Individual Details
William SHEFFIELD
(Bef 21 Nov 1619 - 6 Dec 1700)
When and where was daughter Mary born? Boston MA: Inhabitants & Estates (Thwing collection) transcribed at americanancestors.org says she was m. 1679/80 to John Clark of Medfield. BUT that is more likely to be her birth year. She is the only child for whom no birth record has been found as of 2 Jan 2015. If the estimated birth year for him is correct, he married late, so Mary could possibly be from a previous marriage. As it is, Mary was having children until her mid-forties, if the age at death is correct in the cemetery record. In addition, that same source says that Jonathan Adams was her second husband. Will of William says that daughter Thomasine was married to Jonathan Adams.
History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with Biographical Sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, compiled by D. Hamilton Hurd, Vol. III, J. W. Lewis & Co., Philadelphia, 1890, FHL #974.44 H2hV3 pg.1.i n page 431 in a Chapter on Holliston is this:
"The second planter was William Sheffield, who, with his brother Edmund, bought in 1662 the grant of Lieutenant Joshua Fisher, of Dedham, at "Chabboquasset," in the southeast quarter of the present town. He took possession, but did not settle there probably until 1674. Edmund Sheffield does not appear to have settled there at all. Of this land no deed had been obtained in 1688, Lieutenant Fisher having died in 1672, before he had completed a deed to the Sheffields. William was in much trouble on this account, and, as he did not know what action to take, presented the following petition "on a training day" in Sherborne, November 22, 1688, "to ye fathers, with all the inhabiatants of Sherborn:" "Wm. Sheffield, of Sherborn, the aged, your humble petitioner doe humbly intreat you to show your love to me,to give, grant of confirm my land which I bought of Lt. Fisher, of Dedham, to confirm to me and mine, I shall be very thankful to you forever; for I am like a man having myself half in the mire, and want to be holpen, help I pray you and damnifie no man with it." In answer to the "request the inhabitants then present did generally by their vote, grant and confirm to him the said land soe far as they had any interest in it." He seems by an order of the Court to have obtained his deed at a later date. He had extinguished the Indian title to his tract in 1675. He became a wealthy man for those days, and in 1686 was rated the third highest in Sherborn. He was a selectman in the early years of Holliston and served on the first board. His son, William Sheffield, bought Hopper's farm of 280 acres in the west part of Holliston."
Middlesex County Probate #20255, 1700. FHL #421516
The following is typed from an actual photo of the original will, containing the original signature of William Sheffield. The upper left corner and three lines in the middle of both pages are dark and either hard or impossible to read.
In the name of god amen I William Sheffield of Sherborn in the County of Mi_______ in the province of the Massachusets Bay in New England being weke [sic] yet of sound judgment and good understanding do make this my last will and testament making void all former wills and testaments first I resigne [sic] my soull into the arms of the Everlasting ________ of God ___
____ Christ Jesus my Redemor: my funeral expenses being first discharged my will is as foloweth I do hereby constitute and appoint my beloved wiff Mary Sheffielld to be my Ex_____ to _____ this my last will performed I do showe give unto my beloved wife Mary Sheffielld my land and house and barne and out house and fences standing or lying_____ ___ oyrchard also ___oon and all the priviledges _____ unto belonging or arising of or from the said land the _____ land lying in Sherborn above ____ as it is bounded with the land of my son William Sheffield on the north___ and with the land of my sons Joseph Sheffield and Nathaniel Sheffielld southwest and northwest and with the land Jonathan Fairbank