The name of Colburn, with many variations of spelling, is found in the early histories of England, Scotland, and Ireland. There is good reason to believe that the origin of the name is not Saxon but Scandinavian. Our Edward Colburn was born in 1618 perhaps in Laycock, Wiltshire and died on 07 Feb. 1711 at Dracut, Ma. There is no definitive proof of his English location or of his early heritage. Edward came from England on the ship “Defence”, Edward Bostock, Master, arriving in Boston on 03 Oct.1635 after a voyage of 54 days. On the passenger manifest we find Edward Colburn ,age 17, and Robert Colburn, age 28. They may have been brothers but there is no sub- sequent records to validate this. Arriving at Boston, Edward journeyed to Ipswich, Ma. where he remained until he removed, with his family, to Dracut, Ma. in 1668. Most of the town records of Ipswich, Ma. were destroyed by fire in 1831. We do know he married Hannah (–) 1642 in Ipswich. She is assumed to have been born ca 162x; we know not her surnme or place of birth. She died in Ipswich in 1666+, the date of birth of her last child, Lydia, but prior to 13 Sept. 1668 which is the date of the deed between John Evered, alias Webb, and Edward Colburn, wherein she is not mentioned.

Edward Colburn was called Nathaniel Saltonstall’s farmer. We conclude that he was the superin- tendent and manager of the estate of Nathaniel Saltonstall who was a very prominent citizen of Ipswich. Consistent with this is the fact that there are no records of our Edward owning a farm until he, with his family, removed to Dracut. It is said that Edward Colburn decision to come to New England was greatly influenced by Nathaniel son of Richard Saltonstall.

There are few records relating to Edward Colburn. On 20 May 1648, he signed his name as a witness to a will. In August 1664, Richard Saltonstall conveyed to his son Nathaniel a “farm in Ipswich at the new meadows containing, by estimation, eight hundred acres now in the occupa- tion of Edward Colburn”. This would indicate that Edward Colburn rented the farm from the Saltonstalls. This was a fairly common arrangement in the early colonial days, i,e., one person or family would rent a farm, work the farm, and, hopefully, the renter would prosper if there was a profit after paying the rent. At this time, Edward Colburn, with others, owned a tract of land on Hoy Island which was located off the Ipswich shore.

In 1668, our Edward embarked upon a major endeavor, i.e., he moved to a newly established community by the name of Dracut. He was probably the first settler in Dracut who owned land with the intention of making a permanent settlement. On 13 Sept. 1668 a deed was executed between John Evered, alias Webb, of the town of Dracut upon the Merrimack in the county of Norfolk, a merchant, and Mary, his wife, of the one part and Edward Colburn of the town of Ipswich, a yeoman, of the other part. The consideration was thirteen hundred pounds of lawful money for an estimated 1000 acres. This farm was bounded on the south and west side by the Merrimack River and extended up the river a distance of three and one quarter miles. The names of Tyng, Hinchman, and Webb appeared as owners; they held the property only for sale as they were not settlers but rather speculators. John Evered, alias Webb, held, as a speculator, other land in the area. Evered, in 1664, sold to Richard Saltonstall and Samuel Varnum a tract of 500 acres; Richard Saltonstall sold his share to one Major Thomas Hinch who in turn sold that share to Edward Colburn in 1671. This tract bounded our Edward Colburn’s property on the east side and increased Edward’s total tract. These two transaction provide more insight concerning our ancestor. Thirteen hundred pounds plus what he paid for the second tract was a considerable amount of money for the time period involved. Of interest is the method of payment spelled out in the initial deed. “Thirteen hundred pounds in current pay of New England, that is to say two thirds of the said sum of thirteen hundred pounds in wheat, malt and pease (peas) and the other third in beef, pork, and Indian corn by even and equal portions and also in such manner and upon such Days, Times, and Places as here after noted”. Obviously, our Edward Colburn was a man of “fair means”. I think we can say that Edward was a very industrious man, a person of foresight willing to take risk.

This overall property was on the north side of the Merrimack , which became Dracut, and across the river from Chelmsford on the south side. Our Edward was the first settler on the north side of the river and as such subject to much danger from Indian raids. In response to this danger he built a stout “Garrison House” coupled with other houses for his family, i.e., sons and sons-in-law. In times of danger, the total family would take to the “Garrison House” where they were able to protect themselves from the thieving bands of Indians; when larger bands of Indians were on the warpath, he could summon aid from Chelmsford across the river. Edward Colburn’s “Garrison House” with some additions and modifications is standing today.

Edward Colburn was a soldier, a corporal in the local military company of Chelmsford during King Philip’s war 1675-1677. He was in command of the local garrison in 1689 during the French and Indian or King William’s war. He was involved in many confrontations the native American, i.e., the Indians. While the Colburns and their neighbors, the Varnums, were ready to defend their homes, they were also ready to live peacefully with the Indians. Many times they would respond to the Indians requests and comply with their demands when they were under no legal obligation to do so. There is a record of a deed from John Sagamore, an Indian leader, of Natick, in which they paid John Sagamore 300 pounds in silver for certain lands in Dracut which were already owned by the Colburns and Varnums. In a deed dated 04 April 1701, the same John Thomas Sagamore conveyed to the children of Edward Colburn, i.e., Thomas, Daniel, Ezra, Joseph, John and Robert Colburn as well as their sister Hannah Colburn Richardson, widow, plus Thomas, John, and Joseph Varnum a total of two to three thousand acres of land lying on the Merrimack river.

