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Persevill Green of Cambridge Massachusetts and Some of his Descendants

  Last Updated 13 November, 2004

Generation No. 1

      @1.  Persevill¹ Green died 25 December 1639 in Cambridge Massachusetts¹.  He married Ellen --- Bef. 1635 in Cambridge Massachusetts².  She was born about 1600³, and died 27 May 1682 in Cambridge Massachusetts³.

Notes for Persevill Green:

Percival Green and his wife were passengers on the "Susan and Ellen" that sailed from London in the spring of 1635.  He was of Cambridge in 1636.  He owned a house on the north side of the Cambridge Common.

Children of Persevill Green and Ellen --- are:

Generation No. 2

      @2.  Jonathan² Green (Persevill¹) was born June 1636 in Cambridge Massachusetts⁹, and died 03 March 1690/91 in Cambridge Massachusetts¹⁰.  He married Ruth Michelson 20 October 1656 in Cambridge Massachusetts^11,12, daughter of Edward Michelson and Ruth ---.  She was born 09 November 1638 in Cambridge Massachusetts¹³.

More About Jonathan Green:

Name 2: John Green¹⁴

Children of Jonathan Green and Ruth Michelson are:

Notes for Mary Greene:

Mary is mentioned in her brother Edward's will

Notes for Jonathan Greene:

Jonothan was named in his brother Edward's will.   He had the estate of Edward Mitchelson conveyed to him in 1693.

Samuel Green, in his genealogy of Percivall and Ellen Green,  indicates that there was a Jonothan born probably in 1671, and that this individual was named John.  The Vital Records of Cambridge confirm that this individual is listed as "Jno", and shows no record of a birth in 1671 to John and Ruth.

More About Jonathan Greene:

Occupation: Housewright

More About Edward Greene:

Date born 2: 15 April 1665, Cambridge Massachusetts³²

Occupation: Shipmaster³³

Generation No. 3

      @14.  Rev. Joseph³ Green (Jonathan², Persevill¹) was born 24 October 1674 in Cambridge Massachusetts⁴², and died 26 November 1715 in Salem Massachusetts⁴³.  He married Elizabeth Gerrish 16 March 1698/99 in Wenham, Massachusetts⁴⁴, daughter of Joseph Gerrish and Anna Waldron.  She was born 18 December 1673 in Wenham Massachusetts⁴⁵, and died 22 March 1746/47 in Medford Massachusetts⁴⁶.

Notes for Rev. Joseph Green:

This is the Joseph Green born in Cambridge, son of Jonathan and Ruth Green, on 24 Oct 1674.  In his diary, he often mentions his links to that town.

Rev. Green was ordained as the minister of the Church at Salem Village, now Danvers Massachusetts on 10 November, 1698.  He was instrumental in reversing the judgements of the earlier Salem Village congregation towards the accused witches. 

He graduated from Cambridge College in 1695.  He is buried at the Wadsworth Burial Ground in Danvers.

Samuel Green indicates in his work that Joseph was born in 1675.  The Cambridge Vital Records contains the correct date⁴⁷

More About Elizabeth Gerrish:

More About Joseph Green and Elizabeth Gerrish:

Intention: 18 February 1698/99, Wenham, Massachusetts

Children of Joseph Green and Elizabeth Gerrish are:

Generation No. 4

      20.  Rev. Joseph⁴ Green (Joseph³, Jonathan², Persevill¹) was born 12 December 1703 in Salem Massachusetts⁶⁶, and died 01 July 1765 in Boston Massachusetts⁶⁷.  He married Anna Peirce 28 December 1727⁶⁷, daughter of Joseph Peirce and Elizabeth Hall.  She was born 10 September 1702 in Portsmouth New Hampshire⁶⁸, and died 28 December 1770 in Boston Massachusetts⁶⁹.

Notes for Rev. Joseph Green:

Joseph was a successful Boston merchant where he owned a large estate.  In 1740 he was one of a three grantees of a tract of land in Franklin County Massachusetts, afterwards known as the "Green and Walker Grant".  He was named magistrate in 1756 and in 1761⁷⁰.

