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Samuel Preston, Jr. |
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Sarah Bridges |
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Samuel Preston,
Jr. (Samuel, Susannah) was born on March 16,
1672/3 DO16,
BE7, PR4, VI3, in
Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts DO16, BE7, VI2. He married Sarah Bridges on April 2, 1694 in Andover, Essex
County, Massachusetts MA26, PR4, HO17, VI3 in a ceremony officiated by Mr. Dane MA26. Like his father, Samuel was a yeoman BE7. He died on May 29, 1717 in Andover,
Essex County, Massachusetts BE7, PR4, HO17, VI3. The inventory of his estate was conducted on July 6, 1717 by
William Lovejoy and Thomas Chandler AM1,
and the administration
of his estate was granted to his wife on September 2, 1717 AM1, PR4,
AN10.
The items of his estate have been transcribed below AM1:
William
Loveioy and Thomas Chandler
Juelye the 6
daye 1717
A ninvantery of the estate of Samuel presson
junr Late desesed of
Andover
Humsteede Lands
about 6 or 7 acors And buldings… twenty Ackers of Land Lying jneing
to the Land of Samuel hilt and John holte… three ackeres and A halfe of Land Lying
joneing to the Land of thoma’
Chandler… A peare of oxen… A peare
of steares… fouor couse [this might state “four cows”]…
three hafers [perhaps “heifers”]… A hose [perhaps
“horse”]… swine… calfese…
five shepe… purc [perhaps
“purse”]… A parcal… beedse
and beeden [beds and bedding]…
brase And iron And putter [pewter]… chests And tubs
and barals and woden ware
And wheles… sadel and bridel And pelyorn [perhaps
“pillion”]… A gune And A bayanate
[bayonet]… husbandery tacklen…
carpentares tooles… boocks
The estate of Samuel Preston was divided by James Bridges, Thomas Abbot, William Blunt, and
Benja(min) Barker on October 16, 1725 between his widow, Sarah, and
their children, Levi, Mary, Jemima, Joanna, Sarah, Elizabeth, Samuel, Isaac,
Phebe, Ruth, and Joshua AM1, PR4. A transcription of the division of his estate follows AM1:
Where
as we the Subscribers ware a Committee under oath for to make A distrebution of the Reall Estate
of Samuell: Preston Jiorer
Late of Andover deceased: with John Granger which was one of the Comtee
that helped to make it But is Deceased before the signing here of: viz: To set
out to the widdow her thirds and to the Eldest son
his double share and to the rest of all the children their Equall
shares: The which we have done as followeth---
Item
To the widdows thirds viz Sarah preston:
about Twenty acres of Land Lying by John Russells: we
begun at the south west corner as the fence now standeth
and Runing eastwardly Twenty two rods: to a chiciry bush marked Then northerly twenty one rods to a
walnut bush marked: so runing westwardly thirty one
rods to a white oak bush marked then southerly twenty fiue
Rods to the first bounds – the which we Laid out for the sd widdows thirds at That Land by John Russels
–
Secondly
the south End of the home stead: Beg[inn]ing att the Contary [Country] Road
that Leads to: Boston: so as the fence stands to a stake by the fence: so upon
a straight Line across the Land to a stake standing by a ston
wall: which ston wall is betwen
The widdows thirds and Thomas Chandlers Land: to the
first mentioned highway with a third part of the Buildings This Being ye widows thirds
Item
we set out to the Eldest son Leavey preston his
double portion of Land which: is Three acres and three quartar
Lying near to william Lovejoy juners
house and is Bounded by the way on the west: and on ye north with Joseph: Calards [this
surname may have been “balond”, “Calond”,
or something entirely different] Land: and on the east and on the south with
the Land of Thomas Chandler which is Levies part in the Land:--
Item:
To mary preston: Two acres
and a half of Land Lying at the north End of the Land By
John Russels --
Item
To Jemimah and Johanah prestons
the Remainder of all ye land att the home stead: Two shares --
Item
to Sarah preston Two acres and a half of land Lying
eastwardly of the widdows thirds by John Russells:--
Item:
Two acres and a half of land To Elezebeth preston Lying east of the widdows
