4689.Gen. James Cudworth. Born ca 1612 in Aller, Somerset. James was baptized in Aller, Somerset, on 2 Aug 1612.14 James died in London, England late 1681.14 Religion: James joined the Scituate church 18 Jan 1634/5.
See the preview article by Douglas Richardson on the Cudworth ancestry in the fall 2009 newsletter Jewels of the Crown at http://www.charlemagne.org/Jewels%2010-29-09.pdf It cover’s James and Mary (Parker) Cudworth, Jame’s parents Ralph and Mary (Machell) Cudworth, Mary’s parents Matthew and Mary (Lewknor) Machell, Mary’s parents Edward and Dorothy (Wroth) Lewknor, and Edward’s parents Edward and Margaret (Copley) Lewknor. A full article will appear in Richardson’s second edition of Plantagenet Ancestry.
James came on the Charles in 1632, settled in Scituate, MA, in 1634, joined the chruch on 10 Mar 1635 with his wife. He was an Assist. 1656-8, capt. of the militia, and in the early part of Philip's war comm. of the whole force of Plymouth col. in 1681 dep.-gov. He was in London, as Col. agent, where he died of smallpox soon after arriving and he had derved as Commissioner of the Un. Col. in 1657.25
From Deane’s History of Scituate:53
"Gen. James Cudworth, (salter), was a freeman in Scituate 1634. We think it probable, that he came from London to Boston, 1632, in company with Mr Hatherly, as he was Mr Hatherly's particular friend. His house in 1640, was near the bridge at the harbour, which he sold to Thomas Ensign 1642, and removed to Barnstable. He returned before 1646, when he became one of the Conihassett Partners. After his return from Barnstable he resided for a time on the south-east of Colman's hills: which house he sold to Thomas Robinson before 1650. He then resided during life near the little Musquashcut pond. Ward Litchfield now possesses the land and house lot. In 1652, he was Capt. of the militia of Scituate. He was deputy to the Colony Court 1649, and several succeeding years. He was an assistant of the governement in 1756, 7 and 8. Also a commissioner of the United Colonies, 1657. In 1658, he fell under the displeasure of those commissioners because he would not set his hand to the severe laws which that board propounded to the several General Courts, to be enacted against the Quakers, and also under the displeasuare of Gov. Prence and the Court of Plymouth, for the stand which he took in favour of toleration. Occasion was sought to displace him. A letter was produced which it was suspected he was the author of, sent to England, and describing the bigotry of the government. Another letter to the Governor was produced, in which some expressions were so construed, that he was judged to be 'a manifest opposer of the government,' and he was left out of the magistracy and the board of Commissioners, and deprived of his military command 1658, and disfranchised 1660. In 1659, the town of Scituate returned him a deputy to the Court, and the Court rejected him. In all the passages of the life of this admirable man, he never manifestedc his magnanimity more signally, than by his dignified silence and quiet demeanor under these persecutions. He remained at home, prosecuting his agricultural pursuits, and employed in the municipal concerns of Scituate, without railing at the government. The letter above alluded to, as sent to England, was addressed to (Mr Brown?) then in England, and who had been an assistant in Plymouth Colony.
"On the election of Josiah Winslow Governor, 1673, he endeavored, and with success, to make honorable amends for the abuse and neglect which Cudworth had suffered from his predecessor, Gov. Prence. We notice in the Colony records, July 1673, 'Capt. Cudworth, by a full and clear vote, is accepted and reestablished, in the association and body of this Commonwealth.' He was chosed an assistant again form 1674 to 1680 inclusively. In 1675, he was chosen 'General and Commander in Chief of all the forces that are or may be sent forth against the enemy,' and he continued in that office until Philip's war was ended. In 1681, he was appointed an agent for the Colony to England. He was also Deputy Governor the same year. On his arrival in London in the autumn of 1682, he unfortunately took the small pox, of which he died.
"The magnanimity of Gen. Cudworth ahs rarely been equalled; and when we couple with it the mildness and humanity of his demeanor, his character reaches the sublime. If he was ever reproached, it was for virtues which has coevals failded to attain.
"He accepted the command in Philip's war, as we have stated above, and acquitted himself with honor. He had undoubtedly the talents of a brave and able commander, different indeed form those of Church, who shone in the darlings of partizan warfare, but such as were prober for his place. When he took the field in Philip's war he was past seventy years of age; there i therefore little propriety in drawing a parallel between him and Church.
"Of General Cudworth's family connexions in England, we have no certain information. It has been suggested by some that he was the brother of that distingished man of learning, Professor Ralph Cudworth, whose work on the philosophy of the mind has been a foundation for all subsequent writers: but this we have not made certain.
