Father Abbey's Will: Very Funny and Very Sad

Father Abbey's Will

For the past eight years, Bill West of West in New England blog has his Annual Great Genealogy Poetry Challenge. The fun that comes from this challenge is, I need to find a poem that has something to do with genealogy or an ancestor or distant relative with perhaps history or genealogy in the theme. This is my sixth entry and many of my past entries have come very easily, while others I've had to rely on Google using search words such as a "surname" and the word "poem." My previous poems are at the end of this post.

This year's entry, Father Abbey's Will was written by Reverend Jonathan Seccombe in Boston in January 1732. He is my first cousin 8 times removed. Fortunately, I got pretty lucky to find this poem, thanks to the Harvard University Archives, when I used the search terms, "John Seccombe" and "poem." I already knew John had written a poem, but I hadn't read it. There was more information in the Harvard link, so I read a few things and learned that his famous poem, Father Abbey's Will was what I needed to post.

My joy and life 

I freely now do give her 

My whole estate, 

With all my plate, 

Being just about to leave her.

My tub of soap, 

A long cart rope, 

A frying pan and kettle, 

An ashes pail, 

A threshing flail, 

An iron wedge and beetle.

Two painted chairs, 

Nine warden pears,

A large old dripping platter,

This bed of hay,

On which I lay,

An old sauce pan for butter.

A little mug, 

A two-quart jug, 

A bottle full of brandy,

A looking-glass,

To see your face,

You’ll find it very handy.

A musket true As‘ever flew,

 A pound of shot and wallet,

 A leather sash,

My calabash,

My powder horn and bullet.

An old sword blade, 

A garden spade, 

A hoe, a rake, a ladder, 

A wooden can, 

A close-stool pan, 

A clyster-pipe and bladder.

A greasy hat, 

My old ram cat, 

A yard and half of linen, 

A woolen fleece, 

A pot of grease, 

In order for your spinning.

A small tooth comb,

An ashen broom,

A candlestick and hatchet,

 A coverlid,

Striped down with red,

A bag of rags to patch it.

A ragged mat, 

A tub of fat,

A book put out by Bunyan,

Another book,

By Robin Cook,

A skein or two of spunyarn.

An old black muff,

Some garden stuff,

 A quantity of borage,

 Some devil’s weed,

And burdock-feed,

To season well your porridge.

A chafing dish, 

With one salt fish, 

If I am not mistaken, 

A leg of pork, 

A broken fork, 

And half a flitch of bacon.

A spinning wheel,

One peck of meal, 

A knife without a handle, 

A rusty lamp,

Two quarts of samp,

And half a tallow candle.

My pouch and pipes, 

Two oxen tripes, 

An oaken dish well carved,

My little dog,

And spotted hog,

With two young pigs, just starved.

This is my store, 

I have no more, 

I heartily do give it, 

My years are spun, 

My days are done, 

And so I think to leave it. 

Thus Father Abbey left his spouse,

As rich as church or college

 mouse,

Which is sufficient invitation,

To serve the college in his station.

I found Harvard's Descriptive Summary rather interesting because they had his first name as Jonathan and I have him as John. I quote the Abstract, "Father Abbey's Will, later attributed to Reverend Jonathan Seccombe (Harvard AB 1728), was a humorous poem first published anonymously in Boston in January 1732. The verses appeared after the death of the Harvard College Sweeper and Bed-maker Matthew Abdy in the early 1730s and listed an inventory of Abdy's estate. A second poem purported to be a letter to Abdy's widow followed a month later. The poems were popular in both the colonies and England and were reprinted as broadsides into the 19th century. This collection contains broadside, manuscript, and sheet music manifestations of the poem."

