Individual Details
William Towne
(18 Mar 1598 - 1673)
}
[[Category: Topsfield, Massachusetts]]
== Biography ==William Towne was probably the child who was baptised on 18 March 1598/9 in St. Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, the son of [[Towne-547|John]] & [[Clarke-3961|Elizabeth (Clark) Towne]].[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-CW?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 ''England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997''], database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 58 of 304; Record Office, Norwich. "Wyllyam Towne son of John & Elizabeth"William and Joanna Blessing were married in St. Nicholas church on April 25, 1620.[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2D-DK?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 ''England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997''], database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 172 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.::: " William Towne, the emigrant ancestor of the Towne family of Topsfield, was married and had six children baptized in the parish church of St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. Towne's age was estimated in 1660 as 'three score years,' when he testified in a court proceeding, which would indicate the approximate date of his birth as 1600. There can be no reasonable doubt, therefore, that he was that William, son of John and Elizabeth Towne, who was baptized at St. Nicholas' on March 18, 1598/9."Davis, Walter Goodwin, [https://archive.org/stream/ancestryoflieuta00davi#page/3/mode/1up ''The Ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne 1737-1793 of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine'' (Portland, Maine: The Southworth Press, 1927), p.3.]
: Their first six children were also baptised in St. Nicholas Church.[https://familysearch.org/search/film/004033324?cc=1416598 Parish registers for St. Nicholas' Church, Yarmouth, LDS Film #Film # 004033324] For specific images, see section entitled "Children" William died, probably in Topsfield, before 24 June 1673, the date his widow was granted administration on his estate.[https://archive.org/stream/probaterecordsof02mass#page/358/mode/1up ''The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674'' (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358]
=== Baptism ===:Baptized: 18 Mar 1598/9, St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England:: "Wyllyam Towne son of John & Elizabeth"[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-CW?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch , Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 58 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
=== Marriage ===
:: 25 April 1620, Great Yarmouth, County Norfolk, England:: They were married in St. Nicholas' church. "In this church, founded in A.D. 1123, dedicated to St. Nicholas, in 1251, and still retaining the name were married, April 25, 1620, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, and here their six first children were baptized."Hubbard, Edwin. [https://archive.org/stream/townefamilymemor1880hubb#page/9/mode/1up ''The Towne Family Memorial: Compiled from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Towne Manuscripts, Public and Family Records; for A.N. Towne Esq., San Francisco, Cal.''] (Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880) (''includes copes of wills of Richard and Ann Towne'' of LIncolnshire, thought to be parents of William Towne; see pages 9 - 14)''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne'' pages 14-16[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2D-DK?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 172 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
=== Children ===: Baptized at St. Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England::: Rebecca: 21 Feb. 1620/1, married Francis Nurse[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2Z-43?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 95 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: John: 16 Feb. 1622/3 (presumed died in infancy)[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-JT?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 97 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Susanna: 26 Oct. 1625 (presumed died in infancy)[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-JT?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 99 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Edmund: 22 June 1628, married Mary Browning[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2H-1C?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 102 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Jacob: 11 March 1631/2, married Catherine Symonds[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2X-QZ?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 106 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Mary: 24 Aug. 1634, married Isaac Esty[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L26-KK?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 109 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
: Probably born Topsfield::: Sarah: married 1st, 11 Jan. 1660, Edward Bridges, 2nd Peter Cloyes
:: Joseph: born about 1639, married Phebe Perkins
=== Immigration ===:: Arrival: 1635 Salem, Massachusetts Filby, P. William, ed. ''Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s'', (Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009)
=== Death ===:: Died: before 24 JUN 1673, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts, (date of admin. granted to widow: 24:4:1673)''The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674'' (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358]
=== Probate ===::: "On 24 June 1673[https://archive.org/stream/probaterecordsof02mass#page/358/mode/1up ''The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674'' (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358] (24:4:1673), administration was granted to Johana Towne on the estate of William Towne of Topsfield, her late husband."::: "On 17 Jan 1682, petition for settlement of a small estate left the undersigned by their father, who died ten years ago leaving no will, but left the estate in the hands of their mother who was appointed administratrix and the estate remained unsettled until her death, and now they desire that the following division be allowed: the land to be equally divided between his three sons, Edmond, Jacob and Joseph and the moveables equally divided between the three daughters, Rebecka, Mary, and Sarah." ::: "Signed by Mary Towne relict of Edmond, Jacob Towne, Josep Towne, Francis Nurs with the consent of Rebeka, Mary Esty formerly Towne, Sarah Bridges. Allowed by the court at Ipswich 10 April 1683."
=== Parents ''Our Royal, Titled, Noble and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins'', profile for [http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2515.htm#i75575 ''William Towne''] ===
:: [[Towne-547|John Towne]] of Great Yarmouth, 1570 – 1627
:: [[Clarke-3961|Elizabeth Clarke]] of Great Yarmouth, 1569 – 1630: Proof published by Lois Payne Hoover,''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'', by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010, 3rd printing 2015), page 1-5 ''The Towne Family'', page 1, Endnotes page 5. See parish register of Blundeston/Flexton, Suffolk, England, marriage of John Towne and Elizabeth Clarke, 20 Sept. 1597. John Towne and Elizabeth Clarke are accepted by the Towne Family Association as the parents of William Towne.
=== Notes ===* Married in St. Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth, England. Six of his children baptized there too.
* Sailed either from Great Yarmouth or Bristol for America. Came to Salem in 1632 and moved to Topsfield, Massachusetts in 1652
* First record in Salem, Massachusetts. Was granted "a little neck of land right over against his house on the other side of the river."
* AN INTERESTING FACT recently discovered is the first deed of sale of land by William Towne. In it he states he is a "Gardner." This term was used by those who grew and sold flowers. These men belonged to a Guild in old England. This would qualify William Towne's descendants for the new Lineage Organization "The Guild of Colonial Artisans and Tradesmen 1607 - 1783." If there is anyone interested in joining this organization to honor Willam Towne, please contact me at brbaylis@aol.com and I will certainly pass your name along to the President General of this group. At present we have three active Towne members who have joined. If you would like to know more about The Guild or colonial occupations their web site is: http://www.guildcolonialartsandtrades.org/
=== Research notes ===* Did '''not''' Die: 30 Apr 1685, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Source: [[#EWD|Edmund West]]. This date refers to the William Towne of Cambridge, and death date has been conflated with the death of William Towne of Salem and Topsfield, who died about 1672. see [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-vii-t-y/image/?pageName=76&volumeId=13260&rId=235839632 Great Migrations] and [https://archive.org/stream/newenglandhistor021wate#page/14/mode/1up NEHGR 1867 ''The Towne Family'', page 15]
* Did '''not''' arrive 1637 Cambridge, Massachusetts. This refers to a different [[Towne-493|William Towne]], lived and died in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1680 at age 80, see [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-vii-t-y/image/?pageName=76&volumeId=13260&rId=235839632 Great Migrations]
* The following children are '''not''' included in the work by William B. Towne, ''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne'', [https://archive.org/stream/newenglandhistor1867wate#page/16/mode/1up NEHGR Vol. 21(1867):16]:
:: Joseph Towne 1621 –
:: [[Towne-255|Martha Blessing Towne]] 1622 – 1703
:: [[Towne-728|Gardner Towne]] 1625 –
:: Joseph Towne 1630 –
:: Elizabeth Towne 1637 –
:: [[Towne-254|Uriah Towne]] 1641 – 1731
== Sources ==
: See also:* ''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'', by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010, 3rd printing 2015), Towne Family Association by Otter Bay Books, Baltimore, Maryland, page 1, William Towne.::: This Towne book was commissioned by the Towne Family Association. ''Towne Family'' won the 2011 Grand Prize from the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, and in the same year received the 2011 Award of Excellence for a Genealogy and Family History from the National Genealogical Society.
* The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2013.) Vol. 21, page 12-22, ''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne'', by William B. Towne.
* The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) Vol. 33, page 199-206. ''The Four Blessing Sisters'', by Walter Goodwin Davis, B.A., LL.B., Portland, Maine. (Identifies William as Joanna's spouse, short bio on children.)
* [http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/ ''Our Royal, Titled, Noble and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins''] database online, compiled by Mr. Marlyn Lewis, follows Douglas Richardson's ''Magna Carta Ancestry''. It includes Magna Carta Surety Barons and many of their descendants. [http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2515.htm#i75575 ''William Towne'']
* Filby, P. William, ed. ''Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s'', (Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009)
::: Salem, Massachusetts; Year: 1635; Page Number: 67.::: William Towne Arrival Date: 1635 Arrival Place: Salem, Massachusetts: refers to William Towne who married Joanna Blessing, lived in Salem, and died Topsfield, Massachusetts about 1672.
::: Cambridge, Massachusetts; Year: 1637; Page Number: 290.::: William Towne Arrival Date: 1637 Arrival Place: Cambridge, Massachusetts: refers to [[Towne-493|William Towne]] who married Martha, died in Cambridge, Massachusetts at age 80 in 1685, see [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-vii-t-y/image/?pageName=76&volumeId=13260&rId=235839632 Great Migrations]
* ''Vital Records of Topsfield, MA, to the End of the Year 1849'', Compiler: Topsfield Historical Society Publication: (Topsfield, Massachusetts, 1903)
* [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=25380 ''The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport, Maine''] [database on-line]. Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Davis, Walter Goodwin,. The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine. Portland, Me.: Southworth Press, 1927. Page 3. NOTE: Author Goodwin takes Williams baptism date (see image) and his court statement about his age, and find evidence that William Towne of Salem is the son of John and Elizabeth (Clarke) Towne.
* Hubbard, Edwin. [https://archive.org/stream/townefamilymemor1880hubb#page/9/mode/1up ''The Towne Family Memorial: Compiled from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Towne Manuscripts, Public and Family Records; for A.N. Towne Esq., San Francisco, Cal.''] (Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880) (''includes copes of wills of Richard and Ann Towne'' of LIncolnshire, thought to be parents of William Towne; see pages 9 - 14)
* Stearns, Ezra S. ''[[Space:Genealogical_and_Family_History_of_the_State_of_New_Hampshire|Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire]]'' (Lewis Publishing Company, 1908) [https://books.google.com/books?id=cfoI0UIOCKQC&pg=PA588#v=onepage&q&f=true Vol. 2, Page 588] (''gives no names or data on William Towne's parents'')
* Towne, Edwin Eugene, [https://archive.org/stream/descendantsofwil1901town#page/11/mode/1up ''The descendants of William Towne : who came to America on or about 1630 and settled in Salem, Mass'' (Newtonville, MA: E. E. Towne, 1901), p. 11]. (''Identifies William of Salem, MA, as the "supposed son of Richard Towne, of Braceby, England.'')
* Edmund West, comp. ''[[Space:Family Data Collection - Deaths|Family Data Collection - Deaths]]'' (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001) Death date: 30 April 1685 Death place: Topsfield, Essex, MA, USA. COMMENT: The death date of 1685 relates to [[Towne-493|William Towne]] of Cambridge. This entry demonstrates the issues with a derivative datase: William Towne of Topsfield died 24 June 1673. This source has conflated the two men, whose only similarity is their name.
* Public Member Trees, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network,Inc., 2006. Original data - Family trees submitted by Ancestry members. [http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=2059258&pid=-1343952987 ''Ancestry Trees - William Towne of Topsfield''] (These trees currently [viewed 11 Mar 2017] all show parents as Richard & Ann of Braceby)
-- MERGED NOTE ------------
Farmer
(3)William Towne was born circa 1598, as the son of John Towne and Elizabeth Clarke of Yarmouth, Norfolk County, England.
He was baptized in the St. Nicholas Parish Church, Great Yarmouth, England, on March 18, 1568/9.
William Towne married JOANNA BLESSING on March 25, 1620, in St. Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, England, and William died in 1673 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts.
In 1640, William Towne and his family emigrated to New England. William Towne was a freeman on April 18, 1637.
Joanna was the daughter of John Blessing of Somerlayton, Suffolk County, England.
When Joanne [nee Blessing] Towne (b. 1594) came to the colonies her sister, Alice [nee Blessing] Firmage (b. 1593) and her brother-in-law, Robert Buffam, husband of her late sister, Margaret [nee Blessing] (deceased) came too. Joanne Blessing was known as "Mother Goose." This was a misleading name, since it was her sister, Julian [nee Blessing] who married Thomas Goose.
THE CHILDREN OF WILLIAM TOWNE
1) Rebecca Towne was baptized on February 21, 1621, in Great Yarmouth, England. Rebecca married Frances Nurse, a tray maker, on August 24, 1644. Rebecca was hanged for witchcraft on June 19, 1692, [at age 61] in Salem, MA.
2) John Towne was baptized February 16, 1622 in Great Yarmouth, England. He was listed as an apprentice in England at age 13. John married Phebe Lawson, and he died in 1672 [at age 49].
3) Suzanna Towne was born October 20, 1625 in Great Yarmouth, England. Suzanna was baptized on October 26, 1625. Suzanna was named after her aunt. Suzanna died in July 29, 1672 [at age 47]. Suzanna was spared her sister's anquish and pain. She was not targeted as a witch.
4) Edmund Towne was born on June 22, 1628 and was baptized on July 28, 1628, in Great Yarmouth. Edmund apprenticed to Henry Skerry of Great Yarmouth. He sailed on either the Rose of Great Yarmouth, or the Henry and Dorothy of Ipswich. Both ships were commanded by William Andrews and his son, William. Skerry and his family settled in Salem, MA. Edmund married Mary Browning in 1652 [at age 24]. Their children were:
..... Abigail Towne married Thomas Perley
..... Samuel Towne married Elizabeth Knight [her line goes to U.S. President Calvin Coolidge]
.....Elizabeth Towne married (2) Elisha Perkins (1654-1791) of Topsfield in 1715.
