Washbourne Family History

First Generation

John Washbourne was born about 1517 and died and was buried October 13, 1593 in Bengeworth, Evesham, Worcester, England. He first married Jone Bushell April 21, 1542 in Bengeworth. She was born about 1521 also in Bengeworth and died and was buried April 4, 1557. He then married Jane Shepey May 8, 1561 in Bengeworth, daughter of John Shepey. She was born 1540 and died April 23, 1567 also in Bengeworth. Children of John Washbourne and Jone Bushell are; Margaret, Johanne, Agnes, and William. Children of John Washbourne and Jane Shepey are; Radegonne, Daniel, Mary, and John.

Second Generation

Johanne (John) Washburn was born July 1566 in Little Washbourne, Evesham, Worcester, England, and died there August 3, 1624. He was baptized in August 1, 1566 according to an annotation in the register of Bengeworth Baptisms that said " the first daye of August - Wasborn????; willm Roberts, Evans Marten godfathers and Agnes Horton godmother”. He married Martha Stephens July 6, 1596 in Bengeworth, Worcester, England. She was born there in 1558 and died there May 9, 1626. The children of John Wasburn and Martha Stephens are; John, Jane, William, and another John.

When John was grown, he received letters of administration at his father’s death in 1593. He was an esteemed man of worth in Bengeworth. He was a member of the first board of Burgesses appointed by King James when he first granted a charter to Evesham, including Bengeworth in it as a suburb in 1605, and granted the town two representatives in Parliament. Towards the close of his life John was blind, as is shown by a passage from his will of August 3, 1624.”

Rev. James Davenport's "The Washbourne Family of Little Washbourne and Wichenford in the County of Worcester," published in London in 1907 included the 1624 Will and Inventory of John Washborne. It stated:

In the name of god amen the iiiith day of august ano dm. 1624 and in the xxiith yeare of the rayne of or sovaryne Lord James by the grace of god King of England Fraunce & Ireland, Defender of the faith & of Scotland the Lviiith. I John Washborne of Bengeworth in the Borrough of Evesham in the countie of worcester being verie weake & sicke in bodie but of good & pfect memory thanks be to God doe ordaine this my last will & testamt in manner & forme following. First I bequeath my Soule into the hands of Almightie God nothing doubting but that through his infinite mercies in Christ Jesus he will receave it. Item I give unto my Sonne in law Isaacke Averell Thirty pounds of good & lawful money of England to be paid unto him in mannr & form following videlt that is to say Fifteene pounds wthin one yeare next after my decease & the other fifteen pounds wthin three yeares nxt after my decease. Item I give unto my Daughter Joane Wasborne fiftie pounds of good & lawfull money of England to be paid unto her the one Halfe at her Day of marriadge & the othr wthin the space of fouer years next ensueing after her Day of marriage, Provided that she marry wth the consent assent & good lyking of her mother & my Brother in Law John Timbrell. Item I give unto my Sone Wyllim Wasborne forty pounds the one halfe to be paid wthin six monthes after my decease & the other xxtie pounds wthin six yeares next after my decease. Item I give unto my loving wife all my houshoulde stuffe to be at her Disposinge. The residue of my Lands Cattells & Chattells moveable & unmoveable I give & bequeath unto my Sonne John Washborne whom I make Executor of this my last will & testamt & whom I ordaine & appoint to pay all the aforesaid bequeathes in mannr & forme aforesaid. Memorandum that before the signing hereof the above said John Washborne did give & bequeath unto Jane the Daughter of Isaacke Averell one Heyfer of a yeare old to be Delivered her when she comes to the age of five yeares. In witness of all wch the said John Washborne being blinde & not able to sett to his hand hath authorised his Brother John Tymbrell for him & in his stead to subscribe to these prsents wth his name or marke the Day & yeare first above written. Read published & signed wth this word (lands) interlined in the seaventeenth line before the ensealing & signing hereof before John Washborne

John Balaw
John Tymbrell
Joseph Phelpes
Probat wigorn 26 february 1624

Johnn Washborne filius et executorem jurat

INVENTORY

An Inventorie of all the goods & chattells of John Washborne of Bengworth late deceased made the xith day of Decembr anno Domi 1624
Impris his wearing appell ---------------------------- 3
Item in the lower iner chambr one cubbord one pesse & one bed wth his furniture Barrells bed healings linnin & other implements ---------------------------- 22
Item in the Hall one table board wth his frame, formes & benches wth one cubbord & one little table wth one joyne chayer wth pewter & bras shelves cheeses & other implements --------------------------- 4
Item in the Kitchin & in the loft above one table board bras potts kettles pailes one cheesering towe beds & other implements -------------- 2
Item in the loft above the Hall fowr bedds wheat barley & poulse coffers boards & cheeses & other implements --------------------------- 15
Item the horses geares carts plowes & harrowes ------------------------------------------- 9&30
Item the Hay & talletts and Hay ---------------------- 8
Item Timbr & wood & ladders & rackes ----------------- 6
Item the wheate Barly & poulse ----------------------- 82
Item the kine ---------------------------------------- 20
Item the sheep --------------------------------------- 10
Item the swine --------------------------------------- 2
Item the Heams Cartropes pig-troughes & Horsetroughe -----------------------------------------

