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Story
September 15, 1824
Massachusetts Spy And Worcester Advertiser
Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts
What is this article about?
Historical records from Billerica, Massachusetts, reveal numerous large families in the early 19th century, with examples of up to 21 children per family. Similar extraordinary fecundity is noted among early settlers, including figures like Governor Phipps' mother (25 children) and various ministers with 17-26 children.
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FECUNDITY.
In examining the records of the town of Billerica, in Massachusetts, about ten years since, we found recorded the names of twenty-six families, consisting of ten children each, twenty families of eleven children each, twenty-four families of twelve children each, thirteen families of thirteen each, five families of fourteen each, one family of fifteen, and one family of twenty-one children-total, ninety families, consisting of one thousand and forty-three individuals, besides the parents. The greatest number of children to any one family, was 21, and these were by two wives. Such instances of extraordinary fecundity in the early settlement of our country were not rare. Dr. Mather mentions "one woman who had not less than twenty-two children, and another had no less than twenty-three children by one husband, whereof nineteen lived to men's and woman's estate, and a third who was mother to seven and twenty children." The mother of Governor Phipps had twenty-five children of which twenty-one were sons. Rev. John Sherman, the first minister of Watertown, had twenty-six children by two wives,-twenty by his last wife. Rev. Samuel Willard, the first minister of Groton, and afterwards of Boston, and Vice President of Harvard college, had twenty children. Major Simon Willard, his father, one of the first settlers of Concord, had a family of seventeen children, of whom nine were sons and all attained mature age and had families.
[N. H. Hist. Collections.
In examining the records of the town of Billerica, in Massachusetts, about ten years since, we found recorded the names of twenty-six families, consisting of ten children each, twenty families of eleven children each, twenty-four families of twelve children each, thirteen families of thirteen each, five families of fourteen each, one family of fifteen, and one family of twenty-one children-total, ninety families, consisting of one thousand and forty-three individuals, besides the parents. The greatest number of children to any one family, was 21, and these were by two wives. Such instances of extraordinary fecundity in the early settlement of our country were not rare. Dr. Mather mentions "one woman who had not less than twenty-two children, and another had no less than twenty-three children by one husband, whereof nineteen lived to men's and woman's estate, and a third who was mother to seven and twenty children." The mother of Governor Phipps had twenty-five children of which twenty-one were sons. Rev. John Sherman, the first minister of Watertown, had twenty-six children by two wives,-twenty by his last wife. Rev. Samuel Willard, the first minister of Groton, and afterwards of Boston, and Vice President of Harvard college, had twenty children. Major Simon Willard, his father, one of the first settlers of Concord, had a family of seventeen children, of whom nine were sons and all attained mature age and had families.
[N. H. Hist. Collections.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Historical Event
Medical Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Family
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Large Families
Extraordinary Fecundity
Billerica Records
Early Settlers
Historical Figures
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. Mather
Governor Phipps
Rev. John Sherman
Rev. Samuel Willard
Major Simon Willard
Where did it happen?
Billerica, Massachusetts
Story Details
Key Persons
Dr. Mather
Governor Phipps
Rev. John Sherman
Rev. Samuel Willard
Major Simon Willard
Location
Billerica, Massachusetts
Event Date
About Ten Years Since
Story Details
Records show 90 families in Billerica with 10-21 children each, totaling 1,043 children. Historical examples include women with 22-27 children and ministers with 17-26 children by one or two wives.