Family

James Colman and Rachel Unknown

Married

Husband: James Colman

Died:
Father:
Mother:

    His house was near the Stacy Mill in Ashby, Mass. James Coleman, sometimes written Colman, and wife Rachel removed from Ipswitch to [the] northern part of the town in 1763(?). They moved to Ashburnham in 1743.

    From Phineas Allen's Descendants:

    James Colman and Deacon Foster were the first permanent settlers in Dorchester Canada, the original nam eof the present town of Ashburnham. During the troubling times from 1745 to 1749, it is known that Mr. Foster, retiring within the line of the block houses, resided in Lunenburg. It is not probable that Mr. Colman remained all the time during this period of insecurity (caused by the French and Indian Wars) in Dorchester Canada. However, he is found here continuously after 1750.

    For several years the neartest church was in Lunenberg, and in 1743 Mr. Colman and his wift brought letters from the church in Ipswich, and united with it. In 1760, when the church was organized in Dorchester Canada, they gransferred their church rlations. From the record of this proceeding it has been erroneously inferred that Mr. Colman at that time removed from Lunenberg to this place. The records of every year afford ample evidence that except during the years 1745 to 1749, of which little is known, Mr. Colman resided continuously in this town.

    He was appointed on committees by the proprietors, and was held in high esteem by his associates. In 1765, at the first town meeting in Ashburnham, he was chosen one of the selectmen and a surveyor of highways. When Ashby was incorporated, his house and lands were included in that town, where his descendants have been numerous. He died Aug 15, 1773. (See History of Ashburnham.)

Wife: Rachel Unknown

Died:
Father:
Mother:

Child 1: Rachel Colman

Born: 15-Oct-1738
Died:
Spouse: Daniel Harper
Children: Rachel Harper, James Colman Harper, Daniel Harper, Mary Harper, Aaron Harper, Abigail Harper, Ezekiel Harper