Richard Kimball (1659 - 1733)

Born 20 Nov 1659 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Spafford) Kimball — married 19 Sep 1682 (to 14 Feb 1713) in Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Husband of Mehitable (Day) Kimball — married 25 Nov 1714 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 21 Jan 1733 at age 73 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Douglass Washburn [send private message]

Please do not edit this profile without reading the Research Notes section below. There were two Richard Kimballs who were first cousins and to confuse things, they both married Mehitable Day. Please read the Research Notes for more details.

Biography

Captain Richard Kimball (also sometimes called Cornet ^[1]) was born 20 Nov 1659 in Hampton, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, son of Thomas Kimball and Mary (Smith) Kimball. ^{[1] [2]} Some time after 1660 he moved with his family to that part of Rowley, Essex Co., Massachusetts, that later became Bradford, Massachusetts. ^[1]

A few months after the outbreak of King Philip's War, on the night of 2 May 1676, (when Richard was about 15 or 16 years old) three native Americans (Peter, Andrew, and Symon) attacked the Kimball home along the Merrimac River. Richard's father, Thomas, was killed and his mother and five of his siblings (Joanna, Thomas, Joseph, Priscilla, and John) were taken captive. They remained captives of the native Americans in the wilderness for 45 days, until Chief Wanalancet of the Pennacook Indians intervened and arranged for their release on 13 Jun 1676. ^{[1] [3]}

At the age of 22 Richard married Sarah Spofford, the daughter of John Spofford and Elizabeth (Scott) Spofford, on 7 Sep 1682 in Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts. ^{[4] [1]} They continued to live in Bradford, Massachusetts, where Richard became a prominent man in church and town affairs. ^[1] In the militia service he was a Cornet, but later rose to the rank of Captain. ^[5] As a result he is often called "Captain" or "Cornet." ^[1]

Richard and Sarah had nine children, all born in Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts: ^{[6] [1]}

• Richard Kimball, b. 7 Aug 1683 ^[6] ; d. 19 Aug 1683 ^{[1] [7]}
• Sarah Kimball, b. 5 Jan 1684 / 85 ^{[6] [1]}
• Samuel Kimball, b. 20 Mar 1685 / 86 ^{[6] [1]}
• Mary Kimball, b. 20 Jan 1687 / 88 ^{[6] [1]}
• Richard Kimball, b. 27 Mar 1689 ^{[6] [1]}
• Hannah Kimball, b. 19 Mar 1691 / 92 ^{[6] [1]}
• Ruth Kimball, b. 1 Feb 1693 ^{[6] [1]}
• Mehitable Kimball, b. 10 Aug 1699 ^{[6] [1]}
• Joseph Kimball, b. 29 Dec 1701 ^{[6] [1]}

On 14 Feb 1713 / 14, Richard's first wife, Sarah, died at the age of 51 years ^{[7] [1] [8]} and she was buried in the Ancient Burying Grounds at Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts. ^[8] Nine months later, on 25 Nov 1714 in Bradford, Richard (age 55) married as his second wife, Mrs. Mehitable (Day) Kimball, ^{[4] [1] [9] [10] [5]} the 45 year old widow of his first cousin, Richard Kimball, son of Benjamin Kimball, ^{[1] [9]} They do not appear to have had any additional children together.

Richard wrote out his will on 28 Dec 1732, ^[11] and died on 21 Jan 1732 / 33 (in his 73rd year) in Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts. ^{[7] [1]} He was buried in the Ancient Burying Ground in Bradford. ^[12]He was survived by his second wife, Mehitable. ^[11]

Richard's will was probated on 5 Feb 1733 and mentions specifically, his "wife, Mehitable", and his "eldest son, Samuel." ^[11] He made what he considered a comfortable provision for his wife as follows: ^{[11] [1]}

Wife Mehitable is to have the west end of the dwelling house and the use of my cows which she shall choose and that they shall be kept for her summer and winter by my executors; said executors shall also provide for her comfortable going to and from the House of God.

