familyrice
~ EDMUND RICE FAMILY ~

The following information comes from Ella Bigelows book.

Once upon a time there was a man named Edmund Rice born 1594 who came from Barkhamstead in the county of Hertfordshire in England and settled in Sudbury, Mass., in 1638. We do not know in what ship he came or at what place he first arrived, but in Sudbury in the outwardly part of what is now Wayland, near the border of the extensive meadows through which the Sudbury river flows in a northeasterly course to the Merrimac.

He and his wife Tamazine build the house to the left where they lived with their family of eight children, all of whom had come over together from the shores of old England. Edmund became prominent man in Sudbury; a Deacon in the Church, and one of the first Selectmen or townsmen as they were called.

A larger view of this picture can be seen in the Homes Section.

Edmund Rice was honored with several appointments by the General Court, and was denominated therein "Goodman Rice." Being one of the Petitioners for the grant which was given to make the town of Marlborough ; he moved here, where he gained the confidence of his fellow citizens as he had done in Sudbury, and Mercy- Brigham, widow of Thomas Brigham, pitying and no doubt loving the lonely widower and father of the large family, married him and bore him two daughters. She was Mercy Hurd, of whom tradition says was of high character; and she and her sister were so "tantalized"  in England for their non-conformity, that they resolved on seeking their liberty and fortunes in New England, where they arrived unattended by husbands or lovers. The tradition is direct and no doubt reliable that success rewarded the enterprise. We are told that "they were in as quick demand as unmarried teachers in the West ; and if the number of worthy husbands whom a lady marries is the measure of her worth, then Madame Brigham was a most worthy and attractive woman, for she married no less than three, viz., Thomas Brigham of Cambridge, who was ten or fifteen years her senior and the ancestor of the numerous Brighams who settled in Marlborough; 2d, Edmund Rice, and :3d, William Hunt of Marlborough. She died 1693 after it third widowhood of 26 years. During this period she saw two bloody Indian wars. During the first, Marlborough was burnt, and she with one of her sons is believed to have retreated to their former home, on the rocks in Cambridge, while her other sons went in pursuit of the enemy.

Edmund Rice having a house lot of 50 acres granted him by the proprietors of Marlborough, took up his abode with his wife Mercy Brigham and his and her children" as one has said " near the east end of Beach street where Beach and Liberty join South street."

Note: The 1803 map section to the left, shows an approximation where Ella Bigelow spoke of the location of the homestead.  The large star indicates this; the small star to the right indicates what is now known as "Beech St."; the small star to the left indicates what now is "Liberty St." and the black dotted line indicates what is now known as "South St.".
 

Whose father was Edmund, from old England came. The first of the Rices, styled "Goodman" by name. He married Rebekah, whose surname was Howe, And her he had plighted a connubial vow, That 'neath the broad shadow of this stately tree, in view of Wachusett, their homestead should be."

Six generations have successively lived in the above old homestead, known in later days as the Eli Rice, or Otis Russell house. Peter 1st was a prominent man. He was captain of a train hand and one of the committee in 1711 who designated the garrisons of the town, and the families who were to resort to these places of safety in emergency. Benjamin, Peter and Joseph Rice belonged to Ensign Howe's garrison near the present residence of Tileston Brigham where for many years might be seen a cave or underground former place of hiding. What thrilling stories this old hiding place might give to us could the stones speak. How these defenseless inhabitants of our frontier settlements must have suffered. Roused from their midnight slumbers sometimes in the depths of winter, by the deafening war whoop, by cruel and treacherous savages who applied lighted torches to the dwellings and exulted with fiend like joy at the shrieks of the Half naked women and children, helpless and frantic with terror while rushing to the garrison, with the bloody tomahawk brandished before their eyes. Mothers, brothers, sisters and children often slain and scalped or led away to lingering torments. Oh, but the men and women of those days were indeed brave, and they were no cowards who left the white man's persecution in the old land to brave the wilds and the treachery of the red men in the new country.