towards the southeast and also all movables _ pay all my movables. I do hereby give unto my wiff aforesaid for her to improve and dispose of as she shall think fit or convenient but if she __ ____ to _____said land my will is that he sell it to her children or our children. Further I do give unto my wiff aforesaid two wood lots containing ________ _____ and twenty four Rod the one containing 7 acres 1 Rod and 25 Rod which I bought [here starts a dark section] of Homer Thurston __oo__er contains 9 acres 3 Rod and 2 Rod ? which I bought of John Thurston for: ___ _____land in M__field Township in the County of Suffolk: and further to give unto my beloved wiff aforesaid my old planting _____ and _________, ____ _____ so called ___ whi__ living in Sherborn aforesaid for improvement during her natural lifetime and furthermore my will is that my two lots lying in a _____ (also the new grant the one I bought of John Thurston/ on containing one hundred ninety one acres and a half acre _____ I bought of Thomas Thurston containing seventy(?) acres and sixty four rods be divided into Eyght equal parts ________ I do hereby give one eyght part unto my beloved wiff and to my four Daughters I ____ one of them and every one of them one Eyght part viz unto my daughters Mary Sheffield the wiff of John Clark and Hanah Sheffield and Martha Sheffield and Jhamazin Sheffield the wiff of Jonathan Adams and to Susana Sheffield and to Elizabeth Sheffield and to my daughter Rayhils children Jerymiah and Ra_hill. Further my will is and I do hereby give unto my beloved wiff and to my_____ Daughters my hous and land in Boston to be divided to each of them and every one of them one Eyght and further I doo give unto my_____ Daughters the above mentioned lands given unto my beloved wiff Mary Sheffield viz that which was given During for her improvement:her natorall lifetime viz two wood lots and ___ old planting ______and __ ____ _____ I ___ to my groun(?) Daughters _____ of ____ a_____ part Viz to my Daughters Mary Hanah Martha Jhamazin (?) Susana Elizabeth Rachill her == children. I give her parts unto her son and daughter Jonemiah (?) and Rarhill (?) the house and land aforesaid at Gorton to be sould (?) and divided forthwith after my decease.
Furthermore where as I gave unto my four sons viz to Daniel Sheffielld and to William Sheffielld and to Joseph Sheffielld and to Nathanoll Sheffield a considerable tract of land to each of them. I do hereby confirm the same a_____ing to ____ _____ I gave unto them wh___ __________ the same under my hand and seal further my will is that my four sons aforesaid shall have one shilling mony Each one of them at_____ ______ of my __________ ____ ___. I give unto them fur___ if any of my children will ____ _____ lands _____ broker?s half hand___ ______ ___ of ___ __ing as much as another ____ or my will is that if any of my daughters ___ ____ out ___ ____ ____ or ___hand__parts or parts of ___ above mentioned ___ shall be equally divided unto the survivors that is unto the above named Daughters viz Mary Hanah Martha Jhamazin Susanah Elizabeth Rarhill ? her children Jonmiah and Rathil as if above paid.
In testimony ____ this is my last will and testament. I ____ about said William Sheffield and I here unto set my hand and seal this fourteenth of October one thousand siz hundred ninety eyght ___ _____of his majestys Reigns __ ____ _____ __ ______ _____ _____ and ___________ ______ _____before signing and sealing,
Signed - William Sheffield
Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of
Benjamin (?) Allen
Ebonezor Danniell (?)
Joseph Daniell Jun (?)
Charles Towne March 24th 1700 By the Hon James Russell Esq?r. Benjamin Allen Ebenezer _____ and Joseph Daniell Jon?r (?) the witnesses subscribed personally appearing made Oath that they were present and saw Wm Sheffield the Subscribor Decd Sign and Seal and hear him publish and Declare the above and within written _______ Last Will and Testament and that when he did he was of a _____ mind and of good understanding.
