James Usher

Notes:

See Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College: May 1745-May 1763 By Franklin Bowditch Dexter, p. 317, at Google Books.

Notes:

One genealogy has John's date of birth as June 1695 (source: A Brief Genealogy of the Usher Family of New England, by William Henry Whitmore, at Google Books). This genealogy also has his date of death as 1 May 1775.

Also see American Biography: a New Cyclopedia, Volume 5, By American Historical Company, at Google Books. This genealogy has John's parents as John Usher and his first wife Elizabeth Lidgett.

From Records of the First Church in Boston (at americanancestors.org): "John son of John Usher, baptised at his Father's house in Mystick, on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 1700, three brethren of our church, with several other christians, were present . . . Usher had returned from New Hampshire and was living in Mystic (i.e. Medford)." This would suggest that John (Jr.) was born about Sep 1700, since they practised infant baptism.

For 52 years he was the rector of St. Michael's Church in Bristol, RI.

Various genealogies of the Usher family have different parentage and grandparentage for John; see above notes and sources.

John married Elizabeth Unknown Abt 1720. Elizabeth was born Abt 1700; died 5 Dec 1769. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The Boston records say he was born 17th day 2nd month, but the baptism record was for the 16th day of the 2nd month, at which time he was about 7 days old.

He married first to Elizabeth Lidgett. At least one genealogy has her as the mother of John, Jr. b 1695. However, other genealogies say John Jr. was a son of Elizabeth (Allen) Usher. See notes for John (Jr.).

John Usher followed in the footsteps of his father, being involved in selling and publishing books.

He became a freeman of Boston 7 May 1673.

John Usher was Lt. Governor of New Hampshire.

John married Elizabeth ALLEN 11 Mar 1698/99, Hampton, NH. Elizabeth died Aft 1732. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Elizabeth was daughter of Samuel Allen, Governor of New Hampshire.

Notes:

Hezekiah was of Cambridge and Boston. His family origins are possibly in Bednall Green, England (source: A Brief Genealogy of the Usher Family of New England, by William Henry Whitmore, at Google Books). In Massachusetts he was a prominent merchant and a member of the Old South Church.

He was made freeman at Cambridge 14 March 1638 (source: A memorial sketch of Roland Greene Usher, 1823-1895 by Edward Preston Usher). He was the first bookseller and publisher in English America. From 1660 to 1663 he oversaw the printing of the Bible in the Indian language. He was one of the original founders of the Old South Church in 1669. Hezekiah held many civic offices.

Hezekiah and Frances had six known children (see above source).

He married second to Elizabeth Symmes (by whom he had Hannah & Zechariah, both d y) on 2 Nov 1652; he married third to Mary Alford, widow of Peter Butler; she is mentioned as his "deare and wellbeloved wife Mary Usher" in his will.

The will of Hezekiah Usher Sr. of Boston is dated 11 May 1676. Besides his wife Mary, it mentions gifts to sons Hezekiah and John; daughter Sarah Tyng, wife of Johnathan, and their children John & Mary; grandchildren Hezekiah and Elizabeth Browne; wife's daughter Hannah Butler; Mary Butler; wife's sons Peter and Samuel Butler; brother Samuel Usher in England; Robert Usher and his sister Elizabeth Usher [nephew and niece, ch of bro Robert dec'd]; son-in-law Samuel Shrimpton; Elizabeth "now wife" of son John Usher and John's daughter Elizabeth; sister Elizabeth Harwood; "brother John Harwood"; Hannah Scotten; Rachel wife of Thomas Harwood; my mother Mrs. Sarah Syms; my brother Mr. Zackery Syms; Brother Savage and his wife; Capt. William Davis and his wife; my brother Brock and his wife; sister Brock's four children; my Brother Mr. William Syms; Timothy Syms and his wife; Timothy Proute Jr. and his wife; Brother Willis and his wife; Harvard College; the poor in Boston; and so on -- the text may be read in "A memorial sketch of Roland Greene Usher, 1823-1895" by Edward Preston Usher, p 143ff (at Google Books). Appointed as joint executors were his wife Mary Usher and sons Hezekiah and John.

John & Frances had a younger son John who was buried at Boston 10th (Dec) month 1645.

Hezekiah married Frances Unknown Abt 1638. Frances died 25 Apr 1652, Boston, MA. [Group Sheet]