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William Sawyer |
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Ruth |
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William Sawyer was born in approximately 1613, as he was sixty-five years old in 1678 when he took the oath of allegiance to the king DO18, AP2. He arrived in Massachusetts in or before 1642, because on November 27, 1642 he gave a deposition in the Salem Court that he was a witness to the will of Samuel Smith of Enon, which was dated October 5 of that year DO12, HO11. Enon later became known as Wenham, and it is about seven miles north of Salem. He married Ruth AP2, SA11, HO11, perhaps around the time that he was in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts in 1643 SA11, because his first child was born in August 1645 MA26. He was in Wenham in 1645 SA11.
According to the Ipswich Quarterly Court records from March 25, 1662, there was a deed dated October 6, 1647 which showed that William purchased a house and land in Newbury from Christopher Palmer DO13. William Sawyer of Newbury purchased a house with its house lot at the old town location of Newbury, twelve acres of marshland adjacent to the lots which belonged to William Elsly (Ilsly), Samwell Plomer, and Samwell Scullerd, as well as four acres of upland next to the ox common, and seven acres of division land “beyond the new town” DO13. All these properties were previously owned by William Palmer, and William Sawyer purchased them from Christopher Palmer on behalf of Ann Palmer, the widow of William Palmer of Hampton, for the sum of eight pounds DO13. The deed was witnessed by Richard Knight and William Ilsly DO13.
Two years later on November 16, 1649, he purchased a four-acre parcel in Newbury for the sum of five pounds from Francis Plumer of Newbury SA21. This parcel formerly belonged to Henry Palmer SA21. William Sawyer of Newbury and his wife, Ruth, sold a house and a four-acre parcel to William Ilsly of Newbury for the sum of eighteen pounds and twelve shillings on January 10, 1652 SA21. This lot had perviously been purchased by the executors of the deceased William Palmer SA21. On that same date (January 10, 1652), William and Ruth Sawyer granted two four-acre lots in Newbury to William Ilsly/Ilsley; in return, they received from him a parcel of eight acres SA21. The deed of William Ilsly and his wife, Barbary, dated January 10, 1652 stated that that for the grant of the two four-acre lots, he would grant the parcel of land that William Sawyer had built his house and barn on, which was about eight acres SA21. These four deeds (one from November 16, 1649 and three from January 10, 1652) were transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and are reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
To all Christian people to whom this present writeing shall come: I, Francis Plumer of Newbury, in the county of Essex, in New England, send greeting: Know yee, that I the above named Francis Plumner, for & in consideration of five pound in hand payd, & by me acknowledged to have received: have given, graunted, enfeofed, covenanted & fully bargained & sold, unto William Sawyer also of Newbury, all that foure acre lott, be it more or less, which was formerly Henry Palmer’s, and is now in the possession of William Ilsly, as it lyeth scituate in Newbury aforesaid, being bounded with ye land of the said William Ilsley on the south & north, Merrimack street on the west, & the neck of upland next the marshes on the east, with all & singuler ye fences, profitts & appurtenances thereunto belonging. To have & to hold all the abovesaid lott, to the proper use & behoofe of the said William Sawyer, his heirs, executors & assignes forever; and I ye above named Francis Plummer for my self, myne heirs, executors & assignes, doe covenant, promise & agree to & with the said William Sawyer, his heirs, executors & assignes, to warrantise the sale of the abovesaid foure acre lott and to free the said land from all & all manner of former deeds, grants, sales, covenants, bargains & engagements whatsoeever; and that the sd William Sawyer, his heires, executors or assignes, shal from time to time & at all times from henceforth & forever; use, occupy, possess and enjoye all the abovesaid four acre lott & every part thereof, without any molestation or interruption of me the above named Francis Plumer, my heirs, executors or assignes, or any person or persons whatsoever laying claim thereunto, in, by, from or under me or any of mine heirs, executors or assignes, & doe acknowledge the said lott to be ye true & lawfull inheritance of the said William Sawyer, his heirs, executors and assignes forever, & doe hereby acknowledg to have given the said William Sawyer lawfull possession of the abovesaid premisses. In witnesse whereof I the abovesd Francis Plumer have sett my hand and seale, the sixteenth day of November, in ye yeare of our Lord, one thousand, six hundred, forty nine.
Francis Plumer his mark.
Signed, sealed & delivered in the presence of us,
Anthony Somerby.
John Emery sen’r.
To all Christian people to whom this pr’sent writeing shall come: I, William Sawyer of Newbury, in the county of Essex, in New England, & Ruth my wife send greeting Know yee that I William Sawyer & Ruth my wife for & in consideration of eighteene pounds and twelve shillings in hand paid & by me received, the whole & every part thereof I doe acknowledge; have given, granted, enfeofed, covenanted, & fully bargained & sould, & by these presents doe give grant, enfeofe, sell & confirme and make over unto William Ilsly of the abovesaid towne & county, all that messuage, house & foure acre lott formerly purchased of the executors of William Palmer, deceased, as it is scituate in Newbury aforesaid, & is bounded with the land of William Ilsly abovesaid on the north, the land of Francis Plumer on the south, the neck of upland next the marshes on the east, & Merrimacke street on the west, with all & singuler the fences, housing, proffitts & appurtenances thereunto belonging, as it is now in the possession of the sd William Ilsly. To have & to hould all ye abovesaid house & foure acre lott, be it more or less, respectively to the proper use & behoofe of the said William Ilsly, his heirs, executors & assignes forever; and I the above named William Sawyer and Ruth my wife, for ourselves, our heirs, executors & assignes, doe covenant, promise & agree to & with the sd William Ilsly, his heirs, executors & assignes, to warrantise the sale of the abovesaid house and foure acre lott, against any man wtsoeever, and free the said premisses from all & all manner of former grants, deeds, covenants, bargains & engagements whatsoever; and that the said William Ilsly, his heirs, executors or assignes, shall from time to time & at all times henceforth forever, have, hould, use, ocupy, possess & enjoye all the abovesd house & foure acre lott & every pt thereof, without any molestation or interruption of me the abovenamed William Sawyer & Ruth my wife, our heirs, executors, administrators or assignes, or any other person or persons laying claim thereunto, in, by, from or under us, or any or either of us, either any or either of our heires, executors, administrators or assignes. In witnesse whereof I the above named William Sawyer & Ruth my wife have set our hands & seales, the tenth day of January, in the yeare or our Lord, one thousand, six hundred, fifty two.
