Elizabeth McCurdy (Calderwood) Leadbetter (abt. 1754 - 1825)

Born about 25 May 1754 in Warren, York, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Wife of Increase Leadbetter III — married before 27 Oct 1774 in District of Maine, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 30 Aug 1825 at about age 71 in Leeds, Kennebec, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Birth

Elizabeth McCurdy Calderwood was born about 1754, based on her age of 71 at her death in 1825, as shown on her gravestone.^[1] This date is consistent with an estimate based on the birth dates of her children, who were born between 1774 and 1798. She was the daughter of John Calderwood and Elizabeth (McCurdy) Calderwood of Warren, Maine (which in 1754 was in York County, Massachusetts); she is named as Elizabeth Leadbetter in John's will, made on 20 Aug 1806.^[2] The 1913 Leadbetter genealogy says that she was born on 25 May 1754 at Bristol, Maine,^[3] but the published Bristol vital records do not show her birth.

Marriage

The death record of Increase Leadbetter gives the name of his wife as Elizabeth McCurdy Calderwood.^[4] Their first known child was born on 27 Oct 1774.^[5]

Revolutionary War Period

Elizabeth Leadbetter's husband served in the Revolution as a mariner and left her to care for their farm and children. The 1901 history of Leeds, Maine, describes her experience:

While in the war he left his wife with small children, on a farm stocked with cattle and sheep, all of which she cared for during his absence. With her own hands she sheared the sheep, carded, spun, wove, colored cloth, cut and made clothing for her children, and at the same time attended to raising crops of breadstuff, thereby making them comfortable while awaiting the uncertain return of the father.^[6]

Death

Elizabeth McCurdy (Calderwood) Leadbetter died on 30 Aug 1825 and is buried at the Knapp Cemetery in Leeds, Maine, where her gravestone shows her age at her death as 71.^[1]

Research Note

Middle names were unusual in New England in the 1750s, but they did rarely occur, and multiple references in transcribed records and in secondary sources about Elizabeth refer to her as Elizabeth McCurdy Calderwood. (Bloom-1124 00:48, 15 September 2019 (UTC))

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Photo of gravestone of "Mrs. Elisabeth, wife of Increase Leadbetter" (Find A Grave: Memorial #53210000)
2. ↑ See the profile of John Calderwood for an abstract of the will and the source
3. ↑ Jessie Ames, Leadbetter Records (n.p., 1917), page 113
4. ↑ Transcription of death record of Increase Leadbetter, in Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, database with images, FamilySearch, Vital records prior to 1892 > Lary-Legrow, 1836 > image 2020 of 4225; Division of Vital Statistics. State Board of Health, Augusta.
5. ↑ Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, database with images, FamilySearch, Delayed returns for vital records 1670-1891 > Langton, 1802-Leduc, 1874 > image 3252 of 4894; Division of Vital Statistics. State Board of Health, Augusta.
6. ↑ J. C. Stinchfield, History of the town of Leeds, Androscoggin County, Maine, from its settlement June 10, 1780 (Lewiston, Maine, 1901), page 106

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Calderwood-14 created through the import of Tom.ged on Jun 1, 2011 by Tom Elliott. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Tom and others.