John Saunders, famous Quaker

Biography

John Saunders (Sanders) was baptized 9 Jan 1640 in the First church, Salem, Massachusetts to John Sanders 1613 - 1643 of Salem and his wife Elizabeth Grafton 1624 - 1678.[1,2,3]. He was married by Major Hathorne on 5 Nov 1661,to Hannah Pickman the daughter of Captain Nathaniel Pickman and Tabitha Dike.[1,2,3]

Children of John Saunders and Hannah Pickman:

1. Daughter, Hannah, b. 15 Nov 1662.[2]
2. Benjamin, b. 1663-4 ; d. before 1700.[2]
3. John, b. 22-10, 1665.[2]
4. James, b. 23 Jul 1667; m. Elizabeth Whittier June 22, 1699 ; d. Dec. 9, 1721.[2]
5. William, b. 1668; m. Bridget, daughter of John and Abagail Smith ; bap. Aug., 1672.[2]
6. Nathaniel, b. 2 Jul 1670 ; m. Abigail, 1703 ; settled in Gloucester, Mass.[2]
7. Joseph, b. 21-6-1673; d. 7-6-1674.[2]
8. Elizabeth, b. 28 Jul 1678 ; d. 1708, aged 30.[2]

He was the famous Quaker who went to England and procured a royal order to prohibit the persecution of Friends in Massachusetts Bay[1,2,3]

He died on 9 Jun 1694 in Salem.[4] He left a will which was probated in Essex county.[2]

Will of CAPT. JOHN SANDERS (Probated November 26, 1694)

• "In the name of God, Amen, I, JOHN SANDERS of Salem, sick and weak in body, but through God's Goodness of perfect mind and memory, and not knowing how sudden my change may come, doe (sic) make this to be my last Will and Testament,and doe dispose of what outward estate God hath given me in this world,as to my funeral charges, and just debts be paid by my executors,hereafter named. I give unto my wife HANNAH, all my real estate, housings and land situated and being in Salem, Mass. during her natural life, and also to my wife Hannah, all my personal property that is to say moneys,goods, household stuff and plate, also my Negro man SAMBO during hernatural life, so long as she remains my widow, and at my wife's decease I give unto my son BENJAMIN SANDERS this my new dwelling house and land,excepting ye piece of land I bought of Dr. BARTON. I also give to my son BENJAMIN SANDERS, my warehouse and wharf and the land adjourning (sic)after my wife's death. I give unto my son WILLIAM SANDERS all that myfarm all through Forest River, so called after my wife's death. I give unto my daughter HANNA, after my wife's death, that piece of land Ibought of Dr. BARTON. I give unto my daughter ELIZABETH, after my wife's decease, the acre of salt marsh, be it more or less of it lyeth and is situated in ye North Fields so called. I give unto my two daughters,Hannah and Elizabeth, after my wife's decease, or at the time of the marriage of my said wife, if it so happens, all my real estate that is tosay, moneys, goods, household stuff, plate and Negro man Sambo, equally divided between them, Hannah and Elizabeth also my Will is in case my wife Hannah should marry again, that after her marriage, there shall beno wood or timber cut, or carried from said farm at Forest River. I appoint and constitute my wife HANNAH to God, sole exetrix of this my last Will and Testament, lastly I appoint my loving friend Capt. Stephen SEWELL, Lieut. Robert HIBELON, and Benjamin GERRISH, overseers to this my Will duly and truly performed. In testimoney where-of, I have set my handand seal this fourth day of May 1694. JOHN SANDERS. Witness: Robert KITCHEN; Bettina KITCHEN; and Benjamin GERRISH.
• NOTE: This Will was sealed with wax upon which is the impress of a seal bearing an Elephant's head, side view, which is the crest of the "Sanders Arms."The omission from his Will of his sons JOHN, WILLIAM, NATHANIEL,and JAMES, who were married and established, was because he had given them previous to his death, lands, etc.

Biography and sources by Roland Henry Baker, III

Sources

• 1 “New England families, genealogical and memorial: a record of the achievements of her people in the making of commonwealths and the founding of a nation” Volume 4 by William Richard Cutter p 2039- 2040 (Note this are a lot of errors but it is worth a read). link
• 2 " The founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony: a careful research of the earliest records of many of the foremost settlers of the New England colony” by Sarah Sprague Saunders Smith pages 42,54, and 55. link.
• 3 "An American Family History, accessed on 28 Dec 2015 link
• 4 Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 25 February 2021), memorial page for John Sanders (1 Sep 1640–9 Jun 1694), Find a Grave Memorial no. 20001853, citing Burying Point Cemetery, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Jon Colcord (contributor 49371076) .
• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Dec 28 2015, 21:14:34 UTC
• https://sites.rootsweb.com/~sandersgenealogy/SANDERSsiftingsNo.27.pdf
• Temp Storage Hannah Norcross