TOP S FIE LD MAS S - Forgotten Books€¦ · 2 THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. establish the fact...
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Transcript of TOP S FIE LD MAS S - Forgotten Books€¦ · 2 THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. establish the fact...
B O A R DMAN FAM I L Y
— I N
TOP S F IE LD , MAS S .
BY MISS H . ROSA TOWNE
FROM my: Tovsnmm H ISTORICAL C OLLE CTIONS , V OL& M E V III .
P&BLISH ED BY
TH E TOP SFIELD H ISTORICAL SOC IETY
TOP SFIELD,MASS .
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD .
BY MISS H . ROSA TOWNE .
Among the emigrantsmenti on ed i n th e early reco rds o f Ip sw i c h , there were two bear i n g the su rname Boreman . Thomasseems to have b een th e fi rst to com e , and he made h i s p e rm anent home there , becom i ng the ances to r o f th e Boa rdmansi n th i s v i c i n i ty . In a few years he was fo l lowed by Samue l ,who made a short s tay i n Ip swi ch , and fina l ly settled i n Wethersfie ld , Connect i cu t .The re lat i o n these two men bore to e ach o the r , and th e
p lac e i n the mother cou ntry from wh i ch th ey cam e to makethe i r homes on th ese shores , have recen tly b een fou nd byone& of the desce ndan ts of Samu e l , who went to E ngland forth i s p u rpose .
Samu e l had rece i ved a lette r from h i s mo the r i n Englandsoon a fter h i s se tt l emen t i n We thersfie ld , and th i s had b eenp rese rved as a sacred re l ic ,
'
and handed down from on e genc ra t i on of h i s d esc endan ts to anoth er u n to the p resen t d ay .
Th is l e tte r h ad become somewhat ob l i te rated by age , andon ly the last l etters of th e nam e o f the town co u ld be dec iph ered , bu t th i s gave a c lu e , by wh ich , afte r m uch wo rkand troub l e , the p lace was fou nd .
I t was l earned that Thomas and Samue l we re cous i n s , andthe i r home i n Engl and was C l aydo n , s i tu ated i n the northe rnpart o f the Cou n ty of Ox ford .
The fi rs t kn own ances tor of Thomas and Samue l i s Wi l l i amBoreman , who was l i v i n g , 1 5 2 5 , i n Banb u ry , a n impo rtan tp lace a f ew mi l es so u th o f C laydon , as m any th i n gs seem to
‘See BoardmanGenealogybyMissCharlotte Goldthwa i te.
(I&
2 THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD .
estab l i sh the fac t tha t Thomas Boreman the i r great—g randfath er was h i s son . Thomas Bo reman se ttled i n C laydo nand h is s on Wi l l i am was the i r grand father .The h i sto ry o f C laydon i s c l ose ly conn ected wi th that of
Banbu ry,wh i ch , w i th the su rro u nd i ng regi o n , i s a ve ry i n te r
esti ng p l ac e to know abou t for many reaso ns . F i rst o f a l l , i ti s th e p lace so noted i n nu rse ry rhymes , and what ch i l d hasnot been made fami l i a r w i th the j i n gle , “R id e a cock—horse toBanbu ry C ro ss , To see a fin e lady u po n a wh i te ho rs e , etc .
How many ever thought that Banbu ry was a “ rea l ly , tru lypl ace ,
” as the ch i ld ren say , with i ts rea l “C ross ,” and i ts
“Cakeshop , wh i ch they v i s i t “To see what Tommy c an buy .
Accord i ng to the h isto r i an , a l l th e Tommys from that faraway p eri o d u nt i l now cou ld have the p r i v i lege of go i ng tothat cakeshop wi th the i r pen n i es to b uy the mu ch -p r i z edcakes , for he says ,
“The fame of Banbury c akes has cont i nu ed to th e p resen t day ; a sh op , wh ich i s c ons id ered the o r i gi n a l cakeshOp , i s s t i l l i n ex i stence , and the cakes are p robb ly made i n much the same way,
” etc .
Banbu ry was the market town of the su r round i n g co untry,
and the noted Banbu ry C ross s tood i n the market-p lace o fthe town . The anc i ent c ross was taken down d u r i ng the re i gnof Q ueen E l i z abeth , bu t was a fterwards res tored and may beseen there at the p resen t t ime .
Th i s regi on was noted for i ts assoc i at ion w i th h i stor i c cha racters. Dr . Frankl i n
’s father l i ved i n Banbu ry , and i t wasfrom th i s p l ace that h e em igrated to New England i n 1 682 .
A l i ttle to the northeast i n Warwi cksh i re , i s Stratfo rd -ouAvon , the b i rthp l ace of Shakespea re , and a few mi l es easti n Northampton sh i re , was the home of George Wash ington
’ sfam i ly . The mano r ho us e whe re h i s an c estors l i ved i s the re ,and ove r i ts doo r i s the Wash i ngton Co at of A rms from wh ichou r s ta rs and str i pe s o rigi n ated . A few mi les to the no rthi n Warwi cksh i re i s Warwick Castle , the seat of Lord Brooke ,and j ust south of Banbu ry i s Brou ghto n Castl e , the seat ofLord Say and Seal , who was one o f the most i n&u en ti al menof h i s t ime . Lord Say and Lord Brooke are i n te resti n g cha rac ters to u s bec au se of the i r c onnec ti on wi th ou r col o n i a lh i s tory , be i ng i nstrumenta l i n fo und i ng the town wh i ch bearsthe i r comb i ned names , Saybrook , Co nn ;
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD . 3
TH OMAS BOREMAN was bap t i z ed i n C laydon, England , O c t .1 8 , 1 60 1 . The fam i ly name was or ig i na l ly sp e l l ed Bowre
man , and Lowe r , i n h i s D i c t i on ary of Engl i sh Fami ly Names ,says i t was p robab ly der i ved from an An glo Saxon wo rdmean i ng bower o r bedchamber , thu s s i gn i fy i n g that thebearer was a “Chamberla i n of some great feu da l ho u sehol d ,o r o n e who was admi tted to the p ri vate ap artments andco u nc i l s of the Lord .
” The name has s i n c e b een var i o u s lysp e l l ed , bu t i n th i s coun try i t se ems to have fol l owed th e regula r grad at i on o f Boreman , Borman , Bordman , and Bo ardman .
The p lace and date of th e marr i age of Thomas Bo reman ,and the fami ly n ame o f h i s w i fe M argaret , are not g i ven , andth e exact date o f h i s comi n g to New Engl and i s n ot known .
The record s say he was made freeman by the Gen era l Cou rtof M ass achusetts i n 1 634
-
5 . Hi s fi rst gran t o f land i n I psw i ch was re co rded i n 1 63 5 . H i s fi rs t hou se was bu i l t o nH igh Street now c al l ed East Street , and h i s n ear n e i ghbo rwas John Wi nth rop , j r . , son of th e Governo r , and l e ade r o f th eIp sw i ch Col ony . I n cou rse o f t ime h e came i n to po ssess i o no f several p i eces o f l and .
He so ld h i s hou se on H igh Street i n 1 647 , and spen t thec l os i ng years o f h i s l i fe on h i s farm , an i s land sti l l c a l led byh i s n ame , Boardman
's Is l and , as i s a l s o the s treet and br i dgel ead i ng to i t . The fa rm i s thu s d escri b ed —“AnI s l and abou tfi fty and five a c res of med ow and up land , bou nded on then o rth and no rtheast by th e Town R i ve r , and on the east bya c reek , part i n g i t and an I s l and bel ongi n g to John Perk i nsthe E lde r , and o n the sou th a p
’
sel l of Land formerly gran tedto George Carr , and on the west th e grea t c reek c a l l edLabo u r i n vayn e .
Bes id es th e “medow and up l an d the re was a sa l t marshand thatch grou nd , so ca l led from the ru sh es th at grew theres u i tab le fo r thatch i n g hou ses . Prov i s i on was made by theGenera l Cou rt that certa i n su ch grou nds shou ld “be for theu se o f the who l e town . to b e imp roved fo r thatch i n g houses”
The ear ly dwe l l i n gs we re roo fed wi th thatch l i k e those l eft i nth e ol d homes i n Engl and , and wh i ch may be see n theretodav i n many p la c es .
4 THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TO PSFIELD .
Thomas Boreman he ld o ffi ces of trus t , and h i s‘pos i t i on i n
the commun i ty may be gath ered from the fac t that he i su n i form ly spoken o f as M r . Boreman , and h i s w i fe as M“ orM i s tress
,terms of d i st i nct i o n app l i ed to bu t few i n those
days . Some i dea of h i s stand i ng wi th regard to th e val u e ofh i s p roperty i s shown by the d iv i s i o n of Pl um I s l and , Apr .10 , 1666 ,
among the 203 commone rs . A l l , whose cou ntryrate d i d not exceed 6 s . 8 d we re to rece ive a s i n gle share ,and 105 rece ived s i ngle shares ; al l , not ex c eed i n g 1 6 s ashare and a half, and 70 rece ived such ; those above 1 6 s. ,
together wi th magi s trates , e lders , M essers John Rogers (them i n i s ter&and Thomas And rews (the schoo lmaster&a doub l eshare
,and there were 28 to rece i ve th em , Thomas Boreman
stand i n g No . 4 on the l i st . He d i ed i n May , 1673 , leavi n g awi l l . M rs . M argaret Bo reman , th e wid ow , d i ed Nov . 2 5 ,1 679 , a l so leav i ng a wi l l .Ch i ldren of Thomas and M argaret Boreman
2 . MARY , 111 . Robert K i nsman , j r., b . 1629. H e was one of th e six
menrenowned i n the h i story of Ipswi ch , who, Aug. 27, 1687,voted that Andros had no righ t to tax the people wi thou t th econsent o f the General Cou rt , for wh i ch theywere fined andimpri soned twenty-one days by Andros . On h i s tombstonei s i nscribed ,—“H e re l i eth the body of Q uarte r Maste r Robert K i nsman who d i ed February ye 19, 1 7 1 2 , aged 83 years .
