Jonathan Bosworth, Sr.

He was born about 1613 (deposed Jun 1639 "aged about 26 years"[1], son of Edward and Mary (_____) Bosworth. Documented association with Henry Sewall suggests research in Coventry, Warwickshire area for his origins.

He emigrated in 1633, apparently shortly ahead the rest of his family. He settled initially in Cambridge; removed to Hingham in 1636 and to Rehoboth by 1658. He was a tailor.

He owned a house and land in 1635 (Cambridge). On 3 Apr 1646 he received a house lot in Hingham. 'Jonathan Bosworth was here in 1632. In 1635 he owned a house and land on the westerly side of Garden St., not far from the Botanic Garden. He probably left early. It would seem that he was son of Edward Bosworth and had brothers, Nathaniel and Benjamin, and a sister who married William Buckland.'[2] 'In a list of the inhabitants living in Cambridge in 1633 is found the name of Jonathan Bosworth; a footnote reads: 'Removed to Hingham.' The original record reads: 'The 7th of January 1632/3, Comon Pales deuided as ffollo.' Over forty names are given and among them, 'Jonath Boswth 2 Rod.' Also, 'The 5th of August Lotts Granted for Cowyardes.' A list of twenty-eight names follows, with the amounts set opposite, among them 'Jonah Bosworth 1 rood.' Also, 'The 4th of August 1634 ... Lots granted in Westend, ... to Jonatha Bosworth 2 Ackrs.' Also, 'At a Gennerall Meeting of the whole Towne the 20th of August 1635. It was ordered that William Spencer and George Steele should measure all the meaddow ground undeuided belonging to the Newtowne and when it is Measuere and deuided to every man his proporcion they are to: measuer every mans severally and Cause Stakes to bee sett at each end and to have three pence the Acker for the same and whosoever shall not pay for measueringe wthin one yeare then the ground to returne to them for measueringe. ffurther it is ordered that the same shalbe deuided acordinge to every seuerall proporcion herevnder written vntell it is all dispossed off vis.' Among seventy others is found: 'Jona. Boswth 1/2.' (Meaning one-half acre, I suppose.) Another entry reads: 'The 10th of October 1635; ... Jonathan Boseworth. In westend: one house with backside aboute Two acres John Maynard NorthWest Joseph Eaton Southwest Edmond Hunt Southeast the Comon northeast.'[3] 'In a book, 'Ancestors and Descendants of Gregory Stone,: by J. Gardner Bartlett, pub. in Boston, 1918, may be found on p. 51, a map of Cambridge showing the lots as originally laid out; one marked VI, of 4 1/2 acres, held by Thomas Parrish, in Sept. 1642, 'was originally granted to Jonathan Bosworth and Robert Day (2 acres each).' It is located in what was called the 'West End,' and was on the west side of Garden street, opposite the 'Cow Common.' He married about 1636 Elizabeth ________. She died in Swansea 15 Jun 1705 "being almost ninety one years of age" [4]. 'From the fact that Jonathan owned a house and lot at this time it is natural to suppose he was a married man. Some writers have stated that he had a first wife named Susannah, and if such was the case, he was presumably living with her at Cambridge. However, I have not been able to find one item in the old records that would indicate such a conclusion; and from this fact, also that he had no daughter or granddaughter named Susannah, but did have one - his eldest - named Elizabeth, after the one whom we know to be his wife later, I very much doubt the statement. Whether he had a wife when he came from England, or married her in Cambridge, I have no means od knowing, neither of the birthplace of his eldest son, Jonathan Bosworth, Jr., whether in Cambridge or Hingham. 