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John Smith |
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John Smith married Mary NO9. John Smith relocated from Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts to Lancaster, Middlesex County (now Worcester County), Massachusetts NO9. “Jno. Smith” and Richard Smith, his son, subscribed to the orders of Lancaster on the 15th day of the 1st month (March 15), 1653 (probably 1653/4), which signified that they would adhere to the laws and orders of the town of Lancaster, which previously had been called Nashaway plantation NO9. According to Henry Nourse, the first allotments to the original proprietors of Lancaster were each granted twenty acres of upland, which was called their house lot, and another twenty acres of intervale NO9. The first lots of Lancaster (formerly called Nashaway Plantation) were laid out on “partly on the west side of the Riuers of Nashaway and the North Riuer, and partly on a parcell of Land Called the Neck Lying betweene the North Riuer and… Penecuck Riuer” on the 30th day of the 9th month (November 30), 1653 NO9. The house lot of John Smith was the eighth lot which was granted and contained twenty acres; the east side of his land butted up against the west side of the Nashaway and North Rivers NO9. The bounds of his house lot and intervale lot were as follows NO9:
house Lott The upland Lott of John Smith being the Eighth Lott In that Range of Lotts that Lyes on the west Side of the North Riuer and on the west side of the Street or hyway that Lyes betwen the Ranges of Lotts on the South end of the town being by estamation twenty acors being eight score Rods in Length and twenty Rods wide buting East upon the highway or Street that Runs betwen the Ranges of Lotts and west upon the Commons bounded south by the Lott of William Kerley Sener which he bought of Richard Smith and north by the Lott of William Kerley Juner lying for twenty acors be it more or Less.
Enteruail [intervale] Lott His enteruail Lott being twenty acors Lying on the west side of the North Riuer bounded east by the Riuer and west by the Common upland and South by the Lott of William Kerley Sener which he bought of Richard Smith and north by a Littel Run of water or Brook Ranging acording as the Brook Runs it being his due and his Lott Giuen and Granted him by the town
A list of the value of the estates of the first inhabitants of Lancaster showed that there were forty-three men, including John Smith, who was listed seventh NO9. “John Whitcumb Jun”, John “Moors”, John Whitcomb, and Richard Smith were also among the first inhabitants NO9. John Smith’s estate was worth 58 pounds and 19 shillings, which was one of the lowest amounts, whereas Richard Smith’s estate was worth 313 pounds and 13 shillings NO9. The purpose of this list was to divide the meadow amongst each other and divide future divisions of land NO9. The list stated “Medowes allowed to eurie hundred pound estat is fower accors to which proporcion it followeth”, so a person whose estate was worth one hundred pounds would receive four acres of meadow NO9. There actually seem to have been two lists. Whereas one list had forty-three men, a different list had thirty-three men, but the values of each estate on both lists did not increase or decrease NO9. Based on the value of his estate, John Smith was granted two acres and 2/5 of a part (possibly 2/5 of one acre) of the meadow NO9. On March 9, 1654/5 at a Lancaster town meeting, the men decided that the maximum number of families of Lancaster should not exceed thirty-five families, and the twenty-five men whose names were written under that decree were to be considered townsmen NO9. Among this list were John Smith, Richard Smith, John Whetcomb Sr., John Whetcomb Jr., and John More NO9. The second division of meadow in Lancaster was discussed at a town meeting on February 5, 1659 and lots were taken for this distribution; John Smith drew the nineteenth lot (out of thirty-nine lots) NO9. John Whetcombe, Sr., John Whetcombe, Jr., and John More were also on this list, but Richard Smith was not NO9.
John Smith was the father of Richard, John, Ales, and Ann Smith MA64, NO9.
Richard Smith was said to have been born in England about 1621 JA10. He married Mary Kerly on October 6, 1647 in Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts VI39. Richard and Mary Smith were the parents of Richard Smith, who was born about 1649 and who died on March 8, 1701/2 JA10, and of Hannah Smith, who was born on September 21, 1651 in Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts VI39. Richard Smith testified in a Middlesex County court in 1651 regarding the statements Lieutenant George Whaley made about Elizabeth Hall, the wife of John Hall, in a slander case NO9. John Hall had purchased a house lot (which was about seventeen acres) from Lawrence Waters, and then returned to England while his wife, Elizabeth, remained in Lancaster NO9. After this slander case, she returned back to England and Richard Smith purchased his house lot in Lancaster NO9. Richard and Marie Smith were the parents of an unnamed child who was born in Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts on the 23rd day of the 3rd month, 1654 NO9. Mary Smith, the wife of Richard, and her unnamed infant, died on the 27th day of the 3rd month, 1654 NO9.
Richard Smith of Lancaster married Joanna Quarlls on the 2nd day of the 6th month (August 2) in 1654 by Governor Richard Bellingham in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts MA26, NO9. The Lancaster marriage record (where the marriage did not occur) stated that Joanna Quarlls was a widow NO9. Richard and Johanna Smith were the parents of two children whose births were recorded in Lancaster NO9. These were John Smith, who was born on the 20th day of the 11th month, 1655, and Frances Smith, who was born on the 26th day of the 6th month, 1657 NO9. He and Joanna were also the parents of Mary, James, Henry, Joanna, and Elizabeth JA10. Richard Smith sold his dwelling house and his house lot of twenty acres to William Kerley, Sr. on June 4, 1658 NO9. He was listed amongst the proprietors of Groton in 1656 but he may not have resided there NO9. His name was not found among the Lancaster records after 1657 NO9. He relocated to Seabrook (Saybrook), Connecticut about 1659 TI3 or Lyme, New London County, Connecticut about the year 1660 JA10, where he was associated with Mr. John Tinker, who married his sister, Alice TI3. A letter dated August 29, 1659 from John Tinker to Governor Winthrop indicated that John Tinker’s brother-in-law, Richard Smith of Sudbury and Lancaster, Massachusetts, had recently relocated to Lyme, Connecticut RI16, TI2. Richard Smith was mentioned in the will of his father on April 12, 1665 MA64. Richard died in Lyme, New London County, Connecticut sometime after 1680 but before 1699, when a Lyme deed (a land grant to his son) stated he was deceased JA10.
John Smith married Sarah Hunt on October 13, 1647 in Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts VI39. John and Sarah (or Sary) Smith were the parents of three children whose births were recorded in Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts VI39. These were John Smith, born on January 7, 1648 (probably 1648/9), Robert Smith, born on May 11, 1654, and Thomas Smith, born on July 29, 1658 VI39. He was also the father of James Smith MI29. John Smith was mentioned in the will of his father on April 12, 1665 MA64. He may have been the John Smith whose dissent to a proposal was recorded in a Sudbury town meeting in January 1654 PO9. During this town meeting, the men of the town voted on a proposal which did not pass, and three men, Walter King, Obadiah Ward, and John Smith demanded their right to be heard and to dissent; the meeting record did not explain what they dissented to PO9. John Smith’s land grant in Sudbury in 1658 was as follows SU8:
Given granted & laid out to John Smith of this Town in the year of o.r [our] Lord God one thousand six hundred Fifty & eight one hundred & thirty Acres of Land (be it more or lesse) lying & being in the last Two miles of land granted to the Town of Sudbury in the third squadron, it being the twentyninth Lott; & is bounded on the north there by the Lands of Peter King, & on the south it’s bounded by the Lands granted & laid out to Hugh Griffin, & on the East it is bounded by the midle highway y.t [that] parts this third squadron from the second squadron, & the wildernesse or the lands belonging to Pompositicut [Pompositticut] is his West: bounds, great Assibath [Assabet] river there runneth through the northwestern end thereof: w.ch [which] hundred & Thirty Acres of Land is granted to him the said John Smith & to his heires & assignes forever
Sarah (Hunt) Smith died sometime before July 6, 1682, when John Smith and his wife, and Mary Smith, granted land to John’s son, James Smith MI29:
John Smith of Sudbury in ye County of Middlesex of the Massachusets Colony in New England husbandman and Mary his wife Send Greeting Know ye that by vertue of a Deed of Gift formerly Granted by Susannah Hunt widow the said Johns former wiues mother Deceased, and like wise upon the great Confidence he hath of the Love Reverence discretion Constant Care tender respect and faith fullness in his Loveing Son James Smith to look after him the sd John now in his Old age & being blind and not able him selfe to manage his Estate any Longer Hath therefore by ye advice and wth the free and voluntary Consent also of Mary his now wife fully and absolutely given… granted and by these prsents he ye sd John Smith & Mary his wife Do freely fully and absolutely give grant aliene enfeoffe make over and Confirme unto him the sd James Smith all that theire house in Sudbury where in they now Dwell, wth all the Arrable Lands broken up and unbroken up and all the medow ground about it adjoining to theire said House wch stands upon part of ye sd Lands The whole Containeth about Twenty and Three acres and a halfe, be the same more or less…In Witness Whereof the aboue named John Smith & Mary his wife have here unto put theire hands & seals. Dated the Sixth Day of July in ye year of Our Lord God one Thousand Six hundred and Eighty Two…
John Smith died on October 13, 1687 in Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts VI39.
Ales Smith was probably born on November 20, 1629 CA96, HE16; Douglas Richardson stated that Alice Smith was born December 29, 1629 in England RI16. She was mentioned in the will of her father on April 12, 1665, but her surname was absent MA64. If she was married at this time, it would have been unusual to include the name of a married daughter without mentioning her husband or her surname. There is probably a reason that John Smith did not include the surname of his daughter, Alice. It was likely because one year earlier in 1664, she had been found guilty of fornication after her husband had been dead for about a year and a half RI16.
Alice Smith, the daughter of John and Mary Smith of Sudbury and Lancaster, Massachusetts, married Mr. John Tinker, the son of Robert and Mary Tinker, by December 9, 1649 RI16. John Tinker had first married Sarah (Wilshire) Barnes, in 1648, but Sarah died shortly after the wedding RI16. Alice and John Tinker were the parents of Sarah, who was born on January 2, 1651/2 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts but died on August 28, 1652 in Boston MA26, Mary, born on July 2, 1653 CA96, MA43 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts MA26, John, who was born on August 4 or 14, 1655 CA96, MA43 and baptized at First Church in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts on September 30, 1655 MA26, Amos, born on October 28, 1657 NO19, MA43 in Lancaster, Middlesex County (now Worcester County), Massachusetts NO19, Samuel, born on April 1, 1659 NO19, MA43 in Lancaster, Middlesex County (now Worcester County), Massachusetts NO19, or April 1, 1660 in New London, Connecticut RI16, and Rhoda CA96 or “Roakdey” MA43, born on February 23, 1661/2 CA96, MA43. Their daugher, Mary Tinker, married about 1675 to William Waller, the son of Lieutenant William and Elizabeth (Marvin) Waller; after his death she remarried about the year 1685 to James Stancliff, a stonemason of Lyme, New London County, Connecticut RI16. John and Alice’s son, John Tinker, died unmarried sometime before June 18, 1688 RI16. Amos Tinker married Sarah Durant, the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Blake) Durant on June 1, 1682 in Lyme, New London County, Connecticut RI16. Samuel Tinker married Abigail Durant, the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Blake) Durant, sometime before June 2, 1685 RI16.
Alice Tinker was admitted to the Boston church on June 19, 1653, but because John Tinker was in England in the spring and summer of 1653, he was not admitted to that church until February 5, 1653/4 RI16. In about 1655 the Tinker family relocated from Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts to Lancaster, Middlesex County (now Worcester County), Massachusetts, where he was the town clerk and served as a selectman RI16, TI2, and in 1658 was the constable of Lancaster MI28. By August 1659, they relocated once again to a 240-acre farm on the east side of the Thames River in New London, Connecticut RI16, TI2, TI3. John Tinker wrote a series of letters beginning in 1639 to Governor John Winthrop of Massachusetts “perhaps as his agent for the transaction of business in England”, which were preserved and subsequently published TI2. In New London, he operated a sawmill, or oversaw its operation, and was generally very involved in the settlement of New London TI2. His letters spoke frequently about cattle, horses, the rough conditions of the land, and the people who strived to work the land TI2. On August 29, 1659, John Tinker wrote a letter to Governor Winthrop which stated that his brother-in-law (Richard Smith RI16) had recently settled nearby TI2:
Honored Sir – May it please you to vnderstand that through the mercy of God I am ariued with my ffamily at N. London, where methinks your worshipps absence makes me a stranger in a strange place… Allso my wiues brother and family is come with mee, desirous to seate himselfe as neere where I am as may bee. I haue some thoughts my servant and hee might joyne together this winter, and keepe your saw mill in working…
He wrote another letter which was undated but was written prior to March 1660 TI2. This letter stated that the progress on the sawmill was slow and that he was not able to make the journey to oversee it because his wife’s pregnancy was causing her to be unable to eat anything except oatmeal TI2:
Honoured Sir, - I received your last, which doth incordg [encourage] somewhat further: yet feare the sawmill designe, till I se [see] more appearance. I hope to see her goe in 2 or 3 days; but my man is falne [fallen] ill, John Lockwood is falne of, help is hard to get, the mill so remote, &c … but now my wifes lying in will hinder somwhat my close atendants [attendance] of it. I request so much fauor [favor] of our mistres, by the very next Indian or English messenger, to procure & send my wife, if it be but ½ a peck or 2 quarts of otmeale, if it canbe had by any means, for she vseth alwaies to haue some, & canot eat any thing elce in her ilnes, & now hath none; & I feare she will need it before Edward Messenger comes, or others come from the Courte…
The next letter was dated March 12, 1659/60 (“N. Lond: 12: 1 mo. 16 59/60”), which stated that he was uncertain where he was permitted to fell trees for the sawmill, and expressed thanks to Governor Winthrop’s wife for dispatching the oatmeal to his wife, who was near the end of her pregnancy TI2:
Honored Sir… I have hired the falling of one 100 loggs more, but am trobled now I come to knowe your worshipp hath so litle land about the mill, & that the rest is delt to others, so that we are at a loss where to falle, for feare of blame, & request your advice thereabout… My wife giueth Mrs. Winthropp many thankes for her oatmeale, which is very welcome, her hower being in dayly expectation…
The letter which followed was dated April 4, 1660 (“New Lond: 4th: 2 mo: 1660”) and stated that his wife had delivered a son TI2:
Honored Sir… I could not goe my selfe, because it was just vppon the time of my wife trauill [travail]… and now that my wife is deliuered [delivered] I hope to be at more liberty, & intend to go ouer the next faire season. My wife, through Gods mercy, was delivered the last Lords day, erly in the morning, of a sonne.
John Tinker died in October 1662 in Hartford, Connecticut, and on March 10, 1663/4 the Connecticut General Court ordered that his funeral expenses and other expenses related to his illness should be paid out of the public treasury, an amount that exceeded eight pounds RI16, CA96. The inventory of the estate of John Tinker of New London, Connecticut was conducted on December 22, 1662 by Obadiah Bruen and James Rogers, which was appraised at over 145 pounds MA43. It provided birthdates and names of some of his children, and it appeared to indicate that John Smith should have a copy of the inventory MA43. The inventory was exhibited in court in July 1663, which stated that “Mr. Rogers, Mr. Bruen and John Smith to husband the Estate, to pay Debts so far at the Estate proves solvent” MA43. On May 20, 1663, a deed which was signed by Obadiah Breuen, James Rogers, and John Smith stated MA43:
By a Deed left in the hands of Mr. Buckley, which alsoe is upon Record, he hath good consideration given and made over to his wife his houseing with one Hundred Ackers of upland, upon the neck of Land called the general neck, towards the Harbours mouth; also one Mare Coult two years old and a yearling heifer bought of Wm Cheesbrook, now by Mrs. Tinker called Blackey; also a farme of two Hundred and Forty acres of upland, and also a parcell of meadow four or six acres if it be to be had, this farme Lying neere to Andre Lesters farme on the east side of the great River. This farme of 240 acres is by Deed made over by Mr. Tinker to Mr. Richardson for the use of his son John Tinker; also in the same Deed a Cowe wth all her increase made over to Mr. Richardson for the use of Mary Tinker, the daughter of Mr. John Tinker; also a breeding Mare with halfe her increase left Amos Tinker, the Mare being now at Norwoake.
Alice Tinker, the widow of John, was examined in court on February 15, 1663/4 “upon suspition of being with childe”; she testified on March 17, 1633/4 before Obadiah Bruen and James Avery that she was pregnant and that the child’s father was Jeremiah Blinman RI16. The New London Court found her guilty on May 31, 1664 “of fornication, whereby the name of God is Greatly Dishonoured” and she was ordered to pay a fine of five pounds to the public treasury RI16. Jeremiah Blinman, the son of Reverend Richard Blinman of New London, was born in 1642 RI16; he was about twelve years younger than Alice. Shortly thereafter, he relocated to England where he later married Elizabeth Bartlet, the daughter of Reverend W. Bartlet, in Westleigh, Devon, England in 1670 RI16. The actual father of this child was thought to be Lieutenant Samuel Smith of New London; he quickly relocated to Roanoke, Virginia and his wife, Rebecca, divorced him RI16. The child of Alice (Smith) Tinker and perhaps Samuel Smith was later known as Sarah Tinker, who married Jonathan Hudson of Lyme, Connecticut RI16.
Alice Tinker next married William Measure of Lyme, Connecticut CA96, TO1, RI16, who was scrivener, merchant, and an attorney RI16, TI3, CA96; the wedding occurred in 1664 CA96, TO1 or sometime before June 21, 1665 in Stonington, Connecticut RI16. On that date, William Measure sued James Rogers for damages of forty pounds regarding his wife while she was a widow RI16. William Measure died sometime before the administration of his estate was granted to his widow, Alice Measure, his stepson, Amos Tinker (a yeoman of Lyme, Connecticut), and to Timothy Thornton (a shopkeeper of Boston, Massachusetts) on June 26, 1688 RI16. The inventory of his estate was conducted on July 27, 1688 in Boston CA96. Alice died on November 20, 1714 TI3, CA96, “aged eighty-five years to a day” CA96 in Lyme, Connecticut TI3. The diary of Joshua Hempstead of New London, Connecticut stated the events which occurred on Sunday, November 21, 1714 involved HE16:
Some Snow at night Cloudy. Mr adams Preached al day. In ye forenoon I was out at Amos Tinkers & Josh. We made ye Coffin for his Mothr. Very aged woman of 85 years to a day. She was buried between Meetings. 2 Publishmts Tho Buttler & Eliz Minor & Jno Woiett & Abigal Polloy.
Ann Smith was the daughter of John Moore; as Ann More, she was mentioned in the will of her father on April 12, 1665 MA64.
Mary Smith, the wife of John Smith, died in Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts on the 27th day of the 10th month, 1659 NO9. John Smith called himself “of Lanchaster” when he granted a twenty-acre intervale lot located in Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts to his son-in-law, John Moore, on the 31st day of the 8th month, 1660 MI29 (October 31, 1660). He sold his dwelling house and house lot in Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts to Adam Waters, the son of Laurance Waters, for the sum of six pounds on March 18, 1663 (probably 1663/4) in a deed which was witnessed by Ralph Houghton and Jane Houghton MI29. This lot was said to have been located on George Hill NO9. He also granted his meadow lot (lot number 24) and his parcel of upland in Lancaster on April 12, 1665 (which was acknowledged on the 5th day of the 2nd month, 1669), with the stipulation that John and Ann Moore provided care to him in his old age MI29. Transcriptions of these three deeds have been provided below MI29:
Know All men by these presents that I John Smith of Lanchaster in the Coun[ty] of midlesex in New England Planter. for good & valluable consideration… and especially for and in consideration of a mariage portion with Ann Smith my daughter, and now wife to John Moore of the aforesaid Lanchaster. Have given, granted, & confirmed, and do by these presents give, grant, & confirme unto the said John Moore my beloved sonne in Law, All my whole lott of invervale, being Twenty acres, according as it was granted & layd out to mee by the Towne aforesaid, p[ar]t where of lying on the west side of the north River, lying bounded eastward by the River, and bounded west by the com[m]ons, and butting south ward upon the lott of Willm Kerly Senr. wch he purchased of Ric Smith, and butting north by and upon a little rune. or brooke, the land rangeing according as the brook runes, there being about therten acres & a halfe and the rest by which the aforesaid lott of twenty acres is made up with, is a peec of intervale land, lying on the east side of Peny cooke River, a little below that peece of intervale, fenced in & broake up by Goodm[an] White, [the previous surname is uncertain] butting southerly upon his fence and goodman Wattrs little meddow, lying on both sides the way that goes to the plum trees, bounded westerly by the River, and easterly by some com[m]on swampy, brushy ground, And by an interveale Swamp on the north side of it. it taking in some p[ar]t of the swamp, both wch p[ar]cels of land were layd out to mee for my twenty acres of intervale abovement[i]oned be they more or less according to the Record in the new Towne booke, both of wch parsells of land with all the priviledges & appurtenances thereon, and there unto belonging, being butted & bounded as aforesaid to be to the afore said John Moore his heyres & assignes forever. To have and to hold the same… Provided he the said John moore his heyres & assignes shall & will suffer not the forementioned John Smith my heyres or assignes quietly & peaceably to possesse & injoy and improve, or dispose of at my pleasure, three acres of the afore mentioned intervale being & lying in that parcel that lyes on the west side of the north River as aforesaid Dureing the whole terme of my life, and after my death then the said John moore aforesaid his heyres and assignes shall stand fully & freely possessed of this three acres together with all the rest of the aforementioned pr[e]mises for ever.
In witnes whereof I have hereunto put my hand & seale. this 31. of the 8th mo. 1660.
Sealed, signed, & deliverd in the presence off
Thomas Wilder
The mark of Ephraim Roger
Know all men by these presents that I John Smith of Lanchaster in the Coun[ty] of Midlesex planter, for good consideratton mee moveing; but especially for an in consideration of the sum of six pound, already in hand payd, or secured to be payd, haue given, granted bargained, sold, enfeoffed, & confirmed, and do by those presents give, grant, enfeoffe, & confirme, unto Adam Waters, sonne unto Laurance Waters of the aforesaid Lanchaster all my dwelling house in the aforesaid Lanchaster, wherein I lately lived, together with the orchard, garden, & fences, and any [the previous word is uncertain] outhousing there is, as also all that lot whereon the house stands, being my house lott layd out to mee for twenty acres, be it more or less, lying bounded southerly by a lott of Willm Kerly Senr. & northerly by a lott of Willm Kerly Junr. and it butts easterly upon a street or high way & it lyeth between two ranges of lotts, & westerly it butts upon a [the following two words are illegible, perhaps due to the quantity of ink which was used] , The said dwelling house, orchard, garden, outhouseing & fences together with all the rest of the said home lott, broake up & unbroake To be to the said Adam Waters, to have & to hold the same to him & his heyres for ever, wth out any molestat[ation] or disturbance… binding my selfe by these prsents and my heyres & assignes for ever, to warrant & defend the saide Adam Waters… whereof I have hereunto put my hand & seale this 18.th of the 1: month. 1663.
Sealed, Signed, & delivd
In the prsence off:
Ralph Houghton.
Jane Houghton her mark
Know all men by these presents that I John Smith of Lanchaster in the Coun[ty] of midlesex in New England, Planter. for good consideration… but especially for and in consideration of the love and good will I beare unto my sonne in law John Moore & his wife my daughter, both of them having shewed much kindness unto mee now in my old age. I being old and infirme, and not able to improve land nor to mainteyne my selfe by my labours, nor to pay publique charges for my land, therefore in consideration yt my foresaid sonne in law, John Moore & his wife, are to keep mee dureing my naturall life, and also to free my selfe of publique charges Know ye therefore that I the aforesaid John Smith upon consideration a foresaid, have given, granted, enfeoffed, & confirmed, and do by these presents give, grant, enfeoffe, & confirme unto the aforementioned John Moore my sonne in Law, all my first division of meadows, which I drawed for my estate entred in the Towne book, according to order of the Towne it being the Twentieth fourth lott, by number, in the first division, lying in slips, and small parcells, in a peece of intervale that was given to John Tinker and since Sold to Major Willard lying between the intervale lotts of John Lewis, and Thomas James and the still river, and the afore sd meadow is more amply Recorded in the Towne booke being two acres and sixty foure rod, be it more or less, and furthermore I the said John Smith do by these presents give, grant, enfeoffe, & confirme as aforesaid upon consideration aforesaid, unto the aforesaid John moore, all my second division of upland, intervale & meadow, due to the estate of mee the aforesaid John Smith that is entered in the Towne booke, to draw Land for in such place or places as he shall choose the foresaid Lands respectively, or as it shall fall by lott, according to the order of the Towne, together wth all com[m]ons, & com][m]on rights belonging to the aforesaid estate of mee the aforesaid John Smith… In witnes whereof I have hereunto put my hand & seale this twelfe day of Aprill, One thousand six hundred & sixty five.
Sealed, Signed, & delived in the presence off
Jacob ffarrer
Daniel Haines
Ralph Houghton
John Smith of Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts wrote his will on the same date that he granted his son-in-law the above-mentioned land on April 12, 1665, which was witnessed by Jacob “ffarrer”, “Danill gaines”, and Ralph Houghton, and proved on September 27, 1669 (“the 27: th of the: 7: th”) MA64. His death occurred in Lancaster, Middlesex County (now Worcester County), Massachusetts on July 16, 1669 NO9. The inventory of his estate was extremely short and was worth a total of four pounds and four shillings: “I[m]primis An old Cow… ffethers and an old bed ticke Couering [this was likely a mattress with a tick covering]… an Iron pott and old frying pan pothokes [pothooks] And tramells an old peuter Chamber pot an old ax and an old hoe… an old Chaire” MA64. A transcription of his will follows MA64:
Theis presence testifie and declare unto all Christian people that I John Smith of Lancaster in the Countie of midlesex in new England Planter being sicke and weak in body but of good and p[er]fect memorie, doe by this my Last will and testament Commit and Comend my Soule to allmightie god that gave it and my body to the Comon burying place in the aforsaid Lancaster, And as for those Lands and other goods the Lord in his mercie hath in trusted me with, it is my desir that my debts Ifany [probably “if any”] be shall be paid out of them, and the Charg of my siknes and buriall, And that my sonn John Smith shall have an old blak Cow that hath som whit upon her Rumpe, And it is my mind and will that my daughter Ann more shall have a Red pied cow, And I give to my sonn Richard Smith two shillings to be paid him If he demand it and two shilling to my daughter Ales, And furthermore I desir and also impower my be Loved sonn in Law John more my Sole Executor to se [see] this my Last will and testament truly and faithfully performed unto whome I freely give the over pluse of my goods If any be witness my hand this twelft of the 2: mon: 1665