John Eaton (1611 - 1658)

Born 21 Aug 1611 in Dover, Kent, England

Ancestors

Husband of Abigail (Bachelor) Eaton — married 5 Apr 1630 in Dover, Kent, England

Descendants

Died 17 Nov 1658 at age 47 in Dedham, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Joe Cochoit [send private message] and Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message]

John Eaton migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 2, p. 403) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Name

Name: John Eaton

of Dover, co. Kent, England, and Watertown and Dedham, Massachusetts

Other spellings in primary records: Eton, Etton

Birth

Baptism: 21 August 1611, parish of St, Mary's in Dover, Kent, England ^{[1] [2]}

It is not completely certain that the immigrant John Eaton is the same person as the son of Nicholas Eaton. The identification was made from baptism records more than 100 years ago. However, the John Eaton baptized in 1611 is the only known candidate who would be the Dover man who married the widow Abigail (Batchelor) Damon at Dover in 1630. Parish records, probate records and other town records in and around Dover have been extensively searched without another possible John Eaton being found. Still, a couple of nagging points argue against the identification. He would have been about ten years his wife’s junior and, as a very young man, he married a widow with children—not a common event. That John Eaton, son of Nicholas, was alive on 10 April 1635 is proven by his mention in the will of his step-mother, Joan Tidderman.^{[2] [3]} However, he was not named in the will of Nicholas Eaton, his purported father, on 6 December 1636.^{[2] [4]} Nor does John Eaton, son of Nicholas, appear again in any records in Dover after Joan Tidderman’s will. This would normally be taken as evidence that Nicholas’ son had died between the dates of the two wills. Though, no burial for John Eaton was entered in the parish registers of St. James or St. Mary, Dover, or St. Margaret at Cliffe, Kent, 1635-1636. It might be argued that John was not named in his father’s will as he had already received his share to pay for the passage of his family to New England and purchase land, or perhaps he was disinherited because his marriage to an older widow, or perhaps because of religious ideology. Regardless, it is unusual that his father would not name him. It is not unlikely that his disappearance from the records in England is because of his immigration to the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Immigration

Immigration: On the Elizabeth and Ann in May of 1635.

John Eaton’s exact date of immigration is not known with complete certainty. Among those listed on the reconstructed passenger list of the Elizabeth and Ann are his wife Abigail Eaton age 35, Mary Eaton age 4, Thomas Eaton age 1 and Jane Damond age 9.^[5] Missing from this list is John Eaton, as well as Abigail’s son John Damon. However, as the passenger list is reconstructed from Certificates of Conformity required for emigration and is therefore incomplete, it is still likely that John Eaton arrived with his family on the Elizabeth and Ann in May of 1635.

Life in Massachusetts

The first actual record of John Eaton in Massachusetts is when he was admitted as a freeman at Watertown on 25 May 1636. ^[6] This privilege implies a good standing in the community and membership in the Puritan church in Watertown. It gave him the right to vote and participate in political activities, hold political and town offices, vote for military leaders, and gave him a say in land distributions. Like most immigrants of this time he was a farmer, though his inventory included carpenter tools. The usual story was that he was in Watertown only a year before removing to Dedham, Massachusetts. However, his association with both towns overlaps by several years and he was likely in still in Watertown as late as 1638. He received various grants of land in Watertown, including a Great Dividend of 40 acres on 25 July 1636, 6 acres on 28 February 1636/7 in the Beaverbrook Plowlands, 6 acres on 26 June 1637 in the Remote Meadows, and 3 acres in the Town Plot on 9 April 1638. ^[7]

John Eaton was among the first who helped establish the new settlement at Dedham, Massachusetts. His name appears on the list of those who signed the Dedham Covenant on 15 August 1636 (though he may have signed it sometime later). ^[8] He appears consistently among the names of those attending the assemblies at Dedham from 1637 on. ^[9] On 11 May 1637, John Eaton was granted his first lot in Dedham which had previously been granted to Thomas Hastings. ^[10] At the assembly of 18 January 1637/8, he relinquished to the town 6 acres of land that he had purchased of Raffe Shepeard. ^[11] The baptism of his daughter Abigail at Dedham on 27 January 1639/40 indicates he was still a member of the church at Watertown. He was admitted to the church at Watertown on 30 July 1641: “bretheren John Batchellour & John Eaton wth ther wives having by first by a declaration of ther faith to ye ҂ in a Church meeting sev’red from ye multitude, given good satisfaction to this church thay wer after admitted of the Church in a publike assembly.”^[12] After this date, all records pertain to him living at Dedham. He received additional grants of land from Dedham on 6 February 1642/3, on 29 October 1644, and on 4 February 1644/5.^[13] John Eaton held several positions and was appointed to a number of tasks by Dedham. On several occasions, he was charged with building, maintaining or improving the footbridge over the Charles River.^[14] He also served Dedham several times both as surveyor and as woodreeve.^[15]

Marriage and Children

He married Abigail Bachelor, the widow of Henry Damon, on 5 April 1630 at St. James, Dover.^[2] Abigail was apparently of Faversham, co. Kent where her first marriage and baptism of her first child are recorded. She was born circa 1600 and died sometime after 16 December 1658. She had previously married first Henry Damon by license dated 6 March 1619/20 to be married at Faversham.^{[2] [16]} Their first child, John Damon, was baptized 13 January 1620/21 at Faversham.^{[2] [17]} The family then apparently moved to Dover where Jane Damon daughter of Henry Damon was baptized on 15 August 1624 at St. James, Dover. Henry Damon must have died between 1624 and 1630, though no burial record or will has been found for him. It would seem likely that she was the sister of John Bachelor based on the close association between the two families. They both emigrated from co. Kent to Watertown, and both then became part of the new settlement at Dedham. On 30 July 1641, “bretheren John Batchellour & John Eaton wth ther wives” were admitted to the church at Dedham. John Eaton and John Bachelor were granted adjacent lots, and on the several occasions, when John Eaton was charged with lying out lots assigned by the town, he did so in conjunction with John Bachelor.

Of the six children of John Eaton and Abigail Bachelor, the baptisms of Mary and John have been found at the parishes of St. Mary’s and St. James in Dover. John died two years later and was buried at St. Mary’s, Dover. The baptism of Thomas has not been found, however, he occurs on the Elizabeth and Ann passenger list in April 1635 where he is listed as being 1 year old. He was buried at Dedham, Massachusetts on 10 September 1649. The fourth child, another John Eaton, was presumably born at Watertown in 1636 or 1637. There was a period of time where the church at Watertown did not record the baptisms of children of members who had moved to other towns even though they still were members of the Watertown church. Such was the case with John Eaton who had moved to Dedham but remained a member of the Watertown church for several years. The baptism of their fifth child is recorded at Dedham with a note saying that John Eaton was still a member of the church at Watertown. Their birth and death of their final child is also recorded at Dedham.

Children of Henry Damon and Abigail Bachelor

• John Damon
• Jane Damon bp. on 15 August 1624 at St. James, Dover. She married John Plimpton on 13 March 1644 at Dedham. They had 5 children born at Dedham, and 8 born at Medfield, Massachusetts. John Plimpton was captured by Indians and burned at the stake in late 1677. She married second Nicholas Ide on 16 March 1680. They moved to Rehoboth where Nicholas was buried on 18 October 1690. She married third George Kendrick on 1 April 1691 at Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts. Jane (Damon)(Plimpton)(Ide) Kendrick was buried on 12 May 1694 at Rehoboth.

Children of John Eaton and Abigail Bachelor

• Mary Eaton bp. 20 Mar. 1630/1 at St. James in Dover. She married John Mason on 5 May 1651 at Dedham. They had 7 children born at Dedham. Mary (Eaton) Mason died at Dedham on 6 May 1676; John Mason died at Dedham on 18 January 1688.
• John Eaton bp. 7 October 1632 at St. James in Dover; bur. 27 January 1635 at St. Mary's in Dover.
• Thomas Eaton b. abt. 1634 (age 1 in 1635) in England; d. 10 September 1649 at Dedham.
• John Eaton
• Abigail Eaton
• Jacob Eaton b. 8 June 1642 in Dedham; d. 20 January 1645/6 in Dedham.

Death, Will and Inventory

Death: John Eaton died 10 September 1658 in Dedham, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts.^[18]

In his will, dated 2 November 1658 and proved 9 December 1658, he names Abigail ‘his well beloved wife,’ John Damant of Reading, John Plimpton of Meadfield, ‘kinsman’ Edward Hodsman, son John Eaton, daughter Abigail and daughter Mary. His kinsman, Edward Hodsman, has never been identified. The will was signed with his mark though other documents exist where he signed his signature.^[19]

Will and Inventory: ^{[20] [21]}

John Eaton, of Dedham, though sicke, yet sound in memory, doe make this my last Will. --- I give unto Abigall my wife, the free use of my parlor in my now dwelling house, & the Leantoe thereunto adjoyning and all the household stuffe at present in them to her use, all the tearme she shall remaine a Widdow; & sufficient firewood for her use, to be provided and Layd in the yard at her assignmt. I give my wife, the annuitie of 6 pounds p ann. To be payd at the End of each halfe yeare after my decease, in such things as she needeth out of my estate here-after to be disposed of, during her life; or the third pt of my Lands during the same tearme; her selfe to chose which of these two she best liketh. I give unto my wife so much of my other household stuffs as come to the value of 5 pounds, such as her selfe shall make choyse of, and also one Cowe her selfe to choose. I give to John Dammant, of Reading, £5; to John Plimpton, of Meadfield, £5; unto Edward Hodsman my kinsman, 40s. The remainder of my Estate shall be devided into equall pts. & that pt. Of her potion which my dau. Mary have received to be accounted thereunto; the one halfe whereof I give to John Eaton my sonne, and his heyres forever and the other halfe to Mary and Abigail, my daughters and their heires; my sonne and my two daughters to pay my wife, their mother, that 6p p. ann.

