Person:Samuel Ladd (1)

Samuel and Elizabeth were not married

Samuel Ladd was the father of three children born out of wedlock to Elizabeth Emerson, the last two being twins who were either dead at birth or died within 24 hours. Elizabeth was subsequently hanged in the Boston Commons after having been convicted of killing her twins. There is no evidence that Samuel assumed any responsibility with respect to Elizabeth and her children.

BIOGRAPHY: The Ladd Family A Genealogical and Biographical Memoir Compiled by Warren Ladd (No. 1505,) Of New Bedford. Edmund Anthony & Sons, New Bedford, Mass. 1890 Page 12 Samuel Ladd, of Haverhill, (son of Daniel 1,) ma. Martha Corliss, dau. of George Corliss, Dec. 1st, 1674. He lived in the West Parish, and his house stood on the spot where the West Parish church now (1889) stands. Chase, in his History of Haverhill, says: "Feb. 22d, 1698, this Samuel Ladd, with his son Daniel, and Jonathan Haynes, with his son Joseph, who lived in the western part of town, had started that morning with their teams, consisting of a yoke of oxen and a horse each, to bring home some hay which had been cut and stacked the preceding summer in their meadow in the extreme western part of the town. While they were slowly returning, little dreaming of the present danger, they suddenly found themselves between two files of Indians, who had concealed themselves in the bushes on each side of their path. There were seven of them on each side, with guns presented and cocked, and the fathers seeing that it was impossible to escape begged for "quarter". The this the Indians replied 'boon quarter, boon quarter!' (good quarter.) Young Ladd, who did not relish the idea of being quietly taken prisoner, told his father that he would mount the horse and endeavor to escape. But the old man forbade him to make the attempt, telling him it was better to risk remaining a prisoner. He cut his fathers horse loose, however, and giving him the lash the horse started of at full speed, and though repeatedly fired at by the Indians, succeeded in reaching home, and was the means of giving an immediate and general alarm. Two of the Indians then stepped behind the fathers and dealt them a heavy blow upon the head. Mr. Haynes, who was quite aged, instantly fell, but Ladd did not. Another of the savages then stepped before the latter and raised his hatchet as if to strike. Ladd closed his eyes, expecting the blow would fall, but it came not, and when he again opened his eyes he saw the Indian laughing and mocking at his fears. Another immediately stepped behind him and felled him at a blow. The Indians, on being asked why they killed the old man, said they killed Haynes because 'he was so old he no go with us,' meaning that he was to aged and infirm to travel; and that they killed Ladd, who was a fierce, stern looking man, because 'he so sour.' They started for Penacook, where they arrived with the two boys."