William Sawyer.
Ruth Sawyer. her mark.
Signed, sealed & delivered in the presence of us,
Anthony Somerby.
Peeter Tappan.
To all Christian people to whom this present writeing shall come: I, William Sawyer of Newbury, in the county of Essex, in New England, & Ruth my wife, send greeting: Know yee, that I the above named William Sawyer & Ruth my wife, for & in consideration of the inheritance of a parcell of land of about eight acres, be it more or less, resigned and yeilded up into our possession, to remain to us & our heirs forever: have given, granted, enfeofed, covenanted, bargained & fully sould, unto William Ilsley of the abovesaid towne & county, both those foure acre lotts, be they more or less, as they are scituate in Newbury abovesaid, & now in the possession of the above named William Ilsly, lying & being in the lower verge of lotts, bounded with the land of the said William Ilsley on the north, & alsoe a foure acre lott formerly William Palmer’s on the south, now alsoe in the possession of the said William Ilsly, the highwaye to Merrimack on the west, & the neck next the marshes on the east, with all & singuler the fences, proffits, housing & appurtenances thereunto belonging. To have & to hould all the abovesaid two foure acre lotts, respectively to the proper use & behoofe of the above named William Ilsley, his heirs, executors and assignes forever; and I the fore named William Sawyer & Ruth my wife, for ourselves, our heirs, executors or assignes, doe covenant, promise & agree to and with the said William Ilsley, his heirs, executors or assignes, to warrantize the sale of the abovesaid two four acre lotts, & free the said premisses from all & all manner of former sales, deeds, covenants, grants, sales, bargains, & engagements, whatsoever; and that the sd William Ilsley, his heirs, executors, administrators & assignes, from time to time & at all times henceforth forever, shal have, hold, use, occupy, possess & enjoye all the abovesaid two four acre lotts and every part & parcell thereof, without any molestation or interruption of me ye above mentioned William Sawyer and Ruth my wife, our heires, executors, administrators or assignes, or any other man whatsoever, or any other person or persons laying claime in, by, from or under us, or any or either of us, either any or either of our heires, executors or assignes. In witness whereof I the abovesd William Sawyer & Ruth my wife have sett to our hands & seales, the tenth of January in the yeare of our Lord, one thousand, six hundred, fifty & two.
William Sawyer
Ruth Sawyer her marke.
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us,
Anthony Somerby.
Peeter Tappan.
To all Christian people to whom this present writeing shall come: I, William Ilsly of Newbury, in the county of Essex, in New England, & Barbary my wife, send greeting: Know yee, that I, William Ilsly & Barbary my wife, for & in consideration of the inheritance of two foure acres lotts, be they more or less, resigned & yeilded up into my possession, to remaine to me & to mine heires forever; have given, granted, enfeofed, covenanted, bargained & fully sould, & by these presents doe give, grant, enfeofe, sell, confirme & make over unto William Sawyer, of the abovesaid towne and county, all that parcell of land now in ye possession of William Sawyer abovesaid, as it lyeth scituate in Newbery, being that which the said William Sawyer have built his house & barne upon, containing about eight acres, be it more or less, bounded with the land of William Pillsbury formerly Mr. Rawson’s on the east, the highwaye on the north, and a lane on the west, & the land of Aquilla Chase on the south, with all & singuler the fences, profitts, privilidges & appurtenances thereunto belonging. To have & to hold all the abovesaid eight acres, more or less, respectively to the proper use, & behofe, of the aforesaid William Sawyer, his heirs, executors or assignes forever; & I the forenamed William Ilsly & Barbary my wife, for ourselves, our heirs, executors and assignes, doe covenant, promise & agree to & with the said William Sawyer, his heirs, executors or assignes, to warrantise the sale of the said eight acres, and to free the said parcell of land of eight acres, more or less, from all & all manner of former deeds, grants, sales, covenants, bargains & engagements whatsoever; and that the said William Sawyer, his heirs, executors & assignes, from time to time & at all times henceforth forever, shall have, hold, use, occupy, possess & enjoy all the abovesaid eight acres, and every part & parcell thereof, without any molestation or interruption of me ye abovesaid William Ilsley & Barbary my wife, our heirs, executors or assignes, or any person or persons whatsoeever laying any claime thereunto, in, by, from or under us, or any or either of us, either or either of our heires, executors or assignes. In witnesse whereof I the abovenamed William Ilsly & Barbary my wife, have sett our hands & seales the tenth day of January, in the yeare of our Lord one thousand, six hundred, fifty two.
