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- There is a whole lot to be said for the Cummings families. Grandma Katie, Grandpa Harry (Cummings), Mother Kott (Gladys Cummings) and Grandma Fisher were all interest in family history and in putting it in writting. There is also a 'Cummings Memorial' researched by a Mr. George Modar of Oakland, CA, June 17, 1903. There are also many books in the library on the Cummings family. I'm writting all of the notes from a hand-written story on the family history. Mr. Modar's writting is pretty much the same, with a little discepence as to how many children were born to each family. Of course, there are also all of my notes on the family 'tree' as told to me in the late 1950's by Grandpa Harry and Grandma Katie.
Elaine Maskelis Besco
December 21, 1996
Isaac ummings (First Generation) appears on a list of the commoners' of Ipswich, Mass. on the last day of the year 1641. He is said to have had, as early as July 1638, a planting pot in 'Reedy Marsh' nd a house lot in town. At the time the name was spelled 'Comings'. The name appears on the list of Freemen in Watertown, 1642. In 1652, Samuel Symonds and wife Martha sell him in consideration of L30, 150 acres 'joining partly on Daniel Clark's land'. This Clark was an early settler of Topsfield. Mr. Samuel Todd, who married a descendant of Isaac Cummings, and who had given much time to the research written by Rev. Geroge Moor (his mother a Cummings) 'There is evidence that the first Isaac owned considerable land on the west side of Howlets (thru Winthrop's) brook, pretty near two mile n.w. of the old Cummings place on this side of the river'. 'One hundred acres lying on the westerly side and fifty acres on the easterly side' so says Historical Collections, Vol. V of Topsfield Historical Society.
In 1666 he was constable, and his son Isaac was his deputy, and in a deposition he states his age to be 65. The same year he was assessed 45.7d to pay the towns indebtedness. He was deacon of the church, and in 1676, at least moderator of the town meeting. No mentionr remains of his wife nor of her name. She was not living when his will was made, May 8, 1677. It is on file in the probate office, but unrecorded. Here it is, the will of Isaac, Sr.
"The last will and testament of Isaac Comins. I being seucable of my approaching desolution, being at present weak in body, yet perfect in my understanding, having by the grace of God been helped to provide for my future state in another world: doe now in ordering of the God hath been pleased to bestow upon me of the blessings of this life, take care, and order that, in the first place, my debts be duly paid. Nextly I doe by this my last will and testament confirme to to son Isaac the 10 acres of division land, on the south side of the great river, be it more or less: nextly I doe give my son, John Juet, 10 lbs, part in Cattle and part in household goods: nextly, I doe will and bequeath to my grandson, Isaac, the son of my son Isaac, one year old hefer, one little sow, the Indian corn whcih he hath planted for himself and the flax which he hath sown.
Item, I doe give unto him my chest 2 _ (there is a symbol with a zero with a line thru it over the underline) in bigness with the lock and key: Item, my history book with such books as are his onw, viz. a Bible and testament. Item, I doe give him 10 lbs to be paid at seventeen years, in country pay. Item, I do make my son John, my sole executor and doe give unto him my house and lands, being forty acres, more or less, consisting of upland and meadow with all the privileges and emoluments there of and appertainances there unto beloging, provied that this will land shall stand bound in part and in whold for the payment of these legacyes and in case the said legacyes shall not be payd according to my will, the land shall be sold and payment be made out of the price thereof and the remainder shall be to the executor. Item, my will further is that if any of these my children shall through discontent at what is done for them in this my will, cause trouble to arise to the executor that then there shall be nothing payd to him or them, but the legacy or legacyes willed to them shall return to and remain in the hands of the executor as his proper right. My desire further is that Isaac Foster and Thomas Dorman would take care that this my will be duly performed.
Dated this 8th day of the 3rd month 1677
Isaac Cummings
Witness the mark of
John Poore Sr.
Thomas Dorman
Isaac Foster
Thomas Dorman and Isaac Foster came before Samuel Symonds, D'y Gov'r
Gen. Denison Esq. Mr. Clarke being present at the day of the date hereof and saw the said Isaac Cummings signe public this to his last will and testament and that he was of a disposing mind as attest. Robert Lord, cler.
The inventory of the estate, made May 22, as appraised by John Whipple and John How, and testified to by John Cummings, July 14, place the valuation at L166 1s. 6d and the debts at L19 16s .5d.
It was thought Isaac Cummings was of Scottish forebears coming from somewhere in Britian or Scotland.
First Isaac Cummings - 4 children, age 77+, Born 1601, died 1678 or later.
John born 1630 - on the list of Freemen
Isaac born 1633
Ann born 1629
Elizabeth about 1637 - married John Jewett. Isaac conveyed to him a farm in Topsfield for and in consideration of his marriage with my dau. Elizabeth. They had 9 children.
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Mr Papa's World Genealogy
1601 - 1678 (77 years)
