Submit an update

Rev. James Noyes of Newbury
1608 — 22 October 1656

Help improve this person’s record. Share a memory, correct a detail, or add a photo. Jason will review your suggestion.

You only need to edit the details you want to change. Fields start with the current information; leave anything unchanged that already looks right. To suggest removing a value, clear that field and explain why.

Names and life details

Full name

Given names

Surname

Birth dateA year or an approximate date is fine, such as “about 1840.”

Birthplace

Death dateA year or an approximate date is fine, such as “about 1840.”

Death place

Sex

Living status

Other names

Family relationships

Include names, dates, and the type of relationship. For parents, say whether the connection is biological, adoptive, stepfamily, or uncertain.

Parents

Spouses and partners

Children

Their story and life events

Their story

James Noyes’s work joined teaching, ministry and writing. Born at Cholderton, in Wiltshire in southern England, in 1608, he entered Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1627. He did not take a degree. Instead, according to the family account preserved by Cotton Mather, Thomas Parker drew him into teaching at the free school in Newbury, Berkshire, in England, while continuing his education.

He married Sarah Browne shortly before their departure for New England in 1634. James, Sarah, his brother Nicholas and Parker traveled with the company associated with the Mary and John. The family testimony describes James and Parker sharing preaching and exposition during the voyage. It attributes his decision to emigrate to his inability to accept the Church of England’s required ceremonies.

After a short period at Medford, James joined the settlement of Newbury, on the northeastern Massachusetts coast, in 1635. Parker became pastor and James teacher of the church. Their partnership continued in the household as well as the meetinghouse. Newbury’s parish history records them living together first near the lower green and later in the house James built when the meetinghouse moved toward the upper green in the 1640s.

His book The Temple Measured addressed the government of the church: its membership, officers, powers and relationship to civil magistrates. Published in London with a 1647 imprint, it was already in the collector George Thomason’s hands in October 1646. James’s ideas were reaching readers beyond his Newbury congregation.

He made his will on October 17, 1656, shortly before his death that month. It gave Sarah control of his property while she remained unmarried and directed her to seek the counsel of Parker, Nicholas Noyes and William Gerrish. James left a household with young children and a body of religious writing. The account preserved by his nephew remembers a learned teacher and a long partnership with Parker; the will shows how closely that partnership also entered his arrangements for his family.

The burial listing associates Rev. James Noyes of Newbury with First Parish Burying Ground, Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States.

Life events

1608 — birth — Birth — Cholderton, Wiltshire, England. — Cholderton, Wiltshire, England
1627 — education — Entered Brasenose College, Oxford, but did not take a degree. His later teaching is described by family testimony preserved by Cotton Mather. — Oxford
1634 — migration — Migrated with Sarah, Nicholas Noyes and Thomas Parker in the company associated with the Mary and John. Voyage preaching and religious motives are attributed to the family account. — North Atlantic Ocean
Before 1634 — geographic_association — Teaching — Newbury, Berkshire. — Newbury, Berkshire — England — United Kingdom
Between 1634 and 1635 — residence — Residence — Medford. — Medford
1635 — church_appointment — Joined Newbury, Massachusetts, as teacher of the church while Thomas Parker became pastor. — Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
Between 1635 and 1656 — geographic_association — Ministry household and death — Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts. — Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
1646-10 — publication_circulation — A catalog record places The Temple Measured in George Thomason’s hands in October 1646, despite its London imprint of 1647.
1656 — geographic_association — Burial association — First Settlers Burying Ground. — First Settlers Burying Ground
1656-10-17 — will — Made a will placing property under Sarah’s control while unmarried, with advice from Parker, Nicholas Noyes and William Gerrish. — Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts

Work and organizations

Occupations

Organization roles

Memories and sources

Memories and context

Sources

Anything else

Photos

Share up to three photos, each 4 MB or smaller. JPG, PNG, and WebP are supported. Add a caption beside each photo to help tell its story.

Who is pictured? About when and where was it taken? Where did the photo come from? Add whatever you know.

Photo 1Choose photo 1Caption for photo 1 Optional

Photo 2Choose photo 2Caption for photo 2 Optional

Photo 3Choose photo 3Caption for photo 3 Optional

Your suggestion

What changed, and how do you know?A source link, document title, or personal recollection can help Jason review it.

Your name Required

Email Optional — only for questions about your suggestion

Email is optional and stays private.