John Webster of Newbury, MA

WEBSTER

1. JOHN-

m. MARY SHATSWELL (m.2. 29 Oct. 1650 Newbury, John Emery (b.c.1598, m.1. Alice Grant, d. 3 Nov. 1683 Newbury), d. 28 Apr. 1694 Newbury)
inv. Sept. 1646 Ipswich, MA

John received land in Ipswich in 1634 and was admitted a freeman in Boston 4 Mar. 1634/5. He was admitted as a commoner by the town on 23 Feb. 1644 and his occupation was given as baker.(3)

"Inventory of John Webster's lands and goods sworn to 29 : 7 : 1646, by his widow, Mary Webster, who is appointed administratrix

Petition of Mary, widow of John Webster, that her eldest son, John, should have the land called the farm, of about 32 acres, which lyeth between Mr Rogers oxe pasture and Thom. Bishop's famr, when he is twenty-one yeares, he to pay Nathan, the youngest child, 5 li. at fourteen years, or if he refuse, then the 1-4 part of that land in kind or worth; that Mary, Stephen and Hannah may have the island bought of the widow Androws, in equal portions, when they shall be twenty-one; the Elisabeth, Abigail and Israell have 20 nobles each, when twenty-one; the dwelling house and 6 acres of land tied to make it good. The Court Nov. 4, 1646 granted that the estate be ordered as the widow desired and appointed her administratrix, to give bond for security in such sum as the next Ipswich court shall approve and receive of her the inventory amounting to 147 li. 5s.

John Emery of Newbury married Mary, widow of John Webster, late of Ipswich and she had power from the Court to administer and dispose of his goods to his children. Some of the children now grown, almost ready to receive their portions, John Emery petitions for liberty to sell the Island which is devided to three of the children, and also the house and 6 acres of land which was bound to make good the 20 li. to the other three, and upon grant of this, binds himself to pay the children the full price he shall sell it at, and to the other three children, who are to have 20 nobles, to make good to them the 8 li apiece and to ay the daughters their portions at eighteen and the sons at twenty-one years.

The above petition was granted Oct. 14, 1651"(1)

"Israell and Nathan Webster, sons of Jon. Webster, deceased, presenting their desires in writing, together with their mother's consent, with Jon. Cheny, Sr., Robt. Long and Wm Elsly as witnesses, and said Israell Webster being present in court and manifesting his desire also, that his father-in-law Jon. Emory and brother-in-law Jon. Emory, jr., might be appointed guardians, the court 25 : 9 : 1662 appointed them guardians, and also ordered that the bond given into Ipswich court for security for the children's portions remain in full force.

Petition of Israel Webster, aged eighteen yeares, and Nathan Webster, aged sixteen yeares, for appointment of John emery sr and John Emery jr as their guardians, signed also by Mary X Emery. Witness: John Chney, sr., Robert Long and William Elsly".(2)

In 1663 their daughter Elizabeth was in court:

"Elizabeth Webster for taking a faulse oath. The sentence of the court is that she shall stand at the meeting house dore at Newbury the next lecture day from the ringing the first bell, until the minister be ready to begin prayer with a paper on her head, written in capitall letters, (FOR TAKING A FALSE OATH IN COURT) the constable to see it done, or else to paye a fine of five pounds to the treasurer, and to be disabled from taking an oath, and to pay cost and fees. She made choice to stand at the doore."(5)

All the Webster children were remembered in John Emery's will and referred to as "his dear children".

Issue-

  • I. Mary- m. 29 Oct. 1650 Newbury, John Emery Jr. (b.c.1628, will 3 Aug.- 26 Sept. 1693 Newbury), d. 3 Feb. 1709/0 Newbury
  • 2II. JOHN- b.c.1632, m. 13 June 1653 Newbury, ANN BATT
  • III. Hannah- m. 1 Apr. 1657 Haverhill, Michael Emerson. Hannah's daughter, Hannah Dustin, was carried away by the Indians and her infant child murdered before her eyes. She arose in the night and with the assitance of two other captives, Mary Neff and Samuel Leonardson, killed ten of the Indians with tomahawks, scalped them and escaped in their canoe down the Merrimac River to her home in Haverhill. She presented the tomahawk and the scalps to the Governor of Massachusetts. A granite monument was erected on Dustin's Island where the event occured.(4)
  • IV. Abigail- m. 18 Jan. 1660/1 Newbury, Abraham Merrill (b.c.1636, living in 1712 Newbury), living in 1712 Newbury
  • V. Stephen- b.c.1637, m.1. 24 Mar. 1662/3 Haverhill, Hannah Ayer (b. 21 Dec. 1644 Salisbury, d. 2 June 1676 Haverhill), 2. 26 May 1678 Haverhill, Judith Broad, d. 10 Aug. 1694 Haverhill
  • VI. Elizabeth- m.c.1668, Samuel Simmons of Haverhill
  • VII. Israel- b.c.1643, m.1. 3 Jan. 1665/6 Newbury, Elizabeth Browne (d. 10 Oct. 1668 Newbury), 2. 9 Nov. 1669 Newbury, Elizabeth Lunt d. 3 Aug. 1688 Newbury), d. 7 Dec. 1683 Newbury
  • VIII. Nathan- b.c.1646, m. 30 June 1673 Haverhill, Mary Hazeltine (d. 27 Mar. 1735), d. 25 Apr. 1694, will 16-26 May 1694 Bradford

