Robert CROSBY (1596 – 1640) was Alex’s 10th Great Grandfather; one of 2,048 in this generation of the Miller line.

Robert Crosby was born 30 Oct 1596 in Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor, East Riding Yorkshire, England.  His parents were John CROSBY and Jane WEBSTER. He married Constance BRIGHAM on 22 Jul 1622 in Holme-on-Spaulding-Moor.  Robert may have died in 1640 at sea on his way to America.   Alternatively, Robert died in He died between 1634 and August 1638 in England and Constance, a widow with three daughters emigrated with her children before 1643.

Robert Crosby may be buried at the Church on Spaulding Moor

Constance Brigham was born in 1602 in Holme-on-Spalding, Yorkshire, England. Her parents were Thomas BRIGHAM and Isabelle WATSON. Constance died on 25 Jan 1683/84 in Rowley Mass.

Children of Robert and Constance:

JOHN CROSBY, b. abt. 1556 in Holme-upon-Spaulding Moor, Yorkshire, Eng. and d. in Holme between 29 Oct. 1604 (Will) and 11 Jan. 1604/05 (Probate). John married (1) a woman whose name is not known, who d. by Aug. 1594. They had four children. John married (2) JANE WEBSTER on 31 Aug 1594 prob. in Yorkshire, Eng., they had one child.

The administration of John Crosby’s Will was assigned by him to Margaret Crosby, his eldest surviving child. She proved his will on 11 Jan 1605/05 but was herself deceased by 2 Aug. 1605 when her stepmother Jane Webster Crosby was given administration of her estate.

John Crosby’s Will as shown in Prindle’s article:

   “To wife Jane for life the house I live in, she paying a rent of 26s. 8d. yearly to my son Robert Crosby, beginning when he is 21; and he is to have said estate at her death. If wife remarry, she to give security to Robert Millington, to keep estate in repair. If all my children die s.p., then said estate to the children of Henry Patchett and Rowland Smith. To daughter Margaret, two cows, etc. If wife be with child, it to have two cows. All residue to daughter Margaret, she to be executrix. Witnesses: John Millington, Robert Millington.”

John’s wish to leave his estate to the children of Hanry Patchett and Rowland Smith if his own children died without issue leads me to wonder exactly what relationship John had with those children. His only known sister died without issue, so unless he had another sister or two whose names have not been discovered he could not have been blood uncle to them.

A complication arose in the administration of the estates of John Crosby and his daughter Margaret. A man named Richard Yeoman of Holme-on-Spaulding Moor with a real or percieved claim upon the estate of John Crosby because through his attorney, a “Mr. Fothergill” he filed against the estate, and  on –

“16 Jan. 1606/7 warning was made not to give administration on the estate of John Crosbie, late of Holme-on-Spaulding Moor, nor on the portion of Margarete Crosbie, late of Holme-on-Spaulding Moor, not yet administered, without first “notefying” Yeoman or his attorney.”York Wills”

This claim was settled by 13 Feb 1606/07 for on that date John Webster, perhaps a brother of Jane, was given guardianship of nine year old Robert Crosby and administration of John Crosby’s estate was given to the same John Webster and his ward, John Crosby’s only surviving child, Robert Crosby. The estate inventory was less than forty pounds. “York Wills”

 Now, what of Jane Webster Crosby?  Her stepdaughter Margaret had previously designated Jane as the executrix of her estate in Aug 1605,  yet 17 months later in Feb. 1606/07, when her son was being assigned as a ward and co-executor of her late husband’s estate, there is no mention of her. Less than a month earlier she was conspicuous by her absence of mention in the suit filed Richard Yeoman against her late husband’s estate Had Jane died during that 17 months? Robert was her only child by John Crosby and it would seem improbable that there would be no mention of her in some fashion during these proceedings unless she was dead.

Children of John Crosby and his (1) wife:

• 1. Richard Crosby, bapt. 16 May 1580 prob. Holme-on-Spaulding Moor, Yorkshire, Eng., d. y.

• 2. Ellen Crosby, bapt. 10 Nov. 1582 prob. Holme-on-Spaulding Moor, Yorkshire, Eng., d. y.

• 3. Margaret Crosby, b. abt. 1584 prob. Holme-on-Spaulding Moor, Yorkshire, Eng., d. bet. Jan. & Aug. 1605, aged abt. 21 years. No marriage, no issue

• 4. Peter Crosby, b. abt. 1586 prob. Holme-on-Spaulding Moor, Yorkshire, Eng., d. y.

