John Upton

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 6449

Notes:

First appears in New England in the employ of Edward Winslow of Salisbury, Massachusetts 1639??; resided at "Hammersmith" (Lynn, now Saugus); Settled in Salem (now Peabody), at Wood Hill (now Upton Hill), about 1658; removed to Reading (now North Reading) about 1676; died there 11 July 1699; will date 16 Nov 1697, proved 31 July 1699.
(from Upton Family Records being Genealogical Collections for an Upton Family History by William Henry Upton published 1893)

Notes for John Upton from The Essex Genealogist:
Family tradition relates the John was a Scottish prison of war, taken by Cromwell at either the battle of Dunbar in 1650, or the battle of Worcester in 1651. There is nothing to document this heritage, however, the circumstantial evidence is strong: the timing of his arrival in the colonies; his marriage to a woman named Stuart; a son named James, lack of membership in a Congregational church; and as a final touch, the seal of a fleur-de-lis on his will. John, a blacksmith, came to Hammersnith (Lynn) about 1652, but removed to Salem where he bought land in 1658. John and Ellenor had at least thirteen children, of whom six sons and two daughters were living at his decease. By is will he apportioned his landed estate to his sons, and it appears, desired it should always remain in the family, as he notes that they "nor their children shall not sell or give or in any way dispose of the same without it be to and among them." (NEHGR, Jan 1875 P2)

This website, "https://www.geni.com/projects/Scots-Prisoners-and-their-Relocation-to-the-Colonies-1650-1654/3465" , lists John Rupton as one of the indentured servants at the Saugus Iron Works. Very possibly this is a misspelling on John Upton's name. The indentured servants arrived in Saugus in Nov 1650 to begin their 7 years of servitude. Thus Nov 1757 as the completion date. Then Isaac Upton first appears in Lynn records in 1658.

A document from the R Stanton Avery Special Collections Dept at the New England Historic Genealogical Society has a listing of 35 Indentured Servants at the Saugus Iron Works who were captured 3 Sept 1650 at the Battle of Dunbar. The name John Rubton appears on the list. I assume that the parenthesis around the name indicate that the handwriting in the original document was difficult to read. The John Rupton name may have come from this same document. I have not seen the original document.

Family/Spouse: Ellenor Stuart. Ellenor was born about 1634 in Scotland; died after 1697. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John Upton was born about 1654 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA.
2. Eleanor Upton was born about 1656 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 20 Apr 1663.
3. William Upton was born about 1658 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA; died in Apr 1663.
4. James Upton was born in Sep 1660 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 1 May 1702.
5. Mary Upton was born about 1661 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 15 Apr 1663.
6. William Upton was born on 10 Jun 1663 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA; died about 1740 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA.
7. Samuel Upton was born in Oct 1664 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA.
8. Ann Upton was born about 1665 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA.
9. Isabel Upton was born on 3 Jan 1666/67 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA.
10. Ezekiel Upton was born in Sep 1668 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA.
11. Joseph Upton was born on 9 Apr 1670 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA.
12. Francis Upton was born on 1 Jul 1671 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 9 Dec 1694 in Reading, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA.
13. Mary Upton was born about 1672 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA.