George POLLEY Sr. (1625  – 1683) was Alex’s 9th great grandfather, one of 1,024 in this generation of the Miner line.

George Polley – Coat of Arms

George Polley was born in the Shoreditch area of London. Shoreditch is an area of London within the London Borough of Hackney. It is a built-up part of the inner city immediately to the north of the City of London, located 2.5 miles east-northeast of Charing Cross.

George Polley may have been born about 1625 in Shoreditch, Middlesex, England.  His birth year is based on testimony he gave in court in Woburn, Mass. on 2 Apr 1668 when his age  was recorded as 43.    His father may have been John POLLEY.   He immigrated from St. Leondard,  Shoreditch, Middlesex, England.

George was christened in Woburn, Mass.  He married Elizabeth WINN on 21 May 1649 in Woburn, Mass.  George died 22 Dec 1683 in Woburn, Mass.

Charles E. Banks is the only source found that indicates the origins of George Polly. His book “Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England 1620-1650” says he was from St. Leonard Shoreditch, Middlesex County in England. The ship is listed as the Mayflower [of course not the 1620 version]. Shoreditch is an area in the north east section of London. McArthur asserts that George Polly was in Woburn before 1649. That would seem to be borne out by the presence of the Winn family as early as eight years before Polley.

Many sources assume that George and John Polley (1618 – 1689) were brothers, though there is no proof that they even knew each other.  John lived in Roxbury, Mass and married Susanna Bacon, Mary Ives, Hannah Cowdrey and Mary Jane Metcalf. One of John’s daughters Elizabeth has been confused with George’s Elizabeth.  John’s Elizabeth married Caleb Brown 16 Oct 1681 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts, the year  before our Elizabeth married John Brown 22 Apr 1682 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

I haven’t seen any documentation to prove John’s parentage. Indeed, there are even some that state that John was from St. Leonard Shorditch which is a misinterpretation that has been perpetuated for many years based on a second hand report that there is a ships entry for George Polley of Woburn by Charles E. Banks in his book “Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England 1620-1650”.

Elizabeth Winn was born about 1628 in England. Her parents were Edward WINN and Joanna SARGENT. She came to America with her parents and at least one brother named Joseph.  Joseph is documented as being in America as early as 1642. Another brother of Elizabeth, Increase Winn, is documented as being the first recorded birth in Woburn, Massachusetts, on 5 Dec 1641. A sister, Ann, married Moses Cleveland, a direct ancestor of Grover Cleveland. Thus, all Pollys (or Polleys) who trace their ancestry to George Polly of Woburn can properly claim, through Edward Winn, relationship to our 22nd and 24th president. Also, a brother of Elizabeth, Increase Winn, is a direct ancestor of Herbert Hoover, the 31st president.  Elizabeth died on 2 May 1695 in Woburn, Mass.

Children of George and Elizabeth:

George Polley was a Carpenter by trade

Land was ordered laid out to George Polley in Woburn on 3 Feb 1648/49. He was chosen surveyor of fences in 1665. He is recorded as being taxed in Woburn in 1655 and again in 1663/64. He was taxed at the county rate 26 Oct 1666.  His right to share in the common lands of the town was acknowledged in 1668. He was summoned to court with others 18 Jun 1670 in a debt case, giving testimony there on 21 Jun 1670.

John Lakin’s Deed 1653 Communicated by the Hon. Samuel Abbott Green M.D. of Boston: in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Boston: Published by The New-England Historic Genealogical Society. XLV: 81-2—

Know all men by this presant Writing that I  do acknoledg the whol sale with the Consent of my wife of all The land and buldding I haue be longing to me liing in the boundes of Woborne • Namely the Dwelling hous with the Barne and three accors of brokup land a Joynning to the dwelling hous with all the un brokeup land all the tensing be loingin to the hous lott and nintene accors of land Liing in the new Bridg feeld six accors liing be twixt a parsall of land of sargin tides [apparently either John Tead, Ted or Tidd Sr (b. ab. 1618 from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight Eng, May 12 1637, Charlestown, signed Dec. 18 1640 Town Orders of Woburn) or his son John Tidd] and a parsall of land of moses Cleaueland [other parcels of land here recited] • VN to John Lakin of Redding. • Witness in the presanc of vs:

Michaell bacon [father of Mary wife of John Lakin],

Edward WINN [father of Ann and of Elizabeth wife of George Polly].

