USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Dorchester > Early matters relating to the town and First church of Dorchester, Mass > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
= ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01100 9260
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EARLY MATTERS OM
RELATING TO THE
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TOWN AND FIRST CHURCH
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DORCHESTER, MASS.
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WILLIAM BLAKE TRASK.
BOSTON : PRINTED BY DAVID CLAPP & SON. 1886.
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Early Dorchester Matters.
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TRASK, WILLIAM BLAKE, 1812-1906.
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"Early matters relating to the town and First church of Dorchester, Mass .... Boston, Clapp, 1886. 12p.
"Reprinted from the New-England historical and genealogical register for July, 1886."
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Reprinted from the New-England Historical and Genealogical Register for July, 1886.
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EARLY MATTERS RELATING TO THE TOWN AND FIRST CHURCHI OF DORCHESTER, MASS.
DEED OF WILLIAM HANNUM TO JONAS HUMFREY, DORCHESTER, 1637.
"THE following memorandum of a deed is the earliest unrecorded conveyance that we have seen .* It is of the house, home lot, &c., of William Hanum, then of Dorchester, Jonas Innifrey, grantee, the original of which is in possession of the venerable Deacon Henry Humphreys, of Dorchester, who is a descendant of Jonas in the seventh generation. Mr. H. is living on the same plat deeded to his first ancestor, the property having been owned and the land occupied by the family to the present time.
Constable Jonas Humfrey came from Wendover, co. Bucks, England. The family tradition is that he arrived in Dorchester on the 9th of September, 1637, and the next day bought the premises hereafter mentioned. (See REG. xxxvi. 274.) It appears by rec- ord that, on the 10th of September, 1637, the town granted " Wil- liam Ilannam " that part of the swamp lying over against his house, so far as Richard Wade's pale, on condition that said Hannam pay his part of the charge with the rest of the neighbors, maintaining a bridge over the water. The next paragraph reads thus :- " The howse of Willin Hannam with the sayd p'te of his swamp, his hoame lott and great lot, and one aker of meddow hee hath made sales of vnto Jonas Humphries with his Interest in the Commons." (See Dorchester Town Records, page 29; Fourth Report of Record Commissioners, Boston, page 24.)
William Hannum had a son John, born in Dorchester. The father removed to Windsor, Conn., Savage thinks as late as 1639; afterwards he went to Northampton, Mass., where he died June 1, 1677. His widow, Honor Hannum (whom Dorothy Upshall, wid- ow of Nicholas, calls sister in her will), died at Westfield in 1680.
Jonas Humfrey died March 19, 1661-2. (See abstract of his will, REGISTER, xi. 37, 38.) His son James, a witness to this deed, was a Ruling Elder in the Dorchester church. He died May 12, 1686.
Oliver Purchase sold land in Dorchester to Thomas Swift, Sept. 21, 1640 ; removed to Taunton, subsequently to Lynn, thenee to
* On the 2d of September, 1637, John Branker, a schoolmaster, who removed to Windsor, sold Ambrose Martin, afterwards of Weymouth, his dwelling bonse, and about thirty-six acres of land in Dorchester. This was a few days, only, before the grant made by the town to William Hannum.
William Pynchon, also, in 1634, or earlier, sold his land with the house in Dorchester he had built and doubtless occupied, to Thomas Newberry, a great real estate owner of his time .- See Dorchester Town Records, Vol. I. pages 11 and 28. Also, Fourth Report of the Record Commissioners, pages 7 and 24.
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Concord, where he died, Nov. 20, 1701. He was a representative to the General Court in 1660, and after that, at the last, says Sav- age, in 1689.
It will be noticed that the following deed is called a " Memoran- dum." One definition of this word, according to Webster, is "an instrument drawn up in a brief and compendious form." The date is not given, but circumstances, stated above, settle it satisfactorily to be about the 10th of September, 1637.
