Matthias Farnsworth

• Birth: Perhaps Jul. 20, 1612 (on plaque) / July 20, 1615 (baptism)
• Arrival: 1657 Lynn, Massachusetts
• Death: 21 Jan 1688 (aged 75–76) Groton Middlesex County Massachusetts
• Plaque: Old Burying Ground, Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts MEMORIAL ID 41582800, Photos by carole carbutt

Parents: (No documentary evidence)

• Richard Farnsworth 1684 - ____
• Elizabethe Marshe Farnsworth 1584 - 1717

Spouse

• Wife 1: Unknown, born about 1628, died about 1656. Marriage about 1646.
• Mary Farr, 1626–1717 m. abt 1646 in Lynn, Essex MA
• Wife 3: unknown (uncertain)

Children 12x

First wife:

1. Ebeneezer 1646 - 1724 (unlikely, he is not mentioned in Matthia's last Will.)
2. Elizabeth Farnsworth Robertson - Robins 1647 - 1729
3. Matthias Farnsworth 1649–1693
4. John Farnsworth 1652–1729

Second wife:

1. Joseph Farnsworth 1657–1674
2. Sarah Farnsworth Stone 1657–1731
3. Benjamin Farnsworth 1657–1733
4. Mary Farnsworth Thatcher 1660–1725
5. Matthew Farnsworth (1668 - ____)* (unlikely)
6. Samuel Farnsworth 1669–1727
7. Abigail Farnsworth Hutchins 1671 – unknown
8. Jonathan Farnsworth 1675–1748
9. Joseph Farnsworth 1677–1687
10. Josephine 1678 - ? (unlikely, not mentioned in Matthias' will.)

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Green, Samuel A. Epitaphs from the old burying ground in Groton, Massachussetts: with notes and an appendix. (Boston: Little, Brown, & Co., 1878) 238-240.

Farnsworth. Matthias Farnsworth, the progenitor of the numerous families in Groton bearing his name, came from Lynn. He was an original proprietor of the town, and owned a twenty-acre right. His farm was situated on both sides of the road leading to Harvard, a little south of James's brook, more than a mile from the village. He was living at Lynn in the year 1657, and at Groton in 1664, though he may have been a resident of each place earlier than these respective dates. He died in the latter part of the year 1689, aged 77 years.

His wife's name was Mary, and they had ten children. The list of them given below is compiled from different sources. It is probably that his “daughter Robison” was the wife of James Robertson, or Robinson; and in that case, her name was Elizabeth, and probably she was born in England. James Robertson, an original proprietor of the town, married his wife, 16 January 1667, and she died 22 December 1729, aged 82 years. I am not sure about the order of the births of his children, but I suggest the following: Elizabeth [?], who probably married James Robertson; Joseph, born 17 November 1657 at Lynn and died 20 February 1686-1687; Mary, born 11 October 1660 at Lynn and married 11 April 1676, Samuel Thacker, of Watertown; Matthias, born at Groton; John, who married, on 8 December 1686 to Hannah, daughter of John and Sarah (Eliot) Aldis, of Dedham, and had nine children; Benjamin, who married Mary, daughter of Jonas and Mary (Loker) Prescott, and had ten children; Samuel, who married on 12 December 1706 to widow Mary (Whitcomb) Willard, and had three children; Abigail, born 17 January 1671 and possibly married to John Hutchins of Groton; Sarah [?], who perhaps married Simon Stone; and Jonathan, born 1 June 1675 married Ruth -, and had fourteen children."

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Will

The following is a copy of his will, on file in the Middlesex Probate Office at East Cambridge: …

• I doe giue to my beloued wif so long as she liues a widow won third of my whol astat and the moueabls within the hous I doe laue to hur to daspose as shee pleases and
• sacondly I doe giue to my son mathyas farnsworth for his full porshun that fiue akker Right which his deed spasefyes and a peese of madow called by the name of half moon madow and twanty akekers of land lying neer a plase called by the name of Prascots old mill and this to be counted to be his full porshan unlass he meets with malistation by any ralations of his and if so then I will and giue to my son mathyas my hom stall that I now dwall upon with hous & barn and that hom stall that my son mathyas now liues on to Raturn in seed thare of and
• thirdly I giue to my son John farnworth that fiue akar Right that his deed spasefyes and tan shilins more to be Payed of the astat for his full proshan
• fourthly I giue to my son bangeman farnworth that part of my land lying on the out side of my hom stall fans at the lower end of the lot and twanty akekers at the plas neer prescotts old mill and six akkers of madow lying at south madow and this for his porshun
• fiftly for my son samewall & Jonathan farnworth I doe giue the Rast of my land and madow that is undasposed on lying at the old mill for thare porshun
• and I giue my daughter Robison won cow and to my daughter thacker I giue twenty shilins and to my daughter Stoon won cow and twanty shilins and to my daughter abigall farnworth twalue pound for her porshun and
• as to the Rast of my eastat undasposed of I leaue in the hand of my exsectters to daspose of to my wif or children as thay think to be most Rason I mak Chois of my son mathyas farnworth with nathanil lawrins san & Jonas prescott for exsackters this taken from his own mouth syned and sealed in the prasants of us
• matyas (M – his mark) farnsworth sen
• nathannil lawrance
• Jonas Prescott
• Nicklas (S – his mark) huchins
• also I giue my loam & tacklins for waring to my son mathyas farnworth
• Xbr. 17. 1689 Charlestowne
• Nathanll Larrance & Jonas Prescott appearing in Court and made oath yt they were prsent when Mathias ffarnworth Deced signed sealed and published this his last will & Testament, and yt he was of sound judgment and of disposeing minde when he did he same and yt they sett theire hands there to as witnesses wth Nicolas Hutchins
• as att. Samll. Phipps Cler'

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References

1. Manchester England Church of England Baptisms, Marriages & Burials 1541-1812; (bp 8/15/1815, Eccles St Marys, Lancashire
2. New England Marriages prior to 1700; page 259 (Mary Farr, 1657))
3. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41582800/matthias-farnsworth (no tombstone)
4. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Farnsworth-126
5. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Mathias_Farnsworth_(1)
6. Green, Samuel A. Epitaphs from the Old Burying Ground in Groton, Massachusetts: with notes and an appendix. (Boston: Little, Brown, & Co., 1878), 238-240. < Archive.Org >
7. Farnsworth, Claudius Buchanan. Matthias Farnsworth and His Descendants in America: A Monograph. (Pawtucket, Rhode Island, 1891) pages 19-32. < Archive.Org >