Gerrish
Capt. William
Gerrish (1617-1687)
and wife
Joanna Lowell (1619-1677)
Capt. William Gerrish was born in Bristol, Somersetshire, England. William came to New England as early as 1639, settled in Newbury, now Newburyport, then removed to Boston in 1678. At the semi-centennial anniversary meeting in Boston 14 Mar 1686, Captain Gerrish open and closed the exercises with a prayer.
Son of William and Joanna Gerrish
Colonel Moses
Gerrish (1656-1694)
and wife (m. 1677)
Jane Sewall (1659-1716)
Colonel Moses Gerrish married a daughter of Rev. Henry Sewall and a sister of Chief Justice Sewall of MA. They resided in Newbury. He was a sheepherder by trade. In 1687 he was an Ensign in Second Military Company commanded by Capt.Nathaniel Clark. Jane was born Baddesley, England and immigrated to America with her parents in 1661. They both died and are buried in Newbury, MA.
Son of Moses and Jane Gerrish
Colonel Joseph
Gerrish (1681-1765)
and wife (m. 1703)
Mary Little (1685-1761)
Colonel Joseph Gerrish was a member of the Colonial Legislature for twenty years. He was a man of great muscular power and ia reported to have swum the Merriamac River near its mouth every year until he was past seventy. His children resembled him in size and the united weight of four of them was 1200 pounds. Joseph and Mary lived and died in Newbury.
Son Joseph and Mary Gerrish
Captain Stephen
Gerrish (1711-1788)
and wife (m. 1741)
Joanna Hale (1715-1792)
Captain Stephen Gerrish married a daughter of Samuel Hale of Newbury and sister of Richard Hale, who was the father of Nathan Hale, the martyr spy in the American Revolution. Stephen established across the river at Newbury, MA and moved to Boscawen, NH. in 1733.Stephen was one of the leading men in the settlement of Boscawen, NH. He also was a Captain in the Indian Wars and recognized for patriotic service in the American Revolution in New Hampshire by the DAR. A sketch of his life can be found in the Coffin's History of Boscawen. Stephen and Joanna are buried in the Maplewood Cemetery in Boscawen.
Son of Stephen and Joanna Gerrish
Colonel Henry
Gerrish (1742-1806)
and wife (m. 1763)
Martha Clough (1742-1826)
Col. Henry Gerrish was in the American Revolution and has a DAR marker on his grave as does his father, Stephen Gerrish. He was a large land owner and prominent citizen of Boscawen. He lived on Fish Street and was a Blacksmith and Land Surveyer, forged mill-cranks, made mill saws in his forge and on a common anvil. He kept a Tavern and his house was known as The Travellors Home. Many people too poor to pay for a bed spent a night under his roof of bear skins by a large old-fashioned fireplace in his barroom. He was elected Grand Jurer to his Majesty's Superior Court at Amherst. In January 1775 he was chosen as a Delegate to elect the Second Continental Congress. He was a Captain in the militia at the beginning of the Revolution and at the news of the Battle of Lexington on 19 April 1775 he marched with the Minutemen to Medford. He was a Lt. Col in Stickney's regiment at the time of the Bennington Campaign and was present at the surrender of British forces at Burgoyne. He returned to serve as Moderator and Town Clerk in Boscawen. In 1786, the 21st Regiment of New Hampshire Militia was formed and he was appointed Colonel. He married Martha Clough, whose wedding petticoat is in the museum at Boscawen, NH. Martha grew the flax, spun and dyed the yarn, wove the material, cut and sewed the skirt and designed and sewed the flowers on it. It has traveled all over with different family members, in Alaska and Colorado, keeping it in excellent condition and finally donated to the historical museum to display. there is also a photo in the display case at the museum of her granddaughter wearing it.
Following is a photo of the petticoat:
Martha's hand made wedding petticoat. Martha's granddaughter wearing wedding dress.
Initials of Martha Clough embroidered on the petticoat
Maplewood Cemetery in Boscawen, New Hampshire
Henry and Martha Gerrish's Graves in
Maplewood Cemetery
Daughter of Henry and Martha Gerrish
Martha Gerrish Little 1777-1855)
and husband (m.)
Jesse Little (1767-1840)