Submitter is Phyllis D (Wilson) Purdy and this is only for Trails use. Bio: Lawrence Copeland lawrence Copeland was married to Lydia Townsend at Braintree, Massachusetts, the 12th day of the 10th month 1651, by Mr Hibbins of Boston. The names of their parents, place of birth and time of immigration is not known. Lydia Townsend may have been the servant who was mentioned in the will of Thomas Mills dated Oct 1651. "Lydddia Tounsesend, servant to Mr Bucke (Rucke) in pte Requitall of pains taken about me. Fforty Shillings." Lydia Copeland died 8 Jan 1687/8 at Braintree, Massachusetts and Lawrence died there 30 Dec 1699 a very aged man. His tombstone in Quincy, Massachusetts cemetery says "In memory of Mr Lawrence Copeland, who died Dec 30, 1699 aged 100." Norfolk County, Massachusetts Probate Records The Last Will and Testament of Lawrence Copeland of Braintree who being in Good Memory understand and of Diposing Mond, Hereby revoaking and making Null and Void all former Will or Wills either by work or Wrighting and this only to be & Remain as my last Will and Testament -- And first I committ my sole to Almighty God through Ye, Merrits of my Lord and savoir Juseus Christ my Deer Redeemer and after my Decease my body to Decent Burial, --- And as for what worldly Estate That my God of his Bounty hath Bestowed upon me followeth, --viz---Imprimis, My 1st All my Just Debts & Funeral Expenses be honestly paid By my Executor, hereafter Names with all Convenient Speed. 1. I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Thomas Copeland my House orchard, & Barn And yards Thereunto Belonging And what land there is in Tillage or otherwise Within Ye field That is undisposed of Together with on Smallpoint of Salt meadow on Ye Neorth East of Sd Land, --- As Allso Three Acres of Saltmeadow Joyning upon Yel Great River Southerly & upon meadow of John Whitman Westerly, Northerly By upland of Thomas Holbrook,---Easterly by William Copeland, --- As Allso one half of A Little piece of upland About Two Acres Lying Between the Field & Little Piece of Westerly By Land which I formerly Gave to my son Ephraim Deceased and Low Watter mark, Easterly said half to Lye & be next and Joyning to his own Land Southerly --- All which Ye, above named I Give and Bequeath to him his heirs Executors Administrators & Assigns for Ever, --- With All ye appurtenances & Priviledges Belonging to the same. 2. I Give and Bequeath unto My Son William Copeland As and addition to what I have Allready given him by deeds; All my Sale meadow undisposed of Be it more or less Lying and Being Between the Meadow of Joseph Greene Easterly & That which I have now Given to my son Thomas, Westerly, --- As Allso half the Above said Little piece of upland Between the field and Jonathan Haywards, --- All which Is to Remaine to him his heirs, Executors Administrators And Assigns for Ever -- As Allso one Good Cow within one year After my Decease My Will is Allso that my Son William have All the appurtenances & Privilieges to said Meade. 3. I Give and Bequeathe unto my Son John Copeland fifteen pounds To be paid By My Executor hereafter named to him or his as followeth viz -- five pounds within Three years after my Decease. --- And five pounds more Within Six years After my Decease. --- And five pounds more Within Ten years After My Decease. 4. I Give & Bequeath To My Daughter Lidia White six pounds to be pay to her or hers by my Executor hereafter named within the term of six years After my Decease. 5. I Give & Bequeath To My daughter Hannah Ten pounds to be paid to her or hers; By My Executory After Named five pounds within one year After my Decease & five pounds More within Two years After my Decease As Allso one Two year Olde Heiffer At Ye same time more one Bed & Two Good Blandkets one chest one platter of Pewter one warming-pan Twenty pounds of Good flax. 6. I Give & Bequeath unto my Daughter Abigail Ten pounds to be paid her or hers By my Executor here After named Five pounds within Three years after my Decease & Five pounds more within five years After my decease As Allso one Bed & Two Good Blankits -- one pewter platter; one lining Wheele and Twenty pounds of good flax well-dressed. 