Michael (Dwinnell) Dwinell (1640 - 1717)

Born 1640 in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts

Husband of Mary (Unknown) Dwinell — married 1668 in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died Mar 1717 at about age 77 in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts

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Biography

Note: Parents are uncertain. Review Uncertain Parents section

Michael Dwinnell Sr. was born about 1640, perhaps in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts. Some sources say he was born in Europe. He married Mary (Unknown) ^{[citation needed]} about 1667 in Topsfield. (No quality sources found have her last name.)^[1] They settled in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts where they were large landowners. They owned land from Wenham to Middleton, Massachusetts. They lived in Topsfield at the same time as the Isaac and Mary (Towne) Estey family and were there during the witch hysteria of 1692.

Michaell Donnell took the oath of allegiance to England at Topsfield on December 18, 1678.

Their nine children were born in Topsfield. Mary Dwinnell Hovey was born on 21 Jan 1668. Dr. Michael Dwinnell was born in 1670, Thomas Dwinnell was born in Nov 1672, John Dwinnell was born on 16 Dec 1674, Elizabeth Dwinnell was born in 17 Apr 1677. Magdalen Dwinnell Holgate Clough as born on 24 Feb 1679, Joseph Dwinnell was born on 26 Jan 1682, Susannah Dwinnell Devenish Killam was born on 5 Sep 1687, Joanna Dwinnell Hood was born on 5 Sep 1688.

In 1684, Michael was on the list of members in full Communion at the church in Topsfield when Joseph Capen was ordained. They (Michal Donnell) were taxed in Topsfield in 1688.

Topsfield Historical Collections Volume 11 relates: "At a Lawfull meeting of ye Town of Topsfield the 2 day March 1702/8 . . . Michill Dwaniell & John Town are chosen hogringers. . .At a Lawfull and Generall meeting of ye Town of Topsfield on ye fourth Day of March 1706-7 . . . Thomas Perley and Micheal Dwaniel are Chosen Constables for ye year Insuing."

His will was dated 29 Jan 1710. The Compendium of American Genealogy, 1600s-1800s states that he died in 1713 or 1717 and his will was proved in March 1717 and according to the Essex County Probate Index his will was filed on 3 Mar 1718 in Topsfield.

Michael made provisions for Mary, his widow in his will since as a married woman she was not able to own any property in her own name: "...my Son John Shall have ye Barn, only allowing his Mother so much of It as she shall have occasion for her own use, and Benefit during her Natural life. . .my Son John & Joseph shall keep for my wife Two Cows and a Horse. And Ten Sheep—my wife finding fodder for them—Also she shall have liberty of milking ye Cows in pasture."

Will of Michael Dunnel^[2]

In the name of God, Amen. The 29 Day of January 1710 Michael Dunnell of Topsfield being in perfect Memory & Remembrance yet Throu Infirmity of Body, being put in mind of my Mortality, I doe make this my Last Will & Testament. In manner & form as follows First I Commit my Soul into ye hands of God, who gave It, & my Body to a Decent burial, In hopes of a glorious Ressurrection, at ye last Day. Throu ye power & meritts of Jesus Christ my Lord—and as for my Out ward Estate yt God hath given mee I Doe Give & bequeathe, as followeth

1. My Will is. That all my Lawfull Debts be paid out of my Estate, by my Executrix hereafter mentioned & funeral charges.

Item, I give and bequeathe Unto my son Michaell, all yt parcell of Land abounding his house, as he hath improved for himself— Also a parcell of Meadow joyning to said Upland, as It is bounded by a Cart Way, to mr Joseph Porters Line : Lyeing like a halfe Moon & Called ye Swamp Meadow, binding him ye said Michaell to maintain a good fence, half the way between us : And I do give to my son Michaell a parcell of Swamp Land, Lying on ye West side of ye high way to Salem, as It is bounded, and Lying by Mr. Joseph Porters, Grand Hill—further I Doe give to my said son Michaell a Purcell of Upland & Meadow bounded by ye Corner of ye Town bridge, running southerly round a Cove as ye fence goes to a pair of Barrs, on a straite Line, to Joseph Towne his new Dwelling house till it meet the River, and so by ye River to the Bridge Again.

