USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, with a genealogical register of Lexington families > Part 60
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
83-156 Nancy, b. - -; m. - Caldwell of Woburn.
157 158
Stephen, b. - --; r. in Concord.
Joanna, b. -; m. Daniel Russell.
159
James, b. - ; he was feeble-minded. He was an inmate of the almshouse, and disappeared mysteriously, leading to the suspicion that he might have been murdered. Human bones were found in the woods some twelve months afterwards, supposed to be his. The mystery was never revealed.
22-86-
EBENEZER MUNROE m. May 10, 1781, Lucy Simonds of Wo. He was a member of the Lex. minute men, and ready on the 19th of April to do battle in freedom's cause. He was wounded in the elbow in the morning, but mounted his horse and rode from town to town, alarming the people and rousing them to action, until quite exhausted by the loss of blood. He claimed to have fired the first gun on the American side. That he did return the fire is abundantly proved by the testimony of others. His own account is as follows : " After the first fire (of the regulars) I received a wound in my arm ; as I turned to run, I discharged my gun into the main body of the enemy. An- other ball passed between my arm and my body, and just marked my clothes ; one ball eut off a part of my ear locks, which were pinned up. The balls flew so thick, I thought there was no chance of eseape. and that I might as well fire my gun, as stand still and do nothing." Deposition taken April 2, 1825. Ebenezer Munroe performed other duties in the Revolution, being one of the number who joined in the campaign in the Jerseys in 1776.
He moved to Ashburnham soon after the elose of the war, where he was a lieutenant and a respectable citizen. He d. at Ashburnham 1825, and his wid. m. John Adams as his second wife. Ebenezer Munroe was half-brother to Mr. Adams's first wife. Mr. Adams spent his youth in West Camb., went to Ashburnham previous to the Revolution, lived there till he was nearly 100, when he went to live with a son in Penn., and d. 1849, aged 104 years, 1 mo., 5 days. He retained his faculties to the last, and is said to have made a pair of shoes the day he was 104.
88-160 Charles, b.
161 Lucy, b. -. 162 Ebenezer, b.
163 Jonas, b. .
164 John, b.
165 Rebecca, b.
166
Herrick, b.
24-91-
JOSIAH MUNROE m. Nov. 16, 1768, Susan Fitch of Bed. He was in the French war in 1762. He also served three months in the Jerseys, in 1776. He then entered the Continental Line, and served two and a half years. After the close of the war he drew land in what was afterward Ohio. He settled in Marietta in that State, where
156
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
he was for a time post-master. He had at least one child b. in Lex. viz., Susanna, bap. Nov. 10, 1771. They had another dau. and a son b. in Bedford, before he moved to Ohio.
24-92-
NATHAN MUNROE m. Oet. 3, 1769, Elizabeth Harrington, dau. of Henry and Sarah (Laughton) Harrington, b. Sept. 17, 1750. He was a member of Parker's minute men, and took part in the battle of Lex. in 1775. He resided on Monument street, where Mr. John Hudson now resides. His house received several balls, which were taken out subsequently, when the house was repaired. She d. Dec. 24, 1812.
92-167 Dolly, b. Nov. 18, 1769; m. Jan. 28, 1788, Elijah Pierce.
168 Arethusa, b. Mar. 10, 1773; m. June 20, 1793, William Fox of Wo.
169 Betsey, b. April 5, 1776; m. March 20, 1798, Munson Johnson.
170 John, b. June 15, 1778 ; m. a Macy in Nantucket, and r. there. tNathan, b. Oct. 23, 1780; m. Susanna Loring.
171 172 tJonathan, b. May 26, 1783; m. Feb. 13, 1812. Rhoda Johnson. 173 Polly, b. March 11, 1785; m. June 13, 1811, Thomas Hunnewell of Charlestown.
174 Dorcas, b. March 31, 1788; m. Nov. 29, 1810, Leonard Brown.
176 175 Thaddeus, b. Sept. 14, 1790; r. at Quiney, Ill.
Harris, b. May 29, 1793; d. in Dedham, 1829.
