INDEX to the Thurston Family of Newbury files

Generation 1

DANIEL THURSTON (c. 1638 - 1693) of Newbury

Parents: Unknown

Daniel Thurston was born about 1638 if he was age 40 in 1678. He died on 19 Feb 1693 in Newbury. [Ref, p. 117] He married Anne Pell [Ref, p. 117] on 20 Oct 1655 in Newbury. [Ref][Ref, 2;5] Is she the Hannah who died on 8 Nov 1701 in Newbury? [Ref]

There was an older Daniel in Newbury and this Daniel died on 16 Feb 1665/[6?] in Newbury. [Ref] He had an unknown first wife who died on 25 May 1648 in Newbury. He married second Anne Lightfoot on 29 Aug 1648 in Newbury. [Ref] She died on 17 Feb 1673 in Newbury. [Ref] Anne was the widow of Francis Lightfoot who died in Lynn in 1646. [Ref] This Daniel was clearly a close relative, probably an uncle, of our Daniel. In his will, signed on 20 Jun 1665 and proved on 27 Mar 1666 he left his dwelling house, barn and lands to his kinsman Daniel Thurston of Newbury. If his wife Anne chooses to live with Daniel then he is to support her. [Ref, transcription][Ref, 27614;4, original][Ref,3;355] Inventory was taken on 16 Mar 1666; it amounted to 543 pounds. [Ref, 27614;3]

In his will of 10 Dec 1646, Francis Lightfoot left bequests to his brother Pell and to Hannah Pell. [Ref] His widow Anne was his executrix. [Ref]

Daniel was a soldier in Capt. Anderson's company in King Philip's war. [Ref, p. 117]

In 1653 the General Court, in an attempt to restrain Baptists with Quacker leanings, made it a misdemeanor to preach on Sunday if one was not an ordained minister. The Court regarded its decisions and final and infallible and when Lieut. Robert Pike objected he was disfranchised and fined. Petitions were drawn up to protest this and the Court formed a committee to ascertain why the petitioners acted as they did. Fifteen men, including Daniel Thurston, Jr. of Newbury [who was very young], refused to give a reason. The objectionable act was withdrawn. [Ref][Ref,1;366-8][Ref, pp. 162-165]

Daniel was on the grand jury at the court held at Ipswich on 27 Sep 1659. [Ref, 2;168] He was one of 39 men from Newbury who signed a 1666 petition in favour of conciliatory measures toward the king. [Ref, pp. 176] On 30 Jan 1670/1 Daniel was one of 11 men told to construct a pew in the southeast corner of the meeting house for the use of their wives and daughters. [Ref, p. 318] He took the oath of allegiance in 1678 in Newbury. He was said to be 40 years old at the time. [Ref, 7;156-7][Ref, p. 181] He acted as attorney to James Davis, Sr. of Haverhill at the 8 Apr 1679 court at Salisbury. [Ref, 7;190] He was on the jury of inquest on 28 May 1683 to examine the sudden death of Richard Jakwesh.[Ref, 9;270]

Daniel signed his will on 17 Jan 1692/3. He mentions his son Daniel and Daniel's mother, his wife; his other sons Joseph, Stephen and James; his daughters Sarah, Abigail and Hannah. He appointed John and Henry Poore his overseers. [Ref, p. 119-120] John and Henry were the sons of John Poore.

Children of Daniel Thurston and Anne Pell:

1. Hannah Thurston was born on 20 Jan 1658 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Daniel] She died on 26 Jun 1731. [Ref, p. 122][Ref] She married Benjamin Pearson on 20 Jan 1679/80 [Ref, p. 122] in Rowley. [Ref] John was the son of Dea. John and Dorcas Pearson of Rowley. [Ref, p. 122][Ref] He was born on 6 (2) 1658 in Rowley. [Ref, s. John and Dorcas] He died on 16 Jun 1731. [Ref, p. 122]
   Benjamin was a resident of Byfield. [Ref, p. 122] Benjamin Pearson, millwright of Newbury, made his will on 10 Mar 1729/30; it was proved on 28 Jun 1731. He mentions his wife Hannah; his sons Benjamin, Daniel, Jedidiah, Bartholomew, Jonathan and David; his son-in-laws thomas Colman, John Haines, John Adams, Thomas Plumer and William Tenney; his widowed daughter Abigail Brown. [Ref, 20940]
   some descendants of Hannah Thurston
2. Daniel Thurston was born on 2 Jul 1657 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Daniel] He died on 3 Nov 1657 in Newbury. [Ref]
3. Daughter Thurston was born on 22 Nov 1660 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Daniel] She died on 16 Dec 1660 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Daniel]
4. Daniel Thurston was born on 18 Dec 1661 in Newbury. He died on 16 Feb 1737 in Newbury. He married Mary Dresser.
5. Sarah Thurston was born on 8 Jan 1663 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Daniel, Jr.]
6. Stephen Thurston was born on 25 Oct 1665 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Daniel] He died before 25 Oct 1672, when the second Stephen was born.
   
