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EDWARD BANGS (c. 1591–1677/8)

REBECCA UNKNOWN (say 1612–by 1677)

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Edward Bangs was probably born about 1591. He is possibly the Edward Bangs, son of John and Jane (Chavis) Bangs, who was baptized on 28 October 1591 in Panfield, co. Essex, England. [1][2] He died between 19 October 1677 and 5 March 1677/8. He married first (or possibly there was an earlier wife) Lydia Hicks, the daughter of Robert Hicks, after 1627. [1] Lydia was baptized on 6 September 1612 in St. Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, co. Surrey. [2] Edward married second Rebecca __ probably about 1635.

Rebecca was born say 1612.

Edward said that he was 86 in his 1677 will. But, this might be an exaggeration and he might have been born several years later

It has been suggested that, on the basis of a supposed entry in the Hobart Journal, that Rebecca might be Rebecca Hobart. However, this entry may not exist. [3]

Edward came to New England on the Anne in 1623. He received four acres as a passenger in the Anne. In the 1627 division he was the 13th person in the 12th company. [2]

According to an order of 2 January Charles 7 [1631/2] the households of Plymouth Colony were assessed for taxes. Edward Bangs was assessed a slightly higher than average 12 shillings, payable in corn at 6 shillings a bushel. [4, 1: 10]

Edward was on 1633 and 7 March 1636/7 lists of freemen in Plymouth Colony. [4, 1: 4. 52]

Edward must have had surveying skills as he was frequently called upon to layout land and highways. On 1 July 1633 he was appointed to a committee to divide the meadowland in the bay. [4, 1: 14] In 1637 he was on a committee to view the hay ground between Eel River and Plymouth. [4, 1: 55] It was found that there were 500 acres of of meadow between Eel River and South River and on 2 October 1637 Edward, representing Eel River, was on a committee to agree upon a division. [4, 1: 67] On 1 June 1640 he was on a committee to review and measure the meadowland at Green Harbor. [4, 1: 153] He was on a committee to lay out a lot for Sarah Morton on 1 February 1640/1. [4, 2: 7]

Edward was on a jury to layout highways on 1 February 1640/1. [4, 2: 7] He was on a jury to lay out a highway from Plymouth to Sandwich. This jury presented its plan on 27 February 1652. [4, 3: 61–62]

Edward must have been seen as reliable and fair as he was called upon to assess taxes, sit on juries and to settle a dispute.

On 3 March 1634 Edward was added to a committee to assess taxes. [4, 1: 33] On 2 March 1635/6 he was one of several added to the Governor and the Assistants to assess taxes. [4, 1: 38]

On 4 October 1636 Edward was empaneled for a trial of actions and abuses. Among other things the jury found Thomas Savery guilty of drunkenness and that he should be whipped; that John Barnes had broken the Sabbath and should be fined and made to sit in the stocks; that Richard Beare should sit in the stocks for contempt. [4, 1: 44] He was on the Grand Enquest on 3 March 1636/7, 5 June 1638, and 2 June 1640. [4, 1: 54, 87, 155] He was a grand juryman from Plymouth on 1 March 1641/2. [4, 2: 34] On 20 September 1667 he was on a coroner's enquest that found that Daniel Done's child had died by falling into a well and drowning. [4, 4: 169]

On 3 December 1639 Edward and Richard Church were appointed to arbitrate a dispute between Mr. Samuel Gorton and Thomas Clark. [4, 1: 137]

On 8 November 1638 Edward Bangs, yeoman, acknowledged that he owed 20 shillings in back taxes. [4, 1: 103] On 5 March 1643/4 Edward Bangs of Eel River acknowledged owing 10 shillings in back taxes; this was discharged by 5 June 1644. [4, 2: 69]

On 2 November 1640 Edward was granted ten acres of meadow in the south meadow toward "Aggawam, Colebrook Meddowes." [4, 1: 166] He was granted an 80-acres parcel of upland "about Warrens Wells" on 16 September 1641. [4, 2: 25] He decided that he wanted land closer to his house and on 17 October 1642 this was allowed, with any additional acres to be deducted from the original 80. [4, 2: 48]

On 24 January 1641/2 Edward had a fifteenth part share in the building of a 200 pound bark. [4, 2: 31]

Edward moved to Eastham sometime between 5 March 1643/4 when is referred to as an inhabitant of Eel River (in Plymouth) and 1 June 1647 when he was of "Nawsett" (Eastham). [4, 2: 115]

Edward was a supervisor of the highways in Eastham on 1 June 1647, 4 June 1650, and 5 June 1651. [4, 2: 115, 155, 168]

Edward was a deputy for Eastham on 3 June 1652. [4, 3: 9]

Edward was referred to a as a yeoman, but he was also an innkeeper. On 6 October 1657 Edward was given the liberty to draw and sell wine and strong waters in Eastham, provided he did not sell to the Indians. [4, 3: 123] According to a 29 November 1664 account of liquor brought into Eastham, Edward had brought six gallons. [4, 4: 100]

Edward and his sons John and Jonathan are on the Eastham section of a 29 May 1670 list of freemen in Plymouth Colony. [4, 5: 278]

An undated deed says, "A declaration of the Right and Interest of sundry persons, sometimes members of the Church of Plymouth have; to a tract of land of Township lying in the betome of Cape Codd being comonly called Nausett, Now Eastham, both by an acte of Court and also by purchased from the Natives, the Names of the persons are these, Mr. Thomas Prence, Mr. John Dowe, Nicholas Snow, Josias Cooke, Richard Higgens, John Smalley, Edward Bangs &c:" [5]

On 23 February 1676 Edward deeded his son Joshua his messuage, house, housing and lands in Eastman. [2]

Edward wrote made his will on 19 October 1677. He said that he was 86. He mentioned his sons Jonathan, John and Joshua; his daughters Howe, Higgens, Done, Hall, Merrick and Atwood; the children of his deceased daughter Rebecca. [1]

Unusually for a man of his time and place, there are no records of disputes between Edward and the other residents of Plymouth Colony.

Children of Edward Bangs and Lydia Hicks:

i. John Bangs was born say 1634. [2] He married Hannah Smalley on 23 January 1660/1. [2]

John is mentioned in the wills of his grandparents Robert and Margaret Hicks.

Children of Edward Bangs and Rebecca Unknown:

ii. Rebecca Bangs was born say 1636. She died before 10 October 1677. She married Captain Jonathan Sparrow.

iv. Captain Jonathan Bangs was born say 1640. [2] He married first Mary Mayo on 16 July 1664 in Eastham. [2][6] Mary, the daughter of Thomasine (Lumpkin) Mayo, was baptized on 3 February 1649/50 in Barnstable. [7] She died on 26 January 1711 in Brewster. [7] Jonathan married second Sarah __ . [7] He married third as her second husband Ruth (Cole) Young on 23 July 1720. [7] Ruth, the daughter of Daniel and Ruth (Collier) Cole, was born on 15 April 1651 in Eastham. [7] She married first John Young. John, the son of John and Abigail (Howland) Young, and grandson of Henry and Mary Howland, was born on 16 November 1649 in Plymouth. [7] He died before 23 April 1718 in Eastham. [7]

v. Lydia Bangs was born say 1642. [2] She married Benjamin Higgens on 24 December 1661 in Eastham. [2]

vii. Bethiah Bangs was born on 28 May 1650 in Eastham. [2] She married Reverend Gershom Hall in 1669. [1][2]

viii. Mercy Bangs (twin) was born on 15 October 1651 in Eastham. [2] She married Stephen Merrick on 28 December 1670 in Eastham. [2]

ix. Apphia Bangs (twin) was born on 15 October 1651 in Eastham. She married first John Knowles. She married second Stephen Atwood. [Entries for Apphia on both of her husbands' pages.]

References:

1. Eugene Aubrey Stratton, Plymouth Colony: Its History & People 1620–1691 (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1986), 238–9.

2. "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620–1633, Volumes I-III," digitized book, AmericanAncestors.org, originally Published as: Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, 3 volumes (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), 86–89.

3. Edward Egan, Jr., "Hobart Journal," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 121 (1967): 4.

4. 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 (Boston: William White, 1855, 1856).

5. "Massachusetts: Plymouth Colony Deeds, 1671–1673," digitized book, AmericanAncestors.org, deeds, volume 3, part 2, p. 123.

6. "Plymouth Colony Vital Records," Mayflower Descendant 19 (1917): 10.

7. Andrew P. Langlois, "Descendants of John Young of Plymouth and Barnstable, Mayflower Descendant 54 (2005): 97–113.

8. “Barnstable, MA: Probate Records, 1685–1789,” database with images, AmericanAncestors, vol. 3: 246–49.

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31-Aug-2023