Captain John Locke
- Birth: Sept 1627 (baptized
Sept. 16, 1627) London, England
- Death: 8/26/1696 Rye, NH
(F1)
Father: Thomas
Locke
Mother: Christine
French
In 1620, during the reign of James I, the religious and
political persecutions drove the Puritans from England and forced them to find a
home on foreign shores. This emigration continued for a long period and in
constantly increasing numbers. To stop this drain on his kingdom, Charles I
ordered every person emigrating to take the oath of supremacy and allegiance:
this had two effects. One was, that all who took the oath were thus privileged
in having their names, time of sailing, and, in many cases, their place of
birth, age, and occupation, recorded in the office. On the other hand, hundreds
refusing to sign away their independence were forced to sail surreptitiously
leaving no trace behind, and so their first movement was recorded on American
shores. Our own John Locke was undoubtedly one of the latter, and perhaps came
to these shores in one of those hundred ships, which we are told touched the New
England coast between Salem and Portland, in the years 1630-1640 and of which we
have no record.
Locke came from Yorkshire, England, and settled in New
Hampshire about the years 1638-1644; that "at first he settled in Dover
where he owned a right of land"; that from thence he moved to Fort Point,
New Castle, and about the year 1652 married Elizabeth the daughter of William
Berry, who was probably the first settler in Hampton at a place called Sandy
Beach, now in Rye. From New Castle Mr. Locke moved to Sagamore Creek where he
liv^ed until 1665, when he went to Hampton, now Rye, N. H. The early records of
Dover have nothing to corroborate the above first statement. The Select- men of
Portsmouth, in 1652, started a new town record, copying only a few items from an
older book covering the years 1 623-1 651, the oldest book of the colony, which
is now lost, and so any possible clue that might interest us is forever gone.
The Portsmouth records do, however, mention him as follows: "And
likewise John Locke is to have a house lott between John Jacksons and William
Cotton's rails, the lott eight acres. At a town meeting held this first day of
Januarie, 1656." At a meeting Jan. 22, 1660, "John Locke having eight
acres, to have eight more" ; and the same year there was laid out to him
"eight acres from Stony Brooke towards John Jones, 24 pole wide and 40 pole
back into the woods, upon a south west line." Tradition tells us that John
Locke framed the first meeting house in Portsmouth, and probably the first in
New Hampshire about 1645. Tne specifications read: "The meeting house to be
made 40 feet square with 12 windowes well fitted, 3 substancial doers and a
complete pulpit." It was ordered built, Aug. 27, 1657, as given in
"Historic Portsmouth." The date must be wrong as the seats were
ordered in 1654. This church stood south of Pickering's Dam (now South Mill
Bridge), at the junction of South and Marcy Streets, and was removed about 1750.
It is barely possible that the town took the above means to pay this young man
for his work by granting him the eight acres in the southern part of Portsmouth.
The first grant of eight acres in 1656 bears out the tradition of his
living at Sagamore Creek, since it was very close to that locality, being in
reality on the present Little Harbor road, on the side of hill just east of the
new brick Memorial Church, and overlooking the city of Portsmouth, of which it
is a part. See enclosed plan. Evidently he did not live here long, as shown by
the following sale,
" Be it known unto all men by these presents that I, John Lock of
Portsmouth, on Piscataqs river, Carpenter & Elizabeth my wife for and in
consideration of the sum of Thirty two pounds 10 s. to us in hand before the
engaging hereof, by James Drew of the same place marry nor, do . . . sell unto
the said James Drew my new dwelling house . . . therewith eight acres of uplands
on which the said house stands and is situate, and being between ye lands of
John Jones on the West northly & ye lands of John Jackson on the East
Southerly. Said lands of eight acres be it more or less was given & granted
me the said Lock by the Town of Portsmouth, as may appear by the sd Towns grant
& record of the bounds when it was laid out. All the said premises with the
appurtenances of same which belong- ing to ye sd Locke & Elizabeth my wife .
. . unto the sd Drew & his heirs etc. . . . furthermore whereas there is a
piece of marsh in disspute between me the sd Jno Lock &. Wm. Cotton; I ye sd
Jno. Lock & Elizabeth my wife do include in the sd forementioned bargain, if
either ye sd Lock or ye sd Drew can recourus of ye hand of the sd Cotton, &
ye sd Lock do hereby promise to do all in my power for the attainment of the
same etc. . . . , in witness thereof his hand & seal 8z deliver the 23 day
of March 1660-61."
•Jno X Lock Elizabeth X Lock
I am convinced also that the grant of 1660 was near the first grant if
not adjacent, and this he sold long after he went to Locke's Neck, Hampton, as
shown by the sale to his late neighbor Cotton with whom he had the dispute over
the marsh land.