5) Jacob Towne was baptized on March 11, 1632. Jacob married Catherine Symonds, daughter of Samuel Symonds (1693-1772) and Elizabeth Andrews, on June 26, 1657. He died November 22, 1704, in Topsfield, MA. [at age 72]. Their son:
..... John Towne married Mary Smith.
.....Katherine Towne (1662-1714) married Elisha Perkins in 1680.
6) Mary Towne was baptized August 24, 1634. He married Isaac Estey/Eastie. Mary was hanged on September 22, 1692, during the Salem witch trials [at age 58]. Their son was:
..... Isaac Estey, Jr. married Abigail Kimball.
7) Sarah Towne - born circa 1642, in Salem, MA. He married (1) Edmund Bridges (2) Peter Cloyes. Sarah Cloyes was accused of witchcraft, in 1692 [at age 53], and put into prison, and later released. She pressed charges for her unlawful arrest and the killing of her sisters. She received three gold sovereigns for each of them. The movie, Three Sovereigns For Sister Sarah is about this event. Her daughter was:
..... Hepzibah Cloyce, married Ebenezer Harrington.
8) Joseph Towne - born on September 3, 1639, in Salem, MA. Joseph married Phebe Perkins in 1665. Their children were:
..... Joseph Towne, Jr. married Margaret Case.
..... Susanna Towne married John Cummings
..... Martha Towne married Isaac Larrabee.
--------------------
Excerpt from "Essex Institute Historical Collections",
Volume 118 1982, page 203-- ...This article presents a small-scale pilot study of one seventeenth-century Massachusetts family in order to illustrate the feasibility and value of investigations which focus on kin networks and use genealogical material as a data base. The family chosen for the pilot study was that established in America by William Towne, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts, in the early seventeenth century. Very little is known about the ancestry of William Towne, or about his reasons for coming to New England, but it is believed that he was the son of Richard and Ann Towne of Lincoln County in England, and it has been established that he was married to Joanna Blessing in the Church of St. Nicholas at Yarmouth, Norfolk County, in 1620...
William Towne recieved a land grant in Salem, Massachutess in 1640 and lived there until 1652 when he moved to Topsfield, Massachusetts where he died in 1672. His wife died about 1682. Two of their children were daughters Mary (Towne) Estey and Rebecca (Towne) Nourse. During the Salem witch hunts, Rebecca and Mary were jailed. Rebecca was found guilty and executed. Later Mary was arrested the 2nd time, tried, found guilty and executed. She entered a long petition to the judge in which she begged not for her own life which she knew must be in vain but that no more innocent blood be shed.
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===Estate of William Towne of Topsfield===
Essex probate Docket #27923
Source: Ipswich Deeds, Vol 4, p515
Salem Quarterly Court Records 5:66
Petition for settlement of a small estate left the undersigned by their father; who died ten years ago leaving no will, but left his estate in the hands of their mother who was appointed administratrix and the estate remained unsettled until her death and now they desire that the following division may be allowed: the land to be divided equally to his three sons, Edmund, Jacob and Joseph and the moveables equally to the three daughters, Rebecka, Mary, and Sarah: also the three borthers to pay all debts now due and what charges shall after arise in settlement of the estate to be equally borne by all six. Adted Jan 17th, 1682.
signed by Mary (her mark) Towne relict of Edmond
Jacob Towne
Josep (his mark) Towne
Francis (his Mark) Nurs with the consent of Rebeha
Mary (her mark) Esly, formerly Mary Townes
Sarah (her mark) Bridges
Witnessd
John How
John Pritchet
Allowed by the court at Ipswich April 10,1683
--------------------
According to Savage, Vol 4, Pp 317-18:
>TOWNE, WILLIAM, Salem, had m. at Yarmouth, Co. Norfolk, 25 March 1620 or 1, Joana Blessing, and prob. came over the water, 1635, tho. in what ship is not seen; in Dec. 1640, he had gr. of ld. at S. but Felt spells the name Townde. He rem. to Topsfield a. 1651; and his ch. bapt. a Y. were Rebecca, Feb. 1622; John, Feb. 1624; Susanna, Oct. 1625; Edmund, June 1628; Jacob, Mar. 1633; Mary, 24 Aug. 1634; and at Salem, Sarah; and Joseph, b. 1639; and d. 1672, leav. all these ch. exc. John and Susanna. Farmer in MS. makes him the freem. of 1637, in wh. I do not concur. His wid. liv. a. ten yrs. Rebecca m. Francis Nurse, had eight ch. and was execut. for a witch, 19 July 1692, to wh. her deafness was the chief inducem. Mary m. Isaac Esty, had to ds. and was tr. on 9th execut. 22 Sept. 1692, under the same sad infatuat. She was the heroic woman, that in our day gives dignity to the cause, as set forth in Chandler's Crim. Trials. Sarah m. 11 Jan. 1660, Edmund Bridge or Bridges, had five ch. and next m. Peter Cloyes, had two or three more, and was a gr. sufferer in the witchr. proceed. barely escap. with life.
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* http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/a/r/Tami-K-Barton/GENE4-0002.html
* http://www.moonsmusings.com/genealogy/towne.html
* http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/polcrt/Towne.html
* http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~degroff/pafg235.htm#5005
* http://stanleyhistory.net/descnarratives/blessingwilliam7662.shtml
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On, Nov 5, 1608, John, a gardener, apprenticed his son, William, for 14 years (the term to begin on Feb. 2, 1609) as a gardener.
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http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=41602474
William Towne
Birth: 1598
Norwich
Norfolk, England
Death: 1673
Topsfield
Essex County
Massachusetts, USA
~MY ANCESTOR~
William Towne, son of John Towne, was baptized in the church at St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England on March 18, 1598/9. He married Joanna Blessing/Blyssyne on April 25, 1620 in the same church in England.
Although there is no known record of immigration, it is believed by Savage and Virkus that the family came to America in 1635.
The first record of William Towne in America appears in the town book of Salem some time between 1635 and 1640 (undated) when he received a land grant "a littleneck of Land right over against his house on the other side of the River" in the area called North Fields.
In 1651, he purchased land in the neighboring town of Topsfield from William Paine, which consisted of forty acres, part plow land, meadow, and unplowed land. He sold his Salem property to Henry Bullock in 1652 and bought additional land at Topsfield in 1656. He was made a commoner in Topsfield in 1664. When his son Joseph married Phebe Perkins, he deeded 2/3 of his property to Joseph.
Children of William & Joanna Towne: (the first six were baptized at St. Nicholas)
* 1. Rebecca (Towne) Nurse bapt. Feb. 21, 1621-2, executed July 19, 1692 (Salem Witch Trials), m. Francis Nurse/Nourse
* Jacob Towne (1632-1704), m. Catherine Symonds
* 6. Mary (Towne) Esty bpt. Aug. 24, 1634 executed Sept. 22, 1692 (Salem Witch Trials), m. Isaac Esty
* 7. Sarah (Towne) Bridge/Bridges m. (1) Edmund Bridges and (2) Peter Cloyes (barely escaped execution during the Salem Witch Trials).
* 8. Joseph Towne bpt. Sept. 3, 1639 and died 1717, m. (1) Phebe and (2) Emma about 1687
Administration was granted April 24, 1673 to "Johana" Towne on the estate of William Towne.
The estate of William Towne of Topsfield appears on Essex Probate Docket #27923
Admitted Jan. 17, 1682. Petition for settlement of the estate of William Towne who died 10 years before leaving no will, but left his estate in the hands of their mother which remained unsettled until her death. Now they desire that it be divided equally between the three sons: Edmund, Jacob and Joseph; and the moveables equally to the three daughters: Rebecka, Mary and Sarah. Signed by Mary, relict of Edmund Towne, Jacob Town, Joseph Towne, Francis "Nurs" consort of Rebeka, Mary Esty, and Sarah Bridges.
Family links:
Spouse:
* Joanna Blessing Towne (1594 - 1682)
Children:
# Susanna Towne Hayward*
# Rebecca Towne Nurse (1622 - 1692)*
# John Towne (1624 - ____)*
# Edmund Towne (1628 - 1678)*
# Jacob Towne (1631 - 1704)*
# Mary Towne Easty (1634 - 1692)*
# Sarah Towne Clayes (1637 - 1703)*
# Joseph Towne (1639 - 1713)*
Burial:
Pine Grove Cemetery
Topsfield
Essex County
Massachusetts, USA
BIOGRAPHY: The Towne Family Memorial
A. N. Towne, Esq. San Francisco, Cal.
Edwin Hubbard, Chicago, Ill.
Fergus Printing Compay, 1880 Page 19
"In this church, founded in A.D. 1123, dedicated to St. Nicholas, in 1251, and still retaining the name, were married, March 25, 1620, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, and here their six first children were baptized."
The next we hear of this family is at Salem, Essex Co., Mass., where, in the book of early grants, appears the following: "11, 8 mo., 1640, granted to Wm. Towne, a little neck of land right over against his house on the other side of the river." He is also referred to in the Court Records of the same year, thus: "17th st., last of 4th mo., and 1st, 5th mo., 1640. Wm Towne, pl. agt. Jn Cook def. In act of debt, Jury find for pl. some to be deputed to measure John Cook's land, and what is wanting of ffyve acres to abate 13s. 4d. p. acre: And costs 4s.: 0."
Wm. Towne's residence was in that part of Salem known as the "Northfields," and he remainded at this place till 1651, the year following the incorporation of the town of Topsfield, when he purchased a tract of land in the latter place of Wm. Paine, of Ipswich, "containing forty acres of ground or thereabouts, whereof six acres is by the seller, which Wm. Howard, of Topsfield, built, and about thirty-two acres joining up to the sayd six acres eastward of it, part of which is plow ground, another part is meadow, another part is upland unploughed, all lying together, having the meadow and the plow ground of the said Wm. Howard towards the east and the ground of Walter Roper towards the south or south-west. Also, a little piece of meddow of about two acres lying on the south side of the river, directly against the plains of the said Wm. Howard, having ye East and the said River towards ye North and upland towards the South."
In 1652, he sold his property in Salem to Harry Bullock, in 1656, purchased additional land in Topsfield, and in 1663, "in consideration of natural affection and the contemplated marriage of their sonn, Joseph Towne, with Phebe Perkins, the dau. of Thomas Perkins, "he and his wife conveyed to their said son, Joseph, two-thirds "of the home wherein they then did dwell, with Barne, out-houses, yard, gardens, orchards, lying situate and being in Topsfield, together with a parcel of broken upland by the medow side, only a cartway reserved between the said land and the meadow towards the South, and the land of Jacob Towne towards the East, and the land of Jacob Towne and Edmund Towne towards the North, and the lands of Isaac Estie towards the the West-also, another parcel of land broke un and unbroken, containing, by estimation, thirty acres, bounded by the way towards the South-East and North-East, and a way also towards the South-West; the land of Zacheus Gould and Edmund Towne towards the North-West, and the land of Edmund Towne and Isaac Estie towards the North. Also, a parcel of meddow lying on the North side of the river, having the river for the bounds towards the South, a hiqhway towards the West, and a way towards the North, and meddow of Jacob Towne towards the East, containing, by estimation, fourteen acres." All these conveyances being made with the desire that their said son, Joseph, should have the first refusal of the remaining third when the same should be for sale. William Towne. The emigrant, died at Topsfield, Mass., about 1672, and from the final settlement of the estate of his widow, she seems to have survived him about 10 years. "Taken away from the Evil to Come," might have been the epitaph on their tombstone; in view of the terrible fate of their daughters, some ten years later.
(Note: His daughter Rebecca (Towne) Nourse was hung as a witch in Salem July 19, 1692, and her sister Mary Towne was hung 2 months and 3 days later, Sarah Towne narrowly escaped the same fate as her sisters. WCK)
Perley in his History of Salem states that William Towne was the son of John and Elizabeth Towne of Yarmouth, and that he was baptized in the Saint Nicholas Parish Church there on March 18, 1598/9. William1 Towne and his wife remained at Yarmouth, and six children were born to them there, but in or about 1640 they emigrated to New England, and settled at Salem, Massachusetts. At Salem, on October 11, 1640, the town "Graunted to William Townde a little neck of land right over against his howse on the other side of the river to be sett out by the towne." In June and July, 1640, he had brought an action of debt against John Cook, at Salem. He and Francis Nurse asked the town for a grant of land on March 20, 1647, and it was then ordered that the land be surveyed before a decision should be made as to granting it. In 1652 he removed to Topsfield, Massachusetts, where he purchased forty acres of land, and made further purchases in 1656. In 1652 he sold his land at Salem. He was listed among those to share in the common lands at Topsfield in 1661. In 1663 he gave his son, Joseph Towne, two-thirds of his property at Topsfield, reserving only a third share for himself. He died at Topsfield in 1673, and administration on his estate was granted to his widow, June 24, 1673. His widow died in or about 1682, and on January 17, 1682, the six children signed a petition for the settlement of her estate.
According to "The Four Blessing Sisters", by Walter Goodwin Davis, an article in the American Genealogists, Vol 33 pages 199 - 206; "Although William is first recorded at Salem in 1640, it is possible that the family emigrated a few years earlier, with the Buffums and the Firmages. The eldest son, Edmund, who was apprenticed to Henry Skerry in Great Yarmouth, sailed with his master in 1637, either on the Rose of Great Yarmouth, or the Henry and Dorothy of Ipswich, two vessels commanded by Wm. and William Andrews Jr., arriving in Boston in June. Skerry and his family settled in Salem.
