THOMAS1 COLDAM of Lynn, Mass., was born in England about 1602 as indicated by the November, 1662, Salem quarterly court records: "Thomas Coldam, aged about sixty years, deposed...sworn in court" (Records and Files of the Quarterly Court, Essex County, Mass., vol. 3, p. 11). Thomas was a miller and farmer as shown in this deposition; "he tended Mr. Humfrey's mill two or three years off and on, as he could conveniently...he knew it to be worth one hundred pounds sterling, for he himself was a miller, both here and in old England, and knew what belonged to a mill" (ibid.).
Thomas arrived with his wife, Johanna [Note: subsequent research shows that Johanna was Thomas's second wife. The identity of his first wife has not yet been determined.], and several children, early in the 1630's because he was admitted a freeman in 1634 and was granted 60 acres in the 1638 Lynn land accounting (ibid., 2:271). There is no mention regarding his marriage or birth of his children in the records hence it may be assumed that the three older ones at least were born in England and the others in Lynn or the vicinity.
His judgment must have been well respected as he is mentioned on the Grand Jury or jury of trials eleven times in the period from 27 September 1636 to 26 June 1655 (ibid. 1:12, 192). He was sworn in as constable of Lynn 1 July 1646 (ibid., 1:96). At the November 1663 court, Thomas, his wife Johanna, and son Thomas, Jr., deposed concerning the character of their neighbor Mary Longley (ibid., 3:112). At the November 1668 court Thomas Coldam et al., of Lynn, presented a petition to the court concerning what they considered an unjust burden, namely the maintenance of boundary fence in the town (Harriet Ruth Cooke, Driver Family (1889), p. 33-34; Records & Files of the Quarterly Court, Essex County, vol. 4, p. 75-76 fn.). Three times he was asked to serve on an inquest committee, 13 February 1665, 28 August 1665, and 30 Sept. 1669 (ibid., 3:282, 379; 4:211).
Johanna Coldam is first mentioned in Lynn as a witness for the court against Thomas Coates' wife for anti-religious comments in church. Her parentage is unknown except for the unproven speculation that she was the sister of Henry Rhodes who is referred to as "my Loueing Brother & Friend Mr. Henrye Rhodes" in her husband's will (Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, 3:11).
In his will written 14 March 1674/5 Thomas bequeaths all his planting ground to his wife Johanna. He leaves half of his property to his son Clement Coldam and the other half to grandson Samuel Simonds if he continues to manage his business and property. He made Johanna and Henry Rhodes joint executors. Thomas Coldam died 8 April 1675 and his will was proved 21 May 1675 (ibid., 3:12).
In August 1675 Samuel Simonds, the grandson, died intestate (ibid., 3:50). On 20 Sept. 1675, Johanna made an indenture with her son Clement2 that he should receive the other half of his father's estate left to Samuel if Clement agreed to return from Gloucester to live with and take care of her. Within two years of her death he was to give his sister Mary Simonds a good cow and to Sarah Hart £5. This was entered into the town books 23 April 1679 (Essex County Land Register, 5:58). On the 2nd of August 1682 she [Johanna] certified on the previous indenture (ibid., 7:17) that Clement was free of the debts to Mary and Sarah. This was recorded 9 February 1684/5 (ibid., 5:58). Johanna was buried in Lynn 16 June 1687.
He married MARY PEIRCE, daughter of John and Elizabeth Pierce of Watertown, who died in Gloucester 26 Jan 1703/4 (Vital Records of Gloucester...,vol. 3, p. 97). She was called Mary Coldam in the will of her mother, 5 March 1666/7 (Henry Bond, Genealogies of the...early settlers of Watertown (1860), p. 393).
Clement was very active in many professions, among them a miller like his father, farmer, constable, a member of the Ancient Artillery Company, and self-appointed overseer of Gloucester townspeople and their morals! The first mention of him in the Quarterly Court records is 11 Sept. 1649 as a witness to the beating of Richard Stocker by Thomas Farrar (op. cit., 1:174).
In 1650 Clement moved to Goose Cove in Gloucester. On 29 Aug. 1651, he bought the house and land of Andrew Lister, consisting of 8 acres on Planter's Neck, 2 acres of salt marsh on the west side of the Annisquam River and 3 acres of marsh in Chebacco (Gloucester Town Records 1650-1680, 1:40). He was a deputy of Robert Lord, marshall, when he served a writ 4 Sept. 1653 (Quarterly Court, op. cit., 1:30). Clement appeared as a witness on a slander charge and also against Moris Somes of "Gloster" for theft 27 Sept. 1653 at Ipswich court (ibid., 1:307). At a Gloucester town meeting he requested more land be given him next to the 8 acres previously purchased. He gave up his 3 acres of marsh for it (Gloucester Town Records, 1:45). His quick temper caused him to be brought to court at Salem 29 Nov. 1653 for abusing the constable of "Gloster" in execution of his duties (Quarterly Court, op. cit., 1:325).
On 1 May 1654, Clement sold his house and 3 acres near the road to John Wakely (Gloucester Town Records, 1:45). He received 3 acres of upland in return next to land he already owned on Mill river. On 23 Dec. 1658, he requested another 3 acres from the town lying between the brook and his house (ibid., 1:71). He was picked to serve on a jury of trials at Salem 29 Nov. 1659 (Quarterly Court, op. cit., 2:182, 194). At Ipswich court 26 March 1661 "Clement Coldam of Gloster deposed that he had known William Longley before Longley cam and many years thereafter and affirmed Longley known as Langley" (ibid., p. 269). At the June 1661 court Clement was on the jury of trials and also sued John Newman for slander saying that he was a liar and could prove it (ibid., 2:281 & 317).
Clement and his father Thomas were called to court in the Humphrey mill issue 30 Sept. 1662 "Clement Cooldome, aged about thirty-seven years, deposed that Mr. Humphrey's windmill was worth one hundred pounds sterling when Mr. Henry Dunster possessed it and was used in the town of Lyn more than any other mill, the water mill being frozen up in the winter time, and in summer there was not water enough to drive the same. Also, that when Mr. Humfrey's mill was sold, the town was put to such a straight that it was forced to build another tide mill" (ibid., 3:10-11).
He was a selectman of Gloucester 15 Feb. 1664, as recorded in the estate of Gabriel Collings (Essex County Probates, Docket 6,056). The following quotations from the Essex Court records give us a picture both of Essex County life in the late 1660's and a look into the activities of Clement Coldam.
25 June 1667-Warrant, dated 21 June 1667, upon complaint of Clement Coldam, for Mr. Stevens, sr., of Glocester, ship carpenter, who "hath uttered diverse seditious and dangerous speeches of a very high nature against the crowne & dignity of our sovereigne Lord King Charles the Second." "Clement Coldum, aged about forty years, deposed Stevens said he abhorred the name of Charls Steward as a King" (ibid., 3:43).
June 1668-"Clement Coldum presented for speaking a pernicious lie was admonished". Gloucester presentment. Summoned for saying Mr. Duncan had made over his horse to Mr. Norcross of Watertown and had sold him to Mr. Fote of Bostone for 10 or 12 li which was proved untrue". "John Emerson pastor of church at Gloucester deposed that Clement Coldum denied he made the statements" (ibid., 4:41-42).
30 Sept. 1673-" John Pearce and Elizabeth his wife for uncleanness before marriage to be whipped or pay fine of 20 nobles. Clement Coldum aged about 50 years deposed on September 10 last on hearing John Pearce was accustomed to take widow Stanard to his house at night and seen to go away in the morning he went to the house and looked in the window...called Deacon Stevens and both saw enough to complain" (ibid., 4:231).
17 Nov. 1679-"Clement Coldum, aged about 56 years, said 25 years ago he was at St. John's under the command of Major Sudgeweck and heard Capt. Lothrop beg a bell of said Major who answered that he had disposed of that bell already, but if ever they should take another bell he should have it. Afterwards they took port Royall and there hung a bell in a new Friary. Clement Coldam being with Capt. Lathrop in Port Royall yard heard him again renew request for bell. Upon that Major Sudgeweck gave the bell to Capt. Lathrop for Basse River meeting house and bade them take bell down. Bell being taken down Capt. Lathrop with deponent and others put it aboard Capt. More's boat with an order to deliver it to Bass River men which said More agreed to do. Capt. Lathrop sent home a letter to his wife by said More in which he ordered Bass River men to fetch it from Capt. More, which bell deponent hath heard and seen in Bass River meeting house" (ibid., 7:323-324).
1691-Clement Coldam chosen cannoneer for Lyn (Records of ye Towne Meetings of Lyn, 1:5). Clement Coldam chosen to pick up the rate due M. Shepard for ye year (ibid., 1:7).
Of Elizabeth Hubbard, this is what Clement Coldum, aged about sixty years at the time of the witchcraft delusion said: he deposed that on May 29th 1692, being at Salem Village, carrying home Elizabeth Hubbard from the meeting behind me-she desired me to ride faster-I asked her why: she said that the woods were full of Devils and said there they be! but I could see none. Then i put on my horse and after I had ridden awhile she told me I might ride softer for we had outridden them (Essex Institute Historical Collection, 32:206).
7 March 1692/3-Clement Coldam to watch for cutters of young trees (Records of ye Towne Meetings of Lyn, 1:16, 20).
Children of Clement and Mary Coldam (Vital Records of Gloucester, Mass., passim):
He appears to have been unmarried since he mentions no wife or children in his will dated 10 March 1672 (proved 26 June 1673). He made bequests to his sister Martha Whitney, and her children, his cousin Sarah Hart, his father Thomas and mother Johannah. The will was proven in Salem court 26:4:1673 [i.e. 26 June 1673] with his father and brother-in-law Richard Whitney named as executors (Essex County Probate Records, 2:357-58). Note that "the state is debtor to said Sarah Hart for funeral charges 18s" (ibid., p. 358). There were a number of Sarah Harts in the County during this period, but nothing has been found to properly identify her, or her relation to the Coldams.
This article appeared in the New England Historic Genealogical Society Register in January, 1971, pages 24-28.
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