William Swift (1627-1706) and His Wife Ruth of Surrey, England and Sandwich, Massachusetts

William Swift was baptized 25 April 1627 at St. Mary Magdalen Church, Bermondsey, Surrey, England, son of William Swift and his wife Joan whose maiden name is not recorded. [Fiske] I wrote about his parents here. As a child he came to New England with his parents, and in the spring of 1637 they settled at Sandwich on Cape Cod, then part of Plymouth Colony. He is my 9th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family. 

St. Mary Magdalen

William was a notable man of means in Sandwich. I sometimes find very little information on my 17th/18th century ancestors, but that is not the case with William! He held positions of power and trust in the Colony and operated an ordinary, which was similar to a tavern, where travelers could drink, eat and perhaps lodge. In his probate records he is referred to by the honorific “Mr.”

About 1650 William married, at Sandwich, Ruth whose maiden name is not known [year based on eldest child being born in 1651]. William names his wife Ruth in his will, but that she was his only wife and mother to all of his children is an assumption. [Anderson] She is not named in children’s birth records.

Ruth and William lived on present day Standish Road in North Sagamore, now in the town of Bourne. [Lovell] They had at least ten children born Sandwich [Swift]:

1. Hannah born 11 March 1651 [Sandwich VR 1:15]; married 1st Ambrose Fish and 2nd Thomas Tobey; Hannah Tobey died in March 1720/21 at Sandwich [will written and probated]
2. William born 28 August 1654 [Sandwich VR 1:25]; married Elizabeth —?— (not Elizabeth Tomson) and had eight children [Sandwich VR 1:63]; died probably April 1700 at Sandwich [inventory taken 1 May 1701 Barnstable County PR 2:125-6]
3. Ephraim born 7 June 1656 [Sandwich VR 1:12]; married Sarah Perry about 1678 [she is called Sarah wife of Ephraim Swift in her father Ezra Perry’s will]; had eight children [Sandwich VR 1:42-3]; died before 17 February 1742/3 when his will was proved [Barnstable County PR 6:271-3] 
4. Mary born 7 April 1659 as “Mara” [Sandwich VR 1:19]; married Shubael Smith 6 February 1677[/8]; had three daughters and died 1 March 168?[2, 3 or 4] [Sandwich VR 1:24]
5. Samuel born 10 August 1662 [Sandwich VR 1:24]; married a woman named Mary about 1688; had nine children [Sandwich VR 61-2]; died before 6 June 1733 at Sandwich when his will was proven [Barnstable County PR 5:137-8]
6. Temperance born about 1666; married Timothy Bourne and had five children [Sandwich VR 1:75]; died 8 Oct 1746 [Sandwich VR 1:150]
7. Esther born about 1668; married John Gibbs 9 Nov 1716 [Sandwich VR 1:101]; they removed to Plymouth where she died before 3 March 1736/7 when her will was proved; her will mentions seven children although not all by name
8. Dinah born about 1672; married Benjamin Perry about 1694 and had eight children
9. Jireh born about 1673 [based at age at death]; married on 26 November 1697 1st Abigail Gibbs, a descendant of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren [Sandwich VR 1:41] and 2nd Mary Besse 19 November 1741 [Wareham Vital Records, p 154]; died Wareham 17 April 1749 [gravestone]
10. Josiah born about 1675; married 1st Mary Bodfish 19 April 1706 [Sandwich VR 1:72] and 2nd Experience Nye 23 June 1718 [Sandwich VR 1:108]; died Sandwich 1753-1757 

Swift also assigns them a daughter Ruth born 1652 and died in infancy, but I have found no source for that. I descend from Jireh as well as Josiah. I wrote about Jireh here and Josiah here.

William Swyft of Sandwich is on the August 1643 list of men age 16 to 60 able to bear arms.  [Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, hereafter “PCR,” 8:192] He was the minimum age of sixteen. 

At the 5 July 1669 court: “Liberty is graunted by the Court unto William Swift to keep an ordinary for the entertainment of strangers att Sandwich.” [PCR 5:23] At 6 July 1669 court, men including William Swift were approved to sell wine, liquor, cider or beer. They were to pay for a license based on where they lived. For Sandwich, the Treasurer hath agreed with William Swift. No amount was given but others paid 1 to 10 pounds. [PCR 11:222]

On the first of March 1654/5 John Ellis, William Swift, William Allen, and James Skiff engaged themselves to build a mill for the town; William signed the document. Twenty-two townspeople agreed to repay the four men. [Lovell]

He is frequently mentions regarding Freeman status in Plymouth Colony Court records: 

• The names of such as have taken the Oath of Fidelity at Sandwich in the Year 1657 include William Swift. [PCR 8:179]
• At the 29 May 1670 Plymouth court, William Swift was on the list of Sandwich Freemen. [PCR 5:276]
• William Swift Sr was on the 1675 list of Sandwich men allowed to vote at town meeting. [Deyo] 
• At 1 June 1680 court, men propounded to be Freemen in the next year, if approved included William Swift and Ephraim Swift. William Swift, Junr, likewise tooke the oath of fidelity at this court. [PCR 6:42-3]
• In June 1689 William Swift was one of the Sandwich men received and admitted as Freemen. [PCR 8:205] 
• William and his son Jireh appear on a 25 June 1702 list of Freemen. [Swift]

William was 15 when his father died, who although he left an extensive inventory of belongings, he also left substantial debt. His mother Joan did not remarry and undoubtedly with her the help of her only son William, she took control of running the household, the farm, other business enterprises, and sorting her husband’s debts. When she died 20 years later, in 1663, she left a will naming William executor of her estate and he was to receive the remainder of her estate after debts and bequests were made. Her inventory included a considerable amount of fabric and yarn which must have been how she supported herself. There was no land in her inventory, so she would have deeded land to William before her death, but a Barnstable Courthouse fire destroyed a vast amount of Barnstable County deeds.

William, as his father was before him, was very involved in colony affairs. He served on various committees, as Deputy to the General Court, selectman, juryman, surveyor of highways, and constable. He also kept an ordinary/tavern and coordinated purchase of tar on behalf of the colony. He clearly was educated and intelligent to hold these positions.

William frequently served on juries: named to grand inquest June 1652 Court but he was fined for being absent [PCR 3:10]; December 1663 [3:50]; grant inquest June 1682 [PCR 6:85]; July 1686 petit jury [PCR 6:201]; March 1667/8 [PCR 7:143-4]; March 1669/70 [PCR 7:159];  July 1670 [PCR 7:160]; July 1671 [PCR 7:167]; July 1680 [PCR 7:228-29]. 

One of the interesting experiences William had as a juryman was at the December 1663 murder trial of Samuell Howland for shooting William Howes of Sandwich. He discharged his fowling piece at High Pyne on Salt House Beach on 25 October 1663. He was found not guilty of willful murder; the gun went off as it was lying on Howland’s shoulder. [PCR 3:50]

William Swift was named Sandwich constable in 1660 and 1668 [PCR 3:180, 188]

William Swift frequently served as Sandwich Selectman: 1669 [PCR 5:19]; 1670 [PCR 5:35]; 1671 [PCR 5:56]; 1673 [PCR 5:113]; 1674 [PCR 5:143]; 1675 [PCR 5:164]; 1677 [PCR 5:230]; 1678 court [PCR 5:257]; 1679 [PCR 6:12]; 1681 [PCR 6:59]; 1683 as William Swift Sr. [PCR 6:111]; 1685 as William Swift Sr [PCR 6:168]; 1686 as Wm Swift Sr [PCR 6:185];

William served the Colony as Deputy to the General Court: 5 Sept 1673 [PCR 5:135]; 7 June 1676 [PCR 5:196]; June 1677 [PCR 5:231]; 5 June 1678 [PCR 5:256]; 1680 [PCR 6:34].  The position of Deputy was a one of status in the colony. They met to pass legislation, levy taxes, manage colony affairs; represented the interests of their home towns; maintained the 1636 legal code which introduced rights such as trial by jury; oversaw voting rights, restricting rights to freemen who owned property and were of the accepted religion.

He served as surveyor of highways and on other land-related committees: 8 June 1655 Benjamin Nye and William Swift named surveyor of highways for Sandwidge [PCR 3:79]; Wm Swift and four others were appointed in 1672 to settling and confirming the township with the sachem of Manomet (Monument)[Deyo]; at 1 March 1674/5 court,  men were chosen to settle affairs among Sandwich townsmen about land divisions and William Swift had given the court of list of name of those who were to receive a grant of marshland [PCR 5:158]. 

