Thomas Doggett

1607 - 1692  (85 years)

• Name	Thomas Doggett  [1]
  Birth	1607	England   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Death	18 Aug 1692	Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts   [1]
  Notes	bBiography of Thomas Doggett 1607-1692 Marshfield MA /bA History of the Doggett-Daggett Family Samuel Bradlee Doggett. 1894 pg 325 Thomas DOGGETT, OF MARSHFIELD, MASS. FIRST GENERATION 3551. Thomas Doggett1 (spelled also with one "t," aud at times with oue "g"), born England, 1607; removed to New Eng- land in the "Marey Anne," of Yarmouth, Eng., William Goose, master. May, 1637; died Marshfield, Mass., August 18, 1692; married 1st (date, place, and to whom not found) , who died Con- cord, Mass., 23, 6 mo., 1642; married 2d, Weymouth, Mass., 1643, Elizabeth Fry, widow of William Fry, of Weymouth, aud daughter of Jonas and Frances Humphrey, of Dorchester, Mass. ; born prob- ably England; died Weymouth, Mass., 1652; married 3d, Marsh- field, Mass., August 17, 1654, .Joane Chillingsworth, widow of Thomas Chillingsworth, of Marshfield, Mass. ; born probably Eng- land ; died Marshfield, Mass., September 4, 1684. Issue : 3552. i. John Doggett,2 born Concord (?), Mass., 1642. 3553. ii. Hannah Doggett,2 bnrn Weymoutli, Mass., 1646. 3554. iii. Sarah Doggett,2 born Weymoutb, Mass., 1650. 3555. iv. Samuel Doggett,2 born Weymoutb, Mass., 1652. 3556. v. Rebecca Doggett.2 born Marshfield, Mass., July 29, 1655. Thomas Doggett, of Marshfield, was previously a resident of Weymouth, and before that, of Concord, Mass. Of these facts the records now extant seem to offer sufficient evidence ; but of his life previous to arrival at Concord there is more uncertainty. Authori- ties on the subject express the opinion that Thomas who came in the "Marey Anne," in 1637, was the Thomas afterward of Marshfield, and finding no evidence to prove or disprove this theory, the writer has followed it as a possible truth. It is hoped that the points here made known may lead to positive proof of his parentage aud home in England. pg 326 In the Rolls Office, in London, Eug., is a small parchment volume occupied with a record of persons "desirous to passe beyond seas." It consists of but sixteen written leaves, and much the greater portion of them is taken up with names of persons going into Holland. The several entries relating to those who came to New England are printed in the N.E. Hist. Gen. Register, Vol. XIV., page 328. What is not destroyed of the title of the volume is : A Register of the ... of such persons a ... and upwards and have ... to passe into forraigne partes . . . March 1637 to the 29th day of Sept. by vertu of a commission granted to Mr Thomas Mayhew, gentleman. The people whose names are here recorded as bound for New England came, with but few exceptions, from the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, England. They were very many of them cloth workers, of Norwich, others were " cordwayners," "coopers," " joyners," and a few were husbandmen. Some came in the "John and Dore- thay," of Ipswich, others in the " Rose," of Yarmouth, while " these people went to New England with William Goose, Master of the 'Marey Anne' of Yarmouth." May the 13, 1637. The examinaction of Thomas Olliuer of Norwich, Calinder,1 ageed 36 yeares and Marey his wife, aged 34 yeares, with 2 children : Thomas and John and 2 seruants:2 Thomas Doged aged 30 yeares and Marey Sape ageed 12 yeares ar desirous to passe for N.E. to inhabitt. Thomas Oliver settled in Salem, Mass., and Thomas Doggett may have stayed there in his employ long enough to pay for his passage to this country. It was a common thing for gentlemen of some means in leaving England for America to take an apprentice or servant, paying the expenses of his passage, and after their arrival employing him to work to repay the amount. In this way many young and poor per- sons made their passage to this country. This being customary, men of distinction were enabled to escape to America as servants to those permitted to come, who would have been prevented if they had attempted to come in their own name. Such was the strictness of the laws, and the vigilance of the officers, that many found it necessary to resort to this means to accomplish their object. Possibly Thomas Doggett may have engaged himself ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Calendering is the last operation to which dyed and printed cottons are sometimes subjected to render the surface smooth, compact, and uniform. 2 The term 'servant," as used by the early settler's, did not have the sense of a menial, but that of apprentice. They were immigrants whose passage was paid generally by some relative or friend in consideration of a stated term of service. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- pg 327 to Thomas Oliver in order to obtain permission to leave England, for among those who wished to come in the same company was one John Yonge, a minister of "St. Margretts, Suffolk," who, after he was examined and the answers recorded, was mentioned in the place of the date as "This man was forbyde passage by the commissioners and went not from Yarmouth." Although this may have been Thomas Doggett's reason for thus calling himself, I am of the opinion he engaged himself as apprentice in order to pay his passage to New England, where he wished to come, either for religious freedom, or because he felt he could better his condition ; having much the same idea as a young man of the present day who leaves New England for the West. As there seem to be no evidences of property in his hands for several years after his arrival in New England, there is every reason to believe he was without means when he arrived. The exact date of the departure of the "Marey Anne" is not known, nor the length of her voyage ; neither is it known to what port she came, whether to Boston or Salem. Voyages across the Atlantic at that time took many weeks, so it was probably mid-sum- mer, 1637, when they first caught sight of the New England shores. Between this time and 1642 we lose sight of him, and it would be only conjecture to suggest where he may have lived during these years. In 1642, the 23d of the 6th month, the records of Concord, Mass., record the death of the wife of Thomas Doggett, but a search of the town records reveals nothing more regarding them. When or where he was married, or how long he had resided in Concord, is unknown. Even the Christian name of his wife has not been found, after much search ; or whether his oldest son, John, who was born about this time, was her son, or a son by his second wife. I am inclined, how- ever, to believe him to be her son, and born at Concord, Mass. Shattuck, in his history of Concord, after speaking of the death of Mrs. Thomas Doggett, says, " Mr. Doggett removed from town," so that our interest in Concord is in the period previous to 1642, when he was a resident there. Walcott, in "Concord in the Colonial Period," says: "Concord was the first settlement above tide water. "It adjoined the towns of Watertown, Cambridge Farms, and Sudbury, and is nineteen miles from Boston. "This tract of land, about six miles square, was occupied, in a sense, by two or three hundred Indians, and was called Musketaquid. "The meadows traversed by the sluggish rivers that ran by devious windings to the northward were bordered by tracts of upland that pg 328 had been burned over and brought under rude cultivation by the natives, and afforded a large area of cleared land that was very attractive to the English settlers. The woodland was for the most part covered with pine. Shad, salmon, and alewives abounded in the rivers and brooks, which were also the haunts of fur-bearing animals." As the "Old Towne Booke of Concord" is lost, it cannot be told in what part of the town Thomas Doggett lived, whether he was granted or bought lands, when or to whom he sold the same, or what part he may have taken in the town affairs during his residence there. Walcott says : "It cannot be doubted that there once was a town book which contained the records of the earliest grants of land and probably the other proceedings of the inhabitants, meeting together in general assembly." "A book of this character is referred to in ancient deeds and other documents, as well as the records that remain to us." The church of Concord was formally gathered at Cambridge, July 5, 1636, and was organized April 6, 1637, with Rev. Peter Bulkley as teacher, and Rev. John Jones pastor, and the town dates from the previous year. Mr. Bulkley and Mr. Flint had some property, but the rest of the Concord company were plain people, of humble station in England, and of small means, who hoped in the New World to better their condition, and to enjoy unmolested the simpler forms of religious worship that their tastes and consciences approved. Thomas Doggett may have been inclined to settle in Concord because John Doggett had been living in the adjoining town of Watertown for several years, and he would seem to have gone there more from this reason than because of any relatives or friends already there, when it is known that there is no reason to suppose that the Concord settlers ever came together on English soil. There was no transplanting of a church and its pastor, like the removal of John Robinson and his flock to Holland, or like the settlement of Plymouth and Dorchester. The first houses were humble structures with thatched roofs, and, very likely, wooden chimneys, oiled paper serving in place of window glass. Emerson says of them : "Beneath low hills, in broad interval, Through which at will our Indian rivulet Winds mindful still of sannup and of squaw, Whose pipe and arrow oft the plough unburies : Here in pine houses, built of new fallen trees, Supplanters of the tribe, the farmers dwell." It is impossible to overestimate the trials and actual suffering that were endured by the pioneer families. Here as elsewhere in the colony, a close grappling with the facts was followed by inevita- ble disappointment. The meadows were wet, the soil was found to pg 329 require hard labor to make and keep it productive, aud it is written that the people were "forced to cut their bread very thin for a long- season." It cannot be wondered that some sickened and died by reason of the unaccustomed hardships and severity of the