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THUNDER & LIGHTNING; 
 
 AND 
 
 DEATHS AT MARSHFIELD 
 
 IN 
 
 1658 & 166 6. 
 
 BY 
 
 NATHANIEL BRADSTREET SHURTLEFF. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 PRIVATELY PRINTED. 
 
 M DCCC L. 
 

 100 COPIES' FOR PRIVATE USE. 
 
 Gift 
 
 

 
 I 
 
 MEMORIAL 
 
 OF 
 
 TWO EVENTS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF OUR COUNTRY 
 
 IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED TO 
 
 THE MEMBERS OF 
 
 THE 
 
 immran 5lEtiqitatifln, 
 
 AND 
 
 Bosswlitisrtts Bistnriral Inri^ti^; 
 
 BY AN 
 
 ASSOCIATE. 
 
"Veterum non immemor parentmn." 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The principal object in preparing and 
 printing this tract is to preserve, and keep 
 together, certain facts relating to deaths in 
 the town of Marshfield, which were caused 
 by lightning nearly two centuries ago. 
 
 WilHam ShurtlefF, who was killed in 1666, 
 was the ancestor of all who bear the name 
 in New England, and perhaps of all others 
 of the name in this country: — And, if his 
 name occurs here more frequently than that 
 of others, the reason is obvious, that the 
 
writer wishes to preserve all that relates to 
 his own ancestor, of whom he should be 
 supposed to know more, and in whom he 
 ought to feel a greater interest. Moreover, 
 it is to be remembered that this is strictly 
 a private tract, for private use only, and 
 consequently, differs in many respects with 
 published narratives, which are always public 
 property, and amenable to the severest criti- 
 cism according to the common usage. The 
 accounts of the death of Mr. Shurtleff vary 
 much; that in the letter of Mr. Arnold is 
 more in accordance with the family belief, 
 and is sustained by corroboratory evidence. 
 
 The letter and its accompanying manu- 
 script, given in these pages, are among the 
 "Mather Papers," once belonging to Kev. 
 Thomas Prince, the annalist, now preserved 
 in the archives of the Massachusetts Histor- 
 
ical Society, and are now printed entire for 
 the first time. 
 
 An examination of Winsor's History ol 
 Diixbury first drew attention to the real 
 value of these original documents, the pres- 
 ent importance of which had escaped notice, 
 they having been reserved for a particular 
 examination at a more convenient and less 
 occupied time. 
 
 It was not the primary intention of the 
 writer to extend his tract to so many pages, 
 few though they are; but a brief account 
 of the town where the calamities happened, 
 and short notices of the parties concerned, 
 seemed necessary and unavoidable. 
 
 N. B. S. 
 
 2 Beacon Street, 
 October, 1850. 
 
Clinnkr nnli Itigljtmng; 
 
 SUDDEN DEATHS AT MARSHFIELD IN 
 
 165 8 AND 16 6 6. 
 
 IN the early days of New England, the 
 town of Marshfield, in the Colony of 
 New Plymouth, suffered very much from 
 the effects of Hghtning. An account of 
 two strokes, of particular severity, is contained in 
 a letter to Rev. Increase Mather, pastor of the 
 Second Church in Boston, from Rev. Samuel 
 Arnold, pastor of the Church in Marshfield, and 
 in an accompanying manuscript written by Capt. 
 Nathaniel Thomas, also of Marshfield. Both are 
 very graphically related from the testimony of 
 eye-witnesses to the terrible events. 
 
 The first of these occurred on the thirty first 
 day of July, in the year 1658 ; when John, a 
 son of Mr. John Phillips, Avhile in company with 
 
 B 
 
Capt. Thomas, the narrator, was instantaneously 
 struck dead, without any injury to his compan- 
 ions. In the manuscript, which was Avritten a- 
 bout tAventy five years after the occurrence, it is 
 stated that this happened in August ; but Mr. 
 Arnold Avrote in the margin of the manuscript 
 the following words, probably obtained from some 
 other person, whose testunony was equally as good 
 and more positive ; — " the time as I am certainly 
 informed was the last day of July 1658." In this, 
 Mr. Arnold is sustained by Mr. Secretary Mor- 
 ton in his New England's Memorial, and by the 
 verdict of the jury of inquest held upon the bo- 
 dy of the deceased on the day of the melan- 
 choly occurrence, and which was recorded soon 
 aftjer\anj(^g, the proceedings of the General Court 
 of the ColoE^ gf New Plymouth. A literal copy 
 of the above mentioned verdict will be given in 
 its proper place. 
 
 The second stroke of lightning occurred on 
 the twenty third day of June, in the year 1666 ; 
 and produced its dreadful effects upon the nu- 
 merous inmates of the house of the same Mr. 
 Phillips, whose son had been killed by the for- 
 
mer stroke. The relation of this is by Rev. Mr. 
 Arnold, pastor of the Church in Marshfield at 
 the time that it happened, who received the ac- 
 count from Timothy Rogers, one of the persons 
 who were present at the time of the calamity, 
 and who was also one of those that were struck 
 down by the fatal stroke. By this, Mrs. Phillips, 
 the wife of the aforesaid John, and her son, and 
 also Mr. William ShurtlefF, were killed on the 
 instant of its occurrence. Although diligent search 
 has been made in the various town, county and 
 colonial records, no evidence can be found that 
 any inquest was ever held upon the deceased. 
 
 The last event is noticed in most of the written 
 diaries of the day, and also in the histories of the 
 Colony. Secretary Morton gives a very detailed 
 account of it in the Memorial, as does also Rev. 
 Timothy Alden in his account of the religious 
 societies in Portsmouth, N. H. These are copied in 
 a subsequent part of this tract. John Josselyn, 
 in his " Chronological Observations of America," 
 printed in 1674, mentions it thus : — " Three kill'd 
 in a moment by a bloAv of Thunder at Marsh- 
 field in Ncw-Plimouth colony, and four at Pascal- 
 
8 
 
 away colony, and divers burnt with lightning, a 
 great whirlwind at the same time. " In the diary 
 of John Hull, the famous mint-master of the Mas- 
 sachusetts Colony, the fact is recorded without any 
 mention of the name of town or persons, or the 
 exact day of its occurrence. Rev. William Hub- 
 bard, in his history, erroneously uses the name of 
 John for William, in stating that " in the year 
 1666, three were in like manner suddenly killed in 
 a storm of thunder, whereof one was named John 
 ShurtlefF, that had a child in his hand, and was 
 holding his wife in the other, both of whom es- 
 caped, when himself was struck dead." 
 
 These occurrences are so accurately described 
 and well related in the letter and manuscript al- 
 ready alluded to, that they are given here in the 
 exact words of the writers, the peculiarities of the 
 spelling, punctuation and style being folloAved with 
 great care. The same are repeated, in order to 
 have them appear in a more modern form ; and, 
 therefore, in one more easily and intelligibly read, 
 and more conformable with the present style. 
 
Letter from Rev. Samuel Arnold^ Senior^ 
 to Rev. Increase Mather. 
 