7. Joseph Thurston was born on 14 Sep 1667 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Daniel] He married first Mehitable Kimball [Ref, p. 122, in 1695] after 21 Nov 1695, when they published their intention in Newbury. [Ref] He married second Elizabeth Woodbury after 25 Aug 1707 [Ref, p. 122] when they published their intention in Rowley. [Ref] Elizabeth was the daughter of John Woodbury of Beverly. [Ref, p. 122]
   Joseph was a weaver in Newbury and Rowley. [Ref, p. 122]
   some descendants of Joseph Thurston
   
8. Anne Thurston was born on 6 Sep 1669 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Daniel] She died on 27 Sep 1669 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Daniel]
9. James Thurston was born on 24 Sep 1670 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Daniel] He married Mary Pearson on 24 Jan 1693. [Ref, p. 122] Mary was the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Poore) Pearson of Rowley. [Ref, p. 122] She was born on 21 Oct 1671 in Haverhill. [Ref, d. Samuel and Mary (Poore)]
   James probably went to Exeter, New Hampshire. [Ref, p. 122]
   some descendants of James Thurston
10. Stephen Thurston was born on 25 Oct 1672 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Daniel] He probably died before 5 Feb 1673/4.
11. Stephen Thurston was born on 5 Feb 1673/[4?] in Newbury. [Ref, s. Daniel] He was baptised on 2 Jun 1678 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Daniel] He married first Mary Knight on 14 Oct 1706 in Newbury. [Ref] He married second Sarah Unknown. [Ref, p. 122]
    some descendants of Stephen Thurston
12. Abigail Thurston was born on 17 Mar 1677/8 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Daniel] She married Joseph Chase on 8 Nov 1699 in Newbury. [Ref] Joseph was the son of Aquila and Esther Chase. [Ref, p. 122] He was born on 25 Mar 1677. [Ref, p. 122]
    Joseph and Abigail moved to Littleton in 1726. [Ref, p. 122]
    some descendants of Abigail Thurston

Generation 2

DANIEL THURSTON (1661 - 1737) of Newbury

Parents: Daniel Thurston and Anne Pell

Daniel Thurston was born on 18 Dec 1661 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Daniel] He died on 16 Feb 1737/8 in Newbury. [Ref][Ref, p. 122] His son Richard wrote, "Feb. 18, 1738, my honored father, Daniel Thurston, d. in his 78th year." [Ref] He married Mary Dresser about 1688/9. [Ref, p. 122]

Daniel, age 17, took the oath of allegiance in 1678 in Newbury. [Ref, p. 181]

On 9 Mar 1713/4 it was voted that Daniel and his family, along with three other families, could use the Parker ferry for free on Sabath, lecture and training days. [Ref, p. 433]

Daniel signed his will on 6 Jul 1736; it was proved on 27 May 1737. He mentions his sons Benjamin, Jonathan, Richard and John; his daughters Mary Chute, Hannah Frazer, Martha Jewett and Sarah Thurston; he calls Nathaniel Dresser his brother. [Ref, p. 123-124]

Children of Daniel Thurston and Mary Dresser:

1. Daniel Thurston was born on 26 Jun 1690 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Daniel and Mary] He was baptised on 3 Aug 1690 in Rowley. [Ref, s. Daniel, Jr.] He died on 10 Mar 1720 in Rowley. [Ref, Daniel, Jr.] His brother Richard wrote, "March 10, 1720, my brother Daniel Thurston d. in the 30th year of his age." [Ref] He married Lydia Leavor of Rowley after 29 Oct 1715 (int.) in Newbury. [Ref] Lydia was the daughter of Stephen and Damaris (Bailey) Leaver. [Ref, p. 124] She was born on 5 Dec 1684 and died on 7 Sep 1754. [Ref, p. 124] She married second Robert Rogers in 1722. [Ref, p. 125] She married third Cornet Stephen Jewett on 23 Nov 1725. [Ref, p. 125] Stephen was the son of Ezekiel and Faith (Parrott) Jewett. [Ref, p. 125] He was born on 23 Feb 1682/3 in Rowley and died on 14 Jan 1771 in Rowley. [Ref, p. 125]
   Daniel was a snowshoe man from Newbury in Capt. Noyes' company of the North Regiment from Essex. [Ref, pp. 540-542]
   some descendants of Daniel Thurston
2. Daughter Thurston (twin) was born on 7 May 1691 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Daniel, Jr. and Mary] She died on 21 May 1691 in Newbury, age about two weeks. [Ref, d. Daniel, Jr. and Mary]
3. Son Thurston (twin) was born on 7 May 1691 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Daniel, Jr. and Mary] He died on 21 May 1691 in Newbury, age about two weeks. [Ref, s. Daniel, Jr. and Mary]
4. John Thurston was born on 12 Jun 1692 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Daniel, Jr. and Mary] He died on 27 May 1751, age 58 years and 11 months, in Newbury. [Ref, d. Daniel and Mary] His brother Richard write, "May 25th, 1752, my brother John Thurston died in his 69th year." [Ref, perhaps this is a transcription error] He married Dorothy Woodman on 17 May 1732 in Newbury. [Ref]
   some descendants of John Thurston
5. Mary Thurston was born on 7 Jan 1693/4 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Daniel and Mary] She died on 12 Aug 1760. [Ref, p. 125] Her brother Richard wrote, "Augt. 12, my sister, Mary Chute, d. in her 66th year." [Ref] She married Rev. James Chute of Rowley on 26 Jan 1715/6 in Rowley. [Ref] They published thier intention on 14 Jan 1715/16 in Newbury. [Ref]
6. Benjamin Thurston was born on 4 May 1695 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Daniel and Mary] He died on 6 Sep 1746. [Ref, p. 125] His brother Richard wrote, "Sept. 6th, 1746, my brother Benjamin Thurston, d. in his 52d yr." [Ref] He married Mary Gage of Bradford on 24 Jun 1718 [Ref, p. 125] in Newbury. [Ref] Mary was born on 12 Mar 1697/8 in Bradford. [Ref, d. Nathaniel and Mary] She died on 5 Mar 1778. [Ref, p. 125]
7. Hannah Thurston was born on 2 or 20 Jan 1697/8 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Corp. Daniel and Mary] She died on 18 Aug 1770, age 73, in Newbury. [Ref, wid. Gershom] Her brother Richard wrote, "Sept. 18, 1770, my sister, Hannah Frazer d. in her 73d year." [Ref] She married Gershom Frasier on 9 Jan 1718/9 in Newbury. [Ref] Gershom was the son of Colin and Anna (Stuart) Frazer of Rowley. [Ref, p. 125] He was born on 8 Aug 1697 [Ref, p. 125] in Newbury. [Ref, s. Colin and Ann] He died of a fever on 20 Jun 1758, age 61, in Newbury. [Ref]
   some descendants of Hannah Thurston
8. Lydia Thurston (twin) was born on 20 Jan 1697. [Ref, p. 125] She died on 4 Sep 1727 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Daniel and Mary] Her brother Richard wrote, "Sept. 4, 1727, my sister Lydia Thurston, d. in her 30th year." [Ref]
9. Martha Thurston was born on 27 Nov 1699 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Daniel and Mary] She died after 5 Apr 1775. She married Ezekiel Jewett on 9 Jan 1718/9, the same day her sister Hannah married, in Newbury. [Ref] Ezekiel died between 5 Apr and 13 Dec 1776. In his will, Ezekiel, yeoman, named his wife Marth; the four children of his eldest son Thomas; his sons Ezekiel, Jonathan, Stephen and the Rev. David; his daughter Martha Brown; his daughter Hepsibah Chaplin's child; his son-in-law Elnan Winchester and his daughter Lydia Winchester.
   Ezekiel signed his will on 31 Mar 1775 and added a codicil on 5 Apr 1775. Inventory on Ezekiel's estate was taken on 23 Dec 1775 and it amounted to pounds 339.6.5. The will was probated on 7 Nov 1776. [Ref, 14898]
   some descendants of Martha Thurston
10. Jonathan Thurston was born on 3 or 13 Mar 1700/1 in Newbury. He died on 28 Sep 1738 in Rowley. He married Lydia Spofford.
11. Stephen Thurston was born on 22 Aug 1704 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Sgt. Daniel and Mary] He died on 18 Sep 1727 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Jonathan] His brother Richard wrote, "Sept. 18, 1727, my brother Stephen Thurston, d. in his 24th year." [Ref]
12. Sarah Thurston was born on 30 Dec 1706 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Corp. Daniel and Mary] She died after 6 Jul 1736.
13. Capt. Richard Thurston was born on 16 Oct 1710 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Sgt. Daniel and Sarah [!]] He died on 12 Jul 1782 in Rowley. [Ref, editors, give only the year][Ref, p. 125, says in Georgetown] He married Mehitable Jewitt on 5 May 1731 in Rowley. [Ref]
    On 5 Aug 1782 a committee was appointed to appraise the estate of Dea. Richard Thurston, late of Rowley, gentleman. Inventory on his estate, presented on 4 Nov 1782, amounted to pounds 3,263.3.7. His undated will was proved on 5 Aug 1782. In his will he mentions his wife Mehitable; his sons Daniel and David, who were his executors; his daughters Mary Searl, Phebe Jewett, Sarah Pearson, and Mehitable Chute; his granddaughters Mary and Phebe Harris. [Ref, 27642]
    some descendants of Richard Thurston

