Author 
 
 Title 
 
 Imprint 
 
 16 — 47372-:$ GPO 
 
 1 
 
THE 
 
 BO A RDM AN FAMILY 
 
 I N 
 
 TOPSFIELD, MASS. 
 
 By Miss H. Rosa Towne 
 
 KKOM IHK 'l'y>Pl«FlKU> HlSTOHICAt COI.I>RCTION8, VOI.rMK VtJl. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 THE TOPSFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIF/FY 
 
 TopsFiELD, Mass. 
 
 1902 
 

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THE 
 
 B O A R D M A N FAMILY 
 
 I N 
 
 TOPSFIELD, MASS 
 
 X ■ 
 
 By Miss H. Rosa Towne 
 
 KHOM ■I'HK TOPSFIKLD HltarrORICAI. COI'I.ECTIONS, VOUTMK VIII. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 THE TOPSFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY 
 
 Toi'SFiELD, Mass. 
 
 1902 
 
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THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 
 
 BY MISS H. ROSA t6WNE. 
 
 Among the emigrants mentioned in the early records of Ips- 
 wich, there were two bearing the surname Boreman. Thomas 
 seems to have been the first to come, and he made his per- 
 manent home there, becoming the ancestor of the Boardmans 
 in this vicinity. In a few years he was followed by Samuel, 
 who made a short stay in Ipswich, and finally settled in Weth- 
 ersfield, Connecticut. 
 
 The relation these two men bore to each other, and the 
 place in the mother country from which they came to make 
 their homes on these shores, have recently been found by 
 one* of the descendants of Samuel, who went to England for 
 this purpose. 
 
 Samuel had received a letter from his mother in England 
 soon after his settlement in Wethersfield, and this had been 
 preserved as a sacred relic, and handed down from one gen- 
 eration of his descendants to another unto the present day. 
 This letter had become somewhat obliterated by age, and 
 only the last letters of the name of the town could be de- 
 ciphered, but this gave a clue, by which, after much work 
 and trouble, the place was found. 
 
 It was learned that Thomas and Samuel were cousins, and 
 their home in England was Claydon, situated in the northern 
 part of the County of Oxford. 
 
 The first known ancestor of Thomas and Samuel is William 
 Boreman, who was living, 1525, in Banbury, an important 
 place a few miles south of Cla}'don, as many things seem to 
 
 *See Boardman Genealogy by Miss Charlotte Ooldthwaite. 
 
 (O 
 
2 Tilt noARDMAN I AMII.V IN 1 OPSI- IKI.D. 
 
 cstablisli the (act that Thomas Boreman their great-grand- 
 father was his son. Thomas Boreman settled in Claydon 
 and his son Willi. im was their grandfather. 
 
 The history of Claydon is closely connected with that of 
 Banbury, which, with the surrounding region, is a very inter- 
 esting place to know about (or many reasons. First of all, it 
 is the place so noted in nurscr\- rhymes, and what child has 
 not been made familiar with the jingle, "Ride a cock-horse to 
 Banbury Cross, To see a fine lady upon a white horse," etc. 
 How many ever thought that Banbury was a "really, truly 
 place," as the children say. with its real "Cross," and its 
 "Cakeshop," which they visit "To see what Tommy can buy." 
 According to the historian, all the Tommys from that far- 
 away period until now could have the privilege of going to 
 that cakeshop with their pennies to bu}- the much -prized 
 cakes, for he says, "The fame of Banbur\' cakes has contin- 
 ued to the present day ; a shop, which is considered the orig- 
 inal cakeshop. is still in existence, and the cakes are proba- 
 bly made in much the same way," etc. 
 
 Banbur)- was the market town of the surrounding country, 
 and the noted Banburj' Cross stood in the market-place of 
 the town. The ancient cross was taken down during the reign 
 of Queen I^li/.abcth. but was afterwards restored and ma}- be 
 seen there at the present time. 
 
 This region was noted for its association with historic char- 
 acters. Dr. Franklin's father lived in Banbur\', and it was 
 from this place that he emigrated to New England in 1682. 
 A little to the ntjrtheast in Warwickshire, is Stratford-on- 
 Avon, the birth()lace of Shakespeare, ami a few miles east 
 in Northamptonsliire, was the ht)me of George Washington's 
 family. The manor house where his ancestors lived is there, 
 and over its door is the Washington Coat of Arms from which 
 our stars and stripes originated. A few miles to the north 
 in Warwickshire is Warwick Castle, the scat of Lord Brooke, 
 and just south of Banbury is Broughton Castle, the scat of 
 Lord Say and Seal, who was one of the most influential men 
 of his time. Lord Sa\' ami Lord Brooke are interesting char- 
 acters to us because lif their connection with our colonial 
 history, being instrumental in foumling the town which bears 
 their combined natnes, Saybrook, Conn. 
 
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 
 
 Thomas Boreman was baptized in Claydon, England, Oct. 
 1 8, 1601. The family name was originally spelled Bowre- 
 man, and Lower, in his Dictionary of English Family Names, 
 says it was probably derived from an Anglo Saxon word 
 meaning bower or bedchamber, thus signifying that the 
 bearer was a "chamberlain of some great feudal household, 
 or one who was admitted to the private apartments and 
 councils of the Lord." The name has since been variously 
 spelled, but in this country it seems to have followed the regu- 
 lar gradation of Boreman, Borman, Bordman, and Boardman. 
 
 The place and date of the marriage of Thomas Boreman, 
 and the family name of his wife Margaret, are not given, and 
 the exact date of his coming to New England is not known. 
 The records say he was made freeman by the General Court 
 of Massachusetts in 1634-5. His first grant of land in Ips- 
 wich was recorded in 1635. f^is first house was built on 
 High Street now called East Street, and his near neighbor 
 was John Winthrop, jr., son of the Governor, and leader of the 
 Ipswich Colony. In course of time he came into possession 
 of several pieces of land. 
 
 He sold his house on High Street in 1647, and spent the 
 closing years of his life on his farm, an island still called by 
 his name, Boardman's Island, as is also the street and bridge 
 leading to it. The farm is thus described : — "An Island about 
 fifty and five acres of medow and upland, bounded on the 
 north and northeast by the Town River, and on the east by 
 a creek, parting it and an Island belonging to John Perkins 
 the Elder, and on the south a p'sell of Land formerly granted 
 to George Carr, and on the west the great creek called 
 Labour in vayne." 
 
 Besides the "medow and upland" there was a salt marsh 
 and thatch ground, so called from the rushes that grew there 
 suitable for thatching houses. Provision was made by the 
 General Court that certain such grounds should "be for the 
 use of the whole town, to be improved for thatching houses". 
 The early dwellings were roofed with thatch like those left in 
 the old homes in England, and which may be seen there 
 today in many places. 
 
4 THE HOAKDMAX FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 
 
 Thomas Borcman held offices of trust, and his position in 
 the commiinit)- may be gathered from the fact that he is 
 imiforml}' spoken of as Mr. Boreman, and his wife as M"* or 
 Mistress, terms of distinction applied to but few in those 
 days. Some idea of his standing with regard to the value of 
 his property is shown by the division of Plum Island, Apr. 
 lO, 1666, among the 203 commoners. All. whose country 
 rate did not exceed 6 s. 8 d., were to receive a single share, 
 and 105 received single shares; all, not exceeding 16 s., a 
 share and a half, and 70 received such; those above 16 s., 
 together with magistrates, elders, Messers John Rogers (the 
 minister) and Thomas Andrews (the schoolmaster) a double 
 share, and there were 28 to receive them, Thomas Boreman 
 standing No. 4 on the list. He died in May, 1673, leax'ing a 
 will. Mrs. Margaret Boreman, the widow, died Nov. 25, 
 1679, also leaving a will. 
 
 Children of Thomas and Margaret Boreman: 
 
 2. Mary, m. Robert Kinsman, jr., b. 1629. He was one of the six 
 
 men renowned in the history of Ipswich, who, Aug. 27, 1687, 
 voted that Andros had no right to tax the people without the 
 consent of the General Court, for which they were fined and 
 imprisoned twenty-one days by Andros. On his tombstone 
 is inscribed, — "Here lieth the body of Quarter Master Rob- 
 ert Kinsman who died February ye 19, 171 2, aged S3 years." 
 He was by trade a glazier. His will speaks of children : Jo- 
 seph, Robert, Thomas (deceased). Tobijah, Mary, Sarah Per- 
 kins, Joanna, Margaret and Eunice Burnham. 
 
 3. Daniel, b. 1639. 
 
 4. Martha, b. 1641 ; m. July 4, 1660, Dea. Thomas Low, b. 1632, at 
 
 Chebacco Parish, Ipswich, "malster." His will mentions 
 children; Jonathan, Samuel. David, Martha Dodge, Joanna 
 Dodge, Sarah Low and Abigail Goodhue. The inscriptions 
 upon tombstones at Essex read: "Here lyes ye body of .M"- 
 Martha Low wife to Deacon Thomas Low dec"' Jany ye 22<i 
 1720 in ye 79 year of her age." "Here lyes ye body of M^- 
 Thomas Low Deacon who died April ye 12 1712 aged 80 years." 
 
 "As you ure s» war* w« 
 Ab we are you iliall be" 
 
 5. Tho.mas, b. 1643; f"- J'1"- ■' '667-8, Elizabeth, b. Apr. i, 1650, d. 
 
 Dec. 4, 1718, daughter of Sargent Jacob Perkins. He died 
 Oct. 3, 1719. Children: Thomas, b. Aug. 8, 1669, m. .Sarah 
 Langley; Jacob, b. June 10, 1671, m. 1699, Martha, widow of 
 John Rogers; John, b. March 18, 1672-3, no further record ; 
 Odin, b. Dec. 3, 1676, m. Feb. 28. 1698, Sarah Heard; Mar- 
 
 garet, b. Apr. 5, 16S1, m. 1703, Thomas Burnam; Elizabeth, 
 . Nov. 9, 1686, m. Jedidiah Tittcomb. 
 
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 5 
 
 6. Joanna, b. 1649; ^- J^"- 29, 1672, Isaac, son of William Fellows. 
 She died Mar. 22, 1732. They had children: Isaac, Samuel, 
 Ephraim, Jonathan and Joanna. 
 
 Daniel Borman, born at Ipswich in 1639, married Apr. 
 12, 1662, Hannah, born Jan. 20, 1639, daughter of Richard and 
 Ahce (Bosworth) Hutchinson who "emigrated to New Eng- 
 land about 1635 and settled in Salem, owning land also near 
 Hathorne's Hill, Beaver Dam Brook," now a part of Danvers. 
 Her lineage can be traced back to Barnard Hutchinson, Esq., 
 Cowlam, County of York, England, living in 1282. The 
 Hutchinson family of singers were descendants of her brother. 
 At the date of his marriage in 1662, according to the records, 
 "Thomas Boreman gave in wrighting to his sonn Daniel the 
 one halfe of his dwelling-house, barnes, outhouses, orchyards, 
 upland and meddows, with all the privileges and appurtenan- 
 ces, to be presently possessed and enjoyed, &c., &c." Dan- 
 iel afterwards decided to settle in Topsfield, and accordingly 
 conveyed back to his father all right to the home farm in 
 Ipswich, for ^^225, by a written agreement which was dated 
 Sept. 27, 1665. In December of the same year, for ^315. 
 he bought of William Evans, a planter, and Agnes his wife, 
 a farm of 200 acres, with dwellings, &c., situated in the town 
 of Topsfield. 
 
 This farm was "bounded on the south-east by land of John 
 Mighill, which he had bought of William Evans ; on the south 
 by land of William Avery, which he had bought of Daniel 
 Clarke; on the north by land of Isaac Cummings, which he 
 had bought of William Evans; on the north-west by land of 
 Sargent Peabody, and the cowpen which he bought of 
 Evans." This cowpen, containing about an acre and bought 
 by Francis Pebody to enlarge his mill lot, was reserved from 
 the land sold to Daniel Borman by Evans for that purpose. 
 
 It would seem, from the cowpen being so near the mill, 
 that the dwelling-house of Evans, also, must have been situ- 
 ated not far from that place. It was probably over the old 
 cellar-hole in the back pasture, and was pointed out to me in 
 my childhood by my aunts. It was near the corner, where, 
 every year within the remembrance of my mother's family, 
 the white, fragrant daffodils have come up and blossomed 
 
6 TlIK nOAKDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 
 
 tinder the bushes. The daffodil is a native of England, and 
 I have no doubt that the bulbs were brought over here with 
 other family treasures, and were made a part of the first gar- 
 den of the household. How much the sweet flowers must 
 have been prized by them in their loneliness, separated as 
 they were from the dear ones over the sea ! 
 
 There was still another place a short distance from this 
 spot, which gave greater evidence of once being a cellar, and 
 wc have been told that an Indian family had lived in the old 
 house standing there. One of the Bordman wives had been 
 very kind to the family, giving them food, clothing, etc., and 
 the squaw, desirous of showing her appreciation and of 
 making some little return for the kindness rendered, invited 
 the good wife one daj- to dine with her. Knowing the 
 Imlian character and not daring to brave their displeasure, 
 she accepted the invitation and went with many misgivings, 
 hoping to find some excuse to get away before the time of 
 the feast. After a little chat, the squaw lifted the lid of the 
 boiling pot to see how the dinner was progressing. A wood- 
 chuck had been caught and plunged into the boiling water in 
 its natural condition, fur and all, the sight of which so affected 
 the guest that, without any quibbling, she could plead the 
 excuse of not feeling verj' well ami make a hasty retreat. 
 
 The large tract of 200 acres or more bought by Daniel, 
 has been variously divided and disposed of to different par- 
 tics, but the boundary today may be given in general terms 
 as follows : — Beginning at the bridge near the turnpike, it 
 was bounded by the mill lot, the mill pond, then the long 
 stretch of wall to the turnpike, separating it from I. B. Young's 
 land, formerl)' Francis Pcbodj's. this wall continuing in 
 former times running about north-east, to the old Ipswich 
 road, the north school-house road, part of Averill's land, the 
 road b\- Donaldson's place, then turning, it takes in a hill 
 covered with forest trees, a long stretch of meadow, and the 
 front field to the turnpike again. It took in, besides, the 
 land now owned f)y Miss Hattie Porter, by Benjamin C. Dodd, 
 by Daniel Conant. the field ailjoining, now belonging to 
 I'TCil Smrrage, and stretching back from these to the top of 
 Great Hill. It also took in a part of the land owned by the 
 late George H. I'cvear. The "mill p.ith," as the first road 
 
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 7 
 
 was called, cut off a strip of land which was left adjoining the 
 land of Francis Pebody, now the Pevear estate. April i, 
 1794, Daniel Bordman, the great-grandson of Daniel Bor- 
 man, the first settler, sold this strip to Jacob Peabody, the 
 great-grandson of Francis Pebody. J. Waldo Towne came 
 into possession of a part of Jacob Peabody's estate, and in 
 1846 had the old Peabody house taken down, building the 
 present house in 1847 upon the corner of the Borman strip 
 of land. Thus it will be seen that all the houses in Spring- 
 ville except "the old Perley house," on "William Avery's 
 land," have been built upon the original Borman farm ; name- 
 ly, the Borman house, now owned by the heirs of B. B. Townc, 
 and the houses owned by Miss Hattie Porter, Benjamin C. 
 Dodd, Daniel Conant, the late George H. Pevear, and the late 
 Elmore Johnson. Besides these are the houses of Albert H. 
 Davison, and the late Mrs. Maria Jane Hobbs, making eight 
 in all. 
 
 At the beginning of the year 1803, the Legislature incor- 
 porated a turnpike from Newburyport to Chelsea Bridge, 
 which passed through a part of the Borman Estate. This 
 with the "mill-paths," so called, cut off three or four small 
 pieces of land from the main estate, which were afterwards 
 sold and on which some of the dwelling-houses I have men- 
 tioned were built. 
 
 On June 23, 1681, Daniel Borman sold to Tobijah Perkins, 
 son of Rev. William Perkins, the "northeast end of his farm, 
 containing 40 acres more or less, bounded on the north by 
 the land of Tobijah Perkins, which he bought of Isaac Cum- 
 mings, (now owned by Miss Mary T. Robinson) ; on the 
 northwest by the land of Lieut. Francis Pebody ; on the 
 southeast by land of Ensign Thomas Hewlett; on the south 
 by land of Daniel Borman aforesaid ; excepting a highway 
 for said Borman and his successors to pass through to 
 Ipswich". 
 
 The first mention of Daniel's name in the town records is 
 the following : — "At a LawfuU Towne meeting the 19 of March 
 1666-^ Thomas perkins ffrancis pebody and John Gould are 
 Chosen to Vew and a gree with Daniell Borman for a hie way 
 betwene William Auriell house and the mill throw his ground 
 as they shall see most Conuenyant. Voted." 
 
