Major Joseph Grafton, Sr.

GRAFTON, JOSEPH, Salem 1636, freem. 17 May 1637; had w. Mary who d. Nov 1674, and ch.

• Priscilla;
• Joseph, bapt. 24 Jan. 1637;
• John, 28 Apr. 1639, bef. ment. and
• Nathaniel, 24 Apr. or 1 May1642.

He was an active mariner and merch. his second wife was Bethia, widow of capt. Thomas Lathrop, d. of Daniel Rea, or Ray, who as admor. of Lathrop joined with him in 1681, to settle the estate with Ezekiel Cheever, and his w. Ellen, sis. of Lathrop and after his (Grafton's) d. m. bef. 26 June 1683, deac. William Goodhue.

Priscilla m. 20 Feb. 1654, John Gardner. --JAMES SAVAGE

He was a successful Salem sea captain and merchant who had a ketch of forty tons which on 17 May 1640, made a voyage to Pemaquid, "brought back some twenty cows, oxen etc with hay and water for them to the bay". Later He got mixed up in the LaTour, D'Aulnay controversy, lost his ship and suffered severely.

From Admiralty Examinations.

In the case of Joseph Grafton of Salem and Edmund Henfield of Boston in New Egland. 3 February 1650/1. Robert Henfield of Boston, mariner, deposed on that date, aged about 28 years, that Joseph Grafton of Salem in New England and William Andrews of Cambridge in New England were owners of the ship Diligence of Boston, which was seized between Cabe Sable and Cape Cod in May last since four years by two French men-of-war, and the crew were put ashore on an uninhabited island off Cape Sable, in St John's Bay, Newfoundland.

Roland Bever of Boston, Mariner, aged 26 years, aslo deposed to the above.

Nicholas Trewergy of Piscataqua, sailor, aged about 22 years, deposed that the ship was owned by Joseph Grafton, Robert Henfield and William Andrews.

Henry Parker of St Mathew's Friday Street London, formerly of Boston in New England aged about 25 years, aslo deposed. Edmund Henfield was a "Kinsman" of Joseph's. Who was Robert of Boston?Page: Vol 88 p386

His children are: Elizabeth Saunders (Grafton) 1622-1628, Thomas Grafton 1624-1697, Priscilla Gardner (Grafton) 1626-1717, Bethia Grafton born 1630, Joseph Grafton III 1637-1670, John Grafton SR 1639-1715, Nathaniel Grafton 1642-1670, Mary Grant (Grafton) 1646-1713 and Joshua Grafton.

References

• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hwbradley/aqwg2322.htm#45685
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Grafton-13