Not much is known about John Pulsipher's father, David Pulsipher and his
mother Elizabeth Stowell or about his Grandparents: David Pulsipher and
Grandmother Suzannah, but I came upon this history of his Great Grandfather,
Benedictus Pulsipher. You will find it interesting.
HISTORY OF BENEDICT PULSIPHER
abt. 1630 – 1695
Benedict Pulsipher had settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, according to his own statement, by 1659. He was probably married a year or two before coming to this country. He very likely brought his wife and infant son, Benedict II or Junior. We have no record of the birth of the son or of another son, John, but Elizabeth’s birth in 1609 is recorded in the town records of Ipswich. His first wife, of whose maiden name we are ignorant, died at Ipswich 16 July 1673. His son, Mr. William Henry Pulsipher says, "We’re of little help or comfort to his family." Evidently John moved to Gloucester, where he became a respected member of the family. There he probably supplemented his income as a farmer by occasionally building or helping to build houses for his neighbors. He is styled in one document "Yeoman" and in another "mason". In the History of Gloucester", J. J. Babson – 1860, page 130, appears the following:
"John Pulsipher, settled about 1680, according to tradition near a spot still occupied by one if his descendants on the old road leading to Coffin’s Beach (Gloucester). In 1688 he had a piece of land "given to the house where he then lived." Benedict Jr., proved to be a "roving blade", according to Mr. William Henry Pulsipher. "We hear," says Mr. Pulsipher, "of a Benedict Pulsipher engaged in an Indian fight in Maine in 1688. This was probably Benedict Jr. Cotton Mather refers to the incident in his ‘Magnalia Christi Americana’ London 1702. VII, page 63. Benedict, Jr., probably never married. In 1690 he engaged in Sir William Philip’s expedition to Quebec as a member of Captain Abraham Titton’s Company, and it is quite possible that he was killed or taken prisoner in the unfortunate attempt to capture the Canadian stronghold.
"A Compendious History of New England" by Morse and Parrish, page 146, makes a confirmatory reference to this episode.
After the death of his first wife on 16 July 1673, Benedict, Sr. married in the succeeding February, Susan A. Waters of Salem, Massachusetts, who was the fifth daughter of Richard and Joyce Waters. She was born at Salem, Massachusetts 01 Feb 1649. "Benedict Pulsipher, Sr. brought his young wife to Ipswich immediately after his marriage and entered upon what might be termed the second period of his career." The records show that his young wife was rather vain. She liked to adorn herself. "She, among others, braved the laws in 1675 by appearing in the meeting house with a silk hood and scarf. She and the others were arrested, tried, and fined ten shillings each for yielding to their vanity."
Benedict Pulsipher was a man of some means. He was also "a man of considerable education" in a period when educated Englishmen were rare.
Late in 1663 or early 1664 he bought a dwelling house with outhouse, orchard, gardens, etc. of Moses Pingry of Ipswich, Massachusetts, which property Pigry had acquired in 1652 of Richard Scofield who came to New England in 1635. This estate was situated on the north of the "Tom River". Its site is now occupied by a factory. The original deed to this property was either lost or "casually" burned, and on 7 Feb 1667, Pingry made a supplementary deed of the property which he gave Benedict Pulsipher. Benedict was then styled a "planter."
He added to his estate in 1664. In the same year, 1664, the town of Ipswich granted him a share (No. 55) in the town lands on Plumb Island, Castle Neck, and Hogg Island. He continued to reside at Ipswich, pursuing his occupation as planter or farmer for many years.
The records show the children of Benedict and Susan Pulsipher to be as follows:
Richard 31 May 1675 Mass.
William 12 Dec 1676 Mass.
Susanna 05 Sep 1678 Mass.
Joseph 13 Nov 1680 Mass.
Benjamin 19 May 1683 Mass.
David 27 Sep 1686 Mass.
Jonathan 25 Sep 1687 Mass.
Johanna 25 Sep 1687 Mass.
Susanna 1689 Mass.
Elizabeth 1690 Mass.
Margaret 14 Feb 1693 Mass.
David, the sixth child of Benedict, is the one we are especially concerned about, and his wife Susanna. Their children were all born in Boston, namely:
David 07 May 1708 Mass.
Susanna 19 Nov 1710 Mass.
Margaret 06 Jul 1712 Mass.
Joseph 27 Dec 1713 Mass.
Elizabeth 11 Feb 1717 Mass.
Abigail 27 Nov 1720 Mass.
This David was a sailor of Boston. His wife, Susanna, was licensed to sell strong drinks in Boston in 1727, according to the "Boston Selectmen’s Minutes, 1716 to 1736." So, if this is our David, born 1708, and Susanna was his mother, he would only be 19 years old when his mother sold strong drinks.
Probably that accounts for his going into Connecticut. Records show that he was a resident of Pomfret, Windham, Connecticut. He married in Pomfret 02 October 1740. Elizabeth Stowell daughter of David Stowell and Patience Herrington, born 21 August 1719, in Newton, Massachusetts.
Their children born in Pomfret were (Information from Pro. Ct. Record 9):
Mary 29 Jun 1744
Ester 13 Mar 1747
John 08 Jul 1749
David 06 Oct 1751
Elizabeth 12 Jun 1754
David 29 Sep 1756
Ebenezer 1758
Mary married John Harwood and died in 1786; John married Elizabeth Dutton; the first David died 06 November 1754; Elizabeth married Captain John H. Fuller; David (2) died 14 January 1835; Ebenezer married (1) Priscilla Russell, (2) Unity Reed.
David and Elizabeth moved to Ware River, Massachusetts then in 1766 to Rockingham, Windham, Vermont. The history of Rockingham states that he came "with wife" Elizabeth and five children. He settled on the Meadows opposite South Charleson, New Hampshire, and later moved to Rockingham village.
He built the first log cabin "Inn" in the town, located on the site of the dwelling now standing next, west of the old church. Town meetings were held in his home, also church meetings previous to the building of the first meeting or "town" house.
When the first church was organized in October 1773, David and Elizabeth Pulsipher were among the first nineteen members and later David joined with others in presenting the town with the land which, for a century and a third, has been occupied by the old meeting house and the burying ground adjoining.
Directly after the battle of Lexington, tidings of the event were sent to Rockingham, as well as all surrounding towns and David with his son, John joined a band of Patriots gathered on both sides of the Connecticut River and the morning of 21 April 1775 they were assigned to Captain John Marchy’s Company in Colonel James Reed’s Regiment which took an active part in the battle of Bunker Hill. It was believed that David was killed at this battle as he never returned home and his fate was never known. He may have died of disease in the war. His wife and family remained in the old log cabin several years keeping it as a Public Tavern.
After the first church, organized in 1773, was discontinued in 1839, the Record Book as well as the Communion Service, the table cloth and one napkin were preserved by members of the Pulsipher family to whom much credit is given for their faithful care.
John Pulsipher, (father of Zera) was born 08 July 1749. Married in Rockingham to Elizabeth Dutton, who was born 18 December 1751 in Lunnenburg, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Thomas Dutton and his first wife, Mary Hill. She was a descendant of the Thomas Dutton and his wife, Susanna, who settled in Reading, Massachusetts, and were the fourth great-grandparents of our "Beloved Prophet, Joseph Smith." This same Dutton family are said to be the family of Duttons who came to Chester, England, in 1066 with William the Conqueror.
Elizabeth joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1832. She was then living with her son, Zera, and his family. Her husband having died some years previously. He died in the Revolutionary War, with his father at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was one of the founders of the first Baptist Church in Rockingham, Vermont in 1789.
John Pulsipher, a grandson of John and Elizabeth, states in his history of his own life, that his grandmother, Elizabeth, died on 02 December 1838, of persecutions in a land of liberty.
note: [Benedict may have changed his name from Pulford to escape the emissaries of Charles II – he was a puritan in England.]
Pulcher-vir – Handsome Man
Benedict Pulsipher (who spelled his name Pulsephar) was the first of this name to appear in America. He owned land in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1655 and raised several children there. He was a man of some means and had a considerable education in a period when educated Englishmen were rare.
