WILLIAM SHATTUCK [#310], b. England abt. 1621 or 1622, d. Watertown, MA 14 Aug 1672, m. abt. 1642 SUSANNA ____, d. Watertown 11 Dec 1686. She m(2) Watertown 18 Nov 1673 Richard Norcross.
William Shattuck must have emigrated to this country while in his minority. Nothing is known of him before his arrival in this country, but it is thought that he may have come from either Lancashire, Sommersetshire, or Berkshire. It is also conjectured that his father might have died on his passage over or shortly thereafter, and also that he might have been the son of widow Damaris Shattuck, who was admitted to the church in Salem in 1641. He may have been a brother of Samuel Shattuck as their ages are close and the names in their families are similar.[1/8]
Samuel Shattuck is believed to be a son of Damaris. He was born about 1620 and died in Salem, MA June 6, 1689, age 69. He first joined the Salem church in 1642. Both he and his mother, widow Damaris, had daughters named Damaris. William, on the other hand, did not name a daughter Damaris.[1/361]
In the first inventory of estates in Watertown, taken in 1639, William had 1) "An Homstall of one acre bounded Southwest with the Common the East wth John Clough & the North with William Perry 2) Three acres of upland bounded the North with Joseph Morse the South with William Perry the East with John Clough & the West with the Common".[4/1:66] William had the same holding in the third inventory, taken in 1646.[4/1:145]
William married about 1642. The christian name of his wife was Susanna, but neither her surname, date or place of birth, nor her parentage are known. Susanna remained a widow about 15 months after his death and married on Nov. 18, 1673 Richard Norcross, who survived her. She died Dec. 11, 1686. Richard Norcross was the first grammar school teacher in Watertown.[1/6061] William held several town offices. In 1652 he was chosen to prosecute the orders about hogs and fences[2/1:32] and again in 1660.[2/1:64] He was also the surveyor of highways in 1655, 1664, and 1665.[2/1:42,78,84]
William's occupation was that of a weaver, and at his death he bequeathed his "loom and its appurtenances" to his son William. Agriculture also seems to have been a big part of his life, as it was for many early settlers. He was buried in the old Mount Auburn Cemetery.[1/5960]
William Shattuck's will was dated Aug. 3 and proved Aug. 29, 1672. In it he mentioned his sons Samuel Church, Phillip Shattuck, William Shattuck, four small children, two younger sons Benjamin and Samuel, son John, and wife Susanna. His "loving friends John Coolidge, Jr. and Samuel Livermore" were to be assistants to his wife in the execution of the will, which was witnessed by John Coolidge and John Livermore.[3/4:28] The inventory of the estate was taken August 23, 1672 by John Coolidge, John Livermore, and Thomas Hastings and amounted to 434.19.11. 200 pounds was in real property, the rest in personal property, including 103.17.7 1/2 in money.[3/4:31]
REF: [1] The Descendants of William Shattuck - Lemuel Shattuck,
1855
[2] Watertown Records, 1894
[3] Middlesex County Probate (First Series Docket 20168)
[4] Watertown Records, 1894 (Lands, Grants and Possessions)
Children:
1. Susanna, b. abt. 1643, m(1) Watertown, MA 12 Apr 1661 Joseph Morse, b. Watertown, MA 30 Apr 1637, d. 1677, m(2) 5 Jul 1678 John Fay, d. Marlborough, MA 5 Dec 1690 2. Mary, b. Watertown 25 Aug 1645, d. Waltham, MA 23 Oct 1732, m. Watertown 11 Feb 1661-2 Jonathan Brown, b. 15 Sep 1635, d. March 1691 3. John, b. Watertown 11 Feb 1646-7, d. 14 Sep 1675, m. Watertown 20 Jun 1664 Ruth Whitney, b. Watertown 15 Apr 1645 4. Phillip, b. abt. 1648, d. Waltham 26 Jun 1722, m(1) Watertown 9 Nov 1670 Deborah Barstow, d. Watertown 24 Nov 1679, m(2) Watertown 11 Feb 1679-80 Rebecca Chamberlain, d. 1728 5. Joanna, d. Watertown 4 Apr 1673 6. William, b. abt. 1653, d. Watertown 19 Oct 1732, m(1)? Ruth ____, m(2) abt. 1678 Susanna Randall, d. 8 May 1732 7. Rebecca, b. abt. 1655, m. Watertown 7 Feb 1671-2 Samuel Church, b. Watertown 10 Jun 1640 8. Abigail, b. abt. 1657, d. Groton, MA 1694, m(1) Watertown 17 Oct 1678 Jonathan Morse, b. 7 Oct 1643, d. Groton 31 Jul 1686, m(2) 22 Sep 1690 Joshua Parker, b. 13 Mar 1658, d. Groton 5 May 1691 9. Benjamin, d. in his 20th year 10. Samuel, b. Watertown 28 Feb 1665-6, m. Abigail ____
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