Genealogy Report (Register) to HTML file
31. James6 Babson (18) (Isaac5, James4, John3, James2, Thomas1); born 5 Mar 1748/49 at Wenham, MA;443 married Eleanor Conant, daughter of Daniel Conant and Elizabeth Dodge, 23 May 1771 at Beverly, MA, the Rev. Enos Hitchcock officiating;444,445 died at sea of smallpox 13 Jul 1777 at age 28 on a vessel out of Liverpool, England.446
He and his mother, Mehitable Cue, were on the tax list at Wenham, MA, on 2 Sep 1771; and her son, James Babson, were on the tax list.447
James Babson (18) was a mariner. In 1777 after sailing from Salem to Wilmington, North Carolina, James took on board a load of naval stores bound for the West Indies. When six days out, he was taken by an English privateer and carried to Liverpool. It was while on his passage home from there that he died of smallpox. His father had died of the same disease 17 years earlier.448
James Babson (18) owned 4 acres at Wenham, MA, the bounds of which were mentioned by his sons Isaac and John when they were dividing his land on 16 Sep 1797.449
Eleanor Conant was born on 31 Oct 1746 at Beverly, MA.450 She died on 4 Mar 1802 at Beverly, MA, at age 55.451
Children of James6 Babson (18) and Eleanor Conant all born at Beverly, MA, were as follows:
On 16 Sep 1797 Isaac Babson divided with his brother John Babson (34) 4 acres of land at Wenham, MA, previously owned by his father, James Babson (18).457
John Babson (34) was living at Danvers on 16 Sep 1797 when he sold for $16 to his brother Isaac of Beverly, brickmaker, one third part of a piece of land at Wenham, MA, containing about four acres, now being a common undivided parcel with his brother, and formerly the property of their father, James Babson, "bounded westerly on land of Jonathan Porter, southerly by the land of the widow Babson's thirds and the other boundaries not now definitely known to me."458
Isaac Babson served as executor for the will of Col. John Francis at Essex Co., MA.459
Isaac Babson was a brickmaker by trade. He was 58 and she was 56 at the time of their marriage. [See Families #11 and #19]..
Isaac Babson had no children. He left most of his estate to his niece, Betsy Burton Babson, but also named as heirs his other nephews and nieces: Harriet F. Babson, Mary Gardiner, Eleanor Babson, Joseph W. Babson, James Babson and Abby Ann Babson each of whom received $50.00 on 31 Jan 1850.460 The inventory of his estate included his dwelling house and 7½ acres of land (formerly the house of Col. John Francis) valued at $2,300; another dwelling house and 7½ acres of land, including a shoemaker's shop thereon valued at $2,300; brick yard Field on Cabot Street containing 6½ acres at $700. Also itemized were: silver tankard $29, spoons & other silver $76, clock $10, looking glass $5, 6 fan-back chairs $2, 2 mahogany tables $25, 6 cane-bottom chairs $6, camphor trunk $4, for a total of $4,371.49 on 2 Apr 1850.461
Martha Babson and Mary Babson were twins. Annisquam shipped clams for bait to France in the old days, and the story is still told in the village of the twin sisters Mary and Martha Babson, who dug, cleaned, and salted a barrel of clams, sent them abroad on a venture on an Annisquam vessel and traded them for silk that they made into their wedding dresses.464
After Mary Babson died, Gideon Lane removed to at Freeport, ME.
Gideon Lane died in 1813 at Freeport, ME. Their son, William, first administered Martha's estate. On 3 Feb 1773 he asked that the court grant the administration to his brother-in-law, Gideon Lane, as business was calling him away to sea. Administration of her estate was granted to Gideon Lane on 2 Mar 1773. The inventory of Martha Haraden Babson's estate amounted to £293-17-18 1/2. She owned the training field and land adjoining the Flake Yard. On 2 Jan 1776 William Babson again appeared in court complaining that Gideon Lane had not rendered an account. Lane rendered the account on 9 Apr 1777. At the final settlement, on 9 Apr 1777, the value of the estate was £117-13-7 1/4 on 2 Mar 1773.465
Children of Mary6 Babson and Gideon Lane were as follows:
Captain William Babson died intestate and administration of his estate was granted to Daniel W. Rogers on 7 February 1832 with his son, William, one of the sureties. The distribution of the estate gave one share each to his sons William, Nathaniel, James, the estate of his deceased son John, and George Rogers, guardian to the children of his deceased son Charles, Nancy R. Babson and Lydia R. Babson. One share each also went to his daughters, Anna "Nancy" Griffin, Joseph Haraden, widower of his daughter Catherine, and Martha Stacy.
