benjamin whiton and lydia stodder (part 3 of 3)

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death

Benjamin died on March 6, 1858 in South Scituate, at the age of 86.  The cause of death is listed as old age. Lydia lived 6 more years, died on February 5, 1864 in South Scituate.  She was 85 years old.  She also died of old age.  They are buried at the Liberty Plains Cemetery in Hingham, MA.  I visited the cemetery in May of 2010, and found Benjamin's headstone, broken, lying against a tree.  I don't think I looked for Lydia's gravestone at the time as I remember just happening upon Benjamin's while searching for other ancestors, I will have to go back and check.

From blog post benjamin whiton and lydia stodder

land after death

After Benjamin's death, in 1859, there are some Plymouth County deeds showing Lydia purchases land from her sons Richard and Joel in South Scituate, Abington and Hanover.  These deeds describe that this land was the purchased land by her sons from her husband in 1828 and 1831.  Richard and Joel also sell some of this land to their sisters, Elizabeth Whiting Burrell, and Lydia and Mary Whiting; with Elizabeth purchasing one half of house, and Lydia and Mary purchasing the other half. (Plymouth county deeds 293,130-132 - see note 5)  So the land that Benjamin sold off to his sons remains in the family after his death.

In 1860, Lydia, a widow, is living with her youngest daughter, Elizabeth, wife of James Burrell, in Scituate. According to the census, they are still neighbors with Joanna Whiting French and her unmarried children, Mary, Lydia and Jared.  The historical land ownership map for South Scituate in 1879, shows a more precise location of their land, with sisters Joanna Whiting French and Elizabeth Whiting Burrell across the street from each other, just south of Accord Pond.  The other siblings are not listed on this map, perhaps because they are sharing the house with Elizabeth, or they may be on the Abington side of their land (although I did not find them on the Abington map either).

From blog post benjamin whiton and lydia stodder

probate

Both Benjamin and Lydia left probate records, filed in Plymouth county.  Their son Richard is the administrator for both estates.  Benjamin's file contains an inventory, which is appraised at $88.88, and includes cedar shingles, pine lumber, farming tools, blacksmith tools, grindstones, cross saw and other saws, a cooking stove, 3 guns, beds and bedding, chairs and table, desk, crocken and earthenware, and an old silver watch.  There is no mention of land.  The court allowed his wife Lydia to have $55.00 out of Benjamin's personal estate.  (Plymouth county probates (13, 550); (100, 340); (1z, 29); (9, 461); and (101,389))

Lydia's probate file does mention real estate valuing $444.25 and a personal estate of $348.75; but I was unable to find an inventory in her files.  (Plymouth county probate 108,134)  The land must be from the land she bought from her sons in 1859, after her husband's death.  Another file mentions her personal estate again (Plymouth county probate 110,148)...

Said accountant [Richard] charges himself with several accounts received as stated in Schedule A, herewith/ exhibited,....$396.34

And asks to be allowed for sundry payments and charges as stated in Schedule B, herewith exhibited,.........$367.55

Balance,..........$28.79 

Richard Whiting, adm

The undersigned, being all except Joel Whiting of East Providence, RI, parties interested, having examined the foregoing account, / request that the same may be allowed without further notice.

Lydia Whiting / Elizabeth Burrell / Mary Whiting / Joanna French / Jared Whiting / Maria Howes 

There do not seem to be any files though that show where Lydia's land went after her death. She did not leave a will, and I did not find any other purchases of land in the deed index from her children.  I am not sure if this means that the children would have just automatically received her land after her death, or if there should be other documents created that would state this.

to do:
1. find more information on Benjamin's aunt Abigail - did she marry, when did she die, land, census, etc
2. where did lydia's land go - she had also purchased some from freeman french I think

benjamin whiton and lydia stodder (part 2 of 3)

...continued from previous post


later years of marriage

1830's

As Benjamin and Lydia's children grew older, most did not travel far from them.  In 1830, one married daughter looks to be living in their household, Maria and her husband James Howes/House and their 4 year old son James.  They also have an older woman, aged 70-79 residing with them in 1830.  I am not sure who this would be as both of their mothers had passed by this time.  It could be Benjamin's aunt Abigail, who I wrote briefly about in the last post.  I think she sold her land to Benjamin and his brother Joseph.  This is just pure speculation on my part as to who this woman is though, as I have not looked at Abigail's age, death date, or possible entries of her own in the 1830 census yet.

Males under 5: 1 (james howes); Males 10-14:1 (jared); Males 20-29:1 (freeman howes); Males 50-59:1 (benjamin); Females 10-14:1  (elizabeth); Females 15-19:2 (pamelia, mary); Females 20-29:2  (lydia, maria howes); Females 50-59:1 (lydia); Females 70-79:1 (maybe aunt abigail whiton)

The records do not show that Benjamin and Lydia have any other children after Elizabeth, which gave them a total of 10 children.  All of them, except their first, Jared, lived into adulthood.

1840's

The household for Benjamin and Lydia in the 1840 census has one male between the ages of 20-29.  Their youngest son, Jared, would have been 21 years old.  This would make sense that he is still living with his parents as the records show that he never marries.  Another male between the ages of 30-39 is also living with them, which could be their son Joel who would have been 31 years old.  Joel had not married by this time either, although it is strange he is not included in the 1830 census.  (see note 1)  The only daughter that is living in their household in 1840 would have been Elizabeth, at the age of 19.

1840 Census Scituate, MA

1 male 20-29 (jared); 1 male 30-39 (joel); 1 male 60-69 (Benjamin); 1 female 15-19 (elizabeth); 1 female 60-69 (Lydia); Persons Employed in Agriculture: 1

Six out of the 9 living children are not listed in the 1840 census, but most stayed close to home.  It looks like three of their daughters are all living together in the surrounding town of Abington.  They may be living on the land that their father sold to their brothers in 1828, which is all in the general vicinity of the borders of Scituate, Abington and Hingham; close to what is left of Benjamin's land.  The head of this household in Abington is their daughter Lydia, the eldest at age 37.  The other ages in Lydia's household seem to match up with Mary, age 28, and Pamelia, age 26.  Lydia and Mary never marry according to later census records and their death records.  Their sister Pamelia did marry, but died fairly young in 1843.

