JOHN TROWBRIDGE 1570-1649

[Ancestral Link: Marguerite Anderson (Miller), daughter of Hannah Anderson (Anderson), daughter of Mary Margaret Edmiston (Anderson), daughter of Martha Jane Snow (Edmiston), daughter of Gardner Snow, son of James Snow, son of Mary Trowbridge (Snow), daughter of James Trowbridge, son of William Trowbridge, son of James Trowbridge, son of Thomas Trowbridge, son of John Trowbridge.]


Agnes Prowse TrowbridgeNotes on Agnes Prowse
James Green added this on 21 May 2008
From: http://members.aol.com/gmw429/agnes1.htm
Notes on Agnes Prowse:
Agnes Prowse, born April 14, 1576 in Tiverton, Devon, England; died June 06, 1622 in Taunton, Somerset, England. She was the daughter of John Prowse and Elizabeth Colwick. She married (1) John Trowbridge July 31, 1597 in St. Peter's Church, Tiverton, Devon, England. He was the son of Thomas Trowbridge and Joan Lawrence alias Hutchin.

Notes for Agnes Prowse: When Agnes Prowse married John Trowbridge, the marriage was preceded by a settlement made by Thomas Trowbridge (Sr.) which granted Agnes an annuity of L30 for life issuing from all his lands at Rowbarton, occupied by his mother-in-law, Alice Hutchings, for her life. On the same day, John was admitted to a life interest in his father's properties at Obridge and Staplegrove and Pyrland, partly occupied by Thomas' wife Johane (nee Hutchings). Agnes' marriage took place at St. Peters, Tiverton, July 31, 1597, 13 1/2 months before her father's death. (The Gen., op. cit., p.13, Appendix G p. 25). Agnes Prowse Trowbridge's ancestry has been proven back to the Emperor CHARLEMAGNE. Her lineage is attached.

Notes for John Trowbridge: John Trowbridge was even more prominent than his father. He was a wool merchant and had a shop next to his father on Fore Street. Monies collected in 1611 for the relief of plague victims at Minehead and Dunster were brought to his house, and in 1625 he supervised the repair of the Taunton House of Correction, and provided a field at West Monkton for tents to quarantine travellers suspected of bringing the plague from London to Taunton. He was regularily churchwarden of St. Mary Magdalen, twice mayor of Taunton (1629-30 and 1637-8), and traded with London and Bristol.

ABSTRACTED DETAILS OF THE WILL OF JOHN TROWBRIDGE
The will of John Trowbridge of Taunton, woolen draper, published by word of mouth on 1 July 1649 in the presence of George Serle, esq., and Thomas Trowbridge, his son, and John Trowbridge, his grandchild. He left to his eldest son Thomas Trowbridge his messuage and tenement near Barthpoole Bridge in the parish of West Monkton, occupied by Henry Beale, to hold to Thomas for the remainder of his term therein after the deaths of the testator and Alice his wife. To his son Thomas his land in Stogursey, viz., certain tenements from which the testator received high rent. All his goods and chattels he left to his son Thomas whom he made sole executor. The will was proved on 25 February 1649/50. The will of John Trowbridge is found at the Public Record Office in London. The complete text can be found under ref. P.C.C. 32 Pembroke, Prob. 11/211. Proof: (The Gen., op. cit., p. 13; "The Trowbridge Ancestry in England" by Donald Lines Jacobus," THE AMERICAN GENEALOGIST", 18:3, pps. 129-137)

Children of Agnes Prowse and John Trowbridge are:
i. Thomas Trowbridge, born April 1598 in Taunton, Somerset, England (Baptized St. Mary Magdalene Church); died February 7, 1672/73 in Taunton, Somerset, England; married Elizabeth Marshall March 24, 1626/27 in St. Mary's arches, Exeter, Devon, England.

