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THE FOWLER FAMILY
497
"Videly--As I take her to be my loving wife, soe I freely take her issue, being two sonnes S two daughters, as my one, to endeavor to bring them upp, as a father ought to doe; ? further more, I bind myselfe that the. said Margere shall quiettly enjoy 6 possesse the halfe of my estate.?
At Andover the sons joined with their step-father in operating a mill and the sons-in-law John Lovejoy and Sherburne Wilson were there also. Thomas Rowell had a son by his first wife, named Valentine.
Thomas Coleman of Hampton, the third husband had several children by his first wife and may also have brought to Margery the four children of his second wife who had been a widow. The varied circumstances of this mixed family caused the following note:
"I give a feather bud to my son-in-law John Lovejoy to keep Ion my son Jacob Rowell and rent my Andover RowelZ estate to my Aon Christopher Osgood."
Thomas Coleman died in Nantucket about 1683 and Margery married the fourth time before November of that year, Thomas Osborne, one of the purchasers of Nantucket with the Coffins. Thomas was a friend of George Little of Newbury and the following letter survives:
"Nantucket Island, 25 of the & month 16S2. Vear ? loving brother littelZ, in gospell bonds my haAty love remembered unto you and youA wile though to me unknown ? hoping you aJie in helth as I being att this wrighting hereof, blessed be the Land, harXily giving you thanks for your kind entertainment when I was last att your house. This is to let you understand, I have married to one \-\argery Colman, a widdow, on the island Nantucket, wfiere I now am?1 believe Cod hath provided for me? given me a meet help a very loving wife one in charity ? waltbig ? I judge for the Loud & to a true lover of the pulpit ? church of the Lord 6 I se nothing but the Lord blessing our indavors we may live comfortably both aged ? but crazy. My wife and I entreat you to remember our harty love to our brother Chandler ? his wife (Margery's sister Mary) ? all their children entreating him if he have my husband Colemans mind which himself did write ? my husband Coleman did set his hand to it how he would leave me a comfortable maintenance if he died ? left me a widow. Uy wi.&e desires he wold be pleased to send it if he have the same as judging it might be of great benefit ? use unto her for her husband Colemans sons, deals very hardly by her ? keeps ? takes what they can from me ? requites me very mworthily for all my care ? endeavors for their good which is a great grief ? trouble unto me, but we trust the Lord will bear us up ? grant what is necessary and give us contentment in our spirits in that portion he in his wisdom shall carve out unto us.
Thomas Osbume".