 Reverend Sir I salute you in the Lord & have 
 according to your desire indeavoured to giue you 
 the best informatjon I could obtaine respecting the 
 2 terrible stroakes by thunder & lightning that were 
 in our toune by enquiry of such as were eye wit- 
 nesses of those awfull dispensatjons being as brands 
 pluckt out of the burning./ as for the first in July 
 last day 1658. I refer you to the enclosed paper 
 v/hich I obtained from Capt : Nath : Thomas written 
 with his oun hand 
 
 As for the second being on June 23. 1666. 
 we being sorely distressed with drought had on 
 the 4"* day of the week made our address to the 
 most high God by humble fasting 6c prayer, the 
 drought continued till the last day of the sayd 
 
10 
 
 weeke on which day it pleased God to answer us 
 by terrible things in righteousnes who was yet the 
 God of our salvatjon, for about the middle of the 
 sayd day there arose in the north the most dismall 
 black cloud I thinke that ever I saw our eyes were 
 fixed upon it so pinching was the drought we feared 
 least it should go beside us & so terrible was the 
 aspect of it that we trembled least it should come 
 ouer us, but God that steers the course of the clouds 
 so disposed that it came directly ouer our toune 
 & it was extreamly darke & thundred & lightnd 
 dreadfully, & ther being in the hous of John Phil- 
 lips ( father to the foresayd John PhiUips slaine by 
 the former stroake ) the number of 14 .^sons the 
 woman of the hous calling earnestly to shut the 
 dore which was done, instantly a terrible clap of 
 thunder fell upon the hous & rent the chimney & 
 split the doore in many places & struck most of 
 the ^sons if not all. 
 
 Timothy Rogers my informer told me that when 
 he came to himselfe he saw the house full of smoake 
 & there was a terrible smell of brimstone & that 
 fire lay scattered all about the floore whether the 
 fire that was upon the hearth by the vjolence of the 
 
11 
 
 stroake hurled about the hous or fire from heaven 
 he kn not, he thought at first that all the people 
 had been dead but himselfe till it pleased God to 
 reviue the most of them, but 3 of them were mor- 
 tally struck with Gods arrowes that they never 
 breathed more ( viz ) the wife of John Philhps 
 & a son of his about 20 yeers of age or upwards 
 and one Willj : Shertly who having been a little 
 before burnt out of his oun hous & was with his 
 family a present sojourner there, who had ( as is 
 sayd ) a little child in his armes which was won- 
 derfully preserued, there was also a dog slaine 
 under a table behinde 2 little children sitting as is 
 sayd upon the table ledge the wife of the sayd 
 Shertly being big with childe neer her full time 
 was gracjously reviued & notwithstanding both 
 stroak & fright seasonably & mercifully dehuered 
 we may say as Elihu Job 36. 31 by them he 
 judges the people & giues meat in abundance the 
 Lord guide that we may sing of mercy & judgment 
 & walk uisely in a .^-fect way untill he come unto 
 us, & the Lord guide your son & croune your pjous 
 indeavours both by tongue & you with a blessing to 
 the promoting of his oun glory the good of the pres- 
 
12 
 
 eiil & after generatjon?! which shall be the prayer 
 of him who desires an interest in yonr prayers ^ 
 
 am 
 Yours in what I may serve you 
 Sam : Arnold Senj : 
 Marshfeild July 28. 1683. 
 
 Sir I thanke you for your booke, & present my 
 salutatjons to M" Mather, & your good son Cotton, 
 whome I pray God to bless & make a blessing, 
 it was almost a month after the date of your 
 first letter ere I receiued it. 
 
 To the Reverend M' Increas 
 
 Mather Teacher to the 
 
 Church in the North 
 
 end of Boston thes 
 
 present 
 
 ^ 
 / 
 
13 
 
 The foregoing Letter modernized. 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 I salute you in the Lord ; and have, according 
 to your desire, endeavored to give you the best 
 information I could obtain respecting the two 
 terrible strokes by thunder and lightning that 
 were in our town, by inquiry of such as were 
 eye-witnesses of those a^vful dispensations, being 
 as brands plucked out of the burning. As for the 
 first, in July, last day, 1658, I refer you to the 
 inclosed paper, which I obtained from Captain 
 Nathaniel Thomas, written ^vith his own hand. 
 
 As for the second, being on June 23, 1666, 
 we being sorely distressed with drought, had on 
 the fourth day of the week made our address to the 
 most high God by humble fasting and prayer. The 
 drought continued till the last day of the said 
 
14 
 
 week, on which day it pleased God to answer us 
 by terrible things in righteousness ; who was yet the 
 God of our salvation, for about the middle of the 
 said day there arose in the north the most dismal 
 black cloud, I think, that ever I saw. Our eyes 
 were fixed upon it ; so pinching was the drought we 
 feared lest it should go beside us, and so terrible 
 was the aspect of it, that we trembled lest it should 
 come over us. But God, that steers the course of 
 the clouds, so disposed that it came directly over 
 our town ; and it was extremely dark, and thun- 
 dered and lightened dreadfully , and there being in 
 the house of John Philhps ( father to the aforesaid 
 John Phillips slain by the former stroke, ) the num- 
 ber of fourteen persons, the woman of the house 
 calling earnestly to shut the door, which was done, 
 instantly a terrible clap of thunder fell upon the 
 house, and rent the chimney and split the door in 
 many places, and struck most of the persons, if 
 not all. 
 
 Timothy Rogers, my informer, told me, that when 
 he came to himself, he saw the house full of smoke, 
 and there was a terrible smell of brimstone, and that 
 fire laid scattered all about the floor; whether the 
 
15 
 
 fire that was upon the hearth, by the violence of the 
 stroke, hurled about the house, or fire firom heaven, 
 he Imew not. He thought, at first, that all the peo- 
 ple had been dead but himself, till it pleased God to 
 revive the most of them. But three of them were 
 mortally struck with God's arrows, that they never 
 breathed more, viz : — the wife of John PhiUips, and 
 a son of his, about twenty years of age or upwards, 
 and one William ShurtlefF, who having been a httle 
 before burnt out of liis own house, and was, with his 
 family, a present sojourner there, who had, as is 
 said, a little child in his arms, which was won- 
 derfully preserved. There was also a dog slain 
 under a table, behind two httle children, sitting, as 
 is said, upon the table ledge. The wife of the said 
 Shurtleff, bemg big with cliild, near her full time, 
 was graciously revived ; and, notwithstandmg both 
 stroke and fright, seasonably and mercifully dehvered. 
 We may say as Elihu, Job, xxxvi. 31., " by them 
 judgeth he the people ; he giveth them meat in abun- 
 dance." The Lord guide, that Ave may smg of mer- 
 cy and judgment, and walk wisely in a perfect way, 
 until he come unto us ; and the Lord guide your son, 
 and crown your pious endeavors both by tongue. 
 
