An American Family History

Abigail Kimball Severens was born before 1616 in Rattlesden, Suffolk County, England. Her parents were Richard Kimball and Ursula Scott.

She inherited 40 schillings from her grandfather, Henry Scott, which she would receive when she turned 21. He died in 1623.

She married John Severens (Severance) in England. John was a planter, “victualler", and vinter. According to the History of Salisbury he was master of the ship George and brought a ship of emigrants to New England.

Their children were Samuel Severans (1637), Ebenezer Severans (1639; ), Abigail Severans (1641), Abigail Severans Church (1643, married John Church), Mary Severans Coffin (1645), John Severans (1647), Joseph Severans (1649-50), Elizabeth Severans (1652), Benjamin Severans (1654-5) Ephraim Severans (1656), unnamed daughter (1658) and Elizabeth Severans Eastman (1658).

Their youngest child, Elizabeth Severans, married Samuel Eastman, of Salisbury in 1686. Her granddaughter, Abigail Eastman,  was born on July 10, 1737, daughter of Thomas and Abigail (French) Eastman, married Ebenezer Webster, and was the mother of Daniel Webster, the statesman. (Genesis of the White Family,  p. 216)

She died in Salisbury on June 17, 1675.

Her husband was remembered by her father in his will “To my son-in-law John Severns, I give ten pounds to be pay'd two yeares & halfe after my decease.” 

After she died John married Susanna the widow of Henry Ambrose in 1663. John died on April 9, 1682.

from Garrett Church of Watertown, Mass. by Robert M. and Helen C. Search

John Church of Dover, N. H., an account of whom is given in John Scales, History of Dover, N. H., 1923, p. 493-9 married in Salisbury, Essex County, Mass., 29 Nov. 1664, Abigail Severence (John). He was killed by the Indians in Dover 7 May 1696 having lived there thirty years. According to his age as given in an affidavit he was born in 1640 or 1641. Mr. Scales says that family tradition called him a nephew of Capt. Benjamin Church but the famous Indian fighter was the third child of Richard and Elizabeth (Warren) church of Plymouth, Mass., born in 1639. It would therefore have been impossible for John Church of Dover to have been a nephew of Benjamin. If he did belong to the Plymouth family he would have to be a brother of Benjamin; there does not seem to be room for him in the already large family attributed to Richard by John A. Church.

John Church's name has not been found on any of the early ship's passenger lists. If he was an immigrant no indication has been found of his entry into this country. It is possible that his age was misstated in the affidavit, that he was actually two years older, in which case he may have been the eldest child of Garret Church of Watertown. Three of his children were named Jonathan, Sarah, and Mary.

from The History of Salisbury, New Hampshire by John Jacob Dearborn

John Severance married Abigail Kimball, at Ipswich, England. In 1635, as master of the ship George he brought over a load of emigrants for New England, and later settled at Salisbury, Mass.