Ruth (Ballard) Kingsbury (1733 - 1827)

Born 15 Mar 1733 in Oxford, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Wife of Jeremiah Kingsbury — married 31 May 1758 in Oxford, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 16 Apr 1827 at age 94 in Dudley, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

RUTH BALLARD,^[1] born at Oxford, 15 Mar 1733 daughter of Jonathan Ballard and Hannah Kidder;^[2] Ruth died at Dudley, MA, 16 Apr 1827;^[3] married at Oxford, 31 May 1758,^[4] JEREMIAH KINGSBURY, born at Oxford, 20 Apr 1735 son of Josiah and Mary (Smith) Kingsbury;^[5] Jeremiah died at Oxford, 23 Apr 1816.^[6]

Jeremiah and Ruth resided in Oxford where they kept a farm. Jeremiah held positions as selectman and school committee in the town of Oxford.^[7] Jeremiah’s household was eight persons in 1790: two males 16 and over and six females.^[8]

Jeremiah Kingsbury served as a Captain during the Revolution commanding the 1st Oxford company in the 5th Worcester County regiment of Massachusetts militia. He received his commission as captain on 4 April 1776. He was Captain of a company is the regiment of Col. Jonathan Holman which marched to reinforce the Northern army under Gen. Gates.^[9] He served throughout the war and was acting quartermaster under Arnold at West Point.^[10]

In his will written 9 October 1804 (probate 7 May 1816), Jeremiah Kingsbury bequeathed to beloved wife Ruth the use of the southeast room, cellar, the use of the pew in the meeting house, and household furniture. She is also to be comfortably supported at all times by the executor. Son Josiah receives a tract of land in addition to what he has received. Son John Kingsbury receives an additional piece of land, and son Jonathan receives one-third part of a farm. Daughter Mary Harwood receives the household goods not disposed of by her mother and £15. Son Jeremiah receives the remainder of the estate real and personal and is named executor.^[11]

Children

Jeremiah and Ruth were parents of five children born at Oxford.

i JOSIAH KINGSBURY, b. at Oxford, 30 Jun 1759; d. at Spencer, 2 Jul 1819; m. 15 Dec 1795, ESTHER CRAIG, b. at Leicester, 27 Dec 1768 daughter of Margaret and Martha (Green) Craig; Esther d. at Spencer, 19 Sep 1836.

ii JOHN KINGSBURY, b. at Oxford, 30 May 1761; d. at Dudley, 27 Jan 1830; m. 20 Sep 1792, ABIGAIL HARWOOD, b. at Oxford, 25 Apr 1765 daughter of David and Rebecca (Twiss) Harwood; Abigail d. at Dudley, 10 Dec 1829.

iii JEREMIAH KINGSBURY, b. at Oxford, 21 Aug 1763; d. at Oxford, 10 Feb 1842; m. 1st, 1 Sep 1793, ELIZABETH “BETSEY” BUTLER, b. 2 Feb 1770 daughter of James and Mary (Sigourney) Butler; Elizabeth d. at Dudley, 30 Aug 1830. Jeremiah m. 2nd, at Dudley, 27 Aug 1831, Elizabeth’s sister, SALLY BUTLER, b. 29 Sep 1776 daughter of James and Mary (Sigourney) Butler; Sally d. at Northborough, 6 Feb 1861.

iv JONATHAN KINGSBURY, b. at Oxford, 12 Feb 1766; d. at Peru, OH, Aug 1819; m. 1st, 4 Aug 1791, ELIZABETH SHUMWAY, b. at Oxford, 3 Aug 1768 daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Leavens) Shumway. In 1796 while living in Windham County, CT, Elizabeth petitioned for divorce on grounds of desertion.^[12] Jonathan m. 2nd, about 1800, SALLY WILLIAMS,^[13] b. in VT about 1786; Sally d. in Branch County, MI, 12 Jan 1872. Elizabeth Shumway married second Samuel Coburn.

v MARY KINGSBURY, b. at Oxford, 21 Aug 1768; d. at Dudley, 1 Jul 1854; m. 29 Apr 1792, DAVID HARWOOD, b. about 1759 son of David and Rebecca (Twiss) Harwood; David d. at Oxford, 31 Dec 1831.

Sources

1. ↑ Family summary taken from Abbott, The Descendants of William and Grace Ballard of Andover ©
2. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC4H-5WY : 14 January 2020), Ruth Ballard, 1733.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69808605/ruth-kingsbury: accessed 14 August 2022), memorial page for Ruth Ballard Kingsbury (15 Mar 1733–16 Apr 1827), Find A Grave: Memorial #69808605, citing Village Cemetery, Dudley, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Charles Baker (contributor 47201082)..
4. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHY1-VZ3 : 20 May 2022), Ruth Ballard in entry for Jeremiah Kingsburg, 31 May 1758; citing Marriage, Oxford, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007009522.
5. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC4X-FDZ : 14 January 2020), Jeremiah or Jerimiah Kingsbury, 1735.
6. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCMC-LMJ : 20 May 2022), Capt. Jeremiah Kingsbury, 23 Apr 1816; citing Death, Oxford, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007009522.
7. ↑ Daniels, History of the Town of Oxford, volume 2
8. ↑ Year: 1790; Census Place: Oxford, Worcester, Massachusetts; Series: M637; Roll: 4; Page: 449; Image: 492; Family History Library Film: 0568144
9. ↑ Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War, volume 9, p 292
10. ↑ Daniels, History of the Town of Oxford, volume 2, p 138
11. ↑ Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. Case 35385
12. ↑ Connecticut State Archives, Windham County Divorce Records, 1726-1907, accessed through familysearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSPC-7HGQ?i=247&cat=599011
13. ↑ Kingsbury, Pendulous Genealogy of Kingsbury, suggests a different Jonathan Kingsbury (son of Jonathan Kingsbury and Jemima Skinner) as the husband of Sally Williams. However, Daniels, History of the Town of Oxford, volume 2, p 569, provides details based on an 1822 letter by Jeremiah son of Jonathan and Sally that fits with this Jonathan being the husband of Sally Williams.

• Abbott, Patricia A. In Press. The Descendants of William and Grace Ballard of Andover Through Six Generations. Emerald Isle, NC: Patricia A. Abbott.
• Daniels, George Fisher. 1892. History of the Town of Oxford, Massachusetts, with Genealogies and Notes on Persons and Estates. Oxford, MA: Published by the author with cooperation of the town.