Benjamin Nurse of Framingham, MA
Benjamin Nurse, son of Francis and Rebecca (Towne) Nurse was born in Salem January 26, 1666.He married Tamesin Smith on February 21, 1688, in Salem.She died before February 16, 1713/14, when he married in Framingham widow Elizabeth (Sawtelle) Morse of Watertown.
Benjamin Nurse of Framingham, yeoman, made his will August 1, 1735.It was proved February 13, 1748.To his wife Elizabeth, in lieu of dower, he left the use of one half of his dwelling house and barn, his orchards and lands in Framingham so long as she remained his widow;also the best bed and furniture and warming pan, two cows and one half of the household goods in the dwelling room.She was to be provided with fire wood and an "Able and Gentle horse."Also, she was to have one fourth of the corn, meat and swine belonging to him at his decease.To complete their portions, of which the had already had a part, he left his five eldest children certain sums to be paid them by his son Aaron:to his eldest son Benjamin, 5 pounds; to his son William, 15 pounds; to his son Ebenezer, 5 pounds; to his daughter Thamerzin Nurse, 30 pounds; to his daughter Elizabeth Philips, now wife of Theophilius Philips of Hopkinton, 30 pounds.To his son Aaron, "to Enable him to Subsist in the World (being very Weakly) and to Pay the Legacies," all his houses and lands in Framingham, cattle, utensils of husbandry, household goods and all other personal estate, Aaron to pay his just debts, his funeral expenses and the funeral expenses of his wife Elizabeth, if she be his widow at the time of her death.Executors: wife and son Aaron Nurse.Witnesses: Benjamin Ball, Ebenezer Harrington, Gideon Bridges.In a letter dated at Framingham January 27, 1748, Elizabeth Nurse addressed Hon. Samuel Danforth, Judge of Probate, expressing her satisfaction with the will.Ebenezer Harrington acted as surety for Aaron Nurse in a bond for 400 pounds.
Children, born in Framingham (surname Nurse):
1.Tamesin, b. 13 Nov 1691; unmarried in 1735 but a Tamesin Nurse (possible she or a niece) m. 23 Feb 1738, Ebenezer Hemenway.
2.Benjamin, b. 20 Jan 1694; m. (1) 12 Jul 1717, Elizabeth Haven; m. (2) 2 Jun 1737, Mary Belknap.
3.William, b. 8 Mar 1696; m. in Shrewsbury on 12 Dec 1723, Rebecca Fay of Westborough; both d. in Westborough, she on 22 Jun 1776, and he on 5 Apr 1779.William Nurse was of Shrewsbury when he made his will on 3 Jan 1758, but of Westborough she he died, the will being proved on 7 Jun 1779.To his wife Rebekah, all of his household goods and part of house, etc.To son Daniel, all his lands in Shrewsbury and elsewhere, reserving house-room for daughters Lydia and Rebekah as long as they remain single and "in such a weakly condition."To son Daniel, all quick stock, husbandry tools, one half of clothes, and his money bonds.To second son Benjamin, all cooper's tools and one half of clothing.To daughters Mary, Lydia, Rebekah and Zerviah. "All my Books of Divinity Shall be Equally Divided among all my children."Executors:wife Rebekah and eldest don, Daniel.
4.Elizabeth, b. 18 Sep 1698; m. Theophilius Philips of Hopkinton.
5.Ebenezer, b. 27 Mar 1700/1; m. 14 Apr 1720, Mercy Haven.
6.Margaret, b. 24 Apr 1703; legatee of her uncle Samuel Nurse in 1715, but d. without issue before her father made his will in 1735.
7.Moses, b. in 1704/5; not mentioned in his father's will.
8.Aaron, b. 1 Jan 1708; probably the Aaron Nurse who d. at Westborough 31 Dec 1782.
Sources:
Worcester Probate, Series A 43954
See "The Ancestry of Sarah Johnson, wife of Joseph Neal of Litchfield, Me," (1960), by Walter Goodwin Davis
"About Towne" Vol. X, No. 4 (Dec 1990), p. 73