William Ilsly.
Barbary Ilsly. her marke.
Signed, sealed & d’d. in the presence of us,
Anthony Somerby.
Peeter Tappan.
He and eight other men were named on October 20, 1653 in a list of those who had “neglected the watch at Newbery” DO12. William signed the Newbury petition to restore Lieutenant Robert Pike, but when questioned in 1654 by Captain William Gerrish and Nicholas “Noys” about his motive for doing so, he stated that Robert Pike was a peaceable man, and he apologized that he had offended the court DO12. He purchased a parcel of eight acres of upland in Newbury from William and Dorathy Pilsbury of Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts for the sum of twelve pounds on March 20, 1654 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:
To all Christian people to whom this present writing shall come: I, William Pilsbury of Newbury, in the countye of Essex, in New England, & Dorathy my wife, send greeting: Know yee, that I, the said William Pilsbury, for and in consideration of twelve pounds in hand paid & by mee received: have given, granted, enfeofed, covenanted & fully bargained & sold, & by these presents doe give, grant, aliene, sell, confirme & make over, unto William Sawyer of ye abovesaid towne & county, all that eight acres of land, as it lyeth in Newbury, being part of that forty acres formerly purchased of Mr. Rawson, lying in the northwest corner of the said land, to run all along as farr as William Sawyer’s land lyeth, being bounded with the land of the said William Sawyer on the northwest, & the hyeway on the northeast, the land of the said William Pillsbury on the south east & southwest, with all & singuler the profitts and appurtenances thereunto belonging. To have & to hold all the said eight acres of upland, to ye proper use & behoofe of the aforesd William Sawyer, his heirs, executors or assignes forever, and I the said William Pilsbury & Dorothy my wife, for us, our heirs, executors or assigns, do warrantise the sale of the said eight acres of upland, & to free it from all former sales, mortgages & engagements whatsoeever; and that the said William Sawyer, his heires, executors or assignes, from time to time & at all times shall use, occupy, possess & enjoy all the abovesaid eight acres, without any molestation or interuption of me the abovesaid William Pilsbury & Dorathy my wife, our heirs, executors or assignes, or any other person or persons laying claime thereunto, in, by, from or under us or them, or any or either of us or their heirs, executors or assignes; and wee doe hereby give full possession of the aforesaid eight acres unto the above named William Sawyer, and we doe acknowledge it to be his true & lawfull inheritance. In witness whereof we the abovesaid William Pilsbury & Dorathy have sett our hands & seales, March the twentieth, in ye year of our Lord one thousand, six hundred, fifty foure.
William Pilsbury. his marke.
the marke of Dorathy Pilsbury.
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us,
Stephen Swett.
Anthony Somerby.
William Sawyer was called a yeoman of Newbury on February 25, 1656 when he and Samuel Plumer of Newbury exchanged parcels of salt marsh in the great marsh in Newbury SA21. Samuel gave up his ten acres of salt marsh at a place called “Jerico” for the sum of sixteen pounds, and in return he received five acres of salt marsh and paid eight pounds to Samuel Plumer SA21. About a decade after this land exchange, he purchased that same ten acres of salt marsh back from Samuel SA21. The two deeds below were transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and have been reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
Know all men whoe it maye concerne, that I, Samuel Plumer of Newbury, in New England, in the county of Essex, yeoman, for & in consideration of the full some of eight pounds of currant pay to me paid in hand before the sealing hereof: have bargained & sould, enfeofed & confirmed, & by these presents do bargain, sell, enfeofe & confirme, unto William Sawyer of the towne & county aforesaid, yeoman, five acres of salt marsh, be it more or less, lying in the great marsh, in Nubury, with all the profits, privilidges & appurtenances belonging thereto, to the said William & his heirs forever, being bounded with marsh of Richard Lowell toward the south, Richard Dole toward the west, John Pike sen’r. toward ye north, Richard Fitts on the east, & in the town of Nubury aforesaid; and I the above named Samuel Plumer doe covenant, promise & agree to warrantize the sale of the said five acres of marsh, to be free from all former sales, mortgages & engagements whatsoeever; and that the said William Sawyer shall from time to time & at all times, use, occupy, possess and enjoy all the aforesaid five acres of marsh, with all the profitts, privilidges & appurtenances thereto belonging, from all molestation or interruption of mee the sd Samuell Plumer, my heirs, executors or assignes, or any other person or persons claiming any right, title or interest thereunto, in, by, from or under me, or any or either of my heirs, executors or assigns. In witnesse whereof I the abovesd Samuel Plumer have heereunto sett my hand & seale, dated the five & twentieth day of February, Anno: Dom: one thousand, six hundred, fifty & six, 1656.
Samuel Plumer.
Subscribed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us,
James Chute.
