stewart fines for Yorkshire, 16 B. pg 201; Burton Fleming Parish Reg, Yorkshire, Vol2 pg 190.
Archive Family Group Sheet submitted by Winnifred H. Tenney.
Child #5 added to this sheet by Ammon N. Tenney 1969
The Tenney Family, by M.J.Tenney, Concord, NH 1904, pgs. 10-21.
Archive Family Group Sheet of Homer Whitmore Evans.Thomas Tenney emigrated from Yorkshire, England, to Salem, Massachusetts in December, 1638. He settled in Rowley, Massachusetts in April, 1639. His first marriage was to Ann Parrat and all his children were born of this marriage. He later married Elizabeth Parrat.
From TENNEY FAMILY, Generation 1 in America:
Thomas Tenney was born in Rowley, County of Yorkshire, England, sometime during the year 1614. As a basis for that conclusion, there are only two sentences in the Tenney Genealogy which give any information concerning Thomas Tenney's date of birth. This reference, on page 10, reads as follows:
"In a deposition taken at Ipswich, Mass., 4 May, 1680, Mr. Tenney testifies in relation to an ox pasture in Rowley (Mass.) and at that time he gave his age as about sixty-six years. This would have made him 24 years old when he emigrated to America."
Thomas Tenney died in Bradford, Mass., February 20th, 1699, at the age of 85 after living 61 years in America. He is buried in the Old Cemetery at Bradford (now Groveland). His wife, Ann, who came from England with Thomas, was buried September 26, 1657. Thomas married his second wife, Elizabeth, widow of Francis Parrat, February 24th, 1658. No children were born to them.
In a survey of the town of Rowley, ordered November 10th, 1643, a 1 1/2 acre house lot on Holmes St. was registered in Thomas Tenney's name. He erected a house on this lot which was torn down by Capt. Daniel L. Prime in 1838. It appears that Thomas also owned several large tracts of land outside of the village of Rowley.
Thomas Tenney took an active part in town affairs. He was "marshal in 1653-66; warner of town meetings, 1650-53-60-61-66; overseer of plains, 1656-64-71; selectman, 1660-61-70; viewer of fences, highways, and chimneys, 1669; constable, 1665-66; tithingman, 1680. In 1660, on committee to see about the preservation of firewood. In 1674-77, concerned in the affairs of Rev. Mr. Shepard. In 1667, appointed to see that the Sabbath be duly observed. In 1680, appointed inspector of ten families.
"The last years of his life were passed in Bradford, as seen by a deed, vis.: 'Thomas Tenney of Bradford (a gift) to Eldest son John Tenney of Bradford, sixty acres of land in Bradford, now in possession of John wood, also three acres of meadow at Crane Pond in Rowley, also six acres . . . . also one and one fourth acre. . . . also six acres and two cow-gates. Dated 15 June, 1694.THE TENNEY FAMILY
Our Former Home in England
Our English home was Rowley, County of Yorkshire, England. It is situated near the great waterway, the River Humber, an estuary of the North Sea. Rowley is six miles from the south bank of the Humber, twenty miles inland from Spurn Head, and three hundred feet above sea level. It is delightfully located on the top of high hills called the "Yorkshire Wolds".
A letter written in 1852 by a lawyer residing near Rowley, describes the place as follows:
"Rowley is a small hamlet with not more than a dozen houses and some fifty to sixty inhabitants who are engaged in agriculture. It has neither trade nor institutions. Relatively, it was undoubtedly a more important place in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries than it is at the present time. The church parish is comprised of four other hamlets in addition to Rowley."
Mr. Willis R. Tenney, who visited Rowley in 1896, reported that St. Peter's Church was built about the year 1400, and that a portion of the main building may date back a century earlier. Rev. Ezekiel Rogers, rector of this church in 1638, was a man of learning, very devout, possessed of much zeal, and felt keenly the religious persecution of King Charles' order to the clergy to read in church the "declaration of sports". The king directed that no hindrance should be thrown in the way of those who wished to dance or shoot at the butts (a target) on Sunday afternoons. Puritan Rogers, much aggrieved at this and other persecutions, gathered to him in the parish of Rowley some twenty families (including Thomas Tenney and his wife, Ann) for the purpose of emigrating to America. They succeeded in leaving England in the autumn of 1638.
The voyage was made in the ship "John of London" which landed in Salem, Massachusetts in December. A fellow passenger was Rev. Joseph Glover, now known as the "Father of the American Press" who brought over with him the first printing press ever shipped to America.Putting Down Roots in America
This group of people, remaining in Salem during the winter, settled the following April in what is now Rowley, Massachusetts. This area was probably selected on account of its pleasantness, its nearness to the river, and the abundance of thatch found growing on the river banks.
In colonizing, they formed a community under the direction of their spiritual leader, Rev. Rogers, and first called it the Rogers Plantation. The General Court, under date of Sept. 4th, 1639, ordered that the settlement "shall be called Rowley". (Mass. Colony Record, Vol. 1, page 271).
By December 3rd, 1639, a plain meeting-house had been erected. The earliest mention of a meeting-house bell, which was suspended from a nearby frame, was in 1658. For sweeping the meeting-house and ringing this bell, a yearly appropriation of 2pounds, 10shillings was granted. There was no organized school until February 3rd, 1656, at which time William Boynton was engaged as teacher for a term of seven years. He continued to teach until the end of his 24th year.
The first marriage was recorded in 1639. Rowley had no resident physician until 1652. The earliest preserved tax list bears the date "ye 9th of June, 1691". In 1680, there were 129 families living in Rowley. The town records are full and complete. Not a leaf is missing from the books containing the entries of births, marriages, and deaths. (History of Essex County)
From the beginning, Rowley was a manufacturing as well as a farming community. Many of the first settlers were weavers, and in connection with the fulling mill built in 1643, the production of cloth was long a profitable industry. As early as 1680, ship-building was carried on at the warehouse landing. About 1813, Capt. Perley built a vessel of ninety tons on Rowley Common, one mile and a half from the river. The ship, which was named "Country's Wonder" was hauled to the river in one day by more than one hundred yoke of oxen. (condensed from Tenney Family Genealogy, pages 7 - 13)
Thus, the Tenney Family began a new life in America. Since then, members of our family have made their way, and their mark, throughout the United States. Whether in business, agriculture, industry, the arts and sciences, or the professions, the name Tenney has become synonymous with sterling character, honesty, and the diligent and successful pursuit of highly worth-while objectives. Educators, ministers, doctors, and lawyers in the Tenney Family have been especially numerous. Government officials are not infrequent. There have been many well-known businessmen and manufacturers by the name of Tenney, or from Tenney ancestry.
Much Tenney blood, sweat, and tears has been bravely spilled in the service of our country.
A deep sense of respect and responsibility for law and order, family unity, and religious devotion is a strong family characteristic. Deacon John Harrison Tenney, father of Harrison E. Tenney who is a present resident of Rowley, made the following statement: "So far as I can learn, with very few exceptions, all who have borne the name of Tenney have been sober, industrious, law-abiding citizens, and some have been highly honored." (Quoted from Tenney Family Geneology, pages 35-76)
The following is also quoted from our geneology.
"Elder Samuel Tenney, grandson of Thomas, was accustomed to pray earnestly for his 'children and children's children's children to the latest generation.' How much of the good that has been in his descendants may be in answer to his prayers? Who can say?"
internet www.gendex.com/users/1423215/Eaton/D0017/G0000069.html#I2351
internet www.gendex.com/users/1423215/Eaton/D0034/G0000021.html#I2819
internet www.gendex.com/users/1423215/Eaton/D0034/G0000010.html#I2820
NOTES OF INTEREST; Benjamin was a carpenter by trade. Bradford was originally called Merrimack, at which time Benjamin was chosen overseer of the town. He bought several tracts of land in 1667, one tract belonged to his brother Thomas who was killed by indians 9 years later. Benjamin was also a wheelwright and farmer. He was a Cornet of horse troops and was known as " Cornet Kimball."He and his brother Richard were soldiers in 1683 and 1684. His wife Mercy was one of the first members received into the Bradford Church.
