Person:John Kent (5)

Origins

Controversy about his origins and parentage exists:

• Savage believes he was the nephew of Richard, not his son.
• History & Genealogy of the Kent Family claims he was born in Massachusetts, son of Richard Kendall.
• Researcher Brian Lewis indicates that John was not born in Massachusetts, but came to Dedham, MA from England.
• Griswold Family, volume 2, page 14, claims he was b. England; came to Dedham, Mass. 1645. His brother Joshua was in Dedham 1643 and was sent to England in 1644 with a testimonial from the church, and when he returned brought two brothers, John and Joseph, who settled in Bristol county. [The brothers are not named, but this is recorded in the Dedham Church Records as found in Source:Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States. Early Records of the Town of Dedham, Massachusetts, Vol. 2, p. 37.]
• Coffin's History of Newbury identifies four contemporary John Kents: [corrections by the author published Source:NEHGR, 15:273 in italics and strikeout]

1. John, only son of James, b 1641 d 30 Jan 1718 m Mary HOBBS 24 Feb 1665. Ch: John 8 April 1665 and d. 24 June; Sarah, 1 Aug 1666, Sarah 30 Aug 1667, Mary b. 10 Sep 1668 d 17 Mar 1702-3, Richard b 25 Jun 1670, Jane b. --, John 23 Nov 1668, John b. 16 Jul 1675 d 23 Mar 1702-3, James 3 Sep 1679, William b. 31 Jul 1682 d 26 Mar 1703 Mary d 17 March 1703.

[Note: the Newbury VRs says that Sarah b. 1666 was d/o John Jr., suggesting Coffin's corrections still have the two Sarahs backwards.]

2. John Jr, father unidentified, m. Sarah WOODMAN 13 Mar 1666, ch Sarah b. 30 Aug 1667, John b 23 Nov 1668, Mary 10 Sep 1668, Richard 25 Jun 1670, Richard 17 Jan 1673, Mary 24 Oct 1674, Emma 20 April 1677, Hannah 10 Sep 1679, Judith, Rebecca 20 Feb 1684, James 5 Mar 1686.

3. John Jr (again), father unidentified, m Rebekah Somerby. ch Rebekah 4 May 1696, John 4 Sep 1698, Emma 28 Feb 1701, Sarah 7 Mar 1704, Mary 30 Mar 1707, Richard 3 Jun 1710.

4. John, father unidentified son of John Kent and Mary Hobbs, m Sarah LITTLE 14 Jun 17031701-2 [VR Newbury gives year as 1702]

Coffin also shows

• Emma KENT widow d 10 Jan 1677
• Richard KENT, Sr, maltster came to Newbury 1635, ch Rebecca, John 20 Jul 1645, Sarah whom he left in England, and other daughters.
• There were also Stephen, Newbury 1635 br of Richard Sr and Richard Jr, Newbury 1636 father unidentified.

See also: L.Vernon Briggs: "Different Families bearing the name Kent in the US together with their English Ancestory a.d.1295 -1898.

Based on review of multiple records, I remain unconvinced that the John KENT who married Hannah GRISWOLD in Dedham was the son of Richard KENT. Therefore I have detached John from the parents Richard KENT and Emma UNKNOWN.

Life in New England

16 May 1652: received into church at Dedham, MA.

1654: made freeman

1660: Witnesses the will of John Lamson of Dedham Dec. 15.

1662 or 1666: May 21: Married in Dedham, MA Hannah Grisold.

"In 1673 John Kent and Hannah, his wife, were admitted to full communion in the First Church in Charlestown by dismission from the Church of Christ in Dedham" (vol. 23, page 436, New Eng. His. and Gen. Reg.) The Dedham records have her name "Grisold," the Charlestown "Gissell." She died Jan. 9, 1690.

13 Apr 1673: He and his wife were admitted into church at Charlestown by dismissal from Dedham.

1678/9-- In Tythingman, MA.

1690/1 - wife died Jan 9

Legacy

Savage implies that John was the NEPHEW and not the SON of Richard Kent, and that Richard died without children: RICHARD, Newbury 1635, came the yr. bef. in the Mary and John, br. of James, had w. Jane, wh. d. 26 June 1674, and he m. 6 Jan. 1675, Joanna, wid. of Nicholas Davison of Charlestown, and d. 25 Nov. 1689, without ch. but gave his est. to his neph. John.

None of the births of their children are found at Dedham, but are all among the Charlestown records.

Additional Sources

[Incorporate into Sources]

1. James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England

2. E. I. Dale and Edward E. Kent, History and Genealogy of the Kent Family, Spencer, MA: E. E. Dickerman (1899); Page 6

John Kent (Richard 1), son of Richard, Sr., by his second wife, Emma [unsubstantiated parentage; see above], was born in Newbury, Mass., July 20, 1645.

Of his early live but little is known, as his father died when he, John, was but nine years old. Who he lived with or where we cannot, with our present knowledge, state. But he probably left the town where he was born while very young. He, without doubt, had a guardian, who, perhaps, bound him out to some farmer, or to learn a trade. That he had to fight his early battles of this alone, as it were, is almost sure, and we will hope that his lot was cast among those who were kind to the fatherless boy. We next find him at Dedham, Mass., where he was married, if the figures are rightly deciphered, May 21, 1662, to Hannah Grisold. We think, however, that this date is in error, as he at that date would be only 17 years of age; and then again their first child was not born until July 2, 1667. He was probably married May 21, 1666, and it is presumed soon after removed to Charlestown, Mass., as none of the births of their children are found at Dedham, but are all among the Charlestown records.

"In 1673 John Kent and Hannah, his wife, were admitted to full communion in the First Church in Charlestown by dismission from the Church of Christ in Dedham" (vol. 23, page 436, New Eng. His. and Gen. Reg.) The Dedham records have her name "Grisold," the Charlestown "Gissell." She died Jan. 9, 1690.

3. Coffin, History of Newbury

1. ↑ Lewis, Brian
   Correspondence of 10 August 2004.
2. ↑ John was admitted to the church in Dedham 16 May 1652, suggesting he was born by 1631 to be 21. He came from England with his brother Joshua in 1645 (see Source:Briggs, Lloyd Vernon. Genealogies of the Different Families Bearing the Name of Kent in the United States, p. 10).