Three other children, Maria, Joanna and Richard, are also married by 1840.  Maria stays in Scituate until at least 1846, when her last child is born there; but she does eventually move to Boston by the 1850 census. Joanna is married and living in Abington with her family.  The census does not show that she is near her three sisters listed above; but if she is not living near them in 1840, she and her family eventually becomes neighbors with her sisters and her parents by 1850.

Richard removes to the nearby town of Hingham, MA with his family by the 1840 census and remains there throughout his life.  According to his wife's death record; though, it looks like they were probably living on the North side of Hingham, a little bit away from his siblings and parents.  Richard sold most of his land that he owned in the Scituate/Abington area back to his mother and siblings by 1859. Joel also ends up selling his land in Scituate/Abington back to his family in 1859, and leaves the area for Providence, RI and Seekonk, MA by 1847. (see note 2)

grandchildren

Since 5 out of their 9 living children are residing near Benjamin and Lydia in the Scituate/Abington line area near Accord Pond, they were able to stay close to at least some of their children and therefore grandchildren.  Out of the families that lived close to Benjamin and Lydia, though, Joanna was the only one to have children.  They had 8 grandchildren from their daughter Joanna, all born before Benjamin and Lydia died.  Even though their daughter Elizabeth was married, the census shows she does not have children.  The same for the unmarried children, Lydia, Mary, and Jared.  I also did not find any evidence that Richard, living in North Hingham, had any children.  Benjamin and Lydia's daughter that died young, Pamelia, also did not have children in the census.  Their daughter Maria had 7 children, but seems to have been living in Boston, where it would be likely Benjamin and Lydia did not visit often.  (see note 3).  Their other son, Joel, who moved to RI and later Seekonk, MA looks to have had at least one child, but again, not sure if they were able to visit them.

continued...


notes:

1.  The 1830 census has one male between the age of 20-29 living with Benjamin and Lydia, which I attributed to Freeman Howes, their daughter Maria's husband.  This would make sense as the other ages for Maria and her son James fit, and they are living close to Freeman's parents, head of household Coomb's House.  Coomb's household also contains a male between the ages of 20-29, so it is possible Freeman is still living with his parents, while Maria and her son are living with her parents.  Then that 20-29 male in Benjamin and Lydia's household could be Joel.

2.  Sons Richard and Joel sell land back to mother and siblings in 1859

• Plymouth county deeds 293,130 Their mother, Lydia, widow, purchases parcel of land lying partly in South Scituate and partly in Abington - bounded southerly by the highway, easterly by land of Leonard Cushing, northerly by Accord Pond, and westerly by land of David H. Greely.  Originally land purchased from their father in 1828 (162,253).
• Plymouth county deeds 293,131 Their sister Elizabeth Whiting Burrell purchases the easterly lot of land from land they purchased from their father (162,253), which includes 1/2 of house - to be shared with their sisters, Lydia and Mary.
• Plymouth county deeds 293, 131 : Their sisters, Lydia and Mary Whiting purchase the westerly lot of land from land they purchased from their father (162,253)  which includes 1/2 of house - to be shared with their sister Elizabeth Whiting Burrell.
• Plymouth county deeds 293, 132 : Their mother, Lydia Whiting, widow, purchases 2 1/4 acres of land in Abington from her son Joel.  Bordered easterly by heirs of Joseph Whiton, southerly by land that was just sold to Lydia from Richard and Joel in first deed above.  This is part of the land that Joel purchased from his father Benjamin in 1831 (169,274), and partly land Joel purchased from another deed (173,44).
• Plymouth county deeds 293,133 : Richard purchases from Joel woodland partly in Abington, partly in Hanover, bounded northerly by land just given to Lydia from Joel and Richard.  This is part of same land the sons purchased from their father in 1828 (162,253)

3.  It looks like their daughter Maria continues to live in Boston in 1860, while her husband Freeman is living in Scituate with his sister Lucy.

benjamin whiton and lydia stodder (part 1 of 3)

early years of marriage

Benjamin Whiton and Lydia Stodder, my fifth great-grandparents, were married December 10, 1797 in Hingham, MA.  There marriage is listed a few times in the Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 on ancestry.com.  A heading before one of the marriage entries states that "The persons hereafter named were married by the Rev. Henry Ware, pastor of the First Church in Hingham."  Rev. Henry Ware was later known for his Unitarianism influence in the Congregational religion.  I am a little surprised that Benjamin and Lydia were married in the First Church of Hingham because Benjamin's family lived in the Southern part of Hingham, as I will show later in this blog post.  At this time, there was another church in the southern part of the town, with Rev. Shute as their pastor.  (History of the Town of Hingham / Solomon Lincoln, page 36)

The above database also has a record of intention for Benjamin and Lydia in November of 1797, as seen below.

From blog post benjamin whiton and lydia stodder

1800's

Their marriage intention record indicates that Benjamin and Lydia were both from Hingham, but they did not stay in Hingham for long. By 1800, they are living in Scituate, MA; a neighboring town, with two boys under the age of 10.  I matched the children up to those in the vital records database on ancestry.com.

1800 Census, Hanover (actually states Scituate on lower page)

Benjamin Whiting: 2 males under 10 (Jared and Richard), 1 male 26-44 (Benjamin), 1 female 26-44 (Lydia)

Scituate is in Plymouth County, so I browsed the Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986 available on family search.  I was looking for a purchase of land around the time of their marriage in 1797.  There is nothing listed before 1800 for a Benjamin Whiton/Whiting or a Lydia Stodder/Whiting purchasing land in Scituate in the Plymouth County deed index on family search.  I did eventually come across (by luck) Benjamin's original purchases of land in Scituate (and Abington) after their marriage by looking through other deeds in Plymouth County.  Two purchases are filed in vol. 126 (159).  This volume is for the year 1816; however, these transactions took place in October 1797 and April 1800.  Benjamin, named as a blacksmith, first purchases land in Scituate from Ebed Vining, which abuts his father Benjamin's land.  A couple of years later, he purchases land in Abington, bordering Accord Pond, which also borders Scituate.

