My Family Tree

Came to Nantucket about 1670 and took up a share as a setler. There he married Elizabeth Bunker, and four of his six known children are recorded as born there.

The date of his removal to Tisbury may be placed about 1685-6, as he made the first purchase of land in town on Feb 15, 1686, acquiring of Joseph Merry the valuable water and mill privilege on the Tiasquin which his descendants improved for over a century. Here he spent the rest of his days, following the occupation of a miller until his death. He was a selectman in 1688 and 1695, surveyor of highways in 1689, and deputy sheriff of the county in 1699, besides the usual services as juror. He was one of the four dissenters against extending a call to Rev. Josiah Torrey as minister, but the reasons for this are not known.

His will, dated Dec 4, 1725, when he was four score years of age, was signed with "his mark," probably because of infirmities or disability from illeness. It was probated in Jan, 1726, and we may conclude that he had died in the latter part of the previous year, making some allowance for the time before the will was presented for ther action of the court. He called himself "miller" in this testament, and bequeathed all his property to his son Samuel and five daughters.