Citi MasterCard Citi Amazon Visa Citi Student Card AmEx Blue Cash Discover Gold 0% APR For 12 Months Click On Card To Apply 0% APR For 6 Months Click On Card To Apply 0% APR For 6 Months Click On Card To Apply 0% APR For 6 Months Click On Card To Apply 0% APR - 12 Months Click On Card To Apply

    One of the early Sandwich settlers who has failed to enlist the serious attention of genealogists is Michael' Blackwell. This lack of attention is probably largely due to the fact that the female descendants who matured and left issue greatly outnumbered the males. But whatever the cause, the absence of printed data on this Sandwich, *
family causes unnecessary confusion to many persons who have attempted to work with the many families which have intermarried with the Blackwells.
    No attempt has been made by the present writers to investigate possible connections between Michael Blackwell and others of the name in England or America. It certainly would be interesting to know whether the Sandwich family was in any Way related to the Ruling Elder Francis Blackwell of the Separatist Church whose recantation William Bradford criticized. Actually it is by no means certain that the family name was originally Blackwell. The Sandwich list of men between 16 and 60 able to bear arms in 1643 includes one Myles Black. Tames Savage in his Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers in ,New England, 1860, vol. 1, p. 191, says "hardly can I
doubt that this man [called by Savage "Michael or Myles Blackwell"] is he designated in the Col. list of those able to bear arms 1648, as Miles Black" (THE REGISTER, vol. 4, P· 257, July 1850). This question Puzzled also Thomas Spooner, the compiler of the Memorial of William Spooner, 1871, who corresponded with the Rev. Frederick Freeman, author of The History of Cape Cod, 1858.  Spooner quotes Freeman as saying: "The Blackwells of Sandwich were generally called Black. Even since my remembrance the latter name was used for those who wrote the name Blackwell and in some early instances of record, the same Liberty was taken. The progenitor himself is in
one instance at least on record as Black" (p. 60-61 footnote)
    It seems to us that the evidence, while not conclusive, strongly suggests that Miles Black and Michael Blackwell were one and the same person. The reader may speculate for himself from the data available. Conclusive proof of identity doubtless would have been found in the Barnstable County land records, but these were destroyed in the 1827 fire. Fortunately Michael Blackwell and his sons and grandsons left wills and probate records which are unusually complete.
    The earliest reference we find has to do with Miles Blacke who was a creditor in the amount of 7 shillings due from the estate of William Swift, Sr., 29 Jan. 1642 (Plymouth Colony Probate, Liber 1, p. 441 in May. Des.,** 3:170, December 1900) .This first reference, by the way, poses a second problem of confusion of identities, namely the fact that there was in New England at an early date a gentleman of some wealth and influence called "Mr. John Blackwell." This complication will be discussed under the account of John Blackwell. For the moment it is enough to point out the really extraordinary co-incidence that the Swift estate should have been indebted to both Miles
Black of Sandwich and to "Mr. Blackwell," since so far as we can find the latter was of Boston and co. Middlesex, England, and had no interest in Sandwich.
    In 1643 Miles Black's name appears on the list of Sandwich men aged between 16 and 60, able to bear arms (THE REGISTER, op. Cit.), but Michael Blackwell's name does not appear. Yet 7 June 1648 "Mycaell Blackwell" served on the grand inquest; and the following October "Micaell Blackwell" served as grand juror in the infanticide case of Alice Bishop (Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, ed., Records of the Colony of New Plymouth..... 2:134, cf. p. 124, where his name appears as Mycaell Blackwell). An agreement was made 17 Jan. 1652 by the town of Sandwich "with Daniel 'Wing & Michael Blackwell for the taking of fish in Herring River" (Frederick Freeman, "Annals of Sandwich" in his History of Cape God, 1858, 2:50).
    "Myles Blacke" was appointed, 3 June 1656, constable of Sandwich (Shurtleff, op cit., 3:100).0n the 1658 list of Sandwich land holders the name of Michaell Blackwell appears, but not that of Miles Black (Freeman, op. cit., 2:59). Yet it would seem unlikely that the town's constable was not a land owner. It is interesting to note here that this Miles Black or Blackwell held the post of Constable in Sandwich immediately preceding the inauguration in l657 of what Amos Otis called "a system of terrorism" there, under the enthusiastic leadership of the notorious Sandwich Marshall, George Barlow, to whom the Colony Court gave "full power to act as constable in all things in
the town of Sandwich" (C· F· Swift, Genealogical notes of Barnstable Families, 1888, p. 258-259). No reference is made anywhere that we have seen which would indicate that Black or Blackwell was involved in persecution of the Quakers in this period, though the Blackwell family seems to have been active members of the Sandwich
Congregational Church, and not to have had family connections with the Quaker element.
    On 13 June 1660 "A parcell of meadow was granted to Myles Blacke att Mannomett." And in the following March he and Thomas Burges, Sr., were brought to court for fraudulently obtaining meadow land there (Shurtleff, op. cit., 3: 194, 208). These entries are perhaps significant in view of the fact that Michael Blackwell's will refers to land adjoining Jacob Burges, principal heir to Thomas Burges, Sr.
    We come now to two entries which refer to "Myles Blackwell."  The first shows that "Myles Blackwell" served on the Grand Jury 4 Oct. 1664 (Shurtleff, op. cit., 7:119).The second shows that Myls Blackwell was chosen surveyor of highways in Sandwich 3 June 1668.  Oddly enough the same source shows that Miacaell Blackwell served on the Grand Jury 5 June 1667 (ibid., 4: 148, 181). Micaell Blackwell served 5 June 1667 on a committee "to view damage done to the Indians by the horses and hoggs of the English" (ibid., 5:62).
    In 1672 "Mr. Edmund Freeman Senr., William Swift, Thomas Wing Senr., Thomas Dexter Senr., Michaell Blackwell & William Newland were constituted a committee to go forward in settling & confirming the bounds of the township with the Sachem of Mannomet..." (Freeman, op. cit., 2:67).  Joseph Burges petitioned the Court, 3 June 1673, regarding "a way that goes through lands of Myles Blackwell... att Sandwich" (Shurtleff, op. cit., 5:116). The list of "all those who have just rights to the priviledges of the Town" in 1675 shows Michaell Blackwell and his son John Blackwell, and does not show a Miles Black (Freeman, op. cit., 2:68). In 1680 Michaell Blackwell served once more on the Grand Inquest and in 1672 he took the inventory of the estate of Edmund Freeman. His will shows that he deeded land in l705 to his son Joshua and it is to be inferred that he had done the same for his elder son.

