Person Page

     Joseph Towne was born on 26 December 1701 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Jemima Bixby, daughter of Benjamin Bixby and Mary (?), on 19 June 1727 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^2,3 He died in March 1786 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut, at age 84.²
     On 6 April 1733 Joseph Towne bought 230 acres of land in the parish of Thompson in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut, from John Hallowell for £400.⁴ He bought additional land in 1743.⁴

     Jemima Bixby was born on 26 January 1701/2 (the Bixby genealogy says 26 January 1702/03) in Boxford, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^1,2 She married Joseph Towne, son of Joseph Towne and Margaret Case, on 19 June 1727 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^1,2 She died in 1790 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.^2,1
     On 22 October 1738 she was dismissed from the church in Topsfield and recommended to the second church in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.⁴

     Jemima Towne was born on 6 February 1731/32 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She married James White, son of Richard White and Abigail Purrington, on 18 May 1757 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.² She was buried in Pomfret, Windham Co., Connecticut.³

     Joseph Towne was born on 8 October 1735 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.² He married Abigail Thompson, daughter of Ichabod Thompson and Rachel Thompson, on 23 November 1762 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.² He died on 28 December 1809 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut, at age 74.²

     Betty Towne was born on 27 March 1738 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.² She married her cousin Thomas Towne, son of Elisha Towne and Mercy Foster, on 17 November 1768 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.³ She died shortly after her marriage.⁴
     She and Thomas had one known child, Sarah (b 1765 according to the Towne genealogy by Edwin Eugene Towne, although that's three years before their marriage).^5,6

     Margaret Towne was born on 17 May 1739 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.²

     Joseph Towne was born on 22 March 1673/74 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married first Margaret Case, daughter of Humphrey Case, on 9 November 1699 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He married second Abigail Curtis, daughter of John Curtis and Mary Looke, on 5 November 1707 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He married third Mary Lewis, intentions published on 21 February 1730/31 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He died on 28 May 1757 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 83.³
     He was appointed administrator of his father's estate on 21 February 1714.⁴ On 27 May 1715, he yielded his rights to his father's household goods to his mother Phebe.⁴

     Margaret Case was born on 8 January 1673/74 in Saco, York Co., Maine.¹ She married Joseph Towne, son of Joseph Towne and Phebe Perkins, on 9 November 1699 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died before 5 November 1707 (when her husband Joseph remarried) in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^1,2

     Abigail Curtis married Joseph Towne, son of Joseph Towne and Phebe Perkins, on 5 November 1707 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She died on 8 January 1729/30 (Davis says 8 March 1729) in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^2,1
     Her birth date is unclear. Hoover says that Edwin Eugene Towne "incorrectly identifies the Abigail Curtis born 21 October 1683 as the wife of Joseph Towne," and that the Abigail Curtis born that date was the daughter of Zaccheus and Mary (Blake) Curtis. Topsfield vital records do list an Abigail Curtis, daughter of Zaccheus and Mary Curtis, born 21 October 1683. However, the Towne genealogy by Edwin Eugene Towne actually gives the birth date of Joseph's wife Abigail Curtis as 21 October 1680, not 1683.^2,3,4

     Mary Lewis was born on 4 August 1691 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married first Thomas Mower.¹ She married second Joseph Towne, son of Joseph Towne and Phebe Perkins, intentions published on 21 February 1730/31 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died on 2 October 1739 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 48.¹

     Margaret Towne was born on 6 August 1700 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She married Samuel Perkins, son of Thomas Perkins and Sarah Wallis, on 22 August 1723 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She died on 5 January 1757 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 56.²
     On 17 July 1722 she was fined 50s for fornication, after accusing Daniel Towne, son of Joseph Towne and Amy Smith, of fathering her child. Daniel was not fined, and no record exists of the birth.³

     Archelaus Towne was born on 31 August 1703 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²

     Israel Towne was born on 24 March 1704/5 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Grace Gardner, daughter of Thomas Gardner and Mary Willis, on 23 May 1729 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died on 22 November 1791 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, at age 86.² He was buried at Center Cemetery in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.²
     He served as a captain during the French and Indian War.³
     He was one of the first residents (tradition says his was the fourth family) of Narragansett township No. 3, which was first settled in 1734. This was one of seven townships granted by the General Court of Massachusetts to those who fought in King Philip's War in 1675, and to their descendants. Township No. 3 was later called Souhegan West, and in 1760 became Amherst, New Hampshire.⁴ He was one of 14 charter members of the first church in Souhegan West, organized on 22 September 1741.^5,4 In 1747 he and others signed a petition asking for protection for their community.⁵
     He and his brother Elisha bought a 300-acre farm in Monson, New Hampshire, for £1000 from the widow Abigail Taylor of Boston on 22 December 1748.⁴

     Elisha Towne was born on 5 September 1708 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Mercy Foster, daughter of Samuel Foster and Mercy Maccoon, on 11 January 1737/38 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died in Milford, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.²
     He and his wife Mercy moved from Topsfield to Monson (now Milford), Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, about 1748.² On 22 December 1748 he and his brother Israel bought a 300-acre farm in Monson for £1000 from the widow Abigail Taylor of Boston.³