1797 Scituate purchase:

Paid by Benjamin whiting 3d of Hingham in the county/ of Suffolk blacksmith/ the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby hive, grant, sell and convey unto the said/ Benjamin Whiting, 3d his heirs and assigns forever a certain piece/ of land lying in Scituate in the county of Plymouth aforesaid/ containing 114 rods be the same or more or less, butted and bounded/ as follows, beginning at the highway leading from Abington/ to Hingham at the northeast corner of the land of Benj. Whiting, jr/ then runs south fifteen ? ? east eighteen rods with ?/ Benjamin Whiting's land then south seventy one ? east five rods/ nineteen links with the lands of the said Benjamin whiting then north/ twelve ? west twenty one rods and links to the highway...

1800 Abington purchase:

a certain piece of land laying in Abington in the county/ aforesaid containing six acres and a half and 22 rods bounded as/ follows viz beginning at the highway leading from accord/ pond to Hanover, then southwest corner of the land of Thankful/ Dunbar then runs easterly with her land thirty six rods and a/ half to the land of Enoch Dunbar to the line between Scituate and/ Abington then southerly with said lines and said Dunbar land to the/ land of David? Chubbuck twenty five rods and a half then westerly/ with said Chubbuck’s land forty eight rods and then links to the highway/ then northerly with said highway twenty four rods and a half to/ the first named corner...

There is another Plymouth county deed dated after Benjamin and Lydia's marriage, in 1804, which has Benjamin purchasing land with his father Benjamin.  This land is 16 acres lying in both Abington and Hanover from Joseph Jacob. (Plymouth County deed 100, 133)  Although it does not state it in the deed, this land is most likely abutting or at least in the same general area as the first two deeds.  At this time, Abington borders Scituate and Hanover (this part of Abington is now Rockland, and this part of Scituate is now Norwell). Benjamin's father eventually gives this land entirely to Benjamin in his will.

So from these deeds we learn that Benjamin is a blacksmith, and he owns land in Scituate, Abington and Hanover, near Accord pond.  We also learn that Benjamin is close to his father, as he purchases land with him.

The following is a current map of the area where Benjamin owns land (from OpenStreetMap), with Accord Pond in the center. The boundary lines are:  Southwest of Accord Pond is Rockland, (which was Abington when Benjamin purchased the land); to the East of Rockland, is Norwell, (which was Scituate when Benjamin purchased land there); to the North of Rockland and Norwell is Hingham, where Benjamin's father owns land; south of Rockland and Norwell is Hanover, where Benjamin purchases land in 1804 with his father, partly lying in Abington (currently Rockland).


View Larger Map

1810's

Benjamin and Lydia reside in Scituate throughout their lives, as shown by the rest of the censuses.  The 1810 census does not match up as nicely as the 1800 census, though.  According to the Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, they should have 3 sons and 3 daughters by 1810.  Their youngest son would have been Joel, who would only be a year old.  The category of males between the ages of 10-15 only list one son, but they have two at this age, Jared, 12 and Richard, 10.  Maybe Jared at the age of 12 was apprenticed to another family or just living with someone else.  It is also possible the census enumerator mistakenly put one dash instead of two.  I still think this is their family, even with the missing son.

1810 Census Scituate, MA

1 male under 10  (joel); 1 male 10-15 (Jared is 12 and Richard is 10); 1 male 26-44 1 (Benjamin); 3 females under 10 (Lydia, Maria, Joanna); 1 female 26-44 (Lydia)

1815

Benjamin's father, also Benjamin, died around 1815 and fortunately left a will; which shows how he divided his land among his children.  He left his son Benjamin more land adjacent to his land Benjamin already owns. (Plymouth Probate 47,135)

"He gave his eldest son Benjamin 8 acres in Abington, in common and undivided with the land of the said Benjamin, also 1/2 acre of the old place so called, said half acre to be taken off the easterly side of said place adjoining the home lot of said Benjamin, also 1/2 acre of land where his shop stands."

This 8 acres in Abington is part of the deed Benjamin purchased with his father in 1804, which was 16 acres in Abington and Hanover.  The other part of Benjamin's inheritance, the 1/2 acres, were probably in Scituate, where Benjamin must also have had his blacksmith shop.  According to an earlier deed, his father Benjamin purchased land in Scituate and Abington in 1761.  (See note 1 and 2)

1820's

In 1820, Benjamin and Lydia are still living in Scituate.  The 1820 Census matches up with their growing family according to the records found in Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988.  They now have 3 boys and 5 girls.  Their oldest son, Jared, unfortunately died before this census was taken, at the young age of 20 in 1817.  Benjamin and Lydia had another son in 1819, also naming him Jared.  They also have one more daughter after the 1920 census, Elizabeth, born in 1821.

1820 Census Scituate, MA

1 male under 10 (jared); 1 male 10-15 (joel); 1 male 16-25 (richard); 1 male 45 and over (benjamin); 2 females under 10 (mary, pamelia); 2 females 10-15 (maria, joanna); 1 female 16-25 (lydia); 1 female 26-44 (lydia)

1823 

In 1823, Abigail Whiton of Hingham, sells land in Hingham to a Benjamin Whiton of Hingham, yeoman and a Joseph Whiton of Hingham, Cooper.  This seems to be Joseph's family, as Abigail would be his aunt, Joseph his brother, and it is signed by another sibling, Aseneth his sister.  But Benjamin is not usually listed from Hingham, and he is also usually listed as a blacksmith, not yeoman.  This land is for one acre in Hingham to Benjamin (southeast side) and one acre to Joseph (northwest side), bounded northeasterly on Benjamin Whiton land, southeasterly on Abigail Whiton's land, southwesterly on the cartway, and northwesterly on Joseph Whiton's land.  If this is our Benjamin, and there does not seem to be other Benjamin Whiton's in the area at this time, this is the first land he owned in Hingham, where he grew up.  (Plymouth county deed 149,291) (see note 3)  

1828

In 1828, Benjamin sells what seems to be most of his land to his sons Richard and Joel for $750.00. Mentioned in this deed:

• the land Benjamin's house resides on in Scituate
• another lot that lies in Abington and Scituate (lying opposite the first mentioned scituate lot - south of Accord Pond)
• another six acres in Abington that Benjamin purchased from Ebed. Vining
• and finally the sixteen acres Benjamin and his father purchased from Joseph Jacobs in Abington and Hanover.  (Plymouth county deeds 162,253)

The only land not mentioned is the land in Hingham he bought from Abigail Whiton in 1823, if that is even our Benjamin.