    Ref:

    (1) "The Probate Records of Essex County"- Vol. I, pp. 52-3
    (2) Ibid- p. 402
    (3) "Some of the Descendants of John Webster of Ipswich, Massachusetts"- John C. Webster, M.D., Chicago, 1912- p. 5
    (4) Ibid- p. 9
    (5) "A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury"- Joshua Coffin, Samuel G. Drake, Boston, 1845- p. 66

    Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury- Vol.1, pp.152-3, 243, 343-4


    2I. JOHN (JOHN 1)

    b.c.1632
    m. 13 June 1653 Newbury, ANN BATT (daughter of Nicholas and Lucy BATT)

    On 1 Mar. 1651 "These persons heer under mentioned are acknowledged to be ffreeholders and to have an interest in all comons belonging to the Towne as having lawfully purchased theyr prividedges from such as had the privideges estated on them by the Towne... Stephen Greenleaf from William ffracnkling sold now to John Webster..."(11)

    John was a blacksmith and was apprenticed to Daniel Pierce.(1) He moved to Haverhill about 1653 but, were back in Newbury by 1657 where he was made a freeman on 29 Sept. 1657.(12)

    In 1658 there was some question as to the validity of an election of officers for the militia. This was brought to the attention of the General Court on 26 May 1658:

    "In ansr to the petition of the inhabitants of Newbury &c humbly craving that they might have the bennefitt of the law that no man should have comand of the horse & ffoote both, that Capt Gerrish may be required to desert the horse & wholly attend th ffoote, or attend the horse & medle no more wth the ffoote, that so they may be excer by him upon whom they must depend in time of neede, i.e. theire leftnnt allowed & approved of by the Court. The Courte Judgeth it meete to graunt their request".(9)

    On that same day John Emery, John Webster and several others from Newbury were ordered "to appeare before the General Court in October next, to answer wt is laid agt them".(9)

    "October 19, 1658 the Court having heard the case relating to the military company peticon of Newbury, preferred by Jno Emory, Senr who, wth his sonnes, John Emery, Junr & Jno Webster & Solomon Keyes, have bian so busy & forward to disturbe the peace of the place by their actings in severall respects & occationed much trouble to this court in referrence thereto, Judg it meete to order that the said John Emory, Senr, Jno Emery, Junr, Jno Webster & Solomon Keyes be severally admonished to beware of the like sinfull practizes for time to come wch this court will not beare: and that they pay the severall chardges of theire neighbors at the last Court and this, in coming for reliefe from such under courses. Costs allowed in all, was fower pounds, eight shillings & ffees."(10)

    Military discipline was obviously impaired by these squabbles.

    In the inventory of Anthony Colby, taken 9 Mar. 1660, John was owed 13s by the estate.(8)

    On 2 Mar. 1667/8 and again on 24 Mar. 1679/80 John was one of the people elected to be one of the Surveyors of Highways. On 18 Mar. 1673/4 he was one of the "way wardens, and such persons as have bin behind these two years shall attend when Capt Gerrish calls them to it to mend the way from the meeting-house to the mill".(13)

    "April 2, 1666 There is chosen by the Selectmen for fence viewers for the year ensuing William Sawyer, William Pilsbury for the further end of the new town to frog pond, Anthony Morse Senr & John Webster from thence to Goodman Moodys land..." He was chosen fence viewer again on 19 Mar. 1672/3, 25 Mar. 1674, 22 Mar. 1676/7, and 27 Mar. 1683. John Jr. took over 6 Apr. 1685.(14)

    John was also constable as on 23 Oct. 1668 the General Court replied to his petition:

    "In ansr to the peticon of John Webster, constable of Newbury, humbly craving that his bill of charge expended on hue en cry &c, amounting to thirty six shillings, might be allowed him the Court judgeth it meete to refer the bill to the Treasurer of the Country to examine & allow what he sees & finds to be just".(20)

    On 31 Jan. 1670/1 the selectmen authorized Caleb Moody, John Hale, Benjamin Rolfe, John Webster, Abel Somerby, Nathaniel Clarke, Percivall Lowele, Jonathan Woodman, Daniel Thurston, Benjamin Lowle, and John Swett to build at their own expense "a pew in the south east corner of the meeting house" to be assigned to them for the use of their wives and daughters.(19)

    John was involved in the church controversies of the time and the Ipswich court 3 Nov. 1671 "which adjudged the said Mr Woodman, and party adhering to him, to pay the several fines under written, with the charge of the witnesses, and fees of court and that they all stand committed till the said fines, charges and fees be satisfied and paid... John Webster... a noble each."(21)

    The selectmen were instructed to see that the rules for preservation of ornamental trees were enforced and on 5 July 1673 they voted: "That whereas John Webster & Peter Toppan is complained of for cutting Downe trees in the Land that is called the burying place, we the selectment do order that Richard Dole & Samuel Plumer shall levy ten shillings upon John Webster & five shillings upon Peter Tappan for cutting downe the trees without order & John Webster for cutting downe a tree upon the hyway."(16)

    He and Ann were members of the Newbury church in 1674. He took the oath of allegiance at Newbury in 1678.(2)

    Ann and their children Nicholas, John and Sarah were mentioned in the will of their grandfather, Nicholas Batt, 18 June 1674.

    John evidently contested his father-in-law's will:

    "Will of Nicholas Batt was proved Mar. 26, 1678, and objection was made by John Webster.

    Whereas Nicholas Batt of Newbury is lately deceased and the law gives liberty to prove a will before two magistrates, the clerk John Webster, who married the eldest daughter of said Batt, came to the Worshipfull Major Generall Denison, Esq., 6 : 9 m : 1677, and desired that no such will might be proved in private without his or his wife's knowledge, as they had something to say. They were so advised by the Honored Major Generall to have this caution entered.

    Deposition of John Emery, Sr. and Mary his wife, that in 1653 John Webster married Ann Batt, daughter of Nicolas Batt and in consideration of their marriage Nicolas Batt promised to give to the said John Webster with his daughter Ann his house he then lived in and all his lands that he had with all the priviledges belonging unto them after his and his wife's decease, and did immediately give to the said Ann possession of part of it in lieu of the whole and John Webster hath enjoyed it as his own proper estate to this day without molestation; furthermore Nicolas Batt promised to weave all the cloth that she made for nothing. Sworn in Ipswich court Mar. 26, 1678.

    Deposition of John Emery, Jr., aged about fifty years, that in 1653 on the day that John Webster was contracted to Ann Batt eldest daughter of Nicholas Batt of Newbury he being at his father Emryes house heard Goodman Batt say that while he lived he would weave cloth and after his decease and his wife's she as his heir should have all his houseing and lands for as his eldest daughter she should have a double portion and he accounted the houseing and land would amount to such a value; further Batt said that he would give his other children their portions as he could in his life time as he was able and in case he should die the other two daughters should have their portions out of his other estate.

    John Emery, Jr., confirmed this testimony Feb. 28, 1677 before Jo. Woodbridg, com.

    Deposition of John Webster Jr., aged 22 years that about four or five months before the death of his grandfather Batt he heard his father and grandfather discoursing about building a room to his grandfather Batt's house and if he did, of his grandfather giving him security from damage and his grandfather said he need not fear coming to loss for he had made a will and all his land was given to him after his death and his mother's; further, that ever since he took notice of things his father had enjoyed the orchard behind the house as his own and he had heard both his grandfather and grandmother say that the orchard was his father's and that after their death he was to have all the rest of the lands.

    John Webster Jr. confirmed this testimony Feb. 27, 1677 and John Webster Sr, before Jo. Woodbridg, com.

    Petition to the Ipswich court Apr. 30, 1678, of John Webster of Newbury, showing that Nicolas Batt late of Newbury did before the marrage of the petitioner to his daughter Ann, freely promise his house and lands with the priviledges thereto belonging, after his own and his wife's decease as a portion to his said daughter, yet notwithstanding, the said Nicolas Batt made his will and disposed of his land as his other estate (which your petitioner conceives was not bequeathable being before disposed of to him on the marriage of his daughter0 and the petitioner is debarred from the possession of the said land till after the death of the relict of the said Nicolas, who being made executrix of the will offereth the land to sell, whereby the petitioner is endangered to be defeated of his just right, and he asks that the land may be secured and not alienated, or at least to accept this address into the public records of the court as a testimony of the petitioners continued claim.

    The Court Apr. 30, 1678 ordered that it may be records."(3)

    "A list of their names who have taken the oath of allegience at Newbury, 1678... John Webster Sen aged 46, John Webster jun aged 22".(18)

    In the inventory of the estate of John Whittier of Newbury, taken 14 May 1679, John Webster was due 5s 6d.(4) Similarly, in the estate of Nathaniel Parker of Newbury, 24 June 1679, John was owed �1 10s.(5) And John was due 8s from the estate of Joseph Muzzy 29 Mar. 1681.(6) Also the estate of Abraham Toppan of Newbury 27 Nov. 1672 owed John 11s.(7)

    At a meeting of the selectmen 31 May 1680: "It was ordered that all dry cattle that goes in the Towne Commons shall pay to the Dry herdsman as much as they doe that are driven up to Artechoke And all Inhabitants are hereby required to drive all their dry cattell up to artechoke Comons And John Webster & Moses Little & Henry Somerby are appointed to cleare the Cow Comons & to impound all horses & horsekind that are found unfettered upon the Cow Comons & to have two shillings a head according to Towne order to be paid by the owners, or else in case of refusall to be Leavyed on their estate by the Constable."(17)

    John was elected as one of the tithing men for 1682.(15)

    In the Town Rate of Newbury for 1688 there is a listing for John Webster Jr, however, no listing for John Sr unless he was the "Serj. Webster" listed.

    Issue- all children born in Newbury

  • I. John- b. 11 Feb. 1655/6, m. 9 Mar. 1680/1 Newbury, Bridget Huggins, will 20 Sept. 1732- 18 May 1737 Salisbury
  • II. Mary- b. 29 Mar. 1658, d. 4 May 1658
  • III. Sarah- b. 31 July 1659, m. Rev. Edward Thompson. Their daughterAbigail married Stephen Longfellow and were the ancestors of the poet.
  • 3IV. ABIGAIL- b. 17 Mar. 1662, m. 27 May 1685 WILLIAM MOULTON (m.2. Sarah ______, will 12-30 Oct. 1732 Newbury,MA), d. 24 July 1723 Newbury
  • 4V. LUCY- b. 15 Dec. 1664, m. JOHN MERRILL (b. 16 Feb. 1662/3 Newbury, adm. Feb. 1706/7 Haverhill), living 1718 Haverhill
  • VI. Mary- b. 24 May 1667
  • VII. Stephen- b. 8 May 1669, m. 1 Nov. 1698 Newbury, Sarah Clark
  • VIII. Anne- b. 2 Sept. 1671, m. 29 Sept. 1700 William Salmon
  • IX. Nicholas- b. 19 Oct. 1673, m. Mary Woodman, d. 1717 Manchester, MA. Nicholas was a graduate of Harvard College in 1695 and was the minister in Winchester in 1700.
  • X. Jonathan- b. 28 May 1676

    Ref:

    (1) Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury- Vol.1, p.343
    (2) Ibid

    (3) "The Probate Records of Essex County"- Vol. III, pp. 188-90
    (4) Ibid- p. 311
    (5) Ibid- p. 316
    (6) Ibid- p. 415
    (7) Ibid- Vol. II, p. 332
    (8) Ibid- Vol. I, p. 408
    (9) "History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902"- John Currier, Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1902- Vol. II, p. 495
    (10) Ibid- p. 496
    (11) Ibid- Vol. I, p. 93
    (12) Ibid- p. 101
    (13) Ibid- pp. 110-1
    (14) Ibid- pp. 115-6
    (15) Ibid- p. 118
    (16) Ibid- pp. 127-8
    (17) Ibid- pp. 136-7
    (18) Ibid- pp. 179-80
    (19) Ibid- p. 318
    (20) "History of Newburyport"- John Currier, Newburyport, 1909- Vol. II, p. 50
    (21) "Reminiscences of a Nonagenarian"- Sarah Anna Emery, William Huse & Co., Newburyport, 1879 - p. 145

    Some Descendants of John Moulton and William Moulton of Hampton, NH- Augustus F. Moulton, Portland, 1893, p.37


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