The Rices all had the spirit of Daniel and Abraham Rice, who were two of the six men who defended in 1781 Rice's fort on Buffalo Creek, Penn., from 100 picked warriors. The Indians surrounded and fired upon the fort, calling out to the brave little band of defenders : "Give up, give up'. Too many- Indians ? Indian too big -- no kill! " Then the fire was briskly returned and the Rices answered back defiantly "Come on, you cowards, we are ready for you! Show us your yellow hides and we will make holes in them for you ? " Thus for four long hours of hard fighting did they hold the fort until they drove off the Indians with only one of their men killed. For this great bravery and successful defense of that fort, in which were many women and children, the names of this Spartan band have been enrolled on the list of our early times.

Eleven children were born to Peter and Rebecca, all of whom settled elsewhere, but Abraham, the youngest, who when his father died succeeded to the old homestead. Abraham married Persis Robinson, and Peter, their son, married Lavinah Howe who gave birth 1777 to Eli Rice whom later Marlborough knew as "Deacon " and magistrate, and a much respected old gentleman. In his youth, Eli had fallen quite in love with the pretty school marm, Lucy Brigham, daughter of Winslow Brigham, the first woman teacher ever allowed by the "skool-kommittee" men to teach in Marlborough, and in 1799, as we have before stated, he married her and brought her to the old homestead. A good wife and fruitful mate was this same pretty schoolmarm for she bore the Esquire thirteen children. (Apropos there was a Rice born in 1837 who changed his name to Royce, history says, on account of his discovery a number of years ago that the Rice family were becoming very extensive, and he thought if they should continue to increase as they had for a few years, they would soon constitute the greater portion of the United States, therefore he made a variation in the name, although with no intention to change the relationship.)

In due course of time the old Deacon Eli died and Otis and Levinah then returned to the old elm homestead. Many a night have the children sat around the old fireplace telling the tales handed down to them of the past; of the time when their great ancestral relatives were taken prisoners here by the Indians and carried into Canada where as time went on they had Indian wives and children by them. To one the Indians gave the name "Tookanowras. " Another they named "Oughtsorangoughton " and he became the third of six chiefs of the Cognawaga tribe. In that capacity he addressed a speech to Col. Burgoyne in the French War of 1775 or later. "Oughtsorangoughton" or Timothy returned sometime later with an interpreter for he had lost his mother tongue and viewed the place where lie was captured, of which he had a clear remembrance, together with the circumstances under which he was taken, as he also had of several persons living then. Nothing said or done could induce him to remain. This was a parallel case of Eunice Williams of Deerfield whose mother was "tomahawked" on her march, after capture, to Canada. Eunice lived to be ninety and married John De Rogers, an Indian, by whom she had three children.

Among the thirteen children of Eli Rice and Lucy Brigham were Abraham, (he married Abby, daughter of O. W. Albee, and at her death married Emily, daughter of Lambert Bigelow) and Lavina who married Otis Russell. Otis and Lavina setup housekeeping in the house just west of the old Elm tree Homestead on the Millham road, and Lavina, following her mother's example, bore her husband seventeen children, and all save two they tell us were born here.

Note: the 1803 map section to the left indicates the location of the "Peter Rice Homestead".  The single star indicates what is now known as "Elm St."; two stars indicate what is now known as "Felton St." and the three stars indicate what is now known as "Bigelow St.".
 

" In due course of time, when the Deacon had died And successor had gone to the west to reside; Lavinah and Otis decided to come And spend the remainder of life at the Home."

And thus from the old Peter Rice Homestead (picture to the left) the boys and girls passed to their various homes, earthly and heavenly; and when Otis died the little widow was left blind from old age, but patient and in faith awaiting her summons to join the dear ones gone before. "Sing to me" she said, "Sing to me of the I Sweet Bye and Bye " and tender thoughts of the past were intermingled with those of the old song.

Note: The picture to the left can be seen in a larger form in the Homes section.  The "Thomas Rice" home indicated on the map can also be seen and is designated as the "Jabez Rice" homestead.
 

NOTE: The following information taken from

A GENEALOGICAL DICTIONARY of THE FIRST SETTLERS OF NEW ENGLAND, SHOWING THREE GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE MAY, 1692 ON THE BASIS OF FARMER'S REGISTER.  - BY JAMES SAVAGE, published 1860

RICE, BENJAMIN, Marlborough, youngest of eight sons of the first Edmud of the same, married 1662 Mary, eldest child of deacon William Brown of Sudbury, had only Ebenezer, born 1 May 1671; and his widow died 3 January 1691.

