“Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists."
― Franklin D. Roosevelt
Essex County, Massachusetts was created on May 10, 1643 by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, when it ordered "that the whole plantation within this jurisdiction be divided into four sheires."
Martha Whatlock Scott was baptized on June 18, 1568 in Rattlesden, Suffolk County, England. Her parents were Thomas and Joan Whatlock.
She married Henry Scott on July 25, 1594. Their children and life together in Ipswich, Massachusetts is described in the section on Henry and Martha Scott.
She became a widow in 1624. Under the terms of her husband's will, she inherited the house they lived in for the term of her life. After that it would go to her son Roger.
In 1634 she went to American with her family. At that time she was a 60 year old widow.
Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.
During the 17th and 18th centuries an adult unmarried woman was considered to have the legal status of feme sole, while a married woman had the status of feme covert. A feme sole could own property and sign contracts. A feme covert was not recognized as having legal rights and obligations distinct from those of her husband and could not own any property. When a woman became a widow she became a feme sole again.
The town of Ipswich was established on August 5, 1634, from common land called Agawam. On October 18, 1648, that portion called the "Village" at the New Meadows was set off as Topsfield. The boundary line between Ipswich and Topsfield was established, February 28, 1694.
from Genealogical Gleanings in England, Volume 2 by Henry Fitz-Gilbert Waters
Robert whotlock of Rattlesden, knacker, 20 September 1622, proved 8 October 1622. My kinsman Thomas Skott of Rattlesden, glover. My sister Martha Skott. My kinswoman Ursula Kemball. Kinswoman Ellen Usher. Andrew Bartholomewe. Andrew Fordham of Rattlesden. Elizabeth Bell. Prudence Webb. My kinsman Roger Skotte at one and twenty years of age. House in Norfolk my brother Roger Whotlock gave me. Peter Devereux, minister of Rattlesden. Henry Skott a witness.
from The Kimball Family News
Thomas Whatlocke (Whotlock), surveyor at Rattlesden, 1588, questman 1590. Buried January 25, 1608, "a very old man." Wife Johan (Joane), buried March 14, 1610.
Children
1. Roger Whotlock, bap. May 15, 1561, owned a house in Norfolk, which he left to his brother Robert.
2. Robert Whotlock, bap July 20, 1564; m. (1) Mary Barthenewe (Bartholomew), July 4, 1591, who was buried Sept. 29, 1606; he m. (2) Ann Davy, June 25, 1607; and (3) Rachael , who was buried June 19, 1621. He was buried Sept. 28, 1622 He left a will in which he devised 3£ apiece to his sister, Martha Scott, and kinswoman, Ursula Kemball.
3. Martha Whotlock, bap. June 18, 1568; m. Henry Scott July 25, 1594, who was buried Dec. 24, 1624.
4. Dorothy Whotlock, bap. July 6, 1572, buried Nov. 3, 1574
American colonists continued to use British monetary units, namely the pound, shilling and pence for which £1 (orli) equalled 20s and 1s equalled 12d. In 1792 the dollar was established as the basic unit of currency. Encyclopedia of British and Early American Coins
New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial edited by William Richard Cutter, edition 3, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915
The will of Henry Scott, dated September 24, 1624, was proved in the arch-deaconry of Sudbury, January 10, following, and he was buried in Rattlesden, December 24, 1624. The will mentions Abigail, Henry, Elizabeth and Richard Kimball, his grandchildren, who were the children of Henry and Ursula (Scott) Kimball; also his wife Martha and sons Roger and Thomas Scott. . .
