Samuel Colby (1638 - bef. 1716)

Ancestors Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Children 2 Sources 2.1 Acknowledgments

Biography

Samuel Colby was born about 1638 or 1639 probably at Cambridge, Massachusetts, son of Anthony COLBY and Susanna (some say HADDON; published research says UNKNOWN).

He married before 1668 to Elizabeth SARGENT. He was a "planter" and innholder at Amesbury. He received land in Amesbury in 1659 and 1662. He settled at Haverhill between 1664 and 1667. He lived in Haverhill until at least 1674, but he had returned to Amesbury by 1676.

Samuel received grants of land in Amesbury in 1659 and in 1662 and was made a freeman in 1660. He was fined in 1665 for rowdiness at his brother John's house and in Mar. 1666 he was fined for "abusing a wench". In Nov. 1679 Samuel and others were complained of for bad behavior at his nephew John's house, yet in 1682 Samuel was the constable for Amesbury! In April 1665 Nathaniel Barnard and Samuel Colby deposed that they were "at the house of Heaniry Sawers" and read the court's order to Widow Peasley concerning the division of land between her and her son-in-law Thomas Barnard Jr. and she refused.^[1] On 16 Mar. 1667/8 "William Allin of Salisbury released Samuell Colby, late of Salisbury of a lost bill of twenty pounds, given for land he bought of me, March 16, 1667/8". ^[2] He took a lot in the Ox Common in East Haverhill without asking leave and was living there in 1668, 1672, and 1674. On 23 Apr. 1668 "Samuel Colby of Haverhill, planter for 10 pounds, conveyed to Jn Clough of Salisbury, house carpenter, my division of upland, of 108 acres, in Salisbury new town, bounded by Robert Quenby, lot formerly of Mary Peasly, highway and Nathan Gold". ^[3] On 12 Apr. 1670 "George Martyn of Amsbery, blacksmith, conveyed to Samuel Colby of Haverhill, planter, 3 acres of meadow I had of Isaac Colby and which was formerly Mr. Bradburies" bounded with Fox Island creek, Goodman Stevens, Mr. Winsly, Robert Fitts and Richard Goodale.^[4] The contest for ownership between the squatters and the legal proprietors continued for 40 years, however, Samuel and his family returned to Amesbury by 1676. He took the oath of allegiance in Amesbury on 20 Dec. 1677.^[5] In 1678 he was running an inn at Bartlett's Corner near the old homestead which he ran until his death in 1715. In 1683

...Samuel Colby of Amsbery, laborer, convey to Ebenezer Blaisdell of Amsbery, laborer, a parcell of upland & flatts in Amsbery interajacent betwixt ye land of Thomas Colby & Susanna Whitheridge on ye Westward and Southward [sides] of it and Powow River on ye Eastward, [bounded] and abutting Northward upon ye land of Orlando Bagley; bound on ye Northwest corner betwixt sd Bagley and Colbey’s land with a stake, thence to run unto a Saxifrase Tree marked, and thence unto a young red oak marked, and thence to a stake at ye west end of a gully in a hollow next ye Southeast corner of Susanna Whitheridege her planting lott, and thence to run Eastward to a red oak tree marked, thence to another red oak tree marked, thence to anohter red oak tree marked by ye burying place commonly called Golgotha, and thence to run upon the top or edge of ye banke unto a certayne landing place upon Powow river at a point of land commonly called ye Ware poynt… Dated 15 August 1683.

^[6][7] He was fined for selling drink without a license in 1686.

He was a soldier in King Philip's War in the "Falls Fight" near Dearfield, under Captain William Turner on 19 MAY 1676. "Among the few affidavits that were made to sustain claims for land near Turner's Falls, found in the Massachusetts Archives, is one from John Chase:"

"John Chase, of Newbury, certifies that he was in the expedition with Capt. Turner, and helped to bury him, and that Samuel Coleby, late of Almsbury, deceased, was with him."^[8]

A grant was made of a township of land near the scene of Falls Fight to all the officers and men involved. Samuel Coleby, eldest son of Samuel Coleby of Almsbury, was admitted to first choice of lots on the new tract by act of the General Court 1 Aug. 1741.^[9] However, if you look at the muster rolls, Samuel is nowhere to be found. One has to wonder why he wasn’t on the rolls, despite testimony years later that said he was there… or was he?

