|
||||||||||||||||
| Spouses: | ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
| Notes for Capt. John GOULD | ||||||||||||||||
| John Gould was born in 1635. On October 12, 1660, he married Sarah the daughter of John and Elizabeth Baker. They had eight children; John (1662-1724) who married Phebe French, Sarah Bixby (1664-1723), Thomas (1666-1752), Samuel (1669/70-1724), Zaccheus (1672-1739), Priscilla Curtice (1674-1715), Joseph (1677-1753), and Mary (1681-1689). He and Sarah were married for almost 50 years, she dying in 1708/9. John Gould was a prominent member of the Topsfield community. He served as a selectman for a number of years including a stretch of 14 straight years. John became involved with a plan to create a foundry where iron could be smelted. In 1668, a company, The Iron Works at Rowley Village, was started on land owned by John. After about a dozen years the foundry was abandoned and John became owner of the abandoned land and works. The house that was on the property he later sold to his son Samuel who lived there for years. The house lasted until the 19th century. In 1671, John was in court because of a long-standing problem he had had with his minister. It appears that the minister, Rev. Thomas Gilbert, had a problem with drink. In 1670, he was charged with intemperance. He was described as going "into the pulpit in a disordered state, which he had betrayed by the confusion of his thoughts and the clipping of his words, and especially by forgetting the order of the exercises". For the Gould’s this came to a head in 1671 with the following court cases; "Mr. Thomas Gilbert v. Ensign John Gould, for Sary Gould’s defaming him. Verdict for defendant. Also an action for assault. Verdict for plaintiff. Fine 20s. Also another action of slander, for saying he was a lying in the pulpet. Verdict for defendant. Ensign John Gould in behalf of his wife Sarah, v. Mr. Thomas Gilbert. Action of slander. Verdict for plaintiff. 40s." In 1675-6 John Gould served in the Narragansett campaign. He was in the "Three-County Troop" under the command of Captain Hutchinson and later under Captain Wheeler. Later, John became a Lieutenant and commanded the Topsfield company of militia. In 1685, King James II appointed Edmund Andros as the Royal Governor of Mass. This appointment led to serious unrest. John Gould became involved in the controversy and with the help of some old enemies of the Gould's was in serious trouble. A Warrant was issued for his arrest1034: "Case of John Gould, charged with Treason Boston, Sc. To the Keeper of his Majesty's Jail in Boston. The President of his Majesty's Territory & Dominion of New England, with the Deputy President and others of his Majesty's Council, in Council assembled, the 5th day of August, 1686, having received information upon the oaths of ISAAC CUMMINGS, JOHN WILD, & JOHN HOW, of several treasonable and seditious words, spoken by JOHN GOULD of Topsfield, against our Soverign Lord the King, &c. These are, therefore in his Majesty's name to require you to take into your custody the body of the said JOHN GOULD, and him safely keep until he shall be delivered by due course of law, and for so doing this shall be your warrant, given at the Council House in Boston, the said 5th day of August, Anno Dom.1686, Annoque RR. Jacobi Dei Gratia Angliae &c,--- secundi Vera Copia Ed. Randolph, Sec. John Gould petitioned the Council and the reply was; By the President and Council of His Majesty's Territory and Dominion of New England Upon reading the petition of John Gould, now prisoner in the jail of Boston, desiring liberty of the Prison yard to walk in, by reason of his indisposition of body. It is ordered That the Prison keeper do permit the said John Gould, to have the benifit of the Prison yard, to walk in during his sickness (the keeper taking care the said Gould make not an escape) till further order. Ed. Randolph, Sec'ry Another document read; Council House, Boston August 12, 1686 New England, Sc. Rex contra Gould, in Sessione Speciali, 19th August , 1686 The Jurors for our Soverign Lord, the King, do upon their oaths present that JOHN GOULD, SEN, otherwise called LIEUT. GOULD, of Topsfield, in the County of Essex, husbandman, by force and arms, that is to say, between the 23d and 30th of May, in the second year of the reign of our Soverign Lord &c, being evilly affested against our most sacred Lord the King, aforesaid, his supreme and natural Lord, and devising with all his might, and intending to disturb the peace and common tranquillity of this his Majesty's Territory & Dominion of New England, as the same is now settled by his Majesty's Royal Commission under his great Seal of England, and the introducing again of the late Government, dissolved by law, at a Riotous Muster of armed men gathered together by him, the aforesaid JOHN GOULD as their pretended officer at Topsfield aforesaid, in the year aforesaid, he the said JOHN GOULD as aforesaid, then and there being, did against the duty of his Allegience, and in terror of his Majesty's liege people, maliciously, wickedly, seditously, treasonably and advisedly speak and utter these malicious treasonable and seditious speeches following, viz: If the Country was of his mind, they would keep Salem Court with the former Magistrates, and if the Country would go the rounds, he would make the first, and would go & keep Salem Court, and would have his company down to do it. And further, he, the said JOHN GOULD as aforesaid, on or about the 11th day of July, at Topsfield aforesaid, in the County aforesaid, in the year aforesaid, Maliciously, advisedly and treasonably, did say and utter these malicious, treasonable and seditious words following, viz: That he was under another Governmant, and had sworn to another Government, and did not know this government, and this in manifest contempt of his majesty's laws and Government here in New England, to the evil and pernicious example of all others in the like case offending, and against the peace of our said Soverign Lord the King, his Crown and dignity. | ||||||||||||||||
| Last Modified 2 May 2002 | Created 6 Jan 2007 by EasyTree for Windows |