excerpts:
James Nash was probably in Weymouth, Massachusetts on 25 July 1641, and was erroneously referred to as Samuel Nash, shoemaker, as discussed in the introduction to this book. He next appeared in the records of Weymouth, when a description of his land was included on an updated list written between 26 October 1642 and 21 May 1644. George Walter Chamberlain, History of Weymouth (Boston, 1923), 1:196
His wife's name was Alice, and they probably were the James Nash and Alice Higgins who were married 1 February 1633 at the parish of Great Hampden, Buckinghamshire, England. [Great Hampden Buckinghamshire Parish Registers, Buckinghamshire County Record Office.]
James was on the list of freemen of Massachusetts Bay Colony of May 1645. Lucius R. Paige, List of Freemen, Register, 3(1849):190.
James died between 13 September 1679, when he signed [a deed for a Boston house], and 9 January 1679/80, the date his estate was inventoried. The administration of his estate was granted 30 April 1680, to his wife Alice. His sons, John Nash of Boston, cooper, and Jacob Nash of Weymouth, posted bond on 31 December 1680 to be executors. James left a verbal will, which was related by his daughters, Sarah Nash and Rebecca Nash. They testified that about a fortnight before his death, "James Nash did counsel and advice that his wife should have what estate he had left undisposed of during her life and that at her death it should be at her disposal. [Suffolk County Probate, 9:24.]
At the time of his death, James had already transferred most of his real estate in Boston and Weymouth to his children. The inventory at Boston included, "A parcel of land into a garden adjoining to Joseph Nash, his house, a sloop with all the sayles & appurtenances belonging, several sort of pewter in the lower rooms, various furniture and pots and kettles, a feather bed, another feather bed in James Nash's custody in Weymouth, various coats, a musket, two Bibles and debts due from several persons."