Capt. Turner’s company probably left Boston on 21 Feb. of 1676 and was at Medfield on 22 Feb. and then went to Marlborough and on 29 Feb. to Quabaog (Brookfield). At Quabaog the army was reinforced by companies from Connecticut. The Indians stayed ahead of them as they saw indications of large numbers in the area, however, none were engaged in battle at this point. By 8 Mar. they arrived at the river and Capt. Turner was sent across the river to Northampton to defend the town along with two Connecticut companies. This was fortunate for the settlers as on 14 Mar. the Indians made an assault breaking through the palisades at three places and attacked several houses and set fire to ten of them before the soldiers were aroused. The Indians then found themselves trapped inside by three companies of soldiers and were shot trying to exit through the holes in the palisade.^[10]

The following letter was written by Rev. John Russell of Hadley 16 Mar. 1676:

"Although the Lord hath granted us an interval of quiet this winter yet since ye coming on of ye Spring the war here is renewed with more strength and violence here than in any other part while we remaine for as we had intelligence by the captain who is returned (commonly called “Speckled Tom”), Philip intended with his whole power to come upon these Towns and taking them to make his planting place a fort this year at Deerfield so on ye 14th instant the enemy to the number of a 1000 as judged make a sudden and violent iruption upon Northampton brake through their works in thre places & had in reason taken the whole Town had not Providence so ordered it yt Majr Treate was come in with his men within ye night ye same evening yet they burned five houses and five barns, one within the fortification, slew five persons wounded five. There are sd to be found about a dozen of the enemy slain. Here also above Deerfield a few miles is the great place of their fishing wch must be expected to afford them their provisions for the yere, So that the swarme of them being here and like to continue here we must look to feele their utmost rage except the Lord be pleased to breake their power. My desire is we may be willing to do or suffer live or dy; remaine in or be driven out from or habitations as the Lord or God would have us and as may be Conducible to ye glory of his name and ye publike weale of his people… "^[11]

After being repulsed from Northampton the Indians tried attacking Hatfield, however, they found that town also well defended so they tried going back to Northampton, however, that trick didn’t work. There was an attack on Westfield and an attack on a group from Longmeadow headed for church in Springfield. A large body of Indians gathered in the area where Capt. Turner was in charge of defending the towns there. Hadley was the army’s headquarters with a garrison of 51 men, 35 at Hatfield, 9 sent to Springfield, and 46 at Northampton. The government of Massachusetts was slow to pay the soldiers, leading the Captain’s wife, Mary Turner, to write to the court:

"To the Honoured Gouvernour and Councill Now Assembled in Boston.

The Humble petition of Mary Turner wife to Wm Turner now in the Service of the Country Under Comand of your Honours, Humbly Sheweth,

That whereas your poor petitioners husband Voluntarily & frely offered him selfe unto & now Is In your Service far from home together with his son & servants leaving onely one servant with me which God by his Providence hath bereaved me off soe that I am at present wholy Almost left destitute of maintenance for myself which calls uppon me to crave of your honours Consideration of my present Condition And order the payment to me of the whole or what part your honours think fit of wages due for the time my husband son and servants have bene In the Service of the Country which shall further Ingage your poor petitioner to pray for As In duty Am Bound…
Mary Turner

In Ansr to the petion, It is ordered that the Committee of the Army forthwith order the petitioner by payd Seven pounds on ye Account exprest therein. Dated at Boston the 24th of Aprill 1676.^[12]

The troops were suffering from more than lack of pay prompting the following letter from the Captain dated 25 April 1676:

"Honored Sirs.

Since the army marcht hence under the Command of major general Savage and left mee here by order from your honours : I have not had any thing worth sending downe A post : And now having an opportunity I thought meete to acquaint your honours that the souldiers here are in greate distresse for want of clothing both Linen and Woollen : So I desired the Commissaries here to send down to quabouge to see if there any supplies : So they brought from thence A few Shirts Stockings Shoes and drawers : but not an eighth of what wee want : So that I shall beseech your honours to take some speedy Course for a supply to be sent to the Commissaries here for their releafe : here will want much as the enclosed note will show you [ ] forasmuch as it hath pleased your honours to commit the care of these townes to my charge : So I shall beseech your honours that my wife may have my wages due to mee for to supply the wants of my family : for whome I am bound by the lawes of god and nature to make provision: And I should be glad if there might be some fitter person found for this imployment: for I much doubt my weaknes of body and my often infirmities will hardly Sufer mee to doe my duty as I ought in this imployment : And it would grieve me to be negligent in anything that might be for the good of this yeare country in this day of their distress : Therefore shal leave it to your honours Consderation : whether some other man may not be fitter to be imployed in this place by reason of my weaknes of body : I have here sent you those Lists of my Company as they came from boston and afterwards from Marlborough as they Continued to the seventh instant : also an account from the Commissary of northamton to that day : I have also sent A List of those Left the 7th instant under my Command in these 3 townes : most of them having beene here long before my time : Thus hoping your honours will Consider so as to send some speedy supply for the souldiers here and also order something for the supply of my family in my absence : I shall beg the Lord to be your Counsellour and guide in this time of distracktion and sore trouble : And remaine yours to serve your honours to the utmost of my power wherein I may.
Will : Turner

I beseech your honours deliver these lists to whome they may concerne : And command the souldiers to make hast backe to their quarters: Your honours since ye close of this there is come in a young man taken from Springfield at the beginning of last month who informes that the enemy is drawing up all their forces towards these townes: and their head quarters to be at Deerefield alias pegunkugg."^[13]

The Indians at this point were in a desperate situation with the loss of their chief Canonchet, losses at Northampton and Hatfield, and reduced almost to starvation. This led the Natives to steal 70 head of cattle at Hatfield on 12 May. This encouraged the English to take the offensive and on 17 May Capt. Turner and his men along with half the men from the nearby towns, left Hatfield and rode towards the Upper Falls twenty miles away and crossed the river and headed towards Greenfield. They crossed the Green River and reached the higher ground south of Mount Adams and left their horses under guard and marched on through Fall river and up a steep hill overlooking the Indian camp and waited for daylight. The English surrounded the camp and the first warning the Indians had was the firing of a hundred muskets into their wigwams killing many on the first volley. The Indians attempted to escape by canoe, however, many were killed there or their canoes overturned and were thrown into the water and over the falls. Some were chased down to the rocks along the river bank and were shot. Very few escaped and it was estimated that about 300 people were killed. The English burned all the wigwams and their contents. The Indians up river from this camp rallied and attacked the soldiers as they returned to their horses and effected a retreat. One of the Indian captives started the rumor that King Philip was at hand with 1,000 warriors which sent the English into panic and disorder then prevailed. Capt. Turner and his men pushed forward as far as Green River and he was shot while crossing. His body was found by a scouting party, which included Samuel Colby, a short time after. Capt. Holyoke then rallied the troops and made an orderly retreat to Hatfield where they found that 45 of their men were missing.^[14] After this battle and with their Captain dead, the company returned home. There is no evidence that Samuel Colby was involved in any further military actions during the remainder of King Philip’s War.

He was a representative to the General Court from Amesbury in 1689. He was tything man for several years until resigning in 1707. On 22 July 1692 Samuel signed a petition in favor of Mrs. Bradbury who was accused of witchcraft.

“In the Name of God Amen ye sixth Day of March one thousand seven hundred and fifteen or sixteen: I Samuel Colby of Almsbury… inholder:... Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament…

I Give and Bequeath to Eliabeth my Dearly Beloved Wife: Whome I Constitute… my sole executrix… my yoke of oxen and two cows at hir choice out of my stock and a three year old steer and a three year old hefer: and all my Cider Cask and all my provision Corn Meat and What so Ever Else as Rhum sugar and Cider: I also Give my sd Wife all my Tools and emplements for eather man or beast to worke with all both with in and with out: Except what I have other ways disposed of in this present instrument—I also give my sd Wife my Book of Accompts and all ye Debts deu to me there in--- I also give to my sd Wife all the money left in my house at my decease not otherways disposed of it is to be under stood if what I have given to my sd Wife is to be hir own for to dispose of as she plaseth: provided she continow a widdo in my name other ways to returne to my gran son Ichobad Colby

