Samuel Packard ^{1 2 3}

  General Notes:

Our life history now begins. Supposedly the Packards in America are decscended from a common ancestor, Samuel Packard. With his wife and daughter, both named Elizabeth, Samuel came from Wymondham near Hingman, England, in 1638. They sailed from Gravesend in the ship "Diligent of Ipswich, 133 passengers, John Martin master," on April 26, 1638, and landed in Hingham, Mass. August 10. There they settled and there their sons Samuel, Zacheus, and Thomas were probably born. After a few years they removed to Weymouth in the same colony, and this the birth place of John and Nathaniel, our ancestors(my line). Bridgewater, the first interior settlement in the colony, became their permanant home. Born here were their daughters Mary, Hanna, Jael, Deborah, and Deliverance and their son Isreal. The year of their settling in Bridgwater is not know but in 1664 Samuel Packard was licenced as a constable, and in 1667 he was one of a jury "named by the court to be empanelled to lay out all the ways requiste in the town of Bridgewater." In 1671 he was licenced as an innkeeper, and in 1672 as a surveyor of highways. Bridgewater originally was a plantation or township bought in 1649 of the Indian Massasoit, by Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and constant Southworth, "in behalf of all townsmen of Duxbury, to them and their heirs forever." The "townsmen of Duxbury" were those early settlers that "lived on their lots on the other side of the bay" from Plymouth, and who applied to the court for an extension to the westward. According to the deed given by Cheif Massasoit, the price paid for the township was "seven coats a yard and a half in a coat, nine hatchets, eights hoes, twenty knives, four Mooseskins, and ten yards and half of cotton." Of the fifty-four original proprietors, about one third became inhabitants of the new plantation: the rest from time to time conveyed their shares to their sons or sold them to others who became residents. Many families came from adjoining townships other than Duxbury, and among them was that of Samuel Packard. In 1682, he and his sons Samuel, Zacheus, John, and Nathaniel, are named among the proprietors of the town. Bridgewater later became separated into four towns: South Bridgewater (later known as Bridgewater), East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, and North Bridgewater (now the city of Brockton). Samuel's homestead was in the present West Bridgewater on the north bank of the Town River and a short distance from Central square.
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(Source: Robichaud, Valerie, "Samuel Packard of Bridgewater, Massachusetts", http://genhaven.com/genealogy/individual.php?pid=I01)

Samuel Packard was born sometime in the year 1612, the fourth son and sixth child of George Packard and Mary Wither. According to the Stonham Parish register, he was baptised on 17 September 1612. Other than the baptisms of their children, nothing is known of Samuel and Elizabeth's life in England, no record of their marriage or the ancestry of Elizabeth has been found.

When Samuel's father died at 53 years of age his mother was left with sons aged 20, 16, and 11 and daughters aged 22, 13, and 5. Samuel's brother John was married in Mendelsham the year his father died and was probably living there in 1624 when his first wife died. John was a wheelwright, listed among the "Able Men" of Mendlesham 1638, paid "Ship Money" there 1640, and was churchwarden there 1642. Samuel's brother George was married by 1630, was a cooper, and was listed among the "Able Men" of Stowmarket 1638. Samuel's sister Frances was married to a Standley and had a least one child. Samuel's sister Mary appears to have never married.

It is possible that after his father's death the family dispersed and Samuel's mother, Mary, was living in Stowmarket, perhaps with son George, where she died in 1652.

It's seems likely that Samuel would have married about 1635 and that their first child, Mary, would be born about 1637 and baptised in England before the voyage to America.

Samuel, his wife Elizabeth and his daughter Mary were passengers on the "Diligent" of Ipswich, John Martin, Master. The "Diligent" sailed from Ipswich, Suffolk, England in June of 1638 and arrived in Boston August 10, 1638. The passengers aboard the vessel were mainly from Hingham, Norfolk, England. Samuel is listed as being "of Wymondham, Norfolk".

From the birth/baptismal dates of 11 of his children we can surmise that from 1638 to 1653 he was in Hingham. He then removed to Weymouth, where his next two children were born, and was a selectman there from 1654 to 1664.

About the year 1664, Samuel removed to Bridgewater where he had purchased land in 1662. Bridgewater was the first interior settlement in the "Old Colony". Although the grant had been made in 1645 settlement did not commence until after 1650 and the plantation wasn't incorporated as Bridgewater until June 1656.

