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Roger Preston |
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Martha |
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Roger Preston ★ was born circa 1614 in England TH17, AN9. Roger Preston was twenty-one when he emigrated from England HO16. He was one of four men whose occupation was “tanner” who embarked on April 8, 1635 on the Elizabeth of London to be transported to New England by Master William Stagg; they had taken the oath of allegiance and they had a certificate from the minister of the parish of St. Alphage of “Cropplegate” (Cripplegate) HO16. Robert Farrands and Thomas Smith stated that they were “no Subsedie men” HO16. He owned a house in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts in 1639 BE7, PR4, and his house lot was positioned south of the Ipswich River, next to the lot which belonged to William Holdred SC4, PR4. His planting lot also was adjacent to William Holdred’s planting lot on Sagamore Hill, and near the planting lot which belonged to Daniel Hovey SC4, PR4. He purchased these lots sometime before April 1639 PR4. He was a tanner EN1, AN9, PR4, a planter, and an innkeeper AN9, and he married a woman named Martha in approximately 1642 or by the year 1643 EN1, AN9, PR4.
A man called “Roger Pressen” was fined one pound because he failed to return his (gun) powder to the town in October 1643 AN9, SC4. At a “Generall Towne Meeting” on December 19, 1648, he and many others pledged a sum of money, namely twenty-four pounds, seven shillings, to be paid to Major Denison; Roger contributed three shillings SC4, PR4. Roger Preston and Samuell Brocklebanke witnessed a deed from 1652 between Thomas and Martha Harris of Ipswich, the grantor, and Richard Holmes and Richard Baley of Rowley, who were the grantees SA21. He paid another three shillings on or before October 10, 1653 in a matter involving cattle, which were kept on the north side of Ipswich River PR4.
In 1656, Roger Preston’s household was assessed three quarters of a spinner, and sixty-seven and a half pounds PR4. In this year, a new law was enacted, in which women, children, and all those who did not already have some sort of occupation, were commanded to spin wool, cotton, and flax, for the purpose of increasing the quantity of cloth in the colony LE3. The selectmen of each town considered the composition and circumstances of each family, and then assessed the quantity of yarn each family should be able to produce, against the standard of how much yarn an individual who spun yarn on a regular basis, full time, would produce LE3. This became a required activity, with penalties applied for those who refused to comply LE3. There were seventy-eight households in Ipswich in that year, of which nine, including Roger’s, were each directed to produce sixty-seven and a half pounds of yarn, for these families were considered to have the production capacity of three quarters of one spinner LE3. The selectmen of Ipswich determined that their town could yield 3,870 pounds of yarn annually LE3, at the cost of intruding into family life, and dictating that spinning yarn should replace whatever rest or leisure time women and children may have been fortunate enough to have.
On March 11, 1657/8, Roger called himself a planter in a deed dated between himself and his wife, Martha, and Reonald Foster of Ipswich SA21. Roger and Martha sold his dwelling house and house lot of two acres with the barns, cow houses, and other outbuildings in Ipswich, along with his other house lot which contained two acres, and a three-acre planting lot, for the sum of fifty-one pounds SA21. He stated in this deed that he had purchased the two house lots, which were located on the north side of the river, from Robert Wallis of Ipswich SA21. The three-acre planting lot was on the north side of the town hill in Ipswich SA21. The deed below was transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and is reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