A George Polly served in King Philip’s War under Captain John Carter (or Cutler). (See Bodge’s 1906 King Philip’s War, p. 286 and D. H. Hurd’s 1890 History of Middlesex Co., Mass., pp. 382-383. The latter quotes some of Bodge’s earlier articles in the NEHGR.)

Authorities disagree as to whether it was George Polly, Sr. or George Polly, Jr. who actually served. The senior Polly would have been about 49 and the son would have been about 20. Thus it could have been either. Since there is no “Junior” indicated on the rolls, many believe it to be the father. However, the oldest son John, aged about 26 at the time, also served in the war. This fact might lead one to believe that it was the case of two brothers going off to war. This is a point that may never be resolved satisfactorily.

George and Elizabeth apparently suffered the same foibles then as others do now. An interesting domestic note is found in the Woburn vital records, p. 213.

“In 1658, John Cromwell a Scotchman confessed ‘that he was in the house of George Polly alone with his wife, and that he kissed her once & eate some strawberries’ etc. The Court ordered both Cromwell and the wife of George Polly ‘severely whipt ten stripes a peece.’ [The Middlesex County Court Records, Vol I, p. 158, are the cited providing insight regarding Cromwell.] Cromwell died in 1662 near Chelmsford. He is referred to as ‘late trader with ye Indians,’and Seaborne Cromwell was his relict widow.”

George Polly died in Woburn on 22 Dec 1683. His will was dated 5 Jun 1683 and proved on 1 Apr 1684. A full copy of the will of George Polly appears in”Descendants of Samuel Hills”, compiled for Francis J. Hills by Winifred Lovering Holman, published in 1957 by the Rumford Press, page 87. It reads as follows:

“By these presents be it knowne that I George Polly sen of Woburn in the Massachusetts Colony in the County of Middlesex being of sound understanding and perfect memory: Doe heerby make this writeing my last will and Testament: Renouncing all former wills by me made Committing my soule unto god in Christ my Saviour and my body Decently to be interred in the Earth: And After my Debts are paid and my funerall expenses discharged; I Doe give my estate both personal and Reall as follows:

“Imp. I give unto my beloved wife Elizabeth the use of my now dwelling house all my land which I now posses my household stuff and the use of two oxen two Cows a mare together with cart a plow and ___ ___ _____ during her widowhood. I do give to my son John POLLY all my land and meadow belonging to my houselott lying on the south west side bounded by a white oake stump at the upper end and so by a line through the middle of Drie pole swamp to the river and one Cow; two thirds of all my woodland: paying fourty Pounds as is heer after Expressed: I give unto my son George the other part of my land on the North East side of my houselott and my meadow on the south side of the river one third part of my woodland and one Cow: paying fourty pounds as I heerafter appoint; but if he fails to pay the fourty pounds: then I give him only his ten Acre lott he now possesseth one Cow and one quarter part of my woodlands: I Doe give unto my Daughter Elizabeth twenty pounds and one Cow as part of the twenty pounds: with that she hath already received: to my Daughter Hannah twenty pounds and my seven Acre lott on the other side [of] maple meadow river: to my son Samuel twenty pounds or my great lott and twenty shillings and my musket; to my son Edward twenty one pounds; to my Daughter Sarah twenty one pounds: I Doe Give to my Daughter Hannah one Cow as part of the twenty pounds mentioned before: I Do appoint my sons John and George to pay my legacies to the other Children when they come to possese the lands; that is to say ten pounds yearly as it ariseth due untill the four scoure pounds be paid: only when Edward comes to Receive his legacy I Doe Appoint them to pay fiveteen pounds that year. I Doe give my son Samuel a pair of steers [___?] three year old when he is at age: I Doe give unto my beloved wife Elizabeth two cows a mare and my household stuff for her use dureing her Naturall life… After my wives decease I Doe give my household stuffe equally to be devided Among my Children: I Doe Constitute and ordaine my sons John and George joint executours to this my will: I Doe Appoint my trustie friends Mathew Edwards and John Baker overseers: unto what is above written I George Polly have put to my hand and seal the fifth day of June one thousand six hundred and Eighty three.

his mark
George X Polly
In prsence off

Sam Carter

her mark
Deborah X pierce.”

