The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

JONAS HUMPHREY,
OF
DORCHESTER. MASS., AND HIS DESCENDANTS,
FIRST GENERATION,
I- Jonas' Humphrey was bom at a date not ascertained, in the town of Wendover,
in the county of Bucks, England, as is proved by the following affidavit found in the Massachu-
setts Archives (Liber i2g, Fol. i6) and preserved in the State-House, Boston:
"The Deposition of Jonas Humphry aged sixty-eight years or thereabouts, and Robert Randall
aged eighty years or thereabouts both Inhabitants of the Town of Waymouth in the County of
Suflfolke within his Majesties Territory and Dominion of New England in America, sworn say,
That they the Deponents and each of them liveing for some time in Wendover m the county of
Bucks m the Realm of England, did well know and were acquainted with Enoch Hunt of
Titenden in the Parish of Lee about two miles distant from Wendover Blacksmith, and Ephraim
Hunt Blacksmith the reputed Eldest son of him saw Enoch Hunt, and the said Enoch Hunt and
his son Ephraim Hunt both of them afterwards removed into New England and for some time
dwelt in Waymouth aforesaid, and said Enoch Hunt the Father soon returned back again to
England But his Son Ephraim Hunt remained and Settled himselfe at Waymouth and there
married a wife by whom he had issue Several Sons, and continued his dwelling there unto the
time of his decease which was about Sixteen months since, his reputed Eldest Son Thomas Hunt
now a dweller and Inhabitant of the Town of Boston within the aforesaid County of Suffolke
Blacksmith still Surviving being present with the Deponents at the time of their making this
Aflidavit, whome they have known from his childhood And farther the Deponents say not
JONAS HUMPHRY
2D July 1688. ROBERT X RANDALL."
This Jonas of the above document was the second son of the Emigrant, and afterwards
removed to Weymouth. Jonas Humphrey, senior, in his native land, was evidently a citizen of
character and repute, holding, according to well authenticated tradition, the office of constable *
* Copy of an ancient warrant belonging to him, and engrossed on parchment about eight by six inches in size, and still in the
possession o( his descendant, in the eighth generation, Richard C. Humphreys, of Dorchester (Mr. Humphreys also has original autograph
signatures of the Emigrant and some of his sons. He also owns a blue-ware family sugar-bowl, made in 1657, the date (in blue)
having been baked in upon the white.):
"To the Constables of Wendover Burrough and to each of them.—
"These are in his Majesty's name to will and require you to give notice of those articles hereunto annexed to the Church Wardens
and Overseers of the poore ol your Parish and that both you and the Church Wardens and Overseers of the Poore do bring unto his
Majesty's Justices at the Red Lyon in Wendover, on Wednesday the 27 of this instant month of June by eight of the clock in the fore-
noon, their presentments according to each article as they shall belonge to their several offices. And further that you do certify to his
Majesty's Justices exactly what ."^le houses are licensed and what unlicensed, within your liberties strictly enjoining all the said ale
house keepers licensed and unlicensed, not to fayle to be before his Majesty's Justices at the same time, and that with the advice ol the
minister and some three or four of the most substantial inhabitants, you do certifye unto them what numbers of ale houses are fit to be
licensed in your Parish, and what Persons are fittest to keepe them; and also that you certifye unto them what persons there are that
do usualy rent or sell tobacco by retaile in your towne, and of their fitness so to do, together with the names of such as you shall think
fit to be admitted to use that trade, together with the trade which they now use. And further that you keep a diligent and strict warde
by day and watch by night, and that you do upon tuesday the 26lh of this instant June take with you sufficient aide and make a private
and diligent searche within your liberties for rogues, vagabonds and idle persons, and that you bring before his Majesty's Justices to the
place aforesaid oa the said ayth day of June all such of them as shall seeme sturdye, dangerous and incorrigible, and that you do punish
and send away according to law all such as are not dangerously incorrigible, and that you be then and there present to give a strict
account of the due execution. Hereof fayle not. Dated this 20th day of June, 1612. By me
Wm. GRAUNGE.
" You and the Church Wardens remember to pay the quarteredge for the kings high Marshalsye, and maymed sauldyers unto me
"
the day abovesaid at your towne.—
*
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