Robert
Harper was born circa 1630 in England.
1,2 He was Quaker, coming from "a family of famous Quaker preachers."
3 Research Note: "BFH 36" states that "He is also described as coming from "a family of famous Quaker preachers" [Perry 45]."
Note: as regarding Robert's being sympathetic to the cause in England, and being of a " family of famous Quaker preachers," it should be noted that George Fox, the founder of the "Friends," is considered to have founded the faith in 1651/52 - approximately 30 years after the birth of Robert. To state his descent from other "Quaker preachers" is assumption and poor research at best. The "Quaker Invasion of Massachusetts" is recorded as beginning in 1656, with the first MM (that’s Monthly Meeting) in America formed at Sandwich in 1660. Many good sources for this data are available, most of which I have copies or original publications of. I have noted this particular item, due to the fact that MANY researchers have wasted time trying to find records of Quaker Ministries in England to locate Robert's family. I am not sure where Mr. Perry obtained his information, but he tends to "glorify" the facts throughout the book. I do not personally consider this reference as reliable.4 Robert married
Deborah Perry on 9 May 1654 at Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA, New England, ; "Robert Harper & Deborah perry took one another in marriage in y
e third moneth of y
e yeare one thousand six hundred ffiftye & foure: 1654."
5,6,7,8
He was on a list of landowners in 1658 at Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA, New England.
9,10 He appeared before the court for failure to take the "oath of fidelitie", and was fined 10 pds. On 1 June 1658 at Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, New England.
11,12,13 Robert Harper was fined 5 pds for refusing to take the "oath of fidelitie", along with twelve others of Sandwich, and was fined 5 pds. On 2 October 1658.
14 He appeared before the court for failure to take the "oath of fidelitie", and fined 5 pds. On 7 June 1659 at Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, New England.
15,16,17 He appeared before the court for failure to take the "oath of fidelitie", and fined 5 pds on 6 October 1659 at Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, New England.
18,16,19 He appeared before the court for failure to take the "oath of fidelitie." [Note: The fines were not specified in this record, but were given out at the 8 Jun 1660 session] On 7 March 1659/60 at Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, New England.
20 Robert Harper was fined fined 5pds for refusing to take the "oath of fidelitie". This fine was imposed by the court in regards to the 7 Mar 1660 appearance. On 8 June 1660 at Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, New England.
21,22 Research Note: Further study and discussion is required, with reference to the court entries of 8 June 1660, regarding the house and land of "Robbert Harppers". See PCR 8:99, 102 (dated 13 June 1660). He appeared before the court for refusing to take the "oath of fidelitie", fined 5 pds on 13 June 1660 at Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, New England.
23 He was convicted for refusing to take the "oath of fidelitie", at the General Court in Plymouth; fined 6 pds on 2 October 1660 at Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, New England.
21,24,25 Robert Harper and Deborah
Perry were fined 4 pds, "for being att Quakers meetings" [BFH]; PCR III:200 does not give the amount. It is believed that the fine of Henry Howland (4 pounds) was mistaken as the way it was written in the transcription of the records could have been misread. (See PCR citation for details) on 2 October 1660.
21,26,27 He appeared before the court for "intollorable insolent disturbance" and was ordered to be publicly whipped on 1 March 1663/64 at Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, New England.
28 Robert married second,
Prudence Butler, daughter of
Thomas Butler and
Dorothy Howes, on 20 June 1666 at Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA, New England, "Robert Harper & prudence Buttler took one another in marriage y
e, two & twenty Day off y
e fourth moneth in y
e yeare one thousand six hundred sixty & six: 1666."
29,30,31 He appeared before the court for "rayling and revileing" the local minister, Thomas Walley, Sr; ordered to be whipped on 5 July 1670 at Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, New England.
32 He recieved permission "to take up land," where is now East Falmouth, in the eastern portion of what was then Saconnessett. He was one of eight men listed as "purchasers from the Indians" in 1685 at East Falmouth, Barnstable Co., MA, New England.
33 Robert Harper sold one hundred acres of land formerly owned by John Robinson to
Thomas Bowerman on 22 April 1690 at "Suckanessett", now Falmouth, Barnstable Co., MA, New England.
34,35 He witnessed the marriage of
Gershom Gifford and
Deborah Bowerman on 11 June 1704 at Falmouth, Barnstable Co., MA, New England; , married at the home of William Gifford [SMM; VRS 2:1251], both were of Falmouth.
36,37,38 Robert Harper died after August 1704.
39,36,40 Source Notes: View a transcript of [
TAG 48:215-19] here.
Source Notes: Bowerman Family History, pages 35-37.