Davis Uriah I | Born 1707

COLBY, Samuel

Male 1639 - Yes, date unknown


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name COLBY, Samuel 
    Born Between 1638 and 1639  Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died Yes, date unknown 
    Person ID I13113  Uriah Davis I - Genealogy
    Last Modified 21 Jun 2018 

    Father COLBY, Anthony 
    Mother Susannah 
    Family ID F4133  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family SARGENT, Elizabeth,   b. 22 Nov 1646, Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5/05 Feb 1736/1737, Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 90 years) 
    Children 
     1. COLBY, Samuel,   b. 9/09 Mar 1670/1671, Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1746, Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years)
    Last Modified 24 Jun 2018 
    Family ID F4128  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • He signed a will on 6 MAR 1715/16 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. He died about 1716 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. He will was proved on 2 JUL 1716 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. Samuel Colby, father of Samuel and son of Anthony, was born in 1639 in Amesbury. He was made a freeman in 1660. This title gave a man the right to vote in town affairs. It was necessary to own property and be a church member in order to receive it.

      In his youth, he was something of a black sheep and in 1665 was convicted of a misdemeanor. In 1676, he was in King Philip's War and helped bury Captain Turner after the Deerfield Massacre. In 1686, he was prosecuted for selling drink without a license, but was acquitted. In 1689, he was a representative to the General Court of Massachusetts and in 1696 was chosen assessor of his native town.

      He lived first at Amesbury, but like many others, he took up a lot in the Ox Common at East Haverhill without asking leave. The contest for ownership between the squatters and the legal proprietors continued for forty years. Before it was settled, he returned with his family to Amesbury. In 1678, he opened an inn at Bartlett's Corner near the old homestead and continued as the proprietor until his death in 1715.

      About 1666, he married Elizabeth Sargent.

      Comment #2

      Samuel fought in King Philip's War, in the Falls Fight under Captain Turner. Salisbury town records show that Samuel was fined in 1665 for 'abusing a wench'. Samuel and Elizabeth owned a 'public house' or inn in Amesbury in 1678. In 1686, he was acquitted of a charge of 'selling drink without a license'. Samuel represented Amesbury in general court (Attorney?) in 1689. On July 22, 1692, Samuel signed a petition in favor of Mrs Bradbury who was accused of witchcraft.

      Elizabeth was the daughter of William Sargent, a friend of Anthony. William's wife was Elizabeth Perkins. William was born in England in 1602. His Father was Richard Sargent, an officer in the Royal Navy. William also immigrated with Winthrop in 1630. from 'Lineage of Philander M. Colby of Arborville & Bradshaw, Me., and Spencer Colby of Hamilton County, Me. by Claudia K. (Miller) Forster, Seattle, Wa.

      Samuel was a planter and innholder at Amesbury and later settled at Haverhill between 1664 and 1667. He received land in Amesbury, 1659 & 1662; townsman of Amesbury in 1660, lived in Haverhill, 1668, 1672 and 1674, but had returned to Amesbury, 1676, where he died. Among the few affidavits that were made to sustain claims for land near Turner's Falls, found in the Massachusetts M. S. Archives, is one from John Chase, in which he states that he and Samuel Colby were in the fight and helped to bury Captain Turner, and in 1689 served as representative from Amesbury.

      He made his will 6 March 1715/6, which was proved 2 July 1716.

      Comment #3

      From the "Essex antiquarian, Old Norfold County Records."

      "Planter", and "innholder," He received land in Amesbury in 1659 and '62; townsman of Amesbury in 1660; took oath of allegiance and fidelity in Amesbury, Dec. 1677. He was soldier in King Philip's War; was in the "Falls Fight" under Capt. Turner, March 18, 1676. (From; Old families of Salisbury and Amesbury).

      "John Chase, of Newbury, certifies that he was in the expedition with Capt. Turner, and helped to bury him, and that Samuel Coleby, late of Almsbury, deceased, was with him.

      A grant was made of a township of land, as near as might be to the scene of the "Falls fight," to all officers and soldiers who were engaged therin."

      Two new claimants, Samuel Coleby, eldest son of Samuel Coleby, of Almsbury, and tryall Newbury, of Malden, were admitted to first choice lots on the new tract, by act of the Court august 1, 1741.

      From: "Soldiers in King Philip's War" originally published in Boston, 1906.

      In 1669 was a representative to the General Court and tything man several years until resigning in 1707. In 1667 her served as Sergeant in King Phillips War at the Falls Fight, under Capt. Turner, and was at the massacre near Deerfield, on the Connecticut River, where the Indians ambushed them, killing Capt. Turner. By order of the General Court, a township of land near the scene of battle was given to each survivor or his heir, yet it was not until 60 years later that Samuel, his son, was admitted to first choice of lots.

      "John Ilsley (also, Isly) of Salisbury, barber, conveyed to Richard Goodale, sr., of Salisbury, husbandman, 12-acre planting lot, formerly of Mr. Jn Hodges, in Salisbury, bounded by Richard Singletary, Jn Clifford, ye mill way and boggie meadow, April 14, 1664. Wit: Mary Goodale and Sam: Colby. Ack. in court 12: 2 mo: 1664."

      "William Allin (his A mark) of Salisbury releases Samuell Colby, late of Salisbury of a lost bill of twenty pounds, given for land he bought of me, March 16, 1667-8. Wit: Joh Pike and Moses Pike. Ack. March 16, 1667-8, before Robert Pike." Vol VI. Old Norfolk County Records. 1902, pg. 175.

      "Samuel Colby of Haverhill, planter for 10 pounds, conveyed to Jn Clough of salisbury, house carpenter, my division of upland, of 108 acres, in Salisbury new town, bounded by Robert Quenby, lot formerly of Mary Peasly, highway and Nathan Gold, April 23, 1668. Wit: Tho: Bradbury and John Bradbury. Ack. april 23, 1668, before Robert Pike, commissioner." Vol. VI. pg. 176.

      "George Martyn (his M mark) of Amsbery, blacksmith, conveyed to Samuel Colby of Haverhill, planter, 3 acres of meadow I had of Isaac Colby and which was formerly Mr. Bradburie's; bounded with Fox Island creek, Goodman Stevens, Mr. Winsly, Robert fitts and Richard Goodale, April 4, 1670. Wit: John Colby and tho: Currier. Ack. 12: 2 mo: 1670, in court at Salisbury. Grantor's wife, Susanna Martin released dower April 24, 1682, before Nath Saltonstall, assistant." Vol. VIII. 1904, pg. 40

      From Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, pg. 999:

      "In Apr., 1665, Nath'l Barnard and Samuel Colby deposed that they were "at the house of Heaniry Sawers" and read the court's order to Wid. Peasley concerning a division of land between Wid. Peasley and Thomas Barnard Jr. (her son-in-law), and she refused, etc. (Es. Co. Ct. Rec. vol. 3, p. 253).

      Samuel Colby was fined in 1665 for 'abusing a wench'. Samuel and Elizabeth owned a 'public house' or inn in amesbury in 1678. In 1686, he was acquitted of a charge of 'selling drink without alicense'. Samuel represented Amesbury in general court (Attorney?) in 1689. On Jul 22, 1692, Samuel signed a petition in favor of Mrs. Bradbury who was accused of witchcraft.

      SOURCES: (1) A History of Deerfield, Ma, by George Sheldon, Vol I, page 159; (2) Society of Colonial Wars, Index of Ancesters, 1922, page 113; (3) "The Colby Family in Early America" by Frederick L. Weis, 1970, page 8; (4) Colby Clan Ancester Sheets, by Various members; (5) "The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury Massachusetts" by David W. Hoyt.