16 
 
 and you with a blessing, to the promoting of his own 
 glory, the good of the present and after generations, 
 which shall be the prayer of him who desires an 
 interest in your prayers, and am 
 
 Yours in what I may serve you. 
 Samuel Arnold, Sen. 
 Marshfield, July 28, 1683. 
 
 Sir, I thank you for your book, and present my 
 salutations to Mrs, Mather, and your good son Cot- 
 ton, whom I pray God to bless and make a blessing. 
 It was almost a month after the date of your 
 first letter ere I received it. 
 
 To the Reverend Mr. Increase Mather, 
 
 Teacher to the Church in the 
 
 North end of Boston, 
 
 these present. 
 
17 
 
 Manuscript of Captain JVathaniel Thomas , 
 in Rev. S. Arnold's Letter. 
 
 In the month of August in the yeare 1658 there 
 was in the Towne of Marshfeild a terrible storm 
 of Thunder Lightening & raine, & as I was 
 goeing homeward being about a mile from home 
 I meet with one John Phillips & another man 
 coming out of a meadow from makeing hay 
 to the next house for shelter from the storm, 
 who aduised me to goe in with them to the 
 house least I should be ouertaken in the storm 
 €re I should get home the storm then coming 
 vp exseeding black & Terrible I accordingly 
 went in with them. & the s"* PhiUips sat downe 
 on a stools with his face toward the Iner door 
 & his back to the hearth & his side closs to 
 the Jarn of the chimney I sat downe with my 
 
18 
 
 face directly toward him about six loot from him, 
 the Thunder came quickly vp ouer the house 
 The Clouds flying exseeding Low & thick soe 
 that the heauens Avere much darkened Then in a 
 moment came downe ( as it were ) a great ball 
 of fire with a Terrible crack of Thunder & fell 
 Just before where the s^ Phillips sat, my eye 
 then hapening to be on him saw him- once start 
 on the stole he sat on & fell from thence dead 
 on the hearth backward without any motion of 
 life, many bricks of the chiney were beaten downe 
 the principle Rafters split the battens & lineing 
 next the chiney in the chamber broken, one of 
 the maine posts of the house into which the sum- 
 er was framed torn in to shiuers & great part 
 of it caried seuerall rod from the house, the dore 
 where the ball of fire came downe Just before 
 the s*^ Phillips was broken downe, out of the gert 
 or sumer afores*^ being a dry oake was peices 
 wonderfully taken, I doe not remember there was 
 any outward appearance of hurt vpon the body 
 of the s*^ Phillips, a young child being at that 
 moment about three foot from s^ Phillips had 
 noe harm 
 
19 
 
 The foregoing Manuscript 'modernized. 
 
 In the month of August, in the year I608, 
 there was, in the Town of Marshfieid, a terrible 
 storm of thunder, lightning and rain ; and as I 
 was going homeward, being about a mile from 
 home, I met with one John Phillips, and another 
 man, coming out of a meadow, from making 
 hay, to the next house for shelter from the storm, 
 who advised me to go in with them to the 
 house, lest I should be overtaken in the storm 
 before I could get home. The storm then coming 
 up exceedingly black and terrible, I accordingly 
 went in with them. The said Phillips sat down 
 upon a stool, with his face towards the inner door, 
 his back to the hearth, and his side close to 
 the jam of the chimney. I sat down with my 
 face directly towards him, about six feet from him. 
 
20 
 
 The thunder came quickly up over the house, 
 the clouds flying exceedingly low and thick, so 
 that the heavens were much darkened. Then in 
 a moment came down, as it were, a great ball 
 of fire with a terrible crack of thunder, and fell 
 just before where the said Philhps sat. My eye 
 then happening to be on him, I saw him at once 
 start from the stool he sat upon, and fall thence 
 backward upon the hearth dead, without any 
 motion of life. Many bricks of the chimney were 
 beaten down, the principal rafters split, the bat- 
 tens and lining next the chimney in the chamber 
 broken, and one of' the main posts of the house, 
 into which the summer was framed, torn into 
 shivers and great part of it carried several rods 
 from the house. The door, where the ball of fire 
 came down just before the said Phillips, was bro- 
 ken down. Pieces were wonderfully taken out 
 of the girt, or aforesaid summer, being of dry 
 oak. I do not remember that there was any out- 
 ward appearance of hurt upon the body of the 
 said Phillips. A young child, being at that mo- 
 ment about three feet from said Philhps, had 
 no harm. 
 
21 
 
 Inquest on the body of John Phillips, taken 
 from the Records of Plymouth Colony. 
 
 "Att the Court of Assistants held att Plymouth 
 the fourth of August 1658 befor Willam Collyare 
 Cap' Josias Winslow Leiftenant Thomas South- 
 worth and Ensigne Willam Bradford Assistants 
 &c. 
 Mr Josias Winslow Sen' Timothy Williamson 
 Mr John Bradford Abraham Jackson 
 
 Mr Samuell Arnold Samuell Baker 
 
 Thomas Doghead Anthony Snow 
 
 John Russell Josepth Rose 
 
 John Adams John Caruer 
 
 Being Impannelled and sworne to site vpon the 
 Corpes of John Philhpes Jun', whoe very sud- 
 denly expired on Satterday the last of July 
 I608. 
 
22 
 
 Wee find That this p''sent day John PhiUips 
 Jun' came into his dwelling lately knowne or 
 called Mr Buckleyes house in good health as 
 Goodwife Williamson afeirmeth and satt vpon a 
 stoole by the Chimney and by an Imediate hand 
 of God manifested in Thunder and lightening 
 the said John PhiUipcs came by his death." — 
 Court Orders, Vol. III. p. 141. 
 
 From T. Mden's Account of the Religious 
 Societies in Portsmouth, JV. H. 
 
 "He" [William Shurtleff] "lived in Marshfield 
 and was Idlled with lightning, in 1666. The tra- 
 dition is that he was endeavouring to comfort his 
 wife, who was much terrified at the severity of the 
 tempest, and had just taken an infant from her 
 arms and was seated, having one child between 
 his knees and the other two in his lap ; yet the 
 flash of hghtning, which killed him, did neither 
 of them nor his wife any injury." — Mass. Hist. 
 Collections, Vol. X. p. 70. 
 
23 
 
 Extracts from Morton's JVeiv-England's 
 Memorial. 
 
 1658. " This year, on the last day of July, it 
 pleased God that by Thunder and Lightning one 
 John Philips of Marshfield, in the Jurisdiction of 
 Neiv-Plimouth, was suddenly slain." — p. 155. 
 