thirds and north of Sarahs part:
Item
To Samuell preston and Iasac [sic]: preston a parsell of Land Lying westerly of holts
hill: which Land was Laid out: to their fathers wood Lott division: as it is
Recorded in Andover propriators booke
of Records:
Item:
To phebea preston: Ruth preston and Joshua preston: These
three shares Lieth all to gether by John Russells Lying Between: Elezebeths
part and marys part of Land containing Two acres and
half of land a peece: -
Item
3: Strips of Land: the one Lying By capt petter osgoods farme in andover and the second joyning to
Ralph farnums Land: and the third Lying on the north
side of goolds pond meadow: all three parsells Laid out to the Lattar
part of the sd Samuell prestons deceasd: Latter part of
his third division: the which three pices of Land we
set of to the above sd Leavey his dubell
share: and to mary: Jemimah Johanah:
Sarah: prestons to be equaly
divided amngest them
Item
To four acres and one hundred and fifty six rods: of
Land with allowance for quallity: we set out to: Elizebeth: Samuell Issac: phebea Ruth and Joshua: prestons to be equaly divided
amongst them: Bounded as in the above said Records to the first part of the deceaseds third division of Land --
Thus we the subscribers have on the other side of this paper
made as equall a distrebution as we Could acording to our Best skill and
Judgment of all the Reall estate of Samuell preston Junar of andover deceased:
To the widdow and Children As witness our hands the 16:th day of
October: 1725
Sarah Bridges (John, Sarah) was likely born between December 5, 1666 when her parents
married in Ipswich MA26
and before March 1677/8 when her father remarried to Mary (Tyler) Post MA22. She was probably born in 1675 because she confessed to being a witch in August 1692 at the age
of seventeen, as did her half-sister, thirteen-year-old Mary, and her
stepsisters, Hannah and Susannah Post, who were
twenty-six and thirty-one, respectively NO7, AN10. On August 20, 1692 and the days which followed, Martha Sprague,
aged sixteen, Rose Foster, age thirteen, and Abigail Martin, aged nineteen,
claimed that they were afflicted by torments, and they accused the three
daughters of Mary (Tyler) (Post) Bridges, who were Hannah Post, Susannah Post,
and Mary Bridges, along with Sarah Bridges, as their tormentors NO7. Sarah’s stepmother, Mary, and another
stepsister, named Mary Post, had previously admitted that they had committed
the crime of witchcraft NO7.
Ephraim Foster, the constable of Andover
who also happened to be the father of Rose, one of the complainants, arrested
Sarah, Mary, Hannah, and Susannah, and escorted them to Salem NO7, where they were questioned on August 25,
1692 NO7, FR16. At the outset, the sisters denied the
charges, but they soon each admitted that they were guilty of witchcraft, and
they deposed that they were present at the gathering of approximately two
hundred witches at John Chandler’s garrison house, they had
been baptized by the devil, and they had signed the devil’s book in
blood NO7. Sarah’s younger sister, Mary, stated
that she had been in the devil’s snare since the springtime, when she was
enticed by the devil’s assurance to provide her with fine clothing NO7. The four sisters concurred that nine
individuals who were already in custody, including Mary Post (Sarah’s
stepsister), were indeed witches, and they implicated three additional people,
who refused to confess to witchcraft NO7.
Sarah herself named four other people as witches NO7.
Specifically, Sarah was charged with
hurting Martha Sprague through the use of witchcraft,
which she denied FR16. The court record indicated that the
alleged victims claimed that they were struck down into a fit, and then helped
up by her touch FR16. In court, Sarah stated that she had
never placed her hand on the devil’s book, nor had she been
baptized by the devil, and she disowned witchcraft FR16. Sarah did recall an instance in which
she was thrown by her horse while riding from Ipswich, which frightened her,
but she thought this was by her maternal aunt How FR16. She maintained that she did not
understand why the victims were afflicted FR16.
