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REYNOLDS   HISTORICAL 
GENEALOGY  COLLECTION 


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lir'l'FimM9'NlllfiT,if,fiH?'-IC  LIBRARY 


,.    3  1833  01434  7907 


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TRACY  COAT  O"  ARVS- 


1  1 1  o  1  v_v  1  \  ji  ^_^i  1  x^    ;  X  L^'  L>"  Pn  L^ O o 


r.EFORE  TlIK  / 


FOURTH  ANNUAL  REUNION 


OF  — 


THE  TRACY  FAAAiLY 


AT  — 


GOULDSBORO,  MAINE. 

AUGUST  19,  1899, 


—  BV 


N.  B.  TRACY. 


AlHfKN,    mi:.: 

I'.\r,MIT.    I'KINI     S.     >'l  AMP  \V(IKK>. 

KfCC. 


1593401 


HISTORICAL  ADDF^ESS  AND  GENEALOGY  OF 
THE  TRACY  FAMILY. 


r  is  with  the  greatest  of  pleasure  that  I  am  so  privileged  to 
meet  you  on  this  auspicious  occasion  ;  to  meet  and  form  the 
acquaintance  of  so  many  of  ray  kinsmen,  descendants  of  a 
common  ancestor.  I  am  glad  to  see  so  many  descendants  of 
nv\  grc:at  grandfather.  Tlir'se  who  not  onlv  reside  l^erc.  but 
tho.se  from  different  parts  ot  rhe  State,  and  especially  our  New 
Brunswick  cousin.s.  who.  like  myself,  for  I  lie  first  time,  have 
to-dav  met  with  you.  and  for  tile  iu-.st  time  erij.;)y  the  meet- 
ing of  the  clans.  And  I  trust  that  this  meeting  will  prove  a 
great  benefit  t(_>  all  of  yriu  who  have  gatheretl  here  on  this  his- 
toric familv  spot.  —  this  old  homestead.  And  as  \ve  cla-p 
hand-:  around  the  r)ld  hearthstone,  and  renew  the  hlial  lo\'e 
t')wards  e.ich  r)th.er.  as  relati\-e>  and  descendants  of  him  who 
tlrst  landed  on  vonler  sluire.  and  luade  this  place  his  hc)me  : 
and  I  -sincerely  hope  ours  once  a  year,  at  least,  for  all  time. 

B'jt  Mcsh:  Hark'.:  Did  ye  not  hear  it?  r^Ielliinks  1 
hear  a  \"ciice  floating  through  the  boughs  overhead,  saying. 
^- HjJior  thy  name  '     llovok    inv  nami:!"     What  name  ? 

Tile  name  Traiv  .'  That  most  honorable  and  ancient  nanae. 
A  name  that  has  been  handed  down  to  us  for  over  scveiitceu 
/ii/nJrc!  vears  on  the  feinale  line,  and  a  //n^itsana  ytAV'^  on  the 
male  line,  an  unbrc>ken  chain  :  n.;it  a  link  missing  from  three 
hundred  years  after  Christ's  time  to  the  present  day.  down 
through  f7..'t'fif\-se;<:!i  generatiors  of  crowned  heads,  then  tv. enty 
generatio'i>  mo'-c  f'f  tile  nolile  house  of  Tracy.  And  v.-el!  mav 
we  feel  ]rfoud  that  so  noV)lc-  a  name  comes  down  to  us  v.iihout 
a  blemi-li.  Xo  di.-ihrnor  ever  left  a  lilot  upon  the  fair  name. 
And  let  u^.  one  and  all.  here  resolve  that  it  shall  be  our  con- 
stant aini  to  do  our  utmo.-t  to  uphold  the  purit}'  of  that  glorious 
name  that  has  been  handed  down  to  us  by  our  father^  and 
niotlitrs. 

1  am  here.-to-dav.  to  give  you  such  slight  knoweldge  of  the 
'I'racy  race  as  I  ha\e. 

We  ha'.e  no  data  bac  k  to  Adam's  time,  nor  do  I  ]jrop'')se  to 
LTo  ba-'-k  to  the  time  of   Xoah.      Hut  there  li\ed  near  Mt.  Araaf. 


4  THK  TRACY   FAMILY. 

where  Noali"s  Ark  rested  after  the  Mood,  iij.nvards  of  4348 
years  aLi^o,  and  which  was  the  tir.--l  fiart  of  the  world  to  be 
attain  re-peopled,  after  the  deli'*;e.  and  234S  years  bcrfore 
Chli-^t,  Syria  or  Assyria,  called  Svrians  by  the  peoj^le  in  the 
Gra,'CO-Roinan  period.  The  desiy^nation  of  Syrians.  howeYer 
was  giYen  to  the  i;reat  mass  of  the  Semitic  population  dwellinij 
between  the  Tigcs  and  Mediterranean  Seas.  ( )f  the  political 
record  of  Svria  in  ancient  times,  we  know  but  little.  A.t  a 
ver\-  early  period  fas  earl\-  as  1500  years  before  Christ,  or 
3500  years  ago).  .Svria  became  so  jiopu^ous.  and  being  a  pro- 
gressive, learned,  and  adventurous  pe  'pie,  they  began  to  pres.s 
out  for  new  lands  to  explore  and  occupy.  And  in  the  Stone 
Age  the)"  had  made  their  way  into  ICurope,  taking  and  inhabit- 
ing the  northern  part,  consisting  of  Norway,  Sweden,  Denmark, 
and  other  northern  parts  of  Europe.  This  bold  people  was 
■probably  of  the  Svrian  race,  known  as  Phoenicians.  fc>r,  in  later 
years,  after  the  Stone  Age.  thev  used  kettles  that  were  made  of 
the  same  compoi-itiijn  and  pattern  as  those  made  hv  Hiram  of 
Tyre  (who  was  of  the  sau'ie  race;  for  King  Solpmon's  Temple,, 
in  the  year  i  013  V>.  (/. 

This  people,  as  I  have  before  said,  was  a  bold,  hard}-  race. 
and  perhaps  the  most  enlightened  or  learned  of  their  time. 
although  no  doubt  following  the  sauie  religious  rites  that  their 
more  ancient  progenitors  did.  A^  liiey  worship].)ed  Baal,  the 
Sun  God.  who.  1  believe  was  a  might\-  king,  who.-e  descendants 
ruled  over  these  almrist  my;>tical  pei"'i;!e.  centuries  before  Woden 
or  (  )din's  tinie.  and  froni  whom  Odin  sprang  in  a  direct  line  of 
rulers  of  tliis  ancient  race,  who  afterwards  becime  knnwn  as 
Scandinavians;  composed  of  Sla\-s.  Danes.  Laps.  I'oles.  Xv.d 
from  this  people,  especially  the  Laps,  if  the  truth  could  only 
be  known,  were  the  first  discoverers  of  America,  and  first  set- 
tled this  continent,  even  before  Christ's  time,  as  the  American 
Indians  so  nearly  resemljle  this  peo]?le  in  that  barbai  ic  time, 
both  in  habits  and  the  same  religious  worship  as  the  Lrc;:s  cf 
South  America  and  tlie  Aztecs  of  the  northwestern  i^arr  'A 
America,  and  as  some  very  recent  discoveries  show,  without 
doubt,  that  sich  is  the  case.  These  disco\eries  have  hf  en 
found  in  the  homes  of  the  cave  dwellers,  and  in  old  ruii^s 
just  discovered  in  heretofore  unexplored  forests  among  the 
mountains.  These  ancient  Indian  tribes  worshipped  Baal,  tlie 
Sun  God.  and  the  wandering  tribes  li\ed  in  wigwams  made  of 
poles  set  up  and  leaned  togethe."  at  tlie  top.  forming  a  cone, 
which  wa>  co\ered  with  bark  or  the  hide  of  some  anin  a;  :  anci 
the  ancient  Laps  lived  the  same  in  summer,  only  they  used  the 
hides  of  th.e  reindeer  to  co\-er  their  liuls.  And  I  am  sure  tha.t 
it  was  duririg  tlie  .^tone  Age  that  tlie\'  came  to  Amerit  a.  ;is  the 
Indians  knew  noticing  of  iron  or  bronze  until  after  ("olumbu.-.  '^ 
time. 


THE  TRACV   IWMILV.  5 

The  ancient  inhabitants  of  Scandinavia  had  lived  for  cen- 
tuiiL-s  in  the  northern  part  of  Er.rope.  before  the  rest  of  the 
world  kricw  of  them,  and  it  was  at  the  beginning  of  written 
histt>rv.  in  the  time  of  Alexander  the  Great,  about  two  hun- 
dred and  tiftv  years  before  C"hi"i>t.  a  famous  j^hilosopher  and 
explorer,  in  one  of  his  exploring  expeditions,  discovered  them 
and  made  a  record  of  the  fact,  hui  tids  hardy  people,  living 
in  the  land  of  tlie  niidniglit  sim.  was  so  pnigrcssive  that  they 
were  becoming  more  enligiitened  and  the  mc^t  learned  of  all 
the  people  on  the  continent. 

Their  existence  had  been  almost  mythical  with  the  later 
Greek  and  Roman  people,  who  used  to  term  them  Afix'i.  or 
'■  Angel-faces."  as  they  were  rumored  to  be  so  fair.  In  after 
years,  they  called  them  •'  Northmen."  as  they  lived  beyond  the 
line  of  the  north  winds,  which  was  deemed  an  almost  impas.s- 
able  barrier.  These  Northmen  wt-re  a  flaxen-haired,  blue-evcd 
race  of  n^^n.  simple,  honest  and  gdod. 

Ill  tlie  cl.iws  of  (ijd  when  Ku.rope  was  degraded  by  the  cliain 
of  slaver}-,  this  was  the  only  people  that  was  free  and  was  gov- 
erned by  th.eir  own  la.ws.  which  they  themselves  had  made. 

They  were  a  powerful,  athletic  race,  hardy  beyond  compare, 
delighting  in  mairly  sports  and  astonishing  feats  of  strength 
and  endurance. 

'J'hev  were  tir-t  ruled  o\"er.  as  far  as  records  go.  in  the  third 
centurv  ^500  \-ears  after  ChrijtV  h\  \\'oden  or  ()din.  who  was 
described  in  m\thol<ig}-  as  an  old  man.  of  a  tall,  powerful 
frame,  long,  grav  whiskers,  and  but  one  eye.  bur  was  reputed  to 
be  a  terror  in  a  fight.  And  from  this  old  king  sprang  the 
female  line  of  the  Tracvs. 

These  old  Northnien  or.  later.  Norsemen,  began  to  outgrow 
their  own  land,  and  began  to  harass  other  nations  south  of 
them.  I'hey  became  so  bold  and  invincible  that  none  could 
long  withstand  them  :  thev  invaded  what  is  now  France,  and 
one.  a  great  chieftain,  named  RoUo.  or  Rolf,  got  possession  of 
Rouen,  the  Novthurnbria  on  the  river  .Seine,  in  911.  and  he  was 
thereafter  known  as  Norman  and  the  Duke  of  Normandy, 
which  countv  lies  in  the  north  of  France.  He  rewarded  his 
follov.er.-,  by  giving  them  hef.^.  that  is  titles  and  lands:  and  from 
tlds  source  starts  the  noble  house  of  Tracy  on  the  the  male 
line,  being  a  baronet  of  Normandy.  1  will  gi\e  an  outline  of 
a  Tracv  pedigree,  which  will  be  interesting  to  all  who  are  de- 
scended from  Lieutenant  Thoma<  Tracv.  of  Norwich.  C-'inn.. 
one  of  the  original  proprietors  and  first  settlers  of  that  town, 
and  an  original  proprietor  of  Windham,  Conn. 

There  were  but  few  of  the  early  settlers  of  New  England 
thiit  were  connected  with  the  nobility  or  had  any  royal  blood  in 
their  'v'eins:  and  >till  fewer  who  claimed  such  relationship  that 
coulfi    trace    the    coniiection.       J'ut    that    Lieutenant    Thomas 


6  THK  TRArV   1  A.MILV. 

Tracy  was  descended  from  Ecuberlit  the  first  Saxon  King  of 
all  England,  from  Alfred  the  dreat.  the  Emperor  C'harlemaLine. 
and  the  Scottish  kings  and  the  nobles  and  di^tin^uished  men 
<;"iven  below,  there  can  be  no  doubt.  'I'he  facts  embodied  in 
this  pedigree  were  gleaned  fronr  archi\es  and  records  in  l-.ng- 
land,  principall}-  by  the  late  judge  Erederick  Plumer  I'racw  of 
California,  a  nati\"e  of  W'indliam  (Scotland  parish),  who  was 
most  indefatigable  and  thorough  in  his  inxestigati.jns. 

Tire  facts  herewidi  given  are  condensed  mainh'  from  fliaii- 
cellor  Walworth's  Ilvde  (ienealogy.  and  believed  to  be  cleailv 
established. 

Few  families  in  England  can  trace  their  ancestry  beyond  the 
conquest,  but  the  'I'racy  family,  descendants  of  Lieutena.m 
Thomas,  can  trace  thei:s  in  the  male  and  female  lines  with  (  er- 
tainty,  for  more  than  a  thousand  )-ears.  through  thirty-four  gen- 
erations, and  through  the  male  line  of  Tracvs.  twentv-three 
generations.  Aclmiitir.g  tl:e  descent  of  King  Ecgberht  fioin 
ndin.  theie  art.  as  we  I'lave  it  i^ftv-foiu'  generations,  extendi'.i^' 
through  m(:>re  than  fifteen  hundred  years. 

The  in.side  column  >hows  the  generations  frr.m  Odhi.  t!ie 
middle-colunm  the  generations  from  Ecgl.^erhl.  iiie  hrst  Saxoii 
king,  and   the  outside  column  the  g;enerations    from   Eieuten  int 

Thomas  Tracv.  the  emigrant  settlor. 

....  I — Woden,  or  (  )din.  made  himself  n.iasier  i  f  a  consid- 
erable part  of  tl'ie  north  part  of  Eur'^pe  in  the  tl^ufl 
centurv,  and  died  in  what  is  now  Swecieri.  He  h.a.'.'  a 
son 

....      2  —  I'eldeg.  or  Haider,  whose  son  was 

....     3  —  TJrandius.  or  Brando,  who  was  the  fatlver  of 

....      4 — Eroedig^arius.  or  I'roethigar,  was  the  fac'-.er  of 

....      5 — \\  igga.  who  had  a  son 

....     6 — Gewesius.  or  Ge\vi>ch.  who  was  the  father  of 

....      7  —  Eff.  or  Etta,  who  had  a  son 

....     S — ErTa  (the  si-coik1  i,  fatlier  of 

....      9 — Eliscus,  who  hofi  a  soji 

....  lo — Cerdic,  the  first  king  of  the  West  Saxons,  died  ni 
534.      His  son 

1  I  — Kenric.  wlio  had  a  son 

....    12 — Chcaulin.  who  was  the  father  of 

....    13— -Curliwin  who  had  a  s<;in 

....    14 — Cuth.  who  was  the  father  of 

....    15  —  Chelwald.  wlio  liad  a  <on 

....    16 — Kenred,  who  wa.'^  fatlier  of 

....    17 — Ingdlls.  who  had  a  son 

....    iS---Eoppa.  who  wa.-.  father  of 

....    19 — Easa.  wlio  had  a  .^on 

....   20  —  Alkmund,  or  ^l-lthelniunr!.  whose  son 

..     J -2  I — Ecgberht.  was  the   tir.--t   S.ixon   kint:   of  all    England. 


