~~ Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts ~~

--- Fourth Generation in America ---

 

Families of the Children of John3 Washburn and Rebecca Lapham

 

 

         The grandchildren of John Washburn and Rebecca Lapham have been pretty well established through vital records, deeds, and wills. The second wife of son Josiah Washburn remains a mystery, however.

 

 

 

 

John1 Washburn (4th)

 

 

John2 Washburn (5th)

 

 

 

 

Margery1 Moore

 

John3 Washburn (6th)

 

 

 

 

 

Experience1 Mitchell

 

 

Elizabeth2 Mitchell

 

 

 

 

Jane2 Cooke

Josiah4 Washburn

 

 

 

Lt. John4 Washburn (7th)

 

 

 

Joseph4 Washburn

 

 

 

William4 Washburn

 

 

 

Abigail4 Washburn

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas1 Lapham

 

 

Rebecca2 Lapham

 

 

 

 

Mary Tilden

 

 

(110.) Josiah4 Washburn, eldest son of (56) John3 Washburn (6th), (43) John2 (5th), (28) John1 (4th); born in Bridgewater, Plymouth Colony, on 11 Feb. 1679/80,[1] married 1.) Mercy3 Tilson, daughter of Ephraim2 and Elizabeth2 (Hoskins) Tilson,[2] on 11 Feb. 1702/3 in Plymouth,[3] MA. She was born say ca. 1678 in Plymouth, a grand­daughter of Edmund1 and Joane Tilson,[4] and of William1 and Anne1 (Haynes/Hines) Hoskins.[5] They lived in Bridgewater.

         Mercy (Tilson) Washburn died in ca. 1719 or 1720, and Josiah Washburn remarried to 2.) (_____) in ca. 1724.[6] Josiah deeded his homestead land in Bridgewater to his son, Joseph Washburn, on 25 Nov. 1731, which Joseph acknowledged as his share of his father’s estate on 3 Dec. 1731.[7] Josiah deeded land to his son Josiah Washburn, Jr., in 1746,[8] son Joseph Washburn in 1746,[9] and he deeded a 39-acre parcel of land in Bridgewater to his son Nathan Washburn on 12 Mar. 1746.[10] He deeded two more parcels of land to his sons Joseph Washburn and Nathan Washburn on 13 Dec. 1750.[11]

         Josiah Washburn died intestate on 27 Feb. 1751 in Bridgewater,[12] and his sons Josiah (Jr.) and Nathan Washburn were granted administration of his estate on 1 Apr. 1751. His Inventory was appraised by Josiah Edson Jr., Solomon Leonard, and Benjamin Willis Jr., on 5 Apr. 1751, and presented in probate court on 29 Apr. 1751.[13] Josiah Washburn’s second wife’s name is not mentioned in his probate records, and she may have died before 1751.

         Josiah Washburn had 8 chil­dren by Mercy Tilson, and probably 1 more son by his unknown second wife:[14]

+       353      i   Joanna5 Washburn, born on 14 Nov. 1703 in Bridgewater,[15] married Ebenezer Leach, son of John and Alice Leach, of Bridgewater,[16] on 26 Dec. 1734 in Bridgewater.[17] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

+       354     ii   Capt. Joseph5 Washburn, born on 22 July 1705 in Bridgewater,[18] married (167) Deliverance Orcutt, daughter of William and Hannah (Smith) Orcutt (Jr.),[19] in ca. 1728.[20] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

+       355    iii   Lydia5 Washburn, born on 16 Aug. 1707 in Bridgewater,[21] married Samuel West, possibly son of Peter and Patience West, of Duxbury, MA, probably as his second wife, on 10 Mar. 1736/7 in Bridgewater.[22] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

+       356    iv   Jemima5 Washburn, born on 27 June 1710 in Bridgewater,[23] married (208) Josiah4 Leon­ard (Jr.), son of Josiah3 and (69) Margery3 (Washburn) Leonard,[24] on 24 Jan. 1739/40 in Bridgewater.[25] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

         357     v   Rebekah5 Washburn, born on 15 Feb. 1711/12 in Bridgewater,[26] married Samuel4 Alden, son of Deacon Joseph3 and Hannah3 (Dunham) Alden (Jr.),[27] as his second wife, on 28 Dec. 1752 in Bridgewater.[28] He was born on 20 Aug. 1705 in Bridgewater,[29] and had married first to Abiah Edson, daughter of Capt. Josiah and Sarah (Packard) Edson,[30] in ca. 1728,[31] by whom he had children. Rebekah (Washburn) Alden probably had no children. Samuel Alden was a member of the North Middleborough Congregational Church and was involved with Robert Washburn in the controversy with Rev. Isaac Backus about the baptism of infants. Rev. Backus had refused to baptize infants, which Alden and Washburn disagreed with, and were suspended from the church on 8 Nov. 1751,[32] and excommunicated in 1753.[33] Alden was eventually dismissed to the Second Congregational Church of Bridgewater, while Robert Washburn moved to Plainfield, CT, in 1753. Samuel Alden died on 24 Mar. 1783 in Bridgewater,[34] but no probate records were found for his estate. Rebekah (Washburn) Alden died on 20 Nov. 1785 in Bridgewater, aged 75 years.[35]

