Timothy Nash

  General Notes:

6th ggf of Gordon Fisher, "TIMOTHY NASH, usually called Lieutenant Timothy Nash, was the youngest child of Thomas Nash, the emigrant, and was born in England, or at Leyden, in Holland, in 1626.

The first notice of him in the records of NewHaven appears to be the following, dated 3 Dec. 1645."Brother Tomas Nash, for his son's absence at a general trayning, pleaded his necessity of business in fetching home his hay by watter. The court overruled and ordered him to pay his fine." (P) On the 4 March, 1654, the *freeman's* [sic] oath was administered to 29 persons, among whom was Timothy Nash.

His marriage and the births of his two eldest children were recorded in New Haven. The marriage is without date; thus, "Timothy Nash and Rebekah Stone were married by" ----.

But it must have been in 1657. He then lived with and took care of his father, as appears by the father's Will. His wife,*Rebekah*, was the daughter of the *Rev. Samuel Stone*, of Hartford.

The last mention of him in the records of New Haven is dated 23 April, 1660, when he and Isaac Beecher were fined for absence from town meeting.

About ten months after this date, viz. 11 Feb.1660, we find the record of a vote in Hartford, Conn. Whereby liberty was given Timothy Nash to come in as an "inhabitant with us."

The next that is found relating to him, is the following from the records of Hadley, Mass.

"June 22 1663, Timothy Nash'es pre possttions to the Towne. That he desires the allotment that was Robert Websters, to be granted to him a freed from all rates and dues belonging to the lands for me past to this present day, excepting the corn on this land.

2. That the Towne be at the charge to bring up his Iron, tools, and Household stuff at this time now he hath for his removal.

The Towne have granted the prpossissions afore said, excepting only the plow land for this year with the corn on the up land and the said Timothy Nash be resident with his family here as an Inhabitant before winter next

From this it would appear that some negotiation had been going on, and, probably, a proposition had been made to him.

The settlement of Hadley began in this way."

A controversy had long been carried on in Hartford and Wethersfield, chiefly in regard to the government of the Church, and the terms of church membership. It began between Mr. Wm. Goodwin, a Ruling Elder at Hartford, who adhered to rigid Congregationalism, and the Rev. Samuel Stone, who was thought to be leaning a little towards Presbyterianism. Weary with the strife, sixty persons, with the Rev. John Russell as their Pastor, entered into an agreement on the 18April, 1659, to leave the Colony; which most of them did, and began the settlement of Hadley, Mass. comprising, besides the rich and beautiful meadow where the village still stands, the tracts since setoff as Amherst, South Hadley, and Granby. But they had no Blacksmith, and we have already seen how important it was to have one in a new Settlement. Timothy Nash had probably been bred to his Father's vocation, a gunsmith, but like the others, gradually changed it into that of the ordinary Blacksmith, more useful and more needful to the settlers. Thus literally changing the sword into the plow-share, and the spear to the pruning-hook. Yet the trials of those early settlers, especially in the time of Philip's War, must have rendered it necessary for him to return occasionally to his original calling. At least, a Blacksmith capable of repairing arms, must have been doubly useful at such times.

Robert Webster, mentioned in the above extract from the Records, was one of the singers of the agreement, who, for some reason, did not go to Hadley. And his share, called a 100L allotment, was thus transferred to Timothy Nash, who, thence forward, united the occupations of Farmer and Blacksmith. .....

He certainly had a very respectable estate in lands at his death, as appears from his Will, and the subsequent agreement of the heirs.

He was a useful and respectable citizen, --- was frequently employed in town affairs, -- held the office of Lieutenant in the militia, by which title he is still designated. And it should be remembered that a military title in those days, was generally a sign of real merit.

He represented the Town of Hadley at the General Court of Massachusetts, in 1690, 1691 and 1695. And d. in a good and respected old age, 13 March, 1699, N.S. in his 73rd year.

