Taft, Robert

Had pasture, orchard, land, salt marshes, pigs, oxen, and cows. Robert was a yeoman descendent came from England. First Taft to settle in America. Lived in England. Settled in Braintree Massachusetts in 1678. Originally "Toft" or "Taffe" Scottish or Irish. English migrated from England (pg. 91) or Scotland during the restoration. Guess a Puritan fleeing from easy virtue of Charles II. Selectman was a yankee and proud of it. Left in 1678. One child had 30 children.
source:
The first ancestor of President Taft revealed by the late Judge Taft's researches was Robert Taft, a housewright (born about 1645, died Feb. 8, 1725), who went from the then Province of Braintree and settled at Mendon, Mass., in 1669. He and wife Sarah had five sons, one of whom, Joseph, born in 1680, married (1708) Elizabeth Emerson (born Mar. 6, 1687, at Ipswich, died 1760 at Uxbridge), the granddaughter of the first
minister of Mendon, and died June 18, 1747, at Uxbridge.
source: Smiths Averill Flints etc on GenCircle.com
Individual:
Robert 1695, '97. Constable. He was Selectman for several
years, and was on various committees during his residence at
Mendon. 1698. He was on a committee with Capt. Chapin, ' to
view the streams of the town and select a place for a corn
mill.' 1709. In this year he and his sons built a bridge, and
were relieved from any work on highways for twelve years in
consequent at which time, however, the town first asked and
then ordered them to ' fall in,' and work on the highways
again. Besides t bridge over Great River (Blackstone), which
was of especial benefit to the Tafts, as they owned lands on
both sides the river some of the family built still another in
later years (1729) ; the town of Uxbridge paying £60 towards
the expense, and t Tafts agreeing to keep it in good repair
seven years. 1720,3,4. Will, proved 1725, 3, 4. Executrix, wife
Sarah. Witnesses, William Boyce, Thomas White, Daniel Taft. Tow
Sarah, all his real and personal estate and movables, viz.,
lands, houses, chattels, etc., she paying legacies. To oldest
daughter of each son, 20s., and a further sum of 8s. each to
buy a bible. To granddaughter Rebecca, daughter of Robert, Jr.,
by reason of her living with him, he gives same as to his
oldest granddaughters. Inventory, .£251,7s. 1725, 2, 20. His
widow petitioned Court to be excused from personal attendance
to prove the will; she being advanced to age 85 years, and
rendered incapable of so great a journey as forty miles (to
Boston); and she asked that her oldest son Thorn might be
co-administrator with her. 1725, II. Sarah Taft having died,
the Court this month appointed Thomas, sole administrator.
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