John PEABODY (PEBODY)

                   Representative Men and Old Families of R.I., Beers 1908, Gen R 974.5 .R 425,
      Vol. 3, p. 1758
Prov. Gazette - Arnold's V.R. Vol. 14, p. 75
Original Will of John Peabody 1687 & Settlement of Estate
       (Newport Hist. Mag. Vol. 4, p. 17)
Newport Hist. Soc.; Will of John Peabody, Jr. 1710-11.
Newport Town Council Records V2 p 163 Mss at Newport Hist. Soc Dated 2Apr1684
Settlement between Mordecai Bourden of Newport & Rebecca his wife, relict of Thomas Tully, late of the same place & John Peabody of Newport, concerning the estate of the Late Thomas Tully.  Benn's R. I. Families V2 p 258: Wife of John Read died 12 Apr 1727. American Marriages before 1700 by Clemons:
Watertown, Mass. Jane Peabody to Johanathan Smith. R. I. F#5303 pt. 1
Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island by Austin
Peabody Genealogy by S.H. Peabody, ed. by C.H. Pope, Boston 1909
Transcript Mar 19, 1930
GSF #802,451, pp. 21-24

       John Peabody came to America and probably settled in Newport, Rhode Island as he lived there later and was taxed in 1680.

FAMILY OF JOHN PEABODY 1612-1687 OF NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND:
     New England Historical & Genealogical Register, April 1963 p. 96098
     by Mrs. Dorothy Wood Ewers, Ph D of Crete, Ill. p. 97

       Recently Mrs. Peter Bolhouse, while inventorying the manuscripts of the Newport Historical Society, came across a paper, dated 20 April 1687, showing the division of an unmaned (unnamed?) estate.  Mrs. Oliver Cushman, who has worked with me on Peabody--Wood lines, recognized it as that of the estate of john Peabody and sent me a transcript as well as a photostat.  this gives the first names of the sons-in-law as: Nicholas Cotterell, Ebenezer Moon, Jonathan Smith, John Wood, Joseph Devol and John Reed.  It states that each got "part and share of ye moveable and stock as it fell by lott" and listed what each received.  Among other things, for instance, Nicholas Cotterell got "the halfe of 3 cattle at Little Compton."
       An equally interesting document turned up among the manuscripts of the Newport Historical Society at the same time.  It is an agreement between John Peabody and Mordecai Bourden.  This paper is in such poor condition that it could not be photostated so Mrs. Cushman transcribed it al follows:
       "Know all men by these Present that where as there hath been sundry disturbances and contests between Mordecay Bourden of Newport on Ehode Island in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New  England and Rebecca his wife relict of Thomas tully late of the same place and John Peabody for the ending and (illegible) the said differences the said John Peobody hath given and paid unto the said Mordecay Bourden and Rebecca his wife the full just sum 6 pounds in lawful money the receipt where of we do hereby acknowledge to have received and we hereby acquit and discharge the said John Peabody and his heirs Ex and Ad thereof and we the said Mordecay Bourden and Rebecca his wife for us and either of us our heirs Ex and administrator and every of them do hereby covenant and promise to and with the said John Peabody his heirs Executors and administrator and assigns that we the Mordecay Bourden and Rebecca his wife us or one of us our heirs ex ad or one of them shall all times hereafter same and keep harmless the said John Peabody his heirs Ex Ad and assigns for all or any person having or claiming right or title to the said thomas Tully Estate for any part or parcel thereof whether Real of personal where of the said John Peabody or any person by his order hath at any time here to fore in any wise been concerned or occupied in -- witness whereof we have to here set hand and seal  day April 1684.
                                       Signed:      W" Hiscox (Baptist minister)
                                                         W" Hiscox Jr.
                                                         Thomas Ward"

       Thomas Tully was undoubtedly the Thomas Tooly, with 1/250 of an interest, who signed, with ninety-nine others, the agreement for the purchase of "Quononaqutt Island" in Narragansett Bay from Cashonaquont, Indian Sachem, 17 April 1647, the deed being "entered upon record ye 25th of January 1680."  The list of signators to this agreement is  printed in full in the History of Jamestown on Conanicut Island in the State of Rhode Island, by W.L. Watcon 1949, p. 10-11
       John Peabody, with 1/40 interest also signed.  This document indicates that Dorothy was probably the daughter of Thomas Tully whose widow Rebecca was her mother.


