ABC Biography of the Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf Family of New England

 Using the ABC method described in Using Artificial Intelligence In the Ancestor Biography Creation (ABC) Process, enhanced by further developments, here is another ancestor couple biography using the Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.6 AI tool.

1) The genealogical sketch for the family of my 5th great-grandparents Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf, including family members, record abstracts and sources, is in Genealogical Sketch of the Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf Family of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

(AI NotebookLM Infographic - Burgess Metcalf family story)

2) For the Claude AI biography, I attached a PDF of the genealogical sketch for the specific ancestors using the plus (+) icon, and then prompted the AI tool with:  "You are an expert genealogist and family historian. Please create a biography based on information in the attached file for the Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf family. Include parents, siblings, spouses and children (with birth and death dates and places). Summarize life events, add historical events as appropriate, but do not add or embellish any extra genealogical details. Use section headings. Expand the information in each section to add more details. The tone should be engaging and suitable for family members."

3)  The Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.6 biography (lightly edited for accuracy) is: 

The Story of Burgess & Jerusha Metcalf

A Family History of Massachusetts and New Hampshire

1741 – 1817

Burgess Metcalf: A New England Beginning

Our story begins on a late August day in 1741, when Burgess Metcalf came into the world in the small town of Medway, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony — born on August 28th to Michael Metcalf and his wife Melatiah (Hamant) Metcalf. He was the fourth son and seventh of eight children in a busy household, so young Burgess would have grown up surrounded by siblings, chores, and the rhythms of colonial New England life.

His parents, Michael (1706–1771) and Melatiah (1704–1751), had married in Medway in 1728 and built a family there over the following two decades. Melatiah passed away in 1751, when Burgess was only about ten years old — a loss that no doubt shaped the family's early years together.
His Parents & Siblings

Burgess grew up alongside seven brothers and sisters. Here is the full family:

• Oliver Metcalf (b. 6 June 1729, Medway) — married Sarah Hammond, 16 October 1759, in Keene, NH; died 29 March 1797, Keene, NH
• Michael Metcalf (b. 5 December 1730, Medway) — married Sarah Allen, February 1753; later married Hannah ~1757; died 16 August 1777 at the Battle of Bennington, Vermont
• Melatiah Metcalf (b. 1 August 1732, Medway) — married Jonah French in 1750 in Keene, NH; died 19 April 1766, Keene, NH
• Amity Metcalf (b. 2 February 1734, Medway) — no further record found
• Abijah Metcalf (b. 2 July 1735, Medway) — married Mercy Ellis, 1763, Keene, NH; died 3 September 1815, Keene, NH
• Sarah Metcalf (b. 22 January 1737, Medway) — married Amos Davis Jr., 14 April 1757, Chesterfield, NH; died 11 February 1812, Addison, Vermont
• Burgess Metcalf (b. 28 August 1741, Medway) — our subject
• Silas Metcalf (b. 8 October 1745, Rutland, Worcester, MA) — no further record found

When Burgess was around nine years old, the whole Metcalf family pulled up roots and relocated north to Keene, Cheshire County, New Hampshire Colony, around 1750. This move — likely in search of better farmland or opportunity — would set the stage for the rest of Burgess's life in northern New England. It was in Keene where he would have grown to adulthood and eventually met the woman he would marry.

Jerusha: The Mystery Behind the Name

Jerusha — the woman who would become Burgess's wife and the mother of his ten children — is, in many ways, a figure shrouded in mystery. She was born around 1750, probably somewhere in Massachusetts Bay Colony or New Hampshire Colony, but her exact birthdate, birthplace, and maiden surname have not been confirmed by records.

Some family researchers have suggested her maiden surname was Chandler — possibly inspired by the name given to her youngest son, Chandler Metcalf, born in 1798. But as far as records show, that connection remains unproven. It's a common practice in genealogy to give children surnames as first names to honor the mother's family, so the theory is plausible — just not yet documented.

Whatever her origins, Jerusha was a woman of quiet endurance. She raised ten children in the rugged hill country of New Hampshire, outlived her husband by less than a year, and left behind a legacy that carries through hundreds of descendants today.

Building a Life Together in Piermont

Burgess and Jerusha were married before 1770, most likely in Keene, New Hampshire Colony. Their first child, Ephraim, was born around 1770, suggesting the wedding took place sometime in the late 1760s. Within a few years, Burgess was on the move again — this time heading further north.

In August 1773, Burgess purchased Lot 9 in Range 1 in the newly settled town of Piermont, Grafton County, New Hampshire from Richard Jenness of Rye, NH, paying 70 pounds for the land along what is now River Road. This acquisition planted the Metcalf family firmly in Piermont, where they would remain for generations.

Life on the frontier of New Hampshire was not easy. Piermont was a young, still-developing community, and families like the Metcalfs were the ones doing the developing. Burgess cleared land, farmed, raised livestock, participated in local governance, and helped build the community church. The 1801 tax records show him with cows, calves, and acreage in tillage, mowing, and pasture — a working farm by any measure.

Burgess in the Revolutionary War

One of the most remarkable chapters in Burgess Metcalf's life was his service in the American Revolutionary War. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the 5th Company of the 12th New Hampshire Regiment on September 5, 1775 — just months after the war's opening shots at Lexington and Concord.

He served again from September 25 to October 26, 1777, during a pivotal moment in the war. That October, he was present at the surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga, New York — one of the war's most decisive American victories and the event that helped convince France to enter the war on the American side. It was a historic moment, and Burgess Metcalf was there to witness it firsthand.

His gravestone, in fact, honors his military service, inscribing him as "Ensign Burgess Medcalf" — a title he clearly wore with pride.

Active in the Community

Burgess was not a man content to stay in the background. Town records from Piermont show him repeatedly called upon for public duties over the years:

• 1776: Enumerated in the New Hampshire State Census in Piermont
• 1789: Chosen as Surveyor of Highways
• 1794: Named as a Petit Juror
• 1797: Named to a committee to set school land boundaries; also served as Moderator and Grand Juror
• 1803: Listed as a founding member of Piermont's new Congregational Church

His involvement with the Congregational Church was a family affair. As early as 1779, Burgess signed a pledge to financially support the Gospel in Piermont. His son John later served as a deacon of the same church — a clear sign of the family's deep roots in the community's spiritual life.

