Documentary history of Chelsea : including the Boston precincts of Winnisimmet, Rumney Marsh, and Pullen Point, 1624-1824, vol 1, Part 27

Author: Chamberlain, Mellen, 1821-1900; Watts, Jenny C. (Jenny Chamberlain); Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918; Massachusetts Historical Society
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Boston : Printed for the Massachusetts Historical Society
Number of Pages: 762


USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Chelsea > Documentary history of Chelsea : including the Boston precincts of Winnisimmet, Rumney Marsh, and Pullen Point, 1624-1824, vol 1 > Part 27


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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The children of Nathaniel (4) and Elizabeth Hasey were (1) Elizabeth, born 1750-16th day-4th month, married John Good- win April 22, 1777, died Aug. 30, 1825 aged 75; (2) William, born 1755-15-5; (3) Jacob, 1756-14-9. Elizabeth and Jacob- were baptized Sept. 23, 1759. Jacob died in June, 1766. (4) Mary, baptized April 15, 1759, died in November, 1780, aged 21. (5) Nathaniel, bapt. Aug. 9, 1761, died in November, 1761, aged 5 months. (6) Thomas Norris, bapt. Oct. 2, 1763.


John (4) Hasey married (1) Abigail Dexter, daughter of Richard and Sarah (Bucknam) Dexter of Malden, Nov. 17, 1730, and had by her (1) Sarah, born Feb. 1, 1731/2, mar- ried Joseph Lewis of Chelsea (intention filed at Chelsea Dec. 17, 1750). Mrs. Abigail Hasey died Feb. 17, 1731/2 in the 20th year of her age. He married (2) Mary Chamberlain, Jan. 2, 1734/5, and had (2) William born May 13, baptized May 16, 1736, died in 1739 (Chelsea Town Records). (3) Mary, born 1737-25-[ ], baptized Jan. 1, 1737/8, died in 1739 (Chelsea Records). (4) Hannah, born 1739-3d day-11th month, bap- tized Nov. 11, 1739. (5) Susanna, born 1741-13-9, baptized Sept. 13, 1741, married Andrew Tukesbury Feb. 18, 1762, died May 11, 1832, aged 90. (6) Mary, born 1744-24-1, baptized Jan. 29, 1743/4. (7) Lois, born 1746-2-6, baptized June 8, 1746. John Hasey married (3) at Leicester Nov. 22, 1748 Tabitha Thomas. He lived at Leicester, had children born there, and died there March 22, 1753.


Samuel (4) Hasey married Sarah Upham of Malden May 9, 1737. The children recorded at Chelsea were: Martha, born 1738-8 [5?]th day-2d month; Abigail, 1739-16-11; Phebe,


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1741-5-2; William, 1743-22-2, died 1743-25-3; Esther, 1745- 15-1. In 1749 Samuel Hlasey was living in Leicester. (Supra, p. 226.)


The children of Ebenezer (4) and Lydia Hasey recorded at Chelsea were : Abigail, born 1757-11-1; Ebenezer, 1758-25-[ ]; Hannah, 1759-23-10; William, 1761-8-6; John, 1763-14-2. For his removal with his family to Charlestown, see Wyman.