27-100-
EDMUND MUNROE m. Aug. 31, 1768, Rebecca Harrington, dau. of Jonathan and Abigail Harrington, b. Feb. 17, 1751. She was sister to Jonathan Harrington, who d. 1854, the last survivor of the battle of Lex. Edmund Munroe was distinguished as a military man. Entering the Provincial service at an early age, he was pro- moted to an ensign in a corps of rangers commanded by Maj. Rogers, which performed signal service in the French war. In 1761, he was acting adjutant in Col. Hoar's regiment at Crown Point. In 1762, he received a commission from Gov. Bernard, as a lieutenant in His Majesty's service, and continued with the troops at Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and vicinity, till the peace of 1763. His kinsmen Robert and Abraham were officers in the same service with him. He not only served in the French and Indian war, but being enrolled in the company of Lex. minute men, he met the enemy on the 19th of April, and shared in the dangers of that day. But his devotion to the cause of the colony did not permit him to cease from effort when the oppressors were driven from his native village. Having served under Rogers and Hoar, the companions and co-laborers with Wolf and Barre and Putnam, he was not willing to confine his efforts to a limited field. As early as August, 1776, we find him on his way to meet the British on the same fields where he had toiled with them in subduing the French and Indians. He was commissioned as licuten- ant on the 12th of July, 1776, in Capt. Miles's co. and Col. Reed's regiment. On the 16th of the same month he was appointed quar- termaster and destined to the northern frontier. In a letter addressed to his wife, dated Charlestown, N. H., Ang. 5. 1776, he says, "I have been used very well by the field officers of the regiment. We shall march from this place for Ticonderoga this day."
On the first of January following, he received his commission as captain in Col. Bigelow's regiment. He was with the Northern army under Gates, at Stillwater, Saratoga, and Bennington ; and so dis- tinguished himself that after the capture of Burgoyne he was pre- sented by his superior officers with a pair of candle-sticks, -a part of the traveling equipage or tent ornaments of Gen. Burgoyne.
The capture of Burgoyne transferred the seat of war to the Middle
157
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
States ; and Capt. Munroe repaired to the Jerseys, and joined the army under Washington, where, on the 28th of June, 1778, he was slain on the field of Freehold, commonly called the Battle of Mon- mouth. The same cannon ball which deprived the country of the services of the gallant captain, killed George Munroe, his kinsman, and maimed for life Joseph Cox of Lexington, who was a wheel- wright by trade, and worked at that business in Roxbury, in 1790. He wore a wooden leg.
The Burgoyne candlesticks of which we have spoken, together with a sword, a curious beaded Indian powder horn, several bead belts, pistols, &c., used by Capt. Munroe in the French war, were left by his widow, in 1834, to her son Edmund.
When Capt. Munroe entered upon the command of a co. in the Continental line, he had in his co. fifteen men from Lex., viz., Ne- hemiah Estabrook, David Fiske, Pomp Blackman, Samuel Crafts, Jupiter Tree, Thaddeus Munroe, Amos Russell, George Munroe, Joseph Cox, David Simonds, Ebenezer Hadley, James Fowle, Thomas Hadley, Levi Mead, and Seth Read.
Among these original papers left in the family is the oath of office, bearing the signature of Capt. Munroe, and that of the Baron de Kalb. We will give this document entire, with a fac-simile of their hands.
I, Edmund Munroe, Captain in Col. Bigelow's regiment, do ac- knowledge the United States of America to be Free, Independent, and Sovereign States, and declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance to George, the Third, King of Great Britain; and I re- nounce- and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him; and I do swear that I will to the utmost of my power support, maintain, and defend the said United States against the said King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and his or their abettors, assistants, and adherents ; and will serve the said United States in the office of Captain, which I now hold, with fidelity, according to the best of my ability, skill, and understanding.
Edmi Munro Capt
Sworn to, Camp at Valley Forge, May 18, 1778.
