EARLY INHABITANTS OF IPSWICH, MASS. By Abraham Hammatt , pages 16-22

 APPLETON, Samuel, was born at Little Waldingfield, or as it is now written, Waldringfield, in the shire of Suffolk Eng., 1586. The family trace his descent through Thomas, William, Robert, Thomas, John and John, from John Appleton of Great Waldingfield, who died in 1436.

He came to Ipswich in 1635, and brought with him two sons: John 2, born about 1622, and Samuel 2, born about 1626. He was “admitted to the freeman’s oath” at the general election in May, 1636.

He had large possessions in lands, of which a tract of about 600 acres lay bounded by the Ipswich River and the Mile Brook. A part of this land yet remains in the possessions of his descendants. The farms of Samuel and Timothy Appleton, and of Oliver Underhill have passed by inheritance from time first grantee to the present possessors. He also possessed lands on the north side of the river above the mill dam. His residence was, probably, near where the railroad station now is, on the right hand side of the road to Topsfield. This property on both sides of the road, remained in his family for several generations.

“1641, December 3. Mr. Appleton hath promised the Town to have a malt house ready by the first of April next, and to malt such corn as shall be brought to him from the people of this town at such rates as shall be thought equal from time to time. And no man (except for himself) is to have any made elsewhere for the space of five years now next ensueing.” (T. R.)

He died in June, 1670, at Rowley, where he was buried, and left two sons, John 2, and Samuel 2, before mentioned, and daughters: ---Sarah, wife of the Rev. Samuel Phillips of Rowley; Judith, wife of Samuel Rogers, the son of the Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, in. April 8, 1657; and Martha, wife of Richard Jacobs.

John 2, son of Samuel 1, was born in England about 1662. He came with his father, and settled in Ipswich, 1635. He married in 1651, Priscilla, daughter of the Rev. Jessee Glover. She died Feb. 18, 1697. (See epitaph 4.) He died Nov. 4, 1699. (See epitaph 2.) His will is dated Feb. 16, 1697, two days before the decease of his wife, in which he says, “I have taken care for my beloved wife Priscilla, so she shall be provided for, in an obligation from my two sons, John and Samuel, dated 13th March, 1688.” “The bond that my son John and Samuel gave me for the security of their sisters portions I have signed over to my son John Ex’r, to help him pay his sisters portions and other debts w’ch my son Samuel was to doe, he having his proportion of lands in consideration.” Samuel had died previously, August 16, 1693.

Besides John 3, and Samuel 3 deceased, there was a son Jessee, or Jose, born March 77, 1660, who died April 11, 1660, and daughters, Elizabeth Dummer, wife of Richard Dummer, married November 2, 1673; Priscilla, born Dec. 25, 1657, wife of the Rev. Joseph Capen of Topsfield, and two younger daughters, Sarah Rogers, born Aug. 19, 1670, and Mary Thomas, born April 15, 1673.

He was selectman with the title of” Mr.” 1661, Captain, 1677. He was captain of a troop, clerk of the courts and county treasurer; representative to the General Court 16 years, between 1656 and 1678. He was fined and imprisoned for opposing the arbitrary measures of Sir Edmund Andros, in 1687. (See Andrews John.) He subscribed £4, “for procuring of a bigger Bell for ye good of ye Town, of about 5 or six [hundred] weight.” There were 53 subscribers for the object, who gave £50, 18s. The highest subscription was that of Jno. Wainwright, £6. The Rev. John Rogers gave £5, and Francis Wainwright £3. The two Whipples, John and Matthew gave two pounds each.

John 3, son of John 2, was born 1652, freeman, May 21, 1682, and died Sept. 11, 1739, (see epitaph 6.) He married Nov. 23, 1681, Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. John Rogers, President of Harvard College, who survived her husband and died March 13, 1754, aged 91 years. He sustained several important offices. Was Town Clerk from March 29, 1687; Colonel of a regiment, Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and Judge of Probate twenty years; and of the Gov’rs Council twenty-five years from 1698.

Nathaniel 4, born December 9, 1693, graduated at Harvard College, 1712, ordained minister at Cambridge, October 9, 1717, and died Feb. 9, 1784, aged 91 years. Their daughters were, Elizabeth, wife of Rev Jabez Fitch; Margaret, wife of President Holyoke; Priscilla, the first wife of the Rev. Robert Ward of Wenham. They had a son William, born Oct. 15, 1686, and John born August 18, 1705, who probably died young. In his will dated February 8, 1734, he bequeathes to his wife Elizabeth “the improvement during her life of his house and land lying near the meeting house, adjoining to Mr. Edward Eveleth.” Also “the Mansion house and all the buildings and land, adjoining which is my orchard.” This house is yet standing. It was probably built about 1680, and descended, at the decease of his mother to Daniel, who dying in 1762, intestate, it was inherited by his daughters, Elizabeth, wife of the Rev. John Walley, first minister of the South Parish in Ipswich, and Mary, single woman, by whom it was sold, in 1768, to Daniel Noyes, Esquire, of whose heirs it was purchased in 16— by the late William Dodge.[1] Col Appleton bequeathed to his son Nath’l “the old house and barn that was formerly my father Appleton’s; the land to extend northward from the said house twenty feet, and so to run from the highway over the hill to the Turtle pond, &c.” This is the lot, next westward from the railroad station. To his two daughters, “the house and land near the Meeting house, known by the name of Lowds and Fosters lotts, bounded by the land of Mr. Edward Eveleth on the south; the river on the east; the highway on the north west,” after the decease of his wife. To Daniel the right to redeem by paying certain sums named. Daniel, residuary legatee with reversion of mansion house, &c., after his wife’s decease.

Samuel 3, son of John 2, is designated in the probate records as Samuel, junior, and in the Town records as Samuel the third. He died August 16. 1693, and there were living at that time, his uncle Samuel 2, son of Samuel 1; and his uncle’s son, Samuel 3, who was born in 1654. He left four sons, all minors:

Jose 4, born November 30, 1684, died March, 1707,

Samuel 4, born July 21, 1686,

Thomas 4;

John 4, married 1716, Mary Allen of Salisbury.

His widow Mary died June 9, 1712, aged 53 years.[2] (See epitaph 8)

In 1701, July 5, as administratrix of the estate of her deceased husband, she sells to Michael Farley three acres of land, “bounded by land of Lt. Coll’n John Appleton, Esq’r at one end; the other end by the mill course, &c., the one side by the said Michael’s land ; the other by land said Mary is in possession of as it was her late husband’s.” This indicates his residence as being near the mill, and in the neighborhood of his father’s and grandfather’s.

Jose 4, son of Samuel 3, was born November 30, 1684. His will is dated December 30, 1706, and proved March 31, 1707. He appoints his “honoured Mother, Mrs. Mary Appleton,” ex’x, and gives to his brother John 4, a minor, his weaving shop, &c., provided he “carries on the trade of weaver and clothier.” Thomas 4 is mentioned in the will, but Samuel 4, is not.

Jesse 3, son of John 2, was born March 27, 1660. He became a merchant in Boston, and died unmarried in 1721.

Samuel 2, son of Samuel 1, was born in England about 1626, and came with his father to Ipswich in 1635. He married first Hannah, daughter of William Payne, by whom he had a son, Samuel 3, who was born in 1654. For his second wife he married Dec. 2, 1656, Mary daughter of John Oliver of Newbury. She was born ,June 7, 1640, and died Feb. 15, 1697. (See epitaph 5.) By her he had John 3, born 1660. (See epitaph 7.) Isaac, born 1664. He lost a daughter Mary, June 5, and a son Oliver, June 14, 1676. He had a dau. Mary born about Oct. 20, 1679, Joseph, born June 5, 1674, Oliver a minor in 1696; Judith Walcott; Joanna Whipple; Hannah Downs, who died before her father, and left one only child. He mentions in his will, dated April 12, 1695, a cousin Thomas Jacob; probably a son of Richard Jacob, who married his sister Martha. He was selectman, with title “ Left.” 1662; Major in the militia, and commanded a regiment with great distinction in the war against King Philip in 1676. He was elected Assistant from 1681 to 1686, six years, and was one of the first council under the charter of William and Mary, 1692. He bequeathes to his wife one half of the dwelling house, &c., during her natural life. To Samuel his eldest son, the dwelling house, orchard, barn, &c. excepting what he has given to his wife. Mentions his sons John 3, Isaac 3, and Oliver 3 to whom he gives the saw-mill, &c, “if he live to the age of twenty-one years.” He appoints his wife executrix. He died May 15, 1696, (see epitaph 3,) and his widow died before the estate was settled, Feb. 15, 1697. The brothers, John 2 and Samuel 2 in the year 1653, purchased of Thomas Manning a property thus described :—“ Dwelling House situated in Ipswich near the meeting-house, having the meeting house green towards the north west, and the river towards the south east; the land of John Woodman towards the north east; and the land of Mr. Symonds on the south.” The same year, May 20, they purchase of “John Woodam, a dwelling house, barn and houselot, containing by estimation three acres with commonage belonging to the dwelling house as it now lyeth bounded and fenced to the ledge of rocks near the meeting house green, from the corner of the land from the meeting house green leading to the river, to the rock wall turning down to the house where John Woodam now dwelleth, and so from the corner of the land afforsaid to the houselot of Reonald Foster, and so over to the house lot of the Widdow Averill, and thence to the corner of the rock wall aforesaid near the meeting house green in the town of Ipswich.” “In exchange for another house and house lot and thirty pounds in good pay ;” “viz. The dwelling house and house lot purchased of Thomas Manning adjoining to the house lot above mentioned, towards the north, & upon the river towards the south, and upon a houselot of Mr Samuel Symonds towards the west, and upon a houselot of the widdow Averill towards the east.” This property was acquired when John the eldest brother was thirty one years of age, and two years after his marriage with Priscilla Glover. Samuel, the younger brother was twenty-seven years old, and was probably married the same year, their eldest son Samuel being born in 1654. It was probably the residence of both of the brothers in the early years of their marriage lives. In the later years of their lives their residences were on the Topsfield road, a little westward of where the railroad station now is. The lot above described became the sole property of John, who left it to his son John, from whom it descended to his son Daniel, whose widow and administratrix Elisabeth, in her account of administration, July 24, 1765 returns, “The old homestead sold to Nathaniel Souther, £140, 00.[3]

Samuel 3, son Samuel 2, died Oct. 30, 1725, aged 71. (See epitaph and Coat of Arms, 5.) He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Whittingham, son of John of Ipswich. She survived her husband and married Rev. Edward Payson of Rowley.

In the latter part of the year 1673, and the early part of 1674, (the gloomy period of Philip’s war,) there were great additions to the church. In about four months, from December to April 12, nearly ninety were added, some in “full communion,” and some by “taking the covenant,” sixty-five of whom were males. On the three Sundays, Jan. 18, 25, and Feb. 1, twenty-four who are distinguished as of the “young generation,” took the covenant. One of these was “Samuel Appliton, ye sonne of Major Appliton.” He was then about nineteen years of age. He was justice of the court of sessions; commander of a regiment in the expedition against Canada in 1690; representative of the town several years, and of the governor’s council, 1713-14. His children were Samuel, a wealthy merchant of Boston, who died in London, September 15, 1728, of the small pox; Whittingham, born December 29, 1706; Hannah Clark, Martha Wise, Elizabeth, a minor at the time of his decease in 1725. John 3 son of Samuel 2, died May 17, 1724, in the 64th year of his age. (See epitaph 7.) He is improperly distinguished as “senior,” on his gravestone, his cousin John 3, son of John 2, being living, and his elder by eight years. He is so called in reference to his son John 4, who was born May 28, 1695. He married April 1, 1689, Rebeckah Ruck, daughter of John Ruck of Salem. She was living in December, 1697. He married August 31, 1700, the widow Elizabeth Dutch. March 24, 1749, died Elizabeth, widow of Mr. John Appleton. (See N. E. Hist. and Gen. Beg. vol. 8, 1843.) But whether the widow of John 3, or John 4 his son, or John 4 son of Samuel 3, it is not certain. Neither does it appear to which of them the following extract from the town records refers: “ 1748, September 17. Died Mrs. Priscilla Appleton, daughter of Mr. John Appleton; being the last of seven daughters, dying with consumption within the space of three years.” Benjamin 4, son of John 3 and Elisabeth, was born November 14, 1702. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. Thomas Wade, who survived him and married Mr. — Cogswell of Rowley. He died Feb. 12, 1731. (See epitaph 9.) He left daughters, Elisabeth, Mary and Sarah. His estate £373. Isaac 3 son of Samuel 2, died May 22, 1747, in the 83d year of his age. (See epitaph 13.) He married Priscilla, daughter of Thomas Baker, and grand-daughter of the Hon. Samuel Symonds of Ipswich. He left an only son Isaac 4, and six daughters: Priscilla Abbot, Mary Osgood, Elisabeth Fairfield, Martha White, and Rebecca who married January 19, 1728-9, William Dodge, then of Wenham, afterwards of Ipswich, and Joanna.[4]  Isaac 4, son of Isaac 3, was born May 30, 1704, and died December 18, 1794. (See epitaph 11.)His wife Elisabeth died April 29, 1785, aged 75 years. (See epitaph 12.) By his will, dated July 24, 1788, he appoints his son Samuel 5, his sole executor. His other children were Isaac 5 of New Ipswich, born 1731, died 1806, Francis 5, of New Ipswich, father of Jesse, President of Bowdoin College, Thomas 5, John 5, Daniel 5, William 5, deceased before his father, Joseph 5, graduated at Rhode Island College, 1772, ordained minister of North Brookfield, November 30, 1776, died July 24, 1795. Daughters, Elizabeth Bartlett and Mary Woodbury. Thomas, John, and Daniel settled in Maine. [Farmer.] Oliver 3 son of Samuel 2, was a minor in 1696. He died Jan. 9, 1759-60. He left a widow named Sarah (Perkins,) of Topsfield, married Nov. 16, 1701. His sons were Oliver 5, born 1702, died August 3. 1787, William 4, born 1703, died April 8, 1725, (see epitaph 10,) Joseph 4, born December 24, 1705, John 4, Samuel 4, (see epitaphs 14, 15,) Daniel 4, and Nathaniel 4. His daughters were Sarah Swain, Hannah Swain, and Mary Whipple. Sarah, widow of Oliver 4, died June 22, 1811, aged 90 years. Daniel 4, died April 7, 1807, aged 88 years. Nathaniel 4, died Feb. 15, 1798, aged 77 yrs. Samuel 4, died May 15, 1819, aged 81 years. Oliver 5, son of Nath’l 4, died December 11, 1797, aged 40. Samuel 5, son of Isaac 4, died May 15, 1819, aged 81 years. Mary, his wife, died Nov. 10, 1834, aged 88 years.[5]