John Niles, of Braintree

Probably Puritan.

• Weaver who came to Massachusetts Bay in 1634 (based on grant of land at Dorchester on 1 Sep 1634.
• First settled in Dorchester;
• later moved to Braintree.
• Died in Braintree, 8 Feb 1693/4, "aged about 91."
• Married (1) by 1636, Jane ____.
  • She died at Braintree on 15 May 1654.
• Married (2) By 1658, Hannah (____) Ames,
  • widow of William Ames. ("William Ames" died at Braintree on 11 Mar 1653[/4];
  • on 12 Jun 1663, in "answer to the petition of John Niles, of Braintry, weaver, & Hannah, his wife, formerly the wife of William Amers, deceased, humbly desiring this honored Court, on examination of the matter of this petition & testimonies of Amos Richardson & Mary Harvey, judge meet to grant the petitioner his request, i.e., & do confirm the sale of the said house & land therein specified."
  • She died on 31 Jan 1702/3.

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• First record of John was when he shared in the allotment of lands on Neponset River, near the mill, Sep. 1, 1634.
• He again shared in Dorchester lands in 1637, but evidently soon came to Braintree where all of his children are recorded in the early records of the town which was founded in 1640.
• 'Old John Niles died about 91 years'.
• Some have thought he might have been born in Cadiff, Glamorgan, Wales.

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• It is probable that John Niles came from Dorset, England, possibly Beaminster.
• He may have been the son of John Nyle and Johane Paviot.
• Immigration: 1634
  • _SDATE: 1 JUL 1634 New England 5
• Residence: SEP 1634
  • _SDATE: 15 SEP 1634 Dorchester, Suffolk Co., MA 1 5 6
• Event: Removed 1636
  • _SDATE: 1 JUL 1636 Braintree, Norfolk Co., MA 1 7
• Event: Freeman 26 MAY 1647 Massachusetts Bay Colony
  • ADDR: Braintree 8 5 7
• Death: of at the age of "about 91 years" 8 FEB 1693/4
  • _SDATE: 8 FEB 1693 in Braintree, Norfolk Co., MA 9 2 5 10
• Occupation: weaver Dorchester and Braintree, MA 2 5 11

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From: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/n/i/l/Stephen-S-Niles/GE...

1. JOHN1 NILES was

• born Abt. 1603 in (Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales) Welsh Border, Great Britain, and
• died February 08, 1692/93 in Braintree, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts1.
• He married (1) JANE ?REED Abt. 1636 in Braintree, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts,
  • [NOT] the daughter of WILLIAM READE and LUCY HENEAGE.
  • She was born Abt. 1611 in St. Peter's, Maidstone, Canterbury, Kent, England, and
  • died May 15, 1654 in Braintree, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts1.
• He married (2) HANNAH UNKNOWN Abt. 1656 in Braintree, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts.
  • She was born February 1617/18 in of Braintree, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts, and
  • died January 31, 1702/03 in Braintree, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts. Notes for John Niles:
• JOHN NILES1 is
  • believed to be the ancestor of all persons bearing the name in this country.
  • It is said that he was from Wales.
  • He was b. about 1603;
  • came to New England; was of Dorchester, 1634; of Braintree, 1639;
  • freeman, May 26, 1647."
  • Family tradition has held that he came to New England on the ship 'Speedwell.'
• John1 Niles, born about 1603 in England is first of record when as John Nile. He shared in the allotment of lands on Neponset River, near the mill, Sep.1, 1634. He again shared in Dorchester lands in 1637, but evidently soon came to Braintree where all of his children are recorded in the early records of the town, which was founded in 1640.
• "Old John Niles" died Feb.8,1693/4, aged "about 91 years" at Braintree. He lived for a time, at least previous to 1648 on present Elm St. Braintree, between it and Monatiquot River where he had 2 1/2 acres that were purchased by Richard Thayer (S.D. 5-455). This was one of the small lots in the vicinity of the iron works forge. His son Samuel acquired a large tract of land in present Randolph where by tradition he is said to be the first settler. This was procured at the time Andross was Governor when two other tracts were invalid after his downfall and the lands were granted to others after their purchase in 1700 from Boston by Braintree men. The Nile's land, however, was granted to sons of John Niles in 1700 as proprietors of the Purchase Lands, and this might tend to confirm the tradition that it already had been settled upon by the family. This is, however, very doubtful at best, as no one could have had title to this land between 1688 and 1700 except the town of Boston, part of whose common lands it was." (Sprague, 3534)

John 1 Niles' birthplace:

• The late G. Caspar of Dorset VT found in 1949 a Nile or Nyle family in Beaminster, Dorset, England. He found no other family of that name elsewhere in English records.
• In 1986, Gerald Parsons, F.A.S.G., obtained a LDS Church microfilm of the Beaminster parish records, which start in 1585. Parsons found records for a John Nile, son of John Nyle, baptized on 10 Jan 1607/8, and for a John, son of William Nyle, baptized 7 Jun 1612, and for a John, son of Richard Nyle, born on 10 Apr 1625. Joseph, William & Nathaniel, are some of the given names that appear in these records and are some of the same names John 1 Niles gave his own sons.
• John 1 Niles is said to have died at about the age of 91 in 1693/4 (born ca.1603). This indicates his exact age was unknown. If his age was an exaggeration he may have been the John Nile who was baptized 10 Jan 1607/8 or the one baptized 7 Jun 1612.
• The holders of the Nile name were among the labor class in the year 1525 according to Mrs Marie de G. Eedle in her book, A History of Beaminster (1984), p. 63.
• John 1 Niles of Dorchester, Mass, was a weaver by trade.
  • County Dorset is known for its weaving and sheep raising industry. These are perhaps the best clues found yet to the birthplace of John 1 Niles of Dorchester & Braintree, Mass. (from Allen D. Niles)
• Vinton, in his 1859 book Vinton Family (and Savage if I recall correctly) remarked that "John Niles is generally accepted as the original progenitor of all families by the Niles name in North America." That wasn't ever true. One example would be Tobias Neale who came over in the late 1600's to Philadelphia and adopted the Niles spelling for his own name. Tobias's grandson was the famous publisher Hezekiah Niles for whom the cities of Niles, MI, & OH, are named. A Jonathan Nile was at Hull, Mass., in 1680. (Austin's Dictionary of Rhode Is, has a Nicholas Niles in RI in 1646; however, Austin erred as the correct surname was Wyle, not Nyle or Niles.) Also, during the mid 1850 emigrants from Ireland & Norway adopted the Niles spelling for their own names. Generalities make for nice quotes but exceptions usually can be found. (from Allen D. Niles)

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From: http://www.kimaccorsi.com/fhistory/family/john-niles-2/

John Niles was born about 1602 in Cardiff, Wales, England.

• His parents are unknown at this time.
• John married Jane Read about 1635/36 in Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts.
• John and Jane had 7 children:
• 1. Hannah Niles was born February 16, 1636 in Braintree, MA.
• 2. John Niles was born March 4, 1638/39 in Braintree, MA
• 3. Joseph Niles was born August 15, 1640 in Braintree, MA
• 4. Nathaniel Niles was born August 16, 1642 in Braintree, MA
• 5. Samuel Niles was born May 12, 1644 in Braintree, MA
• 6. Increase Niles was born December 16, 1646 in Braintree, MA
• 7. Benjamin Niles was born February 11, 1650 in Braintree, MA
• John married his second wife, Hannah Ames date unknown but likely married in Braintree, MA.
  • John and Hannah had 1 child of known record:
    • 1. Issac Niles was born April 20, 1658 in Braintree, MA
• John Niles is credited as being the progenitor of all families with the name of Niles in North America.
• He likely emigrated to North America 1634 or earlier as he is found in Dorchester, MA town records  in 1634. In the first book of town records, John Niles, Francis Tuchine, John Leavitt, and Thomas Rawlines were granted six acres a piece on November 3, 1634.
• Shortly thereafter, in 1636 he settled in Braintree, MA where he lived the rest of his life.
• John became a freeman in 1647.
• He died February 8, 1693 in Braintree, MA of unknown causes.
• The entry of his death in town records refers to him as “Old John Niles”. He was 91.

'''Sources and Citations.''' 	

• 1. Family History Library. The Church of Latter-Day Saints. Salt Lake City, Utah.
• 2. Bates, Samuel. The Records of Braintree, 1640-1793. 1880. p. 660.

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From: http://659533113279235460.weebly.com/niles.html

Descendants of John Niles Generation 1

• 1.JOHN1 NILES was
  • born about 1603 in Eng or Wales?.
  • He died on 08 Feb 1694 in Braintree, Norfolk Co, MA.
  • He married (1) JANE REED,
    • daughter of William Reed and Lucy Hennage about 1636 in Braintree, Norfolk Co, MA.
    • She was born about 1615 in Eng.
    • She died on 25 May 1654 in Braintree, Norfolk Co, MA.
  • He married Hannah Unknown.

