David ALDEN

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David joined Isaac Backus's Titicut Church with his parents on 6 May 1748 (Titicut Parish Church, 27).

His father David Alden of Middleborough, deeded 12 December 1753 to David of Middleborough, forty acres he bought of his brother Ebenezer (Plymouth Co. LR, 43:10). His father confirmed this land to his son in his will of 14 May 1763, and David was to share with his siblings in the lot in Ashford (Plymouth Co PR, #77, 16:503-04). On 14 May 1768 David Alden of Middleborough, yeoman, participated in a deed with his siblings to sell the land in Ashford that had been his father's: David's wife Rhoda released her dower rights (Ashford LR, 11:11).

David Alden, Jr., was a signer of the statement of certain Middleborough citizens favoring annexation to Titicut, 11 August 1755. His autograph is on this document (MSA, 13:6369), The "Diary of Isaac Backus" has many entries for David Alden, including a biography (Backus Diary, 24).

David was a deacon (gravestone Purchade Burial Ground, Middleboro Deaths, 1).

In 1790 David Alden of Middleboro had two males and four females in his household (M637-4, p. 358).

David Alden, yeoman, on 21 Mach 1794, sold to his son Rufus land in Middleborough he had bought of Isaiah Keith and other land given him by his father (Plymouth Co LR, 78:133).

In 1800 the household of David Alden of Middleborough had one male over 45, one female 16-26, and one female over 45 (M32-16, p. 69A). In 1810 there was only one male and one female, both over 45 in David's household; listed next to Andrew Alden (M252-21, p.100).

David Alden of Middleborough, yeoman, made his will 30 November 1813, proved 23 February 1814. In it he named his wife Rhoda (all indoor movables and homestead furniture, all farming tools, neat stock, and the use and improvement of all the real estate); sons Rufus ($5), David (after wife's death, all his land lying north and west of the road which shall include his dwelling house and barn), and Andrew (the remainder of the estate); daughters Huldah Weston ($20) and Rhoda Vaughan ($100)' granddaughter Huldah Butler ($100, 1 cow, and 1 feather bed); and the heirs of Caleb Alden, deceased ($2) (Plymouth Co PR, #78, 45:260-61, 486).

David married Rhoda LEACH on 18 Dec 1755 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Rhoda (daughter of Joseph LEACH and Anna HARRIS) was born about 1737; died on 5 Jul 1814 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Rufus ALDEN was born on 18 May 1757 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
2. Caleb ALDEN was born on 26 Oct 1759 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
3. Huldah ALDEN was born on 18 Dec 1762 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
4. David ALDEN was born on 30 Jun 1766 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
5. Andrew ALDEN was born on 16 Oct 1769 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
6. Rhoda ALDEN

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The "Genealogical Letter" written by John Alden on 14 April 1801 to Zephaniah Leonard, Esqr., of Raynham, merely states that "David married Judah Paddleford-the genealogy of this family you can give more correct than myself" (MD, 6:111). David served on jury duty in December 1728 (Plymouth Co Ct recs, 2:92).

The will of John Alden of Middleborough, dated 23 September 1730 (proved 3 April 1731), names son David (4th share of 80 acres in "pachade men" in addition o fifty acres, etc., already given him by deed). David was appointed a co-executor with his mother, but renounced executorship and Hannah was appointed 3 April 1731 (Plymouth Co PR, #132; MD, 23:111-15). On 1 January 1732, John Alden, between the age of fourteen and twenty-one, chose David Alden of Middleborough as his guardian and David was also appointed guardian to Ebenezer Alden, under fourteen (Plymouth Co PR, #133; MD, 23:115-116). David Alden witnessed the will of his mother, Hannah Alden of Middleborough, dated 8 September 1732 in which he is not named (Plymouth Co PR, #101; MD, 23:116).

On 5 September 1746 Phineas Pratt; Ebenezer Barrow and Sarah his wife; Elizabeth Pratt, widow of John Pratt of Middleboro; Jabez Pratt and Nathan Pratt, all of Middleboro; and Nathaniel Washburn and wife Mary of Bridgewater quitclaimed to David Alden of Middleboro "land in Middleborough that belonged to father Samuel Pratt" (Plymouth Co LR, 38:231).

David and Judah Alden joined Isaac Backus's Titicut Church on 6 May 1748 their sons David Alden, Jr., and solomon Alden, and Davids brother Samuel, were among the charter members of the church on 8 March 1748. David and Samuel were received by the Council on 4 October 1751 and renewed 2 September 1752 (Titicut Church, 27, 29-30).

As a member of Isaac Backus's congregation, David is mentioned in the Reverend's diary a number of times. He "was one of the ore ardent New Lights in Titicut . . . . He signed the 1754 Separate petition to the General Court for relief from religious taxes. Apparently he did not become an antipedobaptist, for there is no record of his joining Backus's First Baptist Church.... David Alden, Jr., became a leading figure in Backus's church. The Aldens were involved in the iron trade, and Backus did some business with them on behalf of his brother's ironworks in Norwich" (Backus Diary, 24). In his record of deaths, Isaac Backus reported "His Son rufus was taken sick with ye bloody flux (dysentery) at Ashford & he set away to see him on Oct 12, 1754, & stayed till Rufus got better & then returned on Oct 21, & he was taken with ye same disease himself before he got home, tho he had it moderately & he got better, his Children Hannah & Silas were taken with it, after which David was taken on Nov 10. Peter was seized ye next Friday & Hannah & Phebe both died on thanksgiving day, Nov. 28. About that time, Job & Abigail were seized, Huldah died Dec 4, 1754 & her Mother & Solomon were taken about that Season. A distressing house indeed; but ye rest of 'em recovered in a fortnight or 3 weeks" (Isaac Backus "bills of Mortality"). In his diary he wrote on 4 November 1754 "Two of David Aldens Children ware seized with the feaver and bloody flux which has swept off So many in Connecticut lately; and I fear is a presage of that terrible distempers spreading among us here." On Saturday, 23 November, " preacht at the funeral of Peter, Son to David Alden who died yesterday morning with the blood flux. Five more of the family are now Sick with the same distemper. this disease has been terrible in Connecticut, but this family is the first which has had it among us...." On Friday, 29 November, he wrote "Just at night I attended the funeral of Br. D. Aldens 2 daughters Hannah and Phebe who were both laid in one grave. Hannah died a little before midnight lastnight. Three Children he has now buried in less than a week, who never buried a Child before." On Wednesday, 4 December, "Went to preach a leacture at Br. Eddy's, and learned just before meeting that Huldah Alden died this forenoon which seemed very shocking...Next day I went and preacht at Huldah's funeral from Job.23.3.4." Finally, on 3 September 1763 Backus recorded "Mr. David Alden (Sr.) died the 24th of Aug. A happy change I believe to him" (Backus Diary, 353, 356-57).

On 30 December 1755 David Alden and Joseph Alden of Middleborough sold to John Alden of Middleborough one half of the 10th lot of cedar swamp in the 26 Men's Purchase (Plymouth Co LR, 44:35).

On 7 August 1758 David was appointed guardian to the children of his brother-in-law Francis Eaton: Elijah, Susanna, Benjamin, and Mary (MF, 10:27).

He is probably the David Alden who bought part of the homeplace in Middleborough from John Eaton of Greenwich (probably his nephew) (Plymouth Co LR, 68:63; MF, 10:81).

David Alden of Middleborough bought land in Ashford, Connecticut, 2 June 1750, from William Metcalfe of Lebanon, Connecticut (Ashford LR, H:22).

David Alden gave his son Solomon a double portion of his estate in Titicut in 1751 (Plymouth Co LR, 41:197); his son rufus 100 acres in Ashford, and 2/3 of a sawmill on 30 December 1752 (Ashford LR, H:156); his son David, of Middleborough, 40 acres bought of brother Ebenezer 12 December 1753 (Plymouth Co LR, 43:10); and son Job, of Middleborough, land in Titicut bought of Joseph Eaton and wife, 14 August 1760 (Plymouth Co LR, 48:232).

The will of David Alden of Middleborough, dated 14 May 1763, proved 24 August 1763, names "my loving wife Judith," his sons Solomon (land in Bridgewater already given by deed of gift), David (land in Middleborough already given by deed of gift), and Silas (land in Middleborough), and his daughter Abigail (two cows, six sheep and other items), and incidentally his brother John and his brother Joseph's homestead. "...my lot as ashford I give to my five children to be Equally Divided between then..." The account was made 5 November and sworn 7 November 1763 (Plymouth Co PR, #77, 16:503-04).

On 14 May 1768 Solomon Alden of Bridgewater, husbandman; David Alden, yeoman; Job Alden, yeoman; Henry Leonard, Jr., husbandman, and wife Silence of Middleborough; Zephaniah Leonard Esq. and wife Abigail of Raynham - with dower released by Sarah Alden, wife of Solomon; Rhoda Alden, late wife of David and Lucy Alden, wife of Job - sold to Joseph Leonard, Jr., of Bridgewater 100 acres and dwelling house on Mansfield town line, "the land our father David Alden bought of Mr. Metcalf of Lebanon and gave to us by will" (Ashford LR, 11:11).

David married Judith PADELFORD. Judith (daughter of Jonathan PADELFORD, III and Hannah KING) was born in 1708 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA; died on 12 Jan 1802 in Middleboro, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Judah Padelford