Notes for Thomas Trowbridge: As a young man, Thomas Trowbridge settled in Exeter where he was engaged in business as a wool mercer. He became a member of the powerful Merchants and Adventurer's Guild. His wife Elizabeth Marshall's father, John Marshall, was Sheriff, Alderman and Mayor of Exeter (1615) and her grandfather, Richard Bevys (Beavis), was Mayor of Exeter from 1600 - 1603 when he died in office. John Marshall, in addition to his political offices, was a successful merchant. It was probably through his connections that Thomas was able to gain entrance to this Guild. Possibly, in hopes of furthering his fortune, Thomas decided to take his family to America to set up his business there. He apparently did not intend to make the American Colonies his home because he left his oldest son, John, with his father in Taunton. He landed his family at Dorchester, Massachusetts in about 1636. He and his wife are noted in Dorchester church records as "Mr. and Mrs." Trowbridge, a distinction confined at that time to persons of established gentility. His wife was a member of the Dorchester church in 1637-38 and their youngest son, James, was baptized there. Thomas and Elizabeth must have found it a considerable hardship to live in the newly settled town of Dorchester, accustomed as they were to the comforts of a city like Exeter. Additionally, there was considerable friction among differing factions within the church. Thomas and his family left Dorchester in about 1638 and moved to the New Haven Plantation. His name does not appear among those subscribed to the articles of agreement at the organization of the church or body politic there in June, 1639. He may have been absent from New Haven at the time or, as this Fundamental Agreement, as it was afterward called, required that "church members only shall be free burgesses". He may not have been eligible to sign it for there is no evidence that he ever severed his connections with the Church of England and became a member of the Puritan Church. New Haven records nearly always recorded his name with the prefix, "Mr." In the list of Proprietors of the Plantation in 1641, he was credited with five heads in his family. They were: himself, his wife and three sons, Thomas, William and James. His estate was given as 500 pounds, a large sum for that place and time and it was among the larger of the 123 estates mentioned in the listing. He appeared to have spent very little time in New Haven, making several voyages to Barbados and England in pursuit of his business. His wife died in about 1641, possibly in the spring or summer. He returned to England at about this time, possibly to settle her estate and intended to send for his sons at a later date. No record has been found proving the exact date he left but it was before the fall of 1641. When he returned to Taunton he got caught up in the English Civil War which started about that time. He served as a Captain in the Parliamentary Troops, serving under Colonel Blake in the defence of Taunton. He never returned to America. Some sources say that he married his first cousin, Frances Godsall, widow Shattuck, daughter of his aunt Dorothie Trowbridge Godsall in England in February, 1640. The author questions whether this assumption is correct. There was another Thomas Trowbridge mentioned in the 1620 will of Thomas Trowbridge, the Elder, as a nephew. It is logical to assume that this latter Thomas was probably the man who married Frances in 1640, he being possibly an elderly man and she a middle aged widow. During his final absence Thomas left his sons under the care of his steward, Henry Gibbons, who appeared to be an unfaithful servant who seized Thomas' property and deserted the three boys. Town records show where the boys were declared wards of the Colony in November, 1641 and the court placed them under the care of a nearby neighbor, Sergeant Thomas Jeffreys and his wife, who took them into their home to rear and educate until "such time as their father shall come over or send to take order concerning them." Thomas regularily corresponded from England to the authorities in New Haven to bring Gibbons to an account for his breach of trust, but Gibbons kept the property for many years. When his sons became of age, Thomas gave them power of attorney to regain his property from Gibbons. The sons sued Gibbons and were successful in reclaiming their father's estate in 1680 which he had previously given them on a share and share alike basis. Gibbons died without any children in 1686. Proof: (The Gen., op. cit., p. 13; "THE TROWBRIDGE ANCESTRY IN ENGLAND" by Donald Lines Jacobus, "THE AMERICAN GENEALOGIST", 18:3, pps. 129-137)

Notes for Elizabeth Marshall: Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Trowbridge and mother of his children, was baptized at St. Mary Arches Church, Exeter, March 24, 1562. She was a member of a family at the center of commercial and civic power in the cathedral city. This was amply set forth in 1905 in an article by Emory McClintock, "Thomas Trowbridge and Elizabeth Marshall", NEHGR 59:291-97 (1905). Elizabeth's father, the Alderman John Marshall, Mayor in 1615, died before his daughter's marriage. Elizabeth's lineage has been traced back through her mother's ancestry to Lawrence Prowse, born in 1480, son of John Prowse and Joan Orchard and brother of Richard Prowse, an ancestor of Elizabeth's mother-in-law, Agnes Prowse Trowbridge.
ii. Elizabeth Trowbridge, born February 8, 1598/99 in Taunton, Somerset, England; married John Hurley June 2, 1616 in Taunton, Somerset, England
iii. John Trowbridge, born May 31, 1601 in Taunton, Somerset, England (Baptized St. Mary Magdalene Church); died about March 1630/31 in Taunton, Somerset, England; married Judith Rose between 1626 - 1627 in Taunton, Somerset, England.
iv. Prudence Trowbridge, born February 3, 1602/03 in Taunton, Somerset, England (Baptized St. Mary Magdalene Church); married William Mace July 1, 1621 in Exeter, Devon, England.
v. Agnes Trowbridge, born February 10, 1604/05 in Taunton, Somerset, England, (Baptized St. Mary Magdalene Church); married (1) Charles Wither December 13, 1629 in Taunton, Somerset, England; married (2) Robert Moggridge April 22, 1632 in Taunton, Somerset, England.

Notes for Robert Moggridge: Robert Moggridge was a prominant merchant of Taunton and was its mayor in 1635.
vi. William Trowbridge, born March 20, 1607/08 in Taunton, Somerset, England (Baptized St. Mary Magdalene Church); died March 27, 1616 in Taunton, Somerset, England
vii. James Trowbridge, born December 3, 1609 in Taunton, Somerset, England; died October 22, 1638.
viii. Joan Trowbridge, born May 21, 1612 in Taunton, Somerset, England; died October 14, 1616 in Taunton, Somerset, England.
ix. Tacy Trowbridge, born May 7, 1615 in Taunton, Somerset, England; married Aldred Seaman January 1, 1637/38.
From: http://members.aol.com/gmw429/agnes1.htm
found on ancestry.com


Notes for John TrowbridgeNotes for John Trowbridge: John Trowbridge was even more prominent than his father. He was a wool merchant and had a shop next to his father on Fore Street. Monies collected in 1611 for the relief of plague victims at Minehead and Dunster were brought to his house, and in 1625 he supervised the repair of the Taunton House of Correction, and provided a field at West Monkton for tents to quarantine travellers suspected of bringing the plague from London to Taunton. He was regularly churchwarden of St. Mary Magdalen, twice mayor of Taunton (1629-30 and 1637-8), and traded with London and Bristol.

ABSTRACTED DETAILS OF THE WILL OF JOHN TROWBRIDGE
The will of John Trowbridge of Taunton, woolen draper, published by word of mouth on 1 July 1649 in the presence of George Serle, esq., and Thomas Trowbridge, his son, and John Trowbridge, his grandchild. He left to his eldest son Thomas Trowbridge his messuage and tenement near Barthpoole Bridge in the parish of West Monkton, occupied by Henry Beale, to hold to Thomas for the remainder of his term therein after the deaths of the testator and Alice his wife. To his son Thomas his land in Stogursey, viz., certain tenements from which the testator received high rent. All his goods and chattels he left to his son Thomas whom he made sole executor. The will was proved on 25 Feb. 1649/50. The will of John Trowbridge is found at the Public Record Office in London. The complete text can be found under ref. P.C.C. 32 Pembroke, Prob. 11/211. Proof: (The Gen., op. cit., p. 13; "The Trowbridge Ancestry in England" by Donald Lines Jacobus," THE AMERICAN GENEALOGIST", 18:3, pps. 129-137)
found on ancestry.com


notesJohn Trowbridge was even more prominent than his father. He was a wool merchant and had a shop next to his father on Fore Street. Monies collected in 1611 for the relief of plague victims at Minehead and Dunster were brought to his house, and in 1625 he supervised the repair of the Taunton House of Correction, and provided a field at West Monkton for tents to quarantine travelers suspected of bringing the plague from London to Taunton. He was regularly churchwarden of St. Mary Magdalen, twice mayor of Taunton (1629-30 and 1637-38) and traded with Bristol and London.

ABSTRACTED DETAILS OF THE WILL OF JOHN TROWBRIDGE.
The will of John Trowbridge of Taunton, woolen draper, published by work of mouth on 1 July 1649 in the presence of George Serle, esq., and Thomas Trowbridge, his son, and John Trowbridge, his grandchild. He left to his eldest son Thomas Trowbridge his messuage and tenement near Barthpoole Bridge in the parish of West Monkton, occupied by Henry Beale to hold to Thomas for the remainder of his term there in after the deaths of the testator and Alice his wife. To his son Thomas his land in Storgursey, viz, certain tenements from which the testor received high rent. All his goods and chattels he left to his son Thomas whom he made sole executor. The will was proved on 25 February 1649/50. The will of John Trowbridge is found at the Public Record Office in London.

John TROWBRIDGE [Parents] 1, 2 was christened 3, 4 25 March 1570 in St Mary Magdalen, Taunton, Somerset, England. He died 25 July 1649 in, Taunton, Somerset, England and was buried 5 July 1649. John married 6 Agnes PROWSE on 31 July 1597 in St Peter's, Tiverton, Somerset, England.

