This is an ancient name in England, where, as the name of a place, it is found as early as the days of the Saxon kings. The Manor of Kingsbury, in the hundred of Caishoe, county Herts, was so termed from the Saxon kings who were the ancient possessors therof, and often resided and kept their court there; among whom Bertulph, King of the Meicians, celebrated a parliamentary council there Friday after Easter in the year 851.
The first of the name known to history is Gilbert de Kingsbury, who was incumbent of St. Peter's church, Kingsbury, Warwickshire, about 1300. He probably derived his surname from the place. There was a family named Kingsbury in county Dorset, England, who bore for a coat-of--arms "Azure, a chevron or between two doves in chief proper and a serpent in base of the last." Crest, "Wybern vert," motto "Prudens et innocens."
The English records show a greater variety of spelling than even those of New England: Kingsburie, Kingsborough, Kingsberry, Kingsbeary and Kingsborrowe being a few of the variations.
The Connecticut family use a final "e," the tradition being that owing to a quarrel, two Kingsbury brothers would not even spell their names alike. The name is distinguished in American records, where the trustg and confidence inspired by their lives have led to long continued terms in church and state. They have been represented in every way in which the country has ever been concerned. May fought in the French and Indian wars. Fifty of the descendants of Henry Kingsbury fought in the revolution, and in the civil war they were found wearing both the blue and the grey. They were supporters of the early church, and it is written of Deacon Joseph, of Enfield, Conn., that he "was a strict supporter of the good old ways of Puritans in their most early days." Pluck was added to their other virtues, as shown by James Kinsbury, the first white settler of Cleveland, Ohio, who with his family suffered untold hardships.
The first Kingsbury in New England was Henry Kingsbury, who came in the "Talbot," one of the ships in Governor Winthrop's fleet in 1630. It is most probable that he returned to England. No relationship is shown with the following:

(I) Henry Kingsbury was at Ipswich, Mass. in 1638. There are numerous land transactions on the records of Ipswich and Haverhill covering the years 1648 to 1687, when his estate was appraised. In 1669 he deposed in court that he was fifty-four years of age, which places his birth in 1615. He finally settled in Haverhill, where he died Oct. 1, 1687. There was a relationship existing between the Gage and Kingsbury families, but it is not known whether Henry married a Gage, or John Gage married a Kingsbury.
Susanna, wife of Henry Kingsbury, died in Haverhill, Feb. 21, 1679.
Children:
1. John, of Newbury, married Elizabeth, daughter of Matthias Bulton, of Ipswich; two children.
2. Ephraim, killed by the Indians, May 2, 1676; he is believed to have been the first person in Haverhill slain by the Indians in King Philip's war; there is no record of his having married.
3. James, of Plainfield, Conn., married Sarah, another daughter of Matthias Bulton; six children.
4. Samuel, of Haverhill, born 1649; married Huldah, daughter of George and Joanna (Davis) Corliss; two children.
5. Thomas, of Plainfield, Conn.; married Deborah, daughter of George and Joanna (Davis) Corliss, and widow of Thomas Eastman; and had two children: Thomas and Mehitable, both killed by Indians in the attack on Haverhill in 1697, and at a later period he appears to have been taken captive and carried away by the Indians and kept by them for a long time. After his return from captivity the proprietors of Plainfield presented him with a tract of land "that he may have wherewithal to live comfortably amonst us."
6. Deacon Joseph (see forward).
7. Susanna, married Joseph Pike, of Newbury, son of Captain John and Mary Pike. He was representative and deputy sheriff, and was killed by the Indians, Sept. 4, 1694, at Amesbury, while on his way to Haverhill. Her grandson, Rev. James Pike, was the first minister of Somersworth, New Hampshire, and had a son, Nicholas Pike, who was the author of "Pike's Arithmetic."

