~~ Massachusetts Colony ~~

--- Fifth Generation in America ---

 

Families of the Children of Capt. Nehemiah4 Washburn and Jane Howard

 

 

         Capt. Nehemiah Washburn and Jane Howard had only two daughters. The elder daughter married a Harvard graduate doctor, and settled in Bridgewater, while the younger daughter married a landowner in Raynham. I am not entirely certain about the spouses of a few of the grandchildren of Capt. Nehemiah Washburn, and revisions will be made as research continues.

 

 

 

 

John2 Washburn (5th)

 

 

Samuel3 Washburn

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth2 Mitchell

 

Capt. Nehemiah4 Washburn

 

 

 

 

 

Samuel1 Packard

 

 

Deborah2 Packard

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth

Silence5 Washburn

 

 

 

Jane5 Washburn

 

 

 

 

 

 

John1 Haward

 

 

Ephraim2 Howard

 

 

 

 

Martha2 Hayward

 

Jane3 Howard

 

 

 

 

 

Rev. James1 Keith

 

 

Mary2 Keith

 

 

 

 

Susanna Edson

 

(422.) Silence5 Washburn, elder daughter of (125) Nehemiah4 Washburn, (58) Samuel3, (43) John2 (5th), (28) John1 (4th); born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts Colony, on 26 July 1713,[1] married Dr. Abiel3 Howard, son of Maj. Jonathan2 and Sarah (Dean) Howard, of Bridgewater,[2] on 26 Apr. 1738 in West Bridgewater.[3] He was born on 6 Nov. 1704 in Bridgewater,[4] a grandson of John1 and Martha2 (Hayward) Howard/Haward, of Bridgewater.[5] Silence was Abiel’s first cousin once removed.[6]

         Dr. Abiel Howard graduated from Harvard College, Master of Arts, in 1729,[7] was a co‑administrator of the estate of his father‑in‑law, Capt. Nehemiah Washburn, in 1748, and he was a physician in Bridgewater.[8] Dr. Abiel Haward of Bridgewater and his wife Silence, and Josiah Dean of Raynham and his wife Jean signed an indenture agreement to divide the entire estate of Capt. Nehemiah Washburn of Bridgewater, deceased, between them on 24 May 1751, which was recorded on 16 May 1752.[9]

         Silence (Washburn) Howard died on 17 Aug. 1775 in West Bridgewater, aged 62 years.[10] Dr. Abiel Howard died intestate on 10 Jan. 1777 in West Bridgewater, aged 72 years,[11] and his son-in-law, Dr. Philip Bryant, was granted administration of his estate on 3 Feb. 1777.[12]

         Silence Washburn and Dr. Abiel Howard had children:[13]

+      1242     i   Silence4 Howard, born on 17 Nov. 1738 in Bridgewater,[14] married Dr. Philip4 Bryant, son of Ichabod3 and Ruth (Staples) Bryant,[15] on 13 Oct. 1757 in Bridgewater.[16] (Continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

+      1243    ii   Nehemiah4 Howard, born on 13 Apr. 1740 in Bridgewater,[17] married Hannah4 Dean, daughter of James and (563) Hannah (Hayward) Dean,[18] of Easton, MA, on 27 Feb. 1770 in Easton.[19] (Continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

+      1244   iii   Jane4 Howard, born on 18 Apr. 1742 in Bridgewater,[20] married 1.) Lt. Ebenezer Ames, son of Joseph and Susanna (Littlefield) Ames,[21] on 2 June 1763 in West Bridgewater,[22] and 2.) Capt. Thomas Hooper, son of William and Lois (Thomas) Hooper, as his second wife,[23] in 1786.[24] (Continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

+      1245   iv   John4 Howard, born on 30 Dec. 1743 in Bridgewater,[25] married Mercy4 Fobes, daughter of William3 and Thankful (Dwelley) Fobes,[26] on 6 Oct. 1768 in West Bridgewater.[27] (Continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

+      1246    v   Lt. Daniel4 Howard, born on 9 Apr. 1746 in Bridgewater,[28] married Mary5 Hayward, daughter of Edmund4 and Anna (Snell) Hayward,[29] on 12 Nov. 1772 in West Bridgewater.[30] (Continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

        1247   vi   Charity4 Howard, born on 20 Mar. 1747/8 in Bridgewater,[31] never married, died on 4 Dec. 1829 in West Bridgewater, aged 82 [sic] years,[32] but no probate records were found for her, and she was not listed as a head of household in Massachusetts in the 1790 federal census.