From the early records:

1667.- A jury was named by the court to be empanelled to lay out all ways requisite in the town of Bridgewater, viz.:.-Nicholas Byram, Samuel Edson, Thomas Hayward, Samuel Packard, Nathaniel Willis, Lieutenant Thomas Hayward, Jr., Arthur Harris, John Cary, Ensign John Haward, Mark Lathrop, Robert Latham, Joseph Alden, and if by Providence any of these be hindered, that then Samuel Allen and John Ames do supply.

1672. "The town being met the 17th of June, and Mr. Constant Southworth, assistant, coming through the town, and having been appointed by court to choose and give oath to a jury for laying out highways convenient in the town, did accordingly perform the service, and appointed Samuel Edson, ??(foreman)??, Lieutenant Hayward, Ensign Haward, Mark Lathrop, Joseph Bassett, Samuel Tompkins, John Ames, Thomas Snell, John Washburn, John Hayward, John Willis, Jr., and John Cary.
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Samuel Packard's Will

On 29 October, 1684, "Samuell Packer senir of Bridgwater .... yeoman" made his will.

Bequests were as follows:

"unto my loveing wiff Elizabeth all that my farm in the said Towne of Bridgwater which I now Dwell upon Containing" 36 acres "with all the houses Lands and Meddowes belonging to the said farme, During the tearm of her Naturall Life;" also "all my Share of Meddow Lying att a place in Bridgwater Called Bulls hole" for life; "end alsoe all my goods and Cattles" for life; also £40 in money for life.

"unto Samuell Packer my eldest son" 64 acres of land in Bridgewater "which his Dwelling house Now stands upon .... buting upon West meadow brook on the east side of the said brooke and Runing east & west"; also 25 acres of land in Bridgewater "which is not yett Layed out"; also "one Lott of Meddow" in Bridgewater "in the West meadow on the south east syde of .... the west meadow Brooke"; also "one Lott of Meddow" in Bridgewater "in the Great Meddow on the North east side of the pond Joyning to the pond"

"unto my son Zacheus Packer .... the house wherin hee my said son Zacheus Packer Dwelleth in with the Land therunto belonging which is" 24 acres lying in Bridgewater; also "my Lott of Meddow" in Bridgewater "in the west meddow on the Norwest syde of the brooke"; also "a Lott of" 50 acres in Bridgewater "by the Bay. Path bounded on the south side by Marke Laythorpes Land"; also "one Lott of Meddow" in Bridgewater "in the Great meadow on the southeast side of the River"

"unto my son John Packer" 70 acres in Bridgewater "on the Eastward side of the River; alsoe .... one lott of Meddow in "Meddow Called Poor Meddow Lying in the said Bridgwater, alsoe .... all my lott of Land att Teticut;"

"unto my son Nathaniel Packer .... two third prtes of my aforsaid farm lying in Bridgwater which I Now Dwell upon Containing" 36 acres of land more or less "That is to say of all the houses Lands and Meddowes belonging to the said farme, to enter upon it emediately after the Decease of my said wife;"

"The other third prte of my said farme that I Dwell Now upon in the said Towne of Bridgwater; That is to say one third prte of the houses Land and meddowes belonging to the said farme I give & bequeath unto my Grand Child Israell Agur and to his heires .... hee or they to enter upon it Imediately after the Decease of my said wife;"

"unto my said son Nathaniell: Packer .... the one halfe of my lott of" 50 acres in Bridgewater lying "Next to Joseph Bassetts lott Neare to the Pond; alsoe I Give .... unto my said Grand Child Israell Augur and to his heires .... the other halfe of the said Lott of fifty acrees of land; to be equally Devided between the said Nathaniel Packer My son and the said Israell Augur; they and both of them to enter upon it Imediately after my Decease;"

"unto my said son Nathaniel Packer and To his heires and assignes for ever the one halfe of my Share of meadow in Bridgwater lying there att a place Called Bulls hole; hee or they to enter upon it after the Decease of my said wife; alsoe I give and bequeath unto my Grand ????[p. 97]???? Child Issraell Augur and to his heires and assignes for ever, the other halfe of my said Share of meadow lying att Said bulls hole, hee or they, to enter upon itt after the Decease of my said wife ;"

"I Give and bequeath unto the said Elizabeth Packer my wife and to her heires and assignes for ever all my Lott Containing twenty Acrees of land lying and being in Bridgwater; between the Land of mr James Keith on the one side and the Land of Joseph haward on the other side, buting upon the pond Called Satuckett pond;"

