Sgt. Edmund Towne

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From SAVAGE, VOL 4 DICT FIRST SETTLERS OF NE

A Genealogical history of early New England settlers:

These books are still regarded as the authority on early New England genealogy;

Written by James Savage;

Vol. IV

He came, 1637, prob. in the Rose of Yarmouth, aged 18,

as apprent. to Henry Skerry of Salem,

m. Mary, d. of Thomas Browning,

had Thomas;

William, b. 1658;

Joseph, 1661;

Abigail;

Benjamin, 1666;

Rebecca;

Samuel, 1673;

Mary;

Sarah;

Eliz.;

and ano. d. and he d. early in 1678.

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From FTM WWW site of Tami K Barton:

Notes for EDMUND TOWNE:

238 Probate Records of Essex County

Estate of Edmond Towne of Topsfield

The intent and purpose of Edmond Towne presented by Mary his wife Conscernin his state presented to this Hounored Court now sitting Imprimis

The minde of the deceased was as is mine allsoe; and is consented too by all partys conscerned that the four sonns shall have all the Lands Equally devyed amongst them. And the rest of the estate to be Equally devyed amongst the 5: garles only Sarah the second Daughter is already marryed and hath rescieved to the vallue of twelve pounds already.

So leaveing my Cause to God, and your Honnors scarious Consideration I subscrybe myselfe mary Towne. Only provided the widow's thirds of the whole be taken out furst.

Jacob Towne deposed that Thomas Towne, eldest son of Edmund Towne, deceased, declared himself to be satisfied with an equal share with the rest of his brethren"

Sworn in court, 27: 4: 1678.

Proved by the widow, 27: 4: 1678, with the consent of all the surviving persons concerned.

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Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol 29, leaf 30

Administration upon the estate of Edmond Towne was granted 27: 4: 1678, to Mary, the relict, who was to dispose of the estate according to the mind of the deceased, as by mutual agreement of all surviving persons concerned, which writing was allowed.

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An inventory was also presented and sworn to.

Salem Quarterly Court Records, vol. 5, leaf 117

Inventory of the estate of Sargeant Edman Towne, taken at Topsfield, May 3, 1678, by Frances Pabody and Thomas Baker:

Books, 1li.;

wearing clothes, 7li. 14s.;

linning sheetes and neckpins, 11li. 6s.;

house and landes on the north of the Riuer, 220li.;

upland and mado on the south side River, 72li.;

five oxen and seven coues, 52li.;

young Cattel,19li. 17s.;

shepe and lambes, 6li.;

two horses, 6li.;

swine, 8li.;

iron tooles, 3li.;

kittels and potes and other iron ware, 4li. 4s.;

gones, 4li. 6s.;

wheles and other lumbur, 6li. 3s.;

a cubbard and cheastes, 2li. 10s.;

bedsted and beddin, 16li. 10s.;

pillin and saddel, 2li.;

wooll and flax, 17s.;

five barrels of sider, 2li. 10s.;

woolin and linninyarne, 2li. 10s.;

home spon cloath, 7li. 10s.;

corne and porke, 4li.;

for halfe the farme which was given to Sargent Toune in Revertion by Thomas Browning; total, 453li. 12s.

Depts owing, 26li. 3s. 3d.;

by the death of one cow, 3li. 10s.

Allowed in Salem court 27: 4: 1678.

Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol. 29, leaf 31.

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Selectman, 1673;

town constable, 1675;

tything-man, 1677;

took oath as freeman, 1664;

corpl. Topsfield mil. co., 1666;

helped form mil. guard during King Philip's War. from Fredrick A. Virkus, The Compendium of American Genealogy Vol V,(1930), 206.

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From The Ancestry of Lieut, Amos Towne 1737-1793 3.

SERGT. EDMUND3 TOWNE (William2, John1) was baptized in the church of St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, June 28, 1628.

He came to New England when he was nine years old as an apprentice of Henry Skerry on the ship "Rose" which sailed from Great Yarmouth in 1637. Skerry settled in Salem.

Edmund Towne married Mary Browning, daughter of Thomas and Mary Browning, about the year 1652, when he was twenty-two and she fourteen years of age, and settled in Topsfield.

He served on the trial jury of the County Court in 1655, wasmade a commoner in 1661, sat on the grand jury in 1663 and took the oath as freeman in 1664.

He was appointed corporal of the Topsfield military company in June, 1666, and in 1675, during King Philip's War, he was one of the committee from the town which presented a petition to the General Court asking permission to form a military guard to protect the settlers at their work.