BENJAMIN, Marlborough, youngest of five sons of Edward, married 1 April 1691, Mary Graves, had Azariah; Lydia, born 1695 Elizabeth 1697; Simon 1699; Zerubabel 1702; Rachael 1703; Matthias 1706; Priscilla 1708; and Damaris 1711; and he died 23 February 1748.

CALEB, Marlborough, son of Joseph, married 1696, Mary Ward, had Martha, Mary, Josiah, Jabez, Nathan, Rebecca, Sarah, Caleb, Hepzibah, and Kezia; was deacon died 5 January 1739, and his widow died 1742.

DANIEL, Marlborough, son of Edward the first, married 10 February 1681, Bethia, youngest daughter of the first William Ward, had Bethia, born 1682; Daniel 1684; Luke 1689; Priscilla 1692; Eleazer 1695; Deborah 1697; and Hopestill 1702; his widow died 8 December 1721, aged 63, and he died 14 July 1737.

DAVID, Framingham, [[528]] son of Henry, married 7 Apr 1687, Hannah, daughter of Thomas Walker, had Elizabeth born 8 September 1689; Hannah, 5 January 1692; Bezaleel; Josiah, 19 August 1701. He was deacon his widow died 18 December 1704; and he died 16 October 1723.

EDMUND, Sudbury, was from Barkhamstead in Co. Herts, and of the first settled 1639, appointed to lay out the plantation, freeman 13 May 1640, and among proprietors that year is a widow Rice, perhaps his mother was Representative in October following and 1643, deacon and selectman, born 1594, brother from England and widow Thomasine, and children by her, Edward born 1618; Henry; Edmund; Thomas; Matthew; Samuel; and Joseph, had here Benjamin, born 31 May 1640. His widow died 18 June 1654; and he married 1 Mar, 1655, Mercy, widow of Thomas Brigham, who survived him, and had Ruth born 29 September 1659; and Ann, 19 November 1661; was among early settler of Marlborough, and he died 3 May 1663, all the ten children having division of his estate His widow married William Hunt.

EDMUND, Marlborough, son of the preceding, born in England married 13 October 1680, Joyce Russell, daughter of William of Cambridge, had Joyce born 1681; Edmund, 9 July 1688; and Lydia, 24 May 1690; Joyce married 1705, Samuel Abbot.

EDMUND, Sudbury, second son of Edward the first, was a deacon and died 25 September 1719, but of marriage or issue I hear not.

EDWARD, Westborough, son of Samuel, married 15 November 1692, Ruth Parker of Roxbury, says Barry, and had at Marlborough, Dinah, born 1693; Silas 1695; Timothy 1697; Nahor 1699, killed by the Indians at 5 years; Huldah 1701; Moses 1704, died soon; Seth 1705; Thankful 1707; Eleazer 1709; Ruth 1712; Ebenezer 1714; and Ann 1716; died 1726, leaving widow Hannah.

EDWARD, Sudbury, son of the first Edmund, probably eldest, born at Barkhamstead, England by first widow Agnes Bent, says Barry, he had no children, but John Bent, in his will of 14 Sept 1672, speaks of his daughter Agnes Rice, so that I doubt she was not first, but second widow unless Agnes and Ann mean one woman. Children by widow Ann, according to Barry, were John; Lydia, born 30 July 1648, died soon; Lydia, again, 10 December 1649; Edmund, 9 December 1653; Daniel, 8 November 1655; Caleb, 8 February 1658, died soon; Ann, 9 November 1661; Dorcas, 29 January 1664; Benjamin, 22 December 1666; and Abigail, 9 May 1671; removed to Marlborough, was a deacon and died 15 August 1712 at a grand age, and his widow Ann died next year

EDWARD, Marlborough, son of Samuel, married 25 May 1702, Lydia Fairbanks, had Gideon, and nine daughters.

ELISHA, Sudbury, son of the first Thomas, it is said, living to near 60 years.

