Center—Todd—Hunt. In the account of the Center family, ante, vol. 20, p. 110, it was stated that the identity of Ruth, wife of John Center, Jr., had not been learned. Some of their children were baptized in Rowley, Mass., and the church records identify her as Ruth Todd, daughter of John Todd of Rowley. For this information we are indebted to Mr. Clarence Almon Torrey of Dorchester, Mass., who points out that this Ruth Todd has usually been stated to be the wife of Samuel Hunt, Jr., on the basis of the recorded marriage. The clerk appears to have erred, however, for Samuel Hunt had a wife Mary, and the will of John Todd, dated 13 Feb. 1689/90, mentions wife (unnamed); sons John, Timothy, Samuel and James, and daughters Mehitable, Ruth and Mary, who is to have "so much as will make up what I engaged brother Hunt he performeing what he promist to her husband." It therefore may be concluded that the wife of Samuel Hunt, Jr., was Mary Todd, b. 10 June 1659. The agreement mentioned in the will clearly pertains to what each father promised his child when the marriage was planned, and "brother Hunt" refers to the father of the bridegroom. It may be mentioned, in passing, that the term "brother" was often applied as a courtesy title between men whose children married, hence does not necessarily imply an earlier marriage connection between the families.—Donald Lines Jacobus, New Haven, Conn.
