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Dr. William Dyer

Dr. William Dyer[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19]

Male - 1738


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  • Name William Dyer  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19] 
    Title Dr. 
    Birth Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, Colonial America Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19] 
    Gender Male 
    Death 27 Jul 1738  Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10] 
    Burial Old North Cemetery, Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7] 
    Person ID I312684225060  Oswald Genealogy
    Last Modified 15 Jun 2025 

    Father Samuel Dyer,   b. 10 Oct 1635, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1678, Kingston, South Kingstown, Kings, Rhode Island, British Colonial America Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 42 years) 
    Relationship unknown 
    Mother Anne Hutchinson,   b. 18 Nov 1643, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Newport, Rhode Island, Rhode Island, British Colonial America Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Relationship unknown 
    Marriage 17 Nov 1663  Kingston, South Kingstown, Kings, Rhode Island, British Colonial America Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1268  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Mary Taylor,   b. 06 Jun 1658, Barnstable, Barnstable, Plymouth Colony, British Colonial America Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 08 Oct 1738, Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 80 years) 
    Marriage Dec 1686  Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1537  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 15 Jun 2025 

  • Notes 
    • GEN: Ancestry of Dr. William Dyer is cur
      GEN: Ancestry of Dr. William Dyer is currently unknown. Some say he was a descendant of Wm Dyer of Rhode Island, others claim him GEN: to be a son of Wm Dyer of Sheepscot, ME. There is documentation available to prove both of these claims FALSE. See GEN: Descendants of Wm. Dyer GEN: www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/4663/doctor.htm BIRTH: Boston Transcript; 17 Dec 1902; #3535 BURIAL: Buried at Old North Cemetary in Truro, Cape Cod, MA (DownEast Ancestry; Vol 2 #4) MARRIAGE: Genealogy of Edward Small 929.2 S 635 uv3 pg 1295 Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, Springfield, Ma

      Argument that Dr. William Dyer was the son of Samuel and Anne (Hutchinson) Dyer.
      Contributing Sources:
      Hal Bradley, Dyer researcher
      Marion Shea, Enquiry Service, New England Historic Genealogical Society.
      Phil Dyer, Dyer researcher.

      1.) The primary evidence against William Dyer being the same man as the son of Samuel Dyer and Ann Hutchinson is the fact that his gravestone states he was "aged about 85 years." However, death records are not reliable evidence of birth information unless corroborated by another piece of evidence. Dr. William Dyer married Mary, the daughter of Dr. Henry Taylor in Barnstable in December 1686 when he was 23 years old. The records show that his wife was born abt 1660. The gravestone of Dr. William Dyer gives his death as July 27, 1738, but mentions that he was 85 years old. If he is the Dr. William we think he is, then he was born in 1663 and died at 75 years old. His wife's death on her tombstone is October 8, 1738, "about 80 years old." Again, no one knows how old either one was.
      His gravestone at the Old North Cemetery in Truro was replaced with a more modern one, and it is possible the dates were not transposed correctly.

      2.) Boston records show clearly the birth of William Dyer on March 7, 1663, son of Samuel and Anne Dyer. A baptismal record for young William has not been found. After his birth, no further record of William is found either in Boston or Rhode Island.
      The Dyer family church in Boston had been the First Church (Congregational) where his grandparents were members, that is, until his grandmother, Mary (Barrett) Dyer, was hanged in Boston for her devotion to the Quaker faith. As a result, no doubt, relations between the church and the Dyer family ended.

