- Early Settler of Amesbury, Massachusetts
Biography
John Colby was born 9 August 1633 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts to Anthony Colby (1605-1660) and Susannah Haddon (1610-1689) and died 11 February 1674 Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts of unspecified causes. He married Frances Hoyt (1636-1720) 14 January 1656 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.
John Colby's name heads a list of seventeen signatures on a petition presented to the Court at Hampton, in October, 1671, by "divers of the Inhabitants and souldiers of the towne and military company of Amsbery" that they may continue "under the conduct of our loving friend and neighbour John Hoyt, senr. our chosen and establisher sergeant and chief military officer here."
John entered a suit against the town of Salisbury, in the Old Norfolk Co. court, at Salisbury, claiming that he was a possessor of the estate of Mr. Samuel Groom in Salisbury, purchased by his father, Anthony Colby, decd.; and that he (John) was entitled to a townsman's rights on account of Groom. As John had been admitted a townsman 8 or 10 years before, the case was decided in favor of the town, Oct 1663.
John COLBY was christened/baptized on 8 SEP 1633 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. He signed a will on 22 JAN 1673/74 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. He died on 6 FEB 1673 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. He will was proved on 24 APR 1674 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts
Amesbury Founders Memorial
Amesbury Founders Memorial at Golgotha Park, Amesbury, Massachusetts.
In 1640, the first Puritan settlers arrived to Amesbury, Massachusetts; their first burying ground was on a hill overlooking the Powow River, now referred to as Golgotha. The grave stones or markers in this first burying ground have long since disappeared, along with the identity of the people buried here. In 1903, the Amesbury Founders Memorial was erected by the Amesbury Improvement Association, to mark the site of Amesbury's first burying ground. This person is listed there (along with his son John.)
John Colby was a planter at Amesbury, where he was granted land in 1658, 1659, 1662, 1666 and 1668. He was granted thirty acres in 1658.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| John Colby (1656-1719) | 19 November 1656 Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | 6 April 1719 Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | Sarah Osgood (1652-1714) |
| Sarah Colby (1658-1711) | 17 July 1658 Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | 14 March 1711 Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | Ebenezer Blaisdell (1657-1710) |
| Elizabeth Colby (1660-1704) | |||
| Frances Colby (1662-1731) | |||
| Susannah Colby (1665-1674) | |||
| Anthony Colby (1665-1721) | |||
| Thomas Colby (1667-1738) | |||
| Mary Colby (1669-1716) | |||
| Hannah Colby (1671-1751) | |||
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| John Colby (1633-1674) | 9 August 1633 Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts | 11 February 1674 Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | Frances Hoyt (1636-1720) |
| Sarah Colby (1635-aft1721) | 1635 Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts | 1721 | Orlando Bagley (1623-1663) |
| Child Colby (1636-1636) | |||
| Samuel Colby (1638-1716) | 10 August 1638 Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | 1716 Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | Elizabeth Sargent (1648-1736) |
| Isaac Colby (1640-1682) | 6 July 1640 Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | 1684 Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | Martha Parratt (1649-1730) |
| Rebecca Colby (1643-) | |||
| Mary Colby (1647-1716) | 19 September 1647 Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | 27 September 1716 Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | William Sargent (1645-1712) |
| Thomas Colby (1651-) | |||
Residences
See Also