ohn³ Landers (John², Thomas¹), born 9 April 1694, died in Sandwich 4 March 1737/8 (Sandwich Town Records).

He married 4 June 1719 Content³ Nye, daughter of Nathan² and Mary Nye, born in Sandwich 25 September 1693, died there "1775 ae. 82" (Sandwich Town Records; Sandwich Church Records). The will of Nathan Nye of Sandwich, dated 18 September 1741, proved 13 May 1747, gives "to my daughter Content Landers", £10 to be paid be her brother Caleb Nye (Barnstable County Probate).

Although this John³ Landers was a second son, his older brother, Richard, left no issue and his younger brother, Ebenezer, moved to Bridgewater about 1727, so we suspect that John³ Landers probably eventually acquired by deeds of gift, or perhaps by purchase, most of his father's property in Sandwich. When the Rev. Benjamin Fessenden, minister of the Sandwich Church, drew up his "Heads of Families in Sandwich", there he shows as #110 Richard Landers and as #113 John Landers. No doubt their father, now a widower aged 77, was living in the household of his childless eldest son, Richard (The Register 13:31, Jan 1859).

Ebenezer³ Landers, described as "cordwainer, of Bridgewater", sold the former Seabury farm there, for £299.15s. to his brothers, Richard and John Landers and his wife's father, Gersham Tobey, all called "of Sandwich" (Plymouth County Deeds, 25:133). Hardly more than a year later the three grantees made a handsome profit on this land as by a deed of 15 July 1731 they sold the same tract, including "all the housing, buildings, orchards, fences and timbers", for £450, to John Holmes of Bridgewater, "gentleman" (ibid., 26:178). In these deeds John³ Landers is called husbandman.

John Landers in his will, dated 2 March 1737/8, proved 29 May 1738, gives: "To Content Landers, my beloved wife, the use and improvement of my whole estate [during her widowhood]... for her support and the bringing up of my children, and in case she should marry again [£30]. To my son John Landers... all my lands and meadows that shall remain after my debts are paid (and if he should die without heir), said lands to my son Thomas his heirs and assigns.... To my son Thomas Landers [£20], at one and twenty, he to be put out at some suitable trade. To each of my daughters: Maria, Deborah, Marcy, Jemima, Rachel and Content [£30] when they come of age or at marriage." He gives all residue to his wife, and names her sole executrix. Witnessed by Benjamin Freeman, Margaret Landers (his father's maiden sister), and his minister, the Rev. Benjamin Fessenden (Barnstable County Probate 5:362).

The widow Content Landers was admitted to full communion in the First Church of Sandwich 2 April 1738 and had her eight children baptized 8 May 1738 (Sandwich First Church Records). This action, within a few weeks after her husband's death suggests the possibility that John³ Landers may have been a Quaker and never joined the First Church. We note that he witnessed the marriages of some of his uncle Richard² Landers' family (Friends Meeting records). [Lydia B. (Phinney) Brownson and Maclean W. McLean, "Thomas¹ Landers of Sandwich, Mass.," NEHGR 124:52-53]

Also have birth as 19 Apr 1694 in Sandwich, Barnstable, MA. [McDaniels-Howland Homepage]

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