Calling someone a "coocally raskall" landed my 7th great granduncle Joseph Turner (1636-1715) in hot water in early Plymouth Colony.
Joseph Turner was two years younger than my 7th great grandmother Mary Turner (1634-1703). Their parents were Humphrey Turner and Lydia Gamer. Joseph and Mary were just two of the 8 children born into this family. Another of the sons, Nathaniel (1638-1715), also takes part in this story.
The well-ordered productive and pious life of their Puritan father Humphrey was the subject of another story and can be found through this link. Joseph appears to have been a rebellious youth and one would never describe him as "a chip off the old block". Joseph's language and behavior got him into trouble with his neighbors. One can only imagine what mischief he might have created had he lived in today's social media age!
The events of 1669 in Scituate, Plymouth Colony involved Joseph being sued for slander and defamation by neighbors Charles Stockbridge (bef. 1638-1683) and his wife Abigail Stockbridge. Apparently Joseph had said that "Charles Stockbridge is a coocally rogue" and that Abigail, his wife is "a brasen faced whore" and "as very a strumpett as any in New England". Joseph said that Charles was "a coocally raskall and he would prove him soe." [note: spelling as in references 1 and 3 below; although there is no evidence for this, one might speculate that "coocally" is derived from "cuckold".]
Another case in the same year involved the same Charles Stockbridge having himself made slanderous comments. In this case Joseph Tilden (1657-1712) sued Charles Stockbridge of Scituate for 1000 pounds in an action of slander and defamation for saying that "Nathaniel Turner and Joseph Turner could kisse Elizabeth, the wife of the said Tilden, as ofte as they listed, and doe something else too, and that the said Nathaniel Turner knew her, the said Elizabeth Tilden, as well as her owne husband". [spelling as in reference 1 below]
Joseph and Nathaniel's mother Lydia died in 1669, the year of the bad language. Perhaps that had something to do with their behavior that year. Whether the Turner brothers were given some leeway for their family loss or not, the legal matters were eventually settled. One source says Joseph was fined 100 pounds and another says he was sentenced to 30 lashes. Continuing to live in the same community where all these people had known each other since childhood must have posed some ongoing embarrassment and ill will.
In any event, Joseph Turner apparently had a reputation as a ladies' man, at least with respect to the married ladies of the town. Joseph was the only sibling who never married. Perhaps he had managed to offend or scare off any potential mates!
It was said that he eventually redeemed himself through his service to his community as an Ensign at the time of King Phillip's War. These days one might find oneself in sympathy with the Native Americans who were simply trying to stop the takeover of their lands. Joseph was badly injured in action against the Narragansetts in 1673 after which the town voted to help him find a cure and support him at the town's expense for life. The cure worked and he again rejoined the troops under Governor Winslow. He was at the storming of the Narragansett Fort (aka the Great Swamp Massacre) on 19 December 1675. In 1681 the Colony records (reference 2 below, p. 121) report that "Joseph Turner having served in the Narragansett fight, is freed from military duty." After this, he seems to have lived quietly for the rest of his days.
Joseph died at the age of 48 on 1 November 1715. He is believed to be buried in Scituate, MA, but no stone bears his name.
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| Cemetery in Scituate, Massachusetts photo of author amid ancestral bones by Graham Barnard 1999 |
- The Material Culture of Plymouth Colony, Loan Exhibition May 8-October 23, 1994, Heritage Plantation of Sandwich, Brian Cullity, Chief Curator, p.9
- Deane, Samuel, History of Scituate, Massachusetts; Boston: James Loring 1831; Bicentennial Edition Published by Scituate Historical Society 1975
- Joslyn, Roger D., Family History: The Devoe, Josselyn, and Related Families, Descendants of John Stockbridge, website accessed at https://terpconnect.umd.edu/~hdevoe/FamHist/p58.htm
Wow, his language was rather rascally for the time! Can't imagine he would be considered a good catch for any eligible lady.
ReplyDeleteI know, Marian! I wonder how my ancestor who was his sister survived in the community. She was married there with 4 children, the oldest of whom was a 14 year-old boy who would have been well aware of the town gossip.
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