Chronology of Life Events

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 unbearable 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 "Clementine 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 Massachusetts 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 vicinity 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 town site 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 town limits. They paid the village 5 pounds a year for the privilege.