Re: John Ensign d. 1676 Battle of Rehoboth
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In reply to:
John Ensign d. 1676 Battle of Rehoboth
1/02/00
John, of Scituate, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Wilder) Ensign, by wife who died before him, had only child Hannah, b. 1669; was killed by the Indians at Rehoboth fight March 26, 1676; had made his will in contemplation of such a result a few days before.Although John's wife is listed in various genealogies (such as the Jacob Turner's 1852 Turner Genealogy) as Elizabeth Wade, a daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth, John's wife, who is not mentioned in his will (therefore probably deceased), is unknown. It definitely was not Elizabeth Wade the daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Hanford) Wade of Scituate. She married Thomas Marmaduke Stevens in ca 1665 and the marriage was annulled in 1680 becuase it was learned that Thomas had two other wives.
John Ensign was killed in King Philip's War, (Newman's Letter, Early Rehoboth, 3:14-15), along with Joseph Wade (see Thomas Wade, below).In the will John made March 5, 1676 (the date on the recorded copy is July 5, 1676, but it must surely be wrong since he died in battle on March 26, 1676) signed and witnessed on the eve of the march against the Indians, he recites, "Being about to go forth in the present expedition against the barbarous natives I commit my soul to the hands of God my Creator: and I give to my Mother Elizabeth all the lands which my father gave me in his will dated 1663 during her life, and afterward the same to my daughter, Hannah.To my sister Hannah Shepherd's son Thomas Shepherd 20 acres of land next to Isaac Chittendens.To sister Hannah Wade's son, Jacob, the bit cliff; he to pay his sister 10 pounds and his brother Joseph 5 pounds.His will was sworn October 20, 1676.The executors were his mother and Thomas Wade, his brother-in-law (Plymouth Colony, Stratton). I have his birth as ca 1642.