Volume 1 — GENEALOGICAL MEMOIR OF THE FARMER FAMILY.
Reading edition
Remodelled and Prepared on a New Plan.
BY SAMUEL G. DRAKE, M. A.
[As one of this name has very justly been styled "The Father of Genealogy in New England," and has left behind him an enduring monument of his labors in this department of literature, it is deemed highly proper to commence our Genealogical Series with that of his family. It will be viewed, we doubt not, with great interest, by all lovers of such subjects, and more especially as the Memoir is from his own pen; that is to say, as to facts, it is entirely the same as that, which was published by the distinguished Genealogist himself; but the plan of it here presented, is new, and is probably preferable to any other hitherto adopted. Indeed there does not appear to have been any general fixed plan for the exhibition of Genealogies. The following method, the result of much reflection, is now offered for the consideration of those who may engage in preparing Genealogical Memoirs. Ed.]
Explanation of the Plan.
As the plan laid down may not be apparent at first view, the following explanation may be deemed necessary. The Arabic numbers running through the whole Genealogy, are to show not only the number of every individual descended from the same ancestor, but by the aid of them, the connection of every person is seen at a glance, and the ancestors or descendants may be traced, backward or forward, with the greatest ease and facility. One number set under another, or two numbers set against the same individual, show, in all cases, that such individual has descendants, and the lower number indicates the place in the series where the descendants are to be found; remembering that the Roman numerals are only employed to show the number of children belonging to the same particular family. For example, (18)/(59) VIII. Oliver,3 shows, that this person is No. 18 in the regular Arabic series, and that following (59), onward, his family will be found; the VIII is sufficiently obvious. The 3 at the end of the name, denotes the individual to be of the 3rd generation from the first in the series, and so of all other numbers in a similar situation; i. e., all those placed like an exponent at the end of names, show the generation. All names of persons having descendants, are necessarily repeated, in their order, but are not renumbered. Thus John3 (10) is repeated after 18, the (10) showing his original place in the series.
From what is said above it is thought the plan will be perfectly apparent on the most cursory perusal. The names of persons descended in the female line are printed in the ordinary Roman letter, to distinguish them from those of the male line, always printed in small capitals.
By this system of deducing or displaying descents, any corrections or additions may be made without disfiguring the appearance of the work, as for instance, (63) IV. Sarah,4 whose family is indicated to be given at (126); it will appear that other individuals were found belonging to her family after the work was made up, therefore a new entry is made of her at (164), and yet all is perfectly clear.
Although it is highly desirable, that individuals and families should succeed each other in the regular order of their generations, it is not always possible to make a genealogical memoir so; for it is apparent that in numerous instances, especially among the early families, we are obliged to pass over individuals, not knowing whether they had descendants; and when a long memoir is made up it is often found that many so passed over, had children. These therefore cannot have their proper place in the memoir without great labor, requiring a new draft of nearly the whole work. By the plan now presented we avoid the difficulty, in its most objectionable feature, by placing all such at the end of the memoir whenever we find them, with the same numerical references, &c., as employed throughout. Thus, in the following genealogy we have several placed in this manner for illustration; as for example, (110) III. Charlotte6 falls into the series, with her descendants at (174), while (83) I. Edward5 does not fall in till (176), and so of a few others.
In preparing this memoir the reader must remember, that the author published it in 1828, and hence, that the present tense often used by him, has reference to the date of publication. We make this note to avoid too frequent interpolations in brackets. Mr. Farmer had printed in 1813, sundry Family Records of different branches of the family, and in 1824, he issued an Appendix to it. This with the other part made about 30 pages in 18mo. These contained a good deal not found in his last work. All three are here incorporated into a regular and continuous genealogy. The copies of the first two printed works which I have used, have many manuscript additions and corrections in the author's own hand. The title-page of the Memoir runs thus:
A GENEALOGICAL MEMOIR OF THE FAMILY BY THE NAME OF FARMER, WHO SETTLED AT BILLERICA, Ms. Hingham, Farmer & Brown, Printers, 1828.
[The following Dedication is upon the back of the title-page.]
To Jedidiah Farmer, The following Memoir of our Ancestors, collected from various authentic sources, and with considerable enquiry and investigation, is offered to you as a token of fraternal regard and affection, by your affectionate brother,
John Farmer. Concord, N. H., January 28, 1828.
MEMOIR.
The surname of Farmer is one of considerable antiquity, and is one of those names derived from occupations or professions, which, next to local names, or those derived from the names of places, are the most numerous.[4] It comes from the Saxon term Fearme or Feorme, which signifies food or provision.[5] But some think it derived from Firma, which signifies a place enclosed or shut in; and some contend for its French etymology from the word Ferme.
