John Ramsdell

     John Ramsdell was born circa 1647 at Essex Co, Massachusetts. He was the son of John Ramsdell. John Ramsdell married Elizabeth Perkins, daughter of Rev. William Perkins and Elizabeth Wooton, on 31 May 1671 at Salem, Essex Co, Massachusetts.² John Ramsdell died on 23 February 1714/15 at Boxford, Essex Co, Massachusetts. His estate was probated on 11 April 1715 at Essex Co, Massachusetts.³
     Both Robert Smith and John Ramsdell had gotten up a petition with Edmund Bridges, a blacksmith, protesting the reassignment of certain families from Topsfield to Rowley for tax purposes. So, they were well acquainted long before Mary Ramsdell and Ephraim Smith married.⁴ John Ramsdell first appeared in the village of Boxford about 1671, around the time of his marriage. He was perhaps interested in the iron works, and came from Lynn with Henry Leonard, to assist him in carrying the works on.
John Ramsdell died intestate, and on the 11th of April 1715, his widow and children signed an agreement for settlement of his estate. An inventory of the estate, taken 8 March 1715, by Josiah Perkins and John Gould, included 2 cows, 3 swine, beds, bedding, table linens, cloths, cloth and yarn, money, furniture, loom, books, etc. house and about 12 acres of land. Total value was given as 53 pounds, 18 shillings.⁵