John Spofford IV (1678 - 1736)

Born 24 Jun 1678 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Dorcas (Hopkinson) Spofford — married 15 Feb 1700 in Rowley, Massachusetts

Husband of Sarah (Poore) Perley — married 20 Dec 1717 (to 11 Oct 1735) in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Province

Descendants

Died 4 Oct 1736 at age 58 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Craig Spofford [send private message]

Sarah Wheeler Spofford gave birth to ,John on 24 Jun 1678 in Bradford, Massachusetts.

Capt. John Spaffard married Dorcas Hopkinson .on Feb. 15, 1699/1700;. They settled on the "old farm," and both died there. They had six children.

1. FRANCIS, b. Feb. 19, 1702; m. Priscilla Walcott.
2. JOHN, b. Mar. 19, 1704; m. Hannah Tyler.
3. ABNER, b. Aug. 21, 1705; m. Sarah Colman, of Byfield.
4. SARAH, b. Feb. 21, 1707; m. George Dickinson, 1734.
5. DORCAS, m. Samuel Bradstreet, Nov. 30, 1736; moved to Lunenburg, 1739.
6. MARY, m. Jacob Barker, of Andover.

John and Dorcas were admitted to the Bradford church, 11 Mar 1702.

After Dorcas died, John stated intention to marry Sarah Poor on 20 Dec 1717 in Newbury, Massachusetts. They had three children including a son Eliphalet who was our ancestor.. John and Sarah united with the second Rowley church at its formation in 1732. He presided at the first parish meeting on Oct. 5, 1731.

John appears to have been an industrious and thriving farmer. In his will, made about two months prior to his death, in August, 1735, he confirms to his sons, Francis, John, and Abner, deeds of lands,--probably farms which he had already given them,--and makes ample provision for his second wife, Sarah, and "our three little sons."

He died of cancer on Oct. 4, 1735, and lies buried in the old cemetery in Georgetown.

Sources

• Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Rowley, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849. (Salem, Massachusetts: Essex Institute, 1928-1931), 522. Spofford, John, Lt. ["Capten" G.R.2], cancer, [died] Oct. 11, 1735, a. 57.
[GR2=Union Cemetery, Georgetown; birth calculates to about 1678.] 
* Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Rowley, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849. (Salem, Massachusetts: Essex Institute, 1928-1931), 202. Spofford, John (Spofard), s. John and Sarah, [born] June 24, 1678.
• Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 (Rowley Marriages) (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2010). Accessed August 9, 2014.
• A genealogical record including two generations in female lines of families, spelling their name Spofford, Spafford, Spafard, and Spaford, descendants of John Spofford and Elizabeth Scott, who emigrated, in 1638, from Yorkshire, England, and settled at Rowley, Essex County, Mass. By Dr. Jeremiah Spofford ... Memorial ed. by his daughter, Aphia T. Spofford. Published 1888 by Printed by A. Mudge & son in Boston. https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalreco00spof#page/40/mode/2up
• Roberts, Gary Boyd; Ancestors of American Presidents; New England Historic Genealogical Society; Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; 2009
• Blodgette, Geroge Brainard; Jewett, Amos Everett Title: Early settlers of Rowley, Massachusetts Publication: Name: Rowley, Massachusetts, 1933; NOTESource Medium: Book CONT
• Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.) Case 25996: Will.

Notes

• This person was created through the import of Geer.ged on 25 September 2010.

Matthew A Stickney, "Ancient Tax List if the Town of Rowley," NEHGR 15: 253, approximately 166-1664, including Thomas Nelson, John Spofford, John Dreser, Uxor (= wife) Dickinson, John Pearson.

Married #2 Sarah (Poor) Hale.