ELDRIDGE1. WILLIAM b.c.1756 NJ? m. SARAH BEAN or BEHN (b.c.1761) d.c.1830 The death record for Joseph's son Andrew gives Joseph's place of birth as Exeter, ME. It seems more likely, if accurate, that it was Exeter, NH as Exeter, ME was not settled until c.1800. There were Eldridges and Beans in Exeter, NH in the 1760's. However, there were also Eldridges in Exeter, RI in the 1750's. There is a Sarah Bean, born 4 Apr. 1762 in Raymond, NH, daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Smith) Bean of Kingston, and of whom no further record can be found. This would certainly agree with our Sarah's approximate DOB of 1761. There was a marriage of a Joseph Eldridge to Abigail Hall 8 Oct. 1781 in Exeter, NH. Of course this suposition that William was from Exeter, NH comes from a death record from 1896 reporting an event that happened 120 years earlier and is second or third hand information at best... needless to say, more research is needed! William was suposedly a loyalist from New Jersey, although the original source for this has not been found. He served as a private in General DeLancey's 3rd battalion of provincial troops. The Delancey Brigade was formed by James Delancey in Westchester County, NY while his cousin, Oliver Delancey, formed the New York Volunteers on Long Island.(1) "Muster Roll of a Company Commanded by Captain Elijah Miles belonging to the third Battalion of the Brigade whereof Oliver DeLancey Esqr is Brigadier General, Taken at Satauket August 24th 1777... Privates... William Eldridge..."(2) William was listed on the muster rolls for Satauket for 24 Oct. 1777(3); for Herricke for Dec. 1777, Feb. and Apr. 1778(4); for Camp Long Island, Flushing, NY for June and Sept. 1778(5); for Lloyd's Neck, Long Island from Oct. 1778 until Oct. 1780.(6) He was then listed in Capt. Miles' Company stationed at Flushing 24 Feb. 1781(7) On 1 July 1782 DeLancy was writing to the government on the state of the army under Sir Guy Carleton: "The total effectives reckoned for the whole of the various posts- 34,529 rank and file." "George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King... Know Ye that we of our special Grace, certain Knowledge... have given and granted... unto... William Eldrage...(in addition to 30 others) unto each of them... several lots of land... within a tract of land known by the name of the six acre lots the said tract situate, lying and being on the northerly and easterly sides of Beaver harbour within the parish of Pennfield in Charlotte County... reserving... to us... all white pine trees if any such shall be found growing thereon and also saving and reserving to us...all Mines of Gold, Silver, Copper, lead and Coals... To have and To hold... in the... proportion as follows... unto the said William Eldrage the lot number one hundred and ten, containing six acres... number three hundred and twenty seven containing eight acres, and the lot number three hundred and twenty eight containing seven acres... Paying... unto our Receiver General... at the feast of Saint Michael in every year at the rate of two shillings for every hundred acres... upon condition that... within three years after the date hereof, for every fifty acres of plantable land hereby granted, clear and work three acres at least... and keep upon every fifty acres... three neat cattle... and... shall be obliged to erect... one good dwelling house to be at least twenty feet in length and sixteen feet in breadth... Given under the Great Seal of our Province of New Brunswick witness our trusty and well beloved Thomas Carleton Esquire, our lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Province at Fredericton the ninth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, and in the twenty eighth year of our Reign. By command of His Excellency in Council Jon. Odell"(8)

232

ELDRIDGE

233

ELDRIDGE

234

ELDRIDGE

235

ELDRIDGE

236

ELDRIDGE

237

ELDRIDGE

238

ELDRIDGE

239

ELDRIDGE

240

ELDRIDGE

On 7 July 1794 William signed a petition stating that he served as a private in DeLancey's Regiment and that he "sat down on a spot of land" close by the town of Beaver Harbor ten years prior. He requested that the government grant him that piece of land which was about 50 acres.(9) "To his honnor Major General Sir Thomas Saumery President of the Province of New Brunswick and Commander in Chief of the Same. The Memorial of William Eldridg and Samuel Buckman Junior of the Parish of Pennfield and County of Charlotte... That your Memorialists prays for a Track of Land in the Said parish laying on the West Side of Camp crick and on the South of Land Granted to Samuel Buckman from his Sow wist Corner to the Nor west Corner of the Town Plott Supposed to Contain five Hundred Acres it is the wish of your Memorialists that William Eldridge Shoud have three

