| Notes |
- "Bond's History of Watertown," says of John Eaton: John Eaton, A very early settler of Watertown, was admitted freeman 25 May 1636. The witnessing of the Will of John Eaton, first of Watertown afterwards of Dedham, by Rev John Allin and Hon Major Eleasser Lushing (Lusher), and the taking of the inventory by Eleaser Lusher, Henry Chickering and John Hayward, imply that he held a responsible position. He settled in Watertown and lived there a year. He received several grants of land in Watertown, viz: July 25, 1636, John Eaton, Forty acres Feb 28 1636, John Eaton, Six acres June 26, 1637, John Eaton, Six acres April 9, 1638, John Eaton, Three acres
From which it would appear that he did not break off entirely with Watertown until near the time he joined the Dedham Church in 1641. The Dedham Covenant was dated 10th, of 7th 1630, and has the signature of John Eaton, but probably he signed it some months after the date. John Eaton's name first appears as present at town meeting on 28th 9th month 1637: after he was a regular attendant. A meeting house was ordered "to be in length 36 Foote and 20 foote bredth & .... in ye studs 12 foote. 18, 11, 1637. Thomas Wright, John Dwight, Nicholas Phillips and John Eaton have undertaken to fell Pynes and Oake for it." John Eaton helped to build the first bridge over the Charles river in Dedham. John Eaton's house was valued at 10p.8.0. But we must remember that measured in the money of the presend day the houses would be worth three or four times as much. John Eaton, took an active part in the affairs of the little community: He served on committees to lay out land, was Surveyor of Highways: was "Wood reeve" several years. In 1647 he was a "committee" to decide who was behind in their way work. He, with his wife, was admitted to Dedham Church, July 5, 1642. He sold land in Watertown to Edward How.--- His Will dated Nov 2 proved Dec 7, 1658, mentions wife Abigail; son John, Mary & Abigail. Deposed inventory of the Estate taken 30:9:1659 by Eliazer Lusher, Henry Chickering, Jno Harvard: Amt. 392p.10s. "Land in the Island Playne 23: "two pcels in the great plaine 19; by South Plaine, at foule Meadow; Right in an Island in the swamp, &c, Abigail relict of John Eaton deposed, 16: 10-58."
WILL of John Eaton Suffolk Probate Records, Vol. I, page 313, Date 2nd of month 9th, 1658
"John Eaton, of Dedham, though sicke, yet sound in memory, doe make this my last Will. --- I give ynto Abigail my wife, the free vse of my parlor in my now dwelling house, & the Leantoe thereunto adjoining and all the household stuffe at present in them to her use, all the tearme she shall remaine a widdow; & sufficient firewood for her vse, to be provided and Layd in the yard at her assignment. I giue my wife, the annuitie of 6 pounds p ann. To be payd at the Endof each halfe yeare after my decease, in such things as she needeth out of my estate here-after to be disposed of, during her life; or the third pt of my Lands during the same tearme; her selfe to chose which of these two she best liketh. I giue unto my wife so much of my other household stuffs as come to the value of 5 pounds, such as her selfe shall make choyse of, and also one Cowe her selfe to choose. I give to John Dammant, of Reading 5p; to John Plimpton, of Meadfield 5p; vnto Edward Hobsman my kinsman, 40s. The remainder of my Estate shall be devided into equall pts. & that pt. Of her potion which my daughter Mary haue received to be accounted therevnto; the one halfe whereof I giue to John Eaton my sonne, and his heyres foreuer and the other halfe to Mary and Abigail, my daughters and their heires; my sonne and my two daughters to pay my wife, their mother, that 6p p. ann. As aboue written I nominate Abigail, my wife, to be my executrix." John Allin Eleazer Lushing
Inventory of John Eaton
Taken 30th of ye 9mo. 1658 by Eleazer Lushing, Henry Cickering and John Hayard Haward.
31 yards of New Cloth 3.02.00
Bridle & Sadle I pillion I pannell 1.00.00
31 yards of New Cloth 3.02.00
Bridle & Sadle I pillion I pannell 1.00.00
7 load Hay from foule meadow 3.10.00
The dwelling house & the 2 barns 45.00.00
I pcell of upland where the house stands
with the orchard as it encompassed
with meadow 28.00.00
land in the Ilande playne broken & unbroken 28.00.00
the further pcell in the great plaine 7.10.00
the other 12.00.00 I Pcell by Thomas Panew 5.00.00
The meadow at home by the house lot 50.00.10
The Meadow enclosed by the Iland playne fence 9.00.00
2 pcells of swamp lying in the iland & one in
the South playne 6.00.00
Woodland distributed and near Meadfield
and all Common rights of all sorts 5.00.00
Furniture, rugg, blanket, Wearing apparell,
Farming Tools Oxen & Calves 2 mares, I colt,
sheep, lamb, swine, carts, ploughs, yokes 180.09.00 329.10.00
Presented by Abigail Eaton, the relict of John Eaton 15; 10, 58
This inventory shows that he owned a lot in Fowl meadows, but that his principal estate was on Dedham Island, and we shall see that it included the land on which the Powder House Rock was located. The estate was inherited by John Eaton 2nd, who was but 22 years old when his father died.
|
Bef 1611 - 1658 (~ 47 years)
