352 Hobart. 



Noah (II. p. 338 : 10, xiii.), the youngest s. of David, and gr.-s. of 

 Rev. Peter Hobart, the first minister of Hing., appears to have been 

 m. to his sec. w. under somewhat romantic circumstances. Concern- 

 ing this alliance with Priscilla Thomas, John L. Watson of Orange, 

 N. J., contributed to the "New England Historical and Genealogical 

 Register*' (Vol. XXVII., No. 1), from records left by his brother 

 Benjamin M. Watson, deceased, which had been received from his 

 aunt, Mrs. Priscilla (Watson) Cotton of Ply., the following: — 



Chap. 1. 

 Noah Hobart, y e last husband of my Great Grand Mother, Priscilla Ho- 

 bart, was a school teacher in Duxbury, Mass" 8 , having graduated at Harvard 

 College in 1724, and become acquainted with Priscilla Thomas, a very inter- 

 esting young girl, daughter of Caleb Thomas, a respectable citizen of that 

 town. Their acquaintance ripened into an engagement, & mutual promise of 

 marriage, whenever his circumstances w' d permit him to discharge y e debts he 

 had contracted for his education. While this understanding subsisted between 

 them, & they were enjoying y e happy relation of affianced lovers, & calmly 

 waiting for such improvement in their affairs as w' d justify their marriage, 

 John Watson Esq», of Plymouth, my Great Grand Father, being a Widower, 

 having seen Priscilla, was much pleas'd with her, although y e serious differ- 

 ence of nearly thirty years existed in their ages, he being about 50, & she 22 

 years old. Being, however, thus charm'd with Priscilla, he proceeded to Dux- 

 bury & call'd on her parents, & made known to them his views & wishes in 

 relation to Priscilla, & requested their consent to visit their daughter, with 

 y* object of offering himself to her in marriage. They inform'd M'r Watson that 

 Priscilla was engaged to Mr. Hobart, but they w'd call her & let her speak for 

 herself, they seeming pleas'd with y e offer, as M'r Watson's circumstances 

 were known to be very eligible. 



Chap. 2. 



Priscilla was call'd, & appear'd gratified with an offer from so rich a suitor, 

 & observed that she w'd see Noah, & talk with him about it. She convers'd 

 with Noah, and he thought that, upon y e whole, it was not advisable for her to 

 lose so good an opportunity; & as he was still so much in debt for his education, 

 that it was quite uncertain when he w' d be able to relieve himself from his em- 

 barrassments, & be in a condition to marry her. She then concluded to 

 accept M'r Watson's offer; and in a few weeks he married her, & carried her 

 to his home in Plymouth. In due time she bore him two sons, y* eldest, my 

 great uncle William Watson ; & y e youngest my grandfather Elkanah Watson ; 

 & soon after, in Sept? 1731, her husband died of a fever, and left his wife a 

 handsome young widow, of about 25 years of age. 



Chap. 3. 



About y" same time that M'r Watson's death occurr'd, the wife of Thomas 

 Lothrop Esq r , one of their neighbours, died, leaving a young infant, w'h was 

 frequently sent to Mr's Watson to be nursed, she having also a nursing infant. 

 In y e meantime, Noah Hobart, probably not having yet paid his college debts, 

 did not now manifest any particular sentiments, or intentions in relation to 

 her, perhaps also being influenced by y e contrast in their condition, she being 

 left a rich widow. 



The intercourse created between M'r Lothrop (*) & Mr's Watson by their 

 mutual interest in his nursing infant, brought about a reciprocal interest in each 

 other, & in due time he offer'd, & was accepted by her as her second husband. 

 She lived with him happily for some years, & bore him three children, (*) two 

 sons & a daughter; viz. D'r Nathaniel Lothrop & Isaac Lothrop Esq e , of Ply- 

 mouth, and Priscilla, married to Gershom Burr Esq e , of Connecticut; when M'r 

 Lothrop died, & Priscilla became a widow for y e second time. 



