Family talk:John Russell and Dorothy Cotton (1)

Parents of Mary Russell wife of John Cornell [18 March 2016]

My research found conflicting information about this Russell family. John RUSSELL was born in 1608, probably England. He married Dorothy (—?—) before 1645 at Marshfield, MA. He died on 13 Feb 1694/95 at Dartmouth, Bristol County, MA. Dorothy (—?—) died on 13 Dec 1687 at Dartmouth, Bristol County, MA.

John was at Marshfield, MA, living from 1642 to 1661, where he was constable, on the committee to the Court, one of the raters, and surveyor of highways. On 20 Mar 1661, He bought property at Dartmouth, Bristol County, MA and was representative to the Colony Court. His will dated 19 Jan 1687/88 at Dartmouth said he was "of Dartmouth in the County of Briftoll in New England in America" and mentioned his eldest son John Russell, son Jonathan Russell, grandson John Russell son of his son Joseph, and "cattle and horses to be divided by my executor equally among all my grandchildren." Executor was son John Russell.

Children of John and Dorothy were: i. John Jr (d. 3:20:1695/6 Dartmouth; m. Mehitable Smith) ii. Jonathan (d. 15 Dec 1723 Dartmouth; m. Hassadiah Smith) iii. Dorothy (d. 13 Jan 1657/8 Marshfield) iv. Joseph (b. 6 May 1650; d. 11 Dec 1739; m. Elizabeth —).

Did they also have a daughter Mary born in 1645 who married John Cornell in 1669? On 3 Mar 1673, the "wife of John Cornell of Plymouth Colony" testified at the trial of her brother Thomas Russell. On 3 Oct 1676, the governor granted 100 acres to John Cornell "who with his wife and five small children, had been driven from the eastward by the Indians."

Nothing I've seen gives John and Dorothy Russell of Dartmouth children named Mary or Thomas, and John’s will mentioned only his sons John, Jonathan, and Joseph.

Furthermore, John RUSSELL of Dartmouth is not the immigrant by the same name of Hadley MA whose wife was also named Dorothy (some say surname Cotton; widow of Henry Smith).

Sources

Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015, p 1313; giving "Russell, John (1608-1695) & Dorothy ___ (-1687, Dartmouth); by 1645; Marshfield/Dartmouth". Hereinafter cited as Web Site.

Barrett Beard Russell, "The Descendants of John Russell of Dartmouth, Mass.," (AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008), NEHGR, 58:364-5. - giving John Russell "thought to have been born in 1608." - giving children (no Mary). - giving John Russell "died 2: 13: 1694-5." - giving Dorothy Russell "died 12: 13: 1687."

John Cornell, Genealogy of the Cornell Family, (New York, Press of T A Wright: 1902), https://archive.org, p 267.

James B Congdon, "Births, Marriages and Deaths, from the Records of the Ancient Town of Dartmouth, Mass.," (AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008), NEHGR, 21:266 - giving "Russell, John March 20, 1695." - giving "Russell, John Jr Feb. 13, 1694-5" (Based on will, John Jr probably d. Mar 20). - giving "Russell, Dorothy, w. of John Dec. 18, 1687."

Great Migration 1634-1635, R-S. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VI, R-S, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009, John Russell, p 136-8. (This is John of Hadley, not Dartmouth)

Mrs Lucy Hall Greenlaw, "Abstracts from the First Book of Bristol County Probate Records," (AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008), NEHGR, 63:77.--KayS 00:42, 18 March 2016 (UTC)