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Full text of "Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester County, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity;"

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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS 

AND 

GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS 

OF 

WORCESTER COUNTY 

MASSACHUSETTS 



WITH A HISTORY OF 



WORCESTER SOCIETY OF ANTIQUITY 



PREPARED UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF 

ELLERY BICKNELL CRANE 

Librarian of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, and Editor of its Proceedings 

Author of "The Rawson Family Memorial," "Crane 

Family," two vols.. Etc. 



' Knti7ii/fifgi- lit kindred and the genealogies oj Ike ancient tainilies deseiveth t/ie tiighest 
praise. Herein consistetli a part of tlie knowledge of a man's own self. It is a great spur to 
virtue to look back on the work of our lines." — Lord Bacon. 

There is no heroic poem in the wj)rld hut is at the hot torn the life oj a man. " — Sir 
Walter Scott. 



Vol. II 



xj snr F^^^T"E>iz) 



NEW YORK CHICAGO 

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 
1907 



Gin 

r- 10O7 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



THE TAFT FAMILY, of Worcester county, 
Massachusetts, trace their ancestry to Robert Taft, 
who was a housewright by trade, and settled in 
Mendon, Massachusetts, in 1669, to which place he 
came f6rm Braintree, which was then a province. 
His wife, "Sarah Taft, bore him tive sons : Thomas, 
born 1671 ; Robert, 1674; Daniel, 1677; Joseph, 1680; 
and Benjamin, 1684. The father. Robert Taft, died 
in February, 1725 ; the mother, Sarah Taft, in No- 
vember of the same year. 

Captain Joseph Taft, fourth son of Robert and 
Sarah Taft, was born in 1680, died in 1747. He 
married, 1708, Elizabeth Emerson, granddaughter 
of the first minister of Mendon, Massachusetts. They 
were the parents of nine children, among whom were 
the following: !Moses, born 1713; Peter, 1715; Jo- 
seph, 1722; and Aaron, April 12, 1729. 

Captain Peter Taft, second son of Captain Jo- 
sei)h and Elizabeth (Emerson) Taft, was born in 
1713. He was a farmer in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. 
He married Elizabeth Cheney, and the sons born 
of this marriage were : Henry, Gershom, Aaron and 
Peter. 

^ Aaron Taft, third son of Captain Peter and 
Ehzabeth (Cheney) Taft, was born May 28, 1743. 
His early education fitted him for Princeton Col- 
lege, but the exigencies of the family called him 
home before he had finished his college course, but 
not before he had established a good reputation as 
a scholar. He then turned his attention to farming 
in his native town of Uxbridge, from which, after 
a residence of thirty years, he removed in Alarch, 
1799, to Townshend, Vermontj where he died March 
26, 1808. About 1768 he married Rhoda Rawson, 
■daughter of Abner and ^lary (Allen) Rawson, and 
great-great-granddaughter of Edward Raw.son, sec- 
retary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1650 
to 1686. Mrs. Taft, who was a woman of superior 
intelligence and ability, died June g, 1827. Their 
children were: Milley, born July 29, 1769; Selina, 
February 20, 1771 ; Cynthia, August 17, 1773; Raw- 
son, October 15. 1775. died 1776; Nancy, August 
20, 1777; Jeremiah. November 21, 1779; Mary, July 
12, 1783; Peter Rawson, April 14, 1785; Sophia, 
December 3, 1787. died 1843; Judson, November 
6, 1791, died 1794; Samuel Judson, October 4, 
1794- 

Peter Rawson 'I aft, third son of Aaron and 
Rhoda (Rawson) Taft, was born April 14, 17S5. 
In 1810 he married Sylvia Howard, and settled in 
Townshend, Vermont, where he taught school and 
later was admitted to the bar. He was judge of 
the court of common pleas, the probate court, county 
court of Windham county, also one of the commis- 
sioners of the county and for many years a mem- 
ber of the legislature of Vermont, In 1841 he re- 
moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he died in 1867. 
ii — I 



aged eighty-two years, leaving one son, Alphonso 
Taft. 

HON. ALPHONSO TAFT. son of Peter 
Rawson and Sylvia (Howard) Taft, was born 
in Townshend, Windham county, Vermont, No- 
vember 5, 1810. Through the hard work and 
self-sacrifice of his parents, who possessed a 
large amount of ambition for their son, and 
the boy's own intense desire for a thorough 
education, he entered Vale College in 1829, and 
graduated therefrom with high honors in 1833. For 
two years thereafter he taught in Judge Hall's 
Academy, in Ellington, Connecticut, and was after- 
ward tutor at Yale. He studied law in the Yale Law 
School, and was admitted to the bar of Connecticut 
in 1838. The following .year he began the practice 
of his profession in Cincinnati, Ohio, rose steadily 
and rapidly in his profession, was engaged in many 
important cases and became a leader of the bar of 
Ohio. In 1857 he argued successfully before the 
United States supreme court the claim of the city 
lor the bequest of Charles McMicken, which se- 
cured the fund forming the nucleus of the endow- 
ment of the University of Cincinnati. 

In 1865 Mr. Taft was appointed by the governor 
of Ohio to a vacancy in the superior court of Cin- 
cinnati. He was afterward twice elected to the office 
by the' people, the second time having the unusual 
honor of being chosen by the votes of both parties, 
no opposing candidate being presented. He was 
considered a model judge. It was said of him that 
"no young man was ever turned away with the 
impression that his case was too small for the 
judge's patience; no experienced lawyer ever felt 
that his case was too large, or the questions in- 
volved too intricate, for the judge's capacity and 
learning." Perhaps the most important case which 
came before him as judge of the superior court was 
that of "The Bible in the Public Schools." The 
Catholics and Jews, who formed a large proportion 
of the citizens of Cincinnati, complained of the in- 
troduction of religious instruction in the schools 
as violating the spirit of the Constitution, and doing 
them an injustice. The school board stopped the 
reading of the Bible in the schools. The court was 
appealed to on the ground that the board had no 
power to take such a step. A violent contest arose 
on the question. Feeling ran high, and it was evi- 
dent that the judge who dared face the storm must 
incur great unpopularity. To Judge Taft, however, 
there seemed absolutely no question of the right 
of the school board to take such action. His mind 
clear on that point, it was not in the nature of the 
man to consider for a moment popular clamor or 
the effect of the decision on his own career. The 
other two judges decided against the school board. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Judge Taft delivered an elaboi-ate disscnliiig opin- 
luii. When the case was taken to the supreme 
cuurt of Ohio, this opinion was sustained in every 
point by a unanimous court of five judges, and has 
>ince become the law throughout the United States. 
"The Bible in the Public Schools'' case arose in 
his path several times later and probably prevented 
his being governor of Ohio. When, however, the 
storm ol prejudice and bigotry had subsided and 
people had time to consider the matter, Judge Taft's 
reputation as a judge who knew neither fear nor 
favor was inevitably increased. In 1872 he resigned 
from ofhce in order to join his two sons in the 
practice of law under the style of A. Taft & Sons. 

In 1876 Judge Taft was appointed secretary of 
war by President Grant, succeeding General Belknap, 
and the following May was transferred to the office 
of attorney general, which he held until the end 
of the administration in March, 1877, when he re- 
sumed the practice of his profession in Cincinnati, 
Ohio. In April, iS&J, he was appointed by Presi- 
dent Arthur, United States minister plenipotentiary 
to Austria, and in 1884 was promoted to the 
Cuurt of Russia, remaining until August. 1885. In 
the spring of that year he had a severe attack of 
pneumonia, followed by typhoid fever, being one of 
the numerous Americans who have fallen victims 
to the Russian climate. The disease broke down 
his extraordinary rugged constitution and he re- 
turned, shattered in health, to private life. He 
sought relief in southern California, but his death 
occurred in San Diego, May 21, 1891, aged eighty 
years. 

Judge Taft was exceedingly fond of historical 
and genealogical research, and gave considerable 
attention to tracing the lineage of the Taft family. 
He delivered the historical address at the Taft fam- 
ily re-union at Uxbridge, Massachusetts, August 12. 
1874, Judge Taft took an active interest in all 
educational matters, and served more than twenty 
years as trustee of the Cincinnati high school. He 
was a member of the corporation of Yale College 
and was honored with its degree of LL. D. in 1867. 
His five sons graduated from that well-known in- 
stitution, and his grandsons keep up the family 
tradition. In politics Judge Taft began life as a 
Whig and an ardent supporter of Webster. He 
jiiincd the Republican party at its formation, and 
was always a warm supporter of its principles. In 
1856 he was a flelegate to the National Republican 
Convention, which nominated John C. Fremont for 
president. In the same year he was nominated by 
the Republicans of Cincinnati for congress, but was 
defeated by the Democratic candidate, George H. 
Pendleton. In every position to which Judge Taft 
was called he rendered most able, effective and loyal 
service. I le was a gentleman of scholarly attain- 
ments, of the highest personal character, and a kind- 
liness and sweetness of dispositioti which endeared 
hiin-to air who came in contact with him. 

Judge Taft was twice marrie<l. He married 
(first) in September. 1841, Fanny I'helps. daughter 
of Judge Charles Phelps, of Townshend, Vermont. 
She died in 185 1. Of their five children three died 
in infancy : the surviving children were : 

I. Charles Phelps, born December 21, 184.1. He 
graduated from Yale College, class of 1864. after 
which he passed three years of study in Europe, 
taking the degree of J. V. D. at the University of 
Heidelberg. Returning home he began the practice 
of law with his father, but subse(|uently devoted 
himself to iournalism.i He inarried Anna Sinton, 
<!aughtcr of David Sinton, of Cincinnati. Ohio, and 
fnur children were born to them: Jane Ellison, 



married Albert Ingalls, of Cleveland, Ohio, and has 
tsvo sons: David Sinton and Albert Ingalls; David 
Sinton, died at the age of fifteen years ; An.iie 
Louise,' and Charles Howard, a graduate of Yale, 
class of 1906. 

2. Peter Rawson, graduated from Yale, taking 
the valedictory of the class of 1867 with the highest 
record then attained by any graduate. He after- 
wards studied three years abroad, and also took 
a degree at Heidelberg. On his return he took up 
the practice of law with his brother in Cincinnati, 
Ohio. In 1876 he married Matilda Hulbert, daughter 
of William Hulbert, of Cincinnati, Ohio, issue, one 
son. Hulbert, a graduate of Yale, married in 1904 
Nellie Phillips Leaman. Peter Rawson Taft died 
in 1888. 

Judge Taft married (second), December 26, 1853, 
Louisa Maria Torrey, daughter of Sainuel D. Tor- 
rey (see sketch of Samuel D. Torrey),([pf Millbury, 
Massachusetts. They had five children : 

1. Samuel Davenport, died in infancy. 

2. William Howard, born September 15, 1857, 
see forward. 

3. Henry Waters, born May 27, 1859, in Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio. After his graduation from Yale Col- 
lege in the class of 1880, he studied law in Cincinnati 
and Columbia, and established himself in practice 
in New York city, being now a member of the 
firm of Strong & Cadwaladcr. One of his ablest 
and most important arguments recently was in the 
United States supreme court, where he was employed 
by the government to prosecute its suit against 
the Tobacco trust. The decision of the court was 
a complete triumph for principles which have far- 
reaching consequences. This important case is re- 
ported as Hale vs. Henkcl in volume 201 of the 
L'nited States Supreme Court Reports. In 1905 
Mr. Taft received the honorary degree of Master 
of Arts from Yale. He married in 1883, Julia 
Walbridge Smith, daughter of Hon. Levi Smith, of 
Troy. New York, and their children are: Marian 
Jennings, died in infancy: Walbridge Smith, of the 
class of 1007 at Yale: William Howard, class of 
1909 at Yale ; Louise Witherbee. 

4. Horace Dutton, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, De- 
cember 28, 1861. He graduated from Yale College 
in 1883. studied law and was admitted to the bar, 
hut decided to pursue the vocation of teaching 
He was for three years a tutor of I^tin in Yale 
College. In 1890 he established the Taft School for 
hoys, at Pelham Manor. New York, but in 1893 
moved the school to Walcrtown, Connecticut. The 
school has prospered and has now about one hun-' 
dred pupils. The catalogue announces that "the 
object of the school is to give boys a thorough 
preparation for the best colleges and scientific 
schools, and to make thein strong, healthy and 
manly men." In 1893 Mr. Taft received the honorary 
degree of Master of Arts from Yale. He married 
in 1891, Winifred \jepard. daughter of Mrs. Helen 
Bierstadt Thompsi. . of Niagara Falls. New York. 

5. Fanny LouiseT the only daughter, was born 
in Cincinnati. Ohio, July 18. 1865. She was educated 
in Cincinnati and at Farinington. Connecticut, com- 
pleting her studies abrfiad in music and the 
languages. In 1890 she became the wife of Dr. 
Williatn A. Edwards, a physician and surgeon, form- 
erly of Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, now residing in 
Los Angeles. California. 

HON. WILLIAM H. TAFT, second son of 
Judge Alphonso and Louise Maria (Torrey) Taft. 
was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. September 15, 1857. 
He attended the public schools of his native city, in- 




^■^. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



eluding Woodward high school, from which he was 
graduated in 1874. He was a student in Yale Uni- 
versity four years, graduating in June, 1878, with 
degree of Bachelor of Arts, second or salutatorian 
in a class of one hundred and twenty-one, also elected 
by his class, class orator. ' He entered the law school 
of Cincinnati College, 1878, graduating in May. 1880, 
with degree of B. L., dividing first prize. He was 
admitted to the bar of supreme court of Ohio, May, 
1880. He served in the capacity of law reporter for 
the Cinciuuati Times and subsequently Cincinnati 
■Commercial in 1880. He received the appointment 
of assistant prosecuting attorney, "January, 1881, but 
tendered his resignation in March, 1882, to become 
■collector of internal revenue, first district of Ohio, 
under President Arthur. He resigned the collector- 
ihip in March, 1883, to enter the practice of law, 
continuing the same until March, 1887, holding mean- 
time from January. 1885, office of assistant county 
solicitor of Hamilton county. In March, 1887. he 
w-as appointed by Governor Foraker judge of the 
superior court of Cincinnati to fill vacancy caused 
by the resignation of Judson Harmon, and in April, 
1888. was elected to succeed himself, serving five 
years. He resigned in February, 1890, to become 
solicitor general of the United States under ap- 
pointment of President Harrison, and resigned in 
March, 1892, to become United States circuit judge 
for the sixth judicial circuit and ex-offico member of 
circuit courtof appeals of the sixth circuit. In 1896 
he became professor and dean of the law department 
of University of Cincinnati, and in March, 1900, re- 
signed the circuit judgeship and deanship to be- 
come, by appointment of President McKinley, presi- 
dent of the United States Philippine commission. 
July 4, 1901, by appointment of President McKinley, 
he became first civil governor of the Philippine 
Islands, and November i, 1901, on account of ill- 
ness, turned over his offiije to Vice-Governor Wright. 
December 23. 1901, by order of secretary of war, he 
visited the United States and Washington to testify 
before the senate committee on the Philippines and 
liouse committee of insular affairs, his testimony 
Ijefore both committees covering a period of si.x 
weeks. By order of President Roosevelt and Secre- 
tary Root, he sailed from the United States to Rome, 
May 17, 1902, to confer with Pope Leo XIII con- 
cerning the purchase of agricultural lands of Re- 
ligious Orders in the Philippines. He held con- 
ference with committee of Cardinals in June and 
July and reached a general basis for agreement. He 
sailed from Naples for the Philippines, July 10, 

1902. reached his destination August 22, 1902, and 
resumed his office of civil governor. December 23, 

1903, he sailed to the United States to accept the 
responsible position of secretary of war, succeeding 
Elihu Root, and February i, 1904, entered upon 
the duties of the office. The fact that Secretary 
Taft throughout his long and honorable public career 
lias received promotion continuously is ample evi- 
dence of his capability and reliability and of his 
sterling integrity of character. In Noveinber. 1904, 
Secretary Taft, by direction of President Roosevelt, 
visited the Republic of Panama to confer with that 
government upon diplomatic questions, and in 
Novetiiber-December, 1904, visited Panama to confer 
with the Panama authorities upon questions arising- 
with reference to the government of the Canal Zone, 
this by direction of President Roosevelt. In July. 
August and September, 1905, he. with a party of 
senators and representatives, made a tour of inspec- 
tion of the Phillippine Islands, and in November, 
1905. again visited the Republic of Panama to ob- 
serve the report on the progress of the canal. In 
October, 1906, he was sent by President Roosevelt 



to Cuba to direct in the restoration of order, and 
discharged his delicate duties with sagacity and 
signal success. In June, 1903, he received the honor- 
ary degree of LL, D. from Yale University, also 
received the same degree from University of Penn- 
sylvania, February 22, 1902, and from Harvard and 
Miami, 1905. 

Secretary Taft married, June 19, 1886, Helen 
Herron, daughter of Hon. John W. Herron, of 
Cincinnati, Ohio. United States district attorney and 
state senator, and their children are : Robert Al- 
phonso, born September 8, 1889; Helen Herron, born 
.A.ugust I. 1891 ; and Charles Phelps, born Septem- 
ber 20, 1S97. 

SAMUEL DAVENPORT TORREY, was born 
in Mendon, Worcester county, Messachusetts, April 

14. 1789, and died at Iiis home in Millbury, same 
county, December 23, 1877. His ancestors came to 
the province of Massachusetts Bay in the year 1640, 
from the parish of Combe, St. Nicholas, in the 
county of Somerset, England, and settled in the town 
of Weymouth, Massachusetts. The .genealogical 
line of descent has been traced from William Torrey, 
of Combe, St. Nicholas, Somersetshire, whose will 
was dated in 1556, through Philip, his son, and the 
second William, and then through the second Philip 
to the third William, who was born in i5o8. and 
came to America in 1640. This William Torrey was 
a conspicuous character in Massachusetts, for many 
years a member of the house of deputies, and al- 
ways chosen clerk ; a magistrate, and a captain of 
militia. He died in 1690. He was a man of affairs, 
with education, having some knowledge of Latin, 
and also fair literary ability, which appears through 
a printed essay on "The Futurities," a quaint pro- 
duction still extant. 

' He had three brothers who settled severally : 
Philip in Roxbury, James in Scituate, Plymouth 
Colony, and Joseph in Newport, Rhode Island. 
William's oldest son was the distinguished scholar 
and preacher. Rev. Samuel Torrey, who lived in 
Weymouth , and died there after a pastorate of fifty 
years. He was educated at Harvard College, and 
it is recorded that he subsequently twice declined 
the presidency of the college. He had also the un- 
usual honor of preaching three "election sermons" 
before the "Great and General Court of Massachu- 
setts." He left no descendants. His brothers were Wil- 
liam, Micajah, Josiah. Jonathan and Angell. the 
youngest, who settled in Mendon in 1680. and from 
whom the line comes down through a fourth Will- 
iam, and through Joseph to a fifth William, the 
father of Samuel Davenpprt Torrey. the subject 
of this sketch. Tradition credits the family with 
unusual physical proportions, the last William be- 
ing fabulously reported as six feet and seven inches 
'in height. His wife was Anna Davenport, daughter 
of Seth and Chloe (Daniels) Davenport, of ^lendon, 
by whom he had six children — Samuel, Joseph, 
Louisa, Stephen, Benjamin and George. 

The oldest son, Samuel Davenport Torrey. es- 
talilished himself early in life in Boston, in the West 
India trade, at No. 25 South Market street, near 
Faneuil Hall, where the business has ever since con- 
tinued in the family name. In 1831, his health being 
somewhat impaired, and having acquired what he 
regarded as a competency, Mr. Torrey retired from 
business and located himself permanently in Mill- 
bury. For forty-six years he was one of the sub- 
stantial citizens of the town, bearing an important 
part of its affairs, as also of the Congregational 
church, of which he was a member. His life was 
a model of courtesy and uprightness, and his genial 
and cordial manners were a true index of his rare 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



character Mr. Torrcy was twice married. His 
lirsl wife, Delia Oiapin. died in i8ji, about a year 
alter their marriage. In 18^4 I'f *^-',^ =»8"'"., ">="-, 
ned to Susan Hohnan Water,, the eldest child o 
Asa Walters, the founder of Armory Village, and 
KraiiddauKhter of Colonel Jonathan llolman, who 
ral^ed and commanded a regiment in the 
revolution. Mrs. Torrey was a woman of rtre en- 
dowments and character aiul well educated for that 
period, and her highest interest was always 111 the 
world of thought. She had an irrcspressible desire 
to know the hcst that had been written m literature 
and Dlnlosophy, and she had the courage to follow 
the new views of rrnth, which her active andpro- 
Kressive mind attamed, to their conclusions. Slic 
died in Millbury. Kebruary 3. lS66- Her memory 
is cherished by her children as a precious legacy. 
Five children were the fruit of this marriage— 
four daughiers and one son : . ,, c 

I Delia Chapin. the eldest, horn m Boston Sep- 
tember 30, 1825, has resided in Millbury most of 
her life. She has never married, the gentleman to 
whom she was betr.Mhed. Kev. Ur. Samuel Dutton, 
of New Haven, Connecticut, having died suddenly 
of pneumonia, at her father's house, whither he ha<l 
come to arrange for their approaching marriage. 
Her mother died the same week of the same dis- 
ease She was prostrated with grief, but hence- 
forth <levoted herself to the care of her father a^ 
long as he lived. Except for travels abroad and in 
Cahfornia, she has ever since occupied the old 
homestead . 0.1 

.' Louisa Maria, born in Boston, September 11, 
i8j7 married Alphonso Taft of Cincinnati, Ohm, 
who was Secretary of of War, and also Attorney 
General under General Grant, afterwards United 
States Minister to Austria, and later to Russia. 
? Samuel Davenport, died in infancy. 
J Susan Waters, born in Millbury, August 26, 
iHt.s- married Samuel .A. Wood, of San I'rancisco ; 
died Vebrnarv I, 1904, leaving two sons: i. William 
I- ill business in California; 2. Samuel Austin, mar- 
ried Komola, daughter of Lemuel Bigelow, banker, 
of San Francisco; they have two children— Austin 
Bigelow and Heleh Torrey. 3- Ni^'"''-- Susan, a daugh- 
ter of Samuel A. and Susan Waters (lorrey) Wood, 
died in infancy. . ^, , q.„ 

S .Anna Davenport, born November i, 1840, 
wife of Kdward Orton, LL. D., president and Pro- 
fessor of (ieology in Ohio State University at Colum- 
bus, and State Geologist. She died June 25 1900, 
leaving two children; 1. Louise Taft, wife of hrancis 
C Caldwell, Professor of F.leclricity in the Ohio 
State University. They have two children: -Anna 
Davenport and Kdward Orton Caldwell. 2. Samuel 
Torrey. graduate of Ohio State University, and ot 
the medical department of the University of Penn- 
sylvania. 

Mr Torrev will long be remembered as a man 
of marked 'individualitv. of thorough business 
methods, of intlexible iniegrity, with a decision and 
force of character which left a lasting impression 
wherever he was known. In Millbury lie devoted 
his attentifm to the care of his farm, to his family 
and his friends, taking also a lively interest in 
passing events. .'\s he advanced in life his health 
became so far established that he was s|iared many 
of the painful intirmilies of old age. It happened 
to him I" be called n|)on to assist in the burial of 
many of his juniors. 

" In B green old are 
He neemed like in oi 
Aoii'lit the clemenia 
lell l»«t iifoun.l tiiui. 



Belonging to the heroic age of New England, he 
never for a moment lost the bearing of a gentleman 
of the old school. Without office, or the desire of 
oftice, he enjoyed the respect and confidence of all. 
To an unusual degree he possessed 

" Thai which ihould acconipiDy old lie. _ / 

At hoooi, love, obedience, tioops of iriepdl." J 

PHILLIPS F.\M1LY. Jonathan S. Phillips (1), 
the immigrant ancestor of Horace Wendell Phillips, 
is said to be of English descent. The first record 
of him is at Wesjmmstcr, Massachusetts, where he 
appears to have s'eltled during the revolution. He 
was a resident of Westminster in 1780, when he 
married there Elizabeth Bemis, daughter of William 
and Rezina (Wilder) Bemis, of one of the old 
county families. He bought the place on which he 
was -living at Westminster of Samuel Gerrish, No- 
vember 9. 1793. He seems to have been a quiet 
citizen devoting his life strictly to the business of 
farming. When his son grew up, they moved to- 
gether to Templeton, an adjacent town. '1 he son's 
name is given as Jonathan, Jr. and as Jonathan S. 
Phillips in different records. The father signed a 
mortgage of what was called the son's farm at 
Templeton. July 28. 1819, to Peter Peirce. chair 
maker. This farm contained only eleven acres. 
Jonathan Phillips. Sr., sold his farm at Westminster. 
.August 16, i8o(), to Samuel Whitney. He seems 
to have prospered for we find him holding a mort- 
gage on the land of Elisha Hall, of Westminster, 
in 1802, before his removal. He died at Templeton, 
in 182&, at an advanced age. Joel Bartlett was ad- 
ministrator of his estate. 

The children of Jonathan and Elizabeth Phillips 
were: John, born May 5. 1781, married Roxa Ban- 
croft, and settled at Gardner: Betsey, born October 
i, 1785. died November 15. ]8io; Ezra, born July 
'14. 1788: Rezina, Ivirn .Apsil 10, 1791, died unmar- 
ried Julv V. '><42: Sophia, Imrn September 9. 1795". 
Jonathan S.. Jr., born July 16, 1798, see forward. 

(11) Jonathan S. Phillips. Jr., son of Jonathan 
S. Phillips, was born in" Westminster, Massachu- 
setts. July 16, 1798, and died at Leominster, Massachu- 
setts. .\pril, 1848. He lived at Templeton and West- 
minster. His farm at Templelon was at the corner 
of the road from Winchendon to Templeton and the 
county road from Royalston. He was married twice 
and had one son by his lirst wife, whose name was 
Sherwin and lived in .\orth Leominster. He mar- 
ried (second) Catherine Baldwin and they had 
eight children. Milton S., born May 3, 1822, at 
Templelon, sec forward; Catherine E., married 
James W. Willard. of Leavenworth. Kansas; Jane 
C, born November 16. 18.^4. married Eraser Legate 
and had one child. Nellie ; Elmira, married Charles 
Harris: William S^ Cu-orge. Charles, James. 

(HI) Milton S. Phillips, son of Jonathan S.. 
Jr. and Catherine (Baldwin) Phillips, was born 
at Templeton, .May 3, 1822, died at Leominster. 
Massachusetts, December 24, 1893. He married 
(first), March 15, 1849, Catherine Rebecca Holt, 
burn in West Boylston, .April 12, 1829, died August 
29. 18.S4. daughter of Jonathan Holt. Their chil- 
dren were: Elizabeth D. born December 20, 1849, 
died January 26. 1871 : George M., March 6. 1851, 
died December 4, 1853: William Clarence, June I, 
18.^3. sec forward. Milton S. Phillips married (sec- 
ond) Mary A. Kugg, of Leominster, born September 
II. 1837, married, September 7, l8.s6. and died .April 
29. igos; of this marriage there were ten children: 
Alice i). born October 18. 1857; George Elmer, 
March 27. i8.S9; Horace M . July 8. i860, died June 
2, 1864: Carrie .A., .August 6. 18O2. married John 





'^- 



::M: J^'l^.^yJJ'^^. 



\VORCESTER COUNTY 



F. White, September 2T, 1898, and resides on Blos- 
som street, Leominster. Massachusetts; Katie M., 
March 16, 1864, died November 9, 1865 ; Katie L., 
June 25, 1866; Nellie A., November 18, 1869, mar- 
ried Herbert E. Baldwin, of Leominster, Massa- 
■chusetts, August 20, 1891 ; Lizzie AI., April 24. 1872, 
married Chipman O. Leadbetter, of Leominster, 
Massachuestts, September 3. 1896; Alfred L., Feb- 
ruary 8, 1878, died June 15. 1879. 

(IV) William Clarence Phillips, son of Milton 
S. Phillips, was born June i, 1853, at Leominster, 
Massachusetts. He was educated there in the public 
schools, and then learned the business of comb 
making. He was a manufacturer on his own ac- 
count for a time. He has worked in a carriage 
shop, conducted a milk route and held various other 
positions. He has lived in. Webster, Gardner and 
Worcester. At present he is the proprietor of the 
old Williams' Book Store on Park street. Worce- 
ster, ]\Iassachusetts. the original second-hand book 
store of the city. Mr. Phillips is a very active and 
prominent member of the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen, and he has been through the various 
chairs of the Leominster Lodge. He married, No- 
vember 26, 1873, at Leominster, Ella Frances Roper, 
born May 28, 1854, died July 19, 1903. She was the 
daughter of Percis (Stanley) and Martin Roper 
of Sterling. (See Sketch of Marcellus Roper for 
lier ancestry). The children were: i. Horace W., 
see forward. 2. Warren Milton, born April r, 1878, 
married. October i, 1902, Flora Walcott, born Jan- 
nary 29, 1882, daughter of Lillis B. (Paine) and 
William Bradford Wolcott, and have two children : 
L. Beatrice Yvonne, born July 7, 1903 ; Ella Frances, 
born June 13, 1905. He is employed by the New 
England Telephone Company, of Clinton, Massa- 
chusetts. Clifton Albert, born February 21, 1880, 
married, October 31, 1902, Martha Isabell, born in 
Townsend, Massachusetts, January 16, 1873, daugh- 
ter of Serena (Adams) and Alexander Franklin 
Gilchrest. He resided at Clinton, but removed to 
Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he owns a 
■grocery store. 4. Bertha Eliza, born .April 18, 1884, 
unmarried, and resides at home with her father, 
.i. Adell Minetta, born March 2, 1888, graduate of 
class 1905 from Leominster high school, and is now 
a student in the Wheaton Seminary, Norton, Massa- 
chusetts. 6. Ernest Roland, born August 19, 1891, 
died October 15, 1S92. 7. Manola Rebecca, born 
February 17, 1895, student in the public schools. 

(5) Horace Wendell Phillips, son of William 
Clarence and Ella Frances (Roper) Phillips, was 
born at Leominster, Massachusetts, November 4, 
1874. He attended the public schools at Leominster 
and went for two years and a half to the Leomin- 
ster high school. While in school he assisted his 
father with his milk business. He worked for a 
year and a half in the Reed Toy Factory, and used 
his savings in a course of study in Bryant & Strat- 
ton's Business College of Boston. His first posi- 
tion was with the North Packing & Provision Com- 
pany as bookkeeper. After three years he became 
cashier of the concern, which 'position he held for 
nearly seven years, making about ten years in their 
employ. He came to Worcester in December, 1902, 
to take the position of bookkeeper for Marcellus 
Roper, piano dealer. After a time he became a 
salesman. When Mr. Roper moved from 148 Main 
street, where he had been located since starting in 
business, Mr. Phillips took a lease of the old loca- 
tion and started in business for himself, represent- 
ing a number of the standard makes of pianos. He 
•opened his store March 15, 1906, and has developed 
a promising business already. He is an active, 
earnest and upright business man, and is the young- 



est piano dealer in the city. Mr. Phillips is a mem- 
ber of Wilder Lodge of Free Masons of Leominster, 
of Eureka Royal Arch Chapter of Worcester and 
of the Worcester County Commandery, Knights 
Templar. He also belongs to the Allston Lodge, 
Ancient Order of United Workmen, No. 151. He 
is a Republican in politics. 

He married, July 7, 1897, Elizabeth Rachel 
Cameron, daughter of Samuel and Jane (Pushee) 
Cameron. His wife was born February 7, 1873, 
in Nova Scotia. 

WILLL\M ARTHUR* LYTLE. Andrew Lytle, 
the first progenitor of this surname in this country 
of [he Hon. William Arthur Lytle, of Worcester, 
was a Scotch-Irish settler in Salem, Washington 
county. New York. He came from Ballybay, county 
Monaghan, Ireland. 

Salem, New York, consists largely of the tract 
of 25,000 acres granted August 7, 1764, to James 
Turner and others. One half of the land covered 
by the grant, however, became the property of 
Oliver De Lancey and Peter Du Bois, two govern- 
ment officials, whose services presumably aided in 
getting the grant. De Lancey and Du Bois sold 
their share of the town in 1765 to Rev. Thomas 
Clark 'and his Scotch-Irish congregation who had 
emigrated the year before. Mr. Clark, a native 
of Scotland, was a follower of Ebenezer Erskine, 
and in 1748 had been called to be their minister 
by a portion of Mr. Jackson's congregation in Ire- 
land, and had seceded from the main body. They 
were called "New Lights" on account of their dif- 
ferences with the Presbyterian body. At Ballybay 
Mr. Clark is said to have labored with great suc- 
cess, but amid many trials and persecutions. He 
refused to take an oath by kissing the Bible, be- 
lieving it to be unscriptural ; and although he 
entered the army while a student and fought against 
the Pretender, yet he would not take the oath of 
abjuration, because it recognized the King as the 
head of the church. Taking advantage of these 
things his enemies had him arrested in 1754. From 
the jail at Monaghan, where he was confined, he 
preached to as many people as could convene. When 
he was tried he was acquitted. In 1763 Mr. Clark 
received two invitations to come to America as 
pastor. He got leave of absence for a year, but 
when he was ready to sail from Newry the greater 
part of his congregation, some three hundred per- 
sons, were ready to accompany him. They settled 
temporarily in Stillwater. Thence a portion of his 
flock went to Abbeville district in South Carolina, 
but a majority of them, including Andrew Lytle 
and his family, settled with Mr. Clark at Salem. 
His pastoral relation had never been disturbed ; his 
church had simply been transplanted ; and he con- 
tinued at Salem as the pastor of eight ruling elders 
and one hundred and fifty communicants and their 
children who had come with them from Ballybay. 

Although Andrew Lytle was among the Scotch- 
Irish his name probably came to him through an 
English ancestor. Little is an English name, and 
Lytal and Lytle were originally of the same stock 
probably. Edward Little was in the Scotch parlia- 
ment in 1526 and William Little in 1593, both of 
Edinburgh. The name is more common in Eng- 
land and in Ireland, where it was transplanted 
a generation or two probably before Andrew 
Lytle came to America. In 1890 there were fifty- 
nine babies born in Ireland named Little, of 
of whom fort,y-two were in the Northern counties. 
The descendants of Lytle seem to be from Andrew 
Lytle chiefly and they scafttred through Ohio 
and the west. General W. H. Lytle, who was promi- 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



nent in the civil \<ar, was of Scotch-Irish origin. 
Andrew tytle died and is buried at Salem. A 
stone marks his grave there. The children of An- 
drew Lytic were: James, Andrew, William, Han- 
nah, Margaret, Mary. All of the foregoing children 
married and had children. From the three sons 
most of the family of this name arc descended. 

(II) William Lytic, son of Andrew Lytic (l), 
was born probably in Ireland, about i~6o. He mar- 
ried Mary Hanna, whose sister Jane Hanna, mar- 
ried Rev. Dr. Proudfoot, of Argyle. They settled 
in Hebron, a town adjoining Salem, near the creek, 
and William Lytic built the saw mill and later a 
house. Salem and Hebron were both a wilderness 
when the Lytles first settled there. William Lytle 
died in 1808. He was a soldier in the revolution. 
Isaac and Robert Lytle were also soldiers in the 
same regiment. Colonel John Williams. Children of 
William and Mary (or Margaret) (Hanna) Lytle 
were: David Hanna, born 1785, died March 20, 1864; 
Nancy, Martha. Alary. Hannah, Jane, Margaret 
(twin), Elizabeth (twin). William James, born 
1793, lived on the homestead in Hebron, New York, 
with two sisters ; sold the homestead and removed 
to Saratoga, where he and one sister died ; he was 
unmarried and aged forty-five years when he died. 

(III) David Hanna Lytle, son of William Lytle 
(2), was born in Hebron, New York, 1785. He 
married, November 17, 1814, Hannah Taylor, daugh- 
ter of Major. Joseph Taylor. She was born in 
Hebron, New York, August 13, 1796, died May, 
1826. aged thirty years. At the time of their mar- 
riage she was living in Hartford, New York, and 
they were married at her father's house there. They 
lived in Hebron, New York. Later in life he re- 
moved to Illinois, where he died about 1855. Chil- 
dren of David Hanna and Hannah (Taylor) Lytle 

were: Emily, married Miles, removed to 

Peoria. Illinois, about 1850. and died about 1880; 
had children who settled in Nebraska ; David T., 
married Mary Smith, of Hartford. New York, set- 
tled at Port Washington. Wisconsin, has a daughter 
living there. Mrs. R. C. Kann ; Hannah .Vmanda, 
married George H. Wheedon, resided at South Hart- 
ford, New York, had two sons and a daughter, 
two of whom settled in Glen Falls, New York; 
William Joseph, born January 16, 1826. 

(IV) William Joseph Lytle. son of David Hanna 
Lytic (3), was born in Hebron. New York, January 
16, 1826. His mother died when he was four months 
old and he was taken to live with his Taylor grand- 
parents when eight months old. After a time he 
returned to live with his father. At the age of 
fifteen he went to live with his aunt, Mrs. L. T. 
Olmstcad, of Binghamton, New York, whose hus- 
band took him as apprentice. He married Julia M. 
Jackson, daughter of .Abel Woods and Dorinda A. 
(Angell) Jackson. She was born January 5, 1833. 
He died July, 185.1. at Binghamton, New York. 
Their only child was William Arthur, born June 
21, 185.1 

(V) William Arthur Lytle. president and treas- 
urer of the W. A. Lytic (io., president of the Worces- 
ter Board of Trade, and member of the Governor's 
Council "representing the 7th Coimcillor district" 
1905 and 1906, serving as councillor with Gover- 
nor William L. Douglas and Governor Curtis Guild, 
Jr.. respectively. He is oneof Worcester's best known 
and most progressive business men. He was born 
in Binghamton, New York, June 21, 1853, son of 
William Joseph (4) and Julia M. (Jackson) Lytle. 
His father died when Mr. Lytic was only four 
weeks old. and his mother four years later married 
again, this lime. Mr. Levi Edward Brigham. of 
VV'orcester, Massachusetts, and removed to Wor- 



cester. Mr. Lytle attended the Worcester public 
schools until 1864. when, with his parents, he re- 
moved to New Jersey, where he continued his edu- 
cation at the South Jersey Academy at Vineland. 
He returned in 1870 to Worcester, where he has 
since resided, and where, at the age of seventeen 
he began his mercantile life in a shoe store located 
at 14 Front street. 

The following year Mr. Lytle secured employ- 
ment as a salesman in the clothing and custom 
tailoring establishment of Davis & Co., at that time 
one of the oldest and most reputable clothing houses 
in Worcester county. Mr. Lytle rapidly became a 
master of the business, and si.\ years later was ad- 
mitted to a partnership in the firm under the name 
of Davis, Lytle & Co. His partners were J. Edgar 
Davis and Frederick (ioulding, and their place of 
business was in the Flagg block, 286 Main street, 
opposite the Bay State House. Nine years later this 
firm was dissolved, Mr. Lytic retiring from the 
business. Mr. Lytle later became the senior partner 
and sole manager of a new firm, W. A. Lytle & 
Co., which established itself August i. 1886. in the 
Walker building at 409 Main street. The new ven- 
ture was a success from the start, Mr. Lytle con- 
ducting it on sound business principles and with 
progressive methods. He believed in making his 
place of business attractive, and in 1895, and again 
in 1900, he made extensive additions and alterations 
with this end in view, adding men's furnishing goods, 
hats and shoes to his clothing and tailoring business. 

While all this was going on in Worcester. Mr. 
Lytle received a flattering offer in June, 1897. to- 
assume the position of manager of the great cloth- 
ing house of Jerome Kennedy & Co.. corner West- 
minster and Dorrance streets, Providence, Rhode 
Island. For two years Mr. Lytle, besides keep- 
ing an eye on his own business in Worcester, 
made the round trip from Worcester to Provi- 
dence almost daily. He held the position until 
the lease expired and the property changed owners, 
the business being sold to the J. B. Barnaby 
Co. One of the most pleasing incidents in Mr. 
Lytle's business career in Providence was a recep- 
tion tendered him by his Worcester friends at the 
formal opening of the business, which followed his 
complete reorganization of the same. The recep- 
tion was given in the evening, and in a special train 
provided for the occasion, nearly a hundred of 
Worcester's most prominent citizens, headed by the 
mayor, members of the board of aldermen, members 
of the common council, city officials, and including 
manv representative business and professional men 
of Worcester, went to Providence to pay their re- 
spects to Mr. Lytle and wish him success in his 
new field. They were met by the mayor of Provi- 
dence, and other citizens, and spent a most enjoy- 
able evening, being royally entertained by their host. 

In 1900 with a view to expanding his business, 
he had it incorporated under the stvle of the W. A. 
Lytle Company, continuing in full control of the 
same as president and treasurer. In 1905, in order 
to meet the demands of continued growth, the W. 
.v. Lytle Company leased the large store in the 
Walker building at the corner of Main and Mechanic 
streets. This store is one of the largest and best 
of its kind in the state. It is very tastefully and 
expensively fitted un. and carries one of the largest 
stocks of clothing, furnishings, hats, boots and shoes 
and cloths for men's custom garments in central 
Massachusetts. 

The demands of Mr. Lytle's private business have 
by no means absorbed all of his abounding energy 
and rare admiiiistrative ability. As a public spiritcJ 
citizen he has found time and inclination to take 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



an active part in the political and social life of the 
city. Always a Republican, his political career has 
followed the fortunes of that party. He was for 
three years, 1891-9J-97 a member of the board of 
aldermen, where he served as chairman of the 
finance committee and of the important committees 
on fire department and water. He was also a mem- 
ber of the committees on sewers, street lighting, and 
claims. He made his influence felt in all these com- 
mittees, and the reorganization of the fire depart- 
ment effected in 1892 while he was chairman of the 
fire department committee, and the establishment of 
a new public lighting department are largely the 
result of his ability for organization. The ordinances 
which were drafted and adopted at that time arc 
regarded as models of their kind. 

In 1900 Mr. Lytle was the Republican candidate 
for mayor. The nomination coming to him by the 
indorsements of every ward caucas in the city with 
one exception. In the campaign which followed, in 
some respects the most remarkable ever known, he 
was less successful : It came directly after a bitterly 
contested congressional campaign in which the Re- 
publican candidate was defeated by a narrow margin, 
and the local Republican party was full of warring 
factions, and badly disorganized. On the first count 
Mr. Lytle was apparently elected by a plurality of 
forty-one votes in a total of over 16,000. Then an 
error in the tabulation was discovered in one of the 
wards, which apparently gave the election to Phillip 
j. O'Connell, his Democratic opponent. Finally a 
recount, followed by an appeal by the Democratic 
candidate to the supreme court, decided that the 
vote was a tie between the two candidates, each 
being credited with 8,061 vites. A sound election 
followed, February 22, 1901, in whiclr, although Mr. 
Lytle vote increased nearly 1000, he was defeated. 
The Socialists did not nominate a candidate at the 
special election, and their votes went to the Demo- 
cratic candidate for mayor. 

Mr. Lytle's most important public office is that 
which he now holds, as member of the executive 
council from the seventh district, which comprises 
the whole of Worcester county. The nomination 
was tendered to him unanimously by acclamation in 
the Republican councillor convention, both in 1904 
and 1905. and at the polls the opposition to him 
was merely nominal. Mr. Lytle's taste and capacity 
for public affairs find opportunity for exercise in 
the work of the executive council, whicli decides 
many important matters of state expenditures, ad- 
vises with the governor upon all applications for 
pardon, and passes upon all appointments to office 
made by the Governor. The good opinion which his 
associates in the council entertain for Mr. Lytle was 
illustrated in the summer of 1905 when, in his first 
year, they selected him as their representative to 
go to Portland, Oregon, with the state delegation, 
made up chiefly of members of the two branches of 
the legislature, to assist at the dedication of the 
Massachusetts building at the Lewis and Clark Cen- 
tennial Exposition. The party was provided with 
a special car, and made brief stops at Denver, Colo- 
rado Springs, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco, 
on the way out, and visiting Yellowstone Park, 
Seattle and St. Paul, where stops were made on the 
return. They were received with special honors by 
the fair management and the citizens of Portland, 
and were recipients of courtesies at the hands of the 
officials of several states through which they passed. 
Mr. Lytle's active participation in politics has been 
by no means confined to campaigns in which he was 
a candidate. For fifteen years he has been a mem- 
ber of the 'Worcester County Republican committee, 
and he has served on many other committees or- 



ganized to advance the interests of Republican can- 
didates. 

Mr. Lytle is at th^ present time president of the 
Worcester board of trade, and has done much to 
advance the business interests of the city. An illus- 
tration of his public spirit is afforded in the active 
part he took in 1904, as a member of the Worcester 
Merchants' Association, to abolish the use of trading 
stamps. He never used stamps in his own busi- 
ness, and believing that their use was prejudicial 
to the interests of merchant and customer alike, he 
led the crusade against them. His address before 
the Merchants' Association had much to do with 
abolishing the use of trading stamps in this city. 
He spoke soon after, by invitation, on the same 
.subject before the New Hampshire State Board of 
Trade at a banquet which was attended by the 
governor and many other distinguished guests. And 
still later he repeated his address before the Mer- 
chants' Association of Bridgeport, Connecticut, the 
headquarters of the trading stamp business. Mr. 
Lytle is a logical and forceful speaker, and in both 
places his address was received with nnich favor. 
Mr. Lytle has for five years been president of the 
Worcester Merchant Tailors' Association, and had 
the honor to represent the association at the National 
Convention held at Atlantic City in February, 1904. 
He is also vice-president of the National Merchant 
Tailors' Association. 

Mr. Lytle is well known in Masonic circles. He 
is a life "member of Athelston Lodge, of Eureka 
Chapter, Hiram Council, and Worcester County 
Cnmmandery of Knight Templars, and a member 
of Worcester Lodge of Perfection, Goddard Coun- 
cil and Lawrence Chapter of Rose Croix. 
He took great interest in the movement for 
the erection of a Masonic Temple in Wor- 
cester, and was for three years president of 
the Worcester Masonic Charity and Educational 
Association which had the matter in charge. He 
is also a member of Worcester Lodge. No. 56, 
I. O. O. F., and of Quinsigamond Tribe, No. 7. I- O. 
R. M. He has been for years a men>ber of Worces- 
ter Agricultural Society, and with full knovvledge 
nf his capacity and enthusiasm for work, his as- 
sociates made him a member of the committee that 
had charge of laying out and building the trotting 
track at the Greendale Fair Grounds. Mr. Lytle 
for nine years served as a trustee of the First Uni- 
versalist parish. 

Mr. Lytle has little time for recreation, but such 
as he has he spends in a light wagon or sleigh be- 
hind a good horse. He is a great lover of horses 
and has always kept good ones in his stables. In 
the winter he delights in the excitement to be found 
with a good stepper on the snow path. He has been 
a familiar figure on the Boulevard for twenty-fiv& 
years. He is also an ardent automobilist.. Mr. 
Lytle has been a member of the Commonwealth 
Club for twenty-five years, a member of the Eco- 
nomic Club, and of the Worcester Automobile Club 
since their organization. He is also a member of 
the Republican Club, and of the Lakeside Boat 
Club. 

Mr. Lytle married. August 10, 1876, Alice Eva 
Jackson, daughter of Dwight Stacy and Mahali 
(Kimball) Jackson. Thev have had five children, all 
of whom are living. The eldest, Alice May, born 
January 31, 1878, graduated from the Worcester 
iiigh school in 1S96. and married, June 9, 1903. 
George Emery Williamson, a graduate of the 
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, class of 1900, who 
is now mechanical engineer for the United Metallic 
Cartridge Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Lora 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Mariun. I)orii March 24, 1884, was graduated from 
ihf South high school in 1903. Harriett Jackson. 
Ixjrn July 8, 1SS6. was gratlnatcd from the South 
high school in 1905, and is now a member of the 
class of 1908 at Smith College. Frederick Myron, 
born Septeniher 9, 1888, is a member of the class 
of 1907 at the Williston Seminary, Easthampton, 
Massachusetts. William Arthur, Jr., .born July 20, 
i8<w. is attending the public schools. 

T.WLOR F.VMILV. William Taylor (i). of 
Concord, Massachusetts, who came to .America from 
England before 1649, was a progenitor of William 
A. Lvtle, of Worcester, through his grandmother, 
Hannah, wife of David H. Lytic (III), as stated 
above. He married Mary Merriam. daughter of 
Joseph Merriam. another pioneer of Concord, Massa- 
chusetts. William Taylor died May 8. 1662. Chil- 
dren of William and Mary (Merriam) Taylor were: 
John, born October 19, 1653: Samuel, July 3, 1655, 
died young; Abraham. November 14. 1656; Isaac, 
1659; Jacob. May 8. 1662; Joseph. 1665; Mary. 

ill) Jacob Taylor, son of William Taylor (i). 
was born in Concord, Massachusetts, May 8. 1662. 
He married, at Concord. November 29, 1687. De- 
liorah Nutting and all their children were born at 
Concord, viz: Deborah. August 14. 1690: Jacob, 
June 9, 1695, died October 17. 1697: Hannah, July 
7. 1698, died .\ugust 3, 1698; Joseph. .August 10, 
i6qo; Mary, July 25. 1702; Isaac, September 4, 1705. 

(HI) Jcsepb Taylor, son of Jacob Taylor. (2), 
was born in Concord, Massachusetts. August 10, 
1699. He married Elizabeth and their chil- 
dren were: Jo.seph. born MarOh 26, 17,34: William, 
September ,30, 1736; Elizabeth, May It, 17.^9: Han- 
nah. May 15. 1742; Timothy, April 15, 1745; Stephen, 
December 31. 1748. 

(IV) Joseph Taylor, .son of Joseph Taylor (3), 
was bi>rn in Concord, Massachusetts, March 26. 1734, 
died July 12. 1810. He married at Concord. Massa- 
chusetts. Hannah Wheat. She was born July, 1740, 
died .April. 1813. They lived in Concord inany 
years, but finally removed to Hartford, Washington 
county. New Vnrk. where they were among the 
earliest settlers. He was a sea captain in early life. 
His three daughters married and their names were: 
Jillsnn, Meriwether and Comstock. .All their chil- 
dren were born and recorfled at Concord. Massa- 
chusetts, viz.: Anne, born October 14, 1759; Nathan 
February 11. I76r. enlisted in the revolutionary army 
at the age of fifteen: Samuel. January 7, 1763. was 
a soldier in the revolution at the age of seventeen; 
llaiinah. December 31, 1764; Joseph, .April 5. 1767; 
Sandi. September to. 1769. 

(\') Jcseph Taylor, son of Joseph Taylor (4), 
was born in Concord. Massachusetts. .April 5. 1767, 
died January 16. i8,l6. He married. September 9, 
1792. Lydia .Adams, daughter of Levi and Margaret 
(Perkins) Adams. She was born in Canterbury, 
Coimecticiit, May 14. 1771, died in Hartford. New 
York. January 27, 1838 (or January 25, 1839, private 

.1" iph. and his brothers. Satnuel and Nathan 
')■.>'. r. went to Hartford when it was a wilderness, 
sc, iircil a patent and sold the land to others, each 
reserving a large farm. Joseph Taylor was a major 
in the war of 1812. He had nine children, two of 
whom died young. Children of Major Joseph and 
I-ydia (.Adams) Taylor were: John Adams, born 
April 25. 1794, lieutenant in war of 1812; Hannah. 
.August 13, 1796. married David H. Lytic; Daniel 
(twin). May 25. 1798. lived lo be over eighty-seven 
years, died at Plainficld. Illinois; David (twin). 
May 25. I7<j8, living in l88t) at Port Byron, New 
^'ork ; Nancy, June 13, 1803: .Asenath. Fel)ruary 



21, 1805; Lucy, November 18. 1808, married 

Olmstead. 

(VT) Hannah Taylor, daughter of Major Joseph 
Taylor (5), married David H. Lytic, as stated above. 

ADAMS FAMILY. Henry Adams (i), of 
Braintree, was the emigrant ancestor of Lydia 
-Adams, ancestor of William .A. Lytic, of Worcester. 
She married his grandfather as stated above. David 
H. Lytic. (See elsewhere in this work details of 
Henry .Adams, the emigrant). Children of Henry 
-Adams were : Lieutenant Henry, Lieutenant 
Thomas, Captain Samuel. Deacon Jonathan, Peter, 
Johrt. of Cambridge : Joseph, Ensign Edward. ■- 

(II) Lieutenant Joi i nthn n .Adams, son of Henry 
-Adams (i), was born in England, 1O12. He married 
at Braintree, 1642, Mary Blackmore. He removed 
with his brothers Samuel and John from Braintree 
to Concord in 1646, John going later to West Cam- 
bridge, now Arlington, Massachusetts, while Thomas 
and Samuel Adams went to the western part of 
Chelmsford, remaining from 1650 to 1654. Thomas 
-Adams became chief sergeant of the military com- 
pany in 1659. but at first the county court refused 
to confirm him because of his religious views. Upon 
his agreeing to a compromise he was confirmed 
-April. i66o, made ensign 1678, lieutenant 1682 in his 
brother Samuel's company. He was town clerk, 
selectman, commissioner to try small causes, deputy 
to the general court. He died at Chelmsford. July 
26. 1688. Children of Lieutenant Thomas and Mary 
Adams were: Mary, born in Braintree, July 24, 
1643: Jonathan, born in Concord; Pelatiah, twin 
of Jonathan, born January 6. 1646 : Timothy, born 
February 15. 1648: George, born March 29. 1650, 
died young: Samuel, born at Chelmsford (and also 
the following)' 1652-53: Edith, born February 21, 
1665, died young; Rebecca, born September 18, 
1657, died young; Elizabeth, born October 21. 1658- 
59. died young: Thomas, born July 22, 1660, died 
young; Mary, born October 29, 1664. 

(III) Jonathan .Adams, son of Lieutenant 
Thomas Adams (2). was born in Concord, -Massa- 
chusetts, January 6. 1646. He married, .August 29. 1681, 
Leah Gould, twin daughter of Francis and Rose Gould, 
of Chelmsford. '^Massachusetts. She died in 1718. His 
farm was in or near Littleton. He died at Chelms- 
ford. November 25, 1712. Children of Jonathan and 
Leah -Adams were: Edith, born December i. 1683; 
-Mary. May 13. 1687; Margaret, June 24. 1688; Lydia, 
-April 2, 1691; .Abigail. November 9, 1693: Jonathan, 
March 21, 1695-96; David. March 29. 1699; Eliza- 
beth, Edward, Rachel. 

(IV) David -Adams, son of Jonathan .Adams 
(3), was born in Chelmsford. Massachusetts. March 
29, 1699. He married Dorcas Paine. August 27, 
172,1. in Canterbury. Connecticut, whither he went 
to locate. She was the daughter qf Elisha and 
Rebecca (Doane) Paine. She was born in Eastham, 
Massachusetts. February 20. 1699. David died at 
Canterbury. >[ay 21, 1759. Children of David and 
Dorcas (Paine) Adams were: Jonathan, born May 
25, 1724; Levi. November 18. 1728; Dr. Abel. Jan- 
uary 5, i7.?o. a Quaker; Elisha, July 5. 17.13: Dor- 
cas. June 5. 1735; Leah. -August 18,' 1738; Rebecca, 
August 6, 1742. 

(V) Levi Adams, son of David Adams (4). was 
born in Canterbury, Connecticut. November 18, 1728, 
baptized in the Newcnt Society at Lisbon. He mar- 
ried Margaret Perkins. She was born July, 1729, 
died June 2,^, 1829. lacking but a month of living 
a hundred years, and her death was hastened by 
an accident. She died in Hartford. New York. He 
lived at Canterbury, Connecticut, and at Milford, 
Otsego comity. New York. He and his four sons 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



were carpenters bj- trade. He and three sons, Levi, 
David and John, were soldiers in the revolution. 
He was in the service at New London at the cap- 
ture of Fort Griswold, September 7, 1781. He re- 
moved to Pawlet, Vermont, in 1782, when several 
families went there and he settled in the vicinity. 
He died at Hardwick, Otsego county. 1816, aged 
eighty-eight years. Children of Levi and Margaret 
(Perkins) Adams were: Lucy, born March 23, 
17.52: Sergeant Levi, February 14, I754; Captani 
David, March 2, 1756; Margaret, December 20, 1758; 
Margaret, January 17, 1760, died young; John, 
December 16, 1762, said to have been a guard of 
Major Andre after his capture; Joanna, August 4, 
1764; Asahel, August 4, 1764: Asenath, March II, 
1767: Lydia ; William, February 8, 1774. 

(,V1) Lydia Adams, daughter of Levi Adams 
(5). married, September 9, 1792, Major Joseph 
Taylor, as stated above. She was the great-grand- 
mother of William A. Lytle. 

DAVID HALE FANNING. Edmund Fanning 
(i), presumably the son of Francis Fanning, of 
Limerick, Ireland, settled in New London, Connecti- 
cut, in 1653. He appears also to have resided on 
Fisher's Island, then owned by John Winthrop, the 
younger, afterwards governor of the Connecticut 
colony, where we find record of him in 1655 and 
1657. Before 1662, however, he returned to New 
London and settled in that part of the town which 
was in 1705 set off to form the new town of Groton, 
where he had a grant of fifty acres of land in 1664. 
This grant was on the west bank of the ^lystic 
river, two miles above the present village of Old 
or Upper Mystic, in what is now the town of Led- 
yard, and formed the nucleus of a large farm called 
his Groton farm, which remained in the pos.=ession 
of his descendants nearly one hundred and fifty 
years. 

Edmund Fanning then became one of the original 
proprietors of Stonington, Connecticut, receiving , 
various grants of land in 1665, 1667 and succeeding 
years. JHis homestead in Stonington was southeast 
of his New London grant and was separated from it 
by the Mystic river, the dividing line between the 
towns of Groton and Stonington. He resided on this 
farm when he died in 1683. His Stonington grants 
embraced an area of about five hundred and forty- 
tw^o acres in addition to his New London, Groton 
and Voluntown grants. The site of Edmund Fan- 
ning"s house is now marked only by a cellar hole. 
He was prominent in organizing the church, June 
3, 1674. The buflding was erected by subscriptions 
of timber, shingles, nails and labor. It stood until 
another church was built in 1729. Mr. Fanning was 
admitted a freeman of Stonington by the general 
court at Hartford, May 17, 1673. He served in 
King Philip's war, as did also his sons Edmund, 
Thomas and John, and received a grant of land as 
compensation for his services in that war. The lots 
were laid out in Voluntown, Connecticut, which be- 
came known as the Volunteer Country. Edmund 
Fanning died intestate at Stonington in December, 
1683, leaving five sons and one daughter. 

He married Ellen , in Ireland, and his 

eldest son Edmund was born there. After Edmund 
Fanning's death his widow joined the First Con- 
gregational Church at Stonington, October 2, 1684. 
Although it would naturally be inferred that Ed- 
mund Fanning was originally a Roman Catholic 
in Ireland, there is no proof of it. He was a mem- 
ber of the Congregational 'church in Connecticut 
and active in its support. The children of Edmund 
and Ellen Fanning were: 1. Edmund, born in Ire- 
land, about 1651. 2. Margaret, born at Pequot, 



now New London, Connecticut, about 1653, drowned 
April 29, 1664. 3. Thomas, born on Fisher's Island, 
New York, about 1655. 4. John, born on Fisher's 
Island, New York, about 1657;. 5. William, born on 
Fisher's Island, about 1659, killed it is said early in 
life by Indians. 6. James, born at New London, 
Connecticut, about 1663, no record of him after 
1693. 7. Mary, born at New London, April 28, 1665, 
married, at Stonington, September 24, 1683, Lieu- 
tenant Benjamin Hewitt, son of Thomas and Han- 
nah (.Palmer) Hewitt, who were married April 26, 
1659. (Thomas Hewitt, the progenitor of the family, 
settled in Stonington as early as 1656). 

(II) John Fanning, son of Edmund Fanning 
(i), was born about 1657 on Fishers Island, New 
York. He married, in New London, Connecticut, 
1683 or 1684, Margaret Culver, presumably a daugh- 
ter" of Edward and Ann Culver. He settled on 
Fort Flill in Groton, Connecticut. He served in 
King Philip's war and received a grant of land for 
bis services. He died at Groton between the first 
and thirteenth of February, 1738-39- His widow died 
at Groton just previous to June 16, 1740. His will 
was dated February I, 1738-39, and probated Feb- 
ruary 13, 1738-39. The children of Lieutenant John 
and JMargaret (Culver) Fanning were; i. jNiary, 
born in what is now (proton, Connecticut, baptized 
in Stonington, August 26, 1686, married Samuel 
Fox ; he resided in Preston, but removed to Groton, 
in 1741, where he purchased a farm; died 1752. 2. 
John, born in the town of New London, about 1688. 
3. Jilargaret, born in the town of New London, 
about 1692; married (first), at Groton, Connecticut, 
after 1720, a Mr. Avery and had a son Daniel, who 
was killed bv Indians. She married (second) Jede- 
diah Ashcraft; she died 1773-4- 4- Prudence, born 
in the town of I^ew London about 1694, married, at 
Groton, Connecticut, Jacob Parke. 5. Thankful, 
born in the town of New London about 1696, mar- 
ried (first), at Groton, in 1733, John Martyn, of 

Groton. She married (second), in 1745, ■ 

Talley, of Stonington. She married (third) Captain 
James Packer, of Groton ; she died 1780. 6. Will- 
iam, born in the town of New London about 1700. 

(HI) John Fanning, son of Lieutenant John 
Fanning (2), was born at Groton, Connecticut, 
about 1688. He married, at Groton, about ' 1716. 
Deborah Parke, daughter of William and Hannah 
(F'rink) Parke. She was born at Preston, Con- 
necticut, August 5, 1696, a descendant of Robert 
Parke, who married in Edmondsbury, England, iSIar- 
tha (Thaplin, and came to America in 1630 in the 
ship "Arbelia." John -Fanning settled in that part 
of New London in which he was born, later set ofj 
as Groton. He died intestate at Groton in Decem- 
ber, 1 7 18. The widow Deborah married (second), 
iSIay 14, 1722, Benajah Williams, son of Captain 
John and Martha (Wheeler) Williams; they re- 
moved from Groton and were living in Cruni El- 
bow. Dutchess county. New Y'orlj, in 1751. John 
Fanning was admitted an inhabitant of Groton. jNIay 
22, 1712. His death was caused by accidentally 
cutting an artery in his leg. The children of John 
and Deborah (Parke) Fanning were: I. John, born 
in Groton, 1717-18. 2. Thomas, born in Groton, 
1719. 

(IV) Thomas Fanning, son of John Fanning 
(3), was born at Groton. Connecticut. 1719. He 
married, at Groton. July 26, 1744, Elizabeth Capron, 
daughter of Walter and Hope (Whipple) Capron, 
the former named a son of Banfield Capron, of Bar- 
rington and Attleborough, Massachusetts, was a 
forgeman and settled in Groton, where he died at 
the age of eighty-four years. Elizabeth Capron was 
born in Norwich, Connecticut, April 7, 1725. 



lO 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



After the death of his father Thomas Fanning 
was brought up by his grandfather, William Parke, 
of Preston, who was appointed his guardian, July 
25, 1722. He learned the trade of carpenter, and 
settled at what is now Shewville and there bought 
a farm and built a saw mill. He held many town 
offices and was prominent in local affairs. He was 
appointed lieutenant of the Fifth Company of 
Militia at Groton, Connecticut, by the general as- 
sembly, October 10, 1765, and captain in October, 
1771. He opened the first recruiting office in Con- 
necticut after the revolutionary war broke out, and 
was afterward commissioned by the government to 
recruit soldiers. He sent five of his si.\ sons into the 
service; he was too old to go himself. He died 
intestate at Groton, December 15, 1787, aged sixty- 
eight years. His widow died at Groton, April 27, 
1810, in her eighty-sixth year. Both are buried 
at Preston Plain cemetery, where their headstones 
may still be seen. They had issue, nine children, all 
born in Groton. They were: i. Katherine, born 
June 9, 1745, died March 9, 1755. 2. Walter, born 
May 20, 1747. 3. Charles, born December 16, 1749. 
4. Prudence, born April 28, 1752, niarritd, at Groton, 
April 25, 1770, Jabez Tracy, son of Nathaniel 
Tracy, a school teacher. 5. Thomas, born May 22, 
1755. 6. Hope, born August 14, I7S7, married, June 
27, 1782. Elisha Ayer, son of Deacon Joseph and 
Thankful (Deake) Ayer, born August 16, 1757; he 
was a wealthy farmer and resided in Groton. 

(.V) Thomas Fanning, son of Thomas Fanning 
(4), was born at Groton, Connecticut, May 22, 1755. 
He learned the trade of ship carpenter and followed 
it at New London, Mystic, Stonington and New 
York city. He lived in Groton many years, most 
of the time at the Fanning homestead, probably at 
what is now Shewville. Previous to -1800 he removed 
to New York city, but returned soon to Groton. In 
1815 he bought a farm at Norwich, where he re- 
sided until his death. He served in the revolution- 
ary war and was wounded in the service. He en- 
listed March 18, 1777, as a private and was appointed 
corporal the same day in Captain Amos Stanton's 
company of Colonel Henry Sherburne's regiment. 
He served also in Captain William Clift's company. 
Colonel John Durkec's regiment, and in Colonel 
Ebenezer Huntington's regiment. He served until 
the close of the war, June, 1783. He was wounded 
in the head, a bullet plowing its way along the scalp 
and leaving a deep .scar, which in after years he 
was wont to show to his grandsons, saying: "Boys, 
put your finger in that furrow — that was made by a 
damned Redcoat's bullet." He drew a pension after 
March 6, 1819, for having served six years in the 
revolution. He died at Norwich, April 15, 1828. 

He married, at Groton, March 3, 1785, Susannah 
Faulkner, born in Groton, 1758-59, died at Norwich, 
Connecticut. March 4, 1841, aged eighty-two years, 
daughter of John and Susannah (Willson) Faulk- 
ner. Both she and her husband were buried in the 
old Norwich city cemetery. Susannah Willson was 
the daughter of John and Mary (Cunningham) 
Willson, who were married at Groton, September 
3, 1730. The children of Thomas and Susannah 
(Faulkner) I-"anning were: i. Henry Willson, born 
at Groton, February 8. 1786. 2. John' Faulkner, born 
June 25, 1788. 3. Fanny Maria, born April 12, 
1790, married, at Norwich, Sidney Gardner, a 
farmer of Montvillc. Connecticut, a son of Lemuel 
Gardner ; Sidney died at Norwich, September 14, 
1840; she died .'\pril 9, 1876. 4. Polinda or Mary, 
born at Groton, Connecticut, February 25, 1793, mar- 
ried, at Norwich. October 18, 1829, Henry Ed- 
wards, a farmer of Norwich Town ; he died at New 
Haven, Connecticut, about 1850; she died at Nor- 



wich, October 22, 1859, aged sixty-six years. 5. 
Thomas, born at Groton, January 24, lygb, died at 
New York city, September 22, 1800, of yellow fever. 
6. Alfred, born at New York city. July 27, 1800, 
was a blacksmith, lived with parents at Norwich ; 
died unmarried about 1840. 

(VI) Henry Willson Fanning, son of Thomas 
Fanning (5>, was born at Groton, Connecticut, Feb- 
ruary 8, 1786. He was a blacksmith by trade. He 
lived at Marlboro, Norwich and Jcwett City, Con- 
necticut, ile served for a time in the war of 1812 
as corporal in Enos H. Buell's company of Con- 
necticut militia. He married, at Marlboro, Con- 
necticut, October 3, 181 1, Sarah Hale, born in Glas- 
tonbury, Connecticut, July 19, 1788, daughter of 
David and Ruth (Hale) Hale, and a descendant of 
the well known Hale family of Glastonbury. The 
progenitor of the name in that section was, it is 
said, Samuel Hale, Sr., who was a pioneer settler 
in Hartford, Wethersfield and Norwalk. Connecti- 
cut. Henry Willson F'anning died at Jewctt City, 
Connecticut, July 3, 1836, aged fifty years. His 
widow died at Jewett City, June 10, 1837, aged 
forty-nine years, and both are buried in the family 
lot in Jewett City. 

The children of Henry Willson and Sarah (Hale) 
Fanning were: i. Charles Henry, born at Marlboro, 
Connecticut, October 2, 1812. 2. Thomas Willson, 
born at Marlboro, Connecticut, January 28, 1814, 
went to Norwich to learn the carriage maker's trade 
and died there of typhus fever, August 31, 1833, 
aged nineteen years, unmarried. 3. Henry Williams, 
born at Marlboro, Connecticut, May 23, 1816. 4. 
Sophia Hale, born at Jewett City, F'ebruary 28, 
1819, resided at Jewett City, Bozrah and Daniel- 
sonville, Connecticut, where she died May 11, 1882, 
unmarried. 5. Sarah Maria, born at Jewett City, 
January 27, 1821 ; married, at Killingly, Connecti- 
cut, January 19, 1856, George Wanton Spalding, a 
school teacher, born at Providence, Rhode Island, 
March 3, 1816. They settled in Natick, Rhode 
Island, where she died in October, 1865. George 
W. Spalding married (second), at Natick, Decem- 
ber 15, 1S70, Mrs. Alice King Hathaway Warner, 
and he died at Natick, November 18, 1874. 0. 
Elizabeth Capron, born at Jewett City, Connecticut, 
May 30, 1823. 7. George I'"aulkner, born at Jewett 
City, September 4, 1825. 8. Lucy Ann, born at 
Jewett City, December 28, 1827, married, at Lons- 
dale, Rhode Island, April 18, 1848, George B. Haw- 
kins, of Jewett City, son of Esek Hawkins; he was 
a "forty-niner" and died on the way home from 
California at Charleston, South Carolina, September 
23, 1850; she died in Worcester, April i, 1892. 9. 
David Hale, born at Jewett City, Connecticut, August 
4, 1830. 

(VII) Elizabeth Capron Fanning, daughter of 
Henry Willson Fanning (6), was born at Jewett 
City, Connecticut, May 30, 1823. She was named 
for her great-grandmother. She married, at Clin- 
ton, Massachusetts, December 2, 1851, Charles Ed- 
win Brooks, of Worcester, Massachuset'ts, born 
August 15, 1824, son of Deacon Nathaniel and 
Mary (Chadwick) Brooks, of Worcester, and eighth 
in descent from Captain Thorrtas and Grace Brooks, 
of Concord, Massachusetts. (See sketches of the 
Brooks P'aniily and Walter F. Brooks elsewhere in 
this work). She removed from Jewett City to Wor- 
cester in March. 1847. Charles Edwin Brooks was 
brought up on the farm, completed his schooling at 
the old Baptist Acaderru', Worcester, and when of 
age entered mercantile life. He was a member of 
the firm of Brooks & Stearns, grocers, for twelve 
years. He was in the service during the civil war 
in the commissary department at Newbern, North 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Carolina. After his return to the north he became 
a partner with his brother-in-law, David H. Fan- 
ning, in the Worcester Skirt Company. In 1879 he 
was elected treasurer and librarian of the Worces- 
ter County Horticultural Society, a position that he 
held until his death at Worcester, December 22, 
1890. His life was an excellent example of faith- 
fulness, honesty and devotion. 

The children of Charles Edwin and Elizabeth 
Capron (.Fanning) Brooks were: i. Ella, born 
November io, 1852. died January 10, 1857. 2. Ar- 
thur Anderson, born December 25, 1856, married, 
at Greenfield, Massachusetts, Louisa Darling Gris- 
wold, daughter of Hon. Whiting and Frances Lin- 
coln (.Clark) Griswold. He was a graduate of 
Harvard, 1879, and of Harvard Divinity School, 1884; 
ordained minister of the Third Congregational 
(Unitarian) Society, Greenfield, Massachusetts, Jan- 
uary, 1885, resigned December, 1896. He resides in 
Boston. They have no children. 3. Walter Fred- 
erick, born January 13, l8.S9; was associated with 
William H. Morse in the banking and brokerage 
business for eleven years ; then became one of the 
lessees and proprietors of the Worcester Theatre 
under the name of Rock & Brooks; is now (1906) 
and has been since 1896 treasurer of the Royal Wor- 
cester Corset Company of Worcester ; is author and 
compiler of the "History of the Fanning Family" 
(1905); resides in Worcester; unmarried. (.For 
sketch see Brooks Family). 

(.VH) David Hale Fanning, son of Henry Will- 
son Fanning (7), was born at Jewett City, Con- 
necticut, August 4, 1830. He is what may be termed 
a self-made man. In a genealogical consideration 
of the Fanning family this feature of his career is 
worthy of mention, as it indicates the stanchness' of 
the parent stock. When David H. was seven years 
of age his parents died, and he remained in the care 
of an older brother until he reached the age of six- 
teen. Meanwhile he received such education as the 
district schools of the neighborhood afforded. The 
exacting discipline of his brother, the narrowness 
of his own life, the hopelessness of any develop- 
ment, and the inborn craving to be somebody and 
to do something, made him ambitious to see the 
world and make his own way. This characteristic 
had to assert itself and has ever been a conspicuous 
part of his makeup. So, with his few possessions, 
among which was a Testament given him by his 
mother (which he always faithfully kept) and a 
cash capital of two dollars and fifty cents, he left 
his native place on foot to seek his fortune. After 
a twenty mile walk he reached Danielsonville, Con- 
necticut, at the end of his first day, there obtain- 
ing supper, lodging and breakfast, for which he 
paid sixteen cents. He then made direct for Wor- 
cester, at that time a town of some ten thousand 
inhabitants. There he hoped to find employment, 
but not succeeding, went on to Clinton, then a part 
of Lancaster, where he found employment in a fac- 
tory. It is worthy of record that his first business 
experience was in a counterpane mill, at si.xteen 
years of age. He remained in this position two 
years, and by attention to work was promoted to a 
more lucrative position. By economy he saved suf- 
ficient money to give him a start in life, and coming 
to Worcester in 1848 served a short apprenticeship 
at the trade of machinist. 

In 1853 he was the proprietor of a country store 
in Groton Junction, now the city of Ayer, Massa- 
chusetts, but later disposed of this business. He 
then went west, remaining in Cleveland, Ohio, two 
years, and in 1857 returned to Worcester, Massa- 
chusetts. During the following four years he was 
employed as a salesman. In 1861 he engaged in 



manufacturing hoop-skirts under the name of the 
Worcester Skirt Company. Two or three years 
later he added the making of corsets to his busi- 
ness, and as the hoop-skirt gradually passed into 
disuse, corset making became the principal feature of 
the business and the title was changed to that of 
the Worcester Corset Company. It was conducted 
as a private business until 1888, when it was in- 
corporated as a stock company. The same pains- 
taking, diligent attention to business that had char- 
acterized Mr. Fanning's entire life soon brought 
his manufactures into universal prominence, and in 
1901 another change in the business was made and 
its name became the Royal Worcester Corset Com- 
pany. Mr. Fanning began business in a small way 
at the corner of Main and Front streets, and as it 
expanded occupied quarters in Franklin square and 
Hermon street, respectively, finally moving to the 
extensive and complete factory on Wyman street, 
erected by the company for its business, where it 
is at present located. From a very modest begin- 
ning, by perseverance and faith in the country and 
its resources, and untiring diligence, Mr. Fanning 
has developed the great industrial institution known 
throughout the world, the Royal Worcester Corset 
Company, with its magnificent plant, branch offices 
in all the large cities of the country, and business 
connections in every civilized country on the globe. 
The Royal Worcester Corset Company's plant is 
perhaps the largest and most complete in the world 
of the factories devoted exclusively to the manu- 
facture of corsets and waists. It has been called the 
model factory of America. It certainly is one of 
the model factories of Worcester, and one in which 
the city takes pride as one of its institutions. The 
building has an admirable location near the great 
Crompton & Knowles loom works. Together these 
two concerns have had great influence on the growth 
of the city. The grounds about the buildings of the 
corset company are artistically laid out with shrubs 
and lawns, and the buildings are architecturally at- 
tractive. In construction and equipment the most 
advanced ideas of modern times have been adopted 
and changes are constantly made to keep the fac- 
tory in the front rank. It has often been said that 
nowhere in the world is there a manufacturing 
plant of such prominence and employing so large 
number of hands where there are to be found more 
pleasant and comfortable arangements for the com- 
fort and convenience of the employees. The heat- 
ing and ventilation are perfect ; the best electric 
lighting system to be found has been installed ; the 
sanitary arrangements are as good as those of first 
class hotels. The employees are provided with a 
comfortable and spacious dining room, finished in 
white and with tiled walls and floors, capable of 
seating nearly one thousand employees. In connec- 
tion with this a reading room is maintained and 
supplied with the leading papers and magazines for 
the exclusive use of employees. More than a thou- 
sand hands are regularly employed. The offices are 
large and convenient, ajid in every department ample 
provision has been made for the constantly increas- 
ing business. The power plant of this factory is a 
model. Mr. Fanning believes in using modern 
electrical machinery and gives his electrical engi- 
neer carte blanche when new machinery is to be in- 
stalled. The machinery used in the factory is of 
the best and latest patterns. Much of it is designed 
especially for this class of work, and throughout the 
plant will be found special machinery adapted to 
accomplish in the quickest and best manner special 
kinds of work. The methods and machinery used 
result in producing goods that are uniform and of 
standard quality, while much of the foreign goods 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



of this kind are lacking in these qualities. Tlic 
goods of the Royal Worcester Corset Company have 
stood the test of every exposition of the past thirty 
years. The product of the factory is sold direct to 
the retail stores all over the country. The capital 
stock of the company is four hundred thousand 
dollars, Mr. Fanning is president and chief owner, 
and Walter F. Brooks, his nephew, is treasurer. 

Notable among Mr. F'ainiing's personal char- 
acteristics is his intense patriotism. He springs 
from men who fought in all wars in which our 
country has been engaged, even back to the French 
and Indian wars. In politics he is a Republican. 
He i> a man of pronounced opinions and once he 
knows he is right, whether it be a business or per- 
sonal proposition that confronts him, he goes ahead 
and nothing stands in the way of his accomplishing 
his end. In business he is a disciplinarian, and his 
influence is felt everywhere in his great factory. 
Cleanliness, deportment, order, .system and attention, 
which are so much in evidence about him, are the 
results of his constant care and training. In spite 
of an active business life, Mr. Fanning has found 
time to study men and things, conditions historical 
and geographical, keeps thoroughly in touch with 
the contemporaneous news of the time, and will 
stand in commercial history as a forceful illustration 
of what a man may be if he will. 

Mr. F'anning married, at Worcester, September 
28, 1859, Rosamond Hopkins Dawless. daughter of 
Young Simmons "and Adaline F'idelia (Willard) 
Dawless. She was born at Sterling, Massachusetts, 
May 6, iSj;, died at VVorcester, Massachusetts, De- 
cember 14, 1901. She is buried in the family lot 
in Rural cemetery, Worcester. Their children were : 
I. Agnes Maria, born in Worcester, September 29, 
1864. married, at Worcester, April 6, 1892, John 
Edward Lancaster, born in New York city, Decem- 
ber I, 1863, died November 14, 1905. He was presi- 
dent of the United States Corset Company, formerly 
the Globe Corset Company of Worcester. Mrs. 
Lancaster was educated in Mt. Holyoke Seininary 
and Lasell Seminary, Auburndale, Massachusetts. 
Their children are: John Edward, born February 
27, 189.? ; Robert Allan, born September 9. 1895; 
RosanKmd, born .^pril 19, 1897. 2. Frank Everett, 
born in Worcester. March 20, 1869, died August 21. 
1869, 3. Helen Josephine, born in Worcester, June 
10, 1870, a graduate of Mt. Holyoke Seminary and 
College, class of 1891 ; resides with her father. 

SMITH FAMILY. John Smith (i), the immi- 
grant ancestor of Elliott T. Smith, Jesse Smith, 
Orrin H. Smith and Frank A. Smith, of Wor- 
cester, and that branch of the family to which they 
belong, was one of several among the first settlers 
of Rhode Island bearing the name of John Smith, 
and to distinguish him from the others he has been 
called by the trade he followed, •'John, the Mason." 
There was "John, the Miller" and "Jamaica John." 
also in Providence, both progenitors of important 
Rhode Island families. The trade of mason and the 
allied trade of lime burning has been followed by 
many generations of the descendants of "John, the 
Mason." He was Imrii in England and was among 
the early settlers at Providence, where he died in 
if)6o. March l, 1654. he deeded a house and lot 
of Samuel Comstock's estate. He was living in 
Warwick. December 17, 1657. and was useful as a 
surveyor in the county. His second wife was Anne 
Conistock, widow of Samuel Comstock. She died 
in 1661. Among his children was John, Jr., sec 
forward. 

(II) John Smith. Jr.. son of John Smith (1), 
was doubtless born in England about 1625. He died 



in 1687. He was also a mason by trade. He was 
admitted a freeman in 1670. He owned lot No. 
42 in Providence and assigned it February 19, 1665. 
His name is on the ta.x list July i, 1079. His will 
was presented for probate April 4. 1088. It was 
dated March 16, 1687, His executor was his son 

Joseph. He married Elizabeth . who died 

1706. The children of John and Elizabeth Smith 
were: Leonard, died unmarried in 1676; he was 
a witness on a deed of Roger Williams's in 1665. 
was admitted a freeman in 1670. was a deputy to 
the general assembly, resided at Providence and 
Newport, and left estate to brother John. John, 
died 1676 unmarried; was killed in King Philip's 
war. Benjamin, a mason, died unmarried 1716. 
Eleanor, married Elcazer Arnold. Joseph, see for- 
ward. Mary, married Thomas Hopkins. 

(III) Joseph Smith, son of John Smith (2). was 
born about 1655. He also was a mason and joiner. 
He settled the estate of his brothers John and 
Leonard, who died in the same year. January 15, 
1677. he sold to Ralph Paine, of Newport, land in 
Providence as administrator of his brother. John 
Smith, heir and executor of their brother. Leonard 
Smith. He was admitted a freeman in 1081. .March 
3. 1690, he sold other lands to John Keese. of Ports- 
mouth, as administrator of the estate of John, heir 
of Leonard Smith. He removed from Providence 
to Smithfield. Rhode Island, where he was living 
January 31. 1732. when he deeded to his son John 
one hundred acres and a quarter right to the com- 
mon land. He inentions Joseph, another son. with 
John in a deed of land dated March 31, 1735, form- 
erly of the estate of his grandfather, John Smith, 
deceased. The son Leonard is presumed to be named 
for his brother Leonard, , whose estate he ad- 
ministered. 

(IV) Leonard Smith, son of Joseph (3), was 
born in Smithfield. Rhode Island, about 1715. He 

married Elizabeth . and their children, born 

at Smithfield. Rhode Island, were: Jonathan, see 
forward: Sarah, born February 5, 1745-46: Leon- 
ard. Jr., September 29, 1748; Simon, October 29, 

1754- 

(V) Jonathan Smith, son of Leonard Smith (4), 
was born at Smithfield, Rhode Island, .\ugust 9, 
1741. He settled in the adjacent town of Cumber- 
land. Rhode Island. He was a soldier in the revo- 
lution, with the rank of lieutenant in Captain Kim- 
ball's company. Colonel Hutchinson's regiment, from 
Providence county. He married Rebecca Nichols, 
of Rehobolh (by Elder Daniel Miller), April 7, 

176S. He married (second) Margaret . The 

children of Jonathan and Rebecca Smith, born in 
Cumlxerland. were: Jesse. January 6, 1762 or 1769; 
Sylvester, see forward. The children of Jonathan 
and Margaret Smith, born in Cumberland, were : 
Jacob, .\pril 18. 1779: Margaret. December 13. 1781. 

(VI) Sylvester Smith, son of Jonathan Smith 
(5). was born in Cumberland, Rhode Island. De- 
cember 15, 1772. He was a lime burner by trade 
and three of his sons, who followed this trade, set- 
tled in Rockland, Maine, viz.: Ltprelet (or Pre- 
late as it is spelled ui Rhode Island records). Lewis 
and Charles W. Sylvester Smith married, June 22, 
1/94. Luruhamma (generally spelled Ruhammah) 
Goff. of Smithfield. The marriage was performed 
by Holliman Potter, justice, whose very name has 
a clerical soinid. Sylvester Smith lived in Smith- 
field, his children we're born there and he probably 
died there. The children of Sylvester and Ruham- 
mah Smith were: Anna, born January 18. 179s; 
Jesse. November 8. 1796: Prelate (Leprelat, as 
spelled in the Rockland records). May 13, 1802, mar- 
ried Mercy , settled in Rockland. Maine, re- 




A>i2--i^ 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



13 



moved to tlie west; Lewis, December 26, 1803. see 
forward; Charles Westcott, August 13, 1809, mar- 
ried (first) Almira Achoni. December 26, 1833; 
(second) Betsey Currier, January i, 1843; removed 
to West Camden, Maine; Lydia, August 20, 1814. 

(VII) Lewis Smith, fourth child of Sylvester 
Smith (6), was born in Sniithfield, Rhode Island. 
December 26. 1803. He was in the lime burning 
business and removed to Rockland, Maine, to carry 
on the lime Inisiness there. He came to Worcester 
in 1849, where for many years he was engaged in 
the lime business. He died March 15, 1867. He . 
married Maria Rice in Rhode Island. Their chil- 
dren were: George L, born June 4, 1826; Manly 
S., June II. 1828. is a sea captain in Vineyard Haven, 
Massachusetts ; has several children ; .Abigail P., 
August 4, 1831, married John Bird, of Rockland, 
Maine; children — William and Abbie, living: Elliott 
T., see forward: Jesse, see forward; John W., May 
16, 1839, at Rockland, enlisted July 12, 1861, in 
Company D, Fifteenth Regiment, and was killed at 
Ball's Bluff, October 21, 1861. He was unmarried; 
Harriet Elizabeth. June 15, 1841, married Rev. James 
Taylor, who survives her ; James W., resides in 
Boston : Orrin H., born in Rockland. All of the 
eight children living in 1849 came to Worcester 
with their parents, and the family has for the most 
part made Worcester their home ever since. 

(VIII) Elliott Tolnian Smith, son of Lewis Smith 
(7), was born in Rockland, IVIaine. July 31. 1833. 
He was sixteen years of age when the family moved 
to Worcester, on his birthday. July 31, 1849. He 
spent his boyhood in Rockland, where he attended 
the district schools and learned his first lessons in 
business. He went to work for the Western Rail- 
road, now the section of the New York Central be- 
tween Worcester and Albany, and remained in this 
business three years, most of the time in the freight 
department. He was then employed by Hitchcock 
& Muzzy, manufacturers of firearms in the Merri- 
field buildings until 1857. The winter of 1857-58 
he spent in New Orleans in the lightning rod busi- 
ness. He began in business for himself in Wor- 
cester at the corner of Shrewsbury and Millbury 
streets, where the Smith-Green Company is still 
located. That was in 1858 and nearly fifty years 
find him still in business in the harness among the 
most successful merchants of Worcester. His groc- 
ery store was in a building used by his father to 
store lime. 

The business grew steadily. In 1868 he took up 
the wholesale department and found that more at- 
tractive than the retail business. In 1870 he turned 
over the retail business to his brother and there- 
after has devoted his attention to jobbing and whole- 
sale business. At that time he took as partner 
Charles A. Bigelow. Fop fifteen years the business 
continued under the name of E. T. Smith & Co. 
Upon the death of his partner in 1885 Mr. Smith 
formed a new partnership with Charles F. Bigelow. 
Frank A. Smith. Charles A. King. F. B. Waite and 
Charles H. Robinson. The two latter soon with- 
drew from the firm. The present E. T. Smith Com- 
pany was incorporated in 1896 with a capital stock 
of $ioo.0OQ with Elliott Smith, president ; F. A. 
Smith, liis son. vice-president ; C. F. Bigelow. treas- 
urer, and C. .-X. King, secretary. The large block 
erected by Mr. Smith in 1874 in Washington Square 
was occupied until 1893. when the company moved 
to its new building on Summer street and the 
Smith-Green business has since occupied the older 
building. 

Mr. Smith's recreation and amusements have 
been largely out of doors. He is a lover of nature 
and enjoys fishing and hunting. He is a member of 



the Worcester Sportsmen's Club. He is a member 
of the Board of Trade, and is a well known Free 
Mason, belonging to Worcester County Command- 
cry. Knights Templar and the other Masonic or- 
ganizations of the city. He resides at 839 Main 
street, where he has a handsome home. Mr. Smith's 
business ability has placed him in the front rank 
of merchants. His long and uniformly successful ca- 
reer gives him a place among the foremost men of 
business in this section. His personal character has 
won bmi the respect and confidence of his associates 
and fellow-citizens to an unusual degree. 

Mr. Smith married, January 12, i860, Elizabeth 
C. Campbell, of Worcester, and their only child, 
Frank A. Smith, born ' April i, 1864, is now the 
treasurer and manager of the house of E. T. Smith 
Company. 

(VIII) Jesse Smith, son of Lewis Smith (7), 
was born in Rockland, Maine, March 27, 1836. He 
attended the district schools of his native town and 
those of Worcester after the family removed in 
1849 to that city. He began his business life in the 
clothing store of D. H. Eames, then Thayer & 
Fames, then and now at the corner of Main and 
Front streets, Worcester. He was a clerk in this 
store for nine years. In 1861 he began business on 
his own account in Lewistown, Maine. After five 
years he returned to Worcester to enter partner- 
ship with his brother, Elliott T. Smith, in the retail 
grocery business on Shrewsbury street. In 1870 
the partnership was dissolved E. T. Smith went on 
with the wholesale business and Jesse Smith took 
the retail business in company with the late Henry 
.^. Green, who had been with the firm for some 
time. The retail store was carried on until the 
death of the junior partner under the name of Smith 
& Green, a name familiar to all residents of Wor- 
cester for a generation. The present name. Smith- 
Green Company, was taken in 1893 when the busi- 
ness was incorporated, with Mr. Smith as president 
and owner of the property. In addition to the ordi- 
nary grocery business the firm made a specialty 
of lime and cement, the line in which Mr. Smith's 
father had dealt years before, and eventually this 
branch of the business became the largest part" of it. 

In 1894 Richard C. Cleveland, who married his 
daughter, became connected with the business, treas- 
urer of the company, and later, after Mr. Smith's 
death, the head of the house. His firm was one of 
the largest and best known retail provision and 
grocery stores in this section. Mr. Smith was a 
prominent citizen in every sense of the word, al- 
though he never held public office. • He was at- 
tractive personally and popular among his friends. 
In Masonic circles he was quite active. He was a 
member of Athelstan Lodge, Worcester Lod^e of 
Perfection, Hiram Council, Lawrence Chapter^Rose 
Croix ; Worcester County Commandcry Knights 
Templars, and the Massachusetts Consistory. He 
was treasurer of the Worcester Masonic Charity 
and Educational Association. He was also mem- 
ber of the Commonwealth Club, the Tatassit Canoe 
Club and of the Worcester Board of Trade. He 
died suddenly November 18, 1897. 

Of Mr. Smith's character. Rev. Dr. Alomon C. 
Gunnison pastor of the First Universalist Church, 
of which Mr. Smith was a member, now the presi- 
dent of Washington University, said at the time 
of bis death : "He was a man of marked integrity. 
In all the close competitions of business he kept 
himself unsullied by deceit. He was honorable in 
his dealings, scrupulously honest in word and deed, 
winning success by no unworthy practices, but by 
;in industry that was tireless and a thrift that was 
persistent. * * * He was a sunny-hearted man; 



14 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



and the sunshine that was in his heart not only 
illuminated his own hfe and made it genial, but it 
warmed the social atmosphere in which he moved. 
Every life he touched he gladdened. His speech was 
cheery, because he was tilled with good-will to men. 
He had friends because he showed himself friendly. 
No neighbor was swifter in sympathy or more rcauv 
with otfices of neighborly good-will. He was not 
only charitable in his deeds and words, but was 
equally kind in all his judgments. He was slow 
to believe ill of others, as he was quick to contradict 
detraction of friends. If he heard unkind criticism 
with gentle rcbukings he showed the picture's other 
side, and magnified men's virtues when others re- 
viled their faults. He had that rare insight of love 
which saw the good rather than the evil that was 
in others, and he remembered the good and forgot 
the bad. There arc few qualities of greater worth 
than this. Every man is a benefactor to his kind 
who throws a ray of sunshine across the path in 
which men bear their burdens, who gives the cour- 
age of a new hope to those who struggle, and illumi- 
nates and warms with the sunshine of his own good 
will those who' are heavy laden. This was his mis- 
sion in life; and it made men love him while he 
lived, and caused a great throng to rise up and call 
him blessed." 

Mr. Smith married, February I7> 1859, Jane 
Hopcrnft daughter of Henry Hopcroft. She was 
born in 'England. After coming to America the 
family lived at Fort Plain, New York. Mrs. Smith 
survives her husband and resides in her old home, 
35 Oread street, Worcester, with her daughter, Mrs. 
R. C. Cleveland. The children of Jesse and Jane 
(Hopcroft) Smith were: Harry Lewi.s, born .\u- 
gust 7. 1867, in Worcester, died there February g, 
1876; Herbert Jesse, born in Worcester, October 9. 
1869. died there August 7, 1870; Gertrude Elizabeth, 
born .^pril 13. 1872, married R. C. Cleveland. 

(VHI; Orrin H. Smith, son of Lewis Smith (7), 
was born in Rockland. Maine. December 9, 1846. 
He came with the family to Worcester in 1849 and 
has since lived in that city. He went into the rail- 
road business and was for a number of years. loco- 
motive engineer on the section now known as the 
Boston & Albany Railroad. For many years he 
has been in the retail grocery business at 143 Graf- 
ton street in company with C. M. Crockett. The 
firm name is Smith & Crockett. He is married and 
has one daughter. Flora. 

(IX) Gertrude Elizabeth Smith, daughter of 
Jesse Smith (8), was born in Worcester, Massa- 
chusetts, .^pril 13. 1872. She was educated in private 
schools in Worcester and Greenfield. Massachusetts. 
She married, September 26, 1894, Richard C. Cleve- 
land. 

Richard C. Cleveland was born in Danville, 
Quebec, September .-^o. 1871. He is the son of 
Clarence Chester and Fluvia E. (Cleveland) Cleve- 
land. (See Cleveland Genealogy for his ancestry.) 
When fourteen years old he went to Reloit, Wiscon- 
sin, to school and there fitted for college. He en- 
tered the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he 
was graduated in i.'<93. He returned to his home 
in Canada and worked for a time for the Rand 
Drill Company of Montreal. In 1894 he came to 
Worcester and as.socia(cd himself with the Smith- 
fircdi C'lmpany. After the business was incorpor- 
ated he became the treasurer of the company, and 
in 1807, after the death of Jesse Smith, he became 
the president and treasurer. The retail meat and 
grocery business was sold a few years later to 
Walker Armington and the entire attention of the 
company given to the lime and cement business. 
The other officers of the corporation are members 



of Mr. Cleveland's family: Mrs. Jesse Smith, and 
Mrs. Cleveland, who is clerk of the corporation. 
Mr. Cleveland is a member of Quinsigainond Lodge 
of Free Masons, Hiram Council, Worcester County 
Commandery, Knights Templar ; of the Tatassit 
Canoe Club, the Uptown Club, the Tatnuck Country 
Club and the Worcester Club. He is a director of 
ihe Merchants National Bank of Worcester. Chil- 
dren of Richard C. and Gertrude Elizabeth (Smith) 
Cleveland are: Bruce Cleveland, born May 31, 1897; 
Chester Bissell, May 22, 1902. 

(IX) Frank Albert Smith, son of Elliott Tol- 
man Smith (8), was born in Worcester. Massachu- 
setts. .April I, 1864. He received his education in 
the public schools of Worcester, taking a two-year 
course in the classical high school. In 1880 he 
went to work for his father's firm, E. T. Smith & 
Co., then on Shrewsbury street, as clerk in the 
office, continuing until 1885, when the new com- 
pany was formed, after the death of Charles A. 
Bigelow. At that time Charles F. Bigelow, Charles 
A. King, F. B. Waite and Charles H. Robinson as 
well as Mr. Smith became partners. Later Mr. 
Waite and Mr. Robinson withdrew from the firm. 
In 1896, when the firm became a corporation, Frank 
A. Smith was elected vice-president and Charles 
F. Bigelow. treasurer. On the death of Mr. Bige- 
low, in 1900, Mr. Smith became the treasurer also, 
and at present is vice-president, treasurer and man- 
ager of the concern. Mr. Smith attends .Ml Saints' 
Episcopal Church of Worcester. In politics he is a 
Republican. He is a prominent Free Mason, mem- 
ber of Quinsigamond Lodge. Eureka Chapter of 
Royal .Arch Masons, Hiram Council of Royal and 
Select Masters, Worcester County Commandery 
Knights Templar; Massachusetts Consistory. Thirty- 
second degree Scottish Rite Masonrv. He belongs to 
Aleppo Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.' 

He married (first), June 20, 1888, May L. Wal- 
worth, of Worcester, who was born February 13, 
1865, daughter of George and Ella (Pierce) Wal- 
worth. Her father was a merchant at Coventry, 
Vermont. He married (second). March 4, 1902, 
Mary C. Duval, of Springfield, Massachusetts, who 
was born January 2, 1872, daughter of Peter C. and 
Clara Duval. Her family originally came from 
France. 

BALL FAMILY. John Ball (1), who settled 
at Watrrlown, Massachusetts, in 1650, was the pro- 
genitor of Phinehas Ball, late mayor of the city of 
Worcester, of Rev. George S. Ball, of L'pton, and 
of most of the Worcester county families with this 
surname. He is said to have came from Wiltshire in 
England. He was admitted a freeman of Waterlown, 
May 22, i6.i0. He removed to Concord and died there 
1655, on November i, according to one record, but 
was according to another buried on October i, 1655. 
The inventory of his estate was filed in the Middle- 
sex court. 

The three children of this John and Elizabeth 
Ball were: Nathaniel, who settled in Concord, in 
the part now included in Bedford: married, Feb- 
ruary 7, 1670, Margery Bateman, widow of Thomas 
Bnleman, of Concord, Massachusetts, and had four 
children: Ebenezer, Eleazer, John and Nathaniel; 
John; Abigail (posthumous) (?), born April 26, 
i6.!;6, at Waterlown, Massachusetts. 

(II) John Ball, son of John Ball (i), was born 
about 1620 He was a tailor by trade. He married 
Elizabeth Peirce. daughter of John Peirce. of Water- 
/own. (See sketch of descendants of John Peirce 
in this work.) His wife died after a trying illness. 
He married (second), October 3, 1665. Elizabeth 
Fox, daughter of Thomas Fox, of Concord, after- 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



15 



ward of Watertown. He had five children by the 
.first marriage and one by the second, if the records 
are complete. October 21, 1665. he sold his farm at 
Watertown, purchased originally of John Lawrence, 
and settled at Lancaster, where, with his wife and 
infant child, he was slain by the Indians in the at- 
tack of February 20, 1676 (new style), in King Phil- 
ip's war. His estate was administered by his son, 
John Ball, Jr., appointed February i, 1677-8. 

The children of John and Elizabeth (Peirce) 
Ball were: John, born 1644; Mary, mentioned in 
will of John Peirce's wife; Sarah; Esther, born 
about 165s ; Abigail, born at Watertown, April 20, 
1658, died young. The children of John and Eliza- 
beth (Fox) Ball were: Joseph, born March 12, 
1669-70. 

It appears from the history of Lancaster that 
John Ball (2), who was killed as stated above, was 
one of the first three settlers in Lancaster as early 
as 1643. a fact that explains perhaps why so little 
is to be found about him in the Watertown records. 
Lancaster was originally called Nashaway. It was 
purchased of Sholan, sachem of the Nashaways. by 
Thomas King and others and comprised a tract 
«ight miles wide by ten miles long, and the deed 
was approved by the general court. The company 
in accordance with their agreement to make a set- 
tlement sent three men, Richard Linton, Lawrence 
Waters and Jolm Ball, to whom lots were given, to 
make preparations for the general coming of the 
proprietors. 

Winthrop in his history under the date of May, 
1644, stated that many from Watertown and other 
towns joined the plantation at Nashaway and wished 
to call one Mr. Norcross to be their minister, but 
they were not encouraged as there were no houses 
built in the settlement. At the end of 1644 there 
were but two dwellings in the place, occupied by 
Ball, Linton and Waters. The two latter remained 
and their descendants have figured largely in Lan- 
caster history. 

(III) John Ball, son of John Ball (2), was born 
in Watertown. 1644. He married, October 17, 1665, 
Sarah Bullard, daughter of George and Beatrice 
Bullard, of Watertown. He lived most of the time 
at Watertown, but presumably had interests at Lan- 
caster and vicinity, whither several of his children 
went. 

The seven children of John and Sarah (Bullard) 
Ball were: Sarah, born July 11, 1666, married, 
March 13. 1684-5, Allen Flagg, of Watertown, by 
whom she had nine children (Benjamin Flagg, 
brother of Allen Flagg, was one of the sureties on 
the bond of Phinehas Ball's guardian) ; John, born 
June 29. 1668, died at Waltham, October 24, 1752, 
aged eighty-five years ; James, born March 7, 1670, 
died February 22, 1729-30; Joseph, born May 4, 
1674. will proved April 8, 1730; Jonathan, born 
March 29, 1680, died about 1727; Daniel, born Au- 
gust 2, 1683, died March 9. 1717-8: married, October 
10, 1708, Mary Earle and had: Mary, born Decem- 
ber 27. 1709, who married Joseph Mixer and settled 
in Shrewsbury ; Lydia, baptized August 7, 171S, mar- 
ried Samuel Harrington, of Waltham. Abigail, born 
October 5, 1686. 

(IV) Jonathan Ball, son of John Ball (3), born 
March 29, 1680, died about 1727. He married Sarah 
Whitney. January 5, 1709-10. They settled at Water- 
town but he may have lived for a time at Lancaster. 
The birth of their youngest child is recorded at 
Waltham, although born in Watertown. 

The children of this Jonathan and Sarah (Whit- 
ney) Ball were: Sarah, born in Watertown, 1710: 
Jonathan, born in Watertown, married Martha 
, and lived for a time at Lanca<:ter, where 



he liad a son born September 16, 1751 ; Phinehas, 
born 1716; Thankful, born in Watertown, baptized 
January 7, 1728, aged nine; Daniel, baptized Janu- 
ary 7. 1728, aged seven; Jane, baptized January 7, 
1728, aged four; Susannah, born April 6, 1726, in 
Watertown. 

(V) Phinehas Ball, son of Jonathan Ball (4), 
was born 1716, in Watertown, Massachusetts. June 
6. 1741, he married, Martha Bixby, of Andover, 
Massachusetts. Their intention of marriage dated 
May 27, 1741, Lancaster Records. Phinehas was 
living with relatives at Shrewsbury after his father's 
death, and when he became eighteen years old 
Daniel Hastings, husband of Sarah Ball, daughter 
of James, brother of Jonathan, was appointed his 
guardian. (See Worcester Probate Records, Vol. 
217, page 292.) The date of guardianship, August 
24, 1734, fixes his birth at 1716 and establishes the 
fact that he was the son of Jonathan, who died when 
he was ten years old. The sureties of Hastings' 
bond were Benjamin Flagg, Jr., son of a brother 
of his uncle, and Daniel Johnson, a neighbor, at 
Shrewsbury. December 10, 1740, Phinehas Ball 
bought thirty acres of land of Jonas Clarke, in the 
north part of Worcester adjoining the Shrewsbury 
line. In this deed his residence is given as Lan- 
caster. This farm must have been near Bolyston 
line, as Boylston was then known as the north pre- 
cinct of Shrewsbury. Phinehas Ball sold this land 
or part of it to Silas Bennett, January 23, 1748-9, 
when it is described as in Holden (the north pre- 
cinct of Worcester) near the Shrewsbury line. The 
birth of his children are all recorded as given be- 
low in Holden. 

The children of Phinehas and Martha (Bixby) 
Ball were: Daniel, born January 9, 1742, Ijaptized 
at Shrewsbury with his father, June 6, 1742; Je- 
mima, born February 6, 1744; Abner, born April 
8. 1746; Elijah, born March 2, 1748; Benjamin, born 
March 31, 1750. 

(VI) Lieutenant Elijah Ball, son of Phinehas 
Ball (5), was born in Holden, March 2, 1748. He 
married Rebecca Moore (intentions dated Septem- 
ber 21,) 1770; both were then of Lancaster, per- 
haps not far fro:Ti the farm in Holden, however. 
The date of the marriage was October iS, 1770. She 
died at Boylston, October 13, 1829, aged seventy- 
five years. He died at Boylston, Massachusetts, 
November 10, 1834, aged eighty-six. 

A.t the breaking out of the revolution he was liv- 
ing in Lancaster, perhaps on or near the farm in 
Holden or Boylston. He went with Captain Benja- 
min Houghton's company in Colonel John Whit- 
comb's regiment in response to the Lexington call 
April 19, 1775. He was corporal in Captain Samuel 
Savage's company in 1776. He was sergeant in 
Captain William Greenleaf's company. Colonel Job 
Cushing's re.giment, enlisting September 3, 1777, and 
he was first lieutenant in the Fifth Company, Colonel 
Josiah Whitney's regiment (second Worcester), 
commissioned June 17, 1779. He was with General 
Putnam in the campaign on Long Island. 

He owned land in the second precinct of Shrews- 
bury, probably by inheritance before 1781, when 
he sold land there to John Barnard. This land 
was situated in what is now Boylston. .He made 
his home in Boylston after the revolution and be- 
came a prosperous farmer and prominent citizen 
there. His grandson, ex-Mayor Ball, of Worcester, 
presided at the centennial exercises in 1886. The 
town of Boylston was incorporated March i. 1786. 
The farm of Lieutenant Ball was inherited by 
Manasseh Sawyer Ball, his son, and the father of 
Phinehas Ball, of Worcester. 

The children of Lieutenant Elijah and Rebecca 



i6 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



(MooTc) Ball wire: Elijah, bom in Lancaster, 
August 2g, 1771. married fonr times; Abigail, born 
in BoylstoM, July 25. 1773; Amaziah. born in Boyls- 
ton. January 30. 1776; Levi, born in Boylston. Jan- 
uary 6, 1778: Reuben, born in Boylston, May 9. 1780: 
Rebecca, born in Boylston, June i, 1782: Micah Ross, 
born July 29, 1784: Patty, born in Boylston, March 
20. 1789: Jonah, born May 13. 179': Phinehas, born 
Aug^ist 20, 1794: Cinda, born in Boylston, Febru- 
ary 12, 1797; Manassch Sawyer, born Decctiiber 28, 
1800. 

(VII) Micah Ross Ball, son of Lieutenant Elijah 
Ball (6). was born in Boylston. Massachusetts, July 
29. 1784 He married Rachel Lincoln. _ They settled 
at Leominster, Massachusetts, and were the parents 
of Rev. George S. Ball, of Upton. 

(VIII) Rev. George S. Ball, son of Micah Ross 
Ball (7), was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, 
May 22, 1822. He received a meagre education in 
the district schools until the age of sixteen, when, 
obtainir.g a release of his time from his father, he 
devoted himself to study in the higher schools with- 
in his reach. He found it hard to earn enough to 
pay for his education, but he persevered working 
it is said with his books in one hand and his work 
in the other. He was in the first class to graduate 
from the Unitarian Theological School at Mead- 
ville. Pennsylvania, in 1847. In the fall of the same 
year he was' called to the Unitarian church in Ware, 
Massachusetts, and was ordained there October 13, 
1S47. He remained there two years, when he asked 
for' his dismission on account of ill health. Alter 
a few months he began to preach at Upton. >Lissa- 
chu^cels, and after a few months accepted a call 
there and was installed as minister in February, 
1850. This pastorate continued until April 11, 1892. 
He became a leading citizen of the town as well 

as a prominent clergyman. He was a delegate to 
the constitutional convention held in 1853. In i86t 
he was elected representative to the general court 
for the district composed of Northbridge and Up- 
ton, but at about the same time he was chosen chap- 
Iain of one of the Worcester county regiments al- 
ready in the field, the famous Twenty-first Regiment 
of Volunteers. His patriotism and the pressing 
needs of the soldiers in the field made him decide 
to go to the front instead of accepting the legislative 
honors and remaining in his church work. He 
accepted the post of chaplain and went at once to 
.'\nnapolis, Marylanfl, where the regiment was then 
stationed. 

In the first battle of the regiment he won the 
hearts rjf the soldiers by his brave and efficient aid 
to the wounded, and in the report of the colonel 
conmianding, a copy of which was transmitted by 
the general in command to Governor Andrew, he 
was generously commended. He was with the regi- 
ment thirteen months. General Charles F. Walcol, 
historian of the regiment, writes of his service thus : 
"In the thirteen months that he had been with us 
he hail shared with the regiment every peril and 
hard>hip which it had been called to face and en- 
dure, and had won the lasting respect and love 
of every man in it of whatever creed. Never losing 
•~iifht of his duty as a Christian clergyman, he had 
been fir more than a mere chaplain to us. .Ardently 
patriotic, always hopeful, manly and courageous, 
he exerted a strong and lasting influence in keeping 
lip the tone of the regiment in its soldierly as well 
:is its moral duties. As our postmaster, no matter 
at what inconvenience to himself, the mail was 
never left to take care of itself, when by his energy 
it could be forced to come or go. To our sick and 
wounded he had been with unfailing devotion, a 
brave, tender and skilful nurse. An honor and 



grace to his calling and the service, it was a sad 
day in the regiment when he left us." 

His pastorate was interrupted once more whci» 
for two years he .served as colleague of the Rev. 
Dr. Kendall, at Plymouth, Massachusetts. He was 
chaplain of the Massachusetts house of representa- 
tives in 1863 after his return from the field, and 
was a member of the house the following year. He 
was promoted to the state senate, where he served 
his district in 1866-67. He again served his district 
as member of house of representatives in 1891-92. 
He affiliated with the Republican party when it was 
organized and always remained a Republican. 
He was very active in the anti-slavery move- 
ment and in other reform movements. He was 
a man of intluence and a power for good all his life. 
One who knew him well has written : "Mr. Ball 
has been far more in Upton than a mere clergyman, 
a good man, a good citizen, never a strong partisan, 
but friend and minister to all who needed or would 
receive his help." 

He married. June 18, 1848, while settled at Ware, 
Hannah B. Nourse, daughter of Caleb and Orissa 
( Holman ) Nourse, of Bolton. Massacluisetts : they 
had eight children, seven of whom lived to matur- 
ity. The children of Rev. George S. and Hannah 
B. (Nourse) Ball were: Clinton Dale, born in 
Bolton, October 2, 1849, married Jennie L. Stowe, 
of Grafton, October 2, 1884: Susan .Austin, born 
L'pton. July 26, 1852. married George A. Wood, L'p- 
ton, February 3. 1876, died August 27, 1901 ; Lydia 
Walker, born Upton. November 6. 1854 : George 
William, born in Plymouth. May 2.^. 1857. died 
in Upton. September 23. 1891 : Lizzie Holman, born 
in Upton, October 26, 1863: Walter Seaver, born in 
Upton. March 17, 1867; Elsie Lincoln, born in Up- 
ton. .August 15, 1878. 

(VII) Jonah Ball, son of Lieutenant Elijah Ball 
(6), was born in Boylston. Massachusetts. May 13, 
1791. He was brought up on the farm and edu- 
cated in the Boylston district schools. In early man- 
hood he worked in Providence. Rhode Island, but 
returned to BojHston to live and died there at the 
age of seventy-two in 1863. He married (second) 
Mary Caldwell. She had four children, all of whom 
grew to maturity, but died early, except James E. 
Ball, who was only six years old when his mother 
died. 

(VIII) James E. Ball, son of Jonah Ball (7), 
was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He pas.scd 
his boyhood in Dedham, Massachusetts, and attendetT 
the schools there. .At the age of fourteen he went 
to Boylston. Massachusetts, and resided there until 
his marriage. He was in the tripe business. .After 
his marriage he removed to Holden and worked as 
l)iitcher and marketnian. He went to \'ermont. but 
stayed only a short time, returning to Massachu- 
setts and settling at Clinton, where he was cm- 
ployed in the tripe business for five years. He re- 
sided on a farm in Sterling for nine years, and iir 
1865 returned to his father's town, where he has 
since lived. He was assessor in Boylston three 
years and for a number of years road commissioner. 
He is a member of the Unitarian church. In politics 
he is a Democrat. 

