"Elizabeth Belding (Belden), born about 1663 at Wethersfield, Conn. (or at Hadley, Mass.); died at Brookfield, Apr. 27, 1735; daughter of Samuel and Mary Belding of Wethersfield and Hadley; … There is an account of the Belding or Belden family in Stiles, History of Ancient Wethersfield, and in the histories of Hadley and Hatfield, Mass., but none of these books mention an Elizabeth Belding of suitable age to have married Henry Gilbert. It seems quite necessary that she be the daughter of Samuel and Mary Belding, who removed from Wethersfield, Conn., to Hadley. In the account of Samuel's family there is a break between 1661 and 1665, leaving a place for Elizabeth. No place for her is seen in any other Belding-Belden family. Hadley is but sixteen miles from Springfield and anciently was larger than at present, directly adjoining Springfield on the north."