7. My Will is that the Twenty Acres of Land I formerly Gave to my son Ephraim Copeland Deceased shall Rest & Remaine to his Brothers above named As they hav Agreed. --- To them their heirs Executors Administrators & Assigns forever, they paying the thirteen pounds to their sisters the Agreed on. 8. My Will is that my Eldest son Thomas Copeland above sd Be my Executor of This my Will. 9. My Will is that my Trusty and well Beloved friends viz Joseph Arnold and Joseph Allen Be the overseers of this my Will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale the Twentyth day of June in the year of our Lord sixteen-hundred ninety-eight -- Then year of his Ma'ty Reine, King William the Third of England, Scotland, France & Ireland -- Defender of the faith. Lawrence Copeland Signed sealed & delivered in His hand X & resale, presence of Joseph Arnold Jonathan Hayward Joseph Allen Boston Births, Baptisms Marriages & Deaths Births/Baptisms: 1640 Jonathan, son of William & Goodith Copp born 23rd da 6th mo Naomi, daughter of William Copp bp 5th da 5th mo 1641 Rebecca, daughter of William & Goodith Copp born 6th da 3rd mo 1643 Ruth, of William Copp born 24th da 9th mo " " " " bp 26th da 9th mo 1646 Lydia, of William Copp bp 9th da 5th mo Marriages: 1651 Thomas Saxton & Ann Atwood (wid) m 10th da 1st mo by Richard Bellingham 1659 Henry Tewxbury & Martha Harvey (wid) m 10 Nov by John Enficott, Gov Newspaper -- Lima News (no date) Vandals Disturb Historic Bones Boston (AP) -- Cemetery officials are trying to determine whose historic bones were disturbed when vandalls broke into graves at Copp's Hill Burial Ground, the resting place for colonial and Revolutionary War figures. Two burial chambers were found opened late Thursday after residents in the city's North End complained of noises coming from the cemetery. Officers found a skull propped on one gravestone with a cigarette stuck between his teeth. An 18-inch human thigh bone was found a short distance from the open graves. A shovel, empty cigarette packages and beer bottles were found near the excavations. Police said some 20 persons scattered when officers drove up to the cemetery which lies in the shadow of Boston's Old North Church. One man, James Bentibengna, 21, of Boston, was caught when he allegedly ran away. He was arraigned on charges of desecrating a burial site. His case was continued. Cemetery officials say they cannot determine to whom the graves belong because the names have been worn away on the slate grave markers, some of which still bear the marks of British bullets. Copp's Hill is the burial site for such historic figures as clergyman Cotton Mather, a founder of Yale who led witch hunts in the Massachusetts Bay Colony; his father Increase and grandson Samuel; Edmond Hart, the building of Old Irsonsides, and Robert Newman, the man who hung lanterns in Boston's Old North Church to signal the route being taken by British troops, initiating the famous ride of Paul Revere. "We're in the process of checking the polot plans to see whose graves these might be," said Alfred Morelli, superintendent of the city's cemeteries. "We took the cemetery over in 1896 so our records are pretty spotty." Morelli said the vandals dug four feet, going through fresh cement that had been laid across the site 12 hours earlier, to reach tunnels under the cemetery which connect to burial chambers. Morelli said the tunnels, some of which have collapsed, were used to transport bodies during colonial times and were later used as escape routes during the Revolutionary War. Newspaper -- unidentified, undated 17th Century Boston unearthed Under Rumbling Modern Highway Boston (AP) -- In a $9.25-a-day parking lot under and elevated downtown highway, urban archaeologist Ricardo Elia is searching for 17th-century Boston. Elia and a team of Boston University archaeologists are using trowels and brooms to probe repositories of urban detritus before construction workers using dynamite reclaim the land forever to more the Central Artery underground. "You just couldn't conceive of someone getting a research grant to rip up a parking lot under the artery and see what's there," Elia, who heads a 10-person BU archaeology team staying several steps ahead of construction, said as traffic rumbled overhead Thursday. After about a month of digging, the archaeologists have unearthed the soggy timbers of a wharf that a John Eustis bought in 1709 on property abutting what was then Boston's waterfront. The $846,000 federal- and state-funded project to search for Colonial Boston is part of a gradual movement to recognize the significance of what lies buried under America's cities. While maps, deeds, bills of sale and other historical documents have been preserved, the physical remains of early America are scarce, archaeologists said. Urban or historical archeology is only as old as the National Historical Preservation Act of 1966. Since then, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Alexandria, Va, Charleston, SC and