The 13aron de Kall man €
Capt. Munroe was deliberately brave, without enthusiasm. Some of his letters evince this coolness. Writing to his wife from Valley Forge, May 17, 1778, he says, " I am going on command to-morrow morning down to the enemy's lines. There are two thousand going on the command. I am of the mind, we shall have a dispute with them before we return." He was forty-two years old at the time of his death. He was, like most men at that day who devoted them- selves to the public service, comparatively poor. He left a wid. and four children. She moved to West Camb., where she d. April 6, 1834, aged 83. Honorable mention was made of her in an obituary notice, in the Boston Daily Advertiser of April 11, 1834, from
78
158
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
which we extract the following : " The worthy lady who is the sub- jeet of this notice, with other families in Lexington, fled on the 19th of April, 1775, with their children, to the woods, while their husbands were engaged with the enemy, and their houses were sacked or in- volved in flames. Her husband was killed at Monmouth in New Jersey, June 28, 1778. On his bereaved partner; in the midst of discouragement, sorrows, and the privations of the times, devolved the task of rearing an infant family. The long life of this venerable lady was a pattern of domestic duties and virtue."
100-177
Pamelia, b. Sept. 17, 1769; d. Sept. 29, 1770.
178 179
Rebecca, b. June 27, 1771 ; m. 1795, - Fessenden.
Pamelia, b. Sept. 20, 1773 ; m. Jan. 19, 1800, James Brown.
180 Edmund, b. Oct. 13, 1775 ; was a printer by trade, established him- self in Boston, and was one of the publishing house of Munroe and Francis, and d. in Boston, unm., Feb. 9, 1854, aged 79.
181
Abigail, b. Dec. 6, 1777 ; m. June 24, 1801, Joseph Locke, Jr. She d. May 14, 1838, aged 60. They resided at West Camb., and had eight children.
27-103-
WILLIAM MUNROE m. Anna Smith, dau. of Benjamin and Anna (Parker) Smith, b. March 31, 1743. She d. Jan. 2, 1781, aged 38, and he m. wid. Polly Rogers of Westford, whose first husband was killed at the Battle of Monmouth by the bursting of a cannon. Wil- liam Munroe was orderly sergeant of Capt. Parker's co. in 1775; it was under his direction that a gnard was posted at Mr. Clarke's house, on the evening of the 18th of April, 1775; and he paraded the men on the Common the next morning, in the very face of the British troops. The services he performed at the opening of the Revolution, were followed up by other services in the progress of the war. He was a lieutenant in the Northern army at the taking of Burgoyne, in 1777. He was a prominent citizen, and filled impor- tant town offices. He was seleetman nine years, and represented the town two years. He was a colonel in the militia, and marched towards Springfield during Shay's Rebellion; but the dispersion of the insurgents enabled him to return in a short time. Col. Munroe kept the public house, long known as the " Munroe Tavern." Here the British regaled themselves, and committed many outrages on the 19th of April ; here they shot down in cold blood John Raymond, who was about leaving the house ; and here General Washington dined in 1789, when he visited the first battle field of the Revolution. Col. Munroe's portrait will be seen on the opposite page. He d. Oct. 30, 1827, aged 85 ; she d. Jan. 10, 1829, aged 73.
103-182
William, b. May 28, 1768; m. Susan B. Grinnell of New Bedford. He was killed at Richmond, Va., by the upsetting of a stage, in 1814.
183 Anna, b. May 9, 1771; m. Sept. 20, 1798, Rev. William Muzzy of Sullivan, N. II., and d. in Lex. 1850, aged 70.
Sarah, b. Oct. 21, 1773; m. Jonathan Wheelock of Con., and d. aged about 77.
Lucinda, b. April 9, 1776 ; d. unm. June 2, 1863, aged 87.
184 185 186 +Jonas, b. June 11, 1778; m. March 17, 1814, Abigail C. Smith. 187 Edmund, b. Oct. 29, 1780; m. first, Harriet Downes, second, Lydia Downes, third, Sophia Sewall. He was a broker in Boston, and d. April 17, 1865.
