Walter Woodworth (born circa 1612 and died between 26 November 1685 and 25 February 1685/6) of England and Scituate, Massachusetts

Walter Woodworth was born England by about 1612; his origins are thus far unknown. He migrated to New England by 1633, where he was first at Plymouth, and by 1635 had settled at Scituate when he is named in a land division. His last name is frequently seen as Woodward. He is my 10th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

It appears that Walter came to Plymouth Colony as an indentured servant, perhaps a short-term arrangement to pay his passage as he was was no longer a servant when taxed in 1633/4. In the colony he was a farmer and surveyor of highways. In 1664 he was granted land with another man and it is noted they “have a right as servants.” [Records of New Plymouth, hereafter PCR, 4:75]

“Walter Woodart” was assessed 9 shillings in Plymouth tax list of 2 January/27 March 1633/4. [PCR 1:26, 29] Walter Woodward was propounded as a freeman on 1 December 1640 and admitted 2 March 1640/1. [PCR 2:3, 8] Walter Woodward is in the Scituate section of freemen in 1639 (added after his admission on 2 March 1640/1), 1658, 29 May 1670 and early 1683. [PCR 5:275, 8:175, 198, 204]  In July 1666 he was taxed 4 shillings 8 pence and 3 shillings 3 pence. [PCR 7:130]

Many early Scituate settlers were from Kent, followers of Rev. John Lothrop who was from Edgerton. However Lothrop arrived in Boston in September 1634, which is after Walter is first recorded in the colony.

Walter signed his will and a deed by mark but his inventory included books, so perhaps he could read but not write.

Walter married a woman whose name is unknown by about 1641 [approximate birth year of first born], likely at Scituate. They had ten children, all named in Water’s will [estimated births from Anderson]:

1. Thomas born say 1641; married Deborah Damon at Scituate 8 February 1666[/7] [Scituate VR 2:336]; his house was destroyed by fire during King Philip’s War [Behan]; died 1719 Scituate [PCPR No. 23482]
2. Sarah born Scituate say 1643; apparently was married by 26 November 1685 [father’s will]
3. Joseph born say 1645; married Sarah Stockbridge at Scituate 6 January 1669[/70] [NEHGS Register, hereafter “NEHGR” 133:100]; died after June 1718 when he wrote his will [Behan]
4. Elizabeth born say 1648; in court 27 October 1675, 7 March 1675/6 and 22 July 1676 [PCR 5:181-2, 188, 208] about her illegitimate child with Robert Stetson; apparently married by 26 November 1686 (father’s will) 
5. Mary born Scituate 10 March 1650/1 [Scituate VR 1:418]; married at Scituate 24 December 1677 Aaron Simmons/Simonson [Scituate VR 2:336]
6. Benjamin born say 1656; m 1st by about 1680 Deborah —?—; m 2nd by 1691 Hannah —?—
7. Isaac born about 1658; married Lydia Standlake [Plymouth County Land Records, hereafter PCLR,  8:172-74, 207-8]; removed to Little Compton and finally to Norwich CT where he died 1 April 1714 [Behan]
8. Martha born say 1660; married Zachariah Damon June 1679 at Scituate [Scituate VR 2:96]; died after 27 May 1732 at Scituate when she conveyed land to daughter Hannah [Plymouth County Deeds 27:88]; had eight children
9. Mehetable born 15 August 1662 Scituate; on 6 March 1676/7 Mary Ingham was tried for, and found not guilty of, witchcraft and her accuser was Mehitable Woodworth who was “almost bereaved of her senses” and “fell into violent fits.” [PCR 5:223]; unmarried on 26 November 1685 (father’s will)
10. Abigail born about 1664; married John Jackson 24 December 1695 at Plymouth [Scituate VR 2:335]

I descend from Martha. I wrote about Martha and husband Zachariah Damon here. She and her brother Thomas married Damon siblings.

