Old Catton
SproutonFrom RootswebJames was probably at Watertown as early as 1634, where, according to tradition, he married Anna_____, sister of Capt. John Grout's wife, who together were so reproached and tantalized in England for their Puritanism, that they left resolved to seek their fortune in New England, and came unattended by parents, husbands or lovers.
found on ancestry.com
Cutler Family HistoryAN AMERICAN STORY - THE CUTLER FAMILY 1634-1960 By Kenneth Ross Cutler Library of Congress Catalog Number CS71.C989 1961 This book is the record of some of the descendants of JAMES CUTLER, the first Cutler in North America, arriving from England, at Watertown, Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1634. Since this is the largest Cutler family in America, tracing them all would have been beyond our scope, so we recorded our direct line James(1), James (2), John (3), Timothy (4), Benoni (5), William (6), Collins Ives (7), along with histories of their times, and adding some histories of the families that joined them in marriage. Starting with Collins, we listed all of his descendants, grouped in four "branches" who were his children (8th generation) In 1960, there were 176 descendants (142 then living) Digital versions for Website and CD-ROM programmed by Craig and Joanne Cutler www. American Multimedia.com
INTRODUCTION The Cutler Family - An American Story 1634 - 1960
For many reasons the study of history is required of all students in all nations. It is history that provides the national heritage -- the who we are, what we are, and where we came from, as well as the national character and traditions. Since history is largely a massive collection of biographies, taken in sequence, it is also the study of people, the problems they faced and the way they solved their problems. Historians quite naturally center their attention on those persons who has happened to be, by design or accident, in the right place at the right time, at the focal points of history. From these people the most colorful are developed into national heroes. But the fact remains that in America it was many thousands of courageous and strong-willed men and women, widely scattered and largely nameless to history who, acting almost in unison, created the American Legend. This history of our branch of the Cutler family makes no attempt to seek out ancestors of ancient importance, nor does it try to pursue connections with any of the standard American heroes. Rather this is the story of a direct line of American pioneers who, taken in sequence, probably reflect an American Story as typical as any that could be written. Each generation has faced "history's most critical period." Each has struggled to advance himself and his children. Each, in his own way has tried to make his community and nation a better place to live. Many have faced personal disaster. To me all of these people were quiet heroes. Their raw courage, their dignity, their tenderness and sacrifice, these are our personal heritage. Kenneth Ross Cutler
THE CUTLER NAME
The history of surnames is most interesting and very closely parallels the commercial and political history of the western world. In early times of sparse population and little travel, men were known simply by a single name such as "John" or other casual identification. About the year 1000, surnames began to appear and by 1100 perhaps 40% of adults had a second name; indeed, by 1300 when about 25% of all Englishmen were named John they considered it vulgar not to be known as John "Somebody." Surnames merely provided additional identification, so were selected just as casually as first names. There were no family names and each individual adopted an appropriately descriptive name (John Brown might be the son of James Baker if the father was a Baker and the son dark complexioned.) Men often changed names when they moved, changed occupations, or merely wished to change luck. Names all came from four broad categories: 1. Father, or clan (i.e. Allen, Johnson, MacArthur, Ross) 2. Place they came from (i.e. Eaton, Hall, Lane, West) 3. Nicknames (i.e. Brown, White, Small, Strong) 4. Occupation (i.e. Baker, Barber, CUTLER, Smith, Taylor) Concern over names grew in the 16th century. The Council of Trent in 1563 decreed that all children were to have one given name, taken from a list of canonized saints and angels, and King Henry VIII made baptismal registration a legal requirement thus tending to make surnames permanent from father to son. Until about the time of the American Revolution most men had two names; after that time middle names began to appear, and from 1809 on all our direct ancestors had three names. The surname CUTLER was derived from the French word "coutelier", or knifemaker. The first English records of the use of the surname is in the early 1200's. At first many variations were used, such as Cutiller, Coteler or Cutyler, but all. of these, including similarly descriptive names such as Knyffesmyth were absorbed into the more simple "Cutler." As it was a craft related name its early bearers are difficult to identify and it is not known when our family adopted the name permanently. The largest concentrations of English Cutlers were in Norfolk County and near Ipswich in the adjoining County of Suffolk. Americans using the name Cutler have come from many countries, mostly changing their similar craft-name to the English spelling, or simply adopting the name, so that many Cutlers have no relation to our family. Perhaps the majority of all the Cutlers in America today, however, spring from three brothers who came from Sprowston (now Sprauston) two miles north of Norwich, Norfolk County, England: JAMES CUTLER, our ancestor, who heads the largest branch settled at Watertown, Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634, and later John Cutler came to Hingham, and Robert Cutler to Charlestown.
JAMES CUTLER
James Cutler, an Englishman, was born into a world of turmoil in 1606 the year considered the beginning of the Puritan-Cavalier conflict. It was just three years since England's "Golden Age" had ended with the death of Queen Elizabeth, and eighteen years since the defeat of the Spanish Armada. While Elizabeth reigned, she had relaxed control by the central government almost to the vanishing point; the result was the greatest spree of progress and development in England's history before or since, as private individuals tasted their new freedom to act independently. When James I became king in 1603, he attempted to reassert the power of the central government and the rights of the monarch over the people and their parliament. As religion was a matter of state policy in those days, the religious beliefs of the people were involved in the political struggle as well. Throughout James Cutler's life tension was on the rise, with the Cavaliers backing, the king on one side, and the Puritans backing the Parliament on the other. When Charles I became king in 1625, the bitterness of the conflict rose to a point where civil war was inevitable. James Cutler must have been caught up in this strife as a young man because few were immune from the controversy. As James was a Puritan, he was aware of the settlements being established in North America by Puritans escaping the pressures of the conflict. When James was born there were no white settlers in North America. Four years later there were only 210, but by 1634 when James at the age of 28 landed at Watertown, Colony of Massachusetts, North America had a population of 12,000 white colonists (and about 1,000,000 Indians.) The other major settlements nearby were Boston, Plymouth and Salem. The myth of the Twentieth Century is that they came to establish religious freedom. Actually these people were seeking a territory where they could establish their own religious monopoly and the Congregational Church became the official church of Massachusetts and Connecticut. The people were severe and single-minded; the deacons ruled the community and only persons in good church standing had the right to vote. A man who moved from one community to another had to bring a letter of good standing before he was admitted to the settlement. Why James came to Watertown is not clear. Whether it was for political reasons, religious reasons, or sheer adventure we can only guess. Almost immediately upon landing, at the age of 28, he married Anne Cakebread who had been so "tantalized and tormented for her Puritanism" in England that she and her sister had come alone and unattended to the Puritan Colonies. Her sister married Ensign Grout. Even after marrying such a strong Puritan, however, there is little evidence of James' participation in church affairs, and he never became an aggressive political participant, so it is possible that he was interested in developing an estate, as his reason for coming to this rough country. On November 6, 1635 his first child was born, and in that same year he had passed all necessary probation, been received as an inhabitant of Watertown, and had a home lot assigned him. This consisted of eight acres in the north part of town on the road to Belmont and was bounded by Common Street on the west, Pond Road on the north by Ellis Barron on the south, and Thomas Boylston on the east. In the first "great dividend." July 25, 1636, he was assigned 25 acres on Waltham Plain and 3 acres next to the river. In 1642 in the fourth division, he was assigned 82 acres from the farmlands and four other lots. After about ten years of marriage, during which time she bore four children, Anne died and was buried at Watertown on September 30, 1644. Later that winter daughter Elizabeth died. Neighbor Thomas King and one of his daughters also died, leaving a widow Mary and two small daughters. On March 9, 1645 James and Widow Mary King were married. In 1648 James built the first house in Cambridge Farms, a remote area about eight miles to the northwest of Watertown. It was on a beautiful farm with an extensive view on what today is Wood Street in Lexington, Massachusetts (the name having been changed from Cambridge Farms to Lexington in about 1710). While he maintained some contact with Watertown, being chosen town surveyor in 1651-2, he probably moved permanently to Cambridge Farms about 1651. The population of the Colonies had grown to about 51,700 by this time, and it is very possible that he was able to sell out favorably and generate capital by the move. James second wife Mary died about 1662, and he then married Phoebe Page, daughter of Thomas Page of Watertown, she being "past her prime." The rest of their days were spent uneventfully. James died on July 17, 1694, aged 88 years. His will had been made ten years earlier, in 1684 (and in the meantime his son James, Jr. had died in 1685). The will left lands to James, Jr. Thomas and Samuel. To the rest of the children he gave equal portions of the rest of his estate, taking into consideration the value of specified gifts of land, goods and money previously given. He must have given his children generous endowments prior to this time, but his estate still amounted to slightly over £108. He was known as a diligent honest persevering man of very kindly and generous instincts."
The children of James and Anne Cutler:
1. JAMES BORN AT WATERTOWN NOVEMBER 6, 1635. SEE FOLLOWING.
2. Hannah born July 26, 1638, married about 1660 John Winter Jr, had nine children, and died between 1685 and 1689.
3. Elizabeth born January 28, 1639, buried December 30, 1644.
4. Mary born March 29, 1644, married John Coller, Jr.
The children of James and Mary Cutler (second wife):
5. Elizabeth born July 22, 1646, married about 1667 John Parmenter 3rd.
6. Thomas, born about 1648, married about 1673 Abagail ---- and died at Lexington, July 13, 1722.
7. Sarah, born about 1653, married by 1673, Thomas Waite, and died at Weston in 1743.
8. Joanna born about 1660, married June 19, 1680 Philip Russell, and died November 26, 1703.
9. Jemima, born about 1661, married on September 22, 1697 Zerubbabel Snow had nine children, and died March l5, 1744.
The children of James and Phoebe Cutler (third wife):
10. John, born March 19, 1663, married on January 1, 1693, Mary Stearns, and died September 21, 1714.
11. Samuel, born November 8, 1664. 12. Phoebe, no records available.
found ancestry.com
Information from Find a Grave - James CutlerBirth: May 21, 1605 Haverhill, England
Death: July 17, 1694 Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
James Cutler, born in England in 1606, settled as early as 1634 in Watertown, Massachusetts, where the first record of the family name in New England is to be found, and was one of the original grantees of land in the northerly part of the town, on the road to Belmont. He married Anna [Cakebread], tradition says a sister of Capt. John Gront's wife, both of whom were so opposed and tantalized in England for their Puritanism, that they resolved to seek their fortunes in New England, and came unattended by parents or near friends. There is no authentic record by which to fix the year of James Cutler's arrival here. His first child, James, was born "y 6th day 9th month 1635." He had that year passed all necessary probation, had been received an inhabitant of Watertown, and had a house-lot assigned him. It contained eight acres, bounded east by Thomas Boylston, west and north by a highway. i.e., by Common street and Pond road, south by Ellias Barron.In the first "great divide" (that is, general division of land), July 25, 1636, he was assigned twenty-five acres, and three acres in the further plain (now Waltham), next to the river. In 1642, from the farm lands, he had assigned him eighty-two acres in the fourth division, and four other lots. October 2, 1645, he was one of the petitioners "in relation to Nashaway plantation, now Weston." December 13, 1649, James Cutler and Nathaniel Bowman, for L70, bought of Edward Goffe 200 acres in Cambridge Farms, adjoining Rock Meadow, and near to or adjoining Waltham, "payable in installments of L10 annually, in money, cattle, hogs, wheat, peas, rice, Indian corn or barley, at the dwelling house of Edward Goffe, in Cambridge," and payment secured by mortgage. March 4, 1651, Cutler sold his share (100 acres) to Bowman for L39. About this time, he settled at Cambridge Farms (now Lexington), on what is now known as Wood Street, near the place where William Hartwell resides, not far from the Concord (now Bedford) line. A part of the farm has been in the family until recently, when it was sold by the heirs of Leonard Cutler. He is supposed to have built one of the first houses at the Farms; vestiges of the cellar still remain. The house was located some thirty rods from the present highway, on an elevation commanding an extensive view. James Cutler buried his first wife, Anna, September 30, 1644, and married, second, March 9, 1645, Mary, widow of Thomas King. She died December 7, 1654, and he married his third wife, Phoebe, daughter of John Page, about 1662. Mr. Cutler was too remote from Watertown, and especially from Cambridge, to have admitted of his serving in town affairs in either place. He made his will November 24, 1684, at Cambridge Farms, being then seventy-eight, and died May 17, 1694, aged eighty-eight years. In his will, he bequeathed to his son James Cutler a parcel of land on the north side of the brook and meadow, adjoining land which he had formerly sold him, and ten acres of meadow in the "great meadow," and a small parcel of meadow of the upper end of his home meadow as his portion of his estate. To his son Thomas Cutler, twenty acres of upland and meadow, in addition to fifteen acres of meadow previously given him; to his son Samuel Cutler, twenty acres of land, more or less, as may appear by deed under his hand and seal; to the rest of his children, including the two children of his former wife, widow of Thomas King, and to his sons Thomas and John, equal portions of the balance of his estate, notice being made that he had given to John Collar, (the husband of his daughter Mary), twenty acres of upland, and to Richard Parks, (husband of his step-daughter Sarah King), L6 5s.; to his daughter, the wife of John Parmenter, L7 and a cow; to his daughter Sarah Waite, a mare and cow; to Mary Johnson, L5; to Hannah Winter, L5; to his daughter Joanna Russell a feather bed and bolster and coverlid and an iron pot, and to his daughter Jemima, his feather bed and bolster and all that belongs to it; that these things be accounted a part of his estate; that his sons Thomas Cutler, John Cutler and Samuel Cutler have his house and lands not formerly disposed of, paying to the rest of his children their several parts, according to his will, in three annual payments; and that Thomas and John should be his executors. His will was proved August 20, 1694. Such is the brief, unvarnished record of the James "Cuttler," who came to New England 250 years ago. There is no direct testimony as to his character, his social standing, or his intelligence. That he was honest and persevering, however, is evident by his acquisition of lands and payment for the same. His early investment with full citizenship shows he had established a fair reputation among his fellow-townsmen; while the provisions of his will, whereby sons-in-law and stepchildren share in his estate, manifest a large and liberal spirit.Copied from A Cutler Memorial and Genealogical History, Compiled by Nahum S. Cutler, Greenfield, Massachusetts, Press of E. A. Hall and County, Greenfield, Massachusetts., 1899, Pages 17-20.
Family links: Parents: Roger Cutler (1568 - 1632) Winifred Rhyvett Cutler (1580 - 1624)
Children: Sarah Cutler Waite (____ - 1744)* James Cutler (1635 - 1685)* Joanna Cutler Naylor (1660 - 1727)*
Spouses: Anna Cakebread Cutler (1610 - 1644) Mary Barnard Cutler (1630 - 1714) Phoebe Page Cutler (1624 - 1694) Mary King Cuttler (____ - 1654)*
Burial:Unknown
Created by: Bonnie Huish
Record added: February 1, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 33451491
found on ancestry.com
History in AmericaArrived in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1634.
About 1648, James removed from Watertown to Cambridge Farms, now Lexington, Massachusetts, near the Concord line. His will was dated 24 November 1684, he then age 78 and of Cambridge Farms, and was proved 20 August 1694, presented by sons John and Thomas. In it he mentions the following children: James, Thomas, John, John Coller, Richard Park's wife, John Parmenter's wife, Sarah Waite, Mary Johnson, Hannah Winter, Joanna Russell (wife of Phillip), Jemima, Samuel and Phoebe. According to Bond, this lists includes two children of his wife Mary, formerly wife of Thomas King, one of whom was Mary Johnson. The History of Cambridge, Massachusetts (1930) indicates that Hannah King, another daughter, married John Winter, Jr in 1662.
James married Anna Cakebread, daughter of Thomas Cakebread and Sarah Busby, on 9 March 1634-1635 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. (Anna Cakebread was born in 1610 in England, christened on 4 June 1613 in St. Lawrence, Pountney, London, England, died on 30 September 1644 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts and was buried on 30 September 1644 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.)
James next married Mary Bernard King on 9 March 1645 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. (Mary Bernard King was born in 1610 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts and died on 7 December 1654 in Cambridge Farms, now Lexington, Massachusetts.)