He married .Abigail Howe, daughter of Silas 
Howe. Jr.. of Sterling, a well known farmer and 
carpenter. The children of James E. and .Abigail 
(Howe) Ball were: J. Nelson, born August 18, 
1847: Hatlie: Abbic. married John N. Flagg; Mary, 
married John Keogh. 

(IX) J. Nelsim Ball, son of James E. Ball (8). 
was born in Holden. Massachusetts, .August 18. 
1847. He is the well known superintendent of the 
Lancaster mills in Boylston, Massachusetts. He at- 



ijS?!^ 




I'll IM-:i IAS I'.AI.I. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



17 



tended the district schools in Clinton and Sterling 
and later took a course at Appleton Academy, New 
Ipswich, New Hampshire. He remained at home 
until twenty-one years old, when he went into the 
meat business in Worcester. He went to work 
as a laborer to help in the rebuilding of the Lan- 
caster mills at what was then Boylston, now the 
thriving town of Clinton, after the famous washout 
in 1876. He worked up to the position of ma- 
chinist and after a time took a position in the mill 
of Eli Holbrook at West Boylston. Three years 
later he returned to the Lancaster mills as ma- 
chinist, and after two years was made an overseer 
there. After six years he accepted the post of super- 
intendent of J. Edwin Smith's cotton mill at Sniith- 
ville in the town of Barre. He was called back 
to the Lancaster mills in 1893 <is superintendent, a 
position that he has since filled creditably and satis- 
factorily to all concerned. He had charge of the 
yarn department. 

Mr. Ball is a Republican and has served the town 
in various positions of trust and honor. He was 
a constable nine years and selectman in Boylston 
for eight years. In 1894-95-96-97-98 he was chair- 
man of the board of selectmen, board of health, 
and overseers of the poor. He has been a member 
of the school committee for a number of years. He 
has been road commissioner and fire warden. He 
is a member of Centennial Lodge, Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, of West Boylston and has 
been vice grand; he is a member of the Boylston 
Grange. Patrons of Husbandry. He attends the 
Congregational church at Boylston. 

He married, 1870, Julia Wilson, who was born 
in Torrington, Connecticut, the daughter of James 
Wilson, formerly a shoemaker of that town. Mr. 
Wilson came to Boylston and settled on a farm when 
his daughter was a child. He had fourteen chil- 
dren. The only child of J. Nelson and Julia (Wil- 
son) Ball is Grace, married Harry Parker, a mer- 
chant of Colbrook Springs, Massachusetts. 

(VII) Manasseh Sajiiyer Ball, son of Lieutenant 
Elijah Ball (6), was born irT Boylston, Massachu- 
setts, December 28. 1800. The farm passed to him 
when his father was too old to continue with it, 
and he had to struggle with the rundown farm which 
was burdened with a mortgage. Manasseh Ball 
hunted game and burned charcoal at night besides 
working the farm. 

Mr. Ball married Clarissa Andrews, who was 
descended from Simon BTadstreef and other well 
known settlers of the Massachusetts colony. Their 
children were : L. Phinehas, born January 18, 1824 : 
Caroline Maria, born September 28, 1826, married 
Charles D. Howe, April 22, 1845; married (second) 
Charles H. Chace : Mary Adaline,, born November 
5, 1828, married Moses A. Coolidge, of Lancaster, 
July 4. 1849 ; Sawyer, born March 3, 1833 ; Albert, 
born May 7, 1835. 

(VHI) Phinehas Ball, son of Manasseh S. Ball 
(7), was born in Boylston, Massachusetts, January 
18, 1824. Like many other successful men Mr. 
Ball began life with a frail constitution and his 
youth was a continual struggle with ill health. The 
seasons of close application to study and teaching 
were followed by periods of severe illness that 
absorbed his savings. Until he was sixteen he at- 
tended the district schools in winter. In 1S40 he 
want to Woonsocket and spent the winter there with 
an uncle, Gardner Smith, who taught him the prin- 
ciples of surveying. About the same time he came 
into possession of an ancient compass, once the 
property of his great-great-grandfather, Robert 
Andrews, of Boylston. Thus equipped Mr. Ball be- 
gan' to practice surveying in his native town, but up 
ii — 2 



to the time of his employment by the Nashua & 
Worcester Railroad in 1847 he had seen no sur- 
veying done by men of experience. 

In the fall of 1841 he went tor a term of six 
weeks to Josiah Bride's English Boarding School 
in Berlin, Massachusetts, and he had another term 
the following year. The bill for this part of his 
education has been preserved and reveals one of 
the customs of former times. The payment was 
made with one hundred and fourteen bushels of 
oak charcoal, ten bushels of potatoes, two barrels of 
apples and forty pounds of dried apples. In the 
wmter of 1841-2 ]\Ir. Ball taught school in South- 
boro, Massachusetts, the following winter in Lan- 
caster and the next in Marlboro. 

In the fall of 1846 he began to study draughting; 
and mechanical drawing in Worcester, but was pros- 
trated with typhoid fever and unable to work until 
the following March, when he again went to Wor- 
cester. Work came to him slowly at first. In June 
he was employed to survey the old Worcester acque- 
duct. and thus enabled to free himself from debt 
he felt fairly started in his profession. Though 
he tells us that his cashbook showed that he earned 
but twenty-five cents in the month of November 
of that year, yet he was able to make both ends 
meet by usmg the strictest economy for several 
years. Mr. Ball did not decide easily upon his life 
work. He hesitated between farming and surveying, 
and at one time had thoughts of studying for the 
niinistry. But once begun he continued in civil en- 
gineering despite great discouragements, and de- 
chned every opportunity that was offered to hini 
either to take up a different line of work or to leave 
his native town. 

In April, 1849, he went into partnership with 
Elbridge Boyden under the firm name of Boyden 
& Ball, architects and engineers, and the partner- 
ship continued until 1S60. His field books covering 
a period of twenty-five years work as surveyor in 
Worcester show how closely he was identified with 
the growth and development of the city from its 
incorporation. With his transit and rod he laid 
out Governor Lincoln's pasture into streets and 
building lots. Many other of the old farms he 
laid out into blocks that are now entirely built up. 
One, foundation after another he- staked out for 
buildings public and private houses until the num- 
ber reached nearly five hundred. When he first 
came to Worcester the problem of sewerage was 
first solved by cesspools that he laid out in many 
instances, and later when they became obnoxious, 
he planned the first sewer which took their place 
iji Main street. He took whateVer work came to 
him, no matter how simple or how complex. Into 
the survey for Mechanics Hall and the building of 
the water works Jie put no more painstaking effort 
and skill than into the measurement of a wood lot. 
He regretted his lack of scientific training despite 
his skill and accuracy, and lacked the confidence that 
others had in him. While engaged in general work 
of the character mentioned he was employed as 
engineer for the Taunton Hospital for the "insane 
and the Fitchburg Jail. 

He became a member of the Worcester County 
Mechanics Association in 1853, and was clerk from 
1859 to 1865 inclusive and treasurer for seven 
years of_ that period. He was afterward director, 
vice-president and president for short terms. He 
was best known perhaps as a hydraulic engineer 
of the city and as an inventor. Mr. Ball patented 
a number of devices for use in water-works, wiHi 
the building of which he became an expert. He 
worked for several years on a water meter Find- 
ing that Benajah Fitts had developed a similar de- 



i8 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



vice he joined hands with him, patented the meter 
and in November, 1869, formed the Union Water 
Aletcr Company to manufacture the patent. Mr. 
Ball was president of this company until his death. 
His connection with this company, which had rela- 
tions with the city water department, prevented his 
holding office in the city government alter 1872. In 
that year he was called as consulting engineer in 
the abatement of the Miller's river nuisance. He 
.became engineer for many water works constructed 
.at this period. In 1873-1875 he constructed the 
Springfield Water Works as engineer, and at the 
same time made plans for or reported upon proposed 
water works at Nashua, New Hampshire; .Amherst, 
JLeomister, Marlboro. Lawrence and Westboro, 
^Massachusetts : New Haven and New Britain, Con- 
necticut, and Portland. Maine, and upon sewers for 
Keenc. New Hampshire; Fall River, Massachusetts; 
i\'cw Britain, Connecticut, and some others. 

In 1876 he sustained a grievous blow in the break- 
ing of the dam of the Lynde Brook reservoir. It 
was his first important work of the kind and he 
had taken no little pride in it. He made no 
apologies, but learned the lessons that the disaster 
taught engineers who were then experimenting in 
-work of this kind and put into effect the knowledge 
Jie gained in repairing the break that year in the 
<lam at Clinton, Massachusetts. The Lynde Brook 
reservoir was constructed while D. Waldo Lincoln 
was mayor and notwithstanding this one break, Mr. 
Ball gained a deserved and lasting reputation as 
an engineer for planning and building the water 
works, the first built to supply the needs of the city 
•of Worcester. 

In 1879 he began the Brockton, Massachusetts, 
water works and was employed for a number of 
years as consulting engineer by that city, planning 
the sewerage system. He also planned the sewerage 
of the towns of Amherst and Westboro, Massachu- 
setts, and of the state prisons at Concord and Sher- 
born. He planned the water works for Claremont, 
New Hampshire. Gloucester, Massachusetts, and im- 
portant additions to the water works of Lynn, 
Massachusetts, and New Haven. Connecticut. 
Though in the years 1883 to 1883 inclusive he suf- 
fered severely from asthma, he recovered sufficiently 
in 1887 to undertake the drainage of the Mystic 
Valley at the request of the state board of health. 
He was unable to coriipletc the work, which he 
began with enthusiasm, and had to resign his of- 
fice. He continued as consulting engineer of the 
Brockton. Taunton and Framingham sewer systems, 
but was not able to undertake any new work. 

Mr. Ball was early interested in the temperance 
and anti-slavery movements. He was a Free Soiler 
and joined the Republican parlv when it was formed. 
He was interested in public affairs and always per- 
formed his duty as a citizen at the caucus and at 
the polls. He was a member of the common council 
in 1862 and 1863. His success with the new water 
works made him a rather unwilling candidate for 
niavor. He was the chief executive of the city in 
186;. He was water commissioner from 1863 to 
1S67 inclusive, and city engineer from 1867 until 
1872. 

He was a member of the Worcester County So- 
ciety of Engineers, the Boston Society of Engineers 
and the American Water Works Association. He 
was greatly interested in the subject of technical 
education. Of all the duties that came to him as 
mayor none was more pleasing to him than his con- 
nection with the planning the first buildings for the 
Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial 
Science, now called the Worcester Polytechnic In- 
stitute. In company with members of the board of 



trustees he visited Williamstown, the Rensselear 
Polytechnic and the Sheffield Scientific School at 
Yale University. In February, 1866, he himself 
surveyed the lot of land now occupied by the techni- 
cal buildings, and at the Commencement in 1873 
he served on the board of examiners. For many 
years he regularly visited the old laboratory in Boyn- 
ton Hall and never lost his interest in the school. 
He was interested in the sciences and in theology. 
He studied chemistry when ill health kept him 
confined to the house. He knew the plants and 
tlowers as well as the soils and rocks. He was a 
student rather than a reader. He had no great love 
of literature. He possessed unusual reasoning 
powers and a logical mind. He was a member 
of the Worcester Society of Antiquity and gave it 
his first compass, mentioned above. For thirty- 
one years he was deacon of the First Unitarian 
Church of Worcester, for seven years was president 
of the Worcester County Conference of Unitarian 
churches, and was deeply interested in religious 
work as well as abstract theology. He died Decem- 
ber 19, 1894. 

He married (first), December 21, 1848, Sarah 
Augusta Holyoke, daughter of William Holyoke, at 
her hoir. in Marlboro. Massachusetts. Their chil- 
dren were: Allard Holyoke, born in Worcester, 
September 9, 1851, died in Worcester, October 7, 
1857 ; Helen Augusta, born in Worcester, April 25, 
1858. Mrs. Ball died January 14, 1864. He mar- 
ried (second) Mary Jane Otis, daughter of Benja- 
niin B. and Mary (Carter) Otis. She was born 
in Worcester, September 3, 1833. 

GEORGE McALEER, M. D. Learned philolo- 
gists and antiquarions who have given much time and 
research to the matter, claim t^a": the names Mc- 
Aleer, McCIure, and McGuire have a common origin, 
and that they are derived from the ancient Irish 
MacGiolla Uidhir, or MacGiolla Uidlirc as spelled 
by others (Uidhir and Uidhre being pronounced, as 
nearly as the sound can be indicated by letters, 
"ooir,") meaning "the son or descendant of the fol- 
lower of the pale, wan, or dun one." There is 
what may be called positive and negative evidence 
in support of this derivation of the name. In 
the "Annals of Ulster" for A. D. 1216, it is re- 
corded that Eiirhdiiii MacGiolla Uidhir, Archbishop 
of Armagh, died. He was an eminent man, and 
was a member of the Lateran Council of 1215. That 
is the positive evidence, while the negative is the 
total apparent absence of the names of Mac.Meer, 
MacClure and MacLir (Lear) from the Indexes of 
personal names in Irish Annals. 

The earliest mention of the name, so far dis- 
covered, is found in Cormac's Glossary, which was 
written about .\. D. 900, of which the following 
is a translation: "Manannan MacLir, a celebrated 
merchant, who was in the Isle of Man. He was 
the greatest pilot that was in the west of Europe. 
He knew by studying the Heavens the time which 
would be fine weather and when bad weather, and 
when each of these times would change. Inde 
Scoti el Britonis ciiiii dcum vocavcrunl maris; el 
indc Filcum esse dixerunt, i. e. MacLir (son of 
the sea). El de iwiitiiie Maiinaiinam, the Isle of 
Man is named." 

This Manannarv MacLir, abbreviated to McLir, 
son of the sea, or great navigator, is claimed to 
be the "pale, wan or dun one." — the progenitor 
of the clan or sept from which have descended 
the Mc.Meers, the McCIures and the McGuires. Be 
this as it may. the headquarters and home of these 
clans or families for centuries past was and is 
in the county Tyrone, Ireland, where many of them 



^ 




WORCESTER COUNTY 



19 



still reside. While these names have no prominent 
place in the pages of history, as kings or military 
iieroes, neither will they be found coupled with any- 
thing base or dishonorable. They have ever been 
J<nown and appreciated for their untiring constancy, 
loyalty and devotion to principle and duty in the 
more quiet walks of life, and this is testified to and 
•emphasized by an ancient family crest and coat- 
of-arms that has been handed down from bygone 
centuries, the motto on which is : "Mca Gloria 
fides." 

The name MacLir, from which comes the pres- 
«ent surname McMeer, has had no inconsiderable 
iplace in the domain of letters, being immortalized 
by the genius of Shakespeare in his King Lear ; 
by the pen of the gifted poet Moore in his Song 
of Fionnuala; by Doctor Joyce in his Epic, Deirdre, 
and by many lesser lights in the world of literature. 

(I; Lawrence McAleer was the first of this* 
branch of the McAleer family, so far as is known, 
io come to America. Having survived two wives 
in Ireland, he emigrated to Canada with his un- 
married children in 1831, and settled in the town- 
ship of Stanbridge, Missisquoi county. Providence 
•of Quebec. In his old age he made his home with 
a daughter, Mrs. Barney McGuire, in the parish 
of Ste. Brigide, Iberville county. Province of 
Quebec, where he died in 1847, and is buried in 
the graveyard of the parish church. 

(II) Miles McAleer, son of Lawrence McAleer 
O), followed his father to Canada in 1834, and 
settled with his young wife and three small chil- 
dren on the place, then, like most of the sur- 
rounding country, an unbroken wilderness, near the 
village of Bedford, in the same county, which was 
■ever afterward his home, and which, after the -lapse 
of seventy-five years, is still in the possession of 
the family. 

(III) George McAleer, the subject of this sketch, 
was born November 29, 1845, on the old homestead, 
one of the family of ten children, which con- 
sisted of nine, sons and one daughter, and the of- 
ficial record of his baptism is in the archives of 
the Roman Catholic church in Henryville, Province 
of Quebec. Naturally apt at learning, he com- 
pleted the course of the district schools at an early 
age, and was sent to the Stanbridge Academy, in 
Tiis native county, an institution of much more than 
local repute, where he studied the classics and 
liigher mathematics, and was graduated in 1863. 
During his senior year, he taught classes in Latin, 
Greek and mathematics. He then took the gov- 
ernment examination for school teachers, received 
a diploma of the first class, and taught school 
for a time in St. Armand, Province of Quebec. 
ISTever an admirer of royalty nor of the British 
government, 1 e decided to make his home in the 
LTnited States and in 1865 located in Worcester, 
Massachusetts, where he has since resided. He ob- 
tained employment as bookkeeper in a store of the 
■citv, and began the study of medicine during his 
leisure hours. In 1866 he entered upon his medical 
course in Philadelphia, where he graduated. 

Being of an inventive turn of mind, he had, 
in the meantime, made several inventions for which 
be obtained letters patent. The folding chairs made 
imder his patents became so popular that they led 
all others in the market of this and many foreign 
countries. Rival manufacturers infringed upon his 
patents, and this led to extensive and expensive 
litigation which continued for six years, and this 
•occupied his time so fully as to prevent him from 
t?ngaging in the practice of his profession. Such 
time as he had at his command, he devoted to the 
aid of his brother, Reynolds McAleer, who came 



to Worcester in 1855 where he has since made his 
home. Dr. McAleer assisted him in the management 
and extension of the harness and saddlery business 
in which he was engaged, and, when the patent 
litigation had terminated successfully, he disposed 
of the folding chair business and the patents under 
which they were made to good advantage. The 
business of his brother having meanwhile been ex- 
panded to profitable proportions. Dr. Mc.-Meer be- 
came a partner, and the business has now been 
successfully conducted by the brothers under the 
name of R. McAleer & Company for nearly forty 
years. This firm is well and favorably known in 
the business w£)rld, and enjoys the patronage of the 
best families and substantial stable-keepers and horse 
owners of the city and surrounding country, who 
demand high-class, dependable goods. Reynolds Mc- 
Aleer, the senior member of the firm, is a master 
of his trade, and has been identified with the harness 
and saddlery business of the city for more than 
fifty years. 

When the Bay State Savings Bank was organized, 
Dr. McAleer was elected treasurer, his present posi- 
tion, though he is still a partner in the old firm. 
The Bay State Savings Bank is located at No. 
476 Main street, Worcester, Massachusetts, and has 
a history of steady growth and prosperity. 

Dr. McAleer is a man of versatile tastes and 
talents. In politics he is a Democrat of the old 
school, but puts men and measures above loyalty 
to party. Although frequently solicited to do so, 
he never entered the domain of politics. The clamor 
for station and place, the ante-election intrigue, trad- 
ing, double dealing of heelers and aspirants — the 
anything to win — and the subsequent shuifling. back- 
ing and filling, for selfish ends or party gain, are 
to him so offensive and repellant that he would 
never lend himself to become a party thereto. Not 
desiring public office, he made his home in a ward 
having an overwhelming majority of Republican 
voters. In religion Dr. McAleer is a Roman Cath- 
olic, and is a prominent member of St. Paul's 
Church, 

A lover of nature, with his rifle, shot-gun, dog, 
and trout rod, he has long been a visitor to the 
forests, fields and streams of the Old Bay state, 
in the sunny south and northern wilds — in the 
early days of Spring, the lengthened days of Sum- 
mer, in the balmy days of Autumn time, and in 
the deep snows and zero weather of the frozen 
north in Winter — where the prized canvas-back and 
other sea-fowl of the coast, the bob-white of the 
southern plantations, the wary ruffled grouse and 
erratic woodcock of Massachusetts coverts, the 
elusive trout and fighting salmon of northern 
waters, and the deer, caribou and moose of the 
wilderness, rewarded his knowledge, energy and 
skill. His pen and camera have often told the story 
which adorned the pages of many magazines and 
other publications of sportsmen's literature where 
his contributions are always accorded prominent 
place. Promptness, determination and reliability — 
these are characteristics of Dr. McAleer. He is 
quick to discern, quick to decide, quick to act. with- 
out being impetuous or erratic. 

Dr. McAleer finds pleasure along intellectual 
lines. He has a library of more than a thousand 
volumes, in which are many rare and valuable 
works. His library is rich in books relating to the 
early history of the country, especially along un- 
familiar but interesting, important and valuable lines. 
He has often been invited to read papers before 
civic and literary organizations, and has written ex- 
tensively for magazines and the periodical literature 
of the day. Some of his important productions are: 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



"Banks and Banking," "The Printed Word,' Then 
and Now," •How Sabbattis Got His Christmas Din- 
ner," "FcrncHfTe," "Reminiscent and Otherwise,|| 
"Province of Quebec: Its History and its People," 
"The Etymology of the Indian Placc-Name Missis- 
quoi," etc. 

Born and reared upon a farm. Dr. McAleer was 
from boyhood greatly interested in rural life and 
improvement in cereals, fruit and domestic animals. 
He made a special study of the merits of the dif- 
ferent families and best producing strains of the dif- 
ferent blood lines that unite in the highest type 
of horse— the American trotter. In later days he 
bred several horses that in size, conforniation, style 
and speed took rank with the best. 

Dr. McAlecr is a member of the famous Ragged 
Islands Club of Virginia, the Megantic Club of 
Maine and Canada, an honorary life member of the 
Missisquoi County Historical Society, and other 
Sport.-mtn's clubs and civic and literary organiza- 
tions. 

He married, June 2, 1874. Helen Frances Ken- 
dall daughter of Joel and Mary Martha Kendall, 
of Worcester, Massachusetts. She was born in 
Groton, Massachusetts, and came to Worcester in 
early girlhood, where she has lived ever since. They 
have no children. 

HENRY ASHLEY KNIGHT. The ancestry of 
Henry Ashley Knight, Worcester's first superin- 
tendent of street lighting, is traced from John Knight 
(l), maltmastcr, who was a resident of Water- 
town, Sudbury and Woburn. Massachusetts. He 
was a freeman in Watertown, 1636, and died previous 
to 1676. .Mary, his widow, died May 19, 167b. 
Their children were: Mary. John and Joseph. 

(II) Joseph Knight and wife Hannah resided 
in Watertown and Woburn. They had a large 
family of children, among them, Edward, born in 
Woburn, .\ugust .-^i, 1677. 

(III) Edward Knight, of Woburn, married. July 
13. 1699, Joanna Winn. They had ten children, 
born in Woburn, three of whom died in infancy. 
Those that survived were: Joanna, born in 1703; 
Edward. 1708; Josiah, 1710; Lucy, 1712: Daniel, 
December 20, 171.?: Timothy, 1717; and James, 1720. 

(IV) Daniel Knight married Jerusha and 

had children: Elizabeth, born October 2S, 1744: 
Daniel. September 4 or 8. 1746. married Mehitabcl 
Bancroft, of Shrewsbury; William, January 8, 
1748-40: Edward, October 29, 1751: Sarah. April 
24, 17.^3: Molly. September i, 1755; Relief, Decem- 
ber 24. 17,57: Reuben, August 22, 1760. 

(V) Edward Knight, born October 29, 1751, 
married Elizabeth Elapg, Novcnihcr 2, 1773. daugh- 
ter of Elisha and Elizabeth Flagg, and born in 
Worcester. Mav I, 1748. She died February 3, 
1793. and he married (second) Sarah Jenkins, in 
Townsend, February 13, 1796. Mr. Knight was 
private in Captain Daniel Chadwick's company. 
Colonel Benjamin Flapg's regiment, and marched 
to Hadlev on the alarm, at Bennington August 28, 
1777. (See Lovell's Worcester in the Revolution, 
page 123, and Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in 
the War of the Revolution, page 347, volume g). He 
was a farmer and lived in the northerly part of 
Worcester, and at his death September 15, tSio, be- 
queathed his farm of one hundred acres to his 
son, John Heath Knight, the home being on Burn- 
coat street. The children of Edward and Elizabeth 
(Flagg) Knight were: Josiah, born April 6, 1775; 
Abel. Fcbruarv i. 1777: Elijah. June 12. 17S0: Polly, 
April 7. 1782: Jonathan, January 22, 178/): John 
Heath. December 20. 1790. died December 8, 1791 ; 
John Heath. August 8, 1797. 



(VI) John Heath Knight, youngest son of Ed- 
ward and Sarah (Jenkins) Knight, was by occu- 
pation a farmer, and for nine years tilled a farm 
of one hundred acres left him at the death of 
his father. In 1828 he removed to the farm of 
Francis Harrington, near Lake Quinsigamond. 
Later he worked the William T. Merrifield farm in 
Rutland, was subsequently appointed to the office 
of lurnkev at the Summer street jail, was employed 
by the Boston and Worcester Railroad Company,, 
aiid was also for a number of years freight agent 
for the Norwich and Worcester Railroad Company. 
His last appointment was as city weigher, a posi- 
tion which he held at the time of his death. He at- 
tended the Old Union Congregational Church when 
located on Front street, and served as its sexton 
for a number of years. He was early interested in 
military matters, and was a member of a Worces- 
ter Cavalry Company. He married (first) Lucy 
C. Pierce. She died, and he married (second) 
Maria L. Parker, Deccriiber 27, 1846, by whom he 
had three children, and nine by first wife. Their 
names are: Laura Maria, Edward Bangs. Franklin 
Heyward. Otis Harrison, .\lden Bradford, born Sep- 
tember 27. 1827; Willard Pierce. John Heath, de- 
ceased : John Heath, deceased ; John Heath, Daniet 
Webster. Lucy Murilla and Louisa. 

(VII) .Mdcn Bradford Knight, fifth child of 
John Heath and Lucy C. (Pierce) Knight, born in 
Worcester, September 27, 1827, on Burncoat street. 
He atiended the public schools of Worcester until 
ten years of age, when he began to care for himself 
by getting employment with various farmers. At 
sixteen, he, with a handcart, carried the mails be- 
tween the postoflice and the Old Foster sireet rail- 
road station, at the same time assisting his father 
in caring for the Union Church Meetinghouse, ring- 
ing the bell at service time. He afterward was em- 
ployed in the sash and blind factory of Mann, Light 
and Dexter, .\ftcr this factory was burned, he 
worked at the same trade at other places. Hartford, 
Connecticut, and Neponsct, Massachusetts. In 1855 
his father-in-law, Jonathan White, presented him 
with a deed of a piece of land, and money with 
which to build a house upon it. and in that house 
the family made their home until 1896, when he re- 
tired from business. He is a member of the Union 
Congregational Church, and present residence is at 
162 Burncoat street. June 10, 1852, he married 
Mary Jane, daughter of Jonathan A. and Betsey 
(Gleason) White, born June 4, 1828. Their chil- 
dren were: i. Henry .'\shlcy, born August 21, 
1853. 2. Herbert Bradford, born October 23. 1855, 
married Elizabeth Johnson, of Cambridge, Massa- 
chusetts, and have children : Fred J., born June 8, 
1883; May .'\.. born July 4. 1884; Lucy, born Sep- 
tember 17, 1886; Henry L., born November 29, 
1888. 3. Fred Elmer, born September 2, 1861, 
married Emily M. Harrendeen, of Connecticut, May 
16, 1887, and have children : John Chandler, born 
June 28, 1888. died July 2. 1906; Elmer F., born 
Fcbruarv 25. 1890: Howard A., born January 2.S, 
1802: Jennie E., born November it, 1893. 4. Jennie 
Elizabeth, horn November 12, 1862, married .Mton 
R. Cole, of Maine. They have one child, .Mdcn 
Brigham Cole, born September 6. 1S84. 5. Frank 
Harrison, born April 13. 1866, married. January 2S, 
iSoo, Eleanor C. Wallace, and they have one child, 
Dorothy. 

Henry Ashley Knight, son of Aldcn B. and 
Mary J. (White) Knight, was born in Worces- 
ter. Massachusetts. August 21, 1853. and received 
his earlv education in the public schools of his 
native city. At the age of sixteen, haying com- 
pleted his second year in the Worcester high school. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



21 



lie launched his fir.-t business venture by purchasing 
a milk route, which he conducted successfully for 
ten years. During the last four years of his con- 
nection with the milk business, he took up the 
study of law in the office of Potter and Mann, and 
later with Hopkins and Mann. In 1S87 he secured 
an interest in the coal business, previously con- 
ducted by E. A. Sumner on Union street. In this 
line he was associated with Charles F. Mann, imder 
the firm name of Mann and Knight, for a period 
of thirteen years. Subsequently Mr. Knight held 
a position with F. A. Mann and Company for about 
a year. 

In 1891 the city council of Worcester created the 
department of street lighting, and Mr. Knight was 
elected as its first superintendent, a position which 
he has held continuously up to the present writ- 
ing, and in which he was attained a signal degree 
of success. Under Mr. Knight's management the 
area covered by the street lighting service has in- 
creased from ninety-three to two hundred and twelve 
miles, and the number of lamp hours per year has 
been more than doubled. DuUng his term of service 
the cost of lighting per street mile, per year, has been 
reduced over forty per cent. Mr. Knight also or- 
ganized the supervision of wire department, and 
combined the office of supervisor with that of super- 
intendent of street lighting. The degree of thor- 
oughness and efficiency demonstrated by Mr. Knight 
in the administration of the wire department was 
liest evidenced by the recognition of his efforts, 
shown by the New England Insurance Exchange, 
■when in 1901 it was decided to discontinue their 
inspection of wires carrying electric current in the 
city of Worcester, the supervision of the local de- 
partment being considered a guarantee of satis- 
factory conditions. Mr. Knight ranks high in the 
estimation of the electrical fraternity with whom 
he comes in contact. He is a member of the Massa- 
chusetts Association of Municipal Inspectors, the 
National Electrical Inspection Association, and the 
International Association of Municipal Electricians. 
In 1904 Mr. Knight was a member of the Inter- 
national Electrical Congress, at the World's Fair, 
in St. Louis. 

Mr. Knight is a member and regular attendant 
at Union Congregational Church, and has served two 
years as chairman of the church music committee. 
He is a Republican in politics, and has served his 
party as a delegate in many important state and 
county conventions. Mr. Knight is affiliated with 
many fraternal and social organizations. He has 
been prominently identified with the various Masonic 
bodies for many years, and is a member of the board 
of trustees of the Masonic fraternity of Worcester. 
That his efforts in behalf of the fraternity have been 
appreciated by his associates is evidenced by the 
practical unanimity with which he has been suc- 
cessively chosen to fill the highest office in the 
■several organizations with which he has been af- 
filiated. He is a member of Athelstan Lodge, A. 
F. and A. M., and Eureka Royal Arch Chapter. 
He served during the years 1902-0,^ in the dual 
capacity of worshipful master of Athelstan Lodge, 
and most excellent high priest of the chapter. He 
is a member and holds office in Hiram Council, 
Royal and Select Masters, and Worcester County 
Commandery, No. 5, Knights Templar, in addition 
to membership in the fourteenth, sixteenth and 
eighteenth grade of .Ancient and Accepted Scottish 
Rite Masonry. Mr. Knight is a charter member and 
past potent monarch of Alethia Grotto, M. O. V. 
P. E. R., and an honorary life member of the 
Supreme council of that order. He is also a past 
Chancellor of Regulus Lodge, No. 71, Knights of 



Pythias, and a member of Worcester Lodge, No. 
56, and Worcester Encampment, No. 10, I. O. O. F. 
Mr. Knight is a charter member of the Hancock 
Club, and holds membership in the Worcester 
County Mechanics* Association. 

He married. May 11, iS8r, Effie Jane Phelps, 
born May 23, 1853, daughter of Thomas and Emily 
(McFarland) Phelps, of Hopkinton, Massachusetts. 
Mr. Phelps was a merchant and manufacturer. Mr. 
and Mrs. Knight have one child, Henry Rockwood 
Knight; born January 9, 1SS6, who is at present 
connected with the New England Telephone & 
Telegraph Company. 

EDWIN HOWE. John How (i), the immi- 
grant ancestor of Edwin Howe, of Worcester, was 
born in England. He was an early settler in Sud- 
bury, Massachusetts, and was admitted a freeman 
May 13, 1640. He was a town officer in Marl- 
boro in 1657, the year he removed to Marlboro, 
where he was one of the first proprietors. He peti- 
tioned to be excused from training, September 30, 
1662, as he "was aged, thick of hearing and main- 
tained three soldiers in his family." He was a 

selectman of Marlboro. He married Mary . 

Their children, born at Sudbury and Marlboro, 
were: John, born August 24, 1640; Samuel, Octo- 
ber 20, 1642; Isaac. August 8, 1648; Mary, 1646, 
died 1647; Mary, January 18, 1653-4; Josiah, see 
forward; Thomas, born 1656; Daniel, born 1658, 
died at Marlboro. John How died May 28, 1680. 
His will was dated May 24, and proved June 15, 
1680. He bequeathed to wife Mary ; children, Sam- 
uel, Isaac, Thomas. Eleazer, Sarah Ward, Mary 
Witherby ; grandchild John, son of John. 

(II) Josiah How, son of John How (i), was 
born in Sudbury, Massachusetts, August 24, 1640. 
He married Mary Haynes, daughter of Deacon 
John Haynes, of Sudbury, May 18, 1671-7-2. She 
married (second) John Prescott. Josiah was in 
Marlborough in 1675 and helped defend the inhabi- 
tants during the opening of King Philip's war. 
Their children: Mary, born 1672, died young; 
Mary, born May 4, 1674, died young; Josiah, 
married Sarah Bigelow, December 14, 1706; Cap- 
tain Daniel, born May S, 1681, see forward; Ruth, 

born January 6, 1684, married ■ Bowker. 

(HI) Captain Daniel How, son of Josiah How 
(2), was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts, May 
5, 1681, died there November 22, 1768, aged eighty- 
seven years and six months. He was admitted to 
the church July 16, 1758, when more than seventy 
years old. He married, June 17, 1725, Esther Cloyes, 
of Framingham, Massachusetts. She died July 27, 
1758. Their children, all born at Marlborough, 
were : Daniel, baptized April 16, 1727, married 
Eunice Taylor; Jotham, born October 29, 1728, mar- 
ried Priscilla Rice ; Nathan, born June 17, 1730, 
see forward; Gideon, born March 15, 1732, married 
Damaris Hapgood ; Lucy, born May 6, 1736, married, 
1758, Daniel Smith; Mary, born December II, 1738, 
married, 1758, Dr. Edward Flint ; William, born 
February 14, 1734, was soldier in the revolution, 
died unmarried March 23, 1813, aged seventy-nine 
years. 

(IV) Captain Nathan How. son of Captain 
Daniel How (3), was born in Marlborough, June 
17, 1730- He was an officer in the service during 
the French and Indian war at Lake George and 
aided in the building of Fort William Henry. He 
commanded a company in the revolution in Colonel 
Whitney's regiment. He assisted in throwing up 
the defenses on Dorchester Heights in the night, 
and caught a cold that finally caused his death. He 
settled in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. He married 



22 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



(first) Hepzibah Taylor, daughter of William Tay- 
lor, November lo, 1748, died June 17, 1770, aged 
thirty-seven. He married (second; Zillah Taylor, 
daughter of Eleazer Taylor. He died March 21, 
1781, aged fifty-nine years, nine months. She mar- 
ried (second) Jonas Temple, of Boylston, March i, 
1789. Children of Nathan and Hcpsibah How, born 
in Shrewsbury, were: Lois, born March 2, 1749, mar- 
ried Rev. Edward Goddard, of Swanzey, New 
Hampshire, November 4, 1769; Daniel, born Feb- 
ruary 6, 1752; Candace, born December 8, 1754, mar- 
ried, July 20, 1772, Simeon Allen, of Princeton; 
Vashti, born January 13, 1757, married, 1775, Jon- 
athan Hubbard; Nathan, born October 12, 1762; 
Amasa, born November 24, 1766, married Sarah 
Pierce, September 4, 1786. Children of Nathan and 
Zillah How: Hiram, born July 16, 1775, see for- 
ward; Joel, born January 19, 1779; married 

Pierce, of Boylston, died 1843. 

(\') Hiram How, son of Captain Nathan How 
(4), born in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, July 16, 
1775. died 1S29, aged fifty-four years. He was 
proprietor of a farm in the north part of the town 
of Shrewsbury, later West Boylston, on the old 
road leading to Sterling, where he resided at the 
time of his death. The house has been burned, the 
farm sold off in parcels and no longer has a family 
residence there. The homestead was in Boylston 
(north district of Shrewsbury) until the town of 
West Boylston was set off. He bought fifty-si.\ 
acres of Amos Child in the West parish of Boylston, 
October 15, 1800. From time to time he bought 
other parcels of land in West Boylston. He mar- 
ried Olive Harthan, of Boylston, at Boylston. She 
was the daughter of David Harthan ; she died 1852, 
aged seventy-eight years. Their children : i. Bar- 
ney, born at Boylston, March 16, 1800. 2. Polly, 
born November 20, 1801, at Boylston, married Isaac 
Knight. 3. Nathan, born at West Boylston, May 8, 
1803, see forward. 4. Harriet, married Charles F. 
Paddock, of Holden, Massachusetts, July 20, 1840. 
She had four children, Harriet Annie, (Charles 
Francis, Olive Ella, died in infancy, and William 
Frederic. Charles Paddock went to Kansas in 1855 
as an Anti-slavery settler and died there. Harriet 
(Hovye) Paddock died in Holden, March i, 1875. 
Harriet Annie Paddock married George Rich, in 
1871, and lives in Worcester. She has one daugh- 
ter, Georgia Anna, who was married to Adclbert 
Teague in 1897, and resides in Boston. Charles 
Francis Paddock, Jr., enlisted in the Fifty-stventh 
Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, at the age of 
fifteen ; was in the battles of the Wilderness, Spott- 
sylvania and others, and at the battle of Petersburg 
he was badly wounded and fell into the hands of 
the Confederates and was taken to Libby prison; 
finally paroled and was sent to a military hospital 
in Chester, Pennsylvania, where he remained till 
the close of the war. He married Etta Bacon, of 
Uxbridge, Massachusetts, in 1880, and lived in that 
town till his death in 1902. He left. four children — 
Clifford, Arthur, Francis and Harriet. William 
Frederic Paddock settled in Amity, Missouri. He 
married Dolly Carmichael, of that place, and died 
1882. He left one son, William Frederic, who was 
educated in Helena, Montana, and is now located in 
Seattle, Washington, where he holds a position of 
trust in the city government. 5. Sally, married El- 
mer Shaw, of Boylston, and lived in that town until 
her death. She left three sons, Elmer, Henry, and 
Thomas, all now deceased. Elmer married and left 
four children, all married and with families. Henry 
married and left one daughter, single. Thomas never 
married. 6. Olive. 7. Joel. 

(VI) Nathan Howe, son of Hiram How (5), 



was born at West Boylston, Massachusetts, May 8i. 
1S03. He received his education in the public schools 
of his native town, working in his youth for John 
Temple, the most prosperous farmer of his day. He- 
learned the trade of clothier or fuller, the finishing, 
of cloth that was made on hand looms by the 
farmers' wives of the vicinity before the day of 
power looms and woolen mills. He followed this, 
business for several years until he had a hand 
badly injured in the cards in his shop. Later he came 
to Holden and became superintendent of James 
Lee's mill at Unionville, where he remained a num- 
ber of years. In this mill the first cotton cloth was.. 
made that went around the Cape of Good Hope 
from America. About 1840 Mr. Howe entered 
partnership with Colonel Samuel Damon, of Quina- 
poxet, and they were in business about si.\ years. He 
finally turned to farming. He conducted a place 
at Brooks Station in Princeton, Massachusetts, for 
two years, then bought of Eli Goulding a farm and 
saw mill in Holdtn. In the mill he turned out 
rough and dressed lumber, shingles and lath. While 
working in his mill be was caught in a belt and 
both legs badly broken ; one had to be amputated. 
The accident happened in August, 1857. He con- 
ducted the mill until his death, however, February 4, 
1873. Mr. Howe was a man of much native ability^ 
of excellent judgment and common sense. In religion 
he was an earnest Adventist and was prominent in 
the society in Holden. He took a prominent part 
in politics and town affairs. He was on the board 
of assessors, a selectman of the town, and repre- 
sented his district in the general court. Originally a 
Whig, he became a Republican when that party was 
formed. 

He married, April 17, 1833, Abigail Bailey How, 
born at Holden, September 7, 1810, died there De- 
cember 14, 1858. She was the daughter of Jasper 
and Nancy (Wilson) How. Jasper How was born 
April 24, 1790, married, November 23, 1809, died 
November 2, 1826. Children of Nathan and Abigail 
Bailey Howe were: Edwin, born March 28, 1834, 
see forward; Hiram, born at Holdtn, July 30, 1836, 
resident of Holden, veteran of the civil war, served 
under General Butler ; he married Eliza Cleveland, 
of Northborough ; Sarah, born at Holden, November 
14, 1838, died at Westborough, February 19, 1873; 
married Emerson B. Wilson, born at Holden, Au- 
gust 20, 1820, died 1906 at West Brookfield; Ade- 
line, born at Holden, December 22, 1840; Nathan, 
born February 13, 1847, manager of the Glasgow 
Thread Company many years; Harriet, born March 
I, 1849, a nurse by profession ; Martha, born June 
13. 1853, died at Holden, December 16, 1905, school 
teacher. 

(Vll) Edwin Howe, son of Nathan Howe (6), 
was born at Holden, Massachusetts, March 28, 1834. 
He was educated in the common schools of Hol- 
den and in what was known as the select school. 
He began to help his father in the mill when twelve 
years of age, worked out of school hours with his 
father and continued in the mill after his school 
days and for some years after he attained his ma- 
jority. He left home to take cliarge of the saw 
mill and grist mill of Ira Broad. After eight 
years there he entered the employ of Russ & 
Eddy, Bridge street, Worcester, manufacturers of 
picture frames and moldings, where he remained 
for another eight years. Then he bought his father's 
homestead at Holden of John W. Howe, who became 
the owner after his father's death. He bought also 
the saw mill and shoddy mill and conducted them 
for two years, when they were completely destroyed 
by fire. March i, 1880. He rebuilt the mills on the 
same site, building the shoddy mill of stone, and the 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



23 



business continued unde the firm name of Howe & 
Pickles. j\Ir. Howe's partner was William H. 
Pickles. About 1888 the firm was dissolved and 
Mr. Howe took up farming in 1889 on the Noyes 
place, Pleasant street, Worcester, for a year, and 
on the Muzzy farm, Salisbury street, the following 
year. In i8yo he came to his present farm of one 
hundred and tw^enty-five acres, known as the old 
Marshall Flagg place, on Richmond avenue, 
Worcester. Here Mr. Howe has an excellent dairy, 
having some forty cows to supply his customers in 
Worcester. He has taken many contracts for grad- 
ing and excavating in Worcester. 

He attends the Baptist church. In politics he is 
a Republican and has served his party as delegate to 
various representative conventions. He is a prom- 
inent Free Mason, becoming a member of Morning 
Star Lodge, April 18, 1899; of Eureka Chapter, 
Royal Arch Masons, June 6, 1899; of Hiram Council, 
Royal and Select Masters, March i, 1900; of Worces- 
ter County Commandery, Knights Templar, June 
14, 1900. He is a member of the Worcester Agri- 
cultural Society. He was a member of the military 
company at Oakdale in the fifties and later of the 
Holden Rilles. Mr. Howe is a man of integrity 
and enjoys the confidence of all who know him. He 
has a happy, sunny disposition and particularly en- 
joys a good joke. He is fond of fi.shing and is well 
known among the older sportsmen of this section. 

He married, April 7, 1858, Elizabeth Clarissa 
Brown, born December 12, 1838, daughter of Allen 
and Mary (Stearns) Brown, of Holden. Their 
children: Edward Ellsworth, born September r, 
1861, married Nellie Stone, of Holden ; Mabel, born 
in Worcester, July 27, 1864, died April 25, 1899; 
Abbie Grace, born August 18, lS66; Cora Blanche, 
born October 13, 1868, married Albert E. Wood- 
ward, of Worcester; she died December 20, 1893. 

GEORGE PAINE ROGERS. Thomas Rogers 
(l), the Pilgrim, was the emigrant ancestor of 
George Paine Rogers, of Worcester, Massachusetts. 
He came in the "Mayflower" from Leyden, Holland, 
to Plymouth, in 1620, bringing with him his son 
Joseph. His other children came afterwards. He 
died in the first sickness at Plymouth; but his son 
Joseph was married and had in 1650 six children. 
In that same year the remainder of his children 
■were married and had many children according to 
the Bradford History. Among his children were : - 
I. Joseph. 2. John, weaver and planter, of Dux- 
bury, Massachusetts, taxed there in 1632 and ad- 
mitted a freeman on March I, 1641-2; town officer, 
commissioner of jurors; married, April 16, 1639, 
Ann Churchman ; lived at Scituate about 1647 ; re- 
moved to Marshfield, where he died ; will dated 
February I, 1660, and proved June S, 1661 ; wife 
Frances. 3. William. 4. Noah. 

(II) Lieutenant Joseph Rogers, son of Thomas 
Rogers (i), was born in Leyden or England, came 
in th,e "Mayflower" with his father to Plymouth. 
He was married and had six children in 1650. He 
had lands assigned to him in 1623 and was made 
a freeman in 1633. He removed to Du.xbury, Massa- 
chusetts. Fie was given permission by the colony 
to keep a ferry over Jones river near his house, 
March 2, 1635-6. He and his brother John had a 
grant of land April 6, 1640. He removed to East- 
ham, Massachusetts. He was appointed lieutenant 
of the military company at Nawsett in 1647. His 
will is dated January 2, 1677-8 and probateci March 
5th of that year. He bequeathed to his sons, Thomas, . 
John and James, daughters Elizabeth Higgins and 
Hannah Rogers, and to his wife. He gave Beriah 
Higgins a share with the children because he had 



lived with him a great while, etc. His children^ 
were: Sarah, born August 6, 1633, died young;. 
Joseph, born July 19, 1635, died 1660; Thomas, bont 
March 29, 1637; Elizabeth, born September 29, 1639; 
John, born April 3, 1642; Mary, born September 
22, 1644; James, born October 18, 1648, married 
Mary Paine, in 1670; Hannah, born August 8, 1652. 
(See sketch of Milton P. Higgins for Higgins an- 
cestry.) 

(HI) John Rogers, son of Joseph Rogers (2)„ 
was born in Eastham, April 3, 1642. He married at 
Eastham, Elizabeth Twming, daughter of William. 
Twining, of Eastham, who served in the_ Narra- 
gansett campaign in 1645, removed from Yarmouth, 
to Eastham, was able to bear arms in 1643, and 
was made a freeman June 3, 1652. He died at 
Eastham, April 15, 1659. John Rogers lived im 
Eastham. His children were: John, born November 
4, 1677; Judah, born November 23, 1679; Joseph,, 
born February 22, 1679 ; Elizabeth, born 1682 ;. 
Eleazer, born May 19, 1685; Mehitable, born 1687;. 
Hannah, born 1689; Nathaniel, born 1693. 

(IV) Eleazer Rogers, son of John Rogers (3),)' 
was born in Eastham, Massachusetts, May 19. 1685. 

He married Martha about 1712. The children 

of Eleazer and Martha were : Henry, born August 
19, 1713; Elizabeth, born 1715; Mercy, born 1718;. 
Moses, born March 13, 1720; Martha, born 1723 J- 
Eleazer, born November 15, 1726; Ensign (sic), 
born July 9, 1729; Daniel, born March 16, 1632. 

(V) Moses Rogers, son of Eleazer Rogers (4),. 
was born in Eastham, Massachusetts, March 13, 
1720. He married Elizabeth Smith, of Chatham, 
Mas.sachusetts. He appears to have been a soldier 
in the revolution in a Barnstable company. Moses- 
Rogers, of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, was in Captain. 
Timothy Park's company, April 19, 1775, a"d re- 
sponded to the Lexington alarm. Several of his- 
children went to Holden to settle after the revo- 
lution. Abner and Aaron had large families there, 
Moses had fifteen children : Jerusha, born Septem- 
ber 19. 1749; Martha, born March 25, 1751 ; Abner,. 
born November 6, 1752; John, born December 5, 
1755; Moses (twin), born April 16, 1757; Aaron,, 
born April 16, 1757, (twin) married Hannah Rogers, 
and moved to Holden, Massachusetts; Daniel, bonis 
October 30, 1760; Milford, born October 4, 1762;. 
Betsey, born August 8, 1764; Elizabeth, born June- 
22, 1766; Enos, born February 14, 1768; Mercy, borm 
September 12, 1769; Mehitable, born February 9,. 
1771; George, born November 18, 1772; Reuben,, 
born May 27, 1775. 

(VI) Abner Rogers, son of INIoses Rogers (5),- 
was born in Eastham, Massachusetts, November 6,. 
1752. He was a soldier in the revolution, served iii> 
Captain Daniel Grout's company. Colonel Johm 
Rand's regiment, in 1780 after he went to Holden,. 
Massachusetts, to live. He went there about 1779,. 
probably with his brother Aaron, as a son was borm 
in 1783 to Aaron in Holden. 

He married Anna Rogers, of Eastham, by whom) 
he had one daughter. He married (second) Pris- 
cilla Paine, and had two children. He married! 
(third), September 29, 1782, Dorothy Nichols- 
(spelled sometimes Dolla on the records), and had! 
two children. She died in Worcester, March 19, 1841,. 
aged eighty-eight. The child of Abner and Anna 
(Rogers) Rogers was: Anna, born August 2, 1775, 

married Allen; the children of Abner and 

Priscilla (Paine) Rogers were: Nathan, b*orn October 
26, 1778; Priscilla, born in Holden, December 13,. 
1781 ; the children of Abner and Dolly (Nichols)- 
Rogers were: Abner, Jr., born in Holden, June 21,. 
178=;; Dolly, born in Holden, March 8, I79i- 

(VII) Nathan Rogers, son of Abner Rogers 



24 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



(6), was born probably at Eastham, but removed 
when very young to Holden, Massachusetts. He 
married Phebc Boynton, April 16, 1801. She died 
November 11, 1815, soon oftcr the birth of her eighth 
child, Phcbe. He married (.second) Mary Cheney 
Moore, of West Boylston, Massachusetts, May 22, 
1816. They had one child. She died August 11, 
1828, aged forty-eight years, five months. He mar- 
ried (third) Sally Blair, of Worcester, (intentions 
August 20,) 1829. He was a farmer at Holden. 
The homestead comprised the land of his father. 
In i8j5 he bought a farm in Worcester. The chil- 
dren o£ Nathan and Phcbe (Boynton) Rogers were: 
Jeremiah, born December 11, 1801, died January 
31, 1870; Nathan, born October 15, 1803, a provision 
dealer, who died in middle life leaving two daugh- 
ters; Priscilla, died young; Abner, born March 8, 
1807. worked in the C.-good Bradley car shops, 
Worcester, later was a manufacturer of shovels in 
Bridgeport, Connecticut; left two daughters; Susan 
Fay, born April 27, 1809, married Stillman Hub- 
bard; William Boynton, born March 22, 1813, was 
a fanner; Elizabeth Smith, born October 22, 1813, 
married Abraham Wilson; Phcbe, born October 31, 
1815, married Artcjiias Howe. The child of Nathan 
and Mary C. (Moore) Rogers was: Thomas 
Moore, born April 10, 1818. The children of Nathan 
and Sarah (Blair) Rogers were: Horace Blair, 
born September 28, 1830, (twin), farmer, resides 
in Worcester; Maria Stockwcll (twin), born Sep- 
tember 28, 1830, died December 12, 1831 ; Sarah 
Maria, born October 14, 1833. All the children of 
Nathan Rogers were born in Holden. 

(VIll) Thomas Moore Rogers, son of Nathan 
Rogers (7), was born in Holden, Massachusetts, 
May 10, 1818. He was the only son of Nathan and 
Mary Cheney (Moore) Rogers, but his mother had 
children by a previous marriage and his father had, 
as will be seen by referring to the record above, 
twelve children. The necessity for work came 
to him early. He had to do a man's work at the 
age of twelve, but in winter he took advantage of 
the district schools and attended the Westfield Acad- 
emy one term. When he was seventeen he bought 
his time of his father for one hundred dollars, 
which he paid when he reached his majority and hjid 
saved a considerable sum besides. In 1840, when 
he was twenty-two, he came to Worcester and went 
to work for Blake & Trumbull, grocers, who then 
had a store in the Butman block. Next year, 1841, 
lie went into business for himself with a partner 
under the firm name of Smith & Rogers in the 
manufacture of goatskin shoes. The building in 
which the firm began business, at the north corner 
of Main and Mechanic streets, was burned in two 
months after they started, and they could not 
go on. He was in business for a time in 
Oswego. New York, as a shoe dealer. In Jan- 
uary. 1842, he returned to Worcester and engaged 
in the manufacture of shoes again. In 1844 he 
entered into partnership with John P. Southgate m 
the leather and shoe findings business. Their first 
store was at the corner now occupied by the Piper 
block, and in 1850 they removed to the present loca- 
tion of the Rogers block at the corner of Main and 
Pleasant streets. With several changes in partners, 
Mr. Rogtrs remained in business in this location 
until he retired from business in 1873. 

His real, estate interests in Worcester had grown 
so large at that time that they demanded all his 
attention. He purchased the Deacon Brooks farm 
at South Worcester, through which he laid out 
Southgate and Canterbury streets, now largely built 
up. lie also bought valuable lots on Front and 
Trumbull streets when land was very cheap. In 



1863 he built the first large brick block on Front 
street west of Church street and east of Harrington 
corner. In 1869 he built the Rogers block, the 
estate where it stands having been bought three 
years before. In 1880 with the late Edwin Morse 
he built the Odd Fellows building on Pleasant street 
He built a large business block in Salem square 
in 1883 and had many other real estate deals and 
buildings to engage his attention. He built his man- 
sion house at the corner of High and Chatham 
streets in 1868. He became a very wealthy man, 
largely through his energetic and shrcwei conduct 
of his business and careful investment of his savings 
in real estate that not only prodiiced revenue but 
increased greatly in value as the city grew. 

Mr. Rogers was president of the Worcester Elec- 
tric Light Company until his death. He was in- 
terested in several banks anel corporations and an 
officer in several of them. He was a- member of 
Union Congregational Church. He was always a 
Republican in politics after the party was organized. 
He served the city in the common council in 1877 
and 1878 and was in the board of aldermen in 1886 
and 1887. 

Mr. Rogers died July 9, 1901, at the age of 
eighty-three years, having retained his health and 
mental ability to the very end of life. His has 
often been called a well rounded life. He started 
in life without means, acquired wealth in legitimate 
business and pursued his business activities to the 
advanced age of eighty-three years. At the same 
time he built well in the confidence and respect of 
his neighbors. He was honored by his fellow citi- 
zens and his private character was stainless. As a 
citizen he did his full duty, and as a financier he 
was among the most prominent men in the city. 

Mr. Rogers married, April 19, 1843, at Worces- 
ter, Mary S. Rice, daughter of Israel and Char- 
lotte Rice, of Shrewsbury. Their children were: 
Ellen Frances, born in Worcester, July 7, 1844. re- 
sides at the homestead in Worcester; Walter 
Thomas, born September 23, 1847, died February 
12, 1865. 

(VllI) Jeremiah Rogers, son of Nathan Rogers 
(7), was born in Holden, Massachusetts, December 
II, 1801, die'd in Boston, January 31, 1870. He lived 
in Rutland till 1837 or 1838. He married (inten- 
tions November 2) 1832, Sally Paine Meade, born in 
Holden. Massachusetts, November 2, 1804, died 
in Worcester, December 9, 1897, aged ninety-three 
years, one month and nine days. Their only child, 
George Paine, was born there May 12, 1834. Her 
parents, William and Phebe (Paine) Meade, always 
lived in Holden. They had three children: Sarah, 
Edwin, Elmer. 

(IX) George Paine Rogers, son of Jeremiah 
Rogers (8), was born in Rutland, Massachusetts, 
May 12. 1834. He attended the Worcester schools 
and Worcester Academy. After leaving school he 
began to teach, and while working with his father 
on the farm in North Worcester during the summer 
he taught school for six terms in the winter. In 
1865 the farm was sold and he went to Worcester 
to work in the grain store of Francis Harrington. 
After four years he went to farming again, having 
bought the place in Shrewsbury where the late 
Philip L. Moen subsequently built his magnificent 
country home. He worked for Mr. Harrington 
again and in 1881 bought the business and has ever 
since carried it on. He has built up one of the 
largest and best grain stores in this section, and 
stands well in the business world. In politics he 
is a Republican, and earnest in support of all tem- 
perance and reform legislation. He is a member of 
the Old South (Congregational) Church, and was 




'# A 




6^cyy^ .5^ /^^^^^^^ 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



deacon there for eight years. He was formerly an 
Odd Fellow. 

He married, March 6, 1855, Almira W. Knight, 
of Leicester. She was the daugliter of Horace 
Knight, a lumber dealer and shoe manufacturer of 
Leicester, where she was born December 16, 1831. 
She died in Worcester, April 10, 1905. Her brother, 
Joseph A. Knight, of the leather hrm of Graton & 
Knight, was born March 3, 1830, married Sarah E. 
Trow^bridge in 1854. Horace Knight was born June 
23, 1799, died May 2, 1855. He married Sally Part- 
ridge, who was born June 9, iSoi, died September 
6, 1833. He was a lumber dealer, bank director, 
selectman. His father was Jonathan Knight, Jr., 
and his grandfather Jonathan Knight, Sr., of Leices- 
ter and Paxton. Another son is Charles Brown 
Knight, of Worcester, by his second wife Hannah 
Brown. The children of George Paine and Almira 
W. (Knight) Rogers were: I. Charles Elmer, born 
September 24, 1856, married Anna Nourse, of 
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, 1882, and had Walter 
M., born June 3, 1887; he is a dealer in meats and 
provisions in Worcester. 2. Sarah Elizabeth, born 
May 28, 1859, graduate of State Normal School, 
teacher, married Edwin W. Sanderson, April 17, 
1887, and had: Helen M., born January 12, 1890; 
Sibyl, born June 12, 1891 ; Katharine, born 1895 ; 
Sarah E., died June 8, 1905, in Brooklyn, New 
York. 3. Frank Knight, born in Worcester, Jan- 
uary 23, 1864, married, April 7, 1887, Jennie A. 
Houghton, of Worcester; he is a professor in the 
Hampton Normal Institute, Virginia, and one of the 
principal members of the faculty; their children 
are: Frances Houghton, born March 17, 1889; Helen 
Knight, born March 12, 1892; Mary Elizabeth, born 
February, 1894. 4. Josephine Almira, born August 
14, 1865,' married William F. Little, October 12, 
1887, and had: Ruth McLeish, born October 3, 
1889. Mr. Little has for the past fifteen years been 
in business with Mr. Rogers. He was formerly di- 
rector of the choir at the Old South Church and 
other churches. He is a member of the Schumann 
Quartette, which is well known throughout the 
state. 

CURTIS FAiMILY. Henry Curtis, father of 
Ephraira Curtis, of Worcester, and the ancestor of 
those bearing this family name in the eighth and 
ninth generations now residing here, set sail from 
the port of London for New England, J\Iay 6, 
163s, in the "Elizabeth and Ann," Roger Cooper, 
master. Through "Hotten's List of Emigrants to 
America" we learn that the age of Henry Curtis 
was given at twenty-seven years, and it is also 
stated that Mr. Curtis and his fellow passengers 
brought certificates from the ministers of their sev- 
eral parishes and from the justices of the peace of 
their conformity to the orders and disciplines of the 
Church of England, that they were no subsidy men, 
but had taken the oath of allegiance and supremacy, 
showing that Henry Curtis was not strictly of the 
Pilgrim or Puritan type. We have no complete 
picture as to his traits and characteristics, but 
certain facts in his life are matters of record. He 
settled at Watertown, becoming a proprietor there 
in 1636, and also in Sudbury in 1641. May 2, 1649, 
he sold his house and lot in Watertown to Jeremiah 
Norcross. 

He married Mary, daughter of Nicholas Guy, 
who with wife Jane and daughter Mary and two 
servants embarked in the ship "Confidence" of Lon- 
don, John Jobson, master, April 24, 1638. Deacon 
Nicholas Guy was admitted freeman May 22, 1639, 
and was a proprietor of Watertown, 1644, and died 
there July 6, 1649, and his widow, Jane Guy, lived 



in Sudbury with her daughter, Mrs. Henry Curtis, 
where she died. Her will, dated August t6, 1666, 
and proved December 22, 1669, gave her estate to 
her grandchildren, the homestead going to her eldest 
grandson, Ephraim. Henry Curtis died in Sudbury, 
May 8, 1678, aged seventy years. Ephraim Curtis, 
the eldest child, was born in Watertown, March 31, 
1642; John, born 1644; Joseph, born July 17, 1647. 
(II) Ephraim Curtis was the eldest child of 
Flenry and Mary (Guy) Curtis. In the spring of 
1673, axe in hand, and with a long, Spanish rifle 
on his shoulder, started for Quinsigamond, as 
Worcester was then called, where he arrived after 
two days travel, and located on the spot still owned 
and occupied by the Curtis family. Of the early life 
of this Ephraim much of interest may be found, but 
of the later portion the record seems to be incom- 
plete. Previous to his coming to Quinsigamond, he 
had purchased of the widow of Thomas Noyes, for 
the sum of forty-three pounds lawful money, 
a title to two parcels of land, one of two hundred 
and fifty acres originally granted to Thomas Noyes, 




CURTIS FARM, WORCESTER 
The Estate has been in the Curtis Family since 1672 

of Sudbury, one of the committee appointed by the 
general court, and directed October ii, 1665, to ex- 
plore the country and report concerning the ad- 
vantages for a settlement at Quinsigamond Ponds, 
and two hundred and fifty acres originally granted 
to Mr. Norton, but assigned respectively to John 
Payne and the said Thomas Noyes, who died before 
the committee of which he was a member took 
action. Supplied with this title, executed by the 
heirs of Lieutenant Thomas Noyes, who died De- 
cember 7, 1666, Mr. Curtis repaired to the site of 
the present city of Worcester and located his claim 
to five hundred acres on the right of Lieutenant 
Thomas Noyes, and in the fall of 1673 began the 
erection of a house on that portion of his claim 
originally granted to Noyes. October 8, 1673, Major 
Daniel Gookin, chairman of a new committee ap- 
pointed to settle the town, on learning of the action 
of Mr. Curtis, wrote him that the committee could 
not allow him to locate his claim of five hundred 
acres there, and the case was settled in the courts, 
the committee allowing Mr. Curtis to retain but 
fifty acres of the claim he had located. This fifty 
acre lot was in April, 1675, surveyed and located 
by order of the general court at a session held May 
27, 1674, by the town's surveyor, David Fiske, and 
contained the house above referred to. _ 

Here Mr. Curtis lived for a time, engaged m 
trading with the Indians. Other settlers came and 



26 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



the spring of 1675 found a half dozen or more 
houses marking the settlement of '"Quinsigamond." 
But in the month of July the Indians began their 
movement of destruction planned against the white 
Settlers throughout the colony, and the families who 
had established homes here removed to the larger 
settlements near the coast, leaving their buildings 
to become fuel for the torch of the hostile savages. 
It is recorded that when he was thirty-three, be- 
cause he was "noted for his intimate knowledge of 
the country, his quickness of comprehension and 
cool courage, and his large acquaintance with the 
Indians, whose language he spoke fluently," he was 
sent by the court as interpreter with an embassy 
from Cambridge and twenty men under Captain Ed- 
ward Hutchinson and Captain Thomas Wheeler. 
On December 2, :6~S, the heroic services of Mr. 
Curtis during this Indian war, more especially in 
connection with the attack on Brookfield, gained for 
him the honorable title of lieutenant, and the story 
as told by Captain Thomas Wheeler, who being de- 
sirous of getting word to Boston of the great dis- 
tress the little garrison was in at Brookfield, states 
how on the third attempt, at the solicitation of Cap- 
tain Wheeler, Curtis succeeded in making his way 
through the lines of the company of savages be- 
sieging the town by crawling on his hands and knees 
for a considerable distance, and proceeding to Bos- 
ton to deliver the message. 

Before leaving Ephraim Curtis it might be well 
to quote a paragraph upon him by Senator Hoar; 
from a note to the address delivered by Mr. Hoar at 
the celebration of the town hundredth anniversary in 
iti84 of the naming of Worcester. This note is of 
interest not only as showing Senator Hoar's opinion 
as to the rights of Ephraim Curtis in his controversy 
with General Gookin, but also for the high tribute 
which he pays to his energy, daring and courage. 
The note is as follows : 

"The limited time allowed for the preparation 
of this address makes it necessarily extremely im- 
perfect. One defect, of which the author is espe- 
cially sensible, is the omission of any mention of 
Ephraim Curtis. He is entitled to be honored as the 
first settler of Worcester, notwithstanding the late 
discovery that a rude house had been built here prior 
to his settlement. It is clear that the owner of the 
house did not occupy it. What sort of a house it 
was, whether it was built for the surveyors or for 
the committee who inspected the place to determine 
its fitness for habitation, or as a shelter for trav- 
ellers on their way to Connecticut, does not appear. 
But it is unlikely that any permanent settler would 
have dwelt there without leaving some trace of him- 
self in the contemporary record. Curtis represented 
an element which has not received full justice from 
New England history, the brave and adventurous 
frontiersman. His exploit in saving the besieged 
garrison of Brookfield equals anything Cooper has 
imagined of the Leatherstocking. His descendants, 
a highly respected family, bearing his name, still 
dwell on the spot where he settled. He was the 
ancestor also of the famous and eloquent orator, 
George William Curtis." 

(II) Joseph Curtis, youngest son of Henry 
and Mary (Guy) Curtis, born July 17, 1647, married 
Abigail, daughter of John Grout, of Sudbury, where 
he resided. Their children were: .Vbigail, born 
March 2, 1678-79; Ephraim. September 4. 1680; 
Mary, December 25. r686; Joseph, July 15, 1689. 

(III) Ephraim Curtis, eldest son of Joseph, mar- 
ried, May 10, 170S, Mary Stone, in Sudbury, where 
he died November 17, 1759. She died February 
22, i76r. Their children were: Ephraim, born July 
iSi 1706; John, September 10, 1707, sec forward; 



Mary, December 29, 1710; Susannah, September 9, 
1714; Joseph, December 22, 1721; Samuel, June 1, 
1724. 

(IV) Captain John Curtis, born September 10, 
1707, son of Ephraim Curtis, passed his youthful 
days in Sudbury. December 10, 1735, his father, 
Ephraim Curtis, of Sudbury, for love, good will and 
affection toward his dutiful son, John Curtis, of 
Worcester, deeded to him a "certain parcel of up- 
land and swamp ground in Worcester," consisting 
of one hundred and forty acres, part of a fa/m of 
two hundred and fifty acres formerly granted to 
Thomas Noyes. Mr. Curtis married, June 4, 1729, 
Rebeckah Waite, in Sudbury. She was the mother 
of his children. She died ^larch 24, 1755. He mar- 
ried (second), November 13, 1755, Elizabeth Rob- 
bins, widow of Daniel Robbins, and daughter of 
Rev. John Prentice, of Lancaster. This John Curtis 
appears to have been the lirst of the Curtis family 
to become a permanent settler in Worcester, and 
there is no doubt but that he 'came at a compara- 
tively early age to care for his father's property and 
interest in the settlement. The first John Curtis 
mentioned in the proprietors' records of Worcester 
was the brother of the first Ephraim, who sold half 
of his Noyes claim to this brother John', but not 
being able to confirm the title was obliged to pay 
his brother John forty pounds lawful money for 
damages, and also pay the costs of a suit brought 
to recover the same. The date under which this 
John Curtis first appears in the town records of 
Worcester is ^larch 15, 1730-31, when at a tow.ii 
meeting he was elected to serve as one of the sur- 
veyors of highways. He was living in Worcester 
before his marriage, as the record of that event iii 
Sudbury states. His first child was born in Sud- 
bury and the second in Worcester. 

Mr. Curtis was an active and influential citizen 
of the town, occupying various public offices. He 
was a captain and commanded a company in the 
French and Indian war. He was for many years 
a popular hotel keeper, and a leading member of 
the church, his house being a favorite stopping place 
for ministers as they passed to and fro, no charge 
being made to that class of citizens. Mr. Caleb 
Wall says of him : "He is described as a small, 
short man, very proud, always on his dignity, and, 
as his memory is preserved a splendid hor.-;eman, 
in which capacity he shone to advantage mounted 
on a spirited steed. He married Elizabeth Prentice, 
daughter of Rev. John Prentice, minister at Lan- 
caster from 170S to 1748, and with her on a pillion 
behind him, dressed in a bright scarlet cloak, with 
her arm around him, we have the picture of Cap- 
tain John Curtis." He says also : "He was sadly 
missed from the pew which he had so long and so 
punctually occupied in the Old South (pew No. 61 
on the plan), the floor of which had to be raised 
six inches by planks in order to bring his head on 
a level with the rest of the congregation." Mr. 
Curtis died June 29, 1797, in his ninetieth year, and 
his widow Elizabeth dieel November 14, 1802. 

Their children were: Jonathan, born August 9, 
1729, died January 4, 1732-33; John, May 13 or 19, 
1731; Jonathan, May 15, 1733; Sarah, January 27, 
'7.10- 37; Elizabeth, December 28, 1738; William, 
February 8, 1740, died April 16, 1749; Rebekah, 
November 5, 1742, died October 4, 1745; Joseph, 
October 31, 1744, died September 20, 1745; James, 
September 8, 1746; Mary, October 3, 1747; Sarah, 
August 28, 1749; William, January 29, 1750; Joseph, 
March 21, 1752; Tyler, April 28, 1753. William and 
Joseph served in the revolutionary war. 

(V) John Curtis, Jr., born May 19, 1731, mar- 
ried Elizabeth Hey wood. May 15, 1755. He died 





^i^^U/ 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



27 



December 13, 1768, leaving the following children: 
Rebecca, born February 13, 1756, wife of T. A. 
Merrick; Elizabeth, February 26, 1758, wife of Sam- 
uel Jamison; John, November 14, 1760; David, Jan- 
uary 30, 1763, married Susannah Stone, December 
5, 1791, and his son George was father of George 
William Curtis, the distinguished orator and scholar; 
Nathaniel, August 18, 1765; Dorothy, July 26, 1767, 
married David Craige, of VVethersfield, Connecticut. 

(V) Tyler Curtis, youngest son of Captain John 
Curtis, born April 28, 1753, married, September S. 
1776, Lydia Chamberlain, and resided on the Curtis 
homestead in Worcester, where he died April 16, 
1807. His widow died October S, 1841. aged eighty- 
six years. Their children were: Tyler, born Feb- 
ruary IS, 1777, died May 23, 1777; Rebecca, July 
20, 1778; John, April 5, 1781, died September 14, 
1783; John, December 23, 1783; Sally, April 2, 
1786, died July 24, 1788; Dolly, August 25, 1788, 
died January 20, 1791 ; Elizabeth, May 17, 1791 ; Na- 
thaniel, August 29, 1793; Samuel, June 12, 1796, 
died May 17, 1811 ; Tyler, February 29, 1801, died 
March 17, 1842. 

(VI) John Curtis, born December 23, 1783, mar- 
ried, March 16, 1807, Nancy Stowell, daughter of 
Captain Thomas Stowell, the clothier of Worces- 
ter, and granddaughter of Cornelius Stowell, who 
came from Watertown, also a clothier. John Curtis 
died August 3, 1826. Their children were: George 
Thomas Stowell, born September 22, 1808; Tyler 
Prentice, June 16, 1810; Sarah Ann, June 7, 1812; 
Harriet Newell, September 4, 1814, died June 24, 
1818; John Edwin, October 11, 1816. 

(VH) Tyler Prentice Curtis, eldest son of John 
and Nancy (Stowell) Curtis, born June 16, 1810, 
married Amelia Riley, daughter of Calvin and 
Eunice (Miller) Riley, of Alton, Illinois, and a 
lineal descendant of John Riley, who came with wife 
Grace to Wethersfleld, Connecticut, in 1645, being an 
early settler in that town, where he died in 1674, 
and where Grace, his widow, died November 28, 
1703. The Riley name is given among the names 
of Planters of Colonies of Connecticut and New 
Haven previous to the Union, 1665. The line to 
Amelia is continued through the son, Lieutenant 
Isaac Riley, born 1670, Nathaniel, Asher, Calvin, the 
father of Amelia. Mr. Curtis lived on the old Curtis 
farm all his life. He died June 16, 1896. Their 
childen were: Kate, born December 9, 1848, died 
at the age of two years ; John D., June 12, 1850, m.Tr- 
ried Clara Nash; Kate, September 29, 1852, married 
William T. Brown; William C, December 14, 1854, 
who now lives on the original farm. 

(VII) John Edwin Curtis, youngest son of John 
and Nancy (Stowell) Curtis, was born October 11, 
1816, on the old Curtis estate which has been held 
by the family from one generation to another suc- 
cessively since 1670, and is at present (1906) owned 
and occupied by the family. John E. Curtis, vvhen a 
young man, went west and became engaged in the 
mercantile trade. He married. May 26, 1841, Amelia 
Riley, born in Middletown, Connecticut, 1822. John 
Edwin Curtis died in St. Louis, Missouri, October 
14, 1843, at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving 
two children : Elnora, born March 14, 1842, married 
Jared Whitman, and died June 6, 1889; Edwin P., 
February 18, 1844. The widow, Amelia (Riley) 
Curtis, married, February 18, 1846, Tyler Prentice 
Curtis, brother of John Edwin Curtis. 

(VIII) Edwin P. Curtis, only son of John Ed- 
win and Amelia Curtis, was born February 18, 1844, 
in St. Louis, Missouri. He was educated in the 
Worcester public schools and the Worcester Acad- 
emy. For two years he remained at home, after 
which he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and during the 



civil war served in the quartermaster's department. 
Returning to Worcester in 1864, he entered the 
business of A. P. Richardson, manufacturer of agri- 
cultural implements; afterwards the A. P. Richard- 
son Company, then incorporated later under the 
name of Richardson Manufacturing Company, in 
which business he has since continued, becoming, 
secretary, director, and afterwards president and 
treasurer, the latter offices he holds at the present 
time. 

Mr. Curtis married, January i, 1868, Harriet,, 
daughter of Walter and Mary (Hyde) Bigelow, of 
Worcester, a lineal descendant of David Bigelow, 
who took a prominent part in Worcester affairs, 
during the revolutionary war, and a brother of 
Colonel Timothy Bigelow, the town's most noted 
patriot of that period. She also traces a line of 
descent from Jonas Rice, the earliest permanent 
settler of Worcester, and to Phynias Heywood,. 
Deacon William Trowbridge, early settlers of the 
town, and to Samuel Hyde, of Newton, who was- 
a lineal descendant in the fourth generation frop 
Deacon Samuel Hyde, born l6ro, and embarked m 
the ship "Jonathan" at London, England, for Boston,. 
April, 1639. He was the second settler in Cam- 
bridge Village about 1640. He died September 
12, 1689, leaving a will stating that he owned a farm 
of one hundred and twenty-four acres in Water- 
town, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have 
one daughter, Elnora Whitman Curtis, who after 
attending the schools in Worcester, and the Burn- 
ham school, Northampton, entered Smith College,. 
from which institution she graduated in the class, 
of 1892. 

H.A.NSON FAMILY. John Haiison, father of 
Charles F. Hanson and Sven E. Hanson, of Wor- 
cester, was a native of Uddevalla, Sweden, where 
he lived all his life. He married Anna C. Hanson. 
Their children, all born at Uddevalla, were: I.. 
Dana M., born 1840, married James Sargent, of Bel- 
mont, Massachusetts, and they have— Edith Sar- 
gent, Mabel Sargent, Nellie Sargent, Frank Sar- 
gent. 2. Johanna E., died when fifteen years old. 

3. Charles F., born September 9, 1849, see forward. 

4. John A., born December 9, 1852, married Anna 
H. Astrom and they have four children — .\dolph, 
Godfrid, Annie, Jacob. 5. Sven E., born September 
16, i8ss, see forward. 6. Richard, born September 
4, 1859, died September 4, i860. 7. Fredrika E.,. 
born June 12, 1865, married Eric Forsstedt and they 
had two sons, Herbert and Stanislaus Forsstedt; 
she died 1901. 

Charles F. Hanson was born in Uddevalla,. 
Sweden, September 9. 1849. He came to this coun- 
try in 1865 and was first employed in the piano busi- 
ness by Paul N. Humphrey, of Boston. After work- 
ing in Boston three years he came to Worcester,, 
and from 1868 to 1870 was with the firm of S. R. 
Leland & Son. He started in business for himself 
after leaving Mr. Leland's employ and opened ai 
store in 1878. He removed to the store in Mechanics- 
Flail building in 1885. He built up a large trade 
in pianos, organs and music and became one of the 
leading dealers of the city. In April, 1906, he re- 
moved to his present location in the Thulc building,. 
Main street. He was one of the prime movers in 
the organization which built this magnificent build- 
ing for the Swedish societies and interests of Wor- 
cester. He is a member of Thule Lodge, Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the 
First Universalist Church, Svea Gille and RoyaH 
.\rcanum. Mr. Hanson is the composer of a num- 
ber of successful operas and selections. He re- 
ceived the 'permission of the King of Sweden to 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



dedicate to him the opera "Fridjof and Ingeborg," 
which was successfully produced in Chicago and 
in which his daughter, Lilhan Hanson Gray, took 
the title role. It was also presented one week at the 
Worcester Theatre. It received the favorable notice 
of the musical critics and attracted the attention of 
the musical world. 

Mr. Hanson married, November 27, 1867, Eliza 
Ann Hazall, daughter of Charles and Ann (Palmer) 
Hazall, of English birth. Their children : i. Lillian, 
born November 8, 1868, married, June 28, 1898, C. 
Albert Gray and has one child, Carl Albert Gray, 
born December 12, 1900; she is a prominent teacher 
of vocal music in Worcester. 2. Charles Arthur, 
born March 9, 1873. 3. Flora May, born 1875, died 
ilarch 8, 18^. 4. Frederick Theodore, born June 
12, 1876, died November 8, 1904. 

Sven E. Hanson, brother of Charles F. Hanson, 
was born in Uddevalla, Sweden, September 16, 1855, 
and received his education in the public schools of 
his native town. He came to America August 9, 
1881, and located in the city of Worcester. In 1882 
he opened an office in Worcester for the sale of 
steamship tickets. Many Swedish people had already 
made their homes in that city and many thousands 
have come since. His place of business has been 
for many years at 241 Main street. He represents 
all the principal trans-Atlantic lines. He is a Re- 
publican in politics and a Swedish Lutheran in re- 
ligion. He is a member of Thule Lodge, Odd Fel- 
lows, in which he has held all the oifices in suc- 
cession and is now a past grand. He is a member 
also of the Conquest Council, Royal Arcanum, and 
of the Svea Gille and Massasoit Tribe, Improved 
Order of Red- Men. 

He married, July 19, 1861, Clara W. Anderson. 
Their children: i. Edward, born March 5, 1888, at- 
tended Worcester high school one year, draughts- 
man at the works of the Standard Plunger Elevator 
Company. 2. Axel, born March 29. 1890, class of 
1907 in Worcester high school. 3. Rudolph, born 
April 16. 1892. 4. Martha, born October 5, 1896. 
5. Ragnhild, born April 8, 1900. 

JOHN FRANCIS BICKNELL. Zachary Bick- 
iiell (i) and Agnes his wife sailed from England 
in the spring of 1635. He was forty-five years of 
age, and his wife thirty-seven. The entire family 
at this time consisted of Zachary, his wife Agnes, 
their son John (eleven years of age) and John 
Kitchen, a servant, aged twenty-three years. This 
family group formed a part of the company of Eng- 
lish emigrants that came with the Rev. Joseph Hull, 
and were permitted to settle at Weymouth, Massa- 
chusetts. Zachary Bicknell died within about a year 
after his arrival at Weymouth, not, however, until 
he had built a house and established a home, embrac- 
ing twenty acres of unfcnced land. His widow soon 
married Richard Rockett (or Rockwood), and the 
home of the Bicknells was sold to William Rcade. 

(II) John, born in 1624, the only son of Zachary 
Bicknell, married (first) Mary, who bore him Mary, 
John and Naomi. She died March 25, 1657-8, and 
he married (second) Mary Porter. They had Ruth, 
Joanna, Experience, Zachary, (Elizabeth, Thomas, 
Hannah, and Mary. 

(III) Zachary, born February 7, 1667-8, in Wey- 
mouth, married Hannah Smith, November 14, 1692. 
Their children were : Zachary, Hannah, James, 
^lary. Peter, and Joshua. 

(IV) Peter, born in Barrington, Rhode Island, 
1706; married Rachel and had: Peter, born Jan- 
uary II, 1736; died young; Rachel, born December 
9. •737i died 1752; Peter, born July 24, 1745; Asa, 
born April 13, 1747; Amey, born 1752; and Amos. 



(V) Asa married in Barrington, Elizabeth Low, 
June 25, 1769. Their children were : Asa, died aged 
sixteen years; Otis, died aged twenty-two years; 
Releaf; John Wilson; William; Elizabeth; Benja- 
min; Ellery; Asa; and Francis. 

(VI) John Wilson, born April 10, 1780, in Bar- 
rington, married Keziah Paine, April 14, 1805. She 
was the daughter of Peleg and Joanna (Vial) Paine, 
of Seckout, where he died August 25, 1837, aged 
eighty-five years. Mr. Paine served as sergeant in 
Captain Joseph Franklin's (Rehoboth) company, 
Colonel John Daggett's regiment ; he entered service 
January 7, 1778, and was discharged March 31, 
1778. He enlisted again July 30, 1778, and was dis- 
charged September 10, 1778. He served in Captain 
Isaac Hix's company. Colonel Josiah Whiting's 
Bristol county regiment. When a mere lad he be- 
came enamored with the life of a sailor, and began 
making voyages as boy before the mast, continuing 
the seafarmg life for nearly thirty years, and pass- 
ing through the various stages of promotion to the 
rank of captain. He made voyages to the West 
Indies, to both the east and west coast of Africa, 
and to China, was twice shipwrecked. About the 
year 1817, he removed his family from Barrington, 
Rhode Island, where they had made their Jionie dur- 
ing his voyages, to Canterbury, Connecticut, where 
he kept a hotel ; after remaining here about four 
years he removed to^ Canaan, Vermont, where he 
purchased a farm. Twenty-two years later he sold 
this farm, and with his family, now grown to man- 
hood and womanhood, emigrated to the then new 
state of Wisconsin, settling in what is now Beloit, 
Rock county, where he died in 1859. ^Ir. Bicknell 
was a prominent Mason, having taken the capitular 
degrees, and filled the office of grand high priest, 
and while visiting various places in Wisconsin, for 
the purpose of establishing and instructing certain 
chapters, contracted a severe cold which terminated 
in pneumonia, causing his death. Children were: 
George Wilson, born November 7, 1807; Amanda, 
November 18, 1S09; Otis Paine, June 10, 1813; Ed- 
win, July 18, 1814; Almira Paine, June I, 1816; 
Charles H., March 7, 1818; Andrew H., February 6, 
1820; Martha Wilson, April 19, 1822; Anna Mariah, 
April 19, 1825; Rebecca Warren, adopted daughter. 

(VTl) George Wilson Bicknell was born in Bar- 
rington, Rhode Island. After receiving the ad- 
vantages of the schools of his native town, he went 
to Providence, where he learned the trade of a 
jeweler and silversmith, and for a few years fol- 
lowed that occupation in the city of Providence. 
His life here brought him in daily contact with 
the family of Dr. Jacob Fuller, an uncle by mar- 
riage, the Doctor having married .Abigail Paine, a 
sister of Mr. Bicknell's mother. The associations 
formed here were of the most pleasant and bene- 
ficial character. Through the influence emanating 
from this home he resolved to enter the medical 
profession, and for several years much of his spare 
time was occupied in studying medical authorities 
and reciting to his uncle. It was his custom, while 
engaged in his trade, to have an open book on the 
bench before him, that he might pursue his medical 
studies while at work. Having secured his right 
to practice medicine, he took a full course in 
dentistry. Confident that he was now well qualified 
to embark in his newly chosen profession, and learn- 
ing of the intention of his father and the remainder 
of his family (then residing in Canaan, Vermont) 
to emigrate to the western country, he went to Ver- 
mont and joined the New England Emigrating 
Company, which included his father's family, and 
located at a place in Wisconsin, on Rock river, now 
known as Beloit. After a residence here of three 




Thi L;t,'.s AJ.ijfe 




WORCESTER COUNTY 



29 



or four years, Dr. BicUnell went further west, locat- 
ing in Potosi, in Grant county. Before leaving 
Beloit he had written to !Miss Abigail Rawson, of 
Mendon, Massachusetts, that he was now ready to 
have her join him in his western home, and accord- 
ing to previous plans Miss Rawson left her Men- 
don home for Wisconsin, traveling by stage, canal 
boat and steamboat to Chicago, where Dr. Bick- 
nell met her. They proceeded on to Beloit, and 
the marriage ceremony was performed at the home 
of Mr. R. T. Crane. On the death of Dr. Horace 
White, with whom Dr. BicUnell had been asso- 
ciated while in Beloit, the people there urged him to 
return to them, which he did about 1847. In 1849 
he, with several others, made the overland trip to 
California, returning to Beloit in 1852. When the 
civil war came, he enlisted and received a commis- 
sion as surgeon in the Twenty-second Regiment, 
Wisconsin Volunteers. The severe strain incident 
to a large practice in this sparsely settled country 
during the ten years passed in Beloit, had gradually 
been undermining a once vigorous constitution, and 
the further exposure of camp life at the front be- 
gan to develop symptoms of a serious nature within 
himself, causing his resignation and return to Beloit. 
But there followed him soon after a commission as 
acting assistant surgeon, U. S. A., at Camp Doug- 
las, Chicago, Illinois. He continued his services 
in charge of this camp until it was about to be de- 
serted, when he again resigned his commission and 
returned to take up his private practice in Beloit, 
when he died June 16, 1870. His wife died Decem- 
ber 26, 1867. He was a very skillful and therefore 
successful practitioner, and was thoroughly devoted 
to his profession, enjoying the coniidence of all who 
knew him as their family physician. Their children : 
George Wilson, born August 17, 1843, at Potosi, 
died 1892 ; John Francis, November 8, 1846, at 
Potosi; Maria, in Beloit, died in infancy; Hattie, 
in Beloit, died in infancy; Frederick, in Beloit, died 
aged two and one-half years ; Mary Augusta, May 
4, 1858, at Beloit, married Richard J. Burdge, Es- 
quire of Beloit, where they now reside. 

(VIII) John Francis Bicknell, the second son 
of Dr. George W. Bicknell, received his early educa- 
tion in the public schools of Beloit, and in the 
preparatory department of Beloit College. When 
about to enter upon his collegiate course, in re- 
sponse to the call of Abraham Lincoln, President of 
the United States, for more men to fight the bat- 
tles for the preservation of the Union, Mr. Bick- 
nell enlisted in a company of nine months men. At 
the close of his term of service he returned to his 
home in Beloit, and subsequently entered the employ 
of a firm engaged in the hardware business in Chi- 
cago. After the great fire in that city, which oc- 
curred in October, 1871, he went to the state of 
Kansas and took up wild land. Being discouraged 
by the tardy development of the country, he sold 
his claim and returned to Chicago, and in the sum- 
mer of 1872 came to Worcester, Massachusetts, and 
entered the employ of E. B. Crane & Company, 
dealers in lumber, as bookkeeper. In 1879 he was 
given an interest in the business, succeeding to the 
place in the firm of William S. Perry, who retired. 
In June, 1882, Mr. Bicknell withdrew from this firm, 
and engaged in the lumber trade on his own account, 
soon building up a large trade and conducting a 
successful business, in which he continued to the 
time of his death, November 15, 1899. 

June 16, 1875, he married Hattie M., daughter 
of Joseph W. and Nancy Harrington (Gibbs) Spring, 
.of Weston, Massachusetts, the ceremony being per- 
formed by Rev. William W. Adams, D. D., at the 
home of the latter in Fall River, Massachusetts. 



On returning from their wedding trip they made 
their home with Mrs. Bicknell's mother, at No. 5, 
Seaver street, Worcester, where they remained until 
Mr. Bicknell built a fine residence. No. 910 Main 
street, where he died, leaving one child, Roscoe 
Gibbs Bicknell, born December 11, 1881, who re- 
ceived his early education in the Worcester schools, 
and after taking a two years' course at the Worces- 
ter Academy entered Dean Academy, at Franklin, 
Massachusetts, graduating with the class of 1900. 
He immediately succeeded to the business left by his- 
father. He was married January 25, 1905, to Har- 
riet West Kellough, of Boston, and resides in 
Worcester. 

'^ JOHN HOLDEN. Richard H'olden (i), the 
immigrant ancestor of John Holden, ,of Worcester, 
was born in England in 1609. He came to this coun- 
try in the ship "Francis," sailing from Ipswich, 
England, April 30, 1834, and settling first at Ips- 
wich, Massachusetts, where he was a land owner. 
His brother Justinian, who was born in 161 1, came 
over a year later and settled in Watertown, Massa- 
chusetts, whither Richard Holden removed soon 
after. Justinian removed to Cambridge; Richard 
to Woburn. where he was a proprietor in 1658; 
he had been a proprietor of Watertown as early as 
1642, owning a lot adjoining his brother's; he sold 
in 165s to J. Sherman, He was admitted a freeman 
May 6, 1657. Richard Holden resided at Cambridge 
and finally in 1656-57 at Groton, where he had nine 
hundred and seventy-five acres of land in the north- 
early part of the town, now Shirley, part of whiph was 
lately occupied by Porter Kittridge. His land be- 
gan on the west bank of the Nashua near Beaver 
Pond, extending north. He lived with his son 
Stephen, to whom he gave his real estate March 23, 
1691. He then called himself "aged, infirm and a 
widower." He died at Groton, March i, 1696; his 
wife died at Watertown, December 6, 1681. The 
records show his name spelt variously Holden, Houl- 
den, Houlding and Holder. 

He married, 1640, Martha Fosdick, daughter of 
Stephen Fosdick, of Charlestown. Their children : 
Stephen, born July 19, 1642, killed by fall from tree 
at Groton, 1658; Justinian, born 1644; son James set- 
tled in Worcester; Martha, born January 15, 1645-46, 
married Thomas Boyden ; Samuel, settled in Groton 

and Stoneham, married Anna , who died June 

18, 1731 ; Mary, married Thomas Williams; Sarah, 
married, December 20, 1677, Gershom Swan; Eliza- 
beth, Thomas, John, died young; John, born 1657;, 
Stephen, born about 1658, see forward. 

(II) Stephen Holden, son of Richard Holden (l), 
was born in Watertown, about 1658. He went to- 
Groton with his father and his brother Justinian 
in 1656 or 1657. During the interruption caused in 
the colony by King Philip's war, he went to Charles- 
town or Woburn and several of his children settled 
in Charlestown. Stephen returned to Groton and 
died there about 1715. His estate was divided among 
his heirs, March 19, 1718-19. and the widow's estate 
was divided among the same heirs, January 30, 
1737. The children of Stephen and Hannah Hol- 
den: John, had children born at Charlestown; 
Stephen, Jr., married Sarah Cresy; Nathaniel, Will- 
iam, Simon, blacksmith, married Abigail 

and had ten children born at Charlestown ; Jonathan, 
Benjamin, see forward; Rachel, Hannah, Sarah, 
Nehemiah. 

(III) Benjamin Holden, son of Stephen Holden 
(2), w^as born in Groton, Massachusetts, probably 
about 1690. He settled at Dedham, Massachusetts. 

He married Hannah and she married (second), 

June 5, 1746, Samuel Bullard, of Dedham. Holden 



30 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



renewed his covenant with the Dcdham church, 
April 13, 1729; his wife was received into the church 
and her daughters Sarah, Mindwell and Jerusha all 
laptizcd April 2, 1738. The children of Btnjamin 
jnd Hannah Holden: Benjamin, born at Pedhain, 
March 10, 1728-29, see forward; John, born Decem- 
ber 31, 1731, died February 19, I73J-32; Mindwell, 
born February 16, 1/32-33. married, September 12, 
1751, Samuel Farrington ; Sarah, born July 13, 1735; 
Jcrusha, born 1738. baptized April 2, 173*5. All were 
born at Dedhani. Massachusetts. 

(IV) Colonel Benjamin Holden, son of Benja- 
min Holden (3), was born in Dedliam, Massachu- 
setts, March 10, 1728-29, and baptized in the Dcd- 
ham church, Apml 13, 1729. He died at Prince- 
ton, Massachusetts, November 24, 1820, aged nine- 
ty-two years. He was prominent in the town of 
Princeton where he settled, and in the army. He 
was probably in the French war as he held the 
rank of lieutenant-colonel when the revolution be- 
^an. He was in Colonel Ephraim Doolittle's regi- 
ment on the Lexington call, April 19, 1775. He was 
in the service in 1776-77-78 with the rank of colonel. 
He was an assessor of the town of Princeton in 
1773. His wife Catherine died at Princeton, July 

28, 1817, aged eighty-four years. Their children, 
all born in Princeton, were: Lucy, born November 

29, 1762, married, December 11, 1808, Captain Addi- 
son Richardson, of Salem; Joseph, born September 
28, 1764; Katherinc, born April 23, 1767, married, 
January 30, 1797, Ephraim Mirick, Jr.; Benjamin, 
horn November 19, 1769, see forward ; Joel, born 
November 30, 1772; John Hancock, born February 
23, 1775. died March 15, 1778. 

(V) Benjamin Holden, son of Benjamin Holden 
(4), was born in Princeton, Massachusetts, Novem- 
hcT 19, 1769. He settled there and married, Dccem- 
Ixr 2. 1793, Hannah Gill, daughter of John and 
Hannah Gill, of Princeton. His wife died there 
August 29, 1846, aged seventy-one years, seven 
months and nineteen days. He lived at Rutland after 
his marriage until 1805, when he returned to his 
native town and died there April 8, 1832, aged sixty- 
two years, according to his gravestone. Children of 
Benjamin and Hannah Holden : Catherine Richards, 
horn at Rutland, February 11, 1796, married, at 
Rutland, April 16, 1817. Moses Smith ; Hannah, born 
at Rutland, January 8, 1802, married, January 9, 
1823, at Princeton. Captain Miles Demond (Damon) ; 
Rebecca, born at Rutland, February 6, 1804, married, 
April 19. 1827, Charles Demond; Benjamin, born 
April 5, 1806, at Princeton, see forward; Moses Gill, 
hcirn November 24, 1807, at Princeton, married, at 
Rutland, January 3, 1837, Emeline Davis; Elizabeth, 
horn July 13, 1812, at Rutland; William Penn, born 
at Rutland, March 6, 1815; Caroline, born 1817, 
died July 5. 1821, aged four years, at Rutland; Abi- 
gail, born March 13, 1820, at Rutland, married, at 
Princeton, May 7. 1846, George Darling. 

(VI) Benjamin Holden, son of Benjamin (5), 
was born in Princeton, Massachusetts, April 5, 
1806. He settled in Princeton. He married. May 
16, 1833. ElmiTia Watson, born May 6, 1812, daugh- 
ter of Jacob Wheeler and Lydia Watson, of Prince- 
ton. Her father was born April 15. 1777, son of 
John and Sarah Watson, of Princeton. Children of 
Benjamin and Elmina Holden: Lucy Richardson, 
born November 12, 1833; Mary Townsend, born 
July 4, 1835; Benjamin, born August 12, 1836; 
Henry, born October 18, 1837; Eliza Waters, born 
June 26, i8.i9; John, born February i. 1841, died 
August 2, 1843. aged two; Amelia Elmina, born 
November 14, 1842 ; Abba Augusta, born July 29, 
1844; William, born December 11, 1845. member of 
the firm of Wilson & Holden — Merrick Wilson is his 



partner — at 154 Main street, dealers in flour, grain, 
lime, cement, seeds, feed, straw, baled hay, etc., an 
old and prosperous concern; Mr. Holden resides at 
45 Forest street, Worcester ; John, born May 26, 
1847, see forward ; Jacob, born April 30, 1849, is a 
partner in the well-known firm of Holden & Earle 
(A. F. Earle), 434J4 Main street, Worcester, dealers 
in tobacco and cigars ; Mr. Jacob Holden resides at 
8t Elm street; Milton, Francine A., Elmira, 
Frank, Hattie, deceased, aged two years. All the 
foregoing children were born in Princeton. 

(VH) John Holden, son of Benjamin Holden 
(6), was born in Princeton, Massachusetts, May 26, 
1847. He was educated in the district schools of his 
native town. He learned the carpenter's trade and, 
when a young man, made his home in Princeton, 
removing after a few years to Worcester. For the 
past twenty years Mr. Holden has been a prominent 
contractor and builder of Worcester. He has had 
many large contracts and built many of the resi- 
dences and business blocks of Worcester and vicinity. 
For many years his office and place of business was 
at 41 Central street, destroyed by fire in 1906. His 
office at present is on E.xchange street, nearly oppo- 
site Worcester Theatre. He is assisted by his son 
in the management of his business. He resides at 
24 Second street. Mr. Holden is a Republican, but 
has never been active in politics. He is a Free 
Mason, a member of Morning Star Lodge of Wor- 
cester. He is also a member of Chapter and 
Council. 

He married Purses N. Waite, daughter of Aaron 
and Purses (Ware) Waite, of Hubbardston, Massa- 
chusetts. Their children : Frank Eugene, born 
October 22, 1871, died December 6, 1876; Albert O., 
July 3, 1876; Ida Blanch, February 10, 1882, died 
March 11, 1895-96. 

HUGH HENRY OROURKE. The O'Rourke 
family, according to the authority of Burke, was a 
sept who were chiefs of West Breifne, Ireland, now 
comprised in the counties of Cavan and Lcitrim, de- 
riving their name from Ruarire, a chieftain who 
lived A. D. 893. He gives no genealogy of the, family 
but in this same county and district the family 
is to be found today. Three of this sept were kings 
of Connau'ght. Of these the most distinguished was 
Art O'Rorke, as the name was anciently spelled. 
He was king of Connaught when slain in battle A. 
D. 1046. His coat of arms and those of all the 
family of that section is: Or two lions pass, in pale 
sa. Crest : Out of an ancient Irish crown or, an 
arm in armor erect, grasping a sword ppr, pommel 
and hilt gold, motto over "Buagh" (victory). The 
family motto is: "Serviendo Guberno." (I rule 
by serving.) 

The family has had many distinguished representa- 
tives in later times. Sir Brian O'Rorke was knighted 
at Dublin, May 3, 1579, by Sir Henry Sydney, lord 
deputy of Ireland. He used the same coat of arms. 
Sir Tiege O'Rorke was knighted by Sir John Gary, 
lord deputy of Ireland. He was of county Leitrim. 
Shane Oge MacShane O'Rorke. son of Shane 
O'Rorke, grandson of Ij>ughlin O'Rorke, and great- 
grandson of Owen O'Rorke, all of Leitrim, was 
knighted. He had the same arms. Edmond Roch 
O'Rorke, who descended from Thady O'Rorke, lord 
of Breifne, county Leitrim, had in 1470 the same 
arins. Count John O'Rourke, also of this family, 
became famous in military circles. He was born in 
Oghteragh, in Breifne, emigrated to France and 
was employed there as captain of the Royal Scotch ; 
became major of horse in the service of Russia; 
colonel of horse again in France and was made 
count by the king of France in 1771. 





a 




WORCESTER COUNTY 



31 



Michael O'Rourke, son of Lackey O'Rourke, 
^vas born in 183 1, in Leitrim county, where his 
O'Rourke ancestors have been located for a thou- 
sand years. His father was a farmer and his an- 
cestors doubtless lived by agriculture from time 
immemorial. He was brought up on the farm and 
received a common school education in his native 
parish. In the early days of the Irish emigration 
to America Mr. O'Rourke determined to seek his 
fortune there. He landed in Boston, May 10, 1854. 
He came immediately to Worcester, where he has 
lived ever since, where his family has been reared, 
and v^fhere he has made many friends. He began 
work in the wire mill of Washburn & Moen at 
South Worcester, and was employed there for thirty- 
tive years. He had no other employer. He was a 
wireworker, a skillful workman. He retired in 1890, 
and is at present living with his family at 597 Cam- 
bridge street, Worcester. He married Ellen Flynn. 
Their children are : I. Mary, graduate of the public 
and high schools of Worcester, the State Normal 
school of Worcester, a teacher in the Millbury street 
public school, ninth grade, assistant principal. 2. 
Bernard, weaver in the Whittall Carpet Mill, South 
Worcester, married Bessie Burke and has three chil- 
dren ; resides at s Riley street. 3. John, journey- 
man plumber, in the employ of William Cahill, 
Pleasant street. Worcester; married Eliza Keany 
and has two children; resides at 595 Cambridge 
street. 4. Hugh Henry, see forward. 5. Michael A., 
hatter with the firm of Charbonman & Co., 8 Front 
.street ; attended public and high schools ; married 
Elizabeth Mullins, resides at 40 Irving street. 6. 
Nellie, educated in the public and high schools of 
Worcester, resides at home with her parents, 597 
Cambridge street. 7. Edward, was employed as 
clerk by the Worcester Construction Company, rail- 
road contractors, for ten years ; resides with par- 
ents. 8. Joseph, educated in the Worcester public 
and high schools, clerk for eight years with Pink- 
ham & Willis, furniture dealers, until the firm went 
•out of business; now with the Ferdinand Furniture 
Company; resides at home with parents. 9. Peter, 
died at age of two and one-half years. 10. Ann, 
died at age of seven years. II. William, died aged 
one and one-half years. 

Hugh Flenry O'Rourke, son of Michael O'Rourke, 
■was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, March i, 
1867. He received his early education in the public 
schools of his native place. He began at the age 
of fourteen to learn his trade in the mill of the 
Worcester Carpet Company, then owned by William 
J. Hogg. He Ijecame an expert at weaving and be- 
came familiar with the various departments of the 
carpet mill. He became the head of the finishing 
department, a position he held when he resigned to 
go into business on his own account in 1892. He 
started a drug store on Ward street under the name 
of Wachusett Pharmacy, and has been successful in 
business from the outset. After about three years 
on Ward street he removed to his present location, 
360 Millbury street. 

Mr. O'Rourke is well known among Worcester 
musicians. He organized the Lyceum Orchestra 
and was first violin and leader for eight years, re- 
signing on account of his business. He is still a 
member of the Worcester Musical Union, however. 
He is a member of William E. Russell Council, 
Royal Arcanum; of Alhambra Council, No. 88, 
Knights of Columbus ; of the Wachusett Boat Club ; 
of the Caribou Club ; of Division 34, Ancient Order 
of Hibernians ; of the Knights of Robert Emmet ; 
of St. Mathew's Athletic Association and of the 
South Worcester Cricket Club. He is a member of 
the East-side Improvement Association, which has 



been active recently. He is one of the trustees of 
St. Vincent Hospital. He was formerly connected 
with the Sacred Heart Cadets. He belongs to Sacred 
Heart Parish of the Roman Catholic church. 

In politics Mr. O'Rourke is a Democrat, and his 
five years as a representative to the general court 
from the district comprising the fifth ward of 
Worcester have brought him into touch with the 
pubhc men from all parts of the state. He was 
elected first in 1903 after an exciting contest and 
has been re-elected annually since then. The news- 
paper Practical Politics thus speaks of Mr. O'Rourke 
in its biographical number for 1906: 

"Hugh H. O'Rourke of Worcester, representa- 
tive of the Nineteenth Worcester District, has gone 
through this session as the friend of the Worcester 
children. A man who is willing to bring down 
three hundred children of more and devote an en- 
tire day to taking them around the city, paying all 
their expenses, must have a pretty good sized heart, 
and that is the way the house has taken up O'Rourke. 
He is deserving of it. The last session has been an 
interesting one for the Worcester member. His 
public health committee, for instance, brought for- 
ward a pretty drastic patent medicine bill, which 
provides that people shall not be dosed with prepara- 
tions unless they have a chance at least to know 
the proportion of alcohol in them. It represents an 
agitation which has been going on for some time. 
Again, the long fight of years which O'Rourke has 
been making with the idea that trolley cars should 
be provided with lifting jacks in cases of accidents, 
and also for a better style of fenders, has been 
crowned with success. Year after year the Worces- 
ter man has brought forward the proposition, and 
while he has heretofore been turned down, he dis- 
played as much activity each succeeding session. 
It is a question if he would not have beaten the 
railroad commissioners in the end, and so they 
capitulated. This year, the big corporations which 
have been fighting his plan for years, allowed a bill 
to go through, making an appropriation for the 
specific purpose of investigating fenders and lifting 
jacks. Jt has been a great victory for Hugh H. 
O'Rourke." Few men have a better record for at- 
tendance and faithful performance of duty than 
Mr. O'Rourke. 

Mr. O'Rourke is unmarried and lives at the 
parental home, 597 Cambridge street. 

PLINY WILLIAMS WOOD. Thomas \Vood 
(i) was the emigrant ancestor of Pliny Williams 
Wood, of Worcester, Massachusetts. He is first 
mentioned in the records of Rowley, Massachusetts, 

April 7, 1654, when he married Ann . Her 

maiden name is not given but there is much reason 
for believing that it was Hunt and she was prob- 
ably of Ipswich, Massachusetts. John Grant, of 
Rowley, married Mary Hunt, who made her will in 
1697 and called Ann Wood and Susannah Todd, 
wife of John Todd of Rowley "sisters" ; and in 
papers on file in the Essex county probate court 
with the will both Ann and Susannah are mentioned 
as being about sixty years old in 1697. In the will 
of John Todd he mentions "Brother Hunt"; in an 
affidavit in the Salem records Thomas Wood calls 
himself about forty years old in 1675 and calls John 
Todd brother. 

There is reason to believe that Thomas Wood 
was the son of William Wood, of Concord, Massa- 
chusetts, who came from Matlock, England, in 
1638, at the age of fifty-six years with his nephew, 
Hon. Thomas Flint, and settled in Concord. He 
died May 14, 1671, aged eighty-nine. He is supposed 
to have been the author of a book entitled "New 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



England Prospect." His will was made September 
15, 1670, and proved June 20, 1672. He made be- 
quests to daughter, Ruth Wheeler, and son-in-law, 
Thomas Wheeler; to his grandchild, Abigail Hos- 
mer; to sons, Thomas and Michael. Shattuck says 
his children were: Michael, Ruth, Abraham, Isaac, 
Thomas, Jacob, John and Abigail. 

Thomas Wood was buried at Rowley, September 
12, 1687. His widow Ann died December 29, 1714. 
All their children were born at Rowley, Massachu- 
setts; they were: Mary, born January 15, 1655, her 
history unknown (possibly married Hosmcr. See 
will of WiUjam Wood, of Concord) ; John, born 
September 27i»56, married Isabel Hazen, had eleven 
children; Thomas, born August 10, i65«, married 
Mary Hunt, probably of Ipswich; he was buried 
Uecember 1, 1702, had nine children; Ann or Mary 
Ann, born August 8, 1660, married, January 15, 
1678-9, Benjamm Plumer; Ruth, born May 21, 
1662, married Captain Joseph Jewelt, January 16, 
1680-1; he died October 30, 1694; she married (sec- 
ond) John Lunt, October 26, 1696, and died Novem- 
ber 29, 1734; Josiah (twin), born September 5, 1664, 
married Sarah Elithorp, 1685, married (second) 
Mary Felt, 1689, had two children; Elizabeth 
(twin), born September 5, 1664; Samuel, born De- 
cember 26, 1666, married Margaret Elithorp; he 
died November 23, 1690, had one child ; Solomon, 
born May 17, 1669, married Mary Hazcltine; Ebe- 
nezer, born December 29, 1671, married Rachel 
Nichols, had eight children; James, born June 22, 
1674, died October 18, 1694. 

(il) Solomon Wood, son of Thomas Wood (i), 
was born May 17, 1669. He married Mary Hazel- 
tine. They settled in Bradford, Massachusetts, 
where their children were born. They removed 
later to the part of Mendon that is now Uxbridge. 
He died there January 13, 1752, aged eighty-three 
years. She died February 21, 1749. Their children 
were: Dorcas; Solomon, born 1702, buried in Dud- 
ley, Massachusetts; Obadiah, Daniel, Betsey, prob- 
ably two or more others. 

(III) Soloman Wood, son of Solomon Wood 
(2), was born at Bradford, Massachusetts, 1702. He 

married Faithful . He died June," 1780, 

aged seventy-eight years, and was buried at Dud- 
ley, Massachusetts. Will proved June 5, 1780. She 
died October 16, 1794, aged ninety years. Their 
children were: Solomon, born October 27, 1727, 
in U.xbridge, died November 9, 1729; Martha, born 
January 12, 1729; Simeon, born January 7, 1732; 
Sarah, born July 6, 1735, married Benjamin Lee, 
September 29, 1759; he died March 25, 181 1, aged 
seventy-five years ; Jemima, born February 6, 1740, 
married George Jessamon, August 17, 1765, in Ux- 
bridge, Massachusetts ; had children. 

(IV) Simeon Wood, son of Solomon Wood (3), 
was born in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, January 7, 
1732. He married Margery Taft, of Upton, October 
30, 1760. He died May 11, 1802. She died January 
20, 1813. He inherited his father's farm, which is 
described as containing one hundred and seventy-two 
acres of land on the old road to Smithfield. The 
house was on the east side of the road just south 
of that of the late Levi Thompson. The original 
house has been gone many years. Simeon moved 
to Dudley about 1776 and bought the greater part 
of what is now the business section of the town of 
Webster, Massachusetts, he left this property to 
his children. His son Jesse was administrator of 
the estate. 

The children of Simeon and Margery (Taft) 
Wood were: Stephen, born October 14, 1761 ; 
Rhoda, born May 25, 1763; Jerusha, born June 28, 
1765; Caleb, born June 2, 1767, died December 24, 



1769; Willis, born July 14, 1769, killed by falling 
from a tree 1779; Nathan, born July 24, J771; Lois 
(twin), born April 11, 1773, died young; Eunice 
(twin), born April 11, 1773, died June 28, 1791; 
Jesse, born August 29, 1775; Mary, born January 
3, 1778, in Dudley; Sybil, born January 12, 1781, 
in Dudley ; Simeon, born January 14, 1783, in 
Dudlu'. 

(V) Simeon Wood, son of Simeon Wood (4), 
was born in Dudley, Massachusetts, January 14, 
1783. He married Chloe Shumway, of Oxford, De- 
cember 14, 1803. She died December 12, 1806. He 
married (second) Huldah Rockwood, January 31, 
1809. He was drowned in 1819 in North Webster, 
then Dudley, according to the records, at the bend 
of the river, while drawing a seine for fish. 

The children of Simeon and Chloe (Shumway) 
Wood were : Sophia, born April 30, 1S04, married 

Taft, of Uxbridge ; (Joshua Corbin was 

her guardian in 1819); she died about 1868; Caleb, 
born about 1806 (Nathan Hall was appointed 
guardian December 5, 1820, for Caleb Wood, then 
fourteen years of age. Joshua Corbin had been his 
guardian, appointed November 2, 1819). The chil- 
dren of Simeon and Huldah (Rockwood) Wood 
were : Otis, born December 14, 1809 ; Lyman, born 
October 12. 181 1 ; Abial Williams, born January 13, 
1814; Simeon, born October 14, 18x7. 

(VI) Abial Williams Wood, son of Simeon 
Wood (5), was born January 13, 1814, in Dudley, 
Massachusetts. His father died when he was a 
young boy and he spent his youth in Thompson, 
Connecticut, and Dudley, Massachusetts. He went 
to Worcester when a mere youth and worked his 
way through Worcester Academy without the assist- 
ance of his family and graduated in due time. He 
went to work soon after he left school as station 
agent of the Norwich & Worcester Railroad- at Ma- 
sonville, Connecticut, in the town of Thompson. He 
resigned his position there to engage in the retail 
boot and shoe business in AV'orccster. It was a 
period of financial stringency and while he had to 
pay cash he had to give credit, and after a few 
years he gave up the business in disgust, declaring 
that he would never again enter business without 
funds enough to avoid embarrassments of the kind 
he met. His partner was Oliver White. He went 
to' Millbury in 1844 to work in the boot and shoe 
manufactory of John Wood & Sons. It was while 
he was there that he overworked and brought on a 
long and severe illness that incapacitated him for 
hard labor the remainder of his lifa. 

