Moses Newton Sr. (1645 - 1736)

Born 20 Oct 1645 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Joanna (Larkin) Newton — married 27 Oct 1668 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay

Husband of Sarah (Joslin) Newton — married 14 Apr 1714 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 23 May 1736 at age 90 in Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Cory Newton [send private message]

Biography 1

From THE ANCESTRY OF REUBEN NEWTON (1774 - 1833) By Myron L. Newton, Jr.

Moses Newton, the third child born to Richard and Anne (Loker) Newton, was the great-great-grandfather of Reuben Newton. Ermina Leonard believes that he was born on October 20, 1645, in Sudbury, Massachusetts. On October 27, 1668, he married Joannah Larkin, the daughter of Edward and Joannah Larkin of Charleston, Massachus etts. She was probably born around 1645 or 1646 and was the mother of all ofMoses' children. Joannah (Larkin) Newton died on December 25, 1713. Moses next married Sarah Joslin who died in 1723.

Moses Newton, a.k.a. Moses Newton, Sr., received a portion of his father's land while Richard was still living. This land appeared to be part of Richard's original 30 acres in Marlborough, plus land resting on Stony Brook where Moses used the stream as part of his Ironworks. These Ironworks were probably a smelter or foundry. Moses, along with other residents, improved their land holdings by illegally occupying and improving Indian lands in the area. Moses eventually was given title to this property by the Colonial government.

King Phillip's War, a bloody period of conflict between the settlers and the Indians, took place between 1676 and 1677. Troops were stationed in Marlborough for a short time, some staying in Moses' home. After they left the Indians attacked the settlement during a Sunday sermon. Moses was credited with saving an elderly woman during the skirmish, but also received an elbow wound and never totally regained the use of his arm.

During the Indian Wars of 1700-1713, Moses Newton, Sr., Moses Newton, Jr., and their families were assigned to the Isaac Howe Garrison, No. 6, located on the road to Southborough.

Over the years Moses continued to acquire land in the area and distributed much of his acreage to his sons during his lifetime. Deeds show that he owned at least 500 acres, if not more. In 1714, he deeded fifty acres in Marlborough, some of it on Stony Creek, to his son, James Newton.

In 1727, Moses was elected selectman of the new town of Southborough at its first meeting. Southborough was created from Marlborough and some, if not all, of Moses' land became part of the new town.

Moses Newton died in 1736.

Probate

The will of Moses Newton of Marlborough, yeoman, was dated 3 April 1724 and proved on August 11, 1736 in Worcester. He mentioned in this order, his granddaughter Mercy Leonard, daughter of his daughter Mercy Leonard, his two sons, Jacob and Ebenezer (who dwell together) (both executors), the children of his son David Newton, decd., and the children of his son Edward Newton, decd., and his two daughters, Hannah Bellows, and Mercy Leonard, decd.^[1]

He deeded the rest of his possessions to his sons, son-in-law, and grandchildren. All his land had earlier been deeded to his sons.

Moses and Johanna (Larkin) Newton had eleven children between 1669 and 1692: Moses, David, Hannah, Edward, Jonathan, Jacob, James, Mercy, Josiah, Andrew and Ebenezer.

Biography 2

MOSES NEWTON (Richard), son of Ricliard and Ainie (Loker) Newton from England, and of Sudbury, Mass., was born at Sudbury, October 20, 1645, or March 26, 1646. Both dates are given in the records, and as that there could not have been two children born at those dates, I have supposed the first date was the birth and the second the date of baptism. He died at Southborough, May 23, 1736.

He married at Marlborough October 27, 1668, .Joannah Larkin, daughter of Edward and Joanna ( ) Larkin of Charlestown, Mass.,

The following I quote from Mr. Packard's account of the town, as given in Barber's Historical Collection.

The story is told in many other books; but in whatever phraseology the story rmis Moses Newton is given credit for being the hero of the day. It is stated, that "on a Sabbath, when Mr. Brimstead was in sermon, March 20, 1676, the worshiping assembly was suddenly dispersed by an outcry 'Indians at the door.'

The confusion of the moment was instantly increased by a fire from the enemy; but the God whom they were worshiping shielded their lives and limbs, excepting the arm of one, Moses Newton, who was carrying an elderly and infirm woman to a place of safety. In a few minutes they were sheltered in their fort with themutual feelings peculiar to such a scene. Their meeting house, and many dwelling-houses, left without protection, were burnt. Fruit trees pilled and hacked and other valuable effects rendered useless, perpetuated the barbarity of the savages many years after the inhabitants returned . . . many left their farms until the seat of war was farther removed." Hudson, in his history of Marlborough, states that Moses Newton "received a ball in his elbow, from the effects of which he never fully recovered."

He married (2) at Marlborough, April 14, 1714, Sarah Joslin, whom I suppose to be daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah (King) Joshu'*' of Lancaster, and after the destruction of that town of Marlborough, whose will, dated 1694, mentions several daughters besides daughter Sarah, and sons Nathaniel and Peter. Peter's family was killed by the Indians, 1692. Nathaniel (the son) lived in Marlborough,and requests an administrator for his sister, Sarah Newton's estate,

The records also mention "lands granted to Moses Newton," and again, "Some plats of Land excepted Granted to Moses Newton sen' a Liberty to make use of the stream of Stony Brook And the use of the Land about where his Iron works are."

I was glad to find this about the "Ironworks." Very many of the Newrtons of the Richard branch have been blacksmiths, gunsmiths, etc., workers in iron. The genius for it seems something inherent. They called them "Smiths" in those days, and the ability to be a "Smith" was counted as an asset to the town one lived in.

The year after Mr. Newton had given his homestead to his two sons, with the life interest for himself and his wife, his daughter Mercy died, leaving her new-born babe to her father to bring up, and she was with them during the remainder of his life. His wife died in 1723. In 1724 he made his will? twelve years before his death, and as many of widow'erhood. It is pleasant to think he had the little granddaughter, Mercy Leonard, to cheer and comfort during those last years.

Birth

20 OCT 1645

Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts^[2]

Death

23 MAY 1736

Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts^[3]

Marriage

27 OCT 1668

Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ "Probate records v. 1 1731-1739, 1778-1814, 1863-1870" database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9Y5-BD2Y  : 1 February 2024), Film# 00774407, Worcester, Massachusetts, image 119-120, Vol 1, Page 196-198.
2. ↑ Source: #S48: Text: Record for Moses Newton
3. ↑ Source: #S48: Text: Record for Moses Newton
4. ↑ Source: #S48: Text: Record for Moses Newton

• Source S48McCarney & McClung Families Genealogy_Descendants of Richard Newton [1]

• Vital Records of Sudbury Massachusetts to the Year 1850 (New-England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass., 1903); p. 100 "Births", "Newton", "Moses, s. Richard and Anne, Mar. 26, 1646."