 1666. " This year it pleased God to go on in 
 a manifestation of his displeasure against Neiu-En- 
 gland, in a very remarkable manner, by striking 
 dead in a moment, by a blow of Thunder, tlnree 
 persons in the ToAvn of Marshfield in the Juris- 
 diction of Neto-Plimouth, in the moneth of June, 
 viz. one named William Shirtliff, and a Woman 
 and a Youth; which sad Dispensation of Gods 
 hand, being considered with some Circumstances, 
 gave cause to the beholders to be much astonished : 
 the said Shirtliff hsN'mg his Wife by the hand, an^ 
 
24 
 
 sitting by her to chear her, in respect that tJie said 
 storm was so fierce, he was slain, and she preserved, 
 though in some measure scorched with the Light- 
 ning ; yea, he had one of his Children in his arms, 
 and himself slain, and the Childe preserved. We 
 have likewise received intelligence of four more 
 that about that time were slain by Thunder and 
 Lightning about Pascataqua, and divers more hurt. 
 At the time of this storm of Thunder and Light- 
 ning, in the which those of Marshfield died, there 
 arose likewise a very great Whirlwind, that where 
 it came it tore up Trees by the Roots, though 
 through mercy it did little other hurt. 
 
 It was a great while, and many years spent 
 since the English came into these parts, before any 
 very considerable hurt was done by Thunder and 
 Lightning to either man, or beast appertaining to 
 them, although sometimes very fierce storms of that 
 kinde, as frequently as in these times : but now 
 how doth the Lord go on gradually in this, as in 
 other Judgements here in New-Eng-land ? first, by 
 striking Cattel, and then one person at a time, 
 and this year divers, to the number of seven, be- 
 sides some Cattel also. 
 
2r) 
 
 Thus God tkuiukretk marvellously with his voice,^''^ ^"^ ^■ 
 he worketh great things which we knmv not: He& 40. a 
 can send the Lightnings that they may ivalk, and 
 say, Lo here we are. Hath any an arm like God? 
 or can any thunder with a voice like him? By his 
 terrible Voice he breaketh the Cedars, and dividcth^ , on <. . 
 
 irsai. ^y. Oj 7.' 
 
 t/ie flames of fire; which he commissionates to do 
 his pleasure, sometimes not onely striking Cedars, 
 but gi-eat Oaks in a wonderful manner, sometimes 
 Beasts, sometimes Men and Women. If Gods 
 Judgements have thus been abroad in the Earth, 1^^,^1,26.9. 
 how ought the Inhabitants (of New-England) to learn 
 righteousness? How easily can the Lord stain the 
 pride of our glory with a stroke of his hand ? Let 
 not the famiharness or frequency of such Pro\d- 
 dences, cause them to be neglected by us, to im- 
 prove them as God would have us, to fear before '^^^^^- ^- ^^^ 
 him, and to turn from such iniquities especially as 
 are most displeasing unto him, and to hold om- Hves 
 in our hands, and to be ui a readmess for his 
 pleasure, lest knowing not our time, as the fishes ^cdes. 9. 12 
 that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds 
 that are caught in the snare, so we shall be snared 
 in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon us. 
 
26 
 
 This year the Lord threatned the Country with 
 tliat infectious and contagious Disease of the Small 
 Pox, which began at Boston, whereof some few 
 died : but through his great mercy it is stayed, 
 and none of late' have died thereof. 
 
 This year the Lord likewise threatned, and in 
 some measure executed his displeasure upon the 
 Country by Drought ; but through his mercy hath 
 of late sent plenty of Rain, for the recovering of 
 the fruits of the earth. Althouarh it is to be ob- 
 served. That soon after a day of Humiliation was 
 observed by some Congregations, for the blessing 
 of Rain in the Drought above-mentioned, that sad 
 stroke by the Thunder and Lightning at Marshfield 
 fell out : so that we may say with the Psalmist 
 unto the Lord, By terrible things in Righteousness 
 thou hast answered us, O God of our Salvation.''^ — 
 pp. 178 — 180. 
 
27 
 
 The Town of Marshjield. 
 
 During the first few years of the settlement 
 of the Plymouth Colony it Avas the policy of our 
 fathers to concentrate all matters of government, 
 whether parochial, municipal, or colonial, in the 
 place Avhere they first settled, and therefore Ply- 
 mouth was the only incorporated town in the 
 Colony. Consequently, although many of the most 
 important men dwelt at a considerable distance 
 from this settlement, they were all obliged to per- 
 form pohtical duties and attend religious services 
 in this town, to their no small hinderance and 
 trouble. 
 
 About the year 1632, the inconvenience of go- 
 ing to Plymouth for everything being so great, 
 a few precincts were formed, which were subse- 
 quently incorporated into towns. To prevent as 
 
28 
 
 much as possible a removal of the better sort of 
 persons from Plymouth, it was thought advisable 
 to apportion some of the land which was a little 
 remote to such special persons as would promise 
 not to remove, but who would cultivate by ser- 
 vants in their employ such land as farms. Al- 
 lotments were therefore made of land at a place 
 called Green's Harbor, where no grants had ever 
 been made. This constituted the beginning of 
 the town of Marshfield; which, although it con- 
 tained a very fair proportion of the intelhgent 
 members of the colony, was not incorporated until 
 sometime afterwards. It Avas known to the aborig- 
 ines as Missaucatucket, and was first called by 
 the Plymouth people Rexame. On March 2nd 
 1640-1 Josias Winslow was "sworne to execute 
 the office of Constable there" [Rexame] "until) 
 June come twelue months." The name Marsh- 
 field first appears in the Records, on the 1st of 
 March, 1641-2. It was first represented in the 
 colonial government in the year 1642 by Thomas 
 Bourne and Kenelm Winslow as Deputies, Edward 
 Winslow and William Thomas, inhabitants of the 
 same town, being at the same time Assistants. 
 
29 
 
 Our excellent fathers watched dihgently over the 
 religious interests of new towns, and took special 
 care that a good ministry should be sustained, and 
 that those who had the charge of dispensing the 
 divine Avord should be particularly provided for in 
 the bestowment of land. In furtherance of this, 
 and for the benefit of the future minister of the 
 territorial district which afterwards was incorporated 
 as Marshfield, the following Court Order was passed 
 on the 3d of March, 1639-40, at a time when there 
 was a controversy between this precinct and the 
 town of Duxbury, concerning their boundary line : — 
 " Whereas there is a controversy betwixt Greens 
 harbour & Duxborrow about the lands betweene 
 the fresh of Greens Harbour riuer and the South 
 Riuer It is ordered and graunted by the Court of 
 freemen to M*" Edward Winslowe & the rest of the 
 Neighbourhood of Greens Harbour a competent 
 ^con of vplands and meddowe betwixt the said 
 Riuers for a farme for a minister and one other 
 competent porcon of land nere vnto the said lot 
 for the minister either for Nehemiah Smyth or some 
 other as the said Inhabitants of Greens harbour 
 shall place in." 
 
 D 
 
30 
 
 In regard to religious instruction, the people of 
 Marshfield were singularly fortunate in possessing 
 for their early teachers, men of excellence, learning 
 and ability. To one of these we are indebted for 
 the preservation of the particulars of the melan- 
 choly events, which it is the object of these few 
 pages to commemorate. 
 
