John Thomas Heald (I) (jan 1, 1611 – may 24, 1662)

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82078029/john-heald

https://www.americanancestors.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/nehgr-register-177-1-winter-2023-entire.pdf

"Randy A. West corrects a long-held assumption in The Correct English Origin of John Heald of Concord, Massachusetts. In 1933, Clarence Almon Torrey noted the 1636 marriage of “Johannes Heald & Dorothea Royle” in the parish register of Alderley, Cheshire, and the baptism of a son John in the same parish the following year, facts that appeared to match what was known about the family of the Concord settler. John’s 1662 will names “my thre[e] eldest Children” John, Timothy, and Hannah. The author searched English baptismal records and found records corresponding to what is known of these children in New England, in the parish of Wakefield, Yorkshire. While John’s younger children were by his wife Dorothy, the mother of his three eldest children was John’s first wife Eunice. John Heald and Eunice Blackburn were married in 1631 in Sandal Magna, Yorkshire, a neighboring parish to Wakefield."

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/253799734/john-heald

Older information from 1933 research has been proved incorrect in the Winter 2023 issue of NEHGR, Volume 177, pp.85ff. His parentage is not known and Dorothy was his SECOND wife and the mother of all but the first three children of John Heald. Dorothy's maiden name and origins are not known, and the Dorothy Royle who married John Heald in 1636 was a different Dorothy. His first wife's name was Eunice Blackburn, married at Sandal Magna, Co.Yorkshire in 1631. No details are found for her.

Immigrated from England by 1640, He opened a livery stable.

John Heald, (or Hale) as the name was often spelled in the early records, was one of the first settlers of Concord, MA. Some say 1635, but it may be 1641, as suggested by the birth of his first three children.

He was admitted a freeman, June 2, 1641, and lived for some time at Roxbury and Cambridge, before settling in Concord. In 1654/5 he received his second share of division land.

His will, written by his own hand, was dated the 19th of April the same year. In it he named his three eldest children , John, Timothy and Hannah, who had received their portions of his estate, and "my five youngest children," whose names he does not list. Beloved wife Dorothy was to be sole executrix.

Children by first wife Eunice — baptised in Wakefield, Co.Yorkshire:
1. John HEALD II, bp. 18 Jan 1633/4; d. 17 Jun 1689, Concord, Middlesex Co., MA
2. Timothy HEALD, bp. 9 Apr 1636; d. 26 Aug 1689
3. Hannah HALLE / HALE / HEALD, bp. 18 May 1639

Chikdren by second wife Dorothy— born in Concord, Middlesex Co., MA:
4. Dorcas HEALD, b. 22 May 1645; d. there 3 Jan 1649/50
5. Gershom HEALD / HALE, b. 23 Jan 1646/7; d. 1717, Stow, Middlesex Co., MA
6. Dorothy HEALD, b. 16 Aug 1649; m. 3 Aug 1670, Lancaster, MA, John PRESCOTT
7. an unnamed child, b. c1653, living 1662 at the time of John Heald's will.
8. Isaac HEALD, b. ca. 1656; d. 1717
9. Israel HEALE, b. 30 Jul 1660

He died May 24, 1662. Will, dated 29 Apr 1662, proved 16 Jun 1662, left everything to wife, Dorothy; children, John, Timothy, Hannah and five younger children.

" The Honorable John S. Keyes in his article about Concord, written for Hurd's
History of Middlesex County, gives us the names of some of the first settlers. Speaking of Simon Willard, Judge Keyes says"He was the leader of the small company, made up of Peter Bulkeley, the minister, John Jones, the teaching elder, William Buttrick, James Hosmer, Robert Fletcher, John Ball, George Hayward, Richard Rice, William Hartwell, John Heald, William Judson, Luke Potter, John Scotch ford, Merriam, and Wheelers with their families."
Carlisle, It's History and Heritage. By Ruth Chamberlain Wilkens. pg 8

THE WILL OF JOHN HEALD (1615-1662) From Berwick-on-Tweed, 1631-1635, Freeman:1641

I, John Heald of Concord in County of Middlesex in Massachusetts Colony, being sick in body but of perfect mind and memory, I do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following: first i commit my soule into the hands of the lord my gratious God in Jesus Christ resting upon his free grace (?) that he will receive it---and my body to the Earth to be decently buryed therin; believing the ressurection thereof at the Last Day, and hoping that both souls and body shall bee glorified together with my blessed redeemer forever; Also for the outward estate which god hath given me;
my three eldest children that is to say John my eldest son, and Timothy and my daughter Hannah having received their portions of my estate; I do here by give and bequeth to my five younger children; to each of them the sum of thirteen(13) pounds six shillings and eight pence to be payed unto the said children by my loving wife Dorothy or her assigns (?) when the foresaid children shall come to the age of twenty and one years or at their marriage; and the rest of my estate be it more or less I do hereby give it to my said wife to dispose of as she shall think good excepting one (?) suit of cloaths which I give to my eldst son John, and my great coat to my son Timothy: and a waistcoat to my daughter Hannah; Also I do hereby appoint and constitute my said beloved wife Dorothy, the sole executrix of this my last will and testament.
In wittnes wherof I doe herto set my hand and seal this ninteenth day of April one thousand six hundred sixty two.
(signed)John Heald
Wittnessed herof
John Flynt (signed)
Ephraim Flynt (signed)
Thomas Brown (signed)
Attested, Simon Willard (signed)

Entered
June 18 1662 Thomas Danforth

Inventory May 31, 1662 shows
Estate of 141 lbs-1 shilling and debts of 1 lb to be paid
Net estate of 140-1
(signed) Robert Meriam, George Wheeler, Thomas Brooks......(Could not read the rest)

This typed copy of John Heald I of Concord's Will came to me by way of Jack Heald through E.P. HealD
La Mesa, CA, 1969.

Buried
Old Hill Burying Ground
Concord, MA

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