52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2018 WEEK 5: GEORGE BARROWS OF PLYMPTON, MA.PT3

((I first blogged this information in Feb 2014))

Just a few more things about George Barrows and my Barrows ancestry.

First, I have a double descent from George and his wife Patience Simmons.
Here's that list of his children by Lucien Moore Robinson from in the first
post in this series:


16 I. Moses4, b. Feb. 14, 1696-7, m. Mary Carver Dec. 4, 1717.
17 II. George4, b. Mch. n, 1698, m. Desire (Doly.2)
18 III. Samuel4, b. 1700, m. Susannah Tobey, Nov. 21, 1723.
19 IV. Peleg4, b. 1708, m. Hopestill Darling, Nov. 26, 1733.
20 V. Benjamin4, m. Lois Tilson, Oct. 15, 1741.
21 VI. James4, m. 1st, Oct. 15, 1741, 2d Nov. 3, 1726, Mary Coffin.
VII. Patience4, m. Jos. Waterman, 1733.
VIII. Ruth4, m. Seth Sampson, Mch. 19, 1723-4.
IX. Keziah4, m. Saml. Benson, May 21, 1728.
X. Deborah4, m. Caleb Benson.
XI. Sarah4, m. Caleb Cushman, Nov. 1742.

I highlighted the two Barrows children who are my ancestors.I haven't
been able to find a date of birth for Deborah Barrows but I estimate
she was about fifteen years younger than oldest brother Moses. My
double descent comes from the marriage of  Asa Barrows and Content
Benson:



They were first cousins once removed.

Five years agoI took a ride down to Lakenham Cemetery in Carver, Ma. where I found the
graves of George and Patience (Simmons) Barrows as well as the grave of his third wife,
Hannah (Ransom) Barrows. George's second wife Anne Barrows is probably there as well,
but as you can see the headstones are quite weathered so I wan't able to find it.

George Barrows

Patience (Simmons) Barrows

Hannah (Ransom) Barrows

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2018 WEEK 5: GEORGE BARROWS OF PLYMPTON, MA.PT2

((I first posted this information back in February 2014))

I'd seen reference once before to iron ore and George Barrows in Florence O'
Connor's book on my Dunham and Ellingwood ancestors but hadn't really given
it much thought. But then I ran into more information in Henry Griffith's History 
of the Town of Carver, Massachusetts: Historical Review, 1637-1910.

First, some knowledge about the location of the Barrows homestead which is
of use. The pond mentioned is Sampsons Pond, which was named after a local
Indian sachem:
  
Reckoned from the standpoint of continued influence, George Barrows and John
Murdock were the pioneers of South Carver. Through marital connections Caleb
Cushman, (whose wife was a daughter of George Barrows), established the Cushman
farm about 1740; and later the Saverys were settled in the village through the Barrows
girls. The Barrows property skirted the west shore of the pond and John Murdock held
the claim to the land on the east side. The pond itself was lightly regarded, except for
the fish it yielded and the grassy coves for their hay giving and pasturage qualities. Grassy Island was also used as a pasture, being approached through a slough from the west shore. The old Barrows' homestead stood at the junction of Mayflower road with Rochester road; the Murdock homestead was the farm on the east side of the pond, later known as the Israel Thomas farm; the Tillson farm was located about midway between Rochester road and Meadows road, in what is now known as New Meadows; and it is probable that the main highway at that time passed the Tillson 
house, the  Silas Shaw house, the Barrows house and the Murdock house and so on to the fishery at the outlet of the pond. Rochester road as we travel it, was laid out in 1698, but it is probable that the main travel south was on the east side of the pond, 
and the old roads leading to Halfway ponds and Agawam, show signs of having once 
been main travelled roads.p61-62

History of the Town of Carver, Massachusetts: Historical Review, 1637-1910 , E. Anthony & Sons, Printers,  Carver, Ma.1918

The location of the Barrows and Murdock homesteads came into play because of the
rich iron ore deposits beneath Sampsons Pond.

The operation of Popes Point furnace created a demand for bog ore that gave life to industrial Plympton and the swamps and ponds were regarded as valuable properties. 

