| BIRTH, DEATH & BURIAL | Robert was born circa 1592 in England[1]. This birth year is based upon a deposition of 27 April 1657, when he gave his age as "about sixty-five years"[2,7]. He died in Lynn, Essex co., MA on 3 April 1680; when he was 88[1,2,3]. |
| MIGRATION | Robert's migration information is currently in doubt. Anderson says that he came over in 1634[4]. Cooke says that he arrived in Salem or Lynn, Essex co., MA in 1630[1]. This much is sure, he is NOT the Robert Driver, aged 8, who came over on the Abigail in 1635; nor was that his son, Robert[12]. |
| OCCUPATIONS | There, Robert made his living as a Farmer and a Tailor by gift of deed[1]. |
| EDUCATION | He could write his name and did so while witnessing the will of William Witter of Lynn on 5 August 1659 and that of Richard Rooton of Lynn on 12 June 1663[4,5,9]. He also signed his name on other occasions[8,9] but, curiously, only made his mark on a 1668 petition[4,10]. |
| RESIDENCE | Once in Lynn, Robert lived on what was Main Street, Lynn from 1629-1700; it is now called Shepard Street[1]. In the Land Distribution of Lynn of 1638, Robert received 20 acres in Rumney Marsh (now Chelsea), Suffolk co., MA[1]. |
| FREEMAN & CHURCH MEMBERSHIP |
Cooke claims that Robert would not take the Oath of Allegience necessary to emigrate, thus suggesting that
he possibly came secretly to America[1]. Anderson maintains that he took the Oath of
Allegiance at Lynn in 1678[4,22]. Note, though, that this taking of the Oath took place very
late in life -- only two years before his death. Perhaps he did come over under an assumed name (not
uncommon during that time) but chose to take the Oath of Allegiance to the King after the Civil War
in England had installed a monarch more to his liking.
There appear to be two occasions on which Robert took the Oath of Freemanship. The Essex County Records [volume I, p. 153] note that he took the Oath as "Robte Dryver" on 4 March 1634/5[1,11]. Other sources also note that Robert became Freeman on 6 May 1635 in Salem, Essex co., MA and number three in a sequence of eight Lynn men[18,19,20,21]. Since he was made freeman on 6 May 1635, he must have been admitted to the church at Lynn by then[4]. |
| MILITARY | He apparently served in the military, but on 24 June 1651, "Robert Driver [was] discharged from training, paying a bushel of Indian corn yearly for the use of the company"[2,13]. |
| TOWN SERVICE |
Robert he had quite a record of town service.
He served on the Essex county petit jury on 27 September 1636, 27 June 1637, 25 March 1639, 30 June 1640 and 12 July 1642[4,23]. On 4 August 1644, Robert Driver assisted in taking the inventory of Hugh Churchman of Lynn[24,25]. He also witnessed the wills of William Witter (on 5 August 1659)[5] and Richard Rooton (on 12 June 1663).[26] Robert was a witness in the case of William Witter, who questioned infant baptism, on 28 February 1642/3[27]. On 26 December 1659 (as Richard Driver), he was a witness against Zacheus Fitts (Zachary Fitch) of Lynn, who was accused of keeping cattle and swine within a fence on his own land[28]. On 27 November 1666, Robert Driver was admonished for being distempered with strong liquors[29]. Yet, he was among the Lynn neighbors who petitioned in June 1672 to prevent John Hathorne from keeping a tavern. There were apparently longstanding incidents of violence between the Hathornes and the Drivers[30]. Took inventory of Hugh Curchamn of Lynn's estate along with Nathaniel Tiler and Hugh Burtt on 4d:6m:1644[31]. Edmund Ingalls owed him 5s. in Ingalls' estate inventory [32]. He took inventory of William Witter of Lynn's estate along with William Harker and Francis Ingols on 15d:9m:1659[33]. Finally, he witnessed Richard H. Rooten of Lynn's will along with Henry Rhodes and Francis Burrill on 12 June 1663[34]. |
| REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS |
On 6 July 1647, Robert Driver acknowledged having sold to George Kesar of Lynn land in Rumley Marsh at Fox
Hill, granted him by the town of Lynn[14].
On 25 January 1674/5, "Robert Driver Sr. of Lynn,...tailor," "with the consent of his now wife,' for "natural affection to the aforesaid Robert his son," deeded to "Robert Driver Junior of the same town and county, he being that natural son of the said Robert Driver Senior,...a certain parcel of land" in Lynn "containing four acres be it more or less, it being part of the houselot of the said Robert Driver Senior...together with commons, leberties or privileges whatsoever belonging unto the aforesaid four acres"[15]. On 26 January 1674/5, "Robert Driver Sr. of Lynn,...tailor." "with the consent of Phebe his now wife," "in consideration of his own inability together with his now wife's to manage & carry on his affairs for their comfortable livelihood by reason of old age and also that Robert Potter [illegible] as aforesaid hath with the consent of Ruth his now wife declared himself willing to entertain them and also carefully to provide all things necessary for them at his own charge" deeded to "Rob[er]t Potter of the same town & county, son-in-law unto the said Robert Driver,...a certain parcel of upland & salt marsh ground" in Lynn "with all the buildings upon it the said land being part of the houselot of the said Robert Driver, containing in estimation six acres"[16] |
| MARRIAGE | Before 1634 when Robert was 42, he married Phoebe [surname not known], in Lynn, Essex co., MA[2,18,35,36,37,38,39,40]. Phoebe was born in England and died in __ February 1682/3 in Lynn, Essex co., MA as "Driver, Phebe, w. Roberd"[1,41]. |
| CHILDREN | 2. | i. | Phebe DRIVER | Phebe was born circa 1634 in Lynn, Essex co., MA[42]. Phebe's birth year is estimated from a court record where she is called "about eight or ten years old" on 27 December 1643. On 27 December 1643, Samuel Hall was called to account for beating young Phebe Driver, described as being "about eight or ten years old"[42]. Hall, who had returned to England, failed to appear to answer the charges[12]. |
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3. | ii. | Ruth DRIVER | Please see her own page. |
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4. | iii. | Robert DRIVER |
Robert, Jr. was born circa 1639 in Lynn, Essex co., MA[2] and died in Lynn, Essex co., MA in
1706/7; he was 67. Like his father, he is also referred to as Richard in some records.
Circa 1652 when Robert was 13, he first married a woman about whom we know nothing, in Lynn, Essex co., MA[35]. On 6d:11m(January):1663/4 when Robert was 24, he second married Sarah SALMON, in Lynn, Essex co., MA as "Driver, Richard and Sara Salmon"[2,55,56,40].
They had the following children: |
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5. | iv. | John DRIVER | John was born circa 1648 in Lynn, Essex co., MA[2]. By 1673 when John was 25, he first married Elizabeth [surname not known], in Lynn, Essex co., MA[2,35,40,57]. She died in 1674 in Lynn, Essex co., MA[35]. By 1678 when John was 30, he second married a woman about whom we know nothing, in Lynn, Essex co., MA or Boston, Suffolk co., MA[35,40,57]. |
| GENERATION | Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great (G8) Grandfather |
| FAMILY NUMBER | 3658 |
| SOURCES |
1. Edward Carroll Death Record,
19 October 1899, Lynn, Essex co., MA,
1866, 192, p. 186, #337.
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Return to the Driver Index page. |
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| Return to the Family Index page. |
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Return to the Surname Index page. |
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Return to the Maddison Side Tree page. |
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