Biography
Sergeant John Colby was born 19 November 1656 in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts to John Colby (1633-1674) and Frances Hoyt (1636-1720) and died 6 April 1719 Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts of unspecified causes. He married Sarah Osgood (1652-1714) 25 December 1675 in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.
John was 19 in Dec 27, 1675. He went to War in 1676. He was a soldier in King Philps War in the Falls Fight under Captain Turner May 18, 1676. Oath of Allegiance to the King in 1677. Sergeant John Colby took the oath of allegiance and fidelity, Dec 1677 and was a soldier in King Philip's War, at the Falls Fight under Capt William Turner, 18 May 1676, and was sergeant of the Amesbury train band, 1680. Administration on the estate of John Colby was granted to Joseph Colby, the only surviving son, 21 April 1719. Robert Ring, son of the widow Ruth Ring, administered her estate, May 1748.
In The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts... Vol., 1 by David W. Hoyt, published Providence R. I. 1897 page 106 "John3 Colby, Serg., (John2, Anthony1), of Amesbury, b. 1656; m. 1st, Dec 27, 1675 [A Nk S], Sarah Eldridge; 2nd. [bef. 1700, Sarah2 Osgood* (Wm1 ); 3rd?]. Feb 8, 1714-1715 [A], Ruth ___, [wid. Of Robert Ring]. He recd. “children’s land” in 1659, and a “township” in 1660. He was a soldier in King Philip’s War, in the Falls Fight, under Capt. Turner, May 18, 1676. Oath al. and fid. Dec., 1677; “training band,” 1680. He d. April 8, 1719[A]; adm. Est. gr. Joseph Colby, only surviving son, April 21, 1719. Robert Ring, son of widow. Ruth Colby, adm. Her est. May, 1748.
Research Notes
Marriage to Sarah Eldredge or Sarah Osgood
It is certain from deeds that Sarah Osgood, b. 1652-3, was in 1700 and 1708 wife of (10) John Colby, and that she was dead in 1716. The only doubt is whether Sarah Eldridge and Sarah Osgood were the same person. The records may be reconciled in three ways:
- Perhaps Eldridge should read Osgood.
- Perhaps Sarah Osgood m. 1st, _____ Eldridge, of whom we have no other record, and 2nd, John Colby.
- The two may be distinct persons, as given above, which seems most probable, though we have no trace of the family of Sarah Eldridge. Wm. And Anne Eldred, or Eldredge, of Yarmouth, had dau. Sarah b. Oct 10, 1650; but she was 6 years older than John Colby, and we know of no intercourse between Salisbury and Yarmouth. There was a John Eldred of Hampton in 1640, who apparently soon died or moved away.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| John Colby (1675-1717) | |||
| Sarah Colby (1679-1720) | |||
| Joseph Colby (1680-1754) | 1 August 1680 Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts | 23 May 1754 Hampstead, Rockingham County, New Hampshire | Anne Bartlett (1684-1721) Mary Philbrick (1692-1756) |
| Son Osgood Colby (1686-1686) | |||
| Son Osgood Colby (1687-1687) | |||
| Judah Colby (1690-1702) | |||
| Hannah Colby (1692-1702) | |||
Siblings
| 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) | |||
Residences
See Also
- John Colby
- Colby in Essex County, Massachusetts