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JAMES CUDWORTH (bp. 1612–1681)
MARY PARKER (d. by 1634)
James Cudworth's Paternal English Ancestry
The Cudworths were "lesser members of Lancashire's gentry." [11] Stansfield traces their probable descent from John de Cudworth (d. 1384), who married Margery (d. 1384), the daughter of Richard de Oldham. John's proposed great-grandson Geoffrey Cudworth was born about 1452 [11]
Geoffrey's son John Cudworth (c. 1480–1550) married Elizabeth (d. 1563), the daughter of Thomas Chetham (d. 1503) of Nuthurst, "a not insubstantial landowner." [11]
John and Elizabeth's son Ralph Cudworth (c. 1506–58) married Agnes, the daughter of of Alexander Lees of Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire.
Ralph and Agnes's son Ralph Cudworth (c. 1532–1572) married Jane, the daughter of Arthur Assheton (c. 1515–91) of Clegg Hall, Rochdale. Ralph had a posthumous son Reverend Ralph Cudworth.
Reverend Ralph Cudworth was born in 1573 in Oldham, Lancashire. He died in August or September 1624 in Aller, Somersetshire. He married Mary Machell in 18 June 1611 at Southwark.
Mary was the daughter of Matthew Machell (c. 1549–1593). [11] She died between December 1634 and 1635. [12] She married second Dr. John Stoughton, who succeeded Ralph as rector of Aller. [12][13][14][15]
He was a graduate and fellow of Emmanuel College Cambridge. He was rector of Aller and a chaplain of King James I. [12][13][14][15]
Mary had been a nurse of Henry, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of James I. [12][15]
Children of Reverend Ralph Cudworth and Mary Machel (among others):
i. James Cudworth was baptized on 2 August 1612.
ii. Ralph Cudworth was born in 1616. He died on 26 June 1688 in Cambridge and is buried in Christ College. He married Damaris Andrews about 1654. Damaris, the daughter of Matthew and Damaris Craddock, was born on 23 October 1623 and baptized on 1 November 1623 in St. Swithin's Canongate, London. She died on 15 November 1695. She married first Thomas Andrews. [12]
Portrait: Ralph Cudworth. (2023, October 7). In Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Cudworth), cropped.
James's famous brother was an Anglican clergyman and Cambridge scholar. He was a fellow of Emmanuel College, the 11th Regius Professor of Hebrew, the 26th Master of Clare Hall, and the 14th Master of Christ College.
He was a member of a group known as the Cambridge Platonists. Their views are most fully expressed in his 1678 work, The True Intellectual System of of the Universe. [11]
His daughter Damaris, Lady Masham, was a confidant of John Locke. [11]
James, the son of Reverend Ralph Cudworth, was baptized on 2 August 1612 in Aller, Somersetshire. [1] He died in late 1681 of smallpox in London. [1][2] He married Mary Parker on 1 February 1633/4 in Northam, Devonshire. [1]
Mary died before 15 September 1681, when she was not mentioned in her husband's will.
James was admitted a freeman in Plymouth on 1 January 1634/5. [3, 1: 32]
On 4/5 October 1636 James Cudworth was appointed a party for Scituate on a committee ordered to review the colony's ordinances. [3, 1: 44]
He was on a trial jury at the 4/5 October 1636 court. [3, 1: 44] He was appointed constable for Scituate on 3 January 1636/7. [3, 1: 48] James was one of many freemen of Scituate who complained about insufficient land. The 1 January 1637/8 court granted them more land provided they formed a township and settled their differences with Mr. Vassell. [3, 1: 72]
On 2 January 1637/8, [3, 1: 74]
Edward Shaw was indicted for the felonious takeing of xvs from the pson of William Corvanell, and was found guilty, and as his censure to be severely whipt, and burnt in the shoulder wth a hot iron; wch was accordingly executed vpon him.
James was on the jury that found Edward guilty.
James was a witness against John Stockbridge of Scituate for disgraceful speeches against the government on 5 June 1638. [3, 1: 87]
The court made a grant of a plantation called Seppekann ("Sippican," now Rochester) for a township and congregation on 22 January 1638/9 to a committee of eight men, including James, who were to dispose of the land. [3, 1: 108] It proved to be unsuitable.
