Person Page 720

THOMAS GREEN,3 (Samuel,^ Thomas,^) brother of the preceding, b. in
Maiden, about 1669; ra. May 10, 16S»8, Han.n.ii Vinton,^ born Jan. 26,
1681-2, eldest daughter of John Vinton'^ of Woburn, by his wife Hannah
Green,3 dau. of Thomas Green.^ [15.] Thomas Green,^ therefore, m. his
cousin's daughter.

He resided in Maiden ; was a "yeoman," and possessed a fair estate.

He d. intestate, Aug. 24, 1725. Inventory taken, Sept. 28, 1725; appraisers,
John Green, Daniel Green, [cousins of the deceased] His dwelling-house,
barn, cider-mill, and 108 acres of land, were appraised at £734. 17. 6, equiva-
lent at that time to 960 Spanish dollars : an estate corresponding, for practical
purposes, to an estate worth 5000 dollars at the present time. His widow
Hannah was appointed administratri.x, Dec. 6, 1725. His real estate was di-
vided and settled Feb. 20, 1727-8. The widow Hannah had one-third part.
The remainder was divided between the eldest son Thomas, his brothers
Joshua and Jonathan, and sister Hannah, wife of Ebenezer Parker. [Midd.
Prob., 17 : 368, also 18 : 06, 68.

In the interval between the last date and April 21, 1729, (the date of her
mother's Will,) the widow Hannah m. John Pool of Reading. They were both
living in 1753, at the date of her son Thomas' Will ; but Mr. Pool seems to
have died about June, 1758, and as his wife is not mentioned in his Will,
[proved July 3, 1758, Midd. Prob., 23 : 53], she probably d. earlier.

The children of Thomas and Hannah (Vinton) Green were —

107. Hannah,'' b. March 6, 169S-9 ; m. Ebenezer P.irker, probably of Reading.

108. lThomas,< b. Dec. 9, 1702 ; m. Mary Green,* dau. of Daniel.' [89.]

109. Joshua,* b. Sept. 14, 1708. ( •->)

110. Jonathan,* b. April 2, 1714. {??'.)

JOHN VINTON, son of John Vinton, of Lynn, b. March 2, 1650;
m. Aug. 26, 1677, Hannah Green,=' b. Feb. 24, 1659-60, dau. of
Thomas and Rebecca Green, of Maiden. Her father, Thomas Green,
was son of Thomas Green, also of Maiden.* John Vinton and Han-
nah Green were m. by Rev. Michael VVigglesworth.

* There were from Ihe beginning, or nearly so, two or three families of Greens in Maiden.
It is not known whether they were related. There were also Greens in Woburn, and in
other places.

It is difficult to disentangle the Green family, there being several of the same name. The
following stntemcnt is sulislantially correct.

Thomas Green/ grandfather of Hannah (Green) Vinton, above, was undoubtedly born in



SECOND GENERATION. 15

John Vinton resided in Maldeu at the time of his marriage. He
probably began to reside there not long before ; perhaps the year
previous. He was not of Maiden (Middlesex Co.) but somewhere
in Essex Co. in 1675, at which date he appears, aged 26, in a Court
held at Salem in that County. This indicates that in 1675 he still
resided at Lynn, his native town, in Essex Co. But his marriage is
recorded 1677 as a resident of Maiden. In the last named town he
dwelt till 1695, nearly twenty years.

He was a worker in iron, a " forgeman" ; which gives rise to the
inquiry whether he might not have been employed in the Iron Works
at Lynn ; of which more elsewhere. The Lynn Iron Works were in
that part of Lynn which is now the town of Saugus ; a town now lying
between Lynn and Maiden. It is but an hour's walk from those Iron
Works to Maiden village.

He was a man of capacity and energy, as appears from the property
he acquired, and the position he held in society. The Vinton family
in this country are nearly all his descendants.

The name Vinton does not occur in a list of eighty names of Maiden
people, made out in May 1695, when 2300 acres of common lands
were distributed by lot to all the fre;cholders in that town. This omis-
sion is easily accounted for on the supposition that John Vinton was
then intending a speedy removal to Woburn, which took place the
ensuing summer.