(II) Deacon Joseph, sixth child and son of Henry and Susanna Kingsbury of Haverhill, born in 1656, was known as Joseph of Norwich, West Farms, Connecticut. He took the oath of allegiance Nov 28, 1677; was sergeant of the train band, constable, tithing man, selectman, viewer of fences, and appears to have been a surveyor. He was bookkeeper for Captain Simon Wainwright, a merchant of Haverhill, when the captain was killed by the Indians and his house burned in 1708.
He removed with his family to Norwich, Conn. in 1708, settling in that part called West Farms, now Franklin. He purchased land and erected a home. This property continued in the Kingsbury name until 1870, when it was bought by John B. Cooley, who married a daughter of Colonel Thomas H. C. Kingsbury, heirs keeping the land in the family if not in the name.
He was a pillar of the church at West Farms, where he and his wife were admitted by letter from the church at Haverhill. He was one of the first two deacons chosen, Oct. 8, 1718. He was appointed ensign of the train band in 1719, and lieutenant Oct., 1727.
He died April 9, 1741, in his eighty-fifth year.
He married, April 2, 1679, Love, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hutchins) Ayer of Haverhill, born April 15, 1663, died at Norwich, Conn. April 14, 1735, after a married life of fifty-six years. Their tombstones may be seen in the old burying-ground in Franklin, Conn.
Children:
1. Captain Joseph (see forward).
2. Captain Nathaniel, married Hannah Dennison, sister of his brother Joseph's wife, and had fourteen children. He was captain of the northeast train band of Windham, Conn.
3. Elizabeth, died in infancy.
4. Mary, married (first) Stephen Bingham.
5. Elizabeth (2), born Oct. 16, 1693; married Samuel Ashley; seven children.
6. Susanna, married Jonathan Ladd; ten children.

(III) Captain Joseph, eldest son of Deacon Joseph and Love (Ayer) Kingsbury, was born in Haverhill, Mass. June 22, 1682, died Dec. 5, 1757. He came with his father in June, 1708, to Norwich, West Farms, where he was admitted to the church by letter Jan. 4, 1718. He was chosen deacon Feb. 20, 1735, and was one of the pillars of the church. He was appointed engisn of the train band in 1721, lieutenant in 1729, captain in 1748. He was selectman of Norwich in 1723, and deputy to the general assembly 1731-34-38-39 and 1742. He was one of the committee appointed by the general assembly in 1739 "to repair to the society on the east side of the great river in Hartford and to affix a place for the new meeting house thereon."
In his will Captain Joseph mentions his "loving and faithful wife Ruth" and his children and grandchildren. He left two slaves, "Cuff and Phillis," to his wife Ruth. She gave them their freedom in 1773. The two ex-slaves removed to Tolland, where in 1793 they became a charge on the town, which brought suit against Ebenezer Kingsbury, as executor of his mother's estate, to make him support them, under the statute requiring all masters or owners who set slaves free to provide for their support if they should ever come to want. The town won the suit. It was stated in the testimony that Ruth Kingsbury left a clear estate of five hundred pounds.
Captain Joseph Kingsbury married, Feb. 5, 1706, Ruth, daughter of John and Ruth (Ayer) Dennison, of Ipswich, Mass.; she was born June 7, 1686, died May 6, 1779, aged ninety-three years. Her tombstone in Franklin burying-ground adds, "she left five children, sixty-one grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and fifteen great-great-grandchildren." Captain Joseph has a suitable stone and lies by her side, his name cut in the stone, "Kingsberry," hers, "Kingsbury."
Children, all born at West Farms:
1. Ephraim (see forward).
2. Hannah, married Jacob Hyde; nine children.
3. Love, married Josiah Backus; eight children.
4. Ruth, married Joshua Edgerton; twelve children.
5. Captain Joseph (2), deputy to the general court 1756; married Deliverance Squire; eleven children.
6. Captain Ebenezer, married Priscilla, daughter of his uncle, Nathaniel Kingsbury. (It is said she read the Bible through before marrying, to see if there was anything to forbid cousins to marrying). He was deacon of the church and deputy to the general court from Coventry, Conn., eighteen terms from 1754-1780. He was lieutenant of the Ninth company, Fifth regiment, 1753; captain, October, 1760. At a critical time during the revolution he returned on a Saturday from the general assembly to work for the soliders. His son Joseph moulded bullets from the lead clockweights, while Priscilla baked biscuits, both on the Sabbath. Sand bags were substituted for lead in the family clock and on Monday he returned to his post of duty with his saddle bags balanced, food on one side for the patriot soldiers, bullets on the other for their enemies. He died in Coventy, Sept. 6, 1800, aged eighty-three years. Priscilla, his wife, died Jan. 3, 1805, aged 83.
7. Eleazar, married (first) Jabez Backus, (second) Ebenezer Baldwin; six children. Her eldest son, Jabez Backus, was father of Rev. Azel Backus, D.D., first president of Hamilton College, New York. Their youngest son, Rev. Charles Backus, was an accomplished scholar, a distinguished divine and a noted pulpit orator.
9. [what happened to 8??] Grace, died unmarried.
10. Daniel, was a selectman of Norwich, and held other town offices; married Abigail Barstow, and had five children. His widow married David Longbottom.
11. Talitha, married Zaccheus Waldo, of Scotland. Child: Daniel, served in the revolution, captured and imprisioned in the Sugar House, New York; studied for the ministry, and was in that work for many years; elected chaplain of National House of Representatives, 1856, and in 1857, being at the time ninety-four or ninety-five years of age, with faculties unimpaired; preached his last sermon after entering on his one hundred and second year. He died July 30, 1864, aged 101 years, 10 months, 20 days.
12. Irene, died unmarried.
13. Nathaniel, married Sarah Hill; three children.

(IV) Captain Ephraim, eldest son of Captain Joseph and Ruth (Dennison) Kingsbury, was born in Haverhill, Mass. (all his brothers and sisters were born in West Farms) Jan. 4, 1707, died Nov. 17, 1772. He was ensign of the Third company in Norwich, 1737; lieutenant 1746; captain 1749; deacon of the Norwich West Farms church 1770-71.
He married, July 3, 1728, Martha Smith, born in Norwich, Nov. 26, 1710, died Oct. 24, 1771, daughter of Captain Obadiah and Martha Abell Smith.
Children:
1. Asa (see forward).
2. Absolom, a solider of the revolution; married (first) Rebecca Rust, (second) Mrs. Abigail Wilson; a prominent citizen of Alstead, New Hampshire; selectman, justice of the peace, town clerk and treasurer; Republican in the legislature; ten children.
3. Martha, married Amariah Rockwell, eight children.
4. Doctor Obadiah, practiced medicine in his native town, and was the first president of the Connecticut Medical Society. He was deacon of the church, and married Sarah Kingsbury; four children.
5. Irene, married (first) Amos Avery; child: Amos.
6. Ephraim (2), removed to Coventry after his marriage, and built a house in the west part of the town, on which is now (1910) the road to Rockville. Here he lived sixty-five years, and it was occupied by his descendants until Sept. 1, 1893. The house was in course of erection in April, 1776, when the news came of the battle of Lexington; the floor was being laid in the kitchen, but the boards were dropped, and Ephraim, with all his workmen, joined in the march to Boston. The next year the house was completed and the figures 1776 can still (1910) be seen on a brick in the front of the chimney. He continued in the service and was ensign in the Third Battalion Connecticut troops. He was representative to the general court from Coventry from 1789 to 1790, inclusive; 1796-97-98. He married Phebe (Hyde) French; six children.
7. Talitha, married Joseph Rust; six children.
8. Anna, born Nov. 17, 1742.
9. Joshua, died at sea.

(V) Captain Asa, eldest son of Ephraim (1) and Martha (Smith) Kingsbury, was born in Norwich West Farms, April 7, 1729 and died Sept. 5, 1775. He was ensign of the West Farms train band, 1772; lieutenant, 1774; lieutenant in command of a Norwich company at the "Lexington Alarm"; was commissioned captain of a company in Colonel Jedediah Huntington's regiment, July 6, 1775, but his death in the following September "while on the march to Roxbury to join the American army" cut short his career at the age of 47 years.
He married, May 12, 1756, Sarah, daughter of Christopher and Abigail (Abell) Huntington. She was born April 27, 1730.
Children:
1. Asa (see forward).
2. Sarah, married Dudley Tracy, a member of the Connecticut legislature; ten children.
3. Eunice, married Josiah Griswold.
4. Lucy, married ____ Clark.