1. It has been claimed by some that Benedict changed his name when he reached America from Pulford, a well known English family name, to Pulsipher. This pattern was followed by several English families in order to escape the emissaries of Charles II, who was beheaded at Whitehall, England during the English Civil War. The name he chose was derived from the Latin words
pulcher, meaning beautiful, and vir, meaning man, according to some authorities. However, the name could also be of Anglo-Saxon origin, being derived from the verb pullian and the adverb infere, meaning pulls-together.
2. Benedict and his first wife had at least three children: Benedict, John and Elizabeth. Elizabeth's birth can be found in the Ipswich town records in 1669. His wife died at Ipswich on July 16, 1673. John moved to Gloucester where he became a yeoman farmer and a mason. Benedict was referred to as a Roving blade.
3. After the death of his first wife, Benedict married Susanna A. Waters on February 2, 1674 at Ipswich. She was born at Salem, Massachusetts on February 1, 1649, the fifth daughter of Richard and Joyce Waters. The records show that his young wife was rather vain. She liked to adorn herself. "She, among others, braved the laws in 1675 by appearing in the meeting house with a silk hood and scarf. She and the others were arrested, tried and fined ten shillings each for yielding to their vanity."
4. Benedict was a planter and lived on an estate which was situated on the north side of the Tom River. This estate was previously owned by Moses Pingry of Ipswich who acquired the land in 1652 from Richard Scofield. Richard Scofield was the first owner and came to New England in 1635.
5. The sixth child of Benedict and Susanna was David. This David was a sailor of Boston. His travels took him to Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut where he married Elizabeth Stoel (Stowell), the daughter of David Stowell and Patience Herrington on October 2, 1740. She was born on August 21, 1719 at Newton, Massachusetts.
6. David and Elizabeth moved to Ware River, Massachusetts first and then moved to Rockingham, Windham County, Vermont in 1766. The history of Rockingham states that he came "with wife" Elizabeth and five children. They settled on the Meadows opposite South Charleston, New Hampshire, and later moved to Rockingham village.
7. He built the first log cabin Inn in the town, located on the site of the dwelling now standing next to the old church on the west side. Town meetings were held in his home, also church meetings previous to the building of the first meeting or town house.
8. When the first church was organized in October of 1773, David and Elizabeth Pulsipher were among the first nineteen members. Later David joined with others in presenting the town with the land which has been occupied by the old meeting house and adjacent burial grounds for over 200 years.
9. Directly after the battle of Lexington, news reached Rockingham as well as the surrounding towns. David and his son, John, joined a band of patriots gathered on both sides of the Connecticut River on the morning of April 21, 1775 and they were assigned to Captain John Marcy's company in Colonel James Reed's regiment. This regiment took an active part in the battle of Bunker Hill.
10. David died a few weeks after the battle with cramp rheumatism in his breast. His son, John, served his time and returned home. The family of David Pulsipher remained in the old log cabin for several years keeping it as a public tavern.
11. After the first church, organized in 1773, was discontinued in 1839, the record book as well as the communion service, the table cloth and one napkin were preserved by members of the Pulsipher family to whom much credit is given for their faithful care.
12. John Pulsipher was born on July 8, 1749 at Pomfret, Connecticut and married Elizabeth Dutton in Rockingham in 1773. She was born on December 18, 1751 in Lunnenburg, Massachusetts, the daughter of Thomas Dutton and his first wife, Mary Hill. She was a descendant of the Thomas Dutton and his wife, Susanna, who settled in Reading, Massachusetts, and were the fourth great-grandparents of Joseph Smith. This same Dutton family are said to be the family of Duttons who came to Chester, England, in 1066 with William the Conqueror.
13. Elizabeth Dutton Pulsipher joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1832 while living with her son, Zerah, and his family, her husband having died some years previous. Her husband was one of the founders of the first Baptist Church in Rockingham, Vermont, in 1789. Elizabeth died on December 2, 1838, of persecutions in a land of liberty, according to her grandson, John Pulsipher.
1. Terry and Nora Lund,
Pulsipher Family History Book,
(Salt Lake City), p.5.
