The Ancestors of Charles Augustus Richardson
and Emma Curtis Rand

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During King Philip's War, John Perrin's house, probably built by his father, who died in 1672, was used as a garrison-house, and is so mentioned in the Rehoboth town records under date of 11 May 1676.  On 28 Mar 1676, Indians crossed the river and laid the town of Rehoboth in ashes, burning 45 dwelling houses, 21 barns and three mills.  Only thirteen houses were left standing on that day, including eight farmhouses that were burned on 15 Jun 1676.

Some years later John gave half of the house, presumably the same one, to his son John, and reserved the other half of the house and half of the barn for his own use.

In the division of his estate, "To Mary Peren, eldest daughter, £17/00 in goods and chattels, and one half of land near mr Brown's Pond."  The other half of that land went to another daughter Mehettabell Peren.

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It is presumed that he must have been married before his marriage to Rebecca, because the founders of Concord frowned upon unmarried men.  No such record has been found.  He was 44 at the time of his marriage to Rebecca, which was quite old for a first marriage in those days.

John kept an ordinary (inn) for which he had a license.  According to the book, "Concord in Colonial Times" by C.H. Walcott published in 1884, p.139, John Heywood "was allowed to keep a house of entertainment for strangers, for lodging and to sell beer and cider."  The year was 1670.  In 1672 John renewed his license and had liberty to retail strong waters to the travelers and sick people.

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Reade Record 1910 5:8-9, "Will of Ralph Reed of Woburn":
This will was found among Reed papers (paper No. 6, file 21) in the vault of the Woburn Public Library.  It was never proved and no record of Ralph's estate is to be found in the Middlesex Probate Office.  The paper has been damaged by mice and dampness, and the seal and names of the witnesses have been torn off.  The words enclosed in the bracketts have been supplied (by the original transcriber).

[In the name] of God Amen  [I Ralph Read of Wo]lburne in the County of [Middlesex and P]rovince of the Masachusetts B[ay, being of sound a]nd disposing memory praised be god [for same, do make] this my last will and Testement in man[ner and form foll]owing that is to say

first and prinsopely I Resign my Soul into the mersifull hands of Allmight God my Creator and my Body I comit to the Earth whence it was Taken to be deasently buried by the discresion of my Executors hereafter named and as for my worly goods and estate the Lord hath lent me I dispose theareof as folows

Imprimis I give and bequeath to my sone John Read, the sume of five shiling; I give unto my sone Timothy Read the sume of five shilings; I give and bequeath to my Grandsone William Read the sume of five shilings: and all the Rest and Residu of my Estate goods and Chatels not hearin before bequeathed After my death and funierall charges be payed: and After the desece of my deare and loveing wife Marey Read and her funierall charges be payed I doe give and bequeath unto my loveing sons Joseph Read and Daniell Read home I doe make sole execetorres of this my last will and Testement Revocking all other wills by me heare to forre made:

In witness where of I have heareunto set my hand and seal this twenth third day of Agust: 1692.
Ralph Reed

The signature at the end is apparently the only portion of the document written by the testator himself, the will itself being in another hand, a fact which may account for the different spelling of the surname.

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Duncan Stewartt and An Winchest were sentenced to be whipped for fornication, the man that afternoon and the woman when she should be called out by the magistrates, after she was delivered.  Together they were to bring up the child and pay the charges.

He was probably one of the Scot prisoners taken at the Battle of Dunbar on 3 Jun 1650 by Cromwell's forces.  Many of these unfortunate men were shipped off as indentured servants and sold to the colonists for an arbitrary term of servitude. ... Duncan Stuart had a house lot in Ipswich in 1656.  About 1659 he and his family moved to Newbury. ... Shortly after Aug 1688 he moved to Rowley ... In an Essex county deed in 1698 he is called "laborer". ...

He was living on 16 Mar 1702/3 "northwest of Rye Plain Bridge and Long Hill" ... Of two deeds he acknowledged in 1708, he was called Planter in one and Husbandman in the other.

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From Deference to Defiance:
p.395 Robert Rand (c.1590-c.1639) was in his mid-forties when he arrived in Charlestown in 1635, with his two sons and two duaghters and his pregnant wife Alice.  He was "allowed to set down {in the town} provided there was no justified ground for exception."  Despite this tepid welcome, the family did stay.

note p.395-396 According to a 1651 will, Rand may have come from Barham, Suffolk, though this origin requred that the Suffolk family would not have heard of the emigrant's death for 12 years (Register 37:239); furthermore, the son would by then have been aged 61, making his testator father unusually elderly.  There were alternative Rands in Stepney, including ship master William Rand (English adventurers and emigrants 45, 175; T. Colyer-Fergusson, ed., Marriage Records of St. Dunstans, Stepney, online [FHL 94718] [p.243 Wm Rand was married in 1636])

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From Deference to Defiance:
p.396-398 "Part 6, Women ... Two Widows: Alice Rand (1594-1691) and Mary Nash (ca. 1605-74)."   Though Alice may have been supported by her brother-in-law, the childless Captain Richard Sprague, [when her husband died] she still had four children under the age of seven, and her eldest were only teenagers.  Rapid remarriage would have appeared crucial.  Yet Alice remained a single widow for the next half century, managing family and personal affairs with aplomb. ...

In both town and county records, Alice Rand's service and business career can be glimpsed ... [including possible foster parent of orphan children, midwife].  Alice kept a close eye on the family real estate.  The probate inventory of her property taken on 11 Aug 1691 listed £206 worth of holdings: valuable meadow, three cow commons on the Stinted Common, enclosed land near the town, woodlots and arable on Mystic Side. ...

Alice Rand and Mary Nash lived long and useful lives in early Charlestown running farms, managing finances, raising families, and contributing to community life.  Within their financial limits, they demonstrated an independence, an econimic breadth, and an enterprise then more usually associated with the male gender.  They provided their daughters and the rising generation of women with impressive role models.  They were invaluable and sometimes powerful matriarchs in a very masculine port culture.

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Two men came on board [his sloop Swan, anchored on the shoals on 5 April 1684] with twelve others.  They pretended to be taking their leaves, having formerly sailed with him.  After some time, they demanded provision of the sloop, which they pretended was theirs as former members of the sloop's company.  They violently and forcibly opened the sloop's hatches and took from the hold one barrel of pork, half a barrel of flour on the deck.  They threatened to bind this deponent hand and foot and in a hostile manner kept this deponent out of his cabin for some time, and more provision they said they would have, but this deponent and his company did so far defend themselves and what they had, that they took no more away.

p.256 The many shipmasters we have met fall into two broad groups.  The "godly" captains ... were Charlestown church members who took their faith on board with them and tried to recruit companies of similar religious dedication.  All seafarers were deeply superstitious, but the godly captains regularly worshipped at sea and put their trust in the Lord.

Among the mariner confraternity, they were outnumbered by the seadogs: skippers like ... Thomas Waffe, ... Their rambunctious shipboard arrogance got them into trouble both at sea and when they brought their loutish values ashore with them.  Seadogs set a tone on their vessels that influenced their crews, and when they were ashore, their families too.  They fuelled an irreligious strident, anti-Puritanical counterculture which caused considerable unease, even alarm among the devout and the authorities. ...

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In June, 1646, Evan Morris, servant of George Carr, was accused of threatening to kill his master, of running away from the constable and of "an action of a high nature done in England." Daniel Clarke became bondsman for Morris who was soon, and for many years thereafter, Clarke's servant in Topsfield.

In 1660 Daniel Clarke's license to keep a "house of entertainment" or an inn was recorded, and that year the Topsfield town meeting was held there.  After business was concluded some of the lesser citizenry remained to drink.  A brawl arose over the bill and Evan Morris, Clarke's servant, and Clarke himself were roughly handled by Francis Urselton and his friends.

As usual in such cases there was conflicting testimony.  Edmund Bridges testified that Evan Morris "laid violent hands upon him, buffetting him with as good courage as his cups and manhood would permit," and that Daniel Clarke "laid violent hands" on Urselton, "calling them cowards and challenged them to the field, saying 'Come Urselton lett us goe behind ye hill & I will try a touch with thee.'"

The battle, punctuated with the screams of Goodwife Clarke, Goodwife Urselton and Goodwife Bates, a neighbor who came in haste on "hearing a great noise," and with futile commands from the constable, lasted for three hours!  As a result Clarke was served with a warrant from "worshipful Mr. Symonds," tried and sentenced to pay fines of 20s. for selling half a pint of liquor to Indians and 10s. for "provoking speeches," imprisoned for selling liquors without a license, and prohibited from keeping an ordinary any longer for disorders in his house.

He was free, and constable himself, in 1661, and served on the jury of trials in 1662.  He was again licensed to keep an ordinary for selling beer and victuals in 1669, and the license was renewed from time to time until his death, although he was again fined for selling a gill of rum to "Jeremiah Indian" in 1678.

He was released from training in 1672 and died in 1689 or early in 1690.

A letter has survived:

London, the 27 Ap^l 1670
Brother and Sister Clarke
this cometh by the hand of M^r Will^m Perkins your neighbour, which I hope will find you with your little ones in health.  I send you over (by) John Peirce, five pieces of good Red pennistone and (a) kittle and a barrel of good fine powder, with some other necessarys, the God who sending them safe to you, I hope will also convey them safe to you.

As to your chldren craveling from beyond your will, I am not therein pleased, and would have them all submit to their parents with all due obedience and would have you so Govern yourself as to be Father over them in all righteousness.  I keep your son Samuel at school, and Doubt not but he will be a good schollar. I have made provision after my Decease, for you and all yours in New England, and particlarly for my nephew Samuel, so living or Dieing you shall have found me your affectionate Brother.
Humphrey Beane"

His will.

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The first we hear of George Badcock is from a conveyance to him, by deed on parchment dated March 31, 1654, of about one hundred acres of upland by Richard Mather, teacher of the Church of Dorchester.

