COLBATH, Sarah "Sally"

Other Events and Attributes:

• Possessions: 1821, Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA; Late husband's farm was auctioned to pay his debts
• Residence: 1830, Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA
• Residence: 1839, Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA; Living at 25 Court Street
• Residence: 1860, Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA; Living with her daughter Mary Jane, and two granddaughters Sally Ann and Mary Jane
• Burial: 26 Feb 1864, Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA

Notes:

Based on Census and death records she was born approximately 1789 in Barnstead.

People online have listed that she was the daughter of George Colbath and Rebecca Milken, but I haven't been able to verify that. According to the census, in 1790, Dependence Colbath's family was the only Colbath family in Barnstead. There were nine people in the household; two males over 16, one under 16, and 6 females (one would have been Eleanor). So, Dependence probably had 2 sons and 5 daughters, although birth records have proved impossible to find. Unforunately, many of Barnstead's records were lost in a fire, so these may have been among them. I believe that Sally was the daughter of Dependnce and Eleanor.

She marrried Ebenezer Adams Jr. in Barnstead in 1808

Ebenezer Gilman was born 1 May 1809
George Washington was born 8 Mar 1811
Mary Jane was born 19 Feb 1813
* Joseph Colbath was born 25 Feb 1815
John Quincy was born 30 Mar 1819

Her husband, Capt. Eben Adams Jr. died 1 Jun 1820 (causes unkown)

Sally Ann, the youngest daughter, was born 13 Jul 1820 (yikes! a month after her husband died!)

On 12 Oct 1821, Sally was granted guardianship of her children following their father's death

The 50-acre farm owned by her husband in Barnstead was auctioned in 1821. His estate was insolvent. (see attached)

The1830 Census notes one Sally Adams and one young female living in Portsmouth. I am assuming this is OUR Sally, but what happened to the other children??

In 1837, Sally Ann, the youngest daughter dies in a tragic drowning in Portsmouth. The newspaper notes her mother and siblings. (see attached)

In 1839, her residence is listed in the city directory as 25 Court St., Portsmouth. Her son Joseph C is also in Portsmouth at this time, living not far away where he had a blacksmith shop at 57 Daniel

In 1860 she was living in Portsmouth with her daughter Mary Jane, and two granddaughters Sally Ann and Mary Jane.

Sally died from "consumption" on 25 Feb 1864. Her burial spot is unknown.

My questions????

How did Ebenezer die? He was so young!

What happened to Sally and the children after Ebenezer died?

I do NOT yet know enough about probate and land records but I'm guessing that Ebenezer got his land from the original Adams holdings (his great grandfather Rev. Joseph Adams). I'm thinking there would be a record of that?? Rev. Adams will left the land in Barnstead to Dr. Joseph Adams, Ebenezer's father. I can't find a probate record for Dr. Joseph Adams so far, but maybe there is some record of a land transfer to be found.

Also, that after he died, the court must have made some provisions for his children. Did they really leave them homeless and without any support? There must be some record.

Where did Sally come from? Who are her parents?


There are many online trees that connect George Colbath, son of Pitman Colbath, with a marriage to a woman named Jane and 4 daughters. These trees also indicate that George died in Barnstead in 1843. The problem is that I can find zero evidence of any of this other than a Betsey C. (Colbath) Garland, widow, born in 1794, who died in Medland, MA in 1863 of a lightning strike, and her parents are listed as George and Jane.

Now, there is a Betsey C. Colbath among the four daughters attributed to George Colbath, but she was living with her son Isaac Garland in Gilmanton, NH in both 1850 and 1860. It is possible that she had moved to Medland or was visiting Medland in 1863 when this lightning strike killed her, but it is also quite possible that her parents names were listed incorrectly.

Also, I can find no evidence that George, son of Pitman Garland, had any connection with Barnstead. He didn't actually die in Barnstead in 1843, he died in Portsmouth in 1853. Also, if he ever married a woman named Jane, there is no record of it. In fact, the Portsmouth Athenaeum (The Athenæum houses an outstanding collection of documents and artifacts relating to local history. It also preserves what is undoubtedly the finest collection in the state of materials relating to the history of New Hampshire’s only major seaport.) has a record for George (https://athenaeum.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Colbath%2C%20George%2C%20c1759-1853) in which it attributes no children and lists him as unmarried (with a question mark).

The other daughters attributed to him are Jane Colbath born in 1782 in Barnstead, who married Daniel Sherburne.

Also a Hannah Colbath born in 1792 who married an Ezra Straw. They moved to Ohio and Hannah died theire in 1886. She was born in Portsmouth according to her obituary, but was married in Barnstead.However, Ezra was born in Barnstead, so this may account for that fact.