The Farmers, so far as my researches will enable me to conjecture, were of Saxon origin, and, in the reign of Edward IV., King of England, were seated in Northamptonshire, where they remain to the present day. They resided at Easton-Neston about 1480. Anne, the daughter of Richard Farmer, Esq., of that place, married, before 1545, William Lucy, and their son, Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlecote, knighted by Queen Elizabeth, in 1565, was the knight and magistrate whose name is associated with some of the early events of the life of Shakspeare. William Farmer, created Lord Leinster in 1692, the ancestor of the present earl of Pomfret, resided at Easton-Neston. Jasper Farmer, one of this family, is said to be the ancestor of the Farmers in the State of Pennsylvania.
From Northamptonshire they seem to have spread over several of the contiguous counties before the middle of the sixteenth century; being found in Leicestershire as early as 1490, in Warwickshire in 1545, and in Shropshire at nearly the same period.
Sir William Dugdale, in his Antiquities of Warwickshire, mentions Richard Farmer and his wife, and John their son, and Maud his wife, to whom, and the heirs male of the said John, the place or parish of Merston-Boteler in that county, was granted by the King's Letters Patent, dated November 23, 1545. He also names Rev. Thomas Farmer, minister of the parish of Austrey in 1542, and Rev. John Farmer, incumbent of the church in Bagington, 1552, and Rev. Richard, of the parish of Ashowe.
R. Farmer, Esq., of Kennington Common, near London, informs me,[6] that his ancestors as far back as he had been able to trace them, belonged to Oldbury, near Bridgenorth, in Shropshire, and that their names were Edward. Thomas Farmer, Esq., one of the Managers of the British and Foreign Bible Society, is of this family. Rev. Hugh Farmer, the learned author of the Dissertation on Miracles, and other theological works, was of Shropshire, and was born at a place called Isle Gate, belonging to a small hamlet almost surrounded by the river Severn, a few miles from Shrewsbury.[7]
The branch of the family traced in the following pages was formerly seated in Leicestershire, on the borders of Warwickshire; and, about 1500, were living in the village of Ratcliffe-Cuiley, near Witherly. Of those who resided there at that period, I am unable to speak with any degree of certainty, having the advantage of no records, or family memorials. The late Rev. Richard Farmer, D. D., of Cambridge, England, made some collections of a genealogical nature, and from these it would seem, that the most remote ancestor, whom he had traced, was Edward, who is mentioned by Anthony Wood in his Athenæ Oxonienses, and in his Fasti Oxonienses, as being the Chancellor of the Cathedral church in Salisbury, in 1531; which office he sustained until his death in 1538.
John Farmer is the next ancestor of whom I have any account, and of whom I have nothing more than the fact found among Rev. Dr. Farmer's MSS., that he was living at Ansley in Warwickshire in 1604. Between him and Edward of Salisbury, there were probably two or three generations, whose names cannot be given with much confidence, although it is presumed from Guillim's Heraldry, that the name of one was Bartholomew.
There has been a considerable number of the name in England, and several of them of the Warwickshire branch of the family, who have been employed in public life, or have been known by their writings. The following list of them has been collected from various sources:
Anthony, who was appointed in 1687, by James II., President of Magdalen College; but, being a papist, and there being other objections against his character, he was superseded by Bishop Parker.[8]
Edward. "In the year 1529, in the beginning of February, Edward Lee became Chancellor of the church of Salisbury by the resignation of Thomas Winter, and was succeeded in that dignity by Edward Farmer, in December, 1531."[9]
George, Esq., who was Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in 1663.[10]
Hatton, who was Major of Prince Charles' regiment, and was killed by Culham Bridge, near Abingdon, Jan. 11, 1645.[11]
Hugh, already mentioned, who was born 1714, died 1787, a. 73. Memoirs of his Life and Writings were published in 1805, by Michael Dodson, Esq., London, in an octavo volume of 160 pages.
Jacob, who published a "True Relation of the State of Ireland," London, 1642, octavo.
James, who was minister of Leire, in Leicestershire, and was ejected in 1660.[12]
John, who was a madrigaler, and who published a work noticed by Dr. Rees, issued in 1591, London, octavo.
John, Esq., who was Governor of the island of Barbadoes.[13]
John, who was a clergyman, and published twenty sermons. London, 1744, octavo.
John, who published the "History of the Town and Abbey of Waltham in Essex, England." London, 1735, octavo.
John, who was a surgeon, and published "Select Cases in Surgery, collected in St. Bartholomew's Hospital." 1757, in quarto.
Priscilla, whose Life was published in 1796, by her grandson, Charles Lloyd.[14]
Richard, who was a Baptist minister, and who is noticed by Neal in his History of the Puritans.
Richard, who published a sermon on Luke xxi: 34. London, 1629, quarto.
Richard, D. D., who published "An Essay on the Learning of Shakspeare." London, 1766.
Ralph, who was minister of St. Nicholas in Somersetshire, and was ejected in 1660. He published the "Mysteries of Godliness and Ungodliness, discovered from the writings of the Quakers." London, 1655, quarto.[15]
S——, Esq., who was a member of Parliament, 1818.[16]
Thomas, who was born August 20, 1771, nephew of Dr. Richard, Rector of Aspley-Guise in Bedfordshire.
