John CRESSEY

Notes:

"John Cressey was b. in Beverly, Mass., July 31, 1721, m. about 1745 Deborah, dau. of Captain Amos Wadleigh of Boston. He and his wife moved to Narragansett No. 7, a grant to the soldiers who fought in King Philip's war in 1675. This grant is now the town of Gorham, Maine, incorporated in 1764. They settled west of ``Little River'' in 1747, cleared some of the forest land and built a log cabin for their home. Later he exchanged places for a 30-acre lot, No. 53, not far from ``Fort Hill,'' where he made a permanent home. This was in the time of the French and Indian war. It was not safe for anyone to remain outside the fort at night. They lived in constant fear of the war whoop, the tomahawk, and the scalping knife. His wife would often act as spy while her husband was at work in the clearing with gun at hand to protect him from the wily savage. The fort was built in 1745 on the most elevated land in Gorham. A tablet on a boulder now marks the spot on ``Fort Hill.'' The early settlers did not feel secure until General Wolfe and his army won the victory at Quebec in 1759. During the dangerous times public worship was held in the fort. He was a tanner and shoemaker for the early settlers. In 1772 he cut 20 tons of hay. The farm is still in the Cressey name. He and his wife were members of the early First Parish Congregational Church. He d. in 1785 at 64. She d. in 1796 at 75."

"He moved to Connecticut with his father. He m. Deborah Wadley. They moved to Gorham, Maine about 1747."

"John, the eldest son, who settled in Gorham, was born July 31, 1721, and was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old when, about 1747, he married Deborah, daughter of Capt. Amos Wadley of Boston. He came to Gorham when his son John was an infant, and settled first on the hundred acre lot, 69, or 70, west of Little river, near where David Warren lately lived. From thence having exchanged farms with Chas. McDonald he moved to the thirty acre lot, 53, where he lived a part of the time during the Indian war.
Mr. Cressey built his first house on the above-named thirty acre lot, near where Charles Cressey's cider house now stands. At the time of his coming to Gorham, 1749, Or 1750, the Indians in consequence of their many defeats had become less troublesome, though they were often seen, singly or in small parties, but committed but little depredation, as the settlers had become better armed and more wary. Nevertheless, many of the settlers who were near enough made the fort their home during the night. Such was the case with Mr. Cressey. Although his name does not appear with those who made the fort their home during the Indian war, the fact is that he did so most of the time with his wife and children, always going to the fort to spend the nights. He had a road across lots direct to the fort, which was a short half mile from his clearing. The first land he cleared was in front of his log house, on the thirty acre lot, 53. Here he would work, while his wife and her son John would sit on a stump with the gun by her side in order to give the alarm, should the Indians appear. At one time, while husband and wife were thus situated, an Indian came upon them. Discovering Mr. Cressey at work, and not seeing his wife, he crept stealthily toward Mr. Cressey, with his tomahawk raised and knife ready, not being armed with a gun. Mrs. Cressey sat with her gun in her hand, with fear and trembling. When the enemy got quite near to her husband she could bear it no longer, his danger overcame her fear. She rose up and called out to him, at the same time pointing her gun toward the Indian, who thought it prudent to beat a hasty retreat, for the savages had had several lessons that had taught them that the "white squaws " were not bad shots. Here the couple lived and toiled. Mrs. Cressey, although reared in the city of Boston, and never having known what hard work was, took hold resolutely with her husband, taking care of the house and aiding in the field, helping him in the toilsome work of cutting and piling up the partially burned logs in order to clear the land for crops, often not knowing from whence the next meal of victuals was to come. Sometimes there was not a particle of food in their house, nor did they know where they could obtain any. Such was the case one day when they were at work on their land. The season was advancing; their crops must be in; if they were to raise anything they had no time to spare, they must work, and then hunt for food. While thus at work, nearly dead for want of food, Mrs. Cressey found a partridge nest, with thirteen eggs in it., This was good fortune, and when their day's work was done they had a good square supper of partridge eggs on which to go to rest. Bread was hard to be got. When they first came into town they could occasionally procure game when their work would allow them time for hunting and when they thought the Indians were not prowling around.

Mr. Cressey died in 1785, and his wife Deborah, in 1796."

