294. Thomas1 Faxon;208 born circa 1601 at Eng;208 married Joane Fawdry, daughter of Richard Fawdry and Jane Unknown, circa 1625;208 married Sarah Savill 5 Sep 1670;52 married Sarah Mullins 5 Sep 1670 at Braintreee, MA;208 died 23 Nov 1680 at Braintree, MA; "as Thomas ffaxon."208
He "THOMAS FAXON1, ancestor of the Faxon Family in the United States, born in England about 1601, came to America before 1647 with his wife, Joane, and three children. The earliest record of his family is found at Dedham, Mass., in the marriage of his daughter, Joanna, to Anthony Fisher, Jr., Sept. 7, 1647. His wife, Joane, appears upon the records in a single instance, in 1663, in giving her assent to a deed of an eighth part of Block Island conveyed by Thomas Faxon to John Williams of "Barnaby Streete in Southwarke within ye suburbs of London." The date of her acknowledgment of this deed is June 4, 1663 (Suff. Deeds, 4: 54.) Her name seems to account for that of her daughter, Joanna. The record of her death is not found, but is between 1663 and 1670; for Thomas1 was married Sept. 5, 1670 to Mrs. Sarah Savill, widow of William Savill. (Braintree Records.) The maiden name of Mrs Savill is supposed to have been Jarmill. She had been the wife of Thomas Gannett of Duxbury, one of the original proprietors of Bridgewater. Thomas Gannett died in 1655, and her marriage to William Savill was subsequent to that date. (Mitchell's History of Bridgewater, pp. 10, 31, 166.) The right to land in Bridgewater mentioned by Judge Mitchell in his history of that town, (p. 34) and included in the inventory of Thomas1 Faxon's estate in 1680, (App. "D" and Suff. Prob.,) was acquired through his second wife Sarah. The will of Widow Sarah Faxon is found in Suffolk Probate 11: 373, dated Aug 13, 1694, and was proved Nov. 25, 1697. She mentions her "daughter-in-law Lydia Savil, wife of Benjamin Savil of Braintrey," and her cousin, Ruth, wife of Peter Webb.
The materials for a sketch of the life of our ancestor, Thomas Faxon1, are to be found in the records of Braintree, in the deeds and probate of Suffolk county, to which Braintree then belonged, and in the Mass. Archives, or in the printed volumes of the records of the Mass. Colony. From the evidence afforded by these we can acquire some knowledge of the number of his family at the date of emigration, and their names; of the amount of his property, and his progress in the accumulation of wealth; of the character of his occupation; of his religious belief and tendencies; of his associations with men and of the estimation in which he was held by the people of Braintree. These ancient records, if we study them rightly, are not only a truthful but an interesting story of life. In the absence of the history, which includes those only who have been sufficiently prominent in political or religious affairs to deserve it, the remarkable system of records instituted in the infancy of the colonies is the only resource for becoming acquainted with those who have occupied less prominent positions. Nothing will be stated here that is not founded on the clearest evidence; and in general the reference for the authority will be given.
As stated in the first part of this sketch, the family of Thomas Faxon consisted, at the date of emigration of five persons, of himself, his wife Joane, his daughter Joanna, and his two sons, Thomas2 and Richard2.
That Thomas2 and Richard2 were the sons of Thomas1 is evident from the will of Richard2 and the manner of its probate, and from the other documents published in the Appendix. It is supposed from the name and the date of his marriage that Thomas2 was the elder son. It was natural that the property of Thomas1 should go by inheritance to the sons of Richard2, as Thomas2 left no male heirs. It would seem from the date of her marriage, and from the probable age of her parents, that Joanna2 was the eldest child. Although it is asserted in the "Folsom Genealogy," contained in the Gen. Reg. vol. 33, p. 212, that a Hannah Faxon married Nathaniel Foulsham June, 1674, a careful examination of the Hingham Records, shows no mention of the name of Faxon; but it is there stated that "Nathaniel Foulsham and Hannah Farrow the daughter of John ffarrow Senior were marryed by Capt. Joshua Hobart on ye ninth day of June 1674." Again, in the Mass. Archives occurs the name of Jno. Faxton of Hingham in the list of wounded at the Indians' Fort at Narragansett; and the names of Ensign John Faxon and Ensign Nathaniel Faxon are in the lists of those present at the siege of Louisbourg in 1745, collected by Hon. Charles Hudson of Lexington, Mass. If these are not errors, no evidence exists that they were in any way connected with the family of Thomas Faxon1 of Braintree. On the contrary, the entire absence of any mention of them in the deeds, wills, settlements of estates and other records induces us to believe them of another family. That Joanna was an only daughter seems to be asserted in the letters of administration granted on the estate of Thomas Faxon to "Sarah, his relict, and Joanna ffisher, widow, his only daughter." (Appendix "D" and Suff. Prob. 9: 19.) In the will of the grandson, Thomas3, made in 1690, in which he mentions all his near relatives, there is no reference to any Hingham family. (Appendix and Suff. Prob. 8: 60.) These reasons are quite conclusive as to the number and names of the family, and will also account for the order in the genealogy which follows; for no dates of birth of the children of Thomas1 have yet been found, and no age is given on the record of deaths.
