Packard, Samuel

The family was said on the passenger list to be "from Windham" in Norfolk[Planters 194]. This is undoubtedly an error for Wymondham. Many of theearly settlers of Hingham in the Bay Colony came from Hingham, Norfolk,England. Some of those settlers or their families have documented ties toWymondham, Norfolk, which is about five miles east of Hingham, Norfolk,and about ten miles southwest of the shire town of Norfolk. There seemsto be no record of Samuel or his family in Wymondham so that may havebeen just a gathering place for some of the Diligent passengers.

The Packards settled first in Hingham, and about 1654 removed to Weymouthwhere Samuel was Selectman 1654-64. The family removed to Bridgewaterabout 1664. Samuel had purchased land from the original proprietors thereby 1662 when he was appointed to a group to lay out highways. He was aBridgewater constable in 1664, collector of Minister''s Rates in 1670,surveyor of highways in 1672, and again constable in 1674. He waslicensed to keep an "ordinary" in 1671. He and his sons were soldiers inKing Philip''s War under Captain Benjamin Church.

In his will Samuel named his wife Elizabeth Packard; eldest son SamuelPackard; sons Zaccheus Packard, John Packard and Nathaniel Packard;grandchild Israel Alger; daughters Mary Phillips wife of RichardPhillips, Hannah Randall wife of Thomas Randall, Jael Smith wife of JohnSmith, Deborah Washburn wife of Samuel Washburn and Deliverance Washburnwife of Thomas Washburn; grandchild Deliverance Alger; and grandchildrenSamuel Packard, Daniel Packard son of Samuel Packard, Israel Packard sonof Zaccheus Packard and Caleb Phillips son of Caleb Phillips [Bowman''spublished transcription of the will reads "son of Caleb Phillips," but hewas the son of Richard Phillips]. It named wife Elizabeth Packard and sonSamuel Packard as executors, and James Keith and William Brett asoverseers. The will was signed by mark and witnessed by John Field, JohnAmes Jr. and Shadrack Wilbore. On 03-Mar-1684/85 the first two witnessestestified that when Samuel signed and sealed his will he declared that heintended Thomas Washburn to be a joint executor with the two executorsnamed in the will, which the court allowed. The inventory of Samuel''sestate was dated 07-Nov-1684, mentioned no real estate and totalled £133,6s., 6d. as appraised by Mark Lathrop and John Field on 11-Nov-1684.Samuel Packard Jr. swore to the inventory at court in Plymouth on05-Mar-1684/85.