~ WILLIAMS ~

Abraham Williams - the early settler.  The site upon which this old Tavern stands has been covered by a public house for nearly- 250 years, and most of the time has been owned in the Williams family. The old house played a prominent part years ago in the history of the Town. Lieutenant Abraham Williams was admitted freeman' in Marlborough 1652, he was Representative to the General Court 1679 - 1682, 1691 and 1689 - 1690. Ten years later, putting up a building on the site above, he announced his intention to feed-man and beast. As a travelers' retreat, it was well patronized until 1676 when the memorable Indian raid was made, resulting in the killing of men and women, the capture of children and general burning of the buildings, this primitive house included. With undaunted spunk Lieut. Williams, the very next year built a more pretentious structure, placing upon it this sign: "Williams Tavern " which hung out for 150 years. The successive proprietors of the Tavern were Colonel Abraham Williams and his son, Captain George Williams, the latter occupying the premises up to 1618 when he died. In 1711 Marlborough's territory included Northborough, Southborough, Westborough and Hudson. This Tavern was situated on the "Post Road" from Boston to Worcester and was one of the three places on the trip where horses were changed.

After the death of Captain George Williams, who succeeded his father, Colonel Abraham Williams, as proprietor, the Tavern was managed by Silas Gates, son-in-law of Captain George Williams, who remained here until 1828. The house was then called the "Gates House. "

Colonel Abraham Williams died in this Tavern at 90 years of age. His grandfather of the same name died in same place aged 84. His great grandson, Captain George Williams, died in same place aged 76. Silas Gates died in 1828.

Savage States:

A GENEALOGICAL DICTIONARY of THE FIRST SETTLERS OF NEW ENGLAND, SHOWING THREE GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE MAY, 1692, ON THE BASIS OF FARMER'S REGISTER. BY JAMES SAVAGE, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND EDITOR OF WINTHROP'S HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. WITH TWO SUPPLEMENTS IN FOUR VOLUMES. [[Corrected electronic version copyright Robert Kraft, July 1994]] Baltimore GENEALOGICAL PUBLISHING CO., INC. Originally Published Boston, 1860-1862

ABRAHAM, Watertown, son of William of the same arrived 1652, married about 1659, Joanna, daughter  of the first William Ward, had Elizabeth and William; living some time at Cambridge village but removed to Marlborough, was freeman. 1666; had Lydia, born 1669; and John; was representative 1679-81, and died 29  December 1712, aged 84; and his widow died 8  December 1718, aged 90.

ALEXANDER, Marshfield, of those able to bear arms in 1643.

AMOS, Wethersfield, son of Matthew of the same, had Amos,  born 1670; Samuel, 1675; Elizabeth 1677; and Susanna, 1680, who. all survived. him, and he may have had more; and died 20  August 1683. His widow Elizabeth married about 1690, Thomas, Hollister of Wethersfield.

ARTHUR, Windsor, freeman 1640,married 30  November 1647. Catharine, widow of Joshua Carter of Windsor had Zebediah only; removed to Northampton 1659; and died late in 1673, or early next year His inventory being of 27  March 1674.  His widow married William Branch.

AUGUSTINE, Stonington, removed early to Kenilworth, by wife Hannah had Thomas; Hannah,  born 1680; Daniel, 1683; Bethia, 1686; and Matthew, 1688. His widow married John Browne.

BELSHAZZAR, Salisbury, Coffin says died 1651.

BENJAMIN, Boston, son of Robert of the same, by wife Rachel had Nathaniel, born 13 April 1670; and by wife Ruth, had Benjamin, 2  January 1673; by  wife Rebecca had Solomon, 4 July 1678; and if it be the same man, by  wife Rachel had Elizabeth 7 May 1687; and Elizabeth again, 7  January 1689.

BENJAMIN, Taunton, son of Richard of the same, married 18  March 1690, Rebecca, perhaps daughter  of George Macy of the same, had Rebecca,  born 27  November following; Josiah, 7  November 1692; Benjamin, 21 July 1695; and John, 27  March 1699.

CHARLES, Preston, whose father is not ascertained married Sarah, daughter of George Geer of New London, had Mark born 12 January 1689; Hannah, 3 February 1693; Isaac, 11 July 1694; Daniel, 2  December 1696; David, 4  November 1698; Jeradiah, 26 October 1702, probably died young; Boaz, 10  January 1706; and Jeradiah, again, 12  January 1710.

DANIEL, Providence, not, I think, one of the first proprietors as Coffin information. Farmer, for he is not found among the freeman of 1655, but he own allegence to Charles II on 1 June 1668, married 1 December 1676, Rebecca, daughter of Zachary Rhoades, widow of the second, Nicholas Power, had Mary; Roger, born May 1680; Providence; Daniel; Peleg; Patience; and Joseph; but the order of birth is not certain.  He was son of famous Roger.

DAVID, Windsor 1662,died 7 September 1684, was probably not married

EBENEZER, Dorchester, son of Roger of the same, married September 1674, Martha, daughter of Richard Hall, was freeman 1683,died 8 February 1718, aged 69.

EBENEZER, Stonington, son of Samuel the first, married 24 January 1687, or 8, or son Mary, daughter  of Isaac Wheeler of the same, had Theoda,  born 2 October following died young; a child 17 September 1691,died in few days; Mary, 7  January 1694; Samuel, 3 February 1696; Theoda, again, 3 January 1701; Selina, 18 December 1703; Elizabeth and Ebenezer, twins 21 October 1705; and Martha, 3 April 1708. His wife died 3 January following and he married 12 July 1711, Sarah Hammond, had two children that died without names; Nathan, 24 July 1715; and Elisha, 12  January 1719; and died 13 February 1747. His widow died 5 September 1751.

