In 1718 Abigail second married
Ens. John Holden (3623) , son of
Richard Holden (1489) (ca 1609-1 Mar 1695/6) &
Martha Fosdick (1455) (ca 1620-6 Dec 1681).
155 Born ca 1656 in Woburn, MA.155 John died in Woburn, MA on 18 Oct 1756.155 Occupation: Yeoman.
John first married Abigail, second Sarah Pierce, and third Abigail (Morse) Morse, widow of James Morse.
From the Holden Genealogy, pages 74–76:155
John Holden of Woburn, yeoman, and Abigail his wife, John Parkhurst of Weston, and Abigail his wife, John Morse of Needham and Nathaniel Morse of Weston, and Joseph, Abigail and Zachariali Morse, children of Joseph Morse late of Watertown, sell to Joshua Warrin of Watertown a messuage there, being the mansion house, etc., of James Morse of Watertown, deceased. 13 March, 1718-9.
John Holden was about nineteen years of age at the time of the exodus from Groton. Three years later, 25 July, 1679, his brothers and sisters, having received a quitclaim from their parents of their interest in the forty acres bequeathed them by their grandfather Stephen Fosdick, joined in conveying to him the entire tract of forty acres, bounded southeast with lands of Faintnot Wines, and elsewhere by the commons.3 This land was near the Graves farm on which his sister, wife of Thomas Williams, lived, and also close to the Charlestown line and to the farm soon after purchased by his brother Samuel. Here he made his home, adding to his possessions from time to time, and followed the trade of a carpenter or housewright.
There is no mention on the Woburn records of John Holden until December, 1683, when both he and his father are rated in the town rate, he for one person and estate at two shillings and his father for one shilling, eight pence. He was admitted a freeman 9 July, 1684. He was chosen, 4-11 mo., 1685, one of two tythingmen for the following year. On the 23 Feb., 1685-6, the town granted him “an acre nere his house, paying a shilling in money to the towne.” In the country rate of August, 1690, Samuel Holden was rated for his estate, John for his person and estate, and Justinian for his person and estate, 1 sh. 4 d., 2 sh. 6 d., 2 sh. 8 d., respectively. In 1693 John Holden paid one third of his town rate by work on the meeting house, and 4 Feb., 1694-5, was elected one of twelve tythingmen. In August, 1698, upon the occasion of the “tax for his Majestys service,” he appears as “Sargent,” a title given him also the preceding year, and 1 March, 1699-1700, he was chosen constable. The title of ensign succeeds that of sergeant in 1706 in the town records. These military titles arose from his rank in the town train-band. His commission as ensign in the foot company commanded by Captain Josiah Converse, dated 21 Nov., 1706, is mentioned in Cutter's list of Woburn soldiers as being extant. He probably was first chosen sergeant by the train-band in 1697. In 1676 there was a “Sergeant Holden of Woburn,” who was probably Justinian, brother of John. In a letter dated 3 Feb., 1675-6, James Stoakes, writing from Rhode Island where he was with the army, and where he soon died, says, “pray Looke after my armes, seargent Holden of Woburne hath got them.”
John Holden practically disposed of his entire estate in lands to his sons2 before his seventieth year. Jonathan was given the middle section of the farm, John the dwelling house and adjacent lands, and Thomas the eastern end. In1726 he bought another farm bounding on Stoneham. At the time of his death, which did not come until he had nearly reached the century mark, he had but a small estate, upon which his son Jonathan had administration 15 Nov., 1756. The inventory rendered 8 Dec. disclosed only personal effects to the value of £22-7-2. The estate of his son John was settled the preceding April.
Descendants in the male line from Ensign John Holden, after the Revolution were found only in the person of his grandson Captain Nathaniel and the latter’s son Captain John Holden.