John Webster Jr (1632 - 1716)

Born 1632 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts Bay [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Anne (Batt) Webster — married 13 Jun 1653 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 18 Oct 1716 at about age 84 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts

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Biography

John Webster, Jr. was born to John Webster and Mary Shatswell Webster in 1632, probably in England but possibly in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.

On 1 Mar. 1651 "These persons heer under mentioned are acknowledged to be ffreeholders and to have an interest in all comons belonging to the Towne as having lawfully purchased theyr prividedges from such as had the privideges estated on them by the Towne... Stephen Greenleaf from William ffracnkling sold now to John Webster..."^[1]

On 13 June 1653, John married Anne Batt in Newbury.^[2]

John was a blacksmith and was apprenticed to Daniel Pierce.^[3] He moved to Haverhill about 1653 but, were back in Newbury by 1657 where he was made a freeman on 29 Sept. 1657.^[4]

In 1658 there was some question as to the validity of an election of officers for the militia. This was brought to the attention of the General Court on 26 May 1658:

"In ansr to the petition of the inhabitants of Newbury &c humbly craving that they might have the bennefitt of the law that no man should have comand of the horse & ffoote both, that Capt Gerrish may be required to desert the horse & wholly attend th ffoote, or attend the horse & medle no more wth the ffoote, that so they may be excer by him upon whom they must depend in time of neede, i.e. theire leftnnt allowed & approved of by the Court. The Courte Judgeth it meete to graunt their request".^[5]

On that same day John Emery, John Webster and several others from Newbury were ordered "to appeare before the General Court in October next, to answer wt is laid agt them".^[6]

"October 19, 1658 the Court having heard the case relating to the military company peticon of Newbury, preferred by Jno Emory, Senr who, wth his sonnes, John Emery, Junr & Jno Webster & Solomon Keyes, have bian so busy & forward to disturbe the peace of the place by their actings in severall respects & occationed much trouble to this court in referrence thereto, Judg it meete to order that the said John Emory, Senr, Jno Emery, Junr, Jno Webster & Solomon Keyes be severally admonished to beware of the like sinfull practizes for time to come wch this court will not beare: and that they pay the severall chardges of theire neighbors at the last Court and this, in coming for reliefe from such under courses. Costs allowed in all, was fower pounds, eight shillings & ffees."^[7]

Military discipline was obviously impaired by these squabbles.

In the inventory of Anthony Colby, taken 9 Mar. 1660, John was owed 13s by the estate.^[8]

On 2 Mar. 1667/8 and again on 24 Mar. 1679/80 John was one of the people elected to be one of the Surveyors of Highways. On 18 Mar. 1673/4 he was one of the "way wardens, and such persons as have bin behind these two years shall attend when Capt Gerrish calls them to it to mend the way from the meeting-house to the mill".^[9]

"April 2, 1666 There is chosen by the Selectmen for fence viewers for the year ensuing William Sawyer, William Pilsbury for the further end of the new town to frog pond, Anthony Morse Senr & John Webster from thence to Goodman Moodys land..." He was chosen fence viewer again on 19 Mar. 1672/3, 25 Mar. 1674, 22 Mar. 1676/7, and 27 Mar. 1683. John Jr. took over 6 Apr. 1685.^[10]

John was also constable as on 23 Oct. 1668 the General Court replied to his petition:

"In ansr to the peticon of John Webster, constable of Newbury, humbly craving that his bill of charge expended on hue en cry &c, amounting to thirty six shillings, might be allowed him the Court judgeth it meete to refer the bill to the Treasurer of the Country to examine & allow what he sees & finds to be just".^[11]

On 31 Jan. 1670/1 the selectmen authorized Caleb Moody, John Hale, Benjamin Rolfe, John Webster, Abel Somerby, Nathaniel Clarke, Percivall Lowele, Jonathan Woodman, Daniel Thurston, Benjamin Lowle, and John Swett to build at their own expense "a pew in the south east corner of the meeting house" to be assigned to them for the use of their wives and daughters.^[12]

John was involved in the church controversies of the time and the Ipswich court 3 Nov. 1671 "which adjudged the said Mr Woodman, and party adhering to him, to pay the several fines under written, with the charge of the witnesses, and fees of court and that they all stand committed till the said fines, charges and fees be satisfied and paid... John Webster... a noble each."^[13]

The selectmen were instructed to see that the rules for preservation of ornamental trees were enforced and on 5 July 1673 they voted: "That whereas John Webster & Peter Toppan is complained of for cutting Downe trees in the Land that is called the burying place, we the selectment do order that Richard Dole & Samuel Plumer shall levy ten shillings upon John Webster & five shillings upon Peter Tappan for cutting downe the trees without order & John Webster for cutting downe a tree upon the hyway."^[14]

He and Ann were members of the Newbury church in 1674. He took the oath of allegiance at Newbury in 1678.^[15]

Ann and their children Nicholas, John and Sarah were mentioned in the will of their grandfather, Nicholas Batt, 18 June 1674.

John evidently contested his father-in-law's will:

"Will of Nicholas Batt was proved Mar. 26, 1678, and objection was made by John Webster.

Whereas Nicholas Batt of Newbury is lately deceased and the law gives liberty to prove a will before two magistrates, the clerk John Webster, who married the eldest daughter of said Batt, came to the Worshipfull Major Generall Denison, Esq., 6 : 9 m : 1677, and desired that no such will might be proved in private without his or his wife's knowledge, as they had something to say. They were so advised by the Honored Major Generall to have this caution entered.

Deposition of John Emery, Sr. and Mary his wife, that in 1653 John Webster married Ann Batt, daughter of Nicolas Batt and in consideration of their marriage Nicolas Batt promised to give to the said John Webster with his daughter Ann his house he then lived in and all his lands that he had with all the priviledges belonging unto them after his and his wife's decease, and did immediately give to the said Ann possession of part of it in lieu of the whole and John Webster hath enjoyed it as his own proper estate to this day without molestation; furthermore Nicolas Batt promised to weave all the cloth that she made for nothing. Sworn in Ipswich court Mar. 26, 1678.

Deposition of John Emery, Jr., aged about fifty years, that in 1653 on the day that John Webster was contracted to Ann Batt eldest daughter of Nicholas Batt of Newbury he being at his father Emryes house heard Goodman Batt say that while he lived he would weave cloth and after his decease and his wife's she as his heir should have all his houseing and lands for as his eldest daughter she should have a double portion and he accounted the houseing and land would amount to such a value; further Batt said that he would give his other children their portions as he could in his life time as he was able and in case he should die the other two daughters should have their portions out of his other estate. John Emery, Jr., confirmed this testimony Feb. 28, 1677 before Jo. Woodbridg, com.

Deposition of John Webster Jr., aged 22 years that about four or five months before the death of his grandfather Batt he heard his father and grandfather discoursing about building a room to his grandfather Batt's house and if he did, of his grandfather giving him security from damage and his grandfather said he need not fear coming to loss for he had made a will and all his land was given to him after his death and his mother's; further, that ever since he took notice of things his father had enjoyed the orchard behind the house as his own and he had heard both his grandfather and grandmother say that the orchard was his father's and that after their death he was to have all the rest of the lands.

John Webster Jr. confirmed this testimony Feb. 27, 1677 and John Webster Sr, before Jo. Woodbridg, com. Petition to the Ipswich court Apr. 30, 1678, of John Webster of Newbury, showing that Nicolas Batt late of Newbury did before the marriage of the petitioner to his daughter Ann, freely promise his house and lands with the priviledges thereto belonging, after his own and his wife's decease as a portion to his said daughter, yet notwithstanding, the said Nicolas Batt made his will and disposed of his land as his other estate (which your petitioner conceives was not bequeathable being before disposed of to him on the marriage of his daughter) and the petitioner is debarred from the possession of the said land till after the death of the relict of the said Nicolas, who being made executrix of the will offereth the land to sell, whereby the petitioner is endangered to be defeated of his just right, and he asks that the land may be secured and not alienated, or at least to accept this address into the public records of the court as a testimony of the petitioners continued claim.

The Court Apr. 30, 1678 ordered that it may be records."^[16]

"A list of their names who have taken the oath of allegience at Newbury, 1678... John Webster Sen aged 46, John Webster jun aged 22".^[17]

In the inventory of the estate of John Whittier of Newbury, taken 14 May 1679, John Webster was due 5s 6d.^[18] Similarly, in the estate of Nathaniel Parker of Newbury, 24 June 1679, John was owed £1 10s.^[19] And John was due 8s from the estate of Joseph Muzzy 29 Mar. 1681.^[20] Also the estate of Abraham Toppan of Newbury 27 Nov. 1672 owed John 11s.^[21]

At a meeting of the selectmen 31 May 1680: "It was ordered that all dry cattle that goes in the Towne Commons shall pay to the Dry herdsman as much as they doe that are driven up to Artechoke And all Inhabitants are hereby required to drive all their dry cattell up to artechoke Comons And John Webster & Moses Little & Henry Somerby are appointed to cleare the Cow Comons & to impound all horses & horsekind that are found unfettered upon the Cow Comons & to have two shillings a head according to Towne order to be paid by the owners, or else in case of refusall to be Leavyed on their estate by the Constable."^[22]

John was elected as one of the tithing men for 1682.^[23]

In the Town Rate of Newbury for 1688 there is a listing for John Webster Jr, however, no listing for John Sr unless he was the "Serj. Webster" listed.

John Webster died after 1716.^[24]

Sources

1. ↑ "History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902"- John Currier, Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1902- Vol. I, p. 93
2. ↑ Vital Records of Newbury, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Essex Institute, Salem, Mass., 1911)| Vol 2 Pt. 2, Page 503
3. ↑ "The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury"- David Hoyt, Snow & Farnum, Providence, 1897- Vol. I, p. 343
4. ↑ "History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902"- John Currier, Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1902- Vol. I, p. 101
5. ↑ "History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902"- John Currier, Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1902- Vol. II, p. 495
6. ↑ "History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902"- John Currier, Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1902- Vol. II, p. 495
7. ↑ "History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902"- John Currier, Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1902- Vol. II, p. 496
8. ↑ "The Probate Records of Essex County"- Vol. I, p. 408
9. ↑ "History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902"- John Currier, Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1902- Vol. I, pp. 110-1
10. ↑ "History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902"- John Currier, Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1902- Vol. I, pp. 115-6
11. ↑ "History of Newburyport"- John Currier, Newburyport, 1909- Vol. II, p. 50
12. ↑ "History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902"- John Currier, Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1902- Vol. I, p. 318
13. ↑ "Reminiscences of a Nonagenarian"- Sarah Anna Emery, William Huse & Co., Newburyport, 1879 - p. 145
14. ↑ "History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902"- John Currier, Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1902- Vol. I, pp. 127-8
15. ↑ "The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury"- David Hoyt, Snow & Farnum, Providence, 1897- Vol. I, p. 343
16. ↑ "The Probate Records of Essex County"- Vol. III, pp. 188-90
17. ↑ "History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902"- John Currier, Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1902- Vol. I, pp. 179-80
18. ↑ "The Probate Records of Essex County"- Vol. III, p. 311
19. ↑ "The Probate Records of Essex County"- Vol. III, p. 316
20. ↑ "The Probate Records of Essex County"- Vol. III, p. 415
21. ↑ "The Probate Records of Essex County"- Vol. II, p. 332
22. ↑ "History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902"- John Currier, Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1902- Vol. I, pp. 136-7
23. ↑ "History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902"- John Currier, Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1902- Vol. I, p. 118
24. ↑ Holman, Mary Lovering. Ancestry of Charles Stinson Pillsbury and John Sargent Pillsbury: compiled for Helen Pendleton (Winston) Pillsbury (N.p.: n.p., 1938)| Volume 2, Pg. 877

See Also:

• Hoyt, David W. The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury Massachusetts (Providence, Rhode Island, 1897)| Person 16, Page 343
• Source: S158 Title: George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D., Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine (Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York 1909) Repository: #R35
• Source S169 Holman, Mary Lovering. Ancestry of Charles Stinson Pillsbury and John Sargent Pillsbury: compiled for Helen Pendleton (Winston) Pillsbury (N.p.: n.p., 1938)| Volume 2, Pg. 877
• Source: S486 Title: William Richard Cutter, A. M., Genealogy - Boston and Eastern Massachusetts (Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, 1908)
• Some Descendants of John Moulton and William Moulton of Hampton, NH- Augustus F. Moulton, Portland, 1893- p.37
• Source: S-1722019870 Repository: #R-2145946579 Title: Massachusetts Applications of Freemen, 1630-91 Author: Ancestry.com Publication: The Generations Network, Inc. APID: 1,4296::0