Allen line: Samuel Lamb 1693-1769

Samuel Lamb is the third generation of Lamb men to have strong ties to Springfield, Massachusetts Bay Colony.  This grandparents were John and Joanna Chapin Lamb.  John and Joanna died in Springfield. John and Joanna had each been born in England but came to New England as small children  His father, Samuel Lamb, was born and died in Springfield and his mother, Rebecca Bird, lived her life there after her marriage to Samuel.  So when Samuel was born on February 23, 1693, he had a network of family who had been in Springfield for many years, even though Springfield had been in existence less than 60 years.  

Samuel was one of as many as fourteen children born to his parents, although several of his siblings didn't survive to adulthood.  His parents both died when Samuel was about 36 years old, but I've not been able to locate a copy of estate papers for them.  

Samuel married twice.  His first marriage was to Martha Stebbins, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Dorchester Stebbins.  His six children were born to Martha.  She died in 1738, possibly as a result of childbirth and he married Mary Wright June 22, 1749.  

There is a possibility that Samuel was involved in the 1710 expedition to what was then Acadia, but is now known as Port Royal, Nova Scotia.  There are two Samuel Lamb's listed as being part of that expedition.  One was a private and one was an armorer.  One of these may be our Samuel Lamb, but there were other Samuel Lambs in Massachusetts so it is hard to be sure.  If our Samuel was one who went to Port Royal, the colonists were successful in taking the town from the French, but it was a difficult expedition.  There is also a Samuel Lamb who served for nearly two months in 1722 under Captain William Dummer (also governor of the colony), which again involved considerable hardship in fighting the French and various native tribes allied against the British.  This is sometimes called Dummer's War.  So while I can't say that our Samuel had military service, the possibility exists. 

Little else is known of Samuel.  He asked the town to accept Thomas Lamb as "One of the Poor" in the annual town meeting of March, 1735-36.  Samuel had a brother and an uncle named Thomas, but neither of these men seem to fit the facts.  Uncle Thomas died in 1734 and brother Thomas married and was having children at this time.  At any rate, Samuel must have been providing for Thomas, and it seems to have become a strain for him.   

In his will, Samuel refers to himself as "yeoman", meaning farmer.  He left 1/3 of his household furniture to his wife of 20 years, Mary, 5 shillings to each of his four daughters, and his wearing apparel to his son Samuel.  Son John was not mentioned in the will; he may have died early. Whatever was left of his estate was to go to his two grandsons, as each reached the age of 25.  I've not found an inventory, but it appears that Samuel did not have much in earthly goods when he died.  

This brief sketch of Samuel leaves us with more questions than answers, of course.  Did he participate fully in the religious life of the town?  Did he serve on one or both of the military expeditions mentioned? On a scale of financial prosperity, where would he have been ranked?  Did he own land?

Regardless of the number of questions we have, we acknowledge him as one of our family, another of those quiet men who helped build America.

The line of descent is:

Samuel Lamb-Martha Stebbins

Eunice Lamb-Martin Root

Martin Root-Ruth Noble

Ruth Root-Samuel Falley

Clarissa Falley-John Havens Starr

Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott

Edith Knott-Edward Allen

Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook

Their descendants