Below is a portion of the text from the book "Frost Genealogy in Five Families", by Norman Seaver Frost, 1926 [Retyped by David Frost, (B, Victor)]. I do not have permission to reproduce this, but it is out of print, and I haven't been able to find anyone responsible. If anyone has information about the rightfull "owners" of this, or has a problem please contact me. There is a link to the next page near the bottom of this page. There is also an index of all of the pages.

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FROST GENEALOGY

IN FIVE FAMILIES

PUBLISHED BY
FROST FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
WEST NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS
1926

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FIVE FROST FAMILIES

PART I
EDMUND FROST

   Edumnd Frost was born in County Suffolk, England, very early in the seventeenth century. About all that is known of his parentage is that his father's name was John and that he had a brother also named John, but which of the brothers was the elder is not of record. The general opinion is that his father was one of the Puritan clergymen who were silenced by Archbishop Laud. Some of his biographers undertake to prove that he was not a clergyman, silenced or otherwise, but in the writer's opinion said biographers have entirely failed to make out a case.

   However that may be, Edmund seems to have been a prominent member of the congregation of Rev. Thomas Sheperd in England, as he certainly was in Massachusetts. There is no record of the date of his marriage, nor the maiden name of his wife. Her Christian name was Thomasine, and they had a son born in England before 1635. In that year he came with wife and infant son to Massachusetts, either with, or two months before, Rev. Thomas Sheperd. Here again authorities differ; some say that he came in the ship Great Hope, others say in the Defense. Savage's Genealogical Dictionary says that he "came in the Great Hope in 1635, from Ipswich, having embarked with Rev. Thomas Sheperd, who left that ship and came in one not so good, probably the Defense, from London." Matthew's American Armory and Blue Book, also says that he came in the Great Hope.

   Others say that the Great Hope was wrecked in 1634, off Yarmough, England, and that Sheperd's party took passage in the Defense the next year. If, however, the Great Hope was wrecked in 1634, she could not have been very badly wrecked, since she was in Boston Harbor in the summer of 1635. Governor Winthrop writes in his Journal, under date of Aug. 16, 1635, "The Great Hope of Ipswich, being about four hundred tons, was driven on ground at Mr. Horr's Point, and being brought back presently by a northeast wind, ran on shore at Charlestown." At this time a severe southeaster was blowing, "that drave ships from their anchors."

   Whatever doubt there may be as to the ship that brought Edmund Frost, there is none as to that in which Mr. Sheperd came, since Winthrop tells us in that same Journal, Oct. 6, 1635, that "Here arrived two great ships, the Defense and the Abigail,

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with Mr. Wilson, Pastor of Boston, Mr. Sheperd, . . . and other ministers."

   Whatever ship brought him he arrived in Cambridge in 1635. He and Richard Champney were installed as Elders, Feb. 11, 1636. About 1639, he bought from Thomas Blodgett, an estate on the westerly side of Dunster Street, between Mount Auburn Street and Harvard Square, on which stood the church-house and the residence of Govornor Dudley. This he soon sold and bought a house on Garden Street opposite what is now Waterhouse Street and about one hundred yards from the site of the Washington Elm and just by the Whitefield Elm. (See II on plan.) Later he acquired ten acres on Kirkland Street, including the site of the present Divinity School.

   "He was reputed to be rich in faith and manifestly enjoyed the confidence of Sheperd and his church. Yet he had trial of earthly poverty, . . . and he possessed little beyond his homestead, and his pressing wants were relieved by the church." Thus we find the following records:

"1638-9.

Given to Elder Frost the 18 of January, 20s. Given to Elder Frost the 22 of the 3d month 20s. Given to Elder Frost toward his building 40s.

   To Elder Frost we sent the 15 of the 5th month in beefe, chese, candle and money to buy corne in all 20s."

   "1640. To our elder Frost the 20 of the 3d month 30s."

   "Item. payd Elder Frost for a years allowence w^ch was due at midsummer in the year 1643, I say p^d him by 10¹."

   "Item. Mr. Harlakendon gave the church a legacye of 20^£, w^ch wee receved a young cow for it of Mr. Pellham in the beginning of the year 1640. Wee gave the summers milk of the cow to brother Towne and brother John French; the first calfe dyed. The winteringe cost to John Stone 25s w^ch some the second calfe was sold for. The second summers milk wee gave to sister Manninge and brother John French. The 3d summers milke was yelded Elder Frost and also the winteringe of it. The beginning of the year 1643 wee yelded it Elder Frost for his own; at that time it was worth but 5^£."

   The fact that the value of the cow decrease in three years from 20 pounds to 5, does not indicate any deterioration of the animal, but was simply an illustration of the universal law of "supply and demand." At this time, by importations from England, as well as by natural increase, cattle became somewhat of a drug on the market. [Yes, the author used the word "drug" - I assume in today's vernacular we would say "drag" - DPF]

   In that same year, 1643, "sister Albone, Elder Frost, Brother Banbrick, brother Syll, sister Manninge and sister Stephenson," each received "1 bottell sack 11d". June 9, 1652, the territory of Shawshine, now Billerica, was divided, and Lot No. 59, of two hundred acres was assigned to Edmund Frost, which seems to have so relieved his poverty, that for twenty years there is no record of any further benefactions to him from the church. The last appears in the records is the following:

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   "Eldar Frost liing a longe time weake with others of his family alsoe having the ague at the same time the church see meete to make a contribution for his relefe upon June 16, 1672. The sume gathered was in cash 7. 4. 9. and in other pay 2.5.8" He died a month later, July 12, 1672. In his will dated April 16, 1672, he mentions his wife Reana and all of his children, gives to Jacob French and his wife two fifths, and to the children of Golden More three fifths, of the vlaue of "my old mare and my young gelding," which mare and gelding are to be sold to the best advantage. He also gives to Harvard College fourty shillings, and to "mr Alcocks sone at ye Colledge" twenty shillings.

   His wife Thomasine died before 1653, since his youngest child Sarah, was his daughter by his second wife Mary . . . She died before 1669 and he married Reana, widow of Robert Daniel. She was his third wife and he was her fourth husband. His sons

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