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An American Family History

Joseph Towne

The settlement of New Meadows was incorporated as the Town of Topsfield by authority of the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1650. The church "gathered" on November 4, 1663 with the Rev. Thomas Gilbert. The third Meeting House was built on the Common in 1703 with Rev. Joseph Capen as pastor.

Joseph Towne was born in 1639 and baptized on September 3, 1648 in St. Nicholas Parish, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk County, England. His parents were William Towne and Joanna Blessing.

He married Phebe Perkins in 1665 in in Topsfield. Phebe was born in 1644 in Topfield. Her parents were Deacon Thomas Perkins and Phebe Gould.

Their children, born in Topsfield, were Joanna Towne (1667/68), John Towne (1677/78), Phebe Towne (1666), Mary Towne (1670), Susanna Towne (1671), Joseph Towne (1672/73), Sarah Towne (1675), and Martha Towne (1680).  

Phebe died after 1680. Joseph died in 1713 in Topsfield.

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 William Towne
and Joanna Blessing
  • Rebecca Towne Nurse
  • John Towne
  • Susannah Towne
  • Sergeant Edmund Towne
  • Jacob Towne
  • Mary Towne Estey
  • Joseph Towne
  • Sarah Towne Bridges Cloyes
    		•
         
      The New England Historical & Genealogical Register by New England Historic-Genealogical Society, 1867  
     

    Joseph Towne, youngest son of William and Joanna Towne, was b. about 1639, and m. Phebe, dau. of Dea. Thomas Perkins, of Topsfield. He accompanied his father in his removal from Salem to Topsfield; was made a freeman, March 22, 1690; was a member of the church at the latter place, and d. 1713, aged 74 years.

    Children: 25. Phebe, b. May 4, 1666. 26. Joanna, b. Jan. 22, 1668; m. Thomas Nichols, Dec. 15,1691. 27. Mary, b. March 27, 1670. 28. Susannah, b. Dec. 24, 1671. 29. Joseph, b. March 22, 1673. 30. Sarah, b. Dec. 30, 1675. 31. John, b. Feb. 20, 1678. 32. Martha, b. May 19, 1680.

    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.

    For family trees and all source information, link to my RootsWeb File

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    ©Roberta Tuller 2010
    robertanne@socal.rr.com
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