Richard ESTEY I (1706 – 1791) was Alex’s 7th Great Grandfather; one of 256 in this generation of the Miller line.

Richard Estey was born on 7 Apr 1706 in Topsfield, Mass.  Richard’s parents were Isaac ESTEY II and Abigail KIMBALL. Richard’s grandmother Mary Estey was hanged for witchcraft 14 years in Salem Mass before he was born.  Richard married Ruth FISKE on May 7, 1728 in Ipswich, Mass.  Richard died 26 Mar 1791 in Sheffield Parish, Sunbury County, New Brunswick, Canada.

The Esteys resided in Rowley, Mass until 1764 when they relocated to a settlement on the St John’s River in New Brunswick Canada called Maugerville. Zebulon made the trip the next year with his new bride and was one of the signers of the original covenant of the Congressional Church. Zebulon’s daughter Molly ESTEY married her first cousin Amos ESTEY so many of our direct ancestors made the trip.

• Grandfather Richard ESTEY – age 58,
• son Richard ESTEY II age 36, wife Hannah HAZEN age 37 and his son Amos ESTEY age 5
• son Zebulon ESTEY age 22 and his new bride Molly BROWN
• Zeb’s twin brother John and sister Sarah who married Thomas Barker also made the trip.

Maugerville Potato – Mr. Peanut’s Deranged Cousin

It appears there were two first cousins, William Fiske’s daughter and Joseph Fiske’s daughter, both named Ruth, born a couple years apart  who both immigrated to New Brunswick.  Many genealogies mix these two women up, but it’s not possible that the same woman was mother to both Richard Estey’s children and David Kilborne’s children because they were born at the same time.  It”s more likely that William Fiske’s daughter was our ancestor, but I’m including posts for both families.

Our Ruth Fiske was born 18 Oct 1709 in Andover, Mass.  Her parents were William FISKE III and Marah [__?__].  She married Richard ESTEY on May 7, 1728.  This Ruth died Apr 1787 in Sheffield, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada.

The other Ruth Fiske was born in 20 Aug 1707 in Ipswich, Mass.  Her parents were Joseph FISKE  and Susannah Warner.   She married David Kilburn on 6 Mar 1730/31. Ruth and David had 10 children between 1734 and 1748 so it is not possible that the same woman was the mother of both Richard Estey’s and David Kilburn’s children.   This Ruth died in June, 1774 in Sheffield, New Brunswick, Canada.

David Kilburn was born 12 Mar 1688/89 in Rowley, Essex, Mass. His parents were Samuel Kilburn and Mary Foster. Another clue that David was Joseph Fiske’s son-in-law is his brother Jedediah Kilburn married his wife Ruth’s sister, Susanna Fiske. David died 25 Oct 1775 in Sheffield, New Brunswick, Canada

Children of Richard and Ruth:

Richard Estey’s grandmother, Mary Towne Easty, was among the last of the ‘witches’ to be executed at Salem during the infamous trials.

There is no evidence that Richard Estey was a Loyalist although some of his decendants married into loyalist families.  Richard and his family were chosen to repopulate New Brunswick after the Arcadians were driven out.

See my post New England Planters in New Brunswick for their history.

Based on a New Brunswick Royal Gazette obituary that stated John Estey emigrated at the age of 19,  the family arrived in Canada about 1761.  Richard and Ruth lived in Rowley New Brunswick until 1764.  Rowley is about 15 miles east of St. John.

The family then moved to a settlement in New Brunswick called Maugerville.  Maugerville was a New England Planter settlement on the east bank of the St. John River, below Fredericton, It was first known as Peabody for Francis Peabody, an early grantee. The name was changed to honour Joshua Mauger (1725-1788), a native Jersey who established himself as a merchant in Halifax during the period 1749-61. Later he became the agent for Nova Scotia in London. In 1763 he was successful in securing for the New Englanders along this stretch of the river formal title to their lands.