1695. August 2. Henry Merrow| of Woburn, tailor, in considera-
tion of .£115 " in money current silver of New England," conveys to
John Vinton of Maiden, " forgeman," several parcels of Real Estate,
viz., a Barn, and eleven acres of Land, part orchard, part arable, and
part pasture, situated in said Woburn, and bounded S. E. by the king's
highway leading to Reading. Also, three and one half acres of mead-
ow land, with skirts of upland, lying on both sides of the River, and
abutting upon said highway. Also, thirty acres of Land, with Man-
England. He had two wives. (1.) Elizabeth, who d. Aug'. 1658. (2.) He then m. Sept. 5,
1639, Frances, widow of Richard Cook. Thomas Green,* senior, d. Dec. 19, 1667.
In his Will, (dated Nov. 12, 1667, proved Jan. 15, 1667-8, recorded Midd. Prob. 5 : 297,)
he mentions eldest son Thomas,^ sons John,^ William,'^ Henry ,^ Samuel,^ and daughters
Elizabeth,- Mary,* Hannah,^ Martha,^ Dorcas.^ Sons William and Henry were appointed
Executors.

Of the above sons, Thomas.^ m. Rebecca ; John^ m. Sarah Wheeler, Dec. 18,

1660; William^ m. Elizabeth Wheeler, March 13, 1659-60; Henry^ perhaps m. Esther
, and had Jacob, May 9, 1689.

Thomas Green,^ Junior (lather of Hannah Vinton) son of the preceding Thomas, (sen.) in
his Will, dated Feb. 13, 1671-2. proved April 2, 1672, recorded Rlidd. Prob. 4 : 116— gives
his estate to wife Rebecca, and children Rebecca.^ Hannah,^ Thomas,^ Samuel,-''— all minors.
His brother John Green,* and his brother Waite are desired to counsel and advise the widow
Rebecca, who is appointed sole Executrix. John Wayle and John Green and another, are
witnesses.

Of the above children, Hannah,^ b. Feb. 24, 1659-60, m. John Vinton^ Aug. 1677. Thorn-

as,3 b. Feb. 1655-6, prob. m Mary , and had Elizabeth, 1689. SamueP m. Mary

, and had Isaac,* May 20, 1690. Probably he had also Samuel.

There was another and a different Thomas Green, of Maiden, who died between Feb. and
May, 1674, who had sons Thomas, John, Ephraim. But he must have been of a different
family.

It appears that the father of Hannah^ (Green) Vinton died while yet a young man, leaving
four young children.

i Is this the name now spelled Merry ? " Merry's Meadow" is near " New Bridge" in
the north part of the present town of Woburn.



16 THE VINTON MEMORIAL.

sion-House and Garden, on the S. E. side of the highway, right against
the piece of eleven acres first mentioned ; [i. e. on the opposite side of
the road.] Also, twenty acres of Woodland, adjoining to the last
piece, where the Mansion-Hoiise is ; bounded W. by Samuel Richard-
son, N. E. by John Richardson, S. W. by Ezekiel Richardson. Also,
a " Right of Pines," belonging to ihe above premises. Also, one
eighth of a Saw-Mill, near said Mansion-House, and standing on land
of John Bateman. Also, fifteen acres of Land, " at a place called
Bare Hill in the township of Charlestown" — that is to say, in " Charles-
town End," within the limits of the present town of Stoneham. Re-
corded, Midd Deeds, Lib. 10: folio 440.

This is the first conveyance of land to any person of the name of
Vinton, that I have been able to find. I have copied the deed almost
verbatim, except the technical and formal part ; but with some abridg-
ment. The money with which the land was purchased, was doubtless
acquired, at least most of it, by the grantee's personal labor, in his
business of " forgeman."

The above deed marks a most important epoch in the history of the
Vinton family, viz., the removal of that family to Woburn in 1695.
Previous to this date, there is some dimness and obscurity ; but after
this all is plain and clear. John Vinton resided in Woburn from this
time till his death in 1727, a period of thirty-two j^ears.

