Friday, August 7, 2020

52 Ancestors - Week 342: #552 John Plimpton (1680-1730) of Medfield, Massachusetts

John Plimpton (1680-1730) is number 552 on my Ahnentafel List, my 7th great-grandfather, who married #553 Susannah Draper (1687-1769)  in 1707 in Medfield, now Norfolk County, Massachusetts.

I am descended through:

*  their son #276 John Plimpton (1708-1756) who married #277 Abigail Fisher (1711-1785) in 1731.
*  their son #138 Amos Plimpton (1735-1808) who married #139 Mary Guild (1735-1800) in 1756.
*  their daughter #69 Mercy Plimpton (1772-1850) who married #68  Aaron Smith (1765-1841) in 1795.
*  their son #34 Alpheus Smith (1802-1840)   who married  #35 Elizabeth Horton Dill (1791-1869) in 1826.
*  their daughter, #17 Lucretia Townsend Smith (1828-1884) who married #16 Isaac Seaver (1823-1901) in 1851.
*  their son #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922) who married #9 Hattie Louisa Hildreth (1857-1920) in 1874.
*  their son #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942) who married #5 Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) in 1900.
*  their son #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) who married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)  in 1942.
*  their son #1 Randall Jeffrey Seaver (1943-living)

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1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
 

* Name:                              John Plimpton[1–9]

*   Sex:                                 Male

*   Father:                            John Plimpton (1649-1704)
*   Mother:                           Elizabeth Fisher (1659-1694)

2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
   
*  Birth:                              17 March 1680, Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States[1-2,6]    

*  Distribution:                   5 April 1704 (age 24), father's will administered; Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States[3]    

*  Death:                            19 January 1730 (age 49), Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States[1,5–6]    
*  Burial:                           after 19 January 1730 (after age 49), Vine Lake Cemetery, Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States[6]    

*  Probate:                        7 April 1730 (age 50), Letter of Administration, Inventory; Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States[7]    
*  Probate:                       7 June 1731 (age 51), administrator's account; Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States[8]    
*  Probate:                      28 November 1732 (age 52), distribution; Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States[9]  

3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

 Spouse 1.                   Susanna Draper (1688-1769)    
*  Marriage 1:                 13 November 1707 (age 27), Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States[1,4]    

*  Child 1:                     John Plimpton (1708-1756)    
*  Child 2:                     James Plimpton (1709-1784)    
*  Child 3:                     Daniel Plimpton (1721-1777)    
*  Child 4:                     Elizabeth Plimpton (1726-1757)

4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):  

John Plimpton was born 17 March 1680 in Medfield, Massachusetts, the son of John and Susanna (Fisher) Plimpton of Medfield[1-2,6]. 

He married Susanna Draper (1688-1769) on 13 November 1707 in Medfield[1,4].  She was the daughter of John and Abigail (Mason) Draper of Dedham.  John and Susanna had four children, all born and recorded in the Medfield town records:

*  John Plimpton (1708-1756), married 1731 Abigail Fisher (1711-1785).
*  James Plimpton (1709-1784), married 1736 Lidia Lovell (1717-????).
*  Daniel Plimpton (1721-1777), married 1745 Deborah Smith (1723-1787).
*  Elizabeth Plimpton (1726-1757).

John's father, John Plimpton (1649-1704) died intestate, and his probate records are in Suffolk County Probate Court case files 2,865 (37 images)[3].  The eldest son, John Plimpton, was named administrator of his father's estate on 5 April 1704.  The Inventory totaled £529-3s-6d.  Being the eldest son, John received a double share of the estate, which after expenses, was about 149 pounds.  

In the division of his father's lands, John Plimpton received:

*  two thirds part of the dwelling house, barn, yard room, orchard, and land on both sides of the highway.
*  12 acres of pine swamp meadow bottom by Stop River next to John Fishers swamp
*  2 acres of meadow by Harbor Island adjoining hism other's on the sidee near Bullard's causeway
*  1 acre more of meadow land that was John Bullards
*  6 acres and 3 roods and 26 rods of a woodlot on the south side of Stop River.  
*  5 and a half acres of pine swamp near Wheeler's bottom
*  2 acres and a half of cedar swamp in Dedham bounds
*  parcel of swamp land at south side of Chinry's causeway
*  1 and a half acres of meadow in Broad meadow
*  4 and a half acres of swamp and meadow joining Daniel Thurston's meadow and Wrentham line
*  9 or 10 acres of upland on south side of Stop River
*  4 and a half acres of woodland afjoining to it
*  5 acres 1 rood and 28 rods of woodland that was Joseph Plimpton's
*  one half of 3 acres and a half of woodland that was Warfields
*  one common right in Wrentham bounds.

