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Dear Russ,
Thank you for your prompt reaction to my message posted yesterday.
I did not know about 'Captain John' Worthington until late last year, when I was reading various American Worthington websites. Notwithstanding that some conflicted with others [e.g. some stated (erroneously) that he was the son of Dr. John W, one time Master of Jesus College, Cambridge, and later Vice-Chancellor of the University, whereas others said he was the some of Francis W ... yet all saying his grandfather was Roger W of Manchester, who married Katherine Heywood], the names immediately linked to the Worthingtons of Manchester, who are mentioned in brother Philip's second/latest book (pages 335-338)- which, at the time, I was proof reading.
The pedigree shown in the book I can extend for a further generation to prove my point. Roger W's eldest son, the Cambridge divine, had five children: Mary, who died young; Damaris, b. 1661 and who m. 1685 Nathaniel Turner and had issue; John, b. 1663, d. 1737-8 unmarried (he was an MA of Cambridge and spent his life at the university); Anne, b. 1665, m. 1695 the Revd. Meshech Smith and had issue ... and Mary, b. 1667, d. 1675 unmarried. Thus Dr. John W's son John was NOT Captain John W! However, Dr. John W's younger brother, Francis, did have a family by his wife Sarah, born Byrom: an infant, bapt. 1646-7 but who died young; Katherine, bapt. 1647, m. 1666 Thomas Booker (or Bowker) and had issue; Sarah, bapt. 1649 and living - unmarried - in 1668; John, bapt. 1651 and living in 1668; Francis, bapt. 1657 and who d. 1678 ... and Mary, bapt. 1658 (and presumably who died before their father, Francis Sr, made his will in 1668). This younger John became known to history as Captain John W ... as SOME American websites correctly state.
Roger W and his son, Francis, were succesful drapers in Manchester, and were not 'short of a penny or two' to use a modern saying! So too was Edward Byrom, such Francis's father-in-law. Such Francis made his will in 1668, a short time before he died: mention was made in it to his second, third, fourth and fifth children. Had son John already have gone to America, then John would have hardly been included in his father's will, given the communication difficulties of those days. But son John was the heir to the drapery business ... so when was it sold (or closed)? If John, at the age of 17, sold the business after his father's death, he would have abandoned his elder sister Katherine (then aged 21) and his younger brother Francis (then aged 11). [Their mother Sarah had died in 1664.] So if John went to America in 1668, who would have looked after his sister and younger brother? The Byroms? Possibly.
Another conjecture is that John continued with the family business, being joined by his younger brother Francis when the latter left school. When Francis died, in 1678 - by which time Katherine, their sister, would probably have been married - John may then have got 'itchy feet' and decided to sell the business ... and go to 'the land of promise', America. In 1678, therefore, Katherine would probably have become a wife ... leaving John as 'the singleton' of the family. So if he went to America in 1668, he was 17 years old [and NOT 'a young boy'] ... and if he went in 1678 or later, he would have been 27 years of age - or more [certainly NOT a youngster!]. Hopefully this enigma will be resolved during the course of the Worthington 17th century project.
Do you think the 'legend' of Captain John W going to America as a young boy came about by certain American (erroneous) claims that he was the son of Dr. John Worthington - the son of whom was born only in 1663?
I think it HIGHLY UNLIKELY that John went to America in c. 1665, at the age of 14: why would he at such a young age, as a member of a wealthy and well regarded family, still being of 'student' age ... and during his own father's lifetime (and he, 'father' Francis, would only have been in his early 40's)? To go post-1678, after John's younger brother Francis died, makes much more sense: this also fits in, near enough, to your "about 1675".
With regard to which Lord Baltimore John sailed with to America, the answer must surely be Charles Calvert, the third lord [baron], who had been commissioned governor of Maryland in 1661 ... and who remained in such post until 1688, when he returned (for ever) to England.
xxxxxxx
American sources conflict with each other, when it comes to the parents (and earlier antecedants) of Captain John's grandfather, Roger Worthington. The truth will hopefully be discovered during the Worthington 17th century project. Philip and I - if we can - wish to take Roger's line back to one of the 'old' Worthington families of Worthington, Blainscough, Shevington or Crawshaw. [The strongly Roman Catholic Blainscough Worthingtons are the least likely, as the Manchester Ws were probably Puritans or Puritan sympathisers ... and Dr. John Worthington was immediately replaced as Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge as soon as the monarchy was restored in 1660 - because he had been a 'Commonwealth' appointee to such post.]
*****
I received a message advising that Mr. David Reed had died recently. Philip and I are hoping that Addison Worthington of Annapolis will help thoroughly research Capt. John Worthington, as he lives within walking distance of the building housing the Maryland State Archives. Do you know Addison? His address is 8 Stewart Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401.
*****
I hope I have answered your queries satisfactorily ... and that the information I have given may lead you to finding the actual date of Capt. John W's arrival in America. I also hope you will enjoy reading Philip's two books!
Kindest regards.
Stuart W
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