”
H e was by trade a glazi e r. H is wi l l speaks of ch i ldren Josaph , Robert, Thomas (deceased&, Tobi jah , M ary, Sarah Perk i ns , Joanna, M argare t and Eu ni ce Bu rnham.
3 . DAN IEL, b . 1639.
4. MARTHA , b . 1641 m. Ju ly 4, 1660, D ea. Thomas Low, b. 163 2 , atChebacco Pari sh , I pswi ch , “malster .
” H i s wi l l ment ionsch i ldren : Jonathan , Samu el , Davi d , Martha Dodge , JoannaD odge , Sarah Low and Abigai l Goodhu e . The i nscript i onsupon tombstone s at Es sex read : “He re lye s ye body of Mr8 ~
M arth a Low wi f e to Deacon Thomas Low decd Jan&v ye1 720 i n ye 79 year of h e r age .
” “He re lye s ye body of Mr
Thomas Low D eacon whodi ed Apri l ye 1 2 1 7 1 2 aged 80 years .“Asyou are sowere weAswe are you sh a l l be&
5 . THOMAS , b . 1643 ; 111. Jan . 1 , 1667-8 , E l i zabe th , b . Apr . 1 , 1650 , d .
D ec . 4, 1 7 18 , daughte r o f Sargent Jacob P erk ins . H e d i edOct . 3 , 1 7 19. Ch i ldren : Thomas , b . Aug. 8 , 1669, 111 . SarahLangley ; Jacob , b . June 10, 167 1 , m. 1699, Martha, wi dow ofJohn Rogers ; John , b . M arch 1 8, 1672-3 , no fu rther re cord ;Offin, b. D e c. 3 , 1 676, m. Feb . 28, 1698, Sarah H eard ; Margare t , b . Apr . 5 , 168 1 , m. 1 703 , Thomas Bu rnam; E l i zabeth ,b. Nov. 9, 1686, m. Jed id iah Ti t tcomb.
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD . 5
6. JOANNA,b . 1649 ; 111. Jan . 29, 1672 , I saac , son o f Wi l l i amFel lows .
Sh e d i ed M ar . 22, 1 73 2 . Th ey had ch i ldre n : I saa c , Samu el ,Ephraim
,Jonathan and Joanna.
3
DANIEL BORMAN , born at Ip swi ch i n 1 639 , marr i ed Ap r .1 2 , 1 662 , Hannah , bo rn Jan . 20 , 1639 , d aughte r of R i chard andA l i c e (Bosworth&Hu tch i n son who “em i grated to New Engl a nd abo u t 1 63 5 and settled i n Sa lem , own i ng land a ls o n earH athorne ’ s H i l l , Beaver Dam Brook ,
” n ow a part of Danvers .Her l i n eage can be traced back to Barnard Hutch i n so n , E sq . ,
Cowl am , Co u nty of York , Engl and , l i v i n g i n 1 282 . TheHutch i n son fam i ly of s i n gers were desc endants of her b rothe r .A t the d ate of h i smarr i age i n 1 662 . accord i n g to the reco rds ,“Thomas Boreman gave i n wr igh t ing to h i s son n Dan i e l theo n e halfe of h i s dwe l l i ng—hou se , ba rnes , o u thou ses , orchyards,u p l and and meddows, with a l l th e p r iv i l eges and appu rtenan
c es , to b e presen tly po ssessed and en j oyed , &c . . &c .
” Dani e l afte rwards dec i ded to s ettl e i n Topsfie ld , and acc ord i nglyconveyed back to h i s father a l l r i gh t to the home farm i nI psw i ch , for £22 5 , by a wri tten agreement wh i ch was datedSep t . 27 , 1 66 5 . In De c ember of the s ame year , fo r £3 1 5 ,he bought o f Wi l l i am Evan s , a p lan te r , and Agnes h i s w i fe ,a farm of 200 ac res , w i th dwe l l i ng s , &c . , s i tu ated i n the townof Topsfie ld .
Th is fa rm was “bou nded on the s ou th- eas t by l and of Joh nMigh i l l , wh i ch he had bought of Wi l l i am Evan s ; on the sou thby l and of Wi l l i am Avery , wh i c h he had bought o f Dan i e lC l a rke ; o n the north by land of I saac Cumm ings , wh i ch hehad bought o f Wi l l i am Evans ; on the north-west by land ofSargen t Peabody , and the c owpen wh i c h he bo ught ofEvans .” Th i s cowpen . co nta i n i n g abo u t an acre and bough tby F ranc i s Pebody to en l arge h i s m i l l l ot , was rese rved f romthe land so ld to Dan i e l Borman by Evans for that p u rpose .
I t wou ld seem , f rom the cowpen be i n g s o n ear th e m i l l ,that th e dwe l l i n g-hou s e of Evans , also , must have been s i tuated not far from that p lace . I t was p robab ly over th e o l dce l l a r-hol e i n th e back pas tu re , and was po in ted ou t to me i nmy ch i ldho od by my au nts . I t was near the corner , where ,every year w i th i n the remembrance o f my mother
’ s fam i ly ,
the whi te , fragran t daffod i l s have c ome up and b l ossomed
6 TH E BOARDMAN FAM I LY IN TOPSFIELD .
u nder the bushes . The daffod i l i s a n at i ve o f Engl and . andI have no doubt that the b u lbs we re b rou ght ove r here wi thother fam i ly treasu res , and we re made a p art o f the fi rs t garden of the househo ld . H ow mu ch the swee t &owers mu sthave been p r i zed by them i n the i r l one l i n ess , separated asthey were from the dea r ones over the sea &There was st i l l another p lace a short d i s tance f rom th i s
spot, wh i ch gave greater ev idence of o nce be in g a ce l lar , and
we have been to ld that an I nd i an fam i ly had l i ved i n the o ldhouse s tand i ng there . On e o f the Bo rdman w i ves had beenvery k ind to the fam i ly , giv i ng themfo od , c l oth i ng , etc . , andthe squ aw , des i ro u s of showi ng he r app rec i at i on and ofmak i ng some l i tt le retu rn f or the k i nd ness rende red , i nv i tedthe good w i f e on e day to d i n e w i th her . Knowi n g theI nd i an character and no t dar i n g to brave the i r d i sp l easu re ,she ac c epted the i nv i tat i o n and went w i th many m isg iv i ngs ,hop in g to find some excuse to get away be fore the t ime ofthe feast . After a l i tt l e chat , th e squ aw l i fted the l id o f thebo i l i ng po t to see how the d i nner was p rogress i n g . A woodchu ck had been c aught and p l u n ged i n to the bo i l i ng water i ni ts n atu ra l cond i t i on , fu r and a l l , the s i ght o f wh i ch so affectedthe gu est that , withou t anv qu ibb l i n g , sh e cou ld p l ead th eexcu se o f not feel i n g very we l l and make a hasty retreat .The large tract of 200 ac res o r more bought by Dan i e l
,
has been var i ou sly d iv i ded and d i sposed of to d i fferent part i es
,but th e boundary today may be given i n genera l te rms
as fol lows z—Begi n n in g at the b r idge n ear the tu rnp ike , i twas bou nded by the m i l l l o t , the m i l l p ond , then t he l ongstretch of wal l to the tu rnp ik e , sepa rat i ng i t from I . B . Young ’ sland , formerlv F ranc i s Pebody
’
s, th i s wal l con t in u ing i nfo rmer t imes runn i ng abou t north-east , to the o l d Ipsw i c hroad , the north schoo l -house ro ad , part of Aver i l l
’s land,the
ro ad by Donaldson ’s p l ace , then tu rn i ng , i t takes i n a h i l lc overed w i th fores t tre es , a long stretch o f mead ow , and thefront fie l d to the tu rn p ike aga i n . I t to ok i n , bes id es , th el and now owned by M i s s Hatti e Porter , by Ben j am i n C . Dodd ,by Dan ie l Conant , the fie ld ad jo i n i ng , now bel onging toFred Sme rage , and stretch i ng back from these to the top ofGreat H i l l . I t a lso took i n a part o f the l and own ed by thelate George H . Pevear . The “mi l l path ,
” as the fi rs t road
THE BOARDMAN FAM I LY IN TOPSFIELD . 7
was ca l led , c u t off a str ip o f land wh i ch was left ad j o i n i ng theland o f F ranc i s Pebody, now the Pevear es tate . Apr i l I ,1 794 , Dan i e l Bordman , the great-grandson of Dan i e l Bo rman , th e fi rst s e tt l e r , so ld th i s s tr ip to Jacob Peabody , th egreat -grand so n of F ran c i s Pebody. J . Wa ldo Towne camei nto p osses s i on of a part of Ja cob Peabody ’ s es tate , and i n1 846 had the o l d Peabody house taken down , bu i l d i ng th ep resen t ho use i n 1 847 up on the c orn er o f th e Bo rman str i pof l and . Thu s i t wi l l b e see n that a l l th e hou ses i n Sp r i ngv i l le except “ th e o ld Perley hou se , on “Wi l l i am Avery ’ sl and ,
” have been bu i l t up o n the or i g in al Borman farm ; namely, th e Borman hou se , now owned by the he i rs of B . B . Towne ,and the houses owned by M i ss H att i e Porte r , Ben j ami n C .
Dodd , Dan i e l Co nant , the late Geo rge H . Pevear , and the lateE lmore J ohnson . Bes id es thes e a re the houses o f A l b e rt H .
Davi son , and the late M rs . Mar i a J an e Hobbs , maki n g e i ghti n a l l .At th e begi n n i ng of the year 1 803 , the Legi s latu re i ncor
porated a tu rnp ik e from Newbu ryp o rt to Che lsea Br idge ,wh i ch passed through a part of the Borman Estate . Thi swi th the “m i l l—paths ,
” s o ca l led , cu t off th ree o r fou r smal lp ieces of l and f rom the main estate , wh ich were afte rwa rdss o ld and o n wh i ch some of the dwel l i ng-houses I have ment ioned were bu i l t .On J u ne 2 3 , 1 68 1 , Dan i e l Borman so ld to Tob i j ah Perk i ns ,
son of Rev . Wi l l i am Perk i ns , the “ northeas t en d o f h i s farm ,
co nta i n i ng 40 ac res more or less , bo u nded on the north bythe l and of Tob i j ah Pe rk i n s , wh i ch he bo ugh t o f I saac Cummi n gs , (now owned by M i s s M ary T . Rob in son&; on theno rthwest by the land of L i e u t . Fran c i s Pebody ; on thesou theast by land of Ens i gn Thomas How l e tt ; on the sou thby l and of Dan i e l Bo rman afo resa i d ; excep t i ng a h i ghwayfo r sa i d Borman and h i s s uccessors to p ass through toIpswi ch” .
The fi rst m en t ion of D an i e l ’s n ame i n the town records i sthe fol low i n g — “At a Law fu l l Town e meeti ng the 19 of March1 666-
7 Thomas p erk i n s f f ranc is pebody and John Gou ld a reCho sen to Vew and a gree w i th Dan i e l&Borman fo r a h i e waybe twene Wi l l i am Au r ie l l house and th e m i l l th row h i s grou ndas they sha l l s ee mo st Conuenyant . Voted .
8 THE BOARDMAN FAM ILY IN TOPSFIELD .
A t a Lawfu l l Towne meeti ng ye 8 of Apriel l 1 667 TheTowne hath granted L i b erty to Wi l l i am Au r iel l and Dan i e l lBorman to make a dame at th e m i le b roo ke a rod and ahalfe aboue the b ridge to &oat there medow prou ided i t b eno damage to the Towne . Voted .
”
Concern i ng the road , we fi nd reco rd ,—“At a Lawf u l lTowne meeti ng ye 3 of Jenewary 1670 L i e u t ffrainc is pebodyEns i gne John Gou ld and Thomas perk i n s b e i ng Chosen byye Towne to Lay ou t a h i ghway through p art of Wi l l i amAueriel l Land and through p art o f Dan i e l l Borman Land tothe Northward s i de of M r . p erk i n s h i s home ffe i l d hau eaccord i ngly do n i t ye Which h ighway i s La id o u t from theVpper end o f Wi l l i am Au erie l l o rchard one rod and a ha l fewide to ye afo re sa i d no rthward s id e o f M r . pe rk i ns h i s fe i l dand so th rough Dan i e l l Borman Land one ye no rthwa rd S id
o f M r . perk i n s ffe i l d to the fo rmer h i ghway aga ine . A partof th i s h i ghway or m i l l path i s now ca l l ed “The laneDan i e l Borman he ld town o ffi ces as t i th i ng man , “ fen c e
vewer”
,
“Commi ty “Soruau re of h iwaes” , and se lec tmanfrom 1 668 to 1 673 . He and h i s w i fe p robab ly u n i ted wi ththe Chu rch soon afte r comi n g to Topsfie ld . He d i ed Ap r .
Ch i ld ren of Dan i e l and Hannah Borman
7. JOSEPH , b . i n Ipswi ch,bet . 1662 and 1666.
8 . MARY , b . i n Ipswi ch , m. Jan . 23 , 1 705-6, Ebeneze r, son of Abra
hamand Lydi a (Bu rbank&Foste r and l i ved i n Rowl ey. Ch i ldren : Jemima ; Ru th , m. Jacob Wilde s and l i ved i n Kennebu nk , M e .; Moses , m. Hannah Andrews .
9. NATHAN IEL, b. i n Ipswi ch , be t . 1662 and 1666.
1 0 . THOMAS , b . i n Topsfiel d , Ju ly 1 5 , 1666. Of h imnoth ing de fi ni tei s known u nle ss the fol lowi ng re cord i n the “Book of EasternC laims” has re ference to h im, wh i ch seems probable .
“Thomas Bordman,I pswi ch , claimed Two Hu ndred Acre s of
Land,part upland , part meadow,
lyi ng wi th i n th e bounds ofye townsh ip of Cape Porpas, ly i ng near to ye dese rts and adjacent to some of M ajor Phi l l i ps , h is land granted h imby yeM ajor part of ye I nhabi tants of said Town at a l egal mee t ingM ay ye 8
th 1688 , as per i nstrument atte sted by P en of yeprinC1pal I nhabi tants o f sai d Town then on y° sd 8th of M ay ,1 688 , subscribed .
” Anothe r re cord gi ve s h i s age at that dateas 22 years
, wh i ch wou ld be ju st the age of Thomas , whowasborn i n 1 666. Th e only othe r Thomas , grand-son o f the emigrant Thomas , wou ld be too young, as he was born i n 1 669.
That i t speaks of h imas “Thomas Bordman, Ipswi ch ,”migh t
THE BOARDMAN FAM I LY IN TOPSFIELD . 9
be mi s l ead ing, bu t th e marri age of h i s younger s i s te r i s re
corded,
“Hannah Bordman , Ipswi ch .
”
HANNAH,b . i n TOpsfield , Feb . 1 8 , 1670 ; m. E l eaze r
,son of John
and Rebe cca (P ri nce& Pu tnam of Salem Vi l lage ; l i ved i nTopsfield unt i l a fte r the bi rth of two or th ree ch i ldren andthen removed to SalemV i l l age . Ch i ldren : H annah ,m. D ea .
Nath an P eabody ; E l eaze r, m. M rs . Hannah (Wi ll i ams&B i l li ngs of Groton , Conn . ; Sarah ; Jeptha, m. Ist
,Ru th Fu l l e r,
zud , M rs . Ru th Raymond of Beverly ; Joseph ; Samu el , m.
E l i zabeth Pu tnam.
Hannah d . and E l eazer 111 . zud , E l i zabeth Rol fe o fNewbu ry, s i s te r of th e wi f e o f Nathani el Bordman and hadH enry
,m. H annah Apph iah , m. _IS t , John Porte r o f
Sal emVi l lage , 2nd , A sa P erl ey of Boxford .
M ary C . Endi cott , w i f e o f the Hon . Joseph Chamberlai n ,Coloni al S e cre tary o f England , i s a des cendant of E l eaze r andHannah (Bordman&Pu tnamthrough the i r 5 011 Samu e l .
WA IT JOHN,b . Aug. 23 , 1676, i n Topsfie ld ; s tyled “John i n af
te r years .DAVID
,b . June 2 1
,1 682 , i n TOpsfield ; unm; d . Feb . 1 , 1 724, at
P re ston , Conn .
JONATHAN,b . June 2 1 , 1682 , i n Topsfield ; unm.; d . Oct . 3 , 1 723 ,
at TOpsfie ld.
7
JOSEPH BORDMAN , bo rn i n Ip sw i ch between 1 662 and1 666 , marr i ed , Feb . 1 7 , 1 696
-
7 , Pruden ce , born M ay 2 3 ,
1 67 5 , daughte r of I s aac and Hannah (Down i n g&Fo ster . Here c e i ved of h i s father the tract of l and ly i ng between the p artso l d to Tob i jah Pe rk i ns an d th e p art res e rved fo r the homestead . The house inwh ich J o seph l i ved was p robab ly bu i l tfor h i m at the t i me of h i s marr i age , and was th e one wh i chwas bu rned a f ew years ago . A ro adway was made by trave lf rom h i s father ’ s hou s e to h i s , wi th gates to be o pened wherei t l ed from one p i ece of land to anothe r , as was the cu stomi n the o ld Engl i sh homes , bu t there we re no p retty greenhedges to separate the fie ld s , as were u sed i n Engl and i ns teadof wa l ls and fen c es . Th is ro adway , wi th some l i tt l e a l te rat i o n ,
’
was made a co u nty ro ad i n 1 8 5 7 , thu s render i ng a mored i rec t rou te to Ip sw i ch .
J oseph served the town as cunstabl e , treasu re r , serueyer
o f h i ghways ,”
and was se le c tman i n 1 7 1 5 . He,wi th w i f e
Prudence , un i ted w i th the chu rch i n Topsfie ld ,Apr . 2 5 ,
1 708 . He d i ed M ay 1 8 , 1 73 7 . H is widow d i ed O c t .
1 0 THE BOARDMAN FAM I LY IN TOPSFIELD .
Con ce rn i ng the d i sp osal o f h is p roperty we find the fol l owi ng record —Nov . 1 3 , 1 734 ,
“ I , Jo seph Bordman (fo r £200i f demanded&give to mv two dau ghters , Ab iga i l Cummi ngsand Hannah Pe rk i ns, al l my estate rea l and persona l wh i ch i sn ot o therw i s e d i sposed of at my and my p resent w i fe
’s d ec ease .
In 1 742 , h i s w i d ow Pruden c e and two dau ghte rs so l d thep lace to E l i sh a Cummi ngs , sono f th e dau ghte r Ab iga i l . I n1 767 , E l i sha so ld i t to h i s b ro the r Pa lat iah . who i n tu rn , i n1 786 , so ld the same to a nephew , Rev . Joseph Cummings .I n 1 787 , he so ld i t to Dan i e l Towne , who had mar r i edHannah , daughter of Capt . J ohn Boardman l i v i ng at th eHomestead . In abou t a mo n th
,Dan i e l Town e so ld “ one ha lf
the farm w i th one hal f the bu i ld i ngs the reon and one hal f theou tlyi ng meadows , to Asa Perk i n s , the grand -so n o f Ab iga i lCummi n gs , who had marr i ed Hannah Johnson o f L imer i ck ,M e . , the grand - daughte r o f Cap t . John Boardman . M r .
Humphrey Bal ch , a grand - son of Hannah , has re l ated o f hertha t wi thou t escort she rode to L im er i ck , M e . , ho rseba ck , i none day , carry i n g an i nfan t i n her a rms . Th is sto ry has s i ncebeen confi rmed by a re l at ive now l i v i ng i n Ma i n e . Whatlongi ngs must have fi l l ed he r heart fo r the o l d fam i l i ar facesand scenes o f her Ch i ldhood ’ s home , to go i n such a manner ,th rough l one ly spots and long stretches o f woods , w i th p erhaps o n ly a br id l e p ath be fo re her i n many p laces &Asa Pe rk i n s , the l ast o f the Borman descendan ts to l i ve
the re , d i ed i n 1 82 5 , and the p l a c e p assed i nto the hands ofstrangers . Jo shua Wi ldes and Stephen Bartl ett , who bo ughti t o f the he i rs o f Asa Perk i ns , held i t for many years , andafter the i r d eath i t was p u rchased by Jam es M ann i ng . I twas du r i n g h i s own ersh i p that the bu i l d i n gs we re bu rned on every co ld n i ght i n mi dwi n te r . O ne of the yo u nger daughte rswas so fr i ghtened that she cau ght u p a l i tt l e s i s te r i n her arm sand ran bare footed over the snow for n ear ly hal f a m i l e too ne o f the ne i ghbors , and at twe lve o
’c lock at n i gh t mad eknown the sad sto ry . A temporary shel te r was soo n con
stru cted , and i n t ime the p resen t ho u se was e re c ted ove r th eo ld ce l l a r . The he i rs o f James M ann i ng sol d th e estate toA l b ert Davi son , the p resent owner . He sold a smal l p i eceof l and to M rs . M . J . Hobbs , who had a hou se bu i l t upo n i t .
1 2 THE BOARDMAN FAM ILY IN TOPSFIELD .
In 1 73 6 ,the “year of an ep idemi c , the throat d i stemper ,
h e l ost h i s two ch i l d ren by death . Le ft w i thou t he i rs , h emu st h ave sen t to h i s brother J ohn , i n Conne c t i c u t , fo r oneof the son s to come and care fo r h im i n h i s o l d age , for h i sn ephew John i s fou nd l iv i n g here a fte r 1 744 by the reco rdedb i rths o f ch i ld ren , and th e homestead was gi ven to h im i nh i s unc l e ’s w i l l . Nathan i e l l i ved to be over 90 yea rs o f age .
In h i s w i l l he remembers mos t o f h i s ownand h i s wi fe ’s re l at i ons
, mak i ng abundan t p rov i s i o n , a l so , fo r h i s ho u sekeeperM rs . E l i z abeth Stephens . He al so g ives the “Chu rch i nTopsfie ld £5 . 63 . 8d . towards bu i ld i ng a new meet i ng—hou sep rovi ded they set i t i n the same p l a ce .
H is w i fe Ab iga i l u n i ted w i th the c hu rch Aug . 30 , 1 7 1 9 ,
and he , O c t . 29 , 1 749 . Ab i ga i l d i ed Aug . 1 1 , 1 749 . Hed i ed Mar . 7 , 1 7 5 8 ,
“an aged man .
W ILL OF NATHANIEL BORDMAN .
“ In the name o f God amen th e tenth day of November i nthe year o f our Lord on e thou sand seven hund red fi fty 81 s ix ,I Nathan ie l Bo rdman o f Topsfie l d i n the Co un ty o f Essex i nNew England , gentl eman , be in g o f per fe c t mi n d and memory ,thanks be given u nto A lm i ghty God there fo r , ca l l i ng to m i ndthe morta l i ty o f my body , 81 know i ng that i t i s appoi n ted fo rmenon c e to d i e , do make 81 o rda i n th i s my l a st Wi l l 81 Testamen t , that i s to s ay p r i n c i p a l ly 81 fi rst o f al l , I give andrecommend my So u l i n to the Hands Of God that gave i t ,hop i ng th rough th e me r i ts , death 81 pass i on o f my Sav i o rJ esu s Chr i st to have fu l l 81 f ree pardo n of al l my s i ns , andto i nher i t Ever l ast i ng L i fe ; and my body I commi t to theE ar th to be decent ly b u r i ed at the d i s c ret i o n Of myExecutors herea fter named , no th i ng doub t i ng bu t at the genera lResu rrec t i o n I shal l Rece i ve the s ame aga i n by the mi gh typower of God 81 as to u ch i ng su ch wor ld ly E state as i t hathp l eased A lm i ghty God to b l ess me wi th , I give dem ise andd ispo se of the same i n the fo l lowi ng manne r 81 form; that i sto say
“ Imp r imi s I give to the ch i l d ren o f my Daughter [ in- l aw&Martha Chapman deceast the sum o f two pounds th i rteensh i l l i n gs 81 fou r pen c e Law fu l l money to be equ a l ly d i v i d edamong themand to be pa id i n two years a fte r myDec ease .
THE BOARDMAN FAM ILY IN TOPSFIELD . I 3
I tem I gi ve to myCoz en Samue l Pu tnam o f Danve rs thes um of seven teen po u nds Lawfu l l money to be p a i d h i m i none year a fter my Decease .
“ I t em I gi v e u n to my Coz en J ephth ah Pu tnamo f Suttonthe Sum of two pou nds th i rteen sh i l l i ngs 81 fou r p enc e Lawfu l l money to be p a id h im i n two years afte r myDecease .
I tem I give u n to my Coz en Hen ry Putnam of Charlest onth e sum o f fou rteen p ounds s i x sh i l l i n gs 81 e i ght pen c e Lawfu l l m oney to b e pa id i n o ne year a fte r my Decease .
I tem I g ive un to M rs . E l i z ab eth Steph ens th e sum ofs ixteen pounds Law fu l l money to be pa i d i n one year a fte rmy De c ease and a l lso I give her the feathe r bed shee nowl i e s o n w i th su ffi c i en t c lothes fo r one bed , al lso a l i tt l e i ro np o tt 81 a l i ttl e i ro n kett le and a l lso a l i tt l e Sp i nn i ng whee l ,and a l lso a c hamber tab l e , and a l lso two pewte r platte rs , twop lates and two cha i rs , and al l so th e Hors e o r Ho rs e k i nd Isha l l b e owner o f at my Decease , w i th the fu rnituer be longi n gto sa i d h orse and two go od cows and s ix sheep , and hal f theCo rn both Ind i an 81 Engl i sh I shal l have i n my hou se or fi e ldat myDecease , together w i th on e hal f of my meat Bu tter 81Cheese , and ye o ne h a lf o f my l i v e swi ne , a l l the aboveA rt i c les to b e at h er ownd ispos e as sh ee sha l l see cau se , andshee to come i n to possess i o n o f the who l e , ex c ep t th e moneyimmed i ate ly after myDecease to gether w i th the on e ha lf ofthe cyder I shal l l eave at my decease , and my Wi l l i s th atmyExecu to rs herea fte r n amed sh a l l keep the aforesd l i vec reatu res o n the p l ace w i th good keep i n g fo r on e yea r a fte rmyDecease and i t i s to be u nderstood that the Bed C loth esabove ment i oned i s to be th e best co v er l i d 81 two bestb l ankets 81 two best sheets . I a l lso gi ve to M rs . E l i z abethS tephens the u se an d imp rovemen t o f th e West l owe r roomi n my Dwe l l i n g Hou se w i th a p r i v i l ege fo r h er b ed i n th eE ast Chamber and suffi c i e n t ce l l a r Room fo r her own u sefor fou r yea rs afte r my decease , and five co rds o f woo d fo rher fier Ready cutt and b rou gh t to the door as shee sha l ln eed the same fo r the above sa i d years , th e abovesd M rs .
E l i z abeth Stephen s b e i ng 81 for some t ime hath been myHouse-keeper , for wh i ch Reason I have gi ve n her what i sabove exp ressed . I a l lso give her the u nder bed 81 bol ster81 two p i l l ers 81 two p i l le r c ases b e longi ng to sa i d Bed .
14 THE BOARDMAN FAM ILY IN TOPSFIELD .
I tem I give u nto my couzenE l i j ah Bordman o f Prestonthe sumo f s ix p ou nds th i rtee n sh i l l i n gs 81 fou r p en c e Lawfu l lmoney to be pa i d h im i n two years a fter my decease .
“ I tem I give u n to my CouzenJoseph Bordman the sumof one pound s i x sh i l l i n gs 81 e ight penc e Lawfu l l money tobe p aid u nto h im two years afte r my de c ease .
“ I tem I give u n to the re l at i ons of myw i fe l ate ly deceastas fol l oweth Vi zTo ch i ld ren o f Hen ry Ro lfe Esq . i n Newbu ry deceast th e
sumof th ree pounds Lawfu l l money and“To ch i l d ren o f E l i z ab eth Pu tnam deceast Viz— to Hen ry
Putn am81 Apph iah Porte r two p ounds Lawfu l l money equal lyb etween them81
“To my s i s te r i n Law M rs . Dorothy Rol fe deceast herch i l d ren the sum o f th ree pounds Lawfu l l money to be equ al lyd iv ided b etween them81
“To Samu e l Ro l fe o f Newbu ry twenty sh i l l i n gs Lawfu l lmoney 81
“To M artha Ti tcomb the wi fe o f J o s i ah T i tcomb Of Newbu ry twenty sh i l l i n gs Lawfu l l money 81
“To Doro thy Green l eaf s i ster to M r . Samu e l Ro lfe ofNewbu ry twen ty sh i l l i n gs Lawfu l l mon ey 81
“To Cap t John Wh i pp l e of Ip swi ch twen ty sh i l l i n gs Lawfu l l money 81To Han nah Whipp le o f Ipswi ch twen ty sh i l l i ngs Lawf u l l
money a l l my aforesa id Wife ’ s Re l at i ons to be p ai d i n o neyear 81 a hal f a fte r my Decease .
“ I tem I give to the th ree yo ungest daugh te rs of myb rother J ohn Bo rdman o f Preston deceast as fo l l oweth Vi zTo M ary Wi l l i ams twen ty sh i l l i n gs Lawfu l l money and toEu n i c e Perk ins twenty s i x sh i l l i n gs 81 e i ght p enc e Lawfu l lmoney 81 one sheep and to Lo i s Cottere l l twenty sh i l l i ngsLawfu l l money to be pa id i n one year a fter my D ecease .
“I tem I give u n to the ch i l d ren of my brother JosephBordman late o f Topsfie ld deceast as fo l l oweth Viz To mycouzenHannah Perk i ns twen ty sh i l l i ngs Lawfu l l money andto my couzen Ab iga i l Comm ings twenty sh i l l i ngs Lawfu l lmoney- and to my Couzen M oses Foster twenty sh i l l i n gsLawfu l l money and to myCouzen-Ru th Wi ld es twenty sh i ll i ngs Lawfu l l money , al l th e l ast menti oned sums to be pa i di n two years a fte r myDecease .
THE BOARDMAN FAM I LY IN TOPSFIELD . IS
I tem I g i v e u nto th e Chu rch i n the Town of TOpsfie ldon e po u nd s i x sh i l l i n gs 81 e i ght p enc e Lawfu l l money to b ep a id in one year afte r my De c ease
“ I tem I gi ve u n to th e town o f Topsfie ld five po u nds s i xsh i l l i n gs 81 e i gh t p en ce Lawf u l l money towards bu i l d i n g anew meeti n g Hou se i n the Town fo r the Worsh i p o f Godp rovi d ed they sett i t i n the same p lac e where t he o l dmeet i n g House s tand s i n Topsfie l d to be pa i d hal f a yearafte r sd Hou se i s ra i sed .
“I tem I g ive to my cou zen J ohn Bordman i n Topsfie lda l l my l ands and mead ows 81 Bu i l d i ngs i n Topsfie ld a foresa id ,and a l l Lands o r M arsh i n Ipsw i ch or i n any o th er p lacewhere the same may be fou nd together w i th a l l the inst ruments fo r hu sband ry .
“ Item I give to J o hn Back who hath l i ved i n the ho u sesomet ime wi th me two po u nds Lawfu l l mo n ey or a goodcow, i n hal f a year a fter myDecease .
“ I tem I give u nto my Couzen N athan i e l Bordman afeath er Bed 81 bed c l othes co nven i en t fo r i t 81 al lso a twoyear Old he i fe r 81 one ha l f of mywear i n g c lo thes 81 one B ib l e .
“ I tem I g ive u n to my Couzen Hannah Putn am wife toHenry Pu tnam one s tee r a year o ld .
“ I tem I give u n to Jephthah Putn am Jonathan Ro lfeE l i j ah Bordman Jo seph Bo rdman Han nah Putn am wi fe toHen ry Pu tnam Eun i c e Perk i n s wife to Stephe n Perk i n sM o se s Foster Ru th Wi ld es wife to Jacob Wi ldes 81 to mycouzen s Ab iga i l Bordman and Hannah Perk i n s the w i fe ofJ acob Perk i n s 81 to M rs . E l i z ab eth Stephen s over and abovewhat I have al ready give n them a l l the rema i n i ng p art o f myEstate that i s a l ready or sha l l b e hereafter gi ve n away tob e equ a l ly d iv i ded among them.
“ I tem I give u n to my Couzen Samue l Pu tnam over 81above what I have a l ready gi ven h im my great B rass kettl e .
I tem I g ive u nto my Cou zen J ohn Bordman over andab ove what I have a l ready give n h im two th i rd parts o f th ec att le sheep that may b e l e ft at my Decease bes i d es what Ihave a l ready given away i n th i s Wi l l and a l lso half th e cornthat I sha l l l eave .
“I do hereby const i tu te 81 O rda i n the abovesa id J ohnBordman one of my execu to rs to th i s my Last Wi l l 81 Testa
1 6 THE BOARDMAN FAM ILY IN TOPSFIELD .
men t, who i s to pay and d i s charge a l l my debts 81 legac i es 81
fu nera l charges . I do al lso c onst i tu te appo i n tmyCouz ensSamue l Putn am and H en ry Pu tnammy other two Execu torsto see th i s my Last Wi l l and Testamen t fu lfi l l ed . And I dou tterly d i sa l l ow Revoke d isannu l l a l l 81 every othe r fo rmerw i l l s l egac i es 81 bequests by me he reto fore made Rat ifiyingconfi rm i ng th i s 81 n o other to b e my Last Wi l l and Testa
ment,i n wi tn ess whe reof I have hereu nto sett my Hand
Sea l the day year abovesa i d o r wr i tten .
“S igned sea led pub l i shed 81 Dec lared by the 5 d Nathan i e lBordman as h i s Last Wi l l Testament i n p resen c e o f u s thesubsc ri be rs
sd Tob i jah Perk i ns h i sDan i e l Gou ld Nathan i e l V7 Bordman [Seal&Thomas Baker mark
Ch i l d ren o f Nathan i e l and Ab iga i l
1 7. NATHAN IEL, b . Apr. 9, 1 7 1 1 ; 111. Apr . 1 , 1 736, Martha P erley ofIpswi ch . H e di ed Aug . 26, 1 736, and she 11 1. zud, JohnChapman , j r . and the i r ch i l dren were remembered i n the wi l lo f Nathani e l B ordman, fath e r of th e firs t hu sband .
1 8 . AB IGA IL , bapt. Sept . 5 , 1 7 14; (1. S ept . 1 3 , 1 736.
(WAIT& JOHN BOARDMAN , bo rn i n Topsfie ld , Aug . 2 3 ,1 676 , marr i ed M ay 4 , 1 7 1 3 , M ary , daughter o f Capt . Wi l l i amand Hannah B i l l i ngs o f Pre ston, Conn . The s tand i ng of thefam i ly may be le a rned from the fa c t that a b rother o f Ma ry ,Rev . Wi l l i am B i l l i ngs , was a graduate of Ya l e . Accord ingto the cu st om i n those days , th e n ames o f the c l ass were giveni n the o rder correspond i ng to the rank of the i r fami l i es .Wi l l i amB i l l i ngs stood th i rd i n the l i s t . Jonathan Edwards ,the n oted theo l ogi an , was a c lassmate and he ranked fi fth .
F rom the re co rds o f Preston we learn that Dav i d Borman ,John ’ s yo unge r b ro ther , was the fi rst of the name to ap peari n the town , buyi ng land there i n 1 703 . In 1 7 1 5 , he so ld h i sfi rst p u rchase , and go i ng north abou t a mi l e , he bo ughtaga i n , 140 acres fo r £200 , and he re he d i ed u nmarr i ed i n1 724 , o n ly fou r mon ths a fter the d eath i n Topsfie ld o f h i stwi n bro ther Jonathan . Th i s homestead i n some way, no trecord ed , passed i nto the hands of E leaze r Pu tn am , who mus t
THE BOARDMAN FAM I LY IN TOPSFIELD . I7
have been the e ldest so n of h i s s i ste r Hannah , for i n a subseq u ent transfer o f a pa rt o f i t , E l eaz er sp eaks of th e fo rme rown er as , “my u n c l e Dav id Bordman .
”
Nathan i e l al s o b ought land the re , bounded no rth byDav id ’s land , bu t so l d the same shortly a fte r , as re cord ed , to“my b rother Joh n Bo rdman , fo rmerly of Topsfie ld , M assach use t ts. Thus John , to whom th e fath e r had g i ven th ehomestead i n Topsfie ld , and Nath an i e l , who had bou ght l andi n Preston , mad e an exchange wh i c h chan ged the who l e a f t e rc o u rs e o f the i r l ives . Afte r David ’ s d eath , Joh n so ld th i st rac t of land bought o f Nathan i e l , and p u rchased two th i rd sOf th e farm th at was Dav id ’ s . E leaz e r the gran tor s peaks ofh i m i n th e trans fe r as , “my & ncl e J oh n Bo rdman . HereJ ohn res id ed u nt i l h i s d eath and the same has rema i n ed i nth e posse ss i o n o f h i s desc endan ts to th i s d ay , u n l es s a changehas been recent lv mad e . I n the b apti smal re c ords at Prest o nappears th e fo l l ow ing ,
—“Ap r . I , 1 739—J ohn Bordman , adu l tM a ry Bo rdman , adu l t . Hann ah , ch i l d of J ohn Bordman .
He d i ed Feb . 2 , 1 739 . H is w i dow s u rv i ved h im many years ,dyi ng M ay 24 , 1 776 .
Ch i ld ren of J ohn and M ary :
19. & N I S , b . d . Feb . 6, 1 7 14.
20. A ch i ld,b . Nov . 1 5 , 1 7 1 5 ;
2 1 . JOHN , b . D e c. 2 1 , 1 7 1 6.
22 . HANNAH,b . Oct . 20, 1 7 1 8 .
ELIJAH , b . Mar. 1 3 , 1 720 ; d . D e c . 20 , 1 75 9; 111 . M ar . 1 5 , 1 749,Mary Tyl e r
,b . M ar . 1 3 , 1 720—1 , P re ston . Ch i ldren : H enry;
E l i jah , m. I st , Coi t , 2i1d , Sabri na Crocker ; Jonas ,m. l st , Lorana Benton , 2nd , E l i zabeth Jewet t ; John , m. C la
r i nda S tarbu ck ; M ary, m. Joh n Tyle r .24. JOSEPH , b . Oct . 20, 1 722; (1. Sept . 23 , 1 796; m. Sept . 8, 1 749,
Rachel K i l lam. Chi l dren : D avi d , m. Jemima K i nney ; Jonathan , m. P ri s ci l l a Saf ford ; E l i sha; H ezek i ah , m. H annahCook ; Mary, m Robbins , E l i zabeth , m. Robbi ns ; Joseph ; Rachel , m. Andrew H ew1t t Benjami n ,m. SabraB rown ; Eu ni ce , m. 1 st , Thomas Meach , 2nd , M e rri l l Safford ;Loi s , m. Ist , D enni son K i nney , zud, Benjami n Town ; Samue l , m. NancyJoseph was commi ss i oned m 1 776, Captai n of th e 2nd company, or trai n band , of th e 8th Regiment o f Conn . H i s sonsDavi d and H ezek iah
,and nephew E l i jah were i n h i s company .
MARY,b . M ar . 20, 1 724; m. Oct . H enry Wi ll i ams .
26 . & N IS , b . Ju ly 1 0 , 1 728 ; d . Feb . 1 , 1 8 1 3 ; m. Aug . 10 , 1 748 , Capt .Stephen. son of John and D orothy (Wi ldes&P e rk ins o f Topsfiel d, and l i ved i n Topsfiel d . Ch i ldre n : Dorothy ,m. Nathani e l
1 8 THE BOARDMAN FAM I LY IN TOPSFIELD .
Averi l l ; Mary, d . aged 26; Abigai l , m. Nathani e l Hammond .
27. LOIS , b. Oct . 14, 1 730; m. John Cottre l l .
CAPT . JOHN BOARDMAN , born i n Preston , Conn . , Dec . 2 1 ,
1 7 16 , marr i ed J an . 26 , 1 736 , E l i z abeth C agwin , born Feb . 8 ,
1 7 14- 1 5 , daughter of J ohn and Hannah (Brown&Kegwin, of
Sto n ington , Conn . Her ancesto rs be longed to a party ofco lo n i sts who settled i n Vo luntown , Conn . , and organ i z ed thefi rs t and fo r many years the only Presbyter i an Chu rch i n theState . He l i ved i n Preston u nt i l a fter the b i rth o f the fou rthch i l d , wh ich i s rec orded there i n 1 744 , and then came toTopsfie ld to l i ve wi th h i s & nc le Nathan i e l , who gave h imthe homestead by w i l l . The b i rth of the n ext ch i l d i srecord ed i n Topsfie ld . In th e Preston chu rch reco rds amongthe names of tho se who had “owned the covenan t” we reJohn Bordman and E l i zab eth h i s wi fe . They became members o f th e chu rch i n Topsfie l d , Nov . 2 3 , 1 746 . He he ldtown O ffices as tyth i n g man. fence v i ewe r , con stab le , wa rden ,hogreeve , schoo l commi ttee , su rveyor , overseer , comm itteeof safety and se l ec tman . He espoused the cause of freedomby becom ing a so ld i e r i n th e Revol u t i onary War . He d iedAp r . 7 , 1 780 , and i s ca l l ed “ Cap t . J ohn Bordman , Gent . , i nthe re c ords . H is w i dow d i ed Feb . 3 , 1 789 .
Ch i ldren of John and E l i z abeth :
28. HANNAH , b . 1 73 7, i n Pre ston , Conn .; d . D e c . 30, 1 8 14, i n Topsfiel d ; m. Feb . 23 , 1 761 , Li eu t . Dan ie l , son of Ph i l ip andD i nah (Hobbs&Towne . No ch i ldren .
29. AB IGA IL , b . 1 739, i n P re ston ; d . Ju ly 8 , 1 786, i n Topsfield; 111 .
Jan . 4, 1 763 , Stephen , son of S tephen and Rebe cca (P eabody&Foster of Topsfiel d . Ch i ldren : Nathani el ,m. Salome Foste r ;Mati lda, In. Samu e l B radstree t ; Abigai l , m. Thomas Cummi ngs . S tephe n Foste r 111 . 2nd, Sarah Dorman , l i ved on the
&JohnSmi th farm
,i n Topsfie l d on the road lead ing to L i ne
rook.
30 . NATHAN IEL, b. 1 74 1 , i n Preston ; “di ed i n ye war , 1 760.
3 1 . LOIS , b . 1 744, i n Pre ston ; d . D e c. 6, 1 792; 111 . Apr. 26, 1 763 ,Thomas , son of Thomas and Lydia (R i chardson&Cummi ngs .Li ved on the “Reuben Smi th farm TOpsfield . Ch i ldrenJonas , m. H epzibah Knowl ton ; Joseph ; Thomas , m. Abigai lFoste r; Nathani e l ; Dani e l ; John Boardman , m. Ist , Rebe ccaBalch , of TOpsfie ld , 2nd , M artha Knowl ton , of Hami l ton .
3 2 . ELIZABETH , b . Sept . 1 8, 1 746, i n Topsfie ld; m. Benjami n Johnson , of Ipswi ch . A fte r the bi rth of the ir s eve nth ch i ld they
20 THE BOARDMAN FAM ILY IN TOPSFIELD .
a capta i n of the m i l i t i a i n Topsfie ld , al so a sol d i er i n th eRevo lut i on . He d i ed M ay 1 , 1 803 , aged 50 . The Sal emRegi ste r , M ay 9 , 1 803 , sp eaks thu s o f the fun era l serv i ces“O n Tuesday l ast was i n te rred at Topsfie l d , C ap t . Dan ie lBoardman , with every token of resp ec t fo r h i s memory , andsymp athy for h i s a f&i c ted fam i ly . As i t was on the dayass i gned to m i l i tary pa rade and rev i ew, the mi l i t i a c ompanyi n the town , the command of wh i ch he had recently res i gned ,
app ea red u nder arms o n the occas i on , commanded by Capt .Bradstree t , and went th ro u gh th ose movements and pos i t i o nsu su a l on su ch occas i on s , attended w i th so l emn mus ic—Theo rd er and decorum of the mi l i tary mad e a favorab le imp ress i o n on a numerous assemb l age of p eop l e . The so l emn i tyob servab le on th e occas i o n was exp ress ive o f the pub l i ces t imat i on o f an honest man, a good ne i ghbor , and a wo rthyc i t i z en .
” M r . Davi d K imba l l o f Portsmou th , N . H . , one ofTopsfie ld
’
s worthy sons , once spoke of be i n g a w i tness to thescene . He sa i d he was a ve ry smal l lad and rode on theho rse wi th h i s father . The S i gh t of the Company drawn u pi n m i l i tary a rray i n f ront of the house and the sol emn i ty o fthe serv ic e , so imp ressed h im that i t b ec ame inde l l ib lystamped u po n h i s memo ry .
His w i d ow , Lyd i a , a fte r h av i ng bu r i ed i n Topsfield he rs eco nd husband , John Batche lde r , wen t to spen d th e rema i ni n g years of her l i fe wi th h er daughte r Betsey M arden , i nP it tsfie ld , N . H . , and pass i ng away O c t . 1 2 , 1 84 1 , at the ageo f 88 , was l a i d i n her l ast res t i n g-p l a c e among the New
Hampsh i re h i l l s .Ch i ld ren of Dan i e l and Lyd i a
3 7. EUN ICE,b . Jan . 8 , 1 778 ; d . May 2
,1 85 2 ; 111. 1 st , Nov. 30, 1 797,
Jonathan Porte r o f D anvers ; 2nd , Oct . 16, 1 8 1 0, Jeremi ahP u tnam of D anvers . The i r only ch i ld, Joseph Porte r Pu tnam, when not &u i te five years old , was cross i ng th e bridgeat D anversport
, where he l i ved , and a drove of Sh eep camealong . Becoming frightened , he cl imbed th e rai l i ng and ,l eani ng over too far , fe l l i nto th e water and was drowned .