Plan of Maugerville, Including Sheffield

The above plan of the river shows the locations of the early settlers of Maugerville; in order ascending the river.

The lower ten lots of the township and Mauger’s Island were granted to Joshua Mauger. Just above were the lots of Gervas Say, Nehemiah Hayward, John Russell, Samuel Upton, Zebulon ESTEY, John Estey, Richard ESTEY I and Edward Coy.

At the head of Mauger’s Island were the lots of Matthew Wason, Samuel Whitney and Samuel Tapley.

Between Mauger’s Island and Middle Island the lots were those of Jeremiah Burpee, Jonathan Burpee, Jacob Barker, Daniel Jewett, Ezekiel Saunders, Humphrey Pickard, Moses Pickard, Jacob Barker, jr., Isaac Stickney and Jonathan Smith.

Opposite Middle Island, in order ascending, were Thomas Barker, John Wason, Daniel Palmer, Richard Kimball, Joseph Garrison, Samuel Nevers, Peter Mooers, Richard ESTEY Jr., Jabez Nevers, Enoch DOW and Hugh Quinton.

Between Middle and Oromocto islands were Thomas Christie, Elisha Nevers, Jedediah Stickney, Stephen Peabody, Capt. Francis Peabody and William McKeen.

Opposite Oromocto Island were Israel Perley (at the foot of the island), Lt.-Col. Beamsley P. Glasier, John Whipple, Nathaniel Rideout, Capt. Francis Peabody, Alexander Tapley, Phineas Nevers, Joseph Dunphy, William Harris, Ammi Howlet, Samuel Peabody and Oliver Peabody.

Above Oromocto Island we find the lots of Asa Perley, Oliver Perley, George Munro, James Simonds, Joseph Buber, Joseph Shaw, Benjamin Brawn, Daniel Burbank, Thomas Hartt and the Widow Clark. Thence to the upper boundary of the township, a distance of two miles, there were at first no settlers, but in the course of time Richard Barlow, Nehemiah Beckwith, Benjamin Atherton, Jeremiah Howland and others took up lots.

“The River St. John” by Rev. Wm. Raymond published in 1910, pages 334-5:

“On 15 January 1765 on Captain Francis Peabody’s schooner, came Zebulon Estey to Maugerville. He paid 12 shillings passage money from Newburyport to St. John and 13s 6d for `his club of Cyder’ on the voyage. Richard Estey and Thomas Barker built a saw-mill on a small creek near Middle Island. (After 1765.) They sold it in 1779 – near Maugerville. Richard Estey signed a church covenant for a distinct church society. Many moved from Maugerville due to the annoyance of the spring freshets. [A sudden overflow of a stream resulting from a heavy rain or a thaw]  Zebulon Estey moved to Gagetown. Some went across the river to the township of Burton. These included Israel Estey, Moses Estey and Amos Estey.

Maugerville Flooding

The New England pattern of living would have been only a minor factor in New Brunswick but for the Maugerville settlers and their diffusion throughout the province. The Maugerville settlement was successful because it was formed by a closely knit group, with religious ties, and experience in a not dissimilar environment. The Maugerville settlers came because they wanted to come. They succeeded because they wanted to succeed. Richard was one of the signers of the original covenant of the Congregational church founded there.

Scarcely had the Maugerville people settled themselves in their new

possessions until they began the formation of a church.  The original church covenant attested to be correct by Humphry Pickard, church clerk bears no date, but it probably was made in 1763, and certainly not later than 1764; it is in the following terms:—

“We whose name are hereto subscribed apprehending ourselves called of God (for advancing of his Kingdon and edifying ourselves and posterity) to combine and embody ourselves into a distinct Church Society and being for that end orderly dismissed from the Churches to which we heretofore  belonged: do (as we hope) with some measure of seriousness and sincerity,take upon us the following Covenant, viz:

“As to matters of faith we cordially adhere to the principles of religion (at least the substance of them) contained in the Shorter Catechism of the Westminister Assembly of Divines wherewith also the New England Confession of Faith harmonizeth, not as supposing that there is any authority, much less infallibility, in these human creeds or forms; but verily believing that these pricnciples are drawn from and agreeable to the Holy Scripture, which is the fountain and standard of truth; hereby declaring our utter dislike of the pelagian Arminian principels, vulgarly so called.