The pecuniary consideration paid by John Vinton — <£115 — may
seem small to us : but it was a large sum for those days. It was paid
" in current silver money," a phrase distinguishing it from the " Bills
of Credit," which had been just issued by the Province, and which (and
the like of which) were the common currency, after this, for more than
half a century. The " king's highway leading to Reading" is part of
the great road running north from Woburn village to Lowell. The
" River" spoken of is called on the maps " Mystic River," but was
known to the Indians also by the name of Aberjona, which may be
supposed to have affinity with Abergijiian, the name of an Indian tribe.
This river rises in the extreme south of Wilmington, and passing through
the towns of Woburn and Winchester, and expanding itself into Mystic
Pond, a beautiful lake in Medford, makes a wide embouchure between
Charlestown and Maiden, where it mingles with the waters of Boston
Harbor. On that river, in the extreme eastern part of Woburn, two
miles N. E. of Woburn village, not far from the N. W. corner of Stone-
ham, John Vinton had his residence. It was very near, perhaps upon,
the locality, where arc now the dwelling house and mills of his de-
scendant Deacon Stephen Richardson. [1278.] The saw-mill, de-
scribed in the foregoing deed as " near said Mansion House," must
have been at the outlet of Stephen Richardson's Mill-Pond. The
Lowell Railroad passes about a quarter of a mile west of it. Samuel
Richardson, on whose land the purchase bounded, was the third son of
Samuel Richardson, one of the original founders of Woburn. [S.
RicHAKDSON, 6.] John Richardson was the eldest son of the same
founder. Ezekiel Richardson was grandson of Ezekiel Richardson,
also an original founder of Woburn. [E. Richakdson, 20.] John
Bateman was the husband of Abigail Richardson, sister to Ezekiel.
Stephen Richardson, two of whose children married two of John



SECOND GENERATION. 17

Vinton's family, was a brother of Samuel and John, mentioned in the
deed, and probably lived in the neighborhood. Bear Hill, erroneously
spelled " Bare Hill" in the deed, is N. W. of Spot Pond, and not far
from it, in Stoneham.

From the time of his removal to Woburn, John Vinton seems to have
devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. Three of his sons were black-
smiths, succeeding him in his original occupation ; though all of them
united with this employment that of husbandry.

I have said that John Vinton resided at Woburn from 1695 till his
death in 1727. And yet I think it pretty evident that a small part of
this period was spent in Braintree. My reasons are the following.
There are three deeds on record in the Middlesex Registry, in which
" John Vinton of Braintree''' is named. Subjoined are synopses of
these deeds.

A. 1709. Api'il 9. Jonathan Richardson,* now resident at Provi-
dence in New England, late of Woburn, in consideration of six shil-
lings paid him by John Vinton of Braintree, conveys to said John
Vinton " all the upland and meadow at Woburn left him by his late
father, Isaac Richardson, deceased." Deed acknowledged at Mendon,
in the County of Suffolk, April 9, 1709. Reed, at Charlestown, June
13, 1709. [Midd. Deeds, 15 : 30.

B. 1709. July 19. Nathaniel Richardson^ and Mary his wife,
Benjamin Richardson§ and Lydia his wife, all of Woburn, for fifteen
pounds, convey to John Vinton of Braintree, " forger," one third part
of a certain parcel of meadow land and upland in Woburn ; containing
seven and a half acres, bounded E. by a river, S. and W. on land of
Samuel Richardson, N. on John Swan, &c. Deed acknowledged at
Charlestown, July 19, 1709. Witnessed by Samuel Green, Joseph
Phipps, and Samuel Burr. [Midd. Deeds, 15 : 54.

C. 1709. July 19. Nathaniel Richardson| and Benjamin Richard-
son<^ of Woburn, and John Vinton of Braintree, having had " differ-
ences, contests, and contentions concerning some certain parcels of
lands now in their possession and improvement, and which the said
Nathaniel Richardson and John Vinton claim by virtus of a purchase
from Jonathan Richardson* and Joseph Richardson, || who are sons and
legatees of Isaac Richardson, late of Woburn deceased, and which the
said Benjamin Richardson claims by virtue of the last Will and Testa-
ment of his honored father the said Isaac Richardson ; Now to put an
end to their differences, the aforesaid parties severally release and
quitclaim to each other the lands severally in each other's possession
and improvement." The above instrument was acknowledged at
Charlestown, July 19, 1709. Witnesses, Joseph Phipps, Samuel
Green, Samuel Burr. [Midd. Deeds, 15 : 170.

