John Symonds

1594 - 1671  (~ 76 years)

• Name	John Symonds
  	to New England
  Christening	9 Oct 1594	North Walsham, Norfolk, England   [10, 12, 16]
  Moved To	1625 (~ 30 years)	Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England   [3, 7, 12]
  John and Ruth moved to Great Yarmouth after their marriage.
  Immigration	Abt 1635 (~ 40 years)  [7, 12]
  About 1635 John and Ruth came to America.
  Land/House	1636 (~ 41 years)	Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 12, 15]
  He was granted 20 acres of land near North River in 1636.
  Proprietor	1636 (~ 41 years)	Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [1, 8, 13]
  In 1636 he was a proprietor of Salem, Massachusetts.
  Freeman	Mar 1637/38 (~ 43 years)	Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [1, 2, 3, 13, 14]
  In March of 1637/38 he was admitted as a freeman.
  Occupation	say 1640 (~ 45 years)  [1, 3, 9, 12]
  John Simonds was a joiner and a cooper. [A joiner is an artisan and tradesperson who builds things by joining pieces of wood, particularly lighter and more ornamental work than that done by a carpenter, including furniture and the "fittings" of a house, ship, etc]
  Legal	1644 (~ 49 years)	Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [3, 12]
  He was in court for allowing his cattle to go at large before the fruits were gathered in 1644.
  Land/House	8 Jan 1644 (~ 49 years)	Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [12, 15]
  In the Salem, Massachusetts records on 8 (11) 1643: Granted to John Simonds all the Waste land betweene the Lots of Hughe Laskine & Stukly Wesket & the Watter side, excepting the high Way, [wth it notwthstanding he may vse any man havein libertie to goe through at all tims]
  Military	1648 (~ 53 years)	Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [3, 9, 12]
  He was freed from training in 1648 because he was lame on the condition that he would attend ordinary training if he sufficiently recovered.
  Miscellaneous	27 Apr 1654 (~ 59 years)	Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [12]
  On 27 April 1654 the selectmen of Salem granted him liberty to fence his ground 11 provided that he made two sufficient stiles for a foot way through the lot.
  Legal	1657 (~ 62 years)	Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [1, 3, 12, 15]
  He served on a grand jury in 1657.
  Legal	29 Mar 1669/70 (~ 75 years)	Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [10]
  On 29:1:1669, aged about 74 years, he deposed in the case of Ingersol vs. Barney in Salem, Massachusetts.
  Death	1671	Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [3, 12]
  Will	16 Aug 1671 (~ 76 years)	Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony   [3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13]
  On 16(7) 1671, he made his will: "I John Symonds do make this my last Will and Testament Impr I giue my Soule to the Lord Jesus my Redeemer, and my body to my ffriends decently to be inter'd ffor my Estate which the Lord hath given mee I dispose of as ffolloweth It I Give to my loving Wife Elizabeth Symonds my house Orchard and out houseing and all my Land & my Bed & beding and such vessels and houshold stuffe as shee shall have ocasion to use dureing her naturall life and also Twenty pound to be paid her five pound a year by my Son James Symonds begining the date from the day of my death It I giue my Sonne James Symonds at my wiues decease my dwelling house out houseing Orchard together with all my Laud and I do assigne my servant John Pease to him dureing the term of time expressed in the Indenture paying forty pound in four year ten pound p anum, five p anam to my wife for four year as aforesd, and fine pound p anam for four years unto my son Saml and my Daughter Kathren fifty shillings p anam to each of them pvided he soe longe liue if not soe long as he shall line to serue him and noe longer I give the Children of my Deceased Daughter Ruth Swinnerton Twenty pound equally to be divided amongst them and to be paide in part of my movable estate in convenient time after my decease. I giue al the rest of my Estate to my Sonne Samuel Symonds & my daughter, Kathren Town equally to be divided between them in convenient time after my decease except my bed & houshold stufEe giuen my wife during her natural life as aforesd which at her decease my will is shall equally be divided between them two also I giue my son Samuell one oxx now in his hands I giue to Jon. Swinerton one sad cullerd Cloth Cote That this my will be faithfully pformed according to my intent therein I do make my two Sonns before named James Symonds and Samuell Symonds my Executors and doe intreat my Esteemed ffriends Major Hathren and mr. Bartholmew to be Guerseers to see that this my will be truly pformed, and in Special do humbly intreat them to take care of my wife whoe is in an ill condition Further I giue all my workinge tooles belonginge to my trade to my son James Simons : and to this my last will and testament I haue set my hande the 16th of the '6th m». 1671. John Symonds Witness: Henry Bartholmew, John Swinnerton, Samuel Inguls.