Be it knowne unto all men whom it may concerne, that I, Roger Preston of Ipswich, in New England, in the county of Essex, planter, & Martha my wife, for divers considerations me thereunto moving, but especially in consideration of the full & just some of one and fifty pounds of currant cuntry pay, to be paid to me or my assignes, at two severall payments, vizt: thirty pounds at Christide next following the date of these pr’sents, & the remainder by that time twelve mo: in currant English corne, sweete, dry & merchantable, at the currant marchantable price, per Reonald Foster of Ipswich aforesaid or his assigns: have bargained & sould, & by these presents doe bargain, sell, enfeofe & confirme, unto Reonald Foster of Ipswich aforesaid, husbandman, all that my dwelling house and house lott, with the barnes, cow houses & other buildings thereunto belonging; and also my other house lott, both which lots containe twoe acres, more or less, with the gardens, orchards, fences & other privilidges thereunto belonging, w’ch I purchased of Robert Wallis of Ipswich aforesaid, as they ly scittuate & inclosed on the north side of the river of Ipswich, having the highway next the river toward ye south & Thomas Knoulton’s land & Robert Pierse toward the north, the lane next Thomas Clark’s east, & another lane west; and alsoe my other planting lott of three acres, be it more or less, on the north side the towne hill, abutting upon ye land of Rose Whipple, widdow, toward the west, Andrew Hodges land east, upon ye marsh of John Morse toward the north, & land of Thomas Tredwell toward the south, & in the towne of Ipswich aforesaid. To have & to hould & quietly to possess and enjoy the foresaid premisses, with one comonage & all other privilidges & appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto the sd Reonald Foster, his heirs & assignes forever; & the said Roger & Martha his wife doe covenant & promise to warrant the sale of the premisses & every part thereof, to be free from all former sales, mortgages & engagements whatsoever; and that the sd Reonald Foster shall from time to time & at all times henceforth, use, occupy, possess & enjoye the same & every part thereof, to the propper use & behoofe of the sd Reonald Foster, his heirs or assigns forever, from all mollestation or interruption of me the said Roger Preston or Martha my wife, our heires, executors or assignes, or any other person laying any just claim thereunto, in, by, from or under us or any or either of us, our heires, executors or assignes. In witnesse whereof I the foresd Roger & Martha my wife have here unto sett our hands & seales, dated the eleventh day of March, Anno: Dom: one thousand, six hundred fifty & seven. 1657/58.
Roger Preston.
Martha Preston.
her marke.
Subscribed, sealed & delivered as the act & deed of Roger & Martha his wife, in the presence of us,
James Chute.
the marke of Robert Roberson.
This deed was acknowledged as the act of the said Roger Preston and Martha his wife, before me, the 11th day of March, 1657.
Samuell Symonds.
He relocated to Salem in 1659 when George Norton, who on August 4, 1656 had signed a ten-year lease for a farm called “Groton” in Salem, which was owned by Emanuell and Lucie Downing, agreed that the lease could be transferred to Roger Preston AN9, DO14. Groton was said to have been located on Felton’s Hill, near Proctor’s Corner in Peabody, west of Salem PR4; this hill seems to be located between Andover and Lowell streets, northwest of the town of Peabody. Roger Preston of Ipswich was to take possession of the farm on March 15, 1659/60 DO14, AN9, PR4, and he would pay “whatever three men should decide was its increased value since Norton took it” DO14. The lease agreement between Emanuell and Lucie Downing and George Norton stated that George would pay Emanuell and Lucie eighteen pounds annually in Indian corn, wheat, barley, pork, butter, cheese, and cattle DO14, and Roger probably adhered to that same contract. Roger was later sued by Mary Fowler (the remarried widow of George Norton) on November 28, 1665 for rent DO14 (see below).
William Cogswell was sued by Roger Preston on November 29, 1659, because Roger claimed that William did not recompense him for a four-rail fence, of the length of ninety-six rods, which Roger built on William’s land DO13, AN9, PR4. The jury decided in favor of Roger and awarded him a settlement of seven pounds and two shillings PR4. On November 27, 1660, Roger was granted a license to keep an ordinary, or a tavern, which was renewed on December 10, 1661 DO13, AN9, PR4. The tavern at the farm was positioned near the road which connected Ipswich to Lynn and Boston, Massachusetts PR4.
He was the defendant against Freegrace Norton (whose attorney was Mordecaie Creford) regarding a debt in a court held at Salem on November 24, 1663, but the suit was withdrawn DO14. He was clearly in dire need of funds, because he sold just about all of his possessions, which included four oxen, four yearling steers, fifteen pigs, and all of his corn, hay, and movable household items to Captain George Corwin on February 9, 1664/5 AN9, PR4. A transcription of this deed follows ES18:
29: Aprill: 65.
