William TAYLOR [scrapbook] ¹ was born in PROB 20 AUG 1621 in Toddington, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom. He died ² on 6 Dec 1696 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. William married ³ Mary MERRIAM in BY 1650 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

William was of Concord Mass , Where he was owner of a large farm on the east Bedford Road. William's father may be Richard of Toddington/Harlington, Bedfordshire.

George Merriam had a daughter Mary but she died in 1646. Joseph Merriam, son of Joseph Merriam, had a daughter named Mary b.1664 that married Isaac Stearns.

The following is a research report by Andrew Pierce:  On to the Middlesex County MA problems. Ruth H. Bubul's recent George Hayward: A Line From Concord, Massachusetts, 1635  states that William Taylor (born ca.1618) married by 1649 (when he was a proprietor in Concord), Mary Meriam, daughter of Joseph & Sarah (Goldstone) Merriam. After her death, in 1677 he married (2)Hannah Merriam, a cousin of his first wife. The Merriam family is also sketched, with sources such as Lemuel Shattuck's notes, and there seems no reason to doubt that Mary Merriam was not William Taylor's wife. I do not see in your notes the source which supposedly identifies Mary was a Coltham, daughteer of William Coltham of Wethersfield CT, but the latter place is quite far from Concord MA, where William Taylor lived.

The IGI (apparently based on vital records) gives the marriage date of William Taylor to Mary Merriam as 19 October 1650, which seems to clash with the birth of their oldest daughter Mary on 12 September 1649/50; but since transcriptions of calendar dates of that period sometimes don't take into account the 'double years' given between fall and spring, it would be worth another look at the VRs for Concord. Also, the new publication of Middlesex County probate records (to 1660) might be checked, as well as Middlesex County deeds through 1700 to see if William & Mary Taylor, or their children, deeded out land in her right; and a probate for Mary's presumed mother Sarah (Goldstone) Merriam, who married (2)Joseph Wheeler of Concord and died there in 1671, to see if she mentioned Mary or her children. Wheeler's probate might be checked too, since he may have remembered stepdaughter Mary or her children.

Will of William Taylor US/CAN film #421536 file #22257:
I, William Taylor, of ye town of Concord in ye county of Middlesex in New England, being in perfect memory priviledged be God to make this my last will in manor & form following.  My soul I commit into the hands of my most merciful God in  Christ Jesus believing the ressurection of my body at ye last and great day of ye great and xxx xxx xxx and my body to descent burial for my temporal estate as followeth.  I give to my eldest son John Taylor my fourteen acres of land called Sprouters Lot and my sons Isaac Taylor and Joseph Taylor and my daughter ffarr have all of them received their portion from me already. As for my state now remaining mine and not given by deed of gift to my above said sons.  I will and give to my true and beloved wife all my movable estate one and others of all xxx and kinds and to her disposal at her death.  And to sell and make xxx of for ye comfort of her life.  Also all my lands and mansion dwelling house and all ye engagements and xxx in my deeds of gifts to my sons I will that they be truly performed to their mother my loving and beloved wife and all my land now in my hands not given as above said I will and give to my wife for her to make use of as her need and comfort of life requireth.  And what land is left at my wife's death.  I give to my two sons Abraham Taylor and Jacob Taylor also I make my loving wife the executrix of this my last will all former and other wills void and anulled.  In witness that this is my last will and testament.  I, William Taylor ye ageed set to my hand and seal this twentieth day of ffebuary in the year one thousand six hundred ninety and two and three in ye four year of ye reign of William and Mary xxxx  Signed and sealed in presence of xxx Samuel xxx, Susannah Sprouthford??? Marke of William Taylor

Inventory of estate was approved by R. Fox, John Merriam, Samuel Howe.

DEATH: Will inventory witnessed by John Merriam.

Mary MERRIAM [Parents] [scrapbook] was born in 1625 in Hadlow, Kent, England, United Kingdom. She died ^{1, 2} on 10 Dec 1699 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Mary married ³ William TAYLOR in BY 1650 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

Stephen FARR Jr [Parents] [scrapbook] ¹ was born ^{2, 3} on 11 Apr 1679 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Stephen married ⁴ Sarah STONE on 28 Sep 1708 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

Source: FHL film #0815617
Comments:  Shows both John and Stephen together in a town meeting at Stow in 1700.

Middlesex Deeds
Vol. 41, p. 325
FHL Film US/CAN #0554024
Stephen Farr to Stephen Farr, Jr, of Stow, Mass., 200 pounds; land in Stow and Acton Mass., of 100 acres. One parcel consists of part of a house and lot (the line passes through middle of the chimney) in this John Davis' land is mentioned; also land of Samuel Farr and Jonathan Farr. Another parcel which belonged to Stephen Farr Senior on the westerly side of the road leading from Stow to Jonathan Farr's. Dec 25th, 1735
Stephen Farr/Sarah Farr
Witnesses, Joseph Farr Jr., Jacob Hooker, Wm Farr.

