5 SAMMUEL TERREY(E), who shall be numbered as #5, and referred to as Samuel Terry the Immigrant, was the American progenitor of your compiler's Terry ancestry, born in Barnet, near London, England in April of 1632. Samuel Terry came on the "Pynchon" in 1650 and settled in Springfield, Mass. Savage and as recorded in the Pynchon book: "Sammuell Terrey joyned in marriage to An Lobdell the 3 day of ye 11 mon 1660." Also as recorded in the Pynchon book: AN Terrey the wife of SamlTerrey senr. was sick and died May 1684." An early researcher, Thomas B. Warren, in Vol. III of his Springfield Families as copied by the Mercy Warren Chapter, Springfield, Mass. in 1934-1935, wrote that An Lobdell was probably the sister of Elizabeth and Simon.
Their known children:
51 Samuel Terry b. 18July1661
52 Ephraim Terry b in Springfield Mass 26Aug1663 d 15July1670 Springfield, Mass. "drowned in ye great river at ye wharf." Pynchon
53 Thomas Terry b 6Mar1664-5
54 Mary Terry b. July 1667
55 Rebecca Terry b 25July1669 d 18Aug1670
56 A dau. b and d in Springfield 12Dec1670
57 Ephraim Terry b 3Feb1671-2
58 Rebecca Terry b 5Dec1673
59 Elizabeth Terry b 5Dec1673 and d 2Apr1677 in Springfield, Mass.
5(10) Ann Terry b unk.
5 SAMUEL TERRY THE IMMIGRANT died in Town of Enfield, County of Hampshire, Province of Massachusetts, prior to eighth of September 1730/31 when his sons Thomas Terry, husbandman, and Captain Samuel Terry, gentleman, were appointed as administrators of his estate in Hampshire Co., Province of Mass. Hampshire County MASS records
15Oct1650 Samuel Terry indentured to Benjamin Cooley.
The earliest information which the compiler has found regarding SAMUEL TERRY THE IMMIGRANT is derived from the old Book of Public Records which was in the possession of the Honorable Morris of Springfield, Mass. in ___. In this book, is written an agreement dated 15 Oct 1650 in which SAMUEL TERRY, with the consent of his master, WILLIAM PYNCHON, apprenticed himself to BENJAMIN COOLEY of Springfield, Mass., a weaver, to serve him for three years, six months and some days and for such labor, he was to receive fifty shillings for each year in good merchantable peas at three shillings per bushel and he was to be taught the weaving business provided he will be willing and careful to learn.
"TERRY...SAMUEL, Springfield, said to be brought in 1650, by Pynchon, from Barnet 11 ms. from London, where he ws. b. Apr. 1632, was resid. as DR. SPRAGUE thinks a. 1654, m. 3 Jan. 1660, ANN LOBDELL, perhaps sis. of SIMON, had SAMUEL b, 17 July 1661; EPHRAIM, 26 Aug 1663, d. young; THOMAS, 6 Mar. 1665; MARY, July 1667; REBECCA, 25 July 1669, d. soon; EPHRAIM, again, 3 Feb. 1672; REBECCA again, 5 Dec. 1673; ELIZ. 25 Mar. 1677, d. very soon; and ANN; and on the last day of 1678 or first of 1679, he, and SAMUEL, JR. his s. took o. of alleg. 19 Nov. 1690, sec. w. SARAH SCOTT, and after 1700 rem. to Enfield and d. 1731." SAVAGE page 263.
"SAMUEL TERRY of Springfield, Mass. (where he appears first, about 1654) was twice married. 1. To Ann Lobdell, daughter of -------Lobdell, of --------, 1660. She died ---------. 2. To Sarah Scott, 1690. Mr. Terry removed to Enfield about 1700, probably after that year." GOODWIN at p. 221
"Sammuell Terrey joyned in marriage to An Lobdell the 3 day of ye 11 month 1660." First Book-Springfield, Mass. p. 119
1668 At pp. 86-87 in the January 1855 issue of the New England Historic and Genealogical Register in Chapter "Petitions against Imposts", there is set forth a petition signed by 61 residents of Springfield including "Samuell Terrey" and Miles
Morgan which your compiler will try to copy verbatim:
"To the Right Worppll Worppll and Much Honnord The Generall Corte and Counsell of the Massachusetts
The Humble Petition of the Inhabitants of Springfeild
Sheweth That there haveing come unto vs a report of intendmis to establish a Law for takeing moneyes as Custome for goods imported and exported into and from this Collony, It lyeth much vpon our Spirits to exprss our feares, That a Law to that effect will prove of Sad consequence to this Republicke: Be pleased therefore Worthily Honnord to lend an eare to a little broken English in ye case: Is it not easy to see who though not in name yet indeed must beare this burden, is it ye Mechant? that's not probable, or if be, is it by way of penalty? Doe they not already complayne of difficultyes to make returnes? will this help them for ye future? Is it not, at least hath it not been the constant cry of ye People dearenesse of goods? Is there a way now found out [to] ease that complaynt? Is it a way to continue peace and amity between ye Collonye? This we can assure Yor Worpps Our Friends if ye Southern Collony think very hardly of it: Srs What is the profitt of it? Wee live a such a distance Wee cannot apprhend it: Is it not easy for the Mechant to raise almost insensibly One poore half penny on ye shill; and Soe double and more than treble his reliefe? The truth is Gentlemen Children fynd a necessity Sometymes to cry unto their fathers, and from our hearts Wee acknowledge it an inestimable favorr of God, seldome enjoyed in the World, for a people to have such Rules as wilbe willing alwayes to heare the groaning of ye Subject: But it may be Said, these are childish feares, and wee cry before wee are hurt: if Soe children are apt to be scared wth small matters, but yet wee wish it may not be that wch may fright us from our Libertye. Worthy Srs give us leave yet to query who will have the benefitt of Such custome, is it not cheifly the wayters and servitors or rather the mastrs of the Custome house? The Kings of ye Earth indeed take custome, and pray we not expect His Matis will Say we must needs allow Him a little: But as to our selues On this Riuer Wee reckon the burden will be insupportable; for our charge and hazzard already for transportation being very great wthout that addition of increase of price of goods (wch will surely ensue) is inevitable to ppetuity: And yet wee cannot think but that Our Neighbor Collony will expect wth like reason some thing of us too; for it putts them on many thoughts how to helpe themselves: Wee feare wee foresee endless contests between freinds: Wee cannot indeed but call to mind ye libertyes, civil as well as spll, hitherto enjoyed, but are fearefull this will prove a bond-age, unless it be likewise intended to sett bonnds to ye Merchant as to prices of goods: for have they not the staffe in their hands, to sell as they please, and are not peoples necessityes such as that they must buy whatever it cost: If the practice of Nations, not only of Monarchyes but of Free States be urged; is Tradinge in other Countreyes at such a lay in a constant course to take double and often treble what goods did cost ye Merchant and that without remedy, that we must yet pvoke them to increase our taske: Lastly may wee not rationally judge that the sonnd abroad of goods imported hither hath beene a good meanes, (such goods being custome free) to allure Trade into ye Countrey, and are we now in such a posture thus to retard it. Thrice Worthy Patriotts, Wee would not be tedious, but we humbly conceiue wee have good cause to beseech and doe beseech Yor Worpps to be a meanes to prvent the psecution and confirmation of the Said law for Custome:
To His Grace wee comend You Who is wonderfull in councell, And Ever Remayne Yor Worships Humble Servants
Springfield
Duodecim Mens
2dus 1668.
Besides Samuel Terry among the 61 persons signing the above petition were other familiar names such as Benjamin Cooly, Miles Morgan, Abell Wright, John Bliss, Sam Bliss and Simon Lobdell.
[Note: It appears as if nearly one hundred years before the Revolutionary War, the citizens of Springfield were protesting unfair taxation. cjmc]
31December1678 Samuel Terry Sr. and Samuel Terry Jr. take Oath of Allegiance to the King as an inhabitant of the Town of Springfield MASS:
In Vol. V. (Jan. 1851) at pp. 83-84, New England Historical and Genealogical Register is an article entitled "Inhabitants of Springfield, who took the Oath of Allegiance" and is set forth, in part, below:
"At the Second Sessions of the General Court held at Boston, in New England, October 2, 1678.
Whereas it hath pleased his most excellent Majestie our Gracious King by his Letters Apr. 27 1678 to signify his Royal Pleasure that the Authority of this his Colony of Massachusetts in New England, do give forth orders that the Oath of Allegiance as it is by Law established within his Kingdome of England be administered to & taken by al his Subjects within this Colony, who are of years to take the oath.
In obedience hereunto and a demonstration of their Loyalty The members of that said generall Court did readily take the oath of Allegiance and by their example and authority did require and command that the same oath should be given to and taken by all his Majestie's---------- within this Jurisdiction, that are of sixteen years of age and upwards. And to this end the said Genl Court did order the reading of copys of the said oath of Allegiance exactly agreeing with the copy of it enclosed in his majesties *** & signed by the Secretary of State, to the magistratical power of the respective towns and did further order that the Justices or those commissionated with magistratical power in eache Countrye should order the convening of the Inhabitants of the respective Townes of the age above-said & to take names & administer the oath of Allegiance to each of them & to take care for their enrollmt with ye Records of the County Courts.
Accordingly Major Jno Pynchon did ordr the Convening of and administered the Oath of Allegiance to the Inhabitants of the Townes hereafter expressed or enroled.
Springfield Dec. 31, 1678
Jan. 1, 1678
The Inhabitants of the Towne of Springfield who took the Oath of Allegiance..."
Then follows a long list of those persons who took the oath which included the names of Sergt. Miles Morgan, Samuel Terrey, Senr., Samuel Blisse, Obadiah Cooley, Johanthan, David and Isaac Morgan, and Samll Terry Junr."
May 1684 Ann (Lobdell) Terry died.
"Anno Dom. 1685. An Estimate of the Plantation, both of Mens house and Lands, in Springfield, where Mens Persons are valued as Estate, and those m'reference (? cjmc) to the raising Town Rates. By the Gent. Selectmen. Quatermr Hro. Volyon, Dsm: Marshfield, Jno. Dumbleton, Deacon Parsons, Sam: Bliss Senr. Copied from the original in the Tax Collector's Office, City Hall, by Francis Norton, June 1893."
Among those listed: "Samuel Terry -
Housing 04
home lot at Skipmuck & in ye neck 14 acres 18
40 acres over the River 27
13 acres upland adjoining to home lot 01
12 acres that was John Hortons (Dec. '64) 10
20 acres Anno 1673 02 10
8 acres that was John Hortons 04
2 poles 16
73
and on page 29: "Saml Terry 1 pole 08"
Springfield MASS Public Library Call No. Case X, 9293 Mass. S76Es
The following excerpts regarding SAMUEL TERRY THE IMMIGRANT are from SPRINGFIELD History:
At page 129: "Year after year the selectmen and deacons, or some committee chosen in town-meeting, assigned the pews or 'dignified' the meeting-house, and their arbitrary duties often caused heart-burnings quite as intense as those resulting from assignments of land, since the rule followed was worldly condition and social importance. In the winter of 1663 Deacon Chapin and the selectmen, consisting of Thomas Cooper, Robert Ashley, John Pynchon, Benjamin Cooley, and Samuel Marshfield, distributed the seats as follows, no mention being made of Mr. Pynchon, as he probably owned a seat:-
Goodwife Chapin is to sitt in the seate alonge with Mrs. Glover and Mrs. Hollyocke.
In ye first seate: Robert Ashly: Benja. Cooly; Thomas Cooper; George Colton & Rowld Stebeens:
In ye 2nd seate: Nathanell Ely; Rich Sikes; Tho. Mirick & Wm. Warriner
In ye 3d seate: Serja Stebbins; Serja: Morgan: Benj. Munn: John Leonord: Anth. Dorchester; Saml Marshfeild..." and so on through the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th seats to:"In ye 9th seate:John Henryson: Saml Terry [emphasis added. cjmc]; Obadi Miller; Hugh Dudley." and then through the tenth seat and then up to the forseate of the gallery, in the upper part above the pillars on the north side; in the upp pt. above pillars on the south side; below the pillars on the north side; on the south side below the pillars; in the seat in the gallery "wth' faces 'agt" the minister; in the backer seat of the gallery on the north side at the upp end of it; in the south side at the upp end of the backer seat; in the backer seate (a break) the pillars on the north side and on the South."
Green on p. 131, states "Those of the present generation having ancestors in this congregation, and being curious to learn their social importance, can entertain themselves by studying the above list; and, if the family vanity is not flattered by ancestral assignment to 'ye Backer seate,' let it be remembered that the good people of that day were themselves often quite as much disturbed at the way they were ranked. This trouble became so serious in 1666 that the selectment were compelled to interfere; many having refused to sit where they were assigned, and having acted 'with a high hand,' it was ordered..." and Mr. Green goes on to set out the order which fined a certain amount for the first, second and third times that the persons did not sit in the seats in which they were assigned and if they refused a fourth time, they were to be taken before "magistrate or county courte to deale with them as they shall Judge meete:..."
