James GORHAM Jr. (1677 – 1718) was Alex’s 8th Great Grandfather; one of 512 in this generation of the Shaw line.

James Gorham was born 6 Mar 1677 in Barnstable, Mass.  His parents were James GORHAM Sr. and Hannah HUCKINS.  He married Mary JOYCE on 29 Sep 1709. James died 10 Sep 1718 in Barnstable, Mass and is interred at Cobb’s Hill Cemetery  Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts.

James Gorham Jr. Headstone – Here Lyes ye Body of Mr JAMES GORHAM Dec’d Sept ye 10th 1718 in ye 42 Year of His Age

Mary Joyce was born 12 Nov 1682 in Marshfield, Plymouth, Mass.   Her parents were Hosea JOYCE  and Elizabeth CHIPMAN.  After James died, she married 26 May 1720 in Barnstable, Mass Age: 39 to Elisha Parker.  After Elisha died, she married 16 Sep 1736 Age: 55 to Thomas Lothrop.  Mary died 28 Jun 1778.

Other sources say her parents were Walter JOYCE and Elizabeth LOW who lived in Marshfield, Mass.  Marshfield is about 50 miles away from Yarmouth.  Since Hosea Joyce lived in Yarmouth, a relatively small place and his family married into many of the same families as the Gorhams, I think it is more likely that Hosea was Mary’s father.

Children of James and Mary:

James will is dated 10 Sep 1717 and proved 5 Nov 1718.  In it he names his wife Mary and his sons Isaac, Hezekiah and James and daughter Thankful.  His daughter Mary was born after his death and therefore not named.  He describes land in the common field bounded by the land of his Uncle Shubael.  Executors, his wife Mary, her brother Thomas Joyce and Joseph Davis.  All the lands on the north of the road in the northeasterly part of town, was then called the “Common Field.”

Children

1. Thankful GORHAM (See Thomas HAWES I page)

2. Isaac Gorham

Isaac’s first wife Mary Hallett was born 17 Dec 1717 Yarmouth, Mass. Her parents were John Hallett (1688 – 1765) and Thankful Thacher (1694 – 1768)  Mary died 19 Aug 1741 Barnstable, Mass. age 24.

Isaac’s second wife Mary Cobb was born 17 Dec 1717, Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts.  Her parents were Gershom Cobb (1675 – ~1751) and Hannah Davis (1683 – )  After Isaac died, she married James Churchill 3 Feb 1756/57.  Mary died aft 1804, Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts, age: 82

Isaac was a sea captain and died in Scotland.

Isaac Gorham House Barnstable, Mass

Children of Isaac and Mary Hallett:

i. Mary Gorham b. 1738 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 11 Oct 1828 Mass.;

ii. Thankful Gorham b. 1741 in Barnstable, Mass.; d. 31 Dec 1812 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; m. John Hallett (b. 1738 in Yarmouth, Mass.)

Children of Isaac and Mary Cobb:

iii. Edward Gorham b. 1743 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.;

iv. James Gorham b. 4 Aug 1745 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 24 Dec 1804 Pitt, North Carolina; m. Mary Baker (b. 1748)

v. Sarah Gorham b. 1748 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.;

vi. Hannah Gorham b. 1750 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.;

3. Hezekiah Gorham

Hezekiah’s wife Ann Allyn was born 1 Jan 1717/18 Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were James Allen and Susanna Lewis. She first married John Davis Jr 25 Mar 1736. Ann died 21 APR 1792 Barnstable, Mass.

Like his twin brother, Hezekiah was a sea captain.

Children of Hezekiah and Ann:

i. Anna Gorham b. 17 Jul 1748 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass; d. 27 Oct 1811 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass; m. 19 Mar 1768 in Barnstable to Silvanus Gorham (b. 17 Jul 1746 in Barnstable – d. 29 May 1805 in Barnstable) Silvanus’ parents were Ebenezer Gorham (1696 – 1776) and Temperance Hawes (1705 – 1767).  Her paternal grandparents were James GORHAM Sr. and Hannah HUCKINS.  Her maternal grandparents were Joseph HAWES and Mary HOWES.  Anna and Silvanus had thirteen children born between 1769 and 1793.

