Capt John ALDEN

Male 1622 - 1702  (79 years)


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  • Name John ALDEN  [1
    Prefix Capt 
    Birth 1622  Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Gender Male 
    Birth Bef 1626  Plymouth Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Fact 1648  Freeman at Boston Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Will 17 Feb 1701  [1
    Death Between 14 Mar 1701 and 1702  Boston, Mass. Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Death 14 May 1702  [2
    Notes 
    • Excerpt from "Mayflower Increasings": Capt. John Alden was a distinguished and respected citizen, having lived in Boston for over 30 years. He was an experienced mariner and had served as a naval commander. As a military officer he had served in the French and Indian wars and as late as 1690 served as commissioner in conducting negotiations with the natives. Imagine his amazement to find himself before the Salem magistrates, 31 May 1692, "upon the accusation of a company of poor distracted or possessed creatures or witches" on a charge of witchcraft! He was interrogated for many hours, during which time his sword was taken from him (he was accused of using it to afflict his accusers) and he was further degraded by one accuser who states, "he sells powder and shot to the Indians and French, and lies with the Indian squaws, and has Indian papooses". The evidence against him? During the interrogation he was said to pinch his accusers, strike them down with his look, and heal them with his touch. Capt. Alden was taken to Boston jail where he was held in custody for fifteen weeks and, in his own words,"....and then, observing the manner of trials, and evidence then taken, was at length prevailed with to make his escape". He made his escape about the middle of September and it was probable just in time as soon after this nine of the accused were executed. Alden probably made his way to Duxbury where relatives and friends hid him, but his experience was not yet over. In April 1693 when it appeared the witchcraft hysteria was over and people were coming to their senses, Alden turned himself in and was bound over to the Superior Court at Boston the last Tuesday of Apr. 1693. When no one came forward to prosecute, he and 150 others were released. The judicial proceedings were finally over, at the expense of 20 innocent lives.
    Person ID I01633  Main Tree
    Last Modified 31 Jul 2020 

    Father John ALDEN,   b. Bef 1598, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Between 12 Sep 1686 and 1687, Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age > 88 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother Priscilla MULLINS,   b. Abt 1602   d. Between 01 Dec 1680 and 12 Sep 1687, Duxbury Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Marriage 1621  [2
    Married 1623  Plymouth Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Family ID F07398  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Elizabeth PHILLIPS,   b. Bef 1640   d. 07 Feb 1695/6 (Age > 56 years) 
    Marriage 01 Apr 1660  [2
    Children 
     1. John ALDEN,   b. 20 Nov 1660, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Between 12 Mar 1662 and 1663 (Age 1 year)  [Birth]
     2. Elizabeth ALDEN,   b. 09 May 1662, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 Jul 1662, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 0 years)  [Birth]
     3. John ALDEN,   b. 12 Mar 1662/23, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 01 Feb 1729/30, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 6 years)  [Birth]
     4. William ALDEN,   b. 16 Mar 1663/64, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 07 Jun 1664, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 0 years)
    +5. Elizabeth ALDEN,   b. 09 Apr 1665, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1 Sep 1739 (Age 74 years)  [Birth]
     6. William ALDEN,   b. 05 Mar 1665/66, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 10 Sep 1669 (Age < 3 years)
     7. Zachariah ALDEN,   b. 05 Mar 1667, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Between 18 Feb 1672 and 1673 (Age 4 years)  [Natural]
     8. Nathaniel ALDEN,   b. 09 Jul 1668, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 24 Jul 1702 (Age < 34 years)  [Natural]
     9. William ALDEN,   b. 10 Sep 1669, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Between 09 and 10 Feb 1728  [Natural]
     10. Zachariah ALDEN,   b. 18 Feb 1672/73, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 18 Aug 1709 (Age < 36 years)
     11. Nathan ALDEN,   b. 17 Oct 1677, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 17 Feb 1701 (Age < 23 years)  [Natural]
     12. Sarah ALDEN,   b. 27 Sep 1681, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 17 Feb 1701 (Age < 19 years)  [Natural]
    Family ID F11149  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 24 Feb 2015 

    Family 2 Elizabeth ?   d. Dec 1659 
    Marriage Bef 1658  [1
    Children 
     1. Mary ALDEN,   b. 17 Dec 1659, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Between 1665 and 28 Apr 1667, Boston, Suffolk County,Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 5 years)  [Natural]
    Family ID F19989  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsFact - 1648 - Freeman at Boston Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Between 14 Mar 1701 and 1702 - Boston, Mass. Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Sources 
    1. [S02658] Mayflower Increasings 2nd Edition by Susan E. Roser.

    2. [S01988] Connecticut, 1600s-1800s Local Families and Histories: New England Families, Vol. III, Genealogies and Memorials.