Lt. Griffin Crafts

Other Events and Attributes:

• Married: About 1628; His first marriage about 1628 was to Alice ______. She was born about 1600 in England and died 26 January 1673 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Children: 1. Hannah Crafts (____-1692) 2. John Crafts (1630-1685) 3. Mary Crafts (1632-1652) 4. Abigail Crafts (1634-____) 5. Samuel Crafts (1637-1731) 6. Moses Crafts (1641-1718)
• Immigration: 1630; He settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1630, sailing from England with Winthrop's party of colonists. There is a family tradition that he sailed aboard the Arabella.
• Freeman: 18 May 1631, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; On 18 May 1631 he was admitted as a freeman in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
• Offices Held: 1638, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; In 1638 he was the Roxbury Reprehensive to the Massachusetts General Court .
• Legal: 1 Dec 1640; He was on the jury of the trial of Hugh Buets on 1 December 1640. Hugh Buets (probably Burt) was tried "for publicly holding, and maintaining that he was free from original sin, and from actual sin also for half a year before, and that all true Christians are enabled to live without committing actual sin." The jury found said Hugh Buets to "bee guilty of heresy, and that his person and errors are dangerous for infection of others" The sentence passed reads as follows:—"Ordered, that the said Hugh Buets should bee gone out of our jurisdiction by the 24th Psent, upon pain of death, and not to return upon pain of being hanged." The Court granted the jury 12 shillings for their services.
• Offices Held: 11 Jan 1650, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; He was chosen a Roxbury Selectman on 11 January 1650. He served until 1673, except for 1665 and 1667.
• Military: 10 Sep 1653, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; "September 10. 1053, at the request of the military company of the town of Roxbury, this Court doth confirm Ensign Johnson to he their Captayne, Sergeante Craft for their Lieut, and Sergeante Boles for their Ensign."
• Offices Held: From 1663 to 1667, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; He was the Roxbury Reprehensive to the Massachusetts General Court from 1663 to 1667.
• Military: 21 Feb 1675/76, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; "Feb. 21, 1675-6, Lieut. Griffin Craft's of Roxbury. request to lay downe his commission is granted, and Sargeante Samuel Buggies is appointed to be Lient. to the Company in Roxbury in his place."
• Married: say 1680; He married a third time to Dorcas French, the daughter of Thomas French and the widow of Christopher Peake. She died 30 December 1697 in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
• Will: 18 May 1689, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; The Last will and testiment of Griffin Crafts of Roxhuri in the County of Suffolk in newingland made this ltf of may in the year of our Lord on thowsand six hundred eighti nine is as followeth. I the said Griffin Craft being tlmmgh God's goodness in competent helth and of perfect memory and understanding yet being sensible of the decay of nature the Lord haveing this severall veers past deprived me of my naturall sight and being also alarmed by other infirmities atending my old age to prepare for the disolution of this my earthli tabernacle it is in order thereunto it is my desire to make and constitute this my last will and testiment in manner aiid form following. I doe hartily and freely commit and bequeth my soul into the hands of my gratios and mercifull Father who gave it me and my body after my deceas to my executor hereafter mention [ed] to be by him honourably and decently buried being fully ashoord that tho' death shall make a separation between my soul and body for a season and the grave shall reduce my flesh and bones into rottenes yet by the all mighty power of God they shall be raised and united again at the last day hopeing through Gods merci in the merits of Christ I shall then behold my Redeemer with everlasting Joy and Comfort, concerning that temporall estate that hath plesed God to bless me withall in the world my will and desire is that my just debts if any t>e together with my sickness and funerall charges be defrayed and discharged and the remainder of my estate desposed as is hereafter expressed. Item. I give and bequeath to my beloved wivƒ dorcas seven pounds tenn shillings a veer fur three veers beginning at my deceas in such pay following twenty in money and thirty in provition while the three veers be out if shee live so long and if shee doth not live while the three years be out then concequently for the time shee liveth and further I doe give to my beloved wife on book of my yivkens works and then to be retorned to my executor. Item. I give to my beloved son Moses Craft tenn pounds in money or in inglish goods at money price besides what he oweth me allredy and all my wearing clothes and all to be payd and delivered within half a yeer after my deceas by my executor hereafter mentioned. Item. I give to my son in law nathaniel wilson besides fiveteen pounds in money that bee oweth inee allredi five pounds more twenti shilhngs in money and four pound- in country comodeties to be payd by my executor within on yeer after my disceas. Item. I give to my son-in-law Edward adams five pounds twenti shillings money ami four pounds in cuntry commodeties to be payd by my executor within on yeer after my disceas. Item. I doe give to my daughter hannah wilson that is to say if shee outlive her husband and be left a widow tenn pounds in cuntry commodeties to be payd by my executor in three veers equalli beginning at the deceas of her husband nathaniel wilson provided that she be not married again. Item. I give to my daughter abegal adams tenn pounds in cuntry commodeties acording to the tenor of my daughter wilson as above expressed. Item. I give to my grandchild ephraem craft a cow if bee live to the age of 21 veers to be payd by my executor hereafter expressed the cow not to exceed eight veers of age. Item. I doe make my son samuel Craft my soul executor and doe give unto him all my housing and lands and estate of what kind and nature soever wether in my hands or due unto mee airways excepting the moveables in my hous and this my will I doe order to stand forever if I make not another, and in aknowlidgment of all and singular the promised articles I the sayd Griffin Craft have hereunto set to my hand fixed my seal the day and yeer above written. the mark of Griffin Craft witness Joseph Grigs william garey
• Inventory: 4 Oct 1689, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; On 4 October 1689 an inventory of his estate was taken and it was valued at £288 10/.
• Probate/Proved: 9 Nov 1690; On 9 November 1690 his will was proved.
• Last Full Review: 22 Jan 2021

Notes:

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Griffin married Ursula Adams on 15 Jul 1673 in Dorchester, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Ursula (daughter of Henry Adams and Edith Squire) was christened on 19 Jul 1619 in Barton St David, Somersetshire, England; died on 20 Feb 1679. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]