Joseph Gilson (abt. 1637 - abt. 1676)

Born about 1637 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Cooper) Gilson — married 10 Nov 1661 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died about Apr 1676 at about age 39 in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Biography

Little is known of the early life of Joseph Gilson, His date of birth is estimated at 1637, based upon the year he first appears on records, when he may have come of age. He very likely was born in England.

Joseph's first known Colonial record is when his name appears on a 1658 petition from the town of Chelmsford to the Colony to be allowed to trade with the Indians. Chelmsford was not settled until about 1653. There were no Gilsons listed among the earliest petitioners and settlers. A reasonable assumption is that Joseph was the servant of one of the Chelmsford settlers, and appears on records when he became of age by 1658. He was almost certainly an immigrant, but whether he arrived early as a servant or came later and hired out as a servant would be difficult to determine.

He was married in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, to Mary Cooper (Caper) on November 10, 1661. Mary was the daughter of Timothy Cooper of Lynn. The marriage was performed by Captain Johnson of Woburn. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

They had relocated to Groton by March, 1665/6, where he was listed as one of the original proprietors, and lived in Groton until about 1675, when Indian troubles in Groton (King Philip's War) caused them to return to Concord. ^[4]

At the time of King Philip's war, In 1675 and 1676, those of the inhabitants of Groton who had not taken their families to the garrisons, or block houses, had removed to some safer locality. the names of those who availed themselves of the protection of the garrisons are given, and as the name of Joseph Gilson is not on the list, he had surely removed to Concord. ^[4]

Joseph died in Concord in April, 1676 and was buried in Groton. The inventory of his estate was recorded in the Middlesex County Probate Records, at Cambridge, Massachusetts. ^{[4] [5]}

Research Notes

Joseph was an original proprietor of Groton, residing there by 1665. Of the early settlers of Chelmsford, John Nutting, James Blood, and two Parker brothers moved to Groton between 1661 and 1665. Perhaps Joseph was associated with one of these families. His Groton property abutted Abraham Parker's.

Marriage record, showing references: GILLSON, Joseph & Mary COOPER/CAPER? (1641-), dau Timothy of Lynn; 10 Nov 1661, 18 Nov; Chelmsford {Court Rec. 1:172; Cross Anc. 120; Shattuck 94; Parker (,9) 213; Reg. 51:308, 72:163; Putnam's Mag. 7:139}

Joseph is also mentioned in Savage Vol. 2:258 and Whittemore pg. 211.

Sources

1. ↑ NEHGS Register., Volume 051 (1897); Chelmsford Marriages, page 302
2. ↑ New England Marriages prior to 1700 (Torrey); page 305
3. ↑ Massachusetts Town and Vital Records 1620-1988; chelmsford Town and Land Recprds, with Births, Marriages and Deaths; page34,
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} History of the Gillson/Jillson Family by David Jillson; page 237
5. ↑ Middlesex County Massachusetts Probate Index 1648-1850; Inventory, document No. 1676

See Also

• History of the Town of Groton
• WikiTree profile Gilson-100 created through the import of Newmans.ged on Nov 14, 2011 by Kathryn Newman. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Kathryn and others.
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