James was on the trial jury on 4 June 1639, 3 September 1639, 17 June 1641, and 1 March 1641/2. [4: 12, 13, 21, 28]
James Cudworth was a deputy for the town of Barnstable on 2 June 1640 and 7 June 1642. [3, 1: 155; 2: 40]
Mr. James Cudworth was a deputy for the town of Scituate on 6 June 1649, 4 June 1650, 5 June 1651, 3 June 1652, 6 April 1653, 7 March 1653/4*, 6 June 1654*, 1 August 1654*, 8 June 1655. [3, 2: 144, 154, 167; 3: 8, 23, 44, 49, 63, 79; *Town not specified]
On 2 June 1640 Mr. James Cudworth of Scituate was presented to the court for selling wine contrary to order. [3, 1: 156]
The General Court of Plymouth appointed Mr. Cudworth to a committee to "treat, debate, and determine" the title to lands called Shawamett and Pautuxet with a committee appointed by the General Court of Massachusetts. On 7 June 1650 the committees reported that Plymouth ceded its rights to Massachusetts. [3, 2: 158]
James Cudworth's Maternal English Ancestry [16]
Douglas Richardson prepared a proposed maternal ancestry for James with a royal descent from Edward I.
Edward Lewknor, Esq. of Kingston by Sea, Ham, Hawsey, and Parham, Sussex was the son of Edward Lewknor, Esq. of Kingston by Sea, Gentleman Usher to Kings Henry VII and VIII and Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex and his wife Margaret. He married Margaret Copley. They had son:
Edward Lewknor of Kingston by Sea and Hanswey, Sussex, Groom Porter to King Edward VI and Queen Mary I, M.P. for Horsham, Sussex. Accused of treason, he died a prisoner in the Tower of London on 6 September 1556. He married Dorothy, daughter of Robert Wroth, Esq. of Durant, Middlesex and Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Haute, Knt. They had daughter:
Mary Lewknor married Matthew Machell by a license of 1 July 1568. Matthew was a gentleman of London and Shacklewell in Hackney, citizen and haberdasher of London (d. 23 August 1593). They had daughter
Mary Machell, who married Reverend Ralph Cudworth.
James's proposed royal descent is through Margaret Copley:
Robert Copley, Esq. citizen and mercer of London married Ann Hoo.
Thomas Hoo, K.G., Lord Hoo and Hastings married Eleanor Welles.
Lionel Wells, K.G., 6th Lord Wells, married Joan Waterton
Ives Wells married Maud Greystoke
John Wells, Knt., 5th Lord Wells married Eleanor Mowbray
John de Mowbray, Knt., 4th Lord Mowbray married Elizabeth de Segrave
John de Segrave, Knt., 4th Lord Segrave, married Margaret Marshal, Duchess and Countess of Norfolk
Thomas of Brotherton, Knt. Earl of Norfolk, married Alice de Hales
Edward I of England married Margaret of France
James was referred to as "Captain" on 1 March 1652/3 and after. [3, 3: 23] He was appointed to a Council of War on 6 April 1653. [3, 3: 26] He was appointed to a committee to view writing sent from the Bay and compare it with the articles of confederation and give their thoughts. [3, 3: 33] He was appointed to a committee that reported on the Treasurer's accounts on 7 June 1653. [3, 3: 33]
James was fined five pounds for departing court while a deputy. [3, 3: 52]
James was on a coroner's jury that reported on 15 November 1655 that the child Thankful Pakes died by falling into a well. [3, 3: 92]
By 1656 James had become an important man in Plymouth colony. He was an Assistant on 3 June 1656, 3 July 1656, 5 October 1656, 4 May 1657, 3 June 1657, 6 October 1657, 2 February 1657/8, and 2 March 1657/8. [3, 3: 99, 103, 108, 114, 122, 126, 128] He was chosen a magistrate on 3 June 1656. [3, 3: 99] He and Mr. Prence were requested to put an end to a dispute between Mr. Thomas Dexter and some of his neighbors on 5 October 1656. [3, 3: 108] He was appointed to committees to review the colony's laws and the Treasurer's accounts on 3 June 1657. [3, 3: 117] He was appointed to a committee to take charge of the completion of a bridge over North River on 6 October 1657. [3, 3: 123]
James's downfall was swift. Plymouth colony at the time was extremely harsh in its treatment of Quakers, meting out whippings and banishments. On 2 March 1657/8 the court noted that it had received a petition from sundry people in Scituate, including some in the military company, complaining that Captain James Cudworth—a commissioned officer of the Scituate military company—allowed Quakers to meet in his house. Viewing this as disturbing the peace of the government, James was relieved of his command. [3, 3: 130]
On 1 March 1658/9 Mistress Cudworth was one of several residents of Scituate fined ten shillings for frequently missing public worship. [5: 95] This suggests that she might have been a Quaker by then.