34-126-
PHILEMON MUNROE m. Feb. 17, 1784, Elizabeth Waite of Mal- den, b. Feb. 1756, and d. April 13, 1785. He m. second, Sept. 13,
J II. Bufford's Lith Boston
CUL. WILLIAM MUNROE
159
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
1786, Rhoda Mead, b. July 8, 1758, who d. Jan. 18, 1824. Phile- mon Munroe was one of the heroie band who refused to disperse at the bidding of Maj. Pitcairn, on the 19th of April, -" not being afraid of the king's commandment." He had two children (twins), by his first wife, and six by his last. He d. Oet. 17, 1806, aged 53.
126-188
Thomas, b. March 30, 1785. He m. March 30, 1804, Elizabeth Jewett of Littleton. She d. Nov. 23, 1848, aged 63, and he m. Aug. 26, 1849, wid. Matilda (Jewett) Conant. His wives were sisters, and dau. of Joseph Jewett of Littleton. Mr. Munroe resided in Lex., Milton, and Dorchester, and then moved to Nashua, N. H., where he filled many important town offices, as well as those of notary and justice of the peace.
189 190
Elizabeth, b. March 30, 1785 ; m. April 24, 1804, Isaac Reed.
Edwin, b. April 3, 1788; m. Eliza Fowle, dau. of IIenry and Re- becca Fowle of Med. They have resided in Lex., Med., Saugus, Charlestown, and Somerville.
191 192 193 194 195
Josiah, b. Nov. 25, 1789 ; d. Aug. 20, 1837, unm.
Catharine, b. July 24, 1791 ; m. Ira Thorp of Athol.
Parnell, b. Nov. 27, 1793; d. 1821, aged 28.
Charles, b. May 12, 1796 ; m. Maria Russell, r. at Somerville.
II. G. Otis, b. Nov. 29, 1798 ; in. Dec. 12, 1822, Sophia Harrington. They reside in Boston, where he does business.
34-127-
WILLIAM MUNROE m. 1781, Abigail Harrington, dau. of John and Mary (Wooton) Harrington. He d. April 30, 1837, aged 80; she d. Nov. 1, 1811.
127-196 197 198 199 200
Susan, b. Oet. 19, 1781 ; m. 1801, Nathan B. Foster.
William, b. May 18, 1785; m. Oct. 11, 1813, Lucy Frost. He moved to that part of Charlestown which is now Somerville.
Enoch, b. Sept. 9, 1787 ; d. May 18, 1814, in Boston, aged 26. Sarah, b. Nov. 1789 ; m. Jesse Russell ; r. in Woburn.
Esther, b. 1792; d. in Belfast, Me., 1811, aged 19. Her death was caused by her clothes taking fire.
201 202 203
Hannah, b. 1794; d. 1819, unm.
Louisa, b. 1796 ; m. Nov. 13, 1825, Thomas J. Buckman of Lynn. Mary, b. 1798. 204 Harriet, b. 1805; d. 1822.
38-128-
GEORGE MUNROE m. Anna Bemis. She d. Mar. 8, 1815, aged 78.
Anna, bap. May 13, 1759 ; m. - Sampson.
+Thaddeus, b. April 26, 1762; m. Oct. 1, 1820, Rebecca Locke, and d. 1846, aged 84.
Abigail, bap. July 26, 1767 ; m. June 8, 1788, Joseph Blodgett. Hannah, bap. March 24, 1772; m. Bela Rice.
Hepzibah, bap. Sept. 17, 1775; m. April 24, 1791, Joshua Wyman. He d. and she m. - Daniels.
TIMOTHY MUNROE m. - Eaton of Reading. He probably moved to Lynn or Danvers, where he had a family of children, who settled in that neighborhood. He marehed with the Danvers com- pany on the 19th of April, 1775, met the British at West Cambridge, where he and others were surrounded, when several of his com- rades were killed, and he escaped with a ball in his thigh which he carried through life, and his garments riddled with bullet holes. He d. at Lynn, 1808, aged 72.
128-205 206 207 208 209
38-129-
160
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
39-135-
EBENEZER MUNROE m. March 29, 1771, Martha Smith, dau. of Benjamin and Anna (Parker) Smith, b. April 19, 1745. He was enrolled with Parker's patriots, and was in the battle of Lexington, in 1775, and was also in the campaign in the Jerseys, in 1776. He d. Aug. 22, 1826, aged 82 ; she d. Oct. 13, 1834, aged 86.
135-210 211 212 213
Patty, b. Feb. 19, 1772 ; m. Dec. 25, 1804, Isaac Pierce of Walt. Ebenezer, b. Feb. 2, 1777 ; d. June 6, 1798, aged 21 years. Esther, b. Oct. 1783 ; m. Jan. 19, 1806, David Tuttle ; d. Oct. 14, 1809. +John, b. April 28, 1785 ; m. Charlotte Bacon.
39-136-
JOHN MUNROE m. Dec. 3, 1772, Rebecca Wellington, dau. of Thomas and Margaret, of Waltham. Like most of the young men of that day, he was one of the Lex. minute-men, and did service on the 19th of April, 1775. He lived on Woburn street. He d. April 4, 1831, aged 82; she d. Feb. 16, 1838, aged 90.
136-214
Margaret, b. July 31, 1773; m. Daniel Mixer of Walt., where they resided for a time, when they moved to Worcester. He d. and she returned to Lex. and m. April 4, 1793, Thomas Winship as a second wife. She d. 1789.
215 216 217
Rebecca, b. May 30, 1776 ; m. Feb. 1, 1795, Jonathan Whittemore of West Cambridge.
Mary, b. Aug. 30, 1779; m. Sept. 2, 1802, Seneca Harrington of Worcester. She was a wid. in Pepperell, 1858.
Philena, b. May 27, 1782 ; m. Feb. 2, 1804, David Johnson. She is living in Lex., at the age of 85.
44-146-
JOSEPH MUNROE m. July 22, 1783, Rhoda Leathe of Wo. He resided on Woburn street, easterly of Col. Russell's. She d. Jan. 2, 1825 ; he d. Sept. 22, 1832, aged 74.
146-218
219
Rhoda, b. Dec. 24, 1784; m. - Cobbett. Seth, b. April 18, 1788.
220 221
Lydia, b. May 19, 1791 ; m. April 11, 1811, Joel Gleason of Bed. Jeptha, b. June 15, 1793; resided in Woburn.
222
Dennis, b. Jan. 22, 1797 ; m. Elizabeth Fox. Lavinia, b. March 11, 1806.
92-171-
NATHAN MUNROE m. Susanna Loring. He d. in Concord, where he then resided.
171-224 225 226 Jonas Clarke, b. Sept. 22, 1812, at Lincoln.
92-172-
JONATHAN MUNROE m. Feb. 13, 1812, Rhoda Johnson, dau. of Frederick and Rhoda (Reed) Johnson. She d. July 19, 1865, aged 72 ; he d. Dec. 4, 1867, aged 85.
172-228
William, b. Dec. 17, 1812; m. Dec. 1846, Elvira Merriam of Con., dau. of Joseph Merriam. They r. at Southbridge.
229
Elizabeth, b. March 21, 1814 ; m. June 7, 1839, Francis Johnson of Wo. now Winchester, where they reside.
230 Josiah, b. Oct. 21, 1818; m. Oct, 10, 1847, Adeline Dodge of Bos- ton. They reside in Roxbury.
231 Faustina, b. Feb. 1, 1821; m. June 12, 1859, Frederick Stimpson.
.
Elbridge, b. July 28, 1804, at Lexington.
Nathan, b. July 28, 1808, at Concord.
227
James, b. Feb. 27, 1817, at Concord.
223
3
THE OLD MUNROE TAVERN.
161
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
Albert, b. May 2, 1824; m. April 12, 1850, Elizabeth Millet of Wo. Julia Maria, b. Dec. 31, 1832 ; d. Sept. 25, 1833.
JONAS MUNROE m. March 17, 1814, Abigail C. Smith, dau. of Joseph and Lucy (Stone) Smith. He was a lieutenant in United States dragoons, in 1807, resigned his commission, and on the breaking out of the war of 1812, was commissioned as lieutenant of infantry, and was engaged for a short time in the recruiting service. He was drowned at Somerville, while bathing, July 2, 1860, aged 82. His wid. d. April 4, 1861, aged 68. He kept the " Munroe Tavern " and was extensively and favorably known to the traveling public.
William Henry, b. Mar. 2, 1815. He is doing business in Philad. Harriet, b. Nov. 25, 1816 ; is now living, unm. Abby Smith, b. Aug. 28, 1819; d. Dec. 21, 1822. +James S., b. June 6, 1824 ; m. Alice B. Phinney.
128-206-
THADDEUS MUNROE m. Oct. 1, 1820, Rebecca Locke, dau. of Thomas and Lydia (Reed) Locke. He d. April 7, 1846, aged 84, and she d. July 23, 1846. He was a large landholder.
206-238 239
t George, b. Feb. 25, 1822. He has been twice married.
Ann Rebecca, b. July 10, 1825 ; m. March 19, 1846, John M. Ran- dall, a lawyer, settled at Woburn. He is not living.
135-213-
JOHN MUNROE m. Dec. 11, 1811, Charlotte Bacon of Wo. He d. Feb. 17, 1865, aged 79. She is living, in her seventy-sixth year.
213-240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247
John Harrison, b. June 3, 1813. He r. at Fall River.
Charles Henry, b. Aug. 10, 1814; d. at Buffalo, July 17, 1850.
Harriet, b. April 29, 1816 ; d. Feb. 2, 1835. +Ebenezer, b. Dec. 3, 1817 ; m. Margaret M. Wilson.
Jonas, b. Sept. 10, 1819; d. Aug. 15, 1843.
Lavinia, b. Oct. 16, 1821 ; m. April 4, 1839, Galen Allen. She d. April 22, 1865, and he d. Jan. 29, 1864.
Oliver, b. April 10, 1825 ; d. May 4, 1857. Charlotte, b. March 28, 1827; m. George Mulliken. She d. Dec. 8, 1861.
186-237-
JAMES S. MUNROE m. May 23, 1854, Alice B. Phinney, dau. of Elias Phinney, Esq.
237-248
250
William, b. March 23, 1855. 249 John C., b. March 26, 1858. James, b. June 3, 1862.
206-238-
GEORGE MUNROE m. Dec. 13, 1846, Eliza Wood. She d. Aug. 7, 1852, and he m. Nov. 7, 1854, Susan P. Winning.
238-251 253 254
Rebecca Eliza, b. Oct. 6, 1847. 252 Georgiana, b. Jan. 8, 1850. George Warren, b. Aug. 3, 1855; d. Sept. 2, 1857. Mary Alice, b. Sept. 7, 1857. 255 Elmina, b. Dec. 18, 1860.
213-243-
EBENEZER MUNROE m. Nov. 26, 1850, Margaret M. Wilson. She d. Feb. 4, 1860; he d. Jan. 5, 1868, aged 50.
243-256 258 Julia Maria, b. April 17, 1852. 257 Robert, b. Aug. 10, 1854. Anne S., b. Nov. 26, 1855; d. Jan. 28, 1856.
232 233
103-186-
186-234 235 236 237
162
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
THE MUZZY FAMILY.
The Muzzys were early in Lexington, and were for a century and a half among the leading influential families in the place. The name is spelled Mussy, Muzzy, and the Lex. families have recently added the e in the last syllable, Muzzey.
1 BENJAMIN MUZZY of Malden in. Alice Dexter, and had Benjamin, b. April 16, 1657 ; Joseph, b. March 1, 1659. He may have been son of Robert of Ipswich, one of the first settlers of that town, who was made freeman, 1634.
1- 2 BENJAMIN MUZZY m. first, Sarah -, who d. in Lex. Jan. 28, 1710, aged 50 years, and m. second, Jane - -. What time he came to Cambridge Farms, we are not able to say. We find a record of the birth of Mary Muzzy, dau. of Benjamin and Sarah, in Cambridge, in 1683; but whether he lived at that time in the old town or at the Farms, is uncertain. His name is found on the ear- liest records at the Farms or North Precinet, -he being one of the subscribers for the first meeting house, in 1692, and was one of the largest tax payers the following year. As he was a large land-holder in the centre of the town, at the organization of the Parish in 1693, it is probable that he had been in the place for some time. In 1693, he was placed on a committee with David Fiske, sen., Samuel Stone, sen., and others, to negotiate with Cambridge for the purchase of a traet of land for the support of the ministry. He was constable in 1694, and an assessor in 1700. He filled the dignified office of tyth- ingman in 1716. In 1711, the inhabitants of the Precinct purchased of Benjamin Muzzy about two aeres of land for a Common, and a site for a meeting house. This was done by subscription, in which he and his sons John and Richard participated. He resided on or near the spot where Rufus Merriam now resides. Here was opened the first public house in the place, his son John being licensed for that purpose in 1714. He d. May 12, 1732, possessed of a large landed property. The inventory of his estate mentions his mansion house, barn, cider mill, and a homestead of 111 acres. Among the articles appraised were three slaves, -a man, valued at £80, and a woman and child at £60. The record of his family is incomplete. He bought his homestead of Edward Pelham of Rhode Island, 1693. It is described as bounded by John Munroe, ministerial land, Matthew Bridge, and extending to Vine Brook.
2- 3 Mary, b. July 13, 1683.
4 +John, b. 1685 ; d. March 8, 1768.
5 + Benjamin, b. Feb. 20, 1689 ; m. Patience --.
C Richard, b .. -. He was drowned, in a pond in Maine, 1719, unm. He owned real estate in Lexington.
+Amos, bap. Jan. 7, 1699; in. Esther Green.
7 8 Bethia, bap. June 1701 ; m. Ebenezer Fiske, as his second wife.
9 Thomas, bap. Sept. 1, 1706; d. Nov. 26, 1740.
2-4- JOHN MUZZY m. first, July 12, 1709, Elizabeth Bradshaw of Med. She d. Feb. 22, 1722, aged 33 years. He m. second, Dec. 1, 1722, Rebecca Ingham, who d. July 12, 1731, aged about 40; and he in. third, Mary -, who d. March 9, 1758, aged 66. He d. March 28, 1768, aged 83. Ile was either born in Lex., or came in with his father in early infancy. He opened the first public house in the place, in 1714, which he continued for a long period. He filled many town offices, being constable in 1727, school committee in 1733, selectman in 1741, '42, '44, and assessor in 1746. He was ad. to the
163
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
ch. Aug. 24, 1735. In his will, dated 1764, and a codicil dated 1765, he mentions dau. Mary Hall, Sarah Hill, and Jane Stone, and sons John and Benjamin. He made his son-in-law, Samuel Stone, execu- tor of his will. He not only owned land in Lex., but was an owner of land in Templeton, having as a proprietor, drawn a lot of forty aeres in that township, in 1735. This land he gave to his sons Ben- jamin and John.
4-10
Elizabeth, bap. April 23, 1710; m. John Hovey and d. at Camb. Dec. 1729, aged 19.
Mary, bap. May 18, 1712; m. Stephen Hall.
John, b. May 12, 1714.
Sarah, b. July 6, 1716 ; m. Jacob Hill.
Jane, b. July 4, 1719 ; m. Samuel Stone.
Elizabeth, b. Dec. 17, 1734; m. April 29, 1756, Francis Falkner of Acton. She d. in three weeks after marriage.
Benjamin, b. Oet. 29, 1736; probably went to Sudbury, where he m. July 30, 1761, Elizabeth Witherbee of Stow. Abigail, bap. May 10, 1739.
BENJAMIN MUZZY m. Patience - -. He d. Jan. 29, 1764, aged 84, and she d. Oct. 7, 1767, aged 80. Their deaths are inscribed on one stone in the Lex. grave yard. He was frequently called to fill town offices, being from time to time chosen sebool committee, &c. His will, dated Feb. 19, 1763, and proved Feb. 13, 1764, mentions wife Patience, sons Joseph and John, and dau. Esther Merriam, Mary Reed, and grandsons Benjamin, James, Seth, and Benoni, sons of Benjamin, deceased. Ilis son John was appointed executor of bis will, and to him he gave all his land and buildings in Lex.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.