The deed in which the name of "Joane," the wife of Thomas1 appears, is the only reliable proof of her name. The records of the First Church of Braintree, (now the First Church of Quincy,) prior to 1672, are missing. Hence many interesting facts and dates are lost.
Unless Thomas1 accumulated property very rapidly after his arrival in America, he must have possessed a competence in England, and must have brought a considerable amount with him. His first purchase of land was made May 14, 1656. (Suff. Deeds 34: 184.) The deed is fully published in the Appendix as a specimen of the mode of conveyancing, and as describing with clearness and accuracy the land, of which a part is even now called the "Faxon Meadows." To the present time, after many divisions and subdivisions, it has continued in part in the family possession, and till recently, in the family name. The boundaries are natural and imperishable, and are readily found as we follow the line of the first primitive road which winds around it. It appears that at the date of the deed Thomas1 occupied the land as a tenant of the owner, Rev. Samuel Haugh of Reading This tract was situated in the present town of Braintree, and contained 450 acres, according to the deed; but there was little precision in giving the quantity of land in those days, and it must have been much more. The location of it is fully explained in the article on that subject and in the map. The consideration was oe270. Here, probably assisted by his sons, he engaged in his usual occupation of farming and stockraising. His means for this must have been considerable, and the amount of purchase money, oe270, was not a small sum for the times.
The next purchase was made from John Richards, a merchant of Boston, of land in the precincts of Dorchester, 180 acres; consideration, oe400. This land was at the time, Jan. 10, 1666, in the possession of a tenant (Suffolk Deeds, 5: 171); and the tenant, Henry Leadbetter, is named in the inventory of Thomas1's estate. (Suff. Prob. 9: 34) This was therefore an investment of acquired money, and the premises were leased till the death of Thomas1. (App. "C" and "D.")
The purchase of an eighth part of Block Island, previously stated, seems to have been made by Thomas1 for the benefit of the person to whom he immediately transferred it. It was bought of John Alcocke. (Suff. Deeds 4: 53.)
At the probate of the will of his son, Richard2, Jan. 29, 1674, (App. "E" and Suff. Prob.) Thomas1 appears in court and confirms the bequest made in his son's will; and thus passes a title to the land, which up to this time had been merely verbal, land which Richard2 had held and disposed of in accordance with an oral agreement with his father. The family of Richard was large, and the prosperity of his son, Josiah3 indicates a good inheritance, and the subsequent division of the estate of Josiah3, (App. "G" and Suff. Prob.,) embracing part of the same land described in Haugh's deed, proves the source of it.
After the decease of Thomas1 in 1680, the residue of the estate, as it had been previously determined and announced, was settled on the favorite grandson, Thomas3. To carry out the wishes of the grandfather, expressed in no written will, but sacredly observed, Widow Sarah Faxon and Mrs. Anthony Fisher were to have charge of the estate until the heir, Thomas3, should be of age.
The amount of the inventory of Thomas1 was oe859 3s. 2d. Considering the fact that he had evidently given much to Richard2; and that probably Thomas2, who died in 1662, had also received in due proportion in his lifetime, it is evident that Thomas1 had conducted his affairs wisely and prosperously, and had secured the rewards of enterprise and industry.
The papers referred to in the Appendix show that Thomas1 was quite extensively engaged in farming. It is evident from the inventory of the estate of Thomas2 that he followed the same occupation; though it does not appear that he owned land at the time of his decease. That they were agriculturists in good circumstances in England is a reasonable conclusion.
