M. 19 Apr 1687 in Northampton, Massachusetts
Wife: Mindwell Shelton
D. 8 Nov 1740 in Northampton, Massachusetts
John Lyman not only passed his home to his descendants, he passed his profession as well. He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts on August 1, 1660, the oldest son in the family of John Lyman and Dorcas Plumb. The Lymans had settled in Northampton only a couple years before John’s birth; he had two older sisters and would have seven younger siblings. John’s father was a leader in the militia and was a lieutenant during King Philip’s War.
John married another Northampton resident, Mindwell Sheldon, on April 19, 1687; she had been previously married to John Pomeroy, who died two years earlier. The newlyweds settled at the southern end of Northampton in a place called South Farms, not far from Smith’s Ferry (the location is in present-day Holyhoke). Eleven children were born there between 1688 and 1713. Along with running a farm, John opened up his home to travelers coming and going to Northampton. It’s not known exactly when John began what became known as Lyman’s Tavern, but it was said that he operated it until the end of his life.
During the 1690s, John served in the militia and was involved in King William’s War. England and France were at war in Europe, which led to threats of invasion from New France. John was one of 19 men from Northampton who went to Deerfield, the northernmost town in western Massachusetts. On September 16, 1696, Indians who sided with the French raided settlers nearby, capturing and killing several people including women and children. John was very likely part of the force who pursued the attackers afterwards.
John returned home to South Farms and resumed his life as farmer and innkeeper. His son Phineas attended Yale in 1725, but he died while a student there. John’s wife Mindwell passed away in 1735, and John died on November 8, 1740. After his death, his son Elias took over the homestead, continuing as a tavern keeper, and when he died in 1790, his son Joel took over the business. It was said that Lyman’s Tavern remained in the family for over 125 years.
A piece of furniture connected to John has survived for three centuries. It's a wooden chest which was custom-made for his daughter Esther in preparation for marriage. There are several other similar chests in existence, presumably made by the same furniture maker in Northampton.
Esther Lyman's blanket chest, circa 1720.
John was the ancestor of Dr. Benjamin Spock.
Children:
1. Mindwell Lyman — B. 30 Aug 1688, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 4 Apr 1713, Hadley, Massachusetts; M. John Montague (1681-1722)
2. Dorcas Lyman — B. 11 Aug 1690, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 15 Nov 1770, South Hadley, Massachusetts; M. John Alvord (1685-1757), 29 Dec 1708, Northampton, Massachusetts
3. Hannah Lyman — B. 2 Apr 1692, Northampton, Massachusetts
4. John Lyman — B. 12 Oct 1693, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 3 Jan 1783, Hadley, Massachusetts; M. Abigail Moseley (1697-1750), 1 Jan 1717, Northampton, Massachusetts
5. Mary Lyman — B. 1696, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 3 Nov 1778, Enfield, Connecticut; M. (1) John Pomeroy (~1695-?); (2) Samuel Dwight (1696-1763), 18 Jun 1719
6. Esther Lyman — B. 15 Feb 1698, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 23 Aug 1736, Connecticut; M. Benjamin Talcott (1702-1785), 26 Aug 1724
7. Gideon Lyman — B. 19 Mar 1700, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 3 Apr 1775, Northampton, Massachusetts; M. (1) Esther Strong (1702-1740); (2) Catherine King (1701-1791)
7. Elizabeth Lyman — B. 8 Dec 1702, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 19 Apr 1778; M. (1) Abner Moseley (1699-1766), 5 Jun 1722, Glastonbury, Connecticut; (2) John Potwine (1698-1792), 1771
9. Phineas Lyman — B. May 1706, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 10 Feb 1725, New Haven, Connecticut
10. Elias Lyman — B. May 1710, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 17 Apr 1790; M. Hannah Allen (1714-1771), 1736
11. Gad Lyman — B. 13 Feb 1713, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 24 Oct 1791, Goshen, Massachusetts; M. Thankful Pomeroy (1711-1790), 22 Jun 1738, Northampton, Massachusetts
Sources:
Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From its Settlement in 1654, Vol. 1, James Russell Trumbull and Seth Pomeroy, 1898
Antiquities, Historicals and Graduates of Northampton, Solomon Clark, 1882
Find-A-Grave.com
Children:
1. Mindwell Lyman — B. 30 Aug 1688, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 4 Apr 1713, Hadley, Massachusetts; M. John Montague (1681-1722)
2. Dorcas Lyman — B. 11 Aug 1690, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 15 Nov 1770, South Hadley, Massachusetts; M. John Alvord (1685-1757), 29 Dec 1708, Northampton, Massachusetts
3. Hannah Lyman — B. 2 Apr 1692, Northampton, Massachusetts
4. John Lyman — B. 12 Oct 1693, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 3 Jan 1783, Hadley, Massachusetts; M. Abigail Moseley (1697-1750), 1 Jan 1717, Northampton, Massachusetts
5. Mary Lyman — B. 1696, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 3 Nov 1778, Enfield, Connecticut; M. (1) John Pomeroy (~1695-?); (2) Samuel Dwight (1696-1763), 18 Jun 1719
6. Esther Lyman — B. 15 Feb 1698, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 23 Aug 1736, Connecticut; M. Benjamin Talcott (1702-1785), 26 Aug 1724
7. Gideon Lyman — B. 19 Mar 1700, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 3 Apr 1775, Northampton, Massachusetts; M. (1) Esther Strong (1702-1740); (2) Catherine King (1701-1791)
7. Elizabeth Lyman — B. 8 Dec 1702, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 19 Apr 1778; M. (1) Abner Moseley (1699-1766), 5 Jun 1722, Glastonbury, Connecticut; (2) John Potwine (1698-1792), 1771
9. Phineas Lyman — B. May 1706, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 10 Feb 1725, New Haven, Connecticut
10. Elias Lyman — B. May 1710, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 17 Apr 1790; M. Hannah Allen (1714-1771), 1736
11. Gad Lyman — B. 13 Feb 1713, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 24 Oct 1791, Goshen, Massachusetts; M. Thankful Pomeroy (1711-1790), 22 Jun 1738, Northampton, Massachusetts
Sources:
Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From its Settlement in 1654, Vol. 1, James Russell Trumbull and Seth Pomeroy, 1898
Antiquities, Historicals and Graduates of Northampton, Solomon Clark, 1882
Find-A-Grave.com
