1606 - 1684 (77 years)
-
Name |
John LIVERMORE |
Birth |
30 Sep 1606 |
Harwich, Essex, England |
Gender |
Male |
Reference Number |
LBTN-2R9 |
Death |
14 Apr 1684 |
Watertown, Middlesex, MA |
Notes |
- (1) Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration - Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, Vol. 4, I-L, Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995, pp. 297-302:
JOHN LIVERMORE
ORIGIN: Wethersfield, Essex.
MIGRATION: 1634 on the Francis (on 30 April 1634, "John Lyvermore," aged 28, was enrolled at Ipswich for passage to New England on the Francis [Hotten 279]).
FIRST RESIDENCE: Watertown.
REMOVES: Wethersfield 1636, New Haven 1640, Watertown 1650.
OCCUPATION: Potter (on 25 May 1646, "Brother Leavermore also [is relieved of training] because that if he attend this court it will hinder his burning of pots this whole week" [NHCR 1:239]; on 22 January 1666/7, Watertown selectmen addressed a complaint made by "John Livermore Senior for rating him for his trade" [WaTR 1:89]).
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Admission to Watertown church prior to 6 May 1635 implied by freemanship.
On 10 March 1646/7, "Jno. Leavermore" and "Sister Leavermore" were assigned their seats in the New Haven meetinghouse [NHCR 1:302, 304].
FREEMAN: 6 May 1635 (as "John Lethermore," sixth in a sequence of eight Watertown men [MBCR 1:370]).
On 29 October 1640, "Goodman Livermore" was one of six men "admitted members of the court" at New Haven, after which he signed the list of freemen [NHCR 1:18, 44].
OFFICES: Watertown constable, 6 November 1654 [WaTR 1:39, 40, 42, 43]. Hogreeve, 23 February 1656/7 [WaTR 1:52]. Selectman, 6 November 1665, 4 November 1667, 2 November 1668 [WaTR 1:86, 87, 90, 92, 93, 94].
Corporal in New Haven train band (on 7 April 1646, "Corporal Leavermore being complained of for his man's defect in want of a rest, sword, worm & scourer, but having procured some & promising to provide the rest as soon as possibly he can, was fined but 1 s." [NHCR 1:230, 271, 308]; on 17 May 1647, "Corporal Leavermore desired the court that he might be freed from the place of a corporal, because he thought his necessary occasions would call him to go for England; his desire was granted" [NHCR 1:313]). His inventory included "two guns" in a grouping of mixed items [MPR Case #14163].
EDUCATION: Signed his deeds and will. His inventory included "a parcel of books" valued at £1 10s. [MPR Case #14163].
ESTATE: On 25 July 1636, "John Livermore" was granted a Great Dividend of twenty-five acres, Lot #11 in the Fourth Division in Watertown [WaBOP 5]. In the Inventory of Grants, "John Livermore" held three parcels: "homestall of two acres"; "twenty-five acres of upland . . . being a Great Dividend in the Fourth Division & the Eleventh Lot"; and "one acre of meadow . . . at Beaver Brook" [WaBOP 113].
In the New Haven Early List of Estates, compiled in 1640, "Joh[n] Livermoore" held an estate for four persons and £100: fifteen acres in the first division; three acres in the neck; seven acres of meadow; and twenty-eight acres in the second division [NHCR 1:92].
In the New Haven Book of Alienations, compiled in 1646, "John Leavermore" held an estate for four persons and £100: "15 acres his first division"; "3 acres in the neck"; "7 acres of meadow"; and "28 acres his second divison" [BA 75v].
On 7 May 1650, at New Haven, "John Livermore hath sold and now passeth over to Theophilus Higginson, his house and houselot, ½ acre 10 perches; 8 acres ¼ 15 rod on this side the West River . . . ; 6 acres ½ 25 rod on the other side the West River . . . ; 28 acres of the second division . . . ; 5 acres of meadow in the West Meadow . . . ; three acres of meadow in Solitary Cove; the work houses with the land belonging to them" [NHTR 1:25; BA 75r (gives the year date incorrectly as 1651)].
On 29 March 1668, "John Grout of Sudbury . . . , yeoman," sold to "John Livermore of Watertowne . . . , potter, . . . one parcel of meadow land . . . containing by estimation four acres" [MLR 4:189]. On 31 March 1669, "Michael Barstow, John Coolidge Senior, & Joseph Taynter of Watertowne . . . by the appointment of the inhabitants of the said town" sold to "John Livermore of the same town, potter, one messuage or tenement . . . containing all that Cowpen Farm whereof Henry Curtis was sometime possessed, with all the houses & lands to the same appertaining . . . , the upland adjoining to the said houses being by estimation forty acres . . . and the meadow lands are by estimation twenty acres" [MLR 3:361].
On 19 February 1678[/9?], "Nathaniel Tredway of Watertowne weaver," sold to "John Livermore, Richard Child, Josiah Jones of Watertowne and John Hayward of Concord . . . a lot or parcel of land containing thirty acres . . . part of the tract of land commonly called or going under the denomination of Lieu of Township" [MLR 7:292]. On 10 March 1680[/1?], "Jno. Livermore Senior of Watertowne . . . , yeoman," deeded to "his son Samuel Livermore . . . all that his said now mansion place containing the dwelling houses wherein the said John & Samuell now dwell . . . containing by estimation about thirty and four acres" [MLR 8:105]. On 3 March 1682/3, "John Hayward of Concord" sold to "John Livermore of Watertowne . . . all my part of Stony Brook Mills in Watertowne with all the lands & housing & privileges & appurtenances thereto belonging, one-fourth part of the whole being my share" [MLR 9:253]. On [blank] May 1685, "John Chadwick of Watertowne" sold to "John Livermore, Richard Child & John Bright . . . a lot or parcel of land containing ten acres . . . part of that tract of land commonly called or going under the denomination of Lieu of Township" [MLR 10:609].
In his will, dated 10 January 1682[/3] and proved 16 June 1684, "John Livermore of Watertown aged seventy-seven or eight years" bequeathed to "my eldest son John Livermore . . . the housing, lands and meadows thereunto pertaining where the said John now dwelleth, the lands which I purchased of the town commonly called the Cowpen Farm, the said John paying out of it twenty pounds after my decease in manner as followeth: viz: ten pounds to my son-in-law John Coolidge to be improved by him for his three youngest children by my daughter deceased, five pounds to Daniel and fifty shillings to Elizabeth and fifty shillings to Sarah . . . , the other ten pounds to be paid to my daughter Martha; also the said John shall pay to my beloved wife and his said mother twenty shillings per annum"; to "my son Samuell besides what I have given him by a deed of gift . . . , also . . . five acres of land lying on the Rocks . . . and an acre of marsh in Cambridge," he to pay to "my son Nathaniel Livermore after my decease thirty pounds"; "as for the thirteen pounds that is due to me from my son Samuel . . . I give three pounds of it to his two daughters Hannah and Grace my grandchildren . . . and the other ten pounds I give to himself after my wife's decease . . . and . . . five pounds he is to pay to my daughter Martha"; to "my son Nathanel . . . fifty acres of land lying in the second division . . . and two acres of meadow called Patch Meadow . . . and after his mother's decease four acres of marsh lying in Cambridge . . . , also four acres of meadow lying in Pigsgusset Meadow," as well as the £30 to come from his brother Samuel; to "my beloved and only daughter now living Martha besides what she hath already had twenty pounds"; to "Jeams Townson my son-in-law being indebted to me by bill five pounds sterling in money, I do give it to his son Jeams, my grandchild"; to "Grace Levermore my beloved wife" furniture and provisions for income during her life, she to be sole executrix; "my son John Levermore and my son-in-law John Coolidge [to be] trustees in trust" [MPR Case #14163].
The inventory of the estate of "John Livermore Senior," dated 2 May 1694, was untotalled. The real estate totalled £161 5s.: "the cowpen farm containing forty acres of upland and twenty acres of meadow," £60; "fifty acres of Dividend land," £40; "two acres of meadow in Patch Meadow," £4; "four acres of meadow in Peekssqusset," £25; "six acres of salt marsh," £25; "an acre of meadow at Chester's Brook," £2 5s.; and "five acres of upland on the Rocks," £5 [MPR Case #14163].
In her will, dated 19 December 1690, "Grace Livermore of Watertown, widow relict of John Livermore," ordered "that what household goods I have at Watertown an inventory of which I have given to my son Jno. Coolidg be divided into three equal parts & that one third part be given to my grandson James Townsen, and the remainder to the children of my daughter Hanna Coolidg deceased, a small brass kettle excepted which I give to my daughter Martha Parker of Chelmsford," and bequeathed to "James Townsen & my son Abrah[am] Parker twelve pounds in money now in the hand of Mrs. Esther Addams"; to "my son John Livermore a cow in his hand for the benefit of his children & him I appoint my executor"; to "my son Samuell a mare that is in his hand"; to "James Townsen" a debt owed her by "Daniell Champny"; to "my daughter Martha Parker all the household furniture that I have in Chelmsford"; to "my son Samuell five pounds in money which I lent to him and [illegible] shillings which I lent to my son Nathaniell"; to "the children of my daughter Hanna Coolidge five pounds in money which I lent to their father Coolidge" [MPR Case #14160].
BIRTH: About 1606 (aged 28 on 30 April 1634 [Hotten 279]; "aged seventy-seven or eight years" on 10 January 1682[13] [MPR Case #14163]; died 14 April 1684 "aged 78" [WaVR 1:55]), son of Daniel Livermore and his wife Elizabeth Hammond of Wethersfield, Essex [Second Boat 8:132; NEHGR 150:433-35].
