Notes:
He was chosen as a fence-viewer in Stoneham, MA, on March 1st, 1735/1736. In those days this was an important post given only to people of demonstrated responsibility and diplomacy. In December of 1795, the Worcester Probate Record speaks of him as "...late of Dudley, deceased".
Notes:
In an e-mail to Frank Dyer, one Jackie Tompkins states: "I have docs on John's estate, naming all of his children. His wife, Mary, signed on land docs, but no mention of her maiden name. They were in Woodstock with the three oldest children, p/warnings, and then Dudley, Mass until they moved to Jefferson, NY with some of their dependent children."
From Leslie M. Dyer, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. all the following came to Frank Dyer:
In the Administration of the estate of John Dyer late of Dudley deceased Sturbridge 28 Apr 1784 (Series A, Case 18233, Worcester Co., MA) makes distribution "To James Dyer oldest son the sum of L1..6..5 to Thomas Dyer, Mary Dyre, Ruth Spencer, John Dyre, Susannah Dyre, Innes or Tames Dyre and Lucy Dyre the other children the sum of L0..13..27 to each for their portions, said payments to be made to them their guardians or legal representatives..." (Distribution made January 5, 1790). The signatures of James, Moses, Mary and Thomas were recorded 1 Apr 1784 series A, Case 18233, recorded Vol 461, Pg 116.
Systematic History Fund's "Worcester Co., MA, warnings, 1737-1788." with an introduction by Francis E. Blake, and an index of surnames, Worcester, MA: published by Franklin P. Rice, Trustee of the fund, 1899. Republished April 1992 by Picton Press; p68: "1765 Aug 20 Dyar John, w. Mary, ch. James, Thomas, Moses, from Woodstock. May 23, 1765.
Per "Mass Soldier & Sailors in the war of the Revolution" p125: Dyer, John, Sturbridge. Prvt, Capt. Adam Martin's Co., Col. Ebenezer Learned's Regt.; Muster roll dated 1 Aug 1775; enlisted 1 May 1775; Service, 3 mos, 8 days, also, company retun dated 7 Oct 1775"
Worcester Co. Surrogate Court, MA 1778, book 134, page 126. John Dyer of Dudley, Worcester Co., MA, housewright sold to James Dyer of Sturbridge, Yeoman for $355.00 a piece of land situated in Sturbridge estimated at 35 acres & a half with the dwelling house and barn. 14 May 1778.
On 13 Nov 2001, Andrew Pierce <apgen[sym]earthlink.net> sent the following message to Lynn Gallup:
Hi Lynn,
Just wanted to touch base. I am ordering a couple of films of the Newport RI town council records, to find any mentions of the Dyers between the 1720s and the 1750s. We will hope for the best. I have also found the Rev. Nicholas Eyres, who married John Dyer to Mary Hickey in 1754, was Newport's Baptist minister. There were also large Baptist communities in Scituate RI and Sturbridge MA, so the Dyers might likely have followed that tradition. It would also explain why they do not appear in Congregational church records.
Best,
Andrew Pierce
[He did not report that he had found anything.]
Notes:
As Moses Marcy's mill was just over the line, this was undoubtedly the first saw-mill within the limits of
Sturbridge. The foundation of this ancient mill may be seen by the side of the road from Westville to Fiske Hill. He is also found as a resident of Southbridge, MA.