1)F845110-VR-Salisbury, Mass;
2)F496782-VR-Rowley, Mass;
3)F599732-VR-Bradford, Mass;
4)F893122-VR-Bradford,Mass;
5F875131-Essex Probate Rec. Vol 322;
6)F014784 Vol 1 Old Families of Salisbury & Amesbury Mass;
7)974.2 D2s-Gen. His. N.H;
8)History of the Kimball Family;
9)Archive Fam. Grp Shts;
10) F014767-VR-of Haverhill, Mass.
Notes of Interest:
Richard and Ursula Scott Kimball came to Watertown, Massachusetts with their six children on the "Elizabeth" in 1634. He was made a freeman in 1635. They settled in Ipswich, Mass. in 1638. He soon became a prominent and active man in the new settlement. He was a wheelwright. A good wheelwright in a town was of great importance. The town of Ipswich had invited Richard and his family to move to Ipswich; and the officials of the town granted him a house lot and forty acres of land. In 1639 he had liberty to pasture "two cows free." He seems to have been much appreciated for his services as a wheelwright, for he was permitted in 1649 to "fell such white oaks as he hath occasion to use about his trade for the town use."
Richard's second wife was Margaret Cole, widow of Henry Dow. She was from New Hampshire.
1)The kimball family in America: Rattlesden P.R.pp.240,243,259. Hitcham Par. Reg--History fo the Parish of Buxhall. Am.Pub.F. Vol 31 p.167.Last Will and Testament of Richard Kimball
The last will and testament of Richard Kimball senr of Ipswich in Essex in new England who although weake in body yet of perfect memory doe dispose of my
lands and estate in maner & form as followeth.To my Loveinge wife my will is that she shall dwell in my house and have the Improvement of my ground and meadow belonging thereto with the use and
increase of my whole stock of cattle, one whole yeare after my decease, and then at the years end, the forty pound due to her according to contract at
marriage to be payd her and that hous-hold stuff she brought with her. And to have liberty to live in the parlor end of the house, the roome we now lodge in:
and liberty for her nesessary vse of some part of sellar: also the liberty of one cow in the pasture, the executors to provide winter meate for the same, and to
have a quarter part of the fruit of the orchard, and firewood as long as she lives ther. And if she desire to remove to her owne house, then to be sett in it with
what she have by my executors and to be alowed forty shillings yearly as long as shee lives.And to my Eldest son Henry, my will is to give his three score and ten pounds to bee payd Twenty pounds a year and half after my decease, and the
remaining part in the two years following after that.To my son Richard I give fforty pounds.
To my son John I give twenty pounds.
To my son Thomas I give Twenty five pounds to bee payd two years and a halfe after my decease, and to his children I give seaven pounds to be devided
equally among them and payd as they come of age or at day of marriage, provided if any dye before their share to be distributed equally amongst the rest.And to my son Benjamin, besides the two oxen already received I give the sum of twenty five pounds, ten pounds to be payd a yeare and a halfe after my
decease. The rest the two years ffollowing, also to his children I give five pounds, equally to be devyded, and payd, as they come of age or at day of marriage,
in case any dye before, that part to be equally divided to the rest.And to my son Caleb I give that peace of land knowne by the name Tings lott, and all my land att Wattells neck with my marsh at the hundreds knowne by
the name of Wiatts marsh, and all my working tools exsept two axes all to be delivered present after my discease also I give fourteen pounds to his seven
children equally to be devided to be payd as they come of age or at Day of mariage, and if any dye before, that part to be equally devided amongst the rest.To my son-in-law John Severns, I give ten pounds to be payd two years & a halfe after my decease.
