Individual Details
Mathias Farnsworth
(Jul 20, 1612 - Jan 21, 1689)
Biography & 1688 Will of Matthias Farnsworth
1878, Groton, MA
Epitaphs from the Old Burial Ground, Groton, MA by Dr. Samuel A. Green, Boston: Little, Brown & Company, 1878.
Matthias Farnsworth, the progenitor of the numerous families of Groton bearing this name, came from Lynn, Mass. He was an original proprietor of the town, and owned a twenty-acre right. His farm was situated on both sides of the road leading to Harvard, a little south of James's brook, more than a mile from the village. He was living at Lynn in the year 1657, and at Groton in 1661, though he may have been a resident of each place earlier than these respective dates. He died in the latter part of the year 1689, aged 77 years.
The following is a copy of his Will on file in the Middlesex Probate Office at East Cambridge:
Will of Matthias Farnsworth
Groton Jenewarey 15th: 1688-9 and in the 4th yere of the Rein of King James the second I mathyas farnworth sen. of Groton in the county of midsix in new ingland aged about 77 yers being wall considrat and of sound and parfit (perfect) Judgment and understanding thanks be to God for it I being sensable of my many frailtyes & unsartanty of my natural life and knowing what disadvantag many times hapens for want of a Right sating the house in order being desiras to act and setle things that consarns me do mak
conshans and doe declare this present instrument to be my last will & testement in manor and form as foloweth making voyd all formar wills either by word or deed but first I commit my soul to all mighty God my creator hoping I shall receiv full pardon of all my sins threw Jesus Christ and I commit my bodey to the earth from whens it was taken to be buried in such decent manar as my executers shall see meet and
p.239
1. first to the distrebiting my estate I doe give to my beloved wife so long as she lives a widow one third of my whole estat and the moveables within the house
2. I doe leav to her to dispos as shee pleases and secondly I doe give to my son Mathyas farnworth for his full porshan that five acre Right which his deed spasifyes and a peese of meadow called by the name of half-moon meadow and twenty akers of land lying neer a place called by the name of Prescots olde mill and this to be counted to be his ful porshan unless he meets with malistation by any relations of his and so then I Will and give to my son mathyus my home stall that I now dwell upon with hous & barn and that homestall that my son mathyas now lives on to return in seed thare of.
3. and thirdly I give to my son John farnworth that five akar Right that his deed spesefyes and ten shillings more to be payed of the estat for his full porshon.
4. forthly I give to my son bengeman farnworth that part of my land lying on the outsid of my homestall fenc at the lower end of the lot and twenty akers at the place Prescotts old mill and six akers of medow lying at south medow and this for his porshin.
5. fifly for my son Samewall (Samuel) & Jonathan farnworth I doe give the rest of my land and medow that is undisposed on lying at the old mill for ther porshan.
and I give my daughter Robinson one cow and to my daughter Thacher I give twenty shillins and to my daughter Abigail farnworth twelve pounds for her porshan and to the rest of my estat undisposed of I leave in the hand of my executers to dispose of to my wife or children as they think to be most rason I make choise of my son mathyas fanrworth with Nathanil Lawrense and Jonas prescott for exutors - this taken from his own mouth syned in the presents of us.
his M mark - mathyas farnworth sen.
Nathannil lawrance
Niclas his mark Huchins.
also I give my loom & tacklins for areing to my son mathyas farnworth.
Xbr 17. 1689 - Charlestowne
Nathanll Larrance & Jonas Prescott appearing in Court made oath that they were present when Matthias ffarnworth, deceased, signed sealed and published this as his last Will & Testament and yt (that) he was of sound judment and of disposing minde when he did ye same that they set their hands to as witnesses with Nicolas Hutchins.
As attest Samuel Phipps - Clerk
His wife's name was Mary (Farr) and they had ten children. The list of them given below is compiled from different sources. It is probable that his "daughter Robison" was the wife of James Robertson or Robinson and in that case her name was Elizabeth and probably
p.240
she was born in England. James Robertson an original proprietor of the town, married his wife, January 16, 1667 and she died December 22, 1729, aged 82 years. I am not sure about the order of the births of his children, but I suggest the following:
Children of Matthias Farnsworth
Elizabeth who probably married James Robertson
Joseph born Nov 17, 1657 at Lynn, and died February 20, 1686-7
Mary born Oct 11, 1660 at Lynn married April 11, 1676 Samuel Thatcher of Watertown.
Matthias born at Groton.
John who married December 8, 1686, Hannah daughter of John and Sarah (Eliot) Aldis of Dedham and
had nine children.
Benjamin who married Mary, daughter of Jonas & Mary (Loker) Prescott and had ten children.
Samuel who married Dec 12, 1706, widow Mary (Whitcomb) Willard and had three children.
Abigail born Jan 17, 1671 and prob. married John Hutchins of Groton.
Sarah who perhaps married Simon Stone
Jonathan born June 1, 1675 married Ruth _____ and had fourteen children.
John Farnsworth, one of the sons named above, was an influential man in all town affairs. He was an Ensign in the militia, a Selectman, a Representative to the General Court from the year 1708 to 1714 inclusive, excepting 1711, he was in command of one of the eighteen garrisons in the town. The name of Matthias Farnsworth of Groton appears in a list of prisoners in the hands
of the French and Indians in Canada, March 5, 1710-11, though there is nothing in the record to show when he was captured. He was probably the son of Matthias Farnsworth, Jun'r and if so, he was a young
man about twenty years old at the date of the list.
The first settlement of Charlestown, New Hampshire, then known as Number 4 - was made in the year 1740 by three brothers, Samuel, David and Stephen Farnsworth, natives of Groton. They all became leading men in the town and distinguished themselves on several occasions in fights with the Indians.
Samuel Farnsworth the eldest brother was killed in a skirmish May 2, 1746. David Farnsworth was taken prisoner by a party of Indians April 20, 1757 and carried to Canada. He managed to escape, and reached home probably soon after his capture. Stephen Farnsworth the youngest brother, also had his bitter ex-perience with the savages. He was captured April 19, 1746, and taken to Montreal, where he remained seventeen months, when he was
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exchanged. His health was so broken down by the hardships of his captivity that he never fully regained it. He died September 6, 1771, leaving behind him the example of a brave man and a useful citizen.
The House of Matthias
The house built on the first described lot, stood a little south-easterly of
the bridge across the brook, about where H. Sawtell's house stood, as marked on the map of Groton in Butler's History of the town. It was a log house, as were the houses of all the early settlers. It was undoubtedly burned by the Indians when nearly the whole town was destroyed by them Mar l3, l676. He afterwards rebuilt it and it was standing until about the year 1820 when it was torn down to give place to modern improvements.
The road near it was one of the earliest laid out in the town and was made to connect Groton with Lancaster, then its nearest neighbor, and was the second Lancaster road, and is perhaps the one referred to in the town records in l664 which Richard Blood and John Lakin were then engaged in
laying out, although there must have been a path opened there as far as the
crossing of the brook somewhat earlier.
Note: According to Bill McNulty of Ayer, MA - Matthias Farnsworth's lands are still intact at Groton, MA and now consist of a horse-farm owned and operated by a British man and his wife. (Bill McNulty Maceire at aol.com)
More notes on Matthias Farnsworth
Removed to Groton about 1660, was an original proprietor.
When King Philip's war broke out and the town of Groton
was burned, they were compelled to flee to Concord, where
they resided two years, returning to Groton to rebuild on the
old site. He was chosen constable and selectman.
At a meeting of the town held Nov. 27, 1664, the fol-
lowing vote was passed: " Yt, Mathias Farnsworth shall
have forty pole of land to be laid out agaynst his house
next to James his broke for a building place, provided (it)
do not predgedse the hieway. "
He was frequently chosen to serve on committees of
church and town.
Mathias Farnsworth was credited on Sept. 28, 1675,
for services performed under Major Simon Willard, with
£ o, I2s, 6d, and on June 24, 1735, Jonathan Farnsworth
(son of Mathias Farnsworth), drew lot 3 in Narragansett
Township, No. 6, for services performed by his father in the
Narragansett campaign.
His will is dated Jan. 15, 1688-9. He died Jan. 21,
1689, aged yy. Inventory dated Feb. 4, 1688-9. Occu-
pation a weaver.
His widow made her will on Dec. 5, 17 16, and it was
proved March 7, 17 17. In it she bequeaths to her son.
Samuel Farnsworth, her household effects and her " Great
Bible."
OUR GREAT FAMILIES - THE PHANEUFS
(Translated from Nos Racines by Ky Stratoti #1854)
The history of the Phaneuf Family could begin with these words, "Once upon a time....". A chance happening and human nature came together and lent a colorful and unique air to this family history.
Our history begins with the birth of MATHIAS in England, in the small town of Farnsworth - not too far from Manchester, England. An Anglican, like others, Mathias was greatly influenced by the severe religious rules, to join the ranks of the Puritans.
It was thought that he was amongst the passengers on board the Mayflower in December 1620, but this doesn't seem possible, since he was too young at that time. There is no doubt, however, that Mathias Farnsworth was living in America about 1628. He settled in Lynn, Massachusetts, then later on he went to live in Groton, Conn. with his family.
He cleared enough forest land to enable him to take care of his family, which consisted of three children from a first marriage and seven other children born to him and his wife MARY FARR. Mathias died in 1689; his wife, Mary, in 1717.
In order to follow the trail of the PHANEUFS, we must concentrate on Mathias, the second-born child of Mathias (I). Mathias (II) was born in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1649 (the name of his mother is unknown). He married SARAH NUTTING in 1681. They had at least 5 children. One of these children was Mathias (III) who was born in Groton, Conn. on 6 August 1690. In 1700, the family lived near Deerfield, Massachusetts. It was here, on 11 August, that Mathias (III) was captured during one of the many raids waged by the Canadians and Indians against the English villages.
This young boy could neither read nor write. Unfortunately, he could neither speak French nor could he speak the language of the Indian tribe that adopted him.
What was the fate of this child? If he was not to be killled, it was necessary that he be converted and that he be integrated into the world of New France. The priests of Saint Sulpice Seminary in Montreal obtained Mathias' freedom from the Indians. On 10 January 1706, he was baptized. His godfather was CLAUDE DE RAMEZAY, then governor of Montreal, and his godmother was ELISABETH SOUART, wife of CHARLES LEMOYNE of Longueuil. Mathias took his godfather's name as his baptismal name.
The family name underwent its first transformation: Farnsworth became Farneth. In October of that same year, Mathieu-Claude Farnet requested his naturalisation papers (at the same time as:
JEAN THOMAS (carpenter, born in Bristol, England)
LOUIS-MARIE STRAFTON, gunsmith
JEAN LAHA, resident
PAUL OTES, shoemaker
WILLIAM JAMES, resident
ANDRE FRAY, resident
JEAN USS, resident
JEAN MAKING, resident
WILLIAM STRAYLORD, resident
JEAN OHE, resident
THOMAS HURT
Documents found in 1912 by Brother Elie, professor at Mount Saint Louis College, as well as research done by Mathias-Claude Farnet's descendants, proves that Mathias obtained a land grant, which was given to him by his adopted family, the Seminarians, and partticularly by Affe FRANCIS VACHON of Belmont. A legal document confirms the age of this young man as 21....
"to obtain for the named Claude-Mathias, Englishman, who is in the employ of the Brothers of the Sault-au-Recollect Mission, after having been snatched from the hands of the Indians who held him as a slave, with the understanding that he would remain in New France and live a Christian life."
This condition was essential because the land was being given to a man who was not yet legally a citizen of this country. He didn't receive title to the land until March 1714. JEAN CHARPENTIER received his landgrant on 19 July 1711.
These two men each received a half of about 6 arpents of land which had belonged to JACQUES LEMOYNE DE SAINT-HELENE. The land bordered on the Prairie River on L'Ile de Montreal. On 14 Septembre 1713, Mathias added three more arpents to his land holdings, and on the following September 25, he signed a marriage contract with CATHERINE CHARPENTIER, daughter of his good friend Jean Charpentier and FRANCOISE HUNAULT.
At the time of his marriage, Mathias Fanef owned a home, land, which was 3 arpents and two perches (rods) along the riverfront and forty arpents deep; also a four-year-old cow in good health. Catherine's dowry was equally rich because her parents gave her "for the hard work and many services they had received from their daughter"; the following items: - land, one half arpent (three x forty deep) adjoining the land of her future husband; two bulls, eighteen months of age, a four-year old cow, an 18-month old pig and two sheep to supply their clothing needs for the future.
The young couple was married on October 2 by ROBERT GAY, Seminary priest from St. Joseph de la Riviere-des-Prairies. It was there that the four daughters and eight sons of Mathias Phaneuf and Antoine-sur-le-Richelieu, where Claude Mathias was buried on 8 August 1773 - he was 83. Catherine Charpentier Phaneuf died on the night of 29 June 1777 and was buried the next day - she was 88 years old.
The Phaneuf family quickly spread out along the Richelieu River. Some of the descendants of Claude Mathias Farnsworth/Farneth/Farnets/Fanef/Phaneuf returned to New England where one of them, unaware of his origins and the history of the Farnsworth name, which he could have assumed (not wishing to have a French-sounding name) chose Makenine for his family name!
Additional History
MatthiasFarnworth (his name was first written and pronounced "Farnoth") first appeared at Lynn, Mass., where he was a resident in 1657. (This is the earliest date his name appears in the Lynn records.) When he came to America and how or with what families is unknown. But, that he resided there as a farmer near what is now Federal Street in very certain. He lived until 1660 or 1661. According to the records, his son Joseph was born there 17 November 1657.
As far as we can learn from the records, Matthias Farnsworth had only one wife, Mary Farr. If Mary Farr was the mother of all of Matthias' children, she must have borne them during a period extending over thirty-one years. (Mary Farr was the daughter of George Farr of Lynn, Mass.). There is a probability that Matthias Farnsworth had married and lost one wife before he married Mary Farr and that his first three children were by his first wife. Mary Farr writes "To my well beloved son, Benjamin", her first bequest to her son who probably washer first born living son at that time.
The birth place of Matthias Farnsworth (born in 1612) was probably in or near Farnworth, Lancastershire, England. He likely was related to Joseph of Dorchester, as he named two sons Joseph. He was interested in that name and there was a possibility that Joseph was his younger brother. The record spells his name as Matthias Farmouth. He was the member of the church and no doubt, brought up his children in the fear of the Lord. His children all became communicants of the church (at least all of his dons did and probably all of his daughters). Matthias Farnsworth brought none of the titles of rank from England that are so attractive to vanity. He came to America with a sturdy independence, a rugged integrity and a due regard for morality and a simple faith. He was respected and honored by those with whom his lot was cast. He was honored for the brave, true and manly qualitie she possessed. It was such as he that made the Puritan stock the peer. Matthias and his wife Mary brought nine children to the age of maturity. As far as can be discerned from the records, only two children died.
Matthias probably moved to Groton in 1660, though it is uncertain when the settlement of Groton was made. The records of the town commenced in a very brief way in 1662, but likely some of the settlers had moved there two or three years before. They lived far from the sea coast and far away from markets. All the clothing and food for the family was the product of the land they had cleared and was a result of their continued labor. The clothes they wore were spun woven and made by the women.Sheep furnished the wool and flax and was made into linen. These materials came from the farm. Matthias was admitted as a free man of the colony, May 16, 1670. He was a weaver by occupation.
In the year 1675, King Phillip's War broke out between the Indians and the New England settlers. These were frightening,disheartening times. The Indians hit Groton with all their savage furry when the inhabitants were on their way to Concord. The only possessions save were the clothes on their backs and what things could be loaded in carts. The Indians were all around them. Their houses were burned. The product of fifteen years of hard labor in the wilderness had to be abandoned.
At this time his wife, Mary, his daughter Sarah (about fourteen years old), his son Samuel (six years old), his daughter Abigail (nearly five) and his son Jonathan (an infant under a year) were with Matthias. Also with him were three of his sons who were in the armed guard. His daughter, Mary had been sent to her mother's relation because of the danger in Lynn and they feared for her safety. His son, Joseph,had been sent there for the same reason, but he died there. What hardships and suffering Matthias and his family endured in that forced emigration! They and all the rest of the Groton settlers stayed at Concord for two years.
How they lived during that time we can only conjecture. It is not recorded. However, many heart aches and disappointments were evident. The loss of their baby boy, Jonathan, to the thieving savages was one great experience they had to bare. Jonathan grew up among the Indians. Because of his knowledge of their ways and because he was known by the Indians, he was able to make peace between the Indian people and the white people before he left to rejoin his family. This must have been a happy day for Matthias and his wife Mary. There were other hard times in store for the family as there was a drought and Jonathan's undecided mind was difficult to contend with.
In the spring of 1678 the danger from the Indian rifles and the tomahawks was over. The inhabitants of Groton thought they could try their fortunes in the wilderness again. Some of the original settlers had given up their interest in the settlement, but Matthias and his family and his three adult sons went back to the old clearing where the ashes of their old homestead were still visible. They commenced anew the work of life with the few household things they had, the farm tools and stock they were able to save and their hands. They were able to save and rebuild their home. They carried on their work under constant fear of the merciless Indians. (Who some sixteen years later again fell upon the exposed settlement and murdered many of the settlers.)
Matthias filled many offices in the town. The most important position being Constable and Selectman. The office of Constable seems to have been singularly different in its duties form the office at present. The principal duty was the collection of taxes for the settlement. The last time he held the office was in 1689 when he was 72 years old. He lived far from the center part of town, therefore, duties of the town office must have been very difficult for him. He seemed to have been one of those men who naturally drew others to him. This is our ancestor and there are many of his descendants scattered throughout the United States.
Matthias was not a learned man, None of the pioneers of Groton were, but he had as much education as the people of his time and of the middle class usually had. It is shown that he signed his will with a mark. His will was evidently made only a short time before his death when his eyes were disabled by sickness.
There are records and returns still in existence made and signed by him, as he filled the office of Constable for several years and was tax collector. By virtue of his office he must necessarily have been able to write sufficiently to keep the accounts. On January 12, 1688-9, feeling his days were drawing to a close, he dictated his will. His wife survived him many years. She died between the years 1716-1717. In her will she mentioned her great bible which she gave to her son as her blessing. This gives a view of her simple faith that should be appreciated by her descendants.
Source: http://www.shaweb.net/GenWeb/WebHist/Pedigree/6320.htm
1878, Groton, MA
Epitaphs from the Old Burial Ground, Groton, MA by Dr. Samuel A. Green, Boston: Little, Brown & Company, 1878.