Item, I Doe Give & bequeathe to my Son Thomas—all the Land, he is possessed of, about his house & from Town's Land, as he is bounded on ye West Side, on both corners of his house Lott, running Easterly till It meets with Salem Line ; being a Triangle piece of about Two Acres, be it more, or less as it is bounded, Also his parcell of ye Swamp, as it is divided with his brothers. Also Three Acres and a halfe of ye River Meadows, bounded by Michaells Meadow & ye East End Two Acres, and a halfe, and by the Westerly angle bounded from the Southerly side of ye Ford & so T0 joyn upon Two acres & halfe of Upland as afore mentioned

Item, I Doe give to my Son John ye North End of my Dwelling house & halfe my home roads, upon the Consideration He Shall pay Ten Pounds, as I shall order in this my Will—Also my Will is tht my Son John shall have his Division in my Swamps, & halfe ye Cow pasture, also halfe ye River Meadow of what shall be left when Michaell and Thomas shall be measured off—Also my will is my Son John Shall have ye Barn, only allowing his Mother so much of It as she shall have occassion for her own use, and Benefit during her Natural Life.

Item, I give to my Son Joseph his Division in the Swamps together with an equal Division as Michael Jr. and those mentioned to John—my will is that they both carry on together if they can— if not, then Divide half of my home goods between them, & my Will is that Joseph shall pay Ten pounds, as I shall order & yt Joseph shall have equal share with John, in my River Meadow & further my will is yt my Son John & Joseph shall keep for my wife Two Cows and a Horse, and Ten Sheep—my wife finding fodder for them—Also she shall have liberty of milking ye Cows in pasture— further my Will is yt John shall pay Five pounds to my Daughter Mary Hovey and Five pounds to my Daughter Elizabeth and Twenty Shillings to my Daughter Susannah Killum's child. Also my will is my Son Joseph shall pay to my daughter Maudlin Wholewright Five pounds to my Daught Johanna Five pounds, & to my Daughter Killum's child, Twenty Shillings

Further my will is yt Joseph shall have no power to sell my Land, without by power of His Mother, and she not to Grant any without by advise & counsell of Mr. Joseph Porter, Deacon Saml Howlett & Abram Glover, my tried, and faithfull friends, to oversee that matter.

Further my will is, that my son Holgate, shall have the use of One Acre of Land, in the Corner, of yt part of my home Road, as is to my Sons, Michael, John & Joseph, next to ye high way by Mr. Joseph Porters Line, if said Holgate shall see cause to come, and live upon it, in his life time.

Item, I Doe give & Bequeathe to my beloved wife Mary The East end of my Dwelling house, with all my land from the corner of my Son John's Orchard—Down to the Middle of the House, to the two Chimnies, from between the Two houses southerly to the Bars, before the Doors, so on a straite Line to Mr. Joseph Porters Line, With both my Orchard Cellars, and Cydar Mill Also all my house hold Goods, and moveables, a Horse, and Two Cows, and Ten Sheep to be kept by my son John and Joseph Summer and Winter, only she find fodder for them, further my will is I Doe constitute my beloved wife Sole Executrix to this my last will and Testiment. In Testimony hereof, I have hereunto Sett my hand & seal this Twenty ninth day of June Seventeen hundred and Ten & in the Tenth year of ye Reigne of our Soveraign Lady Queen Anne 1710. Witnesses: John How, Michael Dunnel, Samuel Howlett, Abram How

Whereas It was forgott, in the other side of this my will to make Disposition and sale of what is in my Wife's hands C S to Lands, or other Estate, My Will is I Doe hereby Impower my beloved wife Mary to make free & full Disposal as she shall see Good, only not from my children. To whom -& of whom she shall see Good, for yt is always to be understood yt my will is yt all my wife Doe— The Land shall not be sold from my sons, or given from my sons, provided They shall be willing to Give as any other will & also all parcells Of Lands to give my Sons that shall be Living to have refusal of it—yt my Lands may not goe to Strangers, unless through my Son's Will.

