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 35
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20 gos Medary @ 4/6 4.10. 0
22 gos Rum @ 5/ 5.10. 0
7 Emty Cask @ 4/ 1. 8. 0
21 bbs Syder in 6 Larg Cask 12.12. 0
Hd appells .
1.10. 0
40 gos Bear
2.5. 0
1 bb : Carratts & parcell sope 0.15. 0
44- 4- 0
17 Emty Cask & 1 funell @ 4/ 3.12. 0
a Sadell & Bridell 5. 0. 0
an old Gunn .
0. 5. 0
16 bushells Oats 16 Do Bran & Sundry old Brass things . 1.10. 0
Sundry old Rubbage
2. 0. 0
A Copper & Coller 10. 0. 0
1 Doz paty pans & 3 tinn Covers 0.10. 0
22.17 .-
176 pound puter @ 2/
17.12. 0
75 Do Brass @ 2/
7.10. 0
a frying pan Crow Spade Driping pann Spitts
2.10. 0
1 hand Saw Seven plow jorns & how
0.10. 0
1 pr handjorns Tramells Crane Tongs & Shovell 5. 0. 0
1 Iack &c Iorn pott
3. 0. 0
5 Old Chairs
0. 5. 0
2 old Tables
0. 5. 0
36.12 .-
Carried forward Brought Forward
£1552"11"10 1552 " 11 " 10
1 pair Belloss 0. 2. 6
3 hhds Rum qt 300 gos @
75.0. 0
3 Do Molasses qt 200 gos @ 25.0. 0
1 box pips about 34d full 16 gross @ 4/6 . 3.12. 0
5 Emty Cask 92 muggs @ 10d
0.10. 0
3.17. 0
0.13. 0
328
HISTORY OF CHELSEA [CHAP. VII
164 Glasses @ 6 4. 1. 0 434 hundred Jamaco Sugar @ 72/0 17. 4. 4
4 Sides Lether 3. 0. 0 132. 6.10
1 quentell fish 0.10. 0
14 horse fetters 9d · 0.10. 6
3 gollands Trayn Oyle . 0.7. 6
20 hlds Salt . 20.0. 0
2 haekny Collashis 18.0. 0
1 Shayes
30. 0. 0
1 pair Old Truck Whealcs
0.10. 0
38 plank 50 feet Each 196 Boards 25 feet Each is 7125 feet @ 70/
21. 7. 6
4 Emty Cask
1. 5.0
92.10. 6
6 Ditto - @ 6/ . 1.16. 0
12 old Sadels & Bridells & 2 pilions 17.0. 0
1 Boar Stagg 1.15. 0
3 fatt Hoggs 12. 0. 0
1 Emty Cask 2 -
1 Cart & slead @ 7.0.0
5 Slipes [ ?] 4. 0.0
2 Sows & 1 pigg 5. 0. 0
1 Draft chane yoaks &c 2.0. 0
1 Lader 10
3 Rakes & 2 forkes 4 -
1 Beam Tryangell & weights 2.0. 0
1 old Collash 8. 0. 0
10 bushalls Sand 5 -
an old Box jorn
a Axes a Betle & weges 0.15. 0
a Cask & Whelbarrow 0.10. 0
a Grind Stone & 2 Sythes 2.0. 0
a Parsell old Iron & Sider Stone 3.5.0
121/2 Load Salt hay in the marsh 19.15. 0
English hay 1 mow . 20 feet Long 28 wide & 12 Deep 60. 0. 0
1 Ditto the Same Demenshons 60. 0. 0
4 Ld English hay on the Loft 20.0. 0
1 mow 19 feet one way 17 the other 12 Deep half Salt 36. 0. 0
1 mow 10 feet one way 26 the other & 10 Deep all Salt 8. 5. 0
parcell Stacke Salt hay 6 Load 9. 0. 0
the negro boye lupeter 60. 0. 0
Inden Moll 40. 0. 0
Phillis a negro Garll 70.0. 0
Jenny another 70.0. 0
Prymus a negro man 100. 0. 0 533.5. 0
Carried Ouer
Brought Over
1 Brass Pott 121 1. 4. 0
£2398.16. 2 £2398.16. 2
2 mares & 2 Coalts 12. 0. 0
50.13 .-
5 -
37. 9 .-
CHAP. VII]
APPENDIX 3
329
1 Bead qt 63ID
1 Do - 49 & is 1121 @ 2/ 11. 4. 0
1 pr Blankets & 2 Ruggs 5.0. 0
1 Bead Stid .
0.16. 0
1 Bead qt 691 @ 2/6 8.12. 6 38.16. 6
1 Rugg 5/ 1 Beadstid 3/ 0. 8. 0
1 Quilt & Blanket
2.0.0
1 Bead qt 481 @ /2/6
6. 0. 0
1 Bead Stid
1. 5.0
3 hides qt 2631 @ 3d 3. 5. 9
12 Doz quart Bottle Clarratt 6. 0. 0
Cash
313. 2. 6 332. 1. 3
90. 0. 0
15401 beeff @ 3d
19.5. 0
£2878.18.11
Jacob Royale Robert Temple Wm Browne Junr
Suffolk ss: By the Honble Samuel Sewall Esq I. of pro: &c Ann Watts & Samuel Watts Admin's presented the foregoing and made oath, that it contains a truc and perfect Inventory of the Estate of Edward Watts late of Boston Gentleman deceased Jntestate so far as hath come to their knowledge. and that if more hereafter appear they will cause it to be added The three Subscribing Apprizers having been first Sworn as the Law directs
Boston June 17th 1728.
Sam! Sewall.
WILL OF REBECCA WATTS
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN this Sixteenth day of March Anno Domini 1714 Annoq R R$. Georgij primo J Rebecca Watts of Winnissimet within the Township of Boston in the County of Suffolk in New England Widow of Edward Watts late of the same place husbandman deceased, Calling to mind the certainty of Death, and the uncertainty of the time when God shall call me hence and being Apprehensive of my near Approaching Dissolu- tion being of sound disposing Mind tho on my sick bed, Do Pub- lish and Declare these presents to be and Contain my last Will and Testament Vizt. -
Principally J resign my precious Soul into the hands of Al- mighty God my Creator hoping to receive the Pardon of my Sins, and to Obtain Justification to Eternal life thro the Meritorious Righteousness Death and passion and prevailing Jntercession of
one Ferrey Boat & halfe @
330
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. VII
my Lord and only Saviour and Dear Redeemer Christ Jesus And my Body J Desire may be decently Jnterred at the discretion of my Executors hereafternamed And as for my Temporal Estate (after my just Debts and Funeral Expences are paid and Dis- charged) J Give Devise and Dispose thereof as follows That is to say - Imprimis J Give to my Loving Daughter Rebecca Watts and the Children of her Body forever the sum of two hundred pounds in Province Bills, or Silver Equivalent to be paid to her, when and so soon as my Debts are paid, or within three years after my decease at furthest, And in Case She dyes without issue, or the Child or children that Survive her depart this life before they Attain to full age or be Marryed J Will that the sd. sum be equally divided between my sons Edward Daniel & Samuel Watts, J also give my said Daughter my best silk gown Jtem Jf my Nephew Thomas Cooper and my Nicee Mary Cooper come to New England according to my Express Desire Signifyed to them in Writing at any time within two years after my decease J give to each of them Twenty pounds in Province Bills or Current money with the Merchant And my Will is that from and after their arrival here he the said Thomas Cooper shall be Educated and brought up at the charge of my Estate till he be fourteen years old And the said Mary Cooper till she arrive to full age or be Marryed But if they do not come over to New England Then J Give them twenty pounds sterling money of Great Britain apeice to be paid them when they severally Attain to full age. And in Case they come to New England within the above limited time J will my Executors hereafternamed to pay their passage and all other neces- sary charges and Expences. Jtem J Give to the said Thomas and Mary Cooper a Gold ring a peice J also give to the said Mary All my Wearing Apparel Except my Gown before disposed to my Daughter Jtem J Give to my Grandson John Turner Fifty pounds New England money or Bills of Credit Jtem J Give to my Uncle Robert Smith five pounds Sterling money of Great Britain Jtem J Give to my son Daniel Watts my Wedding Ring and silver box - Item All the rest and residue of my Estate both Real and personal wheresoever the same is lying or may be found J Give and Devise as follows, Vizt: One half thereof unto my Eldest Son Edward Watts aforenamed To have hold and Enjoy the same to him his heirs and Assigns Forever he or they Releasing and forever quitting all his claim Interest or Inheritance of in or to all such housing Lands Tenemts. or Real Estate which my said husband Edward Watts together with me Sold and Conveyed unto . Capt Andrew Belcher and Mr. Joseph Hiller Tinplateworker for a good and valuable Consideration by them paid to my said hus-
331
APPENDIX 3
CHAP. VII]