Moreover she shall have yearly from sd exrs 10 bush. Indian corn, 4 bush. of rye, 1 bu. of wheat, 2 bu. of Malt, 12 pounds of sheeps wool, six pounds of flax, 120 pounds of pork, fifty pounds of beef; also they shall provide her with sufficient fire wood at her door, all these while she shall remain my widow

and further more my will is that my said wife shall have of my household stuff viz. a frying pan, a warming pan and half the bedding made by us since our marriage and all the household stuff she brought at our marriage and also 20s worth more of what she shall choose.

Item. My will is that my beloved wife be buried at the charge and expense of mine exrs if she remain my widow.

Research Notes

The Tale of the Two Richard Kimball's

There were two Richard Kimball's of similar age, both living in Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and they have been confused by some researchers. Not only were they first cousins of each other, and live in the same town, but they also both married the same woman (although not at the same time.) This situation has been well documented by several researchers, particularly Morrison ^[1]. Stearns ^[9], Savage ^[10], and Beers ^[5] also mention key events in their lives. This was possible because their lives are well documented in the primary Birth ^[6], Marriage ^[4], and Death ^[7] records of Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts for this time frame. A brief summary of their interrelationship is as follows (see individual profiles for detailed sourcing):

The younger of the two cousins, was Richard Kimball (1665 - 1711), the son of Benjamin Kimball (1637 - 1696) and paternal grandson of Richard Kimball (1595 - 1675). This Richard (not the one of the profile above) was born in the part of Rowley, Massachusetts, that later became Bradford and then at the age of 27 married 23 year old Mehitable Day there on 6 Sep 1692. They had several children, including a son named Richard (b. 9 Jan 1711) just to make things more interesting. Richard, the son of Benjamin, died the next day at the age of 45, leaving Mehitable a widow with a newborn and six other children ranging in ages from about 3 to 18, living in Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts. (In Morrison's genealogy of the Kimball family ^[1], this Richard is Person No. 26 on Page 59)

The older of the two cousins is the subject of the profile above - Capt. Richard Kimball (1659 -1732) the son of Thomas Kimball, and having the same paternal grandfather as the other Richard, making them first cousins. This Capt. Richard Kimball was about 6 years older and was born in Hampton, Massachusetts, that became Hampton, New Hampshire, on 20 Nov 1659. He came to Bradford, Massachusetts, as a boy with his parents, and at the age of 22 married Sarah Spofford there on 7 Sep 1682. They had nine children, born in Bradford, including two sons named Richard - Richard, who died in infancy in 1683; and another Richard born in 1689. Sarah died on 14 Feb 1713 / 14 at about 53 years of age, leaving Capt. Richard Kimball a widower with eight surviving children ranging in age from 10 to 29. (In Morrison's genealogy of the Kimball family ^[1], this Capt. Richard is Person No. 23 on Page 57)

The 55 year old Capt. Richard Kimball then married his first cousin's widow, Mrs. Mehitable (Day) Kimball (age 45, who had been a widow for 3 years) on 25 Nov 1714. This caused Mehitable Day to have two husbands, both of which were named Richard Kimball. When their families were combined they had 16 children with two named Sarah, and three named Richard (one of which died in infancy).