Thomas, who was a printer, and published a work called "Plain Truth, &c." London, 1763, quarto.
William, who wrote an Almanac for Ireland, printed at Dublin, 1587, supposed to have been the first printed in that country.[17]
William, of Magdalen College, who was a Baronet, and was created Master of Arts in 1667.[18]
[Thus far we have but the links of a broken chain, which must necessarily be the results usually of attempts of this nature. What follows is without any lost link between those named and a common ancestor.]
(1) John,1 of Ansley, who m. Isabella Barbage of Great Packington, in Warwickshire, is the first ancestor of whom I have the means of giving any account, supported by original documents and family memorials in my possession. Ansley, the place of his residence, is a small village in the northerly part of the county of Warwick, situated about ten miles from the city of Coventry, four from Atherstone, which borders on Leicestershire, and five from Nuneaton, a considerable market town, and has a population of 541. In this place, and near Ansley Hall,[19] the seat of the Ludfords, he owned houses and lands, which passed to his posterity through several generations, and may still be owned by his descendants. Of his family I have procured some facts, which will be given. He died before the year 1669, and Isabella, his widow, came with some of her children to New England, a few years after this period, and m. Elder Thomas Wiswall of Cambridge Village, now Newton, who d. Dec. 6, 1683. She d. at Billerica, May 21, 1686, at an advanced age. The children of this John Farmer were,
(2) I. John2 of Ansley, who had the paternal estate. He d. before
(9) 1700, and his widow m. Richard Lucas of Ansley.
(3) II. Mary,2 who m. William Pollard of the city of Coventry, and d. before 1701. Their eldest son, Thomas, came to New England, m. Sarah Farmer, his cousin, settled in Billerica, d. April 4, 1724, leaving 10 sons.
(4) III. Edward,2 who was b. about 1640, (probably the second son,)
(10) m. Mary ——, who was b. about 1641. He came to New England between 1670 and 1673,[20] fixed his residence at Billerica, and was admitted to town rights and privileges in that place, Jan. 11, 1673. He afterwards lived a year or two at Woburn, and one of his children was born there. In Billerica he was chosen to several of the most important town offices, and was employed in public service, until he was quite advanced in life. He had 8 children, 4 sons and 4 daughters. To his youngest son, Oliver, he gave the farm on which he resided, which is still in possession of one of his descendants. On this farm have resided 6 successive generations, in the space of 154 years. He died at Billerica, May 27, 1727, a. about 87. Mary his wife d. March 26, 1716, a. 77. The male descendants of Edward Farmer, of the patronymic name, have nearly all been agriculturists, and no one among them has attained any considerable civil or literary distinction. In the female line of descent there have been several of liberal education, and others who have been honored with civil office. The house of Edward Farmer, (which stood until after 1728,) was fortified as a garrison for a number of years. While occupied as such, the following incident occurred, which has been handed down by tradition in the family. During the Ten Years' Indian War, and probably about the year 1692, when the first depredations were committed in the town of Billerica, the Indians meditated an attack on this garrison. For some days they had been lurking in the neighborhood of it without being discovered. Early in the forenoon of a summer's day, the wife and daughter of Edward Farmer went into the field to gather peas or beans for dinner, being attended by several of her sons, who were young lads, as a guard to protect them. They had been out but a short time before Mrs. Farmer discovered that a number of Indians were concealed behind the fences, and so near that she could almost reach them. Had she given any alarm, they would probably have rushed from their lurking-places, seized the party and fled; although their object was to get possession of the garrison, which offered more plunder and a greater number of captives. But with admirable presence of mind, and without making known the discovery she had made, to her sons, who might, with more temerity than prudence, have attacked the Indians, she said, in a loud tone of voice, "Boys, guard us well to the garrison, and then you may come back and hunt Indians." The Indians, supposing they were not discovered, remained in their hiding-places, while the other party soon left the field for the garrison, which they reached in safety. Then the alarm was given, the people collected, and the Indians fled with precipitation. After the return of peace, the Indians declared, that had it not been for that "one white squaw," they should have effected their purpose.
(5) IV. Isabella,2 who came to New England.
(6) V. Elizabeth,2 who m. a Mr. —— White, and visited New England ab. 1681.
(7) VI. Thomas,2 who came to New England, and was living in Billerica in 1675 and 1684. He afterwards returned to England, or removed elsewhere.
(8) VII. Ann.2
(9) VIII. ——, who m. John Hall, of Warwickshire.
John2 (2) of Ansley had,
(10) I. John,3 b. ——, who m. Sarah Daws of Tamworth, and lived
(18) at Nuneaton, England.
Edward2 (4) had by his wife Mary,
(11) I. Sarah,3 who was b. ab. 1669, and m. Thomas Pollard, Nov.,
(19) 1692, who was son of William Pollard of Coventry, England, and had issue 10 sons and 5 daughters. Thomas Pollard d. at Billerica, Ms. April 4, 1724. She d. May 3, 1725.
(12) II. John,3 who was b. Aug. 19, 1671, and m. Abigail ——. He
(34) resided in Billerica, where he d. Sept. 9, 1736, a. 65. She d. at Tewksbury, Ms., March 20, 1754, a. 75.
(13) III. Edward,3 who was b. March 22, 1674, and m. Mary, dau.
(42) of Thomas Richardson, who was b. Feb. 17, 1673, d. May 15, 1746, a. 73. He lived in Billerica, where he d. Dec. 17, 1752, a. 78.
(14) IV. Mary,3 who was b. Nov. 3, 1675, and m. —— Dean, and had a number of children.
(15) V. Barbary,3 who was b. at Woburn, Jan. 26, 1677, and d. at Billerica, Feb. 1, 1681, a. 4 years.
(16) VI. Elizabeth,3 who was b. May 17, 1680, and m. William
(45) Green of Malden, May 29, 1707. She d. Dec. 26, 1761, a. 82. He d. May 19, 1761, a. 87, both at Reading, Ms.
(17) VII. Thomas,3 who was b. June 8, 1683, and m. Sarah Hunt.
(50) They both d. at Hollis, N. H., about 1767, a. ab. 84 years each, and were both buried in the same grave.
(18) VIII. Oliver,3 who was b. Feb. 2, 1686, and m. Abigail, dau. of
(59) Ebenezer Johnson of Woburn, where she was b., June 13, 1697. Her father was son of Hon. William Johnson, for many years Representative to the General Court from Woburn; elected in 1684, an Assistant under the old colony charter of Massachusetts, and who d. May 22, 1704. William was son of Capt. Edward Johnson, the author of the well known History of New England, printed at London, 1654, in small quarto, commonly called "Wonder-working Providence." He came in 1630, from Herne Hill, a parish in Kent, in England, and settled at Woburn, Ms., which he represented in the General Court twenty-eight years in succession, from 1643 to 1671, except in the year 1648, and was once Speaker of the House of Representatives. He d. April 23, 1672, leaving 5 sons and 2 daughters. Oliver Farmer, from whom we have digressed, resided on the paternal farm in Billerica, where he d., Feb. 23, 1761, a. 75. His widow m. 2ndly, Capt. James Lane, of Bedford, Ms., and d. there, Feb. 25, 1773, a. 75.
John,3 (10) who m. Sarah Daws, had
(19) I. Richard,4 who was bapt. Sept. 15, 1698, and m. Hannah
(69) Knibb of Brinklow, Jan. 4, 1733.
Sarah,3 (11) who m. Thomas Pollard, had,
(20) I. Mary,
(21) II. Edward,
(22) III. Barbary,
(23) IV. Thomas,
(24) V. William,
(25) VI. John,
(26) VII. Sarah,
(27) VIII. Joseph,
(28) IX. Oliver,
(29) X. Sarah 2nd,
(30) XI. Nathaniel,
(31) XII. James,
(32) XIII. Walter,
(33) XIV. Elizabeth,
(34) XV. Benjamin, (nearly all of whom married and had families.)
John,3 (12) who m. Abigail ——, had,
(35) I. Dorothy,4
(36) II. Barbary,4
(37) III. John,4
(38) IV. Daniel,4
(39) V. Richard,4
(40) VI. Edward,4
(41) VII. Jacob,4
(42) VIII. William.4
Edward,3 (13) who m. Mary Richardson, had,
(43) I. Mary,4
(44) II. Andrew,4 b. March 27, 1709.
(45) III. Elizabeth.4
Elizabeth,3 (16) who m. William Green of Malden, had,
(46) I. Elizabeth,4
(47) II. Eunice,4
(48) III. William,4
(49) IV. William 2nd,4
(50) V. Nathan.4
Thomas,3 (17) who m. Sarah Hunt, had,
(51) I. Thomas,4
(52) II. Joseph,4
(53) III. Joseph 2nd,4
(54) IV. Susanna,4
(55) V. Josiah,4
(56) VI. Elizabeth,4
(57) VII. Joshua,4
(58) VIII. Samuel,4
(59) IX. Benjamin.4
Oliver,3 (18) who m. Abigail Johnson, had,
(60) I. Abigail,4 b. Dec. 22, 1717, d. Jan. 11, 1718.
(61) II. Abigail 2nd,4 b. Jan. 14, 1719, m. Jonathan Richardson of
(112) Billerica, Feb. 14, 1740. He was b. Feb. 7, 1716, d. March 14, 1791, a. 75. She d. Jan. 13, 1790, a. 71. They had 6 children.
(62) III. Mary,4 b. Aug. 26, 1721, m. William Baldwin of Billerica,
(118) Sept. 23, 1741. He was b. Sept. 15, 1710, d. Dec 21, 1762, a. 52. She d. Sept. 25, 1803, a. 72. They had 8 children.
(63) IV. Sarah,4 b. Dec. 14, 1723, m. Edward Jewett of Rowley,
(126) 1741, d. at Berlin, Ms., Dec. 8, 1819, a. 96. He was b. Aug. 11, 1714, d. Dec. 20, 1790, a. 77. They had 10 children.
