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Notes for Richard Norman and Florence

1606/07 "The xiith of Februarie was Xned John the sonne of Rich Normand & Florence his wife" in Charminster, Dorset, England. [1]

1610/11 "The xijth of January was Bapt Elizabeth the daughter of Richard Norman & Florence his wiffe" in Charminster, Dorset, England. [2]

1613 "The xxviijth of Aprill was Buried Elizabeth the daughter of Richard Norman & Florence his wife" in Charminster, Dorset, England. [3]

1614/1615 "The iiiith of February was baptized Margret the daughter of of Richard Norman and Florence his wife" in Charminster, Dorset, England. [4]

1617 "The Last day of July was Baptized Susan the daughter of Richard Nothman and Flourance his wiffe" in Charminster, Dorset, England. [5]

1619 "The xvijtenth of October was baptized Florence the daughter of Richard Norman and Florence his wife" in Charminster, Dorset, England. [6]

1622 "Richard sonne of Richard Norman" was baptized on September 1 in Dorchester Holy Trinity, Dorset, England. [7]

1626 Richard Norman, carpenter of Dorchester, was a co-defendent in a case listed in the Dorset, England, Quarter Sessions Order Book. [8] The case is listed in the section of the General Session of the Peace held at Dorchester, Dorset, dated the second, third, and fourth days of October in the second year of Charles I. [9]

Joh'is Holmes de Litchett husb. … Ric'us Norman de Dorchester Carpenter & William Pope de Litchett Matravers husb. vid. … xli & … xxli

1628 Richard Norman and his son John arrived in New England before September 6, 1628, as servants of the Dorchester Company.

Richard Brackenbury of Beverly in ye county of Essex in New England aged eighty yeares testifieth: that he ye sd Richard came to New England with John Endecott Esq late Governor of New England, deceased. & that once come a shore at ye place now called Salem the 6th of September in ye yeare of our Lord .1628. fifty two yeares agoe: at Salem wee found liveing old Goodman Normon & his sonn, William Allen & Walter Knight & others. those owned that they came over upon the acco't of a company of England, caled by us by the name of Dorchester company or Dorchester marchants; they had sundry houses built at Salem, as alsoe John Woodbery, Mr Conant, Peter Palpeny, John Balch & others. & they declared yt they had an house built at Cape Ann for ye Dorchester company …
Richard Brackenbury made oath to ye truth of ye above written. this 20th day of January 1680. before me
Bartholmew Gedney Assistant.
In the Colloney of Massachusetts [10] [11]

Humphrey Woodbery of Beverly in New England. aged about 72 yeares. testifieth: that when I live in Sumersetsheire in England, I remember that mu father, John Woodberye. (since deceased) did about 56 yeares agoe remove for New England. * I then traveled with him as farr as Dorchester. & I understood that my sd father came to New England by order of a company caled Dorchester Company. (among whome Mr. White of Dorchester in England was an active instrument.) & that my father & the company with him, brought cattle & other things to Cape Ann for plantation work & sett up fishing. & afterwards some of them removed to a neck of land sice caled Salem: after about 3 yeares absence my sd father returned to England, & made us acquainted with what setlement they had made in New England. & that he was sent back by some that intended to setle a plantation about 3 leagues west of Cape Ann to further this designe. after about halfe a yeares stay in England, my father returned to New England, & brought me with him. Wee arived at the place nwo caled Salem in or about the month of June, 1628, whene wee found severall p'sons that said they were Servants to ye Dorchester COmpany, & had built another house for them at Salem besides that at Cape Ann: the latter of that sumer. 1628. John Endecot Esq'r: came over, Governor, declaring his power from a company of pattentees in or about London. & that they had bought the houses, boates & ervants w'ch belonged to ye Dorchester Company, & that ye said Endecott had power to receive ym, w'ch accordingly he did take possession of: When wee setled, the Indians never then molested us, in our improvements or sitting downe, either on Salem or Beverly Sides of the ferry, but shewed themselves very glad of our company, & came and planted by us, & often times came to us for shelter, saying they were afraid of theire enemy indians up in the contry, & wee did shelter them when they fled to us, & wee had theire free leave to build & plant where we have taken up lands: …
The testimony within written was taken oath upon, this 16 February. 1689. before
William Brome & Barthomew Gedney
Assistants. [12] [13]

Research Notes:

There are no marriages listed in the Charminster Parish Register from 1597-1606.