241

ELDRIDGEHundred acres of the East part of Said Land and the Remainder on the West to Samuel Buckman the part applyd for by Said Eldridg has been under improvement by him Twenty years. Your Memorialists further Saith that they ( ) Settled in the Said parish and have never drawn any Land from Government... Samuel Buckman, William Eldradge" 1 Jan. 1814.(10) "New Brunswick, George the Third by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King... Know Ye that We... have given and granted... unto John Munro, William Eldridge and Samuel Bucknam Junior... several... lots... containing in the whole six hundred and fifty acres... unto the said William Eldridge, Lot number two containing two hundred and thirty acres... on the North side of Beaver Harbor... Witness our trusty and well beloved George Stracey Smyth, Esquire, President and Commander in Chief of our said Province, at Fredericton, the thirtieth day of January in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen."(11)

"Account of the assessment of Tax Levied on the inhabetance of the Parish of Pennfield for the Present Year... 1820... William Eldredg 9/6..."(12) In 1821 he was taxed 8/8.(13) "A valuation of Property of those Persons who are Lyable to be taxed in the Parish of Pennfield for the Present year 1820... Wm Eldredg 12 acres of Land, 2 oxen, 4 cows, 12 sheep..."(14) In 1821 William had one less cow and had

242

ELDRIDGEadded a horse.(15) In 1822 the inventory for his assessment for the poor tax amounted to L200. His assessment was thirteenth out of 112 total households.(16) On 21 Nov. 1829 William deeded to the parish of St. George a piece of land "granted to him in 1815". He sold it for 1/ with 1/4 acre to be used for a "school for the education of youth in Beaver Harbour".(17) "Tradition states that William had a brother Barnabas who landed in Pubnico, NS and that the Yarmouth area Eldridges are his descendants." Issue 2I. JOSEPH- b.c.1776, m. 1803 ELIZABETH GUPTILL (b.1785), d. between 1821 & 1830 II. William- b.c.1778, m. 1813 Sarah Justason (b.1789, d. by 1844), d. before 1844 III. Elizabeth- b.c.1801, m. 6 July 1820 Grand Manan, William Dickson IV. John- b.c.1804, bpt. 1811, m.1. 15 Jan. 1833 Penfield, Priscilla Trynor (b. 1813, d.s.p.), 2. Margaret Elizabeth McKay (b. 1821, d. 1903), d. 1850 V. Rosalind- bpt. 1811 All Saints Anglican Church, St. Andrews VI. Sarah- b. 1807, m. 13 Dec. 1827 Penfield, Roger Trynor (b. 1793, d. Sept. 1845) Ref: (1) The Loyalists of New Brunswick- Esther Clark Wright, Lancelot Press, 1981, p.279 (2) British Military & Naval Records- Canadian Archives, RG 8, I, Vol.1880, p.2; also Ward Chipman Papers, Series I, Vol.25, p.42 film No. C-9818 (3) Ibid- p.8 (4) Ibid- pp.15,18,23 (5) Ibid- pp.31,33 (6) Ibid- pp.43,45,56,60,68,71,81; Vol.1881, pp.5,13,22, 32,41 (7) Ibid- Vol.1879, p.51 (8) New Brunswick Land Grants- Book B, pp.240-8, grant No.134 (9) Eldridge Genealogy- NB Archives files, film No.F11082 (10) Land Petitions- NB Archives, film F-4176, 1814 (11) New Brunswick Land Grants- Vol. Rol., grant No.744 (12) Loyalists to Canada- Theodore Holmes, Picton Press, 1993, p.247 (13) Ibid- p.252 (14) Ibid- p.244 (15) Ibid- p.250 (16) Ibid- p.53 (17) Charlotte Co. Deeds- Book K, p.85, No.89 Charlotte Co. Marriage Registers- NB Archives, film No.F137 2I. JOSEPH (WILLIAM 1) b.c.1776 Exeter, ME?(1) m. 1803 ELIZABETH GUPTILL (b.c. 1785 Grand Harbor, NB(1), m.2 2 Dec. 1833 Grand Manan, Nehemiah Small, farmer) d. between 1821 & 1830

