William Durkee

Durkee family From “New Englanders in Nova Scotia,” By F. E. CROWELL[1, p. 288]

No. 416 - DURKEE

WILLIAM (1) Durkee was born about 1632 , and was probably the first ofthe family in America. Of his early life very little is known, but itis recorded that he came to Ipswich, Massachusetts from the WestIndies at the age of thirty-three years, and in the year 1700, he wasappointed to a short seat in the meeting house. Mr. E. E. Butler, ofWatertown, Mass., a genealogist of the William Butler family, and adescendant of William Durkee says:

"Of interest in connection with the possible origin of William Butler,of Ipswich is the story of William Durkee, who married Martha Cross,sister of the wife of William Butler. Durkee was a servant of ThomasBishop, of Ipswich, according to Joseph E. Durkee, of Anaheim,California, who has brought to a close work extending through a periodof four generations on the Durkee family and is awaiting a morefavorable economic situation for its publication. He has informed methat William Durkee a was an Irish Catholic soldier captured on thebattlefield by Cromwell's forces and sold into virtual slavery inBarbadoes, where he was among the 'Red Legs’ who toiled on theplantations. Being among the thousands freed by proclamation ofCharles II and having no means of support he sold his services toBishop, an Ipswich merchant, and was taken to that settlement. Mr.Durkee states that William Durkee was persecuted by the Puritans forhis religious beliefs and that his children were brought upProtestants."

William Durkee married at Ipswich, Dec. 20, 1664, Martha , daughter ofRobert and Hannah (Jordan) Cross, and a sister of Sarah Cross whomarried Lieutenant William J. Butler, the ancestor of Eleazer Butler,a grantee and settler at Falmouth, Nova Scotia (Butler Family). Hiswife, Martha, was born Feb. 14, 1643, and died at Windham Co., Conn.,Jan. 11, 1726-7. (See Cross Line).

The name of William Durkee appears in Essex Co. deeds as late as 1713. They had children:

I John , b. Jan. 3, 1664-5. (see next gen.)

II Thomas , b. 1666; m. at Ipswich. March 5, 1699-1700, ElizabethFord, of Ipswich, a sister of Joseph Ford, who m. 1704-5, ElizabethHovey (Nathaniel 2, Daniel 1), b. in Ipswich, March 25, 1682; a sisterof Nathaniel Ford, who removed to Connecticut probably with theDurkee's. In the Ipswich records only one child is creditedThomas-Benjamin bp. 1711: m. at Norwich, Conn., Aug. 1, 1738, SarahAbell. Benjamin died May 11, 1744, leaving ch.: Sarah, b. Oct 3, 1740;Margaret, b. Jan. 23, 1741-2: and Benjamin, b. 1744, who was probablythe Benjamin Durkee who m. (1) Abigail Durkee (?) and (2) JoannaTrowbridge, of Pomfret, Conn.

III Martha , b. Aug. 1668.

IV William , b. abt. 1672;

m. [int. Jan. 18, 1704] Rebecca Gould, of Ipswich, the daughter ofHenry Gould and Sarah Ward his wife who were m. at Ipswich, Sept. 20,1675. Henry Gould, of Ipswich, had the right of turning his horses onthe common in 1697.

William and Rebecca Durkee removed to Canada Parish (Hampton), WindhamCo., Conn., and had ch.:

(1) Martha, m. John Hibbard and among other children had EleazerHibbard a grantee and settler in Yarmouth. N. S., and Daniel Hibbard,a grantee in Barrington, N. S.

(2) Jerusha, m. Ebenezer Martin (Martin Line).

(3) William, b. Feb. 28, 1710; m. Feb. 8, 1732-3, Abigail Hovey, b.Oct 31, 1713, the daughter of Nathaniel (3) Hovey (Nathaniel 2,Daniel) by Abigail Giddings his wife, who removed from Ipswich toConnecticut about the year 1711, Abigail (Hovey) Durkee was a secondcousin of Thomas and Daniel Hovey, whose children settled in NovaScotia; (Hovey Family). Abigail died May 30, 1791, and Mr. Durkeedied Jan. 15. 1795. Ch.: Abigail, b. April 14, 1734, m. Capt. JosiahHammond (Vide infra); Sarah, b. Aug. 30, 1736, d. June 15, 1742;Hannah, b. Jan. 26, 1738-9, m. William Foster; Mary, b. Nov. 29, 1741.m. Dr. John Brewster.

(4) Hulda, m. 1736, Samuel Stiles.

(5) Sarah, m. Feb. 6, 1728 George Martin (Martin Line)

(6) Hannah, m. 1743, Stephen Clark

(7) Henry.

(8) Jonathan.

(9) Rebecca.

(10) Lucy, m. 1746 Ezekiel Holt (Holt Line).

V Mercy , m. [int. June 4, 1709] George Martin (Martin Line).

VI Mary , m. [int. Nov. 26, 1709] Joseph Peck.

VII Jane , m. [int. April 29, 1710] John Martin (Martin Line).

VIII Elizabeth , m. [int. Feb. 21, 1712-13] George (2) Martin, as hissecond wife (Martin Line.)

IX Henry .

REFERENCE

[1] New Englanders in Nova Scotia Manuscript. R. Stanton Avery SpecialCollections, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA.(Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England HistoricGenealogical Society, 2010.)