John HEDGE (1673 -1752) was Alex’s 8th Great Grandfather; one of 512 in this generation in the Shaw line.

John Hedge was born 15 Apr 1673 in Yarmouth, Mass. His parents were Elisha HEDGE and Mary STURGES.  He married Thankful LOTHROP on 25 Jan 1699/1700.  John died 2 Jun 1752 in Yarmouth Mass.

Thankful Lothrop was born in Sep 1683 in Barnstable, Mass.  Her parents were Barnabas LOTHROP and Susanna CLARK.  Thankful died 2 Jun 1752 in Barnstable.

Two first cousins named Thankful Hedge were born a couple years apart on Cape Cod.  Either one may have married our ancestor Edward STURGIS IV.  Both show a death of 17 Apr 1762 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.  I have traced the ancestries of both.

Thankful Hedge was born 23 Oct 1712 in Yarmouth, Mass. Her parents were  John HEDGE and Thankful LOTHROP.

Another Thankful Hedge was born 17 Apr 1714 in Eastham, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were John’s brother  Samuel HEDGE and Grace SNOW.

Children of John and Thankful:

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Children

1. Abigail Hedge

Abigail’s husband Nathaniel Clark was born 1682 in Harwich, Barnstable, Mass. He was Abigail’s first cousin.  His parents were Andrew Clark and Mehitable Scotto. His grandparents were Thomas CLARK and Susannah RING. Nathaniel died 1740 in Harwich, Barnstable, Mass.

In a deed of gift, dated 18 June 1673, Thomas Clark gave to his son Andrew a house and ground in Boston “that I received from the estate of John Nichols by virtue of a Judgement granted me March 5th 1672…”

Andrew lived in Scotto’s Lane where his father bought him a house, and he carried on the shoe business. He was an assistant counsellor, and several times representative to the General Court. Finally he removed to Harwich, of which town he and his father were among the original proprietors in 1694. He died there in 1706.

Abigail Hedge Clarke Gravestone – Old Burying Ground
Brewster Source: Find A Grave Memorial# 45657063

Here lyes Buried ye
Body of Mrs Abigail
Clarke Wife to Mr Nathaniel
Clarke Who Died
October 27th 1732 in ye
32d Year of Her Age

Children of Abigail and Nathaniel:

i. Barnabas Clarke b. 10 Feb 1723 Harwich, Barnstable, Mass; d. 4 Nov 1772 Dedham, Mass; m. Hephzibah “Hepsy” Barrett (b. 12 Sep 1731 in Boston, Mass – d. 10 Jul 1776 in Dedham, Ma after a long illness) Her parents were Thornton Barrett and Hepizbah [__?__]. Barnabas and Hepsy had four children born between 1749 and 1757.

From Samuel Clarke’s “Some of the Records of the Descendants…” p. 19:

“After some years Captain clarke quitted the sea, and became a merchant in Boston.

The Boston Gazette of May 15, 1768, has the following: Imported in the London Packet, Capt. Calef, from London, and to be sold by Barnabas Clarke at his store on Treats Wharf, Boston, near the market at the lowest rates: –Bohen Tea by the chest or less quantity; Pepper by the bag or ditto; Spices of all kinds; Best Durham Mustard by the box; Russia, English and Ravens Duck; Gun powder by the cask. Also Kippen’s Snuff by the cask; best French Indigo; Pimento; Ground and Race Ginger; Muscovado Sugar; Philadelphia Flour; Bar Iron;Iron Hoops; Anchors.”

1740 – Shipmaster; sailing from Boston to London and the Provinces

1749 – Member of the New North Church, one of those, who, as the church records tell us, ‘labored under such doubts and fears with respect to ye Lord’s Supper, that they were afraid immediately to approach unto it’.”

ii. Elisha Clark b. 22 May 1725 Harwich, Barnstable, Mass

iii. Abigail Clark b. 18 Oct 1726 Harwich, Barnstable, Mass;; d. Ashfield, Mass.; m. 28 Jan 1746 in Dennis, Barnstable, Mass to Joseph Hall (b. 6 Aug 1723 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. – d: 5 Feb 1787 in Dennis) Joseph’s parents were Joseph Hall and Rebecca Sears. Abigail and Joseph had five children born between 1746 and 1757.

iv. John Clark b. 29 Jun 1729 Harwich, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 1729

v. Isaac Clark b. 15 May 1731 Harwich, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 1731

2. John Hedge

John’s wife Desire Hawes was born 22 Mar 1704 in Yarmouth, Mass. Her parents were Capt. Ebenezer HAWES and Sarah NORTON.  Desire died 5 Mar 1764 in Yarmouth.

