Quoted directly from Windham in the Past by Samuel Thomas Dole, edited by Frederick Howard Dole pp. 481-482. This book was reprinted courtesy of the Windham Historical Society. Please send additions and corrections to Bob Anderson.
William Mayberry, ancestor of all bearing the name in Windham and vicinity, was a native of the parish of Ballemoney, near Coleraine, Antrim County, Ireland. The date of his birth we do not know, but he died in Windham according to the church records, Mar. 15, 1765. His wife was Bathsheba Dennis to whom lie was married in Ireland, and who accompanied him to this country. No date of her birth, death or marriage can now be found. He was a blacksmith, and it is said that the cinders of his old forge are still to be seen at Ballemoney. He had two sons born in Ireland, John and Thomas. Thinking to better his condition, he took passage for this country and landed at Marblehead. Mass., sometime previous to 1735. During the long and wearisome passage, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Mayberry, who was given the significant name of Sea Fair. Just how long lie remained in Marblehead is uncertain; but while living there, his son, Richard was born. This was sometime time in 1785.
When the Great and General Court of Massachusetts granted to sixty inhabitants of Marblehead the territory comprised in the present town of Windham, Mr. Mayberry had been a resident of the old burgh long enough to be included among the grantees of the new township. In the division of the home lots, No. 57 fell to his share. It does not appear that he settled on this lot, but on Home Lot No. 11, which he probably purchased of Robert Bull, the original owner; and here he built a log house, in which his daughter Anne (sometimes written Nancy) was born, she being the second white child born within the limits of the township. The time of his settlement is said to have been 1737. (For leading facts in Mr. Mayberry’s Windham residence, see Chapter II.) William and Bathsheba (Dennis) had the following children
- John, born in Ireland.
- Thomas, born in Ireland.
- Sea Fair, born at sea on the passage from Ireland, 173?. She became the second wife of Stephen Manchester, married Dec. 21, 1749, died Dec.12, 1753, aged about 23 years.
- Richard, born in Marblehead. in 1735.
- Nancy (or Anne). born Windham May 23, 1740; married, June 27, 1759, Gershom Winship; died Feb. 10, 1808.
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