A rich bed of this ore was found in Sampsons Pond and tributary coves which was being turned to a source of profit to the abutters when the officials of the town raised the point that the bog was public property. The matter found its way into Town meeting in 1749, where the private claimants were defeated and agents appointed to guard the interests of the public. After a few years of clashing between these factions the courts decided in favor of the private claimants and the pond passed to the control of George Barrows and Bartlett Murdock who in 1758 signed an indenture whereby a line was established extending from a point on the northerly shore to a point near the connection of Sampsons brook, Barrows to have the ore on the westerly side of the line, and Murdock the ore on the easterly side, while each was bound to guard the property of the other against poachers. p198 ibid

Eventually Murdock would build a second furnace, the Charlotte Furnace, and for about
a hundred years Carver was one of the leading producers of iron cooking and kitchen utensils in the colonies. When the iron ore deposits began to run out in town, more ore was imported from other town in the area and from as far away as New Jersey. Eventually the industry died out, and today the town of Carver is better known for its cranberry bogs and the Edaville Railroad Park and Museum.

But my ancestor George Barrows and members of his family had played a part when Carver was know for its iron furnaces.

To be continued.

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2018 WEEK 5: GEORGE BARROWS OF PLYMPTON, MA.PT1

((I first posted this information back in February 2014))


I found the following in an article  THE BARROWS FAMILY by Rev. Lucien Moore Robinson in  The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Volume 7 (Google 
eBook) (S.M. Watson, 1893).:

(7) George, (Robert2, John1,) b. 1670, m. Feb. 14, 1694, Patience, dau. of John Simmons, a descendant of Moses Symondson who came in "Fortune" 1621. She died Oct. 30, 1723. George m. 2nd, Anne Dunham, June 25, 1724, m. 3d, Hannah Jackson, Dec. 20, 1736.

CHILDREN.
16 I. Moses4, b. Feb. 14, 1696-7, m. Mary Carver Dec. 4, 1717.
17 II. George4, b. Mch. n, 1698, m. Desire (Doly.2)
18 III. Samuel4, b. 1700, m. Susannah Tobey, Nov. 21, 1723.
19 IV. Peleg4, b. 1708, m. Hopestill Darling, Nov. 26, 1733.
20 V. Benjamin4, m. Lois Tilson, Oct. 15, 1741.
21 VI. James4, m. 1st, Oct. 15, 1741, 2d Nov. 3, 1726, Mary Coffin.
VII. Patience4, m. Jos. Waterman, 1733.
VIII. Ruth4, m. Seth Sampson, Mch. 19, 1723-4.
IX. Keziah4, m. Saml. Benson, May 21, 1728.
X. Deborah4, m. Caleb Benson.
XI. Sarah4, m. Caleb Cushman, Nov. 1742.

7. George resided in Plymouth till 1711. The next year he is described as of Plympton where he was already the owner of considerable quantities of land. He was known as "Captain George" and being, it is said, a successful negotiator with the Indians he was often entrusted with the settlement of business affairs with them. He seems to have been a very great enterprising and successful man, brought up a large family, which appear to have intermarried with the most respected families of that vicinity,

He gave deeds to each of his sons during the later years of his life, of lands near him and near to each other, on which it seems that most of them resided. One deed conveys to his sons and sons in law the privilege and the right to take iron ore from Samson's Pond in Plympton, (now Carver) for which they are to pay him two shillings sixpence per ton. Sampson's Pond is in that part of Plympton which became in 1790 the town of Carver. The descendants of George still reside in this town and occupy the lands that have been in their families for several generations.

