Family Files February 2022 - Person Sheet
Family Files February 2022 - Person Sheet
NameNathaniel SPEAR 
, M
, MBirth15 May 1665, Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts
Death12 Sep 1728
FatherGeorge SPEAR , M (ca1613->1688)
MotherMary HEATH , F (1627-1674)
Misc. Notes
History of Nathaniel and children begins image 359655
NATHANIEL SPEAR (George') was born in Braintree on
May 15, 1665. He and Hannah Holman were married by Mr.
Lawson on August 8, 1689. He died in Braintree on September
12, 1728, and his widow, Hannah, survived until February 4,
1751, at the age of eighty-one.
Hannah, wife of Nathaniel Spear was baptized and admitted
to full communion in the Braintree church on January 11, 1690.
Nathaniel Spear was a sergeant in the local military company.
He was one of the signers of the agreement of the freeholders of
Braintree to "defend our ancient Rights" against Boston claim-
ants in 1697/8. Spear served in most of the minor offices of the
town government and acted as surveyor of highways and viewer
of fences. In 1707, being elected constable, he found a substitute
in John Marshall who was acceptable to the inhabitants. Brain-
tree seems to have had great difficulty in filling the office of con-
stable and year after year men bought or begged themselves
off, as the town records testify.
In 1720/1 Spear leased some lands from the town but, finding
much more fencing necessary than lie expected, he fell "under
discouragement" and asked the town meeting to release him,
which was done.
Spear sold to Thomas Crosbey four pieces of land in Brain-
tree for .E320 in 1717. One of the lots was his homestead of ten
acres containing a house, barn and corn-house.* "Especially to
encourage my Son Nathan to be dutiful to me & my wife in our
aged and declining Years," Spear gave this son two acres of
what must have been a new homestead, and one half of his
dwelling-house, mentioning a previous gift of land to his son
John, in 1726.f At the same time he gave to his son Joseph
Spear of Hull, mariner, three acres.
In 1730 widow Hannah Spear deeded land to John Hancock
with the consent of her children Nathaniel Spear, John Spear,
Joseph Spear, Nathan Spear, Hannah the wife of Ebenezer
Nightingale, Mary the wife of Samuel Kinsly and Lydia Spear,
all children of Nathaniel Spear, deceased.
The will of Nathaniel Spear of Braintree, husbandman, was
made March 5, 1727/8, and proved August 4, 1729. To his
eldest son Nathaniel he gave 20s., to his son Joseph 5s., and to
his son Nathan 5s., and "the reason why I give them no more is
because I have already given to each of my three sons the value
of one hundred pounds . . . by deeds of gift." To his son John,
half an acre of land, which with what had already been given
him would amount to £100. To his eldest daughter Hannah,
wife of Ebenezer Nightingale of Braintree, £40. To his daugh-
ter Mary, wife of Samuel Kinsley of Milton, £20. To his daugh-
ters Margaret and Lydia, a cow and a fee.ther bed each. "To
my Little Grand Child Bethia Spear Daughter of my Son David
Spear deceased," £10. The rest of his homestead land-to his wife
Hannah, with liberty to sell the same for her comfort, to pay
the legacies and to accommodate his daughters Margaret and
Lydia in marriage, whose shares are to be made up to £70 upon
the death of his wife. To his wife, also, his part of the house and
barn, and "my Priveledge in the Well." Upon his wife's death
any property left to be divided equally among his then surviv-
ing children, except; that his youngest daughter Lydia shall
have £5 in addition and the cows and beds left to Margaret and
Lydia shall be regarded as a surplus. If any land "shall be gx-
posed for sale" his sons to have the first offer. Executors : his
wife Ilannah Spear, his eldest so.n Nathaniel Spear. Witnesses:
Nathaniel Belcher, Moses Belcher, John Marshall, Scr :*
Massachusetts and Maine Families in the Ancestry of Walter Goodwin Davis. Vol. III. Neal-Wright
NATHANIEL SPEAR (George') was born in Braintree on
May 15, 1665. He and Hannah Holman were married by Mr.
Lawson on August 8, 1689. He died in Braintree on September
12, 1728, and his widow, Hannah, survived until February 4,
1751, at the age of eighty-one.
Hannah, wife of Nathaniel Spear was baptized and admitted
to full communion in the Braintree church on January 11, 1690.
Nathaniel Spear was a sergeant in the local military company.
He was one of the signers of the agreement of the freeholders of
Braintree to "defend our ancient Rights" against Boston claim-
ants in 1697/8. Spear served in most of the minor offices of the
town government and acted as surveyor of highways and viewer
of fences. In 1707, being elected constable, he found a substitute
in John Marshall who was acceptable to the inhabitants. Brain-
tree seems to have had great difficulty in filling the office of con-
stable and year after year men bought or begged themselves
off, as the town records testify.
In 1720/1 Spear leased some lands from the town but, finding
much more fencing necessary than lie expected, he fell "under
discouragement" and asked the town meeting to release him,
which was done.
Spear sold to Thomas Crosbey four pieces of land in Brain-
tree for .E320 in 1717. One of the lots was his homestead of ten
acres containing a house, barn and corn-house.* "Especially to
encourage my Son Nathan to be dutiful to me & my wife in our
aged and declining Years," Spear gave this son two acres of
what must have been a new homestead, and one half of his
dwelling-house, mentioning a previous gift of land to his son
John, in 1726.f At the same time he gave to his son Joseph
Spear of Hull, mariner, three acres.
In 1730 widow Hannah Spear deeded land to John Hancock
with the consent of her children Nathaniel Spear, John Spear,
Joseph Spear, Nathan Spear, Hannah the wife of Ebenezer
Nightingale, Mary the wife of Samuel Kinsly and Lydia Spear,
all children of Nathaniel Spear, deceased.
The will of Nathaniel Spear of Braintree, husbandman, was
made March 5, 1727/8, and proved August 4, 1729. To his
eldest son Nathaniel he gave 20s., to his son Joseph 5s., and to
his son Nathan 5s., and "the reason why I give them no more is
because I have already given to each of my three sons the value
of one hundred pounds . . . by deeds of gift." To his son John,
half an acre of land, which with what had already been given
him would amount to £100. To his eldest daughter Hannah,
wife of Ebenezer Nightingale of Braintree, £40. To his daugh-
ter Mary, wife of Samuel Kinsley of Milton, £20. To his daugh-
ters Margaret and Lydia, a cow and a fee.ther bed each. "To
my Little Grand Child Bethia Spear Daughter of my Son David
Spear deceased," £10. The rest of his homestead land-to his wife
Hannah, with liberty to sell the same for her comfort, to pay
the legacies and to accommodate his daughters Margaret and
Lydia in marriage, whose shares are to be made up to £70 upon
the death of his wife. To his wife, also, his part of the house and
barn, and "my Priveledge in the Well." Upon his wife's death
any property left to be divided equally among his then surviv-
ing children, except; that his youngest daughter Lydia shall
have £5 in addition and the cows and beds left to Margaret and
Lydia shall be regarded as a surplus. If any land "shall be gx-
posed for sale" his sons to have the first offer. Executors : his
wife Ilannah Spear, his eldest so.n Nathaniel Spear. Witnesses:
Nathaniel Belcher, Moses Belcher, John Marshall, Scr :*
Massachusetts and Maine Families in the Ancestry of Walter Goodwin Davis. Vol. III. Neal-Wright