Ancestors

Austin Kilham

Austin Kilham, also written Augustine, Austen, Kellam, Killam and Callum, was a son of Henry Kellam of Dennington, a village in the heart of Suffolk. His mother was Alice Goodale. His baptism has not been found, but his parents married in 1582 or 1583, and Austin was probably born about 1590. His son Daniel was baptized at Dennington on 15 March 1620, entered as the son of Augustine Kilham.

His father died in May 1631. On his deathbed Henry declared a will by word of mouth. It left "to my son Austen Kellam all my apparell" and gave Austin's son Daniel ten shillings "or else my biggest kettle."

In the 1630s the diocese of Norwich, which covered Suffolk, was under Bishop Matthew Wren. He pressed the clergy and their congregations hard to conform. Dennington's own rector, John Ward, was suspended for refusing to read the communion service at a table "set altarwise," where few of his parish could hear, and was later deprived. In 1641 the House of Commons was told that fifty-two families from Norwich alone had gone to New England because of Wren.

Austin and his family left in the spring of 1637. On 11 May 1637 the port officers at Great Yarmouth examined the passengers of the Mary Anne of Yarmouth, William Goose master. The clerk wrote down "Augsten Call" and "Alles his wife ageed 40 yeares," both "desirous to goe to Salam in New Eng." They came with at least three children.

They lived at Salem for two or three years. By 1640 they were at Dedham, where the town clerk recorded "Lott, the Son of Austen & Alice Kulem." In 1649 they moved to Wenham, the new town north of Salem. The Wenham church admitted them on the 14th of the fifth month, 1649. The church record says that "Brother and sister Kilham passed the Tryall, and next Lord's Day were taken into covenant."

He was one of the earliest settlers of Wenham. In 1653 the pastor, Mr. Fiske, left Wenham with part of his church to settle at Chelmsford. Austin and six other heads of families planned to go with him. For a reason no record gives, Austin and one other changed their minds and stayed. In 1659 the town raised a salary for the new minister, Antipas Newman. Austin pledged two pounds, to be paid in corn.

His daughter Sarah married William Fiske, son of the town clerk, in 1662. His sons Daniel and John were Wenham men too, and Lot settled at Enfield, in Connecticut.

He made his will on 2 June 1667, "Sicke & Weake of Body yet of pfit memory." He died three days later, on 5 June 1667. His house and twenty-two acres of upland and meadow, with the crop, were valued at seventy-six pounds, and his whole estate at about 122 pounds. His wife Alice died six weeks after him.

If Austin Kilham is in your family, start your own tree.

Cite: Heirology, "Austin Kilham (1590-1667)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/austin-kilham-1590-1667-be5e26.