Updated Jan, 1998
(incomplete - There is a long-standing rumour within our family that we are descendants of the Yarmouth Eldridge's. At this point in time, there is no evidence to support this claim but there is evidence that would contradict it. Until such time as we have evidence to support this claim, I will not be doing any modifications on this file. Also, there is some uncertainty in the early genealogy of the Yarmouth Eldridge's. )
Roy Eldridge
(Please include a reference to the genealogy in the header of any email.)
Information from The Yarmouth Herald, Tues, Oct. 13, 1931.
Information on the descendents of Barnabas Eldridge provided by Reigh Eldridge of Fredericton, NB in 1995.
Information on the descendents of Jesse Eldredge provided by Gary Merrill, in 1997.
Some information from Eldredge Genealogy, by Zoeth S. Eldridge, from the New England Genealogical Register; Jan, 1897, pp. 47-54.
Eldridge is derived from the name Eldred, the name of a line of the Saxon kings in the 8th and 9th centuries. John Eldred, 1552-1632 was one of the founders of Virginia. He was a director of the Virginia Company from 1609 - 1624. It is possible that the Eldridges of Yarmouth were related to John Eldred.
{Note that in the book, The Rozee Story, 1688 - 1988, Barnabas Eldridge, Jr, is identified as the great, great grandson of Robert Eldridge, which may contradict the genealogy given below. This genealogy gives Barnabas Eldridge as the great grandson of William Eldred. Other evidence from the Yarmouth Herald suggests that Robert Eldridge and William Eldridge (Eldred) were contemporaries and, if related, may have been brothers.}
William (Eldred) Eldridge (GENERATION I) (at Yarmouth, Mass 1645 - 1667) m. Anne Lumpkin (d. of William and Tameeln Lumpkin). He was a brother-in-law of Samuel Mayo (John Mayo). He was constable at Yarmouth for several years.
Children (GENERATION II)
I. Anne Eldridge (Dec 16, 1648 - )
II. Sara Eldridge (Oct 10, 1650 - )
III. Elisha Eldridge (1653 - Oct 14, 1739 spelled Eldredg on grave) lived in Eastham, Mass m ?
Children (GENERATION III)
A) Elisha Eldredge (ab 1690 - Nov 9, 1754) m Dorcas Mulford (Mar 6, 1692-3 to about 1755) (d. of Thomas and Mary (Bassett) Mulford) on Mar 6, 1692-3. Moved from Eastham to Mansfield, Conn by 1711)
Children (GENERATION IV)
4 sons and 5 daughters in his will.
1. Mulford Eldredge (1713 - 1790) m Abiel ?
Children (GENERATION V)
a) Thomas Eldredge (Dec 28, 1736 - 1737) at 6 weeks.
b) Mary Eldredge (July 30, 1738-)
c) Thomas Eldredge (Oct 30, 1740 -)
d) Elisha Eldredge (Oct 30, 1742-)
e) Hezekiah Eldredge (Dec 29, 1744 - June 29, 1806) m Abigail Whiton, Jan 19, 1766
Children (GENERATION VI)
i) Abial Eldredge (Nov 23, 1766 -)
ii) Hezekiah Eldredge (Apr 13, 1768-)
iii) Elijah Eldredge (Mar 20, 1770 - Oct 11, 1843) m Bethiah Chapman
Children (GENERATION VII)
Sarah, Persis, Elijah, Hezekiah, Lucius, Abigail, Eri, Elizabeth, Royal Chapman and Cyrus Whiting
iv) Sybill (Mar 19, 1773 -)
2. Jesse Eldredge (Aug 9, 1715 - Dec 17, 1794) m Abigail Smith (d of Samuel and Abigail (Freeman) Smith) on Nov 7, 1734 - had 12 children
Children(GENERATION V)
a) Jesse Eldredge (bapt Apr 8, 1742 - May 9, 1788) m Mary Pierce on Mar 19, 1767
Children (GENERATION VI)
i) Enoch Eldridge (May 2, 1775 - Oct, 1861) m(1) Anna Pierce
Children (GENERATION VII)
a) Adin Eldridge (Mar 7, 1807 - Oct 14, 1862) m Mary Celina Rood
Children (GENERATION VIII)
i) Eunice Amanda Eldridge (Dec 30, 1830 - Feb 23, 1895) m Fayette Gillet on Mar 7, 1850
Children (GENERATION IX)
a) Mary Lucinda Gillet (Mar 15, 1851 - Oct 18, 1906) m Henry Eugene Merrill Oct 10, 1869
Children (GENERATION X)
i) Hernando Cortez Merrill (Oct 31, 1876 - Oct 17, 1943) m (1) Nellie Frances Ward June 8, 1904
m(2) Jessie (Wegner) Tatro on July 12, 1927
i) Enoch Eldridge (May 2, 1775 - Oct, 1861) m(2) Anna Esther Morehouse
i) Enoch Eldridge (May 2, 1775 - Oct, 1861) m(3) Wealthy Tift (before Aug, 1850)
3. Elisha Eldredge (1717/18 - ) m Priscilla Paddock (d of Robert Paddock and Martha (d of John and Priscilla (Bearsey) Hall)) in Jan, 1743 (Elisha was born in Mansfield and is believed to be the Elisha Eldridge who went to Yarmouth NS in 1761 as there is no record of his death in Mansfield)
Children (GENERATION V)
a) Bethia Eldredge (Feb 26, 1743 -)
b) Eunlee Eldredge (Jan 15, 1746 -)
c) Thomas Eldredge (Mar 9, 1751 -)
d) Elishama Eldredge (Sept 9, 1752 -) m(1) Sarah Crosby (-before 1785) (widow of Lemuel Crosby and d of John and Mary (Knowles) Wing) on Jan 17, 1775
m(2) Mary Holmes (w of Samuel Kimball (Thomas) and d of Peleg and Abigail (Bradford) Holmes
(See G.S. Brown: "Yarmouth Genealogies", for descendants)
e) Stephen Eldredge (Apr 12, 1756 -)
f) Juar Eldredge(June 16, 1760 -)
4. David Eldredge
5. Mary Eldredge (Mar 15, 1720/21 - ) m Newcomb
6. Dorcas Eldredge (Mar 15, 1720/21 - twins) m Joseph Doane
7. Jemima Eldredge m Lemuel Barrows on Feb 28, 1744 or 1745 (went to Yarmouth NS in 1761)
8. Bethia Eldredge m William Farwell
9. Tamesin Eldredge m Hezekiah Crane
IV. Bethia Eldridge
V. Jehosaphat Eldridge (- 1732) m Elizabeth Covel (- after 1755) (d of Nathaniel Covel and Sarah (d of William Nickerson))
Children (GENERATION III)
A) Nathaniel Eldridge m Sarah Conant (d of Joshua Conant) in 1712
B) Elnathan Eldridge (1694? - ) m(1) Hannah Kelley (d of Jeremiah Kelley)
m(2) Deliverance Lombard
C) Elizabeth Eldridge (not m by 1732)
D) Edward Eldridge (1702 -) m Mary Nickerson (d of Thomas Nickerson and Mary (Bangs))
E) Elisha Eldridge m Fear Nickerson (d of Robert Nickerson and Rebecca (Jones))
F) Ebenezeer Eldridge m Deliverance Nickerson (d of William Nickerson and Sarah (Covel)
G) Barnabas Eldridge (1710?- ) m Mary Hurd (?d of Jacob Hurd and Rebecca (Higgins)) on Oct 20, 1735
Children (GENERATION IV)
1. Edward Eldridge (Sept 9, 1736-?)
2. Asahel Eldridge (Oct 27, 1739-?)
3. Barnabas Eldridge (Oct 7, 1743 - 1784, lost at sea) m1 Patience Crowell (Apr 14, 1740 -) (d of Joseph Crowell (John, Yelverston) and Sarah (Howes)) in 1762. Moved to Yarmouth, NS about 1766.
m2 Temperance Stewart (d of Joseph Stewart and Mary (Hall) (d of Barnabas and Mary Hall)) on July 6, 1767
He had 8 children. (See Brown's "Yarmouth Genealogies".)
Children (GENERATION V)
a) Ebenezeer Eldridge (Oct 9, 1772 - Mar 27, 1863) m Olive Trask
Children(GENERATION VI)
ix) James Harvey Eldridge (- Jan 13, 1842 lost at sea) m Mehitable Vickery
Children (GENERATION VII)
a) James Harvey Eldridge (1834 - 1916) M Sarah Tooker in Nov, 1890 (had 5 sons and 1 daughter)
Children (GENERATION VII)
iii) George Harvey Eldridge (Oct 27, 1866 -Sept 29, 1959) m Julia Alice Rozee (Oct 9, 1866 - Oct 28, 1933) in Nov, 1890
(Note that this family line will continue in a separate file.)
4. Zenos Eldridge (Apr 11, 1746-?)
5. Marah (Mary?) Eldridge ((June 12, 1750-?)
6. Asahel Eldridge (Aug 12, 1753-?)
7. Asahel Eldridge (May 6, 1755-?)
?? was William Eldridge of Beaver Harbour, NB (1756 - 1829/30) another son or was he the third Asahel (1755 - ?)
VI. Samuel Eldridge m. Kezia Taylor (Feb 18, 1656 -) on Feb 6, 1680 in Yarmouth
Children (GENERATION III)
A. Kezia Eldridge (1695 - ) m John Crowell in 1718
VII. John Eldridge