John LUTHER

Birth:
Abt 1610
of Taunton, Boston, Mass.
Death:
1644
Delaware Bay
Marriage:
1635
Father:
Blocked
Mother:
Blocked
Notes:
                   Sources:History of Swansea, Mass. S62-172
R. I. Bog. & Gen. V2 p 1001- American Ancestry V5
Born Great Cranford, Dorsetshire,England


CAPTAIN JOHN LUTHER
       Luther Family pub. by Leslie L. and Bertha K. Luther (A16A163) Vol. 1 No. 2 Oct 1945, p. 2

       During the past three centuries several conflicting reports as to his origin have been put forward, one of which is entirely erroneous and is in the Library of Congress.  The most natural supposition has been that he was descended from a brother of the great reformer, Martin Luther of Germany.  Another tale has him coming from Ireland to America, while one historical pub. stated that he arrived in Boston in 1635 bringing a load of Flemish mares and some passengers.
       The three former Luther genealogists, all men of education and discernment and with an aptitude for research, came separately to the same concludion and from the records now with the writer, the following can be accepted as factual, insofar as is consistent without documentary proff.
       Captain John Luther was born in Great Cranford, Dorsetshire, England in the early 1600's.  His parentage is unknown. . .
       That Captain John arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony soon arter Winthrop's arrival in 1630, is supported by some evidence while other facts would point to about 1635.  His elder son, Samuel was born in 1635 and his name (John's) appears in the TAUNTON Purchase in 1637.  Hezekiah, his second son was born in 1640.  During this period Capt. John and his family moved to Gloucestor, Massachusetts where he entered the employ of a trading company as "Master of a Pinnace" sent out to Delaware (Bay) to trade with the Dutch and Swedes.  It was his last voyage.
       Winthrop, in his history of the Colony states: "A bark was sent out from Boston with seven men to trade at Delaware.  They stayed in the river near the English Plantation all the winter and in the spring they fell down and traded three weeks, and had gotten 500 skins and some otter and being ready to come away, fifteen Indians do come aboard as if they would trade again,  suddenly drew forth hatchets from under their coats and killed the master, (Capt. John Luther) and three others and rifled the bark and carried away a boy and another man who was the interpreter.  When they came on shore they gave him 40 skins and 20 fathoms of wampum and other things and kept them until about 6 weeks after.  The Swedish Governor procured another Sachem to fetch them to him, who sent them to New Haven by a bark of that place and so they were brought to Boston, the man prosiner.
       The Swedish Governor was John Prinz and the boy was Capt. John Luther's son, Samuel.


ELDER SAMUEL LUTHER:
       Vol II No. 6, Oct 1946, p. 1

       Elder Samuel Luther, Baptist, eldest son of our immigrant ancestor, Capt. John Luther.  Born probably at Taunton, Massachusetts 1636, died Swansea, Massachusetts, buried in Kickemuit Cemetery near Swansea where his gravestone may still be seen.  His wife was Mary Abel, whose ancestry traces back to 500 A.D.  He was the second pastor of Swnasea Baptist Church which is still flourishing and was the first Baptist Church in Massachusetts and the fourth in America.  He served from 1685-1716.  We have 22 typed pages of his life and labors.

       Vol II No. 3, pp. 1-4

       The Luther Association at Swansea in 1936 erected a memorial to Elder Samuel.  The sermon by Rev. Clair Franklin Luther, eighth in direct descent from Elder Samuel, whild standing in the very pulpit of his ancestor, inspired all with reverence and the significance of the occasion.  Many eyes were moist as the story of the rugged individualism of our forebears was blended with the pathos of their struggles in maintaining their religious ideals.
       Immediately following the sermon, Rev. Clair took his position near the tablet on the south wall and dedicated it as follows:

       "In this anniversary year, the three hundredth since the birth of Elder Samuel Luther, the minister of his church from 1685 to 1716, his descendants meeting in observation of the occasion do erect and present to this church this tablet as a memorial to him and a permanent witness to his ministry and service to the community.  A member of the church from the time of organization, sustaining all the offices of trust and responsibility within the gift of the town, a defender of the person and property of his neighbors and of the Commonwealth during the ravages of King Phillip's War, the first blow of which, fell on this very church and community, a man without the advantages of school or college, but nevertheless of such sterling worth and spiritual understanding that he was able to follow the scholarly John Myles, both pastor and schoolmaster in a ministry which endured for 32 years and called forth the devotion and support of the entire community, a man in every respect worthy of imitation and of the memorial which we now erect.
       A direct descendant in the eighth generation and representing many hundreds of like descendants now scattered over the entire Union filling positions of trust and influence, keeping his faith and perpetuating his name and spiritual qualities, on behalf of this family group I now unveil this tablet and present it as a memorial to our worthy ancestor."

Vol. 2, No. 3, p. 1

       Martha Luther, the ninth child of Elder Samuel and grand-daughter of Capt. John was born in Swansea, Mass. Dec. 9, 1681; died 1765.  She married at Swansea, Dec. 13, 1705 Hugh Cole, a great grandson of James Cole of Plymouth, the immigrant.
Elizabeth LUTHER
Birth:
Abt 1614
of Taunton, Boston, Mass.
Father:
Blocked
Mother:
Blocked
Notes:
                   Sources:History of Swansea, Mass. S62-172
R. I. Bog. & Gen. V2 p 1001- American Ancestry V5
Children
Marriage
1
Samuel LUTHER
Birth:
of Taunton, Swansea, Bristol, Mass.
Death:
20 Dec 1716
Warren, R.I.
Mary ABELL 
Marr:
1662
 
Notes:
                   B-Of Taunton & Swansea Mass.
chk-Born 1636 or 1638 (Prob. Born in Boston)
Sources:R.I. Biog. & Gen. V. 2 1001-V.R. Rehoboth, Mass., History of
Swansea,Mass.,S62-  172-Swansea V. s 55 pt 2  American Ancestry V.V. p5

WILL OF ELDER SAMUEL LUTHER, p. 80:
       In the name of God, Amen.  This second day of May in the year of our Lord God, one thousand, seven hundred and fourteen.
       I, Samuel Luther of the town of Swanzey in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, elder of the church of Christ in said Swanzey being sick and weak in bodye, but of sound and perfect memory, praised be the almighty God for the same; knowing the uncertainty of this present life; and being desirous to settle the outward estate the Lord hath lent me; I doe make this my last will and testament in name and form following (that is to say) first and principally I doe commend my soul into the hands of almighty God my creator; hoping to receive pardon and remission for all my sins; and salvation thru the alone merits of Jesus Christ, my redeemer; and my body to the earth to be decently buried in such manner as my executrix and executor hereafter named shall be thought meet and convenient; and as touching worldly estate as the Lord hath lent me, my will and meaning in the same shall be imployed and bestowed as hereafter in and by this will expressed.
       I do hereby revoke, renounce and make void all other wills formerly by me made either by word or writing; and do declare this to be my last will and testament and none other.
       Imprimis:  In respect to my beloved son Samuel Luther I have given him, his heirs and assigns forever a considerable parcel of land by a deed of gift, being at Mattepoysett by reason of the weake condition he is in and he hath disposed of sd. land to his children but not withstanding I give to my beloved and eldest son Samuel Luther the sum of ten shillings to be paid out of my estate.
       Imprimis:  I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Theophilus Luther and his heirs and assigns forever: a certain parcel of land where he now dwells at Mattepoysett in Swanzey, bounded southerly on the country roob (?) westerly on the sd. lands that I have given to my son Samuel Luther as may appear by deed aforementioned; and northerly partly on the land of my son Theophilus and partly on the land of Nathaniel Luther: easterly on the country road: the southwest corner is a stone with corner of my son Samuel's land; and the northwest corner is a white oak stump on the slate rocks and likewise anothe piece of land lying on the north side of my son Samuel's land running westerly to the river, then northerly by the river to a maple tree for a corner, then easterly by a lot of land that he bought of his brother Joshua Luther to a white oak stump for a corner, then southerly on his own and other land to a white oake saplin which is the corner of my son Samuel's land.