Their Ten Children

Burgess and Jerusha had a large family — ten children born between about 1770 and 1798. The first few were born while the family was still getting settled, and the last seven came after they established themselves in Piermont:

• Ephraim Metcalf (b. ~1770, Westmoreland, NH) — married Martha ~1791 in Piermont; 2 children; died 8 April 1858, Newbury, Orange, Vermont
• Samuel Metcalf (b. ~1771, Grafton County, NH) — no further record found
• Burgess Metcalf Jr. (b. 8 August 1772, Canaan, NH) — married (1) Elizabeth Wait, 28 December 1802; (2) Rachel Taplin, 16 March 1826; 9 children total; died 19 December 1831, Piermont, NH
• Sally Metcalf (b. ~1774, Piermont, NH) — married Edward Chapman, 15 July 1794, Haverhill, NH; 1 child
• Cyrus Metcalf (b. 1776, Piermont, NH) — married Lydia A. Root, 1798, Piermont; 9 children; died 3 March 1843, Irasburg, Orleans, Vermont
• Meletiah Metcalf (b. 4 April 1779, Piermont, NH) — married Salmon Niles, 16 December 1797, Piermont; 13 children; died 13 July 1838, Haverhill, NH
• Mary "Polly" Metcalf (b. ~1780, Piermont, NH) — married Amos Underhill, 25 March 1801, Piermont; 5 children; died 15 October 1855, Aurora, Erie, New York
• Joseph Metcalf (b. 1781, Piermont, NH) — died young, 10 March 1796, Piermont, NH, at about age 15
• Jerusha Metcalf (b. 1789, Piermont, NH) — married John Bickford, 4 June 1807, Piermont; 12 children; died 22 December 1864, Troy, Orleans, Vermont
• Chandler Metcalf (b. 7 April 1798, Piermont, NH) — married Letitia Olmstead, 17 December 1826, Hanover, NH; 2 children; died 8 June 1842, Haverhill, NH

The 1790 census recorded Burgess's household with 4 males over 16, 3 males under 16, and 7 females — a full and lively house. By 1800, the household had thinned somewhat as older children married and moved on, but young Chandler (their last child, born in 1798) and daughter Jerusha were still home.

Passing the Farm to the Next Generation

In August 1798, Burgess Jr. executed a notable legal arrangement: he leased back the family's Piermont land — including two house lots and two meadow lots — to his aging parents, Burgess Sr. and Jerusha, for the remainder of their natural lives. In exchange, Burgess Sr. paid his son $500.

The document, recorded in Grafton County deeds in 1812, is a touching piece of family history. It guaranteed that Burgess and Jerusha could live on and work "said lands as he or she shall chuse without any Let hindrance or Molestation" for as long as they lived. It was a formal way of ensuring the elder Metcalfs were taken care of in their old age.

The Final Years

Burgess Metcalf died on September 26, 1816 in Piermont, New Hampshire, at the age of 74 — a long life for the era, and one well-lived. His gravestone at River Road Cemetery in Bradford, New Hampshire bears the inscription:

"In Memory of / Ensign / Burgess Medcalf / who died Sept 20, 1816 / aged 74 years"

Jerusha survived her husband by less than a year. She passed away on June 9, 1817, at the age of 67, in Piermont. She was laid to rest beside Burgess at River Road Cemetery, her gravestone reading:

"In memory of / Mrs. / Jerusha Medcalf / who died June / 9 1817 aged / 67 years"

No probate records have been found for either Burgess or Jerusha in Grafton County — not unusual for a family that had already arranged the transfer of property to their children during their lifetimes.

Their Legacy

Burgess and Jerusha Metcalf were, in every sense, foundational figures. They were among the early settlers of Piermont, New Hampshire — a town that barely existed when they arrived in 1773. Over the following four decades, they helped shape it: farming its land, serving in its government, worshipping in its church, and raising a family of ten children who spread across New England and beyond.

Their children and grandchildren carried the Metcalf name (and the lines of their daughters' married names) into Vermont, New York, and further afield. The numbers alone tell the story: among their ten children, at least eight went on to have children of their own, producing over fifty  grandchildren for Burgess and Jerusha.

And then there's the legacy of service. Burgess stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his fellow colonists during the Revolution, was present at one of its pivotal moments — the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga — and came home to build something lasting in the hills of New Hampshire. That's a story worth remembering.

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4) An Audio Overview (essentially a podcast) created by the Google NotebookLM AI tool) describing and celebrating the lives of Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf can be heard here (click on "Audio Overview" and wait for it to load).

5)  The Video Overview discussing the Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf family created by the Google NotebookLM AI tool is:  

6)  The Slide Deck produced by Google NotebookLM was incorporated into a Google Slides file, and the created Google Vids presentation is below:  

7)  I edited the Claude biography text to correct minor inconsistencies and errors. Every large language model (LLM) AI tool writes descriptive text much better than I can write. I was an aerospace engineer in my former life, and my research reports and genealogical sketches reflect "just the facts gleaned from my research." The AI tools are very perceptive, insightful and create readable text in seconds, including local and national historical events and social history detail when requested.

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Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

The URL for this post is:  

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

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Added and Updated FamilySearch Record Collections - Week of 28 March to 3 April 2026

 Each week, I try to keep track of the number of Full-Text Search collections (indexed, searchable) and the Images collections (browsable but not searchable) -- see Sections 1) and 2) below. In addition, I list the genealogy historical record collections (often name-indexed) that are added, removed, and/or updated on FamilySearch and listed on the Historical Record Collection list  --  See Section 3.

1)  As of 3 April 2026, there are now 6,648 searchable and full-text transcribed image collections on FamilySearch Full-Text Search this week, a decrease of 0 from last week. There are over   1.914 BILLION "results" in the collections.  It is not possible to see which collections are new. 

 2)  As of 3 April 2026, there are now 24,610 browsable (some indexed, none transcribed) image collections on FamilySearch Images this week, a decrease of 1 from last week. There are over 5.973 BILLION images in these collections.  There are 2,101 collections from the United States, 6,903 from Europe and 221 from Canada.  It is not possible to see which collections are new.  

3)  As of 3 April 2026, there are 3,420 Historical Record Collections (many indexed, browsable) on FamilySearch (a decrease of 3 from last week) on the Signed In screen.

The Deleted, Added and Updated Hstorical Record Collections this week include:

--- Collections Deleted ---

Italy, Alessandria, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1800-1865 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2197595); 28,851 indexed records with 51,135 record images, DELETED
Italy, Ancona, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1544-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2310701); 200,585 indexed records with 208,356 record images, DELETED
Italy, Bologna, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2185174); 955,882 indexed records with 335,164 record images, DELETED
Italy, Bologna, Imola, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1805-1815 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2306526); 66,625 indexed records with 34,773 record images, DELETED

--- Collections Added ---

*  Italy, Ivrea Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1926-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000539); 1,520 indexed records with 790 record images, ADDED 30-Oct-2025

--- Collections Updated ---

Belgium, Antwerp, Civil Registration, 1588-1953 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138481); 2,682,068 indexed records with 3,208,709 record images (was 2,632,365 records with 3,208,709 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Belgium, Brabant, Civil Registration, 1582-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482191); 1,006,734 indexed records with 6,411,594 record images (was 968,601 records with 6,411,594 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Bolivia, Catholic Church Records, 1566-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922463); 9,825,511 indexed records with 1,649,601 record images (was 9,832,200 records with 1,649,601 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Dominican Republic, Index of Deceased Persons,1886-2004 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000619); 763,000 indexed records with 763,000 record images (was 763,000 records with 763,000 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
Find a Grave Index (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2221801); 265,645,823 indexed records with 40,705,841 record images (was 264,892,869 records with 102,401,311 images), UPDATED 02-Apr-2026

Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473000); 23,453,302 indexed records with 29,147,064 record images (was 23,453,302 records with 29,147,064 images), UPDATED 02-Apr-2026
Honduras, Civil Registration, 1841-1968 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2135627); 12,424,283 indexed records with 337,976 record images (was 12,424,229 records with 337,976 images), UPDATED 31-Mar-2026
Italy, Agrigento, Sciacca, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043548); 19,928 indexed records with 226,482 record images (was 19,928 records with 226,482 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Ancona, Ancona, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1862-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046896); 742,051 indexed records with 2,361,451 record images (was 843,996 records with 2,361,451 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Arezzo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1314-1934 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2146184); 4,533 indexed records with 68,721 record images (was 11,993 records with 68,721 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026

Italy, Avellino, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2484771); 105,657 indexed records with 3,099,458 record images (was 105,657 records with 3,099,458 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Bari, Bari, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043445); 301,213 indexed records with 1,626,044 record images (was 279,177 records with 1,626,044 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Bari, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1908 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1968511); 605,987 indexed records with 2,870,392 record images (was 605,987 records with 2,870,392 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
Italy, Belluno, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1815 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1939239); 4,765 indexed records with 43,302 record images (was 4,905 records with 43,302 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
Italy, Benevento, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1810-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2475030); 356,098 indexed records with 1,827,400 record images (was 356,098 records with 1,827,400 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026

Italy, Bergamo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1866-1903 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1986789); 658,071 indexed records with 2,514,754 record images (was 658,071 records with 2,514,754 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Births and Baptisms, 1806-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708706); Index only (205,484 records), no images (was 205,484 records with 0 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Bologna, Bologna, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947797); 891,880 indexed records with 5,914,917 record images (was 887,656 records with 5,914,917 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Brescia, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1797-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2158242); 157,049 indexed records with 620,801 record images (was 157,049 records with 620,801 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Brindisi, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1955 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2328379); 228,127 indexed records with 827,175 record images (was 228,127 records with 827,175 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

Italy, Cagliari, Cagliari, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1934 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043426); 620,818 indexed records with 1,791,108 record images (was 633,890 records with 1,791,108 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Caserta, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1866 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2718545); 17,474 indexed records with 4,543,698 record images (was 17,474 records with 4,543,698 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Caserta, Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043630); 1,241,591 indexed records with 1,097,228 record images (was 1,341,457 records with 1,097,228 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Catania, Catania, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043496); 747,745 indexed records with 434,962 record images (was 754,311 records with 434,962 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Catania, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2821289); Browse 2,852,068 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 2,852,068 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Catanzaro, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1865 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1937913); 753,725 indexed records with 436,534 record images (was 753,725 records with 436,534 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Como, Como, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043815); 1,215,604 indexed records with 1,475,606 record images (was 1,233,545 records with 1,475,606 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Cremona, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1744-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1987747); 425,341 indexed records with 1,325,362 record images (was 425,341 records with 1,325,362 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Cuneo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1795-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1392991); 90 indexed records with 267,978 record images (was 75,223 records with 267,978 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
Italy, Cuneo, Saluzzo, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068332); Browse 1,604,444 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 1,604,444 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Deaths and Burials, 1806-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708705); Index only (76,671 records), no images (was 76,671 records with 0 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Enna, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1866-1944 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068343); 735 indexed records with 836,855 record images (was 735 records with 836,855 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Foggia, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1902 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2821290); 197,277 indexed records with 1,514,502 record images (was 197,277 records with 1,514,502 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Foggia, Lucera, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043436); 20,412 indexed records with 706,597 record images (was 25,880 records with 706,597 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Forlì-Cesena, Forlì, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1800-1815, 1866-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068333); 145,735 indexed records with 2,090,185 record images (was 859,021 records with 2,090,185 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Genova, Chiavari, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482818); 697,605 indexed records with 650,745 record images (was 697,072 records with 650,745 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Genova, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1796-1812, 1838-1859, 1866-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1928859); 249,878 indexed records with 445,302 record images (was 249,878 records with 445,302 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Genova, Genova, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046914); 1,795,434 indexed records with 871,669 record images (was 1,808,867 records with 871,669 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Isernia, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1914 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3049866); 1,195 indexed records with 1,021,993 record images (was 1,195 records with 1,021,993 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, L'Aquila, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1944, 1911-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1937372); 134,489 indexed records with 2,754,472 record images (was 134,489 records with 2,754,472 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

