vital records sources
The will of Henry Farnham of Rochester, Kent, England, refers to his under-age children Ralph and "Edie," who were to get Henry's house and tenement in Leeds, Kent. The will was written on 20 December 1618 when Henry was aboard East India Company ship Moon and was probated on 18 February 1619/20. Ralph and his family were living in Rochester, Kent, England, as early as 1628, when Ralph's first child was baptized at St. Nicholas Church. He was a barber there, confirmed in the baptism record of his son Thomas. He and his family sailed from Southampton, England, on 6 April 1635 on the ship James, which landed in Boston on 13 July 1635. Ralph settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, as a proprietor in 1639.
children, maybe not all, of Ralph Farnum and probably Alice (she isn't named in any of the English baptism records):
Mary ("the daughter of Ralph Farnam") bap. 13 July 1628
Thomas ("the sonn of Raph Farman Barber") bap. 10 April 1631
Ralph ("the sonn of Ralph Forman") bap. 4 August 1633
Sarah, b. abt. 1639, d. 12 May 1728 in her 90th year (age 89)
John b. 1640/41
1.
all text and photographs © 1998-2020 by Doug Sinclair unless where otherwise noted
Ede Ffarnam m. 5 June 1628 Isaac Francis, St. Nicholas, Rochester, bur. 11 December 1634, St. Dunstan, Edith, wife of Isaac Francis of Prusens Island, mariner https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1125550:1624?tid=&pid=&queryId=b58f2980-98f8-45c9-ae00-980dac38f11e&_phsrc=Zjb2361&_phstart=successSource
children:
Susan Francis, bap. 17 May 1630, St. Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, dau. of Isaack, mariner of Ratcliffe, and Edie https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1624/images/31280_194793-00346?treeid=&personid=&queryId=dcc1cc5f-275f-4118-89ef-336330d33074&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Zjb2366&_phstart=successSource&pId=3505387
Isaac Francis, bap. 28 July 1633, 9 days old, St. Dunstan, Stepney, son of Isaac, mariner of Pruson's Island, and Edith https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/563761:1624?tid=&pid=&queryId=d5674667-7d37-4047-bd9f-9c212eba4e36&_phsrc=Zjb2353&_phstart=successSource
Alice's second husband apparently disappeared, a situation revealed in the following:
27 March 1662
This witnesseth that whereas Solo. Martin, late of Andover, in Co. Of Essex, have house and land in said town and he having been gone out of the country six or seven years [since 1655-1656] and the house and land going to ruine and decay for want of improvement and repair and there being also a contract at marriage between said Sol. And Alice his wife that she should have the disposing of what estate she brought to him and he having sold land which was hers lying at Ipswich for the value of £16 for prevention of further loss by the house and lands lying idle land not improved and rates continually rising from the land which will in time (if not prevented) eat it out. How therefore this witnesseth--that Alice Martin, wife unto Sol Martin before named in consideration of £12 secured unto her to be paid within 4 years is willing to resign up all the house and land of her said husband's Sol Martin's unto the hands of Nathan Parker for the use of Samuel Martin son unto the said Solomon, only reserving liberty to live in
sd. House during her life and to have the 3rd part of the fruit of the orchard if she desire it--and the sd. Alice doth declare that the £12 is all her demand for the £16 that the land at Ipswich was sold for or anything else which she might claim by reason of or by virtue of the contract aforesaid only what moveables or household goods she brot with her she is to have by virtue of the aforesaid contract. The Court 1st held at Ipswich March 27, 1662, do allow of this as that which is most expedient judging best for all parties.
Robert Lord, Cleric