+       358    vi   Josiah5 Washburn (Jr.), born on 3 June 1716 in Bridgewater,[36] married 1.) Abiah/Abigail Curtis on 29 Jan. 1745 in Bridgewater,[37] and 2.) Huldah5 Leonard, daughter of Ephraim4 and Martha (Perkins) Leonard,[38] on 15 Oct. 1755 in Bridgewater,[39] and 3.) Elisabeth “Betty” Snow on 6 July 1775 in Bridgewater.[40] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

+       359   vii   Mercy5 Washburn, born on 29 May 1718 in Bridgewater,[41] married Pelatiah Phinney, son of Joseph and Esther (West) Phinney/Finney,[42] of Plympton, on 28 Dec. 1738 in Bridgewater.[43] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

+       360  viii   Nathan5 Washburn, born ca. 1725 in Bridgewater, married Mary Mahurin, daugh­ter of Hugh and Mary (Snell) Mahurin/McHuron,[44] on 20 Apr. 1748 in Bridgewater.[45] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

         361    ix   (Unnamed child), died on 23 Jan. 1731/2 in Bridgewater.[46]

 

 

(111.) Lt. John4 Washburn (7th), second son of (56) John3 Washburn (6th), (43) John2 (5th), (28) John1 (4th); born in Bridgewater, Plymouth Colony, on 5 Apr. 1682,[47] married Margaret3 Packard, daughter of Nathaniel2 and Lydia (Smith[?]) Packard, of Bridgewater,[48] on 16 Feb. 1709/10 in Bridgewater.[49] She was born in ca. 1683 in Bridgewater,[50] a granddaughter of Samuel1 and Elizabeth1 Packard,[51] and they also settled in Bridgewater, MA. The will of Nathaniel Packard, of Bridgewater, dated 24 Apr. 1720, named a daughter Margaret, among others.[52]

         He was probably the John Washburn who was named as a co‑executor to the will of his uncle, Thomas Washburn, of Bridgewater, in 1732. On 25 Nov. 1716 John Washburn Sr., of Bridgewater, deeded part of his “home farme” to his son John Washburn.[53] Margaret Packard’s sister Lydia Packard married Jeremiah Howell, of Bridgewater, and when he died unexpectedly in 1726, Lidiah Howell was appointed as administrator of Jeremiah’s estate on 23 Nov. 1726,[54] and John Washburn was appointed as guardian of Jeremiah’s three daughters, Sarah Howell, Lidiah Howell, and Susannah Howell, all minors under the age of 14 years, on 10 Mar. 1726/7.[55]

         Margaret (Packard) Washburn died on 10 Dec. 1743 in Bridgewater, aged 60 years,[56] and Lt. John Washburn died testate on 6 July 1746 in Bridgewater, aged 64 years.[57] His will was dated 3 Apr. 1746, witnessed by Jonathan Pratt, Eleazer Carver Jr., and Josiah Edson Jr., and it was probated on 8 July 1746. He mentioned sons John, Nathaniel, Robert, and Abisher Washburn, and daughters Jane and Content, and heirs of daughter Margaret Holmes, deceased. He named his son Nathaniel Washburn as sole executor of his will. His inventory was presented on 11 July 1746 by Josiah Edson Jr., Eleazer Carver, and Moses Orcutt.[58] (See Appendix [A] for a full transcription of his will.)

         Lt. John Washburn and Margaret Packard had chil­dren:[59]

+       362      i   Lt. John5 Washburn (8th), born on 9 July 1711 in Bridgewater,[60] married Bethiah3 Keith, daughter of Samuel2 and Bethiah3 (Fobes) Keith, of Bridgewater,[61] on 12 Jan. 1737/8 in Bridgewater.[62] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

+       363     ii   Nathaniel5 Washburn, born on 3 Sept. 1713 in Bridgewater,[63] married Mary4 Pratt, daughter of Samuel3 and Hannah (Miller) Pratt (Jr.), of Middleborough,[64] on 28 Feb. 1739/40 in Middleborough.[65] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

+       364    iii   Robert5 Washburn, born on 23 May 1715 in Bridgewater,[66] married Mary4 Fobes, daughter of Joshua3 and Abigail (Dunbar) Fobes,[67] on 6 Mar. 1739/40 in Bridgewater.[68] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

         365    iv   Abraham Washburn, born on 19 Apr. 1717 in Bridgewater,[69] died young.[70]

+       366     v   Margaret5 Washburn, born on 22 Aug. 1718 in Bridgewater,[71] married Capt. Ephraim5 Holmes, son of John4 and Elizabeth4 (Tilson) Holmes (4th),[72] of Middleborough, on 19 Feb. 1740/1 in Bridgewater.[73] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

