Note: All of the following material has been taken from Selim Peabody's book Peabody Genealogy. The notebook N. Peabody contain copies of the relevant pages from that book and includes his will and estate inventory.

1635: He came to New England on the ship Planter.

1636: He was located at Ipswich, Essex Co., MA.

1642 May 18: He received the honor of freemanship in the colony.

1697-8 Feb 19: He died, probably in Topsfield, Essex Co., MA, where he had lived for the latter half or so of his life and where he was one of the select men, lieutenant of the local military company and an honored member of the church and community.

1/6/00---re Francis Peabody

Little is known of Francis Peabody's first wife. She is clearly identified as Lydia in documents of the period, but her maiden name, ancestry and origin are unknown. She died before 1649 and he married about 1650 Mary (Foster) Wood, daughter of Renold and Judith (Wignol) Foster of Ipswich and the widow of Daniel Wood of Ipswich, who died in 1648. Francis Peabody died Feb. 19, 1697/8, in Topsfield. Mary survived about seven years, dying Apr. 9, 1705, in Topsfield. Francis' will, dated Jan. 20, 1695/6, provided as follows:

Children by Lydia:

i. Lydia,3 bapt. Aug. 30, 1640, in Hampton; m. (1) by 1663, Thomas Howlett, b. about 1638, son of Thomas and Alice (French) Howlett. He d. Dec. 22, 1667 (probably an error for 1666) in Ipswich and she m. (2) July 8, 1667, in Rowley, Mass., Thomas Perley, b. 1641 in Ipswich, son of Allan and Susanna (Bokeson) Perley; ; he d. Sept. 24, 1709, in Boxford, Mass.; she d. Apr. 30, 1715, in Boxford; children by Lydia: Mary Howlett, Thomas Perley, Jacob Perley, Lydia Perley, Mary Perley, Hephzibah Perley, Sarah Perley.

#4 ii. John, b. about 1642.

#5 iii. Joseph, b. about 1644.

#6 iv. William, b. March 3, 1646.

#7 v. Isaac, b. about 1648.

Children by Mary:

vi. Sarah, b. about 1650; m. March 20 or 26, 1678, at Ipswich, Mass., Abraham Howe, b. about 1649, in Ipswich, son of James and Elizabeth (Dane) Howe of Ipswich; settled in Ipswich; he d. Jan. 21, 1717/8; she, Sept. 29, 1732; children: Love Howe, Increase Howe, Samson Howe, Abraham Howe, Abijah Howe, Israel Howe, Mark Howe.

vii. Hepsibah, b. about 1652; m. Apr. 10, 1678, Daniel Rea of Salem Village, son of Joshua and Sarah (Waters) Rea; he m. (2) Mary (Read) Tompkins, widow of John Tompkins.

viii. Mary, b. about 1656; m. (1) about 1669, John Death of Framingham, Mass., son of John and Abigail Death; it is not clear whether Mary m. (2) Samuel Eames or whether it was John's sister, Mary, who married him; children: Oliver Death, Thomas Death, John Death, Hepzibah Death, Lydia Death, Samuel Death, Ruth Death. Porter Pedigree says this family changed name from Death to How.

ix. Ruth, b. May 22, 1658; not mentioned in father's will.

x. Damaris, b. Jan. 21 or June 21, 1660; d. Dec. 19, 1660, in Topsfield.

xi. Samuel, b. June 4, 1662; d. Sept. 13, 1667.

#8 xii. Jacob, b. July 28, 1664.

xiii. Hannah, b. May 8, 1668; m. Daniel Andrew, b. Sept. 2, 1677, in Salem, son of Daniel and Sarah (Porter) Andrew; lived Salem Village; she d. before Feb. 12, 1698, and he m. (2) Feb. 12, 1701/2, Elizabeth Peabody [#4]; he d. Feb. 6, 1717/8; children born to Daniel and Elizabeth: Hannah Andrew, Daniel Andrew, Mary Andrew, Thomas Andrew, Israel Andrew, Israel Andrew, John Andrew, Samuel Andrew.

#9 xiv. Nathaniel, b. July 20, 1669.

Sources: Topsfield, Mass., v.r.; Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, [Mass.], I, 1911; 

Justin Winsor, History of the Town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, 1849; 

Leon Clark Hills, History and Genealogy of the Mayflower Planters (Cape Cod Series), I, 1975 reprint of 1936 1941 ed.; 

John H. Towne, “Old Peabody Mills, Topsfield,” Essex Antiquarian I:7 (July 1897), “Francis Peabody’s Grist Mill,” Historical Collections of the Topsfield, Historical Society I (1895) and “The Peabody Batchelder Young House on North Street, Topsfield,” Historical Collections of the Topsfield Historical Society X (1905); 

Stanford J. Robison, Mormon Genealogies: The Smith, Pratt, Young, Richards and Allied Families, 1946; 

Charles Edward Banks, Planters of the Commonwealth, 1930; Essex Antiquarian I:6 (June 1898); “Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories,” Mayflower Descendant XVII:1 (January 1915); 

William Richard Cutter and William Frederick Adams, Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts, II, 1910; 

Charles Henry Pope, Pioneers of Massachusetts, 1900; Peabody Genealogy, 1867; Peabody Genealogy, 1909; 

Walter Muir Whitehill, Captain Joseph Peabody, 1962; 

John William Linzee, History of Peter Parker and Sarah Ruggles, 1913; 

Melvin Gilbert Dodge, Ballard Genealogy, 1942; 

Doris Palmer Buys, Walter Palmer of Charlestown and Rehoboth, Massachusetts, and Stonington, Connecticut, 1986; 

Family History Library; 

H. Franklin Andrews, History of the Andrews Family, 1890; 

Nora E. Snow and Myrtle M. Jillson, Snow Estes Ancestry I, 1939; 

Juliet Porter, Porter Pedigree, 1907; 

Clarence Winthrop Bowen, History of Woodstock, Connecticut VII, 1943; 

M. V. B. Perley, History and Genealogy of the Perley Family, 1906, “James Howe of Ipswich and Some of His Descendants,” Historical Collections of the Topsfield Historical Society XXIII (1918); 

Edgar Francis Waterman and Donald Lines Jacobus, Granberry Family, 1945; 

Tracy Elliot Hazen, Hazen Family in America, 1947; 

Daniel Wait Howe, Howe Genealogies, 1929; Joseph Dow, History of the Town of Hampton, New Hampshire, II, 1893; 

Sidney Perley, History of Salem, Massachusetts, I, 1924, III, 1928; 

Laurence Clyde Andrew, Thomas Andrew, Immigrant, 1972; “Descendants of Daniel Andrew of Salem,” Essex Antiquarian III:9 (September 1899); 

George Brainard Blodgette, Early Settlers of Rowley, Massachusetts, 1933; 

H. Ruth Merritt Edwards, Robert Abell, Immigrant, 1971.

File                                          File 
#     Name                                    Date        Residence Type:
20826 Lieut. Francis Peabody; Pebody; Peobody 07 Aug 1698 Topsfield testate

                                             ffrancis Pabody 

Francis PEABODY
and 1st
Lydia ?? and 2nd
Mary FOSTER
Francis was born about 1614 in Great Glen, Leicestershire, England and married 1638 in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, Lydia. She was born about 1616, in England, and died between 1652 and 1654, in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire.
He married second 18 May 1654, in Farmington, Middlesex, Massachusetts, Mary Foster, the daughter of Reginald FOSTER. She was born Francis died 19 February 1698 in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts.
Matthews' American Armoury and Blue Book
Peabody, Lieut. Francis Peabody
b at St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England , 1614 , settled at Topsfield, Mass. , 1635 . Arms - Per fesse nebuly gules and azure, in chief two suns in splendour, in base a garb or. Crest - An eagle rising or.
He is one of my ancestors who came over on the Planter in 1635
Colonial Families in the U.S.
[p.238]
ABRAHAM HOWE, b. circa 1649; d. 21st Jan. 1717; settled in Ipswich, Mass. “A seat in the meeting house was assigned to Corporal Abraham How in 1700.” m. 26th Mar. 1678, Sarah PEABODY, d. 20th Sept. 1732, dau. of Lieut. Francis PEABODY, who came from St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, to New England in the ship “Planter,” Nicholas TEARICE, Master, in 1636.
Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire
Peabody, Francis,Hampton, Topsfield, came in the -Planter- in 1635, ag. 21, with certificate from minister at St. Albans, co. Herts. From Ipswich., he was with the first at Hampton and sold there to Robert Drake in Mar. 1649-50. Freeman 18 May 1642. Tr.j. 1648; gr.j. 1649; com.t.e.s.c. 1649. Lists 391a, 392ab, 393ab. His wife in Hampton was Lydia; List 393a. In 1645 Eunice Cole publicly acknowledged. her slanderous speeches against Susan Perkins (w. of 9) and Lydia Peabody; that these two were Connecticut seems poss. He m. 2d Mary (Foster) Wood, named in will of her father Renald Foster in 1680. Lt. F. P. d. in Topsfield. 19 Feb. 1697-8. Ch. (Hampton. rec. show but one: several evidently. b. there): Lydia, bp. Hampton. 30 Aug. 1640. John, Joseph, William, Isaac, Sarah, Hepsibah, Mary, And rec. in Topsfield 1658-1669, the mo. not named: Ruth, Damaris, Samuel, Jacob, Hannah, Nathanie.
See the Peabody Gen
.
Maine Pioneers, 1623-60
Francis Peabody; Peabodie; Paybody; Pebodie
husbandman, ae. 21 years, certified from the parish of St. Albons, co. Hertford, England, came in the Planter April 2, 1635. Settled at Ipswich; proprietor, 1636. Removed to Hampton, proprietor, June, 1640 freeman 18 May, 1642; one of the commissioners to try cases of limited amount in 1649. Sold house and land in March, 1649-50. Rem. to Topsfield, Mass. Lieutenant. He deposed 24 (4) 1662, ae. about 50 years. He m. Mary, daughter of Reginald Foster; she d. April 9, 1705.
Children, John, Joseph, William, Isaac, Sarah, Hephsibah, Lydia, Mary, Ruth b. 22 May, 1658, Damaris b. and d. 1660, Samuel b. 4 June, 1662, d. 13 Sept. 1667, Jacob b. 28 July, 1664, Hannah b. 8 May, 1668, Nathaniel b. 29 July, 1669.
He died Feb. 19, 1697-8. Will dated 20 Jan. 1695-6, prob. Aug. 7, 1698, bequeathed to wife Mary; sons John, Joseph, William, Isaac and Nathaniel; to Jacob, Kezia and Mercy, children of deceased son Jacob; son in law Daniel Wood; grand son Samson How; daughters Lydia Perley, Mary Death, Sarah How and Hephsibah Ray.
Essex County, Massachusetts,
Probate Index, 1638-1840
File File
# Name Date Residence Type:
20826 Lieut. Francis Peabody; Pebody; Peobody 07 Aug 1698 Topsfield testate
Estate of Francis Peabody of Topsfield
Essex Probate Docket # 20826
The Last Will & Testamant of Lieut. Francis Pebody of Topsfield in ye county of Essex in New England.
I Francis Pebody taking into consideration the uncertaity of my life and certainty of my death being of perfect understanding & memory have seen good to make such a disposall of the temporall estate which God of his grace hath given me in this world as followeth.
I committ my immortall soul into the hands of God and my body to a decent buriall when God shall take me out of this world
I give to by son John Pebody & Joseph Pebody all that tract of land which I bought of merchant Joseph Juett of Rowly which land lyeth in Boxford.
I give to my son J(ohn) two thirds of the aforesaid tract of land & to my son Joseph the other third which I give to them and to their heirs for ever & morever I do give to them both in c(urrent) pay (not mony) five pounds to each of them, that is five pounds apiece besides what I have already given to them.
I do give to my son William Pebody, all that land which I bought of John Tod Senr. of Rowly and of John Perley (excepting one hundred acres) which land I do give to him & his heirs for ever, moreover I do give to him five pounds besides what he hath.....me already, which I do the rather on consideration of his being (by the providence of God) deprived of ye use of one of his arms, which five pounds is to be paid as is above specified.
I give unto my son in law Daniell Wood that hundred acres of land which is above excepted to my son William & is already in part possessed by my son in law Daniel Wood which said land I do give to him & to his heirs for ever it being in consideration of what I was obliged to do for him when come to age & propose he shall be satisfied therewith on that account & give a discharge thereof to such...shall concern Which land I gave already promised & do propose forthwith to give him a deed of in a way of firm conveyance in which deed I shall bound and Limit the abovesaid hundred acres accordingly.
Item I do give to my son Isaac Pebody all the land that I do now live upon which I bought of Mr Simmons & my will is that my son Isaac shall have all the said land which lyeth on the south side of the brook running through the said farm both upland & meadow so bounded. I give to my son Isaac Pebody together with my dwelling house & housing, orchard, mill, & millyard with all that I bought of William Evans & moreover I give to my son Isaac from the bridge all the meadow downward on the north east side of the brook which runneth through Thomas Borman's meadow; and also I do give to my son Isaac a Rod & half of upland at the aforesaid meadow all along for the bringing of his hay from time to time which aforesaid land I do give to my son Isaac & to his Heirs forever, together with seventy acres of land on the south side of the River, near to the dwelling of Joseph Town, Jun. Also I give to my son the bed with the furniture thereunto belonging which he now hath & improvements of & this I would have noted, That I have given the more to my son Isaac on consideration of the providence of God disenabling him by the loss of one of his leggs.
I give to my Grandchild, Jacob Pebody ( the son of my son Jacob deceased) the house which his father dwelt in together with all the upland on the side of the brook that is on the north side of the abovesaid brook, as also the meadow on the same side of the brook to the bridge & so upward, my will is that in case my said Grandchild Jacob Pebody do live to the age of twenty one years that then he shall have all the abovesaid to injoy himself and his heirs forever, but in case the said Jacob Pebody live not to that age then any of my other (heirs) shall have liberty to have that land & house abovesaid provided that he or they shall give to my Grandchildren Kezia & Mercy Pebody the children of my son Jacob deceased ...hundred and twenty pounds in common currant pay (not silver) notwithstanding the abovesaid in case the said Jacob should have issue before he should arrive at the aforesaid age then the said land shall be at the dispose of the abovesaid Jacob Pebody together.....aforesaid.
Also I do give to my granchildren Kezia & Mercy Pebody the children of Jacob deceased, I do give to each of them thirty acres of land apiece provided that they live to the age of eighteen years, which threescore acres of land lyeth on the south side of the the River in the south-west division beyond Mr. Endicott's farm in the place called the Stick (Slick?) meadow which land abovesaid I bought part of Deacon Tho. Perkins about thirty (acres) & about thirty more which I bought of Daniell Borman, but in case neither of the children Kezia & Mercy shall live to the age of eighteen that then the abovesaid thirty acres apiece shall return to my next immediate children and be equally divided amongst them and in case one of the said grandchildren live to the age & not the other that then the whole threescore acres shall fall to the survivor of them.
I give to my son Nathaniell Pebody together with my Grandchild Samson How all that four hundred acres which I bought of Mr. Stephen Sewall lying in Rowly village now called Boxford, which land lyeth near Bradford & was formerly Mr. Nelson's of Rowly.
My will is my son Nathaniell shall have three hundred & Samson How the other hundred acres which for quantity and quality ye aforesaid Samson How shall have the said hundred acres provided that the Samson How shall be at my dispose til the age of twenty one. But in case my son Nathaneill shall dye without Lawfull Issue that then the said three hundred acres shall fall to my other children by equall devision, his widdow nothwithstanding injoying the benefit thereof during life & as to his moveables which he is already in possession of, I leave it all to be at his, that is my son Nathaniell here is to be understood, that what shall be left undisposed of by my son Nathaniell at his death of his three hundred acres shall be for the use of his widdow during her life as abovesaid That is the life of her widdowhood. I do reserve for Mary my wife the South End of my house for her use to live in as also the New Cellar as also the use of two milch cowes which she shall choose out of my milch kine. Also my will is that my son Isaac shall pay to my wife Mary yearly twenty bushels of Indian corn, four bushells of wheat, four of rye & six of malt. Also that my wife have liberty to keep two or three swine, and also yearly a half a dozen pounds of wool, also my will is that my wife have pasture for her cowes with my son Isaacs as also my son Isaac shall provide fodder for them in the winter. As also my wife shall have Liberty for an horse to ride on as she shall have occasion. Also my will is that in case my wife shall marry again that then all the privileges above shall cease, but during her widdowhood she shall also have (as benefit by my orchard) yearly a barrell of Cider as also som apples as her occasions either summer or winter shall require. Moreover my wife shall have the use & despose of two beds together with needful firewood provided her for which end she shall have the use of such of my oxen as shall be needful. Also I do order that Samson How live with my wife til he shall come to the age of twenty one years & be at her Command to be helpfull to her on all accounts as she shall have occasion & in case Samson How shall be taken away by his father before he shall have served as above that then my wife shall have that huindred acres of land abovesaid (given Conditionaly to the said Samson) to provide for herself such help as shall be necessary. In case my wife shall dy before the said Samson How shall arrive at the aforesaid term of years then he shall be at my wives despose to whom she shall see good & in case the said Samson will not comply with such despose that then the said hundred acres of land intended for him shall be at my wives despose.
I give to my Daughter Lydia Perley five pounds besides what she hath already had of me.
I do give to my Daughter Mary Death five pounds besides what she hath had already.
I give to my Daughter Sarah How five pounds besides what she hath had already.
I give to my Daughter Hephzibah Ray five pounds besides what she hath had already, all which Legacies ordered to my Children I do appoint to be paid in common currant pay as is before specified to others of my children.
Note that what Legacies I do here give in my will shall be paid by my executors out of my etate which I do leave in my son Isaacs hands & to my wives, as corn or Cattell & my debts & funerall expences being discharged.
And finally I do appoint, constitute & ordain my wife Mary to be executrix together with my son John Pebody & Isaac Pebody executors of this my last will & testament & in case after Legacies paid there be any Estate left to be divided that it shall be desposed of in away of devision as my executrix together with executors shall see good.
That what is here above written is my last will & testament of the abovesaid Francis Pebody appears by his own hand & seal this day & date here mentioned as also by the testimony of the witnesses hereunto subscribed.
It is to be noted that notwithstanding what is abovesaid concerning my son Nathaniels three hundred acres returning to his brethren in Case of his dying without lawfull Issue, It is to be understood by (sic) the three hundred acres what he shall not see cause to despose of before his death I hereby nothwithstanding what hath been said giving him full power in case he see good to despose of it either in part or whole not knowing but divine providence may necessitate him thereunto, otherwise what is above written to be of full force as is expressed.
ffrancis Pabody
The above said Premises were signed sealed & declared to be the last will and testament of the said Francis Pebody this twentieth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred Ninety & five or six,
in presence of us.
Joseph Capen
Thomas Baker
Ephriam Dorman, Sen.

[Source: "Peabody Genealogy" by Selim Hobart Peabody, 1909]