        1248  vii   Ann4 Howard, born on 2 Aug. 1750 in Bridgewater,[33] married Jacob Foster on 30 Apr. 1776 in Bridgewater,[34] and they moved to Maine.[35] Children not found. He may have been the Jacob Foster living in Trenton, Hancock Co., ME, in the 1790,[36] and 1800 federal censuses,[37] but he may have had a second wife by 1800.

        1249 viii   Joshua4 Howard, born on 3 Oct. 1751 in Bridgewater,[38] baptized as “Josiah” on 6 Oct. 1751 in West Bridgewater,[39] married Priscilla Capen, of Stoughton, MA, on 12 Dec. 1776 in Stoughton or Sharon, MA,[40] and settled in Easton or Sharon, but she died on 21 Nov. 1778 in Sharon, MA, aged 28 years,[41] and he died on 31 Mar. 1780 in West Bridgewater, aged 28 years.[42] No probate records were found for him in Plymouth County. They had one daughter:

a. Silence Howard, born ca. 1776, died on 7 Mar. 1798 in Sharon, MA, aged 19 [sic] years.[43]

 

 

(423.) Jane5 Washburn, younger daughter of (125) Nehemiah4 Washburn, (58) Samuel3, (43) John2 (5th), (28) John1 (4th); born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts Colony, on 6 Jan. 1715,[44] married Josiah Dean, son of Thomas and Mary (Kingsley) Dean,[45] of Raynham, Bristol Co., MA, on 18 Aug. 1737 in West Bridgewater or Raynham.[46] He was born ca. 1699,[47] probably in Raynham.[48]

         The will of Thomas Dean, of Raynham, Gentleman, dated 12 July 1747 and probated 6 Oct. 1747, mentioned his wife Mary and son Josiah Dean, among others, and Josiah Dean was named as executor in the will of his father, Thomas Dean.[49] He was also appointed as administrator of the estate of his mother, Mary Dean, on 6 Feb. 1749.[50]

         On 10 Dec. 1744 Josiah Dean, of Raynham, along with Israel Washburn, of Raynham, and Nehemiah Washburn, Benjamin Washburn, Henry Washburn, Ezra Washburn, and others, all of Bridgewater, signed an agreement to build and operate a furnace.[51] Josiah Dean was a co‑administrator of the estate of his father‑in‑law, Capt. Nehemiah Washburn, in 1748. Josiah and Jane Dean were witnesses to the will of Katharine (Dean) Leonard, of Raynham, daughter of Thomas Dean, and widow of Samuel Leonard, of Raynham, in 1752, and by 1757 Josiah Dean was the Raynham Town Clerk. The ear mark of “ye Creatures of Josiah Dean of Raynham” was recorded on 10 Mar. 1749, as “a Slit in ye Under Side of the left Ear.”[52] Dr. Abiel Haward of Bridgewater and his wife Silence, and Josiah Dean of Raynham and his wife Jean signed an indenture agreement to divide the entire estate of Capt. Nehemiah Washburn of Bridgewater, deceased, between them on 24 May 1751, which was recorded on 16 May 1752.[53]

         Josiah Dean died on 3 or 23 Mar. 1778 in Raynham, aged 78 years,[54] his will dated 3 May 1777, and probated on 1 Sept. 1778, mentioned his wife Jane, sons Josiah Dean and Job Dean, and daughters Abigail Dean and Mary Whitmarsh, wife of Rufus Whitmarsh. He named his sons Josiah Dean and Job Dean as executors of his estate.[55] Jane (Washburn) Dean died a widow on 26 May 1790 in Raynham, aged 74 years.[56] On 19 Jan. 1791 their heirs and executors, Josiah Dean, Job Dean, Obed Hall, Abigail Hall, Rufus Whitmarsh, and Mary Whitmarsh, signed a quitclaim agreement with each other for their shares in the estate of their deceased parents. (See Appendix [A] for a full transcription of his will.)

