Return to main file

Nathan Fiske (c. 1592–1676) and his English ancestry

Susanna Unknown (d. by 1676)


Nathan Fiske was probably born about 1592, probably in St. James in South Elmham, co. Suffolk. [1] He died on 21 June 1676 in Watertown. [2, 41] He married Susanna Unknown. She died before 29 June 1676.

Nathan Fiske was taxed in Watertown in October 1653. [3, 40] He is on a 1661 list of people the town owed money to. Apparently he had killed a wolf and three foxes and was owed one pound and three shillings. [3, 73]

Nathan was chosen a town surveyor on 9 January 1659 and a viewer of fences on 18 November 1661. [3, 64, 72]

Nathan was on a committee to set the town rates on 29 November 1664 and 21 November 1665. [3, 85, 86] He was on a committee to order the affairs of the town on 4 November 1672. [3, 112]

Nathan Fiske's brother Edward was an early settler of Watertown. He was on a committee to order the town's affairs on 6 December 1639 and 21 November 1642; he was a viewer of fences on 15 May 1643. [3, 5, 8, 9]

Nathan's sister Martha Underwood, who lived with him after the death of her husband on 7 November 1672, testified that he "was very crazy in his memory" before he died. [1]

Nathan wrote his will on 29 June 1676; it was proved on 10 July 1676. He mentions his sons Nathan, John (his executor), David, and Nathaniel, and his daughter Sarah Gale. [1]

Children of Nathan and Susanna Fiske:

i. Lieutenant Nathan Fiske was born on 17 October 1642 in Watertown. [2, 10] He died in October 1694. [4] He married Elizabeth ___ . [4] She died on 15 May 1696. [4]

ii. John Fiske was born on 25 August 1647 in Watertown. [2, 13]

iii. David Fiske was born on 29 April 1650 in Watertown. [2, 14] He probably died about 1694. [4] He married Elizabeth Reed on 15 December 1675 in Watertown. [2, 40] Elizabeth, the daughter of Deacon George and Elizabeth (Jennisonp) Reed of Woburn, died on 21 March 1717/8, age 65. [4]

iv. Nathaniel Fiske was born on 12 July 1653 in Watertown. [2, 16] He married Mary Child on 13 April 1677 in Watertown. [2, 43] Mary, the widow of John Child and the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Barron) Warren, died on 12 May 1734. [4]

When Nathaniel was young he lived for four years, probably as an apprentice, with Anthony Pierce. [4]

Nathaniel was a weaver. [4]

i. Sarah Fiske was probably born about 1656. She died on 12 May 1728. She married Abraham Gale.

References:

1. G. Andrews Moriarty, "Genealogical Research in England: The Fiske Family," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 88 (1934): 265–73.

2. Watertown Historical Society, Watertown Records (Watertown: Fred G. Barker, 1894, 1900): vol. 1, part 2.

3. Watertown Historical Society, Watertown Records (Watertown: Fred G. Barker, 1894, 1900): vol. 1, part 1.

4. Henry Bond, Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts, 2nd edition (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1860), 214–5.


20-Feb-2023