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I

NON . OROIUTINO

GENEALOGY

OF THE

BALCH FAMILIES

IN

AMERICA

BY

GALUSHA B. BALCH, M. D.,

YONKERS, N. Y.

Ebkn PutnaMi

SALBM, MASSACHUSETTS, PUBI«ISHBR.

1897.

". C GE.rVF • ■

.»lir; 5 189V

'S. HIST. SOCIET^

/v'^'7

PREFACE.

The making of genealogies is as old as the history of Adam. With it, Moses begins the history of his race. The reyerence for ancestry, the love of kindred, .and the care of offspring are inherent in human nature and fostered by civilization. Though the loye of parents and children leads the affections in divergent lines, yet some subtle connection seems to make them one. With development of either they both increase, and our debt of gratitude to noble ancestry inspires us to re- pay it in fuller measure to our children and contribute our proper share in the progress of the race.

The guiding power of surrounding conditions in selecting and fixing the peculiarities of animal species^ is alike potent in imparting race types to man. The great mass of recently emigrated population has sprung from a past in which slavish obedience under monarchial rule has stifled every tendency to independent progressive thought. They have been taught no ambition beyond material prosperity, and have failed to learn the lesson of self-government on which our country must depend for its honorable perpetuity. Far different have been the influences at work alone those lines that run to the early English pioneers. To them America's golden allurements were political and religious freedom. These were the ambitions of the people from which they came ; then the Puritans revolted against the tyranny and licentiousness of the Stuarts, and England was preparing the civil war which resulted in the dethronement and beheading of Charles I.

Having been nurtured with these tendencies, they crossed the mysterious ocean when the paths were as yet untried

(iii)

lY PBBFAOE.

when the goal itself was unknowo, and America held out but the opportunities to grow the fruits of liberty. The wild free- dom of a new country was poison to the unaccustomed. From it Weston's men were forced to flee ; and even to those who had acquired a taste, it at first brought many evils ; but they were evils whose final correction came by continued freedom.

Thus reared with an ardent love of liberty, John Balch left Old England for the New, and with this bias he and his associates and their descendants helped to lay deeply and well the foundations of our Nation. It should therefore be a matter of proper pride to know that the family line dates back to a sturdy, liberty-loving ancestry and passed through gen- erations of industry, thrift and New England hardihood, cal- culated to produce a self-reliant capable manhood. For the most part the families have led quiet uneventful lives. They have lived long and left small estates, but for their descen- dants they have given that best dower of all, a constitution free from inherited diseases, a far better factor for happiness and usefulness than inherited wealth.

The earliest efforts, so far as known, in the preparation of a genealogy of the Balch family was made about a century ago by Benjamin Balch, of Essex Co., Massachusetts. Seven hundred words comprised all that he recorded. Next fol- lowed some additions to this by Dr. William F. Balch, and the whole was published in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register for July, 1855. A few years later David M. Balch took up the subject and worked at it, until about 1876. In this he was assisted by Frank W. Balch, and together they explored the early records in Essex county, and vicinity, and collected considerable material. In 1884, I commenced a search for records of direct ancestors. The work proved a fascinating one and quickly led into all the other family branches.

Genealogical investigation is beset with many difficulties, and some of the solutions have been reached in curious and unexpected ways. In several instances, slight clues con-

FfiBFAOS. T

ceming membeis of the fionily would be found which bafSed 6Terjr effort at systematic inyestigatioii, but whose records were traced through unexpected channels. One of these was 68 Josiah^ another was 357 Cyrus^ and a third was 882 Samuel Williams^.

After the record of the latter had gone into type two of his daughters, both oyer eighty years of age, were found to be liying within a few minutes' ride of the office of the writer's son. From them it was ascertained that their father was United States Minister at Rio Janeiro, Brazil, in the early part of this century. There are a few puzzles, similar to the above which have as yet resisted solution. They belong to the Maryland family and are appended as ^^ broken families."

Acknowledgments are due and are hereby made to Wil- liam Lincoln Balch, of Boston, for his contributions of the chapters on Name, Arms, and English records; to David M. Balch, and Frank W. Balch, for kindly placing their manuscript notes at my service ; to Augustus A. Galloupe, of Beverly, who, though no relative of the family, has given valuable assistance, and to all the members of the family, both of the North and South, who have so kindly aided me in the preparation of this work.

Galubha B. Balch, M. D.

THE NAME.

The task of tracing the descent of any of the millions of families inhabiting this planet is not, under the most favora- ble circumstances, an easy one, but is beset at every step with various difficiQties. The present inquiry into the origin and history of the Balch family, while simplified by the peculiarity of the name and the comparatively small number who have borne it, is, at the same time, rendered more difficult by those very conditions, especially as few of the name have ever achieved more than local distinction, though they have always been respected in the localities where they have lived.

yi THE KAME.

John Balch [the first in America] oame from Somerset, England, to Massachusetts, in 1623. With this central fact the Balch genealogy in America begins, and its branches have been traced out down to the present day. But to go even one step backward from that point has not been so easy, and it must be confessed at the outset that the missing links be- tween the Balches who came to America and those who re- mained in the old country have not been found.

The search, however, has brought to light the names of many Balches in England and much information in regard to them which cannot fail to be of interest to all who bear the name in this country, for there can be little or no doubt that they were all related to each other in the same way that the American Balches are related.

The subject of the origin of the name of Balch opens an ample field for philological discussion, which has not been covered to any extent, for the reasons already indicated. It seems tolerably certain that the name is of Teutonic deriva- tion, and as an English patronym, therefore, might have come in with the Saxons, about A. D. 500.

Mark Antony Lower, one of the first to write analytically on the subject of British surnames, says in his «' Patronymica Britannica," that the name is an abbreviation of Balchin, a very old Teutonic personal name — in old German Baldechin. In his " Essay on Family Nomenclature,'* however, he says that Balchin, in the middle and western counties of England means an unfledged bird.

Robert Ferguson, in ^* English Surnames and their place in the Teutonic Family," after supposing a relation between the name of the great Italian poet, Dante Alighieri, and the Eng- lish name Alger, observes : *^ Other of the Italian poets have names more certainly Teutonic, as Alamanni, Baldacchini," etc. ** These correspond with the old German names Alaman, Baldechin, etc., and with our AUman, Balchin," etc. Further on, in speaking of names derived from mental and moral quali- ties, he sayS| *^ Thus we have Bold and its patronymic Bald-

THS NAME. TU

ing — Ball, the patronymio Ballinger, the diminutiye Balchin, Baldook, etc.''

How far the imagination enters into comparative philology is seen when it is observed that another writer on ^^ English Surnames," Charles Wareing Bardsley, while not taking cognizance of Balchin at all, derives BalUnger from boulanger, a baker, and Bald and Ball not from bold, but from the very prosaic characteristic of baldness of the cranium I

William F. Baloh [1100] devoted considerable time in the early fifties to an investigation of the origin of the family, and he mentions in a paper published in the New England Histor- ical and Genealogical Register for July, 1855, that he found the name of ^^ Balchman of Bodeherstegate " on the roll of «' Battle Abbey '' [A. D. 1066] . The name of Balchi, he also says, is to be found in ** Doomsday Book," the great survey of England, which was made by order of William the Con- queror, in 1086, and to have been recorded therein the bearer of the name must have been of at least Thane's rank. He also states that a John Balch was Sheriff of Somerset in 1892, and, starting with that name, he constructs a pedigree ending with John Balch who came to America in 1628.

Now all these assumptions can be shown to be erroneous, and though it is only just to say that they were not put forth as being absolutely correct, it seems proper to call attention to them, as they are in print [in the Historical and Genea- logical Register,] and copies of the false pedigree are in ex- istence in possession of members of the family and might prove misleading.

In the first place, the document, usually oalled the ^^ Roll of Battle Abbey " was a list of those Normans who took part in the conquest of England, and of course one would not look there for a Saxon name. The list referred to in the article in question was really of the names of residents of the set- tlement which sprang up aroimd the Abbey while it was building, to commemorate the battie of Hastings, composed of those brought there from surrounding counties for that

I

A

Ti& THB KAMB.

purpose, together with the amount of tax, or the kind of serrice, which they were to render for their houses and Lands, which they held under feudal tenure. These persons were, of course, the Saxon inhabitants, but the name. No. 104 on the list, which the compiler mistook for ^ Balchman " ot Bode* herstegate was really ^^Blacheman" and he was no more likely to have been an ancestor of a Balch than No. 26,. ** Blacheni, the cowherd."

The ^ John Balch " who, he says, was sheriff of Somerset in 1892, was, by a similar error in the eyesight, really John Bache, probably of Dorset, as those two counties had but one sheriff before 1666.

That disposes of the foundation of the pedigree, and as for the second step it is certain that no Greorge Balch, between the years 1862 and 1420, was *^ the founder of St. Andries,. the seat of the family in Somersetshire," as that estate, which is one of the best known in the county, did not come into the possession of a Balch until long after John Balch had come to America.

The earliest mention of a Balch in Somerset records, which is at present known, occurs in a tax list compiled in the first year of the reign of Edward III, 1827, and it is remarkable that at that early date it takes the simple form of Balch, while in the meantime it has, at different periods, and in in- diyidual instances, lapsed into such odd orthography as Balche, Balsh, Balshe, Baulch, Bawlch, etc.

But in 1827 at least two persons in Somerset were taxed under that name. ^^WiUelmo Balch, xii d., ^^Puiye" [perhaps Puriton Hundred] and *^ Roberto Balch, i i j S.^ V. d.," in " Manerium de Wryngton " [manor of Wryngton] .. There also appears on the same roll the name Balth, Blatche^ Borliche, Barlioh, Balrich, Bolde and Bald — any or all of whom might haye been Balches, since other and far more common names, such as Baker, Brown and Smith, appear with almost as peculiar variations.

It would be strange indeed, at a time when the English

TBE KAICB. IX

laogaage was not yet ctystalized, when only ,** clerks" and priests conld write, and official documents were drawn up in a medley of Latin, Norman-French and Anglo-Saxon, if such a name had escaped variation. One can well imagine the queer twists that spelling would take, when the Norman tax gatherer attempted to set down the name of a ^^ Zummerzet '* rustic as giyen to him with a broad west country accent.

Barlioh and Barliche would certainly not be improbable metamorphoses under such circumstances, and, indeed, the foot that these forms have not survived would seem to be ev- idence that they were merely clerical errors. Some of the forms which we know the name to have assumed at later dates were evidently phonetic, and point to the probability that the ^* a " in Baloh had a very broad sound, much broader than it has at present as pronounced in this country.

It is of interest in this connection to remark that some of tho name in London pronounce the ^^ a " sharp, as in ^* bat," and also to note that, out of the more than four million people in the British metropolis, there are but six of the name of Balch r^^tered in the Post Office Directory of London of a recent date — ^both ^^ court " and ^' commercial " divisions included — while there are an equal number of Balchins, one Baulch, one- Balck and one Baldach.

It thus appears that Balchin remains a surname in England today, and seems, like Balch, to be a shortening of the earlier form — ^Baldechin. It has been spelled Balchen, Ballchen and Balchan. In 1744 Admiral Sir John Ballchen was lost in his ship, the Victoiy, off Alderney.

Baldachin is defined by Johnson's Cyclopedia — and the definition is retained by our modem American dictionaries — as ^* The canopy carried over the Host in processions. The term is derived from Baldach, a corruption of Bagdad^ the- early seat of the manufacture [of the stuff of which the can- opy was made] and was originally applied to the canopy car- ried over an Oriental prince."

It has been objected to by a scholarly member of the Balch.

X THE COAT OF ABM8.

family that the deduction of Baldach from Bagdad is unten- able on philological grounds, and he remarks that '^ the old Persian city Balkh bears exactly our family name." But whether Balkh or Baldach furnished the root of the word, it appears to have come from the Orient. The Teutons came from the East, their language, culminating in modern Ger- man, had many Oriental affinities, and it is not too improbable to suppose that the Teuton who took, or more likely had be- stowed upon him, the name of Baldechin, might have been one of the bearers of a princely or ecclesiastical canopy.

The stuff of which these canopies, and priestly vestments, generally, was made, was a very rich fabric of silk and gold embroidery, and in old English records the word is variously found written baudekin, bawdekin and even bodkyn and bodkin, certainly as wide a departure from baldachin in or- Hiography as is Balch.

THE COAT OF ARMS.

Though perhaps not really germane to the subject, it seems interesting to note that in the reign of Edward IV, the baudekin reserved by sumptuary law for the use of royalty was woven of blue and gold stripes, which happen to be the -chief colors of the Balch coat of arms. Those colors, with the red in which the ^^ bend " crossing the shield is embla- zoned, are esteemed as among the most noble in heraldry, and the simplicity of the coat itself would seem to be an evidence of antiquity. There is nothing however, to show that it was granted at a very early date. It appears in the visitation of Somerset in 1628, the very year in which John Balch came to America.

The visitation of the counties by the King's stewards and officers-at-arms, under special warrants of the sovereign, for the purpose of collecting and recording the pedigrees aijid ^arms of the nobility and gentry resident therein, is of very

THE OOAT OF ABH8. XI

ancient date, and the genealogies and arma thus collected are 'well known by the name of " ViBitations." These records are preserved in the Ck>llege of Arms, London, from the year 1523 to 1686.

There were visitations of Somerset in 1531, the 22d year of the reign of Henry VIII. ; by Benolte, Clarenoieux King- of-Arma, in 1573, the 15th year of Elizabeth ; by Brooke, Clarencienx, by his deputies, Heniy St. George, Richmond herald, and Sampson Lennard, Bluemantle pursuiTant, in 1628 by the last mentioned, and in 1672, 23d year of Charles II., and the last visitation, made by Bysshe, Clarencieaz.

The arms of Balche, of Horton, as illostrated in the fron- tispiece to this volume, and accompanied by a pedigree which forms the basis of the sketch of early English Balohee, which follows, are thus described in the Visitation of 1623 :

** Barry of six, Or and Azure ; on a bend, engrailed. Gules, three spear heads. Argent" No crest is described witii this shield. Sir Bernard Burke, the English anthoii^, in his " General Armory of England, Scotland and Wales," edition of 1883. -describes the anns of Balche of Horton as above, and adds : ** Balche [Viiginia, Maryland and Philadelphia, North Amer> inal, the same arms. Crest, out of a il coronet. Or, a demi-griffin, ppr. [ottoes — Utn libertas, ihi patria bere liberty is ^ere is my country]. )t laws of man, but laws of God." .nother motto which has been at- led to the arms, aa used by the Phila- )hia branch, is, "Coeur et Courage .^^trouvrage,"— Heart and courage do the work. It has been stated that some of the southern Balches, be- ing allied to the Macgregors, use their crest, a lion's head proper, crowned with an antique crown. . Culleton, a London heraldic engraver, gives the Baloh

zii THE OOAT OF ABMB.

arms as already described, and the motto as beii^i ** Faife^ Devojnr," " Do yoor duty."

E. de Vermont, in hia ** American Heraldry," copies Burke.

Daniel Balch, of Newburyport, Mass., in his will, dated March 9, 1789, left to his eldest bod, Daniel, Jr., "my coat of arms." That he inherited his copy from hia fother, Bev. William, or his grandfather, Freeborn, or that John Imiught it with him to America, in 1623, is a matter of mere conjec- ture. To a copy in the possession of & descendant of Daniel is attached the note: "The above are the arms of Balche of Horton, in the county of Somerset, as they appear recorded to that family in the Herald'a Tisitation of that county, made in 1628. Albert W. Woods, Herald." Aa Sir Albert W. Woods is at present (1896) Garter King of Arms of the Henlds* College, it is evident that this oopy it comparatively recent

The crest and motto found with a copy of the Balch arms, published by a descendant of Daniel — William F. — in the New England Historical and Geneal<^cal Register, in 1855, have been a puzzle. The crest is a mailed arm and gaunt- letted hand, grasping broken spears or javelins. The Latin motto accompanying this crest — " Usua a Punctum " — seems to refer to the spears, but, with its grammatical incorrectness,, leaves a doubt whether it was meant to ' convey the admonition to " use to the point," or the boast that the spears had ^ been ao used, aa their broken condition would suggest. Nothing ia known in the history of the family in England to justify anch a warlike blazon.

A variation of the coat of arms, in which the spear heads are replaced by golden disks, or " bezants," a word derived from Byzantium, the ancient Constantinople, and applied to- gold coins of that coontry, appears in the church of St>

BABLY HOME OF THE FAMILY IK 801C1BB8BT8HIEE. XUl

Haiy, in the parish of Poontock, in Dorset. In the chancel IS this escutcheon: *^ Barry of six. Or and Azure; on a bend, indented. Gules, three Bezants." Under it, ^^ Scutum 'Gulielmi Balch, obiit 39 die of Januarii, anno Donu, 1681." The shield of this William Balch is thus nearly the same as ihe one already described, except that the ^* bend " has sei^ rated, instead of scalloped edges — which might have been merely tiie result of imperfect workmanship or imperfect de- ^scription — and the silver spear heads are changed to golden ^disks. The peculiarity of the inscription, in giving the date •of the bearer's decease as the 89th of January, may, perhaps, be accounted for by an attempt to reconcile the *^ old style " 4tnd ^^new style" of chronology, between which there was then a difference of ten days.

As to the crests and helmet used by the American Balches there appears to be no old authority. The helmet used by William F. Balch in the Historical and (Genealogical Register is that belonging to royalty, so it must be wrong. The hel- met should be that of an esquire.

EARLY HOME OF THE FAMILY IN SOMERSETSHIRE.

John Balch, the earliest ancestor in America of the New England branch, the first of his name to come to the New World, was undoubtedly a member of a family once numerous .and well known in Somerset. He is said, in Felt's ** Annals of Salem " and in Hubbard's History of New England, to have •come **from near Bridgwater," which is in the very heart of Somersetshire, and one of its largest and most ancient towns. It is doubtful if he ever resided there, and a recent search of the well preserved parchment records of the church of St. Maiy Magdalen, from the year 1675 to a date later than that of his emigration to MaBsachuaetta, failed to leveal any men- tion of the baptism, marriage or burial of a Balch. The name, Jiowever, appears in Bridgwater at a later date, and may still

xiv EABLT HOME OF THE FAMILT IK 80BIEB8BT8HIBB.

be taraced upon the worn memorial 8tx>nes with whioh the ohorch aisles are flagged.

Benjamin Balch, who left a brief genealogical manuscript of the family more than a century ago, said that, according to family tradition, John Balch came from Horton. At all events, it is extremely probable that he was a member, — and as is shown by his becoming a pioneer in the westward migrar tion of his countrymen beyond the sea, doubtless one of the younger and dowerless cadets— of an old family in one of the most ancient comers of Saxon England.

Somerset, the English home of the Balches, bears upon al- most every square mile of its topography, on every page of its history, and in all its wealth of legends, quaint nomencla- ture and curious customs, traces of the tidal wave of conquest that surged over it in early days, and, retreating, left upon the land their indelible impress.

Briton, Gaul, Roman, Saxon, Dane and Norman in turn possessed and made for themselves a home of the fair south- west of England, and left behind them the tokens of their prowess, language, laws, religion and civilization.

While the Britons, who may be regarded as the aboriginal inhabitants, were in possession, the Belgs, a warlike people of Celtic origin, from Gaul, descended upon the country about 850 years before the Christian era, and overran that portion which is now known as Somerset, Dorset and Devon, together with parts of Cornwall, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Sussex and Middlesex. They gained such a foothold that the portion which they held was formally divided off from that retained by the British by an immense trench and earthwork, 80 miles long, called Wansdyke, portions of which still remain run- ning across the country to the Bristol channel. When they were securely in possession they were joined by a large acces- sion of their countrymen, under Divitiacus, King of Soissons, in France, who came over about B. C. 63.

Then came the Romans, about A. D. 40, who drove out the Cangii, a posthumous tribe of the Beiges, and retained pos-

BABLY HOKE OF THE FAMILY IK S0MEB8ET8HIBB. XT

seasion for 400 years, leaving eveiywhere fortifications, roads^ temples, baths and other substantial evidences of their occn- pation.

About half a century later the Saxons came upon the scene, landing on the shores of Hampshire under the leaders Cerdic and Cynric, in A. D. 495, and spreading slowly through Hampshire, Dorset, and Somerset, for some years, if not gener- ations, stopping at the rivers Parret [ancient Pedred] and Upper Axe, which were an understood boundary between the Saxon English and British races.

Then the Danes invaded the country, keeping it for gener- ations in a state of seige, until they were finally conquered and expelled, and the Saxon heptarchy grew and strengthened, only to fall into the hands of the Norman Conqueror, A. D., 1066.

The neighborhood in which we know that Balches have dwelt for more than 500 years, and very likely for a thousand, is intimately connected with the legendary history of the British hero. King Arthur, and the Saxon hero, Alfred the Great.

Cadbury Castle, the site of an ancient stronghold, is said to be the far famed Camelot or Camalet, which was one of the stations of the famous Round Table of King Arthur, the other principal places where it was set up being Winchester and Hampshire and Caerleon, in Monmouthshire, the latter coun- ty being formerly in Wales.

At Glastonbury Abbey, according to ancient writers, was the tomb of King Arthur, where he was buried after his last and fatal battle.

Of aU the Arthurian legends the most widely known is, perhaps, that of the Holy Grail, which has figured largely in modem literature, art and drama, and with Glastonbury Abbey is connected the legend of the Holy Grail and Holy Thorn. This remarkable story is to the effect that Joseph of Arimathea, the wealthy man who offered his own tomb as a sepulchre for Jesus of Nazareth, with his own hands washed

XVI SABLY HOlOe OF THB VAMILY IN 80MBB8BISHIBR.

and prepared the body for burial. Afterward, at the com- xnand of the angel Gabriel, he left country, home and kindred, to preach the gospel to the heathen of distant lands. Joseph took with him on his mission the Holy Grail, that miraculous chalice, made of a single precious stone, brought from heaven by angels, from which Christ drank at the last supper, and in which the Arimathean caught and saved the last drops of His blood as he came from the cross. In another vessel were the blood and water which he preserved when he washed the body of his lord, and he also carried with him as a staff a piece of thorn tree from the Holy Land.

Combwich, in Somerset, on the river Parret, was the land- ing place in Britain of Joseph of Arimathea, according to this legend, and when he reached Glastonbury he planted his staff in the ground and established there the first Christian church. The thorn took root and flourished, and, in proof of its orig^ blossomed miraculously at Christmas ever after. This legend is thus narrated in some curious old verse.

*' The good saint Arimathean Joseph, borne by the Parret*s tide To Combwich, o*er the Mendipe; at length he came to Glaeton^s Hide;

* Here I'll build a wattle church * He planted a Christian staff. * Twas Christmas now— at Xmas time the staff with blossoms laugh;

A miracle — a miracle— a miracle it turned to be That Christian churches from that time should cover the whole country.

The staff was a thorn brought from the Holy Land--'tis known. The Christian churches throughout England— from its branches they have grown.**

^ Even as late as James II.'s time " says a Bridgwater an- tiquary, ^^the blossoms were esteemed such curiosities by people of all nations that Bristol merchants made a traffic of them and exported them to foreign parts."

The flowering of the miraculous thorn tree is noted in the Gentleman's Magazine, for 1753. People were then under some embarassment as to dates, owing to the change made in the calendar from Old to New style ; ^^ A vast number visited the noted thorn on Christmas day, new style, but there was no bloom. So they watched till January 5, the Christmas

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EABLY HOME OF THE FAMILY IN 80MEBSETSHIRB. xvii

day of old style, wheoi true to tradition, it bloomed once more.*'

Another interesting legend of Glastonbury Abbey is that its first abbot was St. Patrick, A. D. 583, who was succeeded by St. Benignus or Benedict, a pupil of St. Patrick, who was also his successor in the archiepiscopal see of Armagh, Ire- land, A. D. 601. The 27th abbot, according to this legen- dary history, was the famous St. Dunstan, afterwards primate of England, who had a personal encounter with the Evil One and put him to flight by seizing him by the nose with a pair of tongs.

In the Saxon era Somerset was a central part of the im- portant Kingdom of Wessex [West Seaxe] other Kingdoms of the heptarchy being Essex [East Seaxe] Sussex [South Seaxe] and Middle Seaxe. It was in the Isle of iBthelingey [isle of Nobles] now known as Athelney, at the junction of the rivers Tone, from which comes the name of Tonetown — [Taunton] and Parret, in the parish of Lyng, about seven miles from Bridgwater, that tradition says that in 879 the great Aelfred was sheltered from the Danes by the herdsman Denwulf y whose goodwif e has passed into history from having scolded the King for neglecting to watch the cakes by the fire while she fed the pigs. When later, by strategy, Alfred surrounded and totally defeated the Danes at iBtheldune, now Eklington, seizing the Danish banner with its magically wrought raven, it was at Aller church, near Langport, that Guthrum, the vanquished Danish chieftain, allowed himself to be baptized Edelstane, Alfred standing as sponsor.