         Josiah Dean and Jane Washburn had children:

        1250     i   Nehemiah Dean, born on 30 Dec. 1738 in Raynham, MA,[57] died on 13 Feb. 1749 in Raynham, aged “about 11 years.”[58]

        1251    ii   Abigail Dean, born on 21 Sept. 1740 in Raynham,[59] was still unmarried in 1777 when her father wrote his will, married Obed Hall before 1791.

        1252   iii   Mary Dean, born on 20 Aug. 1743 in Raynham,[60] married Rufus Whitmarsh, son of Daniel and Susanah Whitmarsh, of Dighton, Bristol Co., MA, on 11 Dec. 1770 in Raynham.[61] He was born on 3 Nov. 1739 in Dighton.[62] Daughter Mary Whitmarsh, wife of Rufus Whitmarsh, was mentioned in the 1777 will of her father. They were living in Dighton, Bristol Co., MA, in the 1790,[63] 1800,[64] and 1810 federal censuses.[65] She died on 28 Nov. 1810 in Dighton,[66] and he died intestate on 7 Aug. 1829 in Dighton.[67] His son-in-law Seth Talbot, Mariner, was granted administration of his estate on 9 Oct. 1829, at the request of daughters Abigail and Mary Whitmarsh. His inventory was appraised by William Wood, Ebenezer Talbot, and Jeremiah Young on 4 Nov. 1829, his real estate valued at $2040, and his personal estate totaled $181.72. The real estate was divided among his heirs, Rufus Whitmarsh, Hannah Talbot, Abigail Whitmarsh, and Mary Whitmarsh on 27 Apr. 1832.[68] They had children:

a. Rufus Whitmarsh (Jr.), born on 3 Apr. 1772 in Dighton,[69] married Peddy Paul, of Berkley, MA, in 1801.[70] He was living out of the Commonwealth in 1829 when his father died, and Ephraim A. Hathaway signed as his agent in the 1831 request for a division of his father’s real estate.

b. Abigail “Abby” Whitmarsh, born on 22 June 1774 in Dighton,[71] was still unmarried in 1832 when she approved the accounting of Seth Talbot as administrator of her father’s estate, died on 5 Aug. 1833 in Dighton.[72]

c. Mary “Polly” Whitmarsh, born on 17 July 1780 in Dighton,[73] was also still unmarried in 1832 when she approved the accounting of Seth Talbot as administrator of her father’s estate.

d. Hannah Whitmarsh, born on 4 Mar. 1783 in Dighton,[74] married Seth Talbot in 1803.[75] He was administrator of the estate of his father-in-law Rufus Whitmarsh in 1829, and signed as guardian to his wife Hannah Talbot in the 1831 request for a division of her father’s real estate.

e. Dean Whitmarsh, born on 17 Mar. 1777 in Dighton,[76] died on 2 Sept. 1799 in Dighton.[77]

+      1253   iv   Josiah Dean (Jr.), Esq., born on 6 Mar. 1748 in Raynham,[78] married Sarah Byram, supposedly daughter of Rev. Eliab and Phebe (Leonard) Byram,[79] in ca. 1770.[80] (Continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

+      1254    v   Job Dean, born on 15 Nov. 1751 in Raynham,[81] possibly married Judith Williams, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Atherton) Williams (3rd), of Raynham, in ca. 1773.[82] (Continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

 

 

{Back to Site Index}{Continued in Children of Capt. Benjamin Washburn and Bethiah Kingman}

 

 

© 2002 John A. Maltby, Redwood City, California


    [1] Vital Records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, To the Year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA, 1916, 2 Volumes, [hereinafter Bridgewater VRs], Vol. 1, p. 336.

