Individual Details
Joseph Grafton
(Abt 1596 - 24 Jun 1682)
Joseph Grafton was a merchant sea captain. He owned a 40 ton ketch. In 1645, his ship was captured during the Acadian Civil War. This dispute was between two competing governors of the French province of Acadia. John Winthrop had taken sides in this dispute which is how the ship of Joseph Grafton cam e to be captured; the ship and crew were released.
The following story regarding one of Joseph Grafton's nautical adventures comes from The Annals of Salem from Its First Settlement by Joseph B. Felt, 1827, pp 538-539.
The Ketch Providence, Capt. Joseph Grafton, from Salem to the W. Indies, was cast away on a rock in a dark and rainy night. The whole crew were ten, of whom six were drowned. The master, mate, and a seaman who was badly wounded remained on the rock until morning. In the morning they arrived, with difficulty to an island about a half mile off, where they found another of their company. They continued eight days, sustained by salt fish, and also, the last four days by cakes made of a barrel of flour, which washed ashore. After four days they found a piece of touchwood, which the mate had formerly in his chest and a piece of flint, with which, having a small knife, they struck fire. They framed a boat with a tarred mainsail and some hoops and then fastened pieces of boards to them. With a boat so made, they sailed ten leagues to Anguilla and St. Martins, where they were kindly received.
The following story regarding one of Joseph Grafton's nautical adventures comes from The Annals of Salem from Its First Settlement by Joseph B. Felt, 1827, pp 538-539.
The Ketch Providence, Capt. Joseph Grafton, from Salem to the W. Indies, was cast away on a rock in a dark and rainy night. The whole crew were ten, of whom six were drowned. The master, mate, and a seaman who was badly wounded remained on the rock until morning. In the morning they arrived, with difficulty to an island about a half mile off, where they found another of their company. They continued eight days, sustained by salt fish, and also, the last four days by cakes made of a barrel of flour, which washed ashore. After four days they found a piece of touchwood, which the mate had formerly in his chest and a piece of flint, with which, having a small knife, they struck fire. They framed a boat with a tarred mainsail and some hoops and then fastened pieces of boards to them. With a boat so made, they sailed ten leagues to Anguilla and St. Martins, where they were kindly received.
Events
| Birth | Abt 1596 | Southwold, Suffolk, England | |||
| Marriage | By 1626 | Southwold, Suffolk, England - Mary Moore | |||
| Immigration | By 1636 | Salem, Massachusetts Bay | |||
| Death | 24 Jun 1682 | Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay | |||
| Probate | 28 Nov 1682 | Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay |  | ||
| Occupation | merchant sea captain |
Families
| Spouse | Mary Moore (1608 - 1674) |
| Child | Elizabeth Grafton (1625 - ) |
| Child | Priscilla Grafton (1626 - ) |
| Child | Joseph Grafton (1636 - 1670) |
| Child | John Grafton (1638 - 1715) |
| Child | Nathaniel Grafton (1642 - 1670) |
Notes
Probate
He left a considerable estate and shares in several vessels at his death. His assets were distributed to:his wife, Bethia Goodhue,
his son, John Grafton,
his son-in-law, John Gardner,
two sons of his son Joseph Grafton, Jr.,
three daughters of his son Nathaniel Grafton,
to Mary Meade,
William and Edmund Herfield,
his grandchildren Robert Kitchen and his three sisters,
Mary Fox,
Elizabeth Colyer
and Samuel Gardner, Jr.