"John Lock of Portsmouth, carpenter & wife Elizabeth, sold to
William Cotton eight acres land to be layd out in Portsmouth, as appears in town
book Sept. 8, 1674." John acknowledged the sale, March 26, 1675.
I should judge that this dispute over marsh land was not settled since it
appears in John's estate in 1707, and again later accord- ing to these
transfers. "Shadrack Walton of New Castle sold John Dennett of Portsmouth,
3 acres of salt marsh in Little Harbor bounded by Mark Hunking's marsh on the
south side and Jno. Locke's on the north side, and by the main brook on the east
side, dated; Dec. 12, 1693." This marsh was later transferred in August and
November 1709; Jno. Lock's marsh being mentioned on the north side.
"Jno. Lock & Daniel Thomas having Edward Colcord committed to
them for keeping & Letting him go in the night, are fined 2-6 apiece &
are enjoyned to do their utmost to gott him again; if they do, are to be
released from their fines otherwise to pay as above. 1662." Could it be
possible that Edward bribed his jailors? At any rate there is no mention that
they "gott" him.
At a town meeting in Portsmouth March 8, 1665-6, John Locke
subscribed 5 shillings for the support of the minister, Mr. Moody. The town
record also has in the same hear:
"Capt. Locke was fined 5," whether shillings or pounds, or for
what is not stated. Note the official record calls him Captain.
"The names of such who took the oath of fidelity ye 2nd. of Oct.,
1666, upon ye Election of Military officers; Jno Lock." "A noate
drawne on Hen. Dering, Constable, to pay Jno Lock 12 s: dated Oct. 26,
1671."
These items all go to show that while he was living at Joselyn's or
Locke's Neck at this time, having moved there before 1665, he considered, and
Portsmouth considered that he was within the latter 's jurisdiction. Hampton
took a different view of the matter and the town records show they acted
accordingly.
"He sat down (squatted hence the word 'Squatter') on the public
lands at Josselyn's Neck" and began clearing a farm without saying "by
your leave," and as the inhabitants claimed the right of saying who should
be citizens of the town, they chose a committee May 24, 1666, to pull up his
fence and March 12, 1667, to warn him to desist from improving the town land and
to notify him "that the town is displeased with his building there."
Complaint was made against him as a "Trespasser" and he was warned to
appear at the next meeting and give an account of himself. On the 8th of March
1667 the town voted: "Upon the motion of John Lock who desireth to yield
himself to the town of Hampton as an inhabitant here amongst us, being already
settled upon Josselyn's Neck in Hampton bounds, the town hath accepted of the
said John Lock for an inhabitant accordingly." So John Locke from being the
first squatter
became an inhabitant of Hampton, now Rye, N. H., and here he continued to live
until his death.
Joselyn's Neck became Locke's Neck and so continued for two hundred
years, in fact today it is equally as well known as by the newer name Straw's
Point, a name given because Governor Straw bought much of the land and erected
many houses upon it.
These depositions of his neighbors are interesting as fixing his
residence, and landmarks.
"The Deposition of George Hunt aged 35 years testifiethe and Saith
that Living with John Lock of Hampton and that I being then a Servant with him,
that I Did help fence the neck of Land called Joselyn's neck thirteen year agoe
(1667), and did help fence the marsh belonging to the neck twelve year agoe and
further saith not. Taken upon Oath Sept. 1st. 1680."
"Nathaniel Drake aged 68, and John Goss aged 46, and
John Berry aged 43, "Testfiieth and saith that John Lock hath enjoyed ye
neck of Land commonly called Josliens neck fifteen years or thereabouts peacably
and had it in fence moste part if not all the time above said, and further we
testify that the marsh in Contreversy between Francis Jinins and Said Lock is
within said Lock's fence as above said which he made near fifteen years ago
(1665). Taken under oath Sept. 8, 1680."
"John Brackett aged 39 years testifieth that fourteen or fifteen
years ago (1665) I helped John Lock fence a corn field at a place called
Joslien's neck and since I have seen a fence at the head of the neck where the
cattle used to come over. Sworn to Sept. 7, 1680."
"John Lock aged about 75, and John Foss aged about 69, testifieth
that they have known the great Pond in Rye known by name as Sandy Beach Pond to
have been fenced and in possession of John Lock formerly of Hampton deceased and
William Berry of Portsmouth, disceased, for 60 years (1668), and fence enclosed
meadows all around on back side and ends running down to the sea, and has been
possessed by their descendants since. Sworn to, Feb. 5, 1728-9."
