An American Family History

David Fiske was born on February 29, 1652 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Nathan and Susannah Fiske. According to History of the Reed family in Europe and America by Jacob Whittemore Reed he was a "distinguished surveyor of lands." 

He married Elizabeth Reed when he was 23 years old on December 15, 1675 in Watertown. Elizabeth was born on July 29, 1653 in Woburn. Her parents were Deacon George Reed and Elizabeth Jennison.

Their children included:
Nathan Fiske born about 1676 and
David Fiske born December 11, 1678.

In 1694, the widow, Elizabeth Fiske was made administratrix of her husband's estate.

Elizabeth died on March 21, 1717/18 in Watertown

Mary White Rowlandson,Talcot was captured by Native Americans during King Philip's War (1675-1676).

Children of Nathan and Susannah Fiske Lieutenant Nathan Fiske David Fiske Nathaniel Fiske Sarah Fiske Gale

Watertown was settled in 1630 by English Puritans in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

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.

Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers by Henry Bond, Horatio Gates Jones

David Fiske, m., Dec. 15, 1675, Elizabeth Reed. (?) b. July 29, 1653, rd. of Des. George and Elizabeth (Dennison) Reed, of Wilburn. She d. Mar. 21, 1717-18, aged 65. Admen, granted to wid. Elizabeth, Dec. 10, 1694.

1. Nathan, eldest son, living 1694.

2. David, b. Dec. 11, 1678; d. Mar. 5; 1723-4, and his wid. Rebecca, m. Thomas Sanderson. Chil.,
1.  Elizabeth, b. May 6, 1722.
2.  Thankful, b. Jan. 19, 1723-4; m., Dec. 24, 1741, Jonas Smith, of Waltham. 11 chil.

Deacons played a respected and important role in early New England churches. They sat in a raised pew near the pulpit and had special duties during communion.

Some Puritans gave their children hortatory names (from the Latin for “encourage”) like Thankful, hoping that the children would live up to them. The names were used for several generations.

Historic Homes and Institutions, Volume 1 edited by Ellery Bicknell Crane

... George Reed, who was born in England, in 1629, and bought a farm in Woburn, November 7, 1651, from Rebecca Terrace. He married Elizabeth Jennings or Jennison, of Watertown, Massachusetts, August 4, 1651, and he bought land in Weymouth, April 16, 1665. He married (second) Hannah Rockwell, of Charlestown, November 9, 1665, having eight children by the first marriage and five by the second.

...He was wealthy and influential and deacon of . the Woburn church. He died February 21, 1706, aged seventy-seven years.

The father of George Reed was the emigrant, William Reed, of Woburn. William Reed or Reade is believed to be the son of Thomas and Mary Reade, of Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire, England, and was born in 1587. He sailed from London in the ship Defence in July, 1635, and arrived at Boston, October 6, 1635, with his wife, who was Mabel Kendall, born in 1605.

Elizabeth J. Jennison, who married George Reed, as stated above, born April 12, 1637, in Woburn, Massachusetts, was the daughter of Robert Jennison, of Watertown, and her birth is the earliest record we have of the family. Robert Jennison was admitted a freeman in May, 1645. His wife, Elizabeth Jennison, died October 30, 1638, aged thirty, and he married (second) Grace . , who died November 26, 1686; he died July 4, 1690. His will mentions his son-in-law, George Reed.