Further down the page is a paragraph called, Biographical Note of Matthew Abdy. "Matthew Abdy (ca. 1650-ca. 1730) was born in Boston around 1650. Abdy's appointment as the College Sweeper and Bed-maker at Harvard was recorded in the February 19, 1717/18 diary entry of President John Leverett. Abdy worked for the College until his death. The exact date of Abdy's death is unknown but likely occurred in late 1730 or early 1731. Abdy married at least three times. His widow, Ruth Abdy, died on December 10, 1762, in Boston at the age of 93."

Two sources I had prior to discovering the Seccombe or Seccomb poem is below. There was mention of Father Abbey's Will, but perhaps I thought it was a book, or I just didn't investigate.

"The Rev. Mr. John Seccomb, of Harvard, was born April 25, 1708, the son of Peter and Hannah (Willis) Seccomb of Medford, Mass. His grandfather, Richard S. was of Lynn, 1660. He graduated at H.C. in 1728 and settled at Harvard, Mass. His brothers were Rev. Joseph of Kingston, who published several sermons, and Thomas of Medford, to whose accuracy and precision the records of that town are so much indebted."

NEHG Register.  Vol. 13: 247  (1859)  "Memoirs of Prince's Subscribers"

"JOHN SECCOMB, A.M., b. Medford, Apr. 25, 1708, son of Capt. Peter and Hannah (Willis) Seccomb ; H. C. 1728, A.B., A.M,; Ord. Harvard, Oct. 10, 1733, as the first minister; sett. Harvard, 1733-1757 ; dism. Sept. 7, 1757 ; sett. Chester, Nova Scotia, 1761-1792; author of "Father Abbey's Will" ; d. Halifax, N. S., Oct. 27, 1792, a. 84."
Weis, Frederick L., The Colonial Clergy and Churches of New England, (Lancaster: MA 1936, Genealogical Pub. Co., Inc., 1977). Page 184.

Additional source recently found:

Colonial Prose and Poetry: The transplanting of culture, 1607-1650, edited by William Peterfield Trent, Benjamin Willis Wells, Pg. 105.

"JOHN SECCOMB, who has won an unenviable immortality as a writer of doggerel, was born in Medford, Massachusetts, in 1708, and died in 1793 in Chester, Nova Scotia, whither he had gone in 1763 to be minister to a Dissenting congregation. He was graduated from Harvard College in 1728, and from 1733 to 1757 ministered to the Congregational Church in the town of Harvard, Massachusetts. He achieved great notoriety, while still connected with his Alma Mater, by his Father Abbey’s Will, a coarsely humorous poem, the subject of which was Matthew Abdy, who held some menial position in connection with the College. This effusion for some inexplicable reason so pleased Governor Belcher that he sent it to England, where it was printed in The Gentleman’s Magazine for 1732 and in The London Magazine of the same year. Perhaps not a little of the subsequent British depreciation of American literature was due to the belief that Seccomb’s doggerel fairly represented the latter. Fortunately Seccomb, after writing a companion skit, lapsed into comparative silence when he had won his laurels. His poem (sic) is given here for illustrative purposes only. Those who wish to know more about it may be referred to the edition of 1854, undertaken by the antiquarian John Langdon Sibley, well-known as the Librarian of Harvard, and a devoted student of its annals."

Previous Poems submitted to the Annual Great Genealogy Poetry Challenge:

THE LIBRARIAN'S EPITAPH, a Poem

http://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2015/11/tombstone-of-author-of-librarians.html

Longfellow's poem, 'The Phantom Ship"  

http://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2014/11/poem-for-bill-wests-sixth-great.html

Old Mammy Redd, an Accused Witch, Recently Pardoned

http://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2013/10/old-mammy-redd-accused-witch-recently.html

Palmer, Daisy, Lowell and a Poem

http://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2012/11/palmer-daisy-lowell-and-poem.html

A LONG LIFE ENDED

http://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2010/11/obituary-poem-for-bill-wests-second.html

Seccomb of Massachusestts and New Hampshire -- Surname Saturday

A Bridge to the Past

This week I'm sharing the descendants of my third generation of the Seccomb line. To set the stage, my oldest Seccomb, Richard was born in England and died in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1694, his son, John married Mehitable Simmons and had Simmons Seccomb whose information is below. I worked on this many years ago and much of my information came from the sources below*.

Because of recent snow storms and being housebound, I've been going back to various tree lines, including this one, and I was surprised with how much new information I found. It was like Christmas. There were many New Hampshire documents online and so many of my unknowns were solved by looking at the images and the wonderful FindAGrave. If you read through, you'll see the town of Amherst, NH mentioned a lot, and in the future, I'll be going there for cemetery photos (most already online, so the search should be easy).

If you have this family, you already know there are many spellings other Seccomb. A side note, if you select "Restrict to Exact" on Ancestry.com, that is what you get. Fortunately, I checked Soundex and Phonetic matches as well. New spellings for this family were: Sacomb, Seacomb. Seacombe, Seccoinbe, Secomb, Secombe, Siccombe.

My direct lines are in All Caps. Feel free to write if you have any questions or anything to add.

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Generation No. 1

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1.	SIMMONS SECCOMB (JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born ABT 20 MAY 1711, and died 1740 in Manchester, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He married ELIZABETH RAND 11 JAN 1732 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, daughter of ROBERT RAND and ELIZABETH WELCH. She was born ABT 20 JUN 1714.
	Children of SIMMONS SECCOMB and ELIZABETH RAND were: 2   i. Elizabeth SECCOMB was born ABT 28 OCT 1733 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, and died 12 JUL 1794. + 3   ii. John SECCOMB was born 6 JUN 1733 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, and died 14 JAN 1796 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. + 4   iii. JOSEPH SECCOMB was born 7 DEC 1736 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 2 NOV 1810 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. + 5   iv. Mehitable SECCOMB was born 16 NOV 1738 in Manchester (was Derryfield), Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 18 AUG 1764 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. + 6   v. Simmons SECCOMB was born 1 DEC 1740 in Manchester, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 10 JUN 1810 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.

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Generation No. 2

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3.	John SECCOMB (SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 6 JUN 1733 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, and died 14 JAN 1796 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He was buried in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He married Mary SMALL 13 NOV 1777. She was born 1753, and died 6 APR 1781 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. She was buried in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He married Elizabeth CARTER 14 JUN 1784. She was born 12 MAR 1754 in of Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 27 AUG 1807. She was buried in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.
	Children of John SECCOMB and Mary SMALL were: + 7   i. John SECCOMB was born 31 AUG 1778 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 20 JUL 1856 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. + 8   ii. Daniel SECCOMB was born 6 APR 1781, and died 12 JAN 1846 in Mont Vernon, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. Children of John SECCOMB and Elizabeth CARTER were: 9   i. Elizabeth SECCOMB was born 24 APR 1785 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 1 APR 1865 in Peterborough, New Hampshire. She married William Earl TREADWELL 23 JAN 1810. He was born in of Peterborough, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. + 10   ii. David SECCOMB was born 1 MAR 1787 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 22 DEC 1844 in Milford, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. 11   iii. Mary SECCOMB was born 4 DEC 1789, and died 20 JUL 1793 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. 12   iv. Sally SECCOMB was born 2 DEC 1791, and died 29 JUL 1793 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. 13   v. Mary SECCOMB was born 20 JUN 1794, and died 20 NOV 1872 in Peterborough, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.

