(Vol. i., pp. 385. 492.)
In the 1st volume of the _New England Historical and Genealogical
Register_, pp. 345., &c., and in subsequent volumes, an interesting
account, by J. W. Thornton, Esq., of Boston, may be found of the
"Gookins of America," who are descendants of Sir Vincent Gookin, Knt.,
to whom your correspondents refer.
Mr. Thornton explains the omission of the descendants of Vincent and
Daniel in the pedigree found in Berry's _Kent_, p. 113., and which is
from the original visitation in Heralds' College, by the fact, that they
probably went to the co. Cork, and Daniel from thence to Virginia. He
cites undoubted proof that Daniel arrived in Virginia in November, 1621,
and was one of twenty-six patentees to whom, in 1620, King James granted
a patent of land in that colony, they having "undertaken to transport
great multitudes of persons and cattle to Virginia." In 1626 this Daniel
is described in a deed as of "Carygoline, in the county of Cork, within
the kingdom of Ireland, Esquire." In February 1630 a deed is recorded,
made by "Daniel Gookin, of Newport Newes, Virginia, the younger,
Gentleman." Upon the records of the Court of James City, held Nov. 22,
1642, Captain John Gookin is mentioned. Mr. Thornton infers that the
elder Daniel returned to Ireland, and that Daniel the younger, and
Captain John Gookin, were his sons. During the religious troubles which
arose in Virginia, Daniel, junior, and Mary his wife, left for New
England, where they arrived on May 10, 1644, and where he became, as he
had been, a person of considerable influence. He was promoted to the
rank of Major-General in the colony, and died March 19, 1686-7, aet. 75.
For further mention of him, see Carlyle's _Letters and Speeches of
Oliver Cromwell_, Let. 143. and Note; Thurloe's _State Papers_, vol. iv.
pp. 6. 440. 449.; vol. v. p. 509.; vol. vi. p. 362. He is spoken of,
says Mr. Thornton, by an authority of the time, as a "Kentish soldier."
Colonel Charles Gookin, whom Penn sent as a governor to his colony, is
described by the latter in a letter, dated London, Sept. 28, 1708, as
"of years and experience," "and of what they call a good family, his
grandfather Sir Vincent Gookin having been an early great planter in
Ireland, in King James First's and the first Charles's days." Governor
Gookin assumed his duties in Pennsylvania in 1708, and was recalled in
1717. He was never married.
In a letter dated Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1709, Governor Gookin writes to
a grandson of Major-General Daniel Gookin, of New England: "I assure you
that the account you gave me of that part of our family settled in
America was extremely satisfactory;" and again, Nov. 22, 1710, to the
same he says: "By a letter from Ireland I am informed two of our
relatives are lately dead, viz. Robert Gookin, son of my uncle Robert,
and Augustine Gookin, eldest son of my uncle Charles." He subscribes
himself "cousin," &c.
From Mr. Thornton's account, and the remarks of your correspondent, I
think I may venture to deduce the following table:--
|
+---------------------------+------------------------+
| |
SIR VINCENT G., Kt., DANIEL,
Lived at Highfield who went
House, Bitton, to
Gloucester, Virginia.
which he purchased --married
in 1627, xv.
d. 1637, and bu. |
at Bitton. |
--married JUDITH, dau. of xx. Wood, |
d. 1642, bu. at Bitton. |
| |
| |
+--------+-------+-----+---------+--------+ +-----+---+
| | | | | | |
SAMUEL, VINCENT, FRANCES, ROBERT. CHARLES. Maj.-G. JOHN.
buried publishes baptized | | DANIEL,
at his pamphlet at | | --married
Bitton, in 1634, Bitton, | | Mary xx.
1635. left Bitton 1637. | | |
in 1646, | | |
living in | | |
1655. | | |
--married | | |
Mary x. | | |
| | | |
| | | |
ROBERT, ROBERT, AUGUSTINE, DANIEL,
conveys Bitton d. 1710. eldest SAMUEL,
in 1646. son, d. NATHANIEL,
1710. &c., some
of whose
descendants
still live
in New
England.