“In a firm belief of the aforesaid doctrines from an earnest desire that we and ours may receive the love of them and be saved with hopes that what we are now doing may be a means of so great an happiness; we do now (under a sense of our utter unworthiness of the honour and priviledges of God’s Covenant people) in solemn and yet free and cheerful manner give up ourselves and offspring to God the Father, to the Son the Mediator, and the Holy Ghost the instructor, sanctifier and comforter, to be henceforth the people and servants of this God, to believe in all His revelations, toaccept of His method of reconciliation, to obey all His commands, and to keep all His ordinances, to look to and depend upon Him to do all for us, and work all in us, especially relating to our eternal salvation, being sensible that of ourselves we can do nothing.

“And it is also our purpose and resolution (by Divine assistance) to discharge the duties of Christian love and Brotherly watchfulness towards each other, to train up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Commanding them and our Household to keep the way of the Lord: to join together in setting up and maintaining the Publick worship of God among us, carefully and joyfully to attend upon Christ’s Sacrament and institutions; to yield all obedience and submission to Him or them that shall from time to time in an orderly manner be made overseers of the flock, to submit to all the regular administrations and censures of the Church and to contribute all in our power unto the regularity and peaceableness of those administrations.

“And respecting Church discipline it is our purpose to adhere to the method contained in the platform for the substance of it agreed upon by the synod at Cambridge in New England Ano. Dom. 1648 as thinking these methods of Church Discipline the nearest the Scripture and most likely to maintain and promote Purity, order and peace of any.

“And we earnestly pray that God would be pleased to smile upon this our undertaking for his Glory, that whilst we thus subscribe with our hands to the Lord and sirname ourselves by the Name of Israel; we may through grace given us become Israelites indeed in whom there is no Guile, that our hearts may right with God and we be steadfast in His Covenant, that we who are now combining together in a new church of Jesus Christ, may by the purity of our faith and morals become one of those Golden Candlesticks among which the Son of God in way of favor and protection will condescend to walk. And that every member of it thro’ imputed righteousness and inherent grace may hereafter be found among that happy Multitude whom the glorious head of the Church, the Heavenly Bridegroome shall present to Himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing.

(Signed,)
Jonathan Burpe
Elisha Nevers
Richard Estey
Daniel Palmer
Gervas Say
Edward Coye

Jonathan Smith

For the first ten years of its existence the Maugerville church had no settled minister, but the settlement was frequently visited by clergymen, and, in their absence, the public worship of God was kept up by the deacons and elders on the Sabbath, by praying and reading sermons and by singing.

The promise made by the members in the Church Covenant to discharge the duty of “Brotherly watchfulness toward each other” seems to have been religiously observed in Maugerville. A great many entries in the early records of the Maugerville church are devoted to matters of discipline. A few examples will suffice to illustrate this:

“August the 29th day, 1773. Then the Church appointed a meeting to be held at the house of Mr. Moses Pickard on the 7th day of September and chose Mr. Richard Estey, Daniel Palmer, Humphrey Pickard a committee to talk with Israel Kenny concerning his being charged with scandalous sins.

Richard died in Sheffield, Sunbury County, New Brunswick. The founder of Burpee Seed, W. Atlee Burpee also comes from Sheffield.

Children:

1. Richard ESTEY II (See his page)

5. Sarah Estey

Sarah’s husband Thomas Barker was born 20 Jul 1737 in Rowley, Mass. His parents were Jacob Barker (1711 – 1783) and Mary Spafford (Spofford) (1714 – 1740). Thomas died in 3 Feb 1782 in Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada.

