| Notes |
- "The Genealogy of the Gifford Family from Massachusetts to Maine," by Christine R. Brown, 198?, Campbell Printing Inc., Knoxville, Tennessee, pp. 23-25: FHL film 1321182:
"Robert Gifford, the son of #1, was born about 1656 in Sandwich, Mass. He married first, about 1684 Sarah Wing, daughter of Stephen Wing and his second wife, Sarah (Briggs) Wing. She was born in Sandwich Feb 1657/58, and died after 2 November 1702, when she is mentioned in her father's will.
Robert married (2) perhaps late in life, Elizabeth, who survived him. It is possible that she was a daughter of Stephen Cornell. The Reverend John Cornell in his Cornell Genealogy notes that Stephen Cornell's deeds imply that he had a daughter who married a Gifford.
Robert Gifford was a very young man when his father left Sandwich. It is probable that he returned with his father or elder brother John about 1664.
In 1683 William Gifford conveyed his tract of Dartmouth land to his sons Robert and Christopher. An agreement for division of the property, dated 2 March 1688, relates that "whereas our Honoured Father William Gifford, Senr., of the town of Sandwich had a half share in the precincts of Dartmouth which (he) hath given to us" and "finding four parcells of upland and five parcells of meadow land already laid out," they agreed that Robert should have forty-five acres of land "where he now liveth," fifteen acres on the east side of the bog and thirteen acres of meadow at a place called Petchitshuetts. These three parcels were to be Robert's full part. By a deed of 20 April 1689 Robert Gifford sold to Samuel Cornell of Dartmouth, for ₤42, the thirteen-acre parcel. Five days later, 25 April 1689, he paid the same Samuel Cornell ₤12 for four and one-half acres of Dartmouth land. By a deed of 2 January 1699/1700 he bought from Philip Taber, for ₤12 another Dartmouth lot.
Questions, controversies and debates between Robert Gifford and his brother Christopher over half a share of purchase lands given to them by their father induced the brothers to submit themselves to "the Arbitriment" of Capt John Otis of Barnstable and William Bassett of Sandwich. The arbitrators then chose James Warren as the third member. Judgment was accepted 24 Nov 1701. An indenture of 5 March 1718/19 between Robert and his brother Christopher partitioned the three tracts where they had for many years been tenants in common. A fortnight later, 24 March, a similar division for other common land was signed.
Through the years from 1704 to 1722, Robert Gifford bought and sold Dartmouth lands. By deeds of 25 June 1722, 16 January 1729/30 and 3 February 1729/30, he deeded land to his sons Stephen, Simeon, Timothy and Benjamin.
The will of Robert Gifford, yeoman, of Dartmouth, dated 25 March 1724, proved 21 April 1730, mentions by name his wife Elizabeth, his sons, Jeremiah, Benjamin, Stephen, Timothy and Simeon; his granddaughter Experience, daughter of his son Benjamin. Simeon was made sole executor. The sons were probably named in order of their births, as evidenced by deeds and other data. It is unfortunate that the will fails to mention any daughters. It is believed that four daughters were born to Robert and Sarah Gifford. However, no birth records can be found for either sons or daughters.
Children of Robert Gifford are:
i. Jeremiah, b. abt 1681 md. abt 1703, Mary Wright, daughter of Adam Wright d. 1770 at Dartmouth, intestate. The inventory of his estate is dated 13 March 1771.
ii. Mary Gifford, b. abt 1683 md. 12 June 1704 Nathan Soule son of George Soule, d. 27 Jan 1772 will proved.
iii. Benjamin Gifford, b. abt 1685 md. abt 1709 Sarah Tompkins, dau. of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Allen) Tompkins, d. between 6 March and 7 May 1754; w. proved.
iv. Stephen Gifford, b. abt 1687 md. 1710 Mary ___, d. after December 1748.
v. Rebecca Gifford, b. abt 1689 md. probably 22 Jan 1709/10 Jacob Soule, son of Nathaniel Soule...
vi. Timothy Gifford, b. abt 1691 md. 18 April 1717 Hannah Tompkins, daughter of Nathaniel d. 1780 in Dartmouth, testate.
vii. Ann Gifford, b. abt 1693... Probably the Ann Gifford who married at Newport, R.I. 26 June 1717 William Swan...
viii. Lydia Gifford, b. abt 1695...
ix. Simeon Gifford, b. abt 1697 md. 13 May 1725 Susannah Jenkins, daughter of Zacariah and Abiah (Allen), d. 1749 in Dartmouth testate.
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register: Vol. 128, No. 4, October 1974; Jan. 1975; July 1975; Oct. 1975; Jan. 1976; April 1976; October 1976; Jan, 1977; April 1977; July 1977; October 1977; Jan. 1978; Apr.1978; July 1978; Oct. 1978; April 1979; July 1979; October 1979; Jan 1980."
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1657 - 1730 (73 years)
