The CRAFTS Family of Roxbury in Massachusetts

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First Generation

LIEUT. GRIFFIN CRAFTS (d. 1689) of Roxbury

Parents: Unknown

Lieut. Griffin Crafts died on 4 Oct 1689 in Roxbury. [Ref] He married first Alice Unknown. She was buried on 26 : 1 m : 1673, age 73, in Roxbury. [Ref] Griffin married second the widow Robinson on 15 July 1673 in Dorchester. [Ref][Ref][Ref] Ursula (Adams) (Streeter) (Hosier) Robinson was the daughter of Henry Adams, and the widow of Samuel Streeter, Samuel Hosier and William Robinson. [Ref] She died on 20 Feb 1679. [Ref] He married third Dorcas (French) Peake, the daughter of Thomas French and the widow of Christopher Peake. [Ref] She died on 30 Dec 1697 in Roxbury. [Ref]

Griffin Crafts came to New England in 1630 and first settled in Roxbury. [Ref] He was a freeman on 18 May 1631. [Ref] Griffin Crafts had 30 acres in Roxbury in 1634/43. [Ref] He was deputy to the General Court from Roxbury eight times between 1639 and 1667. [Ref] He was appointed lieutenant of the military company of Roxbury in 1653. [Ref]

In his will, dated 18 May 1689, Griffin says that he had been "this several years past deprived ... of my natural sight." [Ref] The inventory on his estate was taken 27 Nov 1689 and came to £228 10s. [Ref]

Alice was admitted to the Roxbury church as member 46. [Ref]

Children of Griffin Crafts and Alice Unknown, all but Hannah born in Roxbury:

1. Hannah Crafts was born in England. She died on 18 Aug 1692 in Newton. She married Nathaniel Wilson.
2. John Crafts was born on 10 Jul 1630. [Ref][Ref (5) 1630][Ref] He died on 3 Oct 1685, age 55, in Roxbury. [Ref] He married first Rebecca Wheelock on 7 Jun 1654 in Roxbury. [Ref][Ref] She died in childbirth and was buried on 28 Nov 1667 in Roxbury. [Ref][Ref] He married second Mary Hudson of Lynn on 30 Mar 1669 in Roxbury. [Ref][Ref] He had a daughter born on 17 Feb 1674 in Roxbury. [Ref]
3. Mary Crafts was born on 10 Oct 1632. [Ref][Ref][Ref] One record says that she died on 3 Jul 1653; another that she was buried on 30 Jun 1653. [Ref] She married Joseph Griggs by 1653. [Ref]
4. Abigail Crafts was born on 28 Mar 1634. [Ref][Ref] She died on 19 Jan 1706/7 in Medfield. [Ref] She married first John Ruggles on 24 Jan 1650 in Roxbury. [Ref] She married second Ralph Day on 15 Nov 1659 in Dedham. [Ref] She married third Edward, the son of Henry Adams, on 7 Dec 1678 in Dedham. [Ref]
5. Samuel Crafts was born on 12 Dec 1637. [Ref][Ref] He married Elizabeth Sever on 16 Oct 1661 in Roxbury. [Ref][Ref] He had a son and two daughters born in Roxbury. [Ref]
6. Moses Crafts was born on 28 Apr 1641. [Ref] He married Rebecca Gardner on 24 Jun 1667 in Roxbury. [Ref] They had two sons and two daughters in Roxbury. [Ref]

A Samuel Crafts married Elizabeth Sharp on 25 Dec 1653 in Roxbury. [Ref]

Second Generation

HANNAH CRAFTS (m. 1645)

Parents: Lt. Griffin Crafts and Alice Unknown

Hannah Crafts was born in England [Ref]. She died on 18 Aug 1692 in Newton. [Ref] She married Nathaniel Wilson on 2 Apr 1645 in Roxbury. [Ref]

References

Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols, 1995). Online database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic and Genealogical Society, 2002.

Butler, Elmer Ellsworth, Butlers and Kinsfolk: Butlers of New England and Nova Scotia and related families of other names, including Durkees, descendants of Lieut. William and Sarah (Cross) Butler of Ipswich, Mass., and of Eleazer 1st and Lydia (Durkee) Butler of Ashford, Conn. and Yarmouth, N.S., Milford, NH, Cabinet Press, 1988.

Ellis, Charles M. Ellis, trans., "Early Records of Roxbury," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 2, 1848, 52-4.

New England Historic Genealogical Society, Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850, Online Database, AmericanAncestors.org, 2001-2010.

Pulsifer, David, trans., "Records of Boston," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, various issues

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