Item: I Give to my son Samll Colby one fifth part of a Great farme Which is in my mothars enventory more partickorly set forth: and one Bracking up plow and one half of my timbar Chain: and one half of ye shot in my chist

Item I Give to my daughter Dorothy Hoyt one feather bade and bolster : and one sheet one blanket and one coverlead: and one Cow: and two pounds ten shillings silver money

Item I Give to my gran son Ichobad Colby: all that other half of my Rawl Estate Resarved to my self more portickerly seat forth in a deed of gift to my son phillip Colby Late of Almsbury decd-- I also Give to my Gran son Ichobad Colby a sartain tract of upland and flats which I bought of Jacob Bagly: at a place in Almsbury Comonly Called Golgothy as it is bounded in a deed of seal from ye sd Bagly—I also give to ye sd Ichobad ye North end of my Now dwelling house from ye bottom of ye Celer to ye top of ye Garrate inClusesly: and one half of my two barns and half of my Cider mill and my Brick arch and the Land it stands on to gether with a Grant from ye Town of a place for a well adjoyning to ye North End of sd arch: and my chist and one half of ye shot in it: and ye iron works of my cart wheels: and two yearling steers: it is to be under stood that my Will is that if my gran son Ichobad Colby shall pasabaly and Quiatly have hold and injoy: yt other half of my Rale Estate: Resarved to my self in a deed of gift to my son phillip Colby doe then ye sd Ichobad Colby shall Rezine up to his brothers and sister all his share in his fathars Rale Estat: Given by mee

Item I give to my Gran son Samll Colby my Best Coat and my Best hat.

Item I give to my Gran son phillip Hoyt my Great Coat and a mesket—I also Constute and order my frind Jonathan Blasdel to be executer with my wife of this my last will and also to be gardin to my gran son Ichobad Colby
Samuell Colby

Signed sealed and Declared in presence Of us witness
John Wells
Thomas Colby junr
Jacob Colby His J Marke”

“A True inventory of all and singular ye goods Chattels and Credits of Samuel Colby Gentleman: decd: praised at Almsbury: this 25th: of may: 1716 by us ye subscribers as followeth

Imprimis his purse and apparel...............12 = 00 = 00
Item: too his Arms and Amonision..........01 = 10 = 00
Item: his Books...........................................01 = 00 = 00
Item: his ffeather Bead and Beding.........05 = 00 = 00
Item: too: his two oxen and two cows and a three yere: Old steer: and a three yere old hefer......26 = 00 = 00
Item too one cow and two yerling steers.07 = 00 = 00
Item too: his Cider Cask: and tools and emplements
for husbandry: And provision and drink.15 = 00 = 00
Item too: his Land and flats at a place Called
Golgothy......................................................11 = 00 = 00
Item too:his fift part of a Great farme.....30 = 00 = 00
Item too: his half of his land [  ? ] barns and orchard
which Is refered more portickerly seat forth in a deed
of giuft To his son phillip Colby decd Except what hee
hath given to his wife: by a deed: baring date july ye
second: 1712...............................................70 = 00 = 00
item too his Brick Arch and privledg for a well
.....................................................................12 = 00 = 00
item: too his Chist and shoot in it 8 ½ pd.00 = 10 = 00
...................................................................191 = 00 = 00

James Ring
Orlando Bagly His O marke”

“Debts due from the Estate of Samll Colby Late of [missing] Decased

To Mourning and funeral Charges [missing]
To Rum and sugar in time of his sickness [missing]
To Cash paid the judge of probate & register [missing]
To expences Going to Ipswich 7/9 to paid the 2 Bondsmen 10/ [missing]
To a horse & Chair to Carry the widow to Ipwich [missing]
To the widows journey to Ipswich & putting up advertising [missing]
To paid the apprisers of the deceased estat [missing]
To paid the expences of the apprisers [missing]
To paid Orlando Bagly Esqr for Swearing the [missing]
To paid Benjn Bagly for molasses [missing]
To my own time & expencs in assisting the adm[missing] In bills of the New[missing]

Erors Excpt: [missing]

Debts brought in against the Descesd Estate
Since[missing]
Due to Hezekiah Colby [missing]
Due to Ichabod Colby [missing]
Due to Philip Rowel [missing] “

"Almsbury : Datd july ye 25th: 1716: then Received of my Honrd Mother Elizabeth Colby: Executrix to my Honord fathers Estate one feather Bead and Bolster and one sheet one Covver leat and one Cow and tow pounds ten shillings silver money and more for ye use of my son phillip Hoyt: my fathars Grate Coat and a [  ? ] I say by us Received:
[  ? ] hoyt
Dorothy hoyt

James Ring
Joseph Wood His E Marke

Almsbury Datd july ye 25th: 1716 then Received of my Honord Mother Elizabeth Colby Executrix to my Honrd fathars Estate one fift part of a Great farme and one Braking up plow and half a timber Chain and half ye shot in my fathers Chist and more for ye use of my son Samll Colby: my fathars best Coat and his best hat I say By me Received
Samll S Colby his S marke

James Ring
Joseph Wood His I marke”^[15]

Children

• I. Dorothy- b.c.1668, m. 12 Jan. 1687/8 Amesbury, William Hoyt (b. 5 Sept. 1660 Salisbury, will 13 May- 5 Aug. 1728), d. after 1728

• II. Elizabeth- b. 1 June 1670, ?d.s.p.

• III. Samuel- b. 9 Mar. 1671 Amesbury, m. Dorothy Ambrose, adm. 29 Sept. 1746 Amesbury

• IV. ______- b. 3 Apr. 1672 Haverhill (daughter), d.s.p.

• V. Philip- int. 1 May 1703 Amesbury & Salisbury, Anne Webster (inv. 30 Sept. 1760), adm. May 1715

Sources

1. ↑ Essex County Court Records- Vol. III, p. 253
2. ↑ Old Norfolk County Records-Vol. VI, p. 175
3. ↑ Old Norfolk County Records-Vol. VI, p. 176
4. ↑ Old Norfolk County Records-Vol. VIII, p. 40
5. ↑ Oaths of Freemen and Allegiance in Old Norfolk County- Alonzo Quint, NEHGR- Vol. 5, p. 202
6. ↑ Norfolk county Deeds, Book 4, Page 2, Samuel Colby deed to Ebenezer Blaisdell. Note: Norfolk County was one of the 4 original counties laid out in Massachusetts Bay Colony. created May10, 1643 and part of it became Essex County, the remaining becoming part of Rockingham and Strafford counties in New Hampshire.
7. ↑ Map showing Macy-Colby House which was the home of Susannan Colby Witheridge/Whitredge and Golgotha Marker.
8. ↑ Soldiers in King Philip’s War- George Madison Bodge, Rockwell & Churchill Press, Boston, 1896- p. 249
9. ↑ Soldiers in King Philip’s War- George Madison Bodge, Rockwell & Churchill Press, Boston, 1896- p. 252
10. ↑ Soldiers in King Philip’s War- George Madison Bodge, Rockwell & Churchill Press, Boston, 1896- pp. 235-6
11. ↑ Soldiers in King Philip’s War- George Madison Bodge, Rockwell & Churchill Press, Boston, 1896- p. 236
12. ↑ Soldiers in King Philip’s War- George Madison Bodge, Rockwell & Churchill Press, Boston, 1896- p. 237 quoting MA- Vol. 68, p. 225
13. ↑ MA- Vol. 68, p. 228; Soldiers in King Philip’s War- p. 238
14. ↑ Soldiers in King Philip’s War- pp. 243-7
15. ↑ Essex County Probate Court- docket No. 5937

• David W. Hoyt, The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury Massachusetts, David Hoyt, Snow & Farnham, Providence, 1900- Vol. I, p. 105
• Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850. Newbury
• Frederick Lewis Weis, The Colby Family in Early America, Caledonia, The Colonial Press, pub 1970.
• George Sheldon, A History of Deerfield, Massachusetts, Vol I, page 159
• Society of Colonial Wars, Index of Ancestors, 1922, page 113
• Colby Clan Ancestor Sheets, by Various members

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Ed Democracy for creating WikiTree profile Colby-587 through the import of dfam-111013.GED on Nov 10, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Ed and others.