2. Ibid., p. 3,4.
3. Ibid., p. 5.
4. Ibid., p. 5.
5. Ibid., p. 5,6.
6. Ibid., p. 6.
140
7. Ibid., p. 6,7.
8. Ibid., p. 7.
9. Ibid., p. 7.
10. Ibid., p. 7.
11. Ibid., p. 7.
12. Ibid., p. 7.
13. Ibid., p. 7.
HISTORY OF BENEDICT PULSIPHER
abt. 1630 – 1695
Benedict Pulsipher had settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, according to his own statement, by 1659. He was probably married a year or two before coming to this country. He very likely brought his wife and infant son, Benedict II or Junior. We have no record of the birth of the son or of another son, John, but Elizabeth’s birth in 1609 is recorded in the town records of Ipswich. His first wife, of whose maiden name we are ignorant, died at Ipswich 16 July 1673. His son, Mr. William Henry Pulsipher says, "We’re of little help or comfort to his family." Evidently John moved to Gloucester, where he became a respected member of the family. There he probably supplemented his income as a farmer by occasionally building or helping to build houses for his neighbors. He is styled in one document "Yeoman" and in another "mason". In the History of Gloucester", J. J. Babson – 1860, page 130, appears the following:
"John Pulsipher, settled about 1680, according to tradition near a spot still occupied by one if his descendants on the old road leading to Coffin’s Beach (Gloucester). In 1688 he had a piece of land "given to the house where he then lived." Benedict Jr., proved to be a "roving blade", according to Mr. William Henry Pulsipher. "We hear," says Mr. Pulsipher, "of a Benedict Pulsipher engaged in an Indian fight in Maine in 1688. This was probably Benedict Jr. Cotton Mather refers to the incident in his ‘Magnalia Christi Americana’ London 1702. VII, page 63. Benedict, Jr., probably never married. In 1690 he engaged in Sir William Philip’s expedition to Quebec as a member of Captain Abraham Titton’s Company, and it is quite possible that he was killed or taken prisoner in the unfortunate attempt to capture the Canadian stronghold.
"A Compendious History of New England" by Morse and Parrish, page 146, makes a confirmatory reference to this episode.
After the death of his first wife on 16 July 1673, Benedict, Sr. married in the succeeding February, Susan A. Waters of Salem, Massachusetts, who was the fifth daughter of Richard and Joyce Waters. She was born at Salem, Massachusetts 01 Feb 1649. "Benedict Pulsipher, Sr. brought his young wife to Ipswich immediately after his marriage and entered upon what might be termed the second period of his career." The records show that his young wife was rather vain. She liked to adorn herself. "She, among others, braved the laws in 1675 by appearing in the meeting house with a silk hood and scarf. She and the others were arrested, tried, and fined ten shillings each for yielding to their vanity."
Benedict Pulsipher was a man of some means. He was also "a man of considerable education" in a period when educated Englishmen were rare.
Late in 1663 or early 1664 he bought a dwelling house with outhouse, orchard, gardens, etc. of Moses Pingry of Ipswich, Massachusetts, which property Pigry had acquired in 1652 of Richard Scofield who came to New England in 1635. This estate was situated on the north of the "Tom River". Its site is now occupied by a factory. The original deed to this property was either lost or "casually" burned, and on 7 Feb 1667, Pingry made a supplementary deed of the property which he gave Benedict Pulsipher. Benedict was then styled a "planter."
He added to his estate in 1664. In the same year, 1664, the town of Ipswich granted him a share (No. 55) in the town lands on Plumb Island, Castle Neck, and Hogg Island. He continued to reside at Ipswich, pursuing his occupation as planter or farmer for many years.
The records show the children of Benedict and Susan Pulsipher to be as follows:
Richard 31 May 1675 Mass.
William 12 Dec 1676 Mass.
Susanna 05 Sep 1678 Mass.
Joseph 13 Nov 1680 Mass.
Benjamin 19 May 1683 Mass.
David 27 Sep 1686 Mass.
Jonathan 25 Sep 1687 Mass.
Johanna 25 Sep 1687 Mass.
Susanna 1689 Mass.
Elizabeth 1690 Mass.
Margaret 14 Feb 1693 Mass.
David, the sixth child of Benedict, is the one we are especially concerned about, and his wife Susanna. Their children were all born in Boston, namely:
David 07 May 1708 Mass.
Susanna 19 Nov 1710 Mass.
Margaret 06 Jul 1712 Mass.
Joseph 27 Dec 1713 Mass.
Elizabeth 11 Feb 1717 Mass.
Abigail 27 Nov 1720 Mass.
This David was a sailor of Boston. His wife, Susanna, was licensed to sell strong drinks in Boston in 1727, according to the "Boston Selectmen’s Minutes, 1716 to 1736." So, if this is our David, born 1708, and Susanna was his mother, he would only be 19 years old when his mother sold strong drinks.
Probably that accounts for his going into Connecticut. Records show that he was a resident of Pomfret, Windham, Connecticut. He married in Pomfret 02 October 1740. Elizabeth Stowell daughter of David Stowell and Patience Herrington, born 21 August 1719, in Newton, Massachusetts.
Their children born in Pomfret were (Information from Pro. Ct. Record 9):
Mary 29 Jun 1744
Ester 13 Mar 1747
John 08 Jul 1749
David 06 Oct 1751
Elizabeth 12 Jun 1754
David 29 Sep 1756
Ebenezer 1758
Mary married John Harwood and died in 1786; John married Elizabeth Dutton; the first David died 06 November 1754; Elizabeth married Captain John H. Fuller; David (2) died 14 January 1835; Ebenezer married (1) Priscilla Russell, (2) Unity Reed.
David and Elizabeth moved to Ware River, Massachusetts then in 1766 to Rockingham, Windham, Vermont. The history of Rockingham states that he came "with wife" Elizabeth and five children. He settled on the Meadows opposite South Charleson, New Hampshire, and later moved to Rockingham village.
He built the first log cabin "Inn" in the town, located on the site of the dwelling now standing next, west of the old church. Town meetings were held in his home, also church meetings previous to the building of the first meeting or "town" house.
When the first church was organized in October 1773, David and Elizabeth Pulsipher were among the first nineteen members and later David joined with others in presenting the town with the land which, for a century and a third, has been occupied by the old meeting house and the burying ground adjoining.
Directly after the battle of Lexington, tidings of the event were sent to Rockingham, as well as all surrounding towns and David with his son, John joined a band of Patriots gathered on both sides of the Connecticut River and the morning of 21 April 1775 they were assigned to Captain John Marchy’s Company in Colonel James Reed’s Regiment which took an active part in the battle of Bunker Hill. It was believed that David was killed at this battle as he never returned home and his fate was never known. He may have died of disease in the war. His wife and family remained in the old log cabin several years keeping it as a Public Tavern.
After the first church, organized in 1773, was discontinued in 1839, the Record Book as well as the Communion Service, the table cloth and one napkin were preserved by members of the Pulsipher family to whom much credit is given for their faithful care.
John Pulsipher, (father of Zera) was born 08 July 1749. Married in Rockingham to Elizabeth Dutton, who was born 18 December 1751 in Lunnenburg, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Thomas Dutton and his first wife, Mary Hill. She was a descendant of the Thomas Dutton and his wife, Susanna, who settled in Reading, Massachusetts, and were the fourth great-grandparents of our "Beloved Prophet, Joseph Smith." This same Dutton family are said to be the family of Duttons who came to Chester, England, in 1066 with William the Conqueror.
Elizabeth joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1832. She was then living with her son, Zera, and his family. Her husband having died some years previously. He died in the Revolutionary War, with his father at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was one of the founders of the first Baptist Church in Rockingham, Vermont in 1789.
John Pulsipher, a grandson of John and Elizabeth, states in his history of his own life, that his grandmother, Elizabeth, died on 02 December 1838, of persecutions in a land of liberty.
note: [Benedict may have changed his name from Pulford to escape the emissaries of Charles II – he was a puritan in England.]
Pulcher-vir – Handsome Man
Benedict Pulsipher (who spelled his name Pulsephar) was the first of this name to appear in America. He owned land in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1655 and raised several children there. He was a man of some means and had a considerable education in a period when educated Englishmen were rare.
1. It has been claimed by some that Benedict changed his name when he reached America from Pulford, a well known English family name, to Pulsipher. This pattern was followed by several English families in order to escape the emissaries of Charles II, who was beheaded at Whitehall, England during the English Civil War. The name he chose was derived from the Latin words
pulcher, meaning beautiful, and vir, meaning man, according to some authorities. However, the name could also be of Anglo-Saxon origin, being derived from the verb pullian and the adverb infere, meaning pulls-together.
