John Burgess (ca 1659-1735) and His Wife Sarah Nickerson (1674-1723) of Yarmouth, Mass.

John Burgess was born about 1659 (based on his being eldest son of parents who married in December 1657), probably in Yarmouth, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, the son of John and Mary (Worden) Burgess. I wrote about his parents here. The area of Yarmouth where the family lived later became Dennis. His name is often seen as Burge/Burg in records, but I use Burgess for consistency. He is my 8^th great-grandfather on my grandmother Milly (Booth) Rollins’ side of the family.

John married Sarah Nickerson about 1694 [first child born 1695], probably in Yarmouth. [Smith, Hiam] Sarah was born 1 May 1674, Yarmouth, the daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Darby) Nickerson. [Yarmouth VR p 127, as Sarath Nickerson who was 1 year old the first of May 1675] I wrote about Sarah's parents here.

The births of the eight children of “John and Sarah Burge” are recorded in Yarmouth [Yarmouth VR p 16 and MD 7:247]: 

1. Mary 25 December 1695; married Elnathan Ellis [Yarmouth VR p 139]

2. Elizabeth 12 October 1697; married Prince Wixon [Yarmouth VR p 142)

3. Joseph 9 July 1699; married Desire Luce [Hiam]

4. Benjamin 3 May 1701; married Thankful Nickerson [Yarmouth VR p 144, Harwich VR p 495]

5. Samuel 3 February 1702/3; married 1st Elizabeth Burgess, 2nd Mary Taylor [Yarmouth VR 144, 148]

6. Ezekiel 19 August 1705; married 1st Catherine Oakes, 2nd Sarah Baker [Yarmouth VR p 148; 149]; removed to Maine [Clark]

7. Thankfull 7 June 1708; married Thomas Blossom [Hiam]

8. John middle of October 1710; married Alice Baker 20 February 1734[?/5] [Yarmouth VR p 148]

I descend from John. 

There is a lack of records concerning John owing to fires in Yarmouth and the Barnstable Courthouse. I do not know what his occupation was other than farming, but he was a literate man as he signed his will.

John is named in his father John Burg’s 14 August 1700 will. “I give and bequeath to my eldest son John Burg all that parcel of land and meadow which I bought of John Nickerson and the house which is upon it, all which I give to my sd son and his heirs forever. Also I give and bequeath to my John Burg his heirs and assigns forever the one half of a parcel of meadow which I bought of William Nickerson which is known by the name of Blues[?] Meadows. [Barnstable County Probate Records 2:127-30]

John Senior wrote a codicil 19 February 1700/01 that mostly outlines the care he expected  his sons to provide for his wife Mary.  It has one mention of the younger John: “My will is and I do give to my son John Burg that cow and heifer he hath of mine in his hands.”

The inventory was taken 12 July 1701 and includes “the land and meadow which [son] John lives on and housing” valued at  £100 00 00.

John Burg received 21.5 shares in the 1712 division of common lands at Yarmouth. Also receiving land in this division were his brothers Samuel, Jacob, Thomas, and Joseph Burgess. [Swift] 

Sarah Burges wife of John Burges died 4 February 1722/23 at Yarmouth. She was 48 years old. [Yarmouth VR 154] I have not found evidence of John remarrying and he does not name a wife in his will.

John died between 2 March 1729/30 [will written] and 22 January 1734 [will proved], likely to the the latter date. He was likely in his early 70s.

John Burges of Yarmouth wrote his will 2 March 1729/30; proved 22 January 1734. [Barnstable County Probate Record 5:229]

He writes that he is “stricken in years and under bodily infirmity” and left the following bequests:

• son Joseph Burges ten shillings
• daughter Mary Ellis five shillings
• daughter Elizabeth Wixon five shillings 
• daughter Thankful Blossom five shillings
• son Benjamin Burges five shillings
• sons Samuel and John were to pay these legacies; mentions giving Samuel one-third of his estate and son John two thirds
• son Ezekiel Burges five shillings in money to be paid to him equally by my two sons Samuel & John 
• son Samuel Burges “all that my field on which his house now standeth according to the known boundaries thereof and also all that my lot of land which I bought of Jeremiah Chace which is adjoining to ye upper end of my meadow which lyeth at Swan Pond River and I do also give to my sd son Samuel his yet my one third of of sd meadow”
• son John Burges my Dwelling house barn & [—?—] together with all my lands and meadows adjoining and belonging to my homestead commonly called and known by the name of Long Neck according to ye known bounds thereof

He named sons Samuel Burges & John Burges Executors. John signed his will; witnesses were Peter Thacher, Peter Thacher Jr and Thankful Thacher.  His will was proved 22 January 1734.

Sources:

E. Burgess, Burgess Genealogy, Memorial of the Family of Thomas and Dorothy Burgess and Were Settled at Sandwich in the Plymouth Colony in 1637, 1865

Katharine Hiam, Burgess Genealogy, Descendants of the Four Sons of Thomas and Dorothy (Waynes) Burgess...Whose Parents Were Settled in Sandwich in 1637, 1997

Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700 

Charles Swift, History of Old Yarmouth, 1884 

William C. Smith, A History of Chatham, Massachusetts, 1909

Amos Otis, Library of Cape Cod History & Genealogy, No. 46, Burgess, 1914

Bertha W. Clark, Descendants of Francis Baker of Yarmouth, 1951 (manuscript)

Ebenezer Burgess, Burgess Genealogy: Memorial of Thomas and Dorothy Burgess, who were settled at Sandwich in the Plymouth Colony in 1637, 1865

Nicholas Snow (1663 to about 1754) and His Wife Lydia Shaw of Eastham, Harwich and Rochester, Massachusetts

Nicholas Snow was born 6 December 1663 at Eastham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, the son of Mark and Jane (Prence) Snow. He was the grandson/great-grandson of Mayflower Passengers Constance Hopkins/Stephen Hopkins and grandson of Plymouth Colony Governor Thomas Prence. He is my 8th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

Nicholas Snow married Lydia Shaw on 4 April 1689 at Harwich. [Harwich VR p 207; also recorded Eastham VR in Mayflower Descendant 3:180] Lydia was born about 1670, the daughter of Jonathan and Phebe (Watson) Shaw of Plymouth. Her father was a church deacon. 

Lydia’s birth is not recorded, but she was likely born at Lakenham (now North Carver). [Shaw] Two deeds prove Jonathan Shaw of Plymouth was the father of Lydia [Bowman]: 

On 20 June 1705 “George Shaw, Thomas Paine, & Hannah his wife, & Nicolas Snow & Lydia Snow of Eastham…& Benony Shaw, Eleazer Ring & Mary his wife, & Joanna & Phebe Morten the Daughters of Phebe Morton Deceased of the Towne of Plymth…wch said George Shaw, Benony Shaw, Hannah Paine, Lydiah Snow, & Mary Ring, were the Sons & Daughters of Jonathan Shaw of Plymth abovsd Deceased; and Joanna & Phebe Morten Grand Daughters of the sd Jonathan Shaw, deceased” for £18 sold to “our Brother Jonathan Shaw of Lakenham in the Town Ship of Plymth abovsd Yeoman…all our right and Interest unto the Movable Estate of our father Jonathan Shaw deceased” also “all that the houses and land & meadow in Lakenham abov Sd wch was our father Jonathan Shaw deceased. Sd land is bounded att ye foott with the meadow our father bought of James Cole, bounded att the head with the land our father gave to Benony Shaw abovsd; and lying between a pond on ye South East side and ye South meadow path on ye north wet side and also half the meadoe, between Jno Watsons Meadow & Springy brook, and a pine tree marked on ye North west End.” Deed signed by George Shaw, Thomas Paine, Hannah Paine, Nicholas Snow, Lydia Snow (by a mark), Benoni Shaw, Eleazer Ring, Mary Ring, Joanna Morton (by a mark), Phebe Morton (by a mark). On 20 June 1705 “Benony Shaw, Eleazer Ring & Mary his wife and Joanna Morten & Phebe Morten” acknowledged the deed. On 30 June 1705 “George Shaw & Capt Thomas Payne & Hanna his wife, & Nicolas Snow & Lydiah his wife” acknowledged the deed, in Barnstable County, before Jonathan Sparrow, Justice of the Peace. [Plymouth County Deeds 6:114]

