Individual Details
Sgt Edmund Towne
(Abt 22 Jun 1628 - Bef 27 Jun 1678)
}
[[Category: English Immigrants to Massachusetts Bay Colony]][[Category: Topsfield, Massachusetts]] [[Category: King Philip's War]]
== Biography ==
: The son of William & Joanna (Blessing) Towne, Edmund Towne was baptized on June 28, 1628 at St. Nicholas Parish, Great Yarmouth, Norwich, Norfolk, England. He came to Massachusetts Bay Colony from England in 1637, probably on the good ship, ROSE OF YARMOUTH, at the age of eighteen apprenticed to Henry Skerry who settled in Salem. :: NOTE: See Research Notes for why it is unlikely that a. Edmund was ''not'' 18 in 1637 and b. why he was not apprenticed but came with his parents.
: He married Mary Browning on March 25, 1652 at Salem Village in Massachusetts Bay Colony .''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'', by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010), page 103-105The newly married couple settled in nearby Topsfield where Edmund was a juror in 1655, a commoner in 1661, and a freeman in 1664. In June, 1666, he was appointed Corporal of the Topsfield military company and in 1674, he was part of a committee to petition the Court for permission to form a military guard to protect the settlers at their work. He was called "Sergeant Towne" in the Topsfield records in 1677.
:: "Selectman, 1673; town constable, 1675; '''tything-man''', 1677; took oath as freeman, 1664; corpl. Topsfield mil. co., 1666; helped form mil. guard during King Philip's War." Fredrick A. Virkus, ''The Compendium of American Genealogy'', Vol V, (1930), 206
:: "He was a selectman in 1673, town constable in 1675, and '''tythingman''' in 1677 when he is called Sergeant Towne."''The Ancestry of Lieut, Amos Towne 1737-1793'', by Walter Goodwin Davis, (1927), page 7
: Among all his other work, Edmund was, like most of his neighbors at the time, a farmer. It was his main occupation.
=== Death ===: He died intestate (without a will). His wife presented an "Intent and Purpose" that the mind of the deceased was the same as hers regarding the distribution of his estate, which was to equally divide the estate among the five girls, only Sarah, the second daughter, being married and had already received 25 pounds.
: Administration was granted to the widow, Mary Towne, on April 27, 1678. The inventory was taken by FRANCIS PEABODY, Thomas' son-in-law, and Thomas Baker, which included land (excluding land inherited from father-in-law, THOMAS BROWNING) worth 292 pounds.
:: "The inventory of Edmund's estate was presented to the Essex Probate Court the 27th day of the 4th month, 1678. The fourth month was then June. Abstracts of Essex County Wills, Vol 2:277, read at the Essex Institute, Salem, states the inventory was taken 27 April 1678 and proved 3 May 1678. The confusion in months comes with later work changing the number of the month to the name, identifying it as ''New Style''.
=== Children ===
: Edmund & Mary (Browning) Towne had thirteen children, all (recorded) births at Topsfield, all marriages at Topsfield:# Mary (Towne) Prichard b. about 1653, (birth not recorded) m. John Prichard
# Thomas Towne b. about 1655, m. 17 Mar 1684/5 Sarah French
# Sarah (Towne) Howe b. 26 April 1657, m. bef 20 Dec 1686 John Howe# William Towne b. 13 Mar 1658/9, m. 22 Aug 1694 Margaret (Wilkins) Willard
# "daughter" Towne, 2 Sept 1661, died 7 Sept 1661
# Joseph Towne b. 2 Sept 1661, m. 10 Aug 1687 Amy Smith
# "son" Towne b. 7 March 1662/3, died 7 March 1662/3# Abigail (Towne) (Peabody) Perley, b. 6 Aug 1664, m. 12 Jan 1685/6 Jacob Peabody, 14 Jan 1695/6 Thomas Perley
# Benjamin Towne b. 26 May 1666, died bef 1678
# Rebecca Towne b. Feb. 2, 1668
# Elizabeth Town b. Nov. 2, 1669, m. Thomas Wilkins
# Samuel Towne (1673-1714), m. Elizabeth Knight
: Note: Edmund Towne was the brother of Rebecca (Towne) Nurse and Mary (Towne) Esty/Easty, who were both executed during the Salem Witch Trials.
=== Research Notes ===: '''Tithingman'''. Responsible, trustworthy men were asked to be "Tithingmen" in early colonial America. A tithingman was responsible for the general morals of the community, particularly to see that residents observed the Sabbath. He also inspected all Inns and Public Houses licensed to sell liquor, and reported all disorders, idle or disorderly persons, profane swearers or cursors and Sabbath breakers. Definition by Lois Payne Hoover, page 104, ''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'' (2010).