EDWARD, Scituate 1643.

ELEAZER, Salem 1635, join the church 6  August 1637; had wife Elizabeth and daughter Elizabeth baptized 6 April 1663, perhaps after death of father.

FRANCIS, Portsmouth, sent over by Gorges and Mason, the patentees, 1631, and when their Gov. Neal went home, they made Wentworth the successor.  He seems to have acted with discretion and when Massachusetts acquired the rule of the country he had authority with Bradstreet and others to hold judicial power at Dover, as in our first volume Of Records is seen.  He was, however, attracted to Barbadoes about 1645.

FRANCIS, Boston, by wife Mary had Francis,  born 12 October 1686.

FREEBORN, Providence, eldest son of famous Roger, married a Hart of Newport, of whose baptized name or her fathers I know nothing, had Mary,  born about 1663, who married Gov. Samuel Cranston.  His widow married Gov. Walter Clark, as his third wife.

GEORGE, Salem, freeman 14 May 1634, had Jonathan, baptized 25  December 1636; Samuel, 12 August 1638; Joseph, 10 May 1640; Bethia, 13  November 1642; and George, 1 September 1644; beside elder children John; Mary; and Sarah; was made an officer of the custom house in the Colonial Administration 1654, and died in the same  year  From his will of 23 September 1654, of who wife Mary and son John were executors proven November following is seen, that Mary had double portion "in respect of her infirmity."  His widow Mary died the same year her will of 1 October was proven next month  Mary married Richard Bishop, and she and two children are remembered in will of her father.

GREGORY, Isle of Shoals, was constable 1674, says Farmer's MS.

GRIFFIN, Boston, by wife Sarah had Sarah, born 2 January 1686.

HENRY, Scarborough 1651, was one of the three betrusted by Rigby, the patentee of a large province, as Assistant and selectman 1652 and 69, was wounded 10 October 1676 at Saco.

HENRY, who was in 1683, at Derby, and died 1687, I find not that he had family and for CHARLES of the same, I know nothing but as before said, and that in 1686, he was one of the petitioners for the town of Preston.

HUGH, Boston, hatter, called also "a single man," when he joined our church 1  January 1642; freeman 18 May following was probably never married at least his will of 21 October 1674, mentions no wife or child but gives one third of his estate to children of brother Hilton of Charlestown, and two thirds to his sister Mary Hale and her children.  On 12  November following when the executors friend John, and sister Hale renounce their trust, he is called late of Block Island which leads me to imagine him to be the one against who Caulkins, History of New London 248, says action for defamation of his wife was 1665, brought by Thomas Beeby.

ISAAC, Newton, son of Robert of Roxbury, was lieutenant freeman 1685, by wife Martha, daughter  of deacon William Parke of Roxbury, had Isaac, who died 7  March 1661, very young; Isaac, again,  born 11  December 1661, baptized 16  March following; Martha, 27  December 1663; William, 2 February 1665, H. C. 1683, minister of Hatfield, ancestor of a long line of distinguished clergy; John, 31 October 1667, in which date the error of Family Genealogy is correct, by Jackson;  Eleazer, 22 October 1669; Hannah, 8 October 1671; Elizabeth; the two last being lost from Family Genealogy; and Thomas, 23  December not as that book tells, October 1673.  By second wife Judith Cooper, married at Taunton, 13  November 1677, had Peter, 31  August 1680; Mary; Sarah, 2 October 1688; Ephraim, 21 October 1691; was representative 1692, and after often but in favor of this last child by influence of the mother the father who died 11 February 1707, had made in 1704, an improper conveyance confirmed by his last will, which was set aside.  His widow died 1724.

ISAAC, Salem, cordwainer by wife Margery had Elizabeth  born 23  August 1660; Isaac, 20  December 1662; Benjamin, 18  March 1664; and Sarah and Ebenezer of date not known but all except Benjamin named in the will of widow 1702.  Elizabeth married 1 April 1678, Joseph Mansfield; and Sarah married a Lander. Ebenezer's wife is named in the will of his mother but nothing of him or her has reached me.

JAMES, a preacher at Plymouth, of where resided that must have been short, no account is found.

JAMES, Hartford, servant of Nathaniel Sanford, at first, married 1691, Sarah, daughter of Thomas Richardson of Farmington, had James, baptized 1693; Hepzibah, 1696; Sarah, 1699; Samuel, 1700; Abigail, 1707; and Daniel, 1710.  He removed To Wallingford, but date of his death is unknown.

JENKIN, Scarborough 1673.

JOHN, Boston, ship carpenter, lately come to this country, was hanged for murder, 28 September 1637.

JOHN, by Farmer seen at Piscataqua 1631, of whom is no more told.

JOHN, Scituate 1643, had probably been some years in the Colledge as Deane though he came with Hatherly in 1632, brother son John, Edward, and daughter Ann, perhaps also, younger daughter Mary, and wife Ann.  By his will of 10 December 1667, he names these, and permits us to infer, in connex, with collateral knowledge, that Anthony Dodson, who married 1652, Mary, was then daughter that Ann had been 1632, wife of John Barker, was then wife of John Pratt, and that she, by the former husband had Deborah, then wife of William Burden, and John, Abraham, and Mary Barker.

JOHN, Newbury, had (perhaps by two wives.) Sarah; John; Mary,  born 20 September 1641; and Lydia, 15  March 1643; probably remved to Haverhill; had there  born Joseph, 18 April 1647; Sarah, married 5 May 1646, John Ayer. His second wife was Jane, and his will of 9  December 1670, was proven 18  March 1674.

