Prudence Munroe

Notes:

Prudence reportedly thought her mother was Mary Parker, her father's first wife, instead of Abigail Parker, his second wife.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Family/Spouse: Lemuel Beaman. Lemuel was born about 1750; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Phillip's four oldest children, his first wife, Mary and his mother Johanna all died at about the same time, evidently in an epidemic. His last surviving child at the time was dead by 23 Dec 1749. At this time, Philip was 31 years old. He must have married his second wife, Abigail, between 1749 and 1753. From the 35th to 60th year of his age, 11 more children were born to him and Abigail. She was about 22 when the first was born and 47 at the birth of their last child.

Philip was of Shrewsbury, Boylston and Rutland, Massachusetts. The first Shrewsbury deeds call Philip Munroe of Lexington, Massachusetts. A little later he was called of Shrewsbury. There are 18 land transfers of places that he bought and sold. He lived on one of the places called the 'Roe farm', which was still standing in 1963.

He was living on the "Hill" in what is now Boylston, but was Shrewsbury North Precinct in his time. Two of his children were baptised in the church of the North Precinct or Second Parish on the same day, 2 Nov 1769.

Philip Munroe started acquiring land in Shrewsbury Area about 1763, he sold 5 acres to Jonathan Weelock in Shrewsbury in 1763, and in 1765 he purchased a piece of land from Benjamin Tainter. In the deeds he is called "Philip Munro a labourer". Today he would be called a land speculator. Most of the deeds call him of Shrewsbury, two call him of Rutland.

Two deeds establish his connection to Surry, New Hampshire. The first deed dated 22 Dec 1789, in which he is called a physician, and the second dated 29 Dec 1789. He had established himself of Surry, New Hampshire by about 1783.

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The following is a transcription of RW "Billy" Munro's genealogy notes:

[Abraham Munro] «i»Son of Philip Munro (1718-?) and Mary ___? Baptised Shrewsbury, 4 September, 1763.

Mackenzie Page 587
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«/i»Error alert: RW Munro says Philip was the son of Ens. William Munroe and his first wife, Mary Cutler. Other references say Philip was the son of William's second wife, Johanna Russell. Philip's birth date is after William and Johanna's marriage date.

Ref: Clan Munro files - Griffin, Richard
- Farlow, Donna

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Buried:
Surrey Village Cemetery

Philip married Abigail Parker in 1749 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. Abigail was born in 1731; was christened on 7 Oct 1750; died on 8 Oct 1801 in Surry, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, USA; was buried in Surry, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Error alert: There are three people named Abigail Parker who supposedly married close Munroe relatives close to the same time frame. This is either a coincidence or an error.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Christened:
Baptism

Buried:
Surrey Village Cemetery

Notes:

William was an ensign in the colonial militia, and hence was denominated as "Ensign Roe". He was admitted into the church 9 Apr 1699 and his wife Mary on 30 Apr 1699. His second wife, Johanna, was admitted on 24 Dec. 1727.

He was a constable in 1708, assessor in 1713, and selectman in 1724, 1734, and 1735.

He built the Munroe Tavern which was still standing in 1964.

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«i»William Jr., built a house for himself--a tavern. The house, built in 1695, was a famous hostelry for 163 years. Its fame began with its purchase in 1770 by Col. William Munroe, grandson of the builder and great-grandson of the original settler.«/i»

("The Monroe Tavern" - a newspaper article from an unknown Boston area newspaper - 1911)
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Williams was probated in Middlesex County, but all that appears is the admin. bond by his son Thomas, innholder, 19 Mar 1759.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

William married Johanna Russell in 1715 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. Johanna (daughter of Philip Russell and Johanna Cutler) was born on 15 Mar 1680 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died on 17 Sep 1748 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Johanna, her daughter-in-law, Mary, and four of her grandchildren all died at about the same time, possibly in an epidemic.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

The link between William Munroe of Lexington, Massachusetts and Robert Munro of Aldie has not been proven beyond a doubt. However, there is a body of circumstantial evidence that supports that assumption. An excellent summary of the evidence can be found in the preface to "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R.S. Munroe.

Not only is there no proof that William was the son of Robert of Aldie, there happens to be two people named Robert of Aldie who could possibly have been his father. Some researchers say William was the son of Robert Munro of Aldie b. about 1566 who married Isobel McKenzie, but most Munro genealogists have settled on Robert Munro of Aldie b. 1590 and married Elizxabeth Johnson. Other researchers erroneously say William was a son of Robert Munro XIV of Foulis.