William Babson, Nathaniel Babson and Joseph Haraden, all of Gloucester in the County of Essex, State of Massachusetts, James Babson of West Newbury in said County of Essex, Martha Stacy Widow and Abigail Babson Singlewoman all of Wiscasset County of Lincoln and William R. Babson of Gardiner County of Kennebeck, State of Maine heirs to the estate of William Babson, decd in consideration of one hundred and twenty two dollars and 27/100 paid by Thomas Griffin of Gloucester Mariner*quitclaim*all their rights in the premises situate in Squam Parish in said Gloucester formerly belonging to the estate of William Babson decd viz A certain piece of land together with the dwelling house and out houses standing thereon formerly belonging to Nathaniel Griffin decd*In witness whereof, We the said heirs together with Sarah wife of said William of Gloucester, Elisa G. wife of said Nathaniel, Susan wife of said James, Charlotte wife of Wm R. who hereby relinquish all right of dower have hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty fourth day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two.["Abigail Babson, called singlewoman, should have been called widow of John Babson of Wiscasset"(Chamberlain, 25-26)].469,470
Their son, William, first administered Martha's estate. On 3 Feb 1773 he asked that the court grant the administration to his brother-in-law, Gideon Lane, as business was calling him away to sea. Administration of her estate was granted to Gideon Lane on 2 Mar 1773. The inventory of Martha Haraden Babson's estate amounted to £293-17-18 1/2. She owned the training field and land adjoining the Flake Yard. On 2 Jan 1776 William Babson again appeared in court complaining that Gideon Lane had not rendered an account. Lane rendered the account on 9 Apr 1777. At the final settlement, on 9 Apr 1777, the value of the estate was £117-13-7 1/4 on 2 Mar 1773.471
Capt. William Babson (21) served as administrator of the estate of John Babson on 25 Jan 1774 at MA.472 "He was bred to a sea faring life; and after several years spent in privateering and mercantile voyages, settled in business at Annisquam."473,474
Anna Rogers was born on 23 Oct 1754 at Gloucester.475 She died circa 24 Jun 1826 at Gloucester.476 Anna's sister Susannah married William's first cousin, John Babson. See Family #(25).
Children of Capt. William6 Babson (21) and Anna Rogers all born at Gloucester were as follows:
Martha Babson received a legacy from the estate of Capt. William Babson (21) on 7 Feb 1832.478,479
He purchased on 19 Nov 1768 for £106:13:4, "the north-easterly half of a Certain tract of Land Situate in the Southerly Part of Glocester aforesaid at the Harbour so called together with one half of the building on the same tract" which James Stevens purchased of his father, Samuel Stevens at Gloucester.485
Capt. Samuel Babson (22) is head of household on the census of 1790 at Gloucester living next door to his wife Anna's brother David Plumer. They continued to live at Gloucester until 1799 when they moved to Lincoln where they resided until their deaths. Capt. Babson "having acquired considerable property in mercantile pursuits at Gloucester, retired to a farm in Lincoln."486
Lydia Plummer was born in 1743 at Gloucester. She died on 16 May 1805 at Lincoln, MA.487
Children of Capt. Samuel6 Babson (22) and Lydia Plummer all born at Gloucester were as follows:
No further record found after 1805.
John, like his brothers Solomon and Zebulon, was active in privateering during the Revolutionary War.
John Babson, "of Newburyport, merchant," bought 52½ rods at northwest side of Green and the northeast side of Union Streets, Newburyport, MA, for £393 on 12 Aug 1782.492
Capt. John Babson (25) sold the corner lot at Green and Union Streets, Newburyport, MA, to Joseph Cutler for £950 on 9 Mar 1786.493
On 25 Jun 1785, with Susannah relinquishing her dower rights, John sold Joseph Noyes 40 rods of land at the southeast side of Prison Lane, Newburyport, MA; next to the land of William and Paul Gerrish.494
On 27 Jul 1790 John "merchant," with Susannah relinquishing her dower rights, sold to John Row, Jr. of Gloucester "gentleman" five acres of woodland "in the Cape woods, so called," the premises "being what was sett of[f] as part of the real estate of Mr. Joseph Thurston of said Glocester by a committee to Satisfy an Execution in favour of the grantor". As the younger of two John Babsons in town at that time, he signed this deed as "John Babson, Jr." The only other John Babson as a head of household residing at Gloucester in 1790 was his Uncle John (#14).495,496
At the Court of Common Pleas, Newburyport, on the last Tuesday in Sep 1790, Capt. John Babson (25) recovered judgement against Samuel Follansbee of Haverhill for £76:3:1 plus costs for a total of £84:5:2. The committee appointed to appraise the real estate of Samuel Follansbee set off a piece of land "containing thirty four rods with a new dwelling house partly finished standing on the same Situate in the town of Amesbury...." to satisfy the judgement.497
Capt. John Babson (25) moved to North Yarmouth, ME, in 1798. Following the War of 1812 they moved on from North Yarmouth to Mount Desert, where they lived at Somesville with their daughter Rachel and her husband.
Susannah Rogers was born on 6 Jun 1756 at Gloucester. She died in Sep 1828 at Mt. Desert Island, ME, at age 72, three years after her husband. She is buried with her husband at Brookside Cemetery.
Susannah's sister, Anna, married John's first cousin, William Babson (family # 21).
Children of Capt. John6 Babson (25) and Susannah Rogers were as follows:
After the war of 1812, Rachel's parents Capt. John Babson (25) and Susannah Rogers lived wither her and her husband.
He did not marry.
Capt. Babson was captured early during the Revolutionary War and was exchanged for a Capt. John Gardner in New York.
A petition of John Babson in behalf of himself and others, dated Boston 29 December 1781, asked that Zebulon be commissioned a commander of the ship Diamond as a privateer. On 30 December 1781 Council ordered that a commission be issued.506
Mary Allen was born on 14 Oct 1751 at Gloucester. She was probably the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Plumer) Allen, Jr.507 She died at Gloucester at age 66 on 13 Feb 1818 according to the church records. According to her tombstone, she died 14 Feb 1818.508 She is buried beside their three daughters in the Bridge St. Cemetery, Gloucester.
Mary appears as the head of household at Gloucester on both the 1790 and 1800 U.S.Censuses. In 1790 the household consisted of one male under 16 and four females.509 By 1800 the census shows one male 16-26, two females 16-26, and one female [probably Mary] over 45 years of age.510
Children of Zebulon6 Babson (26) and Mary Allen all born at Gloucester were as follows:
On 17 Apr 1765 Capt. Solomon Babson (24) purchased for £24:13:4 2/3 parts of the land and the house of his deceased father.522 As owner of the schooner Frederick in May of 1775, Solomon became an inhabitant of Nova Scotia. This was done to secure fishing privileges for the schooner without molestation by British ships.523 .
Capt. Solomon Babson (24) engaged in privateering during the Revolutionary War.
Capt. Solomon Babson (24) was one of the founders of the Independent Church at Gloucester [and the Universalist Church in America], along with James and Rebecca Babson [family #20], Epes and Winthrop Sargent and others.524
Administration of his estate was granted 6 April 1796 to Solomon Parsons, and his son-in-law, Moses Sawyer, was one of the sureties. The inventory of his estate included "two-thirds of a dwelling house and garden" and 80 acres at New Gloucester, Maine on 6 Apr 1796.525
Dorothy "Dolly" Brown was baptized on 17 Feb 1744 at Ipswich, MA.526 She died in 1827. She was buried on 3 Jun 1827 at Gloucester.527 She was also known as Dolly Brown.
Children of Capt. Solomon6 Babson (24) and Dorothy "Dolly" Brown all born at Gloucester were as follows:
No further record.
No further record.
She had captured the brig Two Friends off the banks of Newfoundland, a valuable prize with a cargo of wine and salt. She also took the fishing brig Spark, carrying part of a fare of fish and some salt. This vessel was brought in by Isaac Day as prize master. But the Gloucester was never heard from again, causing 60 Gloucester wives to be made widows.
Elizabeth "Betty" Wallis was born on 13 Jun 1749 at Gloucester.530 Elizabeth's grandparents were John and Mary Wallis. The Indians had attacked from Wells to Casco Bay and the Wallis families were severe sufferers. Elizabeth may well have gone to live with the Wallis family at Cape Elizabeth after William was lost at sea.531
Children of William6 Babson (27) and Elizabeth "Betty" Wallis all born at Gloucester were as follows:
As the eldest of four sons of a hero of the American Revolution, he probably hoped to make a name for himself at sea, but unfortunately was lost at sea, as was his father. He died as a mate aboard the Franklin on a voyage to India before July 1800.
He apparently was not married as there was no mention made of a wife or children in the administration of his estate on 1 July 1800. Included in the inventory of his estate were his wages of $172 on board the ship Franklin, a Hadley's Quadrant, a gold watch; a silver watch and a spy glass.533
Hannah Harvey was born on 22 Mar 1746/47 at Gloucester.537 She was probably the Mrs. Hannah Babson who married on 26 Oct 1793 at Gloucester Col. Daniel Collins as his third wife. He had married previously Lucy Elwell and Polly Tufts.538
No death record or tombstone has been found for Hannah, but there is a large one for her second husband in the Bridge Street Cemetery, Gloucester. Hannah Harvey is head of household on the census of 1790 at Gloucester.539
Children of Philip6 Babson (28) and Hannah Harvey were as follows:
Died young.