EPHRAIM, Sudbury, son of the first Thomas, married 21 February 1689, Hannah Livermore, perhaps daughter of John of Watertown, had Hannah, died young, Ephraim; Mary; Josiah; Grace died young; Thomas; Gershom; John, Isaac; and Hannah, again; and he died 1732. Of course he was 65, or at most, 69 years old, but then age is kind stretched to 71, in General Reg. XIlI. 140.

GERSHOM, Worcester, brother of the preceding died 29 December 1768, at the great age of 101, as may be read in General Reg. XIII. 140. He had seven children all then living.

HENRY, Sudbury, son of Edmund the first, born in England married 1 February 6, Elizabeth Moore, had Mary, born 19 September 1646; Elizabeth 4 August 1648; Jonathan, 3 July 1654; born 17 June 1657; David, 27 December 1659; Thomasine, 2 February 1662; Rachel, 10 May 1664; Lydia, 4 June 1668; Mercy, 1 January 1671; beside Hannah; was freeman 10 May 1648, an early proprietor of Marlborough, removed to Framingham, there his widow died 3 August 1705; and he died 10 February 1711. Elizabeth married John Brewer; Abigail married Thomas Smith; Thomasine married 1680, Benjamin Parmenter; Rachel m 15 December 1687, Thomas Drury; Lydia married Samuel Wheelock; Mercy married Elnathan Allen; and Hannah married 5 August 1675, Eleazer Ward, and next, 17 October 1677, Richard Taylor.

ISAAC, Framingham, son of Matthew, by widow Sybilla, had Sybilla, born 1691; Martha; Mary; Abigail; and Ruth; and he died 1718.

JAMES, Marlborough, son of the first Thomas, had Jotham; Zebedia; Cyrus; Frances; James; Jaazaniah; Grace, and Berzela, if Barry is correct, who adds that he died at Worcester 1730. His age was 61 years but in General Reg. XIII. 140, made to run up to 72. Perhaps his widow was Sarah, and he had at Framingham Daniel, born 13 March 1705.

JOHN, Boston, by widow Mary, had John, born 9 May 1669.

JOHN, Warwick, married 16 July 1674, Elizabeth second daughter of the first Randall Houlden, died 6 January 1731, aged 85, had John, and Randal, perhaps others.

JOHN, Marlborough, eldest of Edward the first, married 2 or 27 November 1674, Tabitha, daughter of John Stone, had John born 1675; Ann, 1678; Deliverance, 1681; Tabitha, 1683; Prudence, 1685; Abigail, 1687; Edward, 23 December 1689; Dinah, 1691; Moses, 1694; Tamar, 1697; and Aaron, 13 August 1700; and died 5 September 1719.

JOHN, Warwick, son of John of the same, married 25 July 1695, Elnathan, second daughter of John Whipple the second of Providence, had JOHN, born 6 April 1696, Elizabeth 6 May 1698; Thomas, 26 April 1700; Mary, 22 September 1702, died next year; Nathan, 20 June 1704; Barbara, 24 April 1706; William, 2 March 1708; Mary, again, 24 January 1710; Lydia, 30 December 1711; Randall, 22 May, 1714; and Elnathan, 4 August 1716; and he died 9 January 1755, aged 80.

JONAS, Sudbury, son of the first Thomas, said in the doubtful reported to have lived 84 years.

JONATHAN, Norwich, married March 1661, Deborah, daughter of Hugh Caulkins, had Elizabeth born January 1662; and John, 1663; made freeman 1663, constable 1669.

JONATHAN, Sudbury, son of Henry, by widow Martha had Martha, born 27 June 1675, died soon, as did the mother. He married 1 November 1677, Rebecca Watson, had Jonathan, 1678; David, 1680; Ann, 1683; and Henry, 1685. His widow died 22 December 1689, and he married 3d widow 12 February 1691, Elizabeth Wheeler, had Martha; Hezekiah; Abraham; Ezekiel, 14 October 1700; Elizabeth 28 February 1703; Phineas, 24 June 1705; removed to Framingham, there had Sarah, 24 September 1707; Richard, 31 January 1710; and Abigail, 23 March 1714; was selectman, representative 1711 and 20, and died 12 April 1725.

