William Gifford Jr. (abt. 1654 - bef. 1739)

Born about 1654 in Sandwich, Plymouth Colony [uncertain]

Husband of Hannah (Unknown) Gifford — married about 1675 in Falmouth, Plymouth Colony

Husband of Lydia (Hatch) Gifford — married 21 Jun 1711 in Falmouth, Barnstable, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died before 22 Oct 1739 before about age 85 in Falmouth, Barnstable, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

William was a Friend (Quaker)

Parentage; Date and Place of Birth

William Gifford Jr. was the son of William Gifford.^[1] His mother was the woman who was William Sr.'s wife before he married Mary Mills (whom he married in 1683).^[2] The name of William Sr.'s prior wife has not been established, but may have been Elizabeth Grant.^[3] William's date of birth is uncertain. Based on the date of birth of his first child (1676), William was probably born sometime in 1648-1654, with "about 1654" reflecting the cited Register article. Some online profiles for William state that he was born on February 16, 1656,^[4] but no reliable source supporting that date of birth has been found and, based on the date of William's first child in 1676, appears improbably late. Based on his parents' residency during the time frame of his date of birth, William was no doubt born in the Plymouth Colony, perhaps most likely at Sandwich.

First Marriage and Children

William married, first, a woman whose name may have been Hannah.^[5][6] Her maiden name is unknown.^[5] Based on the date of birth of their first known child, they were probably married about 1675.^[5]

William and Hannah had the following children, all born in Falmouth:

1. Gideon, b. October 6, 1676^[7]
2. Gershom, b. June 10, 1679^[7]
3. Seth, b. March 17, 1681, m. about March 1713 Johanna ______
4. Experience, b. October 7, 1685,^[8] m. May 23, 1710 John Wing, d. after 1750^[8]
5. Jabez, b. February 7, 1686/7^[8]
6. Mehitable, b. July 7, 1689,^[8] m. March 24, 1712/3 Samuel Willis at Dartmouth,^[8] d. January 18, 1782 at Dartmouth^[8]
7. Justice/Justus, b. October 12, 1691^[9]
8. Mary, b. May 25, 1694,^[9] m. April 6, 1724 Isaac Willis at Dartmouth,^[9] d. April 28, 1731 at Bridgewater^[9]
9. Hannah, b. October 24, 1696,^[9] m. 1st on August 31, 1721 Benjamin Jones,^[10] m. 2d September 14, 1732 Obediah Butler^[9]
10. William, b. February 16, 1699^[9]
11. Temperance, b. December 17, 1701,^[9] probably never married,^[9] living as of February 25, 1737^[9]

Williams's first wife, Hannah(?), died sometime between December 17, 1701 (date of birth of her last child) and June 21, 1711 (date of William's second marriage).

Second Marriage and Children

William married, second, Lydia Hatch on June 21, 1711 at Falmouth.^[5]

William and Lydia had the following children:

1. Amy, b. August 5, 1713,^[9] m. October 25, 1733 Humphrey Harrison at Falmouth,^[9] d. after September 10, 1739^[9]
2. Silas, b. June 30, 1715^[9]
3. Nathan, b. January 25, 1717,^[9] m. September 29, 1740 Mercy (Robinson) Weeks,^[9] d. November 1798 at Falmouth^[9]
4. Melatiah, b. May 4, 1719^[9]
5. Sarah, b. September 17, 1725,^[9] m. int. February 13, 1747/8 Ichabod Perry at Falmouth^[9]
6. Joseph, b. July 28, 1728^[9]

Occupation; Religion

William Gifford, like his father, was a Quaker.^[5]

His occupation is listed in legal documents sometimes as "weaver"^[11][12] and sometimes as "husbandman."^[11]

Death; Estate

William Gifford made his will (transcribed below) on February 25, 1737. It was probated at Sandwich on October 22, 1739.^[12] This means that William died sometime between the two dates.

An inventory of his estate, valued at about 341 pounds was presented by Joseph Lander on November 2, 1739.^[12]