BIRTH: April was used instead of Feb. because the year started in Mar. and record reads 11, 2, 1679.

Sarah STONE was born about 1686 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. She died in 1741 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Sarah married ¹ Stephen FARR Jr on 28 Sep 1708 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

Sarah descends from George Farr of Lynn, Essex, MA through his daughter Mary Farr Farnsworth and then through Mary's daughter Sarah Farnsworth Stone.

John FARR [Parents] [scrapbook] ¹ was born about 1681 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He died ² on 14 Jan 1723/1724 in Littleton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. John married ^{3, 4} Hannah APPLIN on 11 May 1703 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

John is mentioned in his brother Samuel's will. Because Samuel was confirmed by DNA testing, John is now confirmed by the will. If you read the Melinde Sanborn article under Stephen Farr, you can see why most of his children are not found in the vital records.

Mention of John is found in the Rev. Charles N. Sinnett's book "The Farr Genealogy" Film #0015506 p. 11, 48.

Film #385981 Middlesex MA Probate Docket FA - HA
Shows index of John Farr's probate of Littleton No.7274. This is the John married to Hannah Applin.

Film #0397054 Middlesex Probate Pages #7274
Shows original probate of John Farr Husband of Hannah Applin. Relations listed are: Hannah Applin (wife), John Farr (eldest son), Hannah Hayes (daughter, Husband James Hayes), Mehetable Adams or Davis (daughter), Mary Dodge (daughter), BethShua Anderson (daughter), Abia _____, Rachel Cavy(daughter), Prudence Farr(daughter). I couldn't read the last name of Abia.

Film #0928676 Haseltine Papers, Watertown Marriages Book 2 1695-1737 John Farr from Stow MA & Hannah Applin from Watertown  MA m./May 11, 1703

Film #1321409, item 13, page 156: gravestone inscription of John Farr

FHL film #1321409, item 13, page 37: John and Thomas Farr as land owners in Littleton.

DEATH: 1724 Farr My. John d. Janry. ye 14th 1724 in ye 43d Year of His Age. Deaths from Grave Stones in the Old Burying Ground at Littleton Common.

Hannah APPLIN [scrapbook] was born on 26 May 1680 in of Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Hannah married ^{1, 2} John FARR on 11 May 1703 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

Samuel FARR [Parents] ¹ was born about 1684/1685 in of Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He died ^{2, 3} on 7 Jun 1754 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Samuel married Hannah WHITNEY about 1713 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

Samuel had a will ⁴ on 4 Feb 1754 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

The best proof we have that ²Samuel was a son of ¹Stephen is the DNA results between participants #51092 (Douglas Wayne Farr), #26155 (James Russell Farr), #33301 ( whom descend from ²Samuel Farr, #36078 (Donald Richard farr), and participant #15338 (Donald Eugene Farr) who descends from ²Stephen Farr Jr. (proven son of Stephen Farr) The DNA results are as follows:

#15338----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30 18 9 10 11 11 24 15 19 29 15 16 17 17
#33301----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30 18 9 10 11 11 24 15 19 29 15 16 17 17
#36078----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30 18 9 10 11 11 24 15 19 29 15 16 17 17
#51092----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30
#26155----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30

All five have an exact match. Samuel Farr is a brother of Stephen Farr Jr. and we know that Stephen Jr. is a son of Stephen Farr and Mary Taylor from the Concord vitals. Full results of the Farr DNA Project with FamilyTreeDNA, can be viewed at: http://www.geocities.com/dustyhills/FarrDNATestResults.htm. If you read the Melinde Sanborn article under Stephen Farr, you can see why most of his children are not found in the vital records.

Mention of Samuel is found in the Rev. Charles N. Sinnett's book "The Farr Genealogy" Film #0015506 pp. 11, 68-69 Died June 7th 1754 and lived at Stow, Mass., and married Hannah Whitney

Will dated Feb. 4, 1754
probated July 8, 1754
Stow, Middlesex, Mass.
Probates, vol. xxvii p. 149

In the Name of God Amen. I Samuel Farr of Stow in the county of Middlesex in the Provivence of the Massachusetts Bay in New England yeoman, being considerably advanced in age but of sound and disposing mind, Do Constitute and Appoint this to be my soul Will & Testament this fourth day of February Anno Domi one thousand seven hundred fifty four. Principally & first of all I give my soul into the hands of God that gave it & my body to the Earth to be buried in Decent Christian Burial out of my Estate, & as touching the worldly Estate that I am Blessed with I give & dispose of as follows:
I give to my wife Hannah the use of my moveable Estate and the use of that part of my Real Estate that is not given away by this will during her life. Item: I give to my eldest son Samuel Farr that part of my messauge  that I have set to him of meets & bounds. Item: I give to my son Daniel Farr about an acre of orcharding that was set to him by meets & bounds being part of the orchard that I purchased of my brother John Farr also all that part of my living that I gave to my son Jonathan by word of mouth, my said son Daniel having paid him the full Value thereof, this I give to my son Daniel beside the deed I gave to Samuel Haywood & Jeremiah Ward at his desire and advantage. Item: I give to my son Jonathan Farr four acres of swamp that lyeth in or near the Great Swamp in said Stow besides what he diposed of and received the profit of from my son Daniel above said. Item: I give to my youngest son Abraham Farr one full half of my messuage & buildings at home, as also the other half of it after my wife's decease & the decease or marriage of my daughter Lydia Farr in case he shal look after them & give them a proper maintenance out of it & them & me Decent Christian burial out of it. Item” I give to my said daughter Lydia her maintenance as above said during life if she shal remain a single woman but if she should happen to marry four pounds lawful money & she shal quit her title to the maintenance abovesaid  this beside her bed & the furniture of it.  Item: I give to my three married daughters what I gave them viz. Hannah Farr, Elizabeth Whitney, & Hepsibah Thomas each of them one pound six schillings & eight pence lawful money apiece for each of them & all my household goods to be equally divided among them after my said wife has done with them, but if my said wife shal continue my widow during her life she shal enjoy my moveable estate during said term. But if she should happen to marry, my said son after marrige shal befree from his obligation with regard to her maintenance & enjoy my estate as if he had maintained her for life & she shal have liberty to take a bed & furniture with her. Further I give a piece of land that I bought of Butterwick to my three sons Samuel, Daniel & Abraham Farr, & constitute & appoint my said son Abraham Farr soul executor of this my last will and testament & revoking all other wills by be at any time made. I ratifie and confirm this & no other to be my last will & testament the day & year above written.
Memorandum: The ten acres near the clay pitts adjoining to my said son Samuel, I call my messuage at home & accordingly give it to my said son Abraham.
Signed, Sealed, Published, Pronounced & Declared by the said Samuel Farr as his last Will & Testament in the presemce of us the Subscribers:
John Gardner
Elizabeth Gardner
Susannah Gardner

WILL: Mentions his brother John Farr in his will. Because Samuel was confirmed in Stephen Farr's family by DNA testing, John is now confirned through the will.

Hannah WHITNEY was born about 1692 in of Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Hannah married Samuel FARR about 1713 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

Samuel COREY was born ¹ on 20 Sep 1691 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Samuel married Mary FARR about 1712 in of Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

Mary FARR [Parents] [scrapbook] was born ¹ on 4 May 1686 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. She died ² on 23 Jun 1748 in Littleton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Mary married Samuel COREY about 1712 in of Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

The IGI and many other sources, incorrectly have this Mary Farr as the wife of Jacob Hooker. Sinnett in his book, "The Farr Genealogy", uses a Middlesex County, Massachusetts's land deed, dated 1766, incorrectly to support her as the wife of Jacob Hooker. Using the dates from the land deeds, this Stephen Farr would have to be about 125 years old. However, there could be a Jacob Hooker from an earlier time that could be confusing the matter.

Mary, that married Jacob Hooker, would be the daughter of Stephen Farr b. abt 1710 and Sarah Bennett b. 1708/9.

Mary Farr probably married abt 1712, Samuel Corey b. 20 Sep 1691 Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts. They had the following children:  Samuel b. 25 Feb 1714/15, Samuel b. 30 Aug 1717, Mary b. 2 Apr 1720, Stephen b. 25 Mar 1723, Elizabeth b. 13 Feb 1725, and Oliver b. 21 Aug 1729.

Samuel Corey was appointed guardian of John Farr's children in 1724.

Record of Mary being a child in this family found in Concord Reg. births, marriages and deaths of Middlesex County reference # US/CAN 974.44/C4 v2c.

Mary's Headstone Inscription:
Mary Corey the wife of Left Samuel Corey Desest the 28th day of June 1748 aged aboute 62 years

Thomas FARR Sr. [Parents] [scrapbook] ¹ was born about 1688 in of Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He died ² before 8 Jul 1783 in Hollis, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States. Thomas married ^{3, 4, 5} Elizabeth POWERS on 16 Mar 1713/1714 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

Other marriages:

WHITCOMB, Hannah [Powers]

Thomas Farr Sr. and Hannah
and
Thomas Farr Jr. and Hannah
By Tim Farr

Thomas Farr Sr. was born abt. 1688 to 1692 of Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts to Stephen Farr and Mary Taylor. Thomas Farr Sr. had seven children between the years of 1715 and 1730. All of the children’s birth records indicate that the mother’s name was Elizabeth.