Generation 3

JONATHAN THURSTON (1701 - 1738) of Newbury

Parents: Daniel Thurston and Mary Dresser

Jonathan Thurston was born on 3 or 16 Mar 1700/1 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Corp. Daniel and Mary] He died on 28 Sep 1738 in Rowley. [Ref, age 34][Ref, p. 125, says in Georgetown] His brother Richard wrote, "Sept. 28, 1738, my brother Jonathan Thurston, d. in the 38th year of his age." [Ref] He married Lydia Spofford of Rowley on 10 Dec 1722 [Ref, p. 125] in Newbury. [Ref] Lydia died on 25 Jul 1753, age about 54, in Rowley. [Ref] Lydia married second, as his second wife, Dea. William Fisk on 6 Jan 1743/4 in Rowley. [Ref, wid.] She is referred to as the widow Thurston alias Fisk in the settlement of Jonathan's estate. [Ref, 27631]

On 12 Dec 1743, with the agreement of [their stepfather] William Fisk and [their uncles] Richard and Benjamin Thurston, [their uncle] Richard Thurston was appointed guardian of John and Samuel, minors over 14, and of Lydia, Mary and Martha, guardians over 14, all the children of Jonathan Thurston, late of Rowley, deceased. [Ref, 27628]

Children of Jonathan Thurston and Lydia Spofford:

1. Dea. John Thurston was born on 19 Aug 1723 in Rowley. [Ref, s. Jonathan and Lydia] He was baptised on 1 Sep 1723 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Jonathan] Dea. John Thurston died on 5 Aug 1807, age 83, and is buried in the South Street Cemetery in Fitchburg. Click here to see a photo of his gravestone on the Findagrave website. He married first Hepsibah Burpee on 15 Mar 1743/4 in Rowley. [Ref] Hepsibah was the daughter of Ebenezer and Miriam (Person) Burpee. [married on 15 Dec 1721, Ref] She was born on 3 Oct 1722 in Rowley. [Ref, d. Ebenezer and Miriam] She died by 1737. He married second Lydia Kimball by 1771 (based on the birth of their child). Lydia was born about 1737. Lydia, the wife of Dea. John, died on 3 Feb 1807, age 70, and is buried in the South Street Cemetery in Fitchbury. Click here to see a photo of her gravestone.
   John and Hepsibah went to Fitchburg, Worcester, Massachusetts in 1766. [Ref, p. 213]
   some descendants of John Thurston
2. Sarah Thurston was born on 26 May 1725 in Rowley. [Ref, s. Jonathan and Lydia] She was baptised on 30 May 1725 in Newbury. [Ref, ch. Jonathan, first name missing] She probably died before 12 Dec 1743 when she was not mentioned in the guardian proceedings of her surviving brothers and sisters. . [Ref, 27628]
3. Samuel Thurston was baptised on 12 Mar 1726/7 in Newbury. [Ref, s. Jonathan] He probably died by 7 Jun 1727.
4. Samuel Thurston was born on 7 Jun 1727 in Rowley. [Ref, s. Jonathan and Lydia]
5. Stephen Thurston was baptised on 23 Feb 1728/9 in Newbury. [Ref] He probably died before 12 Dec 1743 when he was not mentioned in the guardian proceedings of her surviving brothers and sisters. [Ref, 27628]
6. Lydia Thurston was born on 1 Apr 1730 in Rowley. [Ref, d. Jonathan and Lydia] She was baptised on 5 Apr 1730 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Jonathan] She married John Sargent, Jr. of Newbury on 5 Jul 1748 in Rowley. [Ref] John was probably born on 15 Aug 1726 in Newbury. [Ref, s. John and Hannah]
7. Mary Thurston was born on 27 Feb 1731/2 in Rowley. She was baptised on 5 Mar 1731/2 in Newbury. She died on 27 Oct 1767 in Rowley. She married Capt. Timothy Jackman.
8. Benjamin Thurston was born on 3 Feb 1733/4 in Rowley. [Ref, s. Jonathan and Lydia] He died on 31 Oct 1736 in Rowley. [Ref, s. Jonathan and Lydia]
9. Martha Thurston was born on 30 Apr 1736 in Rowley. [Ref, d. Jonathan and Lydia] Martha of Rowley married Joseph Thurlo on 18 Oct 1753 in Newbury. [Ref]
10. Jonathan Thurston was born on 5 Sep 1738 in Rowley. [Ref, s. Jonathan and Lydia] He died on 3 Jan 1738/9 in Rowley. [Ref]

Generation 4

MARY ("MOLLY") THURSTON (1732 - 1767)

Parents: Jonathan Thurston and Lydia Spofford

Mary was born on 27 Feb 1731/2 in Rowley. [Ref, d. Jonathan and Lydia] She was baptised on 5 Mar 1731/2 in Newbury. [Ref, d. Jonathan] She died of a "consumptive disorder" on 27 Oct 1767, age 33 or 36, in Newbury. [Ref] Mary Thurston married Capt. Timothy Jackman on 2 Apr 1751 in Newbury. [Ref, both of Rowley] Mrs. Molly Jackman is buried next to her husband in the Byfield parish cemetery. [Ref]

Unfortunately, the evidence that this Mary Thurston married Capt. Timothy Jackman is cirumstantial. Timothy married a woman named Mary Thurston who was of Rowley. Timothy's wife Mary died on 27 Oct 1767, age 33 or 36, so she was born about 1731 or 1734. The only two Mary Thurstons who appear in the Massachusetts vital records for Essex county with birth dates close to 1731 or 1734 are this Mary and her first cousin Mary, the daughter of Richard and Mehitable, born in Rowley in 1734. But, Richard calls his daughter Mary Searl in his will. Mary Thurston could have been a widow, but her young age at marriage makes this unlikely.

References

Blodgette, George B., "Early Settlers of Rowley, Mass.," Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, 23, 1886, 59-71.

Editors, "Bradford Inscriptions," Essex Antiquarian 5, 1901, 17-22, 41-48, 58-60, 150-156.

Editors, "Salem Quarterly Court Records and Files," Essex Antiquarian 5, 1901, 169-172.

Editors, "Richard Thurston's Memorandum, Kept at Rowley of the Deaths of his Near Relations," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 16, 1862, 170.

Editors, "Will of Daniel Thurston," Essex Antiquarian 13, 1909, 85-6.

Editors, "Will of Francis Lightfoot," Essex Antiquarian 2, 1898, 101.

Garfield, James F. D., "Fitchburg Soldiers of the Revolution," Proceedings of the Fitchburg Historical Society 4, 1908, 172-232.

Hunter, Thomas, "The Burying Grounds of Byfield Parish Church," US GenWeb Project, http://files.usgwarchives.net/ma/essex/towns/newbury/cemeteries/byfieldparish.txt.

Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850. Online Database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2007.

New England Historic Genealogical Society, Essex County, MA, Probate File Papers, 1638-1840, Online database, AmericanAncestors.org., 2013.

No author, "Robert Pike," Essex Antiquarian 4, 1900, 113-117.

Snow, Nora Emma, The Snow-Estes Ancestry, Hillburn, NY, Snow, 1939.