Leslie Mahler found the Charminster baptism and burial records for children of Richard and Florence Norman in Bishop's Transcripts of the Charminster records. [14]

1599 John Norman, of Swanage, Dorset, wrote his will on July 21. [15]

In the name of god amen: The one and Twentie daye of Julie. A thousand Five hundred nyntie nyne, I John Norman of Ulwell in the parishe of Swanwith and Countie of Dorset sicke of bodie but of perfitt memory, The Lord be praysed haue made and ordaine this my last will and Testamente in manner and forme followinge; First I yeelden my sowle into the handes of god my maker and redeemer, my Bodie to be buried in the Church of Swanwth; Item I gyve to the Church of Swanwth one Sheepe and to the poore Fyve shillings Item I gyve to Martyn my sonne one Steare or Fortie shillings in money; And to every one of his children one sheepe; Item I gyve to Thomas Mundee my Sonne my blacke mare six sheepe and one wenlinge Calfe. And to every one of his children one sheepe; Item I gyve to William Hardinge my sonne three pounds six shillings Eight pence; Item I gyve to Thomas Norman my sonne Twentie poundes more my howse at Corfe after the death of his mother: Item I gyve to Richarde my sonne Twelve poundes; Item to John my Sonne Twelve poundes; Item to Willm my sonne Twelve poundes; Item I gyve to Grace my daughter Twelve poundes. And to Joane my daughter Twelve poundes; Item more to Richarde one Cowe; Item to John one cowe, to Will'm one cowe. To Grace one cowe. And to Joane one Cowe. To be paid them at the daye of their mariadge. But if anie of my Children dye Before they be maried, then then his or hir portion to remaine to ye rest then lyvinge; Item I give to every godchilde one Lambe; Item I gyve to Rob'te Hall one sheepe; Item to John Earle one sheepe; Item to my maide Twelve pence; All the rest of my goods moveable and vnmoveable I gyve to Joane my wief whome I make my Executrix I request John Coliford and Richard Toppe to see my will performed, and for theire paines I gyve to every of them one sheepe; John Norman his marke, witness to this will Edw Abbatt Henry Tuppe.

1599 The will of John Norman was proved on November 14. [16]

Probatum fuit testamentum suprascriptum apud London … Decimo quarto die mensis Novembris anno dni millesimo quingentesimo nonagesimo nono, Juramento … procuratoris Joanne Norman relce dicti defunct et Executrix …

1600 "Henrye Vye and Joan Norman" were married in October in Swanage, Dorset. [17]

1610/11 Henry Vye wrote his will on February 25. [18]

In the name of God Amen the xxvth daye of Feabruarye Anno Dom' 1610 The viijth year of the Rainge of our Soveragne Lord James by the grace of God king of England Frannce & Ierland and of Scotland etc xliiijth I Henrye Vye of Corffe Castell in the Isle of Purbick, beinge sicke in bodye but of perfect memory thankes be gevne to God doe make my last will & Teustament in manner & forme Followinge First I bequeath my soulle to Almightye God my maker and Redemer and my bodye to be buryed in the Church of Corffe Castell aforesaid Imprimus I geve vnto the churche of Corffe Castell iiijs Item I geve to Sire William Heyward iiij s iiijd Item I geve vnto John Norman one white ____ & one shilver _____ Item I geve vnto my sonne Robert Vye xij Poundes Item I geve vnto Jane Vye my daughter xij Poundes Item I geve vnto Margaret Vye my Daughter fyve ____ __ Item I Geve vnto Henry Vye my sonne xij li Item I geve vnto my sonne John Vye vj li Item I geve vnto William Hardinges three children one ___ ___ Item I geve vnto John Vye sonne Anthony xxs Item I geve vnto my man Edward mainservent ijd, Item I doe intreat Robert Bennet And William ______ to be my ouerser theyir paynes doe geve them Fyve shillinges apeace All the Rest of my goodes moveabell and vnmoveabell not geven I doe geve vnto my wife Jane Vye whom I doe make my whole & sole executrickes provideth my funerell Discharged Item my will is that all suche legasis shall be paide wthin Twoe moneth after my deses.
Henry Vye marke
Witness to this will William Heywood Will'm Hardinges mark