Children of John and Desire:

i. Sarah Hedge b. 20 Aug 1729 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; s. 1784; m. 11 Mar 1749 in Yarmouth to David Matthews (b. 14 May 1727 in Yarmouth = d.10 Jul 1819 in Yarmouth) David’s parents were John Matthews ( – 1776) and Sarah and David had nine children born between 1748 and 1770. After Sarah died, David married 26 Jun 1785 in Yarmouth to Anna Crowell (b. 15 Dec 1756 in Yarmouth – d. 3 Mar 1821)

ii. John Hedge  b. 10 Jul 1734 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 1 Jun 1782 New York, New York; m. 8 May 1762 in Yarmouth to Temperance Thacher. John and Temperance had five children born between 1767 and 1777.

iii. Capt. Elisha Hedge b. 9 Jan 1736 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 4 Sep 1807 Yarmouth; m. 8 Feb 1759 Yarmouth to Mary Gorham (b. 16 Jun 1735 in Barnstable – d. 11 Oct 1828 in Yarmouth) Mary’s parents were Isaac Gorham (1715 – 1753) and Mary Hallett (1717 – 1741). Elisha and Mary had eight children

In 1778, Elisha was a Captain in Col Nathaniel Freeman (wiki)‘s first Barnstable Regiment of Militia. Freeman commanded a militia regiment in the Rhode Island expedition (1778).

Nathaniel Freeman (1741-1827) was an American physician and jurist. He was a Brigadier General during the American Revolutionary War and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1775.

iv. Thankful Hedge b. 30 Sep 1738 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 30 Sep 1738

3. Barnabas Hedge

Barnabas’ wife Mercy Barnes was born 19 Dec 1708 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass.  Her parents were William Barnes and Alice Bradford.  She first married 14 Nov 1728 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass to Samuel Cole (b. 2 Apr 1709 in Plymouth Mass – bef 1734).  Mercy died 25 Dec 1791 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass.

Children of Barnabas and Mercy:

i. John Hedge b. 1733

ii. William Hedge b. 1733 Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass;

iii. Mercy Hedge b. 27 Nov 1734; d. 20 Sep 1779 Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass; m. 24 May 1753 in Plymouth, Mass. to Thomas Davis (b. ~1722 – Plymouth – d. 7 Mar 1785 – Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass) Thomas’ parents were Thomas Davis born as early as 1685 of Albany and later North Carolina perhaps earlier married as early as 1708 to Catherine Wendell or Mary Millington or one could have been a second wife. He died about 1764.

Thomas Davis and his brother David Davis went to Plymouth MA about 1742. Mercy and Thomas had seven children born between 1757 and 1776.

iv. Abigail Hedge b. 2 Dec 1737 Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass; d. 9 Dec 1763 – Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass

v. Barnabas Hedge b. 3 May 1740 in Plymouth, Mass.’ d. 17 Nov 1778 Plymouth, Mass; m. 30 May 1761 in Plymouth to Hannah Hedge (b. 20 Jul 1743 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.) Hannah’s parents were Thomas Hedge (1719 – ) and Mary Gorham.  Hannah’s grandparents were our ancestors James GORHAM Jr. and Mary JOYCE.  Barnabas and Hannah had one son  Barnabas, born in 1764.  Barnabas Jr went on to have fifteen children of his own.

vi. Lemuel Hedge b. 25 Jun 1742 Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass; d. 7 Jul 1742 – Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass

vii. Lothrop Hedge b. 5 Nov 1744 Plymouth County; d. 20 Jan 1745 – Plymouth, Plymouth Mass.

viii. Sarah Hedge b. 5 Jun 1746 Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass;

6. Sarah HEDGE (See Ebenezer HAWES ‘s page)

7. Thankful HEDGE(See Edward Sturgis IV’s page)

Two first cousins named Thankful Hedge were born a couple years apart on Cape Cod.  Either one may have married Edward Sturgis. Both show a death of 17 Apr 1762 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

This Thankful Hedge was born 23 Oct 1712 in Yarmouth, Mass.

Her cousin Thankful Hedge was born 17 Apr 1714 in Eastham, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were Samuel HEDGE and Grace SNOW.

I have traced the genealogies for both.

8. Mercy Hedge

Mercy’s husband Thomas Howes was born 17 May 1711. His parents were Jonathan Howes and Sarah Vincent.   His grandparents were Thomas Howes and Sarah Bangs (daughter of Edward BANGS). His great grandparents were our ancestors Thomas HOWES and Mary BURR.  Thomas died 24 Sep 1793 – Dennis, Barnstable, Mass.

Children of Thomas and Mercy:

i. Joshua Howes 12 Jul 1738 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 5 Jun 1765; m. 2 Dec 1763 to Mercy Howes (b. 28 Dec 1740) Her parents were Philip Howes and Mercy Sears.

ii. Thankful Howes b. 7 Jul 1740 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 30 Mar 1741 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass

iii. Thankful Howes b. 1 Nov 1743 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. Aft 1810 ; m. 12 Jan 1769 in Yarmouth to Capt. Peter Sears (b. 29 Jul 1743 Yarmouth – d. 22 Jul 1802 Ashfield, Franklin, Mass) Peter’s parents were Lt. Zachariah Sears (1706 – 1796) and Methitable Crowell (1721 – 1760)

Childless, they adopted a nephew, Peter Sears (1787-1867), son of Rowland Sears of Ashfield, Massachusetts. The elder Sears worked in the whaling industry before retiring from the sea and running a general store dealing in rum, salt, and other items.

