Phillip Dexter (1659 - bef. 1741)

Born Sep 1659 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Alice (Worthelike) Robinson — married 8 Dec 1720 in Falmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died before 10 Jun 1741 before age 81 in Falmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Philip was born in September 1669 to William Dexter and Sarah Vincent.^[1]

From Genealogy of the Dexter Family in America:^[2]

Phillip spent his early days in Barnstable, but at the time of his marriage to Alice Allen, he moved to Falmouth, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was miller there many years. At one time he was complained of for charging to high, but as he was the only miller, the people were dependent upon him. A committee was sent to consult with him, but the record does not reveal the result, but at a later period he was paid by the town 30 pounds for his part of the mill and the land that the pond covered, so it may be that the matter was settled in that way. In 1712 he and Thomas Bowerman were appointed to lay out land of the "New Purchase" into lots, etc. He was selectman, and also town clerk.

From the Falmouth town book, on March 25, 1701, he was made surveyor.^[3]On December 26, 1701, the town recorded that he should "be paid [for] the towne houses" out of the town treasury.^[4] Philip was chosen town Selectman at Falmouth on March 25, 1701,^[3] and March 26, 1702/3.^[5]

Philip Dexter was among those who, having paid their equal part of "the new purchase" - a piece of land in Falmouth on the border with Sandwich - was voted on and admitted as, on August 22, 1704, one of the proprietors as having an equal share in that land.^[6]

On February 27, 1704/5, the town voted that John Robinson and Philip Dexter not be emplored any longer as agents for the obtaining of a minister.^[7] On March 20, 1705/6, he was chosen grand inriman for the year ensuing^[8] He was chosen on January 29, 1706/7 to make a "dilligent serch into ye booke of Records of Land" to see if the meadow "parsonage" had been divided.^[5] On March 7, 1706/7, "Philip Dexter chosen cons^t and his son Jabiz Dexter was [illegilbe]pted of by y^e town to serve in his fathers stead".^[9]

On February 17, 1713/4, the town of Falmouth voted to give Philip £30 for his part of the mill, and as much land as the mill pond would cover.^[10]

He had nine children:

1. Joseph
2. Philip
3. Jabez, b. bef. 1687 (made oath to be constable at Falmouth in 1707)^[11]
4. John, b. bef. 1703 (probate in 1723)^[12]
9. maybe Sarah, b. July 31, 1691 at Falmouth (parents not listed)^{[13][See Research Notes]}

Philip Dexter married Alce Allen at Falmouth on December 8, 1720.^[14]

Phillip Dexter of Falmouth wrote his will in 1727 (day and month not recorded).^[15] His will was witnessed by Daniel Parker, John Bowen, and Elisha Parker. In it he mentions:

"I give and bequeeth to my two sons Joseph & Phillip..."

"I give to all the other children... to be equally divded among them six..."

"my [illegible] son Jabez of Rochester my sole Executor..."

He mentions the 'other six' before mentioning Jabez, but all within the same item. This suggests that Jabez is included in those six. By this count, Phillip would have eight children at the time he wrote his will.

He was aged 82^[16] when he died, before June 10, 1741 when his will was recorded into probate.^[15]

His inventory was taken June 17, 1741, and was valued at £263-16-7.^[15]

Research Notes

Most if not all of his children were adults by his will, 1727. This suggests that Allice Allen was a second wife, and not the mother of perhaps all of his children. An Alce (Worthelike) Allen was widowed in 1717 in Sandwich. It's possible that this was his (second) wife. No other Allice Allen seems to have been near Falmouth at the time.

An Alice Dexter and Isaac Robinson published their intention of marriage August 22, 1741,^[17] and were married September 9, 1741.^[18] This was probably Isaac Robinson Sr., as Isaac Jr. was married at this point. Isaac Sr. was in the same generation as Philip, suggesting that this was his widow.

A Sarah Dexter was born at Falmouth July 31 (the last day of July), 1691.^[13] It's possible this was a daughter of his. Considering his children seem to have been born sometime before 1700, its possible Sarah was born about the time Philip came to Falmouth - the earlest record of him in Falmouth is in 1701, though there are not many records before then. This Sarah seemed to have married Job Hall in 1719.

Sources

1. ↑ The Mayflower Descendant (Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Boston, 1902), vol. 4, p. 223
2. ↑ Warden, p. 16
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Falmouth Town Book, p. 4 (original), or p. 7 (silk)
4. ↑ Falmouth Town Book, p. 3 (original), or p. 5 (silk)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Falmouth Town Book, p. 5 (original), or p. 9 (silk)
6. ↑ Freeman: Vol. 2, Page 434
7. ↑ Falmouth Town Book, p. 9 (original), or p. 14 (silk)
8. ↑ Falmouth Town Book, p. 9 (original), or p. 17 (silk)
9. ↑ Falmouth Town Book, p. 7 (original), or p. 12 (silk)
10. ↑ Falmouth Town Book, p. 10 (original), or p. 18 (silk)
11. ↑ Falmouth Town Book, p. 9 (original), or p. 15 (silk)
12. ↑ Barnstable Probate Records, vol. 4, pp. 119-120
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Falmouth Town Book, p. 40 (original), or p. 112 (silk)
14. ↑ Falmouth Town Book, p. 24 (original), or p. 86 (silk)
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2} Barnstable Probate Records, vol. 6, p. 49
16. ↑ Freeman: Vol. 2, Page 446
17. ↑ Falmouth Town Book, p. 79 (original), or p. 149 (silk)
18. ↑ Falmouth Town Book, p. 90 (original), or p. 151 (silk)

• Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Probate Records. Digital images. FamilySearch, DGS film 007705402 ("Barnstable Probate records v. 6-7 1740-1774").
• Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Falmouth Town Book, 1668-1753. Digital images. FamilySearch, DGS film 007009728 ("1668-1753 Births, marriages, deaths, publishments, etc.").
• Warden, William Albert, and Robert L. Dexter. Genealogy of the Dexter Family in America: Descendants of Thomas Dexter; Together with a record of other allied families (The Blanchard Press, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1905)
• Freeman, Frederick. The History of Cape Cod. The Annals of Barnstable County, Including the District of Mashpee. (Geo. C. Rand & Avery, Boston, 1858)

See Also:

• Otis, Amos. Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families (F.B. & F.P. Goss, Barnstable, Mass., 1888-1890)