jamesgray2

This is a Deed on paper, 39 x 30cm first written the 5th of September 1694, with addended dated 24 November 1695 and then again in March 29, 1728 . This deed was witnessed by veterans of the Kin Philip Wars, A Blacksmith, An Engraver & Silversmith, and a Harvard graduate. Price $2,100

The Deed is Signed in 1695 by Ephram Bullen,(18 July 1659-16 December 1695) witnessed by John Hollbrook (6 Apr 1617- 23 Nov 1699 (aged 82)) Jonathan Farebank (7 October 1666- 11 September 1697) and Nathaniell Morse ( 3 October 1676-14 July 1748)

The Bullen–Stratton–Cozzen House is a historic First Period house in Sherborn, Massachusetts. Its oldest portion is estimated to date to about 1680, and the building reflects changes in taste and use over the intervening centuries. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Description and history of the land .

The Bullen–Stratton–Cozzen House is located on the north side of Brush Hill Road, a rural country road in northwestern Sherborn. It is set in bend in the road, and is set facing roughly south, not far from Course Brook, a typical First Period siting. The main block of the house is a 2+¹⁄₂-story wood-frame structure, five bays wide, with a side-gable roof, twin interior chimneys and clapboard siding. A leanto section, apparently integral to its early construction, extends to the rear, with a later “Beverly jog” extending the leanto beyond the left side. The central entrance has a Greek Revival surround, that dates to c. 1840. It has narrow sidelights and pilasters with a distinctive Greek key motif that is unusual in the town.

The oldest portion of this house was probably built c. 1680 by Deacon Samuel Bullen, and early settler of the area. The main block was extended to its present size c. 1760 by Nathaniel Stratton, who married into the Bullen family, and was probably also responsible for the added Beverly jog. In the 19th century the house belonged to Isaac Cozzen, who operated a sawmill nearby. The house’s Colonial Revival porches were added around 1910, when the property was being used as a vacation house.\

https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=shr.1

Ephraim Bullen was born on 18 July 1653, in Medfield, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, his father, Deacon Samuel Bullen, was 37 and his mother, Mary Morse, was 33. He married Grace Fairbanks in 1680, in Medfield, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 2 daughters. He died in 1694, in Sherborn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, at the age of 41, and was buried in Sherborn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America. Ephraim Bullen must have married Grace Fairbank(s) of Lancaster by 1680/1, judging from the birth of their first child, but no town vital record of that marriage has been found. The marriage is recorded by Torrey this way:”Bullin, Ephraim (1653-1694) & Grace __?__ (-1689), b(efore)1681; Sherborn

https://www.tishrichardson.com/identifying_grace_fairbanks_as_the_wife_of_ephraim_bullen.htm

1. ↑ Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871. (American Ancestors, 2014)
   Case 3492: Ephraim Bullen 1694. 29 Oct 1694: Inventory of Ephraim Bullen of Shearborn Deceased october ye 27th 1694: £254=??=13, by Joseph Morse, Moses Adams, Benoni Larned.
   31 Oct 1694: Bond of John Bullen and Joseph Bullen of Medfield as administrators of Ephraim Bullen late of Sherborn Husbandman dece’d Intestate.
   16 Dec 1695: Division of estate of Ephraim Bullen of Sherborn Deceased, to son Ephraim Bullen; to son John Bullen; to daughter Marie Bullen. Addendum 13 Sep 1697: remainder to Jn’o Shermon who married Mary Bullen.

¶

Abraham Cousens Sr. (Cousins, or Couzzens) was born on 22 August 1653, in Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, his father, Isaac Cousins, was 41 and his mother, Ann Hunt, was 38. He married Mary Eames on 13 September 1684, in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 1 daughter. He died on 28 February 1729, in Sherborn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, at the age of 75, and was buried in Sherborn

His son Abraham Cozzens Abraham Cozzens Jr was born on 22 August 1685, in Sherborn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, his father, Abraham Cousens Sr, was 32 and his mother, Mary Eames, was 24. He married Abigail Wilkinson on 4 January 1709, in Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 3 daughters. He lived in Sherborn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States in 1685. He died on 28 February 1728, in Sherborn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, at the age of 42, and was buried in Massachusetts, United States.

