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JONATHAN THURSTON (1701–1738), son of Daniel Thurston and Mary Dresser
LYDIA SPOFFORD (c. 1699–1753), daughter of Samuel Spofford and Sarah Burpee
Jonathan was born on 3 or 16 March 1700/1 in Newbury. [1] He died on 28 September 1738, age 34[!], in Rowley. [2] He married Lydia Spofford of Rowley on 10 December 1722 in Newbury. [1]
Jonathan's brother Richard Thurston wrote, "Sept. 28, 1738, my brother, Jonathan Thurston, d. in the 38th year of his age."
Lydia, the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Spofford, was born on 25 April 1700 in Rowley. [2] Lydia, the wife of Jonathan and second wife of William Fisk, died on 25 July 1753, age 54 in Rowley. [2] The widow Lydia married [second] Deacon William Fisk on 6 January 1743/4 in Rowley. [2]
Lydia's father referred to her as Lydia Thurston of Rowley in his will of 16 August 1638 and called Jonathan Thurston his son-in-law. [4][5]
On 20 December 1743 Richard Thurston [probably Jonathan's brother] posted bond for the guardianship of Jonathan's children John, Lydia, Mary, and Martha Thurston. The same day William Fisk posted bond for the guardianship of Jonathan's son Samuel. [5]
Jonathan Thurston of Rowley died intestate. On 8 November 1744 the judge of probate appointed a committee to set off one third of his estate for his widow Thurston alias Fisk. He also requested them to view the other two thirds, to see how it could be divided without devaluing the estate, and to make a division. The committee set off a third for the widow Lydia and divided the rest—appraised at 200 pounds—into two parts. One part went to John, the eldest son, on the condition that he pay his eldest sister Sarah £28-11-09 and his sister Lydia £17-15-19. The other part went to the second son Samuel, on the condition that he pay his sister Lydia £10-15-08 and his sisters Mary and Martha each £28-11-05. On 21 January 1744/5 John Thurston posted bond for his share and William Fisk posted bond on behalf of the underage Samuel for his share. [5]
The births of Jonathan and Lydia's children (except Stephen's) are recorded in Rowley as the children of Jonathan and Lydia. [2] Their baptisms of the first six are recorded in Newbury as the children of Jonathan. [1]
Children of Jonathan Thurston and Lydia Spofford:
i. John Thurston was born on 19 August 1723. He was baptized on 1 September 1723. He might be the John who married Hepsibah Burpee on 15 March 1743/4 in Rowley. [2]
ii. Sarah Thurston was born on 26 May 1725. She (unnamed) was baptized on 30 May 1725.
iii. Samuel Thurston was born on 7 June 1727. He was baptized on 12 March 1726/7.
iv. Stephen Thurston was baptized on 23 February 1728/9. He probably died before 20 December 1743.
v. Lydia Thurston was born on 1 April 1730. She was baptized on 5 April 1730.
vii. Mary Thurston was born on 27 February 1731/2. She was baptized on 5 March 1731/2 in Newbury. She died on 27 October 1767 in Byfield Parish. She married Captain Timothy Jackman.
viii. Benjamin Thurston was born on 3 February 1733/4. He died on 31 October 1736, age two years, seven months, and 28 days, in Rowley. [2]
ix. Martha Thurston was born on 30 April 1736. She married Joseph Thurlo of Newbury on 18 October 1753 in Rowley. [2]
x. Jonathan Thurston was born on 5 September 1738. He died on 3 January 1738/9, age four months, in Rowley. [2]
Endnotes:
1. Vital Records of Newbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, vol. 1, vol. 2 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1911).
THURSTON Births, vol. 1: 516–8 John, s. Jonathan, bp. Sept. 1, 1723. C. R. 5. |
Marriages, vol. 2: 484 Jonathan, and Lydia Spaford of Rowley, Dec. 10, 1722 |
2. Vital Records of Rowley, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, vol. 1, vol. 2 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1928, 1931).
THURSTON Births, 218–9 Benjamin (Thirston), s. Jonathan and Lidia, Feb. 3, 1733-4 Marriages, 415 John (Thurstian), and Hepzibah Burpee, Mar. 15, 1743-4. |
Deaths, vol. 1: 528; vol. 2: 27 Benjamin, s. Jonathan and Lydia, Oct. 31, 1736, a. 2 y. 7 m. 28 d. P.R. 2. SPOFFORD Births, 199–206 Lydia (Spoffard), d. Samuell and Sarah, Apr. 25, 1700 FISK Deaths, 464 Lidia, 2d w. Dea. William, and formerly w. Jonathan Thurston, July 25, 1753, a. abt. 54 y. P.R. 2. |
3. Editors, "Richard Thurston's Memorandum, Kept at Rowley of the Deaths of his Near Relations," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 16 (1862) 170.
4. Sheila Aszling, "Which Mary Spofford Married David Wood?" The American Genealogist 57 (1981): 149–50.
5. "Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638–1881," database with images, AmericanAncestors, Spofford, Samuel, case 26011; Thurston, Jonathan, case 27631; Thurston, Jonathan (children), case 27628.
© A. Buiter 2014
05-Dec-2023 6:22 PM