Capt. Jonathan DANFORTH

Bef 1628 - Bef 1712  (< 84 years)

• Name	Jonathan DANFORTH
  Title	Capt.
  Birth	Bef 2 Mar 1628	Framlingham, Suffolk, England
  Christening	2 Mar 1628	St. Michael's, Framlingham, Suffolk, England
  Gender	Male
  AFN	BHQ8-23
  Will	23 Apr 1712	Billerica, Middlesex County, MA
  Death	Bef 27 Oct 1712	Billerica, Middlesex County, MA
  Probate	27 Oct 1712	Middlesex County, MA
  Notes	(1) May, John Joseph, Danforth Genealogy, Boston, MA: Charles H. Pope, 1902, pp. 27-28: CAPTAIN JONATHAN, youngest son of Mr. Nicholas Danforth, the immigrant, was born in Framlingham, England, baptized March 2, 1627-8. As a child he came with his father and brothers and sisters to Cambridge and was there brought up. When he reached manhood the community was stirred with the plans for building up a new town, Billerica, whose lands were chiefly owned by Cambridge people. At a very early stage of the movement he seems to have become interested in it, and he gave to the enterprise his best planning and executive ability. The house he built and occupied was extant till 1878. . . . He was selectman, town clerk, representative, captain of the militia company. He became a land surveyor and laid out farms, towns, highways; was called to do this service to several other towns and counties; transacted a large amount of business in town and state. "His descriptions fill 200 pages, in his clear, handsome writing in the Billerica volume of Land Grants." [Hazen]. Jonathan Danforth Sr. "aged 82 years" made his will 23 April, 1712, signing it in definite though trembling letters; it was probated 27 Oct., 1712. In it he bequeathed to his wife Esther and his seven children, giving a double portion, according to the custom of the day, to the eldest son; something to his grandchildren, Mary Parker and Samuel Danforth, who lived with him. Sons Jonathan and Samuel and son-in-law Oliver Whiting, executors. An agreement was made between his heirs, 1 Jan., 1713, signed by Oliver and Anna Whiting, William and Sarah French, Thomas Danforth, administrator, Mary Parker, Simeon and Elizabeth Hayward, and Edward Wright. A list of the lands he deeded to his children during his life, with a valuation of the same, is in the probate papers. In the inventory of his estate he is called "Captain Jonathan Danforth, Gentm." Many of his plots are preserved in the State Archives. He married first, in Boston, "22nd-9th month, 1654," "Elizabeth Powter, the daughter of Good. Powter deceased, of Billerikey;" recorded also in Billerica. The bride's father was John Poulter, who came from Rayleigh, Eng., about 1651, with wife Mary and children John and Elizabeth. He died soon; the widow married second, John Parker of Woburn, and third, on the 16th of April, 1674, Thomas Chamberlain of Chelmsford. It has been stated that Elizabeth was born in Rayleigh, 1 Sept., 1633. She died in Billerica, 7 Oct., 1689. Captain Danforth married second, 17 Nov., 1690, Esther, dau. of elder Richard Champney of Cambridge, and widow of Josiah Converse of Woburn; she died soon after her husband, viz., 5 April, 1713. His grave is in the old cemetery, Billerica, marked by a slab on which the letters are quite distinct (1901); the graves of his two wives, on either side of his, are marked in like manner. A more suitable memorial will probably soon be erected. Children: i. MARY, b. 29 Jan., 1656; m. 4 June, 1678, John Parker of Chelmsford, b. 30 Oct., 1647; d. 14 April, 1699. ii. ELIZABETH, b. 27 May, 1657; m. 7 March, 1687, Simeon Hayward [name often spelled Heywood, but signed Hayward], of Concord. . . . iii. JONATHAN, b. 18 Feb., 1659. iv. JOHN, b. 23 Jan., d. 7 Feb., 1660-1. v. JOHN, b. 22 Feb., d. 4 .June, 1661-2. vi. LYDIA, b. 1 June, 1664; m. Edward Wright of Concord. . . . vii. SAMUEL, b. 5 Feb., 1665-6. viii. ANNA, b. 8 March, 1667-8; m. 22 Jan., 1689-90, Ensign Oliver Whiting, b. 8 Oct., 1665, d. 22 Dec., 1736. She d. 13 Aug., 1737. . . . ix. THOMAS, born 29 April, died 31 July, 1670. x. NICHOLAS, born 1 July, 1671; died 8 March, 1694. xi. SARAH, born 13 Dec., 1676; married first, 22 May, 1695, William French; died 15 Oct., 1751; married second, 10 June, 1729, Ebenezer Davis of Concord. [Note: in the copy of this book seen by the compiler, Sarah's birth date is printed "23 Dec.," but someone has overwitten the 2 in 23 with a 1, so that Sarah's birth date, as so changed, is "13 Dec."]
  Person ID	I21166	Frost, Gilchrist and Related Families
  Last Modified	17 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Nicholas DANFORTH,   b. Bef 1 May 1589, Framlingham, Suffolk, England d. Apr 1638, Cambridge, Middlesex County, MA (Age > 48 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth BARBER   d. Bef 22 Feb 1629, Framlingham, Suffolk, England
  Marriage	11 Feb 1618	Aspall, Suffolk, England
  Family ID	F19416	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Elizabeth POULTER,   b. 1 Sep 1633, Rayleigh, Essex, England d. 7 Oct 1689, Billerica, Middlesex County, MA (Age 56 years)
  Marriage	22 Nov 1654	Boston, Suffolk County, MA
  Children	1. Mary DANFORTH,   b. 29 Mar 1656   d. 14 Apr 1699 (Age 43 years)   2. Elizabeth DANFORTH,   b. 27 May 1657   3. Jonathan DANFORTH,   b. 18 Feb 1659   4. John DANFORTH,   b. 23 Jan 1661   d. 7 Feb 1661 (Age 0 years)   5. John DANFORTH,   b. 22 Feb 1662   d. 4 Jun 1662 (Age 0 years)   6. Lydia DANFORTH,   b. 1 Jun 1664   7. Samuel DANFORTH,   b. 5 Feb 1666   8. Anna DANFORTH,   b. 8 Mar 1668   d. 13 Aug 1737 (Age 69 years)   9. Thomas DANFORTH,   b. 29 Apr 1670   d. 31 Jul 1670 (Age 0 years)   10. Nicholas DANFORTH,   b. 1 Jul 1671   d. 8 Mar 1694 (Age 22 years)   11. Sarah DANFORTH,   b. 13 Dec 1676, Billerica, Middlesex County, MA d. 15 Oct 1751 (Age 74 years)
  Family ID	F9347	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	17 Apr 2024

  
  

  Family 2	Esther CHAMPNEY   d. 5 Apr 1713
  Marriage	17 Nov 1690
  Family ID	F9348	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	17 Apr 2024