John Partridge (1656-1753)

John Partridge was born on 21 Sep 1656 in Medfield, Massachusetts to John Partridge and Magdalene Bullard. He died on 09 Dec 1743 in Medway, Massachusetts. ^[1]Vital records of Medway, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, p. 329. He married (1) Elizabeth Rockwood (daughter of Nicholas Rockwood and Margaret Holbrook) on 24 Dec 1678 in Medfield, Massachusetts.^[2]Vital records of Medfield, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, p. 162. She was born on 03 Apr 1657 in Medfield. She died on 22 Jul 1688 in Medfield. ^[3]Vital records of Medfield, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, p. 226. He married (2) Elizabeth Adams (daughter of Jonathan Adams and Elizabeth Holman) in 1688 in Medfield. She was born on 18 Mar 1665/66 in Medfield. She died on 14 Aug 1719 in Medway. ^[4]Vital records of Medway, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, p. 328. He married (3) Hannah Sheffield (daughter of William Sheffield and Mary) on 17 Apr 1721 in Medway. ^[5]Vital records of Medway, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, p. 239. She was born on 18 Apr 1663 in Sherborn, Massachusetts. She died on 19 Jul 1754.

John settled in what is now Millis, in 1681. He was one of the first to take up his residence in that portion of Medfield lying west of Charles river, and was active in having it set off as the town of Medway, in 1713 ^[6]Tilden’s History of Medfield, p. 451. In 1710, he was chosen master of a school established for residents of the west side. He was interested in church matters, and was a deacon of the Medway church ^[7]Jameson’s History of Medway, p. 121. He was present at Deerfield when news was received of the return of the captives taken at the Deerfield massacre, and is said to have himself made a copy of Benjamin Waite’s letter announcing their arrival at Albany, which, in company with John Plimpton, Jr., he brought to Medfield and delivered to the Rev. John Wilson, by whom it was forwarded to the Governor of the Colony ^[8]Sheldon’s Hist, of Deerfield, vol. 1, p. 186; Tilden’s Hist. of Medfield, p. 458.

His will was proved Sept. 4, 1744 ^[9]Suffolk Co. Prob. Rec, vol. xxxvii., p. 121. All his children are named. His youngest son, Stephen, received the homestead, but dying before his father, and the latter not making a new will, the property passed into the hands of Stephen’s widow, who afterwards married Abner Ellis.

Family

John Partridge had ten children by two of his three wives.

Children by Elizabeth Rockwood:

1. Elizabeth Partridge, born 13 Sep 1679 in Medfield, Massachusetts; died 25 Apr 1706 in Medway, Massachusetts; married 22 Dec 1701 in Medfield, Ebenezer Daniel, born Medfield, 24 Apr 1677, died Medway, 29 Jan 1767, son of Joseph and Mary (Fairbanks) Daniel. They resided in Medway. Children.
2. Mary Partridge, born 26 26, 1681 in Medfield; died 14 Feb. 1754; married 25 Nov 1706, Ebenezer Lawrence, son ^[10]says Blake’s History of Franklin of John and Sarah Lawrence, of Wrentham, Massachusetts. He died 12 June 1751. They resided in Wrentham. Children.
3. John Partridge, born about 1683 probably in Medfield; died 6 Sep 1756.
4. Benoni Partridge, born 25 May 1687 in Medfield; died 26 Dec 1769.

Children by Elizabeth Adams :

1. Jonathan Partridge, born 25 Nov 1693 in Medfield.
2. Hannah Partridge, born 16 Mar 1696 in Medfield; died 12 Oct 1751; married 7 May 1718, Jeremiah Daniel, born Medfield, 3 Nov 1684, died Medway, 16 Nov 1771, son of Joseph and Mary (Fairbanks) Daniel. They resided in Medway. One child.
3. Deborah Partridge, born 1 Mar 1698 in Medfield; died 30 Aug 1740; married Israel Keith, born Bridgewater, Massachusetts, 21 Feb 1703, son of James and Mary Keith. They resided in Mendon, Massachusetts and Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Children.
4. James Partridge, born 8 Oct 1700 in Medfield; died 9 Mar 1769.
5. Sarah Partridge, born 8 Jan 1702 in Medfield; married 13 Mar 1723, George Adams, born Medfield, 16 Jan 1699, son of Peter and Experience (Cook) Adams. They resided in Medway until about 1735, afterwards in Wrentham. Children.
6. Stephen Partridge, born 16 Apr 1706 in Medfield; died 10 Mar 1742.

Sources:

• George Homer Partridge, Partridge genealogy : descendants of John Partridge of Medfield, Massachusetts, Boston: Press of David Clapp & Son, 1904, pp. 4 – 5.