 The first pastor of the Church at Marshfield 
 was Rev. Richard Blinman, a Welchman, who 
 came to New England through the influence of 
 Governor Winslow. He was admitted to the 
 freedom of the Massachusetts Colony on the 7th 
 of October, 1641, having been previously pro- 
 pounded at Plymouth on the 2nd of March, 
 1640-1, and soon after removed to Marshfield, 
 where he remained only a very short time. He 
 afterwards was at Gloucester, New London and 
 New Haven, and finally returned to England, and 
 preached in Bristol, where he died at an advanced 
 age. That he was ever settled over the Church, 
 so as to entitle him to be considered its pastor, 
 is doubtful; but the offices which he performed 
 may, through courtesy and with propriety, give 
 him the title, which he perhaps did not have by 
 
31 
 
 a regular settlement, according to the custom and 
 manner of the time, over the Marshfield Church. 
 
 Rev. Edward Bulkeley, the oldest son of Rev. 
 Peter Bulkeley of Concord, was the second pastor 
 of the Church of Marshfield. He was settled 
 about the year 1642, and left, in 1658, for Con- 
 cord, where he was afterAvards settled, as the 
 successor to his father, in 1660. He was admitted 
 to the fellowship of the First Church in Boston 
 on the 22d of March, 1634-5, as a " singleman" ; 
 and Avas dismissed from the same Church on the 
 loih of August, 1641, in the following words : — 
 " Our brother M"" Edward Buckley was by y'" 
 Churches silence consented to be dismissed to y^ 
 Church at Concord vpon his & their desire." He 
 was admitted to the freedom of the Plymouth 
 Colony on the 5th of June, 1644. He died, in 
 a good old age, on the 2nd of January, 1695-6, 
 at Chelmsford, and was interred at Concord. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Arnold, the third pastor and the 
 author of the letter printed on pages 9 — 16, was 
 settled over the church in 1658. He was admitted 
 to be a freeman of the Colony of New Plymouth 
 on the 7th of June, 1653, having been propounded 
 
32 
 
 for freedom on the 3d of June of the previous 
 year. He was, probably, an early inhabitant of 
 Sandwich, where, in 1643, there was a^ person 
 of the same name of suitable age to be enrolled 
 among those who were able to perform inilitary 
 duty, he being at that time the only individual 
 in the Colony known to bear that name. Subse- 
 quently a Samuel Arnold, undoubtedly the same, 
 was at Yarmouth, where he had a son Samuel 
 born on the ninth day of May, in 1649. He 
 continued with the Marshfield Church until his 
 decease, which occurred on the 1st of Septem- 
 ber, 1693. He was succeeded in the ministry 
 by Rev. Edward Tompson in 1696. 
 
 Mr. Arnold was present at the inquest on the 
 dead body of John Phillips, Jr., being one of 
 the jurymen ; and, as this jury was very exact 
 in reporting the precise time of the occurrence, 
 which happened on the day on which the inquest 
 was held, it is presumed that he had no doubt 
 as to the time, although Captain Thomas gavi^ 
 the %vrong month in his manuscript. 
 
 Captain Nathaniel Thomas, the author of the 
 manuscript printed on pages 17 — 20, was probably 
 
33 
 
 the grandson of Mr. William Thomas, a man of 
 much distinction among the early settlers of Ply- 
 mouth. The progenitor, and his son Nathaniel, 
 came very early from Wales, and were among the 
 first inhabitants of Marshfield, where they severally 
 served the Colony and Town many years, in very 
 important trusts, Avith great credit. 
 
 The elder Mr. Thomas was one of the " Pur- 
 chasers or Old Comers," and was held in much 
 esteem by the Colonists, who in 1642, and annually 
 until his decease, chose him to the honorable and 
 responsible office of Assistant. He died, according 
 to the inscription on his grave-stone in Marshfield, 
 in the month of August, 1651, being in " about 
 the seventy eighth year of his age." His character 
 is faithfully given by Mr. Secretary Morton, in 
 the " New England's Memorial." 
 
 The son. Captain Nathaniel Thomas, Senior, 
 died on the thirteenth of February, 1674-0, in the 
 sixty eighth year of his age. His descendants 
 have been nmnerous in Marshfield, Plymouth, and 
 several other towns which formerly were comprised 
 within the jurisdiction of the Old Colony of New 
 Plymouth. He had an only son named Nathaniel 
 
34 
 
 who in 1683, the same year in which Rev. Mr. 
 Arnold's letter was written, was also styled Cap- 
 tain. This son was born about the year 1644 ; 
 and, consequently, was only fourteen years old 
 at the time of the decease of Phillips, in 1658, 
 while his father was about fifty two. As both 
 of these bore the same title, — as the father died 
 in 1674-5, eight years before Mr. Arnold's letter 
 Avas written, — and as the son was alive in 1658, 
 although very young, — it is somewhat doubtful 
 which of the two wrote the manuscript, Avhich un- 
 fortunately neither signed nor dated. 
 
 The second Nathaniel Thomas died on the 
 twenty second of October, 1718, at the age of 
 seventy four years. He served in the famous 
 war against Philip, the Chief of the Narraganset 
 Indians, and performed many other important ser- 
 vices for the Town and Colony. 
 
 Mr. Timothy Rogers, the eye-witness to the 
 terrible event of June, 1666, was son of Mr. 
 John Rogers of Duxbury, and grandson of the 
 Thomas Rogers who came passenger in the May 
 Flower in the memorable voyage of 1620. In 
 1681, although he had not attained the age of 
 
05 
 
 sixty years, he was exonerated from bearing arms 
 on account of lameness. 
 
 The town of Marshfield numbered among its 
 inhabitants some of the most respectable families 
 and useful individuals in the Colony. Among 
 them, and not mentioned in these pages or only 
 slightly alluded to, were those bearing the names 
 of Winslow, Sprague, Bourne, Waterman, Brad- 
 ford, Rowland, Adams, Snow, Eames, Holmes, 
 Weston, Dingley, Russell, Sherman, Williamson, 
 Barker, Beesbeech, Bisbee, Beare, White, Ford, 
 Truant, Chillings worth, Carver, and Rouse. These 
 are the names of the principal inhabitants previous 
 to the year 1666. Some of them were in the 
 town only a short time, and finally settled else- 
 where ; while others remained there for several 
 generations. 
 
 In August, 1643, forty nine of the inhabitants 
 of Marshfield were em'olled as being able to do 
 mihtary duty, they being between the ages of 
 sixteen and sixty years. 
 
 On the earliest Kst of freemen, probably taken 
 dm-ing, or about, the year 1644, there Avere only 
 eleven names of persons who belonged to the 
 
36 
 
 town of Marshfield. These were, in the orthogra- 
 phy of the record, as follow : — 
 
 Mr Edward Winslow Robte Waterman 
 Mr Wm Thomas John Dingley 
 
 Josias Winslow Thorn Shillingsworth 
 
 Kanelme Winslow John Russell 
 
 Mr Thomas Burne Mr Nathaniell Thomas. 
 
 Mr Edw Buckley 
 
 The number of " The names of such as have 
 taken the Oath of Fidelity of the Toune of Marsh- 
 feild in the yeare 1657 " was twenty seven. 
 
 A list, which appears to be of Freemen, without 
 date, but evidently prepared in 1658, contains 
 twenty six names. 
 