Our Edward Colburn was a man of significance in Ipswich. His real legacy is in the settling of Dracut, Ma. where he was the primary leader in the development of that town. In the process he acquired very large amounts of land. He lived there from 1668 until his death on 07 Feb. 1711. The descendants of Edward are of great number and located through-out the United States. They have participated in every local and national conflict since the earliest of colonial times, reaching the ranks of admirals in the Navy and generals in the Army. They have held civil offices from the local level, to the state level and to the national level.
References:PH7:167; PH72:65; PH87:156,684; FH79:5-15.

Thomas Colburn, the fourth son and child of Edward and Hannah (–) Colburn, was born in 1648 at Ipswich, Ma. and died prior to 1728 in Dracut,Ma. He first married Hannah Rolfe on 06 Aug. 1672 at Chelmsford. She evidently died prior to 17 Nov.1681 the date of his second marriage to Mary Richardson, who born on 14 April 1662 at Chelmsford and died 1706+, the date of the birth of her last child, at Dracut,Ma. Edward Colburn, while living, divided his land between his sons. As this land laid on the north side of the river, he was able to give each son a river lot. On 22 Feb 1671 Thomas Colburn’s father deeded to him one- eighth of the “Webb farm”; in 1693 Thomas had an equal share, with his brothers, Daniel, Ezea, and Joseph, from his father of the land “by me purchased of Major Thomas Hinchman, which land is known by the name of the Satchell Land.” A later deed bearing the date of 1699 from Edward (1) informs us that “in consideration of the help and able service which my son Thomas hath yeilded to me in my age and weakness which I am to recompense him for have giveen, I give said Thomas two acres of land in tillage which is a part of my home lot adjoining the land of Joseph Colburn “. Our Thomas Colburn, in his own right had a fair amount of land. It is assumed that he was a member of the local militia. All of his children were born in Dracut, Ma.
References:PH7:168; FH54:291; FH79:5,15,17; FH247:42,47.

Daniel Colburn, the fifth son and child of Edward and Hannah (–) Colburn, was born in 1654 at Ipswich, Ma. and died 01 Aug. 1712 probably at Dracut, Ma. He married ,14 June 1685, at Dracut Sarah Blood ,who was born 01 Aug 1658 at Concord, Ma. and died 01 June 1741 at Dracut,Ma. She was the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Willard Blood.of Concord,Ma.

Daniel Colburn and his wife Sarah lived the first ten years of their marriage in Dracut. In 1697. having purchased land in Concord, Ma., his wife’s early home, they removed to that town where the births of their three youngest children are recorded. He also purchased, in 1710, land in Concord of his brother-in-law, Samuel Blood. However, in the appraisal of Daniel Colburn’s estate, 31 March 1713, therein is reference to our Daniel being of Dracut.So it would seem that Daniel and his family left Concord at some time and returned to Dracut. In 1682, his father conveyed to him one eight of the fore mentioned “Webb Farm” which was the part formerly granted to his brother, Edward, who, in1676, seven years previous, had been killed by Indians. In 1693 Daniel was granted an equal share in the fore mentioned “Satchell” land. All of the children of Daniel and Sarah, with the exception of Mary who married (–) Harris and lived elsewhere, settled in Dracut where many of their descendants are living at the present time. It seems that our Daniel Colburn followed the traditions of his parents and siblings in his way of life and lifestyle.
References:PH7:167; FH47:1-7, 141-145; FH79:15,18.

Sarah Colburn, the first child and daughter of Daniel and Sarah Blood Colburn, was born on 14 Jan. 1688 and died on 1727+ which is the year of birth of her last child Simon who was born on 02 August 1727. There are no known records of her subsequent to this date. She married, on 08 June 1709 at Dracut, Ma., her cousin, Josiah Colburn, the son of Thomas and Mary Richardson Colburn.
References:FH79:17-18,24.

Josiah Colburn, the first son and child of Thomas and Mary Richardson Colburn. was born 16 March 1684 in Dracut. He was first named Jonathan and then named Josiah after his father-in-law, Josiah Richardson. He died 06 August 16, 1745 in Dracut,Ma. He married, on 08 June 1709 in Charleston, Ma, his cousin, Sarah Colburn, born 14 Jan. 1688 in Dracut who was the daughter of Daniel and Sarah Blood Colburn. She died 1727+, the year of her last born child Simon who was born 02 August 1727. Her date of death is not specifically related to her last born child; records of her after this date are not known.
Josiah Colburn combined the occupations of weaver and farmer On 24 March 1710, with his Uncle Ezra, and cousins Samuel and Abraham, sons of Ezra, he purchased of John Moulton or Moriton, the grant of 200 acres laid out to Roger Conant. This tract lay north of New Boston Village in Dracut, its southeast corner being a few rods west of the present site of the village schoolhouse. In 1719, he sold one fourth of this tract to his cousin Edward, son of Daniel Colburn. He also owned 500 acres of the Winthrop Farm, which lay near the part of Dracut now called Kenwood. Josiah Colburn held the office of selectman from 1713 to 1716. Our Josiah Colburn, like those before him, seemed to be a successful farmer who had a fair amount of land.
References:FH79:17-18, 24

Mary Colburn, probably the fourth child and third daughter of Josiah and Sarah Colburn Colburn, was born on 16 October 1721 at Dracut, Ma. She died on 1756+ which is the year of the last known record of her. She married ,on 17 March 1738 at Dracut, Ma., David Fox who was born on 19 March 1717 at Dracut, Ma. and died there in 1759. He was the son of Nathaniel and Hannah Merriam Fox.
References:FH79:24; FH139:182-183,187-188.