The Plante Family Tree:Information about Jonathan Danforth
Jonathan Danforth (b. February 29, 1627/28, d. September 07, 1712)
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Jonathan Danforth (son of Nicholas Danforth and Elizabeth Barber) was born February 29, 1627/28 in Framlingham, Suffolk, England, and died September 07, 1712 in Billerica, Mass. USA.He married (1) Elizabeth Poulter on November 22, 1654 in Boston, Mass. USA, daughter of John Poulter and Marie Pope.He married (2) Esther Champney on November 17, 1690 in Billerica, Mass. USA.
Notes for Jonathan Danforth:Mar. 2, 1627/1628 - Baptised
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Eighth great grandfather to Paul Plante
1652 Freeman
District Land Surveyor, Town clerk for 20 years.
Founder of Billerica
"Its leading citizen of his generation and most noted surveyor of his
time in the Colony"
DUNSTABLE:
The spring next after its incorporation, Dunstable was preambulated and the boundries of the town established and marked by Jonathan Danforth of Billerica, who had laid off the grant to the Boston Artillery Company the fall previous, the towns of Chelmsford and Groton some years before, and who is spoken of in Mr. Farmer's biographical notice of him as one of the most eminent surveyors of his time. In an elegy written in memory of Mr. Danforth, it is said of him:
"He rode the circuit; chained great farms and towns
To good behaviour; and by well marked stations
He fixed their bounds for many generations."
CAPTAIN JONATHAN DANFORTH, 1628-1712, BILLERIC A MASS.
Lieutenant of the Billerica Company, 1675. His dwelling was used as a garrison house in King Philip's war. Captain 1683. Served in the expedition against Canada under Sir. William Phips, 1690. Deputy to
General Court, 1685
JONATHAN DANFORTH2, CAPTAIN (Nicholas1) was born February 29, 1628, at Framlingham, High Suffolk, England, and came to Cambridge with his father at the age of six. About 1654 he went to Billerica with the first settlers and built what was perhaps the first house erected in the Indian village of Shawshin, on the north side of what was to be West street. The house became the garrison home in 1676 for three families and six fighting men, including himself, his son Jonathan,17, and Samuel Manning. Watch was kept day and night during t he period known as Philip's War.
Danger of Indian attack was ever present and the settlers lived in fear. Jonathan and three others had the responsibility of fortifying the town, and the 48 families of the pioneer community were assigned
quarters and hastening to designated posts when the alarm was sounded . Following King Philip's War in 1676, many Indian captives, especially children, were sold or divided among the colonists as servants until they became of age, and a boy of 12 was bound out to Jonathan Danforth. Known as John Warrick, he was styled "the Indian servant of Captain Jonathan" when he died at Billerica, Jan. 15, 1686. Jonathan's land grant was in 1749 part of the estate of his grandson Samuel. Known as "Father of Billerica", Jonathan had extensive land holdings and showed an interest in every need of the town, serving as town clerk from 1665 until 1686, as deputy to the General Court 1684 and 1685, first captain of the town's militia in 1675, and chairman of the selectman in 1676 when he signed a petition asking for a reduction in taxes. He was one of three appointed in 1678 by the Governor's Council to suggest rules of safety for the outlying towns of Middlesex County. He was most famed as a land surveyor and for forty years he probably surveyed every land grant in Billerica, his land descriptions filling some 200 pages in his clear and handsome handwriting in the first volume of Land Grants. His services as surveyor were in demand all over Massachusetts and much of his work is preserved in the State Archives. Jonathan was the "life-long and trusted friend of the Rev. Samuel Whiting of Billerica, and though he joined the Chelmsford Church May 12 , 1661, he continued his support of the faltering Billerica
congregation and left two portfolios of church records and sermons by Mr. Whiting. To his great credit, he defied subpoenas of the Court, refusing to witness against accused witchcraft victims including Martha (Allen) Carrier who was hanged when she refused to confess guilt. He had thecourage of a strong and independent nature, and historians refer to him as "the wise and good Jonathan Danforth", Billerica's "leading citizen of his generation"
More About Jonathan Danforth and Elizabeth Poulter:
Marriage: November 22, 1654, Boston, Mass. USA.
Marriage Notes for Jonathan Danforth and Elizabeth Poulter:REFNM4827
More About Jonathan Danforth and Esther Champney:
Marriage: November 17, 1690, Billerica, Mass. USA.
Marriage Notes for Jonathan Danforth and Esther Champney:REFNM4832
Children of Jonathan Danforth and Elizabeth Poulter are:
- Elizabeth Danforth, b. May 27, 1657, Billerica, Mass. USA, d. date unknown, Billerica, Mass. USA.
- +Jonathan Danforth, b. February 18, 1658/59, Billerica, Mass. USA, d. January 17, 1710/11, Billerica, Mass. USA.
- John Danforth, b. January 23, 1660/61, Billerica, Mass. USA, d. February 07, 1660/61, Billerica, Mass. USA.
- John Danforth, b. February 22, 1661/62, Billerica, Mass. USA, d. June 04, 1662, Billerica, Mass. USA.
- Lydia Danforth, b. June 01, 1664, Billerica, Mass. USA, d. date unknown, Billerica, Mass. USA.
- Samuel Danforth, b. February 05, 1665/66, Billerica, Mass. USA, d. April 19, 1742, Billerica, Mass. USA.
- Anna Danforth, b. March 08, 1667/68, Billerica, Mass. USA, d. August 13, 1737, Billerica, Mass. USA.
- Thomas Danforth, b. April 29, 1670, Billerica, Mass. USA, d. July 31, 1670, Billerica, Mass. USA.
- Nicholas Danforth, b. July 01, 1671, Billerica, Mass. USA, d. March 08, 1693/94, Billerica, Mass. USA.
- Sarah Danforth, b. December 13, 1676, Billerica, Mass. USA, d. October 15, 1751, Billerica, Mass. USA.