Compare with these three deeds, another bearing date the same day
with two of them, and having the same witnesses..

D. 1709. July 19. John Vinton, Junior, of Woburn and Abigail
his wife, for ten pounds, convey to Benjamin Richardson^ of Woburn,
husbandman, five acres of upland, meadow land, and swamp land, ad-

* See T. Richardson, 7. X See T. Richardson. 6.

5 See T. Richardson, 10. || See T. Richardson, 9.

2



18 THE VINTON MEMORIAL.

joining land of said Benjamin Richardson, to be taken off from said
Vinton's land in Charlestown [Stoneham], butted N. on land of Eleazar
Bateman, S. on Francis Richardson, W. on Benj. Richardson, E. on
land of said John Vinton.

Deed acknowledged at Charlestown, July 19, 1709. Witnesses,
Samuel Green, Joseph Phipps, Samuel Burr. [Midd. Deeds, 15 : 53.

Here are four deeds, which, for distinction's sake, I have marked

A. B. C. D. The last three have the same date, were acknowledged
the same day, at the same place, and before the same witnesses, and
Benjamin Richardson is one of the parties in all the three. They seem,
therefore, to have a near and close relation to each other ; if they are
not parts of one and the same transaction.

In A. B. C. "John Vinton of Braintree'''' is named. He is certainly
a different person from John Vinton Esq. of Stoneham, of whom we
shall soon hear [16] ; for this man is, in D. above, on the same day,
described as "John Vinton, Junior, o/ Wolurn.'''' In the deed B.
John Vinton of Braintree is called " forger;" which appears to identify
him with John Vinton of Maiden " forgeman," [3] who bought land of
Henry Merrow of Woburn, in 1695, as in the deed some time since
quoted. Moreover, the language of A. B. C. is such as to necessitate
the conclusion that " John Vinton of Braintree" was no stranger in
Woburn, but intimately connected with the people and the place.

For a long time I supposed that " John Vinton of Braintree " in A.

B. C. was a son of William Vinton', (born 1652), and nephew of John
Vinton^ of Woburn ; and this led me to think that there was a Vinton
in Braintree previous* to my ancestor Thomas Vinton [19] who bought
the Braintree Iron Works in 1720. But I am now convinced that
'?'? John Vinton of Braintree " was no other than John Vinton [3] who
was b. at Lynn, 1650, m. at Maiden, 1677, removed to Woburn 1695,
and d, there 1727. His son Thomas was at Braintree 1708, and prob-
ably two or three years previous. It seems probable that the father of
Thomas went to Braintree after Thomas went there ; perhaps for the
purpose of setting up Thomas in his business ; made a short stay there,
perhaps a year or two, without absolutely relinquishing his residence in
Woburn, for it is certain he did not sell his property in W. ; and after
this temporary abode in B. returned to W., where he certainly lived in
1720 and where he died in 1727. This seems the most probable way
of accounting for a " John Vinton of Braintree" in 1709: a phrase
which has caused me a great amount of perplexity. Since writing the
foregoing, I have found in an old, forgotten MS. of mine, written in
1820, a statement, derived from "Aunt Clark," [148] that both her
grandfatlier, [19] and Ms father, [3] came from Woburn to Braintree.
In this old MS. the statement as to the Huguenot origin of the family
corresponds with that made on page 1 of this book.

1720. April 14. John Vinton of Woburn, " yeoman," for seven
hundred pounds " good and lawful money of New England," his wife
Hannah relinquishing her right of dower, conveys to his son Samuel
Vinton of Woburn, all his Real Instate in Woburn, viz., house, barn,
one-fourth part of a Saw-mill near liis house, fifty acres of land, sevcn-

• See Appendix B.



