NOTES: "Richard Bailey, who died sometime between 1647 and 1650, owned an estate
in Rowley, Massachusetts, and was one of the company that set up the first cloth mill in
America, which was in Rowley, where the mills stand that are owned by a Drummer at
the present time. There is a tradition in the family to the present day that he came from
Yorkshire, England, sometime about 1630 or 1635; and Joshua Coffin says, Richard
Bailey came with Richard Dummer, in the ship Bevis, 150 tons, Robert Batten, in April,
1638, when he was fifteen years old. It is said that he was a very pious person, and in a
storm when coming to America, the company would call upon him to pray for their
safety."
1 Check the Halstead Genealogy for information about Ednah’s family and her second marriage to Ezekiel
Northend.
3
"His wife's name was Ednah, by whom he had one child, whom they called Joseph; born
about 1635 or a little later: for, when he made his will, 1647-8 his son Joseph was under
14 years of age. Her maiden name perhaps was Holstead, for their son Joseph
acknowledged the receipt of £9 4s in 1667, which was his portion of £46 given to the
'child or children' of Ednah his mother, by Wm. Holstead, whom he calls his uncle. After
the death of Mr. Bailey, Ednah, his widow, married before the 15th of the 9th month in
1649, Ezekiel Northend of Rowley, who probably took possession of the homestead, and
it has been in the Northend family from that time."
"BAILEY---Among the early Massachusetts families which have contributed much to the
moral, intellectual, and material development of New England and the United States, this
is numerously represented in Maine. It has been conspicuously identified wit scientific
research and with all the forces of human progress."
"Richard Bailey, the ancestor of a very numerous progeny, was born about 1619, and is
said to have come from Yorkshire, England. According to 'Coffin's History', he came
from Southampton, in the ship 'Bevis', a vessel of one hundred and fifty tons, commanded
by Robert Batten, being then at the age of fifteen years. According to Savage, this was in
1638; other authorities place it at 1635. He settled in Rowley, Massachusetts, and was a
man of recognized piety and infulence in the community. He was one of the company to
set up the first cloth mill in this country, at Rowley. He died there February, 1648, being
buried on the sixteenth. His wife, Edna Holstead, survived him, and after his death was
married September 15, 1649, to Ezekiel Northend, of Rowley."
*Henry, a tanner, age 26, Mary age 22, James 20 and Richard age 15 left England in
1639.
Alternate spellings for Bailey - Baily, Bayly, Ballie
"(1619-1647), from Eng. in the "Bevis", to Lynn, Mass., 1638; later at Rowley; one of a
company to set up the first cloth mill in America; selectman and overseer of the poor
several yrs.; m Edna (Lambert) Holstead(?), perhaps sister of William Holstead."
There is a theory that Richard was the son of John and Elizabeth Emery Bayley, born
about 1572, Chippinham, Wiltshire County, England and married about 1611 from a
Merton Alexander.
His will dated 15 Deec 1647 mentions as legatees, "wife Edna; son Joseph; Brother
James Baly; nephew John Baly; Thomas Palmer; the poore of the Towne" also mentions
"Michael Hobkinson; Mr.Rogers, Ipswich, and Mr. Johnson" His widow, Edna married
(2) Ezkiel Northend. Ezekiel Northend, as guardian of Joseph Bailey,15 Sept 1649;
mentions a gift from William Halstead.
"Rowley 15 of the last 1647. I Richard Baly sick in body but of perfect memory praysed
be God doe ordeine and make this my last will and Testament first I commende my soule
into the hands of God in faith of a ioyfull resurrection throw our Lord Jesus Christ And as
concerning my outward estate ffrst my minde and | will is that all my | lawfull debts be
paid and discharged. Ite my will is that fforty and tow pounds I giue vnto my sonn Joseph
Baly but in case my wife should be with Child then my will is that the said sum of tow
and forty pounds be deuided, and one third part thereof my other child shall haue it Item
my will is that my Child shall haue a fether bedd in part of the saide protion also one
Great Bible and Practicall Catachisme Ite my will and minde is that if my wife Edna Baly
marry againe and hir husbande proue vnlouing to the Child or Children or wastefull then
4
I giue power to my Brother James Baly and Michael Hobkinson with my wife hir
Consent to take the Child with his portion from him and so to dispose of it for the Best
behoofe of the children with my wifes consent Ite I giue my house and lott vnto my son
Joseph Baly after my wife hir dissease Ite I gue to my Son tow stuffe Sutes of Cloaths
and my best Coate, and a Cloath sute and my best hatt, and I giue to my Brother James
Baly a great Coate one paire of buck lether Breches and a paire of Bootes one little
Booke I giue to my nephew John Bally I giue vnto Thomas Palmer one Gray hatt one
Cloath dublit and an old Jackit and a paire of Gray Breeches Ite I make my wife Edna
Baly executrix of this my last will and Testament Memoradad and I giue eleuen shillings
which is owing to me from Mr Rogers Ipswich and mr Johnson vnto the poore of the
Towne"
Richard baly
Witness:
Humfrey Reyner, William Cavis
Proved 28:1:1648, by Humphry Reynor, and 29:1:1648 by Jeames Bayley.