Our American Roots (Pac5)
Back to Main Page
Martha,
b. 1623
d. 21 MAR 1703 Andover, MA (age 80y)
Family:Spouse: Preston, RogerFamily History:
b. 1614 England
d. 20 NOV 1665 Lynn, MA
"Port of London, 8 April 1635. Theis parties hereunder mentioned are to be transported to New England imbarqued in the Elizabeth of London, Wm. Stagg master bound thither; they have taken oath of allegiance and supremacy, per certificate from St. Alphage, Cripplegate the minister thereof.
| Wm Holdred 25
Tanners | Roger Preston 21
| Daniel Bradley 29
| Isaac Stedman 30
That theis 3 ptes are no subsedie men we whose names hereunto written belonging to Blackwell Hall do averr they are none.
Robert Farrands
Thomas Smith."
"Granted to William Holdred an house lott an half an acre of ground lying on the south side of the towne River having an house lott of Daniel Hovey's on the Northeast and a house lott of Roger Preston's on the southwest; also six acres of planting ground lying on Sagamore Hill having six acres of the lyke ground of Daniel Hovey's on the West and a planting lott of Roger Preston's on the East to enjoy the said Landes to him his heirs and assigns forever. Entered this 9th day of Aprill 1639." "Mr. Browne his note of such as have forfeited for not returning their Powder according to an order of the Towne. (among others) Roger Presson oe339;1." "It is therefore ordered that henceforth the seaven men shall yearly in November put the said sum of 24oe339;--7s into a rate pportioning it upon the Inhabitants having also respect unto the bill of subscription of the Towne from yeare to yeare to be levyed and colected by the Constables and payd unto the sayd Major Denison on the 10th of December yearly soe long as he shall continue to be leader of this companye. "Voted by the Towne at the generall meeting above-mentioned. "A list of the names of those that did subscribe their names to allow unto Major Denison these severall sumes yearly while he continued to be our Leader. Roger Preston...3s" "The 10th of October 1653. "Reckoned with the cow-keepers for the North syde of the River and the cowes come to 3s y head Bulls and all. Roger Preston...3s" In 1656: "The Selectmen having considered the severall families of this Town and their employments have accordinge to the order of Court assessed them spinners as is underwritten for the year ensuing. Roger Preston...3 quarters 67 1/2 li." In "Old Homes of Ipswich," published at the time of the Ipswich celebration, is this statement: "On the opposite side of the river from the Howard house is an ancient and interesting residence. It was built with another which once stood by its side by Robert Wallis, and sold by him to Roger Preston whose wife's name was Martha." In 1658 Roger Preston sold his holdings in Ipswich and removed to Salem in 1660, as recorded in the Essex Registry of Deeds: "Be it known to all men whom it may concern that I Roger Preston of Ipswich in New England in the county of Essex planter, and Martha my wife for divers considerations me thereunto moving but especially in consideration of the full and just sum of one and fifty pounds of current country pay to be paid to me or my assigns at two several payments. viz: thirty pounds at Christide next following the date of these presents and the remainder by that time twelve months in current English corn sweet dry and merchantable by Reginald Foster of Ipswich aforsd, husbandman all that my dwelling house and house lot with the barns, cow-houses and other buildings thereunto belonging and also my other house lot, both which house lots contain two acres, more or less with the gardens orchards and fences and other privileges thereunto belonging which I purchased of Robert Wallis of Ipswich aforesaid as they be situated and inclosed on the north side of the river of Ipswich having the highway next the river toward the South and Thomas Knowlton's land and Robert Pierce's toward the North. The lane next Thomas Clark's East and another lane West and also one other planting lot of three acres be it more or less on the North side of the town hill abutting on ye land of Rose Whipple, widow, toward the West, Andrew Hodges land East, upon ye marsh of John Morse toward the North, and land of Thomas Treadwell toward the South and in the town of Ipswich aforesaid, to have and to hold and to quietly possess and enjoy the aforesaid with the commonage and all other privileges and appurtenancies thereunto belonging, unto the said Reginald Foster his heirs and assigns forever and the said Roger and Martha his wife do covenant and promise to warrant this sale of the premises and every part thereof to be free from all former sales mortgages and engagements whatsoever and that the said Reginald Foster shall from time to time and at all times henceforth use, occupy possess and enjoy the same and every part thereof to the proper use and behoof of the said Reginald Foster his heirs and assigns forever from all molestation or interruption of the said Roger and Martha my wife, our heirs executors and assigns or any other person laying any just claim thereto in by from or under us or any or either of us our heirs executors or assigns in witness whereof I the said Roger and Martha my wife have hereunto set our hand and seal dated the 11 day of March A. D. 1658. Subscribed sealed etc. in presence of James Chute and Robert Roberson