band J being Earnestly desirous that they should quietly have and Enjoy forever what they so honestly purchased and paid for. - Jtem The remaining half part of my sd. Estate J give Devise and bequeath unto my said Sons Samuel and Daniel Watts their heirs and Assigns forever Further my Will is that if the said Edward Watts do not see cause to dwell upon and Jmprove the Ferry farm so called now in my possession near the ferry That my Son Samuel shall have liberty if he pleases to hire the same paying as inuch for the Rent thereof as another Person will, or as is usual - And J also Will that my Son Daniel shall be Educated and maintained by my Executors out of my Estate till he shall arrive to lawful Age Lastly J do hereby nominate and appoint my Worthy Friend the abovenamed Joseph Hiller and my said Son Edward Watts Executors of this my last Will and Testament revoking and mak- ing Jneffectual all Former Wills by me made Jn Testimony whereof J have hereunto put my hand and Seal the day and year first withinwritten Rebecca R Watts her mark and a Seal Signed sealed published and Declared by the said Rebecca Watts to be her last Will and Testament in presence of Samuel Bill Joseph Brightman Mary Davies - Exad. + P: Dudley Reg.1
ARTICLES TRIPARTITE of Agreement Division & Parti- tion Jndented & made the Twenty fifth day of June Anno Dom One Thousand Seven hundred & Twenty eight Between Daniel Watts of Winnissimet in the Township of Boston in the County of Suffolk in New England yeoman of the First part Samuel Watts of Winnessimet in the Township of Boston aforesaid yeo- man on the Second part & Thomas Greaves of Charlestown in the County of Middlesex in New England Esqr. & Anne his wife on the third part Witnesseth that whereas the sd. partys are justly Entituled to and hold together & undivided three Several Farms or Tracts of Land Situate lying & being in Winnisimet aforesaid vizt. One Farm or Tract of Land with the buildings thereon con- taining by Estimation One hundred & Sixty Acres more or less late in the possession of John Center now in the Occupation of the sd. Dan1. Watts & John Whittemore One other Farm or Tract of Land Contains by Estimation Two hundred and Twenty Acres more or less comonly called the Ferry farm late in the possession of Edward Watts former Husband of the said Anne & now Jm- proved by the said Thomas Greaves & Anne his wife the other Farm or Tract of Land Contains by Estimation three hundred Acres more or less & was lately in the Occupation of the said
1 Probated April 15, 1715. Suff. Prob. Rec., L. 18, f. 457.
332
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. VII
Abraham Townsend but is now in the possession of the said Sam1 Watts And forasmuch as the sd. partys to these presents with their whole & full Consent & Agreement have made Partition and Division between them of their just Shares Interests & Dividend of in & to the sd. Three Farms with the Buildings thercon Stand- ing in such Manner as is hereafter expressed whereupon it is mutually agreed by & between the sd. parties to these presents in manner & form following that is to say - Imprimis that the sd. Daniel Watts shall & may henceforth and forever hereafter by foree and virtue of these presents quietly & peaceably have hold use occupie possess & Enjoy to him his heirs & Assigns forever as a free Estate of Inheritance in severalty in full Satisfaction of his one third part Share & Dividend of the three Farms above- mentioned the aforesd. farm Containing One hundred & Sixty Aeres more or less Together with all the Dwelling house Barn Out- houses Fenees, trees woods Underwoods waters Watercourses profits priviledges & Appurces. thereto belonging or in any wise apper- taining To have and to hold the sd. One hundred & Sixty Acres of Land more or less with the buildings thereon profits Members and Appurces. unto him the sd. Daniel Watts his heirs & Assigns forever to his & their only sole & proper use benefit & behoof from henceforth and Forevermore absolutely in Severalty as aforesd. without the least lett Suit Trouble denial Molestation Eviction Ejection Interruption claim or demand of the said Samuel Watts Thomas Greaves & Anne his wife or any or Either of them their or either or any of their heirs or Assigns or any other persons whomsoever by their Means Act Consent privity or procurement in any manner or wise -
Secondly That the sd. Samuel Watts shall & may henceforthe forever hereafter by force and Virtue of these presents quietly-and peaceably have hold use occupie possess & Enjoy to him his heirs & Assigns forever as a free Estate of Jnheritanee in Severalty in full Satisfaction of his one full third part Share & Dividend of & in the aforementioned three farms of Land & premises all the aforesaid Farm or Tract of Land called Ferry farm Contain- ing by Estimation Two hundred & Twenty Acres more or less Together with the Dwelling house Barns fences trees Wells pump Waters Watercourses Members & Appurces : thereto belonging and also the sole priviledge benefit & Advantage of keeping the ferry called Winnessimet ferry & all other priviledges thereto apper- taining To have and to hold the sd. farm called Ferry farm with all the buildings profits priviledges & Appurces : thereunto belong- ing unto the said Samuel Watts his heirs and Assigns forever. to his & their only sole & proper use benefit & behoof from hence-
