Samuel Danforth and Elizabeth Hosley of Billerica

Samuel Danforth Junior 1701-1749 of Billerica, Massachusetts

 Samuel Danforth was the eldest son of Samuel Danforth and Hannah Crosby. He was born 15 May 1701 in the village of Billerica during the reign of King William III. Samuel Danforth was born during the reign King William III, and Queen Anne. Samuel Danforth Junior was born during the reign of Queen Anne. Queen Anne had no children who lived to maturity and the throne passed to her sister Princess Sophia who was married to the Duke of Hanover in Germany. Sophia died before she could become queen and her son George Duke of Hanover became King George I.   Both King George I and his son King George II spoke only German and under these two kings Samuel Danforth Senior and Junior lived out the rest of their lives.

He was eleven years old when Captain Jonathan Danforth the family patriarch and founder of the town died in 1712.

There is no indication that Samuel Danforth Jr. learned his father's trade of surveyor for there are no records of him laying out any lands. Evidently he was content to be a village farmer. In 1728 or 1729 at the age of 27 years Samuel Danforth married Elizabeth Hosley who was a year older than he.  Perhaps he married against his family's wishes for there is no record of a marriage in the vital records of Billerica and may have married in Newton where Elizabeth had relatives.

Samuel Danforth Jr. and Elizabeth Hosley were the parents of six children of who the oldest three sons died in their twenties.

HOSLEY [HORSLEY] FAMILY

Elizabeth Hosley was born 18 January 1700 at Billerica to a farmer and carpenter named James Hosley and his wife Mariah Exercise. James Hosley's family name was originally Horsely and they immigrated from Yorkshire, England.

JAMES HORSLEY

James Horsley, is  believed to be the son of James Horsley and Rebecca Cunningham of Yorkshire.

"The Hosley family in New England begins with James Hosley or Horsley as the name was originally written. The immigrant ancestor was born in England during the reign of Charles I, coming to New England to settle in Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay, about 1674. The first official mention of him appears in the vital records of Dorchester when he and Martha Parker were joined in marriage by Mr. Stoughton of Dorchester assistant on the 13th Mo:10th 1674. [13 December 1674] His wife was the daughter of John Parker born there on May 1, 1649. James and Martha Hosley lived in Dorchester and a son, James was born there February 4, 1676.

About this time trouble with the Indians became critical and in the spring King Philip's War broke out. James Hosley served under Major Cudworth in the Mount Hope Campaign. Fighting, however, with the Plymouth troops rather than with those from his own colony. Many years later, Joseph Hosley, his grandson, received a grant of land, Narragansett No. 6, No. 27, for his grandfather's service in the Indian War.

Immediately after the war misfortune overtook the immigrant Hosley, illness, perhaps a result of hardships endured in the campaign, made him unable to take care of his wife and son. His name is on the Dorchester list for back taxes as owing 2 shillings '6 pence  in 1675 and 1 shilling 6 pence in 1676. Neighbors came to their assistance, but little could be done.

James Hosley died on July 9, 1677 and was buried in Dorchester. He was a very young man and left no property for the maintenance of this widow and son. In the town records for 1677 is found the following: It. To James Bird for Bords [boards] for a coffen for Horsly three shillings. To Jno. Trescott for a coffen for Horsly  5 shillings Item To Goody Wiet for laying Frank and Horsly 5 shillings.

Evidently when James Hosley  died he left his wife and son destitute. Following death of husband Martha Parker Hosley moved back to Cambridge Village [Newton]  to live with her father. She most likely died before her father as his will left 5 pounds to her son as his mother's share of his estate. 

JAMES HOSLEY

James Hosley was born 4 February 1676 in Dorchester. He was an infant when his father died in 1677 and his widowed mother returned to his live with his grandfather John Parker. John Parker died when James was 10 years old and he left to his grandson 5 pounds. His mother had died prior to John Parker and this was his share of her legacy. He must of grew to up to adult hood among his Parker relatives in Cambridge Village which became Newton in 1691. When he first appeared in the records of Billerica in 1699 he was called of  "Newton".  His wife was named Mariah. Her maiden name is thought to be  Exercise. James Hosley  lived south-east of the Shawshin river and was a tenant farmer on a part of the College farm. He died 18 February 1727/8.  

