RICE, Gershom

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 11
• Arrival: 1697, Groton, CT
• Arrival: 1713, Marlborough, MA

Notes:

Residence: bef 13 Oct 1713; Jonas Rice (1673-1753), Marlboro, Middlesex C o, MA; moving from Groton with a petition of that date signed by Gersho m and Jonas of Marlboro. Petition presented to the General Court expres sing desire to enter upon a new settlement of Worchester. The request w as granted and they then commenced the third and permanent settlement o f Worcester. Gershom and Jonas were called the "FATHERS OF THAT TOWN." A t his home, the first meetings for religious worship were held in 1736. T he church later was built to the left of City Hall on Main Street, Worc ester, the First Old South Church. Gershom was chosen as selectman & he ld that office for 9 years. He became a very prominent citizen of Worce ster. He built his home on Pakachoag Hill (now the site of Holy Cross C ollege). He sold his estate in Worcester and purchased a large tract o f land in what is now Auburn- on Bancroft Street where he died December 1 9, 1761, aged 101 years and buried on Worcester Common. His son Gershom , Jr. was the next one to live in the homestead and he assisted in orga nizing the new town and church. He was succeeded by his son, Comfort Ri ce, who is buried in Auburn, beside the Center Church. Then his son, Ed ward Rice and his son, Ezra rice lived there. From 1736 when the house w as built, five generations of Rice family lived there for 152 years. Th irty one children were born here by the name of Rice. Gershom (Sr.) pla nted the first orchards in 1735.

Arrival:
He and his brother, Jonas, commenced the 3rd and permanent settlement of Worcester. Two previous settlements there were broken up by the Indians.

Family/Spouse: BALCOMBE, Elizabeth. Elizabeth (daughter of BALCOMBE, Henry and HAYNES, Elizabeth) was born on 16 Aug 1672 in Charlestown, MA; died in 1752 in New London, CT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. RICE, Lieut. Gershom Jr. was born about 1696 in MA; died on 24 Sep 1781 in Worcester, MA; was buried in Worcester, MA.
2. RICE, Elizabeth was born on 20 Oct 1698 in Groton, CT; died before 1744.
3. RICE, Abishai was born on 16 Oct 1701 in Groton, CT; died about 1792.
4. RICE, Sarah was born on 9 Feb 1703 in Groton, CT; died on 10 Dec 1781 in Petersham, MA.
5. RICE, Matthias Solomon was born on 26 Jan 1707 in Groton, CT; died in 1758 in Groton, CT.
6. RICE, Ruth was born on 11 Apr 1710 in Groton, CT; died about 1730 in NH.

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 2