4.	JOSEPH SECCOMB (SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 7 DEC 1736 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 2 NOV 1810 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in Peabody (on Salem line), Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married RUTH BROOKS 20 NOV 1760 in Medford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of CALEB BROOKS and MARY WINN. She was born 2 AUG 1741 in Medford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 2 JUN 1779 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She was buried in Peabody (on Salem line), Essex Co., Massachusetts.
	Children of JOSEPH SECCOMB and RUTH BROOKS were: + 14   i. REBECCA SECCOMB was born 25 MAR 1762 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 23 NOV 1832 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 15   ii. Ruth SECCOMB was born 17 JUL 1763 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Joseph TIPPET 29 JAN 1782 in Methuen, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He was born 1761. + 16   iii. Elizabeth Mehitable SECCOMB was born 17 DEC 1764 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 17   iv. Joseph SECCOMB was born 6 DEC 1766 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 10 DEC 1817 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 18   v. Elizabeth SECCOMB was born 31 MAY 1768 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Joshua HALL 3 JUL 1791 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 19   vi. Mary SECCOMB was born 11 JAN 1770 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Andrew BLANEY ABT 23 APR 1799 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He was born in of Chelsea, Massachusetts. + 20   vii. Thomas SECCOMB was born 24 SEP 1771 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 21   viii. John SECCOMB was born 22 JUN 1773 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 10 SEP 1773 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 22   ix. John SECCOMB was born 18 OCT 1774 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 18 JUL 1793 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. + 23   x. Caleb Brooks SECCOMB was born 14 MAY 1776 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 28 JUL 1807 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. + 24   xi. Eben SECCOMB was born 19 JUN 1778.

5.	Mehitable SECCOMB (SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 16 NOV 1738 in Manchester (was Derryfield), Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 18 AUG 1764 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married James CLOUGH, son of Isaac CLOUGH.
	Child of Mehitable SECCOMB and James CLOUGH was: 25   i. Mehitable Secomb CLOUGH.

6.	Simmons SECCOMB (SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 1 DEC 1740 in Manchester, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 10 JUN 1810 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He was buried in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He married Mary TAPPAN 10 OCT 1770 in South Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire, daughter of Samuel TAPPAN and Dorothy MOODY. She was born 27 SEP 1742 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 21 MAR 1813 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. She was buried in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
	Children of Simmons SECCOMB and Mary TAPPAN were: 26   i. Dorothy SECCOMB was born 9 JUL 1771 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire, and died 19 OCT 1777 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. 27   ii. Elizabeth SECCOMB was born 10 FEB 1773 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire, and died 7 SEP 1777 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. 28   iii. Mary SECCOMB was born 11 JUL 1775 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. 29   iv. Mehitable SECCOMB was born 15 MAR 1779 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. 30   v. Dorothy SECCOMB was born 15 MAR 1779 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire, and died 25 OCT 1837 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. + 31   vi. Elizabeth SECCOMB was born 9 FEB 1781 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire, and died 13 FEB 1869 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. 32   vii. Sarah SECCOMB was born 12 JUN 1783 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire, and died 26 AUG 1855 in Tamworth, Carroll Co., New Hampshire. She married Jacob POLLARD 28 NOV 1805 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. + 33   viii. Joseph Toppan SECCOMB was born 2 MAR 1786 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.

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Generation No. 3

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7.	John SECCOMB (John SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 31 AUG 1778 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 20 JUL 1856 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He married Rachel DURANT 26 APR 1798. She was born 19 SEP 1778 in Nottingham West (now Hudson), Rockingham Co., New Hampshire, and died 17 SEP 1839.
	Children of John SECCOMB and Rachel DURANT were: 34   i. Rachel SECCOMB was born 6 FEB 1799 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 27 DEC 1874 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. 35   ii. Betsey SECCOMB was born 22 AUG 1800 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 18 FEB 1825 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. + 36   iii. Levi Jones SECCOMB was born 4 FEB 1804 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 31 OCT 1882 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. 37   iv. John SECCOMB was born 16 MAY 1809 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 9 FEB 1813 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. + 38   v. Daniel Franklin SECCOMB was born 17 JAN 1820 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 1895.

