Agnes was born in England about 1565. She married Robert Bent at Weyhill Parish, Penton-Grafton, Hampshire, on October 13, 1589. Robert and Agnes had ten known children, and six of their baptismal records are to be found at Weyhill. Robert was a successful farmer, or "yeoman". He died shortly after he wrote his will and was buried at Weyhill on July 29, 1631. Agnes must have decided to go to New England to be with some of her children, because in 1638 she put 80 Pounds in the hands of Peter Noyes, who was an overseer of her husband's will. He was going to America to investigate the possibilities of moving there.
Noyes came back with a good report, and the next year Agnes, her two grown grandchildren, Thomas & Elizabeth Plympton, her daughter Agnes Blanchard with her husband Thomas and their children, all intended to leave for new England. Some sort of lawsuit was filed that prevented them from setting out as soon as they intended, but after a few months they did sail in the ship "Jonathan". The adult fare to Boston was 5 Pounds, and the passengers had to carry and cook their own food during the voyage.
As an example of how dangerous the trip on a sailing ship was in those days, just fifteen days out of port, Agnes' daughter Agnes Blanchard died, soon followed by Agnes Blanchards' sick infant. Just as the ship arrived in Boston Harbor, Agnes herself died, never having set foot in New England. Her son-in-law, Thomas Blanchard, had her carried ashore and buried.
In November 1648, Thomas Blanchard and Peter Noyes testified that they witnessed the will of widow Agnes Bent, one of the earliest in Suffolk County. She gave 20 Pounds (held in trust from his father's estate) to her grandson Richard Barnes; 5 Pounds (a bequest from her deceased husband to their granddaughter for her wedding day) to Elizabeth Plympton; 10 Pounds to her son John Bent, with whom she had hoped to settle in New England; and 5 Pounds to her grandson Thomas Plympton. The balance to be divided between Richard Barnes and Elizabeth Plympton.
Noyes came back with a good report, and the next year Agnes, her two grown grandchildren, Thomas & Elizabeth Plympton, her daughter Agnes Blanchard with her husband Thomas and their children, all intended to leave for new England. Some sort of lawsuit was filed that prevented them from setting out as soon as they intended, but after a few months they did sail in the ship "Jonathan". The adult fare to Boston was 5 Pounds, and the passengers had to carry and cook their own food during the voyage.
As an example of how dangerous the trip on a sailing ship was in those days, just fifteen days out of port, Agnes' daughter Agnes Blanchard died, soon followed by Agnes Blanchards' sick infant. Just as the ship arrived in Boston Harbor, Agnes herself died, never having set foot in New England. Her son-in-law, Thomas Blanchard, had her carried ashore and buried.
In November 1648, Thomas Blanchard and Peter Noyes testified that they witnessed the will of widow Agnes Bent, one of the earliest in Suffolk County. She gave 20 Pounds (held in trust from his father's estate) to her grandson Richard Barnes; 5 Pounds (a bequest from her deceased husband to their granddaughter for her wedding day) to Elizabeth Plympton; 10 Pounds to her son John Bent, with whom she had hoped to settle in New England; and 5 Pounds to her grandson Thomas Plympton. The balance to be divided between Richard Barnes and Elizabeth Plympton.
Agnes was born in England about 1565. She married Robert Bent at Weyhill Parish, Penton-Grafton, Hampshire, on October 13, 1589. Robert and Agnes had ten known children, and six of their baptismal records are to be found at Weyhill. Robert was a successful farmer, or "yeoman". He died shortly after he wrote his will and was buried at Weyhill on July 29, 1631. Agnes must have decided to go to New England to be with some of her children, because in 1638 she put 80 Pounds in the hands of Peter Noyes, who was an overseer of her husband's will. He was going to America to investigate the possibilities of moving there.
Noyes came back with a good report, and the next year Agnes, her two grown grandchildren, Thomas & Elizabeth Plympton, her daughter Agnes Blanchard with her husband Thomas and their children, all intended to leave for new England. Some sort of lawsuit was filed that prevented them from setting out as soon as they intended, but after a few months they did sail in the ship "Jonathan". The adult fare to Boston was 5 Pounds, and the passengers had to carry and cook their own food during the voyage.
As an example of how dangerous the trip on a sailing ship was in those days, just fifteen days out of port, Agnes' daughter Agnes Blanchard died, soon followed by Agnes Blanchards' sick infant. Just as the ship arrived in Boston Harbor, Agnes herself died, never having set foot in New England. Her son-in-law, Thomas Blanchard, had her carried ashore and buried.
In November 1648, Thomas Blanchard and Peter Noyes testified that they witnessed the will of widow Agnes Bent, one of the earliest in Suffolk County. She gave 20 Pounds (held in trust from his father's estate) to her grandson Richard Barnes; 5 Pounds (a bequest from her deceased husband to their granddaughter for her wedding day) to Elizabeth Plympton; 10 Pounds to her son John Bent, with whom she had hoped to settle in New England; and 5 Pounds to her grandson Thomas Plympton. The balance to be divided between Richard Barnes and Elizabeth Plympton.
Noyes came back with a good report, and the next year Agnes, her two grown grandchildren, Thomas & Elizabeth Plympton, her daughter Agnes Blanchard with her husband Thomas and their children, all intended to leave for new England. Some sort of lawsuit was filed that prevented them from setting out as soon as they intended, but after a few months they did sail in the ship "Jonathan". The adult fare to Boston was 5 Pounds, and the passengers had to carry and cook their own food during the voyage.
As an example of how dangerous the trip on a sailing ship was in those days, just fifteen days out of port, Agnes' daughter Agnes Blanchard died, soon followed by Agnes Blanchards' sick infant. Just as the ship arrived in Boston Harbor, Agnes herself died, never having set foot in New England. Her son-in-law, Thomas Blanchard, had her carried ashore and buried.
In November 1648, Thomas Blanchard and Peter Noyes testified that they witnessed the will of widow Agnes Bent, one of the earliest in Suffolk County. She gave 20 Pounds (held in trust from his father's estate) to her grandson Richard Barnes; 5 Pounds (a bequest from her deceased husband to their granddaughter for her wedding day) to Elizabeth Plympton; 10 Pounds to her son John Bent, with whom she had hoped to settle in New England; and 5 Pounds to her grandson Thomas Plympton. The balance to be divided between Richard Barnes and Elizabeth Plympton.