=== Disputed apprenticeship ===: Came to America aboard Rose of Yarmouth in 1637 as an apprentice to Henry Skerry who was a shoemaker specializing in cordovan shoes. [https://archive.org/details/genealogicaldic04savarich ''A Genealogical Dictionary Of The First Settlers Of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692''], On The Basis Of Farmer's Register, Volume 4'', by J. Savage, (Boston, Little Brown & co., 1862), page 316 - 317 The apprenticeship and voyage with Henry Skerry is repeated by virtually all early biographers.
: This is disputed by Lois Payne Hoover in ''Town Family (2010) on page 103::: No record has been found in Great Yarmouth of an Edmund Towne being apprenticed to Henry Skerry who was a cordwainer. The baptism/birth year of Edmund is not in doubt, but it would mean he was apprenticed at age nine. This was not done with the apprentices of cordwainers - children were not taken as their apprentices. The passenger Edmund with the cordwainer Skerry was written as "age 18" on the list of passengers, who were examined upon boarding. They would not have mistaken a nine year old boy for an eighteen year old man. Lois Hoover's conclusion from this and other logic is that Edmund Towne arrived with his parents like most other children. [Their ship log has not been discovered.]
=== Details of Probate & Inventory ===: From FTM WWW site of Tami K Barton. Notes for EDMUND TOWNE: 238 Probate Records of Essex County, Estate of Edmond Towne of Topsfield :: "The intent and purpose of Edmond Towne presented by Mary his wife Conscernin his state presented to this Hounored Court now sitting Imprimis The minde of the deceased was as is mine allsoe; and is consented too by all partys conscerned that the four sonns shall have all the Lands Equally devyed amongst them. And the rest of the estate to be Equally devyed amongst the 5: garles only Sarah the second Daughter is already marryed and hath rescieved to the vallue of twelve pounds already. So leaveing my Cause to God, and your Honnors scarious Consideration I subscrybe myselfe mary Towne. Only provided the widow's thirds of the whole be taken out furst. Jacob Towne deposed that Thomas Towne, eldest son of Edmund Towne,deceased, declared himself to be satisfied with an equal share with the rest of his brethren" Sworn in court, 27: 4: 1678. Proved by the widow, 27: 4: 1678, with the consent of all the surviving persons concerned. Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol 29, leaf 30"
:: "Adminstration upon the estate of Edmond Towne was granted 27: 4: 1678, to Mary, the relict, who was to dispose of the estate according to the mind of the deceased, as by mutual agreement of all surviving persons concerned, which writing was allowed. An inventory was also presented and sworn to. Salem Quarterly Court Records, vol. 5, leaf 117"
:: "Inventory of the estate of Sargeant Edman Towne, taken at Topsfield, May 3, 1678, by Frances Pabody and Thomas Baker: Books, 1li.; wearing clothes, 7li. 14s.; linning sheetes and neckpins, 11li. 6s.; house and landes on the north of the Riuer, 220li.; upland and mado on the south side River, 72li.; five oxen and seven coues, 52li.; young Cattel, 19li. 17s.; shepe and lambes, 6li.; two horses, 6li.; swine, 8li.; iron tooles, 3li.; kittels and potes and other iron ware, 4li. 4s.;gones, 4li. 6s.; wheles and other lumbur, 6li. 3s.; a cubbard and cheastes, 2li. 10s.; bedsted and beddin, 16li. 10s.; pillin and saddel, 2li.; wooll and flax, 17s.; five barrels of sider, 2li. 10s.; woolin and linnin yarne, 2li. 10s.; homespon cloath, 7li. 10s.; corne and porke, 4li.; for halfe the farme which was given to Sargent Toune in Revertion by Thomas Browning; total, 453li. 12s. Depts owing, 26li. 3s. 3d.; by the death of one cow, 3li. 10s. Allowed in Salem court 27: 4:1678. Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol. 29, leaf 31."
== 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 103-105, Edmund 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 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. By Edwin Hubbard. Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880.
* 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.) [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/new-england-historical-and-genealogical-register/image/?pageName=16&volumeId=11581&rId=23488474 ''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne''], by William B. Towne, NEHGR Vol. 21, page 16
* Ancestry.com. [http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=Genealogy-glh35549156&gss=sfs28_ms_r_db&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Edmund&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Towne&gsln_x=0&MSAV=1&MSV=0&uidh=mv9 ''The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine''], [database on-line]. 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 7
-- MERGED NOTE ------------
}
[[Category: Massachusetts Bay Colony, Immigrants from England]][[Category: Topsfield, Massachusetts]] [[Category: King Philip's War]]
== Biography ==
The son of William & Joanna (Blessing) Towne, Edmund Towne was baptized on June 28, 1628 at St. Nicholas Parish, Great Yarmouth, Norwich, Norfolk, England. "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J9PW-BQP : 12 February 2018, Edm. Towne, ); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,526,327.He came to Massachusetts Bay Colony from England in 1637, probably on the good ship, ROSE OF YARMOUTH, at the age of eighteen apprenticed to Henry Skerry who settled in Salem. *NOTE: See Research Notes for why it is unlikely that a. Edmund was ''not'' 18 in 1637 and b. why he was not apprenticed but came with his parents.*Note: Edmund Towne was the brother of Rebecca (Towne) Nurse and Mary (Towne) Esty/Easty, who were both executed during the Salem Witch Trials.