8.	Daniel SECCOMB (John SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 6 APR 1781, and died 12 JAN 1846 in Mont Vernon, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He married Betsey DURANT 23 JUL 1805. She died 12 OCT 1826. He married Elizabeth AUSTIN 28 SEP 1828. She was born in New Hampshire, and died AFT 1860.
	Children of Daniel SECCOMB and Betsey DURANT were: 39   i. Mahala Jones SECCOMB was born 27 JUL 1806. She married George C. COBURN. 40   ii. Nancy Durant SECCOMB was born 27 SEP 1812, and died 30 JAN 1857 in Concord, Merrimack Co., New Hampshire. 41   iii. Mary SECCOMB was born 11 MAR 1814. She married Charles AUSTIN. 42   iv. Jane SECCOMB was born 27 OCT 1821, and died 22 NOV 1846 in Concord, Merrimack Co., New Hampshire. Children of Daniel SECCOMB and Elizabeth AUSTIN were: + 43   i. Daniel Andrew Jackson SECCOMB was born 16 SEP 1829 in New Hampshire, and died 16 AUG 1880 in Mont Vernon, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. 44   ii. John SECCOMB was born 21 AUG 1833 in New Hampshire, and died 18 AUG 1835. 45   iii. Charles SECCOMB was born 16 JAN 1836 in New Hampshire, and died in of Lowell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 46   iv. Harriet Newell SECCOMB was born 9 NOV 1838 in New Hampshire. She married John H. COGGIN. 47   v. John SECCOMB was born 20 FEB 1840 in New Hampshire, and died SEP 1844 in New Hampshire.

10.	David SECCOMB (John SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 1 MAR 1787 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 22 DEC 1844 in Milford, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He was buried in Elm Street Cemetery. He married Asenath ODELL 1 MAR 1813. She was born 20 MAY 1790, and died 30 MAY 1814. He married Lydia ADAMS 18 DEC 1823 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. She was born ABT 1790, and died 3 APR 1859 in Milford, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. She was buried in Elm Street Cemetery.
	Child of David SECCOMB and Asenath ODELL was: 48   i. Asenath Ann SECCOMB was born 7 APR 1814, and died 7 APR 1814. Children of David SECCOMB and Lydia ADAMS were: 49   i. Frances Charlotte SECCOMB was born 6 JAN 1825, and died 30 APR 1848 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. + 50   ii. David Adams SECCOMB was born 25 MAY 1827, and died in Minneapolis, Minnesota. + 51   iii. Charles Carroll SECCOMB was born 25 JAN 1830, and died in of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 52   iv. William Wirt SECCOMB was born 14 OCT 1832, and died 7 SEP 1877 in New York City, Manhattan, New York.

14.	REBECCA SECCOMB (JOSEPH SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 25 MAR 1762 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 23 NOV 1832 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She was buried in Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married WARD POOLE 27 MAR 1797 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of WILLIAM POOLE and ELIZABETH WARD. He was born 17 APR 1763 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 14 NOV 1828 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
	Children of REBECCA SECCOMB and WARD POOLE were: 53   i. Joseph POOLE was born 30 DEC 1797 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 11 MAY 1798 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. + 54   ii. WARD POOLE was born 30 JAN 1799 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 22 MAY 1864 in So. Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 55   iii. Rebecca POOLE was born 8 OCT 1800 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 15 OCT 1801. 56   iv. Sally POOLE was born FEB 1808, and died 27 FEB 1809 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

16.	Elizabeth Mehitable SECCOMB (JOSEPH SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 17 DEC 1764 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Jonathan FROTHINGHAM 3 SEP 1782 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of Jonathan FROTHINGHAM.
	Child of Elizabeth Mehitable SECCOMB and Jonathan FROTHINGHAM is: 57   i. Joseph Seccomb FROTHINGHAM was born 18 FEB 1792, and died 18 JUL 1793 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

20.	Thomas SECCOMB (JOSEPH SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 24 SEP 1771 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Polly JAMES 1 JUN 1806 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
	Child of Thomas SECCOMB and Polly JAMES was: 58   i. Ruth SECCOMB was born 2 NOV 1807 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 23 APR 1888 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

23.	Caleb Brooks SECCOMB (JOSEPH SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 14 MAY 1776 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 28 JUL 1807 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Joanna CRESSEY 28 NOV 1802 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of JOB CRESSEY and SARAH DODGE. She was born ABT 1790.
	Child of Caleb Brooks SECCOMB and Joanna CRESSEY was: 59   i. Eliza SECCOMB.

