Person:William Truesdell (2)

From the many entries in the Parish Registers, William Truesdell Jr. lived in the borough of Boston until after 1640. Following the death of his father in 1642, he became "William Sr". As the eldest son he probably inherited his father's house and "all the ground belonging to the same scituate in Boston". About this time he moved to Freiston, a Truesdale, presumably William, being mentioned in the tax list of that place in 1642. The cause of this change in residence may have been local civil disorder, religious unrest, or another outbreak of the plague. Maintenance of records by the Church was suspended in 1641 and not resumed until the restoration in 1649. In the village of Freiston, William was a "yeoman", presumably a tenant farmer or freeholder, rating the title of "esquire" in his later years.

William"s "Account Book" covers the period from 1 October 1663 to 13 November 1671. All of the 144 pages are filled with numerous small accounts: purchases or sales, hire of labor, loans. No single amount is large but the volume through the years is most impressive. The handwriting is small, constantly regular, but so cramped a style that reading is very difficult despite the full black of the ink and the unfaded white paper. Variously located in the body of the book are promissory notes for small amounts. These, however, are generally in the handwriting of the maker. Two appear to be exceptions, and, if so, William spelled his surname "Trusdale". One note by a John Cromitt has another significance. Dated 5 November 1663 "indebted unto Willm Trusdale of Freston, Senor" is witnessed by "Tho: Trusdale". Another note adds the title of "esquire".

William Truesdell did not migrate to America but remained at Freiston until his death. However, because of the continuing local troubles augmented, possibly by the prevalence of Bubonic Plague, it is presumed that William, not later than 1654, sent Mary, Rebecca and Samuel to their uncle, Deacon Richard Truesdell, then a prosperous and respected citizen of Boston in Massachusetts Bay Colony. The year 1654 is fixed by the later birth of Mary's eldest son after she had married Richard Hood. The guardianship of the children, Rebecca and Samuel, by Deacon Richard, amounting practically to adoption, is elsewhere premised.

The death of William's first wife and his second marriage are unrecorded. Rebecca Lea is known to be the mother of the eight elder children. It is also very probable that she was the mother of Samuel and Richard.

The will of William Truesdell was attested 20 November 1673, and proved in Boston (England) by his son Richard Truesdell, "sole executor," 5 May 1674. In abstract it is as follows:

"I, William Truesdale of Freeston, yeoman... "To Issabell my loveing wife my best bed...the lesser table in the hall... "To my son Richard Truesdale one cow in the possession of Will'm Smith of Freeston my sonne in law; one house with all the grounds belonging to the same Scituate in Boston... "To my son Samuell Truesdale 5 [pounds]... "The rest of my goods etc I giue them unto my said sonne Richard Truesdale whome I make executor"

                        (Sgd) WILLIAM TRUESDALE