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Our American Roots (f_3b2)

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Winslow, Susanna
b. 1628 Plymouth, MA
d. AFT. 14 NOV 1685 East Bridgewater, MA
Parents:
Father: Winslow, John
Mother: Chilton, Mary
Family:
Marriage:1649 Plymouth, MA
Spouse: Latham, Robert
d. BEF. 28 FEB 1688 East Bridgewater, MA
Life History:
Robert Latham was living with the Reverend Thomas Shepard family in Cambridge, MA in 1640, then moved to Marshfield in 1643 and served as Constable. "Att a Court of Assistants holden att Plymouth the sixt of Febrewary 1655. The following verdict was ordered to bee recorded: Marshfield, the last of January 1654 Wee, whose names are underwritten, being appointed a jury…to view the dead body of a servant to Robert Latham, of this towne, and to find the cause how hee came to his untimely end. Wee, upon due search and examination, doe find that the body of the servant was blackish and blew, and the skine broken in diverse places from the middle to the haire of his head, viz, all his backe with stripes given him by his master, Robert Latham, as Robert himselfe did testify; and alsoe wee found a bruise of his left arme, and one on his left hipp, and one great bruise of his brest; and there was the knuckles of one hand and one of his fingers frozen, and alsoe both his heeles frozen, and one of the heeles the flesh was much broken, and alsoe one of his little toes frozen and very much perished, and one of his great toes frozen, and alsoe the side of his foot frozen; and alsoe, upon reviewing the body, wee found three gaules like holes in the hames, which we formerly, the body being frozen, thought they had been holes; and alsoe wee find that the said John was forced to carry a logg which was beyond his strength, which he indeavoring to doe, the logg fell upon him, and hee, being downe, had a stripe or two; and wee find that [neighbors] heard Robert Latham say that hee gave his servant some stripes that morning before his death; and alsoe wee find the flesh much broken of the knees of the servant, and that hee did want sufficient food and cloathing and lodging, and that the said servant did constantly wett his bedd and his cloathes being frozen about him; and that [he] was put forth in the extremity of cold, though thuse unabled by lamens and soreness to performe what was required; and therefore in respect of crewelty and hard usage hee died; and alsoe, upon the secnod review, the dead corpes did bleed att the nose." After this testimony, Robert was committed to the custody of the Chief Marshall until the next meeting of the General Court which was to be held on March 6, 1654. Robert was indicted for felonious cruelty done unto his servant, aged about 14 years, by unreasonable correction, by withholding the necessary food and clothing, and by exposing him to the extremity of seasons, thus causing his death on January 15, 1654. Robert defended himself at his trial. The jury found him guilty of manslaughter and Robert entered a plea of mercy, which was granted him. His sentence was that he should have his hand burned and all his land and goods confiscated, which was performed on March 4, 1654. In 1657, Robert was admitted Freeman and took the oath of fidelity in Marshfield. In 1663 he relocated to East Bridgewater. In 1667 he constructed a "whip saw" or "up and down" mill on the Satucket River. He also built a dam and used the water power to operate the mill. In 1670 he served as Surveyor of Highways in Bridgewater, and served as Constable in 1672. On April 9, 1676 the local minister recorded: "God hath now begun to pour out upon us the cup of trembling; yet the Lord doth remember us still with mercy, yea very great mercy. The 9th of this instant [April, 1676], being the Lord's Day, as we were assembling in the forenoon, we were alarmed by the shooting of some guns from some of our garrisons upon discovery of a house being on fire, which was Robert Latham's; his dwelling house and barn are wholly consumed. The house was deserted but a few days before. He had considerable loss in lumber. The corn and chief of his goods were saved. There were divers other out-houses rifled at the same time, but no more burnt. There was a horse or two killed; three or four carried away; and some few swine killed. We sent out a party of men on the Lord's Day night upon discovery, who found their trackings. Our men judged their might be about ten of them. They followed them by their track several miles, but having no provision, they were forced to leave the pursuit. We are in expectation every day of an assault here. The Lord prepare us for our trial." Robert was fined 10 shillings June 3, 1679 for being drunke twice.

Children:

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Copyright 2001 Richard Joseph Bucknum