John Grout and his two wives, Mary Cakebread and Sarah Busby were emigrants from England who settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1640s.

There is some lore floating around that John Grout arrived in New England as a boy with his father, who died soon. However, there is no evidence, as cited in the Great Migration Study Project on American Ancestors.

There is further lore that Mary Cakebread was the daughter of John Grout’s guardian. No guardian has been found for him in any record, so this is another myth.

John Grout was born c1615 in England to unidentified parents. He married (1) Mary Cakebread, c1640, probably in Watertown, Massachusetts. Mary was the daughter of Thomas Cakebread and born c1619/20 in England and died before 1642, likely giving birth to her only child, John, on 8 August 1641 in Watertown.

Infant John, however, survived and John Grout married (2) Sarah Busby, c1642, probably also in Watertown or perhaps in Boston. Sarah was baptized on 12 December 1619 at St. Peter Parmentergate, Norwich, Norfolk, England, the daughter of Nicholas Busby and Bridget Cocke.

John and Sarah Grout lived in Watertown for the first year or so after their marriage, but then moved their young family to Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, where they spent the rest of their lives.

John Grout died on 25 July 1697. Sarah survived him, passing away on 25 April 1699, both in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

Child with Mary:

1. John, born 8 August 1641, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts; died before 4 March 1707/08, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts; married Rebecca Toll, 15 April 1667, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

Children with Sarah (All events in Sudbury unless otherwise noted.):

2. Sarah, born 11 December 1643, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts; died after 25 July 1657; apparently unmarried. (NOTE: She did not marry John Locker. He married Sarah Rice.)
3. Hannah, born 31 May 1646; died between 8 July 1690-25 July 1697, probably Sudbury; married John Livermore, c1668.
4. Joseph, born 24 July 1649; died between 1 September 1720-4 November 1720; married Susannah Hagar, c1680.
5. Abigail, born 14 October 1655; died 28 April 1745; married Joseph Curtis, 5 February 1677.
6. Jonathan, born 1 August 1658; died 19 April 1730; married Abigail Dix, 10 December 1701.
7. Mary, born 1 August 1661; died after 25 July 1697; married Thomas Knapp, 19 September 1688. They had two daughters, Sarah, born c1689 and Mary, born c1691. Probate on his estate was granted to Francis Fulham of Watertown on 28 May 1697, as Thomas died intestate “beyond the sea.”
8. Elizabeth, born c1663; died 28 August 1694; married Samuel Allen, 22 December 1683.
9. Susannah, born 22 September 1664; died 2 April 1727; married John Woodward, c1691.

I have tried to transcribe this will word for word, but quite a few places have faded ink, water damage or tears at the edges, so this is a combination of my transcription and abstracts found online.

Will of John Grout, 1695
Middlesex County, MA Case 9951
Source: American Ancestors

In the Name of God Amen. I John Grout Senr of ye towne of Sudbury Being sick & weke in Body But in sound & disposing Memory praise be given to god for ye same: Doe make this my Last Will & Testament in Manner And form as Foloeth: That is to say first & Principly I resigne mySould to ye Almighty god my Creator asuredly hopeing to obtaine a Blessed Resurection in Christ Jesus My Lord: & My [water damage/tear] to ye Earth to be Desintly Buried By ye Discretion of My Executors herein after Na[water damage/tear] all my worldly goods which ye Lord Hath Lent me I Doe Dispose thereof as folloeth [damage]

I give and bequeath unto my eldest Son John Grout all the Upland Swampland and Medow ground lying in Sudbury which I bought of John Briggham & Sarah his wife, (Excepting Six acres of Medow which Lyeth in the Great River Meadow towards Concord) with all ye Towne Rights priviledges and appurtenances thereunto belonging and appertaining & allso My will is that my son John shall have all of My upland and Medow which lyeth upon ye Brook at Roses Bridge and so running eastward from . . .  which ledes from James Rossess to ye widow Knapp Beginning on ye south side of sd Brook and all my Land & Medow from ye gutter wch Comes out of Cranberry Lott to ye going over at Mary Knaps, Excepting ye Ridg at Beaver Dam of upland…and…half ye Commanage Belonging to ye sd medow, and ten acres of medow at West Medow…and half part of my forty acre Lott next to Ephraim[Child].”

Item. My will is that my Son Jonathan Grout…all that part of My homestall which lyeth on ye North and ye West of ye Brooke which ledes from Roses [sic] Bridge to Widow Knaps…together with the Land and Medow ground on ye East side of ye Brooke against the Mill: from Whales Bridge to ye North end of the Ditch in Phebe Hole…also Ten acres of West Medow next to the Spring…also ye half part of my forty acre Lott at yeNorth end…”

item. I give to my Son Joseph Grout of Watertown all My housing Lands & Medows & Rights which to me did belong and appertain in ye Town of Watertown, Excepting a farm which I have neer to Medup; only my son Joseph Grout shall pay unto my Son in Law Joseph Curtis ye sum of Twelve pounds in money within ye space of three years after my Decease…if my Son Joseph Grout die without heirs, Male, then ye halfe of ye Said Land Shall return to ye Grouts the other half to his own Dafters….”

Item. My will is that my Son in Law John Livermore shall have all that my farm of Seventy acres wch lyeth by Medups in Watertown, he paying to my five Grand Children, wch My Dafter Elizabeth bore to Saml Allen as ye Children Shall come of age…ye Sum of forty shillings apiece….”

Item. I give to my Dafter Susanah ye six acres of Medow wch I bought of John Brigham lying at the River Medow towards Concord and ye half part of my New Grant Lott….”

Item. I give to my Dafter Abigail Curtis my six acres of medow lying at pantry & twelve pounds in Mony….”

Item. I give to my dafter Mary Knap forty shillings in Mony….”

Item. I give to my son Jonathan Grout one pair of oxen & his Choyce of my Books & my Chest & Rapier & part of my Wearing Clothes….”

I give to my Dear & Loving Wife Sarah Grout ten acres of Medow & six of upland at West Medow to be at her own Disposing…”

Sarah was also to have all of the remainder of the estate, and she was made joint executor with Jonathan.

John Grout Seal

Witnesses:
Joseph Noyes, Peter King and Frances Fullam