A Maine Family's History - Davis / McDowell

Deacon

Deacon, Dekene, Decon

Avis DEACON married soon after arrival in 1635, may have had twin brother Thomas who came on ship with William Reade

Spouse: William READE of Batcombe Sumerset born 1605; bought house and 20 acres in Weymouth MA; came before 1635; estate administered in November 1667

Children: Margaret born 1636 married John Vining; Hannah born 1637-8 married Nicholas Whitmarsh; William born 10/15/1639 married Esther Thompson; Esther born May 8 1641; Ruth born 1642 married John Whitman; Thomas born 1645 married Sarah Bicknell; Mary born 1647 died 4/16/1655; John born 1649 married first Bashua and second Bethiah Frye; James married Susannah Richmond.

Esther READE born 5/8/1641 Weymouth MA, died 7/11/1719 Taunton

Spouse: Jonah AUSTIN born ENG died Taunton MA 5/10/1676

Children: Esther married Anthony Newland; Mary married Samuel Haskins; Sarah married John Knapp; Jonah married Thomason Lincoln; John married Sarah Hall

Historic Homes & Institutions...by Cutter: It is supposed that he came from Maidstone near London. On March 9 1636 7 he purchased from theestate of Zachery Bicknell his house and farm which was located on the west side of Middle street.The old house stood on the knoll opposite the junction of Middle and Charles streets. The premises were recently owned by James Clapp. They passed out of the family in 1769. William Reade was among the first settlers of Weymouth which was made a plantation May 8 1635. He was admitted a freeman September 2 1635 and was elected deputy to the general court December 7 1636 and again September 6 1638 Rev Joseph Hull and his company came to Weymouth in the spring of 1635 shortly before Reade settled there and this band of very worthy settlers established one of the most noted colonies of the early days of the New England Puritans. In the same month that Mr Reade left England another ship containing his future wife sailed Avis Deacon was on the Alice of which Richard Orchard was the master and which sailed July 13 1635 from Gravesend with thirty two passengers most of whom were young men and women. Her twin brother Thomas Deacon came on the boat with Reade. Avis Deacon married William Reade probably soon after her arrival in New England. Reade was allotted land in the first division at Weymouth and he acquired considerable real estate later. The children of William and Avis Deacon Reade were Margaret born 1636 died July 6 1659 married May n 1651 John Vining, Hannah born 1637 married April 2 1658 Nicholas Whitmarsh, William born October 15 1639 married 1675 Esther Thompson, Esther born May 8 1641, Ruth born 1642 died 1663 married December 19 1662 John Whitman, Thomas born 1645 died November 14 1719 married in 1670 Sarah Bicknell, Mary born 1647 died 1655 unmarried, John born 1649 died January 13 1720 married Bethiah Frye, James died July 21 1726 married April 18 1683 Susanna Richmond.

The descent of the family of Deacon of Elstowe and London: with some ... By Edward Deacon: The only Deacons named in New England records bore the name John. There were three of this name one of Plymouth died 1636. The others may have been father and son and were both of Lynn. There was a Thomas Deacon aged 19 who came in July 1635 in the Assurance and of whom nothing more is recorded who is supposed by some to have been twin brother to Avis Deacon aged 19 who came the same month and year in the Alice. (See Hotten's Immigrants) This Avis Deacon probably belonged to the Berkshire family of Shinfield descended from Avis Deacon who died 1587 and her husband Simonde Deacon of Shinfield husbandman whose sons were Symond, Francis, Richard, Joh,n William, and Raphe. (Probate Registry) This Ralfe as he signs himself died 1624 leaving Richard, Edward, Alice, Ann, Johan, and Avis.But this Avis could not have been the woman who emigrated for she is specially named in the will of her grandmother 1587 as Avis dau of my son Raphe which would make her nearly fifty years of age in 1635. In view however of the rarity of the name and its persistence in this family there can be little doubt but that the emigrant girl belonged to this branch. The only woman who came to America at this period bearing this somewhat unusual name was Avis Deacon who came in the Alice and she is said to have married William Reade who came over in the Assurance in 1635 along with young Thomas Deacon before mentioned and who became one of the most prominent men in the early history of Weymouth Mass a Representative to the Gen Ct 1636 and 1638, They had a family of eight children whose descendants are now numerous and prominent, (See Reid Geneal)