8 THE IJOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 
 
 "At a Lawfull Towne meeting ye 8 of Apriell 1667 The 
 Towne hath granted Liberty to \Villiam Auriell and Daniell 
 Horman to make a dame at the mile brooke a rod and a 
 halfc aboiie the bridge to float there medow prouided it be 
 no damage to the Towne. Voted." 
 
 Concerning the road, we find record, — "At a Lawfull 
 Towne meeting ye 3 of Jenewary 1670 Lieut ffraincis pebody 
 Flnsignc John Gould and Thomas perkins being Chosen by 
 ye Towne U> Lay out a highway through part of William 
 Aucricll Land and through part of Uaniell Borman Land to 
 the Northward side of Mr. perkins his home ffeild haue 
 accordingly don it \'c Which highway is Laid out from the 
 Vpper end of William Aucriell orchard one rod and a halfe 
 wide to \"e afore said northward side of Mr. perkins his feild 
 and so through Daniell Borman Land one ye northward sid 
 of Mr. perkins ffeild to the former highwa\' againe." A part 
 of this highway or mill path is now called "The lane". 
 
 Daniel Borman held town offices as tithing man, "fence 
 vewer", "Commit)'", "Soruaure of hiwaes", and selectman 
 from 1668 to 1673. He and his wife probably united with 
 the Church soon after coming to Topsficld. He died Apr. 
 27. 1708. 
 
 Children of Daniel and Hannah Borman : 
 
 7. JosEi-H, b. in Ipswich, bet. 1662 and 1666. 
 
 8. Mary, b. in Ipswich, m. Jan. 23, 1705-6, Ebenezer, son of Abra- 
 
 ham anil Lydia (Hurbank) Foster and lived in Rowley. Chil- 
 dren: Jemima; Ruth, m. Jacob Wildes and lived in Kenne- 
 bunk. Me.; Moses, m. Hannah Andrews. 
 I). Nathanikl, b. in Ipswich, bet. 1662 and 1666. 
 10. Thomas, b. in Topsfield, July 15, 1666. Of him nothing definite 
 is known unless the foUowinjj record in the "Book oT Eastern 
 Claims" has reference to him, which seems probable. — 
 "Thomas Hordman, Ipswich, claimed Two Hundred Acres of 
 I-ind, part upland, part meadow, lying within the bounds of 
 ye townshi]) of Cape I'orpas, lying near to ye deserts and ad- 
 jacent to some of Major Phillips, his land granted him by ye 
 Major part of ye Inhabitants of said Town at a legal meeting 
 May yv 8«h- iWnR, as per instrument attested by I'en of ye 
 principal Inhabitants of said Town then on y* s<i 8'^ of May, 
 i6«8, subscribed." Another record gives his age at that date 
 as 22 years, which would be just the age of Thomas, who was 
 l)orn in i0(i6. The only other Thomas, grand-son of the em- 
 igrant Thomas, would he too young, as lie was born in 1669. 
 Th.it it speaks of him as "Thomas Hordman, Ipswich," might 
 
.Z,^lU email, 
 
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 9 
 
 be misleading, but the marriage of his younger sister is re- 
 corded, "Hannah Bordman, Ipswich." 
 
 11. Hannah, b. in Topsfield, Feb. i8, 1670; m. Eleazer, son of John 
 
 and Rebecca (Prince) Putnam of Salern Village; lived in 
 Topsfield until after the birth of two or three children and 
 then removed to Salem Village. Children: Hannah, m. Dea. 
 Nathan Peabody; Eleazer, m. Mrs. Hannah (Williams) Bill- 
 ings of Groton, Conn.; Sarah; Jeptha, m. ist, Ruth Fuller, 
 2nd, Mrs. Ruth Raymond of Beverly; Joseph; Samuel, m. 
 Elizabeth Putnam. 
 
 Hannah d. , and Eleazer m. 2nd, Elizabeth Rolfe of 
 
 Newbury, sister of the wife of Nathaniel Bordman and had: 
 
 Henry, m. Hannah ; Apphiah, m. ist, John Porter of 
 
 Salem Village, 2nd, Asa Perley of Boxford. 
 
 Mary C. Endicott, wife of the Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, 
 Colonial Secretary of England, is a descendant of Eleazer and 
 Hannah (Bordman) Putnam through their son Samuel. 
 
 12. Wait John, b. Aug. 23, 1676, in Topsfield; styled "John" in af- 
 
 ter years. 
 
 13. David, b. June 21, 1682, in Topsfield; unm; d. Feb. i, 1724, at 
 
 Preston, Conn. 
 
 14. Jonathan, b. June 21, 1682, in Topsfield; unm.; d. Oct. 3, 1723, 
 
 at Topsfield. 
 
 Joseph Bordman, born in Ipswich between 1662 and 
 1666, married, Feb. 17, 1696-7, Prudence, born May 23, 
 1675, daughter of Isaac and Hannah (Downing) Foster. He 
 received of his father the tract of land lying between the part 
 sold to Tobijah Perkins and the part reserved for the home- 
 stead. The house in which Joseph lived was probably built 
 for him at the time of his marriage, and was the one which 
 was burned a few years ago. A roadway was made by travel 
 from his father's house to his, with gates to be opened where 
 it led from one piece of land to another, as was the custom 
 in the old English homes, but there were no pretty green 
 hedges to separate the fields, as were used in England instead 
 of walls and fences. This roadway, with some little altera- 
 tion, was made a county road in 1857, thus rendering a more 
 direct route to Ipswich. 
 
 Joseph served the town as "cunstable," treasurer, "serueyer 
 of highways," and was selectman in 171 5. He, with wife 
 Prudence, united with the church in Topsfield, Apr. 25, 
 1708. He died May 18, 1737. His widow died Oct. 
 28, 1755. 
 
lO THE I50ARDMAN FAMILY IN lOl-SFIELl >. 
 
 Conccrninf( the disposal of his property we find the follow- 
 ing record: — Nov. 13, 1734, "I, Joseph Bordman (for i^200 
 if demanded) give to my two daughters, Abigail Cummings 
 and Hannah Perkins, all niy estate real and personal which is 
 not otherwise disposed of at my and my present wife's de- 
 cease." 
 
 In 1742, his widow Prudence and two daughters sold the 
 place to Elisha Cummings, son of the daughter Abigail. In 
 1767, EHsha sold it to his brother Palatiah. who in turn, in 
 1786, sold the same to a nephew, Rev. Joseph Cummings. 
 In 1787, he sold it to Daniel Towne, who had married 
 Hannah, daughter of Capt. John Boardman living at the 
 homestead. In about a month, Daniel Towne sold "one half 
 the farm with one half the buildings thereon and one half the 
 outlying meadows," to Asa Perkins, the grand-son of Abigail 
 Cummings, who had married Hannah Johnson of Limerick, 
 Me., the grand-daughter of Capt. John Boardman. Mr. 
 Humphrey Balch, a grand-son of Hannah, has related of her 
 that without escort she rode to Limerick, Me., horseback, in 
 one day, carrying an infant in her arms. This story has since 
 been confirmed by a relative now living in Maine. What 
 longings must have filled her heart for the old familiar faces 
 and scenes of her childhood's home, to go in such a manner, 
 through lonely spots and long stretches of woods, with per- 
 haps only a bridle path before her in man\' places! 
 
 Asa Perkins, the last of the Borman descendants to live 
 there, died in 1825, and the place passed into the hands of 
 strangers. Joshua Wildes and Stephen Bartlctt, who bought 
 it of the heirs of Asa Perkins, held it for many years, and 
 after their death it was purchased by James Manning. It 
 was during his ownership that the buildings were burned one 
 very cold night in midwinter. C)ne of the \oungcr daughters 
 was so frightened that she caught up a little sister in her arms 
 and ran barefooted over the snow for nearly half a mile to 
 one of the neighbors, and at twelve o'clock at night made 
 known the sad story. A temporary shelter was soon con- 
 structed, and in time the present house was erected over the 
 old cellar. The heirs of James Manning sold the estate to 
 Albert Davison, the present owner. He sold a small piece 
 of land to Mrs. M. J. Hobbs, who had a house built upon it. 
 
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. I I 
 
 Children of Joseph and Prudence Bordman : 
 
 15. Abigail, b. Sept. 8, 1700; d. Oct. 5, 1771; m. Mar. 8, 1716-17, 
 
 Isaac, son of Isaac and Alice (Hewlett) Cummings. Children : 
 Abigail, m. Samuel Potter of Ipswich; Elisha, m. Mary An- 
 drews; Mary, m. Ezekiel Potter of Ipswich; Joseph, m. ist, 
 Mary Hale, 2nd, Judith Perkins; Hannah, m. Robert Perkins; 
 Pelatiah, m. ist, Sarah Kimball, 2nd, Sarah Hammond. 
 
