Richard UPHAM (1556 – 1635) was Alex’s 11th great grandfather, one of 4,096 in this generation of the Miner line.

Richard Upham was born 1556 in Bicton, Devon, England. His parents were John UPHAM (1525 – 1584 in Bicton) and Joane [__?__].   He married Maria [__?__]. Richard died 1635 in Bicton, Devonshire England.

Maria [__?__] died 26 July 1634 in Bicton, Devon, England.

Children of Richard and Maria:

	Name	Born	Married	Departed
1.	Joane Upham	1591 Bicton, Devon, England	Robert Martin (Son of Richard MARTIN Sr.) 16 Nov 1618 Bicton, Devon, England	8 Nov 1668 Mass.
2.	Thomas Upham	c. 1600	Sarah Slade 15 Jun 1625	2 Mar 1668 Bicton, England
3.	John Upham	c. 1600 Bicton, Devon, England	Elizabeth Slade 1 Nov  1626 Bicton, Devonshire, England . Mrs. Katherine (Richards) Hollard Aug 1671	25 Feb 1680/81 Malden, Mass
4.	Susanna Upham	1603		1635
5.	Judith Upham	1606	Edward Martyn 14 Jun 1632 Ottery, St Mary, Devon, England.
6.	Francis Upham	c. 1609 Bicton, Devon, England.
7.	Sarah UPHAM	c. 1609	Y Wanton . Richard Webb . Richard ORMSBY 9 Aug 1640 Saco, Maine
8.	Frances Upham	1609 Bicton, Devon, England	William Ebdon 1 Nov 1636 Bicton, Devon, England	1 Nov 1636 Becton, Devon, England
9.	Jane Upham	1612	Thomas Eliote 1 Nov 1642 Bicton, Devonshire, England.

Richard’s grandparents were Richard UPHAM (about 1500 – 1546) and Agnus [__?__] (about 1560 – after 1546). His great grandfather was Hugo de UPHAM.

Richard’s brother Thomas, Bev., M. A., matriculated at Magdalen Hall, Oxon, Feb. 25, 1580-81, (as Uppam), aged 20; Fellow of Exeter College, Oxon, 1583-1592; B. A. Nov. 10, 1586; M. A. June 30, 1589, (as Upham); vicar of East Worlington, Devon, 1591-1603, and vicar of Plymouth (St. Andrews), at his death in 1603. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Andrews at Plymouth, and was the first vicar known to have been buried there.

St Andrew’s Church, Plymouth is an Anglican church in Plymouth. It is the original parish church of Sutton, one of the three towns which were later combined to form the city of Plymouth. The church is the largest parish church in the historic county of Devon and was built in the mid to late 15th century. It was designated as a Minster Church in 2009 and it continues to operate as the focus for religious civic events for the city and as a bustling evangelical church.

It is likely to be on the site of the original Saxon church and was once attached to the abbey of Plympton.

In March 1941, St Andrew’s Parish Church was bombed and badly damaged. Amid the smoking ruins a headmistress nailed over the door a wooden sign saying simply Resurgam (Latin for I shall rise again), indicating the wartime spirit, a gesture repeated at other devastated European churches. That entrance to St Andrew’s is still referred to as the “Resurgam” door and a carved granite plaque is now permanently fixed there.

The following is the complete copy of the will of Richard Uppum, which is in the archdeaconry court of Exeter:

“In the name of God Amen. I Richard Uppam of ye parish of Bickton in ye county of Devon, yeoman, doe make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following. Imprimis. I give to Annie Chilper ye wife of Thomas Chilper of Otery 10*. Item. I give to Peter Morrice of Budleigh the elder 12d. Item. I give to Gastred Gutter of Budleigh, Widdy 12d. Item. I give to Thomas Upham my sonne my beste suit of wearing apparell that is to say breaches, doublett, gerkin, cloak, pockens, hatt. Item. I give to Sarah Upham my daughter in New England if she write that shee hath need of it that my executrixes may know of it under her hand within ye term of three years then my will is shee shall have 5£. Item. I give to John Upham my sonne in New England if he come for it 5*. Item. I give to John Martin my daughter Judith’s child my beste silver spoone. Item. I forgive Edward Martin and Judith his wife a debt of 3£, 10s. Item. My Will is that my executrixes shall pay and discharge ye summe of 8£ that I have agreed to pay Mr Duke* for Harriotte at my death. Item. My Will is that my executrixes shall not rip up or move any seeling

or glasse about y* house or ye bottomes of any hay loftes but to leave it to my reversioner. Item. I give to Richard Uppam and Thomas Uppam children of Thomas Uppam my sonne my two worst silver spoones to each of them one. Item. I give to Frances Uppam my daughter my greate chest that standeth in ye hall. But my will is that if shee die before shee be married that Richard Uppam my sonne Thomas’s child shall have him. Item. I give to Jane Uppam my daughter my white coffer. Item. I give to John, Joane, Mary and Sara, children of my sonne Thomas Uppam 12d. apiece. All ye rest of my goods, movable and immovable I give to Susanna Uppam, Frances Uppam and Jane Uppam my daughters whom I make joynt executrixes to my last Will and Testament and I doe ordaine my trustie friends Robert Conaut and Thomas Morris to be my overseers to see this my last Will and Testament to bee performed and to see all my goods (not above bequeathed) to bee equally Divided between them as much as lyeth in their powers.

“In witness hereof I the foresaid Richard Uppam have put my hand and seale this twelveth daye of December 1635.”

“richard Uppam” (no seal).
Witnesses: Thomas Morris.
Robert Conant.

Inventory taken by Thomas Morris, Robert Conant and Edward Martin.

The articles are numerous and of varying value, consisting of household goods: bedsteads, feather beds, feather pillows, candlesticks, table boards, table cloths, table napkins, the usual appurtenances and utensils of a farm house, jibbs and cider hogsheads, iron and brass crocks, trunks, boxes, coffers, one Bibell boke and other bokes to value of xiii.s. Total value £59-11-0.

Children

1. Joanne Upham

Joanne’s husband Robert Martin was born 1587 in Ottery St Mary, Devon, England.  His parents were Richard MARTIN Sr. and Katherine LYDE. Robert died 1660 in Rehoboth, Mass.

3. John Upham

John’s first wife  Elizabeth Slade was born in 1603 in Bicton, Devon, England. Her parents were Roger Slade and Margerye Reede.  Elizabeth died 2 Dec 1670 in Malden, Mass.  For awhile it  was assumed Elizabeth’s maiden name was Webb, due to John being the uncle of a Joseph Webb, Richard Web’s son. Richard was either John’s brother-in-law through his wife or a sister. We now show Richard Webb was the husband of John’s sister, Sarah.

John’s second wife Kathryn Richards was the widow of Angel Hollard.   In 1671, Suffolk deeds, book 7, p. 224, has the following record:

John  and his wife Elizabeth were among the 106 persons to set sail from Weymouth and land at Boston, May 6, 1636.    He arrived with his sister Sarah age 26, his wife Elizabeth, age 35,  sons John and Nathaniel and daughter Elizabeth.  He was made a freeman of Weymouth shortly after arrival.  He was a land owner.  In 1636 he was elected representative to the General Court in Boston; also in 1637, 1638, and 1639 at Newton.  He was a selectman in Weymouth in 1645, 45 and 46.

Rev. Hull’s Colony (21 families that came in 1635) were looked upon by Plymouth settlers as less pious, more mercantile, and Rev. Hull had problems…but apparently John Upham was respected in his towns. When Weymouth was split between the rigorous Puritans and the newly arrived Hull folk, John sided with Hull, but later apologized and was still accepted there.

About 1648 he moved to Malden, Massachusetts where he also became a selectman.  He was appointed six times as Commissioner  in Weymouth and Malden to settle “lesser legal matters” and to deal with the Indians.  In total 8 years a Selectman and 3 years a moderator of Town Meetings. He was also actively interested in the settlement of Worcester, Mass..  The church appointed him the high position of Deacon, which office he held for nearly twenty-four years.  He died 25 Feb 1681 at age 81.

Worcester was first settled by the English in 1673, along the Upper Boston Post Road. The modest settlement of six or seven houses was burned to the ground during King Philip’s War on Dec 2, 1675, when settlers were either killed or driven off. The town was subsequently resettled and was incorporated in 1684. On Sep 10 of that year, Daniel Gookin and others petitioned to have the town’s name officially changed from Quinsigamond to Worcester. However, its inhabitants were still vulnerable to attack, and some were taken hostage by natives during the 1690s. When Queen Anne’s War started in 1702, the town was again abandoned by its English inhabitants except for Diggory Sargent. Sargent was later tomahawked, as was his wife, who was too weak to make the journey on foot to Canada. Their children were taken to Canada and survived.

Children of John and Elizabeth:

i. John Upham  b. 1628;  d. Weymouth MA, 5 Jun 1640.  John immigrated with his parents when he was 7 years old;  m. Elizabeth, dau. of John Mousall; buried at Weymouth, New England, 5d, 4m, 1640

ii. Nathaniel Upham b. 1630; immigrated with his parents when he was 5 years old; m. at Cambridge 5 Mar 1661, Elizabeth Steadman, daughter of John Stedman {1638, Cambridge}. He died at Cambridge 20 Mar 1661/2, just 15 days after his marriage. His widow married Henry Thompson at Cambridge, 27 Apr 1669. Nathaniel was assistant pastor with Rev. Marmaduke Matthews 1650-52.

iii. Elizabeth Upham Welch b. 1632; ; immigrated with her parents when she was 3 years old; m.  by about 1653 Thomas Welch; d. at Charlestown, 12 Jan 1705/06.

iv. Lt. Phineas Upham b. 1635 in Weymouth, Mass; d. 8 Oct 1676 in Boston, Middlesex, Mass of wounds suffered in King Philip’s  War Great Swamp Fight; m. 14 Apr 1658 Malden, Mass to Ruth Wood. After the deaths of her parents [and our ancestors] Edward WOOD and Ruth LEE  in 1642, Ralph and Alice Mousall took their daughter Ruth in, and raised her.

In 1700, Phineas’ grandson Phineas Upham,  received a land grant in North Malden which is now called Melrose. In 1703, Phineas Upham married Tamzen Hill and built the house which is still standing today called the Phineas Upham House of Melrose. It has been passed down through family tradition that the house was built for Phineas Upham in 1703 and that Phineas came to this house, then new, on horseback with his new bride, Tamzen. (Elevation)

The Phineas Upham House, built in 1703, is a historic house at 255 Upham Street in Melrose, Mass.

v. Mary Upham b.1637 in Weymouth, Norfolk, Mass.; d. 27 Jun 1677 Charlestown, Suffolk, Mass; m. 12 Mar 1661 in Malden, Suffolk, Mass. to John Whittemore.

vi. Priscilla Upham b. 1642 in Weymouth, Norfolk, Mass.; d. 8 Dec 1717 Malden, Essex, Mass.; m. 1662 in Charlestown, Middlesex, Mass to Thomas Crosswell.

vii. John,t b. about 1647, adopted; d. Nov. 25, 1677.

Phineas was in command of men, and in service during the latter part of the summer; and in September, 1675, led a company of thirty-eight men out to Mendon to meet [our ancestor] Capt. John GORHAM of Plymouth Colony, and the account of their service on that occasion is explained in the following letters:

Letter of Lt. Phineas Upham to the Governer and Council.
From Mendum, ye 1st: Octobr: 1675.
Honerd Gourner & Counsill.

