M. about 1635 in (probably) Massachusetts
Wife: Joanna _______
D. before May 1652 in Charlestown, Massachusetts
Edward Larkin was a wheel-maker and “turner” in the earliest years of Charlestown, Massachusetts. His origins are uncertain; it’s been speculated that he was born in Kent, England, but this isn’t proven. He arrived in America during the 1630s perhaps in his 20s, and settled in Charlestown, becoming an inhabitant on May 30, 1638.
Edward’s land in Charlestown was wedge-shaped, located on Crooked Road, southwest of Mill Hill; the lot was somewhat larger than the ones around it. This is likely where he set up shop making wheels for carts, a profession that required working with wood on a lathe. Besides his lot in town, he owned one acre of meadow, five acres of woodland and 10 acres of “water field.” He also had a milk cow that was kept in a common area of the town.
A 17th-century wheelwright.
Edward was married to a woman named Joanna; some have said her surname was Hale, and others have identified her as Butler, but neither is proven. Their first child was baptized on October 1, 1640, and they eventually had a total of seven children. The third child, a daughter named Hannah, was sent to live with Edward’s sister and her husband, who were childless; it’s not known if this arrangement happened when the girl was an infant, but she was in her aunt’s household by age 8.
In 1644, Edward became a member of The Military Company of Massachusetts. Founded in 1638, it was the first organized militia in New England. It's not likely that Edward saw any military action during the time he served.
On September 29, 1647, Edward sold his Charlestown property, which included a house and a garden, to a man named John Gove. Two years later, Edward bought a plot of land that had frontage on the Charles River. The advantage of having access to the river meant he could more easily transport goods and supplies to and from his property.
Edward’s life seemed to have been cut short. On September 15, 1651, he wrote a will that described his physical condition as being weak, meaning that he was sick enough to expect that he would die soon. The will was proved in January of the following year and it’s likely that he died just before that. His wife was pregnant when he died, and gave birth to a daughter a few weeks later, but the baby unfortunately died at birth.
Children:
1. John Larkin — B. 1 Oct 1640, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 17 Feb 1678, Charlestown, Massachusetts; M. Joanna Hale (~1646-1693), 9 Nov 1664, Charlestown, Massachusetts
2. Elizabeth Larkin — B. 17 May 1641, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 15 Oct 1719, Marlborough, Massachusetts; M. John Newton (1641-1723), 5 Jun 1666, Marlborough, Massachusetts
3. Hannah Larkin — B. 16 Jan 1643, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 10 Dec 1704, Charlestown, Massachusetts; M. John Newell (1624-1684)
4. Thomas Larkin — B. B. 18 Aug 1644, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 10 Dec 1677, Charlestown, Massachusetts; M. Hannah Remington (1643-1736), 13 Sep 1666, Charlestown, Massachusetts
5. Joanna Larkin — B. 12 Jan 1647, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; D. 25 Dec 1713, Marlborough, Massachusetts; M. Moses Newton (1645-1736), 27 Oct 1668
6. Sarah Larkin — B. 12 Mar 1647, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 12 Aug 1725, Concord, Massachusetts; M. John Wheeler, 25 Mar 1663, Charlestown, Massachusetts
7. Inesse Larkin — B. 15 Feb 1652, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 15 Feb 1652, Charlestown, Massachusetts
Sources:
Colonial Families in America, Vol. 8, Ruth Lawrence, 1930
Charlestown Land Records, 1638-1802, 1883
The Will of Edward Larkin, September 1651
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