Married 27 Oct 1748 to Solomon Deming , son of Noadiah & Sarah (Kirkham) Deming of Wethersfield, CT. They tried to move to Pittsfield in 1749 but ended up in Stockbridge for 2-3 years for safety from the Indians. Solomon brought his wife Sarah to Pittsfield on a pillion in 1752 with their 3 year-old son. Daughter of Henry & Martha (Burr) Kirkham, she was the 1st white woman in Pittsfield.
The following Journal Entry makes it very clear. who Sarah Kirkham's husband was.
- "Before the town of Pittsfield was founded, for six months Josiah Wright from Wethersfield was in charge of Fort Poontoosuck in the French and Indian War (1754-1759), Poontoosuck being the original Indian name of Pittsfield. By courtesy of the Mass. Hist. Society, the memorialist was provided a copy of "Josiah Wright's Journal att Poontoosuck By order of Coll Isral Wms," written by Josiah from Apr. 29, 1756 to Feb. 20, 1757. This journal includes the passage that Josiah's wife was returning to Wethersfield to see some of her friends, accompanied by Dudley Deming, the brother-in-law of Sarah Deming, wife of Solomon from Wethersfield. Mrs. Sarah Deming is credited with being the first white woman to settle at Pittsfield, Mass. "[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=44163068)
So we learn from this journal that Sarah (Kirkham) Deming's husband most certainly has a brother named Dudley. If she is linked to a husband who does not have a brother Dudley, then he is not her husband.
According to the Local History section of the Berkshire Athenaeum at Pittsfield, the "widow" Sarah Deming d. March 18, 1818, per the Congregational Church records. However, there is no corresponding death record for husband Solomon. Solomon is shown in the 1790 census of Pittsfield, but not in the August 1800 or August 1810 census of Pittsfield.
Find A Grave contributor Anonymous adds this obit published Wednesday, March 25, 1818, Boston Daily Advertiser (Boston, MA), Volume: XX, Issue: 71, Page: 2:
DIED
In Pittsfield, 15th inst. Mrs. Abigail [sic] Deming, relict of the late Mr Solomon Deming, aged 92, being the oldest female in town. She was the first woman that went to that place, and was the mother of the first child born there.
[Date of death is March 15, 1818.]
The following Journal Entry makes it very clear. who Sarah Kirkham's husband was.
- "Before the town of Pittsfield was founded, for six months Josiah Wright from Wethersfield was in charge of Fort Poontoosuck in the French and Indian War (1754-1759), Poontoosuck being the original Indian name of Pittsfield. By courtesy of the Mass. Hist. Society, the memorialist was provided a copy of "Josiah Wright's Journal att Poontoosuck By order of Coll Isral Wms," written by Josiah from Apr. 29, 1756 to Feb. 20, 1757. This journal includes the passage that Josiah's wife was returning to Wethersfield to see some of her friends, accompanied by Dudley Deming, the brother-in-law of Sarah Deming, wife of Solomon from Wethersfield. Mrs. Sarah Deming is credited with being the first white woman to settle at Pittsfield, Mass. "[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=44163068)
So we learn from this journal that Sarah (Kirkham) Deming's husband most certainly has a brother named Dudley. If she is linked to a husband who does not have a brother Dudley, then he is not her husband.
According to the Local History section of the Berkshire Athenaeum at Pittsfield, the "widow" Sarah Deming d. March 18, 1818, per the Congregational Church records. However, there is no corresponding death record for husband Solomon. Solomon is shown in the 1790 census of Pittsfield, but not in the August 1800 or August 1810 census of Pittsfield.
Find A Grave contributor Anonymous adds this obit published Wednesday, March 25, 1818, Boston Daily Advertiser (Boston, MA), Volume: XX, Issue: 71, Page: 2:
DIED
In Pittsfield, 15th inst. Mrs. Abigail [sic] Deming, relict of the late Mr Solomon Deming, aged 92, being the oldest female in town. She was the first woman that went to that place, and was the mother of the first child born there.
[Date of death is March 15, 1818.]
Married 27 Oct 1748 to Solomon Deming , son of Noadiah & Sarah (Kirkham) Deming of Wethersfield, CT. They tried to move to Pittsfield in 1749 but ended up in Stockbridge for 2-3 years for safety from the Indians. Solomon brought his wife Sarah to Pittsfield on a pillion in 1752 with their 3 year-old son. Daughter of Henry & Martha (Burr) Kirkham, she was the 1st white woman in Pittsfield.
