EARLY INHABITANTS OF IPSWICH, MASS. By Abraham Hammatt , page 26

 BELCHER, Jeremy, came to New England in 1635, in the ship Susan and Ellen, being then twenty‑two years of age. He was a commoner in 1641 and 1664. He died March 31, 1693, under which date Samuel Belcher, clerk, is appointed administrator on his estate. He had :

 Judith, born August 19, 1658, Mary, born July 12, 1660,

David. born 1662,

Richard Sept. 10, 1665.

 The "widow Belcher," probably his relict, died in October, 1700. He possessed a farm on which Thomas Burnham, jun'r dwelt, 1664. In 1652, September 20, he conveys in trust to Robert Payne and Robert Lord of Ipswich, and Richard Brown of Newbury, certain lands, "there being an intent of marriage between myself and Mary Lockwood of Ipswich," &c. March 14, 1655, he sells to John Appleton, a farm of one hundred acres situated between the farm of John Adams and the land of Thomas Safford. 1657, Oct. 10, he sells to John Appleton a house and eleven acres of land which he purchased of Thomas Rowlinson, late of  Ipswich, bounded by the common north west, Daniel Warner south west, river south east, land of the said Mr. Appleton north east. Also six acres of marsh in the hundreds near Rowley. The name Serg't Belcher is in a ``list of those that by law are allowed to have their votes in Town affairs," Dec. 2, 1679.

 Richard 2, probably son of Jeremy 1, was a commoner in 1697. He was married March 20, 1689 to Mary Simson, grandaughter to Francis and Jane Gordan. They had children:

Jane, born March 26, 1690,

David, born December 19, 1691,

Richard, Oct. 22, 1693,

Thomas, May 29, 1696.

Samuel 2, probably son of Jeremy 1, on whose estate he was administrator, was born about 1640, and died March 10, 1714, (see epitaph 23.) His story is short and mournful. After receiving the honors of  Harvard College in 1659, he preached the gospel at the Isles of Shoals and at Newbury many years, as is recorded in his epitaph. But our wary neighbors did not permit him to acquire what is technically called a residence; and having outlived his popularity as a preacher, he was sent back to his native town to be maintained as a pauper. Thus says tradition. It may be hoped that a consciousness of having served his Master faithfully, sustained his spirit under the accumulated pressure of age, poverty and neglect. His wife, Mercy, survived him fourteen years, and died on the 14th of November, 1728. In the account of Nathaniel Lord, Town Treasurer, under the date, Feb 13, 1729, the town is charged with £3, 2, 10, paid "Doct'r Berry for Goode Belcher." Probably for medical attendance in her last sickness.

 His destitution was not quite so great as might be inferred from the tradition. His effects at his decease were appraised at £58 10 8d, in the currency of that day, which is equivalent to about $175 of present money. Among his effects were nineteen ounces of old plate, valued at £7, 12, and books valued at £8, 10, relics of former prosperity. The rest of his property consisted of "living stock," probably a cow, valued at £6, wearing apparel, £4, 5, and various articles of household furniture, amounting in value to 33, 10, 8.

Index of Names