Notes for John Niles:

• Descendents from information from Kathlyn Neumann *P HFBY06A and
• John Niles of Braintree, Mass and Some of His Descendants by Joel Eno. Takes descent down to Stephen.

John Niles and Jane Reed had the following children:

• i. HANNAH2 NILES was born on 16 Feb 1637.
• ii. JOHN NILES was born on 04 Mar 1639.
•   iii. JOSEPH NILES was born on 15 Aug 1640.
•   2. iv. NATHANIEL NILES was born on 16 Aug 1642 in Braintree, Norfolk Co, MA.
  • He died on 22 Dec 1727 in Braintree, Norfolk Co, MA.
  • He married Sarah Sands,
    • daughter of James Sands and Sarah Walker on 14 Feb 1672 in New Shoreham, Block Island, RI.
    • She was born in 1654 in Portsmith, Rockingham Co, NH.
    • She died in 1726.
• v. SAMUEL NILES was born on 12 May 1644.
• vi. INCREASE NILES was born on 16 Dec 1646.
•   vii. BENJAMIN NILES was born on 11 Mar 1651.

John Niles and Hannah Unknown had the following child:  

• viii. ISAAC NILES was born on 02 Apr 1658.

Generation 2

•     2. NATHANIEL2 NILES (John1) was
  • born on 16 Aug 1642 in Braintree, Norfolk Co, MA.
  • He died on 22 Dec 1727 in Braintree, Norfolk Co, MA.
  • He married Sarah Sands, daughter of James Sands and Sarah Walker on 14 Feb 1672 in New Shoreham, Block Island, RI.
    • She was born in 1654 in Portsmith, Rockingham Co, NH.
    • She died in 1726.

Nathaniel Niles and Sarah Sands had the following children:  

• i. SAMUEL3 NILES was born on 01 May 1674 in New Shoreham, Block Island, RI. He died on 01 May 1762 in Braintree, Norfolk Co, MA.
• 3.  ii. NATHANIEL NILES was born on 21 Mar 1677 in New Shoreham, Block Island, RI. He died in 1766. He married MARY HANNAH. She was born about 1680.
•  4. iii. EBENEZER NILES was born on 03 Jan 1683 in New Shoreham, Block Island Co., RI. He died on 01 Apr 1753 in Stonington, New London Co, CT. He married (1) ELIZABETH TUCKER about 1715. She was born about 1700. She died after 1753. He married (2) ABIGAIL HAZARD, daughter of George Hazard and Penelope Allen before 1710. She was born on 19 Mar 1690. She died about 1714.
• iv. TABITHA NILES was born on 22 Jan 1685 in New Shoreham, Block Island, RI. She died on 28 Dec 1717. She married ABRAHAM PERKINS. He was born about 1680.
•   v. SARAH NILES was born after 1690 in New Shoreham, Block Island, RI. She died after 1748. She married Rouse Helme in 1709. He was born about 1690.
• vi. CATHARINE NILES was born on 13 Mar 1690 in New Shoreham, Block Island, RI. She died after 1726. She married ROBERT HANNAH. He was born about 1685.

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===John Niles===

• BIRTH Mar 1611 Cardiff, Wales
• DEATH 8 Feb 1693 (aged 81) Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA
• BURIAL Niles Cemetery Halifax, Windham County, Vermont, USA
• Born by about 1611 (based on estimated date of first marriage). (The age at death was probably exagerated by about a decade.)
• Weaver who came to Massachusetts Bay in 1634 (based on grant of land at Dorchester on 1 Sep 1634. First settled in Dorchester; later moved to Braintree. Died in Braintree, 8 Feb 1693/4, "aged about 91."
• Married:
  • (1) by 1636, Jane ____. She died at Braintree on 15 May 1654.
  • (2) By 1658, Hannah (____) Ames, widow of William Ames. ("William Ames" died at Braintree on 11 Mar 1653[/4]; on 12 Jun 1663, in "answer to the petition of John Niles, of Braintry, weaver, & Hannah, his wife, formerly the wife of william Amers, deceased, humbly desiring this honored Court, on examination of the matter of this petition & testimonies of Amos Richardson & Mary Harvey, judge meet to grant the petitioner his request, i.e., & do confirm the sale of the said house & land therein specified."
    • She died on 31 Jan 1702/3.

