The Ancestry of Hattie E. J. Bruce - the Nathan Fiske Family

THE NATHAN FISKE FAMILY

NATHAN FISKE [#972], b. England abt. 1592, d. Watertown, MA 21 Jun 1676,[7/41] m. SUSANNA ____.

Nathan Fiske was in Watertown as early as 1642 when his first child was born. He was admitted freeman on May 10, 1643 and held several town offices. He was chosen surveyor of highways on Jan. 9, 165960;[2/1:64] constable for 1662;[2/1:72] and Selectman in 1673.[2/1:112] Nathan, John Whitney, and Isaac Mixer, three of the selectmen were to "goo about the town to see that children wear taught to Read the inglish tunge and to be cattycysed".[2/1:113] In the third inventory of estates taken in Watertown about 1644 Nathan Fiske was the proprietor of a lot of nine acres of upland bounded east by Edward Howe, west by Robert Harrington, north by Richard Gale, and south with the highway.[4/1:131] His sister, Martha Underwood wife of Martin Underwood, testified that he "was very crazy in his memory" before he died.[1/72] After the death of her husband in 1672, Martha lived with her brother Nathan.[5/610]

Nathan's will was dated June 19, 1676 and mentions sons Nathan, John, David, and Nathaniel Fiske, and daughter Sarah Gale. It was witnessed by Joseph Taynter and William Bond.[3/4:269] "A true Inventory of the goods, housing, & Cattell of Nathan ffiske, who deced. the 21. of June 1676" was taken by Jonathan Warren, Thomas Flagg, and Samuel Stearns on July 10, 1676.[3/4:270]

For an account of the ancestors of Nathan Fiske, refer to the overseas ancestor section. The work from which Nathan's forebears were taken seems to be well researched and, therefore, likely accurate. However, it makes me a little suspicious in Nathan's case, where he is shown first starting a family at the age of fifty. Nathan Fiske and his wife may have come to New England in 1637 with the Fiske-Allen company, which included the John Fiske family of six, Rev. John Allen family of three, the Tuttle family of six, Edmund Thompson and wife, the George Barrell family of five, the John Fiske family of three, Martin Underwood and wife, the Henry Chickering family of four, the Francis Chickering family of four, the David Fiske family of three, Nathan Fiske and wife, the William Fiske family of six, the Phineas Fiske family of five, and the Benjamin Cooper family of eleven. This company was made up of families from the northeast Suffolk and south Norfolk area.[6/244]

REF: [1] The Fiske and Fisk Families - Frederick Clifton Pierce,
         1896
     [2] Watertown Records, 1894
     [3] Middlesex County Probate (First Series Docket 7639)
     [4] Watertown Records (Lands, Grants, and Possessions)
     [5] History of Watertown - Henry Bond, 1860
     [6] New England Historic Genealogical Register, Vol. 146, 1992
     [7] Records of Births Marriages and Deaths, First Book - Watertown
         Records, Vol. 1, 1894
     [8] Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Second Book - Watertown Records,
         Vol. 2, 1900

Children (all born in Watertown, MA):

1. Nathan, b. Watertown, MA 17 Oct 1642,[7/10] d. Watertown
   11 Oct 1694,[8/1] m. Dorchester, MA 26 Apr 1665 Elizabeth
   Frye, b. Weymouth, MA 20 Oct 1639, d. Watertown 15 May
   1696[8/8]
2. John, b. 25 Aug 1647[7/13]
3. David, b. 29 Apr 1650,[7/14] m. Watertown 15 Dec 1675[7/40]
   Elizabeth Reed
4. Nathaniel, b. 12 Jul 1653,[7/16] d. Watertown 23 Sep 1735,[8/105]
   m. Watertown 13 Apr 1677[7/43] Mary (Warren) Child, b. Watertown
   29 Nov 1651,[7/15] d. Watertown 12 May 1734[8/105]
5. Sarah, b. 1656, m. Watertown 3 Sep 1673[7/37] Abraham Gale


NATHAN FISKE (Lt.) [#486], b. Watertown, MA 17 Oct 1642,[4/10] d. Watertown 11 Oct 1694,[5/1] m. Dorchester, MA 26 Apr 1665 ELIZABETH FRYE (dau. of William Frye and Elizabeth Foster), b. Weymouth, MA 20 Oct 1639, d. Watertown 15 May 1696.[5/8]

Nathan Fiske purchased 220 acres of farm lands in Weston on Oct. 1, 1673 for 10 pounds.[1/92] Like his father, Nathan was also active in town affairs. He was chosen in Nov. 1674 as a hog reviewer;[2/1:121] a tithingman in 1681 and 1684;[2/2:3,16] selectman in 1685, 1688, 1692, and 1693;[2/2:21,35,45,57] and town constable in 1689 and 1694.[2/2:38,77] He was referred to as sergeant in the 1689 and 1692 records but as Lt. in 1693.

Nathan died Oct. 11, 1694. Administration of the estate was granted to "Elisabeth Fisk, Relict widow of Lt. Nathan Fisk ... and Nathan Fisk his Eldest Son".[3/8:553] The inventory of the estate was taken Nov. 27, 1694 by Samuel Johnson, Sr. and Nathaniel Barsham and amounted to 151 pounds.[3/8:554] Nathan's son William was a minor at the time of his father's death and chose his uncle David Fiske as his gaurdian.[3/8:556] Division of the estate was made on Feb. 21, 1694-5 by William Bond, Simon Stone, Nathaniel Barsham, Samuel Thatcher, and William Shattuck. James Ball was mentioned as the husband of Nathan's daughter Elizabeth. The other three daughters were unmarried at the time.[3/8:655]

Elizabeth Fiske died on May 15, 1696, and on June 2 her children agreed upon the division of her estate. These children were James and Elizabeth Ball, Edward and Martha Park, John and Abigail Mixer, and Susan Fiske.[3/9:80]

REF: [1] Fiske Genealogy - Frederick Clifton Pierce, 1896
     [2] Watertown Records, 1894
     [3] Middlesex County Probate (First Series Docket 7640)
     [4] Records of Births Marriages and Deaths, First Book - Watertown
         Records, Vol. 1, 1894
     [5] Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Second Book - Watertown Records,
         Vol. 2, 1900

Children (all born in Watertown, MA):

1. Nathan, b. 9 Feb 1665,[4/27] d. 9 Oct 1668[4/30]
2. Elizabeth, b. 11 Jan 1667-8,[4/29] d. 1740, m. 16 Jan
   1693 James Ball, b. Watertown 7 Mar 1670,[4/33]
   d. Watertown 22 Feb 1729[5/90]
3. Martha, b. 12 Jan 1669-70,[4/31] m. 13 Mar 1694 Edward
   Park, b. 8 Apr 1661
4. Nathan, b. 3 Jan 1671-2,[4/34] m(1) Watertown 14 Oct 1696[5/4]
   Sarah Coolidge, m(2) Mrs. Hannah Smith
5. Susanna, b. 7 Apr 1674,[4/38] d. unm. 28 Apr 1752
6. Abigail, b. 18 Feb 1675,[4/40] m. Watertown 15 Aug 1695[5/3]
   John Mixer, b. Watertown 5 Mar 1668[4/30]
7. William, b. 5 Dec 1677, d. 21 Dec 1677[4/44]
8. William, b. 10 Nov 1678,[4/45] m. Eunice Jennings
9. Anna, d. Watertown 13 Jul 1683[4/52]


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