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| Jefferay COA |
William Jefferay (1591-1675)
from the Journal of William Jefferay, gentleman
CHIDDINGLY-CAMBRIDGE-COLONIES
"I was born at Chiddingly Manor (The Peaks, as we do call
it), in the county of Sussex, in the year 1591; near an hundred years after the
discovery of that great America, but much before settlement of the sheltered
corner wherein I finally abode.
My father’s name was William Jefferay, and my grandfather,
Thomas Jeffery, was cousin to that Sir John Jefferay, knight, some time Lord
Chief Baron of the Exchequer, who lies buried with others of the name in
Chiddingly church. (Sir John died May 28th, 1570. He did build a
goodly house, since called The Place.) My mother was Audry, daughter of Thomas
Harvey, of London, whose brother, my great-uncle, was Clarenceux. I had but one
brother, Thomas, and seven sisters, Jone, Audry, Susan, Alice, Mary, Elizabeth,
and Ann, all of them well married, as the saying is. I was born in a fair
country, of which more anon, and to a fair estate, and have bethought me often,
in some straits and hardships across the sea, why I left so much to gain so
little. Yet one gain I made that was worth all, and more, of my trials, for it
was there I found the best wife man ever had; so, if all be considered, I am
well content..."
“Chiddingly hath a most excellent church, commodious enough
for all, and, though some three hundred years old, yet so well built that it is
like to be good for use three hundred years hence. Herein are laid some early
members of our family, and here have I so often been to service that it hath
strong hold upon my affection…"  |
| William and his brother are represented on the left |
1603. Our Most Gracious Queen, Elizabeth, died, after a reign of more than two score years, not to be matched for great men and glorious deeds. To her succeeded His Majesty King James I. It was in this same year that it was deemed wise to place me at the university, though I have since thought I was too young and ill prepared. Natheless I entered at Cambridge as sizar (July 7th) taking my degree of B.A. three years later, and meanwhile gaining more enjoyment from certain new companionships, than from my studies with which I taxed myself not too hardly. My particular college was Caius…
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| Gate of Honour, Caius Court |
WEYMOUTH-WILLIAMS-WIFE
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| Later settlement of Mass. Bay Colony |
1634.
“My mother died this year… I had fain hoped to see her once again, but Old
England hath now still less to draw me back… She hath left me by her will,
(with other estate in Southwark) that ale house “Cordelyon” where first I heard
some tales of these distant shores."
1635.
“…Mr. Williams hath been banished from the Bay, and it seemeth most unjustly and
cruelly, for his so called offence of religious belief was but a matter for
honest differing. He hath found better friends with the wild Indians, and is
living in the wilderness at a place by him called Providence.”
1640.
“I came to New England seeking wonders, and now there befell me one truly at
last, that ever new befalling, the falling in love, as the saving is. …It may
be counted most singular by some, that I should have lived to see near fifty
years ere this happening, for few in the old world, and less in the new, tarry
half that time. …But as to this happening, it thus befell; going, as had been
my wont upon occasion, to Newport, I chanced to pass by Sergeant Bull’s house
(where also he keepeth the gaol), and meeting there a most comely maid,
inquired for the house of one Jeremiah Gould [10th GGFather]. ‘Why that is my father sir,’ she
saith, ‘and I am now going that way.’…My discourse with her father (on his soon
arrival then, and on later occasion when I did call upon him) was in great part
on my adventurings, he having a mind to embark upon some tradings in parts
where I had sailed. Now did his daughter seem to follow the story with eyes of
some interest, as I told of my wanderings far and near… and the time at last
came (for an age I thought it) when she did confess, on my close asking, that
my way was indeed her way forever. This pretty confessing, which hath made so much
of my life, was at Miantonomi Hill, a short walk north of the town, where I
have often betaken me since, both for its own beauty of prospect, and more for
the happiness I there found. Then arose the petty quip on me, ‘Mary Gould hath
become his goal,’ or, as one said, ‘his gaol;’ for indeed it was by Mr. Bull’s
gaol I first met her, and my heart hath been in most pleasing bonds to her ever
since.”
NEWPORT-NATURE-NEIGHBORS-NUPTIALS
1650.
“At this fair spot, none fairer in New England, am I now come to spend my
remaining days, a wanderer no more, and methinks it is e’en time I tarried,
being come to near three score years …as to this island of Aquidneck, where I
have at last cast anchor. It hath been compared to our own dear Isle of Wight,
in Old England, and not without show of reason. Aquidneck is some twelve miles
in the length of it, and hath a varying breadth of three or four …I believe the
climate the most excellent to be found in New England… Other islands that be
farther north are Prudence, and Patience; to which last Mr. Williams hath
sometimes said he might yet betake himself, so thinking when hard beset and
wearied with vexing contentions, and longing for more peace and quiet. He hath
indeed suffered much; in the old, some, but more in the new world, for his
opinions, and there remain many ravels even now to straighten here; but he hath
upon good foundation that which he so much desired, a colony in this far corner
where those elsewhere oppressed for their beliefs, may come for refuge. He hath
been called contentious by some of the Bay, and is so if that meaneth that he
will ever contend with the tyranny of their church over men’s souls.”