Mary Pease. her marke
Know all men whoe it may concerne, that I, William Sawyer of Nubery, in the county of Essex, yeoman, for & in consideration of the full some of sixteen pounds of currant pay, to me in hand paid before the sealing hereof: have bargained & sould, enfeofed & confirmed, & by this present writing doth bargaine, sell, enfeofe & confirme, unto Samuell Plumer of the towne & county aforesaid, yeoman, tenn acres of salt marsh, be it more or less, lying in Nubery great marsh in a place called Jerico, with all ye profits, privilidges & appurtenances to ye same belonging, to the said Samuell & his heires forever, bounded with marsh of David Wheeler toward the east, Richard Dole on the west, Benjamin Roffe on ye north, & in the towne of Nubery aforesaid; and I the above named William Sawyer doe promise, covenant & agree to warrantise the sale of the said tenn acres of marsh, to be free from all former sales, mortgages & engagements whatsoeever; and that the said Samuell shall at all times & from time to time use, occupy, possess & enjoye the aforesaid tenn acres of salt marsh, w’th all the profitts, privilidges & appurtenances thereto belonging, from all mollestation or interruption of mee the said William Sawyer, my heires, executors or assignes, or any other person or persons claiming any right, title or interest thereunto, in, by, from or under me, or any of mine heirs, executors or assignes. In witnesse whereof I the above named William Sawyer have hereunto sett my hand and seale, dated the five & twentieth day of February, Anno: Dom: one thousand, six hundred fifty & six, 1656.
William Sawyer.
Subscribed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us,
James Chute.
Mary Pease. her marke.
On October 30, 1657, he purchased fifty acres of “devident” (division) land in Newbury from John and Mary Cutting for the sum of nineteen pounds SA21. The deed below was transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and has been reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
To all Christian people to whom this present writing Shall Come I John Cutting of Newbury in the county of Essex in New England and Mary my Wife Send greeting, Know yee that I the abovenamed John Cutting and Mary my Wife, for and in considderation of nynteene pounds in hand payd, and by me received the whole & every part therof I acknowledge Have Given, granted, covenanted enfeoffed and fully Bargained and Sould And by these presents do give grant, enfeoffe, Sell, confirme and make over unto William Sawyer, of the abovesayd Towne and county all my part and portion of devident Land which was granted to me From the Towne of Newbury and as it was layd out to me conteining fifty acres be it more or lesse as it lyeth Scituate in in [sic] Newbury abovesayd, in the field called the devident field, being bounded with Mr Spensers and Abraham Tappans Land on the North & runing from the norwest corner (Joyneing to Abraham Tappans Land Thomas Brownes land) Southerly an hundred rods, in to the common, and runs about an hundred and twenty rods eastward to a marked tree, by the way goeing Birchen meddow and is about twenty rod in bredth, to Mr Spencers lyne thence runing to a poynt to Anthony Morses marked tree by the way To have and to hould all the abovesayd premisses, to the proper use & behoofe of the abovenamed William Sawyer his heires executors and Assignes forever, And I the abovenamed John Cutting and Mary my Wife, for our selves our heires executors or assignes doe covenant pmise and agree to and with the abovesayd William Sawyer his heires executors or assignes, to warrantize the Sale of the abovenamed fifty acres of divident land & to free it from all and all maner of formar grants, Sales, covenants, deeds, Bargaines and entanglements whatsoever, And that the sayd William Sawyer his heires, executors, and assignes, shall from time to tyme and at all times henceforth for ever peaceably and quietly, use occupie possese and enjoy all the abovesayd fifty acres of dividant Land, without any molestation or interruption of me the abovenamed John Cutting and Mary my Wife our heires executors or assignes or any pson or psons whatsoever layeing claime therunto In by from or under us or any or either of us our heires executors or assignes, and doe heerby acknowledge to have given the sayd William Sawyer possession of the abovesayd fiftye of devident land In wittnes wherof I the above named John Cutting and Mary my Wife have Sett our hands & seales the thirtyeth day of octobar, In the yeare of our Lord one thousand Six hundred fiftie Seaven
John Cutting and a Seale
Mary Cutting & a marke & seale
Signed Sealed & delivered in the presents of us
John Browne
Anthony Somerby
At a court held in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts on March 25, 1662, he was a defendant in a suit of trespass against the plaintiffs, Christopher Palmer and Walter Roper, who were the guardians of Joseph Palmer DO13. The plaintiffs claimed that William Sawyer detained, utilized, and refused to deliver a twelve-acre parcel of salt marsh which formerly belonged to William Palmer but then belonged to Joseph Palmer, by the grant of John Sherman DO13. This was the same marshland which William Sawyer had purchased of Christopher Palmer in 1647, but the court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, stating that his title was good DO13. Because William relinquished his parcel of four acres of land at the old town part of Newbury (which was previously owned by William Palmer), he was granted four acres, which was to be positioned with his eight acres of division land “beyond the Newtowne, bounded by Mr. Gerrish’s land on the east, Gyles Cromlon’s land on the west, the way on the north and the common on the south” DO13. Further, he relinquished ten of the twelve acres of marshland by the ox common, which was a lot formerly owned by William Palmer, and so he was granted ten acres of a marsh which was called Jericho, bounded by Benjamin Roafe’s land on the north, David Wheeler’s land on the east, the lots of Tristram Coffin and Samuell Plumer on the south, and the land of Samuell Plumer on the western edge DO13.
