About Wednesday 12 March 1661/62

Peter Stoddard on 22 May 2015  •  Link

Sir George Downing's sister, Mary, whom history shows to be a far more pleasant person than her brother, married linen merchant Anthony Stoddard of Boston, my immigrant ancestor. George is my 8th great-granduncle. Anthony and Mary Downing Stoddard had a son, Solomon, who became an influential minister in western Massachusetts.

Following graduation from Harvard and a 2 years of service as chaplain in Barbados, Solomon planned to return to England, his belongings on board a ship set to sail the next day, when elders from the Northampton Church persuaded him to instead become their pastor.

Solomon's plan had been to tie his fortunes to his uncle, George Downing, in England. Downing went on to become a traitorous rogue, and Solomon a very godly man. It would be interesting to know who would have influenced whom had Solomon gone to England.