Cannington, which is mentioned in the English chronolog- ical notes as being, among other places, a locality in which ^ Nicholas Balche, de Horton, generosus '' (that is, well or nobly born), owned property, was the birthplace of the ^ fair Rosamond *' Clifford. Cannington was once the abode of the Cangii, a tribe of the Belgce, and the legions of the Emperor Claudius are s^d to have passed that way at the time of the second Roman invasion.

of

sd

XYIU EABLY HOMS OF THB FAMILY IK SOMERSlfiTSHIBB.

The river Parret, which, the earlier legend tells us, bore Joseph of Arimathea to Combwich, and which a later, if not more veracious tradition says bore John Balch to the ocean, on his way to America, flows completely across Somerset, through a rich and fertile country.

Running in the same general direction as the Parret, a few miles to the westward, are the Quantook hills, which rise at their highest point to about 1200 feet, and enjoy a local rep- utation for picturesque beauty.

The Quantocks are truly picturesque, and where they ter- minate, near the Bristol channel, are located East and West Quantoxhead, names which are to be found in connection with the manor of St. Audries, the seat for many years of a branch of the Balch family, and that from which the south- em branch in this country claims its descent.

A '* History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset*' was published by the Rev. John Collinson, vicar of Long Ashton, in 1791, to which Robert Everard Balch, Esq., and Oeorge Balch, Esq., of St. Audries, were subscribers, and in its pages the estate is thus described :

^^ St. Audries, or West Quantockshead, lies eastward from St. Decumans, close under the steep western head of Quan- took, sheltered from the east and northeast winds, with the sea within a mile to the north and northwest, and a very rich and beautiful country to the south and west.

" This manor was given by the Conqueror to Sir William de Mohun, and is thus recorded in the survey [Doomsday Book] : William himself holds Cantocheve. Elnod held it in the time of King Edward, gelded for three hides and a half. The arable is eight carucates. In demesne are three carucates, and seven servants and ten viUanes, and four cot- tagers, with six ploughs. There are sixteen acres of meadow and fifty acres of wood. Pasture one mile long and one mile broad. It was worth three pounds, now four pounds.

^^ It was held in the time of King John by William de Punchardon, of Dunster Castle. It then passed into the

BABLY HOMB OF THB FAMILY IK SOMEBSETSHIBE. ZIZ

ol Malet, and continued in that family, in a regular descent, until the time of Henry VIII. In the time of Charles I. Arthur Malet sold it to Thomas Malet, who died in 1664, leaying two sons. Sir John and Sir Michael. Sir John's grandson, William, was the last of the family that possessed St. Audries. The manor now [1791] belongs to Robert Everard Balch, Esq., who has an elegant little seat.

** The church is dedicated to St. Ethelred, or Aldred, from whom the parish received one of its appellations, of which that now used is a flagrant corruption."

In 1886 it was the residence of Rey. Elias Webb, and in 1878 of Sir A. Hood.

Some brief explanation of the old Saxon terms used in de- scribing the above estate will form a fitting conclusion to this chapter. As regards the measures of land recorded in Doomsday Book, Sir H. Ellis says : '^ The truth seems to be that a hide, a yardland, a knight's fee, etc., etc., contained no certain number of acres, but varied in different places," but it has been described to be '^ as much as was sufficient to the cultivation of one plough."

^* The carucate, which is also to be interpreted the plough land, was as much arable land as could be managed with one plough and the beasts belonging thereto in a year, pasture and houses for the householder, and cattle belonging to it," and it appears that **the hide was the measure of land in the Confessor's reign, the carucate [Latin, caruca, a team], that to which it was reduced by the Conqueror's new standard."

The hide is generally supposed to have been equal to 120 acres, though Sir R. W. Eyton, in ^^ Doomsday Studies, an Analysis and Digest of the Somerset Survey," says that the Somerset hide was 299 2-3 acres. ^^ Glaston's Hide," referred to in the verses relating the legend of Joseph of Arimathea, is that division of the country called ^^Glaston Twelve Hides," and was therefore anciently a description of the lo- cality by measurement. Money mentioned in Domesday records is generally estimated as at thirty times its present

XX 80ME PBE-AMEBICAN BALCHBS.

value, BO that the revenue of St. Audries, in the Conqueror'* time, £4, was equivalent to at least $600. The term ''hun- dred/' to designate a division of an English county, had this origin, as defined by Blackstone : Ten families of freehold- ers made up a town or tithing, so ten tithings composed a su- perior division called a hundred, as consisting of ten times ten families.

Some Pbb-Amebioak Balches.

The earliest glimpse we have of the Balch family in Somer- set is afforded in a tax roll of that shire made in 1327, the first year of Edward III., the hero of Crecy, the father of the Black Prince, who there began his brilliant military career. It was toward the end of his reign that law pleadings in Eng- lish were first permitted. The tax roll in which the Balches are inscribed is in Latin and is thus headed : '' CoUecta XX ^^ domino Edwardo tercio, post conquestem Regi Anglic concesse facta, per Johannem de Clyvedon et Johannem de Erie, anno domini Regis primo."

The list includes all those in the county, worth 10 shillings or more, and among them are Willelmo Balch, Thrubbewelle, iiii s., Willelmo Balch, Purye, xii d., Roberto Balch, Manerium de Wryngton, iii s., and others.

A gap of 168 years intervenes before we find the next mention of a Balch. In May, 1495, three years after the dis* covery of America by Columbus, Richard Balch died in Farn- ham, Surrey. He made his will in Latin on the 12th of that month, and it was proved in the prerogative court of Canter- bury on the 27th. He directs his body to be buried in the ancient chapel of the blessed virgin Mary, within the parish church of St. Andrew of Farnham, next the bodybf his father. He leaves to Matilda, relict of William Balche, a tenement in which she is Uving for the term of her life, and after her death to Nicholas Balche, son of the said William and Matilda. Other legatees are his wife Isabella, his daughter Florence [wife of Henry] Quynby, and John and Margaret Baloh, children of

SOHB PBS-AHEBICAK BALCHE8. XXI

William Balch before mentioned. In this document the name is spelled both with and without the *' e."

There is nothing to connect the interesting family group thus faintly outlined with any earlier or later Balches in the West of England.

It will be observed that this was in the days when England was still Catholic, the authority of the Roman Pontiff was acknowledged, and ecclesiastical institutions were liberally endowed with lands.

In the declaration of the rental and possessions of the chantries, colleges and free chapels in the county of Somerset, [Land Revenue Records, vol. 97], is the numeration of those in the deanery of Crewkeme, was included, in 1528, the chantry of St. Katherine, within the parish church at Ilminster, founded by John Wadham, " esquire." There was no monas- tic establishment at Ilminster, but the manor belonged to the abbey of Muchelney. The manor of Ilminster [the church on tihe river He] with the whole place, was given by Ina, King of the West Saxons, to the abbey of Muchelney, founded by King Athelstan in 939.

In 1528 its lands and possessions were ^^ leased to farm for divers years and given for the fee or stipend of three chaplains or priests [John Rippe, Thomas Thome and William Webbe] celebrating in the Ilminster parish church.

Among the tenants of these lands were a John and George Balche. The lease from the abbot reads in part as follows :

*^ All those messuages, lands, tenements, meadow pasture and feed, with their appurtenances, in the tithing of Winter- haye, in the parish of Ilminster, called Modies tenement, by John Sherbourne, abbot, formerly of the monasteiy of Muchelney aforesaid, and the convent of the same place, leased to farm to Henry Dawbeny, Kt., lord de Dawbeny, Thomas Speke, Hugh Paulet, Nicholas Wadham, Jr., esquire, John Pool, Thomas Michell, John Batty d, clerk, John Bonvyle, John Balche^ George Balche^ John Chyke, his son, Thomas Hawker, John Barfote, John Radbere, clerk, by

XXii SOIOB PBB-AHERICAN BALCHBS.

deed of the same abbot and convent, giyen in their chapter house, under the seal of the convent aforesaid, the third day of November, 1528."

This John and George may have been, and probably were sons of the William Balche who figures next in our chronol- ogy as being ^^ of Higham," Somerset, who died on the 20th of March, 1683, and as appears by the '^inqmsitio post mortem " taken at Wells in Somerset on the 8th of Novem- ber, 1584, in the 25th year of the reign of Henry VIII. [the year in which popery was abolished in England], was a per- son who had acquired a large amount of landed property in the county. He was regarded as the founder of a family, and his name heads the family tree recorded in the Somerset visi- tation of 1628.

The inquisitio post mortem, or escheat, was instituted to enquire, at the death of any man of fortune, the value of his estate, the tenure by which it was holden, and who was the heir, and of what age, thereby to ascertain the value of the " premier seizin," or the " wardship and livery " accruing to the Eang thereupon. The court of wards and liveries, which was instituted in the reign of Henry VIII., was abolished, with other feudal customs, on the restoration of Charles II. Some idea of the contempt into which the practice had fallen may perhaps be gathered from the fact that the word cheat is derived from escheat.

The inquisition into the affairs of William Balche of Hig- ham— ^which may have been the locality now known as High Ham — and which was conducted with a view, if possible, of putting money into the coffers of the bluff King Hal, by Thomas Horner as escheator, states that William, at the time of his death was ^^ Seized of 200 acres of pasture, 100 acres of Arable and 40 acres of meadow and 80 acres of woodland, with the appurtenances, etc., in East Coker, etc., held of Sir William Gourtenaye, Knight, as of his manor of East Coker, and the said William Balche died so seized ; after whose death ihe said pasture and land and meadow and wood, with the

SOME PRS-AMEBICAK BALCHS8. zxui

apportenanceS) etc., descend to John Balche, as son and heir of the said William. And the said William was seized of one messuage, 20 acres of land, meadow and pasture, with its appurtenances, in Witencomb, in the said county of Somerset, etc., held of Robert Pike, as of his manor of Pykkeseighe, etc., also of the moiety of a messuage, 20 acres pasture, with its appurtenances, in Aldon, and 20 acres in Fydington, next Stokegursey, etc., held of Sir William Tarrant, as of his manor of Fydington, etc., all of which descended to John Balche, as aboYC. The jurors found the said William Balche died 20 March, 24th of Henry VIII., and John Balche is the son and heir of the said William, and is 86 years of age and more."

Two years later, April 1, 1536, this John Balche in turn made his will, though he did not die until 1552. He and his descendants are described as being of ^ Horton," a hamlet, a mile and a half west of Ilminster church. To his daughters, Anne, Alice and Agnes, he bequeathed XIO each upon their majority. It appears from another source — the visitation of Somerset of 1531 — ^that he had an elder daughter, Joan, who had probably received her portion upon her marriage with Robert Hyett, of Street. Agnes wedded Christopher Bour- man [Bowerman or Boreman] of Wells. His son John re- ceived a legacy of XIO. His sons Thomas and Anthony are mentioned, and to George, his son and heir, is bequeathed his bay gelding in Donyett Park. There is also a bequest to St Andrews church at Wells. Hugh Balche, another son, is not mentioned in the will, but the residue of the estate is given to Isabell, the widow, who is made executrix, with John Walys and William Balche overseers.

This William may have been a brother, a son of William of Higham, and he is an interesting personage if he was, as would appear, the William Bawlche of West Chinnock, hus- bandman, who died in 1611, for he must have been at the time of his decease a centenarian.

Sir Nicholas Wadham, of Muryfelde [Merrifield] Knight, left by his will, which was proved in 1542 and directed his

V

Xxiv SOME PBE-AMEBICAN BALCHBS.

burial to be at Ilminster, the sum of £8, 6 shillings and 8 pence, besides their wages, to each of his servants, Roger Fontleroy, John Balche^ William Bevyn and Anthony BoUeyn. That they were esteemed and trusted is shown by the fact that two of them were among the executors of the will, and it is to be remembered, in judging of the value of the properties mentioned in those ancient documents, that the sums named had many times the purchasing power of the money of these latter days.

It is possible that this John Balche was the son of that name mentioned in the will of John Balche, and it may have been this same John who, ten years later, in 1549, the third year of the pious young King Edward VI., was made one of the trustees of the noted Ilminster free grammar school, which, upon the dissolution of the chantries, an act of refor- mation which took place in 1547, was endowed with the lands formerly dedicated to their support. The possessions of the chantries passed to the crown, and those of the four con- nected with Ilminster church were purchased of the King by Giles Kaleway, of Stroud, in Dorset, and William Leonard, a merchant, of Taunton, Somerset, and by them conveyed to Humphrey Walrond, of Sea, in the parish of Ilminster, com- monly called the founder of the school, and Henry Greenfield, for the consideration of £126. They "tendering the virtu- ous education of youth in* literature, and godly learning, whereby the same youth, so brought up might the better know their duty as well to God as the King's majesty, and for divers other honest and godly considerations," assigned over all the premises acquired, including " Mody*s tenement," be- fore referred to, in May, 1549, to John Balche, gentleman, and others to the number of eighteen, for the purpose of choosing a proper school master. Humphrey Walrond was the precep- tor chosen, and a house called the Cross house was appointed for his use.

George Balche, of Ilminster, gentleman, was the next rep- resentative of this well-to-do family at Horton. Bom

t 80HB PRE-AMBRICAN BALGHBS. XXY

f

I about 1524, he died Jane 23, 1569. His will was dated June

21 of that year, and proved August 6th by Nicholas, his eld- est son. In it he directs that he be buried in the southern aisle of the church at Broadway. This village, a few miles from Ilminster, took its name from its situation, being origi- nally a few huts built on each side of a broad path cut through the woods of the forests of Neroche. This forest was named from a very ancient Roman encampment, called Roche castle, on the edge of Blackdown hill.

Bequests are made in Oeorge's will to his wife Margery, his daughter Katherine, to whom he left £60, and his sons Nicholas, George and John. His brother Hugh is mentioned. His widow Margery Bery, daughter of Bery, of Bery Nabor, Devonshire, was his third wife, and the mother of his youngest child, Walter of Tavistock, Devon, who left two children, George and William. His second wife, named Kath- erine, was probably the mother of the Katherine to whom he left £60, while his first wife, Jane, daughter of Nicholas Ash- ford, of Ashford, Devon, was the mother of his eldest son and heir, Nicholas, and of George, John and Maximilian, the •three last named dying without issue [obiit sine prole] as they are marked on the genealogical chart of the visitation of 1623.

George had lands in Horton, East Coker, Martock and Cannington as appears by the inquisitio post mortem taken at Yeovil, October 29, 1569, the 11th year of Queen Eliza- beth, Stephen Brent being the escheator. Nioholasi the heir, was not yet 18 years of age at the time of his father's death*

It was about this period in history that desperate attempts were made by the adherents of the church of Rome to bring England again under the domination of the papacy, and the -country was for a long time threatened with a Spanish inva- sion. Elizabeth came to the throne in November, 1668, and for thirty years from that time, until the great Armada was finally repulsed and scattered in July, 1688, the whole south .of England was in' a constant state of watchfulness and

i

XZYl SOKE PBB-AHBBIOAN BAL0HB8.

preparation. Daring that time the English militia system was first organized and developed.

In September, 1560, two years after Elizabeth's accession, the ^' mowster mayster " [muster master] of the county of Somerset, George Broughton, with a commission consisting of seven Knights and eleven esquires, returned a most quaint- ly spelled and worded ^ certyffyoathe unto the queues ma^ and here honorable coun3ell, of all syche abell men and ar- mures as ys within the countey afforsayde," by which it ap- pears that the total strength of the militia in the county was close on to 7000 men. The account from which this extract is taken ^^The Preparations in Somerset Against the Armada," by Emanuel Green, states that there were twenty-one "captaynes" of the "abell" men of Somerset, and that ^^each captain had 300 men, except William Balche, who had 200 only, the total available being about 6,939."

No place in this genealogy of the Balches, of Horton, can be assigned to this particular Captain William Balch. The company of ^^ byllmen," which he commanded was credited to the hundred of Mark and Bempstone, on the northern edge of the county. William, the farmer of West Chinnock,. on the southern edge of the county some 25 miles away, was then about 60 years of age. Nicholas had a cousin William, the son of his uncle Hugh, but he was then a mere infant, if indeed he was yet bom.

Twenty-three years later, however, Nicholas, then 31 years old, and just about a year married, was among those gentle- men of the county whose means rendered them liable to fur- nish and equip a " light horseman " for the service.

On the 80th of September, 1683, the commissioners for Somerset certified that, according to their orders of the 26th of August, they had reviewed the demi-lances and light horsemen, and found them in readiness, according to their certificate, and such as since the last certificate had died or gone away were replaced. Where men were wanting to

80MB PBK-AMESIOAK BALOHBS. ^ZVU

«

Berve on the hoises, time was given to the first of Noyember to supply them.

Under the head of the hundred of Abdick, in which Hor^ ton is situated, they note that ^* Nicholas Balche, gent, made defalte and hath daje given him to furnish one 1. h. as aforesaid."

In the hundred of Somertom, on the same date, Thomas Balche was one of two light horsemen furnished by James Hodges. It is possible that Thomas was cousin of Nicholas. Three years afterwards, March 14, 1586, in a return of '^ the names of those persons charged to find horses in the west part of Somerset/' Nicholas was again set down to furnish one light horseman.

In the same year two other Balches, also possibly cousins of Nicholas, for he had cousins of their names, were included among '* The names of the CCC Shott and Pyckes, trayned by Sir John Stawell, Knight, at Bridgewater, the viiith of October in the xxvnith year of her ma^^ Raigne, anno Dom. 1686." These were William Balche, corporal of *Sahott,'' in the hundred of Langport, Muchelney and Pitney, and John Balch of the " pyckes " of North Curry.

After all this drilling and training for thirty years, the men of Somerset were not destined to strike a blow. The Spaniards never succeeded in landing, and when, in 1588, the great Armada finally appeared in English waters, it was chased up the channel so far out to sea that it could not be seen from the Dorset coast, and no beacon was fired. StiU, as the enemy was known to have passed, the militia of the counties moved with him toward London. Following the pre-arranged plan, 8000 men from Dorset marched into Hampshire to protect Plymouth, and a similar number from Somerset were sent into Dorset. From Dover to Gravesend every man was astir, but, except as a prisoner, no enemy was allowed to land.

During all these stirring yeazs, Nicholas Balche — desoribed in the inquisition taken after his death as ^^ generosus," that

XZviii SOME PRE-AKERIGAN BALGHES.

is, well bom, of good extraction — wsa apparently leading a quiet and prosperous life. In him the fortunes of the family seem to have culminated. At about the age of 29 he married 8arah, the daughter of Robert May, of Charterhouse Hidon, near Chedder, in Somerset, then deceased, who probably brought him large landed property in addition to that inher- ited from his father and grandfather. A deed in Latin, ex- ecuted by him in 1582, soon after his marriage, under the name Nicholas Balche de Horton, for the benefit of his wife and children, makes mention of houses and lands, in Ilmin- ster. East Coker, Martock, Cannington and Fidington. At his death George Balche of Horton, 23 years of age, also de- scribed as '' generosus " was his eldest son and heir.

It was this George, who, in 1623, being then 89 years of age, subscribed to the genealogy and coat of arms recorded in the ** visitation " of that year. He was then a bachelor, and there is no evidence that he ever married, but reason to suppose that he was single to the day of his death at the age of 74, in 1658.

During his long life Elizabeth had died, James had reigned, Charles met his unhappy fate, Cromwell ruled, and the res- toration of Charles II., in 1660, was near at hand.

George Balche was loyal to the King, and his property was sequestered by the victorious Puritans, *^ for his delinquency that he adhered to the forces raised against the Parliament,'* and on January 11, 1648, he was constrained, much against his will, perhaps, to make a petition in which he, *' Humbly prayeth to be admitted to a favorable composition for his said delinquency." Nearly a year elapsed, and then, December, 23, 1648, some of his friends petitioned in his behalf, but with what success does not appear. It would seem very likely, however, that these efforts were fruitless, and that much of his large estate was alienated, and that, perhaps, little re- mained to be administered upon by his niece, Dorothy Warre, his executrix, when he died ten years later. With him and his brother Nicholas, who died a month earlier, the fortunes of this branch apparently ended.

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BOMS PBB-AMEBICAK BALCHES. XXIX

It was during the lifetime of this George, and in the year in which he subscribed to the Balch genealogy and arms, ap- parently as the recognized head of the family, that John Balch, five years his senior, went to America. John may haye been a grandson of the first George Balch of Horton, and a son of either Thomas, Robert or William, but no evi- dence of such a descent is found, except a family tradition that John Balch was of Horton.

Much interesting data remains, relating to the English Balches of a later date, but not sufficiently connected to form a narrative. It is to be hoped that some one of them of the present day, with the facilities which the examination and publication of ancient documents now afford more abundant- ly than ever before, may undertake the task of compiling a family history which shall show exactly the relationship of all the Balches of Southern England.

For a number of years a branch of the family owned the manor of St. Audries, previously alluded to, and the ^^ Gentle- men^s Magazine'' of March, 1814, contains this notice.

^* Died, at St. Audries, George Balch, Esq., last male de- scendant of an ancient family.

BALCH CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES.

[Ekolibh Fkbiod.]

1^27. Willelmo Balch, " Pnrye,'* Boberto Balch, '* fiffanerium de Wryng- ton,'* Mathaeo Paloh, Porlook, Roberto Borliche, * Tockyngtone, Johanne Balth, Stapletone, Bogero Barlioh, " Wollavingtone, Willelmo Baltche, Ohiltone, and others, who may have been Balches, were taxed, 1st year of Edward III.

X4— Assumed date of birth of Richard BaIoh*B father.

14— Assumed date of birth of William Balche of Higham. [High Ham?]

1405. May. Death of Richard Balch of Famham, Surrey. Will proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. [21 Vox.]

1406? Birth of John Balch, son of William of Higham.

1511? Birth of William Bawlche of West Chinnoek. [Son of William of Higham.]

1524? Probable date of birth of George Balche of Horton.

1528. Mody^s tenement leased to John Balche, George Balche and others.

1588. March 20, Death of William Balche of Higham, leaving large estate as per Inquisitio post mortem taken at Wells, Nov. 8, 1534,

1586. April 1, John Balch of Horton made a will, mentioning son and heir George, sons John, Thomas and Anthony, and daughters Anne, Alice and Agnes. Probably an elder dau. Joan. [24 Powell.]

1580. Nov. 25, Sir Nicholas Wadham, Knt., of Merrifield, Som., made a will, proved Jan. 80, 1542, leaving £8, 6sh., 8d., to '* my servant John Balche.*'

1540. May 18, [3d Edw. VI.] John Balch, gent., and others, trustees of Ilminster grammar school. [Collinson's History of Somerset.] [Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries.]

1552. John Balch died. Buried at Ilminster. Wife Isabel, extx., Wil- liam Balch and John Walys, overseers. [24 Powell.]

1552? Probable date of birth of Nicholas Balche, son of George.

1560. September. William Balche [Hundred of Mark and Bemstone] a captain of forces raised for defence against the Armada. [** The preparations in Somerset against the Armada'* — Emanuel Green.]

1560. June 28. George Balche of Horton dies. To be buried in south aisle of Broadway church. Held lands in Horton, East Coker, Martock and Cannington, as per Inquisitio taken at Yeovil, Oct. 20,1560.

1570? About this time Jane, daughter of Edward Balshe of Kintsbury, Devon, was wife of William Handcock of Combe Martin. [Ped. in Visitation of Devon, 1564.]

(xxx)

BALCH CfiBOKOLOGIOAL NOTES. XXXI

IftTO? AlMmt this time Joan, dftughter of John Balch of Horton, was wife

of Bobert Hyett of Street. [Visitatlona of Somerset, 1681 and

1573.] 161%? About this time Agnes Balohe was wife of Christopher Bourmaa

of Wells. [Visitations, etc., 1£31 and 157S.]

1670? About this time Alice Badbard, of Aller, was wife of Balch.

[idem.] 1581? Probable date of marriage of Nicholas Balche of Horton, age 29. 1682. April 22. Deed of marriage settlement between Nicholas Balche

of Horton, and John and Dorothy, son and widow of Bobert

May, of Charterhouse Hydon [near Chedder] on behalf of his

wife Sarah May. 1583. Sept. SO. Nicholas Balche [Hundred of Abdick] was noted as

failing to furnish a light horseman as required. [** Armada,

etc."] 1588. Sept 30. Thomas Balch [Hund. of Somerton] was one of two light

horsemen furnished by James Hodges, gent. [Idem.] 1584? Probable date of birth of George Balche of Horton. 1586. March 14. Nicholas Balche [Abdycke] "to furnish one light

horseman." ["Armada."] 1680. Oct. 4. William Balche, a corporal in Sir John StawelPs band.

[Hundred of Langport, Muchelney and Pytney.] [Idem.] 1686. Oct. 4. John Balch. [Hund. North Curry.] " Pyckes." [Id.] 1604. April 18. Will of Thomas Balche of Cote in Martock. Wife Avis,

sons, Thomas and Bobert; daughters, Mary, Ann, Frances and

Ayis. Hugh Balche a witness. [61 Dlzey.] 160-? Oct 20? Will of Thomas Balche of North Curry. To be buried

there. Son John. [Adopted children named Miller?] Will

proved July 17, 1600. 1602. April 10. Will of Mary Lottisham of Godmanston, Dorset, widow.