He purchased a parcel of thirty-six acres of “divident” (division) land in Newbury from Richard and Margrett Lowle for the sum of twenty pounds on May 24, 1665 SA21. Two weeks later on June 6, 1665, he purchased a several parcels of land from Joseph and Sarah Palmer of Newbury for the sum of eighty-five pounds; this purchase included a four-acre house lot and a house in Newbury, four acres of upland on the little hill at the old town, eight acres of division land, and twelve acres of salt marsh SA21. These two deeds were transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and have been reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
To all Christian people to whom this present writing Shall come I Richard Lowle of Newbury in the county of Essex in New england and Margrett my wife send greeting Know yee that I the abovesayd Richard Lowle & Margrett my Wife, for & in considderation of twenty pounds in hand payd & by me received Have covenanted demised enfeoffed and fully & clearly and absolutly Bargained & Sould And by these presents do demise covenant enfeoffe confirme Bargaine, Sell and make over, unto William Sawyer of the abovesayd Towne and County, All that pcell of divident land formarly layd out to my Father Percivall Lowle deceased conteineing by estimation thirty Six acres lyeing and being in Newbury aforesayd int he field of divident Land bounded with the land of John Hale on the east the land of Isaack Browne on the South the Common on the west & north To have and to hould All the abovesayd thirty Six acres of land with all the wood timbar proffits & apptenances, to the proper use & behoofe of the abovesayd William Sawyer his heires executors administrators and Assignes for ever, And I the sayd Richard Lowle and Margrett my wife for our selves our heires executors and assignes, doe covenant promise & agree to & with the abovesayd William Sawyer his heires executors & assignes, that the sayd William Sawyer his heires &c. Shall from time to time & at all times henceforth forever, have, hold, use, occupie possesse & enjoy all & every part & pcell abovesayd premisses, without any lett hindrance, suite molestation or interruption of me the abovesayd Richard Lowle and Margrett my wife our heires executors administrators or assignes or any other pson or psons lawfully claimeing In from by or under us or any or other of us, either any or either of our heires executors or assignes, and doe acknowledge heerby to have given lawfull possession of the abovesd premisses unto the abovesd William Sawyer In wittnes wherof I the abovesayd Richard Lowle and Margrett my wife have sett our hands & seale, the foure & twentieth day of may in the yeare of our Lord one thousand Six hundred Sixty five int he seaventeenth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles of great Brittaine France and Ireland King &c.
Richard Lowle & a seale
Margrett Lowle and a marke & seale
Signed Sealed & delivered in the presents of us
Anthony Somerby
Elizabeth Lowle
To all Christian people to whom this present wrighting Shall come I Joseph Palmer of Newbury in the county of Essex Massachusetts in New England and Sarah my Wife Send greeting: Know yee that I Joseph Palmer and Sara my wife, for and in considderation of fourescore and five pounds in hand payd by William Sawyer of the abovesayd Towne & County, and by me received Have given, granted, covenanted, enfeoffed and fully clearly and absolutly Bargained and Sould And by these presents doe give grant, covenant, enfeoff, confirme sell and make over unto the abovesayd William Sawyer All that Measuage & tenement, with the severall pcells, of upland and meddow which was granted by the Towne of Newbury unto my Father William Palmer deceased, that is to say a house and foure acre lott, as it is Scittuate, in Newbury aforesayd, bounded with the Land of William Ilsly on the North, the land of Frances Plumer on the South Merimack Street on the west and John Emeryes Land on the East, Allso foure acres of upland be it more or lesse lyeing ont he north Syde of the little Hill at the ould Towne, and eight acres of devidant land, in the field of devidant be it more or lesse bounded by that wch was Capt: his devident land on the east and and [sic] Gyles Cromloms on the west, and twelve acres of Saltmarsh land, be it more or lesse, bounded by Nath. Wyer ont he west William Ilsly ont he east Gyles Cromlom on the north and a great creeke on the south comonly called the Pine Iland creeke with all and Singular the comons Frehold proffitts preveledges and apptenances therunto belonging To have and to hold all the abovesaid premisses, respectively to the proper use and behoofe, of the abovesayd William Sawyer his heires executors and assignes forever. And I the above sayd Joseph Palmer and Sara my wife for our selves, our heires executors and assignes, do bind and engage, unto William Sawyer his heires executors or assignes, that the Sayd William Sawyer his heires executors &c Shall from time to time and at all times henceforth forever, have hold, use, occupie posses and enjoy all the abovesayd premisses, without any lett hindrance, suite, molestation or incumbrance of me the abovesayd Joseph Palmer and Sara my wife, our heires, executors or assignes, or any other pson or psons lawfully claimeing, In by from or under us or any or either of us, either any or either of our heires, executors or assignes, and doe heerby acknowledge to have given lawfull possession of the abovesayd premisses, unto the abovesayd William Sawyer In wittnes wherof I the abovesayd Joseph Palmer and Sara my wife, have Sett our hands and seales the sixt day of June in the yeare of our Lord one thousand Six hundred Sixty five In the seaventeenth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles by the grace of God of great Brittaine France & Ireland King defensor fidei
Joseph Palmer and a Seale
Sara Palmer & a marke & a seale
Signed Sealed & delivered in the presents of us
Anthony Somerby
Abiell Somerby
On September 21, 1666, he and Samuel Plumer reverted to the original ownership of their parcels of salt marsh SA21. William purchased that same ten-acre parcel of salt marsh at “Jerico” in the great marsh in Newbury that he had previously sold to Samuel Plumer for the same amount he sold it for (sixteen pounds), and Samuell Plumer purchased the same five-acre parcel of salt marsh in the great marsh that he had previously sold to William Sawyer for the same amount he had sold it (eight pounds) SA21. Boths of these deeds were witnessed by Abraham Tappan and William Tittcomb SA21.
