Lawrance Waters was born about 1602 in England. He died Dec 9 1687. Lawrance married Anna Linton about 1635 in probobly Massachusetts.
Lawrence Waters settled in Watertown where he had a home-stall of eight acres by 1635. He received additional grants of land on July 25, 1635, Feb. 28, 1636, June 26, 1637, and May 10, 1642.[1] The first inventory of grants and possesions taken in or before 1639, shows that his holdings included 1) the homestall of eight acres bounded south with the highway, north by Nathaniel Bowman, east by Edward Lamb, and west by John Ellet; 2) four acres of plowland in the further plain, lot 111; 3) four acres of meadow in the remote meadows, lot 94; 4) twenty five acres of upland being a great Divident in the third division, lot 10; 5) twelve acres of upland beyond the further plain, lot 14; 6) a farm of 105 acres of upland in the sixth division.[2/1:43] The second inventory, taken in 1644, shows the same possesions except the last item, which was replaced by a one acre meadow in Patch Meddow, bounded with common land. The four acres of plowland was described as bounded east by Thomas Bartlett, west by Garret Church, north with the highway, and south with the river.[2/1:967] In the early records Lawrence was refered to as a carpenter.
By 1646 Lawrence Waters had disposed of all of his holdings except his home-stall of eight acres. He was one of three men sent up in 1645 by the grantees of Nashaway Plantation, now Lancaster, to make suitable preparation for their coming. The other two were his father-in-law Richard Linton and John Ball, all three of them being ancestors of Hattie Bruce. The proprietors assigned to him a lot of seventeen acres on which he built a house. This was probably the first dwelling house built in Lancaster. The trucking house, used for trading with the Indians, on George Hill was probably the first building in Lancaster.[1]
Lawrence Waters and Richard Linton had probably moved to Nashaway Plantation by 1646 and were certainly established there in 1647. In a deed dated Aug. 5, 1647 John Cowdall of Boston deeded to John Prescot fifty acres of intervale land in Nashaway Plantation "on which parcel of land Richard Linton and Lawrence Waters have planted corn".[3/275] Before 1650 he had sold his original house-lot and house to John and Elizabeth Hall. He then moved a few rods to a 6 � acre lot where he built another house. Lawrence then owned nine acres of intervale land bounded on the north by Richard Linton's lot, 13 1/2 acres of upland on the east side of Swan's Swamp, and 11 acres of intervale lying on the east side of Penacook River. In 1651 he testified before the Court in Cambridge in the slander case of Elizabeth Hall and George Whaley. At that time Elizabeth Hall was living in the house in Lancaster built by Lawrence Waters while her husband John Hall was in England. Lawrence received two shillings and six pence per day for four day's time.[1] Soon after, John Hall sent for his wife, and the suit never came to judgement.[3/1719]
On March 15, 1653 Lawrence signed the first laws and orders of Lancaster.[3/30] On September 20th the same year, he was one of the signers of the agreement with John Prescott, blacksmith, regarding the building of a corn mill in Lancaster. On March 9, 1654, he was one of the 25 townsmen present at a town meeting. On May 10, 1654 he was one of the signers of the petition to the General Court for the setting up of a township at Lancaster. The same year his estate was rated at 277 pounds and he drew lot no. 4 of eleven acres in the second division of meadows. On September 8, 1657 a committee of three, of which Simon Willard was the chairman, which had been appointed by the General Court to settle affairs at Lancaster, ordered the Selectmen to lay out additional land to Lawrence Waters. He also had land granted to him on Feb. 5, 1659.[1] In Oct. 1662 he was released from ordinary training by paying five shillings per anum to the military company.[3/74] It was usually the case to be released from military duties after the age of 60 years, and this fits nicely with Lawrence's suspected age. He was a freeman in 1663. On August 18, 1663 the church land bounded on his land.[1]
On August 11, 1666 Lawrence Waters of Lancaster, house carpenter, and Anna his wife, for love and affection, gave to their son Stephen one half of the second division land on Four Mile Brook between Wataquadock Hill and Long Hill, together with 4 � acres of second division meadow and also fifty pounds of town rights. This deed was witnessed by George Bennit and John Bush. Lawrence and Anna survived the Indian massacre of February 1675-6 (see John Ball Family for a more detailed account of the Indian attack) and on March 20, 1675-6, with his wife, his son Samuel and his wife and two children, he sought shelter in Charlestown where his son Stephen became responsible to the authorities for them. At this time he was blind, as shown by the order of the General Court, dated October 12, 1676, directing the treasurer to pay to him 7.15.04, "being aged and blind".[1] Whether Lawrence lost his sight because of the Indian raid is not given, but this could easily have been the case. Survivors of the attack took shelter in and near two fortified houses or garrisons, one of them on the land of Lawrence Waters.[6/110] On May 28, 1684 Lawrence was taxed in Lancaster as an out of town resident 1.3.5 for the meeting house and 1.17.0 for the minister. He died in 1687, aged about 85 years, having outlived his wife by seven years. On May 4, 1688 his son Lawrence of Boston, heir of Lawrence Waters of Lancaster, late of Boston, deceased, deeded to Stephen Waters of Charlestown, house carpenter, and John Skoth (or Sheath), cordwainer (Sheath had married Sarah Waters), land in Lancaster. This deed was most likely in settlement of Lawrence's estate. The land included a seven acre house lot, nine acres of intervale, 13 acres of upland, 70 acres of upland in the second division, and fifty acres of second division swamp, including ten acres of upland which was sometime part of the house lot of Richard Linton.[1]
Lawrence Waters married Ann Linton. The court records regarding her show the severity with which the puritan authorities ruled their citizens. "Lawrence Waters wife was enjoyned to give John Finch 18 pence & Nico: Lambe was to give John Finch 18 pence & Edward Lambe to give him 2 shillings & Lambe was fined 15 shillings 6 pence for his contempt & all of them were admonished to avoyde dancing". Although I admire her spirit, this record doesn't mean that Ann was an overly wild woman. The case is included to give more insight into her life and personality and also to show the standards that had to be lived up to in those days.
Lawrence Waters may have come to Massachusetts in 1630 in the Pelham company from the vicinity of the Stour Valley textile town of Bures, Suffolk. There were 42 persons in this company, including the John Warren family of six, the Isaac Stearns family of seven, and the John Waters family of five.[7/238] What relationship there was between Lawrence and John I can not say, but that they were related I have little doubt.
Anna Linton [Parents] was born about 1614 in England. She died Dec 9 1687 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Anna married Lawrance Waters about 1635 in probobly Massachusetts.
They had the following children:
F i Mary Water was born Jan 27 1638 and died May 29 1713. M ii Lawrance Waters was born Feb 14 1635 in Watertown, Massachusetts. He died Sep 26 1693 in probobly Massachusetts. F iii Sarah Waters was born Dec 7 1636. F iv Rebecca Waters was born Feb 1639 in probobly Massachusetts. She died Feb 1640 in probobly Massachusetts. M v Daniel Waters was born Feb 6 1641 in probobly Massachusetts. He died before 1650 in probobly Massachusetts. M vi Stephen Waters was born Jan 24 1643 and died Jan 15 1719. F vii Rebecca Waters was born about 1644 and died 1726. M viii Adam Waters was born about 1646 in probobly Massachusetts. He died Sep 15 1670 in probobly Massachusetts.
Richard Linton was born about 1590 in England. He died Mar 30 1665 in Lancaster, Massachusetts. Richard married Elizabeth.
