Person:Rebecca Unknown (489)

According to Source:Leonard, Ermina Newton. Newton Genealogy (p. 56, 63), it is thought Rebecca married 3 times. First to Isaac Newton, who died four months before the birth of their only child. Leonard believes she is the Rebecca Newton that married 1688 her late husband's nephew, Samuel Newton, (Son of John).

We are not positive who this Rebeckah Newton was; but there is every reason to believe she was the widow of Isaac Newton², uncle of Samuel³ above. There was no other adult Rebecca Newton in Marlborough at that date. She became a widow August 12, 1685, and in the December following gave birth to Isaac Newton's posthumous child [see his will and the accompanying docu,ments [p. 56]]. She married Philip Pratt of Framingham some time before 1698, or about that time; but there would have been time for the intervening marriage with Samuel Newton, and the legal separation that is forewhadowed and indicated in the bond given below [25 Oct 1690: John Newton and Moses Newton give bond to ensure Sam'll Newton son of said John Newton and Rebeckka his reputed wife will appear at court and abide by its determination]. Of the two children she bore to Samuel Newton, the younger was not born October 25, 1690, at the date of the bond. What the trouble was does not appear.

In the "Errata and Corrections", p. 847, Leonard adds

The following was received too late for its insertion in its proper place. On page 342 of the Records of the Massachusetts Court of Assistants you will find that at a Court held 3 March 1690-1, Samuel Newton of Marlborough and Rebecca his wife, widow of his uncle Isaac Newton, were presented for living together incestuous, the marriage being within the line of affinity prohibited by the Law of England, and they were forbidden to cohabit together.

It is known that she married Phillip Pratt of Framingham, some time bef. 1698 when they had the first of their two children, due to a quitclaim they both executed releasing her rights to Isaac Newton's real estate (Middlesex probate Vol. 11 (original), p. 109).

1. ↑ Baldwin, Thomas W. Vital Records of Framingham, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1911)
   p. 459.

   PRATT, Rebecca, [died] Sept. 3, 1728.