1783 Studholm Report – Burton Township – 3. Jacob Barker and Isaac Stickney claim two lots by purchase of the improvements of one Simon Brown. The lots have been possessed about 5 years, and has a log house and about 10 acres of cleared land thereon. Jacob Barker and Isaac Stickney are both rebels.

20. Jacob Barker, Jr., and Sylvanus Plumber claim an island called Ox Island by virtue of a deed of sale from James Simons, Esq. one of the original grantees dated Oct 19th 1782. Jacob Barker, junr., and Sylvanus Plumber both bitter rebels.

40. Thomas Barker deceased, late of Maugerville, cleared about 3 acres of land in Burton, but no buildings erected thereon. His son claims in consequence of said improvements.

Children of Sarah and Thomas

i. John Barker b. 13 Mar 1763 in Rowley, Mass.; d. 1824; m. 20 Jul 1785 Sheffield, Sunbury County, New Brunswick to Mary Woodbury. John and Mary had eleven children born between 1786 and 1810.

ii. Ruth Barker b. 14 Jan 1768 – Sunbury, New Brunswick; d. 1823 – Prince William, York, New Brunswick; m. Nicholas Wheeler (b. 8 Jun 1766 in Gallatin, Columbia, New York – d. 1841 in Prince William, York County, New Brunswick) His parents were Georg Wheeler (1735 – 1786) and Patty Polly Tenderly (1740 – ). After Ruth died, Nicholas in 1825 married Mary “Polly” Swasey (1791 – 1885)

Nicholas and Ruth had four children born between 1790 and 1796. Nicholas and Polly had another four children born between 1826 and 1837.

Mary Polly Swasey, daughter of Ebenezer Swasey ( was born in Exeter, N.H. 21 July 1791; died at the home of her son, Richard Wheeler at 93 years of age. She married Allen Baston, about 1810, they had one daughter. Allen was a brickmaker by trade & built the first brick house erected in Fredericton, Canada. Allen died in 1823. Mary then married Nicholas Wheeler, from N.Y.

For a woman, Mary was the embodiment of strength & dendurance & after the death of her 2nd, husband, carried on his business for nearly half a century. She was positrive in character, unwavering in her purpose & impressed her personality upon all who knew her. She lost her first husband & first child a daughter, in Fredericton by smallpox. In 1825, she lost her brick house by fire. She was of medium height, dark complexion, broad chested & had a finely moulded head with black hair.

iii. Hannah Barker b. 4 Jul 1771 Sunbury, New Brunswick – d. 21 Oct 1826 Sheffield United Church Cemetery, Sheffield, Sunbury County, New Brunswick; m. Moses Coburn III (b. 12 Nov 1768 Sheffield, New Brunswick – d. 12 Aug 1841 Sunbury County New Brunswick). His parents were Moses Coburn Jr. and Hannah Burpee.

Hannah Barker Obit — From the History of Methodism in Sunbury County St. John Daily Sun – Sep 23, 1905

v. Richard Barker b. 26 Mar 1778 m. 12 Oct 1797 in Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada to his first cousin Lucy Estey (b. 7 Nov 1780 in Canning, Queens, New Brunswick – ) Lucy’s parents were Zebulon ESTEY and Molly BROWN and her grandparents were Richard ESTEY and Ruth FISKE..

6. John Endicott Estey

John’s wife Mary “Molly” Hartt was born 6 Nov 1750 in Rowley, Mass. Her parents were Jonathan Hart and Mercy Hawkes. Molly died 29 Jan 1825 in Kingsclear, York, New Brunswick, Canada

John  first settled in Sheffield Parish, Sunbury County then at Kingsclear in York County.  John left 11 children, 62 grand children and 18 great grandchildren when he died in 1824.

Children of John and Molly:

i. Mercy Estey b. 29 Aug 1770 in Sheffield, Sunbury, New Brunswick; d. 22 May 1779 in Sheffield, Sunbury, New Brunswick

ii. John Endicott Estey b. 17 Oct 1771 in Sheffield, Sudbury, New Brunswick; d. 1837; m. Deborah [__?__]

iii. Molly Estey b. 07 Jan 1773 in Kingsclear, York, New Brunswick; d. 29 May 1777 in Sheffield, Sudbury, New Brunswick

iv. Ruth Estey b. 18 Jan 1775 in Sheffield, Sunbury, New Brunswick; d. 14 Nov 1830 in Fredericton, York, New Brunswick; m. 28 Mar 1793 Kingsclear, York Co. NB to George Everett (b. ~1774 in Brooklyn NY – d. 24 Jun 1829 in Fredericton NB) Ruth and George had four children born between 1796 and 1802.

John’s brother Zebulon also had a daughter Ruth Fiske Estey (b. 11 Aug 1775 Sheffield, NB; d. 9 Feb 1848); m. 14 Jul 1795 Gagetown, NB to Abraham Brown

v. May Estey b. 24 May 1776; d. 10 Aug 1779

vi. Endicott Estey b. 09 Dec 1777 in Sheffield, Sudbury, New Brunswickp; d. 16 Aug 1848 in Kingsclear, York, New Brunswick; m. 1803 Kingsclear, New Brunswick to Hannah Churchill (b. 14 Feb 1783 in Yarmouth, , Nova Scotia – d. 24 Feb 1862 in Jacksonville, Carleton, New Brunswick) Hannah’s parents were Nathaniel Churchill (1748 – 1820) and Elizabeth Betsey Rider (1752 – 1794). Endicott and Hannah had six children born between 1804 and 1817.

1783 Studholm Report – Gage Town – 27. Nathaniel Churchill has a wife and 6 children. Has been on the river about 6 years, but on the place he now possesses about 3 years. Came from Yarmouth. Claims in consequence of a lease from Robert Smyth, Esq., of the City of Dublin, dated the 14th of April, 1782, for 200 acres. Has a tan house and yard and about 10 or 15 acres of cleared land.

vii. Aaron Estey b. 16 May 1779 in Sheffield, Sunbury, New Brunswick; d. 03 Oct 1850 in Nashwaak, New Brunswick; m. 13 Jan 1796 – Gagetown, Queens, New Brunswick to Barbara Martha Brooks (b. 1783 – d. 28 Apr 1859 in Nashwaak Bridge, York, New Brunswick) Aaron and Barbara had ten children born between 1797 and 1816.

viii. Jonathan Estey b. 12 Mar 1781 in Kingsclear, York, New Brunswick; d. 04 Jan 1849 in Edmonds, Carleton, New Brunswick; m. his first cousin Ruth Amelia Hart (b. 04 Feb 1795 in New Brunswick – d. 04 Dec 1873 in Fredericton, York, New Brunswick) Ruth’s parents were Samuel Hart (1745 – 1814) and Clarissa Hammond (1774 – ) Her grandparents were Jonathan Hart (1710 – 1790) and Mercy Hawkes

ix. Richard Estey b. 27 May 1783 in Kingsclear, York, New Brunswic; d. 10 Aug 1806

x. Charlotte Estey b. 10 Mar 1785 in Kingsclear, York, New Brunswick; d. 26 Feb 1868 in Kingsclear, York, New Brunswick; m. 1811 to Deacon Aaron Hartt ( b. ~1788 in Maugerville, Sunbury County, New Brunswick – d. 26 Apr 1866 in Kingsclear, York County, New Brunswick) Aaron’s parents were Rev. Samuel Henry Alline Hartt (1752 – 1814) and Mary Estabrooks (1753 – 1792).

