Freeman-Ellis Anecdotes and Records in Their Own Words

A collection of the incidents, quarrels, purchases, bequests and remarks that survive for the Freeman and Ellis families and the families they married into, from Sussex in the 1600s to Plymouth in the 1860s. Each entry gives the date, what the record says happened, the words of the record where they survive, the source, and an evidence tier. Interpretation is kept out except where a line is marked [I]; meaning is left to the reader.

Last revised: 1 October 2026. Companion files: Freeman_Ellis_Master_Family_Tree.md (who is who) and Freeman_Ellis_Line_Research.md (the evidence and reasoning).

Tiers. [D] Documented: a primary record, or a published transcript or abstract. [C] Compiled: a secondary history or genealogy. [T] Tradition. [I] Inference, our own reasoning. Quotations keep the original spelling. Quotations taken from FamilySearch full-text transcriptions are machine readings of handwriting; those checked against the page image are marked "image checked."

Sources cited in short

• PCR: Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, ed. Shurtleff and Pulsifer (1855-61), volume:page.
• WP: Winthrop Papers (Massachusetts Historical Society).
• FG: Frederick Freeman, Freeman Genealogy (1875). HCC: Frederick Freeman, History of Cape Cod vol. 2 (1862), "Annals of Sandwich."
• Bradford: Bradford, History of Plymouth Plantation (MHS 1912), vol. 2.
• DG: Ferris, Dawes-Gates Ancestral Lines vol. 2 (1931).
• Davis: W. T. Davis, Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth (1899).
• Weston: Thomas Weston, History of the Town of Middleboro (1906).
• MSSRW: Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War.
• FS: FamilySearch full-text image, cited by its ID; open as https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/ followed by the ID.

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1. Pulborough and London, before 1635

Edmund Freeman the elder, woodbroker (d. 1623)

• 1600-1601. Bought land and copyholds in Pulborough as "Edmund Freeman of Pulborough, woodbroker." A Southwark shipwright, William Johnson, was bound to him for £28, and in October 1601 they were in the Court of Requests over a bond "on account of a ship called The Providence bought of him." WSRO Add Mss 40,254; TNA WARD 2/49/174/8A; TNA REQ 2/147/16. [D]
• 20 July 1620. On his son William's marriage to Christian Hodsoll he settled land on trustees George Coles of Amberley and "John Bewchamp, citizen and salter of London." He signed with a mark. WSRO SAS-B/578. [D]

George Coles of Amberley (Alice Coles's brother)

• 30 Oct 1624. Deposed in the Chichester church court: "George Coles of Amberley, yeoman, where he had lived some 23 years. Born in Wootton, Somersetshire. Aged about 65 years." WSRO Ep/I/11/13. In 1622 a Southwark tanner sued him over "dealings in oaken bark." TNA REQ 2/404/76. [D]

John Hodsoll (Bennett's father)

• 1612. Subscriber to the Virginia Company's third charter: "Hodsale, John, 3. Sub.; pd. £37 10s." Brown, Genesis of the United States 2. Bush (NEHGR 164) describes him as a mariner and "a major supplier of wood products to the Royal Navy." [D list; C description]

Edmund Freeman, before sailing

• Jan 1633/4. Sued his own brother William and John Gratwicke in Chancery on behalf of his five living children over his late father-in-law's lands. The depositions are the only surviving record of four of the children's baptisms, and (as paraphrased by Dawes-Gates) called him "a man of good credit and repute." DG 2:350. [C, from the depositions]
• Feb 1634. A surveyor's plan of about 148 acres in West Grinstead, Steyning and Pulborough is headed "parcell of the possessions of Edmund Freeman of London Merchant." WSRO Add Mss 28,786. [D]

Alice (Coles) Freeman, Edmund's mother

• 20 July 1649. John Beauchamp, writing from London to William Paddy at Plymouth: "the wife's mother is in good health, and lives with me at Ryegate." She was then about 80 or more [I]; she was buried at Reigate in February 1651/2. FG pp. 23-24. [D, published transcript]

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2. Edmund Freeman (1596-1682) in New England

The voyage and Lynn

• 5 Nov 1635. To John Winthrop Jr., about supplies left from the voyage of the Abigail: "retaine for us mr. Geeres part and my part of the provicions left of the vndertaker ... Oure part is the eight part." WP 3:214. [D]
• Oct 1635. Winthrop's Journal on the Abigail's arrival after ten weeks at sea: "infected also with the small pox." [D, context]
• 1635-37. Lewis's History of Lynn: Edmund Freeman "presented to the Colony twenty corslets, or pieces of plate armor." [C]
• 6 Sept 1640. Hugh Peter to John Winthrop, on behalf of William Paddy, who asked for "what is due from the Country to his father Freeman for his Armes they had in the Pekot seruice for which hee might haue had 40li, and now desires but 15l." WP 4:285-286. [D]

Founding Sandwich

• 3 Apr 1637. The court gave "those tenn men of Saugust, vizt, Edmond Freeman, ... Thomas Tupper & George Knott" liberty "to view a place to sitt downe & haue sufficient lands for three score famylies." PCR 1:57. [D]
• 5 June 1638. Answering complaints that the committees would "monopolize the cheife places of conveniency for lands, woods, meadowes," the court said that "if the committees be faythfull and able of estate, their paynes will not be small ... their paynes will require more then ordinary accomodacon." PCR 1:88-89. [D]
• 3 Sept 1639. The court found that "diuers of the committees of Sandwich haue not faythfully discharged that trust ... by receiueing into the said towne diuers psons vnfitt for church societie," and had "disposed the greatest pt of the lands there already, and to very few that are in church societie." PCR 1:131. [D]
• 16 Apr 1640. In the division of Sandwich meadow, "Mr Ed Freeman" received 42 acres, the largest share of the 58 named. PCR 1:149-150 (image checked). [D]

The London trip of 1639

• Summer 1639. In London as "Edmund Freeman of London, gent.," he sold Sussex land and bought "a pcell of hatts" from Arthur Mansfield, haberdasher, to be "put ... abord into the Planter." Mansfield's letter of 17 Apr 1640 is addressed to "Mr ffreeman in New England passenger the last yeare in the Champion," and mentions "the beauers & hatts you bought of me a little before your going hence." PCR 12:120-125. [D]

