HASKELL

The surname Haskell is variously spelled Hascal, Haskill, Haskall, and other forms, depending largely upon the nationality and educational advantages of the early town clerks. The origin of the English family of Haskell (from whom it is claimed the American ancestor descended) is one anciently distinguished, as evidenced by the fact that they are an armigerous family whose crest is descriptive of the legendary history of its origin in the battle of Hastings, where Roger de Haskell, a knight attendant upon the Conqueror, gave proof of great valor. The coat-of-arms of the English family is recorded in Burke's "Armourial Families," and Matthews, in his "American Armoury and Blue Book," records these arms for descendants of the ancestor herein traced.

WILLIAM HASKELL, born in England in 1617, died in Gloucester, Massachusetts, August 20, 1693. He came to New England with his brothers, Roger and Mark, and settled first, about 1632, in that part of Salem then called "Cape Ann Side," but later, about 1643, removed to Gloucester. He probably resided at Planter's Neck two years later. Though not on the town records continuously, he was there in 1656, and settled on the westerly side of Annisquam, where several parcels of land, including a lot of ten acres with house and barn, on the westerly side of Walker's creek, belonged to him. His sons had land on both sides of this creek still held by their descendants. William Haskell was a mariner, engaged in fishing, but found time to attend to much of the town's business, serving as selectman several years, and as representative to the General court six times in twenty years. In 1661 he was appointed lieutenant of the "trayned band" of which he was afterwards captain. He was one of the officers who refused to assess the taxes levied in 1688 by Sir Edmund Andros, and was fined by the Superior court at Salem. The repudiated governor, Andros, was finally driven out of New England by the indignant victims of his tyranny. In 1681, William Haskell joined with others in a petition to the King praying for the interposition of the crown to prevent the disturbance of title to Gloucester lands by Robert Mason, who made claim to them. He was one of the first two known deacons of the first church at Gloucester, and married there, November 16, 1643, Mary, daughter of Walter Tybbot. (See note.) She was born in England and died at Gloucester, August 16, 1693, just four days before her husband. Their children, born in Gloucester, were:

I—WILLIAM, b. Aug. 26, 1644.

II—Joseph, b. June 2, 1646; d. 1727; m. 1674, Mary Graves.

III—Benjamin, b. 1648; d. 1740; m. 1677, Mary Riggs.

IV—John, b. 1650; d. 1718; m. 1685, Mary Baker.

V—Ruth, b. 1654; m. 1673-4, Nehemiah Grover.

VI—Mark, b. Apr. 8, 1658; d. 1691; m. 1685, Elizabeth Giddings.

VII—Sarah, b. June 28, 1660; m. 1684, Edward Haraden.

VIII—Elinor, b. May 28, 1663; m. 1692, Jacob Griggs.

IX—Mary, b. .........; m. Mr. Dodge.

Source: "Bullard and Allied Families Genealogy" ²