Abraham Cozzens fought in King Philip’s War and was also married to Mary Eames, the daughter of Thomas Eames and stepdaughter of Mary Paddlefoot Eames. Given the centrality of the so-called “Eames Massacre” in Framingham’s remembrances of King Philip’s War,

Nathaniel Morse was born on 3 October 1676, in Dedham, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, his father, Ezra Morse Sr., was 33 and his mother, Joanna Hoar, was 27. He married Sarah Draper on 9 March 1709, in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 6 daughters. In 1748, his occupation is listed as engraver in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.

John Holbrook, Jr., born in 1664, Freeman in 1690, was the son of John and Elizabeth Holbrook, of Dorchester, who with his wife and child moved to Roxbury, where the additional following named children were born to them: Elizabeth, born April 16, 1670; Abigail, born August 27, 1674; and Daniel, born March 5, 1676. The father died December 25, 1678.John Holbrook, Jr., married Mary Cheney September 24, 1684. They had four children: John, born November 4, 1686; Ebenezer, afterward of Pomfret, Conn.; Ralph; and Mehitable; who married Lieut. Nehemiah May, of Roxbury and Woodstock, Conn.Mary Cheney, born April 17, 1665, died April 24, 1751, was the sixth child of Thomas and Jane (Atkinson) Cheney, and grandchild of William Cheney, the emigrant.