 16. Hannah, b. Aug. 16, 1703; d. Apr. 27, 1783; m. ist, Dec. 5, 1721, 
 
 Jacob, son of Elisha and Katherine (Towne) Perkins. Chil- 
 dren: Catherine, Hannah, Ruth, Abigail, Prudence, Jacob, m. 
 Martha Tappan; Lucy, Lydia, Joseph, m. Anna Batchelder; 
 Zebulon, m. Mary Wildes; Elisha, m. Mrs. Jane Manning 
 of Ipswich; Abel. Hannah m. 2nd, Aug. 23, 1763, John 
 Batchelder. 
 
 X 9 
 
 Nathaniel Bordman, born in Ipswich between 1662 and 
 1666, married, June 28, 1710, Abigail, daughter of Benjamin 
 and Apphiah (Hale) Rolfe of Newbury. He bought land in 
 Connecticut, which he afterwards sold, and settled down at 
 the homestead in Topsfield. 
 
 Daniel Borman, after having given his eldest son Joseph a 
 portion of land and two small tracts to Jonathan, next pro- 
 vided for his son Wait John, for, according to the records, 
 March 21, 1700, he gave to John all the homestead with 
 buildings thereon, except that which he had given to his son 
 Joseph and "six acres of tillage belonging to the Old Field 
 and four acres belonging to the Brook Meadow," which he 
 had given to his son Jonathan. In his will, Jonathan gave 
 this land to Moses and Ruth, the children of his sister Mary 
 Foster. Wait John seems to have concluded to leave home 
 and go away to try his fortune, for we find that in 1704 he 
 sold the homestead to his brother Nathaniel and went to 
 Connecticut to live. 
 
 Nathaniel was a man prominent in public affairs. He was 
 town-treasurer, selectman five years and went as representa- 
 tive four years. In 1723 he is styled "Corporal" and in 1728 
 "Quartermaster". Over a hundred years later, when the old 
 chimney of the house was taken down in 1845, there was 
 found in a niche of the chimney a paper which proved to be 
 his commission from Lieut. -Gov. William Dummer, as Quar- 
 termaster, and dated Aug. 16, 1723. 
 
12 THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 
 
 In 1736, the "}'ear of an epidemic," the throat distemper, 
 he lost his two children by death. Left without heirs, he 
 must have sent to his brother John, in Connecticut, for one 
 of the sons to come and care for him in his old age, for his 
 ncj)hcw John is found living here after 1744 b\' the recorded 
 births of children, and the homestead was given to him in 
 his uncle's will. Nathaniel lived to be over 90 years of age. 
 In his will he remembers most of his own and his wife's rela- 
 tions, making abundant provision, also, for his housekeeper 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Stephens. He also gives the "Church in 
 Topsfield £^. 6s. 8d. towards building a new meeting-house 
 provided they set it in the same place." 
 
 His wife Abigail united with the church Aug. 30, 1719, 
 and he, Oct. 29, 1749. Abigail died Aug. 11. 1749. He 
 died Mar. 7, 1758, "an aged man." 
 
 WILL OF NATHANIEL BORDMAN. 
 
 "In the name of God amen the tenth day of November in 
 the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred fifty & six, 
 I Nathaniel Bordman of Topsfield in the Count}' of Essex in 
 New England, gentleman, being of perfect mind and memor\', 
 thanks be given unto Almighty God therefor, calling to mind 
 the mortality of my body, & knowing that it is appointed for 
 men once to die, do make & ordain this niv last Will & Tes- 
 tament, that is to say principally & first of all, I give and 
 recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it, 
 hoping through the merits, death & passion of ni}- Savior 
 Jesus Christ to have full & free pardon of all ni}- sins, and 
 to inherit Everlasting Life ; and my bod>' I commit to the 
 Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Execu- 
 tors hereafter named, nothing doubting but at the general 
 Resurrection I shall Receive the same again by the might)- 
 power of God & as touching such worldly Estate as it hath 
 pleased Almighty God to bless me with, I give demise and 
 dispose of the same in the following manner & form ; that is 
 to say 
 
 "Imprimis I give to the children of my Daughter [in-law] 
 Martha Chapman deceast the sum of two pounds thirteen 
 shillings & four pence Lawfull money to be equall}' divided 
 among them and to be paid in two years after my Decease. 
 
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOrSFIELD. 
 
 13 
 
 "Item I give to my Cozen Samuel Putnam of Danvers the 
 sum of seventeen pounds Lawfull money to be paid him in 
 one year after my Decease. 
 
 "Item I give unto my Cozen Jephthah Putnam of Sutton 
 the Sum of two pounds thirteen shillings & four pence Law- 
 full money to be paid him in two years after my Decease. 
 
 "Item I give unto my Cozen Henry Putnam of Charleston 
 the sum of fourteen pounds six shillings & eight pence Law- 
 full money to be paid in one year after my Decease. 
 
 "Item I give unto Mrs. Elizabeth Stephens the sum of 
 sixteen pounds Lawfull money to be paid in one year after 
 my Decease and allso I give her the feather bed shee now 
 lies on with sufificient clothes for one bed, allso a little iron 
 pott & a little iron kettle and allso a little Spinning wheel, 
 and allso a chamber table, and allso two pewter platters, two 
 plates and two chairs, and allso the Horse or Horse kind I 
 shall be owner of at my Decease, with the furnituer belonging 
 to said horse and two good cows and six sheep, and half the 
 Corn both Indian & English I shall have in my house or field 
 at my Decease, together with one half of my meat Butter & 
 Cheese, and ye one half of my live swine, all the above 
 Articles to be at her own dispose as shee shall see cause, and 
 shee to come into possession of the whole, except the money 
 immediatel}' after my Decease together with the one half of 
 the cyder I shall leave at my decease, and my Will is that 
 my Executors hereafter named shall keep the afores^ live 
 creatures on the place with good keeping for one year after 
 my Decease and it is to be understood that the Bed Clothes 
 above mentioned is to be the best coverlid & two best 
 blankets & two best sheets. I allso give to Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Stephens the use and improvement of the West lower room 
 in my Dwelling House with a privilege for her bed in the 
 East Chamber and sufificient cellar Room for her own use 
 for four \'ears after my decease, and five cords of wood for 
 her fier Ready cutt and brought to the door as shee shall 
 need the same for the above said years, the aboves*" Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Stephens being & for some time hath been my 
 House-keeper, for which Reason I have given her what is 
 above expressed. I allso give her the under bed & bolster 
 & two pillers & two piller cases belonging to said Bed. 
 
14 TIIE BOARDMAN 1-A.MILV IN TOl'Sl- IE1,D. 
 
 "Item I give unto my coiizen Elijah Bordman of Preston 
 the sum of six pounds thirteen shillings & four pence Lawfull 
 money to be paid him in two years after my decease. 
 
 "Item I give unto my Couzen Joseph Bordman the sum 
 of one pound six shillings & eight pence Lawfull mone)' to 
 be paid unto him two years after my decease. 
 
 "Item I give unto the relations of my wife lately deceast 
 as followeth Viz 
 
 "To children of Henry Rolfe Esq. in Newbury deceast the 
 sum of three pounds Lawfull money and 
 
 "To children of Elizabeth Putnam deceast Viz — to Henry 
 Putnam & Apphiah Porter two pounds Lawfull money equally 
 between them & 
 
 "To my sister in Law Mrs. Dorothy Rolfe deceast her 
 children the sum of three pounds Lawfull money to be equally 
 divided between them & 
 
 "To Samuel Rolfe of Newbury twenty shillings Lawfull 
 money & 
 
 "To Martha Titcomb the wife of Josiah Titcomb of New- 
 bury twenty shillings Lawfull money & 
 
 "To Dorothy Greenleaf sister to Mr. Samuel Rolfe of 
 Newbury twenty shillings Lawfull money & 
 
 "To Capt John Whipple of Ipswich twenty shillings Law- 
 full money & 
 
 "To Hannah Whipple of Ipswich twenty shillings Lawfull 
 money all my aforesaid Wife's Relations to be paid in one 
 year & a half after m\' Decease. 
 
 "Item I give to the three \-oungest daufjhtcrs of mv 
 brother John Bordman of Preston deceast as followeth Viz 
 To Mary Williams twenty shillings Lawfull money and to 
 Eunice Perkins twenty six shillings & eight pence Lawfull 
 money & one sheep and to Lois Cotterell twenty shillings 
 Lawfull monej' to be paid in one year after my Decease. 
 
 "Item I give unto the children of my brother Joseph 
 Bordman late of Topsfield deceast as followeth Viz To my 
 couzen Hannah Perkins twenty shillings Lawfull money and 
 to my couzen Abigail Commings twenty shillings Lawfull 
 moncy-and to my Couzen Moses Foster twenty shillings 
 Lawfull money and to m\' Couzen Ruth Wildes twcnt)' shil- 
 lings Lawfull money, all the last mentioned sums to be paid 
 in two years after my Decease. 
 
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 15 
 
 "Item I give unto the Church in the Town of Topsfield 
 one pound six shillings & eight pence Lavvfull money to be 
 paid in one year after my Decease 
 
 "Item I give unto the town of Topsfield five pounds six 
 shillings & eight pence Lawfull money towards building a 
 new meeting House in the Town for the Worship of God 
 provided they sett it in the same place where the old 
 meeting House stands in Topsfield to be paid half a year 
 after s*^ House is raised, 
 
 "Item I give to my couzen John Bordman in Topsfield 
 all my lands and meadows & Buildings in Topsfield aforesaid, 
 and all Lands or Marsh in Ipswich or in any other place 
 where the same may be found together with all the instru- 
 ments for husbandry. 
 
 "Item I give to John Back who hath lived in the house 
 sometime with me two pounds Lawfull money or a good 
 cow, in half a year after my Decease. 
 
 "Item I give unto my Couzen Nathaniel Bordman a 
 feather Bed & bed clothes convenient for it & allso a two 
 year old heifer & one half of my wearing clothes & one Bible. 
 
 "Item I give unto my Couzen Hannah Putnam wife to 
 Henry Putnam one steer a year old. 
 
 "Item I give unto Jephthah Putnam Jonathan Rolfe 
 Elijah Bordman Joseph Bordman Hannah Putnam wife to 
 Henry Putnam Eunice Perkins wife to Stephen Perkins 
 Moses Foster Ruth Wildes wife to Jacob Wildes & to my 
 couzens Abigail Bordman and Hannah Perkins the wife of 
 Jacob Perkins & to Mrs. Elizabeth Stephens over and above 
 what I have already given them all the remaining part of my 
 Estate that is already or shall be hereafter given away to 
 be equally divided among them. 
 
 "Item I give unto my Couzen Samuel Putnam over & 
 above what I have already given him my great Brass kettle. 
 
 "Item I give unto my Couzen John Bordman over and 
 above what I have already given him two third parts of the 
 cattle & sheep that may be left at my Decease besides what I 
 have already given away in this Will and allso half the corn 
 that I shall leave. 
 
 "I do hereby constitute & Ordain the abovesaid John 
 Bordman one of my executors to this my Last Will & Testa- 
 
l6 THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IX TOPSFIELD. 
 
 ment, who is to pay and dischar<,'e all my debts & Icfjacies & 
 funeral charp^cs. I do allso constitute & appoint my Couzens 
 Samuel Putnam and Ilcnn- Putnam my other two Executors 
 to see this my Last Will and Testament fulfilled. And I do 
 utterly disallow Revoke disannuU all & every other former 
 wills legacies & bequests by me heretofore made Ratifiying 
 & confirming this & no other to be my Last Will and Testa- 
 ment, in witness whereof I have hereunto sett my Hand & 
 Seal the day & year abovesaid or written. 
 
 "Signed sealed published & Declared by the s"* Nathaniel 
 Bordman as his Last Will & Testament in presence of us the 
 subscribers 
 
 s*" Tobijah Perkins his 
 
 Daniel Gould Nathaniel y-j Bordman" [Seal] 
 
 Thomas Baker mark 
 
 Children of Nathaniel and Abigail : 
 
 17. Nathaniel, b. Apr. 9, 171 1; m. Apr. i, 1736, Martha Perley of 
 
 Ipswich. He died Aue. 26, 1736, and she m. 2nd, John 
 Chapman, jr. and their children were remembered in the will 
 of Nathaniel Bordman, father of the first husband. 
 
 18. Abigail, bapt. Sept. 5, 1714; d. Sept. 13, 1736. 
 
 12 
 
 (Wait) John Boardman, born in Topsfield, Aug. 23, 
 1676, married May 4, 1713, Mary, daughter of Capt. William 
 and Hannah Billings of Preston, Conn. The standing of the 
 family may be learned from the fact that a brother of Mary, 
 Rev. William Billings, was a graduate of Yale. According 
 to the custom in those davs, the names of the class were eiven 
 in the order corresponding to the rank of their families. 
 William Billings stood third in the list. Jonathan Edwards, 
 the noted theologian, was a classmate and he ranked fifth. 
 
 From the records of Preston wc learn that I)a\id Borman, 
 John's younger brother, was the first of the name to appear 
 in the town, buying land there in 1703. In 171 5, he sold his 
 first purchase, and going north about a mile, he bought 
 again, 140 acres for ;^200, and here he died unmarried in 
 1724, only four months after the death in Topstield of his 
 twin brother Jonathan. This homestead in some way, not 
 recorded, passed into the hands of Eleazer Putnam, who must 
 
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 17 
 
 have been the eldest son of his sister Hannah, for in a subse- 
 quent transfer of a part of it. Eleazer speaks of the former 
 owner as, "my uncle David Bordman." 
 
 Nathaniel also bought land thc-re, bounded north by 
 David's land, but sold the same shortly after, as recorded, to 
 "my brother John Bordman, formerly ot Topsficld, Massa- 
 chusetts." Thus John, to whom the father had given the 
 homestead in Topsfield, and Nathaniel, who had bought land 
 in Preston, made an exchange which changed the whole after 
 course of their lives. After David's death, John sold this 
 tract of land bought of Nathaniel, and purchased two thirds 
 of the farm that was David's. Eleazer the grantor speaks of 
 him in the transfer as, "my Uncle John Bordman." Here 
 John resided until his death and the same has remained in 
 the possession of his descendants to this day, unless a change 
 has been recentl\- made. In the baptismal records at Preston 
 appears the following, — "Apr. i, 1739 — John Bordman. adult, 
 Mary Bordman, adult. Hannah, cliild of John Bordman." 
 He died Feb. 2, 1739. His widow survived him many years, 
 dying May 24, 1776. 
 
 Children of John and Mary: 
 
 19. Unis, b. ; d. Feb. 6, 1714. 
 
 20. A child, b. Nov. 15, 1715; d. Nov. 20, 1715. 
 
 21. John, b. Dec. 21, 1716. 
 
 22. Hannah, b. Oct. 20, 1718. 
 
 23. Elijah, b. Mar. 13, 1720; d. Dec. 20, 1759; m. Mar. 15, 1749, 
 
 Mary Tyler, b. Mar. 13, 1 720-1, Preston. Children: Henry; 
 
 Elijah, m. 1st, Coit, 2nd, Sabrina Crocker; Jonas, 
 
 m. 1st, Lorana Benton, 2nd, Elizabeth Jewett; John, m. Cla- 
 rinda Starbuck; Mary, m. John Tyler. 
 
 24. Joseph, b. Oct. 20, 1722; d. Sept. 23, 1796; m. Sept. 8, 1749, 
 
 Rachel Killam. Children: David, m. Jemima Kinney; Jona- 
 than, m. Priscilla Safford; Elisha; Hezekiah, m. Hannah 
 Cook; Mary, m. Robbins; Elizabeth, m. Rob- 
 bins; Joseph; Rachel, m. Andrew Hewitt; Benjamin, ni. Sabra 
 Brown; Eunice, m. ist, Thomas Meach, 2nd, Merrill Safford; 
 Lois, m. 1st, Dennison Kinney, 2nd, Benjamin Town; Sam- 
 uel, m. Nancy . 
 
 Joseph was commissioned in 1776, Captain of the 2nd com- 
 pany, or train band, of the 8th Regiment of Conn. His sons 
 David and Hezekiah, and nephew Elijah were in his company. 
 
 25. Maky, b. Mar. 20, 1724; m. Oct. 12, 1743, Henry Williams. 
 
 26. Unis, b. July 10, 1728; d. Feb. i, 1813; m. Aug. 10, 1748, Capt. 
 
 Stephen, son of John and Dorothy (Wildes) Perkins of Tops- 
 field, and lived in Topsfield. Children: Dorothy, m. Nathaniel 
 
1 8 THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 
 
 Averill; Mary, d. aged 26; Abigail, m. Nathaniel Hammond. 
 