Finally, there is my ancestor Sarah Sally Colbath, born in 1789 in Barnstead, who married Ebenezer Adams Jr. of Barnstead in 1805, and died in Portsmouth in 1864. Ebenezer died in 1820 leaving her with young children to raise, and she never remarried, It would have been very difficult for a single mother in those years, so it makes complete sense that she moved her family to Portsmouth where there would have been more work than in Barnstead.

There are a few issues in resolving all of these inconsistencies, and the most significant is that the early vital records from Barnstead were lost in a fire. The second is that most of the early founding families of Barnstead had family ties in the Portsmouth/Newington areas, and I've found a lot of fluidity among them.

In my tree I have left George "married" to Jane, but only for research purposes, and have listed the four daughters I found in online trees. I have also listed Jane and Sarah Sally with Dependence and Eleanor, again, to aid with research, as explained below.

It is my belief that Jane and Sarah Sally were**very** likely the daughters of Dependence Colbath and Eleanor Walker. Dependence is from a branch of the family that was well established in Barnstead. He was, in fact, the only Colbath listed as a head of family in Barnstead in 1790 and the 1790 census lists them as having 2 sons and 5 daughters. We know they had one daughter Lydia, born in 1788 and died (unmarried) in 1832. She is buried with her parents in Barnstead. The two sons, it is believed were John and Dependence/Independence Jr. The names of the other four daughters living in 1790 are lost. As stated, I believe that two of them are Jane and Sarah Sally.

Sarah married ADAMS, Captain Ebenezer Jr in 1808 in Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA. Ebenezer (son of ADAMS, Ebenezer and HOYT, Lydia) was born on 5 Jun 1784 in Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA; died on 1 Jun 1820 in Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. ADAMS, Joseph Colbath was born on 25 Feb 1815 in Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA; died on 10 Feb 1907 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts, USA; was buried on 10 Feb 1907 in Newington, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA.
2. ADAMS, George Washington was born on 8 Mar 1811 in Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA; died on 10 Apr 1888 in Oakland, Alameda, California, USA; was buried in Oakland, Alameda County, California, USA.
3. ADAMS, Mary Jane was born on 19 Feb 1813 in Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA; died on 16 Jul 1901 in Eliot, York, Maine, USA; was buried in New Hampshire, USA.
4. ADAMS, Ebenezer Gilman was born on 1 May 1809 in Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA; died on 28 Apr 1898 in Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA; was buried in New Hampshire, USA.
5. ADAMS, John Q was born on 30 Mar 1819 in Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA; died on 16 Apr 1885 in Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in New Hampshire, USA.
6. ADAMS, Sally Ann was born on 13 Jul 1820 in Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA; died on 26 Aug 1837.
7. ADAMS, Permela was born on 9 Jul 1812 in Gilmanton Iron Works, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA; died on 28 Sep 1862 in Boston, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Revolutionary War: Yes
• Residence: New Hampshire, USA
• Residence: New Hampshire, USA
• Residence: Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA
• Residence: Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA
• Residence: 1776, Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA
• _MILT: Dec 1777, New Hampshire, USA; Revolutionary War
• _MILT: 8 Mar 1778, New Hampshire, USA
• _MILT: 10 May 1781, New Hampshire, USA
• Public Service: 1790, Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA; Selectman
• Residence: 2 Aug 1790, Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA; According to the census, in 1790, Dependence Colbath's family was the only Colbath family in Barnstead. There were nine people in the household; two males over 16, one under 16, and 6 females.
• Residence: 1810, Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA
• Residence: 1830, Formerly Strafford County, Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA
• Burial: 28 Jul 1838, Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA

Notes:

In the History and Genealogy of the Barnstead Early Families, Stuart Merrill asserted that Dependence Colbath was the son of Benjamin Colbath. This is incorrect. He is the son of James and Olive (Leighton) Colbath and Benjamin was his uncle. Benjamin did have a son named Dependence, but he was at leas 15 years younger than "our" Dependence and he also moved to New York state, where he died in 1840.

In 1816, Dependence and Eeleanor lived on lot 13, 1st division, below Roy Witham's property. In 1808, he owned lot 58, 1st division.

According to the census, in 1790, Dependence Colbath's family was the only Colbath family in Barnstead. There were nine people in the household; two males over 16, one under 16, and 6 females (one would have been Eleanor). So, Dependence probably had 2 sons and 5 daughters, although birth records have proved impossible to find. Unforunately, many of Barnstead's records were lost in a fire, so these may have been among them.

There are many online trees that connect George Colbath, son of Pitman Colbath, with a marriage to a woman named Jane and 4 daughters. These trees also indicate that George died in Barnstead in 1843. The problem is that I can find zero evidence of any of this other than a Betsey C. (Colbath) Garland, widow, born in 1794, who died in Medland, MA in 1863 of a lightning strike, and her parents are listed as George and Jane.

Now, there is a Betsey C. Colbath among the four daughters attributed to George Colbath, but she was living with her son Isaac Garland in Gilmanton, NH in both 1850 and 1860. It is possible that she had moved to Medland or was visiting Medland in 1863 when this lightning strike killed her, but it is also quite possible that her parents names were listed incorrectly.