      3.) Dr. William DYER and Mary TAYLOR had the following children:
      1. Lydia DYER (mother's mother honored)
      2. William DYER, Jr. (father honored)
      3. Jonathan DYER
      4. Henry DYER (mother's father honored)
      5. Isabel DYER
      6. Ebenezer DYER
      7. Samuel DYER (father's father honored)
      8. Judah DYER
      4.) Major William Dyer (his uncle) bought his home and land in 1675 from Dr. Henry Taylor. This property bought of Dr. Henry and Mary Taylor was a parcel of land in New York city containing about 41/2 acres "At the north end of the city, bounded on the south by the Garden and land of Peter Stoutenurgh and John Mange, butting east upon land of Oliver Steven(sen), northerly on the Highway which leads to Smith's Fly (valley) and westward upon the great Road to the City fronting Hudson's River, together with the yards, gardens, cellars, arbours, edifices, ruins of buildings, fencing, timbers, wayes, easments, etc." The deed was recorded 10 April 1675.
      This property came to Dr. Henry Taylor in settlement of a claim he had against the Estate of Nicholas Davis, of Quaker fame in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, a friend of Mary Dyre, the Quaker, and Major William Dyre's mother.
      Dr. Henry Taylor, while a resident in Boston in 1671, had negotiated with Nicholas Davis to buy a farm belonging to Davis situated in Barnstable, MA. Before a clear title to the farm could be secured and after Dr. Taylor had paid in advance the sum of £420-0-0 (half the purchase price) Nicholas Davis had died from drowning in Newport Harbour. (Note that this is the same Nicholas Davis who had been imprisoned as a Quaker in Boston with Mary Dyre, William Robinson, Marmaduke Stephenson, and others.) He had been banished from Massachusetts Bay and went to Newport, RI. He owned quite some property in and about New York and New Jersey. Among his holdings, besides the above mentioned parcel was an estate called "Whitestone" in Flushing, Long Island and this property also came to Dr. Henry Taylor in settlement of his claim against the Davis estate.
      There is no doubt that Dr. Henry Taylor was well known to Major William Dyer. It is also well documented that Samuel Dyer and Major William Dyer were brothers.
      There is also no doubt that Dr. Henry Taylor was acquainted with Nicholas Davis, a Quaker well known to both Mary (Barrett) Dyer and Major William Dyer, who appeared in Boston seeking the release of his mother when she was imprisoned with Davis. The suggestion here is that the Dyer family and the Taylor family were well known to each other and that it is not unreasonable to suppose that Samuel Dyer's son, William might have married the daughter of Dr. Henry Taylor. They were certainly known to each other.

      5.) It is very possible young William early became a part of Dr. Henry Taylor's family with the intent of studying medicine. Although William's father, Samuel, died in Newport, Rhode Island circa 1678 at the young age of 43, he had lived in Boston with his family almost until the time of his death. He may have been ill for some time, and no doubt was in contact or knew Dr. Taylor. Samuel left children of the following approximate ages at his death:
      1. William, 15 years.
      2. Samuel, 13 years.
      3. Nathaniel, 11 years.
      4. Edward, 8 years.
      5. Elisha, 6 years.
      6. Anne, 4 years.
      7. Henry, 2 years.
      8. Barrett, a few months old.
      6.) William's mother, Anne, may have been a spirited person as evidenced by her will which was proved in 1717. Under this will, she provided for all of her children except her sons, William, Nathaniel and Edward, who were all living at the time of her death. Edward was mentioned in the will only to the extent of "All rents due me from Edward of Kingstown, being due from 1710, Nov. 29, at L6 per annum, and all hereafter found due which should have been for my yearly support and maintenance."
      There is a possiblity that a high-spirited William may not have got along well with a high-spirited mother, and may have been apprenticed very early to the care and teaching of Dr. Henry Taylor. It would not be unusual for a boy of 13, 14, or 15 years to become apprenticed as William was at or before 15.

      7.) If William had been born on the Cape and grew up there, the local people would have known who his parents were. There were no records. It has been stated, his parentage is not known, and it is not known where he came from. Perhaps, he did not want to ne identified with his grandmother who was hanged.

      8.) Marston Watson's new book outlining five generations of descendants of Rev. Francis Marbury (published 2004) shows William Dyer, b. 1663, son of Samuel & Anne (Hutchinson) Dyer, as the William who married Mary Taylor. Although not well documented, the book was endorsed by Gary Roberts of the NEHGS.
      It looks like others also consider the identification to be sound.
      (Hal Bradley)

      Thus, the evidence demonstrating a connection between these two families with William Dyer of Truro being the son of Samuel Dyer and Ann Hutchison is stronger than the evidence to the contrary.