2. Benedict and his first wife had at least three children: Benedict, John and Elizabeth. Elizabeth's birth can be found in the Ipswich town records in 1669. His wife died at Ipswich on July 16, 1673. John moved to Gloucester where he became a yeoman farmer and a mason. Benedict was referred to as a Roving blade.
3. After the death of his first wife, Benedict married Susanna A. Waters on February 2, 1674 at Ipswich. She was born at Salem, Massachusetts on February 1, 1649, the fifth daughter of Richard and Joyce Waters. The records show that his young wife was rather vain. She liked to adorn herself. "She, among others, braved the laws in 1675 by appearing in the meeting house with a silk hood and scarf. She and the others were arrested, tried and fined ten shillings each for yielding to their vanity."
4. Benedict was a planter and lived on an estate which was situated on the north side of the Tom River. This estate was previously owned by Moses Pingry of Ipswich who acquired the land in 1652 from Richard Scofield. Richard Scofield was the first owner and came to New England in 1635.
5. The sixth child of Benedict and Susanna was David. This David was a sailor of Boston. His travels took him to Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut where he married Elizabeth Stoel (Stowell), the daughter of David Stowell and Patience Herrington on October 2, 1740. She was born on August 21, 1719 at Newton, Massachusetts.
6. David and Elizabeth moved to Ware River, Massachusetts first and then moved to Rockingham, Windham County, Vermont in 1766. The history of Rockingham states that he came "with wife" Elizabeth and five children. They settled on the Meadows opposite South Charleston, New Hampshire, and later moved to Rockingham village.
7. He built the first log cabin Inn in the town, located on the site of the dwelling now standing next to the old church on the west side. Town meetings were held in his home, also church meetings previous to the building of the first meeting or town house.
8. When the first church was organized in October of 1773, David and Elizabeth Pulsipher were among the first nineteen members. Later David joined with others in presenting the town with the land which has been occupied by the old meeting house and adjacent burial grounds for over 200 years.
9. Directly after the battle of Lexington, news reached Rockingham as well as the surrounding towns. David and his son, John, joined a band of patriots gathered on both sides of the Connecticut River on the morning of April 21, 1775 and they were assigned to Captain John Marcy's company in Colonel James Reed's regiment. This regiment took an active part in the battle of Bunker Hill.
10. David died a few weeks after the battle with cramp rheumatism in his breast. His son, John, served his time and returned home. The family of David Pulsipher remained in the old log cabin for several years keeping it as a public tavern.
11. After the first church, organized in 1773, was discontinued in 1839, the record book as well as the communion service, the table cloth and one napkin were preserved by members of the Pulsipher family to whom much credit is given for their faithful care.
12. John Pulsipher was born on July 8, 1749 at Pomfret, Connecticut and married Elizabeth Dutton in Rockingham in 1773. She was born on December 18, 1751 in Lunnenburg, Massachusetts, the daughter of Thomas Dutton and his first wife, Mary Hill. She was a descendant of the Thomas Dutton and his wife, Susanna, who settled in Reading, Massachusetts, and were the fourth great-grandparents of Joseph Smith. This same Dutton family are said to be the family of Duttons who came to Chester, England, in 1066 with William the Conqueror.
13. Elizabeth Dutton Pulsipher joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1832 while living with her son, Zerah, and his family, her husband having died some years previous. Her husband was one of the founders of the first Baptist Church in Rockingham, Vermont, in 1789. Elizabeth died on December 2, 1838, of persecutions in a land of liberty, according to her grandson, John Pulsipher.
1. Terry and Nora Lund,
Pulsipher Family History Book,
(Salt Lake City), p.5.
2. Ibid., p. 3,4.
3. Ibid., p. 5.
4. Ibid., p. 5.
5. Ibid., p. 5,6.
6. Ibid., p. 6.
140
7. Ibid., p. 6,7.
8. Ibid., p. 7.
9. Ibid., p. 7.
10. Ibid., p. 7.
11. Ibid., p. 7.
12. Ibid., p. 7.
13. Ibid., p. 7.