[Plym. Co. Prob. I: 143] "Samuel Edson Senr Inhabitant of the Town of Bridgwater" made his will 15 January, 1688/9.
other two sons Joseph Edson and Josiah Edson my musket Sword and Bandaleers."
"to my three sons Samuel Edson Joseph Edson and Josiah Edson to each of them a Draught chaine and also a Logg chain and all my wearing deaths to be Divided among them." "to my Loving Wife Susanna Edson all the Rest of my Estate Both Personall and Reall housing Lands Chattels and Cash all within Doors and without whatsoever I have not Otherwise Disposed of to be wholy at her Dispose During her naturall Life and what is Left at her decease and mine Either Housing lands Chattels or Cash: all without Doores to be Equally Divided among my three sons Samuel Edson Joseph Edson and Josiah Edson their heires and Asigns And all within Doores all my houshold Goods and Cash to be Equally Divided among my five Daughters Elizabeth Susanna Sarah Mary and Bethiah their heirs and assignes"
"my Loving Wife Susanna Edson to be my Executrix and my son Samuel Edson and my son Josiah Edson to be Joyned with her as Executors" "And I Doe .... desire Mr James Kieth John Kingman Senr and Thomas Snell of Bridgwater to be overseers of this my Last Will" The witnesses were John Field, John Ames and Samuel Kinsley. "John Ames and Samuel Kinsley two of The Witnesses" made oath to the will, at Plymouth, 20 September, 1692.
[p. 144] "The Inventory of Samuel Edson Senr who deceased the 19th Day of July 1692" was taken, 29 July, 1692, by Samuel Allen, Sr., and William Brett, and was sworn to by "Samuel Edson and Josiah Edson the Sons of sd Deceased" on 20 September, 1692. The total was £148, 14s., 8d. The real estate was: "house and Land" *£50, and there was £30 in "Silver money".
Genealogical Register of North Brookfield p. 585, in History of North Brookfield, Mass 1887. Temples Modified Register.
Edson's Early in Bridgewater: " born in England, 1612; came over early to Massachusetts, resided in Salem 1639 (reference to town records and quote) and married Susanna (Orcutt) about 1637, (probably an elder sister of William Orcutt, who came from Scitutate and settled in Bridgewater before 1682) . . ." Other information gives Bridgwater land grants, etc.
Source:Charles Adams: Genealogical Register of North Brookfield p. 585,in History of North Brookfield, Mass 1887. Temples Modified Register.
"Samuel, son of Thomas10 and Elizabeth (Copson) Edson,baptized in Fillongley, Warwickshire, England on September 5, 1613 married in Warwickshire, in 1638 Susanna Orcutt, born there in 1618."
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March 1, 1638 "Samuel Edson and Susannah Bickley, both of Whittaker were married In this church by virtue of a license."
Whittaker (Whitacre) is a small parish adjoining Fillongley to the north east, about 1-2 miles from the birthplace of Samuel Edson.
Susanna was born In 1618 In Warwickshire, England. Mitchell, according to Savage, says all children of William Orcutt, including Susanna, are mention In his will of 1694. She died on 20 Feb 1699 In Bridgewater Massachusetts. The Second Torrey Supplement says he did marry a Susanna, but not Orcutt! Reference is John Brooks Threlfall, Great Migration Colonists, 1993.
She was married to Samuel (1) EDSON Deacon. Although Threlfall, now says this is incorrect, this small volume has him as born In England, 1612, residing In Salem 1639,( at Salem, Massachusetts, July, 1639) marrying Susanna Orcutt about 1637 (saying she is "probably an elder sister of William Orcutt who came from Scituate and settled In Bridgewater before 1682) and moved to Bridgewater about 1650. He is said to have died In 1692, aged 80 with his will dated jan 15, 1688-9, proved Sept 20 1692.
EDSON The surname Edson is derived from the personal name Ed, and is a shorter form of Edwardson, Edmondson or Edwinson, possibly of Addison. The first mention of the name of Edson, spelled In this way, is In the early American records relating to this family, and it is believed that the immigrant himself abbreviated his name upon coming to this country.
years. He and his wife are buried In the old burying ground, and one of the oldest headstones In the cemetery marks their graves. Deacon Samuel Edson and Rev. James Keith, of Scotland, the first minister of Bridgewater, were given grants after the fifty-four proprietors had taken their shares.