He joined the Pleasant Street Baptist Church 
when in Worcester. He became a member of the 
Millbury Baptist Church, May 2, 1844, and he became 
at once one of the most active and faithful members 
of the little church. He had during over forty 
years in which he was a member of the church 
filled all the principal offices in the church and Sun- 
day school. He was clerk of the church for twenty- 
three years. 

One who knew him well writes of him : "During 
his long connection with the church he was a regular 
and constant attendant at public worship, rarely 
missing a service and frequently putting himself 
to much inconvenience to attend. His voice was 
always heard at the social and religious meetings, 
and none have given more largely of their means for 
the support of the church. Few men have done 
more, either with their money, their words or with 
their every day Christian example to support and 
elevate the cause of religion in the community. His 
loss in this direction, as well as citizen, will be 
severely felt. To those who have known him 
through all these years his life has been a most 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



33 



exemplary one. He was honorable, upright and 
honest in all his dealings with his fellowmen, a 
good neighbor and ever ready to extend a helping 
Iiand to the worthy poor or needy ; a kind and de- 
voted husWind and father, few men have made 
greater efforts to give their children a liberal edu- 
cation. Those who have been closely connected 
with him in temperance, religious or any other 
work where the right was arrayed against the 
wrong speak in glowing terms of the ardor with 
which he entered into and carried on the contest." 
Mr. Wood for twenty years was employed by the 
New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad and its 
predecessor in Millbury. He also followed his 
trade as shoemaker in addition to his work on the 
railroad. 

He married in Thompson, Connecticut, Frances 
Angeline Kelley, January 7, 1838. She died August 
26, 1892. He died April 11, 1885. The children of 
Abial Williams and Frances A. (Kelley) Wood 
were : Asbury M., born in Concord, Massachusetts, 
April 26, 1839, killed by the cars at Providence, 
Rhode Island, June 23, 1869; Frances I., born July 
2, 1840, married Dr. A. B. Eastman ; resided at 
Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, living at present in Mill- 
bury, Massachusetts ; Pliny Williams, born in Mill- 
bury, Massachusetts. December 13, 1848; Phebe 
Etta, born in Millbury, July 16, 1850, died October 
16, 1850; Irving Alexander, born November 13, 
1851, in Millbury, died September 17, 1856; Judson 
Irving, born in Millbury, September 11, 1856, for- 
merly principal of the Methuen high school ; nine 
years superintendent of schools at Ilion, New York; 
now superintendent of the Gardner, Massachusetts, 
schools. 

(VII) Pliny Williams Wood, son of Abial Will- 
iams Wood (6), was born in Millbury, Massachu- 
setts, December 13, 1848. He was educated in the 
schools of his native town. After graduating from 
the high school he went to work for Barnard & 
Sumner, dry goods dealers in Worcester, for the 
yearly salary of one hundred dollars, but soon left 
to go into the railroad business as flagman, first 
working for seventy-five cents a day. He was soon 
advanced, however, as he learned the Morse sys- 
tem, to the position of telegraph operator and ticket 
clerk. He was employed in this way by the Provi- 
dence & Worcester Railroad Company for five years. 
It gave him valuable business training. 

He left the railroad business to complete his 
education at Eastman's College at Poughkeepsie, 
New York, from which he graduated in 1871. In 
that year he accepted a position with Jason Emer- 
son & Son, cotton brokers of Providence, Rhode 
Island, as bookkeeper, a position that he filled for 
five years. He then went to Millbury to become 
the bookkeeper for C. D. Morse & Co., and later to 
Worcester, where he was head bookkeeper for the 
lumber business of Charles Baker & Co. In 1881 
he began his business association with William H. 
Sawyer, which still continues. He was engaged by 
Mr. Sawyer as his confidential man. Mr. Sawyer 
had a very extensive lumber business and interests in 
the west. He co-operated with Mr. Sawyer for the 
next ten years in building up a very large business. 
In 1898 the W. H. Sawyer Lumber Co, was organ- 
ized under the corporation laws of Massachusetts, 
the stock being taken almost entirely by INIr, Saw- 
yer and Mr, Wood, the former being president and 
the latter secretary and treasurer of the corpora- 
tion. The company has prospered as notably as 
the business while under the sole ownership of Mr. 
Sawyer. 

Mr. Wood was the organizer and first president of 
the Massachusetts Retail Lumber Dealers' Associa- 
ii— 3 



tion in 1901, an organization that has already been 
beneficial to its members and successful in its objects 
to an unusual extent. In his capacity as buyer for 
the house and treasurer of the company he has al- 
ways believed in the principle of live and let live, 
and he believed that wholesale dealers should 
strictly regard the rights of the retail dealers. He 
realized the necessity of co-operation for mutual 
protection and fair dealing. Accordingly he wrote 
to about one liundred and fifty dealers in the state 
and found them practically unanimous in favor of 
an organization. So he called a meeting. It was 
held at the Board of Trade rooms in Worcester, De- 
cember 10, 1901. The dealers present organized the 
association and Mr. Wood was elected president. 
Three months later the association held its first an- 
nual meeting, March 22, 1902, at the Bay State 
House, Worcester. The annual report of the presi- 
dent was published in the Lumberman's Review. It 
shows the complete mastery of the subject on the 
part of its author, and it demonstrated the use- 
fulness of the organization and showed the wise 
plans made for the upbuilding and perpetuation 
of the association. Along the same line of 
thought Mr, Wood made an important address. 
March 13, 1902, before the Massachusetts Whole- 
sale Lumber Dealers' Association in Boston, Mr. 
Wood not only has a clear insight and under- 
standing of the fundamental thing in business, but 
he has the ability to express his ideas and the ex- 
ecutive ability to put his ideas into effect. 

Outside of business Mr, Wood takes an interest 
in various organizations. In 1873 he joined Olive 
Branch Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, at Mill- 
bury, and was secretary for three years. Since then 
he has taken all the degrees in Masonry both in 
the York and Scottish Rites except thirty-third de- 
gree, and is a member of the local Masonic bodies, 
to which his degrees entitle him to membership. 

He still retains property interests in Millbury, 
his native town. He was a selectman of Millbury 
in tSqi-93. He has been a director in the Millbury 
Young Men's Christian Association, and president 
of the Millbury Social Union, He belongs to other 
orders. He was a member of Morning Star Lodge, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Order of 
United American Mechanics, the Worcester Me- 
chanics' Association, the Tatassit Canoe Club, the 
Hancock Club, associate member of the Grand 
Army. Mr. Wood is a Baptist, He was chairman 
of the building committee of the Adams Square 
Baptist Church in 1S98 : was president of the Wor- 
cester Baptist Social Union in 1899, ■ From i8g8 
to igo6 he has been a member of the board of di- 
rectors of the Worcester Young Men's Christian 
Association and is now a director of Worcester 
Board of Trade, He is a justice of the peace, 

Mr, Wood ranks high as a business man and 
as a citizen. He has illustrated again the typi- 
cal American methods of winning success in life. 
He had to struggle with poverty to win his edu- 
cation, and he had to save his salary to begin 
business. Yet as he has succeeded he has broadened 
and realized fully his duties toward society, church 
and his fellowmen, 

Mr, Wood married Mary Lizzie Lovell, daugh- 
ter of Russell B, and Lydia (Marble) Lovell. of 
Millbury, She was born at Woodstock. Vermont, 
August 16, 1854, She attended school at Wood- 
stock, Vermont, and Millbury, Massachusetts, where 
her folks moved. She graduated from the Millbury 
high school. Their children are: Pliny Williams, 
Jr,, born October 3, 1875, graduated from the Mill- 
bury high school, class of 1892, and from the 
Worcester Academy in 1895, He then entered the 



34 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Worcester Polytechnic Institute, wlierc he graduated 
with the degree of M. B. in 1899. He is now a de- 
signer for the Worcester Loom Co ; Frances Irtne, 
horn July 29, 1877, attended the Millhury schools 
until 1896, graduated from the Worcester high school 
in 1897 and completed her education at Lasell 
Seminary at Auburndale, Massachusetts ; she has a 
tine musical education ; Helen Lydia, born October 
17, 1885, died at Millbury. October 23, 1887; Abial 
Wayland, born August g. 1887, attended the schools 
at Millbury and graduated from the Classical high 
school at Worcester, the class of 1906; is preparing 
for entrance to Dartmouth College; Gladys Lovell, 
born at Millbury, August 15, 1892, attends Wor- 
cester schools. 

WILLIAM HENRY COOK. Among the prom- 
inent representatives of one of the various branches 
of the Cook family in America, we tind the name 
of Hon. William Henry Cook, late of Milford, 
Xfassachusetts. He was son of James I- C. and 
Marion E. (Robertson) Cook, and born in Ben- 
nington, Vermont, January 7, 1843, where he re- 
ceived his schooling, and where about one year 
prior to that date his father had purchased an in- 
terest in a publication styled. The State Banner, the 
first number of which appeared in Bennington, Feb- 
ruary 5, 1841, under the hand of Enoch Davis. 
Within a year, however, the brothers, Benjamin G. 
and James I. C. Cook, became proprietors and 
editors of this prominent Republican organ of south- 
ern Vermont, and after the death of Benjamin G. in 
1856, the publication was continued by James I. C. 
with the help of his son until the year 1870. Two 
years later, in 1872, the family moved to Milford, 
Massachusetts. 

At the early age of nine years, William Henry 
Cook began to learn the art of setting type in the 
otiice of The Stale Banner, and in his early teens 
delivered that paper to the subscribers about the 
village of Bennington, receiving therefor a salary 
of twenty-five cents per week. In 1859, when only 
sixteen years of age, he became a partner with his 
father, aod was at that time the youngest editor of 
a ncw.^paper in the state of Vermont, and was pres- 
ent at the organization of the Vermont Press Asso- 
ciation. During the interim from 1870 to 1872, Mr. 
Cook was a literary contributor to various papers. 
But in the spring of the latter year he, with his 
father and brother George G., purchased the Milford 
Journal and the job printing ofiice connected with 
it, the senior Mr. Cook superintending the mechan- 
ical departments, William II. assuming the duties 
as editor and George G. taking upon himself the 
business management of the plant. The latter was 
also postmaster during the Harrison administration. 
In 1888 this firm established the Milford Daily 
Journal, a penny paper, which met with popular 
favor and immediate success. It may truthfully be 
said that William H. Cook was born into the jour- 
nalistic profession, and acquiring by practice and ex- 
perience what he failed to secure by inheritance, he 
liecame a master of his line of work. As early as 
1830, his father, then thirteen years of age, began to 
learn the typesetter's art at Bellows Fall, Vermont, 
in the office of the I nielli j^encer, of which the lat- 
tcr's brother, Benjamin G. Cook, was proprietor, 
and it proved his occupation for life. 

Hon. William H. Cook was active in securing 
the formation of Suburban Press Association and 
for the first three years of its existence was its 
president. He was also president of the Massachu- 
setts Press Association two years, as well as of the 
Republican Editorial Association from its establish- 
ment in 1891 to 1899. In politics he was a stanch 



Republican, even from boyhood, taking a deep inter- 
est in the principles of that party, and before he 
reached his majority was a delegate to a Republican 
convention in Vermont, and at the age of twenty- 
three was chairman of the Republican committee of 
Bennington county. In 1877 he represented the sec- 
ond Worcester county district in the lower branch 
of the legislature, receiving the compliment of a 
vote for a second term in 1878, and has served re- 
peatedly as delegate to various conventions of his 
party. He was elected to the state senate, represent- 
ing the second Worcester county district in l8g6, 
was chairman of committee on prisons, committee 
on liquor law, committee on engrossed bills and on 
special committee on redistricting the state, and 
was returned in 1897 and again in 1898. Mr. Cook 
was a consistent, faithful worker in behalf of his 
constituents, an able debator, a pleasing and con- 
vincing speaker and a strong defender of what he 
personally believed to be true Republican prin- 
ciples. 

With all his accomplishments he was a lover of 
music, and found great enjoyment in devoting what 
time he could spare from his professional duties to 
the practice of music, being a proficient organist ; 
he officiated in that capacity for the Episcopal 
church in Milford, where he attended worship. He 
belonged to the order of Free Masons, being a mem- 
ber of Stark Lodge, Bennington, Vermont. In re- 
ferring to Mr. Cook's professional principles the 
National Journalist has said, "He is a firm believer 
in an individualized editorial column, which shall 
state honest convictions in a plain and unequivocal 
manner and stand by them." 

Mr. Cook married, September 20, 1888, Mrs. 
Georgiana I-'ay, widow of the late Joseph .Mien 
Fay, M. D., of Milford, a prominent physician of 
high rank in his profession, who died N'ovember 
10, 1883. She was the daughter of George and 
Charlotte (Halstead) Glackmeycr, and born in New 
Orleans, Louisana, September 27, 1850. 

The father of Joseph Allen Fay, M. D., was 
Allen Clark Fay, M. D., a skillful practitioner, also 
of Milford, where he was well-known and highly 
esteemed, and when he died, June 18, 1880, he was 
in the sixth generation from John Fay, who was 
born in England about 1648, and came in the ship 
"Speedwell" from Gravesend, arriving in Boston 
June 27, 1656, and resided at various times in Sud- 
bury, Marlboro and Watertown, Massachusetts. 
This Fay family line is John (i), the immigrant, 
Gershom (2), Gershom y), Joseph (4), Joseph 
(S), Allen C. (6). 

Honorable Henry Cook's line of ancestry we 
trace back to Aaron Cook (i), who was admitted 
freeman 1635, and of Northampton, Massachusetts, 
1659, his son 

(II) Aaron, baptized February 21, 1640, was 
representative in 1689-91-93-97. and died September 
16, 1716, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. He 
married, May 30, 1661, Sarah, daughter of William 
Westwood. She died March 24, 1730. in her eighty- 
sixth year. He was known as Captain Aaron 
Cook and resided in Hadley, Massachusetts. Their 
children : Sarah, born January 30, 1662 ; Aaron, 
Joannah, July 10, 1665; Westwood, March 29, 1670; 
Samuel, November 16, 1672; Moses, .May 5, 1675; 
Elizabeth, January 9. 1677; Bridget, March 31, 1683. 

(III) Moses Cook, born May 5. 1675, died March, 
1758; married, July 4, 1698, .Mary Barnard, who died 
• 753- He bore the title of captain, and ri sided in 
Hadley, Massachusetts. Children : Mary, born 
March 20, 1700; Moses, .August i, 1702, died April 
19, 1825; Joannah, October 13, 1704; Aaron, Feb- 
ruary 21, 1707; Margaret, March 18, 171 1; Elisha, 





/^t^^ ^.yy^^^^/<^^ 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



35 



February 22, 1715; Martha, May 26, 1717; Hannah, 
October 16, 1719. 

(IV) Elisha Cook, born February 22, 1715,^ died 
March 4, 1794; married, September 8, 1743, Sarah, 
•daughter of Noah Cook. He was Ensign Cook, re- 
siding in Hadley. Children. Rebecca, born June 
10, 1744, died May 23, 1751 ; Sarah, December 27, 
1745, died August 23, 1746; Coleman, August 3, 
1747; Elisha, September 3, 1749; Waitstill, February 
-25, 1752; Perez, F'ebruary 18, 1754; Oliver, March 

12, 1756, removed to Vermont; Gad, September 20, 
1758; William Westwood, March 3, 1762. 

(,V) Coleman Cook, born August 3, 1747, mar- 
ried, January 31, 1771, Hannah Smith. She died 
February 22, 1S24, aged eighty years, residence, 
Hadley, Massachusetts, where he was a farmer. 
Children: Uavid Smith, born November, 1771; 
Sarah, February 14, 1774; Elizer, May 4, 1775; 
James, September, 1777; Hannah, April 20, 1780; 
Lucinda. April 26, 1783; Coleman, January 25, 1785, 
removed to Vermont. 

(VI) Coleman Cook, born January 25, 1785, 
married Eunice Green, daughter of Jeptha and Mar- 
garet Green, of Springfield, Massachusetts, and was 
a shoe manufacturer in Hadley. Children: Benja- 
min G., born July 31, 1S04, died October 25, 1S56 ; 
Mary Ann, March 10, 1807; Eunice S., June, 1809; 
William C, January 27, 1812, died May 28, 1840; 
Francis H., August 22, 1815; James I. C, October 

13, 1817 ; Alexander S. C, February 18, 1820. 

(VII) James I. C. Cook, born October 13, 
1817, married Maria E. Robertson, daughter of Will- 
iam and Christiana Robertson, at Putney, Vermont, 
October 13, 1840. He was a printer and publisher 
in Bennington, Vermont, also in Milford, Massachu- 
setts. Children, all born in Bennington, were: 
William Henry, born January 7, 1843, died August 

26, 1900, in Milford. James Edwin, November 7, 
1844, died October 16, 1847; Ella J., October 21, 
1848; George G., September 9, 1854. 

CLINTON SPAULDING MARSHALL, general 
manager of the Washburn & Moeii branch of the 
United States Steel & Wire Company, at Worcester, 
Massachusetts, is a worthy representative of families 
■whose members have won distinction in the build- 
ing of towns, erection of temples of worship, and as 
soldiers during the revolutionary and civil wars. 

David Marshall born in Dedham, Massachusetts ; 
buried in Hebron, Maine, the earliest ancestor of 
whom we have any authentic information, married 
Lucy Mason, daughter of Dr. Moses, of Dover, 
New Hampshire. Their children were: I. David, 
buried in Paris, Maine. 2. Ashel, buried in Mechan- 
ics Falls, Maine. 3. Lucy, buried in Hebron, Maine. 
4. Walter. 5. Aaron, buried in Hebron, Maine. 6. 
John. 7. Moses, buried in Hebron, Maine. 8. Mar- 
ian, buried in Paris, Maine, g. Nathan, buried in 
Paris, Maine. 

Ashel Marshall, son of David and Lucy (Mason) 
Marshall, was born at Minot, Maine. To him be- 
longs the distinction of being the first settler of Me- 
chanics Falls, he having founded a colony there in 
1820, upon land left to him by his father, David Mar- 
shall, which land lay adjacent to the waterfall reach- 
ing across the peninsular to Bog brook, about three- 
fourths of a mile in width. In 1869 twenty acres 
of this farm, adjoining the brook, was purchased 
and fitted up for a cemetery. He married Lucy 
Calderwood, daughter of John and Thankful 
(]\lorey) Calderwood, of Fox Island, Maine. John 
Calderwood was wounded in a naval battle in the 
revolutionary war, by being shot in the head ; his 
skull was trepanned, and a silver dollar was em- 
ployed to cover the wound, which he wore through 



life. The issue of this marriage was nine children, 
as follows: i. Henry, born at Belfast, Maine. 2. 
Sarah, born at Belfast, Maine. 3. Miriam, born at 
Turner, Maine. 4. Moses, born at Turner, Maine. 
5. Mason, born at Hebron, Maine. 6. John, born at 
Turner, Maine. 7. Lydia, born at Turner, Maine ; 
8. Hannah, born at Mechanics F'alls, Maine, Feb- 
ruary 14, 1825, still living in Bridgeport, Connecti- 
cut. 9. George C, born in Mechanics Falls, Maine, 
September 18, 1827; died January 22, 1862. 

George C. Marshall, youngest son and child of 
Ashel and Lucy (Calderwood) Marshall, born at 
Mechanics Falls, Maine, September 18, 1827, was 
major of the First Missouri Cavalry, known as the 
Merrill Horse regiment, and was brutally murdered 
January 22, 1862, at Knob Noster, by the notorious 
bushwhacker (rebel) known as "Arkansas Robin- 
son." A newspaper account of this treacherous and 
dastardly act is below recorded, and taken from 
clippings preserved by the family, dated, January 23, 
1862 : "A sad tale of treachery is connected with 
the fatal shooting of Major Marshall, commanding 
a batallion of Merrill's Horse that left here on 
Sunday for Johnson county. Yesterday morning, 
while the command was at Knob Noster, Major 
Marshall, Lieutenant Bennett and Surgeon Dr. 
Thayer, followed by the command went to ascertain 
the cause of gunshots which they heard a half mile 
distant. On approaching the house they saw two men 
galloping off, and immediately gave hot chase. The 
major's horse being the fleetest, was first to over- 
take the bandits, whom he 'covered,' the man throw- 
up his hands crying : 'I surrender,' but still hold- 
ing on to his double-barrelled gun. The major 
looked around to see where his comrades were, 
when he received a ball from the double traitor 
which brought fatal effect, the ball passing upwards 
and entirely through the body, a little above the 
diaphragm. Lieutenant Bennett gave chase, over- 
took him and fired three shots without effect, but 
the fourth shot struck the bandit in the eye, and 
he fell dead on the spot. He was left where he 
fell. A detachment arrived about 2 o'clock this A. 
M., bringing the major, still alive, but having no 
hopes of his recovery. Thus falls by the hands of 
an assassin, one of the purest and bravest spirits of 
our army. A terrible retribution is stamped on the 
countenances of his associates-in-arms, by whom he 
was idolized. The fellow who shot him is known as 
the notorious bushwhacker, 'Arkansas Robinson.' 
Major Marshall was buried at Minot, Maine, under 
arms, by the 'Mechanic Falls Zouaves.' " The body 
was afterward removed to Rutland, the home of his 
wife. Major Marshall enlisted at Chillicothe, Mis- 
souri, and together with Colonel Merrill, of Michi- 
gan, raised a regiment of one thousand cavalry, the 
major raising five hundred men from Missouri, 
which was then a slave state, and Colonel Merrill 
raising five hundred men from Michigan. His first 
enlistment was as captain of the First Missouri 
Cavalry, but after a few months was promoted, at 
Bentons Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, with rank 
of major. At Rutland, Massachusetts, the George 
C. Marshall Post is named in honor of him. At the 
time of his enlistment he was station agent for 
the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. He married, 
January 8, 1849, at Lunenburg, Massachusetts, Char- 
l"tti- L. Harrington, born at Acton, Massachusetts, 
October 16, 1827, daughter of Isaac and Relief 
(Watkins) Harrington, and one son was the issue, 
Clinton Spaulding, see forward. Edward Har- 
rington, the ancestor of Charlotte L. (Harrington) 
Marshall, married Anna Ballard, December 15, 1731, 
and they had twelve children. Their son, Edward 
Harrington, born May 22, 173S, married Anna 



36 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Lawrence, April i, 1756, and they had six children. 
He served as captain in the revolution, and died at 
Ticonderoga, September 23, 1776. Edward Har- 
rington, Jr., born in Watertown, May 20, 1758, en- 
listed three times in the revolutionary war, first 
for nine months when sixteen years of age; he 
served as drummer. He married, October, 1778, 
Susanna Wellington, who bore him nine children. 
Susanna was visiting her sister Rebecca, whose hus- 
band, John Jlonroe, kept a tavern in Lexington, 
when the British soldiers marched upon them, .A.pril 
19, 1776. They demanded food and drinks and she 
helped to serve them. They returned from Con- 
cord in such a hurry that they did not call again. 
The children of Edward and Susanna (Wellington) 
Harrington were : Edward, Nancy, Susan, Thank- 
ful, Phineas, Rebecca, Jacob, Jonas, Isaac. 

Isaac Harrington was born at Concord, Massa- 
chusetts, November 23, 1802, died February, 1868. 
He was a successful farmer. He was married to Re- 
lief Watkins, daughter of Edward and Keturah 
(Dennisbn) Watkins, at the "Old Manse," Concord, 
Massachusetts, by Dr. Ezra Ripley, July 14, 1825. 
Children of -Edward and Keturah (Dennison) Wat- 
kins were ij^t. Royal. 2. Miriam ; she had a son who 
became the governor of Ohio. 3. Ira. 4. Relief, 
born August 22, 1802; died July 25, 1898. 5. Char- 
lotte. Isaac Harrington and Relief (Watkins) Har- 
rington were the parents of five children : i. George 
E., born April 26, 1826; died February, 1902. 2. 
Charlotte L., born October 16, 1827, widow of 
George C. Marshall, and mother of Clinton S. Mar- 
shall. 3. Elizabeth M., born July 12, 1830, died 
February, 1905. 4. Sarah A. T., born May 9, 1833, 
died .August i, 1862. 5. Susan R., born April 16, 
1841. living at the present time (1905). 

Clinton Spaulding Marshall, only child of Major 
George C. and Charlotte L. (Harrington) Marshall, 
born in Rutland, Massachusetts, February 6, i860. 
He received his education in the Worcester public 
and high schools, and later pursued higher branches 
of study at Wilbraham Academy. After leaving 
school, in 1877, he engaged with the Washburn & 
Moen Wire Company, and after repeated advance- 
ments has risen to the highest position attainable 
in this district in this^ world-renowned enterprise, 
that of general manager of the Washburn & Moen 
branch of the United States Steel & Wire Company 
at Worcester, Massachusetts. This branch oper- 
ates three immense plants, located at Worcester, 
which arc distinctly known as the North works. 
Central works and South Works, which collectively, 
employed about six thousand hands, upon whom 
about forty thousand people in the city of Worcester 
deoeiul for a livlihood, not to speak of the extensive 
aid given to the men of profession, merchants and 
various tradesmen who make up the population of 
the city. Thus it will readily be seen and appreciated 
that such a position is one that involves no little re- 
sponsibility, and requires the services of a man of 
shrewdness, sagacity, business ability and a keen 
knowledge of human nature, all of which character- 
istics Mr. Marshall, possesses in a remarkable de- 
gree. Mr. Marshall enjoys the confidence and re- 
spect of his brother officers, together with that of 
every member of the army of skilled workmen under 
his management. He is connected with the Meth- 
odists, being an ardent believer in the tenets of that 
church, and furthers the cause of that denomination 
whenever an opportunity presents itself. His con- 
tributions to this work arc known to be generous, 
but being of a quiet nature, and not aspiring for 
public praise in matters of this kind, very few are 
aware of the extent of his benevolences. He is a 
Republican in politics, whether local, state or na- 



tional, but has never sought or held office. He is 
a prominent member of the Worcester Commandery, 
and a Fourteenth Degree Mason ; an active member 
of the Commonwealth Club, Worcester Club, Lake- 
side Boat Club, Tatassit Canoe Club, and several 
other organizations, all of which are composed of 
members of the first families of Worcester. He- 
married, March 4, 1880, Floretta A. Bigelow, born 
-March 4. 1S60, at Boylston, came to Worcester 
in 1877, daughter of Charles P. and Rhoanna I. 
(Ball) Bigelow, of Boylston, Massachusetts. Their 
children are: i. Charlotte J., born at Worcester^ 
Massachusetts, November 25, 1887 ; attended Worces- 
ter high school, two years, then went West and 
entered Monticello Seminary, at Godfrey, Illinois, 
remaining for one year, and now enters Lasell 
Seminary, Auburndale, Massachusetts, to complete 
this course. 2. Helen B., born at Worcester, Massa- 
chusetts, May II, 1892, is now (1905) attending the 
Worcester schools. 

Charles P. Bigelow, a native of Boylston, born 
Xovcmber 12, 1827, and his wife Rhoanna I. (Ball) 
Bigelow, a native of Holden, born April 15, 1830, 
were the parents of: i. Charles E., born July 23, 
1852. 2. George E., born October 12, 1854. 3. 
Frederick F., born February 4, 1858. 4. Floretta A., 
born March 4, i860, wife of Clinton S. Marshall. 
5. Endora M., born February 18, 1862. 6. Herbert, 
born August, 1864, died June, 1865. 7. Lillian I., 
born August 24, 1873. Charles P. Bigelow was- 
a son of Solomon and Rebecca (Parker) Bigelow, 
and grandson of Andrew and Sarah (Fawcett) 
Bigelow. Solomon Bigelow was born at Boylston, 
Massachusetts, March 18, 1795; married Rebecca 
Parker, and their children were: I. Caroline, born 
August 22, 1829. 2, Solomon Slater, born Decem- 
ber 27, 1821. 3. Rebecca Maria, born March 13, 
1824. 4. Charles P., born November 12, 1827, died 
March 14, 1877, mentioned above. 5. Henry Alonzo, 
born February, 1834. 

Rhoanna (.Ball) Bigelow was the daughter of 
Nathan and Abigail (Carruth) Ball, who were the 
parents of one other child, Edward, who died at 
the age of five years. Nathan Ball was a son of 
Nathan and Susanna (Hastings) Ball, who were 
the parents of twelve or thirteen children; and. 
Abigail (Carruth) Ball, born at Paxton, Massachu- 
setts, was a daughter of Ephraim and Sally (Sever) 
Carruth, of Spencer, Massachusetts, who were the 
parents of twelve children. Ephraim Carruth was 
a son of Silas Carruth. 

The Bigelow family can be traced back to the 
first known settler of that name in New England, 
namely: John, son of Samuel and Mary (Flagg) 
Biglo, of Watertown. Samuel, son of John and 
Mary (Warren) Biglo, born in Watertown, Octo- 
ber 28, 1653. The Ball family is traced back in the 
family name, Nathan Ball, to 1720, when he (Nathan 
Ball) with his brother James, settled Ball Hill in 
Northboro. 

FRANK WILBUR NOURSE. Francis Nourse 
(i), the immigrant ancestor of Frank Wilbur 
Nourse, of Winchendon, Massachusetts, was born 
in England, January 18, 1618, and died at Salem 
Village, now Danvers, Massachusetts, November 
22, 1695. On account of the witchcraft delusion in 
Salem he and his wife became historical characters. 
The name of Rebecca Nurse or Nourse is perhaps 
the best known of all the unfortunate victims of 
the Puritan fanatics. 

Francis Nourse was an early settler before 1639 
and was a proprietor of the town of Salem in 
1647. He lived for forty years near Sperry's on 
North River street between the main village of 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



37 



Salem and the ferry to Beverly. He was a wood 
worker, called a tray maker. In those days wooden 
<lishes were the rule; there was little pewter, less 
silver and china, and the plates, trays and trenchers 
<of wood were the ordinary dishes. He was a 
skilled workman, and a respectable man of great 
stability and strength of character. He was called 
frequently as umpire and arbitrator in cases of dis- 
pute over land boundaries. He served on local 
juries and on committees to lay out land grants and 
highways. He bought the Bishop farm at Salem 
village, April 29, 1678, on favorable terms and set- 
tled there, it contained some three hundred acres ; 
his children all built their homes and lived on it, and 
the sons were men of influence in the town and 
church. They were prosperous, and it is believed 
that their success in acquiring a large estate, paying 
for it and prospering as the Nourses had, was 
the cause of the malicious charge against the wife 
and mother, Rebecca Nourse. The story of her 
trial is well known. She was arrested and pro- 
tested her innocence of the charge of witchcraft. 
With steadfast dignity and unwavering patience she 
bore the ordeal of her trial, where crazy fanatics 
even threw their muffs and shoes at her and had 
fits and exhibitions of that sort in court. Thirty- 
nine of her friends among the highest and most 
respectable in the town signed a statement testify- 
ing to her blameless character and faithfulness to 
the church. These names have been inscribed on 
a tablet on the memorial recently erected over her 
grave at Danvers. The jury found her not guilty, 
but the court reversed the verdict and condemned 
her to death. She was hanged on Witch Hill and 
iuried in the little cemetery at Danvers. 

Francis Nourse married her August 24, 1644. 
Her maiden name was Rebecca Towne, daughter 
■of William and Jane Towne, of Yarmouth, Eng- 
land, where she was born February 16, 1621. She 
•was hanged July 19, 1692. Children of Francis and 
Rebecca Nourse were: John, born 1645, died 1719; 
Rebecca, born 1647, died 1719; marrieS, April 15, 
176Q, Thomas Preston ; Samuel, see forward ; Mary, 
snarried, October 25, 1678, John Tarbell ; Francis, 
died February 5. 1716; Sarah, born 1663. married, 

July, 1700, Michel ; Elizabeth, born January 9, 

1665, married, October 25, 167S, William Russell; 
Benjamin, born January 22, i666,' died 1748; removed 
to Framingham, Massachusetts. 

(II) Samuel Nourse, third child of Francis 
Nourse (i), was born at Salem village, February 
3, 1649, died there July 15, 17 15. He married, 1677, 
Mary Smith, daughter of John Smith, who was 
tborn March 3, 1660, died December 10, 1716. Sam- 
uel was admitted a freeman 1690. He was baptized 
jn the North Parish (Danvers) church March 2, 
J689, his wife March 23, 1690, and their children 
Samuel, Mary, George. Margaret and Rebecca, April 
13, 1690. They settled in the North Parish. Their 
children were : Samuel, see forward ; Margaret, 
torn February 24, 1680; George, born January 25, 
1682 (Savage says January 29), died 1709; Mary, 
torn May 25, 1685, married John Daggett ; Rebecca, 

born September 15. 1688. married Jonathan Kenney ; 
Ebenezer, born 1690, died 1704. 

(III) Samuel Nourse, eldest child of Samuel 
Nourse (2), was born June 7, 1678. died 1740. He 
■settled in Salem village and his children were born 
there, viz.: Abigail, baptized May 18, 1710; Rebecca, 
taptized July 20, 1712: Samuel, baptized May 29, 
1715; Francis, see forward; Eunice, baptized Sep- 
tember 28, 1718; Phebe, baptized July 23, 1721. 

(IV) Francis Nourse, fourth child of Samuel 
Nourse (3), was born in the North parish of Salem 
village, now Danvers, Massachusetts, and baptized 



in the church there when an infant June 30, 1717- 
He was a farmer at Danvers, where his children 
were born, viz. : Samuel and the next four were 
baptized together February 15, 1756, at the North 
Parish church; Peter, see forward; Philip, Eunice, 
Benjamin, Phebe, baptized September 25, 1757; 
Jacob, baptized May 18, 1760; Abigail, baptized Jan- 
uary 17, 1762; Ede, baptized May ig, 1765; Oliver, 
born August 25, 1771. 

(V) Peter Nom^e, second child of Francis 
Nourse (4), was born in the North parish of Sa- 
lem village, now Danvers, Massachusetts, in 1743- 
He was a farmer, also r. cordwainer by trade. He 
bought land first in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Sep- 
tember 17, 1768, in company with John Putnam, 
John Putnam, Jr.. George Small, all of Danvers, 
Massachusetts, from William Burnett Brown, form- 
erly of Salem, then of King William comUy, Vir- 
ginia, one hundred and fifty acres. Some of this 
land was in Lunenburg. The same partners and 
William Brown, of Salem, and Joseph and Abigail 
Blaney had land in common Novem'^er 14, 1768, in 
Fitchburg, Lunenburg and Ashby. Ip. the partition, 
June, 1769, Nurse received an eighty -vcre farm on 
Pearl hill, Fitchburg, and settled there. He was in 
Fitchburg in 1770, when a tax unfairly -assessed was 
abated. He lived there about twelvt years and 
then removed to Rockingham, Windham county, 
Vermont. He was in Rockingham in I79>"'. He sold 
his farm at Fitchburg, May 5, 1782, to Timothy 
Batchelder of Lunenburg, and probably went to Ver- 
mont at that time. He sold a small lot to Batchelder, 
December 9, 1798, and another to Amos Lawrence 
at the same time. He was then in Rockingham. 
He was a man of very strict religious views, a mem- 
ber of the orthodox church. He was elected fire 
ward of Fitchburg in 1778. He married Lydia 
Lowe, of Ipswich, Massachusetts, in the part now 
called Hamilton. Their children were : Samuel, born 
and baptized June 7, 1767, at Danvers ; Francis, 
baptized at Danvers, January 8, 1769; Daniel, see 
forward. 

(VI) Daniel Nourse, son of Peter Nourse (s), 
was born at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, about 1780. 
He removed to Vermont when a young child with 
his parents and they settled at Rockingham, Ver- 
mont. He was a farmer. He was an active member 
of the Baptist church, and in politics was a Whig. 
He was a minute man in the war of 1812. He mar- 
ried Nancy George, born in Warner, New Hamp- 
shire, and their children were : Lydia, born about 
1817; Daniel George, see forward; Clarissa. He 
married (second) Emily Darby, of Rockingham. 
Vermont. There were no children by the second 
marriage. 

(VII) Daniel George Nourse. second child of 
Daniel Nourse (6), was born at Rockingham, Jan- 
uary 8, 1819. He was educated there in the com- 
mon schools, and after the prevailing fashion helped 
his father on the farm at Saxton's River until he 
was about thirty years old. He then leased a grist 
mill at Waitsfield, Vermont, and conducted that 
business for several years, He then removed to 
Saxton's River and worked in a mill there. In 
1858 he bought the Brockway Mills in the north 
part of Rockingham township, continued about 
twelve years then entered into partnership with L. 
H. Coggswell under the firm name of Nourse & 
Coggsvvell. Later they admitted M. L. Lawrence as 
partner. About 1870 he sold out his interests in the 
firm to his partners, and bought a large farm which 
lie carried on two years. He removed to North 
Hadley, Massachusetts, in 1872, and conducted a 
grist mill and grain business there for several years 
until his death, April, 1882. He was a Congre- 



38 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



gationalist in religion and a Republican in politics. 
He served on the school committee in Rocking- 
ham, Vermont. He was in the militia when a young 
man. He was a man of the strictest integrity, en- 
joying the esteem and contidcnce of all his business 
associates and the friendship of all whom he kncNV. 
He was interested in public affairs and was especi- 
ally active in the temperance movement. 

He married (first) .Mary Wheeler, of Rocking- 
ham, Vermont, daughter of Asa and Persis (Burke) 
Wheeler, of Rockingham. Her father was a ma- 
chinist and built looms and mills. Daniel married 
(second) Eliza Wheeler, sister of his first wife. 
Children of Daniel George and Mary Nonrse were: 
Lucius Wheeler, died 1903, in Minnesota; Charles 
Augustus, killed in Brockton, Massachusetts, 1880; 
George Romaine, employed in Vermont Farm Ma- 
chine Company, at Bellows Falls, Vermont; Frank 
Wilbur, see forward. Child of Daniel George and 
Eliza Nourse was : Mary Eliza, married W. H. 
Faulkner, in Andovcr, Massachusetts. 

(\'ni) Frank Wilbur Nourse, fourth child of 
Daniel George Nourse (7), was born at Waitsfield, 
Vennont, November 27, 1S50. When he was four 
years old he moved with his parents to Rockingham, 
Vermont. He attended the public schools until 
nineteen years of age, when he went to work in 
his father's grist mill and continued until he was 
twenty-four. He worked four years in a mill at 
Bellows Falls, Vermont, and at Alstead, New Hamp- 
shire, for John D. Holmes. He finally leased the 
business at Alstead of Mr. Holmes and carried on a 
lumber and grain business there for seven years. 
Then he entered into partnership with George E. 
Holmes, son of John D. Holmes, his former em- 
ployer, under the firm name of Nourse & Holmes. 
Mr. Nourse's health became impaired, and after 
four years he withdrew from business and sold 
his interests to Mr. Holmes, father of his partner. 
For four years he was obliged by ill health to rest 
and recuperate, and part of this time he spent in 
Winchendon, Massachusetts. In 1892 he accepted 
the position of manager of the Winchendon Electric 
Light Company, and is at present the treasurer. 
His courtesy and good judgment in this responsible 
position have won for him the respect of his as.so- 
ciates in the company and of the public which the 
company serves. In politics Mr. Nourse is a Repub- 
lican. He was made a Master Mason in St. Paul's 
Lodge at Alstead, New Hampshire, was worshipful 
■ master at orlt time, and is at present a member of 
Artisan Lodge of Winchendon. He is also a member 
of Bellows Falls Lodge of Odd Fellows at Bellows 
Falls, Vermont, of the Avon Club of Winchendon. 
Mr. Nourse married, January 13. 1880, Ella J. 
Holmes, daughter of John D. and Sarah T. (Mer- 
riam) Holmes, of Alstead, New Hampshire. They 
have one son : Charles A. Nourse, born November 
II, 1881, at present a machinist at Ayer, Massa- 
chusetts. 

WOOD FAMILY. William Wood (i) was the 
immigrant ancestor of Oliver B. Wood, the printer 
and publisher of Worcester, and of Ernest Freeman 
Wood and George Farrar Wood, of Winchendon, 
Massachusetts. 

William Wood was born, according to Shattuck, 
the Concord historian, in Derbyshire, England, 1582. 
He is believed to have come to New England early 
to collect material for the book, "New England's 
Prospects," an enthusiastic description of the new 
country, responsible perhaps for much of the emi- 
gration from England after its publication in London 
in 1636. William Wood again came to America in 
1638 with his nephew, Hon. Thomas Flint, and set- 



tled in Concord. The first mention of the Indian 
name of Concord in print was found in (his boolc 
of Wood's. He died May 14, 1671, and was buried 
at Concord. His age was given at the time of 
death as eighty-one years. His will, dated Septem- 
ber 15, 1670, named the three children given below. 
They were born in England, viz. : Michael, sec for- 
ward ; Ruth, married Captain Thomas Wheeler, the 
valiant Indian fighter; Abigail; married at Concord, 
March 24, 1667, Stephen Hosmer. 

(II) Michael Wood, the only son of William 
Wood (1), was born in England and came probably 
in 1638 with his father to Concord. He made his 
home there on what is now Main street, beyond the 
south branch of the river. His near neighbors were 
Obadiah Wheeler, Edmund Wigley and Goodman 
Dakin. He was admitted a freeman May 13, 1640. 
He died in Concord, May 13, 1674. He married 

Mary , who survived him. Children of Michael 

Wood and his wife Mary were: Abraham, settled 
in Sudbury, was father of Deacon Nathan Wood, 
born March 24, 1723, who removed in 1756 to West- 
minster, and who had fifteen children and many 
descendants there ; Abigail, born at Concord, April 
10, 1642; Thomas or Thompson; John; Nathaniel, 
died March 7, 1661-62; Mary died April 4, 1663; 
Jacob, born March 3. 1661-62, married Mary 
Wheeler, 1697; Isaac, see forward. 

(III) Isaac Wood, son of Michael Wood (2), 
was born in Concord, Massachusetts, about 1670. 

He married (first) Mary , (second) Elizabeth 

, who died May 12, 1717, and (third) Susannah 

Bisco, both of Concord, April 26, 1722. She survived 
him. He died January 11, 1740-41. The only child 
on record of Isaac and Alary w^as : Mary, born at 
Concord, March 17, 1689-90. The only child on rec- 
ord of Isaac and Elizabeth was: Elizabeth, born 
April 8, 1693. The children of Isaac and Susannah 
Wood were: Michael, see forward; Samuel, born 
April 22, 1728; Susannah, born August 19, 1732. 

(IV) Michael Wood, son of Isaac Wood (3), 
was bom in Concord, Alassachusetts, July i, 1724. 
He settled in Lunenburg where he married Martha 
Platts, daughter of Abel Platts, who was the first 
settler of Rindge, New Hampshire. He married 
(second), August 21, 1764, Lois Wilson, of Lunen- 
burg. Children of Alichacl and Mary Wood were: 
Isaac, see forward; Elizabeth, born April 20, 1751, 
married Daniel Graegg, of Rindge, New Hampshire ; 
Mary, born November i, 1749; Hannah, born Jan- 
uary 18, 1754. 

(V) Isaac Wood, eldest child of Michael Wood 
(4), was born in Lunenburg, Massachusetts. Septem- 
ber 7, 1746. He was a revolutionary soldier. He 
and his cousin, Abel Platts, Jr., were in the com- 
pany of Captain Nathan Hale at the Lexington 
alarm, April 19, 1775. He probably was in the 
service again. He was a mason by trade and also 
conducted his farm. He settled at Rindge, New- 
Hampshire, 1772, on the farm now or lately owned 
by his descendants, Jonas and John E. Wood. He 
held positions of public honor and trust. He was 
selectman of Rindge in 1785-86. 

He married. January 11, 1770, Elizabeth Hart- 
well, born April 14. 1751, daughter of Jonathan and 
Elizabeth (Parbcll) Hartwell. She died Novem- 
ber 20, 1819, and he died January 5, 1836, aged 
eighty-eight years. All their children except the 
eldest were Iwrn in Rindge, viz. : Amasa, born in 
Lunenburg, September 2, 1771 ; Jonathan, born April 
17. 177.3. sec forward; Jonas, born December 30, 
1774, resided at Lennox, New York; Isaac, born 
November 30, 1776; Betty, born October 11, 1778, 
died young; Ruth, born November 7. 1780, married 
Benjamin Lovejoy; David, born July 19, 1783; 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



39 



Betty, born September lo, 1785, married Stephen 
Emory, of Rindge ; Caleb, born July I, 1789, died 
1807; Susan, married, March 9, 1826, Deacon John 
W. Bemis; Eunice, married, May 3, 1830, Captani 
Joseph Hartwell, of Lunenburg. 

(VI) Jonathan Wood, son of Isaac Wood (5), 
was born in Rindge, New Hampshire, April 17, 1773- 
He married, April 10, 1779, Dolly Jones, daughter 
of Enos Jones. She was born May 28, 1777. Her 
father was the son of William and Sarah (Locke) 
Jones. Enos Jones was born in Lunenburg, July 
4, 1742. His father at the time of his death owned 
one-half the Bluetield or Bellows grant in Ashburn- 
ham, Massachusetts, and in 1761 Enos Jones removed 
to that town and settled on this tract. He was a de- 
scendant of Lewis Jones, through Captain Josiah 
(H); Josiah (HI); William (IV), who settled in 
Lunenburg; Enos (V). Jonathan Wood settled in 
the north part of the town of Ashburnham. His 
wife died there January 18, 1818. He married 
(second), December 21, 1820, Sarah (Lake) Robin- 
son, daughter of Henry and Prudence Lake, of 
Rindge, and widow of Ezra Robinson. She mar- 
ried (third) Amos Stearns; fourth, May 19, 1842, 
Josiah Hartwell, of Fitchburg. Jonathan Wood died 
September I, 1825. 

Children of Jonathan and Dolly Wood were: 
Zulima, born November 30, 1799, married, 1823, Asa 
Dunn, of Fitchburg; Laura, born June 20, 1801, mar- 
ried, April 22, 1823, John Vose, of Leominster; 
Dolly, born February 3, 1803, married, April 8, 1823, 
Zacheriah Parker, Jr., of New Ipswich; Elnathan, 
born September 20, 1804; died July 29, 1829; George, 
born September 29, 1805, married, September 16, 
1827, Luana Lawrence; Betsey, born June 25, 1808, 
married, February 6, 1827, Luther Perkins, of 
Wethersfield ; Zoa, born January 24, 1810, died 
September 7, 1822; Lurena, born December 12, 1812, 
married, Janaury 16, 1831, Freeman Walcott ; Hart- 
well, born October 27,' 1815, married, 1841, James 
Snell; she died January I, 1843, and he died July 26, 
1846; Jonas J., born January i, 1818, married, 1852, 
Lucy Wood, of Mason, New Hampshire; she died 
November 4, 1853; married (second) Lydia Parker, 
of Lawrence; she died August 12, 1859; he removed 
i860 to Winchendon, where he died October 13, 
1863. Children of Jonathan and Sarah Wood were. 
Eunice K., born March 22, 1824, married George P. 
Ward, son of Alvan Ward, of Winchendon; Eli- 
phalet S., see forward. 

(VII) Eliphalet S. Wood, son of Jonathan 
Wood (6), was born in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, 
February 2, 1825. He resided in his native town 
until 1866, when he removed -to Winchendon. He 
was express agent there from 1866 to 1886. He was 
deputy sheriff from 1870 for many years. He was 
prominent in town affairs and filled the offices of 
constable and overseer of the poor. He married, 
September 20, 1846, Susan H. Farrar, daughter of 
John Farrar. She was born June 24, 1826; her 
father was born April 1$, 1784, and was the son of 
Jacob Farrar, of (loncord, who married, December 
20, 1810, Calle Stearns, daughter of William Stearns. 
Susan H. (Farrar) Wood died March 26, 1843. leav- 
ing eight children. He married (second), March 
13, 1844, Lucy Houghton, daughter of Robert and 
Sarah (Jones) Houghton, of Leominster and Win- 
chendon. Children of Eliphalet S. and Susan II. 
Wood were : Ella Modina, born September 23, 
1847, married. May 20, 1876, John E. Wakefield ; 
reside at 474 Grove street. Worcester ; he is a 
wrench manufacturer at 89 Exchange street. Frank 
A., born May g, 1850, died March 2, 1851. George 
Farrar, born August 21, 1851, married, August 25, 
1874, Alice H. Merrill, daughter of-E. S. Merrill, 



dealer in , furniture, Winchendon, Massachusetts. 
Calla A., born July 30, 1855, married, January 20, 
1876, John W. Beaman, of Winchendon, son of Will- 
iam Beaman ; Oliver B., born February 7, 1857, mar- 
ried, October 19, 1882, Jennie C. F'lagg ; he is pro- 
prietor of a book and job printing establishment, 
l'"oster street, Worcester. Walter L., born October 
17, 1859, died June 25, 1864. Ernest Freeman, born 
June 18, 1863, express agent at Winchendon, see 
forward ; Cora Etta, born April 4, 1867. 

(VIII) George Farrar Wood, son of Eliphalet 
S. Wood (7), was born at Winchendon, Massachu- 
setts, August 21, 1851. He removed with his par- 
ents to Ashburnham at an early age, and was edu- 
cated in the common schools of that town. He re- 
moved to Winchendon with his parents in 1866. 
He attended the public schools there, and was two 
years in the high school. He also took a course in 
the business college of Bryant & Stratton, of Boston. 
He began his business life in tlie employ of C. C. 
Parker, of Winchendon, proprietor of a general 
store. At the end of three years he bought the 
business of Mr, Parker. The store was located in 
the Tucker Rice block, just above the railroad sta- 
tion. Two or three years later the store was re- 
moved to its present location in the block built by 
himself and father. After his father's death he 
bought the interests of the other heirs in the build- 
ing, and is now the sole owner. Mr. Wood attends 
in North Congregational Church at Winchendon. 
He is a member of Manamonack Lodge, No. 121, 
Odd Fellows ; Watatic Tribe of Red men ; Avon 
Club, and Winchendon Country Club. In politics 
he is a Republican. He married, August 25, 1874, 
Alice Harriet Merrill, born February 2, 1849, daugh- 
ter of Edwin S. and Harriet (Hand) Merrill, Her 
father was postmaster of Winchendon for forty 
years. The only child of George Farrar and Alice 
Harriet Wood is : Ethel Harriet, born January 22, 
1881. 

(VIII) Ernest Freeman Wood, son of Eliphalet 
S. Wood (7), was born at North Ashburnham, 
Massachusetts, June 18, 1863. When he was three 
years old he removed with his parents to Winchen- 
don, Massachusetts, where he was educated in the 
public schools. After three years' course in the high 
school he entered the employ of the American ex- 
press Company. A few years later he received an 
appointment to his present position as the Win- 
chendon agent of the American National Express 
Companies. Mr. Wood held the appointment of 
deputy sheriff for Winchendon after his father, but 
resigned at the end of a year. He attends the North 
Congregational Church, at Winchendon. In politics 
he is a Republican. He is a member of Artisan 
Lodge of Free Masons, of Winchendon ; North 
Star Chapter of Royal Arch Masons; of Naumkeag 
Council, Royal Arcanum; of Watatic Tribe of Red 
Men; of the Avon Club and Winchendon Country 
Club. 

He married, October 10, 1888, Elizabeth Clara 
Bennett, daughter of Charles N. and Elizabeth 
(Tryon) Bennett. Her father was a carpenter and 
contractor at Manchester, Vermont. She is a w;ell 
known soprano soloist. She has been the leading 
soprano for twelve years at the North Congrega- 
tional Church, and she was for two years in a simi- 
lar position in ' the Leominster Congregational 
Church. The children of Ernest Freeman and Eliza- 
beth Clara Wood were : Madeline Bennett, born 
February 6, 1890; Elizabeth Nelson, born June 12, 
1892. 

(VIII) Oliver Brooks Wood, son of Eliphalet 
S. Wood (7), was born in Ashburnham, Massachu- 
setts, February 7, 1857. He attended the public 



40 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



schools in Winchcndon, and at the age ^f twelve 
began to work in a printing office there. With the 
exception of five years spent in attending school, he 
has been actively engaged since then in the print- 
ing business. When a young man he became fore- 
man of the newspaper and job office of the Frank- 
lin County Times at Greenfield, Massachusetts. He 
worked later in offices in Kitchburg and Chicago. 
In 1878 he returned east and took charge of the job 
printing establishment of Edward R. Fiske, in 
Worcester, one of the largest printing establishments 
in the city. In 1880 he engaged with Sanford & 
Company, stationers and printers, Worcester, as fore- 
man of their printing department. In i88a he pur- 
chased a half interest in the business which was 
conducted thereafter under the firm name of San- 
ford & Wood. A few months later he became t!ie 
sole owner and has carried on the printing business 
with marked success to the present time. In 1894, 
having outgrown the old quarters on Maple street, 
he removed to the commodious building, Foster 
street, where his establishment occupies the entire 
second story. He makes law and mercantile print- 
ing a specialty, and the work of his office has always 
maintained a high reputation for excellence and 
accuracy. Mr. Wood is connected with several Ma- 
sonic, military, social and other organizations iu 
Worcester, and has been president of the Worces- 
ter Typotheta. In politics he is a Republican. He 
married, October 19, 1882, Jennie Chase Flagg, of 
Grafton, Mas.saelnisetts. Their children are: Olive 
Marguerite, Roger Hamilton, deceased; Hamilton 
Brooks, Gladys Jeannelte. 

SPRING FAMILY. It is believed that nearly 
all the families bearing the name of Spring, in the 
United States, but certainly in New England, are 
descended from John Spring, of Watertown, Massa- 
chusetts, and his wife, Elinor, who died prior to 
1656. 

The name of the original John Spring appears 
on the earliest list of proprietors of Watertown, 
1636-7. Twenty years later (March 21, i656r7) he 
executed a deed of gift to his son Henry, of his 
house and land in Watertown, reserving to himself 
during his lifetime the north end of the house. 
After his decease that was to go to Henry. There 
was also a stipulation that Henry should pay his 
father an annuity, and, after the decease of the 
father, pay John Spring. Jr.. thirty pounds lawful 
money. The children of John and Elinor Spring 
were: i. Mary, born 1623, married 1642 John Davis, 
and died a widow in 1656. 2. Henry, born 1628. 
3. John, born 1630. 4. Williaiji, born July, 1633, who 
settled in Barbadocs, and had a son John, who came 
to Newton after the death of his father in Bar- 
badocs, and in 1695 selected his uncle, John Spring, 
to be bis guardian. He made his will August 6, 
1698. giving all his estate to Jonathan Green, of 
Newton, in token of his kindness and care. 

(II) John Spring, born 1628, was admitted free- 
man May 30, 1660. He married (first), January 7, 
1657-8, Mehitable Bartlctt, and (second) September 
12, 1691, Susanna, widow of Gregory Cook. In his 
will dated June 29, 1695, he mentions his 
wife Susanna, sons Henry and Thomas, and 
his wife Susanna, sons Henry and Thomas, and 
daughters Elizabeth, Mehitable and Abigail. As 
early as 1680 he was elected the "town prizer," his 
duty being to fix the rale at which agricultural pro- 
ducts should pass in the payinent of taxes and 
debts. This office he held until 1695. He was often 
employed in taking inventories and settling estates. 
His children were : I. Elizabeth, born October 13, 
1659. 2. Henry, born March i, 1662. 3. Mehita- 



ble. 4. Thomas. 5. Ann, born September 21, 1671. 

6. Abigail, born January 6, 1676-7. 

(HI) Thomas Spring, son of Henry, married, 
November 20, 1701. Elizabeth Traine. He died about 
1710, leaving: I. Mary, born January 19, 1702-3. 2. 
Elizabeth, born September 10, 1705. 3. Thomas, born 
July S. 1708. 4. Henry, born February 2, 1710, died 
1712. 

(,1V) Thomas Spring, Jr., born July 5, 1708, 
was of Weston ; he married Margaret Gates, of Cam- 
bridge, December 31, 1729. He died June 18, 1753, 
leaving: 1. Thomas, born May 21, 1731 ; died 1740. 
2. Anna, born March 5, 1732; died young. 3. Amos, 
born January 7, 1734. 4. Jonathan, born April 10, 
'737- 5- Thaddeus, born August 29, 1739. 6. Thomas 
(5), born June 30, 1741. 7. Susanna, born Novem- 
ber II, 1743; died 1744. 8. Samuel, born February 
5. 1745-6. 

(V) Thomas Spring, born June 30, 1741 ; mar- 
ried Mary Upham, April 16, 1765 ; he settled in 
Weston, now Newton. His children: i. Thomas, 
born May 22. 1766. 2. William, born July I, 1768. 

(VI) William Spring, born July i, 1768; mar- 
ried (first) Novcinber 28, 1805, Rachel, daughter of 
Josiah anel Rachel (Binney) Seaverns, of Weston. 
He married (second), January 12, 1809, Mary Crack- 
bone, of Newton; and (third) Eunice Peirce, of 
Weston: and (fourth) Rebecca Brigham in 1825. 
His children were: i. William Seaverns, born 
June 16, 1806. 2. Joseph Warren, (7), born Octo- 
ber 20, 1809. 3. Rachel, born July 24, died August 

14, i8n. 4. Mary Crackbone, born July II, died 
October, 1814. 5. Eunice, born June 8, 1818. 6. 
George, born February i, 1821. 7. Mary Rachel, born 
March 21, 1823. 8. Amasa, born June 17, 1825. 9. 
Sarah Elizabeth, born September 13, 1826. 10. 
Charles, born April 20, 1828. 11. Marshall, born 
December 23, 1829. 12. Andrew, born February 18, 
1831. 13. Henry, born July 24, 1832. 14. Susan, 
born October 17, 1833. 15. Martha, born February 
22, 1835. 16, Maria Louisa, born November 22, 
1836. 17. Harriet, born December 26, 1838. 18. 
Caroline, born March 25, 1841. 

(VII) Joseph Warren Spring was born Octo- 
ber 20, 1809. He married Nancy Harrington Gibbs. 
The intention of marriage was recorded in Waltham 
records April 4, 1830. She was the daughter of 
John and Sally Harrington (Fay) Gibbs, grand- 
daughter of Joel Fay, and great-granddaughter of 
Captain Benjamin Fay, of Westboro, who served in 
Captain Baker's company that marched on the alarm 
of April 19, 1775, serving seven and a half days. 
He also served on the committee of inspection for 
Westboro. He was a manufacturer of boots and 
shoes. The first three of his children were born in 
Calais, Maine, and the remaining six in Sterling, 
Massachusetts. He removed to Worcester about 
1852, and died there September 10, 1864 and his 
wife died March 9. 1887. His children were; i. 
Joseph W., born October 30, 1831 ; died October 
25. 1895. 2. George William, born May 9, 1833; re- 
moved to Gale.sburg. Illinois. 3. John G., born Feb- 
ruary I, 1835 ; resides in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. 
4. Sarah E., born September 9, 183S; married S. J. 
Chamberlain. 5. Edwin H., born April I, 1840. 6. 
Charles H., born February 18, 1842, resided in Gard- 
ner, ilassachusetts. pnd died there March 30, 1892. 

7. Hattie M., born .^pril 26. 1844; married John 
Francis Bicknell. 8. Helen F. born May 6, 1846, 
ntarried S. H. Kimball. 9. Mary Gibbs, born May 
16, 1848. 

Mary Gibbs Spring, youngest child of Joseph 
Warren and Nancy Harrington (Gibbs) Spring, was 
born in Sterling, Massachusetts, and removed to 
Worcester with her parents about the year 1852. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



41 



She received her early education in the public schools 
of that city. After taking a two years' course in the 
classical high school, the death of her father caused 
a change in her plans for the future, and she en- 
tered Howe's Business College, from which she 
graduated with full honors in 1866. For a time she 
was employed in that institution as a teacher, but 
resigned to accept the responsible position of head 
bookkeeper for the firm of Gross & Strauss, where 
she remained about twelve years. In 1877 she re- 
moved to Elwyn, Pennsylvania, assuming the duties 
of head bookkeeper in the Pennsylvania Training 
school, for about one year, and on returning to Wor- 
cester entered the employ of E. B. Crane & Com- 
pany, luznber dealers, as bookkeeper. After the dis- 
solution of this firm in 1882, John Francis Bicknell, 
on entering the lumber trade in his own name, se- 
cured the services of Miss Spring as his accountant, 
and from that time until his death she held that re- 
sponsible position, her broad knowledge and extens- 
ive practical experience enabling her to render valu- 
able assistance in building up a large and success- 
ful business, which at the death of Mr. Bicknell, 
in November, 1899, was continued under the style 
of J. F. Bicknell Lumber Company, an incorporated 
stock company with Miss Sprmg as treasurer, and 
a member of the board of directors, her sister, Mrs. 
J. F. Bicknell, being the president. This business 
still continues under this organization, with every 
promise of continued prosperity. 

Miss Spring has always manifested a deep inter- 
est in the social and religious life of the community. 
She s active in the work of the Universalist church, 
her helpfulness therein has chiefly gone out through 
that channel as a member of All Souls Parish, of 
which she has for the past five years been treasurer. 
She is the proprietor of a fine apartment building 
known as the Gibbs, which she caused to be erected 
in 1898, naming it in memory of her mother, who 
before her marriage was Nancy Harrington Gibbs. 
It is well located on Main street, in the city of 
Worcester, and is of light colored pressed brick 
front, five stories in height, and contains ten flats, 
all of which are expensively and artistically finished, 
presenting a very fitting monument to a name tend- 
erly cherished by all the members of the family and 
by many deeply attached friends. 

FREDERICK M. BROWN. Abraham Browne 
(l) was the immigrant ancestor of Frederick M. 
Brown, of Winchendon, and of most of the fami- 
lies of this surname in Watertown, Weston, Walt- 
ham and vicinity and of many, of those in New 
Hampshire, western and central Massachusetts. His 
English ancestry is given in the pedigree of Will- 
iam H. Brown, of Winchendon, and it shows this 
family to have had a long and very honorable his- 
tory in England. The line is traced for some ten 
generations in the old country. 

Abraham Browne was son or nephew of Elder 
Richard Browne, of Watertown, and he too settled 
in Watertown among the very earliest pioneers. 
Abraham Browne was admitted a freeman March 
6, 1631-32. Besides his farm he had much sur- 
veying of land for the settlers. He was one of 
the most prominent and honored citizen of the 
town of Watertown for many years. In 1634 Mr. 
Brown and Robert Seeley were appointed "to sur- 
vey all the lots that are granted" and were also 
appointed conservators of the timber trees, none 
of which could be cut without their assent. In 
163s he was one of seven freeman appointed to 
divide the common lands that were plowable. He 
was highway surveyor also in 1635 and laid out 
many of the old highways that are still in use. 



He was one of the committee appointed October 
7, 1641, to lay out a thousand acres granted to 
the artillery company (The Ancient and Honorable 
Artillery Company, still of Boston). He was a com- 
missioner of the general court. He died in 1650. 
His widow Lydia married, November 27, 1659, 
Andrew Hodges, of Ipswich, whose wife Ann had 
died November 15, 1658. She died at Watertown, 
Massachusetts, September 27, 1686. Children of 
Abraham and Lydia Browne were : Sarah, born in 
England, married George Parkhurst, Jr. ; Mary, born 
in England, married, April 10, 1650, John Lewis, of 
Charlestown ; Lydia, born at Watertown, March 22, 
1632-33, married Lieutenant William Lakin, Jr., of 
Groton; Jonathan, born October 15, 1635, see for- 
ward ; Hannah, buried March 5, 1635-39 ; Abraham, 
born March 6, 1639-40, died 1667; owned land in 
Groton. 

(II) Jonathan Browne, son of Abraham Browne 
(i), was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, Octo- 
ber 15, 1635. He settled in Watertown and married 
there, February 11, 1661-62, Mary Shattuck, daugh- 
ter of William Shattuck, of Watertown. She was 
born August 25, 164S, died October 23, 1732, aged 
eighty-seven years, and was buried in the Waltham 
burying ground. His will is dated February 19, 
1690-91, and was proved April 7, following. It 
mentions his wife and son Abraham, executors, and 
other children named below. His name was always 
spelled with the final "e," as well as that of his 
father. The next generation dropped the final letter. 
The children of Jonathan and Mary Browne were: 
Mary, born October S, 1662, married, May 22, 
1682-83, John Warren; Elizabeth, born September 
19, 1664, married, March 25, 1687, Daniel Benjamin; 
Jonathan, born October 25, l66i5, died young; Pa- 
tience, born March 6, 166S-69, married, March S, 
1686-87, James Bigelow ; Abraham, born August 26, 
1671, died November 27, 1729; Samuel, born Octo- 
ber 21, 1674; Lydia born March 31, 1677, married 
January 18, 1698-99, Benjamin Wellington; Eben- 
ezer, born September 10, 1679; Benjamin, born Feb- 
ruary 27, 1681, died October 28, 1756; William, see 
forward. 

(III) Deacon William Brown, son of Jonathan 
Browne (2), was born in Watertown, Massachu- 
setts, September 2, 1684. He was deacon of the 
church and prominent in town affairs in both Water- 
town and Waltham. He was on the first board of 
selectmen of Waltham after it was set off from the 
old town of Watertown. He called the first town 
meeting. He died October 28, 1756. His will was 
dated March 24, 1753, and his son Josiah was execu- 
tor. He married, January 10, 1704-05, Hannah 
Pease, of Cambridge. She died March 10, 1717-18, 
and he married, December 11, 1718, Sarah Bond, 
only daughter of Colonel Jonas and Grace (Cool- 
idge) Bond. She died June 10, 1777, aged eighty- 
eight years. Children of Deacon William and Han- 
nah Brown were : Ebenezer, see forward ; Hannah, 
born January 22, 1706-07, died November 2, 1762; 
married, November 10, 1726, Samuel Lawrence; 
Sarah, born July 6, 1708, died young; William, born 
September 27, 1710, resided in Connecticut; Isaac, 
born December 5, 171 1, died October 6, 1759; Su- 
sanna, born JNIay 16, 1714, married Henry Prentice; 
Samuel, born 1716, married Jerusha Loomis. Chil- 
dren of Deacon William and Sarah Brown were: 
Grace, born 1719, married George Lawrence ; Jonas, 
born December 9, 1721, died young; Josiah, born 
August 2, 1724, died March 16, 1776; Sarah, born 
March 14, 1727-28, married Colonel Benjamin Ham- 
mond; Thankful, born April 8, 1730, married Abijah 
Peirce. 

(IV) Ebenezer Brown, son of Deacon William 



42 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Brown (3). was born in Watcrtown, October 23. 
1705, died December 17, 1785, at Walthain, wberc he 
lived all his life. He was assessor and selectman 
of Waltham. He married. May 20, 1727, Abigail 
Adams, of Lexington. She died December 26, 
17S4. Children of Ebenezer and Abigail Brown 
were: Jonathan, born March 5, 1727-28, married 
Jonathan Merrick; Jonas, born July 26, 1729; Eben- 
ezer, born December 29, 1730; David, born Febru- 
ary 21, 1731-32, married Mindwell Cummins; Na- 
thaniel, born September 30, 1733, died 1755; Han- 
nah, born February 5, 1734-35. married Josiah Smith; 
Martha, born April 6, 1736, married Benjamin 
Green; Amos, born September 18, 1738, see forward; 
Susanna, born November 12, 1739, died young; 
Susanna, born February g. 1741, married, April 10, 
1760, John Wellington; Elijah, born May 31, 1744, 
graduate of Harvard, 1765; teacher; married Su- 
sannah Bigclow, of Waltham; married (second) 
Abigail Flagg, widow of Gershom Flagg, of 
Lanccster. 

(V) Deacon Amos Brown, son of Ebenezer 
Brown (4), was born September 18, 1738, died at 
Waltham, February 3, 1812. He lived in Waltham. 
He married, January 21, 1762, Anna Sanderson, born 
August 30, 1740, daughter of Thomas and Anna 
(Dix) Sanderson. She died September 19, 1823. 
She was a descendant of Francis Marshall, who mar- 
ried Catherine Learned. The name Marshall appears 
among her descendants. Amos Brown was select- 
man of Waltham. Children of Amos and Anna 
Brown were Ebenezer, born November 3, 1762, died 
March 26, 1776; Amos, Jr., July 26, 1764; Thomas, 
November 18, 1766; Lydia. September 12, 1768; 
Nathaniel, March 6, 1771, married Sarah Stearns; 
Eunice, January i, 1773, married Jonas Pierce ; 
Daniel, May 29, 1775, married Sally Flagg: Anna, 
May 19, 1777, died December 3, 1781 ; Ebenezer, 
January 5, 1780, died August 3, 1799. 

(VI) Thomas Brown, son of Amos Brown (5), 
was born November 18, 1766. He lived at Waltham, 
Massachusetts. He married. June 30, 1793, Susannah 
Kendall, at Cambridge. Their children were: Mar- 
shall, bom December 18, 1793, namesake of Freder- 
ick Marshall; Adolphus, married Warner; 

Almira, died young; Seth. see forward. (The rec- 
ords reveal very little of this family ; there were 
probably other children.) The record of the death 
of Seth Brown gives his birthplace as Marlboro, 
Vermont, but there is no record there of his birth. 

(VH) Seth Brown, son of Thomas Brown (6), 
was born at Marlboro, Vermont, March 30, 1804. 
He went to school there and learned the trade 
of tanner, which he followed through life. He 
worked at Leominster. Northfield. Decrfield. Ash- 
burnham, Baldwinsville, and Winchendon. He was 
a man of strict integrity and attended closely to 
his business. He died at Winchendon, June 10, 
1871. He owned land in Phillipston, which he 
iKDUght in 1848. He was a Methodist in religion, 
a Whig in politics and in his later years a Repub- 
lican. He trained in the militia when a young man. 
He married. May 6. 1830, Nancy Brigham, born 
August 16, 1802, died May 12, 1891. Her mother, 
Klizabclli, died at Leominster, September 6. 1846. 
The intentions of this marriage were filed at 
Waltham. March 6, i8.?o. Children of Seth and 
Nancy Brown were: George Henry, born Septem- 
ber 17, 1832, married Augusta P. Britlon. October 
-9. 1873, and had one child— Georgictta Isabel, born 
October 22, 1873. wife of Fred Z. Brown; Charles 
Wheeler, l)orn July 13, 1833. died April 26, 1853; 
Chester Franklin, born January 12, 1835 ; Abel 
Alonzo. born January 29, 1837: Mary Ellen, born 
November 25, 1839, died December 26, 1849; Fred- 



crick Marshall, sec forward; Ellen Mary, born Au- 
gust 5, 1843, died December 7, 1849; Albert Leandcr, 
born February 14, 1847. died December 9, 1849. 

(VIII) Frederick Marshall Brown, son of Seth 
Brown (7), was born in Baldwinsville, Massachu- 
setts, November 29, 1841. He was an infant wher> 
his parents removed to Winchendon, where he at- 
tended school and academy. He went to work at 
the age of seventeen in the wooden-ware factory 
of Amasa Whitney, making wooden faucets. After 
a year there, he entered the employ of Charles A. 
Loud, manufacturer of wooden faucets, where he re- 
mained twenty-six years. The business was then sold 
to Edward Loud and Mr. Brown continued with the 
new owner until his death, about seven years later. 
Benjamin Wright was the next owner of the busi- 
ness, and Mr. Brown remained with him for three 
years, when he entered the Martin Converse toy 
plant, where he operated a bench saw. At present 
Mr. Brown is employed by Carter & Campbell in 
the chair factory, in charge of the bending of stock. 

He was a soldier in the civil war. He enlisted 
July 28, 1862, in Company D, Thirty-sixth .Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers, under Colonel Henry Bowman. 
His regiment was in the Ninth Army Corps. He 
took part in the battles of Fredericksburg, Jackson, 
Campbell's Station, the siege of Knoxville and Blue 
Springs. He was also detailed in the service of the 
brigade quartermaster's department for a year. He 
was mustered out June 8, 1865, after the close of the 
war. In describing the incidents of his service Mr. 
Brown said : "At the seige of Knoxville in East 
Tennessee, I lived on quarter rations of pork and 
bread. We were surrounded and our supplies cut 
oflf for three weeks. * * * On the way to Fred- 
ericksburg the Rebels captured our supply train. 
We camped near Harper's Ferry, living on fresh 
beef and hard corn until our supplies reached us. 
* * * 1 saw a Rebel spy hanged at Knoxville and 
and while encamped in front of Petersburg, Vir- 
ginia, I saw eight soldiers hanged and two shot for 
desertion." Mr. Brown is a member of the Church 
of the Unity (Unitarian) of Winchendon. He is a 
Republican in politics, and has been chosen a dele- 
gate to numerous state and other conventions of his 
party. He served on the police force of Winchen- 
don for sixteen years. He is a member of .Artisarj 
Lodge of Free Masons and has been through the 
chairs of that lodge. He is a member of Mono- 
manock Lodge, No. 121, Odd Fellows, and of Gil- 
man B. Parker Post, No. 153, Grand Army, of which 
he was commander one year. 

He married, November 29, 1861, Jennie Bass, 
born May 10, 1840, daughter of Eben and Susan 
(Farnsworth) Bass, of JafTrey, New Hampshire. 
Her father was a farmer and had the rank of cap- 
tain in the militia.- The only child of Frederick M. 
Brown is Florence Idell, born May 9, 1873, married 
George Howe, of Gardner, Massachusetts. 

McGILLICUDDY FAMILY. Cornelius McGilli- 
ruddy. son of Daniel and Ellen (Brosnihan) Mc- 
Gillicuddy, was born in Ireland November 12, 1824. 
He came to America during the famine year of 1852 
and landed at Boston. He worked for a time in 
New Braintree for Captain Converse, removing after 
a few years to Worcester, where he was employed 
by the J. M. Huntington Coal Company of Norwich, 
which became the VVellington Coal Company later. 
He died July 24, 1897. He was among the early 
pioneer Irish settlers in Worcester who, realizing 
the lack of education, and, further accepting the ad- 
vantage of liberty, were active in the advancement of 
building churches and schools to educate the chil- 
dren of their faith, in a newly adopted country. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



45 



Much respect is due these early Irish settlers, who 
were compelled to undergo much abuse, due to the 
then dominant spirit of race and religion hatred, 
known then as "Knownothingism." 

He married Margaret Sullivan, of Worcester, 
daughter of Eugene and Mary (,0'NeiI) Sullivan. 
Their children : Rev. Daniel F., see forward. Mary 
Agnes, born in Worcester, educated in public and 
high schools, graduating from the latter in 1880, 
then entered State Normal school, graduating in 
1883. Began teaching school, and was principal of 
Shrewsbury street school, and at present (1906) is 
principal of Salem street school, Worcester. She 
travelled in Europe in 1905. Ellen G., graduated 
from the high school in 1881, from State Normal 
in January, 1885, then taught school and later was 
principal of Shrewsbury street school. She mar- 
ried, July 14, 1891, M. J. Halloran, M. D. She 
died June 3, 1892, survived by her husband, and son, 
Edward McGillicuddy Halloran, born May 30, 1892. 
John T., see forward. C. Eugene, see forward. 

Timothy McGillicuddy, brother of Cornelius Mc- 
Gillicuddy, mentioned above, was born in Ireland, 
February 5, 1834. The family came to Boston, 
Massachusetts, during the first great emigration to 
America and landed in Boston, June 3, 1852. Tim- 
othy McGillicuddy was employed first in a cotton 
mill in Worcester for a year, then in the Amoskeag 
Mills at Manchester, New Hampshire, then in the 
Thorndyke Mills, Palmer. He returned to Man- 
chester from Palmer and worked a few months, 
then came to Worcester, where he was employed in 
the Huntington Coal Yard for three years. He was 
man of all work for Thomas Earle, whose estate 
was on the present site of All Saints' Church, Wor- 
cester. From i86r to 1868 he was in the employ of 
Colonel George W. Richardson, former mayor of 
Worcester. After leaving this position he went into 
the liquor business on his own account and repre- 
sented the Frank Jones Brewing Company of Ports- 
mouth, New Hampshire, for twenty-seven years, 
finally retiring from business in 1897. He was a 
Democrat in politics but never sought public office. 
He was active in St. Paul's and St. John's Roman 
Catholic churches, Worcester, at different times, 
and was a generous contributor. 

He married, April 27, 1862, in Worcester, Johanna 
Cronin, daughter of Cornelius and Ellen (Foley) 
Cronin, who came to Worcester from county Kerry, 
Ireland. They had no children. 

He was a man gifted with exceptional powers 
of observation and possessed a remarkable memory, 
which aided him materially in his search of his- 
torical subjects, particularly in reference to America 
and Ireland. His intimate knowledge of early 
Worcester made him able to discuss easily the not- 
able happenings and incidents connected with the 
prominent and humble citizens of his residential city. 
He made three trips to Europe, and in 1901 brought 
with him a quern, or set of early hand grinding 
stones, that conform exactly with the Biblical di- 
mensions. These he presented to the Worcester 
Society of Antiquity, which society has the distinc- 
tion of owning the only set in America, although 
the Peabody Institute at Cambridge has a set that 
came from India and are much larger, therefore 
are not in conformity with Biblical mention. 

Rev. Daniel F. McGillicuddy, eldest son of Cor- 
nelius and Margaret (Sullivan) McGillicuddy, was 
born in Worcester, May 13, i860, attended public 
and high school, graduated 1878; then attended 
Holy Cross College, graduated class of 1881 ; then 
attended Grand Seminary at Montreal, where he 
was ordained priest, December, 1884. Officiated at 
his first mass in St. Paul's Church (Roman Cath- 



olic) at Worcester, Massachusetts. His first ap- 
pointment was as curate at Milford (St. Mary's- 
Church) under Rev. P. Cudahy, pastor, remaining, 
there until 1892, then to St. Louis Church' at Leo- 
minster short time, then Westfield, then to Warren, 
Massachusetts, receiving his first pastorate and re- 
maining until 1895. then to Worcester, Massachu- 
setts, as pastor of St. Stephen's Roman Catholic 
Church, where he still remains. Was president of 
Springfield Diocesan Temperance Union, then treas- 
urer one year, and president of the Catholic Total 
Abstiliance Union of America for two years. Is. 
recognized as one of the most powerful temperance 
orators, having lectured in the foremost cities of the 
United States on this subject. As a pulpit orator 
he is equally well known for his force and oratorical 
ability. Father McGillicuddy has travelled exten- 
sively all over the world, and his wonderful knowl- 
edge, and his retentive abilities, together with his. 
illustrations at lectures by photographs, taken by 
himself of all principle places on his travels, are 
enjoyed by not only his parishioners, but by alE 
audiences. 

His greatest achievement was entering Thibet 
in 1906, going in with a British military expedition,, 
even though the Thibetans and British governor for- 
bade the entrance of outsiders. Believed to be first 
American who ever entered Thibet. In 1903 he was- 
held for five weeks in Venezuela during the block- 
ade established by the allied governments, having: 
many conferences with President Castro during his- 
stay. Is a linguist of ability, speaking German,. 
French, Spanish, Italian and English fluently. At 
present he is in Siberia ; expects to reach Worcester 
by Christmas, 1906. 

Dr. John T. McGillicuddy, son of Cornelius and 
Margaret (Sullivan) McGillicuddy, mentioned: 
above, was born August 27. 1867. He was educated 
in the Worcester public schools and at the College 
of the Holy Cross, taking his medical degree in 1892 
in Columbia Medical School, New York city. He- 
began to practice his profession in Worcester, im 
1892, and was in general practice there with sub- 
stantial success for eleven years. He then spent 
two years in European schools and hospitals, making, 
a special study of the eye, ear and throat. He re- 
turned to his practice in Worcester in 1905. He is a 
member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and 
of the Worcester District Medical Society. In poli- 
tics he is a Democrat. He was a member of the 
school board seven years from 1896 to 1903, whert 
he resigned to go abroad for higher study. He is on 
the staff of St. Vincent's Hospital, Worcester. Is- 
aurist and oculist at City Hospital, on patient nose 
and throat refractions. His office is at 41 Pleasant 
street. 

He married, October 9, 1900, Josephine M. Dowd,. 
of Manchester, New Hampshire, daughter of Law- 
rence and Ellen (Connor) Dowd, who were among, 
the oldest Irish settlers. She graduated from Mt. 
Saint Marv's Convent. Their children: John Tim- 
othy, Jr., born November 21, 1901 ; Lawrence Dan- 
iel, October 14, 1906. 

C. Eugene McGillicuddy, son of Cornelius and 
Margaret (Sullivan) McGillicuddy, mentioned 
above, was born January 4. 1870. He was educated 
in the public schools of Worcester, graduated from 
Classical high school. 1888, then went to St. John's 
College. Fordham, New York, then to College of 
Holy Cross, where he graduated in 1891, and was- 
salutatorian of his class. He studied law in the 
Boston University Law School, where he received 
his degree in 1894. He opened an office in the State 
Mutual building in Worcester and has been en- 
gaged since then in the active practice of law in that 



44 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



city. He is a member of the Knigths of Columbus. 
He has travelled in America and Europe, having 
visited the latter place twice, in 1901 and 1903. 

He married, October 14, 1903, Mary E. Connor, 
•of Worcester, daughter of Captain James K. and 
Catharine M. (Foley) Connor. They have one son, 
£ugene, born January 25, 1905. His wife was edu- 
cated in Worcester public and high schools, then 
in State Normal school at Worcester, graduating 
June, 1897. She taught in the public schools at Wor- 
cester, Massachusetts, until June, 1903. 

RAYMOND FAMILY. Captain William Ray- 
mond (i), immigrant ancestor of Henry M. Ray- 
mond, of Winchendon, Massachusetts, deceased, 
came to New England, according to his own tes- 
timony given in the Essex court December 28, 1697, 
"about the year 1652." He was of Essex county in 
«ld England, and his father, William Raymond, 
the "Steward," was brother of Richard Raymond, 
a prominent pioneer of Salem, Massachusetts. Cap- 
tain William, was born according to his testimony 
on this occasion about 1637. He made his home at 
Beverly. He was in the Narragansett tight in King 
Philip's war, 1675, and was appointed by the general 
court in 1683 lieutenant commander of the Beverly 
and Wcnham troops. He also commanded a com- 
pany in the ill-starred Phipps expedition against 
Canada in 1690. He was deputy to the general 
court from Beverly in 1685-86. Captain Raymond 
■died January' 29, 1709. 

He married (first) Hannah Bishop, daughter of 
Edward Bishop. She was born April 12, 1646. He 
married (second) Ruth Hull, daughter of Isaac Hull, 
of Beverly. Children of Captain William and Han- 
nah Raymond were: William, see forward; Ed- 
ward, baptized July 12, 1668, married Mary , 

who was dismissed from the First church, Salem, 
to the new church, April 2, 1716; George, baptized 
October 30, 1670; Hannah, baptized May 18, 1673, 

married (.I'rst) Nathaniel Hayward; (second) 

Hutchinson; Abigail, baptized July 23, 1O76, married, 
March 29, 1694, John Giles. Children of Captain 
William and Ruth Raymond were : Mary, born May 
2, 1682, married Josiah Batcheldcr; Ruth, born 1690, 
died Alarch, 1747; Ebenezer, born 1691. 

(II) William Raymond, son of Captain William 
Raymond (i), was born at Salem or Beverly, Massa- 
chusetts, about 1666. He was a witness in a witch- 
craft case in Salem and seems not to have been one 
•of the deluded ones. He was killed January, 1701, 
•by the fall of a tree. He married Mary Kettle, 
■daughter of John Kettle, of Gloucester, Massachu- 
setts. Their children, all born in Beverly, were : 
Alary, born May 16, 1688, died January 20, 1689; 
William, born February 11, 1690; Daniel, born No- 
vember 25, 1691 ; Paul, born January 22, 1695, see 
forward. 

(III) Paul Raymond, son of William Raymond 
<2), was born January 22, 1695, at Beverly, Massa- 
chusetts. He was lieutenant of a military company. 
He died 1759, aged sixty-five years. He married, 
February 28, 1717, Tabitha Balch, daughter of 
Freeborn Balch, and their first five children were 
baptized in the First church at Salem. They were 
dismissed from the First church to the church at 
Bedford, Massachusetts, April 4, 1736. Children of 
Lieutenant Paul and Tabitlia were: Elizabeth, bap- 
tized April 9, 1721 ; Mary, baptized March 10, 1723; 
William, born July 30, 1725, baptized August 8, 
1725; Edward, baptized December 17, 1728; Paul, 
see forward; Lucy, born at Bedford, August s, 
1737; Nathan, born February 29, 1740; Tabitha, 
torn September 19, 1743. 

(IV) Paul Raymond, son of Lieutenant Paul 



Raymond (3), was born at Salem, Massachusetts, 
and baptized in the First church there May 17, 
1730. He settled in Holden, Massachusetts. He 
was a soldier in the revolution. He was commis- 
sioned a major, February 2, 1776, in Colotiel Den- 
ny's First Worcester regiment. He was commis- 
sioned lieutenant-colonel of a new Worcester county 
regiment under Colonel Stalman for service in 
Canada and New York in June, 1776. He removed 
to Winchendon in 1776 and died there April 10, 
1817, aged eighty-seven years. He married at Win- 
chendon, November 27, 1755, Abigail Jones, born 
April 6, 1734, died June, 1809. She was the daugh- 
ter of James and Abigail Jones, of Weston, Massa- 
chusetts. Children of Colonel Paul and Abigail 
Raymond were : Eunice, born January 9, 1757, died 
September 29, 1759; Paul, born August 13, 1759; 
James, see forward; Joel, born December 9, 17O4; 
Abigail, born February 24, 1767, married Deacon 
George Coffin; Jesse, born May 4, 1769; Silas, bora 
October 15, 1771 ; Liberty, born July 7, 1774, died 
June 9, 1813, at Corinth, Vermont; Anna, born 
November 7, 1776, died August, 1778. The above 
all born at Holden. 

(V) James Raymond, son of Colonel Paul Ray- 
mond (4), was born at Holden, Massachusetts, 
December 8, 1761. He went to school there until 
1776, when tile family removed to Winchendon. He 
owned his farm later near his father's on the road 
to Gardner. He became a man of note in the town, 
was selectman in 1807 and 180S and lielped to draft 
a petition to President Jefferson to suspend the 
embargo in whole or in part dated September 5, 
1808. He was assessor in 1808. He married (first), 
January 11, 1789, Molly Gale, widow, who died 
September 19, 1831. He married (second) Dolly 
Haven, widow, December 27, 1832. Children of 
James and Molly Raymond were : Levi, see for- 
ward; Polly, born April 4, 1791, died October 11, 
1841, married Ezra Hyde; James, Jr., born October 
17, 1792, died young; Nathan, born June 29, 1794, 
died December l, 1825 ; Lucinda, born February 8, 
1796, died April 14, 1877; married, December 13, 
1827, Peter Woodbury; Clark, born November 13, 
1797; Fidelia, born January 13, 1800, died November 
S. 1833; married llervey Taft, April 10, 1821. 

(VI) Levi Raymond, son of James Raymond 
(5), was born in VVinchendon, August 17, 1789. He 
was brought up on the farm, acquiring his schooling 
in his native town. He followed farming for his 
occupation and owned a large and productive farm 
in Winchendon. He enlisted in the war of 1812 with 
seven others in what was called the south company 
with the rank of sergeant, but Governor Strong 
would not consent to have the company go beyond 
the bounds of Worcester county. He was prominent 
in town affairs, was selectman in 1844-47-48, was 
assessor and overseer of the poor. He was one of 
the committee chosen by the town to build a town 
house, April 15, 1850. He was an active and prom- 
inent member of the First Parish Congregational 
Church. He died May 9, 1868. 

He married, March 20, 18 15, at Winchendon, 
Sophia Greenwood, born July 16, 1793, died Decem- 
ber 23, 1866, daughter of Thomas and Deborah 
(Barber) Greenwood, of Winchendon. Her father 
was a prominent man in town affairs, a farmer. 
Children of Levi and Deborah Raymond were : Deb- 
orah T., born October 22, 1815, died November 23, 
1835; Sophia, born September 14, 1817, married 
James Cheney, April 13, 1837; Mary Ann, born Jan- 
uary 28, 1820; George B., see forward; Eliza J., 
born October 28, 1824, married A. Hastings, May 9, 
1850; Harriet F., born September 28, 1827, married, 
April 28, 1848, J. T. Woodbury; Lucinda A., born 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



4S 



Januaiy 17, 1830, married A. Wiley, January 7, 
1868; Nancy, born April 14, 1832, died August ig, 
1866; married, December 17, 18&2, A. Wiley; Sarah 
E., born January 25, 1835, died December i, 1861 ; 
married, April 21, 1858. 

(Vll) George Barber Raymond, son of Levi 
Raymond (6), was born in Winchendon, April 21, 
1822. He was educated in the common schools of 
that town, and his early years were spent on the 
farm with all the meagre advantages and depriva- 
tions that accompanied agricultural pursuits in those 
days. When nearly twenty-one years old, he bought 
the remainder of his time of his father and removed 
to Grafton, where he learned the carpenter's trade. 
For some time part of his employment was the 
making of shoe boxes. He returned to Winchendon 
and worked two years for Major Sidney Fairbank, 
whom he then bought out, forming a partnership 
with Charles E. Forristal as carpenters and builders. 
He bought the interests of his partner and con- 
tinues alone, although Mr. Forristal remained in his 
employ until 1865, in charge of the business, Mr. 
Raymond being obliged to give all his own time to 
his pail factory at Harrisville. This property was 
destroyed by tire a few years ago. In 1867. Ray- 
mond & Forristal built the steam mill in what was 
then almost a wilderness. In 1868 a partnership 
was formed by Raymond, Forristal and C. J. Rice 
for the manufacture of blinds, chair frames, hay 
rakes and manufacturing lumber. Additions were 
made to this business in various directions until it 
assumed large proportions. On the death of Mr. 
Forristal, the two remaining partners continued the 
business. After the death of Mr. Rice Mr. Raymond 
took his son, Henry M. Raymond, into the firm and 
himself retired as silent partner. Thirty years ago 
he became interested in the grocery business in the 
Tucker-Rice block, of which he owned a third in- 
terest. This grocery business was conducted by his 
son, Hervey T. Raymond. 

Mr. Raymond joined the Congregational church 
when a boy, but m 1859 became a member of the 
Baptist church and has ever since been a consistent 
and influential worker of that denomination. Many 
of the poor of the town had reason to revere his 
memory for kindness done them. He was a man of 
great energy, decided opinions and high character. 
In politics he was first Whig, then Republican, and 
he filled many important offices in the town. He 
was selectman from 1861 to 1866, inclusive, during 
the trying period of the civil war, assessor 1863-64, 
and was on many town committees. He was active 
during the civil war in raising troops. 

He married, December i, 1847, Harriet Taft. 
Their children were: Hervey Taft, born April 13, 
1850, in Winchendon ; Henry M., see forward ; Fi- 
delia H., born March 11, 1865, died February 12, 
18S2; Jennie S., born February 19, 1869, died Octo- 
ber 10, 1869; Edith M., born March i, 1870, died 
August IS, 1870. 

(VHI) Henry Martin Raymond, son of George 
Barber Raymond (7), was born in Winchendon, 
Massachusetts, February 2, 1855. He attended the 
district schools there and was at the academy one 
term. He began life in the railroad business on the 
Peterboro branch of the Monadnock Railroad, where 
he worked for a short time. He then entered the 
employ of his father and learned the trade of car- 
penter, which he followed for some time. He be- 
came superintendent of his father's steam saw mill. 
After the death of Mr. Rice, the junior partner of 
his father's firm, the firm became G. B. & H. M. 
Raymond, and the management of the business was 
left largely in the hands of the son and junior part- 
ner. When his father died he became the sole pro- 



prietor of the lumber business. Later Mrs. Ray- 
mond sold out to the firm of Ballou & McColley. Mr. 
Raymond died October 14, 1905. He passed away 
in the prime of life, mourned by his family and 
many friends, for he was generous, sympathetic 
and hospitable. He had the qualities that attract 
friends m all relations of life. He was successful 
in business and stood in the foremost rank of Win- 
chendon manufacturers. In politics he was a Re- 
publican and served the town as selectman for a 
number of years. He was an active member of the 
P'irst Baptist Church, was for many years chairman, 
of the standing committee, and was especially active 
in the purchase and installing of the new church 
bell. He was a member of Monomonack Lodge. No. 
121, Odd Fellows, and had passed through the 
chairs of that organization. He was a member of 
Watatic Tribe, No. 85, Red Men, and of the Avoni 
Club of Winchendon. 

lie married, July 2, 1877, Lizzie Estella Johnson,, 
born July 2, 1856, daughter of Jonas Franklin and 
Lucy Elizabeth (Perry) Johnson, of Peterboro, New 
Hampshire. Her father was a farmer. Children of 
Henry M. and Lizzie Raymond were : Harry Levi,, 
born May 7, 1879, died July 21, 1879; Isaac Hamb- 
lin, born October, 1880, died August 21, 1881 ; Ber- 
nard Perry, born December 23, 1882, auditor of the 
Adams Express Company of Providence ; married,- 
April 25, 1905, Clara R. Smith, of Providence, 
Rhode Island ; Harland Manley, born April ig, 
1886, died September 18, 1886; Marjorie Fidelia,, 
born February 13, 1898; Paul Montgomery, born 
February 18, 1901. 

HORACE M. ALDRICH. George Aldrich (i), 
the immigrant ancestor of the Rhode Isb.nd and 
Mendon families of Aldrich and of Horace M. 
Aldrich, of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, was born in 
England, about 1605, and came from Derbyshire in 
1631 with his wife. He married in England, No- 
vember 3, 1629, Katharine Seald. He was a tailor 
by trade. They settled in Dorchester, Massachu- 
setts, and belonged to the church there about 1636. 
He was admitted a freeman December 7, 1636. His 
wife testified June 18, 1670, that she was sixty 
years old. In 1663 he was one of the first seven 
persons to arrive in the township of Mendon, Massa- 
chusetts. He sold his land at Braintree to his friend, 
Richard Thayer, of Braintree, June 9, 1663. He died 
at Mendon, after the re-settlement following King 
Philip's war, March i, 1682. His wife died January 
II, 1691. His will was dated at Mendon, November 
2, 1682, and proved April 26, 1683. He bequeathed 
to wife, to children Joseph, John, Jacob, Mary, 
Sarah Bartlett, Mercy Randall and Martha Dunbar. 
The children : Abel, born 1633 ; Joseph, born June 
4, 163s, see forward ; Mary, born June 16, 1637, died 
1683 ; Miriam, born June 29, 1639, died May 10, 
1652 ; Experience, boi'n September 4, 1641, died Feb- 
ruary 2, 1642, at Braintree; John, born April 2, 1644, 
married Sarah Thompson and (second) Sarah 
Leach ; Sarah, born January 16, 1646, died February 
17, 1685; Peter, born April 14, 1648; Mercy, born 

June 17, 1650, married • Randall ; Miriam, died 

March 16, 1652; Jacob, ancestor of the Mendon 
family, born February 28, 1653; Martha, born July 
10, 1656. 

(II) Joseph Aldrich, son of George Aldrich (i), 
was born at Dorchester, Massachusetts, June 4, 
1635, died 1701. He married Patience Osborne, who 
died in 1705. They lived at Braintree, Massachu- 
setts, and at Providence, Rhode Island. He received 
his father's wearing apparel in his will dated No- 
vember 2, 1682. He was a tax-payer in Providence 
in 1687. He made an agreement with his son, Jo- 



46 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



seph Aldrich, Jr., to support him in coiii-idcration of 
the property deeded to him. The inventory of his 
estate was filed August 20, 1701. The children of 
Joseph and Patience Aldrich; Joseph, Jr., born July 
14, 1663, died April 24, 1705; Samuel, died April 3, 
1747, siie forward; Ephraini, resided in Providence 
and Gloucester, Rhode Island; married Barbara 
, had Daniel; John, died March 17, 1735. re- 
sided at Providence and Scituate, Rhode Island, mar- 
ried, March 20, 1699, Manha Evans; was miller at 
Providence. 

(III) Samuel Aldrich, son of Joseph Aldrich 
(2), was born in Rhode Island, about 1660. He was 

a Quaker and had a slock of leather taken from him 
May, 1706, valued at eleven shillings, three pence, 
because he refused to train with the militia. He 
was a tanner by trade. He lived in Providence and 
Sniithfield, dying at the latter place, April 2, 1747. 

He married Jane . rie was a taxpayer in 1713. 

He deeded his son James seventy-seven acres, Feb- 
ruary 28, 1716. He deeded one hundred and thirteen 
acres to his son Peter, September 9, 1727, and he 
deeded his homestead at Sniithfield to his son John, 
September 14, 1733. The place comprised two hun- 
dred acres. His wife Jane administered the estate. 
Their children: Samuel, Jr., born 1681; Peter, see 
forward ; James ; John. 

(IV) Peter Aldrich, son of Samuel Aldrich (3), 
-was born in Providence, Rhode Island, about 1690. 
He married, September 6, 1716, Priscilla Kenne, of 
5alem, Massachusetts, (by Captain Samuel Wilkinson) 
He resided in Providence and Smithlicld, Rhode 
Island. Their children, born at Providence, were: 
Jane, born April 7, 1717; Samuel, August 17, 1718, 
see forward; Priscilla, March 9, 1719; Silvanus, 
April 21, 1722; Stephen, August 15. 172S; Esther, 
May 27, 1727; Anne, December 11. 1729; Peter, Jr., 
October 2, 1733; Alice. May, 1736. 

(IV) Samuel Aldrich, son of Peter Aldrich (4), 
<alled Samuel. Jr., because his uncle named Samuel 
was of the same vicinity, was born at Providence, 
Rhode Island, May 4, 1722. He married, August 
21, 1740, Priscilla Paine (by Thomas Sayles). Their 
childnn, all born at Sniithfield, Rhode Island, were: 
Mercy, September 2, 1743; Elizabeth, May 15, 1746; 
Alice, October 3, 1751 ; Peter, May 30, 1753, see 
forward ; Benjamin, May 30, 1753 (twin) ; David, 
about 1760, settled at Smithfield; Gideon, August 

4, 1763- 

(VI) Peter Aldrich, son of Samuel Aldrich 
(5), was born at Smithfield, Rhode Island, May 
30, 1753. He seems not to have been a Quaker, as 
many of the family were. A Peter Aldrich, pre- 
sumably this one, served as a soldier in the revolu- 
tion in Colonel Elliott's regiment in 1776. He was 
married. May 15, 1774, by Rev. Eleazer Angcll, to 
Amif Mowry, daughter of Joseph Mowry, and (sec- 
ond) Phila Mowry, daughter of Eleazer Mowry. 
She was born February 4, 1785, After the death of 
Peter Aldrich she married (3tis Thayer. Eleazer 
Mnwry was born September 5, 1750, married, No- 
vember 27, 1773. Eunice Aldrich, daughter of 
Reuben. Joseph Mowry, called "candle head," was 
son of Captain Joseph Mowry, born February 26, 
1698-99, married Margery Mowry, daughter of John 
and Margery Mowry. Captain Joseph Mowry, son 
of Nathaniel Mowry, married, June 3, 1695, Alice 
Whipple ; was a very prominent man. The immi- 
grant, Nathaniel Mowry, was born in 1644, married, 
1666, Joanna Inman, daughter of Edward. He died 
March 24, 1717-18. Only three children were born 
to Peter and Phila (Mowry) Aldrich: Smith, see 
was born in Burrillvillc, Rhode Island, August 16, 
forward ; Sarena, Laura. 

(VII) Smith Aldrich, son of Peter Aldrich (6), 



1817. He w-as a farmer, and was in the wood busi- 
ness during the winters in Burrillville, Rhode 
Island. He married Sallie Ann Young. Their 
children: Levi R., born July 20, 1849, married Fran- 
cis J. Woodis, and they have one child, Luta ; Horace 
Mowry, born November 10, 1851, see forward ; 
Laura A., March 8, 1853; Elvira, resides in Pascoag, 
Rhode Island; Leander Smith, born April 7, 1858. 

(VIII) Horace Mowry Aldrich, son of Smith 
Aldrich (7), was born at Burrillville, Rhode Island, 
November 10, 1851. He worked on his father's 
farm and attended the winter terms of the district 
school until he was nineteen years old. He went 
to Providence in 1870 with the intention of learn- 
ing the trade of jeweler, but the confining nature 
of the work injured his health and he went to Ox- 
bridge and learned the carpenter's trade of Mr. 
Foskett. He -\vorked on many of the best houses 
in that section. He helped to build the Rivulet Mill, ' 
Scott's Mills and the Calumet Mills. In 1880 he 
entered the employ of the- Whitin Machine Works, 
and for the past twenty-six years has held his posi- 
tion there. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, but 
never sought public ollice. He attended the Baptist 
church at North Uxbridge, where he makes his 
home. He is a man of quiet, domestic tastes. 

He married Susan i^laria Norbery, born Novem- 
ber 16, 1853, daughter of Edward and Susan Nor- 
bery. Their children : Charles Smith, born Decem- 
ber 18, 1878; Susan May, May 23, 1883, died 1891; 
Horace Edward, August 20, 1886, graduate of the 
Uxbridge high school, later attending Dean Acad- 
emy and Brown University; Clifford, born April 
17, 1892. 

GILBERT H. HARRINGTON. Robert Har- 
rington (I) was the emigrant ancestor of the late 
Gilbert H. Harrington and his sons, Edwin Chester 
Harrington and John Walter Harrington, of Wor- 
cester. Massachusetts. The name was variously 
spelleti on the early records Harrington, Herring- 
ton, Herington, Arrington and Errington. His 
name appears last on the list of proprietors of the 
town of Watertown, Massachusetts, made out in 
1642- 1644. He then owned a homestall, as it was 
called, given him by Thomas Hastings. This gift 
renders it probable that he was a kinsman of Dea- 
con Hastings. He was admitted freeman May 27, 
1663. and he married, October I, 1649. Susanna 
George. She was born 1632, died July 6, 1694. 
He died May 11, 1707, aged ninety-one years. Ac- 
cordingly he was born in England in 1616. He 
held various town offices in Watertown and was 
a man of prominence for many years. He was a 
mill owner. In his will, dated January I, 1704-5 
(the day before the third marriage of his daughter 
Susannah) he mentions his sons, John, Daniel, 
Benjamin. Samuel, Thomas, Edwin (his youngest 
son to whom he gave his homestead) and daughters 
Susannah Beers, Mary Bemis, Sarah Winship ; to 
Joseph, son of "my son Joseph deceased" and to 
daughter-in-law. Joanna Ward, late wife of his 
son Jo.seph. His inventory mentions sixteen lots 
of land amounting to six hundred and forty-two 
and one-half acres and appraised at seven hundred 
and seventeen pounds. His homestead bought De- 
cember 24, 1684, of Jeremiah Dummer. a goldsmith 
of Boston, for ninety pounds comprised the westerly 
half some two hundred and fifty acres, of the 
Oldham farm, and it is interesting to note that his 
farm on the Charles river is or was recently owned 
by descendants, having been kept in the family con- 
tinuously. 

His children were: i. Susanna, born August 
18. 1649, married, February 9, 1671, John Cutting, 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



47 



by whom she had seven children; married (second), 
April 21, 1690, Eliezer Beers, who died December 
5. i6gi, and she married (third), January 2, 1704-5, 
Peter Cloyes, of Framingham. 2. John, born Au- 
gust 24, 1651, died August 24, 1741. 3. Robert, 
born August 31, i653. probably died young. 4. 
George, born November 24. 1655, member of Cap- 
tain Wadsworth's company and was killed by the 
Indians in Lancaster, 1675-6- 5- Daniel, born No- 
vember I, 1657, admitted freeman April 18, 1690, 
died April 19! 1728. 6. Joseph, born December 28, 
1659, admitted freeman April iS, 1690. 7. Benja- 
min, born January 26, 1661-2, died 1724. 8. Mary, 
born January 12, 1663-4. married about 1680, John 
Bemis, had fourteen children. 9. Thomas, born 
April 20. 1665, admitted freeman April 18, 1690, 
died March 29, 1712. 10. Samuel, born December 
18, 1666. II. Edward, born March 2. 1668-9. 12. 
Sarah, born March 10, 1670-1, died November 28, 
1710; married. November 24, 1687, Joseph Win- 
ship, Jr., of Cambridge. Massachusetts. 13. David, 
borii June i, 1673, died March 11, 1675. 

(II) Thomas Harrington, son of Robert Har- 
rington (l), born at Watertown. Massachusetts, 
April 20, 1665,' died March 29, 1712. He was ad- 
mitted a freeman April 18, 1690. He married Re- 
becca (Bemis), widow of John White and daugh- 
ter of John Bemis. His will was dated March 27, 
1712, and proved April 6. Inventory showed his 
real estate worth three hundred and ninety-nine 
pounds. Their children were : Ebenezer, born June 
27, 16S7; Susanna. November 17, 1688, married 
Joshua Kendall ; Rebecca. 1690, married. May 25, 
1714, Simon Tainter, and had six children; Thomas, 
January 14, 1691-2; George, August 31, 1695. 

(Ili) Thomas Harrington, son of Thomas Har- 
rington (2), was born at Watertown, Massachu- 
setts, January 14. 1691-2; married (first) Abigail 

— . , and settled in Cambridge. Massachusetts, 

where she died March 4. 171 7. He returned to 

Waltham and married (second) Mary ■ . His 

will dated Waltham, January 31. 1739, proved Oc- 
tober 15, 1750, mentions his wife Mary, his sons 
Thomas, of Shrewsbury, Timothy and Daniel, the 
residuary legatee. The bequest to Timothy was as 
follows : "I give and bequeath to my son Timothy 
Harrington, the sum of thirty-four pounds besides 
what I have been out in School and College learn- 
ing for him. to be paid by my son, Daniel." In 
addition to his farm he kept an inn from 1719 to 
1737 at Waltham. His children were: i. Thomas, 
born in Cambridge, September 29, 1713. 2. Tim- 
othy, born January 30. baptized February 5. 1715-6, 
graduated at Harvard C'ollege 1737, settled as 
pastor of Swanzey. New Hampshire, when Swanzey 
was destroyed by the Indians, April 2, 1747; he was 
installed in the church at Lancaster. Massachusetts, 
November t6, 1748. He married (first) Anna Har- 
rington, who died in Lancaster, May 19, 1778. and 
he married (second) Anna, widow of Rev. Matthew 
Bridge, of Framingham, Massachusetts. He died 
December 18, 1795. and his wife died in Framing- 
ham, Mav T2. 1805. Seven children. 3. Daniel, 
Iiorn in Waltham. January 15, 1720-1, died April 
16, 1763. 4. Abigail, born January 12, 1726-7, died 
1730; 

(IV) Thomas Harrington, son of Thomas Har- 
rington (3), was born at Cambridge, Massachu- 
setts, September 29. 1713. He married in Water- 
town, Massachusetts, August 27. 1737. Grace War- 
ren, and settled in Shrewsbury, where he died 
April 15. 1791. aged seventy-eight years. His chil- 
dren were : Thomas, born December 23, 1737. died 
September 10. 1745; Jonathan. January 16, 1741, 
died January 2T , 1741 ; Jonathan. February 11, 1742, 



died September 11, 174S; Elijah, January 27, 174S, 
of Shrewsbury, married, 1780, Mary Warren, of 
Upton; he died M^irch 8, 1818, and she died 1828, 
aged eighty years; Grace, April 11, 1747; Abigail, 
December 16, 1749; Esther, January i, 1753, mar- 
ried, 1776, Simeon Bruce; Thomas, March 23, 1756, 
died December 20, 1834, a captain of Shrewsbury ; 
married, October 14, 1784, Hannah Knowlton, 
daughter of Deacon William Knowlton ; she died 
March 8, 1793 ; Jonathan, of whom later ; Daniel, 
September 3, 1761, of Shrewsbury, married, Decem- 
ber 22, 1788, Relief Smith, daughter of Aaron 
Smith ; Daniel died February 22, 1823 ; his wife 
died February 15, 1844, aged seventy-seven years. 
(V) Jonathan Harrington, son of Thomas Har- 
rington (4), was born in Shrewsbury, Massachu- 
setts, May 18, 1759, died April 6, 1842, at Shrews- 
bury. He married, 1783, Sarah Pratt, daughter of 
Elnathan Pratt. She died February 16, 1813, aged 
forty-nine years. He married (second), 1814, Mrs. 
Susanna Bennimann, of Charlton. Massachusetts, 
who died November 17, 1825, aged fifty-one years. 
He was a revolutionary soldier and pensioner. He 
resided at Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, where all his 
children were born, all but the last two being by 
his first wife. His children were: Martin, born 
January 3, 1784, of Shrewsbury, afterward of Graf- 
ton, married, 1808, Lucinda Temple, daughter of 
Joseph S. Temple, had five children ; Daniel, No- 
vember 2, 1785, a colonel, resided at Shrewsbury, 
Massachusetts ; married, 1808, Zillah Harrington ; 
Luke, February 17, 1788. married. May 6, 1815, 
Sarah Smith, daughter of Daniel Smith, had Caro- 
line, September 15, 1815; Abigail. December 7. 1789, 
married. 1817, Captain Thomas Harrington; Emery, 
October 18, 1791, resided at Shrewsbury, Massa- 
chusetts ; married, 1813, Fanny Townsend, daughter 
of Timothy Townsend and Lucy Bartlett Munroe, 
dau,ghter of Abraham Munroe, and (third) Eliza- 
beth Robinson (Emery had five children) ; Adam, 
October 20, 1793, died November 12, 181 1; Schuyler, 
April 17, 1796, resided at Shrewsbury; married, 
November 22, 1818, Sophia Johnson, daughter of 
Stephen Johnson, and had two children; Jesse, 
January 16. 1801, settled at Pittsfield, Massachusetts; 
Relief, February 8, 1803, married, 1827, Dexter 
Harrington ; Calvin, October 24, 1808, married, De- 
cember 9, 1830. Anna Munroe, daughter of Abra- 
ham Munroe, died in St. Louis, 1842 ; Salem, Au- 
gust 19, 1815, married Parker; Jackson 

December 10, 1816, married Carpenter. 

(VI) Daniel Harrington, son of Jonathan Har- 
rington (5), was born at Shrewsbury, Massachu- 
setts, November 2, 1785. He was a colonel of a 
Massachusetts regiment and a man of prominence. 
He went west and died in 1844 in Illinois. His 
children were: Adam, born January i, 1809, re- 
sided at Shrewsbury ; married. May 16, 1830, Nancy 
Wefson, daughter of Abel Wesson, of Grafton, 
Massachusetts, and had three children ; Henry Hen- 
derson, October 24, 181 1, married Cornelia Wesson, 
daughter of Rufus Wesson, of Worcester, Massa- 
chusetts : Hannah Rozan, May 9. 1822, married 
Luther H. Temple. 

(VII) Henry Henderson Harrington, son of 
Daniel Harrington (6), was born at Shrewsbury, 
Massachusetts. October 24, 181 1. He married Cor- 
nelia Bush Wesson, daughter of Rufus Wesson, 
of Worcester (intentions filed January 8, 1833). 
He resided at Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. His chil- 
dren were: Francis Henry, born August 8. 1833; 
Emma J.. March 18, 1844; Gilbert Henderson, April 
17. 1S45, at Shrewsbury. Massachusetts. 

Henry Henderson Harrington was a prosperous 
farmer at Shrewsbury. His wife was sister of D. 



48 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



B. Wesson, of Springfield, Massachusetts, and of 
Franklin Wesson, of Worcester, both distinguished 
as inventors and manufacturers of firearms, the 
former being the owner at the present time of one 
of the largest firearm plants (Smith & Wesson) 
in the world. Mr. Harrington died September 3, 
1879. His widow died May 20, 1903. For a num- 
ber of years after the death of her husband she 
resided with her son, Gilbert H. Harrington, in 
Worcester. 

(VIII) Gilbert Henderson Harrington, son of 
Henrv Henderson Harrington (7), was born at 
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, April 17, 1845. He 
came to Worcester when very young and received 
his education in the Worcester schools. He in- 
herited probably from the Wesson family his apti- 
tude for mechanics and invention. His first em- 
ployment was with his uncle in Worcester. Frank- 
lin Wesson had been for some years a manufac- 
turer of rifles with a factory at 18 Manchester 
street. Here he invented and patented a shell- 
ejecting revolver and in 1871 went into partnership 
with his uncle in the firm of Wesson & Harring- 
ton to manufacture revolvers under his patents, the 
work being done also at 18 Manchester street. Mr. 
Harrington bought out his partner in 1874 and Mr. 
Wesson soon retired from business entirely. Soon 
afterward the firm of Harrington & Richardson 
was organized. His partner in this firm was Will- 
iam A. Richardson and the firm was destined to 
become the very large and successful Harrington 
& Richardson Arms Company, of which Mr. Har- 
rington's elder son is at present the head. 