Edmund married Mary Browning on March 25, 1652 at Salem Village in Massachusetts Bay Colony .''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'', by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010), page 103-105The newly married couple settled in nearby Topsfield where Edmund was a juror in 1655, a commoner in 1661, and a freeman in 1664. In June, 1666, he was appointed Corporal of the Topsfield military company and in 1674, he was part of a committee to petition the Court for permission to form a military guard to protect the settlers at their work. He was called "Sergeant Towne" in the Topsfield records in 1677.
He was a selectman in 1673, town constable in 1675, and '''tythingman''' in 1677 when he is called Sergeant Towne."''The Ancestry of Lieut, Amos Towne 1737-1793'', by Walter Goodwin Davis, (1927), page 7 Fredrick A. Virkus, ''The Compendium of American Genealogy'', Vol V, (1930), 206
Among all his other work, Edmund was, like most of his neighbors at the time, a farmer. It was his main occupation.
=== Children ===Edmund & Mary (Browning) Towne had thirteen children, all (recorded) births at Topsfield, all marriages at Topsfield:# Mary (Towne) Prichard b. about 1653, (birth not recorded) m. John Prichard
# Thomas Towne b. about 1655, m. 17 Mar 1684/5 Sarah French# Sarah (Towne) Howe b. 26 April 1655, m. bef 20 Dec 1686 John Howe "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHLP-KJW : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Sarah Towne, 26 Apr 1655; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 13; FHL microfilm 877,468.# William Towne b. 13 Mar 1658, m. 22 Aug 1694 Margaret (Wilkins) Willard "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHL2-CX2 : 10 February 2018), Edward Towne in entry for William Towne, 13 Mar 1658; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 49; FHL microfilm 877,468.# "daughter" Towne, 2 Sept 1661, died 7 Sept 1661 "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHL2-ZWG : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Towne, 02 Sep 1661; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 50; FHL microfilm 877,468.# Joseph Towne b. 2 Sept 1661, m. 10 Aug 1687 Amy Smith "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHL2-Z4X : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Joseph Towne, 02 Sep 1661; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 50; FHL microfilm 877,468.# "son" Towne born and died 7 March 1662 "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FH11-75H : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Towne, 07 Mar 1662; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, reference Bk C p 4; FHL microfilm 761,323.#Abigail (Towne) (Peabody) Perley, b. 6 Aug 1664, m. 12 Jan 1685/6 Jacob Peabody, 14 Jan 1695/6 Thomas Perley "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHL2-8MS : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Abigaill Towne, 06 Aug 1664; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 51; FHL microfilm 877,468.# Benjamin Towne b. 26 May 1666, died bef 1678 "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHLP-L8Q : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Benjamin Towne, 26 May 1666; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 14; FHL microfilm 877,468.
# Rebecca Towne b. Feb. 2, 1668# Elizabeth Town b. Nov. 2, 1669, m. Thomas Wilkins "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHL5-5MV : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Elizabeth Towne, 02 Nov 1669; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 47; FHL microfilm 877,468.# Samuel Towne, born 11 Feb 1672, m. Elizabeth Knight"Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHLG-X9W : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Samuell Towne, 11 Feb 1672; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 157; FHL microfilm 877,468.
=== Research Notes === '''Tithingman'''. Responsible, trustworthy men were asked to be "Tithingmen" in early colonial America. A tithingman was responsible for the general morals of the community, particularly to see that residents observed the Sabbath. He also inspected all Inns and Public Houses licensed to sell liquor, and reported all disorders, idle or disorderly persons, profane swearers or cursors and Sabbath breakers. Definition by Lois Payne Hoover, page 104, ''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'' (2010).
=== Disputed apprenticeship === Came to America aboard Rose of Yarmouth in 1637 as an apprentice to Henry Skerry who was a shoemaker specializing in cordovan shoes. [https://archive.org/details/genealogicaldic04savarich ''A Genealogical Dictionary Of The First Settlers Of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692''], On The Basis Of Farmer's Register, Volume 4'', by J. Savage, (Boston, Little Brown & co., 1862), page 316 - 317 The apprenticeship and voyage with Henry Skerry is repeated by virtually all early biographers.
This is disputed by Lois Payne Hoover in ''Town Family (2010) on page 103: "No record has been found in Great Yarmouth of an Edmund Towne being apprenticed to Henry Skerry who was a cordwainer. The baptism/birth year of Edmund is not in doubt, but it would mean he was apprenticed at age nine. This was not done with the apprentices of cordwainers - children were not taken as their apprentices. The passenger Edmund with the cordwainer Skerry was written as "age 18" on the list of passengers, who were examined upon boarding. They would not have mistaken a nine year old boy for an eighteen year old man. Lois Hoover's conclusion from this and other logic is that Edmund Towne arrived with his parents like most other children. [Their ship log has not been discovered.]"
=== Death, Will Probate & Inventory ===He died intestate (without a will). His wife presented an "Intent and Purpose" that the mind of the deceased was the same as hers regarding the distribution of his estate, which was to equally divide the estate among the five girls, only Sarah, the second daughter, being married and had already received 25 pounds.
Administration was granted to the widow, Mary Towne, on April 27, 1678. The inventory was taken by FRANCIS PEABODY, Thomas' son-in-law, and Thomas Baker, which included land (excluding land inherited from father-in-law, THOMAS BROWNING) worth 292 pounds.
"The inventory of Edmund's estate was presented to the Essex Probate Court the 27th day of the 4th month, 1678. The fourth month was then June. Abstracts of Essex County Wills, Vol 2:277, read at the Essex Institute, Salem, states the inventory was taken 27 April 1678 and proved 3 May 1678. The confusion in months comes with later work changing the number of the month to the name, identifying it as ''New Style''.
From FTM WWW site of Tami K Barton. Notes for EDMUND TOWNE: 238 Probate Records of Essex County, Estate of Edmond Towne of Topsfield "The intent and purpose of Edmond Towne presented by Mary his wife Conscernin his state presented to this Hounored Court now sitting Imprimis The minde of the deceased was as is mine allsoe; and is consented too by all partys conscerned that the four sonns shall have all the Lands Equally devyed amongst them. And the rest of the estate to be Equally devyed amongst the 5: garles only Sarah the second Daughter is already marryed and hath rescieved to the vallue of twelve pounds already. So leaveing my Cause to God, and your Honnors scarious Consideration I subscrybe myselfe mary Towne. Only provided the widow's thirds of the whole be taken out furst. Jacob Towne deposed that Thomas Towne, eldest son of Edmund Towne,deceased, declared himself to be satisfied with an equal share with the rest of his brethren" Sworn in court, 27: 4: 1678. Proved by the widow, 27: 4: 1678, with the consent of all the surviving persons concerned. Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol 29, leaf 30"
"Adminstration upon the estate of Edmond Towne was granted 27: 4: 1678, to Mary, the relict, who was to dispose of the estate according to the mind of the deceased, as by mutual agreement of all surviving persons concerned, which writing was allowed. An inventory was also presented and sworn to. Salem Quarterly Court Records, vol. 5, leaf 117"
"Inventory of the estate of Sargeant Edman Towne, taken at Topsfield, May 3, 1678, by Frances Pabody and Thomas Baker: Books, 1li.; wearing clothes, 7li. 14s.; linning sheetes and neckpins, 11li. 6s.; house and landes on the north of the Riuer, 220li.; upland and mado on the south side River, 72li.; five oxen and seven coues, 52li.; young Cattel, 19li. 17s.; shepe and lambes, 6li.; two horses, 6li.; swine, 8li.; iron tooles, 3li.; kittels and potes and other iron ware, 4li. 4s.;gones, 4li. 6s.; wheles and other lumbur, 6li. 3s.; a cubbard and cheastes, 2li. 10s.; bedsted and beddin, 16li. 10s.; pillin and saddel, 2li.; wooll and flax, 17s.; five barrels of sider, 2li. 10s.; woolin and linnin yarne, 2li. 10s.; homespon cloath, 7li. 10s.; corne and porke, 4li.; for halfe the farme which was given to Sargent Toune in Revertion by Thomas Browning; total, 453li. 12s. Depts owing, 26li. 3s. 3d.; by the death of one cow, 3li. 10s. Allowed in Salem court 27: 4:1678. Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol. 29, leaf 31."
== 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 103-105, Edmund 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 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. By Edwin Hubbard. Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880. * 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.) [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/new-england-historical-and-genealogical-register/image/?pageName=16&volumeId=11581&rId=23488474 ''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne''], by William B. Towne, NEHGR Vol. 21, page 16
* Ancestry.com. [http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=Genealogy-glh35549156&gss=sfs28_ms_r_db&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Edmund&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Towne&gsln_x=0&MSAV=1&MSV=0&uidh=mv9 ''The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine''], [database on-line]. 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 7
[[Category: English Immigrants to Massachusetts Bay Colony]][[Category: Topsfield, Massachusetts]] [[Category: King Philip's War]]
== Biography ==
: The son of William & Joanna (Blessing) Towne, Edmund Towne was baptized on June 28, 1628 at St. Nicholas Parish, Great Yarmouth, Norwich, Norfolk, England. He came to Massachusetts Bay Colony from England in 1637, probably on the good ship, ROSE OF YARMOUTH, at the age of eighteen apprenticed to Henry Skerry who settled in Salem. :: NOTE: See Research Notes for why it is unlikely that a. Edmund was ''not'' 18 in 1637 and b. why he was not apprenticed but came with his parents.
