​Their child:		Individuals in this page:		Their parents:
		John Dane	{	No parents conclusively identified
Elizabeth Dane	{	&
		Francis	{	No parents conclusively identified

---

John Dane ★ was from Berkhamsted and Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England ^{BE7, DA5}. Those two towns are about forty or fifty miles apart, depending on which road is used. He may have been born in approximately the year 1586 in Bishop’s Stortford ^TH31. Bishop’s Stortford in Braughing Hundred, Hertfordshire, England, was formerly called Stortford or Storfurde in the 1600s and Startford in the 1700s ^RA10.

He was the father of Elizabeth ^{CU16, BE7, DA5}, John ^{BE7, DA5}, Francis ^{DA5, CH41}, and Mary Dane ^CH41. He was a tailor ^{DA5, TH31} who probably resided in Bishop’s Stortford, Herefordshire by November 20, 1615 when his son, Francis, was baptized there on that date ^VE14. According to the “Pedigree of Dane” (which was compiled using sources by Thomas B. Wyman, Jr., William R. Deane, Esquire, and A. Hammatt, Esquire), John Dane of Berkhampstead and Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire and of Ipswich and Roxbury, Massachusetts had an unknown first wife and then second married Annis or Agnes Chandler in 1643 ^DA5. His first wife was likely named Francis Bowyer. Annis or Agnes Chandler was the widow of William Chandler of Roxbury ^{DA5, TR9}, and after the death of her second husband, John Dane, she married John Parminter in 1661 ^DA5. A list of benefactions for Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, probably transcribed in modern language and spelling by Robert Clutterbuck, stated ^CL20:

 

John Dane, by deed dated the 21^st of July 1630, in consideration of the Parish having been at great charge in relieving Margaret his mother-in-law, the wife of Thomas Bowyer, after the death of her husband, &c. conveyed a parcel of ground taken out of a great yard belonging to John Dane, with a heremail there, or booth, and half part of a well lying in Hockerill Street, for the benefit of the chief inhabitants of this Parish for ever.

 

Samuel Rogers wrote in his diary that “G. Dane” and “G. Dixon” visited him on September 17, 1635; “G.” was probably an abbreviation for “Goodman” ^WE1, but this Goodman Dane could have been either the father or the son. Samuel Rogers traveled to Hatfield on May 7, 1637 and called on “G: Dane”, and on May 21, 1637, G. Dane, Blakely, Chandler, and others may have been preparing for their departure to New England ^WE1. The following day, Samuel wrote that he was saddened, and seemed to indicate that he would not further see his friends who were bound for New England ^WE1. John Dane, Sr. was said to have immigrated to Massachusetts with his three children circa 1636 ^{BE7, TH31}, but his wife may have died in England ^BE7.

On April 9, 1639, he was granted a one-acre house lot in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts on a street called “West end”, along with a six-acre planting lot near the Reedy Marsh and a four-acre planting lot in the common area ^SC4:

 

Granted to John Deane the elder, an house lott one acre of ground, lying to the street called the West end, and butting at the Southwest end upon the sayd street, having a house lott of Robert Mussey's on the east, and a house lott of Thomas Brewers on the West. Also six acres of planting ground beyond the Ready [Reedy] marsh having a planting lott of Thomas Brewers South, and a planting lott of Robert Walts on the North. Also four acres of planting ground within the common fence, having a psell [parcel] of the lyke ground belonging to William Whitred on the East and a psell of ground of Thomas Brewers on the Northwest, to enjoy the sayd Lands to him, his heirs, and assigns forever. Entered the 9^th day of Aprill 1639.

 

Additionally, the planting lot of “John Deane the elder” was on the northwest side of of the planting lot which was granted to Robert Wallis near the Reedy Marsh in Ipswich on October 25, 1639 ^SC4. John Deane took the oath of fidelity and was made a freeman on June 2, 1641 ^PA23; it is unclear which John Deane this referred to. John Dane, Sr., John Dane, Jr., and Francis Dane were enumerated with slightly more than one hundred additional people in a list individuals who had the right to commonage at Ipswich “on the last day of the last month” of 1641 ^SC4, which denotes the end of February in 1641/2.

An undated Ipswich record stated that John Dane and Samuel Younglove were together involved in a dispute against Thomas Scott regarding ten acres of meadowland lying at the end of the west meadows near Mr. Winthrop’s farm; the arbitrators (George Giddings and Thomas Howlett) decided “that the right and title thereof belongeth to the aforesaid Samuel Younglove and John Dane and to their heirs successively” ^SC4. This record was positioned between those which were dated February 1, 1641/2 and April 4, 1642 ^SC4. His house was mentioned in the will of Robert Mussy (Muzzy), dated January 5, 1642 (probably 1642/3); Robert Mussy bequeathed to his wife his house lot in Ipswich “that lyes in the west Street in the town, neere joyning to the house of John Dane the elder” ^SA21.

Francis, his first wife, likely died by July 1643, because John Dane married Ann Chandler as his second wife on July 2, 1643 in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts ^{VI46, DA5}. Annis or Agnes Chandler was the widow of William Chandler ^DA5. John Dane and Samuel Younglove each bought twenty acres near Chebacco River on January 2, 1643 (perhaps 1643/4) ^SC4. He was a juror at the Ipswich Court on March 30, 1647 ^DO12. On September 28, 1647, he and William Storye were defendants against Samuell Symonds, who stated that William and John broke his fence; the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, and stated that if the fence was on Samuel’s land, he should be allowed three pounds worth of damage, and the fence should be repaired ^DO12.

John Dane and John Turner witnessed two separate promissory notes written by Thomas Burton of London, the master of the ship Expectation, on December 26 and on December 27, 1647; one note stated that Thomas Burton owed thirty pounds sterling to John Milom, a cooper of Boston, and the other note stated that Thomas Burton owed twenty pounds sterling to John Milom ^AS1.

John Dane and Samuel Younglove were each granted eight acres of marsh on the southern portion of Hogg Island on February 7, 1647 ^{IP3, SC4} (possibly 1647/8). The page on which this grant was recorded stated “february: 7^th 1647” and the record stated “Granted John Dane & Samuell Younglove eight acres of marsh for each of them of the South side Hogg Island by a little Island” ^IP3. Hog Island is now more commonly referred to as Choate Island, and is nestled inside the mostly enclosed Essex Bay.

John Dane, James Lake, and “Georg” Manning witnessed an indenture between Thomas Boylson, a planter of Watertown, and William Phillips, a vintner of Boston, on February 5, 1648 in which Thomas Boylson was bound in fifty pounds sterling to William Phillips or his executors ^AS1. This indenture also mentioned William Phillips, a shoemaker of London, and Mr. Thomas Boylson, a clothworker “dwelling at the signe of the golde balle in ffenchurch streete London” ^AS1.

John Dane and George Munning witnessed an indenture between Captain Francis “Champnoone” and John Mills, a merchant of Boston, dated February 12, 1648/9; this indenture stated (amongst other details) that John Mills had sold a third part of the ship Jane to Champnoone ^AS1. Henry Walton and John Dane witnessed a document written by Francis Champernoone dated February 14, 1648/9 in which Champernoone authorized Mr. John Mills to act as his attorney and to recover the sum of fourteen pounds from Robert Skinner; allegedly, this Robert Skinner was obliged to serve one year on the ship Jane, but he ran away ^AS1.

The General Court at Boston affirmatively granted the petition of John “Dajne” on October 19, 1649, in which he had requested that they furnish to him the house and land of William Chandler ^SH19:

 

In ans^r to the peticon [petition] of John Dajne ffor the setling the bowse and lands of W^m Chandler (whose wyddow he marryed, & children he brought vp) on him, the said John Dajne, his request was graunted, & y^e said howse and lands confirmed on him by this Courte.

 

John Dane and William Hudson witnessed a promissory note written by John Thompson, a mariner of London, on July 11, 1650, in which Thompson stated that he owed Samuel Maverick, a merchant of “Nodles Iland neere Boston” sixty-six pounds sterling ^AS1. John Dane was also deposed on October 20, 1651 before Increase Nowell, and he stated that he “did see the signeing & Delivery hereof” ^AS1. He was a juror at the Ipswich Court on September 30, 1651 ^DO12.

