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]
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.
This week's featured connections are Redheads: Ruth is 13 degrees from Catherine of Aragón, 12 degrees from Clara Bow, 23 degrees from Julia Gillard, 12 degrees from Nancy Hart, 11 degrees from Rutherford Hayes, 14 degrees from Rita Hayworth, 16 degrees from Leonard Kelly, 18 degrees from Rose Leslie, 16 degrees from Damian Lewis, 15 degrees from Maureen O'Hara, 22 degrees from Jopie Schaft and 32 degrees from Eirik Thorvaldsson on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.