Moses Cleveland

Moses Cleveland, an apprentice ship joiner of about 11 or 12 years of age, who accompanied his master in immigrating to Boston, Massachusetts, from Ipswich, Suffolk, in about 1635. By his late teens, Moses had settled in Woburn, Massachusetts, where he was admitted as a freeman, and thus eligible to participate in the governance of the town, in 1643. Over the years, Moses Cleveland achieved local prominence, and fathered eleven children, who in turn produced a sizable progeny including, in the seventh generation, the only man to serve two separate, non-continuous terms as President of the United States.

• Joseph McMillan. "Stephen Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th President of the United States" at American Heraldry Society", accessed Mar. 22, 2014.

Speculative Ancestry

His ancestry is speculative. "While the descendants of Moses Cleveland have been well documented, tracing his English ancestry has always been problematic, although not for lack of inquiries in England-including one to the College of Arms-from the mid-1750s onward. Eventually, in 1851 one of Moses Cleveland's descendants, the Reverend A. Cleveland Coxe (later Episcopal Bishop of Buffalo, N.Y.) seemed to have struck gold. He received a letter from the English antiquarian John Bowyer Nichols, informing him that:

the Clevelands of America were descended from William Cleveland, who removed from York to Hinckley in Leicestershire, where he was buried--a very old man--in 1630. His son, Thomas, became Vicar of Hinckley, the family estate. One of his sons was John Cleveland, the poet. Another son, Thomas, may have been the father of Moses Cleveland, the emigrant... [emphasis in original]

"Heraldically, this connection (the word "may" in the last sentence soon being overlooked) meant that the descendants of Moses Cleveland were evidently entitled to a coat of arms."

• Joseph McMillan. "Stephen Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th President of the United States" at American Heraldry Society", accessed Mar. 22, 2014.

An article by H. G. Cleveland in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register suggests he might have been a son of Samuel Cleiveland, a brother of Thomas Cleiveland, Vicar of Hinckley (Volume 39(1885), 212-3).

Some family trees include Samuel Isaac Cleveland and Alice Unknown as the parents of Moses Cleveland, but no documented evidence has been found to support that information. The birthdates of February 2, 1619 and 1620 at St. Stephens, Ipswich, Suffolk, England have also been removed.

In addition, Williams (1885), asserted that Moses Cleveland of Woburn, MA may have been the son of Samuel (bp. 09 Jun 1622) and paternal grandson of Thomas Cleveland, Vicar of Hinckley, Leicester (d. abt. 25 Oct 1652; bur. 26 Oct Hinckley) who descends from the Yorkshire family.[3]

Biography

Moses came to Massachusetts in 1635, as an indentured apprentice to a Housewright from Ipswich, Suffolk County, England. He remained in Boston a few years and with Edward Winn and others, founded the town of Woburn in 1640.

He made Freeman in 1643. A Freeman was required to be of Godly walk and conversation, to be at least 20 years of age, to take an oath of allegiance to the Government of Massachusetts Bay Colony, to be worth L200 (pounds) , to hold office if elected, or pay a fine of 40 shillings, to vote at all elections, or pay the same fine. In 1642, the selectmen of Woburn appointed "land Viewers" to view and set off a share of public land promised by the General Court to Moses Cleveland. So as early as 1642 he was a citizen.

Moses or Moyses Cleveland or Cleveland, the common ancestor of all Clevelands or Cleavelands of New England origin, came when a youth from Ipswich, Suffolk County, England. According to family tradition he sailed from London, England and arrived in America in the year 1635. He first landed somewhere in Massachusetts, probably either at Plymouth, Plymouth Co. or at Boston, Suffolk Co. Mass.

Moses Cleveland was born probably at Ipswich, England about 1624 (according to court files of Woburn, he was 39 years old in 1663), he died at Woburn Jan. 9, 1701-2. Married in Woburn Sept. 1648 to Ann Winn, daughter of Edward Winn, born according to family tradition in Wales or according to another account in England about 1626, died probably in Woburn prior to May 6, 1682.

From Eve Blues records:

The Cleveland Family

This famous old American name is recorded in English records dating back almost a thousand years. References consulted state that the name means a cliff or steep slope, or bank of a river and that the name was first spelled de Cliveland, and later Cleveland.

The Cleveland, Cleaveland family was founded, evidently, by Thorkil, in all probability a Saxon land-owner, who, it appears, at or soon after the time of the Norman Conquest 1066, assumed the surname De Cliveland, calling himself Thorkil De Cliveland.

Thorkil De Cliveland, the earlies Cleveland of record, has his seat evidently, in or prior to 1066 at Gisborough, Cleveland, county York, Eng. His son Uctred de Cliveland, who was evidently the Uctred, the Saxon land-owner of 3 manors in the town of Ghigesburg and other possessions mentioned in Doomsday Book. It was from that Moses Cleveland decended and became the progenitor of the family in the New World. Moses was born at Ipswich, Suffolk, England about 1624 and died at Woburn, Mass. in 1701. He came to America in 1635 and landed at Plymouth. In 1648 Moses Cleveland married Ann Winn, who was from Wales, and they had twelve children, which probably accounts for the great number of persons bearing this name in America today. Among his descendants were a president of the United States and four state governors. Many others attained distinction as the new nation was won from the wilderness and history pays just tribute to their contributions in making America great and keeping her free.

According to family tradition, Moses Cleveland came to New England in 1635 as "a ship's carpenter's apprentice, and worked his passage over. It is generally stated that he came from Ipswich as an indentured apprentice to a joiner, housewright or master builder, name of his master not ascertained,but conjectured to be Edward Winn ( whose daughter he afterwards married), for 'he went to Woburn with his master,' and there settled in 1640-1;" admitted a freeman in 1643; granted land at Woburn 1648-9; listed on Woburn militia roll 1663 at age 39.

from:The American Forbears and Some of the Descedents of Charles Theron Brown and His Wife Martha Elizabeth Hebbard, Michael R. Gannett, 1978 It has also been said that Moses and the group he was with came first to Virginia to settle but having to much trouble with the Indians, they boarded a ship and came up the coast to Plymouth.

Moses or Moyses CLEVELAND or CLEAVELAND, born about 1621 at Ipswich, Suffolk England, is widely considered to be the first of the "Northern Line" of the Cleveland family to immigrate to America from England, and the ancestor of many, perhaps most people with the surname Cleveland in the United States. The American Biographical Dictionary by William Allen, D. D., 1857, p. 234, in an account of Moses Cleveland, says, "From him are doubtless descended all in this country who bear the name Cleaveland or Cleveland." Anyone researching the Cleveland family in the United States will soon come upon Moses Cleveland.

Moses Cleveland became an indentured apprentice to his future Father-in-Law Edwin Winn as housewright or master builder in London, England, from whence he immigrated in 1635 to Massachusetts. Soon after attaining his majority, he was made a freeman at Woburn, Massachusetts. He married, September 26, 1648, Ann Winn, born about 1626, daughter of Edward and Joanna Winn. He was appointed a Tithingman, along with his son Aaron Cleveland, in 1680. He attained considerable prominence in Woburn, and was admitted to full communion with the first church of Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1692. He continued to reside in Woburn until his death, January 9, 1701 or 1702.

Moses Cleveland was probably buried in the First Burying Ground near his son Aaron Cleveland in Woburn, Massachusetts, although his exact plot location is not known, as if he ever had a grave marker, it has been long lost or covered with earth.

There is an ongoing debate about whether his name is spelled Cleaveland or Cleveland, and has been represented in both spellings. One piece of evidence comes from Moses' own hand by way of a signature as a witness to a legal document by Thomas Dutton dated December 8, 1682 where he signed his name "Moses Cleveland".

Family

Children, with Ann Winn:


• 1. Moses, born Sep. 1, 1651, died before Oct. 30, 1717, married Ruth Norton.
• 2. Hannah, born Aug. 4, 1653, married Thomas Henshaw

• 3. Aaron, born Jan. 10, 1655, died Sept. 14, 1716, m. Dorcas Wilson
• 4. Samuel, born June 9, 1657, March 12, 1735, married Jane Keyes

• 5. Miriam, born July 10, 1659, died August 31, 1745, married Thomas Foskett
• 6. Joanna, b. Sept. 19, 1661, died May 2, 1667

• 7. Edward, b. May 20, 1663, died Sept. ??, 1746, married Deliverance Palmer

• 8. Josiah, born February 26, 1666-7, died April 26, 1709, married Mary Bates
• 9. Isaac, born May 11, 1669, d. Aug. 10, 1714, married Elizabeth Curtis (or Curtice)

• 10. Joanna, b. April 5, 1670, d. March 18, 1758, married Joseph Keyes

• 11. Enoch, born Aug. 1, 1671, died Aug. 1, 1729, married Elizabeth Counts of Charlestown, Mass.

