JOHN BICKNELL, son of John Bicknell and Mary ___, was born at Weymouth, MA, about 1653/4. He died at Weymouth, 4 Aug 1737, and was buried at Burial Hill, Weymouth.
He married, by 1688, SARAH ___. She died at Weymouth, 12 Feb 1730.
He was a farmer and cooper by trade. He made his will 1 Apr 1724. In his will, he called himself a husbandman. He was buried at Burial Hill between Weymouth Heights and North Weymouth.
The following are the probate records of John Bicknell (Suffolk County, MA, Probate, Vol. 33, pg. 260-262, 299-300 and Vol. 34, pg. 115-116).
The administration:
Josiah Willard Esq.r Commissioned by His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq.r Capt.n General & Governour in Chief in & over His Majesty's Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England by and with the advice & consent of the Council to be Judge of the Probate of Wills and for Granting Letters of Adminacon on the Estates of Persons Deced. Having Goods, Chattels, Rights or Credits in the County of Suffolk within the Province aforesaid. To all unto whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. Know Ye, That upon the Day of the Date hereof before me at Boston in the County aforesaid, the Will of John Bicknell late of Weym.o in the County aforesaid Husbandman deced. To these Presents annexed, was Proved approved and allowed. Who having while he Lived, and at the time of his Death, Goods, Chattels, Rights or Credits in the County aforesaid; and the Probate of the said Will and Power of committing Adminacon of all & singular the Goods, Chattels, Rights & Credits of the said Deced. By vertue thereof Appertaining unto me The Adminacon of all and singular the Goods, Chattels, Rights and Credits of the said Deced and his will in any manner concerning, is hereby Committed unto his two Sons John Bicknell & Ebenezer Bicknell Executors in the same will named. Well & faithfully to Execute the said will and to Administer the Estate of the said Deced according thereunto; and to make a true and perfect Inventory of all & singular the Goods, Chattels, Rights & Credits of the s.d Deced: and to Exhibit the same into the Registry of the Court of Probate for the County aforesaid, at or before the Sixteenth Day of November next Ensuing: and also to render a plain & true accompt of their s.d Adminacon upon oath. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand, and the Seal of the s.d Court of Probate. Dated at Boston the Sixteenth Day of August Anno Dom.i 1737.
John Boydell Reg.r J Willard
The will:
In the Name of God Amen The first Day of April in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred & twenty four. I John Bicknell of Weymouth in the County of Suffolk in His Majesty's Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England Husbandman Tho' weak of Body but of perfect Mind & Memory thanks be given to God therefor, and calling to Mind my Mortality and knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to Die, Do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following That is to Say, Principally and first of all I give my sould to God that gave it, in & thro' Jesus Christ my only Saviour & Dear Redeemer in whom I hope for Eternal Life, and my Body I Recommend to the Earth from whence it was to be buried in a decent & Christian like manner at the discretion of my Execut:rs hereafter named. Nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection to receive the same again by the mighty Power of God.
And as for such Worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless Me with, I Give devise & dispose of in the following manner & form.
Imprimis I give & bequeath to my well beloved Wife Sarah Bicknell the Yearly Income of my whole Estate during her natural Life (except two Beds & the furniture belonging to them which I dispose of as followeth viz.
Item I give to my son Ebenezer Bicknell that Bed & Beding he makes use of for his own Lodging to receive for his own at my Decease over & above his Portion hereafter mentioned.
Item I give to my Daughter Sarah Bicknell that Bed & Beding she makes use of for her own Lodging which Bed & Beding shall be reckoned part of the Forty pounds herein given her for her Portion.
Item I give to my Daughter Mary Turner of Bridgwater so much out of my Estate as will make her Portion Forty pounds that which she hath already received to be Reckoned part of the Forty pounds to be paid her within one year after mine & my Wife's Decease.
Item I give to my Daughter Sarah Bicknell so much out of my Estate as will make her Portion Forty pounds the Bed & Beding given her above to be Reckoned part of the Forty Pounds, to be paid her within One Year after mine and my Wife's decease
Item I give to my four Sons John Bicknell Zechariah Bicknell Benjamin Bicknell & Ebenezer Bicknell (my Just Debts & funeral Expences being first defrayed and within one year after mine & my Wife's Decease all the Remainder of my whole Estate not herein otherwise disposed of both Real & Personal of what kind or nature soever in Equal Proportion to them & to their Heirs & assigns forever.
