William Almey1

M, b. 1600, d. 28 February 1677
FatherChristopher Almey b. c 1570, d. b 4 Oct 1624
MotherMiss _____ Clarke b. c 1578, d. b 1606
     William was born in 1600 in South Kilworth, Leicestershire, England. William married by license Audrey Barlowe, daughter of Stafford Barlowe of Lutterworth, on 17 July 1626 in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, England. "Williamus Almie de South Kilworth," gent., "etatis 26 annorum," & "Audream Barlowe de Lutterworth ... etatis 26 annorum," with the consent of Stafford Barlowe of Lutterworth, gent., father of the said Audrey.2,3 He and Audrey were blessed with 5 children. There is apparently no record of when William first immigrated to New England, however, he is on public record 14 June 1631, as being fined for taking away a “canoe without leave.” The next record of him is on 1 July 1634. It is likely that William had returned to England and came again to New England before the 1634 date.4 On 1 August 1635, William & his wife, Audrey, left London [final port at Plymouth, England] aboard the ship, "Abigail", commanded by Captain Robert Hackwell, enroute for New England. Before being permited to embark the ship, William needed to present his certificates of conformity to the Church of England & of loyalty to the crown, signed by his parish minister & a justice of the peace, and these, being approved & accepted by the commissioners of emigration, of whom Archbishop Laud, of Canterbury. Listed among the ship's passengers were William Almond aged 34 years, Mary Jones aged 30 years, Awdry Almond aged 32 years, Annis Almy aged 8 years, Chris Elmie aged 3 years. The ship landed in Boston on the 8th day of October..5,6 After arriving in Boston, William settled his family in Sagus, near Lynn; in April of 1637, he removed his family to Sandwich where he was “one of the first 10 families”. In 1641 he moved his family again, resettling in Portsmouth, Rhode Island and selling this property in Sandwich in June of 1642. In 1644, he is noted as one of three men of Portsmouth granted land in Wading River. He remained in Portsmouth for the remainder of his life. William became a prominent citizen of the settlement, holding several offices over the years and was well respected in the community.7,8,9 William made his will on 28 February 1677 at Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island.

"William Almy" ordered "my body to be buried by my son John if I die here upon my farm"; "if my wife outlive me she shall have the whole estate during her natural life and after her death. Christopher shall have half my farm ... “which is next to the land which I gave to my son John Almy," the malthouse to be shared between Christopher and John; "the other half of my farm ... to my son Job Almy with my dwelling house and two orchards"; "for my cattle and the moveables what is remaining at our deaths I give to my daughter An and my daughter Catharen each of them two parts and to my son Christopher Almy and my son Job Almy each of them one part"; to "my grandchild Bartholomew West" £20, son of his second daughter Catherine, when he comes of age; "my two sons Christopher Almy and Job Almy" to be executors [PoLE 1:144].

William departed this life on Sunday, 28 February 1677 in Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island. His will was probated on 23 April 1677.

Family

Audrey Barlowe b. 1603
Children

Citations

  1. [S462] George Walter Chamberlain, The English Ancestry of William Almy of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, pages 319-321 - Pedigree of the Almey Family
    1. JOHN ALMEY, of Dunton-Bassett,t co. Leicester, lived probably about the middle of the sixteenth century. He married _____     REIGNOLDS.
    Child:
    2. i. THOMAS.

    2. THOMAS ALMEY (John), of Dunton-Bassett, co. Leicester, was born probably about 1550. He married JOAN WALE, who was buried at Dunton-Bassett 31 Oct. 1604, daughter of Thomas of Dunton-Bassett.
    Children:
    3. i. THOMAS.
    4. ii. WILLIAM.
    5. iii. JOHN.
    6. iv. CHRISTOPHER.

    3. THOMAS ALMEY (Thomas, John), of Badby, co. Northampton, was living in 1618, when, apparently, he entered the Almey pedigree in the Visitation of Northamptonshire. He married first AGNES (ANDREW) COWPER, daughter of Nicholas Andrew (who was brother of Thomas Andrew) and widow of John Cowper; and secondly ALICE MARSH, daughter of Lawrence of Northampton.
    Children by first wife:
    i. ANDREW, of London, living in 1618.
    ii. WILLIAM.
    iii. GEORGE, d.s.p. not later than 1618.
    iv. TOBIAS, of London, m. DORCAS Bassano dau. of Edward.