The names of the grantor and of the witnesses were placed at the top instead of the bottom of the conveyance, but it is thought more appropriate to print them in the usual form.
Memorandum
That I William Hammon of Dorchester; Together with the consent of my wife do sell vnto the saide Jonas Humfrey of Dorchester my house and whom lott of 3 Acres belonging therevnto: with the corne and all other fruite vpon together with the Swamp before the doore; and alsoe wth plott of land that is my right & pper due and is to be taken at the West end of my whome lott: next vnto Roxberry : My Medow ground pmised at the fresh marsh the value of one Acre or thereabonts with my greate lott and all other Rights in commons or alotments that shall heereafter be allotted : for the sum of fine and Therty Pounds to be paide vuto the saide William Hammon; or his assignes by the saide Jonas Humfrey or his as- signes. For payment whereof it is thus agreed; that he ye saide William Ham shall haue 20 pounds at the present sealing heereof and 8 pounds at the present tyme when the saide William Hammon shall haue cleared the house of all goods and annoyances, and the other seanen pounds Remayn- ing the saide william Hammon is to have of the saide Jonas Humfrey a hogshead of meale of the value of 9 Bushels at the price of 3 pounds 12 shillings. and the other sum of the payment remaining to be thus. 40 shil- lings in money yf that it canbe conveniently pvided, or otherwise the whole to be paide in such sufficient goods as the saide Jonas Humfrey hath to pay : In witnesse whereof: I haue set to my hand & seale in the presence of these aboue written
the marke of William Hammon
Witnesses. James Humfrey Oliuer Purchis
(Seal)
On the back of this Memorandum is written the following cove- nant, witnessed probably by the same parties, but names not re- peated.
[th ]ese presents I william [ Ham ]mon of Dorch [ester] [ ] do: covenant & pmise [ [sai]de Jonas [ Hum ]frey that In case either the Swamp before this my house or lots in my pory righ[t] These which I haue sold to the saide Jonas Humfrey the parcell of that land that is to be taken in behind the saide swampe lott belonging to the saide house: shalbe in after tyme demaunded or required of the saide Jonas Humfrey or his ayres or assignes I the saide william Hammon aforesaide Doe couenant & pmise to the saide Jonas Humfrey [afore] saide or his ayres or assignes to ye said Jonas Humfrey or his assignes to be fully satis- fyed either in possession [or pai]ment for the saide [ ] land of either
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side: and heereunto I haue my hand [in] pres[ence] of these witnesses heere vndernamed :
DEED OF JOHN MINOT TO JONAS AND JAMES HUMPHREY, OF DORCHESTER, 1656.
This early unrecorded deed of land in Dorchester was made, pro- bably, to the father and son bearing the above names, though strangely enough, through the whole instrument, it is nine times written "Jonah" and James. It will be noticed that they are called glovers, the manufacture of gloves probably being their occupation when in England. They early turned their attention, according to tradition, to the tanning of hides, "whose pits were employed," says Mr. Savage in his mention of Jonas the father, " by six gene- rations of most worthy descendants."
John Minot, the grantor, was a son of Elder George Minot, of Dorchester, who came from Saffron-Walden, Essex, England, and settled at Neponset. The son was born April 2, 1626, in England ; married Lydia Butler, of Dorchester, May 19, 1647. He died Au- gust 12, 1669. He was styled "Captain," and is first mentioned by name, we think, on the Town Records in 1652 (page 71). Sce Minot Genealogy, REG. i. 172.
We take great pleasure in furnishing in fac-simile the autographs of the two witnesses to this deed, Henry Conliffe and John Gingill, as their names have been so variously written. We are not aware of their signatures being extant elsewhere.