Roger Preston
her
Martha X Preston
mark
On the 14 March 1659 an agreement was made between George Norton and Roger Preston, "For the lease of the farm the said Norton now dwelleth in. The saide Roger Preston is to enter the fiftene day March 1659 otherwise date 1660 & to pay all dewes the said Norton is to pay & to have all rights that doth belong to the saide Norton & to pay to the saide Norton what those three men that have formerly viewed it shall finde it better than it was when the saide Norton came to it, in witness hereof we have enterchangeably set our hands this 14 day of March 1659." (Vol. XI, page 39, Quarterly Court Records.) This farm was a part of the Emanuel Downing farm, which extended from the slope of Felton's Hill, or Mount Pleasant as it is now called, to and beyond Proctor's Corner in the town of Peabody, formerly a part of Danvers, and previous to that of Salem. It was granted in 1635 to Robert Cole and by him sold in 1638 to Emanuel Downing. This farm was called Groton, in remembrance of his wife's ancestral home in England. There were at least four dwellings on the farm prior to 1661, and one of his tenants in 1648 was allowed to keep an "ordinary," "as Mr. Downings farm on the road between Lynn and Ipswich was a convenient place." This farm was leased to George Norton of Salem, carpenter, for a term of ten years from the first of March 1656, and here Roger Preston made his abode in 1660. Lease to George Norton from Lucie Downing: "This indenture witnesseth that Lucie Downing of Salem in New England with ye consent of Emanuel Downing her husband hath let and farmed unto George Norton sometime of Salem aforesaid Carpenter her farme caled Groton neere unto ye farme of ye worshipfull John Endecot Esq. in Salem aforesd for & during the term of tenn yeares from ye first of March 1656." Court at Salem on the 27--9mo--1660, granted the following license: "Roger Preston is allowed of by this court to keep an ordinary and to sell strong liquors for ye entertainment of strangers for ye year ensuing," and the following year the license was renewed. This farm was favorably located for an inn, as in those days all the travel from Boston to Ipswich and other towns in that vicinity went over this road, and Roger Preston probably entertained many of his old Ipswich neighbors at his new home. Roger died shortly before his lease expired in 1666, after having occupied the farm only six years. Quarterly Court Records at Salem, Vol. V, page 52, "Salem 9mo 1659. Roger Preston pltf. agst. Wm. Cogswell deft. in an action of the case for not performing of agreement in paying for fence which plt. set upon his ground which he took to halves according to sumons. "The jury find for plt. oe339;7--2s damage. "Costs of Court oe339;1--15--4." John Proctter, sr. and John Choot, chosen by Rodger Presson to appraise a parcel of four-rail fencing, Nov. 22, 1659, adjudged its value to be 14d. per rod. John Knoulton and Thomas Varney chosen to measure a parcel of fence which Rogger Presson set up for Will. Cogswell, it being four score and sixteen rods; there were also sixteen four-hole posts. Dated Nov. 25, 1659. John Andrews, aged about forty years, deposed that he went with Presson, when the latter asked Willm. Cogswell to release him of his bargain to hire Cogswell's farm. The latter refused to allow Presson anything for repair of the housing but agreed to pay him for the fence he had set up, etc. and to release him at Michaelmas. Sworn 27:9:1659 before D. Denison. John Chote deposed that when he heard that Roger Preston had given up the farm, he asked William Coggswell if the latter would let it to him, and Coggswell replied that Preston was to stay in the house to feed out his fodder, but he would let it to deponent as soon as any other man, etc. Sworn in Court, before Hillyard Veren, cleric. Feb. 9, 1665. For valuable consideration or sum of money Roger Preston, husbandman, sold Capt. George Corwin, merchant, "all his visible estate in Salem, corn, cattle, hay and household stuffs, four