Daniel Hovey

(Unless otherwise noted, the following material is a direct quotation from the Hovey Book of 1914)

Daniel Hovey, the ancestor of the American Hoveys(1), was born at Waltham Abbey, in Essex county, England, Aug. 9, 1618, being the son of Richard Hovey, a glover (one who makes gloves), of that place. He was apparently a man of education, and the fact that the curate of his parish church was friendly to and interested in him while he was in his teens and far away in a strange land, indicates that there were elements in his character which drew and held attention to him. He was one of the early settlers of Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1635, at the age of seventeen. Feb. 5, 1637, the town granted to him six acres of land on Muddy creek; and also "Granted to Daniell Hovey, an house lott, 1 acre of ground on the South syde of the Town River, having a house lott, granted to William Holdred on the West, and a house lott, granted to Thomas Sherman on the East. Also six acres of planting ground, lying on Sagamore Hill, having a planting lott, formerly granted Henry Wilkinson on the West, and a planting lott granted to William Holdred on the East: to enjoy the sayde Landes, to him, his heirs, or assigns forever. Entered this 27th day of March 1639."(2) The freemen of the town granted to William Holdred a house lot of half-an-acre adjoining Daniel Hovey's on the southwest, being on the south side of the river, and bounded by the house lot of Roger Preston on the southwest; also six acres of planting ground on Sagamore hill adjoining Daniel Hovey's planting lot west, and the planting lot of Roger Preston on the east; the grants being entered April 9, 1639; and both of these lots were conveyed by Mr. Holdred to "Daniel Hovey of Ipswich, planter," and, also, one dwelling house built on the house lot and all the fencing belonging to both lots. Entered April 10, 1639.

Feb. 10, 1644, the town of Ipswich ordered that Mr. Hovey be paid three shillings for killing three foxes.

In 1648, he subscribed three shillings three times a year to Maj. Daniel Denison, "so long as he shall be their leader, to encourage him in his military helpfulness," the whole annual sum being twenty-four pounds and seven shillings, and the largest subscription ten shillings.

Mr. Hovey was somewhat prominent, and held several town offices in Ipswich, being chosen one of the selectmen Feb. 14, 1659; a surveyor of highways in 1648-9 and 1649-50; and a constable in 1658. In 1656, he was one of a committee to set up a saw mill on Chebacco river. The selectmen ordered, 12: 12: 1650, that Symon Tomson and Daniell Hovey shall view a certain parcel of land.(3) In 1649, he was a juror at Ipswich court.

In the county court which sat at Ipswich 29: 1: 1642, Mr. Hovey was plaintiff in three civil actions. One was against James Pitney and James Howe, in which he recovered judgment for nine bushels of corn; one against Jo: Lee, which was not tried; and the other was against George Varnham and Jo: North, which was continued.

Daniel Hovey was granted a highway to go to his lot in, by the town of Ipswich, March 4, 1650.3

22: 12: 1652, the town gave him liberty to set his fence down to the river at his ground which he bought of William Knowlton, making a stile at each end.3

At a town meeting held Feb. 14, 1659, Daniel Hovey was granted liberty to build a warf against his ground that he bought of William Knowlton, and , also, such building as may tend to the improvement thereof.3

Mr. Hovey was living on his farm in Topsfield in 1663 and 1664. Jan 15, 1663, he was chosen one of two persons to lay out some land.(4)

Mr. Hovey was complained of for speaking falsely to the prejudice of General Denison, and was fined twenty shillings in Ipswich court Sept. 24, 1667. The records show that in some case, in which evidently General Denison acted as magistrate, Mr. Hovey said that Major Denison did not write his determination nor state his sentence in public, and what was done occurred after he was gone, and that John Gould whispered in the major's ear as he was going away.(5) Magistrates did not allow themselves to be criticized in those days.

In May, 1660, a colony went from Ipswich to Quaboag(6), a place subsequently named Brookfield; and Daniel Hovey joined it in 1668. His sons James and Thomas went with him. The lots of land laid out to the father and sons adjoined, and were situated easterly of the little brook, on the north side of the road. Daniel Hovey was living in Quaboag in May, 1672, and settled in Hadley before the massacre at Quabog in 1675.

While in Hadley, he lived on a farm of Mr. Henry Clerke; and Mr. John Russell, Jr., and Mr. Peter Tilton, Sr., executors of the will of Mr. Clerke of Hadley, deceased, brought an action against Mr. Hovey, at the court in Springfield Sept. 26, 1676, for withholding rent due to said plaintiffs "for a ffarm or Land of ye sayd Mr. Henry Clerkes which ye sayd Hovey hath Occupyed as a tenement."(7) The jury found a verdict for the plaintiffs, and awarded them fourteen pounds damages, due in 1767.(8) At the succeeding term of court held at Springfield the same year, Mr. Hovey brought suit against Mr. John Russell, Jr., being an "Action of unjust molestation in a Suite at ye last Corte at Springfield & for uncharitable Charges to ye defamation or Slandour of the sd Dannll Hovey & his Wife & Charging ye sd Danll to be a man of a Scandolous life in an Open Afsembly & therefore was denyed Church Comunion & this threatened to be made Out to his Church and ye belonged too & all ye Churches thereaboute." The jury found a verdict for Mr. Hovey.(9) Whether these proceedings and the unhappy contentions that must have been engendered by them had aught to do with his departure from Hadley or not the writer does not know; but Mr. Hovey returned to Ipswich in 1678.

While living in Hadley, he suffered much at the hands of the Indians, and was also a sharer in providing defense for the town. Three years after his return to Ipswich, he sent to the colonial council a petition, an exact copy of which, copied from the original instrument on file in the Massachusetts archives, at the state house in Boston is as follows:(10)

"To the Honoured Council now sitting in Boston; the humble petition of Daniel Hovey of Ipswich,

"Wheras your humble petitioner was an inhabitant of Hadly in the time of the late Indian warrs, and there expended (beside my lofses) much of my Estate in the Countreys service against the common enemy; and since that time was removed thence by Providence to Ipswich, where I have remained now these three yeers last past; and by reason of the remote distance fro Hadly and want of intelligence thence I mifsed the opportunity of sending in my last accots together with my neighbours there, to the last Sefsions of the Genll Court; which caused me much labour and long travell thither from Ipswich; yet at the last I have gained a certificate of those my Expences from the Committee of Militia in Hadley, being the last of mine Expences there on the Countreys service; amounting to 11lb 13s 08d; as by the said Certificate doth fully appear; now my humble request and petition is, that yor Honors would be pleased to grant me an Order to the Constables of Ipswich that I may receive the said Sums there; where my setled residence is, and have no commerce or dealing at Hadley; that so I may discount my present Rates, and may have the residue for the relief of my family, which hath been much straitned by my lofses and expences there in time of the warrs, and by rates both then and since. The Lord direct your counfells and afsist yor endeavors in all weighty transactions now in hand, that we may rejoice and blefs God under yor good dovernmt continued over us. so prayeth

Yor humble petitioner,

DANIEL HOVEY."

The order thereon was as follows: --

"28 ffebruary

It is ordered that the Trefurer pay vnto Daniel Hovey of Ipswich the Sume of Eleven pou[n]ds out of there Country Rate in full of all his Accounts in Controversy

P councill EDW RAWSON Secrery

Councils act to pay Dani Hovey 11th 1681."(11)

The selectmen of Ipswich granted to him six pine trees, presumably for timber, at two times, three on Jan. 2, 1678, and three Dec. 15, 1679.(12)

Daniel Hovey married Abigail, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Franklin?) Andrews of Ipswich, about 1641(13). Mr. Andrews died in 1643, having given to Mr. Hovey a legacy of ten pounds. In the settlement of the estate of Mrs. Hovey's brother Thomas Andrews, a prominent schoolmaster, Mr. Hovey certified to the county court as follows: --(14)

"September 27, '83'

