Susanna (UNKNOWN) Whitredge (1610 - 1689)

Born 1610 in England

Wife of William Whitridge — married about 1663 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 8 Jul 1689 at about age 79 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

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Susanna (UNKNOWN) Whitredge migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Disputed Origins

Some say she was the Susanna (Haddon) baptized 24 Oct 1613 in Great Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, England^[1] but all sources do not agree that that female was the same as she who married 1) Waterman and 2) Anthony Colby. Anderson does not recognize these origins:

"The identity of Susanna ______ is one of the perennial mysteries of the period. Several authors have suggested that Susanna's maiden name was Haddon given that Colby and Garrett Hadden were neighbors and associates. Others have suggested that she was the daughter of William Sargent, and others that she was a Nutting, all without support. Her identity is currently unknown. "^[2]

Biography

She was born abut 1610 in England. She arrived in New England in 1630.^[3]

Susanna, widow of Waterman, married about 1633 Anthony Colby. After he died she married William Whitredge,^[4] (seen also in records as Whitteridge)^[5]

Did she also marry Nutting?^[6]

William Osgood and the other part owners of the old mill at Salisbury were brought to account for failing to pay the town its share of lumber agreed upon in return for allowing the mill to be built in Salisbury. Osgood had to sue the heirs of the other owners, including "Susan Whitrige, administratrix of Anthony Colbye," to recover boards for Salisbury, which he did at court at the September Term in 1682. Among the depositions establishing the number of boards due were several describing immigration to Massachusetts, including that of John Pressy "aged about fourty-four years, testified that the first summer he came into this country, in 1651...I do well remember the saw mill at Salisbury was one thing that was accounted a rare thing and I did go see it and I did see it going and sawing boards that very summer"^[7]

At that September Term, 1682 the selectmen of Amesbury described Susannah as: “an ancient and helpless widow belonging to the town of Amesbury… notwithstanding a comfortable and competent maintenance being allowed unto her out of the estate of her former deceased husband Anthony Coleby… yet she being a woman attended with many infirmities both of body and mind, is utterly incapable of doing anything that may contribute to her livelihood or comfortable subsistence… she living alone, wanting such help and attendance as may be convenient, continually laboring under such infirmities of body as usualy attend old age often times sick and many times destitute of divers necessaries and always of the conveniences of life, any otherwise than she is supplied by one or two of her children, whose families in the meantime want the same at home, and very much defective and decayed in her understanding.”^[8] She died 8 Jul 1689 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts.^[9]

Probate Discord

The heirs of Anthony and Susannah were then at odds with Samuel, administrator of his mother’s estate:

“To ye much Honrd Jonathan Corwin Esqr Judge of probates for ye county of Essex in his majeste: province of ye massachusets Bay in Newengld: with whome soever els may be concerned

In behalf of our selves & others under ye same relaton & circumstances These are humbly to present unto your serious & prudent consideration yt we whose names are underwritten do humbly conceive ourselves to be interested in some right & title to some parts of ye estate of our grandfather Anthony Collby formerly of Salisbury deceased & left in ye hands of our grandmother Susanna relict of or sd grandfather Anthony Collby Administratrix to his estate. And that not only in regard yt we are ye natural children or Are married to ye natural children of the deceased natural children of or sd grandfather & grandmother Anthony & Susanna Collby afterward Susanna Whithredg deceased: but also by virtue of an order of ye Honrd court held at Salisbury ye 9th day of Aprill 1661 disposing & ordering ye division of sd estate And ye Division thereof consequent upon & according to ye order presented unto & allowed & confirmed by act of court held at Salisbury: 14: 2 : mo: 1663. As also such of us as have been married unto ye daughters of John Collby deceased oldest son to sd Anthony Collby & Susanna his wife, by virtue of ye Last will & testament of sd John Collby. And whereas we are informed yt Samll Collby of Almsbury ye only sone surviving (although not ye eldest) to sd Anthony Collby & Susanna his wife hath letters of administration granted him unto ye estate of sd Susanna Whithredg deceased, and hath exhibited a large account of debt from ye estate amounting & consisting of particulars as we humbly conceive to be more numerous then either rational or just or commendable As also yt ye sd Samll Collby designeth a further application to Authority for liberty for alienation of more of sd estate We humbly Address ourselves to ye Honrd Judge or court of probates where we think we ought for ye interposing & improvement of yt authority for ye prevention of ye evacuation of ye estate where unto we have right (as we think) out of half gills or gills and ye exhausting & wasting thereof by such embezelling trifles. As also crave your assistance & advice in order unto due and regular methods whereby & how we may be orderly possessed of our rights. Thus crave your pardon we subscribe our selves

Datd: Septr

28:1698

Yor humble petitioners

Thomas Challis

Orlondo Bagly

Ephraim Weld

Ebenezer Blasdell”

"Petition of Thomas Challis, Orlando Bagly, Ephraim Weed and Ebenezer Blasdell for some part of the estate of their grandfather Anthony Collby formerly of Salisbury left in the hands of their grandmother Susanna widow of Anthony, administratrix to his estate, afterward Susanna Whithredg, deceased: the Court Ordered the division of the estate Apr. 9, 1661, and it was allowed 14: 2m: 1663. Also such of us as have married the daughters of John Collby, deceased, eldest son of said Anthony and Susanna, hath letters of administration granted him unto the estate of Susanna Whithredg, deceased, and hath exhibited a large account of debt from the estate and also he designeth a further application for liberty for alienation of more of said estate.

We address ourselves to the court: where we think we ought for ye interposing & improvement of yt authority for ye prevention of ye evacuation of yt estate whereunto we have right (as we think) out of half gills or gills, and ye exhausting & wasting thereof by such embezelling trifles, also crave your advice whereby we may be orderly possessed of our rights. Dated Sept. 28, 1698.

“Jonathan Corwin Esqr Judge of Probate of Wills &c To Samll Coleby of Almsbury Greeting-

Whereas there is Remaining Severall prcells of land belonging to ye Estate of Anthoney Coleby late of Almsberry Decd. That have not been Administerd on We[ ] are therefore to Cite you ye aforesd Samll Coleby to Appear before ye aforsd Jonathan Corwin Esqr at Salem on ye first munday of December Next Ensueing at one of ye Clock of ye sd day at ye house of mr. ffrances Ellis in Salem aforesd to take Administration on said Estate or upon Neglect itt will be granted to some other prson

John Higginson Regr

Dated at Salem Novembr 16th 1699”

Citation of Samuell Coleby to appear before Jonathan Corwin, Esq., at the house of Mr. Frances Elles to take administration on the remaining estate of Anthoney Coleby of Amesbury, deceased. Dated Salem, Nov. 16 1699, Said citation read to Samuell Colby Nov 18, 1699 by Ebenezer Blasdell, Constable of Amesbury."^[10]

Estate Settlement

Susanna's small estate was divided on 4 Aug 1700. Samuel, as the eldest surviving son, was given a double portion. Equal shares were given to the children of John Colby, the children of Isaac Colby, the children of Thomas Colby, the children of Sarah Colby, the children of Rebecca Colby and the children of Mary Colby.

“Samll Colby Admr [torn] of Susanah Colby… the acctt of his admcon on sd estate exhibited to the Honble bartho Gedney Esqr Judge of probate of will &c a for sd County Novembr pmo. 1697

The sd Estate Cr

P the Real Estate as p Inventory.............143 00 0

P the psonal Estate as p ditto.....................8 15 0

..................................................................£151 15 0…

Allowances for the following charges paid & disbursemts by him made since he accepted sd trust

The sd Estate D

It due to my self as appr p acct of [ ? ]....38 17 00

It due to Hanah Colby alies Blaisdell Admx of the

Estate of Thomas Coleby...........................44 14 3

It stating the acct. & recording ye Settlmt.........5 0

It [  ? ]................................................................4 0

It allowed ye Admtr for his trouble............2 0 0

...................................................................£86 10 3

Remains to Balance..................................65 4 9

.................................................................£151 15 0

Samuel Collby Admtr”

“Acct by Saml Colby 1700. Aug.5

an account to my charges about my mother whittredgs estate and with regard to my administration there on