Friends and business

• 25 Feb 1639/40. To John Winthrop, about a cow intended for Roger Williams: "A Cow appointed by Mr. Andrewes for Mr. Williames of Providens ... that Mr. Williames may haue a Cow to keepe her for haulfe the Calfe ... Mr. Williames hath sentt to me often tymes abought yt." WP 4:202. [D]
• 10 Mar 1642/3. As his brother-in-law Beauchamp's attorney he sold Beauchamp's Scituate land for £40, quoting Beauchamp's instruction: "ffor my ground at Scittuate sell it if you can although it be neuer so little." Signed "Yor loueing brother JOHN BEAUCHAMP." PCR 12:90. [D]
• 7 Apr 1643. Richard Andrews, London partner, writing to "Mr. Freeman" about the other two London partners: he found "Mr. Beachamp and Mr. Sherley, in their perticuler demands ... according to mens principles, of getting what they could; allthough the one will not shew any accounte, and the other a very unfaire and unjust one." Bradford 2:337-340. [D]
• 17 Mar 1645/6. In settlement of Beauchamp's claim, Edmund took over the houses and lands of Plymouth's leaders, among them Winslow's house in Plymouth "wth ... Wainscote bedstead in the parlor ... a chaire in the studdy." PCR 12:128-132. [D]

Magistrate, and dropped

• 1 Mar 1641/2. While an Assistant: "Wee psent Mr Edmond Freeman, of Sandwich, for lending a gun to an Indian." The margin notes against the three men presented read "Discharged," "Discharged," "Remitted the same Court." PCR 2:36 (image checked). [D] The colony law of 4 June 1639 forbade lending "any kynd of guns peeces or pistolls" to an Indian (PCR 11:31-32). [D, context]
• 4 June 1646. Edward Winslow to John Winthrop after the election: "mr. Thomas insteed of mr. Freeman whom I suppose the Countrey left out in regard of his professed Anabaptistry and separacion from the Churches." WP 5:80-81. [D]
• 7 July 1646. A month later he sat as a Sandwich deputy and was fined 18 pence for absence. PCR 2:104, 106 (image checked). [D]

Religion and the Quakers

• 7 Oct 1651. "Edmond Freeman, Senir, and his wife" were presented with ten others "for not frequenting the publick worship of God." Margin: "These were refered to conferance and further consideracon." PCR 2:173 (image checked). [D]
• 5 Mar 1655/6. Sarah Kerby was "found faulty" for "diuers suspisious speeches by her vttered against Richard Bourne and Mr Edmond Freeman, of Sandwidge." PCR 3:96. [D]
• 22 Oct 1656. Thomas Tupper the elder released "Edmond Freeman the elder" from "all manor of accoumpts, specialities, and demaunds, from the begining of the world to this present day." PCR 5:121. [D]
• 6 Dec 1659. Thomas Greenfield, jailed as "a foraigne Quaker" for bringing Mary Dyer from Rhode Island, was released when "Mr Edmond Freeman, Senir, of Sandwich, appeering in Court and affeirming that the said Greenfeild hath house and land in the liberties of Sandwich." PCR 3:178. [D]
• c. 1722. Rev. Benjamin Fessenden to Thomas Prince: Freeman joined the Quakers but "afterwards left them ... upon a detection of some falsehood and villany among them, but never returned to special communion with the church." HCC 2:56-57n. [T]
• Note: the well-known fine for refusing to help the marshal against the Quakers (3 Oct 1659) was laid on "Mr Edmond Freeman, Junir," his son (section 3). PCR 3:173. [D]

The Wampanoag

• 4 Oct 1655. "In answare vnto two notes receiued from Mr Freeman concerning spoyle done in the Indians corn by horses att Mannomett," the court asked him to share out the five bushels' damage among the Sandwich horse owners and pay his own part to the Indians. PCR 3:89-90. [D]
• 11 June 1664. Order to Freeman, Bourne, Dexter, Skiffe and Bassett: Nanquatnumacke "hath complained of wrong done to him in his corne by horses of Sandwich ... take some serious and effectuall course that the poor man may haue his corne preserued ... or otherwise wee shalbee in some straight what to doe in the case." PCR 4:68. [D]
• 1 Jan 1663/4. "We Quechatasett Sachem of Monamett & Nanummett," for "eight pound in hand paid by Edmond Freeman Senr of Sandwich," sold land by the ponds "bounded upon ye Salt water taking in all ye necke of land," with "Lybert[y] of Commonage in ye woods for any sort of Cattle." Plymouth County deeds, later copy, FS 3:1:3QSQ-G9Z7-5HFQ. [D, OCR]
• 27 Oct 1674. Freeman, Ensign Thomas Dexter and Edmond Perry, as Sandwich's agents, sued Samuel Fuller Sr of Barnstable, who at Scorton Neck had "forcibly cutt downe a certaine young tree, in defiance of theire title." Non-suited. PCR 7:192. [D]

Old age, death and burial

• 14 Feb 1675/6. His wife Elizabeth died. FG p. 19. [D, transcript]
• After Feb 1676. The Saddle and Pillion: he chose a pillion-shaped stone for his wife's grave, which "by oxen driven by Ellis, was hauled to the recent grave," and a saddle-shaped stone beside it for his own. FG pp. 18-20; Otis gives a version with a speech to his sons and grandsons. [T]
• 24 Feb 1678/9. Deed of gift to his grandson Matthias Ellis "for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which I bear to the said Matthias Ellis, being my kinsman in blood, that is to say my grandson; and for diverse other good causes and considerations, as living with me until he the above said Matthias came unto man's estate, being a support unto me in my old age and weakness." The land is bounded in part by "a Ditch called the Divell's Ditch," and lies "under Sagamore Hill near and unto which Hill there is a great Rock like the ridge of a house." Old Colony Deeds 5:169-170; FG pp. 16-18; also FS (genealogy transcript) 3:1:3QHV-B35Z-6SSS. [D, transcript]
• 21 June 1682. Will: "I Edmond Freeman, the eldest of the name in Sandwich, being in a good measure in health of body." FG pp. 14-15. [D, transcript]
• 4 Oct 1682. Inventory taken "at New Oxford," "the estate that was sett forth by Elizabeth Ellis of her father": a silver basin (£8), a silver tankard (£4), a silver spoon, a silk cushion, a desk, "One dixionary & gt. Bible," a great wainscot chest, old Holland sheets. A second inventory at Sandwich lists "one gun" and a double silver salt cellar. FG pp. 21-22. [D, transcript]
• 22 Aug 1910. Descendants placed bronze tablets on the two stones; his reads "Born in England 1590," a date the Pulborough register corrects to 1596. HMdb 120748. [D]

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3. Edmund's other children and their households

Alice (Freeman) Paddy and William Paddy

• 10 Oct 1640. Edward Winslow to John Winthrop: "a mocon was made by Mr. Paddy and some that inordinately cleaue to him for his setling at Jones river" (Charles Chauncy), "who purposeth there to lay the foundacon of an Academy." Winslow opposed it. WP 4. [D]
• 20 July 1649. John Beauchamp to "Cousin William Paddy. Loving Cousin, Your health desired, with your wife's and all yours": "my son Dogget sent some cloth and bibles to you, and desires you to put to sale, and to make return in corn and wheat, rye, pease, barley, and oats," and "I pray you tell your father, my brother Freeman, that I have received the box of writings he sent." Written "in haste at a shop where I met him in London." FG pp. 23-24. [D, transcript]
• 24 Aug 1658. Paddy's gravestone, found 13 June 1830 in digging the foundation of the Old State House, Boston: "Here lyeth ye body of Mr. William Paddy, ae. 58 yrs.: departed this life Aug. 24, 1658." On the reverse: "Here sleeps that | Blessed one whose lief | God help us all to live | That so when time shall be | That we this world must leave | We ever may be happy | With blessed William Paddy." FG pp. 25-26. [D inscription, via C]

Edmund Freeman Jr.