"It appears that Gen. Cudworth did not proceed to England on his mission, to obtain a new charter which should include narragansett, (for this was the object of the mission), until the summer of 1682. His will is dated in the spring of that year, at Scituate, and orders his estate'to be divided into six equal parts - James two sixths - Israel one sixth - Jonathan one sixth - daughter Mary's four children (Israel, Robert, James and Mary Whitcomb) one sixth - daughter Hannah Jones one sixth. 'Thos. Hyland, Rich'd. Curtis, witnesses.'
"It appears that his wife had deceased."53
Also from Deane’s History of Scituate:53
In 1673, the Town paid their high respect to General Cudworth, by granting him a family burying ground, as follows: “Feb. 26, 1673, it is agreed that Mr Cudworth has granted to him four rods and an half of land, on the south side of the meeting house, to fence in for a burying place, and for a place to set a horse, which land is to be from the stone wall northward, one rod and an halfe for the breadth of it, and to be in lengthe three rods.” This place may now [1831] be easily discerned by tracing the foundation of the old Meeting-house. There are several graves on the spot, but the grave stones are rough and unlettered. These are doubtless the graves of the wife and some of the children of that venerable man. He died in England.
1 Feb 1633/4 James married Mary Parker in Northam, Devon.14 Born ca 1606 in England. Mary died bef 15 Sep 1681.14 Religion: Mary joined the Scituate church 18 Jan 1634/5.
4690.John Cudworth. Born ca 1612 in Aller, Somerset. John died in London, England on 18 May 1675. Buried in Bishopsgate, London.
4691.Jonathan Cudworth. Born ca 1614 in Aller, Somerset.
4692.Elizabeth Cudworth. Born on 27 Aug 1615 in Aller, Somerset.
4693.Dr. Ralph Cudworth. Born in 1616 in Aller, Somerset. Ralph died in Cambridge, England in 1688.
Ralph was a leader among the group of Engilish intellectuals known as the Cambridge Platonists.14
From the New England Historical and Genealogical Record, volume 64, 1910, page 86, in the section entitled “Notes”:
A son was born to Rev. Ralph Cudworth at Aller in 1616, who was given the name of Ralph and who was the husband of Damaris Andrews. He became a philosopher and theologian of note, being “ one of the most eminent of the Latltudinarian Divines.” He was a Fellow of Emmanuel, Regis Professor of Hebrew, and wrote many works on religious subjects. In 1650 he was presented to the living of North Cadbury, Somerset, made vacant by the resignation of Rev. Benjamin Whichcote. In 1654 he became master of Christ College, and about this time married Damaris Andrews. He was intimate with Thurloe, secretary to Cromwell. He died at Cambridge in 1688, and is buried in Christ College. The widow, Damaris Cudworth, daughter of Matthew Craddock, was buried at High Lavers, Essex, in 1695. A very elaborate marble tablet bears this inscription: “Damaris Cudworth Relict of Ralph Cudworth Df of Divinitie, and Master of Christ’s College Cambridge. Exemplarie for her pietie and virtue, for her studie of the scriptures, Charitie to the poore, and good will to all, and an excellent Wife, Mother, Mistress and friend, lies buried in the middle between this and the opposite wall. She was bom the 28 Oct. 1628 and, after a life made easie to herselfe and others by the unalterable evenness of her temper, she died as one that goes to sleepe without disease or paine the 16 Nov. 1695, in full hope and expectation of a happy resurrection.”
The only daughter of Rev. Ralph and Damaris (Craddock) Cudworth was Damaris, born in Cambridge, Eng., 18 Jan. 1658. Damaris Cudworth, aged 21, of Cambridge, was married with the consent of her father. Rev. Ralph Cudworth, after 24 June 1685 at St. Andrews, Holborn, London, to Sir Francis Masham of Oates, in High Lavers, Essex, baronet and widower, then aged 36. She was his second wife. Lady Masham wrote many religious works, and was the friend of Locke, who lived with the family and of whose life she wrote an account in the “Great Historical Dictionary.” Lady Masham died 20 Apr. 1708, and is buried In the middle aisle of Bath Abbey. Her son Francis Cudworth Masham, accountant general to the Court of Chancery, died 25 May 1781, the last of his branch. A life of Lady Masham is given in Ballard’s “Lives of Ladies.”
Rev. Ralph Cudworth (1617–1688) had sons Charles, who died in 1684, and John, who died In 1726. He is also given as father of Ralph (circa 1650–1690). This last Ralph was father of Willam (1690–1768). The latter’s younger son Benjamin married Marie Marple. Benjamin Cudworth’s son Benjamin married Mary Sheppard, and had issue. A sister of the second Benjamin, Elizabeth, married William de Whitebrook. Their two sons were William Marie Aymer de Whitebrook and J. Cudworth de Whitebrook of London.
Ralph married Damaris Craddock, daughter of Matthew Craddock. Born on 28 Oct 1628. Damaris was baptized in St. Swithin’s Canongate, London, on 1 Nov 1628. Damaris died on 16 Nov 1695; she was 67.
Damaris first married Thomas Andrews, second James Cudworth.