It for my atendenc at salem suparear court fower
 : days........................................................................8 0

It for an atorny at ye next suparier court at salem

his fee..................................................................12 0

It my owne attendanc at ye same court three

days........................................................................9 0

It for an attorny at ipswedge separeor courte

his fee...................................................................12 0

It my self atendng the same courte three days.09 0

It for a patition puting in to the court to sell land.1 0

It for the courts granting liberty to sell land

mony......................................................................3 0

It for fetching a coppy of ye courts order 3-0: and

payd to ye clerk.....................................................6 0

It for a dede writing of 3 pesses of land............3 0

It my selfe and a lawer making sale of land one

day..........................................................................4 0

It to a justes for taking acknowledgment of the sale

of land:...................................................................2 0

It for my selfe being sited by yr honer to tak

administration 2 days..........................................4 0

It my self 2 days and [  ? ] king: one to give [  ? ]

acount last time:...................................................6 0

........................................................................3 19 0

Wittneses attendance & hoaving ym & ye admr

attendance....................................................0 8 0

.......................................................................4 7 0

Deduct for abatemt on Severall Articles...0 17 0

.......................................................................3 10 0”

“this is an account of the charges which hah not yet bine givene in but now is givene in to the honorerable Jonathan Curwin esquire… by Samuell Colby administrator to the estate of Susannah Whitteridg:

It to one days work to [ ] the men appointed to

appris the estat............................................00 02 00

It to three men to apprise the estat..........00 09 00

It to my own time to informe the prizers.04 00

It to the apprizer coming to the cort to be

sworne..........................................................00 09 00

It to my attendens of them in so doing....00 03 00

It payd to the Regerster in mony..............00 04 00”

“Wee whose names ar under written being appointed and sworn to apprize twenty four pound and ij d of ye remaining estate of Susanah Whitteridge Late Decesd according to ye true value thereof In mony and to make Report thereof to ye Judg of probate att newbery the Last Tuesday of September next wee have also don for whearas thear was a lot by ye division cald ye great farme apprized att 50 pounds and thare remains fourteen pound and 9d fore us to Apprize as mony wee do Judg It worth three pounds and no more and A Lott In buggsmore divition which was Apprised att tenn pounds wee do account It worth three pound tenn shillings In mony and no more this Is to the best of our Judgment concerning this thing this 24 sept 1700

John ffoott

Jno Wadleigh

Thomas fflowller”

"Whereas ye estate of Susannah Whitredge late of Salisbury Decd was formerly settled by ye Honble Bartholmew Gidney Esqr [  ? ] 1 Nov. 1697 and it now appeareing that two prcels of ye land given by Samll Coleby [  ? ] to ye sd estate was not ye land of ye sayd Susanah Colby decd at ye time of her death she having given them to her son Thomas Whittetredge in her life time as [  ? ] Record whereof doth it may Appear, & ye whole Remaining Estate after ye [  ? ] further charges deducted hath been Apprized by three ffitt & indifferent prsons by me Appointed & Sworne for that End. Who have made here set under there hands that ye land is worth six pounds ten shillings & no pence- wch is to be deduced as foloweth

To Samll Colbey- Eldest son.........................1 12 6

To ye Children of John Colby viz John Sary Mary

ffrances Elizabeth Thomas & Hanah..........0 16 3

to ye children of Isacc Colby to be devided amongst
 : them viz To Anthony Eliz. Rebecca Sarah Dorothy

Grace & Abraham.........................................0 16 3

To ye Children of Thomas Colby viz Thomas Hannah
 : Is ace Abraham & Jacob................................0 16 3

To ye children of Sarah Colby viz Orlando &

Sarah..............................................................0 16 3

To ye children of Rebecca Colby viz Sarah mary

Rebecca Susannah Mary..............................0 16 3

To ye children of Mary Colby viz William Phillip

Charles Elizabeth & Jacob............................0 16 3

To be devided amongst them.....................6 10 0”