  Probate/Proved	9 Sep 1671 (~ 76 years)  [1, 5, 6, 8, 11]
  Proved in Salem court, 19: 7br: 1671 by Mr. Hen. Bartholmew and John Swinerton before Mr. Samuell Simonds and Maj. Wm. Hathorne. Inventory taken by Jolm Kitchin and John Pickring : His housing and Land, 23011.; Joyners Tools benches and lare, 51i. 5s. 6d. ; 2 Bedsteds almost finished, 3li.; 3 stools and one halfe of a Box, 12s. 6d. ; 1-2 Grindstone & windlass & a Small grindstone, 5s.; Timber, planke & board, 51i. 12s.; Two beds, a bolster & a p of sheets, a p of blankets, a bed steed & matt that lay in the Chamber, 5li. ; Tubs, 4s., and part of a Chest and 4 Bush, corn, 18s. 6d. ; His wearing Clothes, 61i. os. ; 2yds. & 3-4 of sad colored cloth, 22s. 6d.; and a Table cloth, Hi. 12s. 6d. ; 3 Hollond pillow-beers, 15s,, and a p of sheets, 21i. .5s. ; 3 p of old sheets, 30s., and 3 corse pillowbeers, Hi. 15s.; 3 small peeces of Cloth, 8s,, and 1 Doz, of napkins, 1 Towil, Hi. ; a Feather bed, 2 bolsters, 3 pillows, a rugg, 4 blankets, one p of sheets. Curtains & Bedstead, lOli. ; 2 pound of woolen yarn & som linen yarn & a hat brush, 8s,; 1 great Kettle, 20s,, and 3 Iron pots & 2 p of pot hooks, 21i. 7s. ; 1 Churnn, 3 payls with Iron bayls & 5 Trayes, 13s.; a frying pan, 5s., & a warminge pan, 12s.; a fire pan & Grid Iron, 2s., a ps. of a hawke &, a driping pan, 4s. ; 2 brass puding pans and 3 tinen Lamps, 3s. 6d. ; an Iron Trivit, 4 glass bottles and a spitt, 8s. ; 3 Earthen pots, and 2 panns, 3s.; 2 Jarrs, 1 Sieve and a pitcher, 2s. 6d. ; a broken posnet & a Cod line, 2s.; 3 new pewter platters and a bell mettle Skillet, Hi. 2s.; 4 old pewter platters, a poringer & 2 plates, 8s. ; 2 old quart pots, a bason & a Chamber pot, 7s. ; a beer bowle, a beaker, a wine Cup & a Grater, 4s.; a lattin sarce pan & Tunnil, 4 wooden dishes & 4 Spoons, 2s. 8d. ; a Lanthorne, 2 Doz. Trenchers, a platter & a chafeing dish, 4s.; Two wooden Bowls and a ladle. Is.; a choping knife & 3 brass Candlesticks, 13s.; 3 Chests, 3 Boxes and a wooden Tunnil, 14s.; 5 Barrils and a half baril, a buttor tub & 4 Keelers, 13s.; a halfe bushel & a p of Scales, 2s.; 2 Tables, a forum & Chayers, 16s. ; 32 Cheeses, buttor & meat, Hi. Apples growinge in the orchard, 15s. ; 2 old Bibles, a Booke of Doct. Prestons works and a booke of Mr. Rogers works & a psalm booke, 18s. ; one firelock musket, Hi. 6s. ; one firelock Musquet, worme & Scowerer, Hi. 4s. ; Sword, belt, powder & bullets, 8s. ; 2 Tobacco boxes and a drest Calfe skin, 2s. 6d. ; a meal Sack & a litle bagge, 4s. ; a five shilinge peece of gold & a 6d. in Silver, 5s, 6d, ; a Vice and an old Hatchet, 10s,; nayles, lOd., a Howe, 2s,, and an Ax, 6s, lOd, ; A Mattock, 5s, and halfe a plow chayne, 8s, ; an old Sithe, old Iron & a p of Jemmils, 5s, ; a Eeap hook, 9d., 2 hoops, 2 boxes & an ex pin, lis, 9d, ; a p of pitchfork Tynes, 5 Wedges & old Iron, 12s. ; one halfe of a Crosscut Saw and an ex pin, 5s. ; four lode of Hay in the Yarde, 41i. ; Salt Marsh Grass growinge, Hi. ; 2 Cows and a Cow Calfe, 71i. 10s. ; Two Hoggs & 2 pigs, 31i. 12s,; Indean Come that grew on the Land, 31i, 10s.; 20 Bushels of pease, 4li. ; Timber in the Woods, Hi. 2s.; a p of woosted Stockings, 7s. ; Debts due to the Estate, 241i. 10s. 7d.; total, 342li. 14s. lOd. Estate is debtor, 12li. 7d. Also "an apprentice of 17 years old who hath 3 year and 9 moneths and 2 weekes to serve.
  Siblings	2 brothers and 1 sister
  1. Edmund Simonds,   c. 15 May 1590, North Walsham, Norfolk, England   2. Mary Simonds,   c. 13 Sep 1593, North Walsham, Norfolk, England + 3. John Symonds,   c. 9 Oct 1594, North Walsham, Norfolk, England d. 1671, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony  (Age ~ 76 years) ▻ Ruth Foxe,  m. 1 May 1624 ;   Elizabeth   4. Thomas Simonds,   b. 1594 to 1611, North Walsham, Norfolk, England bur. 5 Jul 1611, North Walsham, Norfolk, England  (Age ~ 17 years)
  Patriarch & Matriarch	John Symondes   bur. 21 Jan 1599/1600, North Walsham, Norfolk, England   (Grandfather)  Margaret  (Grandmother)
  Person ID, Branch	I527	Roy Line
  Last Modified	13 Apr 2025

  
  

  Father	John Simonds,   c. 7 Dec 1560, North Walsham, Norfolk, England
  Mother	Katherine Smythe,   c. 25 Feb 1572/73, North Walsham, Norfolk, England
  Family ID	F536	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Spouse / Partner 1	Ruth Foxe,   c. 10 Jan 1601/02, All Saints Church, Walcott, Norfolk, England All Saints Church, Walcott, Norfolk, England
  Marriage	1 May 1624	All Saints Church, Walcott, Norfolk, England All Saints Church, Walcott, Norfolk, England   [7, 12]
  Age at Marriage	He : 29 years and 7 months - She : 22 years and 4 months.
  Children	3 sons and 3 daughters
  1. John Simonds,   c. 30 Mar 1625, Saint Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England Saint Nicholas Church,  Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England     2. Edmund Simonds,   c. 31 Dec 1626, Saint Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England Saint Nicholas Church,  Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]     3. Mary Simonds,   c. 18 May 1628, Saint Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England Saint Nicholas Church,  Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England +   4. Catherine Simonds,   c. 18 Apr 1630, Saint Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England Saint Nicholas Church,  Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England ▻ Ensign Jacob Towne  m. 26 Jun 1657     5. Ruth Simonds,   b. 20 Feb 1631, Saint Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England Saint Nicholas Church,  Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England d. 22 May 1670, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony (Age 39 years)     6. James Simonds,   c. 19 May 1633, Saint Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England Saint Nicholas Church,  Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
  Family ID	F294	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	13 Apr 2025