When the will was proved 1 April 1684, the inventory read in part as follows(as transcribed by Winifred L. Holman):

“An inventory of the Estate of George poly senr who deceased upon the twenty second daye of Janewary 1683-4,” was taken, 21 Feb. 1683[-84], by “frances Kendall & James Converse,” the total amount being L298-09-06. It included “one small hous and about 35 acres of upland adjoyning,” some 101 additional acres in upland, swamp, meadow and woodlot; his stock, with “one mare and bridle sadle and pilion and harnes”; carpenter’s tools; household effects with a “brass scilet listed; a “Swarm of bees,” etc. Note the apparent conflict between the Woburn death record date for the decease of George Polly (22 December 1683), and the date of death stated in the inventory (22-Jan-1683/84). The latter date is believed to be an administrative oversight.

[Cleveland1 537] Of Woburn Mass where land was laid out to him 2 February 1648/9 (perhaps the borhter of John of Roxbury Mass). Married EW of Woburn (daughter of Edward and Joanna Winn of Woburn). Father of GP evidently did not come to America.

[Polley 7] From Shoreditch (South Leonard), Co Middlesex. Was taxed in Woburn in 1655 and 1663/4 and listed in the county rate 26 October 1666. His right to share common lands was ackowledged in 1668. His age is listed as 43 in his testimony on 2 April 1668. GP’s will is dated 5 June 1683 and proved 1 April 1684.

[Cleveland1 2421] A carpenter. Was a surveyor of fences 1665; overseen 5 July 1680 by Henry Belden (Baldwin), tithing man.

Children

1. John POLLEY Sr.  (See his page)

3. George Polley

George’s wife Mary Knight was born 14 Oct 1658 Woburn, Mass.   Her parents were Michael Knight and Mary Bullard.

Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. 6-24-1676 Served under Captain John Cutler in Kings Army.  Fought in King Philip’s War.  The Town Record of Woburn, MA indicates that George Polly was “pressed into public service in 1692 and his family was helped by the town.”

Children of George and Mary:

i. George Polley b. 11 Oct 1678 Woburn, Mass.

ii. Joseph Polley b. 24 Aug 1680 Woburn, Mass.

iii. Mary Polley 25 Nov 1682 Woburn, Mass.; m. 30 Dec 1703 New London, CT to Thomas Jones

iv. Elizabeth Polley b. 5 Aug 1684 Woburn, Mass.

v. Sarah Polley b. 30 Oct 1686 Woburn, Mass.

vi. Abigail Polley b. 17 Mar 1688/89 Woburn, Mass.

vii. Hannah Polley b. 21 Mar 1690/91 Woburn, Mass.

viii. Ebenezer Polley b. 20 Oct 1693 Woburn, Mass. ; m. He, like a number of the grandchildren of the progenitor, left Woburn and moved westward to what was then the frontier. He established himself in Worcester County in the town of Lancaster. Here he married Dorcas, daughter of [our ancestors Jonas HOUGHTON and Mary BURBEEN.

ix. Miriam Polley b. 31 Oct 1695 Woburn, Mass.

x. Mercy Polley b. 21 Feb 1697/98 Woburn, Mass.

4. Elizabeth Polley

I had some trouble with this entry.  First of all in records and sources there is more than one spelling of the last name (Polley and Polly).  I found two men married to an Elizabeth Polley (John Brown and Caleb Phillips).  As I looked through One World Tree, I believe there may have been two women by this name.  One was the daughter of John Polly b. 1618 and Susannah Bacon.  The other was the daughter of George Polley b 1625 and Elizabeth Winn.  These two women may have had the same date and place of birth as they were related.  It appears that John and George were brothers (the sons of John Polly b. 1592 and Margaret ?)

