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.
John Dwinnell was born on December 16, 1674 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. His parents were Michael and Mary Dwinnell. He was a yeoman.
He married Mary Read on February 25, 1700/01. Mary was born in 1682 in Salem. According to The History of Salem, Massachusetts, her father was Isaac Read. Her mother was Joane Stone.
John and Mary's children included:
Keziah Dwinnell Crae (1703, married Nicholas Crae or Cree)
Triphenah Dwinnell Towne (1705, married Jabez Towne grandson of Jacob Towne of Topsfield)
Triposah Dwinnell Spauldin (1709, married John Spauldin of Topsfield)
John Dwinnell (1711, married his cousin Susannah Dwinnell daughter of Thomas Dwinnell)
Sarah Dunell (1714)
Susannah Dwinnell Norwood
(1715, married Zacheus Norwood of Lynn)
He inherited from his father
. . .ye North End of my Dwelling house & halfe my home roads, upon the Considration He Shall pay Ten Pounds as I shall order in this my Will—Also my Will is tht my son John shall have his Division in my Swamps, & halfe ye Cow pasture, also halfe ye River Meadow of what shall be left when Michaell and Thomas shall be measured off . . . ( Dwinnell, p. 9)
He died on April 14, 1771/72 at the age of 92 in Topsfield.
A yeoman was a man who owned and cultivated a small farm. He belonged to the class below the gentry or land owners. A husbandman was a free tenant farmer. The social status of a husbandman was below that of a yeoman.