24.	Eben SECCOMB (JOSEPH SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 19 JUN 1778. He married Mary MARSTON.
	Child of Eben SECCOMB and Mary MARSTON was: 60   i. Edward R. SECCOMB.

31.	Elizabeth SECCOMB (Simmons SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 9 FEB 1781 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire, and died 13 FEB 1869 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. She married Daniel PEASLEE 26 FEB 1805 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
	Children of Elizabeth SECCOMB and Daniel PEASLEE were: 61   i. Jacob C. PEASLEE was born 3 OCT 1808 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire, and died 29 NOV 1894 in Danville, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He married Juliette. She was born 18 AUG 1821, and died 4 DEC 1911. 62   ii. Luther Dana PEASLEE was born ABT 1811 in New Hampshire, and died 24 FEB 1905 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. 63   iii. Caroline E. PEASLEE was born ABT 1822 in New Hampshire, and died 16 NOV 1898 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.

33.	Joseph Toppan SECCOMB (Simmons SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 2 MAR 1786 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He married Jane STEPHENS in New Hampshire. She was born 17 JUN 1782 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire, and died 29 AUG 1838 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
	Child of Joseph Toppan SECCOMB and Jane STEPHENS was: 64   i. Simmons Tappan Snett SECCOMB was born 14 JAN 1820 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.

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Generation No. 4

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36.	Levi Jones SECCOMB (John SECCOMB5, John SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 4 FEB 1804 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 31 OCT 1882 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He was buried in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He married Nancy HERRICK 7 APR 1831. She was born 19 NOV 1810 in New Hampshire, and died 30 MAR 1900 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. She was buried in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.
	Children of Levi Jones SECCOMB and Nancy HERRICK were: + 65   i. Helen Elizabeth SECCOMB was born 13 JUL 1833, and died 27 JUN 1861 in Mont Vernon, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. 66   ii. Henry Webster SECCOMB was born 26 MAR 1836 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 7 JUN 1906 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He married Lucy Jane CHANNELL 24 DEC 1864. She was born 24 JUL 1838 in Litchfield, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 20 JAN 1866 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.

38.	Daniel Franklin SECCOMB (John SECCOMB5, John SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 17 JAN 1820 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died 1895. He was buried in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He married Fanny C. HERRICK 11 DEC 1850. She was born 27 MAR 1816, and died 7 SEP 1859. She was buried in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He married Eliza Ann DAMRELL 28 FEB 1860 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, daughter of Samuel DAMRELL and Ann E. w\o Samuel DAMRELL. She was born 15 AUG 1830 in E. Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 12 JUL 1884 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. She was buried in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.
	Children of Daniel Franklin SECCOMB and Fanny C. HERRICK were: 67   i. Alfred Herrick SECCOMB was born 6 FEB 1856, and died 13 AUG 1856. 68   ii. Grace SECCOMB was born 26 AUG 1869. Children of Daniel Franklin SECCOMB and Eliza Ann DAMRELL are: 69   i. Francis Lawrence SECCOMB was born 9 JAN 1861, and died 19 JUL 1864. 70   ii. George Franklin SECCOMB was born 25 OCT 1865, and died 15 JAN 1868.