It is not known what part of England Richard Linton came from, but he settled first at Watertown and later removed to Lancaster. He probably arrived in this country in 1630 as one Richard Linton appears on the Massachusetts Bay Colony Records of Sept. 28, 1630 as having been one of a jury impaneled to inquire into the death of Austin Bratcher, "dying lately at Mr. Cradock's plantation". He and two others failed to be present.[2/98]
Richard Linton had two children and maybe others. One was Ann, who married Lawrence Waters. The other, also a daughter, is never named in the records, but it is believed her name was Rachel. This woman died before her father, but the records show she left a daughter, Lydia Kibby, born about 1637. A careful search of the early men of the name Kibby points to the likelihood of Henry Kibby as the father of Lydia. Henry Kibby was a proprietor of Dorchester in 1639. His wife Rachel died July 16, 1657 which is prior to Richard's death. Additional evidence is that Ann Waters named a daughter Rachel.[2/98]
The first inventory of grants and possessions of Watertown, taken in 1639, shows Richard Linton with a homestall of eight acres bounded east with Hill Street, west by Thomas Smith and Ellis Barron, north by Thomas Boyson, and south by William Godfrey.[1/1:30] In the second inventory, taken in 1644, his land is not listed, but he is mentioned in connection with two others. The third inventory, 1646, shows him with the eight acre homestall,[1/1:131] but on Dec. 6, 1646 Lawrence Waters testified that Richard Linton of Watertown granted unto Robert Sanderson of same for a valuable consideration his dwelling house and lot in Watertown in a deed dated September 1645. It was about that time that Richard Linton, Lawrence Waters, and John Ball, all three ancestors, moved to Nashaway Plantation, now Lancaster (see the John Ball Family for more on Lancaster and their purpose there).[1]
Richard Linton was certainly in Nashaway Plantation in 1647 as on Aug. 5 of that year John Cowdall deeded 50 acres of land there to John Prescott "on which parcel of land Richard Linton and Lawrence Waters have planted corn".[1] On May 10, 1654 he was one of the signers of a petition to the General Court for the setting up of a township at Lancaster.[5/378] Richard subscribed to the town orders on Nov. 30, 1654,[5/30] and was an original proprietor of Lancaster.[1] A town meeting was held on March 9, 1654-5 at which Richard Linton was one of 25 townsmen present.[5/4041] In the first grant of lots, he was granted lot No. 2 of 20 acres, located on the north side of the lot of Edward Breck, and bounded west on the highway, and the Penacook River and Ralph Houghton on the east.[5/35]
An inventory of the lands in Lancaster revealed Richard Linton had the 20 acre house lot mentioned above and described as bounded east by Ralph Houghton, South by Edward Breck, north by James Atherton, and west by John Whitcomb, Sr. He also had six acres on which his dwelling house was situated bounded south and west by Lawrence Waters, north by Robert Breck, and east by the highway. He also had some intervale land.[5/252]
Richard Linton left no will, having disposed of his property by deed. In the deeds he mentions his daughter Ann Waters and grand daughter Lydia Bennet. Administration of his estate was granted to the Selectmen of Lancaster and Jeremiah Rogers. The inventory of his estate was taken by John Prescott and Ralph Houghton on June 14 and proved June 20, 1665. It amounted to 29.4.0.[6/2:301] The deed of gift to Ann Waters was not filed until 1674, and as she and her husband did not have complete ownership until Elizabeth's rights were ended by her death, it seems reasonable to believe that Elizabeth died between June 20, 1665 and Oct. 6, 1674 and probably in 1674. Miss Holman infers that the deeds of gift suggest Elizabeth was not the mother of Richard Linton's children and had probably made some property agreement at the time of her marriage to Richard.[2/100]
It appears that Richard gave more to his grand daughter, Lydia (Kibby) Bennet, than to his daughter Ann Waters. The inference here is that Rachel was his elder daughter and as such was entitled in his mind to a larger share of his property. It is also possible, however, that Lydia had made her home with her grandfather and had become endeared to him.[2/100]
Elizabeth died about 1674 in probobly Massachusetts. She married Richard Linton.
They had the following children:
F i Anna Linton was born about 1614 and died Dec 9 1687.
John Sheath married Sarah Waters on Jun 1 1658.
Sarah Waters [Parents] was born Dec 7 1636 in Watertown, Massachusetts. She married John Sheath on Jun 1 1658.
Stephen Waters [Parents] was born Jan 24 1643 in Watertown, Massachusetts. He died Jan 15 1719 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Stephen married Sarah Carter on Jun 12 1674 in probobly Massachusetts.