James next married Phebe Page, daughter of John Page and Phoebe Paine, in 1662 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. (Phebe Page was born in 1624 in Dedham, Essex, England and died on 17 May 1694 in Massachusetts.)
found on ancestry.com
James CutlerJames Cutler, born in England in 1606, settled as early as 1634 in Watertown, Massachusetts, where the first record of the family name in New England is to be found, and was one of the original grantees of land in the northerly part of the town, on the road to Belmont. He married Anna [Cakebread], tradition says a sister of Capt. John Gront's wife, both of whom were so opposed and tantalized in England for their Puritanism, that they resolved to seek their fortunes in New England, and came unattended by parents or near friends. There is no authentic record by which to fix the year of James Cutler's arrival here. His first child, James, was born "y 6th day 9th month 1635." He had that year passed all necessary probation, had been received an inhabitant of Watertown, and had a house-lot assigned him. It contained eight acres, bounded east by Thomas Boylston, west and north by a highway. i.e., by Common street and Pond road, south by Ellias Barron.In the first "great divide" (that is, general division of land), July 25, 1636, he was assigned twenty-five acres, and three acres in the further plain (now Waltham), next to the river. In 1642, from the farm lands, he had assigned him eighty-two acres in the fourth division, and four other lots. October 2, 1645, he was one of the petitioners "in relation to Nashaway plantation, now Weston." December 13, 1649, James Cutler and Nathaniel Bowman, for L70, bought of Edward Goffe 200 acres in Cambridge Farms, adjoining Rock Meadow, and near to or adjoining Waltham, "payable in installments of L10 annually, in money, cattle, hogs, wheat, peas, rice, Indian corn or barley, at the dwelling house of Edward Goffe, in Cambridge," and payment secured by mortgage. March 4, 1651, Cutler sold his share (100 acres) to Bowman for L39. About this time, he settled at Cambridge Farms (now Lexington), on what is now known as Wood Street, near the place where William Hartwell resides, not far from the Concord (now Bedford) line. A part of the farm h as been in the family until recently, when it was sold by the heirs of Leonard Cutler. He is supposed to have built one of the first houses at the Farms; vestiges of the cellar still remain. The house was located some thirty rods from the present highway, on an elevation commanding an extensive view. James Cutler buried his first wife, Anna, September 30, 1644, and married, second, March 9, 1645, Mary, widow of Thomas King. She died December 7, 1654, and he married his third wife, Phoebe, daughter of John Page, about 1662. Mr. Cutler was too remote from Watertown, and especially from Cambridge, to have admitted of his serving in town affairs in either place. He made his will November 24, 1684, at Cambridge Farms, being then seventy-eight, and died May 17, 1694, aged eighty-eight years. In his will, he bequeathed to his son James Cutler a parcel of land on the north side of the brook and meadow, adjoining land which he had formerly sold him, and ten acres of meadow in the "great meadow," and a small parcel of meadow of the upper end of his home meadow as his portion of his estate. To his son Thomas Cutler, twenty acres of upland and meadow, in addition to fifteen acres of meadow previously given him; to his son Samuel Cutler, twenty acres of land, more or less, as may appear by deed under his hand and seal; to the rest of his children, including the two children of his former wife, widow of Thomas King, and to his sons Thomas and John, equal portions of the balance of his estate, notice being made that he had given to John Collar, (the husband of his daughter Mary), twenty acres of upland, and to Richard Parks, (husband of his step-daughter Sarah King), L6 5s.; to his daughter, the wife of John Parmenter, L7 and a cow; to his daughter Sarah Waite, a mare and cow; to Mary Johnson, L5; to Hannah Winter, L5; to his daughter Joanna Russell a feather bed and bolster and coverlid and an iron pot, and to his daughter Jemima, his feather bed and bolster and all that belongs to it; that these things be accounted a part of his estate; that his sons Thomas Cutler, John Cutler and Samuel Cutler have his house and lands not formerly disposed of, paying to the rest of his children their several parts, according to his will, in three annual payments; and that Thomas and John should be his executors. His will was proved August 20, 1694. Such is the brief, unvarnished record of the James "Cuttler," who came to New England 250 years ago. There is no direct testimony as to his character, his social standing, or his intelligence. That he was honest and persevering, however, is evident by his acquisition of lands and payment for the same. His early investment with full citizenship shows he had established a fair reputation among his fellow-townsmen; while the provisions of his will, whereby sons-in-law and stepchildren share in his estate, manifest a large and liberal spirit.Copied from A Cutler Memorial and Genealogical History, Compiled by Nahum S. Cutler, Greenfield, Massachusetts, Press of E. A. Hall and County, Greenfield, Massassachusetts., 1899, Pages 17-20.
onemorebyteadded this on 6 March 2011
James Cutler, born in England in 1606, settled as early as 1634 in Watertown, Massachusetts, where the first record of the family name in New England is to be found, and was one of the original grantees of land in the northerly part of the town, on the road to Be
found on ancestry.com
James Cutler's first home1634, Watertown, Massachusetts
(from a letter written March 25, 1955, by Howard H. Sargent to grandson Walter W. Fricke, Jr.)
James Cutler was born in England in 1606. He is first recorded 1634 in the new world as a settler in Watertown, Massachusetts as among the grantees of land. His actual date of arrival is not know, but by 1634 he had gone through the period of probation requisite for acquiring a grant of land. He was the first recorded Cutler in New England. His wife was Anna, last name not available, said to have come with a sister, unattended, to escape persecution as Puritans, which if true, indicates they met and married after migrating.