His son Samuel removed to Killingly, Conn., but "in consideration of fatherly affection" etc., is made the recipient in 1748, of 100 acres of land in Plympton, near "the forge standing on South Meadow River." It seems a fair inference that he must have been quite wealthy. His will disposes of additional quantities of land among his sons, and grand children, and directs the payment of small legacies to his daughters. His son Peleg is made executor and residing legatee. The will bears date September 4, 1750. The original is on file in the probate office in Plymouth, and is witnessed by Nathl. Bradford, Nathl. Leonard Jun. and James Hovey. The signature is written as in the other documents named, "Gorg Barrow" (the handwriting in the opinion of good judges being the same in each. This fact seems to leave no possible room for doubt concerning the identity of this person. It seems to establish the fact that he was the son of Robert, who was the son of John the emigrant to Plymouth. There is a record in an old family Bible in Maine, written by a grandson of this George who came to Plymouth from the West of England in 1668 and married a daughter of George Bonum. But this record we cannot explain. The Plymouth records mention the daughters of George Bonum, giving the name of Ruth and the date of her marriage with Robert Barrow2, Nov. 28,1666, and Patience who m. Richard Willis, Dec. 28, 1670, and Sarah who probably died unmarried. But no record or deed is found referring to any other daughter of George Bonum who married a Burrow or any other person. (George Bonum it may be proper to say in passing, was a prominent man, a land Surveyer, often in public service, and his name frequently appears on the town records. He m. Sarah, dau. of Geo. Morton, Dec. 20, 1644, and died April 28, 1704, 95 years of age. He was a member of the Plymouth Church. The record of the church says, "He lived to a good old age, being about 95. He was a man almost all men spoke well of and is gone to receive his crown."
The will of George Barrows was not presented for probate till 1794, nearly forty years after the death of the testator.
-p144

There's a lot of information in there, and I'll discuss that in the next post.

To be continued.

WHY GENEALOGISTS NEED SOCIAL MEDIA

I know there are some genealogists who feel that social media is wasting time
better spent in doing research. But having a presence on Facebook and/or Google
Plus can be quite valuable for genealogy, as I've found out. The trick is, first, don't get
mired down in the games, (I only play Words With friends, nothing else.) and second,
join the Genealogy Groups and Pages that pertain to the areas you are researching.

I'm a native New Englander, as are all my direct ancestors on our Dad's side of the family.
So I've joined a bunch of New England genealogy groups on Facebook. Some are for
particular families, some for certain towns and areas, and some just general New
England groups. I've been able to make contact with new distant cousins through these
groups and exchanged information with them, and as a result I've made new discoveries
in my own research. The most recent example of this happened just the other day.

One of the members of the Massachusetts Genealogy Network Facebook group asked a
question "Is Benjamin Barrows a proven son of George Barrows?".  He was referring to
George Barrows, 1670-1758, who happens to be my 6x great grandfather. I have a Benjamin
Barrows listed among his children, but no record of his birth. My source was the Ellingwood
Family genealog written by my cousin Florence O'Connor.  But rereading that part of the
book, I found she mentioned how George Barrows' estate was divided among the children.
Now I'd found Probate Files for George Barrows' father, and for his son, but not for George
as yet. So I went over to FamilySearch,Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Estate Files, 1686-1915 collection and voila! I found George Barrows' Probate File.

Here's the two pages of the Will, and Benjamin Barrows is  listed on both of them.

 "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Estate Files, 1686-1915," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-25244-12820-10?cc=1918549&wc=9216-ZNP:208834501,1078346401 : accessed 10 June 2015), Plymouth > Case no 1067-1096, Barrell, Noah Jr.-Barrows, George D. > image 606 of 631; Supreme Judical Court, Boston.

Also in the file is a letter a fellow Barrows descendant wrote over forty years ago in which he
describes why George's son Peleg Barrows, the executor of the estate didn't file George's will
until 1792.(He went off on the campaign against Quebec and forgot about it,)

I shared the link to the FamilySearch file with my new found Barrows cousin. I'd found an
answer to his question, and because he'd asked it, I'd found a family document I hadn't had
before, and learned a bit of family history as well.

And that is why I say social media is not a waste of time for genealogists!

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS #6:GEORGE BARROWS PT3

Just a few more things about George Barrows and my Barrows ancestry.

First, I have a double descent from George and his wife Patience Simmons.
Here's that list of his children by Lucien Moore Robinson from in the first
post in this series:


16 I. Moses4, b. Feb. 14, 1696-7, m. Mary Carver Dec. 4, 1717.
17 II. George4, b. Mch. n, 1698, m. Desire (Doly.2)
18 III. Samuel4, b. 1700, m. Susannah Tobey, Nov. 21, 1723.
19 IV. Peleg4, b. 1708, m. Hopestill Darling, Nov. 26, 1733.
20 V. Benjamin4, m. Lois Tilson, Oct. 15, 1741.
21 VI. James4, m. 1st, Oct. 15, 1741, 2d Nov. 3, 1726, Mary Coffin.
VII. Patience4, m. Jos. Waterman, 1733.
VIII. Ruth4, m. Seth Sampson, Mch. 19, 1723-4.
IX. Keziah4, m. Saml. Benson, May 21, 1728.
X. Deborah4, m. Caleb Benson.
XI. Sarah4, m. Caleb Cushman, Nov. 1742.

