Category: Billerica

Ross, Thomas

Home»Dunbar: MA»Billerica
Battle:Battle of Dunbar in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
Ship/Arrival:Unity, Dec 1650
Prisoner and List:
Name Variations:
Residences:
Other SPOW Associations:
Every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy; please independently verify all data.

Published: 10 April 2018, Updated: 24 May 2019
Page contributors: Dr. Andrew Millard, Teresa Rust and Jeannette Wentworth.

Thomas Ross, #91 on George S. Stewart’s Captured at Dunbar List

IMPORTANT UPDATE! (July 2018)
According to, Christopher Gerrard, Pam Graves, Andrew Millard, Richard Annis, and Anwen Caffell, in, Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650, (England: Oxbow Books, 2018), on page 254, Thomas is categorized as:

Possible [that he is a Dunbar prisoner transported on the Unity]

Ross, Thomas. Residences: Cambridge, Billerica MA. Appears: 1656. B.c.1631. D.1695. [Exiles; DR; SPOWS]

For explanations of the category, abbreviations and references see List of Dunbar prisoners from Lost Lives, New Voices.

First Generation in the New World

1. THOMAS ROSS, was born, possibly in Scotland, about 1631 and died, probably in Billerica, Massachusetts, on 20 Mar 1695. He married at Cambridge, on 16 Jan 1661, SEETH HOLMAN.

THOMAS ROOS AGED 64 YEARS DIED THE 20 OF MARCH 1695 Photo taken by Jeannette Wentworth

Biographical Notes:
“He was not sent to Saugus, he was indentured in Cambridge Mass where he married, then later settled in Billerica Mass. Even on his grave stone they spelled Ross, Roos.” ~ Jeannette Wentworth

Children of Thomas and Seeth (Holman) Ross:
2. i. THOMAS ROSS, b at Billerica in 1663; m. by 1693, SARAH (_____).

Sources and Notes:

Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.

Fassett, Patrick

Home»Dunbar: MA»Billerica
Battle:Battle of Dunbar in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
Ship/Arrival:Unity, Dec 1650
Prisoner and List:
Name Variations:
Residences:
Other SPOW Associations:
Every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy; please independently verify all data.

Published: 15 Dec 2014
Updated: 07 Mar 2020
Researchers: Sheila McCreven, Andrew Millard, Teresa Rust, Diane Schroeder
Editor: Teresa Rust

Patrick Fassett (alias M’Pherson), #23 on George S. Stewart’s Captured at Dunbar List

[Ma]ckfarson, _____?.* ***** [Mac]kfarson in NEHGR, on the John and Sara Passenger List

Name Variations: Fassett, McPherson, Mackfassy, Mackfarson, Patrick, Patriach, Facit, Fasset, Fassit, Fassitt, M’Pherson

IMPORTANT UPDATE! (July 2018)
According to, Christopher Gerrard, Pam Graves, Andrew Millard, Richard Annis, and Anwen Caffell, in, Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650, (England: Oxbow Books, 2018), on page 253, Patrick is categorized as: Possible [that he is a Dunbar prisoner transported on the Unity] Fassett/McPherson/Mackfassy/Mackfarson, Patrick/Patriach. Residences: Cambridge, Billerca, Malden, Concord, Charlestown MA. Appears: 1666. B.c.1628. D.1713. There is an entry in the John & Sara list for Mackfarson, with no forename, but it is impossible to tell if this is the same man. [Exiles; DR; SPOWS; Ch.8; App.B] For explanations of the category, abbreviations and references see List of Dunbar prisoners from Lost Lives, New Voices.

Scottish Surname:
Black, George Fraser, 1866-1948. The Surnames of Scotland, Their Origin Meaning and History, (New York : New York Public Library & Readex Books, 1962), First published in 1946. Page 505.: There is NO FASSETT OR FASSET in this book but there is MacPherson.

SPOW DNA Study:
Group 1-B, Haplogroups R-Z283

First Generation in the New World

1. PATRICK FASSETT, was born presumably in Scotland about 1628 and died at Billerica, Massachusetts on 06 or 07 Nov 1713, aged 85. 1. 2 He married at Malden, MA by 1670, SARAH REYLEY. 3 She died at Billerica, Massachusetts on 15 Jan 1740 as the wife of, THOMAS BATEMAN.

Biographical Notes:
Patrick lived in Malden, Boston and Billerica, Massachusetts.
1. Patrick’s headstone and a slightly inaccurate biographical note can be found at Find A Grave.
2. The following information is from a query in the Boston Transcript (1830-1941):
“Sarah Fassett (Macpherson) born in Boston 1 Mar 1674 was one of the children of Patrick Fassett, born in Scotland about 1628, died 6 Nov. 1713, aged 85 (grave stone Billerica, Mass). He was in Concord in 1663-67, Charleston 1670, Malden 1672, Boston 1674-79, Bilerica 2 June 1679 (inhabitant). He married Sarah who died 15 Jan. 1739/40 aged 95. Children John, Joseph, Sarah, Samuel, Deborah, Mary, Peter, Josiah, Benjamin. Patrick Fassett, a prudent and well behaved farmer acquired considerable estate conveying land to his sons in his lifetime. His widow Sarah married Thomas Bateman of Concord. Patrick came to New England about 1652, one of a group of prisoners taken in Cromwell’s campaigns against the Scots.”
– Submitted by Diane Schroeder
3. In “1688 Patrick Fassit was living in Newton & Billerica” 4 from the Massachusetts: Miscellaneous Census Substitutes, 1630 – 1788, 1840, 1890 found at American Ancestors.org.

Children of Patrick and Sarah (Reyley) Fassett:
2. i. JOHN FASSETT, b. at Malden on 3 Oct 1670; d. 30 Jan 1737; m. at Billerica on 31 Mar 1697, MARY HILL.
2. ii. JOSEPH FASSETT, b. at Malden, Massachusetts in 1672 [6]; m. at Lexington by 1701, MARY MUNROE.
2. iii. SARAH FASSETT, b. at Boston, Mass., 1 Mar 1674; m. in Cambridge, Mass. in 1725, THOMAS HUTCHINSON.
2. iv. SAMUEL FASSETT, b. at Boston on 29 Dec 1677
2. v. SAMUEL FASSETT, b. at Billerica on 07 May 1679
2. vi. DEBORAH FASSETT, b. at Billerica on 15 Feb 1680/81
2. vii. MARY FASSETT, b. at Billerica on 31 Mar 1683²; m., JOB LANE.
2. viii. PETER FASSETT, b. at Billerica on 24 Aug 1685;2 d. at Billerica on 16 May 1711 5 m. at Billerica on 01 Feb 1710/11, ELIZABETH MANNING.8
2. ix. JOSIAH FASSETT, b. at Billerica on 01 Dec 1687.
2. x. BENJAMIN FASSETT, b. at Billerica on 07 Jul 1690.

Second Generation

2. i. JOHN FASSETT, was born at Malden on 3 Oct 1670 and died at on 30 Jan 1737. He married at Billerica on 31 Mar 1697, MARY HILL. 3

Biographical Notes:
John Fassett was the first resident physician in the town of Bedford, Massachusetts. 30 Jan 1736 he was 66 years old. 6

Children of John and Mary (Hill) Fassett:

2. ii. JOSEPH FASSETT, was born at Malden, Massachusetts in 1672. He married at Lexington by 1701, MARY MUNROE, (probably SPOW descendant). 3

2. iii. SARAH FASSETT, was born at Boston on 01 Mar 1674. Married at Cambridge in 1725, THOMAS HUTCHINSON. (See below in Notes by Sheila McCreven)

On 29 Oct 2016, Sheila McCreven of Woodbridge, CT shared:
“Hello. I am an 8th great-granddaughter of Patrick Fassett and Sarah Reyley through their daughter Sarah who married Thomas Hutchinson in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1725. I see that you have Patrick and Sarah’s children listed including my Sarah but no further information on her descendants. I would be happy to supply you with some details if you would like to add them. I would also like to know more about Patrick and any possible connection to the MacPherson clan in America? Specifically I am looking to see if there is a connection to another ancestor of mine: Mary McPherson – born March 8, 1820, married Linus Berthrong, died January 10, 1898 in upstate New York.”

2. iv. SAMUEL FASSETT, was born at Boston on 29 Dec 1677. 7

2. v. SAMUEL² FASSETT, was born at Billerica on 07 May 1679. 8 He married, LYDIA (_____).

Children of Samuel and Lydia (_____) Fassett:
3. ESTHER³ FASSETT, b. at Billerica on 29 Sep 1706. 9
3. LYDIA FASSETT, b. at Billerica on 01 Fen 1709/10. 9
3. ESTHER³ FASSETT, b. at Billerica on 13 Nov. 1711.9
3. AMAZIAH³ FASSETT, b. at Billerica on 06 May 1720. 10

2. vii. MARY FASSETT, was born at Billerica on 31 Mar 1683. 11 She married, JOB LANE.

2. viii. PETER FASSETT, was born at Billerica on 24 Aug 168512

Children of Josiah and Sarah (_____) Fasset:
3. MARY FASSET, d. at Billerica on 08 May 1720.

2. x. BENJAMIN FASSETT, was born at Billerica on 07 Jul 1690.11

Here lies buried the body of Doctor John Fasset who departed this life January 30th 1736 in the 67th year of his age. Old Burying Ground Bedford Middlesex County Massachusetts, USA Plot: Sect. C5, Stone 103
Here lies buried the body of Doctor John Fasset who departed this life January 30th 1736 in the 67th year of his age.
Old Burying Ground
Bedford
Middlesex County
Massachusetts, USA
Plot: Sect. C5, Stone 103

For more information please contact the descendants/researchers of Patrick Fassett. Thank you! 🙂

Sources and Notes:

  1. Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016).https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7660/360/141919006 [↩]
  2. Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized images provided by FamilySearch.org) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB536/i/14471/7399-co2/38240272 [↩]
  3. New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1568/i/21174/532/426885392 [↩] [↩] [↩]
  4. Massachusetts: Miscellaneous Census Substitutes, 1630-1788, 1840, 1890 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013. From records supplied by Ancestry.com) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB509/rd/13684/11913/242330152 [↩]
  5. Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7660/360/22246504 [↩]
  6. History of the Town of Bedford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Year of Our Lord 1891 … with a Genealogical Register of Old Families Abram English Brown
    author, 1891 – Bedford (Mass.) https://books.google.com/books?id=YXYUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA84&lpg=PA84&dq=Dr.+John+Fasset+of+Bedford&source=bl&ots=Seo-MOjjGu&sig=ACfU3U0rnV-zRzTf67Keu_5qJUsf5c17rQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj43KGO4onoAhUTvp4KHXOOBeoQ6AEwBHoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=Dr.%20John%20Fasset%20of%20Bedford&f=false [↩]
  7. Boston, MA: Inhabitants and Estates of the Town of Boston, 1630-1822 (Thwing Collection). Inhabitants and Estates of the Town of Boston, 1630–1800 and The Crooked and Narrow Streets of Boston, 1630–1822. CD-ROM. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB530/i/14226/7849/260103911 [↩]
  8. Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7660/76/22246372 [↩]
  9. Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7660/75/22246371 [↩] [↩] [↩]
  10. Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7660/75/22246371[/efn+note]
    3. MARY FASSETT, b. at Billerica on 03 Jul 1722. ((Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016).
    3. DEBORAH³ FASSETT, 09 Jun 1724. ((Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7660/75/22246371[/efn+note]

    2. vi. DEBORAH FASSETT, b. at Billerica on 15 Feb 1680/1. ((Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7660/75/141909926 [↩]

  11. Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7660/75/141909926 [↩] [↩]
  12. Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7660/75/141909926[/efn+note] and died at Charlestown, Massachusetts on 16 May 1711. He married at Billerica on 01 Feb 1710/11, ELIZABETH MANNING.8

    2. ix. JOSIAH FASSETT, was born at Billerica on 01 Dec 1687. ((Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7660/75/141909926 [↩]