Parentage of Daniel Hovey

The parentage of Daniel Hovey was unknown until 1905 when a Mr. John Albree of Swampscott, Massachusetts, while making a search in the Boston public library, he came across an old book titled, "G. De Saluste du Bartas: His Devine Weekes and Workes, with a Compleate Collection of all the other most delightfull Works Translated and written by y^t famous Philomusus Iosvah Sylvester Gent: London Printed by Humfrey Lownes, dwelling on Bread Street Hill, 1621." On page 200 of that book, the following inscription caught his eye:

Verification was made easy because the inscribed signature matched that which was already applied to Daniel Hovey's Last Will and Testament.

The book that was discovered is a large octavo of thirteen hundred pages, bound in full leather. In the middle of each cover are the letters D and H, stamped deeply, each being separated with a conventional bookbinder's design. These are the initials of Daniel Hovey's name. These stamps were done at the time of printing in England as the book was about to be presented to young Daniel, who was then but nineteen years of age. In his Last Will and Testament, Daniel made specific bequests of books, and from their number and character it is known that he had a good library. This particular book, however, is not mentioned by name. Various inscriptions in the book trace it's ownership. It went first by will to Daniel's grandson, Daniel, then by sale to Francis Wainwright, and then, by gift, to Joseph Sewall, who was the pastor of the Old South Church, in Boston.

Guillaume de Salluste du Bartas, the author of this book, was a French poet, born in 1544, who died of wounds received in the battle of Ivry, having commanded a troop of horse in Gascony. His principal work, "La Divine Sepmaine," an epic poem on the creation of the world, was so popular that thirty editions were issued within six years after 1579, when it first appeared. It was translated into Gascon French, Italian, Spanish, German, English, Latin, and, later, Swedish and Danish. Its style and religious tone made it a great favorite with English writers in his time, and was influential in forming English style. Joshua Sylvester, a Spenserian poet, translated this as well as the "Weekes and Workes" of Du Bartas into English. This poem is divided into portions for reading each week, hence the name "Weekes."

Following the discovery of this book, the curate of the Abbey Church of Waltham Holy Cross in the County of Essex was contacted for more information. The following extract from the Parish Register was sent regarding Hoveys of his Parish:

Extracted from the Parish Register in the Abbey Church of Waltham Holy Cross in the County of Essex: England on Oct. 28, 1905 by me.

J. Henry Stamp: Curate.

April 1597.

Burialls: Agnes Hovey the daugher of Rychard Hovey: Glover

burried ye 13 dai.

October 1602

Baptisings: Margret Hovey daughter of Rychard Hovey bapt ye

10 daye

Febuarii 1604[-5]

Baptisings: Janne Hovey daughter to Rychard Hovey ye 3 daye

December 1607.

Baptisings: ffrancis Hovey son to Rychard Hovey ye 20 ^day

Aprill 1610.

Baptisings: Jeames Hovey son to Rychard Hovey the 15 ^day

Aprill 1612.

Bapt: John Hovey, son to Rychard Hovey the 19 day

ffebruary 1614[-5].

Baptisings: Isabell Hovy duaghter to Richard Hovy bapt^d 26 day

September 1616

Baptisings: Katharin Hovey daughtr of Richard Hovy bap. 8 day

August 1618

Baptisings: Daniell Hovey, sonne too Richard Hovey, baptised 9 day.

October 1634

Marryages: Roger Coker and Katherine Hovey married the 5 day

March 1636[-7]

Burials: Richard Hovy a Glover was buried the 7 day

September 1637

Marriages: John Hovey and Joan ffowller married the 17 day

July 1638

Baptisings: Margret Hovy, daughter to John Hovy as all so to Joan the 22 day

October 1638

Burialls: Margret Hovey daughter of John Hovy the 20 day

May 1640.

Baptisings: Elizabeth Hovey daughter to John Hovey as well as to Joan the 10 day.

October 1641.

Burialls: a child of John Hovey's ye 24 day

November 1647.

Baptisings: Margret Hovy, daughter to John Hovy as all so to Joan the 13 day.

May 1649.

Burialls: Richard Hovey the sonne of John Hovey buried the 29 day

May 1651.

Burialls: A nurse Child of the widow Hovey's the 9 day

August 1653

Burialls: Widow Hovey the elder was buried the 29 day

August 1658

Burialls: Joan Hovey Wid Relict of John Hovey ye 23 day.