1615 The will of Henry Vye was proved on April 25 and administration was granted to his widow Joane Vye. [19]

1625/26 Joane Vye wrote her will on February 8. [20]

In the name of God Amen the Eight daie of February One thowsand fyve hundred Twentie Five I Joane Vye of Nordon within the parishe of Corffe Castle within the Isle of Purbecke in the Countie of Dorsett wydowe beinge weake and sicke in bodie but of perfecte remembrance thankes be given to Allmightie God Doe make and ordaine this my last will & Testamente in manner and forme followinge First I comende my soule into the handes of Allmightie god myne onelie Creator, and in and by his sonne Jesus Christ my moste merciefull Redeemer And my bodie to the earth out of which it was taken to be buried in the churche yarde of Corffe Castle aforesaide. Item I giue towardes the reparacon of the same parish Church Five shillinges. Item to the poore of the same parish Tenne Shillinges Item I giue vnto my Daughter Frances Mundaie my best Brasse pann and my Brake Item I giue to be equallie diuided amongst her Children Fortie shillinges Item I giue vnto her daughter Frances my silke Apron Item I giue vnto Mowlams wief Five shillinges Item vnto Thomas Norman her brother Five shillings Item I giue to my daughter Grace Ferrard a Cowe Item I giue to be equallie divided amongest her children Fortie shillinges Item I giue vnto Nicholas and Robert the sonnes of William Hardinge two shillings five pence a peece. Item I giue to be by myne executors bestowed in Cloathes vpon William Hardinges Daughters Fortie shillinges. Item I giue vnto my sonne in Lawe John Trewe my great brasse pott. Item I giue to be equallie divided amongest his Children fortie shillinges. Item I giue vnto John Vye my Table=board with the Frame and the Furme Item I giue vnto Henry Vye Tenne shillinges. Item I giue vnto Robert Vye Five shillinges Item I giue vnto his sister Joane Vye Five shillinges. Item I giue vnto Francis the daughter of my daughter Grace Ferrard Three poundes and my Cuppboard with my lesser brasse pott, Item I giue unto my Grandchild John Norman Twentie Shillinges Item I giue all my wearinge apparell vnto my daughters Francis Mundaie Grace Ferrard, Joane Trewe, Margarett the wief of my sonne John Norman Margarett the wief of my sonne William Norman, and my Grandchild Francis Hayward to be equallie diuided amongest them Item I giue vnto Alice Benfield the daughter of John Cooke my greate Candlestick, and unto Edith Kennell her sister a Platter. Item all the rest of my Goodes moveable and unmoveable not before given nor bequeathed I giue and bequeath vnto my two sonnes John Norman and William Norman whom I make and ordaine my whole and sole executors. Item I doe hereby revoake all former wills heretofore by me made. Item I doe intreate my Good neighbours and frendes Silvester Graye and Walter Ardnen to be the Overseeers of this my last Will to se the same performed accordinge to my good meaninge, and for theire paines I giue them Twelve pence a peece John Vye oweth me for rente Due at Christmasse last Twentie shillinges. Silvester Graye oweth me whiche he borrowed Twentie shillinges. In wittnes whereof I have herevnto sett my hand the daie and year abouesaide. The testatrixe before her subscrip'on gaue vnto her Godchildren sixe pence a peece. Signum Joanne Dye Wittnesses herevnto Gervase Russell Minister Richard Tyler.