Green continues at page 132:"...This vigorous action seemed to have a sobering effect; but it did not pave the way for a permanent peace among the young people in the gallery. Some years later (1669) Miles Morgan and Jonathan Burt were stationed 'up in ye gallery to give a check to disorders in youth & young men In tyme of God's worship..."
In discussing the matters before the Hampshire courts, Mr. Green, at page 138 writes:"...The colonial laws regulated the subject of extravagant dressing, and our Hampshire court was awake to its duty. The County Court first took notice of this class of offences by summoning before it the selectment of all the towns for not assessing 'forbidden apparel' at its full value, and this not leading to a reformation the extravagant women were duly proceeded against under the colonial law. In many cases, when women were summoned before the court on the charge of wearing silks or finery, their husbands were forced to apologize for their absence. It was a very difficult thing to bring women into court. In September, 1673, it is recorded:-Labden Goody Colton Goody Morgan Goody Barnard Mercy & Hephzibod Jones Hunters wife & Daughter & Abell Wrights wife, & warned to this Courte the six former app'ing in Courte they were admonisht of their extravagancyes & dismist.
The Goody Morgan referred to was Mrs. David Morgan. Three years later the following persons were 'presented by ye Grandjury to ye Courte at Northampton Mach 26 1676 some for wearing of silk & in a flonting manner & attire for Longe haire & other extravegancies, contrary to honest & Labor Order & Demeanor not Becoming a Wilderness State at Leaste ye Profession of Christianity & Religion.' In the list of offenders were the following from this village Henry Rogers & his wife, Lidia Exile, Hanah Morgan, Gilburt, Hannah Leonard, Nathll Bliss, Thos Stebbins & his wife, John Bakers wife, Jonth Stebbins, Henry Chapin, Corporal Holyoke, Mary & Sarah Colton, Sarah Cooley, Meriam Merricke, Sarah & Mary Dumbleton."
In his chapter for the years 1674-1676, Green writes in part:"For forty years Springfield was happily free from the scenes of fire and blood that usually attend the occupancy of a savage wilderness. If we have read the town's Story right there was reason for this exceptionally good fortune. The first planters never occupied a foot of ground without paying for it and the Pynchon rule of even justice toward the Indian was known to the tribes hundreds of miles away. The Pynchons were famed in all the wigwams from Quabang to the Mohawk country for their justice and fair play. The Indians often brought their disputes to Springfield for settlement, and they were justly dealt with, even when the authorities in Connecticut and down at the Bay were antagonized." At page 150: "...The selling of liquor to the Indians was strictly forbidden; but the natives were continually securing drink on the sly, and this class of cases was very common before the magistrates. Indians were sometimes put under bonds to keep away from liquor, wampum being deposited as security."
At p. 153, Mr. Green comments:..."Indians became slaves in New England, it would seem, in three ways,--through life sentences for crimes, through captivity in war, and through legal process as security for loans, as above shown. The Pequot war seems to have led directly to slavery. Merchants sent captive Indian maidens and boys to the West Indies or Africa and traded them off for negroes.
We now have the necessary facts of the coming together of the three races, and the enlargement of one at the expense of the other two. New England practised negro slavery by and through its ownership in Indian flesh and blood, and Springfield shares in the unenviable distinction of contributing to its extension..."
At page 155, Mr. Green continues:"...Springfield was now about forty years old. Many of the first settlers had passed away. The children had grown up and assumed public burdens. Rev. Mr. Glover, a man of great energy and studious application, had contributed materially in the direction of the town's activites. There were scores of Agawam Indians who had never put on war paint nor remembered the time when the whites had not dwelt here. They had prattled in the door-yards of the white man, had followed the deer and elk, and trapped beaver with them, had planted and harvested with them, and had come to look upon our people as just, humane, and friendlike. The feeling of trust among the whites was quite as deep-seated. One generation had grown up and another started, and no outbreak had disturbed the cordial relations of the two races.
It is therefore not to be wondered at when the Pokanoket country became disturbed, and the ambitious and treacherous King Phillip undertook to stampede the New England tribes into a war of extermination, that the local plantation had little fear that the Agawams and the Woronocos would listen to him. This cordial feeling had even led some squaws of Nonotuck to divulge the secret that Springfield was to be attacked,but the same feeling prevented the whites from believing it. The Indians up the river-so John Winthrop, Jr., tells us- had 'assured Major Pynchen of their fidelity to the English.'
The Indian situation in Massachusetts in 1676 needs no extended description of this place."
Regarding education in the days of our ancestors, at page 182, Mr. Green tells us:"...In June, 1679, Mr. Thomas Stebbins, Jr., contracted to furnish timber for a school house, 22 x 17 feet, framed, clapboarded, shingled and furnished with a 'mantel tree' and a 'rung chimney.' A courthouse was built later. That was the order,-first the meeting house, then the schoolhouse and finally the courthouse. It had been voted in May of 1679 that 'there should be an house erected for that noble designe & use of Learning the youth in those so necessary pieces or parts of Learning: Videl: reading &
writing.'...Fines were imposed for neglect to send children to school, and all were enjoined to send both children and servants. The County Court in session at Springfield in September, 1690, entered the following:-
The selectmen of the town of Springfield being presented to ye Last court at Northampton for want of a School to teach children in their town & on appearing in Court & informing that since they have gott an able schoolmaster & that ye affairs goe on to advantage soe they were discharged.
In January, 1694, the town empowered the selectmen to hire the schoolmaster, a circumstances worthy of note, as it was no unusual thing to elevate to the position of selectment men who could not write. Miles Morgan was an example. His 'mark' was rudely drawn anchor."
Mr. Green, at page 183, writes:"...Were we making a special study of taxation and the adjustment of public burdens, much interesting matter would be found at this period. The town's 'country' tax was often paid in corn, it being forwarded in 1680 by water at a cost of about 3 pounds. It seems that five years later money was insisted upon at the Bay; but Springfield and Suffield secured a special permit to continue to pay in corn at a reduction of one third of its market value. But the court, in granting this concession, took occasion to rebuke both towns for 'sundry expressions' in their petiton which 'doe deserve sharpe reproafe.'"
At page 186, Mr. Green remarks:"...There was just one local touch of witchcraft which at this time was settling like a black cloud on the eastern shores of the colony. Mary Randoph, of Northampton, was put under bonds to appear and answer the charge of being a witch; but this is the last that was heard of her case. There are occasional references to slaves. One, known as 'Jack', escaped from Wethersfield, was caught and lodged in the Springfield jail in 1680."
[Note: Your compiler has quoted from a small part of Mr. Green's book to give you readers a little feeling for the surroundings in which SAMUELL TERREY THE IMMIGRANT and his family existed. cjmc]
19Nov1690
5 SAMUELL TERREY the IMMIGRANT married secondly SARAH SCOT and the marriage is recorded in the Pynchon marriage records: "Samll Terrey widower & widow Sarah Scot were joined in marriage Nov.19 1690." Pynchon Thomas B. Warren wrote that Sarah Scot was the widow of John Scot and dau. of Thomas Bliss. Springfield Families
"Notes on the Pynchon Court Record. The original Court Record is in the Harvard Library. The William Nelson Cromwell Foundation decided to publish this record which was done in 1961 under the editorship of Joseph H. Smith and entitled 'Colonial Justice in Western Massachusetts (1639-1702)- The Pynchon Court Record.'
That portion of the 'Record' not included in the above publication consists of eleven pages listing persons joined in marriage by John Pynchon. Transcriptions of these pages were made and there are attached together with photostats of the original record. To facilitate the use of this data, I have indexed it. Note: since the enclosed were copied the N. E. H. G. Society's THE REGISTER published the marriage records contained herein. And the above should read twelve pages, not eleven. C. W. Fisher"
[Note: Your compiler in 1985 met with Joyce Holbrook, a local genealogist in the Springfield, Mass. Public Library for about four hours and obtained the above from what source not known as the Mrs. Holbrook furnished so much at that short meeting that your compiler neglected to write down the source of this page.cjmc]
27Sept1705 "Sarah Terrey the wife of Samuel Terrey was sick & died Sept 27th 1705." First Book Springfield Mass. Pynchon Death Records p. 126
8Sept1730 Administration of the estate of SAMUEL TERRY the IMMIGRANT Hampshire County, Mass. HCR p. 72
"Power of Administration on all & singular the goods, chattals rights & credits of Samuel Terry formerly of Springfield in the county of Hampshire, Husbandman, deceased was granted to Samuel Terry, gent of Enfield and Thomas Terry of Springfield, Husbandman, both in the county of Hampshire & bond taken for their faithful discharge of the Trust- Sept. 8th 1730"
8Sept1730. Probate Court, County of Hampshire, Mass.
"At a Court of Probate Holden at Northampton within and for the County of Hampshire on Tuesday, the Eighth day of Sept. Anno. Dom. 1730, Messrs. Obadiah Cooley, John Burt & Thos. Stebbins all freeholders in Springfield were appointed to make an appraisement of the Estate of Samuel Terry formerly of Springfield Deceased as it shall be presented to them by Samuel Terry & Thomas Terry Administrators of sd. Estate. John Stoddard, Judge of Probate." HCR p. 81
10Oct1730 "Hampshire: Springfield Octo.: 10th 1730
The within named Obadiah Cooley John Burt & Thos. Stebbins were sworn to make a just appraisement of the Estate of the within named Samuel Terry as it shall be presented to them by the Administrators within named..."
HCR p. 81
"Springfield March ye 8th 1730/31
A true inventory of the real estate of Mr. Samll of Springfield, deceased being presented to me (us) by Mr. Thomas Terry the administrator for estate which as followeth viz: Imprimis. Lands in the outward comons commonly so called in this first division on the East side of the Great River & on the North side of the Chiccuppe River & below the Ask (?) Swamp
Seven pounds and thirteen shillings
The Second division on the south side of Chiccuppe River Twelve pounds and thirteen shillings
The North Division on the West side of the Great River and on the north side of Ryly's brook.
Four pounds
The South Division on the west side of the Great River & on the south side of Agawam.
Five pounds.
Total Thirty six pounds and eighteen shillings.
Thomas Terry, Administrator, Obiah Cooley, John Burt, Thos. Stebbins" HCR p. 82
9Mar1730/1 Hampshire County, Mass.
"Hampshire (next is a symbol which might be for county. cjmc): Northampton March ye 9th 1730/1731 at a court of probate holden at Northampton on the day aforesd. Thomas Terry one of the administrators on the estate of Samuel Terry formerly of Springfield deceased personally appearing before me John Stoddard Esq.r Judge of this court and made oath that the Inventory of a true and perfect inventory of the estates of the deceased so farr as has come to his knowledge & that if more of the deceased's effects hereafter appear he will readily make discovery thereof to the Judge or his successors in office from time to time. Coram John Stoddard"
5 May1731 Springfield, Hampshire Co., Mass.
"An additional inventory of the estates of Samuel Terry of Springfield, deceased. Item one Tract of Woodland lying upon End(?) brook on the East side of the Great River in Springfield. Seven pounds.
Springfield May the 5th 1731.
Obediah Cooley, John Burt, Thos. Stebbins, appraisers. Thomas Terry, Administrator." HCR p. 82
10Aug1731 Hampshire Co., Mass.
"The Settlement of the effects of Samuel Terry formerly of Springfield, deceased is as follows (viz) the whole of said estate in land & amounts to the sum of fourty three pounds eighteen shillings & it be my representation that it will tend very much to the prejudice & spoiling sd. lands to divide them amongst all the chil (next is an abbreviation could be a "g" and "d" for "grand".cjmc) son of the said Intestate wherefore the whole of sd land is hereby settled on Thomas Terry the last surviving son of sd decd 3 of the heirs of Capn Saml Terry of Enfield dec being present & consenting thereto & all of the aforesaid sum of 43 pounds Eighteen shillings first of all must be deducted the six pounds 12 shillings and nine pence for charge of administration administrators services appraisement settlement recording which being done there remains the sum of 37 pounds & 5 shillings & 3 pence to be divided to & amongst the children of said intestate & the legal representatives of such of them as are deceased saving to the last son of said deceased a double share & that being done it appears that there is the sum of five pounds & six shillings & five pence half penny to each single share wherefore the representatives of Capn Samuel Terry of Enfield, deceased, also to have the sum of ten pounds twelve shillings & eleven pence & Thomas Terry is to have the sum of five pounds twelve shillings & five pence half penny & Ephraim Terry is to have the sum of five pounds six shillings & five pence half penny & the representatives of Mary Terry alias Mary Horton, Dec., are to have the sum of five pounds six shillings & five pence half penny & Rebeckah Terry alias Wright to have the sum of five pounds six shillings & five pence half penny & Anna Terry alias Bliss is to have the sum of five pounds six shillings & five pence half penny. The said Thomas Terry on whom the land is settled having given bond as the Law directs for the payment of the several sums set out to the other heirs and Representatives.
At a Court of Probates Holden at Northampton within & for the County of Hampshire on the second Tuesday of August being the tenth day of sd. month anno. domini 1731.
John Stoddard, Esq. Judge of sd court the foregoing settlement of the estate of Samuel Terry formerly of Springfield, deceased, is ratified & confirmed as a settlement of the estate of sd deceased.
/s/ John Stoddard." SHCR P. 92
51 CAPTAIN SAMUEL TERRY of Enfield, Mass. (later Connecticut)
51 SAMUEL TERRY b 18July1661 Springfield MASS d 2Jan1730/31 Enfield County of Hampshire in the Province of Massachusetts and buried in the Enfield St. Cemetery, Enfield, Mass. (and now Connecticut) on 16May1682 Town of Enfield MASS m (1) HANNAH MORGAN b 1656 d 7Jan1697 d/o PRUDENCE ??? and MILES MORGAN on 4Jan1697/8 Wethersfield CT m (2) MARTHA (BOARDMAN/BOREMAN) CRANE [widow of BENJAMIN CRANE] b ca 1666 d 29May1743 Enfield MA
The birth of CAPTAIN SAMUELL TERREY was recorded as follows:
"Samuell Terrey sonne of Samuell Terrey borne the 18th day of the 5 mon 1661." Pynchon Book
Goodwin at page 221,:SECOND GENERATION. I. SAMUEL TERRY, of Enfield, Conn., was twice married. 1. To Hannah Morgan, daughter of Miles Morgan, of Springfield, 1682, being the first marriage in the settlement. She was born 1656, and died January 7, 1698. 2. To Martha Credan, daughter of ------Credan, of -----. Mr. Samuel Terry died in 1730. Mrs. Martha Terry died May 29, 1743."
CAPTAIN SAMUELL TERREY on 17May1682 Pynchon Marriage Book being the first marriage in Town of Enfield, Mass. married HANNAH MORGAN daughter of PRUDENCE ??? and MILES MORGAN b 21Apr1656 [Note: Your compiler might not have figured this out correctly fron the old dates cjmc] and recorded in the Pynchon Marriage Book as "HANNAH MORGAN daughter of MILES MORGAN borne the 11 day of the 2 mon. 1656" d. 17 Jan 1697/8 at Enfield and buried in the Enfield Street Cemetery. MILES MORGAN "dyed the 28th day of May, 1699" and "Prudens Morgan wife of Miles Morgan dyed the 14th of ye 11 mon 1660." Pynchon
Known children of Hannah (Morgan) and 51 Samuell Terry:
511 Hannah Terry b 18Nov1684
512 Samuel Terry b 26Mar1690
513 Rebecca Terry b 15Nov1692
514 and 515 Twin sons b Enfield MASS 6Jan1694-5 and both d 13Feb1694-5.
516 Ebenezer Terry b 31Mar1696
Known children of Martha (Boreman/Boardman) Crane and 51 Samuell Terry:
517 Benjamin Terry b 13Oct1698 m Hannah Pease
518 Ephraim Terry m Ann Collins
519 Jacob Terry b 20Feb1703/4 Enfield MA [now CT] d 28Apr1779
nfield CT
51(10) Martha Terry died as a baby
51(11) Jonathan Terry m Sarah Pease
51(12) Isaac Terry m Margaret Downing
From a copy of "Historical Papers read before the Penelope Terry Abbey Chapter of the Conn. Society, Daughters of the American Revolution" which included "The Terry Family of Enfield" read by Mrs. Leon Abbe on 29 March 1924, I quote in part from Mrs. Abbe's paper:
"The Terry family of America at least our local branch of the Terrys are the descendants of Samuel Terry who was born
in Barnet, England. He came to America in his youth with William Pynchon of Springfield and in 1654, Jan. 7th was granted 10 acres of land on Chicopee Plain. He served as surveyor of highways and constable and held other offices in Springfield. Jan. 3 1660 he married in Springfield Ann Lobdell. They had ten children. Samuel the eldest born July 18, 1661 is the progenitor of the Enfield Terrys. The rest of the children who came to maturity settling either in Springfield or Lebanon, Conn. Several died in early infancy and childhood. When Pynchon was apportioning the land in his newly purchased Enfield Samuel1 Terry received a grant which was forfeited in 1690 because he had not settled upon it.
His son Samuel Terry2 struck out for himself and took up the Enfield land laid out to his father and much more that was his own allotment. He was a very prominent man in the early history of Enfield. In 1690 he with Isaac Morgan and Benjamin Parsons was granted a parcel of land near Sawmill brook on the Scantic River for a sawmill. This seems to be near the site of Stowe's Paper Mills. He was to erect a sawmill by Michalmas tide some twelve months, saw boards for settlers houses at 4 s per hundred-and they had 20 acres of land near the mill or within one half mile of it for a grant. His marriage May 17, 1682 was the first one to be celebrated in Enfield for he married Hannah Morgan dau of Isaac [other sources show Miles. cjmc] Morgan the famous defender of Springfield against the Indians during the terrible days of 1675. This marriage brings a Welsh strain into the blood of the Terry descendants of this line as Isaac Morgan was pure Welsh. They had 6 children-Hannah b. Nov. 18, 1684 m. Wm. Bement. They settled in the eastern part of the town near Buckhorn brook. Samuel, Mar. 26, 1690. Became a clergyman and lived in Dutchess Co., N. Y. Rebecca, Nov. 15, 1692 m. John Pasco. Twin sons lived only a short time. Ebenezer b. 1696 m. Mary Helms. Then Hannah Morgan Terry died Jan. 7, 1697 leaving a little flock motherless, a 9 mo. old baby among them, but not for long for Jan. 4, 1698 Samuel married his second wife, Martha Boardman, widow of Benj. Crane of Wethersfield. Benjamin was drowned in 1693 and left two little children, Benjamin and Isaac. Benjamin the little son had died, but Isaac was brought up in the Terry family. They also had children. As there was but two years between Ebenezer the youngest of Hannah's children and Benjamin the first of Martha's, the break in the family was scarcely one to be noticed. Benjamin b. Oct. 13, 1698 m. Hannah Pease. Ephraim- m. Ann Collins. Jacob m. Mary Pease. Martha died as a baby. Jonathan m. Sarah Pease. Isaac m. Margaret Downing. These three brothers, Benjamin, Jacob and Jonathan all married sisters, daughters of James and Hannah Harmon Pease. These children had a very different heritage through their mother for she was of English descent,from Samuel Boardman thro William Boardman of Banbury, England 1525. Her people were very prominent in Wethersfield, being wealthy and cultured..." ABBE
From Allen's History of Enfield at page 39, we learn about the principal founder of Enfield:]
"Col. John Pynchon the principal founder of Suffield & Enfield was born in Springfield 1647 he was the grandson of the Hon. William Pynchon one of the patentees of the Colony of Massachusetts who came to New England with Gov. Winthrop & others in 1629 & in the year 1636 was the principal leader of the first settlers that came from Mass. Bay to Springfield. He returned to England in 1652 & died 1662 aged 72.1
Col. John Pynchon together with his father Col. John Pynchon sen. were distinguished agents & patrons of the first settlement of Enfield & are entitled to the gratitude of the Inhabitants of Enfield for perserverance & enterprise in converting a dreary wilderness into a flourishing Colony...
1 [Interlined.] He erected a Warehouse at Warehouse Point 1636. Col. John Pynchon had a grant of land 80 rods wide at the southward of the town extending 3 miles eastwardly bounded North on the Davisson or Saltonstall farm which was settled before the town. The Saltonstall farm was abandoned & forfeited to the town..."
1674-1691 "The first mills. The year 1674 marked the appearance of a sawmill on Freshwater, erected by Major John Pynchon of Springfield. It seems to have been burned by the Indians the next year. In 1679 a Springfield committee made allocations of land for settlement and these plans persuaded two white men, John and Robert Pease, to spend the winter of 1679-80 in a hillside dugout, not far from the Congregational Church. By 1683 there were thirty families in town: a petition was made, with the agreement of Springfield, to the General Court in Boston, and on May 16, 1683, the Town of Enfield was established by that Court.
Isaac Meacham and Jonathan Bush erected a sawmill on Freshwater, and the former also built a fulling mill. The first corn mill on Freshwater was in 1688. Totaps, the Podunk Indian chief (alias Nottatuck) on March 16, 1688, sold to the English the land between Asnuntuck (Freshwater) and Poggetoffee (Boleyn Brook?), eastward to the hills, reserving the right to share hunting and fishing with the English.
In 1689, Benjamin Jones settled just east of Somers center, returning to town during winters. Two years later,
Benjamin Parsons, Samuel Terry, and Isaac Morgan received a grant for a sawmill at Sawmill Brook (Terry Brook) at a site which was later used by Gowdy distillery. Israel Meacham erected an iron works about 1714 at Powder Hollow to smelt bog iron, and Nathaniel Gary built a grain mill in Scitico.
The next half century saw the continuation of the agricultural-personal artisan activity on a laborious and humble scale. The settlers were struggling just to maintain their existence. Heavy pine forests in the east were wastefully burned off to clear land for cultivation-the ashes were good potash fertilizer-while turpentine and pine tar were produced for local use and to support the flourishing shipbuilding industry along the coast. To this day, turpentine, pine tar, and rosin-in fact, all the terpene derivatives-are referred to as 'naval stores.' Lumber was cut. There were no luxuries, and only river boats, horses, and a few farm wagons for transportation. In 1749, when Massachusetts relinquished claims to Woodstock, Enfield, Somers, and Suffield, colonial Connecticut assumed jurisdiction over these towns. By 1756 the population was 1,050..." Challenge of Change at page 171. [Note: Citations omitted by our compiler as the person who sent this page did not include the page with citations thereon. cjmc]
1683 "By 1683 as many as thirty families had settled in Enfield (an English place name meaning cleared land). The boundaries extended six miles down the Connecticut River from Longmeadow Brook and thence to the east to include what is now the Town of Somers. Even before a local governing body ws established, a church building twenty feet square was built in 1683. This was subsequently replaced by the old Town Hall that is still standing.
These thirty families petitioned the General Court at Boston for the incorporation of the plantation with Town privileges by the name of Enfield. Their petition was granted and in 1688 the first Town Meeting was held. At that time the people chose John Pease, Jr. and Samuel Terry as their Select Men.
The early church was by far the town's most important building. It was not only used as the meetinghouse for services of worship, but also as the town hall and the civic center. In early America the church was the government and the government was the church. The church was the Congregational and one has only to look at these towns that are truly early New England to identify their white spires rising so majestically above the tallest trees to understand a bit about the church's influence on the lives of New Englanders. The choicest spot of land in town was chosen as the site for the church, and the land nearest the church was chosen by those who could afford it for their homes. Even those living away from the village chose land that afforded a view of the church. For many years, in fact until 1818, the Congregational Church was the established denomination in Connecticut, fostered and provided for by the government.
From the very beginning, not only Enfield but all of New England carried on lengthy boundary disputes. So that it was not unusual that Enfield together with Suffield, Woodstock, and Somers (which had become a separate town in 1734) felt more comfortable and compatible with Connecticut than Massachusetts. Enfield petitioned in 1715 that 'we be joined to Connecticut where we properly belong.' This request was not realized until 1749. There was much argument about the way the original surveying had been rather arbitrarily done and in the end Enfield 'joined with' Connecticut.
The early settlers were all farmers. Even the minister, the school teacher, and the surveyor farmed. Here at Enfield settlers found the rich agricultural land of the Connecticut River Valley. Each community had to be self-sustaining, each town must and did take care of its own affairs..." The Challenge of Change, three centuries of Enfield, Connecticut history Page 125 "Years of growth."
"April 10 1683. At a meeting of the Committee for freshwater Plantation. Present John Pynchon, Thomas Stebbins, Benj. Parsons, Jonn Burt. Being at freshwater Plantation and Scantuck in order to lay out of meadow on Scantuck and having gone to the line of Mr. Soltonstalls or Davisons farm, where we take that farm to come at Scantuck beginning at Scantuck River clear of that farm land we agreed to lay out the low land there on Scantuck for meadow lots and all the lots there shall be laid seven acres, and to run from hill to hill across the river taking all the low land on both sides of Scantuck except from Robert Pease upwards where a marked tree states the west end and what the Committee now on view adjudge for meadow on each lot be accounted and entered to each man as so much meadow and the rest to go for field land, and it is agreed and ordered now before any mans meadow is measured or settled to him that a passage for carts and teams shall be and is allowed across all mens meadow lot there for liberty of going in the most convenient places for passage and for going up the hill and over the river where it may be the most feasible and all the lots here whoever they shall fall to are now before they take them up declared to be, granted them with this reserve, beginning southward nigh to Mr. Davisons farm which is on the south of the after mentioned lots and coming northward and staked out lots by guess 7 acres to a lot which are afterwards to be rectified and numbered every one on a stake or tree on thenorth side No.1:2 &.
On the first which hath-- meadow field land
No. 1 is Daniel Collins. . . . . . . . . . . 3 4"
and down to "No. 12, Isaac Morgan, 3-;No. 13 Jonathon Bush 3-3; No. 14 Thomas Terry 4-3; No. 15 Samuel Terry Jur, No. 16 Samuel Terry Senr." ENFIELD HISTORY, at page 104.
And at page 109 supra:
"March 28th 1687. By the Comtee for Enfield. Upon the desire of the inhabitants of Enfield, Isaac Gleason, Benja Parsons and Samel Terry are allowed and appointed to officiate in Enfield for the year ensuing as select men according to former usage under the Commee."
And at page 121 supra:
"...The Inhabitants of Enfield presented as chosen by the town Feby 11th 1689 for the year ensuing Isaac Gleason Isaac Meacham and Benja Parsons as select men, SAMUEL TERRY chosen Constable, Simon Rumril and Wm. Booth surveyors for the highways. Thomas Howard and Thomas Abbe viewers of fences." [Emphasis added. cjmc]
And at page 122 supra:
"May 22, 1690. At a meeting of the Committee for Enfield. Present John Pynchon, Jonn, Sam Marshfield. The inhabitants of Enfield moving that we would consider of several that by their not attendance to the terms of their said grants whereby the place is oppressed for want of inhabitants in this day of trouble, and that we would execute our orders concerning the same by taking the forfeiture of several lots which lie vacant, those that had them granted on condition of settling on them not attending thereto, we have accordingly considered the same, do therefore declare forfeited as followeth...Isaac Morgan, his home lot that he had of Terry if not his whole allotment thereof, yet if any of these persons will speedily carry on and settle according to their grants, we shall be ready and willing to continue unto them, but not unless they really perform and be in good earnest therein, that the place may be filled up with inhabitants for the comfort of the whole,...
SAMUEL TERRY SNR. also his grant forfeited, only he having given the home lot on the west side of the way to his son Samuel Terry jur being next to him who hath been according to order 7 years and above on the place we do confirm and grant said home lot to Samuel Terry jur that hath broken up most of it, he settling a dweller on it in convenient time, when his son comes of age as also so much of Samuel Terry senr the father his field land so intended which was measured out with young SAMUEL TERRY'S land being about 5 acres. This land part of SAMUEL TERRY SNR. his grant about 5 acres, we do now grant and confirm to SAMEUL TERRY JUNR. Though forfeited by SAMUEL TERRY SNR. yet he being one of the petitioners to the General Court for the place we do allow it and grant it to his son SAMUEL TERRY JUNR. at his desire as aforesaid, all the rest of SAMll TERRY SNR. his grant being hereby declared void, nun and forfeited, by reason of his..." [Sentence not completed here. Also emphasis added. cjmc)
And at page 123: "...That home lot on the north of Samuel Terry..."
"Sept. 3, 1690. William Randal who wants his meadow to be settled and says he cannot find any, the Committee finding a meadow lot on Scantuck, that was intended for SAMUEL TERRY SENR. which becomes null as to said SAMUEL TERRY SENR. and so is at the Committees disposal, do now grant said meadow, being the 26 meadow lot on Scantuck and is lying between the meadow of SAMUEL TERRY JUNR. on the south and John Burroughs on the north unto Wm Randall which he is to get measured and make return what it proves, how much field land, how much meadow that it may accordingly be recorded..."
And at page 124 supra:
"April 7th 1691. By the Committee for Enfield...Granted to John Trumbull the lot intended for Benja Denslow who soon decsd which hath been offered his brother if he would come the place and though forfeited,upon several accounts, particularly the purchase money is not which the grant was upon the condition of paying the purchase price within three months notwithstanding if yet his brother come there to build and settle he may enjoy otherwise John Trumble to have it wherefore this message shall by SAMUEL TERRY and John Trumbul be declared to Denslow...Accordingly SAMll TERRY and John Trumbull delivered the message as above and made return that some of the Denslows they spoke with, and acquainted them therewith, also sent word to another brother who lives toward the ferry...would not engage to come
and settle nor offered purchase money so that it falls-John Trumbull who is ordered and allowed to enter upon it accordingly planted corn thereon further having waited longer 3 months more even till mowing time almost over and the Denslows neglecting wholly and rejecting the purchase which this 24 day of July 1691 John Trumbull hath brought and paid whereby the land passeth fairly to him..."
And at page 128 supra:
"Benjamin Parsons SAMUEL TERRY and Isaac Morgan having on the 28th of December 1691 at a town meeting in Enfield had liberty by and of the Major Part of the town for setting up a sawmill on Scantuck Stream where they shall find it most convenient above or beyond Isaac Meachams Meadow, and now addressing themselves to the Committee for confirmation thereof and what is further necessary and belongs to the Committee in respect for there security & we do therefore hereby confirm said grant and liberty to them provided they afford boards which the inhabitants need for their necessary occasion in said town to them for four shillings p hundred at said mill which doing we grant the liberty of the commons for timbers, & as they shall have occasion and need of it for improving of said mill when built; as also grant them 20 acres of land by said mill or where it may be most convenient, within half a mile of it, they building and setting said mill agoing sawing by the melestide come 12 months if extraordinary Providence hinder not, and continue the improvement of the same and then all is granted to them, and to their heirs and assigns forever, and to such as they shall take in with them."
And at page 129 supra:
"There being some persons presented for being defective in not cutting up the bushes and clearing up the brush in the street against the fronts of their lots...it is ordered that warning and notice be given them by the select men for doing it only in the spring, and that if they neglect and not do it April next, well and sufficient, then the select men shall take notice thereof and inform Mr. Pynchon under their hands, whom of them they find deficient in clearing the brush the half of the street against the front of their lots (viz) six rods all the breadth of their lots, whereupon Mr. Pynchon shall forthwith issue forth warrant and require the constable to levy the penalty according to order (viz) 5 shillings upon each person who shall not by that time attend and perform the order, or remains deficient therein on the last day of April next..."
And at page 130 supra:
"March 16th 1692/1691 By the Committee for Enfield. Present John Pynchon, D. Jonath Burt, Sam Marshfield. The Committee do allow and approve of all the aforementioned persons to the aforesd offices who are for the year ensuing to officiate therein accordingly. The viewers of fences being the select mens work to choose and appoint them, we therefore leave them: not at all disallowing them nominated (viz) Samuel Terry and Simon Rumril." [emphasis added. cjmc]
The following excerpts are from the Chapter "Land Grants" in The History of Enfield:
At page 141:" Also in the North Field in the west division that fronts upon the Country road, 7 acres more or less, Length 60 rods bredth 18 south bounded by SAM TERRY JUNR. North Jonn Bush, west by the Land of Mr. John Pynchon."
The following all recorded under title of SAMUEL TERRY JUNIOR.
At page 147: "1700 SAMUEL TERRY JR. besides Those persels of Land which is recorded in the next and following pages, he is by purchase from Isaac Morgan possessed of 40 acres of Land more or less It lyeth in two parsels 3 acres more or les Lying on ye North side of Freshwater brook which lot is 80 rods in length and is 20 rods in bredth bounded south on his own Land west on ye Country road North and East with Common land. The other [ ] Lot Lyeth the North side grape brook bounded south with grape brook, 50 rods in bredth there bounded with the Hill on the East at ye upper Highway, the Length is 180 rods to the upper side of Pot brook swamp to the brow of the Hill, and from thence to the Grate River west, in bredth 30 rods there, bounded on the river West and pot brook south and then to the brow of the Hill on the west side of the County road, to the river Cum to the River and by the River to grape brook.
June 1700 He is possessed of a percell of meadow granted by the Town March 5th 1700 and it is measured out to him on Freshwater brook Containing 4 acres more or less bounded west on the land Called Capt Meachams Northerly by
the brook and southerly by the upland-and so runs East 28 rods.
March 1701 he is possessed of a lot of land by the grant of ye Town which land lyeth between the south field and Coll Pynchons land at the foot of the falls which is 50 acres more or less the length is 200 rods and bredth 50 bounded East with the Country road west with the Grate river, south with Ephraim Terry, North with vacant land.
SAMUEL TERRY JNR. besides his Home lot as in page 24 possessed by grant and measuring out to him as followeth of 20 acres of Land in the south field in the 2nd division then Bounded Westerly with ye middle Highway which runs from North to south, Eastwardly with the Peases Land, at ye North end with the first Highway which runs through the field from East to West Length 120 rods and bredth 28 rods.
Also in the North field of 7 acres more or less on the West side of the Country road from the Town to freshwater brook length 63 rods." (will have to finish this when I get hold of Allen's book as I evidently did not copy the next pages..cjmc)
5Mar1697-98 "On the 5th day of March, 1697-98, Mrs. Martha Terry, formerly Martha Crane, Widow of Benjamin Crane Jr., Decd., personally appeared before Capt. John Hamlin and my self (Caleb Stanly) at Hartford, and presented the Invt. of Houseing & Lands at Hartford above apprised, to be added to the former Inventory of her former Husband Benjamin Crane, Decd..." Probate Records 1687 to 1695 at p. 433
13Apr1699 "Page 34 (Vol. VI) 13 April, 1699: This Court being moved by Samuel Terry of Enfield, who married Martha the Widow of Benjamin Crane of Wethersfield, Decd, for distribution of the Estate of sd. Crane, Order 1-3 part of the personal estate to the Widow forever, and 1-3 part of the Real Estate during life; and to Isaac Crane, the child 2-3 of the Moveable and 2-3 of the Real Estate to him and to his heirs forever. This Court grant to Samuel Terry Adms. in right of his Wife, and Order that Samuel Terry shall have the use and benefit of two-thirds of the Houseing and Lands for bringing up of the child till he come of age." Probate Records at page 433.
1May1710 "Page 10 (Vol. VIII) 1 May1710: Isaac Crane, a minor 17 years of age, son of Benjamin Crane Jr., late of Wethersfield, Decd. chose Jonathan Boreman of Wethersfield to be his Guardian."
and at page 36 (Vol. VIII) "2 July 1711: This Court order that the Clerk, upon the request of Lt. Jonathan Boreman, Guardian of Isaac Crane, son of Benjamin Crane Jr., late of Wethersfield, Decd, shall Issue forth a writ to cite Samuel Terry of Enfield and Martha his wife, Adms. on the Estate of sd. Benjamin Crane, Decd, to appear in Court and render account of their Adms."
1705 Appointed as a Sgt. and promoted to Ensign in local militia. Colonial Dames in the State of New York
1708-10; 1712; 1714-18;720; 1724; and 1725 Deputy from Enfield to the General Court of Massachusetts. Colonial Dames in the State of New York
6Oct1712 "This Court orders that Samuel Terry, Adms. on the Estate of Benjamin Crane Jr., Decd. do render to this Court an Account of his Adms. on or before the 1st Monday of March next ensueing." Probate records VIII at page 89.
and at page 117 same vol.:
2Mar1712/13 Samuel Terry of Enfield and his wife Martha Terry, Adms., exhibit now an account of their Adms., whereby it appears that they have in Debts and Charges (including what has been by them expended in bringing up and subsisting Isaac Crane, only Child of the sd. Benjamin Crane, Decd., and also what is spent for the necessary support of the family & Reparing the Buildings and Fences) amounting to the sum of -L-195-08-01, including what was by this Court formerly allowed, and that there is due and paid into the sd. Estate for the Rents and Profits of houseing and Lands, the sum of -L-57-00-00. This Court having examined the Account (and also heard and Considered the several Objections against the same by William Warne, Jr.of Wethersfield and others) do approve and allow the sd. Account. William Warner (who is one of the legal Representatives of the sd. decd) appealed from this Resolve and order of this Court to the Superior Court."
and at page 140 said vol.:
4May1713 "Samuel Terry of Enfield and Martha his wife, Adms. on the Estate of Benajmin Crane, Jr., are granted a Quietus Est. supra at 433.
"Captain Samuel Terry 3d Captain of the Militia of Enfield & one of the first representatives to the Gen. Court at Boston, often sustaining various Town offices, he died 1730 aged 70, left 7 sons, all but one settled in Enfield." Page 40 History of Enfield in Chapter "Historical Sketch of the Town of Enfield."
Identified as being one of the oldest houses now standing in Enfield in 1829 was "The house that was formerly owned by Col. Nathaniel Terry which was built by his grandfather Capt. Samuel Terry." Page 49 supra
1716 Elected Captain in local militia.
9Mar1724 "At a legal Town meeting in Enfield March ye 1724 Those voted to Joyne with Suffield to send agent down to Connecticut general court with a petition or prayr for our Rights. afore copy attest Lochair Booth Clerk.
Att ye same meeting ye Town chose Capn Tairy to be their agent to joyne with Suffield to Petition or pray for Those Privileges that do Belong unto us. afore: copy attest Lothair Booth Clerk."
12Mar1724 The Town of Suffield, by a close vote, chose John Kent* to be the agent to procure for the town of Suffield the privileges of Connecticut Government.
