Joseph Sylvester (1638 - 1690)

Born 12 Apr 1638 in Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 1690 at about age 51 in Quebec, Canada

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Biography

JOSEPH SYLVESTER

b. 12 Apr. 1638 Weymouth

m. by 1664 MARY BARSTOW (b. 28 Dec. 1641 Dedham, d. 21 Mar. 1715 Scituate, adm. 27 May 1715) d. of William & Ann (Hubbard) Barstow

adm. 17 Mar. 1690/1 Scituate

Joseph received two parcels of land in Scituate from his father-in-law William Barstow. He also bought land from John Whiston. His farm was in north of Church Hill in the southern part of town (now Norwell). His house was burned down by the Indians during King Philips War in 1676 and was considered the most valuable home destroyed.^[1]

On 29 Oct. 1670 Joseph was appointed guardian for his nephew John Lowell, Jr. of Rehoboth and on 8 Mar. 1670/1 Joseph’s youngest brother, Benjamin, chose his brothers, Joseph and Israel to be his guardians.^[2]

On 5 Mar. 1683/4 Joseph took over for his brother-in-law, Joseph Barstow, as innkeeper at the North River, Scituate, the General Court granting “lycence unto Joseph Silvester to keep an ordinary att the North River for the entertainment of strangers, and to be well provided for the nesserayes for theire entertainment both for them in respect of good diet and Lodging, and for their horse alsoe that he be fited with good provender for them; and that hee keep good order in his house, that he inqurr noe just blame through his negligence in that behalf; and that it shalbe in his liberty to entertain such of their own town as hee shall see cause, and too keep out others as hee shall see reason.”^[3] At the Court of Common Pleas in Sept. 1687 Joseph Silvester of Sittuate was fined £3 for the unlicensed sale of liquor.^[4] And at the court held in Sept. 1688 and 1690 Capt. Joseph Silvester was licensed as an Innholder in Scituate.^[5]

Joseph was a representative to the General Court in 1689 and 1690.

Joseph was promoted to a captain under Col. Benjamin Church in the expedition against the eastern Indians in 1689, being one of 16 Scituate men. During the expedition against Canada he became ill and received medical attendance and nursing for some time prior to his demise. He made a nuncupative will on 22 July 1690 before Benjamin Stetson Jr., John and William Perry who gave the following statement:

"The 22d Day of July 1690. We heard Captain Joseph Silvester say that he was going to warr and had not made any settlement of my estate bu he said that it is my will that my son Joseph shall have all the land that is at Hughs Cross and three acres of swamp up the Brooke and all the rest of my Estate I leave and Give to my Wellbeloved wife Mary Silvester to be at her disposing to bring up my Little Children. And when they be Brought up then if my wife pleaseth she may divide it amongst them only my son Joseph shall have a double portion. If the Land above said be not enough but he shall have it in movable and not in Lands ffarther I will if it may be that the other lands be divided among my three youngest Boys that is to say if it be not expended in Bringing them up Further I will that if any of my Children should be disabled they should be considered by my wife so I leave it all with my wife and the advice of her friends.^[6]

Benjamin Stetson Junr and William Perrey made oath before the County Court at Plymouth March 17th 1690/91 that on the date of the day above sd they were present with Captain Joseph Silvester above said and heard him verbally Declare what is above written to be his mind and will and within two days after the same was spoken they committed the same to writing. And the sd Perrey further made oath that he showed the above writing to said Capt Silvester in some short time after sd words were spoken and he then fully approved thereof and sd it was his will.