• 3 Oct 1659. "Mr Edmond Freeman, Junir, for refusing to assist Gorge Barlow, the marshall of Sandwich, in the execution of his office, is fined ten shillings to the countreyes vse." PCR 3:173. [D] Frederick Freeman's comment: "Self-respect, doubtless, forbade a murmuring word." [C]
• 12 Mar 1704/5. In the dispute over his estate, his son Edmund appealed to the Superior Court, calling his uncle John Freeman's testimony a "pack of lyes," and lost. Miner Descent, from the probate. [C]

Mary (Freeman?) Perry and Edward Perry, Quaker

• 7 Mar 1653/4. "Thomas Tupper, for his negligence in not causing Edward Perry, of Sandwidg, to bee by him orderly married ... was required henceforth to desist, and is not intrusted with that business any more." PCR 3:47. [D]
• 6 June 1654. "Edward Perry, for refusing to haue his marriage rattifyed before Mr Prence according to order of Court, is fined fiue pounds for this psent Court, and soe fiue pounds for euery Generall Court that shall bee during the time of his said neglect for the future." PCR 3:52. [D]
• 3 Oct 1659. "Edward Perrey, for vseing threatning speeches to the abouesaid marshall, is fined ... twenty shillinges," and at the same court for "killing a steer belonging to the countrey." PCR 3:173. [D]
• 1 June 1663. "Edward Perrey bee called to account in convenient time for a rayling letter which hee wrote to the Court." The letter itself is not entered. PCR 4:44. [D]
• 1660s-70s. In the published list of Quaker sufferings for Sandwich, Edward Perry's goods distrained came to £89 18s, the largest single amount (William Allen £86 17s; total £660 7s 6d). Besse, reprinted in Bowden 1:146n and HCC 2:61-62. [D, published list]
• 1672-1694. First known clerk of the Sandwich Friends meeting; his burial was the first recorded in the half-acre the town granted the Quakers in 1694. Gould, "History of Quakers on Cape Cod." [C]
• 1726/1729. His writings were printed at Philadelphia as A memorable account of the Christian experiences and living testimonies of that faithful servant of Christ Edward Perry, Evans 3205. No online text found. [D, catalogue]

Maj. John Freeman of Eastham

• July 1674. The Indian Hoken, "a notoriouse theife," broke prison, stole a horse and "lyeth sherking and lurking about." The Court ordered "Leiftenant Freeman or any other magistrate that can light off the said Hoken" to have him "sold or sent to Barbadoes." PCR, quoted in DG 2:356-361. [D]
• Mar 1676/7. He distributed Eastham's share of "the contribution made by diuers Christians in Ireland" for the relief of King Philip's War losses. PCR via DG. [D]
• June 1678. Taunton was owed for "billetting Captaine Freeman and his men and theire horses," and for beef he gave out "for the releiffe of some of youer poor, whoe were in extreamyty." PCR via DG. [D]
• 28 Mar 1673. His father-in-law Gov. Thomas Prence's codicil left him "Speeds Cronicle and Wilson's Dictionary and the abridgement; and Simpsons History of the Church and Newmans Concordance." DG 2:360. [D, via C]
• 1716-1719. His will freed "his negroes 'Tobye' and Bess, with the added gifts of four acres of land, a horse and a cow." DG paraphrase; FG p. 29. [C]

"Elizabeth Freeman" and the Barlow affair

• 13 June 1660. "Wiliam Newland testifyed in the Court, that a message was brought or sent to him by one from Elizabeth Freeman, that affeirmed that Jacob Burgis was drawne to testify that which hee did conserning Barlow, by Beniamine Nye, by feare, as threatened that incase hee would not attend Barlow in his occations against the Quakers, and soe to giue the present euidence, hee should not haue his daughter to wife." PCR 3:191. [D] Which Elizabeth Freeman is not stated; Edmund's wife is the likeliest [I].

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4. Lt. John Ellis and Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis

• Early 1645. A warrant summoned witnesses "in John Ellis & his wifes case": Jonathan and Mary Fish, Nathaniel Fish, Jane wife of William Wood, Rose wife of Joseph Holly, the wives of Richard Kerby and Michael Turner, and Joane Swift, widow. PCR 2:76-77. [D]
• 4 June 1645. "John Ellis, of Sandwich, for abuseing himself wth his now wyfe by committing vncleanesse wth her before marryage, is censured to be whipt at publike post, and Elizabeth, his wyfe, to stand by whilst execucon of the sentence is pformed; wch was accordingly donn." He was also fined £5 "for his long and tedious delayes, occasioning much trouble & charge to the countrey, for that he would not confesse the truth vntill this present." PCR 2:85-86. [D] Her father was then serving his last term as an Assistant [D, PCR 2:81].
• 1653. "John Ellis approued by the Court to bee leiftenant off the millitary companie att Sandwidge." PCR 3:38. [D]
• 13 Sept 1653. The town gave Richard Chadwell, Thomas Dexter and John Ellis "all the whales that come up within the limits and bounds of Sandwich," at £16 a whale, paid a third in oil, a third in corn and a third in cattle. A finder who "placed an oar by the whale" could give notice. HCC 2. [D, transcript]
• c. 1655-57. He was one of four men engaged to build the town mill, and subscribed £1. The town paid "the account of Lt. Ellis for drum, muskets &c. purchased," £10 6s 7d. HCC 2. [D, transcript]
• 1659. Licensed to keep an ordinary "for the entertainment of strangers and trauellers," with leave to sell strong waters and wine, "but is prohibited to pmitt towne dwellers to stay drinkeing vnessesaryly att his house." PCR 3:161. [D]
• 7 Mar 1659/60. Oil attached "by the marshall Barlow, for the countrey," after "some controuersy": "the Court doth remitt the said oyle vnto the said Ellice." PCR 3:182. [D]
• 6 June 1660. "Leiftenant Ellis hath engaged to trayne the milletary company of Sandwich for a season." PCR 3:189. [D]
• 1665. He was ordered to pay 20 shillings "for a whale hee had." PCR 4:99. [D]
• c. Dec 1665. In a slander case Ann Hoskins said Hester Rickard was "as drunke as a bitch, and found in private companie in an ordinary with John Ellis, of Sandwich." Ann acknowledged her fault in court. PCR 4:111-112. [D]
• 7 July 1668. Matthew Mayhew sued him "for detaining a cow sundry yeares." The jury gave Mayhew "a sufficient good cow, of a reasonable stature, and not exceeding eight yeares old, and three pound damage." PCR 7:146-147. [D]
• 29 Oct 1669. He sued John Ewen "for non pformance of worke about a barne, according to agreement." PCR 7:156-157. [D]
• c. 1670. The Plymouth-Sandwich boundary was to run "three quarters of a mile from any pte of the fence of John Ellis his feild, between his house and the sea." PCR 5:41. [D]
• 5 July 1670. An Indian named William, son-in-law of Cawsetan, complained that "the oxen of Leiftenant Ellis had broken in to his corne att Breake Hart Hill." The damage was about six bushels, and the fence was judged good. PCR 5:47. [D]
• 28 Feb 1675/6. In King Philip's War a town meeting "called ... by Lt. John Ellis and Benj. Hammond the constable" allowed families "to repair to the town garrison for safety." The town kept "a watch between Wayquonscott and the sea beyond Lt. John Ellis' land." HCC 2. [D, transcript]
• 7 June 1677. "Mistris Elizabeth Ellis and Mordica Ellis" bound as administrators of "the estate of John Ellis, Junir, of Sandwich, late deceased." PCR 5:235. [D]

Elizabeth as a widow

• 15 Apr 1679. At the first division of Sippican (later Rochester) she drew a home lot, named first after the minister and the ministry lot. Mattapoisett and Old Rochester (1907). [C, from the proprietors' records]
• July 1680. "Elizabeth Ellis, widdow, and Joseph Dotey, of Sandwich," with two other proprietors, sued Lt. Ephraim Morton of Plymouth for £200. On 12 May Morton "did, with diuers others ... forcably enter vpon the lands of the said Sepecan," and "did deface the bound markes of the said land of the said Ellis and Dotey," namely "a pyne tree, marked with two noches on the one syde, and three noches on the other syde, standing neare Sepecan Necke, a little below the rocke house, or wigwam." The jury found for the plaintiffs, 20 shillings and costs. PCR 7:227-229. [D]
• 1687. "Mrs. Ellis was living on her land in Sippican." Mattapoisett and Old Rochester. [C]

Their other children

• July 1679. "Mannoah Ellis, and Mary, his wife, of Sandwich, for fornication before his marriage," fined £5. PCR 8:154. [D]
• March 1681/2. Lt. Mordecai Ellis sat on the jury that tried the Indian James, indicted for kicking Samuel Crocker of Barnstable, who died three weeks later. Verdict: "nott guilty of wilfull murder." PCR 6:82-84; 7:246-249. [D]

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5. Lt. Matthias Ellis (1657-1748) and Mercy

• 1678/9. See the deed of gift from his grandfather (section 2). Frederick Freeman calls him "the dutiful Matthias Ellis." FG. [C]
• 2 June 1685. Returned to serve on the grand jury for Sandwich. PCR 6:160-169. [D]
• 1706. As "Mathias Ellis Senr," witnessed, with William Bassett, the will of Capt. Thomas Tupper of Sandwich (proved 20 May 1706). Barnstable Probate, FS 3:1:3Q9M-C9YB-5SK6. [D, OCR]
• 1705. One of four Sandwich agents who ran the line with the agents of the "South-sea Indians of Mashbe": Caleb Popmit, Acapesko, Old John, Sunkation and Caleb Pognit. HCC 2. [D, transcript]
• 1718. Administration on the estate of "John Ellis your Son Late of the Town of Sandwich ... Singleman" was granted to "Matthias Ellis Senr." Barnstable Probate, FS 3:1:3Q9M-C9YB-53HW. [D]
• March 1730. "Lt. Matthias Ellis Sr.," Malachi Ellis and Matthias Ellis Jr. are on Rev. Benjamin Fessenden's list of heads of families, made during the Sandwich church dispute. HCC 2:94n. [D, transcript]

His will, 30 Nov 1744 (Barnstable Probate, FS 3:1:3Q9M-C9YB-793Z; key phrases image checked) [D]

• Opening: "Being advanced in years and under considerable Decay of Bodily strength but thro the Mercy and goodness of God of disposing mind and memory & Considering that My Departure Draweth near according to the Common Course of Human life."
• To "my Loveing wife Mercy" (image checked) "the use & Improvement of the Westerly End of My Now Dwelling house Both Lower & upper Rooms & the Leantue on the Back Side of it and the Seller under it," and of "my orchard Called the Little Orchard," while she remained his widow, with "such and so much of my Household Goods as she shall think Necessary and Convenient." His son Malachi was to provide her "Cloathing, firewood ... and all necessaries & Conveniences of life for her comfort & Support Both in Sickness or health."
• To son Joel: "the two Half Lotts in the woods that were formerly my son Johns," half his apparel, his cutlass, belt and cane, and £20 old tenor within a year after his mother's death (image checked).
• To son Matthias: "my Lott & Share in said Town Neck in Sandwich and do also acquit him & Discharge him of all the Money I paid for him to Sheriff Lothrop" (image checked).
• To daughters Mercy Morton, Experience Churchill and Mehitable Merrick: his personal estate, "the Tools & Utensils that are used about husbandry only Excepted."
• To son Malachi: the housing, lands and meadows, the husbandry tools, half his apparel, "all my arms & ammunition Except my Cutlash & belt before Given to my son Joel" (image checked), and his rights in the Sandwich common land.
• Executors "my said wife Mercy and my said son Malachi." Witnesses Elisha Tupper, Eldad Tupper Jr., Samuel Jennings.
• 4 Oct 1748. Proved at Barnstable before Silvanus Bourn; administration committed "unto Mercy Ellis & Mallack Ellis Executors." FS 3:1:3Q9M-C9YB-793P. [D]
• 12 Oct 1748. Inventory (machine reading): wearing apparel; pocket book; cash; ten bottles; "arms ammunition & appurtenances"; pewter platters, basins and porringers; brass kettle and warming pan; spit, trammels and andirons; spectacles; two wheels; "Great Bible & Small Books"; cane; three beds, one with curtains; sheep shears; cows, heifers, calves and sheep; "Houseing Lands & Meadows the whole of Real Estate," £2,543 old tenor. Appraisers [Jonathan?] Freeman, Elisha Tupper, Eldad Tupper Jr. FS 3:1:3Q9M-C9YB-793P. [D, OCR]
• 3 Apr [1749/50?]. "I Joel Ellis of Middleborough ... Gent and one of the Children of Mathias Ellis Late of Sandwich" acknowledged receiving from Malachi £20 old tenor, "also the one half of the deceased his wearing apparel also his Cutlash his Belt," in full of his legacy. Stephen Churchill of Plymouth, gentleman, signed for himself and his wife Experience and as attorney for Mercy Morton and Mehitable Merrick. FS 3:1:3Q9M-C9YB-793J. [D, OCR]

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6. The Nye and Tupper families (Mercy's probable parents and grandparents)

Thomas Tupper (d. 1676)

• c. 1638. "Thom. Tupper, 5 swine vnringed." PCR 1. [D]
• 1 Mar 1641/2. "Wee psent Thomas Tupper, of Sandwich, for misdemeanor in lacivious & vncleane carriages towards Linceford wyfe, late of Yarmouth." The next entry: "We psent Linceford wyfe for the same miscarriage." No sentence is shown. The same court presented Edmund Freeman for lending a gun to an Indian. PCR 2:36-37. [D]
• 1644. Townsmen pledged corn "unto Thos. Tupper, for as many bolts as would shingle the old meeting-house"; Edmund Freeman pledged 10s. HCC 2. [D, transcript]
• 10 June 1650. A deed calls him "Tho: Tupper of the Towne of Sandwidge shoomaker." PCR 12:138. [D]
• 4 June 1650. Named the man deputed to marry couples at Sandwich: "For Sandwidg, Tho Tupper." PCR 2:155. 7 Mar 1653/4: relieved of it over the Perry marriage (section 3). [D]
• 1667. Granted 120 acres "if hee can find the land." PCR 4:159. [D]
• 28 Mar 1676. His death, entered by his son as town clerk: "Thomas Tupper Senir: Deceased the 28th of March ... 1676; hee Died in the 98th yeer of his age, and 2cond month." His wife Anne "Deceased the 4th of June ... 1676, whoe Deceased in the: 90th: yeer of her age." Sandwich VR. [D]
• 1794. Rev. Gideon Hawley, recalling Sandwich tradition: after the first minister left, Bourne and Tupper led worship, each with his own party; Tupper was "a little tinged with the fanaticism so prevalent at that time"; and "Messrs. Bourne and Tupper then turned their attention to the Indians." HCC 2:70n. [T] Kardell holds that the first Tupper missionary was Thomas Jr. [C]

Benjamin Nye (d. after 1704)

• 2 Oct 1650. Sued Thomas Dexter Jr. for trespass, claiming £10; the jury gave 15s and costs. PCR 7:51-52. [D]
• c. 1655-59. "Pd. Benj. Nye and Thos. Tobey, for the frame, £12 ... Pd. Benj. Nye for 3 bu. corn, 9 s." Sandwich meetinghouse account. HCC 2. [D, transcript]
• 13 June 1660. The threat to withhold his daughter from Jacob Burgis (section 3). PCR 3:191. [D] The daughter appears to be Mary, who married Jacob Burge. [C]
• 1660-61. He sued William Newland for defamation, claiming £50; "The jury found for the plaintife fifty shillings, or that the defendant bringe forth the enformer." PCR 7:100. [D]
• 25 Aug 1664. He and both Thomas Tuppers sat on the inquest into Thomas Fish's death at the mill dam: "the vnderminding and falling of the bankes vpon him, the wheelbarrow being between him and the ground." The father testified he "was not willing his son should goe to worke about the dam that day." PCR 4:85. [D]
• 18 Mar 1669. The town voted him 12 acres "because he built the mill at the little pond." Nye Genealogy (1907). [C]
• 2 Feb 1676/7. "Receiued of Benjamine Nye and Steuen Skiffe, agents for the towne of Sandwich ... fifty pounds," settling Sandwich's King Philip's War account. PCR 5. [D]
• 26 Mar 1676. His son Benjamin killed at Pierce's Fight, Rehoboth. Nye Genealogy (1907) only. [C]
• 9 June 1704. He deeded all his lands to his son Jonathan, reportedly "in exchange for keeping himself, his wife Katherine and daughter Mercy in their infirmity." WikiTree summary; deed not seen. [C]

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7. Capt. Joel Ellis (1679/80-1763) and Elizabeth (Churchill) Ellis

• 1717. A grantee, with others, in John Soule's deed of about two acres "near the land I formerly gave for a training Green," for a burying ground in Middleborough. The first burial there was Lydia Thomas, July 1717. Weston p. 312. [D, transcript]
• 1722. "John Churchell of the Town of Plymouth," his father-in-law, sold "Joel Ellis of the Town of Middle[borough]" a 20-acre house lot in the Twenty-six Men's Purchase. FS 3:1:3QS7-89Z7-JD4S. [D, OCR]
• 10 Mar 1729/30. "Joel Ellis 1 pound": his loan to the town toward the cost of its agents at the Court of Great Britain. Weston. [D, transcript]
• 1744. "We Joel Ellis & Elizabeth Ellis his Wife of the Town of Middleborough," for "Love and good affection," gave their son Joel of Plympton land there bounded by Winnetuxet River, Whetstone Vineyard Brook and Nathan Weston's land. FS 3:1:3QS7-99Z7-RFYN. [D, OCR]
• 1747. John Murdock of Plymouth sued "Joel Ellis of Middleborough Gent" and Timothy Morton of Plymouth, cooper, on their bond of 20 Feb 1743/4 for £352. The defendants, "being three times called made default," and judgment went against them for £186 18s 2d old tenor; Ellis appealed to the Superior Court. Plymouth Court of Common Pleas, FS 3:1:3Q9M-CSR7-3SDY-G. [D, OCR]
• 3 Apr 1753. Elizabeth's gravestone, Cemetery at the Green, Middleborough: "In Memory of Madam Elisabeth Elles Wife of Cap. Joel Elles Who Died April 3 1753 in the 66th Year of Her Age." Find a Grave 29369456. [D, transcription]
• 27 Mar 1758. "Capt Joel Ellis & Jemima Bennet both of Middleb[orough]" married by Rev. Sylvanus Conant. FS 3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-G9G2-H. [D, OCR]
• 21 May 1759. He gave his sons Charles and Thomas "all that my Homestead lands Whereon [I] Lately Dwelt ... whereon my said son Thomas Ellis now Dwells," with buildings, meadows and cedar swamp, "Reserving unto my self the whole use and Improvement ... During my natural life." "Jemima Ellis the wife of the said Joel" signed away her dower. Recorded 1765. FS 3:1:3QSQ-G9Z7-PQPY. [D, OCR]
• May 1759. He gave "my Loving son Matthias Ellis" 52 acres and half of an eight-acre meadow lot (section 9). Acknowledged at Middleborough 22 May 1759 (image checked). FS 3:1:3QS7-89Z7-P3KJ. [D]

The Revolutionary-era story told of his son Thomas

• 19 Apr 1775. From Weston's "Eddy Note-Book" material: Caleb Bryant brought the news of Lexington to Thomas Ellis, "riding in great haste over fences and fields." Ellis "took down his gun to repair it, put a long handle to his hatchet," but "did not go, however, but sent his son soon after." The lieutenant of the son's company called to men who were dodging, "Don't! don't! I will tell you when to dodge." Weston. [T] This Thomas is probably Joel's son Thomas (b. 1728/9) [I].

