"Jacob Towne was a boy of three or four when he came to New England with his parents."  (The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes - Walter Goodwin Davis)

Lived with his father in Salem about 12 years at Northfields, probably going to Topsfield when his father did.  (George Towne book;  The Descendants of William Towne - Edwin Eugene Towne; NEGHS, Vol. 21 page 16)

1657;  Sued by Mr. William Perkins, but case withdrawn.  (The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes - Walter Goodwin Davis)

1660;  At a county court held at Salem, in the case of Henry Bartholomew plaintiff, Jacob Towne as defendant; William, Edmund and Joseph Towne were witnesses, and in their evidence William stated that he was three score years old, Edmund that he was thirty one years of age, and Joseph that he was about one and twenty.  (NEHGS, Vol. 21, p. 16)  Jacob sued for witholding a mare and foal from Bartholomew. Bartholomew the victor.  (The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes - Walter Goodwin Davis)

The records of the town of Topsfield show that the road to Salem which bordered Salem Village began upon John Porter's farm, and went through the lands of William Towne, and his sons, Jacob and Edmund.  (Currents of Malice  - Persis W. McMillen)

1661;  Name appears with Isaac Esty, Edmond and William Towne on Topsfield's original list of thirty commoners.  (Currents of Malice - McMillen)

1663;  Parents William and Joanna, deeded 2/3 of the home they live in, the barn, outhouses, yard, gardens, orchards, "lying situate and being in Topsfield, together with a parcel of broken upland by the meadow side, only a cartway reserved between the said land and the meadow towards the South, and the land of Jacob Towne towards the East, and the land of Jacob Towne and Edmund Towne towards the North, and the Lands of Isaac Estie towards the West - also another parcell of land broke up and upbroken, containing an estimation of thirty acres, bounded by the way towards the Southeast and Northeast, and a way also towards the Southwest; the land of Zacheus Gould and Edmund Towne towards the Northwest and the land of Edmund Towne and Isaac Estie towards the North.  Also a parcell of meddow lying on the North side of the river, having the river for the bounds towards the South, a highway towards the West, and a way towards the North, and meddow of Jacob Towne towards the East, containing by estimation fourteen acres." to son Joseph just prior to his marriage with Phebe Perkins; "In consideration of natural affection and the contemplated marriage of our son Joseph Towne to Phebe Perkins..."  Joseph also to have first refussal of the remaining 1/3 when it should be for sale.  (George Towne book; Pope's Pioneers of MA; NEHGS, Vol. 21, p 15)

1669;  Committee to lay out a highway.   With brother Jacob, laid out the road leading towards the south from the bridge near their father's house. This road was to be one pole wide, and must be one of the oldest roads on the south side of the river.  History of Topsfield; Topsfield Town Records)

1675;  Committee to view a highway.  (Topsfield Town Records)

1676;  Trial Juror.   (The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes - Walter Goodwin Davis)

1677 - 8;  Topsfield granted him upland and swamp south of the river.  (Topsfield Town Records)

1678; "Edmund Bridges was involved in 1678 in a court case with a powerful Salem merchant, Mr. Edmund Batter... The character of Edmund Batter is described by Bernard Bailyn as "extraordinary in it's brutality..." Edmund Bridges sued Batter for defamation of character for : "saying that (the said Bridges) was the leader of a factious company in Salem and that it was their design to overthrow all order and government in the town of Salem, and also for saying that the plaintiff was the caus of all trouble in Salem."  Bridges relations and some others came to his defense. Francis Nurse, a brother in law, and Isaac Cooke, deposed that in a public town meeting in the past spring, they had heard Batter make these charges. Jacob Towne, another brother in law, and John Hobb, testified that fifteen years earlier when Bridges had been a resident and voter in Topsfield, he had opposed those who did not have the right to vote by law.  In other words, that Bridges was on the side of law and order.  They also said that he had taken the required oath of fidelity twelve years earlier. Thomas Preston, a son in law of Rebecca and Francis Nurse and therefore another relative of Bridges, testified that he had heard Batter say that Edmund Bridges was the ringleader of the opposing company. He further deposed that, as he was generally at town meetings, he had never heard Bridges speak before he asked leave of the moderator.  Bridges had told Preston that he wished to prevent disorder at the meetings."  The opposing side was a powerful group of elites, and the judges as well.  The court ruled against Bridges and imposed a fine of two pounds, five shillings and eighpence to be paid to Batter."  (Currents of Malice - Persis W. McMillen)

1678-9;  Selectman.  (Topsfield Town Records)

1679-80-81;  Committee to settle boundary disputes.  (Topsfield Town Records)

1680;  One of the committee appointed by the church to choose a minister, and Mr. Joseph Capen having come to Topsfield for the preliminary interviews, Towne was directed to accompany Capen back to Dorchester  "and bring him again with his friends consent to continue with us in the ministry".   (The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes - Walter Goodwin Davis)

1681;  Trial Juror and Corporal in town's train band.
At age about 50 he testified that thirty five or six years ago his father had bought twenty acres of land from Jeffery Massey and paid for it in wheat, and when his father removed from Salem to Topsfield in 1651, he sold the lot, which was at Ryal Side, to Nathaniel Felton.    (The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes - Walter Goodwin Davis)

1682;  Committee to lay out 12 acres to Mr. Capen.  Selectman.  Corporal.  (Topsfield Town Records)
Acted as agent for his town in the bitter dispute between Salem and Topsfield over the boundary line, which is considered to have had vengeful repercussions in the witchcraft accusations of 1692. (The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes - Walter Goodwin Davis)

1/17/1683;  Petition for settlement of a small estate left the undersigned by their father, who died ten years ago leaving no will, but left his estate in the hands of their mother who was appointed administatrix and the estate remained unsettled until her death, and now they desire that the following division may be allowed: the land to be divided equally to his three sons, Edmond, Jacob, and Joseph and the moveables equally to the three daughters, Rebecca, Mary, and Sarah; also the three brothers to pay all debts now due and what charges shall arise in settlement of the estate to be equally borne by all six.  Signed by Mary (her mark) Towne relict of Edmond, Jacob Towne, Joseph (his mark) Towne, Francis (his mark) Nurse with the consent of Rebecca, Mary (her mark) Esty formerly Mary Towne, Sarah (her mark) Bridges.      Witness:  John How, John Pritchet  Allowed by the court at Ipswich April 10, 1683  (Ipswich Deeds, Vol 4 page 515)

1683 - 4;  Selectman.  (Topsfield Town Records)

1684;  Committee to provide for Mr. Capen's ordination and on the committee to settle line between Ipswich and Topsfield.  (Topsfield Town Records;  The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes - Walter Goodwin Davis)

1685;  In the case of Norman vs. Orne, at Ipswich, Jacob Towne, Sr., aged about 54 years, testified and said that he lived in Salem in the North fields, that he had lived there about 12 years and that he had been absent from there now for thirty four years.   (NEHGS, Vol. 21, p. 16)

1686;  Committee to examine bounds adjoining common.  (Topsfield Town Record)

1687;  Committee to seat meeting house, a task requiring great tact.   Ensign in town's train band.   (Topsfield Town Records; The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes - Walter Goodwin Davis)

1692;  Grand Juror.   (The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes - Walter Goodwin Davis)

12/30/1692;  Ensign Jacob Towne was chosen by Topsfield to serve as grand juryman at the forthcoming trials in Salem.  The new court met on January 3, 1693.  Although the name of Jacob Towne does not appear amongst the grandjuryman sworn on that date, it is likely he served.  (Currents of Malice - Persis W. McMillen)

1701;  Tythingman.  (The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes - Walter Goodwin Davis)

11/24/1704;  Will dated at Topsfield. (George Towne book;  The Descendants of William Towne - Edwin Eugene Towne;  NEHGS, Vol. 21 page16)

1/1/1705;   Will proven.  Synopsis;  Jacob Jr. to have the land he was settled upon, about 49 acres on the Ipswich River, also 1 acre and 60 poles of meadow on the north side.
Daughter Catherine Perkins to have 5 pounds in addition to what he had already done for her, not in or as money but other current pay.
Daughter Deliverance Stiles wife of John, to have 4 pounds in addition to what he had already done for her.
Son John and daughter Ruth to have equal share of land he lived on and not otherwise disposed of, together with house, outbuildings thereon, orchards, and all movables, they to provide comfortable maintenance for wife Catherine and son Edmond during their natural lives,  and to pay his debts and funeral expenses.  After wife's decease give to Deliverance the bed Edmond usually had the improvement of.  Son John made Executor.  (George Towne book;  NEHGS, Vol. 21 page 16)

His estate was appraised at oe196.2.6