The Woodworth family lived on Kent Street near First Meeting House Cemetery in Scituate, amongst many men of Kent. [Sumner] He also had land at what was called Walter Woodworth’s Hill on the Northeast part of Walnut Tree Hill and on the first Herring Brook below Stockbridge’s Mill. [Deane] 

Walter served his community in several ways:

• Scituate surveyor of highways, 4 June 1645, 2 June 1646, 3 June 1656. [PCR 2:84, 102, 3:100]
• He was in the Scituate section of 1644 Plymouth list of men able to bear arms [PCR 8:191]
• Arbiter settling land disputes and the like 4 June 1645, 3 June 1662/3, 9 June 1665. [PCR 2:85, 4:31, 100] 
• In 1653 Walter made inventory of the estate of Thomas Hickes of Scituate; and in 1672 conducted the inventory of William Soanes’ estate. [Behan]
• Served on jury [committee] to make division of lands between John Williams Sr and Jr, 3 March 1662. [PCR 4:31]
• On 9 June 1665 Walter Woodward was one of the men asked to help Scituate townsmen that are helping settle the bounds of some lands of William Randall but are being hindered by Turner’s unworthy speeches. [PCR 4:100]
• Coroner’s jury 1 July 1680 about the sudden death of an approximately six month old child of Thomas Hatch of Scituate, who had been sick with a cold and was in a bed with two people including his sister Sarah where he was found dead, face down. Determined he suffocated from lying on his face or “accidentally over layed in the bed.” [PCR 6:45]

Records pertaining to Walter’s land:

• In February 1634/5 and April 1635 Scituate division of land, Walter received the third lot as a houselot on corner of Kent Street and Meetinghouse Lane. [Deane] He also received a tract on the First Herring Brook not far below the Stockbridge Mill and another tract on the northeast side of Walnut Tree Hill just west of the present Queensbush or South Scituate railroad station, which in early times was called Walter Woodworth’s Hill. These were the first of what became Walter’s considerable land holdings. [Behan]
• On 12 June 1642, Anthony Annable of Barnstable sold for £19 to Thomas Rauline of Scituate, houses, outhouses, and a large amount of land adjoining to that of Walter Woodward on the east side and to the swamp of the Herring Brook on the west side. [PCR 12:85]
• In a 13 November 1643: Deed from Samuell House to Thomas Tilden, land in Scituate near North River bounded by marshland of Walter Woodward. [PCR 12:101]
• On 20 April 1644 Samuell House of Cambridge sold Scituate land to Thomas Tilden, also mentions Scituate land bounding marshland of Walter Woodward of Scituate. [PCR 12:101]
• 25 March 1650: Deed of a parcel of marshland bounded on the west by land of Walter Woodward, once of William Hatch Sr, and by the First Herring Brook. [The Mayflower Descendant 1:92]
• Walter is on the 3 June 1662 list of servants and ancient freemen granted land at Saconnett Neck, later Little Compton, Rhode Island [PCR 4:18) and as a consequence on 4 October 1664 was granted 60 acres. [PCR 4:75]
• On 4 Oct 1664, Plymouth Court granted unto John Hanmore and Walter Woodward, of Scituate, “who have a right as servants” unto each of them is granted sixty acres of and near about the place abovementioned [near the line between Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts Bay], and also that they pay the Indian purchase for it if any be justly demanded. [PCR 4:75] 
• On 5 June 1666 court granted 50 acres of land unto Joseph Whiston, heir of John Whiston deceased, at the southernmost side of land granted to Walter Woodward upon the path from Bridgewater to Weymouth, bounding at the east end upon a little brook, and the west end by the common land and the southernmost side likewise to the common. [PCR 4:129]
• 5 July 1666: Walter Woodworth taxed for purchase of Indian Purchase for the west end of town. [PCR 7:130]
• On 14 November 1670 Isaac Stedman of Muddy River sold Scituate land to John Otis two acres of which “was disposed of by the said Isacke Stedman unto Walter Woodworth.” [PCLR 3:184]
• In 1673 with Josiah Winslow and 27 others, we was at Plymouth Colony Court to establish right to land in Little Compton RI. He received a whole share of the land, then called Seconet, which included Lot No. 2 in the First Purchase, drawn at Duxbury in 1674. [Behan]
• In 1675 Walter drew two adjoining 50 acre lots in Seconet together with Thomas Williams in the Second Purchase. [Behan]