Scituate ye 29th 1690/91
An Inventorie taken of the Estate of Captain Joseph Silvester of Scituate Deceased…

Imprs In Books of all sorts...............................01 11 00
In the parlor a Table forme and chaires In the east
chamber to bedsteads & old bed...................01 13 00
And a coverled and a chest.............................01 10 00
In wearing cloaths............................................10 05 00
In Linnen 12 diaper napkins............................00 15 00
A diaper Table cloth.........................................00 10 00
A callicoe Table cloth........................................00 07 00
Six napkins more four shillings.......................00 04 00
Four pillow cotes and 4 towels.......................00 07 00
Six pair of sheets..............................................05 10 00
A chest with a rug and coverlid with some small
things.................................................................01 15 00
In new cloth.......................................................02 07 00
In cotton and sheeps wool..............................00 18 00
In pewter five quart pots 8 platters & a still.03 08 00
More in small potts dishes & sawcers...........00 10 06
In Brass 2 kettels 2 skillets & a warming pan &
[  ? ]..................................................................03 05 00
In Glasses..........................................................00 07 00
A tub of Porke...................................................02 00 00
More porke.......................................................02 10 00
Bief and venison..............................................01 15 00
A firkin of salt....................................................01 18 00
Butter and cheese and candles......................01 10 00
Syder five Barrels.............................................02 00 00
Malasses honey and sugar.............................02 00 00
In fflax and trays..............................................02 18 00
In Dishes trenchers and Earthen ware..........00 16 04
In pailes wheeles and cards............................00 09 00
In cieves sifting trough and Bottles................00 13 00
A tub two coolers and two keelers?...............01 03 00
And a cheese press and Cradle a peck & ½
peck....................................................................00 11 00
In horse furniture.............................................01 10 00
A cart and wheels a plough & spade..............02 07 00
4 guns 3 pistols a cutlass powder shot cattouch
bags....................................................................07 11 00
A syder mill and press a grinding stone & a
yoak....................................................................01 16 00
In three pichforks two racks...........................00 05 00
In Rum and wine and mint water...................02 10 00
In tobacco and Baggs.......................................01 05 00
In iron ware two kittles one pot & a dripping
pan.....................................................................01 16 00
More fire slice tongs gridiron and chaffing
dish.....................................................................00 18 00
More a smooking Iron flesh hooke and spit.00 08 00
More trammels and stilliards..........................01 02 00
In Andirons........................................................01 02 00
Nine Axes six hoo’s three sickles 4 sythes.....01 16 00
Draw-shave Augers chisels hamers...............00 07 06
In plowshares boxes and hoopes & chains...05 05 00
In old Iron..........................................................01 13 00
In cask & old lumber........................................01 16 00
In neat cattel 2 oxen.........................................07 00 00
Seven cows........................................................13 00 00
Two 2year olds 5 yearling 3 calves................10 00 00
Horse kind- one horse 2 mares one coalt.....12 10 00
22 sheepe..........................................................05 00 00
Five swine..........................................................02 10 00
In Hay.................................................................05 00 00
In corne and malt.............................................05 02 00
More a trundle bedstead 2 chests with small
things.................................................................01 10 00

In Lands 21 Acers of Land lying near a place Called
Hughs Cross......................................................30-00-00
Three Acres of meadow lying on the North
River...................................................................15-00-00
A tract of land lying near a place Called
Drinkwater........................................................10-00-00
Six acres of Land lying near Hanmers hooke So
called.................................................................03-10-00
24 acres of upland and meadow at ye fresh marsh
So called..........................................................036-00-00
10 acres Purchased of Thomas Lappum....003-00-00
20 acres Bought of Richard Dwelley............005-00-00
The Dwelling house Barne and outhouses with 16
acres of Land adjoining to it.........................120-00-00
In Two Negro Servants..................................030-00-00
Due in a Bill and some Coopers Timber......005 13 00

Due to the estate for money Lent and otherwise
due as by a paper under his hand appears.014 03 06
In cash..............................................................001 12 00
The Totall.........................................................401 15 06

Due to the estate since called to mind........002 10 00
Besides His wages due for his Service in the Canada
Expedition which is about 30£......................030 00 00

Debts due from the Estate
Item for money owing at Boston..................002 10 00
More For money Borrowed at Boston.........001 10 00
More for debts due........................................000 13 00
More Indebted................................................001 07 00
More For Expenses in his Sickness at Boston.003 08 00
More in debts..................................................001 05 00
More in Debts.................................................000 09 00
More for funeral charges..............................005 05 00
............................................................................16 07 00"^[7]

