365. Deacon Samuel1 Edson;247 born 5 Sep 1613 at Fillongley, Warwickshire, Eng; (baptism);247,151 married Susanna Orcutt Aug 1638 at Warwickshire, Eng;247,151 died 9 Jul 1692 at Bridgewater, MA, at age 78.247
He (an unknown value) in 1639 at in Salem. He "Deacon Samuel Edson, the pioneer, was an early settler at Salem, Massachusetts, where he was admitted an inhabitant in 1639, and was granted half an acre of land near Catt Cove, and five acres of planting ground. In 1642 he was granted twenty-five acres of land at Mackerel Cove, and two acres of meadow. About 1650 he moved to Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and he was called an inhabitant of that town in a deed dated December 10, 1652. He died there in 1693, aged eighty years. He and his wife are buried in the old burying ground, and one of the oldest headstones in the cemetery marks their graves. Deacon Samuel Edson and Rev. James Keith, of Scotland, the first minister of Bridgewater, were given grants after the fifty-four proprietors had taken their shares. He erected the first corn mill in the town in 1662, on Town river. His will was dated January 15, 1688-89, and proved September 20, 1692. He was admitted a freeman in 1657. His home was on the south side of the river, near his mill. He deeded the mill to his five daughters, according to a deed recorded April 19, 1736. He was a good farmer, and possessed much mechanical skill. In 1660 he owned three rights in the town; in 1683 he had one right, having given rights to his sons. He was well-to-do. He filled a number of town offices. In 1666 he was appointed a member of the council of war; in 1676 he was representative to the general court, and in the same year served on a committee to distribute the town share of the contributions for distress in the Indian wars. In November, 1672, he was on a committee which received the deed from Chief Pomonoho of the Titicut purchase "in and for the use of the townsmen of Bridgewater, joint purchasers with them." In December, 1686, he and Ensign John Howard and Deacon John Willis, agents of the town, received a confirmatory deed of the Indian Chief Wampatuck for the purchasers and the town, of all the lands previously conveyed to them by Massasoit. This deed was dated March 3, 1649. In 1667 he was foreman of a committee to lay out roads, and again in 1672. In 1680 he was on the committee to determine the boundary line between Bridgewater and Middleborough, and in the same year on a similar committee which decided the boundary between Bridgewater and Taunton. He was one of the first deacons of the church, from about 1664 to the end of his life. He was associated with very prominent men, and was influential in the town, church and colony. He is said to have been of large, athletic frame, of medium weight and sturdy constitution. He was grave and dignified in manner, keen and discerning in mental powers. Firm in his opinions, he was not obstinate, and would cheerfully admit the soundness of an argument, when convinced. It is said that he was rather inclined to listen and weigh evidence, and was not given to much speaking, but when he was heard in town meeting his arguments carried weight and he usually won his point. "The strength and vigor of his intellect, the quickness of his perceptions, the extent and accuracy of his memory and the struggle of mental enterprise, supplied in no inconsiderable degree the deficiency of education. While he was thus respected for these attributes of mind and character, it was to his constant practice of the Christian virtues and the influence of his example that his preeminence was greatly due." He married, about 1637, in England, Susanna Orcutt, probably a sister of William Orcutt, who came to Scituate and settled in Bridgewater before 1682. "Her education and natural abilities were said to be fully equal to his, while in union with an expressive modesty of deportment and unaffected piety, gave to her person an elevated position and to her character a high rank among the matrons of the town," as an old genealogy says. "She exhibited a majestic figure, rather above medium height, an elegant and majestic mein, with a countenance happily combining graceful dignity and cheerful benignity." Children: Susanna, born in England, about 1638; Sarah, at Salem, about 1640; Elizabeth, at Salem, about 1643; Samuel, 1645; Mary, at Bridgewater, about 1647; Joseph, mentioned below; Josiah, at Bridgewater, 1651; Bethiah, about 1653."233 He left a will between 1689 and 1689; "This fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty-eight or eighty-nine, I Samuel Edson, sen., Inhabitant of the Town of Bridgewater, in the county of Plimouth, in New England, Being of perfect understanding and memory, Praysed be God for the same, do make and declare my last Will and Testament in maner and forme following:
"Having already disposed of moste of my Lands and Great part of my estate to my children as By their Deeds doth appear I do now Will and Bequeath to my eldest son, Samuel Edson, my ffowling piece, and to my other two sons, Joseph Edson and Josiah Edson, my musket, sword, and Bandaleers.
"Item. I give and Bequeath to my three sons, Samuel Edson, Joseph Edson, and Josiah Edson, to each of them a draught chaine and also a Logg Chain and all my wearing cloaths to be divided among them.
"Item. I Give and bequeath to my Loving Wife, Susanna Edson, all the rest of my estate, Both Personal and reall, housing, Lands, chattels, cash, all within doors and without, whatsoever I have not otherwise disposed of, to be wholly at her dispose during her naturall Life, and what is Left at her decease and mine, either Housing, lands, chattels, or cash, all without doorss, to be equally divided among my three sons, Samuel Edson, Joseph Edson and Josiah Edson, their heirs and Assigns. And all within doorss all my household Goods and cash to be equally divided among my five daughters, Elizabeth, Susanna, Sarah, Mary, and Bethiah, their heirs and assigns. And I do hereby nominate and appoint my Loving Wife, Susanna Edson, to be my executrix and my son Samuel Edson and my son Josiah Edson to be Joyned with her as executors of this my last Will and Testament.
And I do further Will and desire Mr. James Keith, John Kingman, senr. and Thomas Snell of Bridgewater to be overseers of this my Last Will and Testament to see it faithfully performed, hereby appointing my executrix and my executors above mentioned to receive all my just debts and to pay whatever I owe any p(er)son, discharging my funeral's (expenses).
"In witness whereof I, the abovesaid Samuel Edson, senr. have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
"Samuel Edson, Senr. (Seal.)
"Readd, signed, sealed, Published
"and declared to be his Last
"Will and Testament in the
"Presence of us. Witnesses:
"John Ffield
"John Ames,
"Samuel Kinsley.
"John Ames and Samuel Kinsley, two of the Witnesses here named made oath before the Court at Plimouth, September ye 20th, 1692, that they were present and saw the above named Samuel Edson senr. now deceased, sign, seal and heard him declare the above written to be his last Will and Testament. And that, to the best of their judgment, he was of sound mind and memory when he did the same.
"Attest: Saml. Sprague, Clerk."
"Samuel Edson's wife and all his children were living when he made his will. He was a deacon in the Church. He represented Bridgewater, Mass., in the Plymouth Court in 1676 (page 448)."151
Children of Deacon Samuel1 Edson and Susanna Orcutt were:
366. Bethia2 Edson (Samuel1);148 born 1653;151 married Ezra Dean, son of Walter Deane and Eleanor Strong, 17 Dec 1678;152,151 died after 1685.
Children of Bethia2 Edson and Ezra Dean were: