Random History Bytes 136: John Throckmorton Gateway Ancestor

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Last Update: Wed May 17 08:06 EDT 2023

Random History Bytes 136: John Throckmorton Gateway Ancestor
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Amelia Throckmorton's 4th great grandfather is John Throckmorton (1601-1684) (Wikipedia). He descends from many royal and noble ancestors, and since he is the first in his family to come to America, he is known as a Gateway Ancestor. He sailed from Bristol, England to America in late 1630 on the ship Lyon, with his wife Rebecca Farrand (Abt. 1610-1684) and their children at the time. They arrived at Boston in early 1631, and went to Salem, Massachussetts. ¹ Sailing on the same ship was Roger Williams. ²

He went to Rhode Island to join Roger Williams in 1635 or 1636 and became a Baptist. Because of his rejection of the Anglican church he and his family were excommunicated. ³ This map of Providence Home Lots 1636-1650 shows J. Throckmorton at the west end of lot 15 (Roger Williams at the west end of lot 14) with a note "Mvd to lot 11", and his name is found at the east end of lot 11.

In 1643 he secured permission from the Dutch to settle near New Amsterdam. This was later called Throckmorton's Neck, shortened to Throggs Neck. This was short lived because of an Indian uprising against the murderous tactics of Willem Kieft, the Director of New Netherland. The Indians massacred the settlers there, murdering 18. Those lucky enough to escape made it to the safety of the Fort at New Amsterdam. John Throckmorton removed back to Rhode Island. ⁴ Anne (Marbury) Hutchinson was murdered in this massacre, see RHB126.

In 1664 John Throckmorton bought some shares from the Monmouth Patent. In 1672 he conveyed land in Middletown to his son John. ⁵

George Fox, the Quaker founder, preached at Newport, Rhode Island in 1672 and a number of people there decided to become Quakers, including John Throckmorton. ⁶

Stillwell tells us that "John Throckmorton was gentlemanly born, well educated and possessed of wealth." He owned vessels in the commercial trade, but apparently hired captains, and was not one himself as no records have been found giving him the title of captain. He died while visiting his sons John and Job at Middletown, and was buried in what is now known as the Throckmorton-Lippit-Taylor Burial Ground. ⁷

John Throckmorton also descends from nine of the twenty-five Magna Carta Surety Barons, also. (From: Wikipedia), As work on this continues, these lines will be added to the Navigable Tree page.

Endnotes:
¹ C. Wickliffe Throckmorton, A Genealogical and Historical Account of the Throckmorton Family in England and the United States with Brief Notes on Some of the Allied Families (Richmond, Virginia: Old Dominion Press,1930), 210; (A Genealogical and Historical Account of the Throckmorton Family accessed : 14 March 2023).
² Frances Grimes Sitherwood, Throckmorton Family History: Being the Record of the Throckmortons in the United States of America with Cognate Branches (Bloomington, Illinois: Pantagraph Printing & Stationery Co., 1929), 45; (Throckmorton Family History accessed : 14 March 2023).
³ John E. Stillwell, Historical and Genealogical Miscellany: Early Settlers of New Jersey and their Descendants, Vol. V (New York,1932), 76; (Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, Vol. V accessed : 27 March 2023).
⁴ Stillwell, Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, 76-77.
⁵ Stillwell, Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, 78.
⁶ Sitherwood, Throckmorton Family History, 49.
⁷ Stillwell, Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, 78.