1626 The will of Joane Vye was proved on May 17 with administration granted to John Norman and William Norman, executors nominated. [21]

The biographical sketch of Richard Norman in The Great Migration Begins states, [22]

Richard Norman
Origin: Unknown
Migration: 1626
First Residence: Salem
Removes: Marblehead

Occupation: Fisherman or shipwright.
Education: Signed deed of 1653 by mark [EQC 3:369].
Offices: Coroner's jury on body of William Bateman, 18 September 1630 [MBCR 1:78]. On 18 May 1631 "Rich[ard] Norman is fined 2s. 6d. for his negligence in watching" [MBCR 1:87].
Estate: In Salem land grant of 1636 received twenty acres [STR 1:19, 24]. In the 25 December 1637 division of marsh and meadow, granted three-quarters of an acre, with a household of four [STR 1:103].
Granted twenty acres "that was Mr. Thorndeck's," 29 January 1637/8 [STR 1:65]. A grant of 20 January 1640/1 to Allen Converse refers to "that lot which was Richard Norman's near the head of the river," and adjoining Mr. Endicott's farm [STR 1:109].
In his will, dated 14 October 1672, son-in-law Robert Morgan of Salem mentions the twelve acres of land in Manchester "which my wife's father Norman gave unto her in the great plain" [EPR 2:355].
On 22 April 1653 Richard Norman the elder deeded to his son Richard Norman his house and ten acre lot "in Marvellheade upon Darbe Fort side," along with cow commons [EQC 3:369].

Birth: By about 1587 based on estimated date of marriage.
Death: After 22 April 1653 [EQC 3:369], but before 27 June 1664 [EQC 3:369, when Thomas Millett Sr. acknowledged "old Richard Norman's act and deed"].
Marriage: By about 1612 _____ _____; on 9 July 1645 the "wife of Richard Norman Sr." testified in court [EQC 1:82]; no further record. (Two women by the name of Arabella Norman were admitted to Salem church, one in May 1637 and the other on 25 February 1637/8 [SChR 6, 7]. One of these is certainly the wife of John Norman, son of Richard. The second is probably a clerical error, but just might be the wife of Richard Sr.)

Children:
i John, born say 1612; m. before May 1637 Arabella _____ [SChR 6; EQC 1:74 (when he certifies the births of children with wife Arabella)].
ii Margaret, born say 1613; m. (1) by about 1633 Robert Morgan (who mentions "my wife's father Norman" in his will [EPR 2:355]; their eldest child, Samuel, m. in 1658). (Margaret is said to have married second, after 1673, Samuel Fowler, but the evidence for this is not seen [Hoyt 162].)
iii Susanna, born say 1615; m. by 1635 Robert Lockwood (who refused a Salem houselot grant "beyond his father Norman's" [STR 1:47]).
iv Florence, born say 1619; m. (1) by about 1639 John Hart (daughter Elizabeth m. in 1659; husband of daughter Florence called son-in-law of Thomas Whittridge in 1672 [Sarah Stone Anc 38]); m. (2) about 1657 Thomas Whittridge (who called Richard Norman his wife's brother and with whom she had three sons after 1657 [EPR 2:287; Sarah Stone Anc 46-47]).
v Richard, born about 1623 (deposed aged about fifty 19 March 1673/4 [EQC 5:256], deposed aged about fifty-seven at June Term 1680 [EQC 7:386]); m. by about 1650 Margaret _____ (daughter Elizabeth "d. in 1732, aged eighty-two" [Sarah Stone Anc 52]).

Comments: In his deposition of 20 January 1680/1 Richard Brackenbury included "old Goodman Norman and his son" among those who were already at Salem when Endicott arrived in 1628 [EIHC 13:138].
On 17 September 1640 "Erasmus James and Richard Norman, sr., [were] presented for defective fences on Darby fort side. Not proved" [EQC 1:194].
Richard Norman was evidently in a fishing or shipbuilding business with his son, since "Rich[ard] Norman, Jno. Norman and Company" were sued by John Devereux at July Term 1642 and again at December Term 1642 [EQC 1:42, 45]. The conflict grew heated and Devereux further sued Richard Norman for defamation at December Term 1642 [EQC 1:45].
At July Term 1642 Norman witnessed against Matthew Gillet who stole a piece of soap from John Norman "to wash his shirts with, as he said" [EQC 1:44]. When his son Richard, Jr., was fined for "slighting ordinances and carrying a burden on Lord's day," Richard Sr. answered for him in court, February 1642/3 [EQC 1:51]. It is likely, as Davis says, that "Norman was probably not of the Puritan persuasion" [Sarah Stone Anc 45].
Pope incorrectly applied the probate of the younger Richard to the elder. Savage thought that there were two John Normans, a brother of Richard the immigrant, and a son, but the records all apply to one man, son of Richard.
Bibliographic Note: In 1930 Walter Goodwin Davis prepared one of his typical eloquent but sparsely referenced treatments of this family [Sarah Stone Anc 45-54].
EQC=Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1636-1686, 9 volumes (Salem 1911-1975)
STR=Town Records of Salem, Massachusetts, 1634-1691, 3 volumes (Salem 1868, 1913, 1934)
EPR=The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1635-1681, 3 volumes (Salem 1916-1920; rpt. Newburyport, Massachusetts, 1988). Citations to the unpublished probate records are to case numbers, or to register volumes (which begin with volume 301).
MBCR=Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, 1628-1686, Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, ed., 5 volumes in 6 (Boston 1853-1854)


