Robert Stetson and Honour Tucker were married in St. George’s
Church in Modbury, county of Devonshire, England. During the
period of turmoil preceding England’s Civil War, Robert and his
wife decided to venture across the Atlantic Ocean for a new life
in Scituate (Norwell) Plymouth Colony. Bearing in mind that the
English military system was based upon social standing, Robert
was able to bear arms in 1643 and served as Cornet, an ancient
term referring to the standard bearer of a light horse, non-
artillery military unit. He became a freeman in 1652 and was
known as Cornet Robert. He served as a member of the War Board –
during King Philip’s War – in 1658 or 1659, and as the
commanding officer of the “Scituate Horse Troop,” a military
unit formed in Plymouth Colony. There were only two other troops
in the entire Colony. He met with the Native Americans both in
warfare and as a commissioner, negotiating in the settlement of
their differences with the colonists. Cornet Robert apportioned
the common lands, laid o