The will, dated 29 Nov. 1709, of "Michael Blackwell of Sandwich" gives "Imprimis:...unto my grand son John Blackwell, the eldest son of my son John Blackwell, deceased, all those lands, marsh and meadow ground ...in the town of Sandwich, lying on the Northeasterly side of Skussett River ...on part of which upland ye dwelling house of my sd. grand son now standeth ... adjoyning in part upon the messuage in ye tenour or occupation of Jacob Burges... as well as one parcell of meadow lying adjoyning Jireh Swift ...and by the lands of Irish Swift... on condition that my said grand son John Blackwell dye leaveing a male heire surviving, lawfully begotten of his own bodie. And that he do also pay unto Caleb Blackwell his naturall brother, the sum of £5 ... And if it shall so happen" (that said John dies without said male heir, then Caleb and his heirs to inherit, but if Caleb, too, die without proper male heir then the testator directs that the youngest brother. Nathaniel, shall inherit).The will then provides that if John Blackwell should survive his brothers. Caleb and Nathaniel, and finally die without male issue, then the "male children of my son Joshua Blackwell'' shall inherit all. "Item:... unto my grand son Benjamin Gibbs, one half part of all upland at Waynonsett ... lands in Sandwich adjoining land formerly belonging to John Gibbs and other lands in Sandwich and lands I formerly bought of Robert Bartlett in Plymouth township. Item:...unto my grand son Samuell Blackwell, son of my son Joshua Blackwell, the other half of my lands before given to Benjamin Gibbs.  Item:... unto my grand son Michael Blackwell, son of my son Joshua Blackwell £15. 7s. 6d.  Item:... unto my daughter Jane Gibbs, that £9 which her husband formerly borrowed of me & which he yet oweth to me. Item:... unto the three sons and six daughters of my son Joshua Blackwell or to so many of them as shall survive mee, all that shall remain of my personal estate... to be equally divided between them. Item:... to my said son Joshua Blackwell the other half of my land that I bought of Robert Bartlett ...and I do confirm unto him and unto his son Michael Blackwell all those lands, swamp & meadow ground which I have given by deed of gift. dated 3rd Aug. 1705  only that he to pay to my grandson Nathaniel Blackwell £10. & to each of the sisters of ye said Nathaniel Blackwell, being the daughters of my said son John Blackwell, deceased, the sum of 40s. in current passable pay within one year after my decease." The son, Joshua Blackwell was named sole executor. The will, signed by a mark, was witnessed by: William Bassett, Sr., William Bassett, Jr. and Nathan Basset. The witnesses were sworn 26 Jan. and administration ordered 29 Jan. 1709/10 (Barnstable County Probate, Book; 3, p. 82-84).

    This will is of considerable genealogical value. Firstly, it proves that Michael' Blackwell's wife had predeceased him. It seems strange that there is not the slightest reference to the wife of either Miles Black or Michael Blackwell.  Secondly, the testator in his intense desire to be the founder of a dynasty patterned upon the model of the landed gentry of old England gives proof of one or two relationships which otherwise would have remained obscure, as will be seen. The Sandwich vital records in the town hall are copies of the originals.  The entry of Michael Blacliwell's death reads 6 January, the date of the year having been torn away, but the careful copy made by the late George E. Bowman of the Massachusetts Society of MayFlower Descendants notes that 1710 was added in pencil, and as we now see, this notation is correct (May Des., 29: 22 footnote, January 1931).  With the exception of the son Michael, no dates of the births or baptisms of Michael Blackwell's children have been found. The  order of birth of the sons is clear from the father's will, although the daughter Jane (whose husband was born in 1644) may have been older than Michael.
Children:
    2.     i.     JOHN b. about 1646.
            ii.    MICHAEL, b. 1 June 1648  ("P1ymouth Colony Vital Records" in May. Des., 15: 28, January 1913);d. 28 May 1673 (ibid., 14:111, April 1912) .
            iii.   JANE, b. about 1650; d. probably in Sandwich after 2 April 1711 and before 9 Nov. 1716; m, about 1669 JOHN GIBBS (Thomas),b. in Sandwich 12 Sept. 1644, d. there 30 April l725.  John Gibbs m. (2), 9 Nov. 1716, Elizabeth (----) Swift, who survived him. She may have been the widow of William" Swift. A receipt, dated 2 April 1711, by "John Gibbs of Sandwich" reads: "received of my brother-in-law Joshua Blackwell Senr., of Sandwich in full of bequest under the will of Michael Blackwell, deceased. my father-in-law due to me John Gibbs and Jane my now wife" (Barnstable County Probate. 3:86).
  Children (surname Gibbs),*** b. in Sandwich: 1. John, b. 28 July 1670; m. about 1669 Hester Swift (William2, William1). 2. Benjamin, b. in December 1673; d. testate in 1757; m. Anne Tupper (Thomas2, Thomas1) . 3. Job, b. 27 April 1676; m. Judith Bates (Samuel2, Clement1) of Agawam. 4. Joshua, b. in April 1679. 5. Caleb, b. in August 1681. 6. Barnabas, b. 24 June 1684; m. Abigail Smith (Shubael Rev. John1) .
            iv.    Joshua, b. about 1653.

    2.  JOHN2 BLACKWELL (Michael1), born about 1646, died intestate before 6 Dec. 1688. He married about 1673 SARAH WARREN, born in Plymouth 29 Aug. 1649, died after 4 March 1692/3, daughter of Nathaniel2 and Sarah (Walker) Warren and granddaughter of Richard1 Warren, the Mayflower passenger (THE REGISTER, 55:77). +
        John Blackwell served on the grand jury in 1671 and 1672 (Shurtleff, op. cit., 5:58, 91). His name appears on the list, 23 April 1675, of those who can claim privileges of the town of Sandwich (Freeman, op. cit., 2:68). He was chosen Constable of Sandwich 5 June 1678++  (Shurtleff, op. cit., 5:251). Chosen 3 June 1679 to hold Select Courts in Sandwich were: "Mr. Edmund Freeman, John Blackwell, Thomas Tupper" (ibid., 6:10).  He was Selectman 1681, 1682 (ibid., p. 84, 107).  He took the inventory, 24 Oct. 1684, of George Barlow.  His own inventory, showing personal estate of £48. 4s., was sworn 6 Dec. 1688 by his widow, Sarah Blackwell. Distribution at the prerogative court of Barnstable, the same date, shows the widow's thirds set off to Sarah Blackwell, after debts are paid; 40s. to "each of the seven children of the said deceased" and the residue to the widow for bringing up the children. The value of the real property is not shown (Barnstable County Probate, l:21).The inventory refers to land in Agawam and Namasket, which land may have been part of his wife's dowry.
