To recap, I noticed that in an article in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register
the first name of David Butterfield's youngest daughter Joanna was omitted although the full name
of her husband Dennis McLane is there. I surmised the author of the article, George A Gordon, may have gotten the information on the family from David Butterfield's probate file.
The images of pages in probate and pension files are often out of order, and this was the case in
David's probate file. There are 22 images in it, some hard to read and none with any mention of Joanna, but eventually I found the image of a letter to a judge that gave me an answer as to why.
It seems there was a dispute over the estate, fueled by a distrust in Joanna's husband Dennis' involvement with how the estate was administered:
Here's my transcription:
To the Honorable Samuel Danforth Esq.Judge of Probate of the
& for the County of Middlesex------
The Petition of Keziah Shed Widow, Jean Butterfield, Esther
Butterfield, Jacob Manning and Sarah Manning My Wife,
Children and Heirs of our Honoured Father Mr. David Butterfield
Late of Chelmsford Deceased Humbly Showeth that your Petitioners
Said Father had in his Life time a pritty Comfortable Estate both
Real and personal and died so Seized thereof and Our Mother Mrs
Keziah Butterfield administered on Said Estate and we fear is like
to Ruin and waste the Same for that we have a sister who is
who is not a very good husband
Married to one Dennis McLane ^whom our said Mother hath
Taken in to Manage the Place Contrary to our minds, who we fear
will utterly Ruin the Same. ________
Wherefore your Petitioners Humbly pray, that your Honor would
be pleased to Order Our Said Mothers Third to be Sett of to her So
as She may have the Improvement of that Only, and that the
other Two Thirds may be Lett out to best advantage to good
Husbandry until Our Brother (for we have but one) comes of age
to Settle it; Or any other way that your Honor in your Wisdom
Shall think proper So that the Said Estate may not be wasted or
Spent, and your petitioners as Duty Bound Shall ever pray.
Keziah Shed
Jean (her mark)Butterfield
Esther (her mark)Butterfield
Jacob Manning
Sarah (her mark)Butterfield
I like that insertion of "who is not a very good husband". I wonder which Butterfield
sister insisted that be added?
The other side of the letter is dated April 16, 1764. From what I can make out from other
page the judge, Samuel Danforth granted the family's request and gave my 6x great grandmother
Keziah (Shuttleworth)Butterfield her third of the estate while the other two thirds were administered
by men appointed by the judge. Samuel Butterfield was granted control his inheritance himself
on 16Jan 1770.
Among those who assessed the estate was John Spaulding, my 6th great grandfather, who is
ancestor through the marriage of his son Lot to Esther Butterfield on 27Jun 1764,
As for Joanna (Butterfield) McLain, she and Dennis lived in Chelmsford long enough to
have a son Willard, but then the McLains seem to have left Chelmsford.
So I think I was right, George Gordon must have used that letter in the file in compiling his
list of the family, which solves one mystery.
There still remain two questions:
Did Joanna and her sisters ever reconcile, and where did the McLains go when they left
Chelmsford?
Showing posts with label Butterfield Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Butterfield Family. Show all posts
Saturday, January 09, 2016
Thursday, January 07, 2016
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2016 WEEK 1: DAVID BUTTERFIELD OF CHELMSFORD, MA. PT2.
So who was the daughter whose name was omitted from George A Gordon's article on the Butterfields in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register ? I decided to check the Chelmsford Births on the Early Vital Records of Massachusetts From 1600 to 1850 website and found that David and Keziah had three children more than the five Gordon had listed. The three additional children are in boldface:
Benjamin, Oct 17, 1732
Keziah, Feb 25, 1733-34
Jane , Jan 9 1736-7
Esther, Nov 13, 1738
Joanna, Oct 6 1741
Susanna, bp. Nov 8 1741
Sarah, May 20 1744
Samuel, Dec 9 1748.
None of those three are named in David's probate file. Since I was looking for the daughter who married "Dennis Maclane" it had to be Joanna or Susanna. Next I checked the Marriages page and found this entry:
Joanna, and Dennis McLain, Dec 29, 1762
So why is Dennis "McLane" on George Gordon's list of the family but Joanna (Butterfield) "McLane"
is not?
Looking at Gordon's entry for David Butterfield's family again, I decided he was using the probate file as his source of information. I took a closer look at the images in the file.
And that's where I think I found an answer to my question.
To be continued.
Benjamin, Oct 17, 1732
Keziah, Feb 25, 1733-34
Jane , Jan 9 1736-7
Esther, Nov 13, 1738
Joanna, Oct 6 1741
Susanna, bp. Nov 8 1741
Sarah, May 20 1744
Samuel, Dec 9 1748.
None of those three are named in David's probate file. Since I was looking for the daughter who married "Dennis Maclane" it had to be Joanna or Susanna. Next I checked the Marriages page and found this entry:
Joanna, and Dennis McLain, Dec 29, 1762
So why is Dennis "McLane" on George Gordon's list of the family but Joanna (Butterfield) "McLane"
is not?
Looking at Gordon's entry for David Butterfield's family again, I decided he was using the probate file as his source of information. I took a closer look at the images in the file.
And that's where I think I found an answer to my question.
To be continued.
Wednesday, January 06, 2016
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2016 WEEK 1: DAVID BUTTERFIELD OF CHELMSFORD, MA.
I'm beginning my 2016 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge series with my 6x great grandfather
David Butterfield of Chelmsford, Ma. David is another of my ancestors that there wasn't too much
information about on the internet when I first searched, but a little digging revealed an interesting
story about the family.
Here's what little George A Gordon has to say about David in the BUTTERFIELDS OF MIDDLESEX:
25. David4 Butterfield (Jonathan* Samuel* Benjamin') was born in Chelmsford in 1712. In 1724, he was adopted by his uncle Samuel (9) who was childless, and in 1742 inherited his whole estate. He married Kezia, who, with his adopted mother, Tabitha, were widows on the estate at his decease in 1764. Children:
i. Samuel,4 b. 1749-50.
ii Kezia. m. Benjamin Shed of Billerica, who died 19 Dec. 1760, and she m. 2d, in 1765, David Stlckney, and removed to Grafton, Vt.
iii. Jean.
iv. Esther.
v. Sarah, m. Jacob Manning of Billerica.
vi.______ , m. Dennis McLane.
p41
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 44 , Published at the Society's House, 18 Somerset Street. Printed by David Clapp & Son Boston, Ma 1890
I know David's wife Kezia;s maiden name was Shettleworth/Shuttleworth, as shown in this
image of the Chelmsford marriage records. They are the third couple listed at the bottom of the
page under the name Butterfeild.
