PUFFER, Rev. Stephen

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• Ref#: 127
• _COLOR: 11
• vital: 23 Apr 1867, Lunenburg, MA

Notes:

He began to preach in 1822, was admitted to New England Conference in 1823, and preached for 44 years. He had pastorates in Hingham in 1823 and North Cohasset, Hull and other towns in this section. During the time he was settled in No. Cohasset, and the society among which he labored being poor and weak, he supplemented his church work by some kind of manual labor, the receipts from which thus enabled him to live among people he loved. He had a very strong feeling of attachment for the people of the Hingham society, which he was largely instrumental in establishing, and after his death in 1882 his widow gave the First Methodist Episcopal Society $1,000 for the purpose of building them a parsonage. It is nearly half a century since Mr Puffer preached in the ancient town of Hingham, yet the aroma of his work is fragrant to this day. He and wife Sally deeded his share of the estate of Jonas to his brother James Puffer in 1824 (W.D. 313-547). He was then of Westminster. His will dated April 23, 1867, at Westminster, bequeathed to his brother James, sisters Lucy and Mary.

Stephen married MARSH, Sally Sarah on 3 Oct 1815 in Westminster, MA. Sally (daughter of MARSH, Samuel and LINCOLN, Sarah) was born on 14 Jan 1798 in Hingham, MA; died on 15 Sep 1892 in Fitchburg, MA; was buried in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FindaGrave: Address:
  85152269
• Ref#: 68
• _COLOR: 11

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He joined the Sudbury church, Aug 9, 1789. He settled afterward in Wes tminster,, where he bought of Daniel Sawyer, Dec 6, 1792, Lot No 59, 2d D ivision , in the valley of the Whitman River. At the time of his death h e was building a new farm-house. He was buried in the cemetery on the r oad from Westminster to Fitchburg. His epitaph reads:
"Stop, kind friend, and drop a tear
On the dust that slumbers here
And when you read the fate of me
Think of the glass that turns for thee."

His widow was appointed administratrix in 1813, and the estate was divi ded among four children. Guardians for sons, Stephen and James were ap pointed Sept. 20, 1814.

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GRID=85152269

Jonas married FORBUSH, Lucy in 1791. Lucy (daughter of FORBUSH, David and HAYWARD, Sarah) was born on 1 Sep 1764 in Acton, MA; died on 10 Sep 1829 in Westminster, MA; was buried in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FindaGrave: Address:
  101851914
• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=101851914

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• Ref#: 32
• _COLOR: 11

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He was a soldier from Sudbury in the French and Indian War, a private in Capt. Josiah Richardson's company, April 25 1757; also an ensign in Capt. Aaron Hayne's company (second Sudbury), Col. Elisha Jones's regt., list of officers, third regt., in 1771, and Second Lieut. on the Lexington alarm in the Revolution, in Capt. Aaron Hayne's company, Col. Elisha Jone's regt, list of officers, third regt, in 1771, and second Lieut. on the Lexington alarm in the Revolution, in Capt. Aaron Hayne's company. His will dated Dec. 22, 1810, bequeathing to wife Submit, son of Jonas of Westminster, daughter Lydia, daughter Mary Conant of Sterling, daughter Rebecca, wife of Nathan Lee; sons James Goddard Puffer, Stephen Puffer. He and his wife Submit with other heirs of Benj. Goddard, quitclaim, Aug. 5, 1800 (W.D. 146-352).