John Dane of Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, called himself a tailor in a deed dated February 2, 1651 (probably 1651/2) and witnessed by Edward Dennison and John Boules ^TR9. He granted to his wife, Annis Dane, all of the land and housing that previously belonged to her former husband, William Chandler ^TR9:

 

This wittnesseth that I John Dane of Roxbury in the County of Suffolke in New England Taylor for deare affection & weighty & Just Reasons me mooving therevnto doe freely & fully Give graunt & firmely make ouer to my deare & Loving wife Annis Dane all that howsing & land that was willjam Chandlers the sajd Annis Danes former husband to be possessed of Imediately after my decease I reserving the vse of it in my owne hands vntill my death, Imediately after w^ch as is sajd I doe freely Give & firmely make ouer all the sajd housing & lands vnto my sajd wife Annis Dane either to enjoy hirself or dispose to her children as shee seeth fitt & Convenient Provided that vpon the death of the sajd Annis or vpon the disposall of the sajd housing & land vnto the children or otherwise by the sajd Annis the sajd housing & land shall stand bound for the payment of tenn pounds to the heires or Assignes of John Dane aforesajd according as the sajd John Dane shall appoint in respect of y^e persons to whom he wills it to be pajd w^ch housing & land shall be so bound for the payment of the sajd some of tenn pounds, as that In Case it be not pajd w^thin twenty dajes after it is demaunded vpon either the death of the sajd Annis Dane or her disposeall of it out of hir owne hands that then the sajd heires or Assignes shall haue full & firme power to cease vpon the sajd housing & lands & make Sale of it so as not to take any Advantage by this bond further then for the payment of the sajd tenn pounds according as is aboue expressed retourning the remajnder of what is Sold for the payment of the sajd tenn pounds & all damages as is afore expressed vnto her heires or her Assignes Provided also alwajes that In Case it shall please the lord to giue me the sajd Dane any child or children by the sajd Annis Dane that then this deede shall be vojd & of none effect otherwise to stand firme to the sajd Annis her heires & Assignes foreuer & in Case I should haue a child or children by the sajd Annis yett notw^thstanding I the sajd John Dane doe Giue & make ouer to the sajd Annis my wife the vse proffit & bennefitt of all the sajd housing & lands all her dayes vntill hir decease & for the Confirmation & full Assurance of this deede of Guift as hath beene expressed aboue in this deede the sajd John Dane doth sett his hand & seale this second of february one thousand sixe hundred & fiffty one

John Dane & a seale

Sealed & deliu[er]d in y^e p^resence of Edward Dennison John Boules

This word twenty betweene the thirteenth & fowerteenth ljne & that word vppon betweene the fifteenth & sixteenth ljne & It is demanded in y^e margent aganst the sixteenth ljne in y^e originall were all written before y^e sealing of y^e deede

John Boules deposed this 30^th December 1658 saith that having subscribed his name as a witness to this deede of Guift he sawe John Dane late of Roxbury signe scale & deliuer it as his Act & deed before me Edward Rawson Comission^r

Edward Dennison the same day aboue expressed deposed to the truth of what John Boules had deposed being also a wittnes to the same deede of Guift 30^{th 10}_mo 1658 before me Edw Rawson Com[m]ission^r

Entred & Recorded 31^th December 1658 p[er] Edward Rawson Recorde^r

 

He may have been the John Dane who, along with John Gage, Robert Lord, and Mr. Daniel Epps, was given power to lay out land for Mr. Samuel Symonds somewhere beyond the Merrimack River ^SH19:

 

Whereas this Court hath graunted vnto M^r Samuel Symonds fiue hundred acors of land the last yeare, & 300 form[er]ly, with p[ro]viso to set vpp a sawmill within seven yeares, as by the records of this Court doth appeare, power is hereby giuen to John Gage, Rob[er]t Lord, John Dane, & M^r Daniel Epps, or any two of them, to lay out y^e same in some free place beyond the Riuer of Merimacke, p[ro]vided no p[ar]t thereof shalbe w^thin fiue miles of the meeting howse of Exeter...

 

He was granted a small island on February 15, 1654/5 ^IP3:

 

At a meeting of the seven men the 15^th of the 12^th mon^th 1654:

Sold unto John Dane a little Island of upland that lyes in his march [marsh] neare Hogg Island for him to Enjoy as his other marsh provided it shall be lawfull for any man of this Towne to lay thatch soe that they Carry it away by water

 

He wrote his will on September 7, 1658, which was witnessed by Isack Heath, John Johnson, and Isack Morrelle ^AM1:

 

The last will & Testement of Mee John Dane upon the sevth [seventh] Day of the seveth month in 1658 now having perfit memuri Blessed bee the lord

It[em] I giv to my son John Dane Ten pownds out of my now Dwelling house which will apeer in the deed dated the second of Feburi in fift on [ “fifty-one”, or 1651]

It[em] I giv to my son Francis my wood lot about Two & Twentie ackurs mor or las as It doth appeer in Town book after ^my deseas [the previous three words are uncertain because they were cramped and mostly illegible]

It[em] I giv to my dafter Elizibeath How a black Cow which is now att Andiver in the hand of georg Abet to be delivered to her after my deseas Imediatly

It[em] I giv to my son John Dane on[e] Feather bede & on[e] fether boster [bolster] & Two fethur pillows & a eyllow [possibly “yellow”] Rugg thes to be delivered Imediatly aftar my desees & also a pewter platier [platter]

It[em] I giv to my son Francis on[e] great Ketle to be delivered imediatly after my deseas & also on[e] flxen [flaxen] sheet & a saser

It[em] I giv to my dafter Elizibeth How a litl Kettle & on[e] pewter Candlestick thes[e] to bee delivered imediatly after my deseas

It[em] I giv my son Frances my old black Cow now at Roxberie & my bible Thes to be delivered imediatly after my desease

It I giv to John Chandler After the deseas of my wife Anic on table & on foram & on cubord [this line was crossed out and therefore was more challenging to read]

It[em] I giv to my loving wiff Anic, whom I mak my sooll Exseckitere [executor] all my movable goods that is nat expresed to bee at her disposing

In Wittnes heer unto I hav set my hand this seveth day of the seveth month 58 by [the following one or two short words are illegible]

John Dane

Isack Heath

John Johnson

Isack Morrelle

Att A County Court held at Boston 16: of october 1658. m^r John Johnson deposed before y^e County Court that having subscribed his name to y^s [this] paper he saw Jn^o Dane signe & publish it as his last will & Testament. y^t [that] he was of a disposing minde when he signed it to his best knowledge.

Edw Rawson Recorder

 

John Dane died on September 14, 1658 in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts ^{VI46, MA26} and his will was proved on October 16, 1658 at the county court at Boston by Mr. John Johnson ^AM1. His widow, Annis Dane, married John Parmenter (or Parminter) on August 9, 1660 or 1661 in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts ^VI46.

 

It is possible John Dane may have been a distant relative of William and Margaret Dane. William Dane stated that he was born in Bishop’s Stortford ^WI59. He and his wife, Margaret, did not appear to have any children at the time they each wrote their wills, and they made several charitable bequests and named many of their relatives ^{WI54, WI59}. Both of them were interested in building a school in Bishop’s Stortford, and in her will dated 1579, Margaret Dane was the founding benefactor of a grammar school in Bishop’s Stortford, which was located on High Street on its north end and Church Lane on its west end ^RA10. In the interest of furthering research into the relatives and ancestors of John Dane, a summary of the wills of William and Margaret Dane has been provided, and I have underlined the names of their relatives which may be useful in this research.

William Dane, an alderman “of London Iremonger [ironmonger] off y^e parrishe of S^t Margaret Moyses in Frydae strete”, London, wrote his will on September 12, 1563 ^WI59. He bequeathed thirty shillings apiece to each of the twenty poorest scholars of divinity at both Cambridge and Oxford universities ^WI59. He bequeathed twenty pounds “unto y^e poore people of Bisshoppe Starford where I was borne” ^WI59. He made bequests to poor prisoners in several prisons, such as Newgate, Southwarke, and the King’s Bench prison “in victualls to helpe them”, and to “the poore Fatherles Children in Christes hospitall.. S^t Bartholomewes ^hospitall... [and] S^t Thomas hospitall in Southwa^rke” ^WI59. He bequeathed fifty pounds to “the towne of Bishope Starford to helpe Towardes the erecting and setting up of a free Schoole to teache poore mens Children that they maie be brought up in y^e knowledge of god”, with the stipulation that this school be built within two years of the township’s receipt of the money ^WI59. He bequeathed fifty pounds “unto Jone Swanne my Sisters daughter to be paid at the daie of hir mariage”, over six pounds apiece to both “Alice wright my mothers goddaughter... at the daie of hir mariage” and “the Children of John Pep[er]corne the sone of Will[ia]m Pep[er]corne”, and twenty pounds “unto Agnes Sister unto Henry Dane my uncles daughter nowe called Agnes Setherington” ^WI59. He bequeathed “unto Margarett my wieff all my leases off my houses or landes all my money plate and goodes not yett bequeathed whome I doe ordeine and make my executor” ^WI59. A memorandum to his will stated that he bequeathed one hundred pounds to “Edmond Style the sone of Edmond Style of Langley in the Countie of Kent gentlemen” ^WI59.

