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An American Family History

Jacob Powers

Littleton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts was first settled in 1686 by English settlers and was the the location of the Native American village called Nashoba Plantation

Between 1 and 1.5 percent of births ended in the mother's death. Since the average woman gave birth to five to eight children, her lifetime chance of dying in childbirth was quite high.

Jacob Powers was born on December 15, 1679 in Littleton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. His parents were Walter Powers and Trial Shepard.

He married his first wife, Sarah Merriam, on September 18, 1703. Sarah was the daughter of Joseph Merriam and Sarah Jenkins. 

Jacob and Sarah had at least one child Sarah Powers (1705). His wife, Sarah, died April 15, 1705 when she was 29 years old. She probably died due to complications of childbirth.

He married his second wife, Edith Adams, in 1705 in Chelmsford. Edith was born December 1, 1683. Her parents were Jonathan Adams and Leah Gould.

Jacob and Edith lived in Littleton on the south side of the Harvard road near the town line adjoining Edith's parent's land.

Jacob and Edith's children were Lydia Powers (October 6, 1713), Esther Powers (September 13, 1716), Jonas Powers (July 19, 1719), and Edward Powers (May 3, 1725).

Jacob died in 1768 in Littleton. Edith died on November 26, 1776.
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.
Children of Walter Powers
and Trial Shepard
  • William Powers
  • Mary Powers Wheeler
  • Captain Isaac Powers
  • Thomas Powers
  • Lieutenant Daniel Powers
  • Increase Powers
  • Walter Powers, Jr.
  • Jacob Powers
  • Sarah Powers Barron
    		•

    Any man entering a colony or becoming a a member the church, was not free. He was not forced to work, but his movements were carefully observed to see if they followed the Puritanical ideal. After this probationary period, he became a "freeman." Men then took the Oath of a Freeman where they vowed to defend the Commonwealth and not to overthrow the government.

    Merriam Genealogy in England and America by Charles Pierce Merriam, James Sheldon Merriam

    Joseph4 [Merriam] (William,3 Joseph,1 William1), born in Lynn at date not discovered; married 19 Aug., 1675, Sarah Jenkins. Resided at Lynn; was made freeman 18 April, 1691. He died 21 Oct., 1702.

    Children:
    i. Joseph,5 b. 10 July, 1676; d. young.
    ii. Benjamin, b. 23 April, 1678; d. young.
    iii. Sarah, b. 21 Feb. 1680-1; m. (intention Sept. 18, 1703) Jacob Powers, of Concord.
    iv. Elizabeth, b. 2 July, 1683.
    22. v. Ebenezer, b. 11 Feb. 1685-6.
    23. vi. Theophilus, b. 16 July, 1688.
    vii. Mary, m. in 1711 David Potter, of Ipswich.

    		  
     

    Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County, Massachusetts by Ellery Bicknell Crane, Lewis Publishing, 1907

    Jonathan Adams, son of Lieutenant Thomas Adams (2), was born in Concord, Massachusetts, January 6. 1646. He married, August 29. 1681, Leah Gould, twin daughter of Francis and Rose Gould, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. She died in 1718. His farm was in or near Littleton. He died at Chelmsford, November 25, 1712.

    Children of Jonathan and Leah Adams were:
    Edith, born December 1, 1683;
    Mary, May 13, 1687;
    Margaret, June 24, 1688;
    Lydia [Adams], April 2, 1691; [married Thomas Robbins]
    Abigail, November 9, 1693;
    Jonathan, March 21, 1695-96;
    David. March 29, 1699;
    Elizabeth,
    Edward,
    Rachel [Adams, married Isaac Hildreth].

    		  
     

    Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine by George Thomas Little, Henry Sweetser Burrage, Albert Roscoe Stubbs, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1909

    Jacob [Powers], born December 15, 1679, marriage published September 18, 1703, with Sarah Meriam, who died April 15, 1705 and he married (second) Edith, daughter of Jonathan and Leah (Guild) Adams, of Chelmsford and Littleton, and a descendant of Henry Adams, of Braintree. She was born December 1, 1683.

    Jacob Power lived in Littleton on the south side of the Harvard road near the town line and adjoining lands of Jonathan Adams, his father-in-law. He held minor town offices.

    		 

     

         

    ©Roberta Tuller 2012
    tuller.roberta@gmail.com

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