Mrs. Rebekah Nash died in March or April, 1709. She left a will which is inserted. (Appendix G. [but omitted here])

Children.
I.REBEKAH, born 12 March, 1657-8, d. young, probably at New Haven.
II.SAMUEL, born 3 Feb.1659-60, d. at Hadley, 1668.
III. THOMAS, born not recorded, 1661, settled in Hatfield.
IV. JOSEPH, born 27 Jan.1663-4, d. unm. 28 March, 1740.
V. TIMOTHY, born about 1665, not recorded, d. childless.
VI. JOHN, born 21 August, 1667, settled in Hadley.
VII. SAMUEL, 2d, born 17 June, 1669, d. unm. 3 May, 1738.VIII. HOPE, born 26 Nov. 1679, m. *Isaac Warner*.
IX. EBENEZER, born25 Oct. 1673, settled in Suffield, Ct.
X. DANIEL, born not recorded,1676, settled in Great Barrington, Mass.
XI.EPHRAIM, born not recorded, 1682, settled in Granby, Mass.
XII. MARY, born not recorded, d. 19 Dec. 1687.

Of the above children, the first two were born in New Haven, the third in Hartford, and all the others in Hadley.

SAMUEL, the first of the name, came to a tragic end. And as the account of it may serve to give an idea of the manners, and legal proceedings in those days, I have thought it proper to append the inquest of the Jury, and Record of the Court in the case. (See Appendix H[see here under SAMUEL's name]).

JOSEPH, is supposed to have lived most of his life in Hadley, but spent his last days in the family of his brother Ephraim in Granby, where he d. unm. at the age of 77. Mr. Boltwood informs us that, "A few years since, among some old Town papers in Harfield Town Clerk's office, was found quite along piece of poetry on the death of Doct. Thos. Hastings, who d. at Hatfield, 14 April, 1728, AE 48 years. Appended to the poem is an Acrostic, at the bottom of which is the following: " 'Sic cecinitamicus dolens.' Josephus Nash."

As it is not known that there was, or ever had been, at that time, any other Joseph Nash in that region, it is supposed he must have been the writer. And if so, he must have been somewhat classically educated and poetically inclined. He was about 65 years old at the time of Dr. Hasting's death.

TIMOTHY, appears never to have m. though there is much obscurity in resepct to him. ..... SAMUEL, 2d, appears to have spent his life in Hadley. And as there is no record of his m. or allusion to a family, it is probable that he lived a bachelor. He and Joseph inherited the house and home-lot of their father, and are supposed to have carried on the same trade.

MARY's birth was not recorded and there is no mention of her except her d. in 1687. Her birth may have been between those of Daniel and Ephraim, but it is more probable that she was the youngest. .....

"--- Rev. Sylvester Nash, *The Nash Family*, HartfordCT, 1853, p26-29"February 11, 1660, a vote is recorded in Hartford, Conn., where by liberty was given Timothy Nash to "come in as an inhabitant with us." Timothy Nash removed to Hadley, Mass., June 22, 1663, and had a hundred pound allotment. His home lot was on the west side of the main street in the village of Hadley. "He was a most useful and respectable citizen, was frequently employed in town affairs," held the office of Lieutenant in the militia, 1676 to 1679, Hadley, by which title he is still designated. And it should be remembered that a military title in those days was generally a sign of real merit. He represented the town of Hadley at the General Court of Massachusetts in 1690, 1691, 1695. (P) On the 4 March, 1654, the Freeman’s Oath was administered to Timothy Nash and 28 others. He married Rebekah Stone. His marriage and birth of his two children were recorded in NewHaven. The marriage is without date but must have been 1657. They lived with and cared for his father as appears by his fathers will. His wife Rebekah was the daughter of Rev. Samuel Stone of Hartford.

