| Notes |
- My notes: On this URL, the author has faithfully numbered his sources which he lists at the bottom of the page:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mainegenie/DONNELL.htm
"The names Henry Donnell and George Jewell are in the church and borough records of Barnstable, Devon from 1631 until 1634 Henry being a litigant in the Court of Sessions(1)"
"In his deposition of 25 Aug. 1676 Henry Donnell suggests that he was in New England in 1631, apparently on a fishing voyage with George Jewell. His deposition of 21 Mar. 1683 shows that he was in York in 1635 or 1636."
"Henry was at first a fisherman at one time in partnership with Sampson Angier,(2) later he was also an innkeeper. He lived on the road leading from York St. in the Harbor to Stage Neck which he possessed and used as a fishing stage for many years.(3) The road led to the ferry from the neck (then Stage Island) across the York River to Raynes Neck or Seabury Bank. It is probable that Henry had the ferry across the river. No record substantiates this but, it is an obvious inference as it cannot be admitted that such a convenience did not exist in the twenty years before the granting of the first recorded license. It was the natural location for ferriage being the narrowest part of the river and the establishment of a tavern at that point strengthens this opinion although the taverner may have maintained it for business reasons until the town took formal action.(4) Henry kept the tavern there. How early he combined his trade of fisherman with innkeeping is not known but, he was here as early as 1641 and probably catered to transient fishermen and travelers soon after. In 1649 his name is found in a list of those paying the excise tax for drawing liquor. He was charged with two pipes or butts of wine and 54 gallons of "licquers" an amount equal to Wardwell the taverner of Wells and greater than the tax for the widow Puddington's tavern in York.(5) Henry also had a fishery on Bragdon's Island.(6) He witnessed William Hooke's deed 18 Oct. 1644."
"For some 18 years before King Phillip's War Henry lived and carried on a fishing enterprise at Jewell's Island in Casco Bay which he acquired a few years after Jewell's death in 1638 while his wife carried on the inn at York. On 6 Dec. 1664 he morgaged his houses, lands, fish houses, etc. as security for a contract to deliver a quantity of fish. The court records show that Frances and Henry were living apart prior to 1667 and she was authorized to retain for her own use what she had made by her own industry, she having a tavern license in 1669. This was about the time of Nicholas Davis' death and as they were next-door neighbors she may have assumed the management of his old inn.(7) In 1671 Frances furnished two barrels of beer for the county courts. On 2 Apr. 1660 Frances and her daughters Sarah and Margaret received a deed of land from the widow Ann Godfrey "for love and affection". In 1676 Henry was again an innkeeper in York."
"On 29 Feb. 1671/2 being "stricken in years, and not capeable of manageing my fishing and my Island" Henry gave his Jewells Island land with his fishing plant to his son Joseph on the condition that he should have his maintenance there "So long as I please to continue with him there."(8)"
"Henry appears among the jurors in 1650 and in 1653, and on the grand jury in 1651 and 1660. He was a selectman in 1661, 1666, 1673, 1677-9, and in 1683."
"Henry took the oath of allegience to Massachusetts 22 Nov. 1652."
"He, along with many others, was not satisfied with the division of Godfrey's land and they signed a petition to the general court in Boston stating their view. However, the awards were never changed.(10)"
"Henry was evidently satisfied with the Massachusetts government as he did sign the petition to Cromwell which referred to the complaints presented to the Protector by "some gentlemen of worth" (i.e. Godfrey) for restitution of their right of jurisdiction and asked that they be not heeded, intimating that they are instigated by "professed Royalists whose breathings that way... have been so farre stifled."(11) His son Thomas did not sign this petition. However, both Henry and Thomas signed the "govern or get out" petition which was an indictment of incompetency with a notice that they would expect "due & seasonable performance" of Massachusetts' obligations to maintain law and order: "Your tollerating such an inconsiderate number of opposers frequently to violate & trample upon yr authority & laws, as cannot be altogether unknowne to you, to the obstruction of Justice, infringeing our Lybertys, deviding our peace and if not speedily prevented by your Worships, may as the case stands, snarl us in the bonds of Inextricable & prejudiciall Injuries, upon whom, under God, & our dread sovereigne wee looke att our selves Ingaged att present to depend for our security & releife."(12)"
"Henry gave a deposition concerning John Pullman's estate 24 Sept. 1680.(13)"
"Last mention of Henry in public records was made in 1687 but, the inventory of his estate was not made until 25 April 1693.(14)"
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Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire (G.D.M.N.H.)