John Hollbrooke [John Holbrook], baptized at Glastonbury, April 6, 161. WILL OF JOHN HOLBROOKE—dated 12 Jul 1699; probate 14 Dec 1699.
I John Holbrooke of the Towne of Weymouth in New England, being weak of body, but of a competent understanding and memory Do make this my last Will & Testament hereby revoking and annulling all former Wills by me made.
Firstly committing my Soul to God, in hope of eternal Salvation through the merits of Christ my Saviour, and my body to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors. Ano for my worldly Estate I do will and dispose of as followeth. My just Debts & Funeral Charges being paid. Imprimis I give and bequeath to my beloved Wife Mary Holbrooke Fifty pounds in money, to be at her disposing provided she accept of it in full of all demands from my Estate. Otherwise my Contract with her before Marriage to be made good to her in every respect. And also I give her Ten pounds in money provided she give Five pounds thereof to her Daughter Loring {Mrs. Elizabeth Loring, daughter of Mary and her first husband John Otis}. I give and bequeath unto my Son John Holbrooke all my housing and Lands in the Township of Situate which I purchased of Mr. John Saffin, to be to the use and improvement of him the said John Holbrooke for and during his natural life, and after his decease the moiety or one halfe of the said Houses and Lands to be to the only proper use and improvement of his now wife Abigail during the time she shall remain his widow and no longer. The other halfe of the said housing and Lands I give and bequeath the use and improvement to my Grandson John Holbrooke, the son of my said Son John Holbrooke. And after the decease of my said Son and the widowhood of his wife Abigail I do give and bequeath all the aforesaid housing and Lands to my aforesaid Grandson John Holbrooke to and to hold to him and his heires forever. Always provided that when my said Grandson shall come to possess and enjoy the whole of the said Farms that he shall well and truely pay Forty pounds Sterling in equal proportions to the six Daughters of my said Son John Holbrooke. And if any of them shall decease before they receive their part, then the said Forty pounds to be paid equally to such as shall survive and if any of them decease before marriage. Also I give and beqeath unto my Son John Holbrooke all my wearing apparel and my best Featherbed, my best rugg of furniture belonging to the said bed, and my Silvor Tankard. Also I give unto my Grand Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of James Smith Five pounds Sterling. Also I give unto my Grand Daughter Abigail Porter Ten pounds Sterling to be paid by my Executors within one yeare after my decease. {This paragraph covers his son John Holbrooke’s family.}
I give & bequeath unto my Daughter in Law Lydia Holbrooke Widow of my Son Samuel Holbrooke deceased for the bringing up of the Children of my Son Samuel Holbrooke the use and improvement of the uplands adjoyning to her Dwelling house in the neck called Kingmans neck, and two acres of salt meadow that I purchased of John Kingman, and also my three acres of salt marsh near Burying Island, and also one halfe of three acres of salt marsh in Brantrey lying on the East side of the Creek going to Spheers Farm, also Forty acres of Land on the Westerly side of my Land near the Phisical Spring in Weymouth. Also the one half of my Lands in Brantrey adjoyning to Weymouth Line, called by the name of Execution Land. Also the one halfe of my Dwelling house in Boston. All which housing & Lands as is before exprest, I give the use and improvement thereof unto the said Lydia Holbrooke for her maintainance and the bringing up of the Children of my said Son Samuel Holbrooke until my Grandson Joseph Holbrooke son of my Son Samuel Holbrooke do or might attain to the age of one and twenty yeares and no longer. Also I give unto my said Daughter Lydia Holbrooke one hundred and twenty pounds to be paid by my Executors in one fourth part of my household stuffe and Cattle, and the remainder in money, to make up the said one hundred and twenty pounds. Always Provided That the said Lydia Holbrooke do pay to her three Daughters Elisabeth, Mary and Sarah Holbrooke, Daughters of my said Son Samuel Holbrooke each of them forty pounds, when they shall attain to the age of one and twenty years, or Marriage, which shall first happen. I give and bequeath unto my Grandsons Samuel Holbrooke, John Holbrooke & Joseph Holbrooke Sons of my said Son Samuel Holbrooke all the aforesaid Lands and meadows in Weymouth and Brantrey (left for the use and improvement of the said Lydia Holbrooke as aforesaid) to be divided into equal parts or shares to my said three Grandsons, when my said Grandson Joseph Holbrooke shall or might attain to the age of one and twenty years. The said Samuel, John & Joseph Holbrooke paying to their mother Lydia Holbrooke, each of them Thirty Shillings per anno during her natural life. I give and bequeath to my Grandson Abia Holbrooke son of my Son Samuel Holbrooke the one halfe or moiety of my house and Land in Boston when he shall attain to the age of one and twenty years, he paying to his mother Lydia Holbrooke Thirty shillings per anno during her natural life. I also give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Lydia Holbrooke halfe an acre of salt meadow lying in a neck called Kingmans neck, that was formerly my Father Thomas Holbrookes to her and her heires forever. And furthermore it is my Will that if my said Daughter Lydia shall dispose of herselfe in marriage, that there shall be no strip nor waste made upon any of the aforesaid Lands, any more than what may be needful for her own fireing or reparation of her own housing or fenceing of the said Lands. {This paragraph covers his son Samuel Holbrooke’s family.}
