Bernard Capen (ca 1562-1638)
Bernard Capen is our 11th great grandfather by this path: RWA → Fred Pemberton Abbott → Arthur Merrill Abbott → Ellen Janet Wilson Abbott → Rachel Mansfield Wilson → Lydia Mansfield Mansfield → Rachel Roby Mansfield → Joseph Roby → Joseph Roby → Elizabeth Greenough Roby → Elizabeth Upsall Greenough → Dorothy Capen Upsall → Bernard Capen and Joan Purchase
Bernard Capen, his wife, and children made the trip to New England when Bernard was already in his 60’s and his children were mostly all grown and married. Bernard and his wife migrated in 1633 with three younger children, but at least two of his children came to New England earlier. Bernard was – guess what – a shoemaker!
Bernard and his wife Joan Purchase settled in Dorchester. The house that he built there, although added onto about 100 years later, remained intact until 1909 (it is picture above). At that time, it was moved to Milton where it remained until 2006. The property was sold to developers, and the house was carefully dismantled in 2007 with plans to later rebuild it at another location. I could not find out if that has actually happened. There are those who dispute that Bernard built the house, but suggest it was built by one of his sons around 1658. But, I would rather believe that Bernard built it.
Bernard died in 1638 and was buried at Old North Burying Ground. His original gravestone was found buried below ground in several pieces and has been kept in storage at the New England Historical and Genealogical Society. A replica of the original gravestone has been placed at the gravesite.
Bernard and Joan were the parents of Dorothy Capen who is our ancestor. Dorothy was the wife of Nicholas Upsall, the Quaker who was persecuted and imprisoned for his beliefs. He was the subject of an earlier ancestor profile.
Family group sheet for Bernard Capen and Joan Purchase: http://sites.rootsmagic.com/colonialgenealogy/family.php?f=1160
Sources:
Anderson, Robert Charles. (1995). The Great Migration begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes 1-3. Boston, MA: Great Migration Study Project.
Bernard Capen House. Retrieved from http://www.dorchesteratheneum.org/page.php?id=82