A Brief Towne Family History

First Generation


1. Hannah TOWNE was born 5 Apr 1835 in Washington, PA. She died 24 May 1883 in Onawa, IA. Hannah married Addison OLIVER, son of John Milton OLIVER and Mary Springer HEWES on Jan 1854 in Washington, PA. Addison was born 21 Jul 1833 in Washington, PA. He died 7 Jul 1912 in Onawa, IA.

Second Generation

 2. Elijah TOWNE was born 29 Jun 1805 in Washington Cty, PA. He died 17 Mar 1873 in Jefferson County. Elijah married Elizabeth MARTIN on 14 Aug 1825
Elizabeth MARTIN was born in Brookville, Iowa.

Third Generation

 4. Eli TOWNE was born 12 Mar 1757 in Sturbridge. He died 22 Jun 1822 in Washington Cty, PA. Eli married Abigail CUTTING on 1780.
Abigail CUTTING was born 1759. She died 18 Aug 1840 in Washington, PA.

Heirs: Son Ezra Towne all the estate on the condition that he distribute specific items that follow: Wife Abigail use of the dwelling house, sufficiency of firewood, use of the one good horse and one good cow, use of great cart, the flour from ten bushels of wheat, three bushels of corn, three bushels of rye yearly, also 140 pounds of pork, 100 pounds of beef, 10 bushels of potatoes, 9 pounds of wool, and 10 pounds of flax yearly, and sufficient apples and vegetables for her consumption and leather for necessary shoes. also her bed and bedding (to be left to daughter Mary after Abigail has died) Household furniture to be devided among daughters Dorcas and Sarah after their mother's demise.
Son Eli $20
Daughter Mary $20
Daughter Dorcas $140 plus one cow when she starts to keep house Daughter Sarah $140 plus loom and tackling and appurtenances plus one cow when she starts to keep house Daughters Dorcas and Sarah are are to continue living at home as long as they remain single and to have same privileges they have always had Daughter chloe $140 to be used to the best advantage in the purchase of land in Washington County. Chloe also gets one cow. Son Ezra to be her guardian and will be assisted by friend Isaac Lucas Son Elijah $10 when he is 21 years old. Until then he is to be cared for by Ezra and taught the trade of blacksmithing. Ezra is named Elijah's guardian.

Executor not named but must be Ezra, son

Fourth Generation

 8. Eli TOWNE was born 3 Mar 1730/1731 in Topsfield, MA. He died Oct 1800. Eli married Elizabeth GOULD on 2 May 1754.
Elizabeth GOULD was born about 1731. She died after 1779.

Fifth Generation

 16. Benjamin TOWNE was born 10 May 1691 in Topsfield, MA. He died 11 Feb 1772. Benjamin married Susanna WILDES on Apr 1722. Susanna WILDES died 5 Jul 1736.

Sixth Generation

 32. Joseph TOWNE was born 2 Sep 1661 in Topsfield, Essex County, MA. He died 1717 in Topsfield, Essex County, MA. Joseph married Phebe PERKINS
Phebe PERKINS was born 1644 in Topsfield, Essex, MA. She died 1715 in Topsfield, MA.
Two wives Amy smith and Phebe Perkins. Children were Benjamin, Daniel, Nathan, Jesse, Nathaniel, Amos, and Emma.

Seventh Generation

 64. Edmund TOWNE was born 28 Jun 1628 in St. Nicholas Par, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Eng.. He died 3 May 1678 in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts. Edmund married Mary BROWNING in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts
Mary BROWNING was born 7 Jan 1637/1638 in Salem, Essex, MA. She died 1717 in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts.

EDMUND TOWNE MARY BROWNING
B 1628, ENG B. 1637, SALEM
D.1678, TOPSFIELD D. 1717, TOPSFIELD
Was eldest son of William. He came, 1637, probably in the Rose of Yarmouth, aged 18, as apprentice to Henry Skerry of Salem. Married Mary, daughter of Thomas Browning. Children: Thomas; William, b. 1658; Joseph, 1661; Abigail; Benjamin, 1666; Rebecca; Samuel, 1673; Mary; Sarah; Eliz.; and another daughter.

66. Thomas PERKINS was born about 28 Apr 1622 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, MA. He died 7 May 1686 in Ipswich, Essex, Mass.. Thomas married Phebe GOULD on 7 May 1686 in Topsfield, Essex County, MA
Phebe GOULD was born 27 Sep 1620 in Herts, England. She died 7 May 1686 in MA.

"DEACON"THOMAS PERKINS PHEBE GOULD B. 1616 ENG. B. ENG. D. 1686 D. M. 1640 Second son and second child of John PerkinsCame to Boston 1631. Moved to Ipswich 1633. He was a farmer in Topsfield, MA. Also a Deacon of the church in 1677. She was baptized Sept 27,1620. Daughter of Zaccheus and Phebe Gould of Topsfield MA. 9 CHILDREN.

Eighth Generation

128. William TOWNE was born 18 Mar 1598/1599 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. He died 30 Apr 1685 in Probably In Tops, Essex, MA. William married Joanna BLESSING on 25 Mar 1620 in Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.
Joanna BLESSING was born 1594 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. She died 1682 in Topsfield, Essex, MA.
WILLIAM TOWNE JOANNA BLESSING
B. 1598 B. 1594
D. 1685 D. 1682
Probably emmigrated in 1635. He removed to Topsfield about 1651. His children baptized at Yarmouth were Rebecca, 1622; John, 1624; Susanna, 1625; Edmund, 1628; Jacob, 1633; Mary, 1634; and at Salem, Sarah; and Joseph, b. 1639.

Rebecca m. Francis Nurse, had eight children and was excuted for a witch, 19 July 1692. Her deafness contributed to her sentencing.

Mary m. Isaac Esty, had two daughters and was tried and executed 22 Sept. 1692 under the Salem Witch Trials also. Both were heroic women with a pious nature.

Sarah m. 11 Jan. 1660. Edmund Bridges, had five children. Second marriage was Peter Cloyes, had two more children. She also was accused and barely escaped with her life from the Witch Trials.

130. Thomas BROWNING was born 1588. He died Feb 1670/1671.

132. John PERKINS was born 1583 in Hillmorton, Warwick, England. He died 23 Sep 1654 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts. John married Judith GATER on 9 Oct 1608 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England.
Judith GATER was born 19 Mar 1586/1587 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England. She died 1684.

He is knwon as "QUARTER MASTER" and is believed to have sailed from Bristol, England in the ship , Lyon, arriving in America 1631. He brought his son Thomas. John Perkins went to Ipswich with John Winthrop the Younger and was Deputy to the General Court in 1636.

There are a couple of publications that are good sources: "The Family of John Perkins of Ipswich" Part II by George A. Perkins,1887; "Descendants of William Lamson, of Ipswich, Mass." by William J. Lamson, 1917.

134. Zaccheus GOULD was born 1589 in Bovington, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, England. He died 30 Mar 1668 in Topsfield, Essex, MA. Zaccheus married Phebe DEACON on 1617 in Of Hertfordshire, England
Phebe DEACON was born 1597 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. She died 20 Sep 1663 in MA. 1