        The widow Sarah (Walker) Warren, 9 Jan. 1689/90, undertook to distribute during her life time portions of her deceased husband's real property. Among their children who signed receipts for this legacy is included the mark of the widow Sarah Blackwell, together with her brother-in-law, Thomas Gibbs and the latter's wife, Alice (Warren) Gibbs, 4 March 1692/3 (Plymouth County Probate in May. Des., 7:144, 146, July 1905).The date of this release proves that Sarah (Warren) Blackwell was still a widow at that time.
        Children, births recorded in Sandwich to "John & Sarah"(May. Des., 14:108, April 1912) :
            i.       JOHN3 b. 26 Dec. 1674; d. in Sandwich probably shortly before 6 Jan. 1741; m. there, before 7 May 1701, LYDIA SKIFFE, b. there about 1675, d. after 10 April 1734. daughter of Stephen and Lydia (Snow) Skiffe.  Lydia  (Snow)  Skiffe was a daughter of Anthony and Abigail2 (Warren) Snow and cousin of Sarah3 (Warren) Blackwell (vide supra) . The will of Stephen2 Skiffe, dated 7 May l701, names his "daughter Lydia Blackwell." The will of Michael1 Blackwell made this eldest son of the deceased son, John2 principal beneficiary, but the legacy was subject to provision that John2 Blackwell, failing to produce male issue, the property was to pass to Caleb2 Blackwell (if the latter survived and had male issue, which proved to be the case). The will of John3 Blackwell, dated in Sandwich 10 April 1734, gives to "my wife Lydia Blackwell" use and improvement of all the estate, "real and personal with free liberty to make sale & dispose as she shall find necessary," and at the widow's death all to "my beloved daughter Lydia Blackwell."  Wife Lydia sole executris.  Witnesses: Benjamin Fessenden, John Ellis. Abigail Gibbs. Sworn 6 Jan. and proved 6 Feb. 1741  (Barnstable County Probate, 6:101). He left a considerable real property, including a farm in Rochester valued at £900, the total real estate coming to £ 4,392 (ibid., p. 331). Evidently John3 Blackwell made good use of his inherited property during his life time. At his death his wife possessed a considerable fortune, even though she was ejected from the lands, which under her father-in-law's
will reverted to Caleb3 Blackwell as next male heir. She may well have remarried, but we have not yet found any such record.
                    Child, b. and bapt. in Sandwich: 1. Lydia,4 b. 24 Oct. 1716, privately bapt. 15 March 1716/17; m. after 10 April l734 (the date of her father's will) Moses4 Cushing, b. 24 Aug. 1704, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Thaxter) Cushing of Hingham. Nine children.  The deposition of Seth Fish in 1750 (vide poste) establishes the long-sought identity of Moses Cushing's wife Lydia.
            ii.      MICHAEL, b. 16 Dec. 1676; d. probably before 29 Nov. 1709 since he was not named in his grandfather's will.
            iii.    DESIRE, b. 20 Dec. 1678; d. in Dartmouth 2 Jan. 1773 "in her 95th yr" (gravestone in Acushnet Cemetery, Dartmouth Vital Records) ; m. about 1696 LETTICE3 JENNY (Samuel2, John1) . The will of her uncle, Nathaniel3 Warren, dated 28 Oct. 1707, gives "to Desire Blackwell alias Jennings [sic] ye wife of Lettice Jennings of Dartmouth". Acknowledged 27 May 1708 by Lettice and Desire Jenney (May. Des., 22: 44, January 1930). A receipt dated 21 March 1711/12 by "Lettis Jennings of Dartmouth" acknowledges payment by my uncle Joshua Blackwell ot Sandwich" for the "full sum 40s.... legacy to Desire my wife by her honoured grandfather Michael Blackrvell, now deceased" (Barnstable County Probate, 3:212). The will of Lettis Jenne of Dartmouth, dated 24 Jan. 1732 and proved 19 March 1734, makes his wife Desire executrix (ibid., 5:212). Nathaniel3 Blackwell, the widow's brother, of Dartmouth, blacksmith, in a deed, dated 10 June 1755, "for & in consideration that Lettis Jenne, late of Dartmouth, did in his life time unwitingly build his house partly on my land ... now in regard that I have to the widdow and fatherless children ...grant unto them... my land" (Bristol County Deeds. 6:327).
                Children (surname Jenney): 1. Cornelius, b. 3 Nov. 1697: m. (1), Elizabeth --; m. (2), Eleanor (Cole) Young.  2. Sarah, b. 28 May 1699: m. Simpson Spooner. 3. Reliance, b. 1 April 1701 4. Ignatius, b. 6 Feb. 1702/3; m. Catherine Green. 5. Mary. b. 20 April 1705 m. Thomas West. 6. Benjamin, b. 20 March 1707. 7.Caleb, b. 20 June 1709; m. (i), Patience Standish: m. (2). Silence (French) House. 8. Ruth, b. 5 Sept. 1711: m. Jeduthan Spooner.  9. Samuel, b. 30 March 1714: m. Patience Hall. 10. EIizabeth. b. 16 June 1716; m. Samuel Hawes. 11. Nathaniel, b. 3 Oct. l720; m. Mary Mitchell. 12. Pernal, b. 1 Sept. 1722; m. William Mitchell, Jr.
            iv.   ALICE, b. 8 May 1681; d. before 11 July 1729, the date of her husband's will; m. about 1699 William2 SPOONER of Dartmouth.  The will of her uncle, Nathaniel Warren, dated 28 Oct. 1707, gives "to Alice Blackwell alias Spooner, the wife of William Spooner of Dartmouth" (May. Des., 22: 44, January 1920). A receipt, dated 18 Feb. 1712/13, by "William Spooner of Dartmouth" shows "received of my Uncle Joshua Blackwell of Sandwich ...40s. in full of the legacie given to Alice my wife by her grandfather Michael Blackwell of Sandwich, deceased under his Last Will and Testament & order to be paid by Joshua Blackwell her Uncle" (Barnstable County Probate, 3:211).