1829

In 1829, the estate of Abner Morton sells land to Benjamin Whiton of Scituate containing 1 1/4 acre in Abington and 3/4 of the dwelling house, subject to the improvement of the widow of Abner.  This land is north of Benjamin's land and west of his brother Joseph's land. (Plymouth County Deed 165,263)  I find it interesting that the deed states it is north of his land, as it seems he sold his land to his children already. Apparently, he did keep some of his land.  Only a couple of years later in 1831; however, Benjamin does sell this land from Abner Morton to his son Joel Whiting, shoemaker of Scituate. (Plymouth county deeds 169,274) (Joel sells this land back to his mother after Benjamin's death in 1859 293,132)

1831

Another indication that Benjamin still has land is just a couple of years later, in 1831, there is a judgement against Benjamin Whiton by Bela Tower, for Benjamin to sell some of his land.  Benjamin owes $48.23 to Bela and is ordered to give him the southerly part of his land in Abington, appraised at $58.96 (looks like the court received the difference in sum).  This land contains 9 acres, bounded southerly by partly Tilson Gardner's land and Noah Gardner, westerly on land in the town of Abington, northerly by land of him, Benjamin Whiton, easterly by road leading to Tilson Gardner. (Plymouth county deed vol 173,30)  This is probably the judgement referenced in The court of Common Pleas, 1825-1834, vol. 14/David Thomas Konig p 250.  It seems like this was a difficult time for Benjamin; perhaps that is why he was selling his land to make money to pay off some debts.  He was able to keep most of his land in his family though, by selling it to his sons.

continued...

notes:

1.  I was able to find an earlier deed, from 1761 (Plymouth County Deeds 47,5) with a Benjamin Whiton, cordwainer of Scituate, sells to a Benjamin Whiton, cooper of Hingham, land in Scituate near Accord Pond.  On the preceding page is another deed, where Benjamin Whiton purchases land from Thomas Chubbuck in Abington, bounded north by Accord Pond line between Scituate and Abington (Plymouth County Deeds 47,4).  The purchaser of these lands (Benjamin Whiton, cooper of Hingham) is Benjamin's father, and the seller is most likely his grandfather.

2. One of Benjamin's brothers, Joseph, also receives land about "3 acres lying partly in Scituate and partly in Abington being the remainder of the old lot not already given to Benjamin."  This brother also receives the land in Hingham, where his father Benjamin resided (looking at the Hingham historical map shows where Benjamin grew up in Hingham, very close to the Scituate, Abington border near Accord Pond.)

3.  There was a Benjamin S. Whiting, son of Perez, born in 1815, and lived in the Plymouth area - there are a lot of deeds with this Benjamin purchasing and selling land in Plymouth.  This Benjamin has a brother Charles who I also see much of in census and deed documents.

richard stodder and monica marsh

My 5th great grandmother, Lydia Stodder, is indexed in the Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 on ancestry.com as having died February 5, 1864. This record connects my family to Richard Stodder and a Mary Marsh as her parents.

death of lydia stodder whiting in Hingham, MA

I have not been able to find a record of marriage for a Richard Stodder and Mary Marsh, but there is one for Richard Stodder and Monica Marsh, on May 30, 1773 in Hingham, MA. This marriage would be in the same time period of Lydia's birth around 1779. All other records for Monica do not refer to her as Mary, so I am not sure why Lydia's death record would have recorded her mother's name as Mary, if these are in fact the correct parents. Maybe it is an incorrect transcription or someone mistakenly informed them of the wrong name at the time of Lydia's death.

marriage of richard stodder and monica marsh in hingham, ma

I wanted to find more information on Richard Stodder and Monica Marsh to see if I could connect them further with Lydia Stodder.

The first place I checked was History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, Volume 3, page 201, which lists Lydia as the daughter of Richard Stodder and Monica Marsh. The problem with these town history books, is many times the source of their information is not noted. I am not sure where the authors found the children of Richard and Monica, as I have not been able to locate birth records for them. Maybe they are in the Hingham church records somewhere, but I did not find them in the Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988. The only records I did find were the death records of the three unnamed children, which states Richard as their father and no mention of a Mary or a Monica.



History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, Volume 3, page 201
Richard Stodder and Monica Marsh family

The next record produced would be Lydia's marriage to Benjamin Whiton. Unfortunately, marriage records from Massachusetts for this time period usually do not provide the parent's names. This is also the case for Lydia's marriage to Benjamin. Lydia's supposed siblings listed above also do not list their parents on their marriage records.

marriage of Benjamin Whiton and Lydia Stodder in Hingham, MA

If Lydia is part of this family, her mother Monica, dies in 1810 in Hingham. There is an entry for Monica Stodder's death in Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, and the date of 1810 matches. This only shows that there was a Monica married to a Richard Stodder in Hingham that dies in 1810, but still does not connect any of their children to this couple. Since the probate records are accessable online for Plymouth County, I searched the index to see if there was a Monica or a Mary Stodder listed which may show this connection. There are many Mary's; however, none with a date around 1810. I did the same for Richard's death of 1819, but again there was no match in the probate index. (note 1)

Although the History of Hingham book states that Lydia's siblings are Gridley Stodder and Mary Stodder, I have not found any evidence to support this. The 1790 census does show that Richard Stodder from Hingham has 2 males under 16 living in the household and 4 total females. This would account for Gridley and another male child and for females: Lydia, Mary, and Richard's wife Monica, plus one more female. Perhaps another widow and child, maybe a sister to Richard or Monica, is living with them at this time; or maybe Richard and Monica have another son and daughter that is not accounted for in the History of Hingham book.  By 1800, the census shows that Richard and Monica are living by themselves in Hingham.   I am not sure where their supposed son Gridley would have been living in 1800.   He was 19 years old, and not married yet; but he does not seem to be listed as a head of household in the area. Maybe he was on a ship at this point, as his later profession is a mariner.

I also searched for death information on these siblings listed in the Hingham book.  Gridley's death does not list any parents, and I was unable to find Mary's death record. Mary's husband Ichabod Stodder does have some probate records online, but since Mary died before Ichabod (according to History of Hingham book), Mary is not mentioned in the probate. His supposed sister-in-law, Mary's sister, Lydia, is also not mentioned. Lydia's brother Gridley does have some probate records online, but they are for gaurdianship appointed to Jedidiah Lincoln, as Gridley is unable to take care of himself in 1810, at the age of 32. His death record states he was a mariner, but also insane. It seems strange to me that although he was incapable of taking care of himself, Gridley was married in 1807. Maybe something happened to him after marriage, or maybe they were married inspite of it.

None of these records have shown a connection of Lydia Stodder to Richard and Monica together, or to her siblings Gridley and Mary. So far, the only connection I have that Lydia is connected to Richard Stodder is Lydia's death recorded mentioned first in this post, from the Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 database. There does not seem to be any other Richard Stodder's in Hingham for this time period, so it is likely that Lydia is the daughter of Richard and Monica; but not conclusive. Hingham town and church records will have to be located to find more evidence than the History of Hingham book provides.

notes:

1. I also searched the Plymouth County Probate index for Monica Marsh's siblings, and Richard Stodder's siblings; hoping I would find one that mentions either Monica Stodder as wife of Richard Stodder; or one that mentions any nieces and nephews as children of Richard and Monica. I obtained sibling information for both from the History of Hingham book, shown below. There were some probate records online for them, but none mention Monica or Richard or their children.

nathaniel french (part 3 of 3)

death

Nathaniel French died on September 19, 1818 in Hingham, MA.  His death is recorded in the Vital Records of Hingham available on americanancestors.org.  This record has Nathaniel's age as 42 years old, which would make Nathaniel's birth year 1777.  This date conflicts with the birth date I have for Nathaniel as son of George Lane French and Sarah Tower.  The date of their son's birth is 1768.  This death record is a transcribed document; though, so it could be incorrect. 

Hingham Vital Records, death of Nathaniel French

To complicate things a little, I did find another transcription of Hingham town records on ancestry.com, Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988.  This record has the same death date of September 19, 1818 for Nathaniel French in Hingham, MA; but has his age as 52, not 42 years old.  This transcription makes much more sense for my Nathaniel, which would give him a birth date of about 1767.  This is close to the birth date of 1768 for the son of George Lane French and Sarah Tower.  I do believe that the first record was transcribed incorrectly and Nathaniel is the son of George and Sarah.  I did not find any other Nathaniel's in the town records for births or deaths that match.  Which makes things a little easier to trace Nathaniel in Hingham. 

Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, Hingham, Nathaniel French death

When Nathaniel died, he left his widow Sarah with two daughters, 13 and 15 years old; and three sons at the ages of 17, 19, and 21. None of his children were married yet. Most were probably still living at home when Nathaniel died (the 1820 census has all but one older son living with their mother Sarah).  I was also able to find Nathaniel French's probate file on familysearch which supports the 1818 death date of Nathaniel French in the records above.  Once you get into the actual probate records, they also do mention his widow, Sarah. 

From nathaniel french march 2013

The first probate document is a letter of administration for David Whiton, of Hingham to be the administrator to Nathaniel French's estate.  It was signed by Jedidiah Lincoln and John Curtis.  David Whiton was probably a friend of the family as I do not have him listed in my family tree. Nathaniel's son Freeman marries a Joanna Whiting, but she does not seem to have a David in her immediate family. (Plymouth Probate vol. 46, p. 308)

The next document provides the names of the men who will appraise the estate of Nathaniel French: David Whiton, gentelmen; Perez Whiton and Daniel Wilder, yoeman. (Plymouth Probate vol. 50, p. 49)

There is also an inventory of Nathaniel's Estate provided in his Probate file. This is where Nathaniel's widow, Sarah, is first mentioned. The documents show Sarah will receive any items she chooses to the sum of $300.00. (Plymouth Probate vol. 50 p. 50-51)

The inventory is interesting to see what Nathaniel and his family possessed. It seems Nathaniel had land in Abington in addition to Hingham.  (Plymouth Probate vol. 50 p. 50-51)  One of Nathaniel's sons, Freeman, does move to Abington after he marries around 1826. Maybe he purchased the land at auction from his father's estate, although he only would have been about 17 years old. Abington is part of Plymouth County so I will search for deed transactions for this county around 1818 up to 1826.

The inventory also mentions that Nathaniel owned a farm and 1/2 of a Coopers Shop. (Plymouth Probate vol. 50 p. 50-51).  I found an interesting article on coopers from Old Sturbridge Village website which discusses both the trade of coopers and how they often also kept farms. Most of the tools listed in Nathaniel's inventory seem to be farm tools. (see note 1)  I was a little surprised to see that Nathaniel was a Cooper, as the History of Hingham book states that he was a packetman (p238). I have not found any evidence of this profession for Nathaniel, I wonder if he could have done both. Part of the description for Coopers on the Old Sturbridge Village website does discuss making barrels that are used for shipping. Maybe his barrels were sent on the ships.



Another document in Nathaniel's probate allows the adminsitrator, David Whiton, to sell items or land from the Estate of Nathaniel French to the sum of $800.00 so that he may pay the debts of Nathaniel.  (note 2) (Plymouth Probate vol. 50, p 427)

These debts are also listed in Nathaniel's Probate file.  The article on Coopers does mention that usually accounting books were kept noting bills and receipts. I am guessing that is where the administrator accessed the information for Nathaniel's debts.  These debts list many familiar surnames, such as Chubbuck, Gardners, Whitings and Whitons, and Dills. Also mentioned are Deacon John Jacobs and Doctor Shute. (Plymouth Probate vol. 53, p.131) (note 3)  I have not been able to find any information on a Deacon John Jacobs for this time period, but the History of Hingham book does discuss Dr. Daniel Shute and his son Dr. Daniel Shute Jr., who both resided on Main Street in the south part of Hingham. This is probably the area in Hingham that Nathaniel French also lived as most of the above mentioned surnames are also from South Hingham.

Having these probate records is great, but they have left me with some questions, such as:

• Who was the land at auction sold to? Was it the land in Hingham or Abington, or both?
• Who owned the other half of the cooper shop?
• Did his widow Sarah remain on land in Hingham, and who was that handed down to?
• Since he had property and items to hand down, why didn't he leave a will, did he die suddenly?

notes:
1.  Plymouth Probate vol. 50 p. 50-51

Inventory of Estate of Nathaniel French

• 25 1/2 acres of land in the homeplace at 35.............................................................$892.50
• 7 acres of woodland in Abington, 56...dwelling house 575.....................................$631.00
• 1 barn 100, 1/2 a Cooper shop 12 ...........................................................................$112.00
• $1635.50
• 1 hog 30, 2 sheep 5, 3 cows 60..................................................................................$95.00
• 3 Tom English Hay ?, Salt? 10, pesh? 15..................................................................$70.00
• 2 ladders 2,25, 4 hay forks 2, 25, 3 rakes 3,25............................................................$2.25
• 1 hand cart 2, 9 hoes ?, 4 spade ? ...............................................................................$4.00
• 1 ? shovel .40, 1 dung fork .75, 2 scythes and staff .75, 3 yokes .50 .........................$2.40
• 1 ? hoe .50, 1 bill hook .50, 2 iron crows ? ................................................................$3.50
• 1 beetle and 3 wedges .75, 1 collar and hamer .50, 1 gindstone ?..............................$2.50
• 3 ? ?, 1 cropeut saw ?, 1 handsaw .50, 2 wood saw ?..................................................$6.50
• augen? gimblets chipals?, old iron ? , 2 pittelyards ? .................................................$6.00
• 1 gun 8.00, 1 pistol 1.00, 4 kat? irons 1.00, 1 coffee mill .50 ....................................$5.50
• 4 dish kettles 2.00, 2 pots 1.50, 1 tea kettle 1.00, 3 spiders 1.50 ...............................$6.00
• 1 toad iron .50, 1 bread ? .50, 1 cheese ? .50, wooden ? ? 10...................................$11.50
• 2 meal ? 1, dairy furniture 2.50, 9 kitchen chairs 2.50................................................$6.00
• 1 table .50, 1 fire sett 1.50, 1 lantern, candlestick, lamps and bellows 1.....................$3.00
• books 6.00, bed, furniture in the East Back chamber 12.00.......................................$18.00
• wool and sundries in the West Champber 3.00, 3 bbls cider? 6.00............................$10.00
• potatoes 13.00, empty bbls, keg? in the cellar 5.00, cheese 10.00 ............................$28.00
• bed and purniture in the front room 36.00, crockery in the frontroom closet 5.00, ...$41.00
• 1 doz knives and forks 2.00, 9 silver teaspoons 3.00, 1 silver watch 10.00 ...............$15.00
• ? 19.00, wearing apparel 22.00 .....................................................................................$41.00
• $399.15
• pew in meeting house ..................................................................................................10.00
• $409.15

David Whiton, administrator on the Estate of Nathaniel French, late of Hingham in said County, yeoman deceased...You are hereby directed to deliver to Sarah French the widow of said deceased so much of his personal Eastate in such articles as she may choose as will amount to the sum of three hundred according to their appriased value the same being an allowance much her for necessaries...after the widow Sarah French has selected from the personal Eastate of said deceased the allowance that has been made her you are hereby...

pg. 51

authorized to sell the residue at public or private sale as you shall judge most beneficial to all persons interested therein and account unto me for the porceeds thereof...

2. Plymouth Probate vol. 50, p 427

To the Hon Joshua Thomas, Esq, judge of Probate for the County of Plymouth, who petition of preresentation of David Whiton administratior on the Estate of Nathaniel French late of Hingham in the said County yeoman deceased humbly show that the personal Estate of said deceased is insufficient by the sum of eight hundred dollars to pay all his past debts and incidental charges therefore prays that he may be licensed and empowered to sell so much of said deceased real Estate as shall produce the sum aforesaid ...

Plymouth Court of Probate, Dec 6th, 1819, on the foregoing petition ordered that the said David Whiton cause personal notice to be given to all persons interested in said Estate of this his petition and order thereon and that they may appear at the Court of Probate now held at Scituate in said County on this first monday of Dec instant at three o clock pm when and where they may appear and show cause if any they have why the prayer of said petition should not be granted...

Plymouth December 6, 1819 by virtue of the within I have notified the widow and children of the deceased Nathaniel French to appear at the times and place and for the ? within mentioned.

Plymouth Court of Probate Decmeber 6 1819 David Whiton Administrator of the Estate of Nathaniel French late of Hingham in said County yeoman deceased having filed in the probate office for said County his petition for License to sell as much of the real etsate of said deceased as will produce the sum of eight hundred dollars for the purpose of paying his just debt and incidental charges and the said David Whiton having given notice to all persons interested in said Estate agreeable to the order of this Court all which being made evident to me by due Examination, therefore ordered that the said David Whiton be and hereby empowered to sell and pay deed to convey so much of said deceased in real Estate as shall produce the sum.

3. Plymouth Probate vol. 53, p.131

The account of David Whiton adminstrator on the estate of Nathaniel French late of Hingham yeoman deceased

The said accountant charges himself with sundry receipts viz

• for sundires sold at auction as ? 25.27 cash ? of Benjamin Whiton balance of ? .............31.29
• Warren Thayer note ?, Joshua Damon 15, Daniel Chubbard note ? 116.25 ..................135.25
• Deacon John Jacob note of interest 11.85, Jesse Gardner 1.63, Joseph Whiton 3.05......16.53
• Col Washington Cushing 1.75, Deac J. Jacobs 2, David Whiton balance of ? 319.82...323.57
• Sundry articles of personal estate including cash delivered widow on account of allowance by the judge..........................................................................................................................273.90
• cash received for the real estate sold at auction by order of court.............................800.00

                                                                                                                                             1580.84

And ? allowance for the following payments and charges viz

• sundries delivered the widow by order of the judge 277.90 as paid samuel gardner jr 2.61................................................................................................................................280.51
• james gardner 5.78 joseph whiton on 2 notes and interest 15.60 -................................21.38
• job loring jr. 5.50 perez whiting balance 7.94 davis whiting balance 10.35 ..................23.79
• eliha whiton 2.08 mary dills note 152.01 doctr shute jr. 25.49...................................179.58
• daniel dills note and int. 15.58 emma dills 22.72 whiton and fearing's acct 19.57........57.87
• doctr shute 2.40 deacon john jacobs note and int 138.22 ? 70.12................................210.47
• henry chubbuck note and int 107.55 ditto 35.20 ditto 154 ditto 256...........................552.75
• ditto for cash lent 60 abigail gardner note and int 23.98................................................83.98
• patience gardner 41.34, ditto 4.36 anthony gardner bill 4.09.........................................49.79
• perez whiting 2.25 david whiton and co. bill 27.47 daniel wilder 2.32..........................32.04
• ? Lane 2 B wilder collector 5.20 B. wilder collector 8.42..............................................15.62
• paid joshua hersey jr collector 3.20 joseph wilder ? .30...................................................3.50
• probate fees 5.85 ditto for inventory 1.25 for license to sell real estate 5.50 ................12.60
• perez whiting collector 4.53 administrators services 30, probate fees for recording ?...36.53

                                                                                                                                             1560.68
                                                                                                          Sarah French left her mark x





to do:

1.  Search for the deed for Freeman French's land in Abington - Plymouth County Deeds - 1818-1830.  Freeman then moves back to South Scituate/Norwell, where all his children were born - after Nathaniel's death.   (need to search index at registry in Plymouth for these dates - records are online, but need book vol. number, etc)

2. Find where Nathaniel's land went after his death and after his wife's death - their children:

• son Theodore said to have removed from Hingham in the History of Hingham book.  I could not find a record of him in Hingham.
• son Nathaniel stayed in Hingham, died in 1867 - look at his children too.
• daughter Mary French marries Joseph Wilder, remains in Hingham - have a son Joseph Wilder
• daughter Sarah dies in 1863, marries Jacob Dunbar - not sure where they ended up or if they had children.

nathaniel french (part 2 of 3)

family life

Nathaniel French married Sally Chubbuck on January 8, 1797, in  Hingham, MA.  The record is from the Vital Records of Hingham, from americanancestors.org.

index of marriage record for Nathaniel French and Sally Chubbuck, Hingham, MA

The first census that Nathaniel and Sally are found in show that they are not living in the almshouse, like Nathaniel's father, George.  In fact, the Massachusetts and Maine direct tax census of 1798 shows that Nathaniel lives in the South Parish of Hingham, with 1/2 shop and 12 acres of land.  I do not know if Nathaniel purchased this land, or if he inherited it.  The next step would be to check Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, since Hingham is in Norfolk County from 1793-1803. (note 1)

The 1800 census shows Nathaniel's growing family:

1800 US Federal Census, Hingham, Nathaniel French

1800 census : 2 males under 10 (nathaniel and theodore); 1 male 26-44 (nathaniel); 1 male 45+ (?); 1 female 26-44 (sarah) 

There is one male over 45 years old who is unaccounted for in Nathaniel's household in 1800.  It may be Sarah's father, Thomas Chubbuck, since his wife died in 1797, and I was unable to find him listed separately in the census.  Thomas died in 1802 in Hingham, so most likely he was living in Hingham in 1800.  I checked to see if it could have been any of Sarah's or Nathaniel's brothers, but none of them would have been 45 or older in 1800.  It also was probably not likely to be Nathaniel's father as he is married in 1800 (to his third wife, Fanny).

The 1800 census shows who Nathaniel's neighbors probably were.  The listing under Nathaniel is Daniel Dill, which is Sarah's sister's, Mary, husband.  This would probably be her family, living next door to each other. 

1810 census...

1810 US Federal Census, Hingham, Nathaniel French

1810 census : 1 male under 10 (freeman); 2 male 11-15 (nathaniel and theodore); 1 male 26-44 (nathaniel); 2 female under 10 (sarah and mary); 1 female 26-44 (sarah); 1 female 45+ (?) 

By 1810, the older male living with Nathaniel and Sarah in 1800 is no longer in their household.  This would make sense if it were Thomas Chubbuck, as he dies in 1802.  There is; however, another older female living with them that is over the age of 45.  Both Nathaniel's and Sally's mothers had died before 1800 according to History of Hingham book.  Perhaps this woman is a sister of either Nathaniel or Sally.  Nathaniel does not have any living sisters in 1810.  Sally has two sisters age 45 and over.  Her sister Mary is married, but her other sister, Patience, never marries.  I am guessing it is more likely to be Patience, than Mary.  I did not find a separate entry for Patience in the 1810 census. 

It seems likely that the land Nathaniel and Sarah are living on in Hingham may have come from Sarah's family for a few reasons.  The 1800 census has Nathaniel and Sarah probably living with Sarah's father.  Maybe they lived in his house as he was older, taking care of Thomas if he needed it.  Also, the 1810 census has them most likely living with Sarah's sister, Patience.  Perhaps Thomas handed down his land and house to Sarah and she was to provide residence for her sister Patience.  Also, Sarah's other sister, Mary, is living next door to Nathaniel and Sarah in the 1800 Census.  Mary may have also been given land from her father Thomas.  The 1810 Census is alphabetized for the town of Hingham, so that does not show who Nathaniel and Sarah's neighbors may have been.  I am not sure if Thomas Chubbuck left a will or probate, but that would provide many clues as to where Nathaniel and Sarah were living in Hingham. (note 2)

(to be continued...)

notes:
1.  Hingham is in Norfolk County from 1793-1803; Plymouth County starting 1803; before 1793 in Suffolk County.    Norfolk County Registry of Deeds do have all their deed register books online.  I found a great guide to using the Norfolk Register of Deeds webpage here - from GeneaMusings blog.  If you are looking for deeds before 1900 you have to search through their scanned index.  There were no French's or Chubbuck's at all from Hingham listed.  In fact, I did not see any listings for Hingham, which makes me think that maybe Hingham was not included in these deeds.  Perhaps because it was in Norfolk County for such a short time, they are still indexed with either Suffolk or Plymouth County for these years.  Have to go to Plymouth Registry of Deeds to look at their index.

2.  I looked in Probate index, Norfolk County, Massachusetts ... 1793-1900, vol. 1, online through Internet Archive, and did not find an entry for Thomas Chubbuck, Sarah's father, who died in 1802 in Hingham, MA.  Again, there were no Chubbucks from Hingham listed.  Thomas is also not listed for the Plymouth County Probate files available online through familysearch.   I will have to look in the Suffolk County probate. 

to do:
1.  Check the Suffolk and Plymouth county deeds to find where Nathaniel got his land in Hingham, MA - around 1797 - year of his marriage.  Plymouth county deeds are online, but for this time period, need to know book number.  I did look at French surnames for 1910-1915, to see if maybe some deeds would link back through his descendants, but there were none that matched.  I also asked on the Plymouth County ancestry boards if anyone had access to the Plymouth county deed index.  The Plymouth County Deed index is available at Plymouth Registry of Deeds, and available from Family Center microfilm. I am not sure about process for Suffolk County Deeds yet. 
 
2.  Since Thomas Chubbuck is not in the Norfolk County Probate index and his probate record is not online for the Plymouth County Probate records, check Suffolk County probate for Sarah Chubbuck's father, Thomas Chubbuck, d. 1802 in Hingham, MA (Nathaniel's father George died in almshouse). 

3.  Also look at Sarah's brothers' probates - Plymouth county probably.  Sarah's brother Thomas has a son Henry Chubbuck who leaves land to Sarah Chubbuck and her children - including Freeman French.  Henry's will also mentions Sarah's sisters Mary Dill and Patience Chubbuck.  Strange to me that Henry left to his aunts and cousins, but maybe he had no children and maybe his father Thomas did not have many other children. 

nathaniel french (part 1 of 3)

childhood

Nathaniel French, one of my 5th great grandfathers, was born around 1770 in Hingham, MA.  (note 1)  The closest birth record I could find for a Nathaniel French in Hingham was the Nathaniel born January 19, 1768 to George Lane French and Sarah Tower.  I have written a bit about George Lane French and my difficulty obtaining records for him in many posts. 

possible birth of Nathaniel French to George Lane French and Sarah Tower (from: NEGHS, Vital Records of Hingham, MA; newenglandancestors.org)

Nathaniel was about 7 years old when the Revolutionary War began.  He and his brothers would obviously have been too young to fight; but his father, George Lane French, does have an entry in the
Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, vol. 6; (pg 71; available on internet archive).

French, George Lane. Private, Capt. Pyam Cushing's co., Col. Lovel's regt.; service between March 11 and March 29, 1776, 2 days; company assembled to guard the shore.  

If Nathaniel's father is George, he was not gone long due to the Revolutionary War.  Even though his father was home; however, Nathaniel probably did not have an easy life.  George and his family spent at least some years in the almshouse in Hingham, MA.  The records show George Lane French's death occurred while residing at the almshouse in 1814.  The death of Nathaniel's sister-in-law and nephew (Delight Rice French, wife of George French, and Phinneas French) also occurred at the almshouse in 1791.  I am guessing that Nathaniel may have spent some years here also, as a child or young adult.

I tried to find Nathaniel's family in the 1790 Census, but was not very successful.  Nathaniel would be about 22 years old by the 1790 census; old enough to be a head of a household and enumerated in the census.  I did not find him listed in Hingham, MA; perhaps he was still living with his father as he was not yet married. (note 2)  There are only 4 pages for Hingham and I browsed through each page to make sure the index did not miss him.  The only George French enumerated in Hingham is Nathaniel's brother George, who married in 1785 and had a family of his own.  It does not seem that anyone else is living with George other than his wife and his own children.  (A year later, George's wife Delight and son Phinneas' deaths are recorded from the almshouse also.)

1790 Cenus Hingham; George French (children's names are from History of Hingham book) : Males - Under 16: 2 (joshua, phinneas) Males - 16 and over: 1 (george); Females: 2 (sarah, delight)

I also did not find an entry for Nathaniel's other brothers, Phinneas (20 years old), Theodore (18 years old), and Perez (14 years old).  Their brother Joshua probably died by 1778, (according to The History of the Town of Hingham, p237), and their sister Sarah died in 1782.  I have not been able to find out more information for any of Nathaniel's brothers other than George who dies in 1832 in Hingham, MA.  The other brothers do not seem to be listed in the later censuses, nor did I find death records for them in Hingham.  They may have either died and did not leave a record, or they removed from Hingham.  Their father, George Lane French, did not have a probate as he died in the almshouse, so no information can be found that way. 
The other French's that are listed in the Hingham 1790 census are as follows:

• Miss French : 1 female (not sure who this is)
• Ezra French : 1 male 16 and over, (ezra) 3 females (daughters lucy, hannah, sarah) - not sure where sons samuel and reuben were; and wife died in 1790 [George Lane French's cousin]
• Jonathan French : 5 males 16 and under (charles, martin, daniel, bela,?) 1 male 16 and over (jonathan), 3 females (betsey, elizabeth, elizabeth) [George Lane French's brother; Nathaniel's Uncle]
• Theodore French : 2 males 16 and over (theodore, theodore), 1 female (wife persis or daughter hannah) [George Lane French's brother; Nathaniel's Uncle]

Since I could not find Nathaniel or his father George in the 1790 census, I am guessing they may be living in the almshouse by this time.  The number of residents residing at the almshouse were included in the 1790 census, as shown below.

1790 Hingham Census showing number of residents of almshouse (6 males over 16, 1 male under 16, 12 females)

If Nathaniel was at the almshouse with his father, he managed to leave it and obtain his own residence by the 1800 census with his wife.

(to be continued...)


notes:
1. I have a name of Nathaniel French for my 5th great grandfather from my 4th great grandfather's birth record, Freeman French.  (Freeman's death record does not list parent's name).  I have an approximate birth date of 1766-1774 from the 1800 and 1810 census for Nathaniel.

2.  Nathaniel's mother died in 1782 according to the History of Hingham book.  Nathaniel's father George remarried to an Abigail Lewis in 1783.  Abigail died in 1790, and George remarried again to Fanny Humphries in 1791. 

to do:
1. find deeds of Nathaniel's father George - Hingham book states he resided on Hersey Street.  Was this after the almshouse?  George's father Jonathan resided on French Street according to Hingham book, as did George's brothers, Theodore and Jonathan.  Some of George's siblings were born in Weymouth - did Jonathan (Nathaniel's grandfather) sell their land in Weymouth when they came to Hingham.  Did George Lane French (Nathaniel's father) come to Hingham as an adult or with father Jonathan?

2.  find information on Nathaniel's brothers : Phinneas, Theodore and Perez.  History of Hingham book does not have information on them either.  May need to browse through the Holbrook Massachusetts Vital Records database on ancestry.com.  Familysearch does have a death date for a Perez, son of George, in Hubbardston, MA in 1868 - but states he was born in Hubbardston in 1796.  Record could be incorrect.