• Rebecca was the only child born to her father, Josiah Gorham, by his first wife, Sarah. Rebecca's mother's surname has not been discovered but, since Rebecca was born in Newport, R. I., and was also married there, her mother's family probably lived in Newport and may have reared Rebecca there. Rebecca's father, Josiah Gorham, returned to Yarmouth, Mass., where he married a second wife and raised a large family. Rebecca's birth in Newport was recorded in Yarmouth records, followed by the births of her father's children by his second wife. Rebecca was mentioned by her father, Josiah Gorham of Yarmouth, in his will dated 17 January 1772, probated 15 April 1775, in which Josiah called his daughter “Rebecca Brown” and gave her forty shillings to be paid to her by her half-brother, David Gorham, within one year of her father's death.18, pp 403-4