+       367    vi   Abisha5 Washburn, born on 16 June 1720 in Bridgewater,[74] married Hannah5 Morton, daughter of Capt. Ebenezer4 and Mercy (Foster) Morton,[75] of Middleborough, on 11 Aug. 1748 in Middleborough. (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

+       368   vii   Jane5 Washburn, born on 28 Mar. 1722 in Bridgewater,[76] married Thomas4 Thomson/Tomson, son of Shubael3 and Susanna (Parlow) Tomson, of Middleborough,[77] on 31 Oct. 1745 in Bridgewater.[78] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

+       369  viii   Content5 Washburn, born on 22 Apr. 1724 in Bridgewater,[79] married Joseph Lathrop, son of Mark and Hannah4 (Alden) Lathrop, of Easton, MA,[80] on 24 Oct. 1746 in Bridgewater.[81] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

 

 

(113.) William4 Washburn, youngest son of (56) John3 Washburn (6th), (43) John2 (5th), (28) John1 (4th); born in Bridgewater, Plymouth Colony, on 16 Feb. 1686/7,[82] married Experience Mann, possibly daughter of John and Alice (Bourne) Mann, of Braintree,[83] on 13 Jan. 1715 in Bridgewater,[84] and they also settled in Bridgewater. William Washburn deeded land in Bridgewater to his nephew, Joseph Washburn, which was adjoining land already owned by Joseph, on 29 Dec. 1731.[85]

         William Washburn died testate on 16 Mar. 1756 in Bridgewater.[86] His will was dated 11 Dec. 1749, witnessed by Josiah Washburn, Jr., Timothy Perkins, and Benjamin Willis, Jr., and was probated on 5 Apr. 1757. He named his son Ezekiel Washburn as executor of his estate, and he mentioned his wife, Experience, sons Ezekiel and William Washburn, and daughters Abigail Freelove, Zipporah Washburn, and Thankful Kinsley. His inventory was taken on 25 Mar. 1756 by John Benson, Benjamin Willis Jr., and Daniel Snell.[87] (See Appendix [B] for a full transcription of his will.)

         Experience (Mann) Washburn possibly remarried to Amos Snell (Jr.), supposedly son of Amos and Mary (Packard) Snell, of Bridgewater, probably as his second wife,[88] on 13 Mar. 1759 in Bridgewater.[89] He was born on 11 Mar. 1709 in Bridgewater,[90] so he must have been about 15 years younger than her.[91] Amos Snell was still living in Bridgewater, MA, in the 1790 federal census.[92] He died on 21 Feb. 1791 in Bridgewater, “old,”[93] but no probate records were found for his estate. No death record was found for Experience (Mann) (Washburn) Snell in Bridgewater.

         William Washburn and Experience Mann had children:[94]

+       370      i   Abigail5 Washburn, born on 11 Dec. 1715 in Bridgewater,[95] married John Freelove, son of Thomas Freelove, of Freetown, MA, as his second wife, on 10 May 1739 in Bridgewater.[96] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

         371     ii   Allice5 Washburn, born on 6 Jan. 1716/17 in Bridgewater,[97] died on 17 May 1736 in Bridgewater,[98] unmarried.

+       372    iii   William5 Washburn (Jr.), born on 14 Apr. 1718 in Bridgewater,[99] married Rebecca Curtis on 8 May 1738 in Bridgewater.[100] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

         373    iv   Experience Washburn, born on 14 Oct. 1719 in Bridgewater,[101] died on 3 July 1724 in Bridgewater.[102]

         374     v   Zipporah5 Washburn, born on 17 Aug. 1721 in Bridgewater,[103] married Timothy Perkins, son of Nathan and Martha3 (Leonard) Perkins, as his second wife,[104] on 7 Oct. 1753 in Bridgewater,[105] but they probably had no children. He was born on 16 Jan. 1714/15 in Bridgewater,[106] and had married first to (410) Susanna5 Washburn, daughter of (122) Samuel4 and Abigail3 (Leonard) Washburn (Jr.), on 18 Mar. 1735/6 in Bridgewater.[107] He was not listed as a head of household in Plymouth Co., MA, in the 1790 federal census, but he may have been the Timothy Perkins, of Plymouth, Mariner, who died intestate in 1796 in Plymouth, MA, and Ichabod Morton, Jr., of Plymouth, was granted administration of his estate on 21 Sept. 1796.[108]

+       375    vi   Thankful5 Washburn, born on 13 Aug. 1723 in Bridgewater,[109] married (580) John5 Kinsley, son of (152) Samuel4 and Mary (Packard[?]) Kinsley (3rd), of Easton,[110] on 19 Feb. 1746 in Bridgewater.[111] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

         376   vii   Phillip Washburn, born on 26 May 1726 in Bridgewater,[112] died on 8 May 1736 in Bridgewater.[113]

+       377  viii   Ezekiel5 Washburn, born on 22 May 1728 in Bridgewater,[114] married 1.) Expe­ri­ence Curtis on 4 Oct. 1749 in Bridgewater,[115] and 2.) Naomi Thayer on 1 Nov. 1781 in North Bridgewater.[116] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

         378    ix   Job Washburn, born on 3 June 1733 in Bridgewater,[117] probably the unnamed son of William Washburn who died on 3 Dec. 1749 in Bridgewater.[118] He was not mentioned in his father's will, written on 11 Dec. 1749.

 

 

(114.) Abigail4 Washburn, youngest daughter of (56) John3 Washburn (6th), (43) John2 (5th), (28) John1 (4th); born in Bridgewater, Plymouth Colony, on 2 June 1688,[119] married Josiah3 Leonard, son of John2 and Sarah Leonard, of Bridgewater,[120] as his second wife, on 21 Nov. 1717 in Bridgewater.[121] He was a grandson of Solomon1 and Sarah (Chandler) Leonard, of Duxbury, and his first wife was (69) Margery3 Washburn, daughter of (45) Philip2 and Elizabeth2 (Irish) Washburn.[122] They lived in Bridgewater.

         Josiah Leonard died testate in 1745 in Bridgewater,[123] His will was dated 6 Feb. 1743, and probated on 21 May 1745 in Bridgewater, and named his son, Josiah Leonard (Jr.), as executor of his estate, and he named eldest son John Leonard, sons Josiah, Ezekiel, Samuel and Nathan Leonard, and daughters Elizabeth Washburne, Mary Herrington and Margene Pratt.[124] Abigail (Washburn) Leon­ard presumably died before 1743 since she was not named in his will. (See Appendix [C] for a full transcription of his will.)

         Abigail Washburn and Josiah Leonard had probably 2 children:[125]

+       379   vii   Nathan4 Leonard, born, say 1719, probably in Bridgewater, married Thankfull Besse, of Wareham, MA, possibly daughter of David and Mary Besse, on 22 Nov. 1744 in Wareham.[126] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

+       380  viii   Samuel4 Leonard, born ca. 1721,[127] probably in Bridgewater, married Lydia Besse, of Wareham, MA, on 7 July 1748 in Wareham.[128] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation.)

 

 

{Back to Site Index}{Continued in Children of Thomas Washburn and Deliverance Packard}

 

 

© 2002 John A. Maltby, Redwood City, California



    [1] Vital Records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, To the Year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1916, 2 Volumes, [hereinafter Bridgewater VRs], Vol. 1, p. 337, “first born child John Washburne Jun.”

    [2] Wakefield, Robert S., “The Tilson Family of Plymouth Colony,” The American Genealogist, Vol. 69, No. 1, [Jan. 1994], [hereinafter Wakefield, “The Tilson Family”], p. 38-39.

    [3] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 388; Van Antwerp, Lee D., Vital Records of Plymouth, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, Picton Press, Camden, ME, 1993, [hereinafter Plymouth VRs], p. 88, as “Josiah Washbond, of Bridgwater.”

    [4] Wakefield, “The Tilson Family,” p. 37-38; Torrey, New England Marriages, p. 743.

    [5] Wakefield, “The Tilson Family,” p. 38; Torrey, New England Marriages, p. 390.

    [6] Wood, Ralph V., Jr., Francis Cooke of the Mayflower, The First Five Generations, published as Volume 12 of “Mayflower Families Through Five Generations,” Picton Press, Rockport, ME, 1996, [hereinafter MF5G: Cooke], p. 243. Josiah Washburn’s second wife has not been identified.

    [7] Plymouth County Land Records, Vol. 27, p. 62, Vol. 34, p. 81, “which deed & sum contained are so contrived that I have received my portion of my father’s estate.” Witnesses were Joseph Leach and William Washburn.

    [8] Plymouth County Land Records, Vol. 38, p. 245.

    [9] Plymouth County Land Records, Vol. 38, p. 244.

    [10] Plymouth County Land Records, Vol. 38, p. 234.

    [11] Plymouth County Land Records, Vol. 41, p. 63, Vol. 41, p. 79.

    [12] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 572, from a private record of deaths kept by Oliver Alden, of Bridgewater.

    [13] Plymouth Co. Probate Docket #22030; Vol. 12, pp. 21, 171-172.

    [14] Mitchell, Nahum, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater, in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, Boston, 1840, reprint, Heritage Books, Bowie, MD, 1983, [hereinafter Mitchell, History of Bridgewater], pp. 323-324, says he had Joanna 1703, Joseph 1705, Lydia 1707, Jemima 1710, Rebeckah 1712, Josiah 1716, and Mercy 1718 by wife Mercy, and son Nathan by a second wife.

    [15] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 330.

    [16] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 230.

    [17] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 387.

    [18] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 331.