Matthias Farnsworth, the progenitor of the numerous families of Groton bearing this name, came from Lynn, Mass. He was an original proprietor of the town, and owned a twenty-acre right. His farm was situated on both sides of the road leading to Harvard, a little south of James's brook, more than a mile from the village. He was living at Lynn in the year 1657, and at Groton in 1661, though he may have been a resident of each place earlier than these respective dates. He died in the latter part of the year 1689, aged 77 years.
The following is a copy of his Will on file in the Middlesex Probate Office at East Cambridge:
Will of Matthias Farnsworth
Groton Jenewarey 15th: 1688-9 and in the 4th yere of the Rein of King James the second I mathyas farnworth sen. of Groton in the county of midsix in new ingland aged about 77 yers being wall considrat and of sound and parfit (perfect) Judgment and understanding thanks be to God for it I being sensable of my many frailtyes & unsartanty of my natural life and knowing what disadvantag many times hapens for want of a Right sating the house in order being desiras to act and setle things that consarns me do mak
conshans and doe declare this present instrument to be my last will & testement in manor and form as foloweth making voyd all formar wills either by word or deed but first I commit my soul to all mighty God my creator hoping I shall receiv full pardon of all my sins threw Jesus Christ and I commit my bodey to the earth from whens it was taken to be buried in such decent manar as my executers shall see meet and
p.239
1. first to the distrebiting my estate I doe give to my beloved wife so long as she lives a widow one third of my whole estat and the moveables within the house
2. I doe leav to her to dispos as shee pleases and secondly I doe give to my son Mathyas farnworth for his full porshan that five acre Right which his deed spasifyes and a peese of meadow called by the name of half-moon meadow and twenty akers of land lying neer a place called by the name of Prescots olde mill and this to be counted to be his ful porshan unless he meets with malistation by any relations of his and so then I Will and give to my son mathyus my home stall that I now dwell upon with hous & barn and that homestall that my son mathyas now lives on to return in seed thare of.
3. and thirdly I give to my son John farnworth that five akar Right that his deed spesefyes and ten shillings more to be payed of the estat for his full porshon.
4. forthly I give to my son bengeman farnworth that part of my land lying on the outsid of my homestall fenc at the lower end of the lot and twenty akers at the place Prescotts old mill and six akers of medow lying at south medow and this for his porshin.
5. fifly for my son Samewall (Samuel) & Jonathan farnworth I doe give the rest of my land and medow that is undisposed on lying at the old mill for ther porshan.
and I give my daughter Robinson one cow and to my daughter Thacher I give twenty shillins and to my daughter Abigail farnworth twelve pounds for her porshan and to the rest of my estat undisposed of I leave in the hand of my executers to dispose of to my wife or children as they think to be most rason I make choise of my son mathyas fanrworth with Nathanil Lawrense and Jonas prescott for exutors - this taken from his own mouth syned in the presents of us.
his M mark - mathyas farnworth sen.
Nathannil lawrance
Niclas his mark Huchins.
also I give my loom & tacklins for areing to my son mathyas farnworth.
Xbr 17. 1689 - Charlestowne
Nathanll Larrance & Jonas Prescott appearing in Court made oath that they were present when Matthias ffarnworth, deceased, signed sealed and published this as his last Will & Testament and yt (that) he was of sound judment and of disposing minde when he did ye same that they set their hands to as witnesses with Nicolas Hutchins.
As attest Samuel Phipps - Clerk
His wife's name was Mary (Farr) and they had ten children. The list of them given below is compiled from different sources. It is probable that his "daughter Robison" was the wife of James Robertson or Robinson and in that case her name was Elizabeth and probably
p.240
she was born in England. James Robertson an original proprietor of the town, married his wife, January 16, 1667 and she died December 22, 1729, aged 82 years. I am not sure about the order of the births of his children, but I suggest the following:
Children of Matthias Farnsworth
Elizabeth who probably married James Robertson
Joseph born Nov 17, 1657 at Lynn, and died February 20, 1686-7
Mary born Oct 11, 1660 at Lynn married April 11, 1676 Samuel Thatcher of Watertown.
Matthias born at Groton.
John who married December 8, 1686, Hannah daughter of John and Sarah (Eliot) Aldis of Dedham and
had nine children.
Benjamin who married Mary, daughter of Jonas & Mary (Loker) Prescott and had ten children.
Samuel who married Dec 12, 1706, widow Mary (Whitcomb) Willard and had three children.
Abigail born Jan 17, 1671 and prob. married John Hutchins of Groton.
Sarah who perhaps married Simon Stone
Jonathan born June 1, 1675 married Ruth _____ and had fourteen children.
John Farnsworth, one of the sons named above, was an influential man in all town affairs. He was an Ensign in the militia, a Selectman, a Representative to the General Court from the year 1708 to 1714 inclusive, excepting 1711, he was in command of one of the eighteen garrisons in the town. The name of Matthias Farnsworth of Groton appears in a list of prisoners in the hands
of the French and Indians in Canada, March 5, 1710-11, though there is nothing in the record to show when he was captured. He was probably the son of Matthias Farnsworth, Jun'r and if so, he was a young
man about twenty years old at the date of the list.
The first settlement of Charlestown, New Hampshire, then known as Number 4 - was made in the year 1740 by three brothers, Samuel, David and Stephen Farnsworth, natives of Groton. They all became leading men in the town and distinguished themselves on several occasions in fights with the Indians.
Samuel Farnsworth the eldest brother was killed in a skirmish May 2, 1746. David Farnsworth was taken prisoner by a party of Indians April 20, 1757 and carried to Canada. He managed to escape, and reached home probably soon after his capture. Stephen Farnsworth the youngest brother, also had his bitter ex-perience with the savages. He was captured April 19, 1746, and taken to Montreal, where he remained seventeen months, when he was
p.241
exchanged. His health was so broken down by the hardships of his captivity that he never fully regained it. He died September 6, 1771, leaving behind him the example of a brave man and a useful citizen.
The House of Matthias
The house built on the first described lot, stood a little south-easterly of
the bridge across the brook, about where H. Sawtell's house stood, as marked on the map of Groton in Butler's History of the town. It was a log house, as were the houses of all the early settlers. It was undoubtedly burned by the Indians when nearly the whole town was destroyed by them Mar l3, l676. He afterwards rebuilt it and it was standing until about the year 1820 when it was torn down to give place to modern improvements.
The road near it was one of the earliest laid out in the town and was made to connect Groton with Lancaster, then its nearest neighbor, and was the second Lancaster road, and is perhaps the one referred to in the town records in l664 which Richard Blood and John Lakin were then engaged in
laying out, although there must have been a path opened there as far as the
crossing of the brook somewhat earlier.
Note: According to Bill McNulty of Ayer, MA - Matthias Farnsworth's lands are still intact at Groton, MA and now consist of a horse-farm owned and operated by a British man and his wife. (Bill McNulty Maceire at aol.com)
More notes on Matthias Farnsworth
Removed to Groton about 1660, was an original proprietor.
When King Philip's war broke out and the town of Groton
was burned, they were compelled to flee to Concord, where
they resided two years, returning to Groton to rebuild on the
old site. He was chosen constable and selectman.
At a meeting of the town held Nov. 27, 1664, the fol-
lowing vote was passed: " Yt, Mathias Farnsworth shall
have forty pole of land to be laid out agaynst his house
next to James his broke for a building place, provided (it)
do not predgedse the hieway. "
He was frequently chosen to serve on committees of
church and town.
Mathias Farnsworth was credited on Sept. 28, 1675,
for services performed under Major Simon Willard, with
£ o, I2s, 6d, and on June 24, 1735, Jonathan Farnsworth
(son of Mathias Farnsworth), drew lot 3 in Narragansett
Township, No. 6, for services performed by his father in the
Narragansett campaign.
His will is dated Jan. 15, 1688-9. He died Jan. 21,
1689, aged yy. Inventory dated Feb. 4, 1688-9. Occu-
pation a weaver.
His widow made her will on Dec. 5, 17 16, and it was
proved March 7, 17 17. In it she bequeaths to her son.
Samuel Farnsworth, her household effects and her " Great
Bible."
OUR GREAT FAMILIES - THE PHANEUFS
(Translated from Nos Racines by Ky Stratoti #1854)
The history of the Phaneuf Family could begin with these words, "Once upon a time....". A chance happening and human nature came together and lent a colorful and unique air to this family history.
Our history begins with the birth of MATHIAS in England, in the small town of Farnsworth - not too far from Manchester, England. An Anglican, like others, Mathias was greatly influenced by the severe religious rules, to join the ranks of the Puritans.
It was thought that he was amongst the passengers on board the Mayflower in December 1620, but this doesn't seem possible, since he was too young at that time. There is no doubt, however, that Mathias Farnsworth was living in America about 1628. He settled in Lynn, Massachusetts, then later on he went to live in Groton, Conn. with his family.
He cleared enough forest land to enable him to take care of his family, which consisted of three children from a first marriage and seven other children born to him and his wife MARY FARR. Mathias died in 1689; his wife, Mary, in 1717.
In order to follow the trail of the PHANEUFS, we must concentrate on Mathias, the second-born child of Mathias (I). Mathias (II) was born in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1649 (the name of his mother is unknown). He married SARAH NUTTING in 1681. They had at least 5 children. One of these children was Mathias (III) who was born in Groton, Conn. on 6 August 1690. In 1700, the family lived near Deerfield, Massachusetts. It was here, on 11 August, that Mathias (III) was captured during one of the many raids waged by the Canadians and Indians against the English villages.