    [2] 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. 192, 193.

    [3] Vital Records of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, To the Year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1911, [hereinafter West Bridgewater VRs], p. 175, from records of the First Church of West Bridgewater.

    [4] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 135, under “Haward.”

    [5] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, pp. 191-192.

    [6]                          John Haward

        Ephraim Howard                            Maj. Jonathan Howard           (brothers)

        Jane Howard                   Dr. Abiel Howard                   (first cousins)

        Silence Washburn

    [7] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 193; “Graduates of Harvard University 1728-1730,” at https://colonialancestors.com/harvard7.htm.

    [8] In the division of the estate of Capt. Nehemiah Washburn, Abiel describes himself as a “practitioner of physick.”

    [9] Plymouth County Probate Vol. 12, p. 518-519.

    [10] West Bridgewater VRs, p. 204, buried in Jerusalem Cemetery, West Bridgewater.

    [11] West Bridgewater VRs, p. 200, buried in Jerusalem Cemetery, West Bridgewater.

    [12] Plym­outh County Probate Docket #10714, Vol. 23, p. 121, with David Kingman and Jonathan Cary, both of Bridgewater, as sureties.

    [13] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 193, says they had Silence 1738, Nehemiah 1740, Jane 1742, John 1743, Daniel 1746, Charity 1748, Ann 1750, and Joshua 1751.

    [14] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 141, under “Haward.”

    [15] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 123.

    [16] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 166, under “Haward.”

    [17] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 140, under “Haward.”

    [18] “Easton, Massachusetts, Bristol County, Births, Deaths and Marriages by Families, 1697-1847,” from FHL microfilm #1059951, a transcription of the entire town vital records from the incorporation of the town of Easton to about 1843 made in 1880 by Geo. G. Withington, Easton town clerk, [hereinafter Easton VRs], p. 38: marriage of James Dean, of Taunton, and Hannah Hayward, of Easton, on 15 June 1744 in Easton.

    [19] Easton VRs, p. 126, married by Rev. Archibald Campbell

    [20] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 138, under “Haward.”

    [21] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 102.

    [22] West Bridgewater VRs, p. 147, married in the First Church of West Bridgewater.

    [23] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 189.

    [24] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 31, marriage intentions recorded 22 July 1786.

    [25] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 138, under “Haward.”

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

    [27] West Bridgewater VRs, p. 147.

    [28] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 137, under “Haward.”

    [29] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 181.

    [30] West Bridgewater VRs, p. 146.

    [31] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 137.

    [32] West Bridgewater VRs, p. 201, buried in Jerusalem Cemetery, West Bridgewater.

    [33] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 136.

    [34] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 190.

    [35] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 194, “Jacob Foster, of Maine.”

    [36] 1790 Federal Census, Trenton, Hancock Co., ME, p. 31, the Jacob Foster household had 1 free white male aged 16 or over, 2 free white males under 16, and 4 free white females.

    [37] 1800 Federal Census, Trenton, Hancock Co., ME, p. 227, the Jacob Foster household had 1 male under 10, 2 males 10-15 years, 1 male 16-25 years, 1 male 45 or over, 1 female under 10, 2 females 10-15 years, 1 female 16-25 years, and 1 female 26-44 years.

    [38] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 139.

    [39] West Bridgewater VRs, p. 61.

    [40] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 192, which says they were married in Stoughton; Vital Records of Sharon, Massachusetts, To the Year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1909, [hereinafter Sharon VRs], p. 109.

    [41] Sharon VRs, p. 174.

    [42] West Bridgewater VRs, p. 203, from his gravestone. Buried in Jerusalem Cemetery, West Bridgewater.

    [43] Sharon VRs, p. 174, “daughter of Joshua and Priscilla Howard.”

    [44] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 330. The year was probably 1715/16 because she was still “in her 75th year” when she died in 1790.

