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Info on Boston James Pemberton

Info on Boston James Pemberton

Posted: 14 Apr 2015 1:36PM GMT
Classification: Query
This is not my Pemberton's-I am helping anyone who might be related. It is assumed by some that James Pemberton of Malden and Charlestown MA was not related to James Pemberton who shows up in Boston in 1646, but they were father and son: Walter Watkins in his 1890's booklet (based partly on a book written 10 years earlier by a woman -forgot her name- titled something like The Pemberton, Ellis, Titcomb families, published in Boston), said the James Pemberton of Malden and the James Pemberton of Boston "must not be confused," but the truth is they WERE related. These authors only had limited access to records, otherwise they did very well with the records they had, and their mistake is also due to the fact that there is no actual "ships passenger" list of Winthrop's Fleet of Puritans who came to MA, only a list compiled using early MA records to figure out who came over with Winthrop in 1630. But when the authors quote records of MA they are very helpful. But apparently neither author knew about the land patent given to James Pemberton in 1628 for land outside Boston, an island which was called Pemberton's Island (name later changed, but early records show Pemberton's Island), and that this land patent shows a connection to BOSTON. This was the James Pemberton who came to MA in 1630 on Winthrop's Fleet as an adult man, James Pemberton and wife Alice, and John Pemberton and wife Elizabeth--these were brothers. John's wife died in 1646 and he went back to England and died Essex co England 1654 per his will which mentions his "brother James of New England." This James of New England--Malden MA- had a SON NAMED JAMES who had been born in England 1622 and when this James (b1622) JR grew up he moved to BOSTON in 1646 and was registered as a freeman there. SO: James Pemberton, wife Alice, and SON James Pemberton came to MA in 1630, and James JR went to Boston in 1646 at the age of 24, and his offspring are the Pemberton's of Boston. A helpful site on this is The Winthrop Society site in "Settlers" and "Adventurers"/Founders lists (outside "links" on the site is not helpful, but the rest of their site is), and also Ancestry.com records. Winthrop's Fleet site in "Settlers" mentions James' children: JAMES, Sarah, Mary, and John.
James of MA SR probably came from Essex England since his brother John's will 1654 was recorded there, and also James had a friend he mentioned in his 1661 will, Joseph Hills, and Hills was from Essex England, and Joseph HIlls was also a fellow Founder of Massachusetts Bay Colony. So, if you want the possible father of James SR (land grant 1628/to MA as adult 1630), he may be found in Essex.
This is all I know of this Pemberton family.

Re: Info on Boston James Pemberton

Posted: 24 Apr 2015 1:44PM GMT
Classification: Query
I'm replying to my own post--to add more info. First, it could be this James Pemberton who arrived to MA 1630 MAY have been from Lancashire (not Essex) England. But actually the Lancashire and Essex England Pemberton's of this period in time were related. Sir James Pemberton of London (d London either 1611 or 13, don't remember) whose will shows he had no children, left property etc to his wife and to his nephews and a niece in Lancashire and this Sir James Pemberton was born in Essex where his father was a farmer there and Sir James left money to a school he founded there.
This brings me to more info on James Pemberton of Boston, from my previous post (info on Boston James Pemberton), and evidence James of Malden (arrived 1630) was father of James of Boston adult in 1646: From "England Births and Christenings 1538-1975" is James Pemberton christened 6 Jan 1621 St Mary's Prescot, Lancashire England; Father: James Pemberton. This could be the birth in England of James b1622.
There is a record that seems to conflict with the idea that James b1622 was son of James arrived 1630: a Massachusetts christening record of a James Pemberton in 1633 with a father James, at the first church of Boston (built about 1631). But I think this is the James b1622 England, father James, and that this is a REGISTER of James, in 1633, at this first church built in the MA Bay Colony--a big deal to these Puritans. I think some children of settlers were registered at this church long after their births and infant christenings. Just one proven example of this: A Nicholas Phillips of Boston (d15 Mar 1669/70), who married Hannah Salter 1651 and had children including a Hannah b1654; she and her sisters Elizabeth and Sarah were all on a list as being "baptized" --I think registered-- at the first church of Boston ON THE SAME DAY: "the 6th day of the 3rd month of 1666,." father Nicholas, mother Hannah. This proves at least some children were registered long after their births/christenings. Hannah was 12 years old. So it's possible James Pemberton was registered in 1633 at the age of 11. (Also, many Puritans from nearby communities traveled to the first Church of Boston to attend services there, until later when a record shows they requested churches in their own neighborhoods because winter travel was difficult.)
Also, Alice Pemberton (wife of James who arrived 1630) was registered at the first church of Boston, in 1633--and we know she was an adult in 1633!
James Pemberton SR'S will of 1661 does not mention a son James, only a son John. I think this was because James SR only leaves land to his son John, and I think this was because his son James had land already, land in Boston, while James SR's son John was still living near his father James SR, so he left this land to John. I have seen wills that did not mention all known children (and later people mentioned brothers or sisters that had not been mentioned in their father's will). Wills were written to leave property, and if no property left to a child he wasn't always mentioned. James SR mentions only one of his two daughters in his will, leaving the other daughter out of the will --it could be she was married and had her own property.
There is no way to PROVE James Pemberton SR (arr 1630) was the father of James Pemberton who shows up in Boston 1646 but evidence points to this possibility.
This, now, is in fact all I know about this Pemberton family.
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