In 1672 John Lock was a witness to a land claim of Nathaniel Wallis of
Casco, Me. He served on the jury in Portsmouth, Nov. 6, 1683, in the trial,
"Proprietor Mason versus Vaughan." (He perhaps heard there why the
early colonial record was destroyed.)
Either John Locke Sr. or Jr. was a witness to Anthony
Brackett's will in 1691, and Anthony was killed by Indians that same year. John
Locke's province tax rate of 1693, was 3 pounds, charged to New Castle but paid
in Hampton; his son John's tax was 2 pounds.
There seems to be some discrepancy in the date as to when John Locke
died. According to Hampton records:
"John Locke Senior was killed by the Heathen in his lott at work
upon August 26 1696." In the Rev. Huntington Porter's address delivered in
Rye Jan. 1 1801, he says "In 1694 (it should be 1696), John Locke being at
the Neck was ambushed and killed by the Indians as he was reaping grain in his
field."
Undoubtedly the most reliable report is that contained in Reverend John
Pike's Journals 1678 to 1709. Written by a divine living in those years, and
shepherd of those early settlers, surely he could not be more than a day wrong
as compared with the Hampton record. He writes: "Lieut. Lock was slain by
the Indians at Sandy Beach, Aug. 25, 1696." It will be noted that this is
the second time a title is given to John Locke, and this time by one who wrote
advisedly.
The early writings of Rye and Hampton mention three garrison houses, one
of which, called the Lock Garrison, was at Locke's Neck and existed as late as
1708, and we may presume that it was Locke's house, built strongly of timbers to
repel the savages and in which his neighbors sought refuge during the several
Indian assaults on these early settlers. It is also probable that having such a
stronghold and being in charge or in command of it as owner, he very naturally
acquired the title of Lieutenant or Captain as noted in two cases above, even
though we do not know that he ever received such commission from the authorities
themselves.
With only a difference of wording the histories and early writers have
this to say of Captain Locke's death. He was noted for the daring and success
with which he fought the Indians, foiling their many attempts to destroy the
settlers, hence was correspondingly hated by them. On one of their raids from
the east, landing on the coast near Locke's Neck, they concealed their canoes in
the bushes and went inland to surprise their intended victims. Locke discovered
the canoes and cut generous slashes in them where the cuts were not seen at
first glance. The Indians returning from their murderous expedition, pushed off
only to find themselves sinking, thereby losing nearly all their plunder,
stores, and arms and making it necessary for them to escape over-land, suffering
many hardships and losing some of their band. Later, a party of eight came from
the eastward with the express purpose of killing Locke and, surprising him as he
was reaping grain in his field, mortally wounded him with his own gun, which he
had left against a rock at some distance away. They then returned without doing
further damage. One account says that when the Indians ran up to scalp Locke,
the latter had strength enough left to cut off the nose of one with the sickle
he had been using; which act was seen by one of his sons who had secreted
himself in the grain.
Several anecdotes are told concerning this fact. One was that years after
when friendship with the Indians was restored, the same son who saw his father
killed, met an Indian minus a nose while both were out hunting, and who when
questioned said "Old Locke cut it off." He explained that they tried
to capture him alive as he was such a brave man, but he fought so they were
compelled to kill and scalp him. Whereupon the son killed the Indian. Another
account is that a grandson, named Berry, met at a Portsmouth tavern a noseless
Indian, who, rendered talkative by liquor, boasted that he had killed a brave
white man, "Old Captain Locke." Whereupon Berry waited outside, killed
the Indian, and threw his body in a well, which well was filled up the next day.
Jonathan Locke, born 1702, a grandson of Captain Locke, built a house at Rye
Center, where the late Jonathan lived (the same site). Seeing an Indian one day
a short distance away, he raised the window, propped it up with a book, and
taking careful aim with his gun which rested on the window sill, shot the red
man dead. When taken to task for killing an Indian in time of peace, he replied
that the Indians killed his grandfather and he would kill one whenever he had
the chance. Thus it seems that Captain Locke must have been sufficiently
avenged, that is if the Indians held out.