The following Journal Entry makes it very clear. who Sarah Kirkham's husband was.
- "Before the town of Pittsfield was founded, for six months Josiah Wright from Wethersfield was in charge of Fort Poontoosuck in the French and Indian War (1754-1759), Poontoosuck being the original Indian name of Pittsfield. By courtesy of the Mass. Hist. Society, the memorialist was provided a copy of "Josiah Wright's Journal att Poontoosuck By order of Coll Isral Wms," written by Josiah from Apr. 29, 1756 to Feb. 20, 1757. This journal includes the passage that Josiah's wife was returning to Wethersfield to see some of her friends, accompanied by Dudley Deming, the brother-in-law of Sarah Deming, wife of Solomon from Wethersfield. Mrs. Sarah Deming is credited with being the first white woman to settle at Pittsfield, Mass. "[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=44163068)
So we learn from this journal that Sarah (Kirkham) Deming's husband most certainly has a brother named Dudley. If she is linked to a husband who does not have a brother Dudley, then he is not her husband.
According to the Local History section of the Berkshire Athenaeum at Pittsfield, the "widow" Sarah Deming d. March 18, 1818, per the Congregational Church records. However, there is no corresponding death record for husband Solomon. Solomon is shown in the 1790 census of Pittsfield, but not in the August 1800 or August 1810 census of Pittsfield.
Find A Grave contributor Anonymous adds this obit published Wednesday, March 25, 1818, Boston Daily Advertiser (Boston, MA), Volume: XX, Issue: 71, Page: 2:
DIED
In Pittsfield, 15th inst. Mrs. Abigail [sic] Deming, relict of the late Mr Solomon Deming, aged 92, being the oldest female in town. She was the first woman that went to that place, and was the mother of the first child born there.
[Date of death is March 15, 1818.]
The following Journal Entry makes it very clear. who Sarah Kirkham's husband was.
- "Before the town of Pittsfield was founded, for six months Josiah Wright from Wethersfield was in charge of Fort Poontoosuck in the French and Indian War (1754-1759), Poontoosuck being the original Indian name of Pittsfield. By courtesy of the Mass. Hist. Society, the memorialist was provided a copy of "Josiah Wright's Journal att Poontoosuck By order of Coll Isral Wms," written by Josiah from Apr. 29, 1756 to Feb. 20, 1757. This journal includes the passage that Josiah's wife was returning to Wethersfield to see some of her friends, accompanied by Dudley Deming, the brother-in-law of Sarah Deming, wife of Solomon from Wethersfield. Mrs. Sarah Deming is credited with being the first white woman to settle at Pittsfield, Mass. "[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=44163068)
So we learn from this journal that Sarah (Kirkham) Deming's husband most certainly has a brother named Dudley. If she is linked to a husband who does not have a brother Dudley, then he is not her husband.
According to the Local History section of the Berkshire Athenaeum at Pittsfield, the "widow" Sarah Deming d. March 18, 1818, per the Congregational Church records. However, there is no corresponding death record for husband Solomon. Solomon is shown in the 1790 census of Pittsfield, but not in the August 1800 or August 1810 census of Pittsfield.
Find A Grave contributor Anonymous adds this obit published Wednesday, March 25, 1818, Boston Daily Advertiser (Boston, MA), Volume: XX, Issue: 71, Page: 2:
DIED
In Pittsfield, 15th inst. Mrs. Abigail [sic] Deming, relict of the late Mr Solomon Deming, aged 92, being the oldest female in town. She was the first woman that went to that place, and was the mother of the first child born there.
[Date of death is March 15, 1818.]
Inscription
Sarah Deming Born in Wethersfield, Ct. Feb. 1726
Died in Pittsfield, Mass. March 1818, Aged 92 yrs.
This monument is erected by the town of Pittsfield to commemorate the heroism and virtues of its First Female Settler, and the mother of the first white child born within its limits.
Surrounded by Tribes of hostile Indians she defended in more than one instance unaided, the lives and property of her family, and was distinguished for the courage and fortitude with which she bore the dangers and privations of a pioneer life.
A mother of the Revolution and mother in Israel
Family Members
Children
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