Suma totalis is ccxv iiis Prisors
Joseph Phelps
John Tymbrell
Tho. Ordway
26 february 1624"

Martha made her will on September 29, 1625 and apparently died and was buried on the same day. Her will was proved on May 9, 1626.

This is a full transcription of the 1625 will of Martha (Timbrell) (Stevens) Washborne. Since Martha's husband John Washborne already gave his house and land to his eldest son, John Washburn, in his 1624 will, his widow Martha had only her personal belongings to give. Her inventory was valued at 24 Pounds, 13 shillings, 8 pence, and consisted of her bed, sheets, linens, cushions, a table, cupboard, chair, pewter, candlesticks, platters, brass pots, and copperware. The following transcription came from Rev. James Davenport's "The Washbourne Family of Little Washbourne and Wichenford," 1907.

"In the name of God Amen the nine and tentie daye of Septtember 1625 and in the furst yeare of the Raine of our Souvange lord Charles by the grace of God Kinge of England, France and Ireland Defender of the Fayth & of Scotland the lviiiith? I marthae wasburne of Bengworthe widdow in the burroghe of Evesham in the contie of Worster beinge verie weake & sicke in body but of a good & perfett memory thankes be to God I doe ordaine this my laste will & testament in manner & forme followinge ffirst I bequiathe my soule in to the hand of Al mighty God no thinge doutinge but that through His infanit mercies in Christ Jesus he will receiuve it. Itm I give unto my dautter Jone Washborne all the nue clouth and the best of all my houshus stufe and the rest of stoufe to be at my brouther John Tembrel dispousing." witnes ales watsone and ales orwaye annes hale.”

Third Generation

John WASHBURN was born June 1597 in Bengeworth, Evesham, Worchester, England, and died March 17, 1669 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts. He married Margery Moore November 23, 1618 in Bengeworth. She was the daughter of Robert Moore and Ellen Taylor. Margery was born October 1588 in Bengeworth 1662 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts. John Washburn and Margery Moore had four children; Mary, John, Phillip, and another son named Phillip.

John was a church warden in 1625. He was 26 years old or more at the death of his father in August 1624 when he was made executor and charged to settle the estate within six years, paying off the legacies to the other children, while he came into possession of the real estate. As John, his father, was a husbandman with considerable holdings of land and over 200 pounds worth of chattels to dispose of, with his mother dying two years later and leaving property to be looked after, he could hardly have closed up the estate and disposed of his own rights and possessions much before 1630. It is not certain in what year John immigrated to New England. His father died in 1624 leaving most of his property to him as eldest son, and made him executor of his will. His mother, Martha, died the following year, and her will was proved May 9, 1620. Between this time and January 1632, he had settled up the family estate, sold out his possessions, emigrated and been living long enough in the New World to have been involved in a civil court case. In 1633, he returned to England to arrange passage for his family. He returned to Plymouth in 1634 and the family followed later.

In 1629, thirty-five families arrived in Plymouth from Leyden, Holland and in 1630 sixty more came over. Others such as the Winslows (also an ancestor of the Berg family) came from England and some from the Massachusetts Bay Colony like Deacon Samuel Edson who joined the old Colony. By 1631 the crowding and livestock had so increased in Plymouth, that owners of stock were obliged to move out of the town, at first for the summer only, and later permanently. Duxbury, the first Plymouth off-shoot, began to be settled in 1632 and was incorporated in 1637. In 1634, John Washburn purchased from Edward Bumpus "The Eagles Nest," a palisaded homestead with lands beyond Eaglenest Creek. On April 3, 1635, his wife, Margery, and his two sons, John and Philip, received emigration certificates and permission to sail in the Elizabeth and Ann, and in due time joined John in Plymouth. The following transcription indicates the immigration of the family:

"XII Aprilis, 1635 In the Elizabeth and Ann, Mr. Roger Coop bound for New England pr. cert. from the Mayor of Evesham in Co. Worcester and from the minister of the parish of their conformity -- Margery Washborn 49; John Washborne 14, Phillipp Washbourne 11, 2 sonnes."

