| Notes |
- The Baxter Family were among the founders of Quincy, Massachusetts.
1. GREGORY BAXTER. Of this branch in America
we first hear of the name of Gregory Baxter, who probably
came over with Winthrop, or certainly in the fleet with him,
from England, lie was one of the first settlers of Roxbury,
in 1630. He was probably still in Roxbury when his son
John was born, in 1639. He then moved to Braintree, and
settled in that part then called Ruggles Point, afterwards
Bent's Point, but now called Quincy Point. He was there
in 1610. In 1613 the Boston Records show power given to
Goodman Basse and Goodman Backster, both of Braintree, to buy the overplus in the Three Hill Meadow there.
In 1631 he was admitted a Freeman ; March 6, 1631, was
the date of his oath.
Gregory Baxter was a contemporary of the Rev. Richard,
of England, though the latter was born at Rowton, England,
in 1615, and it is not improbable that Gregory came from the
same neighborhood ; indeed, Gregory is thought by some,
and tradition holds that he was as near a relative as brother,
but of this I have not yet ascertained the truth. Gregory
married Margaret Paddy, the sister of William Paddy, of
Plymouth, a very distinguished man in that vicinity, his
name appearing on many public papers and records.
THEIR CHILDREN WERE :
1. Bethulia, or Bethia, b. 1632: m. Samuel Dearing, of Braintree.
2
2. John, b. Dec. 1, 1G39 : m. Hannah White, of Weymouth:
d. Apr. 21, 171!): farmer. 3
BAXTEE GENEALOGY. 9
3. Abigail, b. : m. Joseph Adams, of Braintree.
4
Nov. 29, 1(350.
To say something more of Mrs. Gregory Baxter's family.
William Paddy was Treasurer of Plymouth County, from
1640-53. Many deeds were signed by him as witness, on which
appear as witnesses often the names of Capt. Thomas Willett
and Ensign George Baxter,* both of whom were afterwards
Commissioners of the Dutch at New Haven ; and inasmuch
as the vessel of Capt. Thomas Baxter was seized, and William
Paddy and Samuel Mayo became sureties for the prosecution
against Thomas Baxter (the vessel belonging in
fact to Capt. Thomas Willett, William Paddy, John Barnes,
and Samuel Mayo,) I am still in doubt as to whether
Thomas and Gregory were not different originators of Massachusetts
families, and for the present I must so consider
them, looking at Thomas as of the Cape Cod branch, and
Gregory of the Quincy branch. It would hardly have been
* GEORGE BAXTER.
1635. George Baxter, Thomas Willett, and divers other Massachusetts families, settle with
Dutch at Manhadoes.
1643. Commands 35 Englishmen in expedition in the New Netherland War against the
Indians.
1646. Lieut. Baxter was a messenger to the United Colonies commissioned from the Dutch.
1648. Dutch alarmed at settlement of New Haven by English. Gov. Stuyvesant, in 1C50,
complains at Hartford about the encroachments on the Connecticut and Hudson
Rivers.
1650. Appointed Commissioner on part of Dutch to English with Thomas Willett.
1650-53. Magistrate of Gravesend, L. I.
1651. May 2. Ensign. Assists in removing Vice-Director Dincklagen from the Council.
1651. Director. George sends a letter to Caddington (who came from Lincolnshire, England,
to Salem in the "Arabella," June 12, 1630), Governor of Rhode Island,
lor which he is accused, with Secretary Tienhoven, of treason to New England.
No notice was taken of charge.
1653. Dec. 30. Director. George writes to Holland Government, from New Amsterdam,
Conn.
1655. George, with others at Gravesend, L. I., publicly proclaim themselves subjects of the
Government or Republic of England, and there sets up his arms. Thomas Willett
also fought against the Dutch.
1663. Nov. 24. Capt. George Baxter brought the Royal Charter of Charles II from England
to the General Court of Commissioners of Rhode Island, assembled under
the parliamentary patent for the last time. He received
|
1606 - 1659 (53 years)