DEATH: Watertown 14 April 1684 "aged 78" [WaVR 1:55].
MARRIAGE: By about 1636 Grace Sherman, daughter of EDMUND SHERMAN {1634, Watertown} (see COMMENTS below).
CHILDREN:
i HANNAH LIVERMORE, b. say 1636; m. Watertown 14 November 1655 John Coolidge [WaVR 18], son of JOHN COOLIDGE {1635, Watertown) [GM 2:2:191-98].
ii JOHN LIVERMORE, b. say 1638; m. (1) by 1668 Hannah _____ (eldest known child b. Watertown 21 March 1668[/9?] [WaVR 1:31]); m. (2) by 1697 Elizabeth (Grout) Allen, daughter of John Grout and widow of Samuel Allen [Bond 263, 339].
iii SAMUEL LIVERMORE, bp. New Haven 15 August 1641 [NHChR 10]; m. Watertown 4 June 1668 Hannah Bridge [WaVR 1:30].
iv DANIEL LIVERMORE, bp. New Haven 7 October 1643 [NHChR 12]; no further record (see COMMENTS below).
v Daughter LIVERMORE, bp. New Haven 1 June 1645 [NHChR 13]; no further record (unless she is the daughter Sarah below).
vi MARY LIVERMORE, bp. New Haven 12 September 1647 [NHChR 14]; no further record (see COMMENTS below).
vii SARAH LIVERMORE, b. say 1651 (possibly the daughter baptized at New Haven in 1645); m. by 1671 James Townsend.
viii NATHANIEL LIVERMORE, b. say 1653; d. Watertown 12 February 1735/6, "an aged man," apparently unmarried [WaVR 2:103].
ix MARTHA LIVERMORE, b. say 1657; m. Chelmsford 15 July 1682 Abraham Parker.
x EDMUND LIVERMORE, b. Watertown 8 March 165[8/]9 [WaVR 21]; d. Watertown 24 May 1659 [WaVR 22]. ASSOCIATIONS: John Livermore's mother was sister of WILLIAM HAMMOND {1631, Watertown} [NEHGR 150:433-35; GMB 2:85054].
COMMENTS: In the 1640 inventory of New Haven land, "Joh[n] Livermoore" was credited with a household of four and an estate of £100 [NHCR 1:92]. The household of four would have consisted of John Livermore, his wife Grace (Sherman) Livermore, and their two eldest children, Hannah and John.
The sequence of migrations of John Livermore and the proof for the identity of his wife are closely intertwined. He received no grants of land after 25 July 1636, indicating strongly that he moved away from Watertown between that date and 28 February 1636/7, when the next distribution of land was made. No further record has been found for him in New England until he was admitted a freeman at New Haven on 29 October 1640. Where was he in the interim?
Edmund Sherman arrived in Watertown, apparently in 1635, but soon removed to Wethersfield, and then on to New Haven, where he was admitted a freeman on the same day as John Livermore [MBCR 1:372; WaTR 1:2; WaBOP 3, 6, 9, 99; NHCR 1:44; FOOF 1:540; Wethersfield Hist 2:624]. Edmund Sherman had a daughter Grace, presumably that daughter baptized on 18 June 1616 [FOOF 1:540]. Grace, the widow of John Livermore, died at Chelmsford on 14 January 1690[/1], aged 75. The combination of the unusual given name, the common migration pattern in New England of the two families, and the match of baptism and death dates for Grace make her identification as Grace Sherman, daughter of Edmund Sherman, highly probable.
Various writers have erroneously assigned to John Livermore a daughter Elizabeth, but this arises from a misreading of his will [Bond 338]. In making a bequest to the children of his daughter Hannah who married John Coolidge, John Livermore made explicit bequests to her children Daniel, Elizabeth and Sarah. These were thought by Bond and others to be Livermore children, but they were in fact Coolidge children.
Ironically, John Livermore did have a son Daniel and a daughter Sarah, one of them, and perhaps both, having been baptized in New Haven, a fact unknown to Bond. The name Daniel turns out to have been an important clue, as that was the name of the father of the immigrant.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: In 1987 and in 1996 Michael J. Wood and Robert Charles Anderson independently discovered and published the evidence for the English origin of John Livermore [Second Boat 8:132; NEHGR 150:433-35].
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Person ID |
I45038 |
Frost, Gilchrist and Related Families |
Last Modified |
4 Mar 2024 |
Family |
Grace SHERMAN, b. 18 Jun 1615, Dedham, Essex, England d. 14 Jan 1690, Chelmsford, Middlesex, MA (Age 74 years) |
Children |
| 1. Samuel LIVERMORE, b. 11 May 1640, New Haven County, CT d. 14 Jan 1691, Watertown, Middlesex County, MA (Age 50 years) |
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Family ID |
F19394 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Last Modified |
4 Mar 2024 |
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