Individual Narrative of John Carleton
John Carleton;1 was born in January 1637/38 in co. Yorkshire, England.2,3,4,1 He married Hannah Jewett, daughter of Joseph Jewett and Mary Mallinson, say 1658/59 in Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts.5,6,7,8,9,10
He lived in February 1661 at Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts.11 He became the guardian of Patience Jewett on 26 March 1661 in Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts.6 He and Hannah Jewett purchased land on 22 May 1662 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts.6 He and Hannah Jewett purchased land from Robert Swan in 1663 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts.12 He was a town recorder and Clerk of the Writs between 1664 and 1668 at Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts.12 He and Robert Swan were involved in a scuffle. From the records of the County Court, John Carleton of Haverhill was fined three pounds for striking Robert Swan several blows, and Robert Swan 30s for striking John Carleton several blows in 1666 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts.13,14 He left a will on 15 January 1668 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts.15 He died on 22 January 1668/69 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts.2,6,16 His will was proven on 13 April 1669 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts.15
The baptism of John Carlton is not recorded in the parish of St. Martin, Micklegate, where his parents were married, or in Barmston, his father's former residence, or in Hedon, his mother's home. All other likely parishes have been searched, but most have no early records. A large part of the Bishops' Transcripts for 1637-8 have been examined, and through a diocesan leaflet a reward was broadcast to incumbents of all Yorkshire parishes for this record, but in vain.
LIEUT. JOHN CARLETON was born probably in Yorkshire about 1637, died at Haverhill, Massachusetts, 22 Jan. 1668. (Vital Records.) He married, probably about 1658-9, HANNAH JEWETT, born at Rowley, Massachusetts, 15-4 mo. (June) 1641, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Mallinson) Jewett. As "Hana Carleton widdow" she married secondly at Salem, Massachusetts, 5-8 mo. 1674, as his second wife, Christopher Babbidge of Salem, and was living as late as 27 Nov. 1706, when Christopher Babbage, Sr., of Salem, "taylor," and Hannah Babbage, his wife, sold land to their son, Christopher Babbage, Jr. (Essex Deeds, vol. 19, fo 124.)
The petition of Christopher Babbage and Hannah his wife to the Court at Salem, 27 Nov. 1678, requesting the appointment of an administrator to the estate of Mr. Edward Carlton, sometime of Rowley, for the benefit of the children of the said Hannah, represents that John Carleton was sent back from England by his father with a letter of attorney, by which he received a portion of the estate. Probably this was the power of attorney, dated 9 Aug. 1650, given to Humphrey Reyner and Joseph Jewett, but not entered in the court records until 5 Mar. 1656. If so, John Carleton probably lived with Joseph Jewett during the following two years of his minority, and so naturally at his coming of age led the second daughter of the family to the altar that the marriage remained unrecorded. In the will of Joseph Jewett, dated 15 Feb. 1660, he is named, as "my son John Carleton," one of the executors. Patience Jewett chose Mr. John Carlton as her guardian, and it was allowed by the court 26 Mar. 1661.
He soon removed to the neighboring town of Haverhill, as shown by a deed of William Holdredge and Isabell his wife to John Carleton of Haverhill, conveying fourscore acres of upland in Haverhill, 22 May 1662. He also purchased lands in Haverhill from Robert Swan in 1663, from Edward Clark in 1665, and from Robert Clements in 1666/7. On 11 Jan. 1664, John Carleton and Hannah his wife of Haverhill sold to John Gage for one hundred pounds 300 acres in Rowley, joyning to the farm of Patience Jewett. (Norfolk Deeds, vol. 2, pp. 64, 83, 84, 174; Ipswich Deeds, vol. 2, p. 222.)
In 1664 Mr. John Carleton was chosen town recorder and Clerk of the Writs for Haverhill, offices in which he continued until 1668.
From a case of Crosby vs. Swan, a writ dated 25 Mar. 1664/5 preserves his excellent penmanship with this representative autograph.
In several similar signatures he was consistent in reviving the spelling of the name used by his great-grandfather and name-sake in Yorkshire, which has been followed by most American members of the family. At a court held at Salisbury, 14 Apr. 1668, Jno. Carleton is recorded as a member of the Jury of trials; and 29 Sept. 1668 a petition was presented to Ipswich court by John Carleton and four others as selectmen of Haverhill. (Records and Files, Quarterly Courts of Essex County, vol. 3, pp. 198, 239; vol. 4, pp. 20, 120.)
It would appear that this active career was cut short by a sudden illness, for "The last will &
Testament of Leift. John Carleton of Haverhill, made January: 1668" is on file in the Essex Probate at
Salem, the date, as may be observed, being just a week before his death. By this will he gave his homestead and
forty acres of upland in Haverhill to Hannah his wife, the rest of his land and estate to be divided among his
sons, with the customary double share to John, the eldest. This will was proved 13 Apr. 1669, and bears the endorsement
"The widow Hannah Carlton did renounce her executorship." There is also filed, however, a somewhat lengthy
petition of the widow Hannah, of the same date, that she may be possessed of the estate her late husband willed
to her, not excepting of being executrix, and that "this honered Court would bee pleased to consider ye condition
of my deare children being all but small & haipleis."