" My sister, Joan Balch." [46 Montague.] 1607. Aug. 26. Nicholas Balche of Horton died. His wife Sarah was

i Hying and held possession of lands in Ilminster, East Coker,

Cannington, Martock and Flddington. Son George, heir, age 23.

[Inquisition taken at Bridgwater, Sept. 17, 1607.] Had son

William as shown by pedigree in Somerset Visitation, 1623, and,

from other data, probably son Nicholas, and daughters Sarah

and Elizabeth.

1611. Dec. 7. Will of William Bawlche, of West Chinnock, husbandman.

1612. May 27. Will proved. It made bequest to wife Ellinor, son Peter

and to Azarius Bawlche and Johane, daughter of Hugh B. 1616. Feb. 17. Nuncupative will of Hughe Balche, of Ilminster, gent.

Wife Elizabeth, son William and five children by former wife. 1615. March 21. WiU of Oliver Lottishan of Fordington in Babcary,

gent " My kinswomen Sarah and Elizabeth Balch." 1623. Thomas Hodges died leaving as heir to property in Shepton

Mallet, his cousin Bebecca Hodges, then 12 years old, who in

XXXll BALOH CHBOKOLOGICAL NOTES.

1680 was wife of '*a certain John Balch.*' [Fine Roll, Utb

Charles I., part 90.] 1028. George Balche, of Horton was a bachelor, 30 years old. [Visi.] Iftt8. Carolus Baloh, gent, of Stockgumber, was cited to appear at the

Visitation of that year, and the note nutde against his name.

*' Sarvant to the E. of Pemb. and will be at Ilchester or London.** 1620. Will of William Balch of Beere in High Ham. Dated Nov. 0,

proved 1680, Aug. 3. To be buried at High Ham. All to son

Samuel. 1648. Jan. 11-13. George Balche, of Horton, gent., i>etitioned that he be

admitted to composition for his delinquency in adhering to the

forces raised against the Parliament. Lands in Huister [?] Coker

and other places sequestrated. 1648. Will of Thomas Balch, Vicar of Dulverton. Proved by widow . Elizabeth, Sept. 11. Daughter, Ellinor; sons, Francis, John.

Thomas and Robert; brothers, Robert and John. [130 Essex

and Taunton Reg.]

i?nr ^

THE NEW ENGLAND FAMILY.

First Generation.

1. John Balch/ heads the family which is now scattered -across the United States and along the Pacific coast While it has been possible to learn with much accuracy his own history since he landed in September, 1628, all efforts to trace him and his ancestry prior to his settling in America have met with but slight success. But it is known that he came from Somerset cotuity, England, and early family trar 4ition says from Horton.

He came with a colony in charge of Captain Robert Gorges, son of Sir Fernando, who had a grant of a large tract of land which he wished to colonize. They landed at Wessegusset, now known as Weymouth, Massachusetts. It is learned from British archives that Capt. Gorges was commissioned Governor of New England.

Concerning this place prior to his landing some interesting facts deserve attention. Palfrey tells us in his history that £arly in the year 1621 Mr. Weston of London sent over two vessels, the Charity and the Swan, with some fifty men, to settle a plantation for him in the Massachusetts Bay. Con- cerning them Bradford of the Plymouth Colony received warning from Cushing and Pierce, in England, that they were base in condition and unfit for an honest man's com- pany. These men located at Wessegusset, and stole vegeta- bles from the gardens of the Plymouth Colony. During

(D

2 FIB8T OENEBATIOK.

their second winter their condition became desperate, and^ under the leadership of their chief man, Saunders, they took food by force from the Indians. The Plymouth Colony re- monstrated in the strongest terms against this robbeiy, and because of it the Indians formed a plot to exterminate not only Weston's company, but the Pilgrims as well. This would have probably succeeded, if the Plymouth Colony had not been warned by a friendly Indian. In the spring of 1628 the settlement was abandoned by Weston's people.

Next came the Oorges company, of which John Balch was- a member, to the deserted settlement, in the fall of 1628. This was the first direct from Oreat Britain to form a nucleus for a permanent settlement in New England. The Plymouth Colony and the Weston company were indeed earlier, but the former came by way of Holland, and the latter dispersed.^

Independence of religions thought and a disposition from the first to break away from the Church of England oharac^ terized the Gorges company. An Episcopal clergyman named Morrell, who came with them, finding no opportunity to ex- ercise his ecclesiastical authority, returned to England. The yessel, that brought them over, shortly afterward sailed with passengers to the Virginia Colony, while Capt. Gorges made an exploration to the north, and soon returned to England. After he left, the settlers were joined by some disaffected and expelled members of the Plymouth Colony, among whom was the Rev. John Lyford and Roger Conant.

About this time English capitalists formed the Dorchester Company, with these settiers as its agents and employees. The object was to carry on a fishery, and in 1624 the colony removed to Cape Ann for this purpose. They had about twO' hundred servants. An attempt had been made the year be- fore to establish a plantation at Cape Ann, with Thomas Grardner as overseer, with small success. Roger Conant, who was described as ^^a religious, sober, and prudent gentieman/' was appointed Governor of the Dorchester Company, and Lyford was the minister of the place.

JOHN BALCH — SALEM, BEVERLY, ICASS. 8

Cattle were receiyed from England in 1626. The fishing business not succeeding, most of the servants were returned to England, and the colonists determined to change their to- cation from fishing to agriculture. The location at Cape Ann was ill adapted to the new occupation, and in September, 1626, they removed with their families, stores and cattle, to the Sagamoreship of Naumkeag, a densely wooded penin* sula, where the Boston & Maine R. R. now crosses onto the bridge over the harbor from Salem to Beverly. These first settlers were :

Roger Conant, John Woodbury, John Balch,

Peter Palfrey, Rev. John Lyford, Thomas Gardner,

William Allen, Thomas Gray, Richard Norman, Sr.

Richard Norman, Jr. Walter Knight, John Tilley,

Capt. William Trask, and others.

Some were married and had children, and there were in all between.^twenty-five and thirty souls. The rock on which this noble band of pioneers stepped ashore at Naumkeag can be seen from the cars as they cross Beverly harbor. It is known as Forefathers' Rock.

Here was a tribe of Indians, much reduced in numbers by pestilence and wars, who gladly received the settlers for the protection they might afford.

In the following year Lyford, who seems to have had a restless disposition, planned to remove the colony to Vir- ginia, but Rev. John White, a Puritan, known as the patri- arch of Dorchester, learning of the contemplated move, wrote a letter from England on behalf of the Dorchester merchants who had organized the company, which deterred most of the settlers from leaving. In it he exhorted Conant not to desert the business, and faithfully promised him that if he, with John Woodbury, John Balch and Peter Palfrey, whom he knew to be honest and prudent men, would stay at Naum- keag, he would provide a patent for them. White was un- able to keep his promise. It was evidently on these four men that the projectors of the colony relied for the energy

4 FIB8T OENSBATIOK.

^nd intelligence requisite for the success of their enteiprifle* The four came to be known as *' the Old Planters." Noqq of them or their descendants are known to have been among the persecutors of the Baptists, the Quakers, or the Witches, but, on the contrary, a descendant of Woodbury.kept a horsa saddled and a lantern lighted to aid any accused of witch- craft to escape, and a grandson of John Balch dared to sign a remonstrance against their persecution.

Carpenters among the settlers at Naumkei^' built a frame house for Conant, and assisted the others in the construction of snug huts, so that they were enabled to pass the winter in comfort. For two years they thus prospered, attended to their cattle, and raised maize and hunted in common with their Indian friends. Their various doings are set forth at length in the papers by Geo. D. Phippen, in the Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, Vol. I.

In the meantime the Dorchester Company in England sold their interest in the colony to the Massachusetts Bay Company. The description of the Bay Colony's grant shows how meagre the geographical knowledge of America was at that time, for its bounds are given as three miles north of the Merrimack, three miles south of the Charles, and running west from the Atlantic to the South seas.

John Endicott was sent over as governor of this new com- pany. On September 6, 1628, he landed at Naumkeag with his Puritanical band, and then it was that Conant's party learned of the change in their governors. Although the original settlers desired accessions to their colonies, they were not pleased with the followers of Endicott, for they quickly perceived in them that stem religious intolerance which was so soon to develop into the cruel persecutions that have stained the pages of New England history.

The winter^s stores were inadequate for the double colony. The sad scenes of the Pilgrims' first winter at Plymouth were repeated at Naumkeag, and many died before spring.

Early in the following summer many more settlers ar-

JOHN BALOH— 8ALEM, BEVERLY, MASS. 5

rived, abundant supplies were received from England, and the colony was firmly established. The differences between the adventurers (as the first settlers were often called) and the Puritanical followers of Endicott were amicably adjusted, and to commemorate the event, the town was incorporated in July 1629, and named Salem, the Hebrew word for peaceful.

John Balch and about eighteen others, being members of the church, were made freemen. May 18, 1681, that is, given the right to vote and hold office. This is the first date on which freemen were made in America. Early in the year 1636 the Massachusetts Bay Company gave to the several towns within its grant the right to give grants of land. The town of Salem, in order to exercise this right, at once ap- pointed five overseers and layers out of land for its precinct, and one of these was John Balch. His name frequently ap- pears in this capacity upon the records. On November 25, 1685, the town granted a thousand acres in what was then known as the Bass River District, to be divided between Roger Conant, John Woodbury, John Balch, Capt. Trask and Peter Palfrey. They divided it to suit themselves. This land was located between the head of Bass river and Wen- ham pond. It afterwards became known as the ** Old Plant- ers' grant/' and was included in the town of Beverly* .incor- porated in 1668.

John Balch, in 1638, built a two story hume house upon his land, in which he spent the remainder of his life. In it his son Benjamin' and Benjamin's grandson 28 Benjamin^ lived and reared their families. From this last Benjamin it passed to his daughter 78 Deborah^ [Balch] Dodge in which family and name the house has continued to the present titne. The Balch house, although subjected to some changes, is still stand* ing in a good state of preservation. ^ Roger Conant and John Woodbury also built houses near by, but Conant's is now entirely obliterated, and only the ceUar hole remains to mark the sight of the one reared by Woodbury.

The first thirteen executive rulers of Salem were chosen

6 FIB8T OEKBBATIOK.

January 26, 1686-7, and in June following the number was twelve selectmen. The name of John Balch appears in both lists. Both his name and that of his wife Margary are in the list of the first members of the first church in Salem. The organization of this church was completed August 6, 1629, and was the first Congregational church completely formed and organized in America. The Plymouth church was the first, but it was formed and organized at Leyden, in Hollandf during the temporary sojourn of the Pilgrims there, on their way to this country. So large a part of it was transferred, that it was considered the church to the new colony in America.

John Balch was twice married, Margary was the giyen name of his first wife. There is no record of her parentage or the date of their marriage, but it is not improbable that theirs may have been the first and perhaps only marriage in the Naumkeag settlement.

To them were bom three sons.

2* BBNJAiaK,a b. Winter of 1626 and 9; d. after Jan. 81, 1714-16. 8* John, 9 b. about 1680; d. June 16, 1663.

4* FiuiXBOBir,t b. about 1681; d. about 166S.

His second wife Agnes or Annis [Patch] gave him no chii- dren.

John I died at his estate on Bass river, in May, 1648. His will was duly made and filed among the Essex County records, where it now is. A printed copy and a f ac simile are appended* The inventory of John Balch's estate rendered by Benjamin Balch, February 2, 1648-9, amounted to 220je s.lS. d.4.

Thk Will of Johk Balch.

The last will & testamt of John Baloh, of Salem, bearing Data the 16th day of May, 1648.

I, John Balch sick in bodie but in pfeot memorrie doe make this my last will] & testamt in manner A forme following my debts paid & funeral expences discharged those goods God hath gyven me it is my will to dispose of them as Followeth. Imprimis I gyve unto Annis Balch my loving wife the Boom nev- lie Built wth twelve Akers of land of wch 4 akers to be la tilt and

JOHN BAIiCH-H9ALElff, BBYEBLY, HABS. 7

A Akers of medowe with some pt of the bame to lay in her froits Jk halfe of the great fruit trees for & daring the life of said Annis.

Itm I gyve Vnto my said wife my best bed wth all Convenient

<nrnitare there vnto belonging & one fourth pt of all my house-

^ hold goods except the rest of my bedding & also 2 Gowes by

name Beddie & Oherie & one yearling heaffer. Further my will is that soe long as my said wife shall live my said sonnes shall 80we or plant 2 Akers of aforesaid 4 akers for my said wife for •the term of 7 years and after that our sonne Beniamin shall doe all him sef e. I Item I gyve & bequeth to beniamin Balch my eldest sonne one

half of my farm to him and his heirs for ever as alsoe two yoke of oxen 1 Gowe one third of my young Cattle & of the mare Colt with one fourth pt of my household goods & halfe of the great fruit trees & after the decease of my said wife my will is that the said Beniamin shall have them all with those he hath planted himself.

Item my will is that all my Come growing upon the ground shall lie equallie Divided into 4 equall pts among my wife & children.

Item I gyve vnto John Balch my second sonne one fourth of my f arme and one yoke of oxen one third of my young Cattle ft mare Colt one fourth of my household goods & half of the young •aple trees undispost of and one cow.

Item I gyve to f free bom Balch my youngest sonne one fourth pt of my ffarme one yoke of oxen & one Cow I bred up for him one third of the young Cattell & one third of the mare & one fourth of my household goods & half the young Aple trees betwixt him & his brother John equallie to be divided & further my last will & testament & my loving friends John Proc- ^r & William Woodberrie shall be overseers of the same in wit- «8s hereof I have herevnto put my hand the day & year above written. Johk Baloh.

Witness :

PnxB Nicholas Patch, Palfhby jBnxKix Massbt.

Agnes the second wife of John BalcLs left a will which was declared illegal. In Nov. 1657, her stepson Benjamin Balch' brought into court a statement signed by several of

8 FIB8T QVSJEBJLTIOV.

Mb neighbors that all her estate was not sufficient to satisfy his demands upon it.

Bill of EzPKzrass roB Last SiOKjnESs and Fohxbal of AaKst

Balch.

Nouember 25, 1667.

a bill of charges in hir sickness and death by ten- £ s. d. dance for two years and better 3s. per weake

and is fifteen pound twellfe shillins 15 12 00

for my time for coming to town to Mr. Emri and

other ocations 1 00 00

at hir bnriell for cf en and caks and drinks 40s. 2 00 00

18 12 oa

The above menchened carg is in the sickness and death of Ane Baloh by me. Bekiamin Balch.

The amount of Agnes' estate as per inventoiy was 9£ lls^ OOd.

4.^

y^/.

.6^

«^ a^ 04.^ ^„>.^ 0^< <

0*.

... U 4^0)-^ rZ>**V^<r -21^*V«*— rr>/^^/ly^

Second Generation.

2. Benjamin, 3 eldest son of 1 John^ and Margaiy Balch was bom in the Sagamoreship of Naumkeag during the severe and trying winter of 1628 and 9 which followed the ftiTiyal of Endicott f^y% • • /Ih fj ^

The evidence which ^^*^«^yU/H-^^^l^ conclnsively fixes his

birth in this winter was collected by David M. Balch and published in the SaUm Gazette on May 10, 1878, and in Balch Leaflets, Nos. 1-8. Twenty-two years after the death of Benjamin's third son John^ the tradition of the family was committed to writing, that Benjamin* was the first bom male ohUd in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Since it was in Sep* tember, 1628, that the Naumkeag settlers learned that they were the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the name of the place was changed to Salem in the following July, the tradition is interpreted as indicating that Benjamin's birth was between these dates. April 10, 1706, he gives his age in a sworn deposition as about 77. This places his birth prior to April, 1629, and fixing it in the winter above mentioned. The word male presented in the tradition seems to hint that a female was bom in the Colony before him.

Claims conflicting with the tradition that Benjamin' was the first bom have been held by the descendents of otherst and it will therefore be important to notice them in passingr

After the place took the name of Salem, Roger Conant, Jr. was bom, and when ten years old was granted 20 acres of land as the '' first bom child in Salem." He died in 1672. left John Massey entitled to describe himself as the old*

W

10 SECOND GENBBATIOK.

est planter living in Salem who was bom there. He was, however, as several depositions show, two years younger than Benjamin Balch* who lived in Beverly.

Benjamin' received at his father's death half of the farm and sundry other goods. From his brother John' he pur- chased his share in the old homestead on Bass River, and in 1658 secured possession of his brother Freeborn's' share in his father's estate. He lived in the old home from its build- ing when he was nine years old, and in it all of his children were bom.

His independence of the rigid puritanical notions of the times appears in several instances. For entertaining and giving a night's lodging to a stranger on foot, he was arrested and fined, and he left the baptism of his children to their own desires.

Previous to Benjamin's last marriage he gave part of his farm to three of his sons, and after his last wife's death he deeded the home lot for a maintainance in his old age to his grandson Benjamin*. He executed other deeds to his sons, and the last of these which has been found was given Janu- ary 81, 1714-16, and shows that he completed his 86th year. He left no will as most of his property was disposed of while living. The date of his death is not known.

Benjamin' was married first about 1650, to Sarah, the eldest daughter of Thomas (Gardner, the overseer of the first Cape Ann Plantation. They had the following children, of which the ten eldest were baptized April 10, 1670.

5»	Samubl,"	b.	May — 1051	; d. Oct 14, 1728. ^
6*	BSITJAMIK,*	b.	1658	; d. Spring of 1698.
7»	JOHK,'	b.	1664;	d. KoY. 19, 1788.
8*	JOSXPH,'	b.	1658;	; d. Sept. 16, 1676.
0*	FBSSBOB27,*	b.	Aug. 0, 1660	; d. June 11, 1729.
10*	Sab AH,'	b.	1661;	; d. prior to 1717.
11*	Abigah^*	b.	1668;	; d. Apr. ;30, 1706.
12*	Ruth/	b.	1666	; d.
18»	Maby,»	b.	1667;	; d. Mch. 12, 1787.
14	JOKATHAH,*	baptApr. 10,1670:	; probably d. y.
16	David,"	b.	July 9, 1671 ;	, d. u. m. Apr. 17, 1690.

JOHN BALCH — ^BEVERLY, MASS. 11

Benjamin's wife Sarah died April 5, 1686, and February 5, 1689, he married Abigail, widow of Matthew Clarke, of Mar- blehead. She died in January, 1690, aged 65 years. His third and last marriage was to Grace Mallet. The ceremony was performed on March 15, 1691-2 by Simeon Bradstreet, Esq. To Benjamin and Grace were bom two daughters.

16* DxBOBAH,' b. June 6, 1608. d. May 6, 1717.

17* Lydia,' b. Aug. 28, 1086.

His wife Grace probably died before 1704, since he signed « deed alone in that year.

3. John,* son of 1 John^ and Margary Balch, was bom at Salem, Mass., about 1680. He was drowned by the upset- ting of a skiff in a storm when crossing the ferry between Sa- lem and Beverly, June 16, 1662. He married Mary, daughter of Roger Conant. They had only one child.

IS Habt,' died young.

John's widow married William Dodge, ^^ ye yonger." The inventory of his estate is given in a quaint old document which is here copied entire.

John Balch, Estatb.

Court at Ipswich, March term, 1662. Administration granted to Mary, reliok, Salem, June. Inventoxy returned ro. Ipswich Si, March 1663 No. SO. Whereas there was administration granted to Mary Balch of the estate of her late husband John Balch, & the court at Salem the 4th, month 1662 did divide the estate between the said Mary Balch & Mary the daughter of the s'd John Balch : now the said daughter being dead, by the consent of parties it is ordered that Benjamin Balch shall after the end of seven years next coming, enjoy all the lands that did belong to the said John Balch, being 60 acres in all more or less, only the said Mary to enjoy all the improved land, upland and meadoWi during the said term of seren years the rest to be in his possesion.

An Inventory of all such goods and lands as John Balch of fialem deceased was possessed of, made the 19th, of the first jnonth 1662, and prized by us subscribed

it ti ti

it

12	0	0
15	0	a
4	10	0

] 2 BEOOim OBKIBB ATION.

£. 8. d. Imprimis his house with 5 akres of Land adjoining 85 0 0* Item, the quarter part of his Fathers f arm*aboat 50

akers 50 0 0

Item, two akers and half of meadow in the old

planters marsh Item, A Mare and Colt Item, A Cow Item, A f ether bed and bolster, a mgg, blanket &

purtenances & bed stead 10 10 0

Item, Another bead and beadstead with the apper-

tenances Item, Some other small bedding Item, The platters and porringers &c Item, A kettell, two skillets a warmingpan and skimmer, ** A small iron pot small kettle and old iron ** 2 ohests a Capboard, and boxes ** A little table and four Chairs, His wearing apparell Two Cushings and some sea garments pillowpies, Sheets, napkins &c. '' A friing pan, a Bellows and smoothing iron •' Two Hats

There is also an eight part of a Ketch but there is still owing for prised

Total 189 ir 0

This is owing unto Lott Gonant £ s. d.

of Marblehead the sum of 26 00 00 ( Roger Conant

more in the debts 4 00 00 ( Samuel Corning^

6	10	0
2	0	(y
5	0	0
a 1	12	0
0	8	0
2	0	0
0	16	0
10	0	0
1	03	0
6	10	0
1 0	08	a
1 .A.	00	0
It 26	00	0

£ 30 00 00 The above Inventory is allowed of in Court at Salem 25ch,- 4th, mo. 1662. Attest.

HiLLTABD VbRXNS.

FBEEBOBN BALCH, — ^BEVBBLY, KASS. 18

4. Freeborn,^ son of 1 John^ and Margary Baloh, was 1x)m in Salem, Mass., about 1681. He was probably named to commemorate the event of his father being made a free- man that year. Family tradition says that he went to Eng- land and died there about 1657. His estate in Salem was purchased in 1658 by his brother Benjamin, from Walter Price, a shopkeeper of that place, who was his executor and administrator. [Essex Reg. Deeds, Vol. 1, p. 82, Jan. 20, 1659.]

It is probable that at the time of his death Freeborn was in debt to, or in Price's employ, and it may be assumed that he was a mariner and was lost at sea. His brother Benjamin purchased his inheritance from Price, and paid for it JC20 and 2i acres in the ''Old Planters Marsh." The deed Bhows that Freeborn's death was uncertain, for it recites, *' alwaise Provided y^ if the above sd. Freebome Balch ap- pears to be alive, then this bargain to be voyd." On May 26, 1660, Price gave his receipt for the money and the land was deeded, and it is to be presumed that then, either because Freeborn had not appeared for two years, or on account of information of his death, that his estate was settled up.

*^ The Old Planters Marsh " referred to was located on the peninsula where they first landed, in the present city of Salem.

Third Generation.

6. Samuel,' eldest son of 2 Benjamin^ and Sarah (Gard-^ ner) Balch, was bom in the old homestead, at the head of Bass river, in Maj, 1651, and died October 14, 1723. He was married, October 27, 1676, to Martha, daugh- ter of John and Martha (Gould) Newmarch, Ipswich, Mass. She died July 7, 1720, aged 67 years. They had seven sons and three daughters, all bom in Beverly.

20* Mabtha,« b. Sept 18, 1676.

21* Samuel/ b. Hay 16, 1678; d. 1754.

22* JosBPH,^ b. Apr. 26, 1680; d. Deo. 9, 1782.

28* Benjamin,^ b. Moh. 29, 1682; d. Jan. 8, 1749^.

24* J0HiT« (twin), b. Moh. 29, 1682, d. 1766.

26* Pbbbb,* b. Apr. 1, 1684; d.

26* Pbteb,« b. May 6, 1686; d. Deo. 27, 1766.

27* CoBNELius/ b. May 1, 1687; d. 1730.

28 Abigail,* b. May 24, 1689; d. Sept 26, 1711.

29 Thomas,* b. Apr. 1, 1692; d. Aug. 16, 1699.

He married again, November 28, 1721, the widow, Martha Bntman. She died in 1745, without issue.

When nineteen years of age he was baptized, at his own desire, and united with the First church of Beverly, of which he afterwards became a deacon. He was chosen town clerk of Beverly, and took the oath of office, June 27, 1698 . This office he held for seven years. He was several times chosen a representative of the town, and was evidently honored and respected by his neighbors as a man of integrity and ability.

By a conveyance recorded April 26, 1692, his father deeded

BSKJAHIN AND JOHN BALGH— BEYBBLY, MASS. 15

to him one-half of a 40 acre lot, which was bounded easterly with Samuers own land, west with country road, north by the Raiments, southerly with Peter Woodbury. It is evident from this and other deeds that he was quite a land owner near Wenham pond.

His will, dated November 80, 1722, making his son John sole executor, was probated at Ipswich, October 28, 1728c [Reg. Essex Prob., Vol. 18, p. 859.]

6. Benjamin,^ son of 2 Benjamin' and Sarah (Gardner^ Baloh, was bom in the old homestead, about 1658, and bap- tized at his own desire, April 10, 1670. He died in Beverly in the spring of 1698.

He was married October 11, 1674, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Woodbury, and granddaughter of the old planter, John, and his wife, Agnes Woodbury. She wa» bom Aug. 15, 1654, and died a short time after her husbands Their children were:

80* Ann,« b. about 1675; d. Aug. 28, 1726.

81* JossPH/ b. Sept. 26, 1677; d. Ang. 14, 1712.