■1"}IE  TRACV  rAMIl.V.  7 

He  reigrifd  from  Soo  to  S39.  During  llie  tirst  I'O  vcars 
of  his  reign,  he  united  the  whole  heptarciiy  urnier  iiis 
rule.      He  was  the  father  of 

2-22 — ^Kthelwult.  who  had  a  son 

3--23 — Alfred  (the  (ireat).  one  of  the  wisest  princes  that 
ever  ruled   lut.gland.      He  had  a  son 

4-24 — Edward  iihe  Elder"),  father  of 

5-25  —  Edinur.d  E,  who  had  a  son 

6--2  6 — Exlgar,  who  was  father  of 

7—27 — .-iithelred  H.  (the  Unready),  who  had  a  daugh.ter 

S-2S — Princess  Goda.  by  his  last  wife.  Emma  of  Xormandv. 
daughter  of  Richard,  first  Duke  of  Normandy.  She 
was  sister  to  King  Edward  the  Confessor.  She  married 
Dreux,  who  was  Count  of  \'ixin  in  Erance  ;  called  by 
English  historians,  Walter  de  Mantes.  Count  of  Mantes. 
He  was  a  great-grandson  of  Waleran.  who  succeeded 
Hugh  the  Creat.  1  )uke  of  Eranee,  as  Count  of  Vixin. 
in  95(1.      Their  second  son  was 

9-29 — Rudolf  de  ALintes.  lord  of  the  manor  of  Sudiey  and 
of  T()ddingt(.'n.  which  he  iiilierited  from  hi>  mother. 
He  was  created  Earl  of  Hereford,  by  his  uncie  King 
Edward  the  Confessor :  bur  his  son  was  deprived  of  the 
earldom  by  William  the  Conqueror.  His  onlv  son  was 
10-30 — EEirold  de  Mantes.  Earl  of  liereford.  who  married 
Matilda,  daughter  of  Hugh-Eupus.  the  h'arl  of  Chester. 
who  was  a  nephew  of  William  th.e  Conqueror.  'J  heir 
eldest  son 
11-31 — Jtjhn  de  Sud'/ley.  inherited  the  lands  of  his  father  in 
Gk>ucester<hire  and  became  Lord  of  Sudelev  and  Tod- 
dington.  He  married  Grace  de  Tracv.  daughter  an.d 
heiress  of  Henry  de  Tracy,  feudal  lord  of  }^)arnstaple, 
in  Devonshire,  in  1 104.  Her  grandfather  was  a  Norman 
baron  and  an  ofr'.cer.  a  cajnain.  in  \\'illiam  the  Con- 
queror's army.  Ele  fought  in  the  brittle  <A  Hastings. 
and  his  n.ame  is  on  the  ■•  Roll  of  b'.attle  Abljey."  Ee 
Sire  de  Track  His  coat  of  arms  may  be  seen  in  the 
iRoll  of  Battle  Abbev.  '•  Argent,  an  escallop  in  tlie 
chief  point  sable,  between  two  bandlets  gule^."  'iliey 
had  two  sons.  Ralph  the  heir  of  the  father,  and  Vx'illiam 
who  inherited  tlie  lands  of  his  mother,  and  assumed 
her  family  name.  De  Tracv.  becoming  as  a  Kniglit  ;'>! 
Gloucestershire,  having  the  same  coat  of  arms,  except 
changing  the  Argent  to  Or. 
12-32  —  Sir  William  de  Tracv.  (It  was  customary  for  the 
eldest  sons  to  take  their  fath.er's  surnames,  or  tlie 
names  of  their  fathers  estates,  while  the  younger  sons 
assumed  the  names  of  the  estates  allotted  to  them.i 
Sir  Willi:'jri  was  one  of  three   krii'jhts  who   at  the  insti^-ation 


5  THK  TRACY   lAMlLV. 

of  lioni')-  II.,  assassinated  Tliomas  a  l>ecket.  He  was  created 
Archbisliop  of  Canterbury  in  1162.  At  that  time  liis  cAv.cc 
also  included  the  abl^acy  oi  the  cathedral  monastery.  Whieii 
assuniin!;  the  duties  ot  his  oti'ice,  liecket  became  a  most  zealcus 
champion  of  the  Church  against  all  aggressions  of  the  king  and 
nobility;  in  fact,  he  uttered  hisdefiances  to  the  Crown  so  fre- 
quently and  openly  that  it  may  be  said  that,  to  a  very  great  ex- 
tent, he  provoked  his  own  murder.  According  to  the  mo.->t 
reliable  authorities,  he  was  utterl}-  lacking  in  dijilomacy  and 
tact,  and  evinced,  in  a  marked  degree,  the  same  detiant.  fanati- 
cal spirit  which  has  characterized  austere  religious  zealots  o'i 
all  ages,  and  which  has  usually  ended  in  their  entire  'undoing. 

Late  in  December  of  1170,  Henry  11.,  liaxing  been  goaded 
into  semi-madness  by  Becket's  utterances  against  the  Crown. 
which  had  been  repeated  to  him  by  his  barons,  probablv  in  a 
highly  exaggerated  form,  was  finally  induced  to  make  the  fatal 
suggestion  to  his  nio>t  iru>iv  knights,  that  it  was  his  de>ire  t' > 
be  rid  of  the  troublesome  archbishop.  Tiiis  sinister  intimation 
was  accepted  by  four  of  Henrv's  retainers,  who,  late  in  the 
night  of  1  )ec.  jq.  \isited  Becket's  residence  f'lr  the  purpose  of 
murdering  him.  The  archbi>hop  had  been  appraised  of  tlieir 
coming  by  some  of  his  trustv  monks,  and  much  against  his 
will,  he  was  tinally  induced  to  take  refuge  in  the  cathedral, 
where  it  was  supposed  that  for  the  time  being,  at  least,  he 
would  be  safe  from  harm,  as  in  that  age  a  great  horror  existed 
against  any  act  of  sacrilege. 

Having  failed.  howe\"er,  to  find  Becket  in  his  palace,  the  four 
conspirators.  Reginald  Fitzurse,  Hugh  de  M')re\ille.  \\"illiam  de 
Tracy,  and  Richard  !e  Brey.  entered  the  cathedral.  The  build- 
ing was  crowded  with  people,  who  had  assembled  for  the  early 
morning  mass,  and  the  sight  of  this  crowd,  together  with  the 
fear  of  sacrilege.  led  -the  little  band  of  royal  avengers  to  make 
an  eliort  to  carry  their  victim  from  the  church.  Fitzurse  threw 
down  his  axe.  and  trietl  to  drag  him  out  by  the  collar  of  his 
long  cloak,  calling.  ••  Come  with  us:   vou  are  our  prisoner."" 

'•■  I  will  not  fly,  you  detestable  fellow ! '"  was  Becket's  reply. 
roused  to  his  usual  vehemence,  and  wrenching  the  cloak  out  of 
Fitzurse's  gras]5. 

The  three  knights  to  whom  was  now  added  Hugh  Mauelero. 
chaplain  of  Robert  de  Broc.  struggled  violently  to  put  him  on 
Tracy's  shoulders.  Becket  set  his  feet  against  the  pillar  and 
resisted  with  all  his  might,  whilst  (zrim  a  monk,  vehemeiitly 
remonstrating,  threw  his  arms  around  him  to  aid  his  efforts. 
In  the  scuffle  Becket  fastened  upon  Tracy's  shoulders,  shook 
him  by  his  coat  of  mail.  anri.  exerting  his  strength,  flung  him 
down  on  the  pavement.  It  was  hopeless  to  carry  on  the  at- 
tempt to  remove  him.  Arid  ni  the  final  struggle,  which  now 
began,  Fitzurse.  as  before,  took  the  lead.     But  as  he  approaclied 


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:r:&^^.^iid3: 

THE  IKACV   FAMILY. 


witli  his  drawn  sword,  tlie  siglil  of  him  kindled  afresh  Ihe  arch- 
bishop's an:::er.  now  lieated  by  the  fra_\-  :  the  spirit  of-  the  chan- 
cellor rose  within  him.  and  with  a  coarse  epithet,  not  calculated 
to  turn  away  his  adversary's  wrath,  exclaimed.  — 

"  Vou  profligate  wretch  1  \-()U  are  niv  man.  You  have  done 
me  fealty;  you  ought  not  to  touch  me." 

Fitzurse.  glowing  with  rage,  retorted  :  "  I  owe  vou  no  feaif,- 
or  homage  contrary  to  ni}-  fealty  to  the  king."  and  wax'ing  tl." 
sword  o\er  his  head,  cried.  "  Strike :  strike  1  "  but  merely 
dashed  otT  his  cap.  The  archbishop  co\ered  his  eyes  with  his 
joined  hands,  bent  his  neck,  and  said.  •■  I  commend  my  cause 
and  the  cause  of  the  Church  of  God  to  St.  Denys,  the  martyr 
of  France,  to  St.  Alfege.  and  to  the  saints  of  the  Church." 
Meanwhile  Trac}-,  who  since  his  fall  had  thrown  of  his  haubeck 
to  move  more  easily,  sprang  forward  and  struck  a  more  decided 
blow.  Crim.  the  monk,  who  up  to  this  moment,  had  lii'^  arm 
around  Hecket.  th.rew-  it  ujj.  wrai^ped  in  a  cloak,  to  intercept  the 
blade,  Becket  exclaiming,  "  Spare  this  defence  I  "  I'he  sword 
lighted  on  the  arm  of  the  mc)r,k.  which  fell  v.ounded  or  nioken. 
and  he  tied,  disabled,  to  the  nearest  altar,  probably  that  of  St. 
lienedict's,  within  the  chapel. 

The  next  blow,  whether  struck  by  Tracv  or  Fitzurse.  was  only 
with  the  l^at  of  the  sword,  and  again  on  the  bleeding  head, 
which  IVcket  drew  back  as  if  stunned,  and  then  rai■^ed  his 
clasped  hands  above  it.  The  blood  from  the  hrst  l>low  was 
trickling  down  liis  face  in  a  thin  streak.  He  wiped  it  with  his 
arm.  and  wlien  lie  saw  the  stain,  he  said.  ••  Into  Thy  hands,  O 
Ford.  I  commend  m\-  spirit."  At  the  third  lilow,  which  was 
also  from  Tracy,  he  sank  on  his  knees,  hds  arms  falling,  but  his 
hands  still  joined  as  if  in  prayer. 

In  this  posture,  he  received  from  Richard  Breton,  a  tremen- 
dous blow,  accompanied  with  the  exclamation,  in  allusion  to  a 
quarrel  of  llecket  with  I^rince  William.  ••  Take  this  for  the  love 
of  my  Lord  William,  brother  of  the  king."  The  stroke  wa.-> 
aimed  with  such  violence  that  the  scalp  or  crown  of  the  head, 
which  it  was  remarked  was  of  unusual  size,  was  se\'ered  from 
the  skull,  and  the  sword  snapped  in  two  on  the  marble  pave- 
ment. Hugh  of  Hor■^ea.  the  sul-i-deacon.  who  had  joined  the 
murderers,  as  the\-  entered  the  church,  taurited  by  the  others 
with  havii^g  taken  no  share  in  the  deed,  planted  his  foot  on  the 
neck  r,f  tivj  C':)rpse.  thrust  his  sword  into  the  ghastly  wound  and 
scattered  the  brains  over  the  i:)avement.  '•  Let  irs  go  —  let  us 
go."  he  said,  in  conclusion,  '"the  traitor  is  dead.  He  will  rise 
rio  niove.'' 

This  was  the  fmal  act.  C)nly  one  of  the  four  knights  had 
struck  no  blow.  Hugh  de  Moreville.  thrruighout.  retained  the 
gentier   disposition    for  wiiich    he    was    distinguished,    and    con 


lO  THt  TRACY   FANIILV. 

tented  himself  with  holding  back  at  the  entrance  of  the  tran- 
sept, the  crowils  who  were  j^ouring  in  through  tlie  na\e. 

In  I  220,  Becket's  bones  v.ere.  according  to  tradition,  raised 
from  the  grave,  where  the_\-  had  been  hastily  bvnied  iwo  (ia\  > 
after  the  murder,  and  were,  by  order  of  Henrv  III.,  depuvitcd 
in  a  splendid  shrine,  which,  for  three  centuries,  coiitinucd  tii 
be  the  object  of  the  greatest  pilgrimages  of  Christendom,  and 
btill  lives  in  connection  with  Chaucer"s  ••  Ca!iterbur\-  'I'alcs."" 
At  the  Reformation,  Henrv  A'lll.  despoiled  the  shrine,  erased 
Becket's  name  from  the  calendar,  since  which  time  the  tide  of 
sentiment  has  again  turned.  —  Philadelphia  T.nws. 

