| Notes |
- Jonathan Farren marched with Capt. John Lovewell in 1724 on his expedition against ye Indian enemy and was present when "ye 10 Indians were killed." Mr. Frederic Kidder says: "In the autumn of 1724 the inhabitants of the frontier towns on the Merrimac River seem to have been dissatisfied with the manner of carrying on the war with the Indians, and wished to adopt offensive operations. Accordingly, a company was organized at Dunstable, of which John Lovewell was Captain, Josiah Farwell Lieutenant and Jonathan Robbins Ensign. These officers offered a petition to the Legislature in which they say 'that if said Company may be allowed five shillings per day in case they kill any enemy Indians and possesses their scalp they will employ in Indian Hunting one whole year and if they do not within that time kill any they are content to be allowed nothing for their wages, time and trouble.' This petition was granted changing the terms into a bounty of 100 pounds for every scalp taken during one year. Capt. Lovewell was a brave and adventurous officer, and stimulated by this offer he immediately took the field and led his company on towards the dwelling place of the Pequaketts who resided within the territory now forming the towns of Fryeburg, ME and Conway, NH."
Sometime after their return, Captain Lovewell and his men petitioned the General Court. In the Archives of the State of Massachusetts is an advertisement stating that the General Assembly of the Province at their session held 29 May 1728 have set aside two tracts of unappropriated land for all persons in the Narragansett War, and asking that lists of their names be sent in to be laid before the General Court. On the back of this advertisement is the list of men "when ye 10 Indians were killed" and Jona Ferren is one of the 62 names given. These two grants were Suncook, now Pembroke, NH, and Voluntierstown, now Petersham, MA. 20 Jun 1733, Jonathan Farren and others were admitted to the Voluntierstown Grant. In 1735 he deeds same to Samuel Willard of Lancaster for the sum of thirty-six pounds "currant money of New England."
Jonathan Farren was one of the petitioners with Ladd and Young "Officers and Soldiers in ye late expedition against Cape Briton" for a township or tract of land. 1748, (Masonian Papers, Vol. 5, p. 51.)
From Massachusetts Archives, Muster Roll, 1710 to 1774: Jona Farron - Dated Boston, 8 Mar 1755, of Company in His Majesty's service under command of Capt. Jabez Bradbury. Centinel. Entered Service 9 Mar 1754. Served until 29 Sep 1754. Length of Service 29 Weeks. 2 days. Reported discharged.
In 1752 on the Amesbury Town Records, he is referred to for the first time as Captain Jonathan Farren, by which title he is known until his death in 1770. He is Capt. Jona Ferrin on his gravestone.
He settled in the West Parish of Amesbury at a place called Cottel's Plaine. In 1726 he is given on a list of persons over 21 years taxed for the support of preaching in the west parish. This was the Amesbury Second Church, where he and all his children were baptized. Hoyt, in hi s "Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury," says that Jonathan Farren was received to Full Communion in the Amesbury First Church 21 Jun 1741. Nov 1727 J. Barnard deeds to him 33 acres of land at Cottel?s Plaine for the sum of 100 pounds current money. March 1730 John Peaslee deeds to him one and one half acres at the same place. (Essex County Registry of Deeds.) Sep 1751 John Peaslee deeds to him one acre adjoining his land, and in May 1762 James George deeds five acres adjoining his land. (New Hampshire Province Deeds.) These deeds represent his home farm mentioned in inventory as "about forty acres of land with buildings being his homestead living.
In 1916, through the courtesy of the late Mr. Edward Kelly of Newton, NH, the site of the Capt. Jonathan Farren farm in the Currierville section of Newton was located, and the remains of an old dam found there. Tradition states that Captain Jonathan had some sort of mill where guns or munitions were made. It is still known to some of the older settlers of Newton as the "Ferrin Farm" or "Ferrin Pasture." At the death of Captain Jonathan, this farm came into the possession of Aquilla Ferrin, who continued to live there until 1795 when he sold same to Thomas Colby. In the settlement of the estate of Thomas Colby. 1 Oct 1798. Widow Ruth Colby receives as her third the southwesterly part of that farm of land called the "Ferren Farm," (Rockingham County Registry of Probate.)
In 1741 a new Province Line was established between Massachusetts and New Hampshire. and strip of land fifteen miles in length was taken from Salisbury and Amesbury in Massachusetts and annexed to New Hampshire. In May 1742 this strip was incorporated as the Town of South Hampton, NH. Jonathan Farren, a resident of that part of Amesbury. HA which was annexed to New Hampshire, automatically became an inhabitant of South Hampton. NH. But later on he and others, dissatisfied with the location of the meeting house in said town, begged to be set off to other parishes, or be allowed to form a separate parish for themselves. After several years of petitions and reports, they were finally set off from South Hampton and annexed to Newtown. NH, 22 Mar 1749.
There are numerous deeds of record in Concord and Exeter, NH and Salem, MA, to which Jonathan Farren was a party. In these deeds he is referred to as "yeoman," "husbandman" and for many years before his death as "gentleman."
He held various town offices in Amesbury. MA, South Hampton and Newtown, NH. Apparently an important citizen in the little town of Newtown, his name appears constantly on the records. The following taken from Vol. II, Town Meetings, Newton. NH, Town Records:
05 Apr 1755 Cap Jonathan Farrin one of a committee chosen "to make up with the selectmen for the year past." He was chosen Assessor for same year.
21 Apr 1755 Adjourned Meeting: Capt, Jonathan Farrin one of a committee "to provide stuff for the meeting house and look out a bureing place and make return at the adjournment of the meeting."
04 Aug 1755 Capt. Jonathan Farrin one of a committee "to hire a joyner to clabbord the meeting house and lay the floor and build the doors. etc., and hire a glaaser to glaase the meeting house."
31 Mar 1756 Captain Jonathan Farrin chosen one of the selectmen.
30 Apr 1756 Put to vote "to see if the town would allow Captain Jonathan Farrin thirteen pounds six shillings and six pence (old tenor) for shingels for and work done on the meeting house," and the vote passed in the negative. At same meeting it was voted to reconsider above and it was voted in the affirmative.
08 Jul 1756 "Voted that the persons hereafter named, Gideon Bartlett, Esquire, Capt. William Rowell, Capt. Jonathan Farrin, Ens. David Bagley, Andrew Whittier, David Elliott, Nathaniel Ash, Daniel Goodwin, Aaron Currier, Joseph Bartlet, and Garshom Bartlett should have all the privileges and conveniences for the pews in the meeting house in Newtown, below (excepting one for the minister in a convenient place) and they to glaase the Meeting House for said privilege and to have it glaased by the first of September next." Voted in the affirmative.
30 Sep 1756 Captain Jonathan Farrin, Moderator of Meeting.
16 May 1757 Captain Jonathan Farrin. Moderator of Meeting.
1 May 1758 "Voted that Captain Jonathan Farrin should go with the Selectmen to Mr. Eames and discourse with him in order for a new settlement." (This was in reference to asking Mr. Eames to settle' with them in the work of the Ministry.)
16 Oct 1758 Captain Jonathan Farren chosen Moderator of Meeting.
30 Oct 1758 Capt. Jonathan Farrin Moderator of Meeting. "Voted that Captain William Rowell and Aaron Currier and Cutting Favor and Captain Jonathan Farrin should go to Mr. Eames at Mr. Gershom Bartlett's house and, inform him what the town had done and bring word back again to the meeting." (The town had appropriated 1000 pounds old tenor to Mr. Eames if he would settle with them.) At adjourned meeting committee reported that Mr. Eames would not accept unless they gave him 600 pounds old tenor additional. Voted in the affirmative. '
28 Mar 1759 Captain Jonathan Farrin one of a committee "for to look out and agree for a convenient piece of land for a bureing place for both ends of ye town" and make report to next meeting.
25 Mar 1761 Captain Jonathan Farrin one of a committee "for to treat with South Hampton Committee and to act with them in behalf of ye town in order to settle a line between sd. South Hampton and Newtown and the matter wholly left with ye said Committee for to establish and confirm a line between the two towns." Captain Jonathan Farrin chosen Assessor for this year.
30 Apr 1761 Captain Jonathan Farrin. Moderator of Meeting
31 Mar 1762 Captain Jonathan Farrin chosen fence viewer. "Voted to see if the town would allow Cap. Jonathan Farrins accompt as their laid before them as to the charge he had been at in repairing the Meeting House doors this year which sum was one pound fifteen shillings silver (old, tenor) or Hampshire bills of credit equivalent thereto." Voted in the affirmative.
07 Apr 1762 Voted to allow Cap. Jonathan Farrin and others five shillings per man for their serving as Committee men in settling a line with South Hampton the last year.
30 Mar 1763 Cap. Jonathan Farrin and Stephen Bartlett tytheing men.
06 Dec 1763 Capt. Jonathan Farren chosen Moderator of Meeting.
28 Mar 1764 Cap Jonathan Farrin. Gideon Bartlett and Capt.William Rowell chosen selectmen. "Voted to see if the town would free Capt. Jonathan Farrin's head from reats this year." Voted in the negative.
22 Oct 1764 Captain Jonathan Farrin chosen Moderator of Meeting. Captain Jonathan Farrin and other selectmen report on a highway.
27 Mar 1765 Captain Jonathan ferren and other chosen constables. "Voted to see if the town would accept Captain Jonathan Farren for to serve constable for the whole town this year viz: - in the room of Timothy Whittier and Thomas Tuxbury." Voted in the affirmative.
17 Apr 1765 "Voted to see if the town would give Captain Jonathan Farren seven dollars or Hampshire bills equivalent thereto if he would collect the rates committed to Lieut. Gershom Bartlett decesd to collect." Voted affirmative. Capt. Jonathan Farren. Constable. for to collect the remaining part of the rates which were committed to sd. Gershom Bartlett who decsd before he had collected them.
26 Mar 1766 "Voted to see if the town would allow Capt. Jonathan Ferren six pence upon the pound for what rates he collected for said town." Affirmative.
22 Apr 1767 "Voted to see if the town would free Capt. Ferren from paying rates for his head this present year." Voted in the negative.
30 Mar 1768 Cap. Jonathan Farrin and others chosen fence viewers.
25 Jul 1769 "Voted to see If the town would pay the money for Captain Jonathan Farrin for the Baptis rates which are not yet paid to him." Voted negative. "Voted to see if they would exclusive of frinds Churchmen and Baptis raise the money for Cap Farren as aforementioned." Voted negative.
16 Oct 1769 "Voted to see if the town would exclusive of the friends agree to pay Cap Jonathan Farrin interest for four months for ye money due to him for the Baptis rates which he had not collected." Voted affirmative.
16 Apr 1770 Voted that the Committee. viz; Captain William Rowell. and Gideon Bartlett. Jr. should pay the whole of the Congregations part of the money recovered from the Selectmen for ye year 1768 unto Captain Jonathan Farren. (Town were dissatisfied with the manner of spending money that year and selectmen had to pay it back to town.)
The following from Volume III. Selectmen's book:
16 Nov 1767 Paid to Capt. Jonathan Farren one pound four shillings lawful money for his boarding schoolmaster Hobs two months. Paid to Capt. Jonathan Farren four shillings and eleven pence lawful money for an abatement of his rates. Paid to Capt. Jonathan Ferren two pounds eleven shilling and five pence lawful money it being for orders which was drawd on Timothy Favor late constable by late selectmen which were not answered.
1768 Invoice: Cap. Jonathan Farron list. Town Rate for paying of cost which had arose in ye town by reason of Baptis being rated to ye Congregational Minister. Cap. Jonathan Farron on list. Town Rate for scouting and other charges.n Farron on list.
20 Aug 1769 Province Rate - Capt. Jonathan Farren on list. Town Rate - Cap. Jonathan Farren on list.
06 Feb 1770 Order to Capt. Jonathan Farren the sum of eighteen shillings for his time and expense in going to the general court to have the annual town meeting in ye year 1769 set aside.
The will of Capt. Jonathan Farren was dated 22 Feb 1768. In this will he bequeaths to Aquilla Ferrin "all my homestead living, salt marsh fresh meadow, etc." In trying to locate the ':salt marsh" mentioned, ,the Salisbury, MA records were searched. Old tax lists were found. and on one of 1766 Capt. Jonathan Ferinton's name was entered. This was Capt. Jonathan. without doubt, as his estate was named on lists found for 1770. 1773. 1778 and 1779 as "non-resident." For many years thereafter, Aquilla Ferren. his son, was taxed as "non-resident." These tax lists were loose sheets. and many years were missing.
Captain Jonathan Farren departed this life 5 May 1770 and was buried In the Town Cemetery at Newtown. NH (now Newton). Two bronze tablets set in boulders mark his grave, the tablet at the foot of the grave being a copy of the original gravestone.
Widow Sarah Ferren is on the Newtown. NH tax lists for the years 1771. 1772. 1773 and 1774.
Copy of the Will of Capt, Jonathan Farren, dated 22 Feb 1768, and approved 27 Jun 1770, and the inventory of his estate, dated 10 July 1770. Follow.
