Matthias Farnsworth
- Born: Abt 1612, Farleton, Lancashire, England 102
- Marriage: Mary Farr in 1630 in Lynn, Massachusetts 102
- Died: 21 Jan 1689, Groton. Middlesex, Massachusetts about age 77 102,144
 General Notes:
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 108, p. 243, Matthias, born in 1612; married, perhaps secondly, Mary, daughter of George Farr of Lynn, Massachusetts. Matthias died 21 Jan 1688/9 and Mary died in 1717. One of their sons was Bejamin. 102
Noted events in his life were:
• Emigration: 1640 to the Massachsetts Bay Colony from Lancashire. 145
• Name. 144
So far as is known, three Farnsworth were the only emigrants of the name, who settled in America. They are: Joseph, Matthias, Thomas. Joseph Farnsworth of Dorchester came over with the Dorchester company in 1628. Matthias Farnworth was residing at Lynn in 1657; he probably moved to Groton in 1660; he is the Grandfather of Matthias, taken prisoner in 1704. Thomas Farnsworth, a Quaker, who apparently was connected in some way with the adventure of William Penn, came to Bordentown in 1681.
Selected from the Farnsworth Memorial, published in America in 1897
• Background Information. 524
Matthias Farnsworth emigrated to New England from England, and soon settled in Lynn Massachusetts, sometime after 1650. He was most likely was born near Farnworth, Lancashire, England, and he married Marry Farr, daughter of George Farr, also from Lynn Massachusetts. Farnsworth was a weaver by trade. He was admitted a freemand of Lynn on 16 May 1670, and died 21 Jan 1688/89. His wife Marry died in 1717.
His eldest three children, possibly from an earlier wife, are:
Elizabeth, born 1647, born in either England or Lynn, Massachusetts, married 16 Jan 1667, James Robertson (or Robinson) who was born in 1632 and died 8 Dec 1720. Elizabeth died 22 Dec 1729 at age eighty-two years.
Matthias, born in 1649, married, 1681, Sarah Nutting, daughter of John Nutting.
John, born about 1651/52, married 8 Dec 1686, Hannah Aldis, of Dedham, Massachusetts, born 4 July 1666. He died 17 Oct 1729.
Benjamin, born 1667, married 1695, Mary Prescott, born 3 Feb 1674, daughter of Jones and Mary (Locker) Presscott. He died 15 Aug 1733/35.
Joseph, born 16 Nov 1657, Lynn, Massachusetts, died 31 Oct 1674, unmarried
Mary, born 11 Oct 1668, Lynn, Massachusetts, married 11 Apr 1676, Samuel Thatcher, of Waterown, Massachussetts.
Sarah, born about 1663/64, married Simon Stone, of Watertown, Massachussetts
Samuel, born Oct 1669, married 12 Dec 1706, Mary Whitcomb, widow of Simon Willard; Samuel died 1726/27
Abigail, born 17 Jan 1671, married John Hartshorn, her cousin
Jonathan, born 1 Jun 1675, married 1698, Ruth Shattuck, born 24 Jun 1668, died 16 Jun 1748
11 Joseph (2nd) born 1677, died 20 Feb 1687
~Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County, p. 61
• Background Information. 704
Mathias Farnsworth lived in Lynn, Massachusetts at least by 1657, when he name appears on the town records. He was likely a resident there many years before this date. He occupied a farm and was a farmer. The records tell of a child, Joseph, being born in Lynn, 17 Nov 1657. Another child was born 11 Oct 1660, named Mary. He probably moved to Groton, Massachusetts, not long after the birth of Mary.
Mathias appears, according to the town records, to be an original proprietor, holding what was called a twenty-acre right, that in its proportional application gave him something over a thousand acres. In the town records we know that he was a resident of Groton by 27 Nov 1664. The town records also reveal that he was called upon by the citizens of Groton to make decisions in matters that were important to them, so he must have been a respected member of the town.
During King Philip's War, the settlers at Groton left, and their homes were burned in the attack by the Native Americans. The Farnsworth family stayed in Concord for two years, then moved back to start all over again whereas many of the settlers of Groton stayed in Concord.
On 12 Jan 1688/89, Mathias was on his death bed and called for the assistance of his friend Jonas Prescott, to whom he dictated his will. He likely died soon after, and an inventory of his estate was taken three days later on 4 Feb 1688/89. The will was proved, 17 Dec 1689. His wife survived him for many years later. She mad her will 5 Dec 1716, which was proved 7 Mar 1717.
Farnsworth Memorial, pp. 19 - 32
Matthias married Mary Farr, daughter of George Farr and Elizabeth Stowers, in 1630 in Lynn, Massachusetts.102 (Mary Farr was born in 1620-1642 in Lynn, Massachusetts 102 and died 1716 or 1717 in Groton. Middlesex, Massachusetts 102.)
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