Child  of John Crosby and (2) Jane WEBSTER:

• 5. ROBERT CROSBY.

On 13 Feb 1606/07, at the age of 9, after the deaths of his father and older sister, Robert  Crosby was assigned into the guardianship of John Webster, possibly of Holme and possibly his uncle. He was also named as co-administrator of his father’s estate.  Robert’s mother Jane was probably still alive at this time but nothing in Prindle’s article indicates when or where she died.

Perhaps Constance followed her sister and cousin to America after her husband died. John was certainly dead by 1643 when Constance recieved a grant of an acre and a half house lot.

On the “tenth of the eleventh Anno Dni 1643, Thomas Nelson, Edward Carlton, Humphrey Reynon & Francis Parrot made a survey of the town and a register of the several house lots of from 1 1/2 to 6 acres then laid out to the settlers.

10 of our ancestor families (underlined in red) had plots in Rowley in this 1642 map.  Constance Crosby’s plot was on High way across from the Rye field near the training ground.

Here is today’s approximate location of Constance’s lot on Google Maps.

In 1674 Constance consented to the choice of Daniel Wickham as the guardian for her orphaned grand daughter Sarah Longhorne.

28 Jan 1677 – Constance was listed as a Freeholder in Rowley.

Siblings

Constance’s sister, Anne Brigham married Simon Crosby on 21 Apr 1634 at Holme England.  They emigrated to New England on the Susan and Ellyn in the spring of 1635 to Cambridge Mass.

How were Robert and Simon Crosby Related?   The Brigham sisters both married Crosbys from Holme-on-Spaulding, Yorkshire, which would make you guess they were close relatives.  It turns out Robert and Simon were 4th cousins, sharing a common 3rd Great Grandfather in John Crosby (1440 – 1502)

SIMON Crosby was born about 1608, His parents were Thomas Crosby and Jane Sotheron.  I don’t know how many Crosbys lived in Holme-on-Spaulding during those days, but he must have been Robert’s relative.  Simon died Sep 1639 Cambridge Mass.

Simon’s Parents – Thomas Crosby was born about 1575 in County York, England in either Holme-on-Spalding-Moor or Bubwith. He was the second child and only son of Anthony Crosby and Alison Blanchard.   Thomas’ father Anthony died in 1599 and Thomas inherited a hundred-acre farm in Holme-on-Spalding-Moor.  Thomas and Jane were married in Holme-on-Spalding-Moor on October 19, 1600. The couple had four sons:

i. Anthony Crosby, born about 1602 (The History of the Town of Cantebury, NH that list Anthony Crosby, not Robert  as the husband of Constance)
ii. Thomas Crosby, born about 1604
iii. William Crosby, born about 1606
iv. Simon Crosby, born about 1608

Tax records and other documents suggest that the family led a fairly well-to-do life.

Relatively late in life, Thomas and Jane emigrated to New England, possibly in the autumn of 1638 with a group of Reverend Ezekiel Rogers’ followers, but in any event prior to 1640. They may have lived with the widow of their son Simon in Cambridge, Massachusetts until she remarried in 1645 — at about that time, Thomas purchased a house in Cambridge. After a few years, he sold his holdings in Cambridge and the couple relocated, for the last time, to Rowley, Massachusetts. Thomas lived to over 85 years of age and died in Rowley in 1661, buried on May 6. Jane died the following year and was buried in Rowley on May 2, 1662.

Jane Sotheron, baptized in Holme-on-Spalding-Moor on March 4, 1581/82, was the daughter of William and Constance (Lambert) Sotheron. 1609 tax records indicate that William Sotheron was the wealthiest resident of the parish.

Simon’s Grandparents – Anthony Crosby was born about 1545 in Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, County York, England. He married, about 1570 a woman named Alison, whose maiden name is believed to Blanchard. They had two children: Thomas and Ellen. Anthony died in 1599.

Simon’s Great Grandparents – were Thomas CROSBY and Jannetta [__?__] Thomas was born about 1501/1510. He married Janeeta in 1542 at Holme On,Spaulding, Thomas died  16 MAR 1558 at: Holm Holling,Spaulding,York,Eng.

