Person Page - 44

     John Matson was born on 26 January 1664/65 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass..¹ He was the son of John Matson and Mary Cotton. He married, at age 26 years, Mary Adams, age 26 years, daughter of Edward Adams and Elizabeth Buckland, in 1692 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn..^2,3 He died on 11 May 1728 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn., at age 63.⁴
     

     John Matson, born to a family of gunsmiths in Boston, came to Simsbury as a relatively young bachelor. In 1686 he was given a grant in that part of Simsbury known as Salmon Brook (later Granby). The residents of Simsbury were looking for young, ambitious, men willing to accept the dangers of settling an outlying area. Men like John Matson, Nathaniel Holcomb, Samuel Adams and Samuel Wilcoxson Jr. were just the type of individuals they needed.
     At the advent of King William's War, most of the residents of Salmon Brook retreated to Simsbury's Hop Meadow where it would be more advantageous to fortify against a possible threat. John Matson chose to move to "Scotland", on the east side of the ridge, possibly with his business partner, James Miles. By 1692, men were once again working the fields in the Salmon Brook area and efforts were made to re-settle the area. A grant was made to John Matson on "Crooked Brook" on condition that he take up residence within two years. By then, John had married Mary Adams, the daughter of John Miles wife by her first marriage. Although John probably intended to establish his residence in Salmon Brook, it was not until 1697, when his grant was renewed, that he moved back to the area.
     In 1694, John had dissolved his partnership with James Miles and they divided their livestock and commodities, among the items, cattle, swine, horses, corn, flax and tobacco. In legal transactions, James Miles and John Matson referred to each other as "son-in-law", "father" and "father-in-law". This statement, from Simsbury land records, helps clarify the relationship. "I, John Matson, having received of my father-in-law James Miles of Simsbury sufficient satisfaction of all due to me in right of my wife Mary Discharge James Miles or any administrators of all rights that do belong to me in right of my wife Mary from the estate of my father Adams".⁵ "Father Adams" was Edward Adams, the deceased husband of Elizabeth (Buckland) Adams and the mother of John's wife, Mary. Elizabeth (Buckland) Adams had married James Miles as her second husband.
     In 1686, John was near the bottom of the economic ladder, and his position had not improved very much bay 1696. However, he is an example of the opportunities available on the frontier. John and Mary raised their family in Salmon Brook and he was valued as an "outliver" willing to raise a large family on the frontiers of a war zone. He would eventually receive grants totaling in the neighborhood of 200 acres for his efforts. Eventually, John, along with others in the vicinity, such as George Hayes, began buying up land that river town creditors were eager to unload. They were able to assemble considerable estates to divide among their heirs by the late 1720's.
     John died in 1728. His mother-in-law, Elizabeth (Buckland) (Adams) Miles, died the following year, and his wife, Mary, in 1730. John's estate was valued at £382, besides that which he had previously distributed to his heirs.⁶

     Mercy Lamson was born in 1730. She was the daughter of Ebenezer Lamson and Mary Matson. She married Elisha Hayes, age 23, son of George Hayes and Jane Matson, on 22 August 1754 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn..

     Jonathan Lamson was born in 1730. He was the son of Ebenezer Lamson and Mary Matson. He died on 30 March 1741 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn..

     David Lamson was born on 25 December 1723. He was the son of Ebenezer Lamson and Mary Matson. He married (1), at age 33, Lydia Lamson, daughter of Joseph Lamson and Mary Ann (__?__), on 6 July 1757 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn.. He married (2) Rachel Griffin, daughter of John Griffin and Eleanor Holcomb. He died before 1772.

     Hannah Lamson was born on 25 December 1723. She was the daughter of Ebenezer Lamson and Mary Matson. She married, at age 25, Matthew Griffin, age 23, son of John Griffin and Eleanor Holcomb, on 9 June 1749 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn.. She died after 1772.

     Ebenezar Lamson III was born on 19 May 1753. He was the son of Ebenezer Lamson Jr. and Zerviah Hayes.

     Benjamin Lamson was born on 22 October 1756. He was the son of Ebenezer Lamson Jr. and Zerviah Hayes.

     Sarah Lamson was born on 27 October 1750. She was the daughter of Ebenezer Lamson Jr. and Zerviah Hayes.

