General Notes

[Joanne's Tree.1 GED.GED]

2  SOUR S332582
3  DATA
4  TEXT Date of Import: 14 Jan 2004


[daveanthes.FTW]

!     John followed his brother Christopher to New England about 1637 or 1638.  He was made a freeman on May 22, 1639.

In The Osgood Family, Field states that a document was found in Her Majesty's State paper office written by Dr. Standley, who was head master of the famous School at Winchester.  It is given below:

"Noble Sir,

I am earnestly solicited by John Osgood to write unto you again about his intended journey to New England, that he may have the liberty to goe.  I told him that I had written the last weeke, but that would not satisfy Him because He could not be sure that Letter was Delivered, or that the way would be open to Him.  I desire you, therefor, that you would be pleased, if you have not done so already, to take order that He may passe, as He intended; because I would by now means hinder him in his journey, though it may be he would be his best friend that should doe it. I take my leave & rest

March 23d 1637 (1637/38)                         Your Servant to dispose of
Your Sonne is very well.                                 Edward Stanley

Ye bearer of this letter will, as I am told, pay any moneys, that shall be due in this business.
Superscribed Endorsed
To my Honorable Friend Mr. Nicholas                     R. 3d Aprilis 1638.  Mr. Dr. Stanley
(Sir Edw Nicholas, prin. Schoolmaster at Winton (the olde
Sec. of State to Chas. I.) one of ye                         name of Winchester) for a passe f
Clerks of ye Counsyl in King's Street Jo. Osgood.
near ye axe yard in Westminster."

Shortly after the above letter was received by Nicholas, the ship "Confidence" sailed from Southampton for New England, as stated in another account claiming he came from County Norfolk.  In the list of passengers of the ship "Confidence" of Southampton that arrived on April 11, 1638, there was a Sarah Osgood and four children, along with a William Osgood and William Jones (both under 11 years of age) and Margery Packe, Servant.  It appears that this was the wife of John and that the four children were Sarah, John, Mary and Elizabeth.  The place listed as her origin is shown as Horrell.  Of course, this may have been changed from Orrell which was a town in Lancashire and not far from Liverpool.

However, her occupation was listed as Spinster.  Possibly it was a clerical error.  Or it may have been because John may have been refused permission to leave England since he was a subsidy man.  He may have had to resort to some deceit to secure passage for him and his family.  Such practices were not uncommon at that time and place.

John settled in Andover in 1644 or 1645 where he died.  However, he had previously lived in Ipswich and Newbury.  He was one of the original grantees of Winnacunet (also called Hampton).   According to Endicott, Coffin in his History of Newburg states that John came from Andover in Hampshire, England.  In the Sketches of Andover, there is a list in the earliest book of the town records now existing which purports to be "the names of all the freeholders in order as they came to town".  In this list is shown first Mr. Bradstreet, then John Osgood, then the rest.

John was one of the founders of the Church in 1645.  When the first church of Andover was gathered on October 24, 1645, John was named immediately after Mr. John Woodbridge, the teacher.  He was also the first representative for Andover in the General Court in 1651.

John, whose name stands second on the list of householders and next after the Minister's on the list of the ten memebers who formed the nucleus of the first church, was probably the most influential citizen, after the Bradstreets and the Minister.  It is said that John was the one who named the new plantation but there does not appear to be any actualy verifiable evidence of this.

He was also the first representative for Andover in the General Court in 1651.  The General Court to which he was the deputy voted, in reference to some of the demands of the beloved and honored Protector of England, to the effect that it would be inconsistent with the Colonial conscience to submit its affairs to any laws except those made by the freeman of the Colony.  They remonstrated against the appointment of any governor by the Protector for the Colony.  They demonstrated that their charter entitled them to elect their chief executive in the Colony.  Cromwell, therefore, left the Colonial Magistrates undisturbed -- Endicott, Governor; Thomas Dudley (father-in-law of Mr. Bradstreet) , Deputy Governor.  Mr. Bradstreet was one of the Assistants at this time, Andover being honored in having two of her Citizens at this early day influential in the Colonial legislature and government.  The Acts of legislation which engaged the attention of Andover's first deputy did not espaically concern the town of his residence.  They are of no particular local interst being mostly in regard to lands and boundaries and the regulation of Colonial trade and Commerce.  John's term of office was short and he died in the same year he was elected.