One side of the tract lies next the land of Richard Collicot on the east side; the other side next the lands of John Wiswall, Thomas Wiswall, and others.  Also another lott extending to Braintry line.  Also a "parcle of marsh land lying one side next Mr. Wilsons farme the other side next the marsh of Mr. Hutchinson, one end butting Mr. Hutchinsons land, the other end the marsh of John Gill."

This large tract of land was situated west of the Collicot and Holman lands, extending over Pleasant street to the Braintree line.  A part of this tract, or land near this has remained in the Badcock family from the day of its purchase to the present time.

His will

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He occupied an important and highly useful position in the town and the church during the earliest years of the settlement.

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He probably built the Sumner house, now standing on Brush Hill, about 1678, which has been enlarged, and perhaps entirely rebuilt; the will of Roger refers to "the old end of the dwelling-house."

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He landed at Charlestown between 1645 and 1647.  Soon after he removed to Lancaster MA, and with twenty-four others founded that town in 1653.  He was chosen the first town recorder, and one of the six prudential managers. ...

Lancaster having been destroyed by the Indians in 1675, Mr. Houghton removed to Woburn MA, and in 1682 to Milton MA.  He returned to Lancaster three years after, and remained there until 1690, when he came again to Milton, and settled at "Scott's Woods, nigh unto Brush Hill," building the homestead occupied by his descendants for seven generations.

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It is asserted that Avery, the layman, did not well agree with Blinman, the minister at Gloucester, that he was presented at court for speaking "scoffingly of him," that he did not accompany the minister to New London, as most of his flock did, and that he did not join his son there until BLinman had gone back to England.

Christopher Avery was selectman at Gloucester in 1646, 1652 and 1654.  At a court in Salem he took the freeman's oath, 29 Jun 1652; was chosen and sworn clerk of the band, constable, and clerk of the market.

His wife did not come with him to this country, and in 1654 he was relieved of a fine imposed for living apart from her: From Records of Massachusetts, vol. 4, part I, p.210: "In ans^r to the peticon of Christopher Awerey, the Court, vnderstanding the peticoner is very poore and aged, having nothing to pay, and that he hath vsed his indeavor to have his wife brought ouer to him, judge meete to remitt his fine and that his peticon is receaved freely."

In 1658, he sold his lands at Gloucester and removed to Boston, where, on the 18th of March, 1658-9, he purchased a home in what is now the business centre of Boston.  From Suffolk Deeds, Book 3, p.214: ... John Samuell and Luce his wife for and in Consideration of forty pounds ... sell ... Christopher Avery ... The one moyty or halfe part of theire dwelling house scittuate and being in Boston aforesajd videljzt the North end thereof conteyning one Under roome a chamber ouer the same and a vanc roof ouer that with a sellar vnder the sajd Roome ... with all the Chimneys belonging to the North end of sajd house ... with so much of the Leantoo as extends to the sajd dividing marke of the sajd chimneys ... also the Ground on both sides the sajd house to extend so farre vpon a square from the sajd North End as the sajd dividing marke of the sajd chimneys ... bounded and fronts next the streete west likewise bounded by the land of Mathew Coy north with the orchard of Henry Bridgeham east ..."

The land thus sold for forty pounds sterling was a small lot about twenty-six by forty-six feet.  It was located in what is now (1893)the centre of the post-office building, facing on Devonshire Street.  The famous old spring, which gave the name to Spring Lane and which was preserved under the post-office, was near.  Christopher Avery sold the property in 1663 and followed his son to Connecticut.  In 1865 he purchased a house, orchard and lot in New London.  He was made a freeman of Connecticut Colony in October 1669.

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In the 1 Jun 1627 Division of Cattle he is shown as a member of his father's companie.

About 1630 Jonathan removed his family to Duxbury, from which place he was deputy to the General Court, Plymouth Colony, 1639, '41, '42, '43, and '44.  He was one of the principal men in the formation of the Duxbury settlement, and in the establishment of its church.  He sometimes practised before the Court as an attorney, and he was styled 'gentleman.'

He was a military commissioner in the Pequot War in 1637, a member of the Duxbury Committee to raise forces in the Narragansett Alarm of 1642, and a member of Captain Myles Standish's Duxbury Company in the military enrollment of 1643.

Subsequently he engaged in the coasting trade, and was master and probably owner of a small vessel plying from Plymouth along the coast of Virginia.  In this way he became acquainted with Pequot Harbor, and entered the river to trade with the natives.  He was clerk of the Town of Pequot in Sep 1649.

He removed to New London CT about 1649 (admitted inhabitant 25 Feb 1649/50), settling in that part later established as Norwich, his farm lying in both towns.  Here he was deputy to the General Court of the CT Colony, 1650, '55, '56, '57, and '58.  He established a trading house with the Mogegans [sic], at a point on the east side of the river opposite to their principal settlement. At this place, which is still called by his name, Brewster's Neck, he laid out for himself a large farm.

The deed of the land was given him by Uncas, in substance as follows:

I, Uncuas, Sachem of Mauhekon, doe give freely unto Jonathan Brewster of Pequett, a tract of land, being a plaine of arable land, bounded on the south side with a great Coave called Poccatannocke, on the north with the old Poccatuck path that goes to the Trading Coave, &c.  For, and in consideration thereof, the said J.B. binds himself and his heirs to keep a house for trading goods with the Indians.  (Signed by the Sachem and witnessed by William Baker and John Fossiker).

This deed was confirmed by the town on 30 Nov 1652, and its bounds determined.  It comprised the whole neck on which the trading-house stood, '450 acres laid out by the measurers.'  Actually 600 or 700.

No probate papers relating to his estate have been found, but bills of sale are recorded, dated in 1658, conveying all his property in the town plot, and his house and land at Poquetannuck, with his movables, cattle and swine, 'to wit 4 oxen, 12 cows, 8 yearlings and 20 swine,' to his son, Benjamin Brewster, and his son-in-law, John Picket.

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In the 1 Jun 1627 Division of Cattle she is shown as a member of her father-in-law's companie.

On 14 Feb 1661/2, John Picket relinquished his interest in the assignment of Jonathan Brewster's property to his brother-in-law, stipulating only 'That my mother-in-law, Mrs. Brewster, the late wife of my father, Mr. Jonathan Brewster, shall have a full and competent means out of his estate during her life, from the said B.B. at her own dispose freely and fully to command at her own pleasure.'

She was evidently a woman of note and respectability among her compeers.  She has always the prefix of honor (Mrs. or Mistress) and is usually presented to view in some useful capacity - an attendant upon the sick and dying as nurse, doctress, or midwife - or a witness to wills and other important transactions.

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His portion of his father's estate was subject to the reservation that if Joseph Loomis, his wife's father, "doe make his word good, to make my sonne Nicholis wifes portion as good as any child he hath, for so I understand his promise is, but if he shall refuse so to doe, I shall then refuse to give my son any parte of my movable goods, cattell or debts."  The subsequent settlement of the estate of Joseph Loomis gave an equal share to his daughter Sarah so, undoubtedly, Nicholas Olmstead received the full half of his father's estate.

During the Pequot Indian War in 1637, he was one of the colonists who fought at the battle at the Pequot Fort.  For services in this battle, he received a grant of land, and another in 1673, possibly as a bounty for other military activities.  He was a member of the Hartford Troop of Horse, progressing from Corporal in 1658 to Captain in 1657.

In 1662 he served on a jury which tried two people for witchcraft and decreed execution.  This sentence was carried out but it was the last case of the hanging of so-called witches in CT.

He was one of fifteen colonists who received in 1675 by the will of Joshua Uncas, son of the Mohegan Sachem, equal rights to a considerable tract of land "in sight of Hartford, northward" to what is now Coventry, and east to the Willimantic River.

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Isaac Sheldon owned there, Jan. 10, 1640, a home lot of 3 acres, with house, barn and orchard "purchaced of John Stiles;" another lot on the Street, "purchaced of Samuel Rockwell;" a meadow lot "by purchace of Richard Samwas," and another lot "purchaced of Thomas Parsons."  One of these lots was bounded on two sides by "his own land," which may have been given him in the original distribution.  But these four lots were not original assignments, but were obtained by purchace.

In 1654 he sold out to Samuel Rockwell and removed to Northampton, where he was one of the first settlers; in 1660 he was assigned a home lot on Bridge street, which has been handed down from father to son to the present day ...

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He died "in an unusual manner;" there was suspicion of witchcraft and a jury of inquest was called who found "several hundred spots, small ones, as if they had been shot with small shot, which we scraped and under them were holes into his body." An investigation was had, the evidence recorded and laid before the court in Boston, but no prosecution followed.

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Richardson Memorial p. 183–85: The first notice of Samuel in the New England records is dated 1 Jul 1636 when he and his brother Thomas, with others, were on a committee to lay out lots of land for hay.  In 1637 the names of Samuel and Thomas Richardson first appear in a list of inhabitants of Charlestown.  The same year the town of Charlestown granted to each of them a "house-plot," clearly indicating that they had recently become residents in the place. They were admitted members of the church there 18 Feb 1637/8, in consequence of which they were made freemen of the colony on 2 May 1638.

The three brothers (Samuel, Thomas and Ezekiel) had lots assigned to them 20 Apr 1638 on "Misticke side and above the Ponds," that is, in Malden, and their names, among others, appear as persons having the privilege of pasturing cows upon the Common on 30 Dec 1638.

On the 5^th of Nov 1640, the three brothers and four others were chosen by the church of Charlestown as commissioners or agents for the settlement of a church and town, within what were then the limits of Charlestown, but soon after erected into a separate town, and called Woburn.  That whole territory was then a wide uncultivated waste.

The three brothers lived near to each other, on the same street, which has ever since been known as "Richardson's Row."  It was laid out by the town as a street in 1647.  It runs almost due north and south, in the north-eastern part of the present town of Winchester, but a short distance east of the Boston and Lowell Railroad, and now (1876) constitutes a part of Washington Street in Woburn.  The three brothers lived near the line of Woburn.  Cellar holes were still pointed out in 1876 to designate the sites of their houses.

That Ezekiel, Samuel and Thomas Richardson were brothers appears from the will of Ezekiel Richardson, in which he discharges all demands between his brother Samuel Richardson and himself, and gives to Thomas Richardson, son of his brother Thomas, ten shillings.

