John Hoar and Alice Lisle
"Alice Hoar ye wife of
Mr Jno Hoar her husband dyed June ye 5th day 1696"
-- Concord Vital
Records--
"John Hoare, the first in our line in this
country, first settled in Scituata, Mass., in 1643, and bore arms the same
year. He was a lawyer, and noted "for his bold, independent mind and
action." He had a farm on the west of litttle Masquashart Pond. While
here he appears to have been engaged in the business of the town, drafting
deeds, bonds, &c.
"We have not the date of his taking the freeman's oath. This oath
was first printed at Cambridge, Mass. in 1639. Before a person could
exercise the right of suffrage, or hold public office, he must be made
freeman by the general or quarterly court. He must be a member of some
Congregational Church. Afterwards modified in 1664 (Oath in New Eng. His).
He removed to Concord, Mass., in 1660, and our ancestors remained there
until about 1790. He continued the practice of the law, except at one time
he was prohibited from practicing, except his own cases, for not attending
church, and speaking slightingly of one of the ministers.
He took great interest in the welfare of the
Indians, and built a house on his place for the Christian Indians. They at
the time of
King Philip's war were under his care by order of the general court.
"Capt. Samuel Mosely with 103 men took these Christian Indians
(the Nashobahs) away from Mr. Hoare's place, insulted Mr. Hoare and
plundered the poor, helpless Indians of all they had, and sent them, 58 in
number, (12 only able-bodied men) to Boston under guard of some 20 rough
and brutal soldiers. Afterwards they were sent to Deer Island. The captain
went on his way unrebuked, although the whole court were indignant.
"Feb. 10, 1676, Mrs. Mary Rowlandson and child, both wounded, wife of
the minister at Lancester, Mass., were taken prisoners at that place.
Efforts were made to secure her release, but without success, until Mr.
Hoare by the desire of her husband made the attempt. Under date of April
28, 1676, he left Lancester with two guides, Nepphonet and Peter
Tatatiquinea and met the hostile Indians at Wachusett Lake (now in
Princeton, Mass.) May 2, 1676. He took £20 and some goods and secured her
release, although King Philip refused his consent. They returned to
Lancester and she went to Boston May 7th. It is said no other person in
the colony could have secured her release."
--SOURCE: Alfred Hoar Family--
"John Hoar, son of Charles Hoar, was born in England. He was a
lawyer, distinguished for his courage and independence. He lived at
Scituate, Massachusetts, from 1643 to 1655. and settled about 1660 at
Concord, Massachusetts, where his descendants have been prominent to the
present time. John Hoar represented the colonial authorities in securing
by ransom the release of Mrs. Rowlandson from the Indians.
He married Alice Lisle, sister of Bridget Lisle, who married Leonard Hoar,
his brother. She was a daughter of John Lord Lisle, president of the high
court of justice, lord commissioner of the great seal, who drew the
indictment and sentence of King Charles I. and was murdered at Lausanne.
August 11, 1664, and of his wife, Lady Alicia Lisle, who was beheaded by
the brutal judgment of Jeffries in 1685. The story of her arrest on a
charge of treason for sheltering rebels, her condemnation to be burned
alive and her execution by beheading, with all the cruel, ghastly details,
forms a disgraceful page in English history. Children of John and
Alice Hoar; Elizabeth, married Jonathan Prescott; Mary,
married Benjamin Graves; Daniel, mentioned below. "
--SOURCE: New England Families G&M--
The Hoar family were among the early bay
colonists and some true conception of their character may be had by
referring to a matter of New England history, wherein it is recorded that
after the Indian massacre at Lancaster at the time of King Philip's war, John
Hoar, at the request of the colonial authorities, followed the
Indian band far into the wilderness, and after great hardship and the
exercise of great ingenuity, recovered by ransom Mrs. Rowlandson, a lady
captive from Lancaster. Her account of her ransom is published. The rock
where she was redeemed is situated in (???), close by the base of
Wachusett Mountain, and has been marked by the senator with a suitable
inscription."
--SOURCE: Worchester County--
|