    [45] Her maiden name from the FHL Ancestry File of Josiah Dean and Jane Washburn, submitted by Carolyn Wheeler Circo, of Oak Park, IL, and Lee R. Drew, of Lindon, UT, and Torrey, Clarence Almon, New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1987, [hereinafter Torrey, New England Marriages], p. 212. Their death records are listed immediately preceeding the entry of the family of Josiah Dean and Jane Washburn in the Raynham VRs, p. 26, which is on p. 64 of the original town records: “Thomas Dean ye 2d Deceasd Septemr 10th 1747 in the 74 year of his age,” and “Mary Dean widow of sd Thomas Dean deceasd February the 1st 1749 in the 74th year of her age.”

    [46] West Bridgewater VRs, p. 175,.from records of the First Church of West Bridgewater; Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 387; “First Book of Raynham Records,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 51, p. 440; Vol. 55, p. 45; Raynham VRs, pp. 4, 26, married by Rev. Daniel Perkins, their marriage recorded twice in the vital records of Raynham.

    [47] Calculated from his age at death.

    [48] No birth record was found for Josiah Dean in Raynham, but the deaths of Thomas Dean, on 10 Sept. 1747, aged about 74, and Mary Dean, widow of Thomas Dean, on 1 Feb. 1749, aged about 74 years, were recorded in the First Book of Raynham Records on the same page as the marriage and children of Josiah Dean and Jane Washburn.

    [49] Bristol Co. Probate Vol. 11, pp. 334-337.

    [50] Bristol Co. Probate Vol. 12, p. 154.

    [51] Plymouth Co. Land Records, Vol. 38, p. 181.

    [52] Stover, Margaret Harris, Vital Records of Raynham, Massachusetts, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, MA, 1997, [hereinafter Raynham VRs], p. 80.

    [53] Plymouth Co. Probate Vol. 12, p. 518-519.

    [54] “First Book of Raynham Records,” New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 51, p. 440; Raynham VRs, pp. 5, 161, “in the 79th year of his age,” buried in the Burying Ground near Shallow Water in Raynham, the town records listing the date as March 23, but the gravestone having “Mch ye 3 1778.”

    [55] Bristol County Probate File “Josiah Dean, Raynham, 1777,” from FHL microfilm #0572869.

    [56] “First Book of Raynham Records,” New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 51, p. 440; Raynham VRs, pp. 5, 161, buried in the Burying Ground near Shallow Water in Raynham with her husband.

    [57] “First Book of Raynham Records,” New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 51, p. 440; Vol. 55, p. 45, born on “Sater Day;” Raynham VRs, pp. 4, 26, recorded twice in the vital records of Raynham.

    [58] “First Book of Raynham Records,” New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 51, p. 440; Vol. 55, p. 45; Raynham VRs, pp. 4, 26, 161, buried in the Burying Ground near Shallow Water in Raynham with his parents.

    [59] “First Book of Raynham Records,” New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 51, p. 440; Vol. 55, p. 45, born on “Sabeth Day;” Raynham VRs, pp. 4, 26, recorded twice in the vital records of Raynham.

    [60] “First Book of Raynham Records,” New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 51, p. 440; Vol. 55, p. 45, born on “Saterday;” Raynham VRs, pp. 4, 26, recorded twice in the vital records of Raynham.

    [61] Taunton VRs, Vol. 2, p. 148, she was “of Raynham.”

    [62] Maccormick, Elizabeth Janet, and Edith Whitney Shaw, “Town Records-Book One, Dighton Mass.,” Vol 1: Births, Marriages & Deaths, 1714-1480, Town of Dighton, Mass.,” typescript at New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, [hereinafter Dighton VRs] p. 66, from p. 115 of the Dighton Town Records.

    [63] Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Massachusetts, Bountiful, UT, 1993, p. 43, Dighton Town, Bristol County, the Rufus Whitmarsh household had 2 free white males aged 16 or older, and 4 free white females.

    [64] 1800 Federal Census, Dighton, Bristol Co., MA, p. ?, the Rufus Whitmarsh household had 1 male aged 16-25 years, 1 male aged 45 or over, 3 females aged 16-25 years, and 1 female aged 45 or over.