SECOND GENERATION. 19

teen acres of woodland, &c. [Midd. Deeds, 20 : 630.] This appears to
be the same property purchased of Merrow in 1695, except the land at
Bear Hill in Stoneham. The " good and lawful money" received for
it, was in " Bills of Credit" of the Province. These had now become
greatly depreciated, twelve shillings of the same being worth only one
ounce of silver ; so that the =£700 for which the Farm was now sold,
were worth only .£390 in silver ; which, however, is more than three
times what it cost 25 years before.*

His Will is dated Jan. 15, 1721-2. He calls himself " of Woburn,
gentleman ;" he expresses a firm hope of pardon and etei'nal life " through
the merits, death, and passion" of his Saviour Jesus Christ ; he gives to
his wife Hannah " the use and improvement of all his Household Stuff,
and the improvement of one half of his whole Estate in Lands and
Chattels, during her natural life ; " and the other half of his chattels
he bequeaths " to her and her dispose for ever." To his eldest son
John, whom he appoints sole executor, he gives all his moneys and
bonds, and the rest of his estate, not otherwise disposed of. He had
previously given him fifty pounds ; and now gives him his silver cup,
and one silver spoon, flowered on the bottom. To his son Thomas he
gives fifty pounds, " in passable money," in full, as his portion. To
his son Samuel he gives five pounds " in passable money," which, with
what he had already received, is to be his full portion. To his son
Abiathar he gives fifty pounds "in passable money," "and the other
half of my creatures," in full for his portion. To his daughter Hannah
Green he gives twenty pounds, one third part of his Household Stuff,
after her mother had done with it, and one silver spoon ; which, in ad-
dition to what she had already received, was to be her full portion.
To his daughter Rebecca Richardson, he gives twenty pounds, and one
third part of the Household Stuff, after her mother had done with it.
To his daughter Mary French, he gives twenty pounds, and one third
part of the Household Stuff, after her mother had done with it. To
his son Abiathar he gives his wearing apparel. [Midd. Prob. 18 : 442.

" Inventory of John Vinton's Goods and Chattels," taken Dec. 28,
1727. Amount of Personal Estate ^114.5.0. [Ibid. 18: 402.

John Vinton of Woburn died Nov. 13, 1727, aged 77. His wife
Hannah, who was about ten years younger, survived him fourteen
years. After his decease, she seems to have resided in Braintree with
her second son Thomas. She died in 1741, se. 82. In her Will,
dated April 21, 1729, she calls herself widow, "of Braintree"; gives
her son John five shillings; her son Thomas five shillings; her son
Samuel five shillings; her son Abiathar five pounds; to her three
daughters, Hannah Pool, Rebecca Richardson, and Mary French, she
gives her wearing appai'el, &c. Appoints her son Thomas executoi'.
Will proved, Nov. 23, 1741. Recorded, Midd. Prob. 22 : 436.

The children of John and Hannah Vinton, were —

16. t Job n, b. about 1680, m. I.Abigail Richardson; 2. Abigail Converse; 3.

Hannah Baldwin.

17. tHannah, b. Jan. 26, 1681-2, m. 1. Thomas Green; 2. Pool.

18. tRebecca, b. March 26, 1683, m. William Richardson, Sept. 15, 1703.

* See Appendix C.



20 THE VINTON MEMORIAL.

19. tThomas, b. Jan. 31, 1686-7, m. Hannah Thayer, Aug. 10, 1708.

20. tMary, b. Aug. 20, 1G89. Died in infancy.

21. tMary, b. Jan. 2, 1692-3, m. John French, Feb. 19, 1711-12.

22. tSamuel, b. May 3, 1695, m. Elizabeth French, March 22, 1720-1.

The above were b. in Maiden ; the following in Woburn.

23. tAbiathar, b. May 10, 1700, m. Lydia Green, April 30, 1723.

Sargt. John* Avery (William-, William'), b. Jan. 1, 1666, at Topsfield, Mass. (T. R.), was a planter and yeoman. His life was passed in his native town. Feb. 1, 1692, he and his brother Nathaniel Averell bought 200 acres of land in Topsfield from Gov. Simon Bradstreet [Essex Reg., B. 11, p. 255; rec. June 21, 1697].

We find recorded Dec. 21, 1700, a sale of land in Topsfield by him to his brother Ebenezer [//., B. 14, p. 98] ; and March 20, 1715, a sale of land to John Wildes [Id., B. 30, p. 72] ; and, as purchases by him, Mar. 5, 1715, land from Thomas Baker [Id., B. 30, p. 9] ; and Ap. 24, 1718, John Averell et al from Tho" Putnam et ux [B. 33, p. 174].

