Person:Grissel Fletcher (1)

There is a document, originally reported by Wyman, oft-cited to show her maiden name, "Motion to Court by William Fletcher of Chelmsford his sister Cary on her deathbed desired him & her husband to take care of her children. Willing to be engaged for the child Sherebiah Kibby." A further discussion ensues to show that the name should be Gurny. Interestingly, one person reported to Mary Lovering Holman possession of a photograph of the original, and claims it actually says Burge (roughly the same shape as Cary?) It then turns out this document is missing from Middlesex Court Files.^[1]

From Source:Metcalf, John George. Annals of the Town of Mendon, from 1659 to 1880, p. 61: This single document connects Grissell's brother, William Fletcher, the children of her first husband Thomas Jewell, the child by her third husband Henry Kibby (misspelled in this document), a mention of her being a widow Gurney, and of her last husband John Burge.

"To the Selectmen of Mendon: Theas are to Informe you by us William ffletcher and John Burge, both of us of the towne of Chellmsford, apointed by the Corts order to be gardians to the child of the widdow Gurney that was and Last of all wife to the a bove said John Burge, she being of a sound understanding did will unto her son Joseph Juell all that A Commodation that was there at the Towne of Mendon, Laid and given unto her the said widdow Gurney, with all the apurtenances and priveledges In any wise apertaining or be longing there unto, upon this condition that the said Joseph Juell do pay to Nathaniel Juell and Mercy Juell fifteen pound and Sherrabya Reby tenn pounds. Our desire and request is unto the Select men of the said towne of Mendon that ye would Record the said a Commodation to Joseph Juell for his security.

Witness our hands Chelmsford this 5 of the 4 month 1675.

William ffletcher John Burge."

"This is a true Coppy of the lettre sente from William ffletcher and John Burge to the Select men of Mendon and now Recorded by yr order 21, 4 month 1675"

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849. (Salem, Massachusetts: Essex Institute, 1914)
   370.

   Burge, Grisill, w. John, [torn. July, CTR] 9, [torn. 1669., CTR]

2. ↑ "Grissell of the Many Marriages", in The American Genealogist (TAG). (Donald Lines Jacobus, et.al.)
   pp. 10:70-73.

   Grissell Fletcher, d/o Robert, prob. b. England about 1618, d. Chelmsford 9 Jul 1669, m. (1) abt. 1640 Thomas Jewell, m. (2) Braintree 1 Nov 1665 Humphry Griggs, m. (3) dorchester 8 Oct 1657 Henry Kibby, m. (4) Braintree 12 Nov 1661 John Gurney, , m. (5) chelmsford 3 Jul 1667 John Burge.