It also appears from a quitclaim deed of forty acres of land, from Samuel Richardson, dated 27 Mar 1657, to my sister Susanna Richardson, now Brooks, during her lifetime, and then to my cousin [i.e. nephew], Theophilus Richardson [Midd. Deeds, ii, 72], and moreover from the boundaries of said forty acres, which are south by Samuel Richardson, north by Thomas Richardson, our brother, etc. [Midd. Deeds ii 154] This deed further determines the relative position of the houses and farms of the three brothers, that Samuel lived nearest to the village of Winchester, Thomas on the north, near the Woburn line, and Ezekiel midway between them.

Samuel was selectman of Woburn in 1644, 1645, 1646, 1649, 1650 and 1651.  In 1645, he paid the highest tax of any man in Woburn.

He died intestate.  The inventory is dated 29 Mar 1658.  His widow Joanna and eldest son John (#256) were appointed administrators [Midd. Prob. Rec, i.142].  Lieut. John Wyman, of Woburn, was appointed guardian of his sons, John and Joseph, 25 Jun 1658.

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History of Woburn p.629: bought of Isaac Learned his house and land in Woburn, 2 Apr 1652, moved there the next year.

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He was one of the first settlers of Rehoboth.  The new settlers first drew "home lots" which were size six, eight, and twelve acres each, according to the importance and wealth of the settler.  John Perrin drew an eight-acre lot in the northwest corner of the "ring of the greene" between the six acre lot of George Kendrick on the west and the eight-acre lot of James Clark (which Perrin afterwards purchased) on the east, on the north side of what is now (1942) Hoyt Ave., East Providence [Rumford], RI, between the present Wannamoisett Country Club house and the corner of Hoyt and Bourne Avenues. ...

On 9 Feb 1646 he and four others had "leaf to set up a wear upon the Cove before William Devill's house & on the Pawtucket river ... own the privilege for 7 weeks provided that they hinder not English nor Indians from fishing at the falls in either place." ...

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To the honoured Magistrates assembled at y^e County Court houlden at Cambridge
The petition of Samuell Walker of y^e Town of Wooburn Humblee Sheweth That whereas y^e petitioner not longe since by advise of his friends did set upon the trade of stilling strong waters, and for y^t end by reason of his wife s weaknes, purchased a place near y^e meeting House where in buildinge, and other Utinsels for y^e work, he hath expended about Two hundred pounds w^ch would be of little use unto him should he not goe on with y^e Trade and more eSpeciallie seeing y^e petition: is resolued through Gods assistance to prevent as much as in him lies the too frequent abuse thereof, nor shall he be wantinge to obserue y^e bounds and rules for; should you be pleased to grant him license for the retailinge of Liquors.

The premises considered we whos names are underwritten, humblee request this honoured Court that they would be pleased to grant y^e petitioner license not onlie to still, But allso to sell stronge water by y^e quart so long as he shall observe ye wholsam laws and rules y^t the Supreme power, and this Court Shall set for p^ruenting ye abuse thereof That so we may not be driven to goe to more remote Towns for a supply of our necesitie hearin, when we maie (if you shall be pleased to grant y^e request) haue Supply at home.

The following citizens of Woburn signed this petition: John Knight, John Wyman, John Mousall, Jr., John Cutler, Michael Lepingwell, Joseph Wright, Francis Kendall, Jonathan Thompson, John Wilson, Joseph Carter, Robert Peirce, Isaac Cole, John Carter, James Converse, Thomas Fuller, Henry Brooks, William Johnson, Matthew Johnson, Francis Wyman, William Simonds, William Locke, Samuel Blodgett, George Reed, William Clark, George Bruce, John Farrar, Edward Johnson, John Wright, Edward Converse, John Mousall, Sr., James Thompson, Thomas Peirce, Juhn Rusell, Edward Winn, Bartholomew Pearson, Allen Converse, John Wright, John Tidd, Moses Cleaveland, Matthew Smith, Philip Knight, Joseph Knight

The answer to this petition is found in the records of the County Court, the petition being granted in April, 1662.  Henry Summers succeeded him as innkeeper in Woburn, in 1682.

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His brother Esdras, who had a grant of land from the town of Boston, situated at Muddy River (now Brookline), sold the same to William who took up his residence upon it, where he lived till 1648 when he bought a farm in Woburn, ... and removed to that place. ...

The bill of sale from Nicholas Davis of Charlestown, to William Reade of Muddy River, of his farm in Woburn, containing fifity acres of upland; four acres of meadow in Rockbrook; and two acres in Brook Meadow; with all barns, outhouses, fences, and all to the same belonging; which is by me an absolute deed of sale.
Nicholas Davis, dated 7/5/1648

The above piece of land is on the old road from Salem to Concord, not far from Kendall's mill.  The cellar and well are to be seen at the present time [1861].  The land, after being in the possession of his descendants by the name of Read, passed into the hands of the Fowles, who were also descendants; ...

William returned to England, and died there.  A letter of administration was taken out by his widow, under Oliver Cromwell.

My will is, that my wife Maybel have threescore pounds for her life.
Item, That my wife have the household stuffe to dispose of.
Item, That the threescore pounds which is owing me by Mr. William Brenton of New england be disposed of as followeth, if it can be got; viz.: To my wife, twenty pounds.  Item, To my four youngest children, twenty pounds; that is, five pounds apiece.  Item, to my three children that are married in New england, that is, George, Ralph, and Michael, twenty pounds, to be equally divided between them.  Item, That, whenever any of my four youngest children die, their portion to be equally divided among the other three; that is, if they die in their minority.

40lb. due me from Mr. Shillingsworth; 20bl. Mark Eaton of Blackcallerton; 30lb. from Mrs. Flora Hall; 20lb. from Anthony Walker; 12lb. 3lb. in my wife's hands, and 6 lb. in Mr. Oggle's hands; 40lb. more in the house. George Errington of Longhouse, and his sonne and his sonne-in-law, 10 shillings; Sawin Anderson, forty shillings; Mary Chicken, alias Watson, 4lb. 10 shillings, and 10 shillings in my wife's hands, in all ninescore pounds.
The mark of Wm. Reade
Witness: William Cutter, the mark of Thomas Gibson

Oliver, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland,, or the dominions thereto belonging, to Maybel Reade, widow, the relict of William Reade, late of Newcastle-upon-Tyn, deceased, greeting. Whereas the said William Reade made his last will and testament, which is hereunto annexed, and therin made nor constituted no executor, but nominated and appointed the said Maybel Reade, his then wife, principal testatrix; we, therefore, give and grant full power and authority unto you, the said Maybel Reade, widow.

Given a London, under the hand and seal of the Court of Probate of Wills, and granting administration, the last day of October, 1656. Robert Blackford. B. Sunhange. Nath. Shoucklegs. and seal annexed now, Pesto annexo uli exeant uli nullus.
Mr. -- Watson, T.M. Blackford
Entered and recorded, 17.12.1661, by Thomas Danforth, Recorder

The will is recorded in Middlesex Probate Office, Dec. 16, 1661, vol. i. p.299

The amount of estate appraised in England was two hundred pounds.  The amount due him from Mr. William Brenton in New England, not appraised, sixty pounds, with what he had advanced to his three older children in America, made in all over three hundred and fifty pounds; and, by including the amount necessary to convey himself and family to England, it would make his estate, at the time he left America, not less than four hundred pounds, which was among the largest estates in New England at that time.

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Reade Record 1910 10:11, "Will of Mabell Read-Summers of Woburn": Middlesex Probate 17 Jun 1690

In ye Name of God, Amen.  I, Mabell Summers, Relict of Henry Sommers, late of Woburn in ye COunty of Midd^x in theire Majties Teritory and Dominion of New England, being through God's goodness of sound understanding and memorie, yet through long weakness of body, do find that my dissolution cannot be far off and though I have made a Will or Wills Sometime since, yet by reason of my continuance longer in this world then I could have Expected whereby my necessary provision for myself by my order given by me to my Son George Read hath Expended the considerablest part of what Estate I then was possessed.

Wherefore, resigning my Soul & body into ye hands of my Dear Redeemer, my body to be decently enterred at ye discretion of my Executor, and as for that of temporall Estate that at my decease shall be in my possession, or due unto me from others, I do bestow ye whole thereof to my loveing Son George Read to him and to his heires forever, Excepting five shillings a peice to my loveing Sonnes and Daughters then living.

Further desiring my loveing Daughter in Law, Hannah Read wife to my Son George Read that would after my decease if liveing give some what of my cloathing to my own Daughters such and so much as she shall see meat,

and I do here by Revoke all former Wills of mine and this onley to be in force, makeing my loveing Sonne George Read sole executor of this my will who hath for neere this five years, shewed his filial care of and for me, and doth still say, that dureing my continuance in this World according to his ability he will provide for me.

Wherefore Dear Children live in Love and Peace together, that ye God of love and Peace may be with you.  And so I committ you into ye hands of our good God who hath promised never to leave or forsake those that put theire trust in him.

And in testimonie that this is my last Will and testament I do hereunto set my hand and seal this 22d of January 1689-90. The mark of Mabell (O) Summers and a seal.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in ye p^rsence of us, William Simmes, Saml. Blogett, Senr., Joseph Wright, Senr.

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There are rumors (unproven) that the three boys had not intention of remaining in the Colonies but were escaping their elder brother Edward.  Speculation is that the parents died and left their estate to their oldest son Edward.  The boys (Thomas, Robert and John), though very young (one was 11) seem to have wanted to get away from him.  The only other brother, Benjamin, went to India and made his fortune.

The Angel Gabriel was a strong ship, well armed with fourteen or sixteen cannons, and the crew desired her company.  She was under the command of Robert Andrews, uncle to the Burnham boys (brother to Mary, the boys' mother).  The Angel Gabriel was, however, slow and sometimes the James went with three sails less than she could have used, to allow the Angel Gabriel to keep pace.  On 14 July, the sea was rough, many were seasick and no one could go on deck because of the tossing and tumbling of the ship.  The James lost sight of the Angel Gabriel sailing slowly behind and they never saw her again.

