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An American Family History

Jacob Estey
Lady Day Before 1752 the year began on March 25th. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year, not the beginning.

The settlement of New Meadows was incorporated as the Town of Topsfield by authority of the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1650. The church "gathered" on November 4, 1663 with the Rev. Thomas Gilbert. The third Meeting House was built on the Common in 1703 with Rev. Joseph Capen as pastor.

Towne Sisters

"The Towne Sisters" by Yiannis Stefinarkis, ca. 1970
Plaster statue of Rebecca Towne Nurse, Mary Towne Estey, Sarah Towne Bridges Cloyes wearing shackles. The statue is located in the Salem Wax Museum of Witches and Seafarers, Salem.

Jacob Estey was born January 24, 1674/75 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. His parents were Isaac Estey and Mary Towne. He was a bricklayer. 

When he was 18, in 1692, his mother, Mary Towne Estey, became a victim of the Salem hysteria and was executed for witchcraft.

He was appointed by his father in 1710 to take the petition to court for damages in his mother’s death.

He married Lydia Elliott on March 25, 1710. Lydia was born about 1688. Her parents were John and Naomi Elliott (Elliot) of Amesbury. 

Jacob and Lydia's children were Jacob Estey (1711), Lydia Estey Towne (1713), Isaac Estey (1715), Anna Estey Carriel (1719), and Mary Estey (1720/1721).

When his father died in 1712, he inherited the Estey homestead. That included the house, barn, other buildings, orchards, fields, pastures and meadows. It also included farming and barrel making tools and the road.

“As for my son Jacob, my will is yt he & his heirs forever have my now dwelling house, together with barn, and other buildings with my orchards, plow lands pasture lands and meadows not already otherwise disposed of together with all my Implements of husbandry, weaving or Copering also my will is yt my son Jacob have ye whole of my movable estate yt shall be left at my decease he taking off & discharging my funeral expenses whom I do appoint sole Executor of this my last will . . . also my son Jacob and his heirs forever shall have all my right in cart or drift way as expressed by deeds.”

He was selectman in 1725.

Jacob died in 1732.

After he died Lydia moved to Vermont with her son, Isaac.

His aged mother came to town with him, rode in a chaise which it required several men to steady and help over the obstructions of the way, and was the first adult female that died in Royalston.

Children of Isaac Estey
and Mary Towne
  • Isaac Estey, Jr.
  • Joseph Estey
  • Sarah Estey Gill Ireland
  • John Estey
  • Hannah Estey Abbott
  • Benjamin Estey
  • Samuel Estey
  • Jacob Estey
  • Joshua Estey

    • Various spellings of Estey
    Easte, Este, Estee, Estes, Estey, Esty

    In early New England towns policy was set by men gathered in town meetings. Day-to-day operations were handled by a board of 3 to 5 selectmen. They oversaw public resposibilites such as the policing, roads, and fences.
         
         
     

    Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont edited by Hiram Carleton

    The progenitor of the family in America was Jeffrey Estey, who was one of the original inhabitants of Salem in 1651. His wife's name was supposed to be Elizabeth Esticke. Isaac Estey, said to have been a son of Jeffrey Estey, was united in marriage to Miss Mary Town, daughter of William Town, of Topsfield;

    Jacob Estey, fifth son of Isaac and Mary Estey, was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Eliott;

    Isaac Estey, second son of Jacob and Lydia Estey, settled the first place west of the common, near the foot of Jacob's hill. He was one of the eight persons who "embodied" with the First Baptist church of Royalston, Massachusetts, in 1768, and became its first deacon. He was a man of considerable property and a highly respected citizen. His aged mother came to town with him, rode in a chaise which it required several men to steady and help over the obstructions of the way, and was the first adult female that died in Royalston.

    		 
         

     

         

    ©Roberta Tuller 2012
    tuller.roberta@gmail.com