Massachusetts Bay Colony
Freemen to take the Oath: 1630
Submitted by Janice Farnsworth *
Applied for Freeman Status, October 19th, 1630
What follows is the entire record of the Court of the
session of October
19, 1630. The men that applied for freemen status were
mostly arrived in 1630 with the Winthrop fleet and the Mary & John.
However, the earlier arrivals are also represented here, and this list
contains many of the surviving settlers from the the Abigail and the
Higginson fleet, as well as a few who came before 1628.
All names were inscribed by the Court clerk, and give an indication of
the pronunciation, if not the oath-taker's prefered spelling of his
name. The spelling of surnames and most prenames is given here as
originally written down, but we have replaced abbreviated prenames by
the common full spelling. Where prenames were omitted, they are inserted
here in italics. The order of the names as written down originally can
be seen here. There is no apparent indication of their social status in
the order of the names, but some of the earliest settlers appear first,
and study has revealed groupings according to the MBC township of
origin.
At General Court, holden at Boston the 19th of October, 1630
Present,
The Governor (John Winthrop)
The deputy Governor (Thomas Dudley)
Sir Richard Saltonstall
Mr. (Roger) Ludlowe
Capt. (John) Endicott
Mr. (Increase) Nowell
Mr. (William) Pinchon
Mr. (Simon) Bradstreete
For establishing the government, it was
propounded if it were not the
best course that the Freemen should have the power of choosing
Assistants when there are to be chosen, and the Assistants from among
themselves to choose a Governor and a Deputy Governor, who with the
Assistants should have the power of making laws and choosing officers to
execute the same. This was fully assented unto by the general vote of
the people and erection of hands.
Ralfe Sprage is chosen constable of Charlton, John Johnson of Rocksbury,and John Page for
Waterton, for the space of one whole year, and after till new be chosen.
It is ordered that the sawyers shall not take above 12d a score for
sawing oak boards, and 10d a score for pine boards if they have their
wood felled and scored for them.
Walter Palmer made his personal appearance this day, and stands bound,
he and his sureties, till the next Court.
The names of such as desire to be made Freeman
