Francis Balcom, who was born in Sudbury, Mass., July 19th, 1767, came in from Newfane, Vt., and settled in Oxford village, where A. D. Harrington now lives. He was one of the party who cut the old State road from the Unadilla, at Rockdale, to Oxford. He pursued farming, and received the first deed given to settlers in the town of Oxford. The deed was recorded in Owego. He came here a young, unmarried man, and married Priscilla, daughter of Didymus Kinney, who came in from Columbia county in 1794, and settled in Oxford village. Kinney's sons removed from the town at an early day. Priscilla was born in Dutchess county, January 1, 1776. Francis Balcom and his wife both died in the town; the former Aug. 8, 1850, and the latter Sept. 25, 1866. They had eleven children.

Henry Balcom, father of Francis Balcom, was born in Sudbury, Mass., Aug. 16, 1740. He removed about 1774 to Newfane, Vt., and thence, two years later than Francis, to Oxford, where he died Oct. 18, 1812. He was a Revolutionary soldier, fought under Stark at Bennington, and served till the close of the war. His wife, Keziah Stow, came with him, and died Sept. 26, 1826, aged 89. Three other children came in with him, Leafa, Samuel and Sally, the former of whom died unmarried about 1851 or '2. Samuel, who was variously known as deacon and colonel, was born in Sudbury, Mass., Dec. 31, 1772, married Polly Knapp, (an adopted daughter of Elijah Blackman's, and the first white female in the town of Oxford,) and settled on or near the place now occupied by Loren Wilcox, on the west side of the river, about two miles above Oxford. He subsequently removed to the village of Oxford and died there Aug. 27, 1847. His wife died Oct. 7, 1852, aged 72. Sally married Samuel Farnham, and died Feb. 16, 1859. The Balcoms are a worthy and highly respected family