At the Plymouth County Court held in March 1691/2 was presented the referee’s report on the settlement of the estate of Capt. Joseph Silvester, late of Scituate. The Court ordered that 1. “the Eldest son [Joseph] shall have the value of 44 pounds in Lands which hee accepts of viz: 21 acres of Land at hughs cross, three acres of meadow lying at the North River and a peace of land in partnership with his Uncle Joseph Barstow lying near a place called Drinkwater, all which is now valued at forty-four pounds. And the Widow [Mary] of said Deceased… Quit claim to her thirds or dower in the abovementioned parcels of land to her said Eldest son”. 2. The widow to have “the thirds or one third part” of the rest for thee rest of her life and the sole use of the other two thirds until her youngest son comes of age or dies. 3. The remaining two thirds be equally divided among all the “then surviving sons” of the deceased reserving to the widow her dower. 4. That £30 be paid by the administratrix out of the estate to each of the three daughters, the two eldest, married daughters to be paid right away and the youngest to be paid when she marries or becomes 21. 5. The remainder “which by the inventory amounts to about eighty five pounds” to remain for the use of the widow for ever for her bringing up the youngest children and her own part of thirds thereof”. ^[8]

"Sittuate the twenty eight day of July in the year one thousand seven hunderead and fifteen

An inventory taken of the Esteat of mary Silvester who deceased the twenty first day of march last…

In wearing clothes and linen..........................04-11-00
More in bookes and beding...........................17-14-00
More one putter and lead still........................01-10-00
More in two cowes...........................................08-00-00
More in chaines................................................00-16-00
More in putter and brase and Iron................05-03-06
More in pleat?...................................................01-01-10
More in one peer of stillyeads........................00-10-00
More in Lumber...............................................01-05-00
...........................................................................42-10-6
Charles Stockbridg
William Berrey

The twenty eight day of July 1715
Debts due from ye Esteat of ye widow mary Silvester deceased

To funarall Charges.........................................02-13-10
To ye dockter dixen.........................................00-10-00
To ye Prisers.....................................................00-04-00
To mary Curtis for nursing & mony paid......00-10-00
To docter Jacob................................................00-02-00
..........................................................................42=10=6"^[9]

In the distribution of the estate of Mary Silvester, widow of Joseph Silvester, the eldest son Joseph received two shares, and Benjamin, David, Amos, Mary Curtis, Anne Bates, and Naomi Turner received one share each. The inventory was done 22 Oct. 1715. In the settlement of the accounts her daughter Mary Curtis stated that she nursed her mother during her last sickness.^[10]

The settlement & Devision of the estate of goods & chattels of mary Silvester widow of Joseph Silvester late of Sittuate in the County of Plimouth, decd to & Amongst her Children as follows

The Inventory of the said Estate given in by Amos Stilvester
the Administrator amount to the sum of....42=10=6

The funeral charges & Debts to......................3=19=10
To the Probate office........................................1= 2 = 0
..........................................................................05=11=10
To the Administrators time &c.........................0=10=0
............................................................................36=18=8

There Remains to devide into Eight parts that is to
say to each share............................................... 4=12=4
To Joseph the Eldest son of the sd decd 2
shares...................................................................9=4=8
To Benjamin the 2d son...................................4=12=4
To David the 3d son..........................................4=12=4
To Amos the 4th son.........................................4=12=4
To Mary Curtis the Eldest daughter................4=12=4
To Anne Bates 2d daughter.............................4=12=4
To Naomy Turner 3d daughter.......................4=12=4
..........................................................................36=18=8

To be paid to each of them by Amos Silvester the Administrator"^[11]

As a reward for Joseph's services in the Indian wars, a grant of land was made to him and his company, by the General Court, which was designed to have been in Maine, but which, when the line was run between the Provinces, proved to be in New Hampshire; and on a representation of these facts by Charles Turner, and others, agents for the claimants, in 1765, a new grant was made in Maine, on condition that 30 families and a minister should be settled, and a meeting-house built, within six years; and this is now known as the town of Turner, Maine.^[12]

Children

All born in Scituate and bpt. at the Second Church.

