James Trowbridge

From the History of Newton, Page 101-102
DEA. JAMES TROWBRIDGE was born in Dorchester, and baptized there in 1638. His father was Thomas Trowbridge, one of he early settlers of Dorchester, a merchant, and was engaged in the Barbadoes trade; he came from Taunton, England, where his father founded a large charity for poor widows, which is still administering for their benefit. Thomas went home to Taunton in 644, leaving his three sons in charge of Sergeant Jeffries, of Dorchester, who removed with those sons to New Haven about 1638. Thomas the father, died in Taunton, England, about 1670. James returned from New Haven to Dorchester about 1656 where he married Margaret, the daughter of Major Humphrey Atherton, December 30, 1659, and had three children in Dorchester, and removed to Cambridge Village; his wife Margaret was dismissed from Dorchester to form the church in Cambridge Village, in 1664. After the death of John Jackson he became deacon of he church. He was one for the first Board of Selectmen formed in the Village in August, 1679, and continued that office for nine years.
In 1675 he purchased of Deputy Governor Danforth, eighty-five acres of land with a dwelling-house, standing where Mr. Nathan Trowbridge's house stood in later times, which he had occupied for some yeard; bounded by the highways west and south, a narrow lane north, his own land east, the dividing line being straight through the swamp. He was a Lieutenant Clerk of the Writs in 1691 an 1693, and Representative in the General Cours in 1700 and 1703. He had five sons and nine daughters, and upwards of eighty grandchildren. His first wife died June 17, 1672; second wife was Margaret, the daughter of Deacon John Jackson; she died September 16, 1727, aged 48. He died May 22, 1717, Aged 81, Leaving a will dated 1709.
HEADSTONE INSCRIPTION: Here lyes ye body of Deacon James Trowbridge dec'd May 22, 1717 in ye 81st year of his age.