Robert Abell

He emigrated to New England in 1630 as part of the first wave of the Great Migration, and was among the early settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, settling first in Weymouth,[2] and subsequently in Rehoboth, where he died on June 20, 1663.

In his will, dated 8 September 1630, George Abell states (original spelling retained), "I bequeath unto my second sonne Robert Abell onelie a Twentie shilling peece for his childs parte in regard of ye charges I have beene at in placeing him in a good trade in London wch hee hath made noe use of and since in furnishing him for newe England where I hope he now is.

"[9] Robert Abell's first recorded act in America (19 October 1630) was to apply to be a freeman in the recently founded village of Weymouth.

[11] During his time as a resident of Weymouth (1630–1643), his civic duties included serving on various types of juries (grand, petit and coroner's), and records indicate that he accumulated a small amount of land (about 7 acres).

In 1643, when the opportunity to join a newly founded town presented itself, he followed Reverend Samuel Newman (and the majority of his congregation) to a place the local Wampanoag tribe called Seekonk (a portion of which was later renamed “Rehoboth”).