243

ELDRIDGE

Grand Manan Island Joseph received lot No.338, 15 acres on Birch Hill, from his father in 1803. He had moved to Grand Manan by 1811 where he was a ships carpenter.(1) "To the honourable Martin Hunter Esquire President of his majestys council and commander in chief of the province of New Brunswick &c. The memorial of John Blake, Jacob Lavenseller, John Gardiner Traxon, Thomas G. Keene, Henry Berrow, Robert McFarlin, Lawrence Bathow, Samuel Small, Levi Richardson, William Shepard, Weller Chapman, William Moore, Frederick Foster, Abner Bingham, Turner Fisher, and Moses Cheney, and Barnabas Rich, Abijah Gubtal, Joseph Eldridge humbly Sheweth That your memorialists are desirous of making immediate settlements, and improvements on the unlocated land on Grand Manan... to Weller Chapman, three hundred acres adjoining land returned to William Gubtal on which he has purchased an old improvement... added by Col. Winslow... Abijah Gubtal 200 acres wife and nine children... Joseph Eldridge 200 acres wife & seven children..." 25 July 1808.(2) "New Brunswick, George the Third by the Grace of God of the united Kingdom... King... give and grant unto... Joseph Eldridge... lot number thirty eight containing one hundred and six acres... being comprehended within the first division of lots... on the Island of Grandmanan... paying therefore yearly and every year forever unto us, our heirs and Successors, at the office of our Receiver General of our Quit Rents in New Brunswick... two shillings sterling for every hundred acres... and do within five years from the date of this Grant clear and work three acres at least... and keep on their said lots of Land within three years after he said date of this Grant, three neat Cattle... and do erect thereupon within the said term of three years a habitable dwelling house... this first day of November, Anno Dom. one thousand eight hundred ten..."(3) If we can believe the marriage certificate for Joseph's grandson, William Henry Eldridge, Joseph lived for a time in Perry, ME.

244

ELDRIDGE

245

ELDRIDGE

246

ELDRIDGE

247

ELDRIDGE

248

ELDRIDGE

249

ELDRIDGE

250

ELDRIDGEIssue I. Mary- b. 1804, m. 14 Mar. 1827 Grand Manan, Benjamin Guptill (b. 13 Sept. 1801, d. 29 Jan. 1878), d. Feb. 1869 II. Thomas- b. 22 Mar. 1808 Grand Manan, m. by 1841 Sarah Cox (b. Perry, ME (4)) d. 28 Aug. 1894 Rockland, ME. Thomas lived in Perry where all his children were born. III. Freeman- b.c.1812 Perry, ME(5), m. 11 May 1837 Grand Manan, Salina Sprague (b.c.1815 Grand Manan, d. 1 Nov. 1892 Millbridge, ME) IV. Andrew- b.c.1812, m.1. Eunice Guptill (d. between 1846 & 1851 Grand Manan)(6), 2. Emily ______, d. 28 Aug. 1896 Sullivan, ME. Andrew lived on Grand Manan until after 1846 when his first wife died. He was living by himself on Grand Manan in 1851 with his children Dianna, Dighton, Francis and Emma (Diteman may have been one of his children also) living with other families on the Island.(7) He then moved to Perry, ME where his other children were born. V. Colby- b. 1819, m. 19 July 1846 Grand Manan, Caroline Taylor (b. 1828). Colby moved to Perry after 1851 as a list of his children is given in the vital records of that town.(8) 3VI. JOSEPH AMOS- bpt. 1827, m. ELIZABETH ______ (b.c.1827) Ref: (1) Death Certificate for Andrew Eldridge, ME State Archives, 28 Aug. 1896 (2) Land Petition- NB Archives, film F 4171, year 1808, file of John Blake et al. (3) Land Grant- NB Archives, Vol.E, No.560, p.228ff (4) Death Certificate for John Eldridge, 25 Nov. 1899 (5) Marriage Certificate for William Henry Eldridge, 1 Jan. 1905 (6) Death Certificate for Francis D. Eldridge, 26 Jan. 1904 (7) 1851 Census for Grand Manan, Charlotte Co.- Vol.1, pp.10,15,18,20,24,28 (8) 1851 Census for Grand Manan- Vol.1, p.4; Perry V.R. Eldridge Genealogy- NB Archives files, film No.F11082 Charlotte Co. Marriage Registers- NB Archives, films No.F137, F519 V.R.- Perry, ME 3V JOSEPH AMOS (WILLIAM 1, JOSEPH 2) bpt.1827 Grand Manan m. ELIZABETH ______ (b.c.1827 ?New Brunswick, ?Maine, d. 2 Apr. 1877 Kennebunkport) d. 24 July 1871 Amos was listed in the census reports as being a ship's carpenter and a sailor. He lived in Millbridge and Rockland.