Other marriages: READ, Alice John Trowbridge, herein supposed to have been father of Thomas, was the only son and heir of Thomas the elder, a rich merchant of Taunton, whose benefactions and will (drawn 6 July, 1619, proved 6 May, 1620) are given fully in T.F. He was baptized at Taunton on 25 March, 1570 [T.F.J, and was probably married not far from 1595, no record appearing at Taunton either of his marriage or of the baptism of his eldest son Thomas. The baptisms of eight other children are recorded there in regular order, beginning with 8 February, 1598/9. That Thomas was probably John's son and heir is shown by the broad fact that he succeeded John as the chief Trowbridge of Taunton, just as John had succeeded his father; and more particularly by the otherwise unaccountable coincidences between the names of their sons. John's four sons were, in order, Thomas, after his father, John, after himself, William, and James. Thomas s four sons, in order, were John, after his father, Thomas, after himself, William, and James. John Trowbridge was even more prominent than his father. He was a wool merchant and had a shop next to his father on Fore Street. Monies collected in 1611 for the relief of plague victims at Minehead and Dunster were brought to his house, and in 1625 he supervised the repair of the Taunton House of Correction, and provided a field at West Monkton for tents to quarantine travellers suspected of bringing the plague from London to Taunton. He was regularily churchwarden of St. Mary Magdalen, twice mayor of Taunton (1629-30 and 1637-8), and traded with London and Bristol.

ABSTRACTED DETAILS OF THE WILL OF JOHN TROWBRIDGE
The will of John Trowbridge of Taunton, woolen draper, published by word of mouth on 1 July 1649 in the presence of George Serle, esq., and Thomas Trowbridge, his son, and John Trowbridge, his grandchild. He left to his eldest son Thomas Trowbridge his messuage and tenement near Barthpoole Bridge in the parish of West Monkton, occupied by Henry Beale, to hold to Thomas for the remainder of his term therein after the deaths of the testator and Alice his wife. To his son Thomas his land in Stogursey, viz., certain tenements from which the testator received high rent. All his goods and chattels he left to his son Thomas whom he made sole executor. The will was proved on 25 February 1649/50. The will of John Trowbridge is found at the Public Record Office in London. The complete text can be found under ref. P.C.C. 32 Pembroke, Prob. 11/211. Proof: (The Gen., op. cit., p. 13; "The Trowbridge Ancestry in England" by Donald Lines Jacobus," THE AMERICAN GENEALOGIST", 18:3, pps. 129-137) John Trowbridge took a lease of his fathers house probably in 1620, and a reversionary lease of the property was granted on Oct. 16, 1628 to John's son John Trowbridge junior, woollen draper, for a rent of 53s 4d. This showed that the house was to be held for 99 years or the lives of his son, his wife Judith, and his brother James, and also that John Trowbridge (I) had given up his adjacent wool shop, the burgage on the west being occupied by Edith Woodroe, widow, and that on the east, under the Portmans, by Elizabeth Hurley, widow. This reversion never operated as John Trowbridge (II) died in 1630, before his father.

John Trowbridge (I) was as prominent a man of business as had been his father. Monies collected in 1611 for the relief of plague victims at Minehead and Dunster were brought to his house, and in 1625 he supervised the repair of the Taunton house of correction, and provided a field at West Monkton for tents to quarantine travellers suspected of bringing the plague from London to Taunton. He was regularly churchwarden of St. Mary Magdalene, twice mayor of Taunton in 1629-30 and 1637-8, traded with London and Bristol, and apart from lands in the vicinity of Taunton, also held property in Strogursey and Cannington. He also arranged commercially important marriages for his children. His son John married the daughter of a Lyme Regis merchant, his son Thomas wedded the daughter of John Marshall, successively sheriff and mayor of Exeter, and his daughters were married to other merchants of both Taunton and Exeter.

John Trowbridge, herein supposed to have been father of Thomas, was the only son and heir of Thomas the elder, a rich merchant of Taunton, whose benefactions and will (drawn 6 July, 1619, proved 6 May, 1620) are given fully in T.F. He was baptized at Taunton on 25 March, 1570 [T.F.J, and was probably married not far from 1595. no record appearing at Taunton either of his marriage or of the baptism of his eldest son Thomas. The baptisms of eight other children are recorded there in regular order, beginning with 8 February, 1598/9. That Thomas was probably John's son and heir is shown by the broad fact that he succeeded John as the chief Trowbridge of Taunton, just as John had succeeded his father; and more particularly by the otherwise unaccountable coincidences between the names of their sons. John's four sons were, in order, Thomas, after his father, John, after himself, William, and James. Thomas s four sons, in order, were John, after his father, Thomas, after himself, William, and James.

John Trowbridge took a lease of his fathers house probably in 1620, and a reversionary lease of the property was granted on October 16, 1628 to John's son John Trowbridge junior, woollen draper, for a rent of 53s 4d. This showed that the house was to be held for 99 years or the lives of his son, his wife Judith, and his brother James, and also that John Trowbridge (I) had given up his adjacent wool shop, the burgage on the west being occupied by Edith Woodroe, widow, and that on the east, under the Portmans, by Elizabeth Hurley, widow. This reversion never operated as John Trowbridge (II) died in 1630, before his father.John Trowbridge (I) was as prominent a man of business as had been his father. Monies collected in 1611 for the relief of plague victims at Minehead and Dunster were brought to his house, and in 1625 he supervised the repair of the Taunton house of correction, and provided a field at West Monkton for tents to quarantine travellers suspected of bringing the plague from London to Taunton. He was regularly churchwarden of St. Mary Magdalene, twice mayor of Taunton in 1629-30 and 1637-8, traded with London and Bristol, and apart from lands in the vicinity of Taunton, also held property in Strogursey and Cannington. He also arranged commercially important marriages for his children. His son John married the daughter of a Lyme Regis merchant, his son Thomas wedded the daughter of John Marshall, successively sheriff and mayor of Exeter, and his daughters were married to other merchants of both Taunton and
found on ancestry.com


John TrowbridgeBefore 31 July 1597, Tiverton, England
John was the son of Thomas Trowbridge Sr. Before John's marriage to Agnes Prowse, his father made a settlement which granted Agnes an annuity for life coming from all his lands at Rowbarton. This property was occupied by Alice Hutchins for life. On the same day, John was given a life interest in his father's estates at Obridge, Staplegrove and Pyrland. Pryland was sometimes occupied by Johane, Thomas' wife. His marriage to Agnes then took place at St. Peter's, Tiverton.
JeanBrubaker70 added this on 27 February 2007
Wedding Settlements
found on ancestry.com


Abstracted details of John Trowbridge willJohn Trowbridge of Taunton, Somerset, England, a woolen draper, published his will by word of mouth on 01 July 1649 in the presence of George Serle, Esq. and Thomas Trowbridge, his son, and John Trowbridge, his grandson. To his oldest son, Thomas,he left his messuage and tenement near Barthpoole Bridge in the parish of West Monkton, occupied by Henry Beale, to hold to Thomas for the remainder of his term therein after the deaths of the testator and Alice his wife. To his son Thomas, his land in Stogursey, viz., certain tenements from which the testator received high rent. All his goods and chattels he left to his son Thomas whom he made sole executor. The will was proved on 25 February 1949/50. It is found at the Public Record Office in London. The complete text may be found under ref. P.C.C. 32 Pembroke, Probe. 11/211. Proof: (The Gen., op. cit., p. 13; "The Trowbridge Ancestry in England" by Donald Lines Jacobus, "The American Genealogist", 18:3, pps. 129-137)
found on ancestry.com


Like his father, he was at one time Mayor of Taunton.
His actual burial location is not known.

WILL OF JOHN TROWBRIDGE, SENIOR, OF TAUNTON
[The last] will and Testament noncupative of [John Trowbr]idge of Taunton in the County of Som'stt [woolen dr]aper Deceased made and published by word of [same on this] the fifte day of July Anno Dni 1649 In the [presence a]nd heareing of George Serle Esq and [of Thom]as Trowbridg' his sonne and John Trowbridg' [the younger] his Grandchild in the manner and forms following [the said] Deceased beeing of perfect mynde and [..............] inference betweene him and the said George [Serle does vo]luntarilie give and bequeath vnto his eldest [sonne Thomas Trow]bridge all that his Messuage and tenement [which is] lyinge neere Barthpole Bridge within the [Town of] West Munckton in the Countie of Som'sett [wherein] John Beale now dwelleth for and During all [..............] of the terme of yeares wch hee the said deceased [...............] and vnexpired in the same ymedeatly after [vnto Alice] his wife theire Death the said Alice haueing [the use of] it for her life after the Decease of the said [wife Alice] hee did giue vnto his said sonne Thomas Trowbridge [.................] his lyinge in Stogursey in the said Countie of [Som'st]t Certaine tenemts whereof the said [........................] shillings per ann' for High rent [.......................................] haie Lastli hee gaue [vnto his sonne Thomas] Trowbridge all his goods [.........................................] shalbe Due vnto him [......................................aga]inst Debts that [..........................................] made and [the said Thomas Trow]bridge his sonne [executor of his last will a]nd Testament(Archdeaconry of Taunton, filed will 1049, no. 68.)
found on findagrave.com