Friday, February 25, 2022

52 Ancestors - Week 420: #304 Nathan Brigham (1693-1784) of Marlborough and Southborough, Massachusetts

Nathan Brigham (1693-1784)  is #304 on my Ahnentafel  List, my 6th great-grandfather, who marrie#305 Dina Rice (1693-1725)  in 1717 in Marlborough, Middlesex County,  Massachusetts Bay.

I am descended through:

*  their son, #152 Moses Brigham (1723-1769), who married #153 Mehitable Grout  (1725-1795) in 1749.
* their son 
#76 Phinehas Brigham (1755-1802), who married #77 Lydia Batherick (1752-1795) in 1779.
* their son, #38 Lambert Brigham (1794-1834) who married #39 Sophia Buck (1797-1882) in 1817.
* their daughter #19 Sophia Newton (1834-1923) who married #18 Edward Hildreth (1831-1899) in 1852.
* their daughter #9 Hattie Louisa Hildreth (1857-1920) who married #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922) 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)

=====================================================

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

*  Name:                           Nathan Brigham[1–11]

*  Sex:                          Male

*  Father:                         Nathan Brigham 1671-1746
*  Mother:                       Elizabeth Maynard 1664-1733

2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Birth:                         28 November 1693, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[1–3]

*  Deed:                         5 April 1733 (age 39), received 8 parcels of land in Southborough from his father; Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[5]

*  Distribution:             13 March 1746/7 (age 52), father's will proved; Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[6]

*  Deed:                       7 February 1754 (age 60), Gave two parcels in Westborough to son Moses Brigham for love and affection; Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[8]

*  Deed:                      1 June 1756 (age 62), sold 5 acres of land in Westborough to his son Moses Brigham for 5 pounds; Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[9]

*  Death:                    15 September 1784 (age 90), Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[10,12]
*  Burial:                   18 September 1784 (age 90), Old Burial Ground, Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[13]

*  Probate:                2 November 1784 (age 90), will proved; Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[11]
 
3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Spouse 1:              Dinah Rice 1693-1725
*  Marriage 1:          24 December 1717 (age 24), Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[1,4]

*  Child 1:                Dinah Brigham 1719-1784
*  Child 2:                Eunice Brigham 1721-1792
*  Child 3:                Moses Brigham 1722-1769
*  Child 4:                Perses Brigham 1724-1740
*  Child 5:                Elizabeth Brigham 1725- ????   

*  Spouse 2:             Hepzibah Ward 1708-1748
*  Marriage 2:          about 1729 (about age 36), Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[1]

*  Child 6:                Nathan Brigham 1730-1806
*  Child 7:                Hephzebah Brigham 1732-1815
*  Child 8:                Edmund Brigham 1733-1806
*  Child 9:                William Brigham 1735-1793
*  Child 10:              Phenihas Brigham 1737-1740
*  Child 11:              Tabitha Brigham 1738-1740
*  Child 12:              Ebenezer Brigham 1741-1756
*  Child 13:              Elijah Brigham 1742-1804

*  Spouse 3:             Martha --?-- 1700-????  
*  Marriage 3:          6 February 1750/1 (age 56), Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[7]

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

Nathan Brigham, Jr. was born 28 November 1693 in Marlborough, Massachusetts Bay, the first child of Nathan and Elizabeth (Maynard) Brigham[1-3].

He was called Nathan Brigham, Jr. until his father died in 1747, and then called Lieutenant Nathan Brigham after his military service in the 1730s.

His first marriage, at age 24, was to Dinah Rice (1693-1725) on 24 December 1717 in Marlborough[1,4].  Dinah was the daughter of Edmund and Ruth (Parker) Rice of Marlborough.  They had five children, all born in Marlborough.

*  Dinah Brigham (1719-1784), married 1743 Jonsthan Witt (1718-????)
*  Eunice Brigham (1721-1792), married 1742 to Hezekiah Newton (1719-1786).
*  Moses Brigham (1723-1769), married 1749 to Mehitable Grout (1725-1795).
*  Perses Brigham (1725-1740).
*  Elizabeth Brigham (1725-????), married 1749 Jedidiah Fay (1726-1799).

The Brigham Family Book notes that prior to the second division of the original township of Marlborough, in 1727, Nathan held several minor town offices, but in the new town of Southborough, to which he was set off, he appears at once among her principal citizens, serving the first year as a selectman and soon after as treasurer. He was repeatedly placed on committees for hiring schoolmasters and chosen for the 29th time as a selectman at the age of 77 years. He retained his vigor to a great age and in his 90th year used to mount his horse without assistance[1].

Dinah died in 1725, and Nathan married, secondly, at age 36, to Hepzibah Ward (1708-1748) in about 1729, probably in Marlborough[1]. They had eight children, all born and recorded in Southborough:

*  Nathan Brigham (17301-1806), married 1769 Mary Hudson (1743-????).
*  Hephzebah Brigham (1732-1815), married 1748 John Taplin (1727-1803).
*  Edmund Brigham (1733-1806), married 1769 Elizabeth Bevel (1740-1825).
*  William Brigham (1735-1793), married 1759 Rebecca Ball (1739-1768).
*  Phenehas Brigham (1737-1740).
*  Tabitha Brigham (1738-1740).
*  Ebenezer Brigham (1741-1766).
*  Elijah Brigham (1742-1804), married 1768 Ruth Taylor (1747-1831).

On 5 April 1733, Nathan Brigham, gentleman of Marlborough, gave parcels of land in Southborough and Westborough to his son, Nathan Brigham Jr., yeoman of Southborough, for fatherly love and affection[5].  There were eight parcels comprising 171 acres, including 20 acres near Nathan Brigham Jr.s dwellnig house in southyborough; 8 acres near his barn; 25 acres near Walnut Hill; 13 acres on a hill near Cedar Swamp; 34 acres of meadow land, 1 acre of meadow landon the west side of Elsabeth River; 60 acres of swamp and upland near Sutton; 8 acres of swamp land east of Elsabeth River; and a 16 acre town right in Southborough.  The deed was recorded 6 February 1738/9 in Worcester County, Massachusetts Land Records.

On 2 June 1740, his father Nathan Brigham wrote a three page will that is very difficult to decipher (in Middlesex County Probate Court case file 2,687) bequeathing his estate to his second wife, Mehitable, and to his seven living children[6]. The will was proved 13 March 1746/7 in Middlesex County Probate Court, with all of the named heirs agreeable to the terms of the will.  Son Nathan Brigham was to receive what had already been given to him, his father's Bible, the law books, the sword, one third of the wearing apparel, one half of the livestock, one part of the money and bills of credit, and 100 acres of land in Bedford.

Hepzibah (Ward) Brigham died in about 1748, and Nathan married, thirdly, to widow Martha (--?--) Gleason on 6 February 1750/1 in Southborough[7].  They had no children.

On 7 February 1754, Nathan Brigham, gentleman of Southborough, sold two parcels of  land in Westborough to his well and beloved son Moses Brigham, yeoman of Westborough, for parental love and affection[8].  The first parcel was 60 acres in Westborough, bounded westerly by land of Joseph Grout, northerly by Benjamin and Jeduthun Fay, and southerly by Eaton Farm.  The second parcel was 10 acres of swamp and meadow land in Westborough bounded westerly by Jeduthun Fay, then on Elizabeth River, and land of Francis Whipple.  The deed was witnessed by Edmund Brigham and Hezekiah Ward, and was recorded on 23 August 1754.

On 7 June 1756, Nathan Brigham, gentleman of Southborough, sold a parcel of  land in Westborough to his well and beloved son Moses Brigham, husbandman of Westborough, for 16 pounds lawful money[9].  The  parcel was 5 acres of meadow and upland in Westborough, bounded southerly by a highway,  heirs of Hezekiah Tomlin, and land of Jonas Brigham, and easterly by the River.  The deed was witnessed by Edward Baker and Joseph Baker, and was recorded on 22 September 1756.

Nathan Brigham bought and sold many parcels of land in Southborough and Westborough during his life.  After his father died, he sold or gave some of the land to the children of his first two wives.

Nathan died, at age 90, on 15 September 1784 in Southborough[10].  He is buried in the Old Burial Ground in Southborough[4].  There is no extant grave marker.  

Nathan Brigham wrote his will on 1 January 1783. There is a Bond document for 2000 pounds dated 2 November 1784, and a statement of acceptance by the widow and approval of the will by the probate court judge on 2 November 1784 in the probate file.  There is no inventory or account in the probate file[11].

The will of Nathan Brigham says:
In the Name of God amen, This first day of January Anno Domini 1783.  I, Nathan Brigham of Southborough in the County of Worcester Gentleman, being far advanced in age but of sound and disposing mind, and Calling to mind the mortality of my Body and the uncertainty of Human life, do make and Ordain this my last will & Testament.

First of all I humbly recommend my Soul to God who gave it, hoping through the merits of Jesus Christ to obtain Eternal life in a better world, my Body I Commit to the Earth to be Buried in decent Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executor, nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall by the mighty power of God received the Same again.

And as touching such worldly Goods and Estate as God has been pleased to Bless me with in this life, I Will and dispose of in manner following.

Imprimis.  My will is that all my just Debts and Funeral Charges be paid by my Executor (hereafter Named out of my Personal Estate).

Item.  I Give and Bequeath to Martha my wife during her remaining my Widow the use and Improvement of the Northerly end of my Dwelling House from Top to Bottom with the Cellar under the South Room (and a priviledge in the Well for water, and a priviledge at the Door for laying of Wood, also the use of my Garden by the Cyder mill, and instead of her dower in my Real Estate as Lands &c and at her special instance and Request I will and Order that my son Elijah Brigham bring and deliver to my said wife at my dwelling House during her remaining my widow annually each year in the proper Seasons thereof the following articles viz't. Seven Bushels and an half of Indian Corn with the same Quantity of Rye, providing good dry Casks Sufficient to hold the same, one Bushel of Wheat two Bushels and an half of malt, one Barrel of Sweet Cyder, and five Barrel of common Cyder providing Casks for the same, Six Bushels of apples, two Bushels of Turnips, two Bushels of Potatoes, one peck of Beans one peck of Peas, two Hundred weight of Pork, one Hundred weight of Beef, thirty weight of Butter, forty weight of Cheese, ten pounds of flax, and five pounds of Wool, also a Sufficiency of fire Wood brought to the door & Cut ready for the fire, also to find her a Horse to Ride to Meeting and other necessary Occasions, also I give to my said wife to be at her own disposal all that was her Sister De Luena's viz't. the ????? Irons, one Bible and Trunk, two Chairs one Bed and Furniture thereto belonging, one Round Table together with all her Tea utensels, also I give and Bequeath to my said wife one Iron pot, one Ieron Kettle, two small Brass Kettles, one Iron Skillet, one Tramel, one pair of Handirons, one Meat Tub, two Washing Tubs, two pails and one third part of my Pewter,  I also give and Bequeath to my said wife one Bed and Beding, with all the  household Furniture that my wife brought to me when I Married her that may be found after my decease, one coverlet also one Cow to be at her disposal for ever, and to be kept for her Summer and winter during her remaining my widow, also one dutch Oven, one half dozen of Knives and forks, one flatt Bottomed Brass Candlesticks, and Forty Shillings Lawful money to be paid to my said wife by my Executor annually so long as she shall remain my widow. 

Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Nathan Brigham about nine acres of Land lying partly in Southborough & partly in Westborough being what I now own which I purchased of Elisha Wood dec'd.  I also Give and Bequeath to my three Sons, Nathan Brigham Edmund Brigham and Elijah Brigham two pieces of Ceder Swamp scituate in Westborough one piece lying in Chancey Swamp, and the other piece lying in Island Swamp so Called  with all the Land I have taken up adjoining thereto, to be equally divided between them.  I also give and Bequeath to my Son Nathan Brigham one Bed and Bedding also my Cane that was my Fathers, also a Case with one quarter part of my wearing apparel, and also Six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence lawful money to be paid him by my Executor in five years after my decease, also Eight acres of my Town Right with out the Cow common
all which shall be his full share out of my Estate.

Item.  I give and Bequeath to my son Edmund Brigham one half of my Sixteen Acres of town Right without the Cow Common with one quarter part of my wearing apparel, which with what he has already had out of my Estate shall be his part in full.

Item.  I give and Bequeath to my Son William Brigham one piece of land I Bought of John Matthews dec'd lying on the Northerly side of the Road leading from my dwelling House to the old malt House containing about two acres be the same more or less Bounded westerly by my own Land, Southerly by said Road and every other way by his own Land, with one  quarter part of my wearing apparel which with what he has already rec'd shall be his full share out of my Estate.

Item.  I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Eunice the wife of Hezekiah Newton Ten Shillings lawful money to be paid by my Executor which with what she has already rec'd shall be her part in full.

Item.  I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Fay Twenty Shillings lawful money to be paid by my Executor, which with what she has already rec'd shall be her full share out of my Estate.

Item.  I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Hepzibah Taplin six pounds lawful money to be paid by my Executor which with what she has already rec'd shall be her full share out of my Estate.

Item.  I give and Bequeath to my Grand Daughter Persis the wife of Ithamar Biglow Six Shillings Lawful Money to be paid her by my Executor which with what she has already had out of my Estate shall be her part in full.

Item.  I give and Bequeath to my Grand Daughter Patty the wife of Hezekiah Fay jun'r one Feather Bed and Beding, one Chest with Drawers and Round Table Six Black Chairs with one third part of my Pewter, one Iron pot, one Brass Kittle midde Size, one pair of Hand Irons, one pair of Fire Tongs and Peal, one Tramel, one Linnen Wheel, one Woollen Wheel, and one Small looking Glass all which shall be her full share or portion out of my Estate.

Item.  I give and Bequeath to my Grandson Nathan Taplin one good Cow to be delivered to him by my Executor which shall be his full share out of my Estate.

Item.  I give and Bequeath to my Grand Son Elisha Taplin one pair of yearling Steers which shall be his full part out of my Estate and to be delivered to him by my Executor.

Item.  I give and Bequeath to my Son Elijah Brigham all the residue ofmy Lands and Buildings that I shall ^die^ Seized of lying in the Town of Southborough ????? ???? ?????????? ???? ??? ????? Residue of my Personal Estate of every Name or Denomination whatsoever also my Pew in the Meeting House and one Quarter part of my wearing apparel   with my great Bible, and all other of my Estate that can or may be found after my decease and not already disposed of by this Will, to be to him and his Heirs and assigns forever, accept the rest of my Books which are equally to be divided among my Children.

Lastly I do hereby Constitute make and Ordain my Son Elijah Brigham the Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament Ratifying & Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly Disallow and Revoke all other Wills and  bequests by me made and Executors by me appointed and in Confirmation of this and no other I  have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the day and year first written. 
                                                                        Nathan Brigham
Signed Sealed published & pronounced
and declared by the Testator to be his
last Will and Testament in presence
of us.
   Luther Newton
   Erasmus Ward   sworn   }     Bond
   Solomon Ward   sworn  }    Approved by the Hon'd Judge of Probate
5)  SOURCES

1. W. I. Tyler Brigham (Emma E. Brigham, editor), The History of the Brigham Family, A Record of Several Thousand Descendants of Thomas Brigham the Emigrant, 1603-1653 (New York City : The Grafton Press, 1907), page 97, #22 Lieut. Nathan Brigham family sketch.

2. Franklin P. Rice (editor), Vital Records of Marlborough, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849  (Boston, Mass. : Franklin P. Rice ,1908), Births, page 44, Nathan Brigham birth entry, 28 November 1693, son of Nathan and Elizabeth.

3. Find A Grave, indexed database and digital image,  (http://www.findagrave.com), Old Burial Ground. Southborough, Mass., Nathan Brigham memorial #78720298.

4. Franklin P. Rice (editor), Vital Records of Marlborough, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849, Marriages, page 232, Nathan Brigham and Dina Rice marriage entry, 1717.

5. "Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986," digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 27 January 2022), Worcester County > Deeds, 1737-1739, Vol. 10, pages 447-448 (images 262-263 of 309), Deed of Nathan Brigham to Nathan Brigham, executed 5 April 1733, recorded 6 February 1738/9;  citing original records in County Courthouses, and on FHL Microfilms.

6. Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Probate case files, Packet #2,687 Nathan Brigham of Marlborough, 1746 (12 pages); "Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871," indexed database and digital images, New England Historical and Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (https://www.AmericanAncestors.org : accessed 3 May 2020).

7. Systematic Historic Fund, Vital Records of Southborough, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Mass.: Franklin P. Rice, 1903), Marriages, page 98, Nathan Brigham and Mrs. Martha Brigham, 6 February 1750/1.

8. "Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986," digital images, FamilySearch, accessed 27 January 2022), Worcester County > Deeds, 1754-1756, Vol. 35-36, Volume 35, page A245, Deed of Nathan Brigham to Moses Brigham, executed 7 February 1754, recorded 23 August 1754.

9. "Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986," digital images, FamilySearch, accessed 27 January 2022), Worcester County > Deeds, 1756-1758, Vol. 37-38, Volume 38, page 100, Deed of Nathan Brigham to Moses Brigham, executed 7 June 1756, recorded 22 September 1756.

10. Systematic Historic Fund, Vital Records of Southborough, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849, Deaths, page 159, Lieut. Nathan Brigham death entry, 1784.

11. Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate case files, Packet #7,414 Nathan Brigham of Southborough, 1784 (11 images); "Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881," digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (http://www.AmericanAncestors.org : accessed 3 May 2020).

NOTE:  This genealogical sketch is out of Ahnentafel order because I found new information linking Sophia Newton to her birth father, Lambert Brigham.  

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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 2022 for a ninth year to 468 Ancestors in 468 Weeks. The (incomplete) 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.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2022/02/52-ancestors-week-420-304-nathan.html

Copyright (c) 2022, Randall J. Seaver

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