Gregory Stone was born 19 April 1592 in Great Bromley, Essex, England to David Stone (1538-1625) and Ursula Stone (1556-1592) and died 30 November 1672 Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States of unspecified causes. He married Margaret Garrad (1597-1626) 20 July 1617 in Nayland, Suffolk, England. He married Lydia Fiske (1595-1674) 1627 in Suffolk, England.
Biography
Immigrated with his family on the ship The Increase from Ipswich, England, arriving in Massachusetts in April 1635. He was a deacon of the Cambridge church, freeman in 1636, representative in 1638, was one of the proprietors of Watertown, and died 30 Nov 1672, aged 82 years.
He was baptized 19 Apr 1592 at Great Bromley, Co. Essex, England, the son of David Stone and Ursula ____ Stone. He was the brother of Simon Stone.
Another Source: Gregory was a nephew of emmigrant Simon STONE, lived across river from Simon and emigrated at same time. settled in Cambridge., Deacon, freeman 1636, representative 1638, one of the proprietors of Watertown.
Migration to America
While his brother Simon Stone (and family) is listed on the ship passenger role of 1635 for Increase, Gregory's name is not found there.
Cambridge Epitaphs
"Nothing is left to mark his resting place but a foot stone, by the side of that of Elder John Stone, his son, on which may be traced the letters G.S., the initials of his name. Nearby, may be seen the grave-stone of Deacon John Cooper, the son of Mrs. Gregory Stone (whom, as the widow Cooper, Deacon Stone married in England) died in 24 Jun 1674." [from the book by William Thaddeus Harris, Epitaphs from the Old Burying Ground in Cambridge: With Notes, 1845, p.179].
Stone Family Records
From the book Gregory Stone Genealogy: Ancestry and Descendants of Dea. Gregory Stone of Cambridge Mass. 1320-1917, 1918, p.65, the author, Joseph Gardner Bartlett, states: "A simple footstone bearing the initials G.S. was the only mark of his resting place until recent years, when a descendant, the late James Sullivan Stone of Boston, erected a monument, suitably inscribed."
Watertown Founders Monument
Watertown Founders Monument
He is listed on Watertown Founders Monument, commemorating the first settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts. The town was first known as Saltonstall Plantation, one of the earliest of the Massachusetts Bay Colony settlements. Founded in early 1630 by a group of settlers led by Richard Saltonstall and George Phillips, it was officially incorporated that same year. The alternate spelling "Waterton" is seen in some early documents.
This monument lists David Fiske (1601-1662), his step-brother Nathaniel Fiske (1615-1676), cousin John Fiske (c1629-1684) and two brother in-laws, Gregory Stone (1590-1672) and Martin Underwood (1596-1672).
Marriage and Family
1st Marriage: Margaret Garrad
His first wife, married at Nayland, Co. Suffolk, England on 20 Jul 1617, was Margaret Garrad Stone, the daughter of Thomas Garrad and Christian Frende Garrad. She died 4 Aug 1626.
2nd Marriage: Lydia Fiske
Gregory Stone married (2) Lydia Fiske Cooper, the widow of Simon Cooper. They had 3 children: Elizabeth Potter, Samuel, & Sarah Merriam. She died at Cambridge on 24 Jun 1674. (Lydia had two children with her 1st husband: John & Lydia Cooper.) Source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| John Stone (1618-1683) | |||
| Daniel Stone (1620-1687) | |||
| David Stone (1622-1704) | |||
| Elizabeth Stone (1624-1626) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Elizabeth Stone (1628-1712) | 6 March 1628 Nayland, Suffolk, England | 10 March 1712 Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts | Anthony Potter (1628-1690) |
| Samuel Stone (1631-1715) | |||
| Sarah Stone (1633-1704) | |||
Siblings
Research Notes
Vital Records
Cambridge Gravestone
- Location: Cambridge Old Burying Ground
- Inscription:
Inscription: GREGORY STONE BORN IN ENGLAND 1590 CAME TO AMERICA 1635 DIED NOV. 30 1672 ERECTED BY DESCENDANTS
Watertown Memorial
- Location: Watertown Old Burying Place
Note: Not actual burial site, but a memorial only. Inscription:
IN MEMORY OF SIMON STONE 1586 - 1665 AND GREGORY STONE 1592 - 1672 SONS OF DAVID AND URSULA STONE BORN IN GREAT BROMLEY, ESSEX COUNTY, ENGLAND WHO EMIGRATED TO NEW ENGLAND IN 1635 AND SETTLED IN WATERTOWN
THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED BY THE STONE FAMILY ASSOCIATION IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THESE EARLY SETTLERS WHO IN THEIR LOVE OF CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY LEFT THEIR HOMES AND SO MUCH THAT WAS DEAR TO THEM IN ENGLAND AND BY THEIR COURAGE, TOIL. AND SACRIFICE HELPED TO FOUND THIS COMMONWEALTH.
References
- Deacon Gregory Stone of Watertown - GENI
- Gregory Stone at Find A Grave #48516122