John married Deborah WADLEIGH Abt 1745. Deborah (daughter of Amos WADLEIGH) died 1796. [Group Sheet]

1. John Wadleigh CRESSEY was born 22 Feb 1749, Gorham, Cumberland County, Maine; died 23 Dec 1842, Buxton, York County, Maine; was buried , Highland Cemetery, Buxton, York County, Maine.

Notes:

Lieutenant Daniel Cressey was b. at ``Royal Side,'' Salem, now Beverly, Mass., July 11, 1698, m. 1720 Sarah Ingleson of Beverly. He was a shoemaker by trade and probably a tanner of leather. The records say he was a ``cordwainer.'' He lived on the 13-acre lot with a house and barn thereon, which his father (Dea. John2) bought of John Green in 1695. In 1737 Daniel moved to Andover and sold out. About 1740 he bought land and buildings in Methuen and later a part of this town was set off where he lived as Salem, N.H., and he served as selectman. He united with the First Church in Boston in 1716 when 17, and in 1740 asked for a letter to unite at Methuen. He was a soldier in the war between France and England, New England forces, called ``Rogers' Rangers,'' and served as Lieutenant in this the third colonial war. He was at the seige and surrender of the French at Louisburg, Cape Breton Islands, in 1745. About the close of the war in 1748 he was shot and murdered for his money by an English officer from England, Lieutenant James Hadley. He changed his name and fled to England. The widow was left with 9 living children. She moved to Hampton, Connecticut, where 3 of their daughters married 3 brothers by the name of Ashley. She d. there at the home of one of her daughters. He was about 50.

Sergeant Daniel CRESSEY Yeoman was born on 11 Jul 1698 in Royal Side of Cape Ann (now Beverly), Essex, MA.(1945) (1946) He became a member First Church of Boston in 1716 in Beverly, Essex, MA.(1947) He resided 13 acre lot with a house and barn purchased by his father before 1737 in Beverly, Essex, MA.(1948) He moved in 1737 to Andover, Essex, MA.(1949) He moved in 1740 to Methuen, Essex, MA.(1950) He purchased land and buildings there. He became a member First Church of Boston in 1740 in Methuen, Essex, MA.(1951) He resided after 1741 in Salem, Rockingham, NH.(1952) In that year, the part of Methuen, MA where Daniel resided was incorporated as Salem, Rockingham, NH when New Hampshire was formed as a separate Colony. He served as an Among 4000 New Englanders to attack French Fort Louisbourg on Cape Breton. Killed in accident between 1745 and 1747 in King George's War (1744-1748).(1953) (1954)(1955) (1956) Daniel served with the group of mainly Massachusetts soldiers who attacked the French Fort Louisbourg in 1745 on Cape Breton Island where the French surrendered. This was part of what was called the King George's War 1744-1748). Cressey (481) says that he was in Roger's Rangers, but that is not possible since that group was created in a later French and Indian War. Cressey (481) says Daniel was a lieutenant, but that is also incorrect. He was a Sergeant, according to Louisbourg Court Martial Records (532). He is also absent from a compiled list of approximately 700 officers who served in the champaign complied by Charles Hudson (549).

The following is a short history of Louisbourg from various historical sources:

Ben Franklin called Louisbourg a "hard nut to crack" but in 1745 a ragtag army of New Englanders captured France's most imposing North American stronghold. Founded in 1713 for its cod fishery, Louisbourg enjoyed three peaceful decades as a French colonial seaport. Between 1660 to 1760, men of New England fought repeatedly to keep Nova Scotia in English hands with little help from England, which was at war with France in Europe. The New Englanders feared that France would attack. For years, the French used Indians to attack the isolated inhabitants of New York and Maine, and the British did little. An attack on Louisbourg was considered an act of self-preservation. It was also considered unlikely to succeed. Louisbourg was Frances stronghold in North America. It was called "impenetrable."

In 1744 the French captured and destroyed a British fort at Canso, Nova Scotia, and carried the prisoners to the French fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island. Go. William Shirley of Massachusetts, fearing French invasion, appealed to the other colonies for aid. A force of about 4000 militiamen was raised and placed under the command of Sir William Pepperell, a Maine merchant.