Henry Conliffe, of Dorchester, was made freeman May 29, 1644. (See REG. iii. 190, where the name reads "Gunlithe.") He had wife Susan or Susanna. She was admitted to Dorchester church " 1 mo decimo 43." They had a daughter Susanna born in Dor- chester, 15. 1. 1641. (REG. v. 98.) Mr. Conliffe removed to Northampton with the early settlers, and with others from Dorches- ter aided in forming the church there. The following paragraphs, copied from the Dorchester Church Records, show the action taken by the church in relation to these matters. "28 (2) 61. Mr. Eliazer Mather, William Clarke, Henery Cunlife & Henery Wood- ward dismissed to Joyne wth some others for ye gathering of a Church at Northampton."
"9 (4) 61 was deakon Edward Clapp & M' Peletiah Glouer now at Springfeild & Tho Tilstone chosen as messengers of ye Church to goe to Northampton to ye gathering of ye Church ther weh is to be don vpon ye 18th of this instant."
" 23 (4) 61 the messengers of ye Church weh weer sent vnto Northampton made report of what work ther done namly that vpon ye day appointed ther was a Church gathered in that place & yt ME Eliazer Mather was then ordained pastor to that Church the same day." Mr. Mather was a son of the Rev. Richard Mather, of Dorchester.
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" 1 (7) 61 Sarah, wife of William Clarke, Elizabeth, wife of Henry Woodward, and Susan, wife of Henery Cunlife dismissed vnto ye Church at Northampton."
Mr. Conliffe died at Northampton, Sept. 14, 1673 ; the widow departed this life, Nov. 19, 1675. (REG. ini. 176.) "Ilis only child Susanna," says Savage, "had been betrothed to Eldad Pome- roy, who died in 1662 ; she married in 1663, Matthew Cole, and Dee. 12, 1665, John Webb, Jr."
Jolin Gingill, according to Bavlies, was among the first purchas- ers at Taunton, his name being the thirty-sixth in order. (Baylies' Plymouth, i. 286.) In 1643 there were 54 males in Taunton, be- tween 16 and 20, subject to military duty, John Gingill among the number. On the 6th of May, 1646, he was made freeman. As early as the 2d of the 12th month, 1646, he was an inhabitant of Dor- chester, for at that date we find his name, with other proprietors of lands in Dorchester, namely, Richard Mather, Jolm Glover, Ed- ward Breek, William Blake, Roger Clap, Christopher Gibson, Wil- liam Sumner, &e., who, in regard to the fencing of their lots, refer- red the subject to the arbitration of Isaac Heath, John Johnson and William Parke, of Roxbury. This committee made their report, 23. 12. 1646, as on record in the Dorchester Town Book, pages 100 and 101. (See Fourth Report of Record Commissioners, 76-78. )
Bray Wilkins, husbandman, and John Gingill, tailor, both of Dorchester, went afterwards to Lynn. They purchased of Richard Bellingham 700 acres of land, Mr. Bellingham's farm, called " Will IIill," situated " on the head of Salem, to the north west from said Towne, there being within the said place, a hill, where an Indian plantation sometime had been, & a pond, and about a hundred or a hundred & fifty acres of meadow." The territory was granted to Mr. Bellingham by the General Court, Sept. 6, 1638. To secure the payment of 225 pounds sterling, interest at 8 per cent., this land was mortgaged to said Bellingham, who with his wife Pene- lope, on the 9th of March, 1659, reconveyed the farm to Wilkins and Gingill. In 1661 the latter parties petitioned the General Court to be put under the jurisdiction of Salem, which was allowed.
March 31, 1673, Wilkins and Gingill mortgaged two third parts of the 700 acres, as security for 50 pounds, "with interest, after 6 pound p'cent," unto John Oxenbridge, Anthony Stoddard and James Allen, of Boston, executors of the will of Richard Belling- ham. In 1723 the inhabitants of this territory were released from their ecclesiastical obligations to Salem village, on condition of hav- ing a minister settled over them. In 1728 these lands, with parts of Andover, Boxford and Topsfield, were incorporated into a town by the name of Middleton. ( See Felt's Annals of Salem, i. 210. ).
