The Saltonstall family originated in Yorkshire, England, where the name was sometimes spelled Saltingstall. The name originates from the hamlet of Saltonstall in Halifax, West Yorkshire. The meaning is derived from Sal-ton-stall in Old English, the translation being "Farm in the Willows".[1]
In Harvard University's Leverett House Library, there exists a commemorative wooden plaque dedicating the reading room of the library to "ten generations of Saltonstalls, who have matriculated at Harvard 1642–1959."
Gurdon Saltonstall (1666–1724) m. bef 16 Jun 1680 (1) Jerusha Richards (1665-1697); m. 1702 (2) Elizabeth Rosewell (1679–1710); m. c.1711 (3) Mary Whittinghame (d. 1730)
Elizabeth Saltonstall (1690–1736) m. 1710 (1) Richard Christophers (1685–1736); m. (2) Isaac Ledyard
Sarah Saltonstall (b. 1694) m. 1715 (1) John Gardiner (1692–1725); m. 1727 (2) Samuel Davis (1692–1733)
Rosewell Saltonstall (1701–1738) m. 1727 Mary Haynes (1703–1769)
Katherine Saltonstall (b. 1704) m. 1727 William Brattle (1706–1776)
Nathaniel Saltonstall (1707–1748) m. 1733 Lucretia Arnold (1706–1770)
Gurdon Saltonstall Jr. (1708–1785) m. Rebecca Winthrop (1712–1776)
Rebecca Winthrop Saltonstall (1734–1812) m. David Mumford (1730–1807)