82* Ebknezsb,* b. June 6, 1680.

88* Abiqail,^ b. May 17, 1682.

84 EuzABBTH,* b. July 6, 1688; d. y.

86 BUTH,^ b. Ang. 20, 1691.

He received 25 acres from his father, by a deed dated Feb* ruary 25, 1688-9. This land is bounded north by a birch tree on the way from Beverly to Ephrim Herrick's, south by coxmtry road to Wenham, and east by Jno. Raymond, Jr. The deed also conveyed one acre of meadow in Wenham, [Essex Deeds, Vol. 21, p. 20.]

From the Essex County records it appears that his oldest surviving son Joseph was appointed executor June 27, 1698* These records note that Benjamin^ was a Mariner.

7. Jolm,^ son of 2 Benjamin^ and Sarah (Gardner) Balch, was bom at the old homestead about 1654, and died at Beverly, November 19, 1788. No record ^ ^ ' of his birth has been found, but several depositions among the County Court papers give his

rd i

t^o^ JUL

16 THIRD GENEBATION.

age at various times and thus enables the year of his birth to be determined. One of these is as follows. *^The deposi- tion of John Balch (son to Benjamin Balch), age 16 years or thereabouts that he saw Wm. Barnes, Mr. Thorndik's man coming out of Goodin Lambert's house at j^ window on y* last day of y^ weeke wch was before y^ Generall trayning when they trayned at Beverly. Taken upon oath 28, & 9 mo« 1670." It was the custom in those days at stated times known as training days to gather together all the militia of the Coun- ty at one town or another to be drilled.

He was married to Hannah Veren, December 28, 1674. She was the granddaughter of Philip Veren of New Sarum (SaJis* . iA

bury), a roper by trade, who came over in the James from . ^p Southampton, and arrived in Boston in 1635, bringing his wife Cy^ Dorcas and M&^ons, Philip, Hilliard, Nathaniel and Joshua. vA^^

Philip Veren Jr. was admitted to Salem Church, January "^ 8, 1640-41. He was a wheelwright by trade, and his wife's name was Joanna. Their children were : Bethrab, bapt. Nov. 14, 1641 ; Dorcas, bapt. April 16, 1648; PhiUp, bapt March 28, 1644-5 ; Hannah^ b. 1655 ; Adoniram ; Mary, b. Aug. 10, 1659 ; and Deliverance.

John^ and Hannah Balch lived to celebrate their 64th wed- ding day. The farm on which all their wedded life was spent was a portion of the old Planters' grant. Part of it came from his father by a conveyance recorded April 25, 1692, which recites, ^'Benjamin Balch yeoman of Beverly to son John, etc. half my 40 acres where he now dwelleth, his portion to be next the Country road, and the land to be eaqually divided between my two sons Samuel and John."

Unto John and Hannah, were bom 14 children.

86* Rxbbcca/ b. about 1676.

87* HjurvAB,* b. about 1676.

88 JoHH,^ b. Not. 1677; d. April 27, 1679.

89* JoHH,* b. about 1679; d. about 1728.

40* ISAABL,« b. Sept. 8, 1681; d. 176S.

41* Sabah,« b. Marcb 20, 1682^.

42 JoBHUA,^ b. 1684; d. y.

48 JoAKVA,^ b. 1666; d. y.

ill

•f^ £2 ■'Sir „rt.^'

Map of ancient Beverly, 17th Century.

Drawn by Samiel W. Balch.

JOHJfl BALCH— ^BEVERLY, MASS. 17

^44 Ruth*, b. Oct. 6, 1667; d. y.

46* Joshua*, b. Nov. 6, 1688; d.

48* Calbb*, b. Oct 14, 1689; d. summer of 1775.

47* DAYiiyA, b. Oct. 1, 1601; d. Sept. 26, 1760.

48 JoAKHA*, bapt. Not. 20, 1692; d. y.

' 49 KoosB*, b. July 14, 1698; d. y.

He a was carpenter or '^housewright/' and also a farmer. He was admitted to full communion, in the first parish church of Beverly, June 2, 1680. March 28, 1686-7, his wife Han- nah was also admitted to full communion. On May 19, 1680, He was made a freeman. He held the following offices : March 15, 1682-8, Surveyor of highways ; March 16, 1685-6, Tythingman ; Dec. 9, 1690, Grand Juryman ; 1693, Tything- man; 1694, Sergeant ; 1694, Constable; 1695 to 1699, Select- man ; 1700, Ensign ; 1705, Lieutenant ; 1711, Representative.

Just a month before his death, his long will was drawn up and signed. His son Caleb was named as sole executor. It notes minutely the provisions for the widow; and among other privileges it specifies **al80 y* Liberty of Gathering so many Beans in y* field as she may have occasion of for her own use both for summer and winter'' [It seems Beverly did not neglect her staple even in those early days]. ^^Twenty bushels of Good Indian Corn five bushels of Malt. Two hun- dred Pounds of Beef Out of which Quarter of y^ Beast She Pleaseth to have it. Two Barrell of Cyder, with Apples Suf- ficient for her use, and fifteen pounds of flax from y® Swingle." "To keep for her use both Summer and Winter Two Cows & four sheep" "y* Service of my Indian Woman Called Quando & y^ Privelege of a Horse to Ride upon for her necessary occa-

sions."

The will mentions sons Caleb, Joshua, Israel, David, grand- son Andrew son of John deceased, daughters Sarah Richard- son, Hannah Leach, and grandchildren of his daughter Rebecca Dodge, deceased.

Among other things the inventory mentions, 1 Negro man value £95, and 1 Old Indian Woman £18. He died Nov. 19, 1738, and his wife soon followed March 7, 1788-9. His

18 THIBD GBNEBATION.

estate was proyed Dec. 11, 1788, but his widow was too feeble to attend the court.

8. Joseph,' son of 2 Benjamin^ and Sarah [Gardner] Balch, was born in the old homestead in 1658. He was a soldier in Capt. Lathrop's company and was slain at the famous Indian battle of Bloody Brook, September 18, 16T5, in King Phillip's war. Palfrey's History gives an account of the battle.

Deerfield was abandoned, before the inhabitants had secured their harvest. ^^From Hadley, twenty miles distant, the head- quarters of the troops, a party was dispatched to finish thresh- ing the grain and bring it in. Eighteen wagons, with their teamsters, were convoyed by a company of ninety picked men, led by Capt. Lathrop."

On their return after securing the crop they were surprised at a small stream in the township of Deerfield. Here as they were crossing, a large force of Indians suddenly fell upon them and slew all but seven or eight of the company. The stream was named Bloody Brook from this disaster.

0. Freeborn,' son of 2 Benjamin* and Sarah [Gardner] Balch, was born in the old homestead at Beverly, August 9, 1660, the year following the incorporation of the town. He died in Beverly, June 12, 1729. His death was probably quite sudden, for his long will was drawn up and signed the day that he died. His grave- stone stands on a hill in the

^c^,

cemetery near Wenham

Lake with those of his mother-in-law, Sarah Fairfield, and

his two children, Skipper and Sarah.

Freeborn was a farmer, and lived on a portion of his father's estate in North Beverly, on the East shore of Wenham Lake. His thrifty husbandry reared the finest apple orchard in the county, which he willed, together with his cider mill and cider house, to his son William. He married first, late in the Autumn of 1682, the widow Mirriam Bachelder. She was bom in January, 1657-8, and was the daughter of Robert Moulton, Jr., and his wife Abigail [Goode ?]. She first mar-

PBinSBOBK BALCH, — BEVBBLY, MASS. 19

ried Joseph, son of John Bachelder, October 8, 1677. By him she had two children, Joseph, b. July 18, 1678, and Abigail. Bachelder was a mariner, and died or was lost at sea, prob- ably late in 1681. There is no record of her marriage with Freeborn, but as she signs her name as a witness to a deed dated November 18, 1682, ^^ Mirriam Bachelder '' their mai^ riage must have been subsequent to that time. There is no record of Mirriam's death which probably occurred in 1688.

Mirriam Moulton was a granddaughter of Robert Moulton, who came to this country in 1629, with six ship-builders, of whom he was chief. The first fishing and trading boats built in Salem were built by him and his men. He died in April, 1655, leaving a son Robert and daughter Dorothy. Robert Moulton, Jr., married Abigail Groad, a niece of Emanual Downing, by whom he had eight children, Robert, Abigail, Samuel, Hannah, John, Joseph, Mirriam, and Mary. He died in September, 1665.

Freeborn and Mirriam had three children.

60* MiBBlAM,« b. Aug. 2, 1088; d. 1748.

61* Fbekbobn,* b. Not. 85, 1685; d. Marob, 1770.

S2« BSHJAMIN,* b. April 17, 1688; d. Jan. S8, 1741-2.

The Essex County Court Records give the marriage of Freeborn Batch and Mallis, February 20, 1688-9. She must haye died soon after for no other record is to be found.

Freeborn's third marriage was on April 80, 1690, to Elizar beth Fairfield, daughter of Walter Fairfield, and his wife Sarah [Skipperway] of Wenham. She was bom August 9, 1666, and died January 81, 1786-7.

They had seven children.

58* Sxippxii,^ b. Jnly, 25, 1692; d. Sept 18, 1714, nnm.

54* EuzABBTH,^ b. 1696; d. ICay 1, 1718.

65 Sabah,^ b. 1698; d. Sept. 80, 1714, unm.

56* Abigail,* b. 1700; d.

57* TABiTHA,«b. 17Q2;d.

58* WiixiAM,« b. Sept. 80, 1704; d. Jan., 1791-8.

59* Habt,« b. Jnne 5, 1707; d. Oct 10, 1788.

10. Sarah ,^ daughter of 2 Benjamin* and Sarah [Gardner] Balch, was bom about 1661, and died prior to 1717. She

20 THIBD 6ENSBATIOK.

was married, December 20, 1680, to James Patch, son of James and Hannah Patch. He was bom in Salem, June 21^ 1655, and died at Ipswich in February, 1782-S. In June, 1717, he married again, this time to Mary Thome, who was the daughter of Bernard Thome, and widow of David Thome.

Sarah and James Patch had five children : James, d. unm. in 1714 ; John, b. 1699, d. May 80, 1775 ; Mary ; Bertha, m, Samuel Whipple, June 20, 1726 ; Hannah, m. Nathaniel Potter in Oct., 1710.

11. Abigail,^ daughter of 2 Benjamin^ and Sarah [Gard- ner] Baloh, was bom in 1663, and died April SO, 1706. She was married February 8, 1680-81, to Comelius Larcum. Their children were : Jonathan, b. Mar. 8, 1690-91 ; Comelius^ b. Feb. 15, 1697-8 ; Benjamin, b. Feb. 6, 1699-1700 ; David, b. Oct. 28, 1701.

On March 28, 1707, the year after Abigail's death, Larcum married Margaret Low. He died June 9, 1747, aged 94 years, and Margaret died, Dec. 10, 1756, aged 85 years.

12. Ruth,^ daughter of 2 Benjamin^ and Sarah [Gardner] Balch, was bom at Beverly, Mass., about 1665, and was baptized April 10, 1670. She was married to Joseph Drinker, who was bom at Exeter, England, March 31, 1658. He emigrated to America, in July, 1655, with his father and mother, Philip and Elizabeth Drinker, in the ship Abigail, Robert Hackwell, master. They resided at Beverly, where Joseph and Ruth were married. A deed signed by her Oct. 15, 1781, shows that then she was a widow, and living in Boston.

They had three sons :* Joseph, d. in 1742 ; m. July 9, 1708,

Drinkisb.

•CHILDBEN OF J0SEPH4 AND MARY [JANET] DRINKBB.

HS9BT Dbihxbb, b. about 1700; d. 1746; m. Mary Qottier of Burling- ton, N. J., Nov. 26, 1731. Four sons.

JosBPH Dbinkbb. m. Sarah Grioe, one daughter.

JoHH Dbutkbb, d. Mar. 18, 1787; m. Susanna Allen, had three sons who left no descendants.

ICABY — DEBORAH BALCH — ^BEYBRLY, MASS. 21

Mary Janney, from Cheshire, Eng. ; she d. Mar. 17, 1764, aged 88 years. Edward, b. Dec. 24, 1680 ; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 19, 1782, aged 101 years. John, lost at sea, unm.

13. Mary,^ daughter of 2 Benjamin^ and Sarah [Gardner] Balch, was bom about 1667, and died March 12, 1737. She married Nathaniel Stone, March 26, 1689. He was the son of Nathaniel and Remember [Coming] Stone, and was bom Sept. 15, 1668, and died Febmary 28, 1741. Mary and Nsr thaniel had ten children : Sarah, b. 1690 ; Josiah, b. 1692 ; Nathaniel, b. 1698, d. y. ; Nathaniel, b. 1694 ; Benjamin, b. 1696 ; Ruth, b. 1699 ; Hannah, b. 1702 ; Phebe, b, 1703 ; David, b. 1706; Abig^, b. 1708.

16. Deborah,' daughter of 2 Benjamin' and his third wife, Grace [Mallet] Balch, was bom June 6, 1698, at Bev- erly, Mass., and died at Rochester, Mass., May 5, 1717.

CHILDllBN OF HKNHTt AND MART [QaiTDBR] DBINKBR.

JOHV Dbinksb, b. 1788; d. July 27, 1800; m. Bachel Benier, Feb. 87,

17M. Four children and namerons deeoendants. Brnnr DBuma, b. Feb. SI, 17884: d. June 20, 1800; m. Ellcabeth

Sandwith, Jan. 18, 1761. Fiye onildren. Davibl Dbisksb, b. 1786; d. Not. 25, 1816; m. first Blizabeth Hart,

1700 pn. second Hannah Prior, Apr. 6, 1706. Joseph Dbivkbb, d. Aug. 22, 1800; m. Hannah Hart 1700. Three

children.

GHILDRBN OF HCNRT* AND KUZABieTH {jBANDWITH] DRINKKR.

Sarah S. DRnrKER, b. Oct. 28, 1761; d. Sept. 86, 1807; m. May 15,

1787, to Jacob Downing. Ahv Deukkbr, b. Jan. 11, 1764; d. Feb. 14, 1880; m. Hay 17, 1701, to

John S. Ryrin. WiLZXAJC Dribkbb, b. Jan. 28, 1767; d. a. m.. 1821. Hbhbt 8. Dbikkbb, b. Oct. 28, 1770; d. July 8, 1824; nL Dec. U,

1794« to Hannah Smith. Six children. Mabt Drihkbb, b. Mar. 14, 1774; d. May 2, 1856; m. Aug 8, 1786, to

Samuel Rhoady.

CHILDREir OF HByRT S.T AND HANNAH CSUFTH] DRINKBR.

Wii«LiAM Drinkbb, b. Oct 14, 1706; d. 1886; m. Elizabeth Rodman.

No children. BSTRBB Dbinkbb, b. Not. 6, 1708; d. Aug., 1866; m. Jan. 28, 1841, to

I. P. Pleasants. Suzabbth Dbinkbb, b. Deo. 11, 1801; d. July 11, 1874; m. July 6,

1S20, to Samuel C. Pazton. dALLT Dbinkbb. b. May. 0, 1808; d. Jan 8, 1877; m. Apr. 8, 1828, to

James C. Biadle. Hbnbt Dbinkbb, b. Aug. 11, 1804; d. Feb. 6, 1868; m. June 6, 1846, to

IHrsnres Morton. Sandwith Dbinkbb, b. Xot. 10, 1808; d. Jan. 18, 1867; m. Moh. 17»

1840, to Susanna B. Shober.

22 THIBD OENXBATION.

She was married Febraary 8, ITlO-ll, to William Ray- mond, Jr., a brother of Daniel, who married Abigail Balch, and Paul, who married Tabitha Balch, daughters of Deborah^a brother Freeborn Balch.

It appears that they removed to Rochester, Mass., as Ray- mond was clerk of that town, 1738-1787, and held various other town offices. He was a member of the Congregational Church. Their children were : William Raymond, b. Beverly, Feb. 7, 1711-12 ; Benjamin Raymond, b. Rochester, Dec. 4^ 1714 ; Daniel Raymond, b. Rochester, March 27, 1717.

Wm. Raymond married, 2d, Tabitha Edwards, by whom he had several other children. He lived at ^^ Raymond's Land- ing," which was afterwards set off to Wareham.

17. Lydia,^ daughter of 2 Benjamin^ and Grace [Mallet} Balch, was bom in Beverly, August 28, 1695.

She married Samuel Bowles, and lived at Rochester, Mass. A deed, executed November 18, 1748, in which she joins with her husband, Samuel Bowles, of Rochester, in Plymouth county, is a conveyance to a sheep pasture in Beverly, which is referred to as a common right unto the heirs of Benjamin Balch, senior, deceased (our honored father). This deed is in the possession of Wm. F. Abbot, of Worcester, Massachu- setts.

Fourth Generation.

20. Martha,^ daughter of 5 Samuel^ and Martha [New- march] Balch, was bom in Beverly, Sept. 18, 1676, and mar^ ried about 1698 to Thomas Hovey, of Ipswich [now Topsfield]. Nothing further is known concerning her.

21. SamueV eldest son of 5 Samuel^ and Martha [New. march] Balch, was bom in Beverly, May 16, 1678, and died in the same town in 1754. He married first, September 28, 1702, Eleanor, daughter of William and Martha Cleves. She died Dec. 12, 1708, aged 80 years. Three children were bom in Beverly.

eO Mabtha,^ b. Aug. 14, 1706; d. March 6, 1708-4.

61 Thoicas,* b. Aug. 16, 1705; d. num. abroad in 1728.

62 Samusl,^ b. June 1,1707 ; drowned in Exeter river Oct. 12,1728, unm.

He married second, Sept. 3, 1710, Mary, widow of Jonathan Baker, of Salem. Their children were as follows :

68* Jo8iAH,<^ bapt. Oct. 28, 1711.

64 Ebenxzeb,^ bapt. Jan. 24, 1713-14; d. May 15, 1714.

65* Mabtha,^ bapt. Oct 80, 1715.

66* Nathakiel,* bom Oct 18, 1717.

He was a deacon in the church in Beverly, a mariner, and later in life a fEurmer.

22. Josephy^ son of 5 SamneP and Martha [Newmarch] Balch, was bom in Beverly, April 26, 1680, and drowned December 9, 1782. He married in Boston, October 28, 1712, Mary, daughter of Timothy and Deborah Osgood, of Ando- ver. She was bom February 11, 1690, and died in Boston Oct. 22, 1752. They had six children, all bom in Boston.

67* Joseph,* b. Jan. 18, 1714-16; d. unm. Aug. 20, 1788.

68* Maby,8 b. March 4, 1716-17.

69* DsBOKAH,* b. Sept 8, 1719.

70* SBsmBZBB,* b. May 14, 1728; d. April 28, 1808.

(88)

24 FOURTH GBNBBATION.

71* Timothy,* b. May 28, 1725; d. April 11, 1776. 72* Sabah,* b. April 18, 1728.

Joseph was a sea captaio, and resided in Boston. The fol- lowing account of his death is an extract of a letter printed in the Boitan News Letter^ January 25, 1732-8, from Mr. David Linzey, mate of brigantine ^^ Robert, " and is dated at St. Christophers, December 13, 1732, via Rhode Island :

*^ Sir, this comes to acquaint you of the dismal misfortune that has hapened. Viz., the loss of Captain Balch. He was knocked overboard with the gaft seventeen days after we left Boston, about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, in lat. 17^ 3' N. We reckoned ourselves four leagues to the east'd of the Island of Antigua.*' Antigua is one of the Caribbean islands, be- longing to Great Britain.

23. Be^jamin,^ son of 5 Samuel^ and Martha [New- march] Balch, was bom in Beverly, March 29, 1682, and died January 8, 1749-60. He was married June 27, 1705, to Mary Leech, daughter of John and Mary Leech, and granddaugh- ter of John and Sarah [Conant] Leech of Wenham. They had seven children,'' all born in Beverly.

78 Mabthjl,* b. Dec. 9, 1706; d. y. 74* MsBOT*, b. Feb. 4, 1708-9.

76 Mabtha,b b. Feb. 2, 1712-13; d. Aug. 18, 1714.

77* Martha,* [ *^*°* ^' ^'^ •' ^''^^^^• 78* Dbbobah,* b. Aug. 20, 1720.

79 BEBJAMiir,* b. Sept. 22, 1725; d. Aug. 4, 1786.

Benjamin^was a farmer and a deacon in the church. He lived with his grandfather (2) Benjamin,^ on the old home- stead. This appears from a deed of gift, dated January 4, 1708-4, as follows: ^^ Benjamin Balch, to grandson, Benj. Balch, Jr., who dwell with me for good will," etc., ^^ oonveyes dwelling house, bam, orchard, upland, salt marsh, 6 acres, 7 acres more, 10 acres to mill, 25 acres beyond to geo. Trow's on the south, after my decease." The will of Benjamin [23], dated Sept. 4, 1749, is in the Essex County Probate Records.

24. John,^ son of 6 Samuel' and Martha [Newmaroh]

JOHK, PHEBX, PBTBB, — BEVERLY, FBAHINOHAM, MASS. 25

Baloh, was born in Beverly, March 29, 1682, a twin of Ben- jamin^. He died probably in December, 1756, in Beverly, and his will was probated at Ipswich, January 3, 1757. He was married first, December 24, 1708, to Mary, daughter of John and Rachel Tuck. She was bom in 1682, and died February 20, 1741-2. John and Mary had five daughters. He was a farmer in Beverly.

81 Mab"**'* 1 Twins, bapt May 6, 1711 ; both died May 12, 1711 .

82* Abigail,* b. Oct. 5, 1712.

88 Sabah,* bapt. April 15, 1716; d. y.

84* Debobah,* b. Deo. 19, 1717.

John married second, December 25, 1748, Eunice, the widow of Samuel Kimball, of Bradford. She died in 1770, without issue.

26« Fhebe,^ daughter of 5 Samuel^ and Martha [New- march] Balch, was bom in Beverly, April 1, 1684. She mar- ried Samuel Chapman, and removed to Greenland, N. H. Nothing more is known of her.

26. Peter,^ son of 5 Samuel^ and Martha [Newmarch] Balch, was bom in Beverly, May 6, 1685, and died in Fram- ingham, December 27, 1755, of a cancer of the hand. He married Elizabeth D wight of Medfield, Mass., a daughter of Timothy Dwight. The ceremony was performed by Mr. Joseph Baxter. Peter Balch was a deacon in the church in Medfield, and on removing to Framingham was made a deacon in the church there. In 1744 he was elected selectman of Framingham. He was a cordwainer by trade. His will, re- corded in the Middlesex County Records, shows that he left a slave. Flora, and children. Temple's History of Framing- ham mentions a slave negro child name Phebe sold by Eliza- beth Balch, August 18, 1767. ChUdren of Peter and Eliza- beth:

85 Mabt,« b. 1726; <L 1730.

88* Elizabsth,* b. 17S0; d.

87 Timothy,* b. 1782; d. Feb. 7, 174041.

88* Sarah,* b. 1734; d.

26 iPOUBTH GENEBATIOK.

27. Cornelius,^ son of 5 Samael^ and Martha [New- march] Balch, was bom in Beverly, May 1, 1687, and died after 1780, at which time he was living in Topsfield. He was a cooper by trade. In 1711 he married Mary Shaw. They had two children.

89 Mabt.s b. Feb. 22, 1714-16; bapt Mar 6, 1714-15; d. in childhood. 90* CoBNSLixjs,* bapt. Jan. 1717-18; d. Dec 20, 1749.

Cornelius' widow married Feb. 5, 1758, Dr. Mical DwineU, of Topsfield. Two entries in the Topsfield Church Records conclude their history : " Died, September 19, 1770, Mical Dwinell, an aged man, who died suddenly." *^ Died April 14, 1774, widow Mary Dwinell, who died suddenly, a very aged woman, upwards of 90 years.*'

30. Ann,^ daughter of 6 Benjamin^ and Elizabeth [Woodbury] Balch, was born in Beverly about 1675, and died August 28, 1726. She married first a Mr. Rich and probably had no children, as none are recorded. She married second Nathaniel Wallis, April 20, 1698. He died in 1762 at a very advanced age. His ancestry is appended to the record of 18 Mary.^ Among their children were the following : Margaret, b. Nov. 11, 1699, who married December 26, 1725, David Ellenwood, whose first wife was 96 Joanna,^ daughter of 89 John Balch,^ Jr., and had five children. Nathaniel, b. Nov. 11, 1700. Anna, who married Richard Wittredge. Joaiah, bapt. Aug. 26, 1711. Mary, bapt. June 20, 1714, who married Benj. Rajrment.

31. Joseph,^ son of 6 Benjamin^ and Elizabeth [Wood- bury] Balch, was bom in Beverly, September 26, 1677, and died August 14, 1712. His gravestone still stands in

Beverly's old church

yard. On March

V 21, 1696-7, he was

published to Sarah

Hart of Salem, who was a daughter of Jonathan Hart, and

his wife Lydia [Neal] and grand-daughter of John Neal of

Salem. Joseph was a weaver by occupation. His widow

EBENZZXB, BBBECOA BALOH^BEVIEBLY, MASS. 27

married, December 25, 1716, William Mellowes [now spelled Mellos], a farmer of Scitnate, andmoyed there witii her children. Joseph was appointed administrator of his father's estate, as already noted under 6 Benjamin.^ The children of Joseph and Sarah were the following :

81* BujAMiir,* bapt Oct. 18, 1702; d. 17&8.

