Person Page - 326

       Hannah/2 Atkinson was born 5 Mar 1643 at Concord, MA.^2,1 She married, about 1670, as his 2d wife, Caleb/2a Brooks, son of Capt. Thomas/1a Brooks and Grace/1 Cunliffe, and widower of her sister Susanna.^3,4 Her husband died 29 Jul 1696; Hannah signed the subsequent settlement of his estate.^5,6 She died at Medford, MA, 10 Mar 1708/9 at age 66.^7,4 Buried with her husband in Salem St. Cemetery, where their beautifully carved gravestones, inscribed with elaborate skull and hourglass motifs, are wonderfully preserved.^4,8

       Lt./Dea. Nathan/5 Cheever was born 16 Mar 1694 "in the old home on the County Road," North Chelsea (then Rumney Marsh), MA.² Then of Boston, he married (1) (int. 8 Nov 1721, Boston) Hannah/4a Brooks of Medford, daughter of Capt. Ebenezer/3a Brooks and Abigail/3 Boylston, with whom he had one child.^3,4,5 His wife died at Rumney Marsh 1 Jul 1724.⁶ There he married (2), 15 Feb 1738/39, Anna Burrill, daughter of Samuel Burrill, and widow of Nathaniel Fuller of Lynn.^3,4,5 She died at North Chelsea 10 Nov 1740.⁷
     "On Dec. 29, 1738, Rev. Thomas Cheever 'chiefly in respect of the love and Affection' which he had for his son Nathan, and as he had not, previously, given him 'anything Considerable for his Subsistence, though' the son had lived with him since becoming of full age and carried on the husbandry, and also in consideration of the sum of five hundred and fifty pounds to be paid to other children of the Rev. Thomas, gave this farm in Rumney Marsh to his son Nathan."² By an agreement among the heirs of his former father-in-law, Capt. Ebenezer/3a Brooks, 1743, Nathan Cheever received £705-6-3 in money as guardian for son Nathan Jr.⁸
     Nathan Cheever was chosen constable of Rumney Marsh, 1726, and after the incorporation of the town of Chelsea was a selectman. Member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, 1733.² He was deacon of the Chelsea church, later the First Congregational Church and First Unitarian Society of Revere.⁵ His will, 1769, "left [son] Nathan the use of his parsonage, but in terms which show that he regarded his first-born as non-compos."⁵ The elder Nathan signed himself 'gent.,' and served as Deacon, Lieutenant, and Selectman."⁵
     Dea. Nathan Cheever died at North Chelsea 30 Sep 1774 (g.s.) at age 80.^1,9 He is buried with both wives in the old cemetery, North Chelsea.¹⁰

       Rev. Shearjashub Bourne was born circa 1699 (g.s.), probably at Sandwich, MA.² He graduated Harvard College in 1720, and was ordained as pastor of the First Church, Scituate, 1724.^1,3 He married (1), 16 Jun 1725 in Boston, Abigail/4 Cotton, daughter of Rev. Rowland/3 Cotton and Elizabeth Saltonstall, of Sandwich, with whom he had 5 children. She was the great-granddaughter of Rev. John/1 Cotton, the eminent Puritan divine.⁴ She died at Scituate 17 May 1732, shortly following the birth of their 5th child.⁴ He married (2), 12 Feb 1736 at Medford (int. 27 Dec, Scituate), Sarah/4a Brooks of Medford, daughter of Capt. Samuel/3a Brooks and Sarah/3 Boylston.^5,6 She died at Scituate 11 Oct 1739 at age 37, about two weeks after the birth of a son.⁷ There he married (3), 6 Jun 1750, Deborah Barker, with whom he had a son.⁸ Chosen moderator of the first meeting of the Second Church Society of Scituate, 11 Oct 1750, following the death of their minister, Rev. Nathaniel Eells.⁹ Again chosen moderator of the first meeting of the church following the death of Rev. Dorby, 7 May 1754.¹⁰ His wife Deborah died 17 Feb 1756.¹¹ He married (4), 10 Nov 1757 at Roxbury, Susanna Stevens of Roxbury, daughter of Samuel Stevens and Dorothy (–?–).^12,13 He died at West Roxbury 14 Aug 1768.¹⁴ The epitaph on his tombstone reads, Cautious himself he others ne'er deceiv'd. | liv'd as he taught, and as he taught believ'd.¹