Upon the east coast of England, 120 miles northeast from London is the old town of Yarmouth. Among its venerable buildings is St. Nicholas Church (founded A.D. 1123). In which on 25 March, 1620, William Towne and Joanna Blessing were m. They were the grandparents of John, the leading man in the English settlement at Oxford. Twenty years after this m. six of their ch. had been baptized in that Church and the family joined the emigrants to America. They resided first at "Northfields," Salem, removed 1652 to Topsfield, there they settled (History of Oxford - page 720)
1637; Came to America on ship Rose from Great Yarmouth, leaving Ipswich and arriving 6/1637 with wife and 5 or 6 children. (Currents of Malice - McMillen)
4/18/1637; "Towne, William, gardiner, Salem, freeman 4/18/1637. (George Towne book)
5/1/1640; Plaintiff against Jonathan Cook, defendant in an action of debt, Jury found for the plaintiff "some to be deputed to measure John Cook's land and what is remaining to make up Goodman Town's land and if it be fyve acres to pay Towne fyve marks and ___ is wanting of fyve acres to abate 13s, 4d. p. acre; and costs 4s, : 0 " (NEHGS, Vol. 21, p. 15)
8/11/1640; granted "a little neck of Land right over against his house on the other side of the river" the section of Salem known as The Northfields. Believe the home in Salem to have been on the s side of Waters river about 1/8 mile e of Water Street. (Pope's Pioneers of Mass; Currents of Malice - McMillen; NEHGS, Vol. 21, p 15)
Abt 1646; Purchased of Jeffrey Massey, 20 acres and paid for it in wheat the same year. The land bordered on a swamp at the s, was common belonging to Salem at Ryal side, and ran 80 rods to the northward. This lot sold to Nathaniel Felton of Salem, on his removal to Topsfield. (George Towne book)
1651; Bought land in Topsfield from early proprietor William Paine of Ipswich, containing "forty acres of ground or thereabouts, whereof 6 acres is by the seller (cellar) which William Howard of Topsfield built, and about 32 acres joyning up to the sayd 6 acres eastward of it, part of which is plow ground, another part is meadow, another part is upland, unplowed, all lying together, having the meadow and the plow ground of the said William Howards towards the east, and the ground of Walter Roper towards the north and a certain river towards the south or southwest, also a little piece of meadow of about 2 acres lying on the south side of the river directly against the plains of the said William Howard, having ye grounds of the said William Howard towards ye East and the said River towards ye North and upland towards the South." His property was partly on the boundary line between Topsfield and Salem (the part known as "The Farms" or "Salem Village". The site of his home may have been on the w side of Main St, nearly opposite Maple St. and on the highest ground about midway of two apple trees formerly standing near the street. This site is near what is known as the Estey house, and on the opposite side of Main St. (George Towne book; Currents of Malice - McMillen) The Towne children were brought up in a house which was located "near the intersedtion of South Main Street and Salem Street." (Topsfield and the Witchcraft Tragedy -Topsfield Historical Society Publication) In the latter part of October 1756, Nathaniel Porter and Thomas Baker, selectman of Topsfield,sent a yeoman to Boston to transport the French family of Michael Dugoy to town in accordance with an order of the Province to distribute the French imigrants. John Gould had been engaged to find a house for them, so he rented from the tanner, David Balch for 4 s8 d per month, the old William Towne house, then over 100 years old (built1651). (the property later belonged to John L. Saltonstall). (History of Topsfield; NEHGS, Vol. 21, p 15)
1652; Salem property sold to Henry (Harry) Bullock. (Currents of Malice - McMillen; NEHGS, Vol. 21, p 15)
1656; Bought additional land in Topsfield. (Currents of Malice - McMillen; NEHGS, Vol. 21, p 15)
1656; New road laid out "from the ford nigh to the house of William Towne, through the lands of said William Towne, William Howard, Jacob Towne, Edmund Towne, and George Buckner..." Edmond one of the men empowered by the town to lay out the road. (Currents of Malice - McMillen)
The records of the town of Topsfield show that the road to Salem which bordered Salem Village began upon John Porter's farm, and went through the lands of William Towne, and his sons, Jacob and Edmund. (Currents of Malice - Persis W. McMillen)
1660; At a county court held at Salem, in the case of Henry Bartholomew plaintiff, Jacob Towne as defendant; William, Edmund and Joseph Towne were witnesses, and in their evidence William stated that he was three score years old, Edmund that he was thirty one years of age, and Joseph that he was about one and twenty. (NEHGS, Vol. 21, p. 16, Pope's - Pioneers of MA)
1661; Name appears with Isaac Esty, Jacob and Edmond Towne on Topsfield's original list of thirty commoners. (Currents of Malice - McMillen)
1663; With wife Joanna, deeded 2/3 of the home they live in, the barn, outhouses, yard, gardens, orchards, "lying situate and being in Topsfield, together with a parcel of broken upland by the meadow side, only a cartway reserved between the said land and the meadow towards the South, and the land of Jacob Towne towards the East, and the land of Jacob Towne and Edmund Towne towards the North, and the Lands of Isaac Estie towards the West - also another parcell of land broke up and upbroken, containing an estimation of thirty acres, bounded by the way towards the Southeast and Northeast, and a way also towards the Southwest; the land of Zacheus Gould and Edmund Towne towards the Northwest and the land of Edmund Towne and Isaac Estie towards the North. Also a parcell of meddow lying on the North side of the river, having the river for the bounds towards the South, a highway towards the West, and a way towards the North, and meddow of Jacob Towne towards the East, containing by estimation fourteen acres." to son Joseph just prior to his marriage with Phebe Perkins; "In consideration of natural affection and the contemplated marriage of our son Joseph Towne to Phebe Perkins..." Joseph also to have first refussal of the remaining 1/3 when it should be for sale. (George Towne book; Pope's Pioneers of MA; NEHGS, Vol. 21, p 15)
1664; He and wife dismissed from church at Salem to church at Topsfield. (Currents of Malice - McMillen)
1664; Paid only 4 shillings, tuppence to the minister. (Currents of Malice - McMillen)
4/24/1673; Administration granted to Joanna Towne of the estate of William Towne. She was to bring inventory to the next Ipswich court. (Salem Quarterly Court Records)
1/17/1683; Petition for settlement of a small estate left the undersigned by their father, who died ten years ago leaving no will, but left his estate in the hands of their mother who was appointed administatrix and the estate remained unsettled until her death, and now they desire that the following division may be allowed: the land to be divided equally to his three sons, Edmond, Jacob, and Joseph and the moveables equally to the three daughters, Rebecca, Mary, and Sarah; also the three brothers to pay all debts now due and what charges shall arise in settlement of the estate to be equally borne by all six. Signed by Mary (her mark) Towne relict of Edmond, Jacob Towne, Joseph (his mark) Towne, Francis (his mark) Nurse with the consent of Rebecca, Mary (her mark) Esty formerly Mary Towne, Sarah (her mark) Bridges. Witness: John How, John Pritchet
Allowed by the court at Ipswich April 10, 1683 (Ipswich Deeds, Vol 4 page 515)
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
Court Records - March 1681
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=5eed0f71-073f-4983-bcde-fd4406971591&tid=8976248&pid=-851235139
Ancestry of "Live" Amos Towne by Walter N. Davis R929.2 T744
William Towne's three daughters Rebecca, Mary and Sarah were tried for witch craft.
Had much land in America. Resided in Salem, Mass., before 1640. Resided in Ipswich, Mass., 1651. Resided in Topsfield, Mass., 1656.
BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM TOWNE OF TOPSFIELD
William Towne was born at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England and baptized at the Church of St. Nicholas in that city on March 18, 1598-99. According to the baptismal records, he was the son of John and Elizabeth Towne. His mother must have died in childbirth or soon after, for on September 1, 1600, John Towne married Margaret Walden. William was apprenticed to Abraham Roberts, a basketmaker in Yarmouth, on November 5, 1608. He was only ten years old, and the term of apprenticeship was 14 years. Before his apprenticeship was finished however, on April 25, 1620 William married Joanna Blessing at St. Nicholas. William and Joanna's first six children were also baptized at St. Nicholas.
William brought his family to New England before 1636, and they settled in Salem, where he was granted land in 1640. William and Joanna had two more children, Sarah and Joseph, born in Salem around that time. In 1651, William bought some land in the neighboring town of Topsfield. He sold his Salem land the next year and soon bought more land in Topsfield. On the occasion of his son Joseph's marriage in 1663, William deeded two thirds of his land to Joseph. William and Joanna probably lived with Joseph for the remainder of their days. William died in Topsfield on June 24, 1673, and his widow Joanna was named administrator. His estate wasn't probated until April, 1683, soon after the death of Joanna, when the estate was distributed among his children.
Three of William and Joanna's daughters were accused in the Salem Witch Trials. Two of them, Rebecca Nurse and Mary Esty, were hung. Sarah Cloyes escaped from the Ipswich jail before she could be executed.
Source: WFT Archive # 2, Pedigree # 1060
From"The Pioneers of Massachusetts," by Charles Henry Pope, published by Genealogical Publishing company of Baltimore, MD: "In Salem in 1637, removed to Topsfield. With wife Joanna, deeded land to son Josepn in 1663 when he was about to mary Phebe, doughter of Thomas Perkins."
William Towne
#18588, b. 18 March 1598/99, d. before 24 April 1673
William Towne|b. 18 Mar 1598/99\nd. b 24 Apr 1673|p42.htm#i18588|John Towne|b. c 1575\nd. 13 Sep 1627|p39.htm#i29739|Elizabeth Alice Clarke|b. 1578\nd. 7 Sep 1630|p7.htm#i29740|Robert Towne||p41.htm#i32956|Ann ?||p1.htm#i32957|||||||
ParentJohn Towne b. circa 1575, d. 13 September 1627
ParentElizabeth Alice Clarke b. 1578, d. 7 September 1630
ChartsDescendants of Robert Towne
Descent from Robert Towne to Researcher
Ancestors of Angeline Elizabeth Jessup
Relationship10th great-grandfather of Paul Edward Lawrence.
He was baptized St. Nicholas Parish Church on 18 March 1598/99 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.1 He married Joanna Blessing, daughter of John Blessing and Jone ?, St. Nicholas Parish Church on 25 April 1620 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.1,2 William died before 24 April 1673 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.3,4
William and his father, John, were both gardeners, despite the fact that William was apprenticed on 5 November 1608 "for 14 years from 2nd February next" to a basketmaker, Abraham Robbertes (Roberts) of Yarmouth.
In trying to determine exactly when William and Joanna brought their children to Salem, several items seem to indicate that it possibly occurred in the summer of 1635. On 25 April 1635, William apprenticed his son, John, to cooper, Lionel Gibson, for "a period of 8 years from 24th June next." From the Norwich Consistory & Archdeaconry Visitation Records, 26 November 1635, it was noted that William and Joanna were cited by the Archdeacon for failing to appear for communion and are noted as Separatists.
William and Joanna's children who came with them on the ship about 1635 were: Rebecca, age 14; Jacob, age 3½; and Mary, age 1. Edmund, age 7, supposedly came to America, at age 9, in June 1637 with the Henry Skerry family; however, there is some question if he is the same Edmund Towne who was listed as age 19 on the ship's manifest. Apprentice records in Great Yarmouth have no record of Edmund being bound to Skerry.1
The first record of William Towne in America appears in the town book of Salem in 1640 when he was granted "a little neck of Land right over against his house on the other side of the river." It the same year he sued John Cook in what seems to have been a border dispute and obtained a verdict and costs. It is probable that Towne was in Salem some years before 1640, however. A list of grants by the town to that portion of its territory called the North Fields is undated and the best opinion seems to indicate that it was made before and by 1635. William Towne's name appears on this list, and it was in the North Fields that he lived.1
In 1651 he purchased land in the neighboring town of Topsfield from William Paine of Ipswich. This farm contained forty acres "part of which is plow land, another part is meadow, another part is upland unplowed, all lying together," bounded by William Howard toward the east, Walter Roper, on the north and a "Sertaine River" toward the south. There were also included two acres on the south side of the river. He sold his Salem property to Henry Bullock in 1652 and bought additional land at Topsfield in 1656. In 1660 in testimony in a lawsuit his age was estimaged at three score years. He was made a commoner of Topsfield in 1661, and his wife was dismissed from the Salem Church to that in Topsfield in 1664.1
in 1663, William and Joanna Towne deeded 2/3 of the home they live in, the barn, outhouses, yard, gardens, orchards, "lying situate and being in Topsfield, together with a parcel of broken upland by the meadow side, only a cartway reserved between the said land and the meadow towards the South, and the land of Jacob Towne towards the East, and the land of Jacob Towne and Edmund Towne towards the North, and the Lands of Isaac Estie towards the West -- also another parcel of land broke up and upbroken, containing an estimation of thirty acres, bounded by the way towards the Southeast and Northeast, and a way also towards the Southwest; the land of Zacheus Gould and Edmund Towne towards the Northwest and the land of Edmund Towne and Isaac Estie towards the North. Also a parcel of meddow lying on the North side of the river, having the river for the bounds toward the South, a highway towards the West, and a way towards the North, and meddow of Jacob Towne towards the East, containing by estimating fourteen acres." to son Joseph Towne just prior to his marriage with Phebe Perkins; "In consideration of natural affection and the contemplated marriage of our son Joseph Towne to Phebe Perkins...." Joseph also to have first refusal of the remaining 1/3 when it should be for sale.1
Probate records of Essex County: Estate of William Towne of Topsfield. Administration granted 24: 4: 1673 to Johana Towne on the estate of William Towne, her late husband, and she was to bring in an inventory to the next Ipswich court.
Petition for settlement of a small estate left the undersigned by their father, who died ten years ago leaving no will, but left his estate in the hands of their mother who was appointed administratrix and the estate remained unsettled until her death, and now they desire that the following division may be allowed: the land to be divided equally to his three sons, Edmond, Jacob, and Joseph and the moveables equally to the three daughters, Rebecka, Mary, and Sarah; also the three brothers to pay all debts now due and what charges shall after arise in settlement of the estate to be equally borned by all six. Dated Jan. 17, 1682, Signed by Mary (her mark) Towne relict of Edmond, Jacob Towne, Josep (his mark) Towne, Francis (his mark) Nurs with the consent of Rebeka, Mary (her mark) Esty formerly Mary Towne, Sarah (her mark) Bridges. Witness: John How, John Pritchet. Allowed by the court at Ipswich Apr. 10, 1683. Ipswich Deeds, vol. 4, page 515.1
Family
Joanna Blessing b. 22 June 1595, d. circa 1682
Children
* Rebecca Towne b. 21 Feb 1620/21, d. 19 Jul 1692
* John Towne b. 16 Feb 1622/23, d. c 1672
* Susanna Towne b. 26 Oct 1625
* Edmund Towne b. 22 Jun 1628, d. 3 May 1678
* Jacob Towne b. 11 Mar 1631/32, d. 27 Nov 1704
* Mary Towne b. 24 Aug 1634, d. 22 Sep 1692
* Sarah Towne b. 11 Jan 1636, d. 1703
* Joseph Towne b. 3 Sep 1639, d. 21 Feb 1713
Citations
1. [S448] Newsletter, About Towne, published quarterly by the Towne Family Association, Inc.
