Monday, December 27, 2010

The Samuel Edson Family- US 1639 to Current


** Connected to the James Keith Family at James Keith(   )  **
**Connected to the Kingman Family at John Kingman(   ) **
** Connected to the Perkins Family at Josiah Perkins (    ) **

Generation One:
Samuel Edson b. 5 September 1613 at Fillongley, Warwickshire, England; m. 1638 Susanna Orcutt at Warwickshire, England; d. 19 July  1692 at West Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA
Their Children:
1. Susanna b. 1640 at Salem, Essex, MA; m. 3 May 1668 Reverend Jame Keith at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 16 October 1705 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, aged 65 years.
2. Sarah b. 1641 at Salem, Essex, MA; m. 7 November 1663 John Dean at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 18 February 1717 at Taunton, Bristol, MA
3. Elizabeth b. 1643 at Salem, Essex, MA; m(1) abt. 1663 John Kingman at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m(2) abt. 1691 Ensign Richard Philips at Weymouth, Norfolk, MA
4. Samuel b. 1645 at Salem, Essex, MA; m. 1678 Susanna Byram at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 10 April 1719 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, aged 74 years.
5. Mary b. 1647 at Salem, Essex, MA; m. 30 September 1676 Nicholas Byram at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 1727 East Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, aged 80 years.
6. Joseph b. 1 January 1648/9 at Salem, Essex, MA;
7. Josiah b. 1651 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 1673 Elizabeth Dean at Taunton, Bristol, MA; d. 4 October 1734 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, aged 83 years.
8. Bethia b. 2 March 1654 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 17 December 1678 Ezra Deane at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA

       Samuel came over to Salem, Essex, MA in 1639. In 1638, a settler from the Massachusetts Bay colony arrived in Fillongley and reported "glowingly on the opportunities for settlers there". So the following year in May or June he and Susanna left England and arrived in Salem, Essex, MA in July. On 25 July of 1639, Samuel applied for a grant of a site for a dwelling, and for a parcel of land for cultivation was acted on, as recorded in the Town Book, page 49: "Samuel Edson is intertayned to be an inhabiand within this towne, and halfe an acre is graunted him neere Catt Cove & 5 acres more for plantinge ground."
     Samuel became a farmer, in August 1642, the "Townsmen accourding to their minutes, granted to Samuel Edson 25 acres of land joyning to Humprey Woodbury's frme in Mackerell Cove & 2 acres of medow wher ehe can fynd yt thereabout, to be laid out by the town,"
     In December 1643, there was a description of a smaller parcel of land recorded and described: "the twoe acres of medow that were formerlie granted to Samiell Edson are ordered to be layed out in the pine medow neere Mr. Keniston;s farme."
      Samuel build a new home on the larger tract over looking Mackerel Cove. He did well in Salem and made additional land purchases, his property when he left therein 1651 totaled 63 acres. He sold the land and house to William Browne for 38 pounds sterling on 24 September 1655.
      Samuel moved in 1651 to the Duxbury Plantation, now known as Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA. He was appointed by the Court to the Council of War in 1666, and continued in that office to the end of King Philip's War in 1676. In that same year was appointed with Elder William Brett and Deacon John Willis to distribute Bridgewater's shares (£7) of the Irish contributions for the distresses of the Indian wars: and November 1672 he and Nicholas Byram and Elder Brett, by order of the Court received a deed of conveyance from the Chief Pomonoho of the Titicut purchase, and "in and for the use of the townsmen of Bridgewater joint purchasers with them:. Samuel , Ensign John Hayward, and Deacon John Willis, agents for the Town, December 1686, received a confirmatory deed of the Indian Chief Wampatuck, in beheld of the purchasers and the town of Bridgewater, of all the lands of that town previously conveyed by Ousamequin (Massasoit) on 3 March 1649. He was foreman of a jury to lay out roads in 1667, and again in 1672. He, Deacon Willis, and Ensign Hayward were appointed by the town in 1680 to settle the county line between Bridgewater and Middleboro, and that same year between Bridgewater and Taunton. He was one of the first deacons of the town from 1664 to his passing.
      Samuel's lot in Bridgewater, is in an area now considered West Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA. Edson received 6 acres along the south side of the river, not far from the bridge which now crosses the river near the town park. On 10 December 1652, he purchased from William Brett the share William had purchased from Constant Southworth. It is not know whether he was on of the Proprietors of the town but in 1654, he was given 20 acres of upland and 2 1/2 acres of meadow in that year's division of undivided land.
      On 17 May 1656, he purchased another share from Joshua Ren, who had moved to Salem. This share included, land and a house, as well as two sawmills. The sawmills were on the Town River, in what is now the Park at West Bridgewater. Around 1660 Edson began to build a grist mill and had one constructed by 1662. With this completed, he was given a share as one of the Proprietors of the town and with the two shares he had already purchased, he now owned three.
      The Duxbury Plantation was incorporated as the Town of Bridgewater on 3 June 1656. In 1657 Samuel Edson became Freeman. Samuel Became one of the first Deacons of the church. He was then known as Deacon Samuel Edson and Goodman Edson. Samuel Edson also led the choir. The Bridgewater Historical Society has a pitch pipe he used to pitch the choir. He also presented a silver communion service that is also preserved.
      With the war looming in 1667, in 2 April 1667, the Council of War, meeting at New Plymouth, appointed the Bridgewater Council of War, consisting of Samuel Edson, Nicholas Byram, and John Willis, together with the commissioned military officers of the town. By 1675, was appeared to be imminent and on 28 February 1675, the Colonial Council of War, which met at Marshfield, Plymouth, MA, again the same men. The house of Reverend James Keith was made in to a garrison house for defense against possible Indian attack. During the battles before King Philip was killed, may homes in Bridgewater were burned.
            Samuel Edson built  his home about 500 feet south of the Town River, across from where the Rev. James Keith house stands. In 1683 the :outermost mile of the original four mile grant" was divided into four tracts and distributed among the 56 Proprietors. An six square miles area with three miles on each side of the center of the town. it was previously distributed to individual ownership. a strip one mile wide, all around this area, or a total of 28 square miles to 17,920 acres. One lot on the north side went to Samuel Edson, Jr, one on the south side to Joseph Edson, one on the west side to Deacon Samuel Edson, and one on the south side to Joseph Edson. In 1685 ten acres of woodland was distributed to each Proprietor, from land at Titicut purchased from the Indians in 1672. Samuel had two shares and transferred one to his son Josiah in 1673.
         Samuel and Susanna are buried buried in the cemetery on the road from West Bridgewater, by the bridge near the Town Park towards Taunton.

This fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty-eight or eighty-nine, I Samuel Edson, sen., Inhabitant of the Town of Bridgewater, in the county of Plimouth, in New England, Being of perfect understanding and memory, Praysed be God for the same, do make and declare my last Will and Testament in maner and forme following:

Having already disposed of moste of my Lands and Great part of my estate to my children as By their Deeds doth appear I do now Will and Bequeath to my eldest son, Samuel Edson, my ffowling piece, and to my other two sons, Joseph Edson and Josiah Edson, my musket, sword, and Bandaleers.
Item. I give and Bequeath to my three sons, Samuel Edson, Joseph Edson, and Josiah Edson, to each of them a draught chaine and also a Logg Chain and all my wearing cloaths to be divided among them.
Item. I Give and bequeath to my Loving Wife, Susanna Edson, all the rest of my estate, Both Personal and reall, housing, Lands, chattels, cash, all within doors and without, whatsoever I have not otherwise disposed of, to be wholly at her dispose during her naturall Life, and what is Left at her decease and mine, either Housing, lands, chattels, or cash, all without doorss, to be equally divided among my three sons, Samuel Edson, Joseph Edson and Josiah Edson, their heirs and Assigns. And all within doorss all my household Goods and cash to be equally divided among my five daughters, Elizabeth, Susanna, Sarah, Mary, and Bethiah, their heirs and assigns. And I do hereby nominate and appoint my Loving Wife, Susanna Edson, to be my executrix and my son Samuel Edson and my son Josiah Edson to be Joyned with her as executors of this my last Will and Testament.
And I do further Will and desire Mr. James Keith, John Kingman, senr. and Thomas Snell of Bridgewater to be overseers of this my Last Will and Testament to see it faithfully performed, hereby appointing my executrix and my executors above mentioned to receive all my just debts and to pay whatever I owe any p(er)son, discharging my funeral's (expenses).
In witness whereof I, the abovesaid Samuel Edson, senr. have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Samuel Edson, Senr. (Seal.)
Readd, signed, sealed, Published and declared to be his Last Will and Testament in the Presence of us.
Witnesses:
John Ffield
John Ames,
Samuel Kinsley.
John Ames and Samuel Kinsley, two of the Witnesses here named made oath before the Court at Plimouth, September ye 20th, 1692, that they were present and saw the above named Samuel Edson senr. now deceased, sign, seal and heard him declare the above written to be his last Will and Testament. And that, to the best of their judgment, he was of sound mind and memory when he did the same.
Attest: Saml. Sprague, Clerk.