Excepted from: Locke, A.H. (1866). A history and
genealogy of Captain John Locke (1627-1696) of Portsmouth and Rye, N.H., and his
descendants
John Locke left no will, but letters of administration were
granted March 4, 1706, whereby John and Joseph, the oldest and youngest sons,
were to settle the estate. An inventory made by James Rendle and William Seavey
was returned as follows :
An Inventory Est. of John Lock deceased now John & Joseph Lock May 19
1707:
one
yoke of oxen |
£8-00-00 |
two Cows |
5-10-00 |
one
yearling & Calf |
1-03-00 |
eight
Swine |
5-10-00 |
two puter
Candl Stick |
1-01-00 |
two Iron
pots |
0-16-00 |
two
tramels one pare of pot hooks |
0-08-00 |
one Spite
& fire tongs & a small cops |
0-07-00 |
4 chares |
0-04-00 |
one bras
kittel |
0-09-00 |
one Sword |
6-06-00 |
one
frying pan |
0-03-00 |
two
Chests |
9-00 |
two
Earthen ware |
3-00 |
his
Carpenters tules |
12-00 |
one draft
chain |
06-00 |
feathers
and two old coverleds |
1-10-00 |
one bed
& bedding |
5-00-00 |
house
& land & medow at gossling neck |
25-00-00 |
two akers
of salt marsh at little harbor |
8-06-00 |
total |
64-7-00 |
The estate was divided among ten children as given below.
the oldest, John, to receive a double portion, although he had already in 1677
been given one half of all his father's lands at Locke's Neck: John, Nathaniel,
Edward, William, James, Joseph, Alice, Phenea (Tryphena), Rebecca, Mary, John
and Joseph made return to court, May 4, 1708.
"As there was nothing taken out for the widdows
thirds, by reason the Adms. did voluntarily promise and agree in open court to
take care for the maintainance of the widdow ; it is there- fore ordered that
the said Adms. take care to maintain the widdow during her natural life
accordingly. Charles Storer. Recorder."
There can be no doubt that there was an Elizabeth in the above family,
and Dr. John Locke born 1772, in a signed statement, names all the above
children and Elizabeth also. Eleven children are also named by other old
descendants. We can only suppose she died before 1708.
Those of us who recall the early years of our Locke Association will
remember that a sword and sickle, claimed to have been used by our ancestor was
presented to us and later placed in the keeping of the New Hampshire Historical
Society. The fact that a sword is listed in his estate makes the above much more
credible, particularly as it passed through only three hands. It is claimed that
William Locke, 1677-1768, gave sword, gun, and sickle to his grandson, Wilham,
1758-1828; from him these relics descended to his grandson George Locke,
1817-1903, who gave them to the Association. Excessive patriotism of the Locke
boys July 4, 1840, caused the old gun to burst, and though its parts were
treasured many years, they gradually disappeared.
That John Locke possessed a sword does not prove that he was an officer
or that he was foolish enough to pursue savages with it. Rather let us suppose
our ancestor was a man, brave as the Indians called him, such a one as would
naturally take the leadership of settlers or scouts when after an enemy, and to
whom they would look not as a superior officer but as a fellow settler, perhaps
more daring than the rest.
Our progenitor's home at Locke's Neck was probably situated almost in the
middle of the present road to the outer end of the point, and just beyond its
junction with the road to Jenness Beach and the cable station. The only
landmarks are the tansy and one upright stone gate post on the left, which at
one time held a gate which gave entrance to the property. His remains, together
with his kinsfolk, we must suppose rest in a little plot of land in the
southeast corner of these two roads, where thirty-five graves, or rather rough
stones may be counted. See the cross marked on the map. The oldest Rye people
can tell nothing about this graveyard, except that many years ago a few, perhaps
five shipwrecked people were buried there in the space nearest Jenness Beach.
Not being sure of John Locke's burial place. The Locke Association a few
years ago erected in the Central Cemetery at Rye, a handsome granite monument to
the memory of our ancestor. This association, further honors his memory by
holding its annual meetings on the Wednesday nearest the 26th day of August, at
Rye, N. H.
John Locke left little in financial estate, what he left was far more valuable.
He left in a struggling settlement ten children from whom came at least
forty-eight grandchildren. A score or more of his descendants inheriting his
fighting spirit took part in the Indian Wars. At least a hundred fought in the
War for Independence, and since that time thousands, whether they be governors
of New Hampshire, lawyers of national reputation, the honest mechanics, or the
humble tillers of the soil, claiming him as ancestor, have performed their
little or much in making our country what it is today. Such an estate we claim
has no estimate in dollars and cents. Captain John Locke was probably baptized
in London, England, Sept. 16, 1627, married about 1652, Elizabeth, the daughter
of William and Jane Berry, and was killed by the Indians Aug. 26, 1696, in Rye,
N. H. Elizabeth the widow was living in 1708 when the estate was settled and the
children given below shared in its distribution. Several old papers prepared by
descendants born about 1735, give the entire family, and in the following order.
As first names only were given it is impossible to determine whether the girls
were married, or to whom married at that time (1708) but we know nearly all
were.
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