JOHN, Windsor 1639,married 29 June 1644, Mary Burkly, if we follow Parsons in his spelling, Genealogy Register V. 364; but a more practiced  eye reads the name Brelly, Bralley, or Burlly, perhaps the same as Burleigh in our times; and we gain no light from the early dwellers at Windsor had John,  born 26  March 1646; Nathaniel, 25 October 1647; Rebecca, 20 April 1649; Hannah, 13 April 1651;  Mary and Elizabeth twins 5  January 1653; Abiel, 2 September 1655; and Abigail, 31 May 1658; and he died 1665.  Of the five daughters we know that Rebecca married 1670, Obadiah Cooley of Springfield;  Hannah married 1677, Nathaniel Bancroft of Westfield; Mary married 1678, John Gunn; Elizabeth died in few weeks.; and Abigail married 1681, Edward Griswold; Abiel may have died unmarried.

JOHN, Salem, by wife Elizabeth had John,  born 29 May 1664; Henry, 29 June 1666; George, 2 July 1668, died in few days; Mary, 25  August 1669; George, again, 2  March 1671; and Ruth, 4  August 1674.  His will of 22 October 1696, proven 15 February following names wife Elizabeth (perhaps not the mother of the child); John; Elizabeth wife of Thomas Marston; Mary; Ruth, wife of Abraham Purchase; and Sarah, daughter of his son Joseph.  In 1690, he was aged 70, with wife ten years older, says Felt.

JOHN, Boston, butcher, may be the testator, of whose will,  December 1684, proven 26  March following speak of two daughters. Hannah (who was  born 27 April 1661), and Sarah, who Were married to whom only 5s. each is the bequest. Gives all esttate to wife Mary to bring up two younger children Rachel and Martha.  It may be read in Vol. VI. 492; but no other information is gained of him, except that in 1673, he receives deeds of two estates in Boston.

JOHN, Roxbury, son of Robert of the same, born probably in England and no doubt eldest, died 6 October 1658, as is seen at the Probate office when administration was given to his father nine days after.  It is observed that neither children nor town records mention him nor did the Family Genealogist, nor Ellis, the historian of the place, express any knowledge of ever hearing of such a man.  By the childrens record I find his death  (unless, which is not wholly unreasonable the name be mistaken by the abbreviation for that of his father Robert) Elizabeth in full communication before the daughter of her father but who was her mother is unknown.

JOHN, Scituate 1643, fit to bear arms, probably son of John of the same, was a captain died 22 June 1694, aged 70.  He served in Philip's war, and had command of a company when the great Indian sachem was killed  His estate was good, but his will of 1691, names no wife nor child and to his relatives, serveral and friends, gives freely.

JOHN, Boston, son of the first Nathaniel of the same, married 1670. Ann, eldest daughter of Dr. John Alcock of Roxbury, as in the married contract of record Vol. VI. 241, may be read; removed to Newport, but first had at Boston Mary; Ann; Palsgrave; Nathaniel; and Arabella, as from his will of 18 April 1687 is found, in which provision is made for them, and another child expected. That instrument was proven 22 June 1688, before Francis Brinley, Esq. who had by Andros, been constitional judge for that portion of his dominions; but it was required to be recorded here in Boston, as in Vol. X. 329 appears. It refers to brother Nathaniel, brother-in-laws, Zechariah Whitman, and made executors wife with son Nathaniel when he should come of age.

JOHN, Windsor, son of John of the same, was in the list of freeman 1669, married 8  August 1672, Bethia, daughter of Thomas Parsons, widow of Thomas Mascall of the same, had Francis,  born 25 May 1673; and John and Ebenezer, twins 7  January 1676.  His wife died 1681, and he married 1686, widow Esther Egglestone; but it is unknown whether he had more children.

JOHN, Boston 1670, styles himself of Camberwell, Co. Surrey, late of London, merchant in Boston but to appropriate to each. John severally, the births for the first sixty or seventy years on Boston records when the designation of the parents, is barely, John and Ann, John and Elizabeth John and Jane, John and Mary, through various generations must be undertaken with high presumption and would be abandoned with utter despair. Often one John is blessed with a child  born in few weeks. after another. John had obtained the similar favor.

JOHN, Haverhill, son probably of John of the same, married 9 September 1661, Rebecca, daughter of Anthony Colby of Salisbury, had Sarah,  born 27 June 1662; Mary, 24  November 1663; a daughter probably Rebecca, May 1666; a daughter 1  August 1668, died in few days; Mercy, 4  December 1669; Susanna, 11 April 1672.  His wife died 10 June following and he married 5 May 1675, Esther, widow of John Bond of Haverhill.  He took oath of fidelity 28  November 1677, at the same time with his brother Joesph; and he died 30 April 1698, leaving widow Esther. See Genealpgy Register XII. 297.

JOHN, Salem, son perhaps of John of the same, married 8 December 1686, Sarah Manning, daughter  probably of Richard of Ipswich, had Sarah,  born 18  August 1689.  Other children he had, perhaps by another wife to wit, Anstis, 25  December 1700; John, 14  November 1702; Henry, 2 February 1705; Mary, 8 May 1706; George, 14  March 1708; and Richard, 27  August 1710.

JOHN, New London, is seen, by Miss Caulkins, living on Groton side, and married about 1686, Jane, widow Of Hugh Hubbard, daughter  of Carey Latham; but even her diligence could learn no more except that he died 3  December 1741, at great age, as was his wife and left only son Peter.

