John Stockbridge

The wheelwright who built the Stockbridge mill at Scituate, and the father of Sarah (Stockbridge) Woodworth. He "took the oath of fidelity in Scituate 1638. He was one of the Conihasset partners 1646," and bought land near what became Stockbridge's mill pond. Deane says that "In 1650, John Stockbridge erected a water grist mill on the first Herring brook," and elsewhere that in 1656 he bought half the mill privilege of George Russell, with the saw mill Isaac Stedman had put up, and built a grist mill in partnership with Russell. "Nearly at the same time, (before 1660) he built the Stockbridge Mansion-house, a part of which is now standing, and is probably the oldest house in New-England, save one ... It was a garrison in Philip's war, and the port-holes may be traced in the back part of the house, even now" (source).

His will, dated at Boston in 1657, gave "To eldest son Charles, my water-mill at Scituate, house, ground and orchard belonging to it"; to his wife Mary the house and land at Boston; and "To daughter Sarah 10£ at marriage, or at 21 years of age." Children (Deane): by his first wife, whose name is not known, Hannah (wife of Sergeant William Ticknor, 1656) and Charles, born before 1638; by Elizabeth, Elizabeth 1644 (wife of Thomas Hiland Jr.), Sarah 1645 (wife of Joseph Woodworth, 1669) and Hester 1647; by Mary, Abigail 1655 and John 1657, born at Boston.

Charles, "the only son that survived," kept the mill and the house. On 20 May 1676 it was the main point of the attack on Scituate: "The garrison house of Stockbridge was pallisadoed on three sides, the fourth being defended by the mill pond ... Here the Indians fought several hours, made many efforts to fire the buildings, and sustained heavy losses, from the well directed shot from the garrison." They "were not repulsed until night close," when "Lieut. Buck had mustered all the men below" (source). That Lieut. Isaac Buck is an ancestor of Frances Fairchild Holbrook on her Holbrook side, as John Stockbridge is on her Frost side.

Research: Notable connections of Frances Fairchild Holbrook: the Fairchild branch and the families that married in.