Savannah, Ga, all have let archaeologists examine land before development. "What we are getting nationwide are little snapshots on what happened in the past in the centers of cities," said Ron Anzalone, staff archaeologist for the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in Washington. "We learn an awful lot about how Boston developed, about how everyday life occurred, that you just can't get from tax records,," he said. "In many communities there would be no other way to know about the early history and how it relates to the development of the United States." The Lima News Thursday, 24 Oct 1985 Puritan House Ruins Found in Boston Boston (AP) -- Archaeologists working near Bunker Hill said this week they have uncovered hundreds of artifacts in the 350-year-old-ruins of the first meeting house in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, where Gov John Winthrop once lived and ruled. "I think it's one of the most important archaeological finds in the country right now," said Mike Roberts, the site's project manager. "This is the heart of Massachusetts." The 800-square-foot foundation of "Great House," built in 1629, was discovered beneath a small city park in Boston's Charlestown section. The town was originally laid out by about 100 Puritans, headed by engineer Thomas Graves, who were hired by the Massachusetts Bay Company of England to settle there from Salem. A combination of documentary and archaeological research was used to verify the authenticity of the find. Archaeologists said the building was occupied from July to October 1630 by Winthrop, the first governor of the colony, who served under King Charles I. It was the colony's first government building, as well as Winthrop's dwelling and court before he moved to Boston. "What we're seeing in Charlestown today is probably the best reflection we'll ever have of teh early Puritan settlements in Boston," said Steve Pendery, the city's chief archaeologist. Archaeologists began digging at teh site in February. The excavation is being funded by the state and federal governments because the ruins are in an area scheduled for destruction when work begins in two years on an underground highway project. According to researchers, teh Great House was abandoned as the colony's seat of government and quickly converted to teh First Church of Charlestown. Tavernkeeper Robert Long purchased it in 1635 and converted it into the Three Crane Tavern. "For about a year, they had a tavern and a church running at the same time in the same building," said archaeologist John Cheney, the site's field supervisor. On April 19, 1775, British troops returning from a battle in the Lexington-Concord area occupied the tavern and looted it while waiting to be ferried across the harbor to Boston. Bio: George Corliss, son of Thomas Corliss, was born in Exeter, Devonshire, England in 1617. He came to this country in 1639 and settled, in that year, in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, but soon after moved to Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts where he resided until his death in 1686. The original tract of land on which he settled in 1640 and on which he built a log house in 1647, was in the "West Parish" of the town, and his farm was called "Popular Lawn". He was the first settler in that part of town. The book "red Sunday", p 73, by Francis W Cronan, states that the George Corliss family were the only landowners in Haverhill who had a direct grant from the King. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol 14 (1860), p 337, states that about the year 1635, the custom of registering the names of emigrants from England to America, which had been in vogue, was changed so that only the number of persons carried in each vessel was recorded. This, doubtless, accounts for the fact that no record can be obtained of the name of the ship in which George Corliss came to America. It is said, and is on record, that George Corliss left England on account of religious persecution; it is much more probably that he came over, as thousands of other young men did, to build a home in the new colony and to own land of his own. On 26 Oct 1645, George Corliss was married to Joanna Davis at Haverhill. This was the second recorded marriage in the town. Joanna was a daughter of Thomas and Christian (Bellsire) Davis. In 1723 John Corliss, grandson of George Corliss and "great=grandson of Thomas Davis" was appointed administrator of Thomas Davis' estate, "de Bonis non." In George Corliss' will, he speaks of the land "I have recovered of my brother Davis by law." This land was