Also on 20 June 1705, “We whose names are hereunto Subscribed being Heirs unto ye Estate of Jonathan Shaw late of ye Town of Plymouth…Deceased, and being Certifyed that ye sd Jonathan Shaw did in his Life time give unto his Son Benoni Shaw the one Half of that four acres of meadow which was Granted by the Town of Plymouth unto the sd Jonathan Shaw lying upon ye Brook called ye great Cove Brook [fol. 179]: and also the one Half of the Ten acres of Upland which was Granted unto him by sd Town, but the sd Jonathan Shaw not having given unto the sd Benoni Shaw any legal Conveyance thereof, Wherefore We do by the Presents…Quit Claim unto ye aforesd One Half both of ye sd four acres of meadow & ten acres of upland, and do…Confirm & make over ye Same…unto him ye sd Benoni Shaw.”

The deed was signed by Jonathan Shaw, Eleazer Ring, Mary Ring, Joanna Morton (by a mark), Phebe Morton (by a mark), Nicholas Snow, George Shaw, Constant Shaw (by a mark), Lydia Snow (by a mark). On 20 June 1705 Jonathan Shaw, “Eleazer Ring & Mary his Wife,” Joanna Morton and Phebe Morton, acknowledged the deed in Plymouth County, before James Warren, Justice of the peace. On 8 December 1714 “George Shaw & Constant his Wife & Lydia Snow wife of Nicholas Snow all of Eastham” acknowledged the deed, in Barnstable County, before Joseph Doane, Justice of the Peace. [Plymouth County Deeds 14:178]

Lydia and Nicholas had eight children. [Austin] Jonathan was recorded both Eastham and Harwich; others all recorded Harwich [Harwich VR p 6-7]:

1. Jonathan born 30 January 1691/2 [Eastham VR in MD 3:180]; married at Eastham 16 October 1718 Thankful Freeman [Austin]

2. Mark born 30 April 1695; not mentioned in father’s 1751 will; possibly the Mark who married Boston 22 December 1725 Sarah Langford [Austin]

3. Nathaniel born 16 October 1697; marriage intentions at Eastham 9 July 1720 to Elizabeth Eldridge [Austin]

4. Joshua born 18 August 1700; married say 1726 Bashaba (—?—) who married second Ebenezer Meigs in 1739 [Austin]

5. Thankful born 7 February 1701/2; married Joseph Burgess at Eastham 11 April 1723 [Shaw]

6. Sarah born 20 March 1703/4; married at Rochester 16 November 1727, Nathan Hammond Jr. [Rochester VR 2:285]

7. Phebe born 17 November 1705; married at Rochester 7 December 1749 Zacheus Burgess [Rochester VR 2:284]

8 Prence born 26 December 1707; married Mary Sturtevant 31 August 1727 at Rochester [Rochester VR 2:284]

I descend from Prence whom I wrote about here.

Nicholas was a freeman at Eastham on 3 June 1690. [Austin] He served in the militia and is called Lieutenant in some records, including in his estate inventory. His inventory also contained carpenter’s tools, perhaps indicating one way Nicholas made his living, in addition to farming and surveying land.

Mark Snow, in his 23 November 1694 will, bequeathed his son Nicholas multiple lots totaling over 28 acres of land in Eastham and Yarmouth. [Barnstable Co. Prob., 1: 111] 

Nicholas Snow was also mentioned in the 12 January 1740 will of his brother Prence. [Barnstable County Prob Records 6:227] 

About 1692 Nicholas moved his family from Eastham to nearby Harwich, in an area now Brewster, and then circa 1720 he moved again to Rochester in Plymouth County. [Austin]

Nicholas was active in the town of Harwich affairs, particularly by surveying land [Paine]: 