These are to certify your worships that Capt. Gorum with myselfe & our Souldiers of both Companys are in good health at prestt through mercy;

And to give your honer an account of our seaverell marches; first we Came to Mendum one the 25th day of the weeke at nightt being the 24th day of September and one the 25th day we marched from Mendum unto Hassanemisett hoping there to have had an Indian for our guide; butt the Indians were all gone from thence; and were thereby disapoynted of our expecttation & one the next day we marched unto Packachoug where we found a feild of good corn and well fenced: which we did think convenient not to destroy: Concluding that for ought we Knew Sum of the neeriest of our Inhabitance would be willing to save itt; butt we could not finde any Indians neither the signe of any being there of late and we marched from thence unto Manchoag and Chobanamagungamung where we found sum cornfeilds and sum wigwams, which Corn and wigwams we burnt and destroyed butt [we did not] finde any of our enimies which was a greate discouragement to us, having taken soe much paynes to finde them; then we Returned and marched to an Indian Plantation called Shockebogue where we Could not finde any Indians butt found a Considerable quantity of Good Corne which we did not destroy butt Reserved itt at the Request of Sum of Mendum who thinke to fetch itt home for there use; and from thence we Came to Mendum one the 30th of Septbr: now seeing in all our marches we finde noe Indians verily thinke thatt thay are drawne together into greate bodyes far Remote from those partes:

If your honers please to send us one any further Service I hope we shall nott be unwilling butt forwarde to doe our uttermost Indeavours with all desiring that you would be pleased to add unto our number seeing that besides the Garrison men which must be left heere in garrison we have butt 30 men besides my Selfe, Capt. Gorum being now in his march to Mounthope and If we goe further we desir thatt we may have a Surgeon and some other thatt may be acquainted with the woodes where you Sende us the want of wch hath beene a discouragement to our men: And as for the town of Mendum I am desired to Commend the desolate condition of ym unto your honers: Severall of there Inhabitance being removed from them: and those in garrison being butt poore helps in divers respects and in number but 12 men, with theire armes very defecttive.

The plantation is very Remotte & therefore soe much the more stands in neede of helpe; itt is very Likely to be a prosperous place if itt please God to putt an Ishue to thes troubles and therefore it is the more pitty to have itt deserted by there people: who think it must be If they have nott sum assistance they hope: 20: men well fitted with this one Returned might be sufishent If your honers se Causs; and further they desired to acquainte your honers that ye Indians of Hassanamisett which your honers apoynted to set down with them have desertted there one town and come nott to that at Mendum And soe nott havening any more to troublee your honers with

I Rest your Honrs
To Command
PHINEHAS UPHAM,
Mass. Archives, vol. 67, p. 275. Liftenantt.

Letter of Capt John Gorum to Govor & Councill

Mendum Octob : th : 1 : 1675.

Much Honrd my servis with all due Respeckts humbly presented to yourselfe and the rest of the Counsill hoping of your helths I have made bold to troble you with these few lines to give your honnors an account of our progress in your Jurisdiction: According unto your honers order and detirmination I arived at Mendum with fifty men and the next day Leftennant Upham arived with thirty-eight men and the day following wee joyned our forces together and marched in pesuite to ffind our Ennimy; but God hath bin pleased to denigh us any oppertunity tharein; though with much Labor and travill we have indeavored to find them out which Left. Upham hath given you a more particular acount: our Solders being much worne out having bin in the ffeeld this foretene weeks and little hoops of finding the Enimy, we are this day Returning towards our Genrall: but as for my one part I shall be Redy to sarve God and the Country in this just warr soe long as I have life and helth. Not Else to troble you I Rest yours to Sarve in what I am able.

From Mendon Lieut. Upham marched his company to Brookfield, towards Springfield, where he was ordered by the Court to report to Capt. Wayte, who was expected to command a company in the service under Major John Pynchon, and that arrangement failing, he was assigned to the command of Capt. Jonathan Poole, with whom he joined forces and marched to Hadley before October 12th. He was formally placed under command of Capt. Poole in the organization of the army under Major Appleton, and served thus, in the stirring events of the weeks following.

November 20th, he was credited as Lieutenant under Capt. Poole, £6. 19. 04. He returned home when the army withdrew from the west; but joined the forces at Narraganset, probably after the muster at Dedham, December 10th. He was assigned to Capt. Johnson’s company, and after that gallant officer’s fall, was himself fatally wounded, at the head of the company, inside the fort. He was among the wounded at Rhode Island, Jan 6, 1675/76. He died at Boston, Oct 1676, and Oct 12, 1676, the court issued the following order:

Order of the General Court

October 12, 1676. In answer to the peticon of Ruth Upham, widdow & relict of the late Left. Phineas Upham, the Court Judgeth it meet to order, that the bills of charges to chirurgeons, doctrs & diet, mentioned in said peticon, be paid by the Treasurer of the country; and in consideration of the long and good service hir husband did for the country, & the greate losse the widdow susteynes in his death, being left with seven small children, & not able to carry on their affaires for the support of hirself & family, doe further order the Treasurer to pay unto the said widdow tenn pounds in or as money.

I have found that the men who served under him were mostly paid off under the vouchers of Capt Poole; and after the fight at Narraganset he was never again able to take command.

5. Judith Upham

Judith’s husband Edward Martin was born 27 Nov 1609 in Bicton, Devon, England. His parents were  Richard MARTIN Sr. and Katherine LYDE. Edward died 19 Sep 1635 in Bicton, Devon, England

Children of Judith and Edward:

i. John Martin b. 22 Feb 1635 in Ottery Saint Mary, Devon, England; d. 21 Mar 1713 in Swansea, Bristol, Mass. ;m.  26 Apr 1671 Swansea, Bristol, Mass. to Joanna Esten

A legal record states that John Martin, living in his uncle Upham’s household testified in the suit of Priscilla Upham versus Paul Nixon, June 15. 1658.

John Martin Gravestone – Tyler Point Cemetery Barrington Bristol, RI Plot: Outside NE corner of the Bowen plot

6. Frances Upham

Frances’ husband William Ebdon was born 1607 in Bicton, Devon, England. William died 1636 in England.

7. Sarah UPHAM (See Richard ORMSBY‘s page)

Sarah  first married [Y__?]  Wanton.   She second married Richard Webb.  She came in 1635 to Weymouth, Massachusetts, age 26 and single (OR widowed).   When Sarah boarded ship on 20 May 1635, she gave her surname as Upham. In her father’s will dated 12 Dec 1635, (he was buried 7 days later), he refers to his daughter as Sarah Uppam. Sarah died after 3 Oct 1665 in Rehoboth, Mass.

Sarah came to America as part of the 1635 Hull Company, a large addition to the population of Weymouth.

Partial list of the Hull Company  from Weymouth in England, but some of them were from other towns in Dorset and in counties near by.

88 Robert Martyn of Bakombe, husbandman, aged 44. (Richard MARTIN’s brother.  Sarah’s brother-in-law; Sarah’s daughter-in-law Grace was Richard’s daughter)
89 Humfrey Shepheard, husbandman, 22 years.
90 John Upham, husbandman, aged 35 years. (Sarah’s brother)
91 Joane Martyn, aged 44 years. (Sarah’s sister)
92 Elizabeth Upham, aged 32 years.  (Sarah’s sister-in-law)
93 John Upham, Junior, aged 7 years.
94 William Grane, aged 12.
95 Sarah Upham, aged 26.
96 Nathaniel Upham, aged 5 years.
97 Elizabeth Upham, aged 3 years.

8. Frances Upham

Frances’ husband William Ebdon waas born in 1607 Bicton, Devon, England. William died in 1636 in England

Sources:

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/newengland/philip/11-20/ch20pt9.html

The record of my ancestry By Charles Lyman Newhall