M. 19 Apr 1687 in Northampton, Massachusetts2
Wife: Mindwell Shelton
D. 8 Nov 1740 in Northampton, Massachusetts3
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, 1660,1 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.4
John married another Northampton resident, Mindwell Sheldon, on April 19, 1687;2 she had been previously married to John Pomeroy, who died two years earlier.5 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).6 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.6
During the 1690s, John served in the militia and was involved in King William’s War.7 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.8 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.9 John’s wife Mindwell passed away in 1735,10 and John died on November 8, 1740.3 After his death, his son Elias took over the homestead, continuing as a tavern keeper,11 and when he died in 1790, his son Joel took over the business, and it was said that Lyman’s tavern remained in the family for over 125 years.12
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.13 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.14
Children:
1. Mindwell Lyman — B. 30 Aug 1688, Northampton, Massachusetts;15 D. 4 Apr 1713, Hadley, Massachusetts;16 M. John Montague (1681-1722)16
2. Dorcas Lyman — B. before 11 Aug 1690, Northampton, Massachusetts;17 D. 15 Nov 1770, South Hadley, Massachusetts;18 M. John Alvord (1685-1757), 29 Dec 1708, Northampton, Massachusetts19
3. Hannah Lyman — B. 2 Apr 1692, Northampton, Massachusetts;20 D. 10 Nov 1703, Northampton, Massachusetts21
4. John Lyman — B. 12 Oct 1693, Northampton, Massachusetts;22 D. 3 Jan 1783, Hadley, Massachusetts;23 M. Abigail Moseley (1697-1750), 1 Jan 1717, Northampton, Massachusetts24
5. Mary Lyman — B. 1696, Northampton, Massachusetts;25 D. 3 Nov 1776, Enfield, Connecticut;25 M. Samuel Dwight (1696-1763), 18 Jun 1719, Northampton, Massachusetts26
6. Esther Lyman — B. 15 Feb 1698, Northampton, Massachusetts;27 D. 23 Aug 1736, Connecticut;28 M. Benjamin Talcott (1702-1785), 26 Aug 1724, Northampton, Massachusetts29
7. Gideon Lyman — B. 19 Mar 1700, Northampton, Massachusetts;30 D. 3 Apr 1775, Northampton, Massachusetts;31 M. (1) Esther Strong (1702-1740), 25 Dec 1723, Northampton, Massachusetts;32 (2) Catherine King (1701-1791), 174731
7. Elizabeth Lyman — B. 8 Dec 1702, Northampton, Massachusetts;33 D. 19 Apr 1778;34 M. (1) Abner Moseley (1699-1766), 5 Jun 1722, Glastonbury, Connecticut;35 (2) John Potwine (1698-1792), 177134
9. Phineas Lyman — B. May 1706, Northampton, Massachusetts;36 D. 10 Feb 1725, New Haven, Connecticut37
10. Elias Lyman — B. 15 Apr 1710, Northampton, Massachusetts;38 D. 17 Apr 1790;38 M. Hannah Allen (1714-1771), 173639
11. Gad Lyman — B. 13 Feb 1713, Northampton, Massachusetts;40 D. 24 Oct 1791, Goshen, Massachusetts;41 M. Thankful Pomeroy (1711-1790), 22 Jun 1738, Northampton, Massachusetts42
Sources:
1 Birth record of John Lyman, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of John Lyman and Mindwell Pomeroy, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
3 Death record of John Lyman, Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910, FamilySearch.org
4 Genealogy of the Lyman Family in Great Britain and America, Lyman Coleman, 1872
5 Marriage record of John Pomeroy and Mindwell Shelton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
6 Historical Catalogue of the Northampton First Church, 1661-1891, Rev. Solomon Clark, 1891
Children:
1. Mindwell Lyman — B. 30 Aug 1688, Northampton, Massachusetts;15 D. 4 Apr 1713, Hadley, Massachusetts;16 M. John Montague (1681-1722)16
2. Dorcas Lyman — B. before 11 Aug 1690, Northampton, Massachusetts;17 D. 15 Nov 1770, South Hadley, Massachusetts;18 M. John Alvord (1685-1757), 29 Dec 1708, Northampton, Massachusetts19
3. Hannah Lyman — B. 2 Apr 1692, Northampton, Massachusetts;20 D. 10 Nov 1703, Northampton, Massachusetts21
4. John Lyman — B. 12 Oct 1693, Northampton, Massachusetts;22 D. 3 Jan 1783, Hadley, Massachusetts;23 M. Abigail Moseley (1697-1750), 1 Jan 1717, Northampton, Massachusetts24
5. Mary Lyman — B. 1696, Northampton, Massachusetts;25 D. 3 Nov 1776, Enfield, Connecticut;25 M. Samuel Dwight (1696-1763), 18 Jun 1719, Northampton, Massachusetts26
6. Esther Lyman — B. 15 Feb 1698, Northampton, Massachusetts;27 D. 23 Aug 1736, Connecticut;28 M. Benjamin Talcott (1702-1785), 26 Aug 1724, Northampton, Massachusetts29
7. Gideon Lyman — B. 19 Mar 1700, Northampton, Massachusetts;30 D. 3 Apr 1775, Northampton, Massachusetts;31 M. (1) Esther Strong (1702-1740), 25 Dec 1723, Northampton, Massachusetts;32 (2) Catherine King (1701-1791), 174731
7. Elizabeth Lyman — B. 8 Dec 1702, Northampton, Massachusetts;33 D. 19 Apr 1778;34 M. (1) Abner Moseley (1699-1766), 5 Jun 1722, Glastonbury, Connecticut;35 (2) John Potwine (1698-1792), 177134
9. Phineas Lyman — B. May 1706, Northampton, Massachusetts;36 D. 10 Feb 1725, New Haven, Connecticut37
10. Elias Lyman — B. 15 Apr 1710, Northampton, Massachusetts;38 D. 17 Apr 1790;38 M. Hannah Allen (1714-1771), 173639
11. Gad Lyman — B. 13 Feb 1713, Northampton, Massachusetts;40 D. 24 Oct 1791, Goshen, Massachusetts;41 M. Thankful Pomeroy (1711-1790), 22 Jun 1738, Northampton, Massachusetts42
Sources:
1 Birth record of John Lyman, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of John Lyman and Mindwell Pomeroy, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
3 Death record of John Lyman, Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910, FamilySearch.org
4 Genealogy of the Lyman Family in Great Britain and America, Lyman Coleman, 1872
5 Marriage record of John Pomeroy and Mindwell Shelton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
6 Historical Catalogue of the Northampton First Church, 1661-1891, Rev. Solomon Clark, 1891
7 History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From its Settlement in 1654, Vol. 1, James Russell Trumbull and Seth Pomeroy, 1898
8 “Daniel Belden and the Deerfield Massacre” (blog)