'It was while Jonathan was still living in Cambridge - and probably the rest of the family - that he was called on to pay his share of the money borrowed by his father, of Henry Sewall, as 'Ordered by Court,' July 7, 1635 [Records of Mass., Vol.1, p.123],.... He moved to Hingham by 1636: 'Jonathan must have sold the two-acre house lot within the next three years, for on March 2, 1640, Clement Bates of HIngham sold a two-acre house lot which was located on Bachelor street (now Main), to John Stoddard, Senr. of Hingham, bounded with the land of William Large on the west, with the land of Henry Tuttle on the south, and 'abutting upon Batchilors street Eastward which said house Lott was formerly Jonathan Bozward of Hingham aforesaid.' 'On the same date Clement Bates also sold to John Stoddard Senr., the 'great Lott' of ten acres 'formerly given by the town of Hingham to Jonathan Bozward'; William Woodcock of Hingham, one of the witnesses. On October 15, 1700, this same 'great Lott of ten acres' that he had bought of his brother John, was sold by Sergeant Samuel Stoddard to Theophilus Cushing, formerly belonging to Jonathan Bosworth 'lying at a place called the Great Plain in sd HIngham in the first furlong of lotts yt lyeth to ye Westward o the Center or Country roadway.' 'On December 10, 1675, Thomas Nichols, of Hingham, sold to his son Ephraim Nichols, Seaman, 'all that his house lott containing five acres of Land be it more or less which hee the said Thomas Nicholls heretofore purchased of Jonathan Bozworth, which sd house Lott lying and being in Hingham aforesd. is bounded with the Town Street Eastward and with the lotts of Hockley feild westward and with the Land of Daniel Lincoln formerly the Land of Thomas Lincoln Cooper Northward and with the land of Thomas Lincoln Carpenter...Southward,' etc. He gave testimony 4 June 1639 as "Jonathan Bosworth of Hingham, taylor, aged about 26 years. 'Lechford's Manuscript Note Book, kept by a lawyer of Boston, from June 37, 1638, to July 29, 1641, has the following: 'In a suit of Thomas Hett, of Hingham, against Thomas Shave [footnote sayd Thomas Shaw, of Hingham.] action brought 4.4.1639. '[1 s. Jonathan Bosworth & Benjamin Bosworth witnesses for the Plt.]' (See also Benjamin's history.) 'Jonathan Bosworth of HIngham, taylor, aged about 26 yeares, maketh oath that Thomas Shave about the beginning of the fifth moneth 1637, upon occasion of conference betweene him & this Deponent about a parcell of ground in Hingham conteyning about 5 acres then kept from him told this depont that he had promised to give halfe therof to Thomas Hett for to help him to obteyne the possession of the said ground and at another time this deponent was present when the said Thomas Het and Thomas Shave talked together of the said promise whereof this deponent remembreth this passage that Thomas Hett asked the said Thomas Shave whether he would be as good as his word, he said Yes. Then sayd Thomas Hett you are like to have yor ground againe but when you have it againe I doubt you will be unwilling to let me have halfe if ever I get it and I shall be glad of the other halfe [6 d.]' (I imagine this last means he received sixpence for testifying.) 1644: 'The town of Hull, including the peninsula of Nantasket, was incorporated in 1644. Hingham laid claim to some of th eland; these lands by a vote of the general court were granted to Nantasket. Some of the inhabitants of Hingham questioned the justice of the Court in taking these lands from them.. in the Massachusetts Archives may be found the following deposition: 'That which wee Jonathan Bosworth, doe testifie Concerninge mr Pecke his Speech is this, That wee heard hime Say, That pride and malice were the foundation that sett vs a worke about nantascett, and if that were the foundation it would easily apeare What the buildinge would be; alsoe that we did conspire together about it, and it was like unto those that Conspired together to kill Paule. 'Moreover wee doe testifie Concerninge Edward Hubbard Senior, that he did say that it was Vniust [unjust] thinge to take away nantascett, and they might as well have giuen away theire house Lotts vp to there dores as have guien away nantascett from them Witneses Jonathan Bosworth; Thomas Gill 'This is testified vppon oath the XXX of the 5th moneth 1641. 'Jo Endicot dept Gov.' 'Rehoboth, Mass., to which place Jonathan Bosworth removed some time between 1650 and 1658, ws one of the four original townships of Bristol county; it was settled in 1644 and included what is now Attleboro, North Attleboro, Seekonk and Swansea in Massachusetts, and in Rhode Island all the lands east of the Blackstone river and Narragansett Bay, namely Cumberland, Pawtucket, East Providence and Barrington. As the life of Jonathan and his descendants is so inseparably connected with this region, even to the present time, a brief sketch of its history will no doubt be of interest. ..... By 1658 he removed to Rehoboth, MA when took oath of fidelity there.[5] He had a number of deeds and grants of land there, and in 1661 witnessed a deed from the Indians. 'The first reference to Jonathan Bosworth after he removed to these parts, seems to be the one given in Plymouth Colony Records [Vol. 7, p.178], where in the year 1658 his name appears in a list of 'such as have taken the oath of Fidelitie in the Towne of Rehoboth.' 'April 8, 1661, Jonathan Bosworth was witness to a deed given by 'Wamsetta, alias, Alexander, chief Sachem of Pokanokett,: to Capt. Thos. Willett and his associates of 'The Rehoboth North Purchase. [Hist. of Rehoboth, Bliss, p.51.] 'April 18, 1661, Jonathan Bosworth, Senior, of Rehoboth, sells 12 acres of land and one acre of fresh meadow in Hingham to Daniel Cushing; the 12 acres being land he had bought of Joseph Phippen, bounded by lands of Matthew Cushing, Simon Burr and highways; the one acre of fresh meadow was near Paige's Bridge, given him at the laying out of the town. The price received was thirty shillings. This deed was personally acknowledged in Boston before William Stoughton, June 15, 1672, John Jacobs and Thomas Barnes, witnesses. 'July 3, 1663, 'It was voted and concluded that Nicholas Ide should have the playne Lott yt formerly was Intended for Goodman Bosworth Lyeing upon the west syde of the playne It was given him in consideracon of wt he wanted of his former alottment.' [Reho. Rec.] 'April 10, 1666, the town of Rehoboth purchased land lying on the north of the township, on the west of the Pawtucket river; it was called the 'North Purchase,' and was divided into 79 1/2 shares and sold to the inhabitants; the list of purchasers and the number of their shares 'was universally agreed upon at a Meeting of th epurchacers May the 28th 1672,' William Carpenter, Clerke. On this list we find: 'Mr. John Myles, one whole share;' 'William Bucklnad, one whole share;' 'Joseph and Benjamin Buckland each one share;' 'John Cobley, one whole share that he had of his father Jonathan Bosworth.' [Rec. of the Town of Attleboro] [As there has been doubt expressed in some cases as to the fact that John Cobley married a daughter of Jonathan Bosworth, I was thankful for this find]. 'april 20, 1666, 'Jonathan Bosworth, Senir. of Rehoboth, Taylor,: deeds his house and lot in Rehoboth, which he had bought of 'his brother Benjamin,' to Stephen Paine. Deed ack. June 5, 1672. 'May 26, 1668, Jonathan Bosworth's name was No. 25 in the list of those who drew meadow lands in the 'North Purchase.' 'March 18, 1668/9, occurred another drawing of lots in the 'Rehoboth NOrth Purchase,' (now Attleboro), and Jonathan Bosworth drew lot No. 66. 'May 26, 1672, Jonathan bought one acre of fresh meadow, of John Woodcock; the following is a copy of the deed: 'At a Town Meeting Lawfully Warned the 28th of May 1672. 