The revolver patent that was the foundation of 
Mr. Harrington's fortune provided the first revolver 
that ejected metallic cartridges after they were ex- 
ploded. In its original form this weapon held the 
market for a number of years. It was by far the 
most convenient revolver made. As the firm gained 
its reputation for this ingenious improvement and 
the excellence of its workmanship was established 
in the trade, the business grew rapidly. The plant 
was enlarged to permit the manufacture of other 
kinds of revolvers which were invented and patented 
by the firm from time to time. From 1880 to 1885 
the firm was the sole licensee for the United States 
for the manufacture of the celebrated Anson & 
Deeley hammerless gun, a costly arm of English 
design. 

When the corporation took over the business 
of the firm in 1888. Mr. Harrington, the senior part- 
ner, became president. In March, 1894, the busi- 
ness was moved to the present location at the cor- 
ner of Park avenue and Chandler street. Here the 
company first erected a four story brick factory hav- 
ing about forty-three thousand feet of floor space 
and costing $.so,ooo. It is large, well equipped and 
modern in every respect. It is a model factory for 
its purposes. Several additions have been made 
to enlarge the capacity of the factory. 

The product of the Harrington & Richardson 
Arms Company has been chiefly in recent years 
revolving firearms. All styles and grades of re- 
volvers are made, from the cheap pattern with solid 
frame, from which the cylinder is removed by the 
withdrawal of the centre pin upon which it re- 
volves to the elaborate weapon with hinge frame 
and automatic shell ejector. The manufacture of 
the company's goods during the period of experi- 
ment and development was all under the super- 
vision of the ingenious and skilful president and 
his partner. The product of the company attained 
a high reputation for beauty, accuracy and efficiency. 
Mr. Harrington gave his undivided attention to his 
business, which he loved both as an inventor who 



sees his ideas gro%v into practical and profitable 
form and as a manufacturer who has built up a 
flourishing business. He refused all opportunities 
to enter public office, although he was not lacking 
in public spirit. 

His only vacation from business was taken in 
short visits at Winter Park. Florida. About 1891 
his health began to fail, but until a year or more 
before his death his trouble, a rheumatic disease of 
the heart, did not threaten his life. He was danger- 
ously sick in the winter of 1896-7 while in Florida. 
While he was able at last to return home he lived 
only till June 22. 1897, when he died after two 
weeks of critical illness. 

He was a member of the Worcester Club, but 
of no other social club or organization of any kind. 
He and his family attended Pilgrim Congregational 
Church and he was a generous contributor to vari- 
ous charities. His home at 1014 Main street, one 
of the most spacious and attractive residences in 
the city, was a social centre during his life. 

Gilbert Henderson Harrington married (first) 
Christine I. Dibble, w-ho died February i, 1875. 
One son. Charles H., died April 18, 1873, aged six 
days. He married (second) Charlotte M. Harring- 
ton, who died August 26. 1885, aged thirty-seven 
years, daughter of Isaac Sylvester Harrington. He 
married (third), 1886, Myrtis S. Sigourney, who 
was born at Oxford. Massachusetts. The Sigour- 
ney family is French Huguenot origin, spelled form- 
erly Sigourne, coming to America late in the seven- 
teenth or early in the eighteenth century. Their 
home in France was at or near La Rochelle. .An- 
drew Sigourney was the emigrant ancestor of Mrs. 
Harrington. The family located early at Oxford, 
Massachusetts, where many of the Huguenot emi- 
grants settled. Mr. Harrington had two sons, both 
by his second wife. They are: Edwin Chester, 
born at Worcester, September 18, 1877: John Wal- 
ter, born at Worcester, February 21, 1880. 

(IX) Edwin Chester Harrington, son of Gilbert 
Hender.=on Harrington (8), was born at Wor- 
cester. September 18, 1877. He was educated in 
the Worcester public schools and the Dalzell school 
in Worcester. He also took a course in Becker's 
Business College. Worcester. He had to assume 
large responsibilities early in life. He entered the 
factory with the purpose of learning the business 
thoroughly, when the illness and death of his father 
forced him to take up his father's duties very soon 
afterward. He was twenty when his father died. 
Mr. Richardson served at the head of the corpora- 
tion only a few months. He too died in 1897 and 
soon afterward Edwin C. Harrington was elected 
president of the corporation and has since been 
at the head of the Harrington & Richardson Arms 
Co., of which his father was a founder. The busi- 
ness has steadily grown under his administration. 
The spacious south extension and the large build- 
ing at the rear of the factory have been built. 
Some five hundred hands are kept at work regularly. 
Mr. Harrington has had the able co-operation of 
George F. Brooks in the management of the busi- 
ness. Mr, Brooks has been with the Harrington 
and Richardson firm and company many years ■ind 
held the confidence of both the original partners 
to a remarkable degree. He is at present treasurer 
of the corporation, Mr. Harrington has pursued 
the same policy that made his father _ and Mr. 
Richardson so successful, and the standing of the 
house was never better than it is at present. One 
recent innovation in the business of the company 
is the manufacture of a single barreled shot gun. 
All kinds of revolvers except strictly army pat- 
terns are made at present and the product of the 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



49 



factory goes to all quarters of the globe. The com- 
pany does a large export business. Mr. Harring- 
ton is a member of the Worcester Golf Club, the 
Worcester Automobile Club, Athelstan Lodge, F. 
and A. M., Eureka Chapter and Worcester County 
Commandery. 

He married, June 19, 1901, Edith Burton, daugh- 
ter of Arthur H. Burton, assessor of the city of 
Worcester. 

(IX) John Walter Harrington, son of Gilbert 
Henderson Harrington (8), was born at Worcester, 
Massachusetts, February 21, 1880. He attended the 
public schools and prepared for Harvard College 
in the Dalzell School in Worcester. The death of 
his father caused a change in his plans and he gave 
up college to enter the factory of the Harrington 
& Richardson Arms Co. For the past nine years 
he has been associated with his brother in the 
business. Mr. Harrington is well known in Ma- 
sonic circles. He is a member of a number of 
clubs. 

PIPER FAMILY. Nathaniel Piper (i), the 
emigrant ancestor of Daniel Howard Piper, of 
Winchendon, Massachusetts, is believed to have be- 
longed in Dartmouth, Devonshire, and probably was 
born there about 1630. He came to Ipswich, New 
England, about 1650, and there died 1676. His will 
dated March 7, 1675, was proved September 26, 
1676, and mentions his children given below. He 
bequeathed a share in Plum Island granted to him 
in 1665 and considerable other property. 

He married, December 14, 1653, Sarah . 

She married (second) Ezekiel Woodward, of Wen- 
ham, and was' living 1696. Children of Nathaniel 
and Sarah Piper were: Sarah, born 1656, at Ips- 
wich ; Nathaniel, born June 25, 1658, was a pro- 
prietor of Ipswich, 1678, died 1689; Josiah, born 
December 18, i66r, in Ipswich; John, born 1663, in 
Ipswich, married Lydia — ; Mary, born Decem- 
ber 15, 1664; Thomas, born November 26, 1666, 
married Grace Hawley; they had a daughter. 
Patience, born February 25, 1702 ; Margaret, born 
June 16, 1668, in Ipswich, married Tristam Green- 
leaf; Samuel, born June 12, 1670, in Ipswich, mar- 
ried Abigail Church ; Jonathan, see forward ; Will- 
iam, born 1672, died June 18, 1674, at Ipswich. 

(II) Jonathan Piper, son of Nathaniel Piper 
(i), was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, about 
1671 or 1673. He was a farmer and lived there 
until 1731. In 1723 he and Samuel Smith, and 
John Darby leased the New Marsh farm of twelve 
hundred acres in Ipswich, then owned by the heirs 
of Nathaniel Saltonstall, of Haverhill. In 1731 
he removed to Concord. Massachusetts, buying 
March 6, of that year, of Thomas Wheeler, Sr. and 
Thomas, Jr., their farm in the southwesterly part 
of Concord "for 1,200 pounds passable money" 
and on the same day he bought land of Robert 
Cummings. October 6, 1731, he bought eighty acres 
of Rebecca Prescott, widow of Jonathan Prescott, 
for a hundred pounds. He bought other land later. 
He died in Concord, May 11, 1752, leaving a will 
dated February 15, 1749. His son Joseph was exe- 
cutor. 

He married (first), May 7, 1695, Sarah Leech 
(not Fletcher as sometimes given), of Boxford, 
who died in Ipswich, May 6, 1700. He married 
(second) Alice Darby, of Beverly (published Sep- 
tember 21), 1700. Siie died April 23, 1758. Child 
of Nathaniel and Sarah Piper w-as : Samuel, born 
1700, died June 10, 1724. Children of Nathaniel 
and Alice were : Jonathan, born 1702 ; Nathaniel, 
Jr., baptized March 17, 1706, in Wenham; Josiah, 
baptized October 17, 1708, at Wenham, settled in 
ii— 4 



Acton; married (first) Sarah 



and (second) 



Mehitable Conant; John, born in Ipswich, residing 
in Bolton, 1758; Alice, married, 1726, Archelaus 
Adams, of Newsbury; Sarah, born in Ipswich, mar- 
ried, May 9, 1734, David Page, of Lexington; Mary, 
married Joseph Gould, of Nottingham West, now 
Hudson, New Hampshire, June 19, 1746; Joseph, 
see forward. 

(III) Joseph Piper, youngest child of Nathaniel 
Piper (2), was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 
1718. He inherited by deed of gift dated August 19, 
1741, one-half his father's estate, and the other 
half bought of the father for two hundred pounds, 
December 3, 1751. In 1762 Joseph Piper bought 
of Amos Prescott his farm of one hundred and 
seventy-two acres with two dwelling houses in 
Acton, and he removed from Concord about that 
time. He died December 19, 1802. He married, 
November 18, 1743, Esther Wright, daughter of 
Henry Wright, of Westford, Massachusetts. She 
died April 7, 180S. Tlieir children were: Joseph, 
see forward; Philip, born July 6, 1746, died October, 
1776; married, August 7, 1770, Ann Gill; Esther, 
born 1747, married Jonas Brooks, of Acton, Au- 
gust 31, 1774: Sybil, born February 20, 1749, mar- 
ried, 1773, Francis Cragin ; Jonathan, born May 
27, 1752, married, 1777, Betsey Gibson, of Stow; 
Solomon, born October 20, 1754, died December 20, 
1827; Rachel, born December 3, 1756, died April 
14, 1838; married (first) John Barker, 1774; (sec- 
ond) Daniel Barker, 1792; Alice, born February 
i,3. 1759. married Reuben Law, 1778; Mary, born 
December 18, 1762, married Amasa Piper, 1782. 

(IV) Joseph Piper, eldest child of Joseph Piper 
(3), was born November 18, 1744, at Acton, Massa- 
chusetts. When a young man he taught school. 
He learned the trades of carpenter and of wheel- 
wright, which he followed while living in Acton. 
In 1795 he removed to Sharon, New Hampshire, 
whefe he built a house on the farm he purchased 
and spent the remainder of his life farming. He 
built a number of houses there for investment, two 
of which are still standing, and was prosperous and 
highly respected. He married Betsey Hayward, 
of Acton, December 21, 1768. Their children were:* 
Daniel Hayward, born .September 5, 1773; Betsey, 
December 30. 1775; Mary, January 5, 1778; Joseph, 
March 20, 1780 ; Francis, April 19, 1782 ; Esther, 
January 14, 1784; Pliny. September 30, 1786, see 
forward; Sally. November 27, 1789, died May 12, 
1792; Lucy, March 3, 1791 ; Sally. 

(V) Pliny Piper,, seventh child of Joseph Piper 
(4), was born at Acton, Massachusetts. September 
,30, 1786. He attended the district school there, and 
after he was eleven years old, when the family re- 
moved to Sharon, New Hampshire, he also attended 
the schools in that town. Besides helping on the 
farm he learned the trade of wheelwright and car- 
penter and followed it through life. He also kept 
his hand in as a farmer, conducting several farms 
at Sharon until l8.'!8, when he removed to Peter- 
boro. New Hampshire, and bought the John Ritchie 
farm, which, excepting a part that he sold off, he 
owned until his death, August 24, 1867, at Platts- 
burg, New York. He was a Unitarian in religion 
and a Democrat in politics. He was highway sur- 
veyor of the town of Peterboro, and a minute man 
during the war of 1812. 

He married, November 26, 1818, Margaret May- 
nard Spofford. born July 30, 1795, died November 
9, 1S65. daughter of Amos and Mary (Taggart) 
Spofford, of Sharon, New Hampshire. Her father 
was a soldier in the revolution, enlisting in his 
father's stead when only fourteen years old, and 
serving three years. The children of Pliny and 



50 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Margaret M. Piper were: Margaret N., born Feb- 
ruary 9. 1819, deceased ; Samuel B., November 23, 
1820, deceased; Augustus S., August 20, 1822, de- 
ceased; Lyman L., July 11, 1824, deceased; Mary 
Ann, November 30, 1827. deceased; Betsey A, 
June 19, 1831, now Mrs. Madson D. Chapman, a 
widow, residing in Kcene. New Hampshire ; Daniel 
Howard, see forward ; Dennis B., November 3, 
1838, employed by D. H. Piper. 

(VI) Daniel Howard Piper, seventh child of 
Pliny Piper (5), was born at Sharon, New Hamp- 
shire, January I, 1836. He moved with his parents 
to Peterboro, New Hampshire, when he was only 
two years old, and was educated there in the com- 
mon schools. In 1849 he went to Winchendon, 
Massachusetts, to work for Baxter D. Whitney. 
In 1850 he worked for a short time for the Noon 
Woolen Company of Peterboro. and in the fall 
entered the machine shop of Piper & Robinson. 
After a short time he entered the Hutchinson & 
Harris mill at Harrisville. New Hampshire, where 
he was employed three months. In the fall of 1852 
he entered the employ of Goodspccd & Wyman, and 
afterward again worked for Mr. Whitney, where he 
made cylinder stave saws. After a year he worked 
for a time at Keene. New Hampshire, for Hod- 
gins & Knowlton. and then with his brother Au- 
gustus went to Elmira, New York, to work in a 
machine shop. He returned to Whitney's in 1857 
and then went to Orange, Massachusetts, where he 
worked during the winter, but again returned to 
Whitney's, where he was employed up to 1861 ; then 
to Windsor, Vermont, where he was employed in 
the United Slates armory for a few months ; 
then for Baxter Whitney in Winchendon again for 
five months ; then to the armory of Springfield, 
Massachu'ictls. for eight months ; then back to 
Baxter Whitney's till 1864 ; then for a time with 
Wi'lipm Grout on sewing machines, as his foreman; 
then for Levi Thompson, of Fitchburg, a short time ; 
then with B. D. Whitney up to 1871, when he 
signed an engagement with Goodspeed & Wyman, 
and for twenty-seven years was connected with 
this esl.ablishment, making cylinder saws. In 1898 
'Mr. Piper went into business for himself, manu- 
facturing cylinder saws used in the manufacture 
of wooden ware such as tubs and pails. He makes 
other machinery to order. Mr. Piper is a member 
of the Church of the Unity (Unitarian), and of the 
Republican party. He is a skillful musician, and 
has belonged to a band and orchestra for over forty 
years. 

Me married. March 31, 1858, Susan Sophia 
Morse, born June 3, 1838, in Winchendon, daui;hter 
of Elisha and Sally W. (Robbins) Morse. Elisha 
Morse was born in Holliston. son of Joseph Morse, 
who was one of the following children : James, 
Lusanna, Debora, Elizabeth, Joseph, Abner. Joseph 
Mor'Je died in Brookfield, Vermont. He was a 
farmer all his life, a soldier in the revolution. His 
chiMrcn were : Joseph, married Hannah Miller, 
and they had: Joseph, John, died young; Elihue, 
Jerusha, Elijah, and Levina; Elisha, see forward; 
Hannah. George, Betsey, Mary. Samuel. 

Flisha Mnrsc was born November i, 1793, in 
Holliston, and educated there. He then came to 
Fitrwilliam with his parents, and later to Brook- 
field. Vermont, .-"nd lliere followed farming up to 
coming to Winchendon, when he followed shoemak- 
ing the remainder of his life. lie died July 10. 1868. 
He marrifd Sally W. Rohbiiis. born in Fitzwilliam, 
daughter of William Robbins. born in Rindge. April 
.16. 1770: he was a wheclwricht, b\iilding and oper- 
ating saw mills ; he died 1853- He married Emma 
Ware, daughter of Robert Ware, who resided in 



Fitzwilliam. William and Emma had eight chil- 
dren : George, Sally W., mother of Susan Sophia 
(Morse) Piper; Lewis, Nancy, Nahim, Naomi, 
Delight, David. The mother of these children was 
born in 1769, died 1855. Elisha and Sally W. 
(Robbins) Morse had children: George, Elvira, 
William, Lovina, Warren, Nancy, Elisha, Leon- 
ard, Joseph, Susan Sophia, Sarah. All are 
deceased but Nancy and Susan Sophia. The mother 
of ihe above children died January 4, 1878. Chil- 
dren of Daniel H. and Susan S. Piper were : i. 
Addie Howard, born November 13, 1859, died July 
13, 1888; married (first), February 6, 1878, Lyman 
Richards, of Winchendon, and had one child, Daniel 
Howard Richards, born July 18, 1879; he was 
killed by a kick from a horse, July 24, 1881 ; she 
married (second) Fred Andrew Trask, of Bel- 
lows Falls, Vermont. 2. George Morse, born June 
23, 1861 ; he is in the same building with his father, 
niaking pail ears and all kinds of small job work; 
he is also a musician as are all his children. He 
married Carrie Belle Fairbanks. Their children — 
Ella Louise, born December 13, 1884; Howard 
Beckwith, October 28. 1887; Harold Kenneth, 
March 31, 1891; Bernice Addie, October i, 1894; 
Willard Chester, December 18, 1900. 

ABIEL J. PLUMMER. Francis Plummer (l) 
was the immigrant ancestor of Abiel J. Plummer, 
of Winchendon, Massachusetts. He was born in 
England and came to America in 1633. He was 
admitted a freeman May 14, 1634. He was a linen 
weaver by trade. He settled in Newbury in 1635. 
Coffin's history of Newbury says that his descen- 
dants still own the land he once held ; that his 
descendants are many and distinguished ; that one 
of them, Hon. George Plummer, w-as the first white 
child born west of the Alleghany mountains in 
Pennsylvania and the first congressman elected from 
that reeion. It is said that when the settlers sailed 
up the river to their new homes at Newbury, the 
second to land, after Nicholas Noyes, was Francis 
Plummer, followed by his wife and two sons, Sam- 
uel and Joseph. He had a tavern there in 1635. 
He died at Newbury, January 17, 1672-73. He held 
various town offices in Newbury. 

He married (first) Ruth . who died July 

or August 17 or 18, 1647. He married (second), 
March 31, 1648, Ann Palmer, widow, who died 
October 18. 1665. He married (third). November 
29, 1665, Beatrice, widow of William Cantlebury, 
of Salem. Children of Francis and Ruth Plum- 
mer were: Samuel, see forward; Joseph, born 
16,30. married, December 23, 1652, Sarah Cheney; 
he died December 11, 1683; Hannah, born 1632, 
married. May 3, 1653, Samuel Moore; Mary, born 
1634. married. May 26, r66o. John Cheney, Jr. 

(II) Samuel Plummer, eldest child of Francis 
and Ruth Plummer (r), was born in England, 
1619. He was admitted a freeman June 2, 1641. 
He resided at Newbury, and among other enter- 
prises owned a ferry across the Merrimac river. 
He was a deputy to the general court. He died in 
1702. He married, 1646, Mary Bidfield. Their 
children: Samuel, born April 20, 1647, married, 
December 5. 1670; Mary, born February 3, 1650, 
married, December 6. 1670, John Swett : John, born 
May It. 1652. killed September 18. 1675. at the 
battle of Bloody Creek, in Captain Lathrop's com- 
pany: Ephraim, born September 16, 1655. died Au- 
gust 13, 1716; married, January 15, r68o, Hannah 
Jacques: Hannah, born February 16, 1657. married 
David Batchclder; Sylvanus, see forward; Ruth, 
born August 7. 1660, married, January 18, 1682, 
Richard Jacques ; Elizabeth, born October 10, 1662, 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



51 



married, June 26, 1682, Richard Jackman ; Deborah, 
born March 13, 1668, married, November 6, 1699, 
Elizabeth Dole ; Lydia, born July 2, 166S. married 
Joseph Morse; Bathsheba born July 31, 1679, died 
young. 

(II) Sylvanus Plummer, sixth child of Samuel 
Plummer (2), was born in Newbury, Massachu- 
setts, February 22, 1658. He was admitted a free- 
man 1690 and settled in Newbury. He married, 
January 18, 1682, Sarah Moody, daughter probably 
of Samuel Moody. Their children were : Mary, 
born October 20, 1683. Samuel born November 
12, 1684, died August 2, 1685; Samuel, see for- 
ward; Lydia, married. May 18, 1718, Timothy 

Noyes ; Sarah, married Titcorab ; Benjamin, 

married, 1720, Keziah Storer. 

(IV) Samuel Plummer, third child of Sylvanus 
Plummer (3). was born in Newbury, Massachu- 
setts, about 1685. He married Hannah Woodman, 
August 8, 1717, and their children, all born in New- 
bury, were: Abigail, born February, 1718, mar- 
ried, 1744, James Bayley ; Sylvanus, born April 13, 
1730 married, December 7, 1749, Rebecca Plummer, 
daughter of John Plummer ; Samuel, born January 
14, 1722, married, April 8, 1755, Mary Dole; Mary, 
born November 26, 1723. married Daniel Barbour; 
Hannah, born October 25, 1725 married, November 
27. 1753. John Chace; Sarah, Ijorn March 10, 1727, 
married. March 6, 1746, John Dole; Elizabeth, born 
May 10 1729, married Thomas Merritt; Jonathan, 
born April 9, 1731, married, November 27, 1760, 
Abigail Greenleaf; Anna, born December 6, 1734, 
married Isaac Pearson ; Joseph, see forward ; 
Eunice, born June 5, 1738, married, June 3, 1771, 
William Alexander; Moses, born August 6, 1740, 
settled in Portland, Maine. 

(V) Joseph Plummer, tenth child of Samuel 
Plummer (4), was. born in Newbury, Massachu- 
setts, December 25, 1735. He married, about 1776, 
Mary Foster, who died May 9, 1820. He died Sep- 
tember 30. 1812. They lived in Newbury and their 
children, all born there, were : Hannah, born March 
20, 1777. died May 6, 1797, unmarried ; Amos, born 
March 10, 1779, died unmarried ; Isaiah, born March 
22, 1781, married Ann Chace ; Samuel, born Decem- 
ber, 1783, married widow Richards, no issue ; Nancy, 
born July 24, 1785, died young ; Abraham, see for- 
ward ; Joseph, born January 19, 1790, died about 
1810 unmarried. 

(VI) Abraham Plummer, sixth child of Joseph 
Plummer (5). was born at Newbury, Massachu- 
setts, September i, 1787. He was brought up on 
the farm. After his marriage he removed to Rindge, 
New Hampshire. After a few years he settled at 
Northiield, New Hampshire, where he bought a 
farm and conducted a saw mill, manufacturing 
shingles, lath and lumber. He owned large tracts 
of wood land, from which he cut timber for use 
in the mill. In religion he was a Baptist. He was 
a man of influence and held various town offices. 
He married Hannah Hale, born March 27. 1790. 
Their children were : Hannah, born November 29, 
1809; Charles Edwin, born December 7, 181 1, see 
forward; Mary K., born December 12, 1813; Sarah 
S., born March 19, 1816; Eliza L., born August 27, 
1818; Maria M., born April 19, 1820; Abraham F., 
born August 22, 1822 ; William H., born August i, 

1824; Caroline K., born April 2, 1826; Benjamin 
W.. born January 16, 1828 ; Isaac A., born Novem- 
ber 24, 1830; Clementine S. (twin), born April 22, 
1832; Angeline S. (twin), born April 22, 1832. 

(VII) Charles Edwin Plummer, second child of 
Abraham Plummer (6), was born at Newbury, 
Massachusetts, December 7, i8ri. He attended the 
public schools there and at Rindge, where his par- 



ents moved when he was eleven years old. During 
his earlier years he followed several vocations. 
When his father removed to Northfield, he went 
with him and worked in the shingle mill. He was 
in the trucking business in Boston for a time, and 
finally returned to Rindge, where he carried on the 
hotel and livery stable. For seven years he was the 
postmaster of Rindge. Before the railroad was 
built his tavern was one of the most popular stop- 
ping places for teamsters and stage drivers on the 
road from Bennington to Boston. He removed later 
to Nelson, New Hampshire, where he bought a 
saw mill and manufactured wooden ware, such as 
mops, clothes pins, butter stamps, washboards, trays, 
etc. He removed in 1854 to Winchendon and en- 
tered the employ of Murdock & Fairbanks in the 
wooden-ware factory. After a few years he bought 
a quarry at Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, and car- 
ried on an extensive business. He furnished the 
stone for many of the buildings and sidewalks in 
Winchendon, and carried on this business success- 
fully for many years. He died December 18, 1905. 
In 1845 Mr. Plummer astonished everybody by 
transporting a salt water schooner that he bought 
in Boston overland to Lake Monomonock, where 
he had a public launching and carried a hundred 
persons on his initial trip. He was a Baptist in 
religion and a Democrat, Whig and finally a Repub- 
lican in politics. 

He married, June 2, 1835, Clarinda Rugg, born 
February 3, 1814. She was the daughter of Captain 
Luke and Cynthia (Platts) Rugg, of Rindge. Her 
father was a farmer, and was one of the select- 
men of Rindge. Children of Charles and Clarinda 
Plummer were : George Edward, born February 
28, 1838. enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Massachu- 
setts Volunteers in the civil war and was killed at 
Campbell's Station, Tennessee, November 16, 1863 ; 
he married, January I, 1859, Mary A. Withington, 
of Winchendon ; Charles William, see forward ; 
Henry Franklin, born March lo, 1845, died October 
19, 1846; Walter Bascomb, born October I, 1857, 
married Harriet Church, of Boston. 

(VIII) Charles William Plummer, son of 
Charles Edwin Plummer (7), was born at Rindge, 
New Hampshire, March 25, 1840. He attended 
school there and at Nelson, New Hampshire, 
w'hither the family went when he was nine years 
old. In 1854 he removed to Winchendon and com- 
pleted his schooling there. During his spare hours 
and days he worked in the wooden-ware factory of 
Murdock & Fairbanks, and at the age of sixteen 
began to work regularly as a wood turner. After 
some ten years there, he went to work for Orange 
Whitney on chair frames, and remained in his 
employ for fifteen years. He then bought a small 
farm and started in business for himself as a milk 
dealer. After conducting the business twelve years 
he accepted the position of janitor of the North 
street school house, which position he still oc- 
cupies, and sold his business. He resides at 26 
North street. Winchendon. He attends the Baptist 
church. In politics he is a Republican and has been 
constable of the town. He is a member. of Mano- 
monack Lodge. Odd Fellows, and has held the vari- 
ous ofiices including noble grand. He belongs to 
Winchendon Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. 

He married, August 16, 1862, Francis E. Nut- 
ting, born July 7, 1839. Her parents were Jonas 
and Sally (Ross) Nutting, of Bakersfield, Vermont, 
Her father was a farmer. The children of Charles 
W. and Frances E. Plummer were : Lona Ellen, 
hnrn April 2, 1863, married Edison E. Sawyer, of 
Winchendon ; Amy Elathe, born May 12, 1866, died 
aged six months ; Abiel Jonas, see forward ; Ada 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Clara, born December 9, 1879, married Edward 
Buzzcll, of Rindge, and had: Irene Ada, born Sep- 
tember JO. 1901 ; Ruth Frances, July 2, 1905. 

(IX) Abicl Jonas Plummer, son of Charles 
William Pliimmer (8), was born at Winchendon, 
Massachusetts, May u, 1869. He received his early 
education there in the public schools. When six- 
teen years old he went to work as a clerk in the 
market of A. A. Adams. He worked for W. W. 
Wilbur, Ezra Lamb, H. H. Norcross, whose market 
was on Front street; L. S. Fisher, of Baldwinville; 
then returned to Winchendon and worked in Baxter 
Robinson's Union Market for three years. In 1892 
his health failed and he took an extended trip 
through the south, locating on his return with 
Graves & Company, Worcester. He worked also 
for a time in the Washburn & Moen Wire Works 
and then removed to Windsor Locks, Connecticut, 
where he was employed by Charles C. Graves in 
his market. He finally returned to Winchendon 
and worked for J. A. Buckmeister several years, 
then for Sidney E. White two years. At the death 
of Mr. Buckmeister he bought the market, Decem- 
ber 1, 1902, and has since carried on a large and 
growing business. He is a Baptist in religion and 
a Republican in politics. He belongs to Watatic 
Tribe of Red Men. 

He married, February I, 1894, Jessie M. White, 
of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, born February 3, 
1874, daughter of Daniel Francis and Abigail J. 
(Bosworth) White. Her father was a farmer and 
wood-worker. Their children arc : Leon Monroe, 
born July ig, 1894; Hazel, January 9, 1897. 

WELLINGTON BALCOM. Alexander Bal- 
com (i), immigrant ancestor of Wellington Bal- 
com, of East Douglas, Massachusetts, was born in 
England about 1630. He settled in the colony of 
Rhode Island in New England when a young man. 
He was a mason by trade. He resided first in 
Portsmouth, then in Providence. He was deputy 
to the general assembly from the town of Provi- 
dence in 1683. He bought a tract of land, July 14, 
1686, twelve miles north of Providence. He died 
May 4, 1711. His will was proved July 18, 1711; 
he bequeathed to wife Jane and all his children. 
The children of Alexander and Jane Balcom were: 
Alexander, Jr., married Sarah Woodcock; resided 
in Providence and Altleborough ; mason by trade. 
Catherine, married Daniel Jcnckes. who was born 
April 19, 1663, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Jenckes, 
and had nine children. Sarah, married Timothy 
Sheldon, son of John Sheldon, and had four chil- 
dren. John, married Sarah Bartlett. who was born 
1678 and died January 30, 1739; resided at Provi- 
dence and Smithfield, Rhode Island; kept a public 
house ; named various relatives in will. Freegift, 
never married. Joseph, see forward. Hannah, mar- 
ric-I, February 22, 1716, Ebenezer Hayward, and 
had' four children. Samuel. Deborah, had four 
children. Lydia, married, April 14, 1701, Daniel 
Hix, who was born 1660 and died March 21, 1746. 

(II) Joseph Balcom, son of Alexander Balcom 
(i), was born in Rhode Island, about 1660-70. He 
died at Douglas. Massachusetts, March 5, 1732-3.3- 
His children as given below were mentioned in his 
will. He removed to Mendon in 1717 and settled 
in the section that became Douglas. The will re- 
fers to land in Uxbridge and New Sherborn (Doug- 
las) as the homestead. It provides for the help- 
less brother Freegift. It mentions common and 
undivided lands, also a cedar swamp. The home- 
stead was located near Beating pond. All of his 
sons settled in Douglas. His wife Phebe died in 
1732 or later. Their children : Joseph. Jr., called 



the eldest in his father's will and given his gun ; 
Samuel, see forward; Elijah, Deborah, Phebe, 
Sarah, Mary, Martha, born May 21. 1714, married 

Comstock. All were probably born in Rhode 

Island. 

(III) Samuel Balcom, son 6l Joseph Balcom 
(2), was born in Rhode Island about 1710. He 

was a tanner by trade and settled in Douglas, where 
he died 1783. His will was allowed February 4, 
1783. He married Susanna . Their chil- 
dren, all born in Douglas, were : Samuel, born 
November 10, 1746; Mary, July 12, 1748. died Feb- 
ruary 13, 1749; Susanna, June 3, 1750, married 
Benjamin Robbins ; John, ^larch 8, 1752; David, 
May 26, I7S4, see forward; Belzaleel, April 2, 1757; 
Phebe, September 15, 1759; Moses, November 11, 
1761 ; Aaron, March 27, 1764. The homestead was 
inherited by the two last named. 

(IV) David Balcom, son of Samuel Balcom 
(3), was born in Douglas. Massachusetts, May 26, 
1754. He married (intentions dated April 3, 1780) 
Marv Hayward. of Killingly. Connecticut. He was 
a soldier in the revolution with an excellent record, 
and late in life received a pension from the gov- 
ernment. He died September 18, 1844, aged ninety 
years. His will mentions all his eight children 
and his widow's will mentions their six daughters. 
The children, all born in Douglas, were : Sybil, 
born May 22, 1781, married David Wallis, see 
sketch: Ebenezer, April 14, 1783; Dolly, January 
20, 1785, married Isaac Titus; Sally, February 9, 
1787, married Elijah Smith; David. Jr.. October 
20, 1789, see forward; Polly (Mary), January 19, 
1792, married Jonathan Wallis; Lucy, March 21, 
1794, married Chester Morse; Charlotte, May 22, 
1797, married Timothy Wallis. 

(V) Da'vid Balcom, Jr., son of David Balcom 
(4), was born in Douglas, Massachusetts, October 
20. 1789. He was a prominent citizen in his day 
and held various town offices. He was a Demo- 
crat in politics. He was active in the state militia 
and held the commission of captain in the Light 
Infantry. He married Prudence Wallis. born June 
13. '794. daughter of David and Bial (Albee) 

Wallis, of Douglas. He died December 6. 1838 ; 
.'he died September 19, 1880. Their children, born 
at Douglas, were: Fanny Jane, born June 6, 1815; 
died May 27. 1887; Prudence, March 29. 1827; 
Willard Wallis. March 4. 1831, died October 19, 
1896; Wellington. February 27, 1833, see forward. 

(VI) Wellington Balcom, son of David Balcom 
(5), was born in Douglas, Massachusetts. Febru- 
ary 27, 1833. He received a common school edu- 
cation in his native town. At the age of twelve 
years he went to work in the shoe shop of S. & 
C. Carpenter and learned his trade. For forty-five 
years he was in the shoe business as journeyman 
and employer. In 1887 he left the shoe business 
and became a farmer and has lived on his farm 
ever since. He is a veteran of the civil war. He 
enlisted in 1862 in Company I, Fifty-first Regiment, 
Massachusetts Volunteers. He had the misfortune 
to fall and injure a tendon in his leg, and though' 
very lame be insisted on going to the front with 
his regiment. He fought at the battle of Kins- 
ton, Whitehall and in other skirmishes. He was 
honorably discharged on account of his disability, 
February 7. 1863. In politics he is a staunch Repub- 
lican, but has not cared for public office. 

He married. August T4. 1851. Vashti Hacket 
Hodgkins. of Douglas. Thoir children: Franklyn. 
born September 4. 1856, married Mary Starr, of 
Sutton ; they reside in Webster. Massachusetts ; 
Edna May. born September 22, 1861. married Will- 
iam B. Metcalf, of Webster; William Elbridge, 




/^^^y^z^^.^^^/'^^i^/ 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



53 



born January 19, 1868, assisted his father on the 
homestead; Lottie Belle, born January 16, 1871, 
died December 28, 1S93 ; she married Stephen E. 
Stockwell, of Sutton; Guy Ernest, born November 
3, 1874, died April 9, 1905. 

HENRY GREENLEAF CRANE. Henry Crane 
(l), the pioneer ancestor of the late Henry Green- 
leaf Crane, of Worcester, jNIassachusetts, was born 
in England about 1624. He married there, about 
the tune of his departure for this country, in 1655, 

Tabitha , who died after 1681. He married 

about 1683, Elizabeth Kingsley, daughter of Stephen 
Kingsley. She survived him. He died at Milton 
March 21, 1709, aged eighty-five years. He settled 
first in Dorchester, in the part known later as 
Milton, on the south side of Adams street, the pres- 
ent village of East Milton, in the rear and between 
the houses now or lately owned by W. Q. Baxter 
and E. B. Andrews. He was an iron worker and 
probably worked in the foundry formerly on Fur- 
nace brook, built there in 1643. The ore for this 
foundry was found in Milton. He was a prominent 
man in the town. In 1679-80-81 he was selectman. 

Children of Henry and Tabitha Crane were: 
Henry, Jr., born 1656; Benjamin, born 1657, was 
wounded at the Narragansett Swamp fight in King 
Philip's war in 1675, serving under Captain Johnson ; 
Stephen; John, born January 30, 1658-9; Elizabeth, 
born August 14, 1663 ; Ebenezer, (.see forward) ; 
Mary, born November 21, 1666; Anna, born 1667; 
Mercy, born January l, 1668, perhaps the one who 
died August 17, i735; Samuel, born June 8, 1669; 
died September 14, 1669. 

Ebenezer Crane, son of Henry Crane (i), born 
August 6 or ID, i66s, married, November 13, 1689, 
Mary Tolman, born November 26, 1671, daughter 
of Thomas, Jr., and Elizabeth (Johnson) Tolman, 
of Dorchester, and granddaughter of Thomas Tol- 
man, the pioneer in Dorchester. In August, 1690, 
he was one of the Dorchester militia company, num- 
bering seventy-five, who went on the Quebec expe- 
dition under Sir William Phipps, and was one of the 
twenty-nine who survived to tell the story of their 
sufferings and defeat. He served under Colonel 
Withington. He received a grant of land later in 
Dorchester, Canada, as Ashburnham was called, in 
payment for his service, and many of his descend- 
ants have lived in the vicinity. He died July 30, 
1725. He had twelve children, the first six being 
born in Braintree, where he first settled, and the 
other six in Milton, where he lived after 1705. 

Children of Ebenezer and Mary (Tolman) 
Crane: Ebenezer, born November 21, 1692; Ezekiel, 
born November 20, 1694; Daniel, born February 2, 
1696, died March 4, same year; TaWtha, born De- 
cember 27, 1697; Mary, born July 11, 1699; Ephraim, 
born January 17, 1702; Lydia, born April 2, 1703; 
Edward, born August 12, 1705; Henry, (see for- 
ward) ; Thomas, born May 12, 1710; Benjamin, born 
October 22, 1712; Abijah, born November 2, 1714. 

(III) Henry Crane, son of Ebenezer Crane (2), 
born February 29, 1707-8, married Melatiah Vose, 
of Dorchester, Massachusetts, September 9, 1727, 
daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Belcher) Vose, 
born June 23, 1716; died December 24, 1778. Chil- 
dren were: Elijah; Melatiah, born May 9, 1729; 
Vose, (see forward) ; Jerusha, born March 25, 
1733; Henry, born April 6, 1735 ; died May 6, 1735; 
Henry, born February 18, 1736; Eleazer, born March 
30, 1741 ; Nathaniel, born December 8, 1743, died 
1743; Mary, born February 16, 1747. 

(IV) Vose Crane, son of Henry Crane (3), 
born in Milton, Massachusetts, February 15, 1731 ; 
married Jane Vose. Children were : Melatiah, born 



March 30, I7S7; Jeremiah, born October 16, 1758; 
Henry, (see forward) ; Nathaniel, born December 
16, 1761 ; Elizabeth, born. September 7, 1763; Mary, 
born x'Xpril, 1764; Isaac, born October 7, 1765; Dolly, 
born July 18, 1769. 

(V) Henry Crane, son of Vose Crane (4), born 
June 27, 1759; married (first) Judith Swift, and 
(second) Elizabeth Thompson. Children of Henry: 
Henry, born 1784; Judith, born October 2, 1786; 

married • Bent; Elizabeth, born 1788, married 

Moses Hayden ; Patience, born March 30, 1790; 
Henry, born March 28, 1791, married Catherine 
Richards; Charles Newton, born November 20, 1792, 
married I3etsey Nuss ; Robert Thompson, born Sep- 
tember 21, 1795, married INIiriam Sanborn; Isaac, 
(see forward) ; Jeremiah, born January 4, 1799, 
probably died at Mobile unmarried ; Sarah, born 
June 17, 1801, died February 4, 1863, unmarried. 

(VI) Isaac Crane, son of Henry Crane (s), born 
April, 179S; married, August, 1826, Lois Greenleaf, 
of Salisbury, New Hampshire, the daughter of 
Stephen Greenleaf, born June 9, 1799. Their chil- 
dren were : Harriet, born June 9, 1827 ; Henry 
Greenleaf, (see forward) ; Charles, born October I, 
1S30, died December 8, 1867; Robert T., born No- 
vember 2, 1832, died August 17, 1867; Albert G., 
born May 31, 1836, died 1874. 

(VII) Henry Greenleaf Crane, son of Isaac 
Crane (6), born in Franklin, New Hampshire, April 
27, 1829. His father was a paper manufacturer 
there. He was brought up in his native town and 
received a common school education. He went to 
Manchester, New Hampshire, when a young man, 
to learn the trade of machinist in the Manchester 
machine works. He worked several years there, and 
then went to East Boston, where he was engaged in 
manufacturing machine screws for a Boston firm. 
In 1872 he came to Worcester, and formed a partner- 
ship with Charles C. McCloud. They had been 
journeymen together in the same shop, and bought 
the business of J. H. Gray & Co., manufacturers^ of 
milled machine screws, at 50 Union street. The firm 
name was McCloud & Crane. They moved later to 
57 Union street. The manufacture of machine 
screws and nuts was the exclusive business of this 
firm, and a large business was built up through the 
enterprise and industry of the two original part- 
ners. The firm became a corporation in 1892, under 
the name of McCloud, Crane & Minter Company, 
with a capital of twenty thousand dollars. Mr. 
Minter remained only two or three years with the 
company. Mr. Crane died December i, 1899. His 
partner died two years before. Mrs. McCloud and 

iSIrs. Crane sold their stock in the company to A. 
H. Anthony, the present secretary and treasurer of 
the company. He has recently moved the business 
to a large factory on Chandler street. 

Mr. Crane was an officer of the Equity Co- 
operative Bank. He was a prominent Mason, hav- 
ing taken all the degrees, including the thirty-sec- 
ond. Besides the lodge, the chapter and the council, 
he was a member of Lawrence Chapter of Rose 
Croix; of the Worcester County Commandery, and 
of the Jerusalem Consistory ; also a member of the 
Worcester County Mechanics' Association. He was 
a Republican in politics, but no office seeker. He 
was in every respect a self-made man, and by hon- 
esty and hard work accumulated a fair share of this 
world's goods ; he was honored and respected ; a 
great reader, and well informed on every question 
of his day. 

ill; ...^iried, May 14, 1872, at Manchester, New 
Hampshire, Sarah E. Patten, Rev. Dr. Tucker, now 
president of Dartmouth College, performing the 
ceremony. She was the daughter of John and 



54 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Aclisah (Patten) Patten, one of nine children, and 
was born January 20, 1840, at Bedford, New Hamp- 
shire. Before her marriage she lived at Manchester 
and Boston. 

Jolni Patten, the emigrant ancestor of Mrs. 
Crane, came with his family to this country in 
1728 from the North of Ireland. He was a Scotch 
Presbyterian and settled among his former neigh- 
bors and friends from Londonderry, Ireland, and 
vicinity, in the new town of Bedford, New Hamp- 
shire, about 1738. He died there in 1746, and his 
widow died October, 1764. Their children were : 
Samuel, (see forward) ; Matthew, born in Ireland, 
May 19, 1719, emigrated to this country, 1728; 
came to Souhegan East, in 1738; was second judge 
of probate of the county and the first after the revo- 
lution ; was appointed judge in 1776; was repre- 
sentative from the towns of Bedford and Merrimack 
in 1776-77; was counsellor in 1778; was appointed 
justice of the peace about 1751, and held that office 
until his death August 27, 1795. His very interest- 
ing diary has been published recently. He married 
Elizabeth McMurphy, daughter of John McMurphy, 
of Londonderry, by whom he had eleven children. 

Samuel Patten, son of John Patten, the emigrant, 
born in Ireland, 1713; married, December 5, 1746, 
Mary Bell, and settled in Bedford, New Hampshire. 
Their children: Marj', married Thomas Townsend, 
1794; Sarah, born March 17, 1749, married Zecha- 
riah Chandler; Elizabeth, born November 12, 1750, 
married John O'Neil and had six children; Samuel, 
born August 10, 1752, married Deborah Moore, and 
had ten children; Margaret, born August 18, 1754, 
died May, 1799; John, (see forward) ; Joseph, born 
January 3, 1758, married Mary Dickey, and had ten 
children; Jane, born February 11, 1760, married 
Daniel Gould; Matthew, born July 19, 1762, died 
June 16, 1763; Ann, born June 12, 1764, married 
James Miller. 

John Pattin, son of Samuel Patten, and grand- 
son of John Patten, the emigrant, was born in Bed- 
ford, New Hampshire, June 23, 1756. He was a 
soldier in the revolution and lieutenant of the Bed- 
ford company, of which James Aiken and Thomas 
McLaughlin were captains. Colonel Daniel Moor 
was from Bedford. His brother Samuel, and sev- 
eral sons of Matthew Patten, were also in the serv- 
ice. He married Hannah Wallace, daughter of 
John Wallace. Their children were: John, (see 
forward); Nancy, born January 25, 1790; Hannah, 
born March 25, 1792; Samuel, born February iz, 
1794; Zacchius, born September 28, 1796. 

John Patten, son of John, and great-grandson of 
John Patten, the emigrant, born at Bedford, New 
Hampshire, April 14, 1788; married Achsah, daugh- 
ter of Joseph Patten, who was the son of Samuel 
Patten and grandson of John Patten, the emigrant. 
They were cousins. He was killed by the fall of a 
tree, January 31, 1851. Their children were: Asenath, 
born November 24, 1818; William Bruce, born No- 
vember 7, 1821; Margaret A., born December 7, 
1823; Alfred Foster, born February 13, 1827; La- 
vina Jane, born November 24, 1828; Clarissa J., 
born September 3, 1831, died June 14, 1832; Samuel 
John, born April 21, 1833; Mary Josephine, born 
January 17, 1837; Sarah E., (sec forward); Charles 
H., born October I, 1844. 

Sarah Patten, daughter of John Patten and 
great-great-granddaughter of John Patten, the emi- 
grant, was born January 20, 1840; married Henry 
Grcenleaf Crane. They had no children. Mrs. 
Crane resides at 257 Lincoln street, Worcester. 

PUTNAM FAMILY. John Putnam, the immi- 
grant ancestor of the late Samuel Putnam, of Leo- 



minster, Massachusetts, came from Ashlon Ab- 
botts, county Buckinghamshire, England. He was 
born 1580 and died at Salem Village, now Danvers, 
December 30, 1062, aged eighty years. The earliest 
record of hini in America is in 1640 when he had a 
grant of land at Salem. He was admitted to the 
church April 4, 1647, and a freeman the same year. 
He was a prosperous farmer and was apparently 
well educated, judgnig from his writing. He deeded 
land to his son John, March 31, 1053, and later to 
son Nathaniel. (See sketch of Putnams of Worces- 
ter and Sutton). 

He married Priscilla Gould. Their children were : 
Elizabeth, baptized at Ashton Abbotts, England, De- 
cember 20, 1012; Thomas, baptized March 7, 1014, 
ancestor of the Sutton Putnams; John, baptized 
July 24, 1617; Nathaniel, baptized October II, 1619, 
of whom later; Sarah, baptized March 7, 1622-3; 
Phebe, baptized July 28, 1024; John, baptized May 
27, 1027, died April 7, 1710. 

(II) Nathaniel Putnam, son of John Putnam 
(i), was born in Ashton Abbotts, Buckinghamshire, 
England, in 1619, and baptized October 11, that 
year. He died at Salem, July 23, 1700. He was a 
prosperous farmer, settled in what is now Danvers, 
Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth Hutchinson, 
daughter of Richard and Alice (Bosworth) Hutch- 
inson. She was born in Arnold, England, August 
20, 1629, and baptized there August 30; died at 
Danvers June 24, 1688. Both were admitted to the 
church at Salem in 1648. Their children, born at 
Salem Village, were : Samuel, February 18, 1052 ; 
Nathaniel, April 24, 1655; John, iMarch 26, 1057; 
Joseph, October 29, 1059; Elizabeth, August 11, 
1662, married Sergeant George Flint ; Benjamin, 
of whom later; Mary, September 15, 1668, married 
John Tufts. 

John, Benjamin and Mary alone survived their 
youth. Part of the original homestead of Nathaniel 
Putnam at Danvers is still known as the Judge Put- 
nam place. Nathaniel was constable in 1O56 and 
deputy to the general court in 1690-91. He was 
prominent in the church and town, serving for some 
years as selectman. He had great business ability 
and activity and was a man of unusual powers of 
mind, "of great energy and skill in the manage- 
ment of affairs and of singular sagacity, acumen and 
quickness of perception. He lelt a large estate." 
He was involved in a lawsuit over the ownership 
of the Bishop farm, so-called, and his side of the 
controversy was successful in 1683. During the 
trouble over the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Bayley he 
was an opponent, but when Mr. Bayley was dis- 
missed he was one of those who contributed land 
May 6, 1680, to make a farm for him. He had the 
rank of lieutenant. He was one of the four mes- 
sengers to Rev. Samuel Parris to obtain his reply 
to their call. As the head of the large and inlluential 
Putnam family he was known for years as "Land- 
lord" Putnam. He was a leader in the witchcraft 
delusion which had its centre in Salem and Salem 
Village where he lived. Upham says of him : "En- 
tire confidence was felt by all in his judgment and 
deservedly. But he was a strong religionist, a life 
long member of the church and extremely strenuous 
and zealous in his ecclesiastical relations. He was 
getting to be an old man (at the time of the De- 
lusion) and Mr. Parris had wholly succeeded in ob- 
taining for the time possession of his feelings, 
sympathies and zeal in the management of the church 
and secured his full co-operation in the witchcraft 
prosecutions. He had been led by Parris to take 
the very front of the proceedings. But even Na- 
thaniel Putnam could not stand by in silence and 
see Rebecca Nurse sacrificed." 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



55 



(III) Benjamin Putnam, son of Nathaniel Put- 
nam (2), was born in Salem Village, Massachu- 
setts, December 24, 1664, died at Salem, 1750. He 
also became a prominent, citizen of Uanvcrs, then 
Salem Village; he was lieutenant and captain from 
1706 to 171 1 ; tithing-man 1695-6; constable and col- 
lector of taxes 1700; constantly tithmg-man, sur- 
veyor of highways; grand and petit jury. He was 
selectman from 1707 to 1713. He was elected deacon 
December 30, 1709. He also signed the certificate 
of character of Kebecca Nurse. His will was dated 
October 2S, 1706, and proved April 25, 1715. 

He married, August 25, 1684, Elizabeth Putnam, 
probably daughter of Thomas Putnam. She died 
December 21, 1705, and he married (.second) Sarah 
Holton, July i, 1706. The children of Benjamin and 
Elizabeth Putnam were : Josiah, baptized at the 
First Church of Salem, October 2, 16S7, died young ; 
Nathaniel, born August 25, 1686; Tarrant, April 
12, 16S8; Elizabeth, January 8, 1690, married Robert 
Hutchinson; Benjamin, January 8, 1692-3; Stephen, 
October, 27, 1694; Daniel, November 12, 1O96; 
Israel, August 22, 1699; Cornelia, September 3, 
1702. 

(.IV) Nathaniel Putnam, son of Benjamin Put- 
nam (3), was born at Danvers, August 25, 1686, 
and died there October 21, 1754. He was a yeoman, 
residing at Danvers and perhaps also at North 
Reading. He was deacon of the first church, elected 
November 15, 1731. He married, June 4, 1709, Han- 
nah Roberts. Their children were: Nathaniel, Jr., 
born 1710, baptized October i, that year, died March 
4, 1711; Jacob, March 9, 1711, of whom later; Na- 
thaniel, Jr., April 4, 1714; Sarah, June i, 1716, was 
alive unmarried, 17O3; Archelaus, May 29, 1718, set- 
tled in Wilton, New Hampshire, on the site of the 
present county farm; Ephraim, February 10, 1719-20, 
came with Jacob to Wilton, New Hampshire, and 
settled at the intersection of the roads at the North 
cemetery; removed to Lyndeborough, New Hamp- 
shire; Hannah, May 11, 1721-2, died Amherst, New 
Hampshire, 1802; Nathaniel, May 20, 1724; Me- 
hitable, February 26, 1726-7, married Reuben Harri- 
man ; Keziah, married Marble. 

(V) Jacob Putnam, son of Nathaniel Putnam 
(4), was born in Danvers, j\larch 9,, 1711, and died 
at Wilton, February 10, 1781. The history of Wilton 
gives him credit of being the first permanent settler 
in Wilton. One authority states that Jacob came 
in 1738. John Badger was there with his family in 
1739, but he died February, 1740. Jacob and Ephraim 
Putnam and their families were settled in Wilton 
in 1739. Badger, the Putnams and a fourth settler, 
John Dale, located in the southern part of Wilton 
which was then known as Salem, Canada. The 
original grant by Massachusetts was made void by 
the change of boundary line and the town became 
a New Hampshire grant later. Jacob Putnam's lot 
became No. 15, of the fifth range, and the cellar of 
his first house is now or was lately to be discerned 
opposite the barn on what is now Michael Mc- 
Carthy's place, while his second house is that now 
or lately occupied by Mr. McCarthy. It was originally 
two stories high in front and one in the rear. He 
was a farmer and conducted a saw mill. In his old 
age he made cans. He married (first) Hannah Har- 
riman. He married (second), July, 1735, Susanna 
Stiles. She died January 27, 1776. A third wife 
Patience was named in his will. His children were 
by wife Susannah : Sarah, born at Danvers, June 
28, 1736, married Jonathan Cram ; Nathaniel, born 
at Danvers, April 24, 1738; and the following born 
at Wilton; Philip, March 4, 1740; Stephen, Septem- 
ber 24, 1741 ; Philip, March I, 1742, died at Wilton, 
October 10, 1810; Joseph, February 27, 1744 died at 



Wilton; Mehitable, December 25, 1745, married Dan- 
iel Holt; Jacob, of whom later; Arcnelaus, October 
6, 1749, died October 22, 1816; Caleb, March 10, 
1751, soldier in the revolution; Elizabeth, April 15, 
1753. November 26, 1778; Jacob Hadley; Peter, Jan- 
uary 8, 1756, died July 3, 1776; served in the Iicon- 
deroga campaign. 

(VI) Jacob Putnam, Jr., son of Jacob Putnam 
(5), was born at Wilton, New Hampshire, Novem- 
ber 15, 1747, and died there June 2, 1821. He set- 
tled in the southwest part of the town on lot No. 
16, fourth range, now or lately owned by Jacob Put- 
nam, his descendant. He was a farmer and also 
made spinning wheels and plows. He was for many 
many years deacon of the Congregational or parish 
church. He married, 1770, Abigail Burnap, who 
died June 10, 1S12. He married (second), 1813, 
Mrs. Mary Spofford, of Temple, New Hampshire. 
The children of Jacob, Jr., and Abigail rutnam 
were: Jacob, Jr., born November 4, 1771 ; Abigail, 
April 29, 1773, died February 20, 1827, unmarried; 
John, November 24, 1774; Caleb, October 7, 1776, 
died November, 1777; CJaleb, of whom later; Ruth, 
January 20, 1781, died August 7, 1801 ; Edah, Feb- 
ruary 21, 1783, married, November 19, 1816, Stephen 
Cooper. 

(VII) Caleb Putnam, son of Jacob Putnam (6), 
was born March 24, 1779, at Wilton, New Hamp- 
shire, and died there September 8, 1867. He was a 
farmer on the old homestead. He held the rank 
of captain in the state militia in a cavalry company. 
Twenty-second Regiment. He was the leader of 
the singing in the church for many years. He mar- 
ried, February 4, 1801, Lydia Spalding, who died 
November 17, 1811, aged thirty-seven years. He 
married (second) Jane Longley, of Shirley, who 
died January 21, 1854, aged sixty-five years. He 
married (third) Mrs. Sarah Sltattuck Putnam, of 
Lyndeboro, New Flampshire. The child of Captain 
Caleb and Lydia Putnam was Caleb, died young; 
Children of Captain Caleb and Jane Longley were: 
Lydia, born September 3, 1813, n^rried, April 30, 
1844, Samuel Goldsmith ; Jane, December 25, 1814, 
married. May 8, 1856, Orin Blood ; Caleb, September 
IS, 1816, died at Wilton, January 23, 1845, unmar- 
ried; Roxanna, July 16, 1818, married, June 6, 1849, 
Augustus F. Peacock, resided at Wilton; Samuel, of 
whom later; Jacob, August 16, 1822, had the home- 
stead; Ruth Ann, June 19, 1824, died October 28,- 
1838; Asa Longley, July 9, 1826, resides in Leo- 
minster; Andrew Jackson, July 25, 1828, resides at 
East Wilton; Artemas, January I, 1831, married 
Orenda Kidder, resides at Phillipston, New Hamp- 
shire; Sarah Marie, October 13, 1834, married, April 
II, i86r, Calvin D. Blanchard, and settled at Harvard, 
Massachusetts. 

(VIII) Samuel Putnam, son of Caleb Putnam 
(7), was born in Wilton, New Hampshire, May 18, 
1820. He died in Leominster, Massachusetts, Aii- 
gust 18, 1898, aged seventy-eight years. He was 
educated in the common schools of his native town.- 
When a young man he removed to Leominster and 
learned the trade of carpenter under David -AUett^ 
a contractor and builder. He worked as a journey- 
man for some years for Mr. Allen, then went into 
business on his own account. During an important 
period of its development Mr. Putnam built many of 
the buildings and residences of Leominster. He 
formed a partnership in December, 1850, with Louis 
Phelps, and bought the tannery and currying busi- 
ness on the Burrage place at North Leonlinste'i*. 
The business proved profitable and was continued 
many years to the great advantage of the partners. 
He was in this business for a period of thirty-three 
years, when he lost heavily in an attempted corner 



56 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



of buffalo skins and robes, managed by a partner in 
Chicago, causing his assignment. He had a hand- 
some residence at Leominster and even that was 
sold for the benefit of creditors, but his wife con- 
tracted to buy it and in the course of a number of 
years succeeded by turning it into a summer board- 
ing place in saving the home. At the same time 
she won for herself a reputation for business ca- 
pacity and pluck such as few women ever enjoy. 
Mrs. Putnam still resides in the homestead near 
the business district, 70 Main street. The tannery 
business was resumed by Mr. Putnam's partner and 
the former bookkeeper of the firm, under the name 
of Phelps and Harrison. Mr. Putnam was elected 
president of the Leominster National Bank, a posi- 
tion he held for a number of years (1876-1884). He 
was an active member of the Unitarian Church. He 
was a Democrat in politics, but never sought public 
preferment of any kind. He was known as a lib- 
eral employer, charitable and kindly in his disposi- 
tion. For a whole generation Samuel Putnam was 
one of the foremost business men of the town and 
deservedly trusted and honored by his townsmen. 
He was well known throughout the county. 

He married (first), November 2-j, 1845, Ja"*^ 
Augusta Pierce, daughter of Rufus Pierce. She 
died witliout issue, January 12, 1880. He married 
(second), December 23, 1880, Melora F. Goodrich, 
daughter of Joseph Goodrich, of Lunenburg, -Massa- 
chusetts. They adopted a daughter who married, 
June 10, 1879, George E. Pratt. Mr. Putnam had 
no children of his own. 

The father of Melora F. (Goodrich) Putnam 
was Joseph Goodrich, who married in Shirley, De- 
cember 8, 1825, Lucy Hazen Longley, born October 
10, 1802, daughter of Asa and Sarah (Hazen) 
Longley. He was constable and tax collector in 
1824; he died May 30, 1881; his wife October 11, 
1879. Melora Frances was born October 3, 1834, 
married as al>ove stated Samuel Putnam. 

Pliintas Goodrich, father of Joseph, was born 
March 9, 1759, piarried, March 16, 1786, Betsey 
Kilburn, born in Rowley, June, 1762, daughter of 
Jonathan and Elizabeth (Nelson) Kilburn, and 
lineal descendant of Thomas and Frances Kilburn, 
who settled in Wetherslicld, Connecticut, among the 
early settlers. Phineas was constable 1789 and 1793, 
tax collector, on school committee and lieutenant 
in the militia. They lived on the homestead ; she 
died I'^ebruary 14, 1839, and he December 28, 1845, 
aged eighty-six years. Their son Joseph was born 
May I, 1796. 

Joshua Goodrich, father of Phineas, was born 
in Lunenburg, Worcester county, Massachusetts, in 
1708; married, June 25, 1739, Lydia Stearns, born 
ill VVaterlDwn, October 7, 1719, daughter of John 
and Abigail (Fiske) Stearns, and great-granddaugh- 
ter of Isaac and Mary Stearns, who came from Eng- 
land in 1630 and settled in Watertown. Joshua 
Goodrich was an ensign in the militia, constable 
1742, on the school committee several years, select- 
man 1744. He died October 29, 1782, aged seventy- 
five years; his wife died March 7, 1805, aged eighty- 
six years. They lived in Lunenburg, Massachu- 
setts. 

Philip Goodrich, father of Joshua Goodrich, was 
born in Newbury, Massachusetts, November 23, 
1O69. He married in Newbury, April 16, 1700, Me- 
hitable Woodman, who was born there September 
20, 1677, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Stev- 
ens) Woodman, and granddaughter of Edward 
Woodman, who came from Southampton, England, 
in June, 1635, and settled in Newbury. Philip Good- 
rich was the original proprietor of lot No. 70 in 
Lunenburg, Massachusetts, where his descendant, 



Artemas Goodrich, now lives. He came to Lunen- 
burg in 1719, nine years before its incorporation. He 
died January 16, 1729, aged sixty years; his widow 
Mehitable died February ^4, 1755, aged seventy- 
eight years. 

Jeremiah Goodrich, father of Philip Goodrich, 
married in Newbury, Massachusetts, November 15, 
1660, Mary Adams, daughter of Robert and Elenore 
Adams, of Newbury. 

William Goodrich, father of Jeremiah Goodrich, 
was the immigrant. With his wife Margaret he 
came from Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk county, Eng- 
land, in 1634, and settled in Watertown, Massachu- 
setts, where their children were born, and where he 
died April 3, 1647. His widow Margaret married 
John Hull, of Newbury, whither she removed with 
the children born of her first marriage and where 
she died February 3, 1682. The second child of 
Jeremiah and Margaret was Jeremiah, Jr., born 
March 6, 1638. (See sketch of the Goodrich family 
of Fitchburg for further data.) 

HORATIO BAILEY. James Bailey (i), the 
immigrant ancestor of Horatio Bailey, of Lancaster, 
Massachusetts, was born in England in 1612. He 
settled in New England at Rowley about 1640. His 
brother Richard, who came over at the age of 
lifteen in the ship "Bevis" in May, 1635, settled first 
at Lynn, later near James, in Rowley. He became 
a large landowner, and was overseer of the poor 
and selectman. His house was on what is now 
Pleasant street, and the land is now or was lately 
owned by Mrs. Charles H. Todd. 

He was buried August 10, 1677, and his will 
was proved September 25, following. His wife was 
Lydia Emery. She died at Rowley, April 29, 1704. 
Their children were : John, born February 2, 
1642-3; Lydia, born November, 1644; Jonathan, born 
September, 1646, died March, 1665; Damaris. born 
January 17, 1648-9; James, born January 15, 1650- 1 ; 
Thomas, born August i, 1653; Samuel, born Au- 
gust ID, 165s, died November, 1657; Samuel, born 
February 8, 1658-9. 

(II) John Bailey, son of James Bailey (i), was 
born in Rowley, Massachusetts, February 2, 1642-3. 
He settled in Rowley and married there Mary Mig- 
hill, June 16, 1668. She was the daughter of Deacon 
Thomas Mighill, one of the leading citizens there. 
John Bailey was a soldier under General Phipps 
and perished on the return of the expedition to 
Canada. His wife administered his estate. She 
died in 1693. The children of John and Mary 
Bailey were: Jonathan, born August 31, 1670; Ann, 
born February 24, 1673, died December 17, 1690; 
Nathaniel, born 1675; Thomas, born October 7, 
1677; James, born 1680; Mary, born February I, 
1683, died 1722; Elizabeth, born November 15, 1688, 
died January 26, 1680; married Daniel Tcnney, Jan- 
uary 2, 1722: Lydia, born January 12, 1691. 

(HI) Nathaniel Bailey, son of John Bailey (2), 
was born in Rowley. Massachusetts, March, 1675. 
He settled there. He married, January 2, 1700, 
Sarah Clark. He died July 21, 1722. The children 
of Nathaniel and Sarah Bailey were : Joseph, of 
whom later; Nathaniel, born October 27, 1703; 
Josiah, born November 3, 1705; David, born Novem- 
ber II, 1707; Samuel, born November 25, 1709; 
Mercy, born November 18, 1719. 

(IV) Joseph Bailey, son of Nathaniel Bailey 
(3), was born at Rowley, Massachusetts, October 
17, 1701. He settled at Rowley and like many others 
of this family learned the trade of potter. He mar- 
ried Sarah Jewett, June, 1725. Their children were : 
Elizabeth, born December 27, 1725; Nathaniel, born 
March 17, 1727; David, born June 27, 1729; Amos, 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



57 



born September 12, 1731 ; Joseph, born about 1733, 
of whom later. 

(V) Joseph Bailey, believed to be son of Joseph 
Bailey (4), certainly nephew if not son if the family 
records are correct, settled at Pelham, New Hamp- 
shire. He married Deborah . Their children : 

Joseph, born in Pelham, New Hampshire, 1766; 
Ann, born August 6, 1768; Thomas Hardy, born 
September 3, 1771, sailed with John Paul Jones in 
"Bon Homme Richard," in the revolutionary war. 
The two latter are recorded on the town books, the 

former is a family record. Charlotte, married 

Fox; Elizabeth, married Stephen Knight, February 
3, 17S8; Samuel, resided at Newburyport. 

(,VI) Joseph Bailey, son of Joseph Bailey (5), 
born at Pelham, New Hampshire, or VVeare, 1766. 
When a small boy he lived in the family of Dr. 
Muzzy. He was a soldier in the revolution for three 
months near the close of the war, as a drummer boy, 
being too small to enlist. He had his right shoulder 
crushed by a falling building at a fire in Newbury- 
port when he was a boy. Owing to this injury his 
courtship of Ann Bailey, his second cousin, was in 
vain. He married Mary Woodbury (published May 
5, 17S7), and they settled about a mile north of 
Pigeon Cove, opposite the pasture of the Babson 
farm in Gloucester, Massachusetts. In the mean- 
time his cousin married Elijah Parker, April 19, 
1794, who died and she married (second), April 19, 
1799. Aaron Wealthy. After the death of his first 
wife Joseph Bailey married, September 17, 1821, 
Ann (.Bailey) (Parker) Wealthy, of Newburyport, 
who for a second time had become a widow. His 
mother was living in 1800 in Pelham, and he walked 
from his home to Pelham with his son Joseph in 
that year to pay her a visit. He died at Rockport, 
Massachusetts, September, i8s.^, aged eighty-seven 
years. 

The children of Joseph and Mary Bailey, born 
in Gloucester, were: Joseph, born March 17, 1790, 
died October 10, 1853; William, born 1791 or 1792, 
died February 18, 1877; Polly, died about 1850; 
Samuel, drowned July 6, 1S25 ; Andrew Woodbury, 
born December 6, 171^, died June 7, 1876. 

(VII) Joseph Bailey, son of Joseph Bailey (6), 
father of Horatio Bailey, late of Lancaster, was 
born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, March 17, 1790, 
and died October 10, 1853, 3- month after his father. 
He resided in Gloucester for a few years, then 
bought a place a mile north of his grandfather's 
house in Pigeon Cove, Gloucester, where he lived the 
remainder of his life. He was a soldier in the war 
of 1812 and was twice taken prisoner, first from a 
small trading vessel off Capes of Virginia by an 
English fleet going down the coast, afterwards on 
the privateer "Harpy" taken from a prize ship they 
had taken and which he was helping to sail. He 
was held on a prison ship at the Bermuda Islands, 
also at Halifax, Nova Scotia, finally at Dartmoor in 
England, where he remained until the end of the 
war, when he was sent home and had to walk to 
Gloucester from New York. 

He was twice married. He married, December 
20, 1816, Esther Lane, of Lane's Cove, Gloucester. 
Their children were: Mary, born March I, 1819; 
Esther, born September 16, 1820; Joseph, born July 
13, 1823; Abigail L., born October 30, 1825; Horatio, 
of whom later; Julia, born October 2, 1834. 

(VIII) Horatio Bailey, fifth child of Joseph 
Bailey, Jr. (7), was born in Gloucester, Massachu- 
setts, November 2, 1828. He was well educated 
and began life as a school teacher. He removed 
to Lancaster in 1865 and for some time was station 
agent at the South Lancaster station of the 
Worcester & Nashua Railroad. Later he was 



assigned to the Lancaster station. He manufactured 
boots and shoes for a number of years. During his 
last years he carried on his farm and raised garden 
truck for the market. 

He and his wife joined the Lancaster Evangelical 
church in 1865 and he was an active and earnest 
member of the church and Sunday school. He was 
a teacher in the Sunday school for many years and 
was clerk of the church until within two years of 
his death, when failing health obliged him to re- 
sign. He was a member of the parish and church 
committees and was on the building committee for 
the parsonage, in which he took great interest. For 
many years he sang in the choir and was always 
much interested in music. He was a Republican in 
politics and served the town for a time on the school 
committee. He was a man of strong personality 
and of decided convictions. He was one of the most 
esteemed and influential citizens of the town. 

Mr. Bailey married, October 30, 1856, Sophronia 
M. Fuller, only daughter of the late John Fuller, 
of Lancaster. (See sketch of the Fuller family.) 
Mr. Bailey died in Lancester, August 7, 1905. Mrs. 
Bailey was also a school teacher before her mar- 
riage. Their children are : Henrietta E., born Au- 
gust 2, 1861, resides in Brookline, Massachusetts; 
John E. Fuller, born October 15, 1862, resides with 
his mother on the homestead and carries on the 
farm ; George T., born April 23, 1864, the postmaster 
of Lancaster Centre; Mary Belle S., born Novem- 
ber 2, 1871, a teacher in the Lancaster public schools, 
residing at the homestead with her mother. 

ANDREW LOWELL FULLER. Edward Ful- 
ler (i), was the immig.rant ancestor of the Fuller 
family of Clinton, Massachusetts, and of the late 
Andrew Lowell Fuller, of Clinton. He came over 
in the "Mayflower" in 1620 with his famous brother. 
Dr. Samuel Fuller. He was one of the signers of 
the famous Compact. Both he and his wife died 
early in 1821, during the second winter, leaving a 
son Samuel in Plymouth and a son Matthew in 
England. 

(II) Captain Matthew Fuller, son of Edward 
Fuller (i), and nephew of the famous Dr. Samuel 
Fuller, may have come to Plymouth with the wife 
and child of Dr. Fuller, as they came afterward. 
He was a planter at Plymouth and captain of the 
company there. Later he removed to Scituate, 
where he was received in the church November 7, 
1636, by letter from Plymouth church. He was a 
proprietor of Scituate and was called sergeant on 
the records. He was admitted a freeman there Sep- 
tember 7, 1642. He is presumed to have studied 
medicine with his distinguished uncle, and in 1652 
he also became a physician and in 1673 was surgeon 
of the forces of the colony. He was captain in 
1675 in King Philip's war. 

He married, April 8, 1635, Jane Lothrop, daugh- 
ter of John Lothrop. He married (second) Frances 

■ . His will was dated July 25, and proved 

October 30, 1678; bequeathed to wife Frances; to 
grandchild Shubael Jones, son of Ralph Jones ; to 
son John ; to Thomas, Jabez, Timothy, Matthias and 
Samuel Fuller, sons of his deceased son, Samuel 
Fuller; to daughter Mary, wife of Ralph Jones; to 
daughter Elizabeth, wife of Moses Rowley; to 
daughter-in-law Ann, wife of son Samuel; to Be- 
thias, wife of son John ; to grandchildren Sarah 
Rowley, Jedediah Jones and all the rest ; to Robert 
Marshall, the Scotchman. Children of Captain 
Fuller were: Mary, married, April 17, 1650, Ralph 
Jones; Elizabeth, married, 1652, Moses Rowley; 

Samuel, of whom later; John, married Bethiah ; 

Ann. married her cousin, Samuel Fuller. 



58 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



(III) Samuel Fuller, son of Captain Matthew 
Fuller U), was born in Plymouth, probably about 

1636. He resided at Barnstable until 1675, when he 
removed to Rehoboth where his posthumous son, 
Samuel, was bom. He married (second), at Re- 
hoboth, Mary Ide, daughter of Nicholas Ide, De- 
cember 12, 1673. She was born December 10, 1649. 
But in Matthew's will the wife of Samuel is called 
Anne, indicating some error in names. He died 
August, 1676, during King Philip's war, perhaps a 
result of service in the war. He was buried August 
15. All his children by the first wife were born at 
Barnstable. They were: Thomas, Jabez, Timothy, 
Matthias, died unmarried; Abigail, Ann, Samuel, 
born at Rehoboth, November 23, 1676 (posthumous), 
of whom later. 

(IV) Samuel Fuller, son of Samuel IniUer (3), 
and grandson of Captain Matthew Fuller, in whose 
will he is mentioned, was born after his father's 
death, at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, November 23, 
1676. He died there December 19, 1724. He mar- 
ried there Dorothy Willmarth, December 16, 1700. 
Their children were: Samuel, born October 23, 
1702; Ebenezer, October 26, 1704, of whom later; 
Dorothea, July 12, 1706; Ruth. November 14, 1708; 
Timothy, March 8, 1710-11; Mary, March 9, 1712-13; 

Moses (twin), October 27, 1715; Aaron (twm), 
October 27, 171S; Noah, August 4, 1721. 

(V) Ebenezer Fuller, second child of Samuel 
Fuller (4), was bom in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, 
October 26, 1704. He settled there and married, 
June I, 1731, Rachel Robinson. He seems to have 
married (second) Judith . Children of Eben- 
ezer and Rachel Fuller were: Abiah, born July 10, 
1733; Judith, July 2, 1734;. Jemima, February 27, 
1736-37; Noah, February 26, 1738-39; Ebenezer, April 
23, 1741, of whom later; Levi, March i, 1745-46. 

(VI) Ebenezer," Jr., son of Ebenezer Fuller 
(5), was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, April 
23, 1741. He served seven years in the revolutionary 
army, the only Ebenezer Fuller in the service from 
Massachusetts, except his son who at a very youth- 
ful age enlisted as stated below. Ebenezer Fuller 
was in Captain Jabez Ellis's company of Minute 
Men, April 19, 1775, credited to the adjacent town 
of Attleboro; in Captain Caleb Richardson's corn- 
pany, Colonel Timothy Walker's regiment later in 
1775; Captain Jacob Ide's company. Colonel Dag- 
gett's regiment in 1776; Captain Stephen Richard- 
son's company. Colonel George William's regiment in 
1777; Captain Moses William's company Colonel 
■I'homas Carpenter's regiment in 1778, and in the 
same regiment under Captain Joseph Williams in 
1780; Captain Samuel Robinson's company, Colonel 
Isaac Dean's regiment in 1780; and probably in Cap- 
tain Thomas Newcomb's company. Lieutenant 
Colonel Cogswell's regiment in 1781. 

He married (first), January 17, 1765, Mary Mon- 
roe, who died May 30, 1772. He married (second), 
July 22, 1773, Abigail Peck, also at Rehoboth. Chil- 
dren of Ebenezer and Mary, all born at Rehoboth, 
were: Betsey, born April 28, 1766; Ebenezer, Jan- 
uary 13, 1768. of whom later; Thomas, February 25, 
1771. Children of Ebenezer and Abigail were: 
Mary, June 22, 1774; Jemima, March 31, 1776; 
Charles, March 31. 1778; Rachel, May 7, 1780; 
Abigail, July 25. 1782, died August 28, 1782; Shu- 
bael, November 12, 1783; Nancy, May 9, 1786; 
Lucy, August 22, 1793. 

(VII) Ebenezer Warren Fuller, son of Ebenezer 
Fuller (6), was born in Massachusetts, I'-ebruary II, 

1769. He was a soldier in the revolution at the age 
of thirteen in Captain Joseph Willmarth's company. 

Colonel Thomas Carpenter's regiment, with his 



father, who fought through the whole war, as stated 
above. They were the only men of the name in the 
Massachusetts service. There is a stone to his 
memory in the graveyard at Lancaster with age 
corresponding to that of his birth recorded at Reho- 
both. He seems to have gone to Roxbury, Massa- 
chusetts, after he came of age. Late in life he set- 
tled in Lancaster, where he is buried. At Newton, 
Massachusetts, September 6, 1791, he married Bet- 
sey Wheeltr, of Halifax, Massachusetts. Their 
sons were : Ephraim, born January 9, 1793 ; Alden, 
born September 26, 1796; Ebenezer, born March 10, 
1803; Warren, born July 30, 1807 ; William; Jere- 
miah, born July 16, 1810. The only son of his sec- 
ond marriage with Lydia Goddard was John, of 
whom later. 

(VHl) Ephraim Fuller, son of Ebenezer W. 
Fuller (7), was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, 
January 9, 1793. He came to Lancaster with his 
father. He learned the trade of clothier and es- 
tablished a flourishing industry at Carter's Mill in 
Lancaster for cloth dressing and wool carding. In 
1839 the mill was burned. He then purchased of 
George Howard his water power on South Meadow 
brook in what is now Clinton, Massachusetts, to- 
gether with considerable land adjoining. Here he 
erected a fulling mill and carried on a thriving 
business for many years. His son, Andrew L. 
Fuller, became associated with him, and as the 
times favored machinery for the manufacture of 
every variety of woolen knitting-yarns, satinets and 
fancy cassimeres were introduced. For a time the 
firm employed about thirty hands and 60,000 yards 
of cloth were made annually, the mill being run 
night and day some of the time. Mr. Fuller retired 
in 1850 and his son, Andrew L. Fuller, became the 
sole owner. 

In the winter of 1846 Mr. Fuller built a dam on 
Goodridgc brook, where it crosses the highway in 
Clinton, and built a shop with a trip-hammer and 
forge in the basement. 'The building was used by 
Luther Gaylord, manufacturer of agricultural tools; 
W. F. Conant, maker of water-wheels, and Isaac 
Taylor, manufacturer of sash and blinds. 

Mr. Fuller and his five eldest children joined 
the Congregational church at Lancaster, now the 
Unitarian church. May I, 1830. He died at Lan- 
caster, January 5, 1876. In his will, dated Septem- 
ber 18, 1871, he mentions his son, William A. 
Fuller, of Chicago; his daughter Su.^ian H., wife 
of Albert Smith, of Clinton ; his daughter, Nancy 
G.. wife of Eben S. Fuller, of Clinton; his grand- 
children. John E.. Jessie G., William \. and Susie 
C;. Fuller, of Clinton: his grandchildren, children 
of his son Andrew L., deceased, Emma Susan, 
Albert S., Andrew C. He left a considerable for- 
tune. 

He married, March 7, 1819, at Lancaster, Susan 
Hayward, of Acton. She died at Lancaster, May 
I. 1833. He married (second), December 31, 1833, 
Judith Goss. Children of Ephraim and Susan 
Fuller were: Susan Hayward. born September 7, 
1819, baptized August t. 1830. married Albert 
Smith, of Clinton; Francis Faulkner, born January 
8, 1822, died July 20, 1827; Andrew Lowell, of 
whom later; Francis Faulkner, born 1827, died 
young; Abigail, born 1829. died July 20, 1829; 
Francis Faulkner (third), born February 5, 1830, 
died May 24, 1832; Ephraim Hayward. born April 
2.S. 1833, baptized May 3. t8.13. died September 16, 
1831; George Walton, born December 4, 1834, bap- 
tized June 7. 183.!; ; Ephraim Hayward, born about 
1817; William Alden, baptized July 2. 1837. died 
1837; Nancy Goss, baptized June 7, 1840, married 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



59 



Eben S. Fuller, son of John and grandson of Ebe- 
nezer Fuller, her grandfather also ; Franklin War- 
ren, born 1842, died February 4, 1845. 

(IX) Andrew Lowell Fuller, son of Ephraim 
Fuller (8). was born at Lancaster, Massachusetts, 
June 6, 1824. He was educated in the district 
schools of Lancaster and then went into his father's 
cotton mill and learned the business. His father took 
him into partnership, and at his fathers retirement in 
iS.TO he became the owner of the plant. In partner- 
ship with Everett W. Bigelow, of West Boylston, 
Mr. Fuller carried on an extensive business in 
manufacturing woolen goods at Clinton. After his 
death his partner continued the business until T870. 
The mill was located in Clinton, formerly Lancaster, 
upon South Meadow brook. Andrew L. Fuller was 
a man of great business capacity and energy. When 
he began to manage the business it had reached an 
unremunerative condition. At that time the manu- 
facture of woolen cloth and yarn became unprofit- 
able, and he gradually introduced machinery for the 
manufacture of other lines. When the hoop-skirt 
was coming into fashion he filled his mill with 
tape-looms and braiders for covering hoop-skirt 
wire and soon developed a very profitable business. 
In 1865 he more than doubled the capacity of his 
main building, adding two hundred braiders to the 
two hundred and fifty he had already and in- 
creased the number of his tape-looms to forty. 
Nearly one hundred hands were employed. 

In politics Mr. Fuller was a Republican. He 
represented his district in the general court in 
1854, being the second citizen of Clinton to enjoy 
that distinction. The first was Horatio N. Bige- 
low, founder of the carpet mills. Mr. Fuller was 
a Free Mason. He and his family attended the 
Unitarian church. Notwithstanding his large busi- 
ness interests Mr. Fuller enlisted as a private in 
Company C, Fifteenth Massachusetts Infantry, at 
the breaking out of the civil war. His health gave 
out and he was sent home after a few months. 
His experience probably was one cause of his death 
in the prime of manhood, in the midst of a promis- 
ing and prosperous business career. He died at 
Clinton, September 10, 1867. His widow survives 
him and resides in the attractive homestead at 
Clinton. 

He married, May 10, 1845, Olive Howard, daugh- 
ter of George and Sarah (Manley) Howard, and 
their children were : Emma Susan, born at Clinton, 
April 25, 1848, resides at home with her mother, 
Francis, born April 8, 1850. accidently drowned at 
age of four years; Albert S., born April 25, 1752, 
married Ella Burritt and they have three children — 
May, Bessie, Howard; Andrew Clifford, born Au- 
gust 2-. 18.=;.^. mnrried Katherine Seger. 

(VIII) John Fuller, only son of Ebenezer (7) 
and Lydia (Goddard) Fuller, was born in Rox- 
bury. Massachusetts, December 28, 1806. After the 
usual allowance of schooling he learned the trade 
of clothier of his elder half-brother, Ephraim Ful- 
ler, mentioned above. Later he engaged in the 
finishing of combs. The later years of his active 
life were devoted to farming. He was a deacon of 
the Unitarian church of Lancaster, the original 
church of the Puritan fathers. He died in 1890 
at the advanced age of eighty-four years. 

He married, in 1828. Sophronia Orange Wads- 
worth -A-danis. of Lancaster, the only child of Sam- 
uel and Mercy (Sherwin) Adams, of Ashburnham, 
Massachusetts. She was born March 31, t8o6, and 
died in 1890 at the age of eighty-four years. Her 
father was a pioneer settler in Grafton, Vermont, 
but jemoved to Lancaster in 1816 and died there 
at an advanced age. Children of John and So- 



phronia O. W. Fuller were ; Sophronia, married 
Horatio Bailey, of Lancaster; Eben S., of whom 
later ; Sidney T., a prominent engineer on various 
railroads in the United States and Mexico; Edwin 
M., major in the Federal army in the civil war, 
now a physician in Chicago. 

(IX) Eben S. Fuller, son of John Fuller (8), 
was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, March 31, 
1833. He attended the public and high schools of 
his native town. He was then employed for a time 
in a comb factory and in the piano-forte business. 
In 1859 he bought of C. C. Stone the door, sash, 
and blind business in Clinton. As trade improved 
he added a saw mill and wood-working machinery. 
He sold the business in 1890 to his son, and has 
since then devoted his time to his real estate in- 
terests in Clinton. He has built many dwelling 
houses, having at one time more than seventy 
tenements. He conducts farms in Lancaster and 
Sterling. He is director of the First National Bank 
of Clinton, trustee of the Clinton Savings Bank, 
member of the Worcester East Agricultural So- 
ciety. He is a Republican and interested in public 
affairs. He has been overseer of the poor and 
selectman of Clinton. He is deacon of the Uni- 
tarian church. 

He married, November 7, 1861, Nancy Goss 
Fuller, daughter of Ephraim Fuller (VIII), men- 
tioned above. She died August 4, 1871. He, mar- 
ried (second). March 4, 1891, Cora Adelaide Chil- 
son Butterfield. Children of Eben S. and Nancy 
Goss Fuller were : Jessie Genevra, born October 
15. 1862, married Rev. James C. Duncan, a Uni- 
tarian minister of Clinton, and they have two chil- 
dren — Robert F. and James Duncan. William An- 
drew, born September 24, 1866, succeeded his father 
in the lumber business; married Bessie E. Farwell, 
of Clinton, and they have two children — John F. 
and Beatrice Louisa. Susie Gertrude, born October 
8. 1868, married Joseph J. Albright, of Buffalo, 
New York, and has a son, John. John E.. for many 
years real estate broker, died in Duluth, Minne- 
sota, June 28, 1892. 

UPTON FAMILY. The Upton family ancestry 
in England is traced back to the time of William, 
the Conqueror, and the ancient manuscript of the 
De LIppeton family of Cornwall is still in exis- 
tence, though party illegible, at the ancient seat of 
the family in Westmoreland. The English branch 
of the L'pton family traces an unbroken line of 
descent from John Uppeton de Uppeton, of Upton, 
Cornwall. But the family has spread widely- 
through Wales. Scotland and Ireland as well as 
England. 

(I) John Upton, immigrant ancestor of Fred 
John Upton, of Winchendon, Massachusetts, is said 
to have been a Scotchman by birth according to 
the family traditions, and the same authority gives 
the name of his wife as Eleanor Stuart, also a 
native of Scotland. Upton settled first in Lynn, 
though he may have been earlier in the service of 
Edward Winslow, in 1640, at Salisbury, Massachu- 
setts. He bought land December 26. 1658. of Henry 
Bullock, of Salem, and the deed calls him John 
Upton, of Hammersmith, which was the name of 
the Lynn Iron Works. He also bought land at 
Salem of Daniel Rumboll, of Salem, blacksmith, 
.April 6. 1661, four score acres of land. Again 
November 27. 1671. he bought land of James Hogg, 
of Salem, forty acres. He had some one hundred 
and sixty acres all told in the southwest corner 
of Salcni village. His farm joined that of Joseph 
Pope, Thomas and George Gardner, and was near 
the south line of the present town of Danvers, 



6o 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



halt a mile from Lynnfield. Giles Corey, who was 
inhumanly pressed to death in 1692 for refusing 
to plead guilty to a charge of witchcraft, lived two 
miles away and was counted as a neighbor. The 
original farm is in part now or was lately owned 
by direct descendants from the time of the first 
settler. Upton was safely out of Danvers before 
the Witchcraft delusion. He bought land Novem- 
ber ID, 1664, in Reading. He swapped a cow for 
a lot of land there, forty acres, April I, 1667. Be- 
tween 1671 and 1678 he removed to Reading, leav- 
ing his Danvers estate to his sons. He was active, 
enterprising and energetic. He began with nothing 
and acquired a handsome estate. He was admitted 
a freeman April 18. 1691. and died July 11, 1699. 
His will was dated November 16, 1692, and it was 
proved July 31, 1699. The seal on his will was a 
Heur de lis and he attempted, unsuccessfully, as it 
proved eventually, to entail his estate, indicating 
that he was not democratic in his ideas. 

The children were: John, born 1654, see for- 
war; Eleanor, born 1656, died April 20, 1663 ; Will- 
iam, born 1658, died April, 1663; James, born Sep- 
tember, 1660, died unmarried; Mary, born 1661, 
died -Xpril 15, 1663; William, born June 10. 1663, 
married Mary Mabcr; Samuel, born October, 1664, 
married Abigail Frost; .^nn, married Samuel Fraile, 
of Salem, now Danvers, April 4. 1684; Isabel, born 
January 3, 1666-67, died December 6, 1689, unmar- 
ried ; Ezekiel, born September, 1668, married (first) 
Rebecca Preston and (second) Ruth (Marsh) 
Hardy; Joseph, born April 9, 1670, married Abi- 
gail ; Frances, born July i, 1671, died Decem- 
ber 9, 1694, unmarried ; Mary, probably died un- 
married. 

(U) John Upton, son of John Upton (i), was 
born at Danvers, then Salem village, in 1654. He 
married, December 14, 1680, Sarah Thompson, 
daughter of George Thompson, and died October 
12. 1719. He settled in the northeast part of North 
Reading, north of the Ipswich river, on a farm 
given him by his father. He died in the summer of 
1727, upwards of seventy years of age. His will, 
dated August 29, 1720, proved November 6, 1727, 
recorded in the Middlesex probate record (18-447) 
gives to his son John, to James Stimpson, Mary 
Mclntyre, Ezekiel, Elizabeth, Joseph, Jonathan. 
The children: Sarah, born October 26, 1681, mar- 
ried, November 30. 1706, James Stimpson, of Read- 
ing, removed to Tolland, Connecticut ; John, born 

March 11. t683. married Tabitha ; Mary, 

born May 25, 1685, married Daniel Mclntire, of 
Reading, October 15, 1706; Joseph, born September 
8. 1687, married Abigail Gray; Ezekiel, born No- 
vember 9, 1689, married Isabel Upton ; Jonathan, 
born March 4, 1692, married Elizabeth Wilkins ; 
Elizabeth, born May 14, 1694, died May 29, 1694; 
Frances, born May' 17, 1695, died May 23, 1695; 
Elizabeth, born July 19, 1696. died probably 1769, 
unmarried; Hepsibah, born May 22, 1700, married 
Robert H.iyward. of Reading, November i, 1733. 

(III) Ezekiel Upton, son of John Upton (2), 
was born at North Reading, Massachusetts, Novem- 
ber 9, 1689. He married (first), October 6, 1714, 
and (second) Isabel Upton, born January 2r, 1695, 
(laughter of his uncle, Ezekiel Upton. Ezekiel 
I'pton lived until 1753 in Reading. North Parish, 
not far from the .\ndovcr line. He died between 
the years 1752 and 1762. His children were: Ezek- 
iel. born about 1720; Enos, February 7, 1723, see 
forward. 

(IV) Enos Upton, son of Ezekiel Upton (3), 
was born at North Reading, Massachusetts, Feb- 
ruary 7, 1723. He married Rose (Hayward) Mc- 
lntire, and they lived in North Reading until about 



1760. They removed to Mount Vernon, New Hamp- 
shire, about 1770, and settled in the northwest part 
of the town. Both Enos and his son Enos, Jr., 
appear on the tax rolls dated February 18, 1774. 
He was a soldier in the revolution at the siege of 
Boston in Captain Taylor Mack's company, and 
was at Winter Hill, December 8, 1775. He and 
thirty-one others protested against the settlement 
of Jeremiah Barnard or any other man as minister 
until a district parish were granted. They lived 
in the western part of Amherst and the petition 
was dated December 23, 1779. Enos lived at Mount 
Vernon until about 1792, and spent the last years 
of his life in the old house on the farm of his 
son. Deacon Ezekiel Upton. The children : Naomi, 
born 1753; Ezekiel, born 1755, see forward; Enos, 
born 1757. married Sarah (Smith) Tapley; Aaron, 
born 1760, died in the service during the revolution. 
(V) Ezekiel Upton, son of Enos Upton (4), 
was born about 1752 in North Reading, Massachu- 
setts. He married (first) Hannah Washer, of Am- 
herst, New Hampshire, and (second) Mehitable 
Codman, widow, who survived him. He went with, 
his father to live in Amherst about 1762. His father 
sold him thirty acres of land bounded partly by 
land of Solomon Kittridge in the northwest part 
of Amherst, now Mont Vernon, November 2, 1777. 
He sold thirty-five acres of land in Amherst to 
Nathan Cleaves. His wife Hannah was admitted 
to full communion in the church at Amherst, No- 
vember 7, 1779. He was deacon of the church in 
1800 and for several years afterward. Later he 
joined the Baptist church at Milford, New Hamp- 
shire. He died in 1835, aged eighty years. As his 
father lived with him in his old age. so in his own 
last years he lived with his son Ezekiel at Lynde- 
boro. New Hampshire, adjoining Mont Vernon. In 
1833 they sold the farm at Mont Vernon and re- 
moved to Lyndcboro. His will was dated April 8, 
1834, and proved December l, 183.=;. He bequeathed 
to wife Mehitable, to Hannah Mills, Ezekiel aiid 
Nehemiah Upton, his sons, leaving his pew in 
church to Ezekiel. His children, by his first wife, 
were: Ezekiel, died young; Hannah, born Decem- 
ber 2, 1773, married Ebenezer Mills; Ezekiel. born 
December 10, 1775, married Abigail Dodge, (second) 
Mehitable Marble; Naomi, died at the age of four- 
teen years; Nehemiah, born 1758. see forward; 
Levina, died aged fifty-one years, unmarried ; Anna, 
died young; Naomi, died 1848, unmarried. 

(VI) Nehemiah Upton, son of Ezekiel Upton 
(5), was born at Mont Vernon, New Hampshire, 
1780. He married (first) Mehitable Broad, born 
Februarv 19, 1784. daughter of Seth Broad, and 
died March 7, 1833. He married (second), Sep- 
tember. 18.13. Mary (Gleason) Brown, widow, 
daughter of Phinehas Gleason. Nehemiah Upton 
went from Mont Vernon to Dublin. New Hamp- 
shire, in 1806, and settled on lot I, range 4, in the 
very infancy of that town. He was a carpenter 
and builder by trade, and also a farmer. Of his 
numerous faniilv none remained in Dublin in 1872. 
Nehemiah left Dublin in 1869 to live with one of 
his children in Stoddard, where he died over ninety 
vears of age. Children of Nehemiah and Mehitable 
Upton were: Nancy, born January, 1803, died Feb- 
ruary i8oi; Alson, born March 31, 1805. married, 
18^0. Lucy" Morse and (second), 1837, Sarah Scott; 
Seth, born September i.S, 1807, died May 28. 18.30; 
.^morcttc born Tune. 1810. married. September 20, 
1830, Luther Wilson ; Mehitable born March 9, 
i8n. married, 1836. George Rodney Wilson; 
Nehemiah. born March 27, 1815, married Fanny 
Maria Wilson: George Washington, born Septem- 
ber 20. 1817, married Margaret McMahon; Samuel 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



6i 



Davidson, born March 17, 1821, married Lydia W. 
Ball; Nancy E., born January 9, 1824, died April 
8, 1838; Edward E., born November 30, 1826, mar- 
ried, 1853, Mrs. Sarah (Scott) Upton. Children 
of Nehemiah and Mary Upton were : John Adel- 
bert, born June, 1834, see forward ; Charles, born 
January, 1837, married Ann Fairbanks. 

(VII) John Adelbert Upton, son of Nehemiah 
Ezekiel Upton (6), was born at Dublin, New Hamp- 
shire, June, 1834. He married Emily Jane Farns- 
worth, of Dublin, July 3, 1855. He was a manu- 
facturer of chairs at South Keene, New Hamp- 
shire. Children of John Adelbert and Emily Jane 
Upton : Charles Adelbert, born September 30, 1857 ; 
Fred John, see forward. 

(VIII) Fred John Upton, son of John Adelbert 
Upton (7), was born at Dublin, New Hampshire, 
July 12. 1862. He began his education in the schools 
of that town, but from the age of eight to that 
of thirteen went to school in South Keene, New 
Hampshire. He then went to Marlboro, New 
Hampshire, and learned the blacksmith's trade 
under John P. Clemons. He returned to Dublin 
and started in business as a blacksmith. Two years 
later he removed to East Jaffrey, New Hampshire, 
where he had his blacksmith business for the next 
eleven years and built himself a house and shop. 
He went to Winchendon, Massachusetts, October 
3, 1892, selling his business to E. A. Coburn. He 
built a shop near the river and was in business 
for the next eleven years there, then sold to E. 
Cassavant, the present proprietor. Mr. Upton 
started a shop on High street on his father's land 
and was there for a year, when he went into 
partnership with D. J. Wyman under the firm name 
of Upton & Wyman, blacksmiths, with shops at 
the corner of Front and River streets. After a few 
months Mr. Upton bought out his partner, and at 
the end of the year sold the business to good 
advantage. In the winter of 1905 Mr. Upton re- 
turned to his first shop in Winchendon, and is at 
present employed there by Mr. Cassavant. Mr. 
Upton has invested largely in Winchendon real 
estate. He resides on High street. He attends 
the Church of the Unity (Unitarian). In politics 
he is a Republican. 

He married (first). May, 1880, Frances Clara 
King, born September 6, 1859, at Marlboro. Ver- 
mont' daughter of Hollis and Jane Elizabeth 
(Derby) King. He married (second) Grace M. 
Houghton, July 12, 1902. She was born May 
23, 1868, daughter of Marcus M. and Harriet (Day) 
Houghton, of Winchendon, Massachusetts. Mr. 
Upton has no children. 

JOHN B. FARNSWORTH. Matthias Farns- 
worth (i) was the emigrant ancestor of John B. 
Farnsworth, of Leominster, Massachusetts. He set- 
tled in Lynn, Massachusetts, soon after 1650. He 
was born in England in 1612, probably in or near 
Farnworth, Lancashire, England. He married 
probably as his second wife Mary Farr, daughter 
of George Farr, later of Lynn, Massachusetts. 
Farnsworth was a weaver by trade. He was ad- 
mitted a freeman of Lynn May 16, 1670, died Janu- 
ary 21, 1688-9; she died 1717. The three eldest 
children were probably by the first wife. The chil- 
dren are: i. Elizabeth, born 1647, probably in Eng- 
land but possibly in Lynn, Massachusetts, rnarried, 
January 16, 1667, James Robertson (or Robinson), 
born 1632, died December 8, 1720. She died Decem- 
ber 22, 1729, aged eighty-two years. 2. Matthias, 
born 1649, married. 1681, Sarah Nutting, daughter 
of John Nutting. 3. John, born about 1651-2, mar- 
ried, December 8, 1686, Hannah Aldis, of Ded- 



ham, Massachusetts, born July 4, 1666. He died 
October 17, 1729. 4. Benjamin, born 1667, married, 
1695, Mary Prescott, born February 3, 1674, daugh- 
ter of Jones and Mary (Loker) Prescott. He died 
August 15, 1733-5. 5- Joseph, born November 16, 
1657, at Lynn, Massachusetts, died October 31, 
1674, unmarried. 6. Mary, born October 11, 1660, 
at Lynn, married, April 11, 1676, Samuel Thatcher, 
of Watertown, Massachusetts, born October 20, 
1-648, died October 21, 1726; she died August 17, 
1725. 7. Sarah, born about 1663-4, probably at 
Groton. married Simon Stone, of Watertown, 
Massachusetts. 8. Samuel, born October, 1669, mar- 
ried. December 12, 1706, Mary Whitcomb, widow 
of Simon Willard; Samuel died 1726-7. 9. Abigail, 
born January 17, 1671, married John Hartshorn, 
her cousin. 10. Jonathan, born June i, 1675, mar- 
ried. 169S, Ruth Shattuck, born June 24, 1668, died 
June 16, 1748. II. Joseph (2d), born 1677, died 
February 20, 1687. 

(II) Matthias Farnsworth, son of Matthias 
Farnsworth (i), was born 1649, probably in Eng- 
land. He married Sarah Nutting, daughter of John 
and Sarah Nutting. She was born May 29, 1663. 
John Nutting, father of Mrs. Farnsworth, was one 
of the original proprietors of Groton, Massachu- 
setts. Matthias Farnsworth died in 1693. The 
inventory of his estate was filed November 8, 1693, 
but the widow did not get her appointment as ad- 
ministratrix until just before her second marriage, 
five years later. December 6, 1698. She married, 
December 16, 1698, John Stone, who was one of 
tlie sureties on her bond. Matthias Farnsworth, 
Jr. (2) seems to have been a man of some ability. 

He held several town offices at Groton, of which 
he was one of the proprietors. He served under 
Major Willard in King Philip's war. His children 
were: i. Joseph, born January 17, 1682, died Feb- 
ruary 2, 1682. 2. Ebenezer, born 1684, married, 
.•Vpril 17, 1707. Elizabeth Whitney, daughter of 
Joshua and Abigail (Tarball) Whitney, of Water- 
town; she was born about i686; they owned the 
covenant September ig, 1708, and united with the 
church April 6, 1718; he died March 30, 1724. 3. 
Josiah, born February 24. 1687. of whom later. 4. 
Sarah, born 1688, married Jonathan Shedd ; he mar- 
ried (first), April 13, 1722, Sarah Barrows. 5. 
Matthias, born August 6, 1690, was taken prisoner 
by the Indians when fourteen years old, carried to 
Canada and long supposed to be dead, but he was 
baptized in the Catholic church at Montreal, mar- 
ried and had a large family. The name was mis- 
spelled variously Farnet, Farnef, Pharnef and 
Pharneuf, all having descendants, some of whom 
have come to this country with other French 
Canadian emigrants. 6. Rebecca was drowned in 
a well at Watertown. Massachusetts, May 19. 1692, 
probably sent from Groton to her Aunt Thatcher's 
for safety during Indian raids at that time. 

(III) Josiah Farnsworth, son of Matthias Farns- 
worth (2). was born February 24, 1687. He mar- 
ried, March, 1719-20, Mary Pierce, daughter of 
Ephraim Pierce, of Groton. She was born August 
9, 1696. He died September, 1744. He was a farmer 
at Groton, Massachusetts. Their children were: i. 
Josiah. born January 4, 1721, married. July 27, 
1743, Hannah Buttrick probably settled in New York 
state, was of Captain Samuel Howe's company for 
the relief of Fort William Henry. 1757. 2. Mary, 
born June 5. 1722, married. February 5. 173O. Will- 
iam Nichols, of Hartford. Connecticut. He was 
baptized January, 1710, died September 3, 1767. 
She died October 13, 1771. 3. Oliver, born Au- 
gust 30, 1723. died when about ten years old. 4. 
Ebenezer, born March 22, 1726, married, 1762, Sarah 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Walker, probably daughter of Seth and Eleanor 
(Chandler) Walker. She died 1807, aged eighty- 
two years; he died Novimber 6, 1794. He settled 
in Charlostown, New Hampshire, about 1850, and 
was taken prisoner by the Indians with the John- 
son family, Miriam Willard and Peter Labarec, Au- 
gust 30, 1 75 1, and carried to Canada. After the 
war he was sent to England and later returned 
home whereupon he joined the army again and 
helped in the campaigns against Isle aux Noix, St. 
Johns and Montreal. Later he fought in the revo- 
lution. 5. James, born December 2, 1727, married 

Susanna and Sarah , settled at Charlestown, 

New Hampshire ; fought in the Rangers in 1748 in 
Captain Hobb's company, in 1750 in Captain Phineas 
Stevens' company, was commissioned lieutenant, 
captain and general in the revolutionary war. 6. 
Jemima, born August 29, 1729, married, Septem- 
ber 24, 1764, Seth Walker, Jr. (his second wife) ; 
he was born April 16, 1717, at Groton, Massachu- 
setts. He married (first), January 14, 1742, Abigail 
Holden, died January 31, 1762. 7. Thomas, born 
April I, 1731, of whom later. 8. Joseph, born No- 
vember 27, 1732, called "judge." 9. Oliver, born 

January 16, 1735, married Hannah , settled at 

Springticld, Vermont. 10. Mary, born February 2, 
1738, probably died young. 

(IV) '1 homas Farnsworth, son of Josiah Farns- 
worth (3), was born at Groton, Massachusetts. He 
married. November, 1753, Elizabeth Tuttle, of Little- 
ton, Massachusetts. He lived in Lunenburg, Massa- 
chusetts, and New Ipswich, New Hampshire. His 
name appears on the first tax roll of New Ipswich 
in 1763, and at the first town meeting he was 
elected one of the highway surveyors September 13, 
1762. He was drummer of the militia company in 
1777 at trainings. He probably married (second) 
Elizabeth Davis, in New Ipswich. His children by 
his first wife were: I. Moses, born January 17, 
1750, married (first) Annie Wilson in Alstead, New 
Hampshire: she died August 29, 1790, and he mar- 
ried (second) Rohanna (Beckwith) Crocker. He 
served in the revolutionary war. He died at Sugar 
Grove, Pennsylvania. October 23, 1837. 2. Thornas, 
born probably at New Ipswich, New Hampshire, 
May 29. 1768. married, February, 1791, Dimmis 
Ladd, who resided at Alden, New York, in 1847. 
3. Joseph, born probably at New Ipswich, June 25, 
1772, married, February 27, 1803, Martha Shepard; 
.she was born November 4. 1780. died April 2, 1834. 
He married (second), November 27, 1834, Mrs. 
Tryphena Cheney, widow of Colonel William 
Cheney, of Newport. New Hampshire. He died at 
Newport. July 19, 1837. 4. Jonathan, born prob- 
ably at New Ipswich, August 12, 1774, of whom 
later, 5. Mary, born about 175S, resided at Jaflfrey, 
New Hampshire, died July, 1843. 6. Elizabeth, born 
about 1759, married Daniel Emery. 7. Cathenne, 
born 1762, died 1832, at Williamstown. Vermont. 
8. Lucy, horn 1770, at New Ipswich, married thrice, 
resided in Mexico, New York, 1847. 9. Hannah, 
born about 1764, died 1817; married, August 4, 
1785, Abiiah Stone, lived at St. Albans, Vermont. 
Her daughter married United States Senator Jacob 
Collamore. 10. Rachel, died at I.^ncaster, New 
York, 1847. II. Sally, living in Alden, New York, 

1847 

(V) Jonathan Farnsw-orth, son of Thomas 
Farnsworth (4), was born probably at New Ips- 
wich, New Hampshire, August 12, 1774. He mar- 
ried Olive Kingsbur>'. They settled in .Mstead, 
New Hampshire, where their children were born, 
as follows: Asa, June 2. 1707, of whom later; 
Befse". November 15, 1798, died April 26, 1812; 
Hannah. February 3. 1801, died April 16, 1853; 



Zelinda, January 8, 1803, died February 22, 1880; 
Nancy, November 26, 1804, married, Cyril Carpen- 
ter, resided at Rochester, New York, died there 
February i, 1866; Penlanda, September 15, 1807. 
married, June 13, 1826, Alpheus Kilbourne; Olive 
C, January 7, 1810, died August 27, 1829; Eliza- 
beth D., March 22, 181 2, died July 20, 1829; Leonard 
H., November 20, 1814, died January 27, 1849; John 
i5-. July 3. 1817, died September 21, 1859; Mary 
Jane, December 16, 1820, married, October 29, 1853, 
Hopkins A. Reed. 

(VI) Asa Farnsworth, son of Jonathan Farns- 
worth (s), was born at Alstead, New Hampshire, 
June 2, 1797. He was brought up on the farm on 
which he was born. He followed farming for 
a time at Alstead, then moved to Ware. Massa- 
chusetts, and later to Athol, Massachusetts, where 
he died April 21, 1867. He was a man of strong 
character and commanded the respect of his towns- 
men. He was a Whig in politics. He married 
Suphila Lathrop, at Alstead. Their children were : 
Phetie O., John B., of whom later. 

(VII) John B. Farnsworth, son of Asa Farns- 
worth (6), was born in Ware, Massachusetts, Au- 
gust 6, 1833. When he was two years old his par- 
ents moved from Ware to Athol, Massachusetts. 
He attended the Athol schools. On completing 
his education in the schools he engaged with his 
father-in-law in the business of building mover and 
contractor. Later he engaged in the business of 
steam and gas fitting in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. 
He followed this business in Fitchburg until 1878 
when he opened a plumbing, steam and gas fitting 
establishment on his own account in Leominster, 
Massachusetts. He has been successful in his busi- 
ness. He is a member of the Order of United 
Workmen. He is a Republican in politics. Though 
interested in public affairs and politics he has de- 
clined office. 

He married in i860. Isabella L. Frost, daughter 
of Leonard R. Frost, of Phillipston, Massachusetts. 
Their children are: Frank S., of whom later; E. 
Clifton, died young; May O., died young. 

(VIII) Frank S. Farnsworth. son of John B. 
Farnsworth (7), was born in Fitchburg, Massa- 
chusetts, October 12, 1864. When quite young his 
parents removed from Fitchburg to Leominster, and 
after concluding his attendance at the public schools 
he entered his father's office as an assistant. Hav- 
ing acquired a good knowledge of the business he 
became manager of the establishment, and in that 
capacity he has through his energy and progressive 
tendencies developed the business. He takes an 
earnest interest in the general welfare of the town 
and its various institutions, and is a director of 
the Leominster Co-operative Savings Bank. He is 
and active participant of the board of selectmen, and 
is also serving as town auditor. In politics he is 
a stanch .supporter of the Republican party. His 
fraternal affiliations are with the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows and the Royal Arcanum. He at- 
tends the Unitarian church. On October ig, 1887, 
Mr. Farnsworth married Elizabeth Dodge, daugh- 
ter of William Dodge, of Leominster. 

nURDETT FAMILY. Robert Burdett. ' the 
immigrant ancestor of Francis A. Burdett, of Leom- 
inster, Massachusetts, was born in England in 1633. 
He came to New England when a young man and 
made his home at Maiden, where he married, No- 
vember. T653. Hannah Winter. He died June 16, 
1667, making his will the same day and mention- 
ine a child unborn. His widow married (second) 
Edmund Chamberlain, of Maiden, at Chelmsford, 
June 22, 1670. The children of Robert and Han- 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



63 



nah Burdett were : Thomas, born at Maiden, Sep- 
tember, 1655, of whom later ; Hannah, born Novem- 
ber, 1656; Joseph, Mary, Sarah, Ruth, born May. 
1666. 

(II) Thomas Burdett,' son of Robert Burdett 
(i), was born at Maiden, Massachusetts, September, 
165s, and died there June 20, 1729. He settled in 

his native town and married there Hannah , 

who died January 26, 1717-8, aged sixty-five years. 

He married (second) Elizabeth . He owned 

part of Moulton's Island and sold ten acres of it to 
Thomas Mitchell in 1693. His children were: 
Lieutenant Thomas, Jr., born January 13, 1682, died 
October 15. 1758; Elizabeth. August 19, 1686, died 
young; Elizabeth, August 28, 1688: Mary, Decem- 
ber 25, 1690; John, March 8, 1693. of whom later; 
Thomas. December 14, 1705; Jacob, February 14, 
1707-8; Mary, July 31, 1710; Jabez, March 30, 1713; 
Joseph. February 2, 1716. 

(III) John Burdett. son of Thomas Burdett (2), 
was born in Maiden, Massachusetts, March 8, 1693, 
and died there December 28, 1778, aged eighty-three 
years. He settled at Maiden ; married there July 
S, 1722, Hannah Cole, who died September 12, 1761, 
aged seventy-six years. Their children, all born 
at Maiden, were: John, born October 15, 1722, of 
whom later; Nathan, December 31, 1723, settled 
in the adjoining town of Charlestown ; was drowned 
March .S, 1759; Elizabeth. June 2, 1726; Sarah, Jan- 
uarv 3. 1727-8; Hannah, November 17, 1729. 

'(I'V) John Burdett, Jr., son of John Burdett (3), 
was born at Maiden, Massachusetts. October 15, 
1722, and died there September 23, 1758. He mar- 
ried, February 6, 1745-6, and their children, all born 
at Maiden, were: John, born October 19, 1746, 
mentioned below; Jemima. December ir, 1751, mar- 
ried Phineas Sprague ; Sarah, September 9, 1755; 
Ebenezer, June 23, 1757-S. 

(V) John Burdett, son of John Burdett (4), 
was born at Maiden, Massachusetts, October 19, 
1746, and died at Leominster, December 19, 1843. 
He settled in Leominster. April. 1776, and entered 
the American army soon after the battle of Bunker 
Hill, serving in the battle of Bennington and sev- 
eral other engagements. He married. May 23, 1771, 
Abigail Snrgent, daughter of Thomas Sargent, of 
Maiden, who was born in 1726 and died in 1812. 
The will of John Burdett is dated August 7, 1820, 
and mentions wife Abigail. The children of John 
and Abigail, all born at Leominster except the first 
two, were: Abigail, born June 22, 1773. at Maiden; 
Mary, born at Maiden, March 26. 1775 '■ John, born 
about 1777, married, October 25, 1802. Sarah Shute, 
who died March 17, 1832, aged forty-seven years ; 
Nathan, of whom later ; James mentioned in ad- 
ministration of estate. 

(VI) Nathan Burdett son of John Burdett (s), 
was born at Leominster or Lancaster, about 1785. 
He settled in that part of Lancaster now Clinton. 
He married (first), October 13, 1806, Elizabeth 
Grover, and (second). September 20, 1809, at Lan- 
caster, Margaret Darling. Margaret died Septem- 
ber t6, 1845. aged fifty-nine years, six months and 
nineteen days. Their children, all born in Lan- 
caster, were: (By the first marriage) Elizabeth, born 
December 18, 180S. (By the second marriage) 
Sarah Margaret, died March iq. 1^2^; William, 
born February 3, 181 1; Nathan, born May 16. 1813; 
Thomas, born May 4. iSrq, of whom later; Chris- 
topher Columbus, born February ?8. TS17, died same 
day; George Washington, born February 17. 1819; 
Mary .Ann. born March 31, l82t ; Alfred Augustus, 
born June 20, 1827. 

(VII) Thomas Burdett. son of N-'than Burdett 
(6), was born in what is now Clinton. Massa- 



chusetts, May 4, 1815, and died there. He lived 
most of his life in Clinton, conducting a farm there. 
For two years he resided in Northboro, an adjacent 
town. He married at Lancaster, November 22, 1837, 
Sarah E. Woodbury, daughter of Israel Wood- 
bury, of Bolton, Massachusetts, formerly part of 
Lancaster. The children of Thomas and Sarah E. 
Burdett were: i. Thomas Earle, born June 8, 1838, 
at Lancaster ; he was formerly a dealer in stationery 
and newspapers at Clinton and had a similar store 
later at Woodstock, New Hampshire ; he is now re- 
tired; married (first) Fanny Andrews; (second) 
Lillian Andrews, and they have two daughters ; 
Edith and Ethel. 2. Charles A., born 1841, died at 
Lancaster, February 21, 1842, aged six months. 3. 
Elizabeth Sarah Wilder, born at Lancaster, now 
Clinton. December 6, 1S43, married Josiah Proctor, 
of Northboro, Massachusetts, now deceased, form- 
erly a manufacturer of buttons there ; the widow and 
eight children reside on thJ homestead at North- 
boro ; the children were ; Emma, Fanny, Charles, 
Frederick, Harriet, George, Evelyn, Edward. 4. 
Francis Wellington, of whom later. 5. Margaret 
Louisa, born at Clinton, December 27, 1847, mar- 
ried Charles Wright Clinton, and they had one 
daughter, Carrie L. ; he was proprietor of a drug 
store in Clinton. 6. Louis Judson, born at Clinton, 
September 5, 1850- r, married Emma Reynolds 
and they have three children — Florence, Harold, 
Bernard ; he resides at Northboro and is manager 
of Chapin's grocery store there. 

(VIII) Francis Wellington Burdett, son of 
Thomas Burdett (7), was born in Northboro, 
iSlassachusetts, October 20, 1845. He attended the 
public schools of Clintonville, as Clinton was called 
when a district of Lancaster. He took a two-year 
course in the Leominster high school. Mr. Burdett 
has divided his time between the machine shop and 
the farm. He is a skillful mechanic, and for many 
years worked in the machine shops of the neighbor- 
hood in the winter and conducted his farm in the 
summer. He was machinist for some years for 
the F. A. Whitney Carriage Company. For the past 
ten yeaTs Mr. Burdett has been employed most of 
the time under contract with the Danforth Chemical 
Company, manufacturers of Bug Death, a very suc- 
cessful preparation for use in the garden to ex- 
terminate various insects that infest flower and vege- 
table plants. The factory of the concern is at 31 
Spruce street, Leominster. Mr. Burdett attends the 
Baptist church with his family. In politics he is 
a Republican. He was a member of the Leominster 
Agricultural Society, but has preferred his home to 
all secret societies and clubs. 

He married (first), December 25, 1867, Annie L. 
Davidson, of Prince Edward Island, British Amer- 
ica ; she died in childbirth, November i, 1868. He 
married (second), June 15, 1870, Emeretta Miranda 
Miller, daughter of Stephen A. and Miranda S. 
(Wilder) Miller, of Ashburnham. The only child 
of F>ancis W. and Annie L. Burdett was : Francis 
Davidson, born at Leominster, November i, 1868. 
The children of Francis W. and Miranda Burdett 
were: Wilfred Ellis, born June 26, 1871, graduate 
of the Leominster public schools ; is a button maker 
at Prevear's factory ; married Minnie De Wolfe and 
have one child, Marion, born 1902. Lewis Austin, born 
January 5, 1873, died young. Hallis Thomas, born at 
Leominster, December 5, 1875, graduate of the Leo- 
minster high school. 1890 ; employed in Wachusett 
Shirt Factory; married Margaret McCIoud, of Leo- 
minster, and they have two children — Vera, born 
1901. died young; Lois, 1903. Emmons Miller, born 
at Leominster, September 14, 1877, attended public 
and high schools ; employed in Wacliusett Shirt 



64 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Factory; married Mrs. Grace (Small) Lane. Edith 
Louise, born at Leominster, April i6, 1879. graduate 
of the high school there in 1900, of the State Nor- 
mal school in Fitchburg in lyo.?, taught school two 
years; is now living at home with parents, triiest 
Granville, born at Leominster, September lb, lb»o, 
educated at the public and high schools of Leo- 
minster and at the Eastman Business College at 
Poughkeepsie, New York; is at present bookkeeper 
at the works of the Slater Silk Company of Wmsted 
Connecticut. Grace, born at Leominster, 1884, died 
aged twenty months. 

HARRINGTON FAMILY. Robert Harrington 
(l), the immigrant ancestor of the Harrington fam- 
ily of Worcester, was born in England, 1616, and 
was among the early settlers of VVatertown, Massa- 
chusetts. His was the last name on the list of 
proprietors of that town for the years 1642 and 
1644 He took the oath of fidelity in 1652 and was 
admitted a freeman May 27, 1663. He was a mill 
owner. His homestead was given him by Ihomas 
Hastings, presumed from that transaction to be a 
relative. He was a prominent citizen and for hf- 
teen years was selectman of Watertown. He was 
the progenitor of all the Harringtons in this country. 
The name is spelled in the early records sometimes 
Errington and Arrington. He died May 11, 1707. 
aged ninety-one years. His will names sons: John, 
Daniel, Benjamin, Samuel, Thomas, Edward ; daugh- 
ters • Susanna Beers, Mary Bemis, Sarah Winship; 
Joanna Ward, late wife of his son Joseph and her 
son Joseph. doc- 

ile married October i, 1647, or 1648, Susanna 
George, who was born 1632 and died July 6, 1694. 
Their children were: Susanna, born August is, 
1649, married, February 9, 1O71, John Cutting; 
John, born August 24, 1651, died August 24, 1741; 
Robert, born August 31, ib53, probably died young; 
George, born November 24, 1655. kiUcd at Lan- 
caster. Februarv, 1675-76, by the Indians; Daniel, 
born November i, 1657, died April 19, 1728; Jos^eph, 
born December 28, 1659, admitted a freeman Apri 
18, 1690; Benjamin, born January 26, 1661-62, died 
1724; Mary, born January 17, 1663-64, married John 
Bemis; Thomas, born April 20, 1665, admitted free- 
man April 18, 1690; Samuel, born December 18, 
1666; Edward, see forward; Sarah, born March 10, 
1670-71, died November 28, 1710; married Joseph 
Winship, Jr.; David, born June i, 1673. died March 

II. 1675- , , , •, , r 

(II) Edward Harrington, eleventh child ot 
Robert Harrington (i), was born in Watertown, 
Massachusetts, March 2, 1669. He was a farmer at 
Watertown. He married (first), March 30, 1692, 
Mary Ocington; (second). May 24, 1727. Anna Bull- 
ard, widow of Jonathan Bullard, of Weston, Massa- 
chusetts. Children of Edward and Mary Harring- 
ton were: Mary, born January 2, 1692-93, married. 
December 7, 1710, Daniel Rogers, who died Novem- 
ber 5, 1711: she married (second), January 3. 
1716-17, Joseph Grant; William, born November 11, 
1694, died February 27, 1651-52; Mindwell, born 
June 19, 1697, died October 14, 1700; Joanna, born 
August 16, 1699, married, May 25, 1720, John 
Tainter; Edward, born June 17, 1702, died December 
6, 1792; Samuel, born August 3. 1704; Nathaniel, 
born June 25, 1706 (H. C. 1728) ; Francis, born June 
II, 1709, sec forward; Susanna, born September 9. 
171 1, married, November 25, 1731, Samuel Barnard. 
(Ill) Francis Harrington, eighth child of Ed- 
ward Harrington (2), was born in Watertown, 
Massachusetts, June 11, 1709, and died at Worcester, 
July 18, 1793, aged eighty-four years. Directly after 
his marriage he removed to Grafton, Massachusetts, 



but after a few years settled in the adjoining towii 
of Worcester. His homestead was on what is still 
the Harrington place on Harrington court, corner 
of Plantation street and Bloomingdale road. He 
was a farmer. He married, November 16, 1736, 
Prudence Stearns, of the well known Watertown 
Stearns family. She died August, 1751, aged thirty- 
eight years. He married (second), November 15, 
1752, Deborah Brigham, of Westboro, Massachu- 
setts. She died April 20, 1799, aged eighty-four 
years. Francis Harrington and both his wives are 
buried on the common, the gravestone being covered 
with the turf, but the location is known. Ihe 
children of Francis and Mary Harrington were: 
Mary, baptized December 16, 1753. married, Feb- 
ruary 13, 1777, Jonathan Stone; Prudence, baptized 
April 20, 1755, married, July 6, 1780, Josiah Perry; 
William, see forward; Nathaniel, had son Prancis, 
father of Francis, Jr., also son Jonathan, father of 
Daniel (who had sons Charles A.. Francis A., and 
Daniel A.) and of Benjamin Harrington; Nathaniel 
was second sergeant in Colonel Timothy Bigelow s 
company at Lexington; first sergeant of this com- 
pany under Captain Jonas Hubbard; selectman 1808; 
l^rancis, born 1737. at Grafton, died at Worcester, 
April 6, 1768, aged thirty-one. ,.,,.,_,,„ 

(IV) William Harrington, third child of Francis 
Harrington (3), was born at Worcester, Massachu- 
setts, November 18, 1756 (November 7. >n family 
records) He was brought up in Worcester on his 
father's farm and attended the district school there. 
He removed to Southboro after the death of his hrst 
wife, bought a farm there, but soon sold out and 
removed to Framingham, the adjoining town, where 
he bought the Mixter place and continued farming 
there until 1822, when he removed to Upton, Massa- 
chusetts, where for a year he worked a leased farm. 
He decided to settle there and built a house on land 
given him by his wife's father, who had also settled 
in Upton. Here Mr. Harrington carried on fann- 
ing until his death, November 7. 1838. ,1".,^ •' 
tics Mr. Harrington was a Democrat. While in 
Southboro he served on the board of assessors In 
religion he was an '"Orthodox," a member of the 
Upton Congregational church. He was a soldier in 
the revolution, a gunner in Captain William iodds 
company (Eighth), Colonel Thomas Crafts regi- 
ment, enlisted February I, 1776; also enrolled as a 
bombardier; served in Boston Harbor and on Long 

^ He married, May 29, 1781, Mary Perry, daughter 
of Nathan and Hannah Perry, of Worcester, born 
there March 1, 1759- (Sec sketch of the Worcester 
Perry family.) He married (second) Eleanor New- 
ton, "of Upton (intentions dated October 10, 1801). 
daughter of Cyrus and Hannah (Johnson) Newton. 
He married (third) Lydia Newton, 1809. She was 
sister of Eleanor. There were no children by the 
first marriage. The children of William and Eleanor 
Harrington were: Mary Perry, born December 5, 
1803, married Zenas D. Johnson; Elbndge born 
May 31, 1805, died June 13. 1805; William 
Brigham, born February 8. 1807, married 
Martha Chamberlain; Elbridge Newton, born 
November 2, 1808. married Eleanor John- 
son The children of William and Lydia Harring- 
ton were: Richard Pratt, born December 9. i8o9. 
died September 29, 1815; Stephen Sadler born Jan- 
uary 4, 1812, married Louisa F. Temple; Eleanor 
Newton, born November 10, 1813, married David 
Bosworth; Richard Pratt, born October 5. 1815. see 
forward; Joseph Perry, born July 29, 1817, married 
Mary Claflin; Francis Addison, born May 30, 1819, 
see forward; Curtis Newell, born July 10, 1821, mar- 
ried Elizabeth White; Charles Porter, born May 




f^A^CMt^u/ (/! Jl^/:iAA.^^^L^^.^;^ 




WORCESTER COUNTY 



65 



22, 1823, married Esther Page. Elev-en children were 
born at Fraraingham, the youngest only at Upton. 
(V) Richard Pratt Harrington, fifth child of 
William Harrington (4), was born at Framinghani, 
Massachusetts, October 5, 1815. He is the only per- 
son of the fifth generation from the pioneer ances- 
tors known to the writer. Most of the present gen- 
eration are of the eighth, ninth, tenth and even 
eleventh generation from ancestors who came as 
early as Mr. Harrington's viz. : before 1642. His 
immigrant ancestor was his great-great-grandfather, 
Robert, born three hundred years ago, lacking only 
ten years. 

At an early age Richard Pratt Harrington re- 
moved with his father's family to Upton, Massachu- 
setts, but immediately went to live in Worcester 
with his relative, Jonathan Harrington, where he 
lived until he was sixteen years old and received his 
education in the public schools thereof. He returned 
home and started with his brother Stephen to make 
shoes in the little shop on their father's farm at 
Upton. He removed to Milford and entered the 
employ of General Underwood, manufacturer of 
boots and shoes, as a sole leather cutter. Later he 
worked in the sole leather departments of the 
factories of Seth Carpenter, Adam Hunt and other 
concerns. Shortly after 1840 he entered partnership 
with Elliot Alden under the firm name of Alden 
& Harrington, boot and shoe manufacturers, and 
continued with marked success until 1887, when he 
retired. The factory was that now occupied by the 
F. W. Mann Company. Mr. Alden remained in 
business only two years after his partner withdrew. 
Mr. Harrington was for a time a real estate broker 
in Boston. He entered rather extensively at one time 
in the manufacture of collars, but the business was 
not profitable and had to be given up. During the 
latter part of his life he sold household utensils in 
Milford and vicinity. He was a man of unques- 
tioned integrity and strict honesty in all his dealings. 
He was a member of the Congregational church at 
Upton. He was a Republican in politics. He loved 
music and at one time played in the Milford brass 
band. He married, 1839, Melita W. Rockwood, of 
Upton, born September 12, 1821, daughter of Per- 
ley and Prudence (Ward) Rockwood, of Upton, 
Massachusetts. Their children were : Prudence 
Melissa, born in Milford, July 5, 1844, died July 
12, 1844; Myra Ethlin, born in Upton, September 
21, 1852. 

(V) Francis Addison Harrington, tenth child of 
William Harrington (4), was born in Framingham, 
Massachusetts, May 30, 1819. When only three years 
old he moved with his father's family to Upton, 
where he began life on his father's farm, attending 
the common schools of Upton. He learned the 
trade of shoemaker, as did also his brothers and 
most of the young men of his neighborhood. He 
worked for Colonel Artemas Fay in Southboro. 
Later he went into business on his own account, 
employing eight or ten men in the shop at his home 
in Upton, getting his stock from the shops of B. T. 
Godfrey and General Underwood in the adjoining 
town of Milford. It was the custom at that time 
for the shoemakers to last and finish the boots and 
shoes in their own shops on their farms. They 
combined in many cases farming in summer with 
shoemaking in winter. When the conditions 
changed, Mr. Harrington went to work in the fac- 
tory of General Underwood and worked there for 
about sixteen years as a leather cutter. He re- 
moved to Chicago, where he entered a partnership 
with his son-in-law, Charles W. Aldrich, under the 
firm name of Aldrich & Harrington, dealers in boots 
and shoes. After the great fire the firm discontinued 



business and Mr. Harrington removed to St. Louis, 
where he manufactured slippers for about four years. 
He sold out then and went to Athol, Massachusetts, 
where he entered the employ of Merritt & Lee, 
shoe manufacturers, as foreman, and he held this 
position until the time of his death. In religion 
he was a Universalist and in politics a Republican. 
He was a member of the Odd Fellows Order. When 
a young man he was active in the state militia, a 
member of the Upton company. 

He married Mary T. Brightman, of Newport, 
Rhode Island, daughter of Robert Brightman. Their 
children were ; Elizabeth Burdock, married Charles 
W. Aldrich, of Milford, and they have two children 
— William and George; Winslow Milton, born Au- 
gust II, 1843, see forward. 

(VI) Winslow Milton Harrington, only son of 
Francis Addison Harrington (5), was born at Up- 
ton, Massachusetts, August 11, 1843. His parents 
moved to Milford when he was si.x years old and 
he attended the common schools of that town until 
sixteen j'ears of age. He learned the trade o£ 
laster, and at the age of seventeen entered the em- 
ploy of his uncle, Richard P. Harrington, where he 
became an expert stitcher. After eight years in that 
factory he removed to Chicago and entered the em- 
ploy of Aldrich & Green, making shoes, remainiirg 
for a year, and then he was with Whitney, Yunk & 
Brothers for four years. About the time that his 
employers went out of business on account of the 
great fire, j\Ir. Harrington came back to Worcester 
and entered the employ of Rawson & Linnell, whose 
business was merged later with the Goddard & Fay 
concern on Austin street. After working for this 
concern six years he entered the employ of S. R. 
Heywood & Company, Winter street, where he was 
in charge of the stitching department for a period 
of nineteen years. He then accepted a position in 
the leather works of Graton & Knight, VN'orcester, 
as an operator in belt making. In 1896 he came to 
his present position with the Warren Leather Goods 
Company. He has charge of all the stitching ma- 
chinery and is an operator in leather work. He re- 
sides at 7 Vernon street, Worcester. Mr. Harring- 
ton is a Universalist in religion and a Repuljlican 
in politics. He was formerly a member of Wor- 
cester Council, No. 29, American Mechanics. He 
is a member of the Worcester County I\Iechanics' 
Association. 

He married (first) Elsie A. Gould, daughter of 
Albert Gould. She died July 3, 1876. He mar- 
ried second Catherine Anastatia Carey, of Worces- 
ter, daughter of John Carey, of Milford, Massachu- 
setts. The children of Winslow M. and Elsie A. Har- 
rington were: i. George H., born 1866. 2. -Lillian, born 
March 8, 1868, married John H. Gouldin, of Wor- 
cester, October 29, i8go, and they have two children 
■ — Mildred E. Goulding, born at Worcester, Janu- 
ary 16, 1897; Marcus H., born May 25, 1906. 3. 
Lena, born October i, 1871, died March 7, 1876. 4. 
Albert Milton, born March 2, 1874. died February 
18, 1876. The children of Winslow Milton and 
Catherine A. (Carey) Harrington were: Kittie F., 
born March 17, 1881, died January 27, 1882. Wins- 
low Milton, Jr., born January 23, 1883, plumber of 
Marlboro, Massachusetts, married Nora Buckley, of 
Marlboro. Maud Adelaide, born August 12. 1887, 
married P. Rooney, of Worcester, had one boy, 
died in childbirth. 

POLLARD FAMILY. William Pollard (i), 
the English ancestor of Moses F. Pollard, of Wcst- 
boro, Massachusetts, was born, lived and died in 
Coventry, Warwickshire, England, in the latter p.irt 
of the seventeenth century. He married ^ia^y 



66 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Farmer, daughter of John Farmer and his wife Isa- 
bella. Her mother, Isabella, married (second) 
Tlioiuas Wiswall, who came to America with some 
of the Farmer children. John Farmer lived in 
Ansley, Warwickshire, and died there in 1669. Isa- 
bella was a sister of Rev. Thomas Muston, of 
Wykin and afterwards of Brinkow in England. Isa- 
bella (.Muston) (.Farmer) Wiswall died at Biller- 
ica, March 21, 1786. 

Of the children of William Pollard only one is 
known to have come to America — Thomas, see 
forward. This family was not the first of the 
name to settle in New England. There was a 
George Pollard in Duxbury in 1641, formerly of 
Stoke Clere, England, later of Marblehead. There 
was a John Pollard, of Boston, merchant, in 1640, 
"lately from Belcham, County Essex, England." 
William Pollard, progenitor of many of the name, 
came to Boston before 1644. These immigrants 
seem to be related, especially (jeorge and John. The 
family is ancient and numerous in England. 

(II) Thomas Pollard, son of William Pollard 
(i), was the immigrant ancestor of Moses F. Poll- 
ard, of Westboro. He settled in Billerica, Massa- 
chusetts, about 1692, and was probably born about 
1670. He bought the place and the proprietor's 
rights of William Hale. The farm was situate near 
the fordway. He received in 1708 a grant of thirty 
acres between the road to the ford and the road that 
turns east of it. He married, November, 1697, 
Sarah Farmer, daughter of Edward Farmer, brother 
of Mary Farmer, who married William Pollard, 
father of Thomas. They were cousins. Edward 
Farmer went to Billerica probably in 1671 and his 
house was located on the east side of Long street. 
It was at one time used as a garrison house. Farmer 
died May 27, 1727, aged eighty-seven years, and his 
wife Mary died March 26, 1719, aged seventy-seven 
years. Children of Thomas and Sarah Pollard were : 
Mary, born August 20, 1693, married Joshua Wy- 
nian ; Edward, November 4, 1694, married October 
24, 1725, Judith Hazeltine and had five children; 
Barbara, December 6, 1695, married, February 13, 
'73.V34. Joseph Pcirce; Thomas, February 16, 
1796-97, at Dunstable, was in the military service in 
1772; William, August 3, 1698; John, see forward; 
Sarah, February 16, 1700-01, died March 3, follow- 
ing; Joseph, May 3, 1702, married Abigail Hall, re- 
sided at Nottingham, New Hampshire, Wcstford, 
and finally New Ipswich, New Hampshire; died 
1780; Oliver, July 23, 1703, married, February 17, 
1735. Hannah Hill; Sarah, December 21, 1705; Na- 
thaniel, October 18, 1706; James, October 5, 1708; 
Waller, December 28, 1709, married, September 9, 
'735, Dorothy Danforlh; Elizabeth, March 5, 
1712-13. 

(HI) John Pollard, son of Thomas Pollard (2), 
was born at Billerica, Massachusetts, September i, 
1699. He and his elder brother were coopers by 
trade. In 1736 his seat was the third "ne.xt be- 
liiw the gentlemen," indicating that he was a leading 
yeoman of the town. He was one of the larger 
taxpayers of Billerica, He died November 11, 
1772. His will was dated July 17, 1772, and was 
proved December 8, 1772. He married (first), Scp- 
leniher 27, 1728,. Mary Stearns, daughter of Isaac 
and Mary (Meri'ani) Stearns, She died August 18, 
17.?8, He married (second), September 14, 1741, 
Alice Stearns, daughter of Isaac, and sister of the 
first wife. She died November 4, 1756, He married 
(third), March 26, 1762, Susanna Baldwin, who sur- 
vived him. Children of John and Mary Pollard 
were: John, born June 24, 1729. see forward; 
Jonalhan, May 13, 1731, married. March .30, 1758; 
was a soldier in the French war ; Solomon, Octo- 



ber 15, 1732, married, December 11, 1755, Hannah 
Danlorth and had seven children; was in French 
and Indian war, battle of Bunker Hill, and as late 
as 1779 in revolution ; was called captain ; Mary 
April 1, 1734, died May 25. 1730; Asa November 15, 
1735, soldier at Crown Point 1755-56 and Lake 
Chaniplain 1758-59; was the first man killed at the 
battle of Bunker Hill June 17, 1775; his blood and 
brains were scattered over the clothes of Colonel 
Prescott, who wiped off the stains as best he could 
with a handful of fresh earth and ordered the body 
buried at once, as the sight was enough to dishearten 
his comrades. 

(IV) John Pollard, son of John Pollard (3), 
was born in Billerica, Massachusetts, June 24, 1739, 
and died at Rutland, May 4, 1768. He removed 
to Suncook, New Hampshite, about 1749, and in 
1760, again to Rutland, Massachusetts, where he 
lived the remainder of his life. His farm in Rut- 
land was near Princeton on the southern part of the 
land laid out originally to Joseph Wright. The 
family has no representatives now at Rutland, and 
all traces of the homestead are gone. Children of 
John and Sarah TPollard were : Joel, born at Sun- 
cook, May 15, 1749, see forward; John, Jr., born 
at Suncook, March 10, 1753, was a blacksmith, set- 
tled at Brookfield, Massachusetts; Sarah, born at 
Suncook, September 23, 1756; Jonathan, born at 
Suncook, March 10, 1759, was a soldier in the revo- 
lution; Achsah, born at Rutland, May 4, 1761, mar- 
ried David Nichols; Persis, born April 3, 1763, at 
Rutland, married Philip Nye; Mary (Polly), born 
at Rutland, September 24, 1765, married Phineas 
Warner antl they had five children. 

(V) Joel Pollard, son of John Polard (4), was 
born at Suncook, New Hampshire, May 15, 1749. 
He came to Rutland, Massachusetts, with his father 
in 1760. His father died in 17O8 and he left home 
in 1770 and settled in Hubbardston. He married, 
Marcii 8, 1770, Mary Maynard, of Rutland. She 
died August 18, 1789. He married (second), March 
3, 1791, Hannah Goodspeed, who died July 2, 1830, 
aged seventy years. He died April 26, 1825, aged 
seventy-six years. The old farm at Hubbardston re- 
mained in his family for one hundred and twenty 
years. It was sold in 1890. Children of Joel and 
Mary Pollard were: Moses, baptized July 15, 1770, 
died young; Dorcas, born September 5, 1771, bap- 
tized at Rutland, October 6, 1771, married Paol 
Murick, November 24, 179a; he died July 23, 1814; 
she died at Princeton; Molly, born January 9, 1774, 
died April 28, 1789; Sally, born February 21 1776, 
married John Tell, of Princeton; Joel, see forward; 
Lois, born August 15, 1780, died February 24, 1854; 
Alice, born November 17, 1782, married Seth Sum- 
ner, of Dedham, May 30, 1806; died at Dedham ; 
Moses, born October 16, 1784, died June 19, 1787; 
Persis, born September 12, 1786, married, Decem- 
ber 3, 1810, Ella Slocumb, who died June 25, 1831. 
Children of Joel and Hannah Pollard were: John, 
born November 29, 1791, died May 21, 1827; Tabitha, 
born May 27, 1793, married Amherst Coleman; Han- 
nah, born April 5, 1795, married Delphos Gates; 
Isaac, born January 1, 1797, removed to Templeion 
and died there; Mary, born July 7, 1801, died 
August 23, 1829. 

(\'l) Joel Pollard. Jr., son of Joel Pollard (5), 
was born at Hubbardston. Massachusetts, May 14, 
1778, and died there April 24, 1846. He was a 
prosperous farmer and lumber dealer, large land- 
holder and influential citizen. He was enterprising, 
energetic and active, and served for many years 
in important town offices in Hubbardston. He mar- 
ried Ruth Fisk, who died May 30, 1862. aged sev- 
enty-two years. Their children, all born in Hub- 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



67 



bardston, were : David, born September 2, 1810, 
jnlarried Harriet Davis, of Shutesbury, October 17, 
1838; she died April 17, 1869, aged sixty years; he 
married (second), May 22, 1873, Emily Blandin, 
of Norton, Massachusetts ; their children — Naomi 
E., born October 16. 1839, died September 19, 1842; 
Charles E., born December 7. 1845; George W., born 
December 19, 1848, died August 26, 1874; Joel 
Pranklin, born September 8, 1852, married Ida E. 
Wright. May i, 1877. Alice, born February 6, 1813, 
married Amasa G. Davis. Moses, born September 
<), 181S, see forward. Dorcas, born February 27, 
1818, died May 26, 1854. Naomi, born July 15, 1820, 
<lied July 3, 1831. Alden, born September 29, 1822, 
a farmer, married, August 2, 1853, Elizabeth Green, 
who died December 2, 1855; married (second), No- 
vember 10, 1864, Elizabeth Brigham ; he died No- 
vember 30, 1889, and the children were — James D., 
horn September 9. i8S4- resides at Derry, New 
Hampshire; married, April 18, 1877. Emma Albee ; 

Mabel Alden, born December 25, 1866, married 

Marean, of Hubbardston. Ruth, born January 13, 
1827, married Darius M. Allen. Charles, born Au- 
gust 20, 1829, died September 8, 1831. 

(VII) Moses Pollard, son of Joel Pollard (6), 
•was born in Hubbardston, Massachusetts, Septem- 
ier 9, 181 5. He was educated in the public schools 
and at Westminster Academy. He remained on the 
homestead assisting his father until he married, 
when he removed to New Braintree and settled. 
He became one of the leading citizens of that 
town and rendered faithful and efficient service as 
assessor and selectman. He was president of the 
stock company organized by the farmers to dis- 
pose of their surplus milk products by making 
cheese, etc.. and was an able, energetic and suc- 
cessful business man. 

He bought a valuable farm at Westboro. Massa- 
chusetts, and moved there in 1872. He became one 
of the best known farmers of that town also, and 
served likewise on the board of assessors there. 
For a number of years he was vice-president of 
the Westboro Savings Bank, a very prosperous in- 
stitution of its kind. He was for many years an 
active member and officer of the Westboro Grange, 
Patrons of Husbandry. He was a Congregationalist 
and while in New Braintree was deacon of the 
church and declined a similar honor in the West- 
boro church, though he served as assessor of the 
church and was a liberal supporter of the society. 
In politics he was a Republican. He died Au- 
gust IS, 1891. 

He married, April 5, 1843. Ann O. Pierce, of 
New Braintree, who died September 3. 1875; he 
married (second) Phebe S. (Hartwell) Brown, July 
5. 1876; she was born in Worcester. Children 
of Moses and Ann O. Pollard were: Herbert Lee, 
Irarn at New Braintree, September 24, 1844, mar- 
ried. March 24, 1870, Sarah A. Johnson, settled 
on the Pollard' homestead at New Braintree and 
their children are— Julia Ann, born December 25, 
1870. died June 29, 1881 ; Harry Dodge, born July 
21,. 187^; Henry Johnson, born June 10, 1875; Sarah 
Grace, 'born October 28, 1878, died October ,=;, 5879; 
Frederick, born February 10. 1880: Mary Frances, 
Wrn September 13, 1882; Nellie Viola, born De- 
cember 7, 1884; Clara Belle, born June 25. 1886, 
died September .S. i886. David N.. born at New 
Braintree. November 24. 1846, settled at Westboro; 
later a merchant at Ashland, New Hamp5hire._ de- 
ceased; married. November 19, 1871, Juliette 
Webster and hnd children— Martha Lilian, born No- 
vember 22, T872; Ella May. born September 21, 
1874. Charles F., born at New Braintree, Decem- 



ber 19. 184S, orange grower at DcLand and Winni- 
missitt, Florida. Moses F., see forward. 

(VIII) Moses F. Pollard, son of Moses Pollard 
(7), was born in New Braintree, Massachusetts, 
June 18, 1855. He was educated in the public 
schools of his native town, taking a course also 
in the high school. After the completion of his 
studies he was for a time clerk in a store, but 
shortly afterward engaged in farming in Westboro, 
where he has always lived since coming there with 
his father in 1872. He succeeded to the homestead 
after his father's death. Lie has developed an ex- 
tensive dairy farm and is known in agricultural cir- 
cles as one of the most successful farmers and milk 
dealers in his section. Mr. Pollard is a Repub- 
lican in politics. In his religious belief he is a 
Baptist and has been clerk of the Westboro Bap- 
tist church. 

He married, April 6, 1882. Matilda Winchester, 
daughter of Samuel and Mary Winchester, of Prince 
Edward Island. Their children, all born in West- 
boro, were : Annie, born October 3, 1883. died May 
14. 1S84: Etta J., born June 21, 1885; Arthur Win- 
chester, born June 14. 1886, died July 21, 1887; 
Ralph, born November II, 1887, died March 12, 
1888; Alice M., born October 14, 1889; Alfred L., 
born May 17, 1893; Ruth F., born March 16, 1896; 
Frank M., born June 6, 1899; Esther, born August 
12, 1900. 

STEPHEN ALDRICH RANDALL. The late 
Stephen Aldrich Randall, of Bolton, was a repre- 
sentative of an old New Hampshire family, and 
his father, Joseph Randall, who was a native of 
Richmond, New Hampshire, removed to Bolton after 
his marriage to Mrs. Mary (Aldrich) Wheeler, a 
widow, who was born in Smithfield. Rhode Island, 
daughter of Stephen and Mercy Aldrich. Joseph 
Randall was a member of the Society of Friends. 

Stephen Aldrich Randall was born in Bolton, 
January 7, 1843. He was educated in the public 
schools, and acquired from his father a good knowl- 
edge of agriculture. Unlike many young men of 
his generation he took kindly to the independent 
life of a farmer, and adopting that honorable occu- 
pation eventually succeeded to the possession of 
the homestead. The name of Rocky Dundee, by 
which the Randall farm has long been known, is 
in no way significant of sterility, as its soil is ex- 
ceedingly fertile and easily cultivated. In addi- 
tion to general farming Mr. Randall gave special 
attention to dairy products, and milk from Rocky 
Dundee farm has long maintained a high reputa- 
tion. He was quite active in local civic affairs, 
having served with ability as a selectman, assessor, 
overseer of the poor and in other town offices. 
.'\t one time he was prominently connected with 
the Patrons of Husbandry in this locality, and did 
much toward establishing the local grange upon a 
firm basis of operation and extending its usefulness. 
He was a birthright Quaker. 

Mr. Randall married. January 7. 1875, Martha 
T. Whitcomb. of Littleton, Massachusetts, who sur- 
vives him. She is a daughter of Vandolo Emroy 
and Mary (Parker) Whitcomb, and sister of George 
Lyman Whitcomb. who enlisted in Company E, 
Thirty-third Massachusetts Regiment, in July, 1862, 
and was mortally wounded October 29, 1863, at 
the battle of Lookout Mountain. Four children were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Randall, the first born of 
whom died in infancy, and the second, Ruth Whit- 
comb. whose birth took place November 6, 1879, 
dind Mav 31, i8ot. Those now (1906) living are: 
Reuben Emroy, born September 22, 1883, now en- 



68 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



gaged in carrying on the homestead farm, in which 
he is ably assisted by his mother, who is a lady of 
unusual ability and sound judgment. Rufus Her- 
bert, born July 8, 18S9, now attendmg the Bolton 
high school. 

MILTON P. HIGGINS. The name of Higgiris, 
known in New England from the earliest colonial 
days, was well established in the first generation 
on American soil. It was a sturdy stock, and in- 
termarried with families of similar qualities and 
worth. The early generations were inured to hard- 
ships, in their struggles with nature; were per- 
severingly industrious; self-trained to the use of 
tools. They developed splendid physique, were of 
a deeply religious nature, and their excellent traits 
have been transmitted to their descendants to the 
present day. 

(.1) Richard Higgins, the immigrant ancestor 
of Milton P. Higgins, was in Plymouth, Massachu- 
setts, in 1633, where his name appears among the 
taxpayers. He was a tailor by trade; admitted a 
freeman in 1634; in 1644 was one of the tirst seven 
settlers in Eastham; was selectman for three years, 
and deputy to the general court in 1649, 1661 and 
1667. He married at Plymouth, November 23, 1634, 
Lydia, daughter of Edward Chandler, of Scituate, 
Massachusetts, and (second) October 15, 1651, 
Mary, widow of John Yates, of Duxbury. He had 
nine children: Jonathan, born July, 1637; Benja- 
min, see forward; Mary, September 27, 1652; Elia- 
kim, October 20, 1654; William, December 15, 1655; 
Jedediah, March 5, 1657; Zcrviah, June, 1658; 
Thomas, January, 1O61 ; Lydia, July, 1664. 

(II) Benjamin, second child of Richard and 
Lydia (Chandler) Higgins, was born July 6, 1640, 
at Plyniouth, and died March 14, l6gi. He settled 
in Eastham, and in 1675 applied to court for land 
in right of his father. He married, December 24, 
1661, Lydia, daughter of Edward Bangs, who came 
from England in the "Ann," 1623. They had nine 
children : Ichabod, born November 14, 1662 ; Rich- 
ard, October 15, 1664; John, November 20, 1666; 
Joshua, October I, 1668; Lydia May, '1670; Isaac, 
August 31, 1672; Benjamin, June 14, 1674, died 
young; Samuel, March 7, 1676-7, died young; Ben- 
jamin, see forward. 

(III) Benjamin, youngest child of Benjamin 
and Lydia (Bangs) Higgins, was born at East- 
ham, Massachusetts, September 15, 1681. He mar- 
ried, May 22, 1701, Sarah, daughter of Lieutenant 
Edmund and Sarah (Mayo) Freeman. She was a 
descendant of Thomas Prince, who came in the 
"Fortune," 1621, became governor of the Plymouth 
Colony, and married Patience, daughter of Elder 
William Brewster. Benjamin and Sarah Higgins 
had fourteen children: Priscilla, born November 17, 
1702; Thomas, June 24, 1704; Sarah, July 13, 1706; 
Paul, June 25, 1708; Reliance, May 13, 1710; Eliza- 
beth, April I, 1712; Experience, January 31, 1714; 
Benjamin, March i, 1716; Thankful, October 28, 
1717; Zaccheus, August 15, 1719; Solomon, Septem- 
ber 8, 1721 ; Lois, August 6, 1723; Isaac, July 12, 
1725; Freeman, see forward. 

(IV) Freeman, youngest child of Benjamin and 
Sarah (Freeman) Higgins, was born at Eastham, 
July 28, 1727. He married, November 13, 1747, 
Martha, daughter of Timothy and Martha Cole. 
She was descended from Daniel Cole, wpo was in 
Plymouth about 1633 ; he was constable, selectman 
and town clerk. Freeman Higgins married (sec- 
ond) Thankful (Hopkins) Paine, July 14, 1757. 
His children by his first marriage were : Timothy, 
see forward; Apphia, October I, 1752. By his sec- 
ond marriage they were: Twins born April 9, 1758; 



one name Martha died young and the other named 
Thankful, married, November 12, 1781, Thomas 
Stoddard Boardman; Priscilla, born March i, 1762; 
Elisha, November 9, 1766; Zedekiah, April 11, 1760; 
Mary, August 9, 1764. 

(V) Timothy, eldest child of Freeman and 
Martha (Cole) Higgins, was born at Eastham, 
March 28, 1749, and died January 27, 1829. at 
Standish, Maine, where he was an early settler, 
and built the first grist mill in the town. He mar- 
ried, March 9, 1771, Reliance, born in Harwich, 
Massachusetts, 1751, died at Standish, December 
14, 1825, daughter of John and Thankful (King) 
Yates. Timothy and Reliance Higgins had six 
children: Prince, see forward; Ephraim, born 1775, 
married Rebecca Higgins; Experience (or Pena), 
born 1777, married Seth Higgins, who was lost at 
sea; Thankful, born 1779, died July 22, 1823; Free- 
man, born 1787, died November 17, 1809; Timothy, 
born 1791, died May 21, 1863. 

(VI) Prince, eldest child of Timothy and Re- 
liance (Y'ates) Higgins, was born on Cape Cod, 
Massachusetts, September 25, 1772, and was a child 
when his parents removed to Standish, Maine. He 
was a man of great physical strength, worked a 
farm and conducted a cider mill and cooper shop. 
He was a good mechanic, and the frame house which 
he built at Oak Hill is yet standing. He served 
in the militia, and was looked upon as a leading 
citizen. He married, September 25, 1799, Sclina, 
born June 14, 1773, died January 22, 1847, daughter 
of Seth and Martha (Linnell) Higgins. She was 
a descendant of Jonathan, son of Richard Higgins, 
the immigrant, by his marriage with Elizabeth 
Rogers, whose father and grandfather came in the 
"Mayllower." Prince and Sclina Higgins had seven 
children : Mary, born August 12, 1800, married 
Jonathan P. Shaw, and resided in Standish, Maine ; 
Lew is, see forward ; Esther, born September 18, 
1806, married Colonel John Shaw, of Standish, 
Maine; Lucinda, born September 15, 1808, died 1849; 
Patty, born January 31. 1805, died young; l-'reeinan, 
born June 11, 1812, died unmarried; Chesley. born 
July 4, 1816, lived in Gorham and Standish, .Maine, 
married Abigail Morean. and two other wives. 

(VII) Lewis, second child of Prince and Sc- 
lina Higgins, was born January 18, 1803, and died 
in Standish, Maine, March 11, 1888. He inherited 
the mechanical tastes and skill of his father, and 
after his death continued the various occupations 
of the parent. He sold the farm at Oak Hill, 
Standish, Maine, and settled at White Rock, in the 
town of Gorham. He married, March 25, 1828, 
Susan, born January 23, 1804, eldest child of Ed- 
mund and Martha (Meserve) Whitney, She was 
descended from John Whitney, of Watertown, 
Massachusetts, born 1592, in England, died June 
I, 1673. The Whitney family traces its lineage to 

Turstiii. th': Fleming, who was a follower of Wil- 
liam the Conqueror into England, from whom he 
received large estates in Herefordshire and Wales. 
Turstin married Agnes, daughter of Aimed de Mer- 
lebergc, a Norman baron, and from him descended 
an illustrious line of English nobility. In the ma- 
ternal line Susan Whitney, wife of Lewis Hig- 
gins, who descended from Captain Clement Me- 
serve, of French origin, who came from the Isle 
of Jersey and settled at Portsmouth in 1673. 
Lewis and Susan Higgins were the parents of 
eleven children : Ivory Fesscnden, born August 15, 
1828; Freeman, born January 11, 1830, a prominent 
business man of Manchester, New Hampshire, mar- 
ried Mary Dennett; Orlando Mclvin, born August 
22, 1831, married Amanda Abbott, of Andover, 
Massachusetts, died May 31, 1894; Elijah Lewis, 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



69 



torn June 23, 1833, married Clara Bickford, died 
JJ'ovember 17, 1862; Martha Ellen, born June 7, 
183s, died November 13, 1904; Merrill Whitney, 
born July 11, 1837, married Myra Parker, of Gor- 
ham, Maine, died February 16, 1898; Aravesta, born 
April 10, 1840, married Dr. James G. Sturgis, Gor- 
ham, Maine; Aramantha, twm of Aravesta, died 
JJovember 4, 1901, unmarried ; Milton P., see for- 
ward; Edmund P., born March 13, 1847, married 
Martha Safford, of Dunbarton, New Hampshire, and 
has three children; Hadley Foster, born July 28, 
1849, married Myrta Jones. 

(VIII) Milton Prince Higgins, ninth child, son of 
Lewis and Susan (Whitney) Higgins, was born 
December 7, 1842, in Standish, Maine, He in- 
herited the mechanical aptitude and strength of 
•character which distinguished his father and grand- 
sire, and for more than a third of a century has 
been a leading figure in the industrial and educa- 
tional life of the city of Worcester. He began his 
•education in the district schools of his native place, 
fitted for college at Gorham (Maine) Academy, and 
was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1868. 
His student life was not continuous, however, for 
previous to entering college he worked for some 
years, and was for three years in the employ of the 
Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, in JManchester, 
New Hampshire. In 1868, the year of his leaving 
college, he located in Worcester, Massachusetts, 
and from August until the following January served 
as draughtsman and engineer for the Washburn & 
Moen Manufacturing Company. He was then ap- 
pointed superintendent of the Washburn Shops of 
the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which was 
founded by Ichabod Washburn, who contributed 
largely to their efficiency. In these shops Mr. Hig- 
gins had ample opportunity to give practical ma- 
•chine work to the Institute students. In many ways 
the methods which he pursued marked the early 
and continued development of industrial education 
in technical schools, and, indeed, it may be said that 
his eflforts brought him into appreciative recogni- 
tion as a pioneer in these lines. Among the most 
important of his innovations was the designing and 
^manufacture of the hydraulic (or plunger) elevator, 
and he was successful in such high degree that 
the products of the shops made them more than 
self-supporting. As superintendent of the Wash- 
burn shops and member of the Institute faculty, 
Mr. Higgins favored a continuance of the busi- 
ness of elevator manufacturing. The trustees, how- 
■ever, determined to sell, and he became the pur- 
•chaser, and established the works of the Plunger 
Klevator Company. This corporation was formed 
in 1896, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. 
Jt rapidly extended its operations, and is now one 
cif the most substantial and prosperous industries 
in the city of Worcester. Mr. Higgins has been 
president of the corporation from the time of or- 
ganization, and with him are associated George I. 
Alden, treasurer, who was a fellow-member of the 
Institute faculty; John W. Higgins (son of Mr. 
Higgins) was former secretary; F. E. Holman, as- 
■sistant treasurer; and W. F. Cole, general manager. 
The expansion of business has made necessary re- 
peated enlargements of the plant, and the elevators 
of the Plunger Company are noted throughout the 
•country for efficiency and safety, and have been in- 
stalled in many of the largest and most modern 
buildings in the country. 

Mr. Higgins also founded the Norton Emery 
Wheel Company, a corporation which has had a 
phenomenal growth, and is known as the largest 
manufacturer in its line in the world. The business 
grew out of a department of F. B. Norton's pottery 



business in Worcester. In 1880 the emery wheels of 
Mr. Norton were in growing demand, and in 1885 
the Norton Emery Wheel Company was organized. 
In 1893 the. business of the Grant Corundum Wheel 
Manufacturing Company of Chester, Massachusetts, 
was purchased and merged into that of the Norton 
Company, In addition to the large manufacturing 
plant at Barbers, the company operates a factory at 
Niagara Falls for the manufacture of emery and 
alundum for grinding purposes. Much of the ma- 
chinery used in the Norton Company factories was 
devised for them, and is covered by patents of 
which it is owner. The products of the factories 
include emery wheels, alundum wheels, and wheels 
of emery and alundum combined, of all sizes, and 
for various purposes. In addition, the company 
manufactures the Norton bench and floor grinding 
machinery, the Universal tool and cutter grinder, 
India oil-stones, and the Bath machine indicator. 
The company received the highest awards at the 
expositions in Paris, Brussels, Buffalo, New York, 
Philadelphia, Boston, Nashville and St. Louis. Mr. 
Fliggins is also president of this company, and Mr. 
Alden is treasurer. 

i\Ir. Higgins has for several years been presi- 
dent of the Manchester Supply Company, wholesale 
plumbing supplies dealers in Manchester, New 
Hampshire; president of the new Worcester 
Pressed Steel Company, of Worcester ; and a di- 
rector in the Mechanics' National Bank. He is 
deeply interested in scientific, industrial and educa- 
tional topics, and is a trustee of the Worcester Poly- 
technic Institute, a member of the American Society 
of Mechanical Engineers, and of the Worcester 
Club. He has during the past few years delivered 
a number of important addresses before learned 
societies and educational gatherings upon the sub- 
ject of industrial education. At the New York 
meeting of the American Society of Mechanical 
Engineers in December, 1899, he spoke on "The 
Education of Machinists, Foremen and Mechanical 
Engineers." The discussion was so animated and 
the interest aroused so evident, that Mr. Higgins 
was called upon for another address on the same 
subject at the next meeting of the society. These 
addresses are published in the "Proceedings of the 
Society." In January, 1904, he spoke at Providence, 
Rhode Island, before the Providence .Association of 
Mechanical Engineers on "Half-Time Trade Schools 
for the Education of Boys." Considerable news- 
paper discussion and commendation of his attitude 
followed. He spoke in Worcester before the Con- 
gregational Club, April 24, lOOS, on "The Relation 
of Trade Schools to Industrial Education." In 1905 
he delivered an address in Boston on "The Promo- 
tion of Industrial Drawing," and before the con- 
vention of the National Teachers' Association he 
gave an address on "Industrial Education from the 
Standpoint of the Manufacturer." He was the 
speaker at the commencement exercises of the 
Newark Technical School, at Newark, New Jersey, 
May IS, 1905. 

Mr. Higgins married, at Manchester, New Hamp- 
shire, June IS, 1870, Katherine Elizabeth Chapin, 
daughter of Aldus M. and Catherine (Sawin) 
Chapin. She is descended from Deacon Samuel 
Chapin, of Springfield, Massachusetts, who is of 
record as freeman in 1641. She was educated in the 
public schools and at Abbot Academy, Andover, 
Massachusetts, when Miss McKeen was principal. 
Mrs. Higgins is a member of the Worcester Wom- 
an's Club, and has served as chairman of the edu- 
cational committee. She is active in the Woman's 
Auxiliary of the Young Men's Qiristian Associa- 
tion, and chairman of the committee on boys' work 



70 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



in the "Woman's Auxiliary." She is a member of 
the Piedmont Church, and president of the primary 
and intermediate Sunday School Union; is also 
superintendent of the intermediate department of the 
Piedmont Sunday School, and has always taken an 
active part m the Sunday school work of that 
church. A few years ago she had charge of the 
children's exercises at the state convention of the 
Congregational Sunday schools at Worcester and 
later at Haverhill, and in 1905 at Salem. Mrs. Hig- 
gins is a member of Colonel Timothy Bigelow Chap- 
ter, Daughters of the American Revolution, of which 
she is vice regent. She is intensely interested in 
American history and genealogy, and has done 
much genealogical work on the various families re- 
lated to her own, and has in preparation a genealogy 
of the lliggins family. Children of Milton P. and 
Katherine Elizabeth (Chapin) Higgins are: Aldus 
Chapin ; John Woodman ; Katherine Elizabeth, born 
August b, 1878; Olive Chapin, born January 7, 
1882, graduate of Smith's College, 1904. 

(IX) Aldus Chapin Higgins, eldest child of 
Milton P. and Katherine Elizabeth (Chapin) Hig- 
gins, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Decem- 
ber 7, 1872. He attended the public schools, grad- 
uated from the Worcester high school in 1890, and 
from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1893. 
For three years he served as a clerk in the United 
States patent office in Washington, D. C, meantime 
studying law and attending law lectures in the 
National University Law School, and was admitted 
to the bar of Worcester county in 1896. In the 
autumn of that year he visited Europe with his 
parents and sisters, spending eight months abroad. 
Entering upon practice in Worcester, he shared 
rooms with John S. Gould, attorney-at-law. He 
was counsel for the Norton Emery Company, and 
was eventually obliged to devote all his time to the 
legal business of the companies with which his 
father is connected. His office is in the factory at 
Barbers, and he has charge of the alundum depart- 
ment of the Norton Emery Company. Mr. Higgins 
is an active Republican. In 1900 he was chairman 
of the Republican city committee, and is looked upon 
as a leader among the young Republicans of the 
city. He is a member of the Tatnuck Country Club, 
and of the American Society of Mechanical Engi- 
neers. He married, June 6, 1898, Miss Edgcnie 
Brosius, and their children are : Elizabeth, born 
October n, 1900, and Milton Prince, born October 
29, 1903- 

(IX) John Woodman Higgins, second child of 
Milton P. and Katherine Elizabeth (Chapin) Hig- 
gins, was born September I, 1874. He graduated 
from the Worcester high school in 1893, and from 
the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1896. He 
was for several years superintendent of the machine 
shop of the Plunger Elevator Company, and the 
secretary. September I, 1904, he became the man- 
ager of the new Worcester Pressed Steel Company, 
of which his father is president. A large factory 
is in course of construction for the company, at 
Grecndale, near the Allen-Higgins Wall Paper fac- 
tory. He is a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon 
fraternity, the Tatnuck Country Club, the American 
Society of Mechanical Engineers. He is active in 
the Piedmont Church, was former superintendent 
of the intermediate department of its Sunday school, 
and is secretary of the Worcester Congregational 
Club, and secretary of the directors of the Young 
Men's Christian Association. He married, January 
17, 1906, Clara Carter, daughter of Thomas and 
Elizabeth Carter, of St. Louis, Missouri. They 
reside at 184 Highland street, Worcester, Massa- 
chusetts. 



ALBERT W. CHAPIN. Deacon Samuel Chapin 
(1), of Springfield, Massachusetts, was the emi- 
grant ancestor of Albert W. Chapin, of Worcester, 
and in fact all of the name of Chapin that have 
been traced to this country. He was made a free- 
man, June 2, 1641; was a town officer in 1643; 
deacon in the church 1649, conducting the churclv 
services part of the time after 1656-7, when there 
was no minister in town; commissioner 1651-60, and 
magistrate after October, 1652. He died November 
II, 1675. His wife Cisily died February 8, 1682. 
Their children : Japhct, born 1642, married Abilene 
, died February 20, 1712; Henry, (see for- 
ward); Catherine, died February 4, 1712; married 
Samuel Marshfield ; David, moved to Boston and 
left a large family; Josiah, moved to Braintree; died 
September 10, 1726; Sarah, died August 5, 1684; 
married Rowland Thomas; Hannah, born at Spring- 
field, December 2, 1644; married, September 27, 
1666, John Hitchcock; a daughter, married a Mr. 
Gilbert, had son, Henry. 

(II) Henry Chapin, son of Samuel (i) and 
Cisily Chapin of Springfield, married Bethia Cooley, 
daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Cooley of Long- 
meadow, Massachusetts. Henry died August 15, 
1718, his wife died December 11, 171 1. He was a 
prominent representative in the general court, and 
commanded a merchant ship. He settled in North 
Springfield in what is now Chicopee. Their children 
were : Henry, born June i, 1666, died April 29, 
1667 ; Sarah, born March 3, 1670, died unmarried 
November 6, 1732; Bethia, born February 19, 1672; 
Henry, born March 19, 1679, died September 15, 
1754; Benjamin, (see forward). 

(ill) Benjamin Chapin, son of Henry (2) and 
Bethia Chapin, born February 2, 1682 ; married, 
November 9, 1701, Hannah Colton, daughter of 
Isaac and Mary Colton, of Longmcadow, Massa- 
chusetts. She died March 5, 1739. He married 
(second) Joanna, widow of Ebcnczer Warriner. 
Benjamin died March 27, 1756. Joanna died Octo- 
ber 13, 1764. He was a deacon of the church. Chil- 
dren were : Hannah, born October 3, 1706, married 
Benjamin Sikes; Benjamin, born July 17, 1708, mar- 
ried Anna Howard; Isaac, (sec forward); Abner, 
born October 13, 1713, died December 16. 1713; 
Jacob, born April 18, 1716, died 1717; Bethia, born 
June 25, 1718, married Philemon Chapin ; Sarah, 
born October 13, 1720, married, October 31, 1741, 
Ebcnezcr Warriner; George, born December 3, 1722, 
died December 10, 1782; Abigail, born May 26, 
1724; Mary, born August 18, 1727, married Stephen 
Morgan, of Brimfield ; Ephraim, born October 29, 
1729, died Oceober 12, 1805; Eunice, born October 
28, 1732, married Aaron Ferry, of Springfield. 

(IV) Isaac Chapin, son of Benjamin (3) and 
Hannah Chapin, born August 18, 1710; married 
Experience Warriner, June 29, 1734; died November 
22, 1789; she died August 22, 1777. Their children 
were: Isaac, born March 7, 1735, '^^^'^ ^t Lake 
George, December 3, 1755; Martin, born October 6, 
1738; William, born August 17, 1740, died young; 
Zebulon, (see forward) ; William, born November 7, 
1743, died December 3, 1823 ; Experience, born De- 
cember 15, 1745, married Reuben Morgan; Gideon, 
born April 13, 1748, died August 24, 1788; Mercy, 
born October 15, 1750, married Joel Day, of West 
Springfield, died April 9, 1814; Vashti, born Sep- 
tember 6, 1753. married Soloman Chapin, died at 
West Springfield, April 8, 1830. 

(V) Zebulon Chapin, son of Isaac (4) and 
Experience Chapin, born at Springfield November 
II, .1741; married (first) Marcy Cooper; married 
(second) January 23, 1777, Lydia Ely; removed to 
Chicopee and lately to the mountain at Wilbraham, 




o. c 




WORCESTER COUNTY 



71 



where he settled. Their children were: Zebulon, 
died aged thirty-three years; Isaac, (see forward); 
died October 8, 1855; Marcy, born October 4, 1779. 
died October, 1852; Solomon, born July 4, 1781, 
died September 18, 1787; Matilda, born July 5, 
1783; Celia, born August 14, 1785, died May 21, 
1789; Solomon and Celia, (twins) born September 
20, 1789; Solomon died June 17, 1831 ; William, 
born August 2, 1791, died June 6, 1824. 

(VI) Isaac Chapin, son of Zebulon (5) and 
Lydia Chapin, born October 30, 1777; married Jan- 
uary 13, 1800, Nancy Sibley, of Monson, daughter 
of Ezra and Nancy Sibley. He settled on a part 
of his father's farm at Wilbraham, Massachusetts, 
and died there October 8, 1855. Their children were : 
Orramel, born June 17, 1801 ; Zebulon, born October 
10, 1803, died childless August 10, 1855; Juliana, 
born September 12, 1805, died April 22, 1850; Al- 
fred E., born December I, 1807, died at Royalston, 
New York, November 22, 1857; Daniel F., born 
September I, 1812, died August 15, 1813; Daniel E., 
(see forward) ; William, born June 15, 1817, died 
unmarried September 10, 1847; Lydia Ann, born 
January 9, 1820, died September 4, 1840; John M., 
born October 15, 1821 ; Isaac N., born April 18, 
1826, died June 2, 1859; Solomon, born June 2, 
183 1. 

(VII) Rev. Daniel K Chapin, son of Isaac (6) 
and Nancy Chapin, born July 12, 1814; married 
May 19, 1834, Betsey Hancock, of Wilbraham, daugh- 
ter of Eliphalet and Lucy Hancock. He was an 
itinerant preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
stationed first as local preacher at Coleraine, Massa- 
chusetts. In 1844 he joined the New England Con- 
ference, and was ordained at Boston May 3, 1846. 
He had pastorates at Jenksville, Three Rivers, Pal- 
mer, Beauford, Webster, Worcester, Lowell, East 
Boston, Westfield, Oxford and Waltham. He rep- 
resented Worcester in the Legislature in 1855. His 
health failed and he returned to Worcester where 
he died JNIay 15, 1871. His wife was a direct de- 
scendant of the father of John Hancock, signer of 
the Declaration of Independence. Their children 
were: Betsey, born September 15, 1835, married, 
August 4, 1859, Willard W. Fay, of Warren; Lura 
Savilla, born May 23, 1837, married, April 14, 
1858, Charles W. Alden, of Ludlow, Massachusetts; 
Lucius D., born November 11, 1841, was in civil 
war; died of wounds received at Spottsylvania, June 
17, 1864; Albert W., (see forward); Charles Sum- 
ner, born October 19, 1859. 

(VIII) Albert William Chapin, son of the Rev. 
Daniel E. (7), born January 13, 1844, at Coleraine, 
Massachusetts. He attended the common schools 
there until he was sixteen. He then spent a year at 
the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Connecti- 
cut. Failure of eyesight compelled him to give up 
his study, and about 1863 he came to Worcester and 
took up bookkeeping for a profession. The same 
year he went to New York, where he remained for 
two years ; thence to San Francisco where he served 
as money order clerk part of the time in the post 
office for seven years. He returned to Worcester 
and resumed his profession of expert bookkeeper and 
accountant, and followed this occupation for four- 
teen years, after which he retired on account of fail- 
ing eyesight. He is a member of Trinity M. E. 
Church. In politics he is a Republican. He. mar- 
ried. March 22, 1883, Carile Mary Stone, daughter 
of Lewis Curtin and Abbie E. Stone. She is a 
lineal descendant of Jonathan Stone, of Worcester, 
who was a soldier in the revolution. (See sketch 
of the Descendants of Simon Stone of Watertown.) 
They have no children. 



CHARLES A. TAFT, deceased, one of the 
founders and for many years cashier of the Ux- 
bridge Savings Bank, was a son of Timothy Taft 
and a grandson of Noah Taft. The Tafts of Ux- 
bridge are the descendants of Robert Taft, who 
settled in Mendon considerably more than two hun- 
dred years ago, and a more detailed account of the 
latter and his immediate progeny will be found 
in a sketch of Arthur R. Taft, which appears else- 
where in this work. 

Moses Taft. previously mentioned, was a native 
of Uxbridge and spent the active period of his life 
in tilling the soil. Possessing much natural ability, 
including intellectual attainments of a high order, 
he participated actively in civic affairs, and was 
widely known as a forcible public speaker. His son, 
Timothy Taft, who was a lifelong resident of Ux- 
bridge, " was for many years one of the leading 
farmers and prominent citizens of that town. Timo- 
thy married Polly Taft, a relative. 

Charles A. Taft, the principal subject of this 
sketch, was born at the family homestead in Ux- 
bridge, 1825. He was educated in the public schools 
and being an apt scholar he acquired such marked 
proficiency in his studies as to cause his services 
as a school-master to be much in demand. In his 
earlier years he divided his time bet\yeen educa- 
tional pursuits and the occupation of tinsmith. In 
1861 he was appointed postmaster by President Lin- 
coln, in which capacity he served continuously and 
with general satisfaction for twenty-four years. He 
was one of the founders of the Uxbridge Savings 
Bank and occupied the responsible position of 
cashier from the time of its opening until his 'death. 
In addition to the above he evinced an earnest in- 
terest in various other local institutions, being a life 
trustee of the public library, and he was an active 
member of the Evangelical church. In 1S56 he 
was chosefi representative to the legislature, in 
wdiich body he rendered valuable services both to 
his town and state, and he also forwarded the in- 
terests of public education while a member of the 
Uxbridge school board. He made it possible for the 
town of Uxbridge to have its present water sup- 
ply, and was instrumental in starting the high school 
of Uxbridge. Politicallv he acted with the Republi- 
can party. Mr. Taft was a worthy representative 
of a type of old-school business men who are fast 
disappearing from our midst, and his death, which 
occurred in IQ04, caused general regret. 

In 1847 he married Sarah Bowen, daughter of 
Charles Bowen, of Worcester. She died in 1852. 
Of this union there were two children: Allen B., 
who is still living; and Emma, who died in 1903. 
In i8.S7 he married" for his second wife Elizabeth 
South'wick, daughter of Dr. Moses Southwick, of 
Millville. Massachusetts. Her death occurred in 
1898. The only child of this union is Sarah A., 
who occupies the homestead of her late parents and 
continues the work of charity and benevolence for 
which they were noted. 

CHARLES CALVIN LOWELL. The Lowell 
family is one of great antiquity and distinction in 
England. The ancestry of Percival Lowell, the 
American emigrant of 1639. is traced back in the 
Lowell line for ten generations, viz.: 

(I) William Lowle, of Yardley. in county Wor- 
cester, married Lytleton, and they had children: 

James, see forward: Andrew, Snmuel. 

(TI) James Lowle. son of William Lowle (l), 

married Baskerville, and they had children: 

RafTe, see forward; George, Edmond. Andrew. 

(Ill) Raffe Lowle, son of James Lowle (2), 



WORCESTER COUXTY 



marriiil Haselrigg, and they had children: Wal- 
ter, see forward ; Thomas, Anthony, Sabity. 

(IX) Waher Lowle, son of RatTe Lowie (3), 
married Joane Russell, and had one son, Richard, 
sec forward. 

(\') Richard Lowle, son of Walter Lowle (4), 
died at Yardley in county Worcester and is there 
buried with his coat of arms, viz. : Sable, a dexter 
hand coupcd at the wrist grasping three pointless 
darts, one ni pale and two in saltire argent. (From 
the Heralds Visitations of 1573, 1591, IC>32.) Richard 

married Turner, and they had children : 

Thomas, see forward ; Richard, slain at Birming- 
ham, county Warwick. 

(VI) Thomas Lowle, son of Richard Lowle (s), 

married Mayhouse, and they had children : 

John Lowle, see forward ; William, Thomas, Roger. 

(VII) John Lowle, son of Thomas Lowle (6), 
died at Cly vcdon, Somerset county, Lngland ; mar- 
ried Wake, and they had children : John, see 

forward ; Roger, married Joane "Gage, daughter and 
heir of John Gage, of Walton, Somersetshire; an- 
cestor of the W'illing family of Philadelphia. 

(\'III) John Lowle, son of John Lowle (7), 
married -\polyn Leversedge, daughter of Richard ; 
tlieir children were: Richard, see forward; Ed- 
niond, John. 

(IX) Richard Lowle. son of John Lowle (8), 

married Percival, daughter of Edmond and 

Elizabeth (Panthuit) Percival. of Wcston-in-Gor- 
<lano. Edmond was the son of Sir James Percival, 
born 146S, Knight of the Bath, grandsoiv of Sir John 
Percival, Lord of Eastbury, Weston-in-Gordano, 
born 1447, died September 25, 1493. For thirteen gen- 
erations back of Sir James this very distinguished 
family has a well authenticated pedigree. The first 
ancestor was Endes, Sovereign Duke of Brittany, 
first cousin to Robert, the father of William, the 
Conqueror. His grandson, Asceline, called also 
Lupus (the Wolf) was given Weston-in-Gordano 
and other estates in Somerset county, England ; in 
1087 he commanded the Norman forces at Mantes, 
Normandy, and died 11 19. The family seat has 
been at Eastbury and Weston for many centuries. 
Two of the Percivals in this line, both Richard 
by name, were famous Crusaders in 1 190 and 1 191, 
with Richard I. Another Roger was one of the 
Barons who compelled King John to sign the Magna 
Charta. The son of Richard Lowell, named for his 
wife's family, Percival. is mentioned below. 

(X) Percival Lowell, son of Richard Lowlc (9), 
was born in England, 1 571, and died in Newbury, 
Massachusetts, January 8, 1(164. He was sixty- 
eight years of age when he immigrated to America 
and ninety-three years old when he died. In Eng- 
land he resided at Kingston, Seymour. England. 
He and his family had a large mercantile estab- 
lishment at Bristol, England, under the firm name 
of Percival Lowle and Co. This firm was com- 
posed of Percival, his son John, perhaps son 
Richard, and possibly son-in-law, William Gcrrish, 
who came over with the Lowells and subsequently 
married Percival Lowell's daughter, Mrs. Joanna 
Oliver, widow of John Oliver. The Lowell and 
Percival families were both wealthy. Percival 
I-owell came to Newbury, Massachusetts, where his 
sons John and Richard had already settled, in 
><J.38-3<) from Bristol on the ship "Jonathan," pos- 
sibly not his first trip, as he was a proprietor of 
Newbury in 16,18. He was a freeholder when the 
town was incorporated March 17, 1742. Percival 
wrote a poem on the death of Governor Winthrop 
of Massachusetts, which was printed on a "broad- 
side" and generally circulated. 

Oiildren of Percival and Rebecca Lowell were: 



John, born in England, 1595, died at Newbury, 
Massachusetts, July 10, 1647; married (first) Mar- 
garet; married (second), 1639, Elizabeth Goodale. 
Richard, see forward. Joan, born in England, 1609, 
died in Ne.vbury, June 14, 1677; married (first), 
1639, John Oliver; married (second), in Newbury, 
April 17, 1644, Captain William Gerrish. 

(XI) Richard Lowell, son of Percival Lowell 
(10), was born in England, 1602. died in Newbury, 
Massachusetts, August 5, 1682. He married (first), 

in England, Margaret , who died in Newbury, 

January 27, 1642; married (second), in Newbury, 

Margaret , born November 27, 1604 ; she was 

living, his widow, 1685-86. Richard settled, accord- 
ing to Pope, in 1637 in Newbury ; according to the 
genealogy he came with his father on the ship 
"Jonathan" in 1639. In 1674 he and his wife were 
members of the Newbury church. Hf had a free- 
hold-right No. 63 in the upper common. His will 
is dated June 25, i(J8i. Children of Richard and 
Margaret, his first wife, were: Percival, born 
1639-40. see forward; Rebecca, born at Newbury, 
January 27. 1642, died June i, 1662. Children of 
Richard and Margaret, his second wife, were : Sam- 
uel, born at Newbury, 1644, was in Newbury l68t 
and 1686. but probably returned to England to 
live in 1690; Thomas, born in Newbury, Septem- 
ber 28, 1649, probably died unmarried after 171 1. 
(XII) Percival Lowell, son of Richard Lowell 
(11), was born in Newbury, Massachusetts. 1639-40. 
He married, in Newbury. Massachusetts, September 
7, 1664, Mary Chandler. (See sketch of the Chand- 
ler family of Worcester). She was the daughter 
of the immigrants, William and Mary (Fowler) 
Chandler. Mary received a marriage dower from 
her father, lot No. 33 in Plumb Island. He con- 
veyed property to his son Richard to take effect 
after his (Percival's) departure for South Caro- 
lina. He was in Newbury in 1705 and confirmed 
the deed to Richard. He probably married (sec- 
ond), in 1709, Sarah . mentioned in deeds that 

year. Children of Percival and Mary Lowell were: 
Richard, born December 25, 1668, married, April 8, 
1695. Sarah Brown : settled in Rowley ; Captain 
Gideon, see forward; Samuel, born January 13, 
1675-76, granted land at Falmouth, Maine, 1728; 
Edmund, born September 24, 1684, married Abigail 
Hadlock ; Margaret ; Johanna, born about 1690, mar- 
ried. January i, 1715, Stephen Fosdick or Hard- 
wick. 

(XIII) Captain Gideon Lowell, son of Percival 
Lowell (12). was born in Newbury, Massachusetts, 
September 3, 1672, died in Amesbury, Massachu- 
setts, before 1753, when his will was executed. He 
married (firsOTat Newbury, July 7. '692, Miriam 
("Mary") Swett, of Newbury. John (III), 
Stephen (II), John Swett (I).) She was born 
in Newbury. .-Xpril 10, 1672, and died in Ames- 
bury, November 27, 1734. He married (second), 
in Amesbury. June 4, 1735. I^izabeth Colby. In 
i<)96 he was a cordwainer or shoemaker; in 1706 
a mariner or coaster ; in 1748 in his will be de- 
scribes himself as yeoman. He is called captain 
on the records when his will was proved. He 
bought land in Amesbury on the Merrimac river of 
Fawne Clements, January 19. 1718. He sold his 
land in Newbury in 1719. He was a sea captain, 
built, owned and sailed his vessels, one a sloop 
of fifty or sixty tons: his wife often went with him 
and there is a tradition that their son John was 
born in South Carolina while the captain and his 
wife were on a voyage. He had land at Falmouth, 
Maine, but never moved there. In 1690 he was_ a 
soldier in the ill-fated expedition to Canada. "It 
would seem that he was a very bold and success- 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



7Z 



fill voyager, as he amassed a considerable fortune. 
Tradition makes it probable that in his voyages 
the King's revenue was not always considered, nor 
did he hesitate to run up alongside and board by 
force a French or Spanish craft as the opportunity 
presented. His vessels were stanch and swift, 
though not showing as fine outlines as some more 
modern ones might." He owned a wharf at Ames- 
bury, near Ames wharf, at the mouth of the Powow 
river. 

Children of Captain Gideon and Mary Lowell 
were: Mary, born March I, 1692-93, married, July 
9, 1715, Zechariah Philbrook; Lieutenant John, born 
in South Carolina, February i, 1696-97; Captain 
Samuel G., born probably i6g8, was also a sea 
captain of Amesbury; Gideon, born probably 1700; 
Stephen, born February 19, 1703, died October 27, 
1776; Corporal Moses, born probably 1705, see for- 
ward; Hannah, born April ir, 1707: Joseph, born 
probably 1709, of Hampton, New Hampshire, and 
Newport, Rhode Island ; Abner, born November 
29, 1711, baptized December 10, 1711, settled in Fal- 
mouth, Maine ; fought in Indian wars ; Jonathan, 
born March 24, 1714. 

(XIV) Moses Lowell, son of Gideon Lowell 
(13), was born probably in 1705 at Amesbury, mar- 
ried there, August 6, 1730, Frances Colby, born in 
Aniesburv, November 17, 1710, daughter of Thomas 
Colby (HI), Thomas (II), Anthony Colby, the im- 
migrant. Moses Lowell was a yeoman at Amesbury. 
He sold land there in 1767 to Joseph Hoyt. He 
was a soldier in the French and Indian war, corporal 
in the expedition to Crown Point and at Fort 
William Henry in 1756. Children of Moses and 
Frances Lowell were : Thomas, born at Amesbury, 
February 15, 1732-33; Moses, Jr., see forward; Affia, 
born April 21. 1741 ; Daniel, born February 20, 
1744. died in Standish, Maine, March 14, 1828; re- 
sided in Epping. Brentwood, and New Salisbury, 
New Hampshire; was a shoemaker; soldier at 
Crown Point and in Canada expedition of 1763 ; 
Captain Sylvanus, born May 2, 1746; Willoughby, 
born 1749, died at Lamberton, New York, June 
17, 1823, aged seventy- four years ; resided also at 
Hartford. Connecticut ; soldier in the revolution, 
blacksmith by trade. 

(XV) Moses Lowell, Jr., son of Moses Lowell 
(14), was born in Amesbury. Massachusetts, Feb- 
ruary 2, 1736, died in Grove, New York. He mar- 
ried, in Amesbury, perhaps 1760, Miriam Knowlton. 
About 177S he and his brother Daniel settled in 
Standish and Hiram, Maine. He was a shipwright 
"bv trade. He sold land in 1759 and 1762 in Ames- 
bury and probably removed about that time to 
Maine. About 1800 he with his sons Gideon and 
David removed on horseback with their wives to 
New York state. They stopped first at Syracuse, 
then went to the present site of Rochester, but 
thinking the place unhealthful they went further 
south and settled in the town of grove, Allegany, 
New York. He was a soldier in the revolution 
and was in the battle of Bunker Hill with his eldest 
son. who was killed, according to family tradition, 
in that battle, the records indicate that he was 
not killed, however. 

Children of Moses and Miriam Lowell were : 
Thomas, born in Denmark, Maine^ about 1753, revo- 
lutionary soldier from beginning to end of war, 
was a pensioner; Jonathan Knowlton, born 1756, 
•died 1852 ; was a revolutionary soldier and at the 
battle of Bunker Hill; Daniel, see forward; James, 
■married Mary Sanborn, of Hiram. Maine, and set- 
tled there; David, born May 14. 1780, died at Dal- 
ton. New York, March 21, 1861 ; Miriam, born in 



Maine, married Daniel Sanborn, 1793; Betsey, mar- 
ried Rowe I Jane ; Ezra ; Lucy. 

(XVI) Daniel Lowell, son of Moses Lowell 
(15), was born in Maine, June 12, 1765, died De- 
cemfeer 28, 1849. They settled in the wilderness 
where East Denmark, Maine, now is, cleared a farm 
and resided there until he died. He was married 
at Bridgton, Maine, by Rev. N. Church, April 10, 
1792, Lucy Foster, who died August 23, 1857. Chil- 
dren of Daniel and Lucy Lowell were; Daniel, 
born September, 1793, died same month; Mary, 
born November 24, 1794, died February 29, 1884; 
Gideon, born September 14, 1796. died October 13, 
1825, unmarried; Asahel F.. born August 25, 1798, 
see forward ; Joanna F., born October 26, 1800, died 
January 6. 1868; married James B. Perkins; Ed- 
mund P., born August 27, 1804, died June 12, i88i ; 
married, September 26, 1833, Elizabeth J. Ingalls ; 
Margery W., born August 21, 1808, died February 
4, 1891 ; married William Stone, of Bridgton, Maine, 
and had one child, William Henry Stone; Francis 
F., born October 24, 1811, died August 2, 1811; 
Sarah S., born February 25, 1816, died November 
9 1889; married Augustus Wilkins ; Daniel, bora 
November 9, 1818, died June 15, 1891 ; resided at 
East Denmark, Maine. 

(XVII) Asahel F. Lowell, son of Daniel Lowell 
(16). was born August 25, 1798, died November 
19, 1869. He resided all his life at East Denmark, 
Maine, where he was a farmer. He married 
Mehitable Dodge and their children, all born at 
East Denmark, were: Harriet E., born August 7, 
1825, died June 30, 1836; Edmund P., born June 
13. "1828, died March 30, 1853, unmarried; Ezra P., 
born July 27, 1832, see forward; Sarah M., bora 
February 27. 1836, died February 26, 1896; married, 
August 4, 1862, George A. Small, of West Bridg- 
ton, Maine, died February 26, 1896, he was a car- 
riage merchant in Portland, Maine; Deborah, born 
.A.pril 26, 1838, married, October 10, 1857, Samuel 
Warren. 

(XVHI) Ezra P. Lowell, son of Asahel F. 
Lowell (17). was born in Bridgton, Maine, July 
27, 1832. He married, November 17, 1852, Almira 
P. Goodell, born May I. 1827, died June 19. 1881. 
He left his home in Worcester, Massachusetts, Octo- 
ber 9, 1865, for a western trip and has not been 
heard from since the spring of 1866 when he wrote 
from Salt Lake City. Utah. The children of Ezra 
P. and Almira P. Lowell were: Charles Calvin, 
see forward ; Clarence Byron, born November 3, 
1859. died June 30, i860. 

(XIX) Charles Calvin Lowell, son of Ezra P. 
Lowell (18), was born in Worcester, August_ 9, 
1856. He was educated in the public and high 
schools of his native town. He went to work as 
clerk in the store of John C. White, dealer in paints, 
oils, and painters' supplies, then at 8 Front street. 
He entered the employ of Mr. White in 1875 and 
has remained in that business ever since. When 
Mr, White died in 1889, Mr, Lowell bought_ the 
business of his estate and has continued it since. 
The store was removed from Front street to Pearl 
street, February i. 1882, in tlie building lately sold 
to the. Slater estate, on the site of which a new 
building is being erected. In 1903 Mr. Lowell moved 
into the old postofifice. on the opposite side of Pearl 
street from his old location securing much larger 
and more attractive quarters. He deals in painters' 
supplies and artists' materials, also a full line of 
china for decoration, Mr. Lowell has one of the 
largest stores in his line in the county and enjoys 
a large and constantlv growing business. He is 
a member of the Old South Church (Congrega- 



74 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



tional). Ill politics he is a Republican. His home 
is at 318 Highland street, Worcester. He mar- 
ried (first), April 7. 1881, Fannie Jane Moore, 
daughter of James D. and Sarah J. Moore, of 
Worcester. She died February 26. 1888, aged thirty 
years. He married (second). May 20, 1889, Cora 
W. Pierce Shcpard, daughter of Charles I. and 
Lucy A. (Pierce) Shepard, of West Boylslon, 
Massachusetts. Children of Charles Calvin and 
l'".-innie J. (Moore) Lowell were: Florence Almira, 
born at Worcester, November 15, 1883, graduate of 
Classical high school, Worcester, 1902, attended 
Bradford Academy, resides at home with parents. 
James Everett, born at Worcester, May 23, 1887, 
educated at Worcester high school and Lowell Tex- 
tile Institute, student in class of 1908. 

GEORGE FRANKLIN BROWN. Abraham 
Browne (l), the immigrant ancestor of George 
Franklin Brown, of Winchendon, Massachusetts, 
was descended from the Brown family of Swan 
Hall, Hawkedon, county Suffolk, England. The 
descent is traced in a special article in this work 
to John Browne, of the borough of Stamford, Lin- 
coln county, England, who was the alderman (chief 
magistrate) of Stamford in 1376-77. 

Abraham Browne was a very early settler at 
Watcrtown, Massachusetts, perhaps one of the very 
first. He was admitted freeman March 6, 1631-32. 
He was a land surveyor and received from the town 
important appointments to survey and lay out land 
grants more than given to any other person. No man 
in the town was more respected and honored than 
Mr. Browne and his relative, Richard Browne. 
Abraham was selectman from 1636 to 1643 inclusive. 
In 1634 he and Robert Seeley w-erc to survey all the 
lots that are granted and were also appointed con- 
servators of timber trees — none to be cut without 
their assent. 

In 1635 he was one of the seven freeman ap- 
pointed to divide every man "his propriety" of 
meadow and upland, that is ploughable, the rest to 
lie common. In the same year he was appointed 
to lay out all highways, and to see that they are 
repaired, also to survey the lots granted by the se- 
lectmen. Ill 1638 it was ordered that all lots, both 
of freemen and foreigners, shall be measured and 
bounded by Abraham Browne, who shall give a 
note of each survey to be enrolled in the town books. 
In the same year he and Thomas Bartlttt were ap- 
pointed to measure and lay out the remote meadows 
according to their best judgment. He was also ap- 
pointed with four others to lay out the farms as they 
are ordered, and they are authorized to include any 
rock or swamp in any survey, not counting it in 
the number of acres. That rule was surely reas- 
onable, even if it did make ten acre lots contain 
twenty acres or more sometimes. 

In 1639 the highway from Dorchester fields to the 
flats, as Abraham Browne laid it out, was confirmed 
forever. Also the highway leading from Robert 
Jennison's to the river, betwixt the lands of John 
Barnard and Jeremiah Norcross together with about 
half an acre of land on the river for the landing 
of goods, was ordered to remain forever, as laid out 
by Abraham Browne, April 30, 1639. He was al- 
lowed four pence an acre for surveying remote 
meadows and plains. October 7, 1641, the general 
court appointed him one of the committee for lay- 
ing out the thousand acres of land granted to the 
artillery company at its first organization. (The 
same company is now known as the Ancient and 
Honorable Artillery Company of Boston.) 

His will was proved October i, 1650, the year 
of his death. He seems to have left a non-cupative 



will and ther« was much delay and some litigation 
over the settlement of the estate. He had two home- 
stalls, the second of which he occupied at an early 
date. It was bounded on the east by Harvard street, 
north by Main street, south by Pleasant street, and 
the original lot with several additions made the 
home lot sixty acres. It is stated by Bond that 
the house now or lately on this lot was the oldest 
in town e.tcept the Nathaniel Bright house. 

His widow Lydia married, November 27, 1659, 
Andrew Hodges, of Ipswich, and after his death, 
December, 1605, she returned to Watertown, where 
she died September 27, 1686. The earliest record 
of a birth in Watertown was that of his daughter 
Lydia. Children of Abraham and Lydia Browne 
were : Sarah, born in England, married, December 
16, 1643, George Parkhurst, Jr.; Mao', probably 
born in England, married, April 10, 1650, John 
Lewis; Lydia, born in Watertown, March 22, 
1632-33, married Lieutenant William Lakin, Jr., of 
Groton ; Jonathan, see forward ; Hannah, died March 
15, 1638-39, aged fourteen days; Abraham, bom 
March 6, 1639-40, died 1667; married Mary Dix, 
February 5, 1662-63. 

(II) Jonathan Browne, son of Abraham Browne 
(1), was born October 15, 1635, in Watertown, 
Massachusetts Bay colony. He and his father both 
wrote their names with the final E, but all his sons 
dropped it. He married, February 11, 1661-62, Mary 
Shattuck, daughter of the immigrant, William Shat- 
tuck. She was born at Watertown, August 25, 
1645, died October 23, 1732, aged eighty-seven years. 
Her grave is in the Waltham burying ground. Flis 
will is dated February 19, 1690-91, and was proved 
April 7, 1691. Children of Jonathan and Mary 
Browne were ; Mary, born October s, 1062, mar- 
ried (first), March 22, 1682-83, John Warren; (sec- 
ond) Samuel Harrington; Elizabeth, born Septem- 
ber 19, 1664, married, March 25, 1687, Daniel Ben- 
jamin; Jonathan, born Octolxr 25, 1666, died young; 
Patience, born March 6, 1668-69, married, March 5, 
1686-87, James Bigelow ; Abraham, see forward ; 
Samuel, born October 21, 1674; Lydia, born March 
31, 1677, married January 18, 1698-99, Benjamin 
Wellington; Ebenezer, born September 10, 1679; 
Benjamin, born I-'cbruary 27, 1081-82, died March 
I J. 1753; William, born September 3, 1684, died 
October 28, 1756. 

(III) Captain Abraham Brown, son of Jonathan 
Browne (2), was born in Watertown, August 26, 
1671, died November 27, 1729. He had bis grand- 
father's homestead in Watertown and he became a 
very prominent citizen there. He was town treas- 
urer of Watertown, 1695-96-97-98-99-1700; assessor 
in 1705-06-08; selectman in 1712-16; town clerk in 
1712 and was a licensed inn holder in 1709-12. Upon 
the final settlement of his grandfather's estate, 
January, 1694, his father being dead, all the real 
estate including the homestead mentioned above 
was assigned to him and he paid the other heirs. 
His will dated July 20, 1728, was proved December 
8, 1729. It is interesting to know that Captain 
Brown was guardian of Ephraim Williams, the 
father of the founder of Williams College. He was 
captain of the Watertown company. 

He married Mary Hyde, born June 21, 1672, 
daughter of Job and Elizabeth (Fuller) Hyde. She 
died November 29, 1723, and was buried in the 
Waltham graveyard. He died November 27, 1729, 
and was buried at her side. Their children were : 
Mary, married, January 31, 1709-10, George Cut- 
ting; Jonathan, see forward; Patience, baptized June 
27. 1697, married, March 25, 1714, Elisha Smith, of 
Weston ; Lydia, born December 30, 1697, married, 
October 2, 1716, Joseph Hastings; Hannah, born 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



7S- 



October s, 1699, married, May 24, 1720, Ebenczer 
Bigelow; Abraham, born October 17, 1701, died 
June 29, 1703; Samuel, born July 21, 1703, died in 
Stockbridge, February 17, 17S4; John, born April 
19, 1705, died 1784; Grace, born August 17, 1707, 
married, October 26, 1737, David Child. 

(IV) Jonathan Brown, son of Captain Abraham 
Brown (3), was born in Watertown, 1694, died July 
2S, 1758, aged sixty-five years. He settled in 
Watertown and was selectman there in 1739-40-41. 
The following epitaph is on his grave stone : "He 
was a lover of steady, good men. He remained 
steady in the Christian duties through his life, and 
we trust he died the death.". He married Elizabeth 
Simonds, born November, 1698, daughter of Joseph 
and Mary Simonds, of Lexington, granddaughter of 
William Simonds, of Woburn, who married Judith 
(Phippin) Hey wood, widow of James. Their chil- 
dren were: Elizabeth, born February 8, 1719-20, mar- 
ried, June 2, 1743, Captain William Coolidge; Mary, 
born January 20, 1720-21, married June 2, 1743, 
Jonathan Woodward, Jr. ; Jonathan, born August 
24, 1724, captain of company at Lake George, 1758, 
prominent town officer and in revolutionary affairs ; 
Abraham, see forward; Lydia, born August 15, 1729, 
married, !May 3, 1753, Elias Mason; Abigail, born 
December 7, 1731, married, April 11, 1754, Joseph 
Jackson, Jr. ; Lucy, born June 8, 1734, married 
Colonel William Bond; Abijah, born November 27, 
1736, a colonel, died in Lincoln, May 25, 1818. 

(V) Abraham Brown, son of Jonathan Brown 
(4), was born in Watertown, November 23, 1726, 
and died at a very advanced age., He was a farmer 
and was a settler at Grafton, whither he went be- 
fore 1764 when he was dismissed from the Water- 
town church to the Grafton church. In 1775 he re- 
moved to Alstead, New Hampshire, where he was 
among the early settlers. He married, April 25, 
1753, Mary Livermore, born September S, 1731, 
daughter of Oliver and Ruth (Bowman) Livermore, 
of Watertown. Their children were : Abraham, 
born in Watertown, March 8, 1754, died July 14, 
1837; Nathaniel, see forward; Mary, born October 
22, 1757, married Silas Mack, of Marlow, New 
Hampshire ; Ruth, born September 16, 1759, married 
Benjamin Baxter; Anna, born September 19, 1761, 
married Francis Brown; Sarah, born June 29, 1763, 
married Amos Beckwith ; Elizabeth, born July 27, 
1765, died September 17, 1767 ; Samuel, born June 
30, 1767, married Abigail Pike, of Cornish, New 
Hampshire, and settled in Danville, Vermont; Oliver, 
born September 21, 1769, resided in Surrey, New 
Hampshire; Elizabeth, born January 24, 1773, died 
January 26, 1786. 

(VI) Deacon Nathaniel Brown, son of Abraham 
Brown (5), was born in Watertown, October 7, 
1755- He settled in Alstead, New Hampshire, 
whither he went with his father in 1775. He was 
a farmer. He married Polly Gee, of Marlow, New 
Hampshire, and she was living, a widow, in Alstead 
in 1783. Children of Deacon Nathaniel and Polly 
Brown were: Martha, married Nathan Howard, of 
Charlestown, New Hampshire; Nathaniel, born Jan- 
uary 23, 1782, a farmer of Alstead, married, December 
20, 1804, C. Huntley, of Marlow, who died April 23, 
1844; married (second), June 19, 1844, Eleanor Gee, 
born September 11, 1814, had four children; Polly, 
born 1783, married Samuel Atherton, of Alstead, 
settled in Dalton, New Hampshire ; Daniel Frank- 
lin, born February 8, 1785, see forward; Isaac, born 
April 22, 1788, settled in Lunenburg, Vermont, mar- 
ried, October 7, 181 r, Nancy Howe, who died May 
24, 1822; married (second), October 12, 1824, Lu- 
cretia Wood; Freedom, born May 30, 1793, married, 



October 20, 1816, Betsey Denison, and settled ia 
Castleton, Vermont. 

(VII) Daniel Franklin Brown, son of Deacon. 
Nathaniel Brown (0), was born in Alstead, New 
Hampshire, February 8, 1785. He was a farmer,, 
and settled in Alstead. He married, November^ 
1809, Betsey Barney, of Alstead, born October 15,. 
1784. Their children were : Lucy P., born August 
31, 1812, married Gilford Williams, of Alstead, and 
they had two children — Emily and Abbie Williams;. 
Calista, born November 22, 1815, married Harvey 
E. Taylor, of Alstead, and they had five children — 
Adelbert, Etta, Washington Irving, Addie, and Effie 
Melissa Taylor; Daniel Franklin, Jr., see forward. 

(VIII) Daniel Franklin Brown, Jr., son of 
Daniel Franklin Brown (7), was born in Alstead,, 
New Hampshire, October 22, 1821. He worked on 
the paternal farm when a boy, attending each winter 
for a short term the public school. He learned the 
trade of shoemaker, and after following his trade; 
as a journeyman for a time began to do contract work 
at his own shop in Alstead for the Lampson factory 
of Lempster, New Hampshire. In 1856 he used half 
of his shop as a carriage factory, and after a year 
or two discontinued the manufacture of boots and 
shoes. He carried on the manufacture of carriages 
with profit and success until 1892, when he retired 
from active business. He owned a large farm at 
Alstead, and also much woodland, and he cut and 
sold large quantities of lumber. He built and sold 
a number of houses in his native town. On his- 
farm he maintained a fine selection of stock an&. 
raised some fine horses. He resided in his native 
town of Alstead, till death, June 4, 1906, though 
he sold his farm in 1904 and gave up his other busi- 
ness interests. He attended the Congregational 
cliurch and was a Jacksonian Democrat in politics. 
He married Sarah Pease, of Nashua, New Hamp- 
shire, daughter of William and • (Hamblet) 

Pease. Her father was a farmer. Children of 
Daniel Franklin and Sarah Brown were : George 
Franklin, see forward ; Ella Jane ; Fred Grayson, 
married Minnie Pratt, of Alstead, and they had 
two children : and Ethel May. 

(IX) George Franklin Brown, son of Daniel 
Franklin Brown (8), was born in Alstead, New 
Hampshire, June 18, 1848. He received his early 
education there, attending school until he was sev- 
enteen, and assisting his father in the carriage 
factory, where he learned the trade. At the age of 
eighteen he went to Winchendon to work for Charles 
Harrington, manufacturer of toy carts, carriages, 
wheel barrows, etc., where he did the ornamental and 
fancy painting. After about a year he went to work 
for E. Murdock & Company under Charles Bruce, 
painting tubs and pails for six month. He was then 
employed by Orlando Mason making fruit boxes \n 
his factory; then for nearly a year by I. Weston,. 
setting up the machine sections of his churns, and 
then worked for Charles Loud making woodert 
faucets. He had at this time a serious illness last- 
ing six months; after he recovered he worked for 
his father-in-law, Ozra Hancock, for a year, making, 
pail ears. 

He started in business on his own acount in 1868,. 
manufacturing a variety of wooden ware, buying and 
selling tubs and pails also. He sold out in 1873 and 
resumed his trade, carriage making, which he still 
follows. He owns the shop he now occupies and 
has a flourishing business making and repairing car- 
riages and wagons. Flis brother and his son Willie 
are associated with him in the business. Mr. Browni 
is a Republican in politics and a Unitarian in re- 
ligion, being a member of the Church of the Unity 
at Winchendon. 



76 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



He married, January 6, 1869, Flora Jane Han- 
cock, born May 27, 1850, daughter of Ozra and 
iSarah (.Brooks) Hancock. The children of George 
Franklin and Flora Jane Brown were: i. Willie 
Hancock, born April 11, 1873, employed by his 
iather in the carriage factory; married (tirst) Grace 
Ellen Moore and liad one child, Hazel May; mar- 
ried (second) Nellie Jane Harrington, born in Bos- 
ton, June 7, 1875, and riiey have one child — Evangel- 
ine Madclla, born October 16, 1905. 2. Henry Cor- 
nelius, born March 24, 1877, in the restaurant busi- 
ness in Buffalo; married Nettie Stanard and have 
one child — Edith Margaret. 3. Maud Estclle, born 
April 7, 1879, married William Henry Babbitt, a 
hoopmaker with E. Murdock & Co., and they had 
two children — Mary Estelle, horn March 17, 1902, 
<lied March 17, 1902; Leon Hermon, born Septem- 
ier II, 1903. 

Ozra Hancock, father of Flora Jane (Hancock) 
Brown, born January 10, 1812, at Templeton, was 
the son of Rufus and Sally (Bacon) Brown. Rufus 
Hancock was born in Winchendon, August 21, 1780, 
■died in Templeton, April i, 1821, aged forty years, 
son of Hezekiah and Martha Hancock, who were 
the parents of the following children : James, 
Jonas, Patty, Livina, Chloe, Patty, Alvira, Rufus, 
Hezekiah, John, Artemus, Hepzibah, Olive Richard- 
son. Hezekiah Hancock, born 1748, died March 
-24, 1828, aged eighty years ; his wife Martha died 
December 15, 1820, aged sixty-six years. Rufus 
Hancock, son of Hezekiah and Martha Hancock, 
married, September 19, 1802, Sally Bacon, born 
August 28, 1783, died in Templeton, July 20, 1826, 
daughter of Samuel Bacon, born in Plymouth, Massa- 
chusetts, died October 10, 1838, aged eighty-seven 
years. The first wife of Samuel Bacon, Ruth, by 
whom the children were born, died October 24, 
1833, aged seventy-nine years; his second wife, Pa- 
tience, died October 23, 1838, aged seventy-five 
years, five days after the death of her husband. 
JRufus and Sally (Bacon) Hancock had children: 
Benjamin Franklin, born in Templeton, November 
25. 1803 : William Martin, born in Harrisburg, March 
16, 1806; .-Vrtemus, born in Templeton, August 15, 
l8og: Ozra, born in Templeton, January 13, 1812, 
<lied March 27, 1891. Ozra Hancock married (first), 
October 29, 1836, Nancy A. Grout, born in Lyon, 
New Hampshire, died in Winchendon, December i, 
1S45, had one child, Charles W., born in Royalston, 
September 15, 1837, died September 19, 1838. He 
married (second), November 26, 1846, Sarah Ann 
Brooks, born in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, 
April 12, 1824, died October 31, 1898, and they had 
two children: JohnN., born October 8, 1848, re- 
sides in the west ; Flora Jane, born May 27, 1850, 
■wife of George F. Brown, as mentioned above. 

MOSES DANIELS RICHARDSON. John 
Richardson (i), the immigrant ancestor of Moses 
Daniels Richardson, late of North Leominster, 
Massachusetts, wr.s of a distinct family from the 
three immigrant brothers who were so important 
arnong the settlers of Woburn. John and George 
Richardson, presumed to be brothers, settled in 
Watertown, Slassachusctis, among the earliest set- 
tlers. John's first grant of land there was one 
acre for a house lot in 16,16 in the Beaver brook 
plowlands in what is now Waltham. George 
Richardson is said by the author of the Richard- 
son Memorial to have settled in what is now Water- 
liury, Connecticut, about 1643. when he left Water- 
town, John also left Watertown about this time 
and in 1642 is found with the pioneers of Rev. Mr. 
Wheelwright, seeking religious freedom from the 
intolerant Puritans of Massachusetts Bay. The min- 



ister took part of these settlers in 1643 to Wells, 
Maine, and among the settlers there is found John 
Richardson. The records of the Maine towns are 
meagre. There is proof enough, however, that John 
and Hannah were the parents of John of Medfield, 
of whom later. 

(II) John Richardson, son of John Richardson 
(i), was born about 1645, doubtless in Maine. He 
had a grant of land at VVells. Maine, June 20, 1673, 
and was among those who left the town during 
King Philip's war, 1676-7. He settled in that part 
of Dedhani called Boggastow, later Medfield. The 
name Bogistow, variously spelled, has since been 
applied to the pond, meadow and stream at South 
Sherborn, formerly in Medfield. John Richardson 
first appears in Medfield in 1676 when he served in 
the Medfield garrison for a month. In 1678 he 
received a grant of land from the town on the west 
side of Charles river. Moses Richardson, a de- 
scendant, owned the old homestall of John at Med- 
field in 1689 and later. He was a cordwainer by 
trade, but also had a farm of about fifty acres. He 
died April 21, 1697. and his widow Rebecca ad- 
ministered his estate. She was appointed July 18, 
1700. 

He married. May i, 1679 (by Ralph Wheelock, 
magistrate) Rebecca Clark, born in Medfield, Au- 
gust 16, 1660, youngest daughter of Joseph and 
Alice Clark, early settlers in that part of Dedham, 
later Medfield, incorporated 1651. Joseph Clark 
was admitted a freeman May 18, 1653, died 1684. 
The widow of John Richardson married (second) 
John Hill, of Sherborn; she died February 17, 
17.^8-9, aged seventy-nine years. The children of 
John and Rebecca Richardson were : John, born 
.August 25, 1679, married Esther Breck : Elizabeth, 
September 20, 1681, died before 171 1; Daniel. Au- 
gust 31. 168.!;, of whom later; Joseph, born about 
1687. married, October 18, 1706, Hannah Barber; 
Mehitable, June 16, 1689: Benjamin. 1(593. married 
Elizabeth : Rebecca, February 28, 1696-7, mar- 
ried Elcazer Hill, of Sherborn, August 18, 1712, 
settled in Douglas, Massachusetts. 

(III) Lieutenant Daniel Richardson, son of John 
Richardson (2), was born in Medfield, Massachu- 
setts, later Medway, August 31, 1685. He resided 
in Medfield until 1723. He and his wife owned the 
covenant which entitled them to have their children 
baptized, June 8, 1712. His wife was admitted to 
full communion March I.,, 1712-3: he was admitted 
October 13, 1723; his wife was dismissed from the 
old church to the new one at Medway June 28, 
1747. He gave a deed of gift January 3, 1745-6, 
of half his dwelling house where his son lived to 
his son Daniel. His will, 1747. names Daniel and 
William, sons, also daughter Hannah, wife of Jona- 
than Underwood, of Wcstford, Massachusetts. His 
estate was valued at 1,859 pounds. He died Au- 
gust 28, 1748. 

He married Hannah L^nderwood, who was bap- 
tized April 13, 1690. Their children were: William, 
born February 3, 1710-11, married. May 21, 1739. 
Hanilah Ellis: Hannah. December 25. 1718. married 
Jonathan Underwood, June 15, 1739; Daniel, of 
whom later. 

(IV) Daniel Richardson, son of Daniel Riehard- 
son (3), was born in Medway, Massachusetts, June 
26, 1721. He settled in Medway and died there 
December 23, 1779. He had several son.s in the 
revolution. He married Judith . born in Med- 
way. 1721, died December 22, 1788. Their chil- 
dren, all born at Medway, were : Bathsheba, born 
April 21, 174.3. died April 25, 1827, aged eighty- 
four years: Elisha, January 25, 1745, married Sarah 
Ellis; Hannah, January 30, 1747, died January 22, 




d^.(rtu 



<^ Ad iM<4 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



77 



1795. aged forty-eight years ; Sally, December 24, 
1748; Abigail, November 13, 1750, died June II, 
1830; Daniel, February 10, 1752, died 1831, aged 
seventy-nine years; was soldier in revolution; 
Judith, February 2, 1754; Patience, February 18, 
1756, died November 24, 1792, aged thirty-six years; 
Justina, April 22, 1760, married Sarah Morse; 
(second) Polly Babbitt, settled in Charlton, Massa- 
chusetts; Silas, of whom later; Marj', September 
12, 1764, died October 31, 1778. 

(V) Silas Richardson, son of Daniel Richard- 
son (4), was born at Medway, Massachusetts, Janu- 
ary 12, 1762. He was a wheelwright by trade. In 
1790 he bought of Caleb Leland a farm of seventy- 
five acres at Leominster in the part called North 
Leominster for a thousand dollars. He moved there 
immediately, developed his land, bought more and 
when he died was possessed of a handsome estate, 
amounting to about three hundred acres. The orig- 
inal farm is owned by his descendants still. He 
died at Leominster, June 15, 1833, aged seventy- 
one years. 

He married, February 21, 1791, Abigail Daniels, 
born 1768, daughter of Moses and Abigail (Adams) 
Daniels, also of Medway. She died January 18, 
1829, at Leominster, aged sixty years. Their chil- 
dren, born at Leominster, were : Horace, born De- 
cember 20, 1794, married Sally Joslin; he died No- 
vember I, 1865; Abigail, August 17, 1749, married 
Henry Bullard; (second) Farnham Plummer; 
Silas, Jr.. March 22, 1802, married Annis (Agnes) 
Smith ; Moses Daniels, of whom later. 

(VI) Moses Daniels Richardson, son of Silas 
Richardson (5), was born on the homestead at 
North Leominster, Massachusetts, May ig, 1805. 
He lived there all his life, helping his father in 
his early years and later succeeding to the place. 
He received a common school education, in the 
public schools of his native place, and at Groton 
Academy. He was a shrewd_ and progressive farmer, 
ready to adopt new methods and constantly im- 
proving the paternal estate. Though his activity 
was somewhat hampered by ill health in later years 
he always maintained a high standard of excellence. 
His fields and buildings gave ample evidence of his 
skill and attention. He was a member of the 
Leominster Baptist church, which he joined in 1828 
and was clerk and deacon. In politics he was a 
Republican and took the interest of a good citizen 
in public affairs. 

He was thrice married. He married (first), 
May 28, 1828, Mary Cowden, born in Fitchburg, 
February r6, 1809, died August 28, 1840. He mar- 
ried (second), December 15, 1842, Eunice T. Smith, 
born in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, January 7, 
1818, died August 24, 1851. He married (third), 
November 19, 1853, Abby W. Putnam, of a well 
known Worcester county family (See Putnam fam- 
ily). She was born in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, 
April 22, 1818, daughter of George and Polly ((Tar- 
ter) Putnam. He died July 24, 1S88. She is liv- 
ing on the homestead with her son. The farm- 
house is at 606 Main street. North Leominster. The 
children of Moses and Mary Richardson were: I. 
George Daniels, born February 8, 1836, died August 
22, 1842. 2. Mary Abigail, born January 4, 1838, 
married, June i, 1865, Putnam Simonds, who was 
born at Fitchburg, February 15, 1829. The children 
of Moses Daniels and Abby W. Richardson were : 
3. James A., born July 19, 1854. at North Leo- 
minster; after leaving the high school he remained 
at home until 1879. He was appointed by his 
uncle as assistant to the United States fish commis- 
sion in California, and was afterwards superintend- 
ent of part of the state fish hatcheries. In 1895 he 



attended a course in zoology at Stanford University. 
In 1896 he established fish hatcheries at Kodiak, 
Alaska, for the Alaska Packers' Association of San. 
Francisco. These are a great success and looked 
upon as a model. He married, March 22, 1899, 
Clara R. Edmondson, at San Francisco; thev hava 
one child, James Albert, Jr. 4. Dana P., born Octo- 
ber 14, 1855; he was graduated from the Leominster 
high school in 1876, received the degree of M. D., 
from Harvard Medical School in 1882 and is now a 
practicing physician at North Leominster. He mar- 
ried Fannie L. Benton, of Fitchburg, and they have 
one son, James Putnam. 

FROST FAMILY. The Frost family, worthily 
represented in the present generation by Dr. Edward 
Eastman Frost, of Worcester, Massachusetts, traces 
its origin to Jesse Frost, whose son, Jesse Frost, 
born March 9, 1735, married. May 6, 1760, Joanna 
Spaulding, -born March 29, 1739, who bore him the 
following children: Jesse, September 6, 1762; Jo- 
anna, July 9, 1764; Ira, April 9, 1767; William,. 
March 26, 1769; Olive, August 19, 1771 ; Joseph, 
March 3, 1774; Benjamin, October 26, 1776; and 
Jacob, December 8, 1780. 

Jacob Frost, youngest son of Jesse and Joanna 
(Spaulding) Frost, was born in Dummerston, Ver- 
mont, December 8, 1780. He was educated in the 
common schools of that place, completing his studies 
at an early age. He then took up farming, which 
hue of occupation he followed throughout the active 
years of his career. He afterward moved to Ver- 
non, Vermont, where his death occurred at an ad- 
vanced age. At one time he was the owner of con- 
siderable property, but lost the same owing to a 
flaw in the title, thinking everyone, like himself, 
was honest. He was a Whig and later a Republi- 
can in politics, but as far as can be ascertained 
held no offices. He was- a man of strict integrity and 
honesty, bringing up his family on those principles, 
and was of the Unitarian faith, much devoted to 
his church. He was a member of one of the early 
companies of militia. He married Dolly Kathan, 
daughter of Lieutenant Daniel Kathan. of revolu- 
tionary fame, and his wife Ruth (Barret) Kathan, 
of Dummerston, Vermont. Lieutenant Kathan was 
a farmer, and died October 19, 1809. The children 
of this union were: Elmira, died about the age of 
fifteen years ; Livinia, born in Vernon, Vermont, 
June 30, 1809, married Alonzo Newton, of Vernon^ 
Vermont; Jesse, (see forward); Eliza, born May 
30, iSis, married Eastman Belding, of West North- 
field, Massachusetts; she is now (1906) a widow, 
and resides in Springfield, Massachusetts; Fannie, 
born May 26, 1818, married (first) Erastus Hub- 
bard, and (second) R. D. Stevens, of Charlestown, 
Vermont; she died July 7, 1905. 

Jesse Frost was born in Vernon, Vermont, July 
II, 1811. He was educated in the common schools 
of that town, and the Goddard Seminary at West 
Brattleboro, Vermont. He learned the trade of 
shoemaker by working at the bench, and was later 
a shoe manufacturer, conducting a factory of his 
own for a number of years. In or about the year 
1843 he left Vernon, accompanied by his wife 
and child Theodore, and by means of an ox-team 
and wagon traversed west, locating in Rochester, 
Wisconsin, where he purchased land and erected a 
log cabin, residing there for some time. Finally 
he disposed of his land and returned to Vernon, 
Vermont. This land afterward proved to be very 
valuable, and sold for a fabulous price. Later he 
located in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he pur- 
chased a grocery and provision business, which he 
isubsequently sold to good advantage. While a 



78 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



resident of the city of New York he purchased 
•fruit by the ship-load, and sold the same at good 
prices, thereby realizing a considerable profit. He 
was always successful m his business ventures, and 
with the competence acquired was enabled to enjoy 
several years of retirement from active pursuits. He 
returned to Vernon, Vermont, in which town at one 
time he owned more land than any other person in 
that locality, and there his death occurred March 
II, 1882. He was of the Advent faith, much de- 
voted to his church and one of its pillars. He was 
a conscientious Christian, beloved by all who knew 
him. and a man whose word was as good as his 
bond. He was a Republican in politics, holding the 
office of selectman, and appraiser of town property, 
being an expert in land valuation. 

Jesse Frost married Sophia Alice Tyler, daugh^ 
ter of Jesse and Alice (Pierce) Tyler, of Vernon, 
Vermont. Their children are : Theodore, born in 
Vernon, May, 1837, died January 2, 1840; Julius 
Orlando, (see forward) ; Julia S., born in Vernon, 
October 16, 1841, married and had one daughter, 
Minnie B., now deceased; John Hunt, born in Ver- 
non, August 3, 1843, "died May 10, 1865; Edward 
Eastman, (see forward). 

Julius Orlando Frost, second son of Jesse and 
Sophia Alice (Tyler) Frost, was born in Vernon, 
Vermont, June 16, 1839. When thirty years of age, 
in 1869, he became associated with J. B. Kehlor & 
Brother, St. Louis, Missouri. Later he went with A. 
Pillsbury & Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota, repre- 
senting that firm in the East. He remained with 
this concern until Henry Russell was placed in 
charge, but in 1883 went with Christian Bros'. 
Crown Roller Mills. He remained with them until 
the consolidation, and since that time has repre- 
sented L. Christian & Co., Minneapolis. He was the 
first mill agent to introduce "Archibald's E.xtra" in 
New England, handling the 'account for E. T. Ar- 
chibald, later Tennant & Hoyt and J. B. A. Kern 
& Sons, as well as several winter wheat mills. 
About three years ago Frederick J. Lingham be- 
came a partner in the firm, which conducted a large 
business in New England, and December 20, 1905, 
this connection was dissolved by mutual consent, 
the business being continued by the junior partner, 
Frederick J. Lingham. Mr. Frost was probably 
the best known flour salesman in New England, 
having an experience of nearly forty years, and he 
also had a wide acquaintance in New York and 
the West. Although retired from the flour trade, 
.Mr. Frost has not given up active business, having 
entered into business relations with his brotner in 
the management of a hotel in Worcester, Massa- 
chusetts, where "the boys" will always be welcome 
when they are in that city. He is the owner of 
several farms in Vernon, Vermont, where he raised 
blooded Jersey cattle, prize poultry and pigs. He 
is also a lover of horses, and has won numerous 
prizes in various contests. 

Mr. Frost married Nettie Warner, of Vernon, 
Vermont, and they have one child, John H. Frost. 

Edward Eastman Frost, youngest son of Jesse 
and Sophia Alice (Tyler) Frost, was born in Ver- 
non, Vermont, November 8, 1849. He attended the 
common schools of that place until the age of 
eleven years, when he went to the city of New 
York and was placed in a private school there. By 
constant study he successfully passed examinations 
for the New York College, but through illness was 
compelled to give up his collegiate course. He 
came to Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1869, and en- 
tered the dental office of J. B. Waller, and there 
studied for one year. In 1871 he entered Harvard 
Dental College, from which institution he was 



graduated with high honors in 1874. Returning 
to Worcester he entered the dental office of Dr. 
John Gould, and after serving there for two years 
opened his own office on Elm street, where he con- 
tinued for twenty-three years, building up a very 
lucrative practice. As an investor of real estate 
Dr. Frost has been very successful, he having en- 
tered into that Ime of work in 1878. In 1882 he pur- 
chased the old E.\change Hotel, which he still owns, 
conducted the same for some time, and finally leased 
it to good advantage. He has also bought and sold 
many pieces of property. He is the owner of several 
blocks in Worcester, several tenement houses and 
unimproved properly, and the Lincoln House, one 
of the leading hotels of Worcester, which he pur- 
chased in 1893 and which he has conducted ever 
since. He owns a beautiful estate in West Boylston, 
overlooking a number of townships, which he pur- 
chased in 1902, and where he and his. family reside 
during the summer seasons ; it is one of the oldest 
landmarks in the township and county. As a lover 
of highbred horses and an expert judge Dr. Frost 
has no equal. He has owned and operated a ntmiber 
of track horses with success. He was first lieutenant 
in Battery B of Worcester, Massachusetts Volunteer 
Militia, in 1884, and was connected with the organi- 
zation for four years. He is a member of the 
Worcester board of trade, and of the Benevolent 
and Protective Order of Elks. He is a Rtpublican 
in politics and loyal in his support of his chosen 
candidates. He is a Congregational ist in religion, 
having been reared in that faith. He is a self-made 
man in the truest sense of the word. He entered his 
profession against the wishes of his father, and 
therefore did not look to him for aid, but defrayed 
his own expenses. 

