Updated November 25, 2022
Background
The first English immigrant to settle in Boston was the Reverend William Blackstone. He came by himself in 1629, to a peninsula by a stream, called by the local Algonquin inhabitants, Shawmet. A year later, John Winthrop and his Puritan settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, arrived to the north in Salem. Finding Salem less than desirable for a settlement, Blackstone invited Winthrop to visit Shawmut.
On September 17, 1630, Winthrop decided to make Shawmut a permanent settlement and renamed it Boston, after his hometown in Lincolnshire England. Winthrop and his followers left England to escape religious persecution and to establish a pious Puritan state. Ironically, Blackstone shortly left the colony due the harsh, intolerant society that the Puritans had created.
Citizenship in Massachusetts was restricted to church members until 1664. Dissidents like Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams were banished. Despite these facts and the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, the colony was developing representative institutions which would help form a future democratic nation.
The first printing press in the colonies was built in Cambridge by Stephen Daye in 1639. With its excellent harbor, Boston became the leading commercial center in the colonies. Colonial Boston was a world leader in shipbuilding and the primary port of North America.
Overview
From A Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England, Before 1692, by James Savage, Volume 2.
Benjamin GILLAM, Boston, ship-carpenter, freem. 6 May 1635, had the yr. bef. left his w. Ann with youngest s. at home, and she came in the Abigail 1635, aged 28 with the boy Benjamin, 1 yr. and here they had Zechary, b. 30 Sept. bapt. 23 Oct. 1636; Ann, Nov. 1638, d. soon; Ann, again, bapt. 12 Jan. 1640; Elizabeth b. 5, bapt. 9 Jan. 1642; and Joseph, b. 4, bapt. 13 Oct. 1644. We know not the time of his death but in the will of his widow 23 Feb. 1674, proved 31 July following she calls herself his administratrix gives to son Benjamin and Joseph remembr. but all her real and personal estate to daughter Hannah Sharp, intreats care by her of my daughter Gwinn's motherless two children and makes Richard Sharp Exor. Elizabeth wife of Thomas Gwinn had died early in 1669.
Benjamin GILLAM, Boston, son of the preceding came with his mother in 1635, aged 1 yr. m. 26 Oct. 1660, Hannah, eldest daughter of Thomas Savage, had Martha, Hannah, and Faith, all bapt. 7 Jan. 1672; Dyonisia, 9 Feb. 1673; and Thomas, 13 July 1679. John Dunton, in his "Life and Errors," commem. Hannah, as w. of his friend Samuel Phillips, the stationer; Faith m. Matthew Middleton; and Mary, wh. was quite young at the date of his will, perhaps was the only other ch. He was, probably master of that ship in which Col. Cartwright, one of the royal commisioners. was going home in the autumn of 1665, taken by the Dutch, related by Morton, Mem. 315; Hutch. I. 250; and Hubbard, 585. He was at command of a comp. in Philip's War, serv. at Hadley 1676, under his father-in-law; died after Mar. 1681; his will of 28 of that month was not proved by his relict, Hannah, bef. 17 June 1686, when she was wife of Giles Sylvester; he was buried says Sewall, 13 June 1685.
Zachariah GILLAM, Boston, eldest son of first Benjamin, mariner, married 26 July 1659, Phebe, daughter of Lieut. William Phillips, had Martha, b. 2 June 1660.
Births and Baptisms and Marriages
30 Jul 1636
Zachary of Benjamin and Anne Gillom born 30th day, 7th month [1636]
23 Aug 1636
Zechariah son of Benja Gillam, 23 day, 8 mo. [1636, Baptized, First Church]
12 Nov 1639
Anna of Benjamin, 12 day, 11 month [1639, baptized, First Church]
9 Nov 1641
Elizabeth of Benjamin Gillam, aged 4 days--9 day, 11 month [1641, Baptized, First Church]
Jul 1644
Joseph of Benjamin and Ann Gillam, born 7th month [1644]
13 Aug 1644
Joseph of Benjamin Gillam, aged about 9 days--13 day, 8 mo [1644, Baptized, First Church]
21 Mar 1648
Elisha of Benjamin Gillam, aged about 8 days--[1648, Baptized, First Church]
26 Jul 16__
Zechariah Gillam & Phebe Phillips dau of Lieut. Wm. Phillips of Boston were married 26th July
2 Jun 1660
Martha of Zachariah & Phoebe Gillam born June 2 [1660]
Deeds
26 Jul 1643
John Winthrop, deed to Benjamin Gillom.
22 Sep 1648
Robert Saltonstall, mortgage, Benjamin Gillom.
2 Sep 1649
Be it known by these p'sents that I Tho. Lake of Boston in the Massachusetts Mercht for good & valueable consideration to me in had pd, have bargained & sould & by these presents do bargaine & sell to Mr. Nathaniel Gardner of Boston aforesd Merchant the moiety or one halfe of twelve shares of the two patents Swampscot & Dover & which I the said Tho. Lake lately bought of Christopher Lawson & which the sd Christopher Lawson lately also lately purchased of Mr. Robert Saltonstall, together with all rights priviledges & immunityes there unto belonging to have & to hold the sd moiety of halfe pt of the sd twelves hares of the two patents of Swampscot & Dover to him the sd Nathaniel Gardner, his heirs & assignes forever. And I the sd Tho. Lake mine heires executors & Administrator the sd moiety of the sd twelve shares &the quiet possession of the same against all men challenging any title thereunto by from or under me or them or any of them, shall & will warrant & defend In witness whereof I the sd Tho Lake have hereunto put my hand & seale this 2 Sep 1649. Excepting the reservations which is excepted in a bill of sale from Mr. Robert Saltonstall to Christopher Lawson dated 13th of May 1648 as also excepting the difference betweene Benjamin Gillom & Christopher Lawson for two shares of the sd patents
Sig: by me Thomas Lake
Sealed & dd in the p'sence of
Robt Saltonstall, William Aspinwall, Robert Haines
12 Feb 1652
Know all men by these p'sent that I Robert Cannon of London Master & Commander of the good shipp called the Charitie of Boston of the burthen of sixty tunnes or there abouts, now riding at anchor in Boston Harbor in New England for a certain valluable consideration by me in hand received to my full content and satisfaccion have given, granted, bargained and sould and doe by these p'sents bargaine sell give grant, enfeoffe and confirme unto Charles Yeo, merchant and Benjamine Gillum shipwright, of Boston aforesaid the said shipp charities before mentioned withall and singuler her mass yards, singular the masts, yards, sailes, cables, anchors, gunns, artillery ropes, tackles, boates, skiffs and all her furniture whatsoever now belonging to her as she rideth as aforesaid, to have and to hold the said shipp Charitie withall and singular the masts, yards, sails, cables, anchors, gunns and all other the p'misses to them the said Charles Yeo and Benjamine Gillum their heirs and assignes forever during the raigne of the said shipp to be to their owne propper uses & behoofes and I the said Robt Cannon mine executor and administrator the said shipp & other the premisses hereby mentioned to be bargained & sodl by these presents to the said Charles Yeo and Benjamin Gillum their executor & Administrator against all men shall warrant & defend, for one whole year & a ay next after the date hereof perrill of sea, fire, and ennimie only excepted in witness whereof I the said Robert Cannon have here unto _____ hand & seale this eighth of April 1652
Sig: Robert Cannon & a seale
Sealed & delivered in the presents of Evan Thomas, Hugh Stone.
This deed of sale of Robert Cannon was acknowledged to be his act & deed ___ the use of Charles Yeo, this 12th of the 2nd 1652 before me
William Hibbins
Recorded 12 2nd month 1652, Edward Rawson, recorder
Immigration
The Abigail left London, England April to July 1635 with her master, Robert Hackwell, arriving in Massachusetts Bay
Sources
- Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England, Before 1692, Volume 2.