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JOHN GIFFORD (c. 1642–1708), son of William Gifford
ELISHUA CROWELL (b. 1647/8), daughter of Yelverton Crowell (CROW) and Elizabeth Unknown
John was William Gifford's eldest son. [1] He was born about 1642 in England and died in 1708 in Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. [2] He married Elishua Crow in about 1664. [2]
Elishua, the daughter of Yelverton and Elizabeth Crowell (Crow), was born about 1647/8. [1] She married John, the son of William Gifford. [1]
John was on a Coroners Inquest on 7 March 1664/5 in Sandwich. John and Samuel Gifford are on a 25 June 1702 list of freemen in Sandwich. [3]
John lived in Spring Hill in Sandwich on property that had been willed to him by his father. [1]
John acquired considerable land in Connecticut, at least some in Windham County. [2]
John Gifford of Sandwich made his will on 9 April 1708. Inventory was taken on 5 May 1708, and the will was proved on 17 May 1708. He left his estate in Sandwich to his wife Elishua, as long as she remained his widow, and to his son Josiah afterward. He left his eldest son Samuel 100 acres in Connecticut, his grandson Robert Rowsum 200 acres in Connecticut, and his son Yelverton the rest of his land in Connecticut. He left his sons John and William his land in Falmouth. They were to pay legacies of five pounds to Grace Hoxie and his granddaughter Mary Rowsum and 40 shillings to the children of his deceased daughter, Elizabeth Tupper. He named his son Joseph [Josiah?] his executor. [5]
Children of John Gifford and Elishua Crowell:
i. Elizabeth Gifford was born on 25 February 1664/5 in Sandwich. She died on 19 October 1701 in Sandwich. She married Deacon Israel Tupper.
ii. Samuel Gifford was born on 12 March 1666 in Sandwich. [4] He died on 24 April 1738. [2] He married first Jane Loring on 2 November 1699 in Sandwich. [3,4] Jane, the daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (Prince) Loring, was born on 9 August 1663 in Hingham and died on 24 November 1744 in Sandwich. [2]
Samuel and John Gifford are on a 25 June 1702 list of freemen in Sandwich. [3]
iii. John Gifford was born on 12 June 1668. [6] He died between 26 August 1749, when he wrote his will, and 10 July 1750, when it was proved. [2] He married Desire Sprague on 24 November 1696. Desire, the daughter of John Sprague and granddaughter of Francis Sprague, was born about 1668. [6]
John took the oath of fidelity in Sandwich in 1681. [3]
In 1695 the town voted to give back to Elisha Bourne and John Gifford half the money, "they lately paid for not going out when impressed in his Majesty's Service." [3]
John Gifford was a proprietor of Falmouth on 3 June 1712. [3] He is referred to as a weaver of Falmouth in deed. [2]
iv. Mary Gifford was born on 9 October 1669 in Sandwich. [4] She died on 25 October 1689. [2] She married Joshua Ransom on 1 February 1686. [2] Joshua was the son of Robert Ransom. [2]
v. Grace Gifford was born on 17 August 1671 in Sandwich. [4] She died after 1714. [2] She married Gideon Hoxie about 1695. [2] Gideon was the son of Lodowick Hoxie. [2]
vi. William Gifford was born on 22 April 1676 in Sandwich. [4] He died before 27 November 1733 in Falmouth. [2] He married first Elizabeth Wheaten on 13 March 1701/2. [3] He married second Experience (Bowerman) Claghorn on 7 November 1726. [2] Ezperience, the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Harper) Bowerman, was born about 1683 and died after 31 December 1740. [2] She married first James Claghorn on 30 January 1712 in Fallmouth. [2]
William wrote his will on 7 November 1726—the day of his second marriage; it was proved on 27 November 1733. [2]
vii. Yelverton Gifford was born on 22 April 1676 in Sandwich. [4] He died before May 1772. He married Ann Northrup on 28 February 1714 in Jamestown, Rhode Island. [2]
Yelverton's will was proved in May 1772. [2]
viii. Josiah Gifford was born on 27 February 1681 in Sandwich. [4] He married Mercy Chadwich on 11 March 1714/5. [3]
References:
1. Stephen W. Gifford, Jr., "Yelverton Crowell of Yarmouth, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 125 (1971): 231–6.
2. Almon E. Daniels and Maclean W. Mclean, "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d. 1687)," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 128 (1974): 231–61, specifically 250–2; 129 (1975): 30–44, specifically 36–40.
3. Frederick Freeman, The History of Cape Cod: The Annals of 13 Towns of Barnstable County, vol. 2 (Boston: George C. Rand & Avery, 1862), 74 (oath of fidelity), 83 (returned money), 85 (freeman), 164 (genealogy), 439 (John, Jr.).
4. Caroline Lewis Cardell and Russell A. Lovell, Vital Records of Sandwich, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1996), vol. 1: 15 (childens' births), 41 (marriage of Samuel).
5. “Barnstable, MA: Probate Records, 1685–1789,” database with images, AmericanAncestors, vol. 3: 257–8.
6. Maclean W. McLean, "John Sprague (c. 1635–1676) of Duxbury, Mass.," The American Genealogist 41 (1965): 178–81, specifically 181.
Last revised: 10-Feb-2024