The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

13: 1 S T O ^ "Z" OF
JAMES HUMPHREY AND HIS DESCENDANTS,
WHO CAME FEOM IRELAND ABOUT 1745, AND SETTLED IN LONDONDERRY, N. H.
I- James' Humphrey ^^as a descendant of the Scotcli ancestry who removed from
Scotland about the year 1612 and settled in Ireland, Province of Ulster, and who came to America
in the year 1745, and landed at Philadelphia. Of his parents and more remote ancestors nothing
is now known. They probably died in Ireland. He had one uncle in this country, who was
among the early settlers of Londonderry. His name was William Humphrey, and he settled, lived
and died on a farm situated on what is still called Humphrey's Hill, in the south part of the
town of Londonderry, N. H. James Humphrey, soon after his arrival in America, left Pennsyl-
vania and came to Londonderry, and about the year 1751 married Hannah Thompson. Of her
ancestors nothing is known, but it is supposed that her parents came from Ireland and lived and
died in Londonderry. After this marriage, they rented land in Londonderry, in which town all
their children were born.
About the year 1756 they removed to Derryfield, now the city of Manchester, where he
purchased a farm on what is called Humphrey's Brook. It was situated one mile west of ]McGregor's
Bridge, and three-fourths of a mile east of the City Hall. He lived on that farm six or seven
years and then sold it to his wife's brother, Hugh Thompson, and moved to Londonderry. The
sum received for the farm was probably not more than $200. He next went to the State of New
York, to a town called Cherry Valley. Being much pleased with the country, he returned with
the intention of removing his family to Cherry Valley, but as his wife was unwilling to remove to
such a distance from Londonderry, he gave up the plan and purchased a lot of unimproved land,
containing 100 acres, of Deacon Taggart, situated in the south part of Londonderry, in what is
called Colray. The price paid for the land was probably not more than $150. He there built a
small frame house, 25x20 feet, divided into three apartments— one kitchen and two bedrooms.
He there lived, and by close application to labor and the assistance of his sons, they cleared a
portion of his farm and obtained a comfortable living and enjoyed as much happiness as falls to
the lot of families in general. While he lived in Derryfield, he enlisted in the army, in a company
commanded by Capt. John Stark, and served in two campaigns in the French war.
James Humphrey died in 1794, aged 81 years. Hannah, his wife, survived her husband
seven years, and died in 1801, aged 88 years. She died from drowning in a well, into which
she had fallen while laboring under abaration of mind. They were both buried in the cemetery
in Derry, but there is no monument over their graves.
Children :
2. I. James,' b. in Nov., 1752; m. Jean Fisher. Family 2.
3. II. John,' b. in Nov., 1754; m. Nancy Lancaster. Family 3.