Jannetta [__?__] was born about 1512 at Moore, York, Eng. and died 9 MAY 1569 at Gripthorpe, York, England

Simon’s 2nd Great Grandfather Miles Crosby was born about 1483 at Holme On,Spaulding Moor,York,England.

Simon’s 3rd Great Grandfather John Crosby was born about  1440 in Yorkshire, England and died about 1502 in Yorkshire.  Immigrants Robert and Simon Crosby were 4th cousins, sharing a common 3rd Great Grandfather in John Crosby.

Robert CROSBY’s parents were John CROSBY and Jane WEBSTER. 

John Crosby was born 1556 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England. He died Jan 1605 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England. John married Jane Webster on 31 Aug 1594 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England.

Jane Webster was born 1562 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England. She  was buried 1 Dec 1630 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England.

Robert CROSBY’s grandparents were Richard CROSBY and Margaret [__?__]

Richard Crosby was born 1532 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England. He died Jul 1586 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England. Richard married Margaret on 1555 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England.

Margaret [__?__] was born 1535 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England. She died Oct 1591 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England  Prindle notes that Margaret’s maiden name was perhaps Stennson, as she bequeathed clothes to “Sis (Cecelia?) Stennson, my sister.”, but considering Margaret’s age and the probable age of a sister of hers, I think it is much more likely – excluding the possibility “Sis” never married – that Stennson was her married name rather than her maiden name.

  Richard Crosby’s Will, dated 10 April 1586 and proved on 6 Jul. 1586, obtained by Prindle from the Bartlett Collection and by Dr. Bartlett from “York Wills”, is as follows in Prindle’s article:

“To be buried in church yard. To son Thomas Crosby, a yoke of drawne stotts. To son Robert Crosby, a yoke of Stotts undrawn. To wife Margaret Crosbye, two old oxen. To daughter Elizabeth Crosbie, two drawne Stotts, and a brown mare I bought of John Wetherall, etc. To said daughter Elizabeth 2 acres of land in more ridge and in the east yng of Holme (and other lands). To son Robert Crosbie, land in Holme called Rowlay, and to his heirs, and if none, to Thomas Crosbie and John Crosbye my sons (other land to them). To Peter and Margaret Crosbie, children of my son John Crosbie, lanbs, etc. To the children of Henry Smith of Brighton and the first child of Katheren Granger, lambs, etc. to wife margaret Crosby and sons Thomas and Robert Crosbie, the lease of the farm where I dwell, and residue of goods, they to be executors. Witnesses: Willm Lambart, Henry Haton, Miles Wright, Peter Granger, Willm Howlaye.”

The Will of Margaret Crosby, widow of Richard, is dated 12 Oct. 1591 and proved 15 Jan. 1591/92, obtained by Prindle from the Bartlett Collection and by Dr. Bartlett from “York Wills”, is as follows in Prindle’s article:

   “To the two children of John Crosbie, brass, etc. To John Crosbie’s daughter, a coffer. To John Crosbie’s two children, 10s each when of age.  To George Clarke, 8s. To Sis Stennson, my sister, clothes. To Willm Beadle’s wife, a kerchief. To Willm Mease, a mett of rye. All residue of goods to my son Thomas Crosbie, he to be sole executor. Witnesses:  Willm Begdall and John Wetherell. Also to son Thomas Crossebie my part of the lease in the moor end for 8 years.”

They had the following children:

i. John CROSBY was born 1556 and died Jan 1605.
ii Elizabeth Crosby was born 1558 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England. She was buried 1 Feb 1587 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England.
iii Thomas Crosby was born 1560 and died 1597.
iv Robert Crosby was christened 19 Jul 1562 and died May 1597.

Robert’s Great Grandparents were Thomas CROSBY and Jennet [__?__]. Thomas was born 1505 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England. He died Oct 1555 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England. Thomas married Jennet on 1530 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England.

Jennet was born 1510 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England. She died after 10 Oct 1555 in Holme upon Spalding Moor.

Thomas and Jennett had the following children:

i. Agnes Crosby was born 1531 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire.
ii. Richard CROSBY was born 1532 and died Jul 1586.
iii. Michael Crosby was born 1534 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire.
iv. James Crosby was born 1536 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire.
v. Alice Crosby was born 1538 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire.
vi. Robert Crosby was born 1540 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire.

Robert’s 2nd Great Grandfather was John CROSBY. John was born 1470 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England. He married [__?__] on 1494 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England.

John had the following children:

i. Robert Crosby  was born 1495 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England.
ii. Alan Crosby  was born 1498 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England. He died after 1528 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England.
iii. James Crosby was born 1502 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England. He died after 1528 in Holme upon Spalding Moor, East Riding, Yorkshire, England.
iv. Thomas CROSBY was born 1505 and died Oct 1555.
v. Richard Crosby  was born 1508 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England. He died 1545 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England.

Robert’s 3rd Great Grandfather John CROSBY was born 1440 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England. He died . between 20 Apr. 1502, the time his will was dated, and 8 Jun. 1502, date of probate.  in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England. He was about 62 years old.  John married [__?__] on 1469 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England.  Immigrants Robert and Simon Crosby were 4th cousins, sharing a common 3rd Great Grandfather in John Crosby.

He was buried in the Choir of Parish Church, Styllingfleet, Yorks. Bartlett’s research had him of Alne and Stillingfleet, Yorkshire. Willed two houses in Flaworth, Yorkshire, a village in the Parish of Alne. The name of his wife or wives is unknown, and a wife isn’t mentioned in his will so she probably predeceased him.

Prindle states of him, “members of the yeomandry were almost always buried in the churchyard. The fact that John was to be buried in the choir of the church indicated his high standing in the community.”.

John Crosbie’s will is translated from the orig. Latin. Obtained by Dr. Bartlett and part of the Bartlett Collection at the NEHGS. Here as it was presented in Prindle’s article in the Register.

“To be buried in the choir of the parish church of Stillyngfleyte. To the church of Stilyngfleyte £4. To the four orders of the bretherene of York, 2s. To my son John, 6s 8d. to my son Richard, 10 sheep, 2 calves and 20s. To my daughter Emme, 6s 8d. To my daughter Agnes, 6s 8d. To my son Robert, 20s. To my son Miles, the remainder of all the years which I have in a house called Gyhouse, lying in Flaworth, with the appurtenances. To John Crosby, son of Robert Crosby, a house called Boyhowse, lying in Flaworth, with appurtenances. All the residue of my goods to my son William and my son Miles, they to be executors. Witness: John Mylin, Chaplain.”

John had the following children:

i. John CROSBY was born 1470.
ii. Emme Crosby was born 1472 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England.
iii. Agnes Crosby was born 1474 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England.
iv. Robert Crosby was born 1476 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England.
v. Richard Crosby was born 1478 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England.
vi. William Crosby was born 1480 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England.
vii. Miles Crosby was born 1483 in Alne, North Riding, Yorkshire, England. Miles was the immigrant Simon Crosby’s 2nd Great Grandfather.

Cousins

Constance’s first cousin Thomas Brigham  also emigrated to Massachusetts on the Susan and Ellyn, leaving London in April 1635. Thomas was born in 1603. His parents were John Brigham (b. about 1574) and Constance Watson (chr. 17 Aug 1578). His grandparents that he shares with Constance were Thomas Brigham (b. abt 1550/51) and Gillian [__?__].  He married Mercy Hurd about 1637. He may have settled first in Watertown MA; by 1639 he was a resident of Cambridge MA. He left a will dated 7 Dec 1653; proved 1684. Thomas died 17 Dec 1653 Cambridge MA

Mercy Hurd was born about 1613 England; died 23 Dec 1693 Marlboro MA; Mercy married (2) 1 Mar 1655 to Edmund Rice; married (3) 1664 William Hunt.

In conclusion there should be noted the close relationship between Thomas and Ann Crosby. Their fathers were brothers, their mothers were sisters — an unusual type of double cousin-ship. Thomas Brigham, Simon Crosby, his wife Ann Brigham, Constance Brigham CROSBY (Robert’s widow), and Sebastian Brigham, were all young people together in the same place in England. Thomas, Simon and Ann settled in Cambridge; Sebastian and Constance with her three daughters in Rowley. Later Simon’s children removed to Barnstable County, Thomas’ children removed to Marlboro with their mother upon her second marriage, and Constance’s children, all girls, married.

Children

2. Jane CROSBY (See John PICKARD Jr. ‘s page)

3. Mary Crosby

Mary’s husband Robert Longhorne was born 1622 in Holme On Spalding Moor, Yorkshire, England. His parents were John Langhorne and Jane Clemett Robert died 12 Feb 1668 in Haverhill, Essex, Mass.

