William Straw
(Abt 1660-Abt 1712)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
1. Mehitable Hoyt

2. Margaret

William Straw

  • Born: Abt 1660, Nottinghamshire, England
  • Marriage (1): Mehitable Hoyt about 1683 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts
  • Marriage (2): Margaret about 1691
  • Died: Abt 1712, Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts about age 52
  • Buried: Corner Cemetery in Amesbury Depot, Essex County, Massachusetts
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bullet  General Notes:

per Biographical Review: William arrived in Massachusettes and settled in Salisbury and was engaged in agricultural pursuits.

The Evening Journal (Wilmington, Delaware) 31 Aug 1922, Thu Page 10
YOUR LAST NAME - Copyright 1920 by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate; by Mary Marshall Deffee.
IS IT STRAW?
"When in the course of human events it becomes desirable to assume hereditary surnames the ancestor of the Straws was undoubtedly a dealer in the commodity of dried grass called straw, which was used at an early date not only for bedding cattle but for the pallets on which ordinary men slept. Such was the origin of the patronymic Straw in England and in Germany the surname Stroh undoubtedly had the same origin.
The small but distinguished family of Straw in this country was founded by one William Straw who settled in Salisbury, Mass in 1635. He had come from Nottinghamshire, England. One of his most distinguished descendants was Amos Gale Straw born in 1864 a graduate of Dartmouth and Harvard Medical College. He married Zaeta Leola Longsdorff who was the first woman graduate of Dickenson College, Pennsylvania. She became a physician and before her marriage to Dr. Straw took charge of the Government Hospital at Fort Hall, Idaho.
Another distinguished descendant of William Straw, the first settler, was Ezekiel Albert Straw born in 1819. He was Governor of New Hampshire in 1872 and made member for the Continental Expostion for his state by President Grant. He was the first president of the New England Cotton Manufacturers and president of the New Hampshire Fire Insurance Company. He was generally agreed to be the most able executive in New Hampshire for many years.


According to John Threfall he was a tailor by trade and also a farmer and sgt in the military.
Another genealogy states that he was born in England in 1660 which seems right as he married c 1683 (age 23?).

New England Marriages Prior to 1700
By Clarence Almon Torrey
Straw, William and Mehitable ?(Hoyt) c1683? b.1686 Amesbury [this refers to the birth of son Wm]
Straw, William and Margaret ? ; b. 1692 Amesbury [this refers to birth of their first child son Samuel]

OLD FAMILIES OF SALISBURY AND AMESBURY MASSACHUSETTS With some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich, and Hampton and of York County, Maine. pg 330; By David W. Hoyt

Frank Shaw in his genealogy (MY NEW ENGLAND GENEALOGY) states the following: "William Straw's origin remains a mystery to this day. He may have come to New England via Virginia or Barbadoes. There is a possibility that the Straws came from Glemsford, Suffolk, England, an area that sent many immigrants to New England during this period...William died about 1712. His Will, made on May 23, 1709 and proved on October 2, 1712 was witnessed by Joseph Holt, Jacob Bagly and Theophilus (last name unknown). His Estate was worth approximately 105 pounds."

Per Don Higgins (a direct descendent) William mentions his oldest son William in his Will "to whom he bequeathed all his housing and land in Amesbury, a pair of two year old steers and "my largest iron kettle." He also mentions his daughter Dorothy Trull, widow of John; his son John, his now wife Margaret and sons Samuel and (Lawrence?)

His Will was probated in Salem, Mass. Following is a copy of the inventory of William Straw at the time of his death: (this information per genealogy of Ellen Straw Thompson 1897) Sargent William Straw his wearing clothes 3 pounds Farm yolt and 2 1.04 " "Leambor" house all stuff 1 pound Sheeps wool 0.10 pound house, land, orchards and barn 3 pounds plow 0.06 pounds 10 sheep 3.00 pounds 2 2 yr old steer 3.00 pounds a mare's colt 4.00 pounds 2 calves 1.00 pound hay m barn 2.00 pounds 3 swine 2.04 pounds chest and bedding 3.00 pounds
_____________
105.40 (24) 1 1/5 pounds
48 0
______________
8480
424
____________
$ 508.80


Research of Richard N Burns on LDS site claims he was the s/o Lawrence born 1615 in England.