He was a member of the Grand Jury at the Ipswich Court on September 30, 1662 DO13 and September 28, 1680 DO19, and he was a juror at the Ipswich Court on September 29, 1668 DO15. He was probably the same William Sawyer who signed a petition which was presented in the Hampton Court on October 10, 1671, in which various inhabitants and soldiers of Amesbury requested to continue military training procedures under Sergeant John Hoyt, Sr. locally in Amesbury, rather than under Samuell Foot in Salisbury DO15. This indicates that at this time he may have resided in or near Amesbury, Massachusetts, which is five miles northwest of Newbury. A partial transcription of the petition follows DO15:
That whereas yor petitioners… desire and endeavor… to live in piety peace and unity… Wee have for some time past, and at prsent doe live, (beeing but a small place) under the Conduct of or loveing friend & neighbour John Hoyt, senr, our Chosen and established sergeant & chiefe military officer here… we are forced to complayn of Samuell Foot, whom wee cannot but apprehend to be unquiat and factious in word & deed: he hath… presumed to warne us to traine at the Town of Salsbery, which is 3 or 4 miles, and to some of us 6 or 7 miles from our owne homes… our Humble Request is to the honoured Court that we may not be forced to serve two masters & in two paces… iff it may stand with the favour of this Court that we may still exercise under the leadeing of our owne established officer John Hoyt senr…
An order issued by Thomas Woodbridge to Captain Gerrish on May 4, 1674 stated that the captain should allow “Goodman Sawer” to have eight thousand shingle nails and two thousand board nails DO17. This order also mentioned “Will. Sayear’s receipt” DO17, and because of this, it may have referred to the William Sawyer who is the subject of this biographical sketch. On November 14, 1676 at the Salisbury Court, “William Sawer of Nuberie” acknowledged the court’s judgment for Tom, “the Indian”, who was to be paid in silver money and in Indian corn, which was to be delivered to William Bradbury (Bradburie) in Salisbury DO17.
William made a grant of land to his son, Stephen, on May 19, 1693, and on May 30, 1693, Ruth Sawyer appeared before Daniel Peirce, a Justice of the Peace, to relinquish her right of dower to the land; the most pertinent portions of this deed have been transcribed ES8:
To all people To whome this present writing shall come I William Sawyer Sen.r of Newbury in ye Countey of Essex in ye province of Massachuset[t]s Bay in New England Send Greeting Know yee that I ye said William Sawyer for Divers good Causes and Considerations me Hereunto Moving but Especialy for & in Consideration of ye Intire affection which I beare To my Loving & Dutifull Son Stephen Sawyer of ye Towne & County aforesd Have Given Granted alien[ate]d Enfeofed and Confirmed and doe hereby Fully Freely Clearly & absolutely Give Grant alien Enfeoffe and Confirm unto him my said son all that my Tract of land where I now Dwell lying in ye Township of Newbury Containing about Nineteen Acres be it more or less bounded by ye Countrey Road Easterly by ye Land of Job Pilsbury Southerly by ye land of John Atkinson & Moses Pilsbury Westerly and by ye land comonly knowne by ye Name of Sawyers lane Northerly together with my now dwelling house & Out houses & barns Orchards and Gardens Thereupon also five acres of Salt Marsh be it more or less lying in ye Township of Newbury bounded by ye land of Cap.t Thomas Noyes Southerly and Westerly by ye Marsh of John Woodbridge Esq.r Northerly & Easterly also about Two acres and a halfe of Marsh be it more or less lying in ye aforesd Towneship in ye great Marshes ther[e] bounded by ye land of Capt Thomas Noyes Northerly by ye land of John Rolfe Westerly & by ye land now in ye Occupacon of Henry Luntt Southerly & by ye land of William Noodey [the first letter of this surname is uncertain] Easterly Also One halfe & one acre more then ye one halfe of all that my Tract of Marsh lying in a Tract of Marsh in Newbury aforesd Knowne by ye Name of Jericho Marshes containing about Ten acres be ye same more or less bounded Easterly by ye land of John Stevens, Southerly by ye land of Leiut Tristram Coffin Westerly by ye land of Mr Richard Dole Sen.r & Northerly by ye land of Ephraim Plummer & Silvanus Plum[m]er also my Free hold Free Com[m]onage or Comon right in ye Towneship of Newbury also my Rate Lott in ye upper woods lying in Newbury in a Tract of Land there Knowne by ye Rate Lotts as it is bounded in ye Town Booke of Newbury To Have & To Hold all ye above Demised premises viz housing Lands both uplands & meadows or Marshes together with my Freehold with all ye priviledges and appurtenances to ye same belonging to him my said son Stephen Sawyer his heirs Executors Administrators & assigns as an Estate of Inheritance in Fee Simple For Ever… Provided allwayes & this is my real & true Meaning in this my Gift & Grant that my said son Stephen Sawyer shall not come unto the actuall possession of any of ye above Demised premises or of any part thereof until Imediately after my Death or ye Death of my Dear & Loving Wife Ruth but doe Reserve the use of all ye above Demised premises and Every pt thereof to my Owne use & ye use of my Now Wife during Our Natural lives or Either of us & I doe further Reserve liberty to my Selfe to make Sale of Any of ye abovesd Lands i[f] I should be Reduced to absolute Necessity Therunto by some Extraordinary providence & not Elce Provided also that he my said son Stephen Sawyer his hiers Executors or Administrators doe Faithfully & truly pay to my four Daughters Twenty poundes in good payment within five years after my death and ye Death of my Wife That is To my Daughter Ruth Wife of Benjamin Morss five poundes To my Daughter Sarah wife of Joshua Browne five pounds To my Daughter Mary wife of John Emery Jun.r five pounds & To Frances my Daughter Wife of Thomas Treadwell five poundes my meaning in This gift to my Son is that if I should dye & Leave my wife a widdow & she should Marry againe that then imediately my sd son his heyers Executors Administrators & assignes shall come to ye actuall possession of all ye above Demised premises… I ye said William Sawyer Sen.r have herunto set my hand & seale this Nineteenth Day of May Ann.o Dom. One Thousand Six hundred Ninety & Three…