Source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project

• Cenotaph containing lineage of Edward Samuel Niles in Niles Cemertery in Halifax, Windham, VT. Also John Niles wives names are the following: 1st wife Jane d: 15 May 1654. and 2nd wife Hannah d: 31 Jan 1702 Deb Kriegermeier -
• John (1603-1694) likely born Beaminster Dorset County England.
  • He is buried in MA not VT.
• Surname from Wales spelled Nyles.
• Inscription
  • The Birth year of John Niles should not be 1603 just because that's shown on his 20th century cenotaph
• First wife Jane Reed.
  • Buried Braintree, MA.
  • Engraved on Niles lineage headstone in Halifax Vt where 5th generation moved to late 1700's.

Reference:

• Find A Grave Memorial 37294951. (Maintained by: Bruce Fogwell; Originally Created by: anne; Added: 26 Aug 2012)
• SmartCopy: May 6 2019, 1:41:28 UTC

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Ancestry.com – New England, The Great Migration and The Great Migration Begins 1620-1635. Vol 5, M-P. pages 260-261

John Niles

• John Niles was born about 1611. He has eight children. He died in 1694 having lived a long life of 83 years.
• Origin: unknown
• Migration: 1634 (based on land at Dorchester on 1 September 1634 [DTR7])
• First Residence: Dorchester
• Removes: Braintree
• Occupation: Weaver [MBCR 4:2:83]
• Church Membership: Admission to Braintree church prior to 20 May 1647 implied by freemanship
• Freeman: 26 May 1647 [MBCR2:295]
• Estate:
  • On 1 September 1634 “John Nile” was one of ten men who were to “have 3 acres apiece up Naponset” in Dorchester [DTR 7]. On 22 November 1634, “Nohn Nile” was one of thirteen men who were to “have six acrew of land granted them [for] fheir small ande great lots in Naponset betwidxt the Indeian fielde and the mill”[DTR 8]. On 18 March 1637/8, “[worn] Nile” was granted two acres and a quarter and two rods in the Neck and the same amoung of land in the Cows’ Pasture [DTR 30].
  • On 5 September 1648, “Rich[ard] Thaire of Boston” several parcels of landk, including “two acres & a half of land lying between the land of DEaniell Lovet & James Farcfe, in the field at Menoticott, bought by the said Richard Thaire the elder of John Nileds together with the lot upon which he built his house: ]SLR 5:455-56]. On 12 December 1668, “Jonathan Gatlive of Boston ..., mariner, sold to “Lt. John Holbrooke of Weighmough..., yeoman,” a share of several parcels of lande that had belonged to his father, including “six acres of land ... bought of John Nilesk, situate & being in Braintry aforesaid, & in the great fielde called Stoney Field” [SLR 5:526].

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GEDCOM Note

John Niles
Born: 1603 in Wales (or England)Died: February 8, 1693/94 in Braintree, Mass. age about 91.1Married: (1) Jane [?Reed] 1635 in Braintree, Mass. Married (2) Hannah Ames ABT 1655
John Niles is generally accepted as the original progenitor of all families by that name in North America.
John Niles, of Dorchester and Braintree, Mass., ancestor of all of this surname in the northern part of the United States, as far as the name has been traced, was born, probably in England, about 1603, and died at Braintree 8 Feb. 1693/4, the entry of his death in the town records calling him "Old John Niles" and giving his age as "about 91." He married first, probably in 1636, Jane [?Reed] of Braintree, who died 15 May 1654; and secondly Hannah (___) Ames, widow of William Ames. She survived John Niles, and died 31 Jan. 1703. John Niles was at Dorchester in Sept. 1634, and settled at Braintree in 1636. (Source: Taken from the New England Historic Genealogical Register, Volume 85, April 1931)
In 1634 Dorchester, Mass. towns first book of records, p. II: John Niles, Francis Tuthill, John Leavitt, Thomas Rawlines, and others have 3 acres apiece upon the Neponsett. 3 Nov. 1634: It is ordered that John Niles, Francis Tuchine, John Leavitt, Thomas Rawlines and others, shall each of them have six acres of land granted them for their small and part lots at Neponsett betwixt Indian Field and the Mill. (Source: Descendants of John Leavitt the Immigrant, by Emily Leavitt Noyes)
Sources:
1 Samuel Bates, "The Records of Braintree 1640 to 1793", 1880, p. 660 ≤http://genweb.net/%7Ebraintree/660.html>.