Descendants of Thomas Dow
The surname Dow occurs in the English Hundred Rolls of the thirteenth century in the time of Edward the 1st and it has been a fairly common name ever since. Our Dow lineage starts with one Thomas Dow who was born in England about 1614/1615. At his death in 1654 he is noted as being “about 39 years of age”. His place of birth and his ancestry is unknown. The name of the ship and the date of his immigration is also unknown. Thomas Dow died 31 May 1654 at Haverhill, Ma. and is noted as being “the first adult death in Haverhill” since the settlement of the town took place. Thomas married, probably in England in 1636, Phoebe Latty who was born ca 161x in England and died 03 Nov.1672 in Haverhill, Ma. Her place of birth and ancestry is unknown. Phoebe’s surname is problematic. We find her name in “The Book of Dow” by Robert P. Dow, 1929:548. In the last will and testament of Thomas Dow, dated 29 May 1654, we find “Also I Phoebe latly wife of Thomas Dow doe joyne my consent etc”. Robert P. Dow read the words to be “Phoebe Latty”; other genealogists read the words to be “Also I Phoebe lately wife of Thomas Dow etc”. This second reading is not logical as , at the time of the will preparation, Thomas is still alive and Phoebe didn’t die for many years to come. Phoebe Latty Dow married, as her second husband, on 20 Nov. 1661 at Haverhill, Ma., John Eaton who was thrice married with six surviving children who became step children to Phoebe. John Eaton died in 1668.
Thomas Dow was in Newbury, Ma. in 1639 with his wife Phoebe and at least one child. His name appears on the list of original grantees of Newbury, Ma. There was a tradition that Thomas Dow came to Newbury in 1637 at the same time one Henry Dow came and indicated a potential relationship. Much research has revealed no family ties between Thomas and Henry Dow. Thomas Dow and his family were quite poor and suffered from the lack of suitable food and they were essentially illiterate. In their lifetime, there was marginal improvement of their lot with notable improvement coming in subsequent generations. The house of Thomas Dow was located in now what is called Newburyport on the south side of Greenleaf’s lane (now State Street)leading to Watt’s cellar. Thomas was admitted as a freeman on 22 June 1642.
Thomas Dow, with his family, lived in Newbury, Ma. for fourteen years. In Nov.1653 the family removed to Haverhill, Ma. They sold their Newbury property to John Bartlett. In Haverhill, they bought, from Richard Ormsby, a property consisting of a house and a house lot of nine, more or less, acres with all appurtenances (something added or in place equipment). They paid 250L. The date of sale was 10 Nov. 1653. Early in 1654, Thomas arranged for his third son Stephen, age 12, to live with the Thomas Davis family in Haverhill until Stephen was eighteen years of age. There was not a formal document of apprenticeship but it was agreed that Stephen would be taught to read and write and the trade of stone mason in exchange for “servant service” by Stephen. The lack of a formal document outlining the details proved to be a mistake. After Thomas Dow’s death in 1654, Stephen’s mother, Phoebe tried to get “her son back home” which resulted in the case going to court. Thomas Davis refused, not withstanding his comments that Stephen was really a burden. There were many dispositions which left the impression that Stephen was really valuable to Thomas Davis. The situation became very acrimonious. Thomas Davis eventually prevailed in this court case. Our Stephen Dow survived and went forth to a fairly long life. Father Thomas Dow died at age 39; first son John died at age 38; second son Thomas died at age 36; our Stephen died at age 75.
As a matter of interest, the Ipswich Quarterly Court Records reflect another case wherein Gilbert Wilford, who married Mary Dow, the daughter of Thomas and Phoebe Latty Dow, was the plaintiff against the same Thomas Davis for non payment of rent. In this case, Thomas (2) Dow, along with others, disposed in favor of the plaintiff; the court adjudged in favor of the plaintiff, Gilbert Wilford. Defendent Thomas Davis was served a warrant, dated 05 Sept. 1670, wherein Constable David Haseltine exercised the attachment “of corn and wheat in the barn, one oxen, one yearling, and a bed with the bedding”.
All of the children of Thomas and Phoebe Latty Dow, with the exception of son John who was born in England, were born in Newbury, Ma. They all married and had families. Thomas Dow’s will was dated 29 May 1654, two days prior to his death. The will was administered on 08 Feb. 1656. His inventory amounted to less than 96 L. Phoebe Latty Dow’s dowry at the time she married John Eaton was less than 10 L. The administration of the estate of Phoebe Latty Dow Eaton was granted to her son, Stephen Dow on 08 April 1673. The New England career of our Thomas Dow was neither obscure or conspicuous. He was poorer than most of his neighbors but still managed to survive. The financial status of his descendants improved with time.
References: PH7:228; PH215:238; PH222:V2:26-29; V4:279; V8:385; FH21:255-258; FH82: 545-550,746.
Mary Dow, the fourth child and first daughter of Thomas and Phoebe Latty Dow, was born on 16 April 1644 at Newbury, Ma. and died ca 17xx in Strathan, NH. She married, as her first husband, pr 1667 at Bradford, Ma., Gilbert Wilford. They had four children, i.e., Mary born 1667, Martha born 1669, Ruth born 1672, and Nathaniel born 1675. Gilbert Wilford died prior to 02 April 1679 at which time Mary Dow Wilford married, as her second husband at Haverhill, Ma., Matthew Clark who was born ca 165x at Haverhill, Ma. and died prior 06 June 1715 at Strathan, NH. Matthew was the son of Edward and Dorcas Bosworth Clark.
References: PH7:157,816; PH178:492; PH222:V4:279; FH21:258; FH23:445-454; FH49:180; FH82:550,746.