128. ANTHONY COLBY (bp. 1605–1660)

129. SUSANNA UNKNOWN (d. 1689)


Anthony Colby was baptized on 8 September 1605 in Horbling, Lincolnshire. [1] He died on 11: 12m: 1660 in Salisbury. [2] He married the widow Susanna Waterman of Boston, probably in 1630/2. [3][4]

The identity of Susanna Colby is a mystery; some have suggested that she was a Haddon, others that she was a Sergeant or even a Nutting. Robert Charles Anderson says that the identity of Susanna is one of the "perennial mysteries of the period." [5] Melinde Lutz Sanborn comments, "I am reasonably sure that I will not live long enough to learn the identity of Susanna, wife of Anthony Colby." [6]

Susanna died on 8 July 1689 in Salisbury. [4] She married third as his third wife William Whitredge between 24 December 1662 and 12: 2m: 1664. William, the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Cheny) Whitredge, was born on 11 March 1596/7 in Oxwick, Norfolk. [7] He died on 5 December 1668. [4] William married first Elizabeth Baker of Sculthorpe, Norfolk on 23 June 1623 in Colkirk, Norfolk. [7] He married second Frances Unknown. [7] She died on 26 April 1658. [7] William was a carpenter from Gloucester. [4]

Ancestry of Anthony Colby [1]
William Jackson was probably born about 1490/1500. He died in early May 1549. He married Agnes, who was probably the daughter of William Pykworth. She probably died in late 1571. William lived in Horbling, Lincolnshire and was an alderman in 1538 and 1540.
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Matthew Colby was probably born about 1530. He was buried on 10 October 1591. He married Mary Unknown, probably about 1555. She was buried on 18 December 1591. Mattew and Mary lived in Pointon in the parish of Sempringham, Lincolnshire. Both Mattew and Mary left deathbed wills saying they were sick. Two of their children soon after as well.
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Richard Jackson was probably born about 1537/1542. He was buried on 25 October 1607 in Horbling. His wife was named Elizabeth. She was buried on 14 September 1619. Richard and Elizabeth lived in Horbling. Richard was a church warder for many years and he was the constable in 1578.
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Thomas Colby was baptized on 20 December 1567 in Sempringham. He was buried on 11 December 1625. He married Anne (Agnes) Jackson. Thomas was a tailor.
Anne Jackson was probably born about 1571. She survivied her husband.
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Anthony Colby

Anthony came to New England with the Winthrop fleet in 1630. He was a member of the Boston church that year. He was in Cambridge as early as 1632, when he owned property there. [4] He may have been a servant of Simon Bradstreet. [1]

Anthony was a freeman on 14 May 1634. [8]

Anthony Colby of Ipswich sued John Hall of Saugus at the 3: 8m: 1637 court. [9]

On 25: 1: 1645 Anthony Colby of Salisbury, planter, for land in Salisbury on the west side of the Pawwaus river bounded by a highway leading from Ware point, conveyed to Josiah Cobham four acres on the west side of the Pawwaus river bounded by the highway and William Sargeant's land. [10]

Anthony Colby was dismissed from the First Church in Boston to the church in Salisbury on 2: 6m: 1646. [11]

Anthony was on the jury of trials in 1648, 1653 and 1654 and on the grand jury twice in 1650. [12]

Anthony is on a list of the original settlers of Salisbury, a list of those who attended the town meeting on 3: 12m: 1650 and a 1650 town tax list. [13]

Anthony was an original settler of Amesbury, where he was a commoner on 19 March 1654. [4]

Anthony died intestate. Inventory was taken on his estate on 9 March 1660/[1?] and sworn to by the widow Colby. The estate was divided on 9 April 1661 between the widow and two youngest children; John Colby; Sarah, the widow of Orlando Bagley, Samuel Colby, Isaac Colby and Rebecca Colby. Susanna was appointed adminstratrix. [14]