'At the same Day the Town only acting it was voted and agreed upon that goodman Bozworth Senr. Shall have a small Tract of Land against his meadow on the Neck provided he Leave a Sufficient Passable way from the bridge so the Highway that Runs through Mr. Brown's Land that was Last Laid oute to Come into the Neck the Tractt of Land to be Bounded by the way and Mr. Browns Land and his owne medow.' [from 'Proprietors of Rehoboth Meetings.'] 'June 15, 1672, Jonathan was in Boston where he had gone to acknowledge a deed given to Daniel Cushing of land in Hingham, sold him on April 18, 1661. 'Nov. 1, 1671, 'In reference to the estate of Nathaniel Pecke, deceased, the Court ordered that Jonathan Bosworth, Sen., an dSamuel Pecke whall administer on said estate, there being 2 children, a son and daughter, ... the estate to be undivided until they come of age or choose their own guardian.' [Plym. Col. Rec.] '(Samuel Peck was brother, and Jonathan Bosworth, Sen., the father-in-law, of Nathaniel Peck, the latter having married Deliverance Bosworth, and both had died the previous year leaving 2 children.). 'Feb. 20, 1678, William Buckland 'of the town of Rehoboth government of New Plymouth in New England,: deeds to Jonathan Bosworth Senior of Rehoboth, a lot of upland in Wachamoket Neck, 12 acres. Also on the same date, Joseph Buckland of the same place, sells to Jonathan, a lot of upland in Wachamoket Neck in Rehoboth, 26 acres... 'Somewhere about this time a record was made on the Old Proprietary Records of Rehoboth, now at Taunton [book 2, p.128] of 'The bounds of The Lands of Jonathan Bozworth Sen.' 'Imprimis, my house lot containing twentye akers be it more or less being bounde. To the Northward Mr. James and Mr. John Browne Land To the westward the land of The children of Nathaniel Peck to the Eastward a highway. '2ndly ffifteen akers of Land be it more or less in Wachamoket neck laid out first to Jacob Ormsby and purchased of his widdow being bounded Southerly The land of Mr. James and Mr. John Browne. To the Northward The lot laid out to Widdow Hall a Highway Runing acrose the Easterly end of The lot To the Westward a Highway '3dly twelve akers and ten rod of upland be it moore or less in Wachamoket neck purchased of William Bucklane a highway runing through the Easterly end of it being boundeth to the Southward The land of Jonah Palmer To the Northward the land of George Robinson To the Westward the next Range of Lots. To the Eastward a highway. '4ly twenty six akers of land be it more or less in wachamokett neck purchased of Joseph Buckland eight akers lyeing the fourth Range most of it lyeing upon a triangle and eighten akers of it in the begining of the first Range Bounded to the Sourhtward The land of Richard Bowen and Sampson Masons To the Northeast a Highway. '5ly one aker of Land be it more or less given me by the Towne Lyeing Neare the bridge bounded Sourthward a highway To the Eastward my owne Meadow Westward a highway. Northward the land that was laid out to Mr. James & Mr. John Browne. '6ly one aker of Meadow be it more or lesse which I purchased of John Wodcok Sen being bounded Easterly the River Westerly my owne land Northerly to the meadow of Widdow Mason.' 'Of the twenty acres mentioned in 'Imprimis,' Jonathan never received a deed, but after his death the deed was made out by Isreal Peck, his son-in-law, to Jonathan's son Joseph, to whom he had willed his property, as will be seen later. 'The following instrument by which Jonathan and his wife, Elizabeth, expressed their serious disapproval of the course their eldest son, Jonathan Bosworth, Jr., had taken in joining the 'Anabaptists,' may be found recorded in Plymouth,[vol.5,p.137.] 'This writing witnesseth that I Jonathan Bozworth with my wife Elizabeth Bozworth have given and doe give unto my son JOseph Bozworth half of my house lott with the east end of my Dwelling house and half my Barne and two lotts adjoining in Wathchamosittt Neck on that was Joseph Bucklands excepting that part that ye highway cutts of which is six or eight acres the Town Records shows And another which was Jacob Amesberies with two Cowes fair with Calfe and the use of the Teames to doe his work and mine so long as I shall see cause or till he hath of his owne, this at ye present, but for his Brother Jonathan He shall have nothing to doe with anything I have except he decline from that opinion of ye Anabaptists which he dow holds the 30th day of ye 10 month 1680.....' 'It appears that Jonathan's abhorrence of the act of Jonathan, Jr., in joining the Baptists was such that he would not call him son, but mentions him as Joseph's 'Brother.' However, he must have relented somewhat, for on March 26th of the following year he deeded to 'Jonathan the younger of Swanses,' land in 'the North side of the Towneship of Rehoboth,' which Jonathan, Jr. afterward mortgaged, as will be seen later. 'March 1, 1680/1, 'Libertie of adminnestration is graunted vnto Jonathan Bosworth Senr, to adminnester on the estate of John Cobley, deceased.' 'March 1, 1680/1, 'This Court graunteth libertie unto Jonathan Bosworth, Senr, and Samuel Pecke, adminnestrators on the estate of Nathaniel Pecke, late deceased, to make sale of a peece of land containing eight acrees and an halfe, lying next to Mr. Anthony Lowes land, upon the necke of land called Phebeys Necke, and the comonage on the New Meddow Necke, with the addition of the forty rodd, all which belonged to the said Nathaniel Pecke, deceased.' 'Oct. 28, 1681, Same administrators as above, granted liberty, 'to make sale of a small psell of salt march, being the fourth pte of a ten acree lott lying att Papasquash, or Mount Hope Necke, for the use and benifitt of the children of the aforesaid Nathaniel Pecke.' 'In Plymouth Colony Records [Vol.7,p.202-209], is given a list of the names of the freemen of the Colony of New Plymouth, taken by Nathaniel Morton, Secy'; Anno 1683-84. On it we find: 'Rehoboth, - Jonathan Bosworth, Sen., and Joseph Bosworth. 'March 8, 1686, Jonathan received another share in the meadow lands of the 'Rehoboth North Purchase,' a description of which is given on p.165 of Book 1 of the 'Records of the Town of Attleboro,: as follows, - 'a lot or share of fresh meadow Lyeing and Being one the West Side of the ten-myle River being a share in the second tens. Being bounded Southerly. the meadow of Leftenant Peck: Northerly the meadow of Jarrett Ingraham, westerly the upland: Easterly the River.' He died in Rehoboth 3 Jan 1687/8[6] 'Note: In Arnold's Vital Records of Rehoboth it is stated that Jonathan Bosworth, Jr., died in Rehoboth Jan. 3, 1687. Knowing that this must be a mistake, first, because Jonathan, Jr., did not live in Rehoboth, but in Swansea; second, because Jonathan, Sr.'s will is dated one month later than this; and third, because I found a deed made by Jonathan, Jr., at a subsequent date; I visited Rehoboth in 1931 and personally examined the old, original records, and found the name to be as I had surmised, written very plainly, 'Jonathan Bozworth Sen.r' The date as given is 1687, but here no doubt the recorder neglected to put in the double date, for at the top of the page is writen :'Deaths for the year 1688.' His death occuring before the 25th of March, 1687 O.S., the date should no doubt have been written January 3, 1687/8, as given above, for he certain did not die one month before making his will, an dthat, as may be seen, is double dated. I have had a photograph of this page made and a reproduction is here given, but the paper of the old book is yellow with age, the photograph came out very dark, and the writing is not as clear as desireable.' Elizabeth, wife of Jonathan Bosworth, Sr., died at Swansea, Mass., perhaps at the home of her son Jonathan, Jr. The record reads, 'Elizabeth Bozworth Departed this life June the 15th in Swanzy Being Almost ninty one years of Age in the year 1705.'