 The Freemen in 1664 were thirty two in 
 number. Among them was William ShurtlefF. 
 In May, 1670, there were twenty nine Freemen. 
 In March, 1683-4, the number amounted to sixty 
 three, and contained many names not mentioned 
 in these pages ; such as, Foster, Crooker, Little, 
 Dogget, Branch, Hewet, Sylvester, Walker, King, 
 Macall, Wood, Read, Staniford, Childs, Baker, 
 Sayer, Tayler, Rogers and Stevens. 
 
37 
 
 The family of Mr. John Phillips. 
 
 Very little is known concerning this ill-fated 
 family, which suffered so much by the singular 
 calamities which happened, through the agency of 
 lightning, to the town of Marshfield, in the years 
 1658 and 1666. 
 
 John Phillips, the stirps, is first mentioned in 
 the Plymouth Colony Records, as early as the sixth 
 of April, 1640, when he had " a garden place vpon 
 Stony brooke in Duxborrow" laid out for him by 
 order of the Court. On the fourth of June, of the 
 same year, he had a grant of four acres in the 
 same neighborhood ; and, on the second of the fol- 
 lowing November, he had twenty acres " of those 
 lands that lye Northward from Duxborrow mill 
 towards Greens Harbour," " his houslott to be ^t 
 thereof." In 1643, he was an inhabitant of Dux- 
 
38 
 
 bury, as his name appears on the hst with tho.^o 
 of that town who were able to bear arms. On 
 the seventh of June, 1659, he was propounded to 
 take up his freedom ; which he does not appear 
 to have done, as his name is not on any hst that 
 has been preserved, nor is his admission recorded 
 in the books of the Colony. 
 
 The name of his fost wife is not known, nor 
 the time of her decease. 
 
 His second wife, whom he married on the sixth 
 of July, 1654, was Grace, the widow of Mr. 
 WiUiam Holloway. She was represented as being 
 very infirm in 1653, at the time of the decease 
 of Mr. Holloway, and was therefore assisted in the 
 settlement of his estate by Rev. Mr. BuU^eley, and, 
 subsequently, by the elder Mr. Phillips. The last 
 of whom became bound to pay certain amounts 
 to her two children ; which obhgation he perform- 
 ed some time afterwards, one of the recipients 
 being an unmarried daughter named Grace, as 
 her mother, and the other, her sister. 
 
 Mrs. Grace Phillips was one of the victims to 
 the stroke of lightning which occurred on the 
 twenty third of June, 1666. 
 
39 
 
 Soon after the death of this wife, Mr. Phillips, 
 on the twenty third of February, 1666-7, made a 
 contract of marriage with Mrs. Faith Dotey, the 
 widow of the May Flower pilgrim, Edward, which 
 was consummated by marriage on the fourteenth 
 of the subsequent March. By this contract, which 
 is recorded at considerable length on the 164th page 
 of the fourth volume of Court Orders of the Ply- 
 mouth Colony, it appears that both parties had 
 several children. Those of Mr. Philhps are made 
 known through his will and otherwise, and have 
 been already mentioned. Her family consisted 
 of several sons, Edward, Thomas, John, and 
 possibly more, and daughters. Desire, Elizabeth 
 and Mary. 
 
 Mrs. Faith Phillips died a short time previous to 
 July, 1677, when her estate, which she had inher- 
 ited from her first husband, was divided among her 
 children. Her maiden name was Clarke, and her 
 father, Thirston Clarke, ( frequently called Tris- 
 tram, ) and his wife Faith, Avere early inhabitants 
 of Plymouth. Many of her descendants are now 
 living ill New England, particularly at Plymouth, 
 and in its neighborhood. 
 
40 
 
 His children by his first wife were the following : 
 John, perhaps his oldest, who was killed by light- 
 ning on the thirty first of July, 1658 ; Samuel ; 
 Jeremiah, killed in the same manner on the twenty 
 third of June, 1666, at the same instant with his 
 step-mother and Mr. William ShurtlefF; and Mary. 
 
 By his second wife, Grace, he had Hannah and 
 Grace, Joseph, and Benjamin. 
 
 By his third wife, Faith, he is supposed to have 
 had no issue. 
 
 Of the sons, Samuel and Benjamin survived 
 their parents. They were married and had issue. 
 Mary, the only daughter which survived her father, 
 was weak m intellect, and had, on that account, 
 a special provision in his will. 
 
 Mr. John PhiUips is supposed to have died in 
 Marshfield, some time in the fall of 1691, perhaps in 
 October of that year, having arrived to about the 
 ninetieth year of his age. 
 
41 
 
 Ji brief Notice of William Shurtleff, of 
 Marshjield. 
 
 Among the adventurous few who came to New 
 England, during the first fifteen years of the exist- 
 ence of the Colony of New Plymouth, was Wil- 
 liam Shurtleff; and so young was he when he 
 was indentured as an apprentice, in 1634, that he 
 was to serve eleven years, as is made apparent by 
 the following entry, preserved on the seventieth page 
 of the first volume of the Plymouth Court Orders : — 
 "September ) Wilham Shetle hath put himselfe 
 2. 1634 j an apprentise to Thomas Clarke 
 for the terme of cleuen yeares from the 16 of May 
 last and at the end of the sayd terme the sayd 
 Thomas is to cloth him with two sutes fit for 
 such a seruant and also eyght Bushells of Indian 
 Corne." 
 
 E 
 
42 
 
 In olden times the word "servant" had a very 
 different signification from its present acceptation. 
 Then, it was generally applied to an apprentice, 
 and to any person who was in the employ of 
 others ; or, in the Avords of an old lexicographer, 
 " one who serves another." Now, it is used to 
 denote an individual whose occupation is menial 
 in its nature ; or, according to modern authority, 
 to " one in subjection, a menial," &c. 
 
 The Thomas Clarke, to whom young Shurtleff 
 was apprenticed, was by trade a carpenter. He 
 came to Plymouth m the Ann, in the summer 
 of 1623, where he dwelt until his decease in 
 1697. His grave-stone, one of the oldest on 
 Plymouth burying hill, marks his earthly restmg- 
 place. Without any apparent evidence, he has 
 been confounded by many Avith the mate, or 
 rather pilot, of the renowned May Flower. He 
 was father of several children, among whom was 
 the famous Nathaniel Clarke, the successor to 
 Secretary Morton, and a Councillor under the 
 notorious Andros ; and Susaima, the first wife of 
 the Hon. Barnabas Lothrop, of Barnstable, an 
 Assistant to the Plymouth Colony previous to its 
 
43 
 
 union with Massachusetts, and afterwards a mem- 
 ber of the Council of the Province of Massa- 
 chusetts Bay. 
 
 The above is the earHest that can be found of 
 Mr. Shurtleif, and nothing is known with certainty 
 concerning his parentage, nor the time of his arri- 
 val in this country, nor of the causes or induce- 
 ments which led him, at such a tender age, to 
 leave his native land. 
 
 If it can be inferred from circumstances, he came 
 from Yorkshire, in England ; for in the West Ri- 
 ding of that County, and in a portion of it called 
 Hallamshire, is situated the village of Ecclesfield, 
 about five miles due north of the famous town of 
 Sheffield, and about twenty from Scrooby, lately 
 shown by JVIr. Hunter to be the early gathering 
 place of the Puritans before they left England for 
 Holland. In this village, at a seat called Whitley- 
 hall, once resided the only family, of which we 
 have any knowledge, who bore the name previous 
 to the appearance of William Shurtleff, or any other 
 person of the name, in America. Therefore it is 
 not unreasonable to suppose that he, living so 
 near the nestling-place of the Leyden Pilgrims, 
 
44 
 
 and being of an enthusiastic age, became fired 
 by the spirit of adventure or inspired with the 
 holy zeal of the Puritans ; and thus became one 
 of the first settlers of the town of Plymouth, and 
 one of the forefathers of New England. 
 
 This name, like almost all others of ancient date, 
 was variously spelled. First it appears as Chier- 
 cUfFe, then ChyreclifFe, ShierclifFe, and afterwards 
 Shirtleff. The vowels, e, i, u, and y, were very 
 promiscuously used in both syllables, according 
 to individual caprice or fashion. In New England^ 
 although the orthography is exceedingly various in 
 old records, the name being scarcely spelt tAvice 
 in the same manner, owing to ^vriters spelling it 
 according to the sound received by each, the first 
 comer wrote it Shurtlef, as did also his children. 
 What induced his grandson to double the final 
 letter, and write his name Shurtleff, cannot now 
 be ascertained, but must be attributed to the 
 fashion of the time in which he lived. Be this 
 as it may, the change has been considered so 
 proper, that it has been almost universally adopt- 
 ed by the family, and continued in use to the 
 present time. 
 
45 
 
 In 1643 Mr. Shurtleff was certainly an inhab- 
 itant of Plymouth, where he was enrolled as being 
 of the required age to perform military service 
 for the Colony. Undoubtedly, he remained there 
 during the whole term of his apprenticeship, which 
 terminated in May, 1645. How much longer he 
 dwelt in Plymouth has not been accurately ascer- 
 tained, although it is kno^vn that he was an inhab- 
 itant of that town as late as September, 1659. 
 
 The same " Will'" Shertcliffe for breaking the 
 peace vpon John Smyth is fyned v' " on the fifth 
 of June, 1644 ; and on the second of October, 
 1650, the authorities " present James Cole of the 
 towne of Plymouth for making of a batter ie vppon 
 Willam Shirtley of the aforesaid towne." ' Such 
 items are not uncommon in the old records. 
 
 In 1646 his name appears in a list of names 
 comprising the •Townsmen of Plymouth. 
 
 At the General Court of the Colony, held at 
 Plymouth on the third of June, 1656, he first 
 appears in pubhc life, being chosen one of " the 
 Surveyors for the highwaies," for the town of 
 Plymouth. In recording this event his name is 
 written "Willam Shirtley." 
 
46 
 
 " Willam Shirtley" is found serving as Juryman 
 on the sixth of October, 1657, in a controversy 
 between two residents of Plymouth. 
 
 On the seventh of June, 1659, " Willam Shurt- 
 ley" was chosen Constable for Plymouth, and 
 on the same day, as "Willam Shirtley," he was 
 first on a list of names of " such as stand pro- 
 pounded to take vp their freedom." 
 
 The following entry is made in the Colonial 
 
 Court Orders, under dale of the fii'st of May, 
 
 1660 ; probably it is the last during his connection 
 
 with Plymouth, of which he was then Constable :— 
 
 " Willam Shurtlife ) were admitted freemen 
 
 and John Caruer \ att this Court." 
 
 He probably removed to Marshfield about this 
 time, as his name cannot be found any later in 
 any of the records of the Town of Plymouth. 
 Nor can it be ascertained that he "ever became a 
 member of the Church at Plymouth, although it 
 is known that he was a member of some Church 
 accordmg to statute requisition. Unfortunately the 
 Church Records of Marshfield are not in a condi- 
 tion to show whether he was in church-feUowship 
 in that town. 
 
47 
 
 His name is not on any list of freemen which 
 has been preserved among the Plymouth Colonial 
 Eecords, owing to the fact that none of them 
 were taken during the time which elapsed between 
 his admission and death. Nevertheless, on a list 
 of the freemen of the town of Marshfield, taken 
 for town purposes in 1664, and preserved in the 
 records of that town, his name occurs with thirty 
 one others. 
 
 While in Plymouth his estate was at Strawberry 
 hill near the Reed Pond, and not far from the 
 present bounds of Kingston. 
 
 In Marshfield he resided in the eastern part of 
 the town, in the neighborhood of what is now- 
 called White's Ferry, near the mouth of North 
 River. He was in possession of this estate at the 
 time of his decease, having bought it a short time 
 previous of Mr. Thomas Tilden. The deed, which 
 was dated on the sixth of July, 1670, four years 
 after his decease, states that thirty three pounds 
 sterhng had been formerly paid for the same by 
 " William Shirtleifie," of Marshfield, then deceased. 
 The " house and lands" had formerly belonged to 
 Mr. Robert Waterman, and had been bought by 
 
48 
 
 him of the administrator on the estate of Mr. 
 Thomas Howell, deceased. 
 
 Besides his land at Strawberry hill and Marsh* 
 field, he had several grants from the Court of 
 Assistants. On the third of June, 1662, he and 
 twenty three others had an allotment of land in 
 the following words : — "It was further graunted 
 by this court that the abouesaid servants and an- 
 cient freem3n shall haue liber tie in case they can 
 not procure Saconett necke" [ now Little Compton ] 
 " according to the graunt . To looke out some 
 other place vndisposed of for theire accomodation." 
 At the Court held on the fifth of June, 1666, 
 less than three weeks before his decease, he had 
 another grant of land in the following words : — 
 "The court haue graunted that Willam ShirtlifFe 
 shalbee accomodated with land amongst the ser- 
 vants neare vnto the Bay line." 
 
 He also had land at " Punckateesett," now 
 called Tiverton; and after his decease his heirs 
 received in his right a conveyance of land at 
 Saconet from the Indians. 
 
 From an instrument recorded with the Old Col- 
 ony deeds it is ascertained that he sold meadow 
 
49 
 
 land in Plymouth to Gabriel Fallowell on the 
 twenty seventh of March, 1660, at which time he 
 was called of Marshfield. Perhaps he was then 
 preparing to change his place of residence, or had 
 actually done so since the fifteenth of the previous 
 September, when he certainly was a townsman 
 and office-holder in Plymouth. 
 
 His dwelling-house in Marshfield was destroyed 
 1)y fire early in the year 1666, and on this accomit 
 he was sojourning at the house of his near neigh- 
 l)or, Mr, John Phillips, at the time of the occur- 
 rence of the lightning which caused his death. 
 
 From the several accounts of his death that 
 have been preserved, together with facts which 
 have been transmitted from generation to genera- 
 tion in the family, and other data obtained from 
 authentic sources, the following particulars regarding 
 this event have been deduced. 
 
 While he was partaking of the hospitality of 
 Mr. Phillips, it appears that one of those dreadful 
 droughts occurred, which were so very distressing 
 to our early planters, and threatened to destroy 
 all the fruits of their spring labor. On account 
 of this the good people of several neighboring 
 
50 
 
 congregations observed a day of fasting and prayer, 
 as they were wont to do, in those days, when 
 suffering under afflictive dispensations. 
 
 Soon after this, on the twenty third of June, 
 1666, happened the terrific thunder-storm which 
 is so graphically described in the letter of Rev. 
 Mr. Arnold. At the time of this storm there 
 were fourteen persons in the common sitting-room 
 of the house of Mr. Phillips. Perhaps they were 
 the followmg: — Mr. John Phillips and his wife 
 Grace ; Jeremiah Phillips, a young man of about 
 twenty years of age, son of Mr. Phillips ; four 
 other young children of Mr. Phillips ; Grace and 
 Hannah Holloway, the two children of Mrs. Phil- 
 lips by her former husband ; Mr. William Shurtletf 
 and his wife Elizabeth, and their sons William and 
 Thomas ; and, finally, Mr. Timothy Rogers, the 
 individual who related the circumstances to Mr. 
 Arnold, the "writer of the letter which has been 
 the means of preserving many of the particulars 
 of this sad event. These persons were mostly 
 seated aromid the room. Mr. Shurtleff was sitting 
 beside his wife, holding her hand in his, and having 
 one of then* children in his arms, the other being 
 
51 
 
 between him and a table under which was a dog. 
 The storm of rain coming on with great violence, 
 Mrs. Phillips requested to have the door closed. 
 Whereupon a stroke of lightning passed down the 
 chimney, which it rent to pieces, smote down 
 most of the persons, if not all, instantly kilhng 
 Mr. Shurtleff, Mrs. Phillips and Jeremiah Philhps, 
 and then passed out through the door, sphtting 
 it into fragments. This occurred on Saturday ; 
 and they were buried on the following day, being* 
 the twenty fourth, according to an entry made in 
 the Marshfield town records. 
 
 It is shown in the Plymouth Colony Records 
 that " Willam Sliirtley married vnto Elizabeth 
 Lattice the 18"^ of October 1655." She was a 
 daughter of Thomas and Anne Lettice of Ply- 
 moulh, who were in New England as early as 
 16o8, if not in 1635. They had three sons, 
 William, Thomas and Abiel. 
 
 William, the oldest son and " heir apparent," 
 as he is styled m a recorded document, was 
 born at Plymouth in 1657. He married Susanna, 
 daughter of Hon. Barnabas Lothrop of Barnstable, 
 in October, 1683, and died on the fourth of Feb- 
 
52 
 
 ruary, 1729-30, in the seventy second year ol his 
 age. He was a Selectman of Plymouth for some 
 years, Captain of the train-band, a Delegate to the 
 Provincial Assembly in 1694, and Town Treasm-er 
 from 1695 to 1704, inclusive. When the tOAvn of 
 Plympton was set off from Plymouth and incorpo- 
 rated he became an inhabitant of the new town : 
 and at the first election for town officers, wliich 
 took place on the first day of March, 1707-8, he 
 was chosen Clerk. This office he held three years, 
 and the earliest records of that town, written by 
 him, are now preserved and are in excellent order. 
 His wife, a grandaughter of Rev. John Lotlirop 
 and of the Thomas Clarke already mentioned, bare 
 him eight sons and five daughters, among whom 
 was Rev. William ShurtlefF late of Newcastle and 
 Portsmouth, N. H. She died at Plympton on the 
 ninth of August, 1726, in the sixty third year of 
 her age, having been born at Barnstable on the 
 twenty eighth of February, 1664-5. 
 
 Thomas, the second son, is supposed to have 
 been the person who married Sarah Kimball at 
 Plympton on the twenty first of May, 1713. No 
 evidence of the time of his decease or of his hav- 
 
53 
 
 ing had any issue has been found, ahhough very 
 tlihgent search has been made. 
 
 Abiel, the third and youngest son, was born at 
 Marshfield in June, 1666, a very short time after 
 the decease of his father. At his birth there was 
 a considerable debate about his name. By some it 
 was thought that he should bo called after Boaner- 
 ges, ( Children of Thunder, ) as mentioned in the 
 New Testament; but the difficulty of converting 
 the plural name to the singular number fortunately 
 prevailed against the infliction of an appellation 
 which was far from being euphonious. The scrip- 
 tural name Abiel, which, interpreted into English 
 from the Hebrew, signifies " God my father," being 
 sufficiently indicative of his posthumous birth, was 
 adopted as the most satisfactory. He dwelt in 
 Plymouth, where he married, on the fourteenth of 
 January, 1695-6, Lydia Barnes, daughter of Jona- 
 than and Elizabeth, and Avas the father of seven 
 sons and three daughters. He was a Selectman 
 of Plymouth, and held other offices in that town. 
 Like his brothers, William and Thomas, he spent 
 the last years of his life in Plympton. There he 
 died on the twenty eighth of October, 1732, in 
 
 F 
 
54 
 
 the sixty seventh year of his age. Lydia, his wife, 
 died on the tenth of September, 1727, in the fifty 
 thhd year of her age, she having been born at 
 Plymouth on the fourth of July, 1674. 
 
 A few years after the death of the first Wilham 
 Shurtleff, Elizabeth, his widow, married on the 
 eighteenth of November, 1669, Mr. Jacob Cooke, 
 son of the Mr. Francis Cooke who came in the 
 May Flower, and of his wife Esther, or Hester 
 as the name is usually written. Mr. Jacob Cooke 
 was a widower at the time of his marriage with 
 Mrs. Shurtleff, his first wife having been Dam- 
 aris, a daughter of Mr. Stephen Hopkins, also a 
 passenger of the May Flower. Mr. Jacob Cooke 
 died in 1676 ; and on the first day of January, 
 1688-9, his widow married, for her third husband, 
 Mr. Hugh Cole, of Swansey, formerly of Ply- 
 mouth, she being his second wife, his first having 
 been Mary Foxwell. Mrs Cole died a few years 
 afterwards, and Mr. Cole married a third wife. 
 
 The descendants of Mr. Shurtleff lived during 
 the first three generations mostly in what now com- 
 prises Plymouth County, chiefly m Plymouth and 
 the part of Plympton which now forms Carver. 
 
55 
 
 A little more than a century ago, one parish of 
 the town of Plympton contained more legal voters 
 of the name of Shurtleft" than can now be found 
 within the limits of the Commonwealth of Massa- 
 chusetts, and, perhaps, in the United States. 
 
 Branches of the family can be found permanently 
 settled in various parts of Massachusetts, and in 
 a few other States of the Union. 
 
ft-l-. 
 
 H 
 
 \\\