There is a portrait by Copley of Joseph Green extant somewhere.  In 1897 it was in the possession of Dr. Joshua Green of Groton Massachusetts.

More About Anna Peirce:

Children of Joseph Green and Anna Peirce are:

Notes for Henry Green:

Henry died of frozen feet.

      @24.  Hon. Benjamin⁴ Green (Joseph³, Jonathan², Persevill¹) was born 30 June 1713 in Salem Massachusetts⁷⁸, and died 14 October 1772 in Halifax, Nova Scotia⁷⁹.  He married Margaret Peirce 24 November 1737 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire⁸⁰, daughter of Joseph Peirce and Elizabeth Hall.  She was born 25 June 1714 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire⁸⁰, and died 1779 in Halifax Nova Scotia⁸¹.

Notes for Hon. Benjamin Green:

Note:  The compiler gratefully acknowledges the following information from an article by Donald F. Chard, published in the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography", Volume 4 pp 312-313.

"Hon Benjamin Green was born and raised in Salem Village Massachusetts.  He was a merchant in Boston for a time, in partnership with his brothers Joseph and John.  Diring his time in Boston he was twice elected Constable.   On 1 March 1745 hewas appointed Secretary to William Pepperel, Commander of the expedition being launched against the French at Fortress Louisbourg (in what is now Cape Bretton Nova Scotia).  After the surrender of the forttress, he assumed the additional role of Treasurer of New England Forces. In 1746 he assumed the title of Commisary.  That his services were appreciated is evident from the following letter written by Pepperel to Governor Shirley of Massachusetts. "Mr. Green, whom you were pleased to appoint Secretary in this expedition, it would be a pleasure to me if you would be pleased to mention him at home to be continued Secretary, if his majesty should be pleased to make this place a Government."

"After the restoration of Louisburg to the French, Green and his family removed to Halifax. July 12, 1749, Col. Mascarene, the late President of the Council, arrived at Halifax, or Chebucto as it was then called.. The next day Edward Cornwallis took the oath of the office of office as the first Governor of the Province of Nova Scotia and on the 14th he appointed aGovernor's  Council consisting of five men, one of whom was Benjamin Green. A few months after he was appointed Treasurer, and soon after that, Naval Officer for the Town of Halifax and Judge of the Vice Admiralty Court.  Governor Cornwallis commended his method and propriety, and said Green was the only person he had for business.  As we shall see,  Green' talent for business would eventually contribute to his downfall.  

"In 1752 he resigned his position as Secretary declaring that it was a full time position that required more time than he could spare with his other duties.   The following year, he resigned his position as Judge for the Vice Admiralty Court because of an apparent conflict of interest with his position as Naval Officer.  He chose to maintain the latter office because of his ned for its "certain income"  In 1758, as Senior Councillor,  he unsuccessfully contested with Chief Justice Jonathan Belcher the right to administer the government of the province in the abscence of the governor and lieutenant-governor.   In 1760 he was appointed Justice of the Peace in Halifax.

"Late in 1760, Hon. Benjamin Green went to England to assist in the review of unaudited accounts of former governor Perregrine Thomas Hopson.  The London Board of Trade asked him to explain charges of misconduct made by Robert Sanderson, first Speaker of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, that Green had given contracts in return for a share of the profits.  Green admitted to this, but denied ever having misused his office as Council member.  The board found Green "Highly blamable" but only reprimanded him due to his outstanding career record.  He continued in his offices when he returned to Halifax in 1763. 

"In 1761 Green mortgaged much of his holdings in Nova Scotia, including four large warehouses, to two London merchants for six thousand pounds.   In 1762 he experienced financial difficulties partly because the authorities in London refused to reimburse him his expenses until the Treasury had approved the auditor's report of Hopson's accounts.  He satisfied the claims against him in November 1765, though the exact nature of the settlement is unclear.  However, at least some of Green's land in Nova Scotia was surrendered as part of the settlement.