                Children (surname Spooner) : 1· Jemima, b. 7 Dec. l700. 2. Joan, b. 12 May 1703; m. Tames Witcomb. 3. Elizabeth, b. 22 May 1705. 4. Micah, b. 2 April 1707. 5. Nathaniel, b. 21 April 1709; m. Phebe Cushman. 6. Rebecca, b. 17 Nov. 1710. 7. Sarah, b. 18 Jan. 1712; m. James Pitman. 8. Mary, b. 8 Jan. 1714; m. 31 Dec. 1730 Mark4 Haskell. 9. Isaac, b. 9 Jan. 1716: m. Ruth Gardner. 10. Alice, b. 27 March 1718: m. 13 March 1796/7 Roger4 Haskell. 11. William, b. 29 Jan. 1720; m. Rachel Noble. 12. Ebenexer, b. 29 May l724; m. Sarah Robinson.
            v.  JANE, b. 8 March 1682/3: d. in Newport. R. I. 24 April 1759: m. about 1705 PHILIP3 PECKHAM, b. in Newport 27 Oct. 1680, d. there 20 Dec. 1721 (Harry John Peckham. The Peckham Genealogy, p. 232; THE REGISTER, 57:33, 36, January 1903). A receipt, dated 1Oct. 1711, by "Philip Peckham of Newport" shows "received of my Uncle Joshua Blackwell of Sandwich payt in full of the legacie given to Jane my wife by Michael Blackwell her grandfather under his Last Will & Testament" (Barnstable County Probate, 3:212).
                Children (surname Peckham): 1. Lydia, b. 19 March 1706; m. Job Caswell. 2. Sarah, b. 30 April 1709; d. 9 Feb. 1712. 3. Caleb, b. 10 Jan. 1711/12; d. 8 Jan. 1766; m. 16 Dec. 1732 Mary Spooner. 4. John, b. 11 Feb. 1714; d. 14 Aug. 1792: m. (1),Thankful Ellis, b. in 1711, d. in 1741; m. (2) , Tabitha (Howland) Carey. 5. Robert, b. 6 Sept. 1716; d. 4 Feb. 1742. 6. Joshua, b. 20 July 1718; d. 31 Oct. 1741; m. 29 Sept. 1739 Ruth4 Peckham (Isaac3, John2, John1). 7. David, b. 28 July 1722; m. 27 Oct. 1743 Dorothy Robinson.
        4.  vi.    CALEB, b. about 1684.
        5.  vii.   NATHANIEL, b. 27 Dec. 1686.
    3.  JOSHUA2 BLACKWELL (Michael1), born about 1653, died in Sandwich 6 Dec. 1737. He married about 1681 MERCY --, died in Sandwich 29 March 1734 (May. Des., 25:27). A possible clue to the identity of the wife Mercy is suggested by the rather rare name Abia, which she gave to her fourth daughter. It suggests the possibility of a connection with the Fish family with which that name was popular.
        In 1681 Joshua Blackwell's name appears of record as a member of a Sandwich committee "appointed to sell whales that are lately cast ashore" (Freeman, op. cit., 2:73). He served on the grand jury, 2 June 1685 (Shurtleff, op. cit., 6:166).  About 1696 he is called "Sergeant Joshua Blackwell."
        The Sandwich church records show the baptism, 28 July 1700, of "Micah, Samuel, Sarah, Jane, Abiah, Hannah Blackwell." The entry was made during the ministry of the Rev. Rowland Cotton, who never entered the names of the children's parents. His records begin in 1695, but baptisms of the two eldest children are not recorded, nor is that of the youngest, Deborah. But it is interesting to note that although the son Michael's birth is so recorded and he is called Michael in his father's will and in the will of his grandfather, he was baptized as Micah  (the name which he evidently preferred),
        Joshua Blackwell contributed, 25 June 1702, to the repair of the Sandwich Meeting House (Freeman, op. cit., 2:85). He was designated sole esecutor under his father's will, dated 29 Nov. l709, as we have seen. The minister of the Second Church of Scituate records in his diary, 10 Nov. 1728, that he "preach'd at Sandwich at the house of Joshua Blackwell," after which Joshua's granddaughter, Martha Blackwell, among others, was baptized (THE REGISTER, 59:75, January 1905).  The name of Joshlla Blackwell is included in the Rev. Benjamin Fessenden's list of householders in 1730 (ibid., 13:30, January 1859) .
        The will of "Joshua Blackwell Senr. of Sandwich," dated 15 July 1737, gives "Imprim.: To my three sons Joshua, Michael & Samuel my wearing apparrell to be equally divided between them. Item: To my son Joshua
Blackwell my back sword & all my guns not otherwise disposed of & one lott of land in town Neck. All the rest of my lands to him for his naturall life & then to my grandsons Joshua and Mordecai Blackwell Sr to their heirs forever, they paying £10 each to my grandson John Blackwell (and if said Joshua or Mordecai die, then said grandson John Blackwell to take his place). I give my son Joshua all my right in the tract of land called Shayoppanstore, lying near the Snake Pond; also my lott of land layed out in the last division of the Upper Lands in sd Sandwich, joyning to the land of Joseph Smith and also my lott of Cedar Swamp called the Long Lott also one half of all my lands in partnership with his brother Samuell not hereafter otherwise disposed. Whereas I have given my son Joshua a deed of Gift of meadow land and swampy ground where his house now stands, which is subject to a division with his brother Michael by ye will of my Honoured father My will is that if my said son Joshua is disturbed in the enjoyment of said land and swampy ground, or if it be in whole or in part taken from him ...Item: to my son Michael Blackwell ye long gun which is now at his house and all right I have in the dwelling house where he now lives. Item: to my son Samuell Blackwell one good yoke oxen, my cartwheel chains, plow and all my husbandry tools also my bulloch and the choice of my guns, also that twenty acre lott of land on which his dwelling house now stands with all the buildings thereon; also my 30 acre wood lott joyning to the house lott, also my meadow called Bartlett's meadow and all my part of the joyning upland lying in partnership with Benjamin Gibbs...and my Indian servant Joseph Coknehu should serve out his time with my son Samuell, if there be time after my decease. Item: I give unto my son-in-law Joseph Swift out of my moveables 5s. to each of his children by my daughter Mercy, to be paid by my executor within one year after my decease. Item: I give to my grandson Mordecai Blackwell that lott of Upland which I had of Timothy Bourne, in exchange for other lands lying between Cat Hill and Herring River in Sandwich according to the known bounds thereof. Item: I give to my daughters, Sarah Ellis, Jane Ellis, Abiah Churchill, Hannah Burge, Deborah Nye and to their heirs all my moveables not otherwise disposed of ...and make my son Samuell Blackwell and my grandson Mordecai Blackwell my Executors." Witnesses: Benjamin Fessenden, Lydia Burges, Thomas Burges. Proved 9 Jan. l737/8 (Barnstable County Probate,
5:382-4) .