The Angel Gabriel pulled into the bay at Permaquid, Maine on 13 Aug 1635 [a month later] and laid at anchor.  The next day there was a terrible storm which ravaged the entire coast from Nova Scotia to New York.  The Angel Gabriel was torn to pieces and cast away.  Most of the cattle, 1 seaman and 3 or 4 passengers died.  The others escaped to shore.  One story says that among the few personal belongings saved was a chest belonging to the Burnham boys.  Other stories say the chest was lost, and along with it the family crest.

Some passengers set up tents along the shore and John Cogswell went to Boston and sought the help of Capt. Gallop, who commanded a small bark, or barque.  He took some passengers, including the Burnhams, to Ipswich, Massachusetts Bay Colony.  There is no known record of who took care of the boys (still quite young) when they reached MA.  Because they did not intend to remain in the Colonies, they did not have the required approval to remain, but the good people of the area permitted their taking up residence as their presence there was an "act of God".

Thomas and John spent most of their lives in Ipswich, while Robert went to live in Boston, and later, in 1654, to Oyster River, New Hampshire (now the area of Dover).  Another Burnham brother, Benjamin, who did not make the trip to America, eventually went to Madras, India and lived there from 1660 to 1684.  He amassed a great fortune and, when he died, his will of 8 June 1685 stated that everything would go to the three brothers in America and their ancestors [sic - descendants?].

Benjamin died in 1691 and the oldest brother, Edward (who had remained in England), was quite upset and fought the will in court.  For sixty years Edward and his ancestors fought the will, claiming no family existed in America.  After a long battle in the English courts, the British Crown confiscated the entire estate (which included real estate in the city of London and was then valued in the millions of pounds), as they were noted for such practice in those days.  Over the next 200 years, several Burnham in America would make the long journey to England to contest the taking of the estate, to no avail.  Details of these efforts are available.

... Upon arrival with his brothers John and Robert aboard the Angel Gabriel, Thomas settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and took up his trade as a carpenter.  Thomas purchased land in Ipswich, next to his brother John, in 1648.  He served in the Pequot Expedition under the command of Elliott in 1636 or 1637.  He served as Deputy to the General Court in 1683, 1684 and 1685; and was a selectman of the town in 1647.  In 1664 he was made sergeant of Ipswich company; 1665 made Ensign.  In 1667, Thomas Burnham is granted the privilege of erecting a saw-mill on the Chebacco River, near the falls.  He owned much real estate in Ipswich and also in Chebacco.  His houses and farms were divided between his sons Thomas and James.

His will is dated Jan 1693 and was probated 29 Sept. 1694.  It formerly gave only to his sons Thomas, John and James; now his wife wants him to give to his six daughters, Mary, Johannah, Abigail, Ruth, Sarah and Hester; the residue to his wife Mary.  His other children are not mentioned; presumably they died before he did.

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15 Sep 1658 - The will of Francis Wyman of the parish of Westmill in the county of Hertford, husbandman ... I do give and bequeath unto Jane my wife the full sum of ten shillings of lawful English money to be paid unto her by mine executor presently after my burial.

Item, I do give and bequeath unto my two sons Francis Wyman and John Wyman w^ch are beyond sea ten pounds apiece of lawful English money to be paid unto them by mine executor if they be in want and come over to demand the same.

I do give and bequeath unto my sister Susan Huit, widow, the full sum of forty shillings of lawful English money to be likewise paid to her by mine executor within one whole year next coming after my decease.

Item, I do give and bequeath unto Thomas Wyman my son all that my messuage or tenement wherein I now dwell with all the other buildings, housen and outhousing thereunto belonging, and all my lands, orchard, garden and yards, with all and singular their appurtenances whatsoever, to him and his heirs forever.

All the rest of my goods &c., to my said son Thomas, whom I appoint executor. Proved 14 Feb 1658/9.

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Early in an August afternoon in 1668 Mehitable Brabrook, the sixteen-year-old servant of Elizabeth Perkins, her master and mistress having gone to the town, was alone in the house and was smoking a pipe.  Going outside she climbed to the top of the oven which projected from the back of the house, "to looke if there were any hogs in the corn," and knocked out her pipe on the thatch at the eaves.

This was the end of the house built by old John Perkins and left by him to his son Jacob.  The efforts of the neighbors to save it were futile and it burned to the ground.  Mehitable was convicted of extreme carelessness "if not wilfully burning the house," was severly whipped and ordered to pay <pounds>40 to her master.

By October a new house was being built.  This house was struck by lightning on a Sunday in 1671 "while many people were gathered there to repeat (discuss?) the sermon, when he and many others were struck down."  Jacob and the house survived, however.

In 1693 he made an agreement with two of his sons for life support.

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John Wilds testified that he had heard that Mary Reddington had "raised a report" that his wife had bewitched her.  Wilds had gone to John Reddington and threatened to sue him for defamation, but Reddington begged him not to do so for it would only waste his estate and that in time his wife would stop her gossip.  After this Wilds got his brother Averill to go to the Reddingtons and offer, if Mary Reddington had anything against his sister Wilds, to be a means of making peace.  Where upon Mary Reddington said that she knew no harm that Sarah had done her.

Sarah was hanged on 19 Jul 1692 along with four others including Rebecca Nurse.  In 1711 her conviction was reversed.

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his house Lott.  and he hath also a house Lott which he had from his brother John farrah Giuen by him and Confirmed and Rattified by the town which Lott Lyeth on the Neck on the west side of penicook Riuer buting east upon the said Riuer and west upon another Rang of Lotts that Lyes on the west side of the neck bounded south by the Lott of Edmon parker and north by the Lott of Roger Sumner at the west end and by the Common at the east end and by sid Land of Jeremiah Rogers which Lott being Eight Scoore Rods Long and twenty Rods wide and Lyeth for twenty acres be it more or Less.

John Houghton and wife Mary [Farrar] transferred the above house lot to George Glazier in March, 1706.

p.291 The lands of Jacob Farrah

house Lott.  The house Lott of Jacob farrah upon which his house stands Lying South from the North Riuer and west from Nashaway Riuer in a Rang of Lotts on the east side of the Street or highway that Lyes batwen two Ranges of Lotts buting west upon that Street or highway and east upon the Common that Lies towards Johns Jump a place so called

bounding north by the Lott of thomas Sawyer and South by the Commons where thare was a Lott sum time Laid out to John Rigbe a Littel Brook Runing cros the west end of it near to the end, and a highway of a Rod wide Lying betwen the Lott of Thomas Sawyer and it which Lott being fower score Rods in Length and fourty Rods wide ondly upon his Request for a Conuenient place to build a house the Square of his Lott was altered and the South west corner Runs out twenty Rods further and the South east corner so much in which Lott Lyeth for twenty acors be it more or Less. ...

The "highway of a rod wide"j above stated as the north bound of Farrar's land is the east and west street, known as the Narrow Lane, on which the Seventh Day Adventist meeting-house stands [1884]. ...

p.292Two of the sones, Jacob and Henry, were slain by the Indians in 1675 and 1676 ... After the massacre, Jacob Farrar, with his wife and daughter Mary, ... fled to his relatives in Woburn, where he died. ... John Houghton purchased all the Farrar lands, A.D. 1700.

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Return to Johnson Ancestor Chart #7634.

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In 1639 he purchased some cattle in New England owned by Richard Standerwick of Broadway SOM ENG.  The deed was witnessed by Benedict Alford.

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Provided my wife shall see Cause with ye advise of my overseers to sell ye dwelling house & ye ground enjoyning to it during hir life time, then said Legacies shall be payd within six monethes after such sale; the two tenn pounds to my two daus in England into ye hands of my Cousine, Mr. [Edmund?] Anger, of Cambridge, to be sent unto my said two daus. if then liveing, or else to ye Child or Children of them.

If either die without issue before ye time mentioned, then ye survivor, or hir children, to receive it.  If both die, leaving no issue, ye £40 [to] be disposed of my two daus, Martha & Abigaile, or to their Children, at ye discretion of my Overseers.

I give unto Mary & Elizabeth Spawle, my Grand Children, to each of them, £5, upon ye same terms an ye legacies of my daus. above specified, to be payd by my wife or her successors.

In consideration of wch I discharge my wife from ye paymt of £15, mentioned in a deed of sale, whereby I have made over my orchard to my wife, the said deed bearing date the 25th Aug. 1658, & I doe Confirme said deed of sale to my wife, wch deed was made to Mr. John Joyliffe on hir behalfe, who is hereby discharged.

I appoint my wife, sole Executrix of this my Last Will.  I also appoint my friends and Kinsmen, Mr. Edmund Anger and John Lovermore, of Watertown, overseers.
7 April 1660.  Richard Shearman

signed and delivered by Richard Sherman, with ye clause on ye margent, being in these words,
   leaveing all ye rest of my estate unto my said wife & Executrix.  Witness, William Bartholmew, John Joyliffe.
31 July 1660, William Bartholmew, deposed.
Inventory of Estate taken 26th June 1660, by William Colbron, William Bartholmew. Amt. £105.10.06. Elizabeth Shearman deposed, 31 July 1660.

p. 320-22:
Elizabeth Robinson - 21 Aug 1666. I Elizabeth Robinson, being in a weake Condition of Body, yet of competent understanding & memory, concerning such Estate as it hath pleased God to leave to my disposing I doe Order & bequeath as followeth.

That the Estate Given by the last will & Testament of my former Husband, Richard Shearman, I doe hereby will & desire that it may bee performed accordingly & for the Overplus of what the House & Land shall yeald I doe out of the same give unto John Browne, sonn of Edmund Browne of Dorchester, £5.

To Samuel Deman, sonn of John Deaman of Redding 40s.  To Elizabeth Spaule, dau. of Thomas Spall of Boston, 40s.  To my sister Bridget Locks children of Faucet in England, if living, to Each of them £5, Provided that if the Overplus above mentioned shall fall short of these legacies above written, that then they are to have proportionably as it shall fall, the which I referr to my Executors hereafter named.

I give to my kinsman, John Greenleafe, my Orchard, to him & his heires forever, Provided hee pay to his sister Mary Greenleafe, £20 within six months after my decease, the which I doe hereby give & bequeath to my said kinswoman. To my said kinsman, John Greenleafe, one bedstead in the chamber with the furniture to it.

Unto Mary Spall, dau. of the said Spall aforesaid, one feather bed, boulster & pillow.  I give unto Mary Greenleafe, one feather bed & bedstad with furniture belonging to it as it now standeth in the Parlor, together with one Table, Fowre Stooles & fowre Quishions.

And whereas there is due unto mee the sume of £50, from the Estate lately of my Husband Thomas Robinson as by covenant upon marriage, I doe referr the whole or what shall bee recovered of the same to bee disposed the one halfe of it among my Husband Shearman's children or Grand children, according to the discretion of my Executors, the rest of the said sume & other movables after my debts funerall & other necessary charges paid to bee disposed of at the discression of Deacon John Wisewall & Mr. William Bartholomew, whome I Appoint Executors of this my last will.
Elizabeth X Robinson
In presence of Nathaniell Bishop, Joseph Bartholomew.

16 Nov 1667. John Dammon appeared in Court, with Thomas Spall, Edmond Browne & Joseph Knight & Acknowledged themselves to bee agreed with Deacon John Wiswall Executor to Elizabeth Robinsons will, & was willing it should bee proved, the said Deacon Wisewell presenting Joseph Bartholomew & Mr. William Bartholomew Evidences.  Taken before Mr. Edward Tyng, which the Court Orders to bee Recorded with the will & approved of them as a probate of the same.
As attests, Edw. Rawson, Recordr.

The Testimony of Joseph Bartholomew, Aged 29 yeares or thereabouts, Concerning the last will & Testament of Elizabeth Robinson, bearing date, 21 Aug. 1666, now deceased, this deponent Testifyeth that the said Elizabeth came divers times to this deponants Fathers house very earnestly desiring to have her will drawne, as not willing to have her former Will stand, but to alter it.

And after many times comming, the Father of this deponant, on a day brought a Coppie drawne as from her, & written to my best Remembrance, hee said by Mr. Wiswall & himself, the which this deponant wrought out & meeting with the Widdow Robinson afterwards shee Exprest her selfe very joyfull that it was done & very well sattisfyed with it & Owned it as her will & Testament, after goodman Bishops hand was at it; soe when shee had soe Owned it, to bee her Act & deed I set to my hand also, at which time I tooke her to bee of a disposing mind, only shee had a great defect in uttering her mind, until shee had tyme to make her mind knowne by degrees, & further saith not.
Taken upon Oath Augst 21, 1667.  Before me, Edward Tyng, Commissr.

The Testimony of William Bartholomew, Concerning the last will & Testament of Elizabeth Robinson deceased saith, that the said Elizabeth came often to the House of this deponant, divers times weeping to him, to get her will formerly drawne to bee Altered & to bee, new drawne.

My business being more then Ordinary, I could not in some Weekes attend it, but sometime before the date of her last will, went to Mr. Wiswall at her request, and wee together tooke this her last will from her Owne mouth, wording of it as meetly as wee might, but in nothing altering the sence of her mind Expressed to us.  I doe not remember wee dictated any thing to her of it, but only when shee was speaking of some bequeathed to her kindred in England wee wished her to insert that clause, vizt, if the Estate might afford;

& whereas shee had drawne two formes of wills before, I doe account this will the most rationall of them all, & the Reasons shee gave for altering her former will, were upon rationall grounds, & I does affirme to my best understanding, that at the drawing & at the signing & sealing of this her last will & Testament shee was of a Composed & disposing mind, also shee declared her selfe severall times to this deponant, after the will was signed & finished, to bee well satisfyed & quieted in her mind, who indeed seemed restless till it was done;

further this deponant testifyeth, that hee this deponant meeting her the Evening before shee sickned, going from her House, it being a very cold Evening, asked her why shee would hazard her health soe, as to goe forth in soe cold an Evening, shee Answered mee, that shee was going to a private meeting.  And to my best Remembrance I then asked her as I had done upon occation at times before, whether shee had heard with understanding at the meetings & shee said yea, shee praysed God for it.
Taken upon Oath the 29th of the 7:1667.
Before Edw. Tyng, Commissr.

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Thomas Waffe ... His parents were John (ca. 1620-ca. 1651) and Katherine Waffe (1623-92).  His father had died when Thomas was only about six years old, and his mother, still in her twenties and with three young children, soon married Abraham Bell, 31, a waterman ... They had five more children.  On the last day of 1662, Abraham was cast away in his lighter coming in to Pullen Point. ... He left the modest estate of £154. Katherine Waffe Bell did not remarry. ...

Thomas's mother was fifty-three years old by 1676, and though her assets had been pretty meager, "by her great pains and labor in bringing up the eithght children" fathered by her two husbands, she had managed to hold on to the family house and land in Charlestown.  At this time, however, Katherine "being now well stricken in years," and her children "now arrived at men's and women's estate," had agreed to divide up the family assets ...

One of these people of God was Widow Katherine Bell.  She had become a church member as Katherine Waffe in 1645, though neither of her husbands was admitted.  She had triumphantly defended her daughter Mary's reputation against her master ... She was the type of neighbor on whom the Martin women had heaped "scorn and reproach."

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The name Humphrey may also be a clue of Thomas Beane's origin.  In the accounts of the Cordwainers is the record that Humphrey Beane, son of Robert Beane of Richmond, co. York, saddler, was apprenticed to Thomas White "from the Purification last from 9 years," dated 20 Mar 1597.  Humfrey Benn, apprentice of Thomas White, became a freeman of the Company in 1606-1607 on payment of a white (silver) spoon and 3s. 4d. ingress money.

If this young man was fourteen when he was apprenticed, as was usual, he would have been born in 1583.  Was our Thomas Beane his brother and also a son of Robert Beane, the Richmond saddler?  There is no will of a Robert Beane of Richmond of the proper period indexed, but the Richmond parish register has not been searched.  Humphrey Banes, leatherseller, who paid a London poll tax in 1641, was probably the Cordwainer.

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4 Mar 1630/31 - the will of Thomas Richardson of Westmill in the County of Herts, husbandman, being sick in bodye but of good an perfect memory ... to Katherine my wife during the term of her natural life my little close of pasture called Little Hunnymeade containing half an acre, and after her decease to my son Samuel ...

to son John 40s, within 3 years after decease of me and Katherine my wife ... to son James 12d ... to son Thomas £3 to be paid within 5 years after decease of me and Kathyrine my now wife ...

to Katherine my wife all my movable goods for her life, then to son Samuel whom I do ordain my sole executor.  Witnesses: Richard Baker, Philip Baker.  Signed by mark.  Proved 31 July 1634 at Hitchin by son Samuel Richardson.

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25 Sep 1630 - the will of William Thake of Nuthampstead in the parish of Barkway, Malster ... sick in body ... I give to the poor of Nuthampstead 5s, I give to Annis Rugbye my daughter 5s, I give to William Thake my son my leaden diskerne, etc. to the said William my executor hereafter named, I give to Stephen Thake my son £6, I give to Joan Thake my daughter £20, I give to Mary Thake my daughter £20, I give to Fortune Thake my daughter £20 ... at age 21 ... residue to my son William Thake & he to be my sole executor.  Witnesses: Andrew Duxford, Symon Heris.

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In the name of God Amen, I William Phipping [of] Wedmore in the County of Somerset, Baker, being sick in body but thanks be to God of perfect memory, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form as following.  That is to say, first I yield and bequeath my soul unto the hands of Almighty God my creator and redeemer.

Item, I give unto my daughter Joane x^s.  Item, I give unto my daughter Francis x^s.

Item, I give to my daughter Elizabeth Xiij pounds which remains gtom Richard Page.  Item, I give yo my daughter Elizabeth xij pounds which remains from my brother Joseph Phipping upon bond.  Item, I give to my daughter Elizabeth seven and forty shillings which I lent to my brother Joseph Phipping in Ireland.  Item, I give to Elizabeth my daughter six pounds from Richard Numan upon bond.  Item, I give to my daughter Elizabeth twenty shillings and two pair of stockings of two threads of worsted and one of yarn from the hands of Ellinor Andrewes, widow.  Item, I give to my daughter Elizabeth xvj^s from William Peacocke of olom in the parish of Bitton in the County of Gloucestershire.

Item, I make my daughter Elizabeth whole executrix of this my last will and testament.  I do appoint Richard Page and Richard Browne overseers.  Of this money it shall be put out to use for the maintenance of my daughter Elizabeth and her children.  Item, I give to the two overseers a groat apiece.

Item, I give to my daughter Elizabeth seven shillings which remains from John Swease of Corblock in the parish of Wedmore.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the xxij jay of September in the year of our lord 1647.  The mark of William Phipping.  Witness to the same Richard Webb, William Addams, Thomas Webb.

Item, I do make over the estate of the house at Wedmore to my son in law John Addams till the return of my daughter Judah out of New England.

Proved at London 9 Sep 1650.

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In the name of God amen the fourth day of the i mo Anno Dom 1657/58 I John Perse of Watertowne in the County of Midlesex in New England weaver, being through the Lords mercy in good health, Sound mind and of good understanding, do make and ordaine this my last will & Testam^t.  My poore mortall Soule I do Desire freely and humbly to leave it in the everlasting Armes of the mercies of God the father in Christ Jesus  My body I comitt to the earth to be decently buried at the Discretion of my Executrix,

And as for my outward estate w^ch the Lord hath been pleased of his goodness to blesse me with all, and for a short time to make me Steward of, My Will is that (my funerall expences and all other my just debts being first payd and fully Sattisfied) My Loveing wife Elizabeth Perse shall freely have and enjoy the same i.e. my dwellinghouse outhouses and all my lands Cattle, corne, & all other my goods and Chattells Debts and Dues of what w^r or kind soever,

out of w^ch my will is that shee the said Elizabeth with in one yeare next comeing after my decease shall pay or cause to be payd unto my Eldest sonne Anthony Perse Twenty shillings and to the rest of my Children ten shillings a peece, to be payd in Country pay,

also I Do hereby nominate & Appoynt the abovesaid Elizabeth Sole Executrix of this my last will and Testam^t  In witness whereof I the said John Perse have here unto put my hand & seale the Day and yeare first above written.
John Pers
In p^rsence of Edward Tynge   Peter Jeff

At a County Court held at Cambridge, 1 Oct 1661, "M^r Edw Ting" deposed that he saw "John Peirse" sign the will ... the inventory of John "pearse," of Watertown, who died 7–7–1661, consisting of real and personal property, including a homestall, dwelling house, two barns and 12 acres; also meadow and 24 acres upland, 3 acres plowland, the stock, etc., to the amount of £271–07–00.

Return to Richardson Ancestor Chart #1092.
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The Last will and Testament of Elizabeth Pearse
In the name of god amen I Elizabeth Pearse of wattertowne in the county of Midlesex in New England doe make and ordaine this my last will & testament in maner and forme following.

viz I being aged and sicke and weake of body but of good and perfect memory blesed and praysed be god first I recommend my soule and spirit unto the handes of god that gave it hoping through the merrits of Jesus christ to have eternall Life: and my body to the earth whereof itt was made and to be buried by the discretion of my executor here after mentioned.

Imp^r I give and bequeath to my son Robt Pearse all my meadow or sixteene pound Sterling at the Liberty of my executor: also I give and bequeath to my Son John Pearse 2 of my cowes now In the handes of John Ball Jn^r when ther time comes out with him: also I give and Bequeath to my daughter Ester mose one of my fether beds wch she shall make choise of and one bolster one pellow one covering one grene blanket and my yoke of oxen now in the handes of John Ball Jn^r when ther time comes out with him:

also I give and bequeath to my daughter mary Coldum my best green Ruge and one pear of Sheets and my bigest brasse keatle and all my wearing clothes and my great looking glass and my cob irons; also I give and bequeath to my two grand children mary and Ester Ball six pound to each of them to be payed by my executor two yeare after my decease and then to be improved for and to ther use by the discretion of my executor untill the time of their maridge or the age of eyghteene years and then to come into ther handes with the produce

further I give and Bequeath to my grand child John Pearse Son to my Son Anthony pearse twenty shill also I give and bequeath to my grand child mary pearse daughter to my Son Anthony twenty shill also I give and Bequeath to my grand child Judith Sawin twenty shill: also I give and bequeath to my grand child Ester mose dauther to Joseph mose twenty shill: also I give and bequeath to my grand child Judah pearse daughter to my Son Robt pearse twenty Shill:

and all the rest of my estate both houses lands goods cattle chatles debtes or whatever is mine I doe hereby give and bequeath to my Son Anthony Pearse and I doe hearby make and ordaine my Aforesaid Son Anthony Pearse my full and sole executor of this my last will and testament requiring him to performe all and every part hearof according to the true intent and meaning therof in witness wherof I have hearunto annexed my hand and seale this 15th of the first month in the yeare 1666/1667
Elizebeth Pearse her marke
Sealed and subscribed in the p^rsents of Joseph Tayntor and Mary Tayntor her MT marke

Joseph and Mary Tayntor proved the above will, 2 Apr 1667. ... the inventory of Elizabeth Peirce, late of Watertown, deceased, consisting of housing and lands, furniture, one "pewter beere bole 2 peuter platers & 2 peuter beere pots, p peuter porenger"; a total of £124–08–02.

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Probate Records

Richardson Memorial p. 31–37: By the sixth of July 1630, Ezekiel Richardson was in New England.  He and his wife Susanna became members of the church gathered in Charlestown, 27 Aug 1630, which afterwards became the First Church in Boston; and both were dismissed from it, with thirty-three others, 14 Oct 1632, to form the present First Church in Charlestown.  He was admitted a freeman of the colony, 18 May 1631.

Soon after his arrival in this country, he and his wife took up their abode in Charlestown, and must have shared in the hardships and privations endured by the early settlers.  They lived in a log-house, hastily and rudley constructed, the interstices filled with mud, and utterly insufficient for their protection against the rude blasts of winter.  All around was a dense forest, or a dreary waste, infested with wolves and other ferocious animals.  They probably lived in constant fear and alarm.

During the first two years the colonists suffered greatly from famine.  Shell-fish, clams, lobsters, etc. had to serve for meat; ground-nuts and acorns for bread.  The relief expected from England did not come; bread-stuffs were scarce and dear there, and the colonists had no money to buy with.  The salaries of thier ministers were paid in pork, barley and other articles of food, of which the people had not sufficient for themselves.  The harvest of the year after their arrival was scanty, by reason of cold and wet weather through the summer.

Ezekiel's name ofen occurs on the Charlestown records.  He was, in 1633, appointed by the General Court a constable, then an office of much responsibility.  In the following years, he was appointed by the town on several important committees.  He was one of the first board of selectmen in Charlestown, chosen 10 Feb 1634/5; also in 1637, 1638, 1639.  He was a deputy or representative of that town in the General Court, chosen 2 Sep 1634, and also the following year, 1635.  In 1637, a lot of land was granted to him on "Misticke Side," or Malden also to each of his brothers.

He was a follower of Ann Hutchinson and John Wheelwright in the Antinomian Controversy of 1637, as were most of the members of the Boston church, and was one of the eighty or more persons who signed the Remonstrance in Mr. Wheelwright's favor, presented to the General Court on the ninth of March in that year.

At the session of the General Court helf in November following, he and several others desired that their names might be erased from that paper, which the Court had judged to be of seditious tendency.  Thus acknowledging his fault, he was exempted from the censure inflicted by the Court; in other words, he was not disarmed, as were nearly all of the Remonstrants.

In May 1640, the town of Charlestown petitioned the General Court for an enlargement of her territory.  The petition was granted, and addition made to her territory of two miles square, soon after increased to four miles square.  On the 15^th of May, Ezekiel Richardson, Edward Johnson, Edward Convers, and some others were sent to explore this grant and to determine its bounds.  The original design was to make a village within the bounds of Charlestown and dependent on it.

But as early as 5 Nov 1640, the church of Charlestown chose seven men, Edward Convers, Edward Johnson, Ezekiel Richardson, John Mousall, Thomas Graves, Samuel Richardson, and Thomas Richardson, as commissioners or agents, for the erection of a new church and town, upon the land thus granted, to be entirely distinct and separate from Charlestown.  A beginning was made in the erection of houses during the year 1641, at and near the centre of the new town, which at its incorporation, in Sep 1642, received the name of Woburn, from Woburn HEF ENG.

The church in Woburn was solemnly constituted 14 Aug 1642.  Seven persons were embodied in a church state, viz.: John Mousall, Edward Convers, Edward Johnson, William Learned, Ezekiel Richardson, Samuel Richardson, and Thomas Richardson.  These persons stood forth, one by one, and declared their religious faith anc christian experience.  They were the nucleus of the new church, and theirs was the responsible duty of deciding what other members should be admitted.

It was also their duty to lay out the new town to be formed in connection with this church and make all needful arrangements for this purpose.  The first settlers of Woburn in 1642 could not have exceeded thirty families.

At the first election of town officers in Woburn, 13 Apr 1644, Ezekiel Richardson was chosen a selectman, and continued to be chosen to that office in 1645, 1646, and 1647.  He and four others were appointed a committee to lay out a road from Cambridge to Woburn.

In the inventory made after his death there is not an article of silver plate, not an article of china, crockery, or glass ware, not an article of cotton manufacture, not a carpet, not one book.

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27 Mar 1657, Samuel Richardson, brother of Ezekiel Richardson, now deceased, quitclaims forty acres of land in Woburn, on the side towards Reading, to my sister Susanna Richardson, now Brooks, during her lifetime, and then to my cousin [nephew] Theophilus Richardson.  This land is described as bounded south by land of Samuel Richardson (himself), north by land of our brother Thomas Richardson, west by a running brook, east by the common, i.e. by the common unappropriated land [Midd. Deeds, ii.72].

31 Dec 1659, We, Henry Brooks and Susanna Brooks, resign one-half of Ezekiel Richardson's house and lands [Midd. Deeds, ii.154].

Richardson Memorial p. 37: Henry Brooks was formerly of Concord, and while a resident there was made freeman, 14 mar 1639.  He is noticed in the Town Records of Woburn as an inhabitant, and a proprietor of land there, near Horn Pond, 10 Jan 1652.  He was one of the selectmen of Woburn, 1669.  He died 12 Apr 1683.  He had children by a former wife, John, Timothy, Isaac and Sarah.

Brooks Family Register 58:48: She, in 1670, was described by an authority of that time as "an ancient and skilful woman, living at Woburn"; famous for her attainments in medical science.

William Brackenbury, of Charlestown, conveyed to Henry Brooks six parcels of land in Woburn (178 acres) at a place commonly called Horn Pond, together with a house frame, 20 Dec 1650.  The homestead estate is described in the Woburn Records, in 1678.  The buildings were then located on what was called South Street (present - 1904 - lower Main Street).

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The last will and Testament of Thomas Cartar of Charlestown made the fifth day of the third month A thousand six hundred and fifty t^w

I Thomas Cartar weak in body but whole in my understanding and memory do make here my last will and testament in menner and forme following imprimis I comitt ... my soule unto God ... I comitt my Body to be decently buried And for my outward estate I due dispose of it to be disposed of as followeth.

I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Carter my now dwelling house with the garden ground the Barne, and the five acres of Land which lies in the feild behind and above my house, with all my household stuffe; alsoe two Cowes and three Cows Commons and a quarter alsoe halfe and the Every of all my ground and she to have all this as long as she lives; she each year fynding and allowing halfe the ear corn for all the ground.

