The settlement of New Meadows was incorporated as the Town of Topsfield in 1650. The church "gathered" on November 4, 1663. The third Meeting House was built in 1703 with Rev. Joseph Capen as pastor.
Surgeons in colonial America were often barbers who used their cutting tools to perform surgery. Physicians were university trained. Midwives assisted women in childbirth.
Dr. Michael Dwinnell was born on December 5, 1670 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the second child of Michael and Mary Dwinnell.
Dunnel said
He was the first physician ever recorded in Topsfield, and is styled on old deeds as physician and chirurgeion. What were his medical studies previous to his acquiring his title are not known at this day.
He was a Yeoman.
Esther Richards Dwinnell told her granddaughter
that Michail, Jr., the doctor, had at different times, seven wives, and when questioned as to which he felt the strongest affection, replied “that he knew no difference."
Genealogists have only been able to document five wives. He married his first wife, Hannah, before 1693 when he was 23.
The Topsfield Historical Collections Volume 11 reported that
At a Lawfull meeting of ye Town of Topsfield the 2 day march 1702/8 Michill Dwaniell Junr . . .[was] Chosen Surveyors of high-wayes for the year Insuing.
In 1708/09 he (Michael Dwaniel Junr) was “chosen to serve on the Jury of Trials at Ipswich Court next Insuing."
In 1718 he inherited from his father.
On February 19, 1724/25 he (Michael Dwinel) was chosen as one of the
selectmen to order ye Prudentiall affaris of the Town for ye year Ensuing. (Topsfield Historical Collections, Volume 16)
He married his second wife, 2o year old Elizabeth Fiske, on December 10, 1724 when he was 54 years old.
On November 18, 1730
The Town Allowed six shillings to Doct Michael Dwinel William Redington and Jonathan Wildes for perambulating with Wenham Last Spring (Topsfield Historical Collections Volume 19)
He married his third wife, Elizabeth Cave, before 1731. Elizabeth died in February, 1737.
On March 24 1735/36 he (Michael Dwinel) was chosen
to serve upon ye Grand Jury" (Topsfield Historical Collections, Volume, 19, p. 63).
He married his fourth wife, Charity Cotton on July 6, 1737 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts.
In 1738
Doct Michael Dwinel & Edmun Towne are Chosen to take the Enspection of the Clay Ground which belongs to the Town to See that No outTowns man or men Shall Dig or Carry away any Clay or brick from Said Clay Ground. (Topsfield Historical Collections, Volume 19, p. 80)
His fourth wife, Charity, died on November 8, 1752.
He married his fifth wife, Mary Shaw Balch on February 1, 1753.
His will, dated July 17, 1753. It was signed with his seal and mark. He left his wife, Mary, "the use and income of all the lands," and also "one cow." He left his son Michael 5 shillings, to be paid in 7 years after his own and his wife's death. to his son Stephen, 5 shillings; his son Jacob 5 shillings; his granddaughter, Esther Balch, wife of David Balch, 5 shillings; son Benjamin, house and barn, and land and meadow in Topsfield, and all else, bonds, and books, debts, etc., to his wife. He also mentioned his daughters, Sarah Foster, and Mary, Hannah, and Abigail.
The inventory of his estate was presented on February 1, 1762 and amounted to £145. Among other articles mentioned were: Sum Books, 5/1, Two Coats and One Great Coat
He died on December 24, 1761 at the age of 91 in Topsfield. His will was filed on December 7, 1761 (Essex County Probate Index, file 8447) and proved on February 1, 1762 by Elijah Dorman, Joseph Mathew, and William Foster.
Cattle were vital to a household and an important legacy.
Unweaned cattle are calves.
Female cattle are heifers and cows (had a calf).
Male cattle are steers (castrated) and bulls.
Oxen are trained draft animals and are often castrated adult male cattle.
A yeoman was a man who owned and cultivated a small farm. He belonged to the class below the gentry or land owners. A husbandman was a free tenant farmer. The social status of a husbandman was below that of a yeoman.
The use of the term ye to mean the derives from Early Modern English, in which the was written "þe," employing the Old English letter thorn: "þ."
Seals were used to authenticate documents and men were expected to have a personal die. Records in deed books are copies and signatures are usually in the clerk’s handwriting. The clerk drew a circle around the word “seal” to indicate that the original document was sealed.