• In 1705 Nicholas served as an agent on behalf of the Proprietors of Harwich to resolve a controversy about the right of the authorities in Monomoy to tax Harwich men, the difference of opinion being over the dividing line between Eastham and Harwich.
• In 1712 served on a committee to resolve a land dispute between John Chase and Thomas Clarke. 
• On a larger committee in 1713 to resolve a land dispute stemming from this earlier dispute.
• The first meeting of the Harwich Proprietors on 24 March 1713/14 chose Nicholas Snow and five other men for a committee to lay out their lands into lots to be cast. Also authorized to rectify the mistakes in the bounds of Joseph Quason’s lot near Muddy Cove, and to aid in bounding the 50 acres of land of Joseph Nickerson at Muddy Cove. Pay would be 4 shillings per day to each man. Committee met at the house of Nicholas Snow on 19 April 1714 to report on work done. 
• At the 14 February 1714/15 meeting, proprietors made choice of Nicholas Snow and Jonathan Linnell “to join with the Indians of Potonumecut” and “to lay out to them the hundred acres of land,” which had been agreed upon. At 20 March 1720/1 meeting, Nicholas Snow, Micajah Snow and Joseph Doane were allowed for their four days’ service in laying the lots out, 20 shillings each. It’s unclear to me why there was such a delay in payment.

Although many Barnstable County deeds were lost in a fire, there are some surviving records involving Nicholas in Harwich town records, as well from Plymouth County:

• On 18 May 1711 a group that purchased land on the south side of town for the sum of £8 from John Quason and other Indians were: John Cole, Joshua Hopkins, Daniel Cole Jr, Nicholas Snow, Micajah Snow and Nathaniel Doane of Eastham; Stephen Hopkins, Prence Snow and John King of Harwich. [Paine]
• List of proprietors given by the Harwich Town Clerk Joseph Doane, in accordance with a vote passed at the proprietors meeting held 28 Sept 1713, includes Nicholas Snow. He received the third lot in the first division. The third lot in the 25 Jan 1713/4 second division fell to Nicholas Snow. It lay between the pond on the south and the road on the north. At south end it was 28 poles wide, north end 32 poles wide. [Paine]
• In Harwich’s 1714 land division, the 15th lot lying on the west of the 14th lot, from the road to the Long Pond, was drawn by Nicholas Snow; at the south end it was 58 poles wide, and at the north end 60 poles wide. [Paine]
• In another 1714 land division concerned a nearby parcel of land: the 17th lot adjoining to the 16th lot on the east, and lying between the two roads, was drawn by Nicholas Snow. On the south end it was 60 poles wide, north end 72 poles wide. In these land divisions landmarks mentioned are Long Pond, the Chatham borderline, Hinckley’s Pond, Coy’s Brook, Herring Pond, Bangs’ Pond. [Paine]
• Another 1714 land division: The sixth lot lying southerly of the fifth lot and between the Bangs’ land on the west and the road on the east, was drawn by Nicholas Snow. The next lot mentions being by the road from Muddy Cove and near Bushy Beach. [Paine]
• On 28 January 1724/5, “Nicholas Snow of Eastham…Yeoman & Joseph Burge Junr of Yarmouth…weaver” purchased for £750 the 260-acre homestead farm of Stephen Andrews, yeoman of Rochester.” [Plymouth County Deeds 6:114-15]
• Joseph Burge of Yarmouth, weaver, conveyed land in Rochester “which I hold in partnership with Nicholas Snow” to Nicholas Snow of Eastham, yeoman, by deed of 16 August 1725. On 17 March 1738 Nicholas, then of Rochester, conveyed the land to John Winslow, the witnesses being Phebe Snow and Ebenezer Meigs. [Austin]
• On 16 April 1742 Nicholas Snow of Rochester, yeoman, sold 30 acres in Rochester “adjoyning to my Homestead” for £120 to “my son Nathaniel Snow of Rochester,” yeoman. [Plymouth County Deeds 34:67] 
• By deed of 7 October 1742 Nicholas Snow of Rochester conveyed 24 acres there to Jonathan Snow of Rochester [his eldest son], yeoman. [Plymouth County Deeds 38:54]
• On 1 February 1744[?/5] his “Son Nathaniel Snow of Rochester…Labourer” again purchased land from his father, a total of 20 acres for £60, adjacent to land her purchased earlier. Nathaniel purchased 13 additional acres from his father for £52 on 1 February 1747. [Plymouth County Deeds 34:67; 40:39]

Map from "HIstory of Harwich," Josiah Paine

It appears the huge debt Nicholas took on to buy the large tract of Rochester land became insupportable. In December 1729 John Watson, a merchant of Plymouth, sued Nicholas Snow for £325. Nicholas defaulted, judgment was for more than £119 and Nicholas was imprisoned. Deputy Sheriff Josiah Sturtevant said “I Took the Body of the Said Nicholas Snow and have Committed him to his Majestys Goal in Plymouth.” [Plymouth Court Records 5:306] 

Debts continued to plague Nicholas and in December 1740 he defaulted again for £160 on a bond dated 8 July 1736. [Plymouth Court Records 6:243]

Lydia’s death is not recorded. She died some time after 8 December 1714 when she acknowledged the deed mentioned above and before 25 June 1751 when she is not mentioned in her husband’s will. [Shaw]

Nicholas Snow died Rochester between 25 June 1751 [date of will] and 29 May 1754 [inventory taken], likely closer to the latter date. He was about age 90, remarkable longevity for the 18th century. It is not known where he was buried but possibly Center Cemetery (aka First Parish Cemetery) as it is the oldest cemetery in Rochester.

Nicholas did rebound from his earlier debt troubles aided by selling some of his land. Near his death, he had the financial ability to leave multiple bequests, including one for £25. 

The will of Nicholas Snow of Rochester, yeoman, “of advanced age,” was made 25 June 1751 and proved 17 July 1754.  [Plymouth Co PR 13:304-6] He left bequests to:

• Grandson Joshua, son of son Joshua, deceased, £25
• Granddaughter Phebe Burge, infant daughter of daughter Phebe Burge deceased, £13, 6s, 8d 
• Eldest son Jonathan to receive two-fifths of the remaining eight parts after above two legacies paid
• Son Nathaniel one-eighth part
• Children of son Joshua, deceased, one-eighth part with specific instructions how to be divided for Joshua and Mary Snow
• Children of son Prence—Joseph, Mary, Hannah Snow—one-eighth part with specific instructions on how to be divided 
• Son Prence was left one shilling for “his leaving me and his family as he did.”
• Daughter Thankful Burge one eighth part
• Daughter Sarah Hammond one eighth part

He named his “two beloved sons” Jonathan Snow and Nathaniel Snow executors. Witnesses were Samuel Rider Junr, Mary Holmes and Noah Sprague.

Nicholas was called “Lt” in an inventory of his estate taken 29 May 1754, taken by Noah Sprague, Edward Doty and Josiah Holmes. It totaled £218 17s 8d plus about six shillings of items added afterward. The majority of the value of his inventory was in real estate—£207. Personal items included wearing apparel, bed, bedding, table linens, various kitchen items, hand trunk, great chair, table, large chest with drawers, andirons, bullet mold, and carpenter tools. Executors Jonathan and Nathaniel Snow made oath to the inventory on 17 July 1754.

Sources:

John D. Austin, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations Volume 6: Stephen Hopkins, GSMD, 1995

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995?

Jonathan A. Shaw, NEHGS Register, “John Shaw of Plymouth Colony, Purchaser and Canal Builder,” 151:432 (1997)

George Ernest Bowman, The Mayflower Descendant, “Shaw-Morton-Paine-Ring-Snow,” 20:44

Prepared by committee, Mattapoisett and Old Rochester, Massachusetts, Being a History of These Towns and Also part of Marion and a Portion of Wareham, 1907

Josiah Paine, History of Harwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts,1620-1800, 1937

John Clark (before 1656 to 1727) and His Wife Sarah Smith of Beverly and Rochester, Massachusetts

John Clark (sometimes Clarke) was born about 1651, based on his being about age 30 in a 1681 deposition. [Records of New Plymouth Colony 6:75] I have not found his birth since his name is quite common, so unclear if he was born in England or New England. The first record I am confident refers to him is the 1683 birth of his eldest child in Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts. He is not the John Clarke, son of 1623 Anne passenger Thomas Clarke. [Johnson] John is my 9th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

John was a mariner who is called a fisherman in the 1705 deed mentioned below. He is also called a weaver, perhaps because his inventory included a loom and tackling. [Perley]

He had a brother William, shown by this deed: “I John Clarke of Rochester, fisherman, formerly of Beverly, in consideration of £80 paid by William Clark of said Beverly do grant…to said William Clark my brother…7 acres, upland and meadow in Beverly afores’d.” Dated 23 November 1705. John signed with his mark. Witnesses: John Pratt, Samuel Balch. Acknowledged 24 November 1705; recorded 24 November 1705. [Essex County Deeds 17:104] William married Elizabeth Stone of Salem and raised a family in Beverly.

By about 1682 John Clark married Sarah Smith. [Torrey, Coddington] Published works identify her as the Sarah Smith born Salem 20 October 1660 [Salem Vital Records/Births p 305], the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Goodale) Smith. Her grandfather Robert Goodale was a large landholder in Salem. John and Sarah moved their young family to the new settlement of Sippican/Rochester in Plymouth Colony. I have not found the original source for identifying Sarah as the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Goodale) Smith. 

Sarah and John had seven children:

1. Sarah Clarke born Beverly 21 August 1683 [Beverly Vital Records p 74]; baptized 18 September 1686 [Davis]; called eldest daughter in father’s January 1726/27 will; married John Dexter about 1702 at Rochester; died 21 January 1755 at Rochester [Rochester VR 2:376]
2. John Clark born 7 October 1685 [Beverly VR p 60]; called eldest son in father’s will; married in Sandwich 2 November 1709 Mary Tobey [Rochester VR 2:85]
3. Katherine Clark baptized Rochester 3 July 1690 [Coddington]; not mentioned in her father’s will so likely predeceased him
4. Joseph Clark born Rochester ca 1695; called second son in his father’s will; married at Rochester on 29 November 1720 Thankful Stevens (also seen as Stephen), daughter of Andrew [Rochester VR 2:85]
5. Mary Clark baptized Rochester 2 July 1693 [Coddington]; called second daughter Mary Stevens in her father’s will; married Timothy Stevens (also seen as Stephens), son of Andrew, at Rochester 21 March 1716/17 [Rochester VR 2:81]
6. Cornelius Clark baptized Rochester 28 August 1698 [Coddington]; called third son in father’s will; married at Plymouth Susannah Dunham on 2 December 1731 [Rochester VR 2:78]; his will was proved 3 September 1781 in Plymouth
7. Elisabeth Clark baptized Rochester 1 November 1702 [Coddington], called third daughter Elizabeth Clarke in her father’s will; I found no marriage

 I descend from Sarah whom I wrote about here.

I am not clear on when the family moved from Beverly to Rochester as there are conflicting records as to which town some of the children were born. The Beverly Vital Records claim some of the children were born there that seem more likely they were born in Rochester. Some of the births are written in a different, likely later, hand than that of Sarah. 

In the Beverly Proprietors Book p 2-3 the list of proprietors of common lands taken 27 March 1699 includes John Clark, but that does not necessarily mean he was still living there as we see from a later deed by his son John that John Senior still owned Beverly land at the time of his death.

John Clark appears in two court records, once because his fellow canoe passenger was drowned: 

At 28 October 1681 Plymouth Colony Court included the deposition of John Clarke, aged about 30 yeers, and alsoe of Robert Hilliard, aged about 30 yeers, both of them witnesseth and saith, that whereas they, with two more, viz Mr Gorge May and Timothy Venor, being bound from Matapoisett to Assonett, where William Makepeace dwelt, as wee were going over, the canooe prouving very Leakey, and the wind riseing caused a great sea, in soe much that the canooe began to fill, soe that William Makepeace jumpt out of the canooe, with an intent to swim ashore; and wee with Gods mercye, hanged on both ends of the canooe, and escaped, and Gott to the shore, where wee gott some refreshment att Hugh Coles house; and after wee were a little refreshed, wee went to looke along the shore to see whether wee could find our hatts or any other of our things, but wee, seeing William Makepeace floteing dead on the flates, thought it a point of humanity for to gett the said Makepeace to the shore, whereunto wee did him, and above high water marke, and soe left him; and further saith not.

The above written John Clarke and Robert Hillyard made oath to the above written        testimony, the day and yeer above written [19 August 1681, Swansey], before mee

James Browne, Assistant

A jury,  impanelled for the viewing of the corpse of William Makepeace, found “wee, the said jurying, haveing dilligently serched him, can not find either wound or bruise about him; but, according to the best of our understanding, wee find the cause of his death was by drowning. [Records of Old Plymouth Colony 6:75] It seems likely this refers to this John Clark since he lived in Rochester, parts of which, particularly the ocean-bordering section where you would expect a fisherman to live, became Mattapoisett. 

No date, but apparently 1715, John Clarke of Rochester complained to ye Court that Suit has commenced against him to this Court by Benjamin Dexter of Rochester aforesaid and yt ye sd Dexter had Discontinued his Suit, the defendant therefore Prays Costs against ye sd Dexter which ye Court Allows at £1 14s 6d. [Plymouth Superior Court Records, Court of Common Pleas, volume 1, p 67]

John Clark died at Rochester between 13 January 1726/7 (date of will) and 9 March 1726/7 (will proven). His probate records show he was a large landowner who left significant bequests.

John Clark of Rochester wrote his will on 13 January 1726[/7]. [Probate Records 1724-1731 vol 5-5T image 184] He writes that he is “well stricken in years & under infirmity of body.” He left the following bequests:

• I give & Bequeath to my eldest son John Clark that part of my Land lying in Rochester; mentions near William White’s and Ebenezer Holmes’ land.
• I give & Bequeath to my second son Joseph Clark that part of my lands lying in sd Rochester where Joseph’s dwelling house stands; mentions land near that of Samuel Arnold.  
• I give & Bequeath to my third son Cornelius Clark land lying in said Rochester and also twenty acres adjoining the lot; land bounded by land given to John and Joseph. 
• Also I give & Bequeath to my three sons above so named all my Lands in sd Rochester lying to ye northward of that Land have already given to my son Cornelius Clark already as abovesd to be equally divided between them.  John Clark to have ye western part & Joseph Clark ye Easterly part & Cornelius Clark ye middle part and furthermore I give & Bequeath to my son John Clark my quarter part of ye twenty fourth Gore Lott and all my other Lands & cedar swamps: not above exprest.
• I give to my three sons above named to be equally divided amongst them: and all ye parcells & parts of Lands & swamps. 
• I give to my dear & loving wife Sarah Clark for ye tender love I have to Her ye one halfe of the dwelling House I now live in namely ye Eastern End during her natural life, and all my moveable estate both within doors & without it to be at her own disposing for ever, not extending her of her thirds: and further my will is that my three sons above named shall find my sd wife suitable firewood so long as she remains a widdow equally between them: and also suitable tendance both in sickness & healthy in equall proportion: and my will is that it is to be understood that my wife Sarah Clarke is to have ye improvement of part of ye Land above given to to my sd son Cornelius Clarke during her natural life: viz…containing about one acre be it more or less lying easterly of my now dwelling house together with that part of my improved Land & meadow ground I have improved to ye Eastward of sd orchard so across sd Lott Eastward so far as ye choice land goes and also my will is that my son Cornelius Clarke shall keep said orchard & Lands with sufficient fence & tend my said wifes stock she finding forever. 
• I give to my eldest daughter Sarah Dexter ten pounds to be aid to her or her heirs by my son John Clarke his Heirs &c out of his part of Land. 
• I give to my second daughter Mary Stevens twenty pounds money to be paid her or her heirs &c: by my son Joseph Clarke or his Heirs &c out of his Part of Land. 
• I give to my third daughter Elizabeth Clarke twenty five pounds money to be paid her or her heirs by my son Cornelius Clarke or his Heirs &c out of his Part of Land &c: also to have a fine roome to herselfe after my sd wifes decease during her single life in my said house.