In 1644, when the population of Duxbury was estimated at over 400, a movement began to open up a new inland settlement with the name of Bridgewater. John Washburn, Sr., and John, Jr., Miles Standish, John Alden, William and John Bradford, Love Brewster, Experience Mitchell (also an ancestor of the Berg family), Edmond Chandler, William and John Paybody were among 54 who created a Company to purchase from the Native Americans a tract of land extending 7 miles on each side from a certain fixed center. The Company paid 7 coats (1 ½ yards in a coat), 9 hatchets, 8 hoes, 20 knives, 4 moose skins and 10 ½ yards of cotton cloth. The transaction was signed by Chief Massasoit for the American Natives and by Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constance Southworth for the Colonists on March 23, 1649 after seven years consideration by the Colonial Court, the purchasers, and the Natives. The Washburns did not move to Bridgewater for many years; John and the two sons were registered in Duxbury in 1643 as able to bear arms, and John, Sr., as road surveyor in 1649 and 1650. They had, however, settled in Bridgewater before 1665 where John, Sr., died between 1666 and 1670.

John was a tailor by trade, but also surveyed highways and was known as a planter.

Nothing is known about the death of Margery. The Duxbury town records and also those of the Church from their beginning until 1666 were consumed in the burning of a dwelling. A few of the first leaves of the Plymouth records were worn off and also lost, so that much early information about the colony and individuals has irretrievably perished. What is known about Margery includes that on December 18, 1624, Margery's father made his will and he mentioned her in it. She was christened November 3, 1588, Bengeworth, Evesham, Worcester, England and she immigrated Apr1l 13, 1635 to America, sailing on the "Elizabeth and Anne".

Fourth Generation

John Washburn was born November 20, 1620 in Bengeworth, Evesham, Worcester, England, and died November 12, 1686 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts. He was christened November 26, 1620 in Bengeworth. John first married Elizabeth Mitchell December 6, 1645 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Experience Mitchell and Jane Cooke. She was born August 27, 1627 in Duxbury and died Dec 5, 1684 in Bridgewater. John then married Elizabeth Stream about 1685. John and Elizabeth had seven sons and three daughters. John’s children’s names are gathered from his will; the number of his sons is made certain by a sentence in a letter from Thomas Mitchell of Amsterdam, Holland, to his cousin Elizabeth. The children of John and Elizabeth are; John, Thomas, Samual, Jonathan, Joseph, Benjamin, Mary, Elizabeth, Jane, James, and Sarah.

John Washburn accompanied his mother, Margery, in emigrating and in the settlement of the family in Duxbury. They sailed on the schooner Elizabeth Ann. He was in Duxbury as early as 1632 and was a tailor by trade. John married in 1645 Elizabeth, daughter of Experience Mitchell, "a youth of the goodly company of Leyden," and granddaughter of Francis Cooke of the Mayflower and his wife Hester le Mahieu. John was one of the six men who went first from Duxbury in an expedition to quell an uprising of the Narragansett Native Americans and their allies and was elected constable in 1659. He moved to Bridgewater somewhat later, where he was the second largest landholder in town, having "four proprietary shares" located in the east, south and west quarters of the town, and rights in the undivided lands equivalent, altogether, to about one twelfth of the original purchase from Massasoit. He sold the land his father gave him at Green’s Bay in Duxbury in 1670. John made his will in 1686 and died November 12 of the same year.

Fifth Generation

Captain Joseph Washburn was born July 7, 1653 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, and died there April 20, 1733. He was buried in Bridgewater on April 23, 1733. He married Hannah Latham about 1677 in Bridgewater. She was the daughter of Robert Latham and Susannah Winslow. Hannah was born 1650 in Bridgewater and died there April 13, 1750 with her burial April 15, 1750. Their children included; Hepzibath, Edward, Joseph, Ebenezer, Hannah, Benjamin, and Ephriam.

Sixth Generation

Ebenezer Washburn was born February 23, 1687 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, and died 1767 in New Milford, Kent, Litchfield, Connecticut. He married Patience Miles June 30, 1721 in New Milford. She was the daughter of Stephen Miles and Mary Holbrook. Patience was born September 20, 1704 in Derby, New Haven, Connecticut and died 1743 in Kent, Connecticut. Their children were Mercy, Mary, Patience, Susannah, Joseph, Miles, Eunice, Jonathan, Stephen, Rebecca, and another Patience.

Seventh Generation

Stephen Washburn was born February 19, 1732 in New Milford, Litchfield, Connecticut and died about 1804 in Kent, Connecicut. He married Martha Tabler. She was born 1739 in Manchester, Bennington, Vermont. Their children included; Tabor, Aaron, Stephen, Martha, Plly, and Ebenezer.

