We have always been told that we could trace our ancestry back to Edward Doty, passenger on the Mayflower. Numerous DNA matches to various other descendants of the Doty line. The most unanticipated was KL, who is connected on the Polish side through the Józefowicz line (match to my mom) and on the English side through the Doty line (although there is no DNA evidence of this).
It has been challenging to trace Edward Doty's ancestry but he is believed to have been born in 1595 in East Halton, Lincolnshire, England and baptized on 3 November 1600 at East Halton. The Doty families of East Halton regularly used the names Thomas, Edward, and John: the first three names Mayflower passenger Edward Doty assigned to his sons (Caleb Johnson's Mayflower History).
Edward Doty arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts as a servant to Stephen Hopkins. He was the fortieth signer of the "Solemn Compact," executed in the cabin of the Mayflower, 11th November, 1620, in Cape Cod Harbor. He was one of the party that the following December made the voyage of search in the Shallop and discovered Plymouth Harbor. He was engaged in the "First Encounter" with the Indians, 8th December (O.S.) 162. Doty was a member of Capt. Myles Standish's first Military Company, 1621, at Plymouth.
According to Johnson's history, Doty was apparently still a servant in 1623 when the Division of Land was held. This would indicate he was still under the age of 25 at that time. He signed the "Mayflower Compact" in November 1620, so he was likely over 18 or 21 at the time. This narrows his likely birth date to around 1597-1602.
Edward Doty married twice, according to William Bradford. However, nothing is known of his first wife. His second wife, Faith Clarke (1619-1675), came on the ship Francis in April 1634 with father Thurston (or Tristram) and mother Faith Clarke, and they were married the following year on 6 January 1635 Plymouth, MA.
Edward's first three sons were Edward (b. 1637), John (b. ~1639), Thomas (b. 1641). Edward drown in Plymouth Harbor, with his son John, during a storm on 8 Feb. 1689-90. He was a seaman by profession (The Norton-Lathrop-Tolles-Doty American Ancestry).
Johnson wrote that, "Edward Doty appears to have been somewhat of a troublemaker throughout his life at Plymouth. In June 1621, he engaged in a sword and dagger duel with fellow Hopkins servant Edward Leister; both were wounded before being separated, and were punished by having their head and feet tied together for an hour (it was supposed to have been for a whole day, but they were let go early because of their apparent suffering). Edward Doty made regular appearances in Plymouth Colony Court throughout his life, mostly just being sued for various misdemeanors (failing to pay on a contract; failing to keep his cows fenced; not properly caring for a servant), but occasionally for more serious infractions (twice for assault, once for theft, and once for slander)".
Edward Doty died 23d August, 1655 at Yarmouth, MA. Faith subsequently married John Phillips of Duxbury on 14 March 1667 and survived him.
Our line is through Samuel Doty, born 27 August 1643 on the High Cliff in Plymouth, MA. Samuel is mentioned in the records of Plymouth, January 1st, 1667-68, as one of a coroner's jury in an inquest of a child kept by John Smalley, Sr. of Eastham on Cape Cod, which had been found dead in the woods. His name is written as Samuel Dotey of Eastham in the government of New Plymouth.There are no mentions of Samuel in the old town records of Eastham and vicinity after 1669.
According to the NJ Census he was living in Piscataway, NJ in 1669. In 1675 he was commissioned Lieutenant of the military company of New Piscataway. His commission was renewed in 1678. Samuel married Jane Harmon in 1678 in New Jersey.
The Village of Piscataway was an important settlement in the 1670s. During that period, the Governor and Council of New Jersey frequently met to enact laws and hold general court.
From 1678 to 1696, Samuel's name appears frequently in deeds as a purchaser of lands.
- 1687-8 Jan 21. Samuel Dotey sells 104 acres at Piscataway, part of that purchased in 1678.
- 1690. Jan 6. Samuel Dotie buys 100 acres from Benjamin Hull.
- 1695. Oct. 3. He buys 100 acres.
- 1696. He purchases another 125 acres.
Samuel married Jeane Harmon of Piscataway on 1678. She was the daughter of James Harmon and Sarah Clark.
Samuel Dotie's "cattle mark" appears on the town records of Piscataway. The entry appears to be dated 1686.
In 1689, he is listed among the first group of Freeholders. He is listed in a similar way in 1698.
The first congregation of the Seventh Day Baptists in New Jersey originated in Piscataway. Samuel and his son, John, are among the members listed in the first record of congregants, likely dated 1707.
Samuel Doty's will is on record in the office of the Secretary of State of NJ at Trenton. It is dated 18 Sept. 1715 and proved on 8 Nov 1715. As such, he died between those two dates. It reads, "Samuel Dotie Sr. of Piscataway, Middlesex Co., NJ, yeoman, being of very sick and weak of body, but sound mind... bequeaths to his well beloved son Samuel Dotie, five shillings"... and the balance of his estate to "his dearly beloved wife Jane", whom he appoints sole executrix of the will.
It is likely that each of his sons were given farms prior to Samuel's death. Before that date they were all in "comfortable possession of lands and their 'cattle marks' were entered on the town records". His widow appears in the will of their son Edward in 1717.
Benjamin Doty was the eighth child of Samuel and Jeane Harmon. In all probability, he married Abigail Whitehead (b. Jamaica, NY, daughter of Jonathan Whitehead), under the name Benjamin Doughty. In 1725, they lived in Burlington Co., NJ. On 20 Mar 1739, he was appointed guardian of Samuel Stockton, an orphan of 15 years of age. He died in Princeton, NJ in 1746. His will, dated 11 Mar 1746, shows that Benjamin Doughty of Princeton, Middlesex Co., NY victualler, wills to his wife Abigail and son Benjamin all of his property. He had one son, Benjamin (b. 1710-13) and three daughters: Susannah, Hannah, and Deborah.
Benjamin, son of Benjamin and Abigail Whitehead was born sometime between 1710 and 1713 in Middlesex Co., NJ. He married there to a woman named Rachel. Nothing more is known.
On 13 Feb 1747-8, he was licensed to marry Lydia Mundin, both of Middlesex Co., NJ. She may have been a widow.
Benjamin was deeded a tract of land at a place called Minisink in counties of Ulster and Orange. The deed is on record at Goshen, county seat of Orange Co.NY and was filed about 1820. It reads, "1725, Oct 8, Jonathan Whitehead of Jamaica, Queens County, NY, in consideration of the love, affection, and good will I bear by grandson Benjamin Doughty, son of my daughter Abigail Doughty, now ye wife of Benjamin Doughy of ye County of Burlington in West Jersey". Benjamin was deeded about 1000 acres from his grandfather, Jonathan. Benjamin had one son, Benjamin, b. about 1735-40.
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| Samuel Doty grave in Edison, NJ |
Benjamin Doty, ... to be continued. (p.319)
More information at https://archive.org/details/dotydotenfamilyi00indoty pp. 277ff.