The will of John Gingill, of Salem, was made April 10, 1685, he being at that time, as he states, 70 years old, so that he was born about the year 1615. This instrument was proved, March 24, 1686- 7, by Aaron Way and " Thomas bayle," two of the three witnesses,
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the other being Mary Way. He gave to John Wilkins his lot of up- land on the south side of the pond, next Thomas Fuller's, with meadow at the end of the hill, between the pond and the "flous." To his three sisters 10 pounds, " Elizabeth baile " 40 shillings, Mary Wilkins 3 pounds, Abigail Wilkins 5 pounds. To Bray Wilkins four sons, children to Samuel Child, Thomas Wilkins, Henry Wilkins, Benjamin Wilkins, "leadday knickels," " marga- ret knit " [to each family 40 shillings]. To the church of Dor- chester, 5 pounds ; to m' Lawson, then minister of Salem village, if he continue there till a church be gathered, five pounds. Richard Hall Sent, of Dorchester, William Ireland Sent & John Wilkins, executors.
Inventory of the estate taken by Thomas Fuller and Aaron Way, Dec. 20, 1686. Mentions 2 Cows, 2 Heifers, 5 Swine. House and Land, £150. Total, £174.16.9.
A Jolin Gingden took the oath of fidelity, July 23, 1674, at a court at Pemaquid. (REG. iii. 243.)
Besides his own signature, we have seen his name spelled at least fourteen different ways, namely-Gengel, Gengell, Gengels, Gen- gen, Gengill, Gingden, Gingell, Gingen, Gingin, Gingine, Gin- gion, Gingle, Gingley, Ginjion.
Thi[s] Deede made the Twentie fourth Day off Decemb' in the yeare off o' Lord one Thousand six hundred fiftie & six Betweene John Minott off Dorchester in New England yeoman off the one ptie and Jonah & James Humphrey of Dorchester aforesayde Glouers off the other ptie Witnesseth That the sayd John minott ffor good & valuable Consideration in hand payed haue Giuen granted Bargayned & sold Enfeoffed & Confirmed and by Thesse p'sents Doe Giue grant Bargayne & sell & Enfeoffe and Confirme vnto the sayd Jonah & James humphrie a Pele off land in Dorchester lyinge in the first Devision Beinge eight acres more or lesse-with all the apur- tenances Theroff lyinge within The feild Commonly Called ye eight acre lotts Beinge Bounded with the land off Jonah & James Humphrey on the north pte & the land of Richard Ha[wes ?] on the south pte off the same & the fence off the eight acre lotts on the east pte as alsoe the fence off the eight aere lotts on the west pte To Haue Hold occupie posses and injoy the sayd p"mises & Euery pte Theroff with the ffence Therto belonginge with all other the appurtenances Theroff vnto the sayd Jonah & James humphrie Ther heires & assignes ffor Ever and the sayd Jolm Minott his heires executors & administrators Couenanteth & Granteth to and with the sayd Jonah & James humphrie ther heires executors Administrators and as- signes by thesse p'sents That the sayd p'mises shallbee and Continue to bee the pper right & inheritance off the sayd Jonah & James humphreye There heires executors & assignes for Euer without any the lett mollesta- tion Trouble or expullsion off him the sayd John Minott his heires execu- tors or assignes or any Clayminge any title clayme or interest to the same or any pte or pcle theroff ffrom or vnder him or any off Them Alsoe the sayd John Minott Doe for himselfe his heires executors & Administrators Warrent & Defend the sayd p'mises & every pte theroff with the appurte- nances theroff vnto the said Jonah & James humphrie ther heires & as- signes for euer by thesse p'sents against the lawfull Clayme off any other pson or psons whattsoeuer. And shall & will pforme & doe or Cause to
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bee pformed & donn any such further act or acts as hee the sayd John Minott shalbee thervnto Advised or Required by the sayd Jonah & James humphrie or Ther assignes for a more full & pfect Conveighinge or assur- inge the sayd p'mises vuto the sayd Jonah & James humphrie Ther heires or assignes accordinge to the lawes off This Jurisdiction In witnes the sayd John Minott haue hearvnto put his hand & seale The Day & yeare abouesayd
JOHN MINOTT (Seal)
Signed sealed & Delivered
in the p'sence of us. viz
Humor Conliffe SoBu Gingilli
COMMUNION CUPS.
