Historical records matching Capt. Jonathan Danforth, Sr
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About Capt. Jonathan Danforth, Sr
Jonathan Danforth
- Christening: Date: 2 Mar 1627/1628 Place: Framlingham, England
- s. Nicholas Danforth he arrived 1635
- Place: New EnglandHe built a house in Billerica which stood there until 1878. He was a leading citizen of Billerica, selectman, town clerk and representative to the general court, captain of the military company. He became a land surveyor and laid out farms, highways and in the book of land grants at Billerica alone his descriptions fill out 200 pages
- MARRIAGES 1 Elizabeth Poulter; - November 22, 1654 - d. John Pulter. She died 1689 2 Esther Champney: she died 1713
- DEATH September 7, 1712 Burial: Place: Billerica - South Burying Ground MEMENTO MORI FUGIT HORA HERE LYES ye BODY OF CAPT. JONATHAN DANFORTH AGED 85 YEARS WHO DECEASED SEPTEMBER 7th 1712
Family
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~hwbradley/genealogy/aqwg805.htm#13048
Captain Jonathan DANFORTH, son of Nicholas Danforth and Elizabeth Barber, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 was baptized 2 Mar 1628 in St. Michael, Framlingham, Suffolk, England. He died 7 Sep 1712 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Jonathan married 7 Elizabeth POULTER on 22 Nov 1654 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts.
Other marriages: CHAMPNEY, Esther
Elizabeth POULTER, daughter of John POULTER and Mary Pope, ] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 was baptized 1 Sep 1633 in Rayleigh, Essex, England. She died 7 Oct 1689 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Elizabeth married 6 Captain Jonathan DANFORTH on 22 Nov 1654 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts.
They had the following children:
- F i Mary DANFORTH 1, 2, 3 was born 29 Jan 1656 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
- F ii Elizabeth DANFORTH was born 27 May 1657 and died Dec 1713.
- M iii Jonathan DANFORTH was born 18 Feb 1659 and died 17 Jan 1711.
- M iv John DANFORTH 1, 2, 3 was born 23 Jan 1661 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. He died 7 Feb 1661 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
- M v John DANFORTH 1, 2, 3 was born 22 Feb 1662 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. He died 4 Jun 1662 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
- F vi Lydia DANFORTH was born 1 Jun 1664 and died 4 Nov 1758.
- M vii Samuel DANFORTH 1, 2 was born 5 Feb 1666 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
- F viii Anna DANFORTH was born 8 Mar 1668 and died 13 Aug 1737.
- M ix Thomas DANFORTH 1, 2, 3 was born 29 Apr 1670 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. He died 31 Jul 1670 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
- M x Nicholas DANFORTH 1, 2, 3 was born 1 Jul 1671 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. He died 8 Mar 1694 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
- F xi Sarah DANFORTH 1, 2 was born 23 Dec 1676 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts
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The following article was taken from "Backsights" Magazine published by Surveyors Historical Society:
JONATHAN DANFORTH
(1628 - 1712)
Billerica, Massachusetts
One of the most influential surveyors in the Merrimack River Valley and its lower tributaries (in Massachusetts and New Hampshire) of the late 1600's and early 1700's was Captain Jonathan Danforth. Born in Framingham, High Suffolk, England on February 29, 1627/28 to Nicolas and Elizabeth Danforth. Jonathan moved with his family to Cambridge, England about 1634. His father was a minister. The date of Jonathan's arrival in New England is not known, but records in Boston indicate that he married an Elizabeth Powter in that city on November 22, 1654. Within five years, Jonathan and Elizabeth moved to Billerica, where they raised their eleven children. Elizabeth died there on October 7, 1689, and Jonathan married Esther Champney of Cambridge, Massachusetts, on November 17 of the following year.
New Hampshire records show that Jonathan Danforth was active as a surveyor as early as 1659. Most of his known surveys date from the 1660's, though his last known plan is dated March 1702 (he was then 74 years old). He gave bearings according to the 32-point compass (i.e. "South and by East, East North East", etc.) and distances in poles.
The late 1600's was also a period of heightened Indian raids in Massachusetts. Like most able bodied men on the frontier, Danforth trained with the local militia, becoming a captain. He also served his community as the town "recorder" (clerk) for more than 30 years.
Jonathan Danforth died at the age of 85 on September 7, 1712. His surveys on the New England frontier helped define accurately what were once remote parcels, but are now the very densely populated towns of Nashua, Hudson, Litchfield, Amherst and Milford in New Jersey, and portion of Massachusetts north and northwest of Boston.
(Note by Roy Carr: The towns mentioned in the last paragraph are actually located in New Hampshire, not New Jersey.)
References
- New England, The Great Migration and The Great Migration Begins, 1620-1635. “Nicholas Danforth.” Page 283. AncestryImage
- Danforth Genealogy: Nicholas Danforth, of Framlingham, England, and Cambridge, N. E. [1589-1638] and William Danforth, of Newbury, Mass. [1640-1721] and Their Descendants. C. H. Pope, 1902 - 476 pages. Page 28 link
- Updated from WikiTree Genealogy by SmartCopy: Jan 4 2015, 0:28:20 UTC
- Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees via son Samuel Danforth by SmartCopy: Jan 4 2015, 0:21:23 UTC
- Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jan 10 2021, 15:58:17 UTC
Birth: Feb. 29, 1627-8, Framlingham, High Suffolk, England
Parents: Nicholas and Elizabeth Danforth
Marriages: 1. Elisabeth Poulter Nov. 22, 1654, she d. 1689 2. Esther Champney Nov. 17, 1690
Billerica deaths: DANFORTH, Jonathan (Danforth), Capt., Sept. 7, 1712, a. 85.
Jonathan Danforth was the brother of Thomas Danforth of Cambridge, who was at various times deputy-governor, selectman, town clerk, assistant, President of Harvard College, judge of the Superior Court.
Jonathan "might be recognized as the father of the town [Billerica]. His marriage was the first on our records... His skill as a surveyor gave him employment far and wide. For forty years, he probably surveyed every land grant in Billerica, and must have explored every nook and corner of the ancient town." (History of Billerica)
* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 20 2021, 0:07:43 UTC
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Capt. Jonathan Danforth, Sr's Timeline
| 1628 |
February 29, 1628
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Framlingham, Suffolk, England (United Kingdom)
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| 1656 |
January 29, 1656
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Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA, Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony
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| 1657 |
May 27, 1657
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Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
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| 1658 |
February 18, 1658
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Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America
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| 1664 |
June 1, 1664
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Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
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| 1667 |
March 8, 1667
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Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony
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| 1668 |
February 8, 1668
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Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
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| 1670 |
April 29, 1670
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Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
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| 1671 |
July 1, 1671
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Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
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