Margarett Dane of London, the “widdowe late wief of William Dane late Citizen and Iremonger of London deceased”, wrote her will on May 16, 1579 (“The sixtenth daie of Maye in the yeare of our lorde god one thousand five hundred threescoare and nineteene and in the the one and twentieth yeare of the Reigne of oure sovereigne Ladie Elizabeth”) ^WI54. She wished her body to be buried in “the parrishe churche of Saint Margaret Moyses in Frydaye Strete in London... nere to the place where the bodie of my late husbande liethe buried” ^WI54. She bequeathed a gold necklace (“acheyne of golde of the value of twoe hundreth poundes”) to Queen Elizabeth I and another “chaine of golde of the value of four hundred poundes” to “the Lorde of Leicester” ^WI54. She bequeathed two thousand pounds of money to the “wardens and companie of Iremongers of the citie of London” but made several stipulations that this money should be used to support twenty poor young men of the company of “Iremongers”, twenty poor maids, certain hospitals (”Christes hospitall Sainte Bartholomewes hospitall and Saint Thomas hospitall in Sothwercke”), and prisoners within certain prisons ^WI54. She made a bequest to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge: “I will that they paye tenne poundes yearelie forever to the universities of Oxforde and Cambridge... five poundes for the relief and bringinge upp in learnine of twoe poore Schollers the one to be in Oxforde the other in Cambridge” ^WI54. She ordered that “Furthermore I will that the saide companie shall paie five poundes a year to be paide twentie five shillinges everie quarter of a yeare yearelie forever / towardes the maintenaince of a schoole to be erected at Bishopps’ Sturteforde / And if it so channce that the saide schole goe not forwarde... Then I will that the saide five poundes be distributed quarterlie to the poore people of the same parrishe forever” ^WI54. She made bequests to Edmund, Percwall (the spelling of his name is uncertain), Roger, and William Stile, who were the sons of her cousin, Edmunde Stile, esquire ^WI54. She made bequests to Margarett Browne (her goddaughter), Peter Forrest (her servant), her apprentices William Smith and Richard Kavell (this surname is uncertain), and Margaret Pope (her maid) ^WI54. She made a bequest to John Stile (her cousin) and “his bretheren” Oliver and Nicholas Stile ^WI54. She made a bequest of one hundred pounds apiece to “everie one of my sister Rices children” and fifty pounds to her sister, Florence Rice ^WI54. She bequeathed four hundred pounds to Paule Kempe (whose relationship was unstated). and mentioned Marie, “one of my brother Jeames’ children” ^WI54. She gave fifty pounds to Johan Swanne, her “late husbandes sisters daughter” and stipulated that if Johane died without children, the fifty pounds should be distributed “amongst the name of the Danes that be of my saide husbandes kinred if there be anie livinge” ^WI54. She bequeathed forty pounds and a black gown to “Mistres Setterington my said late husbandes uncles daughter”, twenty pounds to Thomas Higgens and his wife, twenty pounds to the “poore people in Bishopps Stratforde”, and thirty pounds to the poor of the “parrishe of Saint margarett moyses” ^WI54.

 

During the 1500s and 1600s, there were Dane/Dean/Deane/Deyne families in Great Hallingbury and Great Parndon in Essex, England. These were also villages in which How/Howe families resided. Great Hallingbury is about three miles southeast of Bishop’s Stortford, and Great Parndon is about eleven miles south of Bishop’s Stortford. For the sake of future research on this family, I have provided the records in chronological order of these family members in the following two sections.

 

I noted eleven pertinent records within the parish registers of St. Giles Church in Great Hallingbury, Essex ^{ES29, ES30}:

Thomas Deyne married an individual whose name may have been “Audre Mayst” on April 19, 1543 ^ES29.

John Deyne was baptized on December 1, 1543 ^ES29.

Joys Deyne was baptized on December 23, 1543 ^ES29.

Agnes Deyne was baptized on November 23, 1545 ^ES29.

Elizabeth (“Elezabz”) Deyne was baptized on July 28, 1546 ^ES29.

Agnes Dane was buried on October 20, 1546 ^ES29.

Agnes Dane was baptized on May 1, 1547 ^ES29.

William Deyne was baptized sometime between February 2 and April 12, 1548 ^ES29.

Johanne Deane, the daughter of John Deane of “muche halyngbury”, was buried on March 16, 1550/1 ^ES29.

Margaret, the daugher of John Deane, was baptized on March 23, 1552/3 ^ES29.

“Galfridus” or “Jeffery” Dene (there were two records for this individual) was baptized on February 14, 1562/3 ^{ES29, ES30}.

Elizabeth Deane was buried on April 12, 1568 ^ES30.

John Dene was buried on November 11, 1574 ^ES30.

Elizabeth Dane, the daughter of John Dane, was baptized on June 25, 1581 ^ES30.

Grace Dane was baptized on February 9, 1584/5 ^ES30.

Sara Dane was baptized on July 30 or 31, 1586 ^ES30.

Sara Dane was buried on August 12, 1586 ^ES30.

Susan Dane was baptized on December 2, 1588 ^ES30.

Thomas Dane was baptized on June 17, 1593 ^ES30.

Rose Deane married Thomas Terr (this surname is somewhat illegible) on November 2, 1600 ^ES30.

“Mother deane” was buried on March 21, 1601 (this year was actually recorded as 1601 amongst other records from the year 1601) ^ES30.

 

I noted six pertinent records in the parish registry of St. Mary the Virgin Church in Great Parndon, Essex ^ES31:

John Deane, the son of Edmund Deane, was baptized on March 7, 1574 (“baptized the vijth daie of marche in the said year 1574 accordinge to the said computacion Anno dm 1585”) ^ES31.

Francis Deane (“Franciscus Deane”), the son of Edmund Deane (“Edmundi Deane”), was baptized on April 12, 1582 ^ES31.

Johan Deane, “the weife of Edmund Deane”, was buried on December 29, 1587 ^ES31.

Margeret Dane, the daughter of Edward Dane, was baptized on May 10, 1612 ^ES31.

Edward Dane, the son of Edward Dane, was baptized on March 12, 1614/15 ^ES31.

John Deane married Hesther Elliot on November 4, 1616 ^ES31.

 

Francis ★ was probably the name of the mother of Elizabeth (Dane) How. The baptismal record for Francis Dane (baptized on November 20, 1615 in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England) stated that he was the son of John and Francis Dane ^CH41, and the baptismal record for Mary Dane (baptized on May 1, 1617 in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England) stated that she was the daughter of John and Francis Dane ^CH41. Francis was likely the daughter of Margaret Bowyer, because a benefaction from John Dane in 1630 referred to Margaret, the wife of Thomas Bowyer, as his mother-in-law ^CL20. Thus, the full name of the wife of John Dane, Sr. and the mother of Elizabeth (Dane) How, John Dane, Jr., Francis Dane, and Mary Dane, may have been Francis (Bowyer) Dane. Her potential (but not certain) father, Thomas Bowyer, may have been related to the Thomas Bowyer who was granted the chantry priest house, along with the two messuages and land in Stortford that belonged to the chantry priest house, by Oliver and Elizabeth Godfrey in 1583 ^RA10. This Thomas Bowyer died siesed of these properties in 1607, leaving a two-year-old daughter and heir named Helen Bowyer ^RA10. However, Thomas Bowyer may have been a second husband of Margaret. A marriage record for Margret Bankes and Thomas Bowyer in the parish of Little Hadham, Hertfordshire, indicated they were married on January 30, 1603 or June 30, 1603 ^MI39. Little Hadham is just three miles west of Bishop’s Stortford.

John Dane, Jr. called his mother a servant of Lady Denny (“saruant to the Ladie denney”) ^DA5. Sir Edward Denny of Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire and Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland was the son of Sir Anthony Denny of Cheshunt and Joan (the daughter of Sir Philip Champernown of Modbury, Devonshire) ^DE28. Among the offices and appointments held during his lifetime, he was the groom of the privy chamber in about 1583 and he was knighted in 1588 ^DE28. He married Margaret Edgecombe, the daughter of Peter Edgecomb of Mount Edgcumbe, Cornwall about the year 1583 ^DE28. Queen Elizabeth I assigned Stortford Manor to Sir Edward Denny in 1596 ^RA10. He died on February 12, 1600 and was buried at Waltham Abbey two days later, and his inquisition post mortem occurred at Bishop’s Stortford on May 13, 1600 ^DE28. Margaret Denny died on April 24, 1648 ^DE28. John Dane, Jr. also stated that his parents “hasted after me as sone as thay could” ^DA5, which indicates that Francis, his mother, accompanied her husband to Massachusetts.

Elizabeth Dane was probably born in Berkhamsted or Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England ^DA5. Her birth occurred around the year 1614, according to her age, fifty, which was stated in her deposition on June 27, 1664 ^DO13.

John Dane, Jr. was born in Berkhampstead (as it was formerly spelled) in approximately 1612 ^DA5. John Dane of Ipswich, the son of John Dane of Berkhamsted and Bishop’s Stortford, wrote his memoirs in 1682 in a book which was probably passed down to his daughter, Sarah (Dane) Warner ^DA5. This book was then passed down to Sarah Warner’s grandson, Philemon Warner, Jr. in January 1741/2 and has become known as “John Dane’s Narrative, 1682”, and seems to have been transcribed by an unknown “J.D.” ^DA5. These memoirs did not mention any of the names of his children or his two wives, or discuss any of the events of their lives ^DA5. John Dane, Jr. stated that when he was very young, his father relocated from Berkhamsted to Stortford (Bishop’s Stortford), but after he had settled his family in Bishop’s Stortford, he returned to Berkhamsted to finalize his affairs in that town ^DA5. Trouble arose when he did not return in a timely fashion, and his mother, who had no family or friends in her new town, was depleted of all her funds ^DA5:

 

In my infansy, and yet I ueary well Remember it, my fatther Remoud [removed] his habetation from barcumstid [Berkhamsted] to Starford [Stortford]. Thare he bout a house, and brout his famely theather [possibly “thereafter”]; and he went back againe to finesh matters with him he had sould his two, and my mother and hur children ware at Storford. Not being among anie aquaintans, and my fatther staying longer then she thout he would... my mother met with sum wants and was trobeled and weapt. I doubt not but she layd open her wants to god, for she was a serious woman. And my Sister How [Elizabeth (Dane) How], she was but a lettell gurle, she went into the yard and sot doune in the sun under the window; and laying hur hand on the ground to Rise up, thare lae a shilling under hur hand. She brout it in. I, being a lettell boy, askt hur where she found it. She shewed me. I went and scrabled with my fingers in the place and found a notther. It being in the nick of time in hur wants, she toke great notis of it and I doubt not but made good improuement thareof, with great acknouledgment of gods marsie at that time.

