M. 13 Dec 1722 in Concord, Massachusetts2
Husband: Samuel Dakin
D. 25 Jul 1793 in Sudbury, Massachusetts3
Twenty years before the American Revolution, another war was fought on American soil, and Mercy Minot’s life was forever changed by it. Mercy was born in Concord, Massachusetts on April 15, 1702 to James Minot and Rebecca Wheeler.1 She had a twin sister named Love; the two girls were the second and third youngest in a family of ten children. James Minot was a teacher, a preacher, a militia captain and he practiced medicine;4 it’s likely Mercy received some education as a child.
Perhaps the happiest event in Mercy’s life happened on December 13, 1722. On that day, she and her twin sister got married in a double ceremony in Concord performed by their father, who served as a justice of the peace.2 While Love married John Adams (no relation to the future president), Mercy took Samuel Dakin as her husband. The couple made their home just to the south of Concord in the town of Sudbury.5 Between 1725 and about 1744, Mercy gave birth eight times, with only her first child dying young.
By 1745, Samuel had taken an active role in the town’s militia, and within ten years, rose through the ranks to become a captain.6 When war broke out with France in 1755, he was called to lead a unit into action, and a couple of letters Samuel wrote to Mercy during this time have survived. In a letter written on September 26, 1755,6 he spoke of the loyalty of his troops, saying that they were “so obedient to me and so loving one to another that it makes my life exceeding comfortable and pleasant.” The fact that he would share such details of his military life gives a hint of the respect that Samuel had for Mercy.
On June 10, 1758, Samuel sent another letter to Mercy.6 It was at a time when his men were on the verge of battle, and it’s clear he was considering a bad outcome. Samuel wrote, “And now my dear wife and children, I desire you would not distress yourselves about me but commit me in your prayers to God to be wholly at his disposal and I hope by his preserving providence I shall after awhile rejoice with you again in my own house; but if not I hope we shall all rejoice together in heaven which will be spiritually better."
Between the time these two letters were written, Samuel had been home for a period. Just before he returned to the scene of the war, he wrote his will. The document dated April 25, 1758 left very detailed instructions for the support of Mercy and the children.7 She was to have “two good cows to be well kept both winter and summer” until their youngest child was of age. At that point, Mercy would be allowed to keep only one of the cows for the rest of her life as long as she didn’t remarry. He went on to specify quantities of corn, rye, barley, cider, “good pork” and “good beef” Mercy would receive from the estate. She was also to get as much firewood as she needed periodically delivered to her. And her two sons would pay her 20 shillings a year out of the estate. The land was divided up between the two sons, but Mercy was allowed use of one room of the house and part of the cellar to store supplies.
From Samuel Dakin's will.
When the will was written it was a hypothetical scenario, but unfortunately it soon became real when Samuel was killed in action on July 20th.6 His estate was probated and the terms of his will were carried out. Mercy got her two cows, the best ones they owned. And presumably her children looked after her in her widowhood.
Mercy never remarried and lived a very long time in the absence of her husband. She saw her two sons become Minutemen who “answered the call” of April 19, 1775.8 Her surviving children provided her with many grandchildren. Mercy passed away in Sudbury on July 25, 1793 at the age of 91.3
Mercy's signature.
Children:
1. Joseph Dakin – B. 20 May 1725, Sudbury, Massachusetts;9 D. 22 Aug 1727, Sudbury, Massachusetts10
2. Oliver Dakin – B. 20 Mar 1727, Sudbury, Massachusetts;11 D. 2 Jun 1805, Boylston, Massachusetts;12 M. Elizabeth Keyes (1732-1805), 16 Nov 1749, Sudbury, Massachusetts13
3. Samuel Dakin – B. 17 May 1731, Sudbury, Massachusetts;14 D. 23 Jan 1807, Sudbury, Massachusetts;8 M. Mehitable Eaton (1743-1816), before 5 Jan 1766, (probably) Sudbury, Massachusetts15
4. Mercy Dakin – B. before 14 Apr 1733, Sudbury, Massachusetts;16 D. 31 May 1790, Sudbury, Massachusetts;17 M. James Puffer (1734-1814), before Nov 1759, (probably) Sudbury, Massachusetts18
5. Beulah Dakin – B. before 22 Mar 1735, Sudbury, Massachusetts;19 D. 1 Aug 1807, Lincoln, Massachusetts;20 M. (1) Thomas Baker (1732-1786), 15 Jan 1755, Littleton, Massachusetts;21 (2) John Adams (1723-1809); 20 Feb 1794, Littleton, Massachusetts22
6. Dorothy Dakin – B. about 1736, Sudbury, Massachusetts;23 D. 13 Nov 1804, Concord, Massachusetts;23 M. Amos Wood (1737-1806), 24 Feb 1763, Sudbury, Massachusetts24
7. Mary Dakin – B. Aug 1741, Sudbury, Massachusetts;25 D. 1828, Littleton, Massachusetts;26 M. Timothy Baker (1730-1810), 20 Dec 1760, Littleton, Massachusetts27
8. Hannah Dakin – B. about 1744, Sudbury, Massachusetts;28 D. 28 Apr 1767, (probably) Sudbury, Massachusetts28
Sources:
1 Concord Births – Massachusetts Vital Records Project (online database)
2 Marriage record of Samuel Dakin and Mercy Minot, Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, FamilySearch.org
3 Concord Deaths – Massachusetts Vital Records Project (online database)
4 Biographical sketches of graduates of Harvard University in Cambridge, pp. 462-464, John Langdon Sibley, 1873
5 Birth record of Joseph Dakin, Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
6 History of Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1638-1889, Alfred Sereno Hudson, 1889
7 Probate file of Samuel Dakin, Probate Records 1648-1924 (Middlesex County, Massachusetts), FamilySearch.org
8 Find-a-Grave listing for Samuel Dakin (younger)
9 Birth record of Joseph Dakin, M. B. and C.
10 Death date is also included on Joseph Dakin's birth record
11 Birth record of Oliver Dakin, M. B. and C.
12 Find-a-Grave listing for Oliver Dakin
13 Marriage record of Oliver Dakin and Betsey Keyes, Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920
14 Birth record of Samuel Dakin (younger), M. B. and C.
15 Marriage date based on baptismal record of oldest child Samuel, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
16 Baptismal record of Mercy Dakin, M. B. and C.
17 Find-a-Grave listing for Marcy Dakin Puffer
18 Marriage date based on baptism record of oldest child Thankful Puffer, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
19 Baptismal record of Bulah Dakin, M. B. and C.
20 Find-a-Grave listing for Beulah Dakin Adams
21 Marriage record of Thomas Baker and Bulah Dakin, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
22 Marriage record of John Adams and Beulah Baker, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
23 Find-a-Grave listing for Dorathy Dakin Wood
24 Marriage record of Amos Wood and Dorothy Dakin, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
25 Baptismal record of Mary Dakin, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
26 Death record of Mary Baker, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
27 Marriage record of Timothy Baker and Mary Dakin, M. T. C., V. and T. R.
28 Find-a-Grave listing for Hannah Dakin