: He married Mary Browning on March 25, 1652 at Salem Village in Massachusetts Bay Colony .''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'', by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010), page 103-105The newly married couple settled in nearby Topsfield where Edmund was a juror in 1655, a commoner in 1661, and a freeman in 1664. In June, 1666, he was appointed Corporal of the Topsfield military company and in 1674, he was part of a committee to petition the Court for permission to form a military guard to protect the settlers at their work. He was called "Sergeant Towne" in the Topsfield records in 1677.
:: "Selectman, 1673; town constable, 1675; '''tything-man''', 1677; took oath as freeman, 1664; corpl. Topsfield mil. co., 1666; helped form mil. guard during King Philip's War." Fredrick A. Virkus, ''The Compendium of American Genealogy'', Vol V, (1930), 206
:: "He was a selectman in 1673, town constable in 1675, and '''tythingman''' in 1677 when he is called Sergeant Towne."''The Ancestry of Lieut, Amos Towne 1737-1793'', by Walter Goodwin Davis, (1927), page 7
: Among all his other work, Edmund was, like most of his neighbors at the time, a farmer. It was his main occupation.
=== Death ===: He died intestate (without a will). His wife presented an "Intent and Purpose" that the mind of the deceased was the same as hers regarding the distribution of his estate, which was to equally divide the estate among the five girls, only Sarah, the second daughter, being married and had already received 25 pounds.
: Administration was granted to the widow, Mary Towne, on April 27, 1678. The inventory was taken by FRANCIS PEABODY, Thomas' son-in-law, and Thomas Baker, which included land (excluding land inherited from father-in-law, THOMAS BROWNING) worth 292 pounds.
:: "The inventory of Edmund's estate was presented to the Essex Probate Court the 27th day of the 4th month, 1678. The fourth month was then June. Abstracts of Essex County Wills, Vol 2:277, read at the Essex Institute, Salem, states the inventory was taken 27 April 1678 and proved 3 May 1678. The confusion in months comes with later work changing the number of the month to the name, identifying it as ''New Style''.
=== Children ===
: Edmund & Mary (Browning) Towne had thirteen children, all (recorded) births at Topsfield, all marriages at Topsfield:# Mary (Towne) Prichard b. about 1653, (birth not recorded) m. John Prichard
# Thomas Towne b. about 1655, m. 17 Mar 1684/5 Sarah French
# Sarah (Towne) Howe b. 26 April 1657, m. bef 20 Dec 1686 John Howe# William Towne b. 13 Mar 1658/9, m. 22 Aug 1694 Margaret (Wilkins) Willard
# "daughter" Towne, 2 Sept 1661, died 7 Sept 1661
# Joseph Towne b. 2 Sept 1661, m. 10 Aug 1687 Amy Smith
# "son" Towne b. 7 March 1662/3, died 7 March 1662/3# Abigail (Towne) (Peabody) Perley, b. 6 Aug 1664, m. 12 Jan 1685/6 Jacob Peabody, 14 Jan 1695/6 Thomas Perley
# Benjamin Towne b. 26 May 1666, died bef 1678
# Rebecca Towne b. Feb. 2, 1668
# Elizabeth Town b. Nov. 2, 1669, m. Thomas Wilkins
# Samuel Towne (1673-1714), m. Elizabeth Knight
: Note: Edmund Towne was the brother of Rebecca (Towne) Nurse and Mary (Towne) Esty/Easty, who were both executed during the Salem Witch Trials.
=== Research Notes ===: '''Tithingman'''. Responsible, trustworthy men were asked to be "Tithingmen" in early colonial America. A tithingman was responsible for the general morals of the community, particularly to see that residents observed the Sabbath. He also inspected all Inns and Public Houses licensed to sell liquor, and reported all disorders, idle or disorderly persons, profane swearers or cursors and Sabbath breakers. Definition by Lois Payne Hoover, page 104, ''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'' (2010).
=== Disputed apprenticeship ===: Came to America aboard Rose of Yarmouth in 1637 as an apprentice to Henry Skerry who was a shoemaker specializing in cordovan shoes. [https://archive.org/details/genealogicaldic04savarich ''A Genealogical Dictionary Of The First Settlers Of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692''], On The Basis Of Farmer's Register, Volume 4'', by J. Savage, (Boston, Little Brown & co., 1862), page 316 - 317 The apprenticeship and voyage with Henry Skerry is repeated by virtually all early biographers.