251

ELDRIDGE

1850 Census for Amos Eldridge, Millbridge

1860 Census for Amos Eldridge, Rockland

1870 Census for Amos Eldridge, Rockland

252

ELDRIDGEIssue 4I. HENRY- b. 26 May 1847 Millbridge, ME; m. FRANCIS HENDERSON, d. 28 Nov. 1923 Augusta, ME II. Jefferson- b.c.1849, m. 17 Sept. 1873 Kennebunkport, Katie G. Walsh III. Lewis- b.c.1851 IV. Tilton- b.c.1855 V. Jennette- b.c.1858, m. 23 Nov. 1877 Kennebunkport, Peter W. Annis

Ref: 1850 Census for Millbridge- p.137 1860 Census for Rockland- p.98 4I. HENRY (WILLIAM 1, JOSEPH 2, JOSEPH AMOS 3) b. 26 May 1847 Millbridge, ME m. 13 May 1868 (int. 6 Apr.) Rockland, FRANCIS HENDERSON (b. 15 Apr. 1851 Rockland, ME, d. 26 July 1908 Kennebunkport, ME) d. 28 Nov. 1923 Augusta, ME bur. Arundel Cemetery Henry moved from Rockland to Kennebunkport where he was a fisherman. In the 1880 census Henry and Fannie are listed along with their children Charles, John and Lillie as well as Henry's brother Lewis who was a sailor(1)

1880 Census Kennebunkport

253

ELDRIDGEHenry and Frances were living in Kennebunkport at the 1900 census along with their children Lillian, Clarence, Grace and Roy. (2) By the 1920 census Henry was an "inmate" at the Almshouse in Kennebunkport.

Henry evidently suffered from Alzheimer's disease as he was a patient at the Augusta Mental Health Institute for nine months and 21 days before his death from myocarditis and "senile psychosis". Issue I. Charles O.- b. 11 Jan. 1872 Rockland, ME, m. Nellie Hodgdon of Rockland, d. 6 Mar. 1919 Portland City Hosp. 5II. JOHN FREDRICK- b. 18 Aug. 1875, m. KATHERINE KELLY III. Lillian Henrietta- b. 8 Nov. 1879 IV. Henry Clarence- b. 20 Apr. 1882 V. Grace Celia- b. 8 Apr. 1886 VI. Roy G.- b. Aug. 1892

Ref: (1) 1880 Census for Kennebunkport- p.320, house 464 (2) 1900 Census for Kennebunkport- Supervisor's district No. 109, Enumeration district No. 238, sheet No. 19 Kennebunkport & Rockland V.R. Maine Bureau of Vital Statistics 5II. JOHN FREDRICK (WILLIAM 1, JOSEPH 2, JOSEPH AMOS 3, HENRY 4) b. 18 Aug. 1875, Kennebunkport m.1. 1896 KATHERINE CASSIE KELLY (b. 17 Apr. 1874 Kilskeery, Tyrone) 2. Ellen S. ______ d. 31 Jan. 1951 Kennebunkport, ME will 13 Oct. 1939 John, Kate and John S. were living in Kennebunkport in the 1900 census and John's occupation was listed as laborer.

254

ELDRIDGE

1900 Census- Kennebunkport John, Katie, Elise and Edith were living on Main St. in Kennebunkport in the 1920 census and John was a real estate saleman. John, Katie and Edith were listed in the 1930 census 1930 census and John was again a real estate agent.

1920 Census- Kennebunkport

1930 Census- Kennebunkport John's draft registration card from World War I lists his occupation as "Real Estate" and states that he was selfemployed.

255

ELDRIDGE

John, Elise, Edith, Kate, and Seward

Seward and Elise c. 1906

256

ELDRIDGE

Issue 6I. MABEL ELISE- b. 29 Dec. 1904, Kennebunkport, ME, m. GEORGE JEFFERDS COOPER (b. 11 July 1890 Kennebunkport, d. 26 Jan. 1976 Kennebunkport), d. Mar. 1986 Kennebunkport, ME II. John Seward- b. 16 Sept. 1897, m. 9 Nov. 1918 Winn, ME, Grace Belanger (b.c.1896 Salem, MA), d. July 1969 Kennebunkport III. Edith- b.c.1910 Ref: Kennebunkport V.R. York Co. Probate- No.74261

257