Looking at the list of children, I can fill in some of the missing information from David's Probate file. At the time of his death, daughters Jean and Esther signed a certain letter (which I will get to in my
next post) about the estate and either they were unmarried or married to cousins, because both signed as Butterfields. Esther later married Lot Spaulding and is my 5x great grandmother.
It's the last daughter that interested me, the one whose first name is not given but who survived into adulthood long enough to marry a "Dennis McLane". Why is her fist name missing from the
list of David Butterfield? And that's where that interesting family story comes into the picture.
I'll discuss it in the next post.
To be continued.
David Butterfield of Chelmsford, Ma. David is another of my ancestors that there wasn't too much
information about on the internet when I first searched, but a little digging revealed an interesting
story about the family.
Here's what little George A Gordon has to say about David in the BUTTERFIELDS OF MIDDLESEX:
25. David4 Butterfield (Jonathan* Samuel* Benjamin') was born in Chelmsford in 1712. In 1724, he was adopted by his uncle Samuel (9) who was childless, and in 1742 inherited his whole estate. He married Kezia, who, with his adopted mother, Tabitha, were widows on the estate at his decease in 1764. Children:
i. Samuel,4 b. 1749-50.
ii Kezia. m. Benjamin Shed of Billerica, who died 19 Dec. 1760, and she m. 2d, in 1765, David Stlckney, and removed to Grafton, Vt.
iii. Jean.
iv. Esther.
v. Sarah, m. Jacob Manning of Billerica.
vi.______ , m. Dennis McLane.
p41
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 44 , Published at the Society's House, 18 Somerset Street. Printed by David Clapp & Son Boston, Ma 1890
I know David's wife Kezia;s maiden name was Shettleworth/Shuttleworth, as shown in this
image of the Chelmsford marriage records. They are the third couple listed at the bottom of the
page under the name Butterfeild.
Looking at the list of children, I can fill in some of the missing information from David's Probate file. At the time of his death, daughters Jean and Esther signed a certain letter (which I will get to in my
next post) about the estate and either they were unmarried or married to cousins, because both signed as Butterfields. Esther later married Lot Spaulding and is my 5x great grandmother.
It's the last daughter that interested me, the one whose first name is not given but who survived into adulthood long enough to marry a "Dennis McLane". Why is her fist name missing from the
list of David Butterfield? And that's where that interesting family story comes into the picture.
I'll discuss it in the next post.
To be continued.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
" A CAPTIVE EXPOSD TO GREAT HARDSHIPS,..."
In my research for my posts about my Butterfield ancestors, I came across this story about a Samuel Butterfield. This Samuel was not my 8x great grandfather, but rather his nephew, a son of Nathaniel Butterfield, and therefore one of my distant cousins. The incident took place during the Queen Anne's War, and Samuel Abbott Green (another distant cousin) wrote about it in his book Groton During the Indian Wars:
Penhallow, in his History, gives several instances of extreme cruelty to the prisoners on the part of the savages, and mentions the following case of a man who was captured in this town: —
A third was of Samuel Butterfield, who being sent to Groton as a Soldier, was with others attackt, as they were gathering in the Harvest; his bravery was such, that he kill'd one and wounded another, but being overpower'd by strength, was forc'd to submit; and it hapned that the slain Indian was a Sagamore, and of great dexterity in War, which caused matter of Lamentation, and enrag'd them to such degree that they vow'd the utmost revenge; Some were for whipping him to Death; others for burning him alive; but differing in their Sentiments, they submitted the Issue to the Squaw Widow, concluding she would determine something very dreadful, but when the matter was opened, and the Fact considered, her Spirits were so moderate as to make no other reply, than, " Fortune L'guare. Upon which some were uneasy; to whom she answered, If by killing him, you can bring my Husband to life again, I beg you to study what Death you please; but if not let him be my Servant; which he accordingly was, during his Captivity, and had favour shewn him." (Pages 38, 39.)
pp 94-95
Groton During the Indian Wars, John Wilson & Son, Universtiy Press, Cambridge, Ma. 1883
Samuel was able to escape eventually:
Butterfield remained a captive for more than a year. It is not known how he obtained his release. His petition to the General Court sets forth the fact that he was an inhabitant of Chelmsford, and was sent by Captain Jerathmel Bowers to Groton, in order to help Colonel Taylor, in August, 1704, when the enemy came upon the place. It is as follows: —
To his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esqr Capt. General and Governor in Chief and To the Honoble the Council and House of Representatives now in General Assembly convened at Boston within 6* for her Majesties Province of the Massachust. Bay April 10th 1706.
The Humble Petition of Samuel Butterfield Sheweth
That yor Petitioner is an Inhabitant of the Town of Chelmsford, and in the month of August 1704, when the Enemy came upon Nashoway & Groton &: yor Petitioner (with others) was sent out by the Capt Jerathmel Bowers to Groton to assist Col. Taylor, when yor Petitioner being ordered out with some others to Guard a Man who was going to work in the field, the Enemy came upon them, killd one man and took yor Petitioner and one other Prisoners, tho yor Petitioner made all the resistance possible, killed one, and knockt down two more after they had seized him, for which yor Petitioner was cruelly used by them afterwards & threatened to be burnt, several times. May it please this Great and Generall Assembly, yor Petitioner was very well accoutred in all respects when he was taken, and then was stript of all and was between fourteen and fifteen months a Captive exposd to great hardships, and has sustained great Loss and damage.
Yor Petitioner therefore humbly prays the favor of this great and General Assembly to take the premises into yor serious Consideration and Grant him such Recompense for his Losses and sufferings, as aforesd as to yor wisdom and Goodness shall seem meet.
and yor Petitioner (as in duty bound) shall ever pray &c.
Samuell Butterfield
[Endorsed]
Apri1 10: 1706, Read.
In the House of Representative Resolved That the Sum of Five Pounds be allowed, & Paid out of the Publick Treasury to Samll Butterfield the Petitioner in Consideration of his Losse, & service. Sent up for concurrence.
Thomas Oakes Speaker
April. 11. 1706.
In Council.
Read & concurr'd.
Isa Addington Secry.
[Massachusetts Archives, LXXI. 195, 196.]
Butterfield had previously received, October 27, 1704, a bounty of four pounds for killing the Indian mentioned in this petition; but the present award was for his services and personal loss.
pp95-96
ibid.
It's always struck me as ironic and sad that the Puritans, who sought to establish a godly commonwealth here in Massachusetts, should offer a bounty on the lives of other human beings, a practice that continued across the continent until the late 19th century.
Penhallow, in his History, gives several instances of extreme cruelty to the prisoners on the part of the savages, and mentions the following case of a man who was captured in this town: —
A third was of Samuel Butterfield, who being sent to Groton as a Soldier, was with others attackt, as they were gathering in the Harvest; his bravery was such, that he kill'd one and wounded another, but being overpower'd by strength, was forc'd to submit; and it hapned that the slain Indian was a Sagamore, and of great dexterity in War, which caused matter of Lamentation, and enrag'd them to such degree that they vow'd the utmost revenge; Some were for whipping him to Death; others for burning him alive; but differing in their Sentiments, they submitted the Issue to the Squaw Widow, concluding she would determine something very dreadful, but when the matter was opened, and the Fact considered, her Spirits were so moderate as to make no other reply, than, " Fortune L'guare. Upon which some were uneasy; to whom she answered, If by killing him, you can bring my Husband to life again, I beg you to study what Death you please; but if not let him be my Servant; which he accordingly was, during his Captivity, and had favour shewn him." (Pages 38, 39.)
pp 94-95
Groton During the Indian Wars, John Wilson & Son, Universtiy Press, Cambridge, Ma. 1883
Samuel was able to escape eventually:
Butterfield remained a captive for more than a year. It is not known how he obtained his release. His petition to the General Court sets forth the fact that he was an inhabitant of Chelmsford, and was sent by Captain Jerathmel Bowers to Groton, in order to help Colonel Taylor, in August, 1704, when the enemy came upon the place. It is as follows: —
To his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esqr Capt. General and Governor in Chief and To the Honoble the Council and House of Representatives now in General Assembly convened at Boston within 6* for her Majesties Province of the Massachust. Bay April 10th 1706.
The Humble Petition of Samuel Butterfield Sheweth
That yor Petitioner is an Inhabitant of the Town of Chelmsford, and in the month of August 1704, when the Enemy came upon Nashoway & Groton &: yor Petitioner (with others) was sent out by the Capt Jerathmel Bowers to Groton to assist Col. Taylor, when yor Petitioner being ordered out with some others to Guard a Man who was going to work in the field, the Enemy came upon them, killd one man and took yor Petitioner and one other Prisoners, tho yor Petitioner made all the resistance possible, killed one, and knockt down two more after they had seized him, for which yor Petitioner was cruelly used by them afterwards & threatened to be burnt, several times. May it please this Great and Generall Assembly, yor Petitioner was very well accoutred in all respects when he was taken, and then was stript of all and was between fourteen and fifteen months a Captive exposd to great hardships, and has sustained great Loss and damage.
Yor Petitioner therefore humbly prays the favor of this great and General Assembly to take the premises into yor serious Consideration and Grant him such Recompense for his Losses and sufferings, as aforesd as to yor wisdom and Goodness shall seem meet.
and yor Petitioner (as in duty bound) shall ever pray &c.
Samuell Butterfield
[Endorsed]
Apri1 10: 1706, Read.
In the House of Representative Resolved That the Sum of Five Pounds be allowed, & Paid out of the Publick Treasury to Samll Butterfield the Petitioner in Consideration of his Losse, & service. Sent up for concurrence.
Thomas Oakes Speaker
April. 11. 1706.
In Council.
Read & concurr'd.
Isa Addington Secry.
[Massachusetts Archives, LXXI. 195, 196.]
Butterfield had previously received, October 27, 1704, a bounty of four pounds for killing the Indian mentioned in this petition; but the present award was for his services and personal loss.
pp95-96
ibid.
It's always struck me as ironic and sad that the Puritans, who sought to establish a godly commonwealth here in Massachusetts, should offer a bounty on the lives of other human beings, a practice that continued across the continent until the late 19th century.
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 52: JONATHAN BUTTERFIELD OF CHELMSFORD, MA.
My final subject for the 2015 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge is my 7x great grandfather Jonathan Butterfield. George A. Gordon has 0nly a little to say about him in his THE BUTTERFIELDS OF MIDDLESEX article:
12. Jonathan' Butterfield (Samuel, Benjamin) was born in Chelmsford; had wife Elizabeth, who died early, leaving one child:
1. Elizabeth,4 m. Adam Gould.
He married 2d, Elizabeth, a daughter of Thomas and _____Chamberlain of Chelmsford, who survived him. He was an husbandman. His will, signed " Buterfeild," made 10 July, 1728, was probated 7 August, 1738. Children:
25. Ii. David,* b. 1702.
26. iii. Jonathan.
27. iv. Robert, b. 1716.
v. Samuel, of Westford, where he d. unm. in 1764.
vi. Sarah, m. 16 Oct. 1744, Thomas Danforth of Billerica.
vii. Mary, m.____ Perham.
p37
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 44 , Published at the Society's House, 18 Somerset Street. Printed by David Clapp & Son Boston, Ma 1890
I did find a will in his probate file at AmericanAncestors.org and in it was this interesting item at the bottom of the first page:
Here's my transcription of that part:
I give and Bequeath unto my well beloved son David my part
of an orchard in Chelmsford and and Lyeth on the west side of
the Country Road and between the Land of John Butterfield and--
Daniel Blogett. And the Reason why I give David no more is because
I gave him to my Brother Samuel Butterfield at fourteen years of age
and he has had his service this twelve years and is to give him
a portion for the same as by promise - -
The document was written at a slant on the first page. While the writing on the second page is
straight and level it's still small and messy so it's slightly difficult to read, but it does have Jonathan's signature written in a big although shaky hand.