Watertown, 6 miles west of Boston, was settled in 1630 by Sir Richard Saltonstall who came with a considerable group from England, reaching Salem first. Thereafter some came overland toward what later became Boston. James Cutler may have been among them. "
found on ancestry.com
Cutler Family HistoryAN AMERICAN STORY - THE CUTLER FAMILY 1634-1960 By Kenneth Ross Cutler Library of Congress Catalog Number CS71.C989 1961 This book is the record of some of the descendants of JAMES CUTLER, the first Cutler in North America, arriving from England, at Watertown, Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1634. Since this is the largest Cutler family in America, tracing them all would have been beyond our scope, so we recorded our direct line James(1), James (2), John (3), Timothy (4), Benoni (5), William (6), Collins Ives (7), along with histories of their times, and adding some histories of the families that joined them in marriage. Starting with Collins, we listed all of his descendants, grouped in four "branches" who were his children (8th generation) In 1960, there were 176 descendants (142 then living) Digital versions for Website and CD-ROM programmed by Craig and Joanne Cutler www. American Multimedia.com
INTRODUCTION The Cutler Family - An American Story 1634 - 1960
For many reasons the study of history is required of all students in all nations. It is history that provides the national heritage -- the who we are, what we are, and where we came from, as well as the national character and traditions. Since history is largely a massive collection of biographies, taken in sequence, it is also the study of people, the problems they faced and the way they solved their problems. Historians quite naturally center their attention on those persons who has happened to be, by design or accident, in the right place at the right time, at the focal points of history. From these people the most colorful are developed into national heroes. But the fact remains that in America it was many thousands of courageous and strong-willed men and women, widely scattered and largely nameless to history who, acting almost in unison, created the American Legend. This history of our branch of the Cutler family makes no attempt to seek out ancestors of ancient importance, nor does it try to pursue connections with any of the standard American heroes. Rather this is the story of a direct line of American pioneers who, taken in sequence, probably reflect an American Story as typical as any that could be written. Each generation has faced "history's most critical period." Each has struggled to advance himself and his children. Each, in his own way has tried to make his community and nation a better place to live. Many have faced personal disaster. To me all of these people were quiet heroes. Their raw courage, their dignity, their tenderness and sacrifice, these are our personal heritage. Kenneth Ross Cutler
THE CUTLER NAME
The history of surnames is most interesting and very closely parallels the commercial and political history of the western world. In early times of sparse population and little travel, men were known simply by a single name such as "John" or other casual identification. About the year 1000, surnames began to appear and by 1100 perhaps 40% of adults had a second name; indeed, by 1300 when about 25% of all Englishmen were named John they considered it vulgar not to be known as John "Somebody." Surnames merely provided additional identification, so were selected just as casually as first names. There were no family names and each individual adopted an appropriately descriptive name (John Brown might be the son of James Baker if the father was a Baker and the son dark complexioned.) Men often changed names when they moved, changed occupations, or merely wished to change luck. Names all came from four broad categories: 1. Father, or clan (i.e. Allen, Johnson, MacArthur, Ross) 2. Place they came from (i.e. Eaton, Hall, Lane, West) 3. Nicknames (i.e. Brown, White, Small, Strong) 4. Occupation (i.e. Baker, Barber, CUTLER, Smith, Taylor) Concern over names grew in the 16th century. The Council of Trent in 1563 decreed that all children were to have one given name, taken from a list of canonized saints and angels, and King Henry VIII made baptismal registration a legal requirement thus tending to make surnames permanent from father to son. Until about the time of the American Revolution most men had two names; after that time middle names began to appear, and from 1809 on all our direct ancestors had three names. The surname CUTLER was derived from the French word "coutelier", or knifemaker. The first English records of the use of the surname is in the early 1200's. At first many variations were used, such as Cutiller, Coteler or Cutyler, but all. of these, including similarly descriptive names such as Knyffesmyth were absorbed into the more simple "Cutler." As it was a craft related name its early bearers are difficult to identify and it is not known when our family adopted the name permanently. The largest concentrations of English Cutlers were in Norfolk County and near Ipswich in the adjoining County of Suffolk. Americans using the name Cutler have come from many countries, mostly changing their similar craft-name to the English spelling, or simply adopting the name, so that many Cutlers have no relation to our family. Perhaps the majority of all the Cutlers in America today, however, spring from three brothers who came from Sprowston (now Sprauston) two miles north of Norwich, Norfolk County, England: JAMES CUTLER, our ancestor, who heads the largest branch settled at Watertown, Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634, and later John Cutler came to Hingham, and Robert Cutler to Charlestown.
JAMES CUTLER
James Cutler, an Englishman, was born into a world of turmoil in 1606 the year considered the beginning of the Puritan-Cavalier conflict. It was just three years since England's "Golden Age" had ended with the death of Queen Elizabeth, and eighteen years since the defeat of the Spanish Armada. While Elizabeth reigned, she had relaxed control by the central government almost to the vanishing point; the result was the greatest spree of progress and development in England's history before or since, as private individuals tasted their new freedom to act independently. When James I became king in 1603, he attempted to reassert the power of the central government and the rights of the monarch over the people and their parliament. As religion was a matter of state policy in those days, the religious beliefs of the people were involved in the political struggle as well. Throughout James Cutler's life tension was on the rise, with the Cavaliers backing, the king on one side, and the Puritans backing the Parliament on the other. When Charles I became king in 1625, the bitterness of the conflict rose to a point where civil war was inevitable. James Cutler must have been caught up in this strife as a young man because few were immune from the controversy. As James was a Puritan, he was aware of the settlements being established in North America by Puritans escaping the pressures of the conflict. When James was born there were no white settlers in North America. Four years later there were only 210, but by 1634 when James at the age of 28 landed at Watertown, Colony of Massachusetts, North America had a population of 12,000 white colonists (and about 1,000,000 Indians.) The other major settlements nearby were Boston, Plymouth and Salem. The myth of the Twentieth Century is that they came to establish religious freedom. Actually these people were seeking a territory where they could establish their own religious monopoly and the Congregational Church became the official church of Massachusetts and Connecticut. The people were severe and single-minded; the deacons ruled the community and only persons in good church standing had the right to vote. A man who moved from one community to another had to bring a letter of good standing before he was admitted to the settlement. Why James came to Watertown is not clear. Whether it was for political reasons, religious reasons, or sheer adventure we can only guess. Almost immediately upon landing, at the age of 28, he married Anne Cakebread who had been so "tantalized and tormented for her Puritanism" in England that she and her sister had come alone and unattended to the Puritan Colonies. Her sister married Ensign Grout. Even after marrying such a strong Puritan, however, there is little evidence of James' participation in church affairs, and he never became an aggressive political participant, so it is possible that he was interested in developing an estate, as his reason for coming to this rough country. On November 6, 1635 his first child was born, and in that same year he had passed all necessary probation, been received as an inhabitant of Watertown, and had a home lot assigned him. This consisted of eight acres in the north part of town on the road to Belmont and was bounded by Common Street on the west, Pond Road on the north by Ellis Barron on the south, and Thomas Boylston on the east. In the first "great dividend." July 25, 1636, he was assigned 25 acres on Waltham Plain and 3 acres next to the river. In 1642 in the fourth division, he was assigned 82 acres from the farmlands and four other lots. After about ten years of marriage, during which time she bore four children, Anne died and was buried at Watertown on September 30, 1644. Later that winter daughter Elizabeth died. Neighbor Thomas King and one of his daughters also died, leaving a widow Mary and two small daughters. On March 9, 1645 James and Widow Mary King were married. In 1648 James built the first house in Cambridge Farms, a remote area about eight miles to the northwest of Watertown. It was on a beautiful farm with an extensive view on what today is Wood Street in Lexington, Massachusetts (the name having been changed from Cambridge Farms to Lexington in about 1710). While he maintained some contact with Watertown, being chosen town surveyor in 1651-2, he probably moved permanently to Cambridge Farms about 1651. The population of the Colonies had grown to about 51,700 by this time, and it is very possible that he was able to sell out favorably and generate capital by the move. James second wife Mary died about 1662, and he then married Phoebe Page, daughter of Thomas Page of Watertown, she being "past her prime." The rest of their days were spent uneventfully. James died on July 17, 1694, aged 88 years. His will had been made ten years earlier, in 1684 (and in the meantime his son James, Jr. had died in 1685). The will left lands to James, Jr. Thomas and Samuel. To the rest of the children he gave equal portions of the rest of his estate, taking into consideration the value of specified gifts of land, goods and money previously given. He must have given his children generous endowments prior to this time, but his estate still amounted to slightly over £108. He was known as a diligent honest persevering man of very kindly and generous instincts."
The children of James and Anne Cutler:
1. JAMES BORN AT WATERTOWN NOVEMBER 6, 1635. SEE FOLLOWING.
2. Hannah born July 26, 1638, married about 1660 John Winter Jr, had nine children, and died between 1685 and 1689.
3. Elizabeth born January 28, 1639, buried December 30, 1644.
4. Mary born March 29, 1644, married John Coller, Jr.
The children of James and Mary Cutler (second wife):
5. Elizabeth born July 22, 1646, married about 1667 John Parmenter 3rd.
6. Thomas, born about 1648, married about 1673 Abagail ---- and died at Lexington, July 13, 1722.
7. Sarah, born about 1653, married by 1673, Thomas Waite, and died at Weston in 1743.
8. Joanna born about 1660, married June 19, 1680 Philip Russell, and died November 26, 1703.
9. Jemima, born about 1661, married on September 22, 1697 Zerubbabel Snow had nine children, and died March l5, 1744.
The children of James and Phoebe Cutler (third wife):