winter weather, while others lost all faith in the success of the enterprise, sold their estates for a little, and departed. Leaving Concord, Thomas Doggett removed to Weymouth, Mass., which is, next to Plymouth, the oldest English settlement in Massa- chusetts. Just when he moved there is not known, as there is a total absence of all church records for the first hundred and more years ; and the town records of births, marriages, and deaths are very incomplete. The property records are full and well preserved, as well as the records of town affairs, which, until 1651, seem to have been kept by the townsmen, or selectmen, as since called. Wey- mouth, the old settlement of Wessagusset, was quite advanced in 1642, as compared with Concord. In 1642 Rev. Samuel Newman was the minister, having been called to the church in Weymouth in 1639, where he remained four or five years. He was followed by Rev. Thomas Thacher, who was ordained pastor of the church January 2, 1644, where he remained for about twenty years, when he removed to Boston. Weymouth was more advanced than any other place in New Eng- land except Plymouth in having the priority as to the presence of a physician, Dr. Nicholas Byram, who came to Weymouth in 1638, aud remained there twenty-four years. The town is bounded on the east side by Hingham, on the west by Braintree, and has on the north a well-protected water frontage on an arm of Massachusetts bay, about twelve miles from Boston ; so it was considered a most desirable location at the time of the removal there of Thomas Doggett. Here it probably was he married, in 1643, as his second wife, Elizabeth, the widow of William Fry. William Fry had died here October 26, 1642, leaving a wife Elizabeth and daughters Elizabeth and Mary. His noncup. will is found in Suffolk Probate, 1-29, and was "deposed by Thomas Baily and John Barge before the Courte the 9 of the 9 mo. 1643." By it "he did give unto his wife after his decease his house and foure acres of land being his home lot and after her decease to his two daughters Elizabeth and Mary," to both of whom he makes other bequests. Elizabeth Fry was born December 20, 1639, and Mary Fry was born January 9, 1642, prob- ably at Weymouth, as their father was a freeman and had twelve acres of land allotted to him there as early as 1636. Thomas Doggett by his marriage with Mrs. Fry became one of the proprietors of Weymouth, and the property records, which are not pg 330 dated, but which were written at some time between his marriage and May 21, 1644, speak of his lands as : The Land of Thomas Doggett during the life of his wife and afterwards to Elizabeth and Mary ffrie the daughters of William ffrie deceased. ffower acres in the west fflield first giuen to William ffrie bounded on the East with the land of Edward Smith and John Hardinge, the land of John Rogeres on the south, of John Whitman on the north, a highwaie on the south. Twelue acres amongst the greate lotes bounded on the East with the greate pond on the west with the common the north with the land of Thomas White of Robert Louell on the south. In the will of Elder Bate, Suffolk Probate, Book 11, page 13, 20th October, 1683, mention is made of "Doggett's lot," locating it at East Weymouth, near the Hingham Hue. Here it was his children, Hannah, Sarah, and Samuel, were probably born ; but a careful search of the records at Weymouth gives no insight into his family affairs nor the dates of birth of his children. Between the time of the record of land in his name, 1643-4, until 1648, the records at Weymouth do not mention the name, but in 1648 his fellow townsmen show their appreciation of his judgment and ability by electing him to the office of townsman or selectman. The following records of meetings of the townsmen are all that is contained in the Weymouth town books relating to Thomas Doggett : Weymouth Town Records, page 47, 'The 1st day of the 1st mo. (March) 1648 " : At a meeting of the Townsmen they having taken into consideration the destruction of Pine and Cedar which are every year destroyed notwithstanding there was order to the contrary to pay for it if they find it. It is therefore ordered that from this day forward whosoever do intend to fall any such tree of Pine or Cedar for any use they shall come to Thomas Dyer and give cation to him for as much as they shall fall. For commoner one shilling three pence a thousand under the penalty of 20s. a thousand. And for those inhabitants that are not commoners 2s 6d a thousand and whosoever shall fall any Pine or Cedar Tree that might make boards, if it were employed to it, shall be liable by this order to pay to the towns use 20s for every parcell that have the substance of a 1000 of Boards in it. But by this order wee doe not deny any man that is a commoner to fall for his owne use. And he that can make the breach of this to appeare, shall have one quarter of the fines for his labour, and the other three quarters to be returned to the Towns use Townsmen John Holbrook - John Rogers Henry Kingman - Thomas Doggett James Batley - Thomas Holbrook Page 50, "The last day of the last month (Feb) 1648 " : It was ordered that all swine that is above