      Marcelia Dyer Berry in her manuscript, "The Dyers from England to Cape Elizabeth 1557-1987 - Descendants of Henry, 3rd son of Dr. William Dyer," p. 9, draws the same conclusion and states that these two William Dyer's are the same man.

      I think the evidence is sufficient to conclude that Dr. William Dyer of Truro, Mass. was the son of Samuel and Anne (Hutchinson) Dyer. Does it constitute proof? That is left up to the reader.


      "Gen Dict RI", p281 !CONFLICT-BIRTH-DEA
      "Gen Dict RI", p281 !CONFLICT-BIRTH-DEATH-PARENTS: Berry, Marcelia Dyer Rennard "The Dyers from England to Cape Elizabeth 1557-1987 - Descendants of Henry, 3rd son of Dr. William Dyer", Manuscript,p9; NOTE: Marcelia says this Wm. is same as Dr. William Dyer who married Mary Taylor.

      ! Hatch Book vol 1 page 8
      ! Hatch Book vol 1 page 8

      !PRF CD #7- William DYER, Jr., a cordwai
      !PRF CD #7- William DYER, Jr., a cordwainer (leather worker) by vocation, was the oldest s/o Dr. William DYER/Mary TAYOR... having been b. in Barnstable, MA 30 Oct 1690

      !Source: Research notes of Shirley Hoppe
      !Source: Research notes of Shirley Hopper Russell. Annals of Yarmouth Of Barnstable MA.

  • Sources 
    1. [S1173462465] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree.

    2. [S1173462465] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, WIKITREE Descendants of Anne (Hutchinson) Dyer.

    3. [S1173462465] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dyer/argument.htm.

    4. [S1173462465] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, http://alonglineoffamily.blogspot.com/2011/10/line-111-anne-hutchinson-dyer-legacy-of.html.

    5. [S1173462465] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, http://rcconnellgeni.blogspot.com/2011/08/william-dyer-youngest-and-mary-taylor.html.

    6. [S1173462465] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, "28 Dec 1932, 3." Newspapers https://www.newspapers.com/image/962464780/?clipping_id=130737019&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjk2MjQ2NDc4MCwiaWF0IjoxNzA4NzExNjM2LCJleHAiOjE3MDg3OTgwMzZ9.uIvHfY7mzjuD6Bw3FyIZE4-CLvXRVzJGq.

    7. [S1173462472] FamilySearch.org, Find a Grave Index, "Find a Grave Index", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKQ-BH4N : Thu Apr 03 06:26:18 UTC 2025), Entry for William Dyer.

    8. [S1173462605] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DCT2-R3PZ : Thu Jul 18 08:59:58 UTC 2024), Entry for William Dyer and Samuel Dyer, 7 Mar 1663.

    9. [S1173462605] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9979-HXR?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DH-G5S%3A353349701%2C353366701%2C1005976002 : 13 July 2016), Barnstable > Barn.

    10. [S1173462605] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8979-H2C?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DH-G5S%3A353349701%2C353366701%2C1005976002 : 13 July 2016), Barnstable > Barn.

    11. [S1173462615] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, "Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHT1-KV3 : 15 January 2020), William Dyer, 1663.

    12. [S1173462615] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, "Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCWG-W4V : 15 January 2020), William Dyer, 1663.

    13. [S1173462615] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, "Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHT1-KV3 : 15 January 2020), William Dyer, 1663.

    14. [S1173462615] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, "Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCWG-W4V : 15 January 2020), William Dyer, 1663.

    15. [S1173462615] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, "Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZD1-GDQ : 16 March 2022), William Dier in entry for Jonathan Dier, 1692.

    16. [S1173462615] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, "Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZD1-DBJ : 16 March 2022), William Dier in entry for William Dier, 1690.

    17. [S1173462615] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, "Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZD1-VY4 : 16 March 2022), William Dier in entry for Judah Dier, 1701.

    18. [S1173462615] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, "Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZDB-HR4 : 16 March 2022), William Dier in entry for Lydia Dier, 1688.

    19. [S1173462615] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, "Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZD1-4XK : 16 March 2022), William Dier in entry for Henry Dier, 1693.



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