And to my Daughter Elizabeth, I give thirty pounds, ten pound to be payd, a year & halfe after my decease, and the other two parts, the two following years
after that.To my Daughter Mary I give ten pounds, five pound to be payd a year & halfe after my decease, the other five pound the year after that.
To my daughter Sarah I give forty pound, five pound to be payd the yeare & halfe after my decease and the rest five pound a yeare till it be all payd, also to
her children I give seaven pounds ten shillings to be payd to them as they come of age or at day of marriage if any dye before, that part to be equally devyded
to the rest.And to my daughter Sarah above "sd"; I also give the bed I lye on with the furniture after one years use of it by my wife.
To my wives children viz. Thomas, Jerimiah, and Mary.
To Thomas and Mary I give forty shillings apiece to be payd a yeare & halfe after my decease, and to Jerimiah I give fifteene pounds to be payd at the age of
one and twenty. I give also eight pounds to the two Eldest daughters of Gyes Cowes (that he had by his first wife) to be payd and equally devided to them at
the age of sixteene, if either of them dye before then the whole to be given to that that remaines.I also give four pounds to my Couzen Haniell Bossworth, and doe ordaine and apount my two sons above sd. Richard and John Kimball to be my lawfull and
sole executors.And my Couzen Haniell Bosworth above sayd to be my overseer that this my last will and Testament be duely and truly performed And thus I conclude with
setting too my hand and seale the fifth of march 1674-5.Richard Kemball
& a mark
& a seale.Witnesses: Moses Pengry Senr.
Aren Pengry Senrpr. In court at Ypswich 28 Sep 1675.
Sources: History of the Kimball family in America, from 1634 to 1897 by Morrison, Leonard A. - 1897; Genealogical Record of the Descendants of John Spofford
and Elizabeth Scott - 1888; Pioneers of Massachusetts by Pope, Charles - 1900; PAF - Kimball; Wason website; Churchyard / Orr - Family Museum
NOTES OF INTEREST; Benjamin was a carpenter by trade. Bradford was originally called Merrimack, at which time Benjamin was chosen overseer of the town. He bought several tracts of land in 1667, one tract belonged to his brother Thomas who was killed by indians 9 years later. Benjamin was also a wheelwright and farmer. He was a Cornet of horse troops and was known as " Cornet Kimball."He and his brother Richard were soldiers in 1683 and 1684. His wife Mercy was one of the first members received into the Bradford Church.
1)F845110-VR-Salisbury, Mass;
2)F496782-VR-Rowley, Mass;
3)F599732-VR-Bradford, Mass;
4)F893122-VR-Bradford,Mass;
5F875131-Essex Probate Rec. Vol 322;
6)F014784 Vol 1 Old Families of Salisbury & Amesbury Mass;
7)974.2 D2s-Gen. His. N.H;
8)History of the Kimball Family;
9)Archive Fam. Grp Shts;
10) F014767-VR-of Haverhill, Mass.
NOTES OF INTEREST; Benjamin was a carpenter by trade. Bradford was originally called Merrimack, at which time Benjamin was chosen overseer of the town. He bought several tracts of land in 1667, one tract belonged to his brother Thomas who was killed by indians 9 years later. Benjamin was also a wheelwright and farmer. He was a Cornet of horse troops and was known as " Cornet Kimball."He and his brother Richard were soldiers in 1683 and 1684. His wife Mercy was one of the first members received into the Bradford Church.
1)F845110-VR-Salisbury, Mass;
2)F496782-VR-Rowley, Mass;
3)F599732-VR-Bradford, Mass;
4)F893122-VR-Bradford,Mass;
5F875131-Essex Probate Rec. Vol 322;
6)F014784 Vol 1 Old Families of Salisbury & Amesbury Mass;
7)974.2 D2s-Gen. His. N.H;
8)History of the Kimball Family;
9)Archive Fam. Grp Shts;
10) F014767-VR-of Haverhill, Mass.