William may have lived in West Newbury, and he was a founder of the Baptist Church of Newbury in 1682 AP2. William died intestate in 1702 or 1703, and the administration of his estate was granted on March 1, 1702/3 AM1, AP2, ES5. The cemetery called Sawyer Hill Burying Ground was probably founded on or after March 25, 1708/9, when the West Parish Church of Newbury voted to enclose one acre of land with a stone wall and a gate CU8. A transcription of the administration of William’s estate follows ES5:
Administration to John Emery on William Sawyers sen Estate
John Appleton Esqr Com[m]issionated by his Excellency Joseph Dudley Capt. Generll. & Governr. in Cheif in & Over her Maj.es Province of the Massach.tt Bay in New England With the advice & Consent of her Maj.es Counsell of sd. Province for the Granting of Probates of Wills & Letters of Adminso in sd. County of Essex. To John Em[m]ery of Newberry Carpentr. Son in Law to William Sawyer senr. Late of Newberry Deceasd. Intestate by Right of his Late Wife Mary Sawyer Daughtr. to the Deceasd. Greeting Trusting in yor. Care & Fidelity. I Doe per These prsents Com[m]itt unto you full power & authority to adminisr. all & singular the Goods. Chattels, Rights & Credetts of the Decd. and well & Truly & faithfully dispose of the same according to Law, & also to Aske. Gather, Levy, Sue for, demand, Recover & Receive all & Whatsoever Credetts of ye sd. Decd. Which to him, Whilst he lives and att the Time of his Death did appertaine & belong. & to pay all Debts in which the Decd. Stood bound soe farr as his Goods. Chattelle, Rights and Creditts Can Extend According to the true value Thereof. and to Make a true & p[er]fect Inventory of all & Singular the Goods Chattel Rights & and [sic] Creditts of ye Decd. & to Exhibitt ye same Into the registrs office of sd County at or before ye first munday in Apprill next Ensueing & to Rendr. a plain & True acco. of yor. sd. Admo. [account of your said administrator] upon Oath at or before the first Munday of May Next Which Will be in ye year of o[u]r. Lord God. one thousd. seven hundd. & Three. This I Doe by These prsents Ordaine Constitute & appoint you Adminisror of all & Singular ye Goods Chattels Rights, & Creditts of the Deceasd. aforesd. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand & Caryd. the Seal of sd. office to be hereunto affixed. Dated att Ipwch. The first Day of March Anno 1702/3
Ruth was the mother of John, Samuel, Ruth, Mary, Sarah, Hanna, William, Frances, Mary, Stephen, Hannah, and Frances MA26, AP2, SA11. William and Ruth lost three of their children, Mary, Hannah, and Frances, in the space of less than one year MA21, DO13. Clarence Torrey offered possible but unproved surnames for Ruth, which included Benford, Bedfield, and Bedford TO1.
John Sawyer was born on August 24, 1645 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA26. John Sawyer married Sarah Poore on February 18, 1675 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. John Sawyer was the father of seven known children born in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, who were Ruth, born on September 22, 1677, William, born on April 29, 1679, Sarah, born on May 20, 1681, John, born on April 25, 1683, Jonathan, born on March 4, 1684/5, David, born on January 13, 1686, and John, born on September 11, 1688 VI28. The death records for both John Sawyer and his son, John Sawyer occurred one after the other in the Newbury record book MA26. “John Sawyer dyed March 18th 1688/9” and “John Sawyer the son of the said John Sawyer dyed March 19th 1688/9” MA26.
Samuel Sawyer was born on November 22, 1646 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA26.
Ruth Sawyer was born on September 16, 1648 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA26. Ruth Sawyer married Benjamin Mors on August 27, 1667 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. Mary may have been the mother of Benjamin, Ruth, Joseph, William, Sara, Phillip, and Sarah; in the birth records of those Morse children (all born in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts), their father was listed as Benjamin Morse, Mors, or Morss VI28. Mary was the mother of Ann, Mary, and Samuell Morse, who were all born in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI28. In a deed dated November 22, 1707 from Benjamin Morse of Newbury to Phillip Morse, Benjamin Morse specifically named his children, who were his sons, Phillip Morse, Joseph Morse, Benjamin Morse, and his daughters, Ruth Moodey, Sarah Pillsberry, Ester Kelly, and Hannah Poor, Mary Merrill, Anne Morse ES18. This deed also specified that Phillip Morse was the son of Benjamin and Ruth Morse, calling Ruth his mother ES18. Benjamin Morse, the son of Benjamin, was born on August 24, 1668 VI28. Ruth Morse, the daughter of Benjamin, was born on December 8, 1669 VI28. Joseph Morss, the son of Benjamin, was born on February 5 or 10, 1671 VI28. William Morss, the son of Benjamin, was born on January 23, 1673 VI28. Sara Morse, the daughter of Benjamin, was born on January 13, 1675 VI28. Phillip Morse, the son of Benjamin, was born on October 19, 1677 VI28. Sarah Morse, the daughter of Benjamin, was born on January 19, 1679 VI28. Ann Mors, the daughter of Benjamin and Ruth, was born on March 27, 1681 VI28. An unidentified Morse child was born to Benjamin Morse in March 1681/2 VI28. Mary Mors, the daughter of Benjamin and Ruth, was born on May 15, 1686 VI28. Samuell Morss, the son of Benjamin and Ruth, was born on December 7, 1688 VI28. Ruth died sometime after August 6, 1715 ES18. In the record of a deed from Benjamin Morse, Sr. of Newbury to his son, Jos. Morse (dated February 24, 1702), Ruth Morse appeared on August 6, 1715 before John Woodbridge, Justice of the Peace of Essex County and “acknowledged her hand and Seale and gave up her right of Dower of the land Conveyed in the above written instrument” ES18.