I nominate, Abigall, my wife, to be my executrix. 2: 9: 58

JOHN X EATON

( his mark)

John Allin Eleazer Lushing

Inventory of John Eaton

Taken 30th, of ye 9 mo. 1658 by Eleazer Lushing, Henry Cickering and John Hayard/Haward.

31 yards of New Cloth (3.02.00)

Bridle & Sadle I pillion I pannell (1.00.00)

7 load Hay from foule meadow (3.10.00)

The dwelling house & the 2 barns (45.00.00)

I pcell of upland where the house stands with the orchard as it encompassed with meadow (28.00.00)

land in the Ilande playne broken & unbroken (28.00.00)

the further pcell in the great plaine (7.10.00)

the other (12.00.00)

I Pcell by Thomas Panew (5.00.00)

The meadow at home by the house lot (50.00.10)

The Meadow enclosed by the Iland playne fence (9.00.00)

2 pcells of swamp lying in the iland & one in the South playne (6.00.00)

Woodland distributed and near Meadfield and all Common rights of all sorts (5.00.00)

Furniture, rugg, blanket, Wearing apparel, Farming Tools, Oxen & Calves 2 mares, I colt, sheep, lamb, swine, carts, ploughs, yokes (180.09.00)

(329.10.00)

Presented by Abigail Eaton, the relict of John Eaton 16: 10: 58

Common Errors to Avoid

1. It is sometimes claimed that the wife of John Eaton was named Abigail Gilson. This is an error caused by the confusion between John Damon (d. 1708) of Reading who was the oldest son of our Abigail Bachelor, and a different John Damon (d. 1676) of Scituate who was heir to his uncle, William Gilson. Parish records from Faversham and St. Mary’s make it clear that she is Abigail Bachelor.

2. Robert Charles Anderson in his Great Migration series expressed doubt that Abigail was a sister of John Bachelor of Watertown stating “no evidence has been found to support this claim.”^[22] He also stated that “the maiden name of John Eaton’s wife remains unknown.” On 30 July 1641, “bretheren John Batchellour & John Eaton wth ther wives” were admitted to the church at Dedham, but Anderson felt it was incorrect to therefore assume that Abigail was John Bachelor’s sister. However, he was unaware of the parish records at Faversham and Dover which absolutely prove her maiden name as Abigail Bachelor. It is therefore certain that Abigail’s maiden was in fact Bachelor, and that John Bachelor was almost certainly her brother.

3. This profile originally gave a death date as September 1658; the actual death record reads 17 of ye 9mo which is 17 November 1658.

4. It is sometimes suggested that he was the John Eaton who set sail on the Hopewell for Barbados in February 1634; this raises the possibility that he had preceded his family by a year. However, this John Eaton was only 20 years old which would make him too young to be the correct John Eaton.

Sources

Footnotes and citations:

1. ↑ Parish registers for St. Mary-the-Virgin Church, Dover, 1558-1951 (Family History Library film #1,836,141).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Reed, Paul C. F.S.A.G. The English Ancestry of John¹ Eaton, of Dover, Kent, and Dedham, Massachusetts. Research report commissioned by Joe Cochoit and the Eaton Family Association (2003). Available on the Eaton Family Association website (paid).
3. ↑ Consistory Court of Canterbury, Liber 51, f. 319 [FHL film #188,863].
4. ↑ Consistory Court of Canterbury, Liber 50, f. 316 [FHL film #188,862].
5. ↑ New England Historical and Genealogical Register vol. 14, no. 4 (October 1860):309. ‘'The Founders of New England.’' Passengers on the Elizabeth and Ann.
6. ↑ Shurtleff, Nathaniel B. ed. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, vol. 1 of 5 1628-1641. (Boston, 1853):372.
7. ↑ Watertown Historical Society. Watertown records: comprising the first and second books of town proceedings with the lands grants and possessions, also the proprietors' book and the first book and supplement of births and deaths and marriages. (Watertown, 1894). Book 2 Lands Grants and Possessions, p. 4, 6, 8, and 11.
8. ↑ Hill, Don Gleason town clerk ed. Dedham Town Records, vol. 3: Early Records of the Town of Dedham, Massachusetts 1636-1639 being volume three of the printed records of the town. (Dedham 1892):3.
9. ↑ Hill, Don Gleason town clerk ed. Dedham Town Records, vol. 3: Early Records of the Town of Dedham, Massachusetts 1636-1639 being volume three of the printed records of the town. (Dedham 1892). P. 35, 40, 41, 43, 47, 48, 49, 51, 53, 75, 92, 100, 113
10. ↑ Hill, Don Gleason town clerk ed. Dedham Town Records, vol. 3: Early Records of the Town of Dedham, Massachusetts 1636-1639 being volume three of the printed records of the town. (Dedham 1892):31.
11. ↑ Hill, Don Gleason town clerk ed. Dedham Town Records, vol. 3: Early Records of the Town of Dedham, Massachusetts 1636-1639 being volume three of the printed records of the town. (Dedham 1892): 37, 39
12. ↑ Hill, Don Gleason town clerk ed. Dedham Town Records, vol. 2: Record of the Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths transcribed from the Church Records in the Town of Dedham, 1638-1845. (Dedham, 1888):25.
13. ↑ Hill, Don Gleason town clerk ed. Dedham Town Records, vol. 3: Early Records of the Town of Dedham, Massachusetts 1636-1639 being volume three of the printed records of the town. (Dedham 1892): 95,103,110.
14. ↑ Hill, Don Gleason town clerk ed. Dedham Town Records, vol. 3: Early Records of the Town of Dedham, Massachusetts 1636-1639 being volume three of the printed records of the town. (Dedham, 1892):60, 72-73, 170.
15. ↑ Hill, Don Gleason town clerk ed. Dedham Town Records, vol. 3: Early Records of the Town of Dedham, Massachusetts 1636-1639 being volume three of the printed records of the town. (Dedham, 1892):93, 114, 116, 118, 124, 140.
16. ↑ Cooper, Joseph Meadows ed. Canterbury Marriage Licences, second series 1619-1660. (Canterbury, 1894):269.
17. ↑ Parish registers for Faversham, 1620-1901. (Family History Library film #1,886,089).
18. ↑ Hill, Don Gleason ed. Dedham Town Records, vol. 1: The Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths in the Town of Dedham, 1634-1845. (Dedham, Mass., 1886):128.
19. ↑ Hill, Don Gleason town clerk ed. Dedham Town Records, vol. 3: Early Records of the Town of Dedham, Massachusetts 1636-1639 being volume three of the printed records of the town. (Dedham 1892):221.
20. ↑ New England Historical & Genealogical Register vol. 9, no. 1 (January 1855):35-40. Abstracts from the Earliest Wills on Record in the County of Suffolk, Mass., by William B. Trask. See p. 38
21. ↑ Suffolk County Probate Court. Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991. [Ancestry.com database on-line]. p. 339: Will of John Eaton.
22. ↑ Anderson, Robert Charles. Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume II, C-F (Boston: NEHGS, 2001):403-407, biography of John Eaton. Available online at NEHGS site americanancestors.org (paid).

Source list:

• Anderson, Robert Charles. Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume II, C-F. (Boston: NEHGS, 2001):403-407, biography of John Eaton. Available online at NEHGS site americanancestors.org (paid).

• Hill, Don Gleason ed. Dedham Town Records, vol. 1: The Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths in the Town of Dedham, 1634-1845. (Dedham, Mass., 1886). Internet Archive link.

• Hill, Don Gleason ed. Dedham Town Records, vol. 2: Record of the Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths transcribed from the Church Records in the Town of Dedham, 1638-1845. (Dedham, 1888). Internet Archive link.

• Hill, Don Gleason ed. Dedham Town Records, vol. 3: Early Records of the Town of Dedham, Massachusetts 1636-1639 being volume three of the printed records of the town. (Dedham 1892). Internet Archive link.

• Reed, Paul C. F.S.A.G. The English Ancestry of John1 Eaton, of Dover, Kent, and Dedham, Massachusetts. Research commissioned by Joe Cochoit and the Eaton Family Association. Available on the Eaton Family Association website (paid).

• Eaton Family Association. Sixth Annual Report of the Eaton Family Association (New Haven, 1891). Report on the Eatons of Dover,England, by Prof. Daniel C. Eaton.

See Also:

• Vita Brevis, "Three Eatons of Watertown," by Christopher C. Child. Eaton Y-DNA Study. The study shows that John Eaton of Dedham, Jonas Eaton of Reading and William Eaton of Reading all share the same Y-DNA haplotype, and were likely closely related. The study cannot, however, determine their exact relationship. The haplotype is R-M269.
• Preston, Edward M. A History of Captain Roswell Preston of Hampton, Connecticut (E.M. Preston, Nevada City, California, 1899) Page 43

Acknowledgements:

• Much of this biography is based on the research by Paul C. Reed F.S.AG. undertaken on behalf of Joe Cochoit and the Eaton Family Association

• This profile was greatly modified and expanded with sources according to modern research. Please do not make changes without being certain of the accuracy of your information.

• Eaton Family Association