43.	Daniel Andrew Jackson SECCOMB (Daniel SECCOMB5, John SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 16 SEP 1829 in New Hampshire, and died 16 AUG 1880 in Mont Vernon, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He was buried in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He married Emily A. GLOVER 17 OCT 1861 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, daughter of Alvin GLOVER and Harriet STEWART. She was born DEC 1835 in New Hampshire, and died 26 MAY 1916 in Mont Vernon, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. She was buried in Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.
	Child of Daniel Andrew Jackson SECCOMB and Emily A. GLOVER was: 71   i. George SECCOMB was born APR 1865 in New Hampshire, and died 1 AUG 1940 in Goffstown, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States.

50.	David Adams SECCOMB (David SECCOMB5, John SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 25 MAY 1827, and died in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He married Charlotte A. EASTMAN 27 FEB 1855.
	Children of David Adams SECCOMB and Charlotte A. EASTMAN were: 72   i. Carrie E. SECCOMB was born 17 MAY 1857. 73   ii. David Willis SECCOMB was born 5 JUL 1860. 74   iii. Frank SECCOMB was born 7 SEP 1875.

51.	Charles Carroll SECCOMB (David SECCOMB5, John SECCOMB4, SIMMONS SECCOMB3, JOHN SECCOMB2, RICHARD SECCOMB1) was born 25 JAN 1830, and died in of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He married Emma TOMLINSON. He married Annabell Frances CROSBY 14 SEP 1871. She was born in of Milford, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.
	Child of Charles Carroll SECCOMB and Annabell Frances CROSBY was: 75   i. Annabell SECCOMB was born 25 AUG 1873. * Usher, James M. and Charles Brooks, History of the Town of Medford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts (Boston: Rand, Avery & Co., 1886). Page 556. "Came from the West or England; settled at Lynn as early as 1660; and d. 1694." Secomb, Daniel F., History of the Town of Amherst, New Hampshire (Concord, NH: Evans, Sleeper & Woodbury, 1883, reprinted 1972, NH Pub. Co.). (Note: Written by one of the descendants listed above.) Noyes, Sybil, Charles T. Libby & Walter G. Davis, Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire (Portland, ME: Anthoensen Press, 1928 (reprinted Gen. Pub., 1972). Page 616. Robbins, Chandler, History of the Second Church, Or Old North Church (Boston: John Wilson & Son, 1852). Page 276.

Tombstone Tuesday -- SECCOMB of Salem, Massachusetts

In the past several days, I've mentioned Joseph Seccomb twice.  First in his genealogy and then yesterday with parts of his diary.  Now to show where he and his wife are buried.

Joseph Seccomb was my 5th great-grandfather

Born:  December 07, 1736, Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Died: November 02, 1810, Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Ruth Brooks w/o Joseph Seccomb was my 5th great-grandmother

Born:  August 02, 1741, Medford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

Died:  June 02, 1779, Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts

William Pool  (Poole)

Born:  April 16, 1732, Medford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

Died:  March 03, 1776, Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts

He married Elizabeth Ward (no cemetery stone located)

William Poole was my 4th great-grandfather.

Old South Cemetery

On the Peabody / Salem line, Massachusetts

April 19, 1775 -- Diary of Dea. Joseph Seccombe

My 5th great grandfather, oseph Seccombe, made entries in his "Text Book" and they can be seen in the publication, directly below. When I first discovered this, I made copies of the book pages, then saved them to read at home. It was a Sunday afternoon, and I couldn't wait to begin. Although Joseph Seccombe wasn't in Lexington on the 19th, clearly he read about it, took action regarding his family, and wrote about it.


Seccombe, Joseph Dea., Extracts From 'Text Books' of Joseph Seccombe. Essex Institute Historical Collections, Vol. XXXIV, (Salem, MA: 1898). Vol. 34: 23-39.

(Names in green are my direct lines, and I only copied names that were in his family.)

