An American Family History

John Balch was born about 1579 in England.

John and Margery's children included:
Elizabeth Balch Knowlton (married William Knowlton),
Benjamin Balch (1628, married Sarah Gardner),
John Balch (1630, married Mary Conant),
Freeborn Balch (1631).

John died in June, 1648.

Benjamin Balch was was born 1628 in Naumkeg in Sagamoreship which became Salem. His father was John Balch.

His first wife was Sarah Gardner.

Samuel Balch (1651, married Martha Newmarch and Martha Butman),
Benjamin Balch (1653, married Elizabeth Woodbury),
John Balch (1654, married Mary Conant),
Joseph Balch (1658),
Freeborn Balch (1660, married Elizabeth Fairfield),
Sarah Balch (1661, married James Patch),
Abigail Balch (1663, married Cornelius Larcom),
Ruth Balch (1665),
Mary Balch (1667, married Nathaniel Stone),
Jonathan Balch (1670), and
David Balch (1671).

In 1674 Benjamin Balch, Jr. and Elizabeth, his wife, were presented for fornication before marriage, were sentenced to be whipped on the next lecture day at Salem or pay a fine.

Sarah died on April 5, 1686.

He married Abigail, widow of Matthew Clarke of Marblehead on February 5, 1689. Abigail died on January 1, 1690.

He married, Grace Mallet on March 15, 169/92.

Deborah Balch (1692, married William Raymond), and
Lydia Balch (1695, married Samuel Bowles).

He refused to have his children baptized until they chose to have this done.

He gave food and a night's lodging to a lost and hungry stranger and was arrested, convicted, and fined for doing so.

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.

Samuel Balch was born in May, 1651 in Beverly, Essex County Massachusetts. His parents were Benjamin Balch and Sarah Gardner.

Samuel married Martha Newmarch on October 27, 1675.

Cornelius Balch was born on May 1, 1687. He was the son of Samuel Balch and Martha Newmarch. He was a cooper.

In 1711 he married Mary Shaw. They had two children.

Mary Balch (1714/15), and
Cornelius Balch (1717/18).

The widow, Mary Balch, married Michael Dwinnell on February 5, 1753.

A cooper makes wooden barrels and casks. .

John Balch was born in Topsfield on November 2, 1716. He was the son of David Balch and Hannah Perkins. John was a tanner and currier.

He married Rebecca Smith on June 17, 1740.

David Balch (1740/41, married Esther Estey),
John Balch (1742),
Samuel Balch (1743/44),
Robert Balch (1745),
Hannah Balch (1747),
Cornelius Balch (1749),
William Balch (1752),
Roger Balch (1755), and
Rebecca Balch (1753).

Roger Balch was in Joseph Gould's company during the American Revolution.

A tanner treats animal skins to produce leather. After the tanning process, the currier dresses, finishes and colors the tanned hide.

David Balch  was born in Topsfield on April 25, 1715. He was the son of David and Hannah Perkins Balch,

He married his cousin Hannah Perkins. She was born on June 17, 1720 and was the daughter of Samuel Perkins and Margaret Tower.

David and Hannah had eight children, all born in Topsfield. 

David Balch (1753)
Samuel Balch (1755)
Israel Balch (1756)
Thomas Balch (1759, died young),
Thomas Balch (1761, married Dolly Perkins),
Richard Balch (1762, died young)
William Balch (1764, died young)
Joshua Balch (1769).

David, Sr., David, Jr. and Israel were in Joseph Gould's company during the American Revolution.

David, Sr. died on April 17, 1787. Hannah died on September 14, 1807.

Cornelius Balch was born in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts on November 26, 1749. He was the son of John Balch and Rebecca Smith.

He married Mehitable Gould on April 4, 1771. Mehitable was the daughter of Jacob and Kezia [Gould] Dwinell.

Cornelius and Mehitable's children included:

Abigail Balch (1771),
Richard Balch (1774), and
Mehitable Balch (1778).

Cornelius was a corporal in Joseph Gould's company during the American Revolution.

After Cornelius died, Mehitable married Amos Nelson of Rowley on November 7, 1799.

from Genealogical and Personal Memoirs by William Richard Cutter

Benjamin Balch, who was born in the "Sagamoreship of Naumkeag" during the severe winter of 1628-9, and who, according to family tradition, was the first white male child born in the Massachusetts Bay colony.

The first wife of Benjamin was Sarah Gardner, who bore him eleven children. She was eldest daughter of Thomas Gardner, the overseer of the first Cape Ann colony of planters.

Benjamin Balch was eldest son of John and Margary Balch. John Balch came to America in September, 1623, with a colony in charge of Captain Robert Gorges, son of Sir Fernando Gorges, who had a large grant of land in New England which he wished to colonize.

David [Balch] son of David and Hannah [Perkins] Balch, was born in Topsfield, Mass., August 19, 1753, and died in the same town July 22, 1812.

He was married April 21, 1782 to Betty Burnham of Dumbarton, New Hampshire, who was born June 6, 1763. They had one son. 

David Burnham [Balch] b. June 29, 1784; d. June 27, 1860.

Betty died Oct. 14, 1784, and David was married again March 19, 1786 to Sarah Peabody, daughter of Jacob and Sarah [Potter] Peabody, of Topsfield. She was born June 6, 1769, and died March 2, 1845. They had three sons and two daughters.

Israel [Balch] b. Sept. 14, 1788; d. July 7, 1858.
Polly [Balch] b. Mar. 7, 1792; d. Jan. 7, 1859.
Abraham [Balch] b. Nov. 15, 1794; d. unm. Jan. 25, 1872.
Daniel Perkins [Balch] b. July 23,1797; d. at sea. unm. Nov. 1,1823.
Sally [Balch] b. June 19, 1800.

David was a soldier in the Revolution [in Joseph Gould's Company] and was at the battle of Bunker Hill. He was of a mechanical turn of mind and owned a foot lathe on which his son Israel learned to do turning. David was a self taught man. His monument stands in the Topsfield graveyard.

David [Balch] son of David and Hannah [Perkins] Balch, was born in Topsfield, April 25, 1715, and died April 17, 1787. He married his cousin Hannah, daughter of Samuel and Margaret [Tower] Perkins, November 21, 1752. She was born June 17, 1720, and died September 14, 1807.

David and Hannah had eight children, all born in Topsfield. 

David [Balch], b. Aug. 19, 1753; d. July 22,1812.
Samuel [Balch], b. Feb. 7, 1755; d. June, 1840.
Israel [Balch], b. April 3, 1756; d. unm. Nov. 23, 1777, at Halifax, N. S.
Thomas [Balch], b. Jan. 22, 1759; d. Apr. 1, 1759.
Thomas [Balch], b. Mar. 29, 1761; d. Mar. 10, 1830.
Richard [Balch], b. Dec. 23, 1762; d. unm. Jan. 4, 1770.
William [Balch], b. May 26, 1764; d. unm. Feb. 26, 1776.
Joshua [Balch], b. June 6, 1769, d. unm. Nov. 11, 1839.

from The Essex Antiquarian

Cornelius Balch of Topsfield; corp., Capt. Joseph Gould's co., Col. John Baker's reg., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775 ; service, 3 dys.

David Balch of Topsfield; priv., Capt. Joseph Gould's co., Col. John Bakerts reg., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775 ; service, 3 dys.

David Balch, 3d, of Topsfield; priv., Capt. Joseph Gould's co., Col. John Baker's reg., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775 ; service, 5 dys.

Davis Balch, jr., of Topsfield; priv., Capt. Joseph Gould's co., Col. John Baker's reg., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775 , service, 5 dys.

Israel Balch of Topsfield; priv., Capt. Joseph Gould's co., Col. John Baker's reg., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, 5 dys.; also, Capt. John Baker's co., Col. Moses Little's reg.; muster roll dated Aug. 1, 1775 , enl May 2, 1775 ; service 3 mos., 7 dys.; also, co. return [probably Oct., 1775]; age, 21 yrs.; also, order for bounty or its equivalent in money, dated Dec. 11, 1775.

Robert Balch of Topsfield; priv., Capt. Joseph Gould's co., Col. John Baker's reg., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, 5 dys.; also, Capt. Robert Dodge's co., Col. Ebenezer Francis' reg.; pay roll for two days service, sworn to Nov. 29, 1776; marched to camp and home again.

Roger Balch of Topsfield; priv., Capt. Joseph Gould's co., Col. John Baker's reg., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, 5 dys.; also, Capt. John Dodge's co., Col. Jacob Gerrish's reg. of guards; enl. Nov. 12, 1776; rolls made up April 3, 1778; service, 4 mos., 22 dys., at Charlestown and Cambridge.

Samuel Balch of Topsfield; priv., Capt. Joseph Gould's co., Col. John Baker's reg., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775: service, 5 dys.; also, Capt. John Baker's co., Col. Moses Little's reg.; muster roll dated Aug.1, 1775 ; enl May 23 (also given May 2), 1775; service, 2 mos., 14 dys.; also, co. return [probably Oct., 1775] ; age, 19 yrs.; also, order for bounty coat or its equivalent in money, dated Dec. 11, 1775.