The Planters
Meet Nathaniel Warner
Nathaniel Warner, son of John and Priscilla, was born at Ipswich about 1650, and came with his father to Brookfield in 1665, as a youth of 15. We first find mention of him in the account of his father with John Pynchon under date of January 19, 1666/7, and again in the account of his brother Samuel, a few months later on June15, 1667. In both instances he apparently served as messenger for his elders, having purchased supplies for them in Springfield, His own account with John Pynchon is found, but undated. However, by association with accounts before and after, it probably was entered in 1670 or 1671. In this account, we find a charge of 1 pound, 5 shillings for purchase of a lot. So we know that he established a homestead at Quaboag. He is found among the petitioners from Quaboag for privileges of incorporation into a township in 1673. Apparently, he returned to his native town to claim as his bride, Hannah Boynton at Ipswich, on November 24, 1673.
Nathaniel was a weaver by trade, but during King Philip’s War he served as a post rider for Captain Appleton. He managed to get into difficulties during this period of military service, as revealed to us in the following, from the Pynchon Magistrate Book dated at Hadley, February 16, 1675/6: “Nathaniel Warner for refusing to assist the corporal in execution of a sentence against an offender, when required by the Cheife Military Officer, who was present saying to him (as he ownes) that he would not doe it: I fine him five shillings to the county.” This entry was in connection with a riotous assembly which had occurred at Hadley a short time before.
On February 3, 1681/2, Nathaniel married Joanna Gardner at Hadley, by whom he had seven children, all born at Hadley between 1681 and 1696. His eldest son Nathaniel, was killed at the French and Indian assault on Deerfield on February 29, 1704.
Nathaniel, Sr., was elected a freeman of the colony on September 25, 1683, and took his oath to that office. He spent the remainder of his years at Hadley, and died there on January 16, 1713/4, aged 64. His wife Joanna survived him and died at Hadley on March 18, 1729.