HHS Book
THE HINCHMAN FAMILY IN AMERICA
ENGLISH ORIGINS
The origin, genealogy, history, and traditions of the Henchman, Hensman, Hinchman, and Hincksman families are known to many family members today, because of the research and dedication of Robert Hinchman, Jr. (1921-1996), of Dallas, Texas, the founder and first president of the Hinchman Heritage Society. It is from this beginning in England that we may someday find connections to The Hinchman Family in America. The following two paragraphs were written by Robert for the October 1992 Hinchman Heritage Week in England.
“Legend has it that Thomas Crosborough of Magna Doddington, Northamptonshire, saved the life of King Henry VII during a hunt. Upon being rescued from the tusks of a wild boar the King said to him: “Truly, thou art my veritable henchman.” Thomas thereupon, changed his name to Henchman, and thus, the family began. His great grandson, Thomas, was apprenticed at the age of 12 to William Cokayne, Master of the Skinners’ Guild, and subsequently became a prominent merchant and Freeman of the City of London during the latter part of the reign of Elizabeth I. Thomas was the father of Humfry who was instrumental in aiding Charles II escape to France during the English Civil War. Thus, two Henchmans have helped save the lives of two English kings.”
“The scions of Thomas Crosborough Henchman are the progenitors of the Henchman/Hinchman and Hensman Families of today. The variations in spellings began to stabilize during the reign of James I and by the time of the restoration of Charles II in 1660, the orthography had become almost set .. but as a Hinchman, you well know that confusion still exists. The family began its migration to New England in 1637, to Maryland in 1664, and to Australia in the 1860’s. And, of course, English members continued down to this day. Our generation, wherever we live, are descendants of Thomas Crosborough Henchman, his sons and grandsons. It is an adventure for each of us to discover our particular origins.”
DANIEL HENCHMAN OF BOSTON AND WORCESTER
1. CAPTAIN DANIEL HENCHMAN: was born ca 1627 in England and died 10-15-1685 in Worcester, MA. As little is known about Daniel’s roots, most writers relate only that he spent some time in Ireland; came to Boston in 1666; was an usher at the Old Latin School; was a freeman in 1672; and was appointed Captain on 6-24-1675. Capt. Daniel was involved in many activities as a merchant; a brewer; a real estate promoter; a banker; a lawyer; a farmer; a soldier, and member of the Old South Church. Two “memorials” – Henchman St., Boston and Henchman St., Worcester – are named in his honor.
Daniel mar (1) 3-1-1653 SARAH WOODWARD. Sarah was bap 9-5-1627 in London, England and died ca 1670 prob in Worcester, MA. Children: Hannah; Richard; Hezekiah; Nathaniel; Susanna; William. Daniel mar (2) 2-26-1672 MARY POOLE. Mary was born ca 1660 and died ca 1706. Children: William; Jane; Daniel; Mary.
Principal sources for the Daniel Henchman family are the following: The Henchman Family; Daniel Henchman, Founder of Worcester; and James Savage’s A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England. Additional sources are William M. Clemens’ American Marriages Before 1699 and Boston Vital Records, 1630-1699 William S. Appleton, ed.
EDMUND HINCKSMAN
1. EDMUND HINCKSMAN: was born ca 1607 in England and died 10-27-1668 in Chelmsford, MA. His named has been spelled many different ways – Edmund; Edmond; Edward, Henchman; Hinchman; and Hincksman. Edmund mar ELIZABETH … about 1628 in ?England. Elizabeth was born ca 1605 in England and died ca 1674 probably in Chelmsford. Elizabeth m (2) Rev. John Fiske.
Several sources [not primary evidence] for Hinchmans in the Colonial period are James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England; The Henchman Family; Frederic G. Mather, Refugees of 1776 from Long Island to Connecticut; Vital Records of Chelmsford; and Daniel Henchman, The Founder of Worcester. Family members – Rev. Philip Evaul and Charlotte Hinchman Oselador – contributed information for The Hinchman Family in America.
Children: William Hincksman, m 12-20-1652 Mary Philberd; Edmund Hinchman; Major Thomas Hincksman, m Elizabeth Merriam; Elizabeth Hincksman, m George Vaughn; Major John Hinchman, m (1) Elizabeth Emmons, (2) Sarah … ; Bridget Henchman, m (1) James Richardson, m (2) … Chandler; Hannah Hincksman, m 4-10-1662, James Hill; Margaret Hincksman, m Charles Hopkins
THE MAJOR JOHN HINCHMAN FAMILY
2. MAJOR JOHN HINCKSMAN: (s/o Edmund and Elizabeth Hincksman) was born ca 1636 ?Eng and died ca 1688 Flushing, Long Island. John m (1) 8-10-1660 Boston, Elizabeth, d/o Thomas and Martha Emmons. Children: John; Robert. John (2) ca 1669 Sarah … . Sarah m (2) 7-2-1696, James Clement. The will of Sarah [Hinchman] Clement, widow of Flushing, Queens Co., NY, dtd 6-15-1725, pvd 9-8-1727 named bene. as Elizabeth Doughty; Thomas Hinchman; Hannah Thorn; Mary Willett; Joseph Hinchman; Margaret Clement; and Bridget Thorn.
Sources for Major John Hinchman include: James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England; Frederic G. Mather, The Refugees of 1776; and John Clement, The First Emigrant Settlers of Newton Twp. Family members – Rev. Philip Evaul; Richard M. Hinchman; and Charlotte Hinchman Oselador – researched the New England Hinchmans extensively.
Children: John Hinchman, m Sarah H. Harrison, res: New Jersey; Robert Hinchman, m Abigail … ; Sarah Hinchman, m Thomas Willett; Elizabeth Hinchman, m Elias Doughty; Thomas Hinchman, m Miriam … ; Hannah Hinchman, m (1) Benjamin Doughty; m (2) Samuel Thorn; Mary Hinchman, m … Willett; Joseph Hinchman, m Sarah … ; Margaret Hinchman, m John Clement; Bridget Hinchman, m Benjamin Thorn
SONS OF MAJOR JOHN HINCHMAN
From Long Island, descendants of these Hinchmans settled in other parts of New York; New Jersey; and farther west to Michigan, California, and other states. Sources for these families include John Clement’s First Emigrant Settlers in Newton Township, Gloucester Co., New Jersey; and Frederic G. Mather’s Refugees of 1776. Family members – Rev. Philip Evaul and Charlotte Hinchman Oselador – contributed information.
3. John Hinchman of New Jersey: was born ca 1661 in Flushing, Queens Co., LI, NY and died about 1721 in Gloucester Co., NJ. He was prob a s/o Major John and Elizabeth Emmons Hinchman. He mar Sarah Hunt Harrison about 1689. Children, according to John Clement’s First Immigrant Settlers b ca 1690-1721:
Children: John Hinchman, m (1) Sarah …, m (2) Elizabeth Smith; Joseph Hinchman, m Phebe … ; Jacob Hinchman, m Abigail Harrison; James Hinchman, m Keziah Thorne; Sarah Hinchman, m Thos. Bispham; Jane Hinchman, m … Jones; Letitia Hinchman, m Thomas Thorne; Ann Hinchman, m John Thorne; Abigail Hinchman, m (1) John Kaighn, m (2) Samuel Harrison; William Hinchman, m Ann Hartley
3. Robert Hinchman of New York: was born ca 1663 Flushing, Queens Co., LI, NY and died about 1709 in Flushing, NY. He was a s/o Major John and Elizabeth Emmons Hinchman. He mar about 1700 to ABIGAIL … They had two sons – Benjamin, born 1-24-1702 and Robert born 3-15-1708. One source for this family is descendant Nelson Hinchman of Pottstown, PA. In 1931, he collected a fourteen-generation family history.
3. Thomas Hinchman of New York: was born about 1674 Flushing, Queens Co., L.I., NY and died about 1747 Flushing, NY. He was a s/o Major John and Sarah Hinchman. Thomas mar about 1695 Miriam … . Children: Thomas; Sarah, m Benjamin Lawrence; Anne, m Richard Powers; Obadiah, m Elizabeth Wiggins; Dr. Joseph Hinchman, m Mary Bloodgood; John Hinchman; Mary Hinchman, m William Marsh
3. Joseph Hinchman of New Jersey: was born ca 1680 in Flushing, Queens Co., LI, NY and died about 1731 Newton, Gloucester Co. (now Camden Co.), NJ. He mar Sarah … about 1705. Sources for the Joseph Hinchman family include the following: Family members Diana C. Long; and Diane S. DeMore contributed to this family. Children, according to First Emigrant Settlers in Newton Township: Thomas, m Sarah Clement, Letitia Matlock; Deborah, m William Heppard; Mary, m Joseph Zane; Emily “Amy”, m ?Joshua Stokes; Hannah, m James Gill; Sarah, m Edward Collins
THE WILLIAM HINCHMAN FAMILY
1. WILLIAM HINCHMAN, I: was born about 1733 and died 6-20-1814 in Monroe Co., VA-WV. William and his wife Elizabeth are buried on the Monroe County farm where they settled in the late 1700s.
William married ELIZABETH KIRWAN. Elizabeth was born about 10-2-1736 and died 5-1-1828 in Monroe Co., VA-WV.
According to family tradition, William was an English sailor who came to America during the French and Indian War; was wounded and captured by the French during the siege of Quebec; and was later rescued by the English and released in Virginia
Children: Elizabeth Hinchman, m William Dixon; William Hinchman, Jr., m Mary A. Perry; Nancy Stollings; John Hinchman, m Sarah Vincent; Barbara Longnacre; Eve Ellis
2. William Hinchman, II: s/o William and Elizabeth Hinchman, was born 2-28-1768 Dorchester Co., MD and died 11-19-1851 in Logan Co., VA-WV. He mar (1) 5-6-1793 Mary Ann Perry ( 5-2-1775, d 1-15-1832). She was the d/o John Perry, Sr. William mar (2) 3-27-1832 Logan Co., VA-WV Nancy Stollings (b 4-12-1801). Sources for this large family include Ragland’s History of Logan County, W. Va 1896 and the research of Corinne Hinchman McNamara.
Children: Hannah; Mary; John K., m Penina White; Elizabeth, m Benjamin Smith; William, m (1) E. Seymore; (2) E. Hatfield; (3) E. Chapman; Hiram, m Susannah Riggins; Cyrus, m Rebecca Pennell; Ulysses S., m Rebecca McDonald; Amanda, m Robert A. Clendenin; (male child); Milton, m Elizabeth Cary; Sarah Hinchman, m Ira Chambers; James Harvey, m Martha P. Gore; Mero, m Levi Gore; Floyd Hinchman, m (1) Mary Chambers; (2) Elmira Mangus; Nancy Ann, m Joseph Scaggs; Penelope, m George S. Claypool; Arrisba, (1) Thomas Ballard, (2) Jasper Workman; Patsy, m James L. Chambers; Edna
JOHN HINCHMAN OF MONROE CO., VIRGINIA
2. John Hinchman: s/o William and Elizabeth Hinchman, was born 10-22-1773, Dorchester Co, MD and died 1-15-1844 in Monroe Co., VA-WV.
John m (1) 12-11-1794 Sarah Vincen (b 1-30-1773, d 8-27-1820). John m (2) 10-4-1821 Barbara Longaker (b 5-8-1787, d 7-19-1830). John m (3) 8-14-1832 Eve Ellis (b 3-20-1796, d 2-2-1888).
Sources for this family include the John Hinchman Bible; cemetery, marriage, and census records and family members including Agnes Hinchman Leach who provided copies of deeds. Children: Joseph, m Rebecca Thomas; William, m Mary Symms; Thomas; James, m Nancy Nickell; John, m Margaret Nickell; Andrew, m Lavina Garton; Mary Polly, m Jesse Garton; Malinda, Thomas Ellis; Nancy, m … Ellis; Cynthia; Elizabeth, m Owen Ellis Jr.; ?Sarah, m John Johnson
JOSEPH HINCHMAN OF RANDOLPH CO., WV
1. JOSEPH HINCHMAN: was born 5-10-1831 in Allegheny Co., PA and died 4-29-1916 in Randolph Co., WV. Joseph married (1) CAROLINE RIFFLE about 1858 probably in Randolph Co., WV. Caroline was born 3-8-1838, Randolph Co., VA-WV and died 9-5-1889. Sources for this family including the following family members: Joan Hinchman Gibson; Harold Hinchman; William Grant Hinchman; and Kevin H. Williams.
Children: Mozelle, m O. H. Perry Kittle; Joseph E., m (1) Ida Pritt, (2) Dollie L. Daniels; Molly H., m (1) Hamilton Leary, m (2) Toll Robinson; Minnie A., m John H. DeWitt; George W., m (1) L.Pritt, (2) A. Shannon, (3) M. Hamlin; Benjamin F., m Lucretia Bennett; Ulysses G.; Daniel; John S, m Amy P. Pritt; Ogustus “Gus”, m Stella J.Polling; Blaine.
HENRY HINCHMAN OF COLUMBIANA CO., OHIO
1. HENRY HINCHMAN: was born before 1775 in New Jersey and died 9-1-1834 Mahoning Co., Ohio. Henry married RUTH … prob in New Jersey. Ruth was born ca 1774 in New Jersey and died after the 1850 Columbiana Co., OH census.
Sources for this family include William B. McCord’s History of Columbiana County, Ohio, printed 1905; History of Columbiana, printed in 1879; and marriage and census records. Children; Elizabeth, m Barber Blackburn; Grace, m William Ellyson; John, m Sarah Beck; Allen, m Sinah Burson; Mary, m James Wright; Henry, m (1) T. Spencer, (2) H. Hickman; Hannah, m Nathaniel Stanley; Aaron, m Rebecca T. Rakestraw
The Hinchman Family in America from 1637 to the Present
This history of the Hinchman family is a brief summary of the 250+ page book by Mary W. Hinchman. To obtain a copy of this book contact Mary Hinchman at information@hinchman.org