Court involvement: 

• At 8 June 1651 Court, Walter Woodward was one of the men who gave evidence about George Russell and Isaac Stedman concerning their encroachment on common undivided lands in Scituate. [PCR 2:170] 
• On 7 July 1681 “Walter Woodworth of Scittuate” sued Japhett Turner for £10 for tearing down some of his fencing on the northerly side of the First Herring Brook between his house and John Turner’s and was awarded “five shillings damage and the cost of the suit;” the “Bill of Cost,” apparently prepared by Woodworth himself, totaled £3 16s. [PCR 7:238-9]
• In 1673 with Josiah Winslow and 27 others, he was at Plymouth Court to establish right to land in Little Compton. [Sumner]

Walter Woodworth was one of the brethren of Rev. Chauncy’s Church who gave him a house and land in 1653 and confirmed it by deed the following July. He signed the deed with his mark. [Bangs] On 24 October 1679 it was voted that the two religious groups in town would reconcile, “that we may be one Societie in peace and love, that then the place for our publicke worship shall be at Walter Woodworth’s hill, or the center of the present inhabitants of the Town.” [Deane]

Mrs. Woodworth died after March 1676 [court case mentions Mehitable Woodworth’s parents] but before 26 November 1685 [not named in husband’s will].

Walter died between 26 November 1685 (date of will) and 25 February 1685/6 (date of inventory), likely closer to the latter date. In his will, Walter Woodward of “Sittuate,” being weak in body but of sound and perfect memory, left the following bequests: [PCLR 5:382-85] 

• Thomas Woodward ,my eldest son, a parcel of upland containing five acres bounded to the north by the Common in Scituate
• my two sons Thomas & Joseph Woodward ten acres of marshland in Scituate to be equally divided
• to the said Thomas my son one-third part of all my lands at Seconet which is purchased, & the other two-thirds I give unto my son two sons Beniamin & Isaak Woodword to be equally divided excepting twenty & five acres which I do give unto my son Joseph…& ten acres the which I do give unto my daughter Martha
• all the rest of my land at Seconnett which is yet to be purchased I give unto my two sons Thomas & Joseph Woodward to be equally divided
• Beniamin my son aforesaid my dwelling house with my barn & other outhousing with all my land both upland and marshland thereunto belonging, that is to say twenty acres of upland…& six acres of marshland…upon condition that my son Beniamin aforesaid do pay & allow the sum of seventy pounds unto my son Joseph & my six daughters Sarah, Elyzabeth, Mary, Martha, Mehetebel & Abigaile £10 a piece, and permit my two daughters Mehetabel & Abigaile to live in the house as long as they are unmarried
• my said two daughters Mehetabel & Abigaile my feather bed with the furniture thereunto belonging & all the rest of my household goods I give unto my six daughters Sarah, Elyzabeth, Mary, Martha, Mehetabel & Abigaile to be divided equally
• residue of estate after funeral expenses and other debts paid to be equally divided by all my children

He named his son Beniamin sole executor and two sons Thomas & Joseph overseers. He signed his will by mark. Witnessed by Thomas King Sr, Thomas Palmer, and Charles Stockbridge, who made oath at court on 2 March 1685/6. 

The inventory of the estate of Walter Woodward of Scituate was taken 25 February 1685/6 and presented at court by Benjamin Woodward on 2 March 1685/6. It totaled £355 10s. [PCLR 5:383-4] It included purse with cash, apparel, books, three beds and other furniture, kitchen items, spinning wheel, sheep’s wool, four cows, on oxen, three young cattle, two sheep, and 12 bushels of Indian corn. 

