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John (Madcok) Maddocks (1663 - 1703)

John Maddocks formerly Madcok aka Mattocks, Maddock

Born 16 May 1663 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay

Son of Henry Maddock and Mary (Wellington) Coolidge

Brother of Mary (Coolidge) Goodanow [half]

Husband of Ruth (Church) Ingersoll — married 23 Jun 1689 (to 1 Feb 1703) in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay

Father of Ruth (Maddock) Chadwick, John Maddocks, Mary (Maddock) Oliver, Sarah (Maddocks) Ward, Henry Maddox, Caleb Maddocks and Joanna (Maddock) Sprague

Died 1 Feb 1703 at age 39 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay

Madcok-1 created 22 Apr 2013 | Last modified 7 Apr 2021

Biography

John Madcok/Mattocks [1]

John was the son of Henry & Mary (Wellington) Mattocks

He married, as his first wife, Ruth Church, daughter of Caleb & Joanna (Sprague) Church, on 23 Jun 1689 at Watertown, Middlesex, MA Bay - parents of Ruth, John, Mary, Sarah, Henry, Caleb & Joanna

After his death, Ruth married Joseph Childs, son of Joseph & Sarah (Platt) Childs, on 25 Jul 1705 at MA Bay - they had a daughter, Lydia

Ruth's brother Joshua Church was engaged in trade between Boston and the West Indies. Evidently while in Barbados he met a John Maddock and put this man in touch with his namesake in Watertown. A letter from John of Barbados dated 28 Oct. 1698 exists in the Middlesex Co. deeds:

"Cousin Maddock:

For so I'll venture to call you if it be but for the name's sake, tho 'tis not very hard to persuade me that you really my cousin and son of my Brother of which yet I would have you in your next to give the best light you can touching your father, how long 'tis since he came to New England, how long he tarried there and about what time he parted thence, and touching his marriage, your own age, &c. Now these things (and many other) cannot be presumed that you of your own knowledge can empart satisfactorily, yet by the help of your friends on your Mother's side and such other means as you may invite may be sufficient to persuade a willing man, (as I am) that you are indeed my cousin, and the son of my brother..." John then refers to a previous letter recieved from the Watertown Maddocks by which he has learned that they have children and he advises him to give them a good education, offering to assist. The letter concludes: "I should be really glad to be convinced that you are my kinsman, in the degree you suppose, and then you shall assuredly find me your living Uncle, John Maddock.[2]

John of Watertown sent a reply dated 16 Jan. 1698/9:

Hon'd Uncle:

Your kind letter by my brother Church I received, for the love therein expressed unto me I return you humble thanks... As to that account you dsire me to send over unto yourself concerning my father's coming and tarrying in New England, his marriage, my own birth, &c., I hope what I now send will give sufficient light and satisfaction. It was in no obscure manner that my father married or lived while in Watertown. There are records that attest his marriage and my birth. These are also still fresh in the memory of such who dwelt near my grandfather's house at that time, by viewing that papers inclosed may appear. Tho were my Mother or grandparents living I doubt not much more might be discovered, and more particular information be given... There is but one fragment of my father's hand writing which I can find and that contains the dates of his marriage and my birth. This was my Mother's Bible, which, being in the possession of my Sister in Law [his half sister, Mary Coolidge Livermore] I could only have the Liberty to take from thence the Leaf itself, which Leaf, however ragged and defaced I thought proper to Send for giving light in the matter. To the best of my remembrance, Mother told me that my Father went out of the Country towards the latter part of the Summer or beginning of Winter of that year wherein I was born and 'tis to the Same purpose that I am informed by my Mother's friends yet living...I would not forget to acquaint you that since my last writing I have another son, born, who is named after his grandfather's name... your very respectful cousin, Jn. Maddock."[3]

A postscript shows that he was able to obtain testimonials from his minister and two of the deacons in the Watertown church: “The Revd Pastor of the Congregation which I belong to, Mr. Henry Gibbs, understanding what you have sent unto me, hath delivered a letter to me, directed to yourself, for me to take charge of. Thus also have the Deacons of the church Mr. Simon Stone and Mr. Nathaniel Barsham, which letters come along with this.”[4]

It seems probable that the reference to his grandparents refers to the Wellingtons, his mother's parents. However, a John Maddocks, sawyer, aged 43, came to Boston on the Planter in 1634, of whom nothing further is known. In age he could have been the father of Henry of Watertown and John of Barbados.[5]

The last letter is dated at Barbados 8 May 1699:

Cousin Maddock:

For so henceforth I shall call and esteem you. Understanding that the vessel that Mr. Church belongs to goes not to Boston, (which I believe is your next port), and this being only to accompany him in answer to your's received by him, I shall be the briefer, tho indeed at this very instant, (If I would, the time would not allow me to be large), and shall only at present tell you that your with the encloseds received by Mr. Church (together with what before I have formerly heard my brother himself say), have given me so good satisfaction that I hardly see any reason to doubt of your relation. So as to that point I am settled and am very glad your good behaviour hath gained so good repute among your neighbors, especially your Revd. Pastor and Deacons as to deserve so good a character as they have given you. To these Gent. I desire you present my humble service and thanks in your behalf for the kindness they have shown you on this occasion, and accept my kind love and Respects to your Self and your good wife and your children, which at present I desire may suffice till some other opportunity, from your living uncle, John Maddock.[6]

