An American Family History

Martha Kimball Fowler was born in 1629 in Rattlesden, Suffolk County, England. Her parents were Richard Kimball and Ursula Scott.

She came to America with her parents on the ship "Elizabeth" when she was about five years old.

She married Joseph Fowler in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts and they settled there.. Joseph was born about 1629 in England. His father was Philip Fowler.

Their children were Joseph Fowler (1647), Philip Fowler (1648), John Fowler (1655), and Mary Fowler Breen.

In 1649 Joseph was admonished for drunken high jinks in the woods with his cousin and Martha's brothers. In 1650 they sold land and cattle to Martha's father. In 1651 Joseph's father Philip adopted their son Philip.

In 1670 Joseph Fowler from Ipswich was a settler in Wenham.

Joseph was killed by Indians on May 19, 1676 near Deerfield, Massachusetts on his return from the Falls Fight.. 

Joseph [Fowler] (Philip1) was born in England, probably about 1629, came with his parents in the ship "Mary and John," in 1634, to Ipswich, Mass.; married there Martha Kimball, who came over from Ipswich, England, in 1634, in the ship "Elizabeth," with her parents, when she is called five years of age.

Her father, Richard Kimball, settled in Ipswich, Mass., and was the ancestor of nearly all of those now living of the name of Kimball. Her mother, Ursula (Scott) Kimball, his wife, was the daughter of the widow Martha Scott, who came in the same ship with him, then aged sixty years. She was perhaps the widow of Hon. John Scott, of Scott's Hall, County of Kent, England, and daughter of Sir George Wortup.

In 1647, he worked with his father, Philip Fowler, for two days, at the watch house in Ipswich, for which he received three shillings of the town.

In 1649 (7th mo.) in Essex Court records is the following:

We present Joseph Fowler, Thomas Cooke, Thomas Scott, and two of ye sons of Richard Kimball, for goeing into ye woods, shouting and singing, taking fire and liquors with them, all being at unseasonable time in ye night, ocasioning yr. wives and some other to go out to them. Joseph Fowler, Thomas Scott, John Kemball and Thomas Kemball for their presentment, had a legal admonition.

These young men probably met to celebrate the twenty-first birthday of Thomas Scott, who was Joseph Fowler's cousin...

The Kimballs were brothers-in-law to Joseph Fowler, and cousins to Scott. John, then aged 18, married, and died in Ipswich, leaving numerous descendants. Thomas was then aged 16, he married, and settled in Bradford, where he was slain by the Indians, 3 May, 1676, leaving a son Richard, a captain in active service against the Indians in 1724. (See Kimball's letter in Mass. Archives, Vol. 52, p. 45.)

In 1650 (10th, 10th mo.) he gave in his testimony in case of Joseph Fowler, plaintiff, vs. Sirnonds, defendant.

In 1650 is found the following deed :

Know all men by these presents, that I, Joseph Fowler of Ipswich, in the county of Essex, in New England, husbandman, doe sell unto Richard Kemball, sen'r of ye same towne, wheelwright, my father-in-law, such land & cattell as followeth,
viz.:—one cow & one yearling, 40 acres of ground joyning to Richard Jacob, on ye one side, & Thomas Byshop & Jobe Byshop, on the other, 34 acres of it I enjoyne myselfe to fence in, of upland & meadow, which the said Richard is to have of the said Joseph, for such goods as I have received of him for satisfaction thereof.
In wittnesse whereof, I have hereunto sett my hand, the 12th of January, 1650.
Witnesses. Joseph Fowler. William Chaundler (his brother-in-law) & witness John Kimball (his wife's brother) & William Smith.
This writing & deed was acknowledged 21: 11th mo: 1651, before me. Samuel Symonds."

In 1651

"Phillip Fowler the elder, of Ipswich, did come before me, and in the presence of Joseph his sonne & Martha. his wife, & with their full & free consent, did adopt as his sonne Phillip, the sonne of the s'd Joseph & Martha, to be as his soune. Samuel Symonds.

There is no date to the above paper, but it is recorded between papers dated 18 day of 6th month, 1651, and Feb., 1651. It is probable that after this period he resided with his father-in-law, Richard Kimball.

In 1651 (25th, 1st mo.) when at Goodman Cross' house, gave in his testimony in case of Bradstreet & Muzzy, at Ipswich Court.

In 1651 (3d, 4th mo.) John Broadstreet, Joseph Fowler, Thomas Scott and Richard Belts, were presented to court and discharged.

In 1653

Richard Kemball, sen'r, & Joseph Fowler, both of Ipswich, wheelwright & husbandman, in the county of Essex, in New England, do bind ourselves, heirs & executors, to Humphry Bradstreete of Rowley, in the same county, in the full & just sume of fifty pounds, for to secure the said Humphrey, his heires, executors & administrators, from all charges & incumbrances touching the horse that the s'd Humphry Bradstreete, hath sould me, and recovered from Zacheus Gould, in December, 1649, witness our hand. Richard Kimball (the marke of). Joseph Fowler. Signed, sealed & del'd in the presence of these, 3 of the 01 month, dat. 1653, witnes Martha Willoms. John Bradstreete."

In 1658-9 (14 March) he witnessed an agreement of George Norton and Roger Preston.

In 1660 (27 Nov.) he witnessed the will of Robert Garrett of Boston, and he deposed in regard to it, 1 Aug., 1668.

In 1669-70 (7 March) he witnessed a receipt of Andrew Peeters and John Browne, to Goodman Caldwell, for rent of land.

Joseph Fowler was killed by the Indians, near Deerfield, 19 May, 1676, on his return from the Falls fight.

The children of Joseph and Martha (Kimball) Fowler, were:
28. Joseph, b. about 1647; m. Elizabeth Hutton.
29. Philip, b. 25 Dec., 1648; m. Elizabeth Herrlck.
30. John, b. ; m. Sarah ; Hannah Scott.
31. Mary, b. ; m. John Briers 20 Jan., 1678-1.