Maximilian Jewett Ensign

  Noted events in his life and other information:

• Background Information: ³⁵⁸
The Jewetts are of English ancestry and are said to descend from Henri de Juatt, a knight of the First Crusades. In America the earliest Jewett record is of Maximilian, of Rowley, Massachusetts, born 1607, died 1684, who cane from England in 1638 with Rev. Ezekiel Rogers and sixty others who settled at Rowley in April, 1639. Maximilian Jewett was a son of Edward Jewett, of Bradford, Yorkshire, England.

• He emigrated. ³⁵⁷
He is believed to have come to New England with Rev. Ezekiel Rogers in 1638 and settled in Rowley 8 Nov 1667 with his first wife Ann.

• Dates & Events: ³⁵⁷
Maximilian Jewett was one of the first two deacons of the Rowley Church, ordained 3 Dec 1639. He was a freeman 13 May 1640, and many times representative in the General Court.

• Background Information. ⁵⁹⁵
From History and genealogy of the Jewetts of America. pages 7-13:

Maximillian Jewett was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, baptized in the same place 4 Oct 1607. He, his wife and brother Jospeh all sailed from Hull, England in 1633 in the ship, John, with a colony under the leadership of Rev. Ezekiel Rogers. They arrived about the first of Dec 1638, and spent the winter in Salem. In the spring of 1639, they found the town of Rowley, Massachusetts.

Maximilian was admitted as a freeman, 13 May 1640, and was chosen as a Deacon of the church, 13 Dec 1639, an office he served in for forty-five years.

The records of Rowley show that Maximililian Jewett was granted a large amount of land. Both he and his brother were given two-acre lots on "Bradford Streete," to build their homes. Other land was granted including "foure Acres and a halfe" in "Brandford street field," a planting lot on "Impr. Batchelours meadow," "1 division of salt Marsh," plus at least sixteen other grants that followed through the years.

From the town records, it seems that Maximilian was one of the leading men in his community. He was a representative to the General court, 1641-1643, 1648, 1651-1652, 1654-1656, 1658-1665, and again in 1672-1676. He was the overseer of the will of Rev. Ezekiel rogers, signed 17 Apr 1660. He was a clothier and with his brother Joseph, was either the first or close to it, to manufacture woolen cloth in the British American colonies.

His wife Ann passed on was was buried "November y ninth day 1667." Maximillian married a second time to Elinor Boynton, widow of John Boynton, 30 Aug 1671. Her maiden named was Pell. He died "October ye Ninetenth day 1684" according to the town records. His final will was filed in the Clerk of the Courts' office at Salem, among the Essex County Papers, Vol. XLII, p. 46.

In his will he leaves his widow twenty pounds, which was contracted upon before their marriage, to be paid in part by two cows. He gives her another twenty pounds which his executors were to pay to her. He futher states that she is to get "a feather bed which my daughter Elizabeth Layd on; all during her naturall life & to be her owne dispose at her death." He includes a place for her to live, but if she chooses not to live there, it will go to his son Joseph.

The remainder of his will deals with his children and what he passes on to them, which is quite lengthy since he acquired a lot of property during his life. The will was signed 8 Jan 1682 & 8 month 1684. The witnesses were Leonard Harriman and Nehemiah Jewet. who appeared in Court in Salem on 25th 9th month 1664.

Children were all born in Rowley, Massachusetts:
• Ezekel, b. 5 Jan 1643; m. Barzilla Baker
• Anna, b. 26 Dec 2644; m. David Hazeltine
• Elizabeth, b. 22 Mar 1659, m. Robert Hazeltine
• Faith, b. 8 Oct 1652; m. Deacon Samuel Dowse
• Joseph, b. 1 Feb 1654; married Rebecca Law first, and second Mary Gage
• Sarah, b. 17 Jan 1658; bur. 19 June 1660
• Sarah, b. Abt. 1660; m. Jeremiah Ellsworth
• Priscilla, b. 10 May 1664, bur. 5 Sep 1664

Maximilian married Ann Cole. (Ann Cole was born in England, died before 9 Nov 1667 in Rowley, Massachusetts ^298,357,595 and was buried on 9 Nov 1667 in Rowley, Massachusetts ³⁵⁷.)