 

Generation Two:
Dunbar:
Joseph Edson b. 1 January 1648/49 at Salem, Essex, MA; m(1) 1678 Elizabeth Holbrook at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m(2) 2 November 1686 Mary Turner at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 3 October 1711 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, aged 62 years.
M(1) Children:
1. Joseph b. 1679 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 7 June 1704 Lydia Cary at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 26 August 1768 at West Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA
2. Josiah b. 1682 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m(1) 27 July 1704 Sarah Packard at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m(2) 3 April 1755 Abigail Dean at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 16 January 1762 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, aged 80 years.
3. Experience b. 6 September 1685 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. young.

M(2) Children:
4. Benjamin b. 1687 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA
5. Samuel b. 28 August 1689 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m(1) 30 March 1721 Mehitable Brett at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m(2) 1 March 1738 Mehetabel Hayward at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 7 January 1749 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, aged 59 years
6. Mary b. 1691 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 23 May 1716 John Lathrop at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 1779 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, aged 88 years.
7. Susanna b. 1693 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 2 April 1723 Solomon Johnson at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 25November  1779 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA
8. Timothy b. March 1694 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 10 February 1719 Mary Alden at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 20 January 1782 at Stafford, Tolland, CT, aged 87 years.

    John served as a colonel in King Philip's War. He was one of the Proprietors of Bridgewater. On 24 December 1683 he was one of ten who was assigned a tract on the south side of town. In 1686 he was assigned another ten acres. "He resided near Brett's Corner, at what is called the Old Muster Field in East Bridgewater.
      On 22 August 1687 he was Constable of Bridgewater and was sent a warrant to choose commissioners for taking a list of the make inhabitants of the town (16 years and up) and for valuing estates. Joseph and his wives are presumed to be buried in the same cemetery as his parent but no marker is visible.

Generation Three:
Dunbar:
Benjamin Edson- b. 1687 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 14 July 1715 Joanna Orcutt at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 13 May 1758 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, aged 71 years.
Their Children:
1. Benjamin b. 3 October 1715 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 1 October 1739 Anne Thayer at Abington, Plymouth, MA
2. Nathan b. 3 January 1718 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. young
3. Peter b. 17 May  1720 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 28 March 1745 Sarah Southworth at Bridgewater, Plymouth,MA; m. 8 June 1750 at Brockton, Plymouth, MA
4. Jacob b. 16 April 1722 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. young
5. William b. 4 February 1724 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 27 November  1754 Martha Howard at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 13 February 1800 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, aged 76 years
6. Seth v. 24 April 1726 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 1749 Irene Howard at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 17 February 1818 at Pelham, MA, aged 91 years.
7. Ichabod b. 26 September 1728 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m, 19 July 1759 Jemima Packard at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA: d. 6 July 1811 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA
8.Ebenezer b. 16 October 1730 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 7 November 1751 Lucy Packard at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 9 January 1829 at Brockton, Plymouth, MA
9. Joanna b. 9 September 1733 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 2 May 1754 Isaac Perkins at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA
10. Abigail b. 22 March 1736 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; m. 17 August 1755 Josiah Perkins at Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 9 November 1825 at Brockton, Plymouth, MA, aged 89 years.

    Benjamin moved from West Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA to North Bridgewater , Plymouth, MA (now called Brockton). In his will he left " a sixteenth part of the sawmill at the forge" to his son William.

Resource:
1. Edson Family History and Genealogy: Descendants of Samuel Edson of Salem and Bridgewater, Mass, Edson, Andrew Carroll, editor, vol. I and II.
2. Edsons in England and America and genealogy of the Edsons [database on-line]. Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.

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