The Jocelyn family is of ancient traceable lineage. Its known history extends even futher back than the time of Charlemagne, whose daughter married Count Joceline. One of the descendants of this union was Sir Gilbert Jocelyne, who accompanied William the Conqueror to England in 1066, and became the founder of the Joslin family in England. He received from William extensive territorial grants in county Lincoln, including the lordships of Sempringham and Tyrington. His son Gilbert devoted himself to a religious life and founded the order of Gilbertines and was canonized by Pope Innocent III in 1202. The younger son, Thomas, married Maude, daughter and co-heiress of John Hyde, of Hyde Hall, and granddaughter of Baron Sudeley, by which marriage the family obtained the estate which has ever since remained in its possession. One of the descndants married Anne, heiress of the Percys, and became Duke of Northumberland. Another is the present (1910) Earl of Roden.

(I) Nathaniel Jocelyn, born 1452, was brother of Sir Ralph, Lord Mayor of London, and Sir Thomas of Hyde Hall, from whom descended Lord Newport, Viscount Josselyn and Earl of Roden.

(II) James, seventh son of Nathaniel Jocelyn, was born in England in 1497.

(III) Robert, sixth and youngest child of James Jocelyn, was born in England about 1560. He married Martha Cleveland.

(IV) Thomas, fourth child of Robert Jocelyn, was born in England, about 1591. He was the immigrant ancestor of the American Jocelyns. He came in the ship "Increase," in April, 1635, lading at Hingham, Mass., with his wife Rebecca, son Nathaniel and daughters Rebecca, Dorothy, Eliza and Mary. Later an elder son Abraham, who had been left at school in England, joined the family. Elizabeth Ward, a servant, came with Thomas Jocelyn. He was proprietor of Higham in 1637, and held various town offices, and was selectman in 1645. He sold his land in Hingham and removed to Sudbury, now Wayland, and later, with others, went to the Nashua valley, and settled in Lancaster in 1654. He and his son, Nathaniel had land on the west side of what is now Main street, a little north of the center.
He died in 1660.
He married in 1614, in England, Rebecca Marlowe, who married (second) William Kerly, of Lancaster.
Children:
Rebecca, born 1617.
Joseph, 1621.
Dorothy, 1624.
Nathaniel, 1627, mentioned below.
Elizabeth, 1629.
Mary, 1634, married Roger Sumner, and was ancestor of Senator Charles Sumner.

(V) Nathaniel, son of Thomas Jocelyn, was born in England in 1627, and died April 8, 1694, at Marlborough, Mass. He came with his parents to America in 1635; resided for a time at Hingham and Wayland, then at Lancaster, where he signed the original covenant with his father in 1654. He was a large landowner there and in Marlborough, where he went to escape the Indians in 1675. He was a man of more than average ability, held in high esteem. He held many town offices.
He married, in 1656, Sarah, daughter of Thomas King, of Marlborough.
Children:
Elizabeth, born June 7, 1657, died young.
Nathaniel, June 21, 1658; died young.
Sarah, July 15, 1660.
Dorothy, March 4, 1662.
Peter, Dec. 22, 1665, mentioned below.
Elizabeth, June 7, 1667.
Martha.
Nathaniel.
Rebecca, May 14, 1672.

(VI) Captain Peter, son of Nathaniel Jocelyn, was born Dec. 22, 1665, at Lancaster, and died at Leominster, in 1759. He was a proprietor in Lancaster, and influential in town affairs. For many years he was selectman, and often moderator. Aug. 4, 1715, he was chosen deacon of the Church of Christ, Lancaster. He was known as Captain Joselyn, on account of his military services in the defense of the town. In 1704 he was an ensign and commanded a garrison, having under his charge eight families. July 18, 1692, he was at work in the field when the Indians attacked his house and murdered his wife and the three youngest children, also a Mrs. Whitcomb, who happened to be with them at the time. The eldest child, Peter, they carried into the woods and afterwards brutally murdered him.
Peter Jocelyn married (first) Sarah How, of Marlborough, who was killed by the Indians, July 18, 1692; (second) Johanna Whitcomb, born Jan. 8, 1673, died Sept. 24, 1717, daughter of Josiah and Rebecca Whitcomb; married (third) Hannah Woods, of Groton, died Aug. 14, 1739, aged seventy-one; (fourth) Mrs. Martha Wheeler, born 1679.
Children of first wife:
Peter, born Dec. 8, 1686, killed by Indians July 18, 1692.
three younger children killed the same day.
Children of second wife, with baptismal dates:
Johanna, May 30, 1708.
Sarah, same day.
Rebecca, Deborah, John, Dec. 10, 1710.
Abigail, Aug. 2, 1713.
Dorothy, Dec. 25, 1714.
Damaris, Sept. 1, 1717.
Peter, mentioned below.

(VII) Ensign Peter, son of Captain Peter Jocelyn, was born Dec. 7, 1724. He settled at Shrewsbury, Mass.
He married Elizabeth ____ (intention dated Dec. 10, 1748).
Children, born at Shrewsbury:
Mary, June 5, 1755.
Alce, Oct. 27, 1757.
Peter, Oct. 12, 1759.
Persis, Feb. 26, 1762.
Anna, Feb. 12, 1764.
Dorothy, twin with Anna, married, Feb. 25, 1784, John Kidder, of Billerica, born Nov. 8, 1761 (see Kidder).
Samuel, Aug. 2, 1766.

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