In 1789, he served as selectman for Yarmouth. Around 1800, the Sears family moved to Ashfield, Massachusetts, and the elder Peter Sears died there two years later, on July 22, 1802. Young Peter Sears held the rank of lieutenant in the Massachusetts militia for several decades. He married Lucy Fuller in 1808 and left Ashfield in the early 1820s, moving first to Boston and, by 1826, to Dexter, Michigan, where he ran a large and successful farm. The couple had eight sons and two daughters.

The Sears Family papers contain 31 letters, 21 account books, 20 legal documents, 9 school writings, and 360 receipts, spanning 1767-1848 and are stored at William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan.

The Correspondence series primarily covers two periods of time: 1771-1806 (21 letters) and 1832-1842 (10 letters). Relatives of the elder Peter Sears and his wife Thankful wrote many of the letters dating to the earlier period, concerning family news and health. An early undated letter, written by Salley Sears during the Revolutionary War, conveys the news that one of Peter Sears’ brothers had been captured and transported to Charleston, South Carolina. On September 12, 1802, Joseph Sears wrote a letter to Thankful, acknowledging Peter Sears’ death and expressing sympathy. Several other letters of this period contain orders for salt from Peter Sears’ store. The younger Peter Sears is the recipient of all of the later correspondence; relatives who had settled across the Midwest, in towns such as Kalamazoo, Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Perrysburg, Ohio, wrote to him with updates on their new lives. A common theme in the letters is the hardships they faced as early settlers.

The Documents series contains 20 items ranging in date from 1770-1853, including three wills, several legal documents relating to land in Washtenaw County, and two items relating to the younger Sears’ service in the Massachusetts Militia. The Account Books series encompasses records for Peter Sears’ store in Yarmouth from 1768-1794, which list items that he bought for himself, as well as orders that he placed for others.

The Receipts and Financial Records series is by far the largest, and spans 1770-1849. Records from 1770 to 1802 show the types of items that Peter Sears stocked in his store, as well as well as his network of suppliers. After 1802, the financial materials relate to the younger Peter Sears; they document his purchases, payment of taxes, sale of land prior to leaving for Michigan, and debts.

iv. Thomas Howes b. 27 Feb 1745 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; m. 17 Jan 1773 Yarmouth to Jerusha Howes (b. 16 Mar 1753 in Yarmouth) Jerusha’s parents were Samuel Howes (1707 – 1772) and Jerusha Sturgis (1710 – )

v. Mercy Howes b. 27 May 1750 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; m. 7 Jul 1771 Yarmouth to John Hall of Hebron, CT

9. Ann Hedge

Ann’s husband Prince Hawes was born 29 Dec 1709 in Yarmouth.  His parents were Joseph HAWES and Mary HOWES.  Prince died 8 Dec 1771 in Yarmouth.

INSCRIPTION: “Here lies Buried Mr. Prince Hawes Who decd Decm Ye 8th 1771 Aged___”

Children of Ann and Prince:

i. Prince Hawes b. 15 Apr 1736 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 14 Dec 1767 Lost; m1. 2 Apr 1757 in Yarmouth to Elizabeth Hallett (b. 25 Apr 1734 in Yarmouth – d. 19 Mar 1764 in Yarmouth) Her parents were Joseph Hallett and Abigail Thacher. Prince and Elizabeth had three children born between 1758 and 1763.

m2. 17 Oct 1765 in Yarmouth to Sarah Thacher (b. 17 Aug 1737 in Yarmouth – d. 7 Aug 1773 in Falmouth, Barnstable, Mass) Her parents were Judah Thacher (1693 – 1775) and Sarah Crosby (1702 – 1771) Prince and Sarah had one child, Anna, born in 1766. After Prince died, Sarah married 27 Nov 1771 in Yarmouth to Thomas Palmer (b. 12 Feb 1738 in Falmouth – d. 25 Apr 1775 in Falmouth)

ii. Anna Hawes b. 29 Jun 1739 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 28 Apr 1765 Yarmouth

iii. Simeon Hawes b. 22 Mar 1745 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 4 May 1791; m. 1768 to Bethiah Matthews (b. 22 Mar 1749 in Yarmouth – d. Jul 1796 in Yarmouth) Her parents were William Matthews (1721 – 1789) and Abigail Atkins (1725 – )Simeon and Bethiah had nine children born between 1769 and 1789.

Hawes, Simeon. Capt. Lot Crowell’s co., Col. Nathaniel Freeman’s regt.; service, 3 days, on an alarm at Dartmouth and Falmouth in Sept., 1778; also, Corporal, same co. and regt.; service, 2 days, guarding prisoners belonging to the [British] ship “Somerset,” lost on Cape Cod in Nov., 1778.

iv. Baby Hawes b. 18 Jul 1746 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 31 Aug 1746 Yarmouth

Sources:

http://www.genealogyofnewengland.com/b_h.htm

Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts – 1911 Google Books

http://www.capecodhistory.us/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I35334&tree=Nauset

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=23688606

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/a/i/Susan-C-Bailey/GENE1-0011.html