M. 16 Mar 1669 in Beverly, Massachusetts2
Wife: Mary Bishop
D. 7 Jun 1701 in Concord, Massachusetts1
Robert Colburn left his name to many descendants in 18th century New England by producing a large number of male offspring. Robert was born in about 1647 to Edward and Hannah Colburn in Ipswich, Massachusetts;1,2 the early records of Ipswich were lost in an 1831 fire, so the exact date of his birth is unknown. He was one of seven brothers and only two sisters, suggesting there may have been something genetic about the abundance of boys.
On March 16, 1669, Robert married Mary Bishop of Beverly,2 and for the next couple of years, they lived in that coastal town. A son was born in September 1670, then Robert’s father bought some wilderness land above the Merrimack River in Chelmsford, and Robert joined him by moving there. Robert made his home on this land; his only daughter was born there in 1673,3 followed by two more sons.3
The mid-1670s was a time of friction with the indigenous tribes who lived in Massachusetts. Because the northern fringe of Chelmsford was vulnerable to attack, Robert’s father enlisted him and his brothers to help build a garrison house. But during King Philip’s War, on March 18, 1676, some of the Wamesit tribe raided the area and burned several houses, including "three or four that belong to the family of Edward Colburn."4 It’s likely that one of the houses was Robert’s, because the family left Chelmsford after this date, moving back to Beverly. Robert remained there until at least 1691; during that time, six more sons were born, one of whom died young.
By the time Robert’s youngest son was born in about 1698,2 Robert may have been living in Concord, where he spent his final few years. In 1700, he sold his Chelmsford property,5 now part of the new town of Dracut, to one of his brothers. Robert must have become sick in early 1701 because he made out a will dated April 21st.6 He died on June 7th at the age of 54, and the will was probated that summer. Along with dividing his estate among his daughter and nine surviving sons, he specified that 11-year-old William was to be "put out to a suitable apprenticeship to some good trade." This must have been carried out because William lived a long life as a shoemaker in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.2
Robert Coburn's signature from his will.
Children:
1. Edward Colburn — B. before 4 Sep 1670, Beverly, Massachusetts;7 D. before 6 Apr 1741, Concord, Massachusetts;8 M. (1) Sarah Hayward (1671-1719), 29 Mar 1694, Marblehead, Massachusetts;7 M. (2) Mercy Hett (1680-?)8
2. Mary Colburn — B. 22 Jan 1673, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;2 D. about Feb 1757;9 M. (1) Jonathan Baker (1669-1707);9 (2) Samuel Balch (1678-1754), 21 Nov 1710, Beverly, Massachusetts9
3. Robert Colburn — B. about 1674, (probably) Chelmsford, Massachusetts;3 D. after 21 Apr 17016
4. Ebenezer Colburn — B. before 20 Feb 1676, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;3 D. 27 Dec 1749, York, Maine;2 M. Sarah Storer (1682-1770)2
5. Daniel Colburn — B. before 11 Aug 1678, Beverly, Massachusetts;7 D. before 22 Aug 1750, Dudley, Massachusetts;10 M. Elizabeth Conant (1681-1724), 21 Sep 1700, Beverly, Massachusetts7
6. Benjamin Colburn — B. before 13 Mar 1681, Beverly, Massachusetts;7 D. before 29 Aug 1746, Bedford, Massachusetts;11 M. Elizabeth French (1682-?), 6 Jun 1704, Concord, Massachusetts1
7. Joseph Colburn — B. before 13 Mar 1681, Beverly, Massachusetts;7 D. 21 Sep 1758, Dracut, Massachusetts;2 M. Hannah Harwood (~1684-1760), 26 Jan 1709, Concord, Massachusetts1
8. John Colburn — B. before 18 Apr 1686, Beverly, Massachusetts;7 D. 19 Mar 1749, Waltham, Massachusetts2
9. William Colburn — B. Dec 1689, (probably) Beverly, Massachusetts;2 D. 3 Apr 1774, Hollis New Hampshire;2 M. Margery French (1687-1774)2
10. Thomas Colburn — B. 18 Oct 1691, Beverly, Massachusetts;7 D. before 21 Apr 17012
11. Nathaniel Colburn — B. about 1698, Massachusetts;2 D. before 1 Jan 1776, Leominster, Massachusetts;12 M. Dorcas Jones (1704-1799), 19 Jan 1723, Concord, Massachusetts2
Sources:
1 Concord, Massachusetts Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1635-1850, 1895
2 Genealogy of the descendants of Edward Colburn/Coburn, George Augustus Gordon and Silas Roger Coburn, 1913
3 Vital Records of Chelmsford, MA, to the End of the Year 1849, 1914
4 History of Dracut, Massachusetts, p. 55, Silas Roger Coburn, 1922
5 History of Dracut, Massachusetts, p. 372
6 Middlesex County Probate packet #4788, Robert Colburn 1701
7 Vital Records of Beverly MA, to the End of the Year 1850, 1906-1907
8 Middlesex County Probate packet #4788, Edward Colburn 1741
9 The Essex Antiquarian, Vol. V., Sidney Perley, 1901
10 Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881, case #12574
11 Middlesex County Probate, File 4650, Benjamin Colburn, order for inventory
12 Worcester County Probate Records, case #12688, Nathaniel Colburn, 1776