He was a selectman in 1673, town constable in 1675, and tythingman in 1677, when he is called Sergeant Towne.(*)

Sergt. Towne died in 1678. He left no will, but his widow, Mary, proved a statement covering his "Intent and purpose,"saying "The minde of the deceased was as is mine allsoe; and is consented too by all partys conscernd that the four sonns shall have all the Lands Equally devyded amongst them, And the rest of the estate to be Equally devyded amongst the 5 : garles only Sarah the second Daughter is already marryed and Hath rescieved to the vallue of twelve pounds already."

Administration was granted to Mary Towne on 27 : 4 : 1678.

The inventory, taken by Francis Peabody and Thomas Baker, lists real estate, exclusive of the Browning lands, worth œ292, books worth œ1, etc.(+)(*)

Records and Files, etc., I : 397; III : 84, 137, 336. (+)

Probate Records of Essex County, III : 238.

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Edmund Towne & Mary Browning were never married.

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With respect to the apprenticeship of Edmund Towne to Henry Skerry, the Towne Family Association has come out with the position that the Edmund associated with William Towne's family was not the apprentice listed as boarding ship with the cordwainer father of the future Salem town marshal. From a forum entry on 3 September 2007:

http://genforum.genealogy.com/towne/messages/857.html

In 2006 it was determined Edmund Towne, son of William, was not apprenticed to Henry Skerry. There is no apprenticeship found in England by a professional researcher hired by Towne Family Association. The age of the Edmund Towne who boarded the ship with Skerry was much older than William's son Edmund. The original book has been viewed to determine if the age reported in the History of Salem and other publications is correct. The age entered in the boarding book is the age published. Because there was only one Edmund Towne in Salem/Topsfield, it has been determined the Edmund who left England with Skerry must have died on the trip over.

I believe Henry Skerry was a cordwainer. Check the History of Salem, MA by Sidney Perley.

Lois Payne Hoover

Genealogist - Towne Family Association, Inc.

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GEDCOM Source

Parish Registers of St. Nicholas' Church, Great Yarmouth Parish Registers of St. Nicholas' Church, Great Yarmouth Parish Registers of St. Nicholas' Church, Great Yarmouth Parish Registers of St. Nicholas' Church, Great Yarmouth. 0 Footnote Parish Registers of St. Nicholas' Church, Great Yarmouth ShortFootnote Parish Registers of St. Nicholas' Church, Great Yarmouth Bibliography Parish Registers of St. Nicholas' Church, Great Yarmouth.

GEDCOM Source

Page Name: Edm. Towne. Gender: male. Baptism/Christening date: 22 Jun 1628. Baptism/Christening place: Great Yarmouth, Norfork, England. Father's name: Wm. Towne. Mother's name: Joane. Indexing project (batch) number: I06508-2. System origin: England-EASy. Source film number: 1526327. Collection: England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975.

GEDCOM Source

The New England Historical and Genealogical Register The New England Historical and Genealogical Register The New England Historical and Genealogical Register The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. 0 Footnote The New England Historical and Genealogical Register ShortFootnote The New England Historical and Genealogical Register Bibliography The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.

GEDCOM Source

Page Edmund Towne, eldest son of William and Joanna Towne, was baptized at Yarmouth, Norfolk Co., England, June 28, 1628; m. Mary, dau. of Thomas Browning; was a member of a committee from the town of Topsfield, who, in 1675, presented a petition to the General Court for leave to form military companies to protect the inhabitants from the Indians while at work, and d. between the date of the presentation of the petition and May 3, 1678, the date of the inventory of his estate. The will of his widow is dated Feb. 1, 1710, and in it she is said to be aged. It was proved Dec. 16, 1717. Joseph was named as administrator, but he d. before his mother, and Thomas and William were appointed.

Children: Mary. Thomas, b. 1655. Sarah, b. April 26, 1657; m.

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Pritchett. William, b. March 13, 1659. Joseph, b. Sept. 2, 1661. Abigail, b. Aug. 6, 1664; m. Jacob Peabody, Jan. 12, 1686. Benjamin, b. May 26, 1666. Rebecca, b. Feb. 2, 1668; m.

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Knight. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 2, 1669; m. Thomas Wilkins, of Salem, Dec. 19, 1694. Samuel, b. Feb. 11, 1673.

GEDCOM Source

The Towne Family Memorial Edwin Hubbard, The Towne Family Memorial Edwin Hubbard, The Towne Family Memorial Edwin Hubbard. The Towne Family Memorial. Published by the Fergus Printing Company. Chicago, Illinois. 1880 0 Footnote Edwin Hubbard, The Towne Family Memorial ShortFootnote Edwin Hubbard, The Towne Family Memorial Bibliography Edwin Hubbard. The Towne Family Memorial.