10. John, born March 19, 1663, married on January 1, 1693, Mary Stearns, and died September 21, 1714.
11. Samuel, born November 8, 1664. 12. Phoebe, no records available.
found ancestry.com
Information from Find a Grave - James CutlerBirth: May 21, 1605 Haverhill, England
Death: July 17, 1694 Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
James Cutler, born in England in 1606, settled as early as 1634 in Watertown, Massachusetts, where the first record of the family name in New England is to be found, and was one of the original grantees of land in the northerly part of the town, on the road to Belmont. He married Anna [Cakebread], tradition says a sister of Capt. John Gront's wife, both of whom were so opposed and tantalized in England for their Puritanism, that they resolved to seek their fortunes in New England, and came unattended by parents or near friends. There is no authentic record by which to fix the year of James Cutler's arrival here. His first child, James, was born "y 6th day 9th month 1635." He had that year passed all necessary probation, had been received an inhabitant of Watertown, and had a house-lot assigned him. It contained eight acres, bounded east by Thomas Boylston, west and north by a highway. i.e., by Common street and Pond road, south by Ellias Barron.In the first "great divide" (that is, general division of land), July 25, 1636, he was assigned twenty-five acres, and three acres in the further plain (now Waltham), next to the river. In 1642, from the farm lands, he had assigned him eighty-two acres in the fourth division, and four other lots. October 2, 1645, he was one of the petitioners "in relation to Nashaway plantation, now Weston." December 13, 1649, James Cutler and Nathaniel Bowman, for L70, bought of Edward Goffe 200 acres in Cambridge Farms, adjoining Rock Meadow, and near to or adjoining Waltham, "payable in installments of L10 annually, in money, cattle, hogs, wheat, peas, rice, Indian corn or barley, at the dwelling house of Edward Goffe, in Cambridge," and payment secured by mortgage. March 4, 1651, Cutler sold his share (100 acres) to Bowman for L39. About this time, he settled at Cambridge Farms (now Lexington), on what is now known as Wood Street, near the place where William Hartwell resides, not far from the Concord (now Bedford) line. A part of the farm has been in the family until recently, when it was sold by the heirs of Leonard Cutler. He is supposed to have built one of the first houses at the Farms; vestiges of the cellar still remain. The house was located some thirty rods from the present highway, on an elevation commanding an extensive view. James Cutler buried his first wife, Anna, September 30, 1644, and married, second, March 9, 1645, Mary, widow of Thomas King. She died December 7, 1654, and he married his third wife, Phoebe, daughter of John Page, about 1662. Mr. Cutler was too remote from Watertown, and especially from Cambridge, to have admitted of his serving in town affairs in either place. He made his will November 24, 1684, at Cambridge Farms, being then seventy-eight, and died May 17, 1694, aged eighty-eight years. In his will, he bequeathed to his son James Cutler a parcel of land on the north side of the brook and meadow, adjoining land which he had formerly sold him, and ten acres of meadow in the "great meadow," and a small parcel of meadow of the upper end of his home meadow as his portion of his estate. To his son Thomas Cutler, twenty acres of upland and meadow, in addition to fifteen acres of meadow previously given him; to his son Samuel Cutler, twenty acres of land, more or less, as may appear by deed under his hand and seal; to the rest of his children, including the two children of his former wife, widow of Thomas King, and to his sons Thomas and John, equal portions of the balance of his estate, notice being made that he had given to John Collar, (the husband of his daughter Mary), twenty acres of upland, and to Richard Parks, (husband of his step-daughter Sarah King), L6 5s.; to his daughter, the wife of John Parmenter, L7 and a cow; to his daughter Sarah Waite, a mare and cow; to Mary Johnson, L5; to Hannah Winter, L5; to his daughter Joanna Russell a feather bed and bolster and coverlid and an iron pot, and to his daughter Jemima, his feather bed and bolster and all that belongs to it; that these things be accounted a part of his estate; that his sons Thomas Cutler, John Cutler and Samuel Cutler have his house and lands not formerly disposed of, paying to the rest of his children their several parts, according to his will, in three annual payments; and that Thomas and John should be his executors. His will was proved August 20, 1694. Such is the brief, unvarnished record of the James "Cuttler," who came to New England 250 years ago. There is no direct testimony as to his character, his social standing, or his intelligence. That he was honest and persevering, however, is evident by his acquisition of lands and payment for the same. His early investment with full citizenship shows he had established a fair reputation among his fellow-townsmen; while the provisions of his will, whereby sons-in-law and stepchildren share in his estate, manifest a large and liberal spirit.Copied from A Cutler Memorial and Genealogical History, Compiled by Nahum S. Cutler, Greenfield, Massachusetts, Press of E. A. Hall and County, Greenfield, Massachusetts., 1899, Pages 17-20.
Family links: Parents: Roger Cutler (1568 - 1632) Winifred Rhyvett Cutler (1580 - 1624)
Children: Sarah Cutler Waite (____ - 1744)* James Cutler (1635 - 1685)* Joanna Cutler Naylor (1660 - 1727)*
Spouses: Anna Cakebread Cutler (1610 - 1644) Mary Barnard Cutler (1630 - 1714) Phoebe Page Cutler (1624 - 1694) Mary King Cuttler (____ - 1654)*
Burial:Unknown
Created by: Bonnie Huish
Record added: February 1, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 33451491
found on ancestry.com
History in AmericaArrived in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1634.
About 1648, James removed from Watertown to Cambridge Farms, now Lexington, Massachusetts, near the Concord line. His will was dated 24 November 1684, he then age 78 and of Cambridge Farms, and was proved 20 August 1694, presented by sons John and Thomas. In it he mentions the following children: James, Thomas, John, John Coller, Richard Park's wife, John Parmenter's wife, Sarah Waite, Mary Johnson, Hannah Winter, Joanna Russell (wife of Phillip), Jemima, Samuel and Phoebe. According to Bond, this lists includes two children of his wife Mary, formerly wife of Thomas King, one of whom was Mary Johnson. The History of Cambridge, Massachusetts (1930) indicates that Hannah King, another daughter, married John Winter, Jr in 1662.
James married Anna Cakebread, daughter of Thomas Cakebread and Sarah Busby, on 9 March 1634-1635 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. (Anna Cakebread was born in 1610 in England, christened on 4 June 1613 in St. Lawrence, Pountney, London, England, died on 30 September 1644 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts and was buried on 30 September 1644 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.)
James next married Mary Bernard King on 9 March 1645 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. (Mary Bernard King was born in 1610 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts and died on 7 December 1654 in Cambridge Farms, now Lexington, Massachusetts.)
James next married Phebe Page, daughter of John Page and Phoebe Paine, in 1662 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. (Phebe Page was born in 1624 in Dedham, Essex, England and died on 17 May 1694 in Massachusetts.)
found on ancestry.com
James CutlerJames Cutler, born in England in 1606, settled as early as 1634 in Watertown, Massachusetts, where the first record of the family name in New England is to be found, and was one of the original grantees of land in the northerly part of the town, on the road to Belmont. He married Anna [Cakebread], tradition says a sister of Capt. John Gront's wife, both of whom were so opposed and tantalized in England for their Puritanism, that they resolved to seek their fortunes in New England, and came unattended by parents or near friends. There is no authentic record by which to fix the year of James Cutler's arrival here. His first child, James, was born "y 6th day 9th month 1635." He had that year passed all necessary probation, had been received an inhabitant of Watertown, and had a house-lot assigned him. It contained eight acres, bounded east by Thomas Boylston, west and north by a highway. i.e., by Common street and Pond road, south by Ellias Barron.In the first "great divide" (that is, general division of land), July 25, 1636, he was assigned twenty-five acres, and three acres in the further plain (now Waltham), next to the river. In 1642, from the farm lands, he had assigned him eighty-two acres in the fourth division, and four other lots. October 2, 1645, he was one of the petitioners "in relation to Nashaway plantation, now Weston." December 13, 1649, James Cutler and Nathaniel Bowman, for L70, bought of Edward Goffe 200 acres in Cambridge Farms, adjoining Rock Meadow, and near to or adjoining Waltham, "payable in installments of L10 annually, in money, cattle, hogs, wheat, peas, rice, Indian corn or barley, at the dwelling house of Edward Goffe, in Cambridge," and payment secured by mortgage. March 4, 1651, Cutler sold his share (100 acres) to Bowman for L39. About this time, he settled at Cambridge Farms (now Lexington), on what is now known as Wood Street, near the place where William Hartwell resides, not far from the Concord (now Bedford) line. A part of the farm h as been in the family until recently, when it was sold by the heirs of Leonard Cutler. He is supposed to have built one of the first houses at the Farms; vestiges of the cellar still remain. The house was located some thirty rods from the present highway, on an elevation commanding an extensive view. James Cutler buried his first wife, Anna, September 30, 1644, and married, second, March 9, 1645, Mary, widow of Thomas King. She died December 7, 1654, and he married his third wife, Phoebe, daughter of John Page, about 1662. Mr. Cutler was too remote from Watertown, and especially from Cambridge, to have admitted of his serving in town affairs in either place. He made his will November 24, 1684, at Cambridge Farms, being then seventy-eight, and died May 17, 1694, aged eighty-eight years. In his will, he bequeathed to his son James Cutler a parcel of land on the north side of the brook and meadow, adjoining land which he had formerly sold him, and ten acres of meadow in the "great meadow," and a small parcel of meadow of the upper end of his home meadow as his portion of his estate. To his son Thomas Cutler, twenty acres of upland and meadow, in addition to fifteen acres of meadow previously given him; to his son Samuel Cutler, twenty acres of land, more or less, as may appear by deed under his hand and seal; to the rest of his children, including the two children of his former wife, widow of Thomas King, and to his sons Thomas and John, equal portions of the balance of his estate, notice being made that he had given to John Collar, (the husband of his daughter Mary), twenty acres of upland, and to Richard Parks, (husband of his step-daughter Sarah King), L6 5s.; to his daughter, the wife of John Parmenter, L7 and a cow; to his daughter Sarah Waite, a mare and cow; to Mary Johnson, L5; to Hannah Winter, L5; to his daughter Joanna Russell a feather bed and bolster and coverlid and an iron pot, and to his daughter Jemima, his feather bed and bolster and all that belongs to it; that these things be accounted a part of his estate; that his sons Thomas Cutler, John Cutler and Samuel Cutler have his house and lands not formerly disposed of, paying to the rest of his children their several parts, according to his will, in three annual payments; and that Thomas and John should be his executors. His will was proved August 20, 1694. Such is the brief, unvarnished record of the James "Cuttler," who came to New England 250 years ago. There is no direct testimony as to his character, his social standing, or his intelligence. That he was honest and persevering, however, is evident by his acquisition of lands and payment for the same. His early investment with full citizenship shows he had established a fair reputation among his fellow-townsmen; while the provisions of his will, whereby sons-in-law and stepchildren share in his estate, manifest a large and liberal spirit.Copied from A Cutler Memorial and Genealogical History, Compiled by Nahum S. Cutler, Greenfield, Massachusetts, Press of E. A. Hall and County, Greenfield, Massassachusetts., 1899, Pages 17-20.
onemorebyteadded this on 6 March 2011
James Cutler, born in England in 1606, settled as early as 1634 in Watertown, Massachusetts, where the first record of the family name in New England is to be found, and was one of the original grantees of land in the northerly part of the town, on the road to Be
found on ancestry.com
James Cutler's first home1634, Watertown, Massachusetts
(from a letter written March 25, 1955, by Howard H. Sargent to grandson Walter W. Fricke, Jr.)
James Cutler was born in England in 1606. He is first recorded 1634 in the new world as a settler in Watertown, Massachusetts as among the grantees of land. His actual date of arrival is not know, but by 1634 he had gone through the period of probation requisite for acquiring a grant of land. He was the first recorded Cutler in New England. His wife was Anna, last name not available, said to have come with a sister, unattended, to escape persecution as Puritans, which if true, indicates they met and married after migrating.
Watertown, 6 miles west of Boston, was settled in 1630 by Sir Richard Saltonstall who came with a considerable group from England, reaching Salem first. Thereafter some came overland toward what later became Boston. James Cutler may have been among them. "
found on ancestry.com
No comments:
Post a Comment