Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameMary BALCH 
Birth Date20 May 1755
Birth PlaceBeverly, Massachusetts
FatherJoshua BALCH (1719-1804)
MotherJoanna WILLIAMS (-1767)
Misc. Notes
There were two Mary Balchs born in Beverly in the mid 1700s, and which one of them was the Mary Balch who married Simeon Dodge is not absolutely established. The two Marys are (according to information supplied by email correspondents from the Beverly Vital Records):
Mary Balch, dau. of Joshua and Joanna, born 20 May 1755 (Beverly VR 1:34)
Mary Balch, dau. of Freeborn Jr and Mary, born 25 July 1761 (Beverly VR 1:34)
All the Balchs of Beverly descend from the immigrant John Balch, one of the “Old Planters” of Cape Ann who arrived in 1624 as part of the Dorchester Company, so whichever Mary Balch married Simeon Dodge, that Mary’s line extends back to the immigrant John Balch. I have concluded, however, that the Mary b 20 May 1755 was Simeon Dodge’s wife on the grounds that Simeon and Mary’s second child was named Joshua Balch Dodge706 (apparently after 1755 Mary’s father, Joshua Balch). Although this identification seems likely, additional information should be sought that will either support or contradict it.
Mary Balch, dau. of Joshua and Joanna, born 20 May 1755 (Beverly VR 1:34)
Mary Balch, dau. of Freeborn Jr and Mary, born 25 July 1761 (Beverly VR 1:34)
All the Balchs of Beverly descend from the immigrant John Balch, one of the “Old Planters” of Cape Ann who arrived in 1624 as part of the Dorchester Company, so whichever Mary Balch married Simeon Dodge, that Mary’s line extends back to the immigrant John Balch. I have concluded, however, that the Mary b 20 May 1755 was Simeon Dodge’s wife on the grounds that Simeon and Mary’s second child was named Joshua Balch Dodge706 (apparently after 1755 Mary’s father, Joshua Balch). Although this identification seems likely, additional information should be sought that will either support or contradict it.
Spouses
Birth Date26 Mar 1755
Birth PlaceBeverly, Massachusetts
Death Date25 Dec 1827
Death PlaceFrancestown, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire
FatherDea. William DODGE (1731-1810)
MotherMary BAKER (1732-1761)
Misc. Notes
According to the Dodge Genealogy,706 Simeon Dodge was “b. 26 March, 1755, in Beverly, where he remained till about 1781, except as stated below. Served in Revolutionary War from 13 February, 1777, till 13 February, 1780, in Capt. Billy Porter’s company in Col. Benj. Tupper’s Regiment. He was in battles of Concord and Lexington, following the British back to Boston. The pursuit was close, and he saved his life by taking refuge in a cellar. Soon after 1781 he moved to Francestown, N. H., where he died, 25 December, 1827. He m. Mary Balch in Beverly, 31 December, 1780.” A list of their children follows.
There are two entries in MSSWR707 that appear to refer to this Simeon Dodge, although it is possible the two entries pertain to two different people. The first entry is: “DODGE, SIMEON, Beverly. Private, Lieut. Peter Shaw’s co. of Minute-men, which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, 2 days.” The second entry is (with square brackets in the original): “DODGE, SIMEON, Beverly. Return of men raised to serve in the Continental Army from Capt. Larkin Thorndike’s, Capt. John Woodbury’s, and Capt. Joseph R[ae]’s 1st, 2d, and 3d, cos. in Beverly, dated Beverly, Feb. 13, 1778; residence, Beverly; engaged for town of Beverly; joined Capt. Billy Porter’s co., Col. Francis’s regt; term, 3 years; said Dodge reported as belonging to 2d Beverly co.; also, Private, Capt. Billy Porter’s co., Col. Benjamin Tupper’s regt.; Continental Army pay accounts for service from Feb. 13, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1779; also, Capt. Billy Porter’s co., Col. Ebenezer Francis’s regt.; subsistence allowed from date of enlistment, Feb. 13, [1777], to time of arrival at Bennington; credited with 40 days allowance; company to march March 12 [1777]; also, Capt. Porter’s co., Col. Benjamin Tupper’s regt.; muster roll for Jan., 1779, dated West Point; also, same co. and regt.; Continental Army pay accounts for service from Jan. 1, 1780, to Feb. 13, 1780.”
There are two entries in MSSWR707 that appear to refer to this Simeon Dodge, although it is possible the two entries pertain to two different people. The first entry is: “DODGE, SIMEON, Beverly. Private, Lieut. Peter Shaw’s co. of Minute-men, which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, 2 days.” The second entry is (with square brackets in the original): “DODGE, SIMEON, Beverly. Return of men raised to serve in the Continental Army from Capt. Larkin Thorndike’s, Capt. John Woodbury’s, and Capt. Joseph R[ae]’s 1st, 2d, and 3d, cos. in Beverly, dated Beverly, Feb. 13, 1778; residence, Beverly; engaged for town of Beverly; joined Capt. Billy Porter’s co., Col. Francis’s regt; term, 3 years; said Dodge reported as belonging to 2d Beverly co.; also, Private, Capt. Billy Porter’s co., Col. Benjamin Tupper’s regt.; Continental Army pay accounts for service from Feb. 13, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1779; also, Capt. Billy Porter’s co., Col. Ebenezer Francis’s regt.; subsistence allowed from date of enlistment, Feb. 13, [1777], to time of arrival at Bennington; credited with 40 days allowance; company to march March 12 [1777]; also, Capt. Porter’s co., Col. Benjamin Tupper’s regt.; muster roll for Jan., 1779, dated West Point; also, same co. and regt.; Continental Army pay accounts for service from Jan. 1, 1780, to Feb. 13, 1780.”
Marr Date31 Dec 1780
Marr PlaceBeverly, Massachusetts
ChildrenSimeon (1781-)
Joshua Balch (1784-)
Mary (1786-)
Ruth (1788-)
Lydia (1790-1862)
Sarah (1792-)
Anna (1794-1794)
William (1795-)
Samuel Davis (1799-)
Baker (1801-1867)