Robert’s brother Thomas Longhorne, b. 1617, in England, and died 6 May 1685 was a butcher and resided in Cambridge, Mass. He was the town drummer. In 1652 Thomas purchased the homestead of Simon Crosby who was the uncle by marriage of his sister-in-law Mary Crosby. This homestead was on the south corner of Brattle Street and Brattle Square in Cambridge. It is probably that he resided there for the rest of his life. Brattle Street’s “Tory Row,” called the area “not only one of the most beautiful but also one of the most historic streets in America.” “As a fashionable address it is doubtful if any other residential street in this country has enjoyed such long and uninterrupted prestige.”

Thomas was co-executor of his brother Richard’s Will along with his niece, Elizabeth Longhorne. Thomas was mentioned by the Widow Constance Crosby in a petition to the Ipswich Court 4:3:1674 concerning the guardianship of his niece Sarah Longhorne.

In Rowley in 1666 Richard was granted 100 acres of land, “It lyeth on the Highway that goeth from Ipswich to Andover.”, and in 1667 he recieved part of the Hog Island Marshes during a division. In late December of 1667 a series of deaths in the family, beginning with Richard’s wife Mary, left only three, perhaps four, survivors a little over six months later. Richard’s death and burial followed in less than a month and a half after that of his wife Mary. This left their six children orphans. However their two youngest children, and only remaining sons, Richard and Thomas were both dead within five months.

The eldest surviving daughter at the time of Richard’s death was Elizabeth Langhorne, to whom he assigned a double portion in his Will of 10 Feb 1668, and whom he appointed as co-executor of his Will along with his brother Thomas Langhorne of Cambridge.

After the death of her parents their youngest child Sarah (b. 1660) made several appearances in the court records of Essex Co. On “5 May 1674; Sarah Longhorne chose Daniel Wicom as her Guardian.” On another occassion, Sarah Longhorne, “who was left young and of tender agge”, having been under the charge of an executor, petitioned the court for a guardian. Petition to the court, dated Ipswich, 4:3:1674:

“Constance Crosbie Grandmother to this orphan Sarah Longhorne under-standing that Daniel Wickham is like to be perswaded to accept of Guardianship for her: I thinking that she had need of one that hath more experience to oversee her and for other reasons I am very unwilling & doe desire that such a thing may not be proceeded in or granted till Thomas Longhorne of Cambridge, her uncle, knowes and gives his consent for he takes more care of the children than I expected he would have done; not more at present, your poor & humble servant & handmaide.”

6. Hannah Crosby

Hannah’s husband  Capt. John Johnson was born 1630 in Rowley, Essex, Mass. His parents were John Johnson and Susan [__?__]. John died 29 Jan 1686 in Rowley, Essex, Mass.

Hannah Crobie Johnson Gravestone – Rowley Burial Ground, Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts, Plot: 11 Row, West 1

Inscription:

HERE LYES Ye BODY OF
Mrs HANNAH JOHNSON
WIDDOW OF CAPt JOHN
JOHNSON WHO DIED
DECEMBER Ye 25 1717
AGED 83 YEARS

Sources:

http://familytrees.genopro.com/454373/Roelofs/default.htm?page=CROSBY-Robert-I19883.htm

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=necko&id=I4821

http://theharmons.us/harmon_t/b426.htm#P60047

http://www.angelfire.com/ny/chickened/brighamfamily.html

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=11516978

http://troutwind.tripod.com/crosby.html

http://dustyhills.net/b8.htm#P2293

Most American works in the 20th century concerning the Crosby/Brigham and allied families of Holme-upon-Spaulding-Moor, Yorkshire are founded upon the work of Dr. Joseph Gardner Bartlett, and his wife Elizabeth French Bartlett, both professional genealogists, and both productive members of the NEHGS. Dr. died in 1927 and his widow combined his mss. collection with her own. After her death in 1961, their combined collections were acquired by the NEHGS as the “Bartlett Collection, SG/BAR/86. Dr. Bartlett did the English research for Eleanor Davis Crosby’s “SIMON CROSBY THE EMIGRANT”, submitting to Mrs. Crosby a 237 page typewritten report. Both NEHGR articles quoted here made extensive use of the Bartlett Collection as their source. Carton 3 of the Bartlett collection contains carbons of the report by Dr. Bartlett to Mrs. Crosby along with many charts outling the collateral families associated with this Crosby line in Yorkshire

http://troutwind.tripod.com/crosby.html