Later, she admitted that she had been in the devil’s snare since the previous
winter FR16. She stated that the devil appeared to
her in the form of a man, revealed that his name was Jesus, and wished her to
serve and worship him, and to sign his book FR16.
Sarah said that the devil pricked her finger, and she then made a red mark in
the book, after which the devil informed her that she must renounce God and
Christ, and instead promise to serve him for a term of four years and bade her
go and afflict someone FR16. She
testified that she afflicted people by squeezing her hands and by sticking pins
into her clothing FR16.
Sarah deposed that the devil occasionally took the form of a bird or a bear,
but typically as a man, and she said that the devil threatened to kill her if
she confessed FR16. Her companions, she said, were Mary Post
and Hannah and Mary Bridges, and she was baptized by the devil with Susannah
Post and Mary Bridges FR16. She
also confessed that she had attended the gathering of approximately two hundred
witches at John Chandler’s garrison house at Andover, where they ate bread and
drank wine FR16.
Sarah and her sisters were eventually
acquitted of the charge of performing witchcraft NO7. The jury members who deliberated over
her trial were Benayah Tidcomb,
who was the foreman, and John Witt, Joseph Litle, John Pickard, Edmund Gale, John Emerson, John
Ordway, John Abby, Seth Story, John Hall, Nathaniel Emerson, and Eliazar Gates FR17.
These men found her not guilty on both of the felony
charges of witchcraft for which she had been indicted FR17. At a later unspecified date, as Sarah
Preston, she petitioned a special committee which had been formed by the
General Court whose purpose it was to consider whether to reimburse those
wrongly accused of witchcraft FR17. She
stated that she had been incarcerated for six weeks at the Salem jail and had
suffered a loss of four pounds FR17.
She paid one pound to the warden, another sum of one pound, seventeen
shillings, and four pence for court charges, and finally two pounds and five
shillings for a trial bond, money and provisions spent in prison, and expenses for
attending court for a fortnight FR17.
Sarah was the mother of thirteen known
children, all of whom were born in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts, and she had two sets of twins MA26, BE7, PR4: Sarah, Levy, Mary, Jemima, Johannah, Sarah, Elezebeth, Samuell, Isaack, Phoeby, Ruth,
Caleb, and Joshua BE7, PR4. Sarah
Preston, the daughter of Samuel and Sarah, was born on February 5, 1694/5
in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI2, MA26 but died at age eight on August 16, 1703
PR4, VI3.
Levy
Preston, the son of Samuel and Sarah, was born on October 25, 1696 in
Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI2, MA26. As
the eldest son, “Leavey preston” received a double
portion of land in the division of his late father’s estate on October 16, 1725
AM1, PR4. Levi
sold his mother all of his rights to his father’s
estate in November 1717 AN10. Levi
Presson of Killingly married Elizabeth Harnden on September 9, 1718 in Wakefield, Middlesex
County, Massachusetts BA47;
she was the daughter of Lieutenant Benjamin and Elizabeth Harnden
WH13. Levi and Elisabeth Preston were the parents of eight children PR4. Samuel Preston’s birth was not recorded in the Killingly
records, but his name was mentioned first in the will of his father PR4. The six children whose births were recorded in Killingly,
Windham County, Connecticut were Benjamin, born on July 12, 1724, Sarah, born
on June 28, 1726, David, born on September 14, 1728, Isaac, born on April 12,
1731, Israel, born on June 26, 1733, and Levi, born on September 6, 1736 WH13. Othniel Preston was baptized on January 22, 1739 at the church
in Putnam Heights PR4.
Elisabeth Preston, the wife of Levi, died on April 3, 1742 WH13. Levi married three months later on
July 7, 1742 to Mary Fuller of Killingly WH13.
Two births were recorded in Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut to Levi and
Mary (or Marcy) WH13. These were an
unnamed son, born on March 24, 1743 WH13
whose name was likely Colburn PR4,
and Mary, born on January 17, 1744/5 WH13.
Additional children born to Levi and Mary were Elizabeth, Bethia,
born about 1748, Jerusha, born about 1749, Adeline or
Abylene, Joanna, born about 1755, Daniel, born on
August 18, 1763, and James, born about 1766 PR4. Levi Preston died in Foster, Rhode Island on December
6, 1781 PR4.
Mary Preston, the
daughter of Samuell and Sarah, was born on March 31,
1699 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI2, MA26. Mary Preston and Christopher
Lovjoy declared their intent to marry on December 27,
1718 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI3. Mary Preston received a parcel of land in the division of her
late father’s estate on October 16, 1725 AM1, PR4. Christopher
and Mary Lovejoy were the parents of six children whose births or baptisms were
recorded in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI2. These were Christopher, baptized on July 23, 1721,
Christopher, born on July 11, 1722, Abial, born on
May 21, 1724, Nathan, born on August 22, 1726, Mary, baptized on July 13, 1729,
and Isaac, born on April 13, 1731 VI2. Christopher
Lovejoy, Jr. died at age forty-five on March 21, 1731/2 in Andover, Essex
County, Massachusetts and then Mary Lovejoy married Samuel Abbott on August 8,
1735 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI3. Mary Abbot, the wife of Samuel, died at age fifty-five on
April 15, 1754 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI3.
Jemima
Preston was born probably on May 29, 1701 in Andover, Essex County,
Massachusetts VI2, MA26. The
page with Jemima’s birth record in the Andover record book was torn, as were many pages, but the first line of the record stated “Jemima Pr…”, and the second line stated “29 of M…” MA26. A few children whose birth records were
directly above hers were born in May 1701 MA26, and
so she was probably born in May, rather than March.
Jemima Preston received a parcel of land in the division of her late father’s
estate on October 16, 1725 AM1, PR4. Jemima
Preston may have been called Jemima Price; a marriage record from the
Congregational Church in Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut indicates that
Jemima Price married John Youngluff on June 4, 1725 BA45. She may have been called Jemima Price because her mother had
recently married William Price of Ashford, Connecticut in October 1722 VI3. Jemima Younglove, the wife of John,
was admitted as a member of the Putnam First Congregational Church (formerly
North Killingly) on July 2, 1732 CO29.
John Younglove was the father of five children whose
baptisms were recorded in the register of the Putnam First Congregational
Church, which was formerly called North Killingly CO29. These were Patience, baptized on May 15, 1726, John, baptized
on September 3, 1727, Samuel, baptized on June 14, 1730, Sarah (called the
daughter of John and Jemima), baptized on December 31, 1732, and Jemima,
baptized on February 29, 1736 CO29.
The birth record for Johannah
Preston was absent from the Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts register. “Johanah prestons” received a
parcel of land in the division of her late father’s estate on October 16, 1725 AM1, PR4.
The
birth record for Sarah Preston was absent from the Andover, Essex County,
Massachusetts register. Sarah Preston married John Stacy of Hampton on January
24, 1723/4 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI3. Sarah Preston received a parcel of land in
the division of her late father’s estate on October 16, 1725 AM1, PR4. John and Sarah Stacy were the parents
of three children whose births were recorded in Killingly, Windham County,
Connecticut WH13. These were Caleb,
born on July 19, 1729, Isaac, born on March 15, 1730/1, and Mark, born on
January 5, 1732/3 WH13.
Next, Sarah and John Stacy were the parents of three children whose births were
recorded in Sturbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts MA27. These were Sarah, born on March 15, 1735, Abigoril
(probably “Abigail”), born on May 31, 1737, and Phebee,
born on March 8, 1740 MA27. Sarah
Stacy was called a widow of Sturbridge in her marriage record; she married
Joseph Morse on October 20, 1762 in Sturbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts
MA26. Sarah Morse, the widow of John Stacy and Joseph Morse, was
said to have died in January 1793 MO18.