Elizabeth’s husband John Brown was born 15 April 1657 in Middletown, Middlesex, CT. His parents were Nathaniel Brown (1622 – 1658) and Eleanor Watts (1619 – 1703). John died 18 Feb 1708 in Colchester, New London, Connecticut.

Children of Elizabeth and John:

i. Elizabeth Brown b. 22 Apr 1682 in Colchester, New London, Connecticut; d. 17 Apr 1717 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts

ii. Hannah Brown b. 27 Apr 1689 in Woburn, Mass. d. 25 Dec 1745 in Lyme, New London, CT; 27 Jul 1720 to Daniel Huntley

iii.  George Brown b. 1697 in Colchester, Hartford, Connecticut; d. 6 Feb 1761 in Colchester, Hartford, Connecticut; m. 12 Apr 1730 to Elizabeth Wells

7. Hannah Polley

Hannah’s husband John Baker was born 25 Mar 1654 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts. His parents were John Baker (1633 – 1695) and Susanna Martin (1633 – 1714). John died 3 May 1722 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts.

John Baker, was “pressed into service” in December of 1675, when preparations for the Narragansett Expedition were being made.  He was one of 16 men from Woburn, Massachusetts who fought in the December 18, 1675 “Great Swamp Fight” (See my posts) against the Indians. He was wounded in battle.

Years later, in the pension letters he wrote (to prove his military service)

The petition of John Baker of Swanzey in the county of Bristol in ye province of Massachusetts Bay, your petitioner was borne at Cambridge and brought up at Woburn, where I lived till I was a man and was in the former Warr with ye Indians. I was impressed into ye County of service against said Indians, I was sorely wounded in a fight at Narraganssett at ye Fort. I sold what I had at Wooburne and removed to Swansey, from wence I was impressed againe by Capt. Brown, now in the late wars with ye Indians, being late in ye year and cold. I was wounded at ye Narragansett Fort, my arms being broak by shott and ye shott went thru pt of my body below my shoulder. I was sent to Road Island to ye doctor. When I was able, my father detached me hom, gott so much of a cure as I learned ye trade of weaver. I have spent all I have in ye world, my father dead my mother a poor widow.

For John‘s  service in King Phillips War, he was given a grant of land in Narragansett Township #4 (now Greenwich, Massachusetts, pronounced “Green-witch”, not “Gren-itch”).  This is clearly established by a deed of his grandson, also named John Baker, found in vol. 48 page 338 of the Bristol County, Massachusetts deeds dated 31 Oct 1745.  It states:

John Baker of Rehoboth, Yeoman, in consideration of ye fatherly love which I do bare towards my eldest son, William baker, of ye same town. I, ye, John Baker hath one equal right or shear of land which fell to me in the Township #4 laid out in ye county of Hampshire and given to said soldier for thar good service done for ye province in ye Narrow Gansett War in ye year 1675 by my father John Baker being his eldest son and only surviving male heir the aforset right of land fell to me, unto my son william Baker all and every of my undivided right of land yet to be laid out in any part of ye Township afforsed..

Col Benjamin Church (1639 – 1718) Father of American ranging

In 1687, John and his family moved from Woburn, Massachusetts to Swansea,
Massachusetts, where he was, once again, pressed into service in the King
William’s War (1689-1697).

The “Plymouth Colony Records” reveal the following: “On August 14, 1689, Swansea was to furnish 4 men for the Church Expedition against the Indians. On May 28,
1690, Swansea furnished 3 men to be sent to Albany, New York and on June 5, 1690 Swansea furnished 7 men for the expedition into Canada”. These same records show that John Baker participated in the first two battles.

During King William’s War,  Benjamin Church led four New England raiding parties into Acadia (which included most of Maine) against the Acadians and Native Americans. On the first expedition into Acadia, on September 21, 1689, Major Benjamin Church and 250 troops defended a group of English settlers trying to establish themselves at Falmouth, Maine. Natives killed 21 of his men, however, he was successful and the natives retreated.  Church then returned to Boston leaving the small group of English settlers unprotected. (The following spring, May 1690, over 400 French and native troops under the leadership of Castin returned to Falmouth and massacred all the British settlers. When Church returned to the village later that summer he buried the dead.

