Nathaniel Piper

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ⁵²³
Nathaniel Piper came from England, probably Dartmouth, and settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, where he died in 1676. He was married to a woman named Sarah, who remarried after his death to Ezekiel Woodward and was living in April 1696

He witnessed a deed to a man at Ipswich 15 Dec 1653. He purchased land of Andrew Hodges 18 Mar 1664 and a share of one half in Plum Island in 1664. (Suffolk Deeds, vol. I, p. 330, Ipswich Records, vol. II, pg. 251. "Hammatt Papers No. 5- The Early Inhabitants of Ipswich by Abraham Hammatt.)

His will was dated 7 Mar 1674 and was proved 26 Sep 1676. His children born at Ipswich were:
Sarah
Nathaniel, born 25 Jun 1658
Mary, born 5 Nov 1660 and died at Ipswich 18 Feb 1661
Josiah, born 1663 and died at Wenham
John, b. 1663; d. at Wenham
Mary, born 15 Dec 1664
Thomas, born 26 Nov 1666 and married Grace Hawley of Wenham.
Margaret, b. 16 Jun 1668; m Tristram Greenleaf
Samuel, b. 12 Jun 1670; d. at Stratham, Hew Hampshire 31 Oct 1747; m. 23 Apr 1694 Abagail Church of Dover, New Hampshire.
Jonathan, b. 1672
William, b. 1647 & d. at Ipswich 18 Jun 1674

~Nathaniel Piper of Ipswich, Massachusetts, pp. 1-2

• Background Information. ⁵²⁴
Nathaniel Piper, the emigrant, is believed to have belonged in Dartmouth, Devonshire, and probably was born there about 1630. He came to Ipswich, New England about 1650, and died there in 1676. His will dated 7 Mar 1675 was proved on 26 Sep 1676, and mentions his children. He bequeathed a share in Plum Island granted to him in 1665 and considerable other property.

He married Sarah on 14 Dec 1653, and after his death she married a second time to Ezekiel Woodward of Wenham, and was living in 1796.

The children of Nathaniel and Sarah were:

1. Sarah, born 1656
2. Nathaniel, born 25 1658, was a proprietor of Ipswich in 1678 and died in 1689
3. Josiah, born 18 Dec 1661
4. John, born 1663, and married Lydia ______
5. Mary, born 14 Dec 1663
6. Thomas, born 26 Nov 1666, married Grace Hawley and they had a daughter named Patience who was born 25 Feb 1702
7. Margaret, born 16 Jun 1668, married Tristam Greenleaf
8. Samuel, born 12 Jun 1670, married Abigail Church
9. Jonathan
10. William, born 1672, died 18 Jun 1674 at Ipswich, d. in childhood

~Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County, p. 49

• Background Information. ⁶²⁷
Nathaniel Piper was the emigrant ancestor and progenitor of the Piper family in New England. He was born in 1626, likely Dartmouth, Evenshire, England. He left England, during the Revolution under Oliver Cromwell, and settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Nathaniel Piper was in Ipswich as early as 1653. His name shows up in the Suffolk Country Registry of Deeds, Book 1, p. 339 that was witnessed by Nathaniel Piper, 15 Dec 1653.

Nathaniel married Sarah Edwards, the daughter of Rhys Edwards of Wenham, Massachusetts. The Edwards family were of Welsh origin.

Nathaniel Piper was an extensive land owner, a ship owner, a farmer and a trader. He owned acreage on Hog Island, Plum Island, marsh land on Great Neck and had his homestead at the corner of East and Wainwright Streets in Ipswich. This homesite consisted of two acres situated on the north side of the river opposite the old town landing.

Nathaniel Piper employed labor to cultivate his various tracts of land. He had servants in his house at Ipswich. He was taxed for "spindles" of wool which were spun into cloth for sale as well as for his won use.

Captain Nathaniel Piper was an experienced seafaring man, and operated a trading ship between Ipswich and other Bay colonies.

Nathaniel was only fifty years of age when he died, 7 Apr 1676 in Ipswich. He left a will dated 7 Mar 1675, and proven 26 Sep 1675. His wife, Sarah Edwards Piper was he sole executrix. Sarah continued to live in Ipswich until she married Ezekiel Woodward, Jun 1679, a carpenter of Wenham, Massachusetts.

Fourteen years after the death of their father, Nathaniel Piper, his children with the consent of their mother, sold the homestead of their father to John Wainwright of Ipswich. The deed was dated 18 Jun 1690 and signed by Jon Piper, Thomas Piper, Mary Piper and Tristram Greenleaf who had married Margaret Piper.

~Crook, an American family : 1698-1955, pp. 209 - 212

Nathaniel married Sarah Edwards, daughter of Ryce Edwards and Unknown. (Sarah Edwards was born about 1634 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts and died after 1696 in Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts, British American Colonies.)