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

Edwards Hazen's wife, Hannah Grant, the mother of the American Hazens, de
rived from the parish of Cottingham in Yorkshire, England. It has long be
en known that she was a daughter of Thomas and Jame Grant of Rowley, Mas
s. Her ancestry has been traced by the author Tracy Elliott Hazen to all f
our grandparents, and to one great-grandfather.
Although the maiden name of Mrs. Hannah Hazen does not appear in her marri
age record, in accordance with the practice of the town clerk for that yea
r, nevertheless her family history is known from an affidavit filed in t
he Essex County Probate Court in the settlement of the estate of her broth
er John Grant, who died at Rowley, 18 Mar. 1696/97; "I Sam Stickn
ey Sr of Bradford do testifie and say That I came over from England to N
ew England in the same ship wth Thomas Grant and Jame Grant his Wife, w
ho brought over wth them Foure Children, by name John, Hannah, Frances a
nd Ann, whome I was well acquainted with, and next or near neighbours un
to in Rowley. And ye said John being deceased, I do affirm that the siste
rs of John Grant above named, now by marriage knowne by he names of Hann
ah Browne, Frances Keyes, and Ann Emerson, are ye same yt came over sth th
eir Father and Mother, and by them owned wth said John for their children
." Sworn to 20 July 1698. [Essex Inst. Hist. Coll., 21:99.]
Thomas and Jame Grant came from England in 1638. No record of their dea
th is known, but as Widow Jane Grant she had a house lot on Bradford Stree
t, Rowley, in 1643, and was taxed for two cows in 1653. Of their four chil
dren, John died without issue; Frances married, at Newbury, Mass., 2 Oc
t. 1653, Solomon Keyes of Newbury, soon of Chelmsford, Mass.; and Ann marr
ied, at Rowley, 4 Jan 1658, Robert Emerson of Haverhill.
The town of Rowley was settled under the leadership of Rev. Ezekiel Roger
s, who arrived in Salem, Mass., in December, 1638, with about twenty famil
ies of his Yorkshire friends, "godly men, and most of them of good estate
." He had labored, with great fidelity and eminent usefulness, for sevente
en years in the parish of Rowley, in the southern part of Yorkshire, b
ut at length was suspended, "for refusing to read that accursed book th
at allowed sports on God's holy Sabbath, or Lord's day, and, by it and oth
er signs of the times, driven, with many of his hearers, into New England
." The company spent the winter in Salem, some of them prospecting at N
ew Haven, where they were importuned to settle. About April, 1639, increas
ed to about sixty families, they made a settlement between Ipswich and New
bury, which was incorporated 7 Sept. 1639 under the name of Rowley. "The
se people it appears, labored together and in common, for nearly five yea
rs from the time they commenced a settlement in this place; no man owni
ng any land in severalty from the company, until after they had, probabl
y, cleared up the lands on each side of the brook that runs through the ce
ntral part of what is now the first parish in Rowley, and laid out the sev
eral streets as now improved." [Gage, Hist. of Rowley, p. 122.] On 10 Ja
n. 1643, a survey of the town was made by Mr. Thomas Nelson, Mr. Edward Ca
rleton, Humphrey Reyner, and Francis Parrot, and the location and si
ze of each house lot (consisting usually of an acre and a half) recorde
d; in this register the name of Edward Hazen does not appear. The remaini
ng undivided land was called commons, and it was agreed that every 1 1/2 a
cre house lot should have 1 1/2 "gates" or cow rights in the common pastur
es.
In a later survey, undated, but probably made before 1647, is found the fi
rst mention of our common ancestor as a land owner, probably also the earl
iest record of the family in America:
Certaine Diuisions of Meadow laid out in the Meadow Called Crane Meadow
To Edward Hassen three Acres of meadow lying on the South east side of Jo
hn Smithes meadow the northeast end abutting upon a pond the south west e
nd upon the upland.
To Leonard Harriman seauen Acres of meadow lying on the Southeast si
de of Edward Hassens meadow pt of it bought of William Hobson and pt of Jo
hn Harris the east end abutting upon a brooke the west end upon the upla
nd ---
Uplands laid out at the plaine Called the Great plaine Imp to Edward Hass
en foure Acres & an halfe of upland at the plaine Called the great plai
ne lying next the south ffence by the Country way the east end abutting to
ward the fence the west end towards other.
To John Smith 5 Acres of upland lying on the north side of Edward Hasse
ns land abutting as aforesaid.
To Thomas Tenny two Acres & and halfe of land lying on the north side of J
ohn Smithes land abutting as aforesaid.
To William Tenny two Acres of land lying on the north side of Thomas Tenny
es land abutting as aforesaid [Rowley Records, pp. 46-48.]
In a list, apparently regarding cattle about 1648, is found "Edw Hasen 2
"; August 1650, apparently a tax list for oxen, "Edward hasen *2"; and a s
imilar list slightly later, "Ed;hassen paid - butter." "The names of tho
se that has Calues & the number of them 1650: Ed Hasen - 1 T Tenne-1 Ri Sw
an-2." [ibid., pp. 53, 59, 60, 61.]
In accordance with an order made in the year 1650, the fences of the comm
on fields of the town of Rowley were divided according to the proporti
on of land held by individual proprietors, and a number was assigned to ea
ch man's portion; the comparative length of the fence to be maintain
ed by Edward Hazen and some of his neighbors who became ancestors of ma
ny Hazen descendants is of interest as indicating their relative holdin
gs at this time: "the hundred and fort Rod of the feild fence which they w
ho have gats in the ox pastur are to make and mainetaine its thus number
ed as followeth
VI frances Parrat six rale Length
VII Mr Shewell Twelue rale Length
VIII William Asee six rale Lengths
VIII Mr Carlton six Rale Lengths
X Thomas Teney six rale Length
XI Thomas Crosbee six rale Length
XII Richard Swane nine rale Length
XIIII Edward hasen three Rale Length
XV Mr Ezekiell Rogers nineteene rale Lengths
XVIII Mr Thomas Nellson Thirty one rale Lengths
The fence between the ox lpasture and the medow which is a two Rale fen
ce at further sid of the ox pasture to ye mill ward thos are the seuera
ll proportions as folleth euery ox gate Two rale lengths and euer ak
er of medow foure and a half--
II frances Parrat foure rale Lengths
XVI Mr Ezekiell Rogers twelue rail Length
XVII Edward Hasen Twol rale Lengths
XVIII John Smith foure rale Lengths
XVIIII John Pearson eighteen rale Lengths
XX Mr Edward Carlton Thirty rale Lengths
XXI Robert Swane foure rale Length & halfe and Richard Swane suentee
ne and half of length
XXII William Boynton nine rale Lengths
XXIII Will Teny and Thomas Teny nine Lengths
There were others with small holdings, but Edward Hazen's proportion in co
mparison with those listed above was even less then appears, since their n
ames are on another list from which his is absent. [Rowley Records, pp.61-
4.]
"At a generall and legall towne meeting held the same tyme [5 May 165
9] It was granted that Richard Swan and John Lambert should view and lay o
ut a certaine percell of land as they shall see cause unto Edward Hazen Jo
yneing to his owne land in the Common feild nere Cowbridge."[Ibid., p. 103
.]
By 4 Feb. 1661 Edward Hazen had attained a relatively high degree of prosp
erity, as shown in "A Survay of The Seuerall Gates or Commonages belongi
ng unto The seuerall Inhabbitants of The Towne of Rowley as They are N
ow in possession haueing Been Transfered and Sould from one To another sin
ce the Begining of the Said Towne--
To Edward Hassen his halfe two acre lot that he purchased of John Smith t
wo gates and one quarter
purchased of John Tod one gate
purchased of the towne one and of Thomas Crosbie one 2 gates
purched of Thomas Nelson one and one that he had of the towne for la
nd he laid downe -- 2 gates
This total os seven and one quarter gates, or cattle rights, appears to ha
ve been surpassed only by Elizabeth Tenney alias Parratt and two or thr
ee others, the average number was about three gates to a proprietor. [Ibid
., p. 120.]
Surveys in 1662: "To Edward Hassen as his first devission of land three ac
res and one hundred Rod be it more or less lieing on the south side of Ric
hard hollmes land the west end buting against William tennys land the ea
st against the common. To Edward Hasen three acres and one hundred Rod lie
ing on the south side of Mark Prime's land." Gage, Hist. of Rowley, pp. 14
3, 144.]\
In 1667 Hog Island marshes were divided and laid out, and Edward Hazen rec
eived a share. On 16 Apr. 1688, "the town passed an order, directing the t
own brook to be cleared out, three feet wide and two feet deep, and so kep
t: Beginning at Jonathan Jackson's land on Bradford Street, and so throu
gh Jachin Reyner's land downward, till the brooks meet, and thence downwa
rd till the brook enters Satchwell;s meadow; and from Edward Hazen's brid
ge in his swamp [Town's End bridge] downward to the other brook-" [Ibid
., p 144.]

No further record of him is found, and, as he is not mentioned in the sett
lement of his father's estate, in which Thomas received a double portio
n, it is therefore inferred that he died early, unmarried.