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- He came to the U.S. on the ship "Arbella" in 1630. He was the first Colby in America, and the Colby from whom most present day Colbys living in America originate.
There are many Colbys that have left their mark on America. As America expanded, the Colby family moved with it. When America moved towards independence, no Colby refused to sign the New Hampshire Association Test of 1776.
The ancient home of the Colby family, at least in the United States, can still be found in Amesbury. Amesbury is in the northernmost part of Massachusetts, almost to the border with New Hampshire. The directions to see this wonderful home, exit 495 at the route 110 Amesbury exit, follow route 110 (Haverhill Road) east until you come to the next set of traffic lights, go right onto Main Street, the Macy Colby house is about a half mile down on the right. There is a paved drive going to the cemetery at one side of the house along with a large marker placed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission. The house is dark brown, with a bright coral-colored door. Over the door is a sign - "1654". There is a window on either side of the door on the ground floor and three windows on the upper floor. There is a large bush at each corner.
The original house consisted of just the two front rooms on the ground floor and a loft above. Later, a keeping room was added at the rear and two rooms on a second floor. Much later still, a kitchen was added behind the keeping room. To this day, no running water, electricity, or modern heating has been added. The last Colby moved across the street in 1958. The house belongs to the Bartlett Cemetery Association, as it is on their land. It has been cared for by the local Josiah Bartlett Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Access to it can be had, sometimes, through the Amesbury Public Library.
There are treasured items of the Colby family still in the house. The items in the fireplace area of the keeping room are the ones that have always been there. In the corner of the front room, is a corner cabinet that Anthony had brought over from England as a present for Susannah. Also, in the front room in front of the fireplace is a cradle. Just as if it were ready to have a baby placed in it. This cradle belonged to a friend of the family - Susannah North Martin. She was hanged in Salem as a witch. There is a good story here, too! There are items of bric-a-brac, portraits on the wall of unnamed Colbys, and of the last Colby (with his faithful dog) who lived in the house. Upstairs is the loom-room. Who was the weaver? We don't know, now. At the back of the loom-room is a door leading to a storage room. There are trunks, boxes, bags and stacks of books among the boards and old windows. What treasures must be there!
There is also a stairway down to the keeping room. You can see the wear of the years on the stairs. The original narrow steps & high treads stairs is at the front of the house. The floor boards are about 15" wide throughout the house. Some of the latches on the doors are handmade - by who? When?
He was one of the founding Fathers in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.
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1605 - 1660 (54 years)
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