JONATHAN, Sudbury, son of Joseph the first, married 25 March 1702, Ann Derby of Stow, as by the highest authority is told, was deacon and died 7 June 1772, and his widow died 2 December 1773. So they had living as husband and widow over 70 years but whether any children came of the union is not told yet, but may be when the family genealogy is publish.

JOSEPH, Sudbury, probably youngest son of Edmund the first, born in England married 1658, Mercy King, perhaps daughter of Thomas of Watertown, but no issue is found in Barry, who says, by widow Martha he had Martha, born 14 January 1662; Josiah, 3 May 1663; Caleb, 1666; and this widow Martha; 4 January 1669; by third widow Mary, by Bond thought daughter of Capt. Richard Beers, he had Joseph, 5 June 1671; Eleazer, 26 October 1672; removed to Marlborough, was freeman 1672; had there Mary, 13 August 1674; perhaps driven by the Indian war to Watertown, his widow daughter there 13 May 1677; and there by 4th widow Sarah had Jonathan, 26 March 1679; and Sarah, 14 February 1681, who died soon, and again might have, at Marlborough, Phineas, 24 August 1684.

 JOSEPH, Marlborough, son of the preceding had widow Elizabeth, who died 13 October 1733, aged 48, and he died 3 December 1745.

 JOSEPH, Marlborough, youngest child of Samuel, had Jesse and several daughters.

 JOSHUA, Boston 1663, shoemaker, son of Robert, by widow Bathshua, had Joshua, born 3 May 1664.

JOSHUA, Marlborough, son perhaps eldest, of Samuel, freeman 1690, by widow Mary, had Samuel, born 1693; Nahum, 1695; Sarah, 1698; Zephaniah, 1700; Andrew, 1703; and of him, widow or children I find no more in Barry.

MATTHEW, Sudbury, son probably fifth of Edmund the first, born in England freeman 1660, married 2 November 1654, Martha Lamson, perhaps daughter of Barnaby of Cambridge, had Sarah born 9 September 1655, who married a Loker; Martha, 17 August 1656, married John Bent as his second widow; Deborah, 14 February 1660, married 23 January 1684, Thomas Sawin; Ruth, 2 April 1662, married 21 November 1682, Joseph Hastings, and died two months after; Elizabeth 20 May 1663, died soon; Dorothy, 14 February 1665, married at Ware; Isaac, 1668; and Patience, 5 March 1671, married a Leland. His will was proven 30 December 1717.

MICHAEL, New London, freeman 1663, as in Trumbull, Colonial Records I 406, yet the name is not in Caulkins.

 NATHANIEL, New London, freeman 1669.

NATHANIEL, Sudbury, son of Thomas the first, had Nathaniel, Mary, and Patience, but he had two wives, Sarah, and next married 1704, widow Patience Stone, and he died 13 November 1726. His age of 66 years, is swelled to 70 in General, Reg. XIII. 140.

NEHEMIAH, New London, freeman, 1666.

NICHOLAS, Boston 1672, hired, a farm of Gov. Bellingham

PETER, Marlborough, son of Thomas the first, by widow Rebecca had Elisha, born 1690; Zipporah, 1691; Cyprian, 1693; Pelatiah, 1694; Elnathan; Peter; Abigail; Deborah; Rebecca; and Abraham, 1709. His widow died 1749, and he died 28 November 1753, aged 95 years, and one month less a week, allow for change of style. By the common tendency to exaggerate, he is made 97 in General, Reg. XIII. 140. Several, of his children reach, old age.

PHILIP, Boston 1640, is called a tailor, on his unit with  the children 21 November 1641. He died probably in 1665.

PHINEAS, Sudbury, youngest son of Joseph first of the same, married 2 October 1707, Elizabeth daughter of Daniel Willard of the same, had several, children by her, who, died 9 March 1761, but I know neither names nor dates, and he died 4 September 1768.