It is unfortunate for us that the earlier records of the First Church of Braintree cannot be found. On them must have been recorded the membership of Thomas1, and probably of others of his family. That he was a member of the church is evident from the fact that he was permitted to take the freeman's oath in May 6, 1657, and that he was a representative from Braintree in 1669. For either event church membership was, by the laws of the colony, essential. (Mass. Rec. Vol. IV. Part II. p. 420; also Vol. IV. Part I. p. 206.) His emigration from England was probably induced in part by religious intolerance, and in part by the encroachments of taxation and oppression in the troubled reign of King Charles I. Our fathers were chiefly influenced to emigrate by the desire to enjoy their own mode of worship and faith; but, to the agriculturist, the civil war and the illegal taxation which preceded it, and, in a measure continued with it, were specially injurious. These reasons combined rendered the period one of emigration. That the motive of worldly gain was not the predominant one is evident from the fact that when the war put an end to religious persecution on the one side, emigration decreased, and for a time ceased entirely.
The associates of Thomas1 are seen in the administration of estates, in the management of public affairs, in his second marriage, and in the marriages of his children and grandchildren. We find him first with Anthony Fisher, Jr, one of the most prominent of the early settlers of Dedham. Fisher was intimately associated in business with Capt. Lusher. In accordance with the custom of the times Lusher performed for Fisher the legal ceremony of marriage. This marriage occurring probably soon after the arrival of Thomas1 in this country, leads to the belief that the Fishers and Faxons were acquainted before the emigration. The marriage of Thomas1 with Sarah Savill; of Thomas2 with Deborah Thayer, daughter of Richard Thayer; of the children of Thomas2 with the Savill, the Weld, the Bass, and the Wales families; of Widow Elizabeth Faxon with Caleb Hobart, of Josiah3 with the daughter of Edmund Adams, all indicate the social surroundings of Thomas1. Persons with whom he had business relations have been previously named.
Of his family relations, what better picture can we have than the wills and settlements already quoted. The liberal kindness with which he bestowed his property, the spirit of confidence which accepts a verbal conveyance of land, the trust reposed in Mrs. Fisher and the wife Sarah for the young grandson. Thomas3, the spirit of the will of Thomas3 in 1690, give us a most pleasing and vivid idea of the harmony, good will, and mutual confidence and regard of the members of our ancestor's family in the Seventeenth century.
We have the strongest proof of the esteem in which he was held by his fellow-citizens. He was often appointedto transact bu siness of importance for the town of Braintree. When it became necessary to secure from the Indians a deed, extinguishing their title to some of the land of the town, he was one of the commissioners for that purpose. (Gazetteer of Mass. p. 426.) He was generally termed MR. Thomas Faxon. On one of the earliest records, he is once called "Goodman" Faxon. As early as April 30, 1662, he appears at the county court held at Boston, as a plaintiff in behalf of the town. in a case of trespass on the town right in lands. He was a representative or deputy from Braintree in 1669, and one of the selectmen in 1670-72.
If the record of Thomas Faxon1 does not place him above a respectable mediocrity in wealth and social standing, it gives him a life without reproach, an ability capable of success in worldly affairs, and a character adapted by its worth and quality to secure the esteem of men. He died Nov. 23, 1680.
GENEALOGY.
Children of Thomas1 and Joane Faxon:
(+)2. Joanna2, b in England; m. Sept. 7, 1647, Anthony Fisher, Jr.
(+)3. Thomas2, b. in England; m. April 11, 1653, Deborah
Thaver.
(+)4. Richard2, b. in England; m. Elizabeth (???)."209 He Notes on Thomas
Thomas Faxon of Braintree, Mass., came to America before 1647 accompanied by his wife Joane and children, Joane, Thomas and Richard. The marriage of his daughter Joane to Anthony Fisher in 1647 can be found in the Dedham, Mass., Town Records.
(Suff. Deed XXXIV: 184) Thomas Faxon of Brantrey purchased lands and houses in Brantry, called the Rocks, bordering on the Blue Hills from Samuel Haugh, Pastor of the Church of Redding. Dated 14 May 1656.
Tho: Faxon became freeman 6 May 1657. He was one of the Commissioners to secure from the Indians a deed extinguishing their title to some of the lands of the town of Braintree. (Gazetteer of Mass.: 426).
(Braintree Town Records by Samuel A. Bates). At a Country Court held at Boston 30 Apr. 1662. Thomas ffaxon Senr appeared for Brantry against Thomas Gatliffe in an action of Trespass.
(Suff. Deed V: 171) Thomas Faxon of Braintree bought lands in Dorchester from John and Elizabeth Richards. Dated 10 Jan. 1666.
Thomas Faxon was representative of Braintree and deputy to the General Court at Boston in 1669. He was selectman on 27 Dec. 1670 and served until 1672.
(History of Block Island by S. T. Livermore). Record of the purchasing of Block Island, 1660.
Mr. John Alcock, Thomas Faxon, Peter George, Thomas Terry, Richard Ellis, Samuel Dering, Simon Ray, all of Braintree; with sundry persons belonging to other towns, Felix Wharton, Hew Williams, John Gluffer, Edward Vorse, John Rathbone.
In 1661 a barque set sail from Braintree in the beginning of April for Block Island, passengers were taken on at Taunton.
Thomas Terry, Samuel Dering, Simon Ray, Wm. Tosh, Thormut Rose, Wm. Barker, David Kimball, Wm. Cahoone, Edward Vorse, Nicholas White, William Billings, Trustaram Dodge, John Ackers. Thomas Faxon had preceded with the surveyor.
Thomas Faxon had two lots No. 5 & 6 in the north part of the island.
Mr. Thomas Faxon had two lots No. 1 & 2 in the western part of the island.
210 He (Suff. Deed IV: 54-5) Thomas Faxon of Brantree, yeoman, and Joane his wife sell their one full and clear pt. of Block Island which they purchased lately of Mr. John Alcock, to John Williams of Barnsby Streete in Southworks, within ye suburbs of London. Dated 17 Sept. 1662 on 17 Sep 1662.208
Children of Thomas1 Faxon and Joane Fawdry were:
There were no children of Thomas1 Faxon and Sarah Mullins.
There were no children of Thomas1 Faxon and Sarah Savill.
295. Thomas2 Faxon (Thomas1);211 born circa 1628/29 at Eng;211 married Debora Thayer, daughter of Richard Thayer and Dorothy Mortimore, 11 Apr 1653 at Braintree, MA; by Capt. Lusher of Dedham;211 died 25 May 1662 at Braintree, MA; "as Thomas Ffackson, Junior;"211 his estate was probated 6 Jun 1662; (Suff. IV: 102-3) Thomas ffaxon Jr. of Brantry, dec'd 28 May 1662. The administration of his Estate was granted to Thomas ffaxon Senior, and Anthony ffisher Junior that marryed one of the Daughters of sd ffaxon Senior. They being impowered fully to dispose said dec'd's four children. Dated 6 June (16)62.
Anthony ffisher deposed in open Court 29 July 1662, to a true Inventory of the Estate of the late Thomas ffaxon Junior. by Gregory Belshar, William Robinson, Edmund Quinsey, Anthony ffisher.
He "THOMAS FAXON2, son of Thomas1 and Joane Faxon, b. in England about 1628-9, m. April 11, 1653, Deborah, dau. of Richard Thayer. He died May 25, 1662. She died May 31, 1662. He resided in Braintree, and was a farmer; but he does not appear to have owned land. The inventory of his estate, amounting to oe225 17s. 6d., contains no mention of land, but includes a large amount of stock and farming tools. (Suff. Prob. 4: 101.)
"Administration granted to Thomas Faxon, Senr & Anthony Fisher, Junr that married one of the daughters of sd Faxon Senr they being empowered to dispose of sd fower children according to their best judgments."
Thomas2 was m. by Capt. Lusher.
Children born in Braintree:
(+)9. Deborah3, b. May 28, 1654; m. William Savill, Jan. 1, 1680.
(+)10. Rebecca3, b. June 25, 1657; m. Samuel Bass, July 30, 1678.
(+)11. Sarah3, b. Aug. 28, 1659; m. 1st, Joseph Weld, Nov. 27,
1679; 2nd, April 29, 1719, Jacob Chamberlain.
(+)12. Joanna3, b. Sept. 20, 1661; m. Nathaniel Wales."
Children of Thomas2 Faxon and Debora Thayer were:
296. Sarah3 Faxon (Thomas2, Thomas1);62 born 21 Aug 1659 at Brookline, MA; as "Sarah dau. of Thomas and Debora Ffackson;"62 married Joseph Weld, son of John Weld and Margaret Bowen, 27 Nov 1679 at Roxbury, MA;62 married Jacob Chamberlain 29 Apr 1719 at Roxbury, MA;64 died 14 Oct 1745 at Roxbury, MA, at age 86; "by her gravestone in the central burial ground in West Roxbury, as Sarah wife to Mr. Jacob Chamberlain, aged 84."62
She "SARAH FAXON3, (Thomas2, Thomas1,) b. in Braintree Aug 28, 1659, m. Licut. Joseph Weld of Roxbury, son of John Weld [("John2, Rev. Thomas1. Rev. Thomas Weld was one of the ministers of Roxbury, a co-laborer with the Apostle Eliot in the pastoral office, and in a metrical version of the Book of Psalms.") (Vint. Mem,)] Nov. 27, 1679. He was b. June 6, 1649, and d. Feb. 14, 1711-12, 't. 62. They resided in Roxbury. Mrs. Weld m. 2nd, April 29, 1719, Jacob Chamberlain. He resided in that part of Roxbury, which was afterwards Brookline. He d 1721 Mrs. Sarah (Faxon) Chamberlain d. Oct. 14, 1745. Her residence at time of decease was Brookline. The will of Jacob Chamberlain of Roxbury, dated Nov. 3, 1721, probate, Dec. 11, 1721, (Suffolk Prob. 22: 309,) mentions his wife, Sarah, Mary Davis, wife of Samuel Davis, whom he calls his eldest daughter; Elizabeth Weld, his second daughter, and the children of his daughter, Elizabeth Weld, to whom he leaves the sum of oe120 14s., which he lent to his son Joseph Weld.
The will of Mrs. Sarah Chamberlain, widow of Jacob Chamberlain, dated Feb. 9, 1734-5, probate, Nov. 10, 1745, mentions her daughter Margaret White, her daughter Sarah Williams; the daughters of her daughter Elizabeth Craft; her daughter Mary Davis; the children of her daughter Deborah deceased, and their father, Joshua Child (who was then living); Rebecca, the daughter of Ebenezer Weld; her four sons. Joseph Weld, John Weld, Daniel Weld, Ebenezer Weld.
The inscriptions of the West Roxbury central burying-ground, Peter's Hill, differ in the age given at date of death from the record of births. Thus Mrs. Jacob Chamberlain is said to be 84 years of age at decease, and other instances will be observed in the date of decease of the children, if the age given is compared with the date of birth. Experience proves that the inscriptions on tomb stones are not always reliable.
Children born in Roxbury:
43. Margaret4, b. Feb. 11, 1681; m. July 16, 1701, Benjamin
White.
44. Joseph4, b. July 12, 1683; m. May 22, 1711, Elizabeth
Chamberlain, dau. of Jacob Chamberlain; she d. Sept.
21, 1719. Probably m. 2nd, Martha Child, June 4, 1729.
He was called Captain Joseph. He d. Jan. 10, 1760.
45. Sarah4, bapt. Oct. 25, 1685; d. Dec. 30, 1685.
46. Sarah4, b. June 16, 1687; (in will in 1692) m. June 1, 1709,
John Williams.
47. John4, b. Aug. 19, 1689; m. Mehitable Child, Dec. 3, 1712.
She was b. Oct. 27, 1693, dau. of Joshua and Elizabeth
Child of Roxbury. A John Weld m. Sarah Tucker,
Dec. 30, 1719, dau. of Benjamin and Elizabeth Tucker,
b. Nov. 2, 1696.
48. Thomas4, b. Jan. 10, 1692; not mentioned in his mother's
will, and probably died previous to date of it, Feb. 9,
1734-5.
49. Deborah4, b. Feb. 22, 1694; m. Joshua Child, (b. Jan. 20,
1686,) son of John and Elizabeth Child, Sept. 5, 1715.
Deborah d. before Feb. 9, 1734-5, the date of her
mother's will, probably April 21, 1732, in the "40th
year of age" (taken from grave-stone as given in Gen.
Register). At the date of his death he was of Brookline,
and is called husbandman. Administration granted
Nov. 5, 1756. He left a widow, Bethia.
50. Mary4, b. April 18, 1695; m. Oct. 13, 1731, Samuel Davis.
51. Daniel4, b. Aug 14, 1697; m. Elizabeth Tucker, (b. June 30,
1701,) dau. of Benjamin, Jr., and Elizabeth Tucker,
June 22, 1720. His will (probate Feb. 30, 1761, Suff.
Prob.) mentions his wife, Elizabeth, his dau. Elizabeth
and her husband, his sons, Edward, David, Job and
Noah, and his dau. Elizabeth Child. He is called "Gentleman."
He d. Jan. 20, 1761, "in ye 64 year of his
age." (Taken from grave-stone, as given in Gen.
Register,) He was a Lieutenant.
52. Edward4, b. June, 1700; d. Feb., 1701.
53. Ebenezer4, b. Oct. 19, 1702; m. Mary Craft, dau. of Samuel
and Elizabeth Craft, (b. April 1, 1706,) Nov. 18, 1725.
She d. 1768. His will terms him "husbandman." Residence,
Roxbury. Probate of Will, Oct. 30, 1767. He
d. Sept. 24, 1767, aged 65 years."209
Children of Sarah3 Faxon and Joseph Weld were:
There were no children of Sarah3 Faxon and Jacob Chamberlain.