West in New England: Spaulding Family

Showing posts with label Spaulding Family. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 42: LOT SPAULDING, "LABOURER"

My 5x great grandfather was the youngest of John Spaulding's seven children. I already knew he had worked for the Continental Army during the Revolution and had found an interesting
story about that, but wasn't able to find much more about him for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Here's the entry for him in The Spalding Memorial, written by Samuel Jones Spaulding:

631. Lot4 [190] (John3, Andrew2, Edward1), b. Sept. 24,1737, in Chelmsford, Ms.; d. Jan. 15, 1822, aged 84, in Pelham, N. H.; m. Esther Butterfield, of Chelmsford, Ms., June 27, 1764; she d. Dec. 30, 1842. They resided in Pelham, N. H.

632. Lot, b. Jane 23, 1766; d. July 21, 1844; unmarried.

633. Esther, b. Sept. 16, 1769; m Moses Colburn, Feb. 1, 1794; they
removed to Bethel, Me.; she d. Feb. 13, 1849.

634. Zacharias, b. Sept. 15, 1773; d. Aug. 23, 1838, unmarried.

635. Lydla, b. Nov. 16, 1781; d. Jan. 10, 1861; unmarried.

636. Sarah, b. May 1, 1766; m. Capt. Joseph Blodgett, of Hudson, N.H., Dec. 19, 1812. She d. April 26, 1865.

637. John [1737], b. Aug. 8, 1788.-page 61
Spalding Memorial: A Genealogical History of Edward Spalding, of Massachusetts Bay, and His Descendants, A. Mudge & son, printers, Boston, Ma. 1872

His father John Spaulding's Probate File did had an interesting bit of information. It's in a document where Lot and five other heirs agree to sell their shares of the estate to their brother John Spaulding in exchange for ten pounds to each heir. In return, John would pay all debts and costs against the estate.

Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)20970-4

What's interesting is the list of heirs gives their social status after each name. They are:

Jonathan Spaulding, gentleman
Job Spaulding yeoman
Lott Spaulding, labourer
Sampson Spaulding, clerk
John Woodward, husbandman (married to Mary Spaulding)
Sampson Hildreth, husbandman (grandson of John Spaulding)
John Spaulding Jr, yeoman.

It works out to this:
Jonathan Spaulding was probably a professional, perhaps a doctor or lawyer.
Job and John Jr. were farmers.
John Woodward and Sampson Hildreth were farmers also, but may not have owned the land they farmed.
Sampson Spaulding was a minister.

And my 5x great grandfather Lot was a labourer, the lowest level of the colonial working class.

Monday, October 26, 2015

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 41: JOHN SPAULDING OF CHELMSFORD, MA.

John Spaulding is one of those ancestors that I haven't found very much about online so far. The only biography is from a genealogy book about Pennsylvania, of all places, and he was in that only because
of one of his descendants:

"(III) John Spaulding, son of Andrew and Hannah (Jefes) Spaulding, was born at Chelmsford, August 20, 1682, died in the same town, March 7, 1760. He succeeded to the old homestead, and was engaged in farming and stock raising. He married, April 22, 1704, Mary Barnett. Children: Jonathan, Mary, Hannah, Samson, see forward; Job, Mary, John, Lot. " -p201

Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania, Volume 1 by John Wolf Jordan.
Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York, New York, 1915

John's wife Mary's last name was Barrett, not Barnett, and after her death he married a
woman named Lydia whose maiden name is unknown.

I also knew that he and his brothers had all served as "snowshoe soldiers" against the Indians, but I didn't know until recently that those soldiers were given bounties by the colonial government for taking Indian scalps. A bit disquieting to say the least.

John's will mentions his second wife Lydia and provides for his children. One of the interesting parts is that my 5x great uncle Sampson Spaulding's part of the estate was to be what John had already spent on his college education. It turns out Sampson graduated from Harvard University!

As for my 5x great grandfather Lot Spaulding, John left him one half of his property, and a gun:

But it seems Lot and his siblings had their own ideas on how the estate should be divided, and I'll
discuss that in my post about him.

Friday, October 23, 2015

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 40: ANDREW SPAULDING OF CHELMSFORD, MA.

My 7x great grandfather Andrew Spaulding was the youngest of Edward Spaulding's seven
children and apparently the only son still living when Edward died. Here's William Richard Cutter's entry for him:

(II) Andrew Spaulding, son of Edward Spaulding (1), born November 19, 1652, died May 5, 1713. He inherited the estate from his father. He was deacon of the church, and held the office until he died. He married April 30, 1674, Hannah Jefts, died January 21, 1730, daughter of Henry Jefts, of Billerica, Massachusetts. His will was dated June 6, 1712. Children: 1. Hannah, died March 25, 1677. 2. Andrew, born March 25, 1678; mentioned below. 3. Henry, born November 2, 1680. 4. John, born August 20, 1682. 5. Rachel, born September 26, 1685; married December 7, 1703, Samuel Butterfield. 6. William, born August 3, 1688. 7. Joanna, born October 8, 1689 or 90; married Josiah Fletcher. 8. Benoni, born February 6, 1691. 9. Mary, born December 5, 1695; died July 18, 1698.
-p 979

Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, Volume 2 Lewis historical Publishing Company, 1908

Here is Andrew's will from the Middlesex County probate file collection on AmericanAncestors.org. It's a bit unusual in that while most wills I've found would have been written "book style" with a "page" on either side of the fold in the middle, it's written from edge to edge right across that fold. The handwriting is elegant, and very legible, and since Andrew signed it using his "mark", I suspect that perhaps it was written for Andrew by John Meriam Junr whose signature as a witness is very fancy:

Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)20918:2

I'm descended from Andrew's son John who will be the subject of my next post in the 2015
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 39:EDWARD SPAULDING OF CHELMSFORD, MA.

For week 39 of the 2015 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is my immigrant ancestor, Edward Spaulding. Edward is my 8x great grandfather and I'm descended from him through my maternal grandmother, Cora Barker. Here's William Richard Cutter's short biographical sketch of Edward:

(I) Edward Spalding (or Spaulding) came to America probably with Sir George Yeardley, about 1619. He and his family were established in the Virginia Colony in 1623. He removed to Braintree, Massachusetts, about 1634, among the first settlers, and was made a freeman May 13, 1640. In 1653 he was living in the plantation which at the request of the settlers was incorporated into the town of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, in May, 1655, and was one of the proprietors there. He was selectman in 1654-56-60-61; surveyor of highways 1663; and one of the surveyors of Newfield, afterwards North Chelmsford, 1666. where he owned land. The attention of the settlers was early given to the culture of apple trees, and special mention is made in 1664 of the orchard of Edward Spaulding. He married first, Margaret , died August, 1640; second, Rachel . Children of first wife: 1. John. 2. Edward. 3. Grace, buried May, 1641. Children of second wife: 4. Benjamin, born April 7, 1643. 5. Joseph, born October 25, 1646. 6. Dinah, born March 14, 1649. 7. Andrew, born November 19, 1652; mentioned below. Edward Spaulding died February 26, 1670. His will was dated February 13, -1667, and proved April 5, 1670.-p 979

Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, Volume 2 Lewis historical Publishing Company, 1908

I'm a bit dubious of that supposed original immigration to Virginia, wondering if there could be
confusion with another Edward Spaulding.

I found Edward's Probate file over on AmericanAncestors.org. The will is a little difficult to read because of the ornate penmanship but his son Andrew, my 7th grandfather, is mentioned.

Here's the image of the estate inventory. Boy, those long tails on the "L"'s and "D"'s are aggravating!

I'll discuss Andrew Spaulding next.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

THE SPAULDING DESCENT

Before beginning the series about my Spaulding ancestors, I wanted to post a chart showing
my grandmother Cora Barker's descent from immigrant ancestor Edward Spaulding/Spalding.
It includes several other family lines which I'll write about afterwards.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

MY SNOWSHOE SOLDIER ANCESTORS PT4

This is the second part of Rev. Wilson Waters' partial list of the men who served as
"snowshoe soldiers" under the command of William Tyng. Again, the names of
those I am related to are highlighted in boldface italics and my comments in red
italics. I had originally intended to post this in two parts, but because of the length
of the list there will be a third:

27. Peter Talbot [or Talbird], Chelmsford, was an emigrant from England. He lived several years in Dorchester, but at the time of his service in the snow-shoe company, under Capt. William Tyng, he was a resident of Chelmsford. At that time he must have been fully fifty years of age. His right in the township was given to his son, George Talbot, who lived several years in Stoughton.