a quarter of a year old within this Towne, shall be sufficiently Ringed and Yoked by the 14th day of the next month uppon penalty of 3d a peese. And wee do appoint John Randal and Hugh Roe pg 331 to be Hogwards, who shall carefully look to the execution of this order, and whosoever shall neglect to ring or yoke his swine as aforesaid it shall be lawfull for the hogwards, or either of them, to recover for their owne proper use the aforesaid 3d of the owners of every such swine as shall be unwrung as often as they shall find them unringed. Always provided the owners have due notice, and that it be not demanded twis in one day, and if any person shall refuse to pay the foresayd 3d it shall be lawfull for the Hogwards or either of them to pound the sayd swine, and keepe them according to the law til they satisfie them as aforesaid but in case any hoggs or swine looste their yokes or rings the owners of any such swine shall not be liable to this penalty aforesaid. Townsmen Nicholas Phillips - Thomas Doggett Robert Tucker - John Holbrook Micath Pratt - Richard Porter Page 58, " 26th day of the 9th mo (Nov.) 1651 " : Voted That there shall be but 5 Townsmen chosen this year ensueing and that there power shall be the same that it was the last year with those alterations and additions therein exprest. Voted That Sergant Holbrook shall be authorized to procure a surveyor to run the lines between Hingham and Braintree and to attend that surveyor together with those that are made choyse of for that end viz John Whitman, Thomas Pratt for Hingham line and John Kinge and Edward Kingman for the other line. Wee whose names are liere subscribed in the 1st meeting do chowese Deken Rogers for to be the recorder for this year 1651-2 John Holbrook - Henry Kingman Thomas Holbrook - James Bayley James Smith The names of the Townsmen Henry Kingman - John Holbrook Thomas Holbrook - James S.mith James Batley - John Rogers Thomas Doggett Page 59, "At a meeting of the Townsmen the Snd of the 12th mo. (Feb.) 1651": It was then and there ordered by the Townsmen that a great lotts that men- tioned in the old Towne Booke that were formerly given and also lotts drawne shall be layde out on the E side of the fresh Pond next to Mrs Richards her mill joyning to those small lotts that were formerly layde out butting uppon the fresh Pond and to run 18 rod toward Hingham lyne. And in case these lotts under written doth run beyond the Pond in weidth that then it shall front uppon a straight lyne as the Pond hath. The names of those that are to have lotts in order as followeth : [Then follows the division.] The names of the Townsmen Thomas Doggett John Rogers John Holbrook. Page 61, " The 14th the 10th mo (Dec) 1652" : At a general towne meeting there were chosen townsmen Deacon Rogers, Sergt Holbrook Thomas Doggett Thomas Dyer John Bicknell Sergt Hunt and William Torrey and the same power is hereby given them that the last Townsmen had, as also further that they shall take some care for Mr Lowman that she shall be provided for in respect of a house and also to do what they shall judge present necessity requires about the meeting house and that may make it more comfortable and prevent any further decay. pg 332 Page 62, -"The 7th of the 1st mo (March) 1653 " : At a meeting of the Townsmen it was ordered that Thomas Doggett should take care for the burning of the woods for wich he is to have due satisfaction. In 1652 Elizabeth, the second wife of Thomas Doggett, died, probably in Weymouth, and in the following year he changed his home for the last time, by moving to Marshfield, Mass. In an article on Marshfield. by "William T. Davis. Esq., in the "Histoiy of Plymouth County." he says : " The town of Marshfield, together with Duxbury, its adjoining town on the south, shares with Plymouth the interest which attaches to the home of the Pilgrims. Its fertile lands and broad marshes early attracted the attention of the first settlers, and were eagerly sought for homesteads and farms. Watered by North river on its northerly border, by South river in its central section, and by Green's Harbor river in its southerly, its territory was admirably adapted to those agricultural pursuits which were the chief support of the Pilgrims. The township, slightly in- creased in size since its original incorporation, covers an area of about twenty-five square miles, and is bounded easterly by the ocean and the town of Duxbury ; southerly by Duxbury and Pembroke ; westerly by Duxbiury, Pembroke, and the North river ; and northerly by the North River and the ocean." This territory has been called Missau- catucket, Oxford, Green's Harbor, Rexham, and Marshfield, was made a township March 2, 1640/1, and is about thirty miles south-east of Boston. Among the first settlers was Thomas Chillingsworth, who was quite a prominent man in public matters. After a short residence at Lynn, in 1637, and afterward at Sandwich, he settled in Marsh- field. where he was a large landholder, and was representative 1648 and 1652. Administration on his estate was granted March. 