Moreover I ordain constitute & appoint my Sons John Bicknell and Ebenezer Bicknell, above mentioned Executors of this my Last Will & Testament. I Appoint my said son John Bicknell & my Son Ebenezer Bicknell to Improve my Whole Estate not above disposed of to the best Advantage rendering & paying the whole yearly Income thereof to my above named wife for her Subsistance there shall be no Ship or Waste made upon any of my Estate nor any Wood cut or Transported during my Wife's Life but only for her Use to Burn in her fire Room which I appoint she shall have at her own choice in which of my Houses she pleases.
Lastly my Will is that if any or either of my Sons above named shall be so discontented with the Portion which I have hereby given him or to Disturb & molest any or either of the other wth Troublesome Law Suit or Suits to get more than I have herein given him he shall have Five Shillings and no more of my Estate for his Portion.
Also my Will is that if my Daughter Sarah Bicknell shall continue to live Unmarried & be Disabled from Supporting herself my four sons above named shall take care of her and provide for her subsistance
And I Do hereby revoke Disannul & utterly make void all other Will or Wills by Me made either by Word or Writing Ratifying and Confirming this & only this for my Last Will & Testament. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal the Day and Year first above mentioned,
Mem.o The Houshold Stuff which my s.d Wife had when I was Marryed to her or brought with her to Me I give to her to dispose of at her Discretion
John Bicknell & a Seal
Signed Sealed published pronounced & Delared by the Testator aboves.d as his Last will & Testam.t in y.e presence of us
Witnesses John Torrey Exam:d p: John Boydell Reg.r
John Torrey Ju.r
Josiah Torry
Suffolk ss: By the Hon.ble Josiah Willard, Esq.r Judge of Pro: &c
The foregoing Will being presented for Probate by the Executors therein named. John Torrey then Jur. & Josiah Torry made oath that they saw John Bicknell the Subscriber to this Instrument Sign & Seal & heard him publish & declare the same to be his Last Will & Testament and that when he so did he was of sound disposing Mind & Memory according to these Deponents best discerning And that they together with John Torrey since deced, set to their hands as Witnesses thereof in the said Testator's presence
Boston Aug.t 16: 1737 J Willard
The inventory of the estate:
To the Hon.ble Judge of Probate for the County of Suffolk These are to Certifie that M.r Abiah Whitman M.r John Torrey & M.r James Humphrey all of Weym.o were sworn to the true & just apprizement of the Estate of M.r John Bicknell deced, according to the best of their Judgments
Before Me Benj.n Dyar Justice peace
The Inventory of the Estate of John Bicknell late of Weym.o deced both Real & Personal Apprized by us the Subscribers the 21st Day of Sept.r anno Dom. 1737
Housing & Lands £ 1807 10 -
Wearing Apparel £6. 8/ 20 Ounces of Silver Money £20 26 8 -
Bills of Credit £20. Bonds due to the Estate £71. 7. 9 91 7 9
Notes of Hand and other due Debts 79 16 -
two old Beds & Beding belonging thereunto 15 16 -
a Bed & Beding given to his son Ebenezer by Will 11 2 6
a Bed & Beding given to his Daughter Sarah 15 - -
two Bibles & Sermon Books 22/ Pewter dishes £6 7 2 -
Brass Kettle Skillet & warming pan 5 13 -
2 Iron Potts & Hooks Iron Kettle Skillet & frying pan 2 5 -
a p.r of Andirons Trammel Spit fire Slice & Tongs 1 7 -
Coopers Tools & sundry sorts of old Iron Utensils 2 7 -
a Box Iron 3 Glass Bottles Pepper box & Spectacles - 7 10
Scales & Weights & Earthen Ware 14/2 Cyder Cask 35/ 2 9 2
5 old Chests 24/ a round Table Cupboard & Chairs 53/ £ 3 17 -
an old Saddle & Bridle - 17 -
old wooden Lumber of sundry Sorts 24/6
a Grindstone & 2 old Baggs 11/ 2 13 6
an old musket 2 old Swords & Powder horn - 17 -
one Cow £9. One thousand of Boards £ 14 - -
___ ___ ___
Abiah Whitman, John Torrey, James Humphrey £ 2090 15 11
Suffolk ss: By the Hon.ble Josiah Willard Esq.r Judge of Pro: &c
John Bicknell & Ebenezer Bicknell Executors presented the foregoing & made Oath that it contains a true & perfect Inventory of the Estate of John Bicknell late of Weymouth aforesaid deced so far as hath come to their knowledge and that if more Hereafter appear they will cause it to be added. The Subscribing apprizers being Sworn before Justice Dyar as the Law directs
J Willard
Boston Oct.o 18: 1737
Exam:d p: John Boydell Reg.r
The executor's account of the estate:
Suffolk ss: The Accompt of John & Ebenezer Bicknell Exec:rs
to the Last Will & Testament of their Father
John Bicknell late of Weymouth Yeoman deced.