Thefe may inform this Honored Cort. & may it pleafe your Honors, to take notis touching the relations of this worthy gentilman Mr Thomas Andrews, my truly louing dear & wel. Beloved Brother &c. I did more then forty years ago, match wth his Loving & welbeloved fifter Abigal Andrews, by home the lord bleft me with fix fons. & on dafter, five of which fons ar yet liuing fo that by thes it may apear that we ar fuerly related to this defefed gentlman, but in brief he hath fix nefews & two nefes. as. folows their is the fon and dafter of his brother as namly John. Andrews & sara Connant his fifter both which are Confiderably deters vnto his eftate as alfo Mrs Elifibeth Glouer wo is married to Mr John Glouer formerly liuing at Bofton now at fwanfy wch alfo is deter to the eftate ther is myfelf alfo deter to ye eftate five fhilins vpon the prifin of fom things he lent me for my prefent vs & faue me order to vfe & dep them til he Caled for them, there is Daniel & John Hovey two of his nefews deter to the eftate for fcolin their Children about four pounds. their is alfo Thomas, Jofeph & nathaniel Hovey. thre of his nefews wch never had the value of on fhiling of the eftate of their unkls that I know of. I humbly draw your favor to ouerlook my weaknes in indevrin to lay this narative befor your Honors. yt when their fhal aper a vifibl eftat of my Loving Brothers youe mav haue fo much as thef few lines may aford as touching the fetling of his eftat upon his relations that we quietly & peafably wth ye lords blefing may haue the benifit of the vf of ye his eftate wch he left vndifposed of now the good lord of heven to influenf your heads & hearts by ye lit of his holy fpirit as that a Gevin fentans may profed frome you as god may haue honor yourfelus joy in the day of Crift & no perfons or perfon may have caufe of complaint but that we may flef god for his merfy to fe juftis & judgt fil runnin in our strets. so prays your humble petitioner.

DANIEL HOVEY, SR."(15)

The real estate transactions to which Mr. Hovey was a party besides those that were grants from the town in the earlier days are as follows: He owned, with others, twenty-five acres of marsh, which was divided Jan. 30, 1658.(16) He bought seventy acres of upland and meadow in Topsfield, bounded north and northeast by the pond, east by a part of the Ipswich commons, south by upland and meadow of Robert Andrews and west by common land and meadow, June 12, 1660.(17) When he was living at Quabog, he conveyed a piece of marsh and "my farm in Topsfield wch my son John now liveth in, to him he surrendering to me his land in Ipswich," and paying forty pounds and allowing to the grantor thirty shillings a year during the latter's life; and also "my division of land at wheall brooke," June 13, 1671.(18) While Mr. Hovey was still at "Quabaugh," he conveyed one-half of an acre of land in Ipswich, lying on the south side of the river, together with the frame of a house standing on the adjoining land of his son Daniel and some shingles at Topsfield, May 8, 1672.(19) When Mr. Hovey lived at Hadley he sold twenty-four rods of land in Ipswich, being part of that lot called Knowlton's lot, on the south side of the river, May 1, 1677.(20) After Mr. Hovey's return to Ipswich, he sold one and one-half acres of plowing land lying on the south side of the river in Ipswich, Feb. 11, 1688-9.(21) He also conveyed six acres and seventy-one square rods of pasture land in Ipswich April 23, 1689.(22) He also conveyed one and one-half acres of plowing land in Ipswich, lying on the south side of the river, next to the lot last above described, Oct. 12, 1689.(23)

Mrs. Hovey died between 1676 and 1683. He died in Ipswich April 24, 1692. His will was proved Oct. 31, 1692.

The following is a copy of the original document on file in the probate office at Salem: --

"I Daniell Hovey fenier of Ipsfidg Confidrin the changes of man doe defier by the help of the Lord to fetel my conserns as may be for the glory of god and the good of my family my fole I defir to resign and Comit unto the hand of my Lovin ffather in Jefus Chrift ho is the Lord my Ritofnis my body to be desently buried in erth in hop of a glorious and blefed reserectio by chrift amen

"Itt The ftat which god and his grace hath giuen me I haue dispofd of af folows to my Eldest fonf Daniell and John houey and my daftor Airs I haue giuen them thire proptions of yt Eftat I had to our mutuall content ye one at Ipfig ye other in topsfill Now in their pofefon Abigals paid by my fon John to my fon Airs:

"Itt To my fon Thomas and James his fon Daniell I give all that my Iland caled houeys Iland which with the thatchbanks and Low marfh belongin to me on the other fid the rek which I a Lowed quarter mafter Perkins to improue holdin my pofefion till I had ocafion for fam alfo all yt houfe and Land in Ipfig yt I fhall not dispos of befor deth

"Itt I giue to my fon Jofeph and Nathanil Houey one hundred rods of ground a pice Joseph bounded Next to mr Emersons Land from ye hiway to yt Land Daniell Ringes Nathanil one hundred rod of my Land Next to my fon Daniell with ye dweling hous Barn part of ye orchard to but on Danil Ring: half planting Lot a bout three acres wt a way to it or ye bridg I made to go to it three acrs at plum Iland alfo: which Lands I Leaue in ye hands of my Executor and overfears: yt if left after my deth To be dispofed of af folows: the Children of Jofeph Hovey: to haue an equall proporfhon of what if Left after my Deth: as to yr father Legaci: the children of my fon Nathaniell to haue an Equall proporfhon: amounxt ym only Nathaniell Houey ye fon of Nathaniell Houey to haue a duble pro porfhon: if he Liue to ye eage of one and twenty if no ye to be diuided among ye other Children of yt family:

"Itt my mouables to my fon Nathaniell thofe sheep he hath of mine to his children: my cart and plow Irons chains great tramill great braf cittell Iron Cettell Little Iron pot: my poutter poringer and drincking Cup with one chamber pot: and my wife wearing aparell to Nathaniell children: the other to Jofeph his brothers children all my wearing cloths my great braf pot and putter pot and my great bible an dbooks af foloweth: come to chrift and wellcom Cotten one ye Counant mader: 7 : farmons to Nathaniel children to Daniell gran child thofe fheep with wt hif mafter and books alfo Christan warfer Caleun one Job tenn deuins ye golden fepter with what other Books undefpofd by me and mine and fhuch towls for his trade as are futable of mine: to Abigel Hodgkins wife of Thomas Hodgkins ye brafe pan and putter falfeller, my part of ye meare and colt to gran child Daniell and Iuory

"Itt my entreft of brockfeld and fwampfeld I giue to my fon Jofeph and Nathaniell children

"Itt I make my fon Thomas Executor and would haue his Nephu in cafe he Liues to eage if capable to Joyne in ye fame wt him and he to pay out of his part to his brother James and fister prafila and John Aires tenn pounds a pice within thre after his pofefon and in Cafe of his part: my bed bolfter and pillow wt my gren Rug a paier of blanckits. wt ye bedfted to Daniell gran child, I would haue my fon John of topsfeld to tack in to his pofefhon with his Books:

"Itt I doe apoynt my Louing fons Daniell Houey; and John Hovey to be overfers: of this my Laft will; and fe: to discharg my ffunerall Chargis which I alow four pounds Eftat: and to take any: inventary of my estate: and discharge all my dets and make probet of my will: and to fe his Nephufe haue their equall proporfhon: Joseph and [torn] children how haue lately defefed: for which I a Low my our fears three pounds apice for their ceare and truble: This is my will: as witnes my hand and feal

DANIEL HOVEY SENIOR

wittnesis

PHILEMON DANE

THOMAS HODGKINS

aged fevnty three & goin to

fevnty fower this on &

twentieth day of march on

thoufand fix hundrend

ninty on or two (SEAL)"

The following is a copy of the inventory of the estate of Daniel Hovey: --

"An Inuentory of the Estate of Daniell Houey fener Defeafed The twenty forth of April (1692)
£ s d
Itam. The homfted wt about three eacres Tilidg Land 50 00 00
Itam one eacer of Low ground wt a bout 3 eacers Tilidg 24 00 00
Itm in Nolton Lot a bout one eacor wt houfe and wharf 35 00 00
Itam: Iland of upland and faltmarfh Containing about 18 eacers yt if caled Houey's Iland 80 00 00
Itam 3 eacors marfh at plum IlfLand by ye knobs 3 10 00
ffether beed a bolfter and pillow a gren Rodg and 2 blanckits 7 00 00
Itam Seuerall books yt weare ualued at 5 00 00
Itam in fheep 20s half a mare half 2 yeareling Colt 3 10 00
Itam to Lining 34s and wolling cloth much worne wt feurall other old things 3 15 00
Itam to wolling cloathing one camblit fut 2 peare of fhufe 3 16 00
Itam houfe hold goods namly poutter and braffe 4 10 6
Itam husbandery tolef cart Iorns and plow Iorns whip faw 2 10 00
Itam armes and amanifhon 00 14 00
248 01 00
Itam one brafe pot 001 00 00
may the 21; 1692 Leftenant Burnam and Philemon dane

we are ye priferes of ye a boufe Named preticulers(24)



The children of Daniel and Abigail Hovey were born in Ipswich as follows:

I. Daniel, born in 1642 and died May 29, 1695 at the age of 53. He was a husbandman (a farmer who cultivated the land) and always lived in Ipswich. He served in many public offices. He constructed a house which stood on the south side of the river until July 17, 1894 when it burned to the ground. His first wife, Rebecca died on the day her son Daniel was born, May 24, 1665. He married Esther Treadwell, daughter of Thomas Treadwell, on Oct. 8, 1666. Besides his son by his first wife, Daniel and his second wife had 3 sons and 2 daughters.

