John Russell Sr.

Biography

John Russell grew up in a family moving outward from Lexington through Concord to Littleton, all northwest of Boston in Massachusetts. Born in 1702 to David Russell and Abigail Winter, he established his own Littleton household with Mercy. Their son John was born in 1727. A second son, Peter, lived only a few weeks in 1730; Samuel and Lucy followed, and a later son born in 1737 was also named Peter.

John's place in the family's landholding arrangements becomes visible after his father's death. In October 1744 he joined other heirs of Deacon David Russell in relinquishing their interests in the estate to Amos Russell. The deed abstract describes John as a Littleton yeoman, placing him among the family's adult agricultural landholders.

Mercy died in January 1754. John survived her by nearly twenty-eight years and died on December 15, 1781. His Littleton gravestone calls him Captain John Russell. His long life is most securely traced through his household, his part in the family estate, and the memorial that remained in Littleton.

Lexington’s published vital record gives John’s birth as December 1, 1702 and names his parents David and Abigail.