            Children, births recorded to "Joshua Blackwell &: Mercy his wife" (Sandwich vital records in May. Des., 29:25-26, January 1931).
            6.  i.       JOSHUA3, b.  12 Jan.  1682.
                ii.       MERCY, b. 5 Oct. 1684; d. Probably soon after the birth of her daughter Mercy in March 1722; m. about 1710 JOSEPH4 SWIFT+++, b. in Sandwich in November 1687. Joseph4 Swift m· (2), in 1731, Rebecca Morton and printed accounts also have misidentified her. She was Rebecca4 Clark  (Thomas.3 John2, Thomas1),  who  m.   (1), Mordecai3 Ellis, and m. (2),Nathaniel4 Morton.
                    Children (surname Swift) : 1 Jean, b. ca. 1709; m· Joseph4 Bartlett. 2.  Williaml, b. 26 Feb.  1711/12;  m 2  March  l731/2  Lydia Gibbs. 3. Joan, b. 4 Dec. 1713; m· 10 Feb. 1743/4 Thomas Clover of Wareham. 4· Joseph, b. 4 Sept. 1716; m· 21 Jan. 1736/7 Sarah (Bartlett) LeBaron. 5. Joshua, b. 14 Feb. 1717/18; m· 21 March 1738/9 Jane Faunce  6.  Martha, b. 4 May 1719. 5. Mercy, b. 16 March 1721/2.  Joseph Swift's will, dated 13 Jan. 1755, shows he
had also a son Thomas, b. about 1732, by his second wife.
            7.  iii     MICHAEL  (called MICAH),b· 23 July 1687.
            8.  iv.    SAMUEL, b. 13 April 1689.
                  v.    SARAH, b· 11 Jan. 1690/1; d. after 29 Oct. l751; m· in Sandwich. 21Jan 1713/14, Josiah3 ELLIS, b. about l682, d. in Sandwich in 1744.  "Sarah Blackwell of Sandwich" receipted 8 Sept. 1712 for her portion, paid by her father, of her grandfather Blackwell's estate (Barnstable County Probate, 3:211). She is named in her father's
will, 1737  (supra) .
                    Children (surname Ellis): i. Josiah, b. 28 Oct. 1714; d. in l754; m. 24 Oct, l739 Abia Fish. 2. Deborall, b. 19 May 1716; d. before 24 Jan, 1743/4. 9. Stephen, b. 4 Aug. 1718; d. after 29 Oct. 1757; m. 11 Dec. 1745 Mary4 Blackwell. daughter of Micah3 Blackwell (q.v.).4· Eliiabeth, b. 16 April 1720; d. before 24 Jan. 1743/4. 5. Benjamin, b 28 July 1722; d. in 1806; m· (1) , 10 Oct. 1745, Elizabeth5 Tupper; m. (2) Phebe Freeman 6. Philip, bapt 19 Sept. 1725; d. in 1779; m. MaryStaples. 7. Sarah, b. about 1725; d· unm. 1751.
                  vi.   JANE b. 30 Jul 1693; d. before 21 March l762; m· about 1715 MALACHI3 ELLIS, b. in Sandwich 8 Oct. 1689, d. there in 1765. "Jane Blackwell of Sandwich" receipted 8 Sept. 1712 for her portion, paid by her father, of her grandfather Blackwell's estate (Barnstable Probate, 3:211). She is named as. "my daughter Jane Ellis" in her
father's will (supra).
                    Children (surname Ellis): 1. Ephrai, b. 20 Oct. 1716: d. 4 June l783; m. about l737 Rebecca. Ellis.  2. John b. about 1718. 3. Samuel, b. about l720. 4. Rowland, b. about 1722; d. in 1775; m. 15 Oct. 1749 Joanna4 Tupper.  5. Hannah. b. 6 June 1724; d. before 31 March l762.  6. Joshua, b· about 1726; m· about 1759 Innocent Hammond, who m. (2), 17 Jan. l773. Gershom4 Tobey.  7. Mathias. b. about 1728: d. 3 Oct. 1804; m. 15 Feb. 1759 Rachel5 Tupper 8. Jane, b. about 1730: m· 18 Nov. 1750 Prince4 Tupper. 9. Deborah, b. 10 July 1736; probably d. unm. before 21 March 1762.
                    vii.  ABIA,b. 21 March 1695/6; d· after 15 July 1735; m. 13 Dec. 1716 JOSEPH3 CHURCHILL, b. in Plymouth in January. 1692, son of Joseph2 and Sarah (Hicks) Churchill.
                        Children (surname Churchill) : 1. Abia, b. 9 Oct. 1717; m· James Cornish. 2. Margaret, b. 18 Jan. 1718/19: m· in 1737 Ezekiel Rider. 3. Joseph, b· 14 July 1722: d· in Boston 27 April 1780; m. there Agnes Fetters. 4. Samuel, b. in Boston 24 June 1724; d. 28 Sept. 1759; m· Hannah Ellis. 5. Joshua, b. 4 July 1726.  6. Sarah, b. 2 July
l728; m. 8 Jan. 1747 Seth Blossom.
                    viii.  HANNAH, b. 21 June 1698; d. after 15 July 1737: m. in Sandwich, 14 March 1730/1, JOHN4 BURGES, b. in Yarmouth 5 April 1706, son of Joseph3 and Thomasine (Bangs) Burges. Moved to Rochester. Hannah is named as "my daughter Hannah Burge" in her father's will (supra).
                        Children (surname Burges): 1. Jonathon 2. John, b. in 1736; d. in November l791; m. Abigail Chase. Probably other children
                      ix.  DEDORAH, b· s July l701: d. after 15 July l737; m. 7 Feb. 1722/3 JONATHAN3 NYE, b. in Sandwich in November 1691, d. in Hardwick in l770, son of Jonathan2 Nye. She is called "my daughter Deborah Nye" in her father's will (supra).This family moved to Hardwick.
                        Children (surname Nye): 1. Thomas, b. 1 Oct. 1726. 2. Hannah. b. 31 Jan. l728/9; d. 25 Aug. 1797; m. 27 Feb. 1755 Dea. Lot4 Nye, son of Lemuel3 anti Sarah (Jenkins) Nye of Barnstable. 3. Jonathan, b. 23 April 1731; d. 8 July 1806; m· 18 March 1756 Rebecca5 Freeman, daughter of William4 and Mary (Bodfish) Freeman of Sandwich. 4. Joshua, b. 31 Aug. 1733; m· (intention 7 May 1756) Lydia4 Jenkins, daughter of Benjamin3 and Mehitable (Blish) Jenkins.
