Zachariah Damon ca 1654-1730 and His Wife Martha Woodworth of Scituate, Massachusetts

Zachariah Damon was born about 1654 at Scituate, Massachusetts, the son of John and Katherine (Merritt) Damon. His birth is not recorded, but the relationship is proven by father John Damon’s will, brother Daniel Damon’s will, and in various land records. His first name is sometimes Zechariah in records and last name Daman or Damen. I wrote about John and Katherine Damon here. His is my 9th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

Zachariah was a Lieutenant in the Scituate militia and served in King Philip’s War. Scituate suffered greatly during the war—13 dwelling houses and their barns burned (including the home of his sister Deborah), one saw mill burned, six heads of family and others were killed, and many more were badly wounded. [Deane] On 22 July 1676 some soldiers received their service pay in lands—Zechariah Daman received land valued at £6 6s 1d. [Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, hereafter PCR, 5:206]

Zachariah married Martha Woodworth in June 1679 at Scituate. [Scituate VR 2:96] Martha was born about 1656 at Scituate, the daughter of Walter Woodworth and his wife whose name is not known. [Sumner]

Martha and Zachariah had eight children born Scituate [1-7 recorded Scituate Vital Records 1:125; No. 8 named in father’s will]:

1. Martha born July 1682; married Edward Jenkins 6 September 1705 [Scituate Marriages 1640-1801 on Family Search] and moved to Cohasset 
2. John Damon born June 1684; married Temperance Nye 13 October 1712 in Sandwich [Scituate VR 2:220]; read they removed to Lebanon, Connecticut but have not confirmed this
3. Zachariah born June 1686; married Mehitable Chittenden 6 December 1711 [Scituate VR 2:96]; died Scituate June 1764 [Gravestone on FindaGrave.com; buried First Parish Cemetery, Norwell] at age 78
4. Daniel Damon born March 1688; married first Bathsheba Silvester 3 January 1711/12 [Scituate VR 2:257] and second Jemima Stetson 27 July 1721 [Scituate VR 2:282]; died Scituate 11 December 1733 [Scituate VR 2:380] at age 45
5. Mary born March 1690; married Thomas Tobey 12 July 1711 [MD 2:170]
6. Abigail born October 1692; married John Perry (son of John 2, Ezra 1) 26 October 1716 [Scituate VR 2:97] and had nine children born Sandwich; died Sandwich April 1764 [Brownson & McLean] at age 71
7. Hannah born November 1694; married Deacon Elijah Perry 7 March 1722/3 [Scituate VR 2:234] and had eight children born Sandwich; died Bourne 11 August 1790 [Brownson & McLean] at age 95
8. Mehitable born about 1696; married Jonathan Merritt  8 Jan 172[last digit worn possibly 7] [Scituate VR 2:101]; died 31 March 1751, Columbia, Tolland County, Connecticut [“Mehitobel Mearrit” gravestone inscription on FindaGrave.com]

Abigail and Hannah married Perry brothers. I descend from Mary. I wrote about Thomas and Mary (Damon) Toby here.

Zachariah owned Conihasset land in Scituate, receiving land from his father John who was an original Conihasset Partner in 1646 and obtaining additional land on his own.

Land transactions involving Zachariah:

• 22 July 1676 Zachariah Daman was one of the group of 30 purchasers of Showamett Neck which included his brother Daniel Daman. This land, between Taunton and Swansea, was conquered lands as a result of King Philip’s War, now the town of Somerset. The cost of each share was £26 13s 4d. Selling the land was a means of raising money in relief of taxpayers and those who sustained losses or injuries during the war. [Bristol County Deeds, 14:432-35]
• 18 July 1695 Jonathan Jackson conveyed land to Zechariah Damon and Israel Cowing [Bangs p 60]
• 18 July 1695 laid out to Richard Sillis his share and now claimed by Jonathan Jackson 8 acres of land that is part of a 20 acre lot in the 4th division. Said land [five acres later mentioned] alienated to Zachariah Damon. [Bangs p 119]
• 23 Jan 1698/9 Jonathan Jackson and Zachariah Damon both of Scittuate exchanged five acres of Conihasset land; Jackson sold for 12 shillings five of the eight acres to Damon that he had taken up in the right of Richard Sillas as part of the 4th division. [Bangs p 120-121]
• 24 June 1699 Taken up by and laid out for Zechariah Daman in the right of Richard Seallis 3.5 acres in the fifth division of seven acres to a share of Conhassett land. [Bangs p 117]
• 4 May 1700 Zechariah Damond sold land to Ebenezer Mott [Bangs p 61]
• 6 Sept 1701 land laid out to William James in the right of Richard Sillis to Jonathan Jackson or to Zechariah Daman. [Bangs p 173]
• 3 June 1703 Jonathan Jackson and Zechariah Dammon sold to Timothy White one whole 30th part or share of upland and marsh in Cohasset. Share that appertained to Richard Sealis deceased. Both signed. [Bangs p 454]
• 12 May 1704, Zechariah Damman of Scituate sold to Job Otis, 1.5 acres of land in the sixth division, part of share that appertained to Richard Seallis, deceased. [Bangs p 494]
• 12 May 1704 Zechariah Damon sold land not yet taken up (granted in the right of Richard Sealist) to Job Otis. [Bangs p 63]
• 4 May 1712 Zechariah Damman of Scituate sold for £4 to Ebenezer Mott 2 acres of land in the fifth division of Conihaset land and in the 16th allotment of said division. [Bangs p 336-7]

