John Kilburn Famiyl from Walpole As It Was and As It Is (1880) Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by MLM, Volunteer 0000130. For the current email address, please go to http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000130 Copyright. All rights reserved. ************************************************************************ Full copyright notice - http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm USGenWeb Archives - http://www.usgwarchives.org ************************************************************************ Surname: KILBURN Source: Walpole As It Was and As It Is by George Aldrich, The Claremont Manufacturing Co., Claremont, N.H., 1880, pages 300-303 KILBURN, JOHN.--The name of Kilburn is found among the names of English nobility back as far as the time of Chaucer, and the line of descent can be directly traced from that time to the present. The name is spelt in different ways by the old English families, as well as in this country, but they sound is the same. Kilburn, Kilborn, Kylburne, Kilberne, Kilborne, are some of the various ways the name is found spelled. The origin of the name is the same. The name is made up from two words, Keele and Bourn, which signify, the former, cold, and the latter, water,--cold water. The coincidence of the names of the first settlers of this town meaning about the same thing is very singular; Belle Eau, pluralized, meaning beautiful waters, and Keele Bourn, meaning cold water or cold stream. Thomas Kilburn, the ancestor of all the Kilburns in this country, came over from England in 1635, bringing with him his wife and five children. John, therefore, belonged to the fifth generation of Kilburns in this country. He was born in Glastonbury, Conn., in 1704; was residing in Springfield, Mass., in 1725. On the 26th of October, 1732, he was married in Middletown, Conn., to Mehitable, daughter of Andrew and Mehitable Bacon. Ch. I. Mary, b. in Middletown, Nov. 12, 1733. II. Mehitable, b. Feb. 16, 1734,5. III. John, jr., b April 1, 1736. IV. Mary, m. 1756, to Noah Smith, of Hadley, afterwards of Brattleboro, Vt. The first wife of John Kilburn d. in Glastonbury, Conn., in 1737. His second wife was Hannah Fox, of Glastonbury, Conn.; she d. Jan. 1, 1807, aged 84. Mr. Kilburn became the first settler in Walpole in 1749. He removed to Springfield, Vt., but subsequently returned to Walpole and died here. Capt. John came to Walpole with his father, and married Miss Content Carpenter; the daughter of Rev. Ezra Carpenter, of Swanzey, N.H., March 10, 1762. He resided in Walpole till the winter of 1793, when he removed to Shrewsbury, Vt., at which place he died July 20, 1819, aged 83.His wife died Oct. 22, 1813, aged 73. Ch. 1st, Theodosia, b. May 10, 1763; d. Jan. 23, 1766. 2d; John, Esq., b. Aug. 30, 1 765; m. Anna Ashby, of Shrewsbury, Vt., where he settled. He removed to Canton, N. Y., and died there in 1847, aged 82. He had five children. 3d, Theodosia, 2d, b. Dec. 23, 1768; m. Martin Ashley, of Shrewsbury, Vt., Aug. 15, 1787. 4th, Ezra C., b. Sept. 30, 1772; m. Sarah, the willow of Samuel Graves, whose maiden name was Clark, and had a daughter, Esther, in 1807. He d. in Keene, N.H., in 1853. 5th, Elijah, b. Sept. 30, 1772; m. Rebecca Jennison, dau. of John and Sybil Jennison, in 1798. He d. in town in 1847; she d. in 1849. Ch. (1) Harriet, b. in 1799, in Walpole, where all of his nine children were born. She d. in 1830, unm. (2) Mary H., b. in 1801; m. Noah Smith, July15, 1825; resided, at last accounts, in the town of Russell, N.Y. (3) Josiah, b. in town; m. Emily Bonney, of Littleton, N.H., where he settled and still resides. He was elected a member of the New Hampshire legislature in 1842-3. He had three children, viz., Benjamin West, Emily, and Edward. (4) George, b. in 1803; m. Laura, dau. of Salmon and Rebecca (Foster) Hooper, Dec. 18, 1825. He commenced business in this town as a carpenter and master builder, and carried on a considerable business, employing a large number of workmen. From some cause he was unable to proceed with his business so as to leave a margin of profits to himself, and a suspension of business became necessary about 1840. He left town owing many people a considerable amount of money, being willing but unable to pay his creditors. He removed to Fall River, Mass., where he obtained employment and remunerative pay. He remained at Fall River several years, but subsequently removed to Lonsdale, R.I., where he was for a number of years superintendent of the Lonsdale Cotton Manufactory and Bleaching Co. He is now well advanced in years, and has retired from active participation in business. Within a few years he has paid a portion of his old debts in Walpole, being under no other than a moral obligation to do so. Such acts are highly creditable. His income has been very large in Lonsdale, and it is supposed he has an ample competency of this world’s goods laid by for all his future wants. (5) John, b. in 1808; m. Maria E. Gage and settled in Fall River, Mass., where he died Dec. 4, 1846. His children are Louisa R., Edward J., Maria, Charles, and Helen. (6) Frederick, b. April 4, 1809; m. Mary Ann, dau. of Alexander and Mary (Sherman) Watkins, June 29, 1825. She was b. Dec. 3, 1813. They lived for several years in Littleton, N.H., where he was at one time one of the selectmen. He removed back to his native town several years since, and was honored by representing the town in the General Court in 1858-9. He is a carpenter by trade, although a portion of his life has been a . spent in farming. He was engaged for several years in setting "turbine" water wheels in various mills and factories about the country. He has four children living. (7) Elijah C., b. in 1811; m. Hannah S. Carter, of Wayland, Mass. He at one time owned the Major Jennison farm in this town. He sold out and removed to Fall River in 1847. During his stay in Walpole he was highly esteemed as a citizen, and his removal was much regretted. He represented the town in the legislature in 1846. He is a machinist, doing business under the style of E. C. Kilburn & Co. It is understood that prosperity has smiled on his efforts in Fall River till within a short period. (8) Rebecca, b. in 1815; m. Rodney Smith, Oct. 20, 1841. (9) William J., b. Sep. 21, 1818, settled in Augusta, Me., where he was for many years engaged as a wholesale merchant, in dry goods, in the house of William J. Kilburn & Co. He was a member of the Common Council of the city of Augusta, in l851-2. He subsequently removed to Keene, N.H., and established himself in trade there. 6th, Elizabeth, b. Feb. 3, 1776, m. Willard Colby, of Shrewsbury, Vt. They both died many years ago. 7th, Esther, b. Oct. 12, 1788; m. Daniel Robinson, of Massena, N.Y., Feb. 21, 1864.