Aaron was a farmer in Kingsclear, New Brunswick and a Baptist minister.

xi. William T Estey b. 1 Jan 1787 Kingsclear, York, New Brunswick; d. 16 Jun 1870 in Kingsclear Parish, York, New Brunswick; m1. 12 Nov 1817 to his first cousin once removed Hannah Estey  (b. 1799 Queensbury, York Co, NB.)  Her parents were Nehemiah Brown Estey and Mary Jane (Polly) Ring. Her grandparents were Zebulon ESTEY and Molly BROWN. (See directly below); m2. Sarah Barker Smith, daughter of William Smith and Sarah Barker

xii. Elizabeth Estey b. 20 Jun 1789 in Douglas, Northumberland, New Brunswick; d. 06 Feb 1872 in Frederickton, York, New Brunswick; m. 1813 to Abraham Benjamin Close (b. 12 Jun 1789 in Douglas, Northumberland, New Brunswick – d. 1838 in Sea, Sulawesi Tengah, Indonesia) Abraham’s parents were Abraham Close (1762 – 1841) and Mary Hubbard (1764 – 1844)

In the 1870 census, Elizabeth was living with her son Walter in Bangor, Penobscot, Maine.

xiii. Abel Thatcher Estey b. 25 Sep 1791 in Kingsclear, York, New Brunswick – d. 08 Aug 1847 in Fredericton, New Brunswick; m. 1 Jan 1819 to Nancy Anne Henderson, Her parents were George Henderson and [__?__].

xiv. Mary Elizabeth Estey b. 06 Sep 1793 in Sheffield, Sunbury, New Brunswick; d. 08 Mar 1864 in Wakefield, New Brunswick; m. 17 Oct 1822 to Reverend Samuel Hartt, Jr. (b. 23 Apr 1799 New Brunswick – d. 16 Jan 1867 Upper Brighton, Carleton County, New Brunswick) His parents were Samuel Hartt and his second wife, Clarissa Hammond.

According to local legend, while crossing the frozen St. John River to tend his father Samuel’s cattle on Hartt’s Island, Samuel Jr. fell through and nearly drowned. He apparently cried to the Lord to save his life, vowing to devote his life to God if he survived. He seems to have found a piece of rope frozen to the edge of the ice with which he was able to pull himself to safety. He kept his vow and became a well known clergyman and evangelist. He reputedly had a great gift for singing gospel songs and by this influence converted large numbers of people. He was one of the leaders of the Free Baptist movement in its early years and had great influence on parishioners in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Rev Samuel Hartt Jr Portrait

Religious Intelligencer, February 2, 1867. “In his early life, he was instructed in the doctrines of the highest school of Calvinism, but having strong doubts to the correctness of the doctrine then held, was let to separate himself from the Calvinist Baptist body and commence his labors as an evangelist outside the connection.

“His labors contributed more largely than that of any other to the formation of the Free Christian Baptist denomination which was organized at Victoria Corner (Carleton County) in 1833. Since that time, Mr. Hartt was an earnest laborer for the ministry, visiting every section of the Province as well as portions of the U.S. and Nova Scotia.”

7. Zebulon ESTEY (See his page)

Zebulon was also the father of Mary ESTEY who was Amos ESTEY’s wife. In other words, Amos and Mary were first cousins .

Sources:

New Brunswick Esteys

http://www.genealogyofnewengland.com/b_e.htm

Richard Estey

Ruth Fiske Estey Kilburn

http://www.myfamilyhistory.com/Towne/pafg07.htm#28

http://www.angelfire.com/az/thomasfamily/Estey/Richard.html

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=22774435&st=1

Rowley Births to 1849

The New York genealogical and biographical record

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nbsunbur/maugervillesettlement.htm   The Maugerville Settlement 1763 – 1824 James Hannay – [Published in Collections of the New Brunswick Historical Society Vol. 1, 1894

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cannb/NB_Census_1783Studholm_Report.htm#seven

http://www.digilibraries.com/html_ebooks/106559/31368/www.digilibraries.com@3@1@3@6@31368@31368-h@31368-h-9.htm