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Stephen Jordan (c. 1590–1670)
Stephen Jordan was born about 1590. He died on 5 February 1669/70 in Newbury. [1] He married first ___. [2] He married second Susannah (___) Merrill. [2] Susanna, widow, died on 25 January 1672 in Newbury. [1] Susanna married first Nathaniel Merrill. [3] Nathaniel, the son of Nathaniel Merrill, was baptized on 4 May 1601 in Wherstead, co. Suffolk on 4 May 1601 and died on 16 March 1654/5. [3]
Stephen came to New England on the Mary & John in 1634. [2] He was granted a houselot in Ipswich on 5 March 1639/40. [2]
Stephen Jordan, on account of age, was freed from ordinary training on 26: 1: [March] 1656. [4, a: 188]
On 28 March 1671 Tristram Coffin and Anthony Somerby deposed that Stephen Jordan was in a very weak condition for a long time before his death. He had been unable to care for himself and his wife and was in debt. The selectman of Newbury asked Tristram to go to Ipswich to speak with Stephen's two son-in-laws, Robert Cross and John Andrews. Robert and John came to their father-in-law's house in Newbury and explained that Stephen had given them cattle with the proviso that if he ever needed them, they should be returned. They both said they would need to go back home and check what was left and then they would return. Robert and John apparently sent twenty pounds worth of cattle. After Stephen's death, Robert and John sued his widow for withholding legacies and complained of not being given an account of what happened to the cattle. [4, 4: 334–6]
Stephen Jordan of Newbury made his will on 5 April 1667; it was allowed on 3 May 1670. He left his estate to his widow during her life. He left his daughter Cross of Ipswich and his daughter Andrews of Ipswich each 15 pounds. He left his house and land in Newbury to Stephen Cross, the son of Robert Cross, after his wifes death. Stephen was to pay Stephen Jordan's granddaughter Elizabeth Andres five pounds. He left half his household goods to his wife and half to Robert Cross and John Andrews. Inventory was taken on 8 February 1669 and amounted to £39-04-06, less debts of £9-19-09. [4, 4: 247–8]
Susan Jordan died intestate and on 25 March 1673, administration was granted to Abel Merrill, her youngest son. [4, 5: 139]
Children of Stephen Jordan and his unknown first wife:
i. Anna Jordan was born say 1612. She died on 29 October 1667 in Ipswich. She married Robert Cross.
ii. Jane Jordan was born say 1626. [2] She married John Andrews. [2]
References:
1. Vital Records of Newbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1911), vol. 2: 630.
2. "Great Migration, 1634–1635, I–L," digitized book, originally published as Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration to New England, 1634–1635, Volume IV, I–L (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2005), 114.
3. Walter Goodwin Davis, Massachusetts and Maine Families in the Ancestry of Walter Goodwin Davis, vols. 1–3 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1996), vol. 2: 595.
4. George Francis Dow, ed., and Harriet S. Tapley, trans., Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, 9 vols., digitized books, Salem Witch Trials: Documentary Archive and Transcription Project (http://salem.lib.virginia.edu).
11-May-2023