RANDALL, Warwick, son of first John of the same, had children, but no record is seen of the marriage

RICHARD, Cambridge 1635, removed, to Concord 1636, freeman, 2 June 1641, had Elizabeth born 27 October 1641; and John, 23 February 1644; died 9 June 1709, aged, says the record more than 100 years. Who  Shattuck judicious reduced. Farmer reports that he left 8 sons who, living, to great ages, showing how easy tradition borrowed for him the facts of Edmund, of who, he is not known to be a relation.

ROBERT, Boston, spelled Roys, Rois, and Royce, in different, recorded freeman, 1 April 1634, had probably come 1631, as he is No. 137 on the list of children by widow Elizabeth had Joshua, born 14, baptized, 16 April 1637; Nathaniel, baptized, 24 March though, town record says born 1 April 1639; and Patience, born 1 April 1642, buried next week; Nathaniel died young. His widow married I presume, Michael Tarne, for they call, Joshua R. their son when in 1668 the three united to mortgage the estate.  Perhaps there were both Rice and Roise.

ROBERT, Stratford 1656, was of New London after, freeman, 1669.

SAMUEL, Sudbury, son of Edmund the first, born in England married 8 November 1655, Elizabeth King, had Elizabeth born 26 October 1656, who, married 2 January 1677, Peter Haynes; Hannah, who, married. Hubbard; Joshua; Edmund; Esther, 1665, who married 1 November 1683, Daniel Hubbard, Samuel, 1667; Mary, 1669; Edward, 1672; Abigail, 1674; and Joseph. He had removed to Marlborough, married 1668, second wife Mary, widow of Abraham Brown, who died 18 June 1678; and he probably died 1684, or early next year for his will was proven 7 April 1685.

SAMUEL, New London 1669.

THOMAS, Sudbury, son of Edmund the first, born in England by widow Mary had Grace, who died 1654; Thomas born 30 June 1654; Mary, 4 September 1656, married 1678, Joseph White; Peter, 24 October 1658; Nathaniel, 3 January 1660; Sarah, 15 January 1662, married John Adams; was freeman 1660, removed to Marlborough, had there Ephraim; Gershom, said to be born 9 May 1667; James, 1669; Jonas, 1673; Grace, 1675, married 1702, Nathaniel Moore; perhaps Elisha; and Frances, who married an Allen; and in General Reg. XIII. 140, was made to live 96 years. His will was proven 1681, so that we may be sure his age was by ten years magnified by his son as in General Reg. XIII. 140; and the will of his widow was proven 1715.

THOMAS, Marlborough, eldest son of the preceding by widow Ann married 1681, had Jeremiah, born 1690; Abiel; Ann; Arthur; Adonijah; Perez; Vashti; Beriah; Jason; Thomas; and Charles In General Reg. XIII. 140, his age is call 94; but my doubt is so strong, that I wish to know the day, month, and year when he died.

TIMOTHY, Concord, freeman 1690, married 27 April 1687, Abigail, daughter of John Marrett of Cambridge. Twenty four of this name had been graduate at Harvard in 1849, and six at Yale.

The following information comes from various sources

Hugh Drury, the immigrant ancestor, was, according to family tradition, son of Obed Drury, of London. It is believed that he came under the name of George Drury, who was a passenger in the ship "Abigail" in July, 1635, aged nineteen years, for no furthur mention of a George Drury is found This ship brought a company of the younger Winthrop's settlers bound for Connecticut, but Hugh Drury located at Sudbury, Massachusetts, as early as 1641 and was a proprietor of that town. In 1646 he removed to Boston, selling his Sudbury place to Edmund Rice. He was a carpenter by trade. In 1654 he was a member of the Artillery Company and afterward had the rank of lieutenant. He was admitted to the Boston church, April 16, 1654, and freeman, May 3, 1654. He was a town officer of Boston. His will was dated November 1, 1687, and proved July 30, 1689. He bequeathed to Mary, widow of son John, to sister Lydia Hawkins, son Thomas, refers to deceased wife Lydia and to a daughter Mary. He was buried in the Kings Chapel burying ground, Boston, and the grave is marked. He married (first) Lydia Rice, who was born in 1627, died April 5, 1675, daughter of Edmund and Tamazin Rice. He married (second) October, 1676, Mary Fletcher, widow of Rev. Edward Fletcher. His wife Lydia was admitted to the church, March 12, 1648. Children of first wife: John, mentioned below; Thomas, probably died young; Mary, died 1680. Child by second wife: Hugh, July 19, 1677, probably died young.
 