Last Will & Testatment

In the name of God amen. I William Gifford of Falmouth in the County of Barnstable in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England made this my last will and testament being now through God's goodness of a disposing mind & memory. Item. my soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of the executor hereafter named and as to my outward estate which God hath given to me, I do thus dispose of in manner and form as followeth, first that all my just debts shall be paid out of my estate and my funeral charges paid out of my estate. Item I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Lydia Gifford one half of all my household stuff as beds puter [unreadable] iron ware chests and other household stuff or goods in said house besides her right of dower and [unreadable] as the law directs. Item my will will that my son Gideon shall have out of my moveable estate besides what he has had ten pounds to be paid by my executor within three years after my decease. 2 Item I give to my son Jabes Gifford forty pounds out of my moveable estate to be paid within three years after my decease. Item I give to my son Gershom Gifford ten pounds out of my moveable estate to be paid within three years of my decease. 4 Item I give to my daughter Experience Wing ten pounds out of my moveable estate within three years after my decease. 5 Item I give to my daughter Mehitable Willis ten pounds out of my moveable estate to be paid within three years after my decease. 6th my will is that my daughter Mary Willises children shall have ten pounds out of my moveable estate to be paid within three years of my decease. 7 my will is that my daughter Hanah Butler have ten pounds out of my moveable estate within three years of my decease. 8th my will is that my daughter Harris have ten pounds out of my moveable estate to be paid within three years after my decease. 9 my will is that my daughter Temperance Gifford have ten pounds out of my moveable estate to be paid within three years after my decease. 10 my will is that my daughter Sarah Gifford have ten pounds out of my personal estate to be paid within three years after my decease. Item: my will is that my son Justice Gifford have five shillings out of my moveable estate besides what I have given to him before. 12 my will is that my son Seth GIfford have five shillings out of my moveable estate besides what I have given him. 13 my will is that my son William Gifford have five shillings out of moveable estate within three years of my decease beside what I have given him. 14 my will is that my son Silas Gifford have five shillings out of my moveable estate besides what I have given him. 15 my will is that my son Nathan Gifford, my son Melaliah Gifford and my son Joseph Gifford have each of them five shillings out of my moveable estate to be paid within three years after my decease. After other sums above lett to each one then for each one to have left equally in proportion to what is given to each one as above and further tis my will that after my debts and funeral charges paid and the legacies as above said what shall remain of my moveable estate shall be equally divided to and amongst all my children above named: and further tis my will that my son Justice Gifford & Stephen Bowerman and Thomas Bowerman Jr. be executors to this my last will and testament if either of them executors shall dye before this will be proved that Benjamin Bowerman be executor in their [unreadable] that decease: In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 25th day of February 1737 & do pronounce and declare this to be my last will and testament in presence of us: Benjamin Swift, Samuel Bowerman, Ezra Borun.

William Gifford^[13][12]

Chronology of Records

• 1677. William Gifford and his wife were presented at a Court of 6 March 1676/7 for committing the sin of fornication before marriage or contract. Fined five pounds to the use of the Colony^[5]
• 1678. William Gifford and his cousins Samual and Josiah Gifford were among "the People called Quakers" who petitioned the Court 20: 2 mo: 1678 for their proportionate share of the Sandwich ministerial lands^[5]
• 1678. William Gifford and his father shown as landholders on Hog Island^[5]
• 1685. William Gifford and his father were founders of the Friends' Meeting at West Falmouth^[5]
• 1687. Will of William Gifford Sr bequeaths William "one stock of beese"^[5]
• 1691. The Falmouth Plain Lands, which ran from Tetaket to the River Head, distributed to a group of men including William Gifford and his brother John^[6]
• 1692. William Gifford is a witness to the marriage of Joe Jenkins at a Friends Meeting on 26 Oct 1692^[6]
• 1702. William Gifford serves on Grand Jury of 26 March 1702^[6]
• 1704. Marriage of Gershom Gifford takes place at house of William Gifford^[6]
• 1708. Zachariah Jenkins, late of Sandwich, by deed dated 8 June 1678, conveyed to William Gifford of Sandwich, weaver, 1/2 of his common right to town land.^[11]
• 1710. Witnesses to marriage of daughter Experience and John Wing include William Gifford, sons Seth and Justus, and daughters Mehitable and Mary.^[11]
• 1712. William Gifford of Falmouth, husbandman, deeds land to sons of deceased brother John Gifford.^[11]
• 1718. John Bursley, Senr, John Bursley, Junr, yeoman, and John Parsivall, Blacksmith, all of the Barnstable, and Jabez Blosson, cordwainer of the town of Sandwich, exchange land with William Gifford, weaver, late of Sandwich and now of Falmouth^[12]
• 1719. William Gifford serves on grand jury^[12]
• 1723. William Gifford chosen surveyor of highways^[12]
• 1730. Willam Gifford Sr, and sons Seth, Justice and William among Quakers dissenting from hiring of Rev. Samuel Power as town minister^[12]
• 1736. William Gifford chosen as surveyor of highways^[12]

^{[10] [4] [13] [12] [11] [6] [5] [1] [3] [2] [9] [7] [8]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Daniels, Almon E. "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d.1687)" New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 128 (1974). p 250. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Daniels, Almon E. "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d.1687)" New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 128 (1974). p 247. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Daniels, Almon E. "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d.1687)" New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 128 (1974). p 242, 246. Link to pages at americanancestors.org.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/181806254/william-ii-gifford : accessed 06 July 2021), memorial page for William II Gifford (16 Feb 1656–Oct 1739), Find A Grave: Memorial #181806254, citing Falmouth Old Burying Ground, Falmouth, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Sandie (contributor 46580210) .
5. ↑ ^{5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10} Daniels, Almon E. "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d.1687)" New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 128 (1974). p 255. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5} Daniels, Almon E. "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d.1687)" New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 128 (1974). p 256. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Daniels, Almon E. "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d.1687)" New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 128 (1974). p 259. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6} Daniels, Almon E. "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d.1687)" New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 128 (1974). p 260. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
9. ↑ ^{9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16 9.17 9.18 9.19 9.20 9.21} Daniels, Almon E. "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d.1687)" New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 128 (1974). p 261. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Mayflower Families Fifth Generation Descendants, 1700-1880. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017). From Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: Descendants of the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth, Mass., December 1620. Plymouth, MA: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1975-2015. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2728/i/48512/90/1415598013
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5} Daniels, Almon E. "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d.1687)" New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 128 (1974). p 257. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 12.9} Daniels, Almon E. "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d.1687)" New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 128 (1974). p 258. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Probate and Guardianship Records, 1674-1950 (Barnstable County, Massachusetts). Vol 5 (1720-1747), p 389. Link to page at ancestry.com.