At the General Court on 13 July , a committee of 12 men including William Swift were “appointed by the Generall Court to meet the second Tusday in August next whoe are appointed and impowered to heare and determine all matters respecting debts due from the Collonie to all p'sons whatsover and ballence the accompts between the severall townes of this Collonie concerning the late warr, not before ballenced and each town to pay them for theire time, and theire expences to be bourne by the collonie." William Swift was on this committee of 12.

In January 1675/6 during King Philip’s War, Sandwich representatives Thomas Dexter and William Swift were to meet other towns’ representatives in Yarmouth about scouting Herring River.  [Lovell] At the end of 1675 the town received stiff fines for not sending enough men to musters. It was an unpopular charge and hard to collect. Those given authority to collect or “to proceed with the delinquents” were William Swift and George Barlow. [Lovell] At 13 July 1677 court, William Swift was appointed to a committee of 11 men to hear and determine all matters respecting debts due from the colony to all persons concerning the late war. [PCR 5:242]

At 5 July 1670 court, one or two men from each town were designated as people that all the tar within town would come to and they were to pay a price set by the court, in an effort to keep tar within the colony. Richard Bourne and William Swift were named for Sandwich. [PCR 5:46] At 29 October 1672 it was ordered that an Indian called Old John, alias Mopes, shall pay William Swift six pounds to be delivered in tar at Sandwich at or before the first of May next. [PCR 5:105]

At 3 March 1662/3 William Swift and Stephen Winge did engage in the behalf of the towne of Sandwich, for all of them excepting the Quakers and theire relations, to save harmles and undamnifyed Thomas Ewer, that may arise to him by reason of the trespas above specifyed, in the action comenced against him, hee satisfying and paying the sume and charges awarded him to pay by the jury. [PCR 7:108]

William is mentioned in a handful of Court cases:

• At the 4 October 1655 court, “And at this Court, Jane Powell, servant to William Swift, of Sandwidge, appeered, haveing been presented for fornication, whoe, being examined, saith that it was comitted with one David Ogillior, an Irish man, servant to Edward Sturgis; shee saith shee was alured thereunto by him goeing for water one evening, hopeing to have married him, beeing shee was in a sadd and miserable condition by hard service, wanting clothes and lviing discontentedly; and expressing great sorrow for her evell, shee was cleared for the prsent, and ordered to goe home againe. [PCR 3:19] Jane Powell is my 8th great-grandfather and she did marry David, whose last name is more commonly O’Killia/O’Kelley, and have a large family.
• At 3 March 1662/3 court, William Swift complaineth, in the behalfe of himselfe and sundry of his naighbors, in combination with them, against Thomas Ewer, in an action of trespas on the case, to the damage of ten pounds, for feling and carting away of timber belonging to the township of Sandwich, and for non payment of two pounds and fifteen shillings, as by bill appeers under his hand. The jury find for the plaintiffe three pounds damage, and the cost of the suite. [PCR 7:108]
• At 3 October 1665 court, William Swift complained against William Allin, in an action of trespas upon the case, to the damage of twenty pounds, for unjust claime to, and deneying of his land to him, and cuting his grasse without his leave and order. The jury for the plaintiffe the meddow land, two pence damage, and the cost of the suite. [PCR 7:124]
• At the 7 July 1668 Court William Swift complaineth against Stephen Skiffe, in an action of the case, to the damage of ten pounds, for non pformance of a bargaine respecting a boate with a paire of oares sold unto him by the said Skiffe. The jury find for the plaintiffe five shillinges damage, and the cost of the suit. [7:145]
• At General Court, 29 October 1672: ”It is ordered by this Court that an Indian named Old John, allies Mopes, shall pay unto Wilam Swift six pound, to be delivered in tarr att Sandwich att or before the first of May next with the charges which hath arisen about a suite comenced att the Court of the Celect Men of the town of Barnstable against the said Swift; and in defect of payment as aforsaid, then the said swift is heerby impowered to sieze on the said body of the said Old John, allies Mopes, and to bring him or cause him to be brought before the Gov'or Court whoe will take such a due course as that his just dues shalbe satifyed by the service or sale of him the said Old John, allies Mopes, and upon the Courts graunt of this order the said Wilam Swift did engage to acquitt and release Jedadia Lumbard from that engagement of his to the said Wilam Swift on that account of the said Old John or any other Indians whoe were his cecuritie." [PCR 5:105]

