An American Family History

Nathan Fiske, Jr. and Elizabeth Fry

Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts

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

Bond's genealogy of Watertown is available on Kindle.

Early European settlers in the American colonies were mostly farmers and craftsmen. They had to work hard to provide daily neccesities for themselves.

Lieutenant Nathan Fiske and Elizabeth Fry married about 1664 or April 26, 1665 in Dorchester.

Their children were born in Watertown. The first child named Nathan Fiske, was born on February 9, 1665/66.
Elizabeth Fiske Ball was born on January 19, 1667/1668.
Martha Fiske Parks was born on January 12, 1670/1671.
Deacon Nathan Fiske was born on January 3, 1672/73.

On October 1, 1673, he paid £10 for the 220 acres in Weston which had been allotted to his uncle and aunt, Martin and Martha (Fiske) Underwood from Thomas and Magdalen Underwood who had inherited it.

Susannah Fiske was born on April 7, 1674.
Abigail Fiske Mixer was born on February 18, 1675/1676.
The first child named,William Fiske was born December 5, 1677 and died on December 21, 1677.
William Fiske was born on November 10, 1678.
Anna Fiske was born and died in July, 1683.

He was selectman of Watertown 1684, 1688 and 1691.

Lieutenant Nathan died in 1694 and Elizabeth followed in 1696.

American colonists continued to use British monetary units, namely the pound, shilling and pence for which £1 (or li) equalled 20s and 1s equalled 12d. In 1792 the dollar was established as the basic unit of currency.

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.

1677 Map of New England
click to enlarge

It was common for bequests to include wearing apparel.

In 1688, during the Glorious Revolution, the Protestant king and queen,William and Mary, took the English throne from Catholic King James II. The bloodless revolution profoundly impacted the American colonies.

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The New England Meetinghouse was the only municipal building in a town. Both worship and civil meetings were held there. It was customary for men and women to sit separately and the town chose a committee once a year to assign seats according to what was paid, age, and dignity.

from Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs, Volume 4
edited by William Richard Cutter

Lieutenant Nathan Fiske, son of Nathan Fiske, the immigrant, and grandson of Nathaniel and Dorothy (Symonds) Fiske, was born in Watertown, Massachusetts Bay Colony, October 17, 1642.

He married Elizabeth Fry.

He purchased from Thomas and Magdalen Underwood, lands allotted to or purchased by his uncle and aunt, Martin and Martha (Fiske) Underwood, and inherited by Thomas Underwood, to the extent of two hundred and twenty acres, paying therefor the sum of £10.

He was selectman of Watertown 1684, 1688 and 1691.

He died October 11, 1694, and his widow Elizabeth was administrator of his estate, being appointed by the general court December 10, 1694, and the estate was divided November 23, 1696, his widow having died May 15, 1696.

The children of Lieutenant Nathan and Elizabeth (Fry) Fiske were:
Nathan, born February 9, 1665, died in 1668:
Elizabeth, born January 19, 1667, married James Ball (1670-1729) Weaver, January 16, 1693;
Martha, born January 12, 1670, married, March 13, 1694, Edward Park (1661);
Nathan, born January 3, 1672;
Susanna, born April 7, 1674, died unmarried, 1752;
Abigail, born February 18, 1675, married John Mixer, August 15, 1695;
William, born December 5, 1677, died same year;
William, born November 10, 1678, married Eunace Jennings;
Anna, died young.

In early New England towns policy was set by a board of 3 to 5 selectmen. They oversaw public responsibilities such as the policing, roads, and fences.

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©Roberta Tuller 2023
tuller.roberta@gmail.com
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