[550] than a more active employment. He heeded the request of his father and retained possession of the homestead, having obtained the rights of the other heirs by purchase, and probe. resided in the mansion-house until it was destroyed by fire 24 Jan. 1777. He afterwards owned and occupied the estate at the N. W. corner of Dunster and Winthrop streets. After his decease, the family having become extinct here, the heirs residing in Essex and Worcester counties sold the real estate, and the noble farm of Danforth and the Foxcrofts was cut up into fragments. The only considerable portion of it which remains undivided is the valuable estate of the late Professor Norton.
7. Francis, s. of Francis (3), grad. H. C. 1764, was an eminent physician in Brookfield, where he in. Sarah, dau. of Dr. Jabez Upham, 5 May 1768, and d. 15 Feb. 1814, a. 69; his w. Sarah d. at Claremont, N. II., April 1827. Their children were Sarah, m. Samuel Fiske, Esq., Claremont, N. H., son of Rev. Nathan Fiske, D. D., of Brookfield; Betsey, m. Thomas Haskins of Boston, and d. at Roxbury in 1849; Fanny, m.——Witherell of Brookfield; Mehetabel, m. Josiah Lyon, and d. at Woodstock, Vt., May 1850, a. 74; Francis Augustus, b. 4 Aug. 1782, a merchant at Wethersfield, Vt., 1804, and at Boston about 1810, d. at Newton 7 Ap. 1818; Martha Brandon, m. David H. Sumner of Hartland, Vt.; John, prob. grad. H. C. 1807, d. at Worcester Aug. 1824, a. 39; George, d. at Brookfield July 1803, a. 15.
Francis, Richard, 4 July 1644, bought of Nathaniel Sparhawk a house and land at the N. E. corner of Holmes Place, being part of the estate recently owned by Mr. Royal Morse. By his w. Alice, he had Stephen, b. 7 Feb. 1644-5; Sarah, b. 4 Dec. 1646, m. John Squires, and was living his wid. 1713; John, b. 4 Jan. 1649-50. Richard the f. d. 24 Mar. 1686-7, ‘aged 81 years or thereabout,’ and was noticed by Judge Sewall, as ‘an ancient and good man indeed.’
2. Stephen, s. of Richard (1), m. Hannah, dau. of Thomas Hall, 27 Dec. 1670; she d. 2 Ap. 1683, and he m. Hannah, d. of William Dickson, 16 Sept. 1683. His children, in Camb., were Hannah, b. 28 Sept. 1671, d. 17 June 1677; Stephen, b. 15 Aug. 1674; Hannah, b. 18 June 1677, d. young; Han-nah, b. 7 Ap. 1680. Stephen the f. was a brickmaker, and rem. to Medf. about 1680, where he died 24 Sept. 1719; his w. Hannah survived.
3. John, s. of Richard (1), m. Lydia, dau. of Deac. John Cooper, 5 Jan. 1687-8, and had in Camb., John, b. 10 Oct. 1688, d. young; John, b. 17 Feb. 1689-90, d. at Medford 31 Aug. 1750; Stephen,b. 2 Nov. 1691; Nathaniel, b. about 1693, named in the division of his father's estate; and in Medf., Samuel, b. 17 Feb. 1695-6; Anna,b. 2 Nov. 1697. in. Benjamin Dana 23 July 1724; Joseph, b. 5 Jan. 1699-1700; Ebenezer, b. 30 Oct. 1701, d. 23 Mar. 1702-3; Lydia, b 20 Ap. 1703, m. Joseph Tufts; Ebenezer, b. 25 Mar. 1708. John the f. was a brickmaker, and rem. to Medf. where he d. 3 Jan. 1727-8, a. 78, and administration was granted to his eldest son John. The following extract from Judge Sewall's Diary refers to him: ‘Aug. 7, 1674. New College raised., John Francis, helping about raising the New College, had his right leg (both bones) broke, a little above the ankle, and his left thigh, about four inches below the joint, by a piece that fell on him.’ This accident probably occasioned a permanent lameness; such at least, is a fair inference from a petition presented to the Council of War, in the summer of 1676: ‘The petition of Stephen Francis Humbly showeth, that your petitioner, being by trade a brickmaker, and having been several times abroad on the country's service, and now hath a servant out in his stead, his father at home, ancient, and his brother lame, and this season only being the time for his calling which he is altogether unable to follow for want of the abovesaid servant; your petitioner humbly intreats your Honors to consider his distressed condition, and give order for the release of his said servant Amoras Mackfassitt, that is in his stead, that so they may improve the summer for their calling; and your petitioner, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.’
4. Nathaniel, s. of John (3), res. in Medf. and thence rein. to Chs. where he d. 2 Sept. 1764, a. 71, leaving wife Ann who d. at Mason, N. H., 31 Dec. 1777, a. 74), and three sons, Nathaniel, Benjamin, and Richard. Of these