Sarah Carter died Jul 5 1724 in probobly Massachusetts. She married Stephen Waters on Jun 12 1674 in probobly Massachusetts.
Josiah Witcomb was born about 1638 in probobly Massachusetts. He died Mar 21 1718 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Josiah married Rebecca Waters on Jan 4 1665 in probobly Massachusetts.
Rebecca Waters [Parents] was born about 1644 in probobly Massachusetts. She died 1726 in probobly Massachusetts. Rebecca married Josiah Witcomb on Jan 4 1665 in probobly Massachusetts.
They had the following children:
M i David Witcomb was born Feb 20 1668 and died Apr 11 1730.
David Witcomb [Parents] was born Feb 20 1668 in Lancaster, Massachusetts. He died Apr 11 1730 in Bolton, Massachusetts. David married Mary Hayword on May 31 1700 in Concord, Massachusetts.
Mary Hayword was born Sep 21 1667 in Concord, Massachusetts. She died Jan 5 1734 in Lancaster, Massachusetts. Mary married David Witcomb on May 31 1700 in Concord, Massachusetts.
Nicholas Morecock was born about 1640 in probobly Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth Burnham about 1660.
Elizabeth Burnham [Parents] was born 1640 in Windsor, Connecticutt. She died Dec 2 1720 in Hartford, Connecticutt. Elizabeth married Nicholas Morecock about 1660.
William Morton was born about 1640. He married Mary Burnham on Mar 21 1670 in Masachusetts.
Mary Burnham [Parents] was born 1642 in Hartford, Connecticutt. She died Jan 25 1720 in Windsor, Connecticutt. Mary married William Morton on Mar 21 1670 in Masachusetts.
Thomas Jr. Burnham [Parents] was born Apr 16 1646 in Hartford, Connecticutt. He died Mar 19 1726 in Windsor, Connecticutt. Thomas married Naomi Hull on Jan 4 1676 in Killingsworth, Connecticutt.
Naomi Hull was born Feb 17 1657 in Windsor, Connecticutt. She died Mar 15 1727 in Podunk, Massachusetts. Naomi married Thomas Jr. Burnham on Jan 4 1676 in Killingsworth, Connecticutt.
They had the following children:
M i Thomas Burnham was born Apr 16 1678 and died May 12 1726. M ii John Burnham was born May 22 1681 in Connecticutt. F iii Elizabeth Burnham was born Jun 4 1684 and died Mar 7 1758. F iv Sarah Burnham was born Mar 7 1687. F v Naomi Burnham was born Jun 3 1688 and died Jan 1 1762. M vi Charles Burnham was born May 16 1690 and died Nov 15 1779. F vii Mary Burnham was born Jul 12 1692 and died Sep 30 1757. F viii Abigail Burnham was born Mar 25 1694 and died Sep 26 1732. M ix Josiah Burnham was born Sep 6 1696.
John Burnham [Parents] was born 1648 in Connecticutt. He died Apr 20 1721 in probobly Connecticutt. John married Mary Catlin on Nov 12 1684 in Connecticutt.
Mary Catlin was born May 1 1658 in Connecticutt. She died Dec 13 1730 in Connecticutt. Mary married John Burnham on Nov 12 1684 in Connecticutt.
They had the following children:
M i Thomas Burnham was born Dec 26 1686 in Connecticutt. He died 1705 in Connecticutt. M ii Caleb Burnham was born Oct 17 1688 and died Apr 3 1750. M iii John Burnham was born Oct 24 1689 and died Apr 18 1776. F iv Mary Burnham was born Dec 19 1690. F v Rachel Burnham was born Mar 30 1692. F vi Amy Burnham was born Jul 30 1693 in Connecticutt. She died before 1710 in Connecticutt. F vii Sarah Burnham was born Sep 15 1695 and died May 11 1767. F viii Elizabeth Burnham was born Feb 28 1698 in Connecticutt. She died before 1710 in Connecticutt. M ix Jonathan Burnham was born Feb 26 1697 and died Feb 17 1787. M x Jabez Burnham was born May 14 1699 and died Jul 27 1758.