 27. Lois, b. Oct. 14, 1730: m. John Cottrell. 
 
 21 
 
 Capt. John Boardman, born in Preston, Conn., Dec. 21, 
 1 7 16, married Jan. 26, 1736, Elizabeth Cagwin, born Feb. 8, 
 1 714-15, daughter of John and Hannah (Brown) Kegwin, of 
 Stonington, Conn. Her ancestors belonged to a party of 
 colonists who settled in Voluntovvn, Conn., and organized the 
 first and for many years the only Presbyterian Church in the 
 State. He lived in Preston until after the birth of the fourth 
 child, which is recorded there in 1744, and then came to 
 Topsfield to live with his Uncle Nathaniel, who gave him 
 the homestead by will. The birth of the next child is 
 recorded in Topsfield. In the Preston church records among 
 the names of those who had "owned the covenant" were 
 John Bordman and Elizabeth his wife. They became mem- 
 bers of the church in Topsfield, Nov. 23, 1746. He held 
 town offices as tything man, fence viewer, constable, warden, 
 hogreeve, school committee, surveyor, overseer, committee 
 of safety and selectman. He espoused the cause of freedom 
 by becoming a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He died 
 Apr. 7, 1780, and is called "Capt. ]ohn liordman, Gent.," in 
 the records. His widow died Feb. 3, 1789. 
 
 Children of John and Elizabeth : 
 
 28. Hannah, b. 1737, in Preston, Conn.; d. Dec. 30, 1814, in Tops- 
 
 field; m. Feb. 23, 1761, Lieut. Daniel, son of l^hilip and 
 Dinah (Hobbs) Towne. No children. 
 
 29. Abigail, b. 1739, in Preston; d. July 8, 1786, in Topsfield; m. 
 
 Jan. 4, 1763, Stephen, son of Stephen and Rebecca (Peabody) 
 Foster of Topsfield. Children: Nathaniel, m. Salome Foster; 
 Matilda, m. Samuel Bradstreet; Abigail, m. Thomas Cum- 
 mings. Stephen Foster m. 2nd, Sarah Dorman, lived on the 
 John Smith farm, in Topsfield on the road leading to Line- 
 brook. 
 
 30. Nathaniel, b. 1741, in Preston; "died in ye war, 1760." 
 
 31. Lois, b. 1744, in Preston; d. Dec. 6, 1792; m. Apr. 26, 1763, 
 
 Thomas, son of Thomas and Lydia (Richardson) Cummings. 
 Lived on the "Reuben Smith farm", Topsfield. Cliiidren: 
 Jonas, m. Hepzibah Knowlton; Joseph; Thomas, m. Abigail 
 Foster; Nathaniel; Daniel; John IJoardman, m. ist, Rebecca 
 I5alch,of Topsfield, 2nd, NIartha Knowlton, of Hamilton. 
 
 32. Elizahf.th, b. Sept. 18, 1746, in To])sfR!d; m. Benjamin John- 
 
 son, of Ipswich. After the birth of their seventh child they 
 
THE BOARDMAX FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 19 
 
 went to Limerick, Me., and were among the first settlers of 
 that town, Mary, the eighth child, being the first white child 
 born in that place. He was town clerk' in 17S2, and deacon 
 of the Congregational Church for many years. Children: 
 Boardman, m. Keziah Foster; Daniel, m. Susannah I'erkins; 
 Benjamin, sea captain; Joseph, m. Betsey McKusick; Josiah, 
 m. Esther Perkins; Hannah, m. Asa Perkins of Topsfield, 
 and lived there; Elizabeth, m. Daniel Hazeltine; Mary, m. 
 Joseph Gilpatrick; John, married, and lived in Burlington, Vt. 
 
 33. John, b. Sept. 24, 1748; d. Jan. 28, 1771; m. Nov. 8, 1770, Bethiah 
 
 Giddings, of Ipswich. She m. 2nd, Josiah Fitts of Ipswich, 
 3rd, June 3, 1777, John Gould, jr., of Topsfield. 
 
 34. Mary, b. Mar. 12, 1751; d. May 5, 1S03; m. Dec. 6, 1781, Josiah, 
 
 son of Thomas and Anna (Kettell) Cummings. Lived in 
 Andover. 
 
 35. Daniel, b. Dec. 26, 1752. 
 
 36. Eunice, b. Feb. i, 1755; d. July 12, 1768. 
 
 35 
 
 Capt. Daniel Boardman, born in Topsfield Dec. 26, 
 1752, married (pub.) Nov. 24, 1776, Lydia Bishop of Row- 
 ley. Daniel was attending school away from home when his 
 only brother suddenly sickened and died leaving the father 
 alone upon the farm. He obeyed the call of duty and came 
 home to be a comfort and help to the bereaved parents. 
 After the death of his father he came into possession of the 
 homestead by buying out the rights of his five sisters and 
 their husbands, according to the following contract; — "Oct. 
 2, 1782. We, Daniel Towne of Topsfield, gentleman, and 
 Hannah his wife, and Stephen Foster of Topsfield, yeoman, 
 and Abigail his wife, and Thomas Cummings, gentleman, of 
 Topsfield, and Lois his wife, and Benjamin Johnson, joiner, 
 of Limerick, Co. of York, Me., and Elizabeth his wife, and 
 Josiah Cummings of Andover, yeoman, and Mary his wife, 
 all of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for and in con- 
 sideration of ^^"20 given to us by our brother Daniel Board- 
 man, yeoman, aforesaid, to our full satisfaction and content, 
 all being children of, and heirs to, the estate that our honored 
 father, Capt. John Bordman, late of Topsfield, deceased, 
 died sei"ed of, intestate; also in consideration that we have 
 received two thirds part of our father's personal estate, &c. 
 &c. give tip all claim to our father's estate." 
 
 Daniel served the tt>wn as tythingman, warden, fish com- 
 mittee, hayward, surveyor, and school committee. He was 
 
20 THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 
 
 a captain of the militia in Topsficld, also a soldier in the 
 Revolution. He died Ma>' i, 1803. aged 50. The Salem 
 Register, May 9, 1803, speaks thus of the funeral services: — 
 "On Tuesday last was interred at Topsfield, Capt. Daniel 
 Boardman, with every token of respect for his memory, and 
 sympathy for his afflicted family. As it was on the day 
 assigned to military parade and review, the militia company 
 in the town, the command of which he had recentlv resigned, 
 appeared under arms on the occasion, commanded by Capt. 
 Bradstreet, and went through those movements and positions 
 usual on such occasions, attended with solemn music. — The 
 order and decorum of the military made a favorable impres- 
 sion on a numerous assemblage of people. The solemnity 
 observable on the occasion was expressive of the public 
 estimation of an honest man, a good neighbor, and a worth)' 
 citizen." Mr. David Kimball of Portsmouth, N. H., one of 
 Topsfield's worthy sons, once spoke of being a witness to the 
 scene. He said he was a very small lad and rode on the 
 horse with his father. The sight of the Company drawn up 
 in military array in front of the house and the solemnity of 
 the service, so impressed him that it became indellibly 
 stamped upon his memory. 
 
 His widow, Lydia, after having buried in Toj)sfield her 
 second husband, John Batchelder, went to spend the remain- 
 ing years of her life with her daughter Betsey Marden, in 
 Pittsfield, N. H., and passing away Oct. 12, i84i,at the age 
 of 88, was laid in her last resting-place among the New 
 Hampshire hills. 
 
 Children of Daniel and Lydia: 
 
 37. Eunice, b. Jan. 8, 1778; d. May 2, 1852; m. ist, Nov. 30, 1797, 
 
 Jonathan Porter of Danvers; 2nd, Oct. 16, iSio, Jeremiah 
 Putnam of Danvers. Their only child, Joseph Porter Put- 
 nam, when not quite five years old, was crossing the bridge 
 at Uanversport, where he lived, and a drove of sheep came 
 along. Becoming frightened, he climbed the railing and, 
 leaning over too far, fell into the water and was drowned. 
 
 38. John, b. Oct. 10, 1779. 
 
 39. Bishop, b. Sept. 26, 1781; d. Oct. 20, 1S53, in Danvers, unm. 
 
 He spent the last of his days with his brother Nathaniel. 
 
 40. Danikl, b. Nov. 1 1. 1783. 
 
 41. Betsey, b. Jan. 8, 1785: d. Aug. 10, 1875, at Pittsfield, N. H.; m. 
 
 Mar. 4, 1824, David Marden. One child, Julia Marden, d. 
 aged 24 years. 
 
