John Landers (1694-1738) and His Wife Content Nye of Sandwich, Massachusetts

John Landers (sometimes spelled Launders) was born 9 April 1694 at Sandwich, the son of John and Rachel (Freeman) Landers. [Sandwich VR in MD 29:32] 

On 4 June 1719 John Launders married Content Nye at Sandwich. The marriage was solemnized by William Bassett, Justice of the Peace. [Sandwich VR 1:110] 

Content was born Sandwich 25 September 1693, the daughter of Nathan and Mercy (—?—) Nye. [Sandwich VR in MD 30:66] Her grandfather was Benjamin Nye, a mill owner in Sandwich. John and Content are my 7th great-grandparents on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

I recently discovered I had the incorrect parents for an ancestor I had done little work on—Nancy Snow born 1794 who married William Nye. It turned into a satisfying project but I admit when I saw that I descend from Nathan, another son of Benjamin Nye, I let out a large sigh as the family is a challenge to research! I already descend from Nathan’s brothers Jonathan and John. Genealogist Maclean McLean worded it perfectly when he called the family the “fantastically prolific Nye family of Sandwich.”

Children of Content and John Landers, all born Sandwich:

1. Mariah born 20 Dec 1719 [Sandwich VR 1:115]; married Sandwich 11 April 1745 John Ellis, son of Malachi and Jane (Blackwell) Ellis [Sandwich VR 1:165]; died perhaps shortly before 28 August 1784
2. Deborah born 13 Aug 1722 [Sandwich VR 1:130]; m. 1) 22 Nov 1744 Silas Perry [Sandwich VR 1:165]; m. 2) 5 Nov 1767 Hix/Hicks Jenney of Dartmouth [Dartmouth VRs on Ancestry]; died Fairhaven 1807
3. John born 12 May 1724 [Sandwich VR 1:130]; m. Abigail Gifford 21 August 1746 at Sandwich [Sandwich VR on Ancestry]
4. Mercy born 28 Sept 1726 [Sandwich VR 1:130]; m. Timothy Stephens of Rochester son Timothy and Mary (Clark) Stephen on 27 Dec 1750 [Sandwich VR on Ancestry]
5. Jemima born 12 April 1730 [Sandwich VR 1:130]; m. 29 March 1753/4 Andrew Lovell son Jonathan and Martha Lovell of Barnstable [Sandwich compiled marriages on Ancestry; intentions in Sandwich and Barnstable on 20 and 26 January 1753/4
6. Rachel born 12 July 1732 [Sandwich VR 1:130]; m.  Joseph Snow 20 Jan 1756 at Sandwich; died 18 May 1807 at Rochester [Rochester VR p. 434]
7. Thomas born 24 March 1734/5 [Sandwich VR 1:130]; m. Jerusha Parker 11 March 1764 at Falmouth [Falmouth VR on Ancestry]
8. Content born 12 July 1737 [Sandwich VR 1:130]; m. 1) Sandwich 23 Oct 1760 James Atkins son of John and Dinah (Gifford) Atkins of Sandwich; d. Sandwich 27 Jan 1816 [Find A Grave Memorial ID 5572752]

I descend from Rachel. 

John Landers is listed as a Sandwich head of household (No. 113) in Rev. Fessenden’s March 1730 list. [NEHGR 13:30-31]

Content received a bequest from her father. Nathan Nye of Sandwich, in his will dated 18 September 1741, proved 13 May 1747, gives “to my daughter Content Landers,” £10 to be paid by her brother Caleb Nye. She was also to receive the “indoor household stuff” to divide with his other daughters Temperance Damon, Thankfull Davis, Deborah Hamlin, Mariah Jones and granddaughter Mercy Backhouse.  [Barnstable Co PR 8:189-193] 

Although John was a second son, his older brother Richard left no issue, so it is possible John eventually acquired by deed of gift, or perhaps by purchase, most of his father’s property in Sandwich. [Brownson & McLean] 

John Launders, husbandman of Sandwich, who was “sick of body,” wrote his will on 2 March 1737/8. He must have been seriously ill as he died at Sandwich two days later on 4 March 1737/8. He was just 43 years old.

In his will, proved 29 March 1737/8, he left the following bequests: 

• Content Landers “my beloved wife” the use and improvement of his whole estate during her widowhood…for her support and the bringing up of their children. If she were to marry again, she would receive £30. He also mentions Content having all of his moveables for the benefit of the family, including three cows, ten sheep, three swine and husbandry tools. I don’t recall any of my other male ancestors leaving a specific bequest in the event his widow remarries—it is such a thoughtful gesture for that time period.
• Son John Landers all the houses, lands and meadows that shall remain after debts are paid.  If he should die without an heir then would go to “my son Thomas his heirs and assigns.”
• Son Thomas Landers would receive all the land if John died without an heir. Also he was to be put out to a suitable trade and receive £20 when he turned 21. 
• Each daughter—Maria, Deborah, Marcy, Jemima, Rachel, and Content—to receive £20 when they came of age or married. 

He gives all residue to his wife Content and names her sole executrix. He signed with his mark. Witnessed by Benjamin Freeman, Margaret Landers [his paternal aunt], and his minister Rev. Benjamin Fessenden. [BCPR 5:362-3]

The widow Content Landers was admitted to full communion in the First Church of Sandwich 2 April 1738. [Sandwich First Church Records] All eight children of John and Content Launders were baptized 8 May 1738 at the First Church of Sandwich. [Vital Records of Sandwich Massachusetts, 2:1385] For Content to have all the children baptized a few weeks after her husband’s death suggests that John Landers may have been a Quaker and never joined the First Church. He is listed in Friends Meeting Records as a witness to  marriages of some of his uncle Richard Landers’ family. [Brownson & McLean]

It would seem probable Constant would have remarried, but I have not found a second marriage for her. I also have not found her death record—she is often assigned a 1775 death year in online trees, but without a source.  

Sources:

Lydia (Phinney) Brownson & Maclean McLean, NEHGS Register, “Thomas 1 Landers of Sandwich,” 124:42 (January 1970)

Maclean McLean, The American Genealogist, “The Children of Nathan 2 Nye of Sandwich, Mass.,” 41:176 (1965)

John G. Locke (communicated by), NEHGS Register, “Extracts from Rev. Benjamin Fessenden’s Manuscript,” 13:30-31