92* Blizabsth,* b. Deo. 11, 1704.

98* Lydia,* b. Apr. 7, 1707.

84* Sabah,* b. Dec. 1, 1700.

96* JossPH,' bapt Jnne 22, 1712.

32. Ebenezer,^ second son of 6 Benjamin' and Eliza- beth [Woodbury] Balch, was bom in Beverly, June 6, 1680. He is the first male in the family whose descendants, other than a daughter, if there were any, it has not been possible to find and trace for this genealogy. The following from Essex Land Records, Vol. 28, p. 212, is all that is certainly known concerning him. ^^May 7, 1714, Ebenezer Balch, sayler, with wife Ann, for 250 deeds 6^ acres of land in Beverly to people of 'the precinct, and bounded on one side by land of my uncle Samuel Balch." They probably had a daughter Ann who married in 1781, one James Butler, of Boston.

33. Abigail,^ daughter of 6 Benjamin^ and Elizabeth [Woodbury] Balch, was bom in Beverly, May 17, 1682. She was married in 1705 to Edward Rainsford, a weaver.

36. Rebecca/ daughter of 7 John' and Hannah [Veren] Balch, was bom in Beverly about 1675, and baptized July 25, 1680. She died September 24, 1704. She was married November 28, 1695, to Joseph Dodge, of Beverly, the cere- mony being performed by the Rev. John Hall. Joseph Dodge was a descendant of Richard Dodge, who with his brother William, came over from England prior to 1688. Richard, in his will dated September 14, 1670, mentions his wife Edith, sons Richard, Samuel, John, Edward and Joseph, daughter Mary Herrick, and daughter Sarah. Joseph mar- ried Sarah Eaton, February 21, 1671-2. A son, Joseph,

28 FOURTH GSNB&ATION.

was born to them about 1675. Rebeooa and Joseph had six children living and mentioned in the will of their grand- father 7 John Balch' in 1738.

37. Hannah,^ daughter of 7 John^ and Hannah [Veren] Balch, was bom in Beverly, about 1676, and was baptized, with her sister Rebecca, July 25, 1680. The date of her death is not known, but in April, 1739, she was a widow, and living at Ashford, Ct. She received her share of her father's estate from her brother Caleb, who was executor. Her marriage to Richard Leach, of Wenham, was performed by Rev. Thomas Blower, March 7, 17034. Leach died at Wenham in June, 1719. He descended from Lawrence and Elizabeth Leach, who came to America with their children. One of their sons was Capt. Richard Leach, b. 1618. His son John married Sarah Gonant, in 1643. Their son John, by his wife Mary, had a son Richard, and a daughter Mary» who married 22 Benjamin Balch.

Richard and Hannah [Balch] Leach had the following children, aU born at Wenham : John, b. May 12, 1705, m. Feb. 1, 1727-8, by Rev. Robert Ward, to Lydia Machintyre, of Ipswich, Mass. ; Hannah, b. May 28, 1707 ; Deborah, b. May 21, 1708, m. March 3, 1724-5, to Nehemiah Wood, of Ipswich ; Mary, b. June 17, 1710 ; Richard, b. July 11, 1711, m. Rebecca Bugbee ; Ebenezer and Ruth, twins, b. June 10, 1714 ; Sarah, b. Aug. 17, 1715 ; AbigaU, b. June 4, 1718, m. June 4, 1739, James Agard, of Windham.

Of the above children Richard and Ebenezer, and possibly some of the others, removed to Ashford, Windham county, Connecticut, and Richard removed later to Torrington, Con- necticut. In the history of that town some of his family are mentioned. Among his descendants was the director of the mint, under President Benjamin Harrison.

39. John,^ son of 7 John' and Hannah [Veren] Balch, was born about 1679, in Beverly, and died about 1723. He

was married in October,

/JJ^j^ €/i / P 1*^®®' ^ Elizabeth, daugh- O^^yift. Jf€^lCn^ ter of Richard Ober. She

ISRAEL BALCH — ^BBVKBLT, MA88. 29

died in 1731. John was a mariner, and lived in Beyerlj. John and Elizabeth had two children.

M* JoAKiiA,* b. April ao, 1702; d. May 23, 1726. 97* AwDMBW,» b. Feb. 27, 1706-7; d.

40. Israel,^ son of 7 John^ and Hannah [Yeren] Balch, was born in Beverly, Sept. 8, 1681, and died in 1758. He was married first, about 1707, to Ruth, daughter of Edward and Mary Dodge. She was bom Aug. 15, 1685, and died January 9, 1727. She was the mother of all of Israers chil- dren, nine in number.

98* JoNATHAsr,^ b. April 19, 1709.

99* RuTH,» b. July 3, 1711.

100* John,* b. May 4, 1718 ; d. 1788.

101* RoeBB,* b. June 24, 1716; d. 1744.

102* Kbbxcca,<^ b. April 10, 1717.

108* JoBHUA,B b. Hay 17, 1719; d. March 1, 1804.

104 ISBAXi.,* b. Feb. 4, 1720-21 ; d. y.

106* ysBBH,s b. May 22, 1724; d. 1797.

106* HAmrAH,* b. Jan. 1, ^726-7; d. unm.

Israel married second, Aug. 28, 1727, Ann Coe of Wen- ham. She died in 1770. '' The Sabbath in Puritan New England," by Alice Morse Earle, tells of a Bay Psalm Book published in 1709, which Israel undoubtedly owned. With the characteristic indifference of our New England fore- fathers for tiresome repetition, or possibly with their disdain of novelty, he had inscribed on every blank page of the book:

** Israel Balch, His Book. God give him Grace therein to look. And when the Bell for him doth toal May God have mearcy on his Sole."

What the diction lacked in variety is quite made up, how- ever, in spelling, which was was painstakingly different on each page.

41. Sarah,^ daughter of 7 John^ and Hannah [Veren] Balch, was bom in Beverly, March 20, 1682-3. She was liv- ing in 1739, and received her share of her Other's estate from her brother Caleb Balch, his executor. Richard Richardson

80 FOTTRTH OBNBBATION.

and Sarah Balch were married by Eben Pemberton, March 3, 1711-12, according to the Boston records. These give the following children of Richard and Sarah : John, b. Aug. 29, 1718, d. Sept. 17, 1718 ; Sarah, b. July 16, 1714 ; John, b. Oct. 11, 1716.

46. Joshua,^ son of 7 John^ and Hannah [Veren] Balch, was bom in Beverly, Nov. 5, 1688. November 11, 1725, he married Rebecca Brown of Boston. The ceremony was per- formed by Rev. Thomas Foxcraft, pastor of the First Church, Boston. By her he had two children and possibly more, but beyond the record of the birth of these two nothing has been learned regarding Joshua and his family.

107 Rbbsooa,' b. in Boston, Sept. 10, 1727.

108 Caleb,* b. in Boston, Got. 2, 1729.

46. Oaleb,^ son of 7 John^ and Hannah [Veren] Balch, was bom in Beverly, October 14, 1689, and died in the same

town in the summer of 1775. He ^IPILP ^nJr P always resided upon his father's ia>tPt> CJ^^^^Ky farm in North Beverly, which he ^^"^ inherited.

He was first married Februaiy 21, 178940, to Jerusha Por- ter of Salem, who was the mother of his five children.

109* HAinrAH,^ b. Hay 8, 1741.

110 JxBiTSHA,* b. Jane 19, 1748, d. y.

111 Sarah,* b. Apr. 27, 174S, d. unm. in 1775. 112* CAI.BB,* b. Jane 7, 1747, d. Jan. 10, 1820. 118* Ahit,* b. Dec. 81, 1748.

Galeb,^ married second, October 7, 1758, Mary Felton, of Danvers, who outlived him. She was bom in March, 1721-2.

47. David,^ son of 7 John' and Hannah [Veren] Balch, was bom in Beverly, Oct. 1, 1691, and died in Topsfield, Sep- tember 25, 1769. He was married April 29, 1718, to Hannah, daughter of Thomas and Sarah [Wallis] Perkins. She was bom February 10, 1692^, and died in Topsfield, January 1, 1747-8. They had three sons.

DAVID, FREBBOBN BALGH — ^TOPSFISLD, BOSTON, MASS. 81

114* David,» b. Apr. 25, 1715, d. Apr. 17, 1787. 116* JOHK,* b. Nov. 2, 1716, cL Dec. 31, 1774. lie* JoaHUA,* b. July 17, 1720, d. 17«6.

Dayid had no children by his second wife Ester Dwinell, whom he married November 14, 1752. She was bom May 1, 1720, and died January 18, 1815-16. She was a daughter of Thomas and Mary [Perkins] Dwinell of Topsfield.

60. Mirriam,^ daughter of 9 Freeborn^ and Mirriam [Moulton] Balch, was bom at Beverly, August 2, 1688, and died at Wenham in 1743. She was married first, Febmaiy 22, 1704-5, to Richard, son of Joseph and Elizabelli [Hutton] Fowler, of Wenham. December 17, 1707, the Fowler Genealogy states that Richard received from his father land in Wenham upon his marriage with Mirriam. They lived at Wenham, and Fowler died in that town, Jan- uary 24, 1717-18. They had six children, all bom at Wen- ham : Elizabeth, b. Feb. 19, 1705-6, m. Thomas Perkins, of Ipswich, Feb. 8, 1880-81 ; Abigail, b. Jan. 4, 1706-7, m. Jo- siah White, Aug. 19, 1729 ; Mirriam, b. April 28, 1712, d. y,; Martha, b. June 1, 1714, d. previous to 1748, unm. ; Mirriam, b. April 25, 1715, d. previous to 1743, unm. ; Joseph, b. Aug. 8, 1717, m. Elizabeth Perkins.

Mirriam married second, Ezikiel Day, of Nutfield, by whom she is not known to have had children. Of her children only Joseph and Elizabeth survived her and shared her estate.

61. Freeborn,^ son of 9 Freeborn* and Mirriam [Moul- ton] Balch, was bom in Beverly, November 25, 1685, and died in that town in March, 1770, aged 86 years. He was married first in Boston, June 19, 1712, to Susanna WoUston. The ceremony was solemnized by Rev. Cotton Mather. Su- sanna was living in 1782, but there is no record of her death. The issue of this marriage was seven children, all bom in Boston.

117* Fbxkbobn,* b. Feb. 5, 1712-18; d. 1786.

118* SusANHA,* b. Feb. 11, 1714-15; d. after 1778.

119* Abioaii.,* b. March 9, 1717-18; d. prior to 1773.

120 MiBBiAM,* b. March 18, 1718-19; d. unm. prior to 1778.

32 FOURTH GENERATION.

121 JoHN,^ b. Sept. 8, 17S2; d. y.

122 Sbbnbzsb,* b. Jan. 16, 1728-4; d. y. 128 Elizabeth,^ b. March 2, 1726-6; d. y.

He was manied second, January 28, 178&-7, to Maiy Hub- bard, who died in 1758, without issue. His third wife, Mrs. Sarah Dodge, was married to him November 5, 1758. She died before him, without issue, and at the time of his death only two of his children were living. He was a cordwainer by trade, and lived in Boston some fifteen years. Upon the death of his father, in 1729, he removed to Beverly, and thereafter resided on his portion of the inheritance.

62. Benjamin,^ son of 9 Freeborn' and Mirriam [Moul- ton] Balch, was bom in Beverly, April 17, 1688. He was married in Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 4, 1710-11, to

Mary, daughter of Solo- mon, and his wife, Hep- ziba [Dunn] Prentice.

There are records of but two children.

124* Thomas,^ b. Oct. 17, 1711; d. June S, 1774. 125* Maby,6 b, June 4, 1714; d. April 29, 17S2.

Benjamin was a blacksmith, and lived in Charlestown, Mas- sachusetts. After his father's death he returned with his family to the house built by his father, near Wenham line, and lived in it with his brother Freeborn. The following is taken from the Essex county records: March 3, 1780-31, Benjamin Balch, of Beverly, and Mary, his wife, for £148, sell to John Conant his part of house, barn, cyder mill, &;c., ** according to y* division made with my brother, Freeborn Balch, of the estate of our father, Freeborn, deceased."

A gravestone still standing in the old Cambridge cemetery, opposite the college, is inscribed as follows: ^*Here lyes Buried y* Body of Mrs. Mary Balch, wife to Mr. Benjamin Balch, who Depai*ted this life Jan. 28, Anno Dom., 1741-2, in the 64th year of her age." She was bom January 4, 1678-9.

63. Skipper,^ son of 9 Freeborn^ and Elizabeth [Fair- field] Balch, was bom in Beverly, July 25, 1692, and died in

8KIPPEB, ABIGAIL BALCH — ^BBYEBLY, MASS. 33

1714 as shown by the following, copied from his tombstone near Wenham Lake.

^^ Here lyes buried the body of Mr. Skipper Balch who de- parted this life the IS September, 1714 in y^ 28d year of his age."

Between the graves of Skipper and that of his father is another which reads ; ^* Here lyes buried the body of Mrs. Sarah Balch who departed this life y* 30 September, 1714 in y* 15® y^r of her age."

The monogram *^ 15® " means 15 to 16. The three stones are still well preserved. The title Mr. was applied, accord- ing to the custom then prevailing, to captains and mates of vessels, military captains, eminent merchants, schoolmasters, doctors, magistrates, clergymen, persons who had received a degree at college, and freemen. It appears also that not only the wives but the daughters as well of such men, even when unmarried, were given the title Mrs. Sarah Balch was given this title because her father was a man of quality and not on account of marriage.

54. Elizabeth,^ daughter of 9 Freeborn^ and Elizabeth [Fairfield] Balch, was bom in Beverly about 1696, and died May 1, 1718. She was married April 20, 1716, to John Elliot, bom May 16, 1693 and died April, 1751, by whom she had two sons. Skipper, b. Jan. 1, 1715-16 ; John, b. Mar. 10, 1717-18.

Both sons were living in 1764, Skipper in Newburyport, and John in New Hampshire.

66. Abigail,^ daughter of 9 Freeborn^ and Elizabeth [Fairfield] Balch, was born in Beverly, about 1700. She was published to Daniel* Raymond, Dec. 5, 1713, and was subse-

^WUliam Raymond b. 1689, m. Hannah, dan. of Edward Bishop, b. Apr. 12, 1646. Edward Bishop's second wife, Bridget^was the first suf- ferer in the Salem Witchcraft delusion. His son William, m. Mary, youngest dau. of John and Elizabeth Kettle, and was killed Jan., 1701, bv a falling tree in Beverly woods. Mary died shortly after. Their children were cared for by their uncles Edward Raymond and James Ket- tle. The children of William and Mary [Kettle] Raymond, are as follows: Mary, b. May 16, 1688, d. Jan. 20, 1688-9. William, b. Feb. 11, 1689-90, m. Feb. 8, 1710-11, Deborah (16) Balch.* Daniel, b. Kov. 25, 1691, m. Mar. 11, 1718-14, Abigail (&6) Balch.« Paul, b. Jan. 22, 1694-6, m. Feb. 28, 1716-17, Tabitha (67) Balck*

34 FOUBTH OENERATIOK.

quently married to him March 11, 1718-14. Raymond re- moved to Marblehead, Mass., and lived there from 1715 to about 1780. Thence he moved to Beverly, and shortly after to Concord, Mass. He died in 1745, aged about 59 years, while in the expedition against Canada. His eldest son whose name is not known, also died while on this expedi- tion. The following children of Daniel and Abigail (Balch} Raymond were born at Concord, Massachusetts. Abigail Raymond, b. Mch. 1, 1780-31 ; Paul, b. Apr. 5, 1788 ; Eliza- beth, b. Dec. 25, 1735 ; Mary, b. Mch. 8, 1737-8 ; Freeborn B., b. Feb. 20, 1789-40.

57. Tabitha,^ daughter of 9 Freeborn^ and Elizabeth [Fairfield] Balch, was born in Beverly about 1702. She married Feb. 28, 1716-17, Paul Raymond, a brother of her sister's husband, Daniel. Paul was bom Jan. 22, 1694-5. The baptism of five of their children is recorded in Salem. They sold their property on Main street Jan. 27, 1780-31, and removed to Bedford, Middlesex Co., where he died in 1759. Their three youngest children were bom at Bedford. Eliza- beth, bapt. Apr. 9, 1721. Mary, bapt. Mar. 8, 1722-8. William, bapt. Aug. 1, 1725 ; b. July 80, 1725. Edward, bapt. Dec. 17, 1727 ; d. y. Paul, bapt. May 17, 1730 ; d. y. Paul, born May 12, 1732 ; m. 1775, Abigail Jones. Tabitha, b. Sept. 19, 1743. Lucy, b. Aug. 5, 1737. Nathan, b. Feb. 28, 1739-40.

68. William,^ son of 9 Freebom^ and Elizabeth [Fair- field] Balch, was bom in Beverly, Sept. 30, 1704, and died in Bradford [name changed to Groveland, Feb. 20, 1850] Jan. y, 12,1791-2. He married, March

/) / ^ ^ /7 „ 12, 1727-8, Rebecca Stone,

^ ^^^^^^'^^^^^ Hannah [Woodbuiy] Stone. She was bom March 23, 1709-10, and died July 2, 1749. William and Rebecca had seven children, all bom in Brad- ford.

BEY. WILUAH BALCH— BBADFOBD, MASS. 35

126* Bebbcca,* b. Ang. 9, 1720; d. May 6, 1700.

127* WiixiAM,«b. July 15, 17dO; d. May 6, 1806.

128* Haknah,« b. May 26, 1732; d. July, 1765.

129* 8abah,« b. Dec. 16, 1733; d. Dec. 1758.

ISO* DAinKL,^ b. Mar. 14, 1734 6; d. Not. 30, 1790.

131* NATHANncL,^ b. Jan. 17, 1737-8; d. Oct. 26, 1802.

182* BsNJAMiK,^ b. Apr. 4, 1743; d. Oct 16, 1823.

Rev. William Balch married, second, Abigail Blodgett, no issue. She died April 10th, 1793, aged 88 years, William Balch graduated from Harvard in 1724, then he studied Theology, and was settled over the just organized parish of East Bradford, June 7, 1727, and held the place for nearly 65 years. He is said to have possessed strong powers of mind, was mild and conciliatory in manner, and universally beloved by his flock. He was a man of great learning.

" Rev. Mr. Chipman, of Beverly, his old pastor, with Rev. Mr. Wiggleworth, published a controversial pamphlet direct- ed against Rev. Mr. Balch, whom they accused of Arminian- ism. In reply to Chipman, he says : ^' It is the grief of my Soul to see the Bible so much neglected and other books so much made the standard. I cannot help miserably bewailing the state of the reformed churches who stick where they were left by the Reformation.'*

He was very fond of agriculture. Beside his homestead farm, in part presented him by the parish, he inherited from his father, Freeborn, a good estate in North Beverly, on which there was an apple orchard of six acres ; moreover, his wife Rebecca inherited a considerable estate from her father. The fruit from his orchard was considered the best in Essex county, and his cider bore the best price in the market. They called it ^* Arminian cider." His large landed property should have made him quite independent of the meagre sal- ary paid country ministers in those days, which made life with many of them a struggle for existence.

59. Mary,^ daughter of 9 Freeborn^ and Elizabeth {Fair- field] Balch, was bom in Beverly, June 6, 1707, and died in Amesbury, Mass., Oct. 10, 1788. She was married Dec. 12,.

86 F0I7BTH GEKEBATION.

1727, to Rev. Paine Wingate, of Amesbury, who died in Amesbuiy, Feb. 19, 1786. He was the son of Col. Joshua and Maiy [Lunt] Wingate, of Hampton. They had twelve children : Maiy, b. Dec. 17, 1728, d. March 12, 1800, m. Ephrim Elliot ; Elizabeth, b. Sept. 6, 1730, d. Nov. 6, 1815, m. Bartlett ; Paine, b. Aug. 10, 1732, d. in infancy ; Sarah, b. Nov. 12, 1784, d. October, 1786 ; Sarah, b. April, 1737, d. September, 1825, m. Samuel Bradley, d. in Amesbury ; Paine, b. May 14, 1789, d. March 7, 1838, m. Eunice Picker- ing ; was a S. Court Judge of N. H., U. S. Senator, or Rep- resentative during Washing^n's first term, 1789 to 1793, at the same time her cousin. Col. Tim. Pickering, was Secretary of War and Secretary of State ; for some years he was the oldest graduate of Harvard, graduating in 1759 ; John, b. July 4, 1741, d. in infancy ; John, b. June 25, 1748, d. July 26, 1819 ; WiUiam, b. July 8, 1745, d. Nov. 8, 1821, m. Me- hitable Bradley ; Joshua, b. March 8, 1746, d. Oct. 11, 1844, m. Hannah Carr ; Abigail, b. March 27, 1749, d. Aug. 28,

1807, m. Ingalls ; Joseph, b. July 17, 1751, d. Aug. 2,

1824, m. Judith Carr.

Rev. Paine Wingate graduated from Harvard College in 1728.

Fifth Generation.

63. Josiah,^ son of 21 Samuel^ and Maiy [Baker] Balch, was bom in Beverly, Mass., and was baptized October 28, 1711. He married in 1735, Patience, daughter of Joseph Chamberlain, one of the first settlers of Oxford, Mass., from which place he had moved to Eeekamooching, in the town of Dudley. Patience probably died before 1755, as she is not named in a deed signed in that year by her husband, and recorded in the Essex records, vol. 116, p. 166. In this deed he is designated as Josiah Balch, house-wright, of Douglas, Worcester county. It appears that after leaving Beverly he located in Thompson, Connecticut, and from there moved into Worcester county. In 1744, with his brother-in-law, Ebenezer Chamberlain, he bought 320 acres of land from the state. It was in the wilderness, on one of those bits of land known as gores, which in the crude surveys of early times were sometimes left unsurveyed between the boundary lines of towns which were intended to join. This territory was called the South Oore, but being near Douglas, Josiah became known as Josiah of Douglas. In the partition of the purchase he took the south part, near the Connecticut line, where he probably died. In 1759 he deeded his farm to his son. The South Gore was subsequently taken into the town of Oxford*

Josiah and Patience had but two children, both bom on their farm in the South Gore.

183 Mabt,* b. July 27, 1787.

184* Samuel,* b. June 25, 1789; d. Feb. 11, 1816.

The connecting of Josiah with his descendants now living was one of the difficult problems in the preparation of this genealogy. For a long time it was not possible to trace him

(87)

88 FIFTH OEKIBRATIOK.

beyond his giving of a deed in 1755, and there was no evi- dence of his marriage. Inquiry of the town clerk of Doug- las and the county clerk of Worcester elicited no information concerning him. However, the name Josiah appearing again, 60 years later, in a family living at Athens, Vermont, led to suspicions of family ties, which it seemed impossible to com- plete. These suspicions were strengthened, because the Christian name Josiah occurred in only these two instances in the genealogy. The family in Athens traced its ancestry back to a grandfather Samuel, but knew not the name of his father. Assistance to complete the chain came curiously through chance inquiry of the writer, concerning an old resi- dent of Tonkers, who formerly lived in Oxford, adjoining Douglas, Massachusetts. This led to communication with Mr. George F. Daniels, a resident of Oxford, who was en- gaged on a history of his town. He was able and willing to supply the information needed to complete the broken chain.

66. Martha,^ daughter of 21 Samuel^ and Mary [Baker] Balch, was bom in Beverly, Massachusetts, October 80, 1715. She was married October 3, 1785, to Nathaniel Rajrmond. He was bom April 1, 1712. Their children were all bom at Bev- erly. Hannah Raymond, b. May 1, 1786 ; m. John Porter, Jr., of Danvers, July 22, 1755 ; they removed to Lyman, Me. John Raymond, b. June 5, 1788. Sarah Raymond, b. Oct. 8, 1740; m. Ebenezer Porter, Nov. 20, 1760 ; they lived at Dan- vers. Samuel Raymond, b. July 7, 1748. Martha Raymond, b. Feb. 18, 1744-5 ; d. Sept 26, 1805 ; m. John Low, May 14, 1767 ; they lived at Lyman, Me. Nathaniel Raymond, b. May 8, 1749, a sailor ; m. Phoebe Dodge of Amherst, now Mt. Vernon, N. H. ; they had six children. Nathan Raymond, bapt. May 29, 1757 ; m. Mehitable Green ; they had five children.

66. Nathaniel,'^ son of 21 Samuel^ and Mary [Baker] Baloh, was bom in Beverly, October 18, 1717. He married Joanna Dodge. They were published March 4, 1787-8. About 1744 they removed from Beverly to Haverhill, Mass., and

KATH*L BALOH — HAVERHILL, MASS., WAESFIELD, N. H. 39

aome dozen years later to Wakefield, N. H. They had eleven children. The first three were bom in Beverly, the others in Haverhill. Nathaniel was admitted to full communion in the Haverhill church, June 1, 1746,* by dismission from the Sec- ond church of Beverly. Wakefield, N. H., was incorporated in 1774. The town was settled under the name of Easton, in 1767. Nathaniel Balch was the first deputy in the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire, from Wakefield, being elected in 1775. A deed, on record in Exeter, from John Horn to Nathaniel Balch, dated 1778, shows that he lived on Witch- trot road, between John Horn and Eliphelet Quimby. Nathaniel was a prominent man in the church and town. He moved from Wakefield over the line into Maine, and the Balch mills in Acton took their name from him. Nathaniel and Joanna had the following children :

186 BsKJAMiH," b. March 3, 1738-9; d. March 11, 1739.

186 Ltdia/ b. May 10, 1740.

187 Maby,» b. Feb. 4, 1741-2. 138* Joanna/ b. Dec. 18, 1744. 189 Bettt,« b. Jan. 11, 1746-7.

140 ABieAiL,* b. Sept. 9, 1748.

141 Sabah,« b. July 80, 1749. 142* Anwa,« b. July 22, 1751.

148* Nathaniel, • b. Sept. 18, 1768;* d. April, 1795. 144* Hbpzibah,* b. Jan. 18, 1755; d. 1816. 146 MABTHA,«b. May2, 1756.

67. Joseph,'^ son of 22 Joseph^ and Mary [Osgood] Balch, was bom in Boston, Jan. 18, 1714-6, and died unmar- ried in New London, Ct., Aug. 20, 1788.

68. Mary,^ daughter of 22 Joseph* and Mary [Osgood] Balch, was bom in Boston, March 4, 1716-17. She married

•[At the time of Nathaniel*0 baptism questioii was raised in the HsTerhill Chnioh xegardlne the Orthodox belief of Mr. Balch. It was proven that he did not regard all mSts of the bible equally, that he denied the doctrine of original sin, of eternal dam- nation, and that Christ waa God. His position was snbstant&Uy that of the Unitarians to-day. The church found that his opinion in all the points but two could not prohibit liis partaking of communion with them. Of these two, the identity of Christ with God was debated and twice postponed without action, but upon the question of the "eternal torments of Hell" he was suspended from the churcn. But, it was TOted that his •chUdien might be baptized. This was in 17S3, long before the Liberal Unitarian moTement came to the surface, and shows him to haye been a remarkable man for his tim0.^-See Balch Leaflets, Vol. I. E.P.]

40 FIFTH GEKEBATION.

James Dodge, of Boston, September 16, 1786. Nothing mora is known of ber.

69. Deborah,^ daughter of 22 Joseph* and Mary [Osgo9dJ Balch, was bom in Boston, Sept 16, 1719. She married James Bobbins. Nothing more is known of her.

70. Ebenezer,^ son of 22 Joseph* and Mary [Osgood} Balch, was bom in Boston, Mass., May 14, 1728, and died in Hartford, Conn., April 28, 1808. •) ^. ^

He was married twice, his first JT/fyC^^^ ^ ^BoJ^Ji^ wife was Miss Sarah Belden, '* ^^'

daughter of Gapt. Jonathan Belden, of Wethersfield, Conn. The marriage ceremony was solemnized by the Rev. Jameer Lockwood, at Wethersfield, on June 28, 1750. Sarah died April 3, 1756 in the 29th year of her age. Their three children bom in Hartford, were the following :

146* Sarah/ b. Apr. 1, 1761; d. Mar. 4, 1828.

147* Maby/ b. Nov. 17, 1752; d. Sept 16, 1852.

148* Jonathan Bkldbn,* b. Nov. 14, 1754; d. Feb. 16, 1825.

Ebenezer married for his second wife. Miss Lois Belden, a cousin of his first wife, and daughter of Ezra Belden, of Wethersfield. The ceremony was solemnized by the Rev* Elnathan Whitman, November 29, 1756. She died May 27» 1798. Their seven children were bom in Wetheisfield.

149 Loi8,« b. Feb. 27, 1758; d. Aug. 15, 1760.

160* JoBSPH,* b. Feb. 16, 1760; d. Dec. 5, 1855.

161* Loi8,« b. Dec. 20, 1761; d. 1852.

152* LiTcr,« b. Dec. 21, 1768; d. July 17, 1854.

168* Ebknbzkb,* b. Aag. SO, 1766; d. Dec. 81, 1848.

164* Timothy,* b. Oct 26, 1768; d. Nov. 22, 1844.

166* WiLUAM,* b. May 17, 1778; d. Mar. 81, 1857.

This family was remarkable for their great longevity, for the ayerage ages of Ebenezer and the nine children that grew to maturity was nearly 84 years. Two were between 70 and 76 years ; two between 75 and 80 ; two between 80 and 85 ; two between 90 and 95 ; and two between 95 and 100.

Ebenezer was a goldsmith and clock-maker by occupation. When he came to his majority, he left his home in Boston and went to Hartford, but removed to Wethersfield 12 April,.

SBENZZEB, TIMOTHY, — ^HABTFOBD, CGSJSf.^ NBWPOBT, K. I. 41

1756. A letter written by him to his mother and now in the possession of Rev. Manning B. Balch, of DeSoto, Wis., shows his deep religions sentiment and his loye for his mother. There was no regular mail service between Boston and Hartford in those days, their letters being carried by chance travellers. From this letter it would appear that his mother married a second husband. In the Town Clerk's office in Hartford, Vol. 9, p. 46 is a record of a deed from Ebenezer Balch, to James Cadwell of a tract of land and buildings in the city of Hartford near Great Bridge. The sum paid was 8000 pounds in money of the old Tenor Bill of Credit; it is dated Nov. 19, 1755, 29th y. of the reign of George the 2nd. A fragment of a diary kept by Ebenezer Balch is now in possession of his descendant, John Watson Case, and has been printed in Balch Leaflets, Vol. i.

71. Timothy,* son of 22 Joseph* and Mary [Osgood] Balch, was bom in Boston, May 28, 1725, and died in New- port, R. I., Apr. 11, 1776. He married Nov. 29, 1757, Sarah, daughter of Capt. Joseph Rogers of Newport. She was bom October 18, 1785, and died July 24, 1811. They had six children all bom in Newport :

166 Sabah/ b. Sept 20, 1750; d. Sept. 0, 1766.

167 Habt,< b. Feb. 9, 1762; d. unm. Jan. 6, 1831.

168 Jo8KFH,« b. Sept 16, 1764; d. Sept 16, 1765. 169* JosBPH,* b. Oct 25, 1766; d. July 20, 1845.

160 TncoTHT,* b. July 5, 1769; d. unm. Oct 29, 1822. 161* JOHH ItooiEBS,^ b. Kay 18, 1772; d. Apr. 2, 1848.

72. Sarah,^ daughter of 22 Joseph^ and Mary [Osgood] Balch, was bom in Boston, April 18, 1728. She married Capt. John Malcom.

74. Meroy,^ daughter of 28 Benjamin^ and Mary [Leech] Balch, was bom in Beverly, February 4, 1708-9. She mar- ried John Lovett, Jr., in 1729. They had five children. Ann Lovett, b. July 19, 1781 ; Mary, b. Sept. 8, 1788 ; Thomas, b. Sept 17, 1785 ; Benj. Balch, b. Dec. 18, 1787, was in the French and Indian War ; John, b. Dec. 21, 1789 ; Peter, b. June 26, 1741 ; Simon, b. May 28, 1748.

42 FIFTH OXNEBATION.

76. MboJj^ daughter of 28 Benjamin^ and Mary [Leeoh] Baloh, was bom in Beverly, January 9, 1715-6. She was married at Ipswich, Mass., May 9, 1734, by Symonds Epps, Esq., to Mihill Woodbory, who died in England, in 1755. Their three children were bom in Beverly. Myhil Wood- bury, b. Oct. 8, 1734, d. Aug. 29, 1788 ; Myhil Woodbury, b. Oct. 25, 1739, d. Jan. 14, 1741 ; Mara Woodbury, b. Oct. 5, 1741.

Mara Woodbury married Richard Butman, at Beverly, March 16, 1761, and they had nine children, as follows: Richard Butman, b. Mar. 6, 1762 ; Myhil, b. Jan. 26, 1764 ; Mary, b. Feb. 3, 1766 ; Hannah, b. Apr. 30, 1767, m. Issachar Thissell, Feb. 6, 1785 ; Benjamin, bapt. Nov. 6, 1768, d. y. ; Benjamm, b. Oct. 22, 1769 ; Samuel, b. Sept. S, 1771 ; Thomaa, b. June 13, 1774 ; and Joanna, b. Mar. 16, 1776.

Mihil Woodbury was a lineal descendant of William Wood- bury, a brother of the " Old Planter " John Woodbury. Wil- liam settled in a beautiful location on the north shore of Bev- erly harbor, now Beverly Farms, three miles east of the home of his brother John, at the head of Bass River.

77. Martha,^ daughter of 23 Benjamin^ and * Mary [Leech] Balch was a twin sister of Mary. She was married June 5, 1735, to William Trask. Their children were : Martha Trask, b. 1737 ; William, b. 1740, d. y. ; Deborah, b. 1744 ; WUUam, b. 1747, d. y. ; Osman, b. 1749 ; William, b. 1751 ; Barnabas, b. 1754 ; Mercy, b. 1757.

78. Deborah,^ daughter of 23 Benjamin* and Mary [Leech] Balch was bom in Beverly, Aug. 20, 1720. She was married April 13, 1743 to Jonathan Dodge.* They had five children bom in Beverly. Previous to 1759, they removed from Beverly to Ipswich. Cornelius Dodge, b. Jan. 7, 1744 ; Benjamin, b. Jan. 17, 1745, d. y.; MiaU, b. Mar. 20, 1748 ; Benj. Balch, b. June 8, 1753 ; Abner, bapt. Mar. 30, 1753.

Cornelius Dodge, eldest son of Deborah^ and Jonathan Dodge inherited the John Balch homestead. He had four children, Azor, Jessie, Seth and Bethia. Azor, the eldest son

ABIGAIL, COBNELIXTS BALGH — BEYBBLT, TOPSFIELD, HA8S. 48

of Cornelius, married Elizabeth Foster and had ten children. Azor, Benjamin Balch, Joshua Foster, Joseph, Bethiah, Lydia, Elizabeth, Joanna, Mary and Caroline.

Joshua Foster Dodge inherited the old homestead with about eight acres of land. He married Mary Porter and had two children, Martha and Adie Frances. She has outUved him and two additional husbands. Her daughter Martha died young, and her second daughter, Adie Frances married Charles Herrick, and now owns the old homestead.

82. Abigail,*^ daughter of 24 John^ and Mary [Tuck] Balch, was bom in Beverly, October 5, 1712. She was mar- ried May 11, 1731 to Nathaniel Brown of Salem. Record oxists of the birth of but one child, Mary, who was bapt Sept 24, 1732.

84. Deborah,^ daughter of 24 John^ and Mary [Tuck] Balch, was born in Beverly, December 19, 1717. She was married July 13, 1738, to William Dodge, Jr. They had ten ohildren bom in Beverly. Mary Dodge, b. 1739 ; William, b. 1741 ; Samuel, b. 1743, d. y. ; Huldah, b. 1745 ; Samuel, b. 1748 ; Martha, b. 1750 ; John, b. 1763 ; Thomas, b. 1766 ; Cornelius, b. 1768 ; Sarah, b. 1761.

86. Elizabeth,^ daughter of 26 Peter^ and Elizabeth £Dwight] Balch, was bom in Medfield, Mass., in 1729. She was married in Framingham, Mass., Sept. 22, 1 748, to Daniel Adams.

88. SaraV daughter of 26 Petei*^ and Elizabeth £Dwight] Balch, was bom in Medfield, Mass., in 1734. She was married in Framingham, to John Pike, of that town. Nothing further regarding the families of these two daughters of Peter^ has been found.

90. Oomelius,^ only son of 27 Comelius^ and Mary [Shaw] Balch, was born in Boxford, Mass., and was bapt. in Jan. 17, 1717-18, and died in Topsfield, Mass., Dec. 20, 1749. He was married in Boxford, January 24, 1739-40 to Martha, daughter of Joseph and Martha Robinson, of Topsfield. She

44 FIFTH GENBBATIOIl.

was born July 16, 1720, and died in Topsfield, June 11th, 1815, aged 94 years, 10 months, and 24 days. Their five chil- dren were bom in Topsfield.

162* Mabt,« b. Feb. 16, 1741.

168* Mabtha/ b. Apr. 0, 1743; d. Apr. 6, 1822.

164 JosBPH,* b. April 14, 1745; d. Jan. 26, 1760.

166 Elizabbth,« b. Feb. 22, 1747; d. Sept 7, 1749.

166 GoBNBLnrB,* b. Dec. 28, 1748; d. Sept. 22, 1749.

The gravestones of Cornelius, and his three children still stand in the old graveyard, at Topsfield and are among the old- est legible.

Martha [Robinson] Balch, married again, Apnl 16, 1752^ to John Cree, by whom she had three children. Asa Cree, b. Feb. 10, 1765. Elizabeth, b. July 24, 1767. Cornelius, b. Sept. 9, 1769.

91. Bexyamin,^ son of 81 Joseph^ and Sarah [Hart] Balch was baptized Oct. 18, 1702, grew up in Soituate, where he had removed with his mother upon her second marriage, and prac- tised his father's trade of a weaver. He seems, however, to have subsequently changed his occupation for that of a saUor, as he is mentioned as a ^^ marriner " in 1733, just after his removal to Boston. Drew's History of Scituate, states that he resided in Scituate for severed years *^near the North Meet- ing House, 50 rods south." He died in 1758.

September 8, 1726, he married Nazareth,daughter of Judge John,and Deborah [Loring] Cushing. She was bom Sept 11, 1708. [Judge Cushing was descended from Peter Cushing of Hingham^ Norfolk Co., Eng., whose son Theophilus, b. 1679, settled in Hingham, Mass., in 1663, and Nazareth was a cousin of the Margaret Cushing who married May 80, 1717, Admiral Wm. Fletcher, b. in Sussex, Eng., March, 1668, whose daughter Mary, b. June 20, 1780, married (170) Nathaniel* Balch.]

The children of Benjamin, and Nazareth were at least six in number.

*i

BENJAMIN, JOANNA BALCH — SGITUATE, BEVERLY, MASS. 45

ie7» Deborah,* b. 1727.

ie8« Habt/ b. 1731; d. about 1751.

169* Benjamin,* b. March 4, 1782-3; d.

170* Nathanisi./ b. May 7, 1785; d. Sept. 18, 1808.

171 John,* b. May 16, 1737; d. y. baptised aa Joseph.

172* JogBPH,* b. Feb. 10, 1738-0; d. Sept 1, 1826.

178 Elizabeth,* bapt. July 25, 1742.

The five last children were baptized at the New South Church, BostoD, as children of Benjamin and Nazareth Balch.

92. Elizab6tli,<^ daughter of 81 Joseph^ and Sarah [Hart] Baloh, was bom in Beverly, Dec. 11, 1704. She was married February 25, 1727-8, to Alexander Thorpe.

93. Lydia,^ daughter of 81 Joseph^ and Sarah [Hart] Balch, was born in Beverly, April 7, 1707. She was married January 28, 1728, to Israel Cowen.

94. Sarah,^ daughter of 81 Joseph^ and Sarah [Hart] Balch, was bom in Beverly. She was married December 7, 1782 to David Cole, son of Ambrose Cole of Cohassett. He was bom in 1704. They had five children.

Lydia Cole, b. 1788, WiUiam, b. 1785, David, b. 1787, Elizabeth Cole, b. 1739, Abigail, b. 1748.

96. Joseph,'^ son of 81 Joseph^ and Sarah [Hart] Balch, was bom in Beverly, and baptized June 22, 1712. Whether he ever married and had children has not been learned. In October, 1788, he was a cooper and living in Plymouth, Mass. In the list of persons who settled in Machias, in 1765, as given in the ^^ Historical Sketch of Machias, Maine, Memorial of the Centennial anniversary of that town May 20, 1868," is the name Joseph Balch, does it mean him ?

96. Joanna,^ daughter of 89 John^ and Elizabeth [Ober] Balch, was bom in Beverly, April 80, 1702, and died May 28, 1725. She was married Dec. 23, 1719 to David, son of Ben- jamin and Maiy EUengwood, a mariner. He was born August 17, 1699. The issue was three children. David, b. Oct. 17, 1720, d. Oct. 80, 1720 ; David, b. Sept. 17, 1721 ; Joanna, b. Oct. 29, 1722, d. Jan. 25, 1824.

46 FIFTH GSNEBATION.

EUengwood married second, Margaret Wallis, who waa born Nov. 1, 1699. She was a daughter of Nathaniel and SO Ann* [Balch] Wallis. They were married Dec. 26, 1725, and had five children.

97. Andrew,'^ son of 89 John* and Elizabeth [Ober] Balch, was born in Beverly, Feb. 27, 1706-7. His death oc- curred near Keene, New Hampshire, but its date is not known. He was married first Jan. 1, 1728-9, to Bethiah Lovett, by whom he had at least five children. Bethiah died Sept 15, 1745, aged 87 years. Their children, bom in Beverly, were as follows :

174 Elizabeth/ b. Apr. 6, 17S3, d. May 16, 1736.

175* John/ b. Oct. 12, 1785, d. Apr. 30, 1808.

176 Abdbew,' bap. Dec. 28, 1788, d. 1788.

177* Caleb,« b. Oct 16, 1740.

178 Joanna, « b. Sept. 0, 1744.

Andrew was married to Ruth Woodbury, January 21,. 1745-6. Only one son seems to have been the issue of this second marriage, and the tradition in the family says he was bom at Dedham, Mass.

179* Benjamin,^ born 1747 or 8.

Daniel F. Secomb's History of Amherst, N. H. states that in June, 1785, Andrew was a landholder in that town. He was at Keene, N. H., in 1773, when he signed the Alarm list.

Andrew, with his sons Benjamin and John signed the fol- lowing pledge of the Committee of Safety dated at Keene, N. H., Mar. 14, 1776.

"We the subscribers do hereby solemnly engage, and promise, that we will to the utmost of our powers at the Risque of our Lives and Fortunes, with Arms oppose the Hostile Proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies."

98. Jonafhan,^ son of 40 Israel^ and Ruth [Dodge] Balch, was bom in Beverly, April 17, 1709.

He was married Nov. 18, 1738, to Esther, daughter of William Hall, of Mansfield, Ct She was bom in Mansfield^

•^

JOHK9 BOGEB BALOH — ^BEVERLY, CHABLESTOWN, MASS. 47

Oct 22, 1718. They had one child mentioned in Weaver's History of Ancient Windham, Ct

180» RUTH.«

99. Ruth,*^ daughter of 40 Israel* and Ruth [Dodge] Balch was born in Beverly, July 8, 1711.

She was married first, Sept. 28, 1781 to Ebenezer Meacham, by whom she had four children. James Meacham, bapt. Oct. 20, 1734 ; Ruth, bapt. May 9, 1786, d. y. ; Ruth, bapt. May 21, 1738 ; Anna, bapt. Apr. 24, 1748.

Meacham died in 1748, and Ruth married April 27, 1767, Nathaniel Bragg, of Wenham. There is no record of any children by this marriage.

100. John,^ son of 40 Israel* and Ruth [Dodge] Balch, was bom in Beverly, Mass., May 4, 1718. He died about 1788. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Hall, of Mansfield, Conn., Nov. 9, 1786, a sister of his brother Jona- than's wife. They had one child.

181* John/ b. about 1737.

101. Roger ,^ son of 40 Israel^ and Ruth [Dodge] Balch

was bom in Beverly, June 24, 1715, and died about 1744. He was married in Charlestown, Mass., Feb. 28, 1742, by the Rev. Mr. Hall, to Ann, daughter of Jonathan and Katherine [Waters] Kettell. She was born May 14, 1721 . Roger was a mariner, their only child.

182* JOKATHAK,^ b. Nov. 26, 1743, d. in 1812.

Roger's widow was married Aug. 18, 1748, to Shippie Townsend, of Boston, and removed there with her son. Shippie Townsend was the son of David and Mable Town- send, of Charlestown, bom Nov. 27, 1722. His first wife was Mehitable Whittemore of Charlestown, b. 1717. She died March 10, 1746-7. He died of yellow fever, Aug. 81, 1798.

102. Rebecca,^ daughter of 40 Israel^ and Ruth [Dodge] Balch, was bom in Beverly, April 10, 1717< She was married January 7, 1746-7, to Joseph Hull. Two of their children were baptized in the Second Church of Beverly. Rebecca Hull, bapt. May 1, 1748 ; Mary Hull, bapt- Feb. 4, 1749-60.

48 FIFTH GEKBBATIOK.

103. Joshua,^ son of 40 Israel^ and Ruth [Dodge] Balch, was bom in Beverly, May 17, 1719, and died in North Beverly, March 5, 1804. He was married first, No- vember 28, 1748, to Joanna Williams, who died in Decem- ber, 1767. They had nine children, all bom in Beverly.

188* JoAirirA,' b. Sept 15, 1744; d.

184 Sabah/ b. April 13, 1746; d. unm. after 1804.

185* RUTH,« b. Sept. 16, 1748; d.

186* Joshua,* b. Nov. 28, 1760; d. about 1778 or 9.

187* I8BAXL,« b. April 1, 1763; d. 1827.

188 Maby,* b. May 20, 1756; d.

189 William,* b. May 1, 1767; d. 190* Haknah,* b. Dec. 26, 1760; d.

191* Isaac,* b. Dec. 27, 1766; d. March 6, 1842.

Joshua married second, October, 1769, Patience Pitman of

Marblehead, by whom he had three children. She was born

in 1740, and died in August, 1824.

192 John,* b. March 17, 1771; d. y.

193* Bet8KY,« b. Feb. 10, 1772; d. Oct. 13, 1863.

194 JoHN,« b. Nov. 2, 1777; d. y.

105. Veren,^ son of 40 Israel* and Ruth [Dodge] Balch, was bom in Beverly, May 22, 1724, and died in Connecticut about 1797. He was married September 26, 1750, to Sarah, daughter of Henry Taylor, of Mansfield, Connecticut. They resided in Mansfield, where their children were all born.

195* IsBARL,^ b. Jan. 26, 1751.

196 A son b. July 27, 1752, d. same day.

197* Hewby,« b. July 2, 1753.

198 Sabah,* b. May 4, 1767.

199* Maby,« b. May 26, 1760.

200 Joseph," b. Apr. 8, 1763, d. Aug. 8, 1764.

201* HANNAH,«b. Oct. 8, 1765.

202 Lydia,* b. Oct. 10, 1768.

106. Hannah,^ daughter of 40 Israel* and Ruth [Dodge] Balch, was bom in Beverly, January 1, 1726-7. After her father's death she lived with her aged stepmother. She never married, was living in Beverly in 1805, aged 78 years.

109. Hannah,^ daughter of 46 Caleb* and Jerusha [Por- ter] Balch, was born in Beverly, May 8, 1741. She married John Raymond, of North Beverly, Aug. 28, 1760.

CALEB, DAVID BALCH— WINDHAH, K.H.,T0P8FIBLD, MASS. 49

112. Oaleb*^ son of 46 Caleb* and Jernaha [Porter] Balch, was bom at Beverly, MassachoBetts, June 7, 1747, and died at Windham, N. H., January 19, 1820. He was married in February, 1780, to Miss Mary Saunders, who died at Wind- ham, August 28, 1848, aged 88 years ; ^^ Caleb went to Wind- ham, N. H. about 1784 and bought a farm. He had a respec- table property, but lost much of it by becoming security for his brother-in-law, James Saunders, of Salem, N. H." Caleb and Mary [Saunders] Balch had eight children.

208 Caubb,* b. May, 1T81, in Beverly, d. Sept. 17, 1709, at Windham.

*' He slid down the side of a bam head foremost between the

boards and the hay and was smothered.** 204* PoLLT,« b. Jan. 16, 1783, in Beverly, d. Apr. 5, 1809. 206* WtLUAM,* b. Aug. 81, 1786, at Windham, d. June 24, 1880. 206 JoHN,« b. 1789, at Windham, d. July 19, 1790. 207* JxBUBHA,* b. Jan. 26, 1791, at Windham, d. Oct. 8, 1)874.

208 Samuel P.,« b. 1798 at Windham, d. Feb. 27, 1798.

209 BozAHA,^ b. Apr. 26, 1797, at Windham, d. Dec. 17, 1816.

210 PoBTBB,* d. y. at Windham.

113. Ann,^ daughter of 46 CaleV and Jerusha [Porter] Balch, was bom in Beverly, December 81, 17 48. She married Lot Conant, of Beverly, June 20, 1780.

114. David,^ son of 47 David^ and Hannah [Perkins] Balch, was bom in Topsfield, April 25, 1715, and died April 17, 1787. He married his cousin Hannah, daughter of Samuel and Margaret [Tower] Perkins, November 21, 175^. She was bom June 17, 1720, and died September 14, 1807. David and Hannah had eight children, all born in Topsfield.

21 !• David, • h. Aug. 19, 1753; d. July 22, 1812.

212* Samukl,* b. Feb. 7, 1766; d. June, 1840.