   "John Peabody, the first of the name that we have any account of, was as we suppose a native of England.  He came to this country as early as 1680 and was probably one of the first settlers in the town of Middletown.  He was a farmer and owned those farms now owned by Eunice Peabody, George Brown, Abner Weaver, Peleg Sanford and others.  He married a Miss Brenton ? (should be Rachel Nicholson?) they had ten children, seven girls and three boys.  We know nothing of the girls except Jane.  She married a Mr. Sisson.  She died in 1717.  The names of the boys were Joseph, William and Thomas.  The two latter died young.  Joseph married Sarah Allen.  They had four children, John, Rachel (?) Elizabeth and Sarah.  John married Dorcas Sweet.  They had one child, Joseph by name.  He was born in Middletown on the ninth of November, 1735, Barbara Coggeshall was born in Middletown on the 19th of February, 1737.  Joseph and Barbara Coggeshall were married in Middletown on the 15th of July, 1756.  They had six children, viz:-
       (Names, birth and death dates and locations are listed here.)

       In 1649 John bought land in Newport, Rhode Island.

WILL OF JOHN PEABODY:
     (From original in City Hall, Newport, R.I.)
     Will drawn 22 Mar 1687, proved 17 Jun 1687
       John Peabody senior age about 75 years of age being sick and weakly but in perfect memory for the settling of my temporall Estate in order do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following:
       Item - I give unto my beloved son John Peabody, all my Lands and housing situate and lying in the precinct of the Town of Newport in the colony of Rhode Island and Butted and Bounded according to the several Deeds respecting the several pieces of Land Viz. One parcel of land containing about 2 0 acres formerly bought of James Barker Senior and about 24 acres formerly bought of Mr. Thomas Ward, also about 20 acres of Nathaniel West also 12 acres of William Whitington also about Six acres of Mr. Edward Smith, Obediah Holmes, William Davol, James Mann.  Also one parcel about One Acres and half of land and One dwelling House and one meadows, Pastures out housing hovels Orchards according to the respective bounds of every several Deed.
       Item - I give unto my beloved son John Peabody one pair of Oxen together with all the Tacklyn cart and harness what so ever.
       Item - I give into my son John one nigar called by the name of Tom Honeyball for 12 years Term but if he have an occasion to sell him he shall not sell him for above 12 years as before mentioned from the day of the date hereof.
       Item - I give unto my Six Daughters Twenty Four pounds in New England Silver money to be equally divided between them to Mary Wood four pounds likewise to the rest Hannah Reed, Elizabeth Davol, Rebecca Moon, Ann Cotteral, Jane Smith and also unto all my grandchildren 1 shillings a piece in silver money that are now born of the day of the date hereof all which money is to be paid my Executor hereafter named with in a month after my decease.
        Item - I hereby appoint my son John Peabody to be my Executor to perform this my last Will and Testament in such manner and form expressed.  Also I do appoint Mr.James Barker Senior and his son James to be my overseers to see this my last Will and Testament to be performed to the manner and form before mentioned and for their are and pains I do freely allow Mr. James Barker and his son James Barker the overseers five Shillings in silver money which monsy is to be paid by the Executor and in Testimony here of That this my Last Will and Testimony where on to I have set my hand and seal this the Twenty Second of March in the year of our Lord and Savior 1686 and in the Third year of his Reign and Sovereign I P the mark of John Peabody with his seal and signed seal and Delivered in the presence of Jonathan Holmes and Peter Taylor.  Examined by John Ward Sec'y.

Austin's Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, p. 145:
       1687, April.  Inventory 103, 4s., viz: cash in bag 36, 10s, 10d., wearing apparel, negro Tom Honeyball 18, yoke of oxen, cow, heifer, old mare, sow, 3 shoats, 20 sheep, 18 lambs; also at Dartmouth, 3 cows; half of three two year old cattle at Little Compton, silver porringer 1s 6d., small beer cup,pewter tankard, etc.
   (It is interesting to note that my copy of the will is from that in the collections of the Newport Historical Society while Selim Hobart Peabody in Peabody Genealogy edited by Pope, 1919, p. 539 gives a slightly different version and states that the will was proved at Boston before Gov. Andros, June 22, 1687, and recorded in Siffolk county.  Note also, that the division of the estate was found at the Newport Historical Society and it is this document which gives the names of the husbands of the Peabody girls.  D.E.)

       Boston Transcript (1929) commenters note refer to Austin's and S.H. Peabody references and give Francis and William as children in addition to the seven children already listed for John and Dorothy Peabody.  He thinks Francis Peabody is the well-known Lieutenant Francis Peabody and that William is the william of Rhode Island.  Reply to this says no.
       Peabody Genealogy by S.H. Peabody lists on page 539 a child Deborah who married Mr. Moone in place of Rebecca and quotes the Boston copy of the will.