John Spofford
- Born: Abe 1612, England 1545
- Marriage: Elizabeth Scott 446,1542,1545
- Died: 7 Oct-9 Nov 1678, Rowley Cemetery, Rowley, Massachusetts at age 66 1545
 Noted events in his life were:
• Background Information. 1542
Captain Richard Kimball was born 20 Nov 1660 in Hampton, Massachusetts, son of Thomas Kimball and Mary (Smith) Kimball. Richard married 7 Sep 1682, Sarah, daughter of John and Elizabeth Spofford of Boxford, born 24 Mar 1661, and 14 Feb 1713/4.
History of the Kimball Family in America, pp. 56
• Background Information. 1545
The first time the name John Spofford appears on the record of the the first division of lands into homestead lots, in 1643. John's wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Scott, of Ipwich. The birth of their daughter Elizabeth was recorded 14 Dec 1646.
John lived for close to thirty years in Rowley, and in the spring of 1669 moved to the west part of town, and was undoubably the first settler in Georgetown. John is considered the progenitor of the name Spofford in the United States and Canada.
John Spofford appears on an affidavit as being fifty years of age in 1662, and may have been born in 1612. His will was made 7 Oct 1678 and probated "6th 9th month, 1678, his wife and son Thomas joint executors."
Children of John Spofford and Elizabeth Scott were:
• Elizabeth Spofford was born on 14 Feb 1647 in Rowley. She married first Alexander Sessions. He died in 1688. She married second Unknown Low.
• John Spofford was born on 24 Dec 1648 in Rowley. He died on 22 Apr 1696 in Rowley. He is buried in the Old Cemetery in Bradford. He married Sarah, the daughter of David Wheeler, on 9 Mar 1675 or 1676 in Rowley. Sarah died on 24 Oct 1732.
• Thomas Spofford was born on 4 Jan 1651 in Rowley. He died on 20 Jul 1706 in Rowley. He married Abigail Haggett. Abigail was probably the daughter of Henry Haggett.
• Samuel Spofford was born on 31 Jan 1652/3 in Rowley. He married Sarah Birkbee.
• Hannah Spofford was born in 1654 in Rowley.
Mary Spofford was born on 1 Nov 1656 in Rowley. She married Unknown Hunnewell.
• Sarah Spofford was born on 15 Jan 1658 in Rowley. She was buried on 15 Feb 1660 in Rowley.
• Sarah Spofford was born on 22 Mar 1661 in Rowley. She married Richard Kimball on 17 Sep 1682.
• Francis Spofford was born on 24 Sep 1665 in Rowley. He died before 1724. He married Mary Leighton. Mary was the daughter of Richard Leighton.
A Genealogical Record of Spofford, pp. 29-30, 37-38
• Will: The Last Will and Testment of John Spofard, Senior. 1545
"I comit my soule into the hands of god who gave it, and my body to the earth, to be decently buried, and as to that estate which the lord hath given, dispose of it as follows after my debts are payd.
"Imprimis: - As for my dear and loving wife, I give to her the lease of the house and lands of Mrs. Prudence Cotton.
"Also I give to her all the household stuff, to be at her disposal, except the arms and ammunition. Also I give to her two cows, and one calfe, also four sheep. I give to her and my son Francis, to be equally divided between, one young horse, also to have the use of four acres of land at the farm during her life. Furthermore, I will that my son Francis his portion be at my wife's disposal till he comes to the age of twenty-one years if she live so long, for that end that he may be helpful to her to carry on her husbandry work.
"Item: That which I give to my son Francis, is the two young oxen, and the mare and the cart, and all the furniture belonging to husbandry. Also one yearling calf, these to be at my wife's disposal till he be of age above said, and these things, or the worth of them, to be faithfully payed to him. Also I give him the small gun , and four acres of land at great meadows, and what may so fall by virtue of any town grant.
"Item: I give to my son John, two stears coming three years old, and the long fowling piece, and one halfe of the lease of the farm together with twenty pounds stocke I formerly gave him.
"Item: I give to my son Thomas, my vilage lands, and the gray horse and two sheepe, and one spring hog, and one two year old heifer and the great musket.
"Item: I give to my son Samuel, the other halfe of the lease of the farm and two young steers, one that come three year old and one that come four year old and one spring hog, and about ten pound stock I have already given him.
"Item: I give to my daughter Elizabeth one two year old heifer and two sheep.
"Item: I give to Hannah one cow, one three year old heifer, and two sheep.
"Item: I give to my daughter Mary one cow and one calf and two sheep.
"Item: I give to my daughter Sarah, one cow and one calf and two sheep.
"Item: I also appoint my louing wife and my son Thomas to be joint executors of this my last will, and my children to be payd at marriage or at coming one and twenty years old, and if any die before, their portion to be divided among the rest.
"In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal 7th 8th month,
"(Oct. 7th) 1678. JOHN SPOFARD.
"Signed, sealed and delivered
"in presence of us,
"John Johnson,
"Philip Nelson."
In court held at Ipswich, 6th. 9th. Month, 1678, this will proved to be the last will and testament of John Spaford, by the oaths of Philip Nelson and John Johnson.
A Genealogical Record of Spofford, p. 32
John married Elizabeth Scott, daughter of Thomas Scott and Elizabeth Strutt 446,1543.,1545 (Elizabeth Scott was born in 1623 in Rattlesden, Suffolk, England 466, baptized on 18 Nov 1623 in Rattlesden, Suffolk, England and died on 10 Feb 1691 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts 1546.)
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