EDMUND RICE - Framingham information

The Dunster Farm was leased for Six years, to Edmund Rice, Sept. 13, 1642, for 30 bushels or corn per your the first two years; 50 bushels per year for next two years; and 100 bushels for the last two years, in equal  proportions or wheat, indian and rye ; and, as the "Pond Farm," was conveyed, June 24, 1659, to Edmund Rice arid his son Benjamun, by Joseph Hills, Edward Collins and Edmund Frost, executors of President Dunsters will. Middlesex Deeds.

"Ten years, to Edmund Rice, the whole farm of said J. Glover, "lying W, on said  Dunster's land, severed by Sudbury line, and so on to Cochittuate Brooke, wherewith it is bounded southerly, as with the two Ponds." By the terms of the lease, Edmund Rice contracted to make a fence between the two farms of J. Glover and H. Dunster, easterly, "and so all the binds encompassed eyther by the fore said brook or the Greatt River, westerly ; " and also to keep in good repair " the fences already on the farm between the Great Pond and the River." It was further required of him to build on the promises, "during the first five or six years," a dwelling house, "thirty foote long, ten foote high stud, one foot sill from the ground, sixteen foote wide ; " with two rooms, both below or the one above the other ; " All the doores well hanged, and staires, with convenient fastnings of locks or bolts, windows, glases, and well planked under foote, and boarded sufficiently to lay come in, in the story above head." He was also to build a barn "fifty foote long, eleven feet high in the stud, one foote above ground, the sill twenty foote, if no leantes, or eighteen foote wide with leantees on the one side, and a convenient threshing-floare between the doares" The particulars of this transaction are the more worthy of notice, as connected with the first known occupation of the town by English settlers, dating, as will be seen, at a very early period. The tract above described was situated in the region, in ancient papers called COCHITUATE-the name being applied both to the great pond and to its neighboring territory.

RICE's GRANTS - In 1652, Edmund Rice had from the General Court a grant of 50 acres, lying a mile southerly from Cochituate Brook, or thereabouts, deeds of which tract are in the possession of his descendants in this town. In 1659, be obtained from the same source a grant of 80 acres on the S. side of the path leading from Sudbury to Connecticot, about six miles from Sudbury." These tracts, to which large additions were afterwards made, were in that part of the town to the N.E., where the descendants* of the family have continued to reside unto the present day.

*Several of the sons of Edmund appear to have been proprietors, and more than one, perhaps, residents within the limits of Framingham.

Marlborough information

Edmund Rice, born about 1594, Barkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England, died 3 May 1663, Marlborough, Massachusetts, buried North graveyard, Sudbury Road, Wayland, Massachusetts. Married (1) 15 Oct 1618, St. Mary's, Bury St. Edmund, Suffolk, England, THOMASINE FROST, baptized 11 Aug 1600, Stamstead, England, died 13 June 1653/4, Sudbury, Massachusetts; daughter of Edward Frost and Thomazine Belgrave. Married (2) 1 Mar 1655, MERCY (HURD) Brigham, born about 1618, England, died 22 Dec 1693, Marlborough, Massachusetts; widow of Thomas Brigham. Mercy married (3) William Hunt. Resided Sudbury and later in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

Source: A Genealogical Register of Edmund Rice Descendants, The Edmund Rice Assn, 1970, pg 1

Henry Rice, oldest son of Deacon Edmund of Sudbury, who in 1660 was one of the first proprietors of Marlborough, before 1659 owned land in the East part of the town, and had probably settled there at that time. In 1682, John Bent was proprietor of lands now composing in part the ancient Bent farm, occupied by Mr. Gibbs. Samuel Winch was of Sudbury in 1671, and then, or soon after, was in the occupation of lands out of the South bounds of Sudbury, where he probably lived. "Winch's old house" is referred to as on the Danforth farm, in 1689. Thomas Drury, John How and others, were early settlers in that part of the town. The nearness to Sudbury doubtless led to the early settlements in that neighborhood.

