounded in the Deerfield Raid, but recovered & married 2) Nathaniel Alexander

• James Searl b. 1675, d. 1704 - Deerfield Raid
• Ebenezer Searl b. 1679, d. 1704 Deerfield Raid
• John Searl b. 1690, d. 1704 Deerfield Raid
• Elisha Searl b. 1695, captured by Indians in the Deerfield Raid and taken to Canada at age 9. When Elisha Searl returned in 1722 after 18 years to see his friends, he could not speak to them intelligently in his mother tongue, and had to make himself known by signs. He had converted to Catholicism in Canada, but later recanted and returned to the Protestant religion. 

Jacob b. 1652, d. 1675 never married

William b. 1654 md. 1685 Sarah Clark

• Michael b. 1686 went to Charleston, SC, came back to New England ca. 1730 for a time
• William  md. ca. 1745 (--?--) Paine
• William b. ca. 1746 md. ca. 1770 Margaret Sybert - lived in Maryland
• John b. 1748
• Samuel b. 1750
• Thomas b. 1752 md. (--?--) Reams - lived in Richmond, VA
• David b. 1755 lived in Richmond, VA
• unnamed daughter b. 1757
• unnamed daughter b. 1759
• Thomas d. 1784 when cart overturned on him, md. Rachel Lines
• Benjamin b. 1772, md. Sally Wood
• Thomas b. 1775, d. 1812 md. 1) (--?--) & 2) Lucy Janes
• Mary b. 1778
• William b. 1781 killed kicked by horse
• Sarah b. 1785 md. Alexander Hine
• Hester/Esther b. 1688 md. 1723 Abram Beardsley
• Abraham Beardsley b. 1725 md. Bethia Curtis
• Curtis Beardsley bapt. 1754
• Ephraim Beardsley bap. 1755
• Betsy Beardsley bapt. 1757
• Mary Beardsley bapt. 1758
• John Beardsley bapt. 1760
• Abijah Beardsley bapt. 1766
• Sarah Beardsley bapt. 1767
• Abel Beardsley bapt. 1770
• Jerusha Beardsley bapt. 1772
• Martha Beardsley b. 1728
• Abigail Beardsley b. 1730
• William Beardsley b. 1732
• Isaac Beardsley b. 1734
• John Beardsley b. 1736
• Sarah Beardsley b. 1738
• Michael Beardsley b. 1740
• Mary b. 1692 md. Nathan Smith
• Sarah b. 1694 md. Thomas Salmon
• Elizabeth b. 1695 md. 1725 John Outman
• Deborah b. 1697 md. 1707 Samuel Watkins

Rebecca b. 1656 never married

Jeremiah b. 1658, d. 1675 never married

Ebenezer b. 1659, d. 1675 - killed by Indians at Northfield, Sept. 2, King Philip's War

Jonathan b. 1661, d. 1675 - killed by Indians at Northfield, Sept. 2, King Philip's War

Children by Hannah Bascom:

Samuel b. 1663, d. 1704 md. 1) Elizabeth Smead, 2) Sarah Hinsdale - Samuel, his wife and three of his children were killed in the Deerfield Raid. His older sons Samuel and Jonathan were taken captive by the Indians. 

