Nicholas HODSDON of Kittery, Maine

HODSDON

1. NICHOLAS-

b. Hingham, Norfolk?(1)
m.1. ESTHER WINES (d. 29 Nov. 1647 Hingham)
     2. before 2 Oct. 1650 Elizabeth ______ (m.1. John Needham), living in Portsmouth in July 1686
d. after 20 Feb. 1679

Nicholas and Esther were married about 1639. She was a cousin of Faintnot Wines, flaxdresser, of Charlestown in whose will 1 Sept. 1663 were legacies to five of Nicholas Hodgdon's children by his cousin Esther Wines.

Nicholas was first at Hingham in 1635(2) and remained there until after his first wife died. The town of Hingham granted him a house lot in the center of town as well as meadowland which was mentioned in a deed by Samuel Ward to Edward Wilder 30 Mar. 1665.(3) He was made a freeman in Hingham 9 Mar. 1636/7.

From the Aspinwall Notarial Records we find the following:

25. 3. 1648, I did testifie unto a Lee of the Attorney made from Eliz. Needham to John Scarlet to receive all such goods as were due or belonging to her husband in Virginia. She being credibly informed of his death.(7)

2. 8. 1650, Nicholas Hodsdon and Eliz. his wife (formeily wife of John Needham) did make ordeine &c : Peter Brackett of Braintre in N. E, theire true & lawful Attorney to ask &c : of Capt. Varvell or any other in whose hands maybe certaine goods of her former husband John Needham, shipped aboard the ship of the said Capt. Varvell to carry to Virginia, of the receipt to give acquittance &c : also to compound &c : & to appear in an Court or Courts &c : & generally to doe all things &c : with power to substitute &c : ratifying &c : (8)

He moved first to Watertown where he was living in 1650 when he along with John Winchester, Thomas Hammond, John Parker, Vincent Druce and others he purchased large tracts of land at Cambridge Hill, now Newton, near the town line between Brookline and Newton.

Nicholas Hodsdin at Mr. Hibbins farme in Boston in Suffolk, hath souled to Thomas Hammond and Vincent Bruse (Druce ) both of Hingham, in the same County, a parcell of land containing sixty seaven acres more or less, lying on Cambridge Hill adjoining to John Parker's to the North, Northwest and Northeast of the said John Parker's with thirteen acres more or less of meadow belonging thereunto, the which land was by the Towne of Cambridge given to Robert Bradish. Also sixteen acres in Boston bounds next to Cambridge Hill to the South of it, and to the East and North cast of Mr. Hibbins' land, to have and to hold Dated, Feb. 4, 1650 (4)

Nicholas Hodsdon of Boston to John Parker of Cambridge a just third part of all the lands bought by him of Robert Bradish. Wife Elizabeth gives her consent and yields up her right, Mar. 20, 1651. (5)

He then appears in Kittery being absent from meeting 28 June 1655. He lived at Quamphegan and later near Birch Pt. Brook.

Granted, lotted and layed out by the Selectmen for Kittery unto Nicholas Hodsdon, his heirs and assigns forever, a lot of land above his house, bounded on the South side by Miles Thompson's land as may appear by several marked trees which go upon the line south east and by east unto the woods one hundred and sixty poles unto a tree marked four ways, and from said tree to go upon the line north and south and by east unto a marked tree Standing by the brook of Birchen Poynt and to come down the said brook unto the water or river, which brook is the bounds of said lot. Dated Oct. 15, 1656. (6)

It would look as though Israel Hodsdon and his father as well as some of their neighbors favored the Quakers, who were not popular at that time, for we find 12 Nov. 1659, in company with John Hoard of Kittery, Nicholas was ordered to appear at the second session of the General Court, to be held at Boston, and answer to the charge of entertaining Quakers. To this Nicholas plead not guilty, but it was ordered that he be admonished by the Governor. He himself was often absent from meeting both he and his wife were absent in 1675.

On 13 Dec. 1669 Nicholas received another grant of land from the town of Kittery, this lot being sixty poles in length, and adjoining Birchen Point Brook. This lot was laid out in Jan. 1672. In 1673, Nicholas received still another grant of land from the town, which was for 100 acres of land. This grant however was not laid out during his lifetime, but was sold by his descendants at various times.

Nicholas and his wife aged 40 years and upwards testified 18 Apr. 1670 that Thomas Spencer gave Daniel Goodwin one half of the mill and timber, being a quarter part of the whole of his part:

The deposition of Nicholasse Hodesden and his wife, aged 40 years and upwards. These deponents being sworne saith that fifteene or sixteene yeares agoe that Thomas Spensecr being at Quamphegon at the house wee lived in sayd, that he had given the one half part of the mill & timber thereunto belonging, being one quarter part of the mill unto Daniell Goodin for his dafters portion. Nicholas Hodsden & his wife replied & said, neybouer Spenser I wish you well to consider what you doe. for you had many children & every one would have a littcll and you cannot give every one such a Portion, and he answered & said, that she was the eldest dafter & hee had don yt & farthensaith not. Dated 18 Apr. 1670.

