John Grafton (abt. 1638 - 1715)

Born about 1638 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Seeth (Gardner) Grafton — married 1 Dec 1659 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 24 Nov 1715 at about age 77 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bob Nichol [send private message]

Biography

John Grafton received all the land on the opposite side of the street of his father's homestead, from his father, 15 September 1667. He built a house and lived there until he removed to Boston before 14 April 1711 when he conveyed the land to his grandson, Joseph Hardy, a shipwright. ^[1] He may have returned at some point because he again removed to Boston before he conveyed this same house and homelot to his son-in-law, Joseph Andrew. ^[2] He was a mariner based out of Salem, Massachusetts. ^{[3] [4]} John signed the petition against imposts in 1668, as did his father and brother Joseph. ^[5] He was once shipwrecked in September 1669/70, bound for the West Indies aboard the Prudence, of which he was master. Several sailors were lost, including John's brother Nathaniel, but John was preserved. In consideration, the town did not require his payment of rations for the previous year. ^{[6] [7]}

"Its ordered that Jno Grafton & Joshua Ward hauing suffered lately ship wrecke all their last years Rats [rations] are Remited from beinge gathered by the Constable."

John's wife was granted permission by the church to build a pew in the meeting house on 27 January 1672.

"And ther is liberty Granted to m^r Jos Grafton Jun^rs Widow & M^r Jn^o Graftons wife & Nathaniel Graftons Widow to Build A pew from the North East Corner to the middle of the Next Window on the North Syde of ye meeting house." ^[8]

John was aboard the ketch Nightingale, which he owned, when he was taken prisoner at Huntington, Long Island by the Dutch, who had retaken New York. ^[9] He must have been released fairly soon because he served on the Grand Jury on 29 November 1673 and a jury trial the same month. ^{[10] [11]} 29 July 1679, he commanded the ketch Dove bound for "Antegoa" [Antigua]. ^[12] John was made a freeman in 1680. ^{[13] [14]} He died 24 November 1715. ^[15]

Birth

John was probably born in 1639, but we do know he was baptized on 28 April 1639 at the First Church of Salem. ^[16] He was the son of the immigrant, Joseph Grafton and his wife, Mary Moore.

Marriage

John married Seeth Gardner (1636-1707), widow of Joshua Conant and daughter of Thomas Gardner, on 1 December 1659. ^{[17] [18]}

Children

• Mary (Grafton) Hardy, b. 7 September 1660
• Seeth Grafton, b. 28 April 1665
• Abigail (Grafton) (Walker) Andrews, b. 12 August 1667
• Jehoadam Grafton, b. 1 October 1669
• Margaret Grafton, b. 24 January 1671
• Nathaniel Grafton, b. 14 July 1672
•  ? John Grafton (on John, subject of this profile's, gravestone is inscribed Sr; also there was a John Grafton who married Judeth Clark on 9 August 1708 in Boston)

Slaves

It is not known how many slaves there were, but there was at least one, Peter, sometimes called Peter Lawrence, as evidenced that he was manumitted 11 November 1712.

"John Grafton of Salem, mariner, for good service done me by my Servant Peter a Negroe sometimes called Peter Lawrence vis. for vpwards of thirty yeares last past and in consideration of £7 set at Liberty and freedom y^e said Peter Lawrence from this time Forward for euer or him and his children Lawfully to be begotten ... more especially in con(illegible) with y^e Excellent Rules of Christianity." ^[19]

Further, in the records of the Selectmen of Boston, 26 October 1716, he is mentioned again.

"Peter Negro Serv^t to m^r John Grafton of Salem, who came from thence unto this Town ab^t six weeks Since, and is now under a chirugeons hand for help as to his eye Sight was by order of the Selectmen warned on y^e 26 October to return to Salem the Town to w^ch he belongs." ^[20]

Peter is buried in Salem. ^[21]

Sources

1. ↑ Belknap
2. ↑ Belknap
3. ↑ Belknap
4. ↑ Savage
5. ↑ Belknap
6. ↑ Belknap; citing Salem Town Records, 21 February 1669/70
7. ↑ Savage
8. ↑ Belknap
9. ↑ Belknap; citing The Moore Family of Southold, L. I., by Charles B. Moore (NYGBR, April 1884)
10. ↑ Belknap
11. ↑ Savage
12. ↑ Belknap
13. ↑ Belknap
14. ↑ Savage
15. ↑ Savage
16. ↑ Belknap
17. ↑ Savage
18. ↑ Belknap
19. ↑ Belknap; citing Essex County Deeds, vol. 24, pg. 262
20. ↑ Belknap
21. ↑ Belknap

• Belknap, Henry Wyckoff. The Grafton Family of Salem (Salem, Massachusetts : Essex Institute, 1928), pg. 18-20
• S461Gower, Janice <ggower1@maine.rr.com>. "Down/Gower," RootsWeb, 7 Jan 2007 <http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:2310455&id=I507048225>
• Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England (Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1862); Vol II., pg. 289.
• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 27 January 2019), memorial page for John Grafton, Sr (1638–24 Nov 1715), Find A Grave: Memorial #12684345, citing Burying Point Cemetery, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Dan Silva (contributor 46781334).
• Ancestry Family Trees. Family tree files submitted by Ancestry members (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 February 2013)

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Grafton-36 created through the import of Nelson Family Tree.ged on Jun 6, 2011 by Gregory Nelson. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Gregory and others.

Thank you to Bob Nichol for creating WikiTree profile Grafton-95 through the import of Nichol Ancestry.GED on Feb 14, 2013.

Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Bob and others.