In April 1745, the colonial troops sailed in British ships from Boston sailed to Louisbourg and attacked. The ragtag army of New Englanders, supported by a British naval squadron, captured Louisbourg after a 46-day siege. Commanded by General William Pepperell, they included about 5000 inexperienced men from Massachusetts (4000), CT (500), NH (300), and RI (300). The minimum force required to properly defend a Fortress of Louisbourg's size was 3,500 men. Louisbourg held out for seven weeks with a defending force of only 1500 men. While no fortress can withstand an invasion indefinitely, many were still surprised when on June 15, after seven weeks of attack, a ragtag bunch of colonials successfully captured the supposedly impregnable fortress at Louisbourg by force. Yet England returned Cape Breton to France three years later.

Most of the inhabitants were sent to France and Louisbourg was garrisoned by New England and then English troops until 1749. At the end of the war in 1748, Louisbourg was returned to the French by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, in return for British control of Madras, India.

He died on 1 Apr 1747 in Louisbourg, Cape Breton, Canada.(1957) (1953)(1958) The death of Daniel Cressey is a very interesting story. While some call it an accident, others call it murder. According to Ernest Cressey, author of "Story of Your Ancestors: CRESSEY, 286 Years in America" (1935) Lieutenant Daniel Cressey of Massachusetts was part of Roger's Rangers and among the soldiers who, in 1745, attacked and defeated the French at Fort Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. "About the close of the war in 1748 [presumably in Louisbourg], he was shot and murdered for his money by an English officer from England, Leut. James Hadley. He changed his name and fled to England." I have learned that much of Cressey's account is incorrect. Not only had Roger's Ranger's not yet formed at this time, but the actual Louisbourg Court Martial Records tell a different story. The record was hand transcribed for me by staff of the New Hampshire Historical Society (who do not know how they came to possess the document). According to the record, a Lieutenant SAMUEL Hadley shot dead SERGEANT Daniel Cressey [emphasis added] of Colonel Shirley's Regiment in a duck hunting accident on 1 Apr 1747. Hadley was court martialed, but the court, after hearing witnesses, ruled the death an accident and Hadley was acquitted.

But the story does not end there. Over 80 years later, a grandson of Daniel, Benjamin Cressey, wrote his opinion of what happened. He believed that Hadley shot and murdered Cressey for the considerable money that Cressey had saved to buy a farm, was falsely acquitted and fled to England. Benjamin is mistaken in his belief that Daniel was an officer and that the trail of Lt. Hadley took place in Boston - the court martial was in Louisbourg. I am inclined to believe that Daniel was a Sergeant rather than an officer, but was it an accident or murder? It would be interesting to confirm how quickly Lieutenant Hadley left for England. He was a cordwainer (shoemaker) and probably a leather tanner as well in Beverly, Essex, MA.(1959) Parents: Deacon John CRESSEY and Sarah GAINES.

He married to Sarah INGERSOL on 20 Oct 1720. (1960)(1961) Children were: John CRESSEY, Ruth CRESSEY , Mary CRESSEY, Ruth CRESSEY , Sarah CRESSEY, Private Daniel CRESSEY, Joseph CRESSEY, Elizabeth CRESSEY, Richard CRESSEY, Ebenezer CRESSEY, Anna CRESSEY.

http://www.familyorigins.com/users/b/l/o/Peter-E-Blood/FAMO5-0001/d15.htm#P2255

Died:
Date and location from:

http://www.familyorigins.com/users/b/l/o/Peter-E-Blood/FAMO5-0001/d15.htm#P2255

Daniel married Sarah INGERSOLL 20 Oct 1720, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. Sarah (daughter of Richard INGERSOLL and Ruth DODGE) was born Bef 30 Aug 1702, Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts; died Abt 1750, Hampton, Windham County, Connecticut; was buried 1758, Hammond (North) Cemetery, Hampton, Connecticut. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Sarah INGERSOL was born about 1700. She moved after 1748 to Hampton, Windham, CT. She died about 1750 in Hampton, Windham, CT. She was about 50 when she died at the home of one of her daughters.

Parents: Richard INGERSOL and Ruth DODGE.

She married to Sergeant Daniel CRESSEY Yeoman on 20 Oct 1720.

