| The Eveleth Ancestry of Kathleen Kilgallon Eveleth - This geneology ends with Jason Scott Eveleth (father of Kate) | ||
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2. JOSEPH EVELETH, who adopted the modern spelling of the name, must have been born about June 1641, probably in England, as he was baptized at the First Church of Boston 26 March, 1643 "being about 1 yeare and 3 quarters." He married in Gloucester 1 Jan. , 1667/8 Mary Bragg, the daughter of Edward and Mary (Whittrege) Bragg of Ipswich. Her father, though he had come to Ipswich as an indentured servant, had made a good marriage and acquired 120 acres of land – enough to place him among the richer class of Ipswich’s settlers, though he as not a freeman and held no town offices. The year following his marriage, 29 March, 1669, Joseph purchased the 12 acre homestead of Thomas Pinney, adjacent to his father’s land, thereby acquiring the attached commoner’s right to the town’s undivided common lands, and resided there for several years. Then, on 2 Sept., 1675, Thomas, the eldest of Edward Bragg’s two sons and Joseph’s brother-in –law, died suddenly, only nine days after his wedding. At this time, Joseph’s name disappears from Gloucester and begins to appear in the Ipswich records. As he did not purchase any land there until 1695, he and his wife presumably moved in with her parents. Joseph also kept his Gloucester homestead, and after his father’s death, the Little River homestead as well. It is possible that he farmed all three, for though in different towns, they were not far apart; the Bragg farm was in the easternmost part of Ipswich (now Essex,, Mass.), then called Chebacco, while the Little River farm was in West Gloucester, on the Ipswich side of the river. The name of Joseph Evely appears on "A List of those that tooke the oath of Alegiance of Ipswich Towne, before the worshipfull Maior Gen11 Denison Esq., the 11th of December, 1678." Despite settling in Ipswich, Joseph did not be come involved in public affairs there. This is partly attributable to his position as a newcomer in town: Indeed, his interests probably continued to focus on Gloucester, particularly after his father’s death. Another factor was the peculiar position of Chebacco, which, geographically removed from Ipswich proper, early developed active separatist feelings. Joseph was prime mover in the establishment of Chebacco’s own church in 1683, and "his is the first name on the records of those who joined the church…" Such a position could have placed Joseph in opposition to the established hierarchy of Ipswich proper, though we know nothing of his actual political views. In the town histories he is noted chiefly for his piety and longevity, and seems to have avoided any offices to which his property and social standing might have entitled him . His only political notoriety came quite unwelcome: In 1692 at the height of the witch scare, he was chosen as a juror for the second trial jury of the Court of Assistants, the jury which tried John Proctor. Joseph, however soon came to recognize the insanity and danger of these proceedings, and was one of the thirty-two who subscribed to Rev. John Wises’s petition to the court: The Humble & Sincere Declaration of us Subscribers, Inhabitants in Ipswich on ye behalf of or Neighbrs Jno Proctor & his wife now in Trouble & undr Suspition of Witchcraft… …we being Smitten with the Notice of what hath happend we Reccon it wthin the Duties of or Charitie that Teacheth us to do as we would be done by offer thus much for the Clearing of or Neighbrs Innocencie: viz. That we never had the least knowledge of such a Nefarious wickedness in or said Neighbours since they have been wthin or acquaintance. Neigther doe we remember any such thoughts in us concerning them or any action by then or either of them Directly …. that any no more than might be in the lives of any other prsons of the Clearest Reputation as to any such Evills. But as to what we have seen or heard of them upon or consciences we Judge them Innocent of the crime objected… This petition was an act of courage in hysterical times; it was also an act of self defence, for the Proctor case represented a dangerous extension of the accusations to persons of respectable social standing. Indeed, the petition makes this point clear; "His breading hath been amongst us and was of Religious Parents in or place and by reason of Relations & Properties wihin or Towne hath had constant intercourse with us." In the midst of the recriminations that followed the cessation of the witchcraft hysteria, the jurors were left in a touchy position, and Joseph was one of those who signed a petition of regret for participating the proceedings: We confess that we were not capable to understand, nor able to withstand, the mysterious delusion of the powers of darkness and prince of the air; but were, for want of knowledge in ourselves, and better information from others, prevailed with to take up such evidence against the accused as we justly fear was insufficient for touching the lives of any… We do therefore hereby signify to all in general, and to the surviving sufferers in especial, our deep sense of … sorrow of and for our errors for which we … humbly beg forgiveness… Since 1689, Joseph had possessed two farms in Gloucester. His de factor position on the Bragg lands in Ipswich was legitimized by deed in May 1695: …I Edward Bragg of Ipswich… For + in Consideration of the parent love + afection which he beareth to his Son + Daughter Joseph + Mary Eveleth of Ipswich… and… that ye sd Joseph and Mary May be debarred of claiming a further… portion in his Estate… hath granted … unto sd. Joseph + Mary during the Naturall life of ye longer liver + to ye heires… housing Barnes building fences Lands Meadows ground + pasture… land in ye… Towneship of Ipswich at ye place Called Chebacco + being all ye land + Meadow which sd Edward Bragg purchast of Mr. Waldoo… This land also carried with it a right in the commonage of Ipswich. As near as I can calculate, Joseph, by the summer of 1695, possessed slightly over 200 acres of land. However, he was not a land speculator, for he sold only a few insignificant parcels of the land he had acquired, and indeed seems to have taken small interest in the pursuit of wealth and power. By 1719, this "man of rigid puritanical piety" had disposed of all his real property to his heirs. Joseph endeavored to provide a substantial start in life for each of his five surviving sons. John, the eldest, attended Harvard and trained for the ministry, graduating in 1689, following a proven route to status and power. He later turned down an opportunity to become minister at Manchester, in Essex County, Mass., and served for twenty years as preacher at Stow, Mass., from which position he was dismissed, so gossip says, due to intemperance. He predeceased his father, but left numerous descendants. The second son, Isaac, took an early interest in land speculation, and by the time he was twenty-one, had taken up farming Silvester’s old Gloucester homestead at Little River. He was the ancestor of George Simonds Eveleth, and will be taken up below. Joseph’s third surviving son, Edward, became a merchant, presumably with financial assistance from his father. He became a substantial citizen of Ipswich proper and earned the title of Colonel Eveleth during the French and Indian Wars. The youngest son, James, remained at home with his father in Chebacco. Joseph granted in a deed of 11 Aug., 1715: … unto my loving Son James Eveleth of Chebacco ….for his dutiful Carrige toward me + his faithfull serving of me… being willing to settle him in some part of my Estate whereby he may be Enabled with ye Blessing of God and his own Industry to get a Comfortable living in ye World…I do fully… Grant… unto my said son James Eveleth… the one halfe part… of all ye tract or percell of upland meadow ground + salt marsh which I … had of my father in law Mr. Edward Bragg… Some of James’ descendants live in Essex County to this day. Joseph distributed the remainder of his estate in a deed made 28 May, 1719: … unto … Isaac Eveleth Yeoman of