aton Families AssociationPress Release February 2008 |
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John and Dorcas _______ Eaton of Reading, MA For at least 119 years we have believed that John Eaton (John of the Plain), born in Reading, MA (10 Oct, 1645-25 May 1691), the son of Jonas and Grace Eaton, married Dorcas Green. We now believe that John's wife was Dorcas Pearson. During the late 1800s, the Eaton Families Association was quite active in researching the family lines. In 1888, the Association Report given at the annual reunion in Boston on October 31st of that year stated that Dorcas Green(e) was the wife of John Eaton. The Vital Records of Reading showed the following for the marriage: Apparently Dorcas Green(e) was the only Dorcas that fit this union, or so they thought. Cutter, in New England Families Genealogical and Memorial made the same mistake, naming Dorcas Green(e) as the wife, but did not provide further identification. The only Dorcas Green(e) recorded within the time span was Dorcas Green(e), born 1 Mar 1653 in Malden, Middlesex, MA (Vital Records of Malden), daughter of Thomas Green(e) and Elizabeth Lynde of Malden. This Dorcas, however, married James Barrett 11 Nov 1671 in Malden (Vital Records of Malden). The marriage was also confirmed by Savage, although with a slightly different date, and is shown in NEHGS Register, Volume 137, page 239 Descendants of Abraham Bryant, citing Charlestown Genealogies and Estates. Dorcas, widow of James, died in 1682 according to Series 1, New England Families Genealogical and Memorial by William Richard Cutter, which reads as follows: Dorcas Pearson was born up the river in Rowley on Feb 25, 1649/50, daughter of John and Dorcas Pearson. (Vital Records of Rowley) According to "Four Generations of the Descendants of John and Dorcas Pearson of Rowley, Massachusetts in 1643," researched, compiled, and edited by Noreen C. Pramburg (1994) (Research Library, New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Boston), Dorcas Pearson married John Eaton on November 26, 1674 (same date as VR Reading). Dorcas Pearson Eaton outlived John Eaton, married second, Abraham Bryant of Reading, and died in Reading in 1728. (Vital Records of Reading, and NEHGS Register, Vol. 137, p 236, Descendants of Abraham Bryant) Thanks to Eaton Family Association member Charley Eaton for bringing this to our attention and doing most of the research. |