In the year 1747, when the town of Chelsea was consider- ing a colleague for Rev. Thomas Cheever, it decided to buy the house in which John Hasey had been living, to use as a parsonage. May 23, 1748, William Hasey and his son John, for £1100 old tenor bills conveyed to the town of Chelsea a dwelling house and one half an aere of land then occupied by John Hasey, bounded southerly on the highway from William Hasey's house to "Hasey's bank so ealled," - later deseribed as " the Bank commonly ealled Elder Hasey's landing plaee," - and on all other sides by said Wm. Hasey; also two parcels of salt marsh of nine and four acres, - the latter being marsh bought by John Hasey of the daughter of Asa Hasey as above noted. (Suff. Deeds, L. 90, ff. 1, 2; L. 93, f. 3; votes of town meeting, Nov. 30, 1747, April 18, and May 16, 1748.) January 8, 1749/50, the Seleetmen of Chelsea conveyed the house and the half aere of land to Nathaniel Hasey gent., son of Elder William Hasey, for £375 old tenor. It was deseribed as the house which " M" John Hasey lately oeeupyed when an Inhabitant in Chelsea," and as situated " on the south side of the great hill in Elder Haseys farm commonly ealled his sheep pasture." (Suff. Deeds, L. 78, f. 11; also L. 90, f. 2. Town Records, Mareh 6, 1748/9, May 17, 1749; Seleetmen's Records, Oet. 11, 1749.) Elder Hasey's land- ing-plaee must have been near the point where the Revere Beach Parkway erosses the ereek, as this is the only place where the great creek sweeps near the upland of the farm. Winthrop Avenue follows the road from Elder Hasey's house to the landing. The owners of the John Tuttle farm also made use of this landing- plaee. (Supra, p. 228.) It is to be regretted that the "great hill in Elder Hasey's farm " has here been deeply exeavated beside the Parkway. The western slope of the hill was the pasture of the farm of Lieutenant Joseph Hasey, later of Jacob Hasey.


Elder William Hasey died December 21, 1753. By will dated Mareh 25, 1751, he left one third of his real estate to his wife for life; then his whole estate to his sons Nathaniel and Ebenezer sub- jeet to legaeies to his grandson, William, son of William Hasey, Jr .; to his granddaughter Sarah Lewis, wife of Joseph Lewis and daughter of John Hasey; and to his sons John and Samuel


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Hasey. He gave to his wife two negroes, Peter and Jenny. In the inventory of his estate a negro man was valucd at £350; an aged negro man and woman at £40, old tenor. The mansion house was valued at £450; 85 acres in Chelsea at £5525; 23 acres of wood- land in Malden at £120; the barn and cyder house at £50; a pew in the meeting-house at £20. The total for the real estate was £6165 old tenor, or £822 lawful money. (Suff. Prob. Rec., L. 48, f. 681 ; L. 49, f. 198. See also L. 61, ff. 231, 232 for further items regarding the farm, farmhouses, and landing-place.)


March 19, 1757, Nathaniel Hasey, as executor of the will of William Hasey, to pay the debts of the deceased, conveyed to Shute Shrimpton Yeamans of Marshgate, County of Surrey, Eng- land, 141/2 acres for £128. It bounded N. on the heirs of Jacob Hasey deceased 53 rods 22 links, extending to the middle of the creek at the east end of the land granted, and including 81/2 ft. of said creek; bounded E. on the creek 31 rods 14 links "and from the Northeast Corner on this side it is to run eighty fcet on a strait Line in which eighty feet is included eight feet and a half of said Creek, and the remainder on this side bounds on said Creek as it now runs." S. on Yeamans 29 rods 15 links; E. on Yeamans 2 rods 15 links; S. on Yeamans 47 rods 7 links; W. on land of Samuel Watts and heirs of Jacob Hasey 51 rods 13 links; also four lots of land in Malden. From these measurements these acres can be identified on the plan of the Yeamans farm in L. 525, f. 305, as lying between the crcek and land of Z. Hall, south of Mrs. Chadwick's land. (Suff. Deeds, L. 89, f. 262.)


May 20, 1761, Nathaniel Hasey and his wife Elizabeth, and Abi- gail Hasey quitclaimed to Ebenezer Hasey 16 acres 54 poles of pasture land; on the same day, the latter conveyed the same, his wife Lydia releasing her right of dower, to Ezra Green of Malden. This land bounded N. on land of Thomas Hills, Tuttle farm; W. on Jacob Hasey deceased; E. on saltmarsh of said Jacob; S. on Nathaniel and Ebenezer Hasey. (Suff. Deeds, L. 96, ff. 103, 104, etc.) This land according to the atlas of 1874 was owned by the North Shore Land Co. (Suff. Decds, L. 418, f. 35; L. 584, f. 127.)


September 20, 1762, Ebenezer Hasey conveyed to Elisha Tuttle 10 acres of mowing and tillage land, a part of the estate of William Hasey deceased. It bounded S.E. on said Hasey; S.W. and W., and N.W. by a creek; N. and N.E. " by the Cart way Excluding the barn and other buildings." Abigail Hasey, widow, released her rights of dower. (Ibid., L. 100, f. 86; see also f. 127.)


September 1, 1763, Nathaniel and Ebenezer Hasey, and Abigail Hasey, widow, all of Chelsea, mortgaged to Madam Sarah Watts, wife of Hon. Samuel Watts, for £400, 781/2 acres, stating that it


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was the farm which lately belonged to Elder William Hasey, de- ceased. It was bounded E. on the creek running about N.E. from the river which runs up to Capt. Sale's farm (or, according to a description in 1770, on the " Creek from the said Deacon Hasey's land down to the river that is between Chelsea and Hog Island ") ; S. on the river running about one-half mile to or near Rocky Point; thence W. upon a creek which ran near N. and S., to the line fence which bounds the upland formerly of Deacon Jacob Hasey deceased (in 1770 this creek was stated to be the N.E. bound of the Ycamans farm) ; thence it was bounded N.W. on land formerly of said Jacob to land of Ezra Green, Esq .; thence, N. E. and E. on land of said Green to saltmarsh late of said Jacob; thence E. on said Jacob to the creek first mentioned. There were three orchards. (Ibid., L. 100, f. 172.) This mortgage was foreclosed, and possession obtained under judgment April 3, 1766. April 1, 1769, Samuel and Sarah Watts quitclaimed the premises to the mortgagcors for £506 9s. 1d. (Ibid., L. 116, f. 222.) March 22, 1770, Nathaniel Hasey conveyed to Joseplı Green, gentleman, and Joseph Green, Jr., yeoman, of Stone- ham, this farm with the exception of 1/2 of 6 acres of salt marsh. At this time the farm was said to contain 75 acres and there were " two dwelling houses and two barns " thereon. (Suff. Deeds, L. 116, f. 224; see also L. 106, f. 128; L. 116, f. 223.) The marshland here excepted had been sold by Ebenezer Hasey to Samuel Pratt, and from his estate passed to James Stowers. (Suff: Decds, L. 99, f. 179; L. 146, f. 133.) In 1798 a farm of 701% acres was owned and occupied by Joseph Green. It was bounded, E., S. and W. on a creek; N. on Barnard Green and Elizabeth Kent. One house is mentioned. It covered 1520 ft., was of 2 stories, had 19 windows, was " Verry Old," and with half an acre of land was valued at $165. Seventy acres with the barn (40 × 30) were valued at $1355. The division of the farm of Joseph Green among his eight children, April 20, 1803, is in Suff. Deeds, L. 207, f. 85.


The Lewis Farm


In 1654 Samuel Cole in his deed to William Halsey reserved one- sixth of the farm. By will dated December 21, 1666, and witnessed by Elias Maverick, Aaron Way and John Senter, he gave to his daughter Elizabeth Weeden, wife of Edward Weeden, " that Land of mine at Rumney marsh, which at prsent her husband & shee lives upon & have done for some years past which is the sixt part of my Land, the residue whereof I sold to Cornet Halsey as appeareth by the deed made unto him," and six acres of marsh


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at Hogg Island, "all which Land my said daughter & her hus- band shall enjoy during their naturall life & my will is that after their decease it shall bee Equally divided amongst all their Chil- dren." He gave them also "the sume of Twenty pounds which is due unto mee from John scenter, to bee layd out towards the building of a new house, upon that Land formerly exprest at Rumney marsh." He gave for life to his " old servant Elizabeth Ward, that Cowe that I have in the keeping of my sonn in Lawe Edward Weeden." March 28, 1664, Edward Weeden agreed with the selectmen of Boston to care for Elizabeth Ward during the rest of her natural life for £12 a year. Samuel Cole appointed his son John Cole and daughter Elizabeth Weeden the executors of his will, which was probated February 13, 1666/7. The In- ventory of the estate of Samuel Cole, at Winnisimmet, deceased, was taken by Elias Maverick, Aaron Way and William Ireland. There were goods at Winnisimmet, and a few books, pictures and the like at " James Euerells " in Boston. (Suff. Prob. Rec., L. 1, f. 482; L. 5, f. 36.) Presumably Samuel Cole died at the house of his granddaughter Sarah Senter. (See chap. vii.)


In 1672 and 1673, Joseph and John Weeden of Boston, Samuel Weeden of Rumly Marsh with his wife Hannah, and Sampson and Elizabeth Cole of Rumly Marsh conveyed their rights in this farm to Jeremiah Belcher, possession thereof to be had after the death of their parents Edward and Elizabeth Weeden. (Suff. Decds, L. 8, ff. 176-181.) Samuel Weeden was born in August, 1644. (Boston Records.) The following children of Edward and Eliza- beth Weeden of Rumney Marsh were mentioned in a deed dated in June, 1672, - Jeremiah Belcher of Boston (i. e. Winnisimmet) and his wife Sarah, Samuel Weeden, husbandman, John Weeden, seaman, Elizabeth Weeden, Jr., Edward Weeden, Jr., Hannah Weeden, and Mary Weeden. Edward Weeden, Elizabeth Weeden and Sarah Belchar made their mark; Jeremiah Beleher signed his name. (L. 8, f. 51.) The land was described in 1672 as a piece of " Vpland partly bounded Northeast Vpon ye Vpland of Cornet William Hasee : Westerly on mrs. NewGate in the posses- sion of Henry greene : Northerly bounded by m' John Tuttle "; and meadow which bounded " Easterly vpon the Meadow of Elder Pens widdow, Westerly on ye Meadow of Cornett William Hasee & otherwise bounded by a beach." There was also the meadow on Hog Island which was sold to Mrs. Newgate in June.


March 25, 1690, Jeremiah Belehier of Hog Island and his wife Sarah for £110 conveyed to Isaac Lewis of Rumney Marsh, at one time tenant on the small Kcayne farm, 273/4 aeres of upland bounded on the east by Joseph Hasey; S. and W. by the Newgate


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farm; and north by land which said Lewis had bought of Elisha Tuttle ; also 8. acres of saltmarsh, bounded E. and N. by the beach ; S. and W. by Lt Hasey's meadow. March 26, 1690, Elisha Tuttle and his wife Hannah conveyed 71/2 acres of upland bounded W. by Mr. Newgate's farm; N. and E. by said Elisha Tuttle, and S. by said Lewis' land formerly belonging to Jeremy Belcher. The land measured 20 poles at the west end on the Newgate line, and ran thence 120 poles to a point at the east end. Four aeres of swamp were conveyed, in what was later known as the dammed marsh. (Suff. Deeds, L. 15, ff. 151, 152.) By these deeds Isaac Lewis secured a farmn containing about 35 acres of upland, situated on the west side of Beach Street. Central Avenue represents approximately the northern boundary; the southern line of the Town Hall lot the southern boundary. The west boundary of O. Foster on Hopkins' Atlas marks the west line of the farm.


According to Wyman, Lewis was the son of John Lewis of Malden, and married, March 25, 1680, Mary, daughter of Samuel and Mary Davis of Groton. He died April 6, 1691, aged 34, and was buried at Malden. (Vital Records of Malden.) He left chil- dren, - Mary, born March 1, 1680/81; Isaac, August 31, 1683; Joseph, Nov. 16, 1685; John, Feb. 25, 1687/8; and Abraham, June 9, 1691. These births were recorded both at Boston and at Lynn.


According to the inventory of his estate he possessed at the time of his death, 2 mares, a two year old colt, 2 oxen, 12 cows and heifers, 11 young cattle, 42 sheep and 15 swine. His widow married Thomas Pratt, later owner of the Way-Ireland farm, before April 10, 1694. The estate was not settled until Nov. 25, 1718, when the farm was assigned to Isaac Lewis, the eldest son, subject to the right of dower of Mary Lewis Pratt, on condition that he pay his brothers and sister their portions. The latter were Joseph, John, Abraham, and Mary, wife of William Ser- geant of Malden. (Suff. Prob. Rec., L. 8, f. 212; L. 13, f. 392; L. 17, f. 474; L. 20, ff. 3, 19; L. 21, f. 183.) Although Thomas and Mary Pratt purchased the Way-Ireland farm, they may have lived upon the Lewis farm until this settlement. There is a curious item in the records of the Suff. County Court for the term of Oct., 1715. Samuel Mattocks, Jr., of Boston complained that he had agreed with Isaac Lewis of Rumney Marsh, June 20, 1715, to exchange their maid servants, and in accordance therewith he had, about June 24, carried his " Apprentice maid Servt Jane Hawkins " to Rumney Marsh, and delivered her to Isaac Lewis, who then said that he would have delivered the indenture of his maid servant, Mary Webster, but his mother had gone to Boston


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and he could not find it; yet he promised to send it with the maid the following Thursday. He sent the maid, the reeital continues, without the indenture, and sinee then had pretended she ran away from his service, and sued out a warrant for her. The judgment was that Mattoeks should assign to Lewis the indenture of Jane Hawkins, Mary Webster serve Mattocks the remainder of her term, and Isaae Lewis pay eosts. (Court Ree., pp. 97, 98.)


Presumably Lewis was married to Hannah Hallet by Rev. Cotton Mather, March 21, 1705. The children of Isaae (2) and Hannah Lewis as recorded at Boston were, Isaae, born July 1, 1707; John, Jan. 10, 1708/9; Hannah, Oet. 19, 1710; William, Jan. 31, 1713/14; Abijah, Sept. 9, 1717; Mary, Oet. 9, 1719; Nathan, Dee. 6, 1721; Joseph, Jan. 11, 1723/4; Lydia, baptized July 24, 1726. The first eight births were recorded also at Lynn. Wil- liam's birth is there given as Jan. 31, 1712/3. (Vital Records of Lynn.) The wife Hannah joined the church at Rumney Marsh Mareh 16, 1717/8; she was living in 1740. (Suff. Dceds, L. 60, f. 124.) Presumably she died before 1746, as on April 1 Isaae Lewis of Chelsea married Susanna Gatehell of Boston. July 8, 1750, the intention of marriage of Isaae Lewis and Sarah Nor- wood of Lynn was recorded at Chelsea. She survived him. (Infra, p. 251.)


Isaae (3) Lewis was married (1) to Mary Cole by Rev. Thomas Cheever in 1732. Their children, recorded at Boston, were: John and Jaeob, born Oet. 6, 1734; Isaae, born Mareh 29, 1736 (mar- ried Mary Downing at Chelsea Jan. 3, 1758). He was married (2) by Rev. Thomas Cheever to Anna Burlow August 11, 1737. Their children, recorded at Chelsea, were: Abigail, born 1740-8th day-1st month (presumably married Lemuel Spurr Dec. 6, 1769) ; Mary, 1742-8-2; William, 1744-19-2; George, 1747-25-7; Sarah, 1748-20-7.


Abijah (3) Lewis married Rachel Kitehens of Chelsea (intention filed at Boston Jan. 18, 1749/50). Their children, recorded at Chelsea, were: Hannah, born 1750-31-5; Samuel, 1752-16-12; Sarah, 1754-21-10; Elizabeth, 1756-21-10 (presumably married David Davis April 29, 1776) ; Abijah, 1759-29-1; Moses, 1762- 16-10. Abijah Lewis died in Mareh, 1788; Mrs. Raehel Lewis died in July, 1801, aged 84.


Nathan (3) Lewis married Mary Newall Sept. 17, 1747. (Bos- ton Records.) Six ehildren, born between 1750 and 1762, were recorded at Chelsea and also at Lynn; the younger children in the family were recorded at Lynn only. (See Vital Records of Lynn.)


Joseph (3) Lewis married Sarah, daughter of John Hasey. (Intention filed at Chelsea Dee. 17, 1750.) Their children, recorded


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at Chelsea, were: Frances, born 1751-8-10; Joseph, 1752-12-12; Ebenezer, 1754-7-11; William, 1756-14-10; Steven, 1758-23-9.


November 1, 1758, Isaac Lewis conveyed to Nathan Lewis by deed of gift, three acres of land, the south corner being on the town road at "the barrs leading from said Road into ME Temple's Farm." It bounded south on that farm 34 rods, and cast on the town road 21 rods. On the north and west it was separated from other lands of Isaac Lewis by a zigzag line. Nathan could build on the cast quarter of an acre immediately; he was to come into possession of the remainder at the death of Isaac Lewis. (Suff. Decds, L. 92, f. 97.) Nathan Lewis, and his wife Mary, conveyed this to William Low, May 4, 1763. (Ibid., L. 100, f. 178.)


March 30, 1758, Isaac Lewis conveyed to Joseph Lewis of Chelsea, mariner, for £16, six aercs, bounded S.E. by the town road 29 rods from the east corner of the pound which "now stands on said Premisses "; S.W. by Isaac Lewis, 34 rods; N.W. by Isaac Lewis, 29 rods; N.E. by Elisha Tuttle, 34 rods; " in- cluding the land said Pound stands on." Isaac Lewis reserved the herbage of the within granted premises, exclusive of Joseph's houseplot. (Suff. Deeds, L. 94, f. 254.)


Joseph Lewis of Chelsea, ycoman, conveyed to Elisha Tuttle for £60 February 17, 1764, one acre of land with a dwelling-house standing thereon. It was bounded E. on the town road leading to Chelsca meeting-house 23 rods, N. on the heirs of Jonathan Hawkes 7 rods, W. 23 rods, and S. 7 rods on the remaining land . of Joseph Lewis. (L. 108, f. 1.) Elisha Tuttle, December 1, 1773, conveyed to his grandsons Nathan Chcever of Chelsea, blacksmith, and Joseph Cheever of Boston, cabinet-maker, this acre with "a small dwelling house thereon now under the improvement of Abijah Hastings as my tenant." (L. 125, f. 27.) Jan. 13, 1775, Nathan Checver, blacksmith, and Joseph Cheever, cabinet-maker, both of Chelsea, conveyed it, still in the tenancy of Abijah Hastings, to James Stowers, who had already purchased the land to the south and west. (Ibid., L. 126, f. 242. Original deed, Chamberlain MSS., iv. 79. Signed Nathan Cheever, jun!, etc.) Presumably this was the house occupied by Joseph Pratt when the direet tax of 1798 was assessed. That house covered 468 feet, was of one story, had 7 windows, and with 1144 square feet was valued at $165. Possibly it was the house, nearly opposite the junction of School and Beach streets, marked on the plan of James Stowers' estate in 1817. (Suff. Decds, L. 260, end of vol.)


March 31, 1761, Isaae Lewis and his wife Sarah, for £200, con- veyed title to 30 acres of tillage and pasture " at a small distance from said Chelsea Mceting House" with a "Dwelling House


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and Barn and Outhouse situate on said land," bounded north by Jonathan Hawkes, E. by Joseph Lewis, W. and N.W. by Yea- mans' land, S.W. by Nathan Lewis, and S.E. by the road, to Joseph Lewis and Ebenezer Hasey of Chelsea, husbandmen. By the same deed he conveyed title to 5 aeres of salt marsh bounded E. and N.E. by Chelsea Beach, with Jonathan Bill's marsh on the S. and S.E., David Jenkins' (formerly Asa Hasey's) marsh W., and James Pitts' marsh N.W .; and to 4 aeres of marsh in what was later known as the dammed marsh. The former was marsh of the Cole farm; the latter of the Elisha Tuttle farm. (Suff. Deeds, L. 96, f. 17.) Aug. 14, 1762, Ebenezer Hasey mortgaged his half of these three traets of land to Robert Temple for £100, stating that it was land which Isaae Lewis had lately sold and conveyed to him and to Joseph Lewis. (Suff. Deeds, L. 98, f. 181.) Joseph Lewis mortgaged both his five-aere lot above- mentioned, and his half of the lands last mentioned. (Ibid., L. 102; f. 219; L. 107, f. 246.)


Isaae Lewis died in Deeember, 1763, aged 81. April 26, 1765, Ebenezer Hasey of Chelsea was appointed administrator of the estate of Isaae Lewis deceased, and Joseph Lewis became one of his bondsmen. The inventory of the estate footed £55 11s. 4d .; this included no real estate. (Suff. Prob. Rec., L. 64, ff. 255, 383.) Mrs. Sarah Lewis died in April, 1774, aged 85. Mareh 18, 1766, Joseph Lewis signed a paper, by which he agreed for £146 13s. and 4d. to be paid by James Stowers, Jr., of Chelsea, two thirds at onee and one third on the death of the widow Lewis, - the latter being for his " part of her thirds in the Estate of my late Father Isaae Lewis of Chelsea Deeeased," - to convey to the said Stowers, by warranty deed, his share in the estate of his father Isaae Lewis, that is, " one half of the House and Barn and of all the buildings that is upon sd plaee the one half of them, and the full of one and Twenty Aeres of Lands belonging to the said Estate." He also agreed to shingle the house and permit Stowers to move to the premises at onee. "And Whereas it is serupled by some whether a Deed ean be legally executed at the present Juncture by reason of the Stampt Aet, so if in Case the sd Stowers Chuses to defer reeeiving the Deed till the Difficulties of this kind may be removed," he would in the future execute a warranty deed when demanded. If it was found, when the land was surveyed, that he did not have 21 aeres, £6 13s. 4d. was to be dedueted for " every Acre deficient "; the same was to be added for every acre in exeess of 21 aeres. (Original in Chamberlain MSS., iv. 63.) April 21, 1776, the farm was surveyed by Jona- than Porter and found to contain 29 acres 48 rods. (Court Files,


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Sale vs. Pratt, eited in Appendix 1.) Joseph Lewis owned a few acres to the north in the parcel conveyed to him by his father in 1758, of which he had sold only one acre to Elisha Tuttle. June 10, 1766, Robert Temple of Charlestown, quitclaimed to James Stowers, Jr., of Chelsea, 181/2 acres of upland near Chelsea meet- ing-house bounded N. by Jonathan Hawkes deceased and Elisha Tuttle; E. by said Tuttle and the town road; W. and S. by William Low; also one half of a 6 acre lot of marsh bounded N. and E. by Chelsea Beach ; S. by marsh of the late Jonathan Bill and W. by marsh of William Low. He stated that this was a " part of the Estate which belonged to Isaac Lewis of s! Chelsea Decd, and which Joseph Lewis and Ebenezer Hassey of s! Chelsea purchased of the said Isaae & held in Common and undivided and said hassey has Conveyed his Right & Title to me said Joseph Quiting the same as I now Quit to said Stowers as partition has been made." According to the endorsement on this deed, it was re- corded in Suff. Deeds, L. 112, f. 138. This volume of the records has been lost. (Original deed in Chamberlain MSS., iv. 63.) The day before this deed was signed Joseph Lewis conveyed to Robert Temple his half of the four acres in the " dam marsh," stating that it was a part of the estate of Isaac Lewis deceased, and was held in common by said Joseph Lewis and Robert Temple. Temple conveyed this marsh to William Low April 8, 1778. (Suff. Deeds, L. 109, f. 17; L. 131, f. 251.) Thus of the lands conveyed by Isaac and Sarah Lewis in 1761 to Ebenezer Hasey and Joseph Lewis, in 1766 the northern half was owned by James Stowers, and the southern half by Robert Temple, who conveyed the same to William Low, who already owned three aeres at the southern end of the original Lewis farm, purchased from Nathan Lewis in 1763. Presumably the deeds from Joseph Lewis to Stowers, and from Temple to Low, were recorded in the same volume of the Suffolk Deeds in which the release from Temple to Stowers was recorded. This volume, as already stated, has been lost. By will, dated Jan. 26, 1787, William Low bequeathed to his son John, among other lands " all the Upland and Marsh I bought of Robert Temple Esq except one half of the four aere lot in the dam-marsh," and in his inventory aside from Hall's Hill (15 acres) and the land he bought of Capt. Jenkins (17 or 18 acres) there appear 171/2 acres of upland. (Suff. Prob. Rec., L. 86, ff. 171, 201.) Sept. 27, 1816, John Low mortgaged to Nathaniel Low 16 acres bounded S.W. and N.W. by Wm. H. Sumner (Newgate farm); N.E. by James Stowers, Joseph Pratt, James Stowers; S.E. by the road leading to the meeting-house. The conveyanee stated that origin- ally this was one parcel, but was then divided by the Salem Turn-




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