He also wrote “my will is that my just debts and funeral charges shall be equally paid by my three sons namely John Clark, Joseph Clark & Cornelius Clark.”

He named his son John Clarke and “trusty friend” Roger Haskell of Rochester as executors. 

John’s will was witnessed by Samuel Arnold, Isaac Holmes and Samuel Sprague all of whom made oath to the will on 9 March 1726/27.

On 9 March 1726/27 Roger Haskell declared his refusal of executorship. 

Inventory of John Clarke of Rochester’s estate was taken 17 March 1726/27 by Samuel Sprague, John White and Edward Winslow. [Plymouth County Probate Records 1724-1731, vol. 5-5T, image 189]

Ye Reall estate wee vallued at five hundred & fifty pounds 550 0 0

And to ye Personall Estate as followeth.

Ye stock thirty six pounds 36 0 0

Beds & bedding fifteen pounds 15 0 0

Grain four pounds & three shillings  4 3 0

One loome & tackling three pounds 3 0 0

Apparell seven pounds five shillings 7 5 0

Old Barrells & 2 hogs heads & one barrel of cyder & 1/2 2 pound 5   2 5 0

Laths & leather one pound one shilling 1 1 0

Scythes & Tackling six shillings 0 6 0

3 chest 4 chairs one table with ye linen in ye chests 2 13 0

2 spinning wheels 1 saddle & pillion 1 7 0

Meat & ye cask ye meat is in 2 12 0

Pewter & wooden dishes & hoops 1 6 0

Ironware of all sorts 2 18 0

3 bottles one bagg 1 book 1 old sword 1 linnen yarn neck cloth 1 5 0

One table cloth two old iron boxes & 2 old hoops 0 10 0

Move to two small swine 1 0 0

Samuel Sprague, John White and Caleb Blackwell made oath to the inventory on 23 March 1726/7.  [Plymouth County Probate Records 1724-1731, vol. 5-5T, image 190]

His son John, also a mariner, sold some of his father’s Beverly lands in 1728.  “…I John Clark of New Rochester in the County of Plymouth…Marriner (being Executr to the Last Will…of my father John Clark late of said Rochester Yeoman Deceased) For…£15…paid by Robert Cleeves of Beverly, Black Smith…Do Sell…Robert Cleeves one comon Right of Lands in…Beverly…in that part…that is called Burnt Hills & Bever Pond Rocks the said Comon Right of Land in said comon Pasture is Sett or Stated to Samuell Clarke in the Right of John Clarke as appears by the Proprietors Book of Records in said Beverly and the said John Clark in whose Right the said Comon Right of Land is Sett or Stated…was my Father who is Deceased as aforesaid and Did never Sell nor any ways Convey the said Comon Right when He sold his House and Land in said Beverly…and therefore I being his Eldest Son & Executor to his Last Will…have Good…Right to the said Granted Premises & Lawful Authority to…Sell the same. 25 December 1728. [Signed] John Clark. Witnesses: Abraham Goodel (this witness may be cousin Abraham Goodale of Salem), Thomas Whitredg. Acknowledged 25 Dec 1729; recorded 25 Dec 1729. [Essex County Deeds 50:265]

Sarah outlived her husband but I have not found her death record. I have seen her death year as 1731 and 1738 but without sources. 

Sources:

John Insley Coddington, The American Genealogist, “The Clark Family of Beverly and Rochester,  Mass.,” 43:19-26  (1967]

Walter Goodwin Davis, The Ancestry of Lydia Harmon 1755-1836 wife of Joseph Waterhouse of Standish Maine, 1924, p 33

Sidney Perley, The History of Salem Massachusetts, 1924, 3:41-42

William W Johnson, Clarke-Clark Genealogy, Records of the Descendants of Thomas Clarke, Plymouth 1623-1697, 1884

Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700, 1:323

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

Jack Mack Holbrook, compiler, Massachusetts Vital Records Beverly 1653-1892 (available on ancestry.com)