In late 1659 or early 1660 James wrote to a correspondent in England: [1][2]
As to the state & condition of things amung us, it is sad, and so like to continue. The antichristian persecuting spirit is very active ... . Last election Mr. Hatherly and myself were left off of the bench, and myself discharged of my Captainship, because I had entertained some of the Quakers at my house, thereby that I might be better acquainted with their principles ... . But the Quakers and myself cannot close in diverse things, and so I signified to the Court; but told withal, that as I was no Quaker, so I would be no persecutor.
James was an Assistant on 4 May 1658 and 1 June 1658, but ceased to be appointed after that. [3, 3: 133, 134] On 7 March 1659/60 the court, taking note of his great dissatisfaction with the government and encouragement of Quakers, ordered him to appear at the next June court. [3, 3: 183] Citing a seditious letter sent by him to England, the court ordered him to post a bond of 500 pounds for his appearance at the October court, and it disenfranchised him. [3, 3: 188–9] On 2 October 1660 Captain James appeared and was temporarily cleared. The court agreed his case would be tried at the 2 March court. [3, 3: 198] No further action was taken.
James continued to perform lesser tasks for the colony. On 3 October 1662 he was on a committee to make a division of lands between John Williams, Sr. and his son John. [3, 4: 27] On 4 October 1664 he was on a committee to settle a controversy about a tract of land. [3, 4: 76] On 7 March 1664/5 James and Mr. Joseph Tilden were appointed to lay out land for William Randall. [3, 4: 82]
James engaged in a protracted legal battle with the quarrelsome John Williams, Jr. See, for example, [4: 154–5, 185–6, 229]
The Scituate military company attempted to reinstate James. On 5 June 1666 the court recorded an order sent to the company saying their vote of people for management was unadvised and, with respect to James Cudworth, directly against advice. It appointed Sergeant John Damman to take charge. [3, 4: 126–7] Despite losing his commission, records continue to refer to James as Captain.
On 2 March 1668/9 James was on a committee to settle the bounds of land owned by Peter Collymore. [3, 5: 12] He was on a committee to hear and settle the differences between Captain Fuller and Samuel Fuller and the town of Sandwich. [3, 5: 96] He was on a committee to lay out land at Scituate on 29 October 1672. [3, 5: 103]
On 22 June 1672 Hugh Cole, Constant Southworth, James Cudworth, Sr., and George Watson bought a triangle of upland in Swansea from Tackamanett. [6, vol. 3, pt. 2: 35]
James's rehabilitation was also swift. James was re-enfranchised by a vote of the court on 4 July 1673. [3, 3: 189][3, 5: 124] He was authorized to solemnize marriages, grant subpoenas, and administer oaths in Scituate. [3, 5: 125] He was chosen the captain of an expedition against the Dutch on 17 December 1673. [3, 5: 136] However, he declined the office, citing his estate and his wife's poor health: [1]
My wife, as is well known unto the whole town, is not only a weak woman, but has been all along; and now by reason of age, being sixty-seven years and upward, and nature decaying, so her illness grows strongly upon her.
James was regularly an Assistant from 7 July 1674 to 1 March 1680/1. [3, 5: 148, 152, 158, 163, 179, 194, 203, 211, 217, 237, 245, 251, 255, 264; 6: 9, 17, 22, 29, 34, 43, 50, 53, 55] He was chosen captain of the military company in Scituate on 4 July 1674. [3, 5: 150]
James was unanimously chosen general or commander in chief of the colony's military forces on 4 October 1675. [3, 5: 175] He was on a committee to take account of charges arising from the present war on 4 October 1675. [3, 5: 175] He was on a committee to impress men in Scituate on 6 December 1675. [3, 5: 183] He was on a committee to review the laws of the colony on 5 June 1678. [3, 5: 263] He was appointed to a committee to sell the colony's conquest lands on 4 July 1679. [3, 6: 19] He was elected deputy governor of Plymouth colony on 7 June 1681. [3, 6: 58] He was chosen a commissioner of the united colonies the same day. [3, 6: 59]
James made his will on 15 September 1681; it was proved on 7 July 1682. He ordered his estate be divided into six parts. His son James was to have two parts, along with what he had already received. His sons Israel and Jonathan were each to have a part. His daughter Mary's children—Israel, Robert, James, and Mary Whitcomb—were to share a part. His daughter Joanna Jones was to receive a part. His untotaled inventory was taken on 20 June 1682 and included 370 pounds in real estate. [1]
Children of James Cudworth and Mary Parker:
i. James Cudworth was baptized on 3 May 1635 in Scituate. [7] He died intestate by 17 December 1697. He married Mary Howland, the daughter of Henry Howland and niece of John Howland. [1] She died between 17 January 1697/8 and 23 December 1702.
