Weymouth New England Genealogy

"In 1661 when he was 32 Robert Emerson joined with his brotherMichael in the purchase of a large farm in Haverhill from RobertSwan as already stated. On 17 May 1669 he bought an acre and ahalf of meadow of Obadiah Ayer; on 29 Oct 1673 one acre ofmeadow from Elizabeth Linfurth; on 12 June 1674 20 acres of landby the Fishing River of John Williams; and on 28 Jan 1679 3 moreof meadow from Peter Ayer. On 25 Jan 1675 Robert Emerson, alongwith Thomas Dustin, was listed as one of those building homes.These householders were prohibited from building on Common landas earlier householders had been permitted to do. Before 1675grants of land were seldom recorded in the town book at the timethey were laid out. Thus Robert Emerson acquired considerableland through purchase. Since he does not seem to have had atrade he devoted full time to farming. He was a member of thechurch as shown by his becoming a "freeman" of the colony 29April 1668. The high regard his fellow citizens had for RobertEmerson is shown by his frequent service as a selectman whichwould be similar to city councilman today. He served asselectman in 1671, 1676, 1678 and 1687. In 1679 he was electedconstable, 10 years after his brother Michael had held thatposition. This job indicates that he was not only literate butcould keep accounts although later in life when he made his willpoor vision or other incapacity forced him to not write ithimself and to make an X instead of signing it. The respect ofhis fellows is shown by the following record:"February 22, 1686/7. Robert Emerson openly moved for to know bywhom the bridge over the Fishing river at his house is to bemade. In answer to it the selectmen are ordered to takeeffectual care about the matter proposed." In 1683 RobertEmerson along with the minister and 12 others voted to buy thehouse where Henry Palmer lived and died for use of the ministryforever and to place the new meeting house upon the old site butthey were voted down by 34 including Michael Emerson. The nextyear two men offered their houses for sale for the ministry andWm. Startin's was accepted. He was paid with 10 acres of land onFishing River near Robert Emerson's. Not until 1698 did the votepass to move into the new meeting house when almost finished.Those who hadn't wanted it in the first place voted againstit--among them Michael Emerson and two of his sons, Johnathanand Joshua Emerson."He was given only £5 in the Will of his father Thomas Emersonwritten 20 May 1656 and proved 29 Sep 1661 in Howsham, Parish ofCadney, Lincolnshire, England. His Will was written 3 June 1694and probated 5 July 1694 in Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts."The will of Robert Emerson was as follows:I being weake of body but in my right mind & of a good andperfect memory I thinke good to mak my last will and tastament I give andbequeath my sole to God yt gave it & my sperit I commit into yehands of my blessed savier and redeemer yt has died for me andmy body to return to dust from whance it came: and for my worlyd goods I disposeth of as foloeth vedalisit I give unto my sonThomas one half of my right and intrast of uplands & madow in myfarm ling by mares crike pond and three akers madow at hakesmadow yt I bought of Peter Ayers to him and his Aires for everand ye other half of my farme both upland and madowe I give tomy sone Joseph and to his Aires for ever and I give unto my sone(…. ) my four aker of land (….) yt joins to Peter (….) and alsoon common right and I give also unto my son ephrom my madow lingat ye este madow comonly called unto him and his Aires foreverand I give unto my two yongest sones Steven and baniamen mydweling house and barne and my upland and madow where my housestands be tween them unto them and thair Aires for ever alwaisprovideed yt Steven & Beniamen do paye unto thaier mother threepounds a year and kepe her a cow and a hors when shee has aocasion for him and my wife shall have one ende of ye housedouring hare widowhode and thaye Steven & beniamen shall find hare fire woodand eke three pounds a yere to be paied on halfe in whate andrye and the other half to be paied in inden corne at prisecorent and if my wife doo marye yn shee shall have but fortishiling a yere yerliye douring har life time to be paid ingraine further I give unto my dafter Elisabeth on cow and threeshepe and unto my dafter Sarah on cow and three shepe and I giveunto my dafter Ladey one cow and three shepe and I give unto mytwo yongest sones steven and beniamen on yoke of oxen betwixtthem two and I make my wife and my sone Thomas Emerson my soleExecutors for too reseve all detes & to paie all dets and whatis undisposed of after my wifes deth to be aquilly devidedamongst my children.This is my last will & (….) (June 3: 1694.Witnes Steven CoffinHis markeJoseph JohnsonRobert X EmersonWilliam his marke JohnsonX(Seal)"