*[Query: Could it have been descendants of this John Kent who were very early settlers in the portion of Dutchess Co. NY which later became Putnam Co. NY and where there is located a Town of Kent named after the early settlers? Descendants of 512 Reverend Samuel Terry lived in that town also cjmc]
[Note: Originals of the above and following are located in the papers of the General Court in the Connecticut Archives and copies made by the compiler in 1985. Since the copy of the original Petition is being included herein, including the page containing the signatures of Captain Samuel Terry and John Kent thereon as Exhibit I, will abstract petition as follows: cjmc]
14May1724 Samuel Terry of Enfield and John Kent of Suffield petitioned the Governor and Council and Representatives of the General Court of Connecticut on 14May1724 stating that the States of Massachusetts and Connecticut had run a dividing line between the said government and erected monuments. Said line was decreed and recorded as the true line by charter granted and that the said towns and plantations are in fact by said "Line Manifestly within the Charter of Conecticut..." and "which Charter was a gracious privilege granted without reserve by our late Sovereign King Charltes the 2nd of glorious memory to all inhabiting or that should inhabit the limits of the same..." "Yet notwithstanding your Honorables in conjection with the above said province [meaning Massachusetts cjmc] enacted and decreed that the said towns should remain under the jurisdiction of the said province."
1. We think we have never done anything whereby we have forfeited that right and privilege granted in common to all his Majesties Loyal subjects that do or should inhabit within the said limits.
2. We never have consented to the giving up our birthright nor to the subjection that is expected of us from the Massachusetts etc.
3. We are humbly of opinion that we cannot contrary to our minds be derprived of said privileges unless the whole charter be vacated.
4. If we continue as we are we cannot discern by what authoritiy the Government of the Massachusetts can regularly command us. So that we shall seem to be left without authority over us or government among us what is far from our hearts and desire. Nay, we abhor the thoughts of it.
Your Honorables having graciously heard this our humble prayer we patiently wait for a gracious answer of Peace that we may approve ourselves dutyfull and obedient to your Honorables as well as Loyal Subjects to our glorious sovereign King George and your humble supplicants as bound shall ever pray. /s/ Samll Terry and John Kent.
[Note: Mr. Allen in his History of Enfield informs that the first petition was for inclusion in the Colony of Connecticut was made by the Town of Enfield in 1715 but it was not until 1749 that the Town of Enfield became a part of Connecticut. Captain Samuel Terry did not live to see the results of his and other petitions. cjmc]
12 Dec. 1730 Captain Samuel Terry executes Last Will and Testament in Enfield, Mass. [now Conn. cjmc].
"In the name of God Amen I Samuel Terry of the Town of Enfield & County of Hampshire being weak of body and of sound and disposing memory and mind do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament
Imprimis I resign my soul to God that gave it and my body to the Dust to be decently buried by my Executors & for my outward Estate of Wordly Goods I giveth is po---- as followeth:
Item I give to my loving wife Martha the one half of my household goods and also my black mares two cows & Six sheep
Item I give to my son Samuel Terry all that he oweth me upon book account
Item I give to my son Ebenezer Terry all that he oweth me upon book account provided he acquits my Estate from all that he demands of me upon book account but if he demands any thing due to him from me upon book account my will is that he pay to my Executor what he oweth me upon book account
Item I give to my daughter Hannah Bement five shillings & to my daughter Rebeckah Pasco five shillings & to my son Jacob Terry five shillings & to my son Isaac Terry five shillings.
Finally after my debts and funeral expenses are Paid I give & bequeath all the rest & residue of my Estate both real & Personal unto my three sons Benjamin Terry Ephraim Terry and Jonathan Terry to them & to their Heirs forever & I hereby nominate & appoint them that is Benjamin Terry Ephraim Terry & Jonathan Terry to be Executors of this my Last Will & Testament hereby revoking all former Wills whatsoever Sealed with my seal and dated in Enfireld Dec. 12th Ann. Domini 1730 in Presence of us
/s/ Saml Terry & a Seal
Ephraim (his mark) Terry Joseph Pease Marcy (her mark) Pease" HCR pp. 82-83
9Mar1730/31 Hampshire Co., Mass. Probate Court
"Hampshire Co.: At a Court of Probates Helden at Northampton within & for the County of Hampshre on the Second Tuesday of March Anno. Domini 1730/31 being the ninth day of sd month (a symbol) John Stodard Esq. Judge of sd Court the foregoing Will was presented by the three Executors therein named for Probate & Ephraim Terry & Joseph Pease who signed as witnesses to sd Will being present made oath that they saw the said Testator sign & seal and heard him pronounce the same to be his Last Will & Testament & that to the best of their judgment the sd Testator was of a sound mind & memory when he said it & that they both saw Marcy Pease sign as a witness to sd Will & that they all signed as witnesses in presence of the sd Testator wherefore I approve ratifie & confirm the same as the Last Will and Testament of the sd. Deceased. John Stoddard." HCR p. 83
9Mar1731. Hampshire Co., Mass. Probate Court
"At a Court of the Probate Holden at Northampton within & for the County of Hampshire on the Second Tuesday of March being the Ninth day of the month (a symbol) John Stoddards Esq. Judge of sd Court. Messrs. Barony (?) Ganes Thomas Jones & Joseph Pease all of Enfield in sd County were appointed to make an appraisement of the Estate of Samuel Terry Late of Enfield aforesd. Gent Dec: as it shall be Presented to them by Benjamin Terry Ephraim Terry & Jonathan Terry Executors of the Last Will & Testament afsd. (a symbol) John Stoddard."
18Mar1731 Enfield March 18th 1731. The above named Persons Barony Ganes & Thomas Jones & Joseph Pease were Sworn to the true performance of sd above Trust.
(symbol) John Aplay (?) Jus. Peace"
7June1731 "An Inventory of the Estate of Capt. Samuel Terry Late of Enfield Deceased Taken & apprized by us the Subscribers June the 7th anno Domini 1731.
To 25 acres of Land on the South Side of the North Branch of Grapebrook at 50 pounds.
To 20 acres of land on the south side of the north branch of Grape book at 50 pounds.
To 9 acres of land joyning to Springfield line at a place called Wakhoagat 13 pounds and 10 shillings.
Barony Ganes Joseph Pease and Thomas Jones )Apprzrs.
Excepting several pieces of land that now ---- under the Incumbrance of a Mortgage & also several debts due from sundry persons to the deceased the certainty of which we cannot as yet come at Enfield June 7th 1731 Benjamin Terry Emphraim Terry. The foregoing Inventory was lodged with me the Subscriber. Jonathan Terry Executor of the Last Will & Testament of sd Deceased. Certified (symbol) John Stoddard Judge of Probate."
4 August 1731
"Hampshire County: at a Court of Probate Holden at Northampton within & for the County of Hampshire on the Second Tuesday of August being the Fourth day of Anno Domini 1731 (symbol) John Stoddard Esq. Judge of sd Court Benjamin Terry Ephraim Terry & Jonathan Terry Executors of the Last Will & Testament of their Hon. Father Mr. Samuel Terry Late of Enfield Deceased presenting the foregoing Inventory made oath that it is a true & the fact Inventory of the Estate of sd Deceased so farr as at present they can come at & if any more appear of like nature they
will readily make and of ---- thereof to the sd Judge or to his successors in sd office from time to time. (symbol) John Stoddard." 10Aug1731. Probate Court, Hampshire Co., Mass.
"At a Court of Probate Holden at Northampton within & for the County of Hampshire on the Second Tuesday of August being the Tenth day of sd month anno domini 1731 (symbol) John Stoddard Esqr. Judge for sd Court Benjamin Terry Emphraim Terry Ephraim Terry & Jonathan Terry Executors of the Last Will & Testament of their Hon. Father Capt. Samuel Terry Late of Enfield Deceased making request for some further time to make up accnt. & finish & perfect their Inventory they find the Estate much ---------- & many accnts. & some of them at ------- ----- distance their motion is considered & they are allowed three months time more in order to compleat their Inventory. John Stoddard"
9Sept1731 Additional Inventory, Hampshire Co., Mass.
"An additional Inventory of the Estate of Capt. Samuel Terry late of Enfield Deceased taken & Apprized by us the Subscribers Sept. 9th Anno. Domini 1731.
To 5 acres & 1/4 11 rods & 1/2 of Meadow Land lying on both sides of freshwater book about two rods left of the Country Road at 13 pounds per acres 69 pounds 3.5 shillings
To one piece of land lying on the west side of the Country Road near Fresh water book at 16 acres at 6 pounds per acre 96 pounds.
To two Indentures one of Aron Younglove & one of Bethia Younglove both at 7 pounds
The above tracts of land lye under the Incumbrance of a Mortgage made to Mr. Jonathan Waldo of Boston.
Thomas Jones Barony Ganes & Joseph Pease) Apprizrs
Benjamin Terry Ephraim Terry & Jonathan Terry Executors of the Last Will & Testament of sd Deceased."
"An account of debts to the Estate of Capt Samuell Terry Late of Enfield in the County of Hampshire."
[Note: Your compiler will not set out the entire document with amounts due and owing from the estate but only list the persons who owed and the persons to whom money was owed. cjmc)
Debtors: James Wood, John Tousley, Joshua Booth, Samuel Doolittle, Obadiah Miller, Thomas Abby, John Abby, Thos. Perkins, Abel Wright, Timothy Riatt, William Simons, Samuel Pease, Ebanezer Warriner, Ebenezer Jones, Joseph Hale, Jonathan Bush Sr., Estate of Capt. Goodrich late of Tolland, deceased; From Jonathan Terry 200 (which he is to Pay to Mr. Waldo's estate towards & discharge of a mortgage his Father made to sd Waldo by bond dated Sept. 13, 1731 [Query: Is this an error and should it have been 1730/1? cjmc), from Jonathan Terry the sum of 329:3:1 by a bond dated March 16th 1730 for which he is to pay to Mr. Waldo's estate in consideration of some cattle & other moveable estate his father conveyed to him by a Bill of Sale in order to discharge a mortgage his father had made to sd Waldo, Christopher & Jacob Lawton, John Pierce, Daniel Weld (?), Jonathan Jink, Benjamin Selton, Stephen Minor, Thos. Colton, Robert Pease, Nath. Pease., John Allen, Eben Wariner, Samuel Gilbert, Samuel Keep (?), Abraham Pease, Israel Phelps, Samuel Cooley, George Hall, David Burt, Henry Woolcot, Natn. Bliss, Caleb Allen, of Capt. C. Frisbees of Branford, Jcabo Kibby, ----Sikor, Jr., Caleb Booth, James Simons, Nathn. Pease, of Saml. Hall, Eben Chapin, Joseph Pease.
Total accounts receivable 857 pounds 15 shillings and six pence. Following are the persons to whom the estate was indebted:
John Gunn, Doct. Matthews(?), Jedidiah Watons, Isaac Pease, deceased, John Lawton, Jonathan Pierce, Col. Pynchon, Mr. Harris of Springfield, Asaph Leavit, Mr. John Beauchamp, Jacob Adams, Ebanezer Burbanks, ZahCarisus Booth, John Prior, Junr. ----Lawton, Shubael Geer, Widow Hannah Glaston, John Prior, Capt. Strong, Daniel Markham, Luke Parsons, Benj. Bement, Richard French, John Kibby, Barony Ganes, John Pease, Richard Comes, Josiah Shelton, Thomas Ingersole, Thomas Hale, John Meacham, Ephraim Terry, Col. Fitch, Estate of Mr. Waldo of Boston, late deceased, Mr. Caleb Lyman of Boston, Benjamin Terry, James Kibby, Jonathan Pierce. Debts totalled 1484 pounds 7 shillings and of this 975 pounds 19 shillings seven pence went to the estate of Mr. Waldo evidently to pay off the mortgage referred to in the additional inventory.
14Sept1731. Probate Court, Hampshire Co., Mass.