    3.   CALEB BLACKWELL (John2 Michael1) , born about 1684, died in Rochester 28 Nov. l762 "in his 78th yr." (Rochester Vital Records, 1914, 2:249) . He married probably in Dartmouth, about 1708, BETHIA TABER, born in Dartmouth 3 Sept. 1687, died in Rochester 6 Aug. l758 in her 70th yr." (ibid.), daughter of Capt. Thomas2 Taber by his second wife Mary3 Thomson.  This Mary (Thomson) Taber was a daughter of Lieut. John Thomson by his wife Mary" Cooke, daughter of Francis and Hesther (Mahieu) Cooke, the Maypower passengers
        Since Caleb Blackwell was but four years old when his father died it seems likely that his mother may have taken him and her other children to live near her relatives in Plymouth County. The first record we find of Caleb Blackwell, dated 10 Nov. l716, designates him "of Rochester in the County of Plymouth, blacksmith," when he sold a 20 acre lot in Dartmouth to Joseph Taber (Bristo1 County Deeds, 2:535). This Dartmouth land came to him from his father-in-law, as we know by the latter's will, dated in 1732:
            "....and where I did give to my daughter Bethyah Blackwell & to her husband Caleb Blackwell, Blacksmith 20 acres of land within ye 400 acre Division of lands in said Dartmouth & ye said Caleb Blackwell hath sold ye same unto my said son Joseph Taber I do ratify & confirm ye same unto my sd son Joseph Taber.. · and to my daughter Bethyah Blackwell and her husband I give ye above said 20 acres.. · also six pounds to be paid by my...son John Taber within three years after my decease" (May Des., 16:232: Bristol County Probate, 7:515).
        As we have seen the brother, John3 Blackwell, died in l741, without male issue. Thus, under the terms of the grandfather's will, the Barnstable County real property reverted to Caleb3 Blackwell as next male heir. Since both the land and court records of Barnstable Count). had been destroved by fire we were intrigued to know how the terms of grandfather Blackwell's will affected the family at this point. It has often been pointed out that invaluable genealogical data is hidden away in the country's law libraries. This furnishes an excellent case in point.  The records of the Superior Courts of Judicature for the Counties of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes and Plymouth Counties
are to be found, beautifully indexed, in Boston. There we found four depositions referring to a case appealed by the proprietors of Sandwich versus Caleb Blackwell of Rochester in 1750. These long-forgotten depositions are particularly remarkable in that in them four men are recounting events which transpired fifty-four years earlier or about 1696. Equally unusual is the fact that not one of the four depositions is dated All four appear in Liber 209 in which are pasted a large quantity of miscellaneous documents, all undated, and, as will be seen by the docket numbers, the four which refer to the Blackwell case had become separated prior to the time they were pasted into the volume. We call particular attention to points which furnish information which long has been sought by genealogists of the Tobey, Fish and Cushing families--first, the deposition by Malachi Ellis clearly identifies Lydia, the unknown wife of Moses4 Cushing, as Lydia Blackwell (George Lincoln, History of the Town Of Hingham, 1893, 2:155). Secondly, the deposition of Seth Fish confirms the identification of the second wife of Thomas1 Tobey of Sandwich as Hannah2 Swift, widow of Ambrose Fish, as discovered by Mrs. John E. Barclay in her brilliant article "Hannah (Swift) Tobey, Daughter of William2 Swift and the Family of Ambrose2 Fish of Sandwich, Mass.," in The American Genealogist, 35:40, January 1959. Here we have the sworn testimony of Hannah's son Seth Fish that Thomas1 Tobey was his "father in law." We know that Seth Fish had but one wife, Mary Turner, and that she was living 20 Feb. 1750/1, the date of his will. Therefore, he did not refer to his wife's father and could only have referred to his step-father. The designation "father-in-law" for such a relationship was then common. We fix the date of the depositions as being not later than 8 Oct. 1750 and not earlier than December 1749, because we know that of the four deponents, Matthias3 Ellis was born in Sandwich 5 Nov. 1681 (he married Thankful Bassett, daughter of the "Col. Bassett" designated) ; his brother Malachi3 Ellis was born there 8 Oct. 1689 (he married Jane3 Blackwell). Benjamin3 Gibbs was born in Sandwich in December 1673 (his mother was Jane2 Blackwell).  The depositions read:
    "I, Matthias Ellis aged 70 years in November next, testify and say relating to the meddows in controversy between the proprietors of Sandwich and Mr. Caleb Blackwell of Rochester that about 54 years since. I being about 15 years of age and living with my father, being in the season of gitting in Hay, I remember Col. William Dassett came to my father with several men & Sergeant Joshua Blackwell.  I heard said Bassett tell SD Black-
well that he was now going to enter upon sd meddow according to the town order to secure the tille for of it & that sd Blackwell might if he pleased take witness & go with him & try the tille of sd meddow.  I do not remember of much reply that sd Blackwell made but I know that after sd Bassett had Laboured sometime upon sd meddow that he employed my father to ted out the hay & that I with some other of my brethren went to work about the Hay & that as I was in the meddow now in controversy I remember three stakes, and I remember that Mr. John Blackwell. deceased, told me when he improved sd controverted meddow that he did not improve it upon his grandfather's right.
                                                Matthias Ellis
                                                Sworn in Crt. Att' Samuel Winthrop."
                                                (Docket 24811)

    "I, Malachi Ellis being in the 62nd yr. of my age, testify relating to the meddow now in friction between the proprietors of Sandwich, plaintiff & Mr. Caleb Blackwell defendant, that I remember when I was about nine years of age Col. Bassett entered upon & mowed the meddow above sd. meddow as I then understood & that he employed my father to ted out the Hay & I went with several of my brethren, and some years after this I Remember Mr. Cotton employed my father to gitt out the Hay. I remember Mr. John Blackwell, Deceased, was then at work upon the meddow called Pasteur's meddow & that he came and asked my father whether Mr. Edmund Freeman had not a right to that meddow which is now controverted about & my father told him that Mr. Freeman never claimed that meddow as he knew of nor he never heard it called his, and my father said that when the present Defendant ejected his sister Lidia Blackwell off of the meddow now in controversy as well as that called Pasteur's meddow I heard Moses Cushing, son-in-law of sain Lidia ask my father why said Caleb's grandfather Blackwell in his will distinguished between Pastour's meddow and the broken meddow below and my father told him that sd. Mr. Blackwell had no right to the meddow below Pastour's meddow, being the town's or proprietors & told sd Cushing that his father John Blackwell never Improved sd meddow in his Grandfather's right but by leave from the town,· and that Col. Bassett by order from the town entered upon sd land and improved it four years to secure it to the town interest.