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GRID=90019445 

James married DAKIN, Marcy on 12 May 1757 in Concord, MA. Marcy (daughter of DAKIN, Samuel and MINOTT, Mercy) was born on 24 Apr 1733 in Sudbury, MA; died on 31 May 1790 in Sudbury, MA; was buried in Sudbury, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Name: Mercy Dakin
• _COLOR: 11
• Confirmation: 15 Feb 1752

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GRID=35868735

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• _COLOR: 11

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A soldier in the Revolutionary War, a member of Capt. Davis' company fr om Acton, that marched to Concord on the memorable 19th of April, 1775. * T he inhabitants of Acton took a prominent part in the struggle for indep endence, and in 1775 there were three companies of militia. The pride o f the town, however, was the company commanded by Capt. Isaac Davis, an d ineluded the young men of that place. The captain was only thirty yea rs of age, a young man in the flush ofearly manhood. This company, of w hich David Forbush was a member, was paid by the town for drilling twic e a week, and was to be ready for dutv upon a moment's notice, and was k nown as the company of minute-men. Week after week during the long wint er months, the company met in some barn and practiced the art of war, t o he ready to stand in the breach and do honor to (heir town if the awf ul arbitrament of arms should come; but probably having little thought t hat a tilt at arms with the troops of King George was really imminent. O n the morning of April 19, 1775, before the dawn of day, a messenger ar oused the inhabitants of Acton to arms. When the sun was half an hour h igh Capt. Davis' minute-men were on their way to Concord, where they ar rived at the North Bridge at 9 o'elock; the company took the left of th e line of the provincial troops-he being the youngest captain-which wer e marshaled on the heights overlooking that spot. A hurried debate ensued. What they ought to do seemed uncertain. There w as no sure knowledge that the British had committed hostile acts. To go f orward might precipitate civil war, most of the officers objected. Capt . Davis had not a man who was afraid to go. Finally the orders were giv en to march and it is said Davis' company led the line. Near the bridge t he British fired into the town; the Americans continued to advance, the n came a shot or two, finally a volley, and Capt. Davis and Aimer Hosme r of the Acton company fell; the Americans returned the fire, and three o f the redeoats were killed and nine wounded. The fight continued until t he British retreated. It was here "By the rude bridge- that arched the flood, Their flags to April breeze unfurled; Here once the embattled farmers stood. And fired the shot heard round the world." According to the inscription on the monument at Acton, erected by the t own and State in honor of Capt. Davis and men. is this: "On the morning o f that eventful day (Apr. 19, 1775), the Provincial officers held a cou ncil of war near the old North Bridge in Concord; and as they separated D avis exclaimed, 'I haven't a man that is afraid to go,' and immediately m arched his company from the left to the right of the line, and led in t he first organized attack upon the troops of George III in that memorab le war which, by the help of God, made the thirteen colonies independen t of Great Britain, and gave polictical being to the United States of A merica."

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GRID=128626618

David married HAYWARD, Sarah in Nov 1762 in MA. Sarah (daughter of HAYWARD, Josiah Hartwell and HOSMER, Mary) was born on 17 Jul 1742 in Acton, MA; died on 11 Jan 1826 in Sudbury, MA; was buried in Acton, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=128627270

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• Ref#: 17
• _COLOR: 11
• Arrival: 1712, Sudbury, MA
• Confirmation: 12 Jul 1727, Sudbury, MA

Notes:

He went to Sudbury with his father, and became a substantial citizen. He served in the French and Indian Wars, as private in Capt. Josiah Brown's Co., in 1739 and as ensign in Capt. Josiah Richardson's Co., in 1757. Later he was captain of a Sudbury company. He was on a town committee to widen the causeway at Ironworks meadow in 1771. He lived in the house, built by his father, enlarged by himself, and still standing in 1900. He and his brother Ephraim of Sudbury deeded to Ephraim Keith of Bridgewater land at Petersham, July 21, 1738 (W.D. 10-526) and also land bought of Thomas Baldwin at Petersham (Nichewaug) March 5, 1743-4 (W.D. 2 9-355). He deeded land to his son Jacob at Templeton, April 13,1764 (W .D. 55-379).

His gravestone is in the burying ground at Sudbury Center. In his will dated April 8, 1785, he bequeaths to his wife Sarah: children James, Jacob, Daniel, Reuben, Rebecca Gibson and grandchildren Nahum and Reuben Rice.

