Phinehas Brigham (1755-1802) is #76 on my Ahnentafel List, my 4th great-grandfather, who married #77 Lydia Batherick (1752-1795) in 1779 in Westborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
I am descended through:
* their son, #38 Lambert Brigham (1794-1834) who married #39 Sophia Buck (1797-1882) in 1817.
* their daughter #19 Sophia Newton (1834-1923) who married #18 Edward Hildreth (1831-1899) in 1852.
* their daughter #9 Hattie Louisa Hildreth (1857-1920) who married #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922) in 1874.
* their son #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942) who married #5 Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) in 1900.
* their son #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) who married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.
* their son #1 Randall Jeffrey Seaver (1943-living)
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1) PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Name: Phinehas Brigham[1–7,10]
* Alternate Name: Phineas Brigham[8–9,11–13]
* Sex: Male
* Father: Moses Brigham (1722-1769)
* Mother: Mehitable Grout (1725-1795)
2) INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Birth: 23 July 1755, Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[1–3]
* Distribution: 1 January 1770 (age 14), father's intestate estate; Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[8]
* Military: 1775–1779 (about age 20–about 24), during the Revolution War; Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[1,9]
* Deed: 3 August 1779 (age 24), sold share of mother's dower to Jonathan Forbes for 500 pounds; Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[10]
* Census: 1 August 1790 (age 35), Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[5]
* Distribution : 6 October 1795 (age 40), mother's testate estate; Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[11]
* Death: before 12 August 1802 (before age 47), Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[7]
* Probate: 12 August 1802 (age 47), inventory taken of intestate estate; Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[7]
3) SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Spouse 1: Lydia Batherick 1752-1795
* Marriage 1: 29 April 1779 (age 23), Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[4,13]
* Child 1: Eli Brigham 1780-????
* Child 2: Phineas Brigham 1782-1823
* Child 3: Willard Brigham 1784-1858
* Child 4: Lydia Brigham 1787-1791
* Child 5: Nahum Brigham 1790-1790
* Child 6: Stephen Brigham 1792-1817
* Child 7: Lambert Brigham 1794-1834
* Spouse 2: Hannah Jackson 1754-????
* Marriage 2: 20 August 1796 (age 41), Upton, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[6]
4) NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
Phinehas Brigham was born 23 July 1755 in Westborough, Massachusetts, the son of Moses and Mehitable (Grout) Brigham[1-3].
Moses Brigham, the father of Phinehas Brigham, died intestate on 3 December 1769. On 1 January 1770, his wife, Mehitable, was appointed administratrix of the estate in the Worcester County Probate Court. She was also appointed the guardian of Phinehas and the other younger children. In 1774, the estate was distributed to the heirs, and the oldest son, Moses Brigham, was to have the real estate, and pay each of his siblings £49-13-9[8].
Phinehas served in the Revolutionary War from Westborough[1,9]. The Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War book has this entry for Phinehas:
"BRIGHAM, PHINEAS, Westborough. Private, Capt. Edmund Brigham's co. of Minutemen, Maj. Gen. Ward's regt., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, 5 days; reported enlisted into the army; also, Capt. Moses Wheelock's co., Col. Jonathan Ward's regt., muster roll dated Aug 1, 1775; enlisted April 24, 1775; service 3 mos. 15 days; also, company return [probably Oct. 1775]; also, Capt. Edmund Brigham's co., Col. Job Cushing's regt.; marched Aug. 21, 1777, to reinforce Northern army by order of Gen. Stark and Gen. Lincoln; proceeded to Hadley and was there counter-ordered; service, 5 days; company ordered to be mounted if possible; also, Sergeant, Capt. Ebenezer Belknap's co. (also given Capt. Nathan Fisher's co.) co., Col. Nathaniel Wade's regt.; engaged June 23, 1778; discharged Jan. 1, 1779; service, 6 mos. 12 days, at Rhode Island; stationed at North Kingston, R.I.; enlistment to expire Jan. 1, 1779; also, muster toll for June-Sept. 1778, dated East Greenwich; also, muster roll for Jan. - Nov., 1778, dated North Kingston."
Phinehas Brigham married, at age 23, to Lydia Batherick (1752-1795), daughter of David and Lydia (Maynard) Batherick, on 29 April 1779 in Westborough[1,4,13]. They had seven children, all recorded in the Westborough town records:
* Eli Brigham (1780-????), married 1804 to Dulcena Warren (1784-1830).
* Phineas Brigham (1782-1823), married 1805 to Lydia Wilkins (1785-1861).
* Willard Brigham (1784-1858), married 1811 to Betsey Sherman (1783-1880).
* Lydia Brigham (1787-1791).
* Nahum Brigham (1790-1790).
* Stephen Brigham (1792-1817).
* Lambert Brigham (1794-1834), married 1817 Sophia Buck (1797-1882).