                                                Malachi Ellis
                                                Sworn Crt. Att' Samuel Winthrop, Clerk."
                                                (Docket 26128)

    "I, Benjamin Gibbs in the 78th yr. of my age testify & say that I lived with my grandfather Blackwell from the time I was two years old (as I have been told) till I was twenty six yrs. old & every year, after I was able worked in the marsh in the Hay season & my sd grandfather every year improved the meddow as his own from the great Salt Marsh, so called to the Main River on the Southeast side of the Long Creek and that the North East range of what was then reputed the Pastour's meddow was many rods to the South East of the said Long Creeli. And I never knew the town of Sandwich or any person under them make any claim to what my sd grandfather so Improved while I lived with him aforesaid or since till lately & I the sd Deponent further add that I don't remember that [I] ever saw any bound stakes pretended to be Range as till lately below the salt marsh & further, that my Grandfather did nor usually cut all the sd piece of marsh over, by reason of it being poor and grass being plent), as I apprehend, but don't remember I heard my grandfather say that was the reason he did nor cut it all over.
                                                Benjamin Gibbs
                                                Sworn att Crt. Att' Samuel Winthrop"
                                                (Docket 2687)

    "I Seth Fish of lawfull age to give evidence. testify and say that I remember William Bassett, Esqr. many years ago---I think fifty or more, took possession of a piece of marsh in Sandwich between what was reputed ye Pastour's Meddow & ye Long Creek, so called and is within ye boundaries of what was formerly reputed ye Pastour's Meddow, and I never knew any other claim or challenge from or under ye town of Sandwich till lately to any part of ye meddow there about in ye possession of ye successors of Michacl Blackwell, and that when yr was a controversy formerly between Michaell Blackwell and my Father in law Thomas Tobey about some of ye meddow now challenged by ye proprietors of Sandwich, William Bassett & Stephen Skiffe Esqrs. settled said controversies in favour of sd Michaell Blackwell & that (to my certain knowledge) John Blackwell under his grandfather Michaell Blackwell's will and in his own right & others under him have been in the sole Improvement of all ye Sandwich meddow South East of ye Pastour's meddow for fifty five years past home to ye River & Long Creek & to Tobey's marsh Southerly & further I knew Michaell Blackwell to improve sd meddow by rakeing Hay thereon that part next the River & Long Creek.
                                                Seth Fish
                                                Att' Samuell Winthrop. Clerk."
                                                (Docket 28043)

    An agreement in settlement of the estate of Capt. Thomas Taber, dated in Dartmouth, adds proof to additional relationships which have not appeared in published genealogies:
    "Caleb Blackwell of Rochester, blacksmith, & Bethia my wife, Ebenezer*+ Taber of Tiverton in ye County of Newport in ye Colony of Rhode Island, cordwainer, and Abigail my wife, and Mary Morton of Dartmouth, widow
relict of Manasseh Morton, late of Dartmouth, dec'tl, for £3. 12s. pd. by Bartholomew Taber of sd. Dartmouth, cooper ... sell ... Three twelfth-parts of all ye lands that our honoured father, Thomas Taber of Dartmouth, late deceased. left undivided in sd. Dartmouth ... to have and to hold ye 21 April 1753
    Wit'd: Noah Sprague ) saw Caleb & Bethiah
                Seth Blackwell) Blackwell sign Acknowledged at Rochester
                                                                Caleb Blackwell
                                                                Bethiah Blackwell
                                                                Ebenezer Taber
                                                                Abigail Taber
                                                                Mary Morton"
    William Sanford
    Restcomb Sanford, J. P.
    Jacob Taber
    John Taber

    The will of "Caleb Blackwell of Rochester,... yeoman," dated 9 Nov. 1762 and proved 28 April 1763, gives "to my only son Seth Blackwell the whole of my homestead, wearing apparell ...my share of the cider mill, reserving to my son-in-law Nicholas Crapo the right to make up his own fruit. To my two grandsons John Nye and Philip Nye sons of my daughter Sarah Nye, deceased. in equal partnership, £150. To my two daughters Bethia Nye and Alice Crapo... To the third Parish in Rochester, so called, all Income of my right in sd Perish so long as the Rev.  Mr. Thomas West continues to preach there, and after to my two daughters, Bethia Nye and Alice Crapo."  He made his son Seth and son-in-law Nicholas Crapo co-executors. Witnesses: Stephen Perry, Eunis Paddock, Noah Sprague (Plymouth County Probate, 16:43). Inventory taken 7 Sept. 1762 by Noah Sprague, Cornelius Briggs, Thomas Whitredge shows real estate £494. 13s. 4d; total £1,257. 8s. 6d. (ibid., p. 420) .

        Children, birth of all children to "Caleb & Bethyah" (Rochester Vital Records, 1914, 1:39):
            i.      JANE4, b. 7 Feb. 1710/11;  probably d.  young.  Not named  in  her father's will.
            ii.    SARAH. b. in l714; d. in Rochester 25 June 1761 act. 47 (ibid.. 2:416); m. there, 31 Dec. l747, GEORGE4 NYE, b. in Middleborough about 1717, d. in New Braintree 28 Feb. 1805, son of Ichabod and Elizabeth (Bonum) Nye. The intention calls her Sarah "Black." George Nye married thrice more and lived in Brookfield and New Brain-
tree.
                Children (surname Nye) , bapt. in Rochester (ibid., 1:223, 225): 1. John, bapt. 4 Dec. 1748. 2. Philip, bapt. 24 Feb. 1750/1.  3. Caleb, bapt. 24 Aug. 1755; d. evidently before 9 Nov. 1762. Not named in his Grandfather's will.
            iii.     JOHN, b. 21 March 1717/18: d. s.p. before the date of his father's will.
            iv.     MARY, b. 30 June 1720; presumably d. young.
             v.     BETHIA, b. 31 Dec. 1722; d. in Rochester 24 Oct. 1767; m. there, 22 Nov. l744, ICHABOD4 NYE, b. in Middleborough 22 Sept. 1719, d. in Rochester 14 Oct. 1770, brother of George Nye who married Sarah Blackwell (supra) .