I highlighted the two Barrows children who are my ancestors.I haven't
been able to find a date of birth for Deborah Barrows but I estimate
she was about fifteen years younger than oldest brother Moses. My
double descent comes from the marriage of  Asa Barrows and Content
Benson:

They were first cousins once removed.

Two years ago in April, 2012, I took a drive down to Lakenham Cemetery in
Carver and found the headstones of George Barrows and his three wives.
Now I'm planning to go back and see if I can find the location of the Barrows
homestead. 

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS #6:GEORGE BARROWS PT2

I'd seen reference once before to iron ore and George Barrows in Florence O'
Connor's book on my Dunham and Ellingwood ancestors but hadn't really given
it much thought. But as I was researching George for this past week's 52 Ancestors
in 52 Weeks post I ran into more information in Henry Griffith's History of the Town
of Carver, Massachusetts: Historical Review, 1637-1910.

First, some knowledge about the location of the Barrows homestead which is
of use. The pond mentioned is Sampsons Pond, which was named after a local
Indian sachem:
  
Reckoned from the standpoint of continued influence, George Barrows and John
Murdock were the pioneers of South Carver. Through marital connections Caleb
Cushman, (whose wife was a daughter of George Barrows), established the Cushman
farm about 1740; and later the Saverys were settled in the village through the Barrows
girls. The Barrows property skirted the west shore of the pond and John Murdock held
the claim to the land on the east side. The pond itself was lightly regarded, except for
the fish it yielded and the grassy coves for their hay giving and pasturage qualities. Grassy Island was also used as a pasture, being approached through a slough from the west shore. The old Barrows' homestead stood at the junction of Mayflower road with Rochester road; the Murdock homestead was the farm on the east side of the pond, later known as the Israel Thomas farm; the Tillson farm was located about midway between Rochester road and Meadows road, in what is now known as New Meadows; and it is probable that the main highway at that time passed the Tillson 
house, the  Silas Shaw house, the Barrows house and the Murdock house and so on to the fishery at the outlet of the pond. Rochester road as we travel it, was laid out in 1698, but it is probable that the main travel south was on the east side of the pond, 
and the old roads leading to Halfway ponds and Agawam, show signs of having once 
been main travelled roads.p61-62


The location of the Barrows and Murdock homesteads came into play because of the
rich iron ore deposits beneath Sampsons Pond.

The operation of Popes Point furnace created a demand for bog ore that gave life to industrial Plympton and the swamps and ponds were regarded as valuable properties.
A rich bed of this ore was found in Sampsons Pond and tributary coves which was being turned to a source of profit to the abutters when the officials of the town raised the point that the bog was public property. The matter found its way into Town meeting in 1749, where the private claimants were defeated and agents appointed to guard the interests of the public. After a few years of clashing between these factions the courts decided in favor of the private claimants and the pond passed to the control of George Barrows and Bartlett Murdock who in 1758 signed an indenture whereby a line was established extending from a point on the northerly shore to a point near the connection of Sampsons brook, Barrows to have the ore on the westerly side of the line, and Murdock the ore on the easterly side, while each was bound to guard the property of the other against poachers. p198

Eventually Murdock would build a second furnace, the Charlotte Furnace, and for about
a hundred years Carver was one of the leading producers of iron cooking and kitchen utensils in the colonies. When the iron ore deposits began to run out in town, more ore was imported from other town in the area and from as far away as New Jersey. Eventually the industry died out, and today the town of Carver is better known for its cranberry bogs and the Edaville Railroad Park and Museum.

But my ancestor George Barrows and members of his family had played a part when Carver was know for its iron furnaces.

To be continued.

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS #6:GEORGE BARROWS

Fellow geneablogger Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small has issued the 52
Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. Basically, we have to post something evey week
on a different ancestor, whether a story, picture, or research problem. This post is
about George Barrows, (1670-1758), my 6x great grandfather. My research for the
previous post got me interested in my ancestors who lived in the Plympton, Ma.
area, of which George was one.