Real estate listed in his inventory:

• one dwelling house & barn & upland & meadowland adjoining thereto with common privileges, £140
• ten acres of salt meadow land, £50
• five acres of upland, £20
• one whole share of land at Saconet [Little Compton], £100

Various unproven claims: There is some speculation Walter married Elizabeth Rogers, daughter of Mayflower passenger Thomas Rogers, but no proof of this has been found.  There is also a story that he came to New England with two brothers, but again no proof. The 1898 Woodworth genealogy assigns a son Walter but modern researchers agree this is an error.

Resources:

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995, pg 2064-7

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

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

Harvey Hunter Pratt, Early Planters of Scituate, 1929

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

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

Jeanette Woodworth Behan, The Woodworth Family of America: Descendants of Walter Woodworth of 1630 Through Six Generations, Volume 1, published by author, 1988

Thomas Granger (ca 1596 to ca 1642) and His Wife Grace Hasse (b. 1599) of Kent, England and Scituate, Massachusetts

Thomas Granger was born in England about 1596, possibly in Eastwell, Kent. I have not discovered his parents. He married Grace Hasse at Eastwell on 21 September 1620. Grace was baptized Eastwell, 15 April 1599, the daughter of Steven Hasse. [Parish Registers for Eastwell, Kent 1538-1985] Grace and Thomas are my 11th great-grandparents on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

Ruins of St. Mary's Church, Eastwell (source: wikipedia)

Grace and Thomas had three children, likely all born England:

1. Thomas born about 1626 in England; died 8 September 1642 at age 16 or 17 when he was executed for buggery [Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, hereafter PCR, 2:44]
2. John born about 1630 in England; died 4 October 1655 at Marshfield [Vital Records of Marshfield in The Mayflower Descendant, hereafter MD, 2:5] and buried Scituate; he was under 21 when his mother wrote her will in 1648; he likely died unmarried
3. Elizabeth born about 1636 (based on estimated age of 20 at marriage); she married John Booth in November 1656 probably in nearby Marshfield; died between 11 February 1719 (deed to son) and 1 May 1721 (son sold property) probably at Pembroke, Massachusetts which was formed from Duxbury in 1712. [Young]

I descend from Elizabeth. I wrote about Elizabeth and her husband here.

I have more research to do, but I found possible baptisms of Thomas and Grace’s sons, but in Nonington, Kent. [Ancestry “Kent England, Tyler Index to Parish Registers, 1538-1874]:

Thomas Grainger, son of Thomas, was baptized 17 April 1625

John Grainger, son of Thomas, was baptized 25 October 1629

Negative search for Elizabeth. Nonington is about a 29 mile drive from Eastwell on today’s roads.

Thomas and Grace came to New England on the ship Hercules in 1637. Thomas was listed as a servant to Joseph Bachelor, tailor of Canterbury, who settled Salem and then Wenham in Essex County. There were four additional Grangers on board: Grace [his wife], Stephen, Joan and a second Thomas [his son]. [Banks] Perhaps baby Elizabeth was too young to be listed or she was born later than estimated. I wonder if perhaps Joan Granger is a spelling error for son John. I do not know Stephen’s connection the the family—he’s not mentioned in any Plymouth Colony records that I have seen—perhaps a son who died young. Why Thomas’ servitude was short-lived is another unanswered question.  