 Last Will & Testament[7] =

'About the year 1903, in the attic of th eold Bosworth home in Barrington, R.I., was discovered a bundle of legal papers, yellow with age, that had been handed down from generation to generation, apparently unopened. They were found by the widow of Leonard Smith Bosworth and given into the hands of her daughter, Mrs. Carrie Bosworth Reed. On opening them they were found to be papers of great value to genealogists; some of them deeds showing relationships that had formerly been in doubt, and others of deep interest, but best of all the will of Jonathan Bosworth, Senior, dated February 24, 1686/7. It had evidently never been probated, but kept in the family of the son Joseph, the executor, who had no doubte carried out its provisions. A photo of this will is here given, which reads as follows:

Date: 24 FEB 1686 Note: Be it known unto all men by these presents that I Jonathan Bozworth Senior of the Towne of Rehoboth in the County of Bristoll in his Majestys Teritorey and Dominion of New Enelgna; Being weake and aged yet through the goodness of god of a competent measure of understanding and memrye doe for the glory of god and the comfort and peace of my deare wiffe and Children, and settelling of that small estate that god hath given me, make this my Last will and Testiment this twenty-fourth day of ffeabuary Anno dom. 1686/7. Imp. It is my desire to Humbly resigne up my Soule unto the Hands of my dear Redemer the Lord Jesus Christ: And it is my will that my Bodey be decently Buried. Item. I Give and bequeath unto my deare and Beloved wiffe the ffree use and Improvement of the Romes of my House ht I now dwell in with the one halfe of my Barne. orchard and home Lot. and the improvement of any other land and meadows that is now in my ands that I have not formerly dispossed on with the proffits thereof during her Naturall liffe and Likewise I give and bequeath unto my deare wife all my Houshold goods and Corne and all the cattell of every kind that I have at my decease to be wholly at her dispose. Item. I give unto my eldest son Jonathan five shillings to be paid by my son Joseph within a yeare after my decease:; I having allready Given unto my said son a good portion of Lands and other estate to a good value: more than I was abell. Item. I doe give and bequesth unto my son Joseph the other end of my house and the one halfe of my Barne and orchard and the other halfe of my hourse Lot and Lands in wachamoket neck of which I have formerly given him an Instrument under my hand and seale and doe herby confirme the same to him his heires and asigns forever: And Likewise I doe give and bequesth unto my said son Joseph the other part of my house barne orchads house lott and all the other uplands and meadows that I have given my deare wiffe the improvement and whole proffit of during her natural life. after my wifes decease to him his heirs and asignes forever to be fully possessed of. Item. I give unto my daughter Rebeka Peck five shillings to be paid within a year of my decease. Item. I give unto my daughter Bethia Peck five pounds to be paid within a year after my decease Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Batsheba five shillings to be paid within a years after my decease Item. It is my will that in Consideration of what I have given my son Joseph in possession and what he is to possess after his mother decease that my said son Joseph shall pay or cause to be paid the above given Legasye to my son Jonathan and my above mentioned daughters. Item. It is my will that my deare wiffe shall be executrix and my son Joseph executor to this my Last will & testiment: To the confirmation of this my Last will I have hereunto afixed my Hand and Seale the day and yeare above written. Signed Sealed and acknowledged in the presence of us: James Brown Enoch Hunt William Carpenter

 Children  1. Jonathan, b abt 1636; m Swansea 6 Jul 1661 Hannah Howland, dau of John and Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland.[8]; d Swansea bef 10 Jun 1717  2. Elizabeth bp Hingham 18 Nov 1638; [9] m Braintree 7 Aug 1661 Peter Brackett[10], son of Richard Brackett, bp Boston 7 May 1633 (d bef 1718; she d at Billerica, MA 30 Nov 1686  3. Rebecca or Rebekah, bp Hingham Feb 1640/1[11]; m by 1660 Nicholas Peck (bp Hingham England 9 Apr 1630) as his second wife (called Rebecca Peck in her father's will; eldest child b Rehoboth 8 Aug 1660,[12]; she d Rehoboth 2 Nov 1704 ae 63; he d at Rehoboth 27 May 1711, age 80  4. Bethia bp Hingham, Jan 1644/5[13]; m Swansea 15 Jul 1670 Israel Peck[14] (he was bp Hingham 4 Mar 1644); she d at Swansea 4 Apr 1718; he d at Swansea 2 Sep 1723  5. Mary bp Hingham 18 Apr 1647[15]; m by 1673 John Cobley or Cobleigh[16]  6. Deliverance, bp Hingham 4 Aug 1650[17], d at Swansea 30 Apr 1675; m by 1670 Nathaniel Peck, bp at Hingham 31 Oct 1651, bur at Rehoboth 1 Aug 1676.  7. Joseph, b say 1652, d 1695; m Rehoboth 10 Feb 1680 Esther Smith[18], dau of Daniel Smith[19]  8. Bathsheba, b say 1654, d at Bristol RI 17 Sep 1740 ae 85/7; m by 1684 Benjamin Jones of Bristol or Hull who d at Bristol 12 Jan 1717/8.[20] 

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Oct 2 2016, 4:57:00 UTC