The Ancestors of My Grandchildren

     Matthew Noble was born on 9 Sep 1668 in Westfield, Massachusetts.^1,2 He married Hannah Dewey, daughter of Thomas Dewey and Constance Hawes, on 10 Dec 1690 at Springfield.^3,4,5 He died c 1744 in Sheffield, Massachusetts.⁶

Other information:

Matthew Noble and Hannah Dewey had 7 more children, all born in Westfield: Hezekiah (b. 14 May 1694, bap. 6mo 19d 1694), Solomon (b. 23 Dec 1700), Elisha (b. 9 Feb 1701/02, bap. 10mo 14d 1702), Obediah (b. 19 Oct 1705, bap. Abediah 8mo 21d 1705), Hannah (b. 11 Oct 1707), Hester (b. 6 Jun 1710, bap. Esther 4mo 11d 1710), and Rhoda (b. 17 Apr 1717). Another daughter Rhoda was recorded in Springfield on 21 Apr 1716. (The following baptisms are earlier than the births (maybe reversed?): Matthew 7mo 18d 1698, Solomon 9mo 24d 1700, Hannah 8mo 5d 1707).^7,8,5
     The land in Sheffield was granted in 1725, and shortly afterwards divided into lots by John Ashley and Ebenezer Pomeroy. Boltwood reports several accounts that Matthew Noble's son Obediah would have been the first settler in Sheffield, that he spent the first winter alone on the land, then went back and brought his daughter Hannah, 16 yrs old with him (she later married Daniel Kellogg). Boltwood counters that Obediah only had 5 sons, no daughter Hannah, and that the Hannah Noble who married Daniel Kellogg was the daughter of Matthew. Matthew's son Obediah was born in 1705, and had his first known child in 1734. Hanna was born in 1708, so if she was 16 in 1725, she would have come as daughter of Matthew, not of Obediah. If she came with her brother, he would have been 18 yrs old. Matthew is known to have been in Sheffield in 1727, as on 3 Feb 1727 Matthew Noble of "Housatunnick," husbandman, sells his lands, with house, barns, orchards etc. in Westfield and Springfield to Capt. John Ashley of Westfield. On 11 Jan 1733 Matthew issued a call for a town meeting, at the house of his son Obediah. The meeting was held on Jan. 16. Matthew Noble was chosen moderator, Hezekial Noble was chosen town clerk, Elisha Noble constable, and Obediah Noble fenceviewer. Samuel Dewey was chosen tithingman.⁹