The birth record for Elezebeth
Preston was absent from the Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts register. Elezebeth Preston received a
parcel of land in the division of her late father’s estate on October 16, 1725 AM1, PR4.
Samuell Preston, the
son of Sam[ue]ll and Sarah,
may have been born about 1708 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI2, MA26. Samuel Preston wrote a letter
to John Appleton, Judge of the Private of Wills, on March 24, 1720 in which he
described himself as “A Minor of About sixteen years of Age son of Samll.
Preston Late of Andover Decd” when he stated that he chose
Mr. Christopher “Lovejoye” of Andover as his guardian
AM1. Samuell Preston received
a parcel of land in the division of his late father’s estate on October 16,
1725 AM1, PR4. Samuel Preston married Hannah Bridges
on April 8, 1728 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI3. Samuel and Hannah were probably the parents of Samuel, who was
born about 1728 or 1729, perhaps in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts PR4. Samuel and Hannah Preston were the parents of five children
whose births were recorded in Littleton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts MA26. These were James, born on January 10, 1729/30, Hannah, born on
July 18, 1733, John, born on September 22, 1738, Mary, born on May 13, 1742,
and Peter, born on February 17, 1743 MA26.
Samuel second married Mary (Ivory) Symmes, who was
the widow of Thomas Symmes, on September 2, 1756 PR4. Samuel Preston, Gentleman of Littleton, Middlesex County in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, wrote his will on February 6, 1781 AM1. Joseph Jewett was appointed as the administrator of the estate
of Samuel Preston, Gentleman, late of Littleton, Middlesex County,
Massachusetts, on November 15, 1781 AM1.
The heirs of Samuel Preston named themselves in a document dated December 6,
1781 in which they chose Mr. Moses Saunder of
Littleton as a referee in the settlement of their father’s estate; the heirs
were James Preston, Jonathan Davis, John Preston, Mathias Farnsworth, Hannah
Davis, and Mary Farnsworth AM1.
The inventory of Samuel’s estate was extensive, requiring four pages, and was
conducted on December 6, 1781 AM1.
Isaack
Preston, the son of Samuel, was a twin to Phoeby
and was born in early 1711 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI2, MA26. Their births were recorded, but a
portion of the page has ripped off MA26.
Isaac Preston received a parcel of land in the division of his late father’s
estate on October 16, 1725 AM1, PR4. Isaac
Preston likely married Abigell Russell, the daughter
of Deacon David Russell PR4.
Isaac and Abigell Preston were the parents of four
children whose births were recorded in Littleton, Middlesex County,
Massachusetts MA26. These were Abigell, born on December 31, 1733, Susannah, born in July
1736 (possibly July 20), Sarah, born on December 7, 1738, and Isaac, born on
July 18, 1744 MA26. They were also the
parents of Martha, who was born about 1742 or 1743 PR4, AM1. Isaac Preston, a currier of Littleton,
Middlesex County, Massachusetts, died intestate; his widow, Abigail Preston was
granted the administration of his estate and an inventory of his estate was
conducted on May 14, 1746 AM1.
Abigail Preston, the widow of Isaac Preston, as well as John Russell and
Nathaniel Russel, yeoman of Littleton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, were
bound to Samuel Danforth, Judge of the Probate of Wills, for five hundred
pounds on May 23, 1746 AM1. On
September 3, 1750, Abigall Preston, age seventeen,
and Susannah Preston, age fifteen, stated they were daughters of Isaac Preston
who was deceased and made a requested to the probate court that their uncle,
John Russell, be their guardian AM1. On
that same date in a separate letter to the probate court, Abigall
Corey called herself the wife of “Samll
Corey” of Littleton and the mother of Abigall and
Susannah Preston; Abigall requested of the probate
court that John Russell be the guardian to her other two daughters, Sarah, age
eleven, and Martha, age eight AM1.