Samuel was confined on a guard ship in England in December of 1776 and later, having obtained his discharge, he proceeded to Halifax, whence he was conveyed by the shallop Sea Flower, of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Capt. Solomon Rider commanding, and landed at Piscataqua in June of 1777.545
The 1934 Babson Genealogy mistakenly identified this Samuel as the son of Samuel Babson [#22]. But as that Samuel had a son, Charles, born 10 October 1777, it seems to preclude the above Samuel [#29] as he already had a son born in January of the year, not to mention that he was either still a prisoner or enroute home 9 months prior to Charles' birth.
Samuel's house was located on the north side of Front Street between Centre and Hancock, about midway up the rise to Middle Street, when the Gloucester Bank was organized in 1796. Capt. Babson stipulated that the bank be only one story high so that the view of the harbor and wharves from his bedroom window not be cut off.546
Like so many of his relatives, Samuel was involved in privateering and the ownership of merchant ships of good tonnage. It was either this Samuel or Samuel [#22], son of John, who was the owner of the schooner Woodbridge in 1801 and 1802. By April 1805 the owner was Shubael G. Rogers, whose daughter, Emeline, later married Nathaniel Babson[#70].547 The widow's third was set off 7 January 1803 and accepted 8 November of the same year. On that same day Hannah submitted an accounting in which she listed, among other entries, "an old fishing boat omitted in inventory sold for $125" as well as the payment of a $333.38 debt due to Samuel Babson, Jr. and $100 for necessary furniture.548 The estate of Capt. Samuel Babson (29) sold land at Gloucester on 12 Dec 1805 to Henry Babson (51) and Capt. Joseph Babson (47).549
Hannah Tarr was born on 5 Aug 1754 at Gloucester.550 She was buried on 14 Feb 1838 at Gloucester at age 83.551 The widow's third was set off 7 January 1803 and accepted 8 November of the same year. On that same day Hannah submitted an accounting in which she listed, among other entries, "an old fishing boat omitted in inventory sold for $125" as well as the payment of a $333.38 debt due to Samuel Babson, Jr. and $100 for necessary furniture on 7 Jan 1803.552
Children of Capt. Samuel6 Babson (29) and Hannah Tarr were as follows:
She probably died young.
Either Joseph [#30], son of Joseph, or Joseph [#47], the son of William, was an owner and master of the schooner Orlando in February of 1811 and owner of the Swordfish on 30 January 1804; the ship Dromo in January 1805; and the brig Active in June of 1810.557
Capt. Joseph Babson (30) appointed his brother, James Babson, attorney to sell land at Sedgwick, ME, on 16 Apr 1833.558
Capt. Joseph Babson (30) lived at Newburyport on 16 Apr 1833.
By on 11 Sep 1837, Capt. Joseph Babson (30) was a pensioner residing at at Newbury, MA.559
In his will he named his wife, Ruth, his daughters Ruth Griffin, the widow of Jacob Griffin, Ann S. Collins, the wife of William Collins of Gloucester, and Catharine, the wife of William Atwater of Newburyport. He made no bequests to his daughter Lydia, wife of Abraham Babson or to his son Joseph Babson, as he had previously made provisions for them, but he did give bequests to their children.
Ruth Herrick was baptized on 30 May 1762 at West Parish Church, W. Gloucester.560 She died on 28 Dec 1848 at Newburyport at age 86.561
Ruth Herrick received a legacy from the estate of Capt. Joseph Babson (30) on 1 May 1843 at MA; His will was proved 1 May 1843.562 She received a legacy from the estate of Capt. Joseph Babson (30).
Children of Capt. Joseph6 Babson (30) and Ruth Herrick were as follows:
William Collins' father Daniel had married Mrs. Hannah Babson as his second wife on 26 Oct 1793.
Abraham moved with his parents to Sedgwick, ME, when he was only twelve years old. He was one of the earliest members at the Church of Christ, Sedgwick, ME, in 1779 along with Hannah Babson and Martha Somes and Elizabeth "Betsey" Babson.
He served during the Revolutionary War as a private in Capt. Nathaniel Fales' Company, enlisting 3 August 1779. He marched on the expedition to Bagaduce by order of Gen. Lovel.566
He returned to Gloucester about the time of his marriage to Ruth and apparently stayed for a few years, as he appears there in the 1790 U.S. Census, and their two oldest children were born there. Abraham Babson (31) is head of household on the census of 1790 at Gloucester.
