Sources for Deacon Edward Convers

(I) The immigrant ancestor was Deacon Edward Convers, who came to New England in the fleet of Governor Winthrop in 1630, and settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts. In 1631 a grant was made to him of the first ferry between Charlestown and Boston, and of this he retained control for several years under the favor of the general court. In the same year he was admitted a freeman, and was selectman from 1635 to 1640. His name is first on the list of seven commissioners appointed by teh church in Charlestown to arrange for a settlement at Woburn. With others he removed to the new town and ably assisted in its settlement and organization, and after its incorporation he became one of its most useful and honored citizens. He was selectman of the town from 1644 until his death, and was one of the commissioners for the trial fo minor causes. He was also one of the founders of the Woburn Church and a deacon for many years. His residence was in what is now a part of Winchester, and there he died August 10, 1663, aged seventy-three years. He was accompanied on his journey to American by his wife Sarah and several children. She died January 14, 1662, and he was married (second) September 19, following, to Joanna, widow of Ralph Sprague. He had three sons and a daughter: Josiah, James, Samuel and Mary.

(II) James, second son of Deacon Edward and Sarah Convers, was a native of England, born ___ 20, and came to America with his father as a child. He resided in Woburn and according to the history of that town "through long life he was a very valuable and highly esteemed citizen, who was repeatedly honored by the town with the ____ offices." He died May 10, 1717, aged ______ years. He was married Oct, 24, 1643 to Anna Long, daughter of Robert Long, of Charlestown and they were the parents of ten children.

(III) Major James (2) Convers, eldest son of Ensign James (1) Convers, was born Oct. __, 1645, in woburn, and died there July 8, 17__ in the sixty-first year of his age. He was a man of considerable prominenece in civil affairs, and ____distinction int he war with the French and ____. His daring and successful defence of Story Garrison at Wells in the year 1691, and during ____usually styled "King William's War", earned ___promotion to the rank of major. He was ___a member of the general court, and was ____elected speak of thehouse. He was married ___uary 1, 1669, to Hannah Carter, who was born ___uary 19, 1651, a daughter of Captain John and Elizabeth Carter, of Woburn. They had____children, only five of whom survived the ___youth.

(IV) John, son of Major James (2) and Hannah (Carter) Converse, was born August _, 1673, in Woburn, and resided int hat town __ after 1708, when he was absent about twenty ___. It is probable that duringthis time he ____ Dunstable, as he was a resident of the town ---subquently. He was married May 22, 1699, to Abigail Sawyer, who was born March 17, 1679, daughter of Joshua Sawyer, of Woburn. The___ of their children are recoded in ____previous to 1708, and his next appearance ___records of that town is at the birth of his son,___July 31, 1728. The older chidren were Joshua, ___, Patience and there were probably others ___the record, of whose births has not been dis____.

(V) Joshua, eldest son of John and Abigail (Sawyer) Converse, was born June 3, 17__, Woburn, but was early a resident of Dunstable ___. The year 1729 he removed to lot number four ___ the present town of Merrimack, New Hampshire, then constituting a part of the tract lying on ___sides of the river known by the name of N-----, or Litchfield. He was frequently elected to _____serving as moderator, assessor and selectman ___ upon several important committees. He ___ drowned in the Merrimack river in 1744. ____return of his estate found in the probated records, is shown to have been valued at one thousand ___hundred and five pounds, fourteen shillings, and four pence. His property, included an interest ___ saw mill and in toher lands besides his homestead. His personal property was valued at nearly ____hundred and forty-five pounds, outside of ____notes and book debts, which nearly trebled the amount. He was married July 31, 1729, to ____Blanchard, was was born March 23, 1712 in __stable, seventh daugher and eighth child of Joseph and Abiah (Hassel) Blanchard. (See Blanchard III). This marriage is recorded in Woburn and both parties are described as at Dunstable. The births of two of thier children, Joseph and Jesse, is found upon the records of the ancient town of Litchfield, and the third, Zebulon, is recorded in Merrimack , which was in 1744. There were ot doubt other older children which do not appear of record. Joseph's birth is recorded as occurring in November, 1739.