General Notes

Sarah's father, whose name is sometimes spelled Travis, came from London, England in the "Mary and John" early in 1634. Some secondary sources have said he was of Irish ancestry, but there is no evidence for this. The passengers of the "Mary and John" went first to Agawam, now Ipswich, Mass., and in 1635 many of them, Henry Travers included, moved to Newbury. He was granted six acres of salt marsh in the Great Marsh, and a house lot of half an acre near the First Landing Place. Also four acres in another part of Newbury.(7) He was on a list of 91 freeholders of Newbury on 7 December 1642.(8)

His wife Bridget may have been a sister of Richard Fitts of Ipswich and Newbury, Mass., as in the latter's will dated 2 December 1672 he mentions his sister "Travisse's" daughter. As the term 'sister' could also refer to a sister-in-law, it is also possible that Richard Fitts was a brother-in-law, or even a step-relation of some sort. The widow Bridget married, 30 March 1659, Richard Window of Gloucester, Mass. She may have been married to a Goodwin before marrying Henry Travers.(9) It is also possible that Henry had a wife before Bridget in England before he came to America, although that may never be known.

In a Court held at Ipswich, Mass. on 29 September 1646, "John Emery, for his miscarriage with the wife of Henry Traverse, fined 3 li. [pounds] or to be whipped, and pay witness fee to Christopher Bartlet. Bound to good behavior and not to frequent the company of the wife of Henry Traverse. Brigett Traverse fined 10s. for her misdemeanors."(10)

Henry Travers was a seaman. In 1648 he went to London and never returned, leaving behind his wife Bridget, daughter Sarah and a son James. Before he left he wrote a will that began "This 26th day of July, 1648, I Henrie Travers of Newbury, having occasion to go to Sea and know not whether I shall live to Com againe, I do by this present declare my last Will and Testament, as followeth..." To his daughter Sara he left a cow and a 3-year old heifer, as well as two brass pots, a little kettel, a frying pan, and a table board.(11)

In 1655 the widow Bridget petitioned the court regarding the estate, and said, in part, "That whereas Henry Travers, my husband, went away to England from mee seaven years agone, and left mee two children; my Daughter was of the age of ten years, and my son not full three years of age. He then made his will and gave my daughter a Cow and a Heifer, to be paid to her at twelve years old... ...my daughter being now marryed I have payed to her two heifers." At one point in this petition she states "And since he [her husband] went [to England] I have not heard of him but once, which is five years since(12) ." Since Henry left seven years earlier it appears that two years later she somehow got word of him, or heard from him. It sounds like the man decided to stay in England and abandon his family back in America. What became of him after this point is unknown, although on 15 July 1659 an inventory of his estate was made, and he was called "late of Newbury, deceased".(13)

At a Court held in Ipswich, Mass. 27 September 1659, the will of Henry Travers was presented, but not proved. "Administration was granted to his widow, Bridgett, now wife of Richard Window. Nicolas Walington, who married his daughter, Sarah Traverse, had already received three pounds, and the court ordered the administratrix to pay them twelve pounds more, and to the son, James Traverse, thirty pounds when he comes of age, and the rest of the estate, which amounted to 92 li. [pounds], to the widow, the land to stand bound for the children's portions."(14)

After Bridget Travers married Richard Window in 1659 they moved to Gloucester. Richard's will dated 2 May 1665 and proved 27 June 1665 mentions the Travers children with this section: "And Conserning James travis: thirty pounds which the Honored Court was pleased to aloue him out of his fathers inheritanc which lis in Neckeles waringtans hands which is his portion."(15)

Bridget, widowed once more, was deceased by 9 November 1673 when her estate was in probate. Administration was granted to Nicholas Wallingford and James Travis. An inventory was done on 9 October 1673 that came to 11 pounds, 12 shillings, and 3 pence. Mrs. Samuel Worcester and Elizabeth, his wife, testified that "within two or three dayes before the death of the Widdow Window, wee heard her declare that her will, as to her disposall of w[ha]t estate she had, was that her son in Law Nicolas Wallington, who ought her forty shillings, giveing to his son John Wallington an Ewe lamb out of it should have the rest of the said forty shillings; and that her Grandchild Sarah Wallington should have her best coat; and that her son James Traves should have her bed; and that the rest of her estate should be equally divided between her son Nicolas Wallington & James Traves". Sworn November 25, 1673.(16) Elizabeth Worcester comes into the picture again after her husband Samuel died because she became the second wife of Onesiphorus Marsh, whose third wife was Sarah Travers.