Zachariah’s father John Damon died intestate and his estate was divided and presented at court on 2 March 1679/80. He was to receive £20. [PCR 6:33-4] His step-mother Martha had remarried to Peter Bacon and there are multiple court records about issues with them and John Damon’s estate, such as not vacating the land. At 7 July 1680 court land was confirmed to Zachery Daman. “Whereas it doth appear to the Court, that the widdow Daman did sett forth unto the said Zachery Daman his portion to be in the lottery of land which lyeth on the third Clift, his portion being twenty pound; and the said widdow did further promise, that when shee left of improving the remaining pte of the said lott, then the said Zachery shall have the whole lott, paying the said widdow three pounds, which the said Zachery did engage to doe; and the said widdow did ingage not to sell, or give, or dispose of the said pte of the lott to any other pson; and this appears by the testimonyes upon oath of William Brookes and Thomas Woodworth; wherefore the Court can not but allow the aforsaid lott to be the aforsaid Zachery Damans, hee paying three pounds of silver money to his mother in law [step-mother]. [PCR 6:47]

Zecheriah is mentioned in the probate records of his brother John Damon who died unmarried and without children. At 1 November 1676 Plymouth court, letters of administration were granted unto Daniell Daman to administer on the estate of John Daman Jr, his brother, deceased, and Daniell was to have £12 out of the estate, and the remainder of the said estate to be divided betwixt his brother Zacheriah Daman, Deborah Woodworth, and Mary Daman, in equall and alike proportions. [PCR 5:213] 

Zachariah’s brother Daniel also died without a wife or children. He wrote his will on 8 February 1695/6, leaving bequests to:

• Sister Deborah Woodworth house and land at Boston which had belonged to their sister Mary deceased and one-quarter share of his land at Freetown in the right of his sister Mary Damon, and £60 to be paid by his brother Zachariah Damon. 
• Kinswoman Deborah Woodworth 20 shillings.
• Brother Zachariah Damon was to be executor and he bequeathed him all his housing and lands in Scituate, provided he pay the £60 legacy to Deborah, and the rest of his estate. [PCPR 1:229-30] Will was proved 19 February 1695/6.  £60 was a significant sum in those days. 

I find it interesting that three of Zachariah’s siblings did not marry—Daniel, John and Mary. It was unusual for physically and mentally healthy people to remain single.

In a Scituate list of owners of “horse kind” in the year 1694 “Zachriah” Damon owns one red mare with two notches in the near ear and white on all four legs and in 1695 he has the same horse as well as a red mare colt. [Scituate Town Records, page 121, 136 on Ancestry] In 1719 Zachary Damon Senr owns one bay mare. [Scituate Town Records page 184 on Ancestry] He owned the same Bay mare with 2 notches in ye left ear in the town’s 1720 and 1725 lists of horse kind. [Scituate Town Records page 195, 197 on Ancestry] In 1723 he is listed as owning a horse, but the description and page number are too faint to read. [Scituate Town Records]

Zechariah Damon served on a petit jury in March 1698/99 court of common pleas. [Plymouth Court Records 1:35]

On 1 August 1700 Abigail Turner and sons Benjamin and Samuel Stockbridge of Scituate, requested John Bryant, William Pendy, and Zachariah Damon to value the estate of Benjamin and Samuel, “that is to say All the Housing & Land and meadows corne mill and saw mill near or upon ye first Herring Brooke in Scituate aforesaid which by the settlement of ye Estate of their father Charles Stockbridge, deceased.” [PCPR No. 19472]

Lieutenant Zechariah Damon was admitted to Communion at the First Church of Scituate by Rev Shearjashub Bourne 2 July 1727. [NEHGR 11:138]

Lt. Zachariah Damon died at Scituate on 3 September 1730. [Scituate VR 2:381] He was about 75 years old. 

