William Colby

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research of Ronald Colby
William COLBY was born on 30 NOV 1809 in Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. He appeared on the census in 1850 in Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. (living at home with parents) He appeared on the census in 1860 in Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. He died on 4 SEP 1881 in Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire.
William Colby, the son of William Colby and Mary Darling Hildreth, was born in Hopkinton, November 30, 1809. His father lived on Beach Hill, on the westerly slope, where now lives Messrs. Waldron and Gleason. William Colby being born in the old militia days, was in child-hood and youth subject to all the exciting influences to which the younger generation of his time paid specially enthusiastic attention. Young Colby doubtless was unusually impressed by frequent display of soldiery of his early years. Becoming of military age, and legally competent to train, he rose to be one of the most notable martial characters of his native town. He was at one time Captain of the Hopkinton Rifles, and afterwards commander of the Coldwater Phalanx, both military companies independently organized and thoroughly uniformed. He was also once colonel of the 40th Regiment of New Hampshire militia. Colonel Colby was also one of the original Amoskeag Veterans. He was a very efficient officer of drill, perhaps the best the town has ever raised. When the arrangements were made for and old-fashioned training on the Fourth of July, 1881, Col. William Colby was selected commander of the day, and on the attempted assassination of the President, the proposes training being suspended, he was chosen one of the committee of citizens to arrange for observances in accordance with the ultimate facts in the presidents case. During most of Colonel Colby's life, he was a Hopkinton farmer. He was once master of a river boat plying in the carrying trade between Concord and Boston before the time of the railroads, and when canals were in operation in the State of Massachusetts, and later a freight conductor on the Boston and Providence Railroad. He was at one time a Steward in the Asylum for the insane at Concord, and a number of years a deputy sheriff of Merrimack County. He was twice doorkeeper of the state senate.
In 1837, July 9, William Colby married Eliza Barret, daughter of Elezer Barret and Olive Emerson, of Nashua. They had no children.
Residing in Hopkinton many years previously to his death, Col. Colby eventually moved from Beach Hill to the village, where his widow now resides, and where he died September 4, 1881. His funeral occurred on the sixth day of the month, being remarkable on account of it's similarity to the dark day of May 19, 1780. He was buried from St Andrew's Episcopal Church, which was lighted for the funeral service.
Parents: William COLBY and Mary Darling HILDRETH <d352.html>.
He was married to Eliza BARRETT on 9 JUL 1837 in Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire.

NEHGS - cemetery records

William married Eliza Barrett, daughter of Elezer Barrett and Olive Emerson, on 9 Jul 1837 in Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. (Eliza Barrett was born circa 1815 and died on 18 Sep 1892 in Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire.)