vital records sources
go to Humphry Russell's page

Bethiah was raised in a part of Dartmouth that became Fairhaven, Massachusetts. She asked to join the Dartmouth Monthly Meeting of Friends on 17 March 1777. "Bethiah Eldredg presented a few lines to this meeting desiring to come under friends care. Deborah Hayden and Naomy Howland are appointed to converse with her and have the mater under their care to find wheither she is worthy of her request and they to make report when ready." "The committee that was appointed to see into the sincerity of Bethiah Eldredg requesting to come under friend care report they found pretty good satisfaction and they think she may be received, and in consideration thereof, she is admitted into membership and under the care of this meeting." That was on 16 June 1777.
     On 20 and 21 February 1780, Bethiah and Humphry Russell, with the consent of their parents, informed the Men's and Women's Meetings respectively that they wanted to marry. Both had committees appointed to determine their "clearness" (certainty) about the marriage. Both Meetings approved the marriage at their next meeting and they were married on 29 March 1780. The copy of the marriage record made for the Meeting has all the signatures of those that attended. Most of the close relatives were there. Notable absences were Humphrey's mother and Bethia's sister Ruby. Other siblings were still children and wouldn't have signed the list of attendees. A few of the men in the family were known to have been ship's captains and may have been at sea.
     Bethiah and Humphrey lived on a farm in the Apponegansett neighborhood of Dartmouth until his father gave him a lot of land in New Bedford in 1804. They had a house built there and Humphrey transitioned from farming to opening a dry goods store with his son-in-law . Bethiah, Humphrey and their children Sarah and Gilbert transferred their membership from Dartmouth to New Bedford Monthly Meeting in May 1805. Their daughter Rebecca, who married Elisha Thornton, stayed a member in Dartmouth while Elisha attended meetings in New Bedford, but transferred her membership there with her parents and siblings. Their son John had been given a certificate to transfer to New Bedford in 1797, but he was only 16. He was allowed to come back to Dartmouth in 1799 and his father asked for help finding him an apprentice position there, suggesting he had one in New Bedford that didn't work out. One potential situation in Dartmouth didn't work out either and in 1800, John was given a certificate to the New York Monthly Meeting.
     Bethiah was active in the affairs of the New Bedford Women's Monthly Meeting, serving as an Overseer of the Poor and perhaps other activities that might be found with more research. She lived at 13 South Sixth Street, New Bedford, for about 46 years and died there of old age. She was nearly 91. She is buried next to Humphry in the Friends section of Rural Cemetery, New Bedford.

The will of Bethiah (Eldredge) Russell:

Be it remembered that I Bethiah Russell of New Bedford...widow do on this twenty ninth day of twelfth month in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and forty five, make public and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, to wit:

I give the Preparative Meeting of Friends in New Bedford aforesaid the sum of ten dollars

I give the Preparative Meeting of Friends in Dartmouth...the sum of ten dollars

I give to Walter S. Thornton, son of my grandson John R. Thornton, to Gilbert E. Thornton, son of my grandson Gilbert R. Thornton, to Edward B. Thornton, son of my grandson Elisha Thornton, Jr., to Thornton Briggs, son of my granddaughter Mary T. Briggs, to Elisha T. Gerrish, son of my granddaughter Virginia R. Gerrish and to Joseph Ricketson, Jr., son of my granddaughter Frances M. Ricketson the sum of ten dollars each.

I give to Arthur and Anna Ricketson, children of Daniel Ricketson, the sum of ten dollars earch to be paid to Daniel Ricketson and held and managed by him until they attain the age of twenty one years.

I give to Sarah Ann Thornton my granddaughter the mahogany bureau now standing my north chamber

I give to Jerusha H. Macomber, the wife of John Macomber of said New Bedford a pair of brass andirons, tongs and shovel and the bedstead now standing in my north chamber and bedding sufficient for one bed, also a black walnut bureau.

I give to Sally Wood of said New Bedford the bureau now standing in my south bedroom

I give to my grandson Elisha Thornton, Jr., my desk and bookcase

I give to my grandson John R. Thornton my concordance also my silver porringer marked "J. W. to B. R."

I give to my grandson Gilbert R. Thornton a sufficient sum of money to purchase a silver porringer equal to the one I have John R. Thornton

I give to my daughter Rebecca Thornton an suite of calico curtains

I give to my daughter Sarah E. Ricketson the sum of one hundred dollars to make of the deficiency in her outfits

I give to Mrs. Gilbert E. Russell of Mobile the sum of fifty dollars

I give to my grandson Wm. T. Russell, son of my deceased son John W. Russell my Dutch family Bible

I give to Mary Russell the bureau she now occupies, a narrow bedstead, bed and beddings and it is my request that my daughter Rebecca Thornton will take her into her house and give her a home as long as she Rebecca Thornton lives [Mary may have been an adopted daughter. She was born abt 1825 and lived first with the Thorntons and then with the Gerrishes, and moved with the latter family when they went to Brooklyn, NY. She likely died there on 15 Sep 1872)

I give all my wearing apparel to my two daughters Rebecca Thornton and Sarah E. Ricketson and it is my request that all such articles as may be of no value to them that they will give them to Mary Russell.

I request that all such articles of bed, bedding and furniture as may be of no use to my daughters that they will keep them for the use and comfort of the poor and distressed.

All the residue of my property I give and demise as follows, to wit: one fourth part to Sarah E. Ricketson, one fourth part to Rebecca Thornton, one fourth part to William T. Russell and one fourth part to Phebe Ann Russell, children of my deceased son John W. Russell.

I appoint John R. Thornton and Gilbert R. Thornton exectuors of this will and testament.

In testimony of which I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written

Bethiah Russell

[witnesses:]

Alanson Gooding, Joseph Ricketson, John Bailey

Children of Bethiah Eldredge and Humphry Russell:

i. John Wady, b. 22 July 1781
ii. Sarah E., b. 28 February 1785
iii. Rebecca, b. 22 May 1787
iv. Gilbert E., b. 14 February 1789

vital records sources: Bethiah's birth and death are recorded in the Dartmouth, MA, published vital records. Her marriage is in the New Bedford, MA, published vital records. Her death date is from her gravestone and is in the Massachusetts State Health Dept. death records.

1.