This young boy could neither read nor write. Unfortunately, he could neither speak French nor could he speak the language of the Indian tribe that adopted him.
What was the fate of this child? If he was not to be killled, it was necessary that he be converted and that he be integrated into the world of New France. The priests of Saint Sulpice Seminary in Montreal obtained Mathias' freedom from the Indians. On 10 January 1706, he was baptized. His godfather was CLAUDE DE RAMEZAY, then governor of Montreal, and his godmother was ELISABETH SOUART, wife of CHARLES LEMOYNE of Longueuil. Mathias took his godfather's name as his baptismal name.
The family name underwent its first transformation: Farnsworth became Farneth. In October of that same year, Mathieu-Claude Farnet requested his naturalisation papers (at the same time as:
JEAN THOMAS (carpenter, born in Bristol, England)
LOUIS-MARIE STRAFTON, gunsmith
JEAN LAHA, resident
PAUL OTES, shoemaker
WILLIAM JAMES, resident
ANDRE FRAY, resident
JEAN USS, resident
JEAN MAKING, resident
WILLIAM STRAYLORD, resident
JEAN OHE, resident
THOMAS HURT
Documents found in 1912 by Brother Elie, professor at Mount Saint Louis College, as well as research done by Mathias-Claude Farnet's descendants, proves that Mathias obtained a land grant, which was given to him by his adopted family, the Seminarians, and partticularly by Affe FRANCIS VACHON of Belmont. A legal document confirms the age of this young man as 21....
"to obtain for the named Claude-Mathias, Englishman, who is in the employ of the Brothers of the Sault-au-Recollect Mission, after having been snatched from the hands of the Indians who held him as a slave, with the understanding that he would remain in New France and live a Christian life."
This condition was essential because the land was being given to a man who was not yet legally a citizen of this country. He didn't receive title to the land until March 1714. JEAN CHARPENTIER received his landgrant on 19 July 1711.
These two men each received a half of about 6 arpents of land which had belonged to JACQUES LEMOYNE DE SAINT-HELENE. The land bordered on the Prairie River on L'Ile de Montreal. On 14 Septembre 1713, Mathias added three more arpents to his land holdings, and on the following September 25, he signed a marriage contract with CATHERINE CHARPENTIER, daughter of his good friend Jean Charpentier and FRANCOISE HUNAULT.
At the time of his marriage, Mathias Fanef owned a home, land, which was 3 arpents and two perches (rods) along the riverfront and forty arpents deep; also a four-year-old cow in good health. Catherine's dowry was equally rich because her parents gave her "for the hard work and many services they had received from their daughter"; the following items: - land, one half arpent (three x forty deep) adjoining the land of her future husband; two bulls, eighteen months of age, a four-year old cow, an 18-month old pig and two sheep to supply their clothing needs for the future.
The young couple was married on October 2 by ROBERT GAY, Seminary priest from St. Joseph de la Riviere-des-Prairies. It was there that the four daughters and eight sons of Mathias Phaneuf and Antoine-sur-le-Richelieu, where Claude Mathias was buried on 8 August 1773 - he was 83. Catherine Charpentier Phaneuf died on the night of 29 June 1777 and was buried the next day - she was 88 years old.
The Phaneuf family quickly spread out along the Richelieu River. Some of the descendants of Claude Mathias Farnsworth/Farneth/Farnets/Fanef/Phaneuf returned to New England where one of them, unaware of his origins and the history of the Farnsworth name, which he could have assumed (not wishing to have a French-sounding name) chose Makenine for his family name!
Additional History
MatthiasFarnworth (his name was first written and pronounced "Farnoth") first appeared at Lynn, Mass., where he was a resident in 1657. (This is the earliest date his name appears in the Lynn records.) When he came to America and how or with what families is unknown. But, that he resided there as a farmer near what is now Federal Street in very certain. He lived until 1660 or 1661. According to the records, his son Joseph was born there 17 November 1657.
As far as we can learn from the records, Matthias Farnsworth had only one wife, Mary Farr. If Mary Farr was the mother of all of Matthias' children, she must have borne them during a period extending over thirty-one years. (Mary Farr was the daughter of George Farr of Lynn, Mass.). There is a probability that Matthias Farnsworth had married and lost one wife before he married Mary Farr and that his first three children were by his first wife. Mary Farr writes "To my well beloved son, Benjamin", her first bequest to her son who probably washer first born living son at that time.