Italy, Latina, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1867-1946 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2684446); 1,744 indexed records with 144,647 record images (was 14,453 records with 144,647 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Lecce, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1901-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2310702); 20,298 indexed records with 3,307,040 record images (was 20,298 records with 3,307,040 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Lecco, Lecco, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046897); 298,052 indexed records with 646,060 record images (was 399,332 records with 646,060 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Lucca, Lucca, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043811); 128,224 indexed records with 1,335,192 record images (was 131,582 records with 1,335,192 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Macerata, Macerata, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043838); 640,524 indexed records with 792,563 record images (was 691,441 records with 792,563 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Mantova, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1496-1906 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1934580); 802,442 indexed records with 855,316 record images (was 802,442 records with 855,316 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Marriages, 1809-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1711678); Index only (76,565 records), no images (was 76,565 records with 0 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Massa e Carrara, Massa, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043539); 138,337 indexed records with 513,674 record images (was 132,923 records with 513,674 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Matera, Matera, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043814); 201,255 indexed records with 237,814 record images (was 220,819 records with 237,814 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Messina, Patti, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1823-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1946858); 147,853 indexed records with 891,170 record images (was 142,082 records with 891,170 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Milano, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1866-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2537277); 2,517 indexed records with 1,064,144 record images (was 2,517 records with 1,064,144 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Milano, Milano, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000032); 1,151,946 indexed records with 472,131 record images (was 1,220,160 records with 472,131 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Modena, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1968527); 499,297 indexed records with 2,114,742 record images (was 500,217 records with 2,114,742 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Modena, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1920-1946 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000266); 61,676 indexed records with 51,102 record images (was 68,918 records with 51,102 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Napoli, Calvizzano, Civil Registration (Comune), 1809-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046907); 6,137 indexed records with 4,044 record images (was 9,326 records with 4,044 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Napoli, Casoria, Civil Registration (Comune), 1809-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046905); Browse 40,753 Images only, no index (was 1,075 records with 40,753 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Napoli, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1866 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1937990); 1,178,892 indexed records with 12,795,172 record images (was 1,178,892 records with 12,795,172 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Napoli, Pomigliano d'Arco, Military Conscriptions (Comune), 1898-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068335); Browse 2,689 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 2,689 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Napoli, Portici, Civil Registration (Comune), 1809-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046899); 14,781 indexed records with 48,547 record images (was 15,171 records with 48,547 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Napoli, Qualiano, Civil Registration (Comune), 1836-1909 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046904); 2,605 indexed records with 1,883 record images (was 4,159 records with 1,883 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Napoli, Torre Annunziata, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1900-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947578); 134,522 indexed records with 41,398 record images (was 143,727 records with 41,398 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Nuoro, Nuoro, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1946873); 189,571 indexed records with 118,771 record images (was 189,265 records with 118,771 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Oristano, Oristano, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947719); 603,549 indexed records with 342,194 record images (was 632,863 records with 342,194 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Padova, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1621-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2120751); 43,158 indexed records with 601,344 record images (was 43,158 records with 601,344 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Padova, Padova, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1946877); 1,141,213 indexed records with 1,745,536 record images (was 1,197,968 records with 1,745,536 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Palermo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2608509); 4,683 indexed records with 4,331,932 record images (was 4,683 records with 4,331,932 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Catholic Church Records, 1531-1998 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046915); 1,050,963 indexed records with 431,296 record images (was 1,050,963 records with 431,296 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Pavia, Pavia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1806-1812, 1866-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043830); 265,040 indexed records with 306,382 record images (was 290,024 records with 306,382 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Pavia, Voghera, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2057676); Browse 165,651 Images only, no index (was 32,348 records with 165,651 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Perugia, Perugia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043831); 39,264 indexed records with 405,632 record images (was 49,670 records with 405,632 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Piacenza, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1662-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4117582); 18,373 indexed records with 641,969 record images (was 18,373 records with 641,969 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Pisa, Pisa, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043812); 219,442 indexed records with 618,446 record images (was 215,386 records with 618,446 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Pistoia, Pistoia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1493462); 38,616 indexed records with 834,726 record images (was 38,410 records with 834,726 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Pordenone, Pordenone, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043819); Browse 236,209 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 236,209 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Potenza, Melfi, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1483052); 270,195 indexed records with 558,203 record images (was 270,358 records with 558,203 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Prato, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1866-1923 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2057689); 45,813 indexed records with 227,429 record images (was 45,813 records with 227,429 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
Italy, Ravenna, Ravenna, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947700); 698,358 indexed records with 1,759,182 record images (was 756,168 records with 1,759,182 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Reggio Emilia, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1769-1944 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2388826); 30,483 indexed records with 643,483 record images (was 984,348 records with 643,483 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Rieti, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1840-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2146202); 136,452 indexed records with 448,819 record images (was 136,452 records with 448,819 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026

Italy, Rimini, Rimini, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000028); 31,075 indexed records with 28,627 record images (was 30,070 records with 28,627 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Roma, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1863-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2390532); 825,269 indexed records with 5,066,067 record images (was 828,452 records with 5,066,067 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Rovigo, Rovigo, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482864); 825,653 indexed records with 1,082,856 record images (was 828,399 records with 1,082,856 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Salerno, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1949 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1935404); 1,186,348 indexed records with 5,918,455 record images (was 2,240,352 records with 5,918,455 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Savona, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1813, 1838-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016218); 154,142 indexed records with 1,279,025 record images (was 154,142 records with 1,279,025 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

Italy, Siena, Montepulciano, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043840); 47,691 indexed records with 181,893 record images (was 56,457 records with 181,893 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Siracusa, Siracusa, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1900-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2110810); 334,705 indexed records with 275,840 record images (was 354,875 records with 275,840 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Sondrio, Sondrio, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043841); Browse 279,212 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 279,212 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Teramo, Teramo, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947829); 192,334 indexed records with 425,736 record images (was 192,012 records with 425,736 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Terni, Orvieto, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043538); 128,767 indexed records with 44,289 record images (was 130,285 records with 44,289 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Torino, Ivrea, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1865-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1475996); Browse 722,302 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 722,302 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Torino, Torino, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1967801); Index only (3,542,652 records), no images (was 3,652,548 records with 0 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Trapani, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1906-1928 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2052404); 105,264 indexed records with 1,371,292 record images (was 105,264 records with 1,371,292 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Trento, Diocesi di Trento, Catholic Church Records, 1548-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1430983); 1,968,517 indexed records with 86,924 record images (was 1,985,100 records with 86,924 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Treviso, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1815 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1928857); Browse 300,678 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 300,678 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026

Italy, Treviso, Treviso, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947831); 348,515 indexed records with 427,232 record images (was 365,193 records with 427,232 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Trieste, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1924-1944 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2684447); Browse 118,496 Images only, no index (was 15,381 records with 118,496 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Udine, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1815, 1871-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1939238); 497,987 indexed records with 1,262,279 record images (was 497,987 records with 1,262,279 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Venezia, Venezia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043809); 1,025,162 indexed records with 628,744 record images (was 1,095,467 records with 628,744 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Verbania, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1814, 1838-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068338); 2,150 indexed records with 595,341 record images (was 99,593 records with 595,341 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

Italy, Vercelli, Archdiocese of Vercelli, Catholic Church Records, 1839-1899 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000274); 333,854 indexed records with 149,478 record images (was 336,668 records with 149,478 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Italy, Verona, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1630-1946 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016225); 293,902 indexed records with 2,976,910 record images (was 293,902 records with 2,976,910 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Italy, Vicenza, Bassano del Grappa, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1871-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2141952); 167,671 indexed records with 1,637,660 record images (was 167,671 records with 1,637,660 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
Italy, Viterbo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1870-1943 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016212); 651,693 indexed records with 936,472 record images (was 651,693 records with 936,472 images), UPDATED 28-Mar-2026
Minnesota, Deaths, 1887-2001 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3398461); 1,455,734 indexed records with 1,454,437 record images (was 1,455,734 records with 1,453,838 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

Nicaragua, Civil Registration, 1809-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1601210); 978,582 indexed records with 2,591,542 record images (was 978,582 records with 2,591,542 images), UPDATED 31-Mar-2026
Portugal, Bragança, Catholic Church Records, 1541-1985 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1976616); 1,004,741 indexed records with 960,435 record images (was 1,004,741 records with 960,435 images), UPDATED 01-Apr-2026
Russia, Births and Baptisms, 1755-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1771027); Index only (118,328 records), no images (was 81,115 records with 0 images), UPDATED 02-Apr-2026
Russia, Deaths and Burials, 1815-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1771042); Index only (94,633 records), no images (was 55,414 records with 0 images), UPDATED 02-Apr-2026
Russia, Lutheran Church Book Duplicates, 1833-1885 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1469151); 563,045 indexed records with 128,317 record images (was 401,678 records with 128,317 images), UPDATED 02-Apr-2026

Russia, Marriages, 1793-1919 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1771044); Index only (27,686 records), no images (was 16,762 records with 0 images), UPDATED 02-Apr-2026
Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4138674); 19,762,820 indexed records with 2,024,045 record images (was 19,755,625 records with 2,024,045 images), UPDATED 31-Mar-2026
Switzerland, Church Records, 1277-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1640373); Browse 517,510 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 517,510 images), UPDATED 31-Mar-2026
United States, Census, 1860 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473181); 26,936,553 indexed records with 703,834 record images (was 26,936,041 records with 703,834 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
United States, Census, 1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1488411); 107,608,212 indexed records with 2,387,416 record images (was 107,608,221 records with 2,387,416 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

United States, Census, 1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1810731); 125,136,376 indexed records with 2,957,015 record images (was 125,136,392 records with 2,957,015 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026
United States, Census, 1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2000219); 134,774,682 indexed records with 3,841,151 record images (was 134,774,707 records with 3,841,151 images), UPDATED 27-Mar-2026

--- Collections with new images ---

Argentina, Military Records, 1911-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000280); 1 indexed records with 2,929,239 record images (was 1 records with 2,929,235 images), last updated 31-Oct-2024
Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 454,169 record images (was 1 records with 454,166 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 906,026 record images (was 1 records with 906,023 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Sergipe, Civil Registration, 1866-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4470324); 1 indexed records with 268,940 record images (was 1 records with 268,939 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 157,892,854 indexed records with 52,739,142 record images (was 157,892,854 records with 52,739,058 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024

United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000016); 63,700,466 indexed records with 63,700,463 record images (was 63,700,466 records with 13,260,985 images), last updated 12-Feb-2023

--- Collections with images removed ---

Puerto Rico, Births and Baptisms, 1938-1947 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1770964); 1,575 indexed records with 279 record images (was 1,575 records with 1,575 images), last updated 08-Feb-2020

--- Collections with new records ---

--- Collections with records removed ---

England and Wales, Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2285732); Index only (95,810,877 records), no images (was 95,810,879 records with 0 images), last updated 09-Oct-2014

===================================

My friend and SDGS colleague, Marshall, has come up with a way to determine which collections are ADDED, DELETED or UPDATED, and to alphabetize the entries in each category. Thanks to Marshall for helping me out here!

Marshall notes that there are:

• 3,420 Historical Record Collection entries
• 4 removed entries
• 1  added entries 
• 110 updated entries
• 7 entries with more or fewer images 
• 1 entries with more or fewer records

Marshsll's list shows 3,420 Historical Record Collections this week, a decrease of 3 collections. The image above shows 3,420 collections, so the Image number is in sync with Marshall's list number.

==========================================

See previous FamilySearch-related blog posts in        https://www.geneamusings.com/search/label/FamilySearch

The URL for this post is:  

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not be posted immediately.

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Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 28 March to 3 April 2026

 The following genealogy record collections were added to the Ancestry.com Card Catalog page by "Date Updated" during the period from 28 March to 3 April 2026.

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

• England, Prerogative and Exchequer Court of York Wills, 1389-1858; 2,462,539 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/30/2026. This collection contains images of wills filed in Yorkshire, England, between 1389 and 1858.
• Yorkshire, England, Bishops' Transcripts of Church of England Baptism, Marriage and Burial Registers, 1558-1912; 13,500,549 indexed records with record images, ADDED 3/30/2026. This collection includes Church of England parish registers and bishops’ transcripts of baptisms, marriages, and burials between 1558 and 1912 from the historical county of Yorkshire, England.

=========================================

The complete Ancestry.com Card Catalog is at https://search.ancestry.com/search/CardCatalog.aspx.  

By my count, there are 2 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,902 collections available as of  3 April, an INCREASE of 2 from last week. 

                              ==============================================

Disclosure: I pay for an All-Access subscription from Ancestry.com. In past years, Ancestry.com  provided a complimentary All Access subscription, an autosomal DNA test, material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and hosted events and meals that I attended in Salt Lake City.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/04/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Please note that all Comments are moderated so they may not appear immediately.

Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com. 

Genealogical Sketch of the Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf Family of Massachusetts and New Hampshire

This is a genealogical sketch of the lives of the Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf family of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. They are my 5th great-grandparents.  Burgess Metcalf was a Revolutionary War soldier.

=============================

1) Burgess Metcalf (1741-1816) Early Years

Burgess Metcalf was born 28 August 1741 in Medway, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony,[1-3] the 4th son and 7th child (of eight children) of Michael Metcalf (1706-1771) and Melatiah (Hamant) Metcalf (1704-1751), who married in 1728 in Medway. The Medway town records record the birth of Burgess Metcalf as:

"Burgess Metcalf son of Michael Metcalf & Melatiah his wife was born Aug. 28th 1741"

The Michael Metcalf family moved to Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire in about 1750. Michael Metcalf and Melatiah Hamant had the following children:

• Oliver Metcalf, born 6 June 1729, Medway, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony; married Sarah Hammond, 16 October 1759, Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire Colony; died 29 March 1797, Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire
• Michael Metcalf, born 5 December 1730, Medway, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony; married Sarah Allen, February 1753, Medway, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony; married Hannah , about 1757, Medway, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony; died 16 August 1777, Bennington, Bennington, Vermont
• Melatiah Metcalf, born 1 August 1732, Medway, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, ; married Jonah French, 1750, Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire Colony, ; died 19 April 1766, Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire Colony.
• Amity Metcalf was born on 2 February 1734 in Medway, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony; no further record.
• Abijah Metcalf, born 2 July 1735, Medway, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony; married Mercy Ellis, 1763, Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire Colony; died 3 September 1815, Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire.
• Sarah Metcalf, born 22 January 1737, Medway, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony; married Amos Davis Jr., 14 April 1757, Chesterfield, Cheshire, New Hampshire Colony; died 11 February 1812, Addison, Vermont.
• Capt. Burgess Metcalf, born 28 August 1741, Medway, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony; married Jerusha , before 1770, Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire Colony; died 26 September 1816, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire.
• Silas Metcalf was born on 8 October 1745 in Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay Colony. No further record.

2) Jerusha --?-- (ca 1750-1817) Early Years

Jerusha --?-- was born in about 1750 perhaps in New Hampshire Colony to unknown parents. Her birth date and birth place are not known. Some researchers claim that her maiden name was Chandler, There are no records to support that claim, which may have been assumed to be from the given name of one of her sons. There may be siblings of Jerusha but they are not known. The family may have lived in Keene, New Hampshire Colony before 1770.

3) Married Life Together

Burgess Metcalf and Jerusha were married before 1770, probably in Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire Colony,. They had ten children born between 1770 and 1798, and the last seven were probably born in Piermont. There is a Piermont town record for only the tenth child, Chandler Metcalf.

Burgess Metcalf and Jerusha --?-- had the following children:

• Ephraim Metcalf, born about 1770, Westmoreland, Cheshire, New Hampshire Colony; married Martha --?--, about 1791, probably Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire, two children; died 8 April 1858, Newbury, Orange, Vermont.
• Samuel Metcalf was born about 1771 in Grafton County, New Hampshire Colony; no furthyer record.
• Burgess Metcalf, born 8 August 1772, Canaan, Grafton, New Hampshire Colony; married (1) Elizabeth Wait, 28 December 1802, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire, eight children; married (2) Rachel Taplin, 16 March 1826, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire, one child; died 19 December 1831, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire.
• Sally Metcalf, born about 1774, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire Colony; married Edward Chapman, 15 July 1794, Haverhill, Grafton, New Hampshire, one child.
• Cyrus Metcalf, born 1776, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshires; married Lydia A. Root, 1798, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire, nine children; died 3 March 1843, Irasburg, Orleans, Vermont.
• Meletiah Metcalf, born 4 April 1779, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire; married Salmon Niles, 16 December 1797, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire, thirteen children; died 13 July 1838, Haverhill, Grafton, New Hampshire.
• Mary "Polly" Metcalf, born about 1780, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire; married Amos Underhill, 25 March 1801, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire, five children; died 15 October 1855, Aurora, Erie, New York.
• Joseph Metcalf was born in 1781 in Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire; died 10 March 1796, Permont, Grafton, New Hampshire.
• Jerusha Metcalf, born 1789, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire; married John Bickford, 4 June 1807, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire, twelve children; died 22 December 1864, Troy, Orleans, Vermont.
• Chandler Metcalf, born 7 April 1798, Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire; married Letitia Olmstead, 17 December 1826, Hanover, Grafton, New Hampshire, two children; died 8 June 1842, Haverhill, Grafton, New Hampshire.

A sketch of the life of Burgess Metcalf was published in the book: William Cutter, New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, Third Series, Volume IV.[4] It says:

"(VI) Burgess Metcalf, son of Michael Metcalf, was born at Medway, August 28, 1741. He was a soldier in the revolution, and ensign in the fifth company. (See p. 924, vol. xvi, State Papers of New Hampshire). In 1790 the federal census shows that he was living in Piermont, New Hampshire and had in his family four males over 16, three under that age, and seven females. The names of all of his children are not given. The history of Piedmont in the Grafton County history states that Burgess Metcalf came there early and died there in 1816; that he had a large family; that his son John, born in 1803, died in 1858. The Chandler family settled in Piermont also, and doubtless intermarried with the Metcalfs."

Another sketch of Burgess Metcalf is in the Piermont section of the book: Hamilton Child, Part first: Gazetteer of Grafton County, N.H., 1709-1886.[5] It says:

"Burgess Metcalf located at Piermont, at an early day. He reared a large family of children, and lived here until his death, in 1816."

Another sketch of the life and family of Burgess Metcalf is in the book: Louise S. Horton, Elizabeth H. Underhill, and Eleanor D. Deal, Piermont, New Hampshire, 1764-1947.[6] The "Metcalf" section says, in part:

"From Grafton County Land Records we learn that Richard Jenness, Proprietor, of Rye, N.H., deeded to Burgess Medcalf, for 70 pounds Lot 9 in Range 1 on 13 August 1773; thus early did the Metcalf family begin their occupancy of the town, where for all the succeeding years some of them have resided.

"They early became identified with the work of the church. In 1779 both Burgess, and his son Burgess Jr. signed, with others, a paper 'to pay the sum of $80. for the support of Publishing the Gospel this present year, according to the Poll, and valuable estate appraised on me by the selectmen of this town of Piermont.' In 1803, when the present Congregational Church was organized, the name of Burgess Metcalf was one of its members, and his son John was later one of the deacons. Always the family has helped maintain the church."

Burgess Metcalf removed to Piermont, Grafton County, New Hampshire, in 1773[6]. The lot was on the present-day River Road.

Burgess Metcalf served in the Revolutionary War as an Ensign in the 5th Company of the 12th New Hampshire Regiment. He was commissioned on 5 September 1775.[7] He also served from 25 September to 26 October 1777, and was at the surrender of Burgoyne.

Burges Medcalf was enumerated in the New Hampshire 1776 State Census in Piermont, Grafton County.[8]

In the 1790 United States census, the Burges Metcalf household was enumerated at Piermont, Grafton County, New Hampshire.[9] The household included:

• 4 free white males over age 16
• 3 free white males under age 16
• 7 free white women

The Piermont, N.H. Town Records has many references to Burgess Metcalf and other Metcalfs in Piermont, including[10]:

In Volume 1:

• page 220: 10 Mar 1789: Burgess Medcalf chosen surveyor of highways
• page 255: 20 Oct 1794: Burges Medcalf named a petit juror.
• page 269: 10 Aug 1797: Burgis Medcalf named to committee to affix bounds of school lands
• page 269: 20 Sep 1797: Burgis Medcalf named Moderator and Grand Juror
• page 289: 1800: Burgess Medcalf was assessed $0.95 tax rate for middle school district.
• Burgis Medcalf Jr. was assessed $1.74.
• page 295: 1799 County Tax List: Burgis Medcalf was assessed $1.70 and Burgis Medcalf Jr. was assessed $3.10.
• page 334, 1801 tax list: Burges Medcalf had 1 cow, 2 3-year old calfs, 1 2-year-old calf, 6 acres of tillage, 12 acres of mowing, 10 acres of pasture, assessed 0 pounds, 14 shillings, 8 pence.
• Burges Medcalf Jr. had 1 poll, 1 4-year old horse, 1 cow, 2 3-year old calfs, 0 acres of tillage, 2 acres of mowing, 1 acre of pasture,and was assessed 0 pounds, 17 shillings, 5 pence.
• page 350: 1802 tax list: Burgess Medcalf had 2 polls, 1 horse,1 3-year old horse, 2 oxen, 1 cow, 3 3-year old cows, 3 2-year old cows, 11 acres of mowing, 9 acres of tillage, 12 acres of pasture, buildings worth $30.15, Whole amount of Inventory $10.09, Highway Tax $7.06, Town Tax $3.44, Highway Tax $0.41, Minister's Tax $2.53, and School Tax $3.91.

In Volume 2:

• page 8: 10 Feb 1795 tax list: Burgas Medcalf 0 pounds 8 shillings, 10 pence.
• Burgas Medcalf Jr. 0 pounds, 3 shillings,7 pence.
• page 180: 1809 tax list: Burgess Medcalf assessed $5.05 town and $0.96 county.

Burgess Medcalf Jr. leased several lots of land in Piermont, New Hampshire to his father, Burgess Medcalf Sr. on 29 August 1798 for 500 dollars.[11] The parcels included two houselots (numbers 9 and 10), two meadow lots (nnumbers 57 and 58), but excluded 4 acres of houselot number 9. The document was registered on 30 April 1812 in the Grafton County Deed records. The lease transcription is:

"Lease: B. Medcalf Jr to B. Medcalf

"This indenture made this twenty ninth day of August one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight by & between Burgess Medcalf Jnr of Piermont County of Grafton & State of New Hampshire yeoman on the one part & Burgess Medcalf senior all of Piermont County and State aforesaid on the other part. Witnesseth that the said Burgess Medcalf Jr for and under all covenants onto hereafter in these presents expressed hath & doth hereby demise to grant and to farm Lot unto the said Burgess Medcalf senior the whole of the following tracts of land lying and being situate in Piermont aforesaid together with all buildings standing on said premises viz two houselots one numbered nine drawn to the original right of Howard Henderson the othered numbered ten drawn to the original right of the first settled Minister in said Piermont and also two meadow lots one numbered fifty seven drawn to the original right of Howard Henderson the other numbered fifty eight drawn to the original right of Zebulon Giddings excepting about four acres from the houselots numbered nine drawn to the original right of Howard Henderson together with all the priveleges whereunto belonging for the term of time or so long as he himself shall live & Jerusha his wife to his use or his wife use benefit and behoof during their natural lives to improve said lands as he or she shall chuse without any Let hindrance or Molestation-- In consideration therefor the said Burgess Medcalf Jr do aknowledge by these presents to have received the full and just sum of five hundred dollars for the above described premises and whenever in any way or manner he the said Burgess Medcalf Senior or his wife Jerusha Medcalf shall be removed from the premises by his or her consent or agreeable to what is above written he the said Burgess Medcalf Jr his heirs and assigns shall have full power and liberty to reenter and take possesion of the above described premises agreeable to what is above written in the premises. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this day & year before written-- Signed, sealed and delivered

In presence of
John Russell
Thomas Russell Jr
Burgess Medcalf Jr
Burgess Medcalf
Grafton County April 30th 1812"

In the 1800 United States census, the Burges Metcalf household was enumerated in Piermont, Grafton County, New Hampshire.[12] The household included:

• 1 free white male under age 10 (probably Chandler)
• 1 free white male between 10 and 16 years old (perhaps son Joseph)
• 1 free white male between 16 and 26 years old (perhaps son Cyrus)
• 1 free white male between 26 and 45 years old (probably son Burgess)
• 1 free white male over age 45 (certainly husband Burgess)
• 1 free white female between 10 and 16 years old (probably daughter Jerusha)
• 1 free white female between 16 and 26 years old (probably daughter Mary)
• 1 free white female over age 45 (certainly wife Jerusha)

In the 1810 United States census, the Burjes Metcalf household was enumerated in Piermont, Grafton County, New Hampshire.[13] The household included:

• 2 free white males between 16 and 26 years old (perhaps sons Joseph and Chandler)
• 1 free white male over age 45 (certainly husband Burgess)
• 1 free white female over age 45 (certainly wife Jerusha)

Other Piermont Metcalf households in the 1810 census were headed by Burjes Metcalf Jr. and Cyrus Metcalf. A Samuel Metcalf headed a household in Grafton.

4) Later Years

Burgess Metcalf died 26 September 1816, according to the Find A Grave memorial.[3] He is buried in River Road Cemetery in Bradford, New Hampshire with his wife, Jerusha.[3] The inscription on his gravestone says:

In Memory of

Ensign

Burgess Medcalf

who died Sept

20, 1816

aged 74

years

Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf died on 9 June 1817 at the age of 67 in Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire.[14] Jerusha was buried after 9 June 1817 at River Road Cemetery in Bradford, Merrimack, New Hampshire.[14] The inscription on her gravestone says:

In memory of

Mrs.

Jerusha Medcalf

who died June

9 1817 aged

67

years

There are no probate records for Burgess or Jerusha Metcalf in the Grafton county, New Hampshire probate court records.

5) Sources

1. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), Medway, Births, Marriages and Deaths, Births, page 26 (image 44 of 1171), Burgess Metcalf birth entry, 28 August 1741.

2. Vital records of Medway, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 (Boston, Mass. : New-England Historic Genealogical Society, 1905), Births, page 90, Burgess Metcalf entry, 28 August 1741.

3. Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com), River Road Cemetery, Bradford, N.H., Burgess Metcalf (1741-1816) memorial #57644861.

4. William Richard Cutter (compiler), New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, Volume IV (New York City : Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), page 2196, "Metcalf" sketch.

5. Hamilton Child, Part first: Gazetteer of Grafton County, N.H., 1709-1886 (Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse Journal Company, Printers and Binders, June 1886, page 574, Burgess Metcalf sketch.

6. Louise S. Horton, Elizabeth H. Underhill, and Eleanor D. Deal, Piermont, New Hampshire, 1764-1947 (Bradford, Vt. : The Green Mountain Press, n.d.), pages 150-151, Burgess Metcalf sketch.

7. "New Hampshire Revolutionary War Records, 1675-1835," imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 29 December 2016), Rolls > Muster Rolls and Petitions, 1747-1779 > image 168 of 364, Burgess Medcalf entry; citing Archives and Records Management, Concord, New Hampshire.

8. "New Hampshire Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890," database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), 1776, Grafton County, Piermont, 1776, Burges Medcalf entry.

9. 1790 United States Federal Census, Grafton County, New Hampshire, population schedule, Piermont, page 67, Burges Metcalf household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M637, Roll 5.

10. Piermont (N.H.) Town Clerk, Town Records, 1765-1825, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org, accessed on FHL US/CAN microfilm 0,015,276), Volume 1, pages 220, 255, 269,289, 295, 334, 350, and Volume, pages 8 and 180, Burgess Metcalf entries.

11. Grafton County (N.H) Register of Deeds, "Land Records, 1773-1902; Indexes to Land Records, 1773-1900," imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org, accessed on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,015,822), Volume 55, Page 327, Burgess Medcalf Jr. to Burgess Medcalf Sr., dated 1798, recorded 1812.

12. 1800 United States Federal Census, Grafton County, New Hampshire, population schedule, Piermont, page 706, Burges Metcalf household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M32, Roll 20.

13. 1810 United States Federal Census, Grafton County, New Hampshire, population schedule, Piermont, page 364, Burges Metcalf household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M292, Roll 23.

14. Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com), River Road Cemetery, Bradford, N.H., Jerusha Chandler Medcalf (1750-1817) memorial #58660922.

Relationship

Burgess and Jerusha (--?--) Metcalf are my 5th great-grandparents, through their daughter Mary "Polly" Metcalf (1780-1855) who married Amos Underhill (1772-1865) in 1801 in Piermont, Graft5on County, New Hampshire and eventually settled in Erie County, New York.

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