James Cutler, born in England in 1606, settled as early as 1634 in Watertown, Mass., where the first record of the family name in New England is to be found, and was one of the original grantees of land in the northerly part of the town, on the road to Belmont. He married Anna [Cakebread], tradition says a sister of Capt. John Gront's wife, both of whom were so opposed and tantalized in England for their Puritanism, that they resolved to seek their fortunes in New England, and came unattended by parents or near friends. There is no authentic record by which to fix the year of James Cutler's arrival here. His first child, James, was born "y 6th day 9th month 1635." He had that year passed all necessary probation, had been received an inhabitant of Watertown, and had a house-lot assigned him. It contained eight acres, bounded east by Thomas Boylston, west and north by a highway. i.e., by Common street and Pond road, south by Ellias Barron.
In the first "great divide" (that is, general division of land), July 25, 1636, he was assigned twenty-five acres, and three acres in the further plain (now Waltham), next to the river. In 1642, from the farm lands, he had assigned him eighty-two acres in the fourth division, and four other lots. October 2, 1645, he was one of the petitioners "in relation to Nashaway plantation, now Weston." December 13, 1649, James Cutler and Nathaniel Bowman, for L70, bought of Edward Goffe 200 acres in Cambridge Farms, adjoining Rock Meadow, and near to or adjoining Waltham, "payable in installments of L10 annually, in money, cattle, hogs, wheat, peas, rice, Indian corn or barley, at the dwelling house of Edward Goffe, in Cambridge," and payment secured by mortgage. March 4, 1651, Cutler sold his share (100 acres) to Bowman for L39. About this time, he settled at Cambridge Farms (now Lexington), on what is now known as Wood Street, near the place where William Hartwell resides, not far from the Concord (now Bedford) line. A part of the farm h as been in the family until recently, when it was sold by the heirs of Leonard Cutler. He is supposed to have built one of the first houses at the Farms; vestiges of the cellar still remain. The house was located some thirty rods from the present highway, on an elevation commanding an extensive view.
James Cutler buried his first wife, Anna, September 30, 1644, and married, second, March 9, 1645, Mary, widow of Thomas King. She died December 7, 1654, and he married his third wife, Phoebe, daughter of John Page, about 1662. Mr. Cutler was too remote from Watertown, and especially from Cambridge, to have admitted of his serving in town affairs in either place.
He made his will November 24, 1684, at Cambridge Farms, being then seventy-eight, and died May 17, 1694, aged eighty-eight years. In his will, he bequeathed to his son James Cutler a parcel of land on the north side of the brook and meadow, adjoining land which he had formerly sold him, and ten acres of meadow in the "great meadow," and a small parcel of meadow of the upper end of his home meadow as his portion of his estate. To his son Thomas Cutler, twenty acres of upland and meadow, in addition to fifteen acres of meadow previously given him; to his son Samuel Cutler, twenty acres of land, more or less, as may appear by deed under his hand and seal; to the rest of his children, including the two children of his former wife, widow of Thomas King, and to his sons Thomas and John, equal portions of the balance of his estate, notice being made that he had given to John Collar, (the husband of his daughter Mary), twenty acres of upland, and to Richard Parks, (husband of his step-daughter Sarah King), L6 5s.; to his daughter, the wife of John Parmenter, L7 and a cow; to his daughter Sarah Waite, a mare and cow; to Mary Johnson, L5; to Hannah Winter, L5; to his daughter Joanna Russell a feather bed and bolster and coverlid and an iron pot, and to his daughter Jemima, his feather bed and bolster and all that belongs to it; that these things be accounted a part of his estate; that his sons Thomas Cutler, John Cutler and Samuel Cutler have his house and lands not formerly disposed of, paying to the rest of his children their several parts, according to his will, in three annual payments; and that Thomas and John should be his executors.
His will was proved August 20, 1694. Such is the brief, unvarnished record of the James "Cuttler," who came to New England 250 years ago. There is no direct testimony as to his character, his social standing, or his intelligence. That he was honest and persevering, however, is evident by his acquisition of lands and payment for the same. His early investment with full citizenship shows he had established a fair reputation among his fellow-townsmen; while the provisions of his will, whereby sons-in-law and stepchildren share in his estate, manifest a large and liberal spirit.
Copied from A Cutler Memorial and Genealogical History, Compiled by Nahum S. Cutler, Greenfield, Mass., Press of E. A. Hall & Co., Greenfield, Mass., 1899, Pages 17-20.
In the first "great divide" (that is, general division of land), July 25, 1636, he was assigned twenty-five acres, and three acres in the further plain (now Waltham), next to the river. In 1642, from the farm lands, he had assigned him eighty-two acres in the fourth division, and four other lots. October 2, 1645, he was one of the petitioners "in relation to Nashaway plantation, now Weston." December 13, 1649, James Cutler and Nathaniel Bowman, for L70, bought of Edward Goffe 200 acres in Cambridge Farms, adjoining Rock Meadow, and near to or adjoining Waltham, "payable in installments of L10 annually, in money, cattle, hogs, wheat, peas, rice, Indian corn or barley, at the dwelling house of Edward Goffe, in Cambridge," and payment secured by mortgage. March 4, 1651, Cutler sold his share (100 acres) to Bowman for L39. About this time, he settled at Cambridge Farms (now Lexington), on what is now known as Wood Street, near the place where William Hartwell resides, not far from the Concord (now Bedford) line. A part of the farm h as been in the family until recently, when it was sold by the heirs of Leonard Cutler. He is supposed to have built one of the first houses at the Farms; vestiges of the cellar still remain. The house was located some thirty rods from the present highway, on an elevation commanding an extensive view.
James Cutler buried his first wife, Anna, September 30, 1644, and married, second, March 9, 1645, Mary, widow of Thomas King. She died December 7, 1654, and he married his third wife, Phoebe, daughter of John Page, about 1662. Mr. Cutler was too remote from Watertown, and especially from Cambridge, to have admitted of his serving in town affairs in either place.
He made his will November 24, 1684, at Cambridge Farms, being then seventy-eight, and died May 17, 1694, aged eighty-eight years. In his will, he bequeathed to his son James Cutler a parcel of land on the north side of the brook and meadow, adjoining land which he had formerly sold him, and ten acres of meadow in the "great meadow," and a small parcel of meadow of the upper end of his home meadow as his portion of his estate. To his son Thomas Cutler, twenty acres of upland and meadow, in addition to fifteen acres of meadow previously given him; to his son Samuel Cutler, twenty acres of land, more or less, as may appear by deed under his hand and seal; to the rest of his children, including the two children of his former wife, widow of Thomas King, and to his sons Thomas and John, equal portions of the balance of his estate, notice being made that he had given to John Collar, (the husband of his daughter Mary), twenty acres of upland, and to Richard Parks, (husband of his step-daughter Sarah King), L6 5s.; to his daughter, the wife of John Parmenter, L7 and a cow; to his daughter Sarah Waite, a mare and cow; to Mary Johnson, L5; to Hannah Winter, L5; to his daughter Joanna Russell a feather bed and bolster and coverlid and an iron pot, and to his daughter Jemima, his feather bed and bolster and all that belongs to it; that these things be accounted a part of his estate; that his sons Thomas Cutler, John Cutler and Samuel Cutler have his house and lands not formerly disposed of, paying to the rest of his children their several parts, according to his will, in three annual payments; and that Thomas and John should be his executors.
His will was proved August 20, 1694. Such is the brief, unvarnished record of the James "Cuttler," who came to New England 250 years ago. There is no direct testimony as to his character, his social standing, or his intelligence. That he was honest and persevering, however, is evident by his acquisition of lands and payment for the same. His early investment with full citizenship shows he had established a fair reputation among his fellow-townsmen; while the provisions of his will, whereby sons-in-law and stepchildren share in his estate, manifest a large and liberal spirit.
Copied from A Cutler Memorial and Genealogical History, Compiled by Nahum S. Cutler, Greenfield, Mass., Press of E. A. Hall & Co., Greenfield, Mass., 1899, Pages 17-20.
James Cutler, born in England in 1606, settled as early as 1634 in Watertown, Mass., where the first record of the family name in New England is to be found, and was one of the original grantees of land in the northerly part of the town, on the road to Belmont. He married Anna [Cakebread], tradition says a sister of Capt. John Gront's wife, both of whom were so opposed and tantalized in England for their Puritanism, that they resolved to seek their fortunes in New England, and came unattended by parents or near friends. There is no authentic record by which to fix the year of James Cutler's arrival here. His first child, James, was born "y 6th day 9th month 1635." He had that year passed all necessary probation, had been received an inhabitant of Watertown, and had a house-lot assigned him. It contained eight acres, bounded east by Thomas Boylston, west and north by a highway. i.e., by Common street and Pond road, south by Ellias Barron.
In the first "great divide" (that is, general division of land), July 25, 1636, he was assigned twenty-five acres, and three acres in the further plain (now Waltham), next to the river. In 1642, from the farm lands, he had assigned him eighty-two acres in the fourth division, and four other lots. October 2, 1645, he was one of the petitioners "in relation to Nashaway plantation, now Weston." December 13, 1649, James Cutler and Nathaniel Bowman, for L70, bought of Edward Goffe 200 acres in Cambridge Farms, adjoining Rock Meadow, and near to or adjoining Waltham, "payable in installments of L10 annually, in money, cattle, hogs, wheat, peas, rice, Indian corn or barley, at the dwelling house of Edward Goffe, in Cambridge," and payment secured by mortgage. March 4, 1651, Cutler sold his share (100 acres) to Bowman for L39. About this time, he settled at Cambridge Farms (now Lexington), on what is now known as Wood Street, near the place where William Hartwell resides, not far from the Concord (now Bedford) line. A part of the farm h as been in the family until recently, when it was sold by the heirs of Leonard Cutler. He is supposed to have built one of the first houses at the Farms; vestiges of the cellar still remain. The house was located some thirty rods from the present highway, on an elevation commanding an extensive view.
James Cutler buried his first wife, Anna, September 30, 1644, and married, second, March 9, 1645, Mary, widow of Thomas King. She died December 7, 1654, and he married his third wife, Phoebe, daughter of John Page, about 1662. Mr. Cutler was too remote from Watertown, and especially from Cambridge, to have admitted of his serving in town affairs in either place.
He made his will November 24, 1684, at Cambridge Farms, being then seventy-eight, and died May 17, 1694, aged eighty-eight years. In his will, he bequeathed to his son James Cutler a parcel of land on the north side of the brook and meadow, adjoining land which he had formerly sold him, and ten acres of meadow in the "great meadow," and a small parcel of meadow of the upper end of his home meadow as his portion of his estate. To his son Thomas Cutler, twenty acres of upland and meadow, in addition to fifteen acres of meadow previously given him; to his son Samuel Cutler, twenty acres of land, more or less, as may appear by deed under his hand and seal; to the rest of his children, including the two children of his former wife, widow of Thomas King, and to his sons Thomas and John, equal portions of the balance of his estate, notice being made that he had given to John Collar, (the husband of his daughter Mary), twenty acres of upland, and to Richard Parks, (husband of his step-daughter Sarah King), L6 5s.; to his daughter, the wife of John Parmenter, L7 and a cow; to his daughter Sarah Waite, a mare and cow; to Mary Johnson, L5; to Hannah Winter, L5; to his daughter Joanna Russell a feather bed and bolster and coverlid and an iron pot, and to his daughter Jemima, his feather bed and bolster and all that belongs to it; that these things be accounted a part of his estate; that his sons Thomas Cutler, John Cutler and Samuel Cutler have his house and lands not formerly disposed of, paying to the rest of his children their several parts, according to his will, in three annual payments; and that Thomas and John should be his executors.
His will was proved August 20, 1694. Such is the brief, unvarnished record of the James "Cuttler," who came to New England 250 years ago. There is no direct testimony as to his character, his social standing, or his intelligence. That he was honest and persevering, however, is evident by his acquisition of lands and payment for the same. His early investment with full citizenship shows he had established a fair reputation among his fellow-townsmen; while the provisions of his will, whereby sons-in-law and stepchildren share in his estate, manifest a large and liberal spirit.
Copied from A Cutler Memorial and Genealogical History, Compiled by Nahum S. Cutler, Greenfield, Mass., Press of E. A. Hall & Co., Greenfield, Mass., 1899, Pages 17-20.
In the first "great divide" (that is, general division of land), July 25, 1636, he was assigned twenty-five acres, and three acres in the further plain (now Waltham), next to the river. In 1642, from the farm lands, he had assigned him eighty-two acres in the fourth division, and four other lots. October 2, 1645, he was one of the petitioners "in relation to Nashaway plantation, now Weston." December 13, 1649, James Cutler and Nathaniel Bowman, for L70, bought of Edward Goffe 200 acres in Cambridge Farms, adjoining Rock Meadow, and near to or adjoining Waltham, "payable in installments of L10 annually, in money, cattle, hogs, wheat, peas, rice, Indian corn or barley, at the dwelling house of Edward Goffe, in Cambridge," and payment secured by mortgage. March 4, 1651, Cutler sold his share (100 acres) to Bowman for L39. About this time, he settled at Cambridge Farms (now Lexington), on what is now known as Wood Street, near the place where William Hartwell resides, not far from the Concord (now Bedford) line. A part of the farm h as been in the family until recently, when it was sold by the heirs of Leonard Cutler. He is supposed to have built one of the first houses at the Farms; vestiges of the cellar still remain. The house was located some thirty rods from the present highway, on an elevation commanding an extensive view.
James Cutler buried his first wife, Anna, September 30, 1644, and married, second, March 9, 1645, Mary, widow of Thomas King. She died December 7, 1654, and he married his third wife, Phoebe, daughter of John Page, about 1662. Mr. Cutler was too remote from Watertown, and especially from Cambridge, to have admitted of his serving in town affairs in either place.
He made his will November 24, 1684, at Cambridge Farms, being then seventy-eight, and died May 17, 1694, aged eighty-eight years. In his will, he bequeathed to his son James Cutler a parcel of land on the north side of the brook and meadow, adjoining land which he had formerly sold him, and ten acres of meadow in the "great meadow," and a small parcel of meadow of the upper end of his home meadow as his portion of his estate. To his son Thomas Cutler, twenty acres of upland and meadow, in addition to fifteen acres of meadow previously given him; to his son Samuel Cutler, twenty acres of land, more or less, as may appear by deed under his hand and seal; to the rest of his children, including the two children of his former wife, widow of Thomas King, and to his sons Thomas and John, equal portions of the balance of his estate, notice being made that he had given to John Collar, (the husband of his daughter Mary), twenty acres of upland, and to Richard Parks, (husband of his step-daughter Sarah King), L6 5s.; to his daughter, the wife of John Parmenter, L7 and a cow; to his daughter Sarah Waite, a mare and cow; to Mary Johnson, L5; to Hannah Winter, L5; to his daughter Joanna Russell a feather bed and bolster and coverlid and an iron pot, and to his daughter Jemima, his feather bed and bolster and all that belongs to it; that these things be accounted a part of his estate; that his sons Thomas Cutler, John Cutler and Samuel Cutler have his house and lands not formerly disposed of, paying to the rest of his children their several parts, according to his will, in three annual payments; and that Thomas and John should be his executors.
His will was proved August 20, 1694. Such is the brief, unvarnished record of the James "Cuttler," who came to New England 250 years ago. There is no direct testimony as to his character, his social standing, or his intelligence. That he was honest and persevering, however, is evident by his acquisition of lands and payment for the same. His early investment with full citizenship shows he had established a fair reputation among his fellow-townsmen; while the provisions of his will, whereby sons-in-law and stepchildren share in his estate, manifest a large and liberal spirit.
Copied from A Cutler Memorial and Genealogical History, Compiled by Nahum S. Cutler, Greenfield, Mass., Press of E. A. Hall & Co., Greenfield, Mass., 1899, Pages 17-20.