The inventory, taken 25 Jan. 1668 by George Browne, Robert Clement, and Joseph Davis, amounted to £422
12s. 8d. On 2 Sept. 1695 the children having arrived at the full age of 21 years, Peter Ayer, who had been appointed
administrator of the estate, joined with John and Joseph Carlton in requesting the court to grant administration
"to Edward & Thomas Carleton sonns of Mr. John Carleton deceased," and 30 June 1696 settlement of
the estate by mutual agreement of the sons was reported to the court.
The administrators of the estate of John Carleton late of Haverhill, Massachusetts--deceased: present the following
inventory of such lands not yet made a disposal or distribution of nor settled amongst the heirs according as the
law directs; which he died seized of in the town of Haverhill.
Impr. 47 acres of land called Oxecommon lands
two acres and half of East Meadow
six acres of Hawkes Meadow
three acres or thereabouts of Hawkes meadow
about four acres of Ducks Meadow at Spickett Hill Foot
privilege in common appraised in the inventory given at fifteen pounds
six score acres of land by Robert Swans deed joining upon Hawke Meadow
This is all at present that we the administrators have to present which if we can agree about to divide amongst the heirs before the superior court in May next we shall present then; but if not we shall request the honorable judge of probate for Essex county to make a division of to the widow and the four children only that now remain that are heirs to said estate.
March 31, 1696 As witnessed our hands Your servants administrating to said estate.
Edward Carlton
Thomas Carlton
Know all men by these presents that we, Edward Carlton and Thomas Carlton, administrators to the estate of John Carlton, our father, late of Haverhill in the county of Essex within the province of Massachusetts Bay in New England having taken an inventory of the estate of said Carlton, deceased within the bounds of Haverhill aforesaid and enter the same judge of probate and register for Essex aforesaid. Which said lands we the subscribers and sons of said John Carleton deceased have agreed to divide amongst ourselves with consent of said administrators: and have divided the same by mutual consent of each other as follows: the said John Carlton and Joseph Carlton, sons of said John, deceased, by these presents do accept of the land lying and being in Haverhill aforesaid commonly called and known by the name of Oxepasture land and the orchard and house lot which was compotes adjoining thereto being about sixty or seventy acres be it more or less with all the wood timber, trees, privileges thereupon, in and belonging thereunto as their full right and whole share in the lands within the said town, hereby releasing and quitting claim unto said administrators as administrators and heirs with them to all the rest of the lands and real estate that they might claim interest in: covenanting and promising said Edward and Thomas Carlton, their brothers as heirs with them in the said estate; and hereby oblige themselves that they and their heirs and assignees shall forever hold and enjoy all other lands and privileges in the commons of Haverhill aforesaid and in the township of Haverhill that did or anyway may appertain to their said father when he died; and to his rights he died seized of: the said Edward and Thomas Carlton: hereby quit claim to said John and Joseph Carlton of said land they have accepted of as above for their share unto them and their heirs and assigns forever; promising and covenanting to and with the said John and Joseph that they and their heirs shall forever enjoy the same without any hindrance and molestation, interruption, suit or denial of them and their heirs forever always with this provision that any debts appear not yet known of due from said estate they and their heirs and executors and administrators shall pay their equal parts of such debt or debts according to the proportion they have hereby received, together with the said Edward and Thomas that this is the agreement between said parties with respect to the real estate left by said John Carlton deceased which each party for themselves and their heirs, executors, administrators and assignees have and do oblige hereby themselves unto: in testimony hereof they have set to their hands and seals this 30th June 1696.
Signed sealed and in presence of
Neh. Jewett
John Pengry
John Carlton
Joseph Carlton
Edward Carleton
Thomas Carleton
(Note: that two of the sons signed their names as Carlton and the other two as Carleton)
On the reverse side of this document:
To the honorable Bartholomew Gidney, esq. Judge of probate of wills for the county of Essex; and granting administration.
The humble petition of John, Joseph, Edward, and Thomas Carlton who are all the children that said John Carlton their father left at his decease being now of full age to act for themselves being all married is that according to the above said division the said lands may be settled and pray your honorable concurrence therewith who are your honorable's humble servants. Essex county--before the honorable Bartholomew Gidney-esq. Judge of probate of wills, etc. For said county-June 30, 1696-John Carlton, Joseph, Edward Carleton and Thomas Carleton all personally appeared and acknowledge the above written on the other side to be their act and deed, which is accordingly allowed and confirmed.
Bartholomew Gidney Jno. Read-register.
John Carlton
Joseph Carlton
Edward Carleton
Thomas Carleton.6
Please send e-mail to: rcarlton@flash.net
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