Know all men by these pr’sents, that I. Roger Preston of Salem, in the County of Essex, husbandman, for a valuable consideration or summe of money & goods in hand pd; have bargained & sold, & by these pr’sents, doe bargaine, aliene & sell, assigne & sett over, unto Capt George Corwin of the same towne, merchant, all my vissible estate heare in Salem, consisting of moveable goods, that is to say, corne, cattle, hay & household stuffs, or any thing whereof I the sd Roger am proprietor; to have & to hold the said estate, with the fore mentioned p’ticulers, & all my right, title & interest, of & into the ame, unto the said Capt. Corwin, his heirs & assigns forever, and I the said Roger Preston, doe for my selfe, my heires, executors & administrators, further covenant & p’mise, & agree, to & with ye said Capt. Corwin, his heires & assignes, to warrant & defend the said bargaine & sale, & to grant him quiet & peaceable possession of the pr’mises, & every pt thereof, ag’st all p’sons laying claym thereto; the p’ticulers of this estate before mentioned, are in Cattle: fower Oxen, fower yearling steers, & fifteen swine young & old, as also all the corne which I ye sd Roger shall plant or sow. this yeare ensueing; in witnesse whereof I ye sd Roger Preston have hereunto sett my hand & seale, this ninth day of February. in ye yeare of our Lord god, one thousand, six hundred, sixty fower 1644/65.
Roger Preston with a seale afixed
Signed, sealed &, delivered in the pr’sence of.
Edw. Norice.
Jonathan Corwin.
A Salem Court record dated October 20, 1665 stated that Roger had rented a cow which belonged to John Newman of Ipswich for the term of two years, at ten shillings per year DO14. Mary Fowler (the widow of the late George Norton) and her new husband, Phillip Fowler, sued Roger Preston in a court held at Salem on November 28, 1665 in an effort to collect rent from him AN9, DO14. The Salem Quarterly Court ruled for the plaintiff, Phillip and Mary Fowler, and a writ signed by the marshal of Ipswich, Robert Lord, gave an order of attachment (legal seizure) of barley, hay, steers, a heifer, and a colt which belonged to Roger DO14. Phillip Fowler’s bill of costs amounted to one pound, four shillings, and eight pence DO14.
Roger Preston died intestate DO14 on January 20, 1665/6 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts VI43, AN9, PR4. Three months later, on March 27, 1666, Thomas Preston was named as the administrator of his estate by court order, and he was also instructed to conduct an inventory and dispose of Roger’s hay DO14, AN9, TH27, PR4. During a court held at Salem in November 1666, it was ordered that since the debts of Roger Preston’s estate amounted to more than its worth, and with nobody appearing to administer his estate, Henry Skerry, a marshal, should “take the estate into his possession to sell what cannot conveniently be kept, he to receive recompense out of said estate” DO14. A court held at Ipswich on March 26, 1667 stated that the estate of Roger Preston “could pay to the creditors 3s. 4d. on the pound, which the marshal of Salem was to allow the creditors” DO14.
Martha was born circa 1622 DO14, as she declared that she was about forty-four in a deposition before Simon Bradstreete on June 19, 1666 DO14. She was the mother to seven known children, including Thomas, Mary, Elizabeth, Samuel, Jacob, John, and Levi AN9, PR4.
Thomas Preston was born about 1643 DO18, TA12, ES18. He was the plaintiff in a suit against John Newman at a court held in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts on May 9, 1666, in which he claimed that John illegally took away a heifer DO14. Evidence regarding this case included a certification of Roger Preston of Salem that was witnessed by John Harrod and Thomas Preaston on October 20, 1665 in which “he had hired a cow of John Newman of Ipswich for two years at the rate of 10s. per year to be paid in goods or corn at Goodman Bishope’s, merchant, in Ipswich” DO14. Samuell Preston, aged about fifteen, gave a sworn statement on June 19, 1666 before Simon Bradstreete, in which he stated about one and a half years prior, his brother, Thomas, bought a red heifer from his father, Roger Preston DO14. Samuell further stated that Thomas hired Thomas Marshall to winter this heifer DO14. On the same date (June 19, 1666), Martha Holt was deposed before Simon Bradstreete; she stated that her son, Thomas Preston, bought the heifer from her husband, Roger Preston DO14. Thomas Marshall testified at a court held in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts on June 26, 1666 that he witnessed John Newman of Ipswich remove “one heifer which Thomas Presson hired him to winter” DO14. The court ruled in favor of Thomas Preston DO14.