(VI) Asa (2), eldest son of Captain Asa and Sarah (Huntington) Kingsbury, was born at Franklin (West Farms), March 12, 1757. He enlisted at Norwich in Nov. or Dec. 1776, for three months' service under Captain Ebenezer Lothrop in Colonel John Ely's regiment, spending most of his enlistment in or near Providence, Rhode Island. he enlisted a second time as sergeant under Captain Palmer, of Stonington, serving on the Connecticut coast six months. He served two other short terms.
He was a millwright by trade, removing to Lebanon, Conn., later to Turin, New Boonville, Oneida county, New York, where he died March 13, 1839.
He married Lurena Hartshorn, in Franklin, Conn., Jan. 30, 1783. She died June 2, 1835, at the age of 73 years. Both are buried at Paines Hollow, N.Y., about five miles south of Mohawk.
Children:
1. Clara, born Dec. 2, 1783, died May 9, 1790.
2. Joseph, born May 8, 1785.
3. Hezekiah, living in Hebron, Conn. in 1809; served in the war of 1812 as private in Captain Samuel West's company; removed to delta, New York, left five children.
4. Asa (3), married 1820, Polly Foster, of Meriden, Conn. It is stated by some that he was in the navy during the war of 1812, and was with Lawrence on the "Hornet," and with him when he was killed on the "Constitution." He removed to Turin, New York, thence to Ottawa, Illinois, in the early days of that state, and built the first chain of mills through the section southwest of Chicago. He had eight children.
5. Fravel Clark, served in the war of 1812 in Captain Samuel West's company at New London; was of Coventy, 1817; later settled in or near Utica, N.Y., where he was a carpenter and cabinetmaker. He married Tryphena Holmes, eight children. His widow married Martin Barnes of Turin, N.Y.
6. Lurena, married Lemuel Swift. "They settled on a farm at German Flats, six miles from Herkimer, N.Y., afterwards at Paine's Hollow, and in Herkimer. Her parents were living with her when they died. They had six children; only one, William Anson Swift, married and had issue.
7. John (see forward).
8. Charles Backus, married Ruama Barnes, removed in 1856 to Delavan, Walworth county, Wisconsin; master mechanic and builder. They had eleven children.
9. William, married (first) Eliza Barnes, (second) Mary Evans.

(VII) John, seventh child of Asa (2) and Lurena (Hartshorn) Kingsbury, was born May 11, 1799, died in 1864. He was a millwright, contractor and builder, also a manufacurer and inventor. He made the first rotary plane, afterwards known as the "Woodruff." Among his patents were an automatic press about 1849, yet in use, and a scroll saw.
He was an ardent Abolitionist; a friend of the free school system, in which he took a deep interest, as well as in the National Guard of New York, being captain of a company. He was postmaster, and an organizer of the Baptist church at West Leyden, which he served as clerk.
He married, in 1825, Ava, New York, Rhoda Cornelia Bates, born June, 1807, in Ava, Oneida county, N.Y., died in Portland, Oregon, daughter of Solomon and Annie (Campbell) Bates.
Children:
1. Julia Ann, died 1847.
2. Hezekiah H., see forward.
3. Andrew Bates, veteran of the civil war, enrolled in Battery A, first regiment, New York Light Artillery; wounded at Fair Oaks; was superintendent of bridges and buildings on railroads; superintendent of planning mill, Chicago, and an inventor of a crazing machine, malleable iron horse collar and a scroll saw, for which he received patents.
He married (first) Harriet M. Waters, (second) Susan E. Diston. Children by first marriage: Edwin Lemuel and Charlotte. Children by second marriage: Lamont Diston, Clinton Andrew, Clarence Myron, Lulu Augusta, and George Horn. 4. Solomon Bates, unmarried, of Humboldt, Kansas.
5. Stephen, died young.
6. Celestia Cornelia, married Hiram Crego, of Rome, N.Y., and had issue.
7. John Terry, born May 6, 1839; a graduate of Union College; enlisted 1861 and served until June, 1865; was captain of artillery. He was division engineer on the Union Pacific Railroad, 1866-69, and a widely known civil engineer of the west. He was engaged in construction and irrigation work. He married Anna Gibson Adams. Children: Clare Cornelia, Tilly Louise, and John Adams, superintendent of schools, Georgetown, Washington.
8. Captain George, born 1841, died in the army August 1864; unmarried.
9. Lewis Malcom, born 1844. He was a civil war veteran, and died in Mohawk, 1875, unmarried.
10. Delos Devine, born 1845, a civil war veteran. He resides in North Yakima, Washington.
11. De Witt D., died in boyhood.
12. Alma Augusta, born 1850, married William Dent, of England. They now reside in Seattle, Washington. Children: Mabel Clare, married John Garland Price, attorney of Skagway, Alaska; Rachel; Hawthorne; John Bates; Margaret Hartwell.
13. Mary Lurena, married Warren Ranney, of Mohawk, N.Y. Children: Alma May, Myron W., Warren K., Ernest Louis, Earle K.