2. [S834] Torrey, Clarence Almon. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1985.
3. [S375] Information from internet, gendex.com.
4. [S379] Sloan, Anne, letter. August 9, 1999, charts and reports, from Tennessee, to Lawrence, Paul E.. In possession of Paul E. Lawrence; Fairfield Glade, TN.
-- MERGED NOTE ------------
[[Category:Great Yarmouth, Norfolk]]
}
[[Category: Topsfield, Massachusetts]]
== Biography ==William Towne was probably the child who was baptised on 18 March 1598/9 in St. Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, the son of [[Towne-547|John]] & [[Clarke-3961|Elizabeth (Clark) Towne]].[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-CW?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 ''England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997''], database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 58 of 304; Record Office, Norwich. "Wyllyam Towne son of John & Elizabeth"William and Joanna Blessing were married in St. Nicholas church on April 25, 1620.[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2D-DK?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 ''England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997''], database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 172 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.::: " William Towne, the emigrant ancestor of the Towne family of Topsfield, was married and had six children baptized in the parish church of St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. Towne's age was estimated in 1660 as 'three score years,' when he testified in a court proceeding, which would indicate the approximate date of his birth as 1600. There can be no reasonable doubt, therefore, that he was that William, son of John and Elizabeth Towne, who was baptized at St. Nicholas' on March 18, 1598/9."Davis, Walter Goodwin, [https://archive.org/stream/ancestryoflieuta00davi#page/3/mode/1up ''The Ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne 1737-1793 of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine'' (Portland, Maine: The Southworth Press, 1927), p.3.]
: Their first six children were also baptised in St. Nicholas Church.[https://familysearch.org/search/film/004033324?cc=1416598 Parish registers for St. Nicholas' Church, Yarmouth, LDS Film #Film # 004033324] For specific images, see section entitled "Children" William died, probably in Topsfield, before 24 June 1673, the date his widow was granted administration on his estate.[https://archive.org/stream/probaterecordsof02mass#page/358/mode/1up ''The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674'' (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358]
=== Baptism ===:Baptized: 18 Mar 1598/9, St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England:: "Wyllyam Towne son of John & Elizabeth"[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-CW?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch , Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 58 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
=== Marriage ===
:: 25 April 1620, Great Yarmouth, County Norfolk, England:: They were married in St. Nicholas' church. "In this church, founded in A.D. 1123, dedicated to St. Nicholas, in 1251, and still retaining the name were married, April 25, 1620, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, and here their six first children were baptized."Hubbard, Edwin. [https://archive.org/stream/townefamilymemor1880hubb#page/9/mode/1up ''The Towne Family Memorial: Compiled from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Towne Manuscripts, Public and Family Records; for A.N. Towne Esq., San Francisco, Cal.''] (Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880) (''includes copes of wills of Richard and Ann Towne'' of LIncolnshire, thought to be parents of William Towne; see pages 9 - 14)''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne'' pages 14-16[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2D-DK?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 172 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
=== Children ===: Baptized at St. Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England::: Rebecca: 21 Feb. 1620/1, married Francis Nurse[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2Z-43?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 95 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: John: 16 Feb. 1622/3 (presumed died in infancy)[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-JT?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 97 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Susanna: 26 Oct. 1625 (presumed died in infancy)[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-JT?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 99 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Edmund: 22 June 1628, married Mary Browning[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2H-1C?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 102 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Jacob: 11 March 1631/2, married Catherine Symonds[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2X-QZ?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 106 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Mary: 24 Aug. 1634, married Isaac Esty[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L26-KK?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 109 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
: Probably born Topsfield::: Sarah: married 1st, 11 Jan. 1660, Edward Bridges, 2nd Peter Cloyes
:: Joseph: born about 1639, married Phebe Perkins
=== Immigration ===:: Arrival: 1635 Salem, Massachusetts Filby, P. William, ed. ''Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s'', (Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009)
=== Death ===:: Died: before 24 JUN 1673, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts, (date of admin. granted to widow: 24:4:1673)''The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674'' (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358]
=== Probate ===::: "On 24 June 1673[https://archive.org/stream/probaterecordsof02mass#page/358/mode/1up ''The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674'' (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358] (24:4:1673), administration was granted to Johana Towne on the estate of William Towne of Topsfield, her late husband."::: "On 17 Jan 1682, petition for settlement of a small estate left the undersigned by their father, who died ten years ago leaving no will, but left the estate in the hands of their mother who was appointed administratrix and the estate remained unsettled until her death, and now they desire that the following division be allowed: the land to be equally divided between his three sons, Edmond, Jacob and Joseph and the moveables equally divided between the three daughters, Rebecka, Mary, and Sarah." ::: "Signed by Mary Towne relict of Edmond, Jacob Towne, Josep Towne, Francis Nurs with the consent of Rebeka, Mary Esty formerly Towne, Sarah Bridges. Allowed by the court at Ipswich 10 April 1683."
=== Parents ''Our Royal, Titled, Noble and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins'', profile for [http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2515.htm#i75575 ''William Towne''] ===
:: [[Towne-547|John Towne]] of Great Yarmouth, 1570 – 1627
:: [[Clarke-3961|Elizabeth Clarke]] of Great Yarmouth, 1569 – 1630: Proof published by Lois Payne Hoover,''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'', by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010, 3rd printing 2015), page 1-5 ''The Towne Family'', page 1, Endnotes page 5. See parish register of Blundeston/Flexton, Suffolk, England, marriage of John Towne and Elizabeth Clarke, 20 Sept. 1597. John Towne and Elizabeth Clarke are accepted by the Towne Family Association as the parents of William Towne.
=== Notes ===* Married in St. Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth, England. Six of his children baptized there too.
* Sailed either from Great Yarmouth or Bristol for America. Came to Salem in 1632 and moved to Topsfield, Massachusetts in 1652
* First record in Salem, Massachusetts. Was granted "a little neck of land right over against his house on the other side of the river."
* AN INTERESTING FACT recently discovered is the first deed of sale of land by William Towne. In it he states he is a "Gardner." This term was used by those who grew and sold flowers. These men belonged to a Guild in old England. This would qualify William Towne's descendants for the new Lineage Organization "The Guild of Colonial Artisans and Tradesmen 1607 - 1783." If there is anyone interested in joining this organization to honor Willam Towne, please contact me at brbaylis@aol.com and I will certainly pass your name along to the President General of this group. At present we have three active Towne members who have joined. If you would like to know more about The Guild or colonial occupations their web site was: [https://web.archive.org/web/20190615154747/http://www.guildcolonialartsandtrades.org/ (Archive.org via the Wayback Machine)]
=== Research notes ===* Did '''not''' Die: 30 Apr 1685, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Source: [[#EWD|Edmund West]]. This date refers to the William Towne of Cambridge, and death date has been conflated with the death of William Towne of Salem and Topsfield, who died about 1672. see [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-vii-t-y/image/?pageName=76&volumeId=13260&rId=235839632 Great Migrations] and [https://archive.org/stream/newenglandhistor021wate#page/14/mode/1up NEHGR 1867 ''The Towne Family'', page 15]
* Did '''not''' arrive 1637 Cambridge, Massachusetts. This refers to a different [[Towne-493|William Towne]], lived and died in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1680 at age 80, see [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-vii-t-y/image/?pageName=76&volumeId=13260&rId=235839632 Great Migrations]
* The following children are '''not''' included in the work by William B. Towne, ''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne'', [https://archive.org/stream/newenglandhistor1867wate#page/16/mode/1up NEHGR Vol. 21(1867):16]:
:: Joseph Towne 1621 –
:: [[Towne-255|Martha Blessing Towne]] 1622 – 1703
:: [[Towne-728|Gardner Towne]] 1625 –
:: Joseph Towne 1630 –
:: Elizabeth Towne 1637 –
:: [[Towne-254|Uriah Towne]] 1641 – 1731
== Sources ==
: See also:* ''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'', by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010, 3rd printing 2015), Towne Family Association by Otter Bay Books, Baltimore, Maryland, page 1, William Towne.::: This Towne book was commissioned by the Towne Family Association. ''Towne Family'' won the 2011 Grand Prize from the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, and in the same year received the 2011 Award of Excellence for a Genealogy and Family History from the National Genealogical Society.
* The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2013.) Vol. 21, page 12-22, ''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne'', by William B. Towne.
* The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) Vol. 33, page 199-206. ''The Four Blessing Sisters'', by Walter Goodwin Davis, B.A., LL.B., Portland, Maine. (Identifies William as Joanna's spouse, short bio on children.)
* [http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/ ''Our Royal, Titled, Noble and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins''] database online, compiled by Mr. Marlyn Lewis, follows Douglas Richardson's ''Magna Carta Ancestry''. It includes Magna Carta Surety Barons and many of their descendants. [http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2515.htm#i75575 ''William Towne'']
* Filby, P. William, ed. ''Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s'', (Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009)
::: Salem, Massachusetts; Year: 1635; Page Number: 67.::: William Towne Arrival Date: 1635 Arrival Place: Salem, Massachusetts: refers to William Towne who married Joanna Blessing, lived in Salem, and died Topsfield, Massachusetts about 1672.
::: Cambridge, Massachusetts; Year: 1637; Page Number: 290.::: William Towne Arrival Date: 1637 Arrival Place: Cambridge, Massachusetts: refers to [[Towne-493|William Towne]] who married Martha, died in Cambridge, Massachusetts at age 80 in 1685, see [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-vii-t-y/image/?pageName=76&volumeId=13260&rId=235839632 Great Migrations]
* ''Vital Records of Topsfield, MA, to the End of the Year 1849'', Compiler: Topsfield Historical Society Publication: (Topsfield, Massachusetts, 1903)
* [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=25380 ''The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport, Maine''] [database on-line]. Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Davis, Walter Goodwin,. The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine. Portland, Me.: Southworth Press, 1927. Page 3. NOTE: Author Goodwin takes Williams baptism date (see image) and his court statement about his age, and find evidence that William Towne of Salem is the son of John and Elizabeth (Clarke) Towne.
* Hubbard, Edwin. [https://archive.org/stream/townefamilymemor1880hubb#page/9/mode/1up ''The Towne Family Memorial: Compiled from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Towne Manuscripts, Public and Family Records; for A.N. Towne Esq., San Francisco, Cal.''] (Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880) (''includes copes of wills of Richard and Ann Towne'' of LIncolnshire, thought to be parents of William Towne; see pages 9 - 14)
* Stearns, Ezra S. ''[[Space:Genealogical_and_Family_History_of_the_State_of_New_Hampshire|Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire]]'' (Lewis Publishing Company, 1908) [https://books.google.com/books?id=cfoI0UIOCKQC&pg=PA588#v=onepage&q&f=true Vol. 2, Page 588] (''gives no names or data on William Towne's parents'')
* Towne, Edwin Eugene, [https://archive.org/stream/descendantsofwil1901town#page/11/mode/1up ''The descendants of William Towne : who came to America on or about 1630 and settled in Salem, Mass'' (Newtonville, MA: E. E. Towne, 1901), p. 11]. (''Identifies William of Salem, MA, as the "supposed son of Richard Towne, of Braceby, England.'')
* Edmund West, comp. ''[[Space:Family Data Collection - Deaths|Family Data Collection - Deaths]]'' (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001) Death date: 30 April 1685 Death place: Topsfield, Essex, MA, USA. COMMENT: The death date of 1685 relates to [[Towne-493|William Towne]] of Cambridge. This entry demonstrates the issues with a derivative datase: William Towne of Topsfield died 24 June 1673. This source has conflated the two men, whose only similarity is their name.
* Public Member Trees, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network,Inc., 2006. Original data - Family trees submitted by Ancestry members. [https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/2059258/person/-1343952987/facts ''Ancestry Trees - William Towne of Topsfield''] (These trees currently [viewed 11 Mar 2017] all show parents as Richard & Ann of Braceby)
[[Category: Topsfield, Massachusetts]]
== Biography ==William Towne was probably the child who was baptised on 18 March 1598/9 in St. Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, the son of [[Towne-547|John]] & [[Clarke-3961|Elizabeth (Clark) Towne]].[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-CW?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 ''England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997''], database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 58 of 304; Record Office, Norwich. "Wyllyam Towne son of John & Elizabeth"William and Joanna Blessing were married in St. Nicholas church on April 25, 1620.[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2D-DK?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 ''England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997''], database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 172 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.::: " William Towne, the emigrant ancestor of the Towne family of Topsfield, was married and had six children baptized in the parish church of St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. Towne's age was estimated in 1660 as 'three score years,' when he testified in a court proceeding, which would indicate the approximate date of his birth as 1600. There can be no reasonable doubt, therefore, that he was that William, son of John and Elizabeth Towne, who was baptized at St. Nicholas' on March 18, 1598/9."Davis, Walter Goodwin, [https://archive.org/stream/ancestryoflieuta00davi#page/3/mode/1up ''The Ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne 1737-1793 of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine'' (Portland, Maine: The Southworth Press, 1927), p.3.]
: Their first six children were also baptised in St. Nicholas Church.[https://familysearch.org/search/film/004033324?cc=1416598 Parish registers for St. Nicholas' Church, Yarmouth, LDS Film #Film # 004033324] For specific images, see section entitled "Children" William died, probably in Topsfield, before 24 June 1673, the date his widow was granted administration on his estate.[https://archive.org/stream/probaterecordsof02mass#page/358/mode/1up ''The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674'' (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358]
=== Baptism ===:Baptized: 18 Mar 1598/9, St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England:: "Wyllyam Towne son of John & Elizabeth"[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-CW?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch , Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 58 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
=== Marriage ===
:: 25 April 1620, Great Yarmouth, County Norfolk, England:: They were married in St. Nicholas' church. "In this church, founded in A.D. 1123, dedicated to St. Nicholas, in 1251, and still retaining the name were married, April 25, 1620, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, and here their six first children were baptized."Hubbard, Edwin. [https://archive.org/stream/townefamilymemor1880hubb#page/9/mode/1up ''The Towne Family Memorial: Compiled from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Towne Manuscripts, Public and Family Records; for A.N. Towne Esq., San Francisco, Cal.''] (Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880) (''includes copes of wills of Richard and Ann Towne'' of LIncolnshire, thought to be parents of William Towne; see pages 9 - 14)''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne'' pages 14-16[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2D-DK?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 172 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
=== Children ===: Baptized at St. Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England::: Rebecca: 21 Feb. 1620/1, married Francis Nurse[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2Z-43?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 95 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: John: 16 Feb. 1622/3 (presumed died in infancy)[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-JT?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 97 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Susanna: 26 Oct. 1625 (presumed died in infancy)[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-JT?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 99 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Edmund: 22 June 1628, married Mary Browning[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2H-1C?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 102 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Jacob: 11 March 1631/2, married Catherine Symonds[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2X-QZ?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 106 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Mary: 24 Aug. 1634, married Isaac Esty[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L26-KK?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 109 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
: Probably born Topsfield::: Sarah: married 1st, 11 Jan. 1660, Edward Bridges, 2nd Peter Cloyes
:: Joseph: born about 1639, married Phebe Perkins
=== Immigration ===:: Arrival: 1635 Salem, Massachusetts Filby, P. William, ed. ''Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s'', (Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009)
=== Death ===:: Died: before 24 JUN 1673, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts, (date of admin. granted to widow: 24:4:1673)''The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674'' (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358]
=== Probate ===::: "On 24 June 1673[https://archive.org/stream/probaterecordsof02mass#page/358/mode/1up ''The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674'' (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358] (24:4:1673), administration was granted to Johana Towne on the estate of William Towne of Topsfield, her late husband."::: "On 17 Jan 1682, petition for settlement of a small estate left the undersigned by their father, who died ten years ago leaving no will, but left the estate in the hands of their mother who was appointed administratrix and the estate remained unsettled until her death, and now they desire that the following division be allowed: the land to be equally divided between his three sons, Edmond, Jacob and Joseph and the moveables equally divided between the three daughters, Rebecka, Mary, and Sarah." ::: "Signed by Mary Towne relict of Edmond, Jacob Towne, Josep Towne, Francis Nurs with the consent of Rebeka, Mary Esty formerly Towne, Sarah Bridges. Allowed by the court at Ipswich 10 April 1683."
=== Parents ''Our Royal, Titled, Noble and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins'', profile for [http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2515.htm#i75575 ''William Towne''] ===
:: [[Towne-547|John Towne]] of Great Yarmouth, 1570 – 1627
:: [[Clarke-3961|Elizabeth Clarke]] of Great Yarmouth, 1569 – 1630: Proof published by Lois Payne Hoover,''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'', by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010, 3rd printing 2015), page 1-5 ''The Towne Family'', page 1, Endnotes page 5. See parish register of Blundeston/Flexton, Suffolk, England, marriage of John Towne and Elizabeth Clarke, 20 Sept. 1597. John Towne and Elizabeth Clarke are accepted by the Towne Family Association as the parents of William Towne.
=== Notes ===* Married in St. Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth, England. Six of his children baptized there too.
* Sailed either from Great Yarmouth or Bristol for America. Came to Salem in 1632 and moved to Topsfield, Massachusetts in 1652
* First record in Salem, Massachusetts. Was granted "a little neck of land right over against his house on the other side of the river."
* AN INTERESTING FACT recently discovered is the first deed of sale of land by William Towne. In it he states he is a "Gardner." This term was used by those who grew and sold flowers. These men belonged to a Guild in old England. This would qualify William Towne's descendants for the new Lineage Organization "The Guild of Colonial Artisans and Tradesmen 1607 - 1783." If there is anyone interested in joining this organization to honor Willam Towne, please contact me at brbaylis@aol.com and I will certainly pass your name along to the President General of this group. At present we have three active Towne members who have joined. If you would like to know more about The Guild or colonial occupations their web site is: http://www.guildcolonialartsandtrades.org/
=== Research notes ===* Did '''not''' Die: 30 Apr 1685, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Source: [[#EWD|Edmund West]]. This date refers to the William Towne of Cambridge, and death date has been conflated with the death of William Towne of Salem and Topsfield, who died about 1672. see [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-vii-t-y/image/?pageName=76&volumeId=13260&rId=235839632 Great Migrations] and [https://archive.org/stream/newenglandhistor021wate#page/14/mode/1up NEHGR 1867 ''The Towne Family'', page 15]
* Did '''not''' arrive 1637 Cambridge, Massachusetts. This refers to a different [[Towne-493|William Towne]], lived and died in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1680 at age 80, see [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-vii-t-y/image/?pageName=76&volumeId=13260&rId=235839632 Great Migrations]
* The following children are '''not''' included in the work by William B. Towne, ''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne'', [https://archive.org/stream/newenglandhistor1867wate#page/16/mode/1up NEHGR Vol. 21(1867):16]:
:: Joseph Towne 1621 –
:: [[Towne-255|Martha Blessing Towne]] 1622 – 1703
:: [[Towne-728|Gardner Towne]] 1625 –
:: Joseph Towne 1630 –
:: Elizabeth Towne 1637 –
:: [[Towne-254|Uriah Towne]] 1641 – 1731
== Sources ==
: See also:* ''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'', by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010, 3rd printing 2015), Towne Family Association by Otter Bay Books, Baltimore, Maryland, page 1, William Towne.::: This Towne book was commissioned by the Towne Family Association. ''Towne Family'' won the 2011 Grand Prize from the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, and in the same year received the 2011 Award of Excellence for a Genealogy and Family History from the National Genealogical Society.
* The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2013.) Vol. 21, page 12-22, ''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne'', by William B. Towne.
* The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) Vol. 33, page 199-206. ''The Four Blessing Sisters'', by Walter Goodwin Davis, B.A., LL.B., Portland, Maine. (Identifies William as Joanna's spouse, short bio on children.)
* [http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/ ''Our Royal, Titled, Noble and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins''] database online, compiled by Mr. Marlyn Lewis, follows Douglas Richardson's ''Magna Carta Ancestry''. It includes Magna Carta Surety Barons and many of their descendants. [http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2515.htm#i75575 ''William Towne'']
* Filby, P. William, ed. ''Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s'', (Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009)
::: Salem, Massachusetts; Year: 1635; Page Number: 67.::: William Towne Arrival Date: 1635 Arrival Place: Salem, Massachusetts: refers to William Towne who married Joanna Blessing, lived in Salem, and died Topsfield, Massachusetts about 1672.
::: Cambridge, Massachusetts; Year: 1637; Page Number: 290.::: William Towne Arrival Date: 1637 Arrival Place: Cambridge, Massachusetts: refers to [[Towne-493|William Towne]] who married Martha, died in Cambridge, Massachusetts at age 80 in 1685, see [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-vii-t-y/image/?pageName=76&volumeId=13260&rId=235839632 Great Migrations]
* ''Vital Records of Topsfield, MA, to the End of the Year 1849'', Compiler: Topsfield Historical Society Publication: (Topsfield, Massachusetts, 1903)
* [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=25380 ''The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport, Maine''] [database on-line]. Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Davis, Walter Goodwin,. The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine. Portland, Me.: Southworth Press, 1927. Page 3. NOTE: Author Goodwin takes Williams baptism date (see image) and his court statement about his age, and find evidence that William Towne of Salem is the son of John and Elizabeth (Clarke) Towne.
* Hubbard, Edwin. [https://archive.org/stream/townefamilymemor1880hubb#page/9/mode/1up ''The Towne Family Memorial: Compiled from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Towne Manuscripts, Public and Family Records; for A.N. Towne Esq., San Francisco, Cal.''] (Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880) (''includes copes of wills of Richard and Ann Towne'' of LIncolnshire, thought to be parents of William Towne; see pages 9 - 14)
* Stearns, Ezra S. ''[[Space:Genealogical_and_Family_History_of_the_State_of_New_Hampshire|Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire]]'' (Lewis Publishing Company, 1908) [https://books.google.com/books?id=cfoI0UIOCKQC&pg=PA588#v=onepage&q&f=true Vol. 2, Page 588] (''gives no names or data on William Towne's parents'')
* Towne, Edwin Eugene, [https://archive.org/stream/descendantsofwil1901town#page/11/mode/1up ''The descendants of William Towne : who came to America on or about 1630 and settled in Salem, Mass'' (Newtonville, MA: E. E. Towne, 1901), p. 11]. (''Identifies William of Salem, MA, as the "supposed son of Richard Towne, of Braceby, England.'')
* Edmund West, comp. ''[[Space:Family Data Collection - Deaths|Family Data Collection - Deaths]]'' (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001) Death date: 30 April 1685 Death place: Topsfield, Essex, MA, USA. COMMENT: The death date of 1685 relates to [[Towne-493|William Towne]] of Cambridge. This entry demonstrates the issues with a derivative datase: William Towne of Topsfield died 24 June 1673. This source has conflated the two men, whose only similarity is their name.
* Public Member Trees, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network,Inc., 2006. Original data - Family trees submitted by Ancestry members. [http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=2059258&pid=-1343952987 ''Ancestry Trees - William Towne of Topsfield''] (These trees currently [viewed 11 Mar 2017] all show parents as Richard & Ann of Braceby)
-- MERGED NOTE ------------
Farmer
(3)William Towne was born circa 1598, as the son of John Towne and Elizabeth Clarke of Yarmouth, Norfolk County, England.
He was baptized in the St. Nicholas Parish Church, Great Yarmouth, England, on March 18, 1568/9.
William Towne married JOANNA BLESSING on March 25, 1620, in St. Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, England, and William died in 1673 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts.
In 1640, William Towne and his family emigrated to New England. William Towne was a freeman on April 18, 1637.
Joanna was the daughter of John Blessing of Somerlayton, Suffolk County, England.
When Joanne [nee Blessing] Towne (b. 1594) came to the colonies her sister, Alice [nee Blessing] Firmage (b. 1593) and her brother-in-law, Robert Buffam, husband of her late sister, Margaret [nee Blessing] (deceased) came too. Joanne Blessing was known as "Mother Goose." This was a misleading name, since it was her sister, Julian [nee Blessing] who married Thomas Goose.
THE CHILDREN OF WILLIAM TOWNE
1) Rebecca Towne was baptized on February 21, 1621, in Great Yarmouth, England. Rebecca married Frances Nurse, a tray maker, on August 24, 1644. Rebecca was hanged for witchcraft on June 19, 1692, [at age 61] in Salem, MA.
2) John Towne was baptized February 16, 1622 in Great Yarmouth, England. He was listed as an apprentice in England at age 13. John married Phebe Lawson, and he died in 1672 [at age 49].
3) Suzanna Towne was born October 20, 1625 in Great Yarmouth, England. Suzanna was baptized on October 26, 1625. Suzanna was named after her aunt. Suzanna died in July 29, 1672 [at age 47]. Suzanna was spared her sister's anquish and pain. She was not targeted as a witch.
4) Edmund Towne was born on June 22, 1628 and was baptized on July 28, 1628, in Great Yarmouth. Edmund apprenticed to Henry Skerry of Great Yarmouth. He sailed on either the Rose of Great Yarmouth, or the Henry and Dorothy of Ipswich. Both ships were commanded by William Andrews and his son, William. Skerry and his family settled in Salem, MA. Edmund married Mary Browning in 1652 [at age 24]. Their children were:
..... Abigail Towne married Thomas Perley
..... Samuel Towne married Elizabeth Knight [her line goes to U.S. President Calvin Coolidge]
.....Elizabeth Towne married (2) Elisha Perkins (1654-1791) of Topsfield in 1715.
5) Jacob Towne was baptized on March 11, 1632. Jacob married Catherine Symonds, daughter of Samuel Symonds (1693-1772) and Elizabeth Andrews, on June 26, 1657. He died November 22, 1704, in Topsfield, MA. [at age 72]. Their son:
..... John Towne married Mary Smith.
.....Katherine Towne (1662-1714) married Elisha Perkins in 1680.
6) Mary Towne was baptized August 24, 1634. He married Isaac Estey/Eastie. Mary was hanged on September 22, 1692, during the Salem witch trials [at age 58]. Their son was:
..... Isaac Estey, Jr. married Abigail Kimball.
7) Sarah Towne - born circa 1642, in Salem, MA. He married (1) Edmund Bridges (2) Peter Cloyes. Sarah Cloyes was accused of witchcraft, in 1692 [at age 53], and put into prison, and later released. She pressed charges for her unlawful arrest and the killing of her sisters. She received three gold sovereigns for each of them. The movie, Three Sovereigns For Sister Sarah is about this event. Her daughter was:
..... Hepzibah Cloyce, married Ebenezer Harrington.
8) Joseph Towne - born on September 3, 1639, in Salem, MA. Joseph married Phebe Perkins in 1665. Their children were:
..... Joseph Towne, Jr. married Margaret Case.
..... Susanna Towne married John Cummings
..... Martha Towne married Isaac Larrabee.
--------------------
Excerpt from "Essex Institute Historical Collections",
Volume 118 1982, page 203-- ...This article presents a small-scale pilot study of one seventeenth-century Massachusetts family in order to illustrate the feasibility and value of investigations which focus on kin networks and use genealogical material as a data base. The family chosen for the pilot study was that established in America by William Towne, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts, in the early seventeenth century. Very little is known about the ancestry of William Towne, or about his reasons for coming to New England, but it is believed that he was the son of Richard and Ann Towne of Lincoln County in England, and it has been established that he was married to Joanna Blessing in the Church of St. Nicholas at Yarmouth, Norfolk County, in 1620...
William Towne recieved a land grant in Salem, Massachutess in 1640 and lived there until 1652 when he moved to Topsfield, Massachusetts where he died in 1672. His wife died about 1682. Two of their children were daughters Mary (Towne) Estey and Rebecca (Towne) Nourse. During the Salem witch hunts, Rebecca and Mary were jailed. Rebecca was found guilty and executed. Later Mary was arrested the 2nd time, tried, found guilty and executed. She entered a long petition to the judge in which she begged not for her own life which she knew must be in vain but that no more innocent blood be shed.
--------------------
===Estate of William Towne of Topsfield===
Essex probate Docket #27923
Source: Ipswich Deeds, Vol 4, p515
Salem Quarterly Court Records 5:66
Petition for settlement of a small estate left the undersigned by their father; who died ten years ago leaving no will, but left his estate in the hands of their mother who was appointed administratrix and the estate remained unsettled until her death and now they desire that the following division may be allowed: the land to be divided equally to his three sons, Edmund, Jacob and Joseph and the moveables equally to the three daughters, Rebecka, Mary, and Sarah: also the three borthers to pay all debts now due and what charges shall after arise in settlement of the estate to be equally borne by all six. Adted Jan 17th, 1682.
signed by Mary (her mark) Towne relict of Edmond
Jacob Towne
Josep (his mark) Towne
Francis (his Mark) Nurs with the consent of Rebeha
Mary (her mark) Esly, formerly Mary Townes
Sarah (her mark) Bridges
Witnessd
John How
John Pritchet
Allowed by the court at Ipswich April 10,1683
--------------------
According to Savage, Vol 4, Pp 317-18:
>TOWNE, WILLIAM, Salem, had m. at Yarmouth, Co. Norfolk, 25 March 1620 or 1, Joana Blessing, and prob. came over the water, 1635, tho. in what ship is not seen; in Dec. 1640, he had gr. of ld. at S. but Felt spells the name Townde. He rem. to Topsfield a. 1651; and his ch. bapt. a Y. were Rebecca, Feb. 1622; John, Feb. 1624; Susanna, Oct. 1625; Edmund, June 1628; Jacob, Mar. 1633; Mary, 24 Aug. 1634; and at Salem, Sarah; and Joseph, b. 1639; and d. 1672, leav. all these ch. exc. John and Susanna. Farmer in MS. makes him the freem. of 1637, in wh. I do not concur. His wid. liv. a. ten yrs. Rebecca m. Francis Nurse, had eight ch. and was execut. for a witch, 19 July 1692, to wh. her deafness was the chief inducem. Mary m. Isaac Esty, had to ds. and was tr. on 9th execut. 22 Sept. 1692, under the same sad infatuat. She was the heroic woman, that in our day gives dignity to the cause, as set forth in Chandler's Crim. Trials. Sarah m. 11 Jan. 1660, Edmund Bridge or Bridges, had five ch. and next m. Peter Cloyes, had two or three more, and was a gr. sufferer in the witchr. proceed. barely escap. with life.
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* http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/a/r/Tami-K-Barton/GENE4-0002.html
* http://www.moonsmusings.com/genealogy/towne.html
* http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/polcrt/Towne.html
* http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~degroff/pafg235.htm#5005
* http://stanleyhistory.net/descnarratives/blessingwilliam7662.shtml
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On, Nov 5, 1608, John, a gardener, apprenticed his son, William, for 14 years (the term to begin on Feb. 2, 1609) as a gardener.
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http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=41602474
William Towne
Birth: 1598
Norwich
Norfolk, England
Death: 1673
Topsfield
Essex County
Massachusetts, USA
~MY ANCESTOR~
William Towne, son of John Towne, was baptized in the church at St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England on March 18, 1598/9. He married Joanna Blessing/Blyssyne on April 25, 1620 in the same church in England.
Although there is no known record of immigration, it is believed by Savage and Virkus that the family came to America in 1635.
The first record of William Towne in America appears in the town book of Salem some time between 1635 and 1640 (undated) when he received a land grant "a littleneck of Land right over against his house on the other side of the River" in the area called North Fields.
In 1651, he purchased land in the neighboring town of Topsfield from William Paine, which consisted of forty acres, part plow land, meadow, and unplowed land. He sold his Salem property to Henry Bullock in 1652 and bought additional land at Topsfield in 1656. He was made a commoner in Topsfield in 1664. When his son Joseph married Phebe Perkins, he deeded 2/3 of his property to Joseph.
Children of William & Joanna Towne: (the first six were baptized at St. Nicholas)
* 1. Rebecca (Towne) Nurse bapt. Feb. 21, 1621-2, executed July 19, 1692 (Salem Witch Trials), m. Francis Nurse/Nourse
* Jacob Towne (1632-1704), m. Catherine Symonds
* 6. Mary (Towne) Esty bpt. Aug. 24, 1634 executed Sept. 22, 1692 (Salem Witch Trials), m. Isaac Esty
* 7. Sarah (Towne) Bridge/Bridges m. (1) Edmund Bridges and (2) Peter Cloyes (barely escaped execution during the Salem Witch Trials).
* 8. Joseph Towne bpt. Sept. 3, 1639 and died 1717, m. (1) Phebe and (2) Emma about 1687
Administration was granted April 24, 1673 to "Johana" Towne on the estate of William Towne.
The estate of William Towne of Topsfield appears on Essex Probate Docket #27923
Admitted Jan. 17, 1682. Petition for settlement of the estate of William Towne who died 10 years before leaving no will, but left his estate in the hands of their mother which remained unsettled until her death. Now they desire that it be divided equally between the three sons: Edmund, Jacob and Joseph; and the moveables equally to the three daughters: Rebecka, Mary and Sarah. Signed by Mary, relict of Edmund Towne, Jacob Town, Joseph Towne, Francis "Nurs" consort of Rebeka, Mary Esty, and Sarah Bridges.
Family links:
Spouse:
* Joanna Blessing Towne (1594 - 1682)
Children:
# Susanna Towne Hayward*
# Rebecca Towne Nurse (1622 - 1692)*
# John Towne (1624 - ____)*
# Edmund Towne (1628 - 1678)*
# Jacob Towne (1631 - 1704)*
# Mary Towne Easty (1634 - 1692)*
# Sarah Towne Clayes (1637 - 1703)*
# Joseph Towne (1639 - 1713)*
Burial:
Pine Grove Cemetery
Topsfield
Essex County
Massachusetts, USA
BIOGRAPHY: The Towne Family Memorial
A. N. Towne, Esq. San Francisco, Cal.
Edwin Hubbard, Chicago, Ill.
Fergus Printing Compay, 1880 Page 19
"In this church, founded in A.D. 1123, dedicated to St. Nicholas, in 1251, and still retaining the name, were married, March 25, 1620, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, and here their six first children were baptized."
The next we hear of this family is at Salem, Essex Co., Mass., where, in the book of early grants, appears the following: "11, 8 mo., 1640, granted to Wm. Towne, a little neck of land right over against his house on the other side of the river." He is also referred to in the Court Records of the same year, thus: "17th st., last of 4th mo., and 1st, 5th mo., 1640. Wm Towne, pl. agt. Jn Cook def. In act of debt, Jury find for pl. some to be deputed to measure John Cook's land, and what is wanting of ffyve acres to abate 13s. 4d. p. acre: And costs 4s.: 0."
Wm. Towne's residence was in that part of Salem known as the "Northfields," and he remainded at this place till 1651, the year following the incorporation of the town of Topsfield, when he purchased a tract of land in the latter place of Wm. Paine, of Ipswich, "containing forty acres of ground or thereabouts, whereof six acres is by the seller, which Wm. Howard, of Topsfield, built, and about thirty-two acres joining up to the sayd six acres eastward of it, part of which is plow ground, another part is meadow, another part is upland unploughed, all lying together, having the meadow and the plow ground of the said Wm. Howard towards the east and the ground of Walter Roper towards the south or south-west. Also, a little piece of meddow of about two acres lying on the south side of the river, directly against the plains of the said Wm. Howard, having ye East and the said River towards ye North and upland towards the South."
In 1652, he sold his property in Salem to Harry Bullock, in 1656, purchased additional land in Topsfield, and in 1663, "in consideration of natural affection and the contemplated marriage of their sonn, Joseph Towne, with Phebe Perkins, the dau. of Thomas Perkins, "he and his wife conveyed to their said son, Joseph, two-thirds "of the home wherein they then did dwell, with Barne, out-houses, yard, gardens, orchards, lying situate and being in Topsfield, together with a parcel of broken upland by the medow side, only a cartway reserved between the said land and the meadow towards the South, and the land of Jacob Towne towards the East, and the land of Jacob Towne and Edmund Towne towards the North, and the lands of Isaac Estie towards the the West-also, another parcel of land broke un and unbroken, containing, by estimation, thirty acres, bounded by the way towards the South-East and North-East, and a way also towards the South-West; the land of Zacheus Gould and Edmund Towne towards the North-West, and the land of Edmund Towne and Isaac Estie towards the North. Also, a parcel of meddow lying on the North side of the river, having the river for the bounds towards the South, a hiqhway towards the West, and a way towards the North, and meddow of Jacob Towne towards the East, containing, by estimation, fourteen acres." All these conveyances being made with the desire that their said son, Joseph, should have the first refusal of the remaining third when the same should be for sale. William Towne. The emigrant, died at Topsfield, Mass., about 1672, and from the final settlement of the estate of his widow, she seems to have survived him about 10 years. "Taken away from the Evil to Come," might have been the epitaph on their tombstone; in view of the terrible fate of their daughters, some ten years later.
(Note: His daughter Rebecca (Towne) Nourse was hung as a witch in Salem July 19, 1692, and her sister Mary Towne was hung 2 months and 3 days later, Sarah Towne narrowly escaped the same fate as her sisters. WCK)
Perley in his History of Salem states that William Towne was the son of John and Elizabeth Towne of Yarmouth, and that he was baptized in the Saint Nicholas Parish Church there on March 18, 1598/9. William1 Towne and his wife remained at Yarmouth, and six children were born to them there, but in or about 1640 they emigrated to New England, and settled at Salem, Massachusetts. At Salem, on October 11, 1640, the town "Graunted to William Townde a little neck of land right over against his howse on the other side of the river to be sett out by the towne." In June and July, 1640, he had brought an action of debt against John Cook, at Salem. He and Francis Nurse asked the town for a grant of land on March 20, 1647, and it was then ordered that the land be surveyed before a decision should be made as to granting it. In 1652 he removed to Topsfield, Massachusetts, where he purchased forty acres of land, and made further purchases in 1656. In 1652 he sold his land at Salem. He was listed among those to share in the common lands at Topsfield in 1661. In 1663 he gave his son, Joseph Towne, two-thirds of his property at Topsfield, reserving only a third share for himself. He died at Topsfield in 1673, and administration on his estate was granted to his widow, June 24, 1673. His widow died in or about 1682, and on January 17, 1682, the six children signed a petition for the settlement of her estate.
According to "The Four Blessing Sisters", by Walter Goodwin Davis, an article in the American Genealogists, Vol 33 pages 199 - 206; "Although William is first recorded at Salem in 1640, it is possible that the family emigrated a few years earlier, with the Buffums and the Firmages. The eldest son, Edmund, who was apprenticed to Henry Skerry in Great Yarmouth, sailed with his master in 1637, either on the Rose of Great Yarmouth, or the Henry and Dorothy of Ipswich, two vessels commanded by Wm. and William Andrews Jr., arriving in Boston in June. Skerry and his family settled in Salem.
