M, #333645, b. 29 February 1628, d. 7 September 1712

     Jonathan Danforth was born on 29 February 1628 at Framlingham, Suffolk, England.¹ He married Elizabeth Poulter on 22 November 1654 at Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A..¹ He died on 7 September 1712 at age 84 at Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A..¹ He was buried in September 1712 at The Old Cemetery, Billerica, Massachusetts, U.S.A..¹
      (Research):1652 Freeman
District Land Surveyor, Town clerk for 20 years.
Founder of Billerica
'Its leading citizen of his generation and most noted surveyor of his time in the Colony'
DUNSTABLE:
The spring next after its incorporation, Dunstable was preambulated and the boundries of the town established and marked by Jonathan Danforth of Billerica, who had laid off the grant to the Boston Artillery Company the fall previous, the towns of Chelmsford and Groton some years before, and who is spoken of in Mr. Farmer's biographical notice of him as one of the most eminent surveyors of his time. In an elegy written in memory of Mr. Danforth, it is said of him:
'He rode the circuit; chained great farms and towns
To good behaviour; and by well marked stations
He fixed their bounds for many generations.'
CAPTAIN JONATHAN DANFORTH, 1628-1712, BILLERICA MASS.
Lieutenant of the Billerica Company, 1675. His dwelling was used as a garrison house in King Philip's war. Captain 1683. Served in the expedition against Canada under Sir. William Phips, 1690. Deputy to General Court, 1685.
JONATHAN DANFORTH, CAPTAIN (Nicholas1) was born February 29, 1628, at Framlingham, High Suffolk, England, and came to Cambridge with his father at the age of six. About 1654 he went to Billerica with the first settlers and built what was perhaps the first house erected in the Indian village of Shawshin, on the north side of what was to be West street. The house became the garrison home in 1676 for three families and six fighting men, including himself, his son Jonathan,17, and Samuel Manning. Watch was kept day and night during the period known as Philip's War. Danger of Indian attack was ever present and the settlers lived in fear. Jonathan and three others had the responsibility of fortifying the town, and the 48 families of the pioneer community were assigned quarters and hastening to designated posts when the alarm was sounded. Following King Philip's War in 1676, many Indian captives, especially children, were sold or divided among the colonists as servants until they became of age, and a boy of 12 was bound out to Jonathan Danforth. Known as John Warrick, he was styled 'the Indian servant of Captain Jonathan' when he died at Billerica, Jan. 15, 1686. Jonathan's land grant was in 1749 part of the estate of his grandson Samuel.
Known as 'Father of Billerica', Jonathan had extensive land holdings and showed an interest in every need of the town, serving as town clerk from 1665 until 1686, as deputy to the General Court 1684 and 1685, first captain of the town's militia in 1675, and chairman of the selectman in 1676 when he signed a petition asking for a reduction in taxes. He was one of three appointed in 1678 by the Governor's Council to suggest rules of safety for the outlying towns of Middlesex County. He was most famed as a land surveyor and for forty years he probably surveyed every land grant in Billerica, his land descriptions filling some 200 pages in his clear and handsome handwriting in the first volume of Land Grants. His services as surveyor were in demand all over Massachusetts and much of his work is preserved in the State Archives.
Jonathan was the 'life-long and trusted friend of the Rev. Samuel Whiting of Billerica, and though he joined the Chelmsford Church May 12, 1661, he continued his support of the faltering Billerica congregation and left two portfolios of church records and sermons by Mr. Whiting. To his great credit, he defied subpoenas of the Court, refusing to witness against accused witchcraft victims including Martha (Allen) Carrier who was hanged when she refused to confess guilt. He had the courage of a strong and independent nature, and historians refer to him as 'the wise and good Jonathan Danforth', Billerica's 'leading citizen of his generation', and 'the most noted surveyor of his time in the colony.' They write of his 'energy and wisdom', his 'eminent ability and unaffected piety'.
Excerpt from a poem supposedly by his nephew, the Rev. John Danforth of Dorchester:
'He rode the circuit, chain'd great towns and farm
To good behavior, and by well marked stations,
He fixed their bounds for many generations.
His art ne'er failed him, though the loadstone faile
When oft by mines and streams it was assailed.
All this is charming, but there's something higher
Gave him the lustre which we most admire.'
Jonathan Danforth married Elizabeth Poulter November 22, 1654, at Boston. She died October 7,1689, aet 56, in Billerica, and he married (2) Esther, daughter of Elder Richard Champney and widow of Josiah Converse, of Woburn November 17, 1690. 'Captain Jonathan Danforth, Gentleman' died September 7, 1712, aet 85, in Billerica, and his widow died soon after Jonathan and his two wives are buried in the old cemetery at Billerica. Only two sons survived their father but from them came a large posterity.
Jonathan Danforth lost his mother a week before he was a year old and was brought to New England by his father at the age of five or six(1634). His father died when Jonathan was only ten years old. He might have spent his early life in Cambridge and it may be that his eldest sister who was married in 1639 cared for the younger children. Jonathan's father left a large enough estate to support his children. Jonathan's brother Thomas inherited the family home in Cambridge but Jonathan settled upon outlying lands then called by their Indian names of Shawshine or Shawshinnock but later named Billerica. In October 1654, just a month before his marriage, Jonathan and a number of his neighbors had addressed a request to Cambridge that they might become a separate town and on 17 February 1654/5 the petitioners signed a statement that they accepted the report of the committee formed to consider their petition. As late as 1675 Jonathan Danforth was grantee certain land in and by Billerica because he had 'expended a thousand and a half of shingles to purchase Cambridge lands for the town. About 1654, Jonathan built his house on the north side of town and this might have been the first house built in Billerica. Being an original settler of Billerica and one of the earliest proprietors Jonathan received a proportionate share of each succeeding division of the town lands even as late as 1708 and frequent references are found to his extensive land holdings, numerous land transfers and items of taxation. He held many public offices: deputy for the town 1659-1660, town clerk, selectman and he also represented the town at the General Court in 1684/5. He also served as a surveyor and his descriptions of this service fill some 200 pages in the first volume of Land Grants. Many of his 'plots' are preserved in the State Archives and in various county records and some of them have been reproduced in publications.
Jonathan had various military responsibilities during the Indian Wars. Many indian captives, especially children, were sold or divided among the colonists as servants after the War in August 1676. One, a boy of twelve, 'son to Papa meck, Alius David, late of Warwick or Cowesit, Rhode Island, was apportioned or bound out to John Danforth. The boy became known as John Warrick and was so recorded when he died at Billerica on 15 January 1686.
Copy of a paper endorsed, 'A List of the Indian Children put to seruice that came in [to Boston] with John of Pakachooge; presented To the Honorable Gen.' Court for their Confyrmatio
August 10, 1676. A memorandum of Indian children put forth vnto seruice to the English. Beeing of those Indians that came in and submitted with John Sachem of Pakchoog; with the names of the persons with shome they were placed, and the names and age of the children, and the names of their relations, and the places they did belong to.
By mr. Daniel Gookin sen', Thomas Prentis, Capt., and mr Edward Oaks who were a comitee appointed by the Council to manage yt affayr. The termes and conditions vpon wch they are to serue is to be ordered by the Gen Coort who are to prouide yt the children bee religiously educated and taught to read the english toung.
1 Boy. To Leift. Jonathan Danforth of Bilerekey, a boy aged twelue yeares, son to Papameck alius Dauid, late of Warwick or Cowesit.
Capt. Jonathan Danforth signed his will in April 1709, the signature clear to read, though his hand trembled due to his age of 82. On 4 September 1711, he made out a list of his previous gifts to his children, that it might be used in connection with the desire apportionment expressed in his will. According to it, the previous gifts had varied from £12 to £30 to his five daughters, over £68 to son Samuel and the double portion of about £162 to his eldest son Jonathan. The will was probated on 27 October 1712 after his death on 7 September.
[Dawes-Gates Ancestral Lines compiled by Mary Walton Ferris]
'Founder of Billerica, MA., and it's leading citizen of his generation and the most noted surveyor of his time in the colony.' per Daniel Shed Genealogy, p. 53
Jonathan Danforth, the third son of Nicholas Danforth, was born in Framlingham, Suffolk, England on February 29, 1628, baptized March 2, 1628, came to Boston, Massachusetts with his father in 1634, grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, moved to Billerica, Massachusetts when a young man, and assisted in the planning for and settlement of that town. There he built his home, which was still standing in 1878.
Jonathan was a land surveyor, specializing in the laying out of towns, farms, and highways. His survey descriptions fill 200 pages in the Billerica volume of land grants and many of his plots are preserved in the State Archives.
He became a select man, town clerk and representative. The records also list him as a lieutenant of the local company of militia in 1675 and as captain of the company in 1683. The Society of Colonial Wars in their publication (New York-1898) records that he served in King Phillips War under Major Daniel Gookin and that his dwelling was used as a 'garrison house.'
On September 9, 1654, Jonathan Danforth first married Elizabeth Poulter, the daughter of Good Poulter, who came to Billerica from Rayleigh, England about 1651. Elizabeth died October 7, 1689. Jonathan made his will on April 23, 1712, and it was proved October 27, 1712. His children were:
Mary (January 29, 1656),
Elizabeth (May 27, 1657),
Jonathan (February 18, 1659),
John (February 22, 1661 - June 4, 1661).
Lydia (June 1, 1664),
Samuel (February 5, 1665-6),
Anna (March 8, 1667-8),
Thomas (April 29, 1670-July 31, 1670),
Nicholas (July 1, 1671-March 8, 1694), and
Sarah (December 23, 1676).
New England Families Genealogy and Memorials, Vol. II-1913, records that after the death of his first wife, 'Captain Jonathan' married on November 17, 1690, Esther, daughter of Elder Richard Champney, and widow of Josiah Converse of Woburn, Massachusetts. She died on April 5, 1713.
Jonathan Danforth died September 7, 1712 and was buried in Billerica, Massachusetts. His tomb stone bears the likeness of a skull and the inscription reads: 'Captain Jonathan, Gentleman.¹' He was also known as Jonathan Danforth.¹

Child of Jonathan Danforth and Elizabeth Poulter

• Samuel Danforth+¹ b. 5 Feb 1665, d. 19 Apr 1742

Citations

1. [S3587] Unknown compiler, compiler, "re: Gray Family"; Ancestral File (30 January 2009), unknown repository, unknown repository address. Hereinafter cited as "re: Gray Family."