1660 he owned three rights In the town; In 1683 he had one right, having given rights to his sons.
a committee to distribute the town share of the contributions for distress In the Indian wars. In November, 1672, he was on a committee which received the deed from Chief Pomonoho of the Titicut purchase "In and for the use of the townsmen of Bridgewater, joint purchasers with them." In December, 1686, he and Ensign John Howard and Deacon John Willis, agents of the town, received a confirmatory deed of the Indian Chief Wampatuck for the purchasers and the town, of all the lands previously conveyed to them by Massasoit. This deed was dated March 3, 1649. In 1667 he was foreman of a committee to lay out roads, and again In 1672. In 1680 he was on the committee to determine the boundary line between Bridgewater and Middleborough, and In the same year on a similar committee which decided the boundary between Bridgewater and Taunton. He was one of the first deacons of the church, from about 1664 to the end of his life. He was associated with very prominent men, and was influential In the town, church and colony. He is said to have been of large, athletic frame, of medium weight and sturdy constitution. He was grave and dignified In manner, keen and discerning In mental powers. Firm In his opinions, he was not obstinate, and would cheerfully admit the soundness of an argument, when convinced. It is said that he was rather inclined to listen and weigh evidence, and was not given to much speaking, but when he was heard In town seting his arguments carried weight and he usually won his point. "The strength and vigor of his intellect, the quickness of his perceptions, the extent and accuracy of his memory and the struggle of mental enterprise, supplied In no inconsiderable degree the deficiency of education. While he was thus respected for these attributes of mind and character, it was to his constant practice of the Christian virtues and the influence of his example that his preeminence was greatly due." He married, about 1637, In England, Susanna Orcutt, probably a sister of William Orcutt, who came to Scituate and settled In Bridgewater before 1682. "Her education and natural abilities were said to be fully equal to his, while In union with an expressive modesty of deportment and unaffected piety, gave to her person an elevated position and to her character a high rank among the matrons of the town," as an old genealogy says. "She exhibited a majestic figure, rather above medium height, an elegant and majestic mein, with a countenance happily combining graceful dignity and cheerful benignity." Children: Susanna, born In England, about 1638; Sarah, at Salem, about 1640; Elizabeth, at Salem, about 1643; Samuel, 1645; Mary, at Bridgewater, about 1647; Joseph, mentioned below; Josiah, at Bridgewater, 1651; Bethiah, about 1653.
Genealogy of the Families who Have Settled In The NORTH PARISH OF BRIDGEWATER & HISTORICAL SKETCH of NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
Boston: Printed by Bannister and Marvin. 1824.
"BENJAMIN EDSON, Was a descendant of Samuel Edson, who came from Salem, and was an early settler at Bridgewater. He m. an Orcutt; had six ss. Benjamin, Peter, William, Seth, Ichabod, and Ebenezer; and two ds. Joanna, and Abigail."
"--Dea. Samuel Edson and his wife, Susanna Orcutt, came from Salem. He was one of the first settlers In the town, and owned the first mill and probably built it; he d. 1692 age 80; she 1699, age 81. He had Samuel, Joseph, Josiah, Susanna, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, Bethiah. Susanna m. the Rev. James Keith.--Elizabeth m. Richard Phillilps of Weymouth.--Mary m. Nicholas Byram, Jr. 1676.--Sarah m. John Dean of Taunton 1663.--Bethiah m. Ezra Dean of Taunton 1678.--Benjamin Edson, who m. Sarah Hoskins at Plymouth 1660, was his son perhaps."
"EDSON, SAMUEL, Salem 1639, rem. to Bridgewater, there was deac. rep. 1676, d. 9 July 111692, aet. 80; and his wid. Susanna d. 20 Feb. 1699, aet. 81. He had Samuel, Joseph, Josiah, Susanna, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, and Bethia. Susanna m. Rev. James Keith; Elizabeth m. Richard Phillips of Weymouth; Mary m. 1676, Nicholas Byram, jr.; Sarah m. 7 Nov. 1663, John Dean of Taunton; Bethia m. 17 Dec. 1678, Ezra Dean.
[S174] History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater, MA, Mitchell, (Name: Kidder & Wright (printed for the author); Location: Boston, MA; Date: 1840, 400pp;), page 153.
[S172] History of North Brookfield, Mass, Charles Adams, (Name: 1887;), Genealogical Register of North Brookfield p. 585.
[S113] Edsons in Early Bridgewater, Lowell, (Name: Thos. P. James, 1864;), pages 4-14.