PEABODY
The Peabody family is said to have originated in England about the year 61, at the time Nero ruled Britain as well as the remainder of the Roman Empire. The ancient Britons, who were tribes of the more ancient Cambri, were vassals of Nero Parsutagus, in the right of Queen Boadicea, his wife, who was the reigning king of Ocena, Britain. When he died, although he gave half his vast estate to the Emperor, the rapacity of the tyrant was not satisfied and he seized the whole. When the queen interfered with his officers in their confiscation he ordered her publicly whipped. A rebellion followed. Boarie, a patriarch of one of the tribes, fought for the queen and killed a Roman officer, Galbuta, whose armor he took as a troply. The Britons were finally subdued, and Boadie retired to the hills. Hence the name Pea or Pay, meaning Hill - Peabodie or Payboadie. The name was variously spelled, but means "man of the hills." The Peabody arms contains the insignia from the arms of Galbuta, two suns. The arms: Party per fess nebule gules azure two suns proper with a garb. Crest: scrikk and mottoL Murus Aerus Conscientia Sana. The arms are very ancient.
(I) John Peabody, immigrant ancestor of all the American branches of the family, came to America about 1635, probably with his son William, as their names are mentioned together in the list of original proprietors of the town of Plymouth. He owned ten acres at Bluefish in the Plymouth colony in 1637. He was admitted a freeman Jan. 2, 1637-38, and with his son William was one of the original proprietors of Bridgewater in 1645. He lived in Duxbury. His will is dated July 16, 1649, proved April 27, 1667, showing that he died between those dates. He died aged sixty-seven years, at Bridgewater.
He married Isabel _____, who survived him.
Children:
1. Thomas.
2. Francis, mentioned below.
3. William, born 1619-20.
4. Annis, married John Rouse.
(II) Francis, son of John Peabody, was born at St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, in 1614. He came to New England in the ship "Planter," sailing April 2, 1635, and settled first in Ipswich, where he was a proprietor in 1636. In 1638 he was one of the original settlers of Hampton, New Hampshire, with Rev. Stephen Bachilor and twelve others, and they resided there several years. He was on the grand jury and tiral jury there. He was admitted a freeman May 18, 1642, removing to Topsfield, Mass., in order to be nearer Boston. He became a very prominent man there and owned large tracts of land in Topsfield, Boxford and Rowley.
He died Feb. 19, 1697-98. He married Mary Foster, who died April 9, 1705, daughter of Reginald Foster, of the family named in Scott's "Marmion," and "Lay of the Last Minstrel."
Children:
1. John, born 1642.
2. Joseph, 1644.
3. William, 1647, mentioned below.
4. Isaac, 1648.
5. Sarah, 1650.
6. Hepsibah, 1652.
7. Lydia, 1654.
8. Mary, 1656.
9. Ruth, May 22, 1658.
10. Damaris, Jan. 21, 1660.
11. Samuel, Jan. 4, 1662.
12. Jacob, July 26, 1664.
13. Hannah, May 28, 1668.
14. Nathaniel, July 29, 1669.
(III) William, son of Francis Peabody, was born in 1647, and resided at Boxford, Mass. He married Aug. 14, 1684, Hannah Hale, of Newbury, who died Feb. 23, 1733. He died in March, 1699. He was in the fight of Narragansett in December 1675.
1. Stephen, born Aug. 5, 1685, mentioned below.
2. Mary, April 11, 1687.
3. Ephraim, April 23, 1689.
4. Richard, Feb. 7, 1691.
5. Hannah, Aug. 1693.
6. John, Aug. 1, 1695.
7. Abiel, 1697.
8. Oliver, May 7, 1698.
(IV) Captain Stephen, son of William Peabody, was born Aug. 5, 1685, in Boxford, died there Jan. 7, 1759. He was one of the original propretors of Souhagen West, now Milford, New Hampshire. He married Hannah Swan, who died April 17, 1764, aged seventy-five.
Children born at Boxford:
1. Hannah, Feb. 1, 1709.
2. Richard, May 29, 1711.
3. Mary, Dec. 29, 1713.
4. William, June 29, 1715, mentioned below.
5. Hepsibah, Feb. 14, 1718.
6. Priscilla, Nov. 22, 1719.
7. Francis, Feb. 12, 1721.
8. Stephen, Oct. 1, 1724.
9. Richard, April 13, 1731.
(V) Captain William (2) son of Captain Stephen Peabody, was born in Boxford, June 29, 1715, and settled in Milford, New Hampshire. He died there May 31, 1791. He married, March 25, 1740, Rebecca Smith, who died May 11, 1790, aged seventy-two.
Children born in Milford:
1. Stephen, Sept. 3, 1742.
2. Sarah, March 21, 1744.
3. William, Feb. 3, 1746.
4. Priscilla, Nov. 19, 1750.
5. Rebecca, Jan. 2, 1752.
6. Hannah, April 2, 1754; married David Chandler (see Chandler, VI).
7. Susanna, Nov. 4, 1755.