Wrentham Branch. 218. F the character and ability of JOHN2, nothing is now known, except what can be inferred from the few record words, viz.: that "he united with the church and was elected a deacon." As the Puritan standard of fitness for church membership, and especially for the office of deacon, was very rigid, there can be no hesitation in ascribing to him all those qualities of mind and heart which constitute the trustworthy citizen and exemplary Christian and, by the records of his descendants, such opinion of him is well confirmed. He did not remove from Dedham to Wrentham until 1681, after the birth of his second child, but before the land in Wrentham was willed to him by his father. The house which he built probably occupied the same spot of ground as the one now standing, which has been occupied by his descendants until recently, when it passed into the hands of Miss Abby Kollock. The house is still an object of veneration to his descendants, some of whom make to it their annual pilgrimage. He united with the church in Wrentham, April 13, 1692, and was elected deacon, December 7, 1707. Married, March 23, 1677, Sarah Fisher, of Dedham. 219 220 CHILDREN. Betheah, b. Aug. 4, 1678; m. Jan. 7, 1703, Samuel Sears. Sarah,3 b. Aug. 30, 1680; d. Dec. 7, 1682. Sarah, b. June 3, 1683; m. January 7, 1703, Robert Blake. Elizabeth, b. July 7, 1685; m. May 25, 1710, William Puffer. Joanna, b. Nov. 4, 1687; m. May 17, 1715, John,3 b. Nov. 7, 1690; d. Jan. 24, 1762. Judith, b. Sept. 19, 1697; united with the church in Wrentham, June 5, 1718; m. June 16, 1720, Nathaniel Briggs, of Dedham. Ebenezer, b. Sept. 9, 1700. Third Generation. 219. JOHN' married for his first wife, June 11, 1711, Mercy Foster, who died May 3, 1730. tham. 4 CHILDREN. Resided in Wien John, b. Nov. 23, 1712; d. —, 1769. Joseph, b. Aug. 17, 1714; m. March 24, 1737, 221 222 Benjamin, b. Apr. 12, 1717. Mercy, b. Apr. 6, 1719; d. June 3, 1732. Esther, b. Sept. 20, 1721; m. —, 1749, John Prince, who was born 1751, and died July 19, 1786. Resided in Cambridge. She had John, who was a minister in Salem; also, three other sons. 4 Ebenezer, b. July 31, 1724; d. May 29, 1790. Married for his second wife, Mar. 22, 1732, Phebe Mann, who died May 7, 1790. 223 CHILDREN. Timothy, b. Jan. 15, 1733; d. Apr. 4, 1789. Samuel, b. Apr. 21, 1734. A very enterprising young man, was engaged almost his whole life in purchasing wild lands, making them into farms, and then selling them. Finally went into the Genesee country, New York, where he left a large estate in land. Died about 1816, leaving several children. 224 Daniel, b. Sept. 30, 1736; d. June 22, 1795. Abigail, bap. Sept. 16, 1739; m. Apr. 1, 1762, Nathan Hawes. Phebe, b. Feb. 8, 1742; m. Jan. 7, 1762, John Mary, b. Oct. 24, 1743; m. Feb. 10, 1763, The following is. Mrs. Phebe Guild's last will and testament: the IN THE NAME Of God, Amen. The twenty-first day of April, in year of our Lord seventeen hundred eighty-five. I, Phebe Guild, of Wrentham, in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massa chusetts, being sick and weak of body, but of sound mind and memory, (thanks be to God for it.) calling to mind my own mortality, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, in manner and form following, viz. : Principally, and first of all, I give and recommend my soul to the sovereign and merciful God who gave it, hoping that, through the active and passive merits of Jesus Christ, to have the full pardon and forgiveness of all my sins, and to inherit eternal life. My body I commit to the earth, to be decently buried at the discretion of my executor, not doubting that at the general judgment I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner, viz. : Imprimis. I will that all those debts and dues which I owe to any person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truly paid by my executor in convenient time after my decease, Item. I give and bequeath unto the Rev. John Guild, in the State of New Jersey, Benjamin Guild, Esq., and Deacon Ebenezer Guild, of Franklin, sons of my late husband by his first wife, the sum of three pounds, to be paid by my executor in one year after my decease, to be equally divided between them. Item. I give and bequeath unto Mrs. Esther Prince, of Boston, the sum of two pounds, to be paid by my executor, in one year after my decease. Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Samuel Guild, the sum of twelve pounds, to be paid by my executor, in one year after my decease; my second best bed and bedding, my silver shoe buckles, and one-fifth part of my books, in full for his part and portion of my estate. Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Daniel, the sum of seven pounds, to be paid by my executor in one year after my decease; my bed and bedding which I have at my son Timothy Guild's, my silver spoon, one-fifth part of my books, and my cupboard, in full for his share and portion of my estate. Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Abigail Hawes, the sum of seven pounds, to be paid by my executor, in one one-third part of my wearing apparel, oneand one-quarter part of my other estate not year after my decease; fifth part of my books, particularly given away. Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Phebe Messenger, four-fifths part of about forty acres of undivided land lying on the westerly side of Birch Meadows Brook, which was given to me in the last will of my father, Theodore Man, deceased; onethird part of my wearing apparel, one-fifth part of my books, and seven pounds in money, to be paid to her by my executor in one year after my decease, and one-quarter part of my other estate not particularly given away. Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Mary Grant, the sum of seven pounds in money, to be paid to her by my executor in one year after my decease; one-third part of my wearing apparel, one-fifth part of my books, and one-quarter part of other estate not particularly given away. Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Timothy Guild, my right in Wrentham Library, and one-quarter part of my other estate not particularly given away. Furthermore, I constitute, appoint and ordain Timothy Guild, above written, the sole executor of this my last will and testament; and I do hereby revoke and disannul all and every other and former wills, testaments, legacies, bequests, and executors by me in any wise before this time named, ratifying and confirming this, and no other, will and testament. her PHEBEGUILD. mark. 220. JOSIAH m. Deborah Dismissed from the church in Wrentham to the church in Keene, New Hampshire, May 24, 1761. CHILDREN. Mary', b. Apr. 10, 1716; m. March 23, 1738, Uriah Wilson. |