Fifty Great Migration Colonists to New England & Their Origins: To New England and Their Origins By John Brooks Threlfall Edition: illustrated Published by Heritage Books, 1992 ISBN 1556136854, 9781556136856 556 pages the family alias in Clemsford [Chelmsford?] 1868 was LAWRENCE

on 31 May 1709 Wm deeded land to John Challis

Will 23 May 1709 and proved 2 Oct 1712 I William Straw of Almsbury in the County of Essex in her Majesty's Province of ye Massachusetts Bay in New England Taylor- bieng through the goodness of God of perfect memory and understanding, do make this my last will and testament in frome and manner following. Imprimis I commend my spirit to god who gave it and my body to ye dust from whence it was taken in full assurance I shall receive it again at ye general ressurection - Nextly what worldy goods and estate God hath been pleased to bless me withall I dispose of as followeth: viz 1: I give and bequeath unto my eldest son William Straw all my housing and land and a payr(sic) of two year old steers and my largest iron kettle to have and to hold to himself his heirs and assigns forever he ye said William Straw paying or causing to be paid out of ye premises all my just debts and funeral charges and ye sum of eight pounds to my son John and ye sum of twenty shillings to my daughter Dorothy Trell relict of John Trell deceased or to their respective heirs or assigns at my n ow dwelling place in Almsbury in money or other good pay to their satisfaction at price that it is worth in money within ye space of seven years next after my decease which I give and bequeath to each of them as their full portion out of my estate always provided that this my request unto my said son William Straw be no so interpreted as in ye least to infringe upon ye thirds or legal right of dowrie of Margaret my now wife which I leave and commend unto her own dispose and improvement during ye term of her natural life...... I give and bequeath all the rest of my estate of what sort so ever it be unto my said wife Margaret and my sons Samuel Straw and lawrence Straw in equal proportion of their heirs or assigns respectively as their full portion out of my estate Finally I make constitute and ordain my said eldest son William Straw sole executor to this my last will and testament and in confirmac of ye premises I have hereunto subscribed my ahdn and seal ye twenty third day of May in ye eighth year of ye reign of our sovereign Lady Ann by ye Grace of God of Great Brittain France & Irel'd Queen Defender of ye Faith Annoq Dom One Thos'd seven hundred & Nine. Sign'd Seal'd & published to be his last Will & Testament in ye presence of us Joseph Hoyt , Jacob Bagly, Theophilus Iersson (?) The inventory included his waring clothes, an Iron pott and 2 kittells, lumbor housallstof , sheeps wool, a hous land barn and outhut, plow bridl, 10 sheep, 2-2 year old steers, a mare and collt, 2 calves, hay in the barn, 3 swin, chest and beding, totalling L105.5. Sworn p. Execrs. James Ring Junu, William Straw -- Novr. 3 1712.

[William died about 1712. His Will, made on May 23, 1709 and proved on October 2, 1712 was witnessed by Joseph Holt, Jacob Bagly and Theophilus (last name unk). His Estate was worth approximately 105 pounds."]

NH History Blog [www.cowhampshireblog.com]
Straw, (possibly son of Lawrence Straw b 1615 in England) b. abt 1660 in Nottinghamshire England; d. abt 1712 in Amesbury MA. He m. Mehitable Hoyt, dau of John Hoyt. She b. 25 Oct 1664 in Amesbury MA and d. bef 1691 in Amesbury MA. He married 2nd) Margaret '96 . She b. 1638 and d. 1712. William arrived in Massachusetts and settled in Salisbury. He may have been a tailor in addition to being a farmer. William's will made 23 May 1709 and proved 2 October 1712 was witnessed by Joseph Holt, Jacob Bagly and Theophilus '97 . His estate was worth approximately 105 pounds. His will was probated in Salem MA.
Children of William & Mehitable (Hoyt) Straw:
1. Dorothy Straw, b. 1684, d. 29 Sep 1715 Amesbury MA; m1) Luke Wells who d. 1728; m?2) John Trull
2. William Straw, b.22 May 1686, d. 1728 Amesbury MA; m. Lydia Purington;
3. John Straw, b. 1 July 1688 Amesbury MA, d. 28 Nov 1750 Kingston NH; m. Lydia Sargent; had issue
Children of William & Margaret (?) Straw:
1. + Samuel Straw, b. 13 Aug 1692 in Salisbury MA
2. Lawrence Straw, b. 31 May 1699, d. 1762; m. Abigail Jewell and had issue.


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William married Mehitable Hoyt, daughter of John Hoyt and Frances Brundish, about 1683 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. (Mehitable Hoyt was born on 25 Oct 1664 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, died in 1690 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts and was buried in Corner Cemetery - Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.)


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William next married Margaret about 1691. (Margaret was born before 1675 and died after 1712.)




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