Family Tree Maker - Newhousegetchell.net

However, the gravestone of John3 Gatchell, in the Gatchell graveyard, which is located on what is now
the Naval Air Station at Brunswick, bears this inscription: "Here lies ye body of Capt. John Gatchell
who Died May ye 10th In ye 74th Year". This would indicate that he was born in 1697. It seems
highly improbable that John and Elizabeth were born in the same year and died on the same day. The
Elizabeth Whitaker born in Haverhill on 7 Ap 1698 would surely have been of a suitable age to have
married John3 Gatchell.
2. Haverhill is very close geographically to Salisbury, and there seems to have been a great deal of
social and commercial intercourse among the towns of northern Essex County. John Gatchell's brother
Nathaniel married a Haverhill woman and resided there for several years before moving to Maine.
3. Perhaps the most convincing evidence is the appearance among the children of John and Elizabeth
the names borne by members of Elizabeth's family which do not appear in the earlier generations of
John's family nor among his siblings. Their seventh child was Ruth; Elizabeth had a sister Ruth. The
eighth child was Stephen; Elizabeth had a brother Stephen. The ninth child was Sarah; Elizabeth's
mother was Sarah. The eleventh and youngest child was William, Elizabeth's father was William.
The Haverhill vital records provide no information regarding the marriage of Elizabeth Whitaker.
Charles Pope, in his The Haverhill Emersons lists the children of William Whitaker/Whiticker and
Sarah Emerson without further comment. In an article "Early Whittlers, Widgers and Whittakers in
Essex County" which appeared in the Essex Institute Historical Collections, Vol. XLIX, David Hoyt
shows whom each of the children of William Whitaker married, with the exception of Hannah and
Elizabeth. He states that Hannah probably died young; of Elizabeth, he says nothing further.
Since I have not yet been able to find proof in the official records to which I have access, and since
such information apparently has also eluded others, I invite other Gatchell descendants to join me in
seeking to either prove or disprove my theory regarding the identity of Elizabeth
(________) Gatchell.
More About John Gatchell and Elizabeth Whitaker:
Marriage: Bef. 1719
xi. Nathaniel Gatchel, born 1697 in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts; died Bet. 04 Jul 1752 - 02
Jul 1753 in Wells, York County, District of Maine; married (1) Susannah Ladd Abt. 1724; born 10 May
1704; married (2) Esther Low 10 Mar 1746/47 in Wells, York County, District of Maine; born Bef. 15
Jun 1728 in Wells, District of Maine.
Notes for Nathaniel Gatchel:
Nathaniel Gatchel's will only mentions five children and his second wife Esther. From that will, there's
no indication as to who mothered the five children in the will and as to why his other children are not
mentioned. The will first names his son Zebulon. Then his eldest daughter Susannah is cited as
"Susannah Young", clearly married at the time the will was written. Next he mentions in order his
daughters Abigail, Anne and Miriam. The will appears to imply that Anne and Miriam are still at
home with Nathaniel and Esther, as Nathaniel willed each equal shares in his "Homestead Lands
whereon I now dwell". It's also clear in his will that his wife Esther is still of child-bearing age, and
possibly expecting, as the will ensure that another, as yet unborn child, will have rights to an equal
share in that estate. It is not evident, from the will, which children his second wife Esther mothered or
his first wife Susannah. It only appears safe to assume that Anne and Miriam were born to Esther as
they appear to be young enough to remain at home. The will also charges Esther with taking "due care
to educate the Said Children out of ye Profit of ye Estate".
More About Nathaniel Gatchel:
Probate: 02 Jul 1753, Wells, York County, District of Maine
Will: 04 Jul 1752, Wells, York County, District of Maine
More About Nathaniel Gatchel and Susannah Ladd:
Marriage: Abt. 1724
xii. Johannah Getchell, born 22 May 1699 in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts; died Unknown;
married Noah Barnes 1723; born Oct 1700 in Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts; died 1783.
More About Noah Barnes and Johannah Getchell:
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