In 1694 he unites with his mother and brother Nathaniel as exrs. of his father's estate in the sale of some land in Ipswich (see pp. 88 and 89).

Samuel Johnson Averill's MS. gives Joseph "Kneeland" as husband of Miraim Averill.

Topsfield Historical Collections [Vol. 3] records that "John Auerill is appointed fence viewer"; and 1691-2 "John Awerele is appointed Serveyer". He is also mentioned later in the records.

He appears in the Town Records Mar. 2, 1696-7 as John Averell Sargt, and probably held this office in the train band. He was not baptized until thirty-one years of age, when, on May 16, 1697, Rev. Joseph Capen bapt'zed him and his brothers and sisters [see p. 96].

It is probable that he lived with his mother, Mrs. Hannah (Jackson) Averell, in the old homestead all his life, as she was sole exr. of her husband's estate, and as he remained unmarried so far as we know until 44 years of age.

In the agreement as to the mutual division of his father's estate, which he signed Feb. 4, 1701-2 [see p. 95], his mother agrees to make her home with him during the balance of her life. For his share in this mutual division see pp. 90 and 91.

John Averell was m. by Rev. Mr. Capen, June 8, 1710, at Topsfield, to Anne Greensleet, "both of Topsfield" (T. R.). Her Christian name appears in records as Ann, Anne, Anna, and Hannah; her surname—if she was of the Salem stock of Greensleets,* appears in records as Greensled, Greenslid and Greenleaf. She may have been a granddaughter of Thomas Greensleet of Salem by one of his several sons whose names appear below. The Averells and Greensleets had a common interest in the Salem witchcraft accusations and executions, as Ann Greensleet, wife and widow of the above Thomas Greensleet (and later the wife and widow of Jacob Pudeator (Pointdexter) of Salem), was accused of witchcraft, and, as Ann Pudeator, was executed at Salem in 1692, as was also John Averell's aunt, Sarah (Averell) Wildes [see Upham's Salem Witcheraft; for Greensleets see Memoranda, p. 123].

John Averell died during the winter of 1719-20 [see Averill Gen., Essex Ant., Vol. 14, No. 9] ; and Apr. 13, 1724 (?), his widow Anna Averell was granted adm'n.

In Essex P. R., B. 316, p. 494, we find that Judge Appleton app'd Capt. John Howlett; Deacon Jacob Peabody; Nath' Averell; Benj Town & John Perkins all free holders in the Co. of Essex to divide the one full third of the real estate of John Averell late of Topsfield dec., unto his Widow Ann Averell as her right of dower, and to make a true & just apprisement of the other two thirds among the children of the dec'd in parts not exceeding seven and to report as to the division. [Id., B. 317, p. 127.] The same date Apr. 7, 1735 Judge Appleton appointed John Wilds of Topsfield guardian of the children of s" John Averell dec.; Emma; Katherine; Ebenezer, Abial.

[Id., B. 316, pp. 495-6.] The report was rendered and the com. above named made the distribution as follows:

John Avery 2 shares 132.17.6

Tho' Avery 1 share 66. 8.9

Emmi 1 do 66. 8.9

Kattern 1 Do. 66. 8.9

Eben' 1 Do. 66. 8.9

Abigail 1 Do. 66. 8.9

In the division of land the part called No. 1, is settled on John Avery and his heirs and valued at £245. 0.0

Part No. 2. is settled on Thomas Avery and his heirs and valued at 225. 0.0

This apportioning was approved by Judge Appleton of the Probate Ct., July 7, 1735.

We find that it was not until April 30, 1738, that "Widow Ann Averill was ad to the Cong. Ch. at Topsfield." Query: What had been her previous church associations? Her children were bap. in the Congregational Church at birth. Was she a Quaker?

The children of John and Anna (Greensleet) Averell, all b. at Topsfield, were:

48. i. John', b. Apr. 24, 1711; m. Mary Phippen.

49. ii. Thomas', b. Dec. 17, 1713; m. Sarah Kneeland.

50. iii. Emma', b. abt. 1715 (Ch. R.) ; m. Samuel Phippen.

