John Eaton (1611-1658)

Biography
John Eaton, Sr. embarked for Boston 27APR1635 aboard 'Elizabeth & Ann' with two children. His arrival in Massachusetts in 1635, was 15 years after the Mayflower. He was declared a Freeman 25MAY1636 at Watertown, Massachusetts where a couple of his children were born. He evidently had indentured himself to pay for passage.

John Sr. helped build the first bridge over the Charles River. He was on the Dedham Town Committee appointed to 'fell Pynes and Oake' for the Dedham Town Hall in 1637. He also served as Surveyor of Highways and 'Wood Reeve' several years. His house was valued at ten pounds eight shillings for tax purposes.

He received the following grants of land at Watertown:


 * 25JUL1636 40 Acres
 * 28FEB1636 6 Acres
 * 26JUN1637 6 Acres
 * 9APR1638 3 Acres

Watertown Founders Monument
He is listed on Watertown Founders Monument, commemorating the first settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts. The town was first known as Saltonstall Plantation, one of the earliest of the Massachusetts Bay Colony settlements. Founded in early 1630 by a group of settlers led by Richard Saltonstall and George Phillips, it was officially incorporated that same year. The alternate spelling "Waterton" is seen in some early documents.

Last Will
John Sr.'s will was dated 2SEP1658 & presented 9OCT1658 & read: "John EATON, of Dedham, though sicke, yet sound in memory, doe make this last Will. - I give ynto Abigail my wife, the free vse of my parlor in my now dwelling house, & the Leantoe thereunto adjoining and all the household stuffe at present in them to her use, all the tearme she shall remaine a widdow; & sufficient firewood for her vse, to be provided and Layd in the yard at her assignment, I give my wife, the annuitie of 6 pounde p ann. to be payd at end of each halfe yere after my decease, in such things as she needeth out of my estate here-after to be disposed of, during her life; or the third pt of my Lands during the same tearme; her selfe to chose which of these two she best liketh. I give unto my (wife) so much of my other household stuffs as comes to the value of £5, such as her selfe shall make choyse of, and also one Cowe her selfe to choose. I give to John Dammant, of Reading £5, to John Plimpton, of Meadfield £5, unto Edward Hobsman my kinsman, 40 shillings. The remainder of Estate shall be devided into equall pts. & that pt. of her potion which my daughter Mary have received to be acconted thereunto; the one halfe wehereof I give to John EATON my sonne, and his heyres forever and the halfe to Mary and Abigail, my two daughters and their heires; my sonne and my two daughters to pay my wife, their mother, that 6 p. ann as above written I nominate Abigail, my wife, to be my executrix." Signed: "John EATON"

Estate Inventory
nventory of estate amounted to: £392.10, including: "Land in the Island Playne' £23, two pcels in the great plaine #19, by South Plaine, at foule Meadow, Right in an Island in the swamp, &c...Inventory shows that he owned a lot in Fowl meadows, but that his principal estate was on Dedham Island, ...included the land on which the Powder House Rock was located.' The inventory "...also included 31 yards new cloth...Bridle & Sadle 1 pillion, 1 pannel...7 lad Hay from foule meadow...dwelling house & 2 barns(including orchard)...Furniture, rugg, blanket, Wearing apparell, farming Tools Oxen 7 calves 2 mares, 1 colt, sheep, lamb swine, carts, ploughs, yokes..."