Their known children were: 

1. Elizabeth Hosley was born 18 January 1699/1700 the wife of  Samuel Danforth,

2. James Hosley born 19 May 1702  

3. Mary Hosley born 19 September 1704 and died 22 December 1719 age 15 

4. Thomas, Hosley born 13 January 1706/7  and died before 1773 husband of Martha Richardson

5. Joseph Hosley born 26 April 1709

6. Esther Hosley born 2 August 1711 died 20 November 1773 wife of James Frost. They lived west of the Concord River. Their children were Esther Frost, James Frost, Joshua Frost, Hannah Frost wife of Jacob Foster, Sarah Frost wife of Adam Caldwell, Abigail Frost wife of Benjamin Dows, William Frost, and Martha Frost wife of William Bean.

7. Eunice Hosley born 30 August 1713 wife of James Laws. Children Thomas Laws, Eunice Laws wife of William Carleton, James Laws husband of Ann Danforth, Mary Laws, and William Laws

8. John Hosley born 28 July 1716 died 2 January 1754 husband of Elizabeth Tarbell. 

9. Samuel Hosley 14 February 1718/9 died 19 March 1795 husband of Elizabeth , and lived in Pepperell; Children Aaron Hosley, Betty Hosley, Lydia Hosley, Bridgett Hosley, Timothy Hosley, Samuel Hosley, Joshua Hosley, John Hosley,  Lydia Hosley Stephen Hosley, Martha Hosley wife of  Ebenezer Sanders, and Thomas Hosley.
10. Benjamin Hosley born 6 May 1721 .
11. William Hosley born 19 July 1723, 

JOHN and JOANNA PARKER

Parker was a common name in the 17th Century New England at the time, and the name John even more with nineteen men named 'John Parker' and “there were two Johns at Newton, one distinguished as South, the other as East.”

Newton, the later name of  Cambridge Village was officially adopted in 1691. A map of the town of Cambridge for the period between 1644 and 1655 shows it encompassing present-day Cambridge, as well as the districts to the northwest of Arlington, Lexington, Bedford, and Billerica, and to the southwest, Brighton and what would come to be called Newton. Each of these developed an early name as a part of Cambridge, such as parts of Lexington being known as Cambridge Farms. The district farthest to the southwest would be known both as New Cambridge and Cambridge Village. After its petition to separate from Cambridge was granted by the General Court, the new name of 'Newton' was authorized in 1691.

John Parker born circa 1615 based on records that he was 71 at his death in 1686.  The date of John's death is estimated from his will dated 7 Sep 1686 and  proved by witnesses John Ward and Thomas Greenwood on 28 Oct 1686. It was executed 11 Nov 1686.

The will, in which John describes himself as "being weak and ill in body", demonstrates that he was alive but in failing health in early September of 1686, while he was dead by October 28 when his will was proved. Given that the proving of the will would probably take place within a week or two of the death, it seems a reasonable theory that John died in mid October.

He died in Cambridge Village (Newton), Middlesex, Massachusetts and is buried in Centre Street Cemetery, Cambridge Village. His estate, appraised by Captain Issac Williams and John Spring, amounted to £404 3 shillings and  6 pence. His inventory shows a house and twenty-eight acres of land adjoining, and about ninety acres elsewhere.

 By his will he gave his son Isaac Parker the homestead, about twenty-eight acres. He gave to his son Jonathan, forty-six acres of woodland, near the land of Captain Prentice and six pounds money. To James Horsley 5 pounds. To daughter Joanna Stone 5 pounds, to daughter Sarah 8 pounds, to daughter Lydia 8 pounds. To son in law Peter Hatchet 20 shillings in corn. To daughter in law Margaret Atchinson 5 shillings to son John Parker he gave eleven acres of land "whereon he has erected his new dwelling-house, and seven acres meadow and one cow."  James Horsley was the only son of his daughter Martha Horsley. Peter Hatchet was probably the wisdow of his daughter Mary. Margaret Atchison was the widow of his son Thomas. She had since remarried.

 The history of John's wife, Joanna, is  uncertain. She is usually supposed to have been born about 1623. It seems likely that she was born in England, and that she and John were married there since no record of their marriage has been found in the Massachusetts vital records. It is theorize that John and Joanna left England about 1645, as most of their children's births are recorded in the Vital Records of Cambridge, suggesting that they were all born there. Given this timing, they might have been motivated to move by the turmoil of the ongoing civil war between the forces of King Charles I and those of Parliament. This, however, is entirely speculation on my part.