333
APPENDIX 3
CHAP. VII]
forth & forevermore absolutely in Severalty as aforesd. Without the least lett Suit Trouble Denial Molestation Evietion Ejeetion Interruption Claim or demand of the said Daniel Watts Thomas Greaves & Anne his wife or any or Either of them their or Either of their heirs or Assigns or of any other persons whatsoever by their Means Aet Consent title Privity or proeurement in any wise -
Thirdly That the said Thomas Greaves and Anne his wife Shall & may heneeforth & forever hereafter by force & virtue of these presents quietly and peaceably have hold use oeeupie possess & Enjoy to them their heirs & Assigns respectively forever as a free Estate of Jnheritanee in Severalty in full Satisfaction of their one full third part Share & Dividend of & in the three farms afore- mentioned the remaining farm or Traet of Land containing by Estimation Three hundred Aeres be the same more or less lately Improved by Abraham Townsend and now in the possession of the said Samuel Watts Together with all the Dwelling house Barns fences Trees Woods Underwoods profits priviledges ponds Waters Watereourses Members & Appurces. thereto belonging or in any wise appertaining To have and to hold the said Farm or Traet of Land containing Three hundred Aeres more or less with the buildings fenees profits priviledges & Appurces thereto belonging unto the sd. Thos. Greaves & Anre his wife their heirs & Assigns respectively forever to their only sole & proper use benefit & behoof from heneeforth & forevermore absolutely in Severalty as aforesaid without the least lett suit trouble denyall Molestation Evietion Ejeetion Interruption elaim or demand of them the said Daniel Watts & Samuel Watts or Either of them their or Either of their heirs or Assigns or of any other person or persons whom- soever by their or any of their Means Aet Consent Title Jnterest privity or proeurement in any manner or wise In Witness whereof the said partys to these presents have hereunto Respectively set their hands & Seals the day & year first herein beforewritten Thos. Greaves & a seal Anne Greaves & a seal Sam1. Watts & a seal Daniel Watts & a seal Signed Sealed & Delivered in presence of us John Muzey Thomas Brintnall Suffolk ss. Boston Septr. 19: 1728 Messrs. Daniel Watts Samuel Watts Thomas Greaves Esqr. & Anne his wife acknowledged the aforewritten Jnstrument to be their Act & Deed before me Edwd. Hutchinson J Pacis Novr. 9: 1728. Received & aeeordingly Entred & Examined -
p John Ballantine Regr.2
2 Suff. Deeds, L. 42, f. 297.
-
334
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. VII
APPENDIX 4
Letters of John Tudor 1
Boston August 17 - 1773
-
Sir
Yesterday I had a view, & a Conversation with Mr Watts aboute the House in which his late Father lived; We parted with this, that, boath woul think of it
I have thought of, the first purchas £1750
To fencing all round & painting ditto
500 - -
To painting the House, only outeside 150
To Repairing do in all parts, as Shingling Nailes, Hinges, Silling a part &c &c .
750
To Building a Barn so as to have a Chaise house in it 250
To Digging & Stoning a Well, & pump .
150
-
3550
Note, if the purcheser should Die or Breake what would it
sell for, perhaps not more then
2000
-
Sunk, or Lost
1550
I have thought farther, the place is not fitt for a Gentleman for many reasons ; first tis above 40 Years old, 2!y tis very much oute of Repair, Fences down or all falling to peices 3!y but 3/4 of an Acre of Land in the whole; 4ly not one frute Tree or any other worth a Copper, 5ly no Chaise House or Barn, nor a proper place to put one, 6ly 't is very uncomfortable, in hot, fowl, or Cold Weather, especially the last to go 3 Mills to Meeting, 71y, difecult to get Fireing, Fresh Meet or Fish, all which makes it (as above) not fitt for a Gentleman; But 't is pleasently Situated, but, again, twil take 16 if not 1800£ to put it into a decent Repair as above - Tis not fitt for a Farmer or a poor man as neither can gett a Liveing on it; So that I think apon the whole ME Watts will not gett so much for it as he expects - The first 1/2 hour you are at leasure I should be glad to discource with you apon it, which will oblidg
Sir Your humble Serv! John Tudor
To Capt Green
1 [A. L. S.] Chamberlain MSS., ii. 161, 163.
-
335
APPENDIX 4
CHAP. VII]
P. S.
I think Sir tis best not to lett any person see this Calcu- lation, or my Objections, as it may perhaps be a damage to M! Watts in the Sale of it which I would not do, You may make what use of it you please in discource with him apon it; But as great an Objection as any, is the Title
Yrs J : T-
2ª p,s, The Interest of 1750£ is 105€ { Year, now I suppose it has not fetch'd 1/4 of that since Ms Watts left it - Tis realy painfull to the Eyes to look at the several parts of the House, the Clabbords all round is perishing for want of paint, the pentis over the back Door all gon; Luthren Lights in a bad case; in short 'tis endless to go throw the whole, & every Week groing worse; So that I have in the Calculation been Moderat as to Repairs - The Interest of the 3550€ is 213£ p Year; now if I should purchas, & lay oute as aforesaid (which is the least I should do) & shold not after all my Troble & Charge like to Live there, no person would give more then 100 - or 120£ a Year for it; So that I should sink 93£ a Year & 30£ at least for Repairs, which would be 123 for my Self or Heirs; But I must beg you pardon for thus takeing up your Time.
And again Subscribe
Yrs, &c, J. T-
I offerd Mr Watts 1500£
for it, I have since thought
to go as far as 1750 4
which is the extent for the Reasons above, - I am Courted (as I may [say] to take a place that is a very Genteel one at Cambridg, & mortgaged to me one at Bro[ ] & one on Jamaicaplaines at Roxbery ; I never Remember so many places to sell as at pres- ent, but I shall be trobelsom, so no more
Sir
My thoughts of being your neibour is all over, Mª Watts (at my House Yesterday) & I had a farther Conversation aboute the old House & Garden, But he delin'd takeing up with my offer, so there's an end of it - He propos'd Selling the Eleven Acres more or less adjoining at 100£ an Acre, but that he will never get - MÆ Sprague when I was at ME Careys the other Day told me, there was 360 Acres, now this 360, (with a House & other Buildings, worth 3 of this of Watts's), was priz'd at 15000 (& perhaps full high) but'tis but £41 : 13 :4 ª Acre (as below) now
336
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. VII
what should make Watts's Land £58 .. 6 .. 8 ₱ aere (a great deale more then doble) better than Careys, I confess I do not under- stand, In Watts's there is not a quart of Water for a Creature to drink all the Summer Season which must lessen the Value of the Land, or I am mistaken, So that I think it will never fetch what he thinks
If 360 Aeres Cost £15000 what shall 1 Cost
1
In the present Situation
360) 15000(41 1440
of the House, I cannot think
600
any one would judg it worth
360
more then - £1200-
240 20
& for less then 1 aere
360)4800(13 360
there is 350 -
1200
which is perhaps
1550-
1080
120
5, if not 10 Times more then ever a peice sold for in
12
Chelsea
240
120 360) 1440(4 1440 0
Watts's £100 ---
Ans! as above
41 .. 13 .. 4
Od's, as above - 58 .. 6 .. 8 ₺ Acre
Pray Sir excuse my 2ª Trobleing you from, Your Humle Servt, John Tudor
To Cap! Green.
[Dee. 27, 1760, Samuel Watts, first of the name, conveyed the mansion house with its yard and garden, the whole measuring 300 feet by 100 feet, to John Osborn, who on the same day reeon- veyed it to the use of Samuel Watts and his wife Sarah for life, and then to the heirs or assigns of Samuel Watts.2 After her husband's death Mrs. Sarah Watts lived at Falmouth, now Port- land, Maine, with her daughter Mary (Oxnard), the wife of Dr. Edward Watts, her husband's son.3 Among the Chamberlain manuseripts 4 is a rough draft for a lease of the southeast quarter of the mansion house to Benjamin Brintnall, Jr., ferryman, whose wife Rachel was the daughter of Samuel Watts, Jr. The lease
2 Suff. Deeds, L. 113, f. 207.
3 Ibid., L. 174, f. 114; Chamberlain MSS., ii. 141, 157, etc.
* Ibid., ii. 143.