I found the following in an article  THE BARROWS FAMILY by Rev. Lucien Moore Robinson in  The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Volume 7 (Google 
eBook) (S.M. Watson, 1893).:

(7) George, (Robert2, John1,) b. 1670, m. Feb. 14, 1694, Patience, dau. of John Simmons, a descendant of Moses Symondson who came in "Fortune" 1621. She died Oct. 30, 1723. George m. 2nd, Anne Dunham, June 25, 1724, m. 3d, Hannah Jackson, Dec. 20, 1736.

CHILDREN.
16 I. Moses4, b. Feb. 14, 1696-7, m. Mary Carver Dec. 4, 1717.
17 II. George4, b. Mch. n, 1698, m. Desire (Doly.2)
18 III. Samuel4, b. 1700, m. Susannah Tobey, Nov. 21, 1723.
19 IV. Peleg4, b. 1708, m. Hopestill Darling, Nov. 26, 1733.
20 V. Benjamin4, m. Lois Tilson, Oct. 15, 1741.
21 VI. James4, m. 1st, Oct. 15, 1741, 2d Nov. 3, 1726, Mary Coffin.
VII. Patience4, m. Jos. Waterman, 1733.
VIII. Ruth4, m. Seth Sampson, Mch. 19, 1723-4.
IX. Keziah4, m. Saml. Benson, May 21, 1728.
X. Deborah4, m. Caleb Benson.
XI. Sarah4, m. Caleb Cushman, Nov. 1742.

7. George resided in Plymouth till 1711. The next year he is described as of Plympton where he was already the owner of considerable quantities of land. He was known as "Captain George" and being, it is said, a successful negotiator with the Indians he was often entrusted with the settlement of business affairs with them. He seems to have been a very great enterprising and successful man, brought up a large family, which appear to have intermarried with the most respected families of that vicinity,

He gave deeds to each of his sons during the later years of his life, of lands near him and near to each other, on which it seems that most of them resided. One deed conveys to his sons and sons in law the privilege and the right to take iron ore from Samson's Pond in Plympton, (now Carver) for which they are to pay him two shillings sixpence per ton. Sampson's Pond is in that part of Plympton which became in 1790 the town of Carver. The descendants of George still reside in this town and occupy the lands that have been in their families for several generations.

His son Samuel removed to Killingly, Conn., but "in consideration of fatherly affection" etc., is made the recipient in 1748, of 100 acres of land in Plympton, near "the forge standing on South Meadow River." It seems a fair inference that he must have been quite wealthy. His will disposes of additional quantities of land among his sons, and grand children, and directs the payment of small legacies to his daughters. His son Peleg is made executor and residing legatee. The will bears date September 4, 1750. The original is on file in the probate office in Plymouth, and is witnessed by Nathl. Bradford, Nathl. Leonard Jun. and James Hovey. The signature is written as in the other documents named, "Gorg Barrow" (the handwriting in the opinion of good judges being the same in each. This fact seems to leave no possible room for doubt concerning the identity of this person. It seems to establish the fact that he was the son of Robert, who was the son of John the emigrant to Plymouth. There is a record in an old family Bible in Maine, written by a grandson of this George who came to Plymouth from the West of England in 1668 and married a daughter of George Bonum. But this record we cannot explain. The Plymouth records mention the daughters of George Bonum, giving the name of Ruth and the date of her marriage with Robert Barrow2, Nov. 28,1666, and Patience who m. Richard Willis, Dec. 28, 1670, and Sarah who probably died unmarried. But no record or deed is found referring to any other daughter of George Bonum who married a Burrow or any other person. (George Bonum it may be proper to say in passing, was a prominent man, a land Surveyer, often in public service, and his name frequently appears on the town records. He m. Sarah, dau. of Geo. Morton, Dec. 20, 1644, and died April 28, 1704, 95 years of age. He was a member of the Plymouth Church. The record of the church says, "He lived to a good old age, being about 95. He was a man almost all men spoke well of and is gone to receive his crown."
The will of George Barrows was not presented for probate till 1794, nearly forty years after the death of the testator.
-p144

There's a lot of information in there, and I'll discuss that in the next post.

To be continued.