Gershom Rice (1667 - 1768)

Born 9 May 1667 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 19 Dec 1768 at age 101 in Worcester, Massachusetts

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Gershom Rice was born on 9 May 1667 at Marlborough, MA. [S4,2,5] He was the son of Thomas Rice and Mary King. [S6] Gershom Rice married Elizabeth Balcom, daughter of Henry Balcom and Elizabeth Haynes. [S7,3,2] Gershom Rice died on 19 December 1768 at Worcester, MA; aged 101y. According to Ward, a tribute to Gershom Rice appeared in the Boston Gazette. In part it reads:

"Worcester, 19 December 1768. This day died here Mr. Gershom Rice, who completed the age of 101 years some time last May, besides retained his reason and understanding in a very good degree to the last.

"He enjoyed a long and almost uninterrupted state of bodily health; was able, till very lately, to travel on foot a mile or two a day among his neighbors; eat his food with a good appetite and sleep quietly at night without any attendance.

"He was naturally of a very pleasant disposition, very courteous in his behavior towards all, and withal grave and serious. Of late, the decay of Nature came on him fast; and he went calmly and quietly at last, expressing his hope and trust in his Redeemer for admission to a better world."

He was one of the "fathers of the town", and occupied many situations of public trust and confidence. The first place of worship in Worcester was at his house. [S8,9,10,11] He was buried at Plot 251, Old Common Cemetery, Worcester, MA. [S11]

He resided circa 1696 at Groton, CT. [S12]

According to the Abstracts of Early Worcester Land Titles (copied from Middlesex County records): "Gershom Rice of Groton, Conn. and his wife, Elizabeth, sold to her brothers, John and Joseph Balcom, of Sudbury, November 12, 1709, for forty and Two pounds Some part in money the other part in moveables It being part of the Portion of my wife Elisabeth of her father Henry Balcoms Estate formerly of Charlestown in the County of Middlesex..."[S13]

According to the Abstracts of Land Records for New London and Groton, CT: On 28 April 1704 James Morgan and Nehemiah Smith, on behalf of the town, sell to Gershom Rice ten acres of meetinghouse finishing land .... joining westerly to his own land, which was laid out to Daniel Lane. The deed was recorded 23 July 1708. On 8 May 1708 Nehemiah Smith, Esq, of Groton to Gershom Rice of Groton and Jonas Rice of Sudbury, MA, 2 parcels: 200 acres in Groton, formerly New London... 50 acres in Groton (partially) ... deed recorded 16 May 1709, John Avery, John Seabury, Andrew Kinnicum, witnesses.

On 19 May 1709 Jonas and Gershom Rice make a division of land ... deed recorded 20 May 1709, Andrew Kinnicum, Ephraim Rogers, Joseph Dean, witnesses.

On 27 Feb 1709/10 Gershom Rice, husbandman, to Jonathan Smith, 40 acres ... consideration £19 ... witnesses Nehemiah Smith, Joseph Woodmansee, Lydia Smith, witnesses.

On 10 Feb 1709/10 Gershom Rice of Groton for £40 in money at eight shillings per ounce ... to Nathaniel Brown ... deed recorded 8 March 1709/10, Aaron Stark, Abel Stark, witnesses.

On 22 Jan 1713/14 Gershom Rice of Groton, yeoman, to Nathaniel Brown ... recorded 22 Jan 1713/14, Nehemiah Smith, Lydia Smith, Mary Cleveland (her mark), witnesses.

On 29 April 1714 Gershom Rice to Aaron Stark ... recorded 29 April 1714 (Gershom Rice personally appeared), Edward Yeomans, Nehmiah Smith, witnesses.

On 20 April 1714 Gershom Rice of Groton, yeoman, to Jonathan Smith, cordwinder ... recorded 20 Apr 1714, Lydia Smith, Dority Smith, Elizabeth Rice, witnesses. (undated) Gershom Rice of Groton to Nehemiah Smith, land at Nowayanck Neck ... recorded 8 Feb 1714, Lydia Smith, Elizabeth Hayns, witnesses.14 A letter dated 1 April 1713 and addressed to Elizabeth Rice at Groton, CT: from "Elizabeth Balcom to her loving daughter, Elizabeth Rice, living in Groton." Letter also referenced grandchildren Gershom, Jr, Elizabeth, Matthias.12

Ward cites a petition dated 13 October 1713 signed by Gershom and Jonas "of Marlboro" as evidence that Gershom had moved back to Marlborough by the fall of 1713. (The petition was presented to the General Court expressing desire to enter upon a new settlement of Worcester.) We have found no other evidence that Gershom had returned to Marlborough in 1713. Rather, evidence suggests that Gershom may have still been living at Groton. [S15]

From the Abstracts of Early Worcester Land Titles: " William Payne, of Boston, Blacksmith, sold to Gershom Rice of Groton in the County of New London and Colony of Connecticut, yeoman, May 26, 1712 for Fifty pounds of good Silver current money, 'All the Messuage or Tenement with all the land whereon ye Same Doth Stand, and is thereunto belonging and appertaining Situate Standing and being in Worcester in the County of Middlesex in New England Containing Fifty acres more or less ..... '. "Deed signed by William Payne, and Elisabeth Payne, his wife, with her mark, in the presence of Jonas Rice and Edward Weaver, Sen., and recorded at Charlestown Oct 19, 1713, Book 16, p. 383."16 On 21 August 1721 Gershom Rice conveyed 103 acres of land in Worcester to John Duncan. [S8]

On 21 August 1721 Gershom Rice conveyed 103 acres of land in Worcester to his daughter Sarah and her husband Daniel. [S8]

Children of Gershom Rice and Elizabeth Balcom:

Lieut. Gershom Rice Jr, Elizabeth Rice, Abishai Rice, Sarah Rice, Matthias Rice, Ruth Rice © Copyright 2002, 2014 by the Edmund Rice (1638) Association

Sources

• Jordan, John W. Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1915, Vol. 3, 1320-1322)
• Find A Grave: Memorial #60849799

[S1] Andrew Henshaw Ward, Rice Family (Ward), pp. 7, 26, 27. [S3] Rice Gen'l Register, p. 3. [S2] Edmund Rice (1638) Association, Rice Family - Supp 1, p. 3. [S1] Andrew Henshaw Ward, Rice Family (Ward), p. 7. [S22] Marlborough MA, Marlborough, MA, Vital Records, p. 155. [S13] Boston Gazette, 26 Dec 1768. [S1] Andrew Henshaw Ward, Rice Family (Ward), pp. 7, 26. [S1] Andrew Henshaw Ward, Rice Family (Ward), p. 27. [S13] Boston Gazette, 26 Dec 1768, 26 Dec 1768. [S18] Gravestone inscription for person cited, Worcester. [S1090] Editors, Worcester Society of Antiquity. [S1] Andrew Henshaw Ward, Rice Family (Ward), p. 26. [S1152] Worcester Society of Antiquity, Early Worcester Land Titles, pp. 173-4. [S1156] Judith Ellen Johnson, "Re: Report for Rice Newsletter," e-mail to George W King, 18 November 2002, cites: Mrs. Sylvester B. Butler, Abstracts of Land Records, Vols. 1-5, 10 (New London and Groton Town Land Records). [S1] Andrew Henshaw Ward, Rice Family (Ward), pp. 26-27. [S1152] Worcester Society of Antiquity, Early Worcester Land Titles, pp. 65-66.

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