History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with Biographical Sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, compiled by D. Hamilton Hurd, Vol. III, J. W. Lewis & Co., Philadelphia, 1890, FHL #974.44 H2hV3 pg.1.i n page 431 in a Chapter on Holliston is this:
"The second planter was William Sheffield, who, with his brother Edmund, bought in 1662 the grant of Lieutenant Joshua Fisher, of Dedham, at "Chabboquasset," in the southeast quarter of the present town. He took possession, but did not settle there probably until 1674. Edmund Sheffield does not appear to have settled there at all. Of this land no deed had been obtained in 1688, Lieutenant Fisher having died in 1672, before he had completed a deed to the Sheffields. William was in much trouble on this account, and, as he did not know what action to take, presented the following petition "on a training day" in Sherborne, November 22, 1688, "to ye fathers, with all the inhabiatants of Sherborn:" "Wm. Sheffield, of Sherborn, the aged, your humble petitioner doe humbly intreat you to show your love to me,to give, grant of confirm my land which I bought of Lt. Fisher, of Dedham, to confirm to me and mine, I shall be very thankful to you forever; for I am like a man having myself half in the mire, and want to be holpen, help I pray you and damnifie no man with it." In answer to the "request the inhabitants then present did generally by their vote, grant and confirm to him the said land soe far as they had any interest in it." He seems by an order of the Court to have obtained his deed at a later date. He had extinguished the Indian title to his tract in 1675. He became a wealthy man for those days, and in 1686 was rated the third highest in Sherborn. He was a selectman in the early years of Holliston and served on the first board. His son, William Sheffield, bought Hopper's farm of 280 acres in the west part of Holliston."
Middlesex County Probate #20255, 1700. FHL #421516
The following is typed from an actual photo of the original will, containing the original signature of William Sheffield. The upper left corner and three lines in the middle of both pages are dark and either hard or impossible to read.
In the name of god amen I William Sheffield of Sherborn in the County of Mi_______ in the province of the Massachusets Bay in New England being weke [sic] yet of sound judgment and good understanding do make this my last will and testament making void all former wills and testaments first I resigne [sic] my soull into the arms of the Everlasting ________ of God ___
____ Christ Jesus my Redemor: my funeral expenses being first discharged my will is as foloweth I do hereby constitute and appoint my beloved wiff Mary Sheffielld to be my Ex_____ to _____ this my last will performed I do showe give unto my beloved wife Mary Sheffielld my land and house and barne and out house and fences standing or lying_____ ___ oyrchard also ___oon and all the priviledges _____ unto belonging or arising of or from the said land the _____ land lying in Sherborn above ____ as it is bounded with the land of my son William Sheffield on the north___ and with the land of my sons Joseph Sheffield and Nathaniel Sheffielld southwest and northwest and with the land Jonathan Fairbank towards the southeast and also all movables _ pay all my movables. I do hereby give unto my wiff aforesaid for her to improve and dispose of as she shall think fit or convenient but if she __ ____ to _____said land my will is that he sell it to her children or our children. Further I do give unto my wiff aforesaid two wood lots containing ________ _____ and twenty four Rod the one containing 7 acres 1 Rod and 25 Rod which I bought [here starts a dark section] of Homer Thurston __oo__er contains 9 acres 3 Rod and 2 Rod ? which I bought of John Thurston for: ___ _____land in M__field Township in the County of Suffolk: and further to give unto my beloved wiff aforesaid my old planting _____ and _________, ____ _____ so called ___ whi__ living in Sherborn aforesaid for improvement during her natural lifetime and furthermore my will is that my two lots lying in a _____ (also the new grant the one I bought of John Thurston/ on containing one hundred ninety one acres and a half acre _____ I bought of Thomas Thurston containing seventy(?) acres and sixty four rods be divided into Eyght equal parts ________ I do hereby give one eyght part unto my beloved wiff and to my four Daughters I ____ one of them and every one of them one Eyght part viz unto my daughters Mary Sheffield the wiff of John Clark and Hanah Sheffield and Martha Sheffield and Jhamazin Sheffield the wiff of Jonathan Adams and to Susana Sheffield and to Elizabeth Sheffield and to my daughter Rayhils children Jerymiah and Ra_hill. Further my will is and I do hereby give unto my beloved wiff and to my_____ Daughters my hous and land in Boston to be divided to each of them and every one of them one Eyght and further I doo give unto my_____ Daughters the above mentioned lands given unto my beloved wiff Mary Sheffield viz that which was given During for her improvement:her natorall lifetime viz two wood lots and ___ old planting ______and __ ____ _____ I ___ to my groun(?) Daughters _____ of ____ a_____ part Viz to my Daughters Mary Hanah Martha Jhamazin (?) Susana Elizabeth Rachill her == children. I give her parts unto her son and daughter Jonemiah (?) and Rarhill (?) the house and land aforesaid at Gorton to be sould (?) and divided forthwith after my decease.
Furthermore where as I gave unto my four sons viz to Daniel Sheffielld and to William Sheffielld and to Joseph Sheffielld and to Nathanoll Sheffield a considerable tract of land to each of them. I do hereby confirm the same a_____ing to ____ _____ I gave unto them wh___ __________ the same under my hand and seal further my will is that my four sons aforesaid shall have one shilling mony Each one of them at_____ ______ of my __________ ____ ___. I give unto them fur___ if any of my children will ____ _____ lands _____ broker?s half hand___ ______ ___ of ___ __ing as much as another ____ or my will is that if any of my daughters ___ ____ out ___ ____ ____ or ___hand__parts or parts of ___ above mentioned ___ shall be equally divided unto the survivors that is unto the above named Daughters viz Mary Hanah Martha Jhamazin Susanah Elizabeth Rarhill ? her children Jonmiah and Rathil as if above paid.
In testimony ____ this is my last will and testament. I ____ about said William Sheffield and I here unto set my hand and seal this fourteenth of October one thousand siz hundred ninety eyght ___ _____of his majestys Reigns __ ____ _____ __ ______ _____ _____ and ___________ ______ _____before signing and sealing,
Signed - William Sheffield
Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of
Benjamin (?) Allen
Ebonezor Danniell (?)
Joseph Daniell Jun (?)
Charles Towne March 24th 1700 By the Hon James Russell Esq?r. Benjamin Allen Ebenezer _____ and Joseph Daniell Jon?r (?) the witnesses subscribed personally appearing made Oath that they were present and saw Wm Sheffield the Subscribor Decd Sign and Seal and hear him publish and Declare the above and within written _______ Last Will and Testament and that when he did he was of a _____ mind and of good understanding.
Events
| Birth | Bef 21 Nov 1619 | Est., Sudbury, Suffolk, England | |||
| Christen | 21 Nov 1619 | All Saints, Sudbury, Suffolk, England |  | ||
| Marriage | Bef 1660 | Mary WEBB | | ||
| Residence | 1660 | Braintree, Mass., according to Genealogical Register pub 1856. | |||
| Will | 14 Oct 1698 | Middlesex Co., Massachusetts | |||
| Will proved | 24 Mar 1700 | Middlesex Co., Massachusetts | | ||
| Death | 6 Dec 1700 | Sherborn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts | | ||
| Reference No | 10197 | ||||
| Occupation | Sawyer |
Families
| Spouse | Mary WEBB (1636 - 1714) |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Hannah SHEFFIELD (1663 - ) |
| Child | Daniel SHEFFIELD (1665 - ) |
| Child | William SHEFFIELD (1667 - 1732) |
| Child | Martha SHEFFIELD (1668 - ) |
| Child | Joseph SHEFFIELD (1671 - 1753) |
| Child | Thamasine SHEFFIELD (1673 - 1743) |
| Child | Susannah SHEFFIELD (1675 - ) |
| Child | Elizabeth SHEFFIELD (1678 - ) |
| Child | Nathaniel SHEFFIELD (1681 - 1753) |
| Father | Edmund SHEFFIELD (1580 - 1630) |
| Mother | Thomazine ( - ) |
| Sibling | Humphrey "Hvmfrye" SHEFFIELD (1608 - ) |
| Sibling | Thomasyme SHEFFIELD (1610 - ) |
| Sibling | Edmund SHEFFIELD (1612 - 1705) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth SHEFFIELD (1624 - ) |
| Sibling | Amos SHEFFIELD (1627 - ) |
| Sibling | Ichabod SHEFFIELD (1630 - ) |
Endnotes
1. "," database, (: accessed ), .
2. , Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (N.p.: n.p., n.d.).
3. Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, Probate File Papers, 1648-1871 , , , "," ; digital images, NEHGS, americanancestors.org ( : accessed, ).
4. , Vital Records of Sherborn, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849 (N.p.: n.p., n.d.).