Person talk:John Bailey (37)

Text from Bailey Genealogy [27 June 2009]

JOHN OF SALISBURY BRANCH. First Generation.

1. JOHN BAILEY, Sr., one of the earliest of the name to immigrate, to these western shores, is first heard of as being shipwrecked at Pemaquid (now Bristol), Me., in the great storm of August 15, 1635. Owing to this terrible experience he never recrossed the ocean.

  He came from Chippenham, Eng., and was a weaver by trade. He settled first at Newbury, then just beginning, in the vicinity of Parker River.

  Newbury had been settled two years, when in 1637, the venturesome and wandering spirit of John Bailey, Sr., induced him to plunge further into the forest, and establish a solitary home beyond the Merrimac, near the mouth of the Powow River. 

  Here he built his log cabin and taking with him William Scholar as help, settled in solitude and began to fish and cultivate the soil.

  He had a wife, son Robert, and two or more daughters in England. His son John came with him, and his daughter Johanna either came with him or soon after joined him.

  On an elevated plateau of land, at the easterly side of Bailey's Hill, on the banks of the Merrimac, are the ruins of an old cellar. It has been proved by old deeds that here was the homestead lot of John Biley, Sr., of about 50 acres, triangular in shape, and running to the Merrimac River on the westerly side, and to the Powow on the northerly side. The theory is that this property at Bailey's Hill was deserted by the immediate descendants of John Bailey, and the cabin built by him left to decay and ruin, until its very existence had passed from the knowledge and memories of the living.

"An old-time cellar open to the sky,

A mere depression with green, grassy slope,

A place of beauty on the hillside high,

Are all we have of former toil and hopes."

John Bailey, Sr., was also a fisherman and the sole right of fishing in the Powow River was granted to him. It was provided, however, that a certain proportion of the fish taken be given to the town, for in those early days fish was an important article of food.

  In the year 1639 began the settlement of Colchester, afterwads called Salisbury. On the lists of names of those who had lots granted to them in the town of Colchester in the first division of land is the name of Johh Bailey, Sr.

  In the year 1651, John Bailey, Sr., was sentenced by the court to return to England by the next vessel or send for his wife to come over to him, but the order was never obeyed as he died soon after. His will was proved April 13, 1652. He gave his home at Salisbury to his son John during his lifetime, then to John (3), son of John (2), they paying his widow six pounds if she came over to Newburyland. He gave to his daughter Johanna (wife of Wm. Huntington) and her husband the house and five acres of land which he bought of Mr. Rowell; his son Robert 15 pounds and his daughtesr ten pounds apiece if they came over to New England and five pouds if they did not. John Bailey died November 3, 1651.

Children: 2. John, b. 163; married Elearnor Emery (See page 157) 3. Johanna, b. ??; married William Huntington of Amesbury, 1640. See page 157) 3a Robert remained in England with his mother and one or more sisters.--jillaine 17:07, 27 June 2009 (EDT)

Merge mess [14 February 2010]

I'm so sorry; it looks like I made a merge mess. Unless I hear from someone who wants to take this on, I'm going to unmerge what I just did. Jillaine 13:56, 14 February 2010 (EST)