Jonas Humphrey (bef. 1621 - abt. 1699)

Born before 2 Sep 1621 in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (UNKNOWN) Humphrey — married 1648 in Dorchester, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died about 11 Feb 1699 after about age 77 in Weymouth, Suffolk, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Jonas Humphrey immigrated to New England as a child during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).

Birth and Origins

Jonas was born before his baptism 2 September 1621 in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England, to Jonas Humphrey (1587-1662) and Elizabeth (Seamer) Humphrey (abt.1585-bef.1649).^[1]

He gave a deposition in 1688 that he was 68 at the time and that he had lived in Wendover, Bucks, England.^[2]

Immigration

Jonas most likely arrived in New England with his family. His father had arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts, no later than 10 Sep 1637, when he bought from William Hannam his house, home lot, great lot, his interest in the commons, and the part of the swamp that was granted to Hannam the same day,^[3]

Marriage and Children

Jonas married Martha (Unknown), probably in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts by about 1649.^[4] Together they had the following children:^[5]

1. Samuel Humphrey (1649-1732)
2. Nathaniel Humphrey (1652-1701)
3. Jonas Humphrey (1655-1689)
4. John Humphrey (1658-)
5. Sarah Humphrey (1661-)
6. James Humphrey (1665-1718)

Death and Probate

Dea. Jonas Humphrey died 11 Feb 1698/9 ae 79, recorded in Weymouth, Suffolk, Massachusetts.^[6]

His will was recorded 6 Aug 1692 in Weymouth, Suffolk County and proved 30 Mar 1699.^[7] An abstract of the will is here:^[8]

• Son Samuel orchard and pasture bought of Samuel Butterworth, with an acre of meadow on Western Neck, and the first share on Eastern Neck, also one-half of ten acres on Grape Island, also one acre of salt marsh by Richard Phillips on Salt Creek, and three-quarters of an acre next to James Smith, Sr.
• Son Nathaniel eighteen acres of pasture near his dwelling, except four acres next to Samuel Patty's; also one acre of salt marsh on Western Neck, and one and a half acres next to Natahant's Beach; also a share of land on Eastern Neck, with the use of half of the barn belonging to "my dwelling house," and the other half of the ten acres on Grape Island.
• Son James his homestead, about ten acres, with the fresh meadow on the other side of the way; also two acres on Grape Island, lately bought of Nathaniel Smith, and "my interest " in three acres on Back River, near Andrew Ford's; also one-half share on neck— about three acres; all of the salt marsh on Eastern Neck, and the four acres of land near Samuel Patty's.
• Divides equally between his three sons his lots in the first and second divisions, commons and swamp.
• Grandson James, when he shall arrive at twenty-one years, four acres of up-land by Natahant's Beach, on Eastern Neck; also eight pounds. [Son of Jonas.]
• Grand-daughter Mary, when she reaches eighteen years, five pounds.
• In case of the death of any of the heirs, the survivors are to have their portion.
• The remainder of the estate is to be divided into four parts — one to Samuel, one to Nathaniel, one to James and one to the three grand-children. [Children of Jonas.]
• Sons Samuel and Nathaniel executors

Burial

Jonas was buried in . ^[9] Has an image of a memorial headstone erected in the 1800s.

Sources

1. ↑ Frederick J. Nicholson, "The Family of Jonas Humfrey of Dorchester, Massachusetts," The American Genealogist, 68 (1993):14 (1993); images of p. 14 by subscription AmericanAncestors. Bishop's transcripts examined by the author.
2. ↑ Massachusetts State Archives collection, colonial period, 1622-1788, vol. 129 – Usurpation, 1688-1689; image 229 of 1278, p. 16 penciled top right corner at FamilySearch.org.
3. ↑ Fourth Report of the Record Commisioners of the City of Boston, 1880, Dorchester Town Records (Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, 1891); image 38 of 352 p. 24 at InternetArchive.org.
4. ↑ Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700, 2:819 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011), image of vol. 2, p. 819 by subscription AmericanAncestors.org.
5. ↑ Frederick Humphreys, The Humphreys Family in America 2:841 (New York: Humphreys Print, 1885); image of p. 845 at InternetArchive.org.
6. ↑ Vital Records of Weymouth, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850, Volume II - Marriage and Deaths 2:284 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1910); image of p. 284 at InternetArchive.org.
7. ↑ Probate Record #2508, Jonas Humphrey, Weymouth; Suffolk County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, 1636-1899, v. 13-14 1688-1701, Film # 584131, Image Group (DGS) # 7703074; Vol. 14, 1698-1701, pp. 24-26 at FamilySearch.org.
8. ↑ Frederick Humphreys, The Humphreys Family in America 2:841 (New York: Humphreys Print, 1885); image of p. 845 at InternetArchive.org.
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12553555/jonas-humphreys: accessed April 22, 2024), memorial page for Deacon Jonas Humphreys IV (2 Sep 1621–11 Feb 1699), Find A Grave: Memorial #12553555, citing North Weymouth Cemetery, Weymouth, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Mike Beard (contributor 46772843).

See also:

• FamilySearch Person: KN4L-PLS
• George Walter Chamberlain, History of Weymouth, Massachusetts..., Weymouth Historical Society (1923), p 302
• Wessagussett and Weymouth: An Historical Address by Charles Francis Adams, Jr, published by the Weymouth Historical Society, 1905 p 98
• Humphrey in George Thomas Little, Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine, New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co. (1909), page # unknown; digital transcript by Coralynn Brown.