1652 3, to his widow Joanna, who married August 17, 1654, Thomas Doggett. Mr. Chillings worth had four daughters, but no son. Elizabeth died unmarried. September 28, 1655. Mehitabel married May 2, 1661. Justus Eames. Mary married Deacon John Foster. Sarah married Samuel Sprague, the last secretary of Plymouth Colony. The Bible of Mr. Chillingsworth Miss Thomas mentions as still in existence, printed by Christopher Barker, 1589. The maiden name of his wife is not known, nor the date or place of their marriage. The interest of Thomas Doggett in the widow Chillingsworth is first noticed in a record at Plymouth : The widow, Joan Chillingsworth, in like manner came into court 7 March 1653 and acknowledged that she hath given unto her four daughters 10£ a piece pg 333 to be delivered to them on their day of marriage or within three months after same and in case any of them die, the survivors to have their part divided equally between them and for performance thereof Thomas Doged and the said Joane Chillingsworth have jointly given security to the court. July 3, 1654. Upon desire of Arthur Howland for the ending of controversies regarding bounds of lands, that he and Thomas Doged be acquainted with the bounds of lands according to original grant." In 1655 Thomas Doggett serves on the jury at Plymouth, and October 4 of the same year : The court have ordered that Mr. Arthur Howland and Thomas Doged shall procure a surveyor to lay out the land in controversy betwixt Thomas Doged and him who shall do it according to decision and testimony from Captain Standish and Mr. Alden and to lay out the line of division betwixt them according to the evidence and to return what is done unto the court and the charges thereof to be equally borne betwixt them. [Court Orders, 3-89.] May 6, 1656 In answer to a petition preferred to the court by Thomas Doged of Marshfield wherein the said Thomas Doged proposed that a Jury might be impannelled to make division of a certain part of land sold by Mr Edmond ffreeman of Cambridge Point unto Mr Arthur howland and Thomas Chillingsworth deceased lying at the south bridge in the Town of Marshfield. The court have ordered there shall be a jury of 12 men that shall determine the laying out of the said land and shall fully end the controversy betwixt said Arthur howland and Thomas Doged about the said land the said jury to be impannelled at the next general court. [Court Orders, 3-97.] At the town meeting 1656, May 19, Thomas Dogget and John Rouse were chosen grand jurymen for the present year ensuing. June 18, 1656 an agreement was made in regard to the land in controversy, before Mr John Alden Capt Cudworth and the Jury appointed, and the division line decided upon. The agreement was signed by Arthur howland and Thomas Doged his marke. [Court Orders, 3-103.] At the town meetings May 18 and August 13, 1657, Thomas Dog- get was absent the first hour, and in each case was fined 6d. During this year Thomas Doggett took the oath of fidelity at Marshfield. November 16, 1657, town meetiug. Goodman Dogget and John Rouse for grand juryship, £1 . Rev. George Leonard says of this, in a letter dated April 9, 1852, I have aleady transcribed about a thousand names, including repe- titions, to my list of town officers, aud this is the only instance in which the title 'Goodman'1 is used." 1658, October 11, town meeting, Thomas Dogget, 1s. 0d., being his town rate. This year he serves on a coroner's jury. The Rev. Edward Bulkley. son of Rev. Peter Bulkley, of Concord, was the pastor at Marshfield, and held an estate independent of the minister's land. His father dying in 1659, he succeeded him as pastor of the church at Concord, and was succeeded in the pastoral office at Marshfield by Rev. Samuel Arnold, of Yarmouth. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 The term "goodma " was used as a slight appellation of civility- The Puritans, strictly speaking, gave the title "Goodman" to a specially prominent church-member of mature years. pg 334 As the first volume of church records at Marshfield does not begin until 1696, there is an absence here as well as at Weymouth and Concord of all evidence to show what may have been the church relations of Thomas Doggett. At a town meeting May 16, 1659, he gave "one barrel of beef" toward the purchase of the lands of Mr. Bulkley in Marshfield. May, 1659, on the jury. He bought this year (1659) the farm to which he afterward re- moved, and which adjoined the farm of Peregrine White, near the junction of North and South rivers. Indenture made the 11th day of October A.D. 1659 between Comfort Starr of Boston in County of Suffolk in New England, Chirurgeon on the one part and Thomas Dogget of Marshfield on the other part. 120 acres in Marshfield with buildings thereon, the same being now leased to William Sherman and Edmond Hindsman. [O.C. Deeds, 6-23.] Comfort Starr deceased before the sale was completed, and among the amounts due the estate as recorded in Suffolk Probate is one from "Good Doggett," as he is called. March 15, 1659-60, We whose names are under written are testators of the possession given by John Starr sole executor of Comfort Starr deceased of Boston, To Thomas Dogget of Marshfield according to usual custom By twig and turf, with all and singular the