Home -> Surnames -> James Gorham -> Notes

1--JOHN.

He is believed to have been a descendant of that family of Gorhams who early became seated at Westwick; or as subsequently called, Gorhambury, in Hertfordshire. This establishment in England was made soon after the Norman Conquest, by a branch of the family who had lived near Gorram in Brittany. The name of Gorham originated from this earliest known family having located near that town.

2--JAMES.

Benefield, Northampton Co., Eng.

3--RALPH.

Benefield, Eng., Duxbury, Massachusetts

1637, Duxbury. He brought suit in March of this year, against Francis Sprague for p20, for 2 pigs.

1637, 10, 2. He was granted land to erect a house on and a garden place. (Two years later he was fined 10s. for beating Webb Adey.)

1640, 9, 1. He brought suit against Ralph Smith for trespass, with damage p8. The jury found for plaintiff 20s.

1641, 3, 2. Ralph Smith brought suit against him for slander and defamation, with damages p10. The jury awarded the plaintiff 11s.

1642, 4, 5. Ordered, that Mr. Jenney shall allow Mr. Ralph Gorham, 10 bushels of Indian corn at 2s. 6d., and the rest at 3s., and rye for 20s., for Tristram Clarke; and that Tristram is discharged for the 2 pigs.

At the same date. Whereas Ralph Gorham demands of Mr. John Comb a debt of p3, 4s. 6d., which said Comb acknowledgeth due, the said Gorham is granted to deliver 4 or 5 bushels of wheat to said Mr. Comb, to sow withal this spring, so that he may have his debt paid him out of crop; and so much wheat then again also, as now he lends; and the Court doth order said crop shall remain security for Gorham, etc.

He is supposed to have returned to England, after a few years' residence in Duxbury.

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