"The Mackworths of Mackworth, co. Derby, sent a branch into Shropshire in the 15th century. There they were lords of the manor of Meole Brace, now a suburb of Shrewsbury. Arthur Mackworth, s. of Thomas, of Day House in the village of -Newton-, par. of Meole Brace, was appren. in the Drapers Co. of Shrewsbury in 1612. Born ±1598, he was a 2d cous. of Mr. Thos. Lewis of Shrewsbury and Saco, and I (Walter Goodwin Davis) believe him to be identical with Arthur, gentleman, who received a gr. from Sir F. Gorges for 500 a. 'for many years in his poss.' at the mouth of the Presumpscot river on Casco Bay, known as Menickoe 'but hereafter to be known as -Newton-,' together with a small island (still kn. as Mackworth's Isl.), on 30 Mar. 1635. He prob. came over in 1630 with Vines or in 1631 with Lewis and had an early unrec. gr. from Vines at Saco. [The 1635 grant is apparently the first record placing him in New England.] He m. Jane Andrews, wid. of (Samuel). An outstanding member of the Gorges party, he acted for Sir Ferdinando in giving poss. to Cleeve, was magistrate in 1645 and often employed as arbitrator (Bonython v. Gibson, Cammock v. Winter, both 1640; Cleeve v. Winter, 1641). Gr.j. and j. 1640. … Alive 17 May 1657, he d. bef. 28 Mar. 1658, when his wid. gave a deed. His nunc. will was test. to by Rev. Robt. Jordan 17 Aug. 1660, all the prop, to go to his w. to distrib. equally among her ch., those whom she had had by her 1st husb. Andrews to have the advantage, if any. Mrs. Mackworth … obviously an intelligent and just woman, made various gr. to the ch. and in her will, 20 May, inv. 25 May 1676, gave all her lands and houses at Casco Bay to her sons-in-law Abraham Adams and Wm. Rogers, execs., her clothes to her four daus., small articles to daus. Rebecca Rogers, Sarah Adams, and (Elizabeth) Purchase. A codicil prov. that the ch. Rebecca Rogers had by Nathaniel Wharfe and that Sarah had by her now husband were to inherit as heirs. 'John' M., wit. with Francis Neale in 1660 (Y.D. 12.191) is prob. error for Jane. Ch: Rebecca, m. 1st Nathaniel Wharfe bef. 1666, m. 2d William Rogers(16) after 1673. Sarah, m. bef. 1665 Abraham Adams. Arthur, wit. his mo.'s deed in 1658-9 and d. s. p. bef. her."