Authors: Sybil Noyes, Charles Thornton Libby, Walter Goodwin Davis
Publication: Portland, ME: Southward Press, 1928, page 199
"The names Henry Donnell and Geo. Jewell are in the church and borough records of Barnstable, co. Devon, 1631-4."
"HENRY, b. ab. 1602-08" and he was first mentioned in 1641 but when he gave a deposition about Thomas Bradbury on 21 March, 1682-3, he stated that he was about 78 years old and that "47 or 48 years ago" he'd been in York, which was in about 1635-6. When Henry deposed on 25 August, 1676 (age 68, he said), his statement made it sound as if he had been in Maine, "at least on a fishing trip" in about 1631. "See Thomas Brooks."
My notes: On page 112 of G.D.M.N.H., Thomas Brooks was a man who used an alias at times, "Basil Parker." Why? No one seems to know. In 1610, a Basil Parker was adm. (administrator or admitted?) "to comp(any) of haberdashers, London.....who was likely the same B.P., haberda(sher). of St. Gregory's by St. Paul's m(arried) 2 Feb. 1610-11 to Anne Saville."
A Basil Brooks (now it's Brooks rather than Parker) sailed on the same ship with Henry "Dunnell" in 1635. Thomas Brooks first appeared at Saco court on 25 June, 1640, but as Basil Parker he witnessed deeds in 16443-1646. He was a Recorder from 1647 to his death and a Councillor in 1650-51. He owned property in partnership with Peter Weare (Henry's son-in-law) and died (apparently) at Gunnison's tavern, leaving records in Gunnison's trust. The administration of his property in 1651 was given to Mr. John Alcock, "with whom and his wife he was several times a wit(ness)."
"Henry was an "early fisherman, later innkeeper at the Stage Isl. ferry, his w(ife) ran the inn while he lived at Jewell's Isl. in Casco Bay, where he made fish 16 or 18 yrs. until Philip's War (his s(on) Samuel said near 30 yrs. and that he bot the island of the Ind.; he mortg. it in 1644)."
"At York, in 1676, Henry was an innkeeper again but in 1678 he was selling without a license. In 1686-87, he was licensed again. Henry was on the jury in 1650 and 1653 and on the Grand Jury in 1651, 1660. He was elected as a selectman in 1661, 1667, 1673, 1677-79, 1683. The last mention of Henry was in June 1687. An inventory of his estate wasn't completed until 25 Apr. 1693, "after the massacre."
Henry's name showed up on several "Lists" and even though I don't understand what all of them were, I'll list them here as they're shown in G.D.M.N.H.
List 272 - "Twenty-Seven owners of the Patent - 2 Me. Hist. Coll(ection) 323-325"
List 275 - "An Imperfect List of the Inhabitants of York, made up in advance of their submission to Mass. - Mass. Arch. iii 193"
List 277 - "Protest by the Inhabitants (of York) against the decision of the Mass. commissioners in favor of Mr. Godfrey, presented 21 Oct. 1654." Henry "Dunnell" and Peter Weare were two of the men who signed this list.
List 285 - "Creditors of Robert Weymouth's estate, 1663 - York Court Records
"Hene: Donnell" was one of the men on the list.
List 24 - "Petition to the Lord Protector, 1657." That would be Oliver Cromwell.
List 25 - "Petition from Maine, except Saco and Scarborough, for Mass. to use force, not merely declarative acts, to protect the inhabitants against a pretended power of Esq. Gorges's commissioners, (Fall of 1662) - Mass. Arch. 3: 269. Me. Prov. and Court Records i.199."
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Pioneers on Maine Rivers: With Lists to 1651 By Wilbur Daniel Spencer, Published by Printed by Lakeside printing company, 1930, p. 143
"DONNELL, HENRY, born 1602, fisherman; York, 1631; occupied Jewell's Island; died 1680; widow Frances, daughter of John Gouch, of York; children Henry, Joseph, Margaret, Samuel, born 1645, Sarah and Thomas."
p. 134
Henry was on a list of heads of families, living in York, Maine in 1640.
pp. 136-138 - YORK RIVER
"(Edward) Godfrey's first fishing operations appear to have been conducted on Stage Island where he maintained two houses in 1648. His wife disposed of this island with the premises at Rogers' Cove to Sampson Anger and Henry Donnell, fishermen, before 1659."
"DIVISION OF LAND ON THE EAST BANK" (of the York River)
"June 11, 1641, the eastern bank of York River had been apportioned as far upriver as Gorges, now known as Cider Mill Creek. The entire tract was three miles wide, and extended inland for six miles. The final division, made the same year, mentioned only the dwellings of Henry Donnell, at Lobster Cove, Henry Lynn, on the south side of Gorges Creek, and the farmhouse of William Hook, in Scotland Parish."
At Lobster Cove, next to "Farmer Alcock's Neck" on the eastern bank of the York River at York Harbor, was Henry's home and "fishing establishment." Henry stated that he had been living in that area in 1631.
p. 232
"Jewell's Island contains about 100 acres and lies on the outer rim of the Casco archipelago. The first known occupant was George Jewell who found it a safe and convenient fishing port. It was provided with stages and flakes. A mariner who gave his name to the northern sound was George Luxon, a fishing master from Barnstable. Before 1660 the place was utilized by Henry Donnell, the veteran fisherman of York."
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http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=nhfirstsettlers&id=I11526
Early fisherman, later innkeeper at the Stage Island ferry, his wife ran the inn while he lived at Jewell's Island in Casco Bay, where he made fish 16 or 18 years until Philip's War (his son Samuel said near 30 years and that he bought the island of the Indians; he mortgaged it in 1644). In 1676 he was again innkeeper at York, but in 1678 was selling without a license; again licensed 1686-1687. Jury 1650, 1653; grand jury 1651, 1660. Selectman 1661, 1667, 1673, 1677, 1678, 1679, 1683. Last mentioned June 1687, inventory not til 25 Apr. 1693, after the massacre. Lists 84, 272, 275, 276, 277, 285, 24, 25, 86. Wife Francis mentioned 1656-1685. In 1671 she had furnished two barrels of beer for the County Courts.
- In the early 17th century, Henry Donnell emerged from the church and borough records of Barnstable, Devon, as a man embroiled in legal disputes. By 1631, his name, alongside George Jewell's, became a fixture in these records. Little did he know that his life would soon intertwine with the vast landscapes of New England and the bustling life of a fisherman and innkeeper.
Henry's journey to New England likely began around 1631, possibly on a fishing voyage with George Jewell. By 1635 or 1636, he found himself in York, Maine, a world away from his English roots. Here, Henry transitioned from a fisherman, at times partnering with Sampson Angier, to an innkeeper, a role that would define much of his life in the New World.
His inn, strategically located on the road from York Street to Stage Neck, became a hub for transient fishermen and travelers. By 1649, Henry was recognized in the community, paying an excise tax for drawing liquor, a testament to the bustling nature of his establishment. His entrepreneurial spirit also led him to establish a fishery on Bragdon's Island.
For about 18 years, Henry lived and managed a fishing enterprise on Jewell's Island in Casco Bay, which he acquired shortly after Jewell's death in 1638. Meanwhile, his wife, Frances, adeptly ran the inn back in York. Their partnership was a blend of business acumen and resilience, with Frances even taking over the management of a neighboring inn at one point.
The couple's life was not without its challenges. Court records indicate that Henry and Frances lived apart prior to 1667, with Frances authorized to retain earnings from her own industrious management of the inn. In 1671, she was noted for furnishing beer for the county courts, further highlighting her role in the community.
Henry's life was deeply intertwined with the community of York. He served as a juror and selectman multiple times, reflecting his standing in the town. His oath of allegiance to Massachusetts in 1652 marked his commitment to his new homeland.
Despite the challenges, including disagreements over land divisions and the turbulent times of King Philip's War, Henry and Frances carved out a life of significance in early American history. Their story, from the records of Barnstable to the shores of Maine, paints a vivid picture of resilience, adaptability, and the pursuit of opportunity in a new world.
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1602 - 1691 (89 years)
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