“Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists."
― Franklin D. Roosevelt
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.
Jacob Towne was baptized on March 11, 1632/33 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk County, England. He was christened on March 11, 1632/33 in St. Nicholas Parish. His parents were William Towne and Joanna Blessing.
He was a husbandman.
He married Catharine Symonds (Simonds) on June 26, 1657. Catherine was born on April 18, 1630 in Great Yarmouth, England. Her parents were John Symonds and Ruth Fox.
Their children were born in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts.
John Towne (1657, married Mary Smith),
Jacob Towne (1659/60, married Phebe Smith)
Catherine Towne Perkins (1662, married Elisha Perkins),
Deliverance Towne Stiles (1664, married John Stiles)
Ruth Towne (1664) and
Edmund Towne (1666).
Jacob, Sr. died on November 27, 1704 in Topsfield.
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.
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.
