William Symmes1,2

M, b. circa 10 January 1627, d. 22 September 1691
FatherReverend Zachariah Symmes b. 5 Apr 1599, d. 4 Feb 1670/71
MotherSarah Baker d. 1676
The Priory Church of St. Peter, Dunstable - Courtesy of Wikipedea
The Priory was founded by Henry I in 1132; it is also where Henry VIII
finalized his divorce with Catherine.
     William was born in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. He was christened there on 10 January 1627 in The Priory Church of St. Peter.3 William married Mary Sparhawk in 1649. In his father's will, dated 20 Jan 1664/65, his father left his farm near Woburn and certain other lands to his mother and at her death to William provided he pay £100 to his siblings in equal amounts at £50 per year. His mother's will was probated on 28 December 1676 at which time the land became his. His servant, John Warner, testified in 1672 that his master was a widower at the time of his daughter, Sarah's wedding on 7 November 1672. William's wife, Mary, died in 1674 in Charlestown, leaving him a widower.4 William married 2nd Mary Chickering, daughter of Francis Chickering and Ann Fiske, circa 1675. William departed this life on Saturday, 22 September 1691 in Charlestown.

Additional Notes: After William's death his siblings put into public record that their brother had not paid the £100 that was required in their father's will. Therefore at this time they were claiming their rights and interest in the property inherited by William from their father. Among other papers was a document, a deposition of a servant of Captain William, stating that he was residing there when the Rev Moses ffiske was courting William's daughter, Sarah and after their marriage. He noted that she and her husband Moses removed large quantities of furniture and household stuff from the home and transported it to Braintree. These documents were all written in 1693-94, when William's children, except for Sarah, were still minors. This documentation and the will of his second wife is the source for the names of William's children. His wife received a 1/3 interest in the lands owned by Captain William.5

Family 1

Mary Sparhawk b. c 1632, d. 1674
Child

Family 2

Mary Chickering b. b 9 Apr 1648, d. 12 Mar 1720/21
Children

Citations

  1. [S127] John Adams Vinton, The Symmes Memorial: Biographical Sketch of Rev. Zechariah Symmes, Minister of Charlestown, 1634-1671, With the Genealogy & Brief Memoirs of Some of His Descendants: also embracing notices of many of the name, both in Europe & America, not connected with the family: and an autobiography., pages 18-24.
  2. [S457] Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volume VI, R-S - Zachariah Symmes - pages 641. [St. Antholin Parish Records page 58].
  3. [S1351] John Wight, Brief Memoirs and Notices of Prince's Subscribers, page 135.
  4. [S127] John Adams Vinton, The Symmes Memorial: Biographical Sketch of Rev. Zechariah Symmes, Minister of Charlestown, 1634-1671, With the Genealogy & Brief Memoirs of Some of His Descendants: also embracing notices of many of the name, both in Europe & America, not connected with the family: and an autobiography., pages 17.
  5. [S127] John Adams Vinton, The Symmes Memorial: Biographical Sketch of Rev. Zechariah Symmes, Minister of Charlestown, 1634-1671, With the Genealogy & Brief Memoirs of Some of His Descendants: also embracing notices of many of the name, both in Europe & America, not connected with the family: and an autobiography., pages 18-21.