Rufus Eddy

M, (6 April 1772 - between 8 March 1844 and 28 March 1844)
Father-Biological*Captian Samuel Eddy b. 31 Jul 1738, d. 4 Jul 1798
Mother-Biological*Susannah Meriam b. 23 Oct 1736, d. 17 Jan 1803
Family Lines
Boudreau Line
Last Edited=25 Jun 2022
     Rufus Eddy was born on 6 April 1772 at Oxford, Massachusetts.1,2,3,4 He was the son of Captian Samuel Eddy and Susannah Meriam. Rufusmoved to New Salem, Massachusetts, before 1798.3 He bought land in 1798, from William Meriam. (Deeds at Greenfield, Franklin Co. 52.249).3

Rufus Eddy, age 26, married Sarah Harrington on 13 September 1798.3,5 Rufus was a farmer.3

Rufus Eddy, age 28, married Lucinda Chamberlain, age 26 , daughter of John Chamberlain, on 7 October 1800 at New Salem, Massachusetts.6,7 Rufus, appeared on the US Census of 1820 at New Salem, Massachusetts. The enumeration reads:

1 - Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over
1 - Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25
1 - Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44
1 - Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture
2 - Free White Persons - Over 25
3 - Total Free White Persons
3 - Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other.8


Rufus, appeared on the US Census of 1830 at Oxford, Massachusetts. The enumeration reads:

1 - Free White Persons - Males - Under 5
1 - Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14
1 - Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39
1 - Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19
1 - Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29
3 - Free White Persons - Under 20
2 - Free White Persons - 20 thru 49
5 - Total Free White Persons
5 - Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored.)9


Rufus wrote his will on 8 March 1844 at New Salem, Massachusetts.10,3 He died between 8 March 1844 and 28 March 1844 at New Salem, Massachusetts.6,3,4 His estate was probated on 28 March 1844 at Franklin County, Massachusetts.10

Compeller's Notes:
There is much confusion about this family. Much stems from Eddy (1930) The Eddy Family in America. Ruth Eddy states that Rufus married Lucinda, probably Harrington. The published New Salem vital records, Vital Records of New Salem Massachusetts to the Year 1849 (1927) give Rufus Eddy marrying Lucinda Chamberlain on 7 October 1800 in New Salem. There is a manuscript of recorded New Salem marriages that did not make it into the published vital records. It has Rufus Eddy marrying Sarah Harrington on 19 July 1798. Rufus’ son, Rufus Harrington Eddy’s death record gives his mother as Susan Meriam.

Many have assumed that Susan Harrington and Lucinda Chamberlain were the same person, but this seems unlikely. Here is my reconstruction, which admittedly is in dire need of more facts.

Rufus married Sarah Harrington (lineage unknown) and in September 1799, she gave birth to Rufus Harrington Eddy. She either died in childbirth or shortly after. Baby Rufus was given his mother’s maiden name as a middle name. Rufus married Lucinda Chamberlain, by whom he later had a daughter Susannah. When Rufus Harrington Eddy (the son) died, who ever gave the information for the death record, got Sarah’s first name correct, but gave Rufus’ mother’s maiden name (Meriam).

The vital records of New Salem are very incomplete as after the published records, there was a fire.

Child of Rufus Eddy and Sarah Harrington

Child of Rufus Eddy and Lucinda Chamberlain

Citations

  1. Systematic History Fund. Vital Records of Oxford, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849. Worcester, Massachusetts: Franklin P. Rice, 1905.
  2. Daniels, George F. History of the Town of Oxford, Massachusetts, with Genealogies. Oxford, Massachusetts: by the author, 1892.
  3. Eddy, Ruth Story Devereux. The Eddy Family in America. Boston: The Eddy Family Association, 1930.
  4. Eddy Genealogy, CD-ROM. Santa Cruz, California: Eddy Family Association, Dec 2003.
  5. Chouinard, Carolyn H.. Librarians Note - Missing New Salem Marriage Records. New Salem, Massachusetts: manuscript, 23 April1968.
  6. The Essex Institute. Vital Records of New Salem, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1924.
  7. Find-a-Grave. Online https://www.findagrave.com/
  8. Census Bureau. 1820 U.S. Federal Census. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2010.
  9. Census Bureau. 1830 U.S. Federal Census. Provoi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2010.
  10. Massachusetts. Probate Courts. Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2015.
  11. New England Historic Genealogical Society. Massachusetts, U.S., Death Records, 1841-1915. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2013.