218 I8B ABL, • b. April 3, 1756 ; d. unm. Nov. 28, 1777, at Halifax, N. a

214 Thomas,' b. Jan. 22, 1759; d. Apr. 1, 1759.

215* Thomas,* b. Mar. 29, 1761; d. Mar. 10, 1830.

216 RiCHABD,' b. Dec. 23, 1762; d. unm. Jan. 4, 1770.

217 William,' b. May 26, 1764; d. unm. Feb. 26, 1776.

218 Joshua,' b. June 6, 1769, d. unm. Nov. 11, 1839.

115. John*, son of 47 David* and Hannah [Perkins] Balch, was bom in Topsfield, November 2, 1716, and died De- cember 81y 1774. He was married June 17, 1740, to Rebecca

fiO FIFTH GSNBBATIOK.

Smith, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca [Curtis] Smiths She died March 1, 1794, aged 80 yeara.

John^ was a tanner and currier, and acquired a large estate by that business. He left each of his five sons a good farm in Topsfield. The house which he bmlt in 1774, is now owned and occupied by his great-grandson 974, Benj. J.- Balch.8

219* David/ b. Jan. 4, 174(M1; d. Jaly 81, 1801.

220* John/ b. Mar. 26, 1742; d. July 26, 1798.

221* Samuel,* b. Mar. 20, 1748-4; d. unm. 1820.

222* Robert,* bapt. July 28, 1745; d. Aug. 8, 1830.

228* Hannah,* bapt. Mar. 29, 1747; d.

224* CoBNELias,* b. Nov. 26, 1749; d. May 21, 1795.

226 William,* b. 1752; d. unm. Mar. 22, 1764.

226* Roger,* b. May 26, 1755; d. Jan. 8, 1842.

227* Rebecca,* b. Mar. 27, 175S; d.

116. Joshua,^ son of 47 Dayid^ and Hannah [Perkins} Balch, was born in Topsfield, July 17, 1720, and died in 1766- He was married August 26, 1748, to Sarah Town. They resided in Boxford, Mass., where Joshua died, and their twa children were born.

228* Joshua,* bapt. July 2, 1749; d. about 1777. 229* Archelatts,* bapt. Oct. 14, 1750; d. about 1777.

117. Freeborn,* eldest son of 51 Freeborn* and Susanna [WoUiston] Balch, was bom in Boston, February 6, 1712-13,. and died in Brad- ^^^^^ /) /5| y* ^ ford. Mass., 1786. <^ /y..^e/f(rh^ .Jf^a^ He was married ^ ^ ^ if ^ about 1760 to the widow Piatt, whose maiden name was Mary Perkins. By her fii'st husband she had two children. Sho died August 7, 1808, at the home of her son, Wesley Perkins Balch, in Haverhill, Mass.

Freeborn lived upon his father's estate in North Beverly^ and his seven children were born in that town. He removed to Bradford, Mass., May 12, 1779,* from Haverhill.

*He had been in Bradford with his family in 1771 as i>er warning in Court files, but the date of his beginning a permanent residence there Appears on the Town records as above, (b. p. )

7BEEBOBK, THOMAS BALOH — BBADFORD, DEDHAM, MASS. 51

980 Mabt,« b. July 25, 1761 ; cL

981* Mkhitablk,« b. March S, 1768; d. Jaa 5, 1853.

982* Benjamin,* b. Jan. 10, 17C5; d. 1852.

988* Wb8LstPebkin8,« b. Aug. 14, 1766; d. Apr. 27, 1827.

984* Abigail,* b. Aug, 19, 1768; d. 1842.

985* EuNiCB,* b. Apr. 14, 1771; d. Mar. 21, 1855.

986* John,* b. July 18, 1772; d. 1840.

118. Susanna,^ eldest daughter of 51 Freeborn^ and Su- Banna [Wolliston] Balch, was bom in Boston, Februaiy 11, 1714-15. She married Richard Kimball of Wenham, they were published February 6, 1787. The date of her death is not known, but she was living in 1773.

119. Abigail,'^ second daughter of 51 Freeborn^ and Su- sanna [WoUiston] Balch, was bom in Boston, March 9, 1717- 18, the date of her death is not known, but it was prior to 1778. She was married to Israel Porter, of Wenham, to whom she was published September 27, 1741. Porter dying, she married a second time to Francis Symonds, of Topsfield, they were published February 21, 1748.

124. Thomas,^ son of 52 Benjamin^ and Mary [Prentice] Balch, was bom in Charlestown, Mass., Oct. 17, 1711, and died at South Dedham, January 8, 1774. He married Maiy Sumner, daughter of Edward and Eliza [Clapp] Sum- ner of Roxbury, Mass., October 11, 1737. She was bom October 9, 1717, and died March 81, 1798. She was aunt to Gov. Increase Sumner, of Roxbury.

287* Thomas,* b. August 31, 1738; d. unm. Sept. 29, 1756.

238* Mary,* b. Nov. 16, 1740; d. Nov. 8, 1815.

289* Benjamin,* b. Feb. 12, 1748; d. May 4, 1816.

840* Elizabeth,* b. Sept. 2, 1746; d. Sept. 15, 1820.

241* Lucy,* b. Jan. 10, 1748; d. Mar. 17, 1776.

242* IBKNE,* b. Feb. 6, 1758; d. July, 1815.

243* Hannah,* b. Dec. 10, 1755; d. Apr. 17, 1889.

244* Thomas,* b. Fob. 21, 1761; d. 1780.

Thomas^ graduated from Harvard College in 1733, then

studied theology, and was ordained at South Dedham, June

80, 1736, one week after the church was organized. In 1744

he was appointed by the Committee of War to accompany the

expedition against Cape Breton as Chaplain. The following

52 FIFTH GBNlfiBATIOK.

account by him, of the expedition, is taken from the records of the South Parish of Dedham.

** Having an Inclination and being desired by the Com- mittee of War to attend the Army as one of the Chaplains in the Expedition against Cape Breton, I accordingly obtained consent of my People on March 11, 1744-5 and on the 13, took my leave of my family and People. Arrived in Safety & Health at Canso on the 2d of April. Sailed from Canso to Cape Breton on April 29, entered the Chappeaurouge Bay the next morning, and soon after went on Shoar. The seige of Louesborg continued until June 17. On which Day we entered and took possession of that Strong & important place, upon Terms of Capitulation. Sailed from Louisborg for New England, July 11, arrived in Safety at Boston on the 27 of 8d month, 1745, Laus Deo."

Rev. Thomas Balch was a man of great learning, and was classed among the principal literati of New England.

Mrs. Mary [Sumner] Balch died in the family of her son- in-law. Rev. Jabez Chickering, in South Dedham.

126. Mary^^ daughter of 52 Benjamin^ and Mary [Pren- tice] Balch, was born in Charlestown, Mass., June 4, 1714, and died in New Ipswich, N. H., in the family of her son Aaron, April 29, 1782. She was married in Cambridge, Mass., April 19, 1788, to Isaac Brown, he was born in 1711, and died October. 6, 1759. He was a very active business man. He settled in Waltham Plain as a merchant and inn keeper. Their children were :

MABY, b. Mar. 17, 1788-0, d. Nov. 18, 1740.

Isaac, b. Apr. 14, 1740, d. Nov. 16, 1740.

Habt, b. Aug. 22, 1741, d. Oct. 7, 1742.

Elizabeth, b. Mar. 8, 1742-8, d. y.

Eunice, b. Oct 10, 1744, d. Sept. 0, 1818. She was married Nov. 29, 1764, to Key. Stephen Earrur, who was bom Sept. 8, 1788, and graduated from Harvard in 1766. He was ordained at New Ipswich, N. H., in 1760, and died June 28, 1808. They had the following 13 children: Eunice^ b. 1765; Stephen, b. 1766; Eunice, b. 1768; JameB^ b. 1769; Uaac Browny b. 1771; Samuel, b. 1772; Prentice,

UJLBY [BALOH] BBOWK — WALTHAH, BXVEBLY, MASS. 53

. b. 1T78; Polly, b. 1775; Mo$e$, b. ITH; Lyditi, b. 17?8;

\ Caltb, b. 1780; Nancy, b. 1782; and JBBphraim HartweU,

^ b. 1788. Their grandchildren numbered seventy-nine.

Isaac, b. June 24, 1746, d. 1752.

MosxB, b. April 6, 1748, d. June 15, 1820. He was fitted for Col- lege by his uncle, Rev. Thomas Balch, of Dedham. He graduated at Harvard in 1768. After teaching school in Framingham, Lexington and Lincoln, he settled in Bev- erly as a merchant, in the autumn of 1772. He was very sealous in the cause of American Liberty, raised a * Company, in July, 1776, under a Commission from Jos.

Warner, Pres. of Prov. Cong., and in Jan., 1776, joined the American Army as Capt. in Olover's Regt. 14th Continentals with a commission signed by John Han- cock, Pres. of Congress. He was in the Battle of Tren* ., ton. On the expiration of his term of enlistment in

\ 1777, he returned to Beverly, and resumed business with

Israel Thomdike. He retired in 1800 with an ample fortune. His constitdtion was vigorous and his life active and usefuL He was a member of the State Leg- islature, and a Presidential Elector in 1808. He was* dignified, and courteous in nuuiner, he united integri- ty and benevolence; was exemplary in all social and domestic relations; and a generous contributor to pub- lic and private charities and associations. Quincy'a History of Harvard College, notices Mr. Brown among beneficiaries of that institution. He is also referred to in Stone's History of Beverly. He married first, Oct 16, 1774, Elizabeth Trask, daughter of Osmeyer Trask, of Beverly, she died leaving no children July 7, 1788. On May 8, 1789, he married second, Mary Bridge, who out- lived him. She died Feb. 21, 1842. Their children were, CharU%, b. May 14, 1703; Qwrgt, b. Nov. 27, 1704, d. July 25, 1706; George, b. Nov. 24, 1709, d. Aug. 1848. Mabt, b. Dec. 29, 1749, d. Nov. 80, 1824. Mary Brown waa married June 1, 1760, to Ephraim Hartwell, Jr. They settled in New Ipswich, N. H. Hartwell was a mer- chant, and magistrate. One child, Mary, was bom to them Aug. 24, 1770, she married March 6, 1791, Col> Caleb Bellows, of Walpole, N. H. SABAH,b. Oct 6, 1751, d.

Aabov, b. Sept. 16, 1752, d. Nov. 14, 1811. He was a merchant in Boston, afterwards of New Ipswich, N. H. He mar- ried 1st, Elizabeth Stowell, who was the mother of all his children, she d. Aug. 4, 1797. He married 2d, Thesta Dana, daughter of Hon. Sam'l Dana, of Brighton. Aaron had nine children as follows : Aaron, b* Jan. 15,

u

64 KFTH OBNBBATIOV.

1774, d. June 18, 1848; Ifarf , b. Not. S7, 1777, d. Not. 8, 1880; Bet9eif, b. Deo. 1779, d. Jan. 28, 1822; Iiaae, b. Sept 1782, d. Sept 27, 1827; Samuel, b. Ang. 20, 1788, d. Sept 18, 1812; Sarah, b. July 8, 1788, d. Ang. 21, 1700; Lueff, b. April 9, 1792 ; Sarah, b. 1794, and a eon unnamed.

126. Bebecca,^ daughter of 58 Rey. William^ and Be- becca [Stone] Balch was bom in Bradford, Mass. (now Groveland), August 9, 1729, and died in East Bradford, Maj 6, 1790. She was married Nov. 1, 1750, to Bradstreet, son of Abraham and Elizabeth Parker, who was bom July 28, 1729f and died April 8, 1809. Their names stand side by side in the baptismal record for 1729. They passed their lives in E. Bradford on the farm still owned by their descendants. They had twelve children all born in East Bradford. Benjamin Parker, b. April 8, 1751, d. June 16, 1758 ; Rebecca, b. Dec. 8, 1752, d. Mar. 17, 1830 ; Phineas, b. Sept. 6, 1754, d. Mar. 80, 1811 ; Moses, b. April 20, 1756, d. July 8, 1887 ; Hannah, b. Nov. 9, 1757, d. Sept. 18, 1783 ; Benjamin, b. Nov. 11, 1759, d. May 12, 1845 ; AbigaU, b. July 19, 1763, d. Dec. 19, 1824 ; Nathan, b. July 8, 1765, d. Aug. 22, 1765 ; Mary, b. Dec. 8, 1767, d. Jan. 5, 1889; Bradstreet, b. July 26, 1770, d. Sept. 6, 1798 ; William Balch, b. Apr. 27, 1772, d. May 1, 1844 ; Betsey, b. Apr. 20, 1775, d. Mar., 1861.

127. William,^ son of 58 Rev. William^ and Rebecca [Stone] Balch, was born in East Bradford, July 15, 1780, and died May 6, 1806. He married Rebecca Bailey, daughter of Jonathan Bailey, Nov. 15, 1759. She was born July 28, 1736, and died April 23, 1827. William was a deacon in the church at East Bradford, and Selectman in 1779. He was a farmer, and passed his life on the homestead farm in E. Brad- ford, where he died. They had eleven children all bom in E. Bradford.

246 Rbbxoca,* b. June 80, 1769, d. Sept. 5, 1768.

24e William,* b. Oct. 6, 1761, d. Sept. 17, 1762.

247* Rebecca,* b. July 6, 1768.

248* Sabah,* b. Aug. 26, 1766, d. Oct. 2, 1888.

240* William,* b. July 9, 1767, d. unm. July 9, 1861

260* JoKATHAH,* b. June 16, 1769, d. April 4, 188S.

DANIKL, KATHANIEL BAI<0H«-*KEWBUBYPOBT, MASB. 55

«61 Pebci8,« b. Hay 24, mi, d. Jane 14, 1771.

252 Clabis8a,« b. Sept. 8, 1772, d. unm. Dec. 14, 1827,

268* Bkkjamiv,« b. Nov. 9, 1774, d. Bammer of 1880.

264* Mabt,« b. Dec. 8, 1776, d. July 9, 1847.

266 Tabitha,« b. Sept. 80, 1779, d. unm. Mar. 21, 1888.

128. Hannah,* daughter of 68 Rev. Wmiam* and Re- becca [Stone] Balch, was bom in Bradford, May 26, 17S2, and died July 17, 1756. She was married April 7, 1752, to Bzekiel Hale of West Newbury and was Hale's third wife. They had one child, Sarah Hale, who married Moses Pills- bury, by whom she had two children, Hannah and Oliver,

129. Sarah,* daughter of 68 Rev. William* and Rebecca [Stone] Balch, was born in Bradford, December 16, 1788, And died in Dec, 1753, in her 20th year. She married De- cember 26, 1751, Orlando Sargent of Amesbury. They had one child, Abigail Sargent, who married James Bailey.

130. Daniel,* son of 58 Rev. William* and Rebecca {Stone] Balch, was bom in Bradford, March 14, 1784-5, and died in Newburyport, Mass., ^^

Nov. 80 1780 H»™twi«J:J.„^^^^ married, first to Miss Hannah ^^ «-<-c^^^/

Clemens, Aug. 19, 1756, who was the mother of all his children. He married second, March 24, 1784, Miss Judith Thurston, who was born in Newbury, a suburb of Newbury- port. She died June 9, 1825. He was a watchmaker by trade, and lived in Newburjport, Mass. In his will dated March 9, 1789, he leaves to his eldest son Daniel, his *^Coat of Arms." As his children Hannah and William are not mentioned, it is presumed that they died without issue.

266 Hakhah,* b. 1758, d. unm. 1781.

267* DAKiBL,«b. Mar. 1, 1761, d. Oct. 13, 1886.

268 WiLXJAH,* b. d. y.

269* Thohas Hutchins,^ b. July 7, 1771, d. June 28, 1817.

131. Nathaniel,* son of 68 Rev. William* and Rebecca £Stone] Balch, was born in Bradford, Jan. 17, 1787-8, and died in Newburyport, Oct. 26, 1802. He married first, Joanna, daughter of John and Abigail [Bailey] Day, of Bradford. She

f

66 FIPTH GXKBBATIOK.

died Sept. 18, 1800, aged sixty years. They had sixteen chil* dren.

260 Nathanixl/ b. 1700, d. Sept 6, 1761.

261* JOHV,^ b. Jan. 12, 1701, d. Deo. 29, 18S6.

262* ABiGAn.,«b. Nov. 12, 1762, d. Kov. 18, 1808.

263* KATHAifiKL,* b. Aug. 0, 1761, d. 1798.

264* Hannah,* b. June 11, 1766, d. July 17, 1888.

265* Samuel,* b. Jan. 25, 1768, d. May 26, 1860.

266 Joseph,* b. Mar. 1771, d. Aug. 27, 1774.

267 Mehitablb,* b. 1772, d. Jan. 24, 1778. 268* Betsey,* b. July 10, 1774, d. July 16, 1886. 260 Mehitablb,* b. Sept 22, 1776, d. Feb. 22, 1778. 270 Joseph,* b. Dec. 28, 1777, d. Jan. 10, 1778. 271* Lucy,* b. Feb. 21, 1779, d. 1854.

272 Pamela,* b. Aug. 28, 1780, d. unm.

873 Alice,* d. unm. of Yellow fever. Sept 14, 1800.

274 Joanna,* d. unm. of Yellow fever. Sept 14, 1800.

Nathaniel,'^ married second, July 22, 1802, the widow Sarah Coffin. He was constable at Bradford in 1779. By trade he was a cooper, lived upon a farm in Bradford until about 1800, when he removed to Newburyport. He was buried in the old cemetery near the Mall in Newburyport. His wife Sarah died January 26, 1804.

132. Be^jamin,^ son of 58 Rev. William^ and Rebecca [Stone] Balch, was bom in Bradford, April 4, 1748, and died Oct 16, 1823. He married September 7, 1786, Hannah, daughter of Andrew, and Mary [Ronchon] Sigoumey. She was bom in April, 1754, and died December 15, 1838. When Benjamin married her she was the widow of Capt. John Patten of Biddeford, Me. Patten was shipwredked, and drowned at Marshfield, Januaiy 11, 1783. Hannah was aunt to Charles Sigoumey, husband of Mrs. Lydia H. Sigoumey, the poet.

Benjamin and Hannah were an eccentric couple. They were both buried in the cemetery back of the Episcopal Church, on High street, in Newburyport They had no children.

Sixth Generation.

«

134. Samuel,* son of 68 Josiah^ and Patience [Cham* berlain] Balch, was bom on his father's farm, in Oxford^ Mass., June 25, 1789, and died in Athens, Vt., February 11, 1816. He married Miss Susan Aldrich. She died March 11, 1821, aged 78 years. They had ten children ; the seven eldest were born in Oxford, and the three youngest in Guilford, Vt.

276* SusAHVA J b. Maj 2S, mi.

276* OlivkJ b. May 4, 1764; d. March 1, 1S26.

277* SahuelJ b. March 28, 1707; d. about 1S47.

278* JosiAH/ b. Dec. 25, 17d0; d. Apr. 29, 1848.

279 PATiBsrcE,^ b. May 4, 1772; d.

280* SlizabbthJ b. Oct 28, 1776; d.

281* KATKABaBL,^ b. Dec. 8, 1779; d. Deo. 25, 1857.

282 JoKN,^ d. aged 18 years.

288* CoBBir,Tb. d.

284* ABieAiL,^ b. March 80, 1788, d. March 80, 1808.

About 1778 Samuel emigrated with his family from Oz-r ford, Mass., to Guilford, Vermont. In 1797 he paid a thou- sand dollars for one hundred acres of land situated in the southern portion of Athens, Vt., and it is probable that about this date he removed from Guilford to Athens.

138. Joanna.^ daughter of 66 Nathaniel^ and Joanna [Dodge] Balch, was bom at Hayerhill, Mass., December 18, 1744. She was married, December 81, 1769, to Enoch Chase, at Dover, N. H.

142. Anna,^ daughter of 66 Nathaniel^ and Joanna [Dodge] Balch, was bom at Haverhill, Mass., July 22, 1751. She was married at Dover, N. H., March 9, 1769, to Paul Harford.

143. Nathaniel,^ only son of 66 Nathaniel^ and Joanna [Dodge] Balch, was bom at HaverhiU, Mass., September 1^

(57)

58 SIXTH GBKERATIOK.

1768, and died at Wakefield, N. H., in April, 1795. His

death was caused by the falling of a tree. He married Ljdia,

daughter of Jonathan and Deborah [Wentworth] Twomblej.

Deborah was the daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah [Roberk]

Wentworth. Nathaniel lived in Wakefield, N. H., and his

eight children were bom in that town.

285* Samuel J b. 1770; d.

286* JoBBPH,l b. March 7, 1781; d. Deo. 14, 184S.

287* DbbobahJ b. Deo. 28, 1782; d. Sept. 26, 1868.

289* Na»ct,t b. Dec. 8, 1784; d.

290 Sallt,^ b. ; m. Asa AbboU, no children; d.

291 Bbtsbt,^ b.; m. Simon Brown, of China, Me. 292* Fbbobbick B.,? b. May 13, 1790; d. Sept. 29, 1861. 293» Adigail,t b. July 28, 1795; d. July 18, 1868.

Nathaniel signs a petition of Freeholders for a repeal of the ** Lumber Act," addressed to the Legislature, dated at Wake- field, August, 1785. Vol. XIIL New Hampshire Town Pa- pers, p. 690.

He enlisted as a private in Capt. Jeremiah Oilman's com- pany, 18 July, 1777, and was dischai-ged 80 September, 177T.

144. Hepzibah,® daughter of 66 Nathaniel' and Joanna £Dodge] Balch, was born at Haverhill, Mass., January 18, 1755, and died at Wakefield, N. H., in 1816. She married Tobias Hanson. They lived in Wakefield, and their chil- dren, all born in that town, were as follows :

Tobias, married Miss S. Adams. For a time they lived in Salem, Massachusetts, then they returned to Wake- field, and lastly removed to North Conway, New Hamp* shire, where he died, at the age of 08 years. They had five children: TobicLS Adams and Joseph, both of whom lived in Salem, Massachusetts, and were men of large property and families; John and Samvel were merchants in Boston; Susan A, married A. O. Hoyt, a distinguished artist, who painted a portrait of Daniel Webster, now hanging in the State House at Concord, New Hampshire; Anna H. Hoyt, a daughter of Susan and A. G. Hoyt, married Prof. Horace Bumstead, of the Atlanta Univer- sity, Georgia.

ZsAAO, married and lived in Wakefield, N. H.

Babtlstt, married and left a large family, a son lives in Minneapo- Us, Minn.

SABAH^ MAST BALCH, — WBTHKBSFIJBXD, CT. 69

JACKSOV.

John, married and left a family in Wakefield, K. H.

Joseph, left children.

SusAXy married Joseph Pike, a lineal descendant of Bobert Pike, the Puritan, and one of the few men of his time who dared stand up and boldly defend the Salem witches. They had two children, Joseph Han»on Pike; Joseph left a widow and three daughters, who were living at Wake- field in 1886. DoUy Pike was bom in 1802, and died Sept. 17, 1886. Her son, Joseph P. Oilman, has furnished the records of Hepzibah Balch.

Boss, married Bobert Pike, a brother of Joseph, and left many descendants.

HAiriTAH, married a Mr. Wiggins, and left a daughter liring in Dover, N. H., and grandchildren Hying in Wakefield.

Lydia, married a southern gentleman, and has descendants.

Nahct, married a Mr. Edgerly, and has descendants.

146. Sarah/ daughter of 70 Ebenezer^ and Sarah [Bel- •den] Balch, was born at Hartford, Ct, April 1, 1751, and died at Wethersfield, Ct, March 4, 1823. She was married November 12, 1772, to Elijah, son of Joseph Wells, of Weth- ersfield. Elijah Wells was bom February 27, 1751, and died at Wethersfield, Ct., December 28, 1796. Mr Wells was a farmer by occupation. He was a soldier in the American army during the Revolution, and among the many battles in which he participated w'ere those of Bunker Hill, and Trenton. From exposure and hardships in the service his constitution was broken, and he died at the age of 45 years, leaving a family of eight children. Sarah, b. Aug. 2, 1773 ; d. Mar. 11, 1828. Elijah, b. Feb. 27, 1775 ; d. Sept. 18, 1880. Mary, b. Apr. 25, 1777; d. Sept, 1864. Patty, b. June 26, 1779; d. Nov. 18, 1855. Esther, b. July 24, 1781 ; d. July 11, 1818. Hannah, b. Oct. 2, 1788 ; d. Oct. 28, 1857. George, b. Aug. 26, 1786 ; d. Nov. 21, 1861. Henry, b. May 18, 1789 ; d. Jan. 19, 1858.

147. Mary/ daughter of 70 Ebenezer'^ and Sarah [Bel- den] Balch, was bom at Hartford, Ct, November 17, 1752, and died at Wethersfield, Ct., September 16, 1852. She had lived nearly a century, and was bright and active to the last. At her death the church bell in Wethersfield tolled one

1

60 SIXTH GENEBATIOK.

hundred times. Through all her long life her place at church was seldom vacant. In 1784 she married Daniel Ayrault, a son of Capt Nicholas, and grandson of Dr. Nicholas Ayrault, a French Huguenot Daniel Ayrault was bom in 1736, and died at Wethersfield, March 8, 1807. They had but twa children. . Maij, b. May, 1785; d. Feb., 1854, married Edward Shepiurd ; their son, Daniel Ayrault Shepard, was living in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1884. Daniel, b. Oct. 1786 ; d. Nov. 11, 1862, left descendants in the female line.