William died 7 January 1705[/6], the date provided in the inventory of his estate. [Barnstable County PR 2:218]

William Swift Senior made his will 15 December 1705; presented at Court 29 January 1705/6. [Barnstable Co PR 2:217] He mentions being weak of body and left bequests to:

• Loving wife Ruth £50
• Son Josiah his house and land I now live in and possess excepting that piece of land about the picket clifts [Peaked Cliffs] I bought of Jonathan Morie [Peaked Cliffs is overlooking the ocean in Sagamore Highlands]
• Son Jirie Swift £20 in moveables of my estate
• The three sons of William Swift, my son deceased, Thomas Swift, Josiah Swift and Ebenezer Swift, that tract of land I bought of Jonathan Morie lying upon the Clifts as ye go to Plymouth as appears by a deed equally to be divided among the three brothers and not to be sold or any way disposed of but to the Swifts
• I do give unto my grandson William Swift, son of the deceased William Swift, 20 shillings
• son-in-law Thomas Bourn
• I do give unto my daughter Hannah Tobie,  my daughter Temperance Bourne, my daughter Hester Gibs, and my daughter Dina Perry, the rest of my moveables to be equally divided amongst them

His daughters Ruth and Mary predeceased him. It is unclear to me why sons Ephraim and Samuel were not mentioned in the will; perhaps William had already gifted them land. William Swift, Senior signed will in presence of Thomas Gibs, Samuel Gibs [his mark], James Stewart.

On 29 January 1705 James Stewart, Thomas Gibs and Samuel Gibs made oath to William’s will at Barnstable. On the same date Timothy Bourn was named Administrator of the estate. By Barnabas Lothrop. [Barnstable County PR 2:218]

On 11 February 1705 Ruth widow of Mr. William Swift of Sandwich declared  that she received from her son-in-law Timothy Bourn the £50 in money given to her by her late husband in his last will and testament.  On 13 February 1705 Ruth Swift appeared before Stephen Skeffe, Justice of the Peace, acknowledged the above written receipt to be her act and deed. [Barnstable County PR 2:218]

An inventory of the estate of Mr William Swift late of Sandwich in the County of Barnstable in New England who died the 7th day of January 1705 was taken and apprized by Wm Bassett and Elisha Bourne on 10th day of January 1705. [Barnstable County PR 2:219] The inventory is not totaled but is a considerable value for the early 18th century. 

Some items indicate that William was involved in trade—money scales, animal skins, steel trap, whale bones, 120 pounds of feathers, and tobacco. The £125 in cash/apparel and an additional £25 in cash that his wife added to the inventory, show he was comfortable financially. His house, land and meadow were valued at £160 and land at Picket Cliff was valued at £20. Sadly also included is “one negroe maid servant” valued at £32, who would have been a slave. There are many household items such as a spinning wheel and fabric and the less common brass, copper, six napkins, an hour glass, and a looking glass. That William was literate is shown by his owning a Bible and other books, in addition to the positions he held. Farm items included five cows, two horses, five shoates [young pig/hog], Indian corn, and barrel of pork.  A cutlass and sword indicate he served in the militia. 

Debts due to the estate were from Timothy Bourn 8 08,  John Gibs 00 08 06, Benjamin Perry due 6 00 00, Daniel Butler owes about 00 12 00.

On 29 January 1705 Timothy Bourne, Executor to the last will & testament of William Swift late of Sandwich deceased, appeared before Barnabas Lothrop, Judge of Probate, and made oath to the Inventory.  Ruth Swift widdow and Relict of sd deceased also appeared and made oath that she had given a just & true account of the money and other estate of her sd deceased husband. 

Sources:

Jane Fletcher Fiske, The American Genealogist, “William Swift, Citizen and Leatherseller of London, and Planter of Sandwich, Massachusetts,” Vol 77, no. 3, July 2002

Eben Swift, Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, “William Swift and Descendants to the Sixth Generation," Pamphlet No. 15, 1923

Simeon L. Deyo, editor, "History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts," 1890

R.A. Lovell, Jr., Sandwich A Cape Cod Town, 1984

George Ernest Bowman, The Mayflower Descendant, “Wills of William 2 and 3 Swift of Sandwich” 30:110

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1992

Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, eds., Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, 12 vols., 1968

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