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Individual:
William, "the first of his name who went to America, was an assistant in the Massachusetts Bay Company and one of the original patentees of New England lands. At a formal meeting of the Governor and Company, held in July 1629, he, with others, was appointed 'to go over', which he did, but returned to England after a short stay in the ship "Lyon." On 17-20 June 1635 he again embarked with his wife Ann, five daughters and one son, on board the "Blessing," Jo Lecester, master, for New England.
Upon arrival in that country it would seem that he settled first in Roxbury, for in the Church Registry of that town is the following entry made by the Rev. John Eliot in his account of the church members: 'Mrs. Anna Vassaile--the wife of Mr. William Vassaile. her husbrand brought five children to this land, Judith, Frances, John, Margaret, Mary." (Six children were listed on the "Blessing" passenger list: Judith 6, Frances 12, Jno 10, Ann 6, Margaret 2, Mary 1)
On 28 Nov 1636 he was connected with the church in Scituate.
William was a man of considerable fortune, son of John Vassall, a man of great wealth, and an Alderman of Longon, who in 1588 fitted out and commanded two vessels to help oppose the Spanish Armada. William Vassall was one of the original patentees of New England lands. he was one of Craddock's assistants at the time he was made acting Governor of the Massachusetts Company of London. In 1630 Vassall came to New England with John Winthrop, but returned to London in 1631 in the ship "Lyon", being chosen with his brother by the colonists to present their petitions of complaints against Endicott's government to Craddock in England. he returned in June 1635 in the ship "Blessing" with his wife and six children, whom he left in Roxbury while he built his house at Scituate on the beautiful location overlooking the river, marshes and ocean. It was known as "Belle House." In 1646, finding himself out of sympathy with the colonial leaders, Vassall went to England, and in 1648, without returning to Scituate, he went to Barbados, where he died in the Parish of St. Michae
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