Nicholas purchased 30 acres of land and a house from John Wincoll 16 June 1674: one Tenement with about 30 acres of land, bounded by land of Miles Thompson on the South, the River on the West and Birchen Brook and Cove on the North and highway that leadeth toward Sturgeon Creeke. In 1673 he purchased forty acres of upland and swamp, butting upon the land of said Nicholas, and running back to Rocky Hills from Peter Wittum. The farm which Nicholas occupied the latter part of his life, is undoubtedly the one just montioned as having been purchased of John Wincoll in 1674. It is situated upon the easterly side of the Piscataqua river, which divides Kittery from Dover. It is located in the extreme southerly part of South Berwick, and is bounded on the North by Birchen Point Brook, and on the south by the farm formerly owned by Miles Thompson. This last mentioned farm was bounded on the south by Thompson's Brook, which Brook divides the towns of Eliot and South Berwick.

In Oct. 1678 he deeded the homestead to his son Benoni for support of his wife and himself and on Dec. 9 he made an agreement with him about carrying on the farm both were living on:

Agreement Between Nicholas Hodsdon of Kittery, husbandman, and Benoni Hodsdon, son of said Nicholas, agrees that Bcnoni shall during the Natural life of Nicholas, have, hold and use in Partnership with his father, all that farm that his father has for several years lived upon, with all lands, medows, Orchards, Marshes, garden and all the privileges thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining without any division of lands or houses, but in partnership and the same shall hold during the Natural life of said Nicholas.

It is agreed that all of the stock of any nature heretofore belonging to the said Nicholas or Benoni are to be one half the said Nicholas and the other half the said Benoni.

The said Benoni agrees to take the best of care of the farm and pay all charges and any profit arising from the product of the farm to be equally divided every year.

It is agreed after the death of Nicholas the goods and implements of the farm shall belong to Benoni. Dated 9 Dec. 1678.(9)

Nicholas Hodgsden of Kittery for £130 sells his son Benoni, all that my mansion or dwelling house and all barnes and edifices. All of which I heretofore purchased of John Wincoll, containing 40 acres. Also 56 acres of land long since Granted unto me by the town of Kittery; Bounded by the great River Pischataqua, or at least a branch thereof on the West, and with a fresh brook on ye North, which brooke devides between my lands and one Left. Playstead's land, late deceased. And on ye East with certain marked trees, and on the South with land of Miles Thompson except about seven acres given John Morrell and his wife Sarah.

Benoni to provide for Nicholas and his wife Elizabeth. Benoni to pay her �6 yearly during her natural life. Dated 22 Oct. 1678. (10)

In 1679 the 40 acres purchased from Wittum were deeded to Timothy Hodsdon.

The place and date of death of Nicholas and Elizabeth is unknown. They were probably buried in the graveyard which was laid out on a portion of the homestead, to which reference is made in the deed given May 17, 1828. Reserving and excepting from this conveyance one eighth of an acre on the homestead first above mentioned, which has been heretofore used as a place of burial by our ancestors.

Issue-

  • I. Esther- bpt. 20 Sept. 1640 Hingham, MA, m. 25 Dec. 1663 Dover, NH, Edward Weymouth, living in 1710 Eliot, ME
  • II. Mehitable- bpt. Nov. 1641 Hingham, MA, m. 3 Nov. 1665 Salem, MA, Peter Welcome of Boston (m.2. Mehitable ______ (m.1. ______ Howard, d. 23 Oct. 1694), will 23 Feb.-28 Mar. 1695), d. before 1681
  • III. Jeremiah- bpt. 6 Sept. 1643 Hingham, MA, m.c.1666 Ann Thwaits (living in Boston 1724), d. before 1716 Newcastle, NH
  • 2IV. ISRAEL- bpt. 19 July 1646 Hingham, MA, m. after 4 July 1671 ANN (2) THOMPSON (Adm. 1727), Adm. 1696
  • V. Elizabeth- bpt. 19 July 1646 Hingham, MA, d. before Sept. 1663
  • VI. Benoni- bp.5 Dec. 1647 Hingham, MA, m. Abigail Curtis, Adm. 15 May 1718 Kittery
  • VII. Joseph- m. Tabitha Raynes, d. before 1691
  • VIII. Timothy- m. Hannah ______ (m.2. Joseph Smith of York), d. between 1685 and 1695
  • IX. Sarah- m. by 1667 John Morrell (living 1720 Eliot)
  • X. Hannah- m. 25 June 1695 Nicholas Smith
  • XI. John- m. Deborah ______, d. after 1734
  • XII. Lucy- m. George Vickers of Hull, d. 25 Dec. 1725 Hingham

    Ref:

    (1) The Settlement of Hingham, Massachusetts- Louis Cornish- p.18
    (2) Ibid
    (3) Suffolk County Registry of Deeds- Vol. IV, p. 282
    (4) Middlesex County Registry of Deeds- Vol. I, p. 24
    (5) Ibid
    (6) Kittery Town Records- p. 9
    (7) Aspinwall Notarial Records- p. 128
    (8) Ibid- p. 324
    (9) York County Registry of Deeds- Vol. 3, p. 41
    (10) Ibid- p. 31

    Genealogy of the Descendants of Nicholas Hodsdon-Hodgdon of Hingham, Mass., and Kittery, Maine. 1635-1904- Andrew Jackson Hodgdon, Nichols Press, Haverhill, MA, 1904- pp. 9-14

    Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England- Savage, Vol.II, p.440
    Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown- Thomas Bellows Wyman, p.1040
    Old Kittery and Her Families- Everett S. Stackpole, pp.123, 529-30
    Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- p.343
    Pioneers of Maine & New Hampshire- Pope, p.195
    Dr. James D. Hodsdon- Cheltenham, Gloucestershire


    2IV. ISRAEL (NICHOLAS 1)

    bpt. 19 July 1646 Hingham, MA
    m. after 4 July 1671 ANN (2) THOMPSON (m.2. c.1675 Robert Evans of Dover (m.1. Elizabeth Colcord of Hampton, d. 27 Feb. 1697 Dover), Adm. 30 May 1727 Dover)
    d.c.1674
    Adm. 19 Jan. 1696

    Laid out unto Israel Hodgdon, his grant of ten or twelve acres, at ye east end of his house lot, Eightie rods in length to a great white oak, bounded on ye North with Etherington's land and on ye East with land of William Gowen, and on ye South with land of Tristram Harrison. Dated 2 Mar. 1671. (1)

    Also James Emery and Richard Nason testified that five years ago they laid out to Jeremiah Hodgdon, the land that Israel's house now stands on, being about twenty acres, bounded on the North by Ethrington's land and ye Commons on ye East. Dated 1671. (2)

    And Laid out to Daniel Emery twenty-two acres and half of land, it being part of a grant of 40 acres that was given to Israel Hodgdon by the town of Kittery Apr. 13, 1671 Dated 1722. (3)

    Israel bought land from Abraham & Mary Tilton with Ann's father Miles in 1672.

    He and his wife were absent from meeting and were in court 6 July 1675: Miles Thompson and wife, James Heard and wife, Nicholas Hodsdin and wife, Thomas Spencer and wife, William Furbush and wife, Israel Hodsden and wife and Richard Nason and wife were presented for not attending meeting. (4)

    Administration is granted to Israel Hodsden of the estate of his deceased father Israel Hodsden, late of Kittery, in ye County of Yorke, and the said Israel Hodsden, as principal, Bartholomew Thompson and Thomas Thompson as sureties, own themselves to be holden and firmly obliged unto Samuel Wheelwright, Esq., his Successors in ye office of Judge of Probate, within the County of York, in the sum of seventy pounds. That the said Israel Hodsdon shall well and truly administer on the Estate of his deceased father Israel Hodsden, aforesaid, according to law. Dated 19 Jan. 1696.

    A true Inventory of all and Singular the goods, chattels and credits of Israel Hodsden, planter deceased, praised at Berwick this 19th. of Jany. 1696-7, as follows:

    Imp. The house lot with the addition �25 � 00 � 00
    fifty acres of land, near ye third Hill 05�00 � 00
    that piece of land and meadow in partnership.
    Lying at the Heathy Marsh 08�00�00
    total. �38�00�00

    Nathan Lord.
    Andrew Neals.
    Nicholas Gowen.
    Inventory returned, Apr. 1697.(5)

    Israel Hodsdon, as administrator of his father's estate, sold the entire to Daniel Emery by the following deed:

    Israel Hodsden of Portsmouth sell Daniel Emery of Kittery, a piece or Parcel of land containing twelve acres situated in Kittery, bounded as follows: on the North with Etherington's land, on ye East with William Gowen, on ye south with Tristram Harris, on ye West with land formerly laid out to Jeremiah Hodgdon; together with fifty acres in Kittery; near the Third Hill, bounded East by Edward Weymouth, South by William Gowens and John Breadens, West with ye Common and North by Stephen Jenkins. Dated 7 Feb. 1697. (6)

    Issue-

  • I. Israel Jr.- b. between 1697 and 1709, m. Ann Wingate (b. 18 Feb. 1667 Dover, living in 1740), will 21 Jan. 1739/0-30 Jan. 1750/1 Dover
  • 3II. ANN- m.1. by 1691 JOHN (2) WINGATE (b. 13 July 1670 Dover, d. 1715), 2. Dec. 1725 Capt. John Heard (will 15 Jan. 1739), living in 1727

    Ref:

    (1) Kittery Town Records for 1671
    (2) Ibid
    (3) Ibid- 1722
    (4) York County Court Records
    (5) York County Registry of Probate
    (6) York County Registry of Deeds- Vol. IV, p. 98

    Genealogy of the Descendants of Nicholas Hodsdon-Hodgdon of Hingham, Mass., and Kittery, Maine. 1635-1904- Andrew Jackson Hodgdon, Nichols Press, Haverhill, MA, 1904- pp. 16-18

    Old Kittery and Her Families- Everett S. Stackpole, pp. 529-30
    Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- p.342
    Pioneers of Maine & New Hampshire- Pope, p.205
    York Co. Registry of Probate- No.9551

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