Upon the east coast of England, 120 miles northeast from London is the old town of Yarmouth. Among its venerable buildings is St. Nicholas Church (founded A.D. 1123). In which on 25 March, 1620, William Towne and Joanna Blessing were m. They were the grandparents of John, the leading man in the English settlement at Oxford. Twenty years after this m. six of their ch. had been baptized in that Church and the family joined the emigrants to America. They resided first at "Northfields," Salem, removed 1652 to Topsfield, there they settled (History of Oxford - page 720)
1637; Came to America on ship Rose from Great Yarmouth, leaving Ipswich and arriving 6/1637 with wife and 5 or 6 children. (Currents of Malice - McMillen)
4/18/1637; "Towne, William, gardiner, Salem, freeman 4/18/1637. (George Towne book)
5/1/1640; Plaintiff against Jonathan Cook, defendant in an action of debt, Jury found for the plaintiff "some to be deputed to measure John Cook's land and what is remaining to make up Goodman Town's land and if it be fyve acres to pay Towne fyve marks and ___ is wanting of fyve acres to abate 13s, 4d. p. acre; and costs 4s, : 0 " (NEHGS, Vol. 21, p. 15)
8/11/1640; granted "a little neck of Land right over against his house on the other side of the river" the section of Salem known as The Northfields. Believe the home in Salem to have been on the s side of Waters river about 1/8 mile e of Water Street. (Pope's Pioneers of Mass; Currents of Malice - McMillen; NEHGS, Vol. 21, p 15)
Abt 1646; Purchased of Jeffrey Massey, 20 acres and paid for it in wheat the same year. The land bordered on a swamp at the s, was common belonging to Salem at Ryal side, and ran 80 rods to the northward. This lot sold to Nathaniel Felton of Salem, on his removal to Topsfield. (George Towne book)
1651; Bought land in Topsfield from early proprietor William Paine of Ipswich, containing "forty acres of ground or thereabouts, whereof 6 acres is by the seller (cellar) which William Howard of Topsfield built, and about 32 acres joyning up to the sayd 6 acres eastward of it, part of which is plow ground, another part is meadow, another part is upland, unplowed, all lying together, having the meadow and the plow ground of the said William Howards towards the east, and the ground of Walter Roper towards the north and a certain river towards the south or southwest, also a little piece of meadow of about 2 acres lying on the south side of the river directly against the plains of the said William Howard, having ye grounds of the said William Howard towards ye East and the said River towards ye North and upland towards the South." His property was partly on the boundary line between Topsfield and Salem (the part known as "The Farms" or "Salem Village". The site of his home may have been on the w side of Main St, nearly opposite Maple St. and on the highest ground about midway of two apple trees formerly standing near the street. This site is near what is known as the Estey house, and on the opposite side of Main St. (George Towne book; Currents of Malice - McMillen) The Towne children were brought up in a house which was located "near the intersedtion of South Main Street and Salem Street." (Topsfield and the Witchcraft Tragedy -Topsfield Historical Society Publication) In the latter part of October 1756, Nathaniel Porter and Thomas Baker, selectman of Topsfield,sent a yeoman to Boston to transport the French family of Michael Dugoy to town in accordance with an order of the Province to distribute the French imigrants. John Gould had been engaged to find a house for them, so he rented from the tanner, David Balch for 4 s8 d per month, the old William Towne house, then over 100 years old (built1651). (the property later belonged to John L. Saltonstall). (History of Topsfield; NEHGS, Vol. 21, p 15)
1652; Salem property sold to Henry (Harry) Bullock. (Currents of Malice - McMillen; NEHGS, Vol. 21, p 15)
1656; Bought additional land in Topsfield. (Currents of Malice - McMillen; NEHGS, Vol. 21, p 15)
1656; New road laid out "from the ford nigh to the house of William Towne, through the lands of said William Towne, William Howard, Jacob Towne, Edmund Towne, and George Buckner..." Edmond one of the men empowered by the town to lay out the road. (Currents of Malice - McMillen)
The records of the town of Topsfield show that the road to Salem which bordered Salem Village began upon John Porter's farm, and went through the lands of William Towne, and his sons, Jacob and Edmund. (Currents of Malice - Persis W. McMillen)
1660; At a county court held at Salem, in the case of Henry Bartholomew plaintiff, Jacob Towne as defendant; William, Edmund and Joseph Towne were witnesses, and in their evidence William stated that he was three score years old, Edmund that he was thirty one years of age, and Joseph that he was about one and twenty. (NEHGS, Vol. 21, p. 16, Pope's - Pioneers of MA)
1661; Name appears with Isaac Esty, Jacob and Edmond Towne on Topsfield's original list of thirty commoners. (Currents of Malice - McMillen)
1663; With wife Joanna, deeded 2/3 of the home they live in, the barn, outhouses, yard, gardens, orchards, "lying situate and being in Topsfield, together with a parcel of broken upland by the meadow side, only a cartway reserved between the said land and the meadow towards the South, and the land of Jacob Towne towards the East, and the land of Jacob Towne and Edmund Towne towards the North, and the Lands of Isaac Estie towards the West - also another parcell of land broke up and upbroken, containing an estimation of thirty acres, bounded by the way towards the Southeast and Northeast, and a way also towards the Southwest; the land of Zacheus Gould and Edmund Towne towards the Northwest and the land of Edmund Towne and Isaac Estie towards the North. Also a parcell of meddow lying on the North side of the river, having the river for the bounds towards the South, a highway towards the West, and a way towards the North, and meddow of Jacob Towne towards the East, containing by estimation fourteen acres." to son Joseph just prior to his marriage with Phebe Perkins; "In consideration of natural affection and the contemplated marriage of our son Joseph Towne to Phebe Perkins..." Joseph also to have first refussal of the remaining 1/3 when it should be for sale. (George Towne book; Pope's Pioneers of MA; NEHGS, Vol. 21, p 15)
1664; He and wife dismissed from church at Salem to church at Topsfield. (Currents of Malice - McMillen)
1664; Paid only 4 shillings, tuppence to the minister. (Currents of Malice - McMillen)
4/24/1673; Administration granted to Joanna Towne of the estate of William Towne. She was to bring inventory to the next Ipswich court. (Salem Quarterly Court Records)
1/17/1683; Petition for settlement of a small estate left the undersigned by their father, who died ten years ago leaving no will, but left his estate in the hands of their mother who was appointed administatrix and the estate remained unsettled until her death, and now they desire that the following division may be allowed: the land to be divided equally to his three sons, Edmond, Jacob, and Joseph and the moveables equally to the three daughters, Rebecca, Mary, and Sarah; also the three brothers to pay all debts now due and what charges shall arise in settlement of the estate to be equally borne by all six. Signed by Mary (her mark) Towne relict of Edmond, Jacob Towne, Joseph (his mark) Towne, Francis (his mark) Nurse with the consent of Rebecca, Mary (her mark) Esty formerly Mary Towne, Sarah (her mark) Bridges. Witness: John How, John Pritchet
Allowed by the court at Ipswich April 10, 1683 (Ipswich Deeds, Vol 4 page 515)
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
Court Records - March 1681
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=5eed0f71-073f-4983-bcde-fd4406971591&tid=8976248&pid=-851235139
Ancestry of "Live" Amos Towne by Walter N. Davis R929.2 T744
William Towne's three daughters Rebecca, Mary and Sarah were tried for witch craft.
Had much land in America. Resided in Salem, Mass., before 1640. Resided in Ipswich, Mass., 1651. Resided in Topsfield, Mass., 1656.
BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM TOWNE OF TOPSFIELD
William Towne was born at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England and baptized at the Church of St. Nicholas in that city on March 18, 1598-99. According to the baptismal records, he was the son of John and Elizabeth Towne. His mother must have died in childbirth or soon after, for on September 1, 1600, John Towne married Margaret Walden. William was apprenticed to Abraham Roberts, a basketmaker in Yarmouth, on November 5, 1608. He was only ten years old, and the term of apprenticeship was 14 years. Before his apprenticeship was finished however, on April 25, 1620 William married Joanna Blessing at St. Nicholas. William and Joanna's first six children were also baptized at St. Nicholas.
William brought his family to New England before 1636, and they settled in Salem, where he was granted land in 1640. William and Joanna had two more children, Sarah and Joseph, born in Salem around that time. In 1651, William bought some land in the neighboring town of Topsfield. He sold his Salem land the next year and soon bought more land in Topsfield. On the occasion of his son Joseph's marriage in 1663, William deeded two thirds of his land to Joseph. William and Joanna probably lived with Joseph for the remainder of their days. William died in Topsfield on June 24, 1673, and his widow Joanna was named administrator. His estate wasn't probated until April, 1683, soon after the death of Joanna, when the estate was distributed among his children.
Three of William and Joanna's daughters were accused in the Salem Witch Trials. Two of them, Rebecca Nurse and Mary Esty, were hung. Sarah Cloyes escaped from the Ipswich jail before she could be executed.
Source: WFT Archive # 2, Pedigree # 1060
From"The Pioneers of Massachusetts," by Charles Henry Pope, published by Genealogical Publishing company of Baltimore, MD: "In Salem in 1637, removed to Topsfield. With wife Joanna, deeded land to son Josepn in 1663 when he was about to mary Phebe, doughter of Thomas Perkins."
William Towne
#18588, b. 18 March 1598/99, d. before 24 April 1673
William Towne|b. 18 Mar 1598/99\nd. b 24 Apr 1673|p42.htm#i18588|John Towne|b. c 1575\nd. 13 Sep 1627|p39.htm#i29739|Elizabeth Alice Clarke|b. 1578\nd. 7 Sep 1630|p7.htm#i29740|Robert Towne||p41.htm#i32956|Ann ?||p1.htm#i32957|||||||
ParentJohn Towne b. circa 1575, d. 13 September 1627
ParentElizabeth Alice Clarke b. 1578, d. 7 September 1630
ChartsDescendants of Robert Towne
Descent from Robert Towne to Researcher
Ancestors of Angeline Elizabeth Jessup
Relationship10th great-grandfather of Paul Edward Lawrence.
He was baptized St. Nicholas Parish Church on 18 March 1598/99 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.1 He married Joanna Blessing, daughter of John Blessing and Jone ?, St. Nicholas Parish Church on 25 April 1620 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.1,2 William died before 24 April 1673 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.3,4
William and his father, John, were both gardeners, despite the fact that William was apprenticed on 5 November 1608 "for 14 years from 2nd February next" to a basketmaker, Abraham Robbertes (Roberts) of Yarmouth.
In trying to determine exactly when William and Joanna brought their children to Salem, several items seem to indicate that it possibly occurred in the summer of 1635. On 25 April 1635, William apprenticed his son, John, to cooper, Lionel Gibson, for "a period of 8 years from 24th June next." From the Norwich Consistory & Archdeaconry Visitation Records, 26 November 1635, it was noted that William and Joanna were cited by the Archdeacon for failing to appear for communion and are noted as Separatists.
William and Joanna's children who came with them on the ship about 1635 were: Rebecca, age 14; Jacob, age 3½; and Mary, age 1. Edmund, age 7, supposedly came to America, at age 9, in June 1637 with the Henry Skerry family; however, there is some question if he is the same Edmund Towne who was listed as age 19 on the ship's manifest. Apprentice records in Great Yarmouth have no record of Edmund being bound to Skerry.1
The first record of William Towne in America appears in the town book of Salem in 1640 when he was granted "a little neck of Land right over against his house on the other side of the river." It the same year he sued John Cook in what seems to have been a border dispute and obtained a verdict and costs. It is probable that Towne was in Salem some years before 1640, however. A list of grants by the town to that portion of its territory called the North Fields is undated and the best opinion seems to indicate that it was made before and by 1635. William Towne's name appears on this list, and it was in the North Fields that he lived.1
In 1651 he purchased land in the neighboring town of Topsfield from William Paine of Ipswich. This farm contained forty acres "part of which is plow land, another part is meadow, another part is upland unplowed, all lying together," bounded by William Howard toward the east, Walter Roper, on the north and a "Sertaine River" toward the south. There were also included two acres on the south side of the river. He sold his Salem property to Henry Bullock in 1652 and bought additional land at Topsfield in 1656. In 1660 in testimony in a lawsuit his age was estimaged at three score years. He was made a commoner of Topsfield in 1661, and his wife was dismissed from the Salem Church to that in Topsfield in 1664.1
in 1663, William and Joanna Towne deeded 2/3 of the home they live in, the barn, outhouses, yard, gardens, orchards, "lying situate and being in Topsfield, together with a parcel of broken upland by the meadow side, only a cartway reserved between the said land and the meadow towards the South, and the land of Jacob Towne towards the East, and the land of Jacob Towne and Edmund Towne towards the North, and the Lands of Isaac Estie towards the West -- also another parcel of land broke up and upbroken, containing an estimation of thirty acres, bounded by the way towards the Southeast and Northeast, and a way also towards the Southwest; the land of Zacheus Gould and Edmund Towne towards the Northwest and the land of Edmund Towne and Isaac Estie towards the North. Also a parcel of meddow lying on the North side of the river, having the river for the bounds toward the South, a highway towards the West, and a way towards the North, and meddow of Jacob Towne towards the East, containing by estimating fourteen acres." to son Joseph Towne just prior to his marriage with Phebe Perkins; "In consideration of natural affection and the contemplated marriage of our son Joseph Towne to Phebe Perkins...." Joseph also to have first refusal of the remaining 1/3 when it should be for sale.1
Probate records of Essex County: Estate of William Towne of Topsfield. Administration granted 24: 4: 1673 to Johana Towne on the estate of William Towne, her late husband, and she was to bring in an inventory to the next Ipswich court.
Petition for settlement of a small estate left the undersigned by their father, who died ten years ago leaving no will, but left his estate in the hands of their mother who was appointed administratrix and the estate remained unsettled until her death, and now they desire that the following division may be allowed: the land to be divided equally to his three sons, Edmond, Jacob, and Joseph and the moveables equally to the three daughters, Rebecka, Mary, and Sarah; also the three brothers to pay all debts now due and what charges shall after arise in settlement of the estate to be equally borned by all six. Dated Jan. 17, 1682, Signed by Mary (her mark) Towne relict of Edmond, Jacob Towne, Josep (his mark) Towne, Francis (his mark) Nurs with the consent of Rebeka, Mary (her mark) Esty formerly Mary Towne, Sarah (her mark) Bridges. Witness: John How, John Pritchet. Allowed by the court at Ipswich Apr. 10, 1683. Ipswich Deeds, vol. 4, page 515.1
Family
Joanna Blessing b. 22 June 1595, d. circa 1682
Children
* Rebecca Towne b. 21 Feb 1620/21, d. 19 Jul 1692
* John Towne b. 16 Feb 1622/23, d. c 1672
* Susanna Towne b. 26 Oct 1625
* Edmund Towne b. 22 Jun 1628, d. 3 May 1678
* Jacob Towne b. 11 Mar 1631/32, d. 27 Nov 1704
* Mary Towne b. 24 Aug 1634, d. 22 Sep 1692
* Sarah Towne b. 11 Jan 1636, d. 1703
* Joseph Towne b. 3 Sep 1639, d. 21 Feb 1713
Citations
1. [S448] Newsletter, About Towne, published quarterly by the Towne Family Association, Inc.
2. [S834] Torrey, Clarence Almon. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1985.
3. [S375] Information from internet, gendex.com.
4. [S379] Sloan, Anne, letter. August 9, 1999, charts and reports, from Tennessee, to Lawrence, Paul E.. In possession of Paul E. Lawrence; Fairfield Glade, TN.
-- MERGED NOTE ------------
[[Category:Great Yarmouth, Norfolk]]
}
[[Category: Topsfield, Massachusetts]]
== Biography ==William Towne was probably the child who was baptised on 18 March 1598/9 in St. Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, the son of [[Towne-547|John]] & [[Clarke-3961|Elizabeth (Clark) Towne]].[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-CW?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 ''England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997''], database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 58 of 304; Record Office, Norwich. "Wyllyam Towne son of John & Elizabeth"William and Joanna Blessing were married in St. Nicholas church on April 25, 1620.[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2D-DK?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 ''England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997''], database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 172 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.::: " William Towne, the emigrant ancestor of the Towne family of Topsfield, was married and had six children baptized in the parish church of St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. Towne's age was estimated in 1660 as 'three score years,' when he testified in a court proceeding, which would indicate the approximate date of his birth as 1600. There can be no reasonable doubt, therefore, that he was that William, son of John and Elizabeth Towne, who was baptized at St. Nicholas' on March 18, 1598/9."Davis, Walter Goodwin, [https://archive.org/stream/ancestryoflieuta00davi#page/3/mode/1up ''The Ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne 1737-1793 of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine'' (Portland, Maine: The Southworth Press, 1927), p.3.]
: Their first six children were also baptised in St. Nicholas Church.[https://familysearch.org/search/film/004033324?cc=1416598 Parish registers for St. Nicholas' Church, Yarmouth, LDS Film #Film # 004033324] For specific images, see section entitled "Children" William died, probably in Topsfield, before 24 June 1673, the date his widow was granted administration on his estate.[https://archive.org/stream/probaterecordsof02mass#page/358/mode/1up ''The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674'' (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358]
=== Baptism ===:Baptized: 18 Mar 1598/9, St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England:: "Wyllyam Towne son of John & Elizabeth"[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-CW?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch , Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 58 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
=== Marriage ===
:: 25 April 1620, Great Yarmouth, County Norfolk, England:: They were married in St. Nicholas' church. "In this church, founded in A.D. 1123, dedicated to St. Nicholas, in 1251, and still retaining the name were married, April 25, 1620, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, and here their six first children were baptized."Hubbard, Edwin. [https://archive.org/stream/townefamilymemor1880hubb#page/9/mode/1up ''The Towne Family Memorial: Compiled from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Towne Manuscripts, Public and Family Records; for A.N. Towne Esq., San Francisco, Cal.''] (Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880) (''includes copes of wills of Richard and Ann Towne'' of LIncolnshire, thought to be parents of William Towne; see pages 9 - 14)''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne'' pages 14-16[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2D-DK?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 172 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
=== Children ===: Baptized at St. Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England::: Rebecca: 21 Feb. 1620/1, married Francis Nurse[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2Z-43?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 95 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: John: 16 Feb. 1622/3 (presumed died in infancy)[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-JT?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 97 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Susanna: 26 Oct. 1625 (presumed died in infancy)[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2C-JT?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 99 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Edmund: 22 June 1628, married Mary Browning[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2H-1C?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 102 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Jacob: 11 March 1631/2, married Catherine Symonds[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2X-QZ?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 106 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.:: Mary: 24 Aug. 1634, married Isaac Esty[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L26-KK?cc=1416598&wc=92BV-ZN1%3A30456601%2C29358102%2C30019701 "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997,"] database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 109 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
: Probably born Topsfield::: Sarah: married 1st, 11 Jan. 1660, Edward Bridges, 2nd Peter Cloyes
:: Joseph: born about 1639, married Phebe Perkins
=== Immigration ===:: Arrival: 1635 Salem, Massachusetts Filby, P. William, ed. ''Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s'', (Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009)
=== Death ===:: Died: before 24 JUN 1673, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts, (date of admin. granted to widow: 24:4:1673)''The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674'' (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358]
=== Probate ===::: "On 24 June 1673[https://archive.org/stream/probaterecordsof02mass#page/358/mode/1up ''The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674'' (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358] (24:4:1673), administration was granted to Johana Towne on the estate of William Towne of Topsfield, her late husband."::: "On 17 Jan 1682, petition for settlement of a small estate left the undersigned by their father, who died ten years ago leaving no will, but left the estate in the hands of their mother who was appointed administratrix and the estate remained unsettled until her death, and now they desire that the following division be allowed: the land to be equally divided between his three sons, Edmond, Jacob and Joseph and the moveables equally divided between the three daughters, Rebecka, Mary, and Sarah." ::: "Signed by Mary Towne relict of Edmond, Jacob Towne, Josep Towne, Francis Nurs with the consent of Rebeka, Mary Esty formerly Towne, Sarah Bridges. Allowed by the court at Ipswich 10 April 1683."
=== Parents ''Our Royal, Titled, Noble and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins'', profile for [http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2515.htm#i75575 ''William Towne''] ===
:: [[Towne-547|John Towne]] of Great Yarmouth, 1570 – 1627
:: [[Clarke-3961|Elizabeth Clarke]] of Great Yarmouth, 1569 – 1630: Proof published by Lois Payne Hoover,''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'', by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010, 3rd printing 2015), page 1-5 ''The Towne Family'', page 1, Endnotes page 5. See parish register of Blundeston/Flexton, Suffolk, England, marriage of John Towne and Elizabeth Clarke, 20 Sept. 1597. John Towne and Elizabeth Clarke are accepted by the Towne Family Association as the parents of William Towne.
=== Notes ===* Married in St. Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth, England. Six of his children baptized there too.
* Sailed either from Great Yarmouth or Bristol for America. Came to Salem in 1632 and moved to Topsfield, Massachusetts in 1652
* First record in Salem, Massachusetts. Was granted "a little neck of land right over against his house on the other side of the river."
* AN INTERESTING FACT recently discovered is the first deed of sale of land by William Towne. In it he states he is a "Gardner." This term was used by those who grew and sold flowers. These men belonged to a Guild in old England. This would qualify William Towne's descendants for the new Lineage Organization "The Guild of Colonial Artisans and Tradesmen 1607 - 1783." If there is anyone interested in joining this organization to honor Willam Towne, please contact me at brbaylis@aol.com and I will certainly pass your name along to the President General of this group. At present we have three active Towne members who have joined. If you would like to know more about The Guild or colonial occupations their web site was: [https://web.archive.org/web/20190615154747/http://www.guildcolonialartsandtrades.org/ (Archive.org via the Wayback Machine)]
=== Research notes ===* Did '''not''' Die: 30 Apr 1685, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Source: [[#EWD|Edmund West]]. This date refers to the William Towne of Cambridge, and death date has been conflated with the death of William Towne of Salem and Topsfield, who died about 1672. see [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-vii-t-y/image/?pageName=76&volumeId=13260&rId=235839632 Great Migrations] and [https://archive.org/stream/newenglandhistor021wate#page/14/mode/1up NEHGR 1867 ''The Towne Family'', page 15]
* Did '''not''' arrive 1637 Cambridge, Massachusetts. This refers to a different [[Towne-493|William Towne]], lived and died in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1680 at age 80, see [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-vii-t-y/image/?pageName=76&volumeId=13260&rId=235839632 Great Migrations]
* The following children are '''not''' included in the work by William B. Towne, ''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne'', [https://archive.org/stream/newenglandhistor1867wate#page/16/mode/1up NEHGR Vol. 21(1867):16]:
:: Joseph Towne 1621 –
:: [[Towne-255|Martha Blessing Towne]] 1622 – 1703
:: [[Towne-728|Gardner Towne]] 1625 –
:: Joseph Towne 1630 –
:: Elizabeth Towne 1637 –
:: [[Towne-254|Uriah Towne]] 1641 – 1731
== Sources ==
: See also:* ''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'', by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010, 3rd printing 2015), Towne Family Association by Otter Bay Books, Baltimore, Maryland, page 1, William Towne.::: This Towne book was commissioned by the Towne Family Association. ''Towne Family'' won the 2011 Grand Prize from the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, and in the same year received the 2011 Award of Excellence for a Genealogy and Family History from the National Genealogical Society.
* The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2013.) Vol. 21, page 12-22, ''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne'', by William B. Towne.
* The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) Vol. 33, page 199-206. ''The Four Blessing Sisters'', by Walter Goodwin Davis, B.A., LL.B., Portland, Maine. (Identifies William as Joanna's spouse, short bio on children.)
* [http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/ ''Our Royal, Titled, Noble and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins''] database online, compiled by Mr. Marlyn Lewis, follows Douglas Richardson's ''Magna Carta Ancestry''. It includes Magna Carta Surety Barons and many of their descendants. [http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2515.htm#i75575 ''William Towne'']
* Filby, P. William, ed. ''Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s'', (Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009)
::: Salem, Massachusetts; Year: 1635; Page Number: 67.::: William Towne Arrival Date: 1635 Arrival Place: Salem, Massachusetts: refers to William Towne who married Joanna Blessing, lived in Salem, and died Topsfield, Massachusetts about 1672.
::: Cambridge, Massachusetts; Year: 1637; Page Number: 290.::: William Towne Arrival Date: 1637 Arrival Place: Cambridge, Massachusetts: refers to [[Towne-493|William Towne]] who married Martha, died in Cambridge, Massachusetts at age 80 in 1685, see [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-vii-t-y/image/?pageName=76&volumeId=13260&rId=235839632 Great Migrations]
* ''Vital Records of Topsfield, MA, to the End of the Year 1849'', Compiler: Topsfield Historical Society Publication: (Topsfield, Massachusetts, 1903)
* [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=25380 ''The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport, Maine''] [database on-line]. Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Davis, Walter Goodwin,. The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine. Portland, Me.: Southworth Press, 1927. Page 3. NOTE: Author Goodwin takes Williams baptism date (see image) and his court statement about his age, and find evidence that William Towne of Salem is the son of John and Elizabeth (Clarke) Towne.
* Hubbard, Edwin. [https://archive.org/stream/townefamilymemor1880hubb#page/9/mode/1up ''The Towne Family Memorial: Compiled from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Towne Manuscripts, Public and Family Records; for A.N. Towne Esq., San Francisco, Cal.''] (Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880) (''includes copes of wills of Richard and Ann Towne'' of LIncolnshire, thought to be parents of William Towne; see pages 9 - 14)
* Stearns, Ezra S. ''[[Space:Genealogical_and_Family_History_of_the_State_of_New_Hampshire|Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire]]'' (Lewis Publishing Company, 1908) [https://books.google.com/books?id=cfoI0UIOCKQC&pg=PA588#v=onepage&q&f=true Vol. 2, Page 588] (''gives no names or data on William Towne's parents'')
* Towne, Edwin Eugene, [https://archive.org/stream/descendantsofwil1901town#page/11/mode/1up ''The descendants of William Towne : who came to America on or about 1630 and settled in Salem, Mass'' (Newtonville, MA: E. E. Towne, 1901), p. 11]. (''Identifies William of Salem, MA, as the "supposed son of Richard Towne, of Braceby, England.'')
* Edmund West, comp. ''[[Space:Family Data Collection - Deaths|Family Data Collection - Deaths]]'' (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001) Death date: 30 April 1685 Death place: Topsfield, Essex, MA, USA. COMMENT: The death date of 1685 relates to [[Towne-493|William Towne]] of Cambridge. This entry demonstrates the issues with a derivative datase: William Towne of Topsfield died 24 June 1673. This source has conflated the two men, whose only similarity is their name.
* Public Member Trees, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network,Inc., 2006. Original data - Family trees submitted by Ancestry members. [https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/2059258/person/-1343952987/facts ''Ancestry Trees - William Towne of Topsfield''] (These trees currently [viewed 11 Mar 2017] all show parents as Richard & Ann of Braceby)
Events
| Birth | 18 Mar 1598 |  | |||
| Birth | Bef 18 Mar 1599 | Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England | |||
| Baptism | 18 Mar 1599 | ||||
| Christen | 18 Mar 1599 | Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England | |||
| Christen | 21 May 1603 | Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England | |||
| Marriage | 25 Mar 1620 | Joannah "Jone" Blessing | |||
| Marriage | 25 Apr 1620 | St. Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England - Joannah "Jone" Blessing | |||
| Emigration | 1632 | England | |||
| Residence | 1640 | Salem, Mass. | |||
| Residence | 1651 | Ipswich, Mass. | |||
| Residence | 1652 | Moved to Topsfield | |||
| Residence | 1656 | Topsfield, Mass. | |||
| Death | 1673 | ||||
| Death | Bef 24 Jun 1673 | Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony | |||
| Alt name | William Towne of Topsfield | ||||
| Reference No | 4543 | ||||
| Reference No | |||||
| Reference No | 60 | ||||
| Burial | Pine Grove Cemetery | ||||
| Christen | Ch. Of St. Nicholas, Grt. Yarmouth, Norfolk, Eng. | ||||
| Occupation | Gardiner | ||||
| Christen | Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk, England | ||||
| Reference No | 6313 |
Families
| Spouse | Joannah "Jone" Blessing (1599 - 1683) |
| Child | Joseph Towne (1639 - 1713) |
| Child | Rebecca Towne (1621 - 1692) |
| Child | John Towne (1623 - 1671) |
| Child | Susannah Towne (1625 - 1678) |
| Child | Sgt Edmund Towne (1628 - 1678) |
| Child | Jacob Towne I (1632 - 1704) |
| Child | Mary Towne (1634 - 1692) |
| Child | Sarah Towne (1639 - 1704) |
| Father | John Towne (1570 - 1627) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Clarke (1569 - 1630) |
Notes
Birth
According to the Towne Family Memorial compiled from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Towne Manuscripts, Public and Family Records (Author Edwin Hubbard, Pub. Fergus, Chicago 1880):http://www.archive.org/stream/townefamilymemor00hubb/#page/n38/mode/1up
We now come to William Towne, the Anglo-American progenitor of descendants who have settled in a majority of the States of the American Union. Of his birthplace or parentage we know nothing positively, though he may have come from the County of Lincoln in England, and may have been the son of Richard and Ann Towne of Braceby.
The earliest postive information we have related to him is at Yarmouth, Norfolk County, a city of considerable maritime importance located on the East coast of England, 108 miles in a direct line northeast of London.