LADD
Like so many prominent English families the ancestry of the Ladd family is traced to the Norman Conquest. The first Lads or Ladd came to England with William of Normandy, and settled in Kent county, where they had a grant of land about eight miles from Dover - Downes. The remote ancestors in England followed the sea and were fishermen.
(I) Daniel Ladd, immigrant ancestor of the American branch, took the oath required of those leaving for New England, March 24, 1633-34, and sailed in the ship "Mary and John" of London, Robert Sayres, master. He settled, first, at Ipswich, Mass., where, Feb. 1, 1637, he had granted to him a six-acre house lot, which he built a dwelling house. He sold this homestead eleven years later to Henry Kingsbury. It was on High street, adjoining William Payne's. He went to Salisbury, Mass., where Oct. 29, 1639, he was granted an acre for a house lot between lots of John Ayer and Robert Fitts, and a planting lot of four acres between lots of John Gough and William Allen, on the highway leading to the mill. From time to time he drew lots there, as the common lands were divided among the proprietors. Finally, he removed to Haverhill, Mass., among the first settlers, and must be reckoned as one of the founders of that town. His house lot was between that of Robert Clemens and Henry Savage, and he had many and extensive grants later. In 1659 he and Theophilus Sharwell erected a sawmill on Spioket river, in which is now [1910] Salem, New Hampshire, the first mill on that stream. For the monopoly of this mill business they paid the town five pounds a year. In 1668 he was one of the selectmen; in 1683 he was opposed to the movement to build a new meeting house. In 1675 he was on a committee with Peter Ayre and Thomas Whittier to determine which should be garrisoned. His will was dated Jan. 30, 1691-93, but for some unknown reason was not proved, and his son Daniel was appointed administrator, Jan. 9, 1694.
He married Ann _____, who died Feb. 9, 1694. He died at Haverhill, July 27, 1693. He held the rank of lieutenant in the military company.
Children:
1. Elizabeth, born Nov. 1, 1640, at Salisbury.
2. Daniel, July 26, 1642.
3. Lydia, April 8, 1643.
4. Mary, Feb. 14, 1646, in Haverhill.
5. Samuel, mentioned below.
6. Nathaniel, March 10, 1651.
7. Ezekiel, Sept. 6, 1654.
8. Sarah, Nov. 4, 1657.
(II) Samuel, second son and fifth child of Daniel and Ann Ladd, lived in the west parish of Haverhill, and his house stood on the site of the present [1910] church there. Chase's "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 the 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 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. To this the Indians relied, "boon quarter, boon quarter" (Good quarter). Young Ladd, who did not relish being 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 father's horse loose, however, and giving him the lash the horse started off 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 on 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 had killed the old man, said they killed Haynes because "he was so old he no go with us," meaning that he was too aged and infirm to travel; and that they killed Ladd, who was a fierce, stern-looking man, because "he so sour." Thus it was that Samuel Ladd died Feb. 22, 1698.
His wife, Martha Corliss, whom he married Dec. 1, 1674, was a daughter of George Corliss, and she bore her husband ten children:
1. Daniel, Nov. 19, 1676.
2. Lydia, Sept. 25, 1679.
3. Samuel, May 22, 1682.
4. Nathaniel, Sept. 9, 1684.
5. Ezekiel, Feb. 14, 1686.
6. Jonathan, April 13, 1689.
7. David, April 13, 1689.
8. Abigail, Sept. 29, 1691.
9. John, June 22, 1694.
10. Joseph, May 16, 1697.
(III) Daniel (2), eldest child and son of Samuel and Martha (Corliss) Ladd, was born Nov. 10, 1676, died June 15, 1751. At the time his father was killed by the Indians he was made prisoner by them and carried to Penacook, New Hampshire. His first attempt to escape was defeated through his indiscretion in trying to secure a hatchet from a wigwam in which was a sick squaw, and after that he was bound hand and foot, laid on his back, with one foot tied to a tree, and kept in that manner fourteen days. His face, too, was gashed and powder was put into the wounds, making a permanent discoloration. He was kept a prisoner some years, but eventually escaped, and returned to his home in Haverhill.
He married, Nov. 17, 1701, Susannah Hartshorn, of Rowley. She died June 22, 1750.
They had children:
1. Mary, born Aug. 6, 1702.
2. Susannah, May 10, 1704.
3. Samuel, April 20, 1709.
4. Daniel, Nov. 15, 1710, mentioned below.
5. Ruth, May 11, 1712.
6. John, Feb. 1, 1717.
(IV) Daniel (3), fourth child and second son of Daniel (2) and Susannah (Hartshorn) Ladd, was born Nov. 15, 1710. He married Mehitable Roberts, Sept. 20, 1733, and by her had twelve children:
1. Susannah, born July 7, 1734.
2. Asa, March 10, 1736.
3. Ezekiel, mentioned below.
4. Daniel, April 21, 1740.
5. Mehitable, Feb. 11, 1742.
6. Samuel, Nov. 9, 1744.
7. John, April 17, 1746.
8. David, July 8, 1748.
9. Abigail, July 27, 1750.
10. James, April 10, 1752.
11. Ruth, Oct. 10, 1757.
12. Jonathan, Dec. 10, 1760.
(V) Ezekiel, son of Daniel (3) Ladd, was born April 10, 1739, died July 12, 1818. He was one of the early settlers and leading citizens of Haverhill, New Hampshire, and held various offices of trust and resposibility. His bride, coming from a home of some wealth and refinement to the rough settlement at Haverhill, wore her wedding silk dress and stockings and shoes to church when she appeared for the first time. So impressive were her clothes, however, that none of the women approached or spoke to her for fear of her finery. Learning her lesson thus, she came next Sunday in a simple linen dress and found no difficulty in meeting and making friends with her neighbors.
Ladd was familiarly known as "Judge" for many years on account of his office as judge of the court of sessions. He was a tavern keeper and owned a tannery; was town treasurer, selectman.
1. Abiah, Jan. 21, 1761.
2. Joseph, Dec. 15, 1764; mentioned below.
3. Molly, Feb. 14, 1766.
4. Ezekiel, May 18, 1768.
5. Hannah, May 3, 1772.
6. Abigail, May 27, 1774.
7. Moody, Dec. 15, 1777.
8. James, July 6, 1782.
(VI) Joseph, son of Ezekiel Ladd, was born Dec. 15, 1764; died Dec. 21, 1836. He was educated in the public schools and was for many years a prosperous merchant. He was a town clerk in 1799-1900-03-05-06. He married Sarah Ring, who died March 28, 1851.
Children, born at Haverhill:
1. Pamela, June 27, 1786.
2. Lavinia, Sept. 18, 1787.
3. Joseph, May 20, 1789.
4. Otis Freeman, Feb. 23, 1791.
5. Persis, Jan. 11, 1793.
6. Lewis, Aug. 1, 1794.
7. Sally, June 27, 1796.
8. Amasa Scott, March 17, 1799.
9. William Hutchins, July 4, 1801.
10. Louisa B., Aug. 4, 1803; married Warren Ives (see Ives VII).
11. Peabody Webster, Aug. 18, 1809.
12. Charlotte, Aug. 18, 1814.