This  story  differs  from  those  of  the  several  writers  of  I'ng- 
lish  history,  insomuch,  that  Tracy  simply  put  his  hand  on  him. 
and  arrested  him  in  the  name  of  the  king,  but  did  not  strike 
him;   but  he  was  killed  bv  Fitzurse.      His  eldest  son  was 

•  •  iS"".^,? — -^^  Henry  de  Tracv.  father  of 

.  .  14-34  —  i^ir  H-v^nr\-  de    Tracv.  whose  son 

•  •  ^5"  35  —  '^''^'  ^Villiam  Tr.^cy.  was  father  of 

,  .  16-36  —  Sir  William  Tracv,  who  was  Knight  of  Gloucester- 
shire, member  ui  Parliament.  shLiiff.  etc.  His  son  and 
heir  was 

.  .  17-37 — William  Tracv.  who  lived  in  the  time  of  Edward  HI. 
His  son 

.  .  1S-3S — Sir  John  'J'racv.  was  Knight  of  Gloucestershire.  His 
son  v,-as 

..19-39 — Sir  John  Tracv.  member  of  Parliament,  and  sheriff 
of  Gloucestershire.      His  son  was 

.  .  20-40 — -William  Tracv.  Esquire,  high  sheritt  of  Gloucester- 
shire, in  1395.      He  was  the  father  of 

.  .  21-41 — William  Tracv.  Esquire  who  was  called  to  the  ]jriv}" 
council  of  Henry  l^',.  and  appointed  high  sheritt  of 
Gloucestershire  in  the  reign  of  Henr\-  \'.  His  son 
was 

.  .  22-43 — William  Tracv.  Esquire,  who  was  high  sherifl  during 
the  twenty-second  and  twenty-third  year.--  of  the  rt;;gn 
of  Henr)-  VE      He  was  the  father  of 

.  .  23-43  —  Henry  Trac\'.  I-^scuire,  who  had  a  son 

.  .  24-44 — Sir  William  Trac\-,  sheriff"  of  (jloucestersliire.  in 
1513.  ''He  N\as  a  gentleman  of  excellent  parts  and 
sound  learning,  and  is  memorable  for  being  one  of  the 
first  of  the  nobility  who  embraced  the  reformed  rt.-!'gi'"'n 
in  England,  as  apjjears  by  his  last  will,  dated  12  Hei'p, 
VHE  (1530)."  Because  in  his  will  he  commiticd  hi- 
soul  to  God  through  the  mediation  of  (Christ  o-vy.  it 
was  deemed  heretical,  and  hi--  body  raided  and  b-irr.et! 
in  1532.  P^is  eldest  son.  William,  was  ^he  ancestor  ot 
the  Viscount  Trac}  s  of  Rathcoole  in  the  peerage  of 
Irclanfl.       His    seccjnd    son,    J\obert.    was    oise    r,i    the 


1  Hi:  TRACY  FAMILY.  II 

Lii^usn   iuci^^es.  1700  to  1726.       liis  third  son  was 
.  .  25-45 — Ricliard    Tracy.  l".squire  of   StanwaY.      Me   obtainod 
from  his  father  tiie  manor  of   StanwaY.  in  the  count}-  of 
Gloucester,  part  of  the   lands  of  the   Abbey  of  Tev.ks- 
bury,  which    came   into   tlie    family  by   grant  from   the 
Crown.      He  was  sheriff  of  ( jloucestershire  in  the  sec- 
ond  year  of  the  r^i^^n  of  CHieen    Elizabeth,  was  autlioi 
of  religious  works,  etc.      He    married    Barbara   Lucv.  a 
pu}:»il    of    Feix    the    martvTologist,   and    daughter  of    Sir 
Thomas    Lucy.  Knight  of  Charlecote    in  Warwickshire. 
Barbara    Lucy   was   descended    from    Emperor   Charle- 
magne and  Alfred  the  Great.     Their  second  son  was 
.  .  26-46 — Sir    Paul    Tracy,  who    succeeded   to    the    manor    of 
Stanway.      He  was  created   a   baronet,  June    29,  161 1, 
by  King    Limes   L,  "being  the  thirteentli  created  from 
the  institution  of  the  order.'"      He   niarried   first.  Anne, 
daughter  and  heiress   o§-^;'Ralph    Sharkerley.      TheY  had 
twenty-one  children.      Their  ninth  son. 
i-27-47--']"!iomas   'Lrac\-.    v.-as    born,  i6ic.   and   emigrated   to 
America,    in    1636.      He    went    first    to    Salem.    Mass.. 
tlience    to    \^'i^.c.^^;r.  ("onn.,  thence   to    Saybrook.    1639. 
In    1 64 1,  he   married   the  v.idow  of  Edward   Mason,  by 
whom    he   had    seYen    children.      In    1660,  he  remoYcd 
with   his  familY  tci   Norwich.  Conn.,  where  he  became  a 
distinguislied  man,  taking  an  actiYe  and  leading  part  in 
the    ci\'il    and    military-    affairs  of   the    colony.      He    is 
known  in  colonial  historY  as  Lieutenant  I'homas  Tracy, 
of     Norwich.       From    him    haYe    descended    the    mf)^t 
numerous  and  proniinent  branch  of  the   Tracys   in    this 
country.      He  died  in  Norwich.  Conn.,  Noy.  7,  16S5. 
Tradition,    has    alwa\  s  claimed  tiiat    two    brothers    came    to 
America,  among   the   first  settlers,  which   I  am   inclined  to  be- 
lieYe  true,  but  others  \Yell-Yersed  in  the  Tracy  genealog}'  do  not 
tl'iink  so. 

Hov.cYer.  it  seems  that  one  ReY.  Stephen  Tracy  came  OYcr 
to  Pl\'mouth  colony,  in  the  ship  Afi/i.  in  1623,  thirteen  years 
before  Lieutenant  Thomas,  and  it  is  claimed  that  ReY.  Stephen 
and  Lieutenant  Thomas  v/ere  cousins. 

ReY.  Stephen "iT.  record  is  not  so  clear,  but  it  is  supposed  that 
the  'I'racys  who  went  from  Windom.  (!onn.,  to  Hartford.  \'t.. 
were  Stej^hen  3d.  John  2d.  and  Stephen  ist  of  Plymouth  col- 
ony ;  and  Hon.  Benjamin  F.  Tracy,  ex-Secretary  of  the  NaYy, 
claims  to  haYC  descended  from  Rcy.  Stephen. 

The  history  of  Norwich.  Conn.,  says,  "  Thomas  Tracy,  from 
Tewk^bur)-  in  CJloucestershire,  P^nglarid.  came  to  New  England. 
April.  1636.  Hi.-,  naine  was  enrolled  at  Salem.  M;!s^..  Feb. 
27,.  1637.  •  Thomas  TracY.  ship  carpenter.'  "  He  was  receiYcd 
as   an   iidufoitant,    ujion   a    certificate    of  divers   of   W'atertov.n, 


f\L 


12  THE  TRACY   FAMILY. 

"and  is  to  have  five  acres  of  land."  He  lefi  the  \k\\  fcv  the 
colony  on  the  ("onnecticut  River,  about  1640.  and  setiied  in 
Weather.stield,  where  he  married  the  widovv'  of  Ixhvard  M.iN,,n 
in  1 64 1.  A  ffw  years  later  lit-  removed  to  Sa\-tirooi<.  at  tlic 
mouth  of  the  river,  and  after  a  residence  cf  twoUe  or  fourteen 
years,  he  moved  to  Norwich,  taking  with  him  his  six  sons  and 
one  daughter.  Two  of  his  ch.ildren.  Jolm  and  I'homas.  Ir.. 
were  born  in  W'etherst^.eld.  and  Jonathan.  Miriair..  Solomon,  and 
Darius  were  born  in  Sa^brook.  Miriami  was  ten  vears  ot  age. 
A\hen  her  fatlier  moved  to  Norv.ich. 

Thomas  'J'racy  was  a  man  of  talent  and  aetivitv.  skiilcd  in 
the  management  of  various  kinds  of  business,  ni^right  and  dis- 
crete. The  confidence  placed  in  him.  bv  his  associates,  was 
manifested  in  the  great  number  of  appointments  which  he  re- 
ceived. His  nanie  is  on  the  roll  of  the  Legislature  as  a  re]  ve- 
sentative  from  Xorwich  at  /wfnfy-s^'zcri  sessions.  The  electict-s 
were  semi-annual,  and  he  was  cli'isen  fwci^ti-on.:-  times.  I  e^in- 
ning  Oct.  y,  1062.  and  enclii-ig  Julv  5.  1684.  The  otlvi-  >i.\ 
were  extra  se>sions.  October.  1666.  he  was  chosen  ensign  of 
tlie  tirst  train  Ijainl  organi/:cd  in  Nurwieh,  a;':u  in  Av  _.'■■. 
1673.  lieutenant  of  the  Xew  London.  Conn..  DragO'^ns.  en- 
listed to  tight  against  the  Dutch  and  LKl'an^.  In  167S.  he 
was  appointed  commissioner  or  justice  of  tlie  jx-nce.  Me  v,  as 
lieutenant  under  Capt,  James  .Vvei\-.  Later  Lieut.  T:;o:r:as 
was  appointed  mastei  or  inspector  of  arms  and  annnunition. 
In  July.  167;.  Lieut,  'bhomas  v.as  ordered  to  attend  Ca!:t, 
Wait  W'ir.tlirr.p.  with  men.  to  jtop  the  Xarragarisett  Ir.dians 
from  joining  King  Philip'^  War.  l\\  1 'm^ j.  'i'homas  i'racv. 
v.itli  tv.u  others,  was  chusen  by  the  t','V.  n  to  trv  all  cases  to  the 
value  of  forty  shillings. 

Thomas  Tracy's  sec(.>nd  wife  was  >Lutha,  relict  of  Jnhn 
Bradford,  whom  he  married  in  1676.  In  the  course  of  a  fe'v 
years  he  \\as  again  a  v,  idower,  and  married  in  iGS^.  Mary, 
daughter  of  Xathaniel  h^-i't.  Lieut.  Thomas  Tracy,  died  Xov. 
7,  1GS5.  ll[<  estaies  V. ere  \  cilucd  at  £yoz.  He  had  .:i<':-'.,t 
five  thousand  acres  of  land.  The  Court  ordered  a  distribi;- 
tion  :  To  John,  the  eldest  son.  /'i 20:  to  tiie '"■ther  soiS  and 
Sergt.  Thomas  Wacerm.m  t  Miriam's  son;,  /,'7o.  in  thi.>  o'  — 
tribution  no  ir.ention  of  a  widow  is  made. 

,Late  researches  into  the  history  of  the  fami'y  of  'I'iiomas 
Tracy  furnisli  the  evidence  that  he  was  of  honorable  descenr, 
and  that  his  iivim'ediate  aiiCe>to'-s  for  tl.ree  generati'V.:.-,  bi.;d 
been  dislinguiihed  for  tidelity  to  the  Reformed  vor  Protestant* 
religion. 

Ki(h.ird  Tracy  cf  Stairway.  England,  pei-lished  a  booh, 
deeply  inibued  with  the  spirit  of  Protestantism,  on  acc'iuu  or 
■A hich  iie  suiVered  much  fr>jni  ;  er^^ecuticMi  in  the  da-'s  <jf  <^ueei-.' 
.\Liry,  thoiigli  he  esciped  nianyrciom.     His  ^0:1  li'.ed  at  Te'Aks- 


THE  TR.\CY   FAMILY.  ,     I3 

bury,  -where  Lieut.  Thomas  was  born.  r6io.  This  is  the  re- 
suit  of  eviilence  in  the  records  of  C. loucestershire,  England. 
as  obtained  by  personal  investigation  by  the  late  Judge  F.  P. 
Tracy,  of  San  Francisco.  C'al.  The  e\idence  was  such  as  to 
satisfy  h'wn  that  Lieut.  'Fhonias  Tracy  was  the  son  of  Nathaniel 
of  Tewk^bury.who  was  tlie  son  of  Richard.  Esq..  of  Stern- 
way,  who  was  the  son  of  the  ninth  Sir  \\'iiliani  Tracv, 
of  Toddington.  judge  Tracy  had  collected  material  for  a 
thorough  registr\-  of  the  descendants  of  Lieut.  Thomas  Tracy. 
but  he  died  quite  suddenly  in  iS6o,  in  v.estern  New  \'orl<, 
while  on  a  political  tour  for  Lincoln. 

The  register  of  the  children  of  Lieut.  Thomas  has  never 
been  found,  and  their  ages  are  given  in  the  order  as  given  in 
the  distribution  of  Lieut.  'J'h.omas's  estate.  The  year  pf  births 
is  given  as  derived  from  age  at  death,  court  records,  etc.  :  they 
were  all  by  his  tirst  wife  : 

i.  Jui.N.  b.  1642:   m.  Mary  Winslow. 
ii.  Tu' iM AS.   Jr..  1).  1644:  m.  Sarah  — — . 
iii.  _/.'.•.:.•;..■;/,  1).  i^qlS;  ni.   Mary  Griswf'kl.  Jau.   of  Lieut.  Fraiici-:   Gris- 

wold. 
iv.   MiiUAM.  b.  1640-50:  m.  Sevgt.  Thomas  Watemian. 
V.   ]);..   S(  ii.^.'MoN,  b.  1 650-1  ;  m.  .Sarah  Huiuington. 
vi.   l)vx;rL.  b.  1(132  ;  ni.  first  Abicjail  Adeaie. 
vii.  S.\;.iL'EL.  b.  1654;  d.  Jan.  11,  1693,  unmarried. 

Lieut,  riicimas  Tracv  v.as  ciie  of  the  first  proprietors  of 
Norwich,  (.'onn.  Th.c  land  was  decJ.cd  by  three  Lidian  ciiicfs. 
Lnkos.  Ov.ajicco  and  Allav.anhood.  and  v.as  witnessed  by  Joiin 
>La5ori  ai:d  Tliomas  Tracv,  the  sixth  of  June,  1657.  Thomas 
Tracy's  home  lot  lies  on  the  south  side  of  the  street,  consist- 
ing of  nine  acres,  thirty-four  rods  on  the  street.  His  son  Sol- 
omon bialt  a  second  Tracv  house  on  the  same  lot,  which  was 
occupied  in  1866,  by  Henry  B.  Tracy. 

Jonadir.n  Tracy,  tliird  son  of  Lieut,  ddiomas,  settled  upon 
wild,  unreclaimed  lands  on  the  east  of  the  Siictucket  River, 
then  belonging  to  Norwich,  afterwards  included  in  Pre-^ton, 
Conn.  Jonathan  married  Julv  11,  167J.  ^Fary,  ciaughter  of 
Lieut,  b  rancis  Griswold,  and  had  a  large  blessing  of  children, 
who  Settled  in  the  neighborhood,  founding  houses  of  their 
own.  JuUiUhon  I'racy,  of  Preston,  was  lirst  town  clerk  of 
Presion,  nrst  lieutenant  and  first  justice  of  the  peace.  Li  an 
old  gr  i'.c\ard  devoted  to  the  Trac\s,  h'ales,  and  other-.-,  is  a 
rough  iiead^tone,  carved  witii  the  letters,  "J.  T.,"  date  17  11, 
which  is  iuppjsed  to  point  out  his  grave.  I'he  in\-entory  of 
his  e>l;'le  n-u:-,  t.d;en  j'cb.  12,  1712.  by  tiie  vital  record; >  of 
the  town  of  J'resLon,  it  i.^  recorded  that  Jonathan  Tracy  mar- 
ried 'd..;y  Griswold.  J;;!}  11,  1672.  They  Jvad  nine  children 
born  in  i're.-.L'..'n.  Conn.  : 


1  7  I  I  . 


1  4.  THE  TRACY   FAMILY. 

i.  Jonathan,  Jr..  b.  Feb.  2\.  1675;  '"■  Annah  Palmer, 
ii.  Hannah,  V).  July  6,  1^177  ;  m.  Thomas  Havidson. 

V   ill.    C/'!r/s/i'/'/!t'r.b.  May  t.  16^0:  m.  I.ydia  Parish.    

iv.    Marv,  b.  Sept.  7,  K-S:';  ni.  Henjamin  Parish. 
V.    M ARYAN,  b.  April  23,  lO-S;  :  m.  Isaac  Claik. 
vi.   David,  b.  Sept.  4,  16S7  ;  m.  Sai.tl:  I'aii'-h. 
vii.   Fkancis;  (son),  b.  April  i,  1690:  m.  Lli/abeth  I'aiish. 
viii.   S ARY.  b.  Auc.  2,  1(^02:  d.  Sept.  6,  10U3. 
ix.   Sa.nr  el,  b.  June  6,  1697;  m.  Esther  Richmond. 

