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."
Joseph Grafton was born January 24, 1637 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Joseph Grafton and a mariner like his father.
Hannah and Joseph's son was Joshua Grafton (April 9, 1660, married Hannah Gedney).
Hannah died when she was only 20, on May 17, 1660 in Salem. She no doubt died due to complications of childbirth.
His second wife was Elizabeth.
Elizabeth and Joseph's daughter was
Hannah Grafton Downer
(1670, married Joseph Downer).
Joseph died when he was only 33 in February, 1670 in Charlestown.
Salem is in Essex County, Massachusetts and was a significant seaport in early America. John Endicott obtained a patent from England and arrived there in 1628. Salem originally included much of the North Shore, including Marblehead. Salem Village also included Peabody and parts of Beverly, Middleton, Topsfield, Wenham and Manchester-by-the-Sea.
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.
