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Lieutenant Edward Spalding (1672–1739), son of Benjamin Spalding and Olive Farwell
Mary Adams (d. 1754)
Edward, the son of Benjamin and Olive Spalding, was born on 18 June 1672 in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. [1] Lieutenant Edward Spalding died on 29 November 1739 in Canterbury, Windham County, Massachusetts. [2] He married Mary Unknown, widely said in secondary sources, without any apparent evidence, to be Mary Adams. [3]
Mary, the widow of Lieutenant Edward Spalding, died on 20 September 1754 in Canterbury. [2]
In 1707 Edward Spalding of Plainfield bought land north of the Canterbury boundary at Tatnick Hill and settled there with his family. [4]
The October 1715 court confirmed Mr. Edward Spalding of Canterbury the ensign of the Canterbury trainband. It confirmed him lieutenant of the Canterbury trainband in May 1720. [5]
The first existing report of a Canterbury town meeting is from 10 December 1717. At that meeting Edward was chosen a selectman. [4]
Mr. Edward Spalding was a deputy to the General Assembly from Plainfield at the October 1725 court. [5]
Edward was admitted to the First Congregational Church in Canterbury on 1 February 1730 from the church in Plainfield. [6]
Mary Spalding wrote her will on 2 July 1754. She mentioned her six natural sons Benjamin, Ephraim, Jonathan, Ezekiel, Ebenezer and Thomas; the children of her daughter Abigail Douglas, deceased; her two natural surviving daughters Elizabeth Darbe and Ruth Bacon. She named her son Benjamin her executor. Her witnesses testified on 1 October 1754 and her will was probated on 8 October 1754. [7]
Children of Lieutenant Edward Spalding and Mary Adams:
i. Benjamin Spalding was born on 20 July 1696 in Chelmsford. [1] He died in 1770 in Plainfield. [6] Benjamin of Plainfield, the son of Ensign Edward Spalding married first Abigail, the daughter of Ebenezer Wright (transcribed as "Kight") of Chelmsford, on 7 March 1720 in Canterbury [6] He married second Deborah Wheeler. [3] She died in 1770 in Plainfield. [6]
The Chelmsford vital records include an intention of marriage between Benjamin of Plainfield and Abigail Wright, dated 7 February 1719/20. It is noted that the banns were forbidden by Ephraim Hildreth on 10 February. [1]
Benjamin was a member of the First Congregational Church in Plainfield in January 1751. Deborah renewed the covenant there in January 1751. [6]
ii. Elizabeth Spalding was born on 15 August 1698 in Chelmsford. [1] She was living on 2 July 1754. Elizabeth, the daughter of Ensign Edward Spalding, married William Darbe on 9 June 1718 in Canterbury [6]
iii. Ephraim Spalding was born on 3 August 17[01?] in Chelmsford. [1] He died by 20 March 1776, probably in Plainfield. He married Abigail Bullard. [3] She died after April 1777.
Ephraim Spalding of Plainfield died intestate. Inventory was taken on his estate on 20 March 1776. An April 1777 distribution names his widow Abigail, his sons Ezekiel, Oliver, Ephraim and Ruben [?], and his daughter Abigail Hall. [7]
iv. Jonathan Spalding was born on 15 April 1704 in Chelmsford. [1] He was living on 2 July 1754. He married Eunice, the daughter of David Woodward of Plainfield. [3]
Jonathan owned the covenant on 21 July 1734 in the First Congregational Church in Plainfield. [6]
v. Ezekiel Spalding was born on 8 September 1706 in Chelmsford. [1] He was living on 2 July 1754. He married Martha Kimball. [3] She died on 24 September 1755 in Plainfield. [6]
Ezekiel owned the covenant on 25 September 1746 in the First Congregational Church in Plainfield. [6]
vi. Ruth Spalding was born on 28 September 1710 in Canterbury. She died on 18 September 1782. She married Lieutenant John Bacon.
vii. Abigail Spalding was born on 10 March 1713 in Canterbury. [2] Abigail, the daughter of Edward, was baptized on 31 May 1713 in Canterbury. [6] She died by 2 July 1754. She married Benajah Douglas on 6 August 1733 in Canterbury. [2]
Benajah Douglas was arrested and imprisoned for a short time in the Windham jail for his aggressive defense of his religious views. [4]
viii. Ebenezer Spalding was born on 24 June 1717 in Canterbury. [2], Ebenezer, the son of Ensign Edward, was baptized on 4 August 1717 in Canterbury [6] He married Mary Fasseter on 24 February 1742/3 in Canterbury. [<2]
ix. Thomas Spalding was born on 7 August 1719 in Canterbury. [2] He was living on 2 July 1754. Thomas, the son of Ensign Edward, was baptized on 20 September 1720 in Canterbury [6] He married Abigail Brown. [3]
x. John Spalding was born on 1 December 1721 in Canterbury. [2] He was baptized on 17 January 1722 in Canterbury [6] He died before 2 July 1754.
References:
1. Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1914), 140–52.
2. "Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630–1870," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org > Canterbury, 148–9.
3. Holton, David Parsons, Farwell Ancestral Memorial: Henry Farwell of Concord and Chelmsford, Massachusetts (New York: D.P. Holton, 1879).
4. Ellen D. Larned, History of Windham County, Connecticut, vol. 1 (Worcester, MA: Charles Hamilton, 1874).
5. Charles J. Hoadley, The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, vols. 4–12 (Hartford: Press of the Case, Lockwood and Brainard Co., 1868–1890), vol. 5: 520; vol. 6: 175; vol. 7: 55.
6. "Connecticut, U.S., Church Record Abstracts, 1630–1920, database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3032) > Volume 15 Canterbury, image 50.
7. "Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609–1999," database with images, Ancestry (2015 : https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9049) > Windham > Probate Records, vol. 1–4, 1747–1762, image 378 (Mary); Hartford > Probate Packets, Shepard, John–Spalding, N, 1747–1880, images 1194–1207 (Ephraim).
10-Jan-2023