                Children (surname Nye) , b. in Rochester to "Ichabod & Bethia" (Rochester Vilal Records, 1914, 1:223, 224): 1. Caleb, b. 2 Nov. 1745; d. in Rochester in Sept. 1754. 2. Jonathan, b. 22 May 1748; lived in New Bedford; m. twice. 3. Capt. George-Bonum, b. 15 Nov. 1750; d. in Rochester 29 Dec. 1833; m. there Sarah Handy.  4. Seth, b. 17 June 1755; d. in Rochester in September 1755. 5. Ichabod, b. 20 July 1756; d. in Rochester 9 June 1776. 6. Bethia,
b. 16 Feb. 1759; d. in Rochester 14 Dec. 1832; m. there Hon. Abraham Holmes. 7. Ebenezer, b. 20 July 1761.
            vi.    ALICE, b. 19 May 1725; d. after 26 Sept. 1793; m. in Rochester, 14 Sept. 1749, NICHOLAS CRAPO. They are both named in her father's will, of which Nicholas was named co-executor. The will of Nicholas Crapo, of Rochester, dated 26 Sept. 1793, names wife Alice, sons Nicholas and Philip; "my three daughters: Alice wife of
William Crapo; Bethia Crapo and Rebecca Crapo." Proved 20 Nov. 1793 (Plymouth County Probate, 33:480).
                Children (surname Crapo)  (Rochester Vital Records 1914, 1:94-96): 1. Bethia, bapt. 14 June 1752· 2. Alice, b. 12 Aug. 1756; m. (intention 28 Jan. 1775) William Crapo. 3. Rebeccn, b. 25 Sept. 1761. 4. Nicholas, b. in March 1765; m. 10 Sept. 1789 Meribah Cooke of New Bedford. 5. Philip. b. 30 Nov. 1767.
            vii.    SETH, b. 1  NOV. 1729.

    5.  NATHANIEL3 BLACKWELL (John2, Michaell), born 27 Dec. 1686, died testate in Dartmouth in 1759. He married first, about 1711, JOANNA --; and secondly, 28 May 1752, a widow, ELIZABET (--) TRIPP (Dartmouth Vital Records, 1930, 2:64).
        Nathaniel Blackwell is named in his grandfather Blackwell's will and his receipt for that legacy, dated 25 May 1710, reads:
            "Nathaniel Blackwell. of Dartmouth in the County of Bristol. received of my Uncle Joshua Blackwell of the Town of Sandwich. £10 in full of the Legacie which was given me by my honoured Grandfather Michaell Blackwell late of sd Sandwich, deceased, under his Last Will" (Barnstable County Probate, 3:86).

        Nathaniel evidently plied his trade of blacksmith in various settlements: Little Compton, Swansea, Tiverton, Freetown, etc., before returning in about l723 to Dartmouth. He is called "of Freetown" in a deed, dated 17 Dec. l722, when he paid £80 to Samuell Joy for a Dartmouth lot, including housing, situated on the west side of Acushnet River (Bristol County Deeds, 2:535).  He is called "of Dartmouth" in a deed, dated 3 Jan. 1738/9, when he paid Samuell Winslow £20 for a lot in the town of Bristol (ibid., 5:173).  In 1743 he paid Ephraim Hunt £120, for 33 additional Dartmouth acres and in 1745 bought from Peter Tinkham for £24. 35 more acres there (ibid., p.
193). In a deed, dated 20 May 1752, "Nathaniell Blackwell of Dartmouth, Blacksmith, for the love and good will I do bear for my son John Blackwell of same, blacksmith," conveyed an acre of "the Westerly end of my homestead farm" (ibid,. 513).

    The will, dated 26 Aug. 1756, of "Nathaniell Blackwell of . Dartmouth, blacksmith," gives "to my beloved wife all those goods that she brought with her, except what she hath already disposed of. and one half ye neet cattle, swine, loomes. 1/2 all my wool, clothes, bedding. linen, etc.. and ye use & improvement of 1/2 my household farm, untill my son Nathaniell's daughters come to the age of 18 yrs., while my widdow . · · To my daughter Mary Blackwell (l/2 as above). To my son Nathaniell Blackwell's two daughters: Desire Blackwell and Johannah Blackwell all ye new house I last built, joyning to myold one and land to ye southeastward and ye household goods that I lent their Mother, etc. To my son John Blackwell land and to his son Nathaniell Blackwell (if he lives to 21) or to sd John's next male heir. To my son-in-law Nathaniell Spooner my lands In Freetown  he to place gravestones for my son Nathaniell, my daughter Sarah, myself and my wife (if she be buried in ye same yard).To my three children, John Blackwell  Mary Blackwell and Hannah Spooner [the residue]" (Bristol County Probate, 16:292). Proved 3 July 1759. The Inventory, presented the same date, shows a personal estate of £113. 4s. 7d.
            Children, births shown to "Nathaniell & Joanna:"
            i.     SARAH4, b. 26 June 1712; d. unm. evidently in Freetown, where her father directed that her gravestone be placed.
            ii.    MARY, b. 15 Aug. 1715  (Swansea Town Records); seems not to have married (see Bristol County Deeds, 7:46).
            iii.   HANNAH, b. 21 Feb. 1718/19 James N. Amold, Vital Records of Rhode Island, vol. 4, pt. 7, "Tiverton," p· 63); d. 22 Feb. 1795; m. 29 June 1749 NATHANIEL SPOONER (Dartmouth Vital Records, 2:64),b. in Dartmouth 10 Sept 1716, d. there testate 6 March 1799 (Thomas Spooner, Memorral of William Spooner, 1871, p. 72).
            iv.    JOANNA. b. 11 Aug. 1722  (Arnold, op. cit.); d. 13 Nov. 1724 (Dartmouth Vital Records, 3:20).
             v.    NATHANIEL, b. about 1724; d. in Freetown before 26 Aug. 1756 (see father's will); m. in Wareham, 4 Feb. 1747, LYDIA4 LANDERS (ibid., 2:64), b. about 1724, daughter of Nathan3 Landers of Wareham.  The latter's will, dated 20 Dec. 1764, names "my daughter Lidia Blackwell" (Plymouth County Probate, 19:209). The widow later returned to her native town as the Wareham Church records show: "Received from the First Church in Dartmouth 30 May l784, Lydia Blackwell" and the Wareham Town Records show she d. there 4 April 1789 "act. 66."
                Children, named in their grandfather's will: 1. Desire5 b. about 1748; d. in Butternuts (now Duanesburg), N. Y., 17 Nov. 1839; m. about 1768 Elisha5 Burgess, bapt. in Wareham 24 March 1744, d. in Duanesburg 8 June 1817, son of Samuel and Jedidah (Gibbs) Burgess. Had issue. 2. ]oanna, b. about 1755; d. in T~areham 23
July 1795 aet. 40.
    10.   vi.   JOHN, b. in Dartmouth 14 Dec. 1727.