Person:Matthew Clesson (2)

1) From "Ancestry of Megan Montgomery at Gen Circles, Oct. 2002. TRUMBULL: Northampton Genealogies http://www.gencircles.com/users/megan/1/data/29130

2) PHELPS OF NORTHAMPTON: http://www.uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/DavidAClark/PHELPS/d0/i0013123.htm

Matthew was born in Ireland abt 1649. Matthew died 1716 in Deerfield, Franklin, MA, at 67 years of age. Matthew Clesson was an Irishman, and according to Savage "he was a servant in Northampton, and was probably indentured like the others". Trumbull continues: "At that time, little sympathy was wasted by the pioneers of Northampton upon the Irish. Willing that natives of the Emerald Isle should become residents, lands were granted to them on conditions expressly prohibiting them from gaining citizenship thereby." He was granted three acres, "but not as a hom lote". He later became quite prosperous, and at one point owned "59 acres of land, lying in 12 different parcels, all of which, with the exception of seven acres and sixty rods, he purchased". His dwelling house was burned by the Indians in 1675 (King Philip's War), and the town made him other grants in compensation for his losses. He married Mary Phelps, d/o Deacon Nathaniel Phelps in 1670, and eight children were born to them in Northampton. At some time about 1686, they moved to Deerfield, where Mary soon died. Matthew remarried, and had two more children, names unknown. During Queen Anne's French and Indian War, a Matthew Clesson joined the scouting expedition of Capt. Benjamin Wright in 1709. (I feel that this was probably Matthew Clesson Jr. - his son). The expedition surprised the enemy near Lake Champlain, and routed them. De Rouville and 180 French & Indians started toward the English settlements on June 22nd seeking revenge. Trumbull states: "they were discovered in the vicinity of Deerfield, and driven off, having succeeded in capturing Joseph Clesson and John Arms. In the skirmish, Jonathan Williams was killed, and Matthew Clesson mortally wounded." Matthew Clesson (Sr.) died in 1716 in Deerfield. Northampton VR's have marriage date of 22 Dec 1670.

3) "The Scott Genealogy" by Mary Lovering Holman, Boston, Mass. 1919. FHL US/Can book 929.273 Sc84h, p. 250-251. FHL film 1033607 (1/2003)

...an early settler of Northampton, Mass.....He took the oath of Allegiance on the 8 Feb. 1678. In 1668 he signed a petition against imposts.....The history of Northampton states that he was probably an indentured servant but he became prosperous. He bought the homestead of Thomas Lewis in 1667 and sold it to Solomon Stoddard in 1684. In 1672-3, he contributed to the support of Harvard College. After the death of his first wife he married (2) 21 Nov. 1701, Sarah Hedge, and at the time he made his Will, his wife was named Susannah. He died in Deerfield about 1716. His Will was made in 1713, and proved 7 Nov. 1716. He calls himself in the Will, "late of Northampton", and appoints his sons, Joseph and Samuel, his executors. He directs that they arrange a suitable support for his widow Susannah, but if she does not choose to accept it, then she is to have one third part of the realty for life. The sons, Joseph and Samuel Clesson, are given an equal shore in the real estate. The daughters Thankful Davis and Mary Bartlett, given a cow and steer and utensils in the house after the widow's decease. A legacy was given to four grandchildren, the children of daughter, Elizabeth Hannum, but their names are not mentioned.

1. ↑ 22 Nathaniel Phelps, in Phelps, Oliver Seymour, and Andrew T. Servin. The Phelps Family of America and Their English Ancestors: With Copies of Wills, Deeds, Letters, and Other Interesting Papers, Coats of Arms and Valuable Records. (Pittsfield, Mass.: Eagle Publishing Company, 1899)
   p. 89-91.