Will of Capt. Jabez Puffer

"The following was one of the five wills made by Capt. Jabez Puffer and w as not the one offered for probate: "In the name of God Amen! This eighteenth Day of March Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and seventy Nine and in the third year of American Independence, I Jabez Puffer of Sudbury, in the county of Middlesex and state of the MA Bay, New England, Gentleman, being indisposed in Body, but of good and perfect mind and memory (thanks to Almighty God) and calling to remembrance the uncertain state of this transitory Life, and that all flesh must yield to death when it shall please God to call; do make and declare this my last will and Testament in manner and form following: -- Being penitent and sorry for all my sins, and most humbly imploring forgiveness for the same I commend my soul unto Almighty God my saviour and Redeemer in whom and by whose merits i trust and believe assuredly to be saved, to receive a full remission of all my sins, and inherit the Kingdom of God; and my body I commit to the Earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named: and for the settleing of my temporal estate, and such Goods, Chattels and Debts as shall be found at m y decease, all lawful demands on the same being satisfied, I appoint an d order to be done in the following manner: -- First-- I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Sarah Puffer, the income of all my Lande lying in Sudbury, she being at the charge of all the Labor for said income. Also I give her a good steady Horse and Chaise to use at her election; also the use of that part of the dwelling house and Sellar which I now possess, together with the free use of all other buildings on the Premises; also I bequeath unto her my loving wife two Cows, and all the Household furniture she brought with her, to dispose of as she shall think proper, the income of said Lands, and the use of Horse, Chiase, House, Sellar and other buildings to be hers so long as she remains my widow .
Also I give and bequeath to my four dutiful and well beloved sons (viz) James puffer, whom I have settled in Sudbury, Josiah Puffer whom I have settled in Westminster in the county of Worcester, Jacob Puffer whom I have settled in Ashby in the county of Middlesex and Daniel Puffer whom I have settled with myself in Sudbury, to them and each of them five shillings to be paid to them by my Executor in one year after my decease.
To each of them I have give good farms or settlements and my son Daniel Puffer is to have the refusal of my Homestead at the appraisal after my Decease if he pleases and agrees with his mother in law (stepmother), an d pays at, otherwise it shat be free for the purchase of any other person.
Also I give and bequeath to my dutiful and well beloved son Reuben Puffer having already given him an education at Harvard College twenty six Pounds thirteen shillings and four pence to be paid him by my Executor in one year after the beginning to settle my estate. Also I give to the s aid Reuben Puffer a Bed, with the furniture thereto."
(Charles Nutt has another will dated Feb. 21, 1774.)
Epitaph: "Here rests in hope of a resurrected life the mortal part of Capt. Jabez Puffer who departed this life June 21 A.D. 1789 in the 85th y ear of his age.
"My flesh shall slumber in the ground
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound
Then burst the chains without surprise
And in my Saviour's image rise."

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Jabez married HAYNES, Thankful on 24 Jul 1731 in Sudbury, MA. Thankful (daughter of HAYNES, Deacon James and NOYES, Sarah) was born on 22 Apr 1708 in Sudbury, MA; died on 11 Jun 1737 in Sudbury, MA; was buried in Sudbury, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

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Her gravestone is standing beside her husband's.

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GRID=68619942 

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GRID=224301270

Samuel married MINOTT, Mercy. Mercy (daughter of MINOTT, Capt. James Esq. and WHEELER, Rebecca) was born on 15 Apr 1702 in Concord, MA; died on 25 Jul 1793 in Sudbury, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 2

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• _COLOR: 2

David married Ruth Wood on 14 May 1734 in Acton, MA. Ruth was born in CA 1720; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=47668992

Josiah married HOSMER, Mary. Mary (daughter of HOSMER, John and BILLINGS, Mary) was born on 17 Dec 1711 in Concord, MA; died on 22 Jan 1790 in Acton, MA; was buried in Acton, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=73937904