    [65] 1810 Federal Census, Dighton, Bristol Co., MA, p. 448, the Rufus Whitmash household had 1 male aged 45 or over, 2 females aged 26-44 years, and 1 female aged 45 or over.

    [66] Dighton VRs, Vol. 2, p. 61.

    [67] Dighton VRs, Vol. 2, p. 61.

    [68] Bristol County Probate File “Rufus Whitmarsh, Dighton, 1829,” with William Wood, Esq., and Jeremiah Jones, Gentleman, as sureties.

    [69] Dighton VRs, Vol. 2, p. 61.

    [70] Dighton VRs, Vol. 2, p. 12, marriage intentions recorded on 3 Oct. 1801 in Dighton.

    [71] Dighton VRs, Vol. 2, p. 61.

    [72] Dighton VRs, Vol. 2, p. 61.

    [73] Dighton VRs, Vol. 2, p. 61.

    [74] Dighton VRs, Vol. 2, p. 61.

    [75] Dighton VRs, Vol. 2, p. 14, marriage intentions recorded on 9 July 1803 in Dighton.

    [76] Dighton VRs, Vol. 2, p. 61.

    [77] Dighton VRs, Vol. 2, p. 61.

    [78] “First Book of Raynham Records,” New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 51, p. 440; Vol. 55, p. 45, born on “Sun Day;” Raynham VRs, pp. 4, 26, recorded twice in the vital records of Raynham.

    [79] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 127, under “Capt. Ebenezer Byram,” who says that Eliab and Phebe Byram had a daughter who married Josiah Deane Esq. of Raynham.

    [80] Calculated from the birth of their eldest child, in 1771.

    [81] “First Book of Raynham Records,” New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 51, p. 440; Vol. 55, p. 45, born on “Fryday in ye 11th hour at night;” Raynham VRs, pp. 4, 26, recorded twice in the vital records of Raynham.

    [82] Calculated from the birth of their eldest child in 1774. There is also the possibility, however, that this Job Dean was the one who married Sarah Gushee on 8 Nov. 1777 in Raynham. (Raynham VRs, p. 90.)


[A] The Will of Josiah Dean of Raynham, County of Bristol, Massachusetts Bay (1777) *

In the Name of God Amen I Josiah Dean of Raynham in the County of Bristol & State of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Yeoman being of Memory & Disposing mind, Blessed be God for therefor, And now being Advanced in Years & Knowing that it is Appointed for men once to Die & I not knowing the time of my Death think it my Duty to Sett my House in order before I am Gethard. to my Fahers Do Constitute & Make this my last Will & Testament, Renouncing & makeing Void any other Will by me heretofore made.

Impr, My Soul I Commit to God in Christ, my Body to the Earth to be Decently Buried in hopes of a Joyfull Reserrection at my Lord & Redeemers Second Coming as to the Worldly Estate God hath Graciously Given me I Dispose of as follows

2ly I Give unto my beloved Wife Jane Dean & my Daughter Abigail Dean the Improvement of the Southerly half Part of my Dwelling House so long as She sd Jane Remains my Widow & if sd Abigail in her Single or Unmarried Condition Shall Survive her Mother then sd Abigail to Improve one lower fireroom in my Said Dwelling House During her single life; I also Give her all my Indoor Moveabls or Houshold Furniture (Except what I Shall in this my Will Give Unto my Children) I also Give her one third Part of my Stock of Live Creatures I also Give her Liberty to Get wood & Timber in my wood Lott Near home and in any of my Woods a broad to Dispose of as She Please over and above her thirds (so as not to strip & waste) so long as She Remains my Widow ~

3ly I Ratifie and Confirm Unto my Son Josiah Dean all my Lands at a Place Cald Titecutt in the Township of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth (Excepting my lott of Land by the River a little below Tittecutt Bridge so Cald and my wives Thirds or Right of Dowre in all the Rest of said Lands) with all the Prveledges and Appurtenances thereunto belonging As in a Deed of Gift to him said Josiah Dean his Heirs & Assigns forever I Also Give him sd Josiah my half Purchase Right of Undivided Land in Taunton North Purchase (so called) bought of Samuel Bayley, and my Intrest in the old Iron-work in the Town of Raynham, together with all my Right and title to any Ceder Swamp & Pine Swamp that is or shall be laid out on my half Purchase Right that is now within the Township of Taunton, though it be on my Right that I have Given son Job (Called Harlflones Right) All which Gifts and Bequests made unto him said Josiah Dean as above said I Ratifie & Confirm unto him his Heirs & Assigns To Have & to Hold the Same as free Inheritance in fee Simple forever Allways Excepting my Wives Right of Dowre, I also Give said Son Josiah one Sixth Part of my Library and one half Part of the out-dore moveables Comonly Used on my Farm, I also Give son Josiah all Debts he ows me and he to Discharge all Demands he hath against me or my Estate

4ly I Ratifie and Confirm Unto my Son Job Dean All my Homested Lands on both Sides of the Highway Leading from the Dwelling House of “Deac” Simeon Williams to the Dwelling House of George King in the Town of Raynham with my Buildings & fences thereon standing together with all my Lands at the Place Calld PaleBrook, Neck-plain, & Eastward of sd. Plain in the Town of Raynham, together with a small Meadow in the Town of Taunton, Calld. little Neck, together with all my Cederswamps, & Pineswamps in the Town of Raynham with my half Purchase Right of Undivided Land in the old Township of Taunton, All which Gifts & Bequests made Unto him said Job Dean as above said I Ratifie & Confirm Unto him his Heirs & Assigns To Have & to hold the Same as free Inheritance in fee Simple forever as by a Deed of Gift to him sd. Job Dean, Excepting my Wives Right of Dowre and the Priveledges I have Given her & my Daughter Abigail Dean or Shall Give them in this my last Will & Testament, & also Excepting fourteen Rods of Land for a Burying Place for as many of the Posterity of my Grand Father with their Husbands & wives as shall see cause to Bury there where my sd Grand Father was Buryed. Said Burying Place to be Bounded on the South by a fence as it now Stands, on the west four feet west from the most westermost Graves on the North two Rods from sd Fence, & on the East so far as to Contain the said fourteen Rods of Land, Furthermore I Give to my Son Job Dean one Sixth Part of my Library, and one     Part of my live Stock of Creatures, & one half Part of the out-dore moveables & Farming Tools belonging to my Farm. I also Give sd. Job all Debts he ows me & he to Discharge all Demands he hath against me or my Estate

5ly I Give & Bequeath unto my Daughter Abigail Dean one half Part of my lott of Land Near the Great Cederswamp in the Town of Raynham Bounded Easterly and Northerly partly by the great Cederswamp & partly by Land that was Mr. Borelands and westerly partly by Land of sd. Boreland, & partly by a Highway, & Southerly partly by Land of Stephen Dean & partly by Land of Josiah Robinson Containing About thirty one acres long measure be it more or less, together with one half part of a lot or Parcel of Land Scituate in Rehoboth in the County of Bristol Said lot Contains fifty & Six acres of Land, it being part of the Estate that was Robert Kings late of Rehoboth Deceasd, which his Administratrix sold to me by order of Court, together with a lot of Wood Land in Sd. Town of Rehoboth Containing about Eight Acres be it more or less which I Bought of David Joy, I Give sd. Abigail one half Part of, Bounded as by a Deed from David Joy to Josiah Dean The Said 31 acres, & 56 Acres & 8 Acres of Land to be equally Divided betwixt my two Daughters namely Abigail Dean & Mary Whitmarsh, I also Give Sd. Abigail Dean my lot of Land at Titicut in the Township of Middleborough a little below Titicutt Bridge Containing about twelve Acres & a quarter of Land be it more or less All which Gifts & Bequests made Unto her Said Abigail Dean as above said I Ratifie & Confirm unto her – her Heirs & Assigns To Have & To Hold the Same as free Inheritance in fee Simple forever, Allwayes Excepting my wives Right of Dowre. Furthermore I Give to my sd. Daughter Abigail Dean the Improvement of one lower fireroom in my Dwelling House & Convenient Firewood for one fire, & Convenient Keeping for one Cow Winter & Summer During here Single or Unmarried Condition, I also Give her one Cow & Ten sheep one Bed & Furniture & one Sixth Part of my Library, I also Give her my Black Boy Calld, Peter.

6ly I Give and Bequeathe Unto my Daughter Mary Whitmarsh Wife of Rufus Whitmarsh one half Part of a lott of Land Near the Great Cederswamp in the Town of Raynham Bound Easterly & Northerly by sd. Swamp & Land that was Mr Borelands & westerly by sd. sd. Boreland Land & a Highway, & Southerly by Land of Stephen Dean & Josiah Robinson, Said Lott Contains about thirty one Acres of Land be it more or less, together with one half Part of a lott or Parcel of Land in the Town of Rehoboth in the County of Bristol Containing fifty and Six Acres of Land, which was Part of the Estate of Robert King late of Rehoboth Deceasd which I Bought of his Administratrix by order of Court, together with a lott of Wood Land in said Town of Rehoboth which I Bought of David Joy of sd. Rehoboth Called Eight Acres be it more or less. [page creased] or Parcels of Land to be Equally Divided betwixt my two Daughters namely Abigail Dean & Mary Whitmarsh, All which Gifts & Bequests mad Unto her Said Mary Whitmarsh as above said I Ratifie and Confirm Unto her – her Heirs and Assigns To Have & to hold the same as free Inheritance in fee Simple forever Allwayes Excepting My Wives Right of Dowre Furthermore I Give to her said Mary All the Goods and Houshold Furniture & Live Stock of Creatures She has already Receivd, of me, I also Give her a Sixth Part of my Library & my little black Girl Calld, Hagar

7ly I Constitute and Appoint My two Sons namely Josiah Dean & Job Dean to be Executors of this my last Will & Testament and that they Pay all my Just Debts and Receive all my Credits & Give me a Christian Burial In Testamony whereof I the said Josiah Dean have hereunto Set my hand & Seal this third Day of May Anno Domini 1777.

Signd, Seald, Pronouncd & Declard, to be

the last Will & Testament of the said

Josiah Dean in Presence of Us

   Simeon Williams                                                                                                              Josiah Dean                                      (seal)

   Mason Shaw

     Job King

 

Proved on 1 Sept. 1778 by Simeon Williams and Mason Shaw, two of the witnesses.

 

We the Subscribers to wit Josiah Dean & Job Dean – Children of Josiah Dean & Jane his Wife late of Raynham Deceased and Executors of the last will and Testament of the Sd Josiah Dean Deceasd Obed Hall and Abigail his Wife Rufus Whitmarsh and Mary his Wife Said Abigail and Mary being also Children of the Sd Josiah & Jane Deceased Hereby Certify that we have Mutually agreed upon a Division of the Personal Estates of the Said Josiah and Jane his wife or that they Dyed Seized of and do hereby Discharge Each other from any Demands on accounts of Said Estates and we the said Obed Abigail Rufus & Mary Do hereby discharge the Said Josiah and Job from all Demands against them as Executors of the last will and Testament of the Sd Josiah Dean Deceasd and the Said Josiah and Job also hereby Discharge one another from any further Demands that they have against Each Other on account of Said Estates In witness to the above Writen agreement we hereunto Sett our hands this 19 Day of January A D 1791

                                                                                                                                                Josiah Dean

                                                                                                                                                Job Dean

                                                                                                                                                Obed Hall

                                                                                                                                                Abigail Hall

                                                                                                                                                Rufus Whitmarsh

                                                                                                                                                Mary Whitmarsh

 

* Transcribed by John A. Maltby from Bristol County Probate File “Josiah Dean, Raynham, 1777,” from FHL microfilm #0572869.