privileges and immunities mentioned in the deed. Testators Peregrine White Edmund HINKMAN, Sen. This deed of sale on the other side sold by Comfort Starr unto Thomas Dog- get the truth whereof was acknowledged by John Starr his son and that the said John Starr hath received in full what was behind at his fathers death this John Starr acknowledges before me. Simon Willard Asst. 2-4mo 1663. [O.C. Deeds, 6-25.] The exact location of Thomas Doggett's house on this land is not known, but is presumed to be in a field back of a house now occu- pied by Capt. Asa Sherman, at Centre Marshfield. In this field, overlooking the marshes, the two rivers, and the ocean, on the side of the hill, yet protected by it, near a spring of clear, cold water, is an old cellar which the oldest inhabitants of the vicinity call the site of the "Doggett House." This and the fact that the cellar is on a line with the house of Peregrine White, and not very far from it, both near the old highway, long since closed, would lead one to believe this was the site of the house of Thomas Doggett. The stones would indi- cate a house about thirty feet square, and a barn not far from it. Out on the marsh is an oasis of cedar trees, old and gnarled, called "Doggett's Cedars," and beyond, where the surf breaks on the beach, is "Doggett's Beach," names which have clung to the spot to the present time among a few of the older inhabitants. 1660, May 14, Thomas Dogget chosen one of a jury. 1660, July 15, at said town meeting the town have chosen Thomas Dogget constable, who then refused the taking the oath to serve as constable. pg 335 1661, October 14, at said town meeting Thomas Dogget, constable, formally gave in his account and is fully discharged. 1661, June 4, Mr. Anthony Eames acknowledged before the court that his son, Justus Eames, hath received £13 6s. 8d. of Thomas Doged, of Marshfleld, in full of his wife's portion. 1662, on the jury. 1663, May 18, town meeting, Thomas Dogget surveyor for the year. 1663, July 6. At town meeting the inhabitants chose a committee to view land by request of Lieut. Peregrine White and Thomas Dogget. 1663-1664. On the jury each year. 166J, March 8. Town meeting, Thomas Dogget chosen on a com- mittee. 1664, October 4. One of a committee to settle a dispute regarding a debt of Edward Bumpas. Among the papers of the Massachusetts Historical Society is one superscribed " Namaskett Proprs names." The record was made about 1664. Thomas Dogget is named as the grantee of the 27th lot, the first at "Whetstone's Vineyard. In the papers at Plymouth, relating to the settlement of the estate of Thomas Bourn, whose will was dated May 2, 1664, the inventory was taken by "Sergt Joseph Riddle, A. Snow, and Thomas Doged." February 13, 1664/5. Town meeting. The inhabitants have chosen five selectmen, viz. : Lieut. Peregrine White. Ensign Mark Eames. Joseph Beadle. Thomas Dogget. Anthony Snow. March 1, 1664. Peregrine White, of Marshfleld, sells Thomas Dogged, of Marshfleld, meadow ground lying on the north side of a great brook, running to said White's now dwelling-house. [O.C. Deeds, 3-215.] 1666, May 28. Thomas Dogget, grand juryman. 1667, April 5. On a jury to lay out the highway. August 5. The rate as follows : Thomas Dogget, grand juryman, £1 2s. 6d. 1668, September 23. At said town-meetiug the inhabitants have given liberty to Thomas Dogget, Lieut. Peregrine White, William Ford, Jr., Samuel Sprague, John Foster, and Justus Eames, to use and make improvements of all the lands at the head of their lots. In 1671, he is appointed to collect the ordinary or taxes in Marsh- field, as also to collect for the minister's maintenance. On March 3, 1671, William Turning, of Eastham, sells him a oue- hundred-acre lot at Namakasett, for £28. [O.C. Deeds, 3-207.] 1671, June 5. For the prevention of the great abuse by the exces- pg 336 sive use of liquors, two or three men are appointed in every town in the jurisdiction of Plymouth, to have the inspection of the ordinary or in any other places suspected, and Thomas Doged is named for Marshfield. In 1672, he begins the distribution of his estate among his children, by giving them land for house and farm just previous to their mar- riages. The first such gift is : April 20, 1672 Thomas Dogget of Marshfield, planter, to my well beloved son John Dogget, one half of all my uplands and meadow which was formerly land of Comfort Starr deceased. [O.C. Deeds, 4-50.] Thomas Doggett owned a share in "Cedar Swamp," and October 14, 1672, the swamp was divided in seven lots of five shares each, his share being one in the third lot. This swamp was in what was called "Majors Purchase." Windsor, in his "History of Duxbury," says, near "Mattekesett ponds, alias Namasakesett." The ponds thus named are that collection which now are within the bounds of Pem- broke and Hanson. May 5, 1673. At town meeting, Thomas Dogget is chosen sur- veyor. June 9, 1673, occurs the second instance of his giving land to his children, this time to his son-in-law, Samuel Sherman, in considera- tion of his marriage with his daughter Sarah. [O.C. Deeds, 4-90.] The original deed was shown the writer by one of the descendants of Samuel Sherman, it having been handed down and always highly valued by its possessor. 