that recovered by George Corliss from Joseph Davis (son of Thomas Davis), whom he sued in Norfolk Courts for a debt, a part os which was for a years wages of George Corliss' son John. The verdict, rendered after the death of Joseph Davis was in favor of George Corliss, and an execution was granted May 1st, 1673. There is a tradition in the family to the effect that, at the time of his marriage, George Corliss was possessed of a pair of silk breeches of such generous proportions that his wife afterwards converted them into a dress for herself. There is no further record of Joanna Corliss after the death of her husband and the estate was settled unless it was she who married, 4 Oct 1687, as "Johannah Corley", James Ordway, at Newbury, Essex Co, Massachusetts. Popular Lawn, the Corliss homestead at Haverhill, was first occupied by George Corliss in 1640. The destruction of the early records of Haverhill, and the incomplete condition of those remaining for the early part of the town's history, have made it impossible to ascertain the exact number of acres the farm originally contained. Extracts from various sources, however, may enable one to form some idea of the size of the old homestead. On 16 July 1650, George Corliss was to have the first choice of land, in lieu of that already owned by him in the "plain". On 20 Dec 1650, he received ten acres adjoining land of Thomas Ayer. He received, 7 July 1652, seven acres in lot number 30, seconf division of ploughed land, and land in the third division of upland. On 3 Dec 1657 he was to have liberty to lay down the second division of upland he had bought of Hugh Sheratt, and take up land westward, acre for acre, in some convenient place. He received land in the fourth division of upland 14 Oct 1659, and on 4 March 1667, he received five acres of "accomodation" land -- one hundred and ten acres. He received land near the west meadow 4 April 1682, and on 14 June 1683, land from the second division on the east side of Merrie's Creek. George Corliss' name appears in the list of "freeman" of Haverhill in 1645; Constable, 1650; selectman in 1646-53-57=69-79. Under the date of 1683, his name as well as those of his sons-in-law, Robie, Kingsbury, Hutchins and Neff, appear in a vote on church affairs. Mary (Corliss) Neff, eldest daughter of George Corliss, was a nurse to Hannah (Emerson) Dunstan when she was captured by the Indians in 1697 and aided her in killing her captors. In 1738 a grant of 200 acres of land was voted to Joseph Neff, son of William and Mary Neff, for services rendered by his mother. William Neff died with the Army at Pemaquid (Bristol) Maine, in Feb 1689, aged 47 years. George Corliss' daughter Ann married John Robie, 1 Nov 1677, and the following describes the terrifying times these people lived in: "On the 16th day of Jun (1691), John Robie of this town was killed by the savages. Warned of the impending danger, Robie had taken his family from his own dwelling to a house of refuge in the North Parish. He was returning from this mission with his cart and oxen and had reached about midway of the burying ground, near the residence of Jesse Clement, when a ball struck him down. His son, Ichabod, who was with him, was taken prisoner, but soon after managed to escape and returned home. Robie's wife, Ann, had died a few days previously, leaving a family of seven children, the oldest not quite eleven years of age. This doubtless, led him to seek shelter for them in a house of refuge. A letter from Nathaniel Saltonstall to Major Pike of Newbury, dated 'June 15, 1691, 12 at night', states that Robie was killed about two hours before sunset, 'near the woods near Bradleys.' John Robie had built a cottage in Haverhill between 1675-77. He was a soldier in the Indian War of 1675. In 1679 he asked for 5 or 6 acres more land from the town, which was given to him. The estate of John Robie was administered by his brother, Thomas Robie of Hampton, June 30, 1691" {History of Haverhill, p 160 by George Chase} The will of George Corliss was dated 18 Oct 1686, and his death took place the next day, which probably accounts for the fact that he made "his mark" instead of signing his name. His signed name has been found on other documents. The original is on file at the County Clerk's office, Salem, Massachusetts. Being weak in body but well in mind and not knowing how it may pleas god to Deal with me do make my will as follow'th Do commit my Soal to god that gave it me & to Jesus christ that hath delivered it! o log my god most true: and my body to the earth. I give to my Son John the farms that he lives on with two commonages and my lower Spicket meadow and my medow at polocy: (Policy Pond) and my land at west medows: only my wife is to have a quarter part of that that I was to have of my son John: and that in kind as I was to have: that is to say half of that in every thing as I was to have in kind and as long as she lives; and that she shall have liberty to enjoy that hous that I lived in as long as she lives is she pleas: al so I give to my Son John have the 4th devishon and a 2 commonages belonging to the west medow land. To my Daughter mary nef I give the land that my Son nef lives on and to her children born of her body: forever; and the pond medow; and one commonage; and my Daughter Johana Huck'ns I give to her 2 hundred acres of land and 4 acres of medow of policy and 2 cows; my Son Joseph huckins did engaged to me that if I wood give him a claame of that land he wood make over to my daughter his wife and her children his house and land upon the hill: and it is my will that this shall be confirmed to him I wood be done at once that this house and land: or that which may be secured. and to my Daughter Debora Esman I give to my Son and Daughter esman half the uper Spicket medow and one commange for my Son and Daughter robe I give a parcell of land that I recovered of my brother davis by law and 2 commonages. and my Son and daughter martha lad I give them 30 acres of land at west medow that I have possess him of and one comon already and my Son and daughter hulda kinsbery I give ye 30 acres and a comon at the west medow that I have posest them of and for my daughter Sarah Corley I giver her one common and half the 4 devishon; I giver her one cow and 2 sheep and half the uper Spiket medow; and one swine; I give: I give to my Son John half that ox that he hath poss of further I order my Son John to pay al my debts and for my housold stuff and 2 calfs and my sheep and one cow and cloths I leave to my wife to dispos of as she shal pleas. to my Son John I pray you be dutyful to your mother and to fulfil this oblygations to her that you and I agreed or you fail your oblygations y is between you and I other my Son John se that my will bee fulfilled. George Corlee (his mark) John Tennie Elizabeth Worchester Joh Tennie and Elizabeth Worchester did upon oath affirm'd that George Corlee did sign and declare this to be his last will. Taken before the worship Jno Woodbridge Esq & Capt Richard Dunn Esq this 23d nov'r 1686 as shown. D Davision - Clk Abigail Caly was present & sarah Walinfor On the outside of this paper was "last will and testement of George Carles late of Haverhill deceased" 1686 November 23 Recorded Bio: John Corliss was the only son of George and Joanna (Davis) Corliss. He was born at the home farm in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts on 4 Mar 1648 and died at the same place 17 Feb 1698. He married Mary Wilford, daughter of Gilbert and Mary (Dow) Wilford 17 Dec 1684 at Haverhill. She was born 18 Nov 1667 at Merrimack (recorded at Bradford, Massachusetts). After teh death of John Corliss she married 2nd William Whitaker, a widower, 28 Jan 1702/3 at Haverhill. Note: At the time of her 2nd marriage she had several Corliss children under 18 years of age. She had 4 children by William Whitaker, Rachel, Susanna, Hannah and Abraham, all born in Haverhill. John Corliss received the home farm from his father by will and it descended in turn to his son John. Then name of John Corliss appears, among others, on a list of soldiers paid by the town, August 24th, 1676, and in a list of those who took the oath of allegiance at Haverhill Nov 28th, 1677. John Corliss died intestate and an inventory of his estate was taken on "march ye 25, 1698, by ye request of ye widow Mary Corliss" and it was filed August 1st, 1698. "The Real Estate of ye sd John Corliss amounts unto one hundred pounds, and ye personall free & clear of all Debts & charges of them: is to be divided being 30pounds 14s according to Law, 1/3 of the Real during her Naturall Life yn to revert to ye children of ye Dec'd and 1/3 of the personall for her: and ye eldest son a Double share of Real & personall, to all ye rest equal: viz: Real Personal To Widow Mary Corliss 33:13:3 10: 4:8 To eldest son John 16: 6:7 5: 2:8 To dau Mary 8: 6:7 2:11:4 To dau Hannah 8: 6:7 2:11:4 To son Timothy 8: 6:7 2:11:4 To son Jonathan 8: 6:7 2:11:4 To dau Mehitable 8: 6:7 2:11:4 (Note that son Thomas is not mentioned in the above distribution.) The widow's thirds consisted of "about ten acres of improved land at the easterly half of the homestead, and about twenty-three acres