DEACON JACOB COLBY AND FAMILY

Jacob Colby was a native of Newtown, Rockingham County, N. H., born February 15, 1772. He was married to Polly Huntington, of Lebanon, N. H., in February, 1796. They lived in Hanover till March, 1802, when they removed to this town, and took up their abode on a peculiarly retired, uncultivated lot on the South bank of Wait's River, in the western part of Bradford. Their first habitation was constructed of logs, the roof covered with elm bark, and the floor laid with planks which had been washed from a bridge in the east part of Corinth, and swept as driftwood down the stream. In this humble tenement they - lived for about six years, when they entered their new and more commodious house, now (in 1874), still standing, in which they spent the remainder of their days. In the course of time a well traveled highway from Bradford village to Corinth, leading on to Chelsea, was opened along Wait's River and its Southern Branch, which, pissing through the Colby homestead, made it quite a noted place. Mr. Colby was by occupation a mason, as well as a farmer, and in that capacity very helpful to the new settlers engaged in building for themselves better houses. He had invariably sustained the reputation of a sensible, honest man, and on becoming hopefully pious, and a member of the Christian church, so called, in the north-western section of Bradford, was constituted a Deacon in the same, and thenceforth bore that honorable title.   Mrs. Colby, his good wife, died in this town, December, 1850, at the age of eighty years. The Deacon died in 1858, at the age of eighty-six. They were the parents of three sons and three daughters.

1 Jacob Curtis, born November 27 1796, the eldest son of Deacon Colby, has for several years resided in this village, and has spent not the whole, but fifty-two years, of his life in this town.  His first wife was Sarah D. Johnson, of Meriden, N. H. who died in 1850. By her he had four daughters. The eldest, Mary H., married Rufus F. Ormsby, of this town.  For further notice see the Ormsby family.   Sarah J. married Charles Page, of East Corinth. Lorena and Helen L., both married, are living in the State of New York.  Mr. J. C. Colby was again married January, 1853, to Mrs. A. H. Corliss, of Lyme, N. H. They have one daughter, Zoe E., who as a teacher has rendered important service to the public.

2 Enoch, born December 5, 1798. Enoch Colby became a mariner, and died at sea, in the year 1823

3 Lucia, born September 18, 1801, married Allen W. Colby, of Plainfield, N. H.  They had three children. The husband and children have all deceased. She has a grandson, Edward H. Doten, residing at St. Johnsbury. The widow is still living in this village, near the residence of her eldest brother. 

4 Lorena, born January 4, 1804, lived to be a young lady, but died unmarried.

5 Moody, born May 6, 1806, married Elizabeth Taylor, of Jaffrey, N.  H. He was for some years Post Master at Bradford, and owned a house near the north end of the village, where his widow still resides. Mr. Colby died there July, 1862, at the age of fifty-six years. They had three children, two of whom died in infancy. The surviving son, Henry B., left this place years since, for the life of a mariner; but at this date, 1874, is understood to be settled on a desirable plantation in California.

6 Lavina, born May 26, 1807, lived to be a young lady, but died young.  Biographie Index

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