DONNELL

1. HENRY

b.c.1602
m. FRANCES (3) GOOCH (living in 1673)
d. between 1687 & 1693

The names Henry Donnell and George Jewell are in the church and borough records of Barnstable, Devon from 1631 until 1634 Henry being a litigant in the Court of Sessions(1)

In his deposition of 25 Aug. 1676 Henry Donnell suggests that he was in New England in 1631, apparently on a fishing voyage with George Jewell. His deposition of 21 Mar. 1683 shows that he was in York in 1635 or 1636.

Henry was at first a fisherman at one time in partnership with Sampson Angier,(2) later he was also an innkeeper. He lived on the road leading from York St. in the Harbor to Stage Neck which he possessed and used as a fishing stage for many years.(3) The road led to the ferry from the neck (then Stage Island) across the York River to Raynes Neck or Seabury Bank. It is probable that Henry had the ferry across the river. No record substantiates this but, it is an obvious inference as it cannot be admitted that such a convenience did not exist in the twenty years before the granting of the first recorded license. It was the natural location for ferriage being the narrowest part of the river and the establishment of a tavern at that point strengthens this opinion although the taverner may have maintained it for business reasons until the town took formal action.(4) Henry kept the tavern there. How early he combined his trade of fisherman with innkeeping is not known but, he was here as early as 1641 and probably catered to transient fishermen and travelers soon after. In 1649 his name is found in a list of those paying the excise tax for drawing liquor. He was charged with two pipes or butts of wine and 54 gallons of "licquers" an amount equal to Wardwell the taverner of Wells and greater than the tax for the widow Puddington's tavern in York.(5) Henry also had a fishery on Bragdon's Island.(6) He witnessed William Hooke's deed 18 Oct. 1644.

For some 18 years before King Phillip's War Henry lived and carried on a fishing enterprise at Jewell's Island in Casco Bay which he acquired a few years after Jewell's death in 1638 while his wife carried on the inn at York. On 6 Dec. 1664 he morgaged his houses, lands, fish houses, etc. as security for a contract to deliver a quantity of fish. The court records show that Frances and Henry were living apart prior to 1667 and she was authorized to retain for her own use what she had made by her own industry, she having a tavern license in 1669. This was about the time of Nicholas Davis' death and as they were next-door neighbors she may have assumed the management of his old inn.(7) In 1671 Frances furnished two barrels of beer for the county courts. On 2 Apr. 1660 Frances and her daughters Sarah and Margaret received a deed of land from the widow Ann Godfrey "for love and affection". In 1676 Henry was again an innkeeper in York.

On 29 Feb. 1671/2 being "stricken in years, and not capeable of manageing my fishing and my Island" Henry gave his Jewells Island land with his fishing plant to his son Joseph on the condition that he should have his maintenance there "So long as I please to continue with him there."(8)

Henry appears among the jurors in 1650 and in 1653, and on the grand jury in 1651 and 1660. He was a selectman in 1661, 1666, 1673, 1677-9, and in 1683.

Henry took the oath of allegience to Massachusetts 22 Nov. 1652.(9) He, along with many others, was not satisfied with the division of Godfrey's land and they signed a petition to the general court in Boston stating their view. However, the awards were never changed.(10) Henry was evidently satisfied with the Massachusetts government as he did sign the petition to Cromwell which referred to the complaints presented to the Protector by "some gentlemen of worth" (i.e. Godfrey) for restitution of their right of jurisdiction and asked that they be not heeded, intimating that they are instigated by "professed Royalists whose breathings that way... have been so farre stifled."(11) His son Thomas did not sign this petition. However, both Henry and Thomas signed the "govern or get out" petition which was an indictment of incompetency with a notice that they would expect "due & seasonable performance" of Massachusetts' obligations to maintain law and order: "Your tollerating such an inconsiderate number of opposers frequently to violate & trample upon yr authority & laws, as cannot be altogether unknowne to you, to the obstruction of Justice, infringeing our Lybertys, deviding our peace and if not speedily prevented by your Worships, may as the case stands, snarl us in the bonds of Inextricable & prejudiciall Injuries, upon whom, under God, & our dread sovereigne wee looke att our selves Ingaged att present to depend for our security & releife."(12)

Henry gave a deposition concerning John Pullman's estate 24 Sept. 1680.(13)

Last mention of Henry in public records was made in 1687 but, the inventory of his estate was not made until 25 April 1693.(14)

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