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8. The Churchill, Pontus and Delano families (Elizabeth Churchill's ancestors)

• 1638. William Pontus sat on the jury that tried Arthur Peach and two others for robbing "one Penowanyanquis, an Indian," of "fiue fadome of wampeux, and three coates." PCR 1:96-97. [D]
• 18 Aug 1645. Richard Higgins sold John Churchill his house, garden and orchard "situate neere Browne's Rock" for £12 in "corne or cattell." Higgins could take "the boards that lyne the inward roome, and the bedstead," but had to leave "thirty good fruit trees." The Churchill Family in America (1904) pp. 2-3. [C, transcription]
• 24 Dec 1662. John Churchill's spoken will, told to Abigail Clarke, "aged twenty three years," his kinswoman: he "knew not whether there would be anything left when his children were brought up." His inventory (£74 14s 8d) included "2 guns," "a sword and shot pouch," and books worth 6s. Churchill book pp. 3-5. [C, transcription]
• c. 1664. "Hannah Churchill, widdow, desired that the one halfe of the land graunted to Wiliam Pontus ... att Namassakett" (Middleborough) be confirmed to her. PCR 4:58. [D]
• 1 Oct 1661. Abraham Peirce Jr. apologized in court for having "follishly and vnadvisedly reported" that Rebeckah Alden and Hester Delanoy (half-sister of Rebecca Delano) were with child, "and that thervpon wee should haue young troopers." PCR 4:7. [D]
• 1671/2. Mary Churchill (Elizabeth Churchill's aunt) was fined £6 "for comitting fornication, as shee saith, with Thomas Doten," whom she later married; her brother Joseph Churchill and brother-in-law John Drew stood bond. PCR 5:83, 94. [D]

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9. Matthias Ellis (1719/20-c. 1790) and Lucy (Bennett) Ellis

• 3 Jan 1741/2. "Leiut Joseph Bennet the Son of Capt Peter Bennet Deceased January the 3rd 1741/2." Mayflower Descendant 15:24. [D] He left Lucy, then 16, her mother Thankful, and younger children. Thankful, as administratrix, reported that his personal estate was "not Sufficient for the payment of his just debts," got leave of the Superior Court to sell land, and sold it at public vendue to Seth Samson of Middleborough, "the highest Bidder" (recorded 18 Dec 1746). FS 3:1:3QS7-89Z7-X4CX. [D, OCR] Thankful later married Seth Samson (1758). Weston's catalogue. [C]
• 1743-1763. The Middleborough clerk recorded several of their children's births with the day of the week: "Cornelius Ellis the Son of Matthias Ellis & by Lucy his wife was born Wednesday October ye 18th 1749"; Ebenezer "Thursday January ye 15th 1752"; Betty "Sunday may ye 12th 1754"; Gamaliel "Tusday September ye 27th 1757"; Daniel "Tuesday September ye 17th 1760." FS 3:1:3QHK-P31H-S52D. [D]
• May 1759. From his father: 48 acres in the Twenty-six Men's Purchase and 4 acres in the Five Men's Purchase, "formerly sold by Samuel Samson unto Mr Samuel Prince and sold by said Prince unto Mr Thomas Hutchinson and Mr Daniel Oliver and of them sold to me," and half an eight-acre lot of meadow in the Lower Meadow. FS 3:1:3QS7-89Z7-P3KJ. [D, OCR]
• 29 May 1759. He bought from John Williams of Lebanon, Connecticut, "all that the farm or Homestead that my honored father Joseph Williams Late of Middleborough Died Seized of," 65 acres, for £140. FS 3:1:3QS7-89Z7-P3KJ (same page). [D, OCR]
• 1758 and 1763. "Matthias Ellis & Lucy Ellis his wife" sold shares of inherited Bennett land with John Morton and his wife Elizabeth, John Bennett the second, and Lemuel Jackson and his wife Jemima. FS 3:1:3QS7-L9Z7-RCFY; 3:1:3QSQ-G9Z7-G8N3. [D]
• Sept-Oct 1777. "ELLES, MATTHIAS, Middleborough. Private, Capt. Nehemiah Allen's co., Col. Theophilus Cotton's regt.; service, 31 days, on a secret expedition to Rhode Island in Sept. and Oct., 1777." MSSRW. [D] He would have been 57; whether this is he is unproven [?].
• 1770, 1783. "Ensign Matthias Ellis" in a 1770 estate account; excused from serving as constable, 1783. [D]
• By Mar 1790. "Mathias Ellis late of Middleborough ... Gentleman deceased": the estate was represented insolvent; son Joseph administered; Lucy's dower was set off in April 1791. FS 3:1:3QS7-L97D-8CL4. [D]
• 3 Oct 1804. "Lucia Ellis, wid. of Matthias, m. 1743, o. Bennet ... d. Oc. 3, 1804, ae. 79." Weston, catalogue of First Church members. [C]

Their sons in the Revolution (MSSRW vol. 5; identification of each as Matthias's son is [I] unless noted)

• Joseph (b. 1745): corporal in Capt. Nathaniel Wood's Middleborough minute company on the Lexington alarm, April 1775, marching to Marshfield; Rhode Island alarm, Dec 1776; Dartmouth alarm, Sept 1778.
• George (b. 1747): see section 10.
• Cornelius (b. 1749): Capt. Job Peirce's company, 30 days at Rhode Island, Oct 1777.
• Ebenezer (b. 1752) and Gamaliel (b. 1757): enlisted together 20 June 1775 in Capt. Josiah King's company, Col. David Brewer's regiment; at Roxbury in Dec 1775; Ebenezer, as sergeant, signed a ration receipt "on march from Dorchester to New York," dated New York 29 Apr 1776. Ebenezer later served at Rhode Island (1777) and Tiverton (1780).
• Daniel (b. 1760): Camp at Hull, June-Dec 1776, aged 15-16; Rhode Island 1777; Col. Abijah Stearns's "regt. of guards," 14 Apr-2 July 1778, "at and about Boston," while the Convention troops (Burgoyne's army) were held at Cambridge; Rhode Island 1780 and 1781.

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10. George Ellis (b. 1747) and Phebe (Stephens) Ellis

• 23 May 1773. Married at Plympton: "Georg Eless and Phebe Stephens." Published at Middleborough as "Mr. George Ellis of Middleborough & Mrs. Phebe Stephens of Plimpton." Plympton VR; Middleborough VR 2:75. [D]
• 16 Nov 1773. Sold meadows at Southworth Marsh (deed cited in 1789). FS 3:1:3QS7-L9Z7-P7ZF. [D]
• Mar 1774. A George Ellis was "Chosen to take care of Plimouth beach," with James Warren and Josiah Morton Jr. In March 1777, fence viewer and field driver. Records of the Town of Plymouth 3. [D] Probably ours [I].
• 11 Dec 1776. A George Ellis marched from Plymouth to Bristol, Rhode Island, in Capt. Robert Finney's company, Col. Lothrop's regiment, 10 days. MSSRW 5:303. [D]
• Sept-Oct 1777. "George Ellis" is among the Plymouth "Enlistments for thirty days' service in Rhode Island in September, 1777," under Capt. Nathaniel Goodwin (Hurd, History of Plymouth County, 1884, pp. 145-146), the company MSSRW describes as "on a secret expedition against Newport, R. I." [D] The Plymouth list of men "raised to serve as guard to the prisoners who surrendered with Gen. Burgoyne" follows it on the same page and names Thomas Ellis, not George. [D]
• c. 1777. A Plymouth list of evidence against suspected Tories: "Mrs Ellis Says about Seven months ago Mr Churchell Came to her house & talked Verry high against America." Records of the Town of Plymouth 3. [D] Which Mrs. Ellis is not stated.
• May 1784 - April 1785. The family moved from Plymouth to Plympton, and the Plympton selectmen issued a warrant (image checked): "you are hereby required to warn George Ellis and his Wife Phebe and seven Children viz. Sarah, Phebe, Molly, George, Matthias, Nancy & Stevens forthwith to depart this Town - They came into [this] Town some time in the Month of May in the year one Thousand seven Hundred and eighty four, and were last from the Town of Plymouth." Given "at Plimton this Twenty eighth Day of March Anno Domini 1785," signed by Thomas Gannett and Isaac Churchill, selectmen. On 19 April 1785 constable Gideon Bradford Jr. returned that he had warned "George Ellis & his Wife Phebe & seven Children" to depart "to the Town they were last from." FS 3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-G9GD-G. [D] Context: warning out was the legal step by which a Massachusetts town avoided taking on responsibility for a newcomer's poor relief; it did not by itself remove anyone. [D, context]
• 1789-1794. The estate of his father-in-law Edward Stephens lists "the farm in Plymouth with the Buildings thereon occupied by George Ellis & to him sold" (£240); the administrators, empowered in October 1789, deeded him land in 1794. FS 3:1:3QS7-897D-8Z8M; 3:1:3QSQ-G9Z7-TSYD. [D]
• 24 Nov 1789. "George Ellis's Wife" in the Plymouth church list of deaths. Plymouth Church Records (Colonial Society of Massachusetts 22). [D] Probably Phebe [I].
• 1792. Intention 19 May, marriage 4 June: George Ellis and Experience Clark, both of Plymouth. Plymouth VR. [D]
• 1791-1797. Deeds call adjoining land "George Ellis homestead which was Nathaniel Donhams homestead," near Southers Marsh. FS 3:1:3QS7-89Z7-X621. [D]
• 22 May 1805. His children by Phebe quitclaimed to "our Brother George Ellis Junr of Plymouth ... Mariner" pasture land near Seth Harlow's homestead by the Training field, a right in Harlow's Cedar Swamp, and woodland, "decended to us from our Mother Phebe Ellis Decd who was formerly Phebe Stephens." The grantors (image checked): "Elisha Morton & Sarah his wife of Hebron at the Eastward, Azel Thomas & Phebe his wife of Middleborough, Polly Ellis, Richard Blackmore & Nancy his wife, Zeba [?] Ellis, Stephen Ellis & George Ellis all of Plymouth, Mattathias Ellis of Wareham ... & Isaac Ellis of said Middleborough." Nancy signed "Nancy Ellis Blackmer." FS 3:1:3QS7-89ZW-SNM7 and 3:1:3QS7-89ZW-SFBP. [D]
• c. 1808. "George Ellis & Experiance Ellis" joined the other heirs of William Clark of Plymouth in selling his land. FS 3:1:3QS7-89Z7-2DXX. [D] The last record found of him.

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11. The Harlow, Bartlett, Rider and Stephens families (Phebe Stephens's ancestors)

• 5 June 1671. Sgt. William Harlow was among the "psons apointed by the Court to view the Damage done to the Indians by the Horses and Hoggs of the English." PCR 5:54. [D] He was also appointed, with Lt. Morton, Joseph Warren and William Clarke, to buy "whatsoeuer lands are yett vnpurchased ... att Sepecan." PCR 5. [D]
• 1675. Plymouth ordered "a fortification ... upon the fort hill ... an hundred foot square the pallasadoes to be 10 foot and one halfe longe." Records of the Town of Plymouth 1:146-147. [D, context] Davis says that after the war "a grant of the timbers of the fort was made to William Harlow," who built the house still standing at 119 Sandwich Street; Davis calls the fort-timber connection "not an unwarrantable inference." [C] A 1996 assessment dates the house "1700 or later." [C]
• 1692-1822. The Harlow Old Fort House passed from Sgt. William Harlow to his son Samuel (1692 division), to Samuel's son William, Phebe Harlow's father (1728), out of the family in 1765, and back to Phebe Stephens's relatives: her uncle Eleazer Stephens (1778-84), her brother Sylvanus by marriage to Joseph Doten's widow, and her nephew Lemuel Stephens (from 1822). Davis Part I pp. 321-322. [C, from deeds]
• Note. Elder Thomas Faunce, who identified Plymouth Rock in 1741, was the brother of Sgt. Harlow's second wife, Mary Faunce. Phebe descends from the first wife, Rebecca Bartlett, so Faunce is not a blood relation. [D marriages; I]

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12. Nancy Ellis (1781-1864), Richard Blackmer and Gideon Holbrook

