John was born in 1705, son of Edward & Elizabeth (Clapp) Sumner and a direct descendant of William Sumner. He moved from Roxbury to Edgartown about 1748, was appointed Associate Judge of the county court that same year and held that office for 20 years. He was county treasurer 1761-61 and represented the town in 1763. (From Banks History of Martha's Vineyard.) He was married to Jedidah Smith of Edgartown, (Martha's Vineyard) Massachusetts in 1738. They had eight children. He was admitted to the Congregational of the Presbyterian Church on Nov. 20th 1748. Mention is often made of business done, marriages, etc. by John Sumner Esq. Also, of Negro servants belonging to him (note p 131in history of Spencer "Feb 19, 1778, Saul & Dinah, negro servants of John Sumner were married.)" Evidently he was a man of means and position. He moved to Spencer, Massachusetts in 1774, and died at the home of his son John in 1787. In his will in his inventory were the following books: Bible, annotations on scriptures, Christians of Philosophers, Locke on Human Understanding, Dunbar on Theology, John Peay on Creation, Norton on Divinity, Dutton on Law, Samuel Willard on Divinity, Provine, Law, Erskine and Walter on Divinity, Gordon Geography, Sermon Book, Prideau Connections in 3 volumes. This is an amazing literary collection for the times.
grad. Harvard 1723
Listed in the Birth Records of Edgartown, Massachusetts under section Negroes [1]
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Categories: Massachusetts, Slave Owners | USBH Heritage Exchange