Genealogy of the Family of George Marsh

g^nrtj getter. iiflf:12- //, / E.-B^-ttc-n-.. /p-i- b Digitized by tiie Internet Arciiive in 2011 witii funding from Tine Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant http://www.archive.org/details/genealogyoffamilOOinmars GENEALOGY OF THE FAMILY OF GEORGE MARSH AVho came from Ena-land in 1635 AND SETTLED IN HINGHAM, MASS By E. J. MAKSH. LEOMINSTER PRESS OF F. N. BOUTWELL 1887. DEDICATED TO THE ^cyce^nbavih of geo^t^c 'SKaz^A. PKEFACE. The desire to know something of one's ancestors is natural, if not hiudable. Tliere is a silent but powerful influence descending from father to son through long series of generations. By tracing this influence we may generally discover what the prevailing trait of character in a family is. It ma}^ be very pleasing to one to know that he belongs to a royal family, or that his ancestors are of the nobility, but many a man in the humbler walks of life possesses traits of character that nobles and kings might envy. There are whole families whose history shows a purity of life, a nobleness of character, that no one can fail to admire. Such and similar thoughts many years ago led me to make what in- quiries I could respecting the history of my ancestors. Believing the tradition everywhere prevalent, "that all the Marshes in the countr^^ were descended from three brothers who came from England in the early part of the 17th century," I began by tracing, as fully as I could, the ancestry of every one of that name whom I met. The result was that this whole tradition proved a myth, for which there was not the least foundation, as the following facts will show ; and how it should ever have originated it is difficult to see. John Marsh, who came from England in 1633, landing at Salem, was probably the first of this name who came to this country. He settled in Salem and married Susannah, daughter of Rev. Samuel Skelton, the first minister of Salem, in 1639, and had eleven children. Zacharias, John, Ruth, Benjamin, Eliezer, Ezekiel, Bethia, Samuel, Susannah, Mary, Jacob. His descendants are now settled over the whole country—some are still living in the neighborhood of Salem, and some in Boston, while others have gone West. It is hoped that their family history will be written in full. It has shown itself a family of which any one may be proud. In 1635, two years later, six others came over. 1. John Marsh, aged 26, embarked on board the Plain Joan, Rich- ard Buckner, master, for Virginia, which then included New England. 2. Another of the same name born in 1618. 3. Jonathan. 4. Francis, 5. George, who settled in Hingham, and 6. Alexander Marsh, supposed to have been a nephew of George, and to have come over with him, as he was but seven years old at the time, and settled near by him in Braintree, now Quincy, where he afterwards married Mary French, and from them have descended a no- ble family whose history is full of interest and should be published. He died in 1698, aged 70. In 1636 a fourth John came to this country and settled in Hartford, Conn. His descendants are sometimes called the Connecticut River Marshes, and their history, T am ha]ip3' to know, is soon to be given to tlie world. In 1642 James Marsh of Kent was Captain against Cromwell, and when Cromwell became victorious at Edgehill Captain James was beheaded, and liis sisters fearing for a younger brother, William, who was in College, lest he should be beheaded, called him home and sent him, with his two nephews, sons of a half sister, to this country. They landed at Salem, but William afterwards went to Boston. He was Commissary in the old Indian War and was badl}^ wounded in the Narragansett fight at Stonington, Conn. He afterwards married Eliz- abeth Yomans of Stonington and moved to Plainfield, Conn. I would gladly trace his history more fully, but must leave it to others. In 1645 Thomas Marsh came to this country. He had received an order from the English Court for a lot of land wherever he could find it, for which he paid £33 6s. In 1648 Samuel Marsli came from England and settled in New Ha- ven, Conn., but afterwards moved to New Jersey. In 1674 Henry Marsh received grants of land in Dover. Peter Marsh and his brothers Richard and Thomas came to this country previous to the Revolutionary War. He settled in Sussex Co., Dela- ware, Richard in Pennsylvania, and Thomas in New York. • Sometime previous to 1763 another John Marsh came over in a vessel with Capt. Nevins and settled in Portsmouth, N. H. There was a John Marsh settled in Medfield about 1700, another in Men- don, and an Asa Marsh who settled in Douglas. These all may have come from England, but of this I have no certainty. Since that time they have continued to come, quite a number of whom it has been my privilege to meet. This then settles the question of all the Marshes in this country be- ing descended from three brothers this side the water. Still it is by no means improbable that they all lielonged to one family in England, and were descended from one Marisco who moved from France to England. VI But whatever their origin or relationship their history for the past two hundred and fifty years has shown them to be a truly Puritan family, everywhere distinguished for their marked uprightness and integrity. But our present business is to trace the genealogy, and incidentally the history, of George Marsh of Hingham and his descendants. It would be very pleasant to be able to furnish the record complete in every respect, and free from all errors, but that is an impossibility. With respect to accuracy of names and dates a great amount of labor has been given to secure it, and it is hoped not in vain. Difficulties not a few are met in seeking perfect accuracy. Sometimes original records are at fault, because those of the town, church and family do not always agree and it is difficult to decide which is right. Again it is frequently a matter of doubt whether the letter b. stands for birth or baptism. Mistakes are not unfrequently made by those who send in the information. These mistakes would often make an amusing page to read. It would be a very strange circumstance too, if the compiler, copying thousands of dates and names, should never make a mistake, and even the printer cannot always claim ex- emption. But all errors which liave been discovered, arising from whatever cause, will be found corrected in the Appendix. I wish to express my thanks to all who have in any wa}'^ aided in preparing this book, and my especial obligations to those who have shown so deep an interest in the work as to give valuable time in searching out and furnishing me with important information, working faithfully for many years, without whose lielp I could never have ac- complished the work. At the head of each family I have given their ancestry back to our common ancestor, so that any one can readily trace his relation to any other member, thereby saving tiie need of a chart. The Index is four-fold, embracing Firsts the names of all the sons born in the family. Second, the names of all the daughters bom in the family. Third, the names of the gentlemen married into the family. VII Fourth, the names of all the ladies maiTied into the family. Following the Index, the Appendix consists of two parts : First, the Errata discovered after the manuscript had been given to the printer, and Second, the Addenda containing such additional information as was received too late for the body of the work. Where the name of the State is not given Massachusetts is to be understood. Any important information concerning those whose history is but partially given here or entirely left out, will be gratefully received by the compiler. E. J. MARSH. Leominster, Mass., Feb. 1, 1887. GEN E ALOGY ^ (JEORdE MARSH Ami his wife Eliziilx'tli, with their four uhihlreii, iu e()ini):iiiy witli twenty other families, iiielmliiig their pastor Rev. Peter llobart and famil}', most of whom were from llingham, Norfolk Co., England, left their homes iu the Spring of 1G35 to make for themselves a home in this New World, where they could enjoy freed'om to worshii) Clod according t() their own conscience more fully than tliey were allowed to do in England, and landed at Ciiarlestown June 8th. But Rev. Peter Hobart says in his journal that they arrived in the harbor on the 4th. Erom Charlestown they proceeded to Hingham, about fourteen miles southeast of Boston, so named from the town from which most of them came. On the 1 8th of September following they cast lots for house lots and the following is the record of GEOEGE marsh's DEED. "Given unto George Marsh, for a liouselot, five acres of land, b<,)nnded with the land of Richard Osborn eastward, and with the high- way leading to Srpiirrell Hill westward, butting upon the Common northward, and upon the Town Street southward." The following year, March 3, 1G36, he was made freeman. On the •2d <»f July, 1647, he died leaving a wife and four children, as appears from his will made the same day.

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