    [19] MF5G: Cooke, p. 111, from the division of the estate William Orcutt made in 1739.

    [20] Calculated from the birth of their first child on 28 Sept. 1729.

    [21] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 332.

    [22] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 389.

    [23] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 330.

    [24] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 235.

    [25] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 387.

    [26] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 334.

    [27] Torrey, Clarence Almon, New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1987, [hereinafter Torrey, New England Marriages], p. 8; Roser, Susan E., Mayflower Marriages From the Files of George Ernest Bowman, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1990, [hereinafter Roser, Mayflower Marriages], p. 14; Woodworth-Barnes, Esther Littleford, and Alicia Crane Williams, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol. 16, Part 1, Family of John Alden, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1999, [hereinafter MF5G: Alden, pt. 1], pp. 99-100, 345.

    [28] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 390.

    [29] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 26.

    [30] MF5G: Alden, pt. 1, p. 345.

    [31] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 87.

    [32] Townsend, Charles D., History of North Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, North Middleborough, Massachusetts, Aceto Bookmen, 1982, [hereinafter Townsend, North Middleborough Congregational Church], p. 29.

    [33] Townsend, North Middleborough Congregational Church, p. 30.

    [34] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 425, from a private record of deaths kept by Rev. Isaac Backus of North Middleborough.

    [35] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 426, as “widow Alden;” MF5G: Alden, pt. 1, p. 345.

    [36] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 331.

    [37] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 388.

    [38] Leonard, Manning, Memorial: Genealogical, Historical, and Biographical, of Solomon Leonard, 1637, of Duxbury and Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and Some of His Descendants, Southbridge, MA, [hereinafter Leonard, Memorial of Solomon Leonard], p. 83.

    [39] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 388.

    [40] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 388.

    [41] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 333.

    [42] Plymouth VRs, p. 88: marriage of Joseph Finney and Ester West on 19 Sept. 1706 in Plymouth.

    [43] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 390, from Unitarian Church Records in Bridgewater.

    [44] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 241.

    [45] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 390.

    [46] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 575, from Unitarian Church Records of Bridgewater.

    [47] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 330.

    [48] Torrey, New England Marriages, p. 549, for Nathaniel Packard’s wife. Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 253, says Nathaniel probably married a daughter of John Kingman; MF5G: Cooke, p. 244, gives her name as Lydia Smith?/Kingman?, apparently unsure which is correct.

    [49] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 388.

    [50] Calculated from her age at death.

    [51] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 253.

    [52] Plymouth Co. Probate Docket #15158; Vol. 4, p. 372.

    [53] Plymouth Co. Land Records, Vol. 12, p. 126.

    [54] Plymouth Co. Probate Docket #10885, Vol. 5, p. 159.

    [55] Plymouth Co. Probate Docket #10886, Vol. 5, p. 177-178.

    [56] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 572, buried in the Old Graveyard in Bridgewater.

    [57] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 571, buried in the Old Graveyard in Bridgewater.

    [58] Plymouth Co. Probate Docket #22020, Vol. 10, p. 318‑320; Vol. 12, p. 79.

    [59] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 324, says they had John 1711, Nathaniel 1713, Robert 1715, Abraham 1717, Margaret 1718, Abishai 1720, Jane 1722, and Content 1724.

    [60] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 330.

    [61] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 207.

    [62] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 388.

    [63] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 333.

    [64] Townsend, Mrs. Charles Delmar, Robert S. Wakefield, and Margaret Harris Stover, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Volume Eight, Family of Degory Priest, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1994, [hereinafter MF5G: Priest], pp. 22, 64.

    [65] Merrick, Barbara Lambert, and Alicia Crane Williams, Middleborough, Massachusetts, Vital Records, The Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Boston, Volume One: 1986, Volume Two: 1990, [hereinafter Middleborough VRs], Vol. 1, p. 63.

    [66] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 334.

    [67] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 160.

    [68] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 391.

    [69] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 325.

    [70] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 324.

    [71] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 332.

    [72] Plympton VRs, p. 332, marriage of John Holmes and Elizebeth Tilson on 6 Jan 1718 in Plympton.

    [73] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 389; Bowman, George Ernest, Vital Records of the Town of Halifax, Massachusetts, To the End of the Year 1849, Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Boston, 1905, [hereinafter Halifax VRs], p. 56, marriage intentions recorded in Halifax, undated.

    [74] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 325.

    [75] Plymouth VRs, pp. 92, 177, marriage of Ebenazar Morton of “Middlebery” and Marcy Foston on 2 Feb. 1720 in Plymouth.

    [76] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 330.

    [77] Middleborough VRs, Vol. 1, p. 11, marriage of Shubeal Tomson and Susanna Parlour, both of Middleboro, on 10 Dec. 1713; MF5G: Cooke, p. 204.

    [78] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 387.

    [79] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 327.

    [80] MF5G: Alden, pt. 1, p. 343.

    [81] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 385.

    [82] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 337.