28. Stephen Keyes, Chelmsford. There is no record of his birth and it has been thought that he probably was a son of Elias Keyes of Sudbury. He received land in Chelmsford in the right of Solomon Keyes, and it is possible he was a son of Solomon and Frances (Grant) Keyes. He was married March 7, 1706, by Jonathan Tyng, Esq., to Anna Robbins. He died in Chelmsford, February 6, 1714.

29. Benoni Perham, Chelmsford, lived in Chelmsford. He was living in 1722 and died a short time after that date [1723]. His son, Samuel, represented his interest in the grant of Tyngstown.

32. Josiah Richardson, Chelmsford, son of Capt. Josiah and Remembrance (Underwood) Richardson, was born in Chelmsford May 18,1665. He was a town clerk and selectman of Chelmsford, where he died October 17, 1711. His wife was a daughter of Deacon John Blanchard.

36. Henry Farwell, son of Henry Farwell of Chelmsford. Mass., was born about 1665. He was one of the early settlers of Dunstable. In the later years of Queen Anne's war his house was one of the seven garrisons in Dunstable. His son, Oliver was one of the victims of the Indian ambush at Naticook, September 5, 1724. His son, Josiah, was a lieutenant in Captain Lovewell's Company, and was killed by the Indians in the fight at Pigwacket, May 8, 1725.

38. John Richardson, Chelmsford, son of Capt. Josiah and Remembrance (Underwood) Richardson, was a brother of No. 32. Josiah Richardson was born in Chelmsford, February 14, 1669-70, where he died September 13, 1746.

40. Ephraim Hildreth, Chelmsford, removed from Chelmsford to Dracut in 1712, and there died September 26, 1740. He was town clerk of Dracut, a major of the militia, and an active man in town and business affairs. He was one of the proprietors of Concord and an influential factor among the proprietors of Tyngstown. At one time he was the owner of the saw-mill.
((My 8x great granduncle. His sister Elizabeth (Hildreth) Stevens is my ancestor))

41. Samuel Chamberlain, Chelmsford, son of Thomas and Sarah (Proctor) Chamberlain, was born in Chelmsford, January 11, 1679. He was a prominent citizen and styled Capt. Samuel Chamberlain in Chelmsford records. He died April 12, 1767. There was a Samuel Chamberlain of about the same age, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Chamberlain, who was styled in Chelmsford records Lieut. Samuel Chamberlain. The Tyngstown proprietors' records call the grantee Capt. Samuel Chamberlain, which makes it reasonably certain that the Samuel first named was the soldier and grantee.
((My 7x great granduncle. His sister Elizabeth is my ancestor))

42. Stephen Pierce, Chelmsford, son of Stephen and Tabitha (Parker) Pierce and grandson of Thomas Pierce of Woburn, was born in Chelmsford in 1678. He lived in Chelmsford and was the owner of many acres of land. He died September 9, 1749This Stephen Pierce was the grandfather of Gov. Benjamin Pierce of Hillsborough, who was the father of President Franklin Pierce.
((A cousin))

43. Timothy Spalding, Chelmsford, son of John and Hanna (Hale) Spalding, was born about 1676. He lived in the part of Chelmsford now Westford, where he died April 14, 1763. He was a brother of No. 13.
((A cousin.His father is my 7x great granduncle))

44. Paul Fletcher, Chelmsford, was the son of Joshua. His father was twice married: First, in 1668, to Gussies Jewell; second, in 1682, to Sarah Willey. I cannot state which of the wives was the mother of Paul. The Fletcher genealogy states that Paul Fletcher was a snow-shoe man in 1724. The date is an error.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

MY SNOWSHOE SOLDIER ANCESTORS PT3

My task of identifying possible relatives among William Tyng's "snowshoe soldiers"
was helped a bit by Rev.Wilson Waters section on them in his History of Chelmsford,
Massachusetts, in which he gives a bit of family background of some of the soldiers.
I'm posting his list in its entirety in two parts. Those soldiers I believe am related are
in boldface and I've put my comments in red. Here's part 1 of Waters' list:

1. John Shepley, son of John, was born in Chelmsford, Mass., in 1677. A few years
later the family removed to Groton, Mass., where the father, mother and all the
children except John were killed by the Indians, July 27, 1694. John, then seventeen
years of age, was carried into captivity where he remained three and one-half years,
when he returned to Groton. In memory of the massacre of his kindred, undoubtedly
he was a willing recruit in Captain Tyng's company. Subsequently he was prominent
in the town and church affairs of Groton. He was a representative nine years. He died
September 14, 1736. Among his descendants is the late Ether Shepley, a former
United States Senator and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maine.

2. Joseph Parker, Groton, son of Capt. Joseph and Margaret Parker, was born in
Chelmsford, March 30, 1653. The family removed to Dunstable in 1675, where Joseph, Sr.,
was a constable seven years. Joseph, Jr., had considerable experience in Indian warfare.
He removed from Dunstable to Groton and there died about 1725, leaving a large estate.
((Related by marriage, I think.))

10. Joseph Perham, Groton, son of John and Lydia (Shepley) Perham, was born in Chelmsford, December 22, 1669. He lived in Dunstable and, by revision of town lines, in Nottingham
West, now Hudson. At the time of his service in Captain Tyng's company he was a resident
of Groton.

11. Joseph Butterfield, Dunstable, son of Joseph and Lydia (Ballard) Butterfield, was born in Chelmsford, June 6, 1680. He removed early in life to Dunstable, living in the section of the town now Tyngsborough, where he died in 1757. His daughter, Deborah, was the wife of Col. Samuel Moor of Litchfield.
((Both a Ballard & Butterfield cousin. His parents are my 8x great granduncle & grandaunt.))

12. John Spalding, Chelmsford, son of Andrew and Hannah (Jefts) Spalding, was born August 20, 1682. He lived through life in Chelmsford. He died March 7, 1760.
((My 6x great grandfather))

13. John Spalding, Jr., Chelmsford, son of John and Hannah (Hale) Spalding, was born in Chelmsford, February 15, 1659. Late in life he removed to Plainfield, Conn. His son, Samuel, born August 5, 1686, represented his father's interests in Tyngstown.
((I have my ancestor John Spaulding married to a Mary Barrett. This is probably a cousin.))

14. Henry Spalding, Chelmsford, son of Andrew and Hannah (Jefts) Spalding, was born November 2, 1680. He was a brother of No. 12. He married a daughter of Thomas Lund, Sr.
((My 6x great granduncle))

16. Ebenezer Spalding, Chelmsford, son of Lieut. Edward and Margaret (Barrett) Spalding, was born January 13, 1683. He lived in Chelmsford and later in Nottingham West, now Hudson.
((A cousin))

17. Samuel Davis, Groton, son of Samuel and Mary Davis, was born in Groton, January 8, 1669-70. He removed from Groton to Chelmsford in 1707. Many of his descendants have resided in New Hampshire.
((Possibly a cousin))

22. Nathaniel Butterfield, Chelmsford, son of Nathaniel and Deborah (Underwood) Butterfield, was born about 1676 [1673]. He lived in Chelmsford, where he died in 1749.
((A cousin. His father is my 8x great great granduncle))

23. Jonathan Butterfield, Chelmsford, was probably a son of Nathaniel and Deborah (Underwood) Butterfield, and a brother of No. 22.
((Same as above))

26. Jonathan Parker, Chelmsford, son of John and Mary Parker, was born in Chelmsford, January 2, 1683. His right appears to have been improved by Thomas Parker. I do not find that he had a son Thomas but he had a brother of that name.
((Another possible cousin by marriage,))

To be continued.

Pages