Person:Elizabeth Grafton (1)

"2. Elizabeth Grafton, born about 1622, married first, not later than early in 1640, John Saunders, who died before December 28, 1643 and secondly, before 1655 [typographical error for 1645], John Kitchin, born about 1619, died 1675/6. He had been previously married and had two daughters, Elizabeth and Hanna, baptized March 1, 1643 [26 Feb 1642/43], after his second marriage. Kitchin had embarked at Weymouth, England, March 10, 1635. His will mentions his wife, son Robert and 'ye rest of my children.' (For an account of the Kitchin family see Essex Institute Collections, vol. 51, p. 126.) Elizabeth testified, November 1, 1675, that she was then aged 53 years and she was probably born in England by the first wife of Captain Joseph Grafton."

link Anderson discusses the evidence that John Kitchen's second wife was Elizabeth (Grafton) Sanders daughter of Joseph Grafton and widow of John Sanders of Salem.

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John Kitchen (1619-1676), a stirring, bold character was, since his arrival in 1635, ofttimes at odds with the Bay government, frequently in court for speaking out opinions, one fined for showing books "which he was bidden to show the Governour and no other." In spite of this he was often chosen juror and in 1649 named constable.

After the death of his first wife, Elizabeth [sic see Anderson his first wife's name is unknown], whose surname is not known, he married Elizabeth (Grafton) Saunders . . .

The Court, on 25:9:1662, considering ye unworthy and malignant speeches and carriages of John Kitchen in Open Court doe see cause to displace his form ye office of sargent of ye foot company [infantry], fined his 30 shillings. For their religious opinions the persecution of John and Elizabeth Kitchen was severe, in fines alone John paid upward of 40 pounds sterling for being a Quaker. He, nevertheless, prospered as cordwainer, and at his death, by will proved 30:4:1676, bequeathed a good estate, including considerable realty, to his wife, and son, Robert, mentioned "ye rest of my children."

Elizabeth Kitchen was riding horseback along the highway on a pillion before a male companion. At Strong Water Brook that zealous Puritan saint, Edmund Batter, and Roots, a constable who needed a good horse, seized her horse by the rein and Batter demanded she dismount, called her a "base quaking slut". (He suspected she was coming from a "quaking meeting.) Elizabeth's words, not on record, were dignified, perhaps? Like those of Quakeress Mary Prince who called the maginstrates "hirelings, Baals, and see of the serpent." Elizabeth refused to dismount. Edmund and the constable dragged her and her companion to the ground and the constable rode off on her horse.

This ruffanly assault caused Elizabeth who was big with child to miscarry. Whitnesses testified to Batter's surring words, two constables declared Edmund di not touch her, nor was he in a passion. Batter confessed he called Mrs. Kitch a quaking slut and asked if she had not been "uparoaring" as he supposed she was coming "from a quaking meeting". For all this he was simply admonished.

On 1 November, 1675, Elizabeth Kitchen, aged 50 years, testified thus, showing she was born in or about 1625.

1. John Kitchen, the first mention of whom we have on 20 March, 1635, when he embarked at Weymouth, England, as the servant (apprentice) of Zachery Bicknell (later of Weymouth, Mass.), aged 21 years, appears to have been born in or about the year 1619, for on 10-10-1661, he, aged about forty-two years, testified in the case of Burton v. Porter.

On 23- 4 -1642, he was granted a 10 acre lot at Salem, and he joined the First Church on 26: 12: 1642. He was a freeman 28 Feb., 1643.

From the first, Kitchen appears to have been a stirring and bold character and appears frequently before the Court for his boldness in speaking out his opinions. In Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts it is recorded that he was fined for showing books "which he was bidden to show the Governour and no other."

In spite of his quarrels with the Puritan authorities, he was frequently on the jury, and on 19-9-1649, he was chosen constable of Salem. A strong character and frequently at war with the Bay government, Kitchen eagerly embraced the doctrines of the Quakers, of which sect his wife was a devoted adherent, and their names constantly occur among those fined for failure to attend the Puritan Church. His wife was the victim at this time of a brutal and ruffianly attack at the hands of that zealous saint, Edmund Batter, whs found her, as he supposed, returning one morning from a Quaker meeting. On 25-9-1662, the Court, considering ye unworthy and malignant speeches and carriages of John Kitchen in open Court doe see cause to displace him from ye office of sargerit of ye foot company [infantry]. and fined him 30 shillings. The persecution inflicted upon Kitchen and his wife for their religious opinions was very severe, and he paid upwards of £40 sterling in fines for the sin of being a Quaker. John Kitchen was a cordwainer by trade, and died in 1675-6, leaving a goodly estate including considerable realty. His will was dated 20 Dec., 1675; proved 30-4-1676. In it he leaves his house and land to his wife Elizabeth, his orchard and other lands to his son Robert, and mentions his other children. His inventory was taken on 30-4-1676, and amounted to £398 : 4: 00.

Kitchen appears to have had two wives, each named Elizabeth, for upon 26-12-1642, John Kitchen and wife were admitted to the First Church. After the word "wife" in the record is written the word "dead."
Now on 10-3-1640, Elizabeth Saunders was admitted to the First Church, and after her name is written, evidently later on, "i. e. Kitchen." On 8: 5 mo. 1661, John Kitchen, shoemaker, and John Saunders, seaman, son in law [step son] to ye said John Kitchen, sold land to John Williams of Salem in the North Fields. The will of John Sanders, dated on 12 Oct., 1643, proved 28 : 10 mo. 1643, mentions "my father in law Joseph Grafton." The will of Joseph Grafton being defective, was not allowed, but the heirs, on 26 June, 1681, agreed to divide the property according to the will, and in the division we find a bequest to Robert Kitchen of £5, and to his three sisters of 20 shillings each.

On 1 November, 1675, Elizabeth Kitchen, aged 50 years, testified thus, showing she was born in or about 1625. From the above it will appear that she was undoubtedly the child of Capt. Joseph Grafton, although somewhat older than most of his children, and was probably the child of a first wife in England. Elizabeth Kitchen, who should be venerated for her sufferings at the hands of the Bay authorities because of her Quaker principles, was alive as late as 3 March, 1678-9.

Children by first wife Elizabeth:

2. Elizareth, bapt. 12 : 1: 1643, First Church, Salem.

3. Hannah, bapt. 12:1: 1643, First Church, Salem.



He also had probably by this first wife:

4. Joseph, bapt. 20: 2: 1645; probably d. young.

5. John, bapt. 12: 4: 1646; probably d. young.

6. Mary, bapt. 23: 2: 1648; m. 20 Feb., 1665, Timothy Robinson.



John and Elizabeth Sanders (Grafton) Kitchen had:

7. Robert, bapt. 15: 2: 1655.

8. Benjamin, b. 26: 6: 1660; d. 15: 7: 1660.

9. Abigail, m., 3:4: 1669, John Gnppy.

10. Priscilla, m., Oct., 1672, Nathaniel Hunn of Boston.

[Note shows the first wife is completely unknown; See Anderson's ordering of the children instead]

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