John Weston Jr. was christened on 23rd January 1603 at Nantwich, Cheshire, England23 to Dr. John Weston, Doctor of Civil Law (DCL), Prebendary and Treasurer of Christ Church, Oxford, and Anne Freeman Weston.
Dr. John Weston was born during 1552 in Oxfordshire. 1,2&3 John Weston Jr.’s grandparents were, Robert Weston, Legum Doctor (Doctor of Law or LL.D), Fellow of All Souls of Oxford, Dean of Arches, Dean of St. Patrick’s, Dublin, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and Alice Jenyngs Weston of Weeford, Staffordshire. Robert Weston, was born by 1515 in Weeford, Staffordshire and passed away on 30th May 1573 in Cork, Ireland. He was buried on 18th July 1573 in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland.8&9 John Weston Jr. was documented as “an only son” of Dr. John Weston and Anne Freeman Weston. The adolescent life of John Weston Jr. (henceforth called John Weston), being “the only son” of his family with three older sisters, was most likely not typical of other boys of this era, since his father had the ecclesiastical responsibilities of Christ Church College. If we assume his father was given residency at Christ Church College, then the children would have been influenced by the Christian faith and educational enlightenment of the students at the college and their father. When John Weston reached his teens, being literate gave him the opportunity to gain a higher education.
Following in his father’s footsteps he continued his education at Christ Church College in Oxford and matriculated on 12th October 1621 obtaining his B.A. degree on 27th November 1621. The following year on 16th July, John Weston, age 20, was appointed vicar of the ancient St. Mary’s Church in the parish of Cholsey, near Wallingford in Berkshire. He continued his higher education, completing his M.A. degree on 17th June 1624.1&2 During this era the age requirement to enter the
college was to be in their teen years and the college was for men only. Students at Christ Church College, resided in the Student Hall at Christ Church College and most likely John Weston continued his residency at the college possibly through the year of 1626 until his future marriage.
St. Mary’s Church in the parish of Cholsey was founded as an abbey church by King Ethelred the Unready in approximately c.986.
“St Mary’s Church was substantially rebuilt between the years of 1150 and 1170 and remains largely unaltered on the outside. The fine crossing arches are Norman work, although they have been restored at various times in later years. The carvings on the western capitals, some of the windows and the ornamented south nave doorway can all be admired today. In the 13th century a splendid light extension to the east end of the chancel was built. The height of the tower was increased at about the same time. A large window was put in the south transept in the 14th century and another large window in the west end of the nave in the 15th century.” 11
When Rev. John Weston wished to travel to Oxford or vice versa, the trip from Cholsey to Oxford on the ancient path from Wallingford during this era would take approximately 2 to 3 hours by horse or, if trekking on foot, approximately 5 to 6 hours. (The distance between the towns was approximately 16 miles or 26 kilometres).
Rev. John Weston, age 25, married in late 1626 or early 1627 Martha Pearse (Pears) age 20, in Fulham, Middlesex. Martha Pearse was baptised on 19th May 1607, and she was the fourth daughter of Mr. Stephen Pearse (Pears), the Keeper of the Wardrobe of Queen Elizabeth, James I and Charles I, and Mary Astley Pearse, whose family resided in Richmond, Surrey (“Baptisms, 1607, May 19, Martha Pearse”).6 Soon after the marriage, Rev. John Weston and his wife Martha relocated to Cholsey, where they stayed until 1630. Approximately one year after marrying, Rev. John Weston and Martha’s first son, John, was born. He was christened in St. Mary’s Church, Cholsey, on 17th September 1628, most likely christened by his father. (“17 Sep 1628, John Weston, the son of John Weston Vicar”).4
It appears that Rev. John Weston and Martha, being in advanced pregnancy with her second child, were visiting Martha’s parents in Richmond, Surrey, due to Martha’s father’s illness in early August 1630. Soon after their arrival their daughter, Anne, was born. She was christened on 24th August 1630 in St. Mary Magdalene Church, Richmond, Surrey (“Baptisms, 1630, Aug. 24, Anne Weston”).6 Sadly, Stephen Pearse passed away. He was buried on 28th August 1630 in Richmond, a couple of days following Anne’s birth.6 Rev. John Weston and Martha, along with their one-year-old son, John, and their newborn daughter, soon returned to their residence in Cholsey.