This is the last article of my Last Will & Testament as witness my hand & Seale This Fifth day of Februay Seventeen hundred and Twelve and Twelfth year of ye Reigne of our Soveraigne Lady Queen Anne. Witnesses: John How, Michael Dunnel, Samuel Howlett, Abram How

Name

Michael /Dwinnell/^[3]

Michael Dunnell, Senior, married Mary; d. 1713 or 1717; his will was proved March 1717.^[4]

He was first of family in Topsfield and had large holdings Middleton to Weaham, MA His will proved in 1717 all of his children were born in Topsfield, MA

NOTE: The spellings below are the ones used in the records, so should be LNAB

Children: all born in Topsfield^[4]

1. Mary Dwenell b. Jan 21,1668/9^[5]
2. Michaell Dwinell and Dwenell, b Dec 5, 1670^[5]
3. Thomas Doenell b Nov. 20, 1672^[5] m. Dinah Brimsdell
4. John Dwonill, s. Mikell, sr. and Mary, Dec 16, 1674^[5]
5. Elizabeth Donell b. April 17, 1677^[5]
6. Maudlin or Magdelen Donnell b. Feb 24, 1678/9^[5]
7. Joseph Dunell b. Jan. 26, 1681/2^[5] m. Prudence
8. Susanah Dwinill b. Sept 5, [torn about 1687] ^[5]
9. Johanna Dwinill b. 1688 (not found in Topsfield records)

Uncertain Parents

Parents for this person are uncertain. Cutter's New England families states:^[6]

Tradition differs as to the origin of the family, some saying it was Scotch, and others French Huguenot. One branch of the family has supposed that the Dwinells came from France.

Possible parents that have been linked and now unlinked from this person since there are no reliable sources found:

• Brian Dunwell (abt.1615-) and Jane Reynolds
• Pierre Dwinell is listed as Pierre Dwinelle de Nesle in Family Search as the father, with no sources. ^[7]

Research Notes

Name has changed many times Dunnell, Duennel, Dwinel, Dwinnell. Michael Duenil came from France and settled in Boxford, Mass. The name was changed to Dunnel, then to Dwinel, afterward Dwinnell. Film 027752 State of Vermont filmed by the Genealogical Society SLC at Montpielier, VT. in March 1952, Dwinell Family Records. According to the "John Olin Family book" the Dwinnells fled France during the persecution of the Huguenots.

Sources

1. ↑ New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.Reference Volume 1, page 482. Subscription
2. ↑ The True Genealogy of the Dunnel and Dwinnell Family of New England, pp. 8-11.
3. ↑ Source: #S-1797888202 Page: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Note: http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=sarmemberapps&h=109093&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt Note: APID: 1,2204::109093 NOTE: Dead link as of Oct 4, 2018
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Dunnell, Henry Gale, M.D. The True Genealogy of the Dunnel and Dwinell Family of New England. New York: Charles B. Richardson, 1862.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7} Vital Records Of Topsfield, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849. Topsfield, Mass.: The Topsfield Historical Society, 1903. Vol 1, p. 36
6. ↑ Cutter, William Richard, New England families, genealogical and memorial; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of commonwealths and the founding of a nation, published 1915. Reference Volume 4, page 1932
7. ↑ FamilySearch Person: GMYX-34F Pierre Dwinelle de Nesle, b abt 1620, father of Michael Dwinell 1640-1717

• Genealogical Guide to the Early Settlers of America

• Cutter, William Richard, New England families, genealogical and memorial; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of commonwealths and the founding of a nation, published 1915. Reference Volume 4, page 1932

• Long, Henry Follansbee, "The Physicians of Topsfield" Essex Institute historical collections, Reference Volume 47 (1911), page 202

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107237239/michael-dwinnell: accessed 12 December 2022), memorial page for Michael Dwinnell Sr. (1640–1717), Find A Grave: Memorial #107237239; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Wayne Powell (contributor 47725362).

• US New England Marriages Prior to 1700

• North America Family Histories

• American Genealogical Biographical Index

• Dunnel, Henry Gale, The True Genealogy of the Dunnel and Dwinnell Family of New England, Charles B. Richardson, New York, 1862.

• Additional sources and information need to be validated and checked: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/M4F6-F57

• Microfilm, Dwinell Family Records, Dwinell Family, State of Vermont, Dwinell Family Records, Montpielier, Vermont, United States, Page number: Film 027752 Government record: Family genealogies: birth-name: Michael (Dunnell) Dwinnell