Mary Sawyer was born on February 7, 1649/50 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA26. Mary Sawyer, the daughter of William, died on June 24, 1659 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6, MA21.
Sarah Sawyer was born on November 20, 1651 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA26. Sara Sawyer married Joshua Browne on January 15, 1668 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. Joshua Brown (or Browne) was the father seven children born in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, who were Joseph Brown, born on October 18, 1669, Joshua Browne, born on May 18, 1671, Tristram Browne, born on December 21, 1672, Sara Brown, born on December 5, 1676, Ruth Brown, born on October 29, 1678, Elizabeth Browne, born on April 2, 1682, and Samuell Browne, born to Joshua and Sarah Browne on September 4, 1687 VI28. Joshua Brown, the son of Joshua and Sarah, died at age seventy-one on November 18, 1742 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. Joshua Brown, a deacon, died at age seventy-eight on March 20, 1720 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. Sarah, the widow of Joshua Brown, died at age eighty-one on August 2, 1732 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6.
Hanna Sawyer was born on February 23, 1653/4 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA26. Hanna Sawyer, the daughter of William, died just before her sixth birthday on January 25, 1659 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6, MA21.
William Sawyer was born on February 1, 1655/6 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA26. He married Sarah (Littlefield) Wells, the daughter of Francis Littlefield and the widow of John Wells of Wells, York County, Maine sometime before November 6, 1677 LI1, WE8. William and Sarah Sawyer were the parents of Joseph, born August 14, 1678, Francis, born on March 6, 1681, Daniel, born on May 26, 1683, Hannah, born on April 9, 1685, and Ruth, who was born on May 26, 1687 AP2, WE8. Hannah Sawyer married an individual with the surname Chesley AP2. Ruth Sawyer married James Sampson AP2. William “Sayer” of Wells wrote his will on June 4, 1718 SA6 and died on June 7, 1718 AP2.
Frances Sawyer was born on March 24, 1657/8 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA26. Frances Sawyer, the daughter of William, died before her second birthday in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, on February 7, 1659 VI6.
Mary Sawyer was born on July 29, 1660 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA26. Mary married John Emery, the son of John Emery, Jr., who was the son of John Emery, Sr., on June 13, 1683 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6, AP2, EM1, RE3. Mary and John Emery, Jr. were the parents of Mary, born on December 29, 1684, John, born on September 29, 1686, Josiah, born on December 19, 1688, Daniel, born on June 15, 1693, Lydia, born on April 29, 1698, and Samuel, born on October 25, 1699, all born in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI28. They may have also been the parents of Hannah and Ruth EM1. She was likely the Mary Emery, wife of John Emery, who died on November 3, 1699 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6 because John Emery next married Abigel Bartlet on May 27, 1700 in Newbury MA26.
Stephen Sawyer was born on April 25, 1663 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA26. Stephen Sawyer married Anne Titcombe on March 10, 1686/7 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. Stephen and Ann Sawyer were the parents of four children who appeared in the Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts record books VI28. Stephen and Ann were the parents of Ann, born on August 1, 1687 VI28. Stephen and “An” were the parents of Daniell, born on January 28, 1688 VI28. Stephen and Ann were the parents of Enock, born on June 22, 1694 VI28. Corporal Stephen and Anne Sawyer were the parents of Elizabeth, born on June 25 or 26, 1703 VI28. They may have also been the parents of Sarah, who married Benjamin Long in 1716, and of Stephen Sawyer AP2. Stephen Sawyer, Jr., the son of Stephen, died in 1765 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. Stephen Sawyer, the son of William and Ruth, died at the age of ninety-one on June 8, 1753 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6.
Hannah Sawyer was born on January 11, 1664/5 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA26. Hannah Sawyer, the daughter of William, died on August 28, 1683 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6.
Frances Sawyer was born on November 3, 1670 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA26. Frances Sawyer was said to have married Thomas Tredwell as his second wife in Ipswich, Massachusetts on or by May 19, 1693 TO1. Thomas Tredwell, Sr. died on January 13, 1743 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, and Frances, the widow of Thomas Tredwell, died in Ipswich in October 1744 VI24.
Ruth Sawyer acknowledged the two deeds of sale dated January 10, 1652 between her and William Sawyer (as the grantors) and William Ilsly (as the grantee) to be her own act and deed before William Gerrish and Nicholas Noyes, the commissioners of Newbury on March 25, 1656 and March 25, 1657 SA21. Ruth was alive on May 30, 1693 when she appeared before Daniel Peirce, a Justice of the Peace, to relinquish her right of dower to land granted from her husband to her son, Stephen ES8.