(64) V. Betty,4 b. May 31, 1726, m. Zebadiah Rogers of Billerica,
(134) April 11, 1751, d. Sept. 17, 1805, a. 80. He was b. Feb. 23, 1721, d. June 25, 1803, a. 82. They had 7 children.
(65) VI. Rebecca,4 (a twin) b. May 31, 1726, m. Samuel Rogers of
(141) Billerica, April 18, 1751, d. Aug. 30, 1809. He was brother of Zebadiah just named, and was b. Feb. 2, 1723, d. April 21, 1788, a. 66. They had 7 children.
(66) VII. Oliver,4 b. July 31, 1728, m. Rachel, dau. of John Shed of
(76) Pepperell, Ms., April 5, 1757. She was b. Jan. 29, 1733, d. Sept. 23, 1764, a. 31. He m. 2dly, July 3, 1766, Hannah, dau. of Jeremiah Abbot, b. Oct. 10, 1735, d. Sept. 13, 1819, a. 84. He d. on the paternal farm, Feb. 24, 1814, a. 85.
(67) VIII. Isabella,4 b. March 2, 1731, m. Benjamin Warren of
(148) Chelmsford, Jan. 10, 1754, d. Dec. 26, 1793, a. 63. He d. at Hollis, N. H., Aug. 20, 1800, a. 71. They had 6 children.
(68) IX. Edward,4 Esq., b. Feb. 24, 1734, m. Sarah, dau. of Samuel
(82) Brown, d. Aug. 4, 1804, a. 70. She was b. Feb. 20, 1736, d. Aug. 19, 1811, a. 75. The following obituary notice of this gentleman appeared in the Boston Repertory of Aug. 10, 1804. "Died at Billerica, on the 4th inst., in the 71st year of his age, Edward Farmer, Esq., who many years represented that town in the General Court. He ever combatted the enemies to the Laws and Constitution of his Country, both foreign and domestic. He was a firm patriot in our Revolutionary war, and commanded a party of militia at the capture of Burgoyne, and cheerfully obeyed the call of Government, in the insurrection of 1786. On the 6th his body was carried to the meeting-house, preceded by a volunteer company completely uniformed, and followed by a long train of the citizens of Billerica and the towns adjacent. Appropriate hymns were sung, a suitable lesson was read from the scriptures, and after a well adapted prayer by the Rev. Dr. Cumings, his remains, as attended above, were escorted to the mansions of the dead, and deposited with his fathers, with military honors. He left a numerous family to bemoan his loss."
(69) X. John,4 Lieut., b. Dec. 7, 1737, m. 1st, June 5, 1764, Hannah
(87) Davis, b. Sept. 7, 1741; 2ndly, widow Sarah Adams, originally Russell, b. Jan. 18, 1751. His first wife d. Feb. 12, 1787, a. 45. He d. at Billerica, Jan. 9, 1806, in his 70th year.
Richard,4 (19) who m. Hannah Knibb, had,
(70) I. Richard,5 Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, b. May 4, 1735, d. Sept. 8, 1797, a. 62.
(71) II. John,5 in holy orders.
(72) III. Thomas,5 b. May 10, 1744, d. at Leicester, England, 1824, a. 80.
(73) IV. Joseph,5 of Leicester, a Lieut. Colonel.
(74) V. Hannah,5
(75) VI. Sarah,5
(76) VII. Mary,5 who m. Rev. and Hon. Richard Byron, at one time heir apparent to the baronial honors of the Byron family.
Oliver,4 (66) who m. 1st, Rachel Shed, had,
(77) I. Rachel,5 b. April 29, 1758, m. Nicholas French, Sept. 28,
(95) 1779. He d. at Merrimack, July 21, 1823, a. 73.
(78) II. Oliver,5 b. June 12, 1760, m. Hannah Sprague, Nov. 30,
(101) 1786. She was b. March 14, 1764.
(79) III. John,5 b. Dec 1, 1762, m. Lydia, dau. of Josiah Richardson[21] of
(107) Chelmsford, Jan. 24, 1788. She was b. Dec. 7, 1763. He was a deacon, and resided in Chelmsford, (where all of his children were born) until Sept, 1803, when he removed to Lyndeborough, N. H., where he remained until Nov. 18, 1806, at which time he removed to Merrimack, and died there, Nov. 17, 1814, a. 52. By his 2nd wife, Hannah Abbott, he had,
(80) IV. Hannah,5 b. Sept. 17, 1767, m. William Rogers of Billerica,
(154) (her cousin) Dec. 10, 1789. She was b. May 25, 1759.
(81) V. Rebecca,5 b. Nov. 29, 1768, d. Jan. 8, 1792, a. 23. A poem on her death was written by Dr. Timothy Danforth of Billerica.
(82) VI. Jeremiah,5 b. April 10, 1771, m. Clarissa, dau. of Timothy
(172) Foster, Oct. 13, 1816. She was b. April 16, 1785.
