Esther Town

Other Events and Attributes:

• Married: 23 Apr 1711, Framingham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; Simon Mellen, the son of Simon and Elizabeth (Fiske) Mellen. He was born on 16 May 1690 in Framingham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. After Esther's death, on 11 October 1744 Simon, at age 54, married Susannah Haven. Issue: 1. Mary Mellen (1712-____) 2. John Mellen (1714-____) 3. Simon Mellen (1716-____) 4. Jonathan Mellen (1718-____) 5. David Mellen (1722-____) 6. Esther Mellen (1725-____) 7. Israel Mellen (1725-____)
• Religion: 23 Apr 1721, Framingham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; They were admitted to the Framingham Church.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Offices Held: 5 Aug 1700, Framingham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; He was elected a Selectman at the town's first Town Meeting.
• Will: 24 Nov 1704; He was mentioned in his father's will.
• Residence: 1708, Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
• Moved to: 1713, Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts; They moved from Framingham.
• Offices Held: 1714, Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts; At the first Town Meeting of Oxford, he was chosen a Selectman, and later served in many positions in Oxford. He was also one of the four who started the church there and its first Deacon

John married Mary Smith on 2 Feb 1680 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of Robert Smith and Mary French) was born on 28 Oct 1658 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 7 Aug 1693, Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts; She is mentioned in her father's will.
• Moved to: 1713, Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts; They moved from Framingham.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Freeman: 1686, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts
• Military: 1687 to 1704; He was an Ensign in the militia.
• Will: 24 Nov 1704, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts; He mentions his wife, Catherine, and his children: John, Jacob, Edmund, Catherine, Deliverance, and Ruth.
• Probate/Proved: 1 Jan 1704/05
• Inventory: Abt Feb 1704/05, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts; The inventory of his estate was valued at £196 2/6.

Notes:

2ed Marriage: He mentions his first wife, Catherine, in his will 20 years after this supposed marriage.

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Jacob married Catherine Simonds on 26 Jun 1657 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. Catherine (daughter of John Symonds and Ruth Fox) was christened on 18 Apr 1630 in Saint Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 24 Nov 1704; She was mentioned in the will of her husband, Jacob Town.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Legal: Robert Smith deposed in 1659 giving his age as 33 years.
• Immigration: 1638; He came to New England as an apprentice to a Mr. Whittingham.
• History: 19 Dec 1648, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts; He subscribed to the town 2 shillings.
• Oath: 1678, Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts; Robert took the Oath of Fidelity and Allegiance.
• Will: 7 Aug 1693, Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts; He mentions his wife, Mary, and his children: Mary, Phebe, Ephraim, Samuel, Amye, Jacob, Mariah, and Nathaniel.
• Probate/Proved: 26 Sep 1693, Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts
• Inventory: say 20 Sep 1698; Robert's estate was inventoried and valued at £189 7/3.

Notes:

The two Robert's appear to have been swapped. Probably the christening dates have been miss assigned.

Name:

Robert married Mary French before 26 Mar 1656 in Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of Ensign Thomas French and Mary Scudamore) was born on 22 Mar 1634 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; died about 1719 in Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 3 Aug 1680, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts; She was mentioned in her father's will.
• Will: 7 Aug 1693, Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts; She is mentioned in the will of her husband, Robert Smith.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Land/House: 1640, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts
• Moved To: 1652, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts
• Religion: 1664, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts; William and Joanna were dismissed from the Salem Church to the Topsfield Church.

Notes:

Christening: Muse (1995) gives the date of the christening as 21 May 1603.

Death: Muse (1995) gives his death date as 30 April 1685.

Name:

William married Joanna Blessing on 25 Mar 1620 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. Joanna (daughter of John William Blyssinge and unknown wife) was born in 1599/1600 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England; died in 1682 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Moved To: 1652, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts
• Deed: 1663; Joanna deeded land to her son, Joseph.
• Religion: 1664, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts; William and Joanna were dismissed from the Salem Church to the Topsfield Church.
• Legal: 1670; She deposed in 1670 giving her age as 70 years.
• Estate Admin: 24 Jun 1673; She was appointed administrator of the estate of her late husband.
• Legal: say 1675; Joanna testified in a series of suits brought against the Rev. Thomas Gilbert who was accused of excessive drinking.

Notes:

Name:

Other Events and Attributes:

• Moved To: 1625, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England; John and Ruth moved to Great Yarmouth after their marriage.
• Immigration: Abt 1635; About 1635 John and Ruth came to America.
• Proprietor: 1636, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts; In 1636 he was a proprietor of Salem, Massachusetts.
• Land/House: 1636, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts; He was granted 20 acres of land near North River in 1636.
• Freeman: Mar 1637/38, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts; In March of 1637/38 he was admitted as a freeman.
• Occupation: say 1640; John Simonds was a joiner and a cooper. [A joiner is an artisan and tradesperson who builds things by joining pieces of wood, particularly lighter and more ornamental work than that done by a carpenter, including furniture and the "fittings" of a house, ship, etc]
• Legal: 1644, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts; He was in court for allowing his cattle to go at large before the fruits were gathered in 1644.
• Land/House: 8 Jan 1644, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts; In the Salem, Massachusetts records on 8 (11) 1643: Granted to John Simonds all the Waste land betweene the Lots of Hughe Laskine & Stukly Wesket & the Watter side, excepting the high Way, [w^th it notwthstanding he may vse any man havein libertie to goe through at all tims]
• Military: 1648, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts; He was freed from training in 1648 because he was lame on the condition that he would attend ordinary training if he sufficiently recovered.
• Miscellaneous: 27 Apr 1654, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts; On 27 April 1654 the selectmen of Salem granted him liberty to fence his ground 11 provided that he made two sufficient stiles for a foot way through the lot.
• Legal: 1657, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts; He served on a grand jury in 1657.
• Legal: 29 Mar 1669/70, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts; On 29:1:1669, aged about 74 years, he deposed in the case of Ingersol vs. Barney in Salem, Massachusetts.
• Will: 16 Aug 1671, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts; On 16(7) 1671, he made his will: "I John Symonds do make this my last Will and Testament Imp^r I giue my Soule to the Lord Jesus my Redeemer, and my body to my ffriends decently to be inter'd ffor my Estate which the Lord hath given mee I dispose of as ffolloweth It I Give to my loving Wife Elizabeth Symonds my house Orchard and out houseing and all my Land & my Bed & beding and such vessels and houshold stuffe as shee shall have ocasion to use dureing her naturall life and also Twenty pound to be paid her five pound a year by my Son James Symonds begining the date from the day of my death It I giue my Sonne James Symonds at my wiues decease my dwelling house out houseing Orchard together with all my Laud and I do assigne my servant John Pease to him dureing the term of time expressed in the Indenture paying forty pound in four year ten pound p anum, five p anam to my wife for four year as aforesd, and fine pound p anam for four years unto my son Sam^l and my Daughter Kathren fifty shillings p anam to each of them pvided he soe longe liue if not soe long as he shall line to serue him and noe longer I give the Children of my Deceased Daughter Ruth Swinnerton Twenty pound equally to be divided amongst them and to be paide in part of my movable estate in convenient time after my decease. I giue al the rest of my Estate to my Sonne Samuel Symonds & my daughter, Kathren Town equally to be divided between them in convenient time after my decease except my bed & houshold stufEe giuen my wife during her natural life as aforesd which at her decease my will is shall equally be divided between them two also I giue my son Samuell one oxx now in his hands I giue to Jon. Swinerton one sad cullerd Cloth Cote That this my will be faithfully pformed according to my intent therein I do make my two Sonns before named James Symonds and Samuell Symonds my Executors and doe intreat my Esteemed ffriends Major Hathren and mr. Bartholmew to be Guerseers to see that this my will be truly pformed, and in Special do humbly intreat them to take care of my wife whoe is in an ill condition Further I giue all my workinge tooles belonginge to my trade to my son James Simons : and to this my last will and testament I haue set my hande the 16th of the '6th m». 1671. John Symonds Witness: Henry Bartholmew, John Swinnerton, Samuel Inguls.
• Probate/Proved: 9 Sep 1671; Proved in Salem court, 19: 7br: 1671 by Mr. Hen. Bartholmew and John Swinerton before Mr. Samuell Simonds and Maj. Wm. Hathorne. Inventory taken by Jolm Kitchin and John Pickring : His housing and Land, 23011.; Joyners Tools benches and lare, 51i. 5s. 6d. ; 2 Bedsteds almost finished, 3li.; 3 stools and one halfe of a Box, 12s. 6d. ; 1-2 Grindstone & windlass & a Small grindstone, 5s.; Timber, planke & board, 51i. 12s.; Two beds, a bolster & a p of sheets, a p of blankets, a bed steed & matt that lay in the Chamber, 5li. ; Tubs, 4s., and part of a Chest and 4 Bush, corn, 18s. 6d. ; His wearing Clothes, 61i. os. ; 2yds. & 3-4 of sad colored cloth, 22s. 6d.; and a Table cloth, Hi. 12s. 6d. ; 3 Hollond pillow-beers, 15s,, and a p of sheets, 21i. .5s. ; 3 p of old sheets, 30s., and 3 corse pillowbeers, Hi. 15s.; 3 small peeces of Cloth, 8s,, and 1 Doz, of napkins, 1 Towil, Hi. ; a Feather bed, 2 bolsters, 3 pillows, a rugg, 4 blankets, one p of sheets. Curtains & Bedstead, lOli. ; 2 pound of woolen yarn & som linen yarn & a hat brush, 8s,; 1 great Kettle, 20s,, and 3 Iron pots & 2 p of pot hooks, 21i. 7s. ; 1 Churnn, 3 payls with Iron bayls & 5 Trayes, 13s.; a frying pan, 5s., & a warminge pan, 12s.; a fire pan & Grid Iron, 2s., a ps. of a hawke &, a driping pan, 4s. ; 2 brass puding pans and 3 tinen Lamps, 3s. 6d. ; an Iron Trivit, 4 glass bottles and a spitt, 8s. ; 3 Earthen pots, and 2 panns, 3s.; 2 Jarrs, 1 Sieve and a pitcher, 2s. 6d. ; a broken posnet & a Cod line, 2s.; 3 new pewter platters and a bell mettle Skillet, Hi. 2s.; 4 old pewter platters, a poringer & 2 plates, 8s. ; 2 old quart pots, a bason & a Chamber pot, 7s. ; a beer bowle, a beaker, a wine Cup & a Grater, 4s.; a lattin sarce pan & Tunnil, 4 wooden dishes & 4 Spoons, 2s. 8d. ; a Lanthorne, 2 Doz. Trenchers, a platter & a chafeing dish, 4s.; Two wooden Bowls and a ladle. Is.; a choping knife & 3 brass Candlesticks, 13s.; 3 Chests, 3 Boxes and a wooden Tunnil, 14s.; 5 Barrils and a half baril, a buttor tub & 4 Keelers, 13s.; a halfe bushel & a p of Scales, 2s.; 2 Tables, a forum & Chayers, 16s. ; 32 Cheeses, buttor & meat, Hi. Apples growinge in the orchard, 15s. ; 2 old Bibles, a Booke of Doct. Prestons works and a booke of Mr. Rogers works & a psalm booke, 18s. ; one firelock musket, Hi. 6s. ; one firelock Musquet, worme & Scowerer, Hi. 4s. ; Sword, belt, powder & bullets, 8s. ; 2 Tobacco boxes and a drest Calfe skin, 2s. 6d. ; a meal Sack & a litle bagge, 4s. ; a five shilinge peece of gold & a 6d. in Silver, 5s, 6d, ; a Vice and an old Hatchet, 10s,; nayles, lOd., a Howe, 2s,, and an Ax, 6s, lOd, ; A Mattock, 5s, and halfe a plow chayne, 8s, ; an old Sithe, old Iron & a p of Jemmils, 5s, ; a Eeap hook, 9d., 2 hoops, 2 boxes & an ex pin, lis, 9d, ; a p of pitchfork Tynes, 5 Wedges & old Iron, 12s. ; one halfe of a Crosscut Saw and an ex pin, 5s. ; four lode of Hay in the Yarde, 41i. ; Salt Marsh Grass growinge, Hi. ; 2 Cows and a Cow Calfe, 71i. 10s. ; Two Hoggs & 2 pigs, 31i. 12s,; Indean Come that grew on the Land, 31i, 10s.; 20 Bushels of pease, 4li. ; Timber in the Woods, Hi. 2s.; a p of woosted Stockings, 7s. ; Debts due to the Estate, 241i. 10s. 7d.; total, 342li. 14s. lOd. Estate is debtor, 12li. 7d. Also "an apprentice of 17 years old who hath 3 year and 9 moneths and 2 weekes to serve.
• Last Full Review: 20 May 2020

Notes:

Name:

John married Ruth Fox on 1 May 1624 in All Saints Church, Walcott, Norfolk, England. Ruth (daughter of John Fox and Catherine Crickemer) was christened on 10 Jan 1601/02 in Walcott, Norfolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Moved To: 1625, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England; John and Ruth moved to Great Yarmouth after their marriage.
• Last Full Review: 20 May 2020

Notes:

There is much confusion here. Hoyt (1897) either combines this family with a Richard Smith, or Fowler (1991) had combined them.

Robert married Margaret. Margaret was born about 1593 in Frampton, Lincolnshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1630; He came to New England in the Winthrop Fleet.
• Religion: 1631, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; Thomas joined the Boston Church.
• Freeman: 1632, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
• Military: 1637; He was a member of the Pequot expedition. He was called Sergeant French until 1664, and Ensign French thereafter.
• Religion: 1638; He was dismissed to the church in Ipswich in 1638.
• Will: 3 Aug 1680, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts; He mentions his wife, Mary, and his children: Thomas, Mary, and John.
• Inventory: 25 Aug 1680, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts; Thomas' estate was inventoried and valued at £183 7/1.

Notes:

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Thomas married Mary Scudamore about 1631 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of William Scudamore and Frances Lechmore) was born about 1612 in England; died on 6 May 1681 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 3 Aug 1680, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts; She was mentioned the will of her husband, Thomas.

Notes:

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