GEDCOM Source

21 Page 21 Edmund Towne, second son of William and Joanna Towne, was baptized at Yarmouth, Norfolk Co., Eng., June 28, 1628; md Mary, dau. of Thomas Browning, who was bapt. Jan. 7, 1638. He was a member of a committee from the town of Topsfield, who in 1675 (King Philip's War), presented a petition to the General Court for leave to form military companies to protect the inhabitants from the Indians while at work. He died between the date of this petition and May 3, 1678; the date of the inventory of his estate. The will of his widow is dated Feb. 1, 1710, and in it she is said to be very aged. It was proved Dec. 16, 1717. Joseph was named as administrator, but he died before his mother, and Thomas and William were appointed.

The children of Edmund and Mary (Browning) Towne, of Topsfield, Mass., were: i. Mary. ii. Thomas, b. 1655; md Sarah French. iii. Sarah, b. April 26, 1657; md

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Pritchard. iv. William, b. March 13, 1659; md 1st, Eliza, who had several children, all of whom died in infancy; and 2d, Wid. Margaret Willard. v. Joseph, b. Sept. 2, 1661; md Amy Smith. vi. Abigail, b. Aug. 6, 1664, md 1st, Jacob Peabody, Jan. 12, 1686, and 2d, Jan. 14, 1696, Thomas Perley. vii. Benjamin, b. May 26, 1666. viii. Rebecca, b. Feb. 2, 1668; md

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Knight. ix. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 2, 1669; md Thos. Wilkins, of Salem, Dec. 19, 1694. x. Samuel, b. Feb. 11, 1673; md Elizabeth Knight, Oct. 20, 1696, and d. in 1714, aged 41 years.

GEDCOM Source

The Descendants of William Towne Edwin Eugene Towne, The Descendants of William Towne Edwin Eugene Towne, The Descendants of William Towne Edwin Eugene Towne. The Descendants of William Towne. Published in Newtonville, MA, 1901 0 Footnote Edwin Eugene Towne, The Descendants of William Towne ShortFootnote Edwin Eugene Towne, The Descendants of William Towne Bibliography Edwin Eugene Towne. The Descendants of William Towne.

GEDCOM Source

21 Page 21 Edmund Towne bapt. June 28,1628. m. Mary, dau. of Thomas Browning, who was bapt. January 7, 1638. He was one of a committee from the town of Topsfield who in 1675 (during King Philip's War) presented a petition to the General Court for leave to form military companies to protect the people from the Indians while at their work. He d. before May 3, 1678. The will of his widow was proved December 16, 1717. The sons Thomas and William were appointed administrators.

Their children: i. Mary. m. John Prichard. She d. 1717. ii. Thomas. b. 1655. iii. Sarah, b. April 26, 1657. m. John Howe. iv. William. b. March 13, 1659. v. Joseph. b. September 2, 1661. vi. Abigail. b. August 6, 1664. m., first, Jacob Peabody, January 12, 1686; second, Thomas Perley, January 14, 1696. vii. Benjamin. b. May 26, 1666. viii. Rebecca. b. February 2, 1668. m., first, Philip Knight; second, Nicholas Bailey. ix. Elizabeth. b. November 2, 1669. m. Thomas Wilkins, of Salem, December 19, 1694, and settled in Middleton. x. Samuel. b. February 11, 1673.

GEDCOM Source

The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1635-1681, Vol. 1 The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1635-1681, Vol. 1 The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1635-1681, Vol. 1 The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1635-1681, Vol. 1. Published by the Essex Institute, Salem, MA, 1916 0 Footnote The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1635-1681, Vol. 1 ShortFootnote The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1635-1681, Vol. 1 Bibliography The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1635-1681, Vol. 1.

GEDCOM Source

Page The intent and purpose of Edmond Towne presented by Mary his wife Conscernin his state presented to this Hounored Court now sitting Imprimis The minde of the deceased was as is mine allsoe; and is consented too by all partys conscerned that the four sonns shall have all the Lands Equally devyed amongst them. And the rest of the estate to be Equally devyed amongst the 5: garles only Sarah the second Daughter is already marryed and hath rescieved to the vallue of twelve pounds already. So leaveing my Cause to God, and your Honnors scarious Consideration I subscrybe myselfe mary Towne. Only provided the widow's thirds of the whole be taken out furst. Jacob Towne deposed that Thomas Towne, eldest son of Edmund Towne, deceased, declared himself to be satisfied with an equal share with the rest of his brethren" Sworn in court, 27:4:1678. Proved by the widow, 27: 4: 1678, with the consent of all the surviving persons concerned. (Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol 29, leaf 30).