"In 1764, upon the reduction of his salary as Provincial Treasurer, Green expressed doubt that the income from his offices would be sufficient to support his family.  Nevertheless, he remained on the Council and in 1766, on the death of Governor Montague Wilmot, he became the Administrator for Nova Scotia until the next Governor, Michael Francklin, received his Royal commission as Lieutenant Governor.  Durng this three month period, the Assembly attacked Green for failing to follow proper procedures in handling the Province's finances. 

"In December 1767 Benjamin Green wrote his will, admitting himself  "something infirm".  Two months later he resigned as provncial treasurer, but in October 1771 he again assumed administration of the province again on the departure of Governor Lord William Campbell. His illness made his duties difficult and in March 1772 he asked to resign his post as Naval Officer because his health was "very much impair'd".  In June, Francklin reported that Green was too unwell to transact business and might never again attend Council meetings.  He died four months later.

"In 1775, the Council initiated an audit of Green's accounts.  Green's son Benjamin, who had succeeded him as Treasurer, placed many obsticles in the way of the auditors.  After initially denying ever seeing any of his father's records, he eventually admitted that he had "worked hard for two days on his father's records with Francklin's assistance and direction".   The auditors finaly reconstructed the missing records and, though providing Green the benefit of the doubt wherever they could, still found his accounts deficcient by some seven thousand Pounds."

Hon. Benjamin Green was one of the original trustees of St Paul's Church in Halifax, before its incorporation in 1759. He was a Church Warden in 1769⁸⁴.

More About Hon. Benjamin Green:

Burial: St Paul's Church Halifax Nova Scotia

More About Margaret Peirce:

Children of Benjamin Green and Margaret Peirce are:

Generation No. 5

      28.  Joshua⁵ Green (Joseph⁴, Joseph³, Jonathan², Persevill¹) was born 17 May 1731⁹³, and died 25 July 1806 in Wendell Massachusetts⁹³.  He married Hannah Storer 07 October 1762⁹³.  She was born 22 May 1739⁹³, and died 02 September 1811 in Wendell Massachusetts⁹³.

Child of Joshua Green and Hannah Storer is:

      36.  Susanna⁵ Green (Joseph⁴, Joseph³, Jonathan², Persevill¹)⁹⁴ was born 26 July 1744 in Boston Massachusetts, and died 10 November 1775 in Boston Massachusetts.  She married Francis Green⁹⁵ 18 October 1769 in Boston Massachusetts⁹⁶, son of Benjamin Green and Margaret Peirce.  He was born 21 August 1742 in Boston Massachusetts⁹⁶, and died 21 April 1809 in Medford Massachusetts⁹⁷.

More About Francis Green:

Children of Susanna Green and Francis Green are:

More About Charles Green:

Medical Information: Born deaf, recovered his speach at school in Edinburgh.

      37.  Charlotte⁵ Green (Benjamin⁴, Joseph³, Jonathan², Persevill¹)¹⁰² was born Bet. 1743 - 1749 in Boston Massachusetts¹⁰³, and died 13 May 1782 in Halifax Nova Scotia¹⁰⁴.  She married Henry Newton¹⁰⁵.  He was born 1731, and died 29 January 1802 in Halifax Nova Scotia¹⁰⁶.

Notes for Henry Newton:

Henry Newton was a prominent member of the British administration of Halifax.  He was Churchwarden of St Paul's Church in 1762 abd 1773,  He was a member of the first assembly of the Province in 1758.  In 1761 he was appointed a member of the Council.  In 1776 he was appointed Collector of Customs.  His second wife, Anne, was a daughter of painter Gilbert Charles Stuart.