Thomas Preston married Rebecka Nursse on April 15, 1669 at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts VI34; Rebecka was the daughter of Francis and Rebecca (Towne) Nurse PR4, AN9. Thomas and Rebecka (Nursse) Preston were the parents of four children whose births were recorded in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts VI32. These were Rebecka, born on May 12, 1670, Mary, born on February 15, 1671 (perhaps 1671/2), John, born on November 20, 1673, and Martha, born on October 21, 1676 VI32. Elizabeth Preston, the daughter of Thomas Preston, died at age seventeen on November 21, 1693 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts VI35, indicating she was born about 1676. It is possible that her age at the time of her death was recorded incorrectly. She may have been born in 1680 PR4. Thomas was also said to have been the father of Thomas Preston (with an unknown birth year), Jonathan Preston, and David Preston PR4. David Preston, the son of Thomas, was born in Salem about 1689 VI32. Ezekiel Upton, a husbandman of Reading, Middlesex County, Massachusetts who was the husband of the deceased Rebeccah “Presson” (“One of ye daughters of Thomas presson late of Salem Deceasd”) wrote a deed on December 19, 1711 which named the children of Thomas “Presson” who were still alive ES18. These were Rebecca Presson, Mary Cloyce (the wife of Peter Cloyce of Framingham), Thomas Presson of Reading, Martha Judd (the wife of David Judd of Salem), Jonathan Presson of Salem, David Presson of Salem, and John Presson of Salem ES18.
He stated that his age was about thirty-five in a deposition given in a court held at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts on June 25, 1678 DO18. This deposition pertained to the defamation lawsuit brought by Edmond Bridges against Mr. Edmond Batter DO18. Thomas Preston testified in court that he heard Mr. Edmund Batter state that Edmund Bridges “was the ringleader of the company”, and Thomas further testified that he usually attended the town meetings but that he had “never heard Bridges speak before he had asked leave of the moderator, because he wished to prevent disorder” DO18. He stated that he was about forty-years old in his deposition given before Bartholomew Gedney on April 4,1683 TA12. This testimony pertained to a trespass lawsuit between Frances Nursse (plaintiff) and Mr. Zarrubabell Endecott (defendant) at a court held at Salem on June 26, 1683 TA12. He stated that Mr. Zerubabell came with his men to fell trees, and one time they took twenty-one trees, and another time they chopped down and carried away twenty-six trees TA12. The court’s verdict was in favor of the defendant but this was appealed to the next Court of Assistants TA12.
Another record in which Thomas Preston stated his age was located in an unlikely source, which was a volume of Essex County deeds ES18. Within this volume were depositions from several individuals, including Thomas Preston, who gave his sworn statement before John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts on January 30, 1690/1 ES18:
Tho : Preston. aged 48 years. who testifieth & saith : that I. this deponent lived upon Mr. Downing’s farme called Groaten, & was shewed the bounds of said farme by the former tenants. and I doe testifie. the tree that is now cutt downe. the stump standing in Shaw’s fence. was shewed to one to be ye bounds of the said farme on the southerly side. and stands twelve pole within William Shaw’s fence. towards Mr. Downing’s house, and accordingly wee improved the sd land by cutting wood & timber and never were molested by any….
Thomas Preston was one of the individuals who accused two women of Salem of practicing witchcraft WO14. On February 29, 1691/2, Joseph Hutcheson, Thomas Putnam, Edward Putnam, and Thomas Preston, yeomen of Salem Village in Essex County, made the complaint that Sarah Good (the wife of William Good), Sarah Osborne (the wife of Alexander Osborne), and Titibe (Tituba, a Native American woman who was a slave owned by Samuel Parris) practiced witchcraft and caused injury to Elizabeth Parris, Abigail Williams, Anna Putnam, and Elizabeth Hubert WO14. Sarah Good was found guilty of being a witch and she was soon after hanged for this. Sarah Osborne died while she was incarcerated in jail. Tituba remained incarcerated for over a year and was then sold. Theirs are much larger and sadder stories but their stories do not belong here because these three women were not related to Roger Preston or Thomas Preston. A copy of the transcriptions of the accusations of Sarah Good, and then that of Sarah Osborne and Titibe, follows WO14:
Salem ffeby the 29th 1691/2
Whereas Mrs [Masters] Joſeph Hutcheſon, Thomas Putnam, Edward Putnam, and Thomas Preſton, Yeomen of Salem Village in ye County of Eſſex, perſonally appeared before vs and made Complaint on Behalfe of theire Majests againſt Sarah Good the wife of William Good of Salem Village abovesd for suſpition of Witchcraft by her Committed, and thereby much Injury donne to Eliz. Paris, Abigail Williams, Anne Putnam and Elizabeth Hubert all of Salem Village aforesd Sundry times within this two moneths and Lately alſo don, at Salem Village Contrary to ye peace of our Souern Ld [land] and Lady Wm & Mary, King & Queen of Engld &c - You are therefore in theire Majeſties names hereby required to apprehed & bring before vs the ſaid Sarah Good to morrow aboute ten of ye clock in ye forenoon at ye houſe of Lt Nathaniele Ingerſalls in Salem Village or as ſoon as may be then and there to be Examined Relateing to ye abovesd premiſes and hereof you are not to faile at your perile.
Dated. Salem, febr 29th 1691/2
John Hathorne
Jonathan.Corwin
Aſſists.
To Conſtable George Locker.
Whereas Mrs. [Masters] Joſeph Hutcheſon Thomas Putnam Edward Putnam and Thomas Preſton yeomen of Salem Village in ye County of Eſſex perſonally appeared before vs. And made complaint on behalfe of theire Majeſtees againſt Sarah Oſborne the wife of Alexr Oſburne, of Salem Village aforeſd, and Titibe an Indian Woman Servant of mr. Saml Parris of ſd place alſo; for Suſpition of witchcraft, by them committed and thereby much injury don to Elizabeth Parris Abigail Williams Anna Putnam and Elizabeth Hubert all of Salem Village aforeſd Sundry times within this two months and lately alſſo done: at ſd Salem Village Contrary to ye peace and Laws of our Sour [Sovereign] Lord & Lady Wm & Mary of England &c King & Queene.
You are there fore in theire Majs names hereby required to aprehend and forthwith or as ſoon as may be bring before vs ye aboveſd Sarah Oſburne and Titibe Indian at ye houſe of Lt Nathl Ingerſalls, in ſd place. and if it may be by tomorrow aboute ten of ye clock in ye morning then and there to be Examined Relateing to ye abovesd premises. You are likewiſe required to bring at ye ſame tyme Eliz. Parris Abigl Williams Anna Putnam, and Eliz Hubert, or any other perſon or perſons yt can giue evidence in ye aboveſd Caſe.. and here of you are not to faile.
Dated Salem ffebr 29. 1691/2
John Hathorne
Jonathan Corwin
Aſſiſſts.
To Conſtable Joſeph Herrick Conſt. in Salem
Thomas died in 1697 in Salem Village, Essex County, Massachusetts PR4. Rebecka Preston died in 1719 in Salem Village, Essex County, Massachusetts PR4.
Mary Preston may have been the daughter of Roger and Martha Preston, and she may have been born about 1647 AN9. Mary Preston married Nathaniell Ingerson on October 8, 1670 at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts VI34. Nathaniel “Ingersoll” was the son of John and Judith (Felton) Ingersoll of Salem PR4. Mary and Nathaniell Ingerson were the parents of two children whose births were recorded in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts VI31. These were Elizabeth Ingerson, who was born on February 11, 1672/3, and John Ingerson, born on October 7, 1674 VI31. They were also said to have been the parents of Nathaniel, who died in 1704 PR4.
Elizabeth Preston may have been the daughter of Roger and Martha Preston, and she may have been born about 1649 AN9. Elizabeth Preston married William Henfeild on July 12, 1671 at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts VI34. Elizabeth and William Henfeild were the parents of three children whose births were recorded in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts VI31. These were Elizabeth Henfeild, who was born on April 4, 1672, Hanah Henfeild, who was born and died in 1674, and Hanah Henfeild, who was born on March 4, 1676/7 VI31, VI35. William apparently died several years prior to 1694 while he was in the West Indies AM1. Elizabeth Henfield was called the widow of William Henfield, late of Salem, in a citation dated December 17, 1694 which stated AM1:
Bartho. Gedney Esqr. Judge of ye probate of Wills &c for sd County Whereas Mr Roger Darbey by his peticon hath set forth that no person hitherto hath Administred on your late husband William Henfield his Estate whereby he Can[n]ot come at his just debt &c You are Required in thier Maj.ties Names to make your personal appearance Before ye said Bartholomew Gedney Esq at One of ye Clock this afternoon at ye house of Mr Francis Ellis There to give an acco. what is become of sd Estate & also to Give Answere whether you will accept of Admist on ye Same hererof fail not Dated in Salem Decembr 17th 1694. & in ye Sixth yeare of thier Maj.ties Reigne
Steph: Sewall Reg.r
This citation was in response to the following petition which was sent the previous day AM1:
decembr 16th 1694:
To the Honoured Bartholomew Gedney Esq.r and Judge of the Probates for the County of Essex:/
Humbly Sheweth
That William Henfeild of Salem being deceased in the west Indies this severall years no one appearing to take administration of his Estate, and his wife and Family haveing Lived upon the Estate severall years: Your Petitioner Humbly Prayeth yt. She may be sited to Know what she Intends to doe whither she will take administration: upon the Estate or give an accot: of what is wasted out of the Estate since her husbands decease:: there being a Debt upon specialty due to yor: Petitioner from said Estate the summe of ten pounds six & Eight Pence as will be made appear:: and yor Petitioner shall for Ever Pray &c/
Roger Derby
Thomas Preston, a yeomen of Salem, was named as one of the sureties in the administration of the estate of William Henfield on December 24, 1694 AM1. Samuel Gardner and Roger Derby, the principles who were granted the administration of his estate, stated that his estate was proved to be insolvent based on the debts owed to several people; they cited the value of the inventory of his estate (about fifty-nine pounds) was less than the debts he owed (over sixty-four pounds) AM1. One of his creditors was Thomas Preston, to which his estate owed eight pounds, but Samuel Gardner and Roger Darby/Derby were themselves listed as creditors AM1. For this reason, on January 14, 1694/5, they requested that Bartholomew Gedney, Judge of the Probate Court, appoint a committee to receive the claims of the various creditors AM1.
Samuel Preston, Sr. was born in 1651 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts TH17, AN9, DO14.
Jacob Preston was probably born about 1657 AN9. Jacob “Presson” of Andover entered into a seven-year term of indenture beginning on March 26, 1671 with Thomas Chandler, a blacksmith of Merrimack; Jacob had the consent of his mother and his father-in-law, Nicholas Holt of Andover, who had married his mother DO18. The date of this agreement, which was witnessed by George Abbott, Sr. and Alexander Sessions, was May 20, 1671 DO18. William “Cortis” wrote a petition which was entered to a court held at Salem on July 18, 1676, which stated DO17:
about 22 months since I bought a saruant [servant] of Thomas Chandler of Andouer Jacob Prasson by name for about three yares and a halfe time my saruant continued with me about alauen [eleven] months my family at that time being very sick and Jacob not being very well I gaue him leue [gave him leave] and lent him my horse to goe to Andouer to be a while amongst his friends but being taken sick by the way at his Brother there he lay for som time after he recouered he went to Andouer to his father Holts where I was willing he shud be a while: but in the beginning of last winter I sent for my man to com hom and he came hom and there told me that while he was at his father Holts he had groned 3 : or 4 bushells of corne for me and it was thire redy so I let him haue my horse to fech it hom thire he keept my horse about on weeke and then sent hom my horse without corne and also sent me word he whould not com agan to me and ever senc at times I haue ofen sent to him and som times by axsident I haue meet with him and spake to him to com to me and follow my occasions, which he hath from time to time refused so that I ame greatly damnyfied for wont of his ||labor|| my dependenc being upon him to help me here in: as also that this honoured court whould be plesd to send for Thomas Presson who hath the couinent [covenant] or indenteur that shows the right I haue in my saruent it being commeeted to him to keep till it was caled for by partyes consarned and now although I haue myself and Thomas Chandler togather demanded the indentter of the sd presson yet he refuseth to deliuer it for which rong I humbelly crafe [crave] the help of this honnoured court
The court ordered that because Jacob Preston left the service of William Curtice, he must serve out the remaining time of his indenture, in addition to another three months “in consideration of the time lost” and that “Curtice was to keep him at work at the trade of a blacksmith” DO17. The court also ordered Thomas Preston to “bear said Jacob’s charges” DO17. In a court held on July 24, 1678 at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, Jacob Preston was again called a servant of William Curtice DO18. William Curtice and Jacob Preston had a difference “about the fulfilling of the indenture of apprenticeship on either part” and the court agreed to refer this matter to the Worshipful Major William Hathorne DO18. The records of the Salem Quarterly Court referred to Jacob Preston’s petition to the court; the record stated DO18:
Petition of Jacob Preston: “yor poore petitioner haueing bin sometyme an Aprentice vnto Thomas Chandler of Andover” blacksmith, and by him assigned to fill out his service with William Cortis of Salem according to indenture and orders of the Salem court of July 18, 1676, and having fulfilled the indenture, said Cortis did not perform his part in providing double apparel at the expiration of his apprenticeship. Said Preston had “come out of his tyme very poore, & hath not wherewithall to goe to Law to recouer his right.”
The records of a court held in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts on November 25, 1679 stated that he had died (“Jacob Preston being cast away at sea, administration upon his estate was granted to John Preston, who was ordered to bring in an inventory to the next Salem court”) DO18. John Preston brought forth that inventory to the court held at Salem on June 29, 1680 which stated that Jacob “in all probabilitie hath been departed this life for these severall months having bin wanting about nine or tenn months, gon forth in a small Ketch upon a Fishing designe to ye eastward & never yet returned nor certainly heard of, his goods presented by Thomas Preston” DO18. His estate was appraised in Salem by Richard Croade and John King, and was valued at a bit over five pounds and sixteen shillings, which included two debts due to his estate from Levy Preston and Samuel Preston and the following personal items DO18:
a chest with a Lock & Key… one Hatt… an old paire of Breeches… A new red cloath wastcoate… A paire of dowlas drawers [dowlas was a type of coarse linen cloth DO27]... A paire of cotton & Lynnen drawers little worne… one yard & half of holland… A genting [perhaps “Genting”, a type of linen often used for handkerchiefs DO27] neck cloath…
However, the total debts that his estate owed amounted to a bit over five pounds and eight shillings DO18.
John Preston was probably born about 1659 AN9. John Preston married Sarah Holt on November 2, 1687 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI3. Sarah (Geary) Holt was the widow of John Holt AN9. John and Sarah Preston were the parents of six or seven children whose births and deaths were recorded in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI2, VI3. These were Rebekah, born on January 23, 1688/9, John and Thomas, who were twins born on March 17, 1690/91 (John died the same day of his birth, and his brother, Thomas, died the following day VI3), another son named John, who was born on June 13, 1692 but died on June 17, 1699, Sarah, who was born on February 16, 1694/5 but died on November 7, 1712, Hannah, born on June 17, 1698, and perhaps Martha (she was born to John Preston in April 1702) VI2, VI3. John Preston was said to have assigned to serve under Captain Gardner in November 1675, indicating he probably participated in the Great Swamp Fight against the Narragansett PR4. Because of this, in 1733 he was said to have been granted land in Narragansett Township Number Three, now in Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire PR4.
Levi Preston was probably born about 1661 AN9. Charles Henry Preston stated that the record of Levi’s birth (July 16, 1662 in Salem) was written in a Bible that was printed in 1749 and was owned by a descendant of Benjamin and Abigail (Preston) Stratton (this was probably Benjamin Stratton) PR4. This Bible was also the source of the birth records for the children of Levi and Abigail Preston PR4. Levy Preston married Abigall Brooks on October 16, 1695 in Swansea, Bristol County, Massachusetts RO32. Abigail was said to have been the daughter of Timothy and Mary (Russell) Brooks PR4. According to Charles Henry Preston, the Stratton Bible stated that Levi and Abigail Preston were the parents of Levi, born on March 22, 1697, Martha, born on April 7, 1699, John, born on February 26, 1701, Mary, born on August 14, 1703, Abigail, born on February 3, 1705, Isaac, born on September 10, 1707, and Freelove, born on June 29, 1714 PR4. Three birth records for children of “Lewis” and Abigail Preston whose birth dates were extremely close to those which were provided by Charles Henry Preston were located in the vital records of Newport, Rhode Island AR10. These birth records indicated that Lewis Preston was born on November 22, 1697, Martha Preston was born on April 6, 1699, and John Preston was born on February 26, 1700 AR10. Newport, Rhode Island is about twenty-five miles from Swansea.
Levi Preston, a yeoman of Cumberland County, New Jersey, wrote his will on February 19, 1750 which named his daughters, Mary Bishop, Abigail Stratton, and Freelove Dare, his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Preston (who was the widow of Levi’s son, Isaac Preston), and his son-in-law, Samuel Bennet AR9. He also named his grandchildren, who were Levi, Isaac, William, John, and Joseph Preston (these were the sons of the deceased Isaac Preston), John Preston (the son of John Preston), Freelove, Thomazine, and Elizabeth Stratton (probably the children of Abigail Stratton), Elizabeth Preston, and Mary Bennet AR9. Levi appointed David Wescote as the sole executor to his will, which was witnessed by Jonathan Stratton and Jonathan Lorance and proved on February 4, 1752 AR9. Levi was said to have died at age ninety-one on January 17, 1752 in Fairfield, Cumberland County, New Jersey PR4. The inventory of his estate was conducted on January 29, 1752 by Joseph Daten and Joseph Ogden, and was appraised at over £113 AR9.
At a court held in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts on March 27, 1666, the court was informed that “the widow Preston had put out two of her sons, one to Thomas Johnson and another to Stephen Johnson, until twenty-one years of age” DO14. These two sons may have been Samuel and Jacob. In her testimony before Simon Bradstreete on June 19, 1666, Martha Holt stated that her son, Thomas Preston, bought a red heifer from his father, Roger Preston DO14. The Salem Quarterly Court records for June 1666 stated that when asked by Marshal Robert Lord whose cattle were at Mr. Duning’s farm, “Goodwife Preston” stated that “some were Capt. Corwyn’s and the young red one was John Newman’s” DO14. Her late husband’s debts totaled much more than his estate was worth, and on November 27, 1666, the court ordered Henry Skerry, the marshal, to take possession of the estate and sell anything that was salable DO13, AN9. Her husband’s creditors eventually were able to receive just three shillings and four pence for every pound owed to them DO13, AN9, TH27. One pound was worth twenty shillings, and one shilling was worth twelve pence.
Martha’s second marriage, to Nicholas Holt, occurred on May 21, 1666 in Andover, Massachusetts TH17, AN9, PR4, VI3; she was his third wife BE7, PR4. Like her first husband, Nicholas Holt was also a tanner who arrived in Massachusetts in 1635 PR4, CU7. According to transcriptions by James Savage (and later by Michael Tepper), Nicholas Holte, a tanner of Romsey, Hampshire, sailed from London to New England on April 6, 1635 on the James, captained by Master William Cooper WI27. On board were also Thomas Browne, Hercules Woodman, and John and Anthony Emery WI27. The Holt family was notable for sending many of their sons to college; there were four college graduates before the year 1800 BA6. Nicholas Holt died on January 30, 1685 VI3, and Martha Holt died at approximately eighty years of age on March 21, 1702/3 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts TH17, PR4, VI3.