 

When John Dane, Jr. was about eight, he once stayed outside playing for most of the day, but his parents were oblivious of his whereabouts, and when he returned, his father beat him ^DA5. He developed the impression that obedience to his parents would result in God’s blessings, while disobedience would bring about adversity and tragedy. He concluded that he would prefer to be struck by his father when he grew wayward, because he feared that without the beatings, he would not be a good person ^DA5:

 

Consarning my self; when I was but a lettell boy, being edicated [educated] under godly parents, my Conshans [conscience] was ueary apt to tell me of euells [evils] that I should not doe. Being now about aight [eight] yers ould, I was giuen mutch to play and to run out without my fathers Consent and againe his comand. One a time, I haueing [having] gone out most parte of the day, when my father saw me cum home, he toke me and basted [beat] me. I then cept [kept] home, and folowed my busenes two or thre dase. My father and mother Comended me, and tould me that god would bles me if I obeyed my parents, and what the contrary would ishew [issue] in. I then thout in my harte, o that my fatther would beat me more when I did amis. I fard [feared], if he did not, I should not be good.

 

John Dane, Jr. recounted an instance in which he was working at the shopboard, which was a counter or a platform, and his task was to rip out the seam of a pocket in a gentleman’s pair of pants ^DA5. During this process, he discovered a piece of gold which had fallen through a hole in the pocket and was trapped in the lining ^DA5. He was quite tempted to keep it for himself, and his conscience waivered back and forth, but ultimately he relinquished the coin to his father, who returned it to his client ^DA5:

 

Not longe after, I being alone on the shopbord Repping [ripping] open a payer of bretches [pair of britches] of a Gintilmans who had had a hole in his pocut [pocket] and sewed up againe, thorow [through] which hole he had lost or dropt into his knes of his linings a pese of gould, which, when I saw, I thought I myt haue it, for I thout nobody knew of it, nor could know of it. I toke the Gould and hed it, and sat upon the shopboard to worke; but, thinking of it, I thout it is none of myne. I fetcht it againe, but upone more pondring I went and hed it againe. When I had dun so, I could not be quiet in my mynd, but fetcht it againe, and thout thow nobody could know of it, yet god, he knew of it. So I gaue it to my fatther, hoe gaue it to the gintelman. I cant but take notes of gods goodness in then giving me Restrayning grace to presarue [pressure] from sutch a temptation, though then I slytly passed ouer many sutch prouedenses [providences].

 

The father and son had opposing viewpoints about certain things, and John Jr. felt his father was unnecessarily strict; this led to the younger John’s forsaking his home and parents at the age of sixteen or eighteen ^DA5. Interested in the art of dance, or perhaps simply as a social venture, John Dane, Jr. had enrolled in a dancing school, but when the elder John learned of this, he not only forbade it, but stated that if his son returned to that school, he would beat him ^DA5:

 

Now uppone a time, when I was groune [grown] 18 [a footnote here indicated that he stated he was sixteen years old in another version of this story] yers of age or thare abouts, I went to a dansing scoll [school] to larne to dans. My father hering of it, when I cam home tould me, if I went agayne, he would bast me. I tould him, if he did he should neuer bast me againe. With that, my father toke a stick and basted me. I toke it patiently, and said nothing for a day or [two], but on morning betimes I Res and toke 2 shurts on my back and the best sute I had, and a bybell in my pocet, and set the dores open and went to my fathers chamber dore and said, god by father, god by mother. Why, whether are you going? To seke my fortin, I answared. Then said my mother, goe whare you will god he will find you out. This word, the point of it, stuck in my brest, and afterwards god struck it home to its head.

 

John Dane, Jr. felt it was important to include several stories from his early years which demonstrated his ability to overcome various temptations, which he attributed to God’s mercy ^DA5. He recounted three instances in which he claimed that a “maid” or a woman unsuccessfully attempted to seduce him and then stated “I thank god I neuer [never] yet knew any but thos two wifes that god gaue [gave] me” ^DA5. He also discussed his working and lodging situations in Berkhamsted and Hertford ^DA5:

 

I went my Journey, and was from him half a yere before he hard [heard] whare I was. I first settled in barcumsted [Berkhamsted], and thare Rought [possibly “wrought” or “worked”] on a shobord that had bene improud [improved] that waie... I then gaue [gave] my self mutch to dansing and staying out and heatting myself and lying in haymowes, the pepell [people] being a bed whare I abod [abode] that I lost my culler [probably “color”] and neuer Recuferd [never recovered] it a gaine. I then went and wrought at harford [Hertford], and went to an in [inn] for my lodging. The next day I went and got worke in the toune. It was nere the time of the sises [“assizes”; these were court sessions held periodically] at harford, and my m’ [master] had manie sargants Cotes to make; and I sat up thre nights to work, and then I went to my In to lodg.

 

He also described an instance in which an insect sting caused his arm to swell, which he believed was due to sin. The swelling was likely cellulitis caused by bacteria, which would not be discovered until 1676 by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek ^DA5:

 

I now being at harford, M’ [Master] Goodin preacht thare, and he preacht consarning prayer. But on saboth day, not being in that trim [possibly meaning clothing] that i would haue bene in, (I had a great band that cam ouer my shoulders that was not clene, and sum other things that I would haue had,) I would not goe to metting [the Sabbath Day meeting] but walkt in the filds close by a meadow sid. Thare was, whether fly, wasp or hornet, I cannot tell, but it struck my finger, and watter and blod cam out of it and paind me mutch. I went up to a hous and shoud [showed] it, but thay knew not what a sting I had at my harte. Now I thout of my mothers words, that god would find me out. I hastend home to the Chamber I lay in, at my masters house; and when i cam thare I toke my bybell and lokt ouer [looked over] sum instructions my father had Ret [written], and I weapt sorly. The payne and swelling increast & sweld up to my shoulder. I prayd ernistly to god that he would pardon my sinn and heall my arme. I went to a surgin [surgeon] and askt him what it was. He said it was the take. I askt him what he meant. He said it was taken by the prouedens [providence] of god. This knoct home on my hart what my mother said, god will find you out. Now I made great promises that if god would here me this time I would Reforme. It pleased god in a short time to ease me and I did Reforme, and stod in aw of gods Judgments, though I had a linkring [lingering] mind after my former pastime.

 

John Dane, Jr. intended to go to St. Christopher’s (St. Kitts) in the West Indies with his godfather’s son, but this plan was squashed when they learned that “saint Chrstifars was taken by the spanyard” ^DA5. This provides an approximate date of September or October 1629 in which the Battle of St. Kitts occurred ^DA5:

 

…awhile after thare was on master scurfeld, [the annotation by the transcriber stated “Scofield?” in brackets] who was a minester and my godfather, that had a sonn that was bound to saint Christifars, and he was at me to goe with him. I Readily agred. And when the time was cum that we should goe, thare came nuse [news] that saint Christifars was taken by the spanyard [a footnote stated “St. Christophers was captured by a Spanish fleet under Don Frederick de Toledo, in October 1629”]. Then was I at a sore lose, and considred what I should du. I drew up this conclushon, that I would goe and work Jurney work thorow all the Counties in ingland, and so walk as a pilgrim up and doune on the earth. But, at last, I had sum thouts to goe first home to my father’s house; but I thout he would not entertaine me. But I went; and when I came home, my fatther and mother entertained me ueary louingly, and all the naighbors. 

 

He began to work for Master “Barentons” and he stated he “was Buttler” ^DA5; it is unclear if he meant that he worked as their butler, because previously he had been a tailor. He likely meant the Barrington family of Hatfield Broad Oak ^ES22. John Dane, Jr. wrote half of a sentence about the event of his marriage, and elected not to elaborate on who he married or how they became introduced. He relocated to “wood Roe, in Hatfeld”, which was Woodrow Green in Hatfield Broad Oak. “Wood Row” was about 1.5 kilometers northwest of the village of Hatfield Broad Oak ^PO10. Not long after this, he stated that became afflicted with a palsy which caused cognitive decline ^DA5. His unnamed mother (the wife of John Dane, Sr.) consulted with her mistress, Lady Denny, who informed her of a medicine which had effectively treated a woman of the age of sixty ^DA5:

 

After awhile that I had abod [abode] with my father, m’ [Master] Norten [possibly Reverend John Norton] cuming to my fathers wisht him to put me to m’ Barentons. That was a ueary Religious famely as euer I came in. And I went theatther and was Buttler; thare I cept companie with the choises Christions… Sone after this I mared [married[, and went and dwelt at a place called wood Roe, in hatfeld [Hatfield]. Sone after I had the palsie taking me, which did mutch weaking my brayne and spoyle my memory. And just it was with god that it should be so, for I cannot but acknowledg of what god had then bestowed on me. I went to a phisishon [physician], and he tould me that it was too latte to doe me annie good. I was so as that I could scarce goe to bed or from bed without helpe. And my mother hauing bene saruant [servant] to the Ladie denney [a footnote stated this was perhaps Lady Margaret Denny], she speaking of it to the Ladie, she tould hur of a meadson, that had cuered an ould woman of thre score yeres ould. My mother, diligently atending to the meathod of the besenes, cam to me and aplyed the same to me, and it ceuerd me; though I have the marks of it on my face to this day.