     Anna Humphrey was born on 2 August 1728 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn.. She was the daughter of John Humphrey III and Lydia Reade. She married (2), at age 33, Ebenezer Lamson Jr., age 40, son of Ebenezer Lamson and Mary Matson, on 8 November 1761 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn.. She died on 1 April 1809 in Granby, Hartford Co., Conn., at age 80.

     John Matson was baptized on 10 July 1636 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass..¹ He was the son of Sergt. Thomas Matson and Amy Chambers. He married (1), at age 23, Mary Cotton, age 18, daughter of Sergt. William Cotton and Ann (__?__), on 7 March 1659/60 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass., married by Maj. Humphrey Atherton.^2,3 He married (2) Jane (__?__) between 1668 and 1671.⁴ He died in 1684 at age 47 years.⁴
     
Military Service: in 1676 veteran of King Philip's War.

     I have little information on the family of John and Mary. At the age of 23, John married 18 year old Mary Cotton. Mary died about 8 years later leaving John with four young children. John remarried Jane (_____) shortly after and had one child with his second wife.
     John was a veteran of King Philip's War. On August 24, 1676, The town of Andover was reimbursed in the amount of £2.14.00 for John Matson's service.
     In 1670, Theodore Atkinson, for "gratitude, love and affection toward Thomas Matson Sen. and his wife Amy", deeds portions of a large tract of land in the City of Boston to John and his brothers and sister. Theodore is the husband of Ann Chambers, sister of Amy, Johns' mother .

     Dorcas Messenger was born on 23 September 1650 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn.. She was the daughter of Edward Messenger and Dorcas(?) (__?__). She married Peter Mills before 1666. She died on 18 May 1688 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn., at age 37.

     Deliverance Messenger was born on 7 April 1655 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn.. She was the daughter of Edward Messenger and Dorcas(?) (__?__). She died in 1676 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn., at age 20 years.

     Peter Mills married Dorcas Messenger, daughter of Edward Messenger and Dorcas(?) (__?__), before 1666.

     Andrew Messenger was born before 1618 in England. He was the son of (__?__) (__?__). He married Rachael (__?__) circa 1641. He died circa 1680 in Jamaica, Long Island, New York.

     Henry Messenger was born before 1618. He was the son of (__?__) (__?__). He married Sarah (__?__). He died in 1681 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass..

     Susannah (__?__) married Samuel Messenger, son of Andrew Messenger and Rachael (__?__).

     Rebecca Messenger was born on 11 February 1684/85 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn.. She was the daughter of Nathaniel Messenger and Rebecca Kelsey. She married, at age 23, William Kelsey, age 24, son of Stephen Kelsey and Hannah Ingersoll, on 5 January 1708/9. She died circa 1 January 1756.

     Nathan Messenger was born on 7 April 1683 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn.. He was the son of Nathaniel Messenger and Rebecca Kelsey. He died on 30 December 1683 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn., at age 0 at age 8 months.¹

     Hannah Messenger was born in September 1682 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn.. She was the daughter of Nathaniel Messenger and Rebecca Kelsey.

     John Messenger was born on 24 November 1689 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn.. He was the son of Nathaniel Messenger and Rebecca Kelsey.

     Return Messenger was born on 4 August 1691 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn.. He was the son of Nathaniel Messenger and Rebecca Kelsey. He married, at age 21, Sarah Bevin, daughter of Arthur Bevin and Mary (__?__), on 16 April 1713 in Windham, Windham Co., Conn.. He died after 1731 in Elizabethtown, New Jersey.

     Nathan Messenger was born on 29 November 1693 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn.. He was the son of Nathaniel Messenger and Rebecca Kelsey. He married, at age 35, Sarah Smith, of Farmington, on 8 November 1729.

     Rachael (__?__) married Andrew Messenger, son of (__?__) (__?__), circa 1641. She died after 1688.

     Sarah (__?__) married Henry Messenger, son of (__?__) (__?__). She died after September 1694 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass..

     William Kelsey was born on 19 February 1683/84. He was the son of Stephen Kelsey and Hannah Ingersoll. He married, at age 24, Rebecca Messenger, age 23, daughter of Nathaniel Messenger and Rebecca Kelsey, on 5 January 1708/9. He died in February 1746/47.