JOHN, Deerfield, son of deacon Samuel of Roxbury, began soon after leaving colledge to fit for the pulpit, and married 21 July 1687, Eunice, daughter  of Rev. Eleazer Mather of Northampton, and had Eleazer,  born 1 July 1688, H. C. 1708, and if we follow the very doubtful Family Genealogy even an earlier son Eliakim, who died young; preached first at Deerfield  1686, but was not ordained before 18 October 1688; had also, Samuel, 4  January 1690, died at 23 years.; Esther, 10 April 1691; Stephen, 14 May 1693, H. C. 1713; Eunice, 16 September 1696; Warham, 7, baptized perhaps 16 September 1699; Eliakim, again; John, 15  January 1704, killed by the Indians on 29 of next month as was his young brother Eliakim; and all the rest of the family except Eleazer, were taken towards Canada, but his wife died of suffering on the road.  He married after resettlement of daughter  Abigail Allen of Windsor, had Abigail, 1708; John, 23  November 1709, died young; Eliakim, again, 6 February 1711; Elijah, 13  November 1712; and Sarah, September 1716; and he died 12 June 1729.  The story of his Redeemed Captive has been very much read, in all succeeded times, and the child Stephen published also, a very agreeable narrative.

JOSEPH, Taunton, son of Richard of the same, married 28  November 1667, Elizabeth daughter  of George Watson of Plymouth, had Elizabeth  born 30 July 1669, drown, at 19 years; Richard, 26  November 1671, died under 17 years; Mehitable, 7 June 1676; Joseph, 13 February 1679; Benjamin, 15 October 1681; Ebnezer, 21 April 1685; Phebe, 25 September 1687; and Richard, 26  March 1689; and died 17  August 1692.

JOSEPH, Salem, son perhaps youngest, of George of the same, married 20  November 1661, Sarah, daughter  of Thomas Browning; had Mary  born 19  August 1662, died soon; Joseph,  August 1663, died in few months; Joseph, again, 17  March 1665; Sarah, 28 October 1666; George, 22 February 1670; Daniel, 3  January 1672; Benjamin and Abigail, twins 7  December 1673; and David, 7 September 1676. He died 1682, at least his widow returns inventory on 27 June of that  year.

JOSEPH, Boston, by wife Lydia had Joseph,  born 14 February 1670; William, 13  December 1671; Richard, 8 February 1673, though records would make the mother to be Elizabeth who is, in my opinion a clerical  blunder, as the following seven children are all counted for Lydia; that is to say, Hannah, 20 May 1674; Daniel, 25  December 1676; Hannah, again, 26 May 1679; Jeremiah, 22  August 1683; Elizabeth 22  August 1686; Elizabeth again, 9  December 1688; and Mary, 6  November 1689.

JOSEPH, Providence, youngest son of famous Roger, who gives, in letter of February 1660 to his friend Gov. Winthrop account of the youth's cure of epilepsy by taking tobacco, and the cure did not shorten his days.  [See 3 Mass. History Coll. X. 28.]  He married 17  December 1669, Lydia, youngest daughter  of Thomas Olney the first, had Joseph, born 26 September 1670, died soon; Thomas, 16 February 1672; Joseph, again, 10  November 1673; Mary, June 1676; James, 24 September 1680; and Lydia, 26 April 1683; and died 17  August 1724 at Cranston, where the gr.st. is encumbered with more doleful verse than is often seen.  His widow died three weeks after. He engaged allegedly to Charles II 31 May 1666; was an Assistant 1704, and on 28 September of that year verified the declaration made by his father in 1682.

JOSEPH, Haverhill, youngest son of the first John of the same, took oath of allegiance 1677, married 18  November 1674, Mary Fuller of Barnstable, daughter of the first Samuel, had Sarah, born 17  November 1675, Mary, 29  November 1677; John, 17 February 1680; Hannah, 30 September 1683; but no more is told of him.

MATTHEW, Wethersfield, by wife Susannah had Amos, born 1645; Matthew,
1647, died soon; Matthew, again, 1651; and Samuel, 1653. Of him the Colonial Records of Trumbull tells no good, but that he seems to be dead  in 1664.

MATTHEW, Dover, tax there 1657-1668, was perhaps brother Of the first William of the same.

NATHANIEL, Boston, glover, as he grew to be, but called laborer, on administration to the children 26 May 1639, freeman 13 May followed by wife Mary had Ruth, baptized 2 June 1639, a  year old; Elizabeth 18 October 1640, though town records says born 21; Nathaniel, 25 September 1642, "age six days old;" John, 18  August 1644. "age three days old;" Mary, born 30  November 1646, and when baptized 6  December following is called "age a day old;" and Hannah, baptized 7  January 1649. "age nine days old."  He was held in good esteem, had fair estate and died 1661.  His will was of 22 April and his inv. of 7 May in that  year.  His widow married Peter Brackett of Braintree, daughter  Ruth married Joseph Belknap of Boston, and Mary married John Viall, jr. of Braintree.

NATHANIEL, Taunton, son of Richard of the same, married 17  November 1668, Elizabeth daughter  of John Rogers of Marshfield or Duxbury, had John, born 27  August 1675; Nathaniel, 9 April 1679; and Elizabeth 18 April 1686.

NATHANIEL, Boston, son of Nathaniel of the same, was much engaged in Philip's war, as a commissary in 1676, by wife Mary, had Nathaniel, born August 1675, H. C. 1693, by the careful Mr. Whitmore thought to be successor  of Famous Master Cheever in the Boston schedule.; Elizabeth 28 February 1678, died soon; Oliver, 21  August 1679; Elizabeth again, 22  January 1682; James, 3  March 1687; and Sarah, 30 September 1692; freeman 1676; and had grant Of land in 1679.

NATHANIEL, Windsor, son of the first John of the same, married 3 October 1681, Mary, daughter  of John Owen of the same, had Mary, born 1682; removed to Westfield, there had Abiel, 23  March 1684; Rebecca, 27 September 1685; Elizabeth 1687; John, 3  November 1689, died next  year; Nathaniel, 25  August 1691; Abigail, 1693; Hannah; Keziah, 1701; Naomi, 1703; Orpha, 1706; and John, again; and died 1711.  His widow with two sons and nine daughters enjoyed his estate 1714, and she died 1750.

NICHOLAS, Roxbury, freeman 1652, but he is not named by Ellis, nor can I find any account of him, except that Robert in his will calls him brother and bequeathing to him 30s a  year charge upon the estate therein giving to his eldest son Samuel.

OWEN, Newport, among the freeman 1655, removed in few years to Norwich, there died 1682; and, it is said, that descendants are in Preston, which was part of Newport.

PARK, Lebanon, youngest son of deacon Samuel of Roxbury, by wife Priscilla had Bathsheba, born at Roxbury, 28  August 1701 (unknown to the compiler of the family genealogy), Samuel, John, Ebenezer, Eleazer, William, Theoda, Sarah, Elizabeth and Martha; but the printed vol. gives no date to either son or daughter  yet tells that his wife died in 1742, aged 71, and he only ten years older in 1751. Roxbury record gives John, born 6 June 1706.

RICHARD, Saco, died in October 1636, engaged with Gov. Cradock, as "a clapboard cleaver," may be the same who had been fined for drunkedness in Mass.  March 1634, though the same Vol. I. of our Colonial Records shows the fine was remmoved perhaps because it could not be collect four years after.

RICHARD, Taunton 1637, went from Salem, whither Baylies I. 284, suppose he came, because his wife Frances Dighton was sister of the first wife of Capt. Endicott, which is a sad error, as it was Gov. Thomas Dudley's wife that was meant.  Perhaps the historian  of Plymouth was misled in his assumption Of the first resident at Saco by another supposed that he was brother of Roger; but either of these seem to me very improbably though not so wild as the tradition that he was a relative of Oliver Cromwell.  He was one of the first purchasers of the territory from the Indians and was the chief male inhabitant for many years sprung from Gloucestershire and married it is said, by Emery I. 44, in Gloucestershire had children John, probably died young; Samuel, Joseph, Nathaniel, baptized 7 February 1641, Thomas, Benjamin, Elizabeth and Hannah; and not has date of birth nor is there approximation for any of the eight, except Elizabeth about 1647, probably therefore one of the oldest half, who married John Bird of Dorchester; Hannah married John Parmenter of Boston, as his second wife  As it is very clear, that all these children were born long after he settled at T. I. greatly distrusted the tradition of his very early coming to our country, and more the Gloucestershire where he was representative 1646, 1648, 1650, and several later years but the time of his death  is not found.  Descendants have been numerous and highly respected.

RICHARD, Boston, had Phebe, born  August 1643; and Benjamin,  August 1645, if the substitute for Robert in the record margin of the volume of births be adjudged reasonable, when the childrens record of the baptized of Phebe, age eight days old, on 3 September 1643, assigns her to Robert; and the same Robert had son Benjamin, though the childrens records has John, of Robert, baptized 7 September 1645.

RICHARD, Branford 1646, had Samuel, born 13 September 1655; and Daniel, 15 April 1657; removed to Fairfield 1658, but soon removed again, and it is not known to what place. One Richard was a town officer, says Mitchell, at Bridgewater, in 1665.

RICHARD, Stonington, or the disputed Narraganset territory 1670, in 1677
had long controversy with Isaac Hall, had lands at Misquamicut or Squamacuck, or such Indian name now perhaps Westerly.

RICHARD, Boston, by wife Bathsheba, had Joseph, born 3  December 1672, died very soon; John, 24 October 1673; and Joseph, again, 7  March 1677.

RICHARD, New Haven, a physician in 1691, of whom no more is heard.

ROBERT, Roxbury 1637, freeman 2 May 1638, came, it is said, from Norwich, Co. Norfolk, with wife Elizabeth by family tradition named Stratton, and children Samuel, Mary, if not more, as that child was five years old, and I think another son John was a passenger with his father for clear is it, that he was not born at Roxbury where the only birth appears, Isaac, 1 September 1638; Stephen, 8  November 1640; and in the family genealogy is named also Thomas, by Ellis said to be born after, and in the History said to have died young; but I doubt both the authorities, as neither born nor died  after long search is found in the record of either town or children  Still the deficiency of record is seen in other respects, as the will of 26  November 1685, names gr.children Deboroah Totman, and Elizabeth Robinson, for who I find not the months so that we are uncertain, whether he had two daughters married or three.  His eldest daughter  Mary married Nicholas Wood; wife Elizabeth died last of June, or 28 July 1674, by strange carelessness in the town record called 80 years older when she probably was a dozen years younger. He married 3  November 1675, Margaret, widow of John Fearing of Hingham, but whether he had a third wife is less certain, though in family genealogy he is supplied  with one, Miss Martha Strong, said to have died 1704, in her 92d  year. He died 1 September 1693, in the first article of his will providing for the performance  of the covenant with his wife.

ROBERT, Boston, in 1641 was, with Edward Goodwin, lessee of Winisemet ferry, which may render it probably that he wasson of Thomas, administrator of the children 10 April 1642, freeman 10 May 1643, had Joseph, born July 1641, baptized 17 April 1642; Phebe, 3 September 1643, age 8 days old; John, 7 September 1645, who died young; and Benjamin.  His will of 12 October 1677, proven 30  January following gives lands to his eldestson Joseph and Benjamin, bequeaths to daughter  Phebe Eglin and her children. To the eldest son of Joseph and of Benjamin, and grand daughter Mary Eglin.

ROBERT, Boston, of whom I know no more than is seen in the diary of Sewall, where he says, under 25  August 1695, "R. W. the grave-digger, bell-ringer, &c. &c. died"

ROBERT, Providence, thought among the freeman of 1655, and a brother of the noble founder of Providence, yet little more is known of him, but that he was, ten years later, school-master at Newport.

ROBERT, Killingworth  1667, was propounded to be freeman 1669, had a daughter  born 1671, but no more is known of him.  Another ROBERT was of Oyster Bay, L. I. 1650; and Farmer MS. mentions one of N. H. as early as 1670, but he could not detain him there, certainly not long enough for any story of him to reach us.

ROBERT, Boston, by wife Margery, had Martha, born 7 May 1672; Jonathan,
22 September 1673; Mary, 2  December 1675; James, 20 February 1678; Jacob, 19  December 1679; Elizabeth 8  November 1681; Robert, 13  January 1686, probably died young; Hepzibah, 1  November 1688; and Robert, again, 3 April 1691. Dr. Thaddeus William Harris, the late learned librarian at our University counted the birth of his ancestor deacon Jonathan Williams eight years too early.  See p. 319 of the Genealogy and History of the Williams family

ROGER, Dorchester 1630, came in the Mary and John, probably with wife Frances, requested admission as freeman 19 October of that  year and was sworn on 18 May following served on the jury 30 September of the first  year upon the knowledge of Bratcher by Palmer, removed early, probably 1636 or 7, to Windsor, there was in good reputation had comfortably established served on the jury 1642, 3, and 4, lost his wife by death  10  December 1645. He soon after 1647, or in that year sold house and land and came back to Dorchester, married 1649 or before Lydia Bates, daughter  of the first James, had Ebenezer, born  January 1650, in that  year called himself of Boston, when he sold land in Dorchester to Thomas Thaxter; but no more is told of him.

ROGER, Providence, the great assertion of religious freedom, born in Wales 1599, as uncertain tradition says, and she would make him, partly, as least, educated at Oxford, where another Roger, or Roderic, was admitted 30 April 1624, who was son of William, and by Felt in Eccles. History I. 147, received as our N. E. reformer,  who to me, seems nearly impossible.  But a strong probably is, that he was not be earlier than 1605; and the fact is, he was bred up at the Charter House as in modern days the school is called but when his son was there, Sutton's Hospital.  On that foundation he was chosen a scholar 25 June 1621, and on 9 July 1624, again an exhibition under powerful patronage. This we learn from Mrs. Anne Sadler, daughter  of the great lawyer, Sir Edward Coke, in a collection of letters, at the library of Trinity College Cambridge, by Williams, writing about 1652, to her; she wrote on the back of one of them (who had shocked her devotion to children and king) that her father "took such liking to him, that he put him to Sutton's Hospital, and he was the second that was placed there," meaning perhaps by his grand patron.  From this favor of Coke arose, probably the tradition that our benign founder of Providence  had enjoyed the protection of the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, had been supported at the University of Oxford, and studied the law for a profession under the great oracle of jurisprudence, but from Winthrop's History we know he had been a minister.  The exhibition obtained. In the London Inst. 9 July 1624, seems to disprove his identity with the student entered at Jesus College Oxford in April preceding and my ignorance of the rules and customs of the Charter House forbids me to speak with confidence. To write his life and illustrate his character has long been felt as a duty by the scholars of the beautiful city he founded and after served attempts more may be said.  Professor Elton, who served years since publish his biography has had means of discovery how he had been deceived as to the birth and education of the amiable hero; and we hope for another edition of his vol.  If at either of the Eng. Univ. he was educated which seems very uncertain to me. Cambridge is entitled to the honor, rather than Oxford.  He came from Bristol, 1  December 1630, in the Lion, and reached Boston 9 February following with wife Mary; and in few weeks during which he was desired to settle in the church of Boston, by their unanimous choice, in the spring of 1631, as he tells, in a letter
(most characteristic of the writer, equal in value to any one in a thousand of our New Eng. epistles) to Rev. John Cotton of Plymouth,
printed in Mass. History Transactions of the Soc. 1855-08 pp. 313-6, but
his tender conscience did not dare to officate to "an unseparated people." This statement of Williams I accept without hesitation though in a note on p. 406 of Vol. I. of History of N. E. by Prof. Palfrey, whose eye had been blessed with the original MS. a doubt might have passed through his mind to extort the remark: "it is very extraordinary that the fact is not mentioned in any record of the time."  But no contemporary record excluding that of the Col. would possibly contain it, for no other is in existence.  Our earliest record of Boston civil affairs begins abruptly in the middle of a sentence, September 1634, preceding, pages being lost, yet that is four or five years before We have an original ecclesiastic record of any thing except baptized  Even the name of Williams, our great reformer, is FIRST read in Col. Rec. September 1635, being that of his banishment Vol. I. 160; as each of the several prior readings of Roger Williams manifest refers to the Dorchester man. But quite concur with the sense and even phrase of that letter to Cotton is the language of Winthrop History I. 53 in the order of Court, recited that he "had refused to join with the congregation [i. e. church] at Boston, because they would not make a public declaration of their repent for having communication with the churches. of Eng." &c.  That order was in April 1631, less than a fortnight after Boston church was left without a minister by Wilson's departure for home, and two and a half years before coming of Cotton's father. Assuredly he was not likely to refuse before he was asked.  He next went to be associate with Skelton at Salem, in teaching that congregation but was more wanted at Plymouth, in the autumn of that  year and continued good part of two years to minister here; hardly had he got back to Salem, where the people wishing him as successor of Skelton, before his over scrupulous conscience made him and others trouble; and in two years the affections of his people could not prevent the Gen. Ct. from banishment of their teacher.  He had been excommunicated at Salem for refusing to bring his children to baptized &c.  In the winter of 1635-6, he meekly obeyed, the cruel sentence, and next spring, or more probably in June, laid the foundation of the prosperous city by him, with pious emotion, called Providence.  See the opening chap. of Arnold's History of R. I. There he was usually held in much honor, though occasional overborne by antagonists against which his revenge was exhaust. In showing kindness he always had the friendship of Gov. Winthrop though circumstances, consisted with the honor of both, enforced their long and sad separation. As the Colonial agent in London, or chief Magistrate here, he was equal, discreet and disinterested to his death  in April 1683.  Of his wife Mary, the family name, or date of the marriage is unknown but she came with her here and may have had children in England for only six can be precisely known to be born on our side of the water; Mary is said to have been born at Plymouth, the first week in  August 1633; Freeborn, at Salem, late in October 1635; Providence, late in September 1638, who died unmarried  March 1686; Mercy, 15 July 1640; Daniel 15 February 1642; and Joseph, early in  December 1643. Mercy married Resolved Waterman, and next, Samuel Winsor; for third husband having John Rhodes, and bearing children to all; Freeborn married Thomas Hart of Newport, and next, Walter Clark, the Gov. of the Col.

ROGER, Milford, died 1656, leaving very little inventory.

SAMUEL, Yarmouth 1643, then of age to bear arms, but he may have been old, or living not long.

SAMUEL, Roxbury, eldest son of Robert of the same, born in England about 1632, was a shoemaker, joined the church when under 16 years freeman 1650, a deacon married 2  March 1654, Theoda, eldest daughter  of deacon William Park of the same, had Elizabeth born 1, baptized 11 February following and died 10 of next month; Samuel, 15, baptized 27 April 1656; Martha, 29 April 1657, unless the record be, as I doubt not it is, wrong, baptized 28  March 1658, died or was buried 6 February 1661; Elizabeth again, 11, baptized 26 February 1660; Theoda, 27 July, baptized 3  August 1662, died at 16 years; John, 10  December 1664, H. C. 1683; Ebenezer, 6  December 1666; Deborah, 20  November 1668; Martha, again, 19 May 1671; Abigail, 12 July 1674; and Park, 11  January 1677; and died 28 September 1698, aged 65. His widow married Stephen Park, and died 26  August 1718.

SAMUEL, Salem, a cooper, second son of George of the same, married 2 April 1662, Mary, eldest daughter  of Hilliard Veren, I suppose, had Samuel, born 26  December following died in few weeks.; Samuel, again, 21  November 1664; Mary, 7  March 1667, died soon; Hilliard, 26  December 1668; George, 12 February 1670, died in few weeks.; Sarah, 15 July 1672; Mary, again, 27  November 1674, died young; Richard, 3  March 1679; Mary, again, 2  March 1681; Joshua, May 1683; and Nathaniel,
25  January 1687; and died 1689, between the date of his will, 23 May, and its probably 26  November of that  year.

SAMUEL, Taunton, second son of Richard of the same, married Jane, daughter  of Thomas Gilbert, had Mary; Sarah; Hannah, born 1670; Seth, 1676; Samuel, 1680; and Daniel, 1682.

SAMUEL, Roxbury, eldest son of Samuel of the same, married 24 February 1680, Sarah May, daughter probably of the second John of the same, had Samuel, born 6 April 1681; Theoda, 8  December 1682; John, 1  December 1684; a child 1  January 1687, died same day; Sarah, 19 May 1688; Ebenezer, 12  August 1690; Elizabeth 12  January 1693; Eleazer, 20 February 1695; William, 24 April 1698; and Martha, 10  August 1710.  His wife died 29  December 1712, and he married 28 April 1720, Dorothy, widow of William Denison, daughter of Thomas Weld; and died 8  August 1735.

SIMON, Hatfield, took oath of allegiance 8 February 1679.

STEPHEN, Roxbury, fourth son of Robert of the same, married Sarah Wise, daughter  of Joseph of the same, had Sarah, born 13  August 1667; Mary, 20  December 1669; Elizabeth 1 October 1672; Bethia, 26 April 1676; Stephen, 27  August 1678; Robert, 13 July 1680, died at three months; Joseph, 24 February 1682; John, 1  December 1684; Henry, 9 April 1686, died at 4 mos.; Grace, 2 April 1688; Catharine,  9  November 1690, died at 16 years; and Thomas, 27 July 1694, died in few weeks; and died 15 February 1720.  his widow in her will of 18 June 1723, proven 30  August 1728, names sons Stephen and John, daughters Mary, wife of Samuel
Story; Elizabeth Tucker; Grace, wife of John Metcalf; the children of her deceased daughter Bethia Rice; Abigail, widow of her son Joseph; and the children Robert Sharp, and Sarah Hastings, of her daughter  Sarah.

THOMAS, Plymouth 1620, passengenger in the Mayflower, one of the signers of the compact at Cape Cod in  November had no family and died soon after the landing as Gov. Bradford tells.

Another THOMAS, Plymouth, not son of the preceding Was servant of the widow Warren, in 1635 charged with profane speech.

THOMAS, Boston 1630, was called to serve on coroner's jury 18 September of that  year So that it may be presumed that he came in the fleet with Winthrop requested admittance as freeman 19 October with an alias as Harris, without such alias was sworn 18 May following and the same day allowed to set up a ferry between Winisemet and Charlestown, and Winisemet and the younger town of Boston.  As nothing more is ever heard of him, except that in 1651, he bought a house of Walter Merry, I suppose he must have brought family from England and his wife died early.  Perhaps he was father or brother of Robert of the same, who by lease from a Committee of the General Court September 1641, was made partaker of the interest in that Winisemet ferry, as in Rec. I. 341.

THOMAS, Saco 1636, own allegiance to Mass. July 1653, then the chief man in that plantation where he had lived near 20 years.

THOMAS, Plymouth 1643, then able to bear arms.

THOMAS, Boston, made his will 25 April 1646, proven 5  November following calls John Spoore his master.  See Geneal. Reg. III. 180. Farmer mistook him for the earlier Thomas of Boston.  But later by a whole generation may be seen in the record of birth the same puzzle that confounded me about four, five, or six Johns, as Thomas and Ann have many children Thomas, born 29  March 1661; Charles, 20 September 1662; Thomas, again, 9 April 1664; Hannah, 22  March 1666; Elizabeth 6 February 1668; and Susanna, who may all belong to a single couple; yet, when Thomas and Elizabeth bring in a contribution to the registry, doubt arises whether the father be the same of Thomas, born 1  January 1677.

THOMAS, perhaps of Rehoboth, before 1647, at least Thomas Bliss of Rehoboth in his will, 1649, calls him, husband of his eldest daughter

THOMAS, Eastham, had Nathaniel, born 24 April 1655, as Col. Rec. tells.

THOMAS, Wethersfield, had ten children of who we know the names but of only seven the births and that he had wife Rebecca is also known but whether she was the only one is less clear.  He made his will 16  December 1689, yet probably died not before February 1693; left wife and eight children had Thomas, born 9  March 1657; Samuel, 11 June 1659, died before his father; John, 15 April 1662; Jacob, 7  March 1665; Sarah, 1667, died before her father; Rebecca, 1669; Mary, 1671; Abraham; Hannah; and Ruth.  Four sons living at Wethersfield 1693.

THOMAS, Groton, of whose father the name or resided Is unknown by wife Mary, married says Butler, 11 July 1666, had Thomas, born 17  March following; John, 3  November 1668; Mary, 3 February 1672; and Hannah, 1 February 1674.

THOMAS, New London 1670, died 24 September 1705, a. 61 years old, leaving widow Joanna, sons John, Thomas, Jonathan, William, Samuel, and Ebenezer, beside five daughters the children being between 12 and 33 years of age, and a great children as heir of a daughter  says Caulkins, 349.

THOMAS, Watertown, son perhaps of William of the same, married Mary, daughter  of Richard Holden, and may be the same as

THOMAS, Taunton,son of Richard of the same, by wife Mary had Mary, born 1680; Jonathan, 1683; Sarah, 1685; Mercy, perhaps is the intended name printed Macy, 1687; Hannah, 1689; Bethia,1692; Mehitable, 1695; and Damaris, 1698.  His widow married 1707, Rev. James Keith of Bridgewater.

THOMAS, Newbury, married 16  January 1696, Mary, daughter  f Benjamin Lowell, had Mary, born 2 July 1697; and Henry, 27 September 1699; but who was his father or any more of him, we can learn nothing from the diligence of Coffin.

TIMOTHY, Marshfield, of who we know that he was in the list of those able to bear arms 1643, and no more.

WILLIAM, Salem 1637, if he may so claim in right of a grant of land that year mentioned by Felt, and I find he came that  year from Great Yarmouth, England aged 40, with wife Alice, 38, and two children whose names are not seen; and Elizabeth aged 31, who may have been his sister came on the same day from Yarmouth.  One Ann W. aged 15, came from Norwich, three days before with a different family.  He may have been of Watertown, for there was a proprietor says Bond, of that name in that town, 1642; and the act of the Court in April 1641 to be read in Rec. I. 316, refers to him. If not the same man,

WILLIAM, Dover, had a grant of land 1653, and was taxed there 1657-1668, says Quint, had William.

WILLIAM, Hartford, cooper, early there, married 25  November 1647, Jane Westover, as Goodwin thought the name imports though it reads more like Westupor, perhaps daughter  of Jonas of Windsor; was freeman 1654; and he died 17  December 1689, and his widow died 25 of the same month.  His will of 1688 names five sons William, John, James, Gabriel, and Samuel (of who the first four had children baptized), beside four daughters Elizabeth, Jane, Ruth, and Mary. He was aged 66 at his death  but dates of born of sons and grand children are not ascertain.  Another

WILLIAM of Huntington, L. I. was, by Conn. authority, ordered to be made freeman of its jurisdiction 1664.

WILLIAM, Dover, son of William of the same, married Margaret, daughter  of Thomas Stephenson of the same, had William, born 22  December 1662; John, 30  March 1664; and Elizabeth 25 October 1665; perhaps other children

WILLIAM, New London 1664, is by Miss Caulkins placed on the E. or
Groton side of the riv. and she adds that he died 1704, leaving sons Richard, William, Henry, and Stephen, beside daughter  Mary, wife of Samuel Packer.

WILLIAM, Boston, married 19 July 1660, Joanna Lynn, had Sarah, born 20
April 1662; Mary, 15  January 1664; John, as I judge, 20  December 1666 (though the name of mother is then called Hannah); Elizabeth 4  January 1669; James, 18 September 1670; Joanna, 18 April 1673; William, 25  January 1675; and was pressed into service in Philip's war, as is told in Geneal. Reg. I. 139, and was killed at Medfield, I suppose, on 21 February 1676.  Another

WILLIAM, Boston, by wife Sarah, had Joseph, 30  November 1687.

WILLIAM, Lynn,married June 1681, Martha Tuf, had John, born June 1682.

ZEBEDIAH, Northampton, son of Arthur of the same, married 18  December 1672, Mary, daughter  of William Miller of the same, had Mary, born 24  December 1673; and Zebediah, 1675, but before this last, had removed to Deerfield, there was killed with captain Lothrop, at Bloody Brook, 18 September of that  year  His widow married 28  November 1677, Godfrey Nims.  His son daughter a captive in Canada, 1706, but he left poster. of which in our age, are inhabitants of Amherst.

The graduates of this name at N. E. coll. had been in 1834, as Farmer reckoned them, 137, of which 50 at Harvard 48 at Yale, and other almost equally distributed.

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