     Bartholomew Towne was born on 10 May 1710 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²

     Mary Towne was born on 18 February 1712/13 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She married her first cousin once removed John Cummings, son of John Cummings and Marcy Larrabee, on 19 April 1739 in Middleton, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She died after 1767.²
     In 1744 she and her husband John moved from Middleton, Essex Co., Massachusetts, to Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³
     The Towne genealogy by Hoover apparently combines the twin daughters Mary and Mercy Cummings. It lists just one, Mercy, and says she married Bartholomew Towne. And the published Andover vital records do indeed list only Marcy Cumings, as "Marcy, d. twin, John and Mary, Dec. 28, 1745," with no entry for Mary. However, handwritten records from the Ancestry database Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 make it clear that there were twin daughters, Mary and Mercy. Further, the Andover vital records list Mary as the one who married Bartholomew Towne.^2,4,5,6

     David Towne was born on 13 February 1714/15 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Mary Moore on 21 August 1740 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died on 20 August 1778 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 63.²
     He served under Capt. John Wildes during the French and Indian War in 1745.² Thirty years later, on 19 April 1775 at age 60, he responded to the Lexington Alarm, serving in Capt. Joseph Gould's militia company, Col. John Baker's regiment, along with his sons David and Archelaus.²
     His estate was valued at £1594.³

     Abigail Towne was born on 3 May 1716 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She married John Sibley, son of John Sibley and Zerviah Gould, on 28 August 1740 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She died on 27 September 1783 in Uxbridge, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, at age 67.²

     Phebe Towne was born on 31 May 1718 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She may have died on 25 April 1732 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 13. Topsfield vital records list an unnamed child of Joseph dying on that date. All of Joseph's other known children would have been either too old to be called a child, or are known to have lived past that date.³

     Hannah Towne was born on 15 February 1719/20 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She married Thomas Dwinell, son of Thomas Dwinell and Dinah Brimsdill, on 3 November 1738 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²

     Martha Towne was born on 25 August 1722 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She married John Smith, son of Elias Smith and Ruth Stiles, on 1 July 1760 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²

     Sarah Towne was born on 2 April 1726 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She was baptized on 26 February 1726/27.³ She married Joshua Balch, son of David Balch and Hannah Perkins, on 25 August 1748 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She died on 19 August 1771 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 45.²
     She and her husband Joshua lived in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, until 1760², when they moved to Boxford, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²

     Jonathan Towne was born on 6 September 1728 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Mary Dean on 31 October 1751 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died of smallpox in July 1776 in Crown Point, Essex Co., New York, at age 47.^2,3
     After their marriage, he and his wife Mary moved to Monson (now Milford, Hillsborough Co.), New Hampshire.² In 1759 he settled "on the old Towne farm on the Nashua road, about half a mile northeast of his brother" Elisha.⁴
     He served in the Continental Army from New Hampshire during the Revolutionary War.⁵

     Eunice Towne was born on 22 August 1733 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She died on 19 December 1736 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 3.²

     Joseph Towne was born about 1639 (based on his stated age of 21 in a 1660 deposition) in Salem, Massachusetts.² He was baptized with his sister Sarah on 3 September 1648 at the First Church in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He married Phebe Perkins, daughter of Thomas Perkins and Phebe Gould, in 1663 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.⁴ He died between 24 October 1712 and 10 February 1712/13 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²
     In 1663, "in consideration of natural affection and the contemplated marriage of their sonn Joseph Towne, with Phebe Perkins," his parents gave him 2/3 of "the home wherein they then did dwell, with Barne, out houses, yard, gardens, orchards" in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. They also gave him another parcel containing about 30 acres, and about 14 acres of meadowland. Joseph was also to have the right of first refusal for the remaining 1/3 of the homestead when it was eventually sold.⁵
     He was a member of the church in Topsfield.⁵ In 1664 he paid over £1 for the minister's rate, and received three shares of the common land between the towns of Topsfield and Salem. This land later was involved in the property dispute between the Putnam and Towne families.⁶ He took the oath as a freeman of Topsfield on 22 March 1690.²
     On 17 January 1682/83 he, along with Francis Nurse, Jacob Towne, Mary (Towne) Estey, Sarah (Towne) Bridges, and Mary (Browning) Towne, petitioned the court for the settlement of his father's estate.^4,7
     He was named in the will of his father-in-law Thomas Perkins, dated 11 December 1685 and proved 10 Sep 1686, and was left 16 acres of land and £16.⁸
     On 14 December 1692 he and John Nichols posted a £200 bond for the release of William Hobbs, who had been accused of witchcraft. The bond was forfeited when Hobbs failed to appear in court in January 1693, but at the next court session, in May, Hobbs was cleared and the bond was returned.^2,9
     His oldest son Joseph was appointed administrator of his estate on 21 February 1714 (1714/15?)⁴, and on 27 May 1715 his children Joseph, Sarah, Martha, and Phoebe signed their rights to his household goods over to their mother. Also signing were his daughter Susannah's husband John Cummings, and his daughter Joanna's husband Thomas Nichols.⁴

