Dr. Edward Esty

Dr. Edward Esty

• Born 16 Jul 1693 in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony
• Died 6 Nov 1789 at age 96 in Stoughton, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA
• Son of Joseph Estey and Jane (Stewart) Estey
• Husband of Elizabeth (Unknown) Esty — married about 1718 in Stoughton, Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap [uncertain]
• Husband of Mary (Stearns) Estey — married about 1739 in Stoughton, Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Esty-30

Spelling of his LNAB (last name at birth):

His father's LNAB is spelled ESTEY "Joseph Estey son of Isaack Estey b. 5 Feb 1658, Topsfield, Essex, MA." [Handwritten transcription of Topsfield Vital Records] In his Find-A-Grave memorial there is no gravestone image to provide us with that 'final' viewable spelling . The Topsfield records are typed transcriptions so that surname spelling may or may not be a literal translation of the original but they are used herein for the sake of consistency with the cited records. The Topsfield Vital Records show LNAB for all of Joseph and Jane (Stewart) Estey's children to be:

"EASTY" for Benjamin (birth), John & Mary
"EASTYE for Lydia"
"ESTEY" for Benjamin (bap.)
"ESTIE" for Edward, Elisabeth, Jacob, John, Joseph, Samuel

While this spelling variation from Topsfield Births introduces confusion the spelling of Edward's surname ESTY is surprisingly consistent during his life-long residence in Stoughton, Massachusetts due to the several decades of available town poll tax records which appear to be images of the originals.

To further complicate the LNAB father Joseph's marriage record [handwritten old style town ledger but could still be a transcription] reads: "Joseph ESTY m. 2 Jun 1682, Topsfield, MA., Jane Steward (aka Stewart)"

Birth

"Edward ESTIE, aka Esty son of Joseph was baptized 16 Jul 1693 at Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts." [1] [2]

At some point his father Joseph Estey [aka Esty] removed to a "New Grant" or as it was soon called "South Precinct of Dorchester, Massachusetts". Joseph's wife Jane died in 1702 and author Bangs places the moved about 1705.

Family

Based upon the births of their children he probably married Elizabeth (Unknown) about 1718. A marriage record has not been located at this time but Elizabeth's name is used in her children's birth records. They lived in Canton & Stoughton, At this times they resided at Stoughton, Middlesex, Massachusetts where all their children were born:

1. Mary "Esti" dau. of Edward & Elizabeth, b. 11 Sep 719 [3]
2. Isaac "Esti" son of Edward & Elizabeth b. 24 Nov 1720 [3]
3. Elizabeth,
4. Jabez "Esti", son of Edward & Elizabeth b. 14 Nov 1726 [3]
5. Martha "Estie" dau. of Edward & Elizabeth, b. 23 Nov 1728 [3]
6. Stewart,
7. Edward II,
8. Mary (2nd),
9. Mercy
10. Solomon Esty (Solomon, son of Edward & Elizabeth Esty, b. 31 Dec 1737, Stoughton, Mass. [4]

Residency

In the 1728 Stoughton town ledger of "Town Tax Lists & Labor Salary Payment (made) "Edward ESTY, Benjamin and Joseph Esty" had their personal and real property assessed for town taxes. [5] Stoughton town 'Tax Lists' continue for the next 25 years.

Death

He is buried at Pearl Street Cemetery, Stoughton, Norfolk, Massachusetts.

Research Notes

--Over time an error has perpetuated in several published family histories regarding Mary Stearns, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Stearns, and her possible husband the Reverend Edward Esty [sometimes called Doctor Edward Esty]. Providing some detail about the Isaac and Elizabeth Stearns family of Lexington, the Charles Hudson source, page 231, states [6]

Mary Stearns, b. 10 Nov 1706; m. abt 1729, Dr. Edward Esty of Stoughton, who lived to be one hundred years old. They had fourteen children, twelve died without families."

Found in the family history source "Genealogy and Memoirs of Isaac Stearns and his Descendants" by Mrs. Avis Van Wagenen [7]

"Mary Stearns, bapt. Nov 10, 1706; m. about 1729, Dr. Edward Esty of Stoughton who lived to be 100 yrs. old. they had fourteen chil., who all d., without families, except the two following: (a) Solomon Esty, who had one son, Solomon Esty Jr., who md. and d., early leaving a son, Solomon Esty (3RD) and a dau., Mary or Mercy Esty, both of whom lived in Newton, Mass. (b) Mercy Esty, b., Nov. 14, 1730; d. Dec. 25, 1824; md., Nov. 21, 1776, David Sumner of Milton, Mass., and had one daughter Mercy Sumner."

Both Hudson and Van Wagenen state that Mary Stearns married in 1729 Edward Esty, Reverend which is incorrect as proven by the Stoughton Vital Records showing, in every case, that the mother of Edward's children was Elizabeth (Unknown). Their children's births spanning 1719 through 1737.

Also, despite what Van Wagenen says about the two children named Solomon and Mercy Esty, the Stoughton vital records also document that Elizabeth was the mother of Solomon, b. 31 Dec 1737 and Mercy Esty, b. 14 Nov 1730.

Mary Stearns may have been Edward Esty's 2nd wife but a marriage record has not been located. If Edward Esty was her 2nd husband the name of her first has not been found at this time.

--Caution: He shouldn't be confused with: Edward "Estes" b. 20 dec 1703, Lynn, Essex, MA., son of Richard & Elizabeth. [8]

References

1. "Vital Records of Topsfield, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849" Topsfield Births; pg.42. Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield, Mass.1903. Reprinted (subscription image record online db) Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, Provo, UT, USA. Accessed 12 Mar 2022.
2. p.39 EASTY & EASTYE spelling (Benjamin birth, John, Mary, Lydia) https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/27707248?h=32010f
3. p.41 EASTEY spelling (Benjamin, bap.) https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/27707284?h=a96ac3
4. p.42 ESTIE spelling (Edward, Elisabeth, Jacob, John, Joseph, Samuel) https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/27707096?h=38f782
5. "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQ6N-PXC : 15 January 2020), Edward Estie, son of Joseph, bap. 16 Jul 1693, Topsfield, Essex, MA.
6. Endicott, Frederic, ed. "The Records of Births, Marriages & Deaths & Marriage Intentions in the Town of Stoughton, 1727-1800 and in the Town of Canton, 1797-1845 as Preceded by the Records of the South Precinct of Dorchester, 1715-1727" p. 17. Canton, Mass., USA: William Bense, Pringers, 1896. Reprinted (subscription online db) Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Accessed 12 Mar 2022.
7. p.16 (Isaac & Jabez) https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/27707878?h=5ee750
8. p.17 (Mary & Martha) "https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/27707777?h=1776df
9. Endicott, Frederic, ed. "The Record of B, M. and Deaths and Intentions of Marriage in the Town of Stoughton from 1727-1800 and in the Town of Canton from 1797-1845, preceded by the record of the South Precinct of Dorchester from 1715-1727"; pg.47. Pub.1896, Canton, Mass.: Printed by William Bense.
10. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988; Stoughton Tax Lists. Online image record pg.20/437. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, Provo, UT, USA. Accessed 13 Aug 2020.
11. Charles Hudson (1795-1881) "History of the Town of Lexington, Middlesex county, Massachusetts; from its first settlement to 1868" p.231. Pub. Boston, Mass., USA: Wiggin & Lunt, 1868. https://archive.org/details/genealogicalregi00huds/page/230/mode/2up
12. Van Wagenen, Mrs. Avis Stearns "Genealogy & Memoirs of Isaac Stearns and his Descendants" p.34 pub. Courier Printing Co.: Syracuse, N.Y., USA. 1901. Accessed 17 May 2021. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/24232618?h=cb94de
13. "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQXG-6QK : 14 January 2020), Edward Estes, 1703.
14. MA Town & Vital Records, 1620-1988

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77169286/edward-estey Edward Estey's grave is unmarked, if he is indeed buried in this cemetery with five of his children.