of woodland, 1/3 of the house and 1/3 of the barn. Bio: Jhn Corliss, son of John and Mary (Wilford) Corliss, was born at Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, 4 March 1686 and died in November 1766. He married Ruth Haynes daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Moulton) Haynes in 1711. She was born 10 Feb 1691 at Haverhill and died in 1787. John Corliss was a farmer and resided on the old homestead during his life. He eventually deeded the farm to his son Joseph, reserving a life interest for himself and his wife. As he outlived his son Joseph, the farm descended to his grandsons, Joseph and Ephraim (sons of Joseph), who took possession of it at the death of their grandfather. John Corliss was a man of large stature, being more than six feet tall and very well proportioned. He had a powerful voice, and it is said that he spoke so loud and distinctly that he could be heard and well understood at the distance of a mile. He was of a very kind and charitable disposition, and excellent farmer, a true and worthy citizen. He enjoyed a remarkable health from his youth until he was over seventy five years old. He gave each of his children a good English education and provided for them liberally in every way. Bio: Jonathan Corliss, son of John and Ruth (Haynes) Corliss, was born at Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, 25 Feb 1730 and died of smallpox 18 Jun 1776 at Isleau Noix, Canada during the Revolutionary War. He married Lydia (aliddea) Emerson daughter of John Jr and Abigail (Stevens) Emerson on 13 March 1750 at Salem, Rockingham County, New Hampshire {Haverhill Vital Records lists this marriage as March 1749} She was born 13 Apr 1731 in Haverhill, and died 16 May 1799 at Salem, New Hampshire. Jonathan and Lydia were the parents of nine children. {DAR Lineage Book, Vol 156, p 30 #155092} Bio: Emerson Corliss, son of Jonathan and Lydia (Emerson) Corliss, was born in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, 27 March 1758, and died at his home in Bradford, Orange County, Vermont on 30 Nov 1843. His remains were laid to rest in the principal cemetery there, the grave being designated by rough stones, with no inscription whever, stone he himself seasonably selected for that purpose. Later descendants, however, have erected gravestones for Emerson Corliss and his wife Mehitable at Upper Plains Cemetery in Bradford. Emerson Corliss married Mehitable Mitchell daughter of William and Mehitable (Pool) Mitchell 14 Sept 1783 at Haverhill. She was born at Haverhill, Massachusetts 6 Jan 1765 and died at Bradford, Vermont 26 June 1846. At the age of seventeen years, 10 May 1775, Emerson Corliss enlisted in Captain Elisha Woodbury's Co, Col John Stark's New Hampshire Regiment. He was waiter to his father, Jonathan Corliss, who was a Lieutenant. He was at the battle of Bunker Hill, and served until 1 Aug 1775. He enlisted 1 Jan 1776, as a private in captain B Mann's Co, Col James Reed's New Hampshire Regiment, and the next June went to Canada and while there was wounded in the leg and his father died of smallpox. He was in the battle of Trenton and served until the middle of February 1777. He served as a Private from July 21 to sept 29, 1777 in Captain Jesse Wilson's Co, Col Moses Nichol's New Hampshire Regiment, and was at the battle of Bennington during which eight balls were shot through his clothes. In Sept 1777 he enlised as a Private in Captain Jeremiah Dowe's Co, Lt Col Welch's New Hampshire Regiment. He was wounded in the leg at the battle of Bemis Heights and was discharged 5 Nov 1777. He enlisted May or June 1778 as a private in Captain david Whittier's Co, Col Thomas Poor's Massachusetts Regiment and served eight months and twenty eight days. In July 1779 he enlisted as a private in Captain Jenkin's Co, Col Brewer's 12th Massachusetts regiment and was wounded in the right arm in 1779 by the British Light Horse below White Plains. He was appointed Second Sergeant of Captain Silas Clark's Co, Col Tupper's Regiment on 15 Feb 1780. Emerson Corliss was discharged at West Point on 22 may 1782. He was in fifteen engagements but his papers do not state the names of any other than the above mentioned. Emerson Corliss applied for a pension 4 April 1818 at the age of fifty-nine years and it was allowed. His wife, Mehitable, was allowed a pension on her application executed 31 Jan 1844. She was living at Bradford, Vermont, aged seventy-nine years. I guess that's all for today. Have pension records and other things for this family alone, but it can wait until tomorrow. Good night all Jeanne/jmh