: This is disputed by Lois Payne Hoover in ''Town Family (2010) on page 103::: No record has been found in Great Yarmouth of an Edmund Towne being apprenticed to Henry Skerry who was a cordwainer. The baptism/birth year of Edmund is not in doubt, but it would mean he was apprenticed at age nine. This was not done with the apprentices of cordwainers - children were not taken as their apprentices. The passenger Edmund with the cordwainer Skerry was written as "age 18" on the list of passengers, who were examined upon boarding. They would not have mistaken a nine year old boy for an eighteen year old man. Lois Hoover's conclusion from this and other logic is that Edmund Towne arrived with his parents like most other children. [Their ship log has not been discovered.]
=== Details of Probate & Inventory ===: From FTM WWW site of Tami K Barton. Notes for EDMUND TOWNE: 238 Probate Records of Essex County, Estate of Edmond Towne of Topsfield :: "The intent and purpose of Edmond Towne presented by Mary his wife Conscernin his state presented to this Hounored Court now sitting Imprimis The minde of the deceased was as is mine allsoe; and is consented too by all partys conscerned that the four sonns shall have all the Lands Equally devyed amongst them. And the rest of the estate to be Equally devyed amongst the 5: garles only Sarah the second Daughter is already marryed and hath rescieved to the vallue of twelve pounds already. So leaveing my Cause to God, and your Honnors scarious Consideration I subscrybe myselfe mary Towne. Only provided the widow's thirds of the whole be taken out furst. Jacob Towne deposed that Thomas Towne, eldest son of Edmund Towne,deceased, declared himself to be satisfied with an equal share with the rest of his brethren" Sworn in court, 27: 4: 1678. Proved by the widow, 27: 4: 1678, with the consent of all the surviving persons concerned. Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol 29, leaf 30"
:: "Adminstration upon the estate of Edmond Towne was granted 27: 4: 1678, to Mary, the relict, who was to dispose of the estate according to the mind of the deceased, as by mutual agreement of all surviving persons concerned, which writing was allowed. An inventory was also presented and sworn to. Salem Quarterly Court Records, vol. 5, leaf 117"
:: "Inventory of the estate of Sargeant Edman Towne, taken at Topsfield, May 3, 1678, by Frances Pabody and Thomas Baker: Books, 1li.; wearing clothes, 7li. 14s.; linning sheetes and neckpins, 11li. 6s.; house and landes on the north of the Riuer, 220li.; upland and mado on the south side River, 72li.; five oxen and seven coues, 52li.; young Cattel, 19li. 17s.; shepe and lambes, 6li.; two horses, 6li.; swine, 8li.; iron tooles, 3li.; kittels and potes and other iron ware, 4li. 4s.;gones, 4li. 6s.; wheles and other lumbur, 6li. 3s.; a cubbard and cheastes, 2li. 10s.; bedsted and beddin, 16li. 10s.; pillin and saddel, 2li.; wooll and flax, 17s.; five barrels of sider, 2li. 10s.; woolin and linnin yarne, 2li. 10s.; homespon cloath, 7li. 10s.; corne and porke, 4li.; for halfe the farme which was given to Sargent Toune in Revertion by Thomas Browning; total, 453li. 12s. Depts owing, 26li. 3s. 3d.; by the death of one cow, 3li. 10s. Allowed in Salem court 27: 4:1678. Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol. 29, leaf 31."
== 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 103-105, Edmund 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 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. By Edwin Hubbard. Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880.
* 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.) [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/new-england-historical-and-genealogical-register/image/?pageName=16&volumeId=11581&rId=23488474 ''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne''], by William B. Towne, NEHGR Vol. 21, page 16
* Ancestry.com. [http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=Genealogy-glh35549156&gss=sfs28_ms_r_db&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Edmund&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Towne&gsln_x=0&MSAV=1&MSV=0&uidh=mv9 ''The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine''], [database on-line]. 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 7
-- MERGED NOTE ------------
}
[[Category: Massachusetts Bay Colony, Immigrants from England]][[Category: Topsfield, Massachusetts]] [[Category: King Philip's War]]
== Biography ==
The son of William & Joanna (Blessing) Towne, Edmund Towne was baptized on June 28, 1628 at St. Nicholas Parish, Great Yarmouth, Norwich, Norfolk, England. "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J9PW-BQP : 12 February 2018, Edm. Towne, ); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,526,327.He came to Massachusetts Bay Colony from England in 1637, probably on the good ship, ROSE OF YARMOUTH, at the age of eighteen apprenticed to Henry Skerry who settled in Salem. *NOTE: See Research Notes for why it is unlikely that a. Edmund was ''not'' 18 in 1637 and b. why he was not apprenticed but came with his parents.*Note: Edmund Towne was the brother of Rebecca (Towne) Nurse and Mary (Towne) Esty/Easty, who were both executed during the Salem Witch Trials.
Edmund married Mary Browning on March 25, 1652 at Salem Village in Massachusetts Bay Colony .''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'', by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010), page 103-105The newly married couple settled in nearby Topsfield where Edmund was a juror in 1655, a commoner in 1661, and a freeman in 1664. In June, 1666, he was appointed Corporal of the Topsfield military company and in 1674, he was part of a committee to petition the Court for permission to form a military guard to protect the settlers at their work. He was called "Sergeant Towne" in the Topsfield records in 1677.
He was a selectman in 1673, town constable in 1675, and '''tythingman''' in 1677 when he is called Sergeant Towne."''The Ancestry of Lieut, Amos Towne 1737-1793'', by Walter Goodwin Davis, (1927), page 7 Fredrick A. Virkus, ''The Compendium of American Genealogy'', Vol V, (1930), 206
Among all his other work, Edmund was, like most of his neighbors at the time, a farmer. It was his main occupation.
=== Children ===Edmund & Mary (Browning) Towne had thirteen children, all (recorded) births at Topsfield, all marriages at Topsfield:# Mary (Towne) Prichard b. about 1653, (birth not recorded) m. John Prichard
# Thomas Towne b. about 1655, m. 17 Mar 1684/5 Sarah French# Sarah (Towne) Howe b. 26 April 1655, m. bef 20 Dec 1686 John Howe "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHLP-KJW : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Sarah Towne, 26 Apr 1655; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 13; FHL microfilm 877,468.# William Towne b. 13 Mar 1658, m. 22 Aug 1694 Margaret (Wilkins) Willard "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHL2-CX2 : 10 February 2018), Edward Towne in entry for William Towne, 13 Mar 1658; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 49; FHL microfilm 877,468.# "daughter" Towne, 2 Sept 1661, died 7 Sept 1661 "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHL2-ZWG : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Towne, 02 Sep 1661; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 50; FHL microfilm 877,468.# Joseph Towne b. 2 Sept 1661, m. 10 Aug 1687 Amy Smith "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHL2-Z4X : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Joseph Towne, 02 Sep 1661; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 50; FHL microfilm 877,468.# "son" Towne born and died 7 March 1662 "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FH11-75H : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Towne, 07 Mar 1662; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, reference Bk C p 4; FHL microfilm 761,323.#Abigail (Towne) (Peabody) Perley, b. 6 Aug 1664, m. 12 Jan 1685/6 Jacob Peabody, 14 Jan 1695/6 Thomas Perley "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHL2-8MS : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Abigaill Towne, 06 Aug 1664; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 51; FHL microfilm 877,468.# Benjamin Towne b. 26 May 1666, died bef 1678 "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHLP-L8Q : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Benjamin Towne, 26 May 1666; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 14; FHL microfilm 877,468.
# Rebecca Towne b. Feb. 2, 1668# Elizabeth Town b. Nov. 2, 1669, m. Thomas Wilkins "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHL5-5MV : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Elizabeth Towne, 02 Nov 1669; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 47; FHL microfilm 877,468.# Samuel Towne, born 11 Feb 1672, m. Elizabeth Knight"Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHLG-X9W : 10 February 2018), Edmond Towne in entry for Samuell Towne, 11 Feb 1672; citing Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, 157; FHL microfilm 877,468.
=== Research Notes === '''Tithingman'''. Responsible, trustworthy men were asked to be "Tithingmen" in early colonial America. A tithingman was responsible for the general morals of the community, particularly to see that residents observed the Sabbath. He also inspected all Inns and Public Houses licensed to sell liquor, and reported all disorders, idle or disorderly persons, profane swearers or cursors and Sabbath breakers. Definition by Lois Payne Hoover, page 104, ''The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants'' (2010).
=== Disputed apprenticeship === Came to America aboard Rose of Yarmouth in 1637 as an apprentice to Henry Skerry who was a shoemaker specializing in cordovan shoes. [https://archive.org/details/genealogicaldic04savarich ''A Genealogical Dictionary Of The First Settlers Of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692''], On The Basis Of Farmer's Register, Volume 4'', by J. Savage, (Boston, Little Brown & co., 1862), page 316 - 317 The apprenticeship and voyage with Henry Skerry is repeated by virtually all early biographers.
This is disputed by Lois Payne Hoover in ''Town Family (2010) on page 103: "No record has been found in Great Yarmouth of an Edmund Towne being apprenticed to Henry Skerry who was a cordwainer. The baptism/birth year of Edmund is not in doubt, but it would mean he was apprenticed at age nine. This was not done with the apprentices of cordwainers - children were not taken as their apprentices. The passenger Edmund with the cordwainer Skerry was written as "age 18" on the list of passengers, who were examined upon boarding. They would not have mistaken a nine year old boy for an eighteen year old man. Lois Hoover's conclusion from this and other logic is that Edmund Towne arrived with his parents like most other children. [Their ship log has not been discovered.]"