3 8 . JOHN, b . Oct . 10, 1 779.
39. B ISHOP , b . Sept . 26, 1 78 1 ; d . Oct . 20, 1 8 5 3 , i n Danvers , unm.
H e spent the last of h i s days wi t h h i s brothe r Nathani e l .40 . DAN IEL
,b . Nov. 1 1 , 1 783 .
4 1 . BETSEY, b . Jan . 8,1 78 5 ; d . Aug. 10, 1 875 , at P i t tsfie ld , N . H .; 111 .
Mar . 4, 1 824, D avi d M arden . One ch i ld , Ju l i a M arden , d .
aged 24 years .
THE BOARDMAN FAM I LY IN TOPSFIELD . 2 1
LYD IA,b . 1 787 ; d . Sept . 9, 1 796, “8 yrs . old .
NATHAN IEL , b . Sept . 29, 1 790.
SALLY b . D ec . 3 , 1 793 ; d . Aug . 28 , 1 8 72 ; 111. Mar . 1 2 , 1 8 1 2 , B enjami n , b . D e c. 22 , 1 793 ; d . Mar. 29, 1879, son of Jacob andRachel (Cai n&Towne ; l i ved i n Topsfie ld . Ch i l dre n : BenjaminBoardman , m. Es th e r P eabody ; A l f red Porte r , m. Harr i e t N ewe l l P eabody; Jacob Aden , m. Sarah P eabody ; Euni ce E l i zabeth , m. Benjami n G lazi e r ; E l i sh a Hu nti ngton, m.
Ann S i l l ars ; Je remi ah S tone , di ed young ; Sal ly Ann , m.
Charle s P rocter; Carol i ne Haske l l .
3 8
JOHN BOARDMAN , born i n Topsfie ld , Oc t . 10 , 1 779 ,mar
r i ed , M ar . 1 8 , 1 802 , Rebec c a , born Jan. 7 , 1 782 , daughter ofJo hn and Beth i ah (G i dd i ngs&Gou l d . They l i ved i n Top sfield . He d i ed Ju n e 1 7 , 1 8 5 6 , and h i s widow d i ed M ay 1 2 .
1 86 1 .
Ch i ld ren of John and Reb ecca :
45 . JOHN , b . 1 802.
46. LYD IA , b . Jan . 1 0,1 804; m. I st , Thomas Lord (Ch i l d : Charle s
Lord, m. Li zz i e Trask&, 2nd, Capt . Wi ll iamWei rs . L i ved
i n Sal em.
47. EQNICE , b . Apr . 9, 1 806; d . Ju ly 7 , 1 872; m. Ju l y 1 7 , 1 827, B enjaminFrankl i n Roge rs Oi Salem. L i ved i n Salem. Ch i ldre nEun i ce Rebe cca , m. Capt . Charl e s C . Osgood ; Joseph Porte r,m. M ary Wi l son ; Nancy Augu sta , 111 . Robert B arr; Lydi aLord
, m. John Boyd ; B enjami n Frankl i n , m. Fanni e S l e epe r .48. SALLY
,b . Oct . 24, 1 808 ; d . Ju ly 1 1
,1 882; m. (pub&Ju ly 29, 1 83 2 ,
Cyru s , son of Aaron and Lu cy (Hobbs&Kneeland . Li vedi n TOpsfie ld and G eorge town . Ch i ldre n : Cyru s A l onzo , m.
E l i za Welch ; Me l i s sa, m. John S cate s ; Edgar, m. Rose ttaSu l l i van ; Lyd i a , 111 . Will i am Spof ford ; Charle s , m. L i zz i eH unki ns ; Mary, m. Anse l S l e epe r; A sa P i ngre e , d . i n carcomi ng home on fu rlough du ri ng C i vi l War; Frank ; Jame s ;Rebe cca .
49. DAN IEL, b . Apr . 1 1 , 1 8 1 1 .
DANIEL BOARDMAN , born i n Topsfie ld , Nov . 1 1 . 1 783 ,
ma rr i ed M a r . 1 5 , 1 804 , E l i z ab eth , born M a r . 1 7 , 1 78 5 , daugh
ter of Zacch eus and An na (Brown&Gou ld . They l i ved i nTopsfie ld . He d i ed at sea , and she ,
n1 arr ied , second , A rtem us Pe rley o f Boxford .
Ch i ldren o f Dan i e l and E l i z ab eth
5 0. ELIZABETH, b . 1 804; 111 . Aug . 4, 1 822 , Samu e l Jane s . L i ved i n
2 2 THE BOARDMAN FAM ILY IN TOPSFIELD .
TOpsfie ld . She d . May 6, 1 875 . Ch i ldren : E un i ce Gou ld ,m.
Jame s Connelly; John Coll i n s , m. Ist , Soph ia 2nd ,Sarah Samue l Augu stu s , m. E l i za Brown ; Dani e lBoardman
,m. Ist , Ori s sa Andrews , 2nd , Cynth i a Wi ldes ;
E l i zabe th , m. John I ngall s ; Joseph Porter, m. Margare t P .
Hobson; M ary Ann , 11 1 . NahumGe tchel l ; Emi ly Augu sta, 111 .
Jame s Wi lson; Su san M aria, 111. Robert Ge tchel l ; Wm.
H enry , unm.; Harri e t E l l en ,m. He rbert N i l e s ; Theodora,m.
Benjami n Hall ; Ju l i a P re ston , m. George Gerry .
ANNA BROWN , b . Aug. 30, 1 806; 111 . De c ., 1 824, Samu e l Goodaleo f Lu nenbu rg , Vt . She d . Nov. 1 2 , 1 87 1 and he d . Jan . 3 ,1 872 . Ch i ldren : E l i zabeth Anne , 111 . Aaron P i l l sbu ry ofGeorgetown ; A rabel la Johnson ,m. S i las Page Lake ; Li sa M ary, m. Will i amB . P i l l sbu ry of Georgetown ; Ju l i ana Au rel ia,111 . A l l en Gou ld ; Su san M ar i a, 111 . C l eve land Gou ld (A t afami l y gath eri ng a few years ago , five generat i ons we re represented , i ncludi ng the moth e r of M r. Gou ld , 95 yrs . old , andh i s great-granddaughter , D orothy B . Chase , an i n fant&;E lmi ra M i nerva
,m. Albe rt Walbr idge of Worcester; Nancy
Jane , 11 1 George Savary of Groveland ; Hu ldah P e rley, m.
Mose s H . Harriman of Groveland ; Samu e l D ensmore , 111 .
M ary France s Wiggi n o f Readi ng; Charle s A lden , m. Abigai6
1 Jel l eson of Rowl ey; A rthu r Ward , lost at sea, Sept .,18 7.
DAN IEL, b . D e c . 1 2 , 1 808 .
NATHANIEL BOARDMAN , bo rn i n Topsfie l d , Sep t . 29 , 1 790 ,
marr i ed , fi rst , M ay 1 6 , 1 8 16 , Nancy , bo rn O c t . 30 , 1 79 5 ,daughte r o f I s rae l and Ann a (End ico t t&Putnam . She d i edM ar . 1 9 , 1 82 3 . and he marr i ed , se cond , Nov . 2 5 , 1 824 . Anna ,born Oc t . 2 7 , 1 792 , daughter of Davi d and E l e no r (Haske l l&Putnam . He was a sho e manu fac tu re r an d l ived i n Danvers .He was for many years one o f the Tru stees Of the DanversSavi ngs Bank . He d i ed i n Danve rs , Oc t . 27 , 1 876 , and h i swife d i ed J un e 2 7 , 1 872 .
Ch i ld ren o f Nathan i e l and Nancy °
5 3 I SRAEL PUTNAM , b . Apr . 16, 18 1 7.
Ch i ldren of Nathan i e l and An na '
54. NANCY ELLEN,b . Nov . 28 , 1 82 5 , i n Danvers ; 111 . Apr . 1 2 , 1 85 5 ,
5 5
Edward Augu stu s Lord of Ipswi ch . They l i ved i n Danversand Evanston
, where sh e d i ed M ar. 1 1 , 1 89 1 . Ch i ldren :Anna Pu tnam, 111 . Frank Edwi n M i l l er o f Evanston ; F rankE lmer ; Alonzo Boardman ; P ercy Augu stu s ; Mary Wade .
CAROLINE HASKELL,b . M ar. 28, 1829; d . Feb. 7, 1 83 3 .
THE BOARDMAN FAM I LY IN TOPSFIELD . 2 3
5 6. NATHAN IEL HOLTEN , b . Mar. 28, 1 829.
5 7 . ALONZO B ISHOP , b . June 26, 1 83 1 ; d . Feb . 9, 1848 .
5 8. HORACE WEBSTER , b. June 3 , 1 834.
4 5
JOHN BOARDMAN , born i n Topsfie ld , 1 802 , marr i ed Nov .
Lou i sa Sea rle , born M ay 19 , 1 808 , dau gh te r o fJoh n and E l i zab eth (Sear l e& McKenz ie . They l i ved i nTopsfie ld . He d i ed Feb . 24 , 1 884 , and h i s w idow d i ed M ar .
Ch i ld ren of John and Lou i sa Sear l e :
5 9. THOMAS GREENLEAF, b . Feb. 1 2 , 1 839. W entg
west to l i ve .
60. ADELA IDE LOUISA , b . S ept . 9, 1 84 1 ; m. Aug . 22 , 1 868, Benjami nColby, son of Benjami n C . and E l i zabeth (Goode ll&D odd .
6 1 . EUN ICE P UTNAM,b . Jan . 4, 1 844; d . Apr . 6, 1 8 5 3 .
62. ELIZABETH , b . Jan . 30, 1 846; In. Ju ly 2 , 1 868 , Franci s CreelmanFrame of Boxford . L i ve i n Topsfield. Ch i ldren : D el laM ay, m. Fred D ee ri ng; B e s s i e Lou i s e , m. John LeonardF i ske ; Ralph G reenleaf , 111 . Rose M . L i bby; G race Ade lai de ;Roy Franci s ; E l s i e B e l l e ; Be rn i ce Damon .
63 . ALFRED , b. June 24, 1 848; d . Apr . 28, 1 85 1 .
49
DANIEL BOARDMAN , born i n Topsfie l d , Apr . 1 1 , 1 8 1 1 ,
marr i ed Sarah Bruc e of Sa l em . They l ived i n Sal em andBoston .
Ch i ld ren of Dan i e l and Sarah
64. AUGU STA ,m. Joseph de Freys .65 . SARAH
,m. Charl e s Eame s . Ch i ld : Ne l l i e Augu sta.
66. GEORGE, b . i n Salem; m. Lucy Tu rne r. Ch i ldren: Augu s ta,D an i el .
67. CHARLES .
5 2
DANIEL BOARDMAN , bo rn i n Topsfie l d , Dec . 1 2 , 1 808 ,
marr i ed Ap r . 29 , 1 830 , M eh i tab le Ba lch , born Nov . 19 , 1 8 1 3 ,
daughte r of M o ses and Pheb e (Brock l ebank& Ne l so n ofGeo rgetown . He was a mus i c i an of some n ote and du r i ngthe C i vi l War was a member of th e band attached to the1 7 th Regt . M assach usetts Vo lu nteers . He d i ed i n Geo rgetown , J un e 1 8 , 1 89 1 .
Ch i ldren of Dan ie l and Meh i tab le Ba lch
24 THE BOARDMAN FAM ILY IN TOPSFIELD .
MARY ELIZABETH , b . D e c . 2 5 , 1 830, i n Georgetown ; 111 . M ay 20 ,1848, H i ramA. Bagley. Ch i ldren : Emma Frances ; Charle s ;Will i am; Frank ; Cora P i colomini ; Anni e F lorence ; HerbertPre scott .
CHARLES GREENLEAF, b . Mar. 1 7, 1 83 3 .
MEH ITABLE NELSON , b . D ec . 9, 1 834, i n Sou th Danvers; 111 .
D e c. 1 5 , 1 85 3 , P roctor S . Dwi nne l l . Ch i ldren : Frank Story ;P . Evere tt ; George N e l son .
OLIVE MARIA , b . Mar. 1 8 , 1 83 7, i n Marbleh ead ; 11 1 . June 1 8 , 1 8 5 5 ,George E . Batchelder o f Topsfie ld . Ch i ldren : Grace E l l en ,d . 1 884; George Wel l i ngton .
PHEBE AUGUSTA , b. Oct . 9, 1 839, i n Georgetown ; m. Apr . 3 , 1 865 ,Charl e s H . Dow. Ch i ld : H e len E l i zabe th .
ABB IE HULDAH , b . Feb . 3 , 1842 , i n Georgetown ; 111 . M ay I , 1 863 ,A lphonso M unday of Topsfie ld, who d . Mar . 30, 1 880 . Ch i ldThomas Fred .
SARAH CHARLOTTE,b . June 10, 1 844, i n Georgetown ; m. D e c . 8 ,
1 869, H enry B rowning , who d . Aug. 10, 1 873 .
MOSES NELSON , b. Oct . 3 , 1 846.
ELLA SOPHRON IA , b . May 30, 185 1 , i n Boxford ; d . Jan . 19, 1 865 .
5 3
ISRAEL P&TNAM BOARDMAN , bo rn i n Danvers , Apr . 1 6 ,
1 8 1 7 , marr i ed Ju ly 1 1 , 1 842 , Carol i ne E l i zabeth , bo rn Mar .1 5 , 1 82 3 , daughte r o f M oses and M eh i tab l e (& pto n&Gou l d .
He was a shoe manufac tu re r and l i ved i n Danvers , where hed i ed Feb . 1 7 , 1 89 1 .
Ch i ldren of I s rae l Putnamand Ca ro l i n e E l i z ab eth ’
77. MARY ALICE , b . June 10, 1 844; m. Oct . 1 7, 1 865 , George Faxonof Q u i ncy . Ch i ldren : Carol i ne B : Grace B. ; Endi cott .
78 . LEW IS AUGU STUS,b . June 2 1 , 1 846.
79. M INERVA INEz, b . M ar. 22,1 850; 111. D r. Samue l N . French .
5 6
NATHANIEL HOLTEN BOARDMAN , born i n Danvers , Mar .28 , 1 829 , marr i ed De c . 1 6 , 1 8 5 7 , Harr i et M ari a , bo rn Jan . 1 6 ,
1 83 3 , daughter o f S imeon and Harr i et (Whi tt i e r&Putn am .
They l ived i n Danvers , where she d i ed Sept . 19 , 1 882
Ch i ldren of Nathan i e l Ho lten and Harr i et M ar i a :
80. ELIZABETH GARDINER,b . D e c . 1 , 1 861 ; 111 . June 1
, 1 893 , Charl e sW . , son of Wi ll i amO . and Martha (Caldwe l l&Hood . Li vei n D anversport .
8 1 . RALPH HOLTEN,b . June 30, 1 867,
26 THE BOARDMAN FAM ILY IN TOPSFIELD .
HARRY WOODB&RY BOARDMAN , born i n Geo rgetown ,M ay 6 , 1 874, marr i ed J u ne 10 , 1 89 5 , B lanche , born Jan . 24 ,
1 8 7 5 , i n Brookfiel d , daughter of Wi l l i am and Ann i e (Hi l ton&A l len . L i ve at Worceste r .Ch i l d of Harry Woodbu ry and B lanche
93 . NELLIE B., b . Apr. 2 , 1897.
In 1 807 , the he i rs of Cap t . Dan i e l Boardman so ld a p artof the farm and on e-half th e hou se to John P . Peabody , whowas a d escend ant of Joseph Boardman , th rough h i s dau ghte rAb i ga i l Cumm ings . I n 1 8 3 5 , they so ld the remai n i ng p artof the farm and the othe r ha lf of the house to Ben j am i nBoardman Towne , a grandson of Capt . Dan i e l Boardman .
I n 1 843 , B . B . Towne bought ou t John P . Peabody , thu sown i n g th e whol e Boardman farm, and the homesteadrema i ns i n the possess i o n of h i s he i rs at the p res en t t ime .
Thus i t i s p la i n ly seen that the Borman homestead has beenoccu p i ed by Dan i e l Borman and h i s descendants to the ei ghthgenerat i on , i n c l ud i ng the ch i l d ren o f o ne o f th e p resent he i rs .Dan i e l Borman , the fi rst sett l e r , has not a rep resen tat ive i nTopsfie ld today bea ri ng h i s name . Throu gh the d aughte rs ,however , he i s rep rese nted by a great many of i ts c i t i z ens ,beari n g the names of Averi l l , Ba lch , Cummi ngs , Gou ld ,Peterso n , Perk i n s , Todd , and Towne . The hou se , wh i ch wasbu i l t on i ts p resen t s i te i n 1 697 fo r Dan i e l and Hannah Hutchi n so n Bo rman was cons idered u n usua l ly large fo r those t imes .I n 1 843 , when i t came i nto t he possess i o n o f Ben j . B . Towne ,f ew changes , p robab ly , had been made , and , as may be imagined , i t was i n rath er a d i l ap i dated co nd i t i on , b u t the old oakenframe rema i n ed fi rm and strong . The l arge o l d ch imneywas taken down that year , and the hou se remode led , andw i th the var i ou s changes s i nce made , there i s l i ttl e today toremind one o f i ts ex t reme age , excep t the ol d -fash i o nedbeams , now en c ased , to b e seen i n some o f the rooms , andthe b r i ck and mortar pack i n g between the i n ner and ou te rwa l l s .
THE BOARDMAN FAM I LY IN TOPSFIELD . 27
The worn. att i c s ta i rs , and u nder th e eaves th e b rokenloom and lean i n g whee l , th e mot i o n less sw ifts and s i len t ree lte l l th e i r own sto ry of past lab or and long rest .
Facsimi le of t he s ignatu re of Thomas Bo rman, 1601-167 3 .
The i l lu strat i on s used i n co n nect i o n w i th th i s genea logya re rep r i n ted from The Boardman Genea logy , Hartfo rd ,1 89 5 , th rou gh the cou rtesy of Wi l l i am F . J . Boardman ofHart ford , C on n .