"At a Court of Probate Holden at Northampton within & for the County of Hampshire on the second Tuesday of Sept.
anno Domini 1731 being the 14th day of sd month (symbol) John Stoddard Esqr. Judge of sd Court Benjamin Terry Ephraim Terry & Jonathan Terry Executors of the Last Will & Testament of their Honr. Father Mr. Samuel Terry Late of Enfield in sd County Gent. Deceased all personally appearing Made Oath that the foregoing acct. of debt & credit of the Estate of Deceased is a true accnt. as farr as already come to their knowledge & that if any more debt or credit of sd Estate should hereafter appear they will readily make discovery of the same to this Judge of Probate or his Successors in sd office from time to time. Commr. John Stoddard Judge of the Probate" HCR pp. 92-93
11Sept1731 Additional Inventory "An Additional Inventory of the Estate of Capt. Samuel Terry Late of Enfield Deceased taken & apprized by us the Subscribers Sept. 11 1731
To 196 acres of land on both side of Grapebrook at 294 pounds To 76 acres & 40 rods of land on the south side of Grapebrook 114 pounds and 7 shillings
To 20 acres of land upon the south branch of Grapebrook 60 pounds
To 1 acre of land between the Branches of Grapebrook at 1 pound ten shillings. Thomas Jones Baroni Gaines & Joseph Pease apprizers
Benjamin Terry Ephraim Terry Jonathan Terry Executors to the Last Will & Testament of sd deceased." HCR:111 28Mar1733 Additional Inventory
"An Additional Inventory of the Estate of Capt. Samuel Terry Late of Enfield Decd Taken & apprized by us the Subscribers March 28th Anno Dom 1733,To Seventy Six Acres and one quarter of land that is yet to take up in the Second Division in the forward(?) Comons at 10 per acre 98 pounds and five shillings Thomas Jones, Barony Gaines, Joseph Pease) Apprizers Benjamin Terry Ephraim Terry & Jonathan Terry) Executors of the Last Will & Testament of sd deceased" HCR p. 138
Frederick W. Sawyer III, 8 Sachem Drive, Glastonbury, Ct. 06033 on 2Oct1985 sent the following to the compiler. Mr. Sawyer is a descendant of both wives of Captain Samuell Terry. Mr. Sawyer cites Allen's The History of Enfield Connecticut; Willard S. Allen's Longmeadow (Mass.) Familes; NEHGR Jan. 1879 33:68-133; James Savage's A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England; Henry M. Burt's The First Century of the History of Springfield and Stephen Terry's Notes of Terry Families
"The Enfield Street Cemetery, Enfield Ct.
The Enfield Street Cemetery is located on U. S. Route 5 (Enfield Street) near Spier Street in Enfield, Connecticut. It is maintained by the Enfield Cemetery Association (P. O. Box 45, Enfield CT 06082) and has been in constant use since the first half of the 17th century.
The cemetery has three entrances from Route 5, the right most of which has a stone archway. To the left of the central entrance and 15 rows back one will find a stone seat (dedicated to a sister of Selah mentioned below) under a tree; immediately in front of this monument is the stone for Isaac Terry (d. 1782), an Enfield shoemaker. Isacc's parents Captain Samuel Terry (d. 1731) and Martha Boreman Terry (d. 1743) are buried side by side in row 19 in the section to the right of the road. On that side of the road there is a large Terry monument with a Grecian urn on its top; if one faces this monument with back to the cemetery entrance, then Samuel and Martha's stones are in front of and to the left of the monument. Samuel was a farmer who served at various times as constable and selectman; in 1716 he was made captain of the local militia. Martha was the daughter of Samuel Boreman of Wethersfield.
Martha's stone has sunken into the ground and is loose. In a talk at the 1985 meeting of the Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford, gravestone conservator Lance Mayer identified Samuel's stone as the work of Thomas Johnson, Senior, who produced gravestones between 1723 and 1736. In analysing Johnson's work, Ernest Caulfield (Connecticut Gravestones V, Bulletin of the Connecticut Historical Society, January 1956, 21(1):1-21) has stated:
The outstanding feature of these stones, particulary when compared with other Connecticut gravestones of that period, is that they show the hand of a master craftsman. From the stern cynical skulls with their gnashing teeth as well as from the feathered wings, fig borders and careful lettering, one may conclude that this artist was exceedingly proud of his work and wished each stone to be considered as a finished product. The edges of each stone were carefully chamfered, and even the backs were often made unusually smooth and occasionally decorated with a border. Martha was Samuel's second wife. A child by his first wife (Hannah Morgan Terry, daughter of Miles Morgan of Springfield) was Dr. Ebenezer Terry (d. 1780), who is buried next to his wife Mary Helme Terry (d. 1762) in row 20 on the left side of the
central road, immediately below and to the right of a large evergreen tree. Ebenezer was a physician who lived for a time in South Kingston RI but settled in Enfield around 1722, representing the town in the legislature (of the Massachusetts colony). Mary was the daughter of Samuel Helme of South Kingston RI.
Ebenezer and Mary's son Selah (d. 1803) married his half first cousin Michal Terry (d. 1810), a daughter of Isaac and Margaret (Downing) Terry. Selah and Michal are buried together in row 21/22 to the right of the central road, to the left of the Terry Monument and behind the stones for Samuel and Martha.
[Your compiler visited the Enfield St. Cemetery in 1983 and took several photographs of the various Terry stones. The scenery surrounding the cemetery is so breathtaking and in such a lovely and tranquil setting and I felt so at home where my Terry ancestors rest in peace. cjmc]
CHILDREN OF 51 CAPTAIN SAMUEL TERRY and HANNAH MORGAN
511 HANNAH TERRY b 18Nov1684 m WILLIAM BEMENT
[Note: Your compiler has found the search for her ancestor, 512 Reverend Samuel Terry, the first son of Ann Lobdell and Samuel Terry, to be both the most frustrating and the most interesting!! Thank goodness, Reverend Samuel Terry was noted in history from the time of his graduation from Harvard in 1710 in a class of two, to his marrying Margaret Coffin, the widow of Reverend John Wilson whose pulpit Samuel Terry took over in the Congregational Church at Barrington MA (now Rhode Island); through his trials and tribulations as a "wandering" minister", teacher, owner of sawmills while "moving west" through Massachusetts, newly formed towns in Connecticut and finally to that "genealogial graveyard" Dutchess County NY and its Oblong section. There has never been a dull moment while searching the records for a trace of Reverend Samuel Terry especially when he was found guilty of being "so bad of it" (drunk) on a Sabbath to his successful appeal to the high courts of Massachusetts requesting a jury trial by his peers, which jury then found him "not guilty" to being found in "Debtors' Prison" in Dutchess Co. NY when he apparently could not pay his debts because he had not been paid himself for his services as a minister in Dutchess Co. NY and the Oblong. cjmc]
512 SAMUELL TERREY whom I shall refer to as REVEREND SAMUELL TERRY b 26Mar1690 d after 1758 and prob 1762 [see 1762 infra cjmc] prob Dutchess Co NY on 25Oct1719 at Mendon Worcester Co rovince of Massachusetts (Mendon Marriage Records) m MARGARET COFFIN widow of Reverend John Wilson b 10Jun 1689 Nantucket Island, MA as possibly her third husband, d/o MARY GARDNER and JETHRO COFFIN. See Appendix II for ancestors of Margaret (Coffin) Hall-Wilson-Terry.
Their known children and probable children, order of birth not known: *
5121 Samuel Terry
5122 Mary Terry
5123 Wilson Terry (possible)
5124 Josiah Terry
5125 Peter Terry
*[Note: Your compiler presumes that there were other children as Margaret (Coffin) Hall and Samuel Terry were married 25Oct1719 and the first recorded child in extant vital records was Josiah Terry born 19Dec1730. cjmc]
26 March 1690 "Samuel Terry was the eldest son of Captain Samuel and Hannah (Morgan) Terry of Enfield, where he was born ca. March 26, 1690. The captain represented the town in the General Court and was a man of distinction on the frontier, although his estate was small by eastern standards..." Shipton at p. 542
June1709 "Samuel and his fellow townsman, Joseph Meacham, arrived in Cambridge in June, 1709, and together were placed at the foot of what was then the freshman class. Together they were advanced to the Class of 1710 with which they took their first degree, although they did not live at the College and were, so far as the records show, not even 'in residence.'" Shipton at p. 542
June1713 Samuel returned to Cambridge in June, 1713 and remained until September. At that Commencement he qualified for the second degree by giving a negative response to the questio, 'An Fidendum semper sit sensi.'
1714 "In 1714, he was preaching in the newly settled town of Hebron, Connecticut, but winter found him in Cambridge again..."Shipton at p. 542
1715 "In the spring of 1715, he joined the Cambridge church and rejected an invitation to become the first minister of Needham. In September he left Cambridge, ..." Shipton at p. 542
21Apr1718 "...dropping out of sight until April 21, 1718, when he was chosen minister of Barrington, then in Massachusetts, to succeed John Wilson, A. B. 1705..." Shipton at p. 542
Mr. Bicknell in his history in a chapter entitled "Separation of Congregationalists and Congregational Ministers" at pp. 201-205, names Reverend Samuel Terry as Rev. Samuel Torrey. Mr. Bicknell also referred to Rev. John Wilson, whose widow Reverend Samuel Terry married, as James Wilson. Mr. Bicknell wrote that the changes in the Church Covenant of the church in Swansea "...with reference to baptism and communion, which destroyed the basis of Christian fellowship between Anabaptists and Pedeobaptists...and made the church distinctly Baptist. This change, so distasteful to the Congregationalists, opened a religious controversy which, twenty-five years later, split Swansea, on sectarian lines, into two townships...About the year 1700 the Baptist meeting-house was moved from Tyler's Point to North Swansea to accommodate the majority of the people. This left the southwest portion of the town, where the Congregational element was centered, without a place of worship. Here, soon after 1710, a Congregational Church was formed, and a meeting-house was built a little north of the present residence of the late Mr. George Gladding. Very little is known of this early Church, all records having been lost. The name of only one pastor, Rev. James Wilson, has come down to us..." Bicknell
Mr. Bicknell further wrote that "inhabitants on the westward end of Swansea" petitioned the General Court to form a township "thereby enabling us to settle and maintain a pious learned and orthodox minister for the good of us and our posterity."
The General Council rejected this petition and a second petition. At page 202, Mr. Bicknell tells us:
"The question of the division of the town continued to occupy the minds of the people of old Swansea, and the third petition to the General Court in 1717, was heard and answered by the formation of a new town, and Phebe's Neck and New Meadow Neck were 'erected into a township by the name of Barrington,' on the eighteenth of November 1717.
Under the ancient rule in Massachusetts, the business relating to the settlement, support and dismission of the ministers was transacted by the town in town meeting assembled, and the town records now relate that at the second town meeting of the town, held April 21, 1718, the inhabitants of Barrington chose Rev. Samuel Torrey to be the minister of the town.
'For the labor the town voted to give one hundred pounds as a settlement to the Reverend Samuel Torrey. Those that have paid anything already as to a settlement, to be reckoned towards shares so far as it will go, and what any person has payed over and above, to be returned to him, and this hundred pounds as a settlement to be his property if he continues to be our minister for the space of ten years, otherwise to be returned to the town again and it is further voted that if it should please God to take him away by death before the said term of ten years is out, that then his heirs shall have out of said sum the value of ten pounds a year so long as he shall labor as our minister.' 'Voted that whatever money is given in that is not marked shall belong to the Rev. Mr. Samuel Torrey.' 'Voted that the Rev. Mr. Samuel Torrey have seventy pounds a year as salary for the labor as long as he continues our minister, the said sum to be collected by the constable yearly, and payed into the town clerk, and by him to be payed to the Rev. Mr. Samuel Torrey.'
Messrs. Zachariah Bicknell, James Adams, and 'Sergeant Peck' were appointed a committee 'to treat with the Rev. Mr. Samuel Torrey about what the town had voted with respect to himself,' and to report at an adjourned meeting, 'this fortnight at five o'clock in the afternoon at the house of Mr. Zachariah Bicknell.'
A protest was entered against the action of the town, signed by twenty-one persons, probably Baptists, who had stoutly opposed the formation of the new town, and also as earnestly opposed taxation for the support of the church and minister of another sect..."
At the bottom of page 203, Mr. Bicknell continues:
"The first ministerial business of the town was not settled until the fourth day of August, 1718, 'When the Rev. Mr. Samuel Torrey appeared at the town meeting and signified to the town that he accepted the call the town gave him to be their minister for the futor and also the voats that the town passed about him, both as to the settlement and salary which voats were passed by the town, the twenty-first day of April last.' The Rev. Mr. Samuel Torrey thus became the
first minister of the new town and Church, as one body. There is no written record of this pastorate, but we must infer that it was not satisfactory to the public, from its brevity and also from the fact that in December, 1725, the town refused to increase Mr. Torrey's salary, and, in June, 1726, on a renewal of the request for an increase of salary, through a Committee consisting of Lieut. Nathaniel Peck, Samuel Kent and Samuel Humphrey, the town refused the request a second time.
On the 16th of August, it was voted that the town would not concur with the Church in raising Mr. Torrey's salary, and at the same meeting it was voted 'that the town concur with the Church in dismissing the Rev. Mr. Torrey from being their minister, provided a Council advise it.'
The town records of that date show copies of Rev. Mr. Torrey's receipt for salary, attested by Josiah Humphrey, town cleark, and a copy of his receipts for -L-100 as a settlement, as follows:
'Whereas the town of Barrington on April the 21st, 1718, voted me one hundred pounds as a settlement, I do acknowledge that particular persons in the town and out of the town did liberally bestow upon me an hundred pounds to encourage me to settle in the ministry here and further I do by these acquit the town from ever paying me or my heirs the said hundred pounds that they voted me or any part of it; they (who) never paid it to me as a town.
As witness my hand this 19th day of January, 1725-6. Samuel Torrey'*
The Rev. Mr. Samuel Torrey was dismissed by an ecclesiastical council and candidating for a new minister for the Church and town began..."
*[Note: If the reader will study the manner in which the Reverend Samuel Terry's formed his "e's" in his signature in the documents set out in this compilation, it will be noted that his "e's" at times looked more like "o's." I wonder if the original of the receipts referred to by Mr. Bicknell are extant? Your compiler will try to ascertain if they are and, if so, try to obtain a copy of Reverend Samuel Terry's signature on same. cjmc]
On 20Sept1996, Richard LeBaron Bowen, Jr. 35 Fessenden Rd. Barrington R. I. 02806 wrote in response to my letter regarding his article The Lost First Book of Barrington Records (REGISTER Vol. 59 Jan. 1995) in which Mr. Bowen named Reverend Samuel Terry as Torry. Mr. Bowen wrote to your compiler: "You are correct. The person who was the Congregational minister in Barrington in 1718 was Samuel Terry, not Torrey. I discovered this on July 21, 1993 as the enclosed note shows. The Register article should have had Terry or at least a note that Torry ws Terry. In the leaf I published the 'e's and 'o's are written identically so it oculd have been either. You ay that Bicknell probably found a document with Samuel Terry's signature and assumed that it was Torry, by the way he wrote his 'e.' However, Bicknell obtained his information onTerry from the Barrington town meetins, which is indicated. There at least three Torry families in Barrington at this tim eincluding John and Josiah (town clerk, 1726). In the town meetings all of the Terrys and Samuel Terry are spelled the same: Torrey. At that time it may have been felt that Samuel Terry was a Torry..." and In the deeds and probate records Terry is spelled very clearly with no ambiguity. Finding Samuel Terry ws exciting at the time since it was spelled so clearly as 'Torrey' in the Barrington town records that one would never think of looking at Terry.
[Note: Mr. Shipton did not agree with Mr. Bicknell's presumption that Rev. Samuel Terry's ministry was not satisfactory. See below. cjmc]
25Oct1719 "With the pulpit, he also took over the widow Wilson, nee Margaret Coffin. Their marriage was recorded at Mendon on October 25, 1719. (Yale, 1916, p. 263.) Barrington had many Quaker and Baptist inhabitants and found itself unable to pay the orthodox Mr. Terry more than 70 pounds a year. This, even with aid from the Usher funds at the disposal of Judge Samuel Sewall of Boston, was hardly sufficient to keep a family. Barrington and Mr. Terry agreed to part, and were amicably separated by an ecclesiastical council on September 7, 1726..." Shipton p 542
"Barrington. Chh. &c. Nov. 1720. Males 7. Revd. Saml. Terry first min. ord. Nov. 1720. Dismissd Sep. 7, 1726. [Later Addition] Quere. Did not Mr Wilson preach here? Gr. son of Old Mr Wilson of Bo." Stiles p 263
From The Lost First Book of Barrington Records by Richard LeBaron Bowe, Jr. at pp. 46-48 N. E. H. G. REGISTER Vol. 59 Jan. 1995, hereinafter referred to as Bowen, we learn: "The town of Barrington (since 1747 in Rhode Island) was set off from Swansea, Massachusetts, in 1717. In 1737, the Barrington Town Meeting voted to buy paper for a new book in which to record deaths and births - a vote which certainly implies that an older book had been filed by this time. There is actual proof of the existence of the first book, provided by one leaf, seven and a half inches wide by eleven and a hlaf inches long, on which are listed seven marriages with a note at the bottom: 'A true Copy taken out of Barrington Record/Attested Samuel Humphry town Clerk of Barrington.'[1] The first marriage was by Nathaniel Paine (Justice of the Peace) and the other six were by 'Samll Torry ordained minister in Barrington.' The marriages, in chronological order from 16 June 1720 to 1 March 1721/2, may be from a single page of the original book, or from several pages. If it were not for the notarization by Humphry at the bottom, one might assume that this was an actual page from the original book. The entries are in one hand and ink , and under each of the seven, in another hand and different ink, is "Recorded by me Samuel Humphry Town Clerk..." Mr. Bowen then copies the marriages which are set out below chronologically.
Then Mr. Bowen wrote: "This page provides a tantalizing glimpse of what has been lost in Barrington's first book of vital records. These are the only marriages known to have been performed by the Reverend Samuel Torry, first pastor of the Barrington Congregational Church. The seven marriages in a 22-month period suggest that records of perhaps 75 marriages during the period from 1717 to 1736 have been lost..."
(1) This leaf was found among the papers of the late Richard LeBaron Bowen, Bristol County antiquarian and genealogist, and father of the author.
2Feb1721 Barrington MA (Bowen) Samll Terry officiated at the marriage of Samuel Gray of Briston and Hannah Kent of Barrington as an ordained minister of the Gospel in Barrington.
9Feb1720/21 Barrington MA (Bowen) Samuel Terry officiated at the marriage of Stpehn Phry and Ann Chauncy of Barrington. x Chauncy, Ann
22June1721 Barrington MA (Bowen) Samuel Terry officiated at the marriage of Eenezer Smith of Barrington and Sarah Smith of Taunton.
17Aug1721 Barrington MA (Bowen) Samuel Terry officiated at the marriage of Nathaniel Pain of Rehoboth and and Abigail Smith of Barrington.
29Aug1721 Barrington MA (Bowen) Samuel Terry officiated at the marriage of Elizabeth Smith and Isaiah Tiffany of Barrington.
1Mar1721/2 Barrington MA (Bowen) Samuel Terry officiated at the marriage of James Addames Junr. and Elizabeth Tiffany of Barrington.
13Sept1722 "Petition by Margaret Terry, formerly widow and administrator of Estate of her former husband the Rev. John Wilson of Swansea, and by her present husband Samuel Terry. Mentions allowance for 'beareing a Posthumous Child.' Dated 13 Sept. 1722." Bristol County Probate Records Vol. 1, p. 164. Bristol p 93.
8Mar1725/26"...John Coffin, esq., and Josiah Coffin, mariner, both of Sherbourn, County of Nantucket, for 280 pounds, deeded to Samuel Terry, clerk, (husband of Margaret, Jethro Coffin's daughter Appendix H) of Barrington, Bristol County, Massachusetts, 'A Certain Farm or Tract of land', containing 240 acres, which was given to us by our father Jethro Coffin of Mendon, Lying in the Nipmugg Country in Sutton [1985 Northbridge], on the south side of Oxford Road near Mendon line, including trees, orchards, stones, fences, houses, minerals, grass, herbage, feedings, and runs of water or water courses..." Little p 26 citing Suffolk Co. MA Dd Bk 39:197-8
As background information for the next phase of the lives of Margarett Coffin and her husband, Reverend Samuel Terry, the reader is referred to Elizabeth A. Little's Background Essays for An Archaelogical Study of the Jethro Coffin Houselot in Section 3 entitled "The Mendon-Nantucket Connection: 1708-1737" written by Betty Little and Margaret Morrison, present owner of the Mendon property acquired by Jethro Coffin, father of Margarett Coffin, and later purchased by Margaret (Coffin) Hall-Wilson-Terry from her brother.
In her Introduction on page one of Section 3, Mrs. Little writes:
"In the search for documentary data for the history of the 1686-1986 Jethro Coffin House at Nantucket, the first two deeds for the property which were discovered by Helen Chase recorded the sale of the house by Jethro Coffin, yeoman, in 1708, and his removal from the island to Mendon, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Since few of us on Nantucket
were certain of the location of Mendon, I pursued the question, where is Mendon and why did Jethro Coffin move there? On my first trip to Mendon, I was fortunate to meet Mrs. Margaret Morrison in her home, which she supposed was Jethro Coffin's Mendon homestead. She has been an enthusiastic co-researcher in the project since its beginning. [References to Figures omitted. cjmc]
Jethro Coffin's father was Peter Coffin, gentleman of Exeter (NH), a wealthy timber and sawmill owner. Peter Coffin's father, Tristram Coffin, was in turn one of the wealthiest proprietors of the Island of Nantucket. By tradition, John Gardner of Nantucket, Mary Gardner's father, had provided the land and Peter Coffin had provided house timbers and boards from his New Hampshire sawmill for Jethro and Mary Coffin's house on Sunset Hill, Nantucket. While they lived here, from about 1686 (date of marriage and purchase of land not know exactly) until 1708, their six surviving children were born. In 1708 Jethro was 45 years old and Mary was 38 (citing Starbuck 1924.)
The Nantucket whaling industry commenced between 1690 and 1692, and by 1708 was growing vigorously...Between 1700 and 1737, the Nantucket whaling industry was in a period of rapid expansion which would culminate in world leadership. Why would Jethro Coffin leave the island at a time of economic growth?...We propose that Mendon could provide resources required for the whaling industry...Among the important resources required for the whaling industry were timber, iron and water power. Supplies available at Nantucket of the pine and oak required for ship building and the cedar boards used for the very lightweight American whaleboats, were depleted quickly (Little 1981.) Although bog iron extraction was attempted at Nantucket (Freeman 1807:24), the local iron ore and especially the fuel for iron working were severely limited..." Mrs. Little continues by setting forth her logical and well researched reasons as to why Jethro Coffin and other families moved to Mendon and thus writes at page 9 of Section 3:
"From this base, I make a case for the Mendon colony of Nantucketers harvesting Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) from swamps, gathering and processing bog iron from swamps and possibly iron ore from hills for whale craft (as the tools of the business were called), and possibly extracting other resources for the requirements of the whaling industry at Nantucket..."
At page 13 of Section 3: "The 240 acres Coffin Grant: Sawmill and Iron Works (Appendix F & H)
"The chronology of this grant is as follows: In 1668 Peter Coffin of Exeter, NH, gentleman, sent King George of England a present of a shipload of masts on behalf of a committee of the Massachusetts General Court. Coffin was compensated in 1672 by the Court with a grant of 200 acres of upland and 40 acres of Meadow 'where he can finde it not yet layd out' (Appendix H) In 1708 a Nantucket blacksmith listed in his account book: '2.7.4 of New England iron' (Little 1981:46) [An unique entry.] In the same year, Jethro Coffin moved from Nantucket to Mendon, which may be only a coincidence. In 1711 Peter Coffin deeded his grant to his son Jethro Coffin of Mendon, who petitioned the General Court in 1713 for the grant to be laid out in Nipmug Country and recorded a plot of the 240 acres (Figure 8.)...According to the records, Jethro Coffin after two years deeded the farm to his sons John and Josiah, who sold the land in 1726 to their brother-in-law, Samuel Terry of Barrington, clerk. If this meadow land had any cedar or standing crop such as meadow hay, it must have been harvested by 1726.
Samuel Terry (not Samuel Torrey who was related to Angel Torrey (SCD 23:117, WCD 4:54)) was hired by the town of Barrington as a minister in 1718 until 1726, when the town, at the instigation of the Baptists, refused to pay him (Bicknell 1898:202,204,247, 254,255.) Note that Jethro Coffin's other son-in-law, Nathaniel Woodbury, also came from Barrington. Barrington is a seaport with shipbuilding traditions on the east side of Narragansett Bay near the mouth of the Blackstone (Fig. 1.) Further down the peninsula is Newport which has major shipbuilding and trade traditions.
The Reverend Samuel Terry in 1726 and 1727 purchased 4 and 1/2 acres at the Falls on Mumford's River and 120 acres with housing between the Falls and Mendon's west boundary. Thus he owned the site for a dam and the land which would become a pond after the building of a dam. By 1727 he had built a sawmill at The Falls, and by 1728 an iron works (forge) at or just downstream from the site of today's Brick Mill. [Omitted citations cjmc]
A 1712 sawmill on Mumford River (Metcalf 1880:162) is as yet without a documented location or owner."
At page 19 of Section 3: "The End of the Nantucket Colony at Mendon The high rate of intermarriage either within the Nantucket colony at Mendon or with Nantucketers (Table 1; Starbuck 1924) indicates that the Mendon colony ties to Nantucket remained close. Perhaps because of these strong island ties, after the death of Jethro Coffin in 1726 the Nantucket colony in Mendon collapsed and most of the Coffin/Gardner family returned immediately to Nantucket, where Jethro Coffin's heirs still owned a share in the proprietary (NCD 2:75.) The last of the Coffin clan in Mendon, the Reverend Samuel Terry, developed the sawmill and iron forge on the Mumford by 1728 before moving his family to Connecticut by 1737. The Nantucket Coffins, Gardners, and Evens left little imprint in Mendon Vital Records."
The last paragraph of Mrs. Little's Summary and Discussion, at page 20 of Section 3 reads:
"Although at present we lack evidence for the freighting of cedar and iron between Nantucket and Mendon, account books of shipping merchants on Nantucket or Newport or Barrington (where Jethro Coffin acquired two sons-in-law) might provide data which could prove the Mendon-Nantucket economic connection here inferred. There are in addition many questions which remain about the Mendon-Nantucket connnection. Were there similar Nantucket colonies elsewhere along the coast at the same time? What part did Quakerism, established on Nantucket about the time Jethro Coffin moved to Mendon, play in the Mendon move? Was the early sawmill on the Mumford River connected in any way with Jethro Coffin? What sawmill provided the wide vertical wall boards in Mrs. Morrison's attic? Where did Jethro Coffin die? What ever became of Reverend Samuel Terry? Did he build more iron works?"
Mrs. Little in her Section 4 entitled "Title Search for Jethro Coffin House in Mendon, Mass." has abstracted the chain of title to the land where Jethro Coffin lived in Mendon, Mass. and where Margaret Morrison lives today.
[Note: Your compiler is quoting from Mrs. Little's excellent manuscript only the information pertaining to and of interest to our study of the Reverend Samuel Terry and his wife, Margarett Coffin. After the 300th birthday celebration for "The Oldest House" on Nantucket which was a wedding present from their parents to Mary Gardner and Jethro Coffin, your compiler was fortunate to be allowed to visit with Margaret Morrison in the Jethro Coffin house later owned by Margaret Coffin and her husband Samuel Terry. Especially interesting was what appears to be the original fireplace and bake oven. The oven was large enough to bake a week's or even a month's supply of bread. It was a "goose-pimply" experience for your compiler as she realized she was walking over the ground where her ancestors walked nearly two hundred and seventy years ago. Your compiler also video taped that visit and if any reader is interested, will be glad to make a copy for the cost of a video tape and mailing. cjmc]
"Nov. 20, 1708 (Suffolk County Deeds 30:187,188) (registered at Registry of Deeds, July 10, 1716), Josiah Thayre of Mendon for 136 pounds deeded to Jethro Coffin of Nantucket, 'sundry tracts of lands meadows and swamps' in Mendon: '40 acres...I now dwell upon formerly the home and doubling Lott of John Gurney', bounded E by Muddy brook, W and NW by homelot of S. Hayward, partly W by a four rod highway by J. Stevens to the S Meadow, S by F. Thayer, N by P. Holbrook, with the Dwelling house and barn and 30 acres in Round Meadow, 20 acres in West Woods, and 30 acres."
"Jan. 1721/2 (SCD 39:261) Jethro Coffin gave to Robert Coffin, one half of my homestead house and land in Mendon (except a piece on west of Mendon near James Keith's farm.) The other half Jethro reserved for himself and his wife for their natural lives, after which it would go to his son Robert as a gift. Jethro specifically reserved for himself and his wife the west end of the house after he built an addition thereto."
[Betty Little notes here: ("This suggests an original south-facing house; the present house, which faces west to the highway, perhaps built by Jethro about 1722 on the west end of the original house.)" cjmc]
4Mar1726/7 John Browne of Northfield, Hampshire County, yeoman, deeded to Samuel Terry, clerk* of Barrington, for 8 pounds four and one half acres in Mendon, both sides of Mumford's River at a place called the Falls, south of Oxford Road, west of Angell Torrey's land. Little p 26 citing Suffolk Co. MA Dd Bk:43:26
*[Note: Mr. Doherty in his Beekman Patent interprets "clerk" as "cleric" which is logical especially since Rev. Samuel Terry was a minister. cjmc]
29July1726. Mendon, Suffolk Co. Mass. Suffolk Co. Probate Court, Suffolk Courthouse, Boston, Mass. "Jethro Coffin, blacksmith, of Mendon wrote his will leaving half his estate to his wife Mary, and then to his children, John, Josiah, Robert, Margaret Terry, Priscilla Gardner and Abigail Woodbury. This will was probated August 10, 1726." LITTLE p 24.
1727 "INDUSTRIES. In 1790, the industries of Whitinsville included a corn mill, a saw mill and a forge, but farming was evidently the principal occupation. The forge or 'iron works' was established at Mumford Falls in 1727 by Samuel Terry of Barrington, Mass. In 1736, the iron works had three fireplaces, one hammer and an ore yard. After passing through several hands, the iron works became the property of James Fletcher and his son-in-law, Col. Paul Whitin."
From Illustrated Souvenir of Whitinsville, Mass. published 1908 by The Eagle Printing Co.
24Mar1727 George Woodward, husbandman of Mendon, deeded to Samuel Terry, clerk of Barrington, for 200 pounds, 120 acres both sides Mumford's River, housing, orcharding, fencing, timber, wood, underwood, with all the runs, water courses, mines, and minerals, bounded west on Mendon line, north on Angel Torrey's heirs, a town road through it. Little p 26 citing Suffolk Co. MA Dd Bk:43:26
29June1727 "Samuel Terry clerk of Uxbridge (set-off from Mendon), borrowed 66 pounds from Ebenezer Reed of Uxbridge, by a mortgage on his 500a Sutton rights belonging to a sawmill, and 4&1/2 a adjoining the sawmill on Mumford's River at a place called the falls, to pay a debt of 66 pounds to Daniel Matheson of Providence. Paid off 9 January 1728." Little p 26 citing Suffolk Co. MA Dd Bk42:238.
August1727 "The Terrys moved up into Worcester County, where, in August, 1727, the Reverend Samuel and the newly organized town of Uxbridge agreed upon preaching at the rate of 20s a Sabbath. (citing D. Hamilton Hurd, History of Worcester County (Philadelphia, 1889)1, 161) Uxbridge looked elsewhere when it was ready to settle a minister, however, and in November the town proprietors of Mendon laid out some land for Mr. Terry..." Shipton at pp. 542-543
1Oct1727 Page 161 Worcester History in Chapter entitled "Uxbridge."
"...October 1, same year, 'voted that they would maintain the public preaching by way of Rate, till our next annual meeting.' Also, voted at same meeting, 'that they would accept of Mr. Terry's proffer of preaching to us for twenty shillings a sabbath, till ye next annual meeting; and also that all the money that should be put in unmarked, should be looked upon as given gratis.'
It is a matter of some interest, that the pay of a minister to occupy the pulpit in 1888 is about four times greater than in 1727, or twenty dollars per Sunday, instead of twenty shillings; and it also seems that the good people of that early day might off-set against the parish tax any money put into the contribution-box, which they were careful enough to mark, probably meaning marked with contributor's name and claimed as paid in anticipation of tax.
It was also voted at said meeting, 'that they would build said meeting house forty feet in length and thirty-five feet in breadth and twenty-nine feet between joynts.'
How acceptably Mr. Terry preached to our hardheaded forefathers is matter of some doubt, for at the annual meeting in March, 1728, his name is not mentioned in the records, and the town voted 'that a committee be chosen to provide some suiteable person for to preach unto us.' That they sadly needed some suiteable person to preach unto them is manifest from the succeeding votes relative to church and meeting-house, viz.: 'Voted at said meeting that they would not free the Quakers,' which means that all those unhappy followers of George Fox who had settled in this town should be taxed the same as the orthodox believe, to sustain orthodox preaching, even though (as now) they had conscientious scruples against it; a system of religious intolerance which the progress of a century and a half has, in a great measure, corrected.
It was also 'voted, that there be fifteen gallons of Good Rum provided for ye raising of ye meeting-house.' A suitable minister in that early time might, and undoubtedly did, approve of this strong auxiliary force, then considered necessary for the proper and successful raising of even an orthodox meeting-house, whose huge timbers, rough hewn and unseasoned, should stand against storm and flood and Indian foes, monuments of the people's devotion to the living God..."
17Nov1727 "Laid out for Mr. Samuel Terey two acres of Jonathan Thayers seventh division of land is laid out joyning to his other land on the southerly side of mumfords River by his sawmill and is Bounded west on sd land twelve Rod Running from the southeast corner of sd land East: 8: dgrs south forty six rod to sd mumfords River a Red oak tree markt near sd river bounded on all other parts on sd River it being a Broken peace of containing four acres two acres allowed for bad land laid out by Thomas white survayer james keith and Jacob aldrich committee." p. 217, Proprietors. (Copied as written with spelling and capitalization or lack of it in that era. cjmc)
1728 "Samuel Terry receives from town, in Jethro Coffin's right, 20a S side of Mumford R. near his sawmill, and 2a in Jonathan Thayer's right adjoining his land near the sawmill. Also 28a of Coffins S of Terry's house and bounded west on Mendon line, and 3 acres near the ironworks." Little p 26 citing Proprietors pp 217-8.
10Jan1728 "Samuel Terry, clerk, of Uxbridge, and Margaret, his wife, to Hugh Hall, Esqr.,* of Boston for 700 pounds, 370 a in Sutton (240a was Jethro Coffin's; 130a laid out to S. Terry in Sutton, adjoining my other land which was J. Coffin's); my house & homelots (120a) on the west line of Uxbridge, formerly G. Woodwards. Also a Sawmill with the Ironworks & thirty acres of land adjoining thereto in Uxbridge in a place in Mumfords River called the Falls, with all the buildings fences, trees, woods, etc. His wife, Margaret Terry's quitclaim." Little p 27 citing Suffolk Co. MA DdBk43:147
*[Note: In the article entitled "Descendants of Rev. John Wilson" at page 130 Register vol. LXI under "7. Rev John7 Wilson" who married Margaret Hall in Mendon 25May1711, the author speculates incorrectly that Margaret Hall was "...perhaps a sister of Hon. Hugh Hall of Boston (who was son of Hon. Hugh Hall of Barbadoes, by Lydia, daughter of Capt. Benjamin and Lydia (Scottow) Gibbs of Boston..." Your compiler wonders if there was a connection with this Hugh Hall and the Halls on Nantucket, several of who married into the Coffin family according to the Nantucket marriages. The compiler of the Hall descendants goes on to state that "She married second, Oct. 25, 1719, Rev. Samuel, born in Enfield, Conn., Mar. 26, 1690, son of Samuel and Hannah (Morgan) Terry, a graduate of Harvard College in 1710, minister at Barrington, R. I., 1718-1726, who preached at Uxbridge, Mass., in 1728, and was schoolmaster at Mendon in 1733..." Your compiler will send for the complete article which has been misplaced. 5Nov1991. cjmc]
1729 "...He is mentioned as 'Clerk of Uxbridge' in 1729..." ibid (citing early files in the Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Suffolk County, 165116) Shipton p 543.
10Dec1730 Josiah Terry born, s/o Samuel and Margarett Terry Mendon Mass Vital Records
1731 "...and, as 'Clerk of Mendon' in 1731..." (citing MA Records of the Superior Court of Judicature (ibid), 1725-1730, p. 246. Shipton p 543
1732 "...(probably J. C.'s* estate) to Samuel Terry, 16a and 28a." Little p 28 citing Proprietors
*[Note: Jethro Coffin. cjmc]
18Apr1732 "Laid out for Mr. Samuel Terey 18 acres of land: viz: 16 acres of jethro coffins Eighth division and two acres of jonathan thayers ninth division laid joyning: to his other land near the sawmill and is bounded East on sd land 54 rod north part on angel torys land and part on common 72 rod to a heap of stons being the northwest corner is bounded west on his own land 64 rod to a heap of stons being the southwest corner thene runing East 8 degs south 52 rod to his other land the whole containing 22 acers and 48 rod lying on both side of oxford Rode 4 acers and 48 rod alowed for bad land laid out by Thomas white survayer jacob aldrich and daniel lovet chain men."
"More the same day laid out 28 28 [Note: this is the way it is written in the transcribed and published records cjmc.] acers of land belonging to sd coffins' Rights viz 8 acers Eighth division and 20 acers ninth division laid joyning to sd terreys land south from his house and is bounded north on sd land 120 rod and west on the own line 44 rod to a heap of stons being the southwest corner thence Runing East 8 dgrs south 120 rod to a heap of stons being the southeast corner then north 8 dgrs East 44 rod to his othe land the whole containing 33 acers: 5 acers alowed for bad land:-more the same day laid out for sd terrey 3 acers of jonathan thayers Eighth division of land laid joyning to his other land near the iron works and is bounded north on said land 54 rod Runing from the southwest corner of sd land south 10 dgrs west 12 rod to a heap of stons being the southwest corner then East 10 dgrs south 54 rod to a heap of stons being the southeast corner then n 10 degrs East 12 rod to his other land the whole containing 4 acers and 8 rod one acer and 8 rod alowed for bad land laid out by Thomas white survayer jacob aldrich and Daniel lovet chain men." Pp. 217-8 Proprietors
3Oct1732 "Voted not to provide a Minister to preach with us while Mr. Dorr** remains sick. James Wood and Ebenezer Wood, Jr. had liberty to build a dam over Rock Meadow Brook, which dam is now (1880) improved by Perry Wood for irrigating portions of his land..." Annals
and at page 225: 27Oct1732 "Vote not to hire a minister, at the town's charge, or to have Mr. Terry* preach upon a free contribution, but to hire a minister, out of town, by a free contribution..."
*[Footnote] "*Schoolmaster 1733"
**"...Through all these years Mr. Dorr carried on the entire work of the ministry in Mendon without more assistance than a few sermons from schoolmaster Samuel Terry (A.B. 1710) at a time when the parson was sick. Finally, in April, 1767, the parish sent a committee to ask the old minister on what terms he would retire..." Shipton at page 578.
20 December 1732. Peter Terry is born, son Margaritt and Samuell Terrey. MENDON