Person Page - 353

       Capt. John/2 Minot was born 2 Apr 1626 at Saffron Walden, Essex, and there baptised the 10th.^2,1 He married (1), 19 May 1647 in Massachusetts, in a ceremony performed by Gov. Thomas Dudley, Lydia Butler of Dorchester, with whom he had 6 children.^2,1 Admitted a freeman of Dorchester 3 May 1665.³ His 1st wife died 24 Jan 1667.²
     He married (2), Mary Dassett, daughter of John Dassett, and widow of John Bigg, who died in 1666.^2,1 He died at Dorchester 12 Aug 1669 at age 43.² "They both left wills. His is recorded in Suffolk Records, Vol. VI. p. 39, and hers, Vol. VI. p. 362. His estate was prized at £978. 5.²
     The will of his father George Minot, 10 Sep 1669, states, "…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.^2,1 John Minot's widow died circa 1677.²
     "An anecdote in relation to John Minot is found in Dwight's Travels, Vol. III. p. 125, and in Hutchinson's Hist. Mass. Vol. I. p. 288."²

       Dr. James/3 Minot was born 14 Sep 1653 at Dorchester, MA.^1,2 He graduated Harvard College in 1675, having studied divinity and physic.^3,1 "He kept the grammar-school in Dorchester in 1679…" but soon relocated to Concord, where he was a teacher and physician.^4,2 He married Rebecca/3a Wheeler, daughter of Capt. Timothy/1 Wheeler and Mary/2a Brooks.^4,2 James and Rebecca Minot inherited the East District, Concord homestead of her father, "near Capt. Stacy's [1835]," where they lived and where he died.^3,4 The will of Timothy Wheeler, 1 Mar 1686/7, names Mr. James Minot, brother Caleb Brooks, and nephew Sergeant Wheeler to see the will duly performed.^5,6 My son Minot received 5s. and £10 he borrowed of me to purchase a piece of land with, in the will of his mother-in-law Mary/2a Brooks, dated 20 Apr 1691.^6,7
     In 1692 he was appointed Justice of the Peace and Captain in the trainband.^4,8 Deputy to the General Court in 1700 and 1701.^4,8 His wife died at Concord 23 Sep 1734.⁹ He died 20 Sep 1735 (g.s.) at age 82.¹⁰ Buried in the Hill Burying Ground, where his epitaph reads, Here is interred the remains of | JAMES MINOTT ESQ A M an | Excelling Grammarian, Enriched | with the Gift of Prayer and Preaching, | a Commanding Officer, a Physician of | Great Value, a Great Lover of Peace | as well as of Justice, and which was | His greatest Glory, a Gent'n of distinguished | Virtue and Goodness, happy in a Virtuous | Posterity, and living Religiously died | Comfortably, Sept. 20, 1735 Aet. 83.^4,11
     "While resident here, he was employed as a preacher in Stow in 1685, for '12s. 6d. per day, one half cash, and one half Indian corn'; and in 1686 'for what older towns had given their ministers—£13 for 13 Sabbaths.' He was again invited there in 1695, but declined. He practiced physic, was a captain, justice of the peace, representative, and eminently a useful man," says Shattuck. "Relinquishing the clerical profession, he was appointed Justice of the Peace, and a Captain of the militia; was Representative several years, was much employed in various public trusts, and was distinguished for his talents, and for his excellent character," says Bond.
     "He married Rebecca, daughter of Capt. Timothy Wheeler, and lived on the estate left by his father-in-law, near Capt. Stacy's." They had 10 children, all of whom married. As a justice of the peace, he had the unique joy of officiating, 13 Dec 1772, at the double wedding of his twin daughters Love and Mercy.
     Of his children, "two sisters married two brothers by the name of Barrett; two other sisters married brothers by the name of Adams; a brother and a sister married a brother and a sister by the name of Lane; and two were born the same day and married the same day.
     "There are few parents who have so great reason to be 'happy in a virtuous posterity,' as had these. One son was a minister, another was a deacon, and eight of the grandchildren were deacons or married to deacons; several were clergymen or married to clergymen. Very many of the great-granchildren sustained the same offices, or were otherwise distinguished in military, civil, or religious life. A large proportion of those who arrived at mature age professed religion; and the succeeding and numerous families were among the most respected, useful, and influential in the towns in which they lived. Very many distinguished men descended from them; among whom were Rev. Stephen and Hon. Timothy Farrar of New Ipswich, N.H., Roger Minot Sherman, of Fairfield, CT, and several eminent physicians by the name of Adams; and Hon. Roger Sherman, and several other distinguished men of New Haven married descendants."^4,11
     The Boston Globe website, visited 22 Oct 2008, had a photo feature entitled "25 Haunted New England Inns," among these the Colonial Inn in Concord. "(W)hen a team of paranormal experts investigated the inn," the site reports, "they noted several phantom presences, especially around Room 424. The room was the operating room of Dr. James Minot, who had a medical practice in the inn. In the room, the presence of a Native American woman with braids was detected. It is believed she was employed by Dr. Minot to comfort and care for his surgical patients.
     "In addition to expert testimony, staff members have also reported paranormal experiences, including the feeling of being touched as though someone was trying to pass them. Also one of the Inn's restaurant servers told paranormal experts he was once trying to swipe a guest’s credit card when it flew out of his hand as though someone behind him had grabbed it. The card was then found in a closed cabinet.
     "Read more about the hauntings as well as reports from two paranormal organizations on the inn's website," http://www.concordscolonialinn.com/concord-ma-lodging-the-haunted-inn.asp.¹²

       Rebecca/3a Wheeler was born about 1666 (g.s.) at Concord, MA.^2,3,4 She married Dr. James/3 Minot, son of Capt. John/2 Minot and Lydia Butler.^1,4 Daughter Rebecca Minot was named in her father's will, 1 Mar 1686/87, and left his homestead and lands at Concord, where she and her husband lived.^5,6 Daughter Rebecca Minot received one silver cupp without letters, a standing cupp and a bible with silver clasps in the will of her mother Mary/2a Brooks, 20 Apr 1691; and if God shall give her [one or more sons], Rebecca's eldest son to have all the lands in Charlestown, about 8 acres and 15 acres of marsh belonging to it, with 8 cow commons.^6,7
     Rebecca Minot died at Concord 23 Sep 1734.⁸ There James died 20 Sep 1735.⁹ They are buried in the Hill Burying Ground, where her gravestone is inscribed: Here is interred the body of | Mrs Rebecca Minott ye virtuous | Consort of James Minott Esq. | (and daughter of Capt. Timothy Wheeler) | She was a person of | Serious piety and abounding | charity, of great usefulness | in Her Day, and a pattern | of Patience and holy | Submission under a long | Confinement, and resigned Her | Soul with Joy in her | Redeemer Sept 23, 1734 | aged 68.¹

       Lydia/4a Minot was born 12 Mar 1686/87 at Concord, MA.¹ Granddaughter Lydia is named, 20 Apr 1691, in the will of Mary/2a Brooks.^2,3 She married (1), 3 Jan 1704/5 at Concord, Capt. Benjamin/3 Barrett of Concord, son of Dea. Humphrey/2 Barrett and Mary/2 Potter, with whom she had 8 children.⁴ (Their siblings Capt. Joseph Barrett and Rebecca Minot also married.). He died at Concord 25 [Shattuck: 28] Oct 1728.⁵ There she married (2), as his 2d wife, Samuel Stow Jr., son of Samuel Stow and Elizabeth Stone.^6,7,8 She died at Marlborough 14 Feb 1742/43 at age 55.^7,8 Lydia and Samuel are buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Marlborough.⁹

       Mary/4a Minot was born 16 Nov 1689 at Concord, MA.^2,1 Named, 20 Apr 1691, in the will of her grandmother Mary/2a Brooks.^3,4 She married, 26 Dec 1706 at Concord, Ebenezer/3 Wheeler of Concord, son of John/2 Wheeler and Sarah Larkin.⁵ There he died 26 Feb 1748.⁶ There she died 3 Sep 1760 at age 70.⁷

       Rev. Timothy/4a Minot was born 18 Jun 1692 at Concord, MA.¹ He had been provided for, 20 Apr 1691, in the will of his grandmother Mary Brooks: "To the eldest son born of my daughter Rebecca if God shall give her one, all the lands in Charlestown, about 8 acres and 15 acres of marsh belonging to it with 8 cow commons."² He graduated Harvard College with an A.M. in 1718, licensed, as a divinity student, to preach the gospel. But in the words of Raymond D. Wheeler, "While he officiated in a number of churches, his primary occupation became teacher, the profession he pursued for over 40 years as Concord's schoolmaster."^3,4
     He married (1), 9 Jul 1724 at Concord (Rev. Whiting's diary), his 2d cousin, Mary/4a Brooks of Concord, daughter of Noah/3a Brooks and Dorothy/2 Potter.⁵ She died at Concord 15 Feb 1760.^3,6 He married (2), as her 2d husband, 24 Nov 1763 at Sudbury, Beulah Stone of Sudbury, widow of Col. Josiah Brown.^3,4 He died at Concord 30 Nov 1778 at age 86.⁷ His widow died there 14 Apr 1786.^3,8
     "A biographical notice of this distinguished man is given in Shattuck's History of Concord, p. 244."³

       Col. James/4a Minot was born 17 Oct 1694 at Concord, MA.¹ There he married (1), 14 Nov 1716, Martha Lane of Billerica, daughter of Col. John Lane and Susanna Whipple, with whom he had 3 children.² She died at Concord 18 Jan 1733/34.³ He married (2), 9 Oct 1735 at Brookfield, Elizabeth/4 Wilder, daughter of Ephraim/3 Wilder and Elizabeth Stevens, and widow of Tilley/2 Merrick of Brookfield.^4,5 He died at Concord 6 Feb 1759 at age 64.⁶ His widow married (3), 1763, Rev. Daniel Rogers of Littleton, and died there 13 Sep 1779.⁷ He is buried in the Hill Burying Ground, Concord, where his gravestone reads:
     Here lye the remains of Col. James Minott | Esqr. who departed this life Feb. 6, 1759 | in the 65th year of his age. He was of | Honl. Descent, early improved and advanced | in Civil and Military Affairs. Divers years | Represented this Town at the General Court | was a Justice of the Peace, and one of the Hon. | His Majesties Council for many years, which | Offices he Sustained until his death. | In all which Stations and relations of life he | behaved as the Christian, the Patriot, and the | benevolent friend, and as he merrited so he | was much loved and honored in his life | and Lamented at his death. | Memento mori. | 'From death's arrest no age is free.⁸'
     "Hon. James Minott, the 5th child, was one of the most distinguished men of his times. He was a military officer about 30 years, and advanced to colonel, justice of the peace, representative, and a member of the King's Council." He was selectman of Concord in 1727, 1728, 1735, 1736, 1740, and 1747-49.⁹ He was deputy to the General Court in 1727, 1728, 1735, 1736, 1740, and 1747–1749.^10,8 He was among those appointed to a town committee, 1732, to sell the town's common and ministerial land, and vest the proceeds in other real estate.¹¹