Joiiallian,  Jr.  (.son),  died  Feb.  25,  1704. 

Mary  Tracy,  wife  of  Jonatiran,   Sr..  died    .\pril  2 
years  of  age.     Jonathan    Tracy   married    Mary    Richard,   Aug. 
21,  171 1. 

Lieut.  Thomas's  son.  Solomon,  was  the  tirst  Dr.  Tracy,  and 
for  more  than  two  hundred  years,  Norwich,  Conn.,  was  nc\  er 
without  a  Dr.  Tracy.  Dr.  Solomon  Tracy  married.  Nov.  23. 
1676,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Simon  Huntington:  she  died.  16S3. 
He  tlien  married  wid.ov/  Sarah  Sluunan.  daughter  of  Thoma> 
Bli.ss.  On  an  old  licadstone  is  in.-5Ciibed,  in  old  colonial  text, 
the  following  iriscription  : 

In  this  spot  of  earth  is  interred  ye  erthay  part  of  Mr  Solomon  Trary 
who  died  July  9  1732  in  the  82  year  of  hi.s  age. 

Another  old  headstone  has  the  following  inscriptioti  :  "The 
Pious  beloved  and  very  aged  Mr  Simon  Tracy  died  14  Sept. 
1775,  in  the  96  year  of  his  age.'" 

Daniel,  the  tifth  son  of  Dieut.  Thomas,  inherited  ihe  pater- 
nal homestead,  in  the  town  plot.  He  was  twice  marritd,  tir^t 
to  Abigail  Adagate,  second  to  Hannah,  relict  of  'i'h.oiiias 
Bingham.  He  was  the  father  of  Daniel  'I'rac y.  2d.  ol  Nor- 
wich, who  had  a  son.  Samuel,  also  of  Norwich,  v.ho  was  erne 
of  the  -'Townsmen  ''  who,  in  their  otlicial  capacitv.  crhed  trie 
famous  town  meeting  of  June  6.  1774,  to  ''provide  for  public 
defence,"  which  is  considered  the  fructifying  germ  of  the 
American  Re\olution.  lie  was  father  of  Zebadiah  Trrcy.  of 
Scolland  parish,  who  had  a  son  'J'homas  C.  '1  racy,  al.-o  of 
Scolland  parish,  who  was  the  father  of  Duight  Tracy.  M.  D., 
D.  D.  S.,  who  is  now  engaged  in  \',  riting  a  complete  aiui  t!K>r- 
ough  history  of  the  genealogy  of  the  Tracy  family. 
■  ']ohn,  the"  eldest  son  of  DietU.  Thomas  'J^racy.  had  a  -o:- 
\\:inslow,  born  Feb.  9,  16SS.  He  was  the  father  of  l^xrrry, 
born  Nov.  13,  1716,  who  had  a  son,  Joshua  Orville.  born  June 
I,  1741.  He  wa.s  the  father  uf  Jo.shua,  Jr.,  born  July  3.  i;:^. 
who  had  a  son  Capt.  James  L.  Tracy,  born  July  2.  1813,  died 
in  San  Francisco,  Cab.  who  was  the  father  of  jame.-,  ?eri^ins 
Tracy,  the  well-known  autlinr  and  ■or.rnaiist,  borii  in  San  Iian- 
cisco^  Cal..  July  2,  1853.  now  living  in  New  York  city,  and  has 
one  daughter,  Maud  Kstelle.  John  Tracy  al;^o  had  a  son  Cap;.. 
Jo.-.eph,    his    second    bon,  who   was    the    falh.er    of   Dr.    j-.r.sha 


C."^        THE  TRACY   FAMILY.  I5 

Tracy,  a  dLstir.guished  phv.sician  of  Norwich  of  the  Revoiu- 
lionai'v  era.  4^lLui.  had  als-o  a  son.  I'hilcmon,  whose  two  sons. 
Phineas  L.  and  Albert  H..  liave  been  representatives  to  Con- 
gress. 

Uriah  Tracy,  of  Litchfield.  Conn.,  was  one  of  the  trrst  of 
the  L'nited  States  senators,  elected  1796,  and  serced  until  )-:is 
death,  fuly  19,  iSoy.  Me  was  President  of  the  Senate,  an  1 
the  first  l^iited  States  senator  to  die  in  orTice.  and  was  buried 
in  the  Coni^ressional  burvini^-ij^round  at  \\'a.-iliini;ton. 

C/i-isto/fu-r  Tracy,  third  bon.of  Jonathan  i  st.  of  Preston. 
Conn.,  born  in  Preston,  May  i,  16S0,  married  Lydia  Parish, 
^[ay  .^o,  1705,  and  they  had  twelve  chiklren,  as  follows  : 

i.  LvniA,  b.  May  5,  i7of>. 

ii.  M.VRV.  b.  bin,  [4.  170S;  d.  June  14.  170S.  ^( 

iii.  H.\.N.\.\.n,  1.1.  .April  z-,  1709:   m.  C.ipt.  Samuel  Gnswold.  ^i~!^^'  ' 

I    iv.  ChristhI'IIKK.  b.  June  i.  1711;  m.  Elizabeth  T},ler.       ___. ._  *•  ■■,•'■.     ■' 

V.  _/,'/V, ////./;.',  b.  [>L-c.  zc).  •713;   ni.  Ali'gail  Ki.Li.L!-.       ------^ 

-^'    vi.  laiisw  (baptiz.d  a--  1: WK  h.  Feb.  19,  171S;  m.  Wiliiam  Ca.^e. 

vii.  Lh  I'Hiv-,.  b.  July  19,  17  iS. 

viii.  DuRo'iHV,  b.  Jan.  11,  1720-19. 

i.\-.  EsniKR.  b.  Jan.  i  <).  17:1-20. 

X.  l)F.r.oR.\H,  b.  Apiil  JO.  1722;  m.  David  Dcwtv. 

xi.  Jf.rish.v,  b.  May  4.  1724. 
xii.  Soi.MMDN,  b.  .A.iig.  S,  1725. 

Chi'istopher  died  Feb.  9.  1724-25. 

J,viat'i'-tn  Tracy  2J.  the  fifth  son  of  Christopher  Tracy  pncl 
Lvdia  (Par!:-h)  Tiac.v.  was  biirn  in  l^reston.  Conn..  iJec.  29. 
I  7  13.  (The  dale  c;i\-en  here  is  in  his  own  handwriting,  in  an 
old  written  arithmetic,  that  u.-ed  tr,  lielong  to  him,  and  ncAv  iii 
the  hands  of  his  L^reat  orand-on.  X.  P..  Tracy,  of  Aubum,  Mt:.) 
Jonathan  2d  came  to  Old  Fabiiouth.  Me.  (now  Portland).  ai)o;;t 
1742-3.  He  married,  in  i  743.  Ab'gail  Riggs.  daughter  of  Jrre- 
miah  and  Rachel  Riggs.  Riggs  was  a  tanner,  and  son  of  John 
and  Is-uth  (Wheeler)  Riggs.  of  Gloucester.  Mass.  He  came  to 
Fabvr.uth.  in  1725.  and  li\-ed  near  Siroudwr.ter.  Jonathan  and 
Abigail  Tracy"sVn-st  fojr  children  were  bnprized  at  the  First  Par- 
ish Church,  of  which  the  parents  became  members  in  i  744.  They 
lived  in  the  vicinitv  of  Pack  Cove,  and  he  was  a  sergeant  of  .1 
,milit,u-\-  Company  there,  in  i  757.  He  !i\e',!  in  whit  is  nr.w 
Portland,  about  tweiitv  \-e:-,rs.  The  first  of  Acgust.  17G2.  he 
moved  to  (bjuldsboro,  Mc.  i.iduceci  b)-  t'.ie  i:rjprierors  by  otti'r- 
of  free  grants  of  three  lot.>  (  f  land  for  himself  and  one  ff  r 
each  of  his  sons.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  n(5te  and  w.is 
\velbt_'dacated  for  the  times.  He  was  an  e.xtra  tine  penman,  as 
the  old  written  arithmetic,  alcove  referred  to.  will  testify  by  itN 
tinelv  written  l-.v  unples  and  nilt-s.  In  the  old  arithmetic,  al.v. 
in  the  old  famil}-  l;il)le  of  \\\>  sju.  Re\-.  Christ(;pher  Pracy.  of 
Durham,  and  no's-  in  tlie  ha'ds  ->f  Hon.  William  H.  Thum.is. 
f>f   135    College    Street.    Lewi>ion.  are   recorded   the    namrs    ,.t 


l6  THE  TRACY   FA>nLV. 

Jonathan  and  Ahii^ail  TracN-'s  cliiklren.  thirtcL-n  in  nuivibcr. 
all  l)orn  in  old  I'alnioulh.  except  the  three  \ovinc:e^t.  Their 
name>  are  given  as  follows  : 

i.  Jeki-miah,  h.  Aul;.  o.  1744. 

ii.  Jonathan.    Ik.,  ^d.  b.  March  24,  1746. 

iii.  Lydi.v,  b.  Feb.  21,  174S. 

iv.  8oi.(.)M(.>N,  b.  March  4,  1730. 

V.  T^Iary,  h.  May  17.  1752.  _ 

vi.  Abig.ml,  b.  June  3,  1754. 

vii,  RHor>A.  b.  Au';.  17.  1756. 

viii.  Christopher  (Rcv.),  b.  Oct.  2,  175S. 

,l_,^vj,x.  As.\,  b.  Aug.  4.  !7>  0. 

X.  S.\.Mm,,  b.  Juiie  30.  1-62. 

.\i.  Wiir.Ki.ER,  b.  Gouicl>boro,  Feb.  3,  1765. 

xii.  Thomas,  b.  (iouklsboro.  May  30,  1767. 

xiii.  Daniel,  b.  Clnukl'-boro,  Aug.  16,  1769. 

Thomas  and  Daniel  were  never  married,  died  single.  I'ive  of 
the  sons  ser\"ed  in  the  American  Revolution  :  Jeremiah,  cred- 
ited to  Linctjln  Conntv :  Solomon,  wliose  re-idenee  w.is  gi\-Ln 
as  No.  4.:  Jor.ath.an.  Ji..  and  A^a.  of  (Tould>]")nro.  ai-;d  Christo- 
pher Tracy  served  as  private  in  Capt.  Henry  Dyer's  company. 
Colonel  Foster's  regiment,  on  \arious  alarms,  at  MacliUi.^.  m 
August,  September,  and  October,  1777,  and  also  served  as  a 
private  in  Capt.  Reuben  Dyer's  comijany.  on  au  expedition 
against  St.  John.  Xova  Scotia,  in  ( k-tubjer  and  Deceml)er.  1777. 
This  was- given  to  me  bv  letter  from  James  J.  Tracy.  Chief  if 
Archives  Di\ision  (  )ttice  of  the  Secretary  of  the  (Common- 
wealth, Boston,  Mass. 

Jonathan  Ti'acv.  born  in  Preston.  C'onn..  Dec.  29.  1713.  dird 
in  Steuben.  Me..  1796.  at  his  daugluer.  L\-dia  Lciglit-^n's,  Aln- 
gail  his  wife  was  born  in  Falmouth.  Mav  :().  i7::6.  and  died  in 
Steuljc-n.  September,    1795:   both  were  buried  at  Steu.'ueii. 

\.  Jcmniah  Tracy,  born  in  Falmouth.  Aug.  9.  1744.  He 
married  Sarah  Leighton,  about  1771.  'Jdrey  had  ten  children. 
four  of  whom  were  born  in  Maine,  the  remainder  in  New 
]-5runswick.  Jeremiah  served  in  tlie  Re\-olution.  and  alter  pe.K>; 
was  declared  t'-nik  his  wife  and  four  children,  in  17S4-5,  in  a 
sloop  and  sailed  up  the  St.  John's  Ri\er  and  the  Oremucto  to 
head  of  navigation,  vdiere  he  landed  and  scttlerl  near  what  is 
now  called  ••  Tracy  Station."  His  eldest  son.  Solomon,  hon: 
1772.  was  thirteen  wlien  his  father  settled  on  the  ( )remucto 
River.     Jeremiah  had  ten  children  as  follows  : 

i.  Solomon,  1).  Miin-;,  1772. 

ii.  JoNA-iiiAN,  1j.  Maiu'j. 

iii.  LsRAEL,  b,  Maine. 

iv.  Asa,  b.  Maine. 

V.  Samuel,  b.  New  r.run.swick. 

vi.  jERE\'i\n,  1).  Xew  Dninsu'ick.  Nov.  27.  17.^'.'';   ni,  Mary  Wf-lib. 

vii.  LvuiA,  b.  New  Brunswick, 

viii.  Marv,  b.  New  lJru!..-v,ick. 

ix.  Sarah,  1).  .Ww  llrunswick. 

X. ,  a  daughti.T,  who  married  a  Tucker. 


THK  TRACY  FAMILY.  17 

Jeremiah  built  several  saw-mills  and  gave  each  of  his  sons  a 
farm  all  stocked. 

2.  Jonathan.  Jr.,   of  Gouldsboro.  served    in    the    Revolution. 

He  married  Elizabeth  ,  and  settled   in  Gouldsboro.      They 

liad  eight  children:* 

i.  Jonathan,  Jr.,  m,  Nabhy  F.ickford. 

ii.   CHRisrui'MER.  m.  Nabby  Ash. 

iii.   Phineas,  m.  Ruth  Tibbctts. 
iv.  Elizabeth,  m.  Joseph  Young. 

V.   l.rcY,  m.  William  Rolfe. 

vi.   Mary.  m.  Eli.^ha  Cioodwin,  C>ct.  3.  179S. 
vii.   D(jRCAS,  m.  first.  Aaron  Rolfe  ;  second,  Femald. 
viii.   Lvi>L\,  m.  Samuel  \"oung. 

3.  LyJia  Tracy,  born  in  Falmouth,  Feb.  21,  1 748,  married 
Thomas  Leighton.  and  settled  in  Steuben.  She  had  ten  chil- 
dren, as  follows  :  t 

i.  JoNAiHAN.  m.  Annah  Dyer. 

ii.  Mark,  m.  Sally  Cares, 

iii.  Charity,  m.  Daniel  Godfrey. 

iv.  ALr:xANPER,  m.  Polly  Lawrence.  ^;>.-^^ 

V.  Haikvii..  m.  Polly  Dunbar.  ^  ',.  ,;^ 

vi.  Pamell\,  m.  John  Patten.  i%,   l-r^^ 

vii.  Israel,  m.  Anny  Smith.  v^i'^"^ 

-—viii.  Daniel,  m.  Abigail  Xason.  ^ 

i.\.  Is\L\H,  \n.  Mary  Small. 

