| Notes |
- The Rev. Jacob Chapman in his genealogy on page 14 says:
"There has been a tradition that the father of the Folsom family was, inEngland, John Smith, and that his name was changed during the voyage toAmerica. I find little ground for this opinion.
John Foulsham, son of Adam, was baptized in Hingham, England, in 1615.(Research in the records of Hingham and in near-by towns, in 1927, failedto disclose a birth or baptism record.) In 1627 Adam Folsham, aliasSmith, made his will, naming three sons,--John, Adam and Peter. JohnFoulsham married, in Hingham, England, October 4, 1636, Mary, daughter ofEdward Gilman, who was baptized August 6, 1615. (Marriage record: JohnFowlsham alias Smith married 4 October 1636, Marie Gyleman.)
In 1638 they came to Hingham, Mass. and in 1639 Adam Foulsham followedthem. If the family name was ever Smith, it seems it must have beenchanged before the birth and baptism of John Foulsham, the emigrant toHingham, Mass."
However, in 1672 there is a deed signed by John Foulsham, recorded inVol. II, p. 287, Rockingham County Deeds, in which property is conveyedby John Foulsham to his daughter, which begins thus: "Whereas there is anIntent of marriage between George March, son of Hugh March of Newbery andMary Foulsham, daughter of John Foulsham alias Smith, of Exeter, . . ."(Deed in full in No. 7). This appears to confirm that John used the nameSmith at some time prior to this deed.
The late Col. Charles E. Banks, well-known historian and genealogist,explained the term "alias" thus: "Alias" was used as a distinguishingterm not to conceal one's identity, but to make sure of that person'sidentity, when, for instance, grandchildren went to live withgrandparents and became known by the grandparent's name, or often calledby their surname. In maturity they took their legal surname and added toit the alias, or name they were sometimes called. The alias or both nameswere given to make doubly sure of the person's identity.
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1615 - 1681 (66 years)