Francis (Pabodie) Peabody (abt. 1614 - 1698)

Born about 19 Feb 1614 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Lydia (Unknown) Peabody — married about 1638 in Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 19 Feb 1698 at about age 84 in Topsfield, Essex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Francis (Pabodie) Peabody migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 5, p. 400) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Summary

”Lt. Francis Peabody Born at Albans Hertfordshire England 1614 Came to New England on the Ship called Planter in 1635. There is a certificate dated April 2, 1635 found in Hugmentation office in Court, Westminster Hall, London. Also found published in Gleanings for New England History in Massachusetts Historical Collection VOL III p. 253. He is there called Husband 21 years of age 1st settler of Ispwich in 1638, & was one of the original settlers of Hampton Old Norfolk County, & resided there for several years, often serving on the grand jury Of Trials. He was made a freeman in 1642. In 1649 was chosen by the town of Hampton, & was confirmed in the office of Justice of that Court. In 1650 the section where he lived became part of New Hampshire & he moved to Topsfield Essex County.

He married Mary Foster & lived to an advanced age. His will is dated January 20, 1695. Proved August 9, 1698. His descendants have been eminent men of piety & distinguished for patriotism, literature & science. His wife was the daughter of Reginald Foster whose family is honorably mentioned in The Lay of the Last Minstre and in Marmion." [By Scott]^{[1] [2][3][4]}

Origins

William Pabodie who was born in 1620 could not be the father of Francis who was born about 1614. They Probably were brothers. RES 9/24/2012.

Francis Peabody was born at St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, in 1614.

Burke's Genealogy states that he was the son of John Peabody if St. Albans, Hertfordshire.^[5]

Emigrant to New England

On 2 April 1635, Francis Peabody embarked for America on the ship Planter with Master Nicholas Travice (Martin ?) which arrived in Boston, Mass., June 7, 1635. He was 21.^{[6] [7] [8]}

Ipswich, Massachusetts

Francis, a farmer and miller, settled first at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. In 1636, he lived near “Labour in Vaine” on a road that led to the beach. The first reference to Francis in the Ipswich records appears in a description of lands owned by Samuel Hall.

Hampton, New Hampshire

In 1638 or 1639, Francis joined Rev. Stephen Bachilor and 12 others in starting the settlement of Hampton, New Hampshire. He often served on the Grand Jury for "Tryalls". He was also confirmed as a small trials justice.

He became a freeman of Hampton May 18, 1642. In 1645, he held a share in the common lands of Hampton and was also acting as a member of the committee that oversaw the finishing of the meeting house. In the seating of the Hampton meetinghouse on 4 March 1649/50, "Fran[cis] Peabody" was in the "first seat among the men's seats and "Goody Pebody" was in the "first seat next Mistress Whelwrit" among the women's seats.

Topsfield, Massachusetts

After spending about 12 years in Hampton, Francis Peabody on March 25, 1650, sold his Hampton property to Robert Drake and moved to Topsfield, Massachusetts to start a new life with a new wife. After moving to Topsfield, he bought 250 acres of land from Samuel Symonds. He became one of the most prominent men in Topsfield with his property holdings and business.

On Apr. 20, 1666, he purchased from his near neighbor, William Evans, an acre located beside Pye Brook, on which he established in 1672 the first grist mill in the town. His house, situated on the bank of the brook, survived until 1846. He built a second, two story house a little farther up the brook in 1692, and this stood until Oct. 4, 1914. A deposition made by Francis Peabody in 1690, when he was 78, provides some interesting detail:

“The testimony of francis Pabody aged 78 years is that I having bought on half of mr Simmonds farm: ye said ffeild mr Simmonds sent up goodman gage & goodman Brag to shew me the bounds of that farme, and they did shew me a stak in a medow which medow is now on the back sid of the dweling house of Isaac Cumins senr & on the north sid of the brook several rods: to be the bounds on the north east corner of the farm: & from thence to a tree on the end of pains hill near to a medow where Ipswich commity setled the bounds; afterward I got ensign howlet to help me run the line on the south est side of the farme between goodman every & me & he with others brought the line to the same place on the south est corner: to which place my fence did then & now doth point.“Swore november 19th 1690 before me Samll Appleton Asst.”

Wife Lydia and Children

He married Lydia about 1639. They had four known children. Lydia died about 1649.

children of Francis and Lydia^[9]

1. Lydia was baptized at Hampton on August 30, 1640. She married Thomas Howlett, son of Thomas Howlett about 1662. She married (2nd) at Rowley on July 8, 1668 to Thomas Perley, son of Allen Perley.
2. John was born about 1642. He married Hannah Andrews at Topsfield on November 23, 1665. He married (2nd) by an unknown date Sarah _____.
3. Joseph was born about 1645. He married Bethiah Bridges at Topsfield on October 26, 1668.
4. William was born about 1647. He married Hannah Hale at Boxford on August 14, 1684.

Wife Mary Foster and Children

He married second Mary Foster about 1650. ^[10] She was the widow of Daniel Wood who had died at Ipswich by 27 March 1649. Francis and Mary had nine more children together.

children of Francis and Mary^[11]

1. Mary was born about 1650. By 1670 she had married John Death.
2. Isaac was born about 1652. By 1694 he married Sarah _____.
3. Sarah was born about 1654. She married Abraham How at Ipswich on March 26, 1678.
4. Hepzibah was born about 1656. She married Daniel Ray, son of Joshua Ray, at Salem on April 10, 1678.
5. Ruth was born at Topsfield on May 22, 1658.
6. Damaris was born at Topsfield on June 21, 1660 and died there on December 19, 1660.
7. Samuel was born at Topsfield on June 4, 1662 and died there on September 13, 1677.
8. Jacob was born at Topsfield on July 28, 1664. He married Abigail Towne at Topsfield on January 12, 1686/7?
9. Hannah was born at Topsfield on May 8, 1668.
10. Nathaniel was born at Topsfield on July 29, 1669. He married Frances Hoyt daughter of John Hoyt. 


Death

Francis Peabody died Feb. 19, 1697/8, in Topsfield, Massachusetts. ^[12][13][14]

Mary survived about seven years, dying Apr. 9, 1705, in Topsfield.

Will

Francis' will is dated Jan. 20, 1695/6. Estate Inventory on 20 May 1698 was £1327-05-06; £1030 in real estate; Probate dated 7 Aug 1698.

(edited for readability)

"The Last Will & Testament of Lieut. Francis Pebody of Topsfield in ye county of Essex in New England.


I Francis Pebody taking into consideration the uncertaity of my life and certainty of my death being of perfect understanding & memory have seen good to make such a disposall of the temporall estate which God of his grace hath given me in this world as followeth.
I committ my immortall soul into the hands of God and my body to a decent buriall when God shall take me out of this world


I give to by son John Pebody & Joseph Pebody all that tract of land which I bought of merchant Joseph Juett of Rowly which land lyeth in Boxford.


I give to my son J(ohn) two thirds of the aforesaid tract of land & to my son Joseph the other third which I give to them and to their heirs for ever & morever I do give to them both in c(urrent) pay (not mony) five pounds to each of them, that is five pounds apiece besides what I have already given to them.


I do give to my son William Pebody, all that land which I bought of John Tod Senr. of Rowly and of John Perley (excepting one hundred acres) which land I do give to him & his heirs for ever, moreover I do give to him five pounds besides what he hath.....me already, which I do the rather on consideration of his being (by the providence of God) deprived of ye use of one of his arms, which five pounds is to be paid as is above specified.


I give unto my son in law Daniell Wood that hundred acres of land which is above excepted to my son William & is already in part possessed by my son in law Daniel Wood which said land I do give to him & to his heirs for ever it being in consideration of what I was obliged to do for him when come to age & propose he shall be satisfied therewith on that account & give a discharge thereof to such...shall concern Which land I gave already promised & do propose forthwith to give him a deed of in a way of firm conveyance in which deed I shall bound and Limit the above said hundred acres accordingly.


Item I do give to my son Isaac Pebody all the land that I do now live upon which I bought of Mr Simmons & my will is that my son Isaac shall have all the said land which lyeth on the south side of the brook running through the said farm both upland & meadow so bounded. I give to my son Isaac Pebody together with my dwelling house & housing, orchard, mill, & millyard with all that I bought of William Evans & moreover I give to my son Isaac from the bridge all the meadow downward on the north east side of the brook which runneth through Thomas Borman's meadow; and also I do give to my son Isaac a Rod & half of upland at the aforesaid meadow all along for the bringing of his hay from time to time which aforesaid land I do give to my son Isaac & to his Heirs forever, together with seventy acres of land on the south side of the River, near to the dwelling of Joseph Town, Jun. Also I give to my son the bed with the furniture thereunto belonging which he now hath & improvements of & this I would have noted, That I have given the more to my son Isaac on consideration of the providence of God disenabling him by the loss of one of his leggs. 


I give to my Grandchild, Jacob Pebody ( the son of my son Jacob deceased) the house which his father dwelt in together with all the upland on the side of the brook that is on the north side of the above said brook, as also the meadow on the same side of the brook to the bridge & so upward, my will is that in case my said Grandchild Jacob Pebody do live to the age of twenty one years that then he shall have all the above said to injoy himself and his heirs forever, but in case the said Jacob Pebody live not to that age then any of my other (heirs) shall have liberty to have that land & house above said provided that he or they shall give to my Grandchildren Kezia & Mercy Pebody the children of my son Jacob deceased ...hundred and twenty pounds in common currant pay (not silver) notwithstanding the abovesaid in case the said Jacob should have issue before he should arrive at the aforesaid age then the said land shall be at the dispose of the above said Jacob Pebody together.....aforesaid.


Also I do give to my granchildren Kezia & Mercy Pebody the children of Jacob deceased, I do give to each of them thirty acres of land apiece provided that they live to the age of eighteen years, which threescore acres of land lyeth on the south side of the the River in the south-west division beyond Mr. Endicott's farm in the place called the Stick (Slick?) meadow which land above said I bought part of Deacon Tho. Perkins about thirty (acres) & about thirty more which I bought of Daniell Borman, but in case neither of the children Kezia & Mercy shall live to the age of eighteen that then the above said thirty acres apiece shall return to my next immediate children and be equally divided amongst them and in case one of the said grandchildren live to the age & not the other that then the whole threescore acres shall fall to the survivor of them.


I give to my son Nathaniell Pebody together with my Grandchild Samson How all that four hundred acres which I bought of Mr. Stephen Sewall lying in Rowly village now called Boxford, which land lyeth near Bradford & was formerly Mr. Nelson's of Rowly.
My will is my son Nathaniell shall have three hundred & Samson How the other hundred acres which for quantity and quality ye aforesaid Samson How shall have the said hundred acres provided that the Samson How shall be at my dispose til the age of twenty one. But in case my son Nathaneill shall dye without Lawfull Issue that then the said three hundred acres shall fall to my other children by equall devision, his widdow nothwithstanding injoying the benefit thereof during life & as to his moveables which he is already in possession of, I leave it all to be at his, that is my son Nathaniell here is to be understood, that what shall be left undisposed of by my son Nathaniell at his death of his three hundred acres shall be for the use of his widdow during her life as above said That is the life of her widdowhood.

I do reserve for Mary my wife the South End of my house for her use to live in as also the New Cellar as also the use of two milch cowes which she shall choose out of my milch kine. Also my will is that my son Isaac shall pay to my wife Mary yearly twenty bushels of Indian corn, four bushells of wheat, four of rye & six of malt. Also that my wife have liberty to keep two or three swine, and also yearly a half a dozen pounds of wool, also my will is that my wife have pasture for her cowes with my son Isaacs as also my son Isaac shall provide fodder for them in the winter. As also my wife shall have Liberty for an horse to ride on as she shall have occasion. Also my will is that in case my wife shall marry again that then all the privileges above shall cease, but during her widdowhood she shall also have (as benefit by my orchard) yearly a barrell of Cider as also som apples as her occasions either summer or winter shall require. Moreover my wife shall have the use & despose of two beds together with needful firewood provided her for which end she shall have the use of such of my oxen as shall be needful.

\\ Also I do order that Samson How live with my wife til he shall come to the age of twenty one years & be at her Command to be helpfull to her on all accounts as she shall have occasion & in case Samson How shall be taken away by his father before he shall have served as above that then my wife shall have that huindred acres of land abovesaid (given Conditionaly to the said Samson) to provide for herself such help as shall be necessary. In case my wife shall dy before the said Samson How shall arrive at the aforesaid term of years then he shall be at my wives despose to whom she shall see good & in case the said Samson will not comply with such despose that then the said hundred acres of land intended for him shall be at my wives despose.


I give to my Daughter Lydia Perley five pounds besides what she hath already had of me.


I do give to my Daughter Mary Death five pounds besides what she hath had already.


I give to my Daughter Sarah How five pounds besides what she hath had already.


I give to my Daughter Hephzibah Ray five pounds besides what she hath had already, all which Legacies ordered to my Children I do appoint to be paid in common currant pay as is before specified to others of my children.


Note that what Legacies I do here give in my will shall be paid by my executors out of my etate which I do leave in my son Isaacs hands & to my wives, as corn or Cattell & my debts & funerall expences being discharged.


And finally I do appoint, constitute & ordain my wife Mary to be executrix together with my son John Pebody & Isaac Pebody executors of this my last will & testament & in case after Legacies paid there be any Estate left to be divided that it shall be desposed of in away of devision as my executrix together with executors shall see good.


That what is here above written is my last will & testament of the above said Francis Pebody appears by his own hand & seal this day & date here mentioned as also by the testimony of the witnesses hereunto subscribed. 
It is to be noted that notwithstanding what is above said concerning my son Nathaniels three hundred acres returning to his brethren in Case of his dying without lawfull Issue, It is to be understood by (sic) the three hundred acres what he shall not see cause to despose of before his death I hereby not withstanding what hath been said giving him full power in case he see good to despose of it either in part or whole not knowing but divine providence may necessitate him thereunto, otherwise what is above written to be of full force as is expressed.
ffrancis Pabody 
The above said Premises were signed sealed & declared to be the last will and testament of the said Francis Pebody this twentieth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred Ninety & five or six,
in presence of us.
Joseph Capen
 Thomas Baker
 Ephriam Dorman."^[15]

Research Notes

Although there is some speculation based on Eunice Cole's testimony that Francis' first wife was Lydia Perkins, daughter of Isaac Perkins (bef.1571-bef.1639), no sources have been found showing that they are the same person. Isaac's daughter Lydia was baptized 1 January 1617/18;^[16] no further record of her has been found.

Sources

1. ↑ American Genealogical Biographical Index PEABODY, Francis Birth Date: 1614 Birth Place: Eng; Massachusetts Volume: 132 Page Number: 408 Reference: History and gen. of the Bicknell fam. and some colateral lines. By Thom. Will. Bicknell. Providence, RI. 1913. (36,584p.):466 Family recd. Of the des. Of John Spofford and Eliz., his wife, who came from Eng. To Ms. in 1638. By Jere. Spofford. Haverhill, Ms. 1851. (64p.):19
2. ↑ Banks, pg. 134.
3. ↑ Torrey
4. ↑ Endicott, page 3, 4.
5. ↑ Burke, Sir John Bernard. Burke's American Families with British Ancestry [database online]. Ancestry.com. ND. Digital Images, Ancestry.com (Web). 27 June 2015
   Note: Reprinted from Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry (16th Ed). Burke's Peerage: London, 1939.
6. ↑ Planter Passenger List (Olive Tree Genealogy).
7. ↑ Passenger Lists Boston, Massachusetts; Year: 1635; Birth date: abt 1614 Arrival date: 1635 Arrival place: Boston, Massachusetts
8. ↑ Passenger Lists Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Place: Massachusetts; Year: 1635; Birth date: abt 1614 Arrival: 1635, Massachusetts
9. ↑ AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2007.
10. ↑ Merriam, pg. 7.
11. ↑ AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston
12. ↑ Sanborn, Part 1
13. ↑ Vital Records of Topsfield, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (The Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield, Mass., 1903) Page 236.
14. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8979-Q5R8?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DW-YWP%3A353349401%2C353514201%2C353516401 : 20 May 2014), Essex > Topsfield > Births, marriages, deaths 1677-1742 vol A > image 64 of 102; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
15. ↑ Probate Index, 1638-1840: Lieut. Francis Peabody; Pebody; Peobody 07 Aug 1698 Topsfield testate
 Estate of Francis Peabody of Topsfield, 
Essex; Probate Docket # 20826 File #: 20826
16. ↑ "Warwickshire, England, Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1535-1812." Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Warwickshire County Record Office. Roll: Engl/2/1143; DR 256. Images of Hillmorton Parish records: Baptisms 1617-1622.

See also:

• Coombs, Jan Gregoire. Coombs Family History (Janet Pulvermacher, Middleton, Wisconsin, 2013) Page 12

• Great Migration 1634-1635, M-P. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2007.

Bibliography

• Merriam, Sidney Augustus, The ancestry of Franklin Merriam Peabody: collected and made this book as a mark of the affection of his grandfather Franklin A. Merriam, (Salem, Massachusetts, Newcomb & Gauss, 1929), 141 pages; as reproduced in facsimile by HeritageQuest.com. page 7 - 8.

• Torrey, Clarence A. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Baltimore, Maryland, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004); database, "New England Marriages Prior to 1700," Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. (http://www.ancestry.com : 2006).

• Banks, Charles. Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England, 1620-1650 (The Bertram Press, Philadelphia, Pa., 1937).

• Sanborn, Melindi Lutz, Essex County, Massachusetts Probate Records, Part 1, Online publication - (Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1998).

• Gale Research, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Online publication - (Provo, Utah, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006). Original data - Filby, P. William, ed.. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA: Gale Research, 2006. Repository: #R1

• Charles Moses Endicott, A genealogy of the Peabody family database online, Heritage Quest, (Boston, Massachusetts, by D. Clapp & Son, in 1867), 66 pages

• Peabody (Paybody. Pabody, Pabodie) genealogy, database online, Internet Archive, extracted from Peabody, Selim Hobart, book of the same name, (Boston, Mass., Charles H. Pope, 1909), pages 8-17