The Grangers were at Scituate before 1642 where they lived south of the training field and northeast of Hick’s Swamp. [Deane]

Many of the early Scituate settlers were from Kent and followers of Rev. John Lothrop, who himself had been married at Eastwell and had two children baptized there. [The Great Migration Newsletter, 14:32] 

At the Plymouth court of 7 September 1642, "Thomas Granger (Jr.) late servant to Love Brewster of Duxborough with parents of Scituate, was this Court indicted for buggery or beastiality with a mare, a cow, two goats, divers sheep, two calves, and a turkey and was found guilty, and received sentence of death by hanging until he was dead." [PCR, 2:44] He was "about 16 or 17 years" [Bradford] I cannot imagine the grief and shame the family felt about this loss. I also descend from Love Brewster, and it was a large financial loss for him, losing a servant and 12 valuable and scarce farm animals. Thomas was required to identify each animal and they were destroyed as they were deemed unclean and not fit for any use. 

Young Thomas was likely made an example of because of the Pilgrims' concerns about keeping the growing colony's moral purity intact. Sodomy and buggery were considered worse offenses than premarital sex and adultery. Gov. Bradford speculated that "Satan hath more power in these heathen lands." [Philbrick]

At the 3 January 1642/3 Court, Mr. John Holmes [my 10th great grandfather], the Messenger, presented his account for his expenses which included “executing Granger and viij [12] beasts: £2 10 shillings.” [PCR 2:50]

The elder Thomas did not live long after his son’s execution, dying at Scituate probably in late 1642 as administration on Thomas’ estate was granted 3 January 1642/3 to Timothy Hatherly and Edward Eddenden "in the behalf of his wife and children" to pay debts. By this court order Hatherly became responsible for managing the estate of the deceased Thomas Granger, to pay debts, handle the affairs of the widow Grace Granger, and guide her and the two minor children, John and Elizabeth. [PCR 2:50-51] Hatherly was the leading citizen of Scituate, so perhaps his involvement in the estate indicated the Granger family was not treated like pariahs.

Grace, who at age 43 was already reeling from the horrific death of her son, was now left to raise her two remaining children alone. 

Grace Granger died sometime after she wrote her will on 24 November 1648. [NEHGS Register, 4:283 and MD 9:85] She was “in good health and memory,” and left bequests:

• Son John when he reaches age 21 my house and land; a share of Conihassett land Grace bought; a saw, one broad axe , one hoe, one narrow axe. “Now Whereas ther is tenn pounds payed out of my sonns mony in England my will is hee shall have all my land I bought at Conahsset to satisfy the tenn pound to him as in lew of it.” 
• Daughter Elizabeth a bedstead with feather bed, bolster, 2 pair of sheets, blanket and covering; one heifer with the increase; one great mortar and pestle; and one great kettle. 

Grace Granger signed with her mark; witnesses are Timothy Hatherley, John Hewse, Richard Beare.

Grace Granger, a widow, who seems to have owned a farm near the mouth of North River, on the Marshfield side, in 1648. [Deane]

Thomas and Grace’s son John died 4 October 1655 [VRs of Marshfield p 3 also reprinted in MD 2:5] at about age 25. His death was "unattested" (without witness) and reported to the Plymouth Colony General Court by a Grand Inquest on 5 March 1655(/6), although nothing is written about determination of cause of death. [PCR 3:97] His inventory was taken “the 24th day of the seaventh month November” 1655 [sic: “seaventh” month must be an error as November is ninth month] and exhibited at court 6 May 1656 by Richard Beer who had been granted administration. included three parcels of land in Scituate valued at £20. [MD 14:23, PCR 3:97-8]

Note that Deane in his Scituate history incorrectly identifies Grace’s husband as John, confusing father with the son.

Sources:

Malcolm A. Young, NEHGS Register, "John 1 Booth of Marshfield and Scituate, Massachusetts: Servant and Planter," Vol 159 (July 2005)

Charles Edward Banks, The Planters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1620-1640, 1930 

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

Robert Charles Anderson, The Mayflower Descendant, “Elizabeth Granger, Probable Wife of John Booth of Scituate,” 42:55 (1992)

Nathaniel Philbrick, Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War, 2006 

William Bradford, Of Plimouth Plantation, edited by Caleb H. Johnson, 2006

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