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Benjamin Spalding (1643–1713), son of Edward Spalding and Rachel Unknown

Olive Farwell (c. 1645–by 1706), daughter of Henry Farwell and Olive Welby

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Benjamin, the son of Edward Spalding was born on 7 April 1643 in Braintree. [1] Benjamin, the son of Edward, was baptized on 1 February 1656/7 at age 14, in Chelmsford. [2] He died on 5 October 1713, probably in Plainfield. [3] Benjamin, the son of Edward, married first Olive, the daughter of Henry Farwell, on 30 October 1668 in Chelmsford. [2] He married second Grace ___.

Olive died by 1706, when Grace consented to a gift of land in Plainfield to Benjamin, Jr. [4]

Benjamin's death date is found in his inventory papers.

Benjamin is not mentioned in his father's will, probably because he had already received his portion and used it to purchase land in Plainfield.

In 1695 Benjamin and Olive sold half their Chelmsford lands to Joseph Hildreth. [4] That summer Benjamin was accused of cutting hay belonging to Major James Fitch in Peagscomsuck (later Plainfield). [4] He was fined ten shillings plus costs. [5]

On 13 November 1699, Benjamin, Major James Fitch, Joseph Spalding, Richard Adams, Joshua Whitney and James Kingsbury signed a petition to incorporate Plainfield and hire a minister. [5]

On 24 December 1702 Benjamin signed an agreement for two religious societies in Plainfield. Major James Fitch and Richard Adams were two of the east side signers; Joseph and Benjamin Spalding, Jacob Warren, Stephen Hall and Joshua Whitney were some of the west side signers. [5]

In 1702/3 land in Plainfield was divided into five sections called eighths and allocated. Benjamin Palmer, Joshua Whitney, Nathaniel Jewell, Stephen Hall, Thomas Williams, Benjamin Spalding, Sr., Timothy Pierce and Joseph Spalding were given land in the third eighth. [5]

Benjamin Spalding of Plainfield made his will on 20 November 1712. He mentioned his wife Grace, his daughter Sarah, the wife of John Merriam, his son Edward Spalding, his daughter Mary Morgan, his daughter Elizabeth Wheeler, and Sarah, the wife of his son Benjamin. Inventory was taken on his estate on 13 October 1713. It was untotalled land value at 180 pounds. His son Edward, his executor, took oath to the inventory on 8 December 1713 and the will was proved the same day. [3]

Children of Benjamin Spalding and Olive Farwell: The births of the first four recorded in Chelmsford as the childrn of Benjamin and Olive. [2]

i. Sarah Spalding was born on 4 January 1669. She married John Mirriam of Concord on 16 February 1692/3 in Chelmsford. [2]

ii. Lieutenant Edward Spalding was born on 18 June 1672. He died on 29 November 1739 in Canterbury. He married Mary Adams.

iii. Elizabeth Spalding was born on 22 March 1680. She married Ephraim Wheeler. [6]

v. Mary Spalding married Isaac Morgan. [6]

References:

1. "Braintree, MA: Vital and Church Records, 1638–1850," database with images, Ancestry.org, entry for Benjamin Spalden.

2. Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1914), 140–52 (births), 318–27 (marriages).

3. Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609–1999," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9049) > Hartford > Probate Packets, Smith, S.–Stark, John, 1675–1850, images 651–655.

4. Stephen Waasa Spalding, "How Edward Spalding, a Puritan Farmer From the Norfolk-Suffolk Border, Came to Prosper in New England, New England Historical and Genealogical Register 173 (2019): 220–31.

5. Ellen D. Larned, History of Windham County, Connecticut, vol. 1 (Worcester, MA: Charles Hamilton, 1874).

6. David Parsons Holton, Farwell Ancestral Memorial: Henry Farwell of Concord and Chelmsford, Massachusetts (New York: D.P. Holton, 1879).

7. "Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630–1870," online database, AmericanAncestors.org, from original typescripts, Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, 1928 > Plainfield, 117–24.

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22-Feb-2023