John BANGS

                   Historical information included in notes.




Arriving at Plymouth in 1623 on the Anne, Edward Bangs was probably born ca. 1591, for he said he was age eighty-six in 1677. He was one of the Purchasers, and he was on the 1632/33 freeman list. He was one of those chosen to lay out the 21 acre lots in the 1627 division, along with William Bradford, John Howland, Edward Winslow, Francis Cooke, and Joshua Pratt. With Myles Standish and others, Edward Bangs was chosen in 1633 to divide the meadow in the bay equally. He was also on committees to assess the entire colony for public costs, and he served on various juries and other public service committees. He appears to be a man who was responsible and trusted. In a record where he was surety for another, he was called a yeoman. In 1641, he was granted 80 acres of land at Warren's Wells, and in 1642 he was allowed to exchange some of it for land closer to his house. He moved to Nauset with the Prence group, and in 1647 he was a supervisor of the highways there. In 1652, he became a deputy for Eastham and in 1657 was licensed to sell wine and strong waters at Eastham 'provided it bee for the refreshment of the English and not to bee sold to the Indians.' In a deed of 22 June 1651, he was joined as grantor by his wife Rebecca. He made his will on 19 Oct 1677, calling himself aged 86 years, and he named his sons: Jonathan, John, Joshua: his daughters Howe, daughter Higgins, daughter Hall, daughter Merrick, and daughter Atwood; the children of his daughter Rebecca, deceased; and his son Jonathan's oldest son Edward. In an agreement of 6 March 1677/78, Johnathan Bangs agreed that the land bequeathed to his son Edward could be used by Jonathan's brother John until Edward came of age.'