Eight Generation

Stephen Washburn was born February 8, 1770 in Manchester, Bennington, Vermont and died May 4, 1813 in Athens, Leeds, Ontario, Canada. He married Arsenath Sexton in Leeds. She was the daughter of William Sexton and Dorothy Curtis. She was born 1784 in Athens, Leeds, Ontario, Canada, and died ther on November 28, 1865. Stephen and Arsenath’s children were Minerva, Amanda, Sexton, Henry, William, and Pudy.

Ninth Generation

Minerva Washburn was born August 26, 1802 in Athens, Ontario, Canada, and died November 5, 1880 in Leeds, Ontario, Canada. She married Horace Fuller Sheldon about 1823, son of Jeremiah Sheldon and Experience Fuller. Horace was born November 23, 1797 in Pittsford, Vermont and died August 14, 1892 in Ontario, Canada. He was buried in Crosby Cemetery. The children of Minerva and Horace were Elizer Wright, Henry, Asenath, Rebecca, Patience, Jeremiah, Samantha, Amand, Richard, Horace, Saxton, and Rachell.

Tenth Generation

Henry Sheldon was born December 10, 1832 in Ontario, Canada, and died July 27, 1896 in Paynesville, Stearns County, Minnesota. He was buried July 28, 1896 in Paynesville. Henry first married Charlotte Hudson who was was born December 12, 1830 in Canada and died February 28, 1899 in Paynesville. She was buried in Sauk Center, Minnesota. He then married Mariah Rose. Henry and Charlotte had eight children; Catherin Rebecca, William Henry, Minerva Jane, Richard Seneca, Patience Mariah, Eliza Wright, Asenath Elizabeth, and Jeremiah.

Eleventh Generation

Minerva Jane Sheldon was born March 20, 1859 in Illinois and died April 27, 1898. She married John W. Lovelace February 14, 1875 St. Benedict’s Church in Avon, Stearns County, Minnesota. He was son of Reason Lovelace and Ann Hadden. Joh was born May 21, 1851 in Clarke, Illinois and died September 1907 in Paynesville, Stearns County, Minnesota. Children of Minerva and John are: Charlotte Ann, Sophrina L., Reason L., William J., and Clifford.

Twelfth Generation

Charlotte Ann Lovelace was born March 23, 1875 in Paynesville, Stearns County, Minnesota and died May 18, 1937 in St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota. She first married Edward Adam Thielmann March 10, 1891 in Paynesville, Stearns County, MINNESOTA. He was son of Peter Thielmannc and Katharina Feltes. Edward was born November 5, 1862 in Collegeville, Stearns County, Minnesota and died September 10, 1921 in St. Cloud. He was the 3rd person to buried in the Avon, Stearns County Minneosta cemetery. Charlotte then married Joseph Sork 1925 in St. Paul, Kansas.

Family tradition is that Charlotte was a descendent of the Hudsons who came on the third crossing of the Mayflower. She was actually a descendant of Francis Cooke who did come on the Mayflower and signed the Mayflower Compact. The original Mayflower only made one crossing to America. It later served the coastline of Europe until its sinking.

Edward Adam Thielmann was born in Collegeville and was delivered by a passing Native American as his Father had gone by ox cart to the Red River Valley for trading purposes. Avon is also listed as place of birth and place of death in other sources. Residences included St. Joseph, Avon. and St. Cloud. In addition to farming, Edward was foreman for the Great Northern Railway, a painter, and a city engineer for St. Cloud. Charlotte and Edward had 13 children. They included John Peter, Eleanor Marie, Katherine Hildegard, Margaret Ruth, Michael Alfred, Edward Ludwig, Aloysius Bernard, Albert Ignatius, Joseph Othmar, Isablle Clarissa, Lucille Adelaide, Elvina Elizabeth, and Walter Leon.

Thirteenth Generation

Eleanor Marie Thielman was born August 24, 1893 in St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota and died there August 30, 1952. She married Bernard Berg November 2, 1909 in Avon, Stearns County, Minnesota. He was son of Adam Berg and Louisa Prem. Bernard was born July 1, 1884 in St. Joseph, Stearns County, Minnesota and died January 21, 1955 in St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota. They had 16 children; Louisa, Catherine, Mary A, Elizabeth, Margaret Alfreda, Bernard Nicholas, Edward Adam, Eileen, Anne, Susan Catherine, Virginia R, Charles F, Anthony Wesley, Joan Delores, Leon J, and Ferdinand Arnold.

Bernard Berg was a Bartender. He was Baptised July 3, 1884 In Avon, Stearns County, Minnesota. His sponsors were Nicolas Smith and Catharina Danel. His funeral was held January 24, 1955 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with burial at Calvary Cemetery, St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota. At the time of his death there were 25 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Eleanor was commonly known as Marie. Her funeral was held September 3, 1952 at St Mary’s Cathedral Catholic Church and she was buried in Calvary Cemetery, St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota. She left 30 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.