Sarah Harrington

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.