vitals sources
John was a co-founder with his father of the Chartley Iron Works. About 1671 he settled on lot 18 in Freetown, MA, one mile south of Assonet on what is now Fall River Rd., and which extended to North River. He co-owned a shipyard on the west side of the river in 1693, and he lived adjacent to it in Freetown. He was sole owner of the yard by 1703. He was given what is thought to be the earliest license to keep a tavern in the town on 5 June 1684. He was the Constable of Freetown in 1680, and a selectman for many years between 1687 and 1719. He or his son John was an agent appointed to find a new minister on 22 September 1712. Town records on the following 13 January also report that the minister he found, probably James Hale, was not acceptable. Hale married John's daughter Sarah several years later.
In the records of Samuel Gardiner, militia recruitment officer for Freetown, John Hathaway is mentioned as giving gun powder, a powder horn, a musket, a "snapsack," and a "wescoat," (waistcoat?), to local soldiers, for which he was compensated.(1) He purchased goods from Nathaniel Byfield of Bristol, RI. On 13 October 1720, he is recorded as having paid for a 5' 2" millstone.
Hannah and John are mentioned in the will of her father James Burt. John and his second wife Christian deeded property to John's son Jacob on 24 June 1726, and she is named in John's will. She is thought to have been Christian Maxfield (see Maxfield). Mrs. Christian Maxfield was an unmarried widow as late as 1713. Margaret Maxfield was her daughter, and she married John's son Thomas Hathaway in 1719. Margaret was living in Bristol with her first husband Timothy Ingraham when their son Timothy was born in 1712. There is no certain death record for Timothy, Sr. Her marriage record says she was from Freetown, supporting the idea that Mrs. Christian Hathaway was Margaret's mother, and they moved to Freetown when Christian married John Hathaway. Margaret and her mother were widows, Margaret probably with a baby, and Margaret's youngest brother and only full sibling, Richard Maxfield, probably also moved to Freetown at this time. He was in his early 20s and may not have yet been married. He later witnessed a deed in Dighton. This would have made Thomas and Margaret step-siblings. John and Christian, one of Freetown and one of Bristol, which were not neighboring towns, both had business accounts with Nathaniel Byfield of Bristol, so John was at least an occasional visitor to the latter town. The family moved from Freetown to Dighton after John wrote his will in May 1724
children of John and Hannah (Burt) Hathaway (order by gender from will, general order based on marriage dates):
Jacob m. Phillipa Chase, 1696/1697
Hannah m. John Simmons, 1697
Isaac m. Sarah Makepeace, 1709/1710
John m. Mary Wilbore, 1697
Sarah m. Rev. James Hale, 1714?
Martha
Abigail m. David Sherman, 1710
Ephraim m. Abigail Davis, 1717
Thomas
Experience m. Elnathan Sherman, 1723/1724
vitals sources: his birth is in the Taunton, MA, vital records. His estate was probated in Spring 1730. Evidence of his marriages will be added.
1. History of Freetown, Massachusetts? (not A History of the Town of Freetown)
all text and photographs © 1998-2008 by Doug Sinclair unless where otherwise noted