Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts
Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts
English colonists from Salem were the first settlers in Lynn.
Essex County, Massachusetts was created on May 10, 1643 by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, when it ordered "that the whole plantation within this jurisdiction be divided into four sheires."
In 1670 Chrispus Brewer and Thomas Ivory were sworn constables for Lynn.
According to The Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts record in 1672 . Elizur Holioak and Crispus Brewer, his tenant had a dispute with Thomas Farrar because Crispus was denied use of a highway.
In 1678 Crispus Brewer was on the list of "The Names of thos Inhabitants of Lyn wich tooke the Oath of Allegiance to the Kinge" to King Charles II.
Crispus "by vote of the town in 1682 had leave to sit in the pulpit on Sundays."
Mary died on May 3, 1692.
Crispus died between December 10, 1706, and February 10, 1706/07.
Lynn Meeting House 1682
King Charles II ruled England from
1660 to 1685.
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.
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.
Early European settlers in the American colonies were mostly farmers and craftsmen. They had to work hard to provide daily neccesities for themselves.
from The Essex Antiquarian, Volume 12 edited by Sidney Perley
Chrispus (also Christover) Brewer lived in Lynn, and died between Dec. 10, 1706, and Feb. 10, 1706-7. His wife Mary died in Lynn May 3, 1693.
Children, born in Lynn:
Abigail, born 4: 10 m:1664; married Liscum of Lynn; and she was his widow in 1707;
Rebecca, born 28: 8: 1667; died March 11, 1700-1.
Thomas Brewer lived in Lynn, wife Elizabeth, 1687-1700;
children, born in Lynn:
Chrispus, died Aug.4,1690;
Mary, born Nov. 10, 1684;
Rebecca, born Dec. 2, 1687; died July 27, 1690;
Mary, born June 16, 1690;
Thomas, born May 29, 169; died Oct. 8,1702;
John, born May 10, 1700;
Chrispus, died Dec. 11, 1706.
The name Crispus is Latin in origin and its meaning is crisp or curly. Crispin was the chief of the synagogue at Corinth.
Lush forests in Colonial America allowed settlers to build wooden homes.
from The Massachusetts Magazine: Devoted to Massachusetts History, Volume 2
Elizabeth Bruer married Samuell Ingolls Feb. 2, 1681.
Mary Bruer married John Richards Nov. 18, 1674
Sarah Bruer married Samuell Graves March 12, 1677-8.
Thomas Bruer married Elizabeth Graves Dec. 4, 1682.
Colonial legislatures granted land to a group of settlers (proprietors) who chose how to divide the land. They had some rights of governance.
In early New England towns policy was set by a board of 3 to 5 selectmen. They oversaw public responsibilities such as the policing, roads, and fences.
A deponent (dept, dpnt) gives testimony under oat.
The Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts
In 1672 Mr. Elizur Holioak and Crispus Brewer, his tenant v. Thomas Farrer. For denying to said Crispus his making use of a highway. Verdict for plaintiff.
Writ: Mr. Eliezer Holioake and Crispus Brewer, his tenant v. Thomas Farrer; for denying said Brewer the use of the highway that goes by his house and leads to the land of said Mr. Elizer Holioake at or adjoining Sagamore hill, so called, in Lynn, and for turning back said Crispus's cattle when they were driving to pasture; dated 12-9-1672;
signed by Hilliard Veren, for the court;
and served by Thomas Ivory, constable of Lin.
Edward Richards of Lynn, aged about fifty-five years, deposed that he had known that there had been a highway to the land at Sagamore hill, which was Capt. Turner's at Lynne, and which had been enjoyed by Capt. Turner and Mr. Holyoke for thirtyseven years. This way had been owned by all the proprietors of those lands that bordered upon it until Thomas Farrar came to be a proprietor there. Deponent for some time possessing the lands that were Carman's, he was troubled that Mr. Holyoke had such free course through there to his land, and got him to Mr. Willis's house before some gentlemen of the town to open his complaint.
Those gentlemen produced a record of the town book, which declared that those lands by which the said highway went were granted on condition that Capt. Turner should have a highway there through to his land at Sagamore hill.