I give unto my Son in Law Simon Whitmarsh Twenty pounds in money. I give unto my Grandson Simon Whitmarsh Twenty pounds in money. I give unto my Grand Daughter Ruth Darby Fifteen pounds in money. I give unto my Grand Daughter Mary Jackson Fifteen pounds in money. All the aforesaid sums to be paid by my Executors within one yeare after my decease. {This paragraph covers his daughter Sarah Holbrooke’s family.}
I give to my Daughter Hannah Peirce Fifty pounds in money to be at her disposal as she shall see cause. Also I give unto my Grandson Azarikum Peirce Fifteen pounds in money. Also I give to Ephraim Peirce Junior Fifteen pounds in money. I give to my Grand Daughter Rachel Peck Five pounds in money. All which Legacys are to be paid by my Executors within one yeare after my decease which shall be in part of payment of a Bond under the hands and Seals of Ephraim Peirce and Azarikum Peirce bearing date the fourteenth day of Jun 1697. {This paragraph covers his daughter Hannah Holbrooke’s family.}
I give unto my Grandson Joseph Nash Fifty pounds in money. Also I give unto my Grand daughter Elisabeth Nash Five and twenty pounds in money to be paid in one yeare after my decease. {This paragraph covers his daughter Elizabeth Holbrooke’s family.}
I give unto my Grandson Benjamin Ludden Ten pounds in money. I give to my Grandson John Ludden Ten pounds in money. I give to my Grandson Joseph Ludden Ten pounds in money. All the aforesaid Legacies given to the said Luddens to be paid by my Executors as they shall attain to the age of one and twenty years. I give unto my Grandson James Ludden one acre of salt meadow lying on the Eastern neck, which was formerly his Grandfathers James Luddens. I give unto my Granddaughter Eunice Ludden fifteen pounds in money at her day of marriage, or when she shall attain to the age of Eighteen years, wich shall first happen. {This paragraph covers his daughter Eunice Holbrooke’s family.}
I give unto my Grandson Joseph Edson Fifteen pounds in money. To my Grandson Josiah Edson Fifteen pounds in money. To my Granddaughter Experience Edson Forty pounds in money. All which Legacies given to the Edsons to be paid by my Executors as they shall attain to the age of one and twenty years the Sons, and the Daughter, eighteen years. {This paragraph covers his daughter Experience Holbrooke’s family.}
I give and bequeath unto my Son Ichabod Holbrooke my Dwelling house in Weymouth that I now live in with all the outhousing, orchard and Lands adjoining, by estimation between forty and fifty acres. And also all my saltmarsh lying in the neck called Kingmans neck, not before given. Also all the remainder of my Lands near the Phisical Spring, not before given. Also all the four acres of Saltmarsh lying on the East side of the back river in Weymouth. All which houses and Lands I give unto my Son Ichabod during his natural life, and to his wife Sarah as long as she remain his widow, and after his decease and his wifes widows Estate, I give and bequeath the said housing, orchard and Lands adjoyning with ye saltmarsh in the neck called Kingmans neck unto my Grandson Abiezer Holbrooke son of my Son Ichabod Holbrooke to him and his heires forever. I give unto my Grandson David Holbrooke son of my Son Ichabod Holbrooke the aforesaid salt meadow lying Easterly of the back river, and the aforesaid Land near the Phisical Spring, after the decease of my Son Ichabod Holbrooke & his wifes widows Estate, to be to him and his heires forever. I give to my Son Ichabod the one halfe of my house & Land in Boston during his natural life and to his Wife as long as she shall remain his widow and after his decease and his Wife Sarahs widows Estate I give the said halfe of this house and Land at Boston unto his Son Elisha Holbrooke & his heirs forever. {This paragraph covers his son Ichabod Holbrooke’s family.}
I give unto the reverend Mr. Samuel Torrey Pastor of the Church of Weymouth Five pounds in money. I give unto the Foot Company in Weymouth, three pounds in money. And farther it is my will that if any of the Grandchildren shall decease before they receive their portions that then the portion of the deceased shall be equally divided amongst the surviving Brother and Sisters of the Same Parents. And it is my Will that if my Indian Servant Anthony doth behave himself well that he have his Freedom in twelve yeares after my decease. And further it is my will, that if my Wife see cause not to live in my house she shall have what provisions she shall have occasion for her own use for three months after my decease. All the remainder of my Estate whether real or personal wheresoever it may be found that is not before given by this my last Will, I give and bequeath unto my Son Ichabod Holbrooke and his heirs forever. 
And do hereby ordain and constitute my Son John Holbrooke and my Son Ichabod Holbrooke with Ephraim Hunt Esq. to be my Executors to this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby give unto the said Ephraim Hunt five pounds. And I do desire my loving friends John Rogers and Joseph Dyer and my brother Stephen French to be Overseers to see to the performance of this my last Will and Testament, and do give to each of them Twenty shillings in remembrance of my love. In Witness that this is my last Will and Testament I do hereby make void and null all former wills by me made whatsoever, and do signe Seale, declaire and publish this to be my last Will and Testament the twelfth day of July one thousand Six hundred Ninety nine. 1699. John Holbrooke made his mark, Seal, Signed & published in presence of John Pratt, Ephraim Burell, Joseph Drake