I'll try to find the will of Jonathan's adopted father Samuel Butterfield to see if he kept his promise.
12. Jonathan' Butterfield (Samuel, Benjamin) was born in Chelmsford; had wife Elizabeth, who died early, leaving one child:
1. Elizabeth,4 m. Adam Gould.
He married 2d, Elizabeth, a daughter of Thomas and _____Chamberlain of Chelmsford, who survived him. He was an husbandman. His will, signed " Buterfeild," made 10 July, 1728, was probated 7 August, 1738. Children:
25. Ii. David,* b. 1702.
26. iii. Jonathan.
27. iv. Robert, b. 1716.
v. Samuel, of Westford, where he d. unm. in 1764.
vi. Sarah, m. 16 Oct. 1744, Thomas Danforth of Billerica.
vii. Mary, m.____ Perham.
p37
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 44 , Published at the Society's House, 18 Somerset Street. Printed by David Clapp & Son Boston, Ma 1890
I did find a will in his probate file at AmericanAncestors.org and in it was this interesting item at the bottom of the first page:
 |
| Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)case 3725 p8 |
 |
| Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.) Case 3725 page8 |
Here's my transcription of that part:
I give and Bequeath unto my well beloved son David my part
of an orchard in Chelmsford and and Lyeth on the west side of
the Country Road and between the Land of John Butterfield and--
Daniel Blogett. And the Reason why I give David no more is because
I gave him to my Brother Samuel Butterfield at fourteen years of age
and he has had his service this twelve years and is to give him
a portion for the same as by promise - -
The document was written at a slant on the first page. While the writing on the second page is
straight and level it's still small and messy so it's slightly difficult to read, but it does have Jonathan's signature written in a big although shaky hand.
 |
| Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)Case3725 page 9 |
I'll try to find the will of Jonathan's adopted father Samuel Butterfield to see if he kept his promise.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 51: SAMUEL BUTTERFIELD OF CHELMSFORD, MA.
Drawing close to the end of the 2015 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, I've come to my 8x great grandfather Samuel Butterfield. George A. Gordon wrote this about Samuel and his family in his article THE BUTTERFIELDS OF MIDDLESEX:
4. Samuel 2 Butterfield (Benjamin1) was born in Woburn, 17 May, 1647, removed with his father to Chelmsford, where he remained till his death in 1714. He had a wife Mary. His will, signed 26 April, 1703, "Samuel Buterfeld, his mark," was written by Eliezer Browne, one of the witnesses, and probated 1 July, 1715. In it, he mentions his sons Samuel and Jonathan, and his daughters Mercy, Ann, Phebe and Deborah. It lies in the Middlesex Registry with the following certificate appended:
"Middx County
This Will of Samuel Bntterfield, late of Chelmsford in the county of Middx dec'd, contained in two sides of this sheet of paper was Exhibd for probate pr Samuel and Jonathan Butterfleld sons of the Sd Dec'd & Ex's in the same named & Jonathan Bowers made oath yt he together wth Nathaniel Blodgit (now dead) & Eliezer Brown (who now lives in Connecticut Colony) set to there hands as Witnesses in the Testator's presence & that he see him sign & seal & heard him publish the same to be his last will and Testament & that he was of sound mind & this Will is proved & approved & the administracon thereof is Committed to the sd Samuel & Jonathan Buttertield Executors aforesaid. Witness my hand and seal of office at Camb. July 1st 1715.
Pr. Fra. Foxcroft Judge Prob for Middx."
Children:
11. i Samuel,3
ii. Mary, m. 30 June, 1698, Samuel3 Spalding (John,2 Edward1); removed in 1700 to Canterbury, Conn., where she died in 1726. Six children, three born in Chelmsford and three in Canterbury.
iii. Ann m. (prob.) John Davis, son of the Chelmsford blacksmith.
iv. Phebe. m._____ How, of Plainfleld, Conn.
v. Deborah, b. 20 Aug. 1687; m. Joseph3 Cleveland (Josiah2 Moses1); removed, about 1706, to Canterbury, Conn.
12. vi. Jonathan.
p35
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 44 , Published at the Society's House, 18 Somerset Street. Printed by David Clapp & Son Boston, Ma 1890
A few notes:
I've found the images of Samuel's will over on AmericanAncestor.org but didn't find one of the above statement.
Some sources say Samuel's wife Mary was Mary Ann Ballard, daughter of William & Grace (Berwick) Ballard of Andover, Ma.
Interesting to see that Samuel's sister Mary married a Spaulding. So there were earlier connections between the two families before my 5x great grandparents Lot Spaulding and Esther Butterfield in 1764
4. Samuel 2 Butterfield (Benjamin1) was born in Woburn, 17 May, 1647, removed with his father to Chelmsford, where he remained till his death in 1714. He had a wife Mary. His will, signed 26 April, 1703, "Samuel Buterfeld, his mark," was written by Eliezer Browne, one of the witnesses, and probated 1 July, 1715. In it, he mentions his sons Samuel and Jonathan, and his daughters Mercy, Ann, Phebe and Deborah. It lies in the Middlesex Registry with the following certificate appended:
"Middx County
This Will of Samuel Bntterfield, late of Chelmsford in the county of Middx dec'd, contained in two sides of this sheet of paper was Exhibd for probate pr Samuel and Jonathan Butterfleld sons of the Sd Dec'd & Ex's in the same named & Jonathan Bowers made oath yt he together wth Nathaniel Blodgit (now dead) & Eliezer Brown (who now lives in Connecticut Colony) set to there hands as Witnesses in the Testator's presence & that he see him sign & seal & heard him publish the same to be his last will and Testament & that he was of sound mind & this Will is proved & approved & the administracon thereof is Committed to the sd Samuel & Jonathan Buttertield Executors aforesaid. Witness my hand and seal of office at Camb. July 1st 1715.
Pr. Fra. Foxcroft Judge Prob for Middx."
Children:
11. i Samuel,3
ii. Mary, m. 30 June, 1698, Samuel3 Spalding (John,2 Edward1); removed in 1700 to Canterbury, Conn., where she died in 1726. Six children, three born in Chelmsford and three in Canterbury.
iii. Ann m. (prob.) John Davis, son of the Chelmsford blacksmith.
iv. Phebe. m._____ How, of Plainfleld, Conn.
v. Deborah, b. 20 Aug. 1687; m. Joseph3 Cleveland (Josiah2 Moses1); removed, about 1706, to Canterbury, Conn.