Page 24
Nov. 23d 1760 -- This daya (Mrs. Ruth Brooks that was) and I was out bride and bridegroom.
Dec. 7th 1760 -- This day I am 24 years old.
Feb. 14, 1762 -- This day I Joseph Seccomb and Ruth my wife openly renewed our baptismal covenant and were received into the first church of Christ in Danvers.
March 28th 1762 -- This day my child was baptized Rebecca by Mr. Clark.
Aug. 7, 1763 -- My child baptized Ruth.
Aug. 26, 1764 -- I put up this day a note for the death of my sister Mehitable, who died yesterday was a week ye 18 instant.


Page 25
Dec. 30, 1764 -- I at home. not able to go out : my child carried out and baptized Mehetable. Mr. Benjamin Deland held her up to be baptized.
Nov. 29, 1767 -- Sister Rebeccah Hall, died last Monday morning ye 23d. Note: Sister of wife.
Jan. 14, 1770 -- Daughter [born] ye 11th Instant Baptized this Day Mary.


Page 26
Aug 29, 1771 -- [my] son [born] last Thursday ye 24th Instant. Baptized this Day Thomas.

Page 29
April 18, 1773 -- Mr. Thomas Seccombe [Medford] Died last Thursday Night ye 15th Instant of a Complication of disorders Aged 62 years.


Page 30
Sept. 12, 1773 -- Had a note up for ye Death of our youngest Child John who Died last Fryday.

Pgs. 35-36 Narrative of April 19, 1775


"Wednesday, April 19, 1775. The Troops of his Brittannick Majesty commenced Hostilities upon the People of the Province of Massachusetts Bay a Detachment from the Regular Army at Boston went out on ye Evening of ye 18th and marched for Concord and in their way through Lexington which they reached before sunrise, on ye 19th they met with a Company of Militia of about 100 men mustered near the Meeting House : upon their coming up to our men they ordered them to disperse and; throw down their Arms, calling them Rebels; upon which the Troops huzzad and immediately one or two Officers discharged their Pistols which were instantaneously followed by the Firing of 4 or 5 of the Soldiers and then their seemed to be a general Discharge from the whole Body. Eight of our men were killed and nine wounded. In a few minutes after this action the Enemy renewed their march for Concord at which place they destroyd some of the Province Stores, here they killed two of our Men, but our People obligd them to retreat back to Lexington where they met with Lord Percy with a large Reinforcement, however after halting a while they retreated again and kept on firing upon our men, Pillaging almost every House they Passed by breaking and destroying Doors, Windows, Glass and carrying off Clothing and other valuable Effects : Burnt some houses. It appeared to be their Design to burn and destroy all before them and nothing but our vigorous Pursuit (under Providence) prevented their infernal Purposes from being put in Execution. But the savage Barbarity exercisd upon the Bodies of our unfortunate Brethren who fell, was almost incredible. Not content with shooting down the unarmed aged and infirm they disregarded the Cries of the wounded, killing them without mercy and mangling their Bodies in the most shocking manner as they Retreated back to Charlestown. We had 7 men belonging to Danvers killed and; a Number belong, to other Towns but ye Number of the Regulars was far greater. We have the Pleasure to say that notwithstanding the highest Provocations given by the Enemy not one Instance of Cruelty that we have heard of, was committed by our victorious Militia; but listening to the Merciful Dictates of the Christian Religion they breathed higher Sentiments of Humanity (Essex Gazette April 25, 1775).


After this tragic event we had frequent Alarms, were threatned with haveing our Sea Port Towns burnt down by the King's Ships. The Towns of Marblehead & Salem, moveing out into the Country all in confusion and; distress. On the First of May I removed with part of my family, part being gone before and; part of my goods to New Salem in Hampshire to my Mother's where we remained untill the 21st of September when we returnd again to Danvers leaving some of our goods at Salem."

Page 36
Sept. 24, 1775 -- This Day we had a Note up for the Death of Brother Ebenezer Brooks.


Page 38
May 26, 1776 -- [My] son [born] on Tuesday the 14th Instant, Baptizd this Day Caleb Brooks.