John Smith Jr. (abt. 1694 - 1772)

Born about 18 Mar 1694 in Watertown, Middlesex, massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Experience (Newton) Smith — married 4 Nov 1719 in Marlboro, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 7 Dec 1772 at about age 78 in Paxton, Worcester, Massachusetts

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Biography

John Smith was born on 18 Mar 1694 in Watertown, Massachusetts to parents John Smith and Susanna Kimball. He married Experience Newton on 27 Nov 1719.^[1] Children: Abraham, Lucy, Abigail, Deborah. In a February 22, 1731/32 deed, John and Hannah Newton deeded a half-interest in their property in Marlborough and Southborough to "John Smith Jun'r of Leicester Blacksmith," husband of their daughter Experience.^[2] Smith is later described in deeds as a husbandman and a yeoman. He three times deeded land to his son, Abraham Smith. In 1741, he granted about 89 acres in Leicester, by the Rutland line, to his "loving son" Abraham.^[3] In 1752, Abraham paid 54 pounds for multiple parcels of land and various rights, in Rutland and Leicester, including about 47 acres that was half of a parcel he purchased in Rutland with Jaazaniah Newton in 1747/8, 14 acre in Rutland, and 4 acres in Leicester.^[4] In 1770, he and Experience, his wife, made their marks on the third deed, which for 250 pounds granted all his remaining property to Abraham, about 90 acres in Paxton. ^[5] The last deed was only recorded after the witnesses appeared at the "Inferior Court of Common Pleas" in Worcester in March 1773 to swear to his signature as he was "now dec'd." He had died on 7 Dec 1772 in Paxton, Massachusetts.

Research Note

Land in Leicester was deeded to John Smith and others pursuant to the settlement of that town.^[6] The deed is signed January 8, 1724. John Smith's name appears twice among the list of grantees, including "one forty acre Lot No. 13 unto the said John Smith" and "one forty acre Lot No. 47 unto the said John Smith."

No source is given for John and Experience having daughters Abigail and Deborah. John's brother, James, had daughters Abigail and Deborah, and they too ended up in Leicester. Thus, there is an unanswered question as to whether there is any basis for attributing daughters with those names to John and Experience. Maybe there's a will somewhere?

Sources

1. ↑ Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Marlborough, Massachusetts, To the end of the year 1849 (Published by Franklin P. Rice, Worcester, Massachusetts 1908)(Free e-book)(Records are also available at ma-vitalrecords.org) p. 290
2. ↑ Middlesex County Deed Book 33, p. 268, available at Family Search, Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986, Middlesex, Deed 1731-1732 vol 32-33, at 437 of 614.
3. ↑ Worcester County Deed Book vol. 14, p. 402, available at Family Search, Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986, Worcester Co., at 583 of 658.
4. ↑ Worcester County Deed Book vol. 32, p. 519, available at Family Search, Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986, Worcester Co., at 624 of 649.
5. ↑ Worcester County Deed Book vol. 70, p. 72, available at Family Search, Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986, Worcester Co., at 357 of 617.
6. ↑ Middlesex County Deed Book 29, p. 329, available at Family Search, Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986, Middlesex, Deeds 1728-1731, vol 29-30, at 185 of 5575.

• Massachusetts Town and Vital Records

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• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63200237