X.  Asa,  m.  Lorahannah  Fickett. 

4.  Solomon,  born  in  Falmouth,  March  4.  1750.  married  Mary 
Getchell.  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Getchell.  of  Brunswick.  April 
8,  1773,  and  settled  in  Durham,  where  he  lived  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  then  moved  to  Rome.  Me.,  where  he  lived  and  died. 
He  served  in  the  Revolution,  and  was  credited  from  Xo.  4.  in 
Maine.  He  had  several  children  born  in  Royalsborough  or 
Durham,  Solomon,  Jr.,  and  Nathaniel : 

i.   XArHAMEL.  b.  March  22,  177S:  m.  Molly  Bcais,  Dec.  24.  icSi.  , 

ii.   SdLuMijN.   Jr..  m.  Deborah  Dunn,  of  Poland. 
iii.    RHofi^,  m.  !>e<;.  5.  1S05,  James  I^e  Baron. 
iv.   Pe(;gv,  m.  Pcb.  24,  iS'io,  William  Grant. 

And  probably  others  were  born.  + 

Solomon  Tracy  i  >t.  was  ;i  genuine  Yankee,  a  "  Brother  Jona- 
than." I  have  heard  my  father  say  of  "  Uncle  Sol.""  as  he  used 
to  call  him.  that  he  was  a  ver\-  powerful  man.  and  used  to  tell 
some  very  interesting  stories  of  his  prowess,  of  shrewdness.  — 
as  well  as  feats  of  strength:  one  which  used  to  surprise  and 
interest  me,  and  1  think  it  will  astonish  you.  too.      It  is  about 

*  Mi.s.s  Ella  B.  Tracy,  of  Gouldsboro,  can  furni.-h  all  other  information 
in  regard  to  Joi'.athan.  Jr. 

I  For  further  information  of  Eydia.  write  to  Mis^  Ei/zie  Eibby,  (iouifls- 
bort),  Me. 

I  }-'or  thi.s  write  to  Elbridge  Tracv,  Mt.  Wrni'n,  Me. 


TT'T-   -1 V  \<-y   FA^'IT  V 


THE    MAGIC    ROOSTER. 


My  father  used  to  tell  about  a  curious  sort  of  person,  full  of 
magic  and  black  art.  who  went  abroad  over  Maine  mystifyinL; 
the  rustics. 

According  to  my  informant,  this  personage,  whoever  lie  wa>. 
had  sonie  of  the  Hindoo  arts  down  fine.  Vou  know  tliey  say 
that  some  of  the  more  remarkable  of  the  East  Indian  juggling 
tricks  are  purely  mental  illusions  of  the  spectator  instead  of 
actual  occurences  produced  by  the  operator.  That  is  to  say. 
when  the  Hindoo  throws  the  cord  into  the  air.  and  apparently 
climbs  up  and  up  and  out  of  sight,  he  simply  hypnotizes  his 
bystanders  into  the  belief  that  he  is  performing  the  feat. 

Now  I  am  told  that  this  unknown  who  went  about  through 
Maine,  did  similar  things. 

One  time  he  was  giving  an  e.xhibition  in  Brunswick.  He 
gathered  a  crowd  about  and  informed  the  wondering  people 
that  his  trained  rooster  would  walk  up  ^trct■t  dragging  a  sixty- 
foot  mast  hitched  to  his  tail.  And  then  the  magician  tor^k  a 
rooster  out  of  his  black  box,  made  a  few  nn'stic  passes,  and  lo ! 
the  rooster  strutted  away,  drawing  behind  him.  in  the  dust, 
something  that  certainly,  to  their  eyes,  bore  every  appearance 
of  that  sixty-foot  mast. 

And  while  they  stood  tliere.  peering  and  wondering,  and 
dumb  with  their  amazement.  Uncle  Sol  Trac}-  walked  up. 

Now  it  so  happened  that  Uncle  Sol.  so  the  story  goes,  was 
born  with'a  \eil  over  his  face,  therefore  he  could  n't  be  hypno- 
tized, or  mesmerized,  as  they  called  it  in  the  old  days.  He 
came  crowding  up,  and  elbowed  to  the  front  rank  of  the  crowd. 
"  What  in  thunder  are  ye  lookin'  at  ? ""  shouted  he. 
"Why.  can't  ve  see  that  rooster,  there,  puUin'  that  mast 
along?"   some  one  in  the  crowd  inquired. 

•'  Mast  northin"  !  "  ^^norted  Uncle  Sol.  "  I  "vc  got  pretty  good 
eyes,  myself,  and  I  don't  see  anything  there,  but  a  rooster  pull- 
ing along  a  straw." 

"  And  do  vou  know."  says  the  man  who  tells  me  the  stor}-. 
"  that  's  all  there  was  to  it.  The  rooster  had  a  straw.  Just  as 
soon  as  I'ncle  Sol  said  it,  then  ever\-  one  could  see  for  th.em- 
selves  for  the  spell  was  broken.  And  the  magician  was  so 
mad,  that  he  set  out  to  lick  Uncle  Sol  :  but  after  that  black  art 
chap  had  given  him  a  look  or  two.  —  well,  he  changed  his 
mind." 

And  from  what  1  hear  myself  of  Unck-  Sol  Tracy's  early 
prowess,  I  gue-s  the  dealer  in  black  art  made  a  wise  decision. 

And  another  was  about  his  uncle,  in  the  time  of  the  }^.riti--h 
press  gangs,  who  used  to  impress  Americans  into  the  Hnti^h 
Na^•v.  which  brou2:ht  on  the  war  of    iSi2  : 


THK  TRACY   FAMILY.  IQ 

UXCLK    SOL'S    MVSC'LE. 

He  was  born  in  Old  I'almouth.  and  served  in  the  Re\olu- 
tionarv  war.  and  after  iliat  he  lived  in  Durham:  then  he  moved 
to  Rome,  Me.,  and  died  there. 

He  wa.s  over  six  feet  tall,  he  could  hit  a  blow  like  a  steam- 
hammer,  and  yet  he  had  a  meek  way  and  a  sociable  drawl,  and 
he  was  never  looking  for  trouble  ;  therefore,  occasionally,  some 
people  were  deceived  in  him. 

One  time  he  went  down  into  New  Brunswick,  to  visit  his 
brother  Jeremiah.  He  was  in  St.  John,  one  day.  calling  on  a 
trader,  whom  he  knew,  toasting  his  long  shanks  by  the  stove. 
when  in  walked  a  British  captain  in  the  navy,  with  a  file  of  six 
men  all  well  armed. 

This,  mijid  you,  was  just  prior  to  the  war  of   1812. 
'•  Come  along  down  to  the  wharf  with  me,"  said  the  captain, 
addressing  I'ncle  Sol. 

••  Ciuess  I  won't,"  replied  Uncle  Sol.  "  I  "m  comfortable 
here." 

••  That  don't  make  any  difference."  said  the  captain  ;  "  we 
want  you  to  go  down,  now." 

"Wal.  Cap."  drawled  Uncle  Sol.  "I've  been  daown  to  the 
wharf,  and  seed  it  all  before.  I  do'nt  know  as  I  want  to  see  it, 
naow." 

■•  There  's  no  nted  for  you  to  talk  aboiit  it  any  more."  said 
the  brash  Britisher.  ■•  We  want  you  to  go  down  to  the  wharf, 
and  vou  're  going,  and  now." 

'•  \\'al.  p'raps  I  siiell.  and  p'raps  I  won't." 
"If  you  don't  go  of  your  own  accord,  we  shall  take  you." 
"Wal.  p'raps  ye  will  —  and  then  agin,  p'raps  ye  won't.'' 
When  Sol  said  this,  the  captain  stepped  up  to  him  and  put 
his  hand  on  the  lofty  shoulder  of  the  old   man.      Sol  was  going 
on  seventv. 

His  boast  was  that  he  allowed  no  man  to  go  patting  him  on 
the  back.  He  made  one  pass  and  the  captain,  a  second  later. 
was  Iving  flat  on  the  floor,  stunned  b}-  the  great,  hairy  fist  that 
swung  up  iin.der  his  nose. 

As  soon  as  the  captain  fell,  his  six  marines  started  for  Uncle 
Sol.  Tiuv  clubbed  their  muskets  and  proposed  to  make  short 
work  of  him.  But- — and  thi:,  is  vouched  for — almosc  before 
they  knew  where  they  were  at.  they  were  piled  in  a  corner  on 
top  of  the  captain.  Their  muskets  llew  every  which  way. 
Then  Uncle  Sol  straddled  the  heap  and  held  it  down;  he  liter- 
ally sat  dov.  n  on  them  ' 

'I'he  captain  begged  to  be  let  up.  He  was  at  the  bottom  of 
the  heap,  yuu  know.  He  a.-5sured  Sol  that  \i  lie  would  remove 
the  pressure,  they  would  let  him  alone. 


20  THE  TRACY   1  AMII.V. 

And,  after  considering  the  matter.  Uncle  Sol  arose,  and  tlie 
pile  disentangled  itself. 

Sol  looked  at  them,  rather  doiilnfiillv.  as  they  resumed  their 
arms. 

"  Oh.  we  are  not  going  to  trouble  you.  again."  said  the  cap- 
tain.     "  \\'e  shall  keep  our  promise." 

"  Well,  you  'd  better  stick  to  that  idee."  said  Uncle  Sol, 
calmly.  "  For  1  want  to  tell  ye  naow.  that  ye  ain't  got  men 
enough  in  the  hull  British  navy  to  take  me." 

The  trader,  who  alterward  visited  Brunswick,  brought  the 
sloiy  to  Maine,  saying  that  when  he  saw  that  press-gang  com- 
ing, he  knew  there  would  be  fun. 

But  somehow  or  other  they  don't  have  that  variety  of  double- 
fisted  old  chaps  in  these  days. 

UNCLE    SOL'S    "HOSS-RACE." 

At  another  time,  an  F-nglish  sporting  man  came  over  to  Xcw 
Brunswick,  and  brought  a  crack  race  horse  with  him.  The 
horse  was  a  fine,  slick,  coal  black,  with  his  head  way  up  in  the 
air.  The  English  sport  swelled  around  a  good  deal,  ottering  to 
bet  ^loo,  that  he  could  beat  any  horse  in  the  provinces.  He 
bragged  so  much  and  insinuated  that  no  one  dare  race  v^ith 
him,  that  one  day  L'ncle  Sol  got  out  of  patience,  and  said,  — 

'•  Mister,  I  guess  Eve  got  a  hoss  that  can  beat  vourn." 

He  looked  Sol  over,  and  judging  from  his  appearance  that 
he  could  not  raise  i^i.  he  told  Sol  if  he  would  put  up  £50,  he 
would  race  horses  uith  him. 

L'ncle  Sol  says,  ••Well,  I've  only  got  £2^  with  me.  but  I 
guess  I  can  borrow  the  rest."  Happening  to  see  a  well-known 
sea  captain  in  the  crowd,  he  asked.  — 

"  Captain,  can  you  lend  me  £2^,  until  to-morrow  ?" 

"  Ves;  or  a  hundred,  if  you  want  it."  replied  the  captain. 
readily. 

So  the  money  was  placed  in  the  captain's  hands,  the  race  to 
take  place  the  next  day,  at  a  stated  place,  and  to  start  from  a 
certain  {X)int. 

At  the  time  appointed,  the  English  sport  was  on  h.md,  all 
decked  out  in  fine  style,  his  horse  pawing  the  ground  and  anx- 
ious to  get  the  word.  ••  Go."  The  sport  sang  out  to  Sol  to 
know  where  his  •'  hoss  "  was. 

"  Oh,  close  by."  was  Uncle  Sol's  answer,  as  he  went  into  a 
barn,  near  by,  and  soon  appeared  leading  one  of  the  most 
sorr)'-looking  horses  ever  seen.  He  v>as  gaunt,  his  bones  stuck 
out.  and  you  could  count  his  ribs  as  far  as  vou  cruld  see  to  tell 
his  color.  The  horse  could  hardly  get  his  legs  over  the  sill  of 
the  barn  door,  b\it  finally  got  out  and  stumbled  across  ihe 
yard  to  the  bars,  which  were  all  down  but  the  tov.er  one,  aljoul 


THK  TRM'V   K\%TI1,V.  21 

I 

H  foot  from  the  ground,  and  after  much  coaxing,  and  a  great 
ttTort.  he  succeeded  in  getting  his  forward  feet  over,  but  could 
not  lift  his  hind  feet  over,  until  Uncle  Sol  got  his  shoulder 
under  his  rump,  and  boosted  him  over.  He  then  got  on  to  his 
back,  while  the  horse  could  not  seem  to  hold  his  head  above 
iiis  knees. 

The  sport,  on  seeing  such  a  sorry-looking  horse,  got  niad, 
and  swore  that  I'ncle  Sol  was  only  making  game  of  his  horse  : 
that  Sol's  horse  could  not  go  faster  than  a  walk,  and  that  he 
would  not  disgrace  his  horse  by  racing  him  against  such  a 
looking-beast  ;  and  that  Uncle  Sol  must  be  a  fool  to  race  with 
him.  as  he  was  sure  to  lose  his  money.  After  he  had  made  a 
good  deal  of  bluster.  Sol  told  him  that  his  mone\'  was  up.  and 
that  "he  wa'n't  going  to  back  out."  and  the  sport  had  got  to 
'•  win  the  money  before  he  got  it.'' 

Just  bef(  re  the  signal  was  gi\'en.  Uncle  Sol  ga\e  a  jerk  on 
the  reins,  and  >aicl.    •  Hold  uji  yci  hcd.  can't  yer  ?  " 

At  thi^  the  huise's  head  c-^ne  up  into  the  air,  and  as  the 
signal  was  given,  the  "  old  hoss  "  made  such  a  leap  that  he 
went  more  than  his  length  ahead  of  the  other  horse,  and  kept 
right  on  gaining;  and  e\erv  little  while  l"ncle  Sol  would  look 
back,  and  beckon  with  his  hand  for  the  sport  to  come  on. 
And  in  this  fashion.  I'ncle  Sol  rode  around  the  limit  stake  and 
came  back  meeting  the  sport  not  more  than  three-fourths  the 
way  to  the  stake.  The  sport  kept  right  on  and  ne\er  came 
back,  perhaps  he  is  going  now.  It  is  needless  to  say  that 
I'ncle  Sol  had  trained  his  "  hoss  "  to  act  as  he  did. 

5.  .)/<-in;  born  Mav  17.  1702.  married  Deacon  Jr)nathan 
Stex'ens  and  settled  in  Steuben.  Me.  and  had  eight  children,  as 
follows  : 

i.   Polly,  m.  Jabez  Simpson. 
—  ii.   Rhod.\.  m.  Marshall  Hill. 
iii.   Bethi.ah,  m.  Job  .Smith. 

iv.   Lovic.v.  m.  f[r-il  Lemuel  I'lummcr  ;  s^icoiid  Humphrey}   Dunham. 
V.  Abigau.,  m.   |o.^eph  Steven."^. 
vi.  Daniel  m.  Sally  Hill, 
vii.  Jonath.w,  m.  .\bigail  Peny. 
viii.   N.A.NCV,  b.  Nov.  2.  1794,  m.  William  X.  Shaw. 

