Individual Details

Richard Mower

(22 Aug 1680 - 10 Feb 1766)

Events

Birth22 Aug 1680Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts
Marriage29 Mar 1705Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts - Thankful Sever
Death10 Feb 1766Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts
Bio Note2004a biographical sketch of Richard Mower was included in Early Lynn Families

Families

SpouseThankful Sever (1684 - )
ChildThankful Mower (1705 - 1777)
ChildJohn Mower (1709 - )
ChildEzra Mower (1714 - 1756)
ChildRichard Mower (1718 - 1758)
FatherJohn Mower (1650 - 1694)
MotherSusannah Marshall (1651 - 1727)
SiblingThomas Mower (1674 - )
SiblingRichard Mower (1675 - 1680)
SiblingJohn Mower (1678 - 1687)
SiblingSusannah Mower (1684 - 1770)
SiblingJohn Mower (1687 - 1688)
SiblingMary Mower (1689 - )

Notes

Bio Note

Capt. Richard Mower was born at Lynn, 22 August 1680 and died there, 10 February 1766. He married there, 29 March 1705, Thankful Sever. She was born at Roxbury, 6 April 1684, daughter of Shubael and Hannnah (Wilson) "Seaver." Richard was a farmer by trade until about 1729 when he became an innholder. He held many positions in Lynn town government: Fence Viewer, Surveyor of Highways, Constable, Assessor, Moderator and finally Selectman. He was given the military title of Ensign in 1724, Lieutenant in 1730 and Captain in 1732. he was called "Captain" in his probate record. The estate of Richard Mower's grandfather (Richard) was not divided. Richard (son of John) and his cousin Ephraim (son of Samuel) agreed to a division in a deed written 27 September 1707 (recorded 24 August 1708): Richard Mower of Lynn ... the only surviving son of John Mower late of Lynn (deceased) on the one part and Ephraim Mower of Boston ... the eldest son of Samuel Mower deceased on the other part, witnesseth that whereas our honored grandfather Richard Mower, late of Lynn, aforesaid deceased in his last will, gave to our Honoured fathers, namely John Mower, 1/3rd of his lands & Samuel Mower 1/3rd of his lands ... no division of said land ever yet made ... therefore know that we the said Richard Mower and Ephraim Mower do for ourselves and each and every of our heirs, make division of said lands as followeth: As for the upland and meadow in the field at home, we agree that the division line shall be from the rock that now stands on the highway by Coldam's lot and all land on the E or NE side to be to Richard Mower ... and all the land on the W side of said line to be to Ephraim Mower ... and as for the 8 acres of marsh in rumney marsh and the marsh in the neck in Rumney Marsh, we agree to divide that as follows: Richard shall have the piece in the neck and 1/2 of the 8 acres next to Edmonds' 4 acres, and Ephraim to have that side next to the marsh formerly Haven's. Richard shall have 1/3rds of the lot in the fresh meadow next to Hollyoke's Ditch, and Ephraim to have 1/3rd the lot of fresh meadow next to Hart's meadow, as witness our hands & seals, this 27th day of September 1707. Hereafter there should be a divisional fence to be made between the land above divided, then Richard to make [his] part at the SE end next to the country road & Ephraim to make [his] part at the N end next to the rock." Witnesses: Joshua Rand & Mary Burrill (Essex County Deeds, 20: 178). Richard also received property in Amherst, New Hampshire, which was gratuity for his father's service in King Philip's War. On 18 March 1759, Richard and Thankful Mower sold to John Mower, for 240 pounds, his house and barn and about 25 acres of land (Essex County Deeds, 112:76). Richard Mower wrote his will 2 May 1764 and it was proved 7 April 1766. Stating that he was in health of body and mind, "but considering my age and the many infirmities imminent," he bequeathed: "to my well beloved wife, Thankful Mower, the improvement of all my estate during the term of her natural life; to my son John Mower 6 shillings (to be his full portion with what he has had heretofore); "to my daughter Thankful Champney and to my granddaughter Mary Mower, all the rest of my estate (Essex County Probate, 18678). The Executor was Rev. Joseph Champney. Witnesses were Zaccheus Collins, Benjamin Bream Burchstead and Thomas Cocks. The inventory, taken 9 June 1766 by Zaccheus Collins, Ebenezer Burrill and Thomas Stocker, included books, furniture, bedding, silver spoons and about 7 1/2 acres of pasture land, totalling 40 pounds, 15 shillings, 2 pence. The estate was declared insolvent by the Executor and the 7 1/2 acres of pasture was bought by Mr. Bowler for 8 pounds, 10 shillings, 8 pence. The judge ruled that the widow be given 13 pounds, 6 shillings, 8 pence for necessities. The debtors were give 3 shillings, 1 1/2 pennies on the pound. After administration charges were deducted, the estate was only 2 pounds, 15 shillings, 6 pence.

Endnotes

1. Walter L. Mower, Mower Family History: A Genealogical Record of the Maine Branch of This Family together with Other Branches of the Family Tree (Portland, Maine: The Southworth Press, 1923), 4-5.

2. Vital Records of Lynn, Massachusetts To The End Of The Year 1849: Volume I - Births (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1905), 266.

3. Marcia Wilson Wiswall Lindberg, Early Lynn Families Including Lynnfield, Nahant, Saugus and Swampscott: A Genealogical Study From the Earliest Settlers Through the Revolutionary War (Salem, Massachusetts: Higginson Book Company, 2004), 546.

4. Walter L. Mower, Mower Family History: A Genealogical Record of the Maine Branch of This Family together with Other Branches of the Family Tree (Portland, Maine: The Southworth Press, 1923), 5.

5. Vital Records of Lynn, Massachusetts To The End Of The Year 1849: Volume II - Marriages and Deaths (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1906), 258.

6. Vital Records of Lynn, Massachusetts To The End Of The Year 1849: Volume II - Marriages and Deaths (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1906), 540.

7. Marcia Wilson Wiswall Lindberg, Early Lynn Families Including Lynnfield, Nahant, Saugus and Swampscott: A Genealogical Study From the Earliest Settlers Through the Revolutionary War (Salem, Massachusetts: Higginson Book Company, 2004), 547-8.