B. 1 Oct 1640 in Charlestown, Massachusetts
M. 9 Nov 1664 in Charlestown, Massachusetts
Wife: Joanna Hale
D. 17 Feb 1678 in Charlestown, Massachusetts
John Larkin was the victim of one of the smallpox epidemics that struck New England during colonial times. He was the oldest of Edward and Joanna Larkin’s seven children, born in Charlestown, Massachusetts on October 1, 1640. John’s father was a wheel maker who taught his trade to his son, but died when John was only 12-years-old.
Edward Larkin left a will stating that John would receive a “double portion” of his estate at age 21. After receiving his inheritance, John set up his own household and got married. His bride was 18-year-old Joanna Hale and the wedding took place on November 9, 1664 in Charlestown. Between 1669 and 1677, they had six children, with two dying as infants.
The year John’s youngest child was born, there was an outbreak of smallpox in the Boston area. It’s believed that the disease was brought over on a ship from England, then spread rapidly. By the end of 1677, great numbers of people were dying in Boston and other towns. Authorities struggled with how to deal with the crisis; the General Court issued orders for days of prayer, and a minister in Boston distributed a pamphlet telling people how to best treat smallpox patients.
John came down with the disease at about the end of January 1678. His first symptoms may have included headaches, body aches, chills, fever, nausea and delirium. This was followed by a rash that turned into pimples and blisters. As the disease took its toll on his body, the internal organs were likely affected and this would have lead to his death. On February 7th, he was at a point in his illness that he made out a will providing for his young wife and his four children, who were all under age 11. John died on February 17th at the age of 37. The number of fatalities from the Boston smallpox epidemic of 1677-78 was estimated to be around 750, with 91 deaths in Charlestown alone.
Years after John’s death, his grandson had a claim to fame, at least as part of a legend. Samuel Larkin, the son of John’s son Edward, was said to have owned the horse that Paul Revere rode on his famous 1775 ride. The story goes that the horse was “borrowed” and never returned to its owner.
Children:
1. Edward Larkin — B. 22 Feb 1669, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. Sep 1738, Charlestown, Massachusetts; M. Mary Walker (1670-1734)
2. John Larkin — B. 26 Dec 1670, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 28 Apr 1698
3. Joanna Larkin — B. 13 May 1673, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 3 Jun 1673, Charlestown, Massachusetts
4. Robert Larkin — B. 24 Jun 1674, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 1 Aug 1675, Charlestown, Massachusetts
5. Joanna Larkin — B. 8 Mar 1676, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 12 May 1716, Beverly, Massachusetts; M. (1) Joshua Dodge; (2) John Thorndike (1675-1760), 20 Apr 1696, Beverly, Massachusetts
6. Sarah Larkin — B. 27 Nov 1677, Charlestown, Massachusetts; D. 23 Dec 1755, Southborough, Massachusetts; M. David Fay (1679-1738), 1 May 1699, Marlborough, Massachusetts
Sources:
The Will of Edward Larkin, 1651
“Tracing Smallpox Through Burying Grounds,” Historic Burying Grounds Initiative Newsletter, Vol. 4, Spring 2015
Encyclopedia of Plague and Pestilence, George C. Kohn, 2007
Paine Ancestry: the Family of Robert Treat Paine, Sarah Cushing Pine, Charles Henry Pope, 1912
John Larkin (Deacon of Charlestown) (Wikipedia article)
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