William Lyon - Immigrated at age fourteen
Family Connection - 9th great-grandfather of Ruth Ann Hazen
William Lyon was born in England in 1621. In 1635, at age 14, he immigrated to Massachusetts on the ship "Hopewell". There is no record of anyone accompanying him, so it is presumed he came alone. He settled in Roxbury.
In colonial America, operating under British common law, the age of majority was 21. However, children 14 and older had some rights, including the right to apprentice themselves without parental permission. That is likely what William did when he came to Roxbury, although there is no documentary proof or apprenticeship records for him.
The first documentary record for William following his arrival is his admittance to the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1645.
William married Sarah Ruggles in Roxbury on June 17, 1646. They had seven children, all born in Roxbury:
John b. 1647 d. 1703
Thomas b. 1648 d. 1734
Samuel b. 1650 d. 1713
William b. 1652 d. 1714
Joseph b. 1654 d. 1721
Sarah b. 1656 d. 1721
Jonathan b. 1666 d. 1668
There are no records to indicate if William practiced a trade, although it would be likely of he completed an apprenticeship.
Starting in 1647, there are records of William Lyon mortgaging property to several men, including Thomas Dudley, the Governor of Massachusetts. It seems from the records that William raised cash by mortgaging his property, then using that cash to purchase additional property. It appears he made his living by buying and selling real estate.
Records indicate that William's wife Sarah was admitted to the church in Roxbury in 1650. William was not admitted until 1665. He was granted Freemanship at age 45 in May 1666.
Sarah Lyon died in 1676. William then married Martha Philbrick, daughter of Thomas Philbrick and widow of John Cass in November 1676.
William Lyon died in May of 1692 and was buried in Roxbury on May 21, 1692. At the time of his death, his estate totaled £213, including £148 of real estate. His will appointed his eldest son John as sole executor. The will specifies that his house and all land except a salt marsh worth £18 go to his eldest son John. The salt marsh was to be split between Thomas and William. He also specifies that the land bequeathed to John be entailed, to be inherited by John's oldest son, with Thomas and Samuel as secondary legatees if John has no sons surviving him. Each of William's sons also inherited £16.
William's wife Martha was given £7 per year, plus the use of "the new lean-to at the western end of my home to dwell in". Martha died two years later, in 1694.
William and Sarah are buried in the Eliot Burying Ground in Roxbury. Martha's burial details are not known,
William Lyon > Samuel Lyon > Sarah Lyon > Hannah Curtis > Abigail Guild > Sarah Graves > Hannah Rice > John M L Babcock > Charles Sydney Babcock > Jesse Louise Babcock > Charles Stuart
Bradley > Ruth Ann Bradley Charts B-B and B-Main
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