Hercules HIlls (?-1696) was an early immigrant to Scituate, Massachusetts. He has been proposed as one of the easliest known nonwhite immigrants to New England, but there are problems with the identification. Stratton suggests Hercules Hill was the unknown “blackamore” who appears on the 1644 List of Men Able to Bear Arms at Plymouth (Stratton,…
Luce Coat of Arms
There is no proven coat of arms for American immigrant Henry Luce (c1640-aft 1689) and his descendants. Henry’s ancestry is unknown, so we cannot connect him to any European family, nor is there any record he himself used a coat of arms. The arms widely attributed to the Luces in America are: Arms: Azure a…
Thomas Luce, of Charlestown
Before the publication of Charles Banks’ History of Martha’s Vineyard in 1911 one of the two leading suggestions for the father of immigrant Henry Luce was Thomas Luce, of Charlestown. The other leading suggestion was Harke Luse. These two men were attractive candidates because their surname matches and they lived in the same general area…
Solomon Place Bible
(1st Page) The Property ofSolomon PlaceFebruary 10, 1817 Price to Subscribers $12.00 The Holy BibleBrattlesborough: printed for John Holbrook.1816Collins correct stereotype copy. Bible in possession of Mrs. Herbert Whelden ofGreenwich, Washington Co., N.Y. Births Stephen Place March 21st A. D. 1736Martha Place August 21st A. D. 1747Hannah Place January 7th…
Jason Luce Black Sheep
by Roger Robin Ekins As if having their two young sons, ages 8 and 6, drown was not enough heartache for Stephen and Mary Luce, their son Jason got involved with some very rough characters, including the notorious Bill Hickman, and was involved in the deaths of several people, the last of which resulted in…