Mary (Whitcomb) Farnsworth (abt. 1677 - aft. 1730)

Born about 1677 in Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Wife of Simon Willard — married 1700 in Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Wife of Samuel Farnsworth — married 12 Dec 1706 in Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

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Biography

Mary Whitcomb was the daughter of Josiah Whitcomb and Rebecca Waters: she is named in the wills of both as a daughter. She was born about 1677 in Lancaster, Massachusetts.^[1]

Mary married Simon Willard in 1700 in Lancaster.^[2] They lived in Lancaster,^[3] where they had the following children:

1. Aaron, born January 1701^[3]
2. Moses, born about 1702 or 1703^[3]
3. Eunice, owned the covenant and was baptized 10 May 1719, married 1724 to Joseph Daby, Jr. of Stow.^[3] Her estimated birth is about 1704
4. Alice, owned the covenant and was baptized 20 July 1718; married Capt. Jonathan Whitney.^[3] Her birth is estimated about 1705
5. Miriam, baptized 20 July 1707 "child of widow Mary Willard"; married Joseph Maynard and had issue.^[3] She was born sometime in 1706

Simon Willard died before 12 December 1706, when Mary remarried to Samuel Farnsworth,^[4] at Lancaster.^[5] They had children:

• Mary, born 13 September 1707 at Kingston, Massachusetts, married Jonathan Page^[4]
• Samuel, born 29 June 1709 at Groton, died unmarried^[4]
• David, born 4 August 1711 at Groton, married Hannah Hastings^[4]
• Abigail, born in 1713^[4]
• Stephen, born 1715 at Lunenburg, Massachusetts, died 6 September 1771 in Woodstock, Vermont, married Eunice Hastings^[4]
• Joshua, born 1721, died testate and unmarried^[4]

Mary's father, Josiah Whitcomb, left a will dated 20 March 1718 which names his "daughter Mary Farnsworth" among his other children.^[6] Mary, now wife of Samuel Farnsworth, and their children [not specifcally named] were also named in the will of Mary's mother, Rebecca Whitcomb, dated 27 May 1720. Rebecca named Mary's daughters Eunice Williard, Alice Willard alias Whitney, and Miriam Willard, daughters of Simon Willard, dec'd.^[7]

Her husband Samuel left a will dated 29 June 1727 and proved 21 August 1730.^[4] In it, he named Mary, his dearly beloved wife; his beloved sons [not named] were to receive an equal proportion of his estate, but son Samuel was to receive a third part more than his brothers; and daughters Mary and Abigail.^[8]

Mary died after she and her sons approved of the executor's account dated 21 August 1730.

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database (NO IMAGE), FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZKP-4QR : 15 January 2020), Mary Whitcomb, 1677, Lancaster.
2. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPCH-1N5R : 11 May 2022), Simon Willard and Mary Whitcomb, 1700; citing Marriage, Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony; FHL microfilm 007011279.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} Willard, Joseph, et al. Willard Genealogy, Sequel to Willard Memoir. Boston: Willard Family Association, 1915, p. 31-32. Archive.org.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7} Farnsworth, C. B. Matthias Farnsworth and his Descendants in America. Pawtucket, RI: the author, 1890, p. 86-103. Archive.org.
5. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPCH-1NRJ : 11 May 2022), Samuel Farnsworth and Mary Whitcomb Willard, 12 Dec 1706; citing Marriage, Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony; FHL microfilm 007011279.
6. ↑ "Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991", Middlesex Probate Papers, No 24392-24507, image 509 of 1311. Ancestry Sharing Link (free access) - Ancestry Image ($).
7. ↑ "Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991", Middlesex, Probate Papers, No 24392-24507, image 655 of 1311, Ancestry Sharing Link (free access) - Ancestry Image ($).
8. ↑ "Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991", Probate Records 1648-1924 (Middlesex County, Massachusetts). Ancestry Sharing Link (free access) - Ancestry Record 9069 #6604803 ($), Samuel Farnworth probate in 1727 in Middlesex, Massachusetts. Residence Groton, MA.

See also:

• Chute, William E. Genealogy and History of the Chute Family in America. Salem, MA: 1894, p. xlii. Archive.org0