portsmouthhistorynotes

It was a touching moment. A descendant of Mary Paine Tripp came to an event at Bristol Ferry and watched actress Cindy Killavey portray her ancestor. That was at last year’s “Discover Your Portsmouth” event, and this year more of the Founding Mothers will have a moment of attention. The Portsmouth Conservation Commission with the help of the Battle of Rhode Island D.A.R and the Portsmouth Community Theater will honor the women who were with Anne Hutchinson in establishing their families here. The ceremony honoring the women and the efforts to preserve Founders Brook will be at 1 PM on October 26th – at Founder’s Brook. All are welcome, but it would be especially nice to have descendants of those Founding Mothers at the event that honors them.

I first heard the names of some of them at an event at Founder’s Brook honoring Anne Hutchinson during the 375th celebration. I knew the names of the men featured on the bronze plaque with the Portsmouth Compact, but it really moved me to hear the names of some of the women who also were pioneers. I started researching who the women might be. Eve LaPlante who wrote American Jezebel provided me with the list that was read at the event. We are familiar with Anne Hutchinson and some of us know about Mary Dyer who was a martyr for her Quaker Faith. Mary Paine Tripp secured the land for the Tripp ferry when as a barmaid she traded wine for the land title. Herodias Long Gardner Hicks Porter was married to four of the first settlers. Jane Hawkins was a midwife and therefore was accused of witchcraft as midwifes were in those days. Rebecca Cornell met an untimely death and a “ghostly witness” aroused suspicions about murder.

For many of the women I could only find their maiden name, husband’s name and the number of children they had. At least that fleshes out more information about them. I have information on around 30 of the women who were in Portsmouth with Anne Hutchinson. I am not a genealogist – I really admire those who are skilled in that research. I am listing names I have found, and if I have something incorrect, I would love to correct it. The members of the Battle of Rhode Island D.A.R. will be reading the names at the Discover Your Portsmouth – Founder’s Brook event and it would be good to accurately give information on the Founding Mothers.

Mary Moseley Coddington 1603-1647,
Elizabeth Harris Clarke 1610-1670,Anne Marbury Hutchinson 1591-1643.
Mary Gould Coggeshall 1604-1684, Elizabeth Goodyear Aspinwall 1606-1650.
Ann Bradford Wilbore – 1597-1645, Margaret Odding Porter- 1596-1665. 
Bridget Hutchinson Sanford – 1618-1698,
Katherine Hamby Hutchinson. 1615-1651,
Faith Hutchinson Savage 1617-1652.
Mary Barrett Dyer 1611-1660, Mary Wilson Freeborn – 1600-1670.
Sarah Odding Shearman – 1610-1681,
Katherine Hutchinson Walker 1609-1654.
Elizabeth Baulston – 1597-1683,
Elizabeth Bull.
Mary Hall 1619-1680.
Sarah Lott Mott 1604-1647,
Susanna Thompson Wilcox 1607,
Mary Paine Tripp 1618-1687,
Sarah Cornell Briggs 1627-1661,
Frances Latham Clarke Vaughn 1609-1677,
Elizabeth Hazar Layton (Lawton),
Joan Savage Earle 1609-1699,
Rebecca Marbury Maxson 1602-1656,
Jane Hawkins 1585-1659,
Herodias Long Hicks Gardner Porter 1623-1674,
Mary Mayplet Gorton 1607-1677
Susanna Potter Anthony 1619-1674, Rebecca Cornell 1600-1673, Sarah Lott Mott 1604-1647,
Joan Fowle Borden 1604-1688, Katherine Walker 1609-1654

Cindy Killavey will portray Anne Hutchinson and Trish Culver will portray Mary Dyer. The actors will tell the story of the early days in Portsmouth and the journey from Boston through “letters.” Dr. Ron Marsh will take the part of a journalist who advocated for protecting Founders Brook when the state wanted to build a cloverleaf through it.

Send a note through this blog if you have information for me.