5 ENSIGN JOSEPH FARWELL2 (Henry1), b. in Concord, Mass., Feb. 26. 1640-1, d. Dec. 31, 1722; m. by Samuel Adams, in Chelmsford, Mass., Dec. 25, 1666, Hannah Learned, dau. of Isaac and Mary (Stearns) Learned of Chelmsford. He is buried in South Nashua, N. H. At the time of his death the town of Nashua, N. H., was a part of the old township of Dunstable, Mass. When the boundary dispute between Mass. and New Hampshire was settled this change in name was brought about. Ensign Joseph Farwell was a large. land owner. Beside the land which he inherited from his father he bought other tracts. In addition to lands in Chelmsford and Dunstable he owned land in Groton, Mass. His grave stone in the Old Dunstable cemetery bears the inscription, Here lyes ye Body of Ensign Joseph Farwell, Dec'd December ye 81, 1722, in ye 82nd year of his age. His wife survived him. His will was filed for probate Jan. 16, 1722.
In the year 1700 Joseph Farwell2 bought with Thomas Colburn, his Son-in-law, the Waldo farm in Dunstable, bounded south by the Tyng farm, extending to the mouth of the brook near Tyngsborough meeting house, its Indian name Great Naaeook, to the mouth of Howard's brook, its Indian name Little Naacook, on which Washburn's brush factory is built, and extending from the river west to Brattle's farm. They made a division and Farwell took the southern part, and by his deed, dated May 14, 1702, conveyed one third part of his portion of the farm to his son Henry Farwell3. Joseph and Henry and their families removed to Dunstable in the year 1700 and settled upon this part, Joseph residing on the farm lately owned and occupied by his great grandson John Fanietk Joseph Farwell is styled in the Old Dunstable records Ensign Farwell. He was, immediately after is settlement in the town, employed in various offices in the town business. He was selectman in 1701, 2, 5, 7, 10, and also at earlier dates, highway surveyor in 1706, and on important committees in 1702, 7,12,16 and 17. In 1710 Ensign Farwell, Thomas Lund and Joseph Blanchard, selectmen, petitioned the Assembly for aid in supporting the ministry, and in 1711 it is recorded that they received £10 from the Assembly towards payment of salary of Mr. Paris. He was "Ensign" of the Chelmsford Military Co., 1687-1695. The printed Vital Records of Chelmsford, Mass., do not contain the name of Isaac, fifth child of above family, nor that of a daughter Olive, although both are mentioned by Hill in his Reminiscences of Old Dnnstable.' Lacking any proof that there was the daughter he mentioned, her name has beeb stricken from this record. Cbelmsford, Mass., vital Records.
Hill. "Reminiscences of Old Dunstable."
Holton, Farwell Memorial, 1879.
Mass. Archives, Vol. II.
Middlesex County, Mass., Deeds.
Middlesex County, Mass., Probates.
THE WILL OF ENSIGN JOSEPH FARWELL2 A copy of the original instrument, of which you will find a photographic reproduction on opposite page In the Name of the Lord God Amen Joseph Farweilgen of The town Dunstable in the County of Middefs in the province of the Massachulets Bay in Newengland yeoman being of Sound and Perfect memory praise be given to god for the same yit knowing the uncertainty of this Life on Earth and being Desirous to Settle things in order Do Make and ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament. Hereby Revoking all former Wills by me made and signed to be null and of none Effect icc In Primas My Soule I give unto the hand of allmighty god that gave it in sure and certaine hopes of Eternaul Life through our alone Lord and Saiover Jesus Christ and my body to the Earth from whence it came to be Deceantly Interred at the Discretion of My Executors x hereafter Named and after my funerall expences and the Debts satisfied And Paid What Worldly goods it hath pleased god to Endow me with all I Do give and bequeath in manner as followeth Item I Do: give unto My beloved Wife Hannah Farewell all my moveable goods both within the boufe and abroad of all sorts Whatsoever to be at her disposall for ever excepting one paire of Andirons. Item I do give and bequeath to my Son Oliver ffarewel and to his Heirs executors Administrators for ever the one half of My housings and Lands which I have now in my possession when he shall Attaine to the age of twenty one years allso I do give to him one paire of Andirons: Aflso I do give and bequeath to him my son Oliver Farewell and to his Heirs the other part of all my Houfings and Lands which I have in pofselsion after my Deceafe and after the Deceafe of my Wife Hannah ffarewell if in the meanetime of our Lives he doth take the whole care of us Both And to provide all things comfortable and Necefsary for us both in sickness and in health and to bestow upon us or either of us A decent Burial: Hereby Authorizing and fully Impowering my Beloved wife Hannah If arewel and my son Henry ffarewell to be whole and sole executors Joyntly and Severally of this my Lash Will and Testament In Witness Whereof I have hereunto subscribed as Witness my hand and ieall the thirteenth Day of November Anno Domin one thousand seven hundred and eleven, and in the tenth year of her Majestie's Reighn of E
ssigned sealed And published
to be the Last will and testament of Joseph I farewell
In presence of us
Ames Chever
Samuel Moody
John Meriam. jr.
Before signing and sealing it is to be understood that all my other Children both sons and Daughters have Received their full portions of me allready
Jofeph farwell Seal