Person:John Cram (14)

  1. John Cram1596/97 - 1682
  • HJohn Cram1596/97 - 1682
  • WEsther WhiteAbt 1598 - 1677
m. 8 Jun 1624
  1. Joseph Cram1632 - 1649
  2. Benjamin Cram, Sr.1637 - 1707/08
  3. Thomas CramAbt 1644 -
  4. Mary CramAbt 1645 - Abt 1673
  5. Lydia CRAM1648 - Aft 1665
Facts and Events
Name John Cram
Gender Male
Christening[3] 29 Jan 1596/97 Bilsby, Lincolnshire, England
Marriage 8 Jun 1624 Bilsby, Lincolnshire, Englandto Esther White
Residence[1][6] 1639 Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United StatesSignatory, Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States. Exeter Combination
Residence[1][2] 1650 Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States
Will? 21 May 1668 Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States
Death[1][2][4] 5 Mar 1682 Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States

Tied to Bilsby due to his association with Wheelwright and other Lincolnshire men at Muddy River near Boston. The will of Thomas Cram mentions son John, the baptism of Joseph son of John and Hester is found one parish over from Bilsby and Willouby parish registers tie the Crams to the Wheelwrights.S3

The first of the name in this country was John CRAM, who came from England, and in 1639 was among the early settlers at Exeter. A Combination being formed for the government of the settlers, his name appeared, spelt CRAME. In 1648 and '49, he was elected Townsman, or what was afterwards called Selectman. When he came to Exeter, he signed his name by making his mark, but afterwards learned to write.

Granted 16 acres at Muddy River at the Boston General Meeting on 14 Dec 1635. Land transactions put him in Hampton by 1658. He conveyed his house, barn and 5 acres plus stock to his son Benjamin in 1665, as well as other grants to his son Thomas, and daughters Mary and Lydia. Thomas and William were to support their parents (who were 60+ at the time, but survived another 20 years).S5

He left Exeter about 1650, and went to Hampton, that part now called Hampton Falls. He and his wife Esther became members of the curnc in Hampton. He was a judicous, honest man. His death was recorded on the town book of Hampton thus: "Died 5 of March, 1681, good old John CRAM, one just in his generation." His wife died in 1677. His children were Benjamin, Mary, Joseph, Lydia and Thomas. We have no account of the children except Joseph, who was drowned in Exeter, June 24, 1648, and Benjamin, who kep up the line of succession. S1


John CRAM was of Exeter, and on of the signer os the Combination, soon after the settlement of that town. Not long after, he removed to Hampton and settled on the south side of Taylor's river (now Hampton Falls) near the site of the WEARE monument. His wife's name was Hester. She died May 16, 1677. He died Mar 5, 1682. In the record of his death he is styled "good old John CRAM, one just in his generation." In his weill, two sons, Benjamin and Thomas, are mentioned, and two daughters, Mary and Lydia. S2

References
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jospeh FULLONTON. The History of Raymond, N.H.. (Name: The Morning Star Job Printing House, Dover, NH 1875;)
    193.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Dow, Joseph. History of the town of Hampton, New Hampshire: from its settlement in 1638, to the autumn of 1892. (Salem, Massachusetts: L.E. Dow, the Salem Publishing and Printing Co. , 1893)
    V1, 649.
  3. Sanborn, Victor Channing. "Lincolnshire Origins of Some Exeter Settlers", in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society)
    Vol. 68:64, (1914).

    Citing parish register

  4. Cram, Charles M. Genealogical outline of the Cram, Walker and Weekes families. (Boston: self-published, 1934).
  5.   Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995).
  6. Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States. Exeter Combination. (Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States).
  7.   1:470, in Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1860-1862).

    "JOHN, Boston 1637, Exeter 1639, Hampton 1658, d. 5 Mar. 1682. In 1665 he had w. Esther, ch. Benjamin, Thomas, Lydia, and Mary."