Person:John Winchester (7)

Cunundrum

If one accepts the dates Cutter (S2 & S3) provides as correct...
1. John Winchester's first wife, Sarah White, died 31 Jan 1716
2. John married second wife, Sarah Phipps, 12 Nov 1728 *, died 12 Jan 1750
3. John married third wife, widow Alice Craft, who died 1784.
The above leaves children, Danforth, Bethia, Nathaniel, Samuel, Nathan & perhaps Martha with an unknown mother.

• Marriage date is erroneous; sale of Caleb Gardner's property in 1717/18 with consent of John's wife, Sarah Phipps, widow of Caleb, points to marriage between John and Sarah occurring abt 1717. This also puts in question the validity of a third marriage to widow Alice Craft.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Deaths, in Brookline, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Brookline, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. (Salem, Mass.: Essex Institute, 1929)
   p. 239.

   WINCHESTER, John, Capt., h. Sarah* [not White], [died] Sept. 27, 1751, a. 76 y.
   
   * S2 claims that his last wife was widow Alice Craft, was the mention of "Sarah" above in error ?

2. ↑ Cutter, William Richard. Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts. (New York: Lewis Publishing Co., 1908)
   Vol. II pp. 826, 827.

   "(III) Captain John Winchester, eldest son and second child of John Winchester, Jr., was a prominent citizen and soldier of Brookline. Like his father and grandfather he was a farmer, and he appears to have been a man of great strength of character and courage. In early manhood, with his brother-in-law, Thomas Trowbridge, he had a quarrel with Governor Dudley over a matter in which the latter was entirely at fault, he having attempted to force the young men out of the road with their loaded carts that he might pass without turning aside. They resisted his insulting language, and gave young Winchester a sword thrust. Subsequently he caused their arrest and imprisonment, but they were released and under heavy bail, and it was the governor's desire that they be sent to England and put on trial for high treason.
   
   Captain Winchester was a famous Indian fighter, and in 1723 he was placed in command of a company sent out against a party of savages 'that are come over the Lake which may be expected every Houre on the Frontier under your care. You are therefore to bee in readiness to give them a warm reception with your Troop to p'sue them soe as if possible you may be able to give a good account of them from hence. *** Taking care to finde their Tracks & haveing soe done Not to leave your p'suit for 8 or 10 days unless you shall come up with them sooner & you are to furnish yourselves with Provisions accordingly.' Captain Winchester is also mentioned as having been stationed at fort No.4 on the Connecticut river during Governor Shirley's administration. He also was prominent in town affairs as the records show.
   
   Captain Winchester married three times and was the fifth husband of his last wife, the widow Alice Craft. He died September 27, 1751. The inventory of his estate, taken December 17, 1751, comprised one hundred and sixty acres of land, valued at 1,015 pounds, 13 shillings 14 pence; house, barn and other buildings, 133 pounds 6 shillings 8 pence; two negroes, 60 pounds, and the usual farm appurtenances, household goods, silver, pewter and brass ware."
   
   Captain John Winchester's children:
   1. Elizabeth, born December 30, 1701, married William Gardner.
   2. Sarah, born 1703; married April 20, 1727, Isaac Dana, born October 10, 1697, died April 21, 1767 in Pomfret, Connecticut.
   3. John, born 1705, died about December, 1738, at Cambridge, Massachusetts: married February 25, 1730, Elizabeth Green, died August 20. 1773.
   4. Joanna, born March 13, 1710: married _____ Sparhawk.
   5. Isaac, born 1714, died Brookline February 14, 1771; married Mary Shedd, born 1715, died Brookline, June 6, 1775.
   6. Danforth, born March 8, 1718, died March 8, 1719.
   7. Bethia, born December 20, 1720, died September 2, 1722.
   8. Nathaniel, born April 27, 1721. (Note: Brookline VR, "son of Josiah & Sarah")
   9. Samuel, born December, 1722, died July 18, 1752. (Note: Brookline VR, no record found. A Samuel Winchester, s. of Jonathan & Sarah d. July 18, 1750)
   10. Nathan, born April 16, 1724, married October 17, 1748, Beulah Parker. (Note: Brookline VR, "s. of Isaac")
   11. Martha, born November 23, 1728.
   12. Abigail, born September 1, 1734.

3.   Cutter, William Richard. Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts. (New York: Lewis Publishing Co., 1908)
   Vol. II p. 826.

   John Winchester's [Jr.] children:...
   ...2. John, born April 17, 1675, died September 27, 1751; married first, Sarah White, born October 5, 1680, died January 31, 1716:
   married second, November 12, 1728 *, Sarah Phipps, born 1685, died January 12, 1750;
   married third, Widow Alice Craft, born 1680, died March 14, 1784.
   
   * Erroneous marriage date