Notes
Further, I had an email message from James Shaw dated 11 April 1996 that gave:
"I have Hannah Potter b 1600 at Spaldhurst, Kent Co. ENG, d. 1658/9 at
New Haven CT. My note says "Widow of Potter".
"She m. John Beecher c 1622. He was b. 1594 Kent, ENG, d. 1637/8.
"My notes says, '1637/8 John Beecher arrived in Boston, from Kent,
England in a company of 50 men and 200 women and children. The company
was led by Rev. John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton. They came on the
Ship Hector and her sister ship (name not cited). Rather than settle
among the arguing Pilgrim colony, they moved north to Quinnipiack, Long
Island Sound (where New Haven, CT is now). John Beecher died during the
first winter, before his wife Hannah and son Isaac arrived the following
spring. She was allowed to remain on John's land and accorded the title
"Goodwife" as she happened to be a midwife, an occupation sorely
needed.' Source: Saints Sinners and Beechers by Lyman Beecher Stowe,
1934.
"Another note says he died New Haven, CT or before Company came to
America.
"I have just one child Isaac Beecher b. 1624 Kent, ENG d. 1690 New
Haven,CT"
Lyman Beecher Stowe may be partially right, but clearly he has his women
confounded in New Haven and how New Haven could be considered north of
Boston is puzzling. The birthdate of Hannah as 1600 seems unlikely since
she had to have given birth to William and John prior to her marriage to
Beecher. If William was married with a son in 1635, I would guess that
he had to have been born in about 1615. That would make Hannah only 15
at the time, married at 14. Not impossible, but frightening to
contemplate.
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