She  died  May  19.  i88o.t 

Alii]^ail  Trary.  born  in  Falmouth.  Me..  June  3,  1754.  married 
.Samuel  Joy.  and  settled  in  (jouldsboro.  and  had  five  children  :* 

i.    C.M.EK. 

ii.  HuLLLS,  m.  Xaney  Lyman, 
iii.  S.\MCEL,  jR.,.m.  Sally  Ash. 
iv.   IvuRY.  m.  Betsy  Anderson. 

V.    Kh'jd.v.  n\.  .Samuel  I'arrort. 

*  For  further  particulars,  write  Mi-^   leaiitrtte  l.eigliton.  Steuben,  Me. 
t  I'or    Abigail's    desccnclaiit.s,   write    .Mr.s.   Clara    Pickford,    Winter    Ilar- 

b'.r.  Me. 


22  ''^HV   TRACY   FAMII.V. 

7.  lilioJa,    born    Falnioutli,    Aug.     17.     1756,    uiaiiied   

Bnker,  and  had  only  one  child,  who  died  young. 

S.  Rev.  Christopher  Tracy,  son  of  Jonalhan  and  Abigail 
(Riggs)  Tracv.  was  born  in  Old  Falmouth.  Mc.  Oct.  2.  \-,i'^. 
a.nd  married  in  17S0.  Anna  Getchell.  daughter  of  L'apt.  John 
Getchell,  of  Brunswick,  son  of  Sanuiel.  whose  father  was  Sam- 
uel, the  emigrant  of  163S,  who  settled  in  Sali>bur}-.  Rev. 
Christopher  settled  in  Royalsborough.  now  Durham,  Me.,  and 
had  thirteen  children,  as  follows  : 

i.   1I.\N.\AII,  b.  Oct.  2^,  17S0;  ni.  fust,  ilenry  (hr:  second,  Asa  Goi.ld. 

ii.   Re-,.'.  Jonal/iijii.  b.    Dec.  2S,  17S2  :  m.  tiist.  Esther   Stevens;  second, 

Abigail  Small;  third.  Lydia  Sawyer;  fourth,  Mary  Ham    Ikackeit. 

■''•''    . iii.  Mary,  b.  May  3,  17S5;  m.  William  ISeals.  of  Augusta,  Me. 

/  iv.   Df.a.   Chri.STupuer,  Jr.,  b.  July  13,  17S8;  m.  Margaret  Getchell. 

V.  Sally,    b.    April    18,    1790;  m.   first,  Isaac    Witliam ;  second,    Asa 

Gould. 
vi.  Asa,  b.  Mav  12.  1702  :  m.  18  [4.  Fannie  Hriegs.  of  Greene, 
vii.    SAMcri..   b.'    .-\i)rii    11.    1794;    m.   (_»live    L).    Tibbctts.   of    ColumV)i,i 

Mills,  Me. 
vlii.   Danii-l.   b.    April    6,    1796;  m.    first    Pojlv.    and    second.    Thur/ia 
liicknell. 
ix.   Anna,  b.  March  28,  179S  ;  m.  her  cousin  Daniel,  son  of  Wheeler,  of 

Gouklsboro. 
X.  Infant,  b.  May  iG,  iSoo. 

.\i,   David,  b.  Oct.  6.  iSoi  :  m.  Sept.  t.  1822,  Sally  Sawyer. 
xii.   Lydia.  b.  June  3.  1804;  m.  1S2S,  William  B.  Gay. 
xiii.   Infant,  b.  July  27,  1806. 

Thirteen  seems  to  be  the  Tracy's  lucky  number.  Rc\-. 
Ohristopher  was  a  soldier  in  the  Re\-olutionary  war,  as  nr<tfd 
in  the  previous  record  of  the  same.  He  was  also  a  ju>Licc  ot 
the  peace,  and  he  was  a  Representative  from  JJurham  to  the 
Massachusetts  Legislature  in  1807.  He  was  at  one  time  a 
member  of  the  Royalsborough  militia,  17S7,  imder  Capt.  ('. 
Israel  Bagley. 

Rev.  Christopher  Tracy  was  baptized  by  Elder  Benjamin 
Randall  in  1781.  and  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Primitive  Free  Baptist  Church,  of  Durhani,  organized  1790,  oi 
which  he  remained'  a  member  until  his  death.  He  was  ap- 
pointed as  ruling  elder  of  the  church,  and  at  a  meeting  of  tlie 
Association  at  Wgecomb,  Sept.  9,  1794,  he  was  reatlirmed  b\- 
Klders,  Daniel  Hubbard,  John  Whitney,  and  Benjamin  Randall. 
On  Aug.  31,  1S08,  he  was  regularly  ordained  as  a  mini-^ter  ot 
the  Gospel,  by  Elders,  Ephraim  Stinchheld,  Adam  Eliot,  and 
Benj.  Thorn. 

Rev.  Christopher  Tracy  was  an  evangelist;  a  well-read  and 
educated  man  for  his  time,  of  excellent  judgment;  earnest  and 
forceful  as  a  public  speaker.  He  had  fuur  sons  who  won- 
licensed  to  preach  :  Jonathan,  Christopher,  Jr.,  Asa,  and  Daniel, 
(^nlv  one  was  ordained.  Elder  Jonathan.  l\e\.  Christoijlicr 
was  a  tall,  powerful  man.      He  one  time  mowed  down  five  acres 


of  meadow  hay  in  one  day,  where  there  were  two  tons  to  the 
acre,  witli  onlv  a  bush  scythe.  At  another  time  (as  related  to 
ine  bv  Je'^'^ie  Crossman,  of  Durhairi).  he  found  his  meal  chest 
emplv,  and  he  tw'ok  two  bushels  of  corn  on  his  shoulders,  and 
walked  to  Freeport.  by  spotted  trees,  thence  to  \armouth  tu 
mill,  and  back  the  same  day:  making  a  thirty-mile  walk,  with 
the  two  bushels  on  his  shoulders.  And  all  he  had  to  eat.  while 
j::^one,  was  to  sit  down  under  a  tree  and  eat  a  couple  of  handful.^ 
of  the  corn,  lie  was  a  hard-working  and  very  prudent  man. 
and  was  possessed  of  considerable  property  when  he  died.  He 
<jenerouslv  assisted  all  his  sons  in  getting  a  start  in  life.  At 
one  time  he  owned  se\eral  farms. 

It  is  related  of  Klder  C"hri>topher  Tracy  that  one  morning, 
at  family  prayers,  two  of  his  bo}-^^  were  rather  mischievous. 
The  Elder  parsed,  in  the  midst  of  his  reading,  to  rebuke  them, 
which  caused  him  to  read  thus  :  ••  And  tlie  Lord  spake  unto 
Mo.-es,  saving.  Sam  and  A>a,  if  vou  can"t  beha\-e  yourseh'es. 
you  would  better  go  out  doors." 

.-/.fr7,  born  in  I'almouth,  Aug.  4.  1760:  married  first.  Dorcas 
Leighton  ;  second.  Dorcas  Bunker.  He  had  ten  children,  five 
l)y  each  woman.      Asa  served  in  the  Revolution. t 

(."hi'dren  by  Dorcas  Leighton  Tracy: 

i.   l)i^K<As.  111.  iiist,  Hancock  ;  second,  Anthony;  third.  Kdmunds. 
ii.   .Samck.!.    h.    i"S^;     d.    1S71;    m.    first,    Hannah    Clcav-r^ ;    second. 

(-'rocha  Lyman  ;   third.  Hannah   ]ny. 
iii.    Hann  \u,  m.  Charles  .Steven.^. 
iv.    RAruKi..  m.  Timothy  Pettee^ . 
V.   Asa    Ik.,  ni.  Sainii  (.  lirfoid.  "■      --^  --^  V   f^x-^T^  \. 

■  ".  xy^>-'y  ^-''■■■--\'->~-  '   ^J'^*^   '-^'-    ■'■ 

Children  by  Dorcas  Bunker  Tracy:  ■  • 

vi.   Deborah,  ni.  fii^t.  William  Clift'ord  ;  second,  John  Clark, 
vii.   JrKKMivH.  b.    Feb.    zc),    1802;   d.   March    22.    18^5;   m.   Eliza    Ro-ie- 

brook. 
\\\\.   Isa\c.  1).  iSo^:   d.  189;;   m.  Lvdia  Kosebrook. 
^r:^  i\.   H.sTfiKK.  m.  Elliott  Plummer. 
.\.   Anmf.,  Ml.  Eaiah  \\  hitten. 

Samuel,  born  in  Falmouth,  June  30,  1762  :  married  ?".lizabeth 
(ietchell,  >i.--.ter  of  the  wives  oi  \\\>  brothers.  Solomon  and  Re\ . 
('hristopher.  He  lived  in  Durham.  He  had  the  lucky  num- 
ber, thirteen  chli'dren  :  % 

i.   Akic.au..  V).  June    29,    ijSj:   m.    Nov.    25,    iSoO.   Stephen    Storv.  of 

Bowdoin. 
ii.   Jiiurn,  b.  March   11,  1785;  d.  yoimg. 
iii.   Samiki.,  h.    March    17,  1787;   m.  .\pril    :i,  181  i.  ."SuNannah    Vining. 

(After  his  death,  his  widow  married  James  Newell. 1 

'  Fcir  further  information  writt-  ("awt.  S.  E.  Tracv.  \\'e.-t  (IonUElx.ro.  or 
<  ai.t.  Ed.  Tracy.  Mil;l>.nd^;e,  .Me. 

X  F'.r  .Sauuicl,  vvr.ie  .Nh>.  Clittoid  .M.  Tiai  v,  Eivcrmore  PalN,  Me. 


2^  T'H'^  TR>,Cv  FA^ni.V. 

.  Children  : 

i.   Alvin    F.,  b.  Sept.    24,  1S13;  ni.    May,  1S35,  Joan    BrL-wt-r, 

of  Freeport ;   d.  June,  iSqj. 
ii.  Mary,  b.  Sept.  27,  1S14  ;  d.  Aug.  10.  1S54. 
iv.   Dorothy,  b.  Oct.  23,  17S9;  m.  June  7,  1S12.  benjamin  Witham.  of 

New  Gloucester. 
V.  An.n,  b.  Oct.  S,  1 791  ;  died  young. 

vi.  Jeremi.vh,  b.  July  iS,  1793;  '"•  .'"'^''  ^■''■'' ■   <^'-  I'almyra,  Me. 
vii.  Comfort,  b.  April  i,  1795:  m.  John  McCotton.  of  .Momville. 
viii.  Whkkler,  b.  May  5,  1797  ;  m.  i)tc.  4.  1813.  Xancy  Gouid. 
ix.   High,  b.  June  18,  1799;   m.  1S20.  I'olly  Hill,  of   Durham. 
X.  Abel,  b.  May  21,  iSoi  ;  m.  1S24,  Rachel  Orr,  of  Haipswdl. 
xi.   Moses,  b.  July  20,  1804;   d.  left  widow  and  two  children. 
xii.   Paity,  b.  May  26,  1S07  ;  m.  .March  26,  1S26,  John  Manuel. 
xiii.  Olive,  b.  Apnl  S,  iSio;  m.  Dec.  31,  1S29,  James  L.  Getchell. 

IV/iee/er,  horn  in  Gouldsboro,  Feb.  3.  1765.  the  firi^t  Tracy 
born  in  Gouldsboro.  He  married,  nrst.  Sarah  Clifford:  sec- 
ond,     Wakefield.      He    settled    on    the    old    homestead    at 

(jouldsboro.  where    the    annual    reunions   arc  held  yearly.      He 
had  eleven  children  :  § 

i.  Levi.  m.  Mary  A.  Tucker. 
ii.   D.\RU  s,  m.  ^Iary  Perry. 
iii.  Eri,  died  young. 
iv.  Jon.N,  m.  Lydia   Tracy.      (His  cousin   Jeremiah's   daughter  of  New 

Bruns\\-ick,  I  think.) 
V.  Enoch,  ni.  Maria  Guptill. 
vi.  Wheeler,  Jr.,  m.  Mary  Inland, 
vii.   Daniel,  m.  Anna   Tracy,  his  cousin.    Rev.    Christopher's    daughter. 

and  lived  in  Philipps,  -Me. 
viii.   Lyi)L\,  m.  George  Chillcott. 
ix.    1L\N.N.\H,  m.  William  Lyman. 
X.  S.VRAH,  m.  Edward  Hutchins. 
xi.  Sallie,  died  young. 

TJtotnas^  never  was  married,  lived  with  Wheeler. 

Daniel,  died  young. 

Hannah,  eldest  daughter  of  Rev.  Christopher  Tracy,  of 
Durham,  Oct.  25,  1780;  married  first.  Joseph  Orr,  Nov.  2S, 
1799,  and  had  three  children: 

i.  CiiKisroPHER  Orr. 
ii.  Polly  Orr. 
iii.   Mary  Orr,  m.  Ktnjamin  I'.  True. 

Orr  died,  and  she  married  Asa  Gould  and  had  six  children: 
iv.    I^jRLNG   GoLLl),  m.  Mary  Littlefield.  Lisbi'U. 
V.   Emmons  Go  eld,  dead. 
vi.  Lavonica  Goeld,  dead. 
vii.  Anna  T.   Got:Ln,   b.  Aug.  2.  iSri  ;  m.  July    19,  1829,  Benjamin    C. 

Jenkins,  of   Monmouth, 
viii.   Hannah  G(jeld,   m.    Reuben    Hasmcr.   of  Famiinglun,  Me. ;  two 
children,  Fanny  and  Leonard, 
ix.  .\sA    GoiLii,  Jr.,    b.    Farmington,    Me..    Xfiv.    23,    iSi^:    m.    fir--t. 
'  Martha   S.    Given,    of    Alna;    second,   Julia    A.    l 'uiuiinglian.,  df 

Jefferson. 

S  For  Wheeler,  write  Mrs.  C.  L.  Tracy,  Gou]d--l>nro,  or  .M.  H.  Tracy, 
30  Jkckett  Street,  Portland,  .Me. 


;^. 


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THK  TR  viv  FA^^Ir.v.  25 

Kei'.  J  J II  at 'hi 'I  Tracy,  son  i^f  Rev.  Christopher,  of  Durham, 
and  grandson  of  Jonathan,  of  (Touldsboro,  Mc.  He  was  born 
in  Durham,  Dec.  2S.  \-^i.  He  married  lirst,  Esther  Ste\ens  ; 
second.  Abigail  .^mall  ;  third.  Lydia  .Sawyer;  fourth.  Mar)-  Ham 
Hrackett.      He  also  had  the  lucky  number,  thirteen  children. 

Children  of   Rev.  Jonathan  and  Esther  Stevens  : 

i.   JoNAin AN.   Jk..   b.   in    Duiham.    May    23,  1S07,  who   married    Sally 

Smith  ;   had  t-ight  childit-n. 
ii.   Da\ii>,  b.  Minot,  Mnrcli    ;,  1S09:  m.  Lucretia    V.  Merrow,  had   two 
children. 
.  iii.    RoxvNNA,  b.  Minot,  May  2;,  iSii  ;  d.  Aug.  6,  1877,  unmarried. 
iv.   EsTHKK.  b.  Minot  (New  Auburn),  June  20,  1S13;  m.  Azel  Lovejoy, 
and  had  nine  children. 