It will be noticed that John Gingill, in his will, gave 5 pounds to the church of Dorchester. A silver cup bearing the name of " John Gengen, 1685," is still in possession of the First Church in Dorchester, of which the Rev. C. R. Eliot is now pastor.
It may be interesting in this connection to give the following ex- tracts from the old Church Records : " April 6, 1709. The Church hath Nine Pieces of Plate for ye sacramt (2 Given by sd m" Stough- ton, 2 by m' Thomas Lake, one by mrs Thacher, one by m' Isaac Jones, one by mrs Patten, one by m' John Gingen, one by Anothr hand, all of Silver. In pewter the Chh hath 4 flaggons, 4 pewter Dishes, one Basin & Tankard, & one pewter Cup. Agreed that a Strong Chest be bought to Lock up ye Churches Plate in."
In a report made to the Church, May 11th, 1709, it mentions "a Certain Legacy of Three Pounds bequeathed by mrs Burgesse alias Gurnet to be laid out in a Piece of Plate for the said Church."
This person was doubtless Mrs. Jane Burge, widow of John Burge, and formerly the wife of John Gornell, a man well known in Dorchester history.
In referring to the original will of Jane Burge, at the Probate office in Boston, made March 2, 1677-8, proved May 9, 1678, we find that she gave "to the church of Dorchester three pounds in money for to purchase A siluer cup for the vse of the church ; " her land was to go to John Mason and his heirs forever ; in case of their death, to the poor of the town. In the old cemetery at Dorchester, facing Stoughton Street, may be seen, side by side, two promi- nent brown gravestones, one bearing the name of John Gornel, who died July 31, 1675, the other, "Jeane Wife to John Gornel, Aged 78 Years Dyed 4 Apryl 1678." See REG. iv. 166. Why her gravestone bears the name of Gornel, rather than Burge, we know not. John Burge is mentioned in her will as "my husband John Burge," who is to have the use of house, land, &c. during life.
The Dorchester Church Record continues :
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" May 22, 1721, Elder Preston gave account of a New Piece of plate given to ye Church for ve Lord's Supper, by m' Eben. Withington." " At a meeting of the first Church in Dorch. N. E. Lawfully warned by ye Deacons & Convened in the Publick Meeting House May 18, 1724. It is called the First Church to distinguish it from ve New Church at Punkapog." Article seventh-" That of ye Churches revenues the deacons adde so much to ye 40sh. bequeathed by an Aged Brother old m" Williams deceased, as may produce a midling new silver Cup for ye Lords Table. Voted in ve Affirmative."
Earlier in this ancient volume we read-" 6 of January 1679, Henery Leadbetter Executor to ye Estate of Tho. Lake deliuer- ed two siluer Cups or small beakers weh was giuen by Tho. Lake vnto ye Church.
" Also Mrs Thecher of Boston gane ye Church formerly a Siluer Cup with two ears.
" Also ye Widdow Clements of Boston gane another silner Cup to ye Church y' 17 Nouem 1678."
It is a singular coincidence that the First Church in Dorchester voted Dec. 17, 1877, to give to the Second Church in that town, now the Rev. E. N. Packard's, then the Rev. J. H. Means, pastor, two silver cups, as a token of good fellowship. The cups presented were, one, the gift to the First Church of " M. T.," doubtless Mrs. Margaret Thacher, wife of the Rev. Thomas Thacher, first minister of the Old Sonth Church in Boston, who died Oct. 15, 1678; the other, that of Mrs. Elizabeth Clement, widow of Augustine Clement, of Dorchester and Boston, being the two cups above mentioned.
