THE IDENTIFICATION OF EDWARD HAZEN
What are the reasons for concluding that Edward Hazen of Rowley, Massachus
etts, the founding ancestor of the American family, was the same "Edward
us Hasson filius Thomae" who "fuit baptizatur 24 die Decembris 1614" as en
tered in the registers of Cadney, Lincolnshire?
1. The surname was not a very common one in England, and a great deal of r
esearch in Northumberland and Lincolnshire has not disclosed any other Edw
ard Hazen of suitable age.
2. No other history has been found for Edward Hazen (baptized 24 Dec. 1614
), who was living in 1628 when his father made his will. No record of buri
al has been found in the search of many Parish registers of Lincolnshir
e. In July 1641, Parliament passed an act that Every clergyman should ta
ke a census of males over eighteen in his Parish, presenting to them for s
ignature a paper upholding the Protestant faith. ; This "Protestation Rol
l" is very compete for Lincolnshire. It shows at Cadney, William Hassen, f
irst cousin of Edward; at Great Limber, Richard Hason, Edward's brother; a
nd at South Ferraby, a Thomas Hason, servant to William Bromby. Edward do
es not appear in this Roll, indicating that unless he had died with recor
d, he had left Lincolnshire before 1641.
3. The date of birth is about what we should expect for Edward of Rowle
y, and makes him in his sixty-nineth year at death.
4. The names which Edward of Rowley gave his children are very significan
t. The first child was Elizabeth named after his mother, and also his gran
dmother who lived until he was fifteen years old. The next child, Hanna
h, was named for Edward's wife. Then came John, the eldest son, which w
as the name of Edward's grandfather and elder brother. The next child, Tho
mas, was named after both grandfather, Edward's father and Hannah's fath
er both bearing the name of Thomas. The next son, Edward, was named for hi
mself, and the youngest, Richard, for Edward's brother of that name. The n
ames of the other children, who were daughters, are not significant, sin
ce Edward had no sisters for whom they could have been named.
5. Other settlers in Rowley were from Lincolnshire, and after Edward Haz
en married Hannah Grant, her sister Anna married Robert Emerson, who wa
s, like Hazen, a native of Cadney.
This from the records of Tracy Elliott Hazen.
In the political life of the town also, the Rowley records show that Edwa
rd Hazen was a man of influence and importance.
On 3 Jan. 1650, at a town meeting, Edward Hazen was chosen as on of the fo
ur overseers, and was again chosen to this office, 19 Dec. 1651 and 12 De
c. 1654. He was also overseer for the years 1660, 1661, and 1662, and w
as a selectman for the year 1669. These overseers were not the same as sel
ectmen, as sometimes has been stated, but were always named after and in a
ddition to the select men, or "prudentiall men," and in 1649 are describ
ed as "ouerseers for the execution of towne orders and Hy wayes." On 10 Ja
n. 1660/70, "Thomas Tene" and "Edward Hasne" werre chosen "ouerseers for v
uiin fences and hywayes and vuiin Chimneys." Among the "Towne Charges f
or the year past 1651: for John Smith for going to Court 0-4-6: alsoe f
or Edward Hasen the lyke worke 0-3-6." "Town charges 1665: Edward has
en a Day Jury Man." The Ipswich Court Records and Files show that Ed. Hass
en served on Trial Jury 30: 7: 1651 and also 26:7:1654. On 9 Jan. 1665/6
6, Edward Hazon was chosen one of the four judges of delinquents "for n
ot comeing to towne meetings"; 9 Jan. 1666/67, "Edward hasen Judge for yea
re ensuing." In a list [of town charges?] 1662: "Ed hason 0-10-2." Towne c
harges 1667: "Edward Hason for ueiwinge fence 0-3-0." In an undated reco
rd probably referring to King Phillip's War and to Edward Hazen's sone: "W
ork done for Samuel person in ye war--James Tenny 1 day: Thomas Hasen a
nd Edward each a day." [Early Records of the Town of Rowley (1894), pp 7
0, 71, 73, 91, 106, 118, 132, 146, 159, 162, 165, 185, 200, 205, 224; Quar
terly Courts of Essex County, 1:232, 362.]
The follow account of the settlement of Edward Hazen's estate is taken fr
om the original papers, in two sheets, on file at Salem, and differs somew
hat from the clerk's book copy.
Edward Hazen and his wife Hannah appear in the following deeds:
Peter Eyers and wife Hannah of Haverhill convey to Edward Hasen of Rowl
ey 6 1/2 acres of puland, Peter Eyers' 3d division, with land abutti
ng on the Merrimack River, (date not give in copy). Witnesses, Jno. Carlto
n, Jno. Gryffyn [Old Norfolk Co. Deeds, 3:336, p. 367 in copy.]
Edward Hassen and wife Hannah of Rowley convey to John Tennie of Rowley 1
00 acres in the division called "Merimake land," the northwest end abutti
ng on the Merrimack River, and 4 acres of meadow called Crane meadow; al
so a parcel of land granted to John Harris, John Tod, Richard Longhorne, R
ichard Holmes, and Edward Hassen by the town of Rowley, dated 20 May 166
4. Witnesses, Ezekiell Jewit, Thomas Tenny.
The name was signed "Hasin." Edward acknowledged 16 June 1673. [Ipswich De
eds, 4:41.]
John Pearly and wife Mary of Newbury convey to Edward Hazen of Rowley 7 ac
res of upland in Rowley Village-land of Thomas Pearly, Daniel Wood, and Ez
ekiel Northen mentioned, (date not given in copy). Witnesses, Benjamin Rol
fe, Thomas Hale. John and Mary acknowledged on 19 Feb. 1684 and she resign
ed her right of dower to Edward Hazen's administrators. [Ibid., 5:371.]
"Hanah ye Relict and late wife of said Edward Hason deceased & Edward Has
on son of ye said Edward Hason Joynt administrators" confirm to Thomas Has
on land in Rowley Village where he now lives and which his father Edward b
efore his death settled upon him as his portion-land bought of John Pear
ly of Rowley Village and on 19 Feb. 1684 acknowledged by him, dated 14 M
ay 1685. No witnesses. Signed "Hannah Hazzen alias Browne." Hannah acknowl
edged 19 May 1685; Edward, 4 Nov. 1685. [Ibid., 5:371.]
Hannah Browne of Haverhill, widow and relict of Capt. George Browne, "f
or & in consideration of natural & christian love & afection which I bea
re unto my loving & beloved sonns Thomas & Edward wch I had by my former H
usband Edward Hazen long time deceased at Rowley," conveys to them all t
he interest in the estate of her brother John Grant of Rowley, dec'd; 1 Ma
r. 1699 or 1700. Witnesses, Thomas Eaton, Senr., Richard Saltonstall. [Ess
ex Co. Deeds, 14:37.]
Capt. George Brown and wife Hannah of Haverhill convey to Thomas Carlt
on of Bradford 76 acres laid out to her former husband Edward Hazzen of Ro
wley, dec'd, and her part of the estate of Edward Hazzen in Bradford-wid
ow Smith, widow Hobson mentionsed, 3 Apr. 1697. Witnesses, Abraham Perkin
s, Solomon Reves, Senr., Jacob Perkins, 3d. Acknowledged 3 Dec. 1698. [Ibi
d.,30:44,45.]
Richard Hazzen, Thomas Hazzen, Edward Hazzen, Daniel Wicom, Junr., Nathani
el Storey, children of Edward Hazzen and Hannah, now wife of Capt. Geor
ge Browne, quitclaim to Thomas Carlton, 3 Apr. 1697. Witnesses, Edward Car
leton, Nath. Walker, Solomon Keyes, Senr., Jacob Perkins, tertius. [Ibid
., 30:45.]
An agreement concerning some land that was their father Edward Hazen's a
nd that after his death was laid out to his wife for her thirds, was ma
de by Thomas Hazen of Norwich, John Wood of Bradford, Timothy Perkins of T
opsfield, Edward Hazzen of Boxford, Richard Hazzen of Haverhill; first, th
at Edward Hazzen is satisfied with 16 pounds already received, one ox ga
te in east end of ox pasture, and 5 pounds which his brothers promise to p
ay; secondly, that the others are satisfied with a lpiece of march, call c
owbridge marsh, and a piece of land called cowbridge lot, and another pie
ce of land in Symond's new field from their mother's thirds, taking in bro
ther Jeremy Person, brother Harris' children, brother Gibson's children, a
nd brother Wicom's children, they having their share with the others; dat
ed 20 June 1716. Witnesses, Thomas Perley, Junr., Nathaniel Perley.d [Ibid
., 34:189]
On 4 July a "Hanah Hazen" was a witness to the will of Ann Swan, reli
ct of Richard Swan of Rowley. [Essex Co. probate files, Docket 268976
.] It is highly probable that she was the wife of Edward Hazen, as his dau
ghter Hannah was presumably married before that date.
From Hazen family in America by Tracy Elliott Hazen