John Severance and Abigail Kimball
John Severance married first Abigail Kimball. Abigail was the daughter of Richard Kimball and Ursula Scott. She was mentioned in her grandfather Henry Scott's will and was possibly baptized 5 November 1617 (according to Walter Goodwin Davis), at Hitcham, Suffolk, England.
Abigail did not sail on the same boat as her parents in 1634, probably having already been married by that time. John was one of the original prorietors of Salisbury Essex, Massachusetts and was included in the first division there. He was a freeman there 17 May 1637 and a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1638. At first, his occupation was that of planter but later he became a victualler and vintner, who was licensed to keep an ordinary.
Abigail died 17 June 1658. John married second Susanna — (widow of Henry Ambrose) 2 Oct 1663.
John died 9 April 1682. His will was made 7 April 1682 and proved 9 May 1682.John and Abigail's children are:
- Samuel Severance, born 19 Sep 1637 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, died young.
- Ebenezar Severance, born 7 Mar 1639 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, will made 22 Aug 1665 and proved 9th 2 mo 1667, not married.
- Abigail Severance, born 7 Jan 1641 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, died 7 Mar 1641 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts.
- Abigail Severance, born 25 May 1643 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, married John Church 29 Nov 1664 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, mentioned in Ebenezar’s will.
- Mary Severance, born 5th 8 mo (5 Aug) 1645 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, married James Coffin in 3rd 12 mo (3 Dec) 1663 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, mentioned in Ebenezar’s will.
- John Severance, born 24 Nov 1647 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, married Mary — 15 Aug 1672, mentioned in Ebenezar’s will.
- Joseph Severance, born 14 Feb 1649/50 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, mentioned in Ebenezar’s will.
- Elizabeth Severance, born 8 Apr 1652 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, died 23 Jun 1658 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts.
- Benjamin Severance, born Jan 1654 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, mentioned in Ebenezar’s will.
- Ephraim Severance, born 8 Apr 1656 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, married Lydia Morrill 9 Nov 1682, mentioned in Ebenezar’s will.
- Elizabeth Severance, born 17 Jun 1658 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, died 5 Feb 1662/3 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts.
Sources:
- Dow, George Francis (ed.), The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1917, Vol. 2.
- Vital Records of Nantucket, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Vol. II—Births (G-Z), Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1925.
- Vital Records of Nantucket, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Vol. III—Marriages (A-G), Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1927.
- Savage, James, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Before 1692, Vol. 4, Boston, MA, 1860.
- Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts, Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1912.
- Morrison, Leonard Allison & Sharples, Stephen Paschall, History of the Kimball Family in America from 1634-1897, Vol. 1, Boston: Damrell & Upham, 1897.
- Hoyt, David W., The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1982.
- Davis, Walter Goodwin, Massachusetts and Maine Familes in the Ancestry of Walter Goodwin Davis (1885-1966), Vols. II & III, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1996.
Will
Estate of Ebenezer Severance
The last will & Testamt of Ebenezar Severance made the 22th of August 65 Imp I do giue & bequeath unto my brothers Jno Severans & Joseph Severans all my tooles to be divided equally between them: & to my brothers Benjamin & Ephraim Severans: each 40s: it I giue unto my Sister Mary Coffyns daughter: Mary fiue pound: It I giue unto Abigail Ambross 20s: and the rest ofmy Estate: I do giue & bequesth unto my beloved Sisters Abigail Church & Mary Coffin: And I do appoint my Honered ffather Jno Severans my Sole Executor to this my last will 7 testamt: In wittness whereof I haue here unto sett my hand & Seale.
Ebenr Severns.
Witness: Joshua Peirce, Tho. Bradbury, Sen.
Proved in Salisbury court 9: 2m: 1667 by Tho. Bradbury, Sr. Essex County Probate Files, Docket 25,068.Source: Dow, George Francis (ed.), The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1917, Vol. 2.
Vital Records: Births
Page 464 Nantucket Births
SEVERANCE
Mary, wife of James Coffin (son of Tristram and Dionis), daughter of John and Abigail of Salisbury, 5th, 8 mo. 1645, [see Salisbury Vital Records], P. R. 38.[1]Source: Vital Records of Nantucket, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Vol. II—Births (G-Z), Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1925.
