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Subject: John Spring - Bond's Watertown
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 12:24:43 EDT

Subject: John Spring
Source: Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of
Watertown
Massachusetts by Henry Bond, M.D., Boston NEHGS 1860

p.441 SPRING
Part I of II

Embarked at Ipswich, England for New England April 10, 1634, in the
Elizabeth, William
Andrews, Master, John Spring, aged 45, wife Elinor, aged 46, daughter Mary
aged 11; son
Henry, aged 6; son John, aged 4 yrs., and son William, aged 9 months.

I.
John Spring and wife Elinor settled in Watertown and his name is on the
earliest list of
proprietors, 1636/7.

March 21, 1656/7 he executed a deed of gift to his son Henry of his house
and
land in
Watertown, reserving to himself, during his lifetime, the north end of the
house; after
his decease, the same to go to son Henry, with conditions that said Henry
pay
his father
an annuity, and, after the decease of the father, pay John Spring, Jr., 30
pounds. (Mid.
Deeds, Vol. I., p. 233.)

As there is no provision for wife, Elinor, she must have died previously to
the date of
that deed. It is believed that all the families of the name of Spring in New
England, and
perhaps in the U.S., are descended from John and Elinor Spring of Watertown.

(Robert Spring resided in Charlestown 1727 to 1737 and had children baptized
there. I know
nothing of his lineage or whether he left any descendants.) Author.

1. Mary Spring b. 1623, m. about 1642, John Davis q.v. She died a widow 1656.

2. Henry Spring b. 1628; admitted freeman, May 30, 1660.

3. John Spring b. 1630.

4. William Spring, b. July, 1633. He settled in Barbadoes. He had a son
John, who came
to Newton after the decease of his father in Barbadoes, and in 1695, he
chose his uncle,
John Spring, to be his guardian. The Will of John Spring, housewright,
of Newton, son
and heir of William Spring, late of Bridgeton, Barbadoes, dated Aug 6,
1698, gave all his
estate to his loving friend, Jonathan Green of Newton, in token of
gratitude to him for
his kindness and care in his straits and difficulties, etc., in which
others, of whom he
might have expected help, deserted him. (see Estabrook, 4.)

II. Henry Spring, m. Jan 7, 1657/8, Mehitable Bartlett. He m. (2) Sept. 12,
1691, Susanna,
widow of Gregory Cook. His will dated June 29, 1695 mentions wife
Susanna; sons Henry
and Thomas; daughters Elizabeth Mellings (Mellon); Mehitabel and Abigail.
Inventory,
dated Nov 25, 1697, 317 pounds, 7 shillings. As early as 1680, he was
elected the town
"prizer," and continued to hold the office until 1695. The duty of
apprizer appears to
have been to fix the rate at which agricultural products shall pass in
the payment of
taxes and debts. He was often employed in taking inventories, and
settling estates.

1. Elizabeth Spring b. Oct 13, 1659; m. Sept 27, 1677, John Gale. She
afterwards m.
John Mellen.

2. Henry Spring b. Mar 1, 1662; admitted freeman, Spril 18, 1690.

3. Ann Spring b. Sept. 21, 1671; m. in Watertown, Mar 18, 1690/1, John
Park of
Newton. Six children.

4. Mehitable Spring, m. March 21, 1698/9 Jonathan Stimson. He died
Sept 25,1708 and
his widow m. Feb 17, 1729/30, Gershom Brigham of Marlboro. She was
admitted to
Weston Church Mar 6, 1719/20.

5. Thomas Spring, birth not recorded, but he is mentioned in his
father's Will.

6. Abiah Spring (Abigail) b. Jan 6, 1676/7; was living 1696.

II. Lieutenant John Spring, m. Dec. 19, 1656, Hannah Barsham. Their first
five children
were born, or births recorded in Watertown; the others born in Newton
where they
permanently settled, where she died Aug 18, 1710, and he died May 18,
1717, aged 87.
He was a very active, useful citizen; was selectman 20 years, between
1683 and 1710,
and was Representative 1704, 1706 and 1707. In 1680, Watertown chose
John Spring,
"to make a new invoice." Was this John senior or junior? John Spring
Jr had moved
to Newton prior to that date, and John Spring Sr., if alive, would have
been at least
90 years old. It seems to me (author) not improbable, that there was an
error in the
record, and that it was Henry Spring, the town prizer who was chosen to
make a new
invoice.

1. Hannah Spring b. Oct 1, 1657; living Dec., 1683.

2. Mary Spring b. June 10, 1659 m. Sept 30, 1681, John Ward.

3. Susanna Spring b. April 16, 1661; died young.

4. Susanna Spring 2d b. Feb 6, 1662/3.

5. Rebecca Spring b. Feb 18, 1664/5.

6. Abigail Spring, b. Feb 20, 1666/7; m. in Watertown, Dec 31,
1689, William Ward.

7. Susanna Spring b. Aug 18, 1670.

8. Mercy Spring b. Feb 19, 1672/3.

9. Elizabeth Spring b. April 7, 1675; m. Oct 18, 1699, John Mason.

10. John Spring who died May 5, 1754 aged 76.

p.443.

III. Henry Spring m. Lydia Cutting. She was adm. f.c. April 7, 1700.

1. Lydia Spring b. Aug 12, 1686 m. April 25, 1706 Thomas Bond.

2. Anna Spring b. July 10, 1691, m. Oct 7, 1725, William Harrington.

3. Henry Spring b. July 19, 1692.

4. Sarah Spring b. Sept 5, 1695.

5. Elizabeth Spring bap. April 6, 1701.

6. Mehitabel Spring b. April 2, 1702; m. Sept 1, 1717, Robert
Goddard of
Brookline.

7. Susanna Spring b. Mar 15, 1705/6; m. January 27, 1731, Ebenezer
Thatcher.
(see Thatcher, 3-8).

III. Thomas Spring of the Farms - Weston, m. Nov 20, 1701, Elizabeth Traine.
He died
about 1710, leaving widow Elizabeth (see Bullard).

1. Mary Spring b. Jan 19, 1702/3; m. Mar. 30, 1726, Jonathan
Parmenter of
Sudbury b. Jan 15, 1702/3, son of Benjamin & Thamazin (Rice)
Parmenter of
Sudbury. Children: Susanna Parmenter, Mary Parmenter, Jonathan
Parmenter,
Abigail Parmenter. Mr. Parmenter died 1734.

2. Elizabeth Spring b. Sept 10, 1705; m. April 18, 1725, Abijah
Upham of
Weston. Eleven children. (see Upham, 19.)

3. Thomas Spring b. July 5, 1708; died June 18, 1753.

4. Henry Spring b. Feb 2, 1710; d. Feb 11, 1712.

III. John Spring of Newton m. Joanna ____. She died Oct 5, 1743.

1. William Spring b. Dec 24, 1704; d. April 22, 1754; m. Feb 19,
1730,
Abigail Coolidge (?Coolidge, 105.). Nine children of whom,
William
d. Dec 15, 1744. Abigail died Dec 30, 1744. Simeon d. Jan
22, 1745.
Joanna d. Jan 30, 1745 & Joanna 2d d. April 2, 1745.

2. John Spring b. 1706.

3. Ephraim Spring b. May 30, 1708; grad. Harvard College 1728; by
wife,
Sarah had: 1. Sarah Spring died Dec 7, 1744; 2. Thankful
Spring m. 1782,
Deacon John Adams.

4. Mary Spring b. Nov 20, 1709; m. April 12, 1737, Ebenezer
Stearns.

5. Deborah Spring b. Feb 27, 1713/14.

6. Nathaniel Spring b. Aug 26, 1715, m. Martha Williams, probably
a dau. of
Isaac & Martha Williams of Newton, b. Mar 18, 1714. In
Worcester he had a
son: 1. Ephraim Spring b. Sept. 24, 1742.

7. Hannah Spring b. Feb 2, 1721/2.

8. Samuel Spring b. June 17, 1723; m. Feb 5, 1745, Thankful
Norcross dau of
Thankful b. Sept 5, 1759. In 1782, she the mother had become
the wife of
Deacon Joseph Adams.

IV. Henry Spring of Watertown m. Kezia Converse, dau of Capt. Josiah
Converse and wife
Ruth Converse of Woburn. The Will of Capt. Josiah Converse of Woburn,
dated July 12,
proved July 28, 1717, mentions wife Ruth who died in Watertown, Mar. 16,
1736/7; dau.
Ruth; dau. Rebecca, "already married", daughters Kezia and Mary,
unmarried, and son
Josiah, a minor. This son, Josiah, was a physician, a magistrate, and
Selectman of
Watertown. He probably never married. His Will, dated Jan 21, proved
Oct 25, 1774,
makes bequests to heirs of cousin Esther Hoar; to cousin Ruth Thomas;
and to cousin,
(nephew) Marshall Spring whom he made his executor, who was probably his
professional
pupil, and who inherited most of his estate. Thomas Hammond, Jr. m. in
Watertown,
Mar 29, 1732, Ruth Converse (?) a sister of Dr. Josiah Converse.

1. Josiah Spring b. Dec 21, 1718.
2. Henry Spring of Watertown by his wife Sarah had:
1. Sarah Spring b. Mar 11, 1743/4
2. Mary Spring b. June 29, 1746.
3. Lydia Spring b. June 11, 1748.
4. Francis Spring b. Sept 9, 1749.
5. Samuel Spring b. Mar. 18, 1754; by wife Lydia had:
1. Samuel Spring b. Feb 17, 1780
2. Francis Spring b. Jan 21, 1783.
3. Kezia Spring b. Nov 12, 1722.
4. Mary Spring b. Feb 9, 1724/5.
5. Samuel Spring b. Jan 1, 1726/7.
6. Lydia Spring b. Nov 12, 1728.
7. Jedediah Spring b. April 16, 1730; a soldier at Lake George in
1758; m. Mar.
8th, 1753, Elizabeth Saltmarsh. Children:
1. Seth Spring b. Sept 29, 1754; settled in York, Maine;
was father of
Colonel Spring of Saco, Maine.
2. Thomas Spring b. Sept 16, 1756.
3. Josiah Spring b. July 24, 1759.
8. John Spring, b. April 13, 1732 (?of Boston); had dau Kezia
Spring bap. May 29,
1757.
9. Converse Spring b. Dec 30, 1734, soldier at Lake George, 1758;
m. (1)
Aug 7, 1760, Mercy Learned. She died July 16, 1776; he m. (2)
Oct 13, 1776,
Mary Fuller. Children:
1. Mercy Amelia Spring b. Feb 28, 1761; m. Nov 30, 1780,
Abijah Bigelow.
2. Josiah Converse Spring b. June 28, 1764.
3. Silas Spring b. Aug 13, 1766.
4. Henry Spring b. July 11, 1768.
5. Luke Spring b. June 26, 1770.
6. Elizabeth Spring b. April 16, 1773.
10. Sarah Spring b. Feb 23, 1736/7 m. in Watertown, Feb 5, 1761,
Rev. James
Gray of Stockbridge. After his decease she resided with her
brother, Dr.
Spring, until the marriage of her daughter Mary Gray to the
Hon. Barnabus
Bidwell then of Stockbridge, Mass., when she went there to
reside and died
there in widowhood.
11. Alpheus Spring b. May 10, 1739.
12. Marshall Spring b. Feb 19m 1741/2; died Jan 7, 1818; grad.
Harvard College,
1762, soon commenced the study of medicine, probably with his
maternal uncle,
Dr. Josiah Converse, a highly esteemed physician of
Watertown, who aided him
in obtaining his education and who bequeathed to him the
larger part of his
estate. After finishing his professional studies, he resided
a short time
in the island of St. Eustatia. With that exception, he
always resided in
his native town; and during his long life, sustained such a
high professional
repute, as very few private practioners have attained to. He
was eminent
as a wit, and it is said that he was the only man of that
time, who could
successfully meet Chief Justice Parsons "in the keen enounter
of wits." In
the Revolution he was a Tory, fully and firmly "convinced of
the entire in-
expediency of resistance." Ye, on the 29th of April, 1775,
he arrived early
at Lexington and devoted his best skill and care to his
fellow citizens.

Although his Tory sentiments were well known, and very
generally odious
in that vicinity, and he did not try to conceal them, yet his
professional
services wer so highly appreciated, so necessary to the
people, and his
manners so winning, pervaded with such a tone of benevolence,
that he seldom
suffered any serious annoyance on account of his political
sentiments. He
maintained that the people were incapable of self-government;
and on that
ground, he opposed the adoption of the Federal Constitution,
as being too
feeble, not sufficiently stringent in its tone. Ye at the
first election of
Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency, he joined the popular party
that had
opposed the adoption of the Constitution on the opposite
ground, that it was
too stringent, tending too much to centralization. To an
intimate friend he
jocularly assigned his reason for joining that party, "He
said he was nearly
losing both property and country, by opposing the popular
party in the Rev-
olution; and as he now saw that the people were up and
forever by that
election, he did not intend to run that risk a second time."

He taught school at Watertown the year after he left college;
was Repre-
sentative of Watertown 1787 and repeatedly a member of the
Governor's
Executive Council. For a more copious account of his
character, talents,
and services, see Thatcher's American Medical Biography.

He married (1) 1791, Mary the widow of Dr. Barnabas Binney of
Philadephia

p.445

by whom he had one child. She died 1793 and he m. (2) 1797,
Hannah Lee of
Camb., s.p.
1. Marshall Binney Spring b. Aug 30, 1792; grad. Harvard
College
1812; m. April 1816, Eliza Willing, dau of Charles
Willing of
Philadelphia and grand daughter of Thomas Willing the
first
President of the First Bank U.S. He died 1825
leaving children.

IV. Thomas Spring of Weston, Mass., m. (published Oct 26, 1729) Margaret
Gates of Cambridge
He died June 18, 1753 and his widow m. Aug 12, 1756, William Whitney.

1. Thomas Spring b. May 21, 1732; d. June 7, 1740.
2. Anna Spring b. March 5, 1732/3; died young.
3. Amos Spring b. Jan 7, 1734/5; by his wife Phebe had:
1. Asenath Spring b. Mar 23, 1768.
4. Jonathan Spring b. April 10, 1737, of Weston, m. Aug 7, 1760
Elizabeth
Fergerson of Weston. Children:
1. Susanna Spring b. Oct 22, 1761 m. April 1, 1784, Abel
Pierce.
2. Elizabeth (Betsey) Spring b. Jan 20, 1764.
3. Amasa Spring b. Mar 8, 1766.
4. Sally Spring b. Oct 24, 1776
5. Thaddeus Spring b. Aug 29, 1739, Weston, MA., m. Oct 7, 1761,
Lydia Traine.
Children:
1. Eunice Spring b. Sept 1762.
2. Lydia Spring b. Dec 25, 1764; m. Oct 14, 1784, John
Bigelow.
3. Lois Spring b. Mar 14, 1767; d. Dec 8, 1772.
4. Marshall Spring b. Jan 28, 1769; d. Dec. 1772.
5. Anna Spring b. Feb 17, 1771; d. Oct 1775.
6. Martha Spring b. June 6, 1772; died 1775.
7. Marshall Spring b. June 26, 1776.
8. Nahum Spring b. Jan 30, 1778 of Belfast, Maine, m. Mar 24,
1801, Sally
Green of Waltham, Mass.
9. Lois Spring b. Mar 21, 1780.
10. Martha Spring b. Sept 15, 1782.
11. Deborah Spring b. Feb 14, 1785.
6. Thomas Spring b. June 30, 1741; prob. the Thomas Spring of
Needham who m.
April 10, 1765, Mary Upham of Newton.
7. Susanna Spring b. Nov 11, 1743; d. 1744.
8. Samuel Spring b. Feb 5, 1745/6 m. in Newton, April 16, 1767, Ruth
Moss and
had:
1. Luther Spring b. at Weston, Mass., June 18, 1767.
9. Anne Spring b. Jan and died Dec. 1748.
10. Anne Spring 2d, b. and d. June 1753.
Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth

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