Individual Details

Bio Note

Samuel Mower was born probably at Lynn, about 1654, and died there 22 November 1694. He married, probably before 1676 (first child born), Joanna Marshall. She was born at Lynn, 14: 7m: 1657, daughter of Capt. Thomas and Rebecca Marshall. Joanna married (2) (int. at Lynn), 31 July 1699, William Williams. He had married (1) at Lynn, June 1681, Martha Tufts, by whom he had 2 children (William, b. abt. 1680; bpt. at Lynn, June 1682; m. 1707, Mary Mills; and John, b. June 1682; m. Tabitha Ingalls). Joanna and William Williams had 1 son, Nathaniel. Samuel Mower was a blacksmith by trade. On 29 February 1675/6, he was assigned wages of 1 pound 8 shillings, 4 pence for the Narragansett Fort fight under Capt. Samuel Brocklebank in King Philips' War. On 4 June 1685, he signed a petition to the General Court by Lynn soldiers who were at that battle. Samuel (with his brother John) took the Oath of Fidelity at the general meeting on 26 February 1677. In 1689, he received 1/3rd of his father's estate, but the estate was not divided in his lifetime. His son Ephraim and John Mower's son Richard would make the division in 1708. Samuel Mower and his brother John were made Freemen on 18 April 1691. Samuel died intestate, 22 November 1694, but administration of his estate was not recorded until 4 August 1707, 8 years after widow Joanna married William Williams. Samuel's eldest son Ephraim was appointed Executor and Overseers were John Burrill, Thomas Lewis and William Merriam. The inventory of the estate dated 27 September 1707, totaled 79 pounds. Ephraim received double shares when 2/3rds of the estate was divided among the seven children, named in the administration. 1/3rd was bequeathed to his widow, who was not named (Essex County Probate, 18680). Five years after Samuel Mower died, his widow Joanna married William Williams. At that time, she had 7 living children: Abigail, age 21; Ephraim, age 18; Thomas, age 15; Sarah, age 12; Samuel, age 10; Richard, age 7; and Ebenezer, age 4. Joanna (Marshall) Mower Williams and her 2nd husband had one son: Nathaniel Williams, b. at Lynn, 5 July 1700. On 27 October 1707, "Joanna Mower, alias Joanna Williams of Lynn, widow: signed a quitclaim to Richard Mower (probably the son of John) and his heirs, of all her right and title in her husband's estate. Witnesses were Theophilus Burrill and Thomas Stocker (Essex County Deeds, 40:108).