Clough Family
John Clough (1), the immigrant ancestor of that branch of the Clough family to which Dr. Benjamin F. Clough of Worcester belongs, was born in England in 1613. He was twenty-two years old in 1635, when he sailed for America in the ship “Elizabeth.” The date of sailing is given as April 11.
The name from many generations has been spelled variously Clow, Clough (pronounced to rhyme with “how”) and Cluff and Cluffe, pronounced as written. The established spelling Clough seems to be the proper way.
- John Clough deposed in 1691 that his age was seventy-seven years, thus substantiating the approximate date of his birth obtained from his age at emigration.
- He may have lived at Boston for a time, but it is difficult to prove whether John Clough of the Boston records is John of Watertown or John of Salisbury.
- John of Watertown was a tailor.
- The John Clough of this pedigree settled in Salisbury, was a proprietor there as early as 1639, and a house carpenter by trade.
- He had a second grant of land 1640 and others later.
- He was admitted a freeman May 18, 1642, and took the oath of fidelity 1650, and was a commoner and taxpayer 1650.
- The general court granted to John Clough, then of Boston, a lot of land at Salisbury (see Hoyt’s Families) March 13, 1638-9, the record stating that he had served his master four years, indicating that he was either apprenticed to learn his trade of carpenter or was bound out for a term- a common way of paying passage money. Or he may have been a prisoner of war.
- It seems most likely that he was apprenticed at Boston in some family that he knew in England and with whom he came to this country.
- He must have been counted a desirable citizen even as a young man, or he would not have been granted land by the general court.
- He died July 26, 1691, and his will was proved November 3rd, following.
- He made bequests to his wife Martha: sons John, Samuel and Thomas; son-in-law Daniel Merrill: daughters Elizabeth Horne and Sarah Merrill; the children of daughter Martha, wife of Cornelius Page, late of Andover, and other grandchildren.
- He married (first) Jane __________, died January 16, 1679.
- He married (second) January 15, 1686, Martha Cilley, or Sibley.
Children of John and Jane Clough:
1. Elizabeth, born December 16, 1642, married __________ Horne.
2. Mary, born July 30, 1644, died before her father.
3. Sarah, born June 28, 1646; married May 14, 1667, Daniel, son of Nathaniel Merrill.
4. John, born March 9, 1648-9; married November 13, 1674, Mercy Page; was eldest son in 1691.
5. Thomas.
6. Martha, born March 22, 1654; married, November 13, 1674, Cornelius Day.
7. Samuel, born February 20, 1656-7; married August 31, 1679, Elizabeth Brown.
Transcribed from “Clough Family” – Archive.org