Weymouthis the second oldest town in Massachusetts. It was established in 1622 and incorporated in 1635. The town was a fishing and agricultural community.
The use of the term ye to mean the derives from Early Modern English, in which the was written "þe," employing the Old English letter thorn: "þ."
Ye is also the plural of thou.
A Puritan woman's clothing consisted of underpants, stockings, linen, shift, petticoat, chemise (underblouse), bolster (a padded roll tied around the hips under the skirt), bodice, skirt, apron, coif (cap), outer gown and shoes.
A woman might wear a ruff or bow and an apron. Cloaks were worn instead of coats. Women carried a small cloth draw-string bag or reticule and perhaps wore a chatelaine.
Hannah Daggett Blanchard was born in 1646 in Weymouth,, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Her parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Daggett.
When she was 27, she became Samuel Blanchard's second wife on June 24, 1673. Samuel was born on August 6, 1629 in Hampshire, England. His parents were Thomas Blanchard and Agnes Bent.
He was a prominent citizen of Charlestown and Malden, and of Andover, Massachusetts, whither he removed June 10, 1686. He was collector of taxes and constable of Andover, and owned large tracts of land.
Samuel's first wife was Mary Sweetster who was the daughter of Seth and Bethia Sweetster. They married on January 3, 1654.
Samuel and Mary's children included:
Samuel Blanchard (1656),
Sarah Blanchard (1657),
Mary Blanchard (1659), Joshua Blanchard (1661, married Sarah Pratt),
Jonathan Blanchard (1664), and
Abigail Blanchard (1668).
Mary died February 20, 1669.
Samuel and Hannah's children included:
Thomas Blanchard (1674),
John Blanchard (1677, married Mary Crosby),
Samuel Blanchard (1680, married Sarah Johnson), and
Hannah Blanchard Osgood (1681, married Stephen Osgood).
Samuel and Hannah died in Andover. Thomas died on April 22, 1707. He is buried at at West Parish Garden Cemetery which was was laid out in 1791. He was moved there from private property.
HERE LYES ye BODY OF
SAMUEL BLANCHARD
WHO DEPARTED THIS
LIFE ON ye 22D OF APRIL
1 7 0 7 IN YE
78TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.
YE MEMORY OF ye JUST IS BLESSED
Samuel's elaborate tombstone has fascinating iconography. It is topped by a winged death's head which symbolized physical death and spiritual regeneration. The inscription is flanked by women with multiple breasts which symbolized nourishment of the soul.
Hannah died on July 10, 1725 when she was 79 years old. She was laid to rest at South Church Cemetery.
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.
Daggett is also spelled Dogged, Doged and Doggett.
Malden, Massachusetts was first settled in 1640. It was incorporated as a town in 1649 and as a city in 1881. Prior to 1649, it was part of Charlestown called Mystic Side.
The Massachusetts Bay Company was a trading company chartered in 1629 to settle an English colony in New England. Puritan leaders saw it as a religious and political refuge. About 900 colonists arrived in 1630.