During an illness stome time before, he had made his will, which was the first, as far as has been found, of the testaments of Andover citizens. The Will of John Osgood is given as follows:

"The twelfth of April 1650 in the age of the testator fifty-four (born in 1595 July 23).  In the name of God Amen.  I John Ossgood off Andover in the Co. of Essex in New England Being Sick of Body But in perfect memory do institut and mak my last will & Testament in manner and forme as foloweth:  Imprimus I give & bequeath my Soule into the hand of God my heavenly ffather Through the medyation of Jesus Christ my Blessed Saviour and Redeemer my Body to the earth from whence it was taken my Good and chattels as followeth  Impreimus I do give Unto my Sonn John Osgood my hous and hous lot with all accomodations thereunto Belonging Broaken Up and Unbroaken Up land with all the medow ther Unto belonging fforever with the proviso that my wife Sarah Osgood shall have the moyety or the on half of the hous and lands and meadowes during her naturall life. It. I do give & bequeath to my Sonn Stephen Ossgood 25 pounds to be payd at 21 years of age in Country pay.  It.  I do give to my daughter Mary Ossgood 25 pounts to be payd at 18 years off age in Country pay.  It.  I do give to my Dater Elizabeth Ossgood 25 pounds to be payd at 18 years off age in Country pay.  It.  I do give and Bequeath unto my daughter Hannah Ossgood 25 pounds to be payd at 18 years in Country pay.  It.  I do give to my daughter Sarah Clements 20 s.  It.  I do give to her daughter Bakah 20 shillings to be payd when she is 7 years of age But if she dy before that time to be null.  It.  I do give to my servant Caleb Johnsoon one Cow Calf to Be payd 3 years By for his time is out, and to be kept at the Cost off my Executor till his time is out.  It. I do give to the meeting hous off Newbury 18 shillings to Buie a Chushion ffor the Minister to lay his Book upon  All the rest of my Goods and Chattels unbequeathed I do give unto my Sonn John Ossgood & to Sarah my wife whom I do make Joynt executors of my last will & testament & in witness hereof set my hand & seal.
John Ossgood.

I do intreat John Clement of Haverill and Nicholas Hoult of Andover to be overseers of this my last Will and testament.In presence off By me  John Ossgood
joseph Parker
Richard Barker"

John's Estate is as follows:

"An Inventorie of the Estate of John Osgood Sen. of Andover lately desceased

pounds      shillings     pence

Foure oxen 30               0           0
Two steeres 10               0           0
Six cowes 29               0           0
Seven young cattel 24               0           0
Eight swine 25               0           0
120 bushels of wheat 24               0           0
30 bushels of rye 5               0           0
120 bushels of Indian 15               0           0
House Lands & Meadows 80               0           0
Far Rie sowed 12              0           0
Due upon bond 20              0           0
Sixty bushels of Barley 13              0           0
Fifty bushels of pease 8              15          0
A feather bed & furniture 4              10          0
a flock bed (being half feathers) & furniture 3              10 0
A flock bed & furniture 2                0          0
Five payre of sheets & an odd one 2                8          0
Table linen 1                0          0
Fower payre of pillow-beers 0               18         0
Nineteen yards of Carsamere 5                0          0
Sixe yards of Serge 1                 4          0
Ten yards of Canvace 0                 9          0
A remnant of Serge 0                 9          0
Penistone (?) ten yards 1               10          0
Ten payre of stockings 0                18         0
Three yards of stuffe 0                10         0
Twenty-two pieces of pewter 2                 0         0
For ye copper & brasse 4               14         0
For Iron pott, tongs, cottrell & pot-hooks 1                 0         0
Two muskets & a fowling piece 2               10         0
Sword, cutlass & bandaleers 1                5         0
Yarne & cotton-wool 0                15        0
Barrels, tubbs, trays, cheese-moates and pailes 1               10 0
A stand 0                 5        0
Bedsteads, cords & chayers 0                14        0
Chests and wheeles 0                16        0
A hayre cloth 0                 5        0
Bridle & Saddle 0                 5        0
For sawes 0                10        0
Mault 1                16       0
A firkin of Butter 1                 8       0
Bacon 2                 0        0
A yard of holland 0                 3        0
A yard & a half of calico 0                 2        6
Household implements 1                 0        0
                      The sum of all 373                7       6

John Clements Sarah Osgood
Nicholas Hoult Her O marke
   His  H  marke
This was recorded 25th 9th month, 1657."


Contains data that has not been verified. Use only as a guide. PERSONAL USE ONLY!