Genealogy Report (Register) to HTML file

291. John¹ Gay;²⁰⁷ born at Devon, Dorset, Or Somerset, ENG;²⁰⁷ married Joanna Borden, daughter of Mathew Borden and Joan Reeder, circa 1638;¹⁵⁹ died 4 Mar 1688 at Dedham, MA.²⁰⁷

He Colonial Families of the United States of America: Volume 6

Lineage

page 211

JOHN GAY one of a body of "spirited and determined men and women who in February, 1630, attended a meeting of the Puritans in the New Hospital, Plymouth, England, with the purpose of emigrating to the new world. This company was [p.211] principally from the counties of Devon, Dorset and Somerset. They selected Gov. John WARREN and the Rev. John MAVERICK as their pastors. On 30th March, 1630 they embarked in the 400-ton ship Mary and John, Captain SQUEB (SQUEEB?). The number of the company was 140. After seventy days' sail they entered the harbor of Nantucket.... Pomeroy records.

JOHN GAY settled first at Watertown, Massachusetts, and was a grantee in the Great Dividends and the Beaver Brook plowlands, owning altogether 40 acres. He was admitted Freeman 6th May, 1635. With others of Watertown he was one of the founders of the plantation at Dedham, his name appearing on the petition for incorporation, 6th September, 1636, and among the original proprietors of lands. He was one of the Selectmen, 1654. He d. 4th March, 1688. Joanna (surname not given) his wife, d. 14th August, 1691. She is said in family tradition to have been widow BALDWICKE before her marriage to John GAY. His will in the Suffolk records, dated 18th December, 1686, was proved 17th December, 1689, his wife Joanna and son John being the executors. His estate was valued in the inventory at £91-5s-8d on 30 Mar 1630 at Plymouth, ENG.¹⁵⁹ He "John Gay came to\ Watertown from England before 1635, and removed to Dedham in 1636. He was admitted a freeman May 6,\ 1635. He was a town officer of Dedham. His wife Joanna was admitted to the Dedham church, July 25, 1639, and\ John Balducke, her son by a former husband, was baptized August 8, 1639. John Gay died March 4, 1688, and\ his will was proved December 17, 1689. The children of John and Joanna Gay were: 1. Samuel, born March 10,\ 1639. 2. Hezekiah, born July 3, 1640. 3. Nathaniel, born February 11, 1642-3. 4. Joanna, born March 23, 1644,\ married John Ware. 5. Eliezer, born June 25, 1647. 6. Abial (twin) born April 23, 1649, married Daniel Hawes. 7.\ Judith (twin), born April 23, 1640. married John Ware. 8. John. born May, 1651. 9. Jonathan, born August 1, 1653.\ 10. Hannah, born October 16, 1656. 11. probably Elizabeth, who married Richard Martin at Salem in 1660. (Lydia Hawes married one of the sons, probably). "⁴⁵

Children of John¹ Gay and Joanna Borden were:

• 292. i. Nathaniel² Gay, born 11 Jan 1643 at Dedham, MA; married Lydia Starr.

292. Nathaniel² Gay (John¹); born 11 Jan 1643 at Dedham, MA;²⁰⁷ married Lydia Starr, daughter of John Starr and Martha Bunker; died 20 Feb 1712 at Watertown, MA, at age 69.²⁰⁷

He left a will on 20 Mar 1712; Colonial Families of the United States of America: Volume 6

[p.212] ISSUE

NATHANIEL GAY, of Watertown, Massachusetts, b. 11th January, 1643; d. 20th February, 1712; admitted Freeman, 23d May, 1677;

Selectman, 1704, and other years. His father left him a tract of land near Medfield, and confirmed a gift of lands in "Pecumtuck alies Derefeild

in Hamsheir.... His wife was Lydia LUSHER (dau. of Eleazor LUSHER). His will, dated 16th February, 1712 and proved 20th March, 1712,

appoints his wife Lydia and sons Nathaniel and Lusher executors. In it he says: "Whereas I Have been att considerable expense in bringing up

my son Ebenezer GAY fitt for, and in placeing him at Harvard College in Cambridge, where he now remains, I do appoint that ye charge of his

further continuing there until the takeing of his first degree shall be payd and discharged out of my estate, which shall be reckoned and

accounted unto him as his full share of my estate.... His estate was valued in the inventory at £227-19s-6d. His wife Lydia d. 6th August, 1744,

aged ninety-two.²⁰⁷

Children of Nathaniel² Gay and Lydia Starr were:

• 293. i. Lydia³ Gay, born 12 Aug 1679 at Watertown, MA; married Thomas Eaton.

293. Lydia³ Gay (Nathaniel², John¹);⁷³ born 12 Aug 1679 at Watertown, MA;²⁰⁷ married Thomas Eaton, son of John Eaton and Alice Unknown, 5 Oct 1697 at Dedham, MA.^73,91

Children of Lydia³ Gay and Thomas Eaton were:

• i. Nathaniel⁴ Eaton, married Esther Parry; born 1704 at Woodstock, CT. (see # 155.).