12. vi. Jonathan.
p35
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 44 , Published at the Society's House, 18 Somerset Street. Printed by David Clapp & Son Boston, Ma 1890
A few notes:
I've found the images of Samuel's will over on AmericanAncestor.org but didn't find one of the above statement.
Some sources say Samuel's wife Mary was Mary Ann Ballard, daughter of William & Grace (Berwick) Ballard of Andover, Ma.
Interesting to see that Samuel's sister Mary married a Spaulding. So there were earlier connections between the two families before my 5x great grandparents Lot Spaulding and Esther Butterfield in 1764
Sunday, December 20, 2015
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 50: BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD OF CHELMSFORD, MA.PT2
In his article THE BUTTERFIELDS OF MIDDLESEX in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, George A. Gordon gives this summary of Benjamin Butterfield's family:
1. Benjamin1 Butterfield, born in England; inhab. of Charlestown,
1638; Wobnrn, 1640; Chelmsford, 1654. Died 2 March, 1687-8.
His wife Ann died at Chelmsford, 19 May, 1661; he married 2nd,
3 June. 1663, Hannah Whittemore, widow of Thomas. Children:
2. i. Jonathan2, b. in England.
ii. Mary, b. in England; m. 15 Sept. 1653, Daniel Blogget. She d. 5 Sept. 1666.
3. ill. Nathaniel, b. at Woburn, 14 Feb. 1642-3.
4. iv. Samuel, b. at Wobnrn, 17 May, 1647.
5. v. Joseph, b. at Woburn, 15 Aug. 1649.
p34
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 44 , Published at the Society's House, 18 Somerset Street. Printed by David Clapp & Son Boston, Ma 1890
I'm descended from Benjamin and Ann's son Samuel Butterfield:
1. Benjamin1 Butterfield, born in England; inhab. of Charlestown,
1638; Wobnrn, 1640; Chelmsford, 1654. Died 2 March, 1687-8.
His wife Ann died at Chelmsford, 19 May, 1661; he married 2nd,
3 June. 1663, Hannah Whittemore, widow of Thomas. Children:
2. i. Jonathan2, b. in England.
ii. Mary, b. in England; m. 15 Sept. 1653, Daniel Blogget. She d. 5 Sept. 1666.
3. ill. Nathaniel, b. at Woburn, 14 Feb. 1642-3.
4. iv. Samuel, b. at Wobnrn, 17 May, 1647.
5. v. Joseph, b. at Woburn, 15 Aug. 1649.
p34
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 44 , Published at the Society's House, 18 Somerset Street. Printed by David Clapp & Son Boston, Ma 1890
I'm descended from Benjamin and Ann's son Samuel Butterfield:
Thursday, December 17, 2015
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 50: BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD OF CHELMSFORD, MA.
As I've been exploring the lives of my Barker family ancestors for the 2015 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, it surprised me how many of them were involved in the settling of various Middlesex County, Ma. towns. Turning to the Butterfield family line I find that is again the case.
My 5x great grandmother Esther (Butterfield) Spaulding was descended from immigrant ancestor
Benjamin Butterfield and his wife Ann (Jundon?). George A Gordon's article THE BUTTERFIELDS OF MIDDLESEX in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 44 shows that Benjamin owned quite a bit of land in what would become Chelmsford, Ma.:
Benjamin1 Butterfield, from whom the American family chiefly derive issue, was at Charlestown, in the Bay Colony, in 1688. He probably married in England and brought a little family with him. His name appears among the first town orders of Woburn, and, in 1643, he was made a Freeman. In 1645, we find his name on the Woburn tax list. In 1652, the inhabitants of Woburn petitioned for leave to explore the west side of the Concord river. The report was, "a very comfortable place to accommodate a company of God's people." In 1653, Benjamin Butterfield headed a petition of twenty-nine, including the petitioners of the preceding year, for a tract of land six miles square, "to begin at the Merrimack river, at a neck of land next to Concord river," to run southerly on Concord river and westerly into the wild country. The spot was known to the natives as Naamkeek.* The Indian apostle, Rev. John Eliot, about the same time received a grant of "the Great Neck," lying between Pawtuckett falls on the Merrimack and the Massic falls on the Concord, as a reserve for the Christianized Indians. This tract was known as Wamesit. The six mile tract was occupied in 1654 by Butterfield and his associates, and in 1655 was incorporated as Chelmsford. The line between the Indians and the whites was run "on the east side of Butterfield's high way," and was marked by a ditch. On this highway Benjamin Butterfield pitched his farm and built his house, somewhere within the limits of what is now ward iv., Lowell. In 1656, he is named as one of the citizens of Chelmsford, to whom the Gov. Dudley farm of 1,500 acres in Billerica was conveyed. In 1661 his wife died, and 3 June, 1663, he married, 2d, Hannah, the widow of Thomas Whittemore, of Cambridge. In 1666, Newfields, a tract of 241 acres of intervale, across Stony brook and extending up the Merrimack, was granted to Chelmsford. Of this, perhaps the best land in the growing town, Benjamin Butterfield obtained 42 acres, the largest share of any one person. In 1686, the Indian reservation, Wamesit, was purchased by the whites. Three of Butterfield's sons, Nathaniel, Samuel and Joseph, were among the grantees (Mdx. Deeds, x. 19). This territory, which had been occupied by Wanalancit and his tribe as a cornfield and fishing station, is now occupied by the manufactories of Lowell. The purchase included, also. 500 acres upon the north and east side of the Merrimack, of " Wilderness" land, a general term for the unsettled country outside incorporated limits. Nathaniel and Samuel Butterfield settled on the Wamesit lauds, and Joseph in the wilderness, between Tyng's pond and the river.
* Naamkeek, or Naamkeap, a fishing place, is cognate to Namoskeag (Manchester, N. H.), Naumkeag (Salem, Mass.), Nameaug (New London, Ct.), Namasket (Middleboro', Mai
pp33-34
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 44 , Published at the Society's House, 18 Somerset Street. Printed by David Clapp & Son Boston, Ma 1890
To be continued...