Edward,4 (68) who m. Sarah Brown, had,
(83) I. Edward,5 b. Dec 1, 1760, d. Aug. 23, 1802. He m. Rizpah
(176) Baldwin, March 25, 1784. She d. July 29, 1791. He m. 2ndly, Elizabeth Brown, of Concord.
(84) II. Sarah,5 b. March 6, 1763, d. Jan. 28, 1766.
(85) III. Jonathan,5 b. May 28, 1764, d. Oct. 11, 1798.
(86) IV. Sarah,5 b. Oct. 3, 1767, m. Reuben Baldwin, Nov. 13, 1787. He was drowned, May 13, 1807, leaving 8 children.
(87) V. Jesse,5 b. Oct. 18, 1770, d. in Boston, Feb. 6, 1815, a. 44.
(181) He m. Margaret Franksford, July 26, 1803. She was b. Aug. 26, 1781.
John,4 (69) who m. 1st, Hannah Davis, had,
(88) I. Hannah,5 b. Sept. 26, 1764.
(89) II. Rebecca,5 b. Dec. 2, 1766, d. May 29, 1788.
(90) III. Abigail,5 b. Dec 22, 1768.
(91) IV. Polly,5 b. Jan. 14, 1775.
(92) V. John,5 b. Dec 4, 1776, d. Sept. 1, 1778.
(93) VI. Lucy,5 b. Oct. 4, 1780. By his 2nd wife, (Mrs. Adams,) he had,
(94) VII. John,5 b. Dec 11, 1791, m. Susan, dau. of Deacon Moses Gerrish, and resided [in 1824] in Boscawen, and was Lieut. Colonel of the 21st regiment of N. H. militia.
(95) VIII. Hannah,5 b. Dec. 15, 1794, m., and lived in Boscawen, in 1824.
Rachel,5 (77) who m. Nicholas French, had,
(96) I. Oliver Farmer,6 b. Jan. 1, 1780, d. July 25, 1803, a. 23.
(97) II. John,6 b. May 27, 1783.
(98) III. Nicholas,6 b. Sept. 7, 1785.
(99) IV. Rachel,6 b. Sept. 10, 1788, d. July 14, 1792.
(100) V. Hannah,6 b. Aug. 4, 1791.
(101) VI. Rachel 2nd,6 b. June 25, 1795.
Oliver,5 (78) who m. Hannah Sprague, had,
(102) I. Oliver,6 b. May 12, 1788.
(103) II. Asa,6 b. Dec 13, 1793.
(104) III. Hannah,6 b. May 17, 1795.
(105) IV. Zadock,6 b. Oct. 28, 1796.
(106) V. Rebecca,6 b. March 30, 1798.
(107) VI. Rachel,6 b. Sept. 13, 1804.
John,5 (79) who m. Lydia Richardson, had,
(108) I. John,6 b. June 12, 1789, d. at Concord, N. H., where he had long resided, Aug. 13, 1838, a. 49. [This was the eminent Genealogist and Antiquary, the original author of this Genealogical Memoir of the family, to whom all New England is so deeply indebted for his labors.]
(109) II. Miles,6 b. Jan. 18, 1791, m. Sophia H., dau. of Major
(188) Turner Crooker, July 4, 1816. She was of Amherst, N. H.
(110) III. Charlotte,6 b. July 20, 1792, m. Capt. James Riddle of
(174) Merrimack, Aug. 3, 1815. She d. Aug. 6, 1825, a. 33, while on a visit at Quincy for her health, and was interred at Bedford, N. H.
(111) IV. Mary,6 b. Aug. 31, 1794.
(112) V. Jedidiah,6 b. April 5, 1802.
Abigail,4 (61) who m. Jonathan Richardson, had,
(113) I. Abigail,5 b. April 14, 1741.
(114) II. Jonathan,5 b. June 3, 1743, d. July 2, 1743.
(115) III. Jonathan,5 b. Nov. 25, 1744.
(116) IV. Thomas,5 b. Sept. 3, 1747.
(117) V. Oliver,5 b. Feb. 15, 1750.
(118) VI. Benjamin,5 b. March 3, 1753, d. Feb. 23, 1773.
Mary,4 (62) who m. William Baldwin, had,
(119) I. Sarah,5 b. July 5, 1742.
(120) II. John,5 b. Jan. 13, 1744.
(121) III. William,5 b. April 12, 1748.
(122) IV. Thomas,5 b. Feb. 27, 1751, d. June 12, 1796.
(123) V. Micah,5 b. Oct. 1, 1753.
(124) VI. Mary,5 b. April 15, 1756.
(125) VII. Nahum,5 b. May 16, 1759.
(126) VIII. Oliver,5 b. Feb. 12, 1762.
Sarah,4 (63) who m. Edward Jewett, had,
(127) I. Edward,5 b. Nov. 29, 1741, lived in Rindge, N. H.
(128) II. Sarah,5 b. May 29, 1744.