Phoeby Preston, the daughter of Samuel, was a twin to
Isaack and was born in early 1711, and probably in April of that year in
Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI2, MA26. Phebea
Preston received a parcel of land in the division of her late father’s estate
on October 16, 1725 AM1, PR4.
Ruth
Preston, the daughter of Sam[ue]ll and Sarah, was born on July 25, 1713 in Andover, Essex
County, Massachusetts VI2, MA26. The page
with her birth record became ripped MA26 and
her name was derived from other records VI2. Ruth
Preston received a parcel of land in the division of her late father’s estate
on October 16, 1725 AM1, PR4.
Ruth Preston married Nathaniel Barnard on May 10, 1733 in Andover, Essex
County, Massachusetts VI3.
Nathaniel and Ruth Barnard were the parents of four children whose births were
recorded in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI2. These were Mary, born on June 2, 1737, Mary, born on December
4, 1739, Samuel, born on August 13, 1741, and Nathaniel, born on March 4,
1743/4 VI2. After the death of Nathaniel, Ruth Barnard, a widow, married
Joseph Poor on June 7, 1757 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI3. Ruth Poor, the widow of Joseph, died at age sixty-four and was
buried on September 2, 1779 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI3.
Samuel and Sarah “presson”
became parents to a set of twin sons on April 3, 1716, but while the first name
has been lost, the second name may have been “Joshuah”
MA26. Joshua’s brother was probably Caleb VI2, PR4. Caleb Preston (“presson”), the son of Samuel and Sarah, was a twin to Joshuah and was born on April 3, 1716 in Andover, Essex
County, Massachusetts VI2, MA26.
Caleb died three weeks later on April 26, 1716 in Andover, Essex County,
Massachusetts VI3. Joshuah Preston (“presson”), the son of Samuel
and Sarah, was a twin to Caleb and was born on April 3, 1716 in Andover, Essex
County, Massachusetts VI2, MA26.
Joshua Preston received a
parcel of land in the division of his late father’s estate on October 16, 1725 AM1, PR4. Joshua Preston of Littleton married Agnis Peacock of Westford on December 10, 1739 in Littelton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts in a ceremony
officiated by Daniel Rogers MA26.
The probate record for Samuel included nine receipts of payment
from Sarah Preston, widow of Samuel, all of which were debts accrued by her
late husband AM1. She paid twenty-two shillings for
shingles and labor to William Blunt on October 25, 1717, an unknown sum which
was at least seven shillings to William L…y sometime in November 1717, one
pound, two shillings, and six pence to Sarah Chandler on November 22, 1717,
three pounds (or perhaps three pounds, ten shillings) to Hannah Allen on
November 27, 1717, and one pound, twelve shillings, and six pence to Timothy
Abbott on November 30, 1717 AM1. The
following year, she paid an unknown sum which seemed to have been the full
account to Francis, whose surname was illegible, on January 13, 1717/8, two
shillings and six pence to Christopher Osgood on February 20, 1717/8, fifteen
shillings to Thomas Chandler on March 11, 1717/8, and fifteen shillings to her
daughter, Mary Preston, on March 14 (probably 1717/8) AM1.
After Samuel died, Sarah married William Price of Ashford, Connecticut on October 18, 1722 VI3, PR4, BE7, HO17, but he died shortly after this on March 25, 1723 AN10, and she was listed as a widow of William Price, and called a resident of Andover, on March 3, 1725 when she sold a parcel of land which had belonged to Samuel Preston PR4. She was called “Sarah Preston Relict Widow of Samuel Preston of Andover deceased Alias Sarah Price Relict Widow of William Price late of Ashford deceased now resident in Andover in the County of Essex, New England Spinster” on another deed, dated October 2, 1725 AN4. On December 20, 1731, she was presumably still alive, as on that date she was mentioned in the division of Samuel’s estate AM1. The transcriber of the deed of her grandfather, James How, dated January 12, 1699/1700, conceivably made an error when transcribing Sarah’s surname as “Proctor”, rather than “Preston” or “Precton” as at that time, the letters “e” and “o” sometimes looked similar HO17.