The certified copy of Daniel Hovey's baptism is as follows: ---

August 1618.

Baptisingses:

Daniell Hovey, sonne too Richard Hovey, baptized 9 day.

I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the entry recorded in the Register of the Parish of Waltham Hily Cross, otherwise Waltham Abbey, in the County of Essex, England, as witness my hand this 3^d day of Nov^r 1905.

Revenue Stamp.

J. Henry Stamp,

Curate.

Genealogically, these records constitute the following arranged families:

Richard Hovey, glover (one who makes gloves), lived at Waltham Abbey, in Essex; and died there, being buried March 7, 1636-7, probably at about the age of sixty-one or sixty two⁽¹⁾. That would place is date of birth at about 1575. His widow was buried His children were:

1. Agnes, buried April 13, 1597.

2. Margaret, baptized Oct. 10, 1602.

3. Janne, baptized Feb. 3, 1604-5.

4. Francis, baptized Dec. 20, 1607.

5. James, baptized April 15, 1610.

6. John, baptized April 19, 1612.

7. Isabell, baptized Feb. 26, 1614-5.

8. Katherine, baptized Sept. 8, 1616; married Roger Coker Oct. 5, 1634.

9. Daniel, baptized Aug. 9, 1618; emigrated to Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1635, at the age of seventeen.

John Hovey (number 6, above), married Jane Fowler Sept. 17, 1637; he died before May 9, 1651; and Aug. 23, 1658, his widow, Joan Hovey, was buried. Their children were:

1. Margaret, baptized July 22, 1638; she died, and was buried Oct. 20, 1638.

2. Elizabeth, baptized May 10, 1640.

3. _______, buried Oct. 24, 1641.

4. Margret, baptized Nov. 13, 1647.

5. Richard, buried May 29, 1649.

6. _______, "a nurse child" of the widow Hovey, buried May 9, 1651.

What is now the town or village of Waltham Holy Cross, known as Waltham Abbey, as far back as the days of Hardicanute, was the hunting lodge of the Danish thane Tovi or Tovius, known as Tovi the Proud. Tovi subsequently founded there a small convent; and, through the wastefulness of Tovi's son, Atheston, his family lost the grant in the days of Edward the Confessor. Waltham reverted to the crown; and it was subsequently granted to Harold, who built a new church or enlarged the existing one, dedicating the foundation to the Holy Cross May 3, 1060. Harold's body was buried by the high altar in the church. After the Norman Conquest, various benefactions were received. Queen Maud gave a mill and Queen Adeliza the tithes of Waltham to the abbey, while from Stephen was received the confirmation of all privileges.⁽²⁾

The great forest there was long known as the forest of Waltham, and the part yet remaining is called Epping forest.

At Waltham Cross is the beautiful cross erected between 1291 and 1294 by Edward I at one of the resting places of the corpse of Queen Eleanor while on its way to burial in Westminster Abbey. It is of Caen stone, and is supposed to have been designed by Pietro Cavalini, a Roman sculptor.

Waltham Abbey is a historic market town that lies on the Greenwich Meridian 0 longitude, and is in the county of Essex. It is within 16 miles (approx.) of north London and is within easy reach of the M25 and M11. The nearest rail station is in the nearby town of Waltham Cross which is accessible via Liverpool Street Station in London. Waltham Abbey retains a traditional character with its timber framed buildings and its small bustling market that is held every Tuesday & Saturday. The town is surrounded by woodlands, forest and pleasant canal walks. To the west of the town lies the Lee Navigation canal that once supported the commercial transportation needs of the local industry.

The town center is dominated by the great Abbey Norman church from which the town takes its name. This Augustinian Abbey, of which there are still some visible remains within the beautiful surrounding gardens, was founded by King Henry II in 1177. It was one of the largest examples of this type of building within the country, and it was one of the last to suffer under the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540. The abbey's crypt contains an exhibition which illustrates the religious significance of the site.

1. Richard was born during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and was approximately 28 years old when she died. He saw the entire reign of James I and saw James' son Charles I ascend to the throne of England.

2. See "Essex: Highways, Byways, and Waterways," second series, by C.R.B. Barrett, London, 1893, pages 198-208.