John Endicott (c.1588-1665)
3 Prompts: Power, Multiples & Name’s the Same: A Governor in a Pear Tree
This post had me shaking the family tree a little harder to see what would fall out. Conveniently enough, it was that thought of shaking a tree to get fruit to fall out that gave me this post’s ancestor: John Endecott/Endicott (c.1588-1665), a man in POWER who served MULTIPLE terms as the Governor of the Massachusets Bay Colony, his first term was 1629-1630 as the colony’s first Governor, and he left a long descendancy of those bearing the SAME NAME.
That bit about the fruit tree? — read on.
John Endecott/Endicott (c.1588-1665) is one of my maternal 9th great-grandfathers through my grandmother, Dorothy Leeds (1920-2013), as well as one of my maternal 10th great-grandfathers through my grandfather, Clair Champion (1917-2012).
A man in POWER serving MULTIPLE terms as Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony:
Regarded as one of the Fathers of New England: March 1627 — One of seven signatories to a land grant given to “The New England Company for a Plantation in Massachusetts”
Sailed to the New World aboard the Abigail in 1628 from England
Held responsibility to establish the colony and to prepare it for the arrival of additional settlers
Longest-serving Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony serving as the colony’s 1st (1629-1630), 10th (1644-1645), 13th (1649-1650), 15th (1651-1654) and 17th (1655-1664) Governor
Co-founder of Salem, Massachusetts, under whose leadership the new colony made rapid progress
A zealous and hotheaded Puritan with Separatist attitudes toward the Anglican Church
Banished individuals who held religious views that did not accord well with those of the Puritans
Notoriously defaced the English flag because he saw St. George’s Cross as symbol of the papacy — celebrated by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story “Endicott and the Red Cross”.
Source: www.endecottendicott.com — The John Endecott Family Association, Inc.
About that fruit tree…
Historical Marker: posted in 2009, located at the North Shore Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts — transcribed below www.danverslibrary.org
The Endecott Pear Tree, America’s Oldest Fruit Tree
“Growing on this site is the oldest cultivated tree in America. Planted in or about 1632 by John Endecott, the first Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Endecott Pear Tree is a living piece of history tracing back to the earliest European settlers of our nation.
John Endecott owned this property and some 300 surrounding acres which he named ‘Orchard Farm’ for the wide variety of fruits and vineyards that he planted. All traces of this historic farm and its orchards and buildings have disappeared, save for a nearby family burial ground and this ancient pear tree.
The Endecott Pear Tree has survived hurricanes, snowstorms, and industrial development and remains an important symbol of heritage, strength, and resilience. It has been noted and celebrated in history, art, and poetry, as well as illustrated in books, magazines, murals, paintings and postcards from as early as the 18th century. Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow spoke of its significance, and its fruit was favored by President John Adams.
In the 18th century, the family changed the spelling of its name to Endicott. Today, this healthcare facility on Endicott Street is a tribute to Orchard Farm, which served as the home of Governor Endecott’s son, Zerubbabel [my 8th and 9th GG]. He was one of the first Massachusetts-born physicians and tended to the medical needs of the settlers in what are now Danvers and Salem.”
New York Public Library , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
File: The old "Endicott Pear Tree," Danvers, Mass., planted by Governor Endicott in 1628., by J. S. Lefavour
Original source: Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views. / United States. / States / Massachusetts. / Stereoscopic views of Essex County, Massachusetts.
A little more history:
Picture: AP Wire Photo, Danvers Herald, September 1964
In July 1964 the Endecott Pear Tree was nearly destroyed in a pre-meditated, senseless, and mean-spirited act by a vandal with no regard for history or heritage.
The tree, a living survivor of the 17th century was dismembered by hack saws, completely denuding the 333 year old tree. Not a leaf, not a twig, not a branch, not a limb was left. All procedures of grafting making incisions into the remaining stump of a tree, along with all the combined human efforts and interventions failed to save it.
A sturdy barbed-wire, jail-like fence was placed around the remaining stump and watchmen included it on their daily checks to prevent further destruction.
Photo: AP Wire Photo, Danvers Herald, July 1965
In early summer of 1965, despite failed human efforts in grafting the year before, the old tree began to rejuvenate itself! The Endecott Pear Tree began showing definite signs of renewed growth and vigor. The strength within its own roots and its own sturdy strength put out over 100 good shoots of growth. With proper care and pruning, the tree responded unbelievably!
In 2002 the sturdy barbed-wire, jail-like fence was removed because it was hindering the tree’s growth. It was replaced with an attractive black metal vertical grill fence. To this day, the tree is thriving and well tended, even bearing fruit.
More information: https://endecottendicott.com/
“One of the goals of the John Endecott Family Association is to propagate the Endicott Pear Tree. The JEFA (John Endicott Family Association) was pleased to announce in 2019 that after a hiatus of several years, our Endicott Pear Tree Project is being resumed, this time by certified Arborist Tim Endicott of Endicott Horticulture in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tim is using a process called grafting. Grafting is the practice of joining two plants together permanently so that they will continue growing as a single organism.”
Name’s the same
In my family tree I have six identified and documented John Endicotts:
Governor John Endicott (1588-1665), son of Thomas Endicott (1560-1621) and Alice Westlake (1565-1643) — my 9th and 10th GG
John Endicott (1632-1667), son of Governor John Endicott (1588-1665) and Elizabeth Cogan Gibson (1589-1635) — my 8th great-granduncle
John Endicott (1659-1693), son of Zerubbabel Endicott (1635-1684) and Mary Smith (1636-1677), grandson of Governor John Endicott and Elizabeth Cogan Gibson — my 7th great-granduncle
John Endicott (1698-1761), son of Joseph Endicott (1672-1747) and Hannah Gossling (1684-1748) — my 6th GG
John Endicott (1773-1857), son of Benjamin Endicott (1741-1792) and Susan Doughty (1749-1805) — my 4th great-granduncle
John Endicott (1914-1982), son of George Endicott, Jr. (1890-1924) — my 4th cousin, 2x removed
