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NICHOLAS SMITH - was the 'step-child' of Farmer Smith, of Taunton, and was born 21st February, 1672. Before 1752, he moved to Taunton, and died there about the start of 1759. Married Mercy Newland before 1713. She died Oct. 10, 1723. Second wife was Jerusha Leonard, married Jan. 21, 1724-5. By both wives, he had 12 children.
JOHN SMITH - may have been the son of John and Jael (Parker) Smith, of Taunton, born December 6th, 1680; but there is much doubt as to his paternity. There was a John Smith, jun., and Mary Briggs, of Norton, married Nov. 9, 1714.
THOMAS STEPHENS - son of Richard Stephens, of Taunton, born 3d February, 1674. One of the first board of selectmen; married Mary Caswell, Sept. 28, 1699. No record of his chidren on the town-books; but three are buried in the Centre Burying-ground. Supposed to have died soon after 1752.
ROBERT TUCKER - lived between Barrowsville and John Harvey's, and is believed to have been there as early as 1698. Ancestry unknown. Will was probated Feb. 16, 1724-5. His wife's name was Mehitable ---, and they had 6 children.
WILLIAM WETHERELL - son of the first settler of Norton, and was born abt. 1650. From the first settler, through him, are descended the present (1850s) William and William Wetherell, jun., who are believed to be the seventh and eighth of this name in regular succession. He married, 1681, Elizabeth Newland; and had four or more children. He died about 1729.
WILLIAM WETHERELL,Jun., - son of Wiliam, and grandson of the first settler. Birthdate unknown. His wife Hannah, and child, late of Freetown, were warned out of Norton, July 20, 1729. He is believed to have had a son William and other children, probably by a wife previous to Hannah; but no records of his family can be found.
JEREMIAH WETHERELL - son of William and Elizabeth (Newland) Wetherell; but when born is unknown. He lived at the east part of the town, and afterwards moved into Taunton. He married Rachel Basset, March 26, 1713. He had a wife Sarah. His will was probated July 7, 1752 and names three children in it.
JOHN WETHERELL - the son of William, the first settler and was born in 1664; as an original member of the church, one of the first board of selectmen, and one of the leading men in the town. His wife's name was Susannah Newland, who he married about 1687, and they had eight children. He died in 1747.
JOHN WETHERELL, Jun. - son of John; born Oct. 8, 1688; believed to have been the first child born within the limits of Norton. He lived at the east part of the town. He married Hannah Brintnell before 1715, and had five or more children.
DEACON NICHOLAS WHITE - son of Nicholas and Ursilla (Macomber) White, of Taunton; grandson of Nicholas, of Taunton**; and was born Feb. 3, 1675. He settled within the limits of Mansfield, close to the line between the old town of Taunton and the North Purchase. He was one of the most influential men in the town; being the first town-treasurer; for eleven years, one of the selectmen; a representative to the General Court, and the first deacon of the church. His wife was Experience King, married June 2, 1703; and they had 9 children. He died Sept. 2, 1743, and was buried on his own farm, but no stone marks the spot, and the ploughshare has again and again disturbed the soil beneath which his body rests.
MATTHEW WHITE - was a brother of Deacon Nicholas, and was born Oct. 25, 1676. He lived no far distant from his brother, in Mansfield. He married Susannah Hall, July 10, 1710. For second wife, he married Damaris Deane (about 1715), and had four children. Date of death unknown.
EDWARD WHITE - lived at the east part of the town; married Rebecca Wetherell, May 3, 1710. Nothing more is known of him.
DEACON BENJAMIN WILLIAMS - son of Joseph and Elizabeth Williams, of Taunton; grandson of Richard and Francis (Dighton) Williams, and was born 15th Oct. 1681. He settled, about the time of his marriage, at the northerly part of Mansfield, near the Providence Railroad. He was much employed in town-affairs; and for some years, was deacon of the North-Precinct (Mansfield) church. He married Elizabeth Deane, Dec. 4, 1707, and they had nine children. He died Jan. 10, 1757. His wife died March 18, 1758.

**Supposed to have been the same person, made a freeman in 1642, who married Susannah, daughter of Jonas and Frances Humphrey, and was at Dorchester in 1652.

EARLY SETTLERS 4