My 5x great grandmother Esther (Butterfield) Spaulding was descended from immigrant ancestor
Benjamin Butterfield and his wife Ann (Jundon?). George A Gordon's article THE BUTTERFIELDS OF MIDDLESEX in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 44 shows that Benjamin owned quite a bit of land in what would become Chelmsford, Ma.:
Benjamin1 Butterfield, from whom the American family chiefly derive issue, was at Charlestown, in the Bay Colony, in 1688. He probably married in England and brought a little family with him. His name appears among the first town orders of Woburn, and, in 1643, he was made a Freeman. In 1645, we find his name on the Woburn tax list. In 1652, the inhabitants of Woburn petitioned for leave to explore the west side of the Concord river. The report was, "a very comfortable place to accommodate a company of God's people." In 1653, Benjamin Butterfield headed a petition of twenty-nine, including the petitioners of the preceding year, for a tract of land six miles square, "to begin at the Merrimack river, at a neck of land next to Concord river," to run southerly on Concord river and westerly into the wild country. The spot was known to the natives as Naamkeek.* The Indian apostle, Rev. John Eliot, about the same time received a grant of "the Great Neck," lying between Pawtuckett falls on the Merrimack and the Massic falls on the Concord, as a reserve for the Christianized Indians. This tract was known as Wamesit. The six mile tract was occupied in 1654 by Butterfield and his associates, and in 1655 was incorporated as Chelmsford. The line between the Indians and the whites was run "on the east side of Butterfield's high way," and was marked by a ditch. On this highway Benjamin Butterfield pitched his farm and built his house, somewhere within the limits of what is now ward iv., Lowell. In 1656, he is named as one of the citizens of Chelmsford, to whom the Gov. Dudley farm of 1,500 acres in Billerica was conveyed. In 1661 his wife died, and 3 June, 1663, he married, 2d, Hannah, the widow of Thomas Whittemore, of Cambridge. In 1666, Newfields, a tract of 241 acres of intervale, across Stony brook and extending up the Merrimack, was granted to Chelmsford. Of this, perhaps the best land in the growing town, Benjamin Butterfield obtained 42 acres, the largest share of any one person. In 1686, the Indian reservation, Wamesit, was purchased by the whites. Three of Butterfield's sons, Nathaniel, Samuel and Joseph, were among the grantees (Mdx. Deeds, x. 19). This territory, which had been occupied by Wanalancit and his tribe as a cornfield and fishing station, is now occupied by the manufactories of Lowell. The purchase included, also. 500 acres upon the north and east side of the Merrimack, of " Wilderness" land, a general term for the unsettled country outside incorporated limits. Nathaniel and Samuel Butterfield settled on the Wamesit lauds, and Joseph in the wilderness, between Tyng's pond and the river.
* Naamkeek, or Naamkeap, a fishing place, is cognate to Namoskeag (Manchester, N. H.), Naumkeag (Salem, Mass.), Nameaug (New London, Ct.), Namasket (Middleboro', Mai
pp33-34
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 44 , Published at the Society's House, 18 Somerset Street. Printed by David Clapp & Son Boston, Ma 1890
To be continued...
Saturday, April 27, 2013
MY SNOWSHOE SOLDIER ANCESTORS PT3
My task of identifying possible relatives among William Tyng's "snowshoe soldiers"
was helped a bit by Rev.Wilson Waters section on them in his History of Chelmsford,
Massachusetts, in which he gives a bit of family background of some of the soldiers.
I'm posting his list in its entirety in two parts. Those soldiers I believe am related are
in boldface and I've put my comments in red. Here's part 1 of Waters' list:
1. John Shepley, son of John, was born in Chelmsford, Mass., in 1677. A few years
later the family removed to Groton, Mass., where the father, mother and all the
children except John were killed by the Indians, July 27, 1694. John, then seventeen
years of age, was carried into captivity where he remained three and one-half years,
when he returned to Groton. In memory of the massacre of his kindred, undoubtedly
he was a willing recruit in Captain Tyng's company. Subsequently he was prominent
in the town and church affairs of Groton. He was a representative nine years. He died
September 14, 1736. Among his descendants is the late Ether Shepley, a former
United States Senator and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maine.
2. Joseph Parker, Groton, son of Capt. Joseph and Margaret Parker, was born in
Chelmsford, March 30, 1653. The family removed to Dunstable in 1675, where Joseph, Sr.,
was a constable seven years. Joseph, Jr., had considerable experience in Indian warfare.
He removed from Dunstable to Groton and there died about 1725, leaving a large estate.
((Related by marriage, I think.))
10. Joseph Perham, Groton, son of John and Lydia (Shepley) Perham, was born in Chelmsford, December 22, 1669. He lived in Dunstable and, by revision of town lines, in Nottingham
West, now Hudson. At the time of his service in Captain Tyng's company he was a resident
of Groton.
11. Joseph Butterfield, Dunstable, son of Joseph and Lydia (Ballard) Butterfield, was born in Chelmsford, June 6, 1680. He removed early in life to Dunstable, living in the section of the town now Tyngsborough, where he died in 1757. His daughter, Deborah, was the wife of Col. Samuel Moor of Litchfield.
((Both a Ballard & Butterfield cousin. His parents are my 8x great granduncle & grandaunt.))
12. John Spalding, Chelmsford, son of Andrew and Hannah (Jefts) Spalding, was born August 20, 1682. He lived through life in Chelmsford. He died March 7, 1760.
((My 6x great grandfather))
13. John Spalding, Jr., Chelmsford, son of John and Hannah (Hale) Spalding, was born in Chelmsford, February 15, 1659. Late in life he removed to Plainfield, Conn. His son, Samuel, born August 5, 1686, represented his father's interests in Tyngstown.
((I have my ancestor John Spaulding married to a Mary Barrett. This is probably a cousin.))
14. Henry Spalding, Chelmsford, son of Andrew and Hannah (Jefts) Spalding, was born November 2, 1680. He was a brother of No. 12. He married a daughter of Thomas Lund, Sr.
((My 6x great granduncle))
16. Ebenezer Spalding, Chelmsford, son of Lieut. Edward and Margaret (Barrett) Spalding, was born January 13, 1683. He lived in Chelmsford and later in Nottingham West, now Hudson.
