Abigail, wife of Jacob Elwell, was daughter to William Vinson, or Vincent, by his second wife, Rachel. William Vincent, born about 1610, in England, was son to Francis Vincent, who married Sarah, daughter to Sir Francis Paulet; Sarah Paulet was maid of honor to Queen Anne, wife of James I. About 1635, William Vincent, a potter by trade, appeared in Salem, Massachusetts; in 1636, he had a grant of land. On the "12th 5mo, 1637," he sent in "his request for acomodation; " the "7th 6th mo 1637," he "desireth 5 acres and it is granted him." On the "30th 1mo, 1640," there was granted by the town of Salem to William Vincent, two acres, to "Vincents mother," two acres, and to "Vincents Cozen Antho: Buckstone," two acres.

William Vincent did not long remain at Salem. In 1643, he was made freeman; in 1646, and several years afterwards, he was selectman of Gloucester. He built three houses near Vincent's Spring; and, though the name became extinct in the town after the second generation, it is perpetuated in Vincent's Spring and Vincent's Cove, and in the baptismal name of many of his descendants, to the present day. From a deposition of 1663, we learn that he was then about fifty-three years of age, and from another deposition that his wife Sarah, in 1660, was about forty.§ They both were devout members of the First Church of Gloucester. In June, 1652, "William Vincent, goodwife Vincent, Sarah Vincent & Grace Dutch," testified in Court at Salem that Mrs. Holgreave, of Gloucester, had said that "the Teacher [minister] was more fitted to be a Ladies chamberman than to be in the pulpit." In September, 1653, William Vincent was witness that "reproachful speeches" had been made "against their teacher in town meeting." At the same session of Court, Vincent brought suit against Edmond Marshall, of Ipswich, " for defaming his wife saying She was a witch." In " The free offer for the present maintenance of Brother Millet being faithfull to gitt an Elder" for the church, March, 1658, William Vincent subscribed £2, Samuel Dolliver, £1, Thomas Bray .£0:7, and Robert Elwell £0:o.

In 1646, William Vincent, who was " chosen by the town to keep an ordinary and to sell wine, petitioned for confirmation" from the Court. March, 1657, "Sylvester Everleth" and William Vincent were appointed Commissioners to end small causes in Gloucester; in 1658, William Vincent was Constable.f His numerous depositions, scattered through the Court Papers, show that his judgment was sought in many different directions. He does not appear to have been related to Humphrey Vincent, of Ipswich, who died about 1664, childless and alone. William Vincent died September 17, 1690, in Gloucester, aged about eighty years. His will, dated March 19, 1684, was proved November 25, 1690. It left to his "loving wife Rachel Vinson" all his houses and lands "during her natural life." Upon her death, the property was to revert to "John Vinson," his son, "in case he be living and return home again." Said son was to " have my house and barn and all the upland upon the western side of the Cartway," also all the saltmarsh at Little Good Harbor ; but " if my sone John comes no more then my daughter abigail shall have all the Estate given to him, to her own propper use and behoofe." The will was signed with his mark. The dwelling-house and lands mentioned in the inventory were valued at £125:00:03 ; total amount, .£180:03:08. The widow Sarah takes oath to the truth of the inventory, November 25, 1690; || she must have been a third wife.

The first wife of William Vincent was Sarah ; she d. Feb. 4,1660-61. He was mar., second, June 10, 1661, by Mr. Samuel Symonds, to Rachel Cooke, daughter to Bridget Verney, of Gloucester. In the will of Bridget Verney, dated Nov. 10, 1671, proved "27 : 9: 72," she mentioned "daughter Rachel Vinson (the wife of William Vinson) . . . my sonne in law," and appointed him executor of her estate. Rachel Vinson, widow of William, d. Feb. 15, 1707, in Gloucester.

ISSUE BY FIRST WIFE

I. Sarah* Vincent, b. about 1639-40, in Salem, Mass. She was mar., " 1 1th : gmo: 57 [1657]," by Major Hathorne to Jeffrey x Parsons, of Gloucester.

Issue : I. James * Parsons, b. " 18 : 10m: 58," in Gloucester.

2. " Jeffery " * Parsons, b. " 25 : 11"»: 1660," in Gloucester.

3. Sara* Parsons, b. " April 19, "63," in Gloucester.

4. John * Parsons, b. " 24 : 3 : 1666," in Gloucester.

5. Elizabeth * Parsons, b. " 22 : 1 : '69," in Gloucester.

6. Nathaniel* Parsons, b. " 16: 1mo : 7$ [1674-75]," m Gloucester.

7. Abigaila Parsons, b. " 25: I: '78," in Gloucester.

8. Ebenezer * Parsons, b. " 28 : 11: '81," in Gloucester. II. Hannah3 Vincent, b. about 1642, in Salem.

III. Elizabeth * Vincent, b. May 16, 1644, probably in Gloucester.

IV. Richard* Vincent, b. " 1 : 7 : ; " d. July 24, 1652.

V. John* Vincent, b. May 15, 1648, in Gloucester.

VI. William* Vincent, b. Sept . 9, 1651, in Gloucester; d. Dec. 9, 1675. VII. Richard* Vincent, b. Sept. 1, 1658, in Gloucester d. Dec. 26, 1675.

ISSUE BY SECOND WIFE

VIII. Thomas* Vincent, b. April 1, 1662, in Gloucester; d. Dec. 31, 1675.

IX. Abigail* Vincent, b. May 28, 1668, in Gloucester; mar. July 5, 1686, Jacob * Elwell.

Vide Essex County Probate (copy), vol. I : 745, 747; Gloucester Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1642-1780: 301; Salem Births, Marriages, and Deaths, vol. 1: 195, 196.

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From: Descendants of Edward Small of New England, and the allied ..., Vol.2 by: Lora Altine Woodbury Underhill, 1910