First Families of Topsfield, Massachusetts

Principal families that settled into Topsfield, Massachusetts during the 17th Century:

Topsfield is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,085 at the 2010 census. The early colonial history of Topsfield is colored by its first native American residents and then several unusual religious experiences of the community:

Chief Masconomet, for whom Masconomet Regional High School is named, was the sagamore or chief of the Agawam at this time. He welcomed Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor John Winthrop (1587-1649) on his arrival in Salem Harbor in 1630. Masconomet deeded all the Agawams' land to Winthrop in 1638 in exchange for twenty pounds sterling. The English had settled within the bounds of modern-day Topsfield by 1643. They originally named their settlement New Meadows.

See Also :

• Topsfield Historical Society
• Essex Heritage Area -

Averill Family

• William Averill (1626-1691) - English Migrant who settled in Topsfield.
• Sarah Averill Wildes (1627-1692) - falsely accused of witchcraft and executed during the Salem witch trials, Sister of William.

Capen Family

Parson Capen House in Topsfield, Massachusetts.

The Parson Capen House is a historic house in Topsfield, Massachusetts, that was built in 1683. It has drawn attention as an example of early colonial architecture and due to its well-preserved condition compared to other houses built at that time. In addition to his annual salary, the town granted Capen 12 acres of "land & medow [sic] & swamp" where he built his parsonage house, known today as the Parson Capen House.

• Rev. Joseph Capen (1658-1725), a highly regarded Puritan clergyman of Topsfield, Massachusetts and builders of the Parson Capen House there.

Peabody Family

• Francis Peabody (1614-1698) - English migrant and patriarch to settle in Topsfield. Md twice to Lydia Perkins (1614-1647) & Mary Foster (1620-1705).

Towne Family

• William Towne (1599-1685) - English migrant who settled in Topsfield.

Towne family includes three elderly sisters accused and convicted of witchcraft. Because of their large posterity, many Americans today might be to trace their connection to the Salem witch trials thru one of them.

• Rebecca Town Nurse (1621-1692) - Falsely accused and hanged for witchcraft.
• Mary Town Estey (1634-1692) - was baptized August 24, 1634. She married Isaac Estey/Eastie. Mary was hanged on September 22, 1692, during the Salem witch trials [at age 58]. Their son was: ..... Isaac Estey, Jr. married Abigail Kimball.
• Sarah Towne Cloyce (1642-1703) - born 03 Sep 1637, in Salem, MA. She married (1) Edmund Bridges (2) Peter Cloyce. Sarah Cloyce was accused of witchcraft, in 1692 and put into prison, and later released. She pressed charges for her unlawful arrest and that of her sisters. She received three gold sovereigns for each of them. The movie, Three Sovereigns For Sister Sarah is about this event. Her daughter was: ..... Hepzibah Cloyce, married Ebenezer Harrington.

Wildes Family

• John Wildes (1618-1705) - English migrant who settled in Topsfield.
• Sarah Averill Wildes (1627-1692) - falsely accused of witchcraft and executed during the Salem witch trials, Sister of William.
• Ephraim Wildes (1665-1725) - Constable for Topsfield during Salem witch trials.