The history, legend and romance, written by Rev. Guy Roberts, sixth edition, 1925, Whitefield, N. H., claims that Crawford Notch was known by the Indians, though seldom used by them, because [of] their superstitious fear of the mountains, and they have left no legends concerning. Its discovery by white men, is credited by [sic: to?] one Timothy Nash [see in this db as great-grandson of the present Timothy NASH], who in 1771, while in pursuit of an eluding Moose [sic, capitalized], climbed a tree on Cherry Mountain, in hopes of espying him, but saw instead the depression in the Mountain Wall, which he later explored, following the Saco down through and notifying Governor Wentworth of his discovery. Realizing the value of such a route to the upper Connecticut Valley, and wishing to test it as a possible trade route, he offered Timothy the Grant of a tract of land (later known as the Nash and Sawyer location), extending from the Upper Gateway to beyond the present Fabyan House, if he would bring a horse through from Lancaster. Nash. aided by one Benjamin Sawyer, brought the horse through, though not without great difficulty, and received the promised reward.

"Lieut. Nash died in a good and respected old age, 13 March, 1699, N.S., in his 73rd year." He had a very large estate in lands at his death as appears from his will and the subsequent agreement of his heirs. Mrs. Rebekah Nash died in March or April, 1709. She also left a will. They had twelve children.. JOHN, born Hadley, August 21, 1667, settled in Hadley. ... Children of Lieut. Timothy and Rebecca (Stone) Nash: 1. REBECCA, b. March 12,1657-8; d. young at New Haven. 2. SAMUEL, b. Feb. 3, 1659-60; d. at Hadley, 1668. 3. THOMAS, b. Hartford, 1661; settled at Hatfield. 4.JOSEPH, b. Hadley, 1665; d. childless. 6. JOHN, b. Hadley, Aug. 21,1667; settled in Hadley. 7. SAMUEL, 2d, b. June 17, 1669; d. unm.May3, 1738. 8. HOPE, b. Nov. 26, 1670; m. Isaac Warner. 9. EBENEZER, b. Oct. 25, 1673; settled in Suffield, Conn. 10. DANIEL, b. 1676;settledin Great Barrington, Mass. 11. EPHRAIM, b. 1682; settled in Granby, Mass. 12. MARY, d. Dec. 19, 1687."---Mrs. (Oscar Herbert) Elizabath M. Leach Rixford, *Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors and War Service*, Rutalnd VT (Tuttle) 1934, p222-223"AT A COURT HELD AT NEWHAVEN THE FIRST OF MAY, 1660. ..... Isaac Beecher & Timothy Nash for absence at a Towne Meeting Aprill 23, were fined each 2 s 6 d."--- *Ancient Town Records*, v 1, *New Haven Town Records1649-1662*, ed Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven CT (New Haven Colony Historical Society) 1917, p 449 Submitter for fisher3: Gordon M. Fisher , 334 Franklin Street , Harrisonberg, Virginia 22801 , Phone 540-433-0531 , Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>, Locator: CompuServe ID# 75204,3411 GEN: _FA1 GEN: PLAC Lieutenant GEN: _FA2 GEN: PLAC Moved to Hadley, Massachusetts GEN: _FA3 GEN: PLAC Blacksmith by trade NASH, LIEUT. TIMOTHY, 1626-1699, Hadley, Mass., and New Haven, Conn. Lieut. Hadley Military Co., 1678. GEN: Deputy, 1690, '91, '95. GEN: Also Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England showing Three Generations. by James Salvage. Vol. III pub. in GEN: Boston: by Little, Brown & Co. 1861. Timothy Nash arrived with his parents on the Winthrop Fleet ship "Hector" in 1637. He was GEN: about 11 years old.

Timothy married Rebekah Stone, daughter of Rev. Samuel Stone and Hope Fletcher, in 1657 in Hadley, Mass. (Rebekah Stone was born on 3 Apr 1625 in Sisted, Essex, England and died in Mar 1709 in Hadley, Mass..)