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Jonathan Fairbanks was born on 7 October 1666, in Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, his father, Jonas Fairbanks, was 42 and his mother, Lydia Prescott, was 25. He married Mary Hayward on 24 August 1688, in Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 3 daughters. He died on 11 September 1697,Jonathan was a soldier. He shared in the ill-fated expedition against Quebec in 1690 with Sir William Phips. . On September 4, 1697 the Indians raided the town of Lancaster and killing Jonathan, Grace and Jonathan’s younger brother Jonas. Grace was about seven years old at the time that she perished. Mary was taken away along with six others and held captive, but returned Jan. 17, 1699, on the Province Galley from Casco Bay. 

Francis Foxcroft, (13 Nov 1657–1728), served in a number of posts in the colonial government, but was reported to be happier at home making an index of the province records and the first alphabetical list of Harvard graduates.(Francis Foxcroft, class of 1712, compiled the first alphabetical catalog)

309 Francis Foxcroft to the President and Fellows

[Cambridge, October … 1724]

To the Reverend and honourable Gentlemen members of the Corporation of Harvard College in Cambridge New England
F[rancis] Foxcroft of Cambridge aforesaid the acting Executor of the last will and Testament of the late Honourable Thomas Danforth Esq. of the same place deceased, maketh manifest to this venerable board, that his said Testator did among other gifts mentioned on the same sheet of paper whereon he writ his will, give unto H[arvard] College three several leases of land in Framingham in Middlesex County, each of forty shillings per annum on certain conditions as he shold name, a copy of which I herewith present of his own hand written. Now so it is that after some years of his death intermitted, I did shew the said three leases to the late President and Mr. Brattle together with a copy of the said conditions, as they were members of said Corporation, and I desired the said honourable late President to prepair a fit instrument of assignment and it shold be executed by the executors but so it was that the said leases and conditions was returned to me and I well remember the late Reverend Mr. Brattle told me the incumbring the donation with the said conditions rendered the gift a burthen rather than a benefit to the society. Whether he delivered his own or the Corporations mind I am yet ignorant. I now do again make tender of them and desire your acceptance of said gift, and your answer yea or nay declared and entered with your secretary. If you accept, I do with assurance hope the rents hitherto you’ll sinke in my hands being the design and end of the said Testator hath been answered by applying of them [Item?] my assistance for my two sons Francis and Thomas education at said College not without effect in the publick good in Church and State in some measure, a few years intermitted. I have since my sons had their preferment paid the said rents of £6 per annum to my Cousin John Sparhawk to last March. I all along gave credit to H[arvard] C[ollege] and do again pray that the said arrears may be dismist and that I and my heirs may be discharged therefrom. I shold not ask it, if I were not in need of your indulgence, with all respect I am
Gentlemen

Your Obedient Servant

F. Foxcroft.

College Papers, 1. 68 (No. 144). At its meeting on October 21, 1724 the Corporation accepted the bequest of Thomas Danforth, former College Treasurer, who died in 1699. They also accepted Col. Foxcroft’s explanation of his payments to date, and directed Tutor Flynt to procure a copy of the codicil. See CSM Publications, xvi. 515. A copy of Flynt’s note to Foxcroft is in No. 264, along with other efforts by Flynt to learn about Wills of benefit to the College. Foxcroft married a daughter of Thomas Danforth; he died in 1727.