"unto my fouer sones ????(viz)???? Samuell Packer Zacheus Packer John Packer and Nathaniell Packer; and to my Grandchild Issrael . Augur .... all my Right & title of Comons and Comonage which I Now have in the Townshipp of Bridgwater to be equally Devided betwixt them them five excepting som prticular prsells of land already Given by will and are not yett Layed out

and alsoe my will is that my five Daughters Mary Phillips the wife of Richard Phillips and hannah Randall The wife of Tho: Randall Jaell Smith the wife of John Smith and Daborah Washburn the wife of Samuell Washburn and Deliverance Washburn The wife of Thomas Washburn with my Grand Child Deliverance Augur shall have equally Devided amongst them six all what mony or Chattles shalbe left after the Decease of my said wife Elizabeth Packer; alsoe my will is That as Concerning my Daghter Jaell Smith the wife of John Smith that the prte of the Mony and Chattles above Named that shalbe Due to my said Daughter Jaell after the Decease of my said wife Elizabeth Packer shall not be Delivered to the said John Smith; but shalbe Desposed of to my said Daughter Jaell for her Comfort by the executors of my said Will; alsoe my will is that my Grand Child Deliverance Augur shall have a heifer; when shee my said Grandchild is of age; and alsoe I Give unto my Grandchild Deliverance Augur one bed; with such furniture to it as is now in the house; I Doe mean a feather bed after the Decease of My said wife, Elizabeth Packer"

"my said son Nathaniel: Packer shall pay unto my Executors heerafter mencioned" £10 in money "when hee .... shall Come to Injoy his prte of the farme that I have before mencioned and Given him in this My will"

"to my two Grandchildren Samuell Packer, and Daniell Packer the son of my son Samuell Packer ten shillings apeece in Mony; ,

"to my Grandchild Issraell Packer; the son of my son Zacheus Packer: ten shillings in Mony"

"to my Grandchild Caleb Phillipes the son of Caleb Phillipes ten shillings in Mony"

"To my Daughter Deliverance the the wife of Thomas Washburn ten acres of land" in Bridgewater, "which said ten acrees is agreed on by the Towne; to lay it Conveniently to the Lott not yett layed out"

"my beloved wife Elizabeth Packer and my son Samuell Packer; to be Joynt executors"
"I Desire that mr James Keith and William Brett should be overseers to this my last will"

The will was signed by a mark and witnessed by John Field, John Ames, Jr., and Shadrack Wilbore. John Field and John Ames, Jr., testified on 3 March, 1684/5, and at the same time" Declared upon the oath they had taken as abovewritten that the said Samuell Packer senir Declared att the time hee signed and sealed this Will .... that hee Intented Thomas Washburne to be a Joynt executor of his Last will & Testament with the other two that in the said Will are Mensioned; and accordingly are alowed of by the Court"

"An Inventory of the estate of Samuall Packer of the Towne of Bridgwater Deceased the seaventh of November 1684 "No real estate is mentioned and the total is £133, 6s., 6d. "A true and faire apprisall .... taken by us the eleventh of Novem: 1684 as witnesseth our hands Marke Laythorpe John ffeild" "Samuell Packer Junior made oath to this Inventory before the Court held att Plymouth" on 5 March, 1684/5.
He had an estate probated on 29 Nov 1684 in Plymouth Colony, MA.

Inventory of Samuel Parker, Sr.

1684/1685.

An Inventory of the estate of Samuall Parker of the Towne of Bridgwater deceased the seauenth of Nouember 1684 which is as followeth;

L s d

Impr: forty three pound and fifteen shillings in mony; ??? [crossed out: twenty fiue] ??? and in bills twenty fiue pounds in mony which in all is sixty eight pounds and ??? [crossed out: fity eight pounds] ??? fifteen shillings

