Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 423
standing, though it is not probable that much of the original
structure now remains.
27. Stephen Gorham, born June 23, 1683, was a man of
some note ; but I am unable to trace his history. He married
Dec. 25, 1703, Elizabeth Gardner, of Nantucket. Her mother
was Mary Starbuck, the first white child born on Nantucket. He
had twelve children, all born in Barnstable, but the record of their
children born previous to 1715 I do not find. He removed to
Nantucket, and perhaps resided some time in Charlestown. His
son Nathaniel's family, of Charlestown, was one of the most distinguished
in the State.
28. Col. Shubael Gorham was a man of enterprise—a man
who persevered in whatever he undertook, till he failed or succeeded.
His name frequently occurs on the parish, town and state
records, showing that he was a man that was esteemed by those
who knew him. The great act of his life, that for which he will
ever be remembered, is the active and efficient part which he took •
in obtaining the grants made by the legislature of Massachusetts,
to the officers and soldiers of the Narraganset or King Phillip's
War, or to their lawful representatives.
The earliest grant made to the Narraganset soldiers is dated
May 27, 1685, of a township eight miles square in the Nipmay
country. This grant was made to persons resident in Lynn, Reading,
Beverly and Hingham. This, Mr. Pierce, * the historian of
Gorham, thinks was never located.
Dec. 14, 1727, two tracts of land six miles square were
granted, and April 26, 1733, this grant was enlarged, giving a
township equal to six miles square to each 120 persons whose
claims should be established within four months. It was found
that the whole number was 840. Seven townships were granted
in the province of Maine called Narraganset No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
and 7. The latter was assigned to the officers and soldiers who
served with Capt. John Gorham, and a few others, and was afterwards
incorporated as the town of "Gorham," but was generally
known as "Gorhamtown."
By an order "In Council," dated Feb. 2, 1736, Shubael Gorham,
Esq., was empowered to assemble the grantees of the township.
In this order a curious mistake occturs. It is stated that
the grant was made "to the soldiers under the command of Capt.
John Gorham, in the Canada expedition in 1690." Capt. .lohn
Gorham of the Canada expedition was the father of Col. Shubael
; the grant was made to the officers and soldiers who served
under his grandfather in the Narraganset war. By an order dated
July 5, 1736, this mistake was corrected. Col. Gorham was the
chairman of the committee for Narraganset No. 7, and the efflci-
*I am mucli indebted to Josiah Pierce, Esq., for mucli valuable information respecting
the emigrants from Bai-nstable to G-orham. I regret that I did not send him copies of
papers in mv possession, that would hare been usem! to him.