Mary Hood

     Mary was born in 1607 in England. Mary married Richard Truesdell , son of William Truesdell and Alyce Frybusse, before 1646 in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. She was married when Governor Winthrop referred to Mary as Sister Truesdell. Mary was the sixth daughter named in her father's will in 1622. Under this will she was to received 40 shillings in the sixth year after her mother's demise. Mary may have accompanied her brother John Jr. to Massachusetts in 1638. She most likely gave possession of her Boston house to Rebecca & she went to live with Samuel in Newton. Mary made her will in 1672. Was drawn by John Hull, but was undated. She mentions her cousin Richard Tmblin, her brother John Hood's two children, Richard Truesdell the son of Samuel, not yet of age & Samuel's other children, William Gilbert Jr., not of age, the son of my cousin William Gilbert, and other children of Rebecca Gilbert, his wife, Moreover I doe give unto Harvard Colledge forty pound in money". In addition to many other gifts, she left ú40 to buy "a convenient tomb stone" for herself and her husband. Mary departed this life on Saturday, 22 September 1674 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She is buried in Newton Center Cemetery. She was buried at Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the Center Cemetery. Her tombstone, very illegible, is inscribed "1674 - Mary Truesdell ye wife of Richard Truesdell, aged 67 yeares, died ye 22 day of September". The headstone, inscribed in slanting lettering, has been reversed and, on what was originally the rear of the stone but which is now faced to the front, is inscribed in newer, vertical letter s "Samuel Truesdell 1694/5". She is buried near the grave of her nephew, " Samuel. Her will was probated on 26 November 1674. William Gilbert, sole executor, submitted the inventory of "Mrs. Mary Truesdell, his late ant" on January 30, 1674/5. The bequest to Harvard College remained unpaid for many years.