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 II.

The earliest discoverable ancestor of the poet on his father's side appears to be "Widow Elizabeth Randall," who, in 1653, was living in Watertown with her two sons, Stephen and John, and who died there on December 24, 1672, at the age of eighty years. Stephen, the elder son, married Susanna Barron, December 14, 1653, and died in Watertown, February 26, 1708. His will, dated January 13 and proved April 10, mentions three daughters, Eliza- beth Codman, Susanna Shattuck, and Mary Randall, but he had a son Stephen, also, who was born August 20, 1655, and died without issue.

"Serjeant John Randall," the younger son of "Widow Elizabeth Randall," probably received his military title from service in King Philip's War. There were two sol- diers of that name, one serving under Captain John Hol- brooke, of Weymouth, and the other under Captain Jona- than Poole, of Reading, who were credited for service in that war on the same date, August 24, 1676; and there can be little doubt that one of these was "Serjeant John Randall." His wife Susanna (maiden name and date of marriage unknown) died May 14, 1673. Their children are recorded as follows : —

1. Susanna.

2. Sarah, born August 7, 1659.

3. Stephen.

4. Mary, married Jonathan Tainter, March 15, 1702.

5. Samuel, born March 20, 1669, married Elizabeth Gleason, January 27, 1709, and died January 24, 1730.

6. Eleazer, born April 30, 1672.

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