 

While residing on Woodrow Green in perhaps an inn or a multi-family building, John Dane, Jr. was invited to a party by men who lived on the other end of the building ^DA5. The men included John, Jr. in their plan to steal four bushels of barley from the father of one of them, which they intended to process into malt beer ^DA5. John Dane, Jr. then went to “my Brother Howes father” (this was Robert Howe, who was the father of his brother-in-law) to ask him for guidance on this situation; Robert advised him to pretend to out of town so the men could not include him in the theft ^DA5. Robert then informed “the woman of the house” of this plot, and she apparently caught these men in the act as they were carrying the barley away in a sack ^DA5:

 

Then I liued on wood Ro grene, on hatfild forrist. No soner on trobell was at an end, but a nother insude [ensued]. There was on muschen [one musician] liued under the same Rofe [roof] that I liued in, only he liued at one end and I at the other. Thare was farmers and yemans sonnes meat thare and I was among them, thinking no harme. But thay ware a contrifing to haue a mearey metting [merry meeting] at that muschins hous, and inuitted [invited] me to be one of them. And being among them, thay would contrif thare busenes with me, and tould me that thay would haue four bushills of barly out of a barne, (the ouner of which, one of these was his son,) and this muschin was to turne it into malt, and brew it, and drink it thare. I durst not Cros them, thay ware sutch blustering lades; but I was in a sad tune, and knew not what to doe. But I went to my Brother Howes father and aduised with him. He was a uery onest [very honest] man, and he tould me I should, by no meanes, be among them when thay did act that busenes, but make sum Journey sum waie or other, and he would du the busenes for me. So I did. And he acquainted the woman of the house, a prudent woman. And at the time appointed thay went to the barn. The woman, hauing had fore knowledg of it, stud after supper at hur hall window lesening [listening], the barne not being fare distant from the house, and she hard a noise at the barne, and sent suddinly to the barne, and toke them with fowr bushils of barly, cared [carried] out of the barne in a sacke. The thing being discouered, the men ware in a bad tose, but thay suspected me; and said it is well that it was found out, but neds he would know if I did not tell sum of the famely. I toud him I had not spoke with anie of the famely sens we ware togetther. Many words past, but notthing did apere, but suspishon. But on of the Company (as afterwards I was informed, and I myself suspected him and escaped his hands) came with a sord to my shop to kill me.

 

It seems that John Dane, Jr. then relocated to the area of the town square of Hatfield Broad Oak and hired an apprentice and a journeyman ^DA5. This raised the ire of the other tailors in the vicinity and they complained to Lady Barrington and Sir Thomas Barrrington about their subsequent lack of work ^DA5:

 

I then went to liue in the chef [chief] place in hatfild toune, and toke a prentis [apprentice] and kept a gurniman [journeyman]. And the taylers ware so disgust at it that thay made arnestly to the ould lady barenton, S^r fransis barenton's widdow, and to m’ S^r Thomus barenton to git me out of the toune; for sayd thay, he takes up all our worke and we know not how to liue. This was so eagirly prosecuted as that m’ Roburd barenton tould me y^t he would giue me his eres [the previous word may have been ears, but the meaning of the previous phrase is uncertain], if he did not send me out of toune. And after thre times sent for before S^r Thomus barenton, by warrant, and pleaded against, and could not preuaile [prevail], Thay sumansd [summoned] me to the quarter seshons [court of quarter sessions]; but god of his goodnes stod by me, and afterwords I found great frenship from thos that was my profest aduersareys [adversaries].

 

This opposition by the other local tailors and the frequent summons to court probably was a large factor in his desire to start over in a new land. Another factor may have been his perceived “temptations” that he thought might be less prevalent in New England than in England, but he did not explain what these temptations were. He travelled to his parents’ house in Bishop’s Stortford (this was also where his brother-in-law resided) to discuss this and apparently to determine their interest in immigrating to New England ^DA5. All three (John Dane, Jr. and his parents) seemed to be disposed to superstitious beliefs, because they believed that a random biblical passage was proof that they should leave England. He stated that if he opened the Bible to any random page and there was a text which encouraged or discouraged him, that would settle the matter of whether he should leave the country ^DA5. The passage which he saw was “Cum out from among them, touch no unclene thing, and I will be your god and you shall be my pepell ^DA5. He was probably referring to 2^nd Corinthians 6:14-17, which states (in the King James Version; emphasis in underline is mine):

 

14: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15: And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16: And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

 

Interestingly, they did not seem to understand that leaving their Christian community in England and immigrating to the continent of North America, which was populated with many groups of people who were not of the Christian faith, was the opposite instruction of the apostle Paul. They ignored the fact that Paul would have likely labeled the Native American people “infidels”. The memoirs of John Dane, Jr. stated ^DA5:

 

I then bent myself to cum [come] to nu ingland [New England], thinking that I should be more fre [free] here then thare from temptations; but I find here a deuell [devil] to tempt and a corupt hart to deseue [deceive]. But to Return to the way and manner of my cuming [coming]. When I was mutch bent to cum, I went to starford [Bishop’s Stortford] to my fatther to tell him. My brotther how [his brother-in-law How] was thare then. My fatther and motther showd themselfs unwilling. I sat close by a tabell whare thare lay a bibell. I hastily toke up the bybell, and tould my fatther if whare I opend the bybell thare i met with anie thing eyther to incuredg or discouredg that should settell me. I oping of it, not knowing no more then the child in the womb, the first I cast my eys on was: Cum out from among them, touch no unclene thing, and I will be your god and you shall be my pepell. My fatther and motther neuer more aposd [opposed] me, but furdered [furthered] me in the thing; and hasted after me as sone as thay could.

 

He first lived in Roxbury, near Boston, in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, and then decided to live with Master Norton at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts ^DA5. He utilized a path from Roxbury to Ipswich which had been made by those who had lived there first; this people group may have been the Massachusett tribe or the Agawam tribe. He described his brief encounters with groups of Native American men, and his agreement with Goodman Metcalf (or Metcalfe) of Ipswich to utilize his boat to transport his goods from Boston to Ipswich ^DA5:

 

My first cuming was to Roxburey. Thare I toke a pese [piece] of ground to plant of a frind [friend]. And I went to plant, and hauing cept long in the shep [the previous phrase might state “kept long in the sheep”, but the meaning is uncertain], the weatther being hot, I spent my self, and was ueary [very] wearey and thurstey. I cam by a spring in Roxbuery streat, and went to it, and drunk, and drunk againe and againe manie times; and I neuer drounk wine in my lyfe that more Refresht, me nor was more pleasant to me in my lyfe, as then I absolutly thout. But m’ Norton being at ipshwitch, I had a mynd to liue under him. And, on a time, I came to ipshwitch alone when thare was no path but what the ingens [Indians] had made; sumtimes I was in it, sumtimes out of it, but god directed my waie. By the waie I meat in on [one] place with forty or fiftie indiens, all of a Roe [in a row]. The formost of them had a long stafe [staff] that he held on his forhed lyke a unicorns horne. Many of them ware powwous [it is unclear what John Dane, Jr. meant by this word; possibly “medicine man”]; and, as I past by them, I said, What chere [“what cheer”, used as a greeting]. Thay all with a loud uoise [voice], laughing, cryd out, What chere, What chere, that thay made the woods Ring with the noyse. After I parted with them about a myle, I meat with two indines, one of them a uery lusty sannup [one definition states this term indicates a married Native American man ^WH21]. I had a packet under my arme, and he toke hould of it, and pekt [peeked] into it. I snatcht it away, with an angrey countinans [contenance], and he made no more of it. So I came to ipshwich, and agred with goodman medcafes uesell [vessel] to bring me from boston, whare I had brout my Goods. I brout a yeres prouidyon [probably “providence” or provisions] with me, but I sone parted with it. My meall I parted w^th for indin the next yere. I thout if on [one] had it anot ther should not want. Thare came a naibor [neighbor] to me and said he had no corne. He made great complaints. I tould him I had on [one] bushill and I had no more, but he should haue half of it. And he had; and after I herd of sartain that at the same time he had a bushill in his house. It trubled me to se his dealings, and the dealings of other men.

 

While in Ipswich, he considered suicide ^DA5. He did not explain what events or thoughts brought about this suicidal feeling, but it is clear from his autobiography that he often felt conflicted about his actions and things he deemed “temptations” ^DA5:

 

Manie trobles I past thorow and I found in my hart that I could not sarue [serve] god as I should. What thay ware, ware two teadus [tedious] to menshon [mention]. But uppon a time walking, with my Gun on my shoulder charged, in the myle brok [Mile Brook] path beyond Decon goodhewes [Deacon Goodhue’s], I had seauerall thouts [thoughts] cam flocking into my mynd, that I had beatter make away myself then to liue longer. I walkt discosing with sutch thouts the best part of an ouer [hour], as I Judged it, at length I thout, I oute of two euells [evils] to chuse the least; and that it was a greatter euell to liue, and to sin against god then to cill [kill] myself, with manie other satanecall [satanical] thouts. I cock my Gun, and set it one the ground, and put the musell [muzzle] under my throte, and toke up my fote [foot] to let it of. And then thare cam manie thing into my head; one that I should not doe euell that good myt cum of it. And at that time I no more scrupld [scrupled] to cill myself then to goe home to my oune house. Though this place is now a Rode, then it was a place that was not mutch walkt in. I was then mutch lost in my spiret, and as I Remember the next day m’ Rogers preacht, and exkpressing himself that those ware blesed that fard [feared] god and hopt in his marsie [mercy]. I thout that I fard god and hopt in his marsie. Then I thout that that blesednes myt belong to me, and it mutch supported my spiret.

 

The family of John Dane, Jr. occasionally suffered from hunger and probably homelessness when their home burned by a fire in 1661 ^DA5:

 

Upone a time we ware [were] in sum preasant want in the famely, & my wife tould me she had nothing for the children. She desierd me to take my gun and se if I could git nothing. And I did goe; and I had one pigg and then that was hily estemd [highly esteemed] on, and that folowd me a great waie [way] into the marshis [marshes]. I thout the prouedens [providence] of god semd to tell me that I should not goe out to day. So I Returnd back againe with my pigg, and when I cam within les then forty Rod of my house, a cumpany of great gray gese cam ouer me, and I shot and brout doun a galant gose [goose] in the uery [very] nick of time.

 

In sixty one [1661], my house was burnt, as nere as I can Remember; and it was a most uialant fier [violent fire]. At that time I could not but take notes of seuarall [several] prouedensis concuring with. I doe not know that I did murmer at it, but was silent loking up to god to santifie [possibly “sanctify] it to me. It pleased god to stur up the harts of my louing frinds to help me to the careyng on of another. I had bene ill before, and not well fitting to goe abrod, and could not indewer weat on my fete [endure wet on my feet]. When the carts went into the woods, I went with them, and manie times in the swamps broke in up to the knese [knees], in could [cold] watter, in the winter. And it pleasd god I grew beatter then before, which I lookt on as a speshall hand of god. A second prouedens was this that, though my prouidyons [providence] was all burnt, I had a stock of fine swine, and the corne that was burnt, when the flowrs fell downe and the fier out, thease swine fell to eatting the burnd corne, and fatted to admiration, and that in a small time, so that I had good porke for the workmen to carey on the work.

 

According to the “Pedigree of Dane”, John Dane, the son of John Dane, first married Eleanor (whose surname may have been “Clark”), and second married Alice ^DA5. The sons of John Dane (d. 1684) were John and Philemon ^DA5. John Dane (the son of John Dane (d. 1684)) married Abigaill Warner on December 27, 1671 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts ^{VI24, DA5} and died before January 23, 1707/8 ^DA5. An Ipswich death record indicated that John Dane, Sr. (this was the John Dane who married Abigaill Warner) died at age sixty-five on December 23, 1707 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI24. Philemon Dane was born about 1646 and became a physician ^DA5; he married Mary Thomson on October 7, 1685 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts and next married Ruth Converse on December 25, 1690 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI24. Dr. Philemon Deane died at age seventy on October 18, 1716 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, and his widow, Ruth Dane, died on January 12, 1735 ^VI24. The daughters of John Dane (d. 1684) were Elizabeth Dane, who married Reginald Foster, Mary Dane, Rebecca Dane, who married James Hovey, and Sarah Dane ^DA5. Mary Dane or Deane of Ipswich married William Chandler on August 18 or 24, 1658 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI3. “Sar” (probably “Sarah”) Dane married Daniell Warner, Jr. on September 23, 1668 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI24.

On an Ipswich town record page headed “1664”, the following land record pertaining to John Dane, Sr. (this would have been the son of the John Dane who died in 1658, referred to in this biographical sketch as John Dane, Jr. and) has been transcribed ^IP3:

 

John Dane Sen^r had three Acres of land layd out to him on the North east syde of the mile Brooke Joyneing to m^r Hubberds farm sixteane Rod up from the brooks up by m^r Hubbards grownd [the previous word is uncertain because it is mostly illegible] and thirty Rod by myle brooke marked out by Trees for his devision lott belonging unto the [the previous word is uncertain and does not fit contextually] he purchased of m^r Hubbard wherin m^r Richard Walker lately lived layd ouyt by Richard Jacob & John Whipp... [probablu “Whipple”]

 

On December 4, 1676 before Daniel Denison, John Dane was deposed, apparently in the case of John Lee vs. John Mattone, which was heard in the general court held at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts on November 28, 1676 ^DO17. He stated that he was “sixty-four years and upward” and mentioned his son, Philemon in the deposition ^DO17:

 

being in my owne house quiet by a good fire with my fameley about me I hard a Rattling at the dore and suddenly Danell hovey cam in groning with his hand one his head and fell flat one the flower [floor] in a most amasing maner and being got up agayne stagered and we Rose in an afrited [afrighted] condishon and set him in the chare he Cryd out if you can doe anything for me doe it I answered what is the matter he said John Le knoct him doune and struck him blynd I answard whare he sayd he is in the highway would you could take him, my sonn and I sudinly Run out and met with John Lee and asked him what the matter was he bed [bade] us stand of [off] and cum at our perrill my sonn philemon folowed him he with drew backwords my sone sudinly Ran with in him and so we toke his stafe [staff] and had him to our house yet before the cunstable came (he staid so long) after we sent; that Joseph cuming to his brother and thay giueing good words we let them goe.

 

John Dane called himself a “chirugion” (surgeon) of Ipswich when he wrote his will on May 31, 1683 ^AM1. He made bequests to his wife, whom he failed to name, but named his two sons, John and Philemon, his two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah, his granddaughter, Mary Chandler, and his grandson, Daniell Hovy (Hovey) ^AM1. His will was witnessed by John Brewer, Sr. and Nehemiah Jewett and was proved on September 30, 1684 by their oaths ^AM1:

 

In the Name of God Amen. I John Dane of Ipswich in y^e County of Essex in New England, Chirurgion [surgeon] being at this time of Competent health of body & of Good Memory; Through Gods mercy, yet sencible of my frailty, & not knowing when the Lord may be pleased to put an End to this my pilgrimage, doe Ordeine & make this my Last will & Testament: Viz^t I Com[m]it my soul Into the hands of God who Gave it; & my body to a desent buriall in hopes of a happy Resurection through the power & strength of My Lord & Savio^r Jesus Christ: & as for that Outward Estate which God hath Given me to dispose of: I Give & bequeath the same as followeth:

Imp^r[imis]. To My beloved wife dureing the Tearme of ther life. I Give that new house I built upon the land I bought of Daniell Hovy sen^r. To be kept in Repair by my son John dureing my wives widowhood, & If she marry & her husband will live with her, in s,^d [said] house, then to be kept in repair by him that Marrieth to her; or her to allow my said son Twenty shillings p[er] Anno. for that End: Item. I leave unto her dureing her Naturall life, the Feather bed & bolster that I & my wife now lye upon, & two pillows w^th two pillow Cases, & one Green Rug three blankets, three pair of sheets: a pair of Curteins. one doz,ⁿ of Napkins, two Table Clothes. one Table about three foot Long & two Joynt stools: two chests one of them windscott: two boxes one of them Carved Three Chaires: one brush, two baskets one of them a Burmodes basket [possibly a basket created in Burmuda]: two Cishings, one Glass bottle: two Iron potts: one brass Ketle of about three Gallons two skillets, one smale [small] one, the other bigger; one frying pan, one bed pann. one peuter chamber pott. six peuter dishes: two porringers: one bear bole: one Quart peuter pott: one barrell, one Tub, Three wooden dishes: one Earthen basen: all which p[ar]ticulers Feather bed &c. after my wife her decease, shall be Equally divided by my Executo^rs to my two daughters & Grand child Mary chaundler: & If my wife Marry againe, her husband shall give bond for the delivery of them at her decease or it shall be in my Executo^rs power to divide them to the Legatees at her Marriage: Item. My will is my son philemon yearly a^llow my wife out of the Orchard Given him dureing her widow hood one barrell of Apples & one Kilderkin of sydar: Item. My will is that my Two sons John & philemon dureing my wife her widow hood, pay unto her in Ipswich fifty shillings apeice (In wheat Malt pork & Indian Corne) anually all these p[ar]ticulers above given my wife, is with this proviso, that she rest sattisfied & make noe further Claime to any of my Estate Reall o^r p[er]sonall, what the Law allows a widow by way of dowry: which if my beloved wife shall see [the previous word is uncertain] good to doe, then all & every part above bequeathed to her to be voyd & of none effect I Give & bequeath unto my son John Dane that Land of Farme, which I bought of m^r Richard Hubbert with all the houses barnes, Edifices, fences & what p[ri]viledges soever is in upon the... [the next three lines in this document have been made mostly illegible by the application of tape, which runs across the middle of the paper]... I have given to my son philemon Item I Give unto my son John after my wife her decease, my new house which I have given her in Case as exprest: also the division granted unto me by the Towne of Ipswich at plumb Isleand.

