Charlestown was first settled in 1628 and was the Massachusetts Bay Colony's initial seat of government. Charlestown became part of Boston in 1874.
Childbirth was was perilous. Around 1.5 percent of births ended in the mother's death. Since women gave birth to many children, chances of dying in childbirth were quite high.
Nathaniel Davis was born in 1642 in Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. His parents were Barnabas Davis and Patience James. He was a glazier and a sawyer. A glazier works with glass and a sawyer cuts wood.
He married his first wife, Mary Converse, on March 31, 1675 in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Mary was born December 29, 1656 and was the daughter of James Converse and Anna Long.
Nathaniel and Mary's children included:
Nathaniel Davis (1676, died at 4 months),
Mary Davis (1680),
Barnabas Davis (1681, died at 8 months),
Sarah Davis Scamon (1683, married Thomas Scamon), and
Josiah Davis (died as an infant).
In 1685, his father left him a half house and the land which he had bought from N. Smith.
His wife, Mary, died in 1690. She probably died in childbirth when Josiah was born
He married his second wife, Mary Edmunds on July 15, 1692 in Charlestown. They were married by Captain Joseph Lynde. She was the daughter of Joshua
Edmunds and and Elizabeth Palgrave.
Their children included:
Simon Davis (1693, died 16 months),
Mary Davis (1694/95, died 3 months), and
Elizabeth Davis (1697/98).
Mary White Rowlandson,Talcot
was captured by Native Americans
during King Philip's War
(1675-1676).
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.
Middlesex County, Massachusetts was created on May 10, 1643. The county originally included Charlestown, Cambridge, Watertown, Sudbury, Concord, Woburn, Medford, Wayland, and Reading.
In 1688, during theGlorious Revolution, the Protestant king and queen,William and Mary, took the English throne from Catholic King James II. The bloodless revolution profoundly impacted the American colonies.