Sworn, 12-5 -1671, before Wm. Hathorne, assistant.
Copy of a record of the meeting of the selectmen of Lyn, 22: 2-1656, made, 9:9:1672, by Thomas Laughton, cleric:
It was Agreed yt by ye evedence the Selectmen heard yt mr Holyoake and ye lots adioyninge to him att Sagamore Hill is to haue a Highway through Thomas Farrars Land and to bee in the same place where it formerly hath been, which is neare his house, to their Lands & it is Agreed yt this Highway is to bee tow poole wide.
Letter of attorney, dated Oct. 24, 1672, given by Elizur Holyoke of Springfeild and Chrispas Brewer of Lynne to Lieut. Thomas Putnam of Salem and Andrew Mansfeild of Lynne. Wit: Thomas Laughton and Sara Laughton. Sworn in court.
Thomas Laughton, sr., deposed that Crispus Brewer asked him to go with him to Thomas Farrer's house to see if he might put his cattle into his field by way of the highway, and when they came to said Farrer's, there was William Bassett, sr. Farrer said he had no highway there. Deponent desired Farrer to let Brewer put in his cattle now and in the spring Mr. Holyoake might be there himself, and Farrer replied that if his neighbor Brewer desired it upon courtesy after his hay and turnips were in, he might do so, etc. William Bassett, sr., testified the same. Sworn in court.
Thomas Brewer, aged upward of fourteen years, testified concerning Farrer driving the cattle out of the highway. Sworn in court.
Edward Ireson of Lynne, aged seventy years, deposed that above forty years ago, he was servant to Mr. Johnson, deceased, and living in Lynn almost, ever since, he was well acquainted with the lands of Capt. Turner. Mr. Dillingham had three acres next adjoining to Turner, through which the latter had a way allowed to his land about where it is now. Next was Goodman Foster's and next him was Carman's land by the way to the windmill. These lots butted on the highway where Turner, and after him Mr. Edw. Holyoke, passed with carts and cattle. Deponent had three acres given to him by the town, which afterwards was Carman's, and he had a right of way.
Sworn, July 12, 1671, before Wm. Hathorne, assistant.
A plaintiff (plt, plte, plt) or orator is the person who brings a case against another.
A defendant (def tf) is a person accused of a crime or someone challenged in a civil case.
Goodman was a courtesy title before the surname of a man not of noble and Goodwife or Goody was the courtesy title for a married woman not of noble birth.
Mister ( Mr.) was derived from master and Mrs. and Miss were derived from mistress. They indicated people of superior social status in colonial America.
Understand the Puritans better:
A Catalogue of the Names of the Early Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut by Royal Ralph Hinman published by Case, Tiffany, 1852
Brewer, Crispus, of Lynn, "by vote of the town in 1682 had leave to sit in the pulpit on Sundays" (perhaps a son of widow Joanna.) Crispus Brewer, son of Crispus, had daughter Rebecca, b. Oct. 28, 1667; Mary, daughter of Crispus, m. John Richards of Lynn, Nov. 18, 1674, and had 4 children, Mary, John, Edward and Crispus.
The Driver Family: A Genealogical Memoir by Harriet Ruth Waters Cooke
Abigail Brewer, dau. of Crispus and Mary Brewer, of Lynn, Mass.; she born Dec. 4, 1664. Dec. 10, 1706, her father gave her all his real and personal estate, he dying Dec. 11, 1706, and his wife Mary dying May 3, 1692.
Feb. 10, 1706-7, she (Abigail) was a widow, when she sold to Crispus Richards 8 acres of her father's land, which he bought of Ebenezer Witter.
New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, Volume 3, edited by William Richard Cutter
Elizur Holyoke, son of Captain Elizur (1) Holyoke, was born at Springfield, Massachusetts, October 13, 1651, died August 11, 1711. He was a brazier [a person who makes articles of brass.], in business in Boston, and became wealthy and influential. He was one of the founders of the Old South Church of Boston. He married, January 2, 1677, Mary, daughter of Jacob Elliot, of Boston.