(129) III. Oliver,5 b. March 24, 1747.
(130) IV. John,5 b. Nov. 6, 1749, d. Feb., 1802.
(131) V. Jesse,5 b. Nov. 17, 1752.
(132) VI. Abigail,5 b. Oct. 11, 1755.
(133) VII. Isabel,5 b. Sept. 29, 1758.
(134) VIII. Joseph,5 b. May 10, 1761, m. Sarah Woods, sister of Rev.
(166) Dr. Woods of Andover. He resided in Ashburnham, Ms. [See (164) onward.]
Betty,4 (64) who m. Zebadiah Rogers, had,
(135) I. Betty,5 b. May 1, 1752.
(136) II. Zebadiah,5 b. March 18, 1754.
(137) III. John,5 b. Oct. 15, 1756.
(138) IV. Josiah,5 b. April 28, 1759.
(139) V. Lucy,5 b. April 21, 1761.
(140) VI. Sybil,5 b. Nov. 4, 1763, d. Nov. 15, 1770.
(141) VII. Micajah,5 b. Nov. 15, 1770.
Rebecca,4 (65) who m. Samuel Rogers, had,
(142) I. Rebecca,5 b. Feb. 11, 1752.
(143) II. Samuel,5 b. March 5, 1754, died in Virginia, in the service of the U. States, Oct. 18, 1781.
(144) III. Abigail,5 b. July 31, 1756.
(145) IV. William,5 b. May 25, 1759.
(146) V. Thomas,5 b. Aug. 12, 1762, d. May 1, 1804. a. 41.
(147) VI. Rachel,5 b. May 23, 1765, m. Samuel Whiting, Esq., Jan.
(193) 22, 1789.
(148) VII. Ezra,5 b. May 9, 1768.
Isabella,4 (67) who m. Benjamin Warren, had,
(149) I. Isabella,5 b. Oct. 15, 1754.
(150) II. Benjamin,5 b. March 12, 1758.
(151) III. Tabitha,5 b. Jan. 2, 1763.
(152) IV. Abigail,5 b. May 16, 1765.
(153) V. Sarah,5 b. Sept. 28, 1767.
(154) VI. Rebecca,5 b. Feb. 14, 1773.
Hannah,5 (80) who m. William Rogers of Billerica, had,
(155) I. William,6 b. Dec. 23, 1790.
(156) II. Jeremiah,6 b. Oct. 26, 1792.
(157) III. Calvin,6 b. Aug. 30, 1794.
(158) IV. Hannah,6 b. May 11, 1796.
(159) V. Charles,6 b. May 25, 1798, d. May 28, 1799.
(160) VI. Rebecca,6 b. May 18, 1800.
(161) VII. Sukey,6 b. April 1, 1802.
(162) VIII. Harriet,6 b. April 17, 1805.
(163) IX. Louisa,6 b. Aug. 23, 1808.
(164) X. Elvira,6 b. Aug. 5, 1810.
Sarah,4 (63)—[In giving her children at (126) the following children were accidentally omitted.]
(165) IX. Rachel,5 b. Jan. 8, 1765, d. Feb., 1766.
(166) X. Josiah,5 b. April, 1767, d. Sept., 1775.
Joseph Jewett,5 (134) son of Sarah (63) by Edward Jewett, had,
(167) I. Ivers,6 of Ashburnham, now [1823] Major General of the 6th division of the Massachusetts militia.
(168) II. Joseph,6 of Baltimore, Md.
(169) III. Milton,6 who died in 1817.
(170) IV. Polly G.,6 wife of Rev. Otis C. Whiton.
(171) V. Merrick A.,6 grad. Dart. Coll. in 1823.
(172) VI. Sarah Farmer,6 m. Aaron Hobart of Boston
Jeremiah,5 (82) who m. Clarissa Foster, had,
(173) I. Sarah Clarissa,6 b. Feb. 27, 1818.
(174) II. Timothy Foster,6 b. Aug. 10, 1824.
Charlotte,6 (110) who m. Capt. James Riddle, had,
(175) I. Charlotte Margaret,7 b. Feb. 20, 1817.
(176) II. Mary Ann Lincoln,7 b. —— 1823.
Edward,5 (83) who m. 1st, Rizpah Baldwin, had,
(177) I. John,6 b. July 27, 1786, d. March 6, 1808, a. 22, a worthy and promising young man.
By his 2nd wife, Elizabeth Brown, he had,
(178) II. Elizabeth,6 b. June 20, 179-.
(179) III. Edward,6 b. Sept. 26, 1795.
(180) IV. Rizpah,6 twin with Edward.
(181) V. Jacob B.,6 b. Oct. 30, 1801.
Jesse,5 (87) who m. Margaret Franksford, had,
(182) I. Margaret,6 b. Nov. 11, 1804.
(183) II. Harriet,6 b. Feb. 17, 1806.
(184) III. Henry,6 b. Aug. 17, 1807.
(185) IV. Jesse,6 b. Nov. 9, 1809.
(186) V. William,6 b. Aug. 11, 1811.
(187) VI. George Washington,6 b. Sept. 25, 1812.
(188) VII. Catharine Smith,6 b. Jan. 13, 1814.
Miles,6 (109) who m. Sophia Crooker, had,
(189) I. Charles Augustus,7 b. July 9, 1817, d. June 4, 1818.
(190) II. Sarah,7 b. at Salem, Sept. 22, 1820.
(191) III. Mary Jane,7 b. at Dover, Ms. Jan. 20, 1823.
(192) IV. Caroline Valentine,7 b. at Dover, Feb. 4, 1825.
(193) V. Charlotte Riddle,7 b. at Boston.
Rachel,5 (147) who m. Samuel Whiting, Esq., had,
(194) I. Harriet,6 b. Oct. 20, 1789.
(195) II. Ann,6 b. Oct. 20, 17—.
(196) III. Catherine,6 twin with Ann.
(197) IV. Augustus,6 b. March 2, 1795, grad. II. C. 1816.
(198) V. Mary Ann,6 b. May 25, 1800.
APPENDIX.
Extracts of Letters from Rev. Thomas Farmer, Rector of Aspley-Guise, in Bedfordshire, England, to John Farmer of Concord, N. H. Dated July, 1822.
Dear Sir,—Having lately been to visit my relations at Leicester, my native place, I saw for the first time a letter from you, desiring an account of your Genealogy; and, being satisfied of our consanguinity, you will allow me to hope that you may cross the Atlantic, and visit this village, of which I am the Rector, and which is situated but little more than 40 miles from London, and near the Duke of Bedford's magnificent Park and Palace.
I am possessed of the papers which formerly belonged to my uncle, Dr. Richard Farmer, who certainly was a most ingenious and classical scholar, and perhaps the best annotator on England's immortal bard. You may know that he was Master of Emmanuel College in the University of Cambridge. There I was educated, and there I saw him die, after a very long protracted illness, on the 8th of September, 1797. The loose papers, from which I shall send you extracts, are in Dr. Farmer's hand-writing.
My father, Thomas Farmer, is now at Leicester, and is the only male issue of his generation. He was born on the 10th of May, 1744. I was born on the 21st of August, 1771, and am the only issue left, and I am in possession of land in the vicinity of Nuneaton, sharing it equally with Mr. Arnold of Ashley, no great distance from Daventry, in the County of Northampton.
Of the present owner of Ancely, or Astly, I know nothing; but in the old papers, I find John Farmer of Ancely, in the County of Warwick, passes a time, Sept. 1st, 1604, and that a John Farmer, in 1663, [1633?] contracts marriage with Isabel Barbage of Great Packington, in the County of Warwick, and that Isabel, in after marriage articles, is stiled "now of New England;" that John Farmer of Nuneaton married Sarah Daws of Tamworth, and settles the estate at Ancely upon her. Richard F., son of John and Sarah, was baptized at Nuneaton, Sept. 15, 1698, and married Hannah Knibb of Brinklow, in the County of Warwick, Jan. 4, 1732-3. Their eldest son, Richard, born May 4, 1735, was the person whom you have rightly named of such extensive literary fame and acquirements.
I shall seal this with the seal[22] which Dr. Farmer wore and used, and the Arms I read, "He beareth Sable, Chevron between three Lamps Argent, with Fire Proper, by the name of Farmer." This coat was assigned to George Farmer, Esq., 1663, second son of Bartholomew Farmer, Gent.[23] of Radcliffe, near Atherstone, Warwickshire. The patent was to alter the Chevron of the family, though it mentions not what anciently were the Arms of the family.
From the same to the same, dated Aspley-Guise, Dec. 1, 1823.
Sir,—The family of Farmers from which we are descended, were living about the year of our Lord, 1500, at a village called Ratcliffe-Cuiley, which is in Leicestershire, and adjoining the Counties of Warwick and Stafford. One of them was a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas, and you observe by the scrap enclosed, another of them, Chancellor of the Cathedral Church of Salisbury, which scrap is the hand-writing of the author on the learning of Shakspeare. Most of them are buried in a vault belonging to the family, in the church of Witherly, (near Ratcliffe) in the County of Leicester. My grandfather's name was Richard, who married a Miss Knibb, and their family consisted of Richard, [b. May 4, 1735,] the annotator on our immortal bard, Prebendary of Canterbury, then a Canon Residentiary of St. Paul's, London, the Master of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and principal Librarian of that University; John, in holy Orders; Thomas, my father, [b. May 10, 1744,] who married the 3rd dau. of John Andrew, Esq., of Harlestone-Park in the County of Northampton; Joseph, Lieut. Col. of the Royal Leicester volunteers; Hannah, unmarried; Sarah married Allen Brown, Esq., of Cosby, near Leicester, and afterwards Richard Jervis, a surgeon of Latterworth; Mary married [in 1768,] the Hon. Richard Byron, [b. Oct. 28, 1724,] brother of the late Lord [William] Byron.