John BICKNELL

Notes:

Name:
John Bicknell spent the whole of his long and useful life in Weymouth. His occupation was that of a farmer and cooper, as shown by the inventory of his personal estate. It is probable that he built the east part of the old house now standing at North Weymouth, known as "the John Bicknell House," and that this house was his home for a considerable part of his life.

He was buried at Burial Hill, between North and East Weymouth. The headstone of his grave bears this inscription:

HERE LYES YE ODY OF
MR. JOHN BICKNELL, SENR.,
DEC. AUGUST 4TH,
1737,
IN YE 84TH
OF HIS AGE

Family/Spouse: Sarah ?. Sarah died on 12 Feb 1730. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Benjamin BICKNELL was born on 8 Jun 1694 in Weymouth, Massachusetts; died on 27 Oct 1772 in Weymouth, Massachusetts.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of Zachary and Agnes Bicknell

Notes:

Name:
John Bicknell, the carpenter, was a man in constant service in the new settlement, as soon as axes, adzes, and saw mills could convert the oak and pine forests into lumber for the more comfortable and commodious frame houses to take the place of the primitive log cabins. As he was a man well known in the town, it is probable that many of the old houses of Weymouth were built by our ancestor, whose hours of labor were from sunrise to sunset, and his compensation not exceeding a dollar a day. Even with small wages and frugal fare, John became an extensive landholder, was one of the strong supporters of the Congregational Church and worship, and in town and Colony business held high rank for intelligence, judgment, honesty and large capacity for public affairs. His children were bought up to habits of industry, his two oldest sons becoming landholders and farmers, and the younger, Thomas, a blacksmith. John died, January, 1679, aged 55, and was buried at Burial Hill, Weymouth.

John married Mary SHAW. Mary was born on 18 Jun 1626; died on 25 Mar 1658. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Abraham Shaw and Bridget Best