337
APPENDIX 4
CHAP. VII]
included the southeast quarter of the cellar and garret, a room on the street floor, and the chamber over it. Brintnall also leased the easterly half of the garden, which lay north of the house, and the hen shed. The lease dated from September 29, 1772, and the rent was £4 13s. 4d. lawful money (£35 old tenor.) On the back is the endorsement that " Madam Watts died July ye 16th : 1773" and the following :
9 months & 1/2 month Rent is . 27 : 14 :2 Recd
13 : 10 : 0 Remains due
14: 4:2 Carying goods out
Evidently this reckoning was in old tenor. Oetober 7, 1772, Mrs. Sarah Watts writes to Captain Green that Mrs. Hough wishes to rent one fourth of the house and wishes " the Room I usually keep in " with the chamber above, and a part of the cellar and the garret. If Benjamin Brintnall, to whom she has agreed to rent those rooms, will accept any other part of the house, Mrs. Hough may have them for £27 old tenor, no part of the garden being included.5]
5 Chamberlain MSS., ii. 141, 157; infra, p. 360.
VOL. I .- 22
338
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. VII
APPENDIX 5
The Watts Family
SAMUEL WATTS, owner of one third of modern Chelsea, as also of the ferry, inn-holder, merchant, ruling elder of the church, and justice of the peace, was the most conspicuous citizen of Chelsea in his day, and, therefore, I make an article of his family.1
He was the second son of Edward and Rebecca Watts, sister of Elizabeth Savage, by whose marriage settlement with Samuel Bel- lingham the estates of his father, at Winnisimmet, passed into the Watts family.2
He represented Chelsea in the General Court, 1739-1742. In 1741 he was elected Speaker of the House, but negatived by Governor Belcher. He was a Director of the Land Bank; 3 in the Governor's Council, 1742-1763. In 1745 and, again, in 1751, he was at the head of the Directors, such as John Quincy, James Bowdoin, and Thomas Hutchinson, to manage the " Massachusetts Government Lottery," to provide both for the cost of protecting the frontier against the French, and for military and other ex- penses; and again, in 1758, for the cost of the expedition against Canada.4 Meantime, in 1747-8, when Thomas Hutchinson pre- sented his famous memorial to the General Court for applying the specie by which the British government reimbursed the prov- ince for her expenses in the taking of Louisburg, to the redemption of the outstanding depreciated paper money, Hutchinson's pro- posal was referred to a joint committee, of which Watts was a
1 His death is recorded as, on March 5, 1770, in the town records, but, as on the 9th, in the Church Records, aged 72; Elizabeth Belling- ham mentions him in her will of [November] 1697. I have not found the place of his burial. [The Boston Evening Post for Monday, March 12, 1770, has the following notice: "Last Monday Evening, died at his Seat in Chelsea, and on Friday following was decently interred in this Town, the Honorable Samuel Watts, Esg; formerly one of his Majesty's Council for this Province, and for many Years past one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for this County."]
2 [For the family genealogy see infra, p. 353.]
8 See Provincial Banks: Land and Silver, by Andrew McFarland Davis, 26.
" Mass. Acts and Resolves, iii. 195, 539; iv. 88.
339
APPENDIX 5
CHAP. VII]
member from the Council.5 In 1749 the General Court grappled with the question, " How to improve the natural advantages of soil and climate, and to improve the Fishery." Samuel Watts was joined with Sir William Pepperrell, Thomas Hutchinson, and others to consider and report.6
Samuel Watts married, at about 18, Elizabeth Shute, aged about 17. Hannah Hough was his second wife. At Chelsea, April 10, 1756, was recorded an intention of marriage between " The hon'ble Samuel Watts, Esqr., and Mrs. Sarah Oxnard, of Boston." I think she was the widow of Thomas Oxnard,7 a man of estate, who left children, Thomas, Edward, and Mary, who married Dr. Edward, son of Hon. Samuel Watts. He lived at Falmouth, Maine, and with him, his wife's mother, the widow of his own father, passed her last years.
Of Samuel Watts, between his mother's death in 1715 and 1728, I find little. As a farmer his life was narrow; but when he took the Ferry estate it became varied and public. Winnisimmet, on the most direct line of travel with the east by land, was most eligible for soldiers in war, and for men of business, or those engaged in public affairs, in peace. It may have had trade from the neighboring country, including Noddle's Island.8 Presumably Edward Watts continued business at the ferry until his death, in 1727. On the division of the Watts estates, in 1728, Samuel relin- quished his sole occupation as a farmer, and assumed those of his brother at the ferry. In 1729 he bought of Abigail Thomas, for 110 pounds, "a Negro woman Named Qushaby, and her Child Named Venus, with their wearing apparrill," 9 perhaps to serve
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