First marriage

• 1801. Intention: "Richard BLACKMER & Nancy ELLIS both of Plymouth." Plymouth VR p. 291. [D]
• By 29 Feb 1808. Richard Blackmer, "late of Plymouth, Mariner," died intestate; his estate (about 7 acres with a house and small barn, 4 acres of pasture, 28 acres of woodland, $600 real estate; personal estate $124.59) was insolvent. Plymouth probate case 2104, FS 3:1:3QS7-897D-ZH86. [D]
• 5 July 1810. Nancy bought back part of the homestead from the administrator, Dr. Josiah Sturtevant, for $40. Plymouth deeds 114:28. [D] In 1858 she sold a lot "being the same conveyed to me by Josiah Sturtevant Administrator on the estate of my former husband Richard Blackmer." FS 3:1:3QS7-89Z7-RXVT. [D]
• 1818. Branch Blackmer's will gave "George Ellis Blackmar, my Grandson & Son of my Son Richard Blackmer decd" a third of his Plymouth real estate. FS 3:1:3QS7-997D-V85F. [D]

Gideon Holbrook's household

• 1800-1817. Gideon Holbrook, mariner, held a bond from Thomas Davis of Boston and William Davis of Plymouth for "a Certain Dwelling House and the Land adjoining thereto" at Training Green, Plymouth; after Thomas Davis died, the court licensed his executors to convey it (1800; deeds 1805). In 1816/17 Gideon sold "my dwelling house & lot of land ... on the easterly side of the training green" to John Burgess Jr., mariner, for $1,300. FS 3:1:3QS7-L9Z7-RNQC; 3:1:3QS7-L9ZW-36N6. [D] His first wife Sally died 1 Mar 1818 and was buried at Manomet. [D]
• 29 Nov 1818. Intention published: "Gideon HOLBROOK & Mrs. Nancy BLACKMAN both of Plymouth." Plymouth VR intentions, 1818. FS 3:1:3QHK-F31H-S1PL. [D]
• 6 Oct 1829. "I the said Gideon Holbrook and my wife Nancy" sold land to Joseph Sampson. FS 3:1:3QS7-89Z7-L35P. [D]
• 18 June 1841. Gideon's will: "In order to enable my wife Nancy Holbrook to bring up those of my children who may be under the age of twenty one years, having entire confidence in her judgment & discretion I do give, devise & bequeath unto her my said wife the use, income & improvement of all my Estate." If the income proved "insufficient for their comfortable support & education," she might sell outlands "without the formality of a License or a sale at Auction." Nancy executor; witnesses Nathaniel Clark, Ezra Clark (Nancy's son-in-law) and Luther Lucas. Proved April 1842. FS 3:1:3QSQ-G97D-VD5L; 3:1:3QS7-897D-JZGX. [D]
• Aug 1842. Inventory of "Gideon Holbrook late of Plymouth ... deceased" (machine reading): the homestead "including about an acre of orchard"; meadow and village land; mowing and pasture "Joining the Parsonage Lot"; tillage land "at the point"; wood and pasture at Rocky Hill; land at the mill pond and at Beaverdam Swamp; dwelling house $500; barn $60; corn house; "One half of the Cider Mill house & half of the cider mill"; "Pew No 36 in the lower floor" of the meeting house; ox wagon, horse wagon, harness, harrows, plough, yokes and chains; a yoke of oxen ($50), steers ($45), three cows ($55), young cattle, two pigs, and 25 cords of cut wood. Total $3,991.50. Appraisers Ezra, Israel and Seth Clark. FS 3:1:3QS7-L97D-JZSG. [D, OCR]
• 1842. As executrix Nancy sold land to Luther Lucas ($250) and to her son Gideon ($40). FS 3:1:3QSQ-G9Z7-5S8M; 3:1:3QS7-99Z7-5S37. [D]
• 1849. "Elisha Holbrook, of Plymouth ... Yeoman" sold David Clark his ninth of his father's land for $200, "reserving to my mother Nancy Holbrook the use, income and improvement" of it for five years, "provided she so long live." FS 3:1:3QS7-89Z7-NZCK. [D]
• 1850. Nancy and the heirs petitioned for partition, and one third of the real estate was set off to "his Widow Nancy Holbrook for her use during her life." FS 3:1:3QS7-L97D-DWZQ; 3:1:3QS7-997D-DWZL. [D]
• 30 Nov 1861. A deed of her late son Gideon's share describes it as in "Manomet village so called," bounded by "the highway leading past the house of Ezra Clark and the meeting house" and by "the dower lands of the widow of the late Gideon Holbrook." FS 3:1:3QS7-89Z7-R4CP. [D]

Her children in the West

• Jan 1854. "E. Holbrook," brother of Capt. Richard, wrote from Penn Cove, Whidbey Island, to his mother in Massachusetts: he and his brother "have a good comfortable log cabin to live in"; "letters are brought down by private conveyance"; there were "31 vessels running between here and San Francisco"; and "the best soil I have seen is on [Whidbey] Island." Quoted in the National Park Service's Historic Resources Study of Ebey's Landing (2005), from WPA, Told by the Pioneers vol. 2 pp. 153-154. [C]
• 28 May 1854. Richard B. Holbrook to the acting governor: "On the morning of May 28, while from home, my house was broken open and robbed, by a party of Indians, of my goods, tools, provisions, and clothing. I came to this bay a few weeks previous ... to engage with Capt. Eli Hathaway in the salmon business." He claimed $1,378.20; the claim went to Congress unpaid in 1885. Indian Depredation Claims, 48th Cong., 2d Sess. [D]

Nancy's will

• 6 Sept 1860. Signed with her mark (image not checked): "I Nancy Holbrook of Plymouth, in the County of Plymouth, Widow, being advanced in years but of sound mind ... I make no bequest to my children Nancy Morey Richard B. Holbrook, & Eliphalet Holbrook, nor to my Grand children David Clark, Lucy Peterson wife of Charles H. Peterson, Lewis Clark, Sarah Ellis wife of James Ellis for the reason that I feel under obligation to dispose of what little property I may leave to my other children who have chiefly borne the expense of my support and not for want of any affection toward them." Her household furniture, clothing and "indoor movables in the house where I now reside" went to her daughter Mary; the rest to Elisha and Mary equally, who were executors. Witnesses Nathaniel Clark, Israel Clark, Luther Lucas. Plymouth Probate, FS 3:1:3QS7-997D-86QQ. [D, OCR]
• 29 Jan 1864. Died at Plymouth, a widow, aged 82 years 3 months 8 days. Massachusetts death records vol. 175 p. 336 (cited in Holbrook-Master-Family-Tree.md). [D] The will was proved in January 1865 on Mary's petition. FS 3:1:3QS7-L97D-X8C9. [D]
• 5 Jan 1899. Her daughter Mary (1826-1899), unmarried, died at her brother Eliphalet's house at Manomet. Her obituary calls her "a peace-maker," and notes that "Of her four brothers only one, Eliphalet Holbrook, of Manomet, survives her." Adadourian, "Dying, and, Behold, We Live" (1899). [D, obituary]