Their daughter  Martha  Parker was born 1 May 1649, in Cambridge Village. The Cambridge Vital Records suggests that  John and Joanna were in Cambridge Village as early as January of 1647-48, when their daughter Mary was born.

Their known Children were:
Mary Parker born 28 January 1647/1648 died before 1686 wife of Peter Hatchet of Roxbury
Martha Parker born 1 May 1649  died before 1686 wife of James Horsley
John Parker born 15 February 1651/1652 died Oct 1713 husband of Mary Turner
Joanna Parker b: 16 January 1653/1654 died 14 March 1688 wife of  Daniel Stone
Jeremiah Parker b: 16 January 1653/1654 died young
Thomas Parker b: 1 February 1657/1658 died 1679 husband of Margaret Cleaves
Sarah Parker b: 6 January 1658/1659 wife of Samuel Snow of Woburn
Isaac Parker b: 15 March 1662/1663 husband of Mary Parker moved to Needham
Jonathan Parker b: 6 November 1665 husband of Deliverance moved to Needham
Lydia Parker b: 15 May 1667 wife of Samuel Fassett

ADULTHOOD

In 1733, when Samuel Danforth Jr was 32 years he is listed as paying 11 shillings and 2 pence in taxes at Billerica where he rented a small farm south of Woburn Road. Although he was not a very successful farmer his family's prominence in Billerica gave him a certain social position in the community. He was a member of the Puritan Congregational Church at Billerica.

DEATH of SAMUEL DANFORTH

Samuel Danforth Jr.'s father died when he was forty years old and he  died himself before his mother at the age of 48 years. He died on 28 June 1749 at Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts and since he died relatively young  even for those days, he may have died of fever or some infectious disease.  He left no known will and probably did not own the farm he worked as none  of his children received a legacy from him. The inventory of his estate was taken November, 1750.

His widow, Elizabeth Hosley Danforth  was left with six children, the eldest 18 years old and the youngest only 7 years.  The oldest boys were 18 years, 17 years and 15 years and surely were able to help their mother keep the farm operating. 

Samuel Danforth Jr. did not live long enough to witness the changes that were coming to British America that would eventually change forever how their children and grandchildren would live.  For all his life  he was a subject of the monarchs of Great Britain. 

ISAAC DANFORTH

Isaac Danforth was born 9 January 1731/2 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Samuel and Elizabeth Danforth's second oldest son Isaac Danforth died on 10 May 1756 at the young age of 24 years. He was not married.  His estate was administered first his brother Samuel, on 11 April, 1758, then by brother Nicholas, 22 January 1759.

DEATH OF ELIZABETH HOSLEY DANFORTH

Elizabeth Hosley Danforth who may not have been in good health herself  three months later on 3 July 1756 at the age of 56. On 27 September 1756, her son James was appointed administrator  of her estate. When Elizabeth Hosley Danforth died she left four grown children  her youngest  Jonathan Danforth who was only 14 years old. 

The "thirds' of  Samuel Danforth's estate which the widow had possessed during her life, were divided 11 April, 1757, to "her third son Nicholas, he to pay to his brothers and sisters, James, Samuel, Jonathan and Elizabeth " their due portions.

JAMES and SAMUEL DANFORTH

Tragically within two years of their mother's death, James Danforth and Samuel Danforthboth died in 1758.  Samuel Danforth was a twin of Nicholas Danforth and was born 8 December 1734 in Billerica. He died 19 April 1758 at the age of 24 without issue. Samuel Danforth of Billerica, "23  years old " made his will 18 April, 1758, "bound out into his Majesty's service in Canada."  Evidently he was serving in the French and Indian War. He bequeathed to his brother Nicholas Danforth certain effects, the rest to be divided between his brothers James, Nicholas and Jonathan and his sister Elizabeth.

James Danforth the eldest son of Samuel and Elizabeth Hosley Danforth was born 10 January 1731/2 in Billerica and died  seven months after his brother Samuel  on 22 November 1758 at the age of 27 years also without issue.

Ten years after his death, only three of the offspring of Samuel Danforth Jr. and Elizabeth Hosley were still alive. After the deaths of the oldest members of the family the remaining younger children left Billerica all together and all went in different directions. As to make up for the untimely deaths of their brothers, Nicholas  Danforth lived to be 76, Elizabeth  Danforth lived to be 70 and Jonathan Danforth lived to ripe old age of  91 years.

NICHOLAS DANFORTH

Nicholas Danforth was born 8 December 1734 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. He married in 30 March of 1758 at the age of 23, just a month before the death of his twin brother Samuel Danforth . He married Judith Jaquith the daughter of Abraham Jaquith and Hannah Farley. She was born 20 February 1740/1. He probably had his younger sister Elizabeth who was 22 years and younger brother, Jonathan, who was 16 years stay with him to help work on the farm. 

Nicholas Danforth shortly in 1760 however left Billerica with his young family and his brother Jonathan Danforth and moved to new lands at Fitchburg in Worchester County. Here he prospered and became a minuteman when conflicts with England intensified under the reign of King George III.
Nicholas Danforth joined Captain Ebenezer Bridges minute men fought at the Battles of Concord and Lexington in April 1776.

After the Revolutionary war he moved to Stillwater in Herkimer County New York where he died in 1810 at the age  of 76 years.
Children of Nicholas and Judith Danforth were: 
1. Samuel Danforth born 11 May 1758
2. James Danforth born 28 December 1760
3. Elizabeth Danforth baptized 10 April 1763 wife of Gardner Marcy
4. Isaac Danforth
5. Jacob Danforth born 1771
6. Abraham Danforth "followed the sea" and died 1805 on board a ship of Captain Gardner, quarantined off of Philadelphia and buried on an island. 
7.  Joshua Danforths on left New York and moved to Augusta, Georgia where he became a sucessful merchant. He was also the ancestor of Brigadier General Edward Courtney Bulloch Danforth of Georgia who was the commanding officer of World War I hero Sergeant York.
8. Susannah Danforth wife of Henry Crouch and Elnathan Wing
9. Joseph Danforth
10, Francis Danforth

ELIZABETH DANFORTH

Elizabeth Danforth was born 10 May 1736 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. In 1760 when her brothers left Billerica, Elizabeth Danforth married 3 January 1760 her 1st cousin William Danforth the son of her uncle Jonathan Danforth and his wife Sarah Manning.  William and Sarah may have been acting as guardians of sorts for the children of Samuel Danforth Jr. since no other male relative was living by then.  William  and Elizabeth Danforth lived in Billerica until after the Revolutionary War when later then they moved to Windsor, Vermont.  She died  28 March 1817 age 70 years in Winsor, Winsor County, Vermont. She was the mother of ten Danforth children.

William Danforth was born 7 November 1737 the only son of Elizabeth's uncle Jonathan Danforth and his wife Sarah Manning. "Jonathan Danforth of Billerica, husbandman," made will 10 Aug., 1738; it was proved 9 Dec, 1738. He bequeathed to his wife what estate she brought with her and something more ; the rest to his son William Danforth; wife and Wm. Manning, Jr.,  executors. Nov. 18, 1751, Mr. Manning was appointed guardian to William, at his request, he being " in his 18th year."

Known Children 

William Danforth born 31 July 1761 died July 1830 husband of Priscilla Hoadley

Isaac Danforth Born 29 September 1763  died 1851 husband of Persis Baker

Elizabeth Danforth baptized 29 June 1765

Jonathan Danforth baptized March 1768 died infancy

Jonathan Danforth born 23 February 1769

Samuel Danforth born 31 August 1772

Burnet Danforth born 2 Oct 1774 died unmarried

James Danforth born 8 November died unmarried

Sally Danforth born 8 December 1777 unmarried

Hosley Danforth born 4 December 1779 unmarried

JONATHAN DANFORTH

Jonathan Danforth, the youngest son, was born 26 February 1742  in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts. He left his brother's home in Fitchburg and headed west to the frontier village of Hardwick where as a young man he became a sucessful merchant and farmer. He married the

Susanna White the daughter of Reverend David White and Susanna Wells. Rev. White was the town's minister. After the death of his first wife he married Anna Ruggles. Except for the period of the Revolutionary War where his lack of support for the Patriot caused him considerable trouble, he was a useful citizen of Hardwick. In Hardwick he served as constable and as a selectman.  He died 15 September 1833 age 91 years  in Hardwick, Worcester, Massachusetts at the venable age of 91 years out living all of his father's family, his two wives, and most of his own children.