II. John, born in 1644. He was a yeoman (a farmer who owned his own land) and attained the rank of sergeant in the militia. He was prominent in town affairs and held several offices. During his lifetime he acquired considerable wealth and was the sixth richest man in Ipswich, as measured by the tax rolls. John married Dorcas Ivory on Aug. 13, 1665. She died Nov. 5, 1711. He later married Mercy, widow of Dea. Joseph Goodhue of Ipswich (published in Ipswich, Nov. 30, 1712). Mrs. Goodhue was daughter of John and Ellinor (Pell) Boynton of Rowley, where she was born Oct. 5, 1651. She was previously married to a Josiah Clarke of Ipswich on Dec. 14, 1670. Following Mr. Clark's death, she married Deacon Goodhue July 14, 1670. He died in Ipswich Sept. 2, 1697. John Hovey died March 29, 1718 at the age of 74. Mercy survived him and died in Rowley Dec. 22, 1730 at age 79. They had 2 sons and 4 daughters.

III. Thomas, born in Ipswich in 1648. He moved to Hadley as early as 1672 and was a yeoman and a prominent man in the town. He served as representative to the general court in 1699 and 1703 and was a lieutenant in the militia. He married Sarah, daughter of Capt. Aaron and Sarah (Westerwood) Cook in November 1677. She was born in Hadley Jan. 31, 1662. He died March 4, 1739 at the age of 91. They had 2 sons and 11 daughters. Three daughters were triplets who died soon after birth.

IV. James, born in Ipswich in 1650. He was one of the first settlers of Quabog, in Hampshire county, Mass. In 1668. He married Priscilla, daughter of John Dane of Ipswich in 1670. James was one of the signers of the petition to the general court dated Oct. 10, 1673, praying for the incorporation of the settlement, and that it might receive name of Brookfield. The request was granted. James was killed by the Indians when a large number of his townsmen were massacred on Aug. 2, 1675. Priscilla survived him. They had one daughter and two sons.

V. Joseph, born in 1653.

VI. Abigail, married John Ayers before 1692. Nothing more is recorded in the Hovey Book. Other records indicate that her birth date was about 1655.

VII. Nathaniel, born March 20, 1657. He lived in Ipswich and married Sarah Fuller in November of 1679. He died March 24, 1692 at the age of 35. His wife, Sarah, married Christopher Bidlacke of Ipswich before Aug. 15, 1694. Mr. Bidlacke's first wife, Anna, died Dec. 13, 1692. Sarah and her second husband had one daughter. Nathaniel and Sarah had 4 daughters and one son.

VIII. Priscilla Hovey, born about 1659. Her name and birth is not indicated in the Hovey Book, but has surfaced from subsequent research.

1. (Although this is the claim made in The Hovey Book of 1914, this is not quite true. In an electronic mail from a Lonnie James Hovey, received by the compiler on Mar. 27, 1998, he relates that he is the first progeny of the sixth generation of the Hoveys in a family line that originated from one Frederick William Hovey who was born in Sept. 1821 in Prussia and emigrated to the U.S. to Northwestern Ohio by the 1860's. No one has been successful in finding where in Prussia Frederick originated but the spelling was firm. They, however, pronounce the name "Ho-vee" instead of "Hu-vee.")

2. Town records.

3. Ipswich town records.

4. Topsfield town records.

5. Court records and files.

6. Also, Quabog and Quabaugh.

7. Records in probate office at Northampton, Mass., vol. I, page 177.

8. Records in probate office at Northampton, Mass., vol I, page 189.

9. Records in probate office at Northampton, Mass., vol I, page 190.

10. Massachusetts Archives, Vol. LXX, document 58.

11. English spelling and grammar was not standardized until the 19th century, making it difficult to understand documents from this period. See Appendix 1 for a modern rendition of this.

12. Town records.

13. See Appendix 7 for Notes on Abigail's Ancestry.

14. Court files, clerk of courts office, Salem, vol. XL, leaf 63.

15. See Appendix 2 for a modern rendition of this entry.

16. Ipswich Deeds, book 1, page 245.

17. Ipswich Deeds, book 1, page 239.

18. Ipswich Deeds, book 4, page 114.

19. Ipswich Deeds, book 3, page 227.

20. Ipswich Deeds, book 4, page 99.

21. Ipswich Deeds, book 5, page 333.

22. Ipswich Deeds, book 5, page 306.

23. Ipswich Deeds, book 5, page 334.

24. See Appendix 3 for Modern Rendition.