John Dyer, of Sheepscot & Braintree

Unlikely to be son of Mary Barret Dyer, as she was in Rhode Island and Massachusetts in 1657, when Jonathan was supposedly born in London, England.

---

John Dyer first came to Braintree about 1678-9 and is of record as sho wn by Diary of Judge Samuel Sewall who states, last night, one Dyer of Bra intree shot an Indian to death as he was breaking his window and attempti ng to get into his house against his will, etc. - Feb.1,1680-1. After an i nquest as shown by the court records it was determined that the Indian w as starving and in a weak and low condition and "John Dyer of Braintree f or killing Jan.31, last, John Ahattawants, an Indian (by shooting him wi th swan shot) was arraigned for murder, the jury found him guilty of mansl aughter, and is to pay the widow 20 shillings for 5 years, and costs of co urt, paid 20 shillings Mar.1,1680-1."

Where John Dyer was then living is not known, but perhaps on his later loc ation on Dyer Hill, South Braintree, but made no purchase there until Ju ne 5,1711 when he bought of Samuel White 26 acres commonly called "The Ir on Works land" (Suffolk Deeds 35-152). In the meantime he had probably ret urned to Dyer's Neck in Maine with his brother Christopher as he was o ne of the petitioners for resettlement there in 1682, and after the deat hs (his father William & brother Christopher) at the hands of the Ind ia ns in 1689 returned to Braintree where his children were baptized begin ning in 1693.

Sources

1.  The New England Historical and Genealogical Register (Google eBook) The Society, 1911 - New England Vols. 37-52 (1883-98) include section: Genealogical gleanings in England, by H. F. Waters.  Page 189.

Links

• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dyer/william_of_s...