William was born in 1625 near Inverness, Scotland. He was probably the son of Robert of Aldie who "went to the wars in Germany" and had sons George, William and Benedict. Robert of Aldie married in Nuremberg and died in Germany in 1633.

William was probably conscripted to serve in the army in the constant battles going on at this time. All men between the ages of 16 and 60 were expected to fight in Scotland's wars.

It was a time of great upheaval in Scotland. There was no chief at Foulis keeping the clan together. The Black Baron had already fallen into debt and disposed of much of the property. He had married three times, once bigamously, and was in Germany in the service of Christian IV where he died in 1633 when William was eight years old. Scotland was at war with England and within Scotland there were accumulating differences, political and religious, among Catholics and Presbyterians, covenanters and royalists. Battles large and small raged from coast to coast.

A historian noted the poverty of an exhausted broken down distracted country. Another wrote, "Our miseries and danger of ruin are greater than for many ages... a potent victorious enemy masters our seas... and the best part of our land. Our standing forces against his imminent invasions are few, weak and inconsiderable. Our kirk, state and army are full of divisions and jealousies. Our people south of the Forth are spoiled and near starving; north they are extremely ill-used by our own, many inclined to treat with Cromwell without care of king or covenant; none of our neighbors are willing to give us any help though called."

All men were conscripted, except those who were termed "malignant", not loyal to the cause, and many arguments resulted. King Charles was displaying treachery, playing both sides against each other. Cromwell attempted to bring the King in line without further bloodshed but without success.

In this miserable state, Cromwell met the Scots at Dunbar on 3 Sep 1650. A terrible battle ensued. Three thousand men fell on the field. Ten thousand were taken prisoner. Five thousand sick and wounded were dismissed from the field and allowed to go homeward, if able. Those who survived a violent disorder in prison were sold as slaves to the plantations.

The Scots did not surrender. The wars continued for another year. The castle at Edinburgh was surrendered without bloodshed, although rape, robbery and murder were perpetrated on the citizens by the soldiers outside the castle walls.

William was with the Scottish Army under Charles II which engaged the English at Worcester on 3 Sep 1651, exactly one year after the Battle of Dunbar. The battle raged for three hours and the Scots initially had the upper hand until the arrival of fresh English troops. The slaughter went on for two more hours. The victors and the vanquished entered Worcester fighting. The noise woke up King Charles who had been sleeping while men died for him. He rushed into the street and attempted to take charge, but was ignored. Seeing the direction of events, the king fled with fugitives who were leaving the city. Two thousand men were killed and between six and seven thousand were taken prisoner in the city and more later. William was among those captured.

All who lived at Worcester were taken by Cromwell and imprisoned or sent to the plantations. Almost all of the Scottish Chieftains were ruined, dead, in prison or in exile. The clans were abolished and it was forbidden to wear tartans.

William was sold to the plantations, probably the best thing that could have happened to a Scotsman at that time. He was shipped from London on 11 Nov 1651 by Jo, Reex, Robert Rich and William Green on the "John and Sarah", arrived in New England in Mar 1652, and consigned to Thomas Kemble of Boston, who had the privilege of selling his indentured servants for periods of from six to eight years. Four Munros were on board: Robert, John, Hugh and one name, thought to be William, which was obliterated on the manifest. William might have been sold as an apprentice at the Saugus Iron Works. The Beckett reference says "William Munrow (Munroe, Munro), says tradition, was bound out to a farmer by the name of Winship, who resided in that part of Cambridge called Mehotony (now Arlington), and when his indenture had expired he set up for himself, going farther back into the woods and procuring a tract of land within the prsent limits of Lexington, on a section now known as Scotland."

If William was sold as an apprentice when he first arrived in America, he must have been his own man by 1657 because he and one Thomas Rose were fined in Cambridge for not having rings in the noses of their swine.

Around 1660, he settled in the northeasterly part of Cambridge Farms, now known as Lexington, near the Woburn line. In those days this part of the town was called "Scotland". He was made freeman in 1690 and on 1 Feb 1699 was received into Communion of the Church. In 1693, he was one of the committee "to treat for the purchase of land for the minister." In 1694 he was a selectman of Cambridge and later his name appears in connection with several other important parish offices.

The Ackerman reference speculates that William was born in 1634.

