David Fiske Esq (1624 - 1711)

Born 1624 in Suffolk, England

Ancestors

Husband of Lydia (Cooper) Fiske — married 1646 (to 29 Nov 1654) in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Husband of Seaborn (Wilson) Fiske — married 6 Sep 1655 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 14 Feb 1711 at about age 87 in Lexington, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Origin

David Fiske was born in England in 1624 to David Fiske and Sarah (Smythe) Fiske.^[1]

Immigration

David came over from England with his parents in the year 1637 at the age of 13.^[2] He settled in Watertown, but moved to Cambridge in about 1646 on the northerly side of Linnaean street, near the Botanic Garden, which estate he sold to Joseph Daniel 13 Dec. 1660. About which time he moved to Cambridge Farms (Lexington).^[3] He was a "planter" and was admitted a freeman of the Colony May 25, 1647.^[1]

Marriage and Children

In 1646 he married Lydia Cooper in Cambridge, sister of Deacon John Cooper and step-daughter of Deacon Gregory Stone., with whom he came over to the colonies.^[1] He had 3 children with her before she died on 29 November 1654.

On September 6, 1655 he married Seaborn Wilson^[4], daughter of Theophilus Wilson of Ipswich.^[1] David Fiske was named executor of Theophilus' will.^[1] Seaborn died at Woburn on 12 January 1721.^[1]

Children of David Fiske and Lydia Cooper:^[1]

1. Sarah Fiske, b. May 8, 1646-7; d. in Boston, Nov. 8, 1647.
2. Lydia Fiske, b. in Boston Sept. 29, 1647-8; m. Sept. 6, 1681, Nicholas Wyeth Jr.
3. David Fiske, b. in Boston Sept. 1, 1648; d. Sept. 20, 1649.
4. David Fiske, b. April 15, 1650; m. Sarah Day.
5. Ephraim, b. July 13, 1653; d. Sept. 14, 1653 (listed in the "Fiske and Fisk Family" last but is clearly son of first wife, by dates and the vital records.

Children of David Fiske and Seaborn Wilson:^[1]

1. Seaborn Fiske ; d. s. p.
2. Elizabeth Fiske, bap. -; m. John Russell
3. Annah (Hannah) Fiske, bap. Nov. 27, 1659; m. May 3, 1680, Timothy Carter
4. Abigail Fiske, b. Feb 1, 1674; m. May 4 1692, Henry Baldwin

Property and Positions

David Fiske was a wheelwright by trade, and also held several public offices. He was chosen Selectman in 1688.^[3] He was often a surveyor of lands and helped to lay out the new Cambridge Farms.^[3]

David was one of the most prominent men in the settlement of the Farms, or Cambridge Farms (now Lexington), Massachusetts.^[5] During the settlement of Cambridge Farms, David served as precinct clerk and assessor.^[1] He was selectman in 1688, then as representative in 1689.^[1] The Farms was incorporated as a separate parish in 1691.^[6]

David was the first subscriber for the erection of a meeting house at Cambridge Farms in 1692, and on organization of the new parish the next year. He was a member of the new Church which began in 1696.^[3] He helped organize the parish as clerk and was chosen as chairman of the committee to purchase land for support of the ministry.^[5]

He headed the subscription for a meeting house in 1692, and on the organization of the parish the year after, he was chosen clerk, and one of the selectment or assessors. He was also chosen chairman of a committee to purchase of the town of Camb. a lot of land for support of the ministry. These and other similar offices he frequently held under the Parish. He was also a member of the church organized in 1696, and his wife immediately after removed her relation from the church in Camb. to the church gathered in the precinct.

Last Will & Testament

David's will was dated June 23, 1708, and was proved Dec. 20, 1711. It mentions his wife, Seaborn; son Nicholas Wyeth, his dau. being dead; children David, Elizabeth, Anna, and Abigail; cousin Samuel, son of Dea. Samuel Stone.^[1]

Feb. 3, 1720, an agreement was filed in the Middlsex probate court. It was between the children of the late Lieut. David Fiske of Lexington, deceased, viz., John and Elizabeth Russell, Henry and Abigail Baldwin, children of the late Lieut. David Fiske of Lexington, deceased, and Timothy Carter, of Charlestown, to the office of the attorney and trustee for Timothy Carter, of Woburn, his father, and the children of Timothy Carter, descendants from the said David Fiske, deceashed, and between David Fiske, of Lexington, only son of the Sd. deceased, in order to a final settlement. We have hereunto set our hadns and seals the day and year first above ritten and Timothy Carter, of Woburn above mentioned, who married Anna Fiske, daughter of said Lt. Fisk, being present at this agreement fully concord in the settlement, etc., David Fiske and seal.

John Russel, Henry Baldwin, Timothy Carter, Elizabeth Russell, Abigail Baldwin, Timothy Carter Jr.^[1]

Death and Legacy

David Fiske died Feb 14, 1710/11,^[3] a resident of Cambridge Farms (Lexington after 1713) Middlesex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony.^{[citation needed]}

A handsome monument was erected in 1856 by Benj. Fiske, Esq., with this inscription:

In memory of David Fiske, who died Feb. 14, 1710[/11], and his descendants.^[5][7]

Research Notes

In 1675 the work of settlement at Worcester was prosecuted with vigor, about the middle of April surveys were made of the lands by David Fiske, of Cambridge. Partial surveys were made in May, 1685 (at Worcester), a lot was laid out for Gookin of 100 acres on the east side of Pakachoag Hill and another lot of 80 acres on Raccoon Plain. There were present at this time David Fiske, the surveyor, and others. [History of Worcester.]^[3]

He not only served his fellow-citizens in a civil and religious, but also in a military capacity, as appears by the prefix Lieut., which is often in the records connected with his name. He was often employed by the colony as a surveyor. He resided on Hancock St." ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11} Pierce, Frederick Clifton, (1896) Fiske and Fisk family: being the record of the descendants of Symond Fiske ... Archive.org (p. 58-9).
2. ↑ Implied by David Sr's freemanship in Mar 1637/8. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England (William White, Boston, 1853-) Vol 1 p. 374
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} Paige, Lucius R., 1877 History of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 1630-1877. With a genealogical register. (Pages 545-46).
4. ↑ "Massachusetts, Marriages, 1695-1910," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCWK-DTT : accessed 18 Aug 2014), David Fiske and Seaborne Wilson, 06 Sep 1655; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 496864.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Hudson, Charles, (1868) History of the Town of Lexington ... Boston: Wiggin & Lunt, Archive.org (Genealogical register, Pages 69-75).
6. ↑ Wikipedia Contributors Lexington, Massachusetts
7. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #11123103 for Lieut. David Fiske, II, b: 1624 Suffolk, England; d: 14 Feb 1710 Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA; buried: Old Burying Ground, Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA

See Also:

• Barrett, William. Genealogy of Some of The Descendants of Thomas Barrett, Sen., of Braintree, Mass., 1635 (D. Ramaley & Son, Saint Paul, Minn., 1888);p.27,28,29

• Additions and Corrections, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 2009) Vol. 163, WN 652, Page 299.

• Lexington, Massachusetts, Record of Births, Marriages, and Deaths to January 1, 1898 (Wright & Potter, Boston, 1898) Page 176.

• Willcox, Doris Schreiber. Massachusetts Descendants of The Rev. Thomas Wilson, Author Of The Pilgrims' Christian Dictionarie, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 2009) Vol. 163, WN 649, Page 12.