Dr. Frost married, August 24, 1903, Mabel A. 
Richardson, daughter of Charles O. and Mary K. 
(F"aulkncr) Richardson, of Worcester, and they 
have two children: Dolly Kathan, born July 4, 1904, 
and Edward Eastman, Jr., September 2, 1905. 

ALVIN E. ESTABROOK. Joseph Estabrook 
(1), the first American ancestor of Alvin E. Esta- 
brook, of Leominster, Massachusetts, was born in 
Enfield. Middlesex county, England. Originally, 
however, the Estabrook family came from Wales, 
where it was established as early as 1413. The 
family is found still earlier in Holland, where the 
name was spelled Estenbrugge. Two brothers came 
from England with Joseph or about the same tinie 
in 1660, one settling in Swansea and the other in 
Concord, Massachusetts. Joseph cnter(^d Harvard 
College and graduated in the class of 1664. After 
three years of study for the ministry he was or- 
dained and installed as colleague of Rev. Peter 
Bulkley, the first minister of Concord, Massacliu- 
setts. where he resided for the remainder of his life. 
He died in 171 1. He preached the election sermon 
in 1705. Rev. Joseph Estabrook must be counted 
among the leading preachers and ministers of the 
first generation _ in Massachusetts. The following 
extract from a eulogy in the Boston Ncn's Letter, 
the iirst newspaper of the colony, reveals the posi- 
tion he held in the estimation of his contemporaries : 
"Eminent for his skill in the Hebrew language and 
a most orthodox, learned and worthy divine ; of ex- 
cellent principles in religion, indefatigable in the 
ministry and of holy life and conversation." 

He married Mary Mason and had four sons, as 
follows : Joseph, born 1669, died at Lexington, Sep- 
tember 23, 17.^3; Benjamin, graduate of Harvard, 
minister, settled at Lexington, died July 22, 1697; 
Samuel, born 1674, graduated at Harvard College 
1696, minister of the church at Canterbury, Con- 



I 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



79 



necticut, where he died in 17^7; Daniel, born Feb- 
ruary 14, 1676, died at Sudbury, 1735. 

(II) Joseph Estabrook, son of Rev. Joseph 
Estabrook (i), was born at Concord, Massachu- 
setts, 1669, and (bed at Lexington, September 23, 
^72i- He married Millicent Woodhouse (.WoodisJ, 
of Concord, and (second) the widow Hannah Lor- 
ing, of Hingham, IMassachusetts, He settled hrst 
in Hingham, but removed before 1696 to LexingtoV^^ 
where he became an active and intiuential man in 
the church and a highly honored and respected 
citizen. He was elected deacon in 1716 and served 
till his death. He held almost all the other offices 
at various times; he was town clerk, selectman, 
assessor, treasurer, representative to the general court 
and captain in the militia. He was a surveyor as 
well as farmer. His children were : Joseph, born 
October 10, 1690, died August 19, 1740; John, July 
28, 1694, married, October 27, 1720, Prudence Har- 
rington ; Solomon, December 22, 1O96, died July 7, 
1697; Hannah, March 2, 1698, married. May 23, 
1717. Joseph Frost; Millicent, March 21, 1699; 
Elijah, August 25, 1703. 

(HI) John Estabrook, son of Joseph Estabrook 
(2), was born at Lexington, July 28, 1O94. He mar- 
ried Prudence Harrington, October 27, 1720. He 
was a farmer. He was elected constable in 1738- 
.39. He died June 19, 1742, and his widow married 
in 1748 Benjamin Munroe, the youngest son of Will- 
iam Alunroe, the emigrant, who settled Lexington. 
She was his stcond wife. She died 1778. The 
■children of John and Prudence Estabrook were : 

Grace, born August 13, 1721, married ■ Hurd; 

Prudence, May 28, 1724, married Richard Winship ; 

Millicent, July 11, 1727, married Harris; 

John, October 20, 1729, settled at Westminster and 
had fourteen children; Abigail, March II, 1731, 

married Hunt; Elizabeth, November 21, 

1734; Nehemiah, March 2, 1738, married, March i, 
1759, Elizabeth Winship; Anna, February 11, 1740, 
married Kidder. 

(IV) John Estabrook, son of John Estabrook 
(3), was born in Narragansett No. 2, now West- 
minster, Massachusetts, October 20, 1729. Soon 
after he was of age he bought lot No. 103 in the 
eastern part of the town and settled. Part of this 
homestead tract has remained in the hands of his 
lineal descendants to the present time. Having 
cleared his land and built some kind of a dwelling, 
he married early in 1756 Anna, the daughter of his 
near neighbors. Thomas and Mary Bemis. They had 
fourteen children, the largest number of children 
ever borne to the same parents in Westminster. He 
died in 1804; she died February 26, 1832, at the age 
of ninety-two years. Their children were : John, 
born December 5, 1756, married Hannah Conant, 
resided at Westminster, died January 6, 1826; Anne, 
September 15, 1758, married Thomas Farnsworth ; 
Mary, September, 1760, married Loel Miles, resided 
at Fitzwilliam, had nine children, died September 
30, 1839; Elizabeth, January 8, 1763, married James 
Sawin. resided at Westminster, had hve children, 
died December 26, 1852; Joseph, March, 1765, died 
October 8, 1772; Isaac, April 9, 1767, died October 
20, 1772 ; Samuel, October 19, 1769, died by light- 
ning July 25, 1783; Thomas, June 4, 1772, married 
Hepzibah hunt, resided at Westminster; Milli- 
cent, July 23, 1774, died December 14, 1777; Joseph, 
November i, 1776, (see forward) : Isaac, 1778, mar- 
ried Priscilla Dunster, resided at Westminster; Mil- 
licent, November 25, 1780, unmarried, died April 21. 
1867; Samuel, November 21, 1784, married and had 
three children, resided at Westminster; Sally, Jan- 
uary 24, 1787, married Artemas Smith, had children, 
resided at Chester, Vermont. 



(V) Joseph Estabrook, son of John Estabrook 
(4), was born at Westminster, Massachusetts, No- 
vember I, 1776. He married Sally Conant, daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Ruth Conant, and succeeded to 
most of his father's estate at Westminster and oc- 
cupying the original house until it was replaced by 
the one now standing in which his daughter Mary 
resided. He died January 23, 1826. His widow, 
Sally, died January/ 22, 1870, at the age of eighty- 
two years. Their Children were : Ellery, horn De- 
cember 28, 1805, resided on the old homestead, died 
unmarried April 16, 1886; Stedman, January 9, 
1809, died young; Hannah, July 31, 1810, married 
Daniel Hayden, resided at Marlboro ; Ruth R., Au- 
gust g, 1813, died unmarried July 11, 1887; Cyrus 
M'., November 19, 1816, married Bethia Coleman, 
resided in Sterling, had ten children; Joseph W., 
June 29, l8ig, married Mary Perry and (second) 
the Widow VVellington, had no children ; Edward 
W., April 24, 1822, m^ried Mary E. Waggoner, 
had two chiWren ; Mary Ann, October 20, 1824, un- 
married, resided in Westminster. 

(VI) Cyrus M. Estabrook, son of Joseph Esta- 
brook (s), was born at Westminster, November 
19, 1816. He married Bethia, daughter of Almond 
and Bethia (Horner) Colman, October 25, 1838. 
They resided in Westminster for some time, after 
wards Princeton, then settled in Sterling, Massachu- 
setts. They had a family of ten children: Edward 
C, born at Westminster, January g, 1840, married 
Mary Corey, resided at Westminster; Alvin E., 
born at Westminster, August 29, 1S41, married Hat- 
tie A. Roper, resides at Leominster, Massachusetts ; 
Joseph, died young; Joseph W., September, 1843; 
Mendall A., May, 1846; Sarah E., May, 1854; Ab- 
bie Louisa, August 16, 1856 ; George, died at age of 
ten; Charles F., i860; Frank W., May, 1864. 

(VII) Alvin E. Estabrook, son of Cyrus M. 
Estabrook (6), was born at Westminster, Massa- 
chusetts, August 29, 1841, near the old homestead. 
At the age of four his parents moved with him to 
Princeton, Massachusetts, where he received his 
education in the country school. He took up the 
trade of carriage making and at times assisted his 
father on the farm. He removed to Leominster, 
Massachusetts, in 1864, and entered the employ of 
F. A. Whitney, manufacturer of baby carriages. 
He was foreman at this factory for many years. He 
left the trade on account of ill health and devoted 
his time to the real estate business. He has achieved 
unusual success in his new line of work and has 
transacted some very large deals. He has also dealt 
in lumber in connection with his real estate busi- 
ness. He is a veteran of the civil war. He enlisted 
for nine months in the Fifth Massachusetts Volun- 
teers. While Mr. Estabrook has been too busy to 
accept public office he has always taken his part- 
in politics. He is a stanch Republican. 

He married Harriet A. Roper, April 3, 1866, 
daughter of John Roper, a prominent citizen of 
Princeton, Massachusetts. Their children were: 
Harriet I., born June 17, 1867, died July 23, 1871 ; 
Alvin C, February 18, 1874, died July 23, 1884. 
Mr. and Mrs. Estabrook are both members of the 
Leominster Congregational church. While Mr. 
Estabrook is popular in the social circles in which 
he moves he seems to be particularly fond of home 
life. He has a very attractive residence at Leo- 
minster. 

LEVI W. PORTER. Richard Porter (i), the 
emigrant ancestor of Levi W. Porter, of Leominster, 
was born in England. He sailed from Weymouth, 
England, March 3, 1635, and settled in Weymouth, 
Massachusetts, among the first. He was a member 



8o 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



of the original church, constj4)le and selectman of 
the town. He took the freeman's oath and became 
a citizen of Weymouth, May 18, 1653. He died in 
1689, leaving a will mentioning his four children. 
The original name of Weymouth was Messaguscus. 
The children of Richard Porter were : John, of whom 
later; Ruth, born October 3, 1639, married Thomas 
Bailey, Jr., September ig, 1660; Thomas, married 
Sarah Vining; Mary, married John Bicknell, Jan- 
uary 2, 1659. 

(11)' John Porter, son of Richard Porter (i), 
born probably at Weymouth, Massachusetts, marriid 
Deliverance Byrum, daughter of Nicholas and Mar- 
tha (Shaw) Byrum, of Bridgewater. He was a 
sergeant in the militia and was one of the soldiers 
in King Philip's war. He was one of the most enter- 
prising, useful and honored citizens of the colony. 
He drew land 1686-87-94-96-99. He built the saw 
mill at South Abington in 1693. He held at various 
times all the town offices.* He died at Weymouth, 
August 7, 1717; his widow died September 3, 1720. 
Their children were: Mary, born October 12, 1663, 
married William Pittee; Susanna, June 2, 1665, mar- 
ried Matthew Pratt; John, July 2, 1667, married 

Mary ; Samuel, married Mary Nash; 

Nicholas, married Batlisheba Reed ; Ruth, September 
18, 1676, married Nathaniel Willis, of Bridgewater; 
Thomas, married Susanna Pratt; Ebcnezer, married 
Sarah Humphrey ; Sarah, married John Dingley, of 
Marshfield. 

(III) Thomas Porter, son of Sergeant John 
Porter (2), was born at Weymouth. He married 
Susanna Pratt, daughter of Matthew and Sarah 
(Hunt) Pratt, in 1706. She was born in 1684. Their 
children were : Nathaniel, born November 23, 1707, 
died April 2, 1724; Thomas, April 27, 1713, married 
Mercy Bates, January 24, 1740; Jonathan, March 6, 
1715, died young; Jonathan, January 22, 1718; 
Josiah, March 6, 1720, died young ; Ezra, April 6, 
1722, (lied young; Matthew, September 8, 1725, mar- 
ried Sarah Pratt, 1750; Ezra, September 8, 1725, 
married Hannah Lovell, 1751 ; Susannah, July 12, 
1728. 

(IV) Ezra Porter, son of Thomas Porter (3), 
was born at Weymouth, Massachusetts, Septem- 
ber 8, 1725. He married, 1751, Hannah Lovell, 
daughter of Joseph and Ruth (Richards) Lovell. 
She was born December 17, 1723. After her death 
he married (second) Patience Hathaway, daughter 
of Solomon and Temperance Hathaway, who was 
born October 21, 1741. They resided at Weymouth. 
Their children were : Josiah, baptized December 
22, 1751; Molly, born January 26, 1753, married 
Samuel Pratt, 1770; Lucy, baptized October, 1769; 
Ezra, born August 23, 1763. 

(V) Asa Porter, son of Ezra Porter (4), was 
born at Weymouth, Massachusetts, November 3, 
1756. He married Eunice Williams, for whom Levi 
Williams Porter is named. She was born at Gro- 
ton, July 23, 1760. He was distinguished by his 
service in the American revolution. He was in 
seven of the most famous battles. He removed 
from Weymouth and settled at Marlborough, New 
Hampshire, about 1780, and resided for a short 
time in a place known as The Tomb, a sort of dug- 
out in the side hill at the corner roads near what 
is now called the Alger place. He bought a tract 
of wild land and cleared it. He died in Marlboro, 
December i, 1852, the oldest man who had lived in 
the town. His wife died December 18, 1821. Their 
children were: Asa, born May 3, 1779, died October 
14, 1780; Lydia, March 17, 1781, married Israel 
Flood; Polly, November 24, 1782, died young; 
Eunice, July 27, 1784, married Nathan E. Wild ; 
Daniel, September 5, 1786, died March 6, 1790; 



Asa, July 5, 1788; Abel, March 8, 1791 ; Mary, June 
8, 1793, married Calvin Starkey, of Troy, New 
Hampshire, moved to Townsend, Vermont ; Levi, 
March 2i, 1795 ; Reuben, June 8, 1797, married Pru- 
dence Hills, removed to Chcsierlield, New Hamp- 
shire; Permilla, June 15, 1799, married Levi Gates; 
Lovell, February 20, 1801, died November 28, 1824, 
unmarried; Elvira, March 12, 1805, lived at Marl- 
boro, unmarried; Adaline, January I, 1807, married 
Fuller Clark. 

(VI) Levi Porter, son of Asa Porter (5), was 
born at Marlboro, New Hampshire, March 21, 1795. 
He married Sally Sawyer, daughter of Moses Saw- 
yer, of Sharon, New Hampshire. They settled on a 
farm in Marlboro inherited by their son, George A. 
Porter. Levi died .\pril 6, 1867. His wife died 
August 19, 1866. Their children were : Moses Saw- 
yer, born August 23. 1824, married, Jilay 4, 1870, 
Emily * Gates, daughter of Elijah and Amorite 
(Wild) Gates, removed to Leominster, Massachu- 
setts; Levi Williams, April s, 1826, married, June i, 
1853, Caroline Philista Gilbert, daughter of Charles 
and Emily (Frost) Gilbert, at Leominster, Massa- 
chusetts ; George Augustus, January 9, 1828, mar- 
ried, October 24, 1861, Lucy A. Smith, of Fitchburg, 
Massachusetts, resided on the homestead at Marl- 
boro, New Hampshire. 

(VII) Levi Williams Porter, son of Levi Porter 
(6), was born on the old homestead at Marlboro, 
New Hampshire, April 5, 1826. He attended the 
common schools of his native town and then took 
up the trade of carpenter which he followed for ten 
years. In 1853 he moved from Marlboro to his 
present home at Leominster, Massachusetts. He was 
employed in a piano case factory as foreman and has 
been engaged in some department of that business 
lor forly-hve years. For a dozen years the firm of 
S. & L. W. Porter was well known to the trade 
and that firm was succeeded by F. G. Smith in 1900. 
Mr. Porter is an active Republican, but has de- 
clined to accept public office. He attends the Leo- 
minster Congregational church. 

He married, June i. 1853, Caroline Philista Gil- 
bert, daughter of Charles and Emily (Frost) Gil- 
bert, of Alarlboro, New Hampshire. She died in 
1890. They had three children, two of whom died 
in infancy. Mary, their only surviving child, mar- 
ried F. J. Whitney, of Leominster. 

LEVI WHITNEY. John Whitney (i), the emi- 
grant ancestor of Levi Whitney, of Upton, was born 
in England, 1589. He was the son of Thomas 
Whitney, and the grandson of Robert Whitney, of 
England. I'^or further particulars of John Whit- 
ney and his ancestry see Whitney family elsewhere 
in tliis work. He settled in Watertown, Massachu- 
setts, June, 1635. He married in England, lilinor 

, who was born there in 1599 and died in 

Watertown, ^Iay it, 1659. John Whitney married 
(second), in Watertown, September 29, 1639, Judith 
Clement. He died June i, 1673. Children of John 
and Elinor Whitney are given elsewhere in the 
Whitney family sketch. 

(II) John Whitney, son of John Whitney (i), 
was born in England, 1620. He settled in Water- 
town. He married Ruth Reynolds, daughter of 
Robert Reynolds. (F'or further particulars see 
sketch of Whitney family elsewhere in this work.) 

(III) Nathaniel Whitney, son of John Whitney 
(2), was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, Feb- 
ruary I, 1646. He married, March 12. 1673, Sarah 
Hagar. She was born September 3, 1651, and died 
May 7, 1746, in Weston. He settled in Weston, 
about a mile and a half from the village, on the 
road to Lexington. Dr. Bradbury, who now or 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



lately owiad the place, has built on the original 
, site of the lirst house an attractive modern house. 
Nathaniel died in Weston, Jannary 7, 1732. Chil- 
dren of Nathaniel and Sarah (riagar) Whitney 
were: Nathaniel, born March S, 1675; Sarah, Feb- 
ruary 12, 1678 ; William, JNIay (1, ibiSj ; Samuel, bap- 
tized July 17, 1687; Hannah, born in Weston, bap- 
tized March, 1688; Elizabeth, born December 15, 
1692; Grace, born 1700; Mercy. 

(IV) Nathaniel Whitney, son of Nathaniel 
Whitney (3), was born in Westpn, Massachusetts, 
March 5, 1675. He married, November 7, 1(395, 
Mercy Robinson, born September 6, 1676, died De- 
cember 31, 1740. They resided in Watertown, Massa- 
chusetts, where he died September 23, 1730. Chil- 
dren of Nathaniel and Mercy (Robinson) Whitney 
were; Nathaniel; Sarah, born March 3, 169S; 
Amos, April 19, 1701; Elizabeth, July 23, 1702, mar- 
ried Daniel Bigelow ; they were the parents of 
Colonel Timothy Bigelow, from whom the local 
chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolu- 
tion is named; Jonas, December, 1703; James, born 
about 1710; Susanna, baptized June 17, 1711; Solo- 
mon, (twin), baptized June 17, 1711; Samuel, 
(twin), baptized June 17, 1711; Ebenezer, baptized 
April 25, 1714, was a doctor, resided in Worcester 
county, died January 23, 1743; Joshua, born March 
25, 1714; David, born in 1716. 

(V) Nathaniel Whitney, son of Nathaniel 
Whitney (4), was born in \Veston, Massachusetts, 
January 23, 1696. He married, June 22, 1721, Mary 
Childs, born 1699 and died December 3, 1776. They 
settled in Westboro, Massachusetts, where he and 
his wife were admitted to the church, January 21, 
1728. He had owned the covenant in Concord, Massa- 
chusetts, October 15, 1727. Children of Nathaniel 
and Mary (Childs) Whitney were: Ephraim, born 
in Groton, July, 1722; Oliver, born December 1, 
1724; David, baptized November 8, 1726; Mary, born 
February 15, 1727; Nathaniel, born July 22, 1728; 
Anna, born March 8, 1730, married, May 4, 1749, 
David Forbush, son of one of the earliest and most 
prominent citizens of Westboro, Massachusetts (an- 
cestor of Judge Forbes of Worcester) ; Amos, born 
March 17, 1732; Lucy, born April 26, 1734; Love, 
born September 13, 1736; Lois, born February 9, 
1738; Eli, baptized May 3, 1740. The inventor of 
the cotton gin, Eli Whitney, was of this' Westboro 
family. 

(VI) Ephraim Whitney, son of Nathaniel Whit- 
ney (s), was born in Groton, Massachusetts, July, 
1722. He married, December 6, 1749, Thankful 
Harrington, born in 1729, died July 16, 1795. He 
moved with his parents from Groton to Weston 
and thence later to Westboro, Massachusetts. After 
his marriage he purchased a large farm in Upton, 
Massachusetts, on which he resided the remainder 
of his life. At his death the farm was divided 
equally between his two sons. He died at Upton. 
July 21. 1797. Children of Ephraim and Thankful 

(Harrington) Whitney were: Thankful, born No- 
vember II, 1750, married Jonathan Batchelor, and 
resided in Upton (See Batchelor sketch) ; Beulali, 
born January 23, 1753, married. May 7, 1772, Sam- 
uel Forbush, grandson of Daniel Forbes, the emi- 
grant from Scotland : Ephraim, born May 13, 1766, 
married Jemima Whipple and Joanna Sadler; Amos, 
born June 29, 1759. 

(VH) Amos Whitney, son of Ephraim Whitney 
(6), was born in Upton, Massachusetts, June 29, 
1759. He married Eunice Taft, February 7, 1782. 
He always lived in Upton. At his father's death he 
inherited part of his farm, on which he lived the 
remainder of his life. He died September 22, 1841. 
Eli Whitney, the inventor, was a cousin. Eli's 
ii— 6 



father was Eli. Amos' father, Ephraim, was a 
brother of Eli Whitney, Sr., father of the inventor, 
whose pedigree back of his father is the same as 
that here given. Children of Amos and Eunice 
(Taft) Whitney were: Esther, born October 26, 
1783, married Deacon Morse; Hannah, born No- 
vember 26, 1785, died unmarried ; Levi, born March 
26, 1788; Elijah, born March 5, 1791, married Sarah 
Reed; Amos, born May 8, 1793, married Nancy 
Warren; Polly, born November 21, 179O, died un- 
married; Daniel, born July i, 1799; Sally, born Au- 
gust II, 1801, married, April, 1827, Eron Fiske; 
Joel, born April 19, 1804, married Mary J. Whit- 
ney. 

(VIII) Elijah Whitney, son of Amos Whitney 
(7), was born in Upton, Massachusetts, March 5, 
1791. He married in Stow, Massachusetts, April 
12, 1822, Sarah Reed. They lived in Upton and 
Harvard, Massachusetts. Children of Elijah and 
Sarah (Reed) Whitney were: Levi, born May 22, 
1827; Harriet, born September 7, 1832, married 
Emory Whitney King, born March 31, 1826, and 
lived in Upton; he was a farmer and highway sur- 
veyor of Upton for many years ; he was a son of 
Samuel and Sabra King, of Upton; their children 
are: Arthur Elijah, married Isabel McBride, of 
Northbridge; Etta Sarah, Myrtice Samantha. 

(IX) Levi Whitney, son of Elijah Whitney (8), 
was born in Upton, Massachusetts, May i2, 1827. 
When he was a young boy his parents removed to 
Harvard, Massachusetts, and he attended the dis- 
trict schools there. His father returned to Upton 
to help his grandfather with the farm. Levi Whit- 
ney worked on his father's farm in Upton until he 
was twenty-seven. He worked in the straw shop 
of William Knowlton & Sons in the winter, and 
after he left the farm worked at the carpenter's 
trade during the summer months. Mr. Whitney 
possesses a modest competence largely through his 
habits of industry and good management of his 
property. In '1894 he built an attractive home on 
Maple avenue West Upton, where he has since re- 
sided. He is a steadfast Republican in politics. He 
is an active member of the Upton Methodist church. 

He married, November 13, 1859, Violetta J. Gil- 
man, daughter of Stephen and Jane (Crcddiford) 
Gilman. She was born in Wells, Maine, January 
IS. 1834- Her father was a native of Monmouth, 
Maine. They were married at Upton. Children of 
Levi and Violetta J. (Gilman) Whitney are: Clara 
B Ue, born September 10, i860, died unmarried July 
22, 1903; Charles Oscar, born December 13, 1861,, 
married Sarah Ryder, of Middleboro; he was edu- 
cated in the Upton district and high schools ; is em- 
ployed in the straw shop of William Knowlton & 
Sons; their son George Gilman, born September i, 
1884, is in the class of 1906, Worcester Polytechnic 
Institute ; Dora May, born September 6, 1863, is 
bookkeeper for William Knowlton & Sons ; gradu- 
ate of Upton high school, 1881 ; Ella Maria, born 
September 16, 1865, married Allen W. Risteen, of 
Hartford, Connecticut, editor of the trade paper 
Locomotive published by the Flartford Steam Boiler 
Insurance Company ; she was a graduate of the 
Upton high school, 1883, and of the State Normal 
school in Worcester, in 1885 ; Nellie Frances, born 
September 18, 1869, graduate of the Upton high 
school, 1887, and of Becker's Commercial School in 
1888; works in the Knowlton shop; lives with her 
parents in West Upton. 

ELLERY BICKNELL CRANE, of Worcester, 
is a descendant of Henry Crane (i), who, as early 
as 1655, settled with his brother, Benjamin, in 
Wethersfield, Connecticut. They were tanners and 



82 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



curriers of leather. After conducting business in 
company for some years, Henry removed to Guil- 
ford, previous to ittbo, and a few years later be- 
came one ot the first planters of "Hanunonassett," 
the name having been changed in 1667 to Kenilworlh, 
or Killingworth, that portion now being known as 
Clinton. About the year 1663 he married Concur- 
rence, daughter of John Meigs, and became one of 
the leading spirits in this new settlement; was the 
schoolmaster, and captain of the Train-band ; ap- 
pointed one of the commissioners for the town ; 
besides serving on various important committees, 
locating boundary lines and settling estates. On 
the death of his brother Benjamin, of Wetherstield, 
in 1693, he was appointed one of the distributors 
of his estate. His wife Concurrence died October 
9, 1708, and he married (second) Deborah Cham- 
pion, widow of Henry Champion, of Lyme, De- 
cember 26, 1709. He died April 22, 171 1, and his 
widow married Richard Towner. Of his ten chil- 
dren, three died young. John, Concurrence, Mary, 
Phebe, Theophilus, Henry, and Mercy grew to 
mature years and had families. 

(H) Henry Crane, Jr., son of Henry and Con- 
currence Crane, was born October 25, 1677. He 
married Abigail, daughter of Robert Flood, of 
Wetherstield, January 27, 1703-04, and settled in 
that part of Killingworth afterward set off to 
Durham. He was one of the original proprietors 
of Durham, one of the deacons of the Congrega- 
tional church, and for twenty-eight sessions (17'*> 
to 1740), represented the town in the state legisla- 
ture. He was also a military man, and advanced 
from the ranks through the various stages to cap- 
tain of the Durham Train-band. In 1734 the general 
assembly of Connecticut appointed Captain Crane 
and James Wadsworth, Esq.. a committee to return 
the thanks of the assembly to Rev. Mr. Nathaniel 
Chauncey for the sermon he preached before that 
body. May 9, that year, and solicit a copy of the 
same for publication. In October, 1738, he, with 
Mr. Wadsworth, both of Durham, were again ap- 
pointed by the assembly, with Captain Samuel Hall. 
to locate a site for a meeting-house in the parish of 
."Kmity, New Haven county, the place now known 
as VVoodbridge. He died April 11, 1741. His 
widow died August 3i> 1754- They had children: 
Silas, born January 25, 1705; Concurrence, 1708; 
Henry, 1710; Abigail, 1712, died 1724. 

(HI) Silas Crane, eldest son of Henry, Jr., and 
Abigail (Flood) Crane, was called Sergeant Silas, 
for service rendered during the French and Indian 
wars. He was also prominent in matters relating 
to the affairs of both church and state. He resided 
on a part of the farm of seven hundred and fifty 
acres left by his father, and here, for more th.Tii 
twenty years, the two brothers resided with but a 
partition deed dividing their estates in about equal 
parts. He died January 15, 1763. He married 
Mercy, daughter of Samuel Griswold ; 'he died 
August 29, 1782. Of their eleve;i children, three 
died young. Abigail, Jesse, Silas, Robert G., Eli, 
Hulda. Ruth, and Frederick, lived to mature age. 
(IV) Robert Griswold Crane, fourth child and 
third son of Silas and Mercy (Griswold) Crane, 
was Ixirn February 18, 1739. He married, October 
31, 176s, Mary Camp, daughter of Eleazer Camp, 
of Durham. She died April 30, 1790. In February, 
1791, he married (second) Sybilla Judson, who died 
January 12, 1808. April 7, 1769, Mr. Crane, with 
his family, removed from Durham to the town of 
Bethlehem, where he died March 6, 1820, at the 
age of eighty years, having had eight children : Mary, 
Robert, Molly, Achsah, Eleazer; Jesse, died young; 
Phineas and Sarah. 



(V) Eleazer Crane, second son of Robert G. 
and Mary (Camp) Crane, was born December 38, 
1773. He married, December 9, 1798, Anna (aft- 
erwards called Nancy), daughter of Fletcher Prud- 
den, and his wife, Sarah Treat, who was daughter 
of Edmund, and granddaughter of Governor Robert 
Treat. Mr. Crane first settled on a farm in the 
town of Woodbury, where his two eldest children 
were born, but during the summer of 1802 removed 
to Colebrook, New Hampshire, where he purchased 
wild land and began to improve a farm. He also 
built a saw mill on the stream called Mohawk 
creek, where he manufactured lumber until 1807, 
when owing to the frequent depredations, including 
theft and murder, on account of the controversy 
regarding the boundary line between the United 
States and Canada, he abandoned all his property, 
home, mill, and lumber manufactured, and with 
his family returned to Connecticut, locating in 
Bethlehem. In 1823 he returned to Colebrook, to 
find that the mill, buildings and lumber had been 
burned, only the old irons remaining. He rebuilt 
the farm buildings, cleared up a portion of the land 
for agricultural products, and there made his home 
until the year 1836, when the family removed to 
Wisconsin, and as members of the New England 
Emigrating Company, helped to settle the town (now 
city) of Beloit, where he died June 14, 1839. His 
widow died April 3, 1859. They had five children : 
Emeline E., Orlando F., Sarah Treat, Robert Prud- 
den; and Nathan F., who died in infancy. 

(VI) Robert Prudden Crane, fourth child and 
second son of Eleazer and Nancy (Prudden) Crane, 
was born in Colebrook, New Hampshire, April 17, 
1807. Sixteen years of his early life were passed 
in 13ethlchem, Connecticut, where he attended school 
during the winter terms, and worked on the farm 
in the summer seasons. After returning with his 
father's family to Colebrook, in 1823, his time was 
given to assisting in re-establishing a new home near 
his birthplace, which, in the absence of the family, 
had been practically obliterated. Thirsting after 
rather more than a common district school educa- 
tion, he went several winter seasons to the acad- 
emy at Lancaster, where he was graduated in 1831. 
For a few years he taught school in the neigh- 
boring towns about Colebrook during the winter 
terms. In the fall of 1836 he joined the New Eng- 
land Emigrating Company, which comprised a dozen 
or more families from in and about Colebrook, 
organized for the purpose of migrating to the ter- 
ritory then known as "The Far West." In the 
winter of 1836-37, Mr. Crane, with one other mem- 
ber of this company, started on their westward 
journey, reaching the locality now known as Beloit, 
Wisconsin, in the early spring of the latter year. 
Here they "set their stakes," and were soon fol- 
lowed by the remainder of the emigrating company. 
Mr. Crane had previously married (February 25, 
1836) Almira P., daughter of Captain John W. 
Bicknell and Keziah Paine, his wife. Mr. Crane 
was active and prominent in the early settlement of 
Beloit, making his home there until 1881, when, to 
avoid the cold winters, he removed to Micanopy, 
Florida, where he died, November 3, 1882. His wife, 
Almira, died in Beloit, January 6, 1854, leaving one 
child. F.llerv Hicknell Crane. 

(VII) Eller>' Bicknell Crane, only child of Robert 
Prudden and Almira (Bicknell) Crane, was born in 
Colebrook, Coos county. New Hampshire, Novem- 
ber 12, 1836. He was a babe when he and his 
mother rejoined the husband and father in what 
is now Beloit, Wisconsin, on August 7, 1837. Here 
the son grew to manhood, receiving his education 
in private and public schools, Beloit Academy, and 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



83 



the preparatory department of Beloit College. After 
taking a full course of instruction in single and 
double entry bookkeeping, he was employed as an 
accountant in the office of a lumber and grain mer- 
chant in his native town. The financial stress of 
1857 and 1858 proved so discouraging to the credit 
system of trade, that his employer decided to con- 
duct a cash trade only, during the year i860, and 
Mr. Crane joined a party of gentlemen bound for 
California via the overland route. They started on 
this journey May 4, i860, and Sacramento was 
reached October 12, after an interesting and ex- 
citing trip on account of the warlike attitude as- 
sumed by the Indians against the whites during 
that season. Mr. Crane remained on the Pacific 
coast, passing the tiine in the states of California 
and Oregon, until the winter of 1862. In December, 
that year, he loft San Francisco, to return via the 
Isthmus of Panama, to the east. Reaching New 
York city, he decided to locate in New England, 
among relations, and, proceeding to Boston, se- 
cured a position as bookkeeper and salesman for a 
wholesale anl retail lumber dealer, where he re- 
mained four years, and until his employer sold out 
his business and the accounts were all 'settled 
through the hands of Mr. Crane. 

Mr. Crane located in Worcester, Massachusetts, 
in 1867, and started in business for himself in the 
lumber trade, establishing a yard and office on Mad- 
ison street, near Southbridge street, with Jonathan 
C. French as a partner. Within three months he 
purchased the interest of Mr. French, and for the 
greater portion of the succeeding thirty-four years, 
conducted the business alone. On Sunday afternoon, 
July 8, 1900, a fire was started in some mysterous 
way from an adjoining building, and his stock and 
building went up in smoke. As a change in the build- 
ing laws prohibited the erection of wooden store- 
houses on the site he had occupied, the business 
was given up, and Mr. Crane retired from mercan- 
tile pursuits, and has since devoted his time to 
historical and genealogical work. For nearly thirty 
years he has been a member of the Worcester So- 
ciety of Antiquity, and for many years ^ was its 
president. On the resignation of the librarian, who 
had served the society in that capacity for seven- 
teen years or more, Mr. Crane was elected to suc- 
ceed him, and accepted .the task on account of his 
fondness for the work attending the office. During 
the last two years he has accomplished the large 
task of re-arranging the large library of the society, 
and has also prepared a large amount of literary 
work along historical and genealogical lines, and 
numerous of his written papers have been published 
with the records of Worcester Society of Antiquity. 
He had previously compiled and published "The 
Rawson Family Memorial," a volume containing 
the genealogical records of the descendants of Ed- 
ward Rawson, secretary of the Massachusetts Bay 
Colony ; and "Crane Family Genealogy," in two 
volumes. Many of the careful and exhaustive fam- 
ily records contained in the present work (Genea- 
logical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester Coun- 
ty) are also from his pen, and the publishers, 
through the chief of their editorial staff, take this 
opportunity of justifying their high appreciation of 
labors at once diligent and conscientious. 

During Mr. Crane's residence in Worcester, he 
has been active in public matters, and as a Repub- 
lican in politics has endeavored to do what he could 
to promote the public weal, as he viewed it from his 
standpoint. Although he cast his first presidential 
vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has since voted the 
Republican ticket in the main, he is not a rank 
partisan, for he believes in principles first, and in 



party second. As a proof of the confidence reposed 
in him, we have but to call attention to the honors 
he has received at the hands of his fellow towns- 
men. He has occupied a seat in both branches of 
the city council for the city of Worcester, and also 
been a representative in the general court, and as 
senator and re-elected in each instance, thus re- 
ceiving the complimentary vote from his constitu- 
ents. While a member of the Massachusetts legisla- 
ture, in the house he was a member of the commit- 
tees on constitutional amendments, and election laws. 
When in the senate, on election laws, roads and 
bridges, street railways and taxation, serving as 
chairman of the latter, and also as chairman of 
committee on parishes and religious societies. 

Mr. Crane was for several years one of the di- 
rectors of the Worcester Board of Trade ; for three 
years president of the Builders' Exchange; several 
years president of the Sons and Daughters of New 
Hampshire; president of the Worcester County 
Mechanics' Association, in i8go and 1891 ; and for 
many years has been one of the board of trustees 
for the Worcester County Institution for Savings. 

Mr. Crane married, in 1859, Miss Salona A. Raw- 
son, daughter of George and Lois (Aldrich) Raw- 
son. They have one son, Morton Rawson Crane. 

LOTHROP FAMILY. Mark Lothrop (i), the 
immigrant ancestor of Fred Joseph Lothrop, of 
Leominster, Massachusetts, was born in England. 
He was a kinsman of Thomas Lothrop, who settled 
in Salem and Beverly ; was town officer, deputy 
to the general court, etc., died in the war of 1675, 
leaving no issue. 

Mark Lothrop also settled in Salem before 1642 
when his name appears on the list of proprietors. 
He was formally accepted as an inhabitant of Salem 
December 11, 1643, by the vote of the selectmen. 
He had a grant of land May 17, 1852. In 1657 he 
was one of the proprietors of the town of Bridge- 
water, Massachusetts, and he had been living there 
a year or more. He took the oath of fidelity in 
1657. He was a constable in 1658, and for twenty- 
five years thereafter was a prominent citizen, acting 
on the jury, the grand jury, as surveyor of high- 
ways and on committees to lay out new roads. He 
died at Bridgewater, October 25, 1685, and his son 
Samuel was administrator. His three sons were all 
admitted freeman in 1682. 

The children of Mark Lothrop were : Elizabeth, 
married Samuel Packard, Jr., son of Samuel Pack- 
ard, who came from Wymondham, Norfolk county, 
England ; Samuel, of whom later ; Mark, Jr., born 
1660, died in the Phipps Expedition to Quebec in 
1690, without issue; his will is dated July 14, 1690; 
Edward, died unmarried 1682. 

(II) Samuel Lothrop, son of Mark Lothrop 
(l), was born about 1660 in Bridgewater, Massa- 
chusetts. He was reported of age and proprietor of 
Bridgewater in 1682. He was impressed for service 
in 167s, but was not called upon to fight in the 
war, the constables who impressed him being fined 
instead because he was unfit for duty — probably 
under age. His will was dated April 11, 1724, and 
he calls himself "old." He bequeathed to Mary 
Keith, Josiah's wife; to his sons, Samuel, John, 
Mark and Joseph, also Edward, executor. 

Samuel Lothrop married Sarah Downe and their 
children were : Mary, born at West Bridgewater, 
October 28, 1683, married, January 6, 1703, Josiah 
Keith; Samuel, Jr., of whom later; John, born Oc- 
tober IS, 1687, married, May 23. 1716, Mary Edson ; 
Mark, born at Bridgewater, September 9, 1689, mar- 
of Hon. John Alden, of the "Mayflower;" Sarah, 
ried, March 29, 1722, Hannah Alden, a descendant 



84 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



(twin) bcrii June 5, 169J, married, November 16, 
1715. Solomon Packard: Joseph (twin), born June 
5", 1693. married Mary Snow: Edward, born July 
7. 1697, married llannali Wade, of Bridgewater, 

(III) Samuel Lotlirop. Jr., .>;on of Samuel 
Lothrop (J), was born in Bridgewater, May 17, 
i68.?. He married, November 14, 1710, Abial Las- 
sell, daughter of Isaac Lassell; she was born June 
25, 1688, and died November 3, 1749. He married 
(second), I/51, Lydia Hayden. He died January 
13, ^772. His home was at West Bridgewater, 
Mas.sachusetts. The children of Samuel and Abial 
Lothrop were: Samuel, Jr., born September 23, 
171 1, married, April 3, 1735. Elizabeth Keith; Isaac, 
born December 21, 1714. of whom later; Sarah, 
born September 15, 1717. married. November 17, 
•737, Eliezer "Edson ; Daniel, born May 2, 1721, mar- 
ried, 1744, Rhoda Willis, daughter of Thomas Wil- 
'is; major of Colonel Croft's regiment; died at 
Leeds, Maine, March 18. 1817; Abicl, born Decem- 
ber 7, 1729, married at Bridgewater, May 28, 1747, 
Israel .■\lger, Jr.. died May 3. 1755. 

(IV) Isaac Lothrop, son of Samuel Lothrop 
(3), was born December 2i, 1714. He married 
Bethiah Howard, daughter of Major Edward How- 
ard. He married (second), April 13, 1742, Pa- 
tience Alger, daughter of Joseph Alger. He died 
November 25, 1774. His widow died August 16, 
1779. The children of Isaac and Patience were : 
Bcthia, born March 20, r743-4, married, September 
3, 1767. Samuel Willis; Edmund, born February 15. 
1745-6, married, September 29, 1774, Bettie Howard 
and settled in Easton; Isaac, born June 10. 1748, 
married. .August 31, 1775, Sarah Bailey; Zephaniah. 
boni March 30, 1750, married, September 2, 1779, 
Sarah Packard, daughter of Captain Nathan Pack- 
ard ; .Abigail, born October 14. 1752. married, No- 
vember 24, 1768, Lemuel Keith ; Nathan, of whom 
later; John, born October 12, 1757, married, De- 
cember 7, 1780, Sarah Cook; Keziali, born Septem- 
ber 23, 1767, married, August 11, 1785, Simeon 
Lothrop. 

(V) Nathan Lothrop, son of Isaac Lothrop (4), 
was bom at Bridgewater, Massachusetts, June 10, 

1755. He married (first) Charity ; (second) 

Widow Phebe Beach, daughter of Seth Johnson, of 
Hard wick. She was born September 29, 1764, and 
died at Worcester April i. 1861. The children of 
Nathan Lothrop by his first wife were: Abijah, born 
May 21, 1778; Nathan July 31, 1780. died in Esse.x. 
December 28, 1846, leaving no issue ; Caleb, October 

6, 1782, married Pinney; Olive, June 15. 

1786; (iharity, August 16. 1789. The children of 
Nathan and Phebe Lothrop were : Keziah, July 2, 
1791, married Fisher Mann; Charles. May 21, 1793, 
died August 11, 1818; Otis, March 25, 1795. mar- 
ried Mary Darling, daughter of Rev. Darling, of 
Keene, New Hampshire; Palace, April 30, 1797. 
died December 2, 1822; Sophila. June 5, 1799, mar- 
ried Asa Farnsworth, of Alstcad, New Hampshire; 
she died .April 2, 1868 ; Orville, of whom later ; 
Chauncey, July 16, 1804, married Relief Ann John- 
son ; died in Ware, Massachusetts. 

(VT) Orville Lothrop, son of Nathan Lothrop 
(5), was born at Pittsfnrd, Vermont, May 2r, 1801. 
He married Sarah Fitch, of Leominster, who died 
soon after her marriage .August ,30, 1823, aged 
twenty-three years. He married (second), January 
20, 1825, Lucy Johnson, of Hardwick. He resided 
in Shrewsbury and Worcester, Massachusetts. His 
only child was Philip, of whom later. 

(VII) Philip Lothrop. son of Orville Lothrop 
(6). was born in Shrewsbury. Massachusetts, Oc- 
tober 23, 1825. He married, January I, 1850, Susan 
Elizabeth Whitney, daughter of Joseph and Sally 



Whitney, of Westminster. He settled in Leomin- 
ster, was connected with the Whitney Carriage 
Company there. He died December 2i, 1902. The chil- 
dren of Philip and Susan Elizabeth Lothrop were: i. 
Frank Orville, born January 1, 1851, was educated 
ill the public and high schools of Leominster, was a 
partner in the Wliitney-Keed Company during his 
active business life ; he retired a few years ago 
and resides in a handsome home in Leominster ; 
married, October 29, 1873, Susie Emily Daniuii, of 
Cohoes, New Vork. 2. Ella Juliette, born February 
4, 1857, married, June 6, 1878, Charles Henry Graves, 
of Ludlow', Vermont, and they have one child, Louis 
Whiting (jraves, born July 24, 1880. 3. Fred Jo- 
seph, burn February 19, 1859, of whom later. 

(Vll) Fred Joseph Lothrop, son of Philip Lothrop 
(7), was born at Leominster, Alassachuseits, F'eb- 
ruary 19, 1859. He was educated there in the public 
and high schools and began his business career as 
clerk in the Leominster National Bank, with which 
he has been connected in various capacities to the 
present time. He has been cashier since 1901. He 
is treasurer of the Leominster board of trade and 
treasurer of the sinking fund of the town of Leo- 
minster. In politics he is a Republican. He mar- 
ried (first) Nellie Louise Peirce, of Westminster, 
December 13, 1882. She was born October 19, 
1859, and died at Leominster, July 4, 1884, leaving 
one son. Mr. Lothrop married (second) Sarali 
Lewis Richardson, daughter of Thurston and Har- 
riet (Butterfield) (Adams) Richardson. She was 
born March 21, 1804. The only child of Fred Jo- 
seph and Nellie Louise Lothrop was : Alfred Peirce, 
born at Leominster, June 25, 1884, graduate 01 
Oberlin College. The children of Fred Joseph and 
Sarah Lewis Lothrop were : Everett Wiiifred, born 
December 14, 1890, at Leominster, Massachusetts ; 
Ernest Orville, May 11, 1892, at Leominster; Nellie 
Louise, born at Leominster, December 9, 1893; 
Esther, born December 2, 1898, at Leominster. 

DR. LOUIS KENT CROSS. Robert Cross (1), 
the immigrant ancestor of Dr. Louis Kent Cross, of 
Winchendon, Massachusetts, was born in England. 
He may have been the nephew and it is very prob- 
able that he was a near relative of John Cross, of 
Ipswich, who was born in England about 1580 and 
came to New England with his wife Anne in the 
ship "Elizabeth" of Ipswich, sailing April 30, 1O34 ; 
he left only one child, a daughter Hannah, wife of 
Thomas Hammond. 

Robert Cross came to Ipswich about the same 
time as the older immigrant of this name. He was a 
proprietor as early as 1635 and served in the Pequot 
war. He had a case in the Ipswich court which was 
referred to the general court, December i, 1640. 
The date of his death is not known, and until re- 
cently his records and those of his sons have been 
almost hopelessly confused. His .son, Stephen Cross, 
dcpo.sed in 1663 that he was sixteen and a half 
years old ; his son Robert at the same time testified 
that he was aged about twenty-one years. He deeded 
land probably on his death bed, February 13, 1674-75, 
to his son Stephen and his wife Elizabeth to be given 
them at his death. The name of his wife is not 
known. His children were: Robert, Jr., born 1644, 
married, 1664, Martha Tredwcll and had children : 
Robert, born January 21, 1665; Timothy, born No- 
vember 29, 1667: -Martha, born March 15. 1670; 
Abel, born .April 5, 1676; Stephen, born April 27, 
1678; John, mentioned in will. Stephen, born 1647- 
48, settled in Ipswich. .A daughter, who married 
William Nelson. Martha, married, 1664. William 
Dirkee. Peter, born 1653, died .April 9. 1737. aged 
eighty-four years. 




l^-X^iyUO 



/ r. L'^-l-<>i-52-<? 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



85 



(II) Peter Cross, son of Robert Cross (i), 
was born in Ipswich, Alassachusetts, 1653. He was 
one of the pioneer settlers at Windham, Connecti- 
cut, and some of his children were born there. He 
died April 9, 1737, aged eighty-four years, at Mans- 
field, Connecticut. He married at Ipswich, Mary 
, who died December 9, 1695. His two young- 
est children were by the second marriage. As given 
by Hinman, his children were : Mary, born April 
20, 1679; Stephen, see forward; Elizabeth, born 
June 14, 1683; Peter, Jr., born November 8. 1685. 
married at Mansfield, Connecticut, March 30, 1719, 
Dorothea Royce ; Daniel, born March 8, 1688, mar- 
ried at Mansfield, Connecticut, November 5. 1712, 

Desire ; Experience, born December i, 1691 ; 

Abigail, born June 23, 1694; Mary, born December 

9, 1695, died same day. By the second wife Peter 
Cross had : Mary, born 1697 ; Wade, born December 
IS, 1699. settled in Willington, Connecticut; mar- 
ried Rebecca , and had children there : Re- 
becca, born 1733 ; Elenor, Mary, Peter. 

(III) Stephen Cross, second child of Peter 
Cross (2), was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, May 
15, 1681. He went with his father's family to Wind- 
ham, Connecticut. He settled in that part later 
called Mansfield. He married at Mansfield, Mary 

, November 30, 1703. Their children : Stephen, 

born October 20, 1704; Jonathan, born July 18. 
1706, married Lydia Hale, January 30, 1730-31 ; 
Noah, born April 5, 1708, died December i, 1713; 
Betty, born 1709-10; Ebenezer, born January 18, 
1711-12; a son, born October 20, 1714, died Novem- 
ber 20, 1714; Peter, see forward; Mary, born April 
15, 1718; Noah, born April 17, 1720, married, January 

10. 1737-38, Mary Chamberlain, daughter of Ed- 
mund Chamberlain; Mary, born August 17, 1722; 
Hannah, born July i, 1723; John, born July 10. 
1726. 

(IV) Peter Cross, seventh child of Stephen 
Cross (3), was born in Mansfield or Windham, Con- 
necticut, April 16, 1716. He settled in Mansfield. He 
married there, June 23, 1736, Mary Fuller, daughter 
of Jonathan Fuller. She died January 8, 1739-40. 
He married again, according to the records, Octo- 
ber 2, 1740, Mary Fuller, at Coventry. Connecticut. 
the adjoining town to Mansfield. His children : 
Daughter, born at Mansfield, April 10, 1737, died 
April 29, 1737 ; Elizabeth, born June 18, 1739, at 
Mansfield: Ellither. born March rj. 1742; Aaron, 
born September 6, 1743, at Coventry; Solomon, was 
in the same company with Stephen and may be his 
brother ; Stephen, see forward ; Peter, Jr., born at 
Windsor, December 17, 1756; Mary, born June 3, 
1759, at Windsor, Connecticut. There were prob- 
ably other children. According to the records both 
his wives were named Mary Fuller. Possibly the 

first was Mary and the second only was 

Mary Fuller. The records may be correct, how- 
ever. 

(V) Stephen Cross, son of Petei* Cross (4), 
(no record of birth or baptism found) born in or 
near Windsor, Connecticut, April 15, 1755, died Sep- 
tember 16, 1838. He enlisted. May 9, 1775. in the 
Third Connecticut Regiment in the revolutionary 
war with volunteers from the eastern towns of the 
colony. He was in the same company with Captain 
Roger Enos, of Windsor, and Captain Elijah Rob- 
inson, of Stafford. He was a farmer and a car- 
penter by trade. He settled after the' revolution in 
Monson, Massachusetts. He was a Whig in politics 
in later life. He married, 1778, Sarah Vinton, born 
at Stoughton, Massachusetts, July 6, 1763, died 
July II, 1847. She was the daughter of David 
and Ruth (Dorman) Vinton, who are mentioned 
below : Children of Stephen and Sarah Cross were : 



Hannah, borii August 26, 1779; infant son, born 
March 10, 1782, died young; infant daughter, born 
March 7, 1783, died young; Polly, born February 
26, 1784; Stephen, born June 26, 1787, died April 
2, 1833; was soldier in the war of 1812; Amos, 
born October 29, 1789. died May, 1791 ; Sarah, born 
February 16, 1792 ; Lyman, born November 9, 1794, 
was soldier in the war of 1812; Cyrus, born April 
16, 1797; Lucinda, born January 17, 1800, died 
February 28, 1S75 ; Porter, born July IS, 1807, died 
1S94, see forward. 

(VI) Porter Cross, youngest child of Stepheti 
Cross (5), was born at iVIonson, Massachusetts, 
July 15, 1807. He received a common school educa- 
tion, and worked during his spare hours on his 
father's farm. He learned his father's trade and 
followed it as an occupation through his active life. 
In the forties he removed from i\Ionson to Wor- 
cester, and was engaged there in the building moving 
business. He removed to Charlestown, INIassacbu- 
setts, now Boston, and later was in the house mov- 
ing business in Springfield, Massachusetts. He also 
was a resident of Wilbraham, Massachusetts, for 
several years, and was prominent in town affairs. 
He served on the Wilbraham board of selectmen 
for many years. He was a trustee of Wilbraham 
Academy (Wesleyan). He died in Springfield. 1S94. 
He was a Republican in politics, and an active mem- 
ber and trustee of the Wilbraham Methodist church. 

He married (first), November 29, 1827, Sophia 
Amidon, born at Wilbraham, June 27, 1807, died 
August 23, 1846. Her father was a soldier in the 
revolution. He married (second) Mary Babcock, 
of Tolland, Connecticut, February 2, 1847. She 
was born in Tolland. November 2, 1814. Children 
of Porter and Sophia Cross were : Eli Porter, born 
nt Alonson. November 5. 1828, died at Charlestown, 
Massachusetts, August 2i, 1S46 : Hollis Gilbert, born 
at Manlius, New York, December 20, 1830; Ellen 
Mahalin. born at Monson, September 5, 1823, died 
at Wilbraham, March 2, 1837; Lauretta Jennette, 
horn at Wilbraham, November 26, 183S, died at 
Springfield, Massachusetts, August S. 1903; Ellen 
Cordelia, born at Wilbraham. November 14, 1837; 
Candace Cornelia, born at Monson, September 21, 
1839; Cyrus Wesley, see forward: Lucius Harrison, 
born at Palmer, March 21. 1844. Children of Porter 
and Mary Cross were : Eugene Ferdinand, born in 
Cbarlestow-n, January 29, 1848; Jane Sophia, born at 
Wilbraham, March 22, 1850. died April i, 1852; 
Eudora Eliza, born at Wilbraham, December i. i8si ; 
Albert Orlando, born at Wilbraham, November 18, 
185^. died September 24, 1861. 

(VII) Dr. Cyrus Wesley Cross, seventh child 
of Porter Cross (6), was born in Monson, Massa- 
chusetts, April 10, 1842. At an early age he moved 
with his parents to Worcester and later to Charles- 
town, where he attended school until he was fifteen 
years old, when his parents settled at Wilbraham 
and he entered the Wesleyan Academy, where he 
graduated with high honors. When the civil war 
broke out he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-seventh 
Massachusetts Volunteers, in July, 1862, under 
Colonel Oliver Edwards. He served through the 
war and was mustered out June 2, 1865. His regi- 
ment was in the Si.xth .'\rmy Corps. Among the 
important battles and engagements in which he took 
part were : Fredericksburg, December 13. 1862 ; 
Chancellorsville, April 27, to May S. 1863; Gettys- 
burg. July I to 3, 1863 : Cold Harbor, May. 1864. 
His regiment was in the thickest of the fight at 
Bloody .Angle and at Spottsylvania in the same 
month. He was at Cedar Creek, October 19. 1864; 
at Petersburg and Richmond December. 1864. and 
at the battle of the Wilderness. He was in the 



86 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Appomattox campaign and at the snrrcnder of Lee. 
Here his regiment was one of two left to 
keep order, the only two that entered the city. 
He returned to Wilbraliam after the war and com- 
menced the study of dentistry in the office of Dr. 
Joseph Gould, of Palmer, and contuiutd later with 
Dr. J. M. Gould, of East Douglass. After fitting 
himself for his profession, he opened an office in 
Palmer, where he practiced until his death, June 
2S. 1*595. ■l^r- Cross was a member of the Second 
Congregational Church of Palmer. He was a Re- 
publican in politics. He was a member of Thomas 
Lodge, Free Masons, of Palmer, and its secretary for 
twelve years. Also a member of Hampden Chapter, 
Royal Arch Masons, Washington Council, Royal and 
Select Masters of Palmer, and Springfield Com- 
mandery. Knights Templar. He was a member of 
the Connecticut Valley Dental Association, L. L. 
Merrick Post, Grand Army, of Palmer, and served 
as its commander, and the Cyrus W. Cross Camp, 
Sons of Veterans, was named after him. 

Dr. Cross married (first), 1866, .\nna Maria 
Cooley, of Springfield, who was born September 15, 
1846, died January 9, 1873. He married (second), 
1874, Charlotte Ellen Kent, of Wilbraliam. She was 
the daughter of William and Laura (Smith) Kent. 
Her father was a carpenter and builder. (Children 
of Dr. Cyrus Wesley and Anna Maria Cross were : 
Alice Sophia, born March 4, 1868, died March 30, 
1874; Chester Winfield, born March 10, 1872, now at 
Springfield, Massachusetts. Children of Dr. Cyrus 
Wesley and Charlotte Ellen Cross were: Louis 
Kent, see forward; Bertha May, born October 31, 
1880, resides with mother in Palmer ; Laura Blanche, 
born April 12, 1884, resides with mother in Palmer. 

(VIII) Louis Kent (Tross, son of Dr. Cyrus 
Wesley Cross (7), was born at Palmer, Massachu- 
setts, February 11, 1877. He attended the public 
schools of his native town until he was seventeen 
years old, when he commenced the study of den- 
tistrj' in his father's office. A year later he entered 
Boston University School of ^ledicine, graduating 
in 1899 with the degree of M. D. He subsequently 
entered the Massachusetts Hospital of Homeopathy, 
where he remained for a year. He then began 
practice in Winchendon, locating first in the Fres- 
cott block, and after two years removed to hand- 
somely furnished and well equipped offices on Front 
street, where he is at present enjoying an extensive 
and lucrative practice. Dr. Cross is a member of 
the Second Congregational Church of Palmer. In 
politics he is a Republican. He is active and well 
known in Masonic circles ; he was a member of 
Thomas Lodge, of Palmer, and was a charter mem- 
ber of the Cyrus W. Cross Camp, Sons of Veterans, 
of Palmer. He is now a member of Artisan Lodge, 
of Winchendon ; North Star Chapter, Royal Arch 
Masons, and has held a number of the highest offices. 
He is also a member of the Avon Club of 
Winchendon. 

He married at Winchendon, October 2, 1902, Grace 
Atherton Converse, daughter of Morton E. and 
Harriet (Atherton) Converse. (See Converse 
sketch.) Dr. and Mrs. Cross are the parents of one 
son, Kemp Converse, born September 20, 1904. 

(I) John Vinton, one of the immigrant ances- 
tors of Dr. Louis Kent Cross through the wife of 
his revolutionary ancestor, Stephen Cross, was born 
in England, is believed to have settled in 1643 
at Salem, was in Lynn 1648, probably removed to 
Maiden. Children of John and Ann Vinton, all born 
in Lynn, were: Eleanor, born May. 1648, married 
Isaac Ramsdell ; John, see forward: William, born 
April, 1652; Blaise, born April 22, 1654; Ann, born 



April 4, 1656; Elizabeth, born January, 1657-58; 
Sarah, born September 16, 1662. 

(II) John Vinton, son of John Vinton (l), an- 
cestor of Dr. Cross, was born March 21, 1650; 
married, August 26, 1677, Hannah Green, born 
February 24, 1659-60, daughter of Thomas and Re- 
becca Green, of Maiden. Her father was son of 
Thomas Green, the immigrant. (Sec sketch.) John 
Vinton was a forgeman, ironworker, and in his will, 
January 15, 1721-22, calls himself "Gentleman," im- 
plying his descent from gentle blood. He died No- 
vember 13, 1727, aged seventy-seven years; his wife 
Hannah died 1741, aged eighty-two years. They 
lived in Maiden and Lynn. Their children: John, 
born 1680; Hannah, born January 26, 1681-82: Re- 
becca, born March 26, 1683; Thomas, born January 
31, 1686-87; Mary, born August 20, 1687, died young; 
Mary, born January 2, 1692-93 ; Samuel, born May 
3, 1695; Abiathar, born May 10, 1700, at Woburn. 

(III) Captain Samuel Vinton, seventh child 
of John Vinton (2), ancestor of Dr. Cross, was born 
May 3, 1695, married, March 22, 1720-21, Elizabeth 
French, of Braintree, born March 4, 1698-99, daugh- 
ter of Dependence and Rebecca French. He was a 
bloomer or blacksmith in iron works. He had land 
from his father at Woburn in 1720; he bought 
a share in the iron works in Braintree in 1735-36. 
He lived in Woburn until 1729, when he removed 
to Braintree, now Stoneham, where he was high- 
way surveyor in 1731 ; he was fined for declining 
the office of constable in 1734. He was captain of 
the militia. He died July 17, 1756, aged sixty- 
one years, and his wife died March 31, 1771, aged 
seventy-one years. Their children: Samuel, born 
1721-22; Elizabeth, born December 8, 1723; David, 
see forward; Rebecca, born July 11, 1728, died 
young. The foregoing were born in Woburn, the 
following in Braintree: Rebecca, born August 15, 
1729; Hannah, born June 12, 1732; John, born Feb- 
ruary II, 1734-35; William, born 1737, died young; 
William, born January 22, 1738-39, died February 6, 
1 741 : William, died February 7, 1747. 

(IV) David Vinton, son of Captain Samuel 
Vinton (3), ancestor of Dr. Cross, was born at 
Woburn, 5larch 17, 1725, married Ruth Dorman, No- 
ember ig, 1747. She was born 1726, and was the 
daughter of Seth and Sarah (Thayer) Dorman. 
Her mother was the eldest child of Ephraim and 
Sarah Thayer, of Braintree, who with their fourteen 
married children joined at least on one occasion 
in communion, all the sons and daughters-in-law 
also being church members. They resided in Brain- 
tree in what is now Randolph until 1752, when they 
removed to Stoughton ; in 1780 they removed to 
Willington, Connecticut, where David and his wife 
resided the remainder of their days and where his 
wife's brother, Micajah Dorinnn. also settled. Iler 
sisters lived there and at Mansfield. He died 1791, 
aged sixty-five, and she died l8io, aged eighty-four. 
Their childreh : Mary, born October 27, 1748; 
Samuel. October 9, 1750; Elizabeth, February 27, 
1752; Samuel, September 7. 1754: Seth, June 6, 1756; 
David, March 18, 1759; Ruth September 21, 1761 ; 
Sarah, see forward ; Naomi, March 17, 1765 ; Will- 
iam, January 21, 1767; Asenath, April I, 1769; Phebe, 
February 3, 1772. 

(V) Sarah Vinton, daughter of David Vinton 
(4), was born in Stoughton and moved to Willing- 
ton, Connecticut, where she married Stephen Cross, 
mentioned above. 

BARTLETT FAMILY. Henry Rartlett (i). the 
immigrant ancestor of the Bartlett family of Leo- 
minster, Massachusetts, was born in England about 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



87 



1660. He settled in Marlboro, Massachusetts, after 
King Philip's war, in that part of the town sub- 
sequently set ofif as Northboro. The original home- 
stead was owned lately by William A. Bartlett, of 
Northboro. From Henry Bartlett came, not only the 
family of Leominster under consideration, but nearly 
all of this name in Westboro, Southboro, Sterling, 
Princeton, Rutland and Northboro, as will be indi- 
cated in this sketch. The Brookheld Bartletts are 
descended mainly from John Bartlett, the pioneer 
at Windsor, Connecticut. An important branch of 
the Bartlett family in Worcester is descended from 
the immigrant, John Bartlett, of Weymouth, Massa- 
chusetts, and Cumberland, Rhode Island. Savage is 
the authority for the service of Henry Bartlett in 
King Philip's war under the brave Captain Johnson. 
Bartlett was probably at Braintree for a short time. 
The children of Henry and Mary Bartlett, all born 
at Marlboro, were : Elizabeth, February 27, 1686, 
married, December 9, 1710, John Prentice ; Daniel, 
April 10, 1691, of whom later; Mary, October 20, 
1^3; Henry, October 22, 1696, died 1699; Henry 
and Martha (twins), August 29, 1701 ; Lydia, August 
17, 1704, died December 15, 1722. 

(II) Ensign Daniel Bartlett, son of Henry 
Bartlett (i), was born in Marlboro, Massachusetts, 
April 10, 1691. He died there May i, 1764. Most 
if not all the descendants of Henry Bartlett, the im- 
migrant, are also descended through his son, Daniel 
Bartlett. He settled in Marlboro and had a large 
family, eight or more of his sons and daughters 
settling in Worcester county and raising families 
there. Daniel was ensign in the Marlboro company. 
He died May, 1764. He was a prominent man in the 
town of Marlboro. He married there, February 
12, 1717, Martha How, the daughter of Eleazer and 
Hannah (How) How, of whom a sketch appears 
elsewhere in this work. 

The children of Ensign Daniel and Martha 
(How) Bartlett were: Jotham, born in Marlboro, 
April 5. 1717, settled in Westboro, married Miriam 
How; Sarah, June 30, 1718, settled at Rutland, mar- 
ried (intentions dated at Rutland November 10, 
1750). Daniel Saunders; Daniel, September 28, 1719, 
settled at Rutland and has many descendants there- 
abouts ; wife Mary died at Rutland, June 12, 1825, 
aged ninety-five years, the oldest person in the town ; 
he died there December 17, 1801, aged eighty-three 
years ; Joseph, November 24, 1720, settled at West- 
boro, married (intentions at Westboro May 24, 1745) 
at Shrewsbury, February 5, 1745 ; Abigail, October 

30, 1721, married, August 25, 1756, at Marlboro ; 
Abraham, September 21, 1722, died February 11, 
1723; John, November 25, 1724, of whom later; 
Jonathan, January 26, 1725, married, 1753, Mary 
Holloway, settled at Northboro, and Westboro ; 

Isaac, March 6, 1725, married INIartha , settled at 

Rutland: Abner (twin), March 12, 1728; Mary 
(twin), March 12, 1728, died young; Jonas, March 

31, 1729, married Elizabeth and settled at 

Marlboro; Mercy, May 31, 1730, married, June 13, 
1765, George Oak, of Westboro. 

(III) John Bartlett. son of Daniel Bartlett 
(2), was born in Marlboro, Massachusetts, No- 
vember 25, 1724. He was probably the "Mr." Bart- 
lett who died according to the town records after 
July, 1796. He removed to Rutland in 1759 or 1760. 
He was of Marlboro, 1759, when he bought a place 
in Rutland of Charles Parmenter, of Rutland. His 
brothers, Joseph and Daniel Bartlett, had settled 
in Rutland some ten years before. The records 
do not indicate that John Bartlett stayed long in 
Rutland. He was a resident of Princeton in 1770, 
when he bought some land in Hubbardston of Ed- 
ward Clarke. His son Samuel was born in Prince- 



ton in 1764. John Bartlett and Jabcz Gerould, of 
Princeton, bought land in that town of David Ever- 
ett in 1773. John liartlett mortgaged his place in 
1788 to his brother, Jonathan Bartlett, of Northboro, 
and the mortgage was discharged next year by the 
executor of his brother's will. 

The list of children of John Bartlett is probably 
not complete. He married at Marlboro, December 
14, 1761, Mary Joiner. Their children : John, born 
sbout 1762, probably at Marlboro or Rutland; 
Samuel, born at Princeton, October 7, 1764, mar- 
ried, September 24, 1782, at Princeton, Ruth Bur- 
dett ; Pamelia, born at Princeton, April 15, 1769, 
married at Rutland, Daniel Sanders, Jr., 1801 ; a 
child born August 1766, died October 24, 1767; a 
child, died 1803. 

(IV) John Bartlett, Jr., son of John Bartlett 
(3), was born about 1762 in Marlboro. He removed 
to Fredonia, New York, and died there. He mar- 
ried Dyer. Mr. Dyer, her father, no doubt 

died in Princeton, May 31, 1793. A Lydia Dyer, 
of Princeton, married, 1796, David Ramar. Among 
the children of John Bartlett, Jr., was Luther, born 
about 1790. 

(V) Luther Bartlett, son of John Bartlett (4), 
was born probably at Fredonia, New York, about 
1790. He came to Leominster, Massachusetts, when 
a young man and bought October 13, 1813, of James 
Boutelle a farm in Leominster. He had been living 
for a time at Sterling. He was in the mill busi- 
ness at Leominster. Luther Bartlett died at Leo- 
minster, October 14, 1838. The children of Luther 
and Mary Bartlett were all born at Leominster ex- 
cept the eldest who was born at Sterling. Children 
were : Mary, born February 26, 1814, married Oliver 
C. Fairbanks ; Martha, November 7, 1816, married 
George P. Clark; Marsilva (Mary Silvia shortened 
to one word), born May 14, 1819 ; Caroline, Febru- 
ary 27, 1821 ; Luther, April i, 1822 ; Damaris, August 
26, 1824; Abel, January 30, 1827, of whom later; 
Sampson, October 6, 1828, married Charles G. Un- 
derwood; Eunice born 1830; John F., 1837. 

(VI) Abel Bartlett, son of Luther Bartlett (s), 
was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, January 30, 
1827, and was educated there in the common schools. 
He learned the trade of chairmaker and followed 
that occupation for a number of years. He then 
became the proprietor of a sawmill and conducted 
it in cormection with a wood and lumber business 
until he retired from active business. He is at 
present living at his home in Leominster in com- 
fortable retirement after, a long and successful bus- 
iness life. In early life he voted with the Whig 
party but since the organization of the Republican 
party has been a member of it. 

He married Mary White, who was born in 1834, 
died 1900. Their children were: Herbert E., of 
whom later; Archie B., of whom later; Waldo W., 
of whom later; Eunice A., married Irving W. Bolles, 
and they have one child ; Bertha F., married John 
W. Pickering, and thev have one child. 

(VII) Herbert E." Bartlett, son of Abel Bart- 
lett (6), was born in Fort Covington, Franklin 
county. New York, December 21, 1862. He re- 
ceived his education in the public schools of that 
town and then learned the trade of woodturning in 
his father's mill, and became very skillful in the 
work. He worked at his trade for a number of 
years in the Whitney carriage factory of Leominster. 
He engaged in business on his own account in 1891 
under the firm name of H. E. Bartlett & Company, 
in the manufacture of wooden toys, children's chairs 
and furniture and miscellaneous wooden goods such 
as easels, screens, music racks, magazine racks, 
tabourettes, tables, stands, towel holders, hat racks. 



88 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



cradles, etc. The business was started on a small 
scale, but on a good basis, and it. has grown con- 
stantly and proved profitable from the outset. The 
factory at Leominster now keeps more than fifty 
skilled hands busy. The selling agents of the com- 
pany are : George Borgfeldt & Company and the 
Strobcl & Wilken Company, New York and Chicago. 
Mr. Bartlett is one of the active and influential bus- 
iness men of the town. In politics he is a Republi- 
can, lie is a Unitarian in religion. 

i\Ir. Bartlett married, 1887, May L. Davis, daugh- 
ter of Walden Davis, of Leominster. They have 
one child, Margurite, a student in the public schools. 

(Vll ) Archie B. Bartlett, son of Abel Bartlett (6), 
was born in Leominster, June 13, 1865. He was edu- 
cated there in the the public and high schools. He then 
went to Worcester and learned the trade of wood turn- 
ing and followed the same in Worcester for nine 
years. Jn 1890 he returned to Leominster and went 
into business as the proprietor of a wood turning 
establishment. During the past fifteen years he has 
been very successful in a material way. He ranks 
among the promising and prosperous business men 
of his native town. He is an active worker in the 
Republican party. He married (first) Nettie A. 
Smith, and (second) Mary Stewart. 

(Vll) Waldo Bartlett, son of Abel Bartjett 
(6), was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, Feb- 
ruary 5, 1870. I le attended the public schools of his 
native town and graduated at the Leominster high 
school. He learned the trade of chair making in 
one of (he factories for which this section of the 
state is famous and followed his trade for a few 
years. He followed his father in the saw mill bus- 
iness in Leominster. In fact the business of all 
three of Abel Bartlett's sons developed from his 
saw mill, a sort of natural growth in three directions. 
Waldo Bartlett has been successful in his business 
career also. In politics he is a Republican and he 
takes a wholesome interest in town and political 
affairs. He has won the respect of friends and 
neighbors by his character and his devotion to 
business. He married, October, 1903, Caroline Page, 
daughter of Wilbur Page, of Ashburnham, Massa- 
chusells. 

WHITTKMORE FAMILY The English.pedigree 
of this family, given in this work in connection with 
the sketch of the ancestry of Eli J. Whittemore, of 
Worcester, from manuscript in his possession, has 
been traced with great care and is much more com- 
plete than that of most American families. The fol- 
lowing is the American line of ancestry as compiled 
by Joel Whittemore for the history of Fitzwilliam, 
New Hampshire. 

(1) Thomas Whittemore, the immigrant ances- 
tor, son of Thomas and Mary Whittemore, of 
llitchin, county of Hertford, England, was the pro- 
genitor of the Whittemore family af Winchendon, 
Massachusetts. He was an early settler in Charles- 
town, removing soon to the Mystic side, later known 
as Maiden, now Everett. As his son John was 
born in Hitchin, England, in 1639, and he signed a 
petition at Charkstown. Massachusetts, in 1640, it 
is evident that he came to America in 1639 or 1640. 
He bought land of John Cotton in 1645. His name 
was mentioned in an indenture i>f R. Bellingham in 
1652. His wife Hannah deposed December 16, 
l66.j, that her age was fifty years. He was thrice 
married and had f>ne child by his first wife, two 
by the setond and ten by the third. He had two 
sons of the same name at the time, one living in 
England and the other in America. The elder 
Thomas Whittemore, Jr., was by the second wife, 
the younger by the third wife. The homestead re- 



mained in possession of the family until May i, 
1845, over two hundred years. His children: Sarah, 
Mary, Thomas, Daniel, John, died young ; Nathaniel, 
John. The preceding were born in Hitchin. Eng- 
land, the following in Charlestown. Massachusetts: 
Elizabeth, Benjamin. Thomas, Samuel. Pclatiah, 
Abraham. 

(H) John Whittemore. son of Thomas Whitte- 
more (l). was born in Hitchin. England, and bap- 
tized there February 11. 1639. He died in Cambridge. 
Massachusetts, December 8, 1694. He married (first) 
Mary, daughter of Deacon John and Elizabeth L'p- 
ham. Their children : John, Thomas, Joseph. Ben- 
jamin, Elizabeth. Nathaniel. Joel, died young. He 
married (second) Mary ^liller. and their children 
were : Joel, Mary, Pclatiah, .\mos, Mary, Daniel, 
Rebecca, Hannah. 

(HI) John Whittemore. eldest son of John 
Whittemore (2), was born in 1662, owned the 
covenant April 4, 1687, and died in Cambridge, 
April 16, 1702. He married (first) Elizabeth .\na- 
bel, who died October 27, 1686. and (second) Sarah 
Hall. The child of John and Elizabeth was: John. 
The children of John and Sarah (Hall) Whittemore 
were : Jonathan, Richard, Joseph, Sarah. Exixrri- 
cnce, died young; Thomas. Experience, Jonathan, 
Abigail, Anna, Josiah. 

(IV) John Whittemore. eldest- son of John 
Whittemore (3), was born February 23. 1685, died 
/\pril 21. 1748, in Boston. He was a mariner. He 
married^ November 8, 171 1. Elizabeth Lloyd, who 
died August 13, 1746. aged fifty-seven years. Their 
children: John, see forward; Elizabeth, born June 
9. 1716; Edward, born August 17, 1718; Sarah, born 
March 3, 1720. 

(V) John Whittemore, eldest son of John 
Whittemore (4), was born in Boston, and baptized 
in the Second Church, May 16, 1714. He married, 
June 3, 1742, Lydia Clough, who died January 15, 
1750, aged thirty-one years. Their children : Will- 
iam, born about 1744, resided in Lynn. Massachu- 
setts, where he died June 5. 1782; married, .\pril 
30, 1767, Bethia Collins, who died March 29, 1809, 
they had a son William. John, born about 1746, 
died unmarried. Josiah, sec forward. 

(VI) Josiah Whittemore, .son of John Whitte- 
more (5), was born in 1748 or 1749 in 
Boston, died April II, 1814. in Phillipston, 
Massachusetts, aged sixty-five years. He married, 
.\ugust 9, 1773, Lucy Snow, daughter of John 

and (Clough) Snow, of Lunenburg, 

Massachusetts. He married (second) Martha 
(Parkhurst) Rider. The wife of John Snow was 
from Boston and was doubtless a relative of Lydia 
Clough, the mother of Josiah Whittemore. The 
first five children were born in Lunenburg, the sec- 
ond five in Leominster and the last four in Phillins- 
ton. Ten were by the first and four by the second 
marriage. The children : William Snow, born July 
26. 1774; John, see forward; Salmon, born July 17. 
1778; Mary, born September 2H, 1780. married Caleb 
Sweetzer; Lucy, born July 28. 1783. died July 26. 
1804. unmarried; Josiah. born October 28, 1784. 
died May 17, 1870. married Betsey Foster, a native 
of Rowe. Massachusetts, settled in Hartford. New 
York; Levi, born June 12, 1786; Cephas, born De- 
cember 2. 1787. died 1790; Otis, born August 8, 
1789. died 1828; married Mary .^nn Smith, resided 
in Miramichi. New Brunswick; Betsey, born Sep- 
tember 26. 1793. died December 2. 1881 ; married. 
March 20. 1816, William Farrar. son of Daniel 
Farrar. settled at Hadley. Michigan; Cephas, born 
April 26, 1797, married Lydia Smith, settled in 
Charleston, South Carolina ; Zenas, born Septem- 
ber 15. 1798, died January 31. 1872; married (first) 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Sophia Penniman; (second) Louisa Philips; (third) 
Mary F. Tobey; Martha, born March i, 1800, died 
April S, 1848 ; married, February 14, 1832, William 
H. Manchester, a native of New Bedford, Massa- 
chusetts; Sylvanus, born August 19, 1803. died 
young. 

(VII) John Whittemore, second child of Jo- 
siah Whittemore (6), was born in Lunenburg, 
Massachusetts, October 17, 1775, died December 
26, 1855. He married. December 26, 1797. Han- 
nah Stone, daughter of Samuel and Anna (.Stacey) 
Stone; -she was born January 28, 1777, died Octo- 
ber 30, 1832. John Whittemore removed to Fitz- 
william, New Hampshire, about 1796, and soon 
afterward settled on lot 13, range 6, on the place 
now or lately owned by James G. Baldwin. He 
kept a general store ia Fitzvyilliam for many years. 
The children, all born in Ftizwilliam. were: De.xter, 
see forward; Joel, born May 18, 1801, died January 
29, 1804 ; Danvers, born September 23, 1804, died 
July 31, 1828, unmarried; John, born October 22. 
1806, married, October 6, 1829, Rebecca Stowell, 
daughter of David and Rebecca (Bowker) Stowell; 
he ditd in Lansing, Michigan, February 12, 1879; 
Lucy, born January 11, 181 1, married Charles Bige- 
low ; Laura, born November 8, 1814, married Mor- 
rill Oilman. 

(VIII) Dexter Whittemore, eldest child of John 
Whittemore, (7). was born in Fitzwilliam, Octo- 
ber 9, 1798, died April 5, 1865, in New York city. 
He was educated in the common schools of that 
town. He entered his father's store when a boy, 
and in 1820 became his father's partner under the 
firm name of J. Whittemore & Son. The Whitte- 
more store had been conducted since about 1804 
at his father's residence. In 1821 the firm bought 
out the Scott & Bemis store and removed to the vil- 
lage. Ih 1825 Dexter Whittemore became sole pro- 
prietor, and in 1828 he took into partnership Danvers 
Whittemore and the firm name became D. & D. 
Whittemore. From 1829 to 1850 Dexter Whittemore 
was again the sole proprietor; he then took into 
partnership his son Thomas W., and later Charles 
Whittemore and the firm was D. Whittemore & 
Son or D. Whittemore & Sons until 1856. His son 
Joel succeeded to the business. When he retired 
he had acquired a competence. He spent much of 
his time in later years in New York city with his 
sons, who were in business there, dividing his time 
between there and Fitzwilliam. He was one of the 
leading business men of his native town and a 
man of large influence. He was a consistent temper- 
ance man and was the first to abandon the sale of 
lifiuor and tobacco. In addition to his store he car- 
ried on a business in this vicinity in the manufacture 
of palm leaf hats. The material was furnished by 
him to women to braid and make hats in their 
homes. This method of manufacturing braided 
goods for hats was common fifty years ago in many 
sections of New England. Mr. Whittemore was a 
Whig in politics during his active years. He was 
a town officer for many years. He was treasurer in 
1826-39-40, selectman 1847 and 1848, collector of 
taxes from 1833 to 1837, school committeeman. 
1840-44-45. He was captain of the artillery com- 
pany from 1824 to 1826 and was always afterward 
called "Captain De.xter." He was a strong anti- 
slavery man and Abolitionist. 

He married, April 18, 1820, Betsey Wright, 
daughter of Thomas and Jemima (Knowlton) 
Wright. She was born December 28, 1795, died 
January 28, 1856, in Fitzwilliam. He married (sec- 
ond), January i. 1857, Sarah Reed, daughter of 
Phineas and Lydia (Richardson) (Parker) Reed, 
widow of Daniel T. Haydeii. She was born May 



21, 1811. Children of Dexter and Betsey Whitte- 
more were ; Joel, sec forward. Thomas Wright, 
born September 9, 1825, died July 23, 1885; married, 
August 27, 1851, Atossa V. Stone, daughter of Rev. 
Cyrus and Atossa (Frost) Stone; they resided in 
New York city and left children: Arthur Dexter, 
of Utica, New York, and Laura, wife of Dr. Jonas 
Rein Nilson, uf New York city. Charles, born 
February 15, 1828. married. October 16, 1850, Maria 
F. Kimball, daughter of John and Abigail (Hill) 
Kimball, who was born August 29, 1826; they have 
three children. Eliza, born January 25, 1830, married 
Rev. .Abraham Jenkins, born in Barre, Massachu- 
setts, March 14, 1811, died in Fitzwilliam^ August 4, 
1861, son of Abraham and Mary (Lord) Jenkins; 
she was his second wife. Cynthia, born May 30, 
1832, died December 18, 1837. A son, bom January 
30, 1834, died next day. Laura, born January 18, 
1835, died March 26, 1854, at Mount Holyoke Semi- 
nary, South Hadley. Cynthia, born December 11, 
1837, died July 8, 1855. 

(IX) Joel Whittemore, eldest son of Dexter 
Whittemore (8), was born in Fitzwilliam, New 
Hampshire, October 13, 1823. He attended the com- 
mon schools there and Appleton Academy at New 
Ipswich, New Hampshire. During his youth when 
not in school he worked in his father's store, and 
was admitted to partnership under the firm name 
of D. Whittemore & Son. He purchased his father's 
interests in 1858 and continued the business alone 
under his own name for ten years. He then went 
to New York and became connected with the firm 
of Whittemore Brothers, who were importers and 
dealers in plate glass and mirrors. This business 
was established by his brothers, Thomas W. and 
Charles Whittemore. Joel Whittemore was the 
bookkeeper for the concern. In 1891, on account 
of ill health he retired from business and settled 
in Winchendon, Massachusetts. He died there 
March 23, 1892. Mr. Whittemore W'as one of the 
leading citizens of Fitzwilliam as long as he lived 
there. He was elected deacon of the Congregational 
church in 1859, and served a number of years ; he 
was also clerk of the parish. He was town clerk 
from 1863 to 1866, selectman in 1865-66, town audi- 
tor in 1861-62, on the school committee in 1859. In 
politics he was a Republican, though he affiliated 
with the American or Knownothing party in his early 
years. He was an active worker in various temper- 
ance movements and a member of the Good Temp- 
lar organizations. He compiled the genealogical 
matter and also edited the entire history of Fitz- 
william, New Hampshire, which ranks as one of the 
best town histories published. He was a musician 
of ability and played the bass viol in church before 
the day of the church organ. 

He married (first), October 13, 1847, Caroline 
Susan Hathon, born October i, 1825, died October 
5, 1857, daughter of Ebenezer and Mary (Thomp- 
son) (Chapin) Hathon. of Jafifrey, New Hampshire. 
He married (second), November 3, 1858, Martha S. 
Waters, born November 14, 1841, daughter of George 
W. and Sophia M. (Chapin) Waters, of Jafifrey. 
The children of Joel and Martha S. Whittemore 
were; Alfred Hathon. born in Fitzwilliam, New 
Hampshire, November 6, 1861, died Septeml)er 21, 
1862 ; Henry Joel, see forward ; Bertha, born in 
New York city, December 6, 1874. 

(X) Henry Joel Whittemore, second child of 
Joel Whittemore (9), was born in New York city, 
December 25, 1870. He attended the schools of 
New York and the college of the city of New York 
until 1891, when he removed to Winchendon with 
the family. He then entered Taft and Day's brush 
handle factory, where he remained for about a year. 



90 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Then he was employed on a farm in Fitzwilliam for 
six months. At the death of his father he returned 
to Winchendon and entered the employ of James 
Sutherland, Jr., a florist. Three years later he 
bought out his employer and carried on that busi- 
ness until 1906, when he sold out to W. W. Rhuland. 
He re-built part of the plant and largely increased 
the business. In 1902 he erected an office building 
and salesroom near the railroad station to accommo- 
date the retail trade. A large part of his product 
was shipped to Boston, though Mr. Whittemore 
had an excellent local business. He is a member of 
the Winchendon Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and 
was a charter member of the Grange at Fitzwilliam. 
He belongs to Watatic Tribe, No. 85, Red Men. He 
is a member of the North Congregational Church, 
and in politics is a Republican. 

He married, December 21. 1895, Mary E. Derby, 
bom .-Kugust 13, 1874, daughter of Hiram and Mary 
(McDonald) Derby, of Lunenburg. Hiram Derby 
was a manufacturer of wooden ware at Fitzwill- 
iam. Children of Henry Joel and Mary E. Whitte- 
more are: Eunice, born September 22, 1896; Inez 
Elizabeth, February 17. 1898; Dexter Derby, Octo- 
ber 8, 1899; Lillian Waters, December 5, 1900; Joel 
Truman, December 31, 1902; Henrietta, July 13, 
1904 ; Elliot Sylvanus, January 18, 1906. 

CHARLES ARTHUR ANDREWS. Robert 
Andrews (i), the immigrant ancestor of Charles 
.Arthur Andrews, of Winchendon, Massachusetts, 
was born in England. He came to Ipswich, Massa- 
chusetts, in 1635, from Norwich, Norfolk county, 
England, owner and master of the ship "Angel 
Gabriel." His sister Mary married Robert Burnam 
and her three sons, John, Thomas and Robert 
Biirnam. were on this vessel when it was wrecked 
near Pcmaquid, Maine, in a violent storm, August 
•5. '635. The ship was of two hundred and forty 
tons burden and carried sixteen guns. After his loss 
Captain Andrews left the sea and settled in Chc- 
bacco (Essex), Massachusetts. He was admitted 
a freeman May 6, 1635. and licensed to keep the first 
ordinary in the town, September 3, 1635. His house 
lot was on the south side of the river near the 
church. He had many grants of land and acquired 
a large property. He died in 1643. His will is 
dated April 2, 1641, and proved at Ipswich, March 
26, 1643-44, bequeathing to wife Elizabeth, sons 
John and Thomas, son-in-law Franklyn ; daughter 
Elizabeth ; grandson Daniel Hovey ; to John, son of 
Humphrey Griffin, and two other sons, all under 
twenty-one years; to kinsmen John, Thomas and 
Robert Burnam. His children: Alice, married 
William Franklyn, of Ipswich ; Abigail, married 
Daniel Hovey, of Ipswich (see Hovey family 
sketch); John, see forward; Thomas, born in Eng- 
land, school master at Ipswich, died unmarried July 
ID, 1683. 

(II) John Andrews, son of Robert Andrews 
(l), was bom in England, 1622, according to a 
deposition that he made in 1692. He was called the 
eldest son and a minor in his father's will, April 2, 
1641. He must have been in the militia as he is 
called corporal in the records. He was a baker by 
trade. He was received as an inhabitant of Ips- 
wich, 1646. He sold land there in 1652 to Mary 
Webster. He held the office of surveyor of high- 
ways in 1666. He died intestate at Ipswich, 1705. 
His will was dated March 13. 1705. He married 
Sarah , who died April 29, 1666. Their chil- 
dren were: John, sec forward; William, Thomas, 
Joseph. Elizabeth, married James Giddings. 

(III) John Andrews, son of John Andrews (2), 
was born in 1648 according to a deposition made 



in 1684. In a deed made by his father, June 30, 
1677, to James Giddings and wife Elizabeth who 
was his sister, both John Andrews and Giddmgs are 
mentioned as living on a farm at Averill's Hill. He 
bought land of Robert Cross, Jr., an island of six 
acres, October 29, 1675. He was lieutenant in the 
militia, and a soldier in King Philip's war. He or 
his father was a tything man in Ipswich in 1697. 
Among his children was John, see forward. 

(IV) Deacon John Andrews, son of Lieutenant 
John Andrews (3), was born in Ipswich, about 
1680. He settled in Chebacco, Ipswich. ■ His 
will was proved April 16, 1753. dated November 20, 
1751. His estate was inventoried at five hundred 
and seventy-one pounds and was divided March 29, 
1754. Children of Deacon and Elizabeth Andrews 
were: John (twin), born about 1710; Jeremiah 
(twin), born about 1710; Elizabeth, born about 1712, 
married Abijah Wheeler; Margaret, born about 
1714, married, December 14, 1734, James Perkins; 
Abigail, born in Chebacco, married, December 2, 
1736, Jeremiah Burnam; Dorcas, married (.inten- 
tions dated March 13), 1741, James Ely; Ruhamah, 
married (intentions dated October 27), 1748, Daniel 
Low. 

(V) Jeremiah Andrews, son of John Andrews 
(4), and twin brother of John .Andrews. They 
were born about 1708-10, and were the executors of 
their father's estate in 1754. He settled in Che- 
bacco near the Manchester line. He married (sec- 
ond) Lucy Rust, (.intentions January 11) 1745. 
Among his children were: Jeremiah, Jr., sec for- 
ward; Benjamin, of Manchester, died at sea 1764, 
leaving son Ezekiel and three daughters. 

(VI) Jeremiah Andrews, Jr., son of Jeremiah 
Andrews (5), was born in Chebacco, (Essex) 
Massachusetts, about 1730. He settled in Manches- 
ter, Massachusetts. He married there Lydia Knowl- 
ton, of Ipswich, March 19, 1750-51. He was a sol- 
dier in the revolution for a short time. Among 
their children were: Lydia, born September 4, 1752, 
married Nicholas Babcock, January 18, 1776; Lydia, 
baptized at Manchester, June 16, 1754; Molly, born 
November 4, 17(30; John, see forward. 

(VII) John Andrews, probably, son of Jere- 
miah Andrews, Jr., of Essex, possibly his grandson. 
He was born in Essex, Massachusetts, in 1777, and 
died 1857, about eighty years old. He married 
(first), August 21, 1806, Lucy Craft. He married 
(second), January 3, 1813, Nancy Rowc, who died 
at Essex in 1889, aged ninety-seven years. Chil- 
dren of John and Lucy Andrews were : John 
Craft, born March I. 1807; Joseph. Children of 
John and Nancy Andrews were: William, born 
November 17, 1813; Sarah; Hannah; Isaac M., see 
forward ; Nathaniel, Samuel James, born January 
18, 1831 ; George Edward, born January 7. 1837. 

(VIII) Isaac M. Andrews, son of John Andrews 
(7), was born at Manchester, Massachusetts, March 
II, 1823. He received a meagre education in the dis- 
trict schools of that town, and worked during his 
boyhood on the farm with his father. For many 
years he worked at farming in various places. He 
removed to Ipswich in 1861, where he was em- 
ployed until he enlisted in the civil war. He served 
nearly two years in 1863 and 1864 and then returned 
to Ipswich, removing the following year to Wen- 
ham and subsequently to Boxford where he worked 
on a farm. In 1867 he removed to Auburn, New 
Hampshire, where he worked as a farmer and stone 
mason, and here he lived for the remainder of his 
days. He was a Republican in politics. He married 
at Manchester, October 15, 1845, Christiana B. 
Morgan, born at Manchester, November 30, 1828, 
daughter of Israel and Christiana Morgan. Her 




j€. yy. ^r-^^r^. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



91 



father was born August 11, 1807, died July 25, 
1859. Her mother was born in Charles City, Vir- 
ginia, May 18, 1808. The children Oif Isaac M. and 
Christiana Andrews were : Isabella, born December 
24, 1847, at Manchester, Massachusetts, married 
Frank E. Wells, of Auburn, New Hampshire; Henry 
H., see forward ; Thankful H., born October 18, 
1855, at Manchester, died in 1859. 

(,IX) Henry H. Andrews, son of Isaac M. 
Andrews (8), was born in Manchester, Massachu- 
setts, December 16, 1850. He received his early 
education in the common schools of that town. 
When he was eighteen he went to Lynn, Massachu- 
setts, to learn the trade of machinist, remaining 
there until 1870, when he went to Stoughton to work 
at his trade. In October, 1883, he left Stoughton 
to run a farm at IngersoU, Canada. In 1885 he re- 
moved to Etna, Minnesota, where he conducted a 
farm until December, 1888, when he removed to 
Wales, Michigan. He has resided in Michigan since. 
After settling in Etna he studied for the ministry, 
largely at home, and was licensed to preach in 1887. 
He was ordained a minister of the Baptist church 
of Kenockee, Michigan, in Port Huron, November 
S, 1882, and has since held pastorates and organized 
and built churches at Brockway, Goodells, Blaine, 
Worth, Marion, Elmer and Deckerville, Michigan, 
and also organized and built a church at other towns 
and has done a great work in this direction. He re- 
signed his pastorate at Deckerville after serving 
eighteen years, July i, 1903. Since 1903 he has 
held a commission from the state board of missions, 
and is at present superintendent of mission work 
in Huron. He was moderator of the Huron Bap- 
tist Association for nine years. Is a member of the 
Home Mission Board of Baptists for Michigan, a 
member of the Odd Fellows order and was chap- 
lain in his lodge in 1900, vice grand in 1901 and 
noble grand in 1902. He is a Prohobitionist in 
politics. 

He married. May 26, 1872, at Lynn, Massachu- 
setts, Delia Lucretia Richardson, born at Chazy, 
New York, September 5, 1845, daughter of Nathan, 
Jr., and Huldah R. (.Waters) Richardson. Her 
father was a farmer, a soldier in the war of 1812. 
Her mother was born at Deerfield, Massachusetts, 
August 12, 1810. The children of Rev. Henry H. 
and Delia L. Andrews were : Anna Mabel, born 
May 2, 1873, at Stoughton, Massachusetts ; Charles 
Arthur, see forward; Ernest H., born at Kenockee, 
Michigan, December 24, 1880, hardware clerk in 
Holyoke, Massachusetts ; Nellie, born at Brockway, 
Michigan, December 25, 1884, died November 19, 
1885. 

(X) Charles Arthur Andrews, son of Rev. 
Henry H. Andrews (9), was born in North Oxford, 
Ontario, May 25. 1875. He removed with his par- 
ents to Etna, Minnesota, when an infant, subse- 
quently removing to Goodells, Michigan, where he 
had his first schooling. After five years the family 
removed to Brockway, Michigan, where he attended 
school. Four years later he removed again with 
the family to Worth, Michigan, where he attended 
school for four years. He completed his education 
at Deckerville, Michigan, when about seventeen 
years old. His first business venture was at this time 
when he entered the provision business at Decker- 
ville, remained in it for about a year and sold 
to good advantage. While still in school he had 
worked much of his spare time in a hardware store, 
gaining a thorough knowledge of that business. Mr. 
Andrews located April 27, 1893, in Lynn, Massachu- 
setts, where he started in the hardware store of H. 
F. Poole. After a year he entered the employ of 
J. W. Harding & Company, hardware dealers, 



where he remained four years. He came to Win- 
chendon, May, 1898, and started in the business 
of lumbering and teaming, buying wood lots in 
partnership with Wallace Witherill, of WaterviUe, 
and selling the lumber to the various wooden ware 
factories in the vicinity. In 1902 he went into the 
hardware business, opening a store in the Bartlett 
block, Winchendon, near the railroad station. He 
made a specialty of agricultural tools and machinery 
till he sold out the business February I, 1906, and 
is now a director and manager of the Winchendon 
Auto Transit Company, a corporation recently or- 
ganized there. Mr. Andrews is a Unitarian in re- 
ligion and a Republican in politics. He has served 
on various appropriation committees of the town 
of Winchendon. He belongs to the Independent 
Order of Foresters, the Royal Arcanum for a num- 
ber of years, and the Avon Club. He married, 
July IS, 1898, Mrs. M. L. Bartlett, born April 29, 
1859, who before her marriage to M. L. Bartlett, de- 
ceased, was Miss Ellagene V. Richardson, daughter 
of John N. Richardson, of Winchendon. (.See 

sketch elsewhere.) Her mother, Joanna M. Cook, 
was born in Winchendon, daughter of John Cook. 
(.See Beals family.) Mr. Bartlett was born in 
Winchendon, 1853, a son of David Paul and Elvira 
(.Newton) Bartlett, the former of whom was born 
in Rindge, New Hampshire, son of Martin Bart- 
lett, of Townsend, Massachusetts. M. L. Bartlett 
was educated at high school and assisted his father, 
who was a manufacturer of wooden ware in Harris- 
ville and also at Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. He 
also bought wood lots and sold the same as a specu- 
lation. The business of real estate his son, M. L., 
followed. He also manufactured reed and rattan 
chairs and had a partner in this, Mr. Campbell; this 
he carried on till the fall of 1903. He died Jan- 
uary 14, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Bartlett had 
three children: i. John Percival, born December 
-3, 1877, president of the Auto Transit Company ; 
married Sadie G. Cameron of Goshen, Nova Scotia; 
two children : Willard Cameron, born October 
9, 1902; Martin Lewis, born November 2, 1904. 2. 
Ray Palmer, born Februarp 7, 1889. 3. Edith J., 
born October 7, 1891. Mr. Bartlett was a member of 
the Independant Order Odd Fellows, and Independ- 
ent Order of United Workmen. He was a member 
of the Unitarian church, and a Republican in poli- 
tics ; he held town offices, taking an active interest 
in all town affairs. 

HOMER NEWTON PARKER. James Parker 
(i), who came from England before 1640, was the 
immigrant ancestor of Homer Newton Parker, of 
Winchendon, Massachusetts. He settled first in 
Woburn, where he was living in 1640, and he was 
on the tax list of that town in 1645. He removed 
to Billerica about 1654, to Chelmsford in 1658 and 
to Groton in 1660. He was a selectman of the 
latter town. He was a lieutenant in the militia. 
He died in 1701, aged eighty-three years. His will 
is on file. 

James Parker married. May 23, 1644, Elizabeth, 
daughter of Robert Long, of Charlestown, Massa- 
chusetts. Their children : Elizabeth, born April 
12, 164s, at Woburn ; Anna, January 5, 1646-47 ; 
John, January 18, 1648, probably died young ; John, 
2d, February 28, 1649 ; Sarah, August 29, 1650, died 
October 15, 1651 ; Joseph, see forward; James, born 
April 15, 1652, married Mary Parker; he was a 
grantee of Billerica. and was killed by the Indians, 
July 27, 1694; Josiah, 1655, married Elizabeth Saxon, 
of Boston; Samuel, married Abigail Lakin; Joshua, 
March 3, 1658, at Chelmsford, married Abigail 
Shattuck; Zachariah, January 14, 1659, at Chelms- 



92 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



ford. The only child of JaiiiC'i and Eunice Parker: 
Elcazer, born December 12, 1697 (see will). 

(II) Joseph Parker, sixth child of James Parker 
(1), was born in Woburn in 1651. He married 

(first) Elizabeth , and (second), November 19, 

16S4, Hannah . Children of Joseph and Eliza- 
beth Parker, all born at Groton. were : Sarah, No- 
vember 16, 1676, died September 15, 1704: Elizabeth, 
August 31, 1679; Simon, August 27, 1687; Joseph, 
see forward; Nehemiah, Isaac. Children of Joseph 
and Hannah Parker were: Benjamin, December 3. 
1691 : John, August 26, 1695. 

(III) Joseph Parker, fourth child of Joseph 
Parker (2), was born in Groton, March i, 1689, 
married Abigail Sawtelle, January 24. 1715-16: they 
settled in Groton. Their children were : Mary, 
bom October 12, 1716; Josiah, .«ee forward; Oba- 
diah. September II, 1719; Joseph, April 16, 1721; 
Abigail, February 27, 1722-23 ; Hannah, October 14, 
1724, died December 5. 17JI ; Timothy, June 5, 1726; 
Nehemiah, December 2, 1727; Joshua, January 25, 
•729-30; Ephraim, born March 25, 1732; Sarah, 
June 15. 1734; Tryphena, April 15, 1736; Sybil. 
March 5, 1737; Zachariah, June 28, 1740, died Au- 
gust 27, 1740. 

(IV) Josiah Parker, second child of Joseph 
Parker (3), was born in Groton, Massachusetts, 

January 3, 1717, married Elizabeth . He died 

at Groton, August 28, 1747. Their children : Mar- 
tha, born January 7, 1737; Josiah, February 13, 
'7391 Elizabeth, December 28, 1740; Joseph, see 
forward; Hannah, February 28, 1745; Jonathan, 
died unmarried at New Ipswich, New Hainpshire, 
said to be brother of Joseph. 

(V) Captain Joseph Parker, son of Josiah Par- 
ker (4), was born in (jroton. Massachusetts, June 28, 
1743. He married. May i, 1764, Abigail Page, daugh- 
ter of Joseph and Abigail (Shedd) Page. She was 
born February 23, 1743, died 1812. He died in 1807. 
In 1766, soon after his marriage, he settled in New 
Ipswich, New Hampshire, first on land adjoining 
the Gould farm (44 N. D.), then on the Fox farm 
and later on part of the Chandler place. He was a 
pioneer in the town. It has been said that he was 
well fitted for the part he played, especially during 
the revolution. He was a daring, energetic man 
and had much influence with his fellow citizens. He 
was captain of a company that responded to the 
Lexington alarm, and served also at Ticondcroga, 
New York, in Rhode Island and at the taking of 
Burgoyne ; he was popular with his soldiers. He 
was a leading citizen of the town after the revo- 
lution, and was selectman in 1782-86, was on a com- 
mittee to consider the constitution at the close of 
the war, and held other offices of trust and honor. 

Children of Captain Joseph and Abigail Parker 
were: Maria, born in Groton, March 7. 1765, died in 
Peppcrell, November 2,1767; Joseph, born in Groton. 
November 19, 1766, settled in Lempster; Maria, born 
in Groton, October 6, 1768; Zachariah, see forward; 
Amos, born in New Ipswich, 1773, settled in Lemp- 
ster; Susannah, born 1774, died 1781 ; Asa. born 
1777; John, born 1779; Betty, born 1783, died 1807; 
Sarah, Ixjrn 1785, married Sampson Tenncy, settled 
in Illinois; Lydia. born 1789. 

(VI) Zachariah Parker, fourth child of Captain 
Joseph Parker (5). was born in Ipswich, New 
Hampshire, 1770. He was educated in the district 
schools there, and remained on the farm with his 
father for a number of years. Later he owned a 
farm which he conducted very successfully. He 
also manufactured potash in furnaces on his farm 
at New Ipswich. He removed about 1848 to live 
with his son at Ludlow. Vermont, and resided there 
about twelve years, till his death in 1859. He was 



a promintnt man in New Ipswich and held many 
positions of trust and honor. He married at New 
Ipswich, Mary Clary, of that town. Their chil- 
dren: Zachariah, see forward; John, Harvey, Orin. 

(VII) Zachariah Parker, eldest son of Zacha- 
riah Parker (6). was born in New Ipswich, New 
Hampshire, February 22, 1797. He received his 
education in the di.-^trict schools of the town, and 
began life with his father as a farmer. At the age 
of twenty-three he removed to Ludlow, Vermont. 
Soon after he married and carried liis household 
goods thither on an ox cart. At that time Vermont 
received many thousand settlers from New Hamp- 
shire and ^lassachusetts. He cleared his farm and 
it eventually became one of the best in that section. 
He owned four hundred or five hundred acres of 
timber land. He was acknowledged to be the best 
judge of horses in the state, and much of his time 
was taken in buying and selling horses throughout 
New England. He was a Whig in early life and 
later a Republican. Was assessor or lister at Lud- 
low, selectman, and held various other town offices 
for many years. He was a member of the First 
Congregational Church at Ludlow. He died in this 
town, July 21, 1883. 

He married, 1821, at Rindge. New Hampshire, 
Dolly Wood, born February 23, 1803. daughter of 
Jonathan Wood, of Rindge. Her father was a 
farmer. Children of Zachariah and Dolly 

(Wood) Parker, all born at Ludlow, were: Dolly, 
Harvey. Mary Ann, Charles Stillman, Cynthia Au- 
gusta, Sylvesta Hartwell, Emily C. Hartwell, and 
Homer Newton, only one living, see forward. 

(VIII) Homer Newton Parker, youngest child of 
Zachariah Parker (7), was born in Ludlow, Ver- 
mont, July 15, 1848. He had a common school edu- 
cation in his native town, and at the age of seven- 
teen attended the Black River .Academy for a year. 
He learned the carriage maker's trade and followed 
it for three years. After another year spent at the 
Black River Academy in Ludlow, he started in 
business on his own account in the manufacture of 
toys. After a year he incorporated the business 
under the name of the Ludlow Toy Manufacturing 
Company, built a factory and acquired a water 
privilege at Ludlow. Five years later he purchased 
the business of his father-in-law, Hyren Henry, at 
Pcrkinsville, Vermont, and engaged in the manu- 
facture of soapstone stoves and other arti- 
cles. He also made fancy wooden boxes. 
.\fter three years he removed the busi- 
ness to Springfield, Vermont. He sold soon 
afterward to the Vermont Novelty Works Company 
and became the assistant superintendent, but the 
plant was destroyed by fire three months later. In 
1879 he removed to Leominster. Massachusetts, and 
became manager of the W. S. Reed Toy Company, 
a position he held for four years. He became 
associated then with Morton E. Converse, of Win- 
chendon, as partner in the Converse Toy and Wc>i>d- 
en-ware Company. The members of the firm were 
A. C. Converse, of Chelsea; M. E. Converse and 
Mr. Parker. He left this firm after three years and 
accepted a position with W. M. Caldwell, who was 
then operating one of the present National Novelty 
Corporation's factories. In 1889 he formed a part- 
nership with Orlando Mason under the firm name 
of Mason & Parker for the manufacture of steel 
toys and hardware specialties. July 20. 1903. they 
consolidated with some twenty other firms and their 
business since then has been called the Mason & 
Parker branch of the National Novelty Corporation, 
of which Mr. Parker is the general manager. Mr. 
Mason is retired. Mr. Parker is a director of the 
National Toy Corporation. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



93 



In politics he is a Republican and lias been 
delegate to \arions Republican conventions. He is 
at present chairman of the town committee. He 
is a member of the Avon Club of Winchendon. He 
retains his incmbership in the Baptist church at 
Ludlow. He was a member of Company E, Tenth 
Vermont Volunteers, in 1865-66. 

He married, Januarj' 13, 1875, Harriet L. Henry, 
born October 6, 1852, daughter of Hyren and Caro- 
line (Parker) Henry, of VVeathersfield, Vermont. 
Her father was a manufacturer of soap-stone stoves 
and bobbins, prominent man in the town and was a 
member of the state legislature. The only child of 
Homer N. and Harriet L. Parker is : Harry Edison, 
born August 31, 1878, educated at public schools of 
Winchendon, graduated at Murdock high school, 
same town, then pursued a commercial course at 
Worcester and engaged with his father in his manu- 
facturing establishment at Winchendon. In 1905 
was made superintendent, which position he still 
holds. Member of Avon Club and Royal Arcanum. 
Married Eda Nell Yager, of Baldwinsville, Massa- 
chusetts, and they have one child, Ivermit Edison, 
born August 13, 1903. 

JOHN NATHAN RICHARDSON. Tliomas 
Richardson (x), the immigrant ancestor of John 
Nathan Richardson, of Winchendon, Massachusetts, 
was the youngest of the three brothers, Ezekial, 
Samuel and Thomas Richardson, who with Edward 
Converse. Edward Johnson, John Mousall, William 
Learned and others were the pioneers in the settle- 
ment of Woburn, Massachusetts. They were also 
the original members of the church there in 1641. 
They were the commissioners chosen by the church 
at Charlestown, November 5, 1640, to commence 
the settkment, except that Learned was substituted 
for Thomas Graves, who declined to serve. 

Ezekiel Richardson came from England in the 
Winthrop fleet in 1630, and was in Charlestown 
probably about July 6. His home in England was in 
Norfolk county, where the name had been common 
for more than a century. The name is found on the 
early records of Sussex, Surrey and other counties. 
Thomas Richardson and his brother Samuel were 
younger. They came together probably in 1635. 
Mary Richardson, the wife of Thomas, joined the 
church at Charlestown, February 21, 1635-36, and 
Thomas joined February 18, 1637-38. He was ad- 
mitted a freeman May 2, 1638. His house lot was 
granted in 1637. He married about the time he 
sailed from England. The homes of the Richardson 
brothers were on the Mystic side and above the 
ponds, viz. : in Maiden. They became prominent 
citizens of Woburn. He died August 28, 165 1, 
leaving seven young children, the eldest of whom 
was only thirteen years old and the youngest an in- 
fant. His widow married (second), October 26, 
1655, Michael Bacon, an original settler of Woburn 
in 1641, an immigrant from Ireland, ancestor of 
Dr. Leonard Bacon, of New Haven, Connecticut. 
She was his second wife. She died May 19, 1670. 

The children of Thomas and Mary Richardson 
were : Mary, baptized in Charlestown, November 
17, 1638, married, May 15, 1655, John Baldwin ; 
Sarah, baptized at Charlestown, November 22, 1640, 
married, March 22, 1660, Michael Bacon, Jr. ; Isaac, 
born at Woburn, May 14, 1643, married Deborah 
Fuller ; Thomas, see forward ; Ruth, born at Wo- 
burn, April 14, 1647 ; Phebe, born in Woburn, Jan- 
uary 24, 1648-49; Nathaniel, born at Woburn, Jan- 
uary 2, 1650-51, married Mary . 

(II) Thomas Richardson, fourth child of Thomas 
Richardson (l), was born at Woburn, Massachu- 
setts, October 4, 1645. He married, at Cambridge, 



January 5, 1669-70, Mary Stimpsoii, by the famous 
Daniel Gookin, magistrate. She died June 7, 1690. 
He married (second), at Billerica, December 29, 
^690, Sarah Patten, widow of Thomas Patten, of 
Billerica, who died January 16, 1689-90. He re- 
moved from Woburn to Billerica (then called Shaw- 
shin) in 1667, and settled in the large tract of 
nine hundred acres, called the Cambridge School 
farm, west of the Shawshin river, north of the 
present Boston road. He was a soldier under Cap- 
lain Samuel Gallup in the land expedition to Canada 
by way of Albany, 1690. He was deputy to the 
general court, 1703-04. Before he died he gave a 
farm to each son. He died at Billerica, February 
25, 1720, aged seventy-six years. His widow died 
November 20, 1734. Children of Thomas and Mary 
Richardson were : Mary, born February 8, 1670-71, 
died young; ]\Iary, January 31, 1671-72, died young; 
Mary, Februay 17, 1672-73, married Edward Farmer, 
Jr. ; Thomas, December 30, 1675 ; Andrew, June 16, 
1678, married Hannah Jefts ; Nathaniel, see for- 
ward; Jonathan, February 14, 1682-83, married Han- 
nah French ; Ruth, December 4, 1685, married John 
French ; Elnathan, February 7, 1686-87, died young. 