Charles Rice, son of Thomas Rice and Mary ______,  was born on 7 Jul 1684 in MARLBOROUGH, MIDDLESEX CO., MA.1,2 He was a Selectman in 1726 in WESTBOROUGH, WORCESTER, CO., MA.2 Charles was a soldier but served [in political office] as Selectman in Westborough. He was admitted to the church on 24 Aug 1729 in WESTBOROUGH, WORCESTER, CO., MA.2 According to Henry Thayer, "A Genealogical History of the Rice Family", by Andrew Henshaw Ward (1858), covers this family. It says that the family resided in Westborough where they were admitted to the church 24 Aug 1729. There is no record of their deaths. He served in the military in 1757 in WESTBOROUGH, WORCESTER, CO., MA.2 Rice family researcher Henry J. Thayer writes that "Edmund Rice & his Family", by Elsie Hawes Smith (1938), says that Charles Rice lived near his father in Westborough. He was a soldier nearly all his life. His sons Zebulon, Adam, Adjonijah and Charles were all soldiers in Fay's Co. from Westborough in 1757. Charles later moved to Brookfield where his sons Zebulon, Abner & Charles were by 1758. Adonijah served in the Revolution and died in service. He died about 1773 in WESTBOROUGH, WORCESTER, CO., MA.

He was married to RACHEL WHEELER (daughter of JOHN WHEELER and ELIZABETH WELLS) on 26 Apr 1711 in MARLBOROUGH, MIDDLESEX CO., MA.1,2 Henry J. Thayer writes, "Charles Rice lived with his father until 1711 helping to manage the family farm. In 1711 following his marriage he built a house which still stands and farmed 50 acres of his own in Westborough. This land was deeded from his father in 1727 along with other lands making up 144 acres. Charles built a second and larger house in 1737 which also still stands. Both houses are registered with the Massachusetts Historical Commission.

RACHEL WHEELER was born on 18 Apr 1689 in CONCORD, MA.2 She died after 1732.

Zebulon Rice, son of Charles Rice and Rachel Wheeler, was born on 27 Feb 1711/12 in MARLBOROUGH, MIDDLESEX CO., MA.1,2 He paid a tax in 1750 in BROOKFIELD, WORCESTER CO., MA.2 In the 1750 tax roles of the Second Precinct of Brookfield MA are the names of Joseph, Charles and Antipas Bruce. Zebulon Rice is listed along with his son Enoch Rice. He served in the military in 1757 in WESTBOROUGH, WORCESTER, CO., MA.2 "A Genealogical History of the Rice Family", by Andrew Henshaw Ward (1858), indicates that Zebulon Rice was a soldier in Fay's Company from Westborough in 1757. He appeared on the census in 1790 in BOYLESTON, WORCESTER CO., MA.4,2 He died about 1797 in BOYLESTON, WORCESTER CO., MA.2

He was married to ABIGAIL FORBUSH (daughter of JONATHAN FORBUSH and HANNAH HOLLOWAY) on 27 Jan 1737 in WESTBOROUGH, WORCESTER, CO., MA.2,5 According to Rice family researcher, Henry J. Thayer, some of this family moved to Brookfield MA before 1750. " A Genealogical History of the Rice Family", by Andrew Henshaw Ward (1858), covers this family. It says that Zebulon Rice removed to Brookfield MA where in 1777 he appraised the estate of William Wright. "Forbes and Forbush Genealogy", by Frederick C. Pierce (1892), says that Zebulon Rice moved to "Bakersfield" where he was an appraiser of William Wright's estate in 1777. The Diary of Rev. Ebenezer Parkman, 1703-1782, has numerous references to Zebulon Rice who was a "carpenter." ABIGAIL FORBUSH was born on 17 Feb 1717/18 in SUTTON, WORCESTER CO., MA.6,2 She died after 1790.2

Source: James Vinson Genealogy, San Jose, CA

Beriah Rice, son of Thomas and Ann, removed from Massachusetts to Nova Scotia in 1760. He and two of his sons set sail from Boston on 17 May 1760 aboard the ship "Charming Molly" and took with him from Marlborough,  two oxen and two cows. His will was recorded, 27 June 1764.

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