Esther,  wife  of   Rev.  Jonathan,  died  July  T)'^.  1S14. 
Children   of    Rev.   Jonathan    and    Abigail    Small,    whom    he 
married  April  13.  1S15,  in  Minot: 

V.    RF.r.KccA.  b.  Dec.  ;.  i.SkS;   ni,  Saniuel  I).  Menow. 
vi.   Jamks,  1).  Sept.  8,  1S18;  ni    Maria  .Merrow. 
vii.   Mary   .Akigaii,.  b    .\uc;.  7.  1S20:   m.  Alvin  Shaw, 
viii.   Soi'Hi.\,  1).  Aug.  24,  1S22  :  d.  .^cpt.  0,  1S26. 

i.\.  Ferdinand,  b    March  8,1826;  ra.  .Sylvia  J.  Hobbs  ;  had  si.x  children, 
only  thiee  grew  up:   Ada,  Rev.  C'lin  Hobbs,  .\ngelia  S. 
X.    Sorni.x    Ann,  b.  May    30.  iS28;   m.  Rev.  John    I).  \Ve.-;t,  M.  D.  ;  d 

Dec.  6.  1S51,  aged  twentv-thrtc  ycar.s  ;  left  no  children. 
-xi.   Samiki.  S.,  b.  .-Vug.  4,  1830;   d.  .\pril  25,  1855,  unmarried. 

Abigail,  second  wife   of   Rev.  Jonathan,  died    Dec.    18,  18.4.1- 
He  again  married.  July  13,  1S4.2,  Lydia  .Sawyer;   had  one  son  ■ 
xii.   Em.mc'Ns   Fkanki.in,  b.  .May  12.  1843;  d.  Sept    25,  1843. 

Lydia  Tracy  died,  April  8,  1S44.  Rev.  Jonathan  Tracy  again 
married  Mary  Ham  Brackett.  c>f  Otisfield.  daughter  of  Capt. 
Nathaniel  Brackett,  son  of  Anthony  Brackett.  of  Ealmouth 
(now  Portlands  who  was  a  grandson  of  Anthony  the  selectman 
of  Portsmouth.  X.  H.,  born  in  England,  came  to  America,  in 
1629.  and  descended  from  Sir  John  Brackett.  v.ho  was  .Sheriti  of 
Herts  and  Essex,  in  1507.  Their  coat  of  arms  was  a  shield  or 
crest  Or,  with  a  cross  moline  Sable  engrilled  with  a  Brackett 
or  young  stag,  lodged  preper.  Capt.  Xathanile  Brackett's 
brother  'I'homas  was  the  great  grandfather  of  the  Hon.  Thomas 
I^.  Reed.  Rev.  Jonathan  and  Mary  H.  ( P^rackett)  Tracy  had 
one  son  named  for  his  (Grandfather  Ikackett : 

xiii.   Nai'H.xnikl   B.,  bom    June   6,    1S47  ;  ni.    July   25,    1S69,  Hattie    I,. 
CJoddard. 

Rev.  Jon.athan  Tracy  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Christopher,  of 
Durham,  born  Dec.  28,  1782,  and  was  named  for  his  grand- 
father. Jonathan  Tracy,  of  Cnuldsboro.  Rev.  Jonathan  was  a 
good  type  of  his  ancestors,  and  showed  his  X^rman  origin  in 
his  extremely  light  hair  and  blue  eyes.  He  had  a  sturdy  and 
powerful  frame,  though  only  of  medium   heiglu.      Hi>   >trer)gth 


1593101 


2ij  THE  TRACY  VWUIX. 

was  phenoiiK'nal.  He  had  been  known  to  shoulder  a  barrel  of 
potash,  \veii;hing  five  hundred  pounds.  He  was  a  man  wht) 
never  knew  fear.  One  time  as  a  i-mall  boy.  he  showed  Ids 
steady  nerve.  One  niLi;ht  in  going  to  dri\c  the  cows  home 
from  the  pasture,  he  took  the  Old  Queen's  Arm.  which  was  as 
heavy  as  he  could  well  carry,  and  it  was  loaded  with  a  partridge 
charge,  and  was  in  hopes  to  get  a  partridge.  After  finding  and 
starting  the  cows  towards  home,  he  loitered  along  in  the  path 
through  the  woods  and  bushes  until  he  got  to  where  the  path  ran 
close  to  the  old  log  fence  beside  the  corn  held,  when  he  heard 
a  crashing  in  the  brush,  and  an  old  bear  came  lumbering  over 
the  fence  on  a  fallen  log,  and  sat  up  on  Ids  haunches  directlv 
in  the  path,  and  began  an  angry  growl,  and  being  not  more 
than  a  dozen  yards  away.  But  young  Jonathan,  a  scion  of  the 
royal  house  of  Tracy,  like  the  \"ikings  of  old.  did  not  scare. 
He  delibcratelv  threw  up  the  old  riint-Iock.  took  deliberate  aim. 
pulled  the  trigger.  FIusJi  .'  The  old  iiint-lock  onl}-  da^l•led  in 
the  pan.  IJut.  however,  this  boldness  seemed  to  be  too  much 
for  his  bearship.  and  he  quickly  got  down  and  quicklv  jnii 
off.  Young  Jonathan  was  famous  throughout  the  countrv  as  a 
master  in  the  art  of  breaking  colts  to  the  saddle,  and  never 
had  to  give  up  beaten. 

The  Rev.  Jonathan  commenced  preaching  in  the  year  1800. 
when  eighteen  years  old.  He  was  married  the  23d  of  Ma\-. 
1806,  at  the  age  of  twent}-three  years.  He  first  kept  hciuse  in 
Durham,  Me.,  where  ids  eldest  son  was  born.  He  then  moved 
to  Minot  (Xew  Auburn),  and  took  up  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  within  a  mile  of  the  Lewiston  Falls,  on  the  Androscoggin 
River,  about  1808.  Here  he  cleared  up  land,  and  made  his 
home.  The  first  land  he  broke  up  wdth  his  father's  plow,  which 
he  dragged  through  the  woods  for  f-wekr  jniles.  by  spotted  trees. 
on  his  shoulders.  He  built  himself  a  frame  house  in  iSit.  It 
was  ?ifac  simile  of  his  father's  house  in  Durham. 

Old  Elder  Jonathan  Tracy  (as  he  became  known)  was  or- 
dained a  preacher.  Feb.  24.  182S.  He  was  called  "  Scripture 
Tracy,''  for  his  remarkirble  fannliarity  with  the  Bible.  He 
could  repeat  all  the  Xew  Testament  from  memory,  and  a  gi eater 
part  of  the  (Jld  Bible.  He  baptized  between  seven  and  eight 
hundred  ccmverts  :  and.  at  one  time,  forty-five  through  a  hole 
cut  in  the  ice.  He  also  accomplished  a  feat  never  known  to 
have  been  attempted  by  any  other  minister,  he  successful!}  bap- 
tized a  man  and  wife  both  together  at  the  same  time.  He  was 
an  evangelist  of  great  power,  and  he  used  to  travel  from  place 
to  place,  preaching  in  schooihouscs,  barns,  houses,  and  out 
doors.  Great  reformation-^  followed  wherever  he  went.  He 
had  a  marvelous  voice,  that  under  favoral:)le  circumstances 
could    be    iiL-ard    plairily  over  a  mile  away.      He  never  ti'ok  pa\' 


THK  TRACY   FAMILY.  2"] 

for  preaching.      He  was   always    a    strong   advocate  of  temper- 
ance, and  an  ii'icoin/^roniis/ng  r/it-my  to  slavery. 

IU)\V   HK    IT'RXED   DOWN  C()X(;R1:SSM-\N 
LITTLEFIKLD. 

In  1850.  he  hired  tlie  town  house,  in  15ridgton,  of  the  select- 
men, and  paid  for  the  use  of  it  in  advance,  for  the  purpose  of 
delivering  an  anti-slavery  address.  At  that  time  Hon.  Xathaniel 
S.  Littlefield  was  a  resident  of  the  town  and  member  of  Con- 
gress, elected  by  the  Democrats  as  against  the  \\higs,  and 
when  Nat  Littletield  heard  of  the  proposed  address,  he  went 
to  old  Elder  Tracv  and  tried  to  persuade  him  to  give  up  the 
notion  of  speaking  on  the  abolition  question,  as  he  said  it 
would  kick  up  a  big  rumpus.  Ikit  Elder  Tracy  told  him  that 
he  could  not.  Then  Littlefield  began  to  bluster  and  threaten. 
He  said  that  if  he  persisted  in  gi\ing  his  address,  that  the  peo- 
ple would  mob  him.  Ikit  all  the  threats  of  the  great  Congress- 
man did  n<:it  scare  the  descendant  of  the  bold  Vikings,  and  he 
told  Littletield  that  he  had  hired  the  town  house  of  the  select- 
nun,  had  \)mA  for  it  ti;.  use  on  a  certain  date,  and  he  liad  given 
his  w jrd  and  adveitised  that  the  address  was  to  take  place  on 
that  date  ;  that  he  was  not  accustomed  to  breaking  his  word, 
and  that  he  would  not  commence  then. 

The  result  was  that  word  got  noised  around  that  part  of  the 
State,  that  old  Elder  Jonathan  Tracy  was  going  to  give  his  talk 
against  slaverv.'and  that  there  was  a  lot  of  roughs,  headed  by 
Congressman  Littlefield,  to  mob  the  old  Elder,  It  created  such 
an  excitement,  that  at  the  time  appointed  for  the  meeting, 
the  house  was  packed  so  full,  and  there  was  such  a  crowd 
around  the  building,  that  the  doors  and  windows  were  opened, 
so  all  could  hear.  After  the  Elder  had  got  well  under  way 
with  his  address.  Littlefield.  and  nineteen  others,  came  up,  and 
tried  to  get  into  the  house,  but  could  not  even  get  near  it. 
for  the  crowd  was  packed  so  close  listening  to  the  address. 
So  Littlefield  and  his  crowd  had  to  content  themsehes  by 
throwing  stones  at  the  building,  as  well  as  rotten  eggs,  and  try- 
ing to  create  a  disturl)ance.  I'nit  the  selectmen  ordered  tlu- 
C')nstable    to    place    them    all    under  arrest  ;    which    he  did,  and 

took  them  to  Portland,  where  they  were  fined  eighteen  dollars 
and  costs  ;  and  as  none  of  the  men  had  any  money.  Congress- 
man Littlefield  had  to  pay  their  fines  as  well  as  his  own.  And 
this  affair  so  redounded  to  the  discredit  of  Littlefield.  that  at 
the    ne.xt   congressional  district   con\ention.  of  the   Democratic 

party,  at  which  Littlefield  was  a  candidate  for  re-nominatiiin,  he 

was  told  that  the\-  h.id  had  all  they  wanted  <if  him.  and  his 
opponent  was  almost  unanimously  nominated. 

Elder   Jonatlian    Tracy   was    one    of    the    fiist    to    enter  the 

Republican    ])art\',  in    the    State,  and  threw  tht-  fir>t  Rt-iiublicui 


"S  1HF   TKACY   FAMILY. 

vote  thrown  in  Auburn.  He  received  the  ballots  from  his 
•brother-in-law,  Sanruel  S.  Sniall,  Esq..  of  Portland,  and  when  he 
put  his  ballot  in  the  box.  he  held  it  up  in  his  hand  as  hij^h  as 
he  could  reach,  saying.  ••  Here  is  a  vote  for  ionf'eraiiic  and  abo- 
litioti  of  sla:er\  .'"  so  all  in  the  house  could  hear  him.  A  L;reat 
many  laughed  at  him.  and  said  that  was  all  the  vote  of  the 
kind  that  would  be  thrown  that  dav.  but  he  succeeded  in  get- 
ting i-u'enty-si'rcn  to  vote  the  same  ticket  that  day. 

About  1S53.  Elder  Tracv  sold  his  farm  in  Auburn,  and 
moved  on  to  Oak  Hill,  in  Wales,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  Jan.  22.  1864,  in  the  eighty-second  year 
of  his  age.  His  funeral  services  were  held  in  the  Eree  Will 
Baptist  Church,  on  Main  Street.  Lewiston.  and  the  funeral 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  James  ^E  Buzzell.  D.  D.  The 
text  was  I  CoK.  xv.  58  :  '•  Steadfast  and  unmovable.  always 
abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord."  His  remains  were  in- 
terred in  Mt.  Auburn  cemeterv.  in  Auburn,  tifty-two  carriages 
following  the  hearse  to  the  tomb. 

A"<7 ///(?'//>/  Brackett  l)ac\.  voungest  son  of  Rev.  Jonathan 
and  Mary  Ham  (^Brackett)  Tracy,  was  born  in  Auburn.  Jiuie  6. 
1847.  was  educated  in  the  common  school,  attended  a  short 
time.  Litchneld  Academy,  and  also  Bryant  tV  Stratton's  Com- 
mercial College,  in  Boston,  and  has  pursued  a  wide  course  (if 
study  outside,  is  a  great  reader,  and.  in  a  quiet  way.  has  beei-s 
the  means  of  a  constant  good  to  mankind.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandrv,  and 
introduce  the  Cirange  into  Maine  :  also  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  State  Grange  :  was  the  promoter  of  the  first  county  Grange 
in  the  .State  :  and  against  great  opposition  succeeded  in  estab- 
lishing the  Androscoggin  Patrons  Slutual  Eire  Insurance  Com- 
pany, which  has  been  run  so  successfully  for  tv.enty  years,  and 
has  saved  thousands  of  dollars  to  the  farmers  who  are  members 
of  the  Grange  throughout  the  State.  And  it  was  by  his  advice 
that  Hon.  Erederick  Robie  was  elected  Master  of  the  State 
Grange,  and  the  plans  suggested  by  him  which  Robie  adopted 
and  carried  out  that  caused  his  nomination  and  election  as 
Governor  of  the  State,  thus  securing  a  great  victory  out  of 
defeat  for  the  Republican  party,  which  X.  B.  Tracy  has  always 
affiliated  with.  He  is  also  a  radical  temperance  worker,  having 
become  identified  with  the  Temple  of  Honor  and  Temperance 
Dec.  iS.  1865,  in  I^oston  ;  has  received  all  the  degrees,  passed 
the  chair,  was  admitted  to  the  Grand  Temple,  has  been  through 
the  Worthy  Vice's  chair,  and  for  four  consecutive  years  was 
Grand  Worthy  Recorder,  and  under  his  especial  efforts  the 
membership  was  more  than  doubled;  was  chosen  a  delegate 
to  the  Supreme  C'ouncil. 