Phinehas Brigham, yeoman of Westborough, sold his share of his mother's Dower real property to Jonathan Forbes, gentleman of Westborough, on 3 August 1779[10]. The deed reads:
"Know all Men by these Presents that I Phinehas Brigham of Westboro in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts Bay in New England yeoman in Consideration of the sum of Five hundred pounds Lawfull Money to me in hand paid before the Ensealing hereof by Jonathan Forbes of Westboro in the County & state aforesaid Husbandman y'e Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge do herefor & by these presents Remise Release & forever Quitclaim unto him the said Jon'a Forbes his heirs & assigns all my rights Title Interests Inheritance property Claim and Demand of in & unto my Mother Mehetabel Brigham Dowry of Thirds to the Estate of her husband Moses Brigham Deceased. To have and to hold the same (how & wherever scituate & lying) with all the priviledges and appurtenances thereto belonging to him the said Jon'a Forbes his heirs & assigns forever hereby Declaring myself my heirs Exors & admors & from all or any future Claim to be made to my mother Mehitabel Brighams Dower of Thirds to the Estate of him the s'd Moses Brigham Deceased and that the said Jon'a Forbes his heirs & assigns may forever hereafter peaceably Enjoy all my Interests in s'd Thirds without Molestation from me or any person Claiming under me. In Witness whereof I the said Phinehas Brigham have hereunto set my hand & seal this Third day of August Anno Domini One Thousand seven hundred and seventy Nine. Phinehas BrighamSign'd Seal'd & Deliv'd in y'e presence of us Joseph Baker Elijah Brigham.Worcester ss August y'e 7 1779 The above Named Phinehas Brigham personally appeared & Acknowledged this Instrument to be his free act & Deed before meJoseph Baker Justice Peace"
Since his share of two-thirds of his father's land was worth £49 in 1774, it seems unreasonable that his share of one-third of his father's land would be worth £500, but perhaps the land values substantially were increased, or money significantly was devalued, in five years during the Revolutionary War.
He probably continued to live on the property of Jonathan Forbes, which was on the property formerly owned by his father, Moses Brigham.
In the 1790 United States Census, Phinehas Brigham resided in Westborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts[5]. The household included one free white male over 16 (Phinehas), 4 free white males under age 16 (sons Eli, Phineas, Willard and Nahum), and two free white females (wife Lydia and daughter Lydia).
When Phinehas was age 39, his mother, Mehitable Brigham, died testate on 30 August 1795 in Westborough[11]. Her will was written on 24 July 1795 and proved on 6 October 1795 in Worcester County Probate Court, and she bequeathed to Phinehas:
"Item. I give and bequeath to my Son Phinehas the one Sixth part of all my real and personal Estate of what kind and Nature soever excepting the household furniture and wearing Apparel."
Lydia (Batherick) Brigham, the wife of Phinehas Brigham, died on 28 December 1795, leaving 5 children between the ages of 1 and 15 years.
Phinehas Brigham married, secondly, to Hannah Jackson (1754-????) of Upton, Massachusetts, on 20 August 1796 in Upton[6]. They had no children.
Phinehas Brigham died intestate before 12 August 1802 in Westborough at age 47. His probate papers are in Worcester County Probate Estate File 7,427[7]. They include:
a) On 1 September 1802, Hannah (Jackson) Brigham, widow of Phineas, and Joseph Jackson were appointed administrators of the estate. A bond of $10,000 was posted by Hannah Brigham, Joseph Jackson, David Nelson and Nathan Jackson.
b) David Fay, Jedediah Fay and Thomas Smith of Westborough were appointed on 12 August 1802 to take an inventory of the estate of Phinehas Brigham. The total estate was $98.95, which included $20 for a dwelling house on the land of Jonathan Forbes in Westborough. The administrators account was submitted to the Probate Court on 3 April 1804. The administrators charged themselves with the personal estate, and paid debts totaling $108.74, having advanced themselves $29.79, including $15 for administering the estate.
The inventory transcript included:
"An Inventory of the Estate of Phinehas Brighamlate of Westborough in the county of Worcester deceasedappraised upon oath by us the subscribers, duly appointedto that service by the Hon. Nathaniel Paine Esq'r Judgeof Probate of wills for said County, Viz. A Dwelling houseSituate and being on the Land of Jon'a Forbes which we appraise atby the consent of the said Forbes $ 20. 00Personal Estate we Appraise as followeth viz. Dol . Cents1 Bed with the beding & curtains & the stead & bed cord @ 13 . 001 other old Bed with all the beding stead & cord @ 11 . 003 old sheets 3.50 A pair of pillar cases 1.50 5 . 003 Table cloths 2.66 5 Towels 1.25 3 . 912 Platters 6 plates 1 Tea pot 16 Table and Tea spoons 3 . 401 q't Pot 1 ponger 1 Tea cannister & pepper box 0 . 40Glass and Crockery ware 1.50 one case of Draws 6 7 . 50Looking glass .50 one case of old bottles .75 old Juggs .40 1 . 65Old iron ware 1.50 gridiron .75 bread trough & sive .50 2 . 75Tin ware .40 wooden boxes & Bellows 1.00 flat iron .50 1 . 90Fire stirr .75 skimmer lid pan & burning iron .50 1 . 25u189½ case of knives & forks .40 a basket o& a number of old knives .5 0 . 90Old basket .33 spools & 4 shuttles 1.33Cloath basket full of Rags And 1 pair of Cards & one old bed pan .75 2 . 0013 Skaines of tow yarn and some Old bags .58 0 . 584 red Chairs 1.50 two Old Chairs .50 an old loom & warping band 1. 3 . 50A Large fire settle 1.00 Six Cyder Barrel 2.00 3 . 007 Dry carts 1.00 one meat tub .83 quill wheel real old Iron .75 2 . 58A large Baize gown 1.50 one straight bodied Coat 1.00 2 . 50A waistcoat 1.00 one Jackcoat .50 1 . 502 pair small Cloathes .92 three pair of Overhalls 1.66 2 . 583 pair of Socks .34 three flannel shirts 2.25 2 . 591 pair of mitts 1 old blanket and an old hat 1 . 161 Kitchen Table 1.00 one raisor .25 1 . 25A number of pieces of sole & upper leather 0 . 661 swine a year old 10 . 00Total personal estate $ 97 . 621 Iron ???? and Share at 1.33 added 1 . 33$ 98 . 95David Fay }Jonathan Fay } AppraisersWestborough Aug't 12 1802 Thos Smith }"
There is no known death record or burial record for Phinehas Brigham.
5. SOURCES
1. W. I. Tyler Brigham (Emma E. Brigham, editor), The History of the Brigham Family, A Record of Several Thousand Descendants of Thomas Brigham the Emigrant, 1603-1653 (New York City : The Grafton Press, 1907), page 203, #177 Phineas Brigham family sketch.
2. "Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988," indexed database and digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), "Westborough > Births, Marriages, and Deaths," image 284 of 1417, Phinehas Brigham birth entry, 23 July 1755.
3. Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westborough, Massachusetts to the end of year 1849 (Worcester, Mass. : Franklin P. Rice, 1903), Births, page 28, Phinehas Brigham birth entry, 23 July 1755.
4. Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westborough, Massachusetts to the end of year 1849, Marriages, page 131; Phinehas Brigham and Lydia Bathrick, 29 April 1779.
5. 1790 United States Federal Census, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Westborough town, page 655 (penned), Phinehas Brigham household; indexed database with record images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M637.
6. "Massachusetts, U.S., Town Records, 1620-1988," digital images, Ancestry.com, "Westborough > Births, Marriages and Deaths," page 306 (image 373 of 1417), Mr. Phinehas Brigham and Miss Hannah Jackson marriage intentions entry, 13 July 1796.
7. Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate case files, Probate Packet 7427 (16 pages) intestate estate of Phinehas Brigham of Westborough, 1802; "Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881," digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (https://www.AmericanAncestors.org: accessed 15 March 2020); Original records in Worcester County, Massachusetts Probate Court Records, Worcester, Massachusetts.
8. Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate case files, Probate Packet 7407 intestate estate of Moses Brigham of “32 pages” Westborough 1770; "Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881," digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (https://www.AmericanAncestors.org: accessed 12 January 2022).
9. Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Boston, Mass. : Wright & Potter Printing, 1896-1908), page 533, Phineas Brigham of Westborough service summary.
10. "Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986," digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org), Worcester County, Volume 82, page 185 (image 151 of 696), Deed of Phinehas Brigham to Jonathan Forbes, executed 3 August 1779, recorded 11 August 1779.
11. Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate Packet 7,402 testate estate of Mehitabel Brigham of “6 pages” Westborough 1795.
12. Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate Packet 7,427 (16 pages) intestate estate of Phinehas Brigham of Westborough, 1802.
13. Massachusetts, U.S., Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, Westborough Births, Marriages and Deaths, page 351 (penned), image 395 of 1417, Phineas Brigham and Lydia Bathrick marriage entry, 29 April 1779.
6) NOTE: This genealogical sketch is out of Ahnentafel order because I found new information linking Sophia Newton to her birth father, Lambert Brigham.
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NOTE: In 2014, Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog. I have extended this theme in 2021 for an eighth year to 416 Ancestors in 416 Weeks. The (incomplete) list of 52 Ancestors biographies from my great-grandparents to the 7th great-grandparents (in work) is in https://www.geneamusings.com/p/ancestor-biographies.html.
The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2022/01/52-ancestors-week-414-76-phinehas.html
Copyright (c) 2022, Randall J. Seaver
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