In 1700, Massachusetts Bay Colony voted to pay £10 and an annual pension of £4 to John Baker of Swansea, Massachusetts. To obtain this pension, John had to write a series of letters describing his military service. There is a lot of information in these letters. For John’s service in King Phillips War and King Williams War, he was given a grant of land in Narragansett Township #4 (now Greenwich, Massachusetts). Not sure of date of death, but it was post 1722.

Children of Hannah and John:

i. Hannah Baker b. 5 Dec 1683 and died in infancy.

ii. Another Hannah Baker b. 3 Aug 1685.  On 12 Apr 1709 she appeared before the General Court for having an illegitimate child by John Pearce of Swansea, Massachusetts. They did not marry.  She subsequently married Phillip Walker.

iii. John Baker b.  27 Jun 1687 in Woburn, Mass; d.  about 1767.  On 17 Jun 1714 he married Susanna Wood, who was born 1 Mar 1687 and died 15 Jun 1748..

iv. Jacob Baker 1688 – 1729

8. Samuel Polley

Samuel’s wife Priscilla Eames was born 2 May 1663 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Her parents were Robert Eames (1629 – 1712) and Elizabeth (1631 – 1712). Priscilla died 5 Mar 1747 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

Children of Samuel and Priscilla:

i. Samuel Polley 1689 – 1745

ii. Jonathan Polley (1691 – 1748

iii. Jacob Polley (1694 –

iv. Priscilla Polley (1696 – 1757

9. Edward Polley

Edward’s wife Mary Merrow was born 22 Apr 1673 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass. Her parents were Henry Merrow (b. 1625 in Inverness, Scotland – d. 5 Nov 1685 in Reading, Mass) and Jane Lindes (b. Abt. 1635 in Ireland, – d. 1685 in Reading).  Edward and Mary married 1696 in Reading Portsmou, New Hampshire.

Henry Merrow was captured by Cromwell’s men in the Battles of Dunbar & Worcester in 1650, and sent to the US as a prisoner of war/indentured servant (bonded captive worker), and did not come on his own. He came in 1651 on the ship “Unity,” and landed in Massachusetts. He settled in Reading where his children were born and later moved to Dover, NH. He was listed as a freeman in the May 22, 1677 census.

Another ancestor’s father-in-law had a very similar life story.   Jannetje LOZIER (1660 – 1700)’s father-in-law Alexander Ennis came to America as a Scotish prisoner of war after the Battle of Dunbar  After many adventures (See Jannetje’s page for details),  he became an indentured servant at the Saugus Iron Works and married and Irish refugee from Cromwell’s wars named Katheren Aines.   Just like Jane Lindes, Alexander and Katherine clashed with the Puritan authorities over sexual and religious morals.  (See Jannetje’s page for details of the Roman B  “cutt out of ridd cloth and sowed to her vper garment on her right arme [for blaspheme].”

Nicholas Wallis married Jane Lindes in 1655 by order of the court. He “was hailed into court by Madame Frances Hopkins of Woburn for frequenting her house where Jane was a servant. Date of this action was 6th mo. 28th day 1655.” They had a son, John Wallis, born in 1657 and drowned in 1670 at age 13.

Jane (Lindes) Wallis married 2nd Henry Merrow 19 Dec. 1661 in Woburn, MA. .

He was still quite young, only about 16, when his father died. Apparently, after his mother died in 1696, Edward decided to move. He found his way to New Hampshire and may have had an older brother who already had moved there. While in Reading County, Portsmouth, New Hampshire he met and married Mary Merrow in 1696. Mary was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on April 22, 1667.

Sometime, not long after their marriage, Edward and Mary moved to Surry, Virginia located in Pittsylvania County. Presumably both Edward and Mary died and are buried in Virginia because that is where there entire family, except for maybe their oldest son, Edward Jr., were reported as born.