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THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 21 
 
 42. Lydia, b. 1787; d. Sept. 9, 1796, "8 yrs. old." 
 
 43. Nathaniel, b. Sept. 29, 1790. 
 
 44. Sally, b. Dec. 3, 1793; d. Aug. 28, 1872; m. Mar. 12, 1812, Ben- 
 
 jamin, b. Dec. 22, 1793; d. Mar. 29, 1879, son of Jacob and 
 Rachel (Cain) Tovvnc; lived in Top.sfield. Children: Benja- 
 min Boardman, m. Esther Peabody; Alfred Porter, m. Har- 
 riet Newell Peabody; Jacob Aden, m. Sarah Peabody; Eu- 
 nice Elizabeth, m. Benjamin Glazier; Elisha Huntington, m. 
 Ann Sillars; Jeremiah Stone, died young; Sally Ann, m. 
 Charles Procter; Caroline Haskell. 
 
 38 
 
 John Boardman, born in Topsfield, Oct. lo, 1779, mar- 
 ried. Mar. 18, 1802, Rebecca, born Jan. 7, 1782, daughter of 
 John and Bethiah (Giddings) Gould. They lived in Tops- 
 field. He died June 17, 1856, and his vvidow died May 12, 
 1861. 
 
 Children of John and Rebecca: 
 
 45. John, b. 1802. 
 
 46. Lydia, b. Jan. 10, 1804; m. ist, Thomas Lord (Child: Charles 
 
 Lord, m. Lizzie Trask), 2nd, Capt. William Weirs. Lived 
 in Salem. 
 
 47. Eunice, b. Apr. 9, 1806; d. July 7, 1872; m. July 17, 1827, Benja- 
 
 min Franklin Rogers of Salem. Lived in Salem. Children: 
 Eunice Rebecca, m. Capt. Charles C. Osgood; Joseph Porter, 
 m. Mary Wilson; Nancy Augusta, m. Robert Barr; Lydia 
 Lord, m. John Boyd; Benjamin Franklin, m. Fannie Sleeper. 
 
 48. Sally, b. Oct. 24, 1808; d. July 11, 1882; m. (pub.) July 29, 1832, 
 
 Cyrus, son of Aaron and Lucy (Hobbs) Kneeland. Lived 
 in Topsfield and Georgetovk^n. Children: Cyrus Alonzo, m. 
 Eliza Welch; Melissa, m. John Scates; Edgar, m. Rosetta 
 Sullivan; Lydia, m. William Spofford; Charles, m. Lizzie 
 Hunkins; Mary, m. Ansel Sleeper; Asa Pingree, d. in car 
 coming home on furlough during Civil War; Frank; James; 
 Rebecca. 
 
 49. Daniel, b. Apr. II, 181 1. 
 
 40 
 
 DANIEL Boardman, born in Topsfield, Nov. ii. 1783, 
 married Mar. 15, 1804, Elizabeth, born Mar. 17, 1785. daugh- 
 ter of Zaccheus and Anna (Brown) Gould. They lived in 
 Topsfield. He died at sea, and she married, second, Arte- 
 mus Perley of Boxford. 
 
 Children of Daniel and Elizabeth : 
 
 50. Elizabeth, b. 1804; m. Aug. 4, 1822, Samuel Janes. Lived in 
 
22 Till-: l;oARl).MA\ lA.MILV IN TOI'SFIELD. 
 
 Topsfield. She d. May 6, 1875. Children: Eunice Gould, m. 
 
 James Connelly; John Collins, m. ist, Sophia , 2nd, 
 
 Sarah ; Samuel Augustus, m. Eliza Brown; Daniel 
 
 Boardman, m. ist, Orissa Andrews, 2nd, Cynthia Wildes; 
 Elizabeth, m. John Ingalls; Joseph Porter, m. Margaret P. 
 Hobson; Mary Ann, m. Nahum Getchell; Emily Augusta, m. 
 James Wilson; Susan Maria, m. Robert Getchell; Wm. 
 Henry, unm.; Harriet Ellen, m. Herbert Niles; Theodora, m. 
 Benjamin Hall; Julia Preston, m. George Gerry. 
 
 51. Anna Brown, b. Aug. 30, 1806; m. Dec, 1824, Samuel Goodale 
 
 of Lunenburg, Vt. She d. Nov. 12, 1871 and he d. Jan. 3, 
 1872. Children: Elizabeth Anne, m. Aaron Pillsbury of 
 Georgetown; Arabella Johnson, m. Silas Page Lake; Lisa Ma- 
 ry, m. William B. Pillsbury of Georgetown; Juliana Aurelia, 
 m. Allen Gould; Susan Maria, m. Cleveland Gould (At a 
 family gathering a few years ago, live generations were repre- 
 sented, including the mother of Mr. Gould, 95 yrs. old, and 
 his great-granddaughter, Dorothy B. Chase, an infant.); 
 Elmira Minerva, m. Albert Walbridge of Worcester; Nancy 
 Jane, m George Savary of Groveland; Huldah Perley, m. 
 Moses H. Harriman of Groveland; Samuel Densmore, m. 
 Mary Frances Wiggin of Reading; Charles Alden, m. Abi- 
 gail Jelleson of Rowley; Arthur Ward, lost at sea, Sept., 
 1867. 
 
 52. Daniel, b. Dec. 12, 1808. 
 
 43 
 
 Nathaniel Boardman, born in Topsfield, Sept. 29, 1790. 
 married, first, May 16, 18 16, Nancy, born Oct. 30, 1795, 
 daughter of Israel and Anna (Endicott) Putnam. She died 
 Mar. 19, 1823, and he married, second, Nov. 25, 1824, Anna, 
 born Oct. 27, 1792, daughter of David and Elenor (Haskell) 
 Putnam. He was a shoe manufacturer and lived in Danvers. 
 He was for many years one of the Trustees of the Danvers 
 Savings Bank. He died in Danvers, Oct. 27, 1876, and his 
 wife died June 27, 1872. 
 
 Children of Nathaniel and Nancy : 
 
 53. Israel Putnam, b. Apr. 16, 1817. 
 Children of Nathaniel and Anna: 
 
 54. Nancy Ellen, b. Nov. 28, 1825, in Danvers; m. Apr. 12, 1S55, 
 
 Edward Augustus Lord of Ipswich. They lived in Danvers 
 and Evanston, 111., where she died Mar. 11, 1891. Children: 
 Anna Putnam, m. Frank Edwin Miller of Evanston; Frank 
 Elmer; Alonzo Boardman; Percy Augustus; Mary Wade. 
 
 55. Cakollne Haskell, b. Mar. 28, 1829; d. Feb. 7, 1S33. 
 
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOrSFIELD. 23 
 
 56. Nathaniel Holten, b. Mar. 28, 1829. 
 
 57. Alonzo Bishop, b. June 26, 1831; d. Feb. 9, 1848. 
 
 58. Horace Webster, b. June 3, 1834. 
 
 45 
 
 John Boardman, born in Topsfield, 1802, married Nov. 
 22, 1838, Louisa Searle, born May 19, 1808, daughter of 
 John and Elizabeth (Searle) McKenzie. They lived in 
 Topsfield. He died Feb. 24, 1884, and his widow died Mar. 
 10, 1887. 
 
 Children of John and Louisa Searle: 
 
 59. Thomas Greenleaf, b. Feb. 12, 1839. Went west to live. 
 
 60. Adelaide Louisa, b. Sept. 9, 1841; m. Aug. 22, 1868, Benjamin 
 
 Colby, son of Benjamin C. and Elizabeth (Goodell) Dodd. 
 
 61. Eunice Putnam, b. Jan. 4, 1844; d. Apr. 6, 1853. 
 
 62. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 30, 1846; m. July 2, 1868, Francis Creelman 
 
 Frame of Boxford. Live in Topsfield. Children: Delia 
 May, m. Fred Deering; Bessie Louise, m. John Leonard 
 Fiske; Ralph Greenleaf, m. Rose M. Libby; Grace Adelaide; 
 Roy Francis; Elsie Belle; Bernice Damon. 
 
 63. Alfred, b. June 24, 1848; d. Apr. 28, 1851. 
 
 49 
 
 Daniel Boardman, born in Topsfield, Apr. 11, 1811, 
 married Sarah Bruce of Salem. They lived in Salem and 
 Boston. 
 
 Children of Daniel and Sarah: 
 
 64. Augusta, m. Joseph de Freys. 
 
 65. Sarah, m. Charles Fames. Child: Nellie Augusta. 
 
 66. George, b. in Salem; m. Lucy Turner. Children: Augusta, 
 
 Daniel. 
 
 67. Charles. 
 
 52 
 
 Daniel Boardman, born in Topsfield, Dec. 12, 1808, 
 married Apr. 29, 1830. Mehitable Balch, born Nov. 19, 1813, 
 daughter of Moses and Phebe (Brocklebank) Nelson of 
 Georgetown. He was a musician of some note and during 
 the Civil War was a member of the band attached to the 
 17th Regt. Massachusetts Volunteers. He died in George- 
 town, June 18, 1 891. 
 
 Children of Daniel and Mehitable Balch: 
 
24 THE BOAKDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 
 
 68. Mary Elizabeth, b. Dec. 25, 1830, in Georgetown; m. May 20, 
 
 1848, Hiram A. Bagley. Children: Emma Frances; Charles; 
 William; Frank; Cora Picolomini; Annie Florence; Herbert 
 Prescott. 
 
 69. Charles Greekleaf, b. Mar. 17, 1833. 
 
 70. Mehitable Nelson, b. Dec. 9, 1834, in South Danvers; m. 
 
 Dec. 15, 1S53, Proctor S. Dwinnell. Children: Frank Story; 
 P. Everett; George Nelson. 
 
 71. Olive Maria, b. Mar. 18, 1837, in Marblehead; m.June 18, 1855, 
 
 George E. Batchelder of Topsficld. Children: Grace Ellen, 
 d. 1884; George Wellington. 
 
 72. Phebe Augusta, b. Oct. 9, 1839, in Georgetown; m. Apr. 3, 1865, 
 
 Charles H. Dow. Child; Helen Elizabeth. 
 
 73. Abbie Huldah, b. Feb. 3, 1842, in Georgetown; m. May i, 1863, 
 
 Alphonso Munday of Topsfield, who d. Mar. 30, 1880. Child: 
 Thomas Fred. 
 
 74. Sarah Charlotte, b. June 10, 1844, i" Georgetown; m. Dec. 8, 
 
 1869, Henry Browning, who d. Aug. 10, 1873. 
 
 75. Moses Nelson, b. Oct. 3, 1846. 
 
 76. Ella Sophronia, b. May 30, 1851, in Boxford; d. Jan. 19, 1865. 
 
 53 
 
 Israel Putnam Boardman, born in Danvers, Apr. 16, 
 1817, married July ii, 1842, Caroline Elizabeth, born Mar. 
 15, 1823, daughter of Moses and Mehitable (Upton) Gould. 
 He was a shoe manufacturer and lived in Danvers, where he 
 died Feb. 17, 1891. 
 
 Children of Israel Putnam and Caroline Elizabeth: 
 
 77. Mary Alice, b. June 10, 1844; m. Oct. 17. 1865, George Faxon 
 
 of Quincy. Children: Caroline B.; Grace B.; Endicott. 
 
 78. Lewis Augustus, b. June 21, 1846. 
 
 79. Minerva Inez, b. Mar. 22, 1S50; m. Dr. Samuel N. French. 
 
 56 
 
 Nathaniel Holten Boardman, born in Danvers, Mar. 
 28, 1829, married Dec. 16, 1857, Harriet Maria, born Jan. 16, 
 1833, daughter of Simeon and Harriet (Whitticr) Putnam. 
 They lived in Danvers, where she died Sept. 19, 1882. 
 
 Children of Nathaniel Holten and Harriet Maria; 
 
 80. Elizabeth Gardiner, b. Dec. i, 1S61; m. June i, 1893, Charles 
 
 W., son of William O. and Martha (Caldwell) Hood. Live 
 in Danversport. 
 
 81. Ralph Holten, b. June 30, 1867. 
 
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD, 2$ 
 
 58 
 
 Horace Webster Boardman, bom in Danvers, June 3, 
 1834, married Nov. 25, 1876, Lucy, born Sept. 2, 1848, 
 daughter of Noah B. and Mary F. (Lane) Church of New- 
 buryport. They live in Danvers. 
 
 Child of Horace Webster and Lucy: 
 
 82. Leslie Putnam, b. Apr. 29, 1880; m. Apr. 23, 1902, Myra, b. 
 
 Aug. 10, 1883, daughter of John and Margaret Haines. Live 
 in I)anvers. 
 
 69 
 
 Charles Greenleaf Boardman, born in Georgetown, 
 Mar. 17, 1833, married May 28, 1867, Louise Frances Nichols. 
 They lived in Roxbury. She died Jan. 3, 1876. 
 
 Children of Charles Greenleaf and Louise Frances: 
 
 83. Mabel Louise, b. July 18, 1869; d. Apr, 30, 1875. 
 
 84. Charles Seth, b. Nov. 29, 1873. 
 
 75 
 
 Moses Nelson Boardman, born Oct. 3, 1846, in George- 
 town, married Sept. 28, 1867, Martha, born Nov. 12, 1848, 
 daughter of Thomas K. and Louisa (Morgan) Leach of 
 Topsfield. They live in Georgetown where he is engaged in 
 the grocery business. 
 
 Children of Moses Nelson and Martha: 
 
 8s. Willie Nelson, b. May 6, 1870; d. July 13, 1870. 
 
 86. Harry Woodbury, b. May 6, 1874. 
 
 87. Seth Howard, b. Aug. 3, 1882. 
 
 81 
 
 Ralph Holten Boardman, born in Danvers, June 30, 
 1867, married Sept. 30, 1886, Helen Frances Crocker, born 
 June 29, 1869. They live in Danvers. 
 
 Children of Ralph Holten and Helen Frances. 
 
 88. Cleon Whittier, b. June 12, 1887; d. Sept. 12, 1889. 
 
 89. Gladys Putnam, b. May 6, 1889. 
 
 90. Holten Gardiner, b. Jan. 12, 1891. 
 
 91. Nelson, b. Apr. 20, 1896. 
 
 92. Rodney, b. Feb. 21, 1898. 
 
26 THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 
 
 86 
 
 Harry Woodbury Boardman, born in Georgetown, 
 May 6, 1874, married June 10, 1895, Blanche, born Jan. 24, 
 1875, in Brookfield, daughter of William and Annie (Hilton) 
 Allen. Live at Worcester. 
 
 Child of Harry Woodbury and Blanche : 
 
 93. Nellie B., b. Apr. 2, 1897. 
 
 In 1807, the heirs of Capt. Daniel Boardman sold a part 
 of the farm and one-half the house to John P. Peabody, who 
 was a descendant of Joseph Boardman, through his daughter 
 Abigail Cummings. In 1835, they sold the remaining part 
 of the farm and the other half of the house to Benjamin 
 Boardman Towne, a grandson of Capt. Daniel Boardman. 
 In 1843, B. B. Towne bought out John P. Peabody, thus 
 owning the whole Boardman farm, and the homestead 
 remains in the possession of his heirs at the present time. 
 Thus it is plainly seen that the Borman homestead has been 
 occupied by Daniel Borman and his descendants to the eighth 
 generation, including the children of one of the present heirs. 
 Daniel Borman, the first settler, has not a representative in 
 Topsfield today bearing his name. Through the daughters, 
 however, he is represented by a great many of its citizens, 
 bearing the names of Avcrill, Balch, Cummings, Gould, 
 Peterson, Perkins, Todd, and Towne. The house, which was 
 built on its present site in 1697 ^or Daniel and Hannah Hutch- 
 inson Borman was considered unusually large for those times. 
 In 1843, when it came into the possession of Benj. B. Towne, 
 few changes, probably, had been made, and, as may be imag- 
 ined, it was in rather a dilapidated condition, but the old oaken 
 frame remained firm and strong. The large old chimney 
 was taken down that year, and the house remodeled, and 
 with the various changes since made, there is little today to 
 remind one of its extreme age, except the old-fashioned 
 beams, now encased, to be seen in some of the rooms, and 
 the brick and mortar packing between the inner and outer 
 walls. 
 
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY IN TOPSFIELD. 2^ 
 
 The worn attic stairs, and under the eaves the broken 
 loom and leaning wheel, the motionless swifts and silent reel, 
 tell their own story of past labor and long rest. 
 
 1 P ^ViAH^ 
 
 Facsimile of the signature of Thomas Borman, I60i-i673. 
 
 The illustrations used in connection with this genealogy 
 are reprinted from The Boardman Genealogy, Hartford, 
 1895, through the courtesy of William F. J. Boardman of 
 Hartford, Conn. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 021 549 359 3