148. Jonathan Belden,^ son of 70 Ebenezer^ and Sarah [Belden] Balch, was bom at Hartford, Connecticut, Novem- ber 14, 1754, and died at West Hartford, Connecticut, Febmaiy 16, 1825. He was married, December 6, 1766, at Wethersfield, Connecticut, to Hopeful, eldest daughter of Samuel Hurlburt. Six children were bom to them on their farm in Hartford, where they always lived.

294* Sabah,^ b. 1777; d. Oct. 5, 1807.

286 Clabissa/ b. Nov. 81, 1779; d. unm. Sept 20, 1790.

296* Mabt/ b. Sept 24, 1782; d. Oct 18, 1846.

297* Floba,^ b. Apr. 24, 1786; d. Dec. 10, 1831.

298* JoirATHAN,^ b. Deo. 14, 1788; d. July 19, 1867.

299* Bbla,t b. Feb. 6, 1792; d. May 0, 1862.

He married for his second wife Elenor Whitman, January 18, 1815, and she died at West Hartford, March 8, 1832, without issue. The Connecticut Records show that he served six days in Capt. Chester's Company from Wethersfield, and the Lexington Alarm list shows that he enlisted May 11, 1776| in the second Regt., 9th Company, as a private and wa» discharged in December of the same year.

150. Joseph^ son of 70 Ebenezer^ and his second wife Lois [Belden] Balch, was bom at Hartford Ct, February 16^ 1760, and died at Johnstown, N. Y., December 5, 1855. During the revolutionary war he served as a drummer boy^^ He was a thorough Christian and gentleman. His memory was re- tentive and he was always abreast of the times. His faculties he retained to the last

■J

JOSEPH BALCH,— WILLIAMSTOWK, MASS., JOHNSTOWN, N. Y. 61

In 1794 be settled at Williamstown, Mass., and followed the occupation of a silversmith, and clock-maker, a business he had learned from his father. In 1810 he removed to Johnstown, N. T., where death came to him while in his ac- eostomed seat in church, Bible in hand, following the scripture reading by his pastor. He was buried with military honors.

In 1786 he married Miss Mary Watson by whom he had seven children. Miss Watson was bom March 6, 1765, and died February 11, 1844.

800 Josxpb/ b. May 26, 17S7. He went to Mexico or Sonth America

in 1S17, and was never heard from.

801* Justin,^ b. Dec 28, 1788; d. July 81, 1826.

802* Sabah Mabia,' b. Kot. 6, 1790; d. Jane 10, 1870.

808 AUBBLIA,* b. May 19, 1798; d. Sept 17, 1794.

804* GuBTAYUB,' b. May 19, 1796; d. 1877.

806* CoBBBLiA,' b. Not. 8, 1797; d. Jan. 19, 1868.

806* YiSTUB,' b. Feb. 18, 1799; d. Oct 25, 1884.

161. Lois,® daughter of 70 Ebenezer' and Lois [Belden] Balcb, was bom at Hartford, Connecticut, December 20, 1761, and died in 1852, at Cleveland, Ohio, and was buried at Atwater in that state. She married Oliver, son of Joseph, and Sarah Talcott. They lived at Southwick, Mass., until after all their children were born. In 1819 they moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Talcott was bom at Olastonbury, Ct., November 29, 1759, and died at Atwater, Ohio, in 1830. Lois and Oliver had five children, all born at Southwick, Mass. Joseph, b. Feb. 12, 1789; d. at Atwater, Ohio, 1858 ; Sally, b., d. at Atwater, Ohio ; Mary, b., d. at Brooklyn, N. Y.; Emily, b., d. at Atwater, Oluo ; William, b., d. Wis- consin.

162. Lucy,^ daughter of 70 Ebenezer^ and Lois [Belden] Balch, was bom at Hartford, Connecticut, December 21, 1763, and died at Hartford, Connecticut, July 17, 1854, and was buried at Wethersfield. She was married in 1788 to Wait Goodrich, a sea captain, and to them were bom three children.

LuOT, b. 1789, d. Feb. 8, 1873. She married Fontaine Raphael, in May, 1811. He was bom in 1761 and died Nov. 6, 1840.

62 SISTH GENBBATION.

They had three ohildren. Marie Louise AngeUque Baphel, b. Dec. 2, 1811, d. Feb. 5, 1852, and married a- Mr. Brown; Joseph jyOrtique Raphel, b. Aug. 4, 1818, d. Not. 19, 1857; Adetaid Josephine Baphel, b. Apr. 8, 1818, d. Jan. 16, 1858.

Gbovs, d. in New York city in 1838. He married Laura Talcott, who died in New York city in 1834. He was a gold' beater by occnpation. They had two daughters.

EiiiLT, d. y.

163. Ebenezer^^ son of 70 Ebenezei^ and Lois [Belden] Balch, was bom in Hartford, Connecticut, August 80, 1766, and died at Plattsburgh, New York, December 81, 1846. About 1790 he married Sarah, daughter of James and Abigail [King] Burchard,* of Becket, Mass. She was bom in June,

♦BuBCHARD Genealogy.

1 Thomas Burchard, b. in Roxbary, Eng., 1505, wife Mary, b. 1507, one Bon and fiye daughters, b. in England, came to America in the ship ** True Love,*' landed at Boston late in 1686, and settled at Saybrook, Ct.

John, only son of Thomas and Mary Burchard, b. in England, 162S, d. in Lebanon, Ct., 1702. He married first, July 22, 1653, Charity Ann An- drews. His second wife was Jane Lee [relict of Samuel Hyde]. John was the father of fourteen children; six died in infancy.

Samuel, b. July, 1663; James, b. July, 1665; Abigail, b. NoYcmber, 1667, m. John Calkins, Oct. 23, 1690; Thomas, b. January, 1669, settled in Norwich, Ct. ; John, b. February, 1671, settled in Lebanon, Ct. ; Joseph, b. February, 1678, settled in Lebanon; Mary, b. June, 1679, settled in Lebanon; Daniel, b. November, 1680, settled in Lebanon. John Bur- chard, as he spelled his name, was a man of considerable celebrity.

James, second son of John above, married Elizabeth Beckwith, March 17, 1697. They lived in Norwich, Ct, and had ten children: Elizabeth, b. September, 1697; James, b. May, 1699, d. June 12, 1782, in Becket, Mass.; Sarah, b. July, 1701, d. y.; Mathew, b. December, 1702; John, b. April, 1704, great-grandfather of the late President Rutherford Burchard Hayes; Fhebe, b. October, 1705; Sarah, b. October, 1707; Jonah, b. Octo^ ber, 1709; Bebecca, b. October, 1717; Daniel, b. October, 1718.

James, eldest son of James and Elizabeth, married Deborah ;

she died in 1768. In 1775 he settled in Becket, then town No. 4, Berkshire county, Mass. For several years he was town clerk. He had but one son, James, b. 1730, d. July, 1820, in Becket.

James, only son of James and Deborah, married Abigail, daughter of David and Lydia King; she d. June 6, 1794, aged 62 years. They re- sided in Becket, and their seven children were bom in that town: Lydia, b. 1757; Deborah, b. 1760; Abigail, b, 1762; Phebe, b. 1764; James, b. Aug. 17. 1766; Sarah, b. 1768, d. Oct 28, 1852, married Eben- ezer Baloh; Betsey, b. June, 1772, m. Walter Cook, of Bichmond, Mass.

XBBNEZBBBALOHy — HABTFOBD, C0KN.,FLATT8BnB6H, K.Y. 6ft

1768. and died at Plattsburgh, N. Y., October 28, 1852. In 1891 the remains of Ebenezer and Sarah, his wife, were re- moved to the Riverside cemetery at Plattsburgh, and inteixed by the side of their son, Alvah Borchard, and the monument

upon the lot was suitably in- *-^^^*^^72^ .^Z? ^^^'•■^^^Vy scribed. They had six children.

807* Ebxnxzbb,^ b. Jane 22, 1702; d. Feb. 19, 1861.

808* Sabah,7 b. April 19, 1794; d. Sept. 16, 1871.

808* Alyah Bubchabd,^ b. April 18, 1706; d. Maroh 6, 1871.

810* Bbtbbt,^ b. July 22, 1798; d. Aug. 8, 1866.

811 Clabi88A,t b. April 20, 1801; d. Hay 8, 1822; m. Thomas Thorns

812* HoBATio JAMB8.7 b. July 22, 1806; d. Jan. 17, 1846.

Ebenezer learned the trade of goldsmith and clock-maker with his father, but did not follow the trade. In 1800 he moved with his family, which consisted of his wife and four children, to Plattsburgh, N. Y., and soon after purchased two tracts of land, together containing 240 acres, and situated four miles west from the village, and bordering on the north side of the Saracac river. Immediately upon his occupancy of the tract of land he built a log house. In 1806 he built a frame barn, and in 1812 he built a two-story frame house, which for those days was considered very fine. All the nails nsed in its construction were made by him. There' were no machine-made nails in those days. In this house he and his wife both died. For several years he was engaged in ship, ping timber to Quebec, Canada, by rafts, and by reason of this venture he became financially embarrassed, and sold his farm to his sons, Ebenezer and Alvah Burchard. He was a man of intelligence, uprightness of character, and honor. Both he and his wife were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Plattsburgh. He helped to build the church edifice in 1806. It was a historical structure in connection with the battle of Plattsburgh, September 11, 1814. In 1867 it burned down, and from it started the great fire of Plattsburgh.

Ebenezer was a member of a militia company called the ^^ Silver Grays," and as such participated in the battle of

>64 SIXTH GBNBRATION.

Plattsbuigh. His character is well summed up in the text of the sermon preached at his funeral. It was Psalms zxxvn., 37 : *^ Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright : for the end of that man is peace."

154. Timothy,^ son of 70 Ebenezer^ and Lois [Belden] Balch, was bom at Hartford, Ct., October 26, 1768, and died at Plattsburg, N. Y., November 22, 1842. He married Ann, daughter of John and Ann [Skinner] Whitman. She was bom at Hartford, Ct., May 23, 1776, and died at Plattsburgh, N. T., April 11, 1848. About 1802 he located on a farm a short distance to the north east of the farm belonging to his brother Ebenezer. He and his wife were members of the first Presbyterian church in Plattsburgh.

813* BsTSBTj b. May 4, 1794; d. June 26, 1864.

814* Chbbtbb,^ b. July 26, 1796; d. June 8, 1876.

816 Luct/ b. Mar. 12, 1799; d. a. p.. Mar. 19, 1840, m. John Smith«

816 EiJZA,^ b. Deo. 1, 1801; d. Aug. 8, 1828.

817* HKirBT,^ b. Not. 24, 1808; d. June, 1876.

818* Emii.t,t b. Mar. 29, 1807, d. 1893.

819 Mabibtta,^ b. Nov. 16, 1809, d. Apr. 4, 1840.

820 JoNATHAir W.^ b. Apr. 6, 1811; d. unm. May 11, 1888. 821* William Sxxnhbb,^ b. Oct 22, 1818.

155. William,^ son of 70 Ebenezer^ and Lois [Belden] Balch, wis bom at Hartford, Ct, May 17, 1778, and died in that city, March 81, 1857. He married Miss Ann Smith* May IS, 1801, who was bom at Berlin, Connecticut, in 1776, and died at Hartford, in February, 1858. William was a carpenter and resided at West Hartford, Connecticut. The six children of WiUiam and Ann [Smith] Balch were bom at West Hartford.

822 William,'' b. Apr. 26; 1802; d. num. Jan. 4, 1822.

828 Stlvbstbb,^ b. Aug. 23, 1804; d. 8. p.. Not. 28, 1877, m. Lucy

Warren. 824* HbkbtJ b. Oct 10, 1806; d. Apr. 18, 1874. 826 £dwabd,7 b. July 27, 1800; m. Mary Ann Coming of Hartford,

Ct. Two children, d. y. 826* Thomas,^ b. Feb. 19, 1811; d. Feb., 1891. 827* ALOirzo,? b, Apr. 12, 1814; d. May 26, 1885.

JOSEPH, MABY BALGH — ^NEWPORT, E.I., T0P8FIBLD, MASS. 65

159. Joseph,* son of 71 Timothy^ and Sarah [Rogers] Balch, was bom at Newport, R. I., October 25, 1766, and died at Providence, R. I., July 20, 1845. He married Miss Martha Grise, December 20, 1792, at Providence. She was bom at Boston, Mass., August 16, 1762, and by her Joseph had two children, both born at Providence.

328 Calbb G.7 b. ; d. unm. 329* SABAHR.,7b.

161. John Rogers,* son of 71 Timothy^ and Sarah

[Rogers] Balch was bom at Newport, R. I., May 18, 1772,

and died at Providence, Rhode Island, April 2, 1848. He

married Miss Saphira Packard, November 27, 1800. He

engaged in mercantile and banking pursuits, and lived at

Providence, R. I., where his three children were born.

330 Jambs Roobbs,^ b. 1S02; d. without issue, Sept. 28, 1828.

331* Sophia Packabd,^ b. May 9, 1805.

332* John RoobbsJ b. Aug. 27, 1808; d. Oct. 25, 1886.

162. Mary,® daughter of 90 Cornelius^ and Martha [Robinson] Balch, was bom at Topsfield, Massachusetts, February 15, 1741. She was married Febraary 15, 1761, to David Howlet. They were living at Keene, N. H., in 1815. They had three children. Comelius, b. in 1761. Molly, b. in 1768. Martha, b. 1767.

163. Martha,® daughter of 90 Cornelius^ and Martha [Robinson] Balch, was bom at Topsfield, Mass., April 9, 1748, and died at Ridge, New Hampshire, April 6, 1822. She was married at Topsfield, October 81, 1769, to Jeremiah Towne, Jr. He died at Ridge, June 10, 1830, aged 82 years. They had two children, both bom at Topsfield. Polly Towne, m. Thomas Tarbell ; Comelius Towne, b. Feb. 18, 1772 ; mar- ried, in 1791, to Hannah, daughter of Michael Chaplain, of Ridge, N. H. In 1804 Comelius Towne moved with his fam- ily to Dublin, N. H. Their four eldest children were born at Ridge, and their youngest at Dublin. They were as follows : John, b. in 1792 ; Rebecca, b. in 1794 ; Moses, b. in 1796 ; Cornelius, b. in 1808 ; Elijah, b. in 1807.

66 SIXTH GENBBATION.

167. Deborah,^ daughter of 91 Benjamin^ and Nazareth [Gushing] Balch, was bom at Scituate, Massachusetts, in 1727. She married John, son of Capt. Alexander Forsyth.

168. Hart,® son of 91 Benjamin^ and Nazareth [Gushing] Balch, was born at Scituate, Massachusetts, in 1731, and was lost at sea, on a voyage to the West Indies, in 1751, being at the time captain of the vessel. He was married early in 1750 to a Miss Bourne (?) who was a niece or cousin to Gen. Joseph Warren. She married for her second husband a Brit- ish officer, and went to live in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was reported that she left property to her son, which he never received. Hart Balch had by his wife a posthumous son.

383* Habt,t b. Nov. 9, 1761; d. Feb. 16, 1S46.

169. Benjamin,^ son of 91 Benjamin'^ and Nazareth [Gushing] Balch, was bom at Boston, Mass., March 4, 1732-3, and was baptized at the New South Ghurch. The rolls of the French and Indian war show that he was a lieutenant in Captain Abel Keen's company, Golonel Joseph Thatcher's regiment, and that he was 23 years of age, by occupation a cooper, bom at Boston, and residing at Scituate, that he en- tered the service February 18, 1756, and served until Decem- ber 5, 1756. This company of men was raised for the expe- dition against Crown Point. From the same rolls it appears that he re-entered the service March 23, 1757, as second lieutenant, to go on an expedition to Fort William Henry, under the command of Golonel Frye, and was at its capitula- tion, August 9, 1757. It is not known whether or not he was killed in the massacre that followed. The Plymouth County Probate Records show that his estate was adminis- tered upon before the close of the year.

170. Nathaniel,^ son of 91 Benjamin^ and Nazareth [Gushing] Balch, was born at Boston, Massachusetts, May 7, 1785. He died in Boston, September 18, 1808. He was married. May 26, 1763, to Mary, daughter of Gapt. William Fletcher, one of the officers in the Louisburg expedition. She died in Boston, October 7, 1797. They had five children, all bom in Boston.

NATHANIEL, JOSEPH BALCH^ BOSTON, MASS. 67

884* NATHAiaEL,^ b. Feb. 26, 1764; d. June 10, 1681.

886* WH.HAM,' b. July 11, 1766; d. Nov. 4, 1791.

886 MABeABBT,? b. May 17, 1767; m. 1789, Samuel Wbitewell.

837 Mabt,7 b. May 16, 1769; m. Dec. 17, 1789, Benjamin Morgan

Stillman. 888* Saiiah,^ b. Dec. 6, 1774.

Nathaniel was a hatter, and carried on his business at No. 72 Comhill, now Washington street, where he also resided. Under the title of ^^ An Old Gentleman's Recollections,'' in Harper's Magazine for May, 1877, is the following reference to Nathaniel and his neighbors : *' We had a medley of ec- centric tradesmen in Boston in 1788, who were a compound of flat simplicity in manners and acute cleverness in conver- sation, shrewd, perhaps somewhat cunning, often witty, al- ways smart and intelligent. Such was Copley, my tailor; Billings, of the same trade ; but, above all, Balch, the hat- ter. His shop was the principal lounge, even of the first people in the town. Governor Hancock, when the gout per- mitted, resorted to this grand rendezvous, and there exchanged jokes with Balch and his company, or, as sometimes happened, discussed grave political subjects, and tout em badinant set- tled the leading principles of his administration."

According to Lily tradition, Governor Hancock one day said to Balch, *' Come up and see a Savage I have locked in my garret." He complied, and found that the Governor was protecting a portrait painter named Savage from arrest for debt. Savage was engaged on a portrait of the Governor, and at the request of Hancock, also made one of Balch. The latter is now in the possession of Nathaniel's great-grandson, William L. Balch, of Boston.

172. Joseph,^ son of 91 Benjamin^ and Nazareth [Gush- ing] Balch was bom at Boston, Feb. 10, 1738-9, and died at West Cambridge, September 1, 1826. He was captain of a company in Colonel Thomas Craft's artillery regiment. As such he is referred to in the records of the Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 88, from January, 1776 to December, 1777. The orderly book of the regiment preserved in the Essex Institute

68 SIXTH GBNEBATIOK.

also refers to him. He was married August 25, 1760, to Abigail Audebert, who was baptized December 30, 1739, and died at Billerica, Massachusetts, January 7, 1802. She was a granddaughter of William Palfrey, sail maker, of Milk Street, Boston, to whom Joseph Balch was apprenticed. Abigail was one of the children of Mr. Palfrey's daughter Lydia, and Philip Audebert, Jr., son of a French Huguenot. Philip and Lydia died young, and Abigail's grandfather Palfrey, was appointed her guardian in 1752. She grew up in lus family, together with Joseph Balch. They had nine children.

839 Joseph/ b. Feb. 18, 1761; d. Feb. 28, 1761.

840 Ltdia,7 b. Jan. 11, 1764; d. Aug. 15, 1764.

841 Abigail,^ b. Mar. 18, 1765; d. Aug. 26, 1705, s. p. 342 Ltdia,7 b. Jan. 15, 1768; d. Oct 9, 1768.

343* JOBKPH,^ b. Sept. 15, 1769; d. Sept 11, 17d8.

344 BENJAMnr,^ b. Mar. 13, 1772; d. Aug. 2, 1773.

345 Benjamik,^ b. Aug. 10, 1774; d. Aug. 12, 1774.

346 Lydia Jabvis,^ b. Mar. 24, 1777; d. Nov. 28, 1777. 347* Elizabeth,? b. April 9, 1779; d. Jan. 29, 1859.

175. John,^ son of 97 Andrew* and Bethiah [Lovett] Balch, was born at Beverly, Mass., October 12, 1735, and died at Keene, N. H., April 80, 1808. The records at Keene, N. H., show that his first wife was named Mary, but do not give her maiden name. They had two sons born at Keene.

348* JOHH,^ b. Dec. 10, 1767; d. Mar. 16, 1824. 849* Timothy J b. about 1700; d.

John married for his second wife Safrona, by whom he had six more children, all of them born at Keene.

860 Andbbw,^ b. ; d. Sept. 11, 1767.

861 RUTH,T b. Nov. 26, 1767; d.

862* Maby,' b. Feb. 10, 1770; d. Oct. 14, 1838.

863 Safbona,^ b. Feb. 14, 1773; d.

864 Anna,' b. Dec. 10, 1775; d. Sept. 10, 1777. 866 Anna/ b. Feb. 15, 1778; d. Sept 1, 1799.

In 1759, John enlisted in Captain Bayley*s company for the French and Indian war. In 1776, he was one of the petition- ers to the New Hampshire legislature, remonstrating against inoculation with small pox virus. It appears that the belief was then current, that small pox would be more managable if

JOHN, CALEB, BENJAMIN BALGH — BEVERLY, MASS. 69

given by inoculation than if contracted in the usual way. It was therefore the custom to perform such inoculations when the spread of the disease was feared. This was twenty years before the discovery of cow-pox vaccination by Jenner. Revolutionary war rolls of New Hampshire, John Balch enlisted as a private May 1, 1777, and served for three years in Captain William Ellis' company, third New Hampshire. John was a member of the foot company of Keene, in 1773. He declared himself on the side of the colonies by signing the pledge above given in the account of his father Andrew.

«

177. Oaleb,^ son of 97 Andrew* and Bethiah [Lovett]

Balch, was born at Beverly, Mass., October 16, 1740, and died

about 1794. He married Elizabeth M. and to them were born

five children, all at Keene, N. H., as shown by the records of

that town.

866 Joanna J b. Aug. 21, 1763; d. 367» Ctbus,^ b. July 14, 1766, d. about 1805. 858* Amo8,7 b. July 28, 1767; d. 859* Cai.sb,7 b. Mar. 9, 1776; d.

860 Bethiah,^ b. July 15, 1772; m. at Westmoreland, Sept. 25, 1787, Josiah Leach; d.

After the birth of Bethiah, Caleb moved to Westmoreland, N. H., and may have had more children. The roll of Captain Ephraim Stone's company for the year 1780, contains Caleb's name and shows that he was paid 589 pounds, 16 shillings. The roll also states that his son Cyrus received 621 pounds, and one shilling. Caleb served in the Eighth company of Colonel Reed's regiment. New Hampshire Volunteers, Jacob Hinds was the Captain and Isaac Street, Lieutenant. This regiment was at the battle of Bunker Hill. Hind's company was called out on various occasions for short terms of service. It consisted of 65 men. After the fight at Bunker Hill, it was credited with 89 men fit for duty.

179. Besgamin,® son of 97 Andrew^ and Ruth [Wood- bury] Balch, was bom at Beverly, Mass., in 1747, or 1748. When about 21 years of age he married Miss Elizabeth Blake, by whom he had seven children. Elizabeth died in 1785.

70 SIXTH GSNEaATIOK.

861 Olitx,^ b. Mar. 17, 1709; d. Oct. 81, 1773.

862* THAirKFUL,^ b. Apr. 28, 1772; d. 1866.

868* ABirxB,Tb. March 6, 1774; d.

864 Elizabkth,^ b. Jane 21, 1776; m. Jonah Xdson; d.

866* Ebthxb,^ b. Oct 18, 1778; d. Feb. 20, 1880.

866* OiJVX,T b. Aug. 25, 1780; d. after 1800.

867* BurjAKor.T b. Joly 23, 1783; d. Sept 27, 1820.

Benjamin was married second at Eeene, to Miss Jolia EUis. bj whom he had six children.

868* STX.yA2rus,7 b. Oct 11, 1786; d. after 1870.

868« CrOTHiA,^ b. May 14, 1788; d. 1841.

870* Aj>nr,7 b. Jan. 22, 1700; d. Apr. 2, 1860.

871* WaJAAM,'' b. June 16, 1791; d. Jan. 6, 1868.

872* James,'' b. Not. S, 1794; d. 1886.

873 JuLiA,^ b. July 16, 1796; nu Nathan Rice. Two children; d.

About 1800, Benjamin left Keene, and went to Lunenburg, Vermont, bought a tract of forest land, and built a log cabin and bam. The following winter he mored his ftunily, the only conveyance being a long sled drawn by a yoke of oxen. Upon the sled they piled all their household goods, wife and babies. The older boys followed with two cows and two pigs. These pioneers knew well the meaning of hard work and scanty fare. By trade, Benjamin was a wooden bottle maker. The New Hampshire town papers show that Benjamin signed the petition against inoculation with small pox, described above in the account of his brother John. He owned a pew in the meeting house at Keene. He was a member of the foot com- pany of Eeene in 1778, and signed with his father as one of the Committee of Safety in 1776. He was generally known as Lieutenant Benjamin Balch.