52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 26: JOHN HAWKES 1690-1738 PT1

My ancestor John Hawkes' father Adam Hawkes had died in 1691, three years before his father's
death. Adam had been the oldest child of the first John Hawkes and would have been given a
large part of the estate if he hadn't preceded his father. Yet no mention is made of his widow
Elizabeth or their son John in the original agreement between the heirs settling their share of the
property. That matter was eventually taken care of in the following document from early the
next year. The town named "linn" is now Lynn, Ma.    

 Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)

I once again found a transcription by George Ernest Bowman in his "Hawkes Notes"
article in The Mayflower Descendant:

 
Know all men by these Presents that Wheras there is an agrement made & put in writing under the hands & Seals of the Several parsons Concerned in the Estate of mr John Hawkes bearing date ye 4th Septemb[er] 1694 as a full & final Settlement of the Estate of the Said John Hawkes late of linn decd That the Said John Hawkes decd had a Son named Adam; who decd before him Self: the Sd Adam leving a widow 8: one only Son: Now Know yee that we whose names are hereunto Subscribed doe by these presents for our Selves our Heires Executors admrs or assignes remise release and for ever quit claim unto Elizabeth Hawkes relict widow of the aforesaid Adam Hawkes &unto John Hawkes only Son of the Said Adam Hawkes their Heires Exrs admrs & assignes: A Certaine parcel of upland and meadow Containing about four Score acres be ye Same more or less Sittuate in ye towne Ship of linn in ye County of Essex bounded with Sawgust river to ye west with a white oak to the East from thence to a walnut tree: northward with the land of Dann Eaton To have & to hold . . . . In Witness wherof we have hereunto Set our hands & Seals the  8th Day of Aprill I695.

It is to be understood that the above Sd parcel of land is to be clear & free (to the abovesd Eli[zabeth] and John Hawkes) from any incumbrance of what nature or kind So ever without any discount or allowans of any debts or legaces or any other thing whatsoever the abovesd parcel of land being laid out by mr Jn° Hawkes Senr dec'd in his life time to his Son Adams Widow & her Son John as a clear & absolute Estate of Inheritance in fee Simple without any Incumbrance wt soever as aforesaid , in Witness wherof we have set our hands & Seals ye day & year afores'd.
Signed Sealed & Delivered 
in psence of us
Steph: Sewall
John Croade
John Hawke(Seal)
thomas haw(Sea1)
ffrancis hutchinson(seal)
Guardian to Ebenezer Hawkes

The Mayflower Descendant, 1620-1920: A Quarterly Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History, Volumes 17      Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants., Boston, Ma. 1915 pp222-228