10. Sarah Polley

Sarah’s husband Anthony Goffe was born in 1656 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts. His parents may have been Lawerence Goff (1626 – 1727) and Sarah Carpenter (1666 – 1686) Anthony first married in England Anna Carpenter. Anthony died Feb 1726 in Barrington, Bristol, Rhode Island.

Anthony may have been a brother of John Goffe who came to America in 1662/63 “with two brothers whose names have not been identified.” John was presumed to be the son of General William Goffe, regicide, who fled to America in 1660 to escape beheading by King Charles II for his participation on Oliver Cromwell’s Army which executed King Charles I. General William Goffe was one of the judges who condemned him. However, this tale could be another example of the familiar three-brothers-came-to-America legend.

In 1667, an Anthony Goffe was accused of stealing pipestaves in Exeter, New Hampshire (Genealogical Dictionary of New Hampshire). In the same reference, a James Goffe’s death is recorded in 1685. James was an agent for Samson Sheafe, lived in “Lovering House” and married Elizabeth ( ). Perhaps he and Anthony were the two brothers of John.

Anthony and Sarah moved from Billerica, Massachusetts to Woburn, Massachusetts by 1687. They were in Barrington/Swansea before 1694: “At a meeting of the commissioned officer of Bristol regiment held at Bristol August 8, 1694, Anthony Goff was convicted of being impressed into their majesties service in the present expedition against the common enemy, and neglected to attend the same he was sent to the common gaol according to law,” (Letter to Clarence B. Pierce from James M. Cushman citing an “old manuscript book”).

“In the year 1706, Anthony Goff of Swansea was a witness in court; Anthony’ssons dropped the use of the final “e” on Goffe, changing the name to Goff.

Children of Sarah and Anthony:

i. Joseph Goff   b. 1 Nov 1687 Woburn, Middlesex, MA;  d. young

ii. James Goff   b. 3 June 1689 Woburn; d. young

iii. Robert Goff (1691 – 1763) m1. 17 March 1718 Swansea, MA to Mary Gladding; m2. Elizabeth A Horton; m3. 8 May 1733 to Anna Horton

iv. Samuel Goff (1694 – 1771) m. Rachel Toogood; In 1715, Samuel Goff was accused of being the father of a bastard child born of Elizabeth Sabin of Rehoboth, and Anthony Goffe was bondsman for the appearance of Samuel in court to answer the charge.” “In 1727 Samuel Goff was appointed guardian of James and Hezekiah Goff, sons over 14 years of Anthony Goff deceased, of Barrington.” (Bristol County, Massachusetts Probate Records 5:356)

v. Richard Goff  b. about 1695 Woburn, MA ; d. 28 Apr 1743 Rehoboth, Bristol Co., MA; m. 19 July 1722 Rehoboth, MA to Martha Toogood

vi.  Anne Goff (1706 –

vii. Rebecca Goff (1708 –

viii. James Goff b. before 1713; m. 27 Dec 1773 Rehoboth, MA to Mary Ormsbee.

ix. .John Goff m. Sarah Pulle

x. Hezekiah Goff (1712 – 1786) m.  Bethiah Morris 31 Oct 1743 Woodstock, Windham, Connecticut

xi. Anthony Goffe Jr. was born at Swansea, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He married at Swansea Elizabeth Watts. They may have lived at Ashford, Windham County, Connecticut; at some point, an Antony Goffe was among the 45 persons who “gave bonds, drew lots and were admitted proprietors of Ashford,” on or after 5 March 1718. (Larned, Ellen D., History of Windham County, Connecticut, p. 223) In the 1730s they were “warned out” of Bristol. Anthony was a shipwright. Their three sons all served in the American Revolution

Sources:

http://hylbom.com/family/paternal-lines/paternal-a-to-bl/baker-2592/

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

http://users.ece.utexas.edu/~perry/fun/genealogy/mell/polley.html

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=32271668&st=1

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~streeter/goff.pdf

http://www.jhowell.net/ancpage/bookj/b2654.htm  The story of John Polley (1618 – 1689)

http://genforum.genealogy.com/baker/messages/20364.html

http://genforum.genealogy.com/wallis/messages/345.html

http://hylbom.com/family/paternal-lines/paternal-ni-to-po/polley-2594/