The town of Ipswich was established on August 5, 1634, from common land called Agawam. On October 18, 1648, that portion called the "Village" at the New Meadows was set off as Topsfield. The boundary line between Ipswich and Topsfield was established, February 28, 1694.
Estate inventories give us a glance into the home life of Colonial Americans.
Nathaniel Warner was born about 1646 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. His parents were Daniel Warner and Elizabeth Dane.
Nathaniel married Hannah Boynton on November 24, 1673. Hannah was born on March 26, 1654. Her parents were John Boynton and Eleanor Pell.
Their children included:
Nathaniel Warner (1676, died age 21),
Daniel Warner (1678, died age 8),
John Warner (1679, died 1 month),
Hannah Warner (1680/81, died young), and
Hannah Warner Fellows (1684, married Ephraim Fellows).
On April 18, 1684, Nathaniel's father wrote when his son Nathaniel was dying:
my son Nathaniel W., being by God's providence upon a sick bed, and not knowing how the Lord may deal with him, and that there hath not been any settlement of any estate unto him, I have thought to do something for the comfort of his wife and child, &c . . . if the child not visible be a daughter, she shall have £40 paid to her at the age of 18 years.
Nathaniel was only 38 when he died. The unborn child was Hannah, who married Ephraim Fellows, and in 1703, she acknowledged the receipt of £40 from her uncle John Warner who was the executor of Daniel Warner's estate. She was born in August, after her father, Nathaniel, died April 29, 1684.
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.
Early European settlers in the American colonies were mostly farmers and craftsmen. They had to work hard to provide daily neccesities for themselves.
It was common for bequests to include wearing apparel.
New London County, Connecticut was one of four original Connecticut counties and was established on May 10, 1666, by an act of the Connecticut General Court.
History of the Town of Stonington, County of New London, Connecticut by Richard Anson Wheeler
Ephraim Fellows m. Hannah Warner, dau. of Nathaniel Warner, May 19, 1703.
Children:
Ephraim, b. in Massachusetts, and probably others.
Sarah, b. Jan. 3, 1711.
Nathaniel, b. June 22, 1713.
Nathan, b. , 1714.
Isaac, b. Feb. 19,1719.
John, b. Oct. 8, 1722.
Joannah, b. April 4,1724.
Mary, b. Aug. 16, 1726.
Mr. Ephraim Fellows d. March 12, 1726, and his wife, Hannah d. March 19, 1758.