Child of Charlotte Green and Henry Newton is:

      @39.  Benjamin⁵ Green (Benjamin⁴, Joseph³, Jonathan², Persevill¹)¹⁰⁸ was born 01 January 1738/39 in Boston Massachusetts, and died 02 December 1793 in Halifax, Nova Scotia¹⁰⁹.  He married Susanna Wenman¹¹⁰ 12 September 1769 in Halifax, Nova Scotia¹¹¹, daughter of Richard Wenman and Ann Scroope.  She was born about 1753 in Halifax Nova Scotia, and died 12 April 1841 in Lawrencetown Nova Scotia¹¹².

Notes for Benjamin Green:

Benjamin succeeded his father as Treasurer of the Province.  He was one of the original 20 Grantees of Lawrencetown Nova Scotia, an area just northeast of Dartmouth.  He had 12 children, four of whom remained in Lawrencetown.

Hon. Benjamin Green's Lawrencetown grant ran along the beach for 115 rods, on Hon. Charles Morris' grant 297 rods, on rear base line 115 rods and 340 rods on Hon. Richard Bulkeley's grant. It consisted of 200 acres.

Green Bay in Nova Scotia received its name from Benjamin Green, Jr.

More About Susanna Wenman:  

Children of Benjamin Green and Susanna Wenman are:

Notes for Margaret Ann Green:

Wenman Blankeley Stawell, in his Declaration, recounts that he attended school with Mrs. Howe in Lawrencetown.

Notes for Henry Green:

Henry was actively involved in projects to recover land in Cole Harbour through dyking and was considered a progressive and active member of the community. In 1840 he thought he had a cure for cancer and received testimonials from persons who claimed they had been cured. He petitioned the Assembly for money to go to England to advertise and market the cure, but the assembly noted that if the product would do all that was claimed for it, there would be no need for government funds to back the venture.

Notes for William Pringle Green:

William was a lifelong commissioned officer in the Royal Navy.  He was by accounts a very clever inventor, obtaining several patents for inventions related to the maritime trade. 

William Pringle Green had, in 1833, published a work entitled "Fragments from remarks of twenty-five years in every quarter of the globe on Electricity, Magnetism, Aerolites, and various other Phenomena of Nature", with portrait and a genealogy of the author.

(Dictionary of British Biography, Vol ,pp.503-4; Gent.Mag. for 1847, i.209; O'Byrne's Naval Biographical Diet).

More About Charlotte Green:

Christening: 17 September 1786, St Pauls Church, Halifax Nova Scotia¹¹⁷

More About Susannah Green:

Christening: 18 October 1787, St Pauls Church, Halifax Nova Scotia¹¹⁷

More About Edward Green:

Christening: 01 April 1789, St Pauls Church, Halifax Nova Scotia¹¹⁷

More About Anna Winslow Green:

Christening: 28 March 1790, St Pauls Church, Halifax Nova Scotia¹¹⁷

      40.  Francis⁵ Green (Benjamin⁴, Joseph³, Jonathan², Persevill¹)¹¹⁸ was born 21 August 1742 in Boston Massachusetts¹¹⁹, and died 21 April 1809 in Medford Massachusetts¹²⁰.  He married (1) Susanna Green¹²¹ 18 October 1769 in Boston Massachusetts¹²¹, daughter of Joseph Green and Anna Peirce.  She was born 26 July 1744 in Boston Massachusetts, and died 10 November 1775 in Boston Massachusetts.  He married (2) Harriett Mathews 17 May 1785 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

Notes for Francis Green:

Francis served as Ensign in the 40th Regiment of Foot at the Siege of Louisburg in 1758.  In 1776 he was a Magistrate in Halifax.  He went to New York in 1777, where he was proscribed and banished to England as a Loyalist.  In June 1784 he returned to Halifax, and was appointed Sherriff of the County and Senior Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.  He built "Maroon Hall" at Preston in 1792.

Francis  moved with his family to Medford Massachusetts in 1797. He there wrote (1806)  "Genealogical and Biographical Anecdotes deduced from the first American Generation for his children's information".

Children are listed above under (36) Susanna Green.

Children of Francis Green and Harriett Mathews are: