Person:John Vining (4)

Had five acres of land granted to him by the selectmen of Weymouth, 14 Dec. 1663, in the First Division, and fifteen acres in the Second Division. (Weymouth Land Grants, 282, 283) He or his son of the same name was made a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, 23 May, 1666. There is a statement in the Register, 8:162, that he came in 1652. Hilliard Veren, clerk of court at Salem certified under oath that he understood that John Vining from [Wincanton in Somersetshire] "came abord of Mr. Stratton's ship" with others, sworn to 27 June, 1682. (Essex Deeds, B.6, p. 168.) He died at Weymouth, Feb. 1685. He married (1) at Weymouth, 11 May, 1657, Margaret Read, daughter of William and Avis Read, baptized at Long Sutton, Somersetshire, 20 Jan. 1635-36; she died at Weymouth, 6 July, 1659. He married (2) at Weymouth, 22 Jan. 1659-60, Mary Reed, daughter of Philip and Mary Reed of Weymouth. John Vining was one of the appraisers of the estate of Margaret Snooke of Weymouth, widow of James Snooke, 9 May, 1660. (Register, 9:228.) She died at Weymouth, 2 Sept. 1717.

"Being weak in body" he made his will 18 Jan. 1685, proved 17 Feb. 1685, in which he mentions his eldest son John to have the new house which I have lately built, his wife Mary, son George under 21, son Samuel likewise under 21, four daughters, Jane, Sarah, Hannah, and Margaret, to each £15 at the age of 20, youngest son Benjamin, wife executrix. Overseers, my friend Capt. John Holbrook and my kinsman Joseph Dyer. Witnesses: Deliverance Porter and Joseph Dyer. (Suffolk Probate Records, 6:516.) Inventory, taken 8 Feb. 1685, valued at £468 19s. (Ibid. 9:259.) John Vining, son of Robert Vining, was baptized at Wincanton, Somersetshire, 17 Apr. 1636. (Register, 66:188.)

1.   History of Weymouth, Massachusetts. Weymouth, Mass.. Weymouth Historical Society, under direction of the town. 1923.
   705-706.