Ruth Cutler was born 2 February 1668 in Reading, Massachusetts Bay, the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Giles) Cutler[1].
She married, first, John Smith of Charlestown on 18 May 1693 in Charlestown, Massachusetts Bay[2-3]. He was the son of Matthew and Alice (Leader) Smith. John and Ruth (Cutler) Smith had four children, all born and recorded in Charlestown town records:
* Ruth Smith (1694-1722), married about 1717 Thomas Upham (1694-1730).
* Mary Smith (1698-1746), married about 1717 Ebenezer Phillips (1695-1746).
* Elizabeth Smith (1700-????).
* Hannah Smith (1702-1704).
John Smith wrote his will on 27 March 1704 which is in Middlesex County Probate Records Estate File 20,661[4]. The will is extremely difficult to read, but some parts of it cannot be deciphered.
John Smith of Charlestown, Taylor, died on 31 March 1704, leaving a wife and four young daughters (ages 2 to 10). He bequeathed 5 pounds to his wife Ruth in household stuff of her choice, and the use and improvement of the house, buildings, orchards and land that he dwelled on, and all moveable goods or estate within doors and without. Ruth Smith was named executrix of the estate and the will was proved on 14 June 1705 in Middlesex County Probate Court in Cambridge.
Ruth (Cutler) Smith married, second, Thomas Upham (1668-1735) of Malden in about 1710. He was a widower with five young children. They had one child, born in Malden:
* Joseph Upham (1712-1792), married 1739 Elizabeth Richardson (1715-1776).
Thomas Upham, farmer of Reading, wrote his will on 13 January 1725[5]. He bequeathed to his wife Ruth one half the improvement of his homestead in Reading as long as she remained unmarried, and if she married, then his son Joseph should pay her one pound and 10 shillings every year. He also bequeathed her two cows, his best bed and furniture belonging to it, and one half of the moveables.
Thomas Upham died 28 November 1735 in Reading, and the will was proved in Middlesex County Probate Court on 29 December 1735.
Ruth (Cutler) (Smith) Upham died 12 May 1738 in what is now Wakefield, Massachusetts[6-7], and is buried in the Old Burying Ground in Wakefield[7]. The inscription on the gravestone says:
"Here lyes
the body of
Mrs Ruth Upham
who departed this life
May ye 12th 1738
In the 70th Year of her age"
