Daniel LADD, Sr

  General Notes:

The Ladd's can be traced to Norway, A.D. 861. (See Chase's History of Haverhill). They married into the royal families of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. One of them married Estreth, Daughter of the King of Sweyn of Denmark, and came with his brother-in-law, The Danish king, Chanute, to England, and there settled in Kent County. (See "Pelton Genealogy", "Wentworth Genealogy", "The Ladd Family", "Thomas Butler and His Descendants". "Huntoon Genealogy", and "Keary's History of Norway and the Norwegians".

From the NEHGS Register, Volume 38, Page 345: "There is a tradition that Daniel Ladd came from Dartmouth, Devon, England, but it is more likely that he came from the County of Kent or Sussex, as there were Ladd's in those counties as early as 1424, as we find in Berry's History of the County of Kent, Page 342".

Notes from LDS file: b: 1614, Dartmouth, Devonshire, England; d: 7/27/1693, Haverhill, Essex Co, MA; Buried: Pentucket, Haverhill, Essex Co, MA; Married: 1639/1640, Salisbury, Essex Co, MA; Father: Nathaniel Ladd; Mother: Margaret Denwood.

Notes from file: DANIEL LADD, b: Abt. 1615, Ipswich, Suffolk Co., England; d. July 27, 1693, Haverhill, Essex Co., MA.

Notes from Donald L Ladd: Daniel took the oath of Supremacy and Allegiance on 24 March 1633/34, while the ships, the Mary & John of London under Captain Robert Sayres, among them, lay in wait on the River Thames for departure to America. As 24 March 1633 was the last day of the year, at that time on the calendar. Arriving Boston May or early June 1634.

His brother Joseph [later of Portsmouth, RI] remained behind to care for the chattel that belonged to Daniel and him. He is purported to have followed in about a weeks time aboard the Hercules.

Notes from John Ladd: Daniel Ladd was born 1613 at his family farm near Deal in Kent County, on the South East coast of England. This is about 7 miles from Dover. Very little is known about his family except his father was a farmer and also operated a fishing boat out of Deal. Daniel had several brothers, all older. Joseph was one year older.

In the summer of 1632 his father was lost at sea and his oldest brother became the head of the family. This created an ubearable situation for Daniel and Joseph who had a poor relationship with that brother. The older brother agreed to pay their way to America and gave each 10 pounds to finance the trip. Due to the law, he was responsible for their support and welfare and this removed that responsibility forever.

Passage was arranged on the "John and Mary" of London and sailed for New England. The ship made many voyages between 1620 and 1640. On this trip it sailed with the "Clementime and Job", the "True Love", the "Elizabeth Bonaventure", the "Sea Flower", the "Planter", the "Elizabeth and Dorcus", the "Hercules", and the "Neptune".

Never having been more than a few miles from the farm, and knowing that staying in England would mean a lifetime of working for their older brother, this was a chance to see new country and become land owners.

From the farm they took as much as they were allowed in farm tools, seeds, and feed for their two horses. They also took a large supply of Clothing and weapons as well as staple foods.

The ships lay offshore of Massachussetts Bay and docked in Boston. Daniel and Joseph went with friends to Ipswich, MA on the coast about 30 miles from New Hampshire. On January 5, 1637 Daniel was granted 6 acres of land on which he built a dwelling-house.

In 1639/40 Daniel married a woman named Ann Moore. They sold their land in Ipswich MA to Henry Kingsbury for 10 pounds on March 31, 1638 and moved to Salisbury MA.

Joseph remained in Salisbury the rest of his life and had a large family.

On October 29, 1639 Daniel was granted 8 acres in Salisbury and developed the land as they did in Ipswich. After building a cabin Daniel acquired more land, a practice he followed the rest of his life.

His first daughter, Elizabeth, was born January 11, 1640, in Salisbury. She married Nathaniel Smith on May 14, 1663. His first son, Daniel Jr. was born July 24, 1642. He lived his entire life in the vacinity of his parents and became prominent in early politics. He married Lydia Singletery, November 4, 1668. Daniels next child was a daughter named Lydia, born April 8, 1645 and was married to Joseph Gage.

In the early spring of 1644, he joined a group of men, under the leadership of Rev John Ward, consisted of Daniel Ladd, William White, Samuel Gile, James Davis, Henry Palmer, John Robinson, Christopher Hussey, John Williams, Richard Littlehale, Abraham Tyler, and Job Clement, and moved westward looking for unclaimed land. They formed a townsite 50 miles west where the Spicket River emptied into the Merrimac River and named it Haverhill, Essex Co, MA. Each received 10 acres within the town and 100 acres of surrounding area. He moved to Haverhill in 1645 after selling his property in Salisbury. He stayed there the rest of his life.

On February 14, 1646, his daughter Mary was born. As Haverhill settled rapidly, he became a dealer in land and added to his land holdings. The rest of his children were born in Haverhill and are as follows: Samuel, born November 1, 1649, married Martha Corliss; Nathaniel born March 10, 1651 and married Elizabeth Gillman; Ezekial born September 16, 1654, and married Mary Folsom; Sarah born November 11, 1657 and married Onesiphorus Marsh.

He worked as a farmer and in addition to his land dealings, he served many years as Selectman for the village.

In 1659, in partnership with Theophilis Shatwell, he constructed a sawmill on the Spicket River within the present limits of Salem, NH, and was the first one erected upon that stream. They paid the village 5 pounds a year for the priveledge.

It was common practice to divide the land between the children before their death because of English Common Law which required a man's estate to go to the eldest son. Daniel gave a farm to each of his sons when they were grown and to each of his daughters when they married. Daniel and his wife died in Haverhill, he on July 27, 1693 at age 90 and she on February 9, 1694.

