John Hart

     John Hart was born say 1595.¹ He married first Mary.¹ He married second Florence Norman, daughter of Richard Norman, by about 1639. He died in 1656.¹
     
     John Hart, aged forty, a shoemaker, and his wife Mary Hart, aged thirty-one, were among the passengers on the James of London, bound for New England 13 July 1635. They settled in Salem, where John Hart was a proprietor in 1636. Both he and Mary were members of the First Church of Salem in 1637.¹

     John Hart was made freeman of the colony 9: 5 mo: 1645 (9 July 1645).² His home was in that part of Salem which soon became the separate political unit of Marblehead where Hart was chosen by the town to collect the tax for a meeting-house in 1648. He was granted the right to keep "a house of common entertainment" in 1651, the privilege being confirmed by the Court.^3,1

     From the town Hart received a grant of ten acres in 1637, and, petitioning with William Charles for land, he was granted a house-lot and five acres "at M^rbell head" in the same year. In 1638 he received three-quarters of an acre of marsh. He paid a town rate of £2 in 1647, and was allowed to pasture two cows on the common land in 1648. He was appointed administrator of the estate of Richard Jarret of Poole by the Boston Court in November 1651.¹

     Upon John Hart's death in 1656, his widow Florence was appointed administratrix of his estate. It was apparently obvious that his estate was insolvent, as Elias Stileman was immediately directed to apportion the claims of his creditors.^4,1 From evidence presented in suits brought fifteen years later by Jonathan Hart to recover his father's real estate in Marblehead, it appears that the widow Florence Hart accepted her husband's personal property in lieu of dower, and that the Hart house, the acre of land around it and the five acres of town grant, at Devereux's Point, became the property of George Corwin, the principal creditor, who sold this property to John Peach, Jr., of Marblehead.¹

     Inventory of the estate of John Hart was taken 14: 1: 1655/6 (14 March 1655/56) by Moses Mavericke and Johanne Bartoll: One house with aboute an acre of ground whereon ye house standeth & an old Cow house together with Commonidg for 2 Cowes & 5 acres upland, 36li; A part of ye farme that was Mr. Humphrey's, 7li. 10s; 1 acre of meadow at Salem, 3li., 2 Cowes, 8li; 1 Calfe ten weekes ould, 15s; 2 small swine, 1li; 1 flock beed in ye parlour, 1 Cotten Rugg, 1 boulster & 2 pillowes, feathers, 2 old Curtaines, 2li. 10s; 1 table, 4 Joynstooles, 15s; 1 chaire, 2s. 8d; 2 chests & 1 box, 12s; 1 pr. of great Andirons, tongs & shovell, 10s. 2 window Cussions, 3s; 1 woolin wheele, 3s; 1 Looking glass, 3s; 6 pewter dishes, 2 baisons, 1li., 2 quart potts, 1 candlestick, beaker & wine cup, brass snuffers & small cupp, 7s; 1 pr. wooll Cards, 2s; 3 Iron potts, 1li. 5s; 3 brass kettles, 1 copper kettle & skillet, 1li; 1 brass furnace, 1li; 1 feather bed, boulster & 2 pillowes, 2li. 10s; a pr. Curtaines & Vallance, 1li. 10s; 1 white Rugg & Coverlett, 1li; ----elt, 3s. 6d; [bed]stead & Cord, 5s; [ta]ble very ould & little, 1s. 6d; 1 Lanthorne, 1s. 6d; 3 pr. sheetes, 2 pr. pillowbeers, 1li. 10s; 1 tablecloth, 1 dos. napkins, 12s; 1 table in ye Kitchin, 1s. 6d; 2 tubbs & 2 payles, 5s; som earthenwaier & other Lumber, 6s; 1 spitt & hanger for ye chimney, 5s; total, 74li. 10s. 6d. The estate is debtor to Mr. Corwin, 30li.' Mr. Browne, 8li. 6s; a bill at Boston, 5li; Sam. Archard, 2li; Mr. Elzey, 18li; total, 63li. 6s.^5,6