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

U.

2. William, of Pomfret, Conn., but prob. of the Malden family, m. Naomi, dau. of Daniel Dana, 21 June 1721.

Usher, Hezekiah, in 1642 res. at the N. E. corner of Dunster and Winthrop streets, but rein. to Boston about 1645. By w. Frances he had in Camb., Hezekiah, b. June 1639; John, b. 11 Sept. 1643, d. Dec. 1645; and in Boston, Elizabeth, b. 1 Feb. 1645-6; John, b. 17 Ap. 1648. His w. Frances d. 25 Ap. 1652, and he m. Elizabeth, dau. of Rev. Zechariah Symmes of Chs., 2 Nov. 1652, and had Hannah, b. 29 Dec. 1653; Zechariah, b. 26 Dec. 1654. After the death of his second wife he m. widow Mary Butler, who survived him. He had also dau. Sarah, who m. Jonathan Tyng, and dau. Rebecca, who m. Abraham Brown 1 May 1660; one of his daughters, perhaps Elizabeth, m. Samuel Shrimpton, as is manifest from his will, and the will of his son Hezekiah, in both of which the relationship is mentioned. Mr. Usher removed to Boston about 1615, and was Representative for Billerica three years, 1671-1673. Thomas (Hist. Printing, II. 409) says, ‘Hezekiah Usher was the first bookseller in English America, of whom I can find any account.’ He d. May 1676. In his will, dated 11 May and proved 19 May 1676, he names w. Mary; sons Hezekiah and John; dau. Sarah, w. of Jonathan Tyng, and her children John and Mary; grandchildren Hezekiah and Elizabeth Brown, and Elizabeth, dau. of John Usher; son-in-law Samuel Shrimpton; brother Samuel Usher of England; sister Elizabeth, w. of John Harwood, and her children; brother Willis and wife; Robert Usher and his sister Elizabeth; and many others. He left a large property; his inventory being £ 15,358 19 2, from which a deduction was to be made for debts £ 1,325 17 6.

2. Hezekiah, s. of Hezekiah (1), was one of those unhappy men who seem born to disappointment. He engaged largely in land speculations, indulging sanguine hopes of finding rich mines of the precious metals, but his success answered not his expectations. When about 40 years old, he m. Bridgett, wid. of Leonard Hoar, Pres. of Harvard College, and dau. of Lord Lisle, one of Cromwell's Peers. This marriage was unfortunate for both parties; he was unwilling to conform to her expensive style of living, and she appears to have had just cause to doubt the orthodoxy of his faith, a point in which she was very tenacious, and for which she was held in the highest esteem by the clergy and magistrates. Their situation became so uncomfortable, that she embarked for England, and did not return during his life. Judge Sewall records her departure thus: ‘1687. Tuesday July 12. I go to Mr. Usher's about 5 mane. About 7 or eight we go on board, the ship being under sail. Go with them to Alderton's Point. Go in the ship, Mr. Wharton, Sam. Newman, Mr. Charles Morton, Mr. Wooddrop, Mrs. Bridgett Usher, and her daughter Mrs. Bridgett Hoar, and others. Had an extraordinary good wind. Mr. Usher wept at taking leave of's wife and daughter. Before went from Mr. Usher's, Mr. Moodey went to prayer in behalf of those going to sea, and those staying behind, in a very heavenly manner.’ （Am. Quart. Reg., XI. 269). After her departure, Mr. Usher seems to have resided for a time at Groton, where, as I judge from the names of the witnesses, he executed his will, dated at Nonacoicos 17 Aug. 1639, in which his dissatisfaction at the conduct of his wife is clearly manifested. Professing a willingness to forgive her, however, he says, ‘To my wife, if she comes over to New England before she heareth of my death, with a intention in love to live with me, then I bestow on her 300£.’ After recapitulating a long list of grievances, he appropriates a sum of money for the publication of his letters and other writings, ‘as to the evil of having a wife only in name, and to seek themselves in a way of separation from their husbands, or the government of wives to their husbands, or the duty of wives to their husbands, & c.’ But this was not his only nor his last trouble. Whether his habits of life were naturally eccentric, or whether they became so in consequence of his domestic unhappiness, for some reason, 43 [674] notwithstanding his general good reputation, he became a subject of suspicion and narrowly escaped a public execution. Thomas says: ‘In 1692, a respectable man, whose name was Hezekiah Usher, was accused of witchcraft, in consequence of which accusation he was ordered to be confined in the common prison; but on account of the goodness of his character, he was, by connivance, allowed to secrete himself in the house of a friend, and afterward to escape out of the hands of his persecutors, until the delusion or madness of the times in part subsided.’ （Hist. Printing, II. 410, note.) He closed his troubled life ‘at Lynn, July 11th, was brought to Boston and laid in his father's tomb July 14th, 1697.’ （Sewall) His w. Bridgett probably remained in England until after she heard of his death. Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge testified 4 Jan. 1697-8, that he saw her in London, two years before, at the house of her daughter's husband, Mr. Thomas Cotton. She subsequently returned, and lived in much honor at Boston, where she d. 25 May 1723, having survived her first husband nearly half a century, in whose grave she directed that her body should be placed, rather than in the tomb with Mr. Usher. The Sexton's Monitor gives the inscription on the monument of Dr. Hoar, who d. 28 Nov. 1675, aged 45, which closes thus: ‘His pious and aged widow, the late Madam Usher, was brought hither from Boston, and interred in the same grave, according to her desire, May 30, 1723.’

3. John, s. of Hezekiah (1), was a bookseller in Boston; he became a Colonel, was one of the Andros Council, Treasurer of Massachusetts, and Lieutenant-governor of New Hampshire. Towards the close of life he removed to Medford, resided on what has since been known as the Royall Farm. He m. Elizabeth, dau. of Peter Lidgett, by whom he had one daughter Elizabeth, who m. David Jeffries 15 Sept. 1686, and d. 17 June 1698, leaving eight children. Mr. Usher m. (2d) Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Allen, Governor of New Hampshire, by whom he had John; Hezekiah, who resided in Boston; Elizabeth, m. Stephen Harris of Boston; Frances, m. Rev. Joseph Parsons of Bradford. John the f. d. at Medf. 5 Sept. 1726; his w. Elizabeth d. 5 July 1753.

4. John, s. of John (3), grad. H. C. 1719, ‘was a missionary from the Society in England for propagating the Gospel for half a century, and d. in Bristol, R. I., at the age of 75 years, in 1775.’ Alden's Epitaphs, Note.

5. John, s. of John (4), b. about 1720, grad. H. C. 1743, was an Episcopal Clergyman at Bristol, R. I. His epitaph is given by Alden: ‘Sacred to the memory of the Rev. John Usher, late Rector of this Church, who departed this life 5 July 1804 in hope and full assurance of a resurrection to a better, aged 84 years; a kind and tender parent, an ardent, active and faithful friend, a just and generous man, and sincere Christian,’ etc. Mr. Alden adds, that ‘he was a descendant, according to family tradition, from the learned James Usher, Archbishop of Armagh.’ If this be true, Hezekiah (1) must have been son or grandson of the Archbishop; but James is not a family name along his descendants so far as I have seen.