X.  B.  Tracy  was  appointed  a  jiistice  of  the  peace  b\  Gover- 
iif'r   Davis,   was   at   one   time    in   trade    in   Lev, iston,  ai:d   for  a 


THE  TRACV   FAMILY.  29 

nunihcr  of  years  was  a  workman  in  a  shoe  factory  in  Auburn, 
excepting  a'short  time  when  lie  was  foreman  of  a  stock  room  in 
a  shop  in  Colchester.  Conn.,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business  for  the  last  ten  years. 

X.  B.  Tracy  married  July  25'  1S69.  liattie  Louise  Goddard, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Jane  (Grant)  Goddard.  She  was  born 
in  Freeport.  June  29.  1S4S.  Her  Cxrandmother  Grant  was  a 
Killev.  of  Boston.  N.  B.  and  Hattie  L.  Tracy  have  five  chil- 
dren as  follows  : 

i.   (jRvn.LE  MkrtoN,   b.   Monmouth.    Me.,    Dec.    1S72;   m.   April    30. 
1S96,    Grace    I).    Keene,   of  Grovenoii.    X.  li..    b.    Dec.    3.    1874, 
They  have  one  child.  Thalma  ( >live.  b.  Aubuni.  June  14.  1S9S. 
ii.   Lu.LiAN   Mabell,  b.  Wales.  Me.,  April  19,  1S78. 
iii.  Lizzie  M.md,  b.  Auburn,  March  11.  1SS4. 
iv.   ],ENA   May.  b.  Auburn,  Aug.  30.  1SS9. 
V.   Isabel  GERTRrnE,  b.  March  7,  1S92. 

Marv,  daughter  of  Rev.  Christopher,  born  in  Durham.  May 
3.  17S;  :  married  Sept.  25.  1S03.  to  Whliam  I]eal_s.  of  Durham. 
She   died   June    27,  1894,  and  had  eight' children.     Three  died 


voun 


i.  FiKEBE,  b.  Lisbon,  Aug.  29,  1S04;  m.  Ansel  CSerrish. 

ii.  Belinda,  b.  Lisbon,  ^farch  i.  iSoS  ;  m.  .\lvin  Fogg. 

iii.  Samiel.  b.  Li>bon.  June  27,  iSio;  ni.  Maria  Warren  of  Monn-.uuih. 

iv.  William,  b.  Lisbon,  May  6.  1^14  ;  m.  Lucinda  Bacon.  Winthrop. 

V.  Albert    T.  /    ^^^j^^^^    y^     Durham.    April    17.    181 6.       Alfred    died 

VI.  Alfkem,         \ 

young.  Albert  m.  first.  Sepi.  1,  1S40,  Abbie  F.-gg.  of  Augusia, 
\vho  "died  March  5.  iS52;*no  children:  m.  second;  Hannah  M. 
Thompson,  of   Wales.     They  had  five  children. 

Dca.  Christopher.  Jr..  son  of  Rev.  Chri.-.topher  and  Anna 
(Getchell)  Tracy,  born  in  Durham.  July  13.  17SS:  married, 
bee.  31.  1809.  Slargaret  Getchell.  daughter  of  Joseph  Riggs 
(ietchell,  of  Durham,  born  April  26.  17S7  ;  had  four  children, 
two  adopted  : 

i.   Lavinia   N..  b.  Sept.  iS,  1S14;   m.  Th(jma>    Wocdbury.  of   Boston, 
ii.   lii.vikA  J.,  b.  .Sept.  19,  1817;   m.  Bradford  Sprri^uc.  of   Bo-ton. 
iii.  SoPHROMA  B.,  b.  Oct.  9,  1723;  d.  Aug.  21.  1SS3,  unmarried. 
iv.  Sylvia  A.,  b.  April  22,  1826:  d.  Jan.  14.  1S27. 

ISe'IsEY   W.,  an    adopted    daughter,  married    David    B>o\vie.  of  Dur- 
ham. 
Franxt.s  J.,  an    adopted    son;  d.  Baton    Rouge,    La.,   Capt.  Go.  G, 
Thirty-First  Maine  Regiment. 

Sally  (or  Sarah,  as  afterward  called)  Tracy,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Chri.->topher.  \vas  born  in  Durham,  April  iS.  1790:  uLirried 
tirst,  Isaac  Witham,  June  12,  iSio.      They  had  three   children: 

i.  Mary  Ann. 
ii.  Daniel. 
iii.  G\"RENA  W.,  m.  Jones,  lived  Damariscotia  Mills. 

Witham  died,  and  Sally  (or  Sarah)  married  her  sister  Han- 
nah's husband,  Asa  Gould,  and  they  li.ul  fcnir  children  : 


30  THE  TRACY   FAMILY. 

iv.  Sarah. 
V.  Harkif.t. 

vi.   Kr\'.   Gf.okuk   \V.   C.iri.n.  bom  in  Kerlin.  Me.  (now  Philipp.-;).  now- 
living  in  Tilcsti>ii.  N.  H. 
vii.   RoxvA.NX. 

Sally  (^Sarah)  Goiikl.  died  Ych.  37,  1S76. 

Ast7.  son  Rev.  Christopher,  born  in  Durham.  May  12.  1793  : 
married,  18 14,  I-'anny  Briggs.  of  (ireene.  He  died  in  C'armel. 
April  2().  They  had  six  children,  lie  used  to  preach  undt-r 
license.     The  children  were  : 

i.  Arinah   Krk.c.s,  b.  in  Greene,  Me..  Feb.  24.  1S15;   d.  in    Ilartlaiul, 

Me.,  Oct.  23.  1S9.S.      Only  an  adopted  >on  (Janitrs  Tracy). 
ii.   Fannie,  b.    Nov.  26,    1S19;  m.    Knocli    Waugh;  had    two   children. 

who  died  young, 
iii.   Ol.lVK.R    Herrick,   b.    in    Parkman,   Aug.    10,    1S23;  d.   in   Carmel, 

1S47  or  1S4S. 
iv.  Lavunia  Goi'i.r),  b.  in   Parkman,  .\ug.  23,  1S30:  ni.  Tames  roiliss. 

One  dauglitcr  living,  who  married  Dr.  ^Iason  Harvey,  and  lixes  in 

Kverett,  Ma-s. 
V.   A.s.\.   Jr.,  h.  .May    7,  iS,^;  m.  Flora    Xewcomb.  and    iive.>  in  Aftoi;. 

Minn.     They  iiave  eight  children, 
vi.    H.\RKiEr   Fvni  \.  b.  Portland.  '  )ct.  30.  1835;   unntajried:  !i\  j>  v.ith 

Mrs.  D.  Harvey,  Everett,  .Mass. 

SjV!Ui'/,  son  of  Rev.  Christopher,  was  born  in  Durliam,  April 
II.  1794:  married  May  10.  1S15,  (  )live  1 ).  Tibbetts.  of  Colum- 
bia Falls.      Sanruel  died  Aug.  19.  1S73  :   had  four  children: 

i.   P.KtsKV,  b.  June  6,  1S16;   died  young. 
ii.   I'dLLV,  b.  ^iaIch  27,  1S17  ;   died  young. 

iii.   P.KrsEV   S.,  b.  Minot,  Oct.  14,  iSiS;  m.  Elisha    Keen,  and   had  four 
children  :   Orland  .S.,  Ida  F.,  unmarried,  Izora  and  Fannie   T.,  died 
young. 
iv.   .Mary  Sf.-.AN,  died  young. 

Daniel  jyacy.  son  of  Rev.  Christopher,  born  in  Durham. 
April  6,  1796  ;  married  first.  Polly  Bicknell  :  second,  her  sister 
'Ihurza  Bicknell.      He  had  seven  children. 

Children  of   Daniel  and  Polly  Bicknell  Tracy: 

i.  Hannah,  m.  John  Comish. 

ii.  Belinda,  m.  first  William  Comi.sh  ;  second, Hall. 

iii.  James,  m.  Helen  Sampson. 

iv.  A-N.va,  m.  Edward  P^dgecomb. 

V.  >Pary,  m.  Boynton  Hewey. 

Polly,  wife  of  Daniel,  died  Sept.  it,.  1S30.  Second  wife. 
Thirza'  Bicknell.  sister  of  Polly.  Daniel  and  Thirza  were  mar- 
ried Dec.  19.  1850:  two  children  : 

vi.  AvERLiNE,  m.  Charles  Allen. 
vii.   ^P^LR(;ARET,  m.  E.  Bicknell. 

Daniel  died  March  23.  1S75.  was  a  licensed  preacher. 

Anno,  daughter  of  Rev.  Christopher  Tracy,  born  in  Dur- 
ham, March  2S.  1795:  married  her  cousin  Daniel  Trac\  i  son 
of  Wheeler;,    of    (louldsboro.      They    settled    in    Berlin    .now 


Thtv    rWACV   FAMILY.  3I 

rhilipps\  Me.      Daniel   died    Feb.  7,    1S45.  ,-Thcy  lud  twelve  .  .  / 
children:  '/      -.!- ;-i--i.-c.  ,;  ■  _  <   •••■  r  /  ■       ■ 

i.  N'ki.son,  b.  May  4.  1S15:  ni.  Ann  M.ii;;i  .\a-n.^       •/"  ^  ,',        -7  ^ 

ii.  Sarah,  li.  .I.\n.  i..  iSiS:   m.  Newman  Frtiu.h.    '       ;'     ",    • ','  .  ,.:'. ',/,^  V    "' 

iii.  Hn.nAii    A.,  b.  Jan.  6.  1S20;   d.  Nov.  j;.  iS46."'>_.-       '         '     ', 

iv.  \'iLF.rr.  b.  Oct.  S.  iS::i  ;   m.  J'.enjamin  Chick. 

V.  Kr.i,  b.  Auf;.  i.  1S23;  m.  first.  Lucy  A.  I'ratt,  July  9,  1S50;  .second, 

I'crsis  A.  rha-c.  Jan.  iS.  1S59. 

vi.  Lydia   L.,  b.  June  :!i.  1S25:  m.  Abel  Corbeit. 

vii.  Wii.i.iAM    H.,  b.  Nov.  16.  1S27:  d.  Aug.  27,  1S49.  unmarried, 

viii.  Xancy   W..  b.  June  4.  1829;  ni.  Samuel  Joy;   d.  Sept.  3.  1S51. 

ix.  Mark  Ann.  b.  Aug.  2S.  iS",i  ;   m.  April   4,  1S54,  Charles   \V.  Kyle; 

Kyle;  d.  Feb.  27.  1S9S. 

.\.  CiEOKGK   W.,  b.  July  9,  1S34  ;   d.  Nov.  24.  1S31,  unmarried. 

xi.  Makgarf.t,  b.  March  25,  1S36;   d.  iSqS.  unmarried, 

xii.  Aryilla   G..  b.  Sept.  11,  1S32  ;   m.  Charle.'i  Chick. 

David.  son  of  Rev.  Christopher,  b.  in  Durham,  Oct.  6.  1801  ; 
married  Sept.  i.  iSj:;.  Sally  Sawyer :  settled  in  Farmington. 
Me.,  and  had  four  clrildren  : 

i.   Dr.  CuKisTorHiK    C.  lived    in    Worcc-ter,    Mass;    left    one    sou, 

frank,  lives  in  Pcierlioro,  X.  H. 
ii.  ELiZABErn.  dead, 
iii.   Am.v.sa.  dead, 
iv.   Hiram,  dead. 

Lydia,  daughter  of  Rew  Christopher  Tracy,  born  in  Dur- 
ham. Jan.  2.  1S04:  m.  1S2S,  to  William  B.Joy,  of  Minot  :  had 
four  children  : 

i.   Samtll,   m.   nr^t,   his   cousin.    Nancy   Tracy,  of  I'hilipps ;  second, 
Harriet  Hewey. 

ii.   Mar<,)IIs  T..  15  Moore  Court.  Bjunswick,  Me. 
iii.   l.KWis  A. 
iv.  CiNDKREi.LA,  died  young. 

A  conservative  estimate  places  the  descendants  of  Jonathan 
Tracy  of  Gouldsboro.  in  Maine  and  New  Brunswick,  at  not 
less  than  fifteen  hundred.  Many  of  them  have  filled  promin- 
ent positions  of  trust  and  honor,  and  have  helped  no  little  in 
shaping  the  attairs  of  the  State. 

The  name  throughout  the  State  has  always  been  a  synonym 
of  honor.  I  never  knew,  or  even  heard  of  a  Tracy,  v.h.o  was 
a  descendant  of  I^itut.  'Jhomas.  that  died  a  drunkard,  or  even 
indulged  in  intoxicating  liquors  to  e.xcess.  And  I  have  yet  to 
learn  that  any  single  one  was  ever  yet"  imprisoned  for  any  crime 
whatever.  I  ask  you  if  that  is  not  a  record  to  be  proud  of  ? 
And  in  the  record  on  the  other  hand,  there  have  been  minis- 
ters, doctors,  judges,  lawvers,  repre.'-entatives  to  the  State  Leg- 
islature, adjutant-generals,  editors,  authors,  bankers.  United 
States  Cabinet  officer.-,;  and  if  J  ha\-e  l-een  correctly  informed, 
there  have  been  some  one  of  the  descendents  in  the  United 
-Slates  Congress  or  Seiiale  from  its  formation  to  the  pre>ent 
time.      The    r.ame    of   Tracy    has    been    j.erpetuated   by    being 


32  THE  TRACV   K\.MILY. 

given  to  various  cities,  towns,  etc.  Tliere  i>  Tracv  Citv  in 
Tennessee;  Tracy  and  Trac}'  lunction.  iri  MiniK-sota  :  ']"racv 
Avenue.  Cliicago :  Tracy  Island  in  t!ie  Andrt'scoggin  Ri\t-r 
between  Durham  and  Lisbon.  Me.  :  and  Tracv".^  Mills.  'J'racv- 
ville,  and  Tracy  Station,  X.  H. 

I  will  close  this  b}-  once  more  ch;. rging  you  to  so  live  that 
you  may  add  new  honor  and  lustre  to  our  illustrious  name  ot 
Ttacy. 


The  following  data  has  been  received  since  going  to  press. 


Page  22.  line  22  should  read — William  B.  Joy. 

Page  25.  line  12  should  read — now  Auburn. 

Page  25.  line  IS  should  read — Maria  Merrill. 

Page  25,  line  19  should  read — Alvin  C.  Shaw. 

Page  2i.  line  .U  should  read — Brockctt. 

Page  26,  line  21  should  read — now  Auburn. 

Page  29.  line     8  should  read — Kilby. 

Page  29.  line  13  .should  read— Lillian  ^L.  b.   1^76. 

Page  29.  line  3  5  should  read — Woodbury  Thomas. 

Page  30.  line     9  should  read— Asa  ditxl  April  29.  1874. 

Page  30,  line  22  >hould  read  —  Harriet  Lydia.  b.  Parkman. 

Page  30,  line  2i  should  read — Mrs.  \)x.  Harvey. 

Page  3L  line  12  should  read — Mary  Ann. 

Page  31,  line  13  should  read  —  Mrs.  Kyle  died. 

Page  31,  line  2?^  should  read — Col.  Amasa  lives  in  Vermont. 


2504 


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