I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Thomas Cartar after my wives decease my now dwelling hous garden and barne with the five Akers I bought of my son Samuell, and the three cows comons and a quarter And a Cow hay Lott lying wthout the Noll (by Ralph Mousalls Land) w^ch was given me in the divident, Also the Dwelling hous that Thomas Cartar my son now dwells in: Only out of this house I will and bequeath to my son Samuell Cartar to bee pay^d him by my son Thomas Cartar ten pounds.

Also I give and bequeath unto my two sons Samuell and Joseph the twoo Akers of ground that lies on mystick Syde ... to be equally divided amongst them, and to be theirs w^thin a month after my decease.  I also give unto my son Samuell Cartar after my wives decease one of my hay Lotts without the Neck, w^ch I bought of goodman Potter.

I also give and bequeath after my wives decease unto my son Joseph Carter three Akers of Land lying at montons poynt bought of Mikell Bastoe  Also a hay Lott bought of m^r Lyn without the necke, alsoe one cows Coman.

I bequeath and give after my wives decease unto my son John Cartar A Cow and three heifers.

I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Brinsmead, and to my daughter Hanna Gre–[Green] four akers of land lying nere in Bunkers within the Neck and my will is that to this foure Akers there shall be added as much out of my household goods as shall make them up to be worth twenty pounds but this to be theirs after my wives decease.

I alsoe give and bequeath after my wives decease, unto my beloved grandchildren Caleb Cartar, Joseph Cartar, John Green, and John Brinsmead, A hous and the Ground belonging to it w^ch is about an Aker, w^ch Land and the ould hous I bought of goodman Robinson, and a new hous to be sett upon the garden platt where the ould house stands which I give amongst the four children aforenamed to be theirs forever.

Thomas Cartar
witnesees   the marke of William Dad   John Green   John Fuller

Alsoe for the scotchman my will is that he shal be sould to m^r Russell upon resonable agreement and upon his good demeanor I do give him three quarters of a year of his time he is to serve.

And I ordain my eldest son to be my executor of this my Last will and Testament.

His inventory was made 25 June 1652, when he is still called Thomas Carter of Charlestown.  In it appears the "servant Mathew the Scotchman," sword, muskett, bandoliers, a green rug, etc.

After Thomas Carter's death there was some difficulty over the lands he left.  Apparently his youngest son, John, built himself a new house and it fell partly on the land Thomas had given his daughter Hannah and the "children" - probably the grandchildren.  The case came into court and from the following testimony is found proof of various statements given by others without references.

20 Mar 1647, Thomas Carter sen^r Assigns to his son in law William Green "Halfe of his land in Woburn," the writing was committed to Edward Johnson until John Green should come of age.

15 Jun 1658, testimony of Thomas Brown aged about 30 years that "when I was husband to the widow of William Green, John Carter set a house on the childrens land," and on the same date, Anna Gardner deposed, aged about 32, that the wife of Thomas Brown the night before she departed this life "tould me that the greatest part of her brother Carter's new house stood on her land," William Johnson, aged about 29, also deposed.

Ensign John Carter was summoned to Court, June 1658, to give testimony about his land.

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Hillmorton is about two miles from Rugby, near that point on the map where the thre counties of Warwick, Northampton and Leicester come together.  Some six miles to the north lies the parish of Cotesbach, co. Leicester, from where two sons of the parson, Henry Dillingham, emigrated to New England, their father probably having Puritan leanings, while at Claybrooke, in the same neighborhood, preached John Higginson who left England in 1629 and became the first minister of Salem's congregation.  Possibly John Perkins came under the influence of one or the other of these nonconformist parsons.

They sailed from Bristol on 1 Dec 1630.  After a stormy voyage of sixty-seven days, during which one seaman was lost, the Lyon made land at Nantasket on 5 Feb 1630/1, and entered Boston harbor the next day, the provisions with which the ship was loaded saving the colony from rapidly approaching famine.

The Perkins family remained in Boston for over two years before joining the settlers who under the leadership of the younger John Winthrop went up the coast in 1633 to found a town at Agawam, soon to be named Ipswich.  Having joined the Boston church, John was sworn Freeman on 18 may 1631, and in 1632 he served on a committee to fix a boundary between Roxbury and Dorchester.

In Ipswich Perkins had various land grants.  In 1634 he was given 40 acres and, in 1635, 3 acres of upland and 10 acres of meadow lying toward the head of Chebacco creek, also a little island of about 50 acres called More's point on the south side of the town river.  Also in 1635 he had 10 acres "on part whereof he hath built a house" and 6 acres of upland adjoining the house lot.  In 1636 he was granted 40 acres at Chebacco which he sold to Thomas Howlett in 1637, and in 1639 planting ground of 6 acres on the south side of the river.

Besides holding town offices he was the Ipswich Representative in the General Court of Massachusetts Bay in 1636 and a grand juryman in 1641, 1648 and 1652.  John Perkins, Sr., being "above 60 years of age" was freed from training in March, 1649/50.

His will.

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24 Sep 1623 - the will of Henry Scott of Rattlesden, Suffolk, yeoman ... to my wife Martha the house wherein I dwell &c. during term of her natural life; after that to my son Roger Skott and to his heirs forever ... to Abigail Kemball my grandchild forty shillings at her age of one and twenty years ... to my grandchild Henry Kemball twenty shillings at age of one and twenty and the same sum each to grandchildren Elizabeth and Richard Kemball at same age.  To son Thomas Skott five pounds within one year after my decease.  To M^r Peter Devereux, minister of Rattlesden, ten shillings.

Wife Martha to be executrix.  Proved 10 Jan 1624/5.

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He took the Oath of Fidelity in 1651, but he remained outside the church all his life, and thus never became a freeman.  He may have had interest in the doctrines of the Baptists or the Quakers.

In 1658 the parson and a deacon testified to his behaviour in the meeting house, Zacheus Gould in time of singing the psalm one Sabbath day in the afternoone, sate him downe upon the end of the Table (about which the minister & chiefe of the people sit) with his hatt fully on his head, & his back toward all the rest of them that sate about the Table and though spoken to by the minister & 2 others either to shewe reverence to the Ordinance or to withdrawe yet altered not his posture.

On the following Sunday he asked the congregation to remain after the service and an exchange of insults ensued.  He soon found himself before the magistrates and was fined for "abusive carriages in the meeting house."

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Granted to Thomas Smith a house lot one acre to the street called West End, having a house lot granted to John Cooly south east, common near the common fence gate northwest. 9th 2 mo. 1639.

Thomas Smith's house was mentioned in 1653 as a boundary in Ipswich in the north end of town and southeast of Theophilus Shatswell's house. ...

In January 1669/70 he sold his house to James Sayer (i.e. Sawyer):

21 Jan 1669/70 - Thomas Smith of Ipswich, shoemaker, for £42.10s in hand paid or secured to be paid, sold to James Sayer of Ipswich all my dwelling house, out houses, yards, gardens & ground about it, containing by estimation 1 1/2 acres, situated in Ipswich at the northwest end, having the house and land of the widow Marchant & Henry Ossborne toward the northwest, land of Aron Pengry toward the southeast, one end abutting upon the street toward the southwest, the other end abutting upon planting ground on the hill,

provided always that said Thomas Smith doth reserve liberty for himself & his wife to live in the said house in that end next Aron Pengry's ground and to make use of the cellar under the room and of the barn & yard, and liberty of the fire of the said James as a common fire for them both (the said James to provide and maintain the same), as also reserves half the herbage or commonage for his cattle and all this during the natural lifetime of me the said Thomas Smith and Joanah my wife.

Acknowledged by said Thomas Smith and at same time Johana his wife yielded up her dower on 16 Apr 1670.

21 Jan 1669/70 - James Sayer of Ipswich deeded back the above property to Thomas Smith, the deed however, to be void if said Sayer performed the following obligations: Pay to said Thomas Smith the £42.10s at rate of £7 per year in wheat malt, rye & Indian corn in case he require it, 20s in wheat, 20s in malt, the rest in rye & Indian corn, excepting the first year in regard of his building an end to the house, said Thomas to keep that end of the house reserved in tenantable repair for thatching & daubing during the life of him and Johana his wife,

but Thomas hath liberty to leave the said £42.10s or part of it in the hands of said James until his death, in which case said James shall have a year to pay it unto those the said Thomas shall appoint, in corn and cattle at current prices; James to provide and maintain a common fire, and in case they desire to keep a private fire in their own room, James is to provide them wood, Thomas to pay for cutting it and carting it home;

James shall maintain the biggest part of the common fence next to Aron Pengry's land, Thomas that part next widow Marchant; Thomas to have half the herbage or commonage for his cattle, with use of the barn & barn yard, and if said Thomas shall remove while he liveth, he or his wife hath liberty to take away the house he makes use of as a barn.

Acknowledged by said James & his wife Martha who yielded up her dower, 16 Apr 1670.

The arrangement with James Sawyer did not work out, for on 31 May 1671 he sold the same home lot and house to Aaron Pengry his next-door neighbor for the same price, on credit, and on the same conditions ... This, too, was a short lived bargain, for on 9 Mar 1676/77 he sold the property outright, again on credit, to Thomas Dow. ...

In the Quarterly Court of May 1680:

Thomas Smith, sr., and his wife being aged and impotent and unable to help and provide for themselves, said Smith came into court and gave up to the selectmen of Ipswich the following estate: three cows and one yearling, three acres of land at Muddy river, a bill of three pounds, six shillings of Pulsifer's and fifteen pounds due from Thomas Dow, about eleven pounds due him from Aron Pengry, sr., and all his household goods, etc., provided the town maintain them as long as they live. ...

The following bargain was made with the selectmen of Ipswich:

18 Nov 1680 Richard and Benjamin Kimball of Bradford did covenant to and with the selectment of Ipswich that they would take Thomas Smith and his wife to Bradford to the house of Mary Kimball the widow of Thomas Kimball and provide their meate, drink, washing, lodging, clothes and attendance with all things necessary for persons in such a condition for the space of one year beginning at the date hereof, the price for a year to be £25.

8 Dec 1681 agreed with Richard Kimball of Bradford to allow unto him further keeping and providing for his grandfather Thomas Smith for the year ensuing £13.