Vital Records: Marriages
Page 274 Nantucket Marriages
COFFIN
James, son of Tristram and Dionis (Stevens), and Mary Severance, daughter of John and Abigail of Salisbury, 3d, 12 mo. 1663, in Salisbury,[2] P. R. 38.
Source: Vital Records of Nantucket, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Vol. III—Marriages (A-G), Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1927.
Savage's Genealogical Dictionary
Severance, oft. writ. Severns, as sound.
EPHRAIM, Salisbury, son of John, married 9 November 1682, Lydia, daughter of Abraham MorrilI, had Abigail, born 29 August 1683; Mary, 2 July 1685; Lydia, 15 January 1687; Ephraim, 2 December 1689; Dinah, 3 September 1692; Ebenezar, 9 November 1694; Sarah, 7 February 1698; and Jonathan, 21 April 1700.JOHN, Salisbury, one of the original proprietors, freeman 17 May 1637, before that town was settled; by first wife Abigail had Samuel, born 19 September 1637, who died young; Ebenezer, 7 March 1639 (who died 1667, unmarried in his will of 22 August 1665 giving three brothers and two sisters all his estate); Abigail, 7 January 1641, died in few weeks; Abigail, again, 25 May 1643; Mary, 5 August 1645; John, 24 November 1647; Joseph, 14 February 1650; Elizabeth 8 April 1652, died soon; Benjamin, January 1654; Elizabeth again, 17 June 1658, died at four years; and his wife died 17 June 1658, as did a twin daughter five days after. His second wife was Susanna, widow of Henry Ambrose, and he died 9 April 1682, having made his will two days before. Mary married December 1663, James Coffin of Nantucket.
JOHN, Salisbury, son of the preceding by wife Mary had Ebenezer, born 19 September 1673; Abigail, 6 May 1675; John, 22 September 1676; and Daniel, 3 June 1678; removed to [[vol. 4, p. 53]] Suffield, there had Mary, 14 July I681; and Joseph, 26 October 1682; removed to Deerfield, where Abigail died 1691, and Daniel was killed by the Indians 1694; and he removed to Bedford before 1709, giving his Deerfield lands to son Joseph.
Source: Savage, James, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Before 1692, Vol. 4, Boston, MA, 1860.
Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts
John Severance,the first American ancestor of many who bear the name in this country, appears at Ipswich in 1636, and in Boston in 1637. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company at its organization in 1638, was a freeman in 1640, becoming such in 1637 at Boston, and in that same year was one of the original proprietors at Salisbury. It is believed that he built his home in Salisbury early in 1640, and moved his family from Boston.
Source: Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts, Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1912.
History of the Kimball Family in America
Abigail, b. Rattlesden, county of Suffolk, England; d. in Salisbury, Mass., June 17 1658…She is not mentioned in the list of passengers, with the others of her father's family, on the Elizabeth. She was in the prime of life at the time of her death."
Source: Morrison, Leonard Allison & Sharples, Stephen Paschall, History of the Kimball Family in America from 1634-1897, Vol. 1, Boston: Damrell & Upham, 1897.
The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury
Pages 8-9
The following is a copy of a paper found in the Massachusetts archives, Boston, without date, but indexed under 1639. The use of the name “Colchester” places the date of the original record between September, 1639, and October, 1640, unless the new settlement used the name before it was authorized by the General Court. The Salisbury records have the name “Merrimack” in May, 1639. The Boston copy must have been made after October, 1640, as it uses the name “Salisbury”:
“The names of those yt have lotts & proportions granted pr the Toune of Colchester in the first division…
…John Seuerans…
“this is A true copie of the originall list taken out of the old book of Reccords for Salisbury as Attests.
Tho. Bradbury rec.
“Vera copia Atest Edward Rawson Secrety”Page 11
Salisbury Commoners, 1650. The following extract is also copied from the Salisbury records:
“3d: (12th) mo Also att ye same meeting it was ordered yt all whose
1650 names are here vnder written, shalbe accompted townsmen & Comoners, & none butt them, to this prsent, that is to say:
…Jno Severance…”Pages 11-12
Salisbury Rate, 1650. £ s d
“Mr Wosters rate for 30ls: the 25: of December 1650
…Jno: Severans 0 8 2…”Page 12
Salisbury Rate, 1652. £ s d
“A rate made 18th 5th mo. 52 for his half year due 24:4: mo
…Jno: Severans 0 8 2…”Pages 13-14
Signatures to Articles of Agreement Between the Inhabitants of the Old Town and those of the New Town, May 1, 1654.[3]
…John Severance,…Page 14
Division of Land, Salisbury, 1654. …Jno: Severans…
Sixty names, the same as the above, omitting Abraham Fitts and John French, are found when the town divided the mowing of beach lots, March, 1653-4. The above spelling is mainly that of the beach lot list.Page 15
Salisbury Petitions of 1658. In the Massachusetts archives are found two petitions about church matters, both dated May 19, 1658, on which appear the following names of inhabitants of Salisbury:
…John Severans…Pages 314-5
1 John1 Severance [or Severans], of Salisbury, “planter,” “victualler and vintner;” m. 1st, (2) Abigail2 Kimball; who d. June 17, 1658[S]; 2d, Oct. 2, 1663, Susanna — [wid. of (1) Henry1 Ambrose]. He was of Ip. 1636, recd. land in S. in the “first division,” 1639, ’40, and ’54; commoner and taxed 1650 and ’52; signed petition of 1658; licensed to keep the “ordinary” in S. 1662, ‘3, ‘5 and later; oath fid. 1667; d. April 9, 1682[S]; will April 7, May 9, 1682; wife Susanna ment. She signed the Bradbury petition of 1692. Children:
I. Samuel,2 b. Sep. 19, 1637[S]; d. young.
II. Ebenezer,2 b. March 7, 1639[S]; d. 1667, unm.; will Aug. 22, 1665; April 9, 1667; in which he gave to Abigail Ambross and near relatives.
III. Abigail,2 b. Jan. 7, 1641[S]; d. March 7, 1641[S].
IV. Abigail,2 b. May 25, 1643[S]; m. Nov. 29, 1664[S], John Church. Son Jonathan liv. 1682.
V. Mary,2 b. Aug. 5, 1645[S]; m. Dec. 3, 1663[S], (5) James2 Coffin; liv. 1682. Dau. Mary liv. 1665.
VI. John,2 b. Nov. 24, 1647[S]; m. Aug. 15, 1672, Mary —.
VII. Joseph,2 b. Feb. 14, 1649-50[S]; liv. 1665. A Joseph of Yarmouth, Plymouth Co., sold land in S., Nov. 1682.
VIII. Elizabeth,2 b. April 8, 1652[S]; d. June 23, 1658[S][4].
IX. Benjamin,2 b. Jan., 1654[S]; liv. 1665.
X. Ephraim,2 b. April 8, 1656[S]; m. Nov. 9, 1682, Lydia2 Morrill.
XI. Elizabeth,2 b. June 17, 1658[S]; d. Feb. 5, 1662-3[S].Source: Hoyt, David W., The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1982.
Footnotes:
[1] Note in Vital Records: “P. R. 38—private record, from the William C. Folger genealogical records in possession of the Nantucket Historical Association (This compilation has been used because of the valuable clues it affords, but its statements should be received with caution, as it is not free from errors. It should also be understood that in many instances the events recorded did not take place in Nantucket, and in a few cases attention has been called to the question of residence.)”
[2] Note in Vital Records: “Intention not recorded.”
[3] The date, March 14, 1654, is also given.
[4] The S. rec. is “dau. of John Severans,” d. June 23, 1658[S], (six days after the death of his wife and the birth of (12) Elizabeth2). The “Severans Genealogy,” 1893, and the “Kimball Family,” give (9) Elizabeth2 d. Feb. 5, 1652-3 or ’56; a twin of (12) Elizabeth, 2 d. June 23, 1658; and (12) Elizabeth 2 herself m. (10) Samuel 2 Eastman in 1686. We have found no record of any such twin, and the wife of Samuel Eastman we have found to be Elizabeth Scriven, per. dau. of John Scriven, of Dover, whose will, 1674 or ‘5, ment. wife Mary; chil., John, Edward, Thomas, and Elizabeth, minors [Sv.]. The will of (3) Ebenezer 2 apparently ment. all his own bros. and sisters who were living in 1665, and his step-sister Abigail Ambrose; but no Elizabeth. The will of John 1 did not mention all his chil.
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