Famous Descendants:

Since there are many thousands of descendants of Moses Cleveland, there are many who have become famous or otherwise notable. A few such descendants identified thus far include:

• Stephen Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, 5th Great Grandson via son Aaron Cleveland.
• General Moses Cleveland, founder of Cleveland Ohio, Great-Great Grandson via son Josiah Cleveland.

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Moses Cleveland arrived in this country, according to all accounts and traditions, about the year 1635, only fifteen years later than the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, 1620. (From a letter of inquiry written from Ipswich, Essex Co., MA., by his great grandson, Rev. John Cleaveland, No. 233).

Perhaps Moses landed at Plymouth, but more probably at Boston, where in 1635 there were far better docks. He likely remained from 1635 to 1640 in Boston or vicinity.

The earliest settlement was made in the part now called North Woburn, Middlesex Co., MA. Persons who of late years have had the pleasure of visiting Woburn (only a short distance from Boston) could not but admire the great beauty of this model New England town.

(Woburn Militia Muster Roll, 1663: "Moses Cleveland, aged 39 years": therefore he was born 1624.)

In Tax List--26 6mo 1666 Moyses Cleveland. Committee's report, 1659-60, assigns to each of the seven proprietors (Moyses Cleveland being one) of New Bridgefield his share of the fence to build.

1:55--A Cuntary Rate made 18: of the 6:moth 1674 Moyses Cleavland three persons and Efteat .00 .08 .05.

43--The nams of thofe that have wright in the common lands of this Towne of Woburn and the fred feverall proportions shown according to their perfons and estats agreed upon by which not only the present upland and swamp is to be divided but also all the following divisions: Moyses Cleveland Efteat 1092, Acres 67; 3 of 2 mo 1668 Moyses Cleavland Efteat .03, Acres 11.

63--The select men meet and Commiffioner and Collector of their several inhabitance a Rate for the Cuntary in the Town of Woburn: Moyses Cleavland, Senr 2 persons to effect .000 .05 .11.

Reference: "Cleveland Family,"--E. J. and H. G. Cleveland, Vol. I, p. 22-32, 39-40.

Grover Cleveland, the Chief Magistrate of the United States, was of this family. He attended the 250th Anniversary of Woburn, Mass., in 1905.

Moses Cleveland became a man of some prominence in New England and, it would seem, was identified with all the political movements of the day.

Moses Cleveland is probably buried in the Old First Burying-Ground at Woburn near the grave of his son Aaron.

References

• 1 American Marriage Records before 1699, Clemens, William Montgomery, American Marriage Records before 1699, (Pompton Lakes, NJ: Biblio Co., 1926).
• 2 The Pioneers of Massachusetts, Pope, Charles Henry, The Pioneers of Massachusetts.
• 3 Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors and War Service, Elizabeth M. Leach Rixford, Call Number: R929.1 R62t, (Tuttle Company. Vermont. 1934). , Pg. 48.
• 4 Ibid., Pg. 49. :
• 1) Commemorative biographical Record of Tolland and Windham Counties Connecticut - Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and of many of the Early Settled Families, Publisher: J.H.Beers & Co. Chicago 1903 page 925
• http://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/moses-cleveland_1234902
• Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Name: Moses Cleveland SAR Membership: 2473 Birth Place: Woburn, Massachusetts Children: Josiah Cleveland Source Citation: Volume: 13; SAR Membership Number: 2473.
• Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Name: Moses Cleveland SAR Membership: 10253 Birth Date: 1623 Death Date: 9 Jan 1701 Spouse: Ann Winn Children: Samuel Cleveland
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cleveland-21
• https://www.familytreedna.com/public/Cleveland?iframe=yresults Hap'group R1b (M343;M269) Moses Cleveland, b. 1619/20, Ipswich, England

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Emigrated in to America as indentured worker to Edwin Winn. 1648