Mrs. Thacher was the only child of Henry Webb, a wealthy mer- chant of Boston. She was born in Salisbury, Wilts, and baptized there, Sept. 25, 1625. She married, in 1642, Jacob Sheafe, who " seems," says Savage, "to have had the largest estate of any that had hitherto died at Boston." Widow Margaret Sheafe became subse- quently, as before stated, the second wife of the Rev. Thomas Thacher. The name of Margaret Thacher, with that of twenty-five other females, members of the First Church in Boston, desirous of joining the Third or Old South Church, may be found appended to an earnest appeal in behalf of their religious rights, dated August . 27, 1674. The council decided in favor of the petitioners. See a fac-simile of the names in An Historical Catalogue of the Old South Church, Boston, facing page 246. Mrs. Thacher died Feb. 24, 1693-4.
On the 4th of January, 1882, the Dorchester First Church voted one cup each to other societies in the town, namely, to the Third Church, Rev. George M. Bodge, pastor ; Harrison Square Church, Rev. Caleb Davis Bradlee; Neponset, Rev. Charles B. Elder. The original donors of these cups to the First Church were in the fol- lowing order. Mrs. Justin Patten, widow of Nathaniel Patten, will made Jan. 2, 1673, proved Feb. 3, 1675, gives "To the Church of Dorchester, five pounds to be Layd out in a peece of
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plate for the service of the Lord's table " (Third Church ). Ebenezer Mawdsley, 1744, will made March 8, 1739-40, proved Sept. 27, 1740, gives "to the Church in Dorchester Twenty pounds, to the Revd Pastor [Rev. Jonathan Bowman ] five pounds, to the Church in Stoughton, Twenty pounds " ( Harrison Square). Ebenezer With- ington, probably the donor of 1721, before mentioned ( Neponset).
We proceed to give a list of communion eups presented at various times to the church, with names and dates, some of which have not been previously mentioned :- Mrs. Thatcher, of Boston, 1672 ; Tho- mas and Alice Lake, 1679 ; Isaac Jones, 1699 ; William Stoughton, 1701 ; Esther Flint, 1730 ; Elijah Danforth, 1736 ; William Clap, 1745 ; Remember Preston, no date ; Deacon Hopestill Clap, 1748; Ebenezer Mosley, 1775 ; Sarah Preston, 1805 ; Lois Wiswell, 1808.
The cup with "two ears" or handles, given by Mrs. Thacher to the church, and now in possession of the Second Church in Dorehes- ter, has only this simple inscription, which is on the bottom :
" for the church M T."
It would appear, then, that two cups were given by Mrs. T. to the Dorchester First Church, and one of these they have retained.
Alice Lake was the wite of Thomas Lake. She died Oct. 20, 1678, and the husband, Thomas, followed in seven days (REG. iv. 167). In his will, made five days after her departure, and two days before his own, he ex- , presses himself thus :- " I Will that after my decease there be left of my Estate to ye value of Fifty pounds that then there be five pounds laid out in plate and given to the Lords table, for the use & service thereof with mine & my wifes. name engraved thereon, & I Leane it to M' Flint with my overseers & Executors to See it done."
Isaac Jones died Feb. 18, 1701. In his will of Aug. 23, 1700, he leaves forty shillings " to the Deacons of the Church of Dorchester, for the use of the Church, in a piece of Silver Plate to serve at the Lords supper forever."
Lieutenant Governor William Stoughton, July 6, 1701, bequeaths "two pieces of Plate for ye Communion, of Six pounds value each." Mr. .Stoughton died the next day, July 7th.
