BALCOM FAMILY

My GGG Grandmother, Mary Eliza Balcom was the 3rd born child of  Judson Balcom (born 15 Jan 1805, Douglas, MA, died 31 Mar 1863, Grafton, MA) and Jerusha E. Elliot (born 9 Jan 1808, Sutton , MA, died 22 Aug 1847, Douglas, MA). The children of Judson Balcom and Jerusha Elliot were: 


i.  Madison A. Balcom (born 9 Jan 1827, Douglas, MA) he married Rebecca F. Cook 1851, Douglas, MA

ii. Willard Balcom (born 6 July 1829, Douglas, MA) In 1870 he married Melissa Boss (born 1833, Douglas, MA)
 
iii. Mary Eliza Balcom (born 4 June 1832, Douglas, MA, died 1922, KS)

iv. Isabella Isadore Balcom (born 30 Aug 1835, died 30 Dec 1835, Douglas, MA)

v. Marcus D. Balcom (born 12 July 1837 Douglas, MA) He married Sarah E. Prentice (born 1841, Douglas, MA)

vi.  Gilbert Earl Balcom (born 8 May 1841, Douglas, MA, died 12 Dec 1862 in Washington, D. C.)

vii.  Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ellen Balcom (born 26 Nov 1845, Douglas, MA, died 12 Apr 1884, Hutchinson, KS)

 

NOTES:  I  had a little fun and mystery going with Madison, the first born Balcom listed above. In the IGI records he is listed as born in 1847 and yet marrying in 1850. Initially I didn't notice the discrepancy in dates and the way it came to my attention was quite silly.  I received a wonderful treasure from some antique dealers on the East Coast who had found my website and wanted to return some Civil War letters in their possession to a family member. The letters number over 30 and were all written in 1862 centering around Gilbert Balcom (see above) who was in the Civil War and either wounded or ill and in hospital in Washington, DC. They are from all his siblings and extended family members as well as one from his Dad, Jusdson.  All of the letters are quite interesting and full of politics as well as gossip. The first thing I noticed was how wonderfully close this family was and the second thing I noticed was Madison. He was such a colorful character and ever so opinionated. He was always lecturing Gilbert about one thing or another therefore I felt sure he must be the oldest and yet I had him listed as the youngest. I then put effort into tracking Madison and I found his wife's name and exact marriage date and then I found him in the 1850 census. He was still living at home and listed as gae 23, occupation as a shoemaker. Hence I have concluded that Madison was born in 1827 instead of 1847 and he was the first born. 

The Balcom family letters are incredible and I so hope to get them all transcribed and posted here on this website. To read a sampling click here.  

An Ancestral file has been placed with LDS that traces Judson Balcom back 4 more generations to Alexander Balcom (born 1650, Weymouth, Norfolk, MA, died 1711) and married to Jane Holbrook (born 1652, Weymouth, Norfolk, MA, died 1696/1711).  The Balcom trail stops there but the Holbrook genealogy is traced back to 1490 with Richard Al Hoges Holbrook born in Glastonbury, Somersetshire, England.  To follow this line go to the LDS Search site and look for the Ancestral file on Judson Balcom.

 

Also, this is a very thorough and wonderful Balcom family history site that also links back to Alexander.

NOTES:  Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ellen Balcom was the 7th child of Judson Balcom and Jerusha Elliot.  Since she was only two when her mother, Jerusha, died I imagine most of her care was left to her sister, Mary Eliza who would have been 15 at the time. Mary Eliza was the 3rd oldest child and only surviving daughter as Isabella lived only 6 months.  In that role Mary Eliza probably also helped raise her 2 younger brothers. In 1848 the widower Judson Balcom married Martha Boss Young. Whatever the speculation of Mary Eliza's role, she marrried Joshua Pike in 1854 probably already with the plan to emigrate to KS as they arrived there in Oct of 1854.  Mary Eliza and Joshua brought the then 9 year old Lizzie with them and she resided in their home until 1868 at which time she married Hon. W.R. Brown and moved to Cottonwood Falls, KS. On my page for Frank Pike and Mae Huey is a copy of a letter that Lizzie wrote to the then 12 year old Frank less than 3 months after her marriage and move from the Pike family in Lawrence.  I think she was a little homesick.  Below is an excerpt from Cutler's History of KS, Reno County, regarding Lizzie's husband, the Hon. W. R. Brown:

HON. W. R. BROWN was born in Buffalo, N. Y., July 16, 1843. He received his education at Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H., and at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., from which institution he graduated in July, 1862. The same year he removed to Lawrence, Kansas, where he read law with ex-Gov. Wilson Shannon. IN 1863 he removed to Topeka, where he served as Deputy Clerk of the Supreme Court and was Journal Clerk of the House of Representatives during the sessions of 1866 and 1867. In 1866 he made his home at Emporia, Kansas, and entered upon practice of the law with Judge R. M. Ruggles. In 1867 he removed to Cottonwood Falls in Chase County, and was elected that same fall as District Judge of the Ninth Judicial District of Kansas, and served in that capacity till March 1, 1875, when re resigned, having in the fall of 1874 then elected to Congress from the Third Congressional District of the State. He served but one term, and has since 1877 been engaged in the practice of the law. He moved from Cottonwood Falls to Hutchinson in 1873, and is still a resident of Hutchinson, and member of the law firm of Brown & Zimmerman. Judge Brown was married in Lawrence, Kan., October 28, 1868, to Miss Elizabeth "Lizzie" E. Balcom, a native of Worcester County, Mass. They have two children - Margaret and William. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and was a charter member and first master of the lodge at Cottonwood Falls. He is also a member of I. O. O. F.

The following Balcom family genealogy comes from: the Ultimate Family Tree, Ancestors of Eleanor Jessie-Durst.

 Alexander Balcom was born in Sussex, Eng 1630. Alexander died 4 May 1711, RI at 80 years of age.

He married twice. He married Unk wife Alexander Balcom. He married Jane Holbrook Balcom bef 1678. Jane was born 1652 in Weymouth, Norfolk Co, MA. Jane was the daughter of William Holbrook and Elizabeth Pitts Holbrook. Jane died 1696/1711 at 45 years of age.

He made a will 20 Nov 1702. Alexander was recorded as an inhabitant of Portsmouth, RI, 31 January 1664. He purchased, 14 July 1664, from Nathan Payne, all his interest in a tract of land called "Wesquodonsett" located about twelve miles north of Providence.

Alexander Sr., then of Providence, had a deed of land bought of Nathan Payne of Bristol, dated 14 July 1686. A deed dated 26 May 1691, records him as a grantee of fifty acres of land located near the county line and ten mile hill at Rehoboth. Another deed shows him buying land from Edward Inman, dated 20 April 1703, bounded by Joseph Bucklin and appears to be in the ancient part of Smithfield.

John Balcom was executor of his father's will dated 20 November 1702.

Alexander Balcom and Unk wife Alexander Balcom had the following children:

child  i. Alexander Balcom Jr. Alexander died 31 Jan 1727/8 Attleborough, Bristol Co, MA. He married Sarah Woodcock Balcom, Rehoboth, Bristol Co, MA. Sarah was the daughter of William Woodcock and Mary (-----) Woodcock. Alexander Jr was a mason by trade, he swore allegiance in Providence 1682; moved to Attleboro previous to 1692.

He bought land from his father-in-law 29 May 1701, and more from his mother-in-law, a widow, 17 February 1707/8.

His children were: William, Catherine Starkey, Alexander, John, Baruck, Sarah Atwell, Joseph.

Alexander Balcom and Jane Holbrook Balcom had the following children:

child  ii. Lydia Balcom Hix was born in Providence, RI. Lydia died 21 Mar 1746. She married Daniel Hix 14 Apr 1701.

Alexander Balcom and Unk wife Alexander Balcom had the following children:

child   iii. Katherine BalcomAllen Jencks was born abt 1661.

child  iv. Sarah Balcom Sheldon was born abt 1663. She married Timothy Sheldon. Timothy was the son of John Sheldon and Joan Vincent Sheldon.

Alexander Balcom and Jane Holbrook Balcom had the following children:

child  v. John Balcom was born 1678. John died 30 Jan 1739/40 in Smithfield, Providence Co, RI at 61 years of age. He married Sarah Bartlett Balcom. John kept a public house in Smithfield, on the road from Providence to Woonsocket.

There are no children mentioned in John's will.

child  vi. Freegift Balcom was born in Providence, RI 1680. Freegift bought land from Henry Brown, Jr., 27 Oct 1704. He appears to have become insane, as an act was passed in Providence, 29 October, 1718, to sell his estate as he was a distracted man.

child  vii. Joseph Balcom was born in Providence, RI 1682. Joseph's name appears in Mendon in 1717 as a town officer.
Joseph was my GGGGGGG Grandfather!
He married Phoebe Menden (born 1685, Worcester, MA).   JUDSON>JOHN>SAMUEL>JOSEPH>ALEXANDER

child  viii. Hannah Balcom Harwood was born in Providence, RI 1684. She married Ebenezer Harwood 22 Feb 1715/16.

child  ix. Samuel Balcom was born in Providence, RI abt 1686.

child  x. Deborah Balcom Arnold was born in Providence, RI 1688.

 

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