ELDER SAMUEL LUTHER:
       Vol II No. 6, Oct 1946, p. 1

       Elder Samuel Luther, Baptist, eldest son of our immigrant ancestor, Capt. John Luther.  Born probably at Taunton, Massachusetts 1636, died Swansea, Massachusetts, buried in Kickemuit Cemetery near Swansea where his gravestone may still be seen.  His wife was Mary Abel, whose ancestry traces back to 500 A.D.  He was the second pastor of Swnasea Baptist Church which is still flourishing and was the first Baptist Church in Massachusetts and the fourth in America.  He served from 1685-1716.  We have 22 typed pages of his life and labors.

       Vol II No. 3, pp. 1-4

       The Luther Association at Swansea in 1936 erected a memorial to Elder Samuel.  The sermon by Rev. Clair Franklin Luther, eighth in direct descent from Elder Samuel, while standing in the very pulpit of his ancestor, inspired all with reverence and the significance of the occasion.  Many eyes were moist as the story of the rugged individualism of our forebears was blended with the pathos of their struggles in maintaining their religious ideals.
       Immediately following the sermon, Rev. Clair took his position near the tablet on the south wall and dedicated it as follows:

       "In this anniversary year, the three hundredth since the birth of Elder Samuel Luther, the minister of his church from 1685 to 1716, his descendants meeting in observation of the occasion do erect and present to this church this tablet as a memorial to him and a permanent witness to his ministry and service to the community.  A member of the church from the time of organization, sustaining all the offices of trust and responsibility within the gift of the town, a defender of the person and property of his neighbors and of the Commonwealth during the ravages of King Phillip's War, the first blow of which, fell on this very church and community, a man without the advantages of school or college, but nevertheless of such sterling worth and spiritual understanding that he was able to follow the scholarly John Myles, both pastor and schoolmaster in a ministry which endured for 32 years and called forth the devotion and support of the entire community, a man in every respect worthy of imitation and of the memorial which we now erect.
       A direct descendant in the eighth generation and representing many hundreds of like descendants now scattered over the entire Union filling positions of trust and influence, keeping his faith and perpetuating his name and spiritual qualities, on behalf of this family group I now unveil this tablet and present it as a memorial to our worthy ancestor."

Vol. 2, No. 3, p. 1

       Martha Luther, the ninth child of Elder Samuel and grand-daughter of Capt. John was born in Swansea, Mass. Dec. 9, 1681; died 1765.  She married at Swansea, Dec. 13, 1705 Hugh Cole, a great grandson of James Cole of Plymouth, the immigrant.
2
Hezekiah LUTHER
Birth:
1640
of Taunton, Swansea, Bristol, Mass.
Death:
23 Jul 1723
Notes:
                   Sources:History of Swansea, Mass. S62-172
R. I. Bog. & Gen. V2 p 1001- American Ancestry V5
Am. Gen., Vol. 27, p. 65; Vol. ? p. 140; Vermont Probate Districts
Will of Hezekiah Luther
Luther Mss. P. 85
3
James LUTHER
Birth:
1643
of Taunton, Swansea, Bristol, Mass.
Death:
 
Marr:
 
Notes:
                   Sources:History of Swansea, Mass. S62-172
R. I. Bog. & Gen. V2 p 1001- American Ancestry V5
FCID:14288:576
FamilyCentral Network
John Luther - Elizabeth Luther

John Luther was born at of Taunton, Boston, Mass. Abt 1610.

He married Elizabeth Luther 1635 . Elizabeth Luther was born at of Taunton, Boston, Mass. Abt 1614 .

They were the parents of 3 children:
Samuel Luther
Hezekiah Luther born 1640.
James Luther born 1643.

John Luther died 1644 at Delaware Bay .