GENERATION 12

GENERATION 11

Biography

JOHN ODLIN was born about 1602 in England. He came to America in 1632 and was admitted to the Boston church that year. He was made freeman on May 14, 1634. He married MARGARET (last name unknown) in Boston, Suffolk, MA, about 1633 or 1634.

He was admitted to the Ancient and Honorable Artillery in 1638, and was armorer from 1644 to 1673. On Jan. 8, 1637/38, he was granted 84 acres, being lot #15, at Rumney Marsh. He sold that land on Jul. 19, 1638, to Richard Tuttle. On Jan. 21, 1638/39, he obtained permission to use one acre of marsh land at Muddy River. On Apr. 27, 1640, he bought nine acres of marsh land from the town, and on Oct. 26, 1640, he bought another acre and a half adjoining.

In the Boston Book of Possessions, JOHN ODLIN held one house with a garden. On Oct. 10, 1650, he purchased a houselot in Boston from John Bateman, adjacent to the houselot already in his possession.

On May 11, 1667, "JOHN ODLIN of Boston, cutler ..... and MARGARET his wife" sold to Edward Devotion of Muddy River, yeoman, for £39, two acres of marsh at Muddy River, and another parcel of eight acres. JOHN added his signature and MARGARET made her mark.

On feb. 11, 1667/68, "JOHN AUDLIN of Boston, armorer" sold to John Hull of Boston, goldsmith, for £20, eight acres at Muddy River. On Nov. 21, 1682, he sold to Edward Devotion, two and a half acres of marsh at Muddy River for £24.

His will was signed Mar. 3, 1685. He died Dec. 18, 1685, and his will was proved on Jan. 11, 1685/86. He bequeathed his land to his three sons. A record of his death is as follows:

The "first Burying place" is what is now known as King's Chapel Burying Ground. The first burial there was in 1630. Copp's Hill Burial Ground was established as Boston's second burying ground in 1659. And, in 1660, The Granary Burial Ground was laid out. JOHN ODLIN was buried in the first Burying place (King's Chapel). Over the years there were many encroachments on those grounds. Land was taken in 1688 to build the first Episcopal Chapel in New England. It was enlarged to twice its size in 1710, taking more land. Each of these encroachments resulted in the removal of remains and monuments to other places in the burial ground. As a result, it is not known exactly where JOHN ODLIN is buried within the grounds. Just across the street from Boston Common is a monument with a plaque that describes how the land for the Commons was purchased from William Blackstone. The source of this information is attributed to a deposition given by JOHN ODLIN on Jun. 10, 1684, at age 82. The last known activity for MARGARET was on May 11, 1667, when she signed a deed with her husband. She may have died soon after since she was not a party to a deed nine months later.

[click on plaque]