Abraham Babson (31) was a mariner in 1791.
Abraham Babson (31) was to provide maintenance for his parents in exchange for a land grant from his father Capt. Joseph Babson (17) on 11 Aug 1791.567
Abraham, of Sedgwick, Hancock County, Province of Massachusetts, yeoman, and his wife Ruth, sold a 50 acre parcel of land in Sedgwick which bordered on Eggemoggin Reach, to John Babson on 30 Mar 1799.568
Ruth Lufkin was born on 3 Sep 1769 at Gloucester.569 She died between 1817 and 1819.570
Ruth's mother was the granddaughter on her maternal side of Nathan Millett and Sarah Babson[see family # 7 for Sarah's family].
Children of Abraham6 Babson (31) and Ruth Lufkin were as follows:
He died young.
A very important deed lists all the heirs of Joanna (Babson) Wells on February 1842 as: Abraham Babson of Newburyport; Joseph; Daniel; William; John M, and John W. Babson and his wife Nancy, all of Sedgwick; Samuel and Sarah (Babson) Lufkin; Benjamin and Martha (Babson) Dodge; Kimball and Nabby (Babson) Herrick; John Dority, Jr. and wife, Louise [his mother was Eliza Babson]; John Wells and wife Louisa, all of Sedgwick. They sold for $40 an island in Eggemoggin Reach ¾ of a mile West South West from John M. Babson's house - called "Babson's Island," containing 9 acres, to Reuben and David Watson.575 She witnessed He or his son John married a Louisa. They are mentioned as heirs of Ruth's sister Joanna Babson with John Wells in Feb 1842.
She lived at Swan's Island, ME,. Their descendants were still residing at Swan's Island in 1920.
Abigail "Nabby" Babson was an heir of Joanna Babson as described in a deed in Feb 1842.577
He was to provide maintenance for his parents in exchange for a land grant from his father Capt. Joseph Babson (17) on 11 Aug 1791.583
On 20 Dec 1802 "John Bapson of Sedgwick*Mariner", mortgaged to his brother "Joseph Bapson of Newbury Port" 50 acres with one dwelling house and barn located at Sedgwick and bounded on the northeast side by Edgemongan [sic] Reach for $500.584
John and his wife Emma quitclaimed to Samuel Brown, Jr. of Bluehill on 15 April 1811 all their right, title and interest claim and demand"to all the estate both real and personal to which the said Emma Babson was is or may be entitled as Daughter & heir of Samuel Brown, late of Bluehill" ."585 On the same day they also quitclaimed to Samuel Brown, Jr. "all the Estate both real and personal to which the said Emma was is or shall be entitled as Sister & heir to Israel Brown late of Bluehill".586
On 7 Mar 1823 John "of Sedgwick, yeoman" sold to his son-in-law Daniel Abbott and Rufus K. Porter, merchants, about one acre of land on the shore, adjacent to land now or lately owned by Abraham Babson, including the wharf and store.587 Three weeks later, on 28 March 1823 John Babson "of Sedgwick, mariner" sold to Nehemiah Allen for $185 land next to the property formerly owned by Abraham Babson where his wharf and store were.588
John and his sons were remembered in Nancy (Tapley) Babson's 1883 poem Lines written in memory of the Babsons.
Emma Brown was born in 1778 at Blue Hill, ME. She died on 28 Jan 1815 at Sedgwick, ME, a day after her last child was born, according to her gravestone.589
Children of Capt. John6 Babson (32) and Emma Brown were as follows:
Madison's mother died when he was a day old, and he was raised by another family.
He was living at Surry, Maine when he and Julia sold land at Surry on 5 Feb 1856 that he had acquired from Thomas B. Grant.594
Madison "of Fitchburg," in his will dated 14 March 1874, left to Augusta Carvill, wife of Daniel W. Clinton and to Henry W. Ayers of Chelsea, his house and land at Fitchburg. The Baptist Church at Brooklin, Maine, the North Baptist Church at Sedgwick, as well as Alice, Bertha, Calva, James and Nancy J. Abott, all of Fitchburg, and Harriet A. Allen of North Sedgwick received bequests. He left $50 to Sedgwick for improvement of the cemetery in North Sedgwick. He also said he "make no bequests to any of my three brothers nor the children of my deceased sisters because I don't consider them in need of my property." The rest and residue of his estate went to Henry W. Ayers, his sole executor.595
Madison and his father and brothers were remembered in Nancy (Tapley) Babson's 1883 poem Lines written in memory of the Babsons.
Children of Sarah Babson6 Emmons and Benjamin Lufkin were: