Second Generation  

4. Elizabeth Balcombe ² was born on 16 Aug 1672 in Charlestown, MA and died in 1752 in New London, CT aged 80.

General Notes: The Edmund Rice (1638) Association is attempting to locate a letter written by Elizabeth, wife of Henry Balcom, to her daughter Elizabeth Rice on 1 April 1713. Andrew Henshaw Ward, an early chronicler of Edmund's descendants, described the letter: ""Elizabeth Balcom to her loving daughter, Elizabeth Rice, living in Groton." A portion of that letter was for Gershom Rice, Jr., Elizabeth Rice, and Matthias Rice, in which she subscribes herself as their grandmother, Elizabeth Balcom.

Elizabeth married Gershom Rice,².^,3 son of Thomas Rice ⁴ and Mary King. Gershom was born on 9 May 1667 in Marlborough, Middlesex Co, MA and died on 19 Dec 1768 in Worcester, MA, USA aged 101.

Death Notes: He is buried on Worcester Commons.

General Notes: Residence: bef 1696 Groton, CT.
Landxtion: 28 Apr 1704; Nehemiah Smith, Groton, CT; conveying lands in Groton, CT to Gershom Rice of Groton and "Jonas Rice of Sudbury, Middlesex Co, MA."
Landxtion: 19 May 1709; Daniel Lamb, Groton, CT; with Nehemiah Smith conveyed lands in Groton, CT to Gershom Rice of Groton and "Jonas Rice of Sudbury, Middlesex Co, MA." Gersohom and Jonas Rice convey lands there to said Smith and Daniel Lamb, 19 May 1709.
Residence: bef 13 Oct 1713; Jonas Rice (1673-1753), Marlboro, Middlesex Co, MA; moving from Groton with a petition of that date signed by Gershom and Jonas of Marlboro. Petition presented to the General Court expressing desire to enter upon a new settlement of Worchester. The request was granted and they then commenced the third and permanent settlement of Worcester. Gershom and Jonas were called the "FATHERS OF THAT TOWN."
At his home, the first meetings for religious worship were held in 1736. The church later was built to the left of City Hall on Main Street, Worcester, the First Old South Church. Gershom was chosen as selectman & held that office for 9 years. He became a very prominent citizen of Worcester. He built his home on Pakachoag Hill (now the site of Holy Cross College).
He sold his estate in Worcester and purchased a large tract of land in what is now Auburn- on Bancroft Street where he died December 19, 1761, aged 101 years and buried on Worcester Common. His son Gershom, Jr. was the next one to live in the homestead and he assisted in organizing the new town and church. He was succeeded by his son, Comfort Rice, who is buried in Auburn, beside the Center Church. Then his son, Edward Rice and his son, Ezra rice lived there. From 1736 when the house was built, five generations of Rice family lived there for 152 years. Thirty one children were born here by the name of Rice. Gershom (Sr.) planted the first orchards in 1735.

Landxtion: 21 Aug 1721; Sarah Rice (1703-1781); Worcester, Worcester Co, MA; conveyed 103 acres of land in Worcester to Sarah and Daniel. Letter published in Boston Gazette, 26 December 1768.

TRANSCRIPT FROM "THE STORYTELLER" BROADCAST OVER WTAG ON DECEMBER 19, 1953, by Ivan Sandrof

"On this day, 185 years ago, on Dec. 19, 1768, there died here one Gershom Rice, venerable citizen and second settler of Worcester.
In our day of vitamins, miracle drugs and enlightened medical science which boasts a longer life for people, it must be said that Gershom Rice- lacking both vitamins, miracles drugs and medical science-- passed on to his reward at the age of 101 years, seven months, and 10 days.
History credits one Jonas Rice as the "Father of Worcester". He was the first permanent settler. On Dec. 14, 1711, Jonas bought 60 acres of land in Worcester. The following year, his brother, Gershom, bought a tract from a Boston blacksmith for the "sum of fifty pounds of good silver current money of New England."
Both Jonas and Gershom were descendants of a remarkable family which in this country, began with Edmund Rice. From him sprang such outstanding Americans as President John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge, Samuel F.B. Morse, Elias Howe, Clara Barton, Mary Baker Eddy, Julia Ward Howe, and Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Gershom Rice brought his wife, Elizabeth, with him and several children. He built his house and lived at Pakachoag Hill, now the sight of Holy Cross College.
In the home of Gershom Rice were held the first religious services in Worcester. He, too, is credited with having set out the first orchards. Together with his brother, Jonas Rice, was chosen by the proprietors of Worcester, to see to it that the fledgling town was duly incorporated by the General Court of Massachusetts. And so it was done in 1722.
To Gershom and his wife, Elizabeth, were born six children- three sons and three daughters. More settlers came into the land and soon Gershom was able to count 50 houses in 1718.
A few years before his death, Gershom Rice now a respected ancient who nodded with memories and stories of things past, let it be know that he had been calculating. He quietly revealed that of the fourteen children of his parents, not counting two who had died in infancy, well, the sum total of their ages added up to 1000 years!
In the Boston Gazette, dated Dec. 26, 1768, lies his obituary. And part of it reads: "Worcester, Dec. 19, 1768.--This day died here Mr. Gershom Rice, who completed the age of 101 years last May, retained his reason and understanding in a very good degree to the last."
"He enjoyed a long and almost uninterrupted state of bodily health; was able, till very lately, to travel of foot a mile or two a day among his neighbors; eat his food with good appetite and slept quietly at night without any attendants."
"He was naturally of a very pleasant disposition, very courteous in his behavior towards all, and with all, grave and serious. Of late, the decay of Nature came on him fast; and he went away calmly and quietly at last, expressing his hope and trust in his Redeemer for admission to a better world."

Children from this marriage were:

+ 7 M    i. Lieut. Gershom Rice Jr. was born about 1696 in Groton, CT, USA and died on 24 Sep 1781 in Worcester, MA, USA aged about 85.

   8 F    ii. Elizabeth Rice was born on 20 Oct 1698 in Groton, , CT, USA and died before 1744.

+ 9 M    iii. Abishai Rice was born on 16 Oct 1701 in Groton, , CT, USA⁵ and died about 1792⁵ aged about 91.

   10 F    iv. Sarah Rice was born on 9 Feb 1703 in Groton, , CT, USA and died on 10 Dec 1781 in Petersham, MA aged 78.

General Notes: Children of Daniel and Sarah born at Petersham, MA
Dau: Mary Duncan 30 Dec 1738
Son: John Duncan 04 Sep 1740
Son: Daniel Duncan Jr 01 Jun 1742
Dau: Elizabeth Duncan 26 Jan 1743/44
Son: Ezekiel Duncan 15 Jan 1744/45
Dau: Levinah Duncan 07 Oct 1747
Son: Abel Duncan 02 Feb 1749/50

Sarah married Daniel Duncan, son of John Duncan and Sarah Dutton, about 1738. Daniel was born in 1712 in Worcester, MA, USA.

General Notes: Landxtion: 21 Aug 1721 Gershom Rice conveyed 103 acres of land in Worcester to Sarah and Daniel.

+ 11 M    v. Matthias Rice was born on 26 Jan 1707 in Groton, , CT, USA.

   12 F    vi. Ruth Rice was born on 11 Apr 1710 in Groton, , CT, USA.

General Notes: Ruth and her husband moved to New Hampshire, where he was killed by Indians.

Ruth married Unknown Adams about 1730. Unknown died in 1730.

5. Joseph Balcom ² was born on 17 Oct 1674 in Charlestown, MA, died on 17 Sep 1745 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., MA aged 70, and was buried in Revolutionary Cemetary, Sudbury, MA.

General Notes: With his brother John, he was one of the petitioners to divide the town of Sudbury into two precincts, January 15 1706-7.

His will bears the date of September 10, 1744 (more likely 1745 - NRB) and recites that his son Joseph is deceased. This helps to fix the date of his death, as after that of his son, although both estates were probated in the same year. (Curious note: Joseph, the son had two children born between July 1744 and June 1745. The second is reported to have died in 1745.)

Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence: 1709, Sudbury, Middlesex Co., MA. ¹

Joseph married Tabitha Newton, daughter of Deacon Joseph Newton ^1,2,7 and Katherine Woods,² on 28 Jun 1711 in Marlborough, Middlesex Co, MA.⁶ Tabitha was born on 18 Oct 1681 in Marlborough, Middlesex Co, MA and died between 1727 and 1733.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 13 M    i. Joseph Balcom ² was born on 13 Jan 1712 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., MA and died circa 1744⁸ aged about 32.

+ 14 M    ii. John Balcom was born on 13 Mar 1715 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., MA and died in 1789 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., MA aged 74.

   15 F    iii. Elezebeth Balcom ² was born on 17 May 1717 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., MA.

Elezebeth married James Mossman ² on 10 Jul 1741. James was born in 1712 and died in 1801 aged 89.

General Notes: Mossman line goes back to Scotland where 5 generations past Sir James Mossman was court jeweler to Mary Queen of Scots and resided in the John Knox House in Edinburgh.
SOURCE: Hilary Kennedy <jtken1@compaq.net>

+ 16 F    iv. Mary Balcom ² was born on 10 Oct 1719 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., MA.

+ 17 F    v. Sebezah Balcom was born on 25 Jul 1721 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., MA and was buried on 28 Jan 1788 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., MA.

+ 18 M    vi. Micah Balcom ² was born on 4 Mar 1723 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., MA and died in 1754 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co, MA aged 31.