Willoughby Colby (1745 - 1829)

Born 28 Feb 1745 in Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Sargent) Colby — married 14 Jan 1767 in Amesbury, Massachusetts

Husband of Molly (Sargent) Colby — married 28 Mar 1797 in New Hampshire

Descendants

Died 30 Oct 1829 at age 84 in Bow, Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States

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Biography

The homestead was originally on both sides of Wood Hill Road. The section east of the road was later separated by the road (Woodhill-Hooksett Road) from Wood Hill to Great Hill. He marched with seven others, under Capt. Benjamin Bean, for the relief of Ticonderoga. On their arrival at Charlestown, N.H., news came of its evacuation and orders to return. They were in service seven days. selectman he, with Enoch Noyes and Timothy Dix, was chosen a committee to accept of the meeting house. purchased from Benjamin Noyes, a hundred acre lot, No. 5, Range 14 ||.

He divided this between his sons James and Philip. The lot was called Nottencook.

They started for their new home, his wife on horseback with her child in her arms. He soon built a frame house at the northeast corner of the intersection, east of the road where his son Philip afterwards lived.

Their first log house stood a short distance south of where William A. Elliot lived in 1892, where his father, Abraham, with the youngest son, Jonathan, lived and died. William "Willie" Colby, and his wife, Frances, lived there until his death on 25 Jul 1969.

Willaby Colby selecting a homestead on Wood Hill, Bow, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, The homestead was originally on both sides of Wood Hill Road. The section east of the road was later separated by the road (Woodhill-Hooksett Road) from Wood Hill to Great Hill.3 Willaby Colby and James Colby were carpenters. Some of the best dwellings in town were built by James and his father Willaby.4 Willaby Colby was born on 28 February 1745 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.5 He was the son of Abraham Colby and Elizabeth Blaisdell.1,2 Willaby Colby was baptized on 22 May 1748 in First Church, Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.2

He married Sarah Sargent, daughter of Phillip Sargent and Martha Hadley, on 14 January 1767 in , Amesbury, . They were third cousins.5 In the spring of 1768 , Willaby Colby, Sarah Sargent and James Colby, Zenas Cary, John Colby, Thomas Colby and Jonathan Colby moved to at Wood Hill, Bow, . They started for their new home, his wife on horseback with her child in her arms. He soon built a frame house at the northeast corner of the intersection, east of the road where his son Philip afterwards lived. Their first log house stood a short distance south of where William A. Elliot lived in 1892, where his father, Abraham, with the youngest son, Jonathan, lived and died. William "Willie" Colby, and his wife, Frances, lived there until his death on 25 Jul 1969.6 In 1774 Willaby Colby purchased from Benjamin Noyes, a hundred acre lot, No. 5, Range 14 in the the Bog District, Bow, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, . He divided this between his sons James and Philip. The lot was called Nottencook.4 July 1777, Willaby Colby marched with seven others, under Capt. Benjamin Bean, for the relief of Ticonderoga. On their arrival at Charlestown, N.H., news came of its evacuation and orders to return. They were in service seven days.6 In 1792, he, with Enoch Noyes and Timothy Dix, was chosen a committee to accept of the meeting house.6 From 1796 to 1797 Willaby Colby was selectman.6

He married Molley Sargent on 28 March 1797 in New Hampshire.7

He died on 30 October 1829 in Bow, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, at age 84.4 Willaby Colby was buried in Evans (North) Cemetery on White Rock Hill Rd, by Turee Pond, Bow, Merrimack County, New Hampshire.^[1]

Note

Revoultionary war veteran under Captain Benjamin Bean DAR A 024070, Patriotic Service, NH. DAR has his name as 'Willaby'.

Colby genealogy: Willaby Colby, the second son of Abraham Colby, was born in Amesbury, February 28, 1745. On arriving at the age of twenty-one, he resolved to penetrate the forests of New Hampshire for the purpose of selecting a location for his father, four brothers, and himself. The spot selected was on Wood Hill, so called, in the township of Bow. He soon went back to his Amesbury home, and married Sarah Sargent of Newtown, and commenced making arrangements to emigrate to their forest home. His first child was born in the fall of 1767; the next spring they all started for their new home in Bow, his wife on horseback with her child in her arms. He soon built him a frame house, east of the road where his son Philip afterwards lived. He was well-skilled in the use of carpenter's tools, and would glide over a frame as safely as on terra firma. Their first log house stood a short distance south of where William A. Elliot now lives (1892), where his father, Abraham, with the youngest son, Jonathan, lived and died.

In July 1777, Willaby Colby with seven others, under Capt. Benjamin Bean, marched for the relief of Ticonderoga; on their arrival at Charlestown, NH, news came of its evacuation and orders to return, they were in service seven days. He was one of the selectmen in 1796 and 1797. In 1792 he, with Enoch Noyes and Timothy Dix, were chosen a committee to accept of the meeting house, if the work was done according to previous agreement. In 1774 he purchased of Benjamin Noyes an hundred-acre log, No. 5, 14th range, in the Bog district which he divided between his two sons, James and Philip; this lot was called Nottencook.

Pg. 78: In 1829, Willaby Colby, Sr. was living with his youngest son, Willaby, on the farm opposite the junctionh of the Hammond road (at the foot of Wood hill) with the main road. The son, Willaby, and Willaby C. Hadley, exchanged farms, where each lived during life. I, Willeby Colby of Bow, in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire, Gentleman, being far advanced in life, but of a sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be God for the same, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say,

1st, I will and bequeath to my beloved wife, Molly Colby, all my household furniture to be hers, and at her disposal forever. Also one cow, three sheep and one shoat during her natural life, and said Willeby Colby, 3d, is to keep said cow, sheep and shoat during her natural life; and then said stock to be owned by said Willeby Colby, 3d. Likewise all provisions I may have at my decease.

2d, I will and bequeath to my son Philip Colby, and my daughters, Hepsibah Woodbury, Merriam Alexander, Judith Green, Sarah Hadley, and Polly A. Morgan one dollar each, to be paid them in one year after my decease, by my Executor hereafter named.

3d, I will and bequeath to the heirs of my son, James Colby, late of Bow, deceased, one dollar, to be paid them in one year after my decease by my Executor hereafter named.

4th, I will and bequeath to my son, Willeby Colby, 3d, all my real and personal estate, together with all my property of whatever name or nature, soever that I may be possessed of at my decease; by his paying all the above legacies--all my lawful debts, and funeral charges.

And I do hereby appoint my said son, Willeby Colby, 3d, sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament; hereby revoking all former Wills by me made.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and twenty nine.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108748532/willoughby-colby

The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury Massachusetts" by David W. Hoyt;

Early Vital Records of Essex County, Massachusetts to 1850 for Amesbury

The Colby Family in Early America" by Frederick Lewis Weis, Caledonia, The Colonial Press, pub 1970; (4) "A Genealogy of the Descendants of Abraham Colby and Elizabeth Blaisdell, his wife Who settled in Bow in 1768" By one of them, Concord, NH Printed by the Republican Press Association 1895.

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Volume 32 page 235