Administration upon the estate of Edmond Towne was granted 27:4:1678, to Mary, the relict, who was to dispose of the estate according to the mind of the deceased, as by mutual agreement of all surviving persons concerned, which writing was allowed. An inventory was also presented and sworn to. (Salem Quarterly Court Records, vol. 5, leaf 117).

Inventory of the estate of Sargeant Edman Towne, taken at Topsfield, May 3, 1678, by Frances Pabody and Thomas Baker: Books, 1lb.; wearing clothes, 7lb. 14s.; linning sheetes and neckpins, 11lb. 6s.; house and landes on the north of the Riuer, 220lb.; upland and mado on the south side River, 72lb.; five oxen and seven coues, 52lb.; young Cattel, 19lb. 17s.; shepe and lambes, 6lb.; two horses, 6lb.; swine, 8lb.; iron tooles, 3lb.; kittels and potes and other iron ware, 4lb. 4s.; gones, 4lb. 6s.; wheles and other lumbur, 6lb. 3s.; a cubbard and cheastes, 2lb. 10s.; bedsted and beddin, 16lb. 10s.; pillin and saddel, 2lb.; wooll and flax, 17s.; five barrels of sider, 2lb. 10s.; woolin and linninyarne, 2lb. 10s.; home spon cloath, 7lb. 10s.; corne and porke, 4lb.; for halfe the farme which was given to Sargent Toune in Revertion by Thomas Browning; total, 453lb. 12s. Depts owing, 26lb. 3s. 3d.; by the death of one cow, 3lb. 10s. Allowed in Salem court 27:4:1678. Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol. 29, leaf 31. (NEHGS, Vol. 21, page 16).

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The son of William & Joanna (Blessing) Towne, Edmund Towne was baptized on June 28, 1628 at St. Nicholas Parish, Great Yarmouth, Norwich, Norfolk, England. [1]He came to Massachusetts Bay Colony from England in 1637, probably on the good ship, ROSE OF YARMOUTH, at the age of eighteen apprenticed to Henry Skerry who settled in Salem.
NOTE: See Research Notes for why it is unlikely that a. Edmund was not 18 in 1637 and b. why he was not apprenticed but came with his parents. Note: Edmund Towne was the brother of Rebecca (Towne) Nurse and Mary (Towne) Esty/Easty, who were both executed during the Salem Witch Trials. Edmund married Mary Browning on March 25, 1652 at Salem Village in Massachusetts Bay Colony .[2]The newly married couple settled in nearby Topsfield where Edmund was a juror in 1655, a commoner in 1661, and a freeman in 1664. In June, 1666, he was appointed Corporal of the Topsfield military company and in 1674, he was part of a committee to petition the Court for permission to form a military guard to protect the settlers at their work. He was called "Sergeant Towne" in the Topsfield records in 1677.[3] He was a selectman in 1673, town constable in 1675, and tythingman in 1677 when he is called Sergeant Towne."[3] [4] Among all his other work, Edmund was, like most of his neighbors at the time, a farmer. It was his main occupation.[2] Children Edmund & Mary (Browning) Towne had thirteen children, all (recorded) births at Topsfield, all marriages at Topsfield:[2] Mary (Towne) Prichard b. about 1653, (birth not recorded) m. John Prichard Thomas Towne b. about 1655, m. 17 Mar 1684/5 Sarah French Sarah (Towne) Howe b. 26 April 1655, m. bef 20 Dec 1686 John Howe [5] William Towne b. 13 Mar 1658, m. 22 Aug 1694 Margaret (Wilkins) Willard [6] "daughter" Towne, 2 Sept 1661, died 7 Sept 1661 [7] Joseph Towne b. 2 Sept 1661, m. 10 Aug 1687 Amy Smith [8] "son" Towne born and died 7 March 1662 [9] Abigail (Towne) (Peabody) Perley, b. 6 Aug 1664, m. 12 Jan 1685/6 Jacob Peabody, 14 Jan 1695/6 Thomas Perley [10] Benjamin Towne b. 26 May 1666, died bef 1678 [11] Rebecca Towne b. Feb. 2, 1668 Elizabeth Town b. Nov. 2, 1669, m. Thomas Wilkins [12] Samuel Towne, born 11 Feb 1672, m. Elizabeth Knight[13]

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GEDCOM Note

18 years ?

GEDCOM Note