    [83] Torrey, New England Marriages, p. 485.

    [84] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 392.

    [85] Plymouth County Deeds, Vol. 27, p. 62, witnessed by Joseph Leach and Nehemiah Campbell.

    [86] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 575.

    [87] Plymouth Co. Probate Docket #22117; Vol. 14, pp. 362, 407.

    [88] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, pp. 295, 296. Certainly Experience was not the mother of the children born to Amos Snell (Jr.) listed in Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 296. Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 558, shows the death of an unnamed wife of Amos Snell Jr. on 15 Oct. 1750, who was probably the mother of his children.

    [89] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 386.

    [90] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 294.

    [91] If this identification by Mitchell in History of Bridgewater is correct, assuming Experience Mann was about 20 when she married William Washburn. Another possibility is that Experience (Mann) Washburn married Amos Snell Sr. in 1759. No death record was found for his wife Mary. Amos Snell Sr. died on 9 Dec. 1765 in Bridgewater.

    [92] Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Massachusetts, Bountiful, Utah, 1993, p. 165, Bridgewater Town, Plymouth Co., the Amos Snell household had 1 free white male aged 16 or older and 4 free white females.

    [93] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 556.

    [94] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 324, says they had Abigail 1715, Alice 1717, William 1718, Experience 1718, Zipporah 1721, Thankful 1723, Philip 1726, Ezekiel 1728, and Job 1733.

    [95] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 325.

    [96] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 383; Thomas, Helen Gurney, Vital Records of the Town of Freetown, Massachusetts, 1686 Through 1890, Heritage Books, Bowie, MD, 1988, [hereinafter Freetown VRs], n.p., “Freetown Marriages: Washburn,” marriage intentions recorded 4 Nov. 1738 in Freetown.

    [97] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 326.

    [98] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 569.

    [99] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 337.

    [100] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 392.

    [101] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 328.

    [102] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 571.

    [103] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 337.

    [104] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 265, 266.

    [105] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 392.

    [106] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 259.

    [107] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 293.

    [108] Plymouth Co. Probate Docket #15663, Vol. 34, p. 85.

    [109] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 336.

    [110] MF5G: Cooke, p. 270.

    [111] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 392.

    [112] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 334.

    [113] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 574.

    [114] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 329.

    [115] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 386.

    [116] Brockton VRs, p. 299, from records of the Fourth Church of Christ in (North) Bridgewater, which calls him “Ezekiel Washburn, Jr.”

    [117] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 330.

    [118] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 575, from a private record of deaths in Bridgewater kept by Oliver Alden.

    [119] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 325.

    [120] Sherman, Robert Moody, and Vincent, Verle Delano, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Volume 2: James Chilton of the Mayflower, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, MA, 1978, [hereinafter MF5G: Chilton], p. 22, MF5G: Cooke, p. 245.

    [121] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 383.

    [122] MF5G: Chilton, p. 55; MF5G: Cooke, p. 245.

    [123] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 517.

    [124] Plym­outh Co. Probate Docket #12638; 9:458.

    [125] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 235, does not differentiate his children by Marjoram Washburn from his children by Abigail Washburn.

    [126] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 244, not found in the Wareham Vital Records published in The Mayflower Descendant.

    [127] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 236, calculated from his death in 1792 aged 71 years.

    [128] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 245, not found in the Wareham Vital Records published in The Mayflower Descendant.



[A] The Will of John Washburn, of Bridgewater, County of Plymouth, Province of the Massachusetts Bay (1746): *

In the Name of God Amen, The third day of April One thousand Seven hundred & forty Six I John Washburne of Bridgwater in the County of Plimouth in New England Gentm. being of a perfect & disposing Mind and memory Thanks be to God for it, & Calling to mind the Mortallity of my body, Do make & Ordain this my last will and Testament. That is to say principally & first of all I Give & recomend my Soul into the hands of God who gave it, hopeing through the Merits of Jesus Christ to obtain the full Pardon of all my Sins and to Inherit Everlasting life. And my body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter Named nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I Shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased god to bless me in this life I Give And dispose of the Same in the following manner—

I Give and bequeath unto my Sons John & Nathll Their heirs and assigns forever half a purchase right of undivided Lands with the Eight Mile (so Called) in the Township of Bridgwater and allso my right in the Wind mill being one quarter, and allso all my husbandry toolls and Carpenters tools & large Copper Kittle to be equally divided between them, hereby obligeing my sd. Sons John & Nathll to pay my funeral Charges and all my Other debts That I owe either in Right or Conscience to any manner of person or persons qhatsoever & equally between them.— Further I Give unto my said Son Nathll. his heirs & Assigns forever One half of a Third part of a Lot of Cedar Swamp in the old Cedar Swamp (so Called) which I bought of Ephraim Leonard and was originally Samuel Washburnes— Also I Give unto him the time which I have in my Servant boy Edward Curtis he fulfilling & Making Good my Indenture to sd. boy, and allso I Give unto him my white or Grey mare. And I do nominate appoint make and ordain my said Son Nathll. the Sole Executor of this my last will & Testament— Item I Give and bequeath unto my son Robert his heirs and assigns forever The One half of a little lot of Cedar Swamp in the Old Swamp so Called which Samuel Washburne gave to his Son Samll. And allso Seven Acres and fifty three rods of Land to lay out within the Eight Mile so called, and allso all my right in the Cove lying in the Furnace pond being the Remainder of what I sold to Abishai Washburne. And for the sd. Robert not to come into ye. posession of the Same till after the Term of twenty Years next Ensuing which Term I have allready leased it out to Nathll. Washburn— Item I Give and bequeath unto my son Abisher his heirs and Assigns forever Seven Acres & fifty three rods of land to lay out in the said Eight mile, Allso I Give unto him One Cow, and a Bed & furniture belonging unto it— Item I Give unto my daughters Jane & Content all my Indore moveables, and all my liveing Stock that I have not allready disposed off to be equally divided between them Excepting & reserving the best bed for Content in Case I do not give it to her & She take it away before my decease—

Item I Give and bequeath unto the heirs of my daughter Margarett Holmes deceasd five Shillings haveing allready made further provision for them by another Instrument— And I do hereby utterly disalow all and every other former Testament Wills Legasies bequests and Executors by me in any wise before this time Named willed bequested ratyfieing & Confirming this and no Other to be my last Will and Testament the day and Year aforementioned—

Signed Sealed Published pronounced

and Declared by the said John

Washburn to be his last Will

and Testament In presence                                                                                                John Washburn                                (seal)

of us the Subscribers

Jonathan Pratt

Eleazer Carver jur.

Josiah Edson junr.

 

Plimo. Sc. July 8.1746  This Will being presented By the Execr. for Probt. The sd. Jona. Pratt Eleazer Carver junr. & Josiah Edson junr. made oath that they Saw ye sd. Jno Washburn Sign & Seal & heard him declare this Instrumt. to be his last will & Testamt. and that they at the same time in his presence Subscribed as witnesses & that he was then of a sound mind—

                                                                                                                Before me Jno. Cushing Judge of Probt.

 

* Transcribed by John A. Maltby from Plymouth County Probate Vol. 10, pp. 318-320, from FHL microfilm #0551535.

 

 

[B] The Will of William Washburn, of Bridgewater, County of Plymouth, Province of the Massachusetts Bay (1749): *

In the Name of God Amen: the eleventh day of December, One Thousand Seven Hundred & fourty nine, I Willm Washburn of Bridgwater in the county of Plimouth in the province of the Massachusetts bay in New England Husbandman being very weak & infirm in Body, but of perfect mind & memory, thanks be Given to God therefor, calling to mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Dye Doe make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament (that is to Say.) Principally and first of all I Give and Recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that Gave it, and my Body I recommend to the earth to be buried in Decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Execr Nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection I Shall Receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God And as Touching Such Worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give Demise and Dispose of the same in the following Manner and form,

Imprs. I order all my Just Debts Due to any person or persons whatsoever to be paid out of my estate in convenient time after my decease by my Execr hereafter to be mentioned ~

Item I Give and Bequeath unto Experience my Dearly beloved wife the one half of my moveable effects, exclusive of Loom its Furniture my Husbandry tools and implements Armer & Martial Stores; and five pounds Lawfull money, Yearly to be allowed her out of my estate a Convenient fire Room to Dwell in, and the Improvement of One Cow, which Cow is to be found & kept for her; one Swine to be found and kept for her, as also a Sufficient quantity of fire wood all which aforementioned articles are to be found & provided for her as aforesaid out of my Estate after my decease by my Son Ezekiel Washburn, so Long as She Shall remain my Widow ~

Item I Give and Bequeath unto my well beloved Daughter Abigail Freelove the sum of ten Shillings lawfull money to be bired[?] out of my estate She having already received her part & portion out of my estate.

Item I give and Bequeath unto my well beloved son William Washburn the Sum of ten Shillings Sony[?] to be bired[?] out of my Estate he having already received his part & portion out of my estate ~

Item I give and Bequeath unto my well beloved Daughter Zepporah Washburn my Loom and it’s furniture, together with the one half of the remaining part of my Household Goods & moveable efficts—exclusive of the Husbandry tools & Implements Armes & Martiall Stores after my Decease; as also the one half of the moveable effects already Bequeathed to my Dearly Beloved wife Experience Washburn after her Decease, or ceasing to be my Widow, as also the Liberty and previledge of Living in one of the fire rooms in my Dwelling House.

Item, I Doe Give and Bequeath My Well beloved Daughter Thankfull Kinsley the one half of the Moveable effects already Bequeathed to my Dearly beloved wife Experience Washburn after her Decease or Ceasing to be my Widow—

Item I Give and Bequeath unto my beloved son Ezekiel Washburn all and Singular my House Lands Messauges, Tennements, Together with all my Husbandry tools & Implyments Armer & Martial Stores as also all the Money Due to me, on Bonds, Bills, Notes or Bookswors[?] After Debts and funerall charges Shall be paid, freely to be Injoyed by him his Heirs and Assigns forever—

Item I Doe in this my Last Will & Testament constitute & Appoint my well beloved Son Ezekiel Washburn my Sole Execr. of this my Last Will and Testament and hereby Disallow, revoke & Disanull, all and every other former Testament, Will Legacy & Bequest & Execr by me in any wise before named Willed and bequeathed; ratifying & Confirming this and no Other to be my Last Will and Testament

In Witness whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal the Day and Year above Witten

Signed, Sealed, published, pronounced                                                                          William Washburn                           (seal)

and Declared by the said William Washburn

as his Last Will and Testament; In the

presence of us the Subscribers~

Josiah Washburn Junr.

Timothy Perkins

Benja. Willis Junr.

 

The will was probated on 5 April 1756, presented in court by the Executor therein named, and proved by Josiah Washburn Junr and Benja. Willis Junr.

 

Inventory of the estate of William Washburn was taken 25 Mar. 1756 by John Benson, Benjamin Willis Jr., and Daniel Snell, who made oath on 3 Apr. 1756. The oath of Ezekiel Washburn, the executor, was dated 8 Apr. 1756.

 

* Transcribed by John A. Maltby from Plymouth County Probate Vol. 14, pp. 362-363, from FHL microfilm #0551542.

 

 

[C] The Will of Josiah Leonard, of Bridgewater, County of Plymouth, Province of the Massachusetts Bay (1743): *

In the name of God amen the Sixth day of February 1743.

I Josiah Leonard of Bridgwater in the County of Plymouth in the Province of the Massachusetts bay in New England being of a sound disposeing mind & memory; thanks be Given to the Great God; yet Calling to mind the morality of my body, and knowing tis appointed for all men once to die, do make and Ordain this my last will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all I Give and recommend my Soul into the hands of that God, who Gave it and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried with decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executor here after named, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I Shall receive the same again by the power of Allmighty God and as touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to give me in this life I Give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner & form, that is to Say.

1 1st It is my Will that all my Debts and funerall charges be well and truly paid in convenient time after my decease.

2 2ly I Give and bequeath unto my Eldest son John Leonard five Shillings, new tenour. this my well beloved son having heretofore had Some part of my Estate.

3 3ly I Give and bequeath unto my Well beloved Son Josiah Leonard five pounds, old tenour & no more.

4ly I Give and bequeath to my well beloved son Ezekiel Leonard Fifty pounds, old tenour & no more—

5ly I Give and bequeath to my Well beloved son Samuel Leonard besides what I have allready Given him five Shillings, New tenour & no more.

6ly I Give and bequeath to my Well beloved son Nathan Leonard besides what I have allready given him five Shillings, new tenour & no more—

7ly I Give and bequeath unto well beloved daughter Elizabeth Washburne ten pounds old tenour.—

8ly I Give and bequeath unto my Well beloved daughter Mary Herrington five pounds old tenour & no more.

9ly I Give and bequeath unto my Well beloved daughter Margene Pratt twenty pounds old tenour the Severall Legacies above mentioned to be paid out of my moveable Estate.

10ly The remaining part of my Moveable Estate which I have not all ready disposed of I Give and bequeath unto my two daughters abovementioned Elizabeth Washburne & Margene Pratt to be Equally divided between them

11ly Finally I Constitute and appoint my Well beloved Son Josiah Leonard Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament. I do hereby ratyfie hold and confirm this and no Other to be my last Will & Testamt. And Disallowing all other wills before this time by me made In Witness where of I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal the day & year above written—

Signed Sealed published pronounced

and Declared by the Said Josiah

Leonard to be his Last Will and                                                                                       Josiah Leonard                                 (seal)

Testament In presence of us the Subscribers

John Benson

Josiah Edson junr

Jonathan Benson

 

Probated on 21 May 1745, presented in court by the Executor named, and proven by John Benson, Josiah Edson junr, and Jona. Benson.

 

Deacon Josiah Edson, Joseph Pratt junr, and Moses Orcutt, all of Middleborough, were appointed to appraise the inventory of Josiah Leonard, late of Bridgwater, on 22 May 1745. The inventory was dated 10 June 1745, and was valued at £181, 3s, 6d, which included a bond against Samuel Leonard and Nathan Leonard, which was valued at £85, 12s, but which included no real estate. Josiah Edson, Joseph Pratt, and Moses Orcutt gave their oath to the inventory on 6 July 1745, and Josiah Leonard, the executor, gave his oath to the inventory on 10 July 1745.

 

* Transcribed by John A. Maltby from Plymouth County Probate Vol. 9, pp .458-459, 463-464, from FHL microfilm #0551533.