Rev. John Weston and Martha’s family relocated during September-October 1630 to a house near Dawes Road, Walham Green, Fulham, Middlesex. Rev. John Weston, age 29, was appointed on 29th January 1631 the Prebendary of Peterborough, Northamptonshire.1 (A prebendary is a senior member of clergy, normally supported by the revenues from an estate or parish. The holder of the post is connected to a Cathedral. The position is a type of canon who has a role in the administration of a cathedral. When attending cathedral services, prebendaries sit in particular seats, usually at the back of the choir stalls, known as prebendal stalls. Being a prebendary is an honorary role.)
Rev. John Weston and Martha’s second son, Henry, was born in 1631 in the village of Walham Green, Fulham, Middlesex (the christening record is elusive as at the time of writing. 1&2 While residing in Walham Green, Rev. John Weston’s father, Dr. John Weston, passed away on 20th July 1632 and was buried in the Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, Oxfordshire. “John Weston, LL.D., was installed the 3rd Sept. 1591. He died 20th July 1632, aetat. circa 80 and was buried in one of the north Isles of this cathedral.”1,2&10 Hopefully Rev. John Weston was able to attend his father’s services.
Rev. John Weston, age 32, was appointed on 6th January 1634 to the Rectory of the All Hallows Lombard Church, London, and, he was afterwards appointed the Prebendary of Bath and Wells, in the southwest of Somerset.1 While living in Walham Green, Rev. John Weston and Martha’s daughter, Elizabeth, was born. She was christened on 26th February 1634 in All Hallows Church, Lombard, London. The original church document records: “February 26, 1634, Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. John Weston, our Parson & Mrs. Martha his wife, was Baptized.”7 The family relocated shortly after the christening of Elizabeth, during 1635, from their home in Walham Green back to their residence in Cholsey.1
Their next child, a son, Richard, was born, and christened on 8th December 1636 in St. Mary’s Church (“8 Dec 1636, Richard Weston, the son of John Weston Vicar”).4 Then the next year their son, Theobald, was christened there on 25th April 1638 (“25 Apr 1638, Theobald Weston, the son of John Weston Vicar”).4
Rev. John Weston wrote on 10th November 1638 a letter addressed to Sir John Lambe, Dean of the Arches in the court of Canterbury, noting: He prays for support in a debt he owes to Jones.
“My low and dangerous condition has not only hindered my waiting on you, but also prevented my attendance on my church and parish, but I have now obtain some liberty and shall perform all double diligence in my place only my request is that you would pass by these scapes occasioned through my deep extremities. There is one Jones has got a sequestration on my tithes for L160. I am most unjustly dealt with by him….”.
Later, Rev. John Weston, on 12th Feb. 1639, “presented a petition, couched in piteous terms, to Dr. Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, praying his Grace, to rescue him and his family from poverty.” These letters support the dire circumstances that Rev. John Weston family was facing, which was exacerbated by the poor English economy and the unrest between the Parliament and King Charles I, during this era.1
During this tumultuous time, Rev. John Weston and Martha’s son, Robert, was born He was christened on 14th May 1641 in St. Mary’s (“14 May 1641, Robert Weston, the son of John Weston Vicar”).4 Now a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, they were struggling to meet their daily needs.
During the English Civil War, Rev. John Weston was for his loyalty sequestered by the Rebels about 1642, in St. Mary’s Church, Cholsey.1 During this period, the surrounding area supported the King and his Royalist supporters, including Rev. John Weston. It’s interesting to note that during this time nearby Wallingford Castle was a garrison for the Royalist troops.
Even when Rev. John Weston was sequestered by the Parliamentary Rebels, the family remained in their residence in the Cholsey. Their third daughter, Martha, was born, being christened on 28th of March 1643 in St. Mary’s (“28 Mar 1643, Martha Weston, the daughter of John Weston Vicar”).4 The following year, William was born. He too was christened in St Mary’s on 1st June. (“1 Jun 1644, William Weston, the son of John Weston Vicar”).4 Their daughter, Martha Weston age 1, sadly passed away on 6th December 1644 in Cholsey (“Burials, Cholsey, St. Mary, 6 Dec. 1644, Weston, Martha”),5 leaving her mother with eight children – John aged 16, Anne aged 14, Henry aged 13, Elizabeth aged 10, Richard aged 8, Theobald aged 6, Robert aged 3 and newborn William, to tend to all their daily needs.1
Rev. John Weston’s son, John, age 16, recognizing the dire poverty the family was facing and the turmoil, destruction and death caused by the First English Civil War, made the decision during the year of 1644 to trek to London to seek a better life, most likely the decision was made with his parents’ support. With Cholsey and Wallingford being situated near the banks of the River Thames, young John possibly either sailed on a barge downstream on the River Thames or trekked on foot on the ancient path along the River Thames to London. During this era there was news around that many Puritans were seeking a new life in the British Colony of America. Young John Weston saw and took the opportunity to stow-away on a ship in the Port of London harbour bound for the British Colonies in America, which would be a gruelling two to four months, or more, voyage on rough seas. Once the ship was out to sea the young John was discovered onboard, he appears to have presented himself as the age of thirteen, preventing the captain of the ship charging him for the voyage. Upon arriving in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, in Salem Harbour, the young stowaway would have been assigned to the Court of Essex Colony Court. The Essex Colony Court records document the young immigrant John Weston was assigned as an indentured servant to William Kinge in Royall Side, a village within Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colony America.11-22
During 1646, Wallingford Castle was under siege by the Parliamentarian forces for approximately sixteen weeks, the Royalist commander, Colonel Thomas Blagge surrendered after reaching an honourable agreement on 27th July 1646 with the Parliamentarian forces. Wallingford Castle was virtually razed to the ground in 1652 by the Parliamentarian forces to prevent it from being used again as a garrison.12
Soon after the Royalists’ defeat at the nearby Wallingford Castle, another daughter, Marie, was born to Rev. John Weston and Martha, and christened on 17th October 1647 in St. Mary’s (“17 Oct 1647, Marie Weston, daughter of Mr. John Weston Vicar”).4 On 16th December 1647, three months after the birth of Marie, Rev. John Weston, age 45, was ejected from the vicarage of Cholsey, to which he had been appointed vicar on 16th July 1622.1
Following this ejection from the vicarage of Cholsey, Rev. John Weston had no authority in the church and the details of their lives afterwards are elusive. Fulham Old and New Being an Exhaustive History of the Ancient Parish of Fulham · Vol. 2, by Charles James Fèret (1900), records: “Nothing is known of his closing years, which must have been spent in poverty and suffering. He is said to have died in 1660.”
Rev. John Weston passed away sometime between 1660-1662 in London, passing away in poverty similar to his grandfather’s circumstances,
“he was still pleading poverty ….. and his complaints of financial difficulties lasted until his death in office”.1,8&9
The actual burial records of Rev. John Weston and his wife have not yet been discovered. At the suspected times of Rev. John Weston and Martha’s deaths, all their children were of age, except for Marie, who was 15.1 The parish records for St. Mary’s Church, Cholsey shows that their daughter, Elizabeth, continued to live in Cholsey until her death on 3rd June 1678 (“Burials, Cholsey, St. Mary, Weston, Elizabeth, 3 Jun 1678”).5 Was Elizabeth still living in her father’s Cholsey residence, prior to her death? There are records that document the life of their son Henry, who married Mary Buckler during the year of 1672 in Dorset and had several children. Henry passed away 1st April 1705 in Wyke Regis, Dorset.2 As to Rev. John Weston and Martha’s eldest son, John, most “Weston” genealogists today agree that there is now a preponderance of historical evidence that supports he was the “immigrant John Weston” who stowed-away on a ship from London during the year of 1644, who became an indentured servant to William Kinge in Royall Side, a village within Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony. From this immigrant son the descendants of Rev. John Weston and Martha Pearse Weston live across the breadth of America today. 4,11-22 (a & b)
Rev. John Weston not only left his footprints in England but most importantly onto his descendants to this day throughout both Great Britain and America.
SOURCES:
1 Fulham Old and New Being an Exhaustive History of the Ancient Parish of Fulham, Vol. 2, Charles James Fèret, 1900, pg. 252
2 A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland, 2 Vol., by Bernard Burke 1898, pg. 1573
3 Dr. John Weston, D.C.L. England & Wales, Calendar of the Principal Ecclesiastical Dignitaries, 1314-1853, Prebendaries, pg. 537
4 Cholsey St. Mary Baptisms 1541-1851, Berkshire Family History Society
5 Cholsey St. Mary Burials 1540-1879, Berkshire Family History Society
6 The Parish Registers of Richmond, Surrey, England Vol. I, by Parish Society 1903, pages 9, 23 & 187
7 Elizabeth Weston, Christening (Baptism) 26 Feb 1634, Father John Weston, Mother Martha Weston, All Hallows Lombard Street, City of London, London, England: Elizabeth Weston, Christening, London England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials 1538-1812.
8 Biography Robert Weston, L.L.D., (by 1522-1573), The History of Parliament, Robert Weston, by M.N. Fuidge
9 Biography Robert Weston, L.L.D., (by 1522-1573): Dictionary of Irish History, Robert Weston by McCormack & Calvin
10 Dr. John Weston, D.C.L., 1552-1632, Find a Grave Memorial #213199559
11 History of Cholsey’s St. Mary’s Church: St. Mary, Cholsey, Berkshire by The Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain & Ireland
12 The siege of Wallingford Castle by the Parliamentary forces: The siege of Wallingford Castle by Wikipedia
13 The History of Salem MA Vol. III, 1671-1716 by Sidney Perley, pg. 44 John Weston & pg. 373 William King signatures
14 The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 1, 1847 pg. 278, by Rev. William Cogswell, pg. 278
15 Genealogical & Family History of the State of NH, Vol. 111, 1908 by Edward S. Sterns, pg. 1279 & 1280
16 New England Families Genealogical & Memorial, Vol. 1, 1847 By William Richard Cutter, pg. 494
17 Records of the First Church in Salem MA 1629-1726 pgs. 13, 25, 26 & 27
18 Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Mass., including the present Towns of Wakefield, Reading and North Reading
1874 by Hon. Lilley Eaton
19 Vital Records of the Salem MA through 1849, Vol. II-Births 1918 by Essex Institute
20 Ancient Redding in Massachusetts Bay Colony, It’s Planting as a Puritan Village and Sketches of Its Early Settlers from 1639 to
1652 by Loea Parker Howard 1944
21 Immigrant John Weston Find a Grave Memorial # 234774671
22 Vicar John Weston Heritage, by WikiTree Contributor Mark Shernick
23 John Weston, Christening 23 Jan. 1603, Farther John Weston, Nantwich, Cheshire, England: England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000, FamilySearch
NOTATIONS:
(a) Recent English historical documents, ancestry websites and genealogists provide support that John Weston, the son of Rev. John Weston, Jr.’s, M.A., and Martha Pearse Weston born on the 17th of September 1628 in Cholsey, Berkshire, England, was the same John Weston who stowed-away during 1644 on a ship in London bound for the British Colonies, America and became the indentured servant to “master William Kinge” in Royall Side, Salem, Essex … including FamilySearch, Ancestry and WikiTree. Several American historical authors have purported that immigrant John Weston was born during the years of 1631 through 1633 in Buckinghamshire, England and was 13 years old when he stowed-away on the ship, however, these statements were assumed based on that a “stow-away” had to be 13 years old to forego paying for his voyage and the “manuscript of Ensign John Weston, Jr.”, where several of the statements have been found in error … to this date this author has not discovered the said “manuscript”. Immigrant John Weston, died in South Redding (Wakefield), Massachusetts Bay Colony in the year 1723. “He died about the year 1723, at the advanced age of more than ninety-two years”. Immigrant John Weston was interned in 1723 in the 1688 Wakefield Old Burying Ground, where his wife, Sarah Fitch Weston and their children that preceded him were interned. “He was a Puritan, very earnest in his piety, and his gravestone in the Reading graveyard shows he was one of the founders of the church there.” Immigrant John Weston’s signature in The History of Salem MA Vol. III, 1671-1716 by Sidney Perley
(b)In Essex Colony Court deposition records for February 24, 1699/1700, we discover John Weston was taken in prior to 1648 by William King (Kinge), where John Weston informs us who was his “master” in Salem … “I John Weston, Senior of Reading of full age saith, I lived with William King Senior of Salem on a place called Royall Side father to William King late deceased who married with Katharine Shafflin and I being present at the court when my master King’s estate was settled that then my master’s widow Dorothy King. In research of Volumes 1-8 of the Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County By the Essex Institute, as of this date of this Bio I have not discovered the actual Courts ruling that immigrant John Weston was assigned to William Kinge of Salem.