Item My will is that my son philemon pay or Cause to be paid unto my Grandson Daniell Hovy Thirty pounds at the age of Twenty & one years which he hath given me under his hand to pay: If it be not

^{before I have been deceased for two years} [the previous phrase was interlined as transcribed, but the transcription “been deceased for” is very uncertain]

Further my will is haveing given unto my son philemon by a deed of Gif [Gift] a sufficient portion: part in hand & p[ar]t In reversion: my will is that he pay his Mother fifty shillings p[er] Anno as Exprest in her legacy; In Case Item. My will is that my son John & philemon have my books & Manuscripts & that philemon divide them, & Jn^o. Cuse. Also I Give to my son philemon on Ketle & one Iron pott.

Item I Give to my daughter Elizabeth Twenty pounds in Currant pay to be paid by my Executo^rs w^thin one year after my decease. not bulls nor horses.

Item I Give to my daughter Sarah fifteene pounds to be paid by my Executo^rs for time & specie as Elizabeths is

Item I Give to my Grandchild Mary chandler the sum of five pounds to be paid by my Executo^rs out of Moveabls & stock within one year after my decease. In Ipswich

Item My Will is & have & doe hereby Constitute & Appoynt my sole Executor son Jn^o. Dane to be my sole Executo^r. to Receive & pay all debts: & to pay all legacies (except when [the previous word is uncertain] philemon is to pay) as exprest: & what estate is not p[ar]ticulerly wil,^d [willed] is left to him for that end & to defray all funerall chardges

That this is my Last Will & Testament I have hereunto sett my hand & seal this thirty first day of May one Thousand six hundred & Eighty & three

John Dane ^sr

Signed Sealed & declared to bee his Last will & Testament in p[re]sence of Wittness. Whose names are subscribed:

John Brewer Sen^r

Nehemiah Jewett:

 

John Dane, Sr. died on September 29, 1684 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts ^{VI24, DA5}. After the death of John Dane, Alice married an individual with the surname “Meacham” ^DA5.

Francis Dane, the son of John and Francis Dane, was baptized on November 20, 1615 ^{CH41, VE14} by Thomas Benedish, the vicar of St. Michael’s Church in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England ^CH41. The date of his baptism was written in a peculiar fashion because it stated “bapt Nov xx3”; the other records in this register used typical Roman numerals of the fashion, so if he was baptized on November 23, it would have been written “Nov xxiij^th” ^CH41. The symbol which resembled a “3” probably did not actually mean “3”. St. Michael’s Church, near the town’s center, still stands. It was constructed in the early 1400s of flint with stone dressings, embattled walls, and a leaden roof ^RA10. He matriculated sizar (meaning he enrolled and had a scholarship or worked to pay for his education) at King’s College at Cambridge in 1633 ^VE14. He was a minister in Andover, Massachusetts from 1648 until 1697 ^VE14.

He married Elizabeth Ingalls, the daughter of Edmund Ingalls, and they were the parents of Nathaniel Dane, Elizabeth Dane, Hannah Dane, Phebe Dane, Abigail Dane, and Francis Dane ^DA5. Nathaniel Dane was born about 1645 ^DA5; Nathaniell Deane married Deliverance Heasletine on December 12, 1672 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI3. Elizabeth Dane married Steven Johnson on November 5, 1661 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI3. Hanah Dane married William Goodhue on November 14, 1666 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI24. Phebe Dane or Deane married Joseph Robinson on May 30, 1671 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI3. Abigall Deane, the daughter of Francis and Elizabeth Deane, was born on October 13, 1652 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI2; Abigall Dane married Francis Faukner on October 8 or October 12, 1675 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI3. Francis Dane, the son of Francis and Elizabeth Dane, was born on December 8, 1656 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts ^{VI2, DA5}, and Francis Dane or Deane married Hannah Poor on November 16, 1681 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI3.

On April 27, 1648, Francis Dane was a juror in the inquiry into the death of a child named Nathaniel Knight, the son of Alexander Knight ^SA21. The jury found that Nathaniel’s parents had left him alone and unattended in his house, and he died after his clothes had caught fire; this child died as a result of burns which covered his body ^SA21. Frances Dane and Samuell Ingals (Ingalls) witnessed the deed between Thomas Farnam of Andover and James How, Sr. of Ipswich dated March 16, 1662 (probably 1662/3) ^SA21.

Elizabeth Dean or Deane, the wife of Mr. Francis Dean, died on June 9, 1676 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI3. Francis Dane or Deane next married Mrs. Mary Thomas on November 22, 1677 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI3. Another source stated that they married on September 21, 1677 ^DA5, but the Andover record stated “9 br. 22, 1677” ^VI3, which would have been November. Mary Dane, the wife of Mr. Francis Dane, died on February 18, 1688/9 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI3. He third married Hannah (Chandler) Abbet, the daughter of William and Agnes Chandler and the widow of George Abbet ^DA5.

During the Salem Witch trials, Francis Dane, Sr. was among twenty-six petitioners of Andover to the govenor and court at Boston who wrote on behalf of those unjustly accused of witchcraft ^MA70. This petition was dated October 18, 1692, and has been transcribed below ^MA70:

 

To his Excellency the Governour, and Council, & Representatives, now Assembled at Boston. The Humble Address of the ministers, and of some of the Inhabitants of Andover:

We being deeply sensible of the heavy judgment that the Righteous God hath brought upon this place, thought it our duty (after our earnest prayers to the God of Heaven, to give us help from our trouble) to lay before this Honourable Assembly, our present distressed estate, and to crave a redress of our greivances. It is well known that many persons of this Town, have been accused of witchcraft, by some distempered persons in these parts, and upon complaint made have been apprehended and committed to prison. Now though we would not appear as Advocates for any who shall be found guilty of so horrid a crime, but we heartily desire that this place, and the whole land, may be purged from that great wickedness: yet if any of our frends friends and neighbours have been misrepresented, as tis possible some of them have been; wee would crave leave (if it might be without offence) to speak something in their behalf, have^ing no other desighn therein, then that the truth may appear. We can truly give this Testimony of the most of them belonging to this Town, that have been accused, that they never gave the least occasion (as we hear of) to their neerest relations or most intimate acquaintance, to suspect them of witchcraft. Severall of the women that are accused were members of this church in full Communion, and had obtained a good report, for their blameless conversation, and their walking as becometh women professing godliness. But whereas it may be alledged, that the most of our people that have been apprehended for witchcraft, have upon Examination confessed it. To which we Answer that we have nothing to plead for those that freely and upon conviction own themselves guilty: but we apprehend the case of some of them to be otherwise. for from the information we have had and the discourse some of us have had with the Prisoners, we have reason to think that the extream urgency that was used with some of them by their friends and others who privately examined them, and the fear they were then under, hath been an inducement to them to own such things, as we cannott since find thay are conscious of; and the truth of what we now declare, we judge will in time more plainly appear. And some of them have exprest to their neighbours, that it hath been their great trouble, that they have wronged themselves and the truth in their confessions.

We are also very sensible of the disstressed condition of severall poor familyes, on whom this great trouble is fallen; some more of our neighbors are like to be impoverished & ruin'd, by the great charge they are at to maintain, such of their familyes as are in Prison, and by the fees that are demanded of them, whose case we pray may be considered.

Our troubles which hitherto have been great, we foresee are like to continue and increase, if other methods be not taken then as yet have been, for there are more of our neighb[o]^rs of good reputation & approved integrity, who are still accused, and complaints have been made against them, And we know not who can think himself safe, if the Accusations of children and others who are under a Diabolicall influence shall be received against persons of good fame.

We thought meet also to Signifye that not only persons of good creditt among our selves, but some Hono^rable & worthy men of other places, do suffer in their names by the acusations of afflicted people in this Town

Thus haveing given you^r Hono^rs some account of our present troubles, we crave pardon for our boldness in this Address, and humbly pray this Hono^red Court to take into their serious consideration our low and distressed estate: And that the only wise God may bless yo^r counsels & Endeavo^rs for the welfare of his people, shall be the prayer of
You^r Humble Petitioners

Dated at Andov^r 18^th Oct. 1692.

 

He also wrote statements on behalf and in support of Martha Carrier and his own daughter, Elizabeth Johnson, who had been accused of witchcraft ^WO4. He advised temperance and tactfully implied that his community had become paranoid and hysterical. These have been copied from the typed transcription created by W. Elliot Woodward, who transcribed some “s” letters as “ſ”, some “v” letters as “u”, and some “I” letters as “J” ^WO4:

 

Francis Dane Sen^r for Martha Carrier.

