Upon arrival, they settled in the Chebacco area of Ipswich, Massachusetts.[9][10][11] Proctor's father owned many properties and was considered to be one of the wealthiest residents in Ipswich and had two shares in Plum Island in 1664.[12] He also held many offices within the colony.[13]
Adult life[edit]
Proctor was a good businessman, comfortable working with people from all aspects of society.[14] He was a larger man, fearless, bold and impulsive.[15]
About 1655, Proctor married Martha[16] Giddens. They had 4 children:
John (1653-1658)[17]
Martha (1655-1658)[18]
Mary (1656/7-1657/8)[19]
Benjamin (1659-1720)[20]
Martha died due to complications from childbirth 13 Jun 1659. Her death registry reads "Martha, wife of John Procter, [dye]d the 13 June 1659,[21] Benjamin Proctor, was the only surviving child from this marriage.[22]
1 December 1662,[23][24][25] Proctor married Elizabeth Thorndike (1641-1672), daughter of John Thorndike, founder of Ipswich, Massachusetts.[26] They had seven children:
Elizabeth (1663-1736)[27] married in 1681 to Thomas Very;
Martha (1665-1665);[28]
Martha (1666-1682);[29]
Mary (1667-1668);[30]
John (1668-1748)[31]
Mary (1669-?)[32]
Thorndike (1672-1759)
[33] married in 1697 to Hannah Felton, widow of Samuel Endicott, grandson of John Endicott the first Governor of The Massachusetts Bay Colony[34] and daughter of Nathaniel Felton and Mary Skelton. Mary was the daughter of Samuel Skelton, the first minister of Salem.[35]
In 1666 Proctor moved to Salem[36] and leased a 700 acre estate known as Groton farm (aka Downing Farm[37]) in Salem Farms, the section of Salem Township just to the south of Salem Village.[38] The farm was leased from Emmanuel Downing, brother-in-law to John Winthrop.[39] In 1668 Proctor