Grimes-Norton From MA and CT
Joseph Peaslee, Jr. 1
Birth:9 Sep 1646 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA 2
Death:21 Mar 1733/34 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA 2
Sex:M
Father:Joseph Peaslee b. 1600 in Yorkshire, England
Mother:Mary Johnson b. 1604 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA
  
Reference: 4945

Spouses & Children
Ruth Barnard (Wife) b. 16 Aug 1651 in Salisbury, Essex Co., MA
3
Marriage: 21 JAN 1670/71 in Amesbury, Essex Co., MA
Children: 
  1. Mary Peaselee b. 14 Jul 1672 in Amesbury, Essex Co., MA
  2. Joseph Peasely b. 19 Jul 1674 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA
  3. Robert Peasely b. 3 Feb 1676/77 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA
  4. DescendantsJohn Peasely b. 25 Feb 1678/79 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA
  5. DescendantsNathaniel Peasely b. 25 Jun 1682 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA
  6. Ruth Peasely b. 25 Feb 1683/84 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA
  7. Ebenezer Peasely b. 29 Mar 1688 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA
  8. Sarah Peasely b. 15 Aug 1690 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA
 

Notes
Individual:

6 JOSEPH2 PEASLEY, Dr., (Joseph1), of Haverhill, "physician" and "husbandman;" b. 1646; m.
Jan. 21, 1671-2[A Nk S], (8) RUTH2 BARNARD. He recd. "children's land" in Ames. in 1659 and
a "township" in A. in 1660 [p. 163], but lived in Hv. after becoming of age; oath al. at Hv. 1677. Wife
Ruth d. Nov. 5, 1723[Hv.](+) He d. March 21, 1734-5[Hv]. Children:

7 I MARY,3 b. July 14, 1672[A Nk S]; m. May 24, 1694[Hv], JOSEPH2 WHITTIER
(Thomas1).
8 II JOSEPH,3 b. July 19, 1674[Hv]; m. Sep. 18, 1699[Hv], (3) ELIZABETH
HASTINGS.
9 III ROBERT,3 b. Feb. 3, 1677-8[Hv]; m. 1st, Dec. 16, 1701[Hv], (11) ALICE3
CURRIER; 2d, Anne (???); res. Hv.; will 1741-2, ment. wife Anne.
10 IV JOHN,3 b. Feb. 25, 1679-80[Hv]; pub. March 22, 1704-5[A], to (17) MARY3
MARTIN; "millwright;" res. Hv.; liv. 1722.
11 V NATHANIEL,3 Col., b. June 25, 1682[Hv]; m. 1st, ab. 1702, (90) JUDITH4
KIMBALL; 2d, Abiah Swan; 3d, (???). He was a merchant and large
land owner in Hv.; chil. rec. there.
12 VI RUTH,3 b. Feb. 25, 1684-5[Hv]; m. July 11, 1705[Hv], (29) SAMUEL4
CLEMENT.
13 VII EBENEZER,3 b. March 29, 1688[Hv]; d. April 11, 1689[Hv].
14 VIII SARAH,3 b. Aug. 15, 1690[Hv]; m. March 4, 1710, (28) EBENEZER3 EASTMAN.

Joseph Peasley, Jr. was born in Haverhill, MA in 1646. He was the son of Joseph, Sr, the immigrant, and
his wife, Mary (perhaps Johnson). Joseph was raised in the eastern part of Haverhill, near to Amesbury in
the old riverfront settlement of Rocks Village. The Peasley family members were of a dissenting frame of
mind, especially when it came to church affairs. They spoke their minds on many occasions, and often
what they had to say didn't agree with the doctrine of the established church. That they got away with this
behavior, may be because they were eminently useful to the town, and also, probably due to the fact that
they didn't live in the more populated area of Haverhill. When, in 1699 the town of Haverhill voted to
build a new meeting house, Joseph formally requested permission for himself and those who worshipped
in their own way (Quakers) to hold their meetings in the new building, but the town refused to grant the
request. So, he and the other dissenters, met at his house, and this band of Friends held the first meeting
of the society in this part of the country, at that site. Large groups of folk would assemble at the so called
quarterly meetings, there to listen to addresses by the more notable speakers of the day. Earlier, in 1693,
Joseph had built a sawmill on a local river, and he was also a physician who ministered to his neighbors.
He owned a fortified house, to which people could repair, in the event of an Indian attack. This house
was built in the 1690's and still stands in the eastern part of Haverhill, known as Rocks Village. Joseph
and his first wife, Ruth (Barnard) Peasley were ancestors, through their daughter, Mary, of John
Greenleaf Whittier. After Ruth's death in 1723, Joseph married Mary (Tucker) Davis, widow of Stephen.
Joseph died 21 March 1734/35, and as those of the Quaker faith eschewed any large stones at
gravesites, the site of his grave is unknown.


Sources
  1. Title: Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury Massachusetts vol 1
    Author: David W. Hoyt
    Call Number: R929.1H868v.1
    Media: Book
  2. Title: Haverhill, Essex Co., MA Vital Records
  3. Title: Records from the Old Norfolk Co., Court Book

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