Person Page - 352

       Rebecca/4a Minot was born 9 Feb 1685 at Concord, MA.¹ Granddaughter Rebecca is mentioned in the will of Mary/2a Brooks, 20 Apr 1691.^2,3 She married, 24 Dec 1701 at Concord, Capt. Joseph/3 Barrett of C., son of Dea. Humphrey/2 Barrett and Mary/2 Potter, with whom she had 8 children.⁴ (Their siblings Capt. Benjamin/3 Barrett and Lydia/4a Minot also married.). She died at Concord 23 Jun 1738, at age 53, and is buried in the Hill Burying Ground.⁵ Joseph Barrett died at Concord 4 Apr 1763.⁶

       Capt. Benjamin/3 Barrett was born 7 May 1681 at Concord, MA.¹ There he married, as her 1st husband, 3 Jan 1704/5, Lydia/4a Minot of Concord, daughter of Dr. James/3 Minot and Rebecca/3a Wheeler, with whom he had 8 children.² (Their siblings Capt. Joseph Barrett and Rebecca Minot also married.). There he died 25 [Shattuck: 28] Oct 1728 at age 47.³ She married (2) Samuel Stow Jr., and died at Marlborough 14 Feb 1742/43.^4,5
     "He was a farmer and lived in Concord, where James Barrett now (1847) lives," says Shattuck.⁶ "Like his brother, he was a farmer and general business man, and one of the original grantees of Grafton."⁷

       Thomas/a Minot was secretary to the Abbott of Walden at Saffron Walden, Essex, "by whom he was advanced to great possessions."^1,2 Progenitor of the name in America.²

       Elder George/1 Minot was born 4 Aug 1594 at Saffron Walden, Essex.^1,2 He married, 6 Sep 1623 at Epping, Essex, Martha Stocke.^1,3 Emigrated, 1633, to Massachusetts Bay, where he settled at Dorchester.³ Admitted a freeman 1 Apr 1634, he was a Dorchester deputy to the General Court, 3 Mar 1635/6, 8 Sep 1636, and 17 May 1637.^4,3 Elected selectman, 28 Oct 1634, 2 Nov 1635, 27 Jun 1636, 2 Oct 1636, 10 Sep 1637; fence viewer, 10 Mar 1655/6.³ He was literate, signing a town agreement for maintenance of a free school, 7 Feb 1641/2, and his will.³ Admitted to the church at Dorchester prior to 1 Apr 1634, when he was made freeman, he was a founding member of the Second Church, 23 Aug 1636, and subsequently its ruling elder for 30 years.^5,3 His wife Martha died at Dorchester 23 Dec 1657.^1,3
     In his will, dated 10 Sep 1669, proved 2 Feb 1671/2, George Minot of Dorchester confirmed prior disposition of several parcels of land and meadow unto his two sons, James and Stephen. To son Stephen, one parcel of land containing 28 acres and future divisions in Dorchester, also all the horses, mares and colts that I shall die possessed of. To son Samuel, one parcel of land containing 52 acres, also 12 acres; further, a sea chest and a great white chest with all mine and my wife's apparel and linen and household stuff; also two featherbeds with two feather boulsters and other household goods. Finally, "whereas my son John lately deceased was indebted to me the sum of £10…I give and bequeath this £10 unto my two grandsons Stephen and Samuell, sons of my said son John" equally divided; also land "I had in exchange from Samuell Proctor" to be annexed to the estate of John. Sons James & Stephen, joint executors.^1,3
     George Minot died at Dorchester 24 Dec 1671 at age 77.^5,2,3 His inventory, 5 Jan 1671/2, totalled £271-7-7, including real estate valued at £102: 28 acres of common with all common rights, £12; 22 acres of land in the great lots, £66; 6 acres of land in the six acre lots, £12; and 4 acres of land at Captins Necke, £12.^5,3 He lived near Neponset Bridge, "and owned the land which has been known as 'Squantum.'"
     "'His death,' say the records, 'was much lamented by the town, whose weal he sought and liberties defended.' "He was a contemporary with Elder Humphrey; and it is said the following lines were once to be found on a gravestone in the ancient burying-ground in Dorchester:— Here lie the bodes of Unite Humphrey and Shining Minot, Such names as these, they never die not.⁵"
     See The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-33, 2:1268; NEHGR 1:171, "The Minot Family," by Lemuel Shattuck.^5,3