Author: James Edward Mitchell
Nathaniel Boynton was born on 8 Jun 1724; source, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, Nathaniel Boynton, 8 Jun 1724. His parents were Nathaniel Boynton, Sr., (1694-1757) and Hannah (1698-1733), a dau. of Joseph and Dorothy Perham married during 1720 at Chelmsford, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts (MA). Nathaniel and Hannah resided a couple of years in Littleton, Middlesex Co, before moving to Chelmsford, West Precinct -Westford. Nathaniel, Sr., died at age 62 during 1757 and was buried at Walton Cemetery, Pepperell, Middlesex Co., see: Find A Grave Memorial# 76138607. Nathaniel, Sr and Hannah’s marriage produced 2 sons, Nathaniel (1724-98) and Joseph (1731-87) and 5 daughters, Sarah (1721-_) m. Abiel Richardson, 9 Jul 1741; Elizabeth (1722-_); Hannah (1726-_) m. Wm. Warren of Littleton, MA, 14 May 1746; Bridget (1727-_); and, Esther (1729__) m. Ephraim Chamberlain, 9 Jan 1732. Our subject’s mother, Hannah died on 16 Sep 1733 when her son, Nathaniel was age 9. His father re- married Elizabeth Shedd during 1735, as was the tradition. Nathaniel’s father was a farmer and carpenter by trade craft. The colonial family regularly attended the Puritan and later, Congregational Church in Westford. Nathaniel, Sr. after his 2nd marriage, in Pepperell remained an active Reformed Protestant. At age 27, Nathaniel Boynton married Rebecca Barrett of Concord, MA on 23 Nov 1751. She was recorded as a dau. of Benjamin Barrett of Concord, Middlesex Co, MA. Rebecca (aka Rebeckah) and Nathaniel Boynton’s marriage produced sons, Abel Boynton (1755-1818), a Pvt., Militia Man in a Minute company raised for Westford, that marched on 19 Apr 1775 during the Lexington Alarm; Col James Prescott’s MA Militia regt.; service 12 days. Additional sons were Nathaniel Boynton (1763-1838); Jeremy (1767-98); Luther (1770-_); and, John (1776-96); and, daughters, Rebeckah (1753-_) ; Lydia (1757-); Elisabeth Boynton Read (1760-90) m. Abijah Read; Molly (1765-_); and, Sally (Hill) (1772-_). Note to reader: After Nathaniel’s death (1798), Rebeckah Barrett Boynton married a 2nd occasion to husband, Timothy Prescott. She had recorded at Probate Court (Groton, Middlesex Co, Commonwealth of MA) her Probate Papers, stamped No. 18099, Rebecca Prescott, 1805. Her signed and probated will dated 15 Jun 1804, appeared recorded in Court at Middlesex Co, MA. The will signed: Rebecca Prescott documented names of several children and grandchildren to whom Rebecca gifted her real and personal estate, cash, furniture and clothing. The Executor appointed by Rebecca was Jonathan Lawrence, Jr.; witnesses’ signatures included Jacob Abbott, Isaiah Prescott and Timothy Prescott, Jr. The Middlesex Co, Court probated will was returned signed by Judge of the Probate Wills, James Prescott, Esqr. Timothy Prescott wrote a memorandum dated 3 Apr 1805 to the Honorable James Prescott, Esqr Judge of Probate Wills in the county of Middlesex. The paper was witnessed on the same date by John Read, Sally Read and David Prescott, and signed personally by the subscriber, Timothy Prescott, Rebecca’s spouse. The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) has recorded Nathaniel Boynton (1724-1798) for American military service within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1775, 1787) as an *Ensign; source, SAR Patriot (Index) #: P-119208. Furthermore, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has recorded our subject, Nathaniel Boynton (1724-1798) identical with Ancestor #: A134090 and, the husband of Rebecca Barrett. The DAR separately recorded Timothy Prescott as identical with Ancestor #: A092842, a resident of Westford, Middlesex Co, MA and a 1st husband of Lydia Fletcher and, a 2nd husband of Rebecca Barrett Boynton. Timothy Prescott (1728-1808) was also, characterized for military service as a Pvt., in Capt. (Oliver) Bate’s company raised for Westford, Middlesex Co.; Col. (James) Prescott’s MA Militia regt. (marched on the 19 Apr 1775, Lexington Alarm; service 12 days. Nathaniel Boynton, age 47, was a *commissioned Ensign, (lowest grade officer, during the War of the Revolution) during 1777 in Capt Amos Fletcher’s (1st) company raised for Westford, attached to the (6th) MA Militia regt.; source, Find A Grave Memorial# 37655279. Boynton’s SAR Bronze (Old Style) Lug was placed upon a pole adjacent to his headstone, inscribed, “In memory of Insign (sic) Nathaniel Boynton who died April ye 5th 1798 in the 74th year of his age.” He was laid to rest beneath an upright headstone photographed online Find A Grave, above, at Westlawn Cemetery (aka West Burying Ground) on Hwy 225 i.e., Concord Road at the intersection with County Raod, Westford, Middlesex Co, MA 01886 mapped at Latitude: 42.5712 and Longitude: -71.46685 Nathaniel Boynton’s death was recorded at age 74, in the MA Columbian Sentinel newspaper, Nathaniel Boynton died in Westford, age 74, (C.C. May 12, 1798); source, U.S., Newspaper Extractions form the Northeast, 1704-1930 for Nathaniel Boynton, pg 530.