Hannah APPLETON

Hannah married William DOWNES in 1672/3 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. William was born about 1650 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts; died in Mar 1692/3 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachustts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
He became a freeman on 26 Sep 1648 and was Commander-in-Chief in King Philip's War. Samuel was Deputy to the General Court in 1668 under the title of Lieutenant Samuel Appleton, and from 1669-1671 and 1673. He was elected assistant from 1681 to 1686, six years, and was one of the first council under the charter of William and Mary in 1692. A record in the Massachusetts Files in 1675 indicates that "On 24th September ordered, that a commission be issued forth to Captain Samuel Appleton, to command a foot company of 100 men." which was prompted by the Indian war, called King Philip's War, which began that year. Samuel was appointed on 4 Oct. 1675 "Command in Chief, of the army in those parts, by whose industry, skill, and courage," says Hubbard, his neighbour, "those towns were preserved from running the same fate with the rest, wholly or in part so lately turned into ashes." Samuel "did not escape the persecution of Sir Edmund Andros and his tools, probably on account of the freedom of speech, in which he denounced his (Andros) arbitrary assumption of power." He died "after a career of great civil and military distinction." His will dated 12 Apr 1695 was proved 25 May 1696.

Headstone Inscription:

Here Lyeth Buried
ye Body of
Colo Samuel Appleton
Aged 70 Years
Decd May ye 15th
1696

He came from England with his father in 1635 and became a man of the highest repute in the military and civil service. Representative in 1660, and often after until 1681, when he was made an Assistant, in which office he was continued until the over-throw of the King Charles Government in1686. In 1675, he was made Commander-in-chief of the Massachusetts forces in the west against King Philip and for the defense of the frontier towns against the Indians; he was several times successful in repelling them and saving the towns. When hatfield was attacked oct 19, 1675, a bullet passed through his hair and a sergeant was killed at his side. When succeeded by Major Savage, as commander of the forces on the Connecticut River, he was transferred to the expedition against the Narragansetts, commanding all the Massachusetts men in that expedition and at the Great Battle. for his resolute support of the people against the unlawful taxation in 1687 he was imprisoned by Gov. Andros for three months. In the new charter of William and Mary, 1691, he was made one of the council, though he did not retain the office after the following election. He was justice in Quarterly and General Sessions Court, and also of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, (April 11, 1692), for the trial of persons charged with witchcraft. He ably and faithfully performed his diversified duties as legislator and judge and was held in the highest esteem by his contemporaries.

Samuel married Hannah PAINE on 2 Apr 1651 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Hannah was born in 1628/29 in Lavenham, co. Suffolk, England; was christened on 11 Feb 1628/29 in Lavenham, co. Suffolk, Englnad; died before 1655/56 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of William Paine and Anna North