Rachel (Unknown) Spaulding (abt. 1622 - 1670)

Born about 1622 in England

Wife of Edward Spaulding — married about 1642 in Braintree, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 5 Apr 1670 at about age 48 in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Biography

Rachel was probably born in England about 1622.

She was married, as his second wife, to Edward Spaulding about 1642 , in Braintree (Chelmsford was not founded until 1652). ^[1]

Edward Spalding and his wife Rachel sold a house and lands in 1654. ^[2]

Rachel was named executor of her husband's estate, however she died shortly after, and sons John and Edward administered both wills. ^[3]

Rachel was buried on April 5, 1670 in the Forefathers Burying Ground, in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts. ^[4]

Research Notes

Rachel's LNAB is Unknown.

• The argument that Rachel was the daughter of William Needham is based on a statement by Pope that Edward Spaulding was mentioned in William Needham's will. However, that will was dated 10 June 1690 and probated 26 December 1690^[5]; which is a generation after the deaths of Rachel and Edward, and fifty years after the death of William. Also noted on the profile for this William is that he probably had no wife or children.

Sources

1. ↑ Torrey, Clarence Almon. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1985, p. 694. [1]
2. ↑ Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Massachusetts... (Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1965) "Spalding" p. 427
3. ↑ Index to the Probate Records of the County of Middlesex, Massachusetts. Cambridge, MA, USA: 1912. Flint, James, comp. Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Index, 1648-1870
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 10 March 2022), memorial page for Rachel Needham Spaulding (1622–5 Apr 1670), Find A Grave: Memorial #5004693, citing Forefathers Burial Ground, Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by James S. Hardeman (contributor 1569081).
5. ↑ Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Massachusetts... (Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1965) "Spalding" p. 325

• Spaulding, Stephen Waasa, How Edward Spalding, a Puritan Farmer from the Norfolk–Suffolk Border, Came to Prosper in New England, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 2019) Vol. 173, WN 691, Page 229.

• Torrey, Clarence Almon. Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, 1985)

• Jordan, John W. Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1915, Vol. 1, p. 197-202)

• Savage, James : "Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England"; volume 4, page 118 (Spaulding)