M. (1) 30 Nov 1666 in Lynn, Massachusetts2
Wife: Elizabeth Collins
M. (2) 15 Jun 1692 in Dorchester, Massachusetts3
Wife: Mary Breck
D. 1 Jan 1725 in Dorchester, Massachusetts1
John Tolman was typical of New England men of his time — he served his community in various roles over a long life. John was born on April 8, 1642 in Dorchester, Massachusetts to Thomas and Sarah Tolman,1 the sixth of their eight children. The Tolman family had come from Lancaster, England during the Great Migration; it’s thought that they had arrived in about 1635.4
After John came of age, he traveled north to the town of Lynn, and married Elizabeth Collins on November 30, 1666.2 They settled in Dorchester and began a family with the birth of a daughter the following year.3 John and his wife would have a total of nine children, with the youngest born in 1687.3 He was said to have made a living as a wheelwright.5
Dorchester was near the heart of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; today it’s incorporated into the city of Boston. For some settlers, it was a first stop before moving further inland, but John lived there his entire life, and town records showed that he performed his share of civic duties. John was appointed constable in 1678,1 a position he held for many years, and during the years 1693 to 1695, he was one of Dorchester’s selectmen.1
John’s home was on land that is today part of Garvey Playground in Dorchester.5 The property was said to have been passed down among his descendants for 200 years, but no trace of his house has survived. Garvey Playground features recreational facilities, including a baseball diamond, basketball court, and ice rink.
During the 1670s, John took part in King Philip’s War, a rebellion of indigenous people in the Massachusetts area. John served in a force headed by Captain Daniel Henchman, who defended an area near Worcester in May of 1676.6,7 When Captain Henchman received information that some warriors were fishing on a small lake nearby, he led a sneak attack on them, killing seven and taking 29 prisoner. One captive was the wife of an important sachem, and she was sold into slavery in the West Indies — a cruel tactic sometimes used by the English. It seems fairly certain that John was present at this military action.
John’s wife Elizabeth passed away on October 7, 1690,3 and he remarried to a local widow named Mary (Breck) Paul on June 15, 1692.3 Mary died in 1720,3 and John passed away on January 1, 1725 at Dorchester.1 He was an ancestor of actor George Kennedy.8
Children (all by Elizabeth Collins):
1. Elizabeth Tolman — B. 14 Dec 1667, Dorchester, Massachusetts;5 D. (probably) before 1719;9 M. Moses Ayers (1667-?), 28 Oct 1692, Dorchester, Massachusetts10
2. John Tolman — B. 8 Apr 1671, Dorchester, Massachusetts;5 D. 23 Oct 1759, Dorchester, Massachusetts;5 M. (1) Susanna Breck (1678-1713), 1 Feb 1696, Dorchester, Massachusetts;11 (2) Elizabeth White (~1679-1768), 1 Apr 1714, Dorchester, Massachusetts12
3. Joseph Tolman — B. 6 Sep 1674, Dorchester, Massachusetts;5 D. 26 Jan 17605
4. Benjamin Tolman — B. 6 Dec 1676, Dorchester, Massachusetts;5 M. (1) Ruth Fletcher ~1680-1705), 28 Dec 1703, Dorchester, Massachusetts;13 (2) Elizabeth Perry (1682-?), 4 Aug 1709, Scituate, Massachusetts14
5. Henry Tolman — B. 4 Mar 1679, Dorchester, Massachusetts;5 D. 18 Sep 1759, Attleboro, Massachusetts;5 M. Hannah Fairweather (~1684-1735), 1705, Dorchester, Massachusetts5
6. Anne Tolman — B. 2 Mar 1681, Dorchester, Massachusetts;5 M. Caleb Ray, 8 May 1704, Boston, Massachusetts15
7. Ebenezer Tolman — B. 27 Mar 1683, Dorchester, Massachusetts;5 M. (1) Mary Chamberline (~1683-?), 31 Aug 1704, Dorchester, Massachusetts;16 (2) Rebecca Burroughs (1674-1730), 18 Aug 1716, Dorchester, Massachusetts17
8. Ruth Tolman — B. 1 Jul 1685, Dorchester, Massachusetts;5 M. (1) Joseph Butt (1684-1713), 18 Jan 1711, Dorchester, Massachusetts;18 (2) John Robinson, 20 Jan 1715, Dorchester, Massachusetts5
9. William Tolman — 2 Sep 1687, Dorchester, Massachusetts;5 D. before 24 Dec 1722;5 M. (1) Lydia Farr (1687-?), 2 Jul 1713, Boston, Massachusetts;19 (2) Experience ______ (~1687-?)5
Sources:
1 Find-a-Grave listing of John Tolman
2 Marriage record of John Tolman and Elizabeth Collins, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital And Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
3 “Tolman Genealogy,” The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 14, 1860
4 History of the Town of Dorchester, Massachusetts, 1856, p. 101
5 “Thomas Tolman (1608-1690) of Dorchester, Massachusetts,” 29deadpeople.com
6 Soldiers in King Philip’s War, George Madison Bodge, 1991
7 The Worcester Magazine and Historical Journal, Vol. 2 , 1826
8 FamousKin.com listing of John Tolman
9 Deed of Moses Ayers Jr. dated 10 Jan 1719 implies his mother is deceased.
10 Marriage record of Moses Ayers and Elizabeth Tolman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
11 Marriage record of John Tolman and Susanna Breck, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
12 Marriage record of John Tolman and Elizabeth White, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
13 Marriage record of Benjamin Tolman and Ruth Fletcher, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
14 Marriage record of Benjamin Tolman and Elizabeth Palmer, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15 Marriage record of Caleb Ray and Anne Tolman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16 Marriage record of Ebenezer Tolman and Mary Chamberline, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
17 Marriage record of Ebenezer Tolman and Rebecca Fowles, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
18 Marriage record of Joseph Butt and Ruth Tolman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
19 Marriage record of William Tolman and Lydia Farr, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