51. iv. Katherine', b. abU 1716-7; m. Nathaniel Moulton.

52. v. Ebenezer', b. abt. 1717; m. Mary Towne.

53. vi. Ariel' (a dau.), b. Apr. (?), 1720; d. Aug. 1, 1736, at Tops

field. She was called in records Abial, "Abiel (dau.) of Widow Ann Averell" at her baptism Apr. (?) 1720; and Abigail in the distribution of her father's estate.

In my previous email I mispoke on the number of children John Greenslit and Abigail Curtis had. I said she was a young widow left with 3 small children to raise in 1689. I meant to type 4 children. The names of their children are listed in Sidney Perley's "History of Salem" and elsewhere, but no one seems to know when John Greenslit married Abigail Curtis nor when their children were born. According to "History of Salem", Abigail Curtis was born in 1664. She was the daughter of William Curtis, a Salem blacksmith, and Alice Rumball. If someone can document a birthdate for any of them, please post it and your source.Without knowing birthdates, the birth order of these 4 children is a guess: 1. John Greenslit born "c. 1682" - a guesstimate. His father bought a house and lot in 1681, which might indicate he had married Abigail Curtis by 1681. As far as I know, when John Greenslit married Abigail Curtis is not known. I have not found a marriage record. Has anyone? This John Greenslit married Sarah Rix on May 9, 1710 in Preston, New London Co., CT. He is my ancestor. Sarah Rix was born in Salem. Her parents left Salem in 1703 and went to Preston, New London Co., CT. At a later time, I will post what I have on RIX. In 1709, this John Greenslit was in CT serving in a local militia against the Indians. I have no idea when he left Salem to go to New London Co., CT. If he was born c. 1682, he was 11 years old when his mother married Thomas Mason of Salem in Nov 1693. Thomas and Abigail Mason lived in Salem; they had 5 children (4 lived), so if he raised the 4 Greenslit children with their children, there were 8 children to be raised in the Mason household. If we assume that John Greenslit was raised in the Mason household until he was 18, he would be 18 years old c. 1700 and old enough to leave the Mason household. He would be 28 years old in 1710 when he married Sarah Rix in CT. I hate to state generalities, but it appears "many" Essex Co., MA, families left there not long after the witchcraft trials and migrated to the New London Co., CT, area between 1700-1710. These later generations from Essex Co., MA, intermarried with other familes who had come from Essex Co., MA. The witchcraft trials in Salem have been listed as one of the major reasons these families left and went to CT. 2. Abigail born "c. 1684" married Samuel Clements Oct 31, 1709. I have not researched this line. If she was born in 1684, she would be 25 when she married Clements. HAS ANYONE RESEARCHED Samuel Clements and Abigail Greenslit? 3. Anne/Anna born "c. 1686" married John Averill June 8, 1710 in Topsfield, Essex Co. The Avery-Averill genealogy book covers this line. They had 6 children; 5 lived to maturity and married. I think there might be someone on the Greenslit list who descends from this line. If Anne Greenslit was born in 1686, she was 23 when she married. John Averill/Avery died c. 1720 in Topsfield, leaving Anne with 6 children to raise (one was an infant). His widow Anne/Anna lived in Topsfield until about 1741. I have -0- further. Speculation by Avery/Averill researchers is that about 1741 she moved to Andover to live either with or near her second son Thomas Avery/Averill. Thomas had married Sarah Kneeland in Topsfield in 1739, then moved to live in Andover. 4. James born "c. 1688". As far as I know, nobody has researched him. My theory is ... he is the "right age" and could be the James Greenslit who married Rebecca Stearns in Salem on Sept 1, 1711. If he was the last born child and born c. 1688, he would be 23 in 1711. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL RESEARCH THIS COUPLE. The James Greenslit who married Rebecca Stearns in 1711 could be our connection to the James Greenslit who popped up in 1776 in Bennington, VT. Abigail (Curtis) Greenslit Mason married for a third time. She married a Thomas Horton on July 1, 1717. If she was born in 1664, she was 53 when she married Horton. I have -0- further on Abigail as I did not continue to research her after she married Horton. I do not have a date or place of death for her. I have not researched Thomas Horton. Helen Greenslit GravesGreenslit List Mom.