1674, May 13. The town chose Thomas Dogget as grand juryman. 1676, May 6. Town meeting, Thomas Dogget chosen constable. 1675, Aug. 23. Town meeting, rate as follows : Thomas Dogget, 16s. 3d. In the will of William Ford, Sen., of Marshfield, aged about seventy-two years, dated 12th September, 1676, he says: "I appoint my son William to be my executor and request Thomas Doggett if God so dispose that he survive my wife to be my overseer." May 30, 1677. An agreement is made regarding a division of land granted at a meeting at Marshfield. The whole tract is divided into six lots, of which the second lot falls to Peregrine White, Thomas Dogget, William Ford, Justus Eames, John Dogget, Samuel Sher- man, and John Ford, Sen. [O.C. Deeds, .6-114.] May 30, 1677. Town meeting. "At said town meeting the in- habitants have voted Anthony Snow, Thomas Dogget and John Bourne to look into and improve the Poor stock in the town for the benefit of the poor and upholding the stock to their discretion." August 13. 1677. Town meeting. "At said meeting the town did vote Thomas Dogget and Ensign Eames to lay out Edward pg 337 Stevens, his land formerly granted and then it is to be recorded and also fully committed to him and his heirs forever." During this year he was appointed to enforce the liquor law. March 20, 1681. He makes an agreement with his son John re- garding the division of lands which he had formerly given him, and on the same date gives land to his son Samuel, making the third in- stance of gifts of this nature to his children. An extract of this last deed is as follows : March 20 1681 Thomas Dogget of Marshfield, in consideration of the tender love and fatherly affection which I have and bear to my natural and well beloved son Samuel Dogget of Marshfleld, one half of all my lands in Middle- boro and places adjacent which said share of land formerly purchased of William Twining of Eastham as by deed Mar. 7, 1671. [O.C. Deeds, 6-27.] On the same date he gives his son John Doggett the other half of land in Middleboro' ; also gives him land in the valley in Marshfleld. 1682, May 22. At the town meeting Thomas Doggett is men- tioned for the last time on the records of the town of Marshfleld, and is chosen surveyor of highways. Feb. 6, 1883 Thomas Dogget of Marshfleld in the Colony of New Ply- mouth in New England, sendeth greeting. In consideration of the love and fatherly affection I have for my natural and loving son Samuel Dogget as also for divers other good causes All my land both upland and meadow which I now have in Marshfleld, that is to say more particularly the moiety of all that farm that I formerly purchased of Mr Comfort Starr being that part of said farm whereon I now live according as it is marked 40 and bounded between my son John Dogget and myself as may appear by indenture of part under our hands and seals, reserving the use during life, also all that tract of land purchased of Lent Peregrine White lying north of a great brook next adjoining to the southerly part of my other meadows with the same reserved, with the moiety of one half part of the land granted to me and others of my neighbors at the heads of our lots by the town aforesaid. [O.C. Deeds, 6-2G.] June 3, 1684. The court named him as constable for Marshfleld. Retired from active pursuits and positions of public trust, with his lands distributed among his children, the records examined do not show that he is again mentioned, and during the remaining years of his long and busy life we think of him in the words of Mrs. Sigourney : "While moving on thro' Marshfield's vales. Mid the balm of her summer breeze. With a peaceful smile on his honor'd brow, A fair old man she sees : Full many a change in the Mother Land, From the cottage to the throne, As well as here, in this younger sphere. That reverend sire hath known." He died August 18, 1692, and is supposed to have been buried among his fellow-townsmen, in the old First Burial Ground, some- times called the Winslow Ground, among whose honored dead Daniel Webster, by his special request, was interred. pg 338 There are many stones whose inscriptions are long since illegible, but among those which can be read none has been found to mark the spot where Thomas Doggett lies. In the Probate Records of Plymouth County, Vol. I., page 154, is found the will of Thomas Doggett, as follows : I Thomas Dogget, of Marshfield, being grown aged, yet of sound mind, and memory, praysed be God. Do make this my last will, and testament, in manor and forme following: first I corait my soul unto ye hands of God, my saviour, and my Body to desent Buriall, when it shall pleased God to take me heuse,with sure and certain hope of a joy full resurrection, and reunion of Soul and Body to Eternall Glory through the gracious merits of Christ, our Lord our onely saviour. And for the disposall of my outward estate my mind and will is, it shall be disposed as followeth : I having formerly given unto my son John Dogget, the one half of my farm, and divided the same unto him as by one instrument bear- ing date the 20th day of March 1681 may appear