Bernard CAPEN
Biography

Bernard Capen:
ORIGIN: Dorchester, Dorsetshire
MIGRATION: 1633
FIRST RESIDENCE: Dorchester
OCCUPATION: Shoemaker.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Admission to Dorchester church prior to 25 May 1636 implied by freemanship. He did not join the second church of Dorchester after its organization in August of 1636.


FREEMAN: 25 May 1636 [ MBCR 1:371].


OFFICES: On 2 October 1636 ordered by Dorchester to replace one barrel of [gun]powder [ DTR 19].


ESTATE: Granted four acre lot in Dorchester, 5 August 1633 [ DTR 2]; 30 acre Great Lot granted to "Bernard Gapin and his son," 4 January 1635/ 6 [ DTR 14]; "Barnard and John Gapin shall have 2 acres in the marsh next Goodman Grenwayes," 27 June 1636 [ DTR 17]; with others, granted "ground adjoining to their home lots," 2 January 1637/ 8 [ DTR 25]; granted two lots each of two acres and a fraction, 18 March 1637/ 8 [ DTR 31]; granted lot #8, 6 acres, in Meadow beyond Naponset [ DTR 321]. (Two other small parcels of land granted on 2 January 1637/ 8 to "Good: Gapin" may be intended for Bernard [ DTR 27, 28]).


In his will, dated 9 October 1638 and probated 19 November 1652, "Barnard Capen" bequeathed to his son John five acres out of his great lot, the residue to his wife during her life, "and when it shall appear her days draw to an end, that she with the rest of my friends whom I put in trust, to divide these lands and goods to my children equally," naming trustees "Mr. Minit the elder, my brother George Dyer & Will[ia]m Sumner" [ SPR 1:84]. Given the terms of the document, probate of the will was presumably delayed until the widow's last illness, as she died just four months later.


BIRTH: About 1562 based on age at death, but this may be an exaggeration, judging by date of marriage.


DEATH: Dorchester 8 November 1638, aged 76 [ NEHGR 2:80, 5:97].


MARRIAGE: 31 May 1596 Joan Purchase, daughter of Oliver Purchase [ NEHGR 2:80]; born about 1578 based on age at death; admitted to second church of Dorchester, probably about 1638 [ DChR 4]; she died Dorchester 26 March 1653, aged 75 [ NEHGR 2:80].


SOURCE: The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III -- NEHGS



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