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 French and Indian Warlasted from 1754 to 1763 and was the North American phase of the Seven Years' War.
He married the widow, Louise (Lucy) Page Towne (Lucey Town) on September 27, 1727 in Salem, Essex County Massachusetts. Lucy was born in Topsfield. Her parents were Christopher Page and Abigail Tilton. She had been married before to Jacob Towne the son of Jacob Towne and Phebe Smith. Jacob was the son of Jacob Towne and Catherine Symonds.
Lucy and Jacob's children included:
Ruth Towne (1719, married Joseph Porter),
Joshua Towne (1721, married Sarah Ball), and
Jacob Towne
(1724, died age 8).
Michael and Lucy's children included:
Bartholomew Dwinnell (1728, married Sarah Moulton),
Luce Dwinnell (1730, married William Moneys),
Hannah Dwinnell (1732, married James Meragin, David Carlton, and Samuel Comstock), and
Michael Dwinnell (1735, married Martha Averill or Avriel).
Michael's father left him five shillings in seven years after his father and step-mother’s deaths.
Bartholomew Dwinnell moved to Keene. His son Bartholomew (1762-1813) was a minuteman in the American Revolution and marched on the alarm to the battle of Lexington and Concord with Captain Gould's Company.
“Micail 3d," is listed in the records of Topsfield with three others who died in the [French and Indian] war of 1755." His will was proved February 1, 1758.
Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.
Keene, Cheshire County, New Hampshire was settled after 1736 and was a fort protecting Massachusetts during the French and Indian Wars. It was called Upper Ashuelot. When New Hampshire separated from Massachusetts in 1741 it became Keene, New Hampshire.
During King George's War, the village was attacked and burned.
Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts was first settled in 1629 and incorporated in 1649. It was originally a fishing village. Before the Revolution it was home base for privateers who plundered European ships.