Thomas Smith apparently died at Bradford in the winter of 1681/82, his wife having died earlier.

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p.49 ... it seems certain that some attempt was made to establish in Lancaster the manufacture of iron from ores dug out of the bogs or fished from the ponds. ... John Prescott, perhaps, ever watchful as he was of public needs, and stimulated by the high price, planned a bloomery in connection with his saw-mill, which probably stood on the site now occupied by the Bigelow Carpet Company's dam.  This at least is certain: slag and cinders, such as accumulate at a forge, were once to be seen strewn about the embankment of a long disused dam in that locality.

p.67-68 The wading place of the Nashaway ... In the transcript of the oldest records of the proprietors, Prescott's "Entervail Lott" is described as "on the west side of the Nashaway River part whereof Lyes between .... is named in the court Grant for the center of the town at the meeting of the rivers"; --the provoking blank indicating where some words were illegible to Caleb Wilder when copying the original book.  Thus the evidence seemed likely to remain forever imperfect; but fortunately, John Prescott, alone of the early proprietors, was so careful a man of business that he had all his land grants and contracts duly recorded in the County Registry ... and there the missing words are found ...
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Thomas first settled in Dorchester MA, and then moved his family to Windsor CT in 1635.  In 1637 he was one of four who purchased a large tract from the Sachem, Tehano, which now includes Windsor Locks, the northern third of Windsor and the southern part of Suffield.  In 1637 he was granted a lot near sandy Road, which he sold before 1648.  In 1654, he and his son-in-law, John Strong, were chosen Constables of Windsor.  In 1656 he bought the original home lot of William Hosford, where he lived until he moved to Northampton MA before 1672.

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To son Richard at four and twenty.  Similar bequests to sons Bezaliell, Samuel, John and Benjamin.  To eldest daughter Anne Sherman at one and twenty.  Similar bequest to daughter Sarah.  To "Hanna my daughter which I had by Anne my second wife" at one and twenty.  Same to daughters Susan and Mary at similar ages.

To sister Judith Pettfield for life "the tenement wherein Edmond Browne the taylor now dwelleth."  Lands, including "my house at the church gate" to be sold by my brother Henry Sherman and my kinsman (brother in law) Symon Fenne, clothier, of Dedham.  "My youngest daughter Mary" under twenty.

After wife's death gives to son Bezaliell tenement called Ryes, now in occupation of Edmond, on condition that he pay Richard £50.  "After my sister's death, I give the field and tenement before given unto her during life, unto the Governors of the Public Grammar School in Dedham, to be improved for a dwelling house for a schoolmaster."

"To Sarah, Hanna the daughter of Anne my second wife, Susan, Samuel and John, my children, twenty shillings apiece which was bestowed upon them by their grandmother Cleere."

Wife Anne, Executrix. Rev. Dr. (Edmund) Chapman and my brother in law Robert Lewys Supervisors.

Codicil: To eldest daughter Anne Sherman and son Bezaliell and daughter Sarah, each forty shillings which their grandfather Sherman gave them to be paid them at the ages mentioned in his will.

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23 Mar 1618 - the will of Richard Duxford of Westmill, Hertfordshire, husbandman ... weak in body ... to daughter Joan Darde my tenement with appurtenances and one half acre of ground whereon it standeth, namely the house wherein Francis Wyman now dwelleth ...

to Agnes Duxford, Joan Duxford, William Duxford, Clement Duxford, Richard Duxford and Elizabeth Duxford my son William Duxford's children, to each of them 6s.8d., the eldest within one year, the next eldest the next year, the third eldest the third year, the three youngest at age 21, to be paid by my daughter Joan Darde out of the tenement ...

to Katherine Richardson my daughter one messuage or tenement called Barwicke wherein she now dwelleth

to Agnes, Joan, William, Clement, Richard & Elizabeth Duxford my son William's children, to each of them 6s. 8d. to be paid by my daughter Katherine in same way as payments by daughter Joan ...

to Elizabeth Wyman the wife of Francis Wyman one chamber at the east end of the tenement wherein I now lie if she fortune to be a widow, for as long as she remain a widow ...

to Katherine Richardson my daughter one feather bed and bolster ... rest of my movable goods unbequeathed to my daughters Joan Darde and Katherine Richardson, they to be executors.  Signed by mark.  Proved 2 Jul 1622 by the daughters.

An abstract of his inventory:

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5 May 1589 - the will of Richard Thake - of Nuthampsted in the parish of Barkway, and my body to be buried in the churchyard of Barkway, I give to the poor of Nuthampsted 5s, I give to Margaret my wife 30s to be paid yearly by William my son, I give to Margaret my daughter £10, I give to Joan my daughter £10, I give to Will'm my son one acre of free land lying in little w'wick.

Residue of all my stuff to Margaret my wife, and I ordain Margaret my wife and Will'm my son executors, Thos. Canon to be overseer.  Wit. Thos. Canon, John X'len, Will'm Kepford.  Proved 10 Jan 1589/90.

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His will.

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Thomas Sawbridge of Hillmorton left a will, undeated but apparently proved in 1586, which leaves his estate to his son William, William's children Thomas, Elizabeth, Helena, Lettice and John (the executor) and his godchildren and the poor of Hillmorton.  Thomas' son William Sawbridge of Hillmorton made his will on November 3 and it was proved on November 30, 1593.  There are legacies to his son Thomas, his daughter Lettice, his son John, his son-in-law Thomas Twigger and his daughter Ellen, and John is named executor.

The fourth will is that of George Sawbridge of Hillmorton who was doubtless the brother of Elizabeth Perkins.  It was made March 13, 1636, and proved October 21, 1637.  The legatees are his wife Agnes, his mother Elizabeth, his sons William (executor), John, George, Thomas and Isaac, his daughters Agnes and Marie.  His brothers Richard Turville and Edward Bassett are mentioned, and, with Turville, "cozen [nephew] Thomas Perkins" is named an overseer.

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17 May 1607 - the will of Thomas Whatlock of Rattlesden, knacker ... all household stuff to Joan Whatlock my wife ... to Henry Skott £6 to be paid at Michaelmas after my wife's decease ... to Martha my daughter £6 likewise ... to THomas Skott the son of Henry Skott £6 at age 21 ... to Roger Skott the son of Henry £6 likewise ... to Ursula Skott the daughter of Henry £6 likewise ... these children in tail to each other ... £4.4 per year to wife for life ... the residue to my sons Roger and Robert Whatlock, they to be executors.  Witnesses: John Moore, John Bowker and William Samon.  Proved 30 Jan 1608/9.

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His will.

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12 Feb 1557/8 - the will of John Duxforth of Ashwell, county Hertford ... sick in body ... to be buried in the churchyard of Ashwell ...

to goddaughter, James's wife, a swarm of bees ... to Dorothy my daughter a feather bed, bolster, cupbord, coverlet, 3 pairs of sheets, a table form, brass pot, kettle and 6 quarters of malt ...

Richard my son to have 6 quarters of malt, 3 of them being his own ...

James my son to have 5 marks for 3 years and then he to give it to his brother John, and he to receive it at the feast of All Saints next of John Brown ...

Agnes my wife to have residue, she to be executrix.  Sir William Wilson, curate of Ashwell, to be supervisor, desiring him to be so good to go to the ordinary with my wife to see this probated.  If any man do stop, let or hinder her right, I will she complain to Mr. Byll whom I trust well will not suffer her to be oppressed.

Witnesses: Sir William Wilson, curate, John Johnson, James Duxforth.  Proved 26 Apr 1559 at Baldoke.  Summary of Inventory £7.8.1

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30 May 1568 - the will of John Thake the elder of Clavering, malster, and my body to be buried in the church yard of Clavering ... I give to John Thake my son two obligations due me ... I give to William my son one cow ... I give to Richard my son 20s, ... I give to Steven Thake my son £10 delivered at the day of his marriage, the residue of all my goods I give to Agnes my wife whom I ordain executrix.  Witnesses: Willm Holgle, the elder; George Daye, the younger; Willm Dellowe; Edward Brooke & Robert Bathe.  Proved 22 Jun 1568.

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His will.

Return to Richardson Ancestor Chart #4624.
Return to Johnson Ancestor Chart #12824.
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2 Oct 1547 - the will of George Scott of Bradfield Saint George, county Suffolk ... to be buried in the churchyard of Bradfield ... to the high altar 5s ... to Margaret my wife £40 and ten milk neat and my two copies [land held of the lord] for her life and all household stuff.

And after her decease Edmund my son to have the best copy and George my son the next ... to each of them 10 marks and two milk neat ... to Isabell Scott my daughter 20 marks and two milk neat ... to Nicholas Scott my son my house in Hegsted after the decease of my mother, and twenty combes of barley, 5 combes of wheat and 5 combes of rye ...

to my mother one combe of mystlyn and one combe of barley ... to each of my son Nicholas's children 5 combes of barley and a milk cow payable at age 21 or marriage ... to each godchild two bushels of barley ... to every servant taking wages one combe of barley and to every one not taking wages two bushels ...

to William Wyatt my blue coat ... to Nicholas Scott my best marble coat ... to Thomas Swanton my sleaved russett coat and my ... coat and one combe of rye ... at day of my burial £4 for charity, at thirty days another £4 ...

Margaret my wife and Nicholas my son to be executors ... my master Sir Thomas Jermyn to be supervisor.  Witnesses Richard ..., priest, James Chapman and Robert Scott.  Proved 10 February 1547/8.

Return to Richardson Ancestor Chart #4680.
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Administration on the estate of his daughter Joan Perkins, of Hillmorton, was granted to Thomas Perkins, her brother, on June 17, 1578.

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3 Apr 1504 - the will of John Thake of Clavering ... my body to be duried in the church of Clavering by the image of the blessed Virgin Mary ... to the high alter 3s4d ... I bequeath to John Jr. my son all my goods, lands & tenements etc, ... to celebrate the souls of Katherine and Agnes my late wives ... I ordain the said John my executor.  Witnesses: William Thake, John Byrlyng, George canan, John Vawdy.

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His will.

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