On 24 December 1662 the widow Susanna Colby of Salisbury, for a young mare, conveyed to Samuel Colby of Salisbury, planter, three acres at the boggie meadow in Salisbury, bounded by Jarrett Haddon, etc. This was acknowledged in court by Susanna Whitrid (formly Colby) on 12: 2m: 1664. [15]

On 24 December 1662 Susanna Colby conveyed to Isaac Colby, planter of Salisbury, 60 acres of upland in Salisbury near the Haverhill line, for ten pounds in board. This was witnessed by Samuel and John Colby. [16]

On 12: 2m: 1664 John Colby deposed that Thomas Macy sold to his father Anthony Colby the house in which his mother then lived with a barn, or orchard and an English pasture of an acre at ye Newtown [Amesbury] on the west side of Pawwaus River in Salisbury. [15]

On 26: 5m: 1664 Samuel Colby of Salisbury, planter, conveyed to his brother Isaac Colby of Salisbury, planter, a 40-acre lot that he bought from William Allin on 26: 5m: 1664. This was witnessed by Thomas Sargeant and Nathaniel Barnard. [15]

On 26: 5m. 1664 Samuel Colby of Salisbury, planter, conveyed to his brother Isaac Colby three acres of fresh meadow that he had bought from his mother Susanna Colby, now the wife of William Whitrid. [15]

On 11 April 1671 Susanna Whitrid of Amesbury, widow and formerly wife of Anthony Colby, sold three acres of fresh meadow in Amesbury to her son Isaac Colby, planter of Haverhill for ten pountds. Witnesses were Samuel Colby and Thomas Haynes. [16]

On 26 September 1682, the court—noting that the widow Whittridge was no longer capable of taking care of herself—ordered her three sons, Samuel, Isaac and Thomas to care for her. [17]

Children of Anthony Colby and Susanna Unknown:

i. John Colby was baptized on 8 September 1633 in Boston. [4][18] He died on 6: 12m: 1673 in Amesbury. [19] He married as her first husband Frances Hoyt on 14 January 1655 in Salisbury. [20]

The 11 April 1665 court said that it had been informed of the "great misdemeanors" which had occurred at John Colby's house. Nathaniel Barnard was fined for fighting, railing and threatening behavior and Samuel Colby was fined for abetting him. Walter Taylor said that he had been in fear of his live, but was fined for railing, exessive drinking and striking Ed Cottle's servant. Mary Colby was fined for bold and uncivil behavior is pulling Walter's hat off and pulling him backward off of his seat. John Colby was fined for cursing and for allowing this to go on; for entertaining other peoples' sons ans servants without their leave. [21]

A 2 October 1672 letter of attorney, witnessed by Mary Parker, was given by John Williams of Haverell to his brother-in-law John Colby. [22]

John Colby, Orlando Bagley, Samuel Weed and two others were at the house of Mr. Thomas Wells, the minister of Amesbury, when he was away. Samuel Weed awoke the minister's wife and kissed her and she must have complained to her husband when he returned. Samuel was fined and bound for good behavior; judged abettors, the others were admonished and fined. Later Samuel testified that he died on a bet and that John Colby held a light, acting as witness. [23]

ii. Sarah Colby was born on 6 March 1634/5 in Cambridge. [4] She married Orlando Bagley on 6 March 1653 in Salisbury. [24]

iii. Unknown Colby (possible child) was born about 1637, probably in Ipswich. [4][25]

iv. Samuel Colby was born about 1638 in Ipswich. He died in 1716. He married Elizabeth Sargeant.

iv. Isaac Colby was born on 6: 5m: 1640 in Salisbury. [26] He died by 1691. [4] He married Martha Parratt. [4] Martha, the daughter of Francis Parratt, Esq. and Elizabeth Northend of Rowley, was born on 9 October 1649 in Rowley and died on 13 July 1730 in Amesbury. [27]

In 1662 Isaac was a planter in Salisbury. A 7 May 1669 deed refers to Isaac as a carpenter in Haverhill. [15] A 1671 deed refers to him as a planter in Salisbury.

v. Rebecca Colby was born on 11: 1m: 1643 in Salisbury. [26] She died by 1673. [4] She married John Williams on 9 September 1661 in Haverhill. [4] John, the son of John and Jane Williams of Newbury, was born about 1631 and died on 30 Apr 1698 in Haverhill. He married second the widow Esther (Blakely) Bond on 5 May 1675 in Haverhill. [27]

On 26 August 1667, John Williams, Sr. and his wife Jane and John Williams, Jr. and his wife Rebecca, all of Haverhill, conveyed 180 acres of upland and meadow in Haverhill to John Clouff, Sr. of Salisbury. [10]

vi. Mary Colby was born on 19: 7 m: 1647 in Salsbury. [26] She married William Sargeant on 23 Sepember 1668.

vii. Thomas Colby was born on 8: 1m: 1650 in Salisbury. [26] He died before 31 March 1691, when inventory was taken on his estate. [4] He married Hannah Rowell on 16 September 1674. [4] Hannah, the daughter of Valentine and Joanna (Pinder) Rowell of Amesbury was born in Jan 1653 in Salisbury and died on 9 Aug 1707 in Amesbury. [27] Hannah married second Henry Blaisdell about 1691. [27]

 

References:

1. John Brooks Threlfall, Fifty Great Migration Colonists to New England and Their Origins (Westminster, MD: Heritage Books, 2008): 121–48.

2. Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849 (Topsfield: Topsfield Historical Society, 1915), 541–2.

3. "New England Marriages to 1700," digitized book, AmericanAncestors, vol. 2: 346.

4. Glade Ian Nelson, "Anthony Colby's Purported Ancestry," The American Genealogist 51 (1975): 65–71.

5. "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620–1633, vols I–III," digitized books, American Ancestors, p. 416.

6. Melinde Lutz Sanborn, "Great Migration Diary," NEHGS, Nexus 16, no. 6 (1999), 199.

7. David A. Whitredge, "The English Origins of William Whitredge of Ipswich, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 164 (2010): 139–44.

8. Lucius R. Paige, "List of Freemen," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 3 (1849): 89–96.

9. George Francis Dow, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, digitized volumes (Salem Witch Project: Documentary Archive and Transcription Project : http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/Essex/index.html), 1:6.

10. "Old Norfolk County Records," Essex Antiquarian 6 (1902): 177.

11. "Boston, MA: Church Records, 1630–1895," database with images, AmericanAncestors, 37.

12. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex, 1:149, 189, 201, 279, 368–9.

13. Mr. Thornton, "Original Settlers of Salisbury, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 3 (1849): 55–57.

14. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex, 3:62–64; 8:374.

15. "Old Norfolk County Records," Essex Antiquarian 5 (1901): 135.

16. "Old Norfolk County Records," Essex Antiquarian 10 (1906): 110.

17. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex, 8:388.

18. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex, 5:155. He deposed that he was 37 on 8 April 1673.

19. Asa W. Brown, "Early Settlers of Salisbury, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 8 (1854), 79.

20. Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849 (Topsfield: Topsfield Historical Society, 1915), 393–4.

21. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex, 3:251.

22. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex, 5:111.

23. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex, 6:428; 7:283.

24. Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849 (Topsfield: Topsfield Historical Society, 1915), 308–10.

25. James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, vol. 1 (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1860), 424. Savage says that he had children Isaac, Rebecca, Mary, Thomas and four other earlier children, only of which two are known by name: John and Sarah. There appears to be no other evidence for this additional child.

26. Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849 (Topsfield: Topsfield Historical Society, 1915), 54–55.

27. Frederik Lewis Weis, The Colby Family in Early America: Early Generations of Descendants of Anthony Colby of Boston, Cambridge, Salisbury, Massachusetts 1595-1661, Colonial Press, Concord, 1970, 8–11.

 


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07-Apr-2022