which he is in possession of. And having also given to my sonn Samuel Dogget, a deed of the other half of my farm I live upon with other lands. And to avoid all other controverces as concerning the Lands intended to be granted by the aforesaid Deed to my son Samuel, I do hereby declare and hereby give and confirm unto my said son Samuel Dogget, all that half of ye aforesaid farm which I am in possession of, viz: house, out houses orchard, half Barns and Lands, whatsoever, both divided and undivided or lying in common with my son John or otherwise. To have and to hold to him the said Samuel Dogget his heirs and assigns for ever. Item my debts and funerall expenses being first paid, I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Sherman's children, viz : to Prudence Sarah and Susanna, ten shillings apiece and all the remainder of my estate to be divided amongst the rest of my children viz : to my sons John, Samuel, and Hannah Blanchers children, and Rebecka Wilder, my son John to have two fifths parts thereof, or double to any other of my children, and my son Samuel to have one fifth part thereof, and my daughter Rebeckah one fifth part thereof, and my daughter Hannah's children one fifth part thereof. Lastly I nominate and appoint my son Samuel to be sole executor of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twentieth day of January 1689. Thomas DOGET his marke We under written did see the above named Thomas Dogett sign seal and deliver the above written instrument. Samuel Aenold Nathaniel Thomas Mehetabel Truant her marke memo. Jan 3. 1692/3 Captain Nathaniel Thomas and Mr Samuel Arnold two of the witnesses herein named made oath before William Bradford Esq commissionated judge for Granting Probate of wills. That they were present and did see and hear the above named Thomas Dogget sign seal and deliver the above written Instrument to be his last will and Testament and that to the best of their judgment he was of sound mind and memory when he did ye same. Attest Samuel Sprague, Regis. On the following page is a tracing from the original will, which is in the Probate Office at Plymouth, Mass. It is interesting to note that the name is spelled in three different ways in this small portion of the document. pg 340 DOGGETT-DAGGETT FAMILY. On the back of the will it is indorsed : Vol. I., page 155. William Bradford Esq. commissionated by his Excellency Sr William Phips Kn't, Captain Generall & Governor in Chief in and over their Majesties Pro- vince of ye Massachusetts Bay in New England with the advice and consent of ye council for ye granting probate of wills and Letters of Administration within ye county of Plymouth Know ye that on the third day of January 1692 or 3 before me at Marshfield the will of Thomas Dogget late of Marshfield aforesaid to those presents annexed was proved, approved and allowed his will in any manor concerning was comitted unto his sou Samuel Dogget executor in the same named will, and to administer the same and to make a true and perfect inventory. ... In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said office. William Bradford. Dated at Marshfield ye 3rd day of Jan., 1692/3. Samuel Sprague. Regis. Vol. I., page 155. Inventory of " ye goods and chattels of Thomas Dogget, late of Marshfield, deceased," taken and appraised August 23, 1692: £ s. d. Item To his Cash 2 7 6 Wearing apparel . . . . . . .370 4 cows at 38s. Ye head 7 12 0 1 2 year old heiffer 1 4 0 1 horse Bridle & saddle 4 0 0 2 swine . . . . . . . . .1 0 0 A feather bed and furniture . . . . 6 10 6 Towels and table linen 1 9 0 2 remnants of homespun cloth and shrouds . .0 15 3 Saws and wedges and other tools . . . . 0 14 0 A chest two bedsteads and cords . . . .1 4 0 1 tray and 1/2 doz spoons 0 2 9 Vessels of Pewter . . . . . .0 18 8 Vessels of Brass 0 18 0 Vessels of Iron 0 15 6 2 chains and a trammel 0 17 0 A whelot rod chain . . . . . . .0 2 0 Vessels of wood . . . . . . . .0 5 0 To his Books 0 6 0 Cob irons, spit tongs and sh'td . . . . .0 10 0 A chain, ditching knife and grindstone . . .0 10 0 The estate Indebted ye bill 7 0 0 Charge 1 1 0 Samuel Sprague, Thomas Macombek. pg 341 Samuel Dogget executor to ye last will of Thomas Dogget late of Marsh- field deceased appointed Jan. 3, 1692/3 before William Bradford Judge and made oath that ye above written is a true Inventory of ye goods and chattels of said deceased so far as he knows and that when more shall come to his knowl- edge he will discover it.
  Person ID	I25791	McKenzie Genealogy
  Last Modified	25 May 2012

  
  

  Family	Joane Hampton,   b. 1616, Plymouth, England d. 4 Sep 1684, Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts (Age 68 years)
  Marriage	17 Aug 1654	Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts   [1]
  Children	1. Rebecca Doggett,   b. 29 Jul 1655, Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts d. 4 Oct 1728, Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts (Age 73 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F11318	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	25 May 2012

  
  

• Sources

  [S011156] Judi Sprague, Sprague Family Tree, (Ancestry.com, Inc., Provo, Utah).