I. Joseph- b. 11 Nov. 1664, bpt. 12 Feb. 1664/5, m. Apr. 1690 Plymouth, Hannah Bartlett (b. 17 Feb. 1671/2 Marshfield, d. before 4 Mar. 1754 Plymouth), d. 4 Mar. 1754 Plymouth????

II. Mary- b. 24 Dec. 1666, bpt. 21 Mar. 1666/7, m. 1689 Scituate, Benjamin Curtis (b. Jan. 1666/7 Scituate)

III. Anna- b. 5 May 1669, bpt. 20 June 1669, m. Joseph Bates (bpt. 20 Nov. 1653 Hingham, d. 9 July 1740 Hanover), d. 15 Aug. 1742 Hanover

IV. Naomi- bpt. 19 Nov. 1671 Scituate, d.s.p.

V. Solomon- bpt. 31 Mar. 1674 Scituate, d.s.p.

VI. Naomi- b. 5 Mar. 1677/8, bpt. 16 June 1678, m. 27 Nov. 1705 Scituate, Abner Turner (b. July 1672 Scituate, d. 1721 Scituate), d. 13 July 1739 Hanover

VII. Benjamin- b. 11 Dec. 1680, bpt. 15 May 1681, m.1. 16 Nov. 1710 Scituate, Jerusha Wheaton (d. before May 1718), 2. 8 May 1718 Scituate, Ruth Woodworth (b. May 1687 Scituate, d. 20 Mar. 1762 Hanover), d. 14 Mar. 1760 Hanover

VIII. David- b. 20 Apr. 1683, bpt. 10 June 1683, d. 7 Mar. 1732/3 Hanover

IX. Amos- b. 15 Nov. 1685, bpt. 30 May 1686, m. 20 Nov. 1706 Scituate, Elizabeth Hincksman (b. 17 July 1685 Scituate, d. 11 Feb. 1762 Hanover), d. 23 Oct. 1753 Hanover

Sources

1. ↑ Richard Silvester of Weymouth and Some of his Descendants- Albert Silvester, NEHGR- Vol. 85, pp. 247-65, 357-62 (July & Oct. 1931)
2. ↑ Richard Silvester of Weymouth and Some of his Descendants- Albert Silvester, NEHGR- Vol. 85, pp. 247-65, 357-62 (July & Oct. 1931)
3. ↑ Richard Silvester of Weymouth and Some of his Descendants- Albert Silvester, NEHGR- Vol. 85, pp. 247-65, 357-62 (July & Oct. 1931)
4. ↑ Plymouth Co. Court Records- Vol. I, p. 5
5. ↑ Plymouth Co. Court Records- Vol. I, pp. 9, 16
6. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-JDP9 : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1686-1702 and 1849-1867 vol 1-1F > image 45 of 490; State Archives, Boston.
7. ↑ Plymouth County Registry of Probate- Vol. I, pp. 76-8, Docket No. 19986
8. ↑ Plymouth County Court Records- Vol. I, p. 25
9. ↑ Plymouth Co. Registry of Probate- Docket No. 20004
10. ↑ Richard Silvester of Weymouth and Some of his Descendants- Albert Silvester, NEHGR- Vol. 85, pp. 247-65, 357-62 (July & Oct. 1931)
11. ↑ Plymouth Co. Registry of Probate- Docket No. 20004
12. ↑ John Stetson Barry, http://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00barry | A Historical Sketch of the Town of Hanover, Mass., with family genealogies, Drake, Boston, 1853

• Abstracts of the Plymouth County Probate Records and Files- Will of Joseph Silvester- The Mayflower Descendant- Vol. XXX, pp. 138-9
• Barry, John Stetson. A Historical Sketch of The Town of Hanover, Mass., with Family Genealogies (S.G. Drake, Boston, 1853) Page 22.