Essex County, Massachusetts was created on May 10, 1643 by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, when it ordered "that the whole plantation within this jurisdiction be divided into four sheires."
The town of Ipswich was established on August 5, 1634, from common land called Agawam. On October 18, 1648, that portion called the "Village" at the New Meadows was set off as Topsfield. The boundary line between Ipswich and Topsfield was established, February 28, 1694.
Corporal Daniel Kilham was born about 1620 in England. His parents were Austin and Alice Kilham. He came to America with his parents and settled in Wenham, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was a husbandman.
According to Preston, he married Sarah Fairfield. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register says he had three wives; Mary Safford of Ipswich, the widow Elizabeth Gilbert, and the widow Mary Maxey.
His children, all by his first wife, included:
Daniel Kilham (1650, married widow Sarah (Grave) Fairfleld)
Thomas Kilham (1653/54, married Martha Solart),
John Kilham (January 13, 1654/55),
Elizabeth Kilham Gilbert (1667, married John Gilbert),
Joseph Kilham (1660),
Sarah Kilham (1661),
Hannah Kilham (1664),
Ruth Kilham (1666), and
Deborah Kilham (1668).
Daniel was constable in 1653.
In 1662, Daniel was gatherer of the salary of the minister
In 1668, Richard Hutton and Daniel Kilham were accused of speaking out of turn at a church meeting after the service.
On December 25, 1679 Daniel and Elizabeth sold John Lambson the house that had belonged to the Gilberts and Raynors. It was in Ipswich on the north side of Boston Road as it enters into Wenham from Ipswich. The deed was acknowledged by Elizabeth Kilham, June 19, 1684 with Samuel Adams and Isaac Cummings as witnesses.
They moved to Ipswich, but returned to Wenham.
He married Mary, widow of Alexander Maxy/Maxey/Maxcy/Maxie/Maxwell, about 1695.
Alexander was born about 1635 in Scotland. As a child he was captured at the Battle of Dunbar in 1649 and kept at Newgate prison until 1650. He was transported to America as a Scottish Prisoner of war aboard the Unity. He was one of four men sent to Wenham. He became an English subject and was given land. He was indentured for a short time to Richard Kimball.
Mary died in Wenham on September 7, 1696.
Daniel died in Wenham March 21, 1699 -1700.
1677 Map of New England
click to enlarge
Various spellings of Kilham: Callum, Killam, Killiam, Killom, Killum
Children of
Austin Kilham
and Alice Gorball
Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.
Wenham, Essex County, Massachusetts was settled in 1636. The first settlers called it Enon or Salem Village. It was officially set off from the Town of Salem on May 10, 1643.
Europeans who made the voyage to America faced a difficult journey of several months.
The New England Meetinghouse was the only municipal building in a town. Both worship and civil meetings were held there. It was customary for men and women to sit separately and the town chose a committee once a year to assign seats according to what was paid, age, and dignity.
from Genealogy of the Killam Family (Perley), page 5 -
Corp. Daniel Killam, was born [in England] about 1620. He was a husbandman, and lived at first in Wenham, where he was constable in 1653 and gatherer of the salary of the minister in 1662. About 1676, he removed to Ipswich, but returned to Wenham, after 1698.
Mr. Killam married first, Mary, daughter of Thomas Safford of Ipswich, October ___, 1648. He married,second, about 1678, Elizabeth, widow, respectively, of Humphrey Gilbert, William Reyner and Henry Kimball.
Mary Smith, wife of Daniel Killam, died in Wenham Sept. 7, 1696. He married Mary, widow of Alexander Maxcy, about 1697. Mr. Killam died in Wenham March 21, 1699-1700. His widow Mary lived in Wenham, and died May 1, 1726.
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register by Henry Fitz-Gilbert Waters, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1902
Daniel [Kilham], b. about 1620;
m.
(1) Mary Safford of Ipswich;
m. (2) widow Elizabeth Gilbert:
m. (3) widow Mary Maxey.
His children, all by his first wife, were:
5. i. Daniel, b. 1650; m. widow Sarah (Grave) Fairfleld.
6. ii. Thomas, b. 1653-4; m. Martha Solart.
iii. John, b. Jan. 13, 1654-5.
iv. Elizabeth, b. 1667; m. John Gilbert of Ipswich, Sept. 12, 1677.
v. Joseph, b. 1660.
vi. Sarah, b. Nov. 29, 1661.
vii. Hannah, b. Dec. 21, 1664.
viii. Ruth, b. Oct. 9, 1666.
ix. Deborah, b. Dec. 28, 1668.
Wenham was first settled by English Puritans. The church was formed in 1644 with John Fiske as pastor.
from History of Captain Roswell Preston of Hampton, Connecticut, His Ancestry and Descendant by Edward M. Preston, 1899
Daniel [Kilham], eldest son of Austin Killam, m. Sarah Fairfield, lived at Wenham, had four sons, some of whose descendants settled at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, where there is now a large colony of Killams.
Early European settlers in the American colonies were mostly farmers and craftsmen. They had to work hard to provide daily neccesities for themselves.
from The Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts
Moses Hagett, presented for taking Joseph Goodhue's mare, was admonished, and for telling a lie was fined.
Joseph Goodhue, aged about thirty-eight years, testified that he being in Andevar some time in February, Roger Markes delivered to him a young dun mare, etc. Sworn in court.
John Dane, aged about thirty-two years, testified that Moses Hagget told him that the mare he had taken up as a stray was owned by Daniell Kelham, who had sold her to him for 15s. in oats. Later being at said Kelham's house, the latter told deponent that he had sold the mare conditionally if she were not owned within a year and a day. Joseph Kelham, son of said Daniell, told him, etc. Samuell Appleton mentioned.
Mathew Perry deposed concerning the mare. Sworn, Apr. 19, 1677, before Daniel Dension.
Samuel Lummus testified, on Mar. 26, 1677, that he saw the mare delivered to Joseph Goodhue by Hagget, etc. Sworn in court.
Joseph Goodhew testified concerning Roger Marks of Andover buying the mare. Sworn in court.
Thomas Killam, aged about twenty-three years, John Killam, aged about twenty-two years and Joseph Killam, aged about sixteen years, deposed that Moses Hagget came to their father's house and said he had so many stray horses that he knew not what to do with them, etc. Sworn in court.
John Gilbird, aged about twenty years, and John Killam, aged about twenty-two years, and Joseph Killum, aged about sixteen years, testified. Sworn in court.
Sarah Goodhew, aged about thirty-seven years, testified that the mare that her husband sent from Andover by Mathew Perey, etc.
John Deane, jr., deposed.
Richard Hubberd testified.
Elizabeth Gutterson, aged about eighteen years, testified that being at Moses Hagget's, etc.
Sworn, Mar. 17, 1676, before Daniel Denison.
Edmund Heard deposed that he heard John Killam, son of Daniel Killam of Ipswich, say, etc.
To be presented to the court meant to be charged or indited.
A deponent (dept, dpnt) gives testimony under oat.
Horse Terms Foal: less than 1 year old Yearling: between 1 & 2 Colt: male under 4 Filly: female under 4 Mare: female over 4 Gelding:castrated male
Stallion: non-castrated male over 4
from Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, Volume 4
Alexander Maxy [Maxey], 4th mo., 1684 An Inventory of the estate of Alexander Maxey, of Wenham, taken 21st of 4th mo., 1684, by Richard Hutton and Walter Fairfield. Amount £159 10s 00d, and administration of the estate granted unto Mary the relict of the deceased, in court, at Salem, June 24th, 1684.
