The settlement of New Meadows was incorporated as the Town of Topsfield in 1650. The church "gathered" on November 4, 1663. The third Meeting House was built in 1703 with Rev. Joseph Capen as pastor.
Susannah Dwinnell Devenish Kilham was born on September 5, 1687 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. Her parents were Michael and Mary Dwinnell.
She married John Devenish who was probably a descendant of Thomas Davenish.
John probably died and she then married a man named Kilham. Her second husband was probably a descendant of Austin and Alice Kilham.
She had died by the time her father’s will was written. Her father left forty shillings “to my Daughter Susannah Killum’s child."
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."
Various spellings of Kilham: Callum, Killam, Killiam, Killom, Killum
Children of
Austin Kilham
and Alice Gorball
Genealogical Guide to the Early Settlers of America by Henry Whittemore
Devenish or Davenish-Thomas Davenish of Salem 1639 admitted with wife Mary of the church 1641, freeman June 2 of that year, had Mary baptized July 18 1641; and Bethia, November 30, 1642; probably other children.
Essex Institute Historical Collections, Volume 9
25th day of the 5th moneth 1639
Thomas Dauenish is rcceaued to be an Inhabitant within this Towne, & there is graunted vnto him tenne acres of land for planting ground
At a gen'll towne meeting held
the 10th of 6th moneth 1642.
Granted to goodmaan Devenishe an lulargemt to be sett out to his land uere the Mill by Captaine Traske & Jeffry Massy.