ii. James Gorham b. 22 Feb 1747 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass; d. 1748

iii. Lemuel Gorham b. 1751 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass;

iv. Jonathan Gorham b. 1753 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass; m. Mary Davis (b. Aug 1757 in Nantucket, Nantucket, Mass. – d. 5 Jul 1839 in Nantucket, Nantucket, Mass) Mary’s parents were Josiah Davis and Thankful [__?__].

v. Susannah Gorham b. 1754 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass; m. Gorham Easterbrooks (b. 1751)

vi. Issac Gorham b. 1760 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass;

4. James Gorham

James was a mariner like his brothers.  He died in 1742 leaving no issue.  He was published Nov 11 1738 to Mary Hallett, but I can find no record of a marriage.  In his will dated 19 Mar 1738/39, he gives all his estate, appraised at £145 14 06 to his brother Hezekiah

5. Mary Gorham

Mary’s first husband  Thomas Hedge was born 5 May 1719 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. His parents were Thomas Hedge and Hannah Taylor. His grandparents were Elisha HEDGE and Mary STURGIS. Thomas died 15 Jun 1764 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

Mary’s second husband,  Thomas Hallett  was born 1691 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. His parents were Jonathan HALLET and Abigail DEXTER.  Thomas was married four times.  Thomas died 10 Apr 1772 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. at age 81.

1. He first married 9 Apr 1719 in Yarmouth, Mass to Sarah Hawes, daughter of Joseph HAWES  and Mary HOWES (b. 1 Apr 1696 Yarmouth, Mass – d.31 Jan 1720 in the birth of their first child.)
2. After Sarah died, he married 8 Feb 1722 in Harwich, Barnstable, Mass. to Hannah Gray (b. 1693 in Harwich, Mass – d. 6 Feb 1750 in Yarmouth, Mass.)
3.  After Hannah died, he married a third time 19 Aug 1750 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass to Desire Gorham (26 Aug 1710 in Yarmouth, Mass – d. Dec 1767 in Yarmouth) Desire’s parents were John Gorham and Anne Brown.  Her grandparents were James GORHAM Sr. and Hannah HUCKINS.
4. After Desire died, he married a fourth and final time 5 Jan 1769 in Yarmouth, Mass to Mary Gorham (b. 19 Jul 1719 in Barnstable, Mass – d. 2 Jun 1795 in Yarmouth). Mary’s parents were James GORHAM Jr. and Mary JOYCE. 

Mary was born after her father’s death and therefore is not mentioned in his will.

Mary was a “singular woman.”  She was known as “Mrs. Slicker” and her children were known as “Slickers.”  She was no advocate for celibacy and held that it was no breach of etiquette for women to propose marriage.

Children of Mary and Thomas Hedge:

i. Mary Hedge b. 30 Jun 1740 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 4 Aug 1740 Yarmouth

ii. Thomas Hedge b. 8 Apr 1742 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 19 Apr 1742 Yarmouth

iii. Hannah Hedge b. 20 Jul 1743 in Yarmouth, Mass; m. 30 May 1761 in Plymouth to Barnabas Hedge b. 3 May 1740 in Plymouth, Mass.’ d. 17 Nov 1778 Plymouth, Mass; Barnabas’ parents were Barnabas Hedge and Mercy Barnes. His grandparents were our ancestors John HEDGE and Thankful LOTHROP.

iv. Sarah Hedge b. 21 May 1748 in Yarmouth, Mass; d. 1796 Yarmouth; m. 1767 to Edward Hallett (b. 6 Apr 1747 in Yarmouth – d. 8 Mar 1796 in Yarmouth) Edward’s parents were Ebenezer Hallett (1709 – ) and Elizabeth Bangs (1721 – 1807) Sarah and Edward had eight children born between 1768 and 17873

v. Thankful Hedge b. 17 Feb 1751 in Yarmouth, Mass; d. 7 Apr 1823 South Dartmouth, Bristol, Mass; m. 1768 in Yarmouth to William Thacher (b. 30 Mar 1743 in Yarmouth – d. 24 May 1829 in South Dartmouth) William’s parents were Judah Thacher (1693 – 1775) and Sarah Crosby ( -1771). Thankful and William had six children born between 1772 and 1787.

vi. James Hedge b. 3 Jul 1758 in Yarmouth, Mass; d. 1761

Sources:

http://www.genealogyofnewengland.com/f_5b.htm#143

Wing Family of America – Thomas Hawes I

Wing Family of America – Thankful Gorman

Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families By Amos Otis

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=41908391&st=1