     Phebe Perkins was born about 1644 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She married Joseph Towne, son of William Towne and Joanna Blessing, in 1663 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died after 27 May 1715 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²
     On 27 May 1715, during the settlement of her husband's estate, her children Joseph, Sarah, Martha, and Phoebe, along with her daughter Susannah's husband John Cummings and her daughter Joanna's husband Thomas Nichols, yielded to her their rights to their father's household goods.¹

     Thomas Perkins was baptized on 28 April 1622 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England.² He married Phebe Gould, daughter of Zaccheus Gould and Phebe Deacon, about 1643, probably in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts.⁴ He died on 7 May 1686 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 64.⁵
     Thomas Perkins came to New England with his parents in 1630/31 on the ship Lyon.^2,5 He received a land grant sometime after 1633 in Ipswich, Massachusetts.⁵ He moved soon thereafter, though, to New Meadows (later Topsfield), Massachusetts, where he was a farmer.⁵ After their marriage he and his wife Phebe were given 150 acres of land in Topsfield by her father Zaccheus Gould, where they lived for 20 years.^5,4
     Sometime before 1643, he was among a few men from Ipswich sent to defend the town from a reported impending attack by Indians. The alarm turned out to be false, and they were gone just a few days. He was paid 3s for his service in 1643.⁴
     He was named in his father's will, dated 28 March 1654 and proved on 27 Sep 1654, and received a share of his father's cattle, horses, and sheep.^2,5
     About 1660 he and Phebe bought a 227-acre farm next to her father Zaccheus Gould in Topsfield, where they probably remained the rest of their lives.⁵ He became a freeman in Topsfield in 1664, served as a grand juror in 1666 and 1667, and was a selectman in 1668, 1676, and 1682.⁴
     He was quite active in the church, serving as deacon in 1677, and as tythingman in 1677 and 1678. He also took church services quite seriously, for in 1678 he formally brought Thomas Baker into court for laughing in church. He served on several committees that were formed to determine the various duties and privileges in the church of the men from Rowley Village (Boxford), who attended the Topsfield church before organizing their own. In 1680 he served on a church committee to attract Mr. Danforth to Topsfield as their minister. They apparently failed, since the next year the committee was directed to seek the services of Mr. Capen. This time they succeeded, and Mr. Capen served as a "much loved and respected" minister in Topsfield for many years.⁴
     His will was made 11 December 1685 and proved 10 September 1686. His sons Thomas and Timothy were named executors. Thomas, Timothy, and their brother Elisha, and their sons, were left "all the farm I do live on." Thomas and Timothy also were left the farm implements. They apparently did not get along well, however. Their father's will also stated that his wife was to live in his house with Thomas and Timothy "if they can possibly agree, for I do think it will be best for them to carry on together." If they were to split apart, they, along with their brother Elisha, were each to pay their mother £2 yearly. After her death, Thomas was to receive the house, and if he and Timothy didn't agree, Thomas was to pay 3/4 of the cost of building a house for Timothy "of the same bigness of his brother Elisha's house." Also, if Thomas and Timothy were to split apart, 1/4 of the income from the orchard was to go to Elisha. Their mother also received a bed, all the furniture that went with it, and half the household goods. His son Zacheus was left the farm where he was living, "which I had of my father Gould," under the condition that he pay £60 to the executors Thomas and Timothy. If he didn't pay, he was to receive just half of the farm. Zacheus was to have four acres of meadow from the farm for life, and if he were to have any sons, the rest was to go to them. To his daughter Judith, Thomas Perkins left £40, a bed and furniture, and a cow. He also left various livestock to his wife, to his sons Timothy and Elisha, and to Elisha's son Thomas. His son John's son Thomas was to receive a 30-acre lot across the river, or £30, when he married or came of age. His daughters' children were left £40 to be divided equally. His son-in-law Joseph Towne was left 16 acres of land and £16.⁴

     Phebe Towne was born on 4 May 1666 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died on 3 January 1668/69 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 2.¹

     Johanah Towne was born on 22 January 1667/68 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She married Thomas Nichols, son of John Nichols and Lydia Wilkins, 12 or 13 December 1694 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²
     On 27 May 1715, during the settlement of her father's estate, she yielded her rights to his household goods (through the signature of her husband Thomas Nichols) to her mother Phebe.³ She was named in the will of her aunt Mary Howlett, dated 16 April 1719 and proved on 5 Aug 1728. She and her aunt Martha Lamson, sister of Mary Howlett, were left half of Mary's clothing.⁴

     Thomas Nichols was born on 20 January 1669/70 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married Johanah Towne, daughter of Joseph Towne and Phebe Perkins, 12 or 13 December 1694 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     During the Salem witchcraft trials in 1692, he and Philip Knight deposed against John Willard, stating that in April, when talking about those who were suspected of witchcraft, Willard had said "Hang them, they are all witches."³
     On 12 March 1714/15 he sold about four acres of land in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, to his brother Ebenezer for £27 14s, reserving the right to remove clay from the property.²