Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL, JSOTES OF BAEN8TABLE FAMILIES. 321
Of the family of Mr. Thomas Dexter, Senior, very little is
certainly known. Mr. Lewis, the historian of Lynn, was unable
to furnish anything that was certain and reliable, and the undefatigable
Mr. Savage gives but a meagre account of his family. Mr.
Freeman repeats the statements of his predecessors, adding very
little to the information furnished by them.
so little should be known of the family of
Dexter.
It is certain that he had
It is surprising that
so noted a man as Mr.
I. Thomas, born in England, settled in Sandwich.
II. Mary, who married Oct. 1639, Mr. John Frend, who died
young. Before Aug. 1655, as is show by a deed in Suffolk
Registry, she had married Capt. James Oliver.
children.
And he probably had
III. William, who settled in Barnstable.
They left no
IV. Francis, who married Richard Wooddy. They had eight children.
They lived some years in Roxbury. In 1696, Mary
and Frances, who were then widows, brought the, fourth suit
in behalf of their father's claim, upon Nahant, against the
town of Lynn, once more in vain.
In regard to the two last named, I say probably, yet I have
no reason to doubt the statement that William was the son; of
Thomas. Messrs. Lewis, Savage, and Freeman, say he was his
son; but, after the most careful research, I cannot find positive
evidence that such was the fact.
Mr. Drake, the able historian of Boston, has forwarded to.
me the following abstracts, from the records in the. Probate Office
of the County of Suffolk, which furnish additional , information
to
what was before known :
"Feb. 9, 1676-7. Power of administration to the estate of
Thomas Dexter, Senior, late of Boston, deceased, is granted to.
Capt. James Oliver, his son-in-law, and Thomas Dexter, Jr., his
grandson."
"Nov. 1678, Ensgne Richard Woodde was joined with Capt.
Oliver in this administration, in room of Thomas Dexter, Jr.,
deceased."
The Rev. Henry M. Dexter of Boston, a descendant, furnishes
the following abstract of the inventory of the estate dated April
25, 1677. ft includes merely "so much as is due by bill from
William Troop of Barnstable, as follows :
Payable before or in Nov. 1677,
£20
u 14 a u u 1678, 20
" " " " " 1679, 20
" " " " " 1680, 10
£70