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- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Today's Hampden County of Massachusetts was originally Middlesex County until it was split off in 1662 and named Hampshire County. Hampden County was formed from Hampshire County in 1812.
2. The book "Anthony Dorchester and his Descendants," by Janice P. Dorchester (1998) Janice P. Dorchester, p. 5:
"JOHN2 B. DORCHESTER (Anthony1) was born 4 November 1644, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut; died 5 October 1705, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.
He married his step-sister, MARY HARMON, born 12 November 1651, daughter of John Harmon, 20 April 1671, in Springfield, Massachusetts. After her death, John married SARAH GAYLORD, daughter of Samuel Gaylord, on 29 November 1671. John Dorchester had no children.
In 1662 John was assigned a church pew "below the pillars". Two years later he received 30 acres of land from his father, Anthony Dorchester. When help was needed at the corn mill in 1665, John gave two days of work.
John was made a constable in 1668. He sided with his father and brother in protesting the custom tax. In 1672 John was granted part of a meadow. By 1674 John was maintaining the ferry. On 1 January 1678, John took the Oath of Allegiance to King Charles II.
After Anthony Dorchester's death in 1683, John presented his father's inventory to the court, as he and his brother James were administrators of the estate. His sister and step-sisters went to the court because they felt it was their father's intention to give them a larger share in the inheritance. John had land on the west side of the Greate (Connecticut) River below the Agawam River and James had land on the east side. John also held a parcel of land (approximately 10 acres on the west side of the river at what is called the neck). By September 1684 John and James conveyed to John Harmon, husband of their sister, Mary, and to Joseph Stebbins, husband of their step-sister, Sarah, several acres of land instead of a monetary settlement. Martha Kitcherell, their step-mother's daughter was not awarded anything by the court in the dispute. Martha was married to Abell Wright.
By 1690 John Dorchester was listed as a freeman in Springfield, Massachusetts.
References: The Dorchester Pedigree by Daniel Dorchester III, 1902, pp 2, 3, 7. Dorchester Family Chronicles, 1995, by Earle and Patricia Swanson pp. 14, 17-23. New England Marriages Prior to 1700 by Torrey, pg. 226. Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Vol. II, pp. 60-61, 357. Births, Deaths & Marriages of Hartford, Windsor & Fairfield."
3. Per 16 Feb 2002 website: <http://www.gencircles.com/users/cherylbills/1/data/30>:
"Mary Harmon
Birth: 12 Nov 1651 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts
Death: 5 Oct 1715
Father:John Harmon; Mother: Elizabeth
LDS Baptism: 19 Oct 1915
LDS Endowment: 3 Dec 1919
LDS Sealing Child: 31 Oct 1923
Spouse John Dorchester, MARRIAGE:20 Apr 1671 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts
Notes Individual: Artemus Harmon book p. 159; Title: New England Historic Genealogical Register (NEHGR) V. 18, p. 142: 'Mary Hermon d. of John Hermon, borne ye 12 day of ye 9 mon, 1651.'"
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