Also, I can find no evidence that George, son of Pitman Garland, had any connection with Barnstead. He didn't actually die in Barnstead in 1843, he died in Portsmouth in 1853. Also, if he ever married a woman named Jane, there is no record of it. In fact, the Portsmouth Athenaeum (The Athenæum houses an outstanding collection of documents and artifacts relating to local history. It also preserves what is undoubtedly the finest collection in the state of materials relating to the history of New Hampshire’s only major seaport.) has a record for George (https://athenaeum.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Colbath%2C%20George%2C%20c1759-1853) in which it attributes no children and lists him as unmarried (with a question mark).

The other daughters attributed to him are Jane Colbath born in 1782 in Barnstead, who married Daniel Sherburne.

Also a Hannah Colbath born in 1792 who married an Ezra Straw. They moved to Ohio and Hannah died theire in 1886. She was born in Portsmouth according to her obituary, but was married in Barnstead.However, Ezra was born in Barnstead, so this may account for that fact.

Finally, there is my ancestor Sarah Sally Colbath, born in 1789 in Barnstead, who married Ebenezer Adams Jr. of Barnstead in 1805, and died in Portsmouth in 1864. Ebenezer died in 1820 leaving her with young children to raise, and she never remarried, It would have been very difficult for a single mother in those years, so it makes complete sense that she moved her family to Portsmouth where there would have been more work than in Barnstead.

There are a few issues in resolving all of these inconsistencies, and the most significant is that the early vital records from Barnstead were lost in a fire. The second is that most of the early founding families of Barnstead had family ties in the Portsmouth/Newington areas, and I've found a lot of fluidity among them.

In my tree I have left George "married" to Jane, but only for research purposes, and have listed the four daughters I found in online trees. I have also listed Jane and Sarah Sally with Dependence and Eleanor, again, to aid with research, as explained below.

It is my belief that Jane and Sarah Sally were**very** likely the daughters of Dependence Colbath and Eleanor Walker. Dependence is from a branch of the family that was well established in Barnstead. He was, in fact, the only Colbath listed as a head of family in Barnstead in 1790 and the 1790 census lists them as having 2 sons and 5 daughters. We know they had one daughter Lydia, born in 1788 and died (unmarried) in 1832. She is buried with her parents in Barnstead. The two sons, it is believed were John and Dependence/Independence Jr. The names of the other four daughters living in 1790 are lost. As stated, I believe that two of them are Jane and Sarah Sally.

Dependence married WALKER, Eleanor on 25 Nov 1773 in Newington, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. Eleanor (daughter of WALKER, John Edward and NUTTER, Sarah) was born in 1750 in Newington, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA; died on 11 Apr 1834 in Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA; was buried in Belknap, New Hampshire, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Burial: 11 Apr 1834, Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Relation to Me: 7 GGF
• _DNA: Match (paternal)
• Public Service: Between 1745 and 1762, Barnstead, Belknap, New Hampshire, USA; Selectman

James married LEIGHTON, Olive in 1738 in Newington, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. Olive (daughter of LEIGHTON, Thomas III and BUNKER, Deborah) was born in 1720 in Newington, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA; died in 1800 in Middleton, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Relation to Me: 7 GGM
• _DNA: Match (paternal)

Other Events and Attributes:

• _MILT: 5 Nov 1775, New Hampshire, USA

John married NUTTER, Sarah on 28 Dec 1732 in Greenland, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. Sarah (daughter of NUTTER, Hatevile and UNKNOWN, Sarah) was born in 1712 in Newington, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA; died in 1751 in Newington, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: George Colbath "Colbreath" Sr
• Birth: 1690, Ulster, Donegal, Ireland

George + PITMAN, Mary. Mary was born about 1690; died on 17 Jan 1753 in Somersworth, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

This is not Mary Ann Pitman born in 1703 in Lee, NH to Joseph Pitman and Elizabeth Ham. Many online trees have listed her as such, but that Mary Pitman married Daniel Downs, and she would have been far too young to already be married and having children in 1712.

Our Mary Pitman was likely born around 1690.

Thomas married BUNKER, Deborah in 1700 in Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA. Deborah (daughter of BUNKER, James II and NUTE, Sarah) was born in 1683 in Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA; died in 1744 in Newington, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Edward married GASKIN, Deliverance on 6 Sep 1710 in Kittery, York, Maine, USA. Deliverance (daughter of GASKIN (GASCOYNE), John and CROCKER, Joanna) was born in 1690 in Kittery, York, Maine, USA; died in 1760 in Newington, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: USA
• Residence: Abt 1745, Newington, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA
• Probate: 22 Nov 1745, New Hampshire, USA

Hatevile married UNKNOWN, Sarah in 1704 in Newington, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. Sarah was born in 1674; died in 1716 in Newington, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]