James Cudworth, Jr. was fined five pounds for fornication with his wife before marriage on 3 October 1665. [3, 4: 106]
James was a representative for Scituate on 5 June 1671 and 3 June 1674. [3, 5: 58, 146]
James died intestate. Inventory was taken on his estate on 17 December 1697. His widow Mary made oath to it on 17 January 1697/8. The probate judge refereed to Mary as deceased on 23 December 1702. [8]
ii. Mary Cudworth baptized on 25 January 1637 in Scituate. She married Robert Whitcomb.
iii. Jonathan Cudworth was baptized on 16 September 1638 in Scituate. [7][9] He was buried there eight days later. [VRMS]
iv. Israel Cudworth was baptized on 18 April 1641 in Barnstable. [9]
vi. Joanna Cudworth was baptized on 25 March 1643 in Barnstable. [1][9] She married ___ Jones.
vi. Unnamed son Cudworth died, unbaptized, on 24 June 1644 in Barnstable. [10]
v. Jonathan Cudworth married Sarah Jackson on 31 May 1667 in Scituate. [7]
On 5 July 1670 the court ordered Jonathan Cudworth and his wife to answer for fornication before marriage. [3, 5: 43]
References:
1. "Great Migration 1634–1635, C–F," digitized book, AmericanAncestors.org, originally published as: Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634–1635, Volume II, C–F (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001), 249–58.
2. Mary Holman Lovering, The Scott Genealogy (Boston: n.p., 1919), 261–2.
3. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of Plymouth Colony: Court Orders, vol. 1, 1633–1640, vol. 2, 1641–1651, vol. 3, 1651–1661, vol. 4, 1661–1668, vol. 5, 1668–1678, vol. 6, 1678–1691 (Boston: William White, 1855, 1866).
4. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of Plymouth Colony: Court Orders, Judicial Acts, 1636–1692 (Boston: William White, 1857).
5. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of Plymouth Colony: Court Orders, Miscellaneous Records, 1633–1689 (Boston: William White, 1857).
6. "Massachusetts: Plymouth Colony Deeds, 1671–1673," database with image AmericanAncestors.org.
7. Vital Records of Scituate, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1909), vol. 1, vol. 2.
1: 102 Jonathan, s. James, bp. Sept. 16, 1638. C.R.1.
1: 102 Mary, d. James, bp. July 23, 1637. C.R.1.
2: 80 Jonathan and Sarah Jacksun, May 31, 1667.*
2: 372 Jonathan, s. James, [buried] Sept. 24, 1638. C.R.1.
8. "Plymouth County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1686–1881," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org > 5313 (James, Jr.)
9. "Scituate and Barnstable Church Records," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 9 (1855): 281–2.
10. "Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620–1850," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org > Barnstable.
711 Cudworth "man child" of Jas. unbap. June 24, 1644.
11. R.E. Stansfield, "Gentry, Gentility, and Genealogy in Lancashire: The Cudworths of Werneth Hall, Oldham, c. 1377–1683," Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society 111 (2019): 48–80.
12. "Notes From English Records," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 64 (1910): 84–87.
13. "Editor's Effusions," Great Migration Newsletter 21–24 (2004), 18.
14. "Focus on the West County," Great Migration Newsletter 21–25 (2015), 117.
15. "Cudworth and Stoughton," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 21 (1867): 249–50.
16. Douglas Richardson, "Cudworth," Jewels of the Crown (Fall 2009), 4–6.
Last revised: 12-Jan-2024