“By ye Honble Jonathan Corwin Esqr Judge of Probate &c August 5th: 1700

Whereas ye Estate of Susannah Whitteridge late of Salisbury decd was settled by ye Honble Bartho Gidney Esqr late judge of Probate… Novembr 1st 1697 and itt now appeareing that two prcells of ye Land given in by Samll Colby ye Admr to ye said Estate viz apice of land called in ye Inventory half ye ferry meadow was given by sd Susannah Whittiridge to her son Thomas Whitteridge by deed of gift altho called in said Deed a piece of meadow by cars bridge and also a piece of land called in ye Inventory a Lott neer ye North Meadow, & was given by ye sd decd to her sd son Thomas by Deed of gift & is called in said deed an upland lott Lying by ye birchen meadow wch two pieces of land do Appear to be ye same mentioned in the by ye Oaths of John Tucksberry & Thomas Coleby on file, and ye sd Admr causeing allowen for ye same and a farther settlement of said Estate

The sd Estate is Cr

Pr ye Balance Remaining due on ye former acctt

settled..........................................................65 4 9

Pr ye widow Whitteredges Right in a prcell of land

called ye [ ? ] Wch was not mentioned.....3 10 -

Before apprized att 3£ 10/........................68 14 9

The sd Estate is D

It ye aforsd: prcels of land called ye ferry

meadow......................................................25 “ “

It ye aforsd prcels of land called ye North

meadow......................................................15 “ “

It Sundry charges since ye former acctt as pr ye

acctt on file Appears....................................3 10 “

It allowing ye acctt 5s Setling & Deviding ye Estate

5-0.................................................................“ 10 “

It Taking & Registring this Acctt & Settlemt & coppie

of ye settlemt...............................................0 5 “

It Takeing out of Coppies to carry to ye superior

court..............................................................0 3 “

It ye Admr for 2 days to Render this acctt.0 6 “

.....................................................................44 14 -

Samuel Colby…

Jonathan Corwin…

To sundry charges since

To ye apprizers for Apprise ye Remaining

Estate............................................................= 9 =

To for ye time in Comeing to be Sworne..= 9 =

To Swareing ye Apprizers...........................= 4 =

To ye Administrator for his further time &

expence........................................................= 8 =

46 4 -“ ^[11]

The probate judge, Jonathan Corwin, was the infamous judge at the Salem Witchcraft Trials. Samuel and Elizabeth were given Susannah Martin’s cradle to rock their children or grandchildren to sleep. Were they given the cradle before or after Jonathan Corwin had her executed? One has to wonder how Samuel felt about having to deal with Corwin concerning his mother’s estate… his signature placed just below his own.

Children

1. John Colby
2. Sarah Colby
3. Unknown male
4. Samuel Colby
5. Isaac Colby
6. Rebeccah Colby
7. Mary Colby
8. Thomas Colby

Sources

1. ↑ England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=bivri_englandbirth&h=1706306&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt Baptism date: 24 Oct 1613 Baptism place: Great Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, England
2. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins - online database at New England Genealogical and Historical Society, p. 415
3. ↑ Filby, P. William, ed., Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Gale Research : Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010.
4. ↑ Clarence A Torrey, U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2012.
5. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9ZZ-B62?cc=2106411&wc=MCBL-NZ9%3A361613201%2C361757101 : 22 May 2014), Essex > Deed index (grantee) 1640-1799 A-Hac > image 321 of 637; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. Grantee Thomas Colby Sr., Grantor Susannah Whitteridge 25 July 1700. Liber 14 Page 3 Salisbury. [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9ZZ-B62?i=320&cc=2106411&cat=209907 image 321 of 637.
6. ↑ David W. Hoyt, Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury,Massachusetts, with some related Families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich, and Hampton : Reprint from Picton Press Rockport, Maine 1996, page 104
7. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County: 1636-1686- Salem, 1911- Vol. VIII, pp. 250, 373-5
8. ↑ Essex Quarterly Courts- Vol. VIII, p. 388
9. ↑ Anderson, p 415
10. ↑ Essex County Probate Files- Docket No. 5896
11. ↑ Essex Co. Registry of Probate- Docket No. 29799

See also:

• Whittredge, David A., The English Origins of William¹ Whitredge of Ipswich, Massachusetts, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 2010) Vol. 164, WN 654, Page 142.