  
  

  Spouse / Partner 2	Elizabeth
  Marriage	yes date unknown  [3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14]
  Children	1. Samuel Simonds,   b. Jan 1638, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. d. 14 Aug 1722, Boxford, Suffolk, England (Age 84 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]
  Family ID	F538	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Jul 2021

  
  

• Pedigree

  ← Click to display 1John Symonds(1594 – 1671) 2John Simonds(1560 – ) 4John Symondes( – 21 Jan 1599/1600) 5Mary( – Abt 1565) 3Katherine Smythe(25 Feb 1572/73 – ) 6Edmund Smythe 7Margaret

  
  

• Event Map		Christening - 9 Oct 1594 - North Walsham, Norfolk, England Marriage - 1 May 1624 - All Saints Church, Walcott, Norfolk, England Moved To - 1625 - Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England Land/House - 1636 - Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Proprietor - 1636 - Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Freeman - Mar 1637/38 - Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Legal - 1644 - Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Land/House - 8 Jan 1644 - Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Military - 1648 - Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Miscellaneous - 27 Apr 1654 - Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Legal - 1657 - Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Legal - 29 Mar 1669/70 - Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Death - 1671 - Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony Will - 16 Aug 1671 - Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  John Symonds Signature

  
  

• Sources 🟢 Primary Evidence 🟡 Secondary Evidence 🟠 Tertiary Evidence 🔴 Unreliable Evidence

  [S1644] anonymous. "Was Catherine Symonds' Mother a Fox? George Towne Says Yes.", (Ashville, North Carolina: About Towne, volume III, number 4, 1983). [S1642] Biographical Review Publishing Company. Biographical Review, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Essex County, Massachusetts, (Boston: Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1898). [S653] Davis, Walter Goodwin. Massachusetts and Maine Families in the Ancestry of Walter Goodwin Davis volume III, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1996). [S1641] Derby, Preley. "Copy from Original Book of Grants of Salem", (Essex Institute: Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, Volume 4, 1862). [S1575] Dow, George Francis. The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts Volume II 1665-1674, (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1917). [S1639] Drake, Samuel G. "Early Settlers of Essex and Old Norfolk", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume VIII, 1854). [S1646] Farrow, Charles. "The Walcott Connection", (Olympia, Washington: About Towne, volume XXXII, number 1, 2012). [S645] Hoyt, David W., The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts, with some Related Families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich, and Hampton volume II, Reprint 1902, (Providence, Rhode Island: Snow & Farnham, 1902). [S646] Hoyt, David W., The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts, with some Related Families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich, and Hampton volume III, Reprint 1916, (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1982). [S1643] Moriarty, G. Andrews. "Notes - John Symonds of Salem, Mass.", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume XCVI, 1942). [S1640] Patch, Ira J. "Abstracts from Wills, Inventories, &c., on File in the Office of Clerk of Courts, Salem, Mass.", (Essex Institute: Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, Volume 2, 1860). [S1645] Patterson, Shirley Drury. "Symonds/Towne Connections", (Rochester, New York: About Towne, volume XIII, number 3, September 1993). [S72] Pope, Charles Henry, The Pioneers of Massachusetts , (Boston: Charles H. Pope, 1900). [S956] Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May 1692 on the Basis of Farmer's Register, volume IV, (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1862). [S1618] Upham, William P. Town Records of Salem, Massachusetts Volume I 1634-1659, (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1868). [S1389] Wheeler, Dick. "Symonds/Foxe Update", (Rochester, New York: About Towne, volume IX, number 2, 2 June 1989).