Notes from Larry Ladd - Daniel LADD was born in 1613 at his family farm near Deal in Kent County on the Southeast coast of England. This was about 7 miles from Dover. Very little is known about his family except [that] his father was not only a farmer but also operated a fishing boat out of Deal.

Any historian of Kent will tell you that "fishing boat out of Deal" also probably = "smuggler," with one of the key items in the 17th century being French-processed smoking tobacco. The decadent French court accepted the evil weed long before James I of England. I can't verify the validity of the above account, but the relatives of a young man working on a fishing boat in Deal certainly might consider voyaging to Virginia to grow tobacco, perhaps even before Daniel left for New England.

Found at: http://waynesworld.org/My-Ancestors/PAGE-RUSSELL.htm "In 1675 occurred King Phillip's War, when the inhabitants of Haverhill, though not attacked, were greatly alarmed, and endeavored to protect themselves against the ravages of the hostile Savages. Troopers and militia were furnished with firearms and ammunition by the General Court, and towns were ordered to provide fortifications and garrisons. Daniel Ladd, Peter Ayer and Thomas Whittier were appointed to designate what houses should be garrisoned. Armed scouts were kept on the watch for the enemy day and night during the whole time. As late as 1684 thirty-five troopers were kept constantly on the scout, on the borders of Haverhill, Amesbury and Salisbury, and a foot-company was kept ready for service in each of these towns. Joseph's large, strong house, with its numerous port-holes, so conveniently near the border line of Salisbury and Haverhill, would furnish ample accommodations, not only as a "house of refuge" for the half a dozen families of the neighborhood, but for the troopers constantly on the scout in the out-lying district."

From The History of Haverhill, Massachusetts:
1659 - Daniel Ladd's accommodations. Six acres of accommodations: Four acres to his house lot; mor or less: Robert Clement's bounding on the east, and Henry Savage on the west. Five acres in the plain: William White on the east and John Williams on the north. Nine acres up the great river, Thomas Ayers on the east and George Browne on the west. Four acres of meadow in the east meadow, more or less; Joseph Peasly on the south, and George Browne on the north. One acre and a half of meadow in the pond meadow; James Davis sen on the south, and Robert Clement jun on the north. One acre of meadow at Hawkes meadow; John Davis on the south, and Thomas Whittier on the north.

Daniel Ladd's 2nd division, containing 27 acres of upland, be it more or less; with sixteen acres of ox-common and a half, bounded by George Corley and John Hutchins on the west; by a black oak, a white oak, a red oak and a walnut on the south; by a walnut and a white oak on the east , by two white oaks and an ash on the north. Three acres of meadow lying on Spicket River, bounded by Thomas Davis on the south, and Robert Clements on the north: and on spot of meadow at Primrose swamp, and another spot at the east meadow, at the head of the meadow that was John Davis's adjoining to his own. For the land that was taken off Daniel Ladd's 3rd division, we added a piece on the north side of the highway round the meadow that was Goodman Hale's bounded by the highway and Merrie's Creek. Third division of meadow containing 3 acres, be it mor or less, bounded by John Page on the south, a pin on the east, his own uplands on the west, and uplandson the north of the said meadow, lying in mistake meadow.

Daniel Ladd doubtless found farming quite a different thing form what most farmer of the presen day find it. His house lot was in the village; his planting ground in two places, - a part of it "in the plain" from one to two miles east of the village, ant the othr part "up the great river" at least as far, on the west of the village - while his meadow lands were in seven lots, and as many distict meadows. East meadow was in the easterly part of the town, three miles from his home lot, while Spicket meadow was at least eight miles in the opposite direction. P:ond meadow was two miles northeast; and mistake meadow womewhere in the westerly part of the town.

When we reflect that in those days "highways" were at best but primitive cart paths, through the woods, with stumps still standing, hills ungraded, and streams unbridged; and that the land was new, rough, and worked only by great labor, we may have a faint idea of some of the hardships of our first settlers. Had they not been men of iron nerve, tireless muscle, and indomitable energy and perseverance, our town would still be but a waste and howling wilderness.

At the (town) meeting of April 16, 1649 it was acknowledged by John Robinson that Daniel Ladd had bought six acres of accommodations of him, which the town granted him. Approved on by the Selectmen. At that time a settler could not sell the land which the town had granted him, without its consent.

A militia company was organized in town this year (1662). William White was chosen Captain, and Daniel Ladd Lieutenant.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Farmer, Dealer in Land, Village Selectman, Owned Sawmill: Haverhill, Essex Co, MA.

• Immigration: Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance, Ship "Mary & John" under Captain Robert Sayres, lay in wait for departure to America, 1633-1634, 24 Mar, River Thames.

• Immigration: Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance, Ship "Mary & John" under Captain Robert Sayres, 1634-1634, Boston, MA.

• Residence: England, 1613-1636.

• Residence: Daniel was granted 6 acres of land on which he built a dwelling-house., 1634-1638, Ipswich, MA.

• Residence: On Oct 29, 1639 Daniel was granted 8 acres of land., 1638-1645, Salisbury, MA.

• Residence: He moved to Haverhill after selling his property in Salisbury. He stayed there the rest of his life., 1645-1693, (Pentucket) Haverhill, MA.

• Occupation: In partnership with Theophilis Shatwell, they constructed a sawmill on the Spicket River within the town limits. They paid the village 5 pounds a year for the privilege., 1659, Haverhill, Essex Co, MA.

• Death of Wife, 9 Feb 1694, Haverhill, Essex Co, MA.

Daniel married Ann UNKNOWN in 1639 in Salisbury, Essex Co, MA. (Ann UNKNOWN was born in 1620 in England and died on 9 Feb 1694 in Haverhill, Essex Co, MA.)