…[1651] This
year here died Mr. Jeremiah Clarke. He hath left a good report, and a widow
with many children she had by him. She is the faulconer Latham’s daughter [Frances Latham, 10th GGMother),
he still living in Elstow, Old England, but now very aged. She hath been twice
married before …One of her Dungan children hath married Mr. Holden, of Warwick,
and another is wife to Mr. Barker of this town. [9th GGParents, James Barker, sr. and Barbara Dungan]
[1663]“News
reached me a few weeks since of the death of my brother Thomas …In his will …he
desires to be buried as near as possible to the monument of his father in
Chiddingly Church. He remembereth the poor of Chiddingly, Hellingly, and
Hailsham, and his servants (some ten in number, including bailiff, clerk, other
men-servants and maids) -and left a special legacy of £100 to his nephew (my
son) Thomas, who was also to have, at age, the Perry lands, so-called (near unto
the Peaks where my brother did live) -to be for him and his heirs male, …The
mansion-house and homestead of the Peaks, my brother had already given to his
daughters… I am much saddened at this news of the death of my dear and only
brother, who hath so well kept up our name; and I am deeply moved that he hath
so generously provided for my son, the last of this branch of the Jefferays in
the male line.”
[1666] Nov.
1, Thursday. “News arrives of that great fire in London, not to be matched by
any yet seen in the world. For three days (commencing September 2d) it raged,
being visible at night for forty miles around… The estate I had in Southwark,
from my mother, came not into the limits of the fire… This dire loss in London,
following on that dreadful plague, has caused much suffering and dismay to
those who be left there, and to us who once lived in London, much grief at such
desolation without warning. Mr. Williams may well rejoice that St. Sepulchre
Church was spared, where his parents did worship, and where, also, if I bethink
me aright, that brave Captain Smith lies buried, he who first came to Virginia
with an English settlement.”
1669.
Jan. 1, Friday. “There are books that have been written (and some printed) by
men of this colony, well worth the reading, as those by Mr. Williams, Mr.
Clarke, and Mr. Gorton. Of English books we have here in Newport, if rather
scanty supply, yet a considerable reading is had by exchange which some of us do
in a kind of club way, with meetings at our houses to discuss them, and to hear
late news of this colony and of our neighbor colonies and England. So, winter
evenings, with good fire, and some refreshment near, we pass our time rig-lit
pleasantly and to good profit. Those who in particular thus meet are Mr.
Arnold, Mr. Brenton, Mr. Brinley, Mr. Coddington, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Vaughan, and
myself, making seven, hence the saying of a wag: ‘This band of seven Hath all
the leaven!’ wile another calleth us ‘The Seven Wise Men of Aquidneck.’ As the
books we have are now mostly read, and some due unto us from England still
delayed in the coming, it hath been proposed, this winter, that, for the next
seven weeks, meetings shall be held of a Friday evening at seven of the clock,
each member telling a tale at his own house. So now we are met, this New Year’s
Even, at my house, being somewhat the elder, and thus to tell the first tale…” [William then faithfully recorded each of the
seven tales.]
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| Lewis Latham |
[1673] “This
year was my daughter Sarah and Mr. Barker’s eldest son (James, also) married [the parents of my 7th GGMother,
Mary Barker, who married Joshua Winsor, the elder] …There was present at
the dinner, besides mine own household, my daughter Mary and her husband, Mr.
Greene; Mr. Barker and his wife Mistress Barbara, with their children …Of the
Goulds, there was my wife’s brother Daniel, and his wife Wait, who, being
Quakers, had much sorrow that the marriage was not in their way. Mistress
Vaughan [10th GGM Frances
Latham] the grandmother of the bridegroom, came, also, with her husband.
She giveth but one present at the marriage of each grandchild, always a silver
cup, to be for the first born great-grandchild. She hath had inscribed on one
side of this, the Latham arms, and desiring mine own on the other, as now joined
in this marriage, it hath been done …Mrs. Vaughan hath told us something of her
girlhood days, when she went with her father a-hawking, he attending the king.
She hath showed me a book of her uncle, Symon Latham, on hawking; very curious,
with an acrostic; which latter minds me to make one, on some occasion…”
[William
Jefferay's acrostic]:
THE BEST THINGS.
War— best which justice requireth. How
rarely!
Independence— best which, holding its
own, helps all.
Love — best shown to God, by love to his
children.
Learning — best when used to enlighten
others.
Industries— best without fetters of
tithes, taxes or guilds.
Arts — best which follow nearest to
nature.
Mercies— best oft counted, howe'er low
health or purse.
Journeys— best for knowledge, or
restoring health.
Europe — best for history of mankind.
Fashion— best in matching grace with
simplicity.
Fame— best found in unselfish deeds, and
raising others.
Example— best that needeth no help of
precept.
Religion— best that liveth by good
deeds.
America — best for hopes of freedom.
Youth— best when kept ever so by
cheerful faith.
[Mr. Jefferay died on
January 2, 1675 and is buried at Newport. The
epitaph on his time-worn gravestone is as follows]:
“Here
lyeth interred the body of Wm. Jeffray Gent.,
who
departed this life on the 2d day of Jan’y, 1675, in the 85th year of
his age.
Since every tomb an epitaph can have,
The Muses owe their tribute to this grave,
And to succeeding ages recommend
His worthy name, who lived and died their friend;
Being full of days and virtues, love, and peace,
God from his troubles gave him a release,
And called him unto the celestial place,
Where happy souls view their Creator’s face.
Vivit post funera Virtus”
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