oxen, four yearling steers and fifteen swine. Also all corn I sd. Roger shall plant or sow the year ensuing." "Widow Preston married Nicholas Holt, 21 May 1666 in Andover, MA" (Andover Records). "Thomas Preston plt. agst. John Newman deft. in the action of the case for illegal taking away of a heifer of the plt." 26-4-1666. (Quarterly Court Rec., Salem.) "Deposition of Samuel Preston aged about 15 years. I Samuell Preston do heare testifie that about a year and a half since my brother Thomas Preston bought of my father Roger Preston one red heifer . . . (taken upon oath 19th 4th 66 before Simon Bradstreet)." (Vol. XI, page 106, Quarterly Court Records.) "Deposition of Martha Holt aged about 44 years. I Martha Holt doe heare testifie that about a yeare and a half since my sonn Thomas Preston bought of my husband Roger Preston one red hayfer. . . . (19th 4th 66 before me Simon Bradstreet)." (Vol. XI, page 106, Quarterly Court Rec.) "Ipswich, March 27, 1666. Whereas Roger Preston dyed intestate, none appearing to take administration of the estate, this court orders that the estate of said Roger Preston be deposited and preserved in the hands of Thomas Preston until the next court held at Salem, there to bring in a true inventory and then the court will take order about the estate and disposing of it." "Ipswich, March 27, 1666. This Court being informed that Widow Preston hath put out two of her sons one to Thomas Johnson and one to Stephen Johnson until they be 21 years of age, this Court allows it and Mr. Bradstreet desired to see it done." The above could only refer to Samuel and John, as Thomas was twenty-three years old at this time, Jacob eight, and Levi only four. May 20, 1671, Jacob Preston was apprenticed to Thomas Chandler of Merrimack: This indenture made and concluded this 20th day of May in the year of ye Lord God one thousand six hundred & seventy one and in the three and twenty year of the reign of ye Soveraigne Lord Charles the 2d. by the Grace of God of England France and Ireland & Scotland, King defender of the faith, etc. Between ensign Thomas Chandler of Merrimack in the county of Essex in New England, Blacksmith on ye one part and Jacob Preston of Andover with the full consent of Nicholas Holt of Andover aforsd his father in law by the marriage of his mother, and also with the full consent of his natural mother hath and doth by these presents bind himself an apprentice to ye said Thomas seven years to be completed and ended accounting from the 26th day of March last past until the said seven years next and immediately ensuing the said 26th of March 1671 shall be fully expired. During which time of seven years the said Jacob shall behave and demean himself during his said apprenticeship as an apprentice or servant ought for to do according to the usual custom of England in the like case. During which time also of seven years, the above named Thomas, master unto ye said Jacob is hereby obliged and stands bound at his own costs and charges to provide and procure for his said servant meat drink and clothing washing and lodging with all other things convenient necessary and sufficient for an apprentice as is usual in England. And the said Chandler is to learn or cause his said apprentice to be learnt to read ye English tongue perfectly, to write and cypher or cast and keep accounts sufficiently for his own employment of a blacksmith if his capacity will attain thereunto. And the said Thomas is hereby obliged according to his own best skill & ability to learn and instruct the said Jacob in the trade and art of a blacksmith if the said Jacob be capable of learning the same, and he shall keep his said servant Jacob at work upon the said trade as much as may be without damage to other necessary occasions that may fall out unavoidably to be done in a family that so far for want of time & use and instruction ye said Jacob may have no just grounds to complain of his own want of experience or profiting under his said master in ye said trade of a blacksmith. Also ye said Thomas when ye said seven years are expired shall give the said Jacob two suits of apparel from head to foot suitable for a person of his degree one good and handsome and suitable to wear on ye Sabbath day, and the other convenient for the week days. The said Thomas doth bind himself heirs executors and administrators to the said Jacob his heirs and assigns to fulfill the article herein contained belonging for him to do for the said servant. In witness whereof ye said parties Thomas and Jacob as they are severally concerned in this instrument and the articles of the same have hereunto set their hands and seals. (Quarterly Court Records, Vol. XXX, page 43.)
Signed & Sealed Thomas Chandler
before his
George Abbott Jr. Jacob + Preston
Alexander Sessions mark
"The complaint of William Curtis to the honered Court now sitting in Salem humbly sheweth, May it please your honers to take notice that about 22 months since I bought a sarvant of Thomas Chandler of Andover, Jacob Presson by name. My sarvent continued with me about eleven months my family being at that time very sick and Jacob not being very well, I gave him leave and lent him my horse to go to Andover to be a while amongst his friends, but being taken sick by the way at his brothers, there he lay for sometime. After he recovered he went to Andover to his father Holts where I was willing he should be a while but in the beginning of the last winter I sent for my man to come home." He made an excuse to go for some corn again and instead of returning, he sent back the horse and stayed away himself. Quoting from the "History of Andover": "He seems to have had a rather unhappy apprenticeship, for after his transfer of masters and his being compelled as he was by orders of the Court to serve out his time with William Curtis, he presents a petition to the Court for the clothes promised him, saying that the said Curtis of Salem whom he was appointed by the Court in 1670 to serve, refused at the end of that time to fulfil the terms of the indenture in the matter of double apparrel and that the poor petitioner prays for redress, for he is indeed come out of his time very poor and hath not where withall to go to law to recover his right." Salem 27--4mo 1676. "Upon a complaint made by William Curtice agst. Tho. Preston it is ordered that it be referred to the adjournment of this court & accordingly summons be issued for the ptes concerned there to appear viz: Good. Holt, Thos. Preston, & his brother." Salem, 18 July, 1676: "Whereas there was a complaint made by William Curtis against his servant Jacob Preston for leaving of his service and the sd. Jacob appearing to answer, this Court do order the sd Jacob to serve out his time according to Indenture with the said Wm. Curtice who is also to fulfil the indenture to his said servant likewise on his pt. and after that time is expired to serve three months more next following in consideration of time lost or neglected. "This sd. Jacob promises and it is to be understood that sd. Curtice is to keep him to work at the trade of a blacksmith which he now useth & each to bear charges & also Thomas Preston to bear his pt. . . ." Salem 24--5mo 1678. "Whereas there was a difference between William Curtice and his servant Jacob Preston about the fulfilling of his indenture of apprenticeship on either part and they moving of it to the court who do advise & they accordingly agreed to refer the sd difference to the Worshipful Maj. Wm. Hathorne to fully end and determine and make a final end of said difference or demands in what way be thought right & just in order to either party fulfilling the said indenture." Salem 25--9mo 1679. "Jacob Preston being lost away at sea this court grants power of administration of his estate to John Preston who is to bring in an inventory of the estate to the next court held at Salem and acknowledged himself to stand bound in œ20 bond and to administer according to law." Salem 29--4mo 1680. "John Preston, administrator to the estate of Jacob Preston, presented an inventory of the said estate and made oath to the truth to the best of his knowledge." Inventory of Jacob Preston: "A true inventory of the estate of Jacob Preston whoe in all probabilitie hath bin departed this life for these several months having bin wanting about nine or ten months gon forth in a small ketch upon a fishing design to the eastward & never yet returned nor certainly heard of. His goods and what belongs to him as presented unto us by Thomas Preston & which the said Preston desiring us Richard Croade & John King to Appraise are to our best judgements as follows: Dated in Salem the 30th day of June Anno Dom 1680 ist.
A chest with a lock & keyœSd
600060
One hatt 4s an old pair of breeches100
A new red cloth waistcoate150
A pair of dowlas drawers40
A pair of cotton & lynnen drawers little worne30
One yard and half of holland76
A genting neckcloth10
Due to the above said estate Per Levy Preston2050
Per Samuel Preston1050
œ5166
The estate aforesaid of Jacob Preston is debtor & due to be paid
viz To Mr Nehemiah Willoughby0131 1/2
To Nathaniel Ingerson70
To Sarah Trask1100
To Symon Horne120
Benjamin Horne120
To Mr Thomas Preston2140
5081 1/2
"Unresolved how the account stands between Mr William Bowditch & the abovesaid Jacob Preston, Thomas Preston having don his best endeavors to have had a settlement of the account between said Mr. Bowditch & Jacob Preston but cannot yet attain it. "John Preston administrator gave oath in Court to the truth of the above said inventory." (Quarterly Court Records, Vol. XXXIII, page 106.)Children:
Preston, Thomas
Preston, Jacob
b. 1658 Ipswich, MA
Preston, Levi
Back to Main Page
Copyright 2001 Richard Joseph Bucknum