Capt. Nathaniel Norden of Marblehead, son of Samuel, was born 27 Nov., 1653. He was at first a mariner, and later a prosperous merchant. He was one of the selectmen of Marblehead in 1690, and that year he and Capt. Legg are asked by the General Court to explain why they have not kept better order at Marblehead. He was of the Council for Massachusetts, 1708-23.
He was married to Jane Lattimer, a daughter of Christopher Lattimer of Marblehead, prior to 1686. She died 20-2-1722, and he married again 20 Sept., 1722, Mary Legg, then widow of Capt. Edward Brattle, and who after his death married, 24 July, 1728, Col. Edmund Goffe of Cambridge.
Capt. Nathaniel Norden made his will 16 Feb., 1724. It was proved 11 March, 1727-8 (Essex Probate, 19: 555). To his two loving kinsmen, Nathaniel and Joshua Huse (sic), sons of Samuel Huse, late of Boston, cooper, deceased, and grandsons unto Joshua Huse, formerly of Boston, cordwainer, deceased, and Hannah, his wife, 'who was my owne sister,' £40 apiece, and also to their sister, Hannah Huse, £30. To Sarah Grice, daughter of Hannah Huse, 'my late deceased sister,' £40. To the children of Joseph Dolbier (sic) of Boston, brazier, whom he had by my niece Hannah Huse, namely, Edmund Dolbear, £40, and to his two sisters £30 apiece. To Mary Perkins of Boston, widow, late Mary Hooper, wife of Samuel Hooper of Marblehead, deceased, £40, and to Mary Hooper, her daughter which she had by Samuel Hooper, deceased, £40. To Samuel Hooper, who is son to my half-sister, who was daughter of my father by my mother-in-law, £10. To Rev. John Barnard, my pastor, £10. To beloved wife, Mary Norden, one-third of the estate during life, and one-half the personal estate, after debts and legacies are paid, and she is also to enjoy all personal estate she had at the time of her marriage to me. Also dwelling house, meadow and orchards, stables and warehouses, etc., in Marblehead for her life; also for life, the rents and profits of my real estate. Wife Mary, and William Welstead of Boston, Esq., to be executors, and to whom £50 and £10 respectively.
Residue of estate to the children and grandchildren of my sister, Hannah Huse, which may survive me, to be equally divided between them, their heirs and assigns.
The widow, Mary Norden, and William Welstead declined to accept administration of the estate, whereupon Samuel Hewes, merchant, and Edmond Dolbear, merchant, both of Boston, were appointed as administrators with the will annexed, 26 March, 1728. An inventory of the estate, taken the preceding day, showed the estate to be worth £4,593-10-8, including 362 ounces of plate at 15 shillings, £271-10-0, land in Freetown, part of island at Minheegen, Kettle Cove in Gloucester, mansion house with gardens, and a small dwelling house, etc., in King St., £1550, orchard adjoining, £100, meadow adjoining, £250, another house and land in possession of Mary Tucker, £50, a farm with house and barn, being Maverick's 'purchase,' £500, purchase that was Codner's adjoining the farm £100, fish stage, lease land and other land on the Neck, £10."
