| Notes |
- He was not a passenger on the Ark or the Dove, despite many online claims to the contrary. He first appears in the archives of Maryland on 1 Feb 1642, when Edward Hall sued John Langford, Esq., for a flockbed and a rug, purportedly used by John Greenwell near Piney Neck. He appears to have been in his teens and indentured as a manservant to Edward Hall, an indenture that was over by 1650. The frequent claim that he returned to England to marry his first wife Mary on 22 Jun 1650 cannot be entirely true, since on 19 June of that year he gave testimony in a case involving a cattle brand, incidentally stating his age to be 25. (Archives of Maryland, volume 10, page 29.)
His page on Wikitree claims that he was born 30 Mar 1625 in Durham, England, a son of William Greenwell and Elizabeth Powell, but we aware of no proof for this, or any evidence whatsoever for Durham origins.
Below is his will, dated 27 Mar 1658. After his death, Walter Hall testified that John Greenwell wrote his will "2 or 3 dayes before hee dyed."
Will of John Greenwell, from volume 41 of the Maryland archives, page 43:
In the name of God Amen. I John Greenewell of New-Towne in the Prouince of Maryland, being very sick of Body, but in perfect memory (thanks bee gyuen to Allmighty God) doe make & ordaine this my last will & Testamt as followeth. Impe I bequeath my Soule to Allmty god my Creatoe & Redeemer; And my Body to the earth, to be decently buryed.
It. I giue unto my louing Sonne James Greenewell (whom I make my Exequutoe after my debts & funerall charges are payd) all my whole Estate, Except these following Legacyes.
I giue unto my louing Wife Bridgett Greenewell all her wearing cloathes her bed & furniture; halfe the stock of hoggs; halfe the Steeres & fewer Cowes. And the managing of the whole Estate untill my Sonne comes of Age. If my Ouerseers shall soe thinke fitt.
It. I giue unto my God-daughter Anna Warren a Cow calfe.
It. I giue unto Mr fritz herbert a hogshead of Tob. in testimony That I dye a Roman Catholique.
It. I make & ordaine my two loving freinds Capt Willm Euans & Mr James Langworth to bee Ourseers to my Child, And in case my Child dye before he comes to age.
I give unto the Ouerseers One third part of his Estate betwixt them, And the rest to be disposed of to pious uses: as for the releife of poore Catholique Children & the like.
In wittnes tht this is my last will & testamt I haue hereunto sett my hand.
March the 27th 1658.
John Greenewell
In the presence of his marke
Walter Hall
John Shirtcliffe
his marke.
Thomas Bankes.
|
Nielsen Hayden genealogy
Abt 1625 - 1658 (~ 33 years)
[2]