Esther Flint was the widow of Rev. Josiah Flint, minister in Dorchester, grad. H. C. 1664, ordained Dec. 27, 1671, married Jan. 24, 1672, Esther, daughter of Capt. Thomas Willet, of Plymouth, the first mayor of New . York, appointed by Gov. Richard Nicolls, June 12, 1665. The Church Record says: " 15 September 80, a fast keept in regard of M' Flint he .dyed ye night following a bout 10 of ye Clock & buryed ye 17th day." Mr. Savage states, that Mr. Flint " died 16, but gravestone says 15 Sept. 1680" (Genealogical Dictionary, ii. 174). Mr. Sibley gives the inscription on the grave-stone and makes the same remark as Savage ( Harvard Graduates, ii. 152, 3). It is evident from this entry in the Church Records that the in- scription on the grave-stone is correct. Mrs. Flint died July 26, 1737, aged 89, and was buried at Quincy. She was the mother of Tutor Henry Flint, H. C. 1693, and Dorothy, who married Edmund Quincy, H. C. 1699.
Elijah Danforth, son of the Rev. John and Elizabeth ( Minot ) Danforth, of Dorchester, was born in Dorchester, Nov. 30, 1683 ; graduated at Har- vard College in 1703; was a physician and Justice of the Peace ; died Oct. 9 (Town Records), 1736, aged 53. Ile gave to the church, by will, his
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" large Silver Tankard to be changed in the form of it," " into convenien vessels" " for the only Use & Service of the Lords Table in the Congre- gational Church in said Dorchester." Huldah Niles, one of the witnesses to the will, testified that she saw the executor, by order of the testator, de- face that clause of the instrument that related to the silver tankard, but Judge of Probate Willard allowed said article to stand in the Will as if no defacement had been made. As a result the church had the tankard, and a cup with his name engraved thereon is still in its possession. See Ilist. Dorchester, p. 507.
William Clap was a son of Desire and Sarah (Pond) Clap, and grandson of Capt. Roger. IIe had a twin brother, named Desire; was born in Dor- chester, Aug. 13, 1694. He married Elizabeth Humphreys, April 11, 1717, but probably left no children, so that in his death the surname became ex- tinct in the line of Desire, son of Capt. Roger. He died Oct. 2, 1743. See Clapp Memorial, page 15. By his will of Nov. 18, 1735, he gave £20, " in Current passing Money or Bills of Credit," to the Church in Dorchester, "to be laid out in a piece of Plate or what Else shall be " by the Deacons "Judged most Necessary or convenient for the use of ye Lord's Table in the said Church."
Remember Preston, boru Nov. 4, 1678, was the son of Daniel and Abi- gail (Jackson) Preston, and grandson of Daniel. The father and grand- father of Remember were Deacons of the Church in Dorchester, and the latter was also a Ruling Elder. The will of Remember, made May 11, 1747, proved May 30, 1755, has this clause: " Unto this church in Dor- chester" " 30 pounds old Tenor Bills of Credit on this Province, to be used as ye sª Church shall see fit." See Preston genealogy, REG. xiv. 26.
Deacon Hopestill Clap, son of Elder Hopestill and Susanna (Swift ) Clap, and grandson of Capt. Roger, was born in Dorchester, Nov. 26, 1679, and was Deacon of the church upwards of 36 years. He died unmarried, Dec. 26, 1759, so that the name of Clap in the line of Hopestill, his father, ter- minated at his death. See Clapp Memorial, page 15. In his will, made Nov. 28, 1748, he gave sixty pounds in old tenor Bills to be laid out in Plate for the Communion Table of the Church in Dorchester, provided he had not given the plate to the church in his life-time, as he probably did, the date on the cup being about eleven years prior to his decease.
Ebenezer Moseley, weaver, son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth, was born in Dorchester, May 19, 1695. He died March 22, 1773, in the 78th year of his age. Ilis will of July 28, 1769, mentions wife Elizabeth, son Tho- mas, dau. Elizabeth Robinson, wife of John Robinson, and grandchildren, Ebenezer Robinson and Ebenezer Moseley. He bequeaths to the church in Dorchester, £5.
JOHN BURGE.
We give a few more items relating to his family. The second wife of John Burge was the widow of Isaac Learned, who was the son of William of Charlestown, according to Savage. Mr. Learned married Mary Stearns, of Watertown. He settled first in Woburn. In 1652, he sold his house and lands to Bartholomew Pierson, of Watertown, and moved to Chelmsford, where he was a selectman. He died Nov. 27, 1657. Mary, his widow, married, says Dr. Bond, June 9, 1662, John Burge, late of Weymouth. She died Jan. 8, 1663. It would appear that Mr. Burge next married widow Grisell Gurney, he being her fourth husband, she having been pre-
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viously wedded to Thomas Jewell and Humphrey Griggs, both of Braintree, and a Mr. Gurney, whose christian name and residence we have not ascertained. "Grisol wife of Jnº Burge died July 9, 1669," in Chelmsford. In June, 1676, Burge married Jane, widow of John Gornell, of Dorchester. She died, as before mentioned, April 4, 1678, and he died on the 22d of October following. ( REGISTER, xvi. 79.) The will of John Burge, of Chelmsford, on file at the Suffolk Probate office, but not on record, bears date, June 1, 1671. He bequeaths twenty shillings apiece to the six children of Isaac Lerned, namely, Mary Barron [wife of Moses Barron], Hannah Farwell [ wife of Joseph Farwell], William Lerned, Sarah Lerned, Isaac Lerned, Benony Lerned, on condition that he be ac- quitted from the four [ sic ] pounds that was claimed in their behalf by the grandmother of the children, probably widow Mary Stearns. Upon further consideration and at the grandmother's request, Mr. Burge, in a codicil, gives the six pounds to four of the children of Isaac, bearing the name of Lerned, viz. William, Sarah, Isaac and Benony, " becaus that Mary & hanna," who were married, the latter Dec. 25, 1666, "had somthing given before." The rest of his es- tate Jolin Burge gives to his " too suns," Samuel Burge and John Burge. To Samuel, the eldest, a double portion, being land at Stony brook, with all the accommodations, and his horse. To his "youngist sun John," his house and land in the town of Chelmsford, with the accommodations thereunto belonging. The residue of his stock, after the debts and legacies are paid, to be divided between sons Samuel and John ; the former to be his executor. This will was proved in court, at Boston, Nov. 4, 1679, the two witnesses, Hannah Thacher and Samuel Sternes, testifying. It would seem that John, senior, had four wives, the first one being the mother of his sons Samuel and John.
John Burge was one of the proprietors of land in Chelmsford ; had six acres in possession, 12. 1st month. 1666. Allen's Chelms- ford, page 169. May 4, 1674, he conveyed to Thomas Hinchman, a house and upwards of 22 acres of land in Chelmsford, situated partly upon Beaver brook. His son, John Burge, who married Triall Thayer, of Braintree, left two sons. John and Samuel. Inventory of his estate rendered March 8, 1705-6. John, the third, had wife Sarah. W.ill proved, Oct. 26, 1761, mentions sons Josiah and David, and daughters Sarah Blanchard, Lydia Taylor, Esther Burge, Elizabeth Burge, Lucy Burge. In 1718, John Burge con- tributed ten shillings towards building the first school-house in Chelmsford, says Allen. Among the children of Josiah Burge, above, who settled in Westford, was a daughter Susanna, who mar- ried Reuben Kidder in 1754. They were the grandparents of the late Frederic Kidder, of Melrose, author of various historical works.
(Dr. John G. Metcalf, of Mendon, Mass., in 1868, contributed an article to the REGISTER, xxiii. 43-46, entitled " Grisell Gurney," in which is noted her connection with John Burge and others.)
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