The birth place of Matthias Farnsworth (born in 1612) was probably in or near Farnworth, Lancastershire, England. He likely was related to Joseph of Dorchester, as he named two sons Joseph. He was interested in that name and there was a possibility that Joseph was his younger brother. The record spells his name as Matthias Farmouth. He was the member of the church and no doubt, brought up his children in the fear of the Lord. His children all became communicants of the church (at least all of his dons did and probably all of his daughters). Matthias Farnsworth brought none of the titles of rank from England that are so attractive to vanity. He came to America with a sturdy independence, a rugged integrity and a due regard for morality and a simple faith. He was respected and honored by those with whom his lot was cast. He was honored for the brave, true and manly qualitie she possessed. It was such as he that made the Puritan stock the peer. Matthias and his wife Mary brought nine children to the age of maturity. As far as can be discerned from the records, only two children died.
Matthias probably moved to Groton in 1660, though it is uncertain when the settlement of Groton was made. The records of the town commenced in a very brief way in 1662, but likely some of the settlers had moved there two or three years before. They lived far from the sea coast and far away from markets. All the clothing and food for the family was the product of the land they had cleared and was a result of their continued labor. The clothes they wore were spun woven and made by the women.Sheep furnished the wool and flax and was made into linen. These materials came from the farm. Matthias was admitted as a free man of the colony, May 16, 1670. He was a weaver by occupation.
In the year 1675, King Phillip's War broke out between the Indians and the New England settlers. These were frightening,disheartening times. The Indians hit Groton with all their savage furry when the inhabitants were on their way to Concord. The only possessions save were the clothes on their backs and what things could be loaded in carts. The Indians were all around them. Their houses were burned. The product of fifteen years of hard labor in the wilderness had to be abandoned.
At this time his wife, Mary, his daughter Sarah (about fourteen years old), his son Samuel (six years old), his daughter Abigail (nearly five) and his son Jonathan (an infant under a year) were with Matthias. Also with him were three of his sons who were in the armed guard. His daughter, Mary had been sent to her mother's relation because of the danger in Lynn and they feared for her safety. His son, Joseph,had been sent there for the same reason, but he died there. What hardships and suffering Matthias and his family endured in that forced emigration! They and all the rest of the Groton settlers stayed at Concord for two years.
How they lived during that time we can only conjecture. It is not recorded. However, many heart aches and disappointments were evident. The loss of their baby boy, Jonathan, to the thieving savages was one great experience they had to bare. Jonathan grew up among the Indians. Because of his knowledge of their ways and because he was known by the Indians, he was able to make peace between the Indian people and the white people before he left to rejoin his family. This must have been a happy day for Matthias and his wife Mary. There were other hard times in store for the family as there was a drought and Jonathan's undecided mind was difficult to contend with.
In the spring of 1678 the danger from the Indian rifles and the tomahawks was over. The inhabitants of Groton thought they could try their fortunes in the wilderness again. Some of the original settlers had given up their interest in the settlement, but Matthias and his family and his three adult sons went back to the old clearing where the ashes of their old homestead were still visible. They commenced anew the work of life with the few household things they had, the farm tools and stock they were able to save and their hands. They were able to save and rebuild their home. They carried on their work under constant fear of the merciless Indians. (Who some sixteen years later again fell upon the exposed settlement and murdered many of the settlers.)
Matthias filled many offices in the town. The most important position being Constable and Selectman. The office of Constable seems to have been singularly different in its duties form the office at present. The principal duty was the collection of taxes for the settlement. The last time he held the office was in 1689 when he was 72 years old. He lived far from the center part of town, therefore, duties of the town office must have been very difficult for him. He seemed to have been one of those men who naturally drew others to him. This is our ancestor and there are many of his descendants scattered throughout the United States.
Matthias was not a learned man, None of the pioneers of Groton were, but he had as much education as the people of his time and of the middle class usually had. It is shown that he signed his will with a mark. His will was evidently made only a short time before his death when his eyes were disabled by sickness.
There are records and returns still in existence made and signed by him, as he filled the office of Constable for several years and was tax collector. By virtue of his office he must necessarily have been able to write sufficiently to keep the accounts. On January 12, 1688-9, feeling his days were drawing to a close, he dictated his will. His wife survived him many years. She died between the years 1716-1717. In her will she mentioned her great bible which she gave to her son as her blessing. This gives a view of her simple faith that should be appreciated by her descendants.
Source: http://www.shaweb.net/GenWeb/WebHist/Pedigree/6320.htm
Events
| Birth | Jul 20, 1612 | Eccles, Lancashire, England | |||
| Marriage | 1647 | Mary Farr | |||
| Death | Jan 21, 1689 | Groton, Massachusetts Bay, British America |
Families
| Spouse | Mary Farr |
| Child | Mathias Farnsworth (1649 - 1693) |
| Father | Richard Farnsworth (1584 - 1621) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Marshe (1584 - 1623) |