• Samuel b. 1693 md. Abigail (--?--)
• Abigail b. 1720, d. young
• Samuel b. 1724, d. 1788 md. Hannah Brown
• Martha b. 1752
• Noah b. 1753 md. 1776 Naomi Strong
• Samuel b. 1757
• Asahel b. 1760 
• Hannah b. 1761 md. 1784 Uriel Clark
• Enos b. 1765 md. ca. 1788 Hannah Wright
• Seth b. 1762 md. ca. 1797 Mary Ferry
• Sarah b. 1775 md. Matthew Caldwell
• Jonathan b. 1726, d. 1825 md. 1) Esther (--?--) & 2) after 1761 Hannah Parsons
• Ebenezer b. 1765 md. 1790 Submit Clark
• Jonathan b. 1771 md. 1) 1793 Rachel Clark & 2) Mary Kingsley
• Obadiah b. 1776 md. 1) 1799 Esther Lyman, 2) after 1813 Mary Chapman 3) 1822 Elizabeth Davis
• Parsons b. 1778 md. 1805 Dorcas Clark
• Rebecca b. 1780 md. Daniel Wright
• Lois b. 1783 md. Solomon Lyman
• Esther b. 1785 never married
• Obadiah b. 1730, d. 1817 md. Beulah Lyman - no children
• Martha b. 1732, d. 1746
• Elisha b. 1734, d. 1808 md. Sarah Phelps
• Sarah md. 1798 Asahel Parsons
• Rachel md. 1797 Joel Parsons
• Mercy md. Thaddeus Parsons
• Rachel b. 1736 md. Philip Clark
• Philip Clark
• Elam Clark
• Uriel Clark
• Hepzibah b. 1695, d. young
• Jonathan b. 1696 md. Jemima Graves
• Hannah b. 1734, d. 1831 md. 1752 James Oliver
• Ebenezer b. 1736, d. 1808 md. 1) Sarah Field, 2) Mehitable Alexander
• Jonathan b. 1756, d. 1813 md. 1777 Caroline Mattoon
• Jemima b. 1757 md. ca. 1771 John Allen
• Ruth b. 1757 md. 1776 Calvin Bliss
• Obadiah b. 1759 md. 1) Polly Oliver & 2) Harmony Bingham
• Salima b. 1761 md. Seth Munn
• Hannah b. 1763
• Samuel b. 1764 md. 1786 Susan Merriman
• Ebenezer b. 1765, d. 1766
• Ebenezer (2nd) b. 1771 d. before 1779
• Xenophon/Zenophon b. 1772, d. 1829 md. 1) 1796 Sally Patric, 2) 1824 Tirza Childs
• Sarah b. 1774, d. 1775
• Sarah (2nd) b. 1777, d. 1779
• Ebenezer (3rd) b. 1779 md. 1811 Lucretia Smith
• James Oliver b. 1782 md. 1) Roxanna Field, 2) Joanna Holton
• Alexander b. 1784, d. 1787
• Sarah b. 1738, d. 1764 md. Ora Harvey
• Electa Harvey b. 1760 md. (--?--) Ellis
• Rufus Harvey b. 1762 md. Rachel Partridge
• Ora Harvey b. 1764, d. young
• Sarah Harvey b. 1768 md. Amos Partridge
• Jemima b. 1742, d. 1748
• Obadiah b. 1697, d. before 1699
• Obadiah (2nd) b. 1699, d. 1704 Deerfield Raid
• Ebenezer b. 1701 d. 1704 Deerfield Raid
• Sarah b. 1703 d. 1704 Deerfield Raid

Hepzibah b. 1665 

Hannah b. 1669

Benjamin b. 1672 md. Hannah (--?--)