Children were: John CRESSEY, Ruth CRESSEY, Mary CRESSEY, Ruth CRESSEY, Sarah CRESSEY, Private Daniel CRESSEY, Joseph CRESSEY, Elizabeth CRESSEY, Richard CRESSEY, Ebenezer CRESSEY, Anna CRESSEY.

http://www.familyorigins.com/users/b/l/o/Peter-E-Blood/FAMO5-0001/d36.htm#P2256

Buried:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/4791/hamptonhammondcem.htm

"Cresey, Mrs. Sarah, died 1758"

Notes:

Dea. John Cressey was b. at ``Royal Side,'' Salem, now Beverly, Mass., in August, 1659. His mother d. leaving him an infant and he was brought up by his grandfather Batchelder. At his grandfather's death he chose in court his uncle, Joseph Batchelder, to be his guardian in 1675, when he was 16. His father d. in 1670 and left him 6 acres of land along ``Royal Neck'' and ?5 English money. When a young man he bought several lots of land and probably owned 100 acres, including the property he bought in 1709, which appears to have been the home of his boyhood, which runs through the golf grounds, and has been owned by descendants for more than 200 years. His trade was a weaver and tailor. In manhood Dea. Cressey became a prominent and influential director in the political and religious activities of the community. He was a charter member and first deacon of the Second Church in Beverly. The meetinghouse was built in 1714 and stands today, 1935. The church was organized in 1715 with 15 members, all men. Rev. John Chipman was first pastor. His name is found among the trustees of the land set apart for the erection of the first schoolhouse at ``Royal Side'' in 1692, which was located on Conant Street. He m. in 1685 Sarah, dau. of John and Mary (Treadwell) Gaines of Ipswich. He d. in 1735. She d. in 1751; buried at North Beverly.

Deacon John CRESSEY was born in Aug 1659 in Royal Side of Cape Ann (now Beverly), Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was born in what is now Beverly, Essex, MA. John's mother died giving birth to John when she was only 19. Rather than raise John himself, his father Mighill moved to Ipswich within a year and remarried. He resided John Jr. was raised by his grandfather, John Batchelder and his brother Joseph. between Aug 1659 and 1675 in Beverly, Essex, MA.He received 6 acres along Royal Neck and 5 pounds when his father died. in 1670 in Beverly, Essex, MA. He appeared in court in 1675 in Beverly, Essex, MA. In this year, at age 16, John chose his uncle, Joseph Batchelder, to be his legal guardian. Prior to 1675, John had been raised by his grandfather since soon after his birth which caused the death of his mother. He became a member Second Church in 1715 in Beverly, Essex, MA. John was a charter member (one of only 15) and the church's first Deacon. The church, built in 1714, was still standing in 1935. He signed a will on 12 Jun 1734 in Beverly, Essex, MA. He died on 22 Jul 1735 in Beverly, Essex, MA. He was a weaver and tailor in Beverly, Essex, MA. He was buried in Beverly, Essex, MA. His gravestone is marked with the following epitaph: "Here lyeth the body of Deacon John cresy who died July ye 22nd 1735 In ye 76th year of his age." His father Mighill died in 1670 when John was only 11, leaving him parentless. Mighill left him 6 acres of land when he died. John seemed to do better than his father. by age 40, he had acquired several lot of and, probably over 100 acres, and purchased his boyhood home, which "runs through the gold grounds and has been owned by descendants for more than 200 years." he became "a prominent and influential director of political and religious activities in the community." He was among several trustees who financed the building of the first schoolhouse at Royal Side in 1692. Parents: Mighill CRESSEY and Mary BATCHELDER.

He married to Sarah GAINES in 1685. Children were: Mary CRESSEY, John CRESSEY , Sarah CRESSEY, John CRESSEY , Joseph CRESSEY, Sergeant Daniel CRESSEY Yeoman, Job CRESSEY, Benjamin CRESSEY, Hannah CRESSEY, Abigail CRESSEY, Noah CRESSEY.