Zachariah died intestate. His probate is recorded as Plymouth County Probate Records file no. 6028. On 13 September 1730 judge Isaac Winslow issued a warrant to divide his estate. [PCPR 6:165] John Cushing Jr Esqr, Mr Stephen Clap, Mr George King, Mr Caleb Torry, and Mr Timothy Byrnes all of Scituate were empowered and directed to view his estate and set off the one-thirds dower to his widow, conduct an inventory, and settle the remaining two-thirds of the estate to the children of the deceased in equal portions. 

An inventory of the estate of Zachariah Damon was taken 30 October 1730 [PCPR 6:164-5]. The entire inventory is not totaled but it is lengthy and includes valuable land. His son John, administrator of the estate, made oath to the inventory on 7 November 1730.  Items listed include books, arms & ammunition, pewter, brass, ironware, shop tools, meat, crops (Indian corn, 10 bushels of barley, rye, beans, malt, flax, two stacks of hay), feathers, farm animals (oxen, steers, cows, hog, sheep, horses), and farming equipment. 

The real estate listed in the inventory:

• Upland and meadow at the third Clift £340 00 00
• Five acres of upland between the meeting house and Mr Billos House lying on both side of the road 50 00 00
• Six acres of swamp land in Hicks Swamp 20 00 00
• Six acres and half of upland by John Merritt Jr 97 10 00
• Piece of swamp land near Mast Hill 15 00 00
• Two lots of seder swamp in Halifax 08 00 00

Additional items were added to the estate inventory on 10 April 1732, including more than 7 bushels of malt, a debt paid by Ensign Otis, and a debt paid by widow Booth. 

The division of the estate is dated 10 April 1732. Land the children had already been given by their father during his lifetime was taken into consideration. 

• Widow Martha given 5.75 acres of land that bordered Capt Samuel Turner’s land and the sea, five acres and sixty five rods of salt marsh adjoining the Third Cliff and bordering the meadow of Mr Clap, and six acres of swampland at Hicks Swamp.
• Son John Damon, in the right of Mary Toby daughter of the deceased, two acres and thirty rods of upland at the Third Cliff. It was judged that Zachariah had given more than his proportionable share of the estate by his father while he was living. 
• Daughter Hannah Perry, five acres of upland at Third Cliff and two shares in the 28th lot of cedar swamp. 
• Daughter Abigail Perry about eight acres of upland at Third Cliff. 
• Son Zechariah Damon 2.75 acres and 24 rods of salt marsh on the Third Cliff in addition to what his father had already given him.
• Son Daniel Damon three acres and 20 rods of salt marsh and meadow in addition to what his father had already given him. 
• The children of daughter Martha Jenkins, deceased, four acres and 100 rods of land.
• Mehitable Merritt four acres of land and three and a half acres of swamp land.

The division to the children and widow was accepted and approved by the court on 22 April 1732.  On 27 May 1732 Martha Damon, widow of Zachariah Damon, conveyed a portion of her dower share of real estate to daughter Hannah Perry, wife of Elijah Perry of Sandwich, in return for a 30 shilling annuity.  [Plymouth County Deeds 27:88]

Martha died after 27 May 1732 when she deeded land to her daughter Hannah Perry. [Plymouth County Deeds 27:88]

Sources:

Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs, The Seventeenth Century Town Records of Scituate, Massachusetts, Volume Two, 1999

Samuel Deane, History of Scituate Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1831, 1831

Harvey Hunter Pratt, Early Planters of Scituate, 1929

Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, eds., Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, 12 vols. (New York: AMS Press, 1968)

Richard A. Damon, Jr. & D. Bradford Damon, Damon Family of Scituate, Mass. Genealogy, 2000

Lydia B (Phinney) Brownson and Maclean McLean, NEHGS Register, “Ezra Perry of Sandwich, Mass.,” 115:188 (1961)

Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700

Edith Bartlett Sumner, Ancestry and Descendants of Samuel Bartlett and Lucy Jenkins, 1951