RANSOM
Ransom is an English surname of considerable antiquity. Probably all the American families of this name are descended from Robert Ransom.
(I) Robert Ransom was born in England, either in Ipswich or Kent, according to the family historian, and came to Plymouth, Mass., before 1654. He was admitted freeman of the colony in 1657. He married, about 1660, Susanna _____. He died at Plymouth, Dec. 14, 1697.
Children:
1. Matthew, born 1661; married Hannah Jones, March 6, 1682; settled in Saybrook, Conn.
2. Joshua, born at Sandwich, about 1665; mentioned below.
3. Robert, married in 1690, Anna Waterman.
4. Hannah, married Eleazer Jackson.
5. Mercy, married July 26, 1692, Samuel Waterman.
6. Samuel, married Mercy Dunham.
7. Mary, married Nehemiah Busse.
(II) Joshua, son of Robert Ransom, was born about 1665 at Sandwich, Mass. He married (first) Feb. 26, 1686, Mercy, daughter of John and Elisha Gifford. She died Oct. 25, 1689, and he married (second), March 10, 1692, Susanna Garner, of Plymouth. She died at Halifax, Mass., March 16, 1735.
Mr. Ransom died after 1713. He was then living at Plympton.
Children:
1. Robert, born 1687, mentioned below.
2. Mary, born about 1688 at North Kingston; married Samuel Knight.
3. John, married Martha Ripley.
4. Sarah, married at Plympton, Francis Curtis.
5. Joshua, married Mary Wright.
(III) Robert (2) son of Joshua Ransom, was born at Wexford, Rhode Island, or vicinity, in 1687, died Jan. 23, 1777. He settled in Colchester, Connecticut. He married Alice, daughter of James and Mary (Hubbell) Newton, granddaughter of Sergeant Richard Hubbell, of Fairfield. She was also a descendant of Richard Smith.
Children:
1. John, Nov. 13, 1709; married Bertha Lewis.
2. Mary, Aug. 30, 1711; married Peter Huntley.
3. James, March 13, 1713; married Sarah Treadway.
4. Joshua, May 3, 1715; married Sarah Brown.
5. Robert, March 25, 1717; married Hannah Burgess.
6. Alice, Sept. 6, 1719; married Lebbeus Harris.
7. Newton, mentioned below.
8. Peleg, Sept. 20, 1724.
9. Amos, Feb. 17, 1727; married Anna Comstock.
10. Elizabeth, May 1, 1729.
11. Amy, August 2, 1732.
(IV) Newton, son of Robert (2) Ransom, was born at Colchester, July 21, 1722, died at Halfax, Vermont, May 31, 1796. He lived at Colchester and Shelburne Falls, Mass. during his active life. He married, Sept. 1, 1742, Sarah Jones, at Colchester. She died at Shelburne Falls, June 16, 1804. Six of their sons were soldiers in the revolution and Newton was active in the patriots' cause.
Children, born at Colchester:
1. Robert, Aug. 26, 1743.
2. Ezekiel, Jan. 3, 1745, died Nov. 14, 1760.
3. Jabez, Dec. 24, 1746; married Chloe Childs.
4. John, Nov. 11, 1748.
5. Elinor, June 22, 1750, died Nov. 13, 1750.
6. Roswell, Dec. 8, 1751.
7. Elisha, Dec. 24, 1753; married Irene Wells.
8. Hazel, Jan. 3, 1756; married Zeviah Wells.
9. Calvin, June 19, 1758.
10. Luther (twin), June 19, 1758, mentioned below.
11. Ichabod, Jan. 2, 1760.
12. Newton, May 11, 1762; married Sarah Hilton.
13. Ezekiel, Oct. 1, 1763; married Lucinda Fletcher.
14. Sally, April 13, 1767; married Moses Bardwell.
(V) Dr. Luther Ransom, son of Newton Ransom, was born at Colchester, June 19, 1758. He was a physician at Halifax, Vermont. He married _____ Bardwell.
Children, born at Halifax:
1. Elijah, mentioned below.
2. Luther born May 7, 1799.
3. Sophia, married James Thomas and lived at Chazy.
4. Lucinda, married John Knox and lived at Elizabethtown, New York.
5. Clarissa, married Jeremiah Knox.
6. Amanda, married and lived in Illinois.
(VI) Elijah, son of Dr. Luther Ransom, was born at Halifax (Vt), Nov. 19, 1788. He married, Sept. 21, 1814, Miranda Townsend, who died Jan. 1872. He died July 31, 1871. They lived at Mooers, New York.
Children:
1. Lucinda Luretta, born June 21, 1818; married, April 3, 1842, Jonas C. Gilbert (see Gilbert VII).
2. Fletcher B., Dec. 16, 1819, at Chazy.
3. John P., July 8, 1821; married Amanda M. Chalmers of Plattsburgh.
4. Theodosia, April 5, 1823, at Chazy.
5. Jonas, May 31, 1829; married Amelia McP. Havens.
6. Jane, May 31, 1829; married Sylvester Churchill, Oct. 19, 1853.
7. Angeline, Dec. 17, 1833.