9 Find-a-Grave listing of Phineas Lyman
10 Death record of Mindwell Lyman, M., D & B.
11 Commemorative Biographical Record of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1901, p. 342
12 Lyman’s tavern was visited by John Quincy Adams when he was Secretary of State in 1818.
13 “Joined Chest, 1699-1720,” Historic Northampton (website)
14 FamousKin.com listing for John Lyman
15 Birth record of Mindwell Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16 Death record of Mindwell Montague, M., D & B.
17 Christening record of Dorcas Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
18 Find-a-Grave listing of Dorcas (Lyman) Alvord
19 Marriage record of John Alvord and Dorcas Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
20 Birth record of Hannah Lyman, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
21 Death record of Hannah Lyman, M., D & B.
22 Birth record of John Lyman (younger), M., B. & C.
23 Find-a-Grave listing of Capt. John Lyman
25 Marriage record of John Lyman and Abigail Moseley, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
25 Find-a-Grave listing of Mary (Lyman) Dwight
26 Marriage record of Samuel Dwight and Mary Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
27 Christening record of Esther Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
28 Find-a-Grave listing of Esther (Lyman) Talcott
29 Marriage record of Benjamin Talcott and Esther Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
30 Birth record of Gideon Lyman, M., B. & C.
31 Find-a-Grave listing of Gideon Lyman
32 Marriage record of Gideon Lyman and Esther Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
33 Birth record of Elizabeth Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
34 Find-a-Grave listing of Elizabeth (Lyman) Potwine
35 Marriage record of Abner Moseley and Elizabeth Lyman, Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850, FamilySearch.org
36 Birth record of Phineas Lyman, M., B. & C.
37 Find-a-Grave listing of Phineas Lyman
38 Find-a-Grave listing of Elias Lyman
39 Marriage record of Elias Lyman and Hannah Allen, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
40 Birth record of Gad Lyman, M., B. & C.
41 Find-a-Grave listing of Gad Lyman
42 Marriage record of Gad Lyman and Thankful Pomeroy, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
8 “Daniel Belden and the Deerfield Massacre” (blog)
9 Find-a-Grave listing of Phineas Lyman
10 Death record of Mindwell Lyman, M., D & B.
11 Commemorative Biographical Record of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1901, p. 342
12 Lyman’s tavern was visited by John Quincy Adams when he was Secretary of State in 1818.
13 “Joined Chest, 1699-1720,” Historic Northampton (website)
14 FamousKin.com listing for John Lyman
15 Birth record of Mindwell Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16 Death record of Mindwell Montague, M., D & B.
17 Christening record of Dorcas Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
18 Find-a-Grave listing of Dorcas (Lyman) Alvord
19 Marriage record of John Alvord and Dorcas Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
20 Birth record of Hannah Lyman, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
21 Death record of Hannah Lyman, M., D & B.
22 Birth record of John Lyman (younger), M., B. & C.
23 Find-a-Grave listing of Capt. John Lyman
25 Marriage record of John Lyman and Abigail Moseley, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
25 Find-a-Grave listing of Mary (Lyman) Dwight
26 Marriage record of Samuel Dwight and Mary Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
27 Christening record of Esther Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
28 Find-a-Grave listing of Esther (Lyman) Talcott
29 Marriage record of Benjamin Talcott and Esther Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
30 Birth record of Gideon Lyman, M., B. & C.
31 Find-a-Grave listing of Gideon Lyman
32 Marriage record of Gideon Lyman and Esther Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
33 Birth record of Elizabeth Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
34 Find-a-Grave listing of Elizabeth (Lyman) Potwine
35 Marriage record of Abner Moseley and Elizabeth Lyman, Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850, FamilySearch.org
36 Birth record of Phineas Lyman, M., B. & C.
37 Find-a-Grave listing of Phineas Lyman
38 Find-a-Grave listing of Elias Lyman
39 Marriage record of Elias Lyman and Hannah Allen, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
40 Birth record of Gad Lyman, M., B. & C.
41 Find-a-Grave listing of Gad Lyman
42 Marriage record of Gad Lyman and Thankful Pomeroy, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