The said Accomptants Charge themselves with all & singular the Goods, Chattels, Rights & Credits of the said deced. Specifyed in an Inventory thereof by them Exhibited into the Registry of the Court of Probate for the County aforesaid on the 18th of October 1737 amounting to £2090. 15. 11
Whereof £ 1807. 10 -- is in Real Estate
283. 5. 11 Personal Estate
__ __ __ __ __
£ 2090. 15. 11
And the said accomptants pray allowance as follows
Paid for 6 Vails £ 4 10 -
pd for 22 p.r Mens & 7 p.r Womens Gloves. For the Funeral 11 13 -
pd for 6 Gall.o Wine for the Funeral 2 8 -
pd Expences in sending to Boston for Sundrys for the Funeral 1 9 -
pd for Proving the Will Recording Copy &c 1 - -
pd one of the Witnesses to the Will 20/ y.e apprizers 55/ 3 15 -
pd for Digging the Grave Coffin &c 18/ for Grave Stones £6. 10/ 7 8 -
pd for Recording the Inventory oaths &c - 18 -
pd for Swearing the Apprizers & acknowledging 2 Acquittances - 6 -
pd Mary Turner her Legacy per Will 40 - -
pd Sarah Sargeant Ditto 25 - -
Sarah Sargeant Bed & Beding given her by Will apprized at 15 - -
To the Executors Time Trouble & Expences 20 - -
pd for Drawing Allowing & Recording this acco.t &c 1 - -
___ ___ ___
£ 134 7 -
Executors John Bicknell
Eben.r Bicknell
Suffolk ss: By the Hon.ble Josiah Willard Esq.r Judge of Pro: &c
John Bicknell & Ebenezer Bicknell Exec.rs presented the foregoing & made oath that it contains a true & Just accompt of their adminacon on the Estate of their Father John Bicknell aforesd deced and preoduced Receipts and Vouchers for the several payments therein mentioned; w.ch I Do Allow & approve of
Boston Oct.o 24th 1738 J Willard
Exam.d per John Bydell Reg.r
Children of John and Sarah (___) Bicknell, born at Weymouth:
1. JOHN BICKNELL, b. 24 Nov 1688; d. at Abington, 2 Apr 1779; m. at Weymouth, 10 Jul 1714, HANNAH HUMPHREY, who was b. at Weymouth, 6 Jul 1692, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Humphrey. They removed to Abington after 1725. Children of John and Hannah (Humphrey) Bicknell, born at Weymouth:
a. JOHN BICKNELL, b. 30 Aug 1715; m. intentions at Weymouth, 13 May 1739, EXPERIENCE RANDALL, who was b. at Weymouth, 24 Jan 1718/9, daughter of John and Susannah (Benson) Randall. Resided in Abington, MA.
b. JOSEPH BICKNELL, b. 23 Nov 1719; m. at Weymouth, 14 Apr 1743, JANE TORREY, who was b. at Weymouth, 28 Feb 1721/2, daughter of Joshua and Jane (Lovell) Torrey. Resided in Abington, MA.
c. NATHANIEL BICKNELL, b. 9 Apr 1725. Resided in Abington, MA.