http://www.familyorigins.com/users/b/l/o/Peter-E-Blood/FAMO5-0001/d15.htm#P2400

John married Sarah GAINES. Sarah (daughter of John GAINES and Mary TREADWELL) was born 23 Nov 1665, Ipswitch, Essex County, Massachusetts; died 04 Apr 1751, Royal Side, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Richard married Ruth DODGE 28 Apr 1698, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. Ruth (daughter of John DODGE and Sarah PROCTOR) was born Est 1677; died Aft 17 May 1735. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Mighill Cressey (Mighel Cresse), the emigrant, was probably born in Kent County, England, in 1628, and landed at ``Royal Side'' Salem, now Beverly, Mass., in 1649, when he was 21. It is said the family has been traced back to 1066 A.D., when a Cressey was with William, the Duke of Normandy, France, who crossed to England and became William the Conqueror. The records indicate that there were two young men whose names were Mighel and William Cresse, who lived in the Salem township before 1650. They probably came with Captain Thomas Lothrop, by whom they were employed. William1 was living in the family of Mordica Larcom of Beverly Farms in 1661, and later went to Stamford, Connecticut, and probably was the ancestor of the families that spell the name Crissey. It was Captain Lothrop who, with 60 of his soldiers, fell in the massacre by the Indians during King Philip's War at `` Bloody Brook'' in Deerfield, Mass., on September 18, 1675. They were styled the ``Flower of Essex.'' Maghill1 lived in the Lothrop family and the family of Joshua Ray, who lived on Conant Street, North Beverly, whose dau. Berthia had m. Captain Lothrop.

He lived here until his m. with Mary, dau. of John and Elizabeth Batchelder of ``Royal Side.'' John Batchelder was b. in Canterbury, England, in 1611; was a tailor. He sailed from Sandwich in 1637; built a house near the present golf grounds, near Elliott Street; was a member of a military company. He d. in 1675 at 64; estate valued at ?230 . His will begins: ``I bequeath my soul to the Lord Jesus, my Redeemer, and my body to my friends, by them only to be interred, and what estate the Lord hast given, I dispose of, etc.''

Mighill1 Cressey, farmer, m. Mary Batchelder in 1658, who was baptized at the First Church in Salem, September 19, 1640, and d. in child-bed in 1659, leaving a son, John,2 who was brought up by his grandfather, and uncle, Joseph Batchelder. Mighill moved to Ipswich and m. (2) in 1660 Mary, dau. of Mark Quilter, b. in 1641. He d. in Ipswich in 1670 at 42; value of estate as per inventory, ?52 17s. 10d. His widow moved to Rowley with her 3 children and m. (2) in 1671 Joseph Horsley, who d. in 1699. She d. in Rowley May 7, 1707 at 67. Mighill1 was probably a member of a military company. On various records the surname Cressey is spelled 23 different ways. Among other things in the inventory was a musket, sword, and a bandoleer, 1 spinning wheel, 2 skillets and a warming pan, 2 bullocks, 1 steer, 3 cows, 2 sucking calves, 5 sheep, 1 lamb and 3 swine, wool, cotton, flax, 2 pr. cards, 16 bushels Indian corn, rye, malt, barley, boards, plow, chain, sled, wheels, 2 axes, wedges, bedding and furniture; six acres of land at ``Royal Side.''

Mighill married Mary BATCHELDER 1658. Mary (daughter of John BATCHELDER and Mary) was born Bef 19 Sep 1640; died Aug 1659. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Died:
"Died in childbirth."

John married Mary TREADWELL Abt 1659, Ipswitch, Essex County, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of Thomas TREADWELL and Mary TAYLOR) was born 29 Sep 1636, Ipswitch, Essex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

" THOMAS, Ipswich 1636, had come in the Hopewell, capt. Babb, from London, in the autumn of 1635, hav. engag. his pass. 28 July, then call, his age 30, with w. Mary, 30, and s. Thomas, 1 yr. and first sat down at Dorchester, but at I. had Mary, b. 26 or 29 Sept. 1636; Nathaniel, 15 Mar. 1640; Esther, 21 Mar. 1641; and Martha, 16 Mar. 1644; was sw. freem. 7 Sept. 1638, and d. 8 June 1671, leav. wid. Mary, and ch. Thomas, Nathaniel, and Mary. His wid. d. Dec. 1685. Esther m. 8 Oct. 1665, the sec. Daniel Hovey. T"

Notes:

JOHN, Beverly, s. of William, m. 10 Apr. 1659, Sarah Procter, d. of John, wh. d. 8 Feb. 1716, had, at Salem, bef. div. of the town, John, b. 2 Jan. 1662; rem. and was rep. perhaps, for Rowley 1664, yet adm. freem. only on 29 Apr. 1668; other ch. were William; Sarah, bapt. 16 Feb. 1668; Hannah, 16 May 1669, d.soon; Hannah, again, 2 July 1671; and Martha, b. 5 Feb. bapt. 26 Oct. 1673.

John married Sarah PROCTOR 1659. Sarah (daughter of John PROCTOR and Martha HARPER) died Abt 1679. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Day of the month was "10", but month was not recorded.