Zaccheus Gould, born 1589, resided at Hemel Hempstead and GreatMissenden (in England); came to New England about 1638; probablylived for a short time at Weymouth, and then at Lynn; butestablished himself finally at Ipswich (Topsfield) where he diedin 1668.In a deposition he made on March 26, 1661, he stated that he was72 years old. . He was married to Phebe Deacon.Zaccheus and Phebe had the following children; Phebe (bapt1620-aft 1691) who married Deacon Thomas Perkins in 1640, Mary(bapt 1621-) who married John Redington of Topsfield, Martha(bapt 1623-1699) who married John Newmarch of Ipswich, Priscilla(-1663) who married John Wildes, and John (1635-1709/10) whomarried Sarah Baker in 1660. Phebe, Mary, and Martha were allbaptized at Hemel Hempstead, England.Zaccheus came to New England around 1638. His brother Jeremy whosettled in Rhode Island in 1638 and a number of other relativespreceded him. These included Nathan who settled in Salisbury in1650, Sarah, and Zaccheus. These three were children of hisbrother John Gould of Kings Langley, England. Zaccheus first settled in Weymouth, Mass. where he bought landfrom his brother, Jeremy, in 1639. He was also the overseer ofHenry Russell's will. Henry died in 1639/40. Jeremy Gould wasalso a witness to this will. From 1639 to 1644, Zaccheus lived in Lynn, Mass. where he owneda mill on the Saugus River. He also leased 300 acres of Salemland from John Humphrey. The lease went into effect on September29, 1640 and the farm was called "Plain Farm". This lease calledfor an annual rent of 400 bushels of rye, 300 of wheat, 200 ofbarley along with 8 oxen, 5 cows, 2 heifers, 4 calves and 2mares. At the same time, he also leased another farm, the"ponds" from Mr. Humphrey. This land called for rent of 160pounds the first year and 200 pounds the next. The rent was tobe paid in the form of farm goods. In 1640, Zaccheus petitioned the General Court for relief frommilitia training. The petition follows;"To the right worshipful Governor, Council and Assistants andthe rest of the General Court now assembled, October 7, 1640.The humble petition of Zaccheus Gould of Lynn, husbandman, inbehalf of himself and all other husbandman in the countrySheweth that wheras Husbandry and tillage much concern the goodof this Commonwealth, and your petitioners have undertaken themanaging and tilling of divers farms in this country and sowingof English Corn, their servants are oftentimes drawn from theirwork to train, in seed time, hay time and harvest, to the greatdiscouragement and damage of your petitioners, and yourpetitioner the said Zaccheus Gould for himself saith that forone days training this year he was much damnified in his hay.And forasmuch as fishermen upon just grounds are exempted fromtraining because their trade is also for the Commonwealth,Your petioners humbly pray that this Court will be pleased totake the premises into their grave consideration and thereuponto give order for the encouragement of your petitioners who arehusbandmen employed about English grain, that they and theirservants be exempted from ordinary trainings in seed time, hattime and harvest. And your petitioners shall as their duty bindsthem pray etc."The General Court agreed with this petition and gave muchdiscretion to the local officials for the "avoiding of loss oftime and the opportunities of the furtherance of husbandry."By 1644, Zaccheus was living in Ipswich, in the section nowoccupied by Topsfield. Zaccheus' son-in-law stated in 1665 that"about 21 years before, William Paine sold land to ZaccheusGould, where his house now stands." In 1644, Zaccheus petitioned the General Court to have thesection of Ipswich he lived incorporated as a separate town fromIpswich. The General Court agreed to this on October 18, 1650;"In answer to the request of Zaccheus Gould and William Howardof Topsfield, the Court doth grant that Topsfield shallhenceforth be a town, and have power within themselves to orderall civil affairs, as other towns have." Zaccheus Gould, William Paine and Brian Hamilton sent theGeneral Court a petition concerning the name of their new town. "We humbly Intreate this honored Court that you wold be pleasedto bestowe a name upon our village at the new medowes at Ipswichwhich wee suppose may bee an incoragment to others to Come tolive amongst us: and also a meanes to further a ministry amongstus, wee think that hempsteed will be a fit name if the Courtplease to gratify us herewith.'The General Court replied;"This dept. have granted this Pet. wth Refference to the Consentof or honoured magists."Wm Torrey by order &cThe magtrs (upon conference wth som of the principall [persons]interested) doe thinke it fitt it should be called Toppesfeildweh they referre to the consent of ye brn the Deptyes.Jo. Winthrop:GovThis change in name was probably due to the influence of one ofthe governors assistants, Samuel Symonds, who was fromTopsfield, England.In 1651, Zaccheus took the oath of Fidelity but he never becamea freeman.Zaccheus appeared in Ipswich Court on a number of occasions. OnJanuary 26, Richard Shatswell brought 1650/51 a complaintagainst him. Shatswell claimed that he took one of his maresthat had strayed from his farm. The court found for Shatswelland Zaccheus had to return the mare. A related suit involved acharge of slander brought against Joseph Fowler by Zaccheus.Apparently, Fowler had called Zaccheus a horsethief. The courtawarded Zaccheus damages of 10 pounds. On April 24, 1656 Zaccheus was arraigned, in the Ipswich Court,for absence from meeting on the Lords Day.In 1659 on March 29, Zaccheus was brought before the IpswichCourt on charges that he had disturbed the church services. Hewas accused of having "sat down on the end of the table aboutwhich the minister and scribe sit, with his hat full on his headand his back toward all the rest. Although spoken to by theminister and others he altered not his posture. He spoke audiblywhen the minister was speaking" Witnesses against him in thiscase were Captain William Perkins and Isaac Cummings. IsaacCummings appears to have been involved in a number of courtcases against Zaccheus. In this case the court ordered thatZaccheus be "admonished".In another case, Zaccheus Gould was found guilty of entertainingQuakers and fined 3 pounds. His nephew, Daniel Gould, a recentconvert of the Quakers, was sentenced to be whipped with 30stripes and to depart the town within five days. If he failed todepart, he would be placed in jail. This shows how serious thecommunity took the "approved" religion and how they treateddissenters. Zaccheus himself seemed to be fairly liberal aboutreligious matters, being friendly both to the Baptists and theQuakers, neither of whom were looked upon with favor by theprevailing religion.This fine was later remitted in the spring of 1660. This wasapparently because Zaccheus' property had sustained some seriouslosses due to a fire. The first house built on the farm, purchased from William Paine,was a garrison or blockhouse designed as a place of refugeeagainst Indian raids. Zaccheus died between March 30, 1688 and November 13, 1688. Hewas buried on land near the town meeting house. At the time ofhis death, he was one of the largest landholders in the area,having amassed 3000 acres in the area, which was then RowleyVillage and later Boxford.