(INDORSEMENT) JONATHAN FERRENS'S WILL
Prov'd Jun 27th 1770
Entered
In The Name of God Amen: The Twenty Second Day of February one Thousand Seven Hundred & Sixty Eight I Jonathan Ferren of Newton in the province of New Hampshire in New England Being at this present time through Gods Goodness of Perfect Understanding tho: under Bodily indisposition & Being Sensible that I am a frail Mortal Creature & Liable to Death Every Moment
Do make & ordain This my Last Will &Testament that is to say Principally & first of all I Give & Commit my Soul into the hands of God that Gave it &my body I Commit to the Earth to be buried in a Decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter named: Nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall Receive the Same again by the Might Power of God & as Touching Such worldly Estate where with it hath pleased God to bless me with in this Life I Demise & Dispose of the Same in the following Manner & form & first of all My will is that my Just Debts & funeral Charges be paid out of my Estate by my Executor hereafter named
Secondly I Give &Bequeath unto my well beloved wife Sarah Ferren one Third part of all my Estate both Real & P (excepting my Stock of Creatures & Cyder Casks) During her Natural Life & I do also give unto my Said wife all my household Moveables of whatever Denomination (excepting ye Cyder Casks above sd) During her natural Life & at her decease my will is that the Said Movables Given to my Should be Equally Divided between all my Daughters &I do also Give unto my Said wife one Cow & four Sheep for hers for ever
3ly I Give & bequeath unto my well beloved Son Timothy Ferren the Sum of Seven pounds ten Shillings lawful money or the value thereof in Goods at Money price
4ly I Give &Bequeath unto my well beloved Daughter Mary Clough ye Sum of Seven pounds ten Shillings lawful money or the value thereof in Goods at money price
5ly I Give &Bequeath unto my well beloved Daughter Bettee Davis the Sum of Seven pounds ten Shillings lawful money or the value thereof in Goods at money price
61y I Give & Bequeath unto my well beloved Son Moses Ferren the Sum of fifteen pounds lawful money or the value thereof in Goods at Money price
7ly I Give & Bequeath unto my well beloved Son Zebulon Ferren ten Shillings lawful money or the value thereof in Goods at Money price
8ly I Give & Bequeath unto my Daughter Abigail Ferren now widow of my Son Alpheus Ferren Late Dcesd the whole improvement of three Lots of Land that I bought of Thomas Dent Benjamin Webster & Cornel as Clough that Lyeth on the South of a highway Lately Laid out through one of the Said Lots During her widowhood and at the time when She Shall Cease to Remain in her this widowhood then the Same to be Equally Divided in Quantity in Quality between the two male Children of the Said Alphaeus Ferren Dcesd namely William & Alpheaus they paying out to their Sister Sarah Ferren Six pounds apiece in lawful money
91y I Give & Bequeath unto my well beloved Son Phillip Ferren about one hundred & fifty Acres of Land being in Goffstown (So Called) which I bought of Doctor Bond
10thly I Give &bequeath unto my well beloved Son Phinehas Ferren about one hundred &fifty acres of land Lying in Goffstown aforesaid which I bought of Esqr Parker
11ly I Give &Bequeath unto my well beloved Daughter Hannah Bagly the Sum of Seven pounds ten Shillings lawful money or the value thereof in Goods at money price
121y I Give & bequeath unto my Grandsons viz unto Enos, Ebenezer & Zebulon Sons to my Son Zebulon Ferren about forty acres of Land in Sandown which I bought of Benjamin Webster to be divided between them as follows viz three Quarters there of between ye sd Enos &Ebenezer &the other Quarter thereof to my sd Grandson Zebulon
131y I Give & bequeath unto my well beloved Son Aquilla Ferren all my homestead Living Salt marsh fresh meadow & all other my Lands which I have not before Disposed of in this will
141y I order my Executor hereafter Named to pay unto my Several Children above Mentioned their respective Legacies Given them in this will within five years after my decease
I5ly My will is that my Children &Grandchildren to home Lands are Given to in this will Should Come into the immediate possession thereof at my Decease
161y My will is that my Son Aquilla Ferren Should have all my wareing Apparel fire arms & Cyder Casks which I Shall Leave at my Decase &all other my Estate Real or personal as all my Stock of Creatures & Utensils of husbandry all Movables Bills Bonds notes of hand Books or book Debts of what Name or denomination So Ever that hath not been before Dispos'd of in this will I Leave in the hand of my Executor ordering him to pay all my Debts which are Just & lawful & funeral Charges out of the Same &I do now Revoke & make void all other wills & testaments before by me Made &Appoint order &Constitute my Son Aquilla Ferren Sole Executor of this my Last Will &testament
Witness my hand &Seal the Day &year above written Signed Sealed Published &Declared to be the Last Will & testament of Jonathan Ferren by him in presents of
XDavid Goodwin
XGideon Bartlett (signed) JONATHAN FARREN (SEAL)
Eliphalet Bartlet
Copied from original, Court Files. No. 3764, Recorded (New Hampshire Province) Probate Records. volume 26. page 243. Office of the Secretary of State. Concord. NH.
- According to information provided on his gravestone, he was born in England and emigrated to New England in 1719. If this is correct, there should be a ship
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1697 - 1770 (73 years)
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