Ninth Generation

384. Zachariah EDDY was born in 1639 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He died on 4 September 1718 at the age of 79 in Swansea, Bristol Co., MA. Zachariah was bound out at the age of 7 years to Mr. John Browne of Rehoboth. The latter was a man of importance in Plymouth, being the Governor's Assistant from 1636 to 1655. He was one of the original settlers and proprietors of Taunton. When he died, he left Zachariah 50 acres of land.

He initially settled in Middleboro and remained there for 8 years. His house stood near what was later known as Eddy's furnace, just south of the present Eddyville.

He later moved to Swansea (1669) as one of the first purchasers and owned considerable land (see "The Eddy Family in America" for a description of the various pieces of land). In these earliest times Swansea comprised the land which lay between the two upper forks of Narragansett Bay. There are five main necks or peninsulas extending southward. The most eastern one (now Somerset) is between the Taunton River and Lees River (formerly called Mattapoisett River). This neck is called Shawomett Neck. The next peninsula lies between Lees River and Coles River. This is called Mattapoisett Neck (now called Gardiners Neck and South Swansea). The third peninsula is divided into two sections by the Kickemuit River, while the eastern section is often called Towesett (alias sheep pasture) and the western section was called Mt. Hope Neck. The latter extended far to the south and was the great stronghold of King Philip. Between the Warren and the Barrington Rivers was New Meadow Neck (now called Hampden Meadows). The westernmost neck, between the Barrington and the Providence Rivers, was called Wannamoisett Neck. The Shawomett lands comprised not only the Shawomett Neck, but probably extended north to the present Dighton line. Zachariah deeded a portion of his lands near Swansea village as "a burying place for and to the families of said Eddys and for such of their neighbors as they shall choose to admit of forever..." The cemetary lies on a hilltop, overlooking a cove of salt water, just south of the main road through the village. Zachariah's parents are probably buried there, as are many of his descendants.

He and Caleb were among the first members of the First Baptist Church in Swansea headed by Rev. John Myles, who had been warned out of Rehoboth.

During King Philip's War (1675), he apparently moved to Plymouth until Swansea was safe again. Alice PADDOCK and Zachariah EDDY were married on 7 May 1663 in Plymouth, MA.³⁰¹

385. Alice PADDOCK was born on 7 March 1640 in Killany, Louth, Ireland. She was born on 7 March 1640. She died on 24 September 1692 at the age of 52.

Children were: