"7. John Rootes, son of Josiah of Beverly, Mass. …, b. a. 1646, in Beverly, Mass. He removed, probably in company with his uncle Richard, to Fairfield, Cc, where he had lands granted to him March 2, 1676, by his kinsman Michael Try, who married the widow of his uncle Richard Rootes. From that place he went to Woodbury, about 1681 or '2. He purchased a house and lot of Samuel Hull, Feb. 22, 1686. He also purchased lands of Nicholas Camp, town attorney, Nov. 8, 1687, and various other parcels of land at later periods, till he became possessed of a large real estate. He has been supposed by some to have been the son of John Roote, Sr., of Farmington, but this could not be, as John of Farmington deeded land to his son John of Westfield. … That the Woodbury branch descended from Josiah of Beverly there is no room to doubt after the examination of the various facts on record. In September, 1739, a power of attorney was given to Joseph Roots, son of John of Woodbury, by the brothers and sisters of the former, 'to inquire into the rights belonging to John Root, Senior, lying within the province of Mass. bay whether real or personal.' This inquiry no doubt related to the remaining property belonging to the family there. The family names bestowed by John Roots upon bis children are also strongly conclusive, in connection with the other facts, as to the relationship. The spelling of the name with s final in the records of Woodbury, and in other old documents that have been examined by the compiler, is another evidence of the same. … He d. May 25, 1723."