Mehitable (Day) Kimball's Death Not Recorded

So far, we have found no reliable record of Mehitable's death and / or burial. Her Memorial on Find A Grave ^[13] erroneously gives her death as 1716, but give no source and says burial site is unknown. A search of Bradford Death records showed no likely record. ^[7] We know that it is erroneous because her second husband, Capt. Richard Kimball, made out his will on 28 Dec 1732 leaving specific provision for his widow, ^[11] indicating she was still alive at that time. Her death, therefore, had to be AFTER 1732.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24} Morrison, Leonard A., and Stephen P. Sharples. History of the Kimball Family in America 1634 - 1897 (Published by Damrell & Upham, Boston, Massachusetts, 1897, 734 pages.) - Person No. 23; Page(s): 43, 57
2. ↑ Dow, Joseph. History of the Town of Hampton, New Hampshire (Salem, MA, 1893) Vol. 2, Page 777
3. ↑ Savage, James, "Savage's Genealogical Dictionary of the First Planters", Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, Maryland. (1860 - 1862) - Vol. 3
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 -- Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts Marriage Records
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Beers, J. H., Commemorative Biographical Record of Tolland and Windham Counties, Connecticut (J.H. Beers, Chicago, 1903) (1358 pages) Vol. 1, Page 177.
6. ↑ ^{6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10} Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 -- Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts Birth Records
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 -- Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts, Death Records
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Find A Grave Memorial# 18149449 for Sarah (Spofford) Kimball (1661 - 1713) buried in the Ancient Burying Ground, Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Stearns, Ezra S. Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire (Lewis Publishing Company, 1908) - Vol. 1, Page 10
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England (Boston, Little, Brown and Company, 1862) - Vol. 3
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4} Massachusetts Wills and Probate Records, 1635 - 1991: Last Will and Testament of Richard Kimball No. 15728, written 28 Dec, 1732, Probated 5 Feb 1733
12. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 18149447 for Capt. Richard Kimball (1659 - 1733) buried in the Ancient Burying Ground, Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
13. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial # 37907241 for Mehitable (Day) Kimball - burial site unknown - presumed to be somewhere in Essex Co., Massachusetts

• Dow, Joseph. History of the Town of Hampton, New Hampshire (Salem, MA, 1893) Vol. 2, Page 777 - showing Richard Kimball born 20 Nov 1659, son of Thomas Kimball and wife Mary.
• Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 -- Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts Marriage Records - showing showing Richard Kimball, and Sarah Spofford, married Sept. 19, 1682 ; another Richard Kimball and Mehetabel Day married Sept. 6, 1692; and then finally Richard, Capt., and Mrs. Mehitabel Kimbal (widow), married Nov. 25, 1714
• Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 -- Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts Birth Records - showing Richard Kimball, s. Richard and Sarah, born Aug. 7, 1683. ; Sarah Kimball, d. Richard and Sarah, born Jan. 5, 1684 ; Samuel Kimball, s. Richard and Sarah, born Mar. 30, 1685.  ; Samuel Kimball, s. Richard and Sarah, born Mar. 12, 1686  : Mary Kimball, d. Richard and Sarah, born Jan. 29, 1687-8.  ; Richard Kimball, s. Richard and Sarah, born May 29, 1689  ; Hannah [Kemball.], d. Richard and Sarah, born Mar. 19, 1691-2. ; Ruth Kimball , d. Richard and Sarah [sr.], born Feb. 1, 1693-4 ; Mehetabel Kimball, d. Richard and Sarah, born Oct. 10, 1699  ; Joseph Kimball, s. Richard and Sarah, Dec. 29, 1701
• Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 -- Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts, Death Records - showing Sarah Kimball, w. Capt. Richard, died Feb. 14, 1713, a. 51 y ; Richard Kimball, Capt., died Jan. 21, 1732-3. [in his 73d y.]
• Morrison, Leonard A., and Stephen P. Sharples. History of the Kimball Family in America 1634 - 1897 (Published by Damrell & Upham, Boston, Massachusetts, 1897, 734 pages.) - Person No. 23; Page(s): 43, 57
• Stearns, Ezra S. Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire (Lewis Publishing Company, 1908) - Vol. 1, Page 10
• Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England (Boston, Little, Brown and Company, 1862) - Vol. 3
• Find A Grave Memorial# 18149447 for Capt. Richard Kimball (1659 - 1733) buried in the Ancient Burying Ground, Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
• Find A Grave Memorial# 18149449 for Sarah (Spofford) Kimball (1661 - 1713) buried in the Ancient Burying Ground, Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
• Find A Grave Memorial # 37907241 for Mehitable (Day) Kimball - burial site unknown - presumed to be somewhere in Essex Co., Massachusetts
• Beers, J. H., Commemorative Biographical Record of Tolland and Windham Counties, Connecticut (J.H. Beers, Chicago, 1903) (1358 pages) Vol. 1, Page 177.
• Massachusetts Wills and Probate Records, 1635 - 1991: Last Will and Testament of Richard Kimball No. 15728, written 28 Dec, 1732, Probated 5 Feb 1733 - mentions wife, Mehitable and eldest son, Samuel.

Acknowledgements

• Much of the original information to create this profile was from family trees on Ancestry.com, but has since been updated.