The Plimpton book[1] adds more information about John Plimpton:
"He resided at Medfield, and was the third John in succession on the original homestead. The first house having been occupied about seventy-five years, he built a new one east of the former site, and somewhat nearer the street. It was a "half-house," two stories high, with front door, entry and chimney at the westerly end. It had one square room below with a lean-to in the rear. This with subsequent additions was occupied by his descendants about one hundred and fifty years.
"A tract of unoccupied land lying between Brookfield and Woodstock, Brimfield and Oxford, attracted the attention of some of the enterprising inhabitants of Medfield, who petitioned the General Court for a grant.  'That it might furnish settlements for your petitioners, many of whom are destitute of settlements for themselves, and not well able to purchase necessary accommodations in towns already settled. And the other of the petitioners being in want of lands for their descendants.'
"The grant was obtained September 3d, 1729, and three days later the petitioners gathered at the house of Joshua Morse, in Medfield. Among those present were John, Joseph, and William Plimpton. At this meeting John Plimpton was chosen the first constable and collector for the proprietors of New Medfield, now Sturbridge. But when the first division of land was made the following spring, and ever after, his share was set off and described to 'ye heires of John Plimpton.'"
John Plimpton died intestate 19 January 1730 in Medfield, Massachusetts[1,5-6].  His gravestone is probably in Vine Lake Cemetery in Medfield, but there is no extant gravestone[6].

Probate records for John Plimpton are in Suffolk County Probate Court Records, in Case File 5,941.  

A Letter of Administration on John Plimpton's estate was granted to the widow Susannah Plimpton and the eldest son John Plimpton on 7 April 1730 by the Suffolk County Probate Court[7].  The letter says:
"Josiah Willard Esq Commissioned by his Excellency William Burnet Esq Capt General and Governour in Chief in and over his Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England deceased & Continued by the Hon^ble William Dumoner Esq Commander in Chief of the same by and with the advice and Consent of the Council to be Judge of the Probate of Wills &c for Granting Letters of Administration on the Estates of persons deceased having Goods Chattels Rights or Credits in the County of Suffolk in the Province aforesaid. To Susannah Plimpton Widow and John Plimpton Husbandman both of Medfield in the County aforesaid Greeting. Whereas John Plimpton late of Medfield aforesaid Husbandman deceased having while he Lived & at the time of his decease Goods Chattels Rights or Credits in the County aforesaid lately dyed Intestate, whereby the power of Committing Administration and full disposition of all & singular the Goods Chattels Rights& Credits of the said deceased, and also the hearing Examining and allowing the accompt of such Administration doth appertain unto me Trusting therefore in your care & fidelity, I do by these presents committ unto you full power to administer all and singular the Goods, Chattels, Rights & Credits of the said deceased. And well and faithfully to Dispose of the same according to Law, and also to Gather levy Recover and Receive all and whatsoever Credits of the said deceased which to him while he Lived and att the time of his Death did appertain and to pay all Debts in which the said deceased stood Bound so far as his Goods Chattels Rights & Credits can Extend According to the value Thereof, And to make a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods Chattels Rights & Credits, And to Exhibit the same into the Registry of the Court of Probate for the County aforesaid at or before the seventh day of July next Ensuing, and to Render a plain & true Accompt of your said Administration upon Oath at or before the seventh day of April which will be in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred & Thirty one, And I do hereby ordain Constitute and appoint you Admin^rs of all and singular the Goods Chattels Rights & Credits aforesaid. In Testimony whereas I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court of Probate Dated at Boston the seventh day of April Anno Domini 1730.John Boydell Reg^r                                            J. Willard"
An Inventory was taken on 10 March 1730 by Samuel Smith, Ebenezer Mason and Henry Harding  and was approved by the Court on 7 April 1730[8].  The inventory included:
"A True Inventory of the Estate of John Plimpton late of Medfield deced as I was apprized by the subscribers hereunto March 10^th 1730.  
To money and Bills of Credit & Bonds                                                         45 – 16 - 11
To Cloathing Books and armes & several Book Debts                                 45 – 09 - 10
To Beds & Bedding sheets and Linnen and wool                                         44 -    2 -
To Pewter Earthen Brass & Iron & wooden ware in the house                    30 -
To Provision Corn and Meat a stock of Leather and shoemakers tools        47 – 19 -
To a Cart and plow Chains Axes & other Husbandry Tools                         21 - 6 -
To the stock oxen Horses Cows Sheep and swine                                         87 -
To the Buildings & homelot of both sides the way                                     190 -
To 12 acres of Pine swampy Meadow by Stop River                                   80 -
To 5 acres of Meadow lying in three pcells                                                  85 -
To 25 acres of wood Land lying on the south side of Stop River                 77 -
To 8 acres of swamp and Upland near Wheelers Bottom                             25 -
To that pcell of plow Land near Lieut Plimptons& also 2 acres of 
Cedar swamp 1 Acre more of swamp                                                           34 -
To 7 acres & a half of Upland in 3 pcells & also 5 acres of Devident Land 26 -
To the Common Rights in Wrentham some laid out some not                      13 - 10
To the fiftieth part of the Rights in New Medfield so called                         25 -                                                                           Samuel Smith  
                                     Ebenezer Mason    
                                    Henry Harding                                             £879 – 3 - 9
Suffolk Ss. By the Hon^ble Josiah Willard Esq Judge of pro:&c 
"Susannah Plimpton & John Plimpton, Adm^rs presented the foregoing and made Oath that it Contains a true and perfect Inventory of the Estate of John Plimpton late of Medfield Husbandman deceased so far as hath come to their Knowledge and that if more hereafter appear they will Cause itto be added. The Three subscribing Apprizers were at the same time sworn as the Law Directs.  Boston April 7th 1730       Exam^d: Ss John Boydell Reg^r         J. Willard"
The estate was distributed after the appraisers decided that the real estate could not be equitably divided between the heirs[9].  The widow received her thirds in land and personal estate for the rest of her life, sons John and James received the real estate, and were to provide their brother Daniel and sister Elizabeth with 74 pounds plus interest. 
 
5)  SOURCES

1. Levi B. Chase, A Genealogy and Historical Notices of the Family of Plimpton or Plympton in America, Plumpton in England (Hartford, Conn. : Plimpton Mfg. Co., 1884), page 74, John Plimpton (1680-1730) sketch.

2. Vital Records of Medfield, Massachusetts to the Year 1850 (Boston, Mass. :  New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1903), Births, page 82, John Plimpton entry, 17 March 1679/80.

3. Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Probate case files, Case File 2865  "37 images" John Plimpton of Medfield, 1705; "Suffolk County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, 1636-1899," digital images, American Ancestors (http://www.americanancestors.org : accessed 6 August 2020).

4. Vital Records of Medfield, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Marriages, page 165, John Plimpton and Susannah Draper entry, 13 November 1707.

5. Vital Records of Medfield, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Deaths, page 229, John Plimpton entry, 19 January 1730.

6. Find A Grave, indexed database and digital image,  (http://www.findagrave.com), Vine Lake Cemetery, Medfield, Mass., John Plimpton (1680-1730) memorial #171799287.

7. "Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991," indexed database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com  : accessed 5 November 2017); Suffolk County, "Probate Records, V. 27-28, 1729-1731," Volume 27, pages 540-541 (image 281 of 586), John Plimpton letter of administration and inventory; Original images in Suffolk County [Mass.] Probate Court.

8. Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991, indexed database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 November 2017); Suffolk County, "Probate Records, V. 29-31, 1731-1734," Volume 29, pages 73-74 (images 45-46 of 856), John Plimpton, 1730, account; Original images in Suffolk County [Mass.] Probate Court.

9. Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991, indexed database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 November 2017); Suffolk County, "Probate Records, V. 29-31, 1731-1734," Volume 31, pages 190-192 (images 671-672 of 856), John Plimpton, 1732, distribution; Original images in Suffolk County [Mass.] Probate Court.

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NOTE:  In 2014, Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I have extended this theme in 2020 for a seventh year to 364 Ancestors in 364 Weeks.  The list of 52 Ancestors biographies from my great-grandparents to the 7th great-grandparents (in work) is in   https://www.geneamusings.com/p/ancestor-biographies.html.


Copyright (c) 2020, Randall J. Seaver

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