Person:Michael Emerson (3)

Emerson The Emerson line starts in the area of Aquitane, France in the 12th century. Aquitane at that time was under English rule. Aimeric of Poictou, Aquitane was the start of this line. His uncle was Philip of Poitou who was a clerk that accompanied Richard I to the Crusades. Richard the Lionhearted rewarded Philip by appointing him as the Bishop of Durham, England. Philip came to England in 1195 and became the Bishop of Durham on May 12, 1197. Aimeric also came to Durham, England in 1195 and became the Archdeacon of Durham Cathedral. When Philip died, he left his land holdings to his nephew Aimeric. Aimeric enjoyed prosperity until Pope Innocent III excommunicated King John, at which time Aimeric lost much of his land holdings due to his support of John.

Aimeric's descendants spent a few generations in court attempting to recover their lost land holdings. They were somewhat successful as indicated by Thomas Emerson's inheritance of land in Newlandside. Thomas also served as the High Forrester in 1431-1442. His son John inherited land in Newlandside, Shittlehope, and Boltishead. Thomas' other son Robert, who is in my line, inherited Brownsplace in Durham.

The Emerson Clan lived in Weardale and the forests of Stanhope Park which is in Durham Co., until the early 16th century. Many of them served as Forresters in Stanhope park. In the 16th century many of the Emersons left the Durham area and moved to the south of England where they entered the middle-class as traders and professionals.

Michael Emerson emigrated to Rowley, Mass. around 1650. In March 1651 he was named as a possible witness to the Grand Jury of the Essex County Court. Also coming to America was his brother Robert and their older sister, Elizabeth Lilfurd. On March 3, 1655 he received an alotment of land from Haverhill. This consisted of two cow commons and four acres of meadow. In 1658 he received another allotment of a quarter acre. He had at least 2 cows in 1661 when he traded his two cow commons for two ox commons. On January 6, 1662 Michael and his brother Robert purchased a six acre farm in Haverhill. Besides working his property, Michael was a "cordwainer" or shoe maker.
In 1659 Michael was elected constable of Haverhill. He was also the "sealer of leather", a position in which he had the authority to see that all sales of leather were made honestly as to quantity and quality. He was the surveyor of highways in 1695. He was also elected as "one of the tithing men", who were appointed to keep order in the church.
Michael apparently had problems with a neighbor named White. In 1666 Michael moved into "town and settled near the White house on Mill Street. The Grantees offered that if he would ‘go back to the woods’ they would give him a tract of land. He accepted the offer and settled not far from the corner of Primrose and Winter Streets."

Michael married a girl from Ipswich, Hannah Webster, on April 1, 1657. Michael and Hannah had the following children; Hannah (1657-), John (1659- bef 1661), Mary (1660-), John (1661/2-), Samuel (1662/3-), Elizabeth (1664/5-1693), Abigail (1667- bef 1671), Jonathan (1669/70-), Abigail (1671-), Judith (1673- bef 1674), Judith (1674-), Joshua (1675/6- bef 1678), Ruth (1677-), Joshua (1678-), and Susanna (1680-).

Michael had problems with Elizabeth for in 1676 he was fined 5s for beating her. She was nine at the time. Elizabeth had an affair with Samuel Ladd which produced two children. In 1691 Elizabeth was arrested for the murder of these two children. On "6th Sept. Elizabeth Emmerson single woman Daughter of Michael Emmerson of Haverhill in the County of Essex being indicted by the Jurors for our Soveraigne Lord & Lady King William & Oueen Mary upon their Oathes. For that the sd. Elizabeth Emmerson being with child with two living Children or Infants on Thursday night the 7th of May 1691 before day of Fryday morning at Haverhill aforesd in the house of Michael Emmerson aforesd by the Providence of God two Bastard Children alive did bring forth and the sd. Elizabeth Emmerson not haveing the feare of God before her Eyes and being instigated by ye Devil of her malice forethought, the sd two Infants did feloniously kill & Murther, and them in a small Bagg or cloath sewed up, and concealed or hid them in sd Emmersons house untill afterwards, that is to say, on sabbath day May the tenth 1691, the sd two Infants in the yard of sd Emmerson in Haverhill aforesd did secretly bury contrary to the peace of Our Soveraign Lord & Lady the King & Queen, their Crown & Dignity, the Laws of God, and the Lawes & Statutes in that case made & provided."

She was convicted and sentenced to be hung. She spent two years in jail and the sentence was carried out on Boston Commons on June 8, 1693.

While in prison she was visited by the Rev. Cotton Mather. He wrote in his diary;

"I had often wished for an Opportunity, to bear my Testimonies, against the Sins of Uncleanness, wherein so many of my Generacon do pollute themselves. A young Woman of Haverhil, and a Negro Woman also of this Town (Boston)were under sentence of Death, for the Murdering of their Bastard-children. Many and many a weary Hour, did I spend in the Prison, to serve the Souls of those miserable Creatures; and I had Opportunities in my own Congregation, to speak to them, and from them, to vast Multitudes of others. Their Execution, was ordered to have been, upon the Lecture of another; but by a very strange Providence, without any Seeking of mine, or any Respect to mee, (that I know of) the order for their Execution was altered and it fell on my Lecture Day. I did then with the special Assistance of Heaven, make and preach, a Sermon upon Job. 36.14. Whereat one of the greatest Assemblies, ever known in these parts of the World, was come together. I had obtained from the young Woman, a pathetical Instrument, in Writing, wherein shee own'd her own miscarriages, and warn'd the rising Ceneracon of theirs. Towards the close of my Sermon, I read that Instrument unto the Congregation; and made what Use, was proper of it. I accompany'd the Wretches, to their Execution; but extremely fear all our Labours were lost upon them; however sanctifyed unto many others. The Sermon was immediately printed; with another which I had formerly uttered on the like Occasion; (entitled, Warnings From the Dead) and it was greedily bought up; I hope, to the Attainment of the Ends, which I had so long desired. T'was afterwards reprinted at London." Hannah Duston was the daughter of Michael and Hannah Webster, which means that she would be my cousin many times removed. She lived with her husband, Thomas Duston, in the town of Haverhill, Mass. On March 14, 1697, Thomas was working in the fields outside his house while his wife was recovering from a childbirth that had occurred only a few days earlier. She and the newborn were being tended by Mrs. Neff.

Thomas was the first to spot the Indian raiding party. He mounted his horse in order to warn and help his wife. on the way he yelled to his children to flee towards the nearest garrison house, that belonging to Onesephorus Marsh <file:///A:/marsh.htm>, which was on Peckers hill, which was less then a mile away. Thomas entered the house and informed his wife of the approaching danger. Hannah, feeling that she would just be a hindrance told Thomas to flee and save the children. Thomas agreed and was able to hold off the Indians long enough for all of his children, save the newborn, to flee to safety. (Onesephorus Marsh was a direct ancestor of mine. He was related to Hannah's sister's husband, Daniel Messer.)
Meanwhile the Indians entered the Duston home and carried off Hannah, her newborn and the helper, Mrs. Neff. The house was then set afire. Fleeing with the Indians proved to be difficult for Mrs. Duston and for Mrs. Neff who was carrying the baby. Tired of Mrs. Neff slowing down the Indians, they seized the baby and dashed its brains out against an apple tree.

The Indians continued their hard pace back towards Canada. Those unable to keep up were killed by the Indians. Hannah surprisingly was able to keep up with her captives. Over the next several days they traveled about 100 miles until they reached the junction of the Contoocook and Merrimach Rivers. The Indians then split up with a small band of 12 Taking Hannah Duston, her friend Mrs. Neff and a young boy named Samuel Lennardson. Upon reaching Duston Island, near the town of Penacook, NH., the Indians discussed whether to rest or go on. It was decided to rest for a few days.

That night, March 30, 1697, the Indians grew careless and did not leave a guard. Hannah took advantage of this and with her two fellow captives, killed ten of the twelve. Two of the Indians fled into the woods and were lived. Hannah and her friends then loaded up a canoe and the three fled. Before they could get far, Hannah decided that she needed to go back and gather some proof that could support their claim. Hannah and Mrs. Neff then scalped the 10 dead Indians.

The three then fled south until they came to the house of John Lovewell in Dunstable, Mass. After a short rest, they continued their journey until they reached Haverhill and a joyful re-union with family and friends.

Hannah was now a heroine on the frontier, and in fact throughout the colonies. She later told the story to the famous preacher, Cotton Mather, who recorded it. At least two monuments have been erected in Hannah's honor. One is located in Haverhill while the other is on Duston Island in Penacook, NH. Jonathan Emerson married Hannah Day (1678-) on June 15, 1699. They had the following children; Jonathan (1700-), John (1701-), Nathaniel (1703-), Timothy (1705-), Samuel (1707/8-), Richard (1710-), Hannah (1712-), Jonathan (1715-), Abigail (1715-), Moses (1717-), Nehemiah (1721-), and Mehitabel (1722/3-). In 1690 Jonathan was commissioned to have his house designated as a Garrison House. It was attacked in 1701 by Indians. While all in the Garrison were unhurt, the Indians suffered two fatalities.
Jonathan and John Swan operated a grist mill on the Little River. Jonathan also served as a selectman and as a constable. Jonathan Emerson married Abigail Stevens <file:///A:/stevetr.htm> . Jonathan and Abigail’s daughter Sarah married Daniel Messer <file:///A:/messer.htm>.

Sources; "English Roots of the Haverhill and Ipswich Emersons" by Ralph Emerson, Gateway Press, Baltimore, 1985,. The Story of Hannah Duston, by HD Kilgore 1940, Magnalia Christi Americana by Cotton Mather.

(note: Some of the above information is derived from the book "English Roots of the Haverhill and Ipswich Emersons" by Ralph Emerson, Gateway Press, Baltimore, 1985. The author did extensive research on the English Emersons but he was not able to conclusively prove the line that he came up with and which is presented in this book. The two major question marks involve the connection between Richard Emeric and Adam Emmessone, and George Emerson and John Emerson. )^[5]

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} Pope, Charles Henry. The Haverhill Emersons. (Boston, Mass.; Cambridge, Mass.: Murray and Emery, 1913; 1916)
   1:13-21.
2. ↑ Pope, Charles Henry. The Haverhill Emersons. (Boston, Mass.; Cambridge, Mass.: Murray and Emery, 1913; 1916)
   2:9.

   Michael Emerson, baptized (Cadney, Lincolnshire) "the xixth of Apr. 1627."

3.   Webster, John C. Some of the descendants of John Webster of Ipswich, Massachuesetts, 1634. (Chicago: unknown, 1912)
   pages 9-10, 1912.
4.   Chase, George Wingate. The History of Haverhill, Massachusetts: From Its First Settlement, in 1640, to the Year 1860. (Haverhill, Mass.: The Author, 1861)
   pages 130, 630, 1861.
5. ↑ Http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/1094/emerson.htm.

   AS OF SOMETHIME BEFORE 4 OCTOBER 2011, THIS WEB SITE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

6.   Perley, Sidney, ed. Essex Antiquarian. (Salem, Mass.: Essex Antiquarian)
   4:139, 1900.

   THE ESSEX ANTIQUARIAN: OLD NORFOLK COUNTY RECORDS:
   HAVERHILL MARRIAGES: Michaell Emerson and Hannah Webster, April 1, 1657.

7.   NEHGR
   Volume 105, Pages 315-316, 1951.
8.   Jane Emerson James, Ph.D., from the original compilation by Rev. Charles Henry Pope. The Haverhill Emersons Revised and Extended. (1993, by Jane E. James, 432 Winnebego Dr., Lake Winnebego, MO 64034)
   Pages 9-30, 1983.