Gloucester & Edward Eveleth of Ipswich Trader… in Consideration of ye Severall payments wch they are to make + what duty they are to perform… (I grant) one half part… of ye land… which I… had … of… Edward Bragg… Excepting only that they sd Isaac & Edward Eveleth… to pay…to their brother my Sons John Eveleth + Jacob Eveleth to each of them one hundred pounds a piece & to their Sister my Daughter Hannah Eveleth sixty pounds… also they alow + pay ye Church of Christ in Chebacco forty shillings to be laid out + improved towards ye buying a piece of plate for ye use of sd Church… Following this deed, several quit-claim deeds were made by the heirs, signifying their satisfaction with the terms of disposal of the Bragg Property, which are of importance in proving the residences of Joseph’s children. Mary (Bragg) Eveleth died in Ipswich 22 Jan., 1713/4, aged 64 according to her grave in the Old Essex Cemetery. Joseph survived her by thirty years, but did not remarry and remained on the Bragg homestead with his son, James. A descendant, William Preble Jones, reports (Four Boston Grandparents, Somerville, Mass., 1930), " He celebrated his one hundredth birthday in 1741, taking a scythe in the morning and mowing a field of grass. A sumptuous dinner followed, with a sermon by a minister." John J. Babson, writing in 1860 (History of Gloucester) and drawing on oral accounts, tells us "A venerable descendant, not long since deceased, remembered to have often heard her mother, who was born in 1730 describe the life, person and character of Joseph Eveleth, who was her great-grandfather, and with whom she was fifteen years contemporary. Among her interesting recollections of her aged ancestor was that of a visit made to him, just before his death, by the celebrated Rev. George Whitefield. Her mind always retained a vivid impression of the solemnity of the scene that was presented, when Mr. Whitefield knelt upon the floor and received, from the lips that could relate a Christian experience of a hundred years, a truly patriarchal blessing." Joseph died in Ipswich on December 1st, 1745, at the truly remarkable age of 104 1/2 years. The children of Joseph and Mary (Bragg) Eveleth were: 1. Rev. John, b Gloucester 18 Feb., 1669/70; d. Kittery, Main 1 Aug., 1734; m. Cambridge, Mass 2 Dec., 1692 Mary Bowman (daughter of Francis Bowman and Martha Sherman). Children: a. John, b. 1694. m. Hannah Haynes in Sudbury, MA on Oct 9, 1722. b. Joseph, b. December 2, 1696. d. October 27, 1714. c. Francis, b. September 1700. m. Mary Hunt February 7, 1726. d. Martha, b. 1703. m. Joshua Thorton in Lexington, MA on Apr. 9, 1722. e. Hannah, b. 1705. m. Edward Ayers in Boston on Nov. 5, 1724. f. Sarah, b. 1709. m. Cord Cordis in Boston on Nov. 30, 1733. d. 1740. 2. Elizabeth, b. Gloucester 17 Dec. 1671; d. Gloucester 10 May, 1727; m (1) ca. 1696 Francis Perkins (son of Jacob ans Sarah (Wainwright) Perkins). Francis died about 1706 and Elizabeth married again (2) in Ipswich 18 Jan., 1706/7 to George Giddings. Children of Elizabeth and Francis: a. Elizabeth, b. Francis, c. Benjamin Children of Elizabeth and George: a. & b. Mercie and Deliverance (twins), c. Sarah, d. George e. Joseph 3. Joseph, b. Gloucester 31 May 1674; apparently died young. 4. Isaac, b. Ipswich 11 Oct., 1676 (see below)5. Edward, b. Ipswich 25 July 1679; c. Ipswich 5 Nov., 1759; m (1) Ipswich 4 Jan., 1704/5 Elizabeth Perkins. 3 children m. (2) Salem 7 April, 1715 Elizabeth Epes. 8 children. m. (3) Boston 20 Feb., 1734/5 Bridget (Bosworth)(Papillon) Pecker. 6. Moses, b Ipswich 13 Feb. 1682/2 d. young. 7. Mary, b Ipswich 13 Feb., 1683; d. Ipswich 17 Jan., 1718/9; m Ipswich 13 July 1706 Stephen Perkins. 8. Hannah, b. Ipswich 1 Oct., 1685; living 1739, single. 9. Jacob, b. Ipswich 1 Oct., 1687/s; d. Ipswich 16 Feb., 1738/9; single. 10. James, b. ca. 1690; d. Ipswich 3 June, 1773; m Ipswich int. 26 Feb., 1725/6 Elizabeth Cogswell. 7 Children. 11. Sarah, b. ca. 1692; d. Ipswich 19 march, 1716; m. int. Ipswich 26 Sept., 1713 Stephen Glasiar.
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