(III) Nathaniel Richardson, sixth child of 
Thomas Richardson (2), was born in Billerica, Jan- 
uary 25, 1679-80. He married I^Iary Peacock, May 
7, 1703. His father gave him a farm at Billerica, 
adjoining his brother Andrew's. He inherited from 
his father also thirty-two acres at Content Plain, 
eight acres in Mill swamp, called Black Hole. He 

died intestate April 4, 1753, aged seventy-three 
years. His widow Mary died October 18, 1756. 
Children of Nathaniel and Mary Richardson were: 
Mary, born March 31, 1704, married, August 17, 
1647. settled in Townsend, Massachusetts ; Nathaniel, 
see forward; Samuel, December 23, 1708, married 
Hannah Walker; Sarah, March 8, 1710-11, died 
April 18, 1712; William, May S, 1713, married Mary 
Hobart; Hezekiah, May 8, 1715, married Elizabeth 

Walker; Ebenezer, September 24, 1717, died young; 
Rebecca, May. 1720, married Benjamin Richardson; 
Joseph, May 20, 1722, died at Northfield, his com- 
pany was waylaid by Indians, killed and scalped, 
June, 1747. 

(IV) Nathaniel Richardson, second child of 
Nathaniel Richardson (3), was born at Billerica, 
Massachusetts, January 8, 1706-07. He settled in 
Townsend, Massachusetts, and married (first), No- 
vember 14, 1733, and (second) Elizabeth Stevens, 
September 15, 1738. He died in Townsend, near the 
close of the year 1756. Administration on his estate 
was granted February 7. 1757. The following chil- 
dren were living in 1757: Elizabeth, born 1739, mar- 
ried Captain Gershom Drury, of Temple, New 
Hampshire ; Richard, see forward ; Nathaniel, born 
1740; Thomas, born 1742, died about 1757; Sarah, 
born about 1744; Joseph, born about 1746, married 
Hannah Drury; Hannah, born about 1749. The 
dates here given were estimated in the genealogy. 

(V) Richard Richardson, son of Nathaniel 
Richardson (4), was born Septentber 11, 1738. 
,( There is probably an error of a year in either this 
date or the date of the second marriage. The 
genealogy gives the birth as 1741 ; according to the 
death record he was born in 1736, and the correct 
date is probably between 1738 and 1741.) He re- 
moved from his native town, Townsend, Massa- 
chusetts, in 1771 and was the second settler in the 
town of Peterborough, New Hampshire. The first 
was John Taggart. Richard Richardson was a sol- 
dier in the revolution under General Benedict Ar- 
nold in the famous Quebec expedition. He was also 
in the French and Indian war. He was a farmer. 
He cleared the farm now or lately owned by Isaac 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



94 

p. Howe and died 1843, aged seventy-seven years, 
at Stoddard, New Hampshire. His son John Rich- 
ardson was the first child born in the town of Pcter- 

"^He^ married at Townsend, Massachusetts, March 
4 1761, Elizabeth Barrett, born in 1736. Fhcir first 
fi've children were born in Townsend, the others in 
Pcterboro and Stoddard. The children: Nathaniel, 
born August j6, 1761 ; Phinchas, April 16, 1763. was 
in Stoddard in 1784; Nathan, see forward; Rich- 
ard was on the Stoddard tax list in 1784; Jere- 
miah, September 16, 1768; John, July 25, i77o; 
Theodore, January 24, 1773 J Elizabeth, September 13, 
1774; Rebecca, April 21, 1777; Iheodorc (twin), 
April 21, 1793; Sally (twin), April 21 1793; Nfe- 
miah, October 29, i8og. Some of these children 
were bv a second wife, presumably the last three. 
(Vl) Nathan Richardion, third child of Richard 
Richardson (s), was born at Townsend, Massachu- 
setts, and removed with the family to Peterborough, 
New Hampshire, when about five years old. ihe 
Richardson place was in that part of the town which 
became Stoddard. He was a farmer. In later years 
he removed from Stoddard to Chazy, New York, 
where he lived with his son, Nathaniel Richardson, 
until his death in 1847. He was fond of horses 
and horse-back riding and was a familiar hgurc to 
the townspeople of Stoddard and Chazy. He was a 
member of the Presbyterian church and held various 
offices in the church. He was a Whig m politics 
and held variou town offices in Stoddard. He was 
a soldier in the war of 1S12 in the same company 
with his son, Nathaniel Richardson, Jr., They were 
in the service at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 

He married Dorcas Dodge, born at Stoddard, 
September 30, 1765, died August 13, 1834. Their 
children were: Persis, born June 13. I7S»; Mcicy, 
September 9, 1789; Sally, March 12, 1791; Nathaniel, 
Juiie 27, 1793; Nathan, Jr., October 3, i795. see 
forward; Jonas, June 11, 1798; Olive, January 30, 
1801; Joseph, July 13, 1803; Asa, July 20, 1800; Lu- 
ther, September 4, 1808. t rr.i i ij ^f 
(VII) Nathan Richardson, Jr., fifth child of 
Nathan Richardson (6), was born in Peterborough, 
now Stoddard, New Hampshire, October 3, 1795- 
He attended the common schools of that town and 
received an excellent education for his time. He 
taught school in Stoddard when a young man At 
the age of eighteen he went to Chazy, New York, 
■where he bought a tract of land in the forest and 
cleared his own farm. His first dwelling house 
was a log cabin. He prospered and after a few 
years built a substantial stone house, which is still 
in the possession of the family and is now occupied 
by his son, Robbins Richardson. He cut and sold 
much timber from his farm, which proved an ex- 
cellent investment. He was a member of the Pres- 
byterian church at Chazy and was active in the 
church management. In politics he was originally 
a Whig, later a Republic. He served the to\yn of 
Chazy as school trustee and highway commissioner. 
He was in the militia and was in the service at 
Portsmouth for a short time in the war of 1812. M 
the time of the Papincau Insurrection in Canada, 
when trouble was feared with the United States, 
he was drafted, (but hired a substitute, Abraham 
Stevens) but the trouble was confined to a brief 
civil war in Canada and was soon suppressed by 
the British government and Canada was peacefully 
united in 1841. It is called popularly the Papineau 
war from its leader, Louis J. Papineau „ , . . 
Mr. Richardson married (first), 1826, Huldah 
Waters, born at Champlain, New York, August 12, 
1810 daughter of John and Huldah (Robbins) 
Waters, formerly of Deerfield. . Her father was a 



farmer there. He married (second) Elizabeth J. 
Toms, of Chazy. The children of Nathan, Jr., and 
Huldah (Waters) Richardson were: John Nathan, 
born April 14, 1827; Dorcas, born December 3. 
1829, died 1893; Robbins, born June 5, 1832, resides 
on old homestead in Chazy; George Nelson, born 
August 2, 1834, died March 30, 1863, m the civil 
war, in the hospital at Washington, D. C. ; Ce)|)eland, 
born, March 9, 1837, in Minnesota; Charlotte Martha, 
born October 19, 1839. married Samuel A. Reed, 
now deceased; she resides in Winchendon; Esther 
Rebecca, born March 13, 1842, married Thomas 
Reed, resides in Lynn, Massachusetts ; Delia Lucre- 
lia, born September 5, 1845. married Rev. H. H. An- 
drews of Dcckerville, Michigan; Sarah Maria Anna, 

born March 17, 1848, married ,^,8«f' '" J"' 

gersoll, Ontario. The only child of Nathaii. Jr., 
and Elizabeth (Toms) was: Susannah, born March 
18, 1854, died March 18, 1878, married Wessley 

(VIII) John Nathan Richardson, eldest child of 
Nathan Richardson, Jr. (7), was born in Chazy, 
Clinton county, New York, April 14, 1827. He was 
educated in the public schools and at an early age 
began to teach. He worked on the farm durmg all 
his spare hours during his boyhood. At the age of 
sixteen he entered Champlain Academy at Cham- 
plain New York, where he studied two years. He 
was also for a time clerk in the country store at 
his native town. In the fall of 184S he went to 
Stoddard, New Hampshire, and subsequently re- 
moved to Winchendon, Massachusetts, where he 
worked in the pail factory with Albert Richardson 
and also for a time followed logging for Reuben 
Harris. After two years he returned to Chazy and 
taught school there during the winter term of 1847- 
48 He studied another term in Champlain Acad- 
emy and then returned to Winchendon and was 
employed by Mr. Harris in the pail making busi- 
ness He then entered the employ of Damon & 
Murdock at State Line in the same line of business 
and remained there for five years, residing in 
Rindge, New Hampshire. Here he cast his first 
vote for John P. Hale. 

He left the pail making business to accept a po- 
sition as station agent at State Line on what is now 
the Boston & Maine Railroad. Shortly afterward 
he established a general store there and earned on 
an extensive business for twenty years. He re- 
moved to Winchendon May i, 1874. and shortly 
after opened a shoe store in partnership with his 
son Soon afterward, however, he entered into 
partnership with Robbins & Richardson in the gro- 
cery business ; and his son continued the shoe busi- 
ness, firm of J. Richardson and Son. Mr. Robbins 
sold his interests in the firm to Charles A. Smith 
soon afterward and the firm became Richardson & 
Smith. After eight years of successful business 
Mr Richardson sold his interests to his partner -and 
returned to the shoe store, which he conducted 
until April, 1893, when he sold it to George M. 
Chapman. Since then Mr. Richardson has not been 
in active business, but has devoted his attention to 
his property and real estate interests. His home 
is on School street. He was one of the founder,s. 
July IS 1866. and is a member of the Uiurch ol 
the Trinity (Unitarian), and chairman of the stand- 
inir committee ; only fen of the original foiinders are 
now (1906) living. He is a Republican m politics 
and while living in Fitzw.illiam. New Hampshre, 
represented that town in the legislature two years, 
the second year receiving the unammous noinina- 
tion During the civil war Mr. Richardson filled 
the ouota of his town by paying for substitutes for 
various citizens drafted for the service. He was 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



95 



at one time a member of the Fitzwilliam Ar- 
tillery. 

He married, July i, 1849, Joanna Maria Cook, 

born August 15, 1825, daughter of John and 

(Beals) Cook. Her father was a farmer. He mar- 
ried (second) Sarah Ann Reed, of Durham, Can- 
ada, widow of his brother, George Nelson Richard- 
son. Children of John N. and Joanna Richardson 
were: l. Eugene Percival, born May 11, 1856, was 
educated in the common and high schools of Win- 
chendon, and business college at Worcester. Then 
for nine years was engaged in the shoe business, 
and then began traveling and followed this for 
nine years. Then took a position with the Book 
Lovers' Library, travelling along the coast as far 
north as Seattle, and later going to San Francisco, 
where he located and here passed through the 
awful catastrophe that befell this city by earthquake 
and fire. He then received an office from the gov- 
ernment through Colonel Breckenridge, in charge 
of the sanitary arrangements at Golden City Park, 
where he is at this date (1906). He married (first) 
Nellie Leland, (second) Hattie Williams, of Wor- 
cester. 2. Ellie Eugenie, born April 29, 1859, married 
(first) Martin L. Bartlett; (second) Charles A. 
Andrews, of Winchendon. By Mr. Bartlett three 
children were born: I. John P., married Sadie Cam- 
eron, had two children; Wallace and Martin Lewis. 
Mr. John P. Bartlett is in the auto transit busi- 
ness m Winchendon, being president of the com- 
pany. 2. Ray P., now in high school. 3. Edith, now 
in high school. 

WALLACE WITHERILL. William Witherill 
or Wetherell (l), variously spelled, was the immi- 
grant ancestor of Wallace Witherill, of Winchendon, 
Massachusetts. Savage suggests that he may have 
been a nephew of the Rev. William Witherill, who 
came from Maidstone, England, with wife Mary, 
three children and a servant, in the ship "Hercules" 
of Sandwich, March 14, 1634-35. Rev. William 
Witherill was a graduate of Corpus Christi College, 
Cambridge, July 3, 1619, from county York, took 
degree of B. A. and later M. A., was licensed as of 
Maidstone, aged about twenty-iive, to marry Mary 
Fisher, daughter of Joan Martin Fisher, now wife 
of John Martin, March 26, 1627. He settled at 
Charlestown and taught the grammar school, re- 
moved to Cambridge, thence to Duxbury, where he 
was a proprietor in 1640 ; was called as minister to 
the Scituate church in September, 1644, and filled 
that position the remainder of his life; died April 
9, 1684, aged eighty-tour years. 

William Witherill, the nephew, came in 1643 as 
a cabin boy for William Dunn, captain of the vessel, 
and one of the original grantees of the town of 
Taunton, Massachusetts. Dunn returned to Eng- 
land, leaving the boy in charge of his property with 
the understanding that if he did not return that it 
should escheat to William Witherill. He died with- 
out returning and Witherill had the property in 
addition to land granted to him. He was admitted 
a freeman June, 1658, was constable of Taunton in 
1662 and representative to tlje general court in 1671- 
85. He was often selectman and was sergeant of 
the militia company. 

He was the eldest sergeant in Captain Gorham's 
company in the Narragansett swamp fight, Decem- 
ber, 167s, at South Kingston, Rhode Island; was 
wounded and taken to the house of Peleg Sanford, 
December 24, 1675, where he remained until Octo- 
ber 17, 1676. The general court granted him ten 
pounds compensation in 1685 and five pounds in 
1686. Evidently he never wholly recovered from 
his wounds. He owned besides his own and Captain 



• Dunn's rights in Taunton another in the South Pur- 
chase and a half right in the North Purchase. His 
residence after 1669 was in the North Purchase of 
Taunton, now Norton, Massachusetts, on the east- 
ern side of Winniconnet pond. In 1691 he had his 
dwelling house on the south side of the pond, and 
ill 1690 had deeded part of the land on the east 
side to his son William, including probably tlw site 
of the first house, which very likely was destroyed 
during King Philip's war. He sold his original 
home lot in Taunton, April 29, 1669, with other 
lands on and near Mill river. In 1685 he was 
licensed to keep a tavern. He made his will Au- 
gust 15, 1691, and died within a month or so. His 
will was proved November 18 following. 

He married Dorothy , about 1650. Their 

children were: William, born about 1651, see for- 
ward; John, settled in Norton; Ephraim; Dorothy, 
married, August 26, 1674, Elias Irish; (second), 
April I, 1686. William VVood. 

(II) William Witherill, son of William Wither- 
ill (l), was born about 1651, in Taunton, Massa- 
chusetts. He settled on land given him by his 
father on the east side of Wenniconnet pond in that 
part of Taunton, now Norton. Seven or more gen- 
erations of his family named William Witherill have 
lived there. He married Elizabeth Newland, March 
14, 1681. Their children were: Nathaniel, see for- 
ward; Hannah, baptized June 15, 1715; i\Iary, bap- 
tized February 17, 1714-15; William, Jr., Jeremiah. 

(III) Nathaniel Witherill, son of William With- 
erill (2), was born in Norton, Massachusetts, March 
5 or May 5, 1696. He settled in Norton, where his 
children were born. They were: Phebe, born No- 
vember 20, 1712, died June 11, 1729; Mary, 'oorn 
May 3, 1715; Nathaniel, January 18, 1717; Charity, 
January 7, 1719; Ephraim, November 22, 1721 ; 
Dinah, May 5, 1723; Job, see forward; Patience, 
July 3, 1728; Solomon, October 7, 1730, died March 
I. 1733; Hannah, February 8, 1739. 

(IV) Job Witherill, seventh child of Nathaniel 
Witherill (3), was born at Norton, Massachusetts, 

March 22, 1726. He married Jean , and 

they settled in Norton. He was a soldier in the 
Indian wars. Their children, all born at Norton, 
were : David, see forward ; Molly, born August 10, 
1747; Anne, December 13, 1749; Nathaniel, No- 
vember 27, 1752 ; Nathan, December 7, 1756. 

(V) David Witherill, eldest child of Job With- 
erill (4), was born in Norton, Massachusetts, July 
8, 1745. He was a soldier in the revolution, a pri- 
vate in Captain Israel Trow's company in the Rhode 
Island compaign, August, 1780, and probably had 
other service. He was the only one of the name in 
the American army. He removed to Connecticut 
and married Ruth Andre, said to be a relative of 
Major Andre who was hanged as a spy by the 
Americans. About 1782-83 he removed from Hart- 
ford, Connecticut, to Granville, Washington county. 
New York, where he was one of the pioneer set- 
tlers. Children of David and Ruth (Andre) With- 
erill, born in Granville, New York, except perhaps 
the eldest, were : Almon M., died in West Chazy, 
New York; David J., see forward; Harlow C, 
died in South Bend, Indiana; Colney, died in Wis- 
consin ; Prudence, married Moses Warren ; Daniel 
(M. D.), died in western New York; Albert, died 
in Moriah, New York ; Amos, Frank, died in Gran- 
ville, aged nineteen years ; Eunice, married Benja- 
min Russell ; Rev. Manley, was a member of the 
Troy (New York) Methodist conference; Martha 
(twin), married J. Council; Mary (twin), married 
Oliver Rogers. 

(VI) David J. Witherill, son of David With- 
erill (5), was born in Granville, Washington county. 



90 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



New York, about 1785. He received a commoit 
school ciliication there and learned the trade of tan- 
ner and shoe maker. Although he owned a farm, 
he followed his trade and acquired a conipettnce 
in this business. He served in a Washington county 
regiment in the war of 1812 and was in the cam- 
paign at Plattsburg. About 1815, after the war, 
he removed to Chazy, Clinton county, and settled 
with his family on his farm in the western part 
of the town. He was for many years constable m 
Chazy and was also on the school board there. He 
was a Alethodist in religion and a Whig in politics. 
He married, March 11, 1819, Amanda Parish, 
who died July 30, 1851. ' He married (secpnd) 
Cynthia Wait Parker, April 24, 185J ; she died Au- 
gust 16, 1896. Children of David J. and Amanda 
Witherill were ; Lucy Elmina, born March 2, 1820, 
at Granville, New York, died June 3, 1844; mar- 
ried, March 23, 1841, Morrison Townsend ; Orville, 
born April 19, 1824, in Canton, New Y'ork, died May 
17, 1824; Emily Elzina, born December 26, 1825, at 
Canton, died January, 1899; married Morrison Town- 
send, October 16, 1854 ; Clarissa Emorettc, born 
July 9, 1832, at Chazy, New Y'ork : Orville W. M., 
known as Wallace, born December 2, 1835, at 
Chazy, see forward; Daniel Mirvin, born October 
8, 1838, at Chazy, married, October. 1864, Millie 
Wheelock ; Elmira Celeste, born October 10, 1839, 
at Chazy, married William W. Harvey November 
24, 1869; Lavinia Cornelia, born January 11, 1842, 
at Chazy, died February 27, 1876; marriid Thomas 
J. Coone, August 11, 1868. Children of David J. 
and Cynthia Wait Witherill were: Florence May, 
born April 1, 1854, at Chazy, married John VV. 
Lenglield. February 23, 1887, resides at West Chazy, 
New York; David Gero', born July 5, 1855, at 
Chazy, married, January 12, 1887, Sylvia A. Wheeler, 
and their children arc: Harry David, born June 
17. 1888, at Sheldon, North Dakota ; Elwyn Wheeler, 
born May 13, 1893, at Chazy, New York ; they re- 
side in Cornish, New Hampshire; Ruphina Estelle, 
born F'ebruary 10, 1859, married, September 9. 1885, 
Wilbur F. Hill. 

(VII) Wallace Witherill, son of David J. 
Witherill (6), was born at West Chazy, Clinton 
county. New York, December 2, 1835. He received 
his early education in the common schools of that 
town. In 1854 he and his brother Daniel Mirvin 
came to Winchcndon, Massachusetts, and were em- 
ployed by Aldrich Brothers, pail manufacturers, 
driving. He worked twelve years in this position. 
They sold out to E. Murdock & Company and he 
continued there two years in same position. He 
then began business on his own account in company 
with Harrison Aldrich. They bought a factory at 
Harrisvillv, where they began to manufacture pails 
and boxes. After eight years Mr. Aldrich's inter- 
ests were bought by Charles Fry. Soon afterward, 
Mr. Witherill withdrew from the firm, selling his 
interests to his partner, but continued in his em- 
ploy for eighteen months. Mr. Witherill then re- 
sumed the lumber business in Waterville, buying 
wood lots and selling the lumber, doing his own 
teaming. This has been his business .since, together 
with farming. Most of his timber is cut for the 
wooden-ware factories in the vicinity. He resides at 
Waterville, in Winchcndon. In politics he is a Dem- 
ocrat. He is a member of the Manomonack Lodge, 
Odd Fellows, No. 121, of Winchcndon. 

He married, July 25, 1878, Maria Ellis, born No- 
vember 28, 1857. in Fitzwilliam, daughter of George 
W. and Bethia (Pratt) Ellis, of Fitzwilliam. New 
Hampshire. Her father was a farmer in F'itzwilliam, 
where he died 1885. aged seventy-seven : the mother 
died in 1870, aged fifty-two. Their children were: 



Florence Amanda, born April 19. 1882, died Septem- 
ber 14. 1882; Cortland Wallac-. born September 28, 
1883; Birdys .Maria, born October 2^, 1897. 

PARKER FA.MILY. Nathan Parker (i), the 
immigrant ancestor of the Parker family, was born 
in England in 1622. He was early at Newbury, but 
soon removed with his brother Joseph to Andover, 
Massachusetts. Joseph came in the ship "Confi- 
dence," sailing April 11, 1638, and Nathan is be- 
lieved to have been on the "Bevis," sailing in May 
of the same year. Joseph came from Newbury, 
England, and settled in Newbury, Massachusetts; 
was proprietor at Salisbury in 1639; removed to 
Andover where he owned a tannery and corn mill ; 
was a soldier in King Philip's war in 167O; men- 
tions his large family in his will ; also brother 
Nathan ; bequeaths estate in England, some of which 
was at Rumsey. Nathan Parker was well educated 
and drew many of the papers for his neighbors now 
found in the county and town files. Perhaps he was 
a public scrivener by profession. He was one of 
the first ten members of the Andover church estab- 
lished in 1645. He died June 25, 1685. leaving an 
estate valued at one hundred and foriy-eight pounds, 
about a quarter of the size of his brother's estate. 
Two sons of Nathan were killed by the Indians in 
the fight at Scarboro, Maine. 

He married, November 10, 1648, Susan Short, 
who died at Andover, .-August 26, i65f. He mar- 
ried (second) Mary , who survived him. Chil- 
dren of Nathan and Susan Parker were : Nathan, 
Jr., John, born December 20, 1653; James, August 
14, 1655, Mary, .'\pril 14, 1657 ; Manna, .May 14, 
1659; Mary, l6bo; Elizabeth, January 20, 1663; Rob- 
ert, February. 26, 1665; Sarah (twin), .April 3, 1670; 
Peter (twin), April 3, 1670. 

(II) John Parker, second child of Nathan Par- 
ker (I), was born in Andover, Massachusetts, De- 
cember 26, 1653, died 1738, aged eighty-five years, 
at Andover. He was a soldier in King Philip's 
war. He settled in Andover. He married there. 
May 24, 1687, Hannah Brown. Their children 
were: John, Nathan, see forward; Benjamin, set- 
tled in Pennacook (Concord), New Hampshire; 
James, also settled in Concord ; Joseph, who settled 
in Concord, said to be a brother of the other three 
who settled there. 

(HI) Nathan Parker, son of John Parker (2), 
was born in Andover, Massachusetts, about 1700. 
He attended the meeting February 5, 1725. and was 
one of the proprietors of Pennacook. In 1731 he 
had a house built on the grant and was living there 
with his family. His brothers. Benjamin, James 
and Joseph, also settled in Pennacook (Concord) 
and Benjamin's descendants are found there at pres- 
ent. Nathan seems to have returned to .\ndover. 
He married, June 26, 1735. Hannah Stevens, of 
Andover, perhaps his second wife. .Among their 
children was John, see forward. 

(IV) Lieutenant John Parker, son of Nathan 
Parker (3), was born in .Andover, Massachusetts, 
May 19, 1742, died December 15. 1814, aged seventy- 
three years, at Westford, Massachusetts, where his 
son went to live. He was a prominent figure in 
the revolution. He went out first in Captain Thomas 
Poor's company of .Andover, Colonel James Frye's 
regiment, on the Lexington alarm. In 1776 he was 
chosen second lieutenant of Captain David Whit- 
tier's company (I'iftcenth Mcthuen) Fourth Essex 
regiment. He was commissioned again in 1777 in 
Captain Samuel Johnson's, late Captain Pcabody's 
company as second lieutenant, in Colonel Wiggles- 
worth's regiment. That was known as the First 
.Andover Company. Some of the revolutionary 




crT^^^^.Tw jak/c^^ 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



97 



records designate him as junior, indicating prob- 
ably that an old man of the same name was in the 
same town or regiment, a common practice at that 
time when junior did not mean that the father of 
the man had the same name always. 

Lieutenant Parker married, i-ebruary 7, 1771, 
Abigail Osgood, daughter of Josiah and Hannah 
(Kittredge; Osgood, of Andover. She was a sister 
of Coloney Benjamin Osgood, of Westford and An- 
dover. She died January 21, 1820, aged sixty-nme 
years. She was descended from the immigrant, 
John Osgood, born in England, July 23, 1595, died 
October 5, 1650, one of the hrst proprietors of An- 
dover. Children of Lieutenant John and Abigail 
Parker were: Betsey, married Jonathan Bancroft, 
Jr., born in Templeton, February 7, 1775; John, born 
at Westford, (the only one of the family recorded 
at Westford) 1783; Jacob Osgood, see forward; 
and probably others. 

(V) Jacob Osgood Parker, son of Lieutenant 
John Parker (4), was born in Westford, Massachu- 
setts, August 19, 1786. He settled in Westford and 
was a merchant there. He was a shoemaker by 
trade. He died at Westford, jNlarch 25, 1822. He 
married, June 11, 1810, Rachel Reed, born at West- 
ford, August 19, 1790, died there June 15, 1830, 
daughter of Amos and Rachel (Prescott) Reed, of 
Westford. Their children were : Emeline, born 
August 26, 181 1, married (tirst) Rodney Lewis; 
(second) L. D. W. Locke and had no children. 
Eliza Ann, born January 5, 1813, married Charles 
Townsend, of Lowell, and tney have three children — 
Charles, Emma and Edwin. Mary, born October 
3, 1814, married Warren Phillips and they have 
five children — Jennie, Osro, Emma M., Elville, Mary 
Parker Phillips. Jesse, see forward. Hannibal, 
born September 28, 1818, unmarried. Elvira B., 
born June 15, 1820, married Otis Blake, of Pepperell, 
Massachusetts. 

(VI) Jesse Parker, son of Jacob Osgood Parker 
(5), was born at Westford, Massachusetts, June 
16, 1816. He attended the public schools there until 
he was fifteen years old, when he went to Ash- 
burnham, Massachusetts, to learn the trade of chair 
making in the old way by hand-work. Besides 
working in the chair shop he used to run a lathe 
morning and nights for Deacon John C. Glazier, 
from whom he received the first hundred dollars 
he ever earned. He attended school there during 
the winter terms until he was of age. He began to 
make chairs in his own little shop and carried on 
the business successfully for over twenty years. In 
i860 he gave up his business to accept a position 
with C. and George C. Winchester, chair manu- 
facturers, where he was employed one year. He then 
began farming at South Ashburnham. After ten 
years he sold his farm to James Mather. He then 
entered the employ of B. E. Weatherby, where he 
was employed, in connection with several other con- 
cerns, for twenty years. He tinally retired from 
active business and went to Winchendon to live 
with his son, Frank Hannibal Parker, where he 
died June 28, 1898. Mr. Parker attended the Metho- 
dist church. He was a Republican in politics and 
was a delegate to various political conventions. He 
was a selectman for a number of years in Ashburn- 
ham, also road commissioner and assessor. 

He married, December 6, 1838, Elizabeth Gates, 
born April 25, 1818, daughter of William Gates. 
Her father was a farmer, and was born October 
13, 1782, and married Betsey Hosley, of Hancock, 
New Hampshire. Her father died December 7, 
1844; her mother August 22, 1872. Children of 
Jesse and Elizabeth Parker were : Ellen, born Au- 
gust 22, 1839, died July 15, 1840. Walter Osgood, 
ii— 7 



see forward; Alden Wright, born May 29, 1843, 
died June, 1899; married, 1873, Isabel L. Lynne, of 
Covington, Kentucky, and they had one child— 
Luella Elizabeth, married Kingslcy Crawford, re- 
sides in Akron, Ohio; Frank Hannibal, see for- 
ward. 

(VII) Captain Walter Osgood Parker, son of 
Jesse Parker (6), was born in Ashburnham, Massa- 
chusetts, May I, 1841. He received his education 
in the public schools of that town up to the age of 
nineteen, and while going to school helped his father 
on the farm. He soon entered the employ of C. & 
G. C. VVinchester, manufacturers of chairs, where 
he remained three and one-half years. He then left 
for the civil war, enlisting July 23, 1S62, in Com- 
pany H, Thirty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry, under 
Colonel George D. Wells, and was in the Eighth 
Army Corps m the Army of West Virginia, serving 
in the following battles: Ripon, New Market, Pied- 
mont, Lynchburg, Martinsburg, Winchester, Septem- 
ber 9, 1864; Stickney's Farm, Cedar Creek, Reemes'' 
Station, Fort Gregg, Hatcher's Run, and Appomato.^ 
Court House, and was discharged after close of the 
war, June 20, 1865. He shortly returned to Ash- 
burnham, where he resumed his old position with 
the Winchesters and rem.ained three and one-half 
years again. In April, 1869, he entered the employ 
of Whitney & Greenwood, general store, where he 
remained until 1870, when he was admitted a part- 
ner vvith Mr. Whitnej', the new firm buying out 
Mr. Greenwood's interest, under firm name of WHiii- 
ney & Parker. This continued until 1876, when Mr. 
Parkers brother Frank H. purchased Mr. Whit- 
ney's interest, and Parker Bros, continued until 1891, 
when Walter O. bought out his brother's interest 
and conducts a large and prosperous business. 

Mr. Parker is a man who has made much of his 
opportunities in life, and has devoted much time 
to deep study and extensive reading of all of the 
best literature, this being one of his greatest pleas- 
ures. He owns a beautiful home at corner of Alain 
and Lawrence streets, and is one of the first men 
of the town. He is a member of the Congregational 
Brethren church. A Republican in politics, having 
been chosen a delegate to various conventions, was 
representative to general court in 1883, was on 
committee on military affairs, selectman, 1890. He 
has been trustee of Public Library for years, also 
trustee of Public Library building, trustee of Gush- 
ing Academy at present. Chairman of civic com- 
mittee of the town of Ashburnham. He was di- 
rector of the First National Bank of Ashburnham 
during its existence, also trustee of the Worcester 
North Savings Institution of Fitchburg. He is a 
member of Sergeant Plunkett Post, No. 184, Grand 
Army of the Republic, and was post commander 
for two years. He served thirteen years, 1866 to 
1879, in Tenth Regiment, Rice Guards, Massachu- 
setts Volunteer Militia, as captain of Company 
E, seven years, a local company of militia at Ash- 
burnham. 

He married, August 23, 1S66, Josephine M. 
Whitney, born August 23, 1843, daughter of Hon. 
Ohio Whitney, Jr., born June 9, 1813, died February 
6, 1879, and Mary R. (Brooks) Whitney, born Oc- 
tober I, 1818. They have no children. 

(VII) Frank Hannibal Parker, son of Jesse 
Parker (6), was born in Ashburnham, Massachu- 
setts, February 6, 1854. He was educated there in 
the common schools. At the age of seventeen he 
entered the employ of his brother as clerk in his 
general store at Ashburnham, and remained four 
years. The firm was then Parker & Whitney, the 
junior partner being Ohio Whitney, father-in-law 
of Captain Walter O. Parker. Mr. Whitney's inter- 



98 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Cits were bought by Frank H. Parker and the firm 
name then became Parker Brothers. He remained 
a partner in this very successful business at Ash- 
burnham until 1891, when he rtmoved to Winchen- 
don, having bought the business of W. A. Sanford 
& Co., formerly of H. J. Tottingham, established 
by him about 1865, and has since conducted a general 
dry goods store on Front street, the largest between 
Fitchburg and Keene. He also carries in stock car- 
pets, cloaks, tine china and small wares. He is a 
director in the Co-operative Bank and director in 
the Savings Bank of Winchendon. He was treas- 
urer for a number of years of the Congregational 
church at Ashburnham. He is now a niemlKr of 
the Church of the Unity (Unitarian) at Winchen- 
don. He is a Republican in politics and been dele- 
gate to senatorial conventions in his district. 

He is a prominent Free Mason. He was made a 
master Mason in Artisan Lodge, at Winchendon, 
February 28, 1893, and has been worshipful master. 
He was district deputy grand master in 1904-05. 
He was exalted to the North Star, Royal Arch 
Chapter, at Winchendon, June 5, 1893, and was its 
high priest 1896-97-98, re-elected again September 
10, 1906. He was district deputy grand high priest 
lor the district in 1902 and 1903. He received his 
Templar degree in Ivanhoe Commandcry of Gard- 
ner, Massachusetts, but is at present a member of 
Jerusalem Commandery of Fitchburg. He is at 
present president of the Past Masters' .-Kssociation 
<if the twelfth Masonic district. He belongs to 
Watatic Tribe of Red Men, also Royal Acanum. 

He married, January 24, 1877. Florence O. Mer- 
riam, of Ashburnham, born October, 1853, daughter 
of Phillip and Helen (Smallpiece) Merriam, of 
Ashburnham. Her father was the proprietor of a 
general store. Children of Frank H. and Florence 
O. Parker were : Lena Florence, born April 29, 
1882, graduate of RadclifTc College, Cambridge, 
Massachusetts, now a teacher in the Murdock high 
school at Winchendon. Alden Merriam, born Au- 
gust 22, 1884, graduate of the Norwich University 
at Northfield, Vermont; at present with Brown, Dur- 
rdl & Co., of Boston, dealers in small wares. 

WESTON FAMILY. John Weston (i), was 
the inmiigrant ancestor of the Weston family of 
Winchendon. ^lassachusetts, to which Elliot Irving 
and Karl Ephraim Weston belong. According to 
an affidavit that he made in 1685, he was horn in 
1 03 1. He came to New England and landed in 
Salem about 1644 from Buckinghamshire, England, 
:it the age of thirteen : he was a stowaway and his 
mother whom he left in England, was a widow. 
He died in 1723. aged "over ninety." He was a 
member of the First Church of Salem in 1648. He 
removed to the neighboring town of Reading in 
1652. in the section now Wakefield. His land 
adjoined the meeting house square on the south- 
east Dart of Reading pond and extended south. He 
is said to have been a very pious and industrious 
m.tn. 

He married, 1653, Sarah Fitch, daughter of 
Zachariah Fitch, r>f Reading, one of the earliest 
pioneer settlers. They had eight children : John, 
.see forward: Samuel, born 1655, married .'Vbigail 

; Sarah, baptized May 10. 1657: Elizabeth, 

baptized October 28, 1663: Stephen, born 1667, was 
the ancestor of the Winchendon family ; Thomas, 

born 1670, married Elizabeth and had five 

sons : thev had also two daughters, names unknown. 
(II) )ohn Weston, son of John Weston (l), 
was horn at Reading, Massachusetts, in t66i. He 
sclllcd in Reading and married Mary Bryant of 
iliat town. Their children were: John, born 1685, 



was killed in the war in 1707; .-Vbraham, 1687, died 
1765. unmarried; Samuel, 1689: Mary, 1691 ; 
Stephen, see forward : Zachariah, 1695 ; James, 
1697: Benjamin, 1698: Jeremiah. 1700; Timothy, 
1702; Timothy 2d. 1704, removed to Concord, 
Massachusetts, with his brother Stephen ; Jona- 
than, 1705; Sarah, 1707; John, 1709. 

(HI) Stephen Weston, son of John Weston 
(2). was born in Reading. Massachusetts, 1692. 
He removed to Concord about 1726. The name was 
more generally spelled Wesson in Concord, though 
that spelling was common in all branches of the 
family in the early records. He was one of the 
founders of the Lincoln church in 1747. His 
brother Timothy was also a charter member. 
Stephen was the first treasurer elected in 1746. The 
church was formally organized August 18, 1747. 

He married Hannah . Their children were: 

Stephen. Jr., born about 1725; Sarah, born in Con- 
cord. November 11, 1727: Benjamin, born June 30, 
1734. died August 20, 1735: Hepsibah, born April 
.■?. 1743. at Concord. There were probably other 
children born in Lincoln. 

(I VI Stephen Weston. Jr.. eldest son of Stephen 
Weston (3), was horn about 1725 in Reading or 
vicinity. He lived in that part of Concord set off 
as Lincoln, and joined the Lincoln church by pro- 
fession of faith in 1750.- He married Lydia Bill- 
ing, at Concord. November 27, 1746. The births 
of his first three children are on the Concord 
records. Children were: Lydia, born 1747. at Con- 
cord: Elizabeth, born April 8, 1750; Hannah, born 
June 2. 1752: Stephen, see forward. 

(V) Stephen Weston, .son of Stephen Weston 
(4), was born in Lincoln. Massachusetts. March 
22. 1761. He removed to Winchendon at the lime 
of his marriage, settling in ihe western part of the 
town on what was called Tallow hill. His home- 
stead is the one now occupied by George Bos- 
worth. He was -one of the first to embrace the 
Methodist Episcopal faith. The first meetings in 
the town were in his house from 1800 until the 
church was built in 1807. He was one of the 
committee in charge of building the church and 
he himself gave the land. The committee consisted 
of William Poland. Stephen Weston, Silas Warner, 
William Crane. Barzillai Martin. The deed is 
dated 1809.' He was a shoemaker as well as farmer 
and is called a cordwainer in this deed of land to 
the church. He bought of Gardner Wilder two 
hundred and twenty-seven acres in Royalston Leg, 
later part of Winchendon. in 1794. He deeded 
the farm on which he had lived for "a great num- 
ber of years." to his son just liefore his death. 
The homestead included ninety-one acres of land 
at that time and was bounded by land of Captain 
Joseph Robbins, James Taylor, Levi Brooks and 
Samuel Brown. 

He married, March 31. 1784. Susan Whitney, 
born at Stow. Massachusetts, October It, 1766, 
daughter of Daniel Whitney, born in Stow, Feb- 
ruary 13, 1720, married, 1744. Dorothy Goss. of 
Lancaster. His line back to the pioneer John Whit- 
ney was: Daniel HV). Richard (III). Richard 
(II), John (I). (See Whitney Family). Chil- 
dren of Stephen and Susan (Whitney) Weston 
were : Stephen. Jr.. horn November ,30. 178.=;, died 
.August 6, 1840: Sukey. born November 16, 1788, 
died May 28. 1867: married Ephraim Fairbanks, 
died December 4. 1864. aged seventy-eight: Ware- 
ham, born December I. 1790: George. Wareham. 
was the father of eleven children : George, died 
September i.:;. 1800: Daniel B.. born October 29, 
1800. died in Iowa between l86i; and 1869: Elizabeth, 
born March 6, 1803, died May 24. i'S54, unmar- 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



99 



Tied ; Ephraim W., see forward ; Eleazer P., born 
June 24, 1808, died June 12, 1874. 

(V) Ephraim W. Weston, ninth child o£ 
Stephen Weston (5), was born at Winchcndon, 
Massachusetts, December 27, 1805. He attended 
the district schools there in his youth and worked 
on his father's farm. After he left the farm he 
was the proprietor of a livery stable in Winchcn- 
don, and also was postmaster there for a number 
of years. In 1850 he formed a partnership with 
Levi N. Fairbatik for the manufacture of wooden- 
ware at Athol, Massachusetts. Owing to ill-health 
he retired at the end of two years. He died Oc- 
tober 29, 1854. He was a man of very strict re- 
ligious views. When he kept -the stable he refused 
to let his horses and carriages on Sundays. He 
married, November 27, 1833, Roxana Chaplin, born 
October 18, 1812, daughter of Moses and Martha 
(Bent) Chaplin, of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. 
Her father was a farmer. They had one son, Irv- 
ing Ephraim, see forward. 

(VII) Irving Ephraim Weston, son of Ephraim 
W. Weston (6), was born at Winchendon, May 11, 

183s, on the old Weston homestead in the western 
part of the town. He attended what was known 
as the west school and the Winchendon Academy 
in his native town, also Wesleyan Academy at ' 
Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He began work as 
confidential clerk for Captain Ephraim Murdock. 
After a few years he formed a partnership with 
Washington Whitney for the manufacture of 
wooden-ware. At the end of two years his part- 
ner withdrew and Mr. Weston continued the busi- 
ness alone until his death. May 10, 1880. Once 
liis plant was nearly all destroyed by fire, and noth- 
ing but the utmost courage and perseverance saved 
liim from financial disaster. He was a Republican 
in politics and served nine years on the school 
■committee, exhibiting the greatest interest in the 
schools. He made an admirable and conscientious 
public servant. He was an active member of the 
North Congregational society and was organist for 
many years. He was a gifted musician. He was 
for a long time the treasurer of the Winchendon 
Savings Bank. 

He married at Sullivan, New Hampshire, Sep- 
tember I, 1859, Harriet L. A. Mason, born January 
18, 1834, daughter of Rufus and Prudence (Woods) 
Mason, of Sullivan. Her father was a farmer, 

captain of the militia company and representative 
in the legislature. Children of Irving Ephraim 
and Harriet L. A. Weston were: Osgood Irving, 
born November 7, i86t, died October iS, 1862; 

Helen Mason, born July 11, 1864, died September 
2. 1900; Edith Harriet, born May 12, 1866, mar- 
ried William P. Andrews, of Salem, Massachu- 
setts; Elliot Irving, see forward; Karl Ephraim, 

immarried, see forward. 

(VIII) Elliot Irving Weston fourth child of 
Irving Ephraim Weston (7), was born at Win- 
chendon, Massachusetts, December 18, 1868. He 
attended the public and high schools there, fitting 
at Worcester Academy for the Worcester Poly- 
technic Institue. Although he passed his entrance 
■examination he had to forego the higher education 
to go into business. He entered the wholesale 
paper business in which he has continued to the 
present time. He resides in Boston. He is a mem- 
Ijer of the North Congregational parish of Win- 
chendon. In politics he is a Republican. Pie is 
nnmarried. 

(VIII) Karl Ephraim Weston, fifth child of 
Irving Ephraim Weston (7), was born in Win- 
chendon, October 7, 1874. He attended the public 
schools, graduating from the Murdock high school 



m his native town in 1892. He entered Williams 
College the same year and was graduated with 
tlie degree of A. B. in 1896. He entered the 
.*\merican School of .'Archaeology at Rome in the 
following autumn. While there he studied under 
Professor Warren, formerly of Johns Hopkins Uni- 
versity at Baltimore, Maryland, but now of Har- 
vard. After a year Professor Warren assigned to 
Mr. Weston the task of copying the manuscript of 
Terrence, including the illustrations of the play 
of the Phormio.. This work of Mr. Weston has 
since been reproduced in the "Harvard Studies." 
After returning to America Mr. Weston taught 
school at Tarrytown, New York, and in the boys' 
school in Prohibition Park, Staten Island. Then 
he went to Baltimore as private tutor and con- 
tinued his studies in Spanish and modern lan- 
guages at Johns Hopkins. In 1901 he was ap- 
pointed an instructor in Williams College. After 
four years of teaching there he was promoted to 
a professorship, and given a leave of absence for 
two years which he spent in study abroad. The 
years he devoted to the 'Study of French, Italian 
and Spanish, taking full courses at the Sorbonne 
and College De France in Paris. 

COLBURN FAMILY. Edward Colburn (i), 
the inmiigrant ancestor of Mrs. James B; Gallup, 
of Leominster, Massachusetts, was born in 1618 
in England. He came to America with his brother 
Robert, who was ten years older than he, in the 
ship •■Defence" in 1635. Some of the Colburns 
of Leominster and many of those in Worcester 
county trace their descent to Nathaniel Colburn, 
of Dedham, Massachusetts, but no known connec- 
tion exists between the Dedham pioneer and these 
two undar consideration. Robert and Edward Col- 
burn both settled at Ipswich and Robert remained 
there. Robert and his wife both deposed in 1668 
that they were sixty years old ; he died May 2, 
1685, leaving a son Robert and probably other chil- 
dren. Edward Colburn was one of the pioneer 
settlers of Chelmsford. Massachusetts, which was 
set ofT from Concord in 1652. 

(II) Robert Colburn, son of Edward Colburn 
(i), was probably born about 1645 at Ipswich. He 
was brought up at Chelmsford, whither his father 
went in the early fifties. He married Mary Bishop, 
daughter of Edward Bishop, who settled in Salem 
1640 or earlier. She was baptized as Salem. Oc- 
tober 12, 1651. Robert Colburn died at Concord, 
June 7. 1701. Among other children of Robert 
and Mary Colburn were : Nathaniel, of whom 
later; William, married, February 29. 1715-6, Mar- 
garet French and had children — Robert, born Jan- 
uary 16, 1716-7; Keziah, October 27, 1721 ; Jemima, 
June 15, 1724; William, December 5, 1726. 

(III) Nathaniel Colburn, son of Robert Col- 
burn (2), was born at Chelmsford or Concord 
about 1700. He married about 1720, Dorcas Jones, 
of Concord, Massachusetts. She was the daughter 
of Nathaniel and Mary Jones, of Concord, where 
she was^ born January 17, 1703-4. He removed 
to Leominster about 1750 and bought a farm in the 
south part of the town. He deeded half of this 
farm to his son John. March 15, 1765. Four of 
his sons were soldiers in the revolution. John 
was sergeant at arms in the Leominster company 
on the Lexington alarm, April 19. 1775; sergeant 
of a company raised to re-inforce the army of 
General Gates at Saratoga in 1777. Ebenezer was 
a lieutenant in the company of Captain Jabez Keep 
and the regiment of Colonel Jonathan Smith. Again 
he was first lieutenant in 1776 and 1777 in Captain 
Nathaniel Carter's company. Colonel Abijah 



lOO 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Stearns' regiment. Nathan and Jonathan Colburn 
were soldiers in the Leominster companies. 

The children of Nathaniel and Dorcas Jones 
were : Nathaniel, horn January 19, 1722-3, mar- 
ried Tabitha Headley ; Ebcnezcr, November 10, 
1724, died June 7, 1828; Dorcas, September I, 1726; 
Mary, April 12, 1729, died November 6, 1740; Ebc- 
nezer, September 17. 1731 : Sarah, May 8, 1734; 
John (twin), July 10, 1736, died August 4, 1736; 
Jonathan (twin), July 10, 1736, married Sarah 
Harvey: John, August 3, 1738. -of' whom later; 
Mary, October 4. 1742: Nathan, November 18, 1744; 
Hannah. July 20, 1747. 

(IV) John Colburn, son of Nathaniel Colburn 
(3), was born at Concord. Massachusetts, August 
3, 17,38. He removed with his parents to the 
southern part of Leominster about 1750. He was 
a soldier in the revolution, sergeant in Captain 
Nathaniel Carter's company. Colonel Abiiah 
Stearns' regiment. His brother Ebenezer was first 
lieutenant of the same company. John Colburn 
was later in Lieutenant Samuel Stickncy's com- 
pany. Colonel Abijah Stearns' regiment, and 
marched to reinforce General Gates in 1777. He 
lived on the homestead in the south part of Leo- 
minster. He deeded it to his sons Elnathan and 
Joseph, March 5, 1804. He married ."Xnna Darby, 
of Harvard, Massachusetts. Their children were: 
Joseph, of whom later; Elnathan, Nathan. 

(V) Joseph Colburn, son of John Colburn (4), 
was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, November 
10, 1779. He married Relief Gibson. Their chil- 
dren were: Jacob, of whom later; Ann, Polly, 
Joseph, John. Alvin. Charles. 

(VI) Jacob Colburn. son of Joseph Colburn 
(5), was born at Leominster, Massachusetts, May 
23. 1806. He was educated there in the public 
schools and learned the trade of comb manufac- 
turing of James H. Carter. He went into business 
on his own account in 1840 at Leominster and for 
a quarter of a century was an extensive and suc- 
cessful manufacturer. He spent his whole life in 
Leominster and was identified with many of its 
interests. He enjoyed the affection as well as the 
respect of his neighbors. 

He married, April 2.S, 1831, Hannah Spaulding, 
daughter of and Betsey (Heald) Spauld- 
ing, the eighth of eleven children. Her father 
was thrown upon his own resources by the death 
of his father when he was but twelve years old, 
but he managed to secure a good education and 
even taught school for several terms. Her grand- 
father was Joseph Spaulding and her grandmother 
Bridget Crosby, daughter of Robert Crosby, a na- 
tive of New Ipswich. New Hampshire. Hannah's 
great-grandfather was Jacob Spaulding, of Chelms- 
ford. Jacob Colburn died Julv 7, 1865. The chil- 
dren of Jacob and Hannah Colburn were : Sarah 
F.. married (second) James B. Gallup, of whom 
latter; Charles A., born July 29, 1837; Mary A., 
October 30, 1843, married Franklin S. Blake. 

(VII) Sarah F. Colburn, daughter of Jacob 
Colburn (6), was born in Leominster. Massachu- 
setts, November 29, T833. She was educated there 
in the public schools. She married (first) David 
Shapley and lived in Wilmington. Delaware. He 
died August 12. 1872. She married (second) as 
his third wife James B. Gallup. Mrs. Gallup is 
active in church and charitable work. She has 
served on the board of visitors and the working 
committee of the Soldiers Aid Society, and is now 
serving her second term as one of the overseers 
of the poor of the town of Leominster. 

James B. Gallup was bnrn in the village of 
Oayville, town of Foster, Rhode Island, July 28, 



1821. He received the usual common school edu- 
cation of his • day and learned the comb-making, 
trade. At the age of eighteen years he removed 
to Leominster, where there were many comb fac- 
tories and worked at his trade, first for Jonas- 
Colburn and later for G. & A. Morse. He went 
into business in partnership with Calvin B. Cook 
in Northborough, Massachusetts, in the manufac- 
ture of combs. He also engaged in various other 
enterprises on his own account. He did a profit- 
able business buying and selling wood-lots in Leo- 
minster before the war. He was associated ii> 
business also with Samuel Woodward and later 
with B. F. Blodgett, making horn goods. When 
the partnership with Philander Woodbury was dis- 
solved, which lasted several years, the Union 
Comb Company was formed and Mr. Gallup was 
president and a large stockholder. The plant of 
this company was destroyed by fire in 1872 and the 
business was wound up. A new company was 
formed and Mr. Gallup became its president. Its 
business grew and prospered greatly. He was at 
the head of the Union Comb Company until his- 
death, August 31, 1884. His home was on Lan- 
caster street, Leominster. He was a man of kindly, 
generous nature, fond of his home and devoted to 
his business. 

He married, first). 1840, Orissa Wheelock; 
(second) Dorothy Wheelock, sister of his first 
wife; (third) Sarah F.. daughter of Jacob and 
Hannah (Spaulding) Colburn, mentioned above. 
His only child was by his first marriage, George 
H. Gallup, born at Leominster, one of the first 
volunteers from Leominster in the civil war. and 
who died in the service of illness contracted in the 
army. 

CLARY FAMILY. Daniel McClary. the immi- 
grant ancestor of Samuel Heald Clary, of Wor- 
cester, came to New England with the early exodus 
of Scotch from north of Ireland. He settled first in 
Lunenburg, Massachusetts, where a number of 
Scotch made their home. He was a proprietor and 
tax payer there from 1740 to 1750. He died there 
about 1751. His widow Catherine removed to New 
Ipswich, New Hampshire. 

(II) Daniel Clary, son of Daniel McClary (i), 
was a young man when the family removed to 
New Ipswich, where he settled and died "in 1780, 
leaving a family of young children. He was a 
soldier in the revolution. He married, about 1765, 
Catherine Taggart. daughter of John Taggarf, who 
lived in Peter.sborongh and Sharon until 1797, when 
he removed to Dublin, New Hampshire, where he 
died in 1813. 

(HI) Daniel Clary, son of Daniel Clary (2),. 
was born at New Ipswich, New Hampshire, in 
1774. His father died when he was about six 
years old and he went to Peterborough. New 
Hampshire, to live with his grandfather, John 
Taggart. The family moved to Dublin, New 
Hampshire, about 1797, and Clary became a pioneer 
settler at Jackson, Maine, with his family, about 
1800. He had a large farm and became a pros- 
perous, highly respected and esteemed citizen. Mrs. 
Clary was an earnest Methodist in religion. Dan- 
iel Clary married Persis Morse. Their children : 
Betsey, Daniel, John, see forward; Catherine, Abby, 
Ashley, Martha. 

(IV) John Clary, son of Daniel Clary (3), was 
born at Jackson. Maine, September 16, 181.3, died 
in California, October s, 1852, aged thirty-nine 
years. He was educated in the country school of 
his native town. When a young man he started 
in business with a general store at Lincoln, Maine. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



He was an active and prominent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. Married Sybell Heald, 
•daughter of Samuel Heald. After her death she 
married (second) Alonzo Whitcomb, of Worcester, 
December 14, 165S. 

(V) Samuel Heald Clary, son of John Clary 
(4), was born in Lincoln, Maine, June 9, 1851. 
His father died when he was a year old and he 
■went to live with his grandfather, Samuel Heald, 
in Troy, Maine, until 1858, when he came to 
Worcester with his mother, who had married (sec- 
ond) Alonzo Whitcomb, of that city. He attended 
the schools in Troy also the Worcester public 
schools, leaving the hig4i school in his junior year 
to take a clerkship in the Worcester Safe Deposit 
and Trust Company, an institution just organized, 
May, 1869. At first the business of the company was 
confined to the renting of safe deposit vaults, but in- 
1870 it entered upon the banking business and Mr. 
Clary became teller, and in 1886 assistant secretary. 
The company was well managed and its business 
grew rapidly and constantly. The original capital 
■was $200,000, which was increased to $500,000, and 
the name was shortened in 1904 to the present form, 
Worcester Trust Company. Mr. Clary was elected 
treasurer of the company in 1891, a position he has 
jsince held. He is the only oflicer of the company 
who has been with it since its organization. He has 
seen it grow from nothing until it is the largest 
tanking nistitution in the county, the largest in the 
state outside of Boston, and he has taken an active 
part in this great development. He is a director 
and clerk of the Whitcomb-BIaisdell Machine Tool 
Company. He is a member of the Quinsigamond 
Boat Club, the Worcester Club and the Tatnuck 
Country Club. He is a member of All Saints Pro- 
testant Episcopal parish. In politics he is a Repub- 
lican, but has never aspired to or held public office. 
He married. Januarv 21, 1886, Ellen Olive Thayer, 
daughter of Edward D. Thayer. (See Thayer 
Family sketch). Their children are: Ernest 
Thayer, born in Worcester, March i, 1887; Eleanor, 
born in Worcester, August 2, 1892. 

JOSEPH HILL. Valentine Hill (l), the im- 
migrant ancestor of Joseph Hill, of Winchendon, 
Massachusetts, was born in England, probably in 
London. He was an early settler in Boston, where 
he was admitted to the church June 12, 1636. He 
was a mercer or merchant from London, the records 
say. He was a prominent and well-to-do citizen, 
<hief owner of a large wharf property. He was ad- 
mitted a freeman May 13, 1640, proprietor, town 
officer and deacon (with Jacob Eliot). He was 
selectman in 1643-44-45-46, deputy to the general 
court 1652-53-54-55-57. He bought land at Oyster 
Bay, then Dover, now Durham, New Hampshire, 
■before 1649 and removed thither. He died in 
Oyster Bay in 1662. Savage calls him a man of 
great public spirit. In the settlement of the estate 
his widow employed Joseph Hill, of Maiden, as 
attorney, suggesting some relationship between 
these two prominent Hill immigrants. But there 
■were also several others of this name at Dover, 
possibly also relatives of Valentine Hill. John 
Hill, founder of a large family in New Hampshire 
■and Maine, settled first in Plymouth, Massachu- 
setts, removed to Boston in 1630, was admitted a 
freeman there March 18, 1642, was a grantee of 
Nashuay, died in 1647, leaving a son John who 
-settled in Dover on land inherited from his father. 
All things considered it seems that there must have 
■been relationship between John Hill, of Dover and 
Boston, Joseph Hill, of Maiden, and Valentine Hill, 
•of Boston and Dover. 

Valentine Hill married (first) Frances , 



who died February 17, 1646; (second) Mary Eaton, 
daughter of Governor Eaton. She married (sec- 
ond) John Lovering, of Dover; and (third) Ezekiel 
Knight, of Wells, Maine. There is an interesting 
entry on the oldest records of Dover births, etc.: 
"Nathaniel Hill son of Vallentine Hill of douer 
by his wife Mary was born in oyster Riuer the be- 
ginning March 1659-60. Mrs. Mary Hill alias 
Knight was before me the 23d of May 1702 and 
acknowledged that Nathaniel Hill was the son of 
her first husband Vallentine Hill." (John Wood- 
man Justs Peac.)" 

Children of Valentine and Frances Hill were: 
Hannah, born March 17, 1638-39, married, January 
24, 1659, Antipas Boyce; John, born September 
I, 1640, died young; Elizabeth, born December 12, 
164T, died young; Joseph (twin), born 1644, died 
same year; Benjamin (twin), born 1644, died same 
vear; Joseph, born August 18, 1646. Children of 
Valentine and Mary were: John, born August 19, 
T647; Samuel, born December 8, 1648; Mary, born 
December 29, 1649, married Rev. John Buss, in 
whose charge were the records when lost by fire; 
Elizabeth, baptized May 25, 1651 ; Nathaniel, born 
March 31, 1660, see forward. 

(II) Captain Nathaniel Hill, youngest child of 
Valentine Hill (i), was born in that part of Dover 
now Durham, New Hampshire, March 31, 1660. 
He was a taxpayer in Dover in 1681. He settled 
on his father's land on the north side of Oyster 
river. His farm extended from the falls in the 
river, near Durham village, across the line of the 
present Boston & Maine Railroad tracks. He was 
a leading citizen, captain in the militia and for many 
years member of the provincial council. He mar- 
ried Sarah Nutter, daughter of Anthony Nutter, 
and granddaughter of the distinguished Hatevil 
Nutter. Children of Captain Nathaniel and Sarah 
Hill were : Samuel, see forward ; Valentine. 

(III) Samuel Hill, son of Captain Nathaniel 
Hill (2), was born in what is now Durham,^ New 
Hampshire, about 1690. He inherited part if not 
all of the homestead and lived in Durham, after- 
wards Lee, New Hampshire. Among his children 
was Samuel, see forward. 

(IV) Samuel Hill, son of Samuel Hill (3), 
was born in Durham, now Lee, New Hampshire, 
October 6, 1720 (family record of Frances E. 'VVil- 
lard, a descendant through her mother). He died 
in Danville, Vermont. Miss Willard in her auto- 
biograph says that he was a veritable giant; well- 
to-do; self-sacrificing; of robust integrity. He 
married Abigail Hutchins, of another old Dover 
family She was born in what is now Lee, New 
Hampshire, February 20, 1733. died at an advanced 
age in 1829 at Ogden, New York. Children of 
Samuel and Abigail Hill were : - Nathaniel, see 
forward; John, born about 1760. married Polly 
Thompson, 1796, among whose children was Mary 
Thompson Hill, born January 3. 180S. the mother 
of the famous temperance advocate, Frances E. 
Willard. There were probably other children. 

(V) Nathaniel Hill, son of Samuel Hill (4), 
was born in Durham. New Hampshire, about 1745- 
He was a soldier in the revolution. He was ensign 
in Captain Alpheus Chesley's company in 1778. 
Robert Hill. John Hill and Henry Hill were m the 
'^ame service and three of the four in the same 
company. Thev were perhaps brothers. Nathaniel 
Hill married at the close of the revolution and set- 
tled in Loudon, New Hampshire. He was there 
in 1785, when he signed a petition, and in 1789 his 
son Nathaniel. Jr. was old enough to sign as an 
inhabitant. Loudon was incorporated January 23, 
\-]-j->„ from Canterbury, which was some fifty years 
older. The rest of Canterbury was incorporated 



I02 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



as Norihficld later. There seems to have been no 
other branch of the Hill family in this vicinity. 
Children of Nathaniel Hill were: Nathaniel, born 
about 1770-5: Levi, see forward. 

(VI) Levi Hill, son of Nathaniel Hill (5), 
was born about 1770-80 either at Lee, New Hamp- 
shire, or at Loudon, after his parents settled there. 
He received a rather brief schooling. He worked 
with his father developing the farm and remained 
at home helping his father until his death, when 
the farm became his. He was a farmer all his life, 
and raised sheep and cattle for beef. He also dealt 
in horses considerably. He removed to Springfield, 
New Hampshire, in his later years and bought a 
farm, which he carried on until his death. He 
was a member of the Springfield Congregational 
church and was a deacon there as well as at Lou- 
don. He was always called Captain Hill from his 
rank in the state militia. He died about 1861. 

He married Lydia Wiggin, of Canterbury, New 
Hampshire, the town of which Loudon was former- 
ly a part. She was a descendant of Governor 
Thomas Wiggin, who deeded June 4. 1663, a large 
tract of land at Durham. New Hampshire, to his 
son .'Vndrcw. Andrew Wiggin became a sort of 
patron for the township. His son Jonathan, who 
died in 17.^8. had a daughter who married a Mr. 
Hill. Children of Levi and Lydia Hill were : 
Langdon Levi, Joseph Wiggin, born December 12, 
1805. sec forward ; Susanna, Cyrus, Levi Franklin. 

"(VH) Joseph Wiggin Hill, son of Levi Hill 
(6), was born at I^udon, New Hampshire, Decem- 
ber 12. 1805, died November to, 1886. He attended 
the public schools there. He removed with the 
family about 1825 to Springfield, New Hampshire, 
and helped his father on the farm, but soon after- 
ward removed to Boston and worked in the City 
Hotel for about five years. He returned to Spring- 
field and bought a tract of wood land, which he 
cleared and cultivated until 1840. He then traded 
for a large farm in the eastern part of the town. 
Later he sold it to his son Joseph and bought an- 
other smaller one, which he worked for ten years, 
sold it and bought the one which he owned at the 
time of his death. In religion he was a Methodist. 
In his early days he was a Democrat, afterward a 
Republican. He was a representative to the New 
Hampshire legislature for two years, and was on 
• the board of selectman of the town. He was inter- 
ested in the militia and was lieutenant of the 
Springfield company. 

He married, June 8, 1823, Abigail Cole, daugh- 
ter of Isaac Cole. Her father was a moldcr in an 
iron foundry. Children of Joseph W. and .Abigail 
Hill were: Benjamin Franklin, born December 15, 
1831. married Lavinia Davis, of New London, New 
Hampshire, and they have five children — Nellie, 
George, Hattic, Mabel, Eugene. Joseph, born Sep- 
tember lo. i8,\i. Lydia Jane, born February, i8.s6, 
married Leonard N. Heath, of Springfield. New 
Hampshire, no issue. Susanna A., married John 
Crocker, of Grantham. New Hampshire. Emily 
Elizabeth, married Herbert Taylor of Andover, 
New Hampshire, and they had four children — Al- 
bert. Grace, Louisa, Daisy. Nellie, died aged four 
years. 

(VIII) Joseph Hill, second child of Joseph Wig- 
gin Hill (7). was born at Springfield, New Hamp- 
shire, September to, 18,1,3. He was educated in 
the common schools there. At the age of sixteen 
he went to I,ake Village to school, continuing for 
two years. He served an apprenticeship of two years, 
following it in the winter months with his uncle, B. 
J. Colo, learning the iron moulder's trade. He worked 



at home on the farm summers during this time and 
then bought the farm. After working it eight years 
he sold it and went to Yonkcrs, New York, where 
he worked in the foundry of the Clipper Mowing 
Machine Company about three years. In 1873 he 
went to work again for his uncle, B. J. Cole, ir» 
his iron foundry at Lakeport, New Hampshire. 
He later worked for C. B. Mahan in his mowing 
machine works at Lebanon, New Hampshire, and 
for a year for D. B. Emerson. In 1881 he removed 
to Kcene, New Hampshire, and entered the employ 
of James B. Elliott, who had bought the Clipper 
Machine works at Yonkers. Here he remained 
until 1883, when he removed to Winchcndon, 
Massachusetts, and in partnership with his son-in- 
law, Andrew Bosley, started a foundry. In Sep- 
tember, 1905, he built a large new foundry and 
removed to his present location on Spruce street, 
ner the Boston & Maine Railroad, where the busi- 
ness is prospering greatly. The firm makes all 
kinds of iron castings. Few tnen have a more 
intimate knowledge of the details of their business 
QT a more careful training than Mr. Hill. He at- 
tends the North Congregational Church. He is a 
Republican and was a delegate to the state con- 
vention in 1905 and has been to other important 
conventions of his party. He is a member of the 
Avon Club of Winchendon. 

He married, June 3, 1859, Mrs. Elvira (Lull) 
Towers, daughter of Gilman Lull, of Hopkinton, 
New Hampshire. Her father was a farmer. The 
children of Joseph and Elvira Hill are : Jennie 
May. born July 3, 1861. married Andrew Bosley, 
of W"inchendon, and they have four children — 
Josephine Elvira, born February 5, 1S78; Fred- 
erick Andrew, born February 24, 1880; Bertha Kate, 
born January 14. 1889; Hazel Elsa, born March 
3. i8go. Kate Marcella, born November 13, 1865, 
married Frederick Vose, of Peterborough, New 
Hampshire : have no children. Carrie .-Xbigail, born 
March 25, 1873, married Frank Joy, of Kecne, New 
Hampshire; has no children. 

TUCKER FAMILY. There is good reason to 
believe that the English family from which Elliot 
S. Tucker, of Winchendon, descended, dates its 
English origin from John Tucker, whose arms 
granted in 1079 by William, the Conqueror, with 
an estate at South Tavistock, Devonshire, are and 
have always since then been used by the Tucker 
family in England. John Tucker came to England 
with William I from Normandy and fought at the 
battle of Hastings in 1066. He married the Widow 
Trecareth. supposed to be the former owner of the 
estate. The Tucker family spread over Dorset. 
Somerset. Gloucester and York counties in England 
and Pembroke in Wales. 

(I) William Tucker, of Thornley. Devonshire, 
undoubtedly a descendant of the John Tucker, 
mentioned above, and bearing his arms, was the 
first English progenitor to whom the line of the 
American family can be traced. He was born 
about 1500. He married Josca Ashe, daughter of 
William Ashe, of Devonshire. Their children were: 
George, born about 1.S40, see forward: Thomas, 
married Joanne Carlillon. daughter of Robert Car- 
tillon ; John, born in Thornley. married Elizabeth 
Kempe. daughter of Robert Kempe. of London; 
Josea. married William Barbcbin and twice after- 
ward. 

(II) George Tucker, son of William Tucker (i), 
was born about T540. His children: George, born 
about 1570. see forward; Nicholas, married Anne 
Powell, of London; Tobias, married Maria Fiske; 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



103. 



Daniel ; Mansfield, married Elizabeth ; Martha, mar- 
ried Charles Freeman, of Hingham; Elizabeth; 
Hester, married Richard Cod well. 

(III) George Tucker, son of George Tucker 
(2), was born in Devonshire, England, about 1570. 
He married Elizabeth Stoughton, the first daughter 
of Francis Stoughton, of Cragford. They settled 
in Milton-next-Gravesend, England, where he was 
a man of mark. The manor was conferred on his 
father by Queen Elizabeth in 1572; he was one of 
the most important citizens as shown by the order 
or names at the granting of the city charter of 
Gravesend, September 3, I57--7.)- There was a 
George Tucker in Marblehead, in 1647, but it is 
doubtful if this George ever left England. His 
children were: George, born 1595, married Mary 
Darrett, daughter of John Darrett, of Codshill ; 
John, born 1599, settled in Hingham, Massachu- 
setts; Robert, see forward; Henry, bom 1609, 
probably settled in the Bermudas; Esther, born 
1612 ; Elizabeth, perhaps the wife of Thomas 
Greenough, of Boston ; Maria, Anne, married John 
Beal, of Arlington, Kent, England; Sarah, Martha. 

(IV) Robert Tucker, son of George Tucker (3), 
of Devonshire, England, was the immigrant ances- 
tor. He was baptized at Milton-next-Gravesend, 
June 7, 1004, and doubtless born the month pre- 
ceding." He settled in Weymouth, coming in the 
company, it is believed, of Rev. Mr. Hull in 1635. 
He was' a town oflScer there in 1643. He removed 
to Gloucester, where he Avas the town clerk for a 
lime and where some of his children were born, 
but he returned to Weymouth. About 1662 he 
removed to Milton, Massachusetts, and bought sev- 
eral lots of land on Brush hill of Widow Frans- 
worth. Elder Henry Withington and Mrs. Fenno, 
amounting in all to one hundred and seventeen 
acres, bordering on the farm of his son, James 
Tucker, who purchased his place some time prev- 
iously. Robert Tucker was for many years town 
clerk of Alilton, and the first records are in his 
hand. He represented the town several years in 
the general court. He was selectman in 1677. He 
was active in the church. The court records show 
that he w-as fined twenty shillings in 1640 for call- 
ing James Brittan a liar, but as James was whipped 
once, and hanged later, it may be presumed that , 
Tucker knew that he was a liar. Robert Tucker 
died March ir, 1682, aged seventy-eight years. His 
homestead was on Brush hill and his house there, 
built about 1680, was at last accounts restored and 
in excellent condition, one of the oldest houses of 
the first settlers in New England. His will was 
dated March 7, and proved March 30, 1681-82. 

He married Elizabeth Allen, sister of Deacon 
Henry Allen, of Boston. Their children were : 
Sarah, born at Weymouth, March 17, 1639, married 
Peter Warren ; James, born 1640, married Rebecca 
Tolman : Joseph, born 1643 ; Elizabeth, born 1644, 
married Ebenezer Clapp ; Benjamin, born 1646, mar- 
ried Anne Payson ; Ebenezer (twin), born 1652, 
died before his father; Experience (twin), born 
and died 1652 ; Ephraim, born August 27, 1653, 
married Hannah Gulliver ; Manasseh, see forward ; 

Rebecca, married Fenno ; Mary, married 

Samuel Jones. 

(V) Manasseh Tucker, ninth child of Robert 
Tucker (4). was born in 1654. In 171 1, Mr. Tucker, 
Samuel Miller, John Wadsworth and Moses 
Belcher bought three thousand acres of land from 
the town of Boston, lying in Braintree and called 
the Blue Hill Lands. The land abutted on the 
south boundary of Milton. In 1713 Moses Belcher 
sold his undivided quarter to his associates for 
three hundred and eighty-five pounds and they then 



dcvided the land in thirds. One half the tract was 
annexed to Braintree, the other half to Milton. 
Manasseh Tucker owned and lived in the mansion 
built by his father on Brush hill. He was admitted 
a freeman in 1678, and was deacon of the First 
church of Milton. He was the last survivor of the 
first settlers in Milton among the church members, 
and after his death, April 9, 1743, the church took 
appropriate action : "And as all that generation 
were gathered to their fathers the church passed a 
vote April 17 that they would renew the Convenant 
with God and one another." 

He married, December 29, 1676, Waitstill Sum- 
ner, born December 20, 1661, died March 19, 1748, 
eldest daughter of Roger and Mary (Joslyn) Sum- 
ner. Her father was the son of the immigrant, 
William Sumner, and her mother was daughter of 
the immigrant Thomas Joslyn, of Lancaster, form- 
erly of Hingham. Massachusetts. Children of 
Mannaseh and Waitstill Tucker were : Ebenezer, 
born December 22, 1682, married Jane Clapp ; 
Manasseh, Jr., December 22, 1684, married Hannah 
Shcpard; Samuel, see forward; Mary, March 25, 
1693, married John Dickerson ; Waitstill, June 5, 
1695, married Ezra Clapp ; Jasaniah, July 19, 1698, 
married Susannah Sumner; Benjamin, August 18, 
1705, settled in Middleborough ; Elizabeth, married 
John Paysan ; died July 9, 1781. 

(VI) Samuel Tucker, third child of Mannaseh 
Tucker (5). was born at Milton, Massachusetts, 
March 15, 1687. He married, March 2, 1712, P.e- 
becca Leeds, of Dorchester, Mas.=achusetts. He 
was the first to settle on the thousand acres of land 
his father had bought of the town of Boston, May 
9. 1 71 1. It was located in what is now the south 
part of Milton and was called Scott's Woods. He 
was prominent in town and military affairs, captain 
of the Milton company. He died there December 
25, 1758, aged seventy-two years. Children of 
Samuel and Rebecca Tucker were : Samuel, see 
forward; Nathaniel, born April 29, 1725, Harvard 
College, 1744, died 1748; Rebecca, November 27, 
1722 baptized December 2, 1722, married Nathaniel 
Swift. 

(VII) Samuel Tucker, son of Samuel Tucker 
(6), was born September 25, 1719, at Milton, Massa- 
chusetts, died there May 27, 1776. 

He married (first) Susannah Thatcher. 1742, 
and (second) Elizabeth Heywood, 1749. Children 
of Samuel and Susannah Tucker were : Mary, born 
May 22, 1745 ; Susannah. October 26, 1748. Chil- 
dren of Samuel and Elizabeth Tucker: Samuel, 
July 14, 1750, married Abigail Vose ; Joslin, Janu- 
ary 9, 1752, settled in Gardner, Massachusetts; 
El'izabeth. July 12, 1753; Rebecca, March. 1755; 
Eunice, June, 1756: Seth, see forward; Elisha, June 
20. 1760, died at Winchendon, Massachusetts, Oc- 
tober ID, 1808, farmed in partnership, with his 
brother Seth ; Nathaniel, 1769, died February 10, 
1738, bequeathed a thousand dollars to the poor 
of Milton. 

(VIII) Seth Tucker, ninth child of Samuel 
Tucker (7), was born in Milton. Massachusetts, 
January 18, 1757. He was a soldier in the revolu- 
tion in' the Milton company and was .stationed near 
West Point at the time of Arnold's treason and the 
execution of the spy, Andre. A man of clear mind 
and simple piety, he was shocked by the profanity 
and vice of the soldiers, and in later years used to 
call the army "a dreadful wicked place." After 
his service in the army he and his brother Elisha 
bought a farm at Winchendon, and always owned 
it in common. It is the same place owned later 
by Seth Tucker, Jr., and Webster H. Tucker. 
Seth Tucker was a man of industry and strict 



I04 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



integrity. He was an active member of the Baptist 
church in its early days. In his later years his 
talks about old times and on religious themes were 
listened to with absorbing interest. He had an 
excellent memory and retained his faculties to the 
extreme age of ninety-eight years. There was al- 
ways a icniarkable spirit of fraternal confidence 
between him and his brother Elisha. Their first 
property was owned in common, and their farm in 
Winchendon was owned in common. 

He died at Winchendon, November 12, 1855, 
aged ninety-eight years. The monument erected to 
the memory of the two pioneers, Seth and Elisha, 
bears this inscription : "From the earliest days of 
childhood to almost the latest hours of life, these 
brothers here interred had all their worldly inter- 
ests in common, a confidence rarely bestowed, happy 
in its results and worthy of imitation." 

He married Jane Payson, November 30, 1791. 
She was born March 11, 1761. died January 8, 1813, 
aged fifty-two years. She was descended from the 
immigrant, Edward Payson. of Roxbury, who mar- 
ried Mary Eliot, sister of Rev. John Eliot, the 
Indian Apostle, and their daughter, Ann Payson, 
married Benjamin Tucker. Many of the Tucker 
family have had Eliot for a given name in memory 
of this ancestor. Edward Payson's son. Rev, Ed- 
ward Payson, married Elizabeth Phillips, daughter 
of Rev. Samuel Phillips, and their son, ElioL Pay- 
son, was father of James Payson. and grandfather 
of Jane Payson. who married Seth Tucker, as 
stated above. Children of Seth and Jane Tucker 
were : Nathaniel, born September 10, 1792, sailed 
to the West Indies and was never heard from ; 
Eliot Payson, December 4, 1793, died February 4. 
1796: Eliot Payson. November 21. 1796, married 
Charlotte Whitman Todd; Betsey, August 26, 1798, 
married Levi Greenwood ; Joshua, August 7, 1800, 
married Susan L. Morse, died November 7, 1881 ; 
Jane, August 14, 1803. married Nathaniel Mer- 
rick, of Chesterfield, New Hampshire: Seth. see 
forward: Elisha. .^ugust 11. i8oi5. died October 

13. 1808: Elisha Gustavus, August 18, 1808, mar- 
ried Elizabeth M. Harris ; Samuel and Sewall 
(twins). May 17. 1810: the former died May 29, 
1810, and the latter June 5, 1810; Samuel and Sus- 
anna, born July 4, 1812 ; the latter died March 22, 
l8n 

(IX) Seth Tucker. Jr.. son of Seth Tucker (8), 
was born in Winchendon, Massachusetts, October 

14. 1804. He received his education in the common 
schools there. He was much devoted to his father's 
interests in conducting the farm and was closely 
associated with his father as long as he lived. He 
inherited the farm and a considerable fortune. The 
Tucker farm is situated on Tucker bill in the east- 
ern part of the town. The land where the Baxter 
D. Whitney factories are located was bought of 
Seth Tucker, who laid the first stone in construct- 
ing the dam and mills. Seth Tucker was of in- 
flexible probity and honor. His character com- 
manded universal respect and esteem. He was a 
member of the Baptist church and was ?ctive in 
building the church in 184S, giving the church the 
land for that purpose. He served the town on 
various important committees. In 1840 and in 1854 
he served on the committee to apportion the school 
moneys. He was on the building committee of the 
town hall in 1850. cemetery commission in 1857. 
committee to buy a site for the new school house 
in 1866. 

He married Valonia Harvey, of Chesterfield, 
New Hampshire. Their children : Webster H., 
sec forward; Payson Eliot, died in infancy; an in- 
fant, not named, died in infancy. 



(X) Webster Harvey Tucker, son of Seth 
Tucker (9), was born in Winchendon, Massachu- 
setts. May 4, 1834, died May 7, 1872. He received 
his education in the common schools of the town. 
He was in close association and partnership in his 
father's interests on the farm. He inherited all 
his father's estate, including the farm on Tucker 
hill and much real estate in the town of Winchen- 
don. In addition to his farm, which he managed 
to good advantage, he built a number of houses, 
some to sell, and others to rent. Although not so 
active and prominent in public affairs as his father 
and grandfather, he was well liked and highly re- 
spected by his fellow citizens. He was an active 
member and ofiicer of the Baptist church. In 
politics he was a Republican. 

He married, at Winchendon, January i, 1857, 
Betridge P. Parker, who was born in Londonderry, 
Vermont, February 27, 1838, and died in Winchen- 
don, Massachusetts, December 18, 1893. Their 
children were : Charles Webster, born May 23, 1866, 
for a number of years devoted his time to his 
interests in Winchendon and at present holds an 
important position with the Boston & Maine 
Railroad, headquarters at Boston. Elliot Seth, see 
forward. 

(XI) Elliot Seth Tucker, son of Webster Har- 
vey Tucker (10). was born at Winchendon, Massa- 
chusetts. May 31, 1872. He received his educa- 
tion in the public schools of the town, graduating 
from the high school in 1892. He then took a 
prepaiatory course and passed the examinations for 
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1894, 
but did not enter, preferring to devote his time 
to his interests at home. In 1899 he purchased the 
grocery business of George B. Raymond & Co. and 
conducted it successfully until he sold out in Sep- 
tember. 1903. In May, 1904, he entered the em- 
ploy of the National Novelty Corporation of New 
York with the A. O. Peare Company of Gardner, 
Massachusetts, as shipping clerk, and was trans- 
ferred in December following to the Mason. & 
Parker branch of the company at Winchendon. 
Upon the retirement of Dwight L. Mason, May 27, 
1905. he took charge of the office of the Mason 
& Parker business. Here he remained till June i, 
♦ 1905. when he resigned to take a position of clerk 
of the district court of Winchendon. 

Mr. Tucker attends the Church of the Unity 
(Unitarian) and is chairman of the music com- 
mittee. He is a Republican in politics and has 
been a delegate to various conventions of his party. 
In 1903 he was representative to the general court 
from his district, and was clerk of the committee 
on town affairs. He was selectman of the town 
from 1898 to 1904. a period of six years, and chair- 
man of the board the last three years. 1901 to 1904. 
He is a prominent Free Mason, a member of 
Artisan Lodge. He is a member and past high 
priest of North Star, Royal Arch Chapter. He be- 
longs to Jerusalem Commandery, Knights Templar, 
of Fitchburg. He has passed through the chairs 
of Naukeag Council, No. 1013, Royal Arcanum, held 
all the highest offices and past regent. He was a 
member of Watatic Tribe, No. 85, Red Men, was 
president of the Avon Club of Winchendon, 
190.S-0O. 

He married, March 12, 1895, Hattie Matilda 
Taft, daughter of Farris O. and Sarah E. (Carter) 
Taft. of Brockton, Massachusetts. Her father is 
the proprietor of a machine shop there. They have 
one child, Betridge Emmeline, born January 22, 1896. 

EDWIN N. ADAMS. Henry Adams (i), of 
Braintree, was the emigrant ancestor of Edwin N. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



105 



Adams, of Leicester, Massachusetts, and of a large 
proportion of the Adams families in this country 
including John Adams, president of the United 
States, and his son, John Quincy Adams, also presi- 
•dent. Henry Adams is believed to have arrived in 
Boston with his wife, eight sons and a daughter in 
1632 or 1633. The colonial authorities allotted him 
forty acres of land at Mount WoUaston, which in 
1640 became Braintree and included the present towns 
of Braintree, Quincy and Randolph. The name of 
his wife is unknown, also where and when she died. 
It has been thought that she returned to England 
with her son John and daughter Ursula. Henry 
Adams died in Braintree, October 6, 1646, and was 
buried October 8, in the graveyard in Quincy, Massa- 
chusetts. 

That Henry Adams came from Devonshire, Eng- 
land, is generally believed from the inscription on 
the monument erected by President John Adams at 
his grave, viz. : "In memory of Henry Adams who 
took flight from the Dragon persecution in Devon- 
shire, England, and alighted with eight sons near 
Mt. VVollaston. One of the sons returned to Eng- 
land; and, after taking time to explore the country, 
four removed to Medfield, and two to Chelmsford. 
One only, Joseph, who lies here at his left hand, re- 
mained here — an original proprietor of the town of 
Braintree." The monument also commemorates 
"the piety, humility, simplicity, frugality, industry 
and perseverance" of the Adams ancestors. 

President John Quincy Adams and the best anti- 
■quarians and genealogists of a later day disagree 
•with the statement on the monument as to the place 
whence the family came. The royal ancestry given 
for Henry Adams is also disputed and was for a 
time discredited, but late research makes it probable 
that the pedigree of Henry Adams, of Braintree, 
back through the kings of England to Charlemange 
may be established and verified. John Quincy Adams 
fixed the English home of his progenitors as Brain- 
tree in the county of Essex. It seems probable that 
he was one of Hooker's company, which was re- 
cruited in the vicinity of Chelmsford and Braintree, 
England. They arrived in Boston in 1632. Henry 
Adams' sons were active citizens of Chelmsford in 
England. Henry Adams learned the trade of malt- 
ster. He was a yeoman. 

The children of Henry Adams were : Lieutenant 
Henry, born in England, 1604, married in Braintree, 
November 17, 1643, Elizabeth Paine, daughter of 
Moses Paine, representative to the general court, 
lieutenant, town clerk, killed by Indians at his home 
in Medheld, Massachusetts. February 21, 1676. Lieu- 
tenant Thomas, born in England, 1612, married in 
Braintree, 1642, Mary Blackmore (Blackmer), re- 
moved to Chelmsford : lieutenant in 1682, selectman, 
representative, town clerk, died in Chelmsford. July 
20, 1688, aged seventy-six. Captain Samuel, born 
in England, 1617, married Rebecca Graves, who died 
October 8, 1662-64; married (second). May 7. 1668, 
Esther Sparhawk, daughter of Nathaniel Sparhawk ; 
she died November 4, 1745: settled at Chelmsford, 
liad saw mill, was representative and captain; died 
January 24, 1688-89. Deacon Jonathan, born in Eng- 
land, 1619, married Elizabeth Fussell, daughter of 

John; married (second) Mary ; died i6go, 

aged seventy-one years. Peter, born in England, 

1622, married Rachel : settled in Medfield, 

1652 ; house burned by the Indians in 1676, as was 
also that of his brother Jonathan ; died about 1690. 
John, born in England, about 1624. Joseph, born in 
England. 1626. married in Braintree, November 26, 
1650. Abigail Baxter, daughter of Gregory and Mar- 
garet (Paddy) Baxter, of Boston; died there Au- 
gust 27, 1692, aged fifty-eight ; maltster, freeman, 



1653, selectman, died in Braintree, December 6, 1694. 
Ensign Edward, born in England, 1630. 

(U) Ensign Edward Adams, son of Henry 
Adams (i), was born in England, 1630, and came to 
New England about 1632 with his parents. He 
married (first), 1652, Lydia Rockwood, daughter 
of Richard and Agnes (Bicknell) Rockwood. She 
died March 3, 1676. He married (second) Widow 
Abigail (Craft) Ruggles, of Roxbury, Massachu- 
setts, (Tilden says Abigail Day of Dedham) who 
died 1707. He married (third), January 6, 1709- 
10, Sarah Taylor. He settled with his three broth- 
ers, Henry, Peter and Jonathan, in Medfield, Massa- 
chusetts. He was ensign in the militia, selectman of 
the town, representative in the general court in 1689- 
92-1702. He died at Medfield, November 12, 1716, 
"the last of the original settlers." 

Children of Henry and Lydia (Rockwood) 
Adams were : Lydia, born in Medfield, Massachu- 
setts, July 12, 1653, married James Allen and Jo- 
seph Daniel; died December 26, 1731. Captain Jon- 
athan, born April 4, 1655, married Mary Ellis, daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Mary (Wight) Ellis; married 
(second) Mehitable Cheney, widow of James 
Cheney; died January 24, 1718. John, born February 
18, 1657, married (first) Deborah Partridge. 
Eliashib, born February 18, 1658-59, married — -p — 
Standish, a great-granddaughter of Captain Miles 
Standish; settled Bristol, Rhode Island. Sarah, 
born in Medfield, May 29, 1660, married, 1677, John 
Turner, son of John and Deborah Turner; she 
died 1747. Lieutenant James, born January 4, 1661- 

62, married, January 4, 1689, Mary ; settled 

in Bristol, Rhode Island, died 1733- Henry, born 
October 29. 1663, married, December 10. 1691, Pa- 
tience Ellis, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Wight) 
Ellis, (born February 22, 1668, died 1695) ; married 
(second), 1697-98, in Providence, Rhode Island, 
Ruth Ellis, sister of first wife; married (third) at 
Canterbury, Connecticut, Mrs. Hannah Adams. Me- 
hitable, born March 30, 1665, married, about 1689, 
Josiah Faxon, of Braintree, son of Richard Faxon ; 
she died March i, 1753. Elisha, born August 25, 
i666, married. December 18. 1689, Mehitable Gary, 
of Bristol, Rhode Island. Edward. Jr., born June 
28, 1668, married. May 19, 1692, Elizabeth Walley, 
daughter of Rev. Thomas Walley, of West Barn- 
stable, Massachusetts; settled in Bristol, Rhode 
Island, and died there. Bethia, born April 12, 1670, 
died 1672. Bethia, born August 18, 1672, died young. 
Abigail, born June 25, 1675, died young. Miriam, 
born February 26, 1676, died young. 

(HI) John Adams, son of Ensign Edward 
Adams (2). was born in Medfield, Massachusetts, 
February 18, 1657. He married (first) Deborah 
Partridge, daughter of John and Magdalene (Bul- 
lard) Partridge. She was born 1662 and died be- 
fore 1695. He married (second) Susanna Breck 
or Brick, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Hill) 
Breck. She was born in Sherborn, Massachusetts, 
May 10, 1667. John Adams settled on the paternal 
homestead in Medfield and died there March i, 
1751. Susanna, his wife, died May 28, 1744. Chil- 
dren of John Adams were : Edward, born in that 
part of Medfield set off as Medway, January 13, 
1682; married (first), April 11, 1706. Rachel San- 
ders, of Braintree; married (second) Sarah Bracket; 
settled at Milton, Massachusetts. John, Jr.. born in 
Medway, December 22, 1684. married Judith BuUen, 
daughter of John and Judith (Fisher) Bullen; he 
was a cordwainer. Daniel, born in Medway, January 
12, 1686. married Sarah Sanford, daughter of Deacon 
Thomas Sanford, of Mendon, Massachusetts; he 
died in Medway, September 12, 1772. Eleazer, born 
September 22, 1687, see forward. Obadiah, born 



io6 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



January 20, 1689, married, April 24, 1716, Christian 
Sanford, daughter of Deacon Thomas Sanford; he 
died November 22. I'd-,. Jonathan, born 1692, set- 
tled on the paternal homestead in Medway. Thomas, 
born Fel)ruary 11, 1695-0. married, October 26, 
1720, Abigail Fisher, daughter of Jonathan and 
Rachel (Fairbanks) Fisher; settled in Ashford, Con- 
necticut, and Amherst, Massachusetts. Su.sanna, 
born July 30, 1697, married Nelson Alexander, of 
Killingly. Jeremiah, born July 13, 1699, married 
Elizabeth Mclntire. Abraham, born August i, 1701, 
married Alary Cummings, of Oxford, Massachu- 
setts (See sketch of Edward I. Comins for the Cum- 
mings line.) Bethia, born June 2, 1702, married 
Timothy Stearns of FVamingham, Alassachusetts. 
Phineas, born May 19, 1705. married Sarah Kings- 
bury, of Necdham, Massachusetts, and (second) 
Meliitable ; he died February 9, 1856. Han- 
nah, born March 29, 1707, married, January i, 1730, 
Timothy Ellis, (second) William Richardson. 
Esther, born November 15, 1708. 

(IV) Eleazer Adams, son of John and Deborah 
(Partridge) Adams, was born at Medway, Massa- 
chusetts, September 22, 1687. He married (first) 

Margaret , who died January 13, 1769, and 

(second) Lucy . He assisted in the incor- 
poration of the town of West Medway in 1748, and 
for eight years was selectman. He was a Baptist 
and was sent to the Boston jail in 1753-54 ftir re- 
fusing to pay the parish tax (used for the Congre- 
gational church only). He died October 8, 1775, 
aged eighty-eight years. His will was made July 
3, 1775, and proved February 6, 1776. His children 
by his wife Alargaret, all born in Medway, Massa- 
chusetts, were : Benjamin, born October 13, 1715 ; 
Margaret, August 29, 1717, died June 8, 1736; 
Eleazer, Jr., born in Medway, died young; Eleazer, 
Jr., July 9. 1720, married Bathsheba Barber; he died 
in Medway. September 15, 1775, resided in Holliston ; 
Mary, October 7, 1722, married Jonathan Metcalf, 
of Rutland; John, October 27, 1724; Lydia, Sep- 
tember 19, 1727: Seth, May 6, 1730; (Catherine, 1730; 
Lois, May 25, 1732, married Ebcnezer Allen. 

(V) John Adams, son of Eleazer Adams (4), 
was born in Medway, Massachusetts, October 27, 
1724. He married (first), March 6, 1744, Silence 
Clark; married (second) Zilpha Daniel, daughter 
of Ezra and Martha (Death) Daniel. She was born 
November 19, 1734. He settled at Brookfield, Massa- 
chuselt<. was a soldier in th(; revolution, returned 
to Medway. Either he or John Adams (V), son of 
Jeremiah Adams, was a soldier in the Colonial war 
in 1756 from Brookfield. Children of John and 
Silence (Clark) Adams were: John, born in Brook- 
field, Massachusetts, March 29, 1746, married De- 
borah Beals, of Medway, was in revolution ; Judc, 
March I, 1748. married Jemima Adams, of Spen- 
cer; James. F'ebruary 28, 1750; Joel, December 31, 
1751, married Lydia Drury; was in revolution; 
died October 9, 1821 ; Silence, August S, 1753, mar- 
ried John Flaherty; died in Vermont; Lydia, March 

27. 1755. married Lackey; Susanna, April 

17. 1757; Phinehas, July 18. 1760. married Patience 
Pond, was in revolution; Elias. 1766, married Han- 
nah Flagg, died February 23, 1842: Hczekiah, 1769, 
married Rhnda Mann ; he died August 28, 1841 ; 
Peggy, married Tomlin. 

(VI) James Adams, son of John Adams (5), 
was born in Brookfield, Massachusetts, February 

28, 1750. He married Huldah Richardson or Grace 
(iuilford, and (second), April 26, 1791, Esther 
!-"l;iKg, daughter of Samuel and Grace (Fisk) 
Flags, of Spencer, Massachusetts. She died August 
27, 1837. Children of James Adams were: i. Dan- 
iel Emerson, born in Brookfield, Massachusetts, 



February 24, 1772, married Tamar Converse, daugh- 
ter of Luke Converse, of Spencer, Massachusetts ; 
she died about 1823 ; he died about 1814. 2. EUhu, 
born April 22, 1781, married Sally Lamb, born in 
Charlton, August 31, 1852, died in Douglas, Feb- 
ruary 22, 1865. 3. James, born in Brookfield, re- 
sided in Sturbridge. 4. Huldah, married, March 21, 
1802, Nathan Lamb, son of David Lamb ; he died 
February 28, 1830; she died in Spencer. 5. Esther, 
born in Brookfield, married Conant, of Oak- 
ham, Massachusetts ; died in Spencer in 1856. 6. 
Moses, born 1798, married, 1824, Catherine Hobbs, 
daughter of Aaron Hobbs; he died in East Brook- 
field, March 8, 1882. 7. Almira, born in Brookfield, 
married .Amos (or Eliot) Wheat, of Spencer, died 
in Leicester. 8. Aaron, born November 4, 1804. 

(VH) Aaron Adams, son of James Adams (6), 
was born in Brookfield, Massachusetts, November 

4, 1804, died in Leicester, Massachusetts. Mardj 31, 
1877. His will was proved April 14, 1877. He mar- 
ried Julia Elder, born in Worcester, 1807. He w?s 
a successful farmer in Leicester. He was first a 
Whig in politics, later a Democrat. His children 
were : I. Caroline, born in Spencer, Massachusetts, 
August 3. 1830, married (first). May 24. 1853, Jo- 
seph Warren Russell, who died July 13, 1856 ; mar- 
ried (second), September 5, 1861, Jonathan H. 
Ames, of Peterboro. New Hampshire, deceased. 2. 
John N., born in Spencer, January 11, 1832, mar- 
ried Helen Colbert, who died September. 1891 ; he 
died June 10, 1894; no children. 3. Julia A., born 
in Leicester, December 26, 1833, married (first), 
July 3, 1859, Otis Houghton; married (second), De- 
cember 26, 1859, Ebenezer O. Scott ; she died March. 
9, 1864 ; has daughter Cora Houghton, married 
F'rank Rhue, lives in Spencer. 4. Aaron Augustus, 
born in Leicester, February 19, 1836, died in Rebel 
prison at Florence, North Carolina, after transfer 
from Libby (starved to death) February 10, 1865. 

5. George A., born in Oxford, Massachusetts, July 
9, 1838, died February 7, igoo; married, 1877, Lena 
Dawes, of Worcester. 6. Albert B., born in Auburn, 
Massachusetts, January i, 1841, married Ann Stock- 
dale, of Leicester, resides at North Grafton. 7. Ed- 
win N., born in Leicester, August 12, 1843. 8. 
FVancis W., born in Leicester, March 14, 1K4O, died 
1847. 9. Charles H., born in Leicester, December 
13, 1848, died unmarried May II, 1883. 10. Sereno 
B., born in Leicester, ^larch 9, 1851, married, June 
S, 1880, Hattie L. Steele, of Brookfield, died May 

11, 1889; married (second), November 30, 1889, 
Mary E. Conant, of Spencer ; resides in Brookfield, 
Massachusetts, is a painter and paperhanger. 

(VIII) Edwin N. Adams, son of Aaron Adams 
(7), was born in Leicester, Massachusetts, .\ugust 

12, 1843. He married, January 24, 1867, Emma C. 
Smith, of Southbridgc, Massachusetts. Mr. .\dams 
attended school in his native town and worked 
summers on his father's farm. At the age of twenty- 
one he left home and went to work in a knife man- 
ufacturing shop. He was measurer of lumber in saw 
mills for fifteen years, also sworn surveyor of wood 
and lumber for the town thirty years. He enlisted 
in 1863 in Company A, Thirty-fourth Massachusetts 
Volunteer Militia, and served about two years. He 
is a Republican in politics and always interested in 
town affairs. He was for twelve continuous years 
an assessor of the town of Leicester, has been chair- 
man of the board of health three years, and has 
served the town as warden of elections twelve con- 
tinuous years. He is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and has held every ofiicc in church 
during thirteen years of service. He is a member 
of Post No. 131, Grand Army, Leicester. 

His children are: i. Lulu Frances, born in Lei- 




I)I.I\1'.K 1.. MANN 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



107- 



cester, February 28, 1868, married, December 24, 
1893, Urban Phillips and has two children : Lucy 
E. and Beatrice N. Phillips. 2. Bertha S., born in 
Leicester, September 12, 1870, married Charles An- 
drews and liad one child, Ella B. Andrews. 3. Alice 
Emma, born in Leicester, April 21, 1873, died April 
18, 1906; married, June 10, 1894. Edwin W. Cheever 
and had four children, three living are: Walter E., 
Ruth and Alice M. Cheever. 4. Wilfred N., born in 
Leicester, August 11, 1878, married Maud Swallow 
and had three children, two living: Wilfred N. 
and George F. Adams. 5. Norman G., born in Lei- 
cester, May 10, 1886, was a student at Becker's 
Business College, Worcester, is now bookkeeper for 
Worcester Storage Company. 6. Robert S., born in 
Leicester, November 24, 1890, is preparing to enter 
a business college next year. 

MANN FAMILY. Richard Mann (i), the im- 
migrant ancestor of Oliver Lovejoy Mann, of Wm- 
chendon, Massachusetts, was born in England and 
settled in Scituate, Massachusetts, before 1644, when 
he was the owner of land there. He took the oath 
of fidelity January 15, 1644. Richard Mann has 
often been confounded with Richard More, who 
came in the "Mayflower" in the family of Elder 
Brewster, and many of the descendants of Richard 
Mann, relying on the statement of the historian of 
Scituate who was misled by the similarity of the 
names when written, have claimed to have "May- 
flower" ancestry. Richard Mann was a farmer. He 
had a share in the Conihasset grant m 1646. He 
was drowned by breaking through the ice while 
crossing the pond near his house, February 16, 1655. 
His widow, Rebecca Mann, married (second), 
March, 1656-57, John Cowan, and they lived in the 
Mann house until 1760. Cowan was killed at Re- 
hoboth in the Indian fight, 1676. Rebecca had five 
children by her second marriage. Children of Rich- 
ard and Rebecca Mann were : Nathaniel, born Sep- 
tember 23, 1646; Thomas, August 15, 1650, see for- 
ward ; Richard, February 5, 1652, married Elizabeth 
Sutton ; Josiah, December 10, 1654, probably died 
young. 

(II) Thomas Mann, son of Richard Mann (i), 
was born in Scituate, Massachusetts, August 15, 
1650. He served on a coroner's jury, March 20, 
1677. He was admitted a freeman, 1680. He set- 
tled his father's estate in 1679. In 1703 Thomas pur- 
chased of his brother, Richard Mann, lands on i\Iann 
Hill and he deeded this land April 9, 1713, to his 
second son, Thomas, Jr. He also deeded land to 
his sons Joseph and Benjamin, February 24, 1719, 
and to his son Ensign ]\lann, March 6, 1722, and 
lastly half of his remaining estate, 1723, to his son 

Joseph. He married Sarah . He died at 

Scituate, 1732, and his will was proved July 12, 
1732. Children of Thomas and Sarah Mann were : 
Josiah, born March i, 1679, died 1708; Thomas, 
April 5, 1681, married Deborah Joy ; Sarah, No- 
vember IS, 1684, married • ■ Gibbs ; Mary, 

March 15, 1688, died unmarried 1723; Elizabeth, 
March 10, 1692, died unmarried 1723; Joseph, De- 
cember 27, 1694, married Mary ; Benjamin, 

see forward ; Ensign, born about 1699, married 
Widow Tabitha Vinall. 

(II) Benjamin Mann, son of Thomas Mann (2), 
was borri in Scituate, Massachusetts, February 19, 
1697. His father sold him land on Mann Hill, 
Scituate, February 24, 1719, and he settled in that 
part of the town incorporated as Hanover. He lived 
on Main street in the ancient mansion which was in 
1853 occupied by a Mr. Hanson. He was a select- 
man of Hanover in 1745. His will was made De- 
cember 3, 1762; it mentions all the children but 



Sarah. He married, February 4, 1724, Martha Cur- 
tis, born February 14, 1701, died January 26, 1769. 
He died March 2, 1670. Children of Benjamin and 
Martha Mann who survived infancy were : Martha, 
born January 6, 1725, married William Curtis ; Ben- 
jamin, Jr., August 4. 1727, died 1816; Rebecca, Au- 
gust 13, 1729, married Abner Curtis; Sarah, Feb- 
ruary 8, 1730, married Robert Gradner; Ruth, May- 
is, 1735. died July 29, 1808; married Lemuel Curtis; 
Mary, August 13, 1737, married Elijah Mann, who- 
settled at Persham, Worcester county, and died 
there April 27, 1823. 

(IV) Benjamin Mann, son of Benjamin Mann 
(3), was born in Hanover, Massachusetts, August 
4, 1727. He was a soldier in the revolution. He 
was selectman of Hanover 1763-64. He erected the- 
old grist mill that formerly stood near the bridge- 
on North street. He lived in the north part of the 
town on Curtis street, where David Mann lately 
lived. He died January 27, 1816. He married (first) 
Abigail Gill, November 23, 1749, and (second) the- 
widow of Charles Bailey. She died 1800, and he mar- 
ried (third) the widow of Abner Curtis. She died: 
1820. He had fourteen children. Children of Benja- 
min and Abigail Mann were: Abigail, born Septem- 
ber 9, 1751, married Asa Turner and settled in Or- 
land, Maine: Benjamin, March 2, 1753, married Han- 
nah Sears: Olive, April 18, I7S4. married Thomas- 
Stetson; Ezra, December 11, 1755, soldied in the revo- 
lution, died November 26, 1775, at "Weymouth, re- 
turning from service in the war; Levi September 9,. 
1757, married (first) Ann Cooley ; Joshua (captain), 
July 14, 1759, married Mary Gushing; Bela, see for- 
ward: Susa Gill, October 24, 1764, died November 25,. 
1842; married Caleb Whitney,; Charles, November 
27, 1766, died 1825; married Abigail Gill; Persis, 
November 7, 1768, married Abigail Johnson ; Chlpe, 
January 26, 1771, died February 2, 1844; married 
Charles Bailey, October 28, 1792; Sage, 1773, died' 
1791; Caleb, September 13, 1775, died February 23,. 
1840: married Betsey Pratt. 

(V) Bela Mann, son of Benjamin Mann (4),. 
was born in Hanover, Massachusetts. July 18, 1761. 
He seems to have resided in Franklin during the- 
revolutionary war and had service credited to that 
town, also to Wrentham. He was in Captain Boyd's- 
company in 1775 and enlisted in 1780 in the Con- 
tinental army for six months. He must have been 
only a boy at his first enlistment, and perhaps for 
that reason his age was incorrectly given as twenty- 
three years in 1780, when he was about twenty. 
He removed to Lunenburg about 1795 with hi> fam- 
ily and resided there many years. He owned real 
estate in Ashburnham in 1806 and may have lived 
there for a few years. He died at Lunenburg, July 
29, ,1826. The inventory of his estate was filed 
September 2, 1826. He owned eleven acres of land 
with buildings at Lunenburg. The- family soon left 
Lunenburg for Winchendon. He married Ann Bry- 
ant, of Scituate. She died August 31, 1813. Chil- 
dren of Bela and Ann Mann, probably born at 
Lunenburg, were : Anna, living in Boston, April^ 

'10, 1824, when her father deeded her a "pasture"^ 
at Lunenburg. Lydia. Clarissa. Emma, Charles,- 
Albert, see forward ; Bela, Jr., Abigail. 

(VI) Albert Mann, son of Bela Mann (5), was 
born in Lunenburg about 1810. At the age of three 
years his mother died and he was taken to Win- 
chendon to live with the family of William Love- 
joy pn a farm near Bullardville. He received his 
education in the school of that district. He lived 
with Mr. Lovejoy until the latter died, when he made 
his first business venture, buying with the money h,e 
had saved the Priest saw mill at Fitzwilliam, New 
Hampshire, in the adjoining town. He ran this- 



io8 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



mill live years, then bought the Prentice Hill grist 
mill and privilege which he ran for seven years. 
He afterwards bought the Townsend farm in VVin- 
chendon and ran it for ten years. Afterwards he sold 
the farm again to the Townsend family. He bought 
the Lovejoy farm on which he had been raised and 
Jived there the remainder of his days. He cut 
much timber, bought and sold land, built and sold 
houses at VVatcrville, to his profit, and became a 
well-io-do man. At his death the farm came into 
the possession of his son Eugene. Mr. Mann was 
a Methodist in religion in early life, but later was 
a member of the Second Advent church at New 
Boston and was an officer of the same. In poli- 
tics he was a Republican and served the town on 
the board of selectmen. When a young man he be- 
longed to the local militia company. 

He married Asenalh Harris Woodbury, daughter 
of Nathan and Clarinda (Whitney) Woodbury, of 
Harvard, Massachusetts. Their children were : 
Albert Henry, born February 8, 1841, died April 6, 
1842; Julia Lovejoy, April 17, 1842, married George 
Kcmpton ; Albert Chester, ^larch 2, 1845, died July 
17, 1845; Oliver Eugene, June 2, 1847, died Septem- 
ber 2, 1847; Albert Eugene, April 28, 1849, married 
(first) February 20, 1873. Mary Goodell, of Orange, 
JSIassachusetts, who died February 11, 1880; mar- 
ried (.second), September 28, 188 1, Mabel C. Faye, of 
Andover, Maine, and had one child, Mary Isabella, 
born November 15, 1882, died young; married 
(third) Lena Kenneth, of Fitzwilliam, New Hamp- 
shire; Clara Emma, April 15, 1851, died September 
24, 1873; married Charles Burgess, of Winchcndon; 
Oliver Lovejoy, see forward. 

(VII) Oliver Lovejoy Mann, son of Albert 
Mann (6), was born in Winchcndon, Massachu- 
setts, April 2, 1858, and received his early education 
there in the public schools. He worked on the 
paternal farm with his father until he was of age. 
Then he bought the large Flagg farm on which 
there was much timber, which he cut off and sold 
to Orlando Mason for use in his wooden ware fac- 
tory. He continued to buy wood lots and sell the 
wood. About 1890 he went to work in his father's 
mill, getting out pail staves and running the mill 
■where they got out stock for Orlando Mason's use. 
Most of the wod he cut from his own lots. About 
1891 he began to manufacture pails himself in the 
old Norcross mill and continued for five years. He 
then sold out to Wilder P. Clark and went into 
partnership with C. C. Carter under the firm name 
of Carter & Mann, at Hydcville, in the manufacture 
of pails, but at the end of ten months the partner- 
ship was dissolved. In 1898 Mr. Mann began busi- 
ness under his own name in the plant he now oc- 
cupies in Winchcndon. He has since carried on a 
successful business there. He makes thirty-five 
varieties of wooden ware, such as tubs for candy, 
lard, toys. etc. He continues to buy timber land 
and cut the wood for his own use and for the 
market. He attends the Methodist church, and in 
politics is a Republican. He belongs to Watatic 
Tribe of Red Men and has held some of the offices.' 
He was at one time member of a syndicate called 
the Pail Makers' Association. 

He married (first), February 10, 1884, Althea 
Norcross, born October 7. 1857, daughter of Orin 
and Almcda (Wyman) Norcross, of Winchcndon. 
Her father was a farmer. Mr. Mann married (sec- 
ond) Barbara WofTcndon, born January 24, 1876, 
daughter of William and Caroline (Liversedge) 
WofFendon, of Winchcndon. Her father was a 
tailor. Children of Oliver Lovejoy and Althea Mann 
•were : Clifford Oliver, l)orn May 5. 1885 ; Waldo 
Albert, July 14, 1886. Children of Oliver Lovejoy 



and Barbara Mann were : Morton William, May 

7, 1896; Morris Oliver, March i, 1901. 

RICHARDSON FAMILY. Thomas Richard- 
son (i), immigrant ancestor of Lucius Augustus 
Richardson, of Leominster, was the youngest of the 
three brothers who are the progenitors of most of 
the American Richardsons. Thomas, Samuel and 
Ezckiel Richardson were all born in England. 
Thomas probably came over in 1635. He was ad- 
mitted a freeman at Charlestown, Massachusetts, 
May 2, 1638. He was one of the seven chosen by 
the town of Charlestown to commence the settle- 
ment of Woburn. His wife Mary was admitted to 
the Charlestown church February 21, 1635-6, and 
that is the earliest record of the family. He had 
land assigned him in Maiden. He died August 28, 
1651. He joined the church February, 1637-8, and 
held various town offices. 

He married Mary . She married (second) 

Michael Bacon, said to have come from Ireland, 
one of the original inhabitants of Woburn in 164I. 
She died May 19, 1670. The children of Thomas 
and Mary Richardson were : Mary, baptized No- 
vember 17, 1638, married, May 15, 1655, John Bald- 
win, of Billerica ; Sarah, baptized November 22, 
1640, married. March 22, 1660. Michael Bacon, Jr.; 
Isaac, born May 14, 1643, married Deborah Fuller; 
Thomas, of wh6m later ; Ruth, born April 14. 1647 ; 
Phcbe, born January 24, i64i8-9; Nathaniel, born 
January 2, 1650-1. 

(II) Thomas Richardson, son of Thomas Rich- 
ardson (i), was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, 
October 4, 1645. He settled in Billerica, then called 
Shawshine, in Massachusetts, 1667, and settled in 
the eastern part of that town on the ninety-nine 
acre tract called the Cambridge school farm (Har- 
vard College), west of the Shawshine river and 
north of the present Boston rosd. He sold out in 
1690 to Captain Samuel Gallup. He was a deputy 
to the general court in 1704 from Billerica. He 
gave his oldest son Thomas a farm near the Boston 
road, now Washington street, and October 4, 170S, 
he gave his son .Andrew a farm north of Thomas's 
and later one to Nathaniel north of Andrew's. He 
died at Billerica, February 25, 1720-1, in his seventy- 
sixth year. His widow Sarah died November 20, 
1734. His will was dated April 10, 1719, and proved 
March 20, 1720- 1. Children of Thomas and Sarah 
Richardson were: Mary, born and died February 

8. 1 670- 1 ; Mary, born and died January 31. 1671-2; 
Mary, born February 17, 1672-3. married Edward 
Farmer, Jr. ; Thomas, born December 3. 1675 ; 
Andrew, born June 16, 1678, married Hannah Jcfts; 
Nathaniel, of whom later ; Jonathan, born Febru- 
ary 14, 1682-3. married Hannah French ; Ruth, born 
December 4. 1685. married John French ; Elnathan, 
born and died February 7, 1686-7. 

(III) Nathaniel Richardson, son of Thomas 
Richardson (2), was born in Billerica, Massachu- 
setts, January 25, 1679-80. He married Mary Pea- 
cock, May 7, 1703. His father gave him a farm in 
Billerica next his brother Andrew's. After his 
father died in 1721. he received also thirty-two 
acres of upland on Content Plain and eight acres 
of the Mill Swamp at a place called Black Hole. 
He died intestate April 4, 1753. aged seventy-three 
years, and his widow died October 18, 1756. Their 
children, all born at Billerica, were: Mary. March 
31, 1704, married Jonathan Goss, of Townsend; Na- 
thaniel, January 8, 1706-7: Samuel, December 2.3, 
1708, mai-ried Hannah Walker; Sarah, March 8, 
1710-11. died April 18. 1712 ; William, of whom later; 
Hezekiah, l\Iay 8. 1715, married Elizabeth Walker; 
Ebcnezer, born September 24, 1717, died young; 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



109 



Rebecca, May 17, 1720, married Benjamin Richard- 
son; Joseph, May 20, 1722, died at Northfield where 
he was killed by Indians in ambush June 16, 1747, 
while he was marching to relieve Fort Dummer 
with a squad of soldiers; Ebenezer, October 2, 
1724, married (tirstj Elizabeth Shed; (second) 
Mary Crosby; Ubird) Lydia Danforth ; (fourth) 
Catherine Wyman ; (fifth) Elizabeth Bacon. 

(IV) William Richardson, son of Nathaniel 
Richardson (3), was born in Billerica, May 5, 1713. 
He married, December 9, 1742, Mary Hobart, of 
Groton, and settled in Townsend. His will was 
dated April 19, 1773, and he died at Billerica, April 
30. 1773- His widow Mary died September 2, 1763. 
Their children were: Mary, born July 3, 1743, died 
February 26, 1804; William, May 10, 1745, married 
Hannah Stevens Crosby; Israel, May 14, 1749, sol- 
dier in the revolution, died August 29, 1776; Abel, 
of whom later; Josiah, August 10, 1753, married 
(first) Abigail Dix; (second) Susannah Wallis; 

Emma, January 12, 1758, married Brooks and 

settled in Brookline, New Hampshire ; Andrew, 
August 25, 1760, married Hannah Grant; Ruth, 
August 21, 1763. lived at Brookline, New Hampshire. 

(V) Abel Richardson, son of William Richard- 
son (4), was born at Townsend, April 22, 1751 ; 
married, March 6, 1783, Tabitha Bennett, born 1756 
in Hollis, New Hampshire. They settled in Ashby, 
Massachusetts, after their marriage and he died 
there December 7, 1843 ; his wife died there March 
14, 1839. Their children were : Mary, born January 
23, 1784, died April 6, 1794; Abel, Jr., March 5, 1786, 
married Martha Lawrence; Rhoda, July 9, 1788, 
married Philip Piper, died at Ashby, 1858; she died 
at Winchester, September 14, 1874, aged eighty-six 
years; William, June 27, 1791, married Rebecca 
Lawrence; Israel, of whom later; Mary, October 
7, 1797, died unmarried June 14, 1S21, at Ashby; 
Eunice, August 24, 1800, married Jacob Wilkes, of 
Ashburnham; he died November 17, 1862, aged 
sixty-four years (sic). Abel Richardson was a 
soldier in the revolution in Captain James Hosley's 
company of minute-men, Colonel William Prescott's 
regiment, April 19. 1775; also Captain Henry Far- 
well's company. Colonel William Prescott's regi- 
ment (Tenth). He was six months in the Conti- 
nental army in 1778 under Captain Robb, Colonel 
Reed; was corporal in Captain Hosley's company, 
1777, and in the Continental army 1780 under Cap- 
tain Daniel Shays. He was described as five feet, 
seven inches tall; light complexion; twenty-eight 
years old, residence Ashby. 

(VI) Israel Richardson, son of Abel Richard- 
son, (5), was born at Ashby, Massachusetts, Sep- 
tember 14, 1793. He married Sarah Haynes, of 
Gardner, Massachusetts, and died at Chelsea, No- 
vember 18, 1S73. She died in Fitchburg about 1852. 
Their children were : George W. H., born Novem- 
ber 18, 1815, married, 1840, Nancy S. Cornell; Jo- 
siah Carter, of whom later ; Edwin, February 10, 
1S21 ; Sarah, March 22, 1823, died October, 1841 ; 
Lucy Ann, June 20, 1825, married Nathan Otis Pres- 
cott, of Nashua, January 17, 1850 ; Amanda Melvin, 
July 5, 1853, married A. J. Fuller, of Harrison, 
Maine. May 9, 1855. 

(VII) Josiah Carter Richardson, son of Israel 
Richardson (6), was born in Ashby, April 18, 1817. 
He learned the trade of comb maker, but later 
turned his attention to photography and followed 
this business during most of his active life, living 
in Boston and many other places. He married 
Sally Tyler, April 6, 1837. She was of a Leo- 
minster family. Their children were : Charles 
Franklin, born September 21, 1838, married Mar- 
garet Isabel K , December 21, 1859, and they 



had five children ; Lucius Augustus, of whom later ; 
Edward Payson, June 22, 1843, a photographer by 
occupation, married, April 17, 1822, Louisa Willard; 
William Gray, June 11, 1850, died May 21, 1854; 
William, May 3, 1857, died February 22, 1865; Caro- 
line Maria, July 29, 1858; Herbert Carter, July 10^ 
1861, died April 16, 1862. 

(VIII) Lucius Augustus Richardson, son of Jo- 
siah Carter Richardson (7), was born at Leomin- 
ster, JNIassachusetts, October 17, 1840. He received 
a common school education and tlien learned the 
printer's trade. He worked for four years at this 
trade on the Fall River Nczvs, the Fitchburg Re- 
veille, and the Paivtitcket Gazette and Chronicle. 
He learned the art of photography of his father at 
Pawtucket and left the printing business to work 
for him. In 1857 Mr. Richardson started out for 
himself with a traveling car. That was the method 
of doing business in the early days of the business. 
He traveled over new England. He was in Bostoa 
three years and in Ashland three years. In 1873 
he located in Leominster and has been in business 
there ever since. Until 1900 he was at 10 Mechanic 
street and few photographers in the county are bet- 
ter known. Five years ago he built a studio in the 
rear of his residence, 125 Walnut street, where he 
continues his business amidst very pleasant natural 
surroundings. His daughters assist him with the 
work of the studio, each having acquired the art 
under his instruction. Mr. Richardson is a mem- 
ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Ta- 
hanto Lodge of Leominster. In politics he is a 
Republican. He is an active member of the Ortho- 
dox Congregational church, of which he was deacon 
for twenty years. He was superintendent of the 
Sunday school several years and for a long period 
has been a teacher. He has been a member of the 
Congregational church since he was a young man. 

He married, April 5, i860, Louisa Fitch, daughter 
of Henry Fitch. She was born at Topsfield, Maine. 
Their children are: Lucius Leslie, of whom later; 
Lillian Janette, born at Saxonville, Massachusetts, 
graduate of the Leominster high school, assists her 
father retouching photographic plates and printing 
photographs; resides at home with parents; Everett 
Briggs, of whom later ; Clara Louisa Sargent, bora 
at Everett, Massachusetts, graduate of the Leo- 
minster high school, assists father in his photo- 
graphic studio and lives with parents. 

(IX) Everett Briggs Richardson, son of Lucius 
Augustus Richardson (8), was born at East Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts, October 14, 1864. He was 
educated in the public schools of Leominster and 
graduated from Comer's Commercial School of 
Boston. He learned the business of piano case man- 
ufacturing of C. J. Cobleigh, Leominster. In 1892 
he and his brother, Lucius Leslie Richardson, or- 
ganized the Richardson Piano Case Company and 
he became the president and manager, a position he 
has since filled. The company purchased the busi- 
ness of Mr. Cobleigh. The factory is located in 
Leominster, and the concern employs about a hun- 
dred and twenty-five hands. The company has en- 
joyed the greatest prosperity from the first. Mr. 
Richardson is a member of the Leominster Council, 
Royal Arcanum. He is a prominent Free Mason, 
having been through the chairs of Wilder Lodge of 
Leominster and is a member of the higher bodies 
of Masonry including the Jerusalem Commandery, 
Knights Templar, of Fitchburg. He is a director of 
the Leominster National Bank. He is a member of 
the Orthodox Congregational church. 

He married Ada. Conant, of Catawba, Kentucky, 
June 26, 1889. Their children are: Bernice, Jud- 
son Cromwell, Everett Gordon. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



(IX) Lucius Leslie Richardson, s°" °/. L"cj"! 
Augustus Richardson («)•--. '^^^"H^rfceedhs 
r;iv'S-"n' r^P^bL^^ndh^gh Schools of 

He had efp'/i^nce'^n every departnJcnt of the bust- 

g^^i^^•^rpo,l^cs'he^s7;^^ti^^ 

pu?,Hcan and^vas on^he board of selectmen of 

^"Hrma^r'iedl'^ctober 7. 1890 Annie Wilder. 
A L. r fif 1-nnk L W Idcr, of Sterling, Massa- 

Louise, Clara Leslie. 



ALFORD W. COLBURN. Edward Colburn 
/1I WIS the em grant ancestor of AHord w. <-oi 

h„rn of Leominster, Massachusetts, and Ins connec- 
burn, ot Lcominsic , ^.^^.^^^^ ^^^^ j,,g 

been much more numerous. Edward ^0'""^" -Tf 

ll^id/ M^yTi<^^V:"ad a son Robert and proba- 

''Mn" Roben"colburn, son of Edward Colburn 
(I) \L born probably about 1645 and Probably at 
(I), was oo"\V ^ Chelmsford or Concord, 

Ta man 6 17.6-7; Keziah. October 27. '721 ;Je- 
mimrjune ,5, 1724: William. December 5, I/26, 

""Vnt^N^lh^nief CoS. son of Robert Col- 
l,„rn ( >) was born at Chelmsford or Concord about 

weJe soldiers in" the revolution. John was scrgeant- 



at-arms in the Leominster company on the Lexing- 
ton ^Lm April 19, 177S, sergeant of a co-pany 
raised to re-enforce General <^.a«c^ a* ^^"^^'"K^ '" 
October 1777: Ebenezer is mentioned below ; Nathan 
and Jonathan were soldiers in the Leominster 

"■"fhfchildren of Nathaniel and Dorcas Colbtirn 
were: Nathaniel, born January .9, '722-3. marred 
Tabhha Headley; Ebene.er, November ■<>• >724. d>ed 
Tune 7 1828; Dorcas, September i, 172O, iMary. 
\orn 12 1729, died November 6. 1740; Ebenezer. 
w'mber 17 1731, of whom later; Sarah May 8, 
I^Sm Mary, born April .2, 1729, died November 
6:-'t740 Sarah. May 8. I7.W; Job" Vr'"V,w^,) 
luly 10, 1736, died August 4. 1736; Jonathan (iwi ). 
iorn Jub 10, .736. married Sarah Harve>s John. 
August 3, 1738, married Anna Darby, of Har\ara, 
.Sachusetts;' Mary, October 4, 1742 ;_ Nathan. 
November 18 1744: Hannah, July 20, 174/- . , _ , 
^^(IVEbene'iTr Colburn, son of Xjithaniel Col- 
burn (S) was born in Concord, Massachusetts 
s"o"ember 17. 1731. He removed to Leominster with 
Ws'^faUi^r^ifd s'eiled in the -'tl| Pa^t o^t^ie tow.. 
He was a tavern keeper there in hi. later years He 
wa<: a soldier in the revolution, a private in the 
compaV of Captain Nathaniel Carter in the regi- 
ment of Colonel Ab.,ah Stearns in '/'/■ ""^j^^^^ 
lust lieutenant in the company of Captain J abez 
Keep, Colonel Jonathan Smiths regimcm He was 
first lieutenant also in Captain Nathanie Carter s 
company (the first Leominster company in the 

that of John Colburn. ,- .„, „f T-n- 

He married (first) Prudence Carter, of Leo- 
minster, and (second) Dorothy Brewer, w.dow, of 
Sterline and Waltham, Massachusetts. They had 
four sons and four daughters, all but '-o oi vs'hom 
married and left Lcominstsr. These two were 
Fhiah and Elisha Colburn, who were prominent 
diiensEh^ha Colburn married Dcliorah Hunt 
ad died in 1833. leaving two sons-Major Senaca 
Colhun'^nd cLrles H„ who was po^tma^ter =.t 

l^:-:::[E^r¥?i:ci.«iialrtUnlt^'ler 

^°"(V)"Sah'Holburn, son °fEben-.er Colburn 
r^1 was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, I77i- 
f^ removed VJin Leominster to the adjacent own 
of Lancaster and w^s town --'°n^«"^ under ak 
there for a period of forty years. He wa. a sMM m 
cab ne maker and for the most part made lus 

caskets and coffins. . H' r""'^^ J^, -Sed fi^^^ 
Sallv Hosley, who died I-ehruary 9. l».^ • aged ni 
tv three ve.irs He married (second) Nancy — -• 
^e'dd' September 27. '^I^. , ='8'='J„/'^^?;;l;-"a', ^ 
„,r. ot T aiicaster The children of lilijali ana 
S.lv were Char ■■ born December ,3. 1796; J-^nas. 

77<k on the old homestead. He settled m Leoni- 
insiU-r a" d established the comb manufactory, where 
,"f son succeeded him and «'here hi.s grandson 
AUr.r,l W Colburn. s now located. He carried 
^ "h s business for fifty years. Though he never 
sought or held public office, he was a man of m- 
flucnce and highly respected in the community. At 
the t"mc of the Washingtonian movement he be- 










_.«_) 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



III 



came a total abstainer or teetotaler, as it was then 
called, and he was ever afterward a consistent and 
active advocate of temperance. He was also a strong 
anti-slavery man. 

He married, December 25, 1823, Matilda Parker. 
His death, September 18, 1873, was due to injuries 
received in an accident in his factory. His son, 
George F. Colbiirn, who was associated with him in 
business, carried on the business after his father 
died and was succeeded in turn by his son, Alford 
W. Colburn, of whom later. The children of Jonas 
and Matilda (Parker) Colburn were: Caroline M., 
born October 20, 1824. died February 24, 1825 ; An- 
drew J., March 20, 1826, died September I, 1902; 
Francis H., December 25, 1827, died August 2, 
1895 ; George F., January 21, 1830, died January 4, 
1895, of whom later; Caroline M., March i, 1832; 
James S., January 6, 1834, died February 3, 1834; 
Cornelia L., March 19, 1835; Crosby W., October 
31, 1837. died March 23, 1842. 

(VII) George F. Colburn, son of Jonas Colburn 
(6), was born at Leominster, Massachusetts, Janu- 
ary 21, 1830. He was educated in the public schools 
of his native town and when a young man went into 
his father's factory and learned the business of comb 
manufacturing. He was taken into partnership 
with his father and for a number of years father 
and son were in business together. When his 
father died in 1873 Mr. Colburn became the sole 
proprietor and continued in business alone until 
he took his own son into partnership in 1888. He 
was prominent in public affairs as well as in busi- 
ness. He was elected to many positions of honor 
and trust by his townsmen. He was at various 
times assessor, overseer of the poor and selectman, 
and represented his district in the general court 
two years. He was an active and earnest member 
of the Unitarian church. 

George F. Colburn married, January 21. 1830, 
Catherine E. Newton, of Southboro. Massachusetts. 
She was the daughter of Lowell Appleton and Han- 
nah Perry (Johnson) Newton, and was born No- 
vember 23, 1834, at Southboro. Mr. Colburn died 
January 4. 1895. The children of George F. and 
Catherine E. Colburn were : Jennie Fay, born Janu- 
ary 21, 1857, married Lysander E. Piper; Alford 
Warren, January 11, 1861, of whom later; Harry, 
March 25, 1866, died September 19, 1898. 

(•VIII) Alford W. Colburn, son of George F. 
Colburn (7), was born in Leominster, Massachu- 
setts. January 11, 1861. He was educated in the 
public schools of his native town and then entered 
a commercial college in Boston where he received 
an education to fit him for the position in the 
business world that he has since so well tilled. 
His father and grandfather had been manufacturers 
of combs in Leominster, and though he later suc- 
ceeded to this business he first started in for him- 
self at Nortliboro, Massachusetts; in the manu- 
facture of musical instruments. In 1888, after his 
grandfather died, he removed to Leominster and 
hecame associated with his father in the manu- 
facture of horn goods. Both in Northboro and 
Leominster Mr. Colburn has had a successful career 
in business. At the present time he employs sev- 
enty-five hands regularly. The site of the present 
shop has been occupied by him and his ancestors 
as a place of business since 1824. The first shop 
was a few rods east of the present structure. The 
old Colburn homestead at South Leominster, which 
was occupied consecutively by five generations of 
the family, beginning with Nathaniel Colburn (III) 
who came there in 1750 and. being a carpenter, 
Ijuilt his own house, is his home. Mr. Colburn 
is well known among the Masons of the county. 



having taken all the degrees of the Scottish Rite. 
He is a Republican but has always refused to- be 
a candidate for pulilic office. He is a member 
of the Legminstcr Country Club. He has an at- 
tractive summer residence where he and his fam- 
ily live in the summer. He is a lover of nature and 
out-door sports. 

He married in 7883, Ida A. Brooks, daughter 
of Halen and Sarah J. Brooks, of Leominster, 
Massachusetts. Their children are: Margery, Edith, 
Helen. 

JAMES HENRY WHITTLE, of Worcester, a 
prominent manufacturer, was born in Pawtucket, 
Providence county, Rhode Island, May 15, 1857, 
son of James and Ann (Thornley) Whittle. Both 
his parents were born in Bolton, Lancashire, Eng- 
land, and came to the United States in 1837, 
shortly after their marriage. The father learned 
his trade as a bleacher in his native country, and 
was one' of the most experienced and successful 
workmen of his day in that line, and made high 
repute for the large and well known cloth bleach- 
ing firm of W. F. and F. C. Sayles, at Pawtucket, 
Rhode Island, in which he was employed during 
almost his entire lifetime in this country. With his 
wife he was a communicant of St. George's 
(Protestant Episcopal) Church, and he was a Mason 
of high rank, having attained the thirty-second de- 
gree of the Scottish Rite. He died January 25, 

1895. and his wife survived him little more than 
a year, dying in Lincoln, Rhode Island. April 19, 

1896. They were the parents of nine children, all 
nf whom were born in the United States : Peter, 
Richard. Mary A.. Elizabeth A.. Ellen. Emma J., 
James H., Clara L. and William E. Whittle. James 
Whittle, grandfather of James H. Whittle, came to 
America after the death of his wife, and died at 
the home of his sons ; he was a man of considerable 
means for that day. 

James H. Whittle, son of James and Ann 
Whittle, was educated in the public schools of Paw- 
tucket, Rhode Island, and entered upon an active 
career as a sheet^metal worker, having become a 
skillful mechanic. September 27, 1881, he located 
in Putnam, Connecticut, where he engaged in 
furnishing mills with sheet-metal supplies. Octo- 
ber 8th of the following year, at the solicitation of 
the late Silas W. Goddard, of the Cleveland Ma- 
chine Works, he removed to Worcester, Massachu- 
setts, and there laid the foundation for a most 
useful and successful business in a factory of his 
own. which he established at No. 84 Southbridge 
street, in the old Dewey building. His business 
developed rapidly, and he w-as soon obliged to seek 
more room in order to enable him to enlarge his 
manufacturing facilities, and he removed to No. 
^^ .SotUhbridge street, the site of the present post- 
office building. In 1887 another enlargement became 
imperative, and he made another removal, this time 
to No. 150 Union street, and similar reasons led 
to a change to No. 150 Harlow street in 1893. In 
189S he purchased the Cleveland Machine Works, 
and in 1902 removed the plant to the Harlow street 
factorv grounds, upon which he had erected build- 
ings specially designed for his purposes. The main 
building is sixty by two hundred and fifty-five feet 
in area and three stories in height, is equipped 
with the most modern and improved machinery for 
the manufacture of all kinds of sheet-metal ma- 
chinery for mills, and all kinds of machinery needed 
in woolen and cotton mills. The product of the 
Whittle factory is known throughout the country, 
and forms the equipment of many of the most 
famous woolen and cotton working establishments 



1 1: 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



in America, and in various manufacturing places 
abroad. The local \-alue of the Whittle works is 
discernible in the fact that it affords constant em- 
ployment to one hundred and thirty-fi\-e, operatives, 
the majority of whom are men of family. The 
great dimensions to which Mr. Whittle has brought 
his c!tai'.::i;nient, its large usefulness as a factor 
in the industrial growth of Worcester, and the means 
and repute which it has brought to himself, is at 
once an eloquent proclamation of the possibilities 
of this country, and a monument to his own ability. 
Entering upon life absolutely without means, he 
carved out his own fortune, solely through his own 
industry, perseverance and business ability, and in 
no way as the beneficiary of a fortunate accident. 
Taking a laudable and entirely justifiable pride in 
what he has accomplished, Mr. Whittle affects none 
of the assumptions of superiority which often dis- 
figure the character of selfmade men, but rather 
seems to rest in the conviction that his success is 
such as should naturally crown the effort of him 
who cares for his buSness and plans for its de- 
velopment wisely and laboriously. 

He is numbered among the most active members 
of the Worcester board of trade, in which he is a 
director, and in that body as well as in his indi- 
vidual capacity bears a full share in encouraging 
and aiding in all movements looking to the ad- 
vancement of his city, whether in material concerns 
or in those affairs which touch upon the moral life 
of the community, and the upholding of its educa- 
tional and humanitarian institutions. His political 
affiliations are with the Republican party, but he has 
contented himself by supporting its principles and 
policies after the manner of a plain evervday citizen, 
without care for public distinction or official prefer- 
ment. He is fond of scenes of nature amid which 
to pass his seasons of recreation, and maintains a 
pleasant summer home at Tuftonboro, New Hamp- 
shire, on Lake Winnepesaukee, where each season 
he entertains a circle of congenial friends in boat- 
ing and fishing expeditions, using for them and 
his family his own e.xccllently appointed steam 
launch. 

Mr. Whittle married, October 4, 1883. Louisa 
Bernette Starrett, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, a 
most estimable woman, and exemplary member of 
St. John's (Protestant Episcopal) Church, Worces- 
ter, whose death occurred January 18, 1904. Of this 
marriage were born five children : Mabel L., Milton 
H., .Antoinette, Ralph £., and Philip T. Whittle. 
The family residence is at Xo. 117 Paine street, 
Worcester. 

CHARLES F. PIERCE. John Pierce (i). the 
pioneer ancestor in this country of Charles F. Pierce, 
of Leominster, Massachusetts, was born in England 
about 1585 at the town of Norwich in Norfolk 
county. He was a weaver by trade. He passed the 
examination required of those who were bound for 
New England April 8, 1637. and gave his age as 
forty-nine, that of his wife Elizabeth as thirty-six 
and' he had with them children : John. Barbara, 
Judith and Elizabeth and servant, John Gedney. 
He went to Watertown. where his son Anthony was 
then living, having preceded his father to this 
country. 

John Pierce was admitted a freeman March, 
163--8. He died at Watertown. August 19, 1661. 
His will was dated March 7, 1657-8, and proved 
Octnher I, 1661. Anthony is the only child men- 
tioned by name, but in the will of his widow, who 
died March 12. 1666. aged about seventy-nine years, 
the names of the children and some grandchildren 
appear. It is evident that the wife was nearer 



forty-six than thirty-six when she left England. 
There is another discrepancy in the age of the son 
Robert. He deposed December 29, 1658, that he 
was thirty-eight years old, and in 1663 that he was 
fifty years old. 

The children of John and Elizabeth Pierce were: 
Anthony, of whom later; Robert, born in England 
between the years 1613 and 1620; Esther, married 

Morse ; Mary, married Coldham ; John ; 

Barbara ; Judith, married, December 30, 1644, Fran- 
cis Wyman, at Woburn ; Elizabeth, married 

Ball. 

(II) Anthony Pierce, son of John Pierce (l), 
was bom in England in 1609 and came to America 
before his father and the remainder of the fam- 
ily. He was admitted a freeman at Watertown, 
Massachusetts, September 3, 1634, and has a very 
numerous posterity in the vicinity of Watertown. 
His homestall was near the line between Cam- 
bridge and Watertown on the road between the two 
towns. He married (first) Sarah , and (sec- 
ond) about 1638, Anne . He died May 9, 

1678. His will was dated September 6, 1671. His 
widow Anne died Januarj- 20. 1682-3. Their chil- 
dren were: John, eldest, married Ruth (Bishop) 
Fuller, widow of William Fuller, and daughter of 
Nathaniel Bishop ; Mary, born October 20, 1633 ; 
Mar}-. 1636, married Ralph Read, son of William 
and Mabel Read, of Watertown ; Jacob, September 

15. 1637; Daniel, of whom later: ^lartha. .April 24, 
1641 ; Joseph, admitted freeman April 18, 1690; 
Benjamin, admitted freeman .April 18, 1690; Judith, 
born July 18, 1650, married, February, 1666-7, John 
Sawin. 

(III) Daniel Pierce, fifth child of Anthony 
Pierce (2), was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, 

January I, 1639-40. He married Elizabeth , 

and they made their home in Groton where their 
first five children were born. Then the Indian war 
drove them from home and they returned to Water- 
town, where they were in 1681. They joined the 
church there January 16. 1686. He was a weaver 
bv trade, a farmer by occupation most of the time. 
He died in 1723 and his will' was filed the same 
year. The children of Daniel and Elizabeth Pierce 
were: Elizabeth, bom May 16, 1665. married. Octo- 
ber 17. 1684. Isaac Mi,\er. Jr. Daniel. Jr., Novem- 
ber 28. 1666. married .Abigail ; John, .August 

18. 1668, baptized at Watertown, Januarj- 16. 1686: 
Eohraim. of whom later; Josiah, May 2, 1675, prob- 
ably died young: Joseph. December 30. i^, mar- 
ried Mary' Warren : Abigail. January .3, f68i, died 
unmarried 1723 : Hannah. 1^5. baptized January 

16. 1686: Benjamin, baptized January 16, 1686; 
Marv'. married Scripture. 

(IV) Ephraim Pierce, fourth child of Daniel 
Pierce (3), was born at Groton, Massachusetts, 
October 15. 1673. He married Mary Whitney, who- 
was born July r. 1675. and died December 29. 1749. 
They settled in Groton. where he died February 
27. 1740-1. His gravestone is to be seen in the 
old cemetery there. He was one of the first set- 
tlers of the neighboring town of Lunenburg and 
owned lot No. 68. He was on the first board of 
selectmen of the town in 1728. The children of 
Ephraim and Mary Pierce were: Mary, born Au- 
gust 9. 1696. married, March 17. 1719-20. Josiah 
Fam^worth; Elizabeth. July 24, 1608. married. De- 
cember 24, 1723. Thomas Farwell ; Ephraim. of 
whom later; Sarah. March 8, 1702, married Octo- 
ber 27, 1720, Jonathan Parker, and both died Sep- 
tember 21. 1723: David. May 23. 1704, married. 
June 15. 1725, Elizabeth Bowers; Jonathan. April 
15. 1706. died September 15, 1723: Simon, October 
25, 1707, married. May 26, 1737, Susanna Parker, 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



"3 



resided in Groton : Abigail, November 20, 1710, 
married, 173S. Ezra Farnsworth ; Lydia, Novem- 
ber 20, 1713, died September 24, 1723. 

(V) Ephraim Pierce, third child of Ephraim 
Pierce (4), was born in Groton, Massachusetts, 
November 12. 1700, married, October 30, 1721, Esther 
Shedd, who died June 28, 1768. He married (sec- 
ond) January 12, 1773, Airs. Huldah (Martyn) 
Weatherbee. He resided in Ltnienburg and was 
deacon of the Lunenburg church. He died in 1781. 
The children of Ephraim and Esther Pierce were : 
Esther, born May 29, 1722, married, October 17. 
1740, Benjamin Gould; Jonathan, November 29, 
1724, married, February 4, 1745, Sarah Dodge ; 
Ephraim, March 13, 1726, married (first) Sarah 
Norcross and (second) Olive Goodridge, of Lin- 
coln: Amos, July 8, 1729, died January 11, 1741 ; 
Sarah, November 27, 1731, married, January 25, 
1749, John Lovejoy ; Map', March 5, 1733. married, 
November 28, 1754, Phineas Hartwell, of Lunen- 
burg: Benjamin, June 3, 1736, died December 23, 
1757: Prudence. February 6, 1738, married, Septem- 
ber 6, 1762, Reuben Smith: Oliver, July 17, 1741, 
married, May 19, 1768, Mary Smith; Keziah, De- 
cember 4, 1743, died September iS, 1746; Elizabeth, 
November 25, 1746, married, November 19, 1766, 
Jacob Steward. 

(VI) Oliver Pierce, ninth child of Ephraim 
Pierce (5). was born in Lunenburg, July 17, 1741, 
married. May ig, 1768, Mary Smith, born in 1751 
and died in 1827. He was a farmer in Lunenburg. 
He died there March 6, 1815. He was a soldier in 
the revolution at Lexington, April 19. 1775, under 
Captain Benjamin Flagg. He was in Captain Joseph 
Warren's company. Lieutenant-Colonel W'heelock's 
regiment, in 1777 with the Northern army. The chil- 
dren of Oliver and Mary Pierce were : Oliver, 
bom March 8, 1769, married, October 27, 1791, 
Hannah Davis; Polly. May 5, 1771, married, Feb- 
ruary II, 1790, Nathan Adams, Jr.: Nathaniel, June 
I, 1773. died young: Benjamin, May 19, 1775, mar- 
ried Abigail Devoll, died in Leominster, June 23, 
1846: Nathaniel, October 8, 1778, married Judith 
Kendall: (second) Zebiah Smallpeace ; (third) 
Visa (Clark) Knight; John, of whom later; Betsey, 
November 9, 1789, married Billings, of Lunen- 
burg. 

(VII) John Pierce, sixth child of O'iver Pierce 
(6), was born in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, Sep- 
tember 18. 1787, married, November 28, 1816, Esther 
Smith, born in 1782 and died March 10, 1830: mar- 
ried (second). July 13, 1831, Sarah (Tyler) Smith, 
born 1794 and died May 27, i860. He died No- 
vember 12. 1867. They resided in Lunenburg. The 
children of John and Esther Pierce were : Betsey, 
born February 2. 1818, died unmarried in Lunen- 
burg: Mary. Alarch 2. 1819, married, April 21, 1853, 
David S. Jewett : she died in Fitchburg. i860, leav- 
ing two children: Benjamin. July 27. 1820: Joseph, 
May 17. 1822. married Almira Russell : Nathaniel, 
March 20, 1824, married Melinda Willard ; resided 
at Ashburnham. Massachusetts : Otis, of whom later. 
The children of John and Sarah were : Martha A., 
born 1832. died July ,3. 1863 ; George S., born July 
9. 1833, removed to Fitchburg, where he died Octo- 
ber 23. 1898. 

(VIII) Otis Pierce, son of John Pierce (7), 
was born in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, on the 
old Pierce homestead November 16, 1826. He re- 
moved to North Leominster and purchased a farm. 
He married in 1854, Mary A. E. King, born March 
28, 1825. Their children, all born in Leominster, 
were: Abbie M., born March 31. 1856, married, 
October 5. 1875. William M. Campbell, born Octo- 
ber 16, 1849, resides at Winchester, Massachu- 

ii-« 



setts : Charles F., of whom later ; John W., born 
May 13, i860. 

(IX) Charles F, Pierce, second child of Otis 
Pierce (8), was born in North Leominster, Massa- 
chusetts, February I2, 1858. He attended the pub- 
lic schools of his native town and then learned the 
trade of wood turner. He went to work for the 
Wellington Piano Case Company at Leominster and 
was advanced from place to place till he became the 
assistant superintendent of the factory. He is a 
L'nitarian in religion and a Republican in politics. 
He is a member of the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. He married May F. Tyler, daughter 
of Isaac Tyler, of a prominent Leominster family. 
Their children are: Irene, married F. M. Weld; 
Elva M., born at Leominster ; Goklie, boni at 
Leominster. 

PIERCE FAMILY. John Pierce (Pers) (i), 
the immigrant ancestor of Miss Helen B. Pierce and 
Dr. Appleton Pierce, of Leominster, Massachusetts, 
was born 1588, a native of Norwich, Norfolk, Eng- 
land. He was a weaver by trade, but a farmer as 
well, of course. He was among the earliest settlers 
of Watertown, Massachusetts, and was admitted a 
freeman March, 1637-8. His will was dated March 
4. 1657-8. He died August 19, 1661. His widow 
Elizabeth died March 12, 1666, aged about seventy- 
nine years, naming her children, as below, in her 
will. Their children were : John, probably settled 
at Wethersfield, Connecticut ; Barbara ; Judith, mar- 
ried at Woburn, December 30, 1644, Francis Wy- 

man ; Elizabeth, married Ball ; Anthony, of 

whom later ; Robert, settled Woburn, probably came 

before parents : Esther, married Morse ; Mary, 

married Coldam. 

(II) Anthony Pierce, son of John Pierce (i), 
was born in England in 1609. He settled in Water- 
town before his father and was admitted a freeman 
September 3, 1634. (A sketch of him is given in: 
connection with other Pierce families of Leom- 
inster descended from him.) He married (first) 

Sarah and (second), about 1638, Anne . 

He died May 9, 1678. His will was dated September 
6, 1671. His widow died January 20, 1682-3. The 
children of Anthony Pierce : John, born about 1631, 
married Ruth Bishop: Mary, October 20, 1633; 
Mary, 1636: Jacob. September 15, 1637; Daniel, 
January i, 1639-40; Martha. April 24. 1641 ; Joseph; 
Benjamin, 1649: Judith, July 18, 1650. 

(HI) Daniel Pierce, fifth child of Anthony- 
Pierce (2), was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, 
January i. 1639-40. He settled in Groton where 
five of his children were born, but returned to 
Watertown on account of the Indians. He owned 
the covenant at Watertown church January 16, 1686,. 
and had three children baptized on that date. His^ 
will was proved in 1723, the year of his death:. 
it was dated February 22, 1723. He married Eliza- 
beth , and their children were : Elizabeth, born 

May 16. 1665, married, October 17, 1684, Isaac 
Mixer, Jr. ; Daniel. November 28, 1666 : John. Au- 
gust 18, 1668; Ephraim, October 15, 1673; Josiah, 
May 2, 1675 : Joseph, of whom later : .■\bigail, Jan- 
uary 3, 1681, died 1723 ; Hannah, baptized Janu- 
ary 16, 1686; Benjamin, baptized January 16, 1686; 
Mary. 

(IV) Joseph Pierce, son of Daniel Pierce (3), 
was born about 1678. He was like his father and 
grandfather a weaver by trade. He settled in Wo- 
burn and was selectman in 1738-39-42. He died 
in Waltham. 1747. He married, December .30, 1698, 
Mary Warren, born May 25, 1675. Their children 
were: Isaac, of whom later; Mary, born February 
18, 1702, married, June 24, 1725, Captain Thomas 



114 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Fiske; Elizabeth, February 23, 1703, marned 
Phineas Gleason; Sarah, September 11, 1705; mar- 
ried Allen; Lydia, March 11, 1706; Eunice, 

February n, 1708, married, July 2, 1729, Isaac 
Child, born March 5, 1699; Grace, April 27, 171 1, 
died before 1747; Prudence, August 2, 1713. mar- 
ried Mcrriam: Lois. January 2, 1715: Ruhamah, 

January 12, 1717, married, August 15, 1758, John 
Child. 

(V) Isaac Pierce, son of Joseph Pierce (4), 
was born in Watertown or Woburn, September 19, 
1700. He settled in Waltham, Massachusetts, form- 
erly part of Watertown. and died there 1773- He 
was selectman of Waltham, 1744-45-53- He mar- 
ried, September 7, 1722, Susanna Bemis, of Lexing- 
ton. Their children, all born in Lexington, were: 
Josiah, of whom later; Joshua, March 24, 1724, mar- 
ried Ruth White; Abijah, May 23, 1727, married 
Thankful P.rown; Ephraim, August 12, 1729, mar- 
ried Lydia White and (second) Mrs. Lydia Parker; 
Susanna, May 22, 1732; Mary, June 22, 1735, mar- 
ried Moses Harrington ; Isaac, March 24, 1738, mar- 
ried Hannah Mason. 

(VI) Josiah Pierce, son of Isaac Pierce (5), 
was born in Lexington. Massachusetts, February 13, 
1723. He removed from Waltham to Worcester, 
Massachusetts. Prior to and during the revolu- 
tion he was one of the most important and in- 
fluential citizens of Worcester. He was a select- 
man 1763-71-75. He was elected March 7, 1774, 
on a committee of three by the town to take into 
consideration the acts of the British Parliament 
for raising revenues from the colonics. This com- 
mittee reported instructions from the town to its 
deputy in the general court in May, 1774. 

He married at Worcester, March 14, 1744, Sarah 
Gale, born November 30, 1726. Their children were: 
John, born October 12. 1745, married Lydia Jones; 
Oliver, March 12, 1746. married thrice ; Susannah, 
October 2, 1747, married Dr. Isaac Cheney; Sarah, 

July 26, 1750, married Stephens; Josiah, May 

7. 1752. married Lucretia Bigelow ; Mary, April 
20, i"';4, died April 22, 1754; Molly, De- 
cember 15, 1755, married Daniel Heywood ; 
Joseph. March 6, 1757. married Eleanor Crawford; 
Lydia, November 28, 1759, married Calvin Glazier; 
Levi, of whom later; .Azubah. September 25, 

1762. married Morse and Luther Fiske ; 

Byficld. January .10, 1764, married Mary Hamilton 
aiid Betsey Small; Abijah. September 22, 1765. mar- 
ried Sarah Bond, Nancy Gay. Chloe Merrifield ; 
Joel. August 27, 1767. married Lucy Davis ; Han- 
nah. January 7, T770, married John Ball. Jr. ; Jervis, 
November 8. 1671. resided Springfield, Illinois. 

evil) Levi Pierce, tenth child of Josiah Pierce 
(6). was horn at Worcester. Massachusetts. Sep- 
tember IS. 1761. He settled at West Boylston, 
Massachusetts, an adjoining town. He married, 
April o. 1780. Pcrsis Robinson. Their children 
were: John, horn January 23. 1700. married Martha 
Buck: Nancy, October 14. 1704: Levi, of whom 
later: Josiah. September 13. 1706. married Sally 
Mcrriam and Mrs. Hannah Walker; Almira. June 
24, 1804, married Nathaniel Johnson ; Ezra B.. Feb- 
ruary 7. 1807. married, September 14, 18.34. Mary 
S. Bicclow; Pcrsis, August 11, 1809, married Emory 
Pollard. 

(VIIT) Captain Levi Pierce, third child of Levi 
Pierce (7). was born in West Boylston, October 
14, 1704. He settled in his native town and be- 
came one of the leading citizens. He was repre- 
sentative to the general court, captain of the militia, 
assessor and .selectman of the town He died March 
24, 1867. In addition to his farm Mr. Pierce manu- 
factured baskets for many years. He was a mem- 



ber of the Unitarian church and liberal in his views. 
He married (first), December 24, 1818, Polly 
Merriam, born April 20, 1796, died December 21, 
1841. lie married (second). May 26, 1846, Mrs. 
Roxanna Wilcox, of Clinton, who had two chil- 
dren by a previous marriage. The children of Cap- 
tain Levi and Polly Pierce were : George W., of 
whom later; William, born July 26, 1821, married 
Eliza Henderson; Marcia A., March 20, 1823, mar- 
ried, November 29, 1843, George Ark, born Septem- 
ber 9. 1813; Mary, June 16, 1825, died June 26, 
1825 ; Henry, August 27, 1826. married Theresa 
Adams and (second) Carrie E. Holt; Jane, October 
4, 1828, married, March 25, 1845, Leonard Newton, 
horn February 11, 1818, resided at Pittsfield, Massa- 
chusetts; Adelia, February 18, 1831. married, Sep- 
tember 14, 1853, Dr. Chauncey A. Wilcox, of Ux- 
bridge ; Levi M., June 21, 1833, married Mary H. 
Foster ; James E., December 20, 1834, married Eliza 
Lovell. 

(IX) Dr. George W. Pierce, son of Levi Pierce 
(8), was born in West Boylston, Massachusetts, 
October 15. 1819. He attended the district schools 
and Leicester Academy. He studied medicine at 
the Harvard Medical School, from which he was 
graduated in 1845. Locating for practice first in the 
quiet little town of Bolton he stayed there two years, 
then settled in the neighboring town of Leominster 
in 1847. He practiced there with gratifying suc- 
cess for a period of nearly forty years. He not 
only won the confidence and esteem of his patients, 
but of all his fellow-townsmen. He did not con- 
fine his attention to his profession, but gave freely 
of his time and means to the public. He was par- 
ticularly interested in public education and for many 
years was a member of the school committee and 
trustee of the public library. He was a strong 
anti-slavery man and in politics was a Republican. 
He died in Leominster. May 5, 18S6. 

He married (first), February 22, 1850, Damaris 
Balch, born June 6. 1829, daughter of Er Balch, 
of Leominster. He married (second), June i. 1869, 
Mrs. Charlotte A. (Billings) Carter, born March 
28. 1827, at Lowell, Massachusetts. The children 
of Dr. George W. and Damaris Pierce were: Sarah 
Eva. born February 24, 1852, married, September 
'7- 1873, Edwin .Crosby Farwell and their children 
are : Harold C.. born February 2. 1877. died Decem- 
ber 22, 1877; Minnie G., born September 21, 1878; 
Chester W., born November 3, 1880; Mary .\., born 
April 2, iSs4, died November 27, 1864 ; Helen B., 
born December 21, 1855, a school teacher of Leom- 
inster; George B., born December 26, i860, mar- 
ried Addie Shattuck and their children are: Marion, 
Mildred. Melbourne N. ; Henry W., born June 7, 

1863. died .Xugust 6. 1864: Susie, born May 27, 

1864. died July 22, 1864; Harriet, born October 9, 

1865. married Dr. Woodbury and have had three 
children : Vernon, born February 22, 1893 ; Helen, 
bom June 5. 1894; Paul F.. born December 14, 
1895. died January 20, 1898. The only child of the 
second marriage was : .Appleton H., of whom later. 

(X) Dr. .Appleton H. Pierce, son of Dr. George 
W. Pierce (9), was born in Leominster. Massachu- 
setts Octolier 4, 1870. He attended the public and 
high schools of his native town. Harvard College, 
and the Harvard Medical School, from which he 
received his degree of M. D. in 1895. He had two 
years of hospital practice in Worcester, and in 
1S07 began to practice in Leominster. In the past 
ten years Dr. Pierce has built up an excellent prac- 
tice in the town where his father practiced for 
forty years. He is also a member of the school 
committee on which his father served so efficiently. 
Dr. Pierce is a member of the Massachusetts Medi- 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



115 



cal Society and the American Medical Association. 
In 1903 he was appointed associate medical ex- 
aminer by Governor Bates. In politics he is a Re- 
publican. He belongs to the Leominster Council of 
the Royal Arcanum. 

Dr. Pierce married, 1896, Marion E. Yeaton, 
daughter of John C. and Marion (Wood) Yeaton, 
of Worcester. They have two children : Arthur J., 
born February 4, 1899; Marion, June 29, 1900. 

ROBERT ASHWORTH. The names Ashworth 
and Jones are always associated in the minds of 
Worcester people. The great industry that bore 
the name of Ashworth & Jones made the firm 
name familiar in every household. Then the fact 
tliat the partners in the firm were brothers-in-law 
made them of one family. Neither of the partners 
left descendants of their own surname. Mr. Ash- 
worth never married, but a number of the descend- 
ants of his brother reside in Worcester. The de- 
scendants of Mr. Jones will be mentioned' later. 

(I) Richard Ashworth, progenitor of the Ash- 
worth family of Worcester, Massachusetts, lived at 
Milnrow, Lancashire, England. He was a mechanic, 
a man of the middle classes. He never came to this 
country, but died in his native town. His wife 
came to Worcester, late in life, and died in Wor- 
cester. She is buried in Hope cemetery. Their 
children, all born in Milnrow, were : Martha, mar- 
ried Fielding and they had two daughters : 

Mary, married Charles Chadwick, and now, a widow, 
is living on the Edward Jones homestead near 
Cherry Valley, Worcester ; Hannah, married Thomas 
Milnes and is living at 27 Elm street, Worcester, 
also a widow. John ; James, see forward. Thomas, 
see forward. Mary, married Edmund Jones, see for- 
ward. Robert, left sons : Robert, George and 
Edward. 

(II) Thomas Ashworth, son of Richard Ash- 
worth (l), was born January 4, 1822, at Milnrow, 
Butterworth, Lancashire. England. He died in Wor- 
cester, January 18, 1882. He received a common 
school education in his native town, and learned 
the trade of weaver there. He left England in 
December, 1848, with nothing but his trade and 
skill to depend upon. He came to New England 
and went first to Millbury, Massachusetts, where he 
remained with friends until he secured work with 
Harding Brothers in Oxford as weaver. He worked 
in that mill for four years and saved his first capital. 
He went to work again at his trade for Buffum 
& Thayer at Oxford and later for George Hodges. 
He began business on his own account in the year 
1856, leasing and operating the Franklin Mill in 
Holden, where he manufactured shoddy, being one 
of the first if not the first to engage in this busi- 
ness in this country. He imported a picker from 
England for his work and the business proved re- 
munerative. After a year there he removed to Ox- 
ford, where he made shoddy goods in the Gates mill. 
Mr. Thomas Ashworth left Oxford about 1862, go- 
ing to Cherry Valley, where he began the first suc- 
cessful shoddy cloth plant in this country, making 
for years the celebrated Ashworth & Jones beav- 
ers, having as a partner his brother-in-law, Mr. 
Jones. They bought for a nominal sum the valua- 
ble water privilege at Valley Falls. In connection 
with this may be told the story of Mr. Ashworth's 
early struggles. Arriving in this country about the 
time gold was discovered in California, he imme- 
diatelv started for the scene of hidden treasures in 
the Rockies. His hardships and toils were rewarded, 
for he returned in two or three years with his gold, 
stopping at Philadelphia to have it minted, then 
coming on to Millbury, Massachusetts, to the home 



of James Brierly, the cotton manufacturer, and 
showed his western success by covering the top of 
a round old-fashioned mahogony table with his gold 
coins, the gold which pushed shoddy cloth to its 
first success in this country. 

In 1864 the first woolen mill was erected there, 
and in 1870 a large brick mill was built. Ashworth 
& Jones built up the whole section at Valley Falls, 
including most of the dwelling houses. They built 
up a very large and prosperous business. It is said 
of Ashworth & Jones that they never gave a note 
and never asked for credit, and yet they were for 
many years the heaviest manufacturers in their line 
in that section of the county. They had what was 
pronounced the model woolen mill of Massachusetts. 

The Spy said of Mr. Ashw'orth at the time of 
his death : "His business career here, begun soon 
after his arrival, has been crowned with success, 
which was the reward of untiring industry, personal 
endeavor, the strictest integrity and a careful at- 
tention to the details of his business of which he 
was a thorough master. He and Edward Jones be- 
gan with the same capital and built up a business 
remunerative as well as extensive. His reputation 
for business integrity was excelled by none." 

In 1S80 Mr. Ashworth was stricken with par- 
alysis and died two years later. He was of a retir- 
ing disposition and declined all public honors. He 
was a member of Athclstan Lodge of Free Masons, 
Eureka Chapter and Worcester Cdunty Com- 
mandery. Knights 1 emplar. He never married. He 
left a large estate to nephews, nieces and other rela- 
tives in England and America. 

(II) James Ashworth, son of Richard Ashworth 
(i), was born in Milnrow, about 1820, and resided 
there. All of his children were born there. Two 
of them, Thomas and Robert, settled in the United 
States. His children : Martha, Elizabeth, Thomas, 
see forward; Robert, died in Pennsylvania; Mary, 
Hannah, Alice, James. 

(II) Mary Ashworth, daughter of Richard Ash- 
worth (l), was born in Milnrow, Lancashire, Eng- 
land, about 1825, died August 7, 1889. She married 
there Edward Jones. He was a weaver by trade. 
He was born in Lancashire, February 8, 1824. He 
was the junior partner of the well known firm of 
Ashworth & Jones, and after the illness and death 
of Mr. Ashworth he carried on the business alone. 
After his death the business was sold to Edward D. 
Thayer. He died March 7, 1885. He was a promi- 
nent citizen of Worcester. He served the city two 
years in the common council. He was well known 
in Masonic circles. He left a large estate to his 
brothers, Robert Jones, of Worcester, William Jones, 
of Milnrow, England, his sister, Ann Clegg, of 
Bradley Bottom, Lancashire, England; the son of 
his sister Betty, Edward Whitworth, of Milnrow, 
and to his wife. He left no children. 

(III) Thomas Ashworth, son of James Ash- 
worth (2), was born in Milnrow, Lancashire, Eng- 
land, January 29, 1844. He had a common school 
education in his native town. He came to this 
country when a young man and went to St. Claire, 
Pennsylvania, and worked as a miner in the coal 
region, leaving there about 1879 for Valley Falls, 
Worcester, to work for his uncles, Ashworth and 
Jones, of Worcester, where he learned the trade of 
dyer. He was only forty-two years old when he 
died, .A.pril 8, 1883, at Worcester. He married, 1865, 
Hannah Howard, born December 24, 1841, daugh- 
ter of Charles and Sarah Howard, of Milnrow. 
Mrs. .■\sInvorth resides on Gould Hill. Worces- 
ter. Their children were : Charles Richard, see for- 
ward ; Robert, see forward: James, see forward; 
Mary, born in St. Claire, October 7, 1871, resides 



ii6 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



with her mcther; Sarah, born in St. Claire. April 
6. 1874. married. June 2S. 1896. Edward A. Lamb, 
at present a clerk in California ; their children : 
Howard Ashworth Lamb. Anna Mae Lamb, Thomas, 
see forward. 

(IV) Charles R. Ashworth, son of Thomas Ash- 
worth (3). was born in Milnrow, England, May 24, 
1864. He received a common school education in 
Worcester, and learned the trade of iron molder at 
the Allen Boiler Works. He also worked for the 
Colvin foundry and others. Mr. Ashworth also 
knew the woolen business, and in 1903 he and his 
brother Robert formed the Leicester Woolen Com- 
pany and have since been operating a two set mill 
in Leicester in the old electric light station, em- 
ploying forty hands. Their machinery is new and 
the mill has been prosperous. He married Emma 
Lindley. of Worcester. Their children are : Ruth 
Lindley, Florence May. 

(IV) Robert Ashworth. son of Thomas Ash- 
worth (3), was born in St. Claire. Pennsylvania, 
April 6. 1866. He was educated in the Worces- 
ter public schools and at Becker's Business College. 
He learned the machinist's trade. In 1897 he pur- 
chased the grocery store of E. W. Conant, at Cherry 
Valley, and has conducted it profitably since then. 
He has also been postmaster since owning the store. 
He is one of the best known and most popular men 
in that section. He and his brother, Charles R. 
Ashworth. since 1903, have been manufacturing 
woolen goods at Leicester in the old electric light 
station under the firm name of Leicester Woolen 
Company. Mr. Ashworth is a member of the Cherry 
Valley Methodist church and has been its treasurer 
for eleven years. He married Clara Richardson. 
They have no children. 

(IV) James Ashworth, son of Thomas Ashworth 
(3). was born in St. Claire, Pennsylvania. May 6, 
1869. He received his early education in the public 
schools and at Becker's Business College in Wor- 
cester. He learned the trade of weaver in the E. D. 
Thayer, formerly Ashworth & Jones, mill, and got 
a thorough knowledge of the business. In 1902 
he and his brother. Thomas Ashworth. began to 
manufacture woolens in an old mill in Charlton 
City. Massachusetts, formerly owned by the Aldrich 
Manufacturing Company, and called Copp's mill. 
They were burned out about two years afterward, 
but rebuilt a modern two-set mill and are operating 
the mill successfully. He inarried Beulah Brothers, 
of Worcester. They have one child, Ralph William. 

(IV) Thomas Ashworth. son of Thomas Ash- 
worth (3), was born in St. Claire, Pennsylvania, 
February 18, 1878. He attended the public schools 
and graduated at Hinman's Business College in 
Worcester. He is a member of Montacute Lodge 
nf Free Masons. He is in partnership with his 
brother James in the woolen business with a mill 
at Charlton City. He is unmarried. 

JOHN EMORY WINDLE. John Windle (i). 
father of John Emory Windle, of Worcester, born 
in Bernley, England ; married Grace Blakely. and 
had by her six children. He was a confectioner in 
England. About 7846 he came to America. His 
first wife died shortly before and he left behind 
him the six children. He went to work first in a 
cotton mill as dresser. Later he settled on a farm 
at West Boylston. He married. October 17. 1848, 
at Lancaster. Eliza Sargent, daughter of Stephen 
Sargent, of Bolton and Lancaster. (See sketch of 
the Sargent family for ancestors of Eliza Sargent, 
elsewhere in this work.) They had five children, 
four of whom grew to maturity. After his second 
marriage some of his children by the first marriage 



came to live with him in 1848 or later. His death 
in September, 1863, was caused by eating what he 
supposed were mushrooms. He was fifty-six. His 
widow Eliza died in 1871. His children were: 
James, entered the British army, and after twenty 
years service died in India while stationed there 
with his company ; left one son who became a phy- 
sician and is living in England. Grace, Blake, Jane. 
Mathew, Thomas. Foregoing all l)orn in Bernley. 
Mary, born in Clinton, June 21, 1849, died in Ox- 
ford, July, 1901. Eliza, born in Clinton, March 
25, 1851. John Emory (see forward). Ade- 
line, born in Worcester, 1855; died 1864. Emma, 
born in Worcester. September 18, 1859. 

(II) Thomas Windle, son of John and Grace 
Blakely Windle (i), was born at Bernley, England, 
March 6, 1845. He came to this country when very 
young and was brought up on his father's farm. He 
attended the district schools. At the age of fifteen 
he went to work in the woolen mill of Booth Bot- 
tomly. at Cherry Valley, and remained a year and 
a half. In 1862 he enlisted. His decision to go 
into the service was made one day while he was 
mowing, and he quit work at once to make the 
arrangements to go. He agreed to pay $130 for 
his time. He enlisted in Company K of the Twenty- 
Fifth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. At New- 
hern. North Carolina, in the vicinity of the Dismal 
Swamp, he contracted malaria and had pneumonia. 
Mr. Windle feels that he owes his life to the skill 
and care of the surgeon. He recovered and re- 
turned to his duty. He was in ten battles, and many 
minor skirmishes. In 1875 he began the manufac- 
ture of cloth in Baltic, Connecticut, in company 
with his brother-in-law, Edwin Hoyle. the firm 
being Hoyle & Windle. After being there two years 
he was successively in Millville, Massachusetts, 
Hopeville, Connecticut, and Woodvillc. Rhode Is- 
land, during part of the time managing two mills 
simultaneously. He came to Millbury in 1880, 
bought the tannery of Salem Griggs and converted 
it into a wool scouring mill. He has resided in Mill- 
bury since then and has large property interests 
there. Mr. Windle. Senator Sainuel E. Hull and 
.\. S. Winters together bought the Wheeler Cotton 
mill in Millbury about ten years ago. He deals 
extensively in wool. He is a Free Mason and in 
politics a Republican. He is a charter member of 
General Thomas Post. Grand Army of the Republic, 
No. 121. He married September 2, 1866. Hannah 
M. Buckley, who was then in her sixteenth year. 
She is the daughter of CTiarles and Sarah Buckley, 
both of whom were born in England. Mr. Buckley 
was a mill overseer. He had two daughters. Mrs. 
Windle and Mrs. Hoyle. 

The children of Thomas and Hannah M. (Buck- 
ley) Windle wore: i. William W., (see forward). 
2. .Arthur D.. born October 3, 1878; associated with 
his father. 3. Grace G., born January 29, 1887. 

(III) William W. Windle^ son of Thomas Windle 
(2), was born Novetnber 2, 1870, He was form- 
erly in the bicycle business and achieved a phe- 
nomenal record as a bicycle rider. When he was 
fifteen years of age he defeated the fastest rider in 
the county, and for the next five years held the 
world's championship. His highest record during 
that period was 2.08. He has since then made a 
mile in 1.42. On May 25, 1888. he won a hotly 
contested r.ice in Canada from Klucky and Foster. 
He was the winner of many handsome trophies and 
souvenirs, including one prize of a thousand dollars. 
He has not been in training for several years, hav- 
ing given his whole time to business since he be- 
came associated with his father. He is a member 
of the Advent (Thurch. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



117 



(II) John Emory Windle. son of John Windle 
(i), was born in West Boylston, Massachusetts, 
April 8, 1853. He attended the public schools in 
Worcester, but when a young boy went to work in 
the woolen mill at Cherry Valley. He worked his 
way up step by step until at the age of twenty-five 
he was superintendent. Three years later he left 
the woolen business to engage in the manufacture of 
textile machinery that he liad invented. Since he 
patented his first machine in 1880, he has taken out 
a large number of patents which he manufactures, 
many of which have proved very useful and profit- 
able. He has an extensive plant at 23 Hermon 
street, Worcester, and a factory at North Grafton, 
Massachusetts. He makes a specialty of cloth fin- 
ishing machiner)' for cotton and woolen goods. He 
invented the first cloth measuring machine to run 
by power, and his machinery has been adopted by 
the United States Government for their quarter- 
master's storehouse. United States Army. His resi- 
dence is at North Grafton, Massachusetts. He mar- 
ried, in 1886. Marietta A, Wilbur, daughter of 
George E. and Marj' A. (Slocum) Wilbur, of Rich- 
mond, Rhode Island. Mr. Wilbur was in the dyeing 
business. The children of John E. and Marietta 
A. (Wilbur) Windle were: I. John E., Jr., born 
at North Grafton, July 4, 1887. 2. Mildred Eliza- 
beth, born at North Grafton. December 31, 1889. 
3. Helen E., born at North Grafton, June 22, 1891 ; 
died August 7, 1891. 

SARGENT FAMILY. (I) William Sargent, 
one of the first settlers of Ipswich, was an ancestor 
of John Emory Windle of Worcester, Massachu- 
setts. Much erroneous matter has been printed about 
William Sargent. The author of the Sargent 
Genealog}- is uncertain as to the date or place of 
his birth. The most probable record shows William 
Sargent, son of Richard and Katherine (Stevens) 
Sargent, who were married November, 1602. The 
son William was baptized June 28. 1606, in the 
Abbey church at Bath, England. As there is no 
further record of father or son there they may have 
gone to London, and William Sargent shipped from 
there. William was a seaman and is said to have 
been with Captain John Sm.ith at Agawam in 1614. 
when that famous adventurer landed there, and later 
described its attractions. As the father of Sargent's 
first wife. Quartermaster John Perkins, was from 
the vicinit>- of Bath in England, and was at Agawam 
in August. 1631. a short time after arriving in 
Am.erica. there is some probabilitj' that the Bath 
records refer to William Sargent, of Agawam, later 
called Ipswich. 

William Sargent was at Agawam in April, 1633, 
when the general court passed an act to protect him 
and other grantees of land there. He was admitted 
a freeman in 1639. He was one of the first set- 
tlers of Newbury. Massachusetts, in 1635 : of Hamp- 
ton. New Hampshire, in 1638: of South Merrimac, 
now Salisburj-, Massachusetts, in 1639. He was in 
Salisbun,- in 1650. He was next located at Salis- 
bury, New Town, now Amesbury, and Merrimac 
in 1655. where he resided until his death. He mar- 
ried Elizabeth Perkins, daughter of John Perkins, 
vho was bom in 1618 at Newent. Gloucestershire, 
England. They were married about 1633, as she 
came to America with her parents in the ship "Lion" 
in the spring of 1631 and they were both at Agawam 
T>rior to 1633. She died before September 18. 1670. 
for he married (second), on that date, Joanna 
Rowell. who survived him and married Richard 
Currier, of Amesbur>-, Massachusetts. William Sar- 
gent was one of the "Prudential Men" in Ames- 
bury in 1667. He resided in that part of the town 



known as the West Parish, and built a house near 
the church and academy. He died in March, 1675, 
and was buried in the graveyard at the ferry. His 
will was proved at Salem in 1675. It mentions his 
wife and children. The will was dated March 24, 
1671. 

The children of William and Elizabeth Sargent 
were: i. Mary, born about 1634; married Philip 
Challis, a farmer, of Amesbury, where he resided, 
held office and died 1681. 2. Elizabeth, died July 14, 
1641, at Salisbury. 3. Thomas, born April 11, 1643, 
at Salisbury. 4. William (see forward). 5. 
Lydia (?), born June 17, 1647; died 1661. 6. Eliza- 
beth, born August 22, 1648; died September 4, 
1649. 7. Sarah, born December 29. 1651 ; died young. 
8. Sarah, born February 29, 1652-3 ; married December 

22, 1681, Orlando Bagley, a farmer at Amesbury, 
who was town clerk for some years ; she died Octo- 
ber 3, 1701. 9. Elizabeth, born about 1653; mar- 
ried prior to 1670, Samuel Colby, of Amesbury. 

(II) William Sargent, son of William Sargent 
(i), born in Salisbury, Massachusetts, November 2, 
1645, or January 2, 1645-6 ; married, September 23, 
1668. Mary Colby, of Amesbury, at that town. She 
was born September 19, 1647. He died 1712 at 
Amesbury, where they resided and are buried. He 
was a farmer and held various town offices. He 
took the oath of allegiance and fidelity December 
20, 1677, at Amesbury, before Major Robert Pike. 
His estate was administered at Salem March 31, 
1712. Children, born at Amesbury, were: i. Will- 
iam (see forward). 2. Philip, born August 12, 1672. 
3. Charles, born January 31, 1674. 4. A child. 5. 
Jacob, born March 13, 1687. 

(III) William Sargent, son of William Sargent 
(2). born at Amesbury, Massachusetts, April 19, 
1669; married April 6. 1689, Mary Beedle, of Ames- 
bury. born May 31, 1666. He was a farmer and 
held town offices in Amesbury. Children, all born 
in Amesbury, were: i. Judith, born June 7, 1693. 
2. Huldah. born March i, 1695; married^ February 
10. 1724, Edmund Joy. 3. Daniel, born .^pril 17, 
1697; married June 3, 1731. Judith Martin, of .'Ames- 
bury (perhaps the Daniel who paid ta.x at Kingston, 
New Hampshire, 1756). 4. William, born August 

23. 1700. 5. Abigail, born May 23. 1701 : married 
John Griffin. 6. David, born .-April to. 1703. 7. 
Elizabeth, born Januarj- 18. 1705 : married Joseph 
Davis. 8. Mehitable. born March 18, 1709: married 
Theophilus Grenfield. 9. John, born March 28, 
1712: married Sarah Thompson. 

(IV) William Sargent, son of William Sargent 
(3), born at Amesbury, Massachusetts, .\ugust 23, 

1700; married Anna . He was a farmer. He 

resided at Amesbur>-. and his children were born 
there. There was a William Sargent at Kingston, 
New Hampshire, in 1758. There was a tract of land 
granted to William Sargent, at Mendon. Massachu- 
setts. February. 1719, as one of the proprietors, and 
in 1718 the town voted William Sargent land, if 
he did certain work there, but there is no further 
record of those lots of land or of William Sargent 
in either town. The children of William and Anna 
Sargent were: I. Richard (see forward). 2. 
Rachel, bom Januar\' 2^. 1739. 3. Anna, born Janu- 
arv- 14. 1 741. 4. Hannah, born June 19, 1749- 5- 
Patience, bom May 7, 1754. 

(V) Richard Sargent, son of William Sargent 
(4), was bom March 28, 1737. After his birth 
there is no further record of Richard Sargent at 
Amesbury. He seems to have been in Kingston, 
New Hampshire, for a short time, and perhaps on 
his father's land at Mendon. Massachusetts. He- 
probably settled at Bolton, near Lancaster. The 
Lancaster records show that he died October 14, 



ii8 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



1807, and he is buried at Bolton. His wife, accord- 
ing lu the Mendon records, was Lydia Bois or 
Boyce. The children o£ Richard Sargent were: i. 

Lydia, married (tirst) Franklin; (second) 

Gates. 2. Alary, married Wheeler. 3. 

Mehitable, married John Goldthwait. 4. Abigail, 
born November 28, 1770; married William Frye; 
had ten children. 5. Stephen, born 1774; married 
Mary Temple. 6. Ebenezcr, born December 31, 

1777; married (first) Darling; second Polly 

Ball, of Bolton; he died 1861, in Blackstone, Massa- 
chusetts. 7. Patience. 8. Richard, Jr., married Han- 
nah Harkness, of Smithfield (intentions filed at Men- 
don June 30, 1792), resided in New York and 
West. 9. Thankful. 10. Rebecca. 

(VI) Stephen Sargent, son of Richard Sargent 
(S), born in Lancaster, 1774; married, 1801, (in- 
tentions February 6) Mary Temple, of Boylston, 
born June 17, 1780, died May 4, 1858. He died 1855. 
He was a farmer and also the proprietor of a saw 
mill and grist mill where the Lancaster mills are 
now located. The old home in which he lived is 
still standing in its original state. It is the first 
house on the left across the bridge as one goes from 
Worcester to Clinton. Sargent had a flat-bottom 
boat in the Nashua river at this point, and ran a 
ferry for the accommodation of the public. When 
one wanted to cross he blew the horn, provided for 
the purpose, to call the ferryman. The fare was 
two cents a trip per passenger. 

Some of the children are recorded at Lancaster, 
differing slightly from those given in the Geneal- 
ogy, which are presumably from Bolton and family 
records. The children of Stephen and Mary (Tem- 
ple) were: l. Mary, born December 18, 1801. 2. 
Stephen, born June 24, 1803 ; died October 29, 1804. 
3. Sophia, born October 10, 1805. 4. Seth, born 
October 7, 1807; died 1815. 5. Merrick, born May 
27, 1810; died 1S83. 6. Luther, born November 5, 
1812. 7. Elisha, (see forward). 8. Willard, born 
December 25, 1816; died 1858. 9. Curtis, born Oc- 
tober 12 (?), 1819; 'died 1853. ID. Emory, born 
March 11, 1821 ; died 1846. 11. Cordelia, born Sep- 
tember 15, 1823; died 1896. 12. Lyman C, born 
September 15, 1826. 

(VH) Eliza Sargent, daughter of Stephen Sar- 
gent (6), born in Bolton, Massachusetts, December 

16, 1814; died in 1871 ; married John Windle, October 

17, 1848. He was born in 1808. (See sketch of J. 
E. Windle in this work.) 

EDWARD T. PIERCE. John Pierce (i), 
weaver, born in Norwich, England, 1588, was the 
emigrant ancestor of Edward T. Pierce, of Leo- 
minster. He came to Boston, 1637. He settled at 
Watertown where he became a freeman March 16, 
1637-8. He died there August 19, 1661, mentioning 
his wife and children in his will dated March 4, 
1657-8. His wife Elizabeth was born about 1587, 
died at Watertown, March 12, 1666, leaving a will 
which names her children. Their children were: 
John, born in England ; Barbara, born in England ; 

Judith, born in England; Elizabeth, married 

Ball, born in England ; Anthony, born in 1609 in 

England; Robert; Esther, married Morse; 

Mary, married Coldham ; Robert, probably 

settled at Woburn; and John, at Wethersfield, Con- 
necticut. 

(II) Anthony Pierce, son of John Pierce (1), 
born in England in 1609 and came to Watertown 
apparently before his parents. He was made a free- 
man of that town on September 3, 1634. He is the 
ancestor of the Pierce families of Watertown, Wal- 
tham, Weston, Lincoln and Lexington, Massachu- 
setts. The homestead was on the north side of the 



road from Watertown to Cambridge, west of the 
house of John Stowers, which was afterwards the 
parsonage, occupied by Rev. Mr. Angier. The home- 
stead passed to his sons Joseph and Benjamin who 
lived there. Anthony Pierce married (first) Sarah 

, (second) about 1638, Anne . He died 

May 9, 1678, his will being dated September 6, 
1671. His widow died January 20, 1682-3. Their 
children were : John, married Ruth Bishop, daugh- 
ter of Nathaniel Bishop; his widow married Will- 
i:iin Fuller; Mary, born October 20, 1633; Mary, 
born 1O36, married Ralph Read, who was born in 
10J2, son of William and Mabel (Reed) Read, of 
Woburn ; Jacob, born September 15, 1637, living in 
1683; Daniel, born January i, 1639-40; Martha, 
born April 24, 1641 ; Joseph, made freeman April 
18, 1690; Benjamin, born 1649, made freeman April 
18, 1690; Judith, born July 18, 1650, married, Feb- 
ruary, 1666-7, John Sawin. 

(III) Daniel Pierce, son of Anthony Pierce (2), 
was born January i, 1639-40, at Watertown, Massa- 
chusetts. He married Elizabeth in 1642 and 

settled at Groton, Massachusetts, where they had 
five children. Later he returned to Watertown and 
settled in 1681. He joined the Watertown Church, 
January 15, 1686-7 and his wife and three children 
were baptized on the same day. Their children 
were : Elizabeth, born in Groton, Massachusetts, 
May 16, 166s, married in Watertown, October 17, 
1681, Isaac Mixer, Jr.; her will is dated February 
12, 1736-7; Daniel, born at Groton, November 28, 
1666, by wife Abigail he had in Groton John, born 
February 18, 1698, and Isaac, born February 22, 
1701 ; John, born at Groton, August 18, 1668, bap- 
tized at Watertown, January 16, 1686-7 1 Ephraim, 
born at Groton, October 15, 1673; Josiah, born at 
Groton, May 2, 1675 ; Joseph, mentioned in the 
will of his sister Elizabeth; Abigail,' born at Water- 
town, January 3, 1681-2; Hannah, baptized at Wa- 
tertown, January 16, 1686-7; Benjamin, baptized at 
Watertown, January 16, 1686-7. 

(IV) Ephraim Pierce, son of Daniel Pierce (3), 
was born in Groton, October 15, 1673, died in the 
same town February 27, 1741. He married Mary 

, who died December 29, 1749. Their graves 

in the old burying ground at Groton are marked 
with stones. He was a farmer and resided at Gro- 
ton. Their children were : Mary, born August 9, 
1696, married in Groton, Massachusetts, 1719-20, 
Josiah Farnsworth, of Groton, and had ten chil- 
dren ; Elizabeth, born July 24, 1698, married in 
Groton, December 24, 1723, Thomas Farwell, of 
Groton; Ephraim, born March 12, 1700, died young; 
Sarah, born May 8, 1702, married, October 27, 1720, 
Jonathan Parker, of Groton; both died September 
21, 1723; David, born May 23, 1704, married at 
Groton, June 15, 1725, Elizabeth Bowers, had seven 
children, resided at Lunenbcrg ; Jonathan, born .-^pril 
IS, 1706, died September 23, 1723; Ephraim, born 
October 15, 1707; Abigail, burn November i, 1710; 
Lydia, born November 20, 1713, died September 24, 
1793- 

(V) Ephraim Pierce, son of Ephraim Pierce 
(4), was born in Groton, October 15, 1707. He 

married Esther , who died June 28, 1768. He 

was selectman of Lunenburg, whither he moved 
about 1720. He drew land May 11, 1720. Their 
children were: Esther, born May 29, 1722, married, 
October 17, 1739, Benjamin Gould; Jonathan, born 
November 27, 1724, married, February 4, 1745-6, 
Sarah Dodge; Ephraim, born March 13, 1726-7, mar- 
ried, January 3, r76o Sarah Norcross, had seven 
children: Amos, born July 8. 1729. died January II, 
1741-2; Sarah, born November 28, 1731, married, 
January 25, 1749, John Lovejoy; Mary, born March 



WORCESTER COUN'l V 



119 



5i 1733-4. married, November 28, 1754, Phineas 
Hartwell ; lienjumin, born June 3, 1736, died Decem- 
ber 23, 1757; Prudence, born February 6, 1736-g, 
married, September 6, 1762, Reuben Smith; Oliver, 
born July 17, 1741, married, May 19, 1708, Mary 
Smith, had seven children ; Keziah born December 
4, 1743, married, December 3, 1772, Ephraim Wether- 
bee; Elizabeth, born March 25, 1748, married, No- 
vember 18, 1766, Jacob Steward, of Fitchburg, 
Massachusetts. 

(Vl) Jonathan Pierce, son of Ephraim Pierce 
(5). was born at Lunenburg, Massachusetts, Novem- 
ber 27, 1724. He married at Lunenburg, February 
4. 1745-6, Sarah Dodge. They resided at Lunen- 
burg and raised a family of twelve on the old 
farm. The children were : Jonathan, born Octo- 
ber 27, 1747, married Sarah Chaplin, January 5, 
1769; Sarah, April 13, 1750, married, February 6, 
1770, David Beaman; Esther February 5, 1752; 
Prudence, November 14. 1753; Mary, May 21, 1756; 
Tabitha, March 28, 1758; Benjamin, March 8, 1760; 
Josiah, October 28, 1761 ; Susannah, December 30^ 
1763; Abraham, December 20, 1767, married, Jan- 
uary I, 1789, Timothy Fessendon; Nahum, May 4, 
1770. 

(.VII) Josiah Pierce, son of Jonathan Pierce 
(6), was born at Lunenburg, Massachusetts, Octo- 
ber 28, 1761. Among his children, all born at 
Lunenburg, was Albert. He attended the public 
schools of the town and took up farming for his 
occupation, and lived on the old homestead at Lunen- 
burg. He carried on the farm until age compelled 
him to retire. 

(,Vni) Albert Pierce, son of Josiah Pierce (7), 
was born at Lunenburg, Massachusetts, on the old 
homestead. Fie was educated in the Lunenburg 
public schools. He assisted on the farm when a 
young man and learned the trade of furniture mak- 
ing. He moved to Leominster where there are ex- 
tensive factories manufacturing furniture and in 
that town he followed his trade until his death. He 
held several town offices in Leominster. He was 
a Republican in politics and always interested in 
town matters. He married Ada Cowdrey, of Lunen- 
burg. Their children were : Clara, deceased ; 
Charles, deceased ; Edward T., born November 12, 
1856. ■ 

(IX) Edward T. Pierce, son of Albert Pierce 
(8), was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, No- 
vember 12, 1856. He was educated in the public 
schools of Leominster. After leaving school he 
spent two years in Boston, where he learned the 
jewelry business. He returned to Leominster and 
assisted his father until 1876, when he accepted an 
appointment at the Centennial Exposition at Phila- 
delphia. At the close of the big fair he returned 
to his native town and went into the business of 
cabinet making in Leominster. Five years later he 
retired from the manufacturing business and turned 
to agriculture. He bought a farm at North Leo- 
minster, containing sixty-three acres, and has been 
a farmer for the past twenty years. He is a member 
of the Leominster Lodge of Odd Fellows. He is a 
Republican in politics. He and his family attend 
the Unitarian church at Leominster. He married 
in 1883, Emma A. Page, daughter of John and 
Caroline Fletcher Page, of North Leominster. They 
have had two children : Albert E., born February, 
1884; Caroline A., September 25, 1890. 

THE MERRIAM FAMILY is of ancient Eng- 
lish origin. The name signifies "merry home," the 
termination being an old English word for dwelling 
or home, found in numerous names of villages, etc., 
in England. 



(I) William Mcrriam, the ancestor of Samuel 
Mcrriam, of Leominster, Massachusetts, lived at 
Hadlow, Kent county, England. He was a man of 
some prominence and wealth, having real estate at 
Hadlow, Uoodhurst, Valding, and ludeley, all vil- 
lages near Tunbridge, Kent. His will was dated 
September 8, 1O35, ^"d proved November 27, 1035. 
it mentions his cnildren, and grandchildren named 
Howe; granddaughter Mary, daughter of his son 
George ; and granddaughter Sarah. He lived and 
died m England. His children: Susan, Margaret, 

Joane, Sarah, a daughter, married Howe; 

Joseph, of whom later; George, settled in Concord, 
Massachusetts; (.See Merriam family of Fitchburg). 
Robert, settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1638. 
(.11) Joseph jMerriam, son of William Mernam 
(i), was born in Hadlow, Kent county, England, 
about 1600. He came to America and made his 
home in Concord and Lexington, Massachusetts. He 
was admitted a freeman March 14, 1638-9, shortly 
after he came. Fie was m England early in 1638 
and probably sailed in the ship "Castle' in April, 
1038, as he was one of the "undertakers" — stock- 
holders in the enterprise. He is the ancestor of all 
of the Merriam name descended from colonial stock. 

He married in England Sarah , and had three 

sons and three daughters. He died January I, 
1640-1. His will was proved October 26, 1642. His 
widow was given the whole estate for the bringing 
up of the children "until they are all of age when 
she is to have a third" of the remainder. The chil- 
dren of Joseph and Sarah Merriam were: Joseph, 

Jr., of whom later; William, married Sarah ; 

John, born July 9, 1039, married Mary Cooper; 
Sarah, married, October 14, 165S, William Hall; 

, married John Buss; Elizabeth, married 

Thomas Henchman, of Charlestown. 

(.111) Joseph Merriam, Jr., son of Joseph Mer- 
riam (2), was born in Kent county, England, 1630, 
and came with his parents to New England in 1638. 
He lived in Cambridge. He was admitted a free- 
man May 22, 1650. He died April 20, 1677, aged 
47 years, and his tombstone is the oldest in the 
Cambridge graveyard. His widow went to live 
with her daughter at Lexington, where she died 
April S, 1704, thirty years after her husband. 

He married, July 12, 1653, Sarah Stone, daugh- 
ter of Deacon Gregory Stone, of Cambridge, one of 
the first settlers, coming in 1635; deputy to the 
general court; died November 3, 1672, aged eighty- 
two years. The children of Joseph and Sarah Mer- 
riam were: Sarah, born August 2, 1654, married 
Samuel Fletcher; Lydia, born August 3, 1656. died 
1090; Joseph, born May 25, 1658, died May 31, 
1727; Elizabeth, born May 20, lb6o, married Isaac 
Wood; John, born May 30, 1662, of whom later; 
Mary, born June 4, 1064, married Isaac Stearns; 
Robert born December 17, 1667, died February 11, 
1717; Thomas, born 1672, married Mary Hay ward; 
Ruth, David, died 1744; Jonas. 

(IV) John Merriam, son of Joseph Merriam 
(3), was born at Concord, Massachusetts, May 30, 
1662, and died May 21, 1727. About the time of 
his marriage he removed from Concord to Cam- 
bridge Farms, now Lexington. He was a subscriber 
to the meeting-house there in 1692, an original mem- 
ber of the church, was its first deacon and became 
one of the most prominent men of the (Lexington) 
parish. He was an assessor under the parish organi- 
zation, and when the precinct became a separate town 
he was elected selectman and served many years. 
His homestead was in the southwest part of the 
town. . 

He married, 1688, Mary Wheeler, who died De- 
cember 26, 1747, aged seventy-five years. Their 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



children were: Mary, born February 6, 1689; Ben- 
jamin, born at Lexington, baptized January 6, 1701, 
married Mary Preston; John, Jonas, baptized Jan- 
uary 12, 1704, of whom later; Ebenezer, born at 
Lexington, March 4, 1706, married Esther Glcason, 
of Oxford; Joshua, baptized February 22, 1708, 
married, November 12, 1733, Susannah Glcason, of 
Oxford; William, born September, 1712, died June 
21, 1735; Amos, baptized July 25, 1715, married 
Hannah Danforth. 

(V) Jonas Merriam, son of John Merriam (4), 
was born in Lexington, Massachusetts, and bap- 
tized January 12, 1704. He lived in Lexington and 
his wife and he were admitted to the church July 
I, 1729. He held several town offices and was 
town treasurer in 1747. 

He married (first), October 17, 1728, Abigail 
Locke, daughter of Deacon William Locke, Jr. 
She was the granddaughter of William Locke, who 
came over at the age of six years with his rela- 
tive, Nicholas Davis, in 1634, and died June 16, 
1720. Mrs. Merriam died December, 1755. Jonas 
married (second), June 22, 1758, Sarah Winship. 
He died July 23, 1776. The children of Jonas and 
Abigail Merriam were: Jonas, Jr., born July r8, 
1729, at Lexington (now Lincoln), graduate of 
Harvard (A. ^L 1757) ; minister at Newton, Massa- 
chusttls, ordained 1758, distinguished man; died Au- 
gust 3. 1780, aged fifty; William, baptized December 
17. '732; Abraham, of whom later; Silas, born 
March 5, 1737, was a prominent physician; James, 
born April 10, 1739; Abigail, born June 11, 1741; 
Eunice, born June 29, 1742, died before 1746; Eben- 
ezer, born November 2, 1745, died December 11, 

1745- 

(VI) Abraham Merriam, son of Jonas Mer- 
riam (5), was born at Lexington, Massachusetts, 
Deccnil)er 23, 1734. He and his family lived it 
Lexington some years, then at Woburn and finally 
settled in Mason, New Hampshire, in 1780, during 
the revolution. He resided at the corner where 
the main road turns to Wilton. He died in Mason, 
November 26, 1797. He was a revolutionary soldier 
in 1776 in the Eighth Company, Colonel Thomas 
Nixon's ngiment, of Massachusetts. His son Abra- 
ham wa.s in the Continental army. 

He married, April 22, 1756, Sarah Sinionds. 
Their children were: Abiah, baptized May 29, 1757. 
Abraham, Jr., born 1758, died January 18, 1806, 
aged forty-eight years; married (first) Hannah 
. (second) Mary Lawrence; Silas, born Feb- 
ruary 2, 1762. married Mary ; Sarah, born at 

Woburn, October 10, 1766; Jonas, born at Woburn, 
July 31, 1769; Abigail, born at Woburn, May 13, 
1771 ; Ezra, born June IS, 1760, of whom later. 

(VI I) Ezra Merriam, son of Abraham Merriam 
(6), was born June 15, 1760, at Woburn, Massa- 
chusetts. He moved with his parents to Mason, 
New Hampshire, just before he came of age, or 
shortly after his parents. He died June 21, 1827. 
aged sixty-seven years. His farm at Mason was in 
the south part of the town near Pratt's pond, and 
later he succeeded to his father's homestead. The 
children of Ezra and Susanna Merriam were : 
Susanna, born at Mason, August 16, 1786, died Sep- 
tember 9, 1798; Ezra, Jr., born May 17, 1788; Jo- 
.siah, born April 19, 1790; Zadock, born April 16. 
1792; Samuel, born March 31, 1794; Sally, born 
November 5, 1796, died June 6, 1799; Nabby, born 
December ziB, 1798; Benjamin, born May 13. 1701 ; 
Susanna, born April 3, 1703; Patty, born May 5, 
170s 

(VHl) Ezra Merriam. Jr. son of Ezra Mer- 
riam (7), was born at Mason, New Hampshire, 
May 17, 1788. He was a farnuT and a soldier in 



the war of 1812. He married Sarah Scripture, of 
Mason, and their children were : Moses, Melissa, 
Elliott, Milton, Martha, Samuel, of whom later. 

(IX) Deacon Samuel Merriam, son of Ezra 
Merriam (8), was born in Mason, New Hampshire, 
July 29, i8t8, and received his early education in 
the public schools of that town. At the age of 
seventeen he was apprenticed to the firm of Scrip- 
ture & Ames, tinsmiths and dealers in stoves and 
heaters. He remained with the firm his full time 
and when he came of age began to work as a jour- 
neyman, first at Woonstock, Rhode Island, and then 
at Nashua, New Hampshire. Mr. Merriam went 
into business inf^t in West Boylston, Massachusetts, 
in the spring of 1844, but as the business failed to 
meet his expectations, he sold it in the fall of the 
same year and removed to Worcester, where he 
began business with P. D. Russell. He remained 
there until 1850, when he removed to Fisherville, 
now Penacook, a suburb of Concord, New Hamp- 
shire. There he entered into business relations with 
H. H. Amsden. In 1853 with Mr. Amsden and B. 
F. Caldwell he formed the firm of Caldwell, Ams- 
den & Company and began the manufacture of pine 
furniture at Concord. 

In the spring of 1861 Mr. Merriam removed to 
Leominster, Massachusetts, and in partnership with 
George Hall, of Nashua, New Hampshire, bought 
the water privilege at North Leominster now owned 
and occupied by the firm of Merriam, Hall & Co. 
for many years. At that time there was a dam 
on the property and the ruins of an old paper mill. 
The new concern, Merriam, Hall & Co., at once 
erected buildings and began to manufacture bed- 
room furniture. The business thus established has 
been continued to the present time under the same 
name. After the death of Mr. Merriam it was car- 
ried on by his partner and son. Mr. Merriam took 
an active and useful part in the conduct of the 
business until a few years before his death, when 
failing health compelled him to relinquish some of 
his duties and responsibilities. He died December 
30, 1880. In the business world he earned a reputa- 
tion for square dealing and ability. ■ He was one of 
the most prominent and influential business men of 
Leomnister for many years. 

He was active in public affairs. In politics he 
was a Republican and always interested in the 
party organization and prosperity. He served the 
city of Concord, New Hampshire, in the common 
council and board of aldermen. In 1863 and 1864 
he was a member of the state legislature of New 
Hampshire. In Leominster Mr. Merriam also took 
a prominent part in public affairs. He served the 
town as selectman and at the time of his death was 
chairman of the board. He was director of the 
First National Bank of Leominster. He was a 
member of the Free Mason order. He was an 
active member of the Central Baptist Church, one of 
its deacons and for many years the superintendent 
of its Sunday school. In all ways Mr. Merriam 
was helpful in the work of the church and influential 
in its councils. He was greatly interested in the 
Baptist Vineyard Association and worked wisely 
for the development of its property and the success 
of that religious movement. He was simple, sincere 
and free from bigotry. Men of all faiths united in 
their respect for his high character and practical 
Christianity. 

He married, April 15, 1844, Sybil A. Preston, 
daughter of Jeremiah and Anna (Proctor) Pres- 
ton, of New Ipswich, New Hampshire. She was 
born in New Ipswich, New Hamp.shire. in 1820. The 
children of Samuel and Sybil A. Merriam were: 
Jennie, died in infancy; Edward Preston, graduated 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



121 



at Harvard University (A. B. 1877), and died sud- 
denly at Cottage City, Massachusetts, August 15, 
1885. Mrs. Merriam resides at the homestead in 
North Leominster. She built the First Baptist 
Church of Leominster, Massachusetts, as a memo- 
riani to her husband and son. 

ALBA J. MARSHALL. John Marshall, immi- 
grant ancestor of Alba J. Marshall, of Southbor- 
ough, Massachusetts, was born in England, in 1621, 
sailing for America, September, 1635, in the ship 
"Hopewell." Christopher Marshall, of Boston, his 
brother, returned to England after staying a few 
years in New England. John was in the employ of 
Edward Hutchinson at first and was admitted an 
inhabitant of Boston, February 24, 1639-40. He be- 
came a proprietor of the town. John Marshall was 
descended from John Marshall, of Southark, Eng- 
land, whose son John founded Christ Church at 
Southark and to whom was given a coat of arms 
which his descendants bear. John Marshall, of Bos- 
ton, was a husbandman. He married, 1645, Sarah 
, who died September 28, 1689, aged sixty- 
six years. John and William Marshall, owned 
shares in Plum Island. John Marshall died at Bos- 
-ton, March 10, 1715. Children: Joseph, baptized 
August 12, 1655, with four other children of the 
same parents; Samuel, baptized August 12, 1655; 
Sarah, baptized August 12, 1655 ; Hannah, baptized 
August 12, 1655 ; John, born December 10, 1645, 
baptized August 12, 1655 ; Thomas, baptized May 
II, 1656, settled in Ipswich; Christopher, baptized 
August 21, 1659; Benjamin, born February 15, 1660- 
61, married Prudence Woodward, of Ipswich; 
Christopher, born August 18, 1664; Peter, settled 
at Ipswich. 

(II) Joseph Marshall, son of John Marshall d), 
was born in Boston, Massachusetts, about 1640, and 
was baptized August 12, 1655. He resided in Ips- 
wich, JNIassachusetts. He served in King Philip's 
war under Captain Prentice in the Mount Hope 
campaign. His name is on the tax list of Ipswich, 
1678. His children, born at Ipswich, were : Joseph, 
born May 18, 1690, settled at Marblehead ; his son 
Benjamin settled in Holliston, Massachusetts ; 
Thomas, born March 28, 1692, see forward ; Abiezar 
(Ebenezer?), born September 28, 1695. (Ebenezer, 
of Holliston, married, January 15, 1730, Elizabeth 
Jones). 

(III) Thomas Marshall, son of Joseph Marshall 
(2), was born at Ipswich, IVIassachusetts, March 28, 
1692, died at Holliston, iMassachusetts, April 3, 1766, 
aged seventy-five years. He was a blacksmith by 
trade. He settled first in Newton, Massachusetts, 
where he bought a shop and six acres of land ad- 
joining John Park's place. After a few years he 
removed to Holliston, where he was deacon of the 
church for a period of thirty-eight years, and was 
on the board of selectmen ten years. He married, 
November 2, 1715, Esther Leonard, of Watertown. 
She died December 10, 1761, aged seventy-one years. 
He married (second) Abigail Cutler, widow, in 
1762. Their gravestones are in the Holliston bury- 
ing ground. Children of Thomas and Esther Mar- 
shall were : Joseph, born January 4, 1717, married, 
^Tily Mary Leland ; settled in Milford, Massachu- 
setts ; Thomas, born October 8, 1719, at Newton, 
see forward ; Ebenezer, born September 18, 1721, 
millwright, settled in Framingham, Massachusetts. 
The foregoing were born at Newton, the following 
in Holliston: John, born 1723, married Mary Farns- 
worth ; Dinah, born 1725, died 1729; Ezra, born 
1729, died 1732; Nahum, born 1732, (Harvard Col- 
lege, 1755) married Martha Lord; James, born 
1734, married Lydia Harrington, of Framington. 



(IV) Thomas Marshall, son of Deacon Thomas 
Marshall (3), was born at Newton, Massachusetts, 
October 8, 1719, died at Temple, New Hampshire. 
He lived at Holliston, Massachusetts, during his 
active years. He and his brother John removed 
with their families to Temple, New Hampshire, and 
Thomas was a constable there in 1769. Thomas 
married, April ig, 1744, Beriah Grant; (second), 
September 12, 1754, Abigail Cobb; (third) Mary 

, at Holliston. The children of Thomas and 

Beriah Marshall, born at Holliston, were : Keziah, 
born March 2, 1744-45 ; Thomas, born January 24, 
1746, was lieutenant in Temple company, in revolu- 
tion ; Aaron, born November 8, 1747, resided in 
Temple ; David, born December 13, 1750, see for- 
ward : Jonathan, born October 26, 1752, resided in 
Temple. Child of Thomas and Mary Marshall : 
Jonathan, born January 24, 1757. 

(V) David Marshall, son of Thomas Marshall 
(4), was born at Holliston, Massachusetts, De- 
cember 13, 1750, and removed with his parents to 
Temple, New Hampshire. He resided in Dublin, 
New Hampshire, where several of the family set- 
tled. He was a soldier in the revolution and fought 
in the battle of Bunker Hill. He served in Captain 
Ezra Towne's company, Colonel James Reed's regi- 
ment, in 1775; in Captain Samuel McConnell's com- 
pany. Colonel David Gilman's regiment, in 1776-77. 
These were New Hampshire regiments. Pie removed 
to Maine about 1777, during the revolution. He 
settled first for a short time at Fryeburg, then at 
Sudbury, Canada, now the town of Bethel, Maine, 
and was the fifth settler in that town. He was 
driven away by the Indians August 3, 1781, and his 
home destroyed. His wife had been warned of the 
approach of the Indians and he saw them coming, 
gathered together what provisions he had (a piece 
of meat and a little sugar), put them in a bag, took 
his gun, and with his wife and two children, one 
two years old, the other an infant, took to the 
woods. They started for Jackson's Camp, now the 
town of Paris, Maine. He did not dare to fire his 
gun to kill game for fear of the Indians, but killed 
some small game. They nearly starved before they 
reached safety in the camp. His wife was the first 
white woman to take lodgings in what is now Paris, 
Maine. They went from Jackson's Camp to New 
Gloucester by the aid of blazed trees, and stayed 
until the danger from Indians was past. They 
then settled in the town of Minot, Maine, where 
their son Moses was born. Finding that the title 
to his farm in Minot was not clear, he moved into 
the adjoining town of Hebron, formerly Sheperds- 
field, cleared his farm, built a saw mill and a grist 
mill and spent the remainder of his days there. He 
died at Hebron, November 20, 1828. He married 
(first), September 15, 1772. He married (second) 
Lucy Mason, daughter of Moses Mason, who died in 
Hebron, August 25, 1824. The only child of the 
first marriage was : Thomas, born May 12, 1773, 
at Temple, New Hampshire. The children of David 
and Lucy Marshall : David, Jr., born at Bethel, Feb- 
ruary I, 1779, married Sarah Goss ; Asahel, born 
March 9, 1781 : Lucy, born at Hebron, May 8, 1783, 
died unmarried; Walter, born at Hebron, August 
17. 1785, was a minister, married Thirza Gurney ; 
John, born at Hebron, November 15, 1787, married 
Sally Gurney; Moses, born July 25, 1789, see for- 
ward: .\aron, born January 19, 1792, married Elipha 
Dunham; (second) Bethia Bumpus ; Nathan, born 
January 16, 1795; Miriam, born April, 1798, married 
Joseph Irish. 

(VI) Moses Marshall, son of David Marshall 
(5), was born at Minot, Maine, July 25, 1789. He 
succeeded to his father's farm and mills and added 



122 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



to these a shingle mill and a carding mill. He 
trained with the militia in his youth and was called 
out during the war of 1812 to serve in the defense 
of Portland, in 1814. He was a member of the 
Hebron Baptist church. He died in Ikbron. He 
married Ruth VVhittemore, who was born and died 
in Hebron. She was also a member of the Baptist 
church there. Their children : Isaac VVhittemore, 
born January, 1816, died November 21, 1903; Mi- 
randa, born January 18, 1818; Deborah; ]\loses Ma- 
son, born December 15, 1S22; Thomas; Joseph 
Irish, born March 26, 1826; Elizabeth, who died in 
infancy; Elizabeth; Albert Quincy; Frank Adelbert. 

(VII) Joseph Irish Marshall, son of Moses Mar- 
shall (6), was born in Hebron, Maine, March 26, 
1826. He had a common school education. He fol- 
lowed farming for an occupation. In politics he 
was a Republican and was highly esteemed by his 
townsmen. He removed to Southborough, Massa- 
chusetts, April I, 1868, died there January 26, 1902. 
He married, March 8, 1851, Vilona Jones, daughter 
of Tilden and Abigail Jones, of Turner, Maine. She 
was born in Turner, October 19, 1832. She was. 
the granddaughter of Benjamin and Tabitha (Leav- 
itt) Jones, of Taunton, Massachusetts, early settlers 
at 'I'urner. Children of Joseph Irish and Vilona 
Marshall were : Alba Jones, see forward ; Fred 
Alton, born August 5, 1858, died December 7, 1858; 
Nellie Gertrude, born October 27, 1861, died April 
30, 1862. 

(VIII) Alba Jones Marshall, son of Joseph 
Irish Marshall (7), was born in Hebron, Maine, 
December 12, 1852. He was educated in the public 
schools of Hebron, Maine, and of Southborough, 
Massachusetts, and at Hebron Academy. He came 
to Southborough with his father in 1868 and worked 
with him on the farm, gradually assuming the care 
and responsibility, and at his father's death became 
the owner of the farm. He is a successful farmer. 
In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Marshall has 
the family characteristic qualities of integrity, thrift 
and industry. 

He married in Southborough, Massachusetts, De- 
cember 17, 1889, Sarah Ann Williams, who was edu- 
cated in the public schools of Southborough and 
Framingham Normal school, daughter of Caleb 
Strong and Sarah Foster (Walkup) Williams. Her 
father was a miller and farmer by occupation, held 
several town offices and was charter member of St. 
Bernard Lodge of Free Masons, of which he was 
treasurer several years. Mrs. Marshall's great- 
grandfather, James Williams, was a soldier in the 
revolution, a descendant of the first Robert Will- 
iams, who settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, 1637. 

SAMUEL MAWHINNEY. Among the pro- 
gressive citizens of Worcester whose sphere of use- 
fulness has been wide and varied may be mentioned 
the name of Samuel Mawhinney, a retired last 
manufacturer of Worcester. He was born in Dum- 
bartinshirt, Scotland, January 21, 1829, the son of 
Samuel and Ann (Cooper) Mawhinney, natives of 
north of Ireland. 

Samuel Mawhinney accompanied his father to 
Fall River, Massachusetts, 1845, and for a number 
of months was omiibned in the mills of that city. 
In 1848 they took up their residence in the city of 
Boston, and in 1856, eight years later, located in 
Worcester and engaged in the manufacture of shoe 
lasts in the Merrifield building. This enterprise 
was prosperous from the beginning, steadily in- 
creased in volume and importance from year to year, 
and twelve years after its establishment he erected 
a factory on Church street, Worcester. The busi- 
ness was conducted by Mr. Mawhinney under his 



own name up to 1873, in which year he incorpor- 
ated the same under the name of Samuel Mawhin- 
ney & Company. In 1876 the business was moved 
nearer the centre of the shoe trade, in Brockton, 
Massachusetts, where a large factory was erected, 
this being equipped with everything needful for the 
successful conduct of their extensive business. In 
1903 Mr. Mawhinney withdrew from the company, 
of which he was the active head, but still retains 
his financial interest in it. Mr. Mawhinney was a 
member of the city council one term, in 1880, and 
rendered efficient and capable service therein. He 
is a Republican in politics, and affiliates with the 
Order of Free and Accepted Masons and the Royal 
Arcanum. 

Mr. Mawhinney married, October 22, 1854, in 
East Boston, Massachusetts, Martha Duckworth, of 
Fall River, Massachusetts, and their children were: 
Edwin C, born January 17, 1856, graduated from 
the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, class of 1875, 
was engaged in the tannery business in Woburn, 
Massachusetts, and died April 28, 1882. Anna G., 
born March 8, 1864, married Henry Broadhurst, 
lived at Springfield, Massachusetts, and later in 
Denver, Colorado, whore her death occurred Sep- 
tember 17, 1901 : she left one son, Ralph Broad- ■ 
hurst, who is a student in the high school of Den- 
ver, Colorado. Frank, born August 17, 1868. died 
April I, 1882. Mr. Mawhinney resides at 15 Ham- 
mond street, Worcester. 

BRIGHAM FAMILY. Thomas Brigham, the 
immigrant ancestor of the Brigham family of West- 
borough, Massachusetts, to which Miss Lucy Har- 
rington Brigham belongs, was born in England in 
1603. The name is derived from Brigg (bridge) 
and Ham (house or home), and Morse is authority 
for the statement that Thomas Brigham is a de- 
scendant of the family that took its name from the 
ancient Manor of Brigham in Cumberland county, 
adjoining Scotland, the family to which the Lords 
of ."Mlerdale belong. 

Thomas Brigham was the only early immigrant 
of the family except perhaps Sebastian Brigham, 
who was of Cambridge in l6.-?8 and earlier and re- 
moved to Rowley. The immigrant, Henry Bridg- 
ham or Bridham, is of an entirely distinct family. 
In fact all the .'\merican Brighams are descended 
from Thomas Brigham, mentioned above. 

Thomas Brigham sailed from I^ndon in the 
ship "Susan and Ellen," Edward Payne, master, 
April 18, l6,is, landed at Boston, and settled direct- 
ly afterward at Cambridge. In 1637 he was pro- 
prietor of a fourteen acre lot which he bought of 
Johti Doggett. bounded by land of Sir Richard Sal- 
tonstall, the (Tharles river, land of Joseph Ts.iac and 
Symon Crosby, and the highway to Windmill hill. 
Mnr.-e thinks that he owned a windmill for grind- 
ing corn located on this hill. The farm was two 
thirds of a mile from Harvard square. A wharf 
was built on his land for the use of the people of 
Cambridge. . He was admitted a freeman April t8, 
16.17, and was one of the board of townsmen that 
year. He was townsman or selectman 1642 to 1647, 
inclusive, also constable of Cambridge in 76.^9-42. 
He was wealthy for his day and acquired large tracts 
of land. He died at Cambridge, December 8, 1653. 
His will was dated December 7, 1653-54, and was 
proved October 3, T6.54. The document was written 
by his neighbor, Thomas Danforth. afterward depu- 
ty governor. 

He married. 16,37, Mercy Hurd, born in Eng- 
land. After hi'; death she married (second), in 
1655, Edmund Rice, of Sudbury and Marlborough, 
and she married (third), in 1664, William Hunt, of 







<i ^^mvuU^^y/l^ 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



123 



Marlborough, who died in 1667. She died Decem- 
ber 23, 1693. Children of Thomas and Mercy Brig- 
ham were : Mary, born in Watertovvn ; Thomas, 
born 1641, see forward; John, born March 9, 1645, 
married three times ; Hannah, born March 9, 1650, 
married Samuel Wells, of Hassenburg, Connecti- 
cut ; Samuel, born January 12. 1652, married Eliza- 
beth Howe. 

(H) Thomas Brigham, son of Thomas Brigham 
(l), was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sep- 
tember 19, 1646. He removed to Marlborough with 
his mother, who married Edmund Rice, of Sud- 
bury, when Thomas was a boy of eleven years. On 
coming of age Thomas bought of his step-father 
for thirty pounds a town right in Marlborough and 
twenty-four acres of land with a frame house. He 
had it paid for and received the deed August 28, 
1665. His farm was in the southwest part of the 
town ; part of his homestead is known as the War- 
ren Brigham farm of Marlborough. It is on the 
south road from Marlborough to Northborough. 
He had many grants of land from time to time. 
In 1686 he was one of a company to buy 6,000 acres 
in Marlborough' of the Indians. His sons_ also 
drew land at what is now Westborough and Soulh- 
borough. Thomas had sixty-three acres at one 
division, thirty-nine acres of which were on the side 
of Crane hill on a path from his house to Crane 
Ordinary. His house built shortly after the war 
of 1676 is still standing, or was lately, and the chair 
in which Thomas used to sit and in which he died 
was owned lately by Mrs. Lewis Ames, a descen- 
dant. His will was made April 17, 1716, and proved 
January 2, 1717. He left his real estate on the west 
side of the Sudbury branch of the Assabet river 
to his .sons David and Gershom ; to Nathan and 
Jonathan he left the part of the Eaton farm on the 
east side of the river. Elnathan had part of the 
homestead and other lands. 

Thomas Brigham married Mary Rice, who was 
born September 19, 1646, daughter of Henry and 
Elizabeth (Moore) Rice, and granddaughter of his 
stepfather, Edmund Rice. He married (second), 
July 30. 1696. Susanna (Shattuck) Morse, of Water- 
town. He died November 25, 1717, aged seventy- 
six years. Children of Thomas and Mary Brigham 
were: Thomas, born February 24, 1666; Nathan, 
born June, 1671 ; David, born August 11, 1673, died 
young; Jonathan, born February 22, 1674, married 
Mary Fay; David, born April 12, 1678, see for- 
ward; Gershom. born February 23, 1680, died Janu- 
ary 3. 1749: Elnathan, born March 7, 1683, mar- 
ried Bethia Ward and settled in Connecticut; Mary, 
born October 26, 1687, married Jonas Houghton, 
of Lancaster. 

(Ill) David Brigham, son of Thomas Brigharn 
(2), was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts, April 
12, 1678. He was highway surveyor in the town of 
Marlborough in 1711, but on the division of the 
town in 1717 was thrown into the new town of West- 
borough. He held various offices in Westborough, 
sealer of leather seven years and selectman for six 
years. He was one of the leading men of the town 
and was one of the few allowed to build their own 
pews in the meeting house. He settled a wild tract 
of six hundred acres in Westborough, a tract that 
includes the present state farm and several adjacent 
farms in Westborough and Northborough. He built 
his house about sixty rods east of the Reform 
School. This house vi'as burned when he was an 
old man and the family lost much of the furniture 
and contents also. His will dated June 14, 1748, 
ratified deeds of farms he had given to his children: 
John. Silas. Levi, Jonas, Asa and Deborah. Jonas 
had a fourteen acre town right, a part of that pur- 



chased of Edmund Rice by his father. Jonas was 
the executor. The receipts on file show that he set- 
tled with the other heirs three days after their 
father's death, although the will was not proved 
till August 22, 1748. 

He married (first) Deborah , who died 

October 11, 1708, and (second) Mary Newton, Oc- 
tober 21, 1709. She died December i, 1741. His 
third wife survived him. Children of David and 
Deborah Brigham were : John, born April 22, 1704, 
died at Shrewsbury. 1767; David, born September 

30, 1708. died November 29, 1741. Children of David 
and Mary were: Silas, born August 9, 1710, died 
March 11, 1791 ; Jemima, born August 24, 1712, 
married Edward Newton ; Deborah, born September 
27, 1714, married, November 14. 1752, Francis Har- 
rington ; Colonel Levi, born August 21, 1716, mar- 
ried Susannah Grout; Jonas, born February 25, 
1718. see forward; Asa, born December 2, 1721, 
married Mary Newton. 

(IV) Captain Jonas Brigham. son of David 
Brigham (3), w-as born in Westborough, formerly 
Marlborough^ Massachusetts, February 25, 1718. He 
settled on land about sixty rods from the present 
location of the State Reform School to the east- 
ward. He became one of the most distinguished 
citizens of his day. No man stood higher in the 
public confidence and esteem. He was a member 
of the Westborough school committee, highway sur- 
vevor and constable, and between 1769 and 1777 
was selectman seven years. He was frequently 
elected moderator, an honor that went usually to 
the first citizen of the early Massachusetts towns. 
He served on the vigilance committee and delegate 
to the county congress before the revolution, and 
in every way proved himself an efficient citizen and 
enlightened patriot. He was captain in the militia 
and served in command of his company seven 
months at Dorchester and three months at New 
York early in the revolutionary war, and on the 
alarm list later. He died September 25, 1789, at 
Westborough. He married Persis Baker, born in 
\\'estborough, November 8. 1726, daughter of Ed- 
ward Baker. (See sketch of Baker family of West- 
borough.) 

Children of Captain Jonas and Persis Brig- 
ham were : Martha, born at Westborough, Novem- 
ber I, 1746: Jonas, born October 29, 1748, died 1826; 
married Ann Draper; Antipas, born July 23, 1750, 
died November 12. 1756; Eli, born March 17, 1752, 
coUc.ge graduate, drowned, unmarried ; Edward, 
born May 21, 1754; Barnabas, born March 29, 1756; 
Antipas, born .March 15, 1758, married Hepsibah 
Brigham ; Daniel, born June 12, 1760, died June I, 
1837 ; married Anna Monroe ; David, born March 

31. 1762, see forward; Persis. born April 23, 1764, 
died February 3. 1775 ; Joseph, born April 20, 1766, 
married Lucy Warren ; William, born May 12, 1768, 
died young. 

(V) David Brigham, son of Captain Jonas Brig- 
ham (4), was born at Westborough, Massachusetts, 
March 31, 1762. He settled on a farm in West- 
borough. part of the original homestead of his 
grandfather David near the State Reform School. 
On his farm the Brigham family reunions were 
held on many occasions, and his farm was looked 
upon as the oldest Brigham place still in the hands 
nf the family. He married. February 22, 1787, Lucy 
Harrington, born at Westborough. September 17, 
1765, daughter of Joseph and Ruth Harrington, and 
granddaughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Harring- 
ton (See sketch of Harrington Family of West- 
borough). The Rev. Abner Morse extols the vir- 
tues of Mrs. Brigham, declaring her a very superior 
woman. Children of David and Lucy Brigham 



124 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



were: Otis, bom April i6, 1788, see forward; 
Elmer, born February 25, 1790, died 1796; Ara- 
thusa, born October 2, 1792, married Rev. John M. 
Putnam ; David, born September 2, 1794, married 
Elizabeth H. Durfee; Hannah Merriam, born Oc- 
tober 2, 1796, married Silas Paine, of Randolph; 
Elmer, born September 8, 1798 (Hon.), married 
Betsey Parker, resided in Westborough ; HoUoway 
Fisk, born September 2, 7802 (captain'), married 
Frances Reed and lived in Northborough ; Lucy 
Harrington, born February 17. 1805, married Dr. 
Benjamin Pond and lived in Westborough ; Martha, 
born January 16, 1808, married Harrison O. Fay. 

(VI) Otis Brigham, son of David Brigham (5), 
was born at Westborough, April 16, 1788. He was 
educated in the public schools and brought up a 
farmer on the old homestead. Notwithstanding his 
rather meagre schooling he was well-read and self- 
educated. Rev. Abner Morse states that Otis felt 
strongly a call to study for the ministry. "Engaged 
already in the prosperous pursuit of agriculture he 
judged it his duty therein to abide, thinking that 
perhaps the words 'do good' had not always been 
synonymous with 'preach the gospel' and that he 
might do something to restore their former mean- 
ing. * * * por (g human appearance not 
every able and devoted minister has in a long life 
rendered Zion more service." In 1817 a Sunday 
school was established in Westborough, and Otis 
Brigham became superintendent and teacher and 
continued as such forty years. No man in the 
town had more influence for good than he. He was 
constantly serving the town and church. He w-as 
on the committee to select the site for the ceme- 
tery, on the committee to locate and build the Or- 
thodo.x church. ."Xgain we quote from Morse : "In 
the selection of candidates and the settlement of pas- 
tors ; in the maintenance of the purity of the doc- 
trine and the efficiency of its discipline; in the 
promotion of spirituality and revivals and in (he 
patronage of public Christian charities, he was un- 
formly conspicuous, prudent, prompt, faithful and 
liberal. If he has been charged with radicalism, it 
has been the radicalism necessary to progress and 
consistent with the old land marks. His example 
in this respect is his highest and most enduring 
praise. In his view the old paths in which walked 
Thomas Brigham have been trod safely too long 
by the saints to be left for new divergent ways be- 
cause smoother and less repugnant to carnal affec- 
tions." He was a member of the Orthodox (Con- 
gregational) church. He gathered the genealog>- 
of the family, but, owing to lask of support when 
he attempted to publish it. gave away the manu- 
script in widely scattered families and kept only a 
chart, which, however, was of material value to 
Rev. Mr. Mor~p when he went over the same 
ground later. He used to entertain the family re- 
union at the old place annually. He was as dis- 
tinguished in civil affairs as in religious work. He 
was selectman for fourteen years and overseer of 
the poor for the same period. He was representa- 
tive to the general court in i8.'?9-40. He was for 
a period of twenty years moderator of the annual 
town meeting, good evidence that in the minds of 
his townsmen he was the foremost citizen of the 
town. After the formation of the Republican party 
he voted with it. He died .\pril, 1872. 

Otis Brigham married Cfirst) A^igsil Bates, 
born January 22. 1792, died May 2. 1831. He mar- 
ried (second) her sister, Adeline Bates, born May 
10, i8ot, died October 2. 1866. His wives were 
natives of Cohasset, daughters of Zealous and Abi- 
gail CNichols) Bates, and lineal descendants of 
Clement Bates (I), who came from England in 



163s and settled at Hingham, Massachusetts. From 
Clement the line of descent is through Joseph (II), 
Joshua (III), Joshua (IV). Joshua (V), to Zeal- 
ous (VI). (The first three generations will be 
found in full elsewhere in this work). 

Joshua Bates (IV) was born in Hingham, June 
15. 1698, died there March 16, 1766. He married, 
December 28, 1721, Abigail Joy, born in Hingham, 
December 29. 1701, daughter of Joseph and Eliza- 
beth (.'\ndrews) Joy. Children of Joshua and Abi- 
gail were: .•\bigail, Joshua, see forward; Eliza- 
beth, Elisha, Nathaniel, Abigail 2d, and Sarah. 

Jo.<hua Bates (V) was born in Hingham. De- 
cember I, 1724, died June 8, 1816, in his ninety- 
second years. He married (first) Grace Lincoln, 
daughter of Elisha and Sarah (Lewis) Lincoln, 
and (second), October 13, 1782, Mrs. Hannah Pyn- 
chon. Children of Joshua and Grace were : Levi, 
Ambrose, Sarah, Grace, Zealous, see forward ; Zib- 
rah. .Ambrose 2d. Abigail, Theophilus and Phineas. 
Children of Joshua and Hannah : Abner, Enos, 
Grace and Joshua. 

Zealous Bates (VI). son of Joshua and Grace 
(Lincoln) Bates, was born in Hingham, March i, 
1754. He resided in the part of Hingham set off 
as the town of Cohasset in 1770. He married. .Au- 
gust 20, 1775, -Abigail Nichols, mentioned above, 
bom in Hin.gham, January 22, 1757, daughter of 
Daniel and Abigail (Beal) Nichols. She was de- 
scended from the immigrant Thomas Nichols, of 
Hingham. 

Children of Otis and Abigail (Bates) Brigham 
were: Henrietta Amarinthia. born .April 5, 1820, 
at Westborough, married Samuel M. Griggs ; George 
Otis, born November 9, 1821 ; Sereno LeRoy, born 
April 9, 1824; Ivers Jcwett. born October 31, 1826, 
died August 11, 1847; Joshua Bates, born September 
28, 1828, resided at Boston. Children of Otis and 
-Adeline were: Abigail Adeline, born March 21