An American Family History

Benjamin Estey was born on April 29, 1669 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. His parents were Isaac Estey and Mary Towne. He was a bricklayer.

In 1692, his mother, Mary Towne Estey, became a victim of the Salem hysteria and was executed for witchcraft.

He married Elizabeth Goodhue on April 9, 1702. Elizabeth was born about 1675 in Ipswich. Her parents were Joseph Goodhue and Sarah Whipple. Elizabeth's sister, Sarah Goodhue married John Kimball.

Benjamin and Elizabeth's children were Benjamin Estey (1703), Ebenezer Estey (1705), Elizabeth Estey Howard (1708), and Sarah Estey (1713).

In 1705 they moved to Dorchester/Stoughton where he purchased land from the Indians. Elizabeth died following the birth of her last child on July 18, 1713.

In 1712 he inherited the proceeds from the sale of the house and land that had been meant for Joshua and two cows that he already had. Joshua did not inherit because his father had had to pay some debts for him.

He married Mary Holland on December 13, 1716.

In 1727 he settled in Sharon.

He died on March 28, 1750 in Sharon, Massachusetts.

“As for my son Benjamin my will is yt he and his heirs forever have ye house & land adjacent, which I formerly designed for my son Joshua. My meaning is yt he have ye value of ye said house and land yt is what was sold for to my neighboor John Robinson togather with the two cows which he hath had of me already which money for said House and Land he hath had already.”

Joseph Goodhue, son of William Goodhue, was born in 1639 in Ipswich. He married (first) July 13, 1661, Sarah Whipple, daughter of Elder John Whipple. She was born in 1641, and was a woman of great piety. In an instrument executed on the day of marriage by William Goodhue Sr. and Margery, his wife, by John Whipple and Sarah, his wife, according to an agreement made previously Joseph Goodhue enters into possession of his father's farm and is declared to be entitled to his father's house and lot after the death of him and his wife, and twenty-two acres of salt marsh which had been bought with ten pounds of the twenty-five pounds sent by Joseph's grandfather, Watson, from England in 1646.

Sarah (Whipple) Goodhue died at Ipswich, July 23, 1681. She left a farewell address to her husband, children and friends written in very pious and affectionate terms, mentioning her parents as still living, evidently meaning her husband's parents.

Joseph Goodhue married (second) October 15, 1684, Rachel Todd, widow, who died in Ipswich in 1691. He married (third) July 4, 1692, Mercy Clarke. He died at Ipswich, September 21, 1697, aged fifty-eight. He served the town as moderator, selectman, assessor, deputy to the general court and was deacon of the Ipswich church.

Children of first wife:
Joseph, born May 13, 1662, died young;
Mary;
William, 1666;
Sarah [Kimball];
Margery;
Susannah [Kimball];
Elizabeth [Estey];
John, born 1679;
Hannah, July 20, 1681.

Children of second wife:
Ebenezer, July 25, 1685;
Joseph, 1687;
Benjamin, January 25, 1690, died December 3, 1697.

Child by third wife:
Samuel