John Porter

  General Notes:

Research of Tim Merrill on www.rootsweb.com "A Potter-Richardson Memorial" compiled by Doreen Potter Hanna & Louise Potter Page 285 - sent to me by Wanda Ryg "John Porter-1, farmer, born about 1596, in England, was a freeman, 1633, in Roxbury, Massach usetts; in Hingham, 1635; bought land in Salem in 1644. His wife, Mary, was admitted to the church in Salem in 1644. He was the largest land owner in Salem; established the first tannery in New England; was a friend of Governor Endicott; noted for integrity; held in high regard in civil, patriotic, and religious matters. He died in Salem, September 6, 1676."

GED COM of R. Kerr (sent June 2006) Came to MA about 1635. At time of his death, he was the largest shareholder in Salem,MA. (History of Marietta and Washington County) "The first notice is characteristic of the man, as he spent his whole life in acquiring land, never seeming satisfied, it has been said, unless he could buy all the land adjoining his own. He lived in Hingham until 1643, when he moved to Salem Village, now Danvers, where he spent the rest of his life. his property in Hingham was not disposed of until 1648 when he sold it to Nathaniel Baker. 10 Nay 1643. John Porter of Hingham, bought of the Rev. Samuel Sharp, of Salem, his farm in Salem, lying north of Mr. Skelton's for 110 pounds, agreeing to pay for it in three installments viz: 20 May 1643, 50 pounds; 1 May 1644, 30 pounds; 1 May 1645, 30 pounds. He made his last payment 20 Jun 1653. This farm contained about 300 acres. This land was long know as Porter's Plains, and included what is now a large part of Danvers. It extended north to Beaver Brook and took in Lindall Hill, then called Porter's Hill. In Revolutionary days the hill was covered with a thick forest of oak trees, and here it was the the cannon were concealed from the British, when Col. Leslie tried, and failed to capture them, 26 Feb 1775. On this land, near the stream, which, from that day to this, has been called Porter's river, John Porter built his house, and until quite recently, the old cellar hole has been visible. But at a visit to the spot in the summer of 1904, it was found that excavations had been made that entirely obliterated the square depression that marked the site of the Porter homestead; and the indications were that houses would soon cover the tract formerly occupied by his garden and home buildings. At that time there was a clear view down the river for several miles, and one could easily understand why he selected this for his abiding place, when he came prospectiing from Hingham. The house he built has been thus described by Mr. Ezra D. Hines: "The house was a typical one of the period. It faced south, had two stories in front; a door in the middle with large rooms on either side, two windows in each front room, looking down the creek, the landing place, and the river beyond. The same number of windows in the story above with an additional window over the front door; an entry below and above, and back of each the immense chimney; from the top of the house the roof slanted back making the old-fashoned leanto; on either end of the house there doors, and on the eastern end of a small entry way; on either end a small window in the attic, one window in the second story, one in the first story on the side of the front room, and one on each end for the kitchen; back of each front of each front room bedrooms; in the second story, and an open attic. In the front rooms were large fireplaces both above and below, and also in the kitchens. From top to bottom on the front and sides of the house, between the woodwork and partions, layers of bricks, near the northeastern end of the house the old well was built." (A Porter Pedigree, Juliet Porter, 1907)

John married Mary Endicott, daughter of Unknown and Unknown, in Dorchester, Dorset, England. (Mary Endicott was born in 1598 in England and died on 6 Feb 1683 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts.)