WikiTree: Alexander Shapleigh (1575-1650)
We have lines of descent from Alexander Shapleigh and his wife Lucy (maiden name unknown) on both the Laviolette (DeRochemont) and Wright (Tucker) lines.
Alexander was a prominent figure in maritime trade, working as a ship's master or captain. The first records were in 1610, when the pirate Robert Stephens seized his ship, the Restitution of Dartmouth (England). As a merchant based in Dartmouth/Kingswear, Alexander owned and operated several ships, including the Blessing, Gift of God, William & John, Benediction, Gods Meaning, Golden Cat, Prosperous, and The Desire of Totneys. His trade ventures extended to Newfoundland and Portugal, indicating his involvement in the lucrative salted cod trade. This would have involved taking salt from Portugal to the cod fishing ports on the coast of Canada and northern New England and returning with barrels of salted cod for sale in the European markets.
He moved to New England sometime before 1640.Despite some ambiguity in records from 1643-1647, Alexander owned property in both England and New England. His acquisitions in New England, facilitated by his grandson John Treworgye, included 500 acres at Kittery Point and land by Sturgeon Creek in present-day Eliot, Maine. He constructed the first house on Kittery Point. There are some records that say that the town’s name is derived from Kittery Court, the family home of Alexander Shapleigh in Kingswear, England.
Abt 1577 - Aft 1641 (> 65 years)
Set As Default Person 
