An American Family History

Jacob Dwinnell was born on January 31, 1714/15 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Dr. Michael Dwinnell and his first wife, Hannah.

He married Kesiah (Kezia) Gould. Kesiah was born on May 10, 1739. Her parents were John Gould and Phebe Towne, the granddaughter of Jacob Towne and Catherine Symons.

They had nine children. Israel Dwinnell was born November 2, 1740 and died November 16, 1760. Israel,

“is set down as one of “those who died from home, killed in the army in the French and Indian War. Nov. 16, 1760."

The last letter to his father said “we march to-morrow to Crown Point;" and he was killed in that battle. (Dunnel, p. 21).

Ruth Dwinnell was born in 1743.

Jacob Dwinnell was born in 1744 and married Mrs. Joanna Clark on December 6, 1769.

John Dwinnell was born June 1747 and married Esther Richards (1736-1837) she was the daughter of Joseph Richards and lived with Aaron and Esther Estey.

Mehetable Dwinnell Balch Nelson was born in 1748 and married Cornelius Balch in 1771 and Amos Nelson.

Ruth Dwinnell Holt was born in 1750 and married David Holt in 1771.

Phebe Dwinnell Estey was born in 1755 and married William Estey and resided in Keene, New Hampshire. William also served in Captain Gould's Company.

Abigail Dwinnell was born in 1758.

In 1762 Jacob Dwinnell was seated in church in the third seat below the elders and Mr. Jacob Dwinnell’s wife was in the women’s third seat.

Jacob’s father left him five shillings.

He died on September 16, 1784 in Topsfield of dropsy and is buried with his wife Kezia in Pine Grove Cemetery.

Copy of Israel’s letter, from the original at Topsfield from Dunnel, p. 21.
(on outside) Mr. To Jacob Donnall Living In Topsfield, N England. post paid.

Camp at Albany June 1st 1760. Ever Honnered father & mother these few Lines Coms with my Duty to you & Love to my Brothers and Sisters. Hopeing through the goodness of god, it will find you all, in as good Health, as it Now Leaves me at this present time, for which I Blesse god. Sr. pray rite to me all opportunity’s you have we are a going to march forward to morrow for Crown point. Sr. I Have Nothing Strange to aquaint you with at present. But it is Very Healthy in the army. and this is all at present from your Dutifull Son,
Israel Donnall

In Memory of
Mr Jacob Dwinell
who Departed this
Life Seprey 16th
1784
in the 70th year
of his age

from Genealogical and Personal Memoirs by William Richard Cutter

Jacob Dwinell, son of Dr. Michael Dwinell. born January 31. 1715-16, died September 16. 1784. He resided in Topsfield in his father’s house. and was called husbandman. His will was dated September 2. 1784. and his son John was executor.

He married, December. 1739. Kezia Gould, born May 10. 1718. died December 29. 1798. daughter of John and Phebe (Towne) Gould, of Topsfield.

Children:
1. Israel. born March 2. 1740. died November 16, 1760. in the French and Indian war.
2. Ruth, born 1743. died September 13. 1743.
3. Jacob, born August 6, 1745. married. December 12, 1769. Joanna Clark, widow; was in the revolution.
4. John. born June 15. 1747
5. Mehitable. born April 30. 1748. married (first), April 4, 1771, Cornelius Balch; (second). November 7, 1799. Amos Nelson.
6. Child, died September 2. 1749.
7. Ruth. born February 8, 1751, married. December 13. 1781. David Holt.
8. Child. died March 13. 1753.
9. Phebe, born June 17. 1755. married William Estey.
10.Abigail, baptized July 1. 1758. died June 6,1759

John Dwinell, son of Jacob Dwinell, born in Topsfield, June 15, 1747, died in 1818 of a carbuncle on the shoulder, aged seventy-one years. He married, February 5, 1771, Esther Richards, daughter of Joseph and Mary Richards of Southborough. Her father died when she was an infant, and at the age of ten she was brought by her mother (in accordance with her father's wish) to live with his sister, Esther Estey, wife of Aaron Estey, of Topsfield.

Her father was son of Crispus and Sarah (Collins) Richards of Lynn and grandson of John Richards, a soldier in King Philip's war. Esther attended the school which was held in the house in which her aunt lived on Witch hill, and the school-master's ferule [a flat stick or ruler used for punishing children] and tobacco box is still in the possession of the family.

She was twenty-three years old when she was married to John Dwinell by Rev. John Emerson, who is said to have pronounced them the handsomest couple he ever married. Esther Estey's granddaughter Lydia held the light for her to put on her wedding cap. John Dwinell took his bride to the house built by his father Jacob of the oak trees from the hill in the rear. At that time the elm in front of the house was full grown.

Esther Dwinell died October 31, 1857, aged one hundred and one years, eight months and ten days. Her Aunt Esther, with whom she lived, attained the age of over a hundred years, and her brother John was ninety-seven and her sister Hannah ninety-seven years old when they died.

Two children of Mr. and Mrs. Dwinell died with smallpox.

Children:
1. Infant son born December 24, 1771, died young
2. Esther, baptized April 25, 1773, died August 11, 1777, of dysentery
3. John born 1776 died of small pox. October 16, 1777
4. Mehitable, born Mary 4, 1777, died October 18, 1777, of small pox.
5. Esther, born April, 1779, married, 1802 Moses Wildes, Jr. of Topsfield.
6. Infant, born 1780, died young.
7. John born 1782.
8. Jacob born 1786 baptized September 1787; died of dysentery 1788

John Dwinnell was was in the revolution in Captain Joseph Gould's company. Colonel John Baker's regiment, and answered the Lexington alarm, April 19. 1775.

Shays's Rebellion was an armed uprising in Massachusetts in 1786 and 1787. Daniel Shays led four thousand rebels (Shaysites) in rising up against perceived economic injustices. Daniel Shays and Job Shattuck from Bickerstaff's Boston Almanack

 

Esther Dwinell
wife of
John Dwinell,
Died October 31, 1847.
t. 101 yrs. & 8 mos.
For all flesh is grass, 
and all the glory of man 
as the flower of the grass;
The grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away

Mr.
John Dwinell,
died July 17, 1818.
’t. 71.
The time draws nigh, when from the clouds 
Christ shall with shouts descend; 
And the last trumpets awful voice 
The heavens and earth shall rend. 
[Revolutionary Soldier.]