This web site follows the view expressed in William Franklin Langworthy's book (The Langworthy Family, Tuttle, 1940) that James was the son of Andrew and Rachel Langworthy. But there are arguments both for and against, which I'll briefly review:

* James as the son of Andrew and Rachel:

o The argument that James was the son of Andrew of Newport rests on a deposition of about 1698 in which Rachel Langworthy, age about 56, and James Langworthy, age about 18, swore they saw an individual at Kingston, RI. Rachel's age agrees with the age of Rachel (Hubbard) Langworthy (1698 - 1642 = 56) so, given the unusual name and the agreement in age, this is probably Andrew's wife. The assumption then is that John was her son, born in 1680.

o The names of James' sons may also support this assumption: James (named for his father), Andrew (named for James' father) and Stephen (named for James' father in law).

* James as a relative of Lawrence Langworthy:

o Lawrence Langworthy was born in Ashburton, Devonshire, England around 1693. He was an accomplished pewterer in England, and he maintained that trade when he came to America. A Newport obituary calls him "Brazier of this Place". The records also show that he made gunpowder for the colony. Lawrence was a vestryman in Trinity Church, Newport, impying that he and his family were aligned with the Church of England.

o Andrew and Rachel Langworthy were Baptists and Rachel. along with her parents, was a founding member of the first Seventh Day Baptist Church in America. Their probable sons, Samuel, John and Andrew all had Seventh Day Baptists among their descendants. But James and his wife Mary - like Lawrence - were members of Trinity Church in Newport; their children were baptized and married there, and I do not know of any Baptists among their immediate descendants.

o The inventory of James' estate shows a number of old tools (unspecified), a 'Brass Skaile & 5 waits', and parcels of old or broken iron and pewter. So he may have been a metal worker, like Lawrence.

o Westerly records show that he was paid for "ten pound of power" by "the wider willcocks", so he may have made or supplied gunpowder, again, like Lawrence.

o So James had at least three things in common with Lawrence Langworthy of Newport (Trinity Church, metal worker, supplier of gunpowder), and it wouldn't be surprising if there were some relationship between the two men.


Either of the above (or both!) could be true, but anything more would be just speculation at this point. It's an area that needs more work, and I'd welcome comments and suggestions.

James died before Nov 30, 1720, when an inventory was taken of his estate