Thomas Farr Jr. was born on 4 Nov 1719 in Littleton, Middlesex, Massachusetts to Thomas Farr Sr. and Elizabeth Powers. Thomas Farr Jr. had six children between the the years of 1742 and 1755. All of the children’s birth records indicate that the mother’s name was Hannah.

The only marriage records found to date are of Thomas Farr and Hannah Powers on 5 Aug 1758 and Thomas Farr to an Elizabeth Powers 16 Mar 1713/14. All publications attribute the children of Thomas Farr Jr. to Hannah Powers. Some indicate, including my own publications, that the marriage date must have been mis-transcribed and should read 5 Aug 1738.

Hannah Powers birth and death were never found and so the idea of the marriage date really being 1738 was fine at the time but I have uncovered new evidence to the contrary. I first discovered the headstone of a Hannah, widow of Mr Thomas Farr, located in the Congregational Church Burial Yard of Hollis, Hillsborough, New Hampshire.

This sparked my curiosity because Dr. Arlene Eakle and I have done so much research on Thomas Farrs that I knew it had to be the wife of Thomas Farr Jr. or the wife of Thomas Farr Sr. the grandson and son of our Stephen Farr the immigrant of Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts and Lidlington, Bedfordshire, England.

I first searched the cemetery records to see if any Farrs were buried there other than Hannah and I found none. I then found a number of Powers buried in the same cemetery so I looked in the “Hollis Family Album, The Folk Tales and Family Trees of the First Settlers of Hollis, New Hampshire” and found that Peter Powers was one of the first settlers in that town. Peter Powers is a son of Daniel Powers and Elizabeth Whitcomb making him a first cousin to Elisabeth Powers Farr the wife of Thomas Farr Sr.

At this point I needed to know if Hannah on the headstone was a Powers or not so I looked for a probate record of a Hannah Farr in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. To my surprise Hannah did leave a will dated 8 Jul 1783 and probated on 16 Aug 1785 found on FHL US/CAN Film #16070, p. 358. In the will Hannah states that she is the widow of Thomas Farr late of Hollis deceased. She then makes a bequeath to her son named “Thomas Powers” and also makes him executor of her will.

This find caused me to go back to the marriage bann shown previously and I then noticed that it listed Hannah as “Mrs. Hannah Powers” and Thomas as “Mr. Thomas Powers” which means that had both previously been married. This now tells us that the marriage date in the records of 5 Aug 1758 is correct and that Hannah Powers is not the mother of Thomas Farr Jr’s. children! Hannah Powers maiden name is now not known and the maiden name of Thomas’ first wife Hannah is also not known.

Given the fact that the headstone of Hannah states that she was 92 years and 7 months old when she died on the 6 Jul 1785, puts her birth at abt. 6 Dec 1692. This makes her too old to be the one that married Thomas Farr Jr. Hannah’s will also states that she is the widow of Thomas Farr late of Hollis deceased. We know that Thomas Jr. died in Chesterfield, Cheshire, New Hampshire so this would indicate that Thomas Sr. is her husband.

The headstone of Hannah ____ Powers Farr would never have been found if it were not for someone taking the time to photograph the headstones in that cemetery and posting them to the Internet. Until now, we’ve had no reason to look for Hannah in Hollis, New Hampshire. But it now makes sense why she was not found in Chesterfield, Cheshire, New Hampshire because she was not the mother of the Farr children.

We now need to find which Powers Hannah was married to before she married Thomas Farr Sr. so we can find her maiden name. We also need to re think who Hannah, the mother of Thomas Farr Jr’s children, really is!

After doing a search for Powers marrying a Hannah, I found Joseph Powers married Hannah Whitcomb in Groton, Massachusetts on the 16 Mar 1713 and they had their children in Littleton. Joseph died on 18 Dec 1744 in Littleton. The widow Hannah Powers  then married Thomas Farr Sr. in Hardwick on the 5 Aug 1758 and was listed as being from Littleton. Her son Thomas Powers listed in her will was the son of Joseph Powers and Hannah Whitcomb/Powers/Farr.

Joseph Powers is the brother of Thomas Farr's first wife Elizabeth Powers, so he married his sister in law Hannah Whitcomb Powers! We now know that Thomas Farr Sr. died in Hollis, NH.

I found a listing on FindAGrave.com for both Thomas and Elizabeth being buried in the Hardwick Central Cemetery. I called the cemetery sextant and he told me there was no record of them being buried there.

