Lucius R. Paige, History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a genealogical register

2. Peter, s. of William (1), was by trade a cooper, and had w. Joanna in 1687, and a second w. Elizabeth, but no children; he resided on the S. W. corner of Winthrop and Brighton streets; he was Constable five years between 1668 and 1694, and Selectman 1695. He d. 2 Nov. 1705, a. (according to his gravestone) 72 years and 10 months; his w. Elizabeth was living in Braintree 4 Mar. 1723-4, when she sold her life-estate in the property of her husband. By his will, dated 28 May 1705, Mr. Towne seems to have been both a slaveholder and an abolitionist. He ordered that his three negro slaves should become free; one was to be free as soon as he should recover from his sickness, and in the meantime to be carefully provided for; one in four years, and the third, who was young, in seven years. Each of his slaves was to receive a legacy of ten pounds on the day of his freedom. A legacy of three pounds was bestowed on a former slave. After the death of his wife, who was to have a life-estate in his property, he bequeathed his estate to his cousins, John Howard, Nathaniel Howard, Joseph Howard, Elisha Howard, and Mary Mitchell, all of Bridgewater,--with the special provision that Joseph Howard should have twenty pounds more than either of the other legatees, if he would make his slave, Stephen, free; otherwise he should have no part of the real estate, which was appraised at £ 307. This provision was probably complied with; for the heirs of Joseph, having acquired the rights of the other legatees, sold the real estate 8 Mar. 1723-4 to John Bradish.

Trowbridge, James, son of Thomas, was born at Dorchester about 1636, and baptized 1638. He m. Margaret, dau. of Major Humphrey Atherton, 30 Dec. 1659; she d. 17 Aug. 1672, and he m. Margaret, dau. of Deac. John Jackson, 30 Jan. 1674. His children were, in Dorchester, Elizabeth, b. 12 Oct. 1660, m. John Mirick 9 Feb. 1681-2; Mindwell, b. 20 June 1662, m. Jonathan Fuller 2 May 1684; and in Camb., John, b. 22 May 1664, m. Sarah——; Margaret, b. 30 Ap. 1666, m. Hon. Ebenezer Stone 18 Mar. 1686; Thankful, b. 4 Mar. 1667-8, m. Deac. Richard Ward 1690; Mary, b. 11 June 1670, m.——Stedman; Hannah, b. 15 June 1672, m. John Greenwood, Esq.; Experience, b. 1 Nov. 1675, m. Samuel Wilson; Thomas, b. 10 Dec. 1677; Deliverance, b. 30 Dec. 1679, m. Eleazar Ward; James, b. 1682, m. Hannah, dau. of Abraham Jackson, and d. 1714; William, b. 1684, m. Sarah——, and d. 1744; Abigail, b. 11 Ap. 1687; Caleb, b. 7 Nov. 1692, grad. H. C. 1710, ordained at Groton 2 Mar. 1714-15, m. Sarah, dau. of Thomas Oliver, Esq., 10 Mar. 1714-15, by whom he had Oliver, b. 16 May 1716, d. 28 Sept. 1723, and afterwards In. Hannah, dau. of Rev. Nehemiah Walter of Roxbury, by whom he had four sons and four daughters, and d. 9 Sept. 1760. James the f. rem. to that part of Camb. which is now Newton about 1664, was Lieutenant, Clerk of the Writs, and Deac. of the Church; he was also a Representative of Newton 1700, 1703, and a Selectman of the Village nine years from 1679. He d. 22 May 1717, a. 81; his w. Margaret d. 16 Sept. 1727, a. 78.

2. Thomas, s. of James (1), m.——, and had John; he m. (2d) Mary Goffe of Cambridge, dau. of Edward and granddaughter of Samuel, and had Edmund, b. 1709, H. C. 1728, an eminent lawyer, Attorney-general and Judge of the Superior Court, Representative and Councillor, m. Martha, dau. of Hon. Jonathan Remington, 15 Mar. 1737-8, and d. s. p. 2 Ap. 1793;¹ his w. Martha d. 31 July 1772; Lydia, b. 1710, m. Richard Dana, Esq., 31 May 1737, was mother of Chief Justice Dana, and d. at Newton 7 Ap. 1776;