    Children by second wife:
    v. MATTHEW
    vi. THOMAS.
    vii. Robert
    viii. Elizabeth

    4. WILLIAM ALMEY (Thomas, John), of Bitteswell,* co. Leicester, yeoman, the testator of 1628/9, born about 1556, married ____________
    Children:
    i. ANDREW, of Bitteswell, co. Leicester, living in 1646, when he was appointed overseer of his brother William's will; m., by licence of 1630, ANNE PHRONE of Ashby Magna, co. Leicester. He was executor of his father's will in 1629, and took the Oath of Protestation in the parish of Bitteswell 12 Sept. 1641. Child: 1. William, living in 1646, when he is mentioned in the will of his uncle, William Almey.
    ii. WILLIAM, of Bitteswell, co. Leicester, yeoman, the testator of 1646, d. not earlier than 24 July 1646; in. at Bitteswell, 1 Nov. 1620, JANE DOWSE, who d. before her husband, dau. of John. As "William Allmye, senere," he took the Oath of Protestation in the parish of Bitteswell 19 Sept. 1641. Children: 1. William, appointed executor of his father's will in 1646; "William as Almey, juniour," he took the Oath of Protestation in the parish of Bitteswell 19 Sept. 1641. 2. John, under twenty-one in 1646. 3. Elisha, of Bitteswell, under eighteen in 1646; in. at Bitteswell, 29 Apr. 1660, Alice Wikeman of Bitteswell.

    5. JOHN ALMEY (Thomas, John), of Lutterworth, co. Leicester, died prior to 23 Sept. 1636, when administration on his estate was granted to his widow, Anna Almey. He married first, at Leire,t co. Leicester, 20 June 1592, FRANCES SMYTH of
    Leire; and secondly ANNA     , who survived him.
    Child (by which wife is unknown):
    i. JoHN, living in 1618.

    6.CHRISTOPHER ALMEY (Thomas, John), of South Kilworth co. Leicester, gentleman, the testator of 2 Oct. 1624, was buried at South Kilworth 4 Oct. 1624. He married first      
    CLARKE, daughter of ______ Clarke of Lutterworth, co. Leicester; and secondly, by licence of 1606, Amen or AMIE GREENE, widow, of Hurley, co. Warwick, who was buried at South Kilworth 5 Mar. 1622/3. In her will, dated 10 Apr. 1621, and proved 18 May 1626 by her son Henry Greene, executor, she mentions her son Henry Greene (with his son William Greene), her daughter Frances Greene, her [married] daughter Kedson or Kidson (with her husband and her child, Cary Kidson, then under eighteen), and her [married] daughter Dickers with her husband and three sons). The will of Christopher Almey is of great importance in the history of the family (vide supra, p. 314).
    Children by first wife:
    i. WILLIAM, only son, b. probably at Dunton-Bassett or South Kilworth, co. Leicester, abt. 1600.
    ii. JOAN, living 2 Oct. 1624; tn., by licence of 1618 (in which she is called KATHARINE), JoHN PADLE of Ashby Parva, co. Leicester, yeoman, living 2 Oct. 1624. Children, all under fifteen on 2 Oct. 1624: 1. William. 2. Christopher. 3. Richard
    iii. Mary, living unm. 2 Oct. 1624; perhaps the Mary Almy who m. at Ashby Parva, co. Leicester, 30 Oct. 1627, Samuel Jephcote.
  2. [S462] George Walter Chamberlain, The English Ancestry of William Almy of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, pages 318 - Leicestershire Mariage Licenses: 1626 - William Almie, gentleman, of South Kilworth, & Aufrey Barlow of Lutterworth. To be married at Lutterworth.
  3. [S457] Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Marriage Record: By license dated 17 July 1626 Audrey Barlow ("Williamus Almie de South Kilworth," gent., "etatis 26 annorum," and "Audream Barlowe de Lutterworth ... etatis 26 annorum," with the consent of Stafford Barlowe of Lutterworth, gent., father of the said Audrey [Archdeaconry of Leicester Marriage Licenses, 1621-1632, folio 28v; NEHGR 71:318].
  4. [S462] George Walter Chamberlain, The English Ancestry of William Almy of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, pages 310.
  5. [S736] , In 1635 on the ship, "Abigail" presented certificate from the minister of their conformitie from the justices that they are no subsedy men. William Almond 32, Mary Jones 30, Awdry Almond 32, Annis Almy 8, Chris Almy 3.
  6. [S739] Peter Wilson Coldham, The Complete Book of Immigrants, Section 2, Chapter 30 1735, page 67 - "Abigail" - from Isleworth Dennis Geere 30, his wife Elizabeth 22, two children: Elizabeth 3, Sara 2; Anne Pancrust 16; Elizabeth Taselie 55; Constunt Wood 12;.
  7. [S435] Charles Kingsbury Miller, William Almy of Portsmouth, Rhode Island 1630, Joris Jansen de Rapalje of Fort Orange, New Amsterdam & Brooklyn, 1623, pages 9-15.
  8. [S457] Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633.
  9. [S462] George Walter Chamberlain, The English Ancestry of William Almy of Portsmouth, Rhode Island.