(VIII) Hezekiah H., second son of John and Rhoda Cornelia (Bates) Kingsbury, was born in Ava, Oneida county, N.Y. 1830, and died in Little Falls, N.Y. May 4, 1874. The strong Union sentiments of the father seem to have crystalized in the sons and developed a condition of patriotic feeling that led them all into the ranks of the Union army. The enlistements of the others are shown in the preceding generation. Hezekiah H. enlisted in Battery A, (Bates Battery), First Regiment, New York Light Artillery. He was sergeant, and was wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks, and discharged in 1863.
He was for many years in the hotel business in various places as proprietor; the hotel at Little Falls, N.Y. being his last.
He married, October, 1861, Romalda Arabella Heath, born Jan. 12, 1836, in Little Falls, died Aug. 16, 1899, daughter of Henry McLean and Sabina (Casler) Heath.
Children:
1. Edward Henry (see forward).
2. Charles Mortimer, born March 30, 1865, married Dec. 16, 1896, Sadie Gallraith; resides in New York City.
3. John MacLean, born Jan. 2, 1870. He spent two years at Cornell University, and won a scholarship. He is a department manager for Allis-Chalmers company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He married, Dec. 15, 1897, Minnie Esther Thume, born April 21, 1878, in Little Falls, daughter of John Jacob and Lucy (Shipman) Thume.

(IX) Edward Henry, eldest son of Hezekiah H. and Romalda A. (Heath) Kingsbury, was born Dec. 16, 1862. He was educated in the public schools of Little Falls. His busines career began as a clerk in a mercantile house, where he continued four years. The following ten years were spent as chief accountant in two of the manufacturing houses of Little Falls - E.B. Waite & Company and P.W. Casler & Company.
He was for several years a member of the firm of Heath & Kingsbury, lumber and planing mill business, purchasing the P.W. Casler business. In 1886 he became accountant for Andrew Little Lumber, Gravel and Planing Mill Company, and in 1905 became manager of the plant. For seventeen years he was actively interested in the volunteer fire department, of which he became assistant chief engineer, serving as such for nine years, and is a life member of the Tri-County Firemen's Association.
He is a Democrat in politics. He served as assessor and town clerk in 1890-91; he was elected mayor of Little Falls in 1900, holding the office by successive re-election until 1903, in which year he was renominated but declined the honor. It was while serving in the capacity of mayor that the Utica and Mohawk Valley electic railway was built, and he was influential in securing the double tracking of the line through West Main street, which proposition was fought quite bitterly, but the opposition was finally overcome, and the wisdom of granting the franchise fully established. The systematic paving of the streets was also inaugurated during his term of office as mayor.
He is a member of the Episcopal church.
Mr. Kingsbury married (first) Feb. 10, 1886, Frances Orendorf, born Dec., 1857, died 1893, daughter of John and Mary Orendorf. They had one child, Gladys, born Nov. 7, 1893.
He married (second) Oct. 19, 1904, Eva, daughter of James and Mary Cross, of Victoria Square, Ontario, Canada.

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