2. ZACHARIAH BICKNELL, b. 28 Oct 1691; d. after 28 Feb 1770; m. at Weymouth, 10 Oct 1720, BATHSHEBA WHITMARSH, who was b. at Weymouth, 9 May 1700, daughter of Ezra and Bathsheba (Richards) Whitmarsh. She was living 28 Feb 1770. He made his will 28 Feb 1770, bequeathing to his wife Bathsheba, to his sons Zachariah, David and Lemuel, and to his daughters Bathsheba and Grace, portions of his estate. Children of Zachariah and Bathsheba (Whitmarsh) Bicknell, born at Weymouth:
a. BATHSHEBA BICKNELL, b. 9 Aug 1723; m. first, at Weymouth, 17 Jan 1744/5, PETER JACOBS; m. second, intentions, 24 Apr 1767, MOSES ROGERS of Newcastle, ME.
b. GRACE BICKNELL, b. 26 Apr 1726; d. at Weymouth, 27 Jul 1736.
c. ZACHARIAH BICKNELL, b. 25 Jul 1728; d. at Weymouth, 29 Jun 1802, aged 75 years; m., intentions at Weymouth, 10 Apr 1752, PATIENCE TOWER, who was b. at Hingham, MA, 20 Dec 1730, daughter of Peter and Patience (Gardner) Tower. She d. at Weymouth, 18 Apr 1799, "aged 57 years, very suddenly."
d. EZRA BICKNELL, b. 2 Sep 1731; d. 29 Apr 1740.
e. DAVID BICKNELL, b. 11 Jul 1734; m. first, at Weymouth, 19 Nov 1755, JERUSHA VINSON, who was b. about 1736 and bapt. in May 1742, daughter of Samuel and Jane (Vinson) Vinson of Weymouth. She d. at Weymouth, 25 Jan 1770, aged 34 years. David Bicknell m. second, at the North Parish of Weymouth, 31 May 1770, RUTH LINCOLN, perhaps daughter of Elisha and Melia (Whitcomb) Lincoln of Weymouth.
f. GRACE BICKNELL, b. 18 Sep 1736.
g. LEMUEL BICKNELL, b. 25 Jun 1739; m. at Weymouth, 4 Sep 1760, RUTH VINING, who was b. at Weymouth, 7 Feb 1745, daughter of George and Ruth (Derby) Vining.
h. SARAH BICKNELL, b. 14 Jul 1741; d. at Weymouth, 19 Sep 1741.
+3. BENJAMIN BICKNELL, b. 8 Jun 1694; d. at Weymouth, 27 Oct 1772; m. first, at Boston, MA, 4 Nov 1717, SUSANNAH HUMPHREY; m. second, at Weymouth, 9 May 1767, BETHIAH (ADAMS) HUNT.
4. MARY BICKNELL, b. 1696; m. at Weymouth, 8 May 1717, JOHN TURNER.
5. JOSEPH BICKNELL, b. 28 Feb 1698; d. at Weymouth, 27 Aug 1719.
6. EBENEZER BICKNELL, b. 22 Jan 1700/1; d. at Weymouth, 21 Nov 1780; m. at Weymouth, 30 Jan 1726/7, MARY HOLBROOK, who was b. about 1700, daughter of Cornelius and Experience Holbrook of Weymouth. She d. at Weymouth, 21 Nov 1781 in her 81st year. Both are buried in the Old Cemetery at North Weymouth. Children of Ebenezer and Mary (Holbrook) Bicknell, born at Weymouth:
a. EBENEZER BICKNELL, b. 3 Dec 1727; d. at Weymouth, 2 Jan 1771; m. at Weymouth, 4 May 1749, SARAH TIRRELL, who was b. at Weymouth, 24 Aug 1730, daughter of John and Deborah (Whitmarsh) Tirrell. She m. second, at Weymouth, 7 Apr 1774, as his second wife, SAMUEL HUMPHREY, who was b. at Weymouth, 7 Jun 1728, son of Jonas and Mary (Neal) Humphrey. He d. at Weymouth, 10 Nov 1800, aged 72 years. She d. at Weymouth, 14, 15 or 17 Sep 1811, aged 81 years, a widow. Samuel Humphrey had married, first, at Weymouth, 7 Nov 1751, SARAH BADLAM, who was b. at Weymouth, 31 Aug 1727, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Phillips) Badlam. She d. at Weymouth in 1772 age 45 years.
b. JAMES BICKNELL, b. 25 Oct 1732; d. at Weymouth, 20 Oct 1751 in his 19th year.
c. MARY BICKNELL, b. 1 Nov 1734; d. 12 Oct 1751 in her 16th year.
7. SARAH BICKNELL, m., intentions published at Weymouth, 7 Apr 1728, WILLIAM SARGENT.