Item to debts owing in Mony not in bills 01 00 00

Item to wearing Clothes 03 00 00

Item to brasse and Iron vessells 03 00 00

Item to pewter and spoons 02 00 00

Item to a Tinning driping pan and Tunell 00 01 06

Item to Lether 00 15 00

Item to Linnine yarne & woolen yarne Cotton yarn & Cotton woole 03 00 00

Item to one feather bed and blanketts bolster and pillowes 03 00 00

Item to one feather bed more and blanketts 02 00 00

Item to more beding 01 10 00

Item to two Chists and other wooden ware 01 02 00

Item to one Table and forme and Chaires 00 14 00

Item to a paire of Andjrons 12s-2 plow Chaines 12s 01 04 00

Item to sheeps woole 8s Mault 15s a barrell of Sider 6s 01 09 00

Item a Woolen wheele and Lininne wheele with other Lumber 00 14 00

Item to Indian Corne 04 00 00

Item to one Grindstone & Cranke 00 07 00

Item to an Iron Crow; 2 smale Iron wedges 00 06 00

Item to two old whipe sawes & a sett of hookes ???[&]??? boxes 00 13 00

Item to two old plow Shares & 3 old Coulters 00 05 00

Item 3 quarters of a hundred of Iron 00 12 00

Item to a paire of fetters 3s and a paire of scales and waites 2s 00 05 00

Item to one brod axe 1 Narrow axe a Ring staple and Clearises 00 08 00

Item an old spad and pronges & other Iron Lumber 00 08 00

Item to one steer hyde 7s and barly in the straw 00 14 00

Item to one hiue of bees 3s Rye 20s 01 03 00

Item 14 Ceder Loggs 14s; Ceder Clabords 14s 01 08 00

Item to a Cart wheele hookes and boxes 01 00 00

Item to two steers 1 horse and the harnes & Cart Rope 06 14 00

Item to 4 Cowes & one steer and younge Cattle 14 10 00

Item to 9 sheep 01 07 00

Item to swine 02 14 00

Item to 4 paire of sheets 02 00 00

Item to 3 ???[crossed out: two]??? paire of pillow Coates 9s and 2 table Clothes 00 15 00

Item to half a dozen of Napkins 00 03 00

Item to things unseen & forgotten 00 10 00

The sume totall if noe Mistake in Cashing up is 133 06 06

A True and faire apprisal of the estate of ???[sic]??? Samuell Parker taken by us the eluenth of Nouem: 1684 as witnesseth

out hands Marke Laythorpe

Iohn Aei???[l]???d

Samuell Parker Iunier made oath to this Inventory before the Court held att Plymouth the 5th of March 1684/85.

Plymouth Colony Wills, Vol. IV, Part II, folio 99.
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Samuel with his wife and child came from Windham, near Hingham , England in the ship "Diligence" of Ipswich, John Martin, Master. He first settled in Hinghan, Mass., in 1638. From there he removed to West Bridgewater with his family. Samuel was a constable and Tavern Keeper. All of this name who have gone from Bridgewater were probably decendants of his , and in fact nearly all of the name in this country can be traced to that place. There have been a variety of ways in which the name has been written, namely: Pecker, Packer, Peckard, Peckerd, but the usual and proper way is Packard.
Source: "History of North Bridgewater, Mass." By Kingman, pub in Boston, 1866.
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According to Alan D. Packard ;
Samuel Packard of Wymondham, Norfolk, England- sailed from Ipswich with his wife and child in June 1638 on the "Diligent", arriving at Boston on August 10, 1638. He went to Hingham, Mass. until about 1654 when he removed to Weymouth, Mass. where he was Selectman from 1654 to 1664. He then removed to Bridgewater where he was appointed Constable in 1664, Collector of Minister's Rate in 1670, Surveyor of Highways in 1672, and again Constable in 1674. In 1671 he received the first license to keep an "ordinary". Will dated October 29, 1684.
Source: Alan D. Packard , decendant,--Kansas
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Baptism dates: July 19, 1646--- Elizabeth, Samuel, Hannah, and Israel. On April 20, 1651-- Zaccheus, Jane and Abigail . On July 11, 1652 Deliverance -- all were baptized in Hingham, Mass.
Source: The Hobart Journal, NEHGR CXXI Pages 19, 24, 25.
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Sources:
C.E. Banks, Planters of the Commonwealth
E.W.Pierce, Civil,Military and Professional Lists
N.E.H.G.R. , XLVI P. 187
Weymouth Vital Records
NEHGR III P. 71
NEHGR, IX P. 314
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He resided in Hingham, MA about 1638.
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• He resided in Weymouth, MA about 1654.
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• He resided in Bridgewater, MA after 1662.
²

• He has alternate death information of 7 April 1684 and Bridgewater, MA. ¹

• He signed a will on 29 October 1684 in Bridgewater, MA.
^{2 5}

• He has alternate death information of November 1684 and Bridgewater, MA. ²

• He had an estate probated on 29 November 1684 in Bridgewater, MA. ^{2 5}

Samuel married Elizabeth Stream in 1630 in Wymondham, Suffolk, ENGLAND.¹ (Elizabeth Stream was born about 1614 in Wymondham, Suffolk, ENGLAND ¹ and died on 27 October 1694 in Bridgewater, MA ¹.)