Colonial Scoundrel

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Hugh Norman
Consumate Colonial Scoundrel

Hugh Norman, of whom little is known, may be among the colony's most flagrant philanders, at least to the extent that Plymouth has taken note of him. The son of Hugh Norman of Orcharde, co. Somerset, and Agnes Woolcott, (possibly related to the prominent Connecticut governors through Wolcott, the emigrant) he was among four children who received mention in his father's will. Emigrating to America, he married Mary White of Plymouth, October 1639. He later removed to Yarmouth, before 1643. A daughter Elizabeth, aged 6, was drowned in a well 28 May, 1648. By 1654, he apparently had abandoned his family and returned to his English home at Orchard, near Taunton. The ensuing saga would be enough to make a poor woman weep, as did probably his wife.

Plymouth Colony Deeds[p. 105]

1654 a writing apointed to bee recorded
These are to certify all whom It may conserne; Being requested by goodman White to relate in what condition I found hugh Norman to bee in att my last being in ould England; which was about five yeares sence, I being ymployed by Divers ffrinds to enquire him out and to goe unto him about busines of my owne as well as of other mens; I had Intelligence wher hee lived; and being in the countrey att my fathers, tooke a Journey of purpose to speake with him being att Orchyard a little Parisse about 2 or 3 miles from Taunton where hee lived in a great house that had been plundered;

and as I was credably Informed hee kept there with 2 or 3 whores and none else in the house and had spent all hee had that hee had not clothes to were fiting to companie with men soe that I could not come to speake with him; Wheruppon haveing understood that Mr Richards lived ther abouts I went unto him hee being his Cozen and brought him over to New England soe hee tould mee of his wickednes and his bad life hee then lived in as I had been tould of by many;

And the yeare before his mother Died and left him sixty pounds in money and a tennement hee sould for an hundred pounds all which hee spent in less then a yeares time; Mr Richards was Divers times with him hee tould mee; and pswaded him what hee could to reclame & to send somthing to his wife and children but could not gitt soe much as sixpence from him and

tould him that hee had noe wife and would not owne her nor would goe more unto her; Truly for my pte I would not relate any more then I heard and found to bee true for I know I must one Day give account for yt; to the truth heerof I can take my oath; this witnesse my hand
Barnstable the 26th of Thomas Allyn
the first month 1654

another to the same effect ordered alsoe to bee recorded
This is what I can Testify concerning hugh Norman if I should bee called therto; first that hee would not come to his wife and children any more neither could I gitt him to send them anything but spent all his estate as I was enformed by one which was an honest man (whom I ymployed to enquire about him) upon a naughty woman whom hee would have married as they pretended, for they kept company together very unseasonably while under hedges and other base places; But hee haveing spent all hee had shee leaves him (and as they say) is gone to barbadoes and I heard him say and others alsoe that hee would goe to Barbadoes; Thus for prsent I remember
me Thomas Richards