((A cousin))
17. Samuel Davis, Groton, son of Samuel and Mary Davis, was born in Groton, January 8, 1669-70. He removed from Groton to Chelmsford in 1707. Many of his descendants have resided in New Hampshire.
((Possibly a cousin))
22. Nathaniel Butterfield, Chelmsford, son of Nathaniel and Deborah (Underwood) Butterfield, was born about 1676 [1673]. He lived in Chelmsford, where he died in 1749.
((A cousin. His father is my 8x great great granduncle))
23. Jonathan Butterfield, Chelmsford, was probably a son of Nathaniel and Deborah (Underwood) Butterfield, and a brother of No. 22.
((Same as above))
26. Jonathan Parker, Chelmsford, son of John and Mary Parker, was born in Chelmsford, January 2, 1683. His right appears to have been improved by Thomas Parker. I do not find that he had a son Thomas but he had a brother of that name.
((Another possible cousin by marriage,))
To be continued.
was helped a bit by Rev.Wilson Waters section on them in his History of Chelmsford,
Massachusetts, in which he gives a bit of family background of some of the soldiers.
I'm posting his list in its entirety in two parts. Those soldiers I believe am related are
in boldface and I've put my comments in red. Here's part 1 of Waters' list:
1. John Shepley, son of John, was born in Chelmsford, Mass., in 1677. A few years
later the family removed to Groton, Mass., where the father, mother and all the
children except John were killed by the Indians, July 27, 1694. John, then seventeen
years of age, was carried into captivity where he remained three and one-half years,
when he returned to Groton. In memory of the massacre of his kindred, undoubtedly
he was a willing recruit in Captain Tyng's company. Subsequently he was prominent
in the town and church affairs of Groton. He was a representative nine years. He died
September 14, 1736. Among his descendants is the late Ether Shepley, a former
United States Senator and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maine.
2. Joseph Parker, Groton, son of Capt. Joseph and Margaret Parker, was born in
Chelmsford, March 30, 1653. The family removed to Dunstable in 1675, where Joseph, Sr.,
was a constable seven years. Joseph, Jr., had considerable experience in Indian warfare.
He removed from Dunstable to Groton and there died about 1725, leaving a large estate.
((Related by marriage, I think.))
10. Joseph Perham, Groton, son of John and Lydia (Shepley) Perham, was born in Chelmsford, December 22, 1669. He lived in Dunstable and, by revision of town lines, in Nottingham
West, now Hudson. At the time of his service in Captain Tyng's company he was a resident
of Groton.
11. Joseph Butterfield, Dunstable, son of Joseph and Lydia (Ballard) Butterfield, was born in Chelmsford, June 6, 1680. He removed early in life to Dunstable, living in the section of the town now Tyngsborough, where he died in 1757. His daughter, Deborah, was the wife of Col. Samuel Moor of Litchfield.
((Both a Ballard & Butterfield cousin. His parents are my 8x great granduncle & grandaunt.))
12. John Spalding, Chelmsford, son of Andrew and Hannah (Jefts) Spalding, was born August 20, 1682. He lived through life in Chelmsford. He died March 7, 1760.
((My 6x great grandfather))
13. John Spalding, Jr., Chelmsford, son of John and Hannah (Hale) Spalding, was born in Chelmsford, February 15, 1659. Late in life he removed to Plainfield, Conn. His son, Samuel, born August 5, 1686, represented his father's interests in Tyngstown.
((I have my ancestor John Spaulding married to a Mary Barrett. This is probably a cousin.))
14. Henry Spalding, Chelmsford, son of Andrew and Hannah (Jefts) Spalding, was born November 2, 1680. He was a brother of No. 12. He married a daughter of Thomas Lund, Sr.
((My 6x great granduncle))
16. Ebenezer Spalding, Chelmsford, son of Lieut. Edward and Margaret (Barrett) Spalding, was born January 13, 1683. He lived in Chelmsford and later in Nottingham West, now Hudson.
((A cousin))
17. Samuel Davis, Groton, son of Samuel and Mary Davis, was born in Groton, January 8, 1669-70. He removed from Groton to Chelmsford in 1707. Many of his descendants have resided in New Hampshire.
((Possibly a cousin))
22. Nathaniel Butterfield, Chelmsford, son of Nathaniel and Deborah (Underwood) Butterfield, was born about 1676 [1673]. He lived in Chelmsford, where he died in 1749.
((A cousin. His father is my 8x great great granduncle))
23. Jonathan Butterfield, Chelmsford, was probably a son of Nathaniel and Deborah (Underwood) Butterfield, and a brother of No. 22.
((Same as above))
26. Jonathan Parker, Chelmsford, son of John and Mary Parker, was born in Chelmsford, January 2, 1683. His right appears to have been improved by Thomas Parker. I do not find that he had a son Thomas but he had a brother of that name.
((Another possible cousin by marriage,))
To be continued.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
MY SNOWSHOE SOLDIER ANCESTORS PT1
I've been lucky finding information about a good number of my colonial
New England citizens but there are a few family lines where I haven't been
as fortunate. One of those are my Butterfield ancestors who lived in the
Middlesex County, Massachusetts towns of Chelmsford and Dunstable. So
last week I was Googling the Butterfield name in conjunction with the town
Chelmsford and came across a surprising bit of information: some of my Butterfield
and Spalding relatives had been "snowshoe soldiers".
I'd run across references to the snowshoe soldiers before; they were militiamen
who'd adopted Native American methods in their fighting with the local tribes.
Benjamin Church had set the precedent back during King Philip's War. Historian
Wilson Waters gives this account of their creation in his History of Chelmsford :
"QUEEN ANNE'S WAR.
This war began in 1702 when England declared war against France and Spain. The
French had the sympathy of the New England Indians, who made constant vigilence
necessary in the frontier settlements to guard against raids and massacres. "For
the first time the Indians were well armed and guided by a superior intelligence."
The war ended in 1713 by the treaty of Utrecht. Newfoundland and Acadia came
into the possession of England, whose prestige was strengthened in North America.
1702. November 19. A bill was passed providing snowshoes for the men of the frontier
towns at the charge of the Province. The Indians were more active and troublesome
in the winter, and companies were organized for service upon the snow. William Tyng
commanded the first Massachusetts company, and received for services from December
28 to January 25, 1703-4, £71. 11.0, 25 shillings of which was paid to a "chyrugion." The
company brought back five scalps and received as bounty £200. In the Granite State
Magazine, Vol. I, is a list, with personal sketches, of forty-four men in this company,
who, in 1735, with sixteen others named, were the grantees of Tyngstown, which
included the greater part of the present Manchester, N. H. The adjustment of the
province line in 1741 voided this charter, and Massachusetts gave the grantees the
township now Wilton, Maine." (p138-139)History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts
(Google eBook) Wilson Waters, Courier-Citizen Company, Lowell, Ma. 1917
Another well known New England historian, Samuel Adams Drake, gave more details of
some of the combat. The "Old Harry" he mentions was the name the colonists gave an
enemy whose Indian name actually was "Black Plume":
"In the winter of 1703 Captain William Tyng, commanding a company of "snow-shoe men,"
made a successful expedition to the headquarters of "Old Harry," near Lake Winnipiseogee.
They succeeded in killing six of the enemy, among whom was the traitor, " Old Harry himself,"
who had led the assaults on Dunstable. For this act of bravery the General Court subsequently
granted to the heirs of those composing this company a tract of land, at first called "Old Harry's
Town," then Tyngstown, and afterwards Manchester.
In the winter following, Captain John Tyng, with another company, made an expedition to
Pequawkett, or Pigwacket, and took five Indian scalps, for which they received £200. In 1710
the gallant commander of this company was mortally wounded by the Indians between Concord
and Groton, and was buried, August 18, at the former place. The celebrated Joe English,
grandson of Masconomo, sagamore of Ipswich, was shot by the Indians, near Holden's Brook,
in what is now Tyngsborough, on the 27th of July, 1706. He was acting as a guard to Captain Butterfield and wife, who were travelling on horseback. Killing the horse and taking Mrs.
Butterfield captive, the Indians then pursued Joe English, firing at him and wounding him
while attempting to shelter himself behind a clump of trees. To escape the torture of the
savages, he insulted them with taunting words, when they at once despatched him with their tomahawks. His widow "and his two children received a grant of money from the government, because "he died in the service of his country." "
History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts: Containing Carefully Prepared Histories of
Every City and Town in the County, Volume 2 (Google eBook), Samuel Adams Drake
Estes and Lauriat, Boston Ma. 1880 p393
I'll discuss what I've been able to discover so far about my snowshoe soldier ancestors.
To be continued
New England citizens but there are a few family lines where I haven't been
as fortunate. One of those are my Butterfield ancestors who lived in the
Middlesex County, Massachusetts towns of Chelmsford and Dunstable. So
last week I was Googling the Butterfield name in conjunction with the town
Chelmsford and came across a surprising bit of information: some of my Butterfield
and Spalding relatives had been "snowshoe soldiers".
I'd run across references to the snowshoe soldiers before; they were militiamen
who'd adopted Native American methods in their fighting with the local tribes.
Benjamin Church had set the precedent back during King Philip's War. Historian
Wilson Waters gives this account of their creation in his History of Chelmsford :
"QUEEN ANNE'S WAR.
This war began in 1702 when England declared war against France and Spain. The
French had the sympathy of the New England Indians, who made constant vigilence
necessary in the frontier settlements to guard against raids and massacres. "For
the first time the Indians were well armed and guided by a superior intelligence."
The war ended in 1713 by the treaty of Utrecht. Newfoundland and Acadia came
into the possession of England, whose prestige was strengthened in North America.
1702. November 19. A bill was passed providing snowshoes for the men of the frontier
towns at the charge of the Province. The Indians were more active and troublesome
in the winter, and companies were organized for service upon the snow. William Tyng
commanded the first Massachusetts company, and received for services from December
28 to January 25, 1703-4, £71. 11.0, 25 shillings of which was paid to a "chyrugion." The
company brought back five scalps and received as bounty £200. In the Granite State
Magazine, Vol. I, is a list, with personal sketches, of forty-four men in this company,
who, in 1735, with sixteen others named, were the grantees of Tyngstown, which
included the greater part of the present Manchester, N. H. The adjustment of the
province line in 1741 voided this charter, and Massachusetts gave the grantees the
township now Wilton, Maine." (p138-139)History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts
(Google eBook) Wilson Waters, Courier-Citizen Company, Lowell, Ma. 1917
Another well known New England historian, Samuel Adams Drake, gave more details of
some of the combat. The "Old Harry" he mentions was the name the colonists gave an
enemy whose Indian name actually was "Black Plume":
"In the winter of 1703 Captain William Tyng, commanding a company of "snow-shoe men,"
made a successful expedition to the headquarters of "Old Harry," near Lake Winnipiseogee.
They succeeded in killing six of the enemy, among whom was the traitor, " Old Harry himself,"
who had led the assaults on Dunstable. For this act of bravery the General Court subsequently
granted to the heirs of those composing this company a tract of land, at first called "Old Harry's
Town," then Tyngstown, and afterwards Manchester.
In the winter following, Captain John Tyng, with another company, made an expedition to
Pequawkett, or Pigwacket, and took five Indian scalps, for which they received £200. In 1710
the gallant commander of this company was mortally wounded by the Indians between Concord
and Groton, and was buried, August 18, at the former place. The celebrated Joe English,
grandson of Masconomo, sagamore of Ipswich, was shot by the Indians, near Holden's Brook,
in what is now Tyngsborough, on the 27th of July, 1706. He was acting as a guard to Captain Butterfield and wife, who were travelling on horseback. Killing the horse and taking Mrs.
Butterfield captive, the Indians then pursued Joe English, firing at him and wounding him
while attempting to shelter himself behind a clump of trees. To escape the torture of the
savages, he insulted them with taunting words, when they at once despatched him with their tomahawks. His widow "and his two children received a grant of money from the government, because "he died in the service of his country." "
History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts: Containing Carefully Prepared Histories of
Every City and Town in the County, Volume 2 (Google eBook), Samuel Adams Drake
Estes and Lauriat, Boston Ma. 1880 p393
I'll discuss what I've been able to discover so far about my snowshoe soldier ancestors.
To be continued
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