Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts was first settled by English Puritans in 1629 and was first incorporated in 1631 as Saugus.
The town common (commons) was a small, open field at the center of the town which was jointly owned. It was used as a marketplace, a place for the militia to drill, or for grazing livestock.
Ann Collins Ingalls was born on February 13, 1673/74 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. Her parents were Joseph and Sarah Collins.
Ann and Nathaniel's children included: Nathaniel Ingalls (1692, married Tabitha Lewis) ,
Sarah Ingalls (1693, married Samuel Ingalls),
Ruth Ingalls Berry (1695, married John Berry),
Tabitha Ingalls Williams (1700, married John Williams),
Maria Ingalls Berry (1702, married Samuel Berry),
Joseph Ingalls (1705, married Rebecca Collins the daughter of Eleazer Collins son of Henry Collins and Mary Tolman),
William Ingalls (1708, married Zeruiah Norwood),
Henry Ingalls (1712, married Sarah Richards),
Hannah Ingalls Hitchings (1715, married Daniel Hitchings), and
Jacob Ingalls (1717, married Mary Tucker).
The first three were born in Lynn and the others in Burleigh.
A Puritan woman's clothing consisted of underpants, stockings, linen, shift, petticoat, chemise (underblouse), bolster (a padded roll tied around the hips under the skirt), bodice, skirt, apron, coif (cap), outer gown and shoes.
A woman might wear a ruff or bow and an apron. Cloaks were worn instead of coats. Women carried a small cloth draw-string bag or reticule and perhaps wore a chatelaine.
Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.
Women played an essential role in American society as mothers and homemakers.
Essex County, Massachusetts was created on May 10, 1643 by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, when it ordered "that the whole plantation within this jurisdiction be divided into four sheires."
English colonists from Salem were the first settlers in Lynn.
American colonists continued to use British monetary units, namely the pound, shilling and pence for which £1 (orli) equalled 20s and 1s equalled 12d. In 1792 the dollar was established as the basic unit of currency.
Genealogical and Personal Memoir, Volume 4
edited by William Richard Cutter
Nathaniel Ingalls son of Robert Ingalls, was born at Lynn, about 1660. He resided at Lynn, and was a farmer. He married Anne. His will was dated July 12, 1735, and proved January 9, 1737.
Children
1.Nathaniel, born December 25, 1692;
2. Sarah, born April 14, 1693; married Samuel Ingalls.
3. Ruth, born June 29, 1695: married, 1711, John Berry.
4. Joseph, married Rebecca Collins.
5. William, married Zeruiah Norwood.
6. Henry, mentioned below.
7. Maria, married Samuel Berry, of Salem.
8. Tabitha, married, 1723, John Williams.
9. Hannah, married, 1735, Daniel Hitchings.
10. Jacob, married Mary Tucker.
Henry Ingalls, son of Nathaniel Ingalls, was born at Lynn, and died there. He married, December 26, 1734, Sarah Richards.
Any man entering a colony or becoming a a member the church, was not free. He was not forced to work, but his movements were carefully observed to see if they followed the Puritanical ideal. After this probationary period, he became a "freeman." Men then took the Oath of a Freeman where they vowed to defend the Commonwealth and not to overthrow the government.
Estate inventories give us a glance into the home life of Colonial Americans.