• Hannah b. 1696 d. 1704 Deerfield Raid
• Miriam b. 1700, d. 1704 Deerfield Raid
• Nathan b. 1703, d. 1704 Deerfield Raid
• Hepzibah b. 1706, d. in infancy
• Silence b. 1708, d. 1745 md. 1725 Henry Curtis
• Hannah (2nd) (twin) b. 1710 md. 1725 John Brown
• John Brown b. 1726
• Benjamin Brown b. 1727
• Silas Brown b. 1729
• Eunice Brown b. 1730
• Hannah Brown b. 1732
• Lois Brown b. 1734
• Rufus Brown b. 1736
• Hepzibah (2nd) (twin) b. 1710, md. 1729 George Hawkins
• Hannah Hawkins b. 1730
• Hapzibah Hawkins b. 1731
• Phebe Hawkins b. 1734 md. Ebenezer Root
• Ozias Hawkins b. 1736 md. Anna Rose
• Darkis Hawkins b. 1738
• Eunice Hawkins b. 1739/40
• Anna Hawkins b. 1741 md. Elijah Janes see below
• Deborah Hawkins b. 1743/44
• George Hawkins b. 1746, d. in infancy
• Seth b. 1713 md. 1739 Sarah Larabee
• Irany b. 1740, d. 1744
• Lucy b. 1742
• Elijah b. 1744, d. 1826 md. Anna Hawkins, see above
• Anna b. 1764, d. 1842 md. 1786 Abraham Brown
• Heman b. 1765 md. Abigail Burdick
• Lavina, d. 1860 md. 1796 Selah Andrews
• Humphrey b. 1769 md. 1790 Thankful Campbell
• John b. 1771 md. 1) 1791 Hannah Rockwell, 2) 1833 Fanny Cothran 3) after 1842 (--?--) Rose
• Elijah b. 1776 md. Anna Baker
• Oliver md. 1) Jemima Hall & 2) (--?--)
• David b. 1790 md. ca. 1806 Martha Smedtz
• Eunice b. 1748
• Samuel b. 1759 md. 1) Abigail Brooks & 2) 1791 Rebecca House
• Eunice b. 1774 md. Daniel Robertson
• Parthena b. 1775
• Lucy b. 1777 md. Daniel Robertson
• Abigail b. 1779
• Royal b. 1781
• Joseph b. 1784, d. 1801
• James b. 1786 md. Elizabeth Woodruff
• Sarah b. 1792
• Elias b. 1752 md. 1) 1774 Susan Robinson/Robertson & 2) 1788 Hannah Thompson
• Elias b. 1775, d. 1776
• Amelia b. 1778
• Nathan b. 1782, d. 1787
• Oliver b. 1789
• Polly b. 1790 md. Chauncey Ellis
• Sterling b. 1792 md. 1) Huldah Loomis & 2) Theodocia Lyman
• Chauncey b. 1795 md. Susan (Thompson) Sweetland
• Harmony b. 1797 md. Silas Giles
• Clarissa b. 1801 md. Francis Lathrop
• Oliver b. 1754, d. 1776 md. 1775 Judith Rollo
• Sarah b. 1776
• Seth b. 1756 md. Elizabeth Francis
• William b. 1782 md. Lovina Pepoon
• Ethan b. 1784 md. 1) Charlotte Williams 2) after 1831 Elizabeth Ward
• Sarah b. 1787 md. Allen Luce
• Henry b. 1792, d. 1863 md. 1826 Clarissa Belden
• Solomon b. 1758 md. 1793 Susanna Trapp
• Henry b. 1796
• Sally b. 1788 md. (--?--) Learned
• Wealthy b. 1800 md. (--?-- Bissell
• Timothy b. 1760
• Elisha b. 1715 md. 1740 Mary (--?--) Dimock
• Elisha b. 1741 md. 1) 1763 Elizabeth Davenport & 2) ca. 1766 Desire Thompson
• Elizabeth b. 1764, d. 1838 md. Malachi Barker
• Roger b. 1767 md. 1794 Elizabeth Warner
• Esther b. 1769, d. 1844 md. 1800 Oliver Sanford
• Daniel b. 1770, d. 1823 md. md. 1792 Temperance Tinker
• Elishama b. 1772 md. Betsy Jeroloman
• Polly b. 1774, d. 1853 md. Cyrus Davis
• Nathaniel b. 1777 md. Achsa Barnes
• Jesse b. 1779, d. 1828 md. 1807 Julia Wickham
• Lavina b. 1781, d. 1859 md. 1804 Obadiah Latham
• David b. 1783, d. 1809
• Hannah b. 1787 md. 1812 Seth Birge
• Bathsheba b. 1743 md. John Tilden
• Lois Tilden
• Lucina Tilden
• Ann Tilden
• John Tilden
• Oliver Tilden
• Cynthia Tilden
• Elma Tilden md. Polly Jones
• Mary b. 1744
• Samuel b. 1746 (twin) d. infancy
• Daniel b. 1746 (twin) d. infancy
• Benjamin b. 1748 md. Irene Sawyer
• Benjamin b. 1772, d. 1847 md. 1797 Zebiah Huntington
• Daniel (2nd) b. 1750 d. young
• Jerusha b. 1752
• Timothy b. 1755
• Tabathy b. 1757