Footnotes:

[1] Charminster Parish Registers, 1561-1812, Dorset History Centre, Dorchester, England, PE-CMR: RE1/1-RE1/3, Dorset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[2] Charminster Parish Registers, 1561-1812, Dorset History Centre, Dorchester, England, PE-CMR: RE1/1-RE1/3, Dorset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[3] Charminster Parish Registers, 1561-1812, Dorset History Centre, Dorchester, England, PE-CMR: RE1/1-RE1/3, Dorset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[4] Charminster Parish Registers, 1561-1812, Dorset History Centre, Dorchester, England, PE-CMR: RE1/1-RE1/3, Dorset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[5] Charminster Parish Registers, 1561-1812, Dorset History Centre, Dorchester, England, PE-CMR: RE1/1-RE1/3, Dorset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[6] Charminster Parish Registers, 1561-1812, Dorset History Centre, Dorchester, England, PE-CMR: RE1/1-RE1/3, Dorset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[7] Dorchester Holy Trinity Parish Registers, 1559-1812, Dorset History Centre, Dorchester, England, PE-DO[HT]: RE1/1-RE1/5, Dorset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[8] Dorset History Centre, Dorchester, England, Dorset Quarter Sessions, Order and Plea Books, 1625-1637, QSM 1/1, Dorset, England, Quarter Sessions Order Books, 1625-1905, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[9] Dorset History Centre, Dorchester, England, Dorset Quarter Sessions, Order and Plea Books, 1625-1637, QSM 1/1, Dorset, England, Quarter Sessions Order Books, 1625-1905, [AncestryImage].

[10] Essex County, Massachusetts, Deeds, vol 4-5, 1673-1681 (Essex County courthouse, Salem, Massachusetts), FHL film 866016, DGS 7462654, [FamilySearchCatalog], [FamilySearchImage].

[11] Essex County, Massachusetts, Deeds, vol 4-5, 1673-1681 (Essex County courthouse, Salem, Massachusetts), FHL film 866016, DGS 7462654, [FamilySearchCatalog], [FamilySearchImage].

[12] Essex County, Massachusetts, Deeds, vol 4-5, 1673-1681 (Essex County courthouse, Salem, Massachusetts), FHL film 866016, DGS 7462654, [FamilySearchCatalog], [FamilySearchImage].

[13] Essex County, Massachusetts, Deeds, vol 4-5, 1673-1681 (Essex County courthouse, Salem, Massachusetts), FHL film 866016, DGS 7462654, [FamilySearchCatalog], [FamilySearchImage].

[14] Leslie Mahler, "The English Origin of Richard Norman of Salem, Massachusetts" The American Genealogist 77 (2002), 102-103, [AmericanAncestors].

[15] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].

[16] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].

[17] Swanage Parish Registers, 1563-1812, Dorset History Centre, Dorchester, England, PE/SW: RE1/1-RE1/3, RE2/1-RE2/2, RE3/1, and RE4/1, Dorset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[18] Dorset, England, Wills and Probates, 1565-1858, Corfe Castle Peculiar 1601-1628, CC/W/47, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[19] Dorset, England, Wills and Probates, 1565-1858, Corfe Castle Peculiar 1601-1628, CC/W/47, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[20] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].

[21] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].

[22] Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633 (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), 1334, [AmericanAncestors].