Table Of Content

rU #'CS7I.BII8 1903 cM Copy 2 I'lKtHASKI) FROM THE INCOMKOK THK t JOSIAH H. BENTON FUND 5^ TO MY DEAR WIFE, Whose faithful assistance has never faltered during the long years which have been necessary to connplete my task, I gratefully dedicate this volume. The Author. PREFACE. THE compiler of this work has for more than thirty years given much time to gathering Babcock family records, with at first no expectation of including more than the whom records of the descendants of his grandfathers, both of were Babcocks, though remotely related. As the work grew the idea of publishing developed, and for the past four years the most of his otherwise leisure time has been given to it. The work begins with James Badcock (Babcock), who set- tled in Portsmouth, R. I., in 1642, in Westerly, R. I., 1662, and died there June 12, 1679. It includes records of about two thousand families, which can be traced with certainty to the James Babcock referred to above. Some of these are of the eleventh generation of Babcocks in America. Records for this book have been collected from Westerly and other town records and from scores of published works, among the most valuable of which are Colonial Records of : Rhode Island and Connecticut. Arnold's Vital Records of Rhode Island. Wheeler's History of Stonington, Smith's Civil and Military Lists of Rhode Island, Town Meeting Records of Portsmouth, R. I., Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth, and History of the Town of Plymouth, the last two by William T. Davis. ]\Iuch the larger part have l^een gathered from family records never before published. The author has been assisted in this work by many, among whom should be mentioned Col. A. J. Babcock, of Springfield, 111., who for more than twenty years has been an enthusiastic collector of Babcock genealogy. He loaned the author all of his Babcock records, which included several hundred pages of manuscript, and has written, perhaps, hundreds of letters to the author and others in his efforts to make this volume a full and accurate genealogical record. Mr. A. Emerson Babcock, of Brighton, N. Y., has spent much time, effort, and money in collecting records of the descendants of his progenitor, Isaiah Babcock, Sr., of the fifth vi Preface. generation. His records are included in this book, and are published as prepared by him in the last part of the volume. Mr. Edwin Babcock, of Westerly, R. I., has for a generation been collecting Babcock family records, and is considered authority on Babcock genealogy. By his kind permission the author has had free access to his records. Space forbids mentioning by name the hundreds who have given records of one or several families, but the author wishes to especially thank the following, who have given much help in collecting genealogical records: Rev. Charles H. Babcock, D.D., Providence, R. I.; Mr. William P. Abbott, St, Paul, Minn. Hon. Henry L. Green, Riverpoint, R. I. the late Hon. ; ; Horatio Gates Jones. Philadelphia, Pa.; the late Rev. Rufus Babcock, D.D., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Miss Mary Rodman, ; Groton, Conn. the late Mr. Nathan Babcock, Westerly, R. I. ; Phebe J;. B. Wait, M.D., New York City; Mrs. Julia M. B. Ambler, Chatham, N. Y. Rev. Theodore Babcock, D.D., Syracuse, N. Y.; Mr. W. I.; Babcock, New York City; Mrs. Persis Gray, San Francisco, Cal. Mr. Stephen E. Bab- ; cock, .South Bend, Ind. Mrs. Judge Edward Thomas, Brook- ; Rlyan,ymNo.ndY.E;. DLoudcgye,A.NeBwabYcoorckk,CiMt.yD.,MiAslsfrFeldo,raN.I. YB.ab;coMcrk., ; St. Paul, Minn. ; Mr. Cyrus Henry Brown, Westerly, R. I. ; Mrs. Mary A. Babcock, Phenix, R". I. Mrs. Mary Gooding, ; Los Angeles, Cal. Miss Margaret L Van Patten, Westerly, R. L Mrs. Prude;nce Carter, New York City Mrs. Clara ; ; Babcock Wadsworth, Binghamton, N. Y. Mr. Charles H. ; Green, Alfred, N. Y. Mr. Daniel Babcock, Phenix, R. L; ; ]\Iiss Grace D. Wheeler, Stonington, Conn. For reasons given in the explanations, many dates found in this work may be questioned by some, although the author has taken great pains to verify dates and statements. Trusting that unavoidable errors will be excused if such be found, this work is now submitted to the public.