=== Death, Will Probate & Inventory ===He died intestate (without a will). His wife presented an "Intent and Purpose" that the mind of the deceased was the same as hers regarding the distribution of his estate, which was to equally divide the estate among the five girls, only Sarah, the second daughter, being married and had already received 25 pounds.
Administration was granted to the widow, Mary Towne, on April 27, 1678. The inventory was taken by FRANCIS PEABODY, Thomas' son-in-law, and Thomas Baker, which included land (excluding land inherited from father-in-law, THOMAS BROWNING) worth 292 pounds.
"The inventory of Edmund's estate was presented to the Essex Probate Court the 27th day of the 4th month, 1678. The fourth month was then June. Abstracts of Essex County Wills, Vol 2:277, read at the Essex Institute, Salem, states the inventory was taken 27 April 1678 and proved 3 May 1678. The confusion in months comes with later work changing the number of the month to the name, identifying it as ''New Style''.
From FTM WWW site of Tami K Barton. Notes for EDMUND TOWNE: 238 Probate Records of Essex County, Estate of Edmond Towne of Topsfield "The intent and purpose of Edmond Towne presented by Mary his wife Conscernin his state presented to this Hounored Court now sitting Imprimis The minde of the deceased was as is mine allsoe; and is consented too by all partys conscerned that the four sonns shall have all the Lands Equally devyed amongst them. And the rest of the estate to be Equally devyed amongst the 5: garles only Sarah the second Daughter is already marryed and hath rescieved to the vallue of twelve pounds already. So leaveing my Cause to God, and your Honnors scarious Consideration I subscrybe myselfe mary Towne. Only provided the widow's thirds of the whole be taken out furst. Jacob Towne deposed that Thomas Towne, eldest son of Edmund Towne,deceased, declared himself to be satisfied with an equal share with the rest of his brethren" Sworn in court, 27: 4: 1678. Proved by the widow, 27: 4: 1678, with the consent of all the surviving persons concerned. Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol 29, leaf 30"
"Adminstration upon the estate of Edmond Towne was granted 27: 4: 1678, to Mary, the relict, who was to dispose of the estate according to the mind of the deceased, as by mutual agreement of all surviving persons concerned, which writing was allowed. An inventory was also presented and sworn to. Salem Quarterly Court Records, vol. 5, leaf 117"
"Inventory of the estate of Sargeant Edman Towne, taken at Topsfield, May 3, 1678, by Frances Pabody and Thomas Baker: Books, 1li.; wearing clothes, 7li. 14s.; linning sheetes and neckpins, 11li. 6s.; house and landes on the north of the Riuer, 220li.; upland and mado on the south side River, 72li.; five oxen and seven coues, 52li.; young Cattel, 19li. 17s.; shepe and lambes, 6li.; two horses, 6li.; swine, 8li.; iron tooles, 3li.; kittels and potes and other iron ware, 4li. 4s.;gones, 4li. 6s.; wheles and other lumbur, 6li. 3s.; a cubbard and cheastes, 2li. 10s.; bedsted and beddin, 16li. 10s.; pillin and saddel, 2li.; wooll and flax, 17s.; five barrels of sider, 2li. 10s.; woolin and linnin yarne, 2li. 10s.; homespon cloath, 7li. 10s.; corne and porke, 4li.; for halfe the farme which was given to Sargent Toune in Revertion by Thomas Browning; total, 453li. 12s. Depts owing, 26li. 3s. 3d.; by the death of one cow, 3li. 10s. Allowed in Salem court 27: 4:1678. Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol. 29, leaf 31."
== 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 103-105, Edmund 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 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. By Edwin Hubbard. Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880. * 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.) [http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/new-england-historical-and-genealogical-register/image/?pageName=16&volumeId=11581&rId=23488474 ''Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne''], by William B. Towne, NEHGR Vol. 21, page 16
* Ancestry.com. [http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=Genealogy-glh35549156&gss=sfs28_ms_r_db&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Edmund&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Towne&gsln_x=0&MSAV=1&MSV=0&uidh=mv9 ''The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine''], [database on-line]. 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 7
Events
| Birth | Abt 22 Jun 1628 | Great Yarmouth, County Norfolk, England | |||
| Death | Bef 27 Jun 1678 | Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts | |||
| Reference No | 387583 | ||||
| Reference No | 403569 | ||||
| Reference No | 60 |
Families
| Father | William Towne (1599 - 1673) |
| Mother | Joannah "Jone" Blessing (1599 - 1683) |
| Sibling | Joseph Towne (1639 - 1713) |
| Sibling | Rebecca Towne (1621 - 1692) |
| Sibling | John Towne (1623 - 1671) |
| Sibling | Susannah Towne (1625 - 1678) |
| Sibling | Jacob Towne I (1632 - 1704) |
| Sibling | Mary Towne (1634 - 1692) |
| Sibling | Sarah Towne (1639 - 1704) |