R.^vd S^r Whereas there haue been divers reports rayſed, how and by what hands J know not, of the Towne of Andover, and the Jnhabitants, J thought it my bounden duty to giue an account to others, ſo farr as J had the vnderſtanding of any thing amongt us. Therefore do declare that J beleeue the reports haue been Scandalous, and unjuſt neither will bear y^e light. As for that, of the Sine, and biſers J never heard of it, till this laſt Summer, and the Sabboth after J ſpake publiqly concerning it ſince which J beleeue it hath not been tryed, As for ſuch things of Charmes, and ways to find their cattle, J never heard, nor doe J know any Neighbour that ever did ſo, neither have J any grounds to beleeue it, I haue lived above Fortie foure yeares in the Towne, and haue been frequent among y^e Jnhabitants, and in my healthfull, yeares oft at their habitations, and ſhould certainly heard if ſo it had been. That there was a ſuſpicion of Goodwife Carrier among ſome of us before ſhe was apprehended, J know. As for any other perſons, J had no ſuſpicion of them, and had Charity been put on the Diuel would not haue had ſuch an advantage againſt us, and J beleeve many Innocent perſons haue been accuſed, and Jmpriſoned y^e Conceit of Spectre Evidence as an infallible mark did too far prevaile with us Hence we ſo eaſily parted with our neighbours of honeſt and good report, and members in full Comunion, hence we ſo eaſily parted with our Children, when we knew nothing in their liues, nor any of our neighbours to ſuſpect them and thus things were hurried on, hence ſuch ſtrange breaches in families, ſeverall that came before me, that ſpoke with much ſobriety, profeſſing their innocency, though through the Devils Subtilty they were to much urged to confeſſe, and we thought we did doe well in ſo doing, yet they ſtood their ground profeſſing they knew nothing, never ſay ye deuil, never made a Covenant with him, and ye like, and ſome children that we haue cauſe to feare that dread has overcome them to accuſe themſelves in that they knew not. Stephen Johnſon Mary Barker y^e daughters of Lieftenant Barker, and ſome others by what we had from them with ſuitable affections we haue cauſe to beeleeve they were in the truth, and ſo held to it, if after many indeavours they had not been overcome to ſay w^t they never knew. This hath been a trouble to me, conſedering how oft it, hath been ſayd, you are a witch, you are guilty, and who afflicts this maid or the like, and more then this hath been ſayd, charging perſons with witchcraft, and what flatteries haue paſt from ; and threats and telling them they muſt goe to priſon and this I feare haue cauſed many to fall, our Sinne of Jgnorance wherein we thought we did well, will not excuſe us when we know we did amiſſe but whatever might be a ſtumbling block to others muſt be removed, elſe we ſhall procure divine diſpleaſure, and Euills will unavoidably breake in upon us.

Yours S^r who am though unworthie a friend to them y^t are friends to Sion.

Andever Jan 2. 92.

Francis Dane Ser.

 

Concerning my Daughter Elizabeth Johnſon, J never had ground to ſuſpect her neither have J heard any other to accuſe her, till for Spectre evidence ſhe was brought forth, but this J muſt ſay, ſhe was weake, and incapacious, fearfull, and in that reſpect J feare ſhe hath falſely accuſed herſelf and others Not long before that ſhe was ſent for ſhe ſpake as to her owne particular, that ſhe was ſure ſhe was no witch, and for her daughter Elizabeth, ſhe is but ſimpliſh at ye beſt, and J feare the common ſpeech that was frequently ſpread among us, of theire liberty, if they would confeſſe, and the like expreſſion, uſed by ſome, haue brought many into a ſnare, the Lord direct and guide thoſe that are in place, and giue us all ſubmiſſiue wills, and let the Lord doe with me, and mine, what ſeems good in his owne eyes.

 

Francis Dane, Sr. of Andover wrote his will on April 25, 1693, which named his wife, Hannah Dane, his sons (Nathaniel and Francis Dane), his daughters (Elizabeth Johnson, Hannah Goodhue, Phebe Robinson, and Abigael Faulkner), his grandson (Francis Goodhue), his nephew, (Francis Johnson, the eldest son of Stephen Johnson), and his niece (Phebe Robinson) ^AM1:

 

April the 25^th: One Thousand Six hundred and Ninty three

I Francis Dane Sen^r of Andover in the County of Essex, being through the goodnes of God of Sound mind & Memorie, yet through age & infirmities of body, being put in mind of my mortality, I make this my last will, & Testament in manner following.

First I com[m]it my Spirit into the hands of God, imploring his mercy through Christ the sonne of his love in whom he is well pleased:

And my body to decent burial. And further dispose of my outward estate which God hath beene pleased graciously to give me, my mind, & will is set downe.

First, that all my just debts be payd truely, & satisfied by my executors hereafter named.

To my Deare wife, Hannah Dane, I give twenty pounds to be payd as followeth. whereof Four Three [the previous amount is unclear because the two numbers were written on top of each other; it looked as though “Three” was written in the same ink as the rest of the document, but “Four” may have been written in a larger script but a different type of ink] pounds & Eleaven shillings is allready payd for the two cowes, the mony being in her owne hand The remainder of the pay to dieth what she please. y^e rest to be payd in Corne, Cattle, & Swine in differently prized as com[m]on pay, at price currant in y^e Towne

what chests, or goods my sd wife brought to my house I leave them to her to dispose to w^m [whom] she will; onely what Tobacco, Meate [the previous word is uncertain] or Candles were then brought excepted & then spent.

It: I order my Sonne Nathaniel to pay to her Annually foure pounds, during her widowhood, In wheate or Ry [rye], or Indian [Indian corn], or cattle at price currant, as it goes in the Towne:

It: I order my Sonne Francis to pay three pounds yearly during her widowhood, In wheate, Ry, Indian, ^and The cutting of foure load of Hay in Little Hope at Eightene pence the Load, w^ch [which] is the be set off as part of the three pounds yearly.

To my Beloved Sonne Nathaniel, I give my now dwelling house lands about it, with y^e Buildings, Hortyard [possibly “orchard”], plough lands & Pastures

It: The land & meadow that he hath in his hands made over by Deed.

It: I give to my Sonne Nathaniel Two acres of meadow at little Hope strictly measured, & the two Coves, [the previous word is uncertain] one above the other, the two Acres Joyning to ye Cove of John Fry Sen^r from the upland to the Isle land [island]

It: I give to my Sonne Nathaniel, my Silver cup & the Cupbord in the parlour, & a great peuter platter marked with D:

To my Sonne Francis, I give y^e house & all the Lands lying at Little hope

The Lands I give to my Sonne Francis are as followes, Eight score Acres layd out for my great division. And Thirty Acres layd out for my third division, to my Six Acre Lot & the Meadow of my first devision, lying at little Hope, as appears excepting what is above mentioned, given to my Sonne Nathaniel.

It: I give to my Sonne Francis, two Acres of land bought of John Lovejoy Sen^r: laid to my Line at little hope, as appeares by Deed.

It the plough, Chaines, musket, the chest in y^e Parlour marked w^th F.D: and a peuter platter marked w^th F.E..D.

It: to my two sones I give my wearing cloaths.

To my daughter Elizabeth Johnson, I give Six Acres of land, layd out on Each side of their now dwelling house, & so over the hill. And after y^e death of my Daughter Elizabeth Johnson, I give it to my nephew Francis Johnson, the eldest Sonne of Stephen Johnson Sen^r:

To my Daughter Hannah Goodhue, I give the Feather bed that is in my parlour, & boulster, & Hangings about the bed.

To my Grand Sonne Francis Goodhue, I give all my bookes, Hebrew Greek, & Latin, & English, excepting w^t I have given to my sonns & Daughters, & Grandchildren, which they have in present possession.

To my Daughter Phebe Robinson, I give a parcel of land, now layd out behind the great pond.

It: I give to my Neece Phebe Robinson my Feather bed lying in the great chamber & the Boalster, & the wrought Cushion, & one of the new Blankets in y^e parlour.

To my Daughter Abigael Faulkner I give my Fether bed in the little parlour. It: A parcel of swamp land, partly purchased: Six Acres purchased for Fourty shilling payd to Joseph Parker Sen^r.

All my moveables not already disposed of ^{my debts being payed} I leave equally to be divided among my foure daughters, Elizabeth. Hannah. Phebe, Abigail. It: six paire of sheets, I leave to be divided among my foure daughters.

Lastly my Will is, & I hereby Constitute & appoint my beloved Sonns, Nathaniel, & Francis Dane, my executors of this my last will & Testament.

In wittness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seale this Twenty-fifth of April. One Thousand, Six hundred ninty three 1693.

Francis Dane Sen^r:

Signed, Sealed and declared to be my last Will: in presence of, witnesses,

Thomas Barnard

Thomas Johnson

Thomas Osgood

 

Reverend Francis Dane, “Teacher of the church of Andover, having been an officer in ye church 48 years” ^VI3, died at age eighty-one on February 17, 1696/7 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts ^{VI3, VE14, DA5}. His will was proved on the oaths of Thomas Barnard, Thomas Johnson, and Thomas Osgood on March 8, 1696/7 ^AM1. Hannah Dane, the widow of Reverend “Francies” Dane, died at age eighty-two on June 2, 1711 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts ^VI3.

Mary Dane, the daughter of John and Francis Dane, was baptized on “the first of May” in 1617 and was buried on May 26, 1617 at St. Michael’s Church in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England ^CH41.

Francis Dane probably died by July 1643, because John Dane married Ann Chandler as his second wife on July 2, 1643 ^{VI46, DA5}.

 

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John Dane signed his name on his will on September 7, 1658 ^AM1.