The best proof we have that ²Thomas was a son of ¹Stephen is the DNA results between participants #14704 (Ben W. Farr Sr.), #20588 (Kendall Clark Farr), #20589 (Keith Lyle Farr), #23559 (Robert Farr) and #14723 (David Jackson Farr) whom descend from ²Thomas Farr, and participants #15338 (Donald Eugene Farr) and #46956 (Rupert Andrew Farr) whom descend from ²Stephen Farr Jr. (proven son of Stephen Farr). The DNA results are as follows:

#14704----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30
#20588----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30
#20589----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30
#23559----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30
#46956----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30 (Rupert Andrew Farr)
#14723(David Jackson Farr)----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30 18 9 10 11 11 24 15 19 29 15 16 17 17 11 10 19 23 17 15 17 17 36 38 12 12
#153389(Donald Eugene Farr)----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30 18 9 10 11 11 24 15 19 29 15 16 17 17 11 10 19 23 17 15 17 17 36 38 12 12

All seven have an exact match. Thomas Farr is a brother of Stephen Farr Jr. and we know that Stephen Jr. is a son of Stephen Farr and Mary Taylor from the Concord vitals. Full results of the Farr DNA Project with FamilyTreeDNA, can be viewed at: http://www.geocities.com/dustyhills/FarrDNATestResults.htm. If you read the Melinde Sanborn article under Stephen Farr, you can see why most of his children are not found in the vital records.

Thomas buys land from Stephen Farr Jr Mar 10, 1741:
Thomas Farr of Acton, Mass., 500 pounds to Stephen Farr Jr. of Stow, Mass., land in Acton, Mass., 120, or 170 acres. film #0015506 p. 50.

Mention of Thomas Farr, M. at Groton, Mass., March 16th, 1713 to Eliza (Elizabeth) Powers.in the Rev. Charles N. Sinnett's book "The Farr Genealogy" FHL film #0015506 p. 11. Marriage also mentioned in Early Massachusetts Marriages Prior to 1800, Middlesex, Hamshire, Bershire and Bristol, Middlesex County, Groton, page 58.

FHL film #1321409, item 13, page 37: John and Thomas Farr as land owners in Littleton.

DEATH: "Thomas Farr late of Holles deceased".

Elizabeth POWERS [Parents] was born ¹ about 1693 in of Littleton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. She died before 5 Aug 1758 in Hardwick, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. Elizabeth married ^{2, 3, 4} Thomas FARR Sr. on 16 Mar 1713/1714 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

Thomas FARR Sr. [Parents] [scrapbook] ¹ was born about 1688 in of Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He died ² before 8 Jul 1783 in Hollis, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States. Thomas married ³ Hannah [Powers] WHITCOMB on 5 Aug 1758 in Hardwick, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.

Other marriages:

POWERS, Elizabeth

Thomas Farr Sr. and Hannah
and
Thomas Farr Jr. and Hannah
By Tim Farr

Thomas Farr Sr. was born abt. 1688 to 1692 of Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts to Stephen Farr and Mary Taylor. Thomas Farr Sr. had seven children between the years of 1715 and 1730. All of the children’s birth records indicate that the mother’s name was Elizabeth.

Thomas Farr Jr. was born on 4 Nov 1719 in Littleton, Middlesex, Massachusetts to Thomas Farr Sr. and Elizabeth Powers. Thomas Farr Jr. had six children between the the years of 1742 and 1755. All of the children’s birth records indicate that the mother’s name was Hannah.

The only marriage records found to date are of Thomas Farr and Hannah Powers on 5 Aug 1758 and Thomas Farr to an Elizabeth Powers 16 Mar 1713/14. All publications attribute the children of Thomas Farr Jr. to Hannah Powers. Some indicate, including my own publications, that the marriage date must have been mis-transcribed and should read 5 Aug 1738.

Hannah Powers birth and death were never found and so the idea of the marriage date really being 1738 was fine at the time but I have uncovered new evidence to the contrary. I first discovered the headstone of a Hannah, widow of Mr Thomas Farr, located in the Congregational Church Burial Yard of Hollis, Hillsborough, New Hampshire.

This sparked my curiosity because Dr. Arlene Eakle and I have done so much research on Thomas Farrs that I knew it had to be the wife of Thomas Farr Jr. or the wife of Thomas Farr Sr. the grandson and son of our Stephen Farr the immigrant of Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts and Lidlington, Bedfordshire, England.

I first searched the cemetery records to see if any Farrs were buried there other than Hannah and I found none. I then found a number of Powers buried in the same cemetery so I looked in the “Hollis Family Album, The Folk Tales and Family Trees of the First Settlers of Hollis, New Hampshire” and found that Peter Powers was one of the first settlers in that town. Peter Powers is a son of Daniel Powers and Elizabeth Whitcomb making him a first cousin to Elisabeth Powers Farr the wife of Thomas Farr Sr.

At this point I needed to know if Hannah on the headstone was a Powers or not so I looked for a probate record of a Hannah Farr in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. To my surprise Hannah did leave a will dated 8 Jul 1783 and probated on 16 Aug 1785 found on FHL US/CAN Film #16070, p. 358. In the will Hannah states that she is the widow of Thomas Farr late of Hollis deceased. She then makes a bequeath to her son named “Thomas Powers” and also makes him executor of her will.

This find caused me to go back to the marriage bann shown previously and I then noticed that it listed Hannah as “Mrs. Hannah Powers” and Thomas as “Mr. Thomas Powers” which means that had both previously been married. This now tells us that the marriage date in the records of 5 Aug 1758 is correct and that Hannah Powers is not the mother of Thomas Farr Jr’s. children! Hannah Powers maiden name is now not known and the maiden name of Thomas’ first wife Hannah is also not known.

Given the fact that the headstone of Hannah states that she was 92 years and 7 months old when she died on the 6 Jul 1785, puts her birth at abt. 6 Dec 1692. This makes her too old to be the one that married Thomas Farr Jr. Hannah’s will also states that she is the widow of Thomas Farr late of Hollis deceased. We know that Thomas Jr. died in Chesterfield, Cheshire, New Hampshire so this would indicate that Thomas Sr. is her husband.

The headstone of Hannah ____ Powers Farr would never have been found if it were not for someone taking the time to photograph the headstones in that cemetery and posting them to the Internet. Until now, we’ve had no reason to look for Hannah in Hollis, New Hampshire. But it now makes sense why she was not found in Chesterfield, Cheshire, New Hampshire because she was not the mother of the Farr children.

We now need to find which Powers Hannah was married to before she married Thomas Farr Sr. so we can find her maiden name. We also need to re think who Hannah, the mother of Thomas Farr Jr’s children, really is!

After doing a search for Powers marrying a Hannah, I found Joseph Powers married Hannah Whitcomb in Groton, Massachusetts on the 16 Mar 1713 and they had their children in Littleton. Joseph died on 18 Dec 1744 in Littleton. The widow Hannah Powers  then married Thomas Farr Sr. in Hardwick on the 5 Aug 1758 and was listed as being from Littleton. Her son Thomas Powers listed in her will was the son of Joseph Powers and Hannah Whitcomb/Powers/Farr.

Joseph Powers is the brother of Thomas Farr's first wife Elizabeth Powers, so he married his sister in law Hannah Whitcomb Powers! We now know that Thomas Farr Sr. died in Hollis, NH.

I found a listing on FindAGrave.com for both Thomas and Elizabeth being buried in the Hardwick Central Cemetery. I called the cemetery sextant and he told me there was no record of them being buried there.

The best proof we have that ²Thomas was a son of ¹Stephen is the DNA results between participants #14704 (Ben W. Farr Sr.), #20588 (Kendall Clark Farr), #20589 (Keith Lyle Farr), #23559 (Robert Farr) and #14723 (David Jackson Farr) whom descend from ²Thomas Farr, and participants #15338 (Donald Eugene Farr) and #46956 (Rupert Andrew Farr) whom descend from ²Stephen Farr Jr. (proven son of Stephen Farr). The DNA results are as follows:

#14704----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30
#20588----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30
#20589----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30
#23559----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30
#46956----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30 (Rupert Andrew Farr)
#14723(David Jackson Farr)----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30 18 9 10 11 11 24 15 19 29 15 16 17 17 11 10 19 23 17 15 17 17 36 38 12 12
#153389(Donald Eugene Farr)----13 23 14 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 13 30 18 9 10 11 11 24 15 19 29 15 16 17 17 11 10 19 23 17 15 17 17 36 38 12 12

All seven have an exact match. Thomas Farr is a brother of Stephen Farr Jr. and we know that Stephen Jr. is a son of Stephen Farr and Mary Taylor from the Concord vitals. Full results of the Farr DNA Project with FamilyTreeDNA, can be viewed at: http://www.geocities.com/dustyhills/FarrDNATestResults.htm. If you read the Melinde Sanborn article under Stephen Farr, you can see why most of his children are not found in the vital records.

Thomas buys land from Stephen Farr Jr Mar 10, 1741:
Thomas Farr of Acton, Mass., 500 pounds to Stephen Farr Jr. of Stow, Mass., land in Acton, Mass., 120, or 170 acres. film #0015506 p. 50.

Mention of Thomas Farr, M. at Groton, Mass., March 16th, 1713 to Eliza (Elizabeth) Powers.in the Rev. Charles N. Sinnett's book "The Farr Genealogy" FHL film #0015506 p. 11. Marriage also mentioned in Early Massachusetts Marriages Prior to 1800, Middlesex, Hamshire, Bershire and Bristol, Middlesex County, Groton, page 58.

FHL film #1321409, item 13, page 37: John and Thomas Farr as land owners in Littleton.

DEATH: "Thomas Farr late of Holles deceased".

Hannah [Powers] WHITCOMB [scrapbook] was born in 1692 in Littleton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. She died ¹ on 10 Jul 1785 in Hollis, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States. Hannah married ² Thomas FARR Sr. on 5 Aug 1758 in Hardwick, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.

Hannah had a will ³ on 8 Jul 1783 in Hollis, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States. Her will was probated ⁴ on 16 Aug 1785 in Hollis, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States.

Other marriages:

POWERS, Joseph

Thomas Farr Sr. and Hannah
and
Thomas Farr Jr. and Hannah
By Tim Farr

Thomas Farr Sr. was born abt. 1688 to 1692 of Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts to Stephen Farr and Mary Taylor. Thomas Farr Sr. had seven children between the years of 1715 and 1730. All of the children’s birth records indicate that the mother’s name was Elizabeth.

Thomas Farr Jr. was born on 4 Nov 1719 in Littleton, Middlesex, Massachusetts to Thomas Farr Sr. and Elizabeth Powers. Thomas Farr Jr. had six children between the the years of 1742 and 1755. All of the children’s birth records indicate that the mother’s name was Hannah.

The only marriage records found to date are of Thomas Farr and Hannah Powers on 5 Aug 1758 and Thomas Farr to an Elizabeth Powers 16 Mar 1713/14. All publications attribute the children of Thomas Farr Jr. to Hannah Powers. Some indicate, including my own publications, that the marriage date must have been mis-transcribed and should read 5 Aug 1738.

Hannah Powers birth and death were never found and so the idea of the marriage date really being 1738 was fine at the time but I have uncovered new evidence to the contrary. I first discovered the headstone of a Hannah, widow of Mr Thomas Farr, located in the Congregational Church Burial Yard of Hollis, Hillsborough, New Hampshire.

This sparked my curiosity because Dr. Eakle and I have done so much research on Thomas Farrs that I knew it had to be the wife of Thomas Farr Jr. or the wife of Thomas Farr Sr. the grandson and son of our Stephen Farr the immigrant of Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts and Lidlington, Bedfordshire, England.

I first searched the cemetery records to see if any Farrs were buried there and I found none. I then found a number of Powers buried in the same cemetery so I looked in the “Hollis Family Album, The Folk Tales and Family Trees of the First Settlers of Hollis, New Hampshire” and found that Peter Powers was one of the first settlers in that town. Peter Powers is a son of Daniel Powers and Elizabeth Whitcomb making him a first cousin to Elisabeth Powers Farr the wife of Thomas Farr Sr.

At this point I needed to know if Hannah on the headstone was a Powers or not so I looked for a probate record of a Hannah Farr in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. To my surprise Hannah did leave a will dated 8 Jul 1783 and probated on 16 Aug 1785 found on FHL Film #16070, p. 358. In the will Hannah states that she is the widow of Thomas Farr late of Hollis deceased. She then makes a bequeath to her son named “Thomas Powers” and also makes him executor of her will.

This find caused me to go back to the marriage bann shown previously and I then noticed that it listed Hannah as “Mrs. Hannah Powers” and Thomas as “Mr. Thomas Powers” which means that had both previously been married. This now tells us that the marriage date in the records of 5 Aug 1758 is correct and that Hannah Powers is not the mother of Thomas Farr Jr’s. children! Hannah Powers maiden name is now not known and the maiden name of Thomas’ first wife Hannah is also not known. But who was Mrs. Hannah Powers married to, Thomas Jr. or Thomas Sr.?

Given the fact that the headstone of Hannah states that she was 92 years and 7 months old when she died on the 6 Jul 1785, puts her birth at abt. 6 Dec 1692. This makes her too old to be the one that married Thomas Farr Jr. Hannah’s will also states that she is the widow of Thomas Farr late of Hollis deceased. We know that Thomas jr died in Chesterfield, Cheshire, New Hampshire so this would indicate that Thomas Sr. is more likely her husband.

The headstone of Hannah ____ Powers Farr would never have been found if it were not for someone taking the time to photograph the headstones in that cemetery and posting them to the Internet. Until now, we’ve had no reason to look for Hannah in Hollis, New Hampshire. But it now makes sense why she was not found in Chesterfield, Cheshire, New Hampshire because she was not the mother of the Farr children.

We now need to find which Powers Hannah was married to before she married Thomas Farr Sr. so we can find her maiden name. We also need to re think who Hannah, the mother of Thomas Farr Jr’s children, really is!

After doing a search for Powers marrying a Hannah, I found Joseph Powers married Hannah Whitcomb in Groton, Massachusetts on the 16 Mar 1713 and they had their children in Littleton. Joseph died on 18 Dec 1744 in Littleton. The widow Hannah Powers  then married Thomas Farr Sr. in Hardwick on the 5 Aug 1758 and was listed as being from Littleton. Her son Thomas Powers listed in her will was the son of Joseph Powers and Hannah Whitcomb/Powers/Farr.

Joseph Powers is the brother of Thomas Farr's first wife Elizabeth Powers, so he married his sister in law Hannah Whitcomb Powers!

Hannah Farr's last will:

In the Name of God Amen
The Eighth Day of July 1783
I Hannah Farr of Holles in the County of Hillsborough, and State of Newhampshire Widow and Relict of Thomas Farr late of Holles deceased being aged and Infirm in Body but of sound mind and memory, thanks begiven unto God therefor and Calling to mind the mortality of my Body knowing that is it Appointed to all men once to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. (Viz)

Imprimis, I will, and ordain that all my just Debts should be paid. Item, I give and Bequeath to my beloved Son Thomas Powers of Holles aforesaid all my household Furniture of all sorts and kinds to his use and dispose, and all my Cloathing, and I do Constitute and Appoint my said Son Thomas Powers to be sole executor of this my last will and Testament—In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and year abovesaid.

Hannah Farr her mark

Signed, sealed, Published, pronounced and declared by the said Hannah Farr as her last Will and Testament in Presence of us the Subscribers

Thomas Wheeler
William Ball
Noah Worcester

DEATH: Headstone says 6 Jul 1785.

Jonathan FARR [Parents] was born about 1690 in of Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Jonathan married Elizabeth about 1713 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

A descendant of Jonathan took the DNA test and he matched the other participants that descend from other sons of Stephen Farr. He is DNA Participant #133892 in Farr project with Family Tree DNA. We now have proof that he descended from Stephen also. Only two sons remain to be proven, Ebenezer and Joseph.

Mention of Jonathan is found in the Rev. Charles N. Sinnett's book "The Farr Genealogy" Film #0015506 p. 11, 66-67 lived at Stow, Mass., and married Elizabeth.

The following is from the research of Linda M. Farr Welch:

The most frustrating part of all the Farr and related family genealogies is this very family line of Jonathan Farr.  There has been an inability to find much source material about our Jonathan Farr's life, except the bare minimum He signed the Covenant at Stow, Mass. 10 June, 1700.  He was a Tithing man in Stow, 1719-20, and elected one of the selectman, 6 March, 1720. He was well respected, obviously, by his peers. He died much too young. His three children were all very young to lose their father.

Stow was settled between 1650-55. It lies on the Assabet Brook in the northwest part of the town near the border with Boxboro. It's original limits composed territory bounded by Sudbury, Concord, Groton, Lancaster, Marlboro and Littleton. The first meetinghouse was built in 1686. In 1697 there were “twenty-eight poor families settled” because eight had left town due to the want of a settled minister and trouble with the local Indians. The townspeople petitioned the Massachusetts authorities to help provide funds for a minister as they just couldn't afford it. The most respected and loved minister was Rev. John Gardner, who came to Stow from Charlestown. He served the town's ministry from 1718-1775. He was probably the minister who was present for the funeral and burial of Jonathan Farr.

Elizabeth was born about 1692. Elizabeth married Jonathan FARR about 1713 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

Last name may be 'Powers'.

Thomas POWERS [Parents] ^{1, 2} was born ³ in 1667 in Littleton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He died on 21 Jan 1734. Thomas married ^{4, 5} Elizabeth GOULD in BY 1692 in of Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

Elizabeth GOULD [Parents] was born ^{1, 2} on 15 Jan 1664/1665 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. She died ^{3, 4} on 25 May 1698 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Elizabeth married ^{5, 6} Thomas POWERS in BY 1692 in of Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

of Concord

Walter POWERS was born ^{1, 2} in 1639 in Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He died ^{3, 4, 5} on 22 Feb 1707/1708 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Walter married ^{6, 7} Trial SHEPARD on 11 Jan 1660 in Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

Marriage record came from Middlesex County Records, Married on the 11th day of ye first month 1660 to Trial Daughter of Deacon Ralph and Thankes Shepard. Before 1752 in England and New England, if the dates were written as above, it meant that the first month was March and the the first day of the new year was the 25th. the above date would be the 4th of April 1660.
Walter's father was probably William.

Trial SHEPARD [Parents] was born ¹ on 19 Dec 1641 in Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States. She died ² on 22 Feb 1707/1708 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Trial married ^{3, 4} Walter POWERS on 11 Jan 1660 in Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.

Marriage record came from Middlesex County Records Married on the 11th day of ye first month 1660 to Trial Daughter of Deacon Ralph and Thankes Shepard. Before 1752 in England and New England, if the dates were written as above, it meant that the first month was March and the the first day of the new year was the 25th. the above date would be the 4th of April 1660.