The family must have held some hope that assistance would come from Barbados as they held the letters for 35 years until they were filed at the Registry in 1733. Uncle John was a resident of the parish of St. Lucy in Barbadoes and was quite well-to-do:

"A list of ye Names of ye Parrishioners of ye Parrish of St Lucyes, the number of Acres of Land they Possess, White Servants & Negroes taken December ye 30th 1679... Maddockes, John Esqr.... 127 (Land), 4 (Wt Servts), 61 (Negroes)."[7]

Uncle John was also in the militia in Barbadoes in Jan. 1679 with 6 men under him.[8] In Col. Thornhill's Regiment of Foot in Jan. 1679/0 is listed John, Thomas and William Maddox.[9] Besides his military service Uncle John was an assistant to the Spights Court of Common Pleas under judge John Reid, Esqr.[10] It is little wonder that the family in New England was hoping for some assistance from their uncle in "Little England". John's homestead, “mansion house” and grist mill, was on the south side of the river probably in Newton, bounded on the east by the highway, on the south and west by Stephen Cook, and on the north by Samuel Stowell.[11]

John and his father-in-law Caleb Church, were jointly bonded 9 July 1697 to repay a loan of £52, and this debt was renewed each year until Ruth paid it off with interest 13 Jan. 1703/4.[12]

John mortgaged 70 acres of upland and swamp in Watertown for £50 to Joseph Lynde of Charlestown 31 Jan. 1697/8.[13]

The administration of his estate was granted to Ruth on 1 Mar. 1702/3. Together with her father Caleb Church, and Joseph Sherman, she was placed under £450 bond. The inventory mentions his apparel £6, Mansion House £55, and three quarters of a grist mill £20. Debts due the estate amounted to £119/15. The total inventory amounted to £226/15.[14]

A voucher dated 3 Sept. 1714 by John Maddocks, yeoman, of Watertown, shows that a new appraisal of the Maddocks estate had been made "at the special instance of Ruth Child formerly Ruth Maddocks". The witnesses were Caleb Church, Joseph Sherman, Munings Gawin and John Maddocks.[15]

The purpose of the re-appraisal was to clear the title for the sale of the property. On 20 Sept. 1714 "Ruth Childs of ye town of Cambridge... the relict widow of Joseph Childs of Watertown, deceased and who was formerly the relict widow of John Maddocks of Watertown, deceased, and John Maddocks, son and heir... now living in the town of Cambridge, miller... for £120... sell to John Hawkins of Lynn... 12 acres of land... in Watertown... also a dwelling house and a fulling mill and three quarters part of a corn mill, standing on three-quarter accre of land... in said Watertown."[16]

Ruth assisted her father in running his inn until in 1717 when, due to his failing health, she was licensed to run the tavern herself, which she did until her third marriage in 1720 to Thomas Ingersoll of Springfield. They then moved to Springfield and she died in Westfield in 1747.[17]

Sources

MA Town & Vital Records
Watertown VR
Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine- Vol. IV, p.1951
Records of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport Families- William Thompson, MS at MHS- Vol.4, p. 1227
Henry Maddocks of Watertown and Some of his Descendants- Maclean McLean-TAG- Vol.39, pp. 16- 25
Source: S300 Author: Ancestry.com Title: Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011; Repository: #R2
Source: S562 Author: Yates Publishing Title: U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004; Repository: #R4
↑ Entered by Tayler Mccormick, Apr 21, 2013
↑ Middlesex Co. Deeds- Vol. 34, p.99
↑ Middlesex Co. Deeds- Vol. 34, p. 100
↑ Middlesex Co. Deeds- Vol. 34, p. 100
↑ Founders of New England- NEHGR- Vol.14, p.303
↑ Middlesex Co. Deeds- Vol.34, p.100
↑ Omitted Chapters from Hotten- James Brandow, Genealogical Pub. Co., Inc., 1983- pp. 33,42; originals at the PRO- State Papers, Colonial Office Group, Class I, Piece 44, 142-379
↑ Omitted Chapters from Hotten- James Brandow, Genealogical Pub. Co., Inc., 1983- p. 145
↑ Omitted Chapters from Hotten- James Brandow, Genealogical Pub. Co., Inc., 1983- pp. 146-7
↑ Omitted Chapters from Hotten- James Brandow, Genealogical Pub. Co., Inc., 1983- p. 93
↑ Genealogies of the Families & Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown- Henry Bond, M.D., Boston, 1860, Vol.2, p.855
↑ Middlesex Co. Probate- Docket No. 14538
↑ Middlesex Co. Probate- Docket No. 14538
↑ Middlesex Co. Probate- Docket No. 14538
↑ Middlesex Co. Probate- Docket No. 14538
↑ Middlesex Co. Deeds- Vol.18, p.67
↑ Ingersoll Data- TAG- Vol.11, pp.43-6, Vol.39, p.20
Acknowledgments

Thanks to Tayler Mccormick for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Tayler and others.