Jacob Farrer

     Jacob Farrer was baptized on 21 August 1614 in Heptonstall, Halifax, Yorkshire, England.³ He was the son of Jacob Farrer and Mary Haughton.² He married Grace Deane on 28 November 1640 in Halifax, Yorkshire, England.⁴ The name of his second wife was Ann who he married in England.⁴ He died on 14 August 1677 in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, at age 62.^5,4,1
     
     Jacob Farrer was called "younger sonne" in his father Jacob Farrer's will dated 31 March 1639.⁶ Early in 1649 Jacob Farrer was residing his grandmother's former home, for Edward Bannister, in his will dated 10 February 1648/9, bequeathed "to John Lacie... one messuage, called Over Hathershelfe, and its lands, in the occupation of Jacob Farrer." Hathershelf was on the very top of the moors above Eawood Hall.⁴

     About 1652 Jacob Farrer and his older brother John emigrated from England to New England and settled at Dedham, Massachusetts.⁴ On 18 March 1652/53, the selectmen of Dedham entered in an agreement with Jacob Farrer to keep school, beginning 28 March 1653 at £20 a year, he undertaking "to teach to read English and the Accidence & the rules & practice thereof…" Six months later, "upon the Request and motion of Jacob Farrow its consented unto that himself or his Brother shall attend the keeping the Schoole…."⁷ However, the two brothers soon moved to Lancaster, a town that was incorporated 18 May 1653. Among the original proprietors were brothers John and Jacob Farrar. All who became inhabitants signed a "Covenant" to better preserve "the purity of religion, and ourselves from the infection of error, not to distribute allotments or receive into the plantation as inhabitants, any excommunicant or otherwise profane and scandalous (known so to be) or any one notoriously erring against the doctrine and discipline of the churches, and the state and government of this Commonwealth." Both signed the covenant on 24 September 1653, and subsequently, all who were permitted to settle there. At Lancaster, Jacob set about preparing a home for his family left behind in Yorkshire.⁴ Jacob's wife, Ann, and his four children, Jacob, John, Henry and Mary, joined him in 1658, bringing £168 7s. additional estate.⁴ A surveyor, he laid out many of the lots in Lancaster.⁴ The town records state that "young Jacob Farrar was appointed to assist in marking the bounds of the town" in 1659.¹

     Jacob Farrer lost two sons in the 1675 attacks on Lancaster during King Philip's War — Jacob on 22 August, and Henry on 10 February 1675/76. The "Humble Petition of the distressed people of Lancaster" to the Government for assistance, dated 11 March 1675/6, has the names of Jacob ffarrar and his son-in-law John Houghton Jr. among the signers. After the 10 February massacre, Jacob, with his wife and daughter, Mary Houghton (Farrer), and Mary's husband, John, went to Woburn where he died in 1677.^8,1

     The widow, Ann Farrar, and her son-in-law, John Houghton, were appointed administrators of Jacob Farrar's estate, which was divided among the widow and the "two children now surviving" (Mary and Joseph), and the children of Jacob Farrer, his son (Jacob, George, John and Henry).⁴ The inventory of the estate of Jacob Farrer of "Lanchester" was appraised at £171 05 s., and is dated "Cambr. 2.8.77."⁹