His first wife, Margaret George, was the daughter of John and Anna (Goldstone) George of Charlestown. The Mills reference says Margaret was born about 1636.

His third wife was the widow of Edward Dwyer (or Wyer) of Charlestown, daughter of William and Elizabeth Johnson. The Ellis reference says Elizabeth was William's second wife and that Mary Ball was his third.

Several references say William was the son of Robert Munro of Aldie [10900]. Robert [10900] was the uncle of Robert Munro of Aldie [2760], William's father as listed here.

The Hopkins reference says William was the son of "Farquhar Munroe of Aldie" and Catherine MacCulloch, and the Andrews reference says William was the son of Robert Munro XVIII of Foulis. There is no hard proof as to the actual identity of William's father.

His gravestone inscription reads: "Here Lyes ye Body of Mr William Munroe, Aged about 92 years, Decd Janry 27th 1717-8. "

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«i»William Munroe, who, born in Caithness, Scotland, in 1625, was taken prisoner by Cromwell's men at the battle of Worcester in 1651, and was deported in the John and Sara to Boston. He worked out the cost of his passage, settled in Cambridge Farms (now Lexington), in a section still called "Scotland," married three wives, had thirteen children and became a substantial citizen.

As his children married he added successive ells to his house until it is said to have resembled a ropewalk.«/i»

("The Monroe Tavern" - a newwspaper article from an unknown Boston area newspaper - 1911)
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William was one of the company of Scotsmen who fought on the side of Charles II against Cromwell at the battle of Worchester, England on September 3, 1651. About 8000 of the Scots were captured, and sent to America as indentured servants to pay for their passage. Four Munros were sent from London on the ship "John and Sara" on November 11, 1651. They were listed as Hugh Monrow, John Monrow, Robert Monrow, and ------- Monrow (presumably William "The Immigrant" Monroe. He arrived in New England in March 1652, and was consigned to Thomas Kemble of Boston. In 1660, he settled in Cambridge Farms (now Lexington) in the part of town called "Scotland". He was made a free man in 1690.

("Descendants of John Munro" - by W. M. Roeser)
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Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - M/24
Clan Munro files - Ackerman, Elizabeth - membership application
- Bonney, Frances
- Brown, Thelma
- Charles, Marie Pierce
- Coombs, Judith
- Coutant, Martha
- Cox, J.
- Coye, Ruby
- Crandall, Katherine
- Delehanty, James
- Dietrich, Earl
- Elder, Charlotte
- Ebb, Jane Michelle (application)
- Farlow, Donna
- Griffin, Richard
- Guilford, Joan
- Henderson, Martha Monroe
- Jewell, Dana Munroe
- Langtry, Jeannette
- Mady, Ashley Nicole
- Mills, Larry
- Monroe, Ruby Lucille
- Sage, Wes
- Stephens, Frances
- Yard, F. L. Dixon

References:

(1) "Charles Monroe (1823-1873) of Posey, Vanderburgh & Gibson County, Indiana
- His Ancestors and Descendants" by Kendyl K. Monroe - (1997) - p. 1

(2) "History of Ashburnham Massachusetts" published in 1887


Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Historical research suggested that William Munroe (b. 1625) was one of Robert Munro of Aldie's sons and the unknown "Munrow" listed as a prisoner of war on the "John and Sara" ship (1652). However Y-DNA research performed in 2018 (reported by Mark E. Monroe) does not verify this assumption, so we are removing Robert Munro of Aldie and Elizabeth Johnson as his parents in this database.
(Note by Betti J. Steele MD, 28 May 2019)

Buried:
William was buried in the Old Cemetery in Lexington, Massachusetts.

William married Martha George in 1665 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. Martha (daughter of John George and Anna Goldstone) was born est 1634 in , , , Scotland; died in 1672 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Martha was the daughter of John and Elizabeth George of Charlestown, Massachusetts. John was a prominent Baptist who was fined, imprisoned and finally ordered out of town for heresy.

Martha died before 1672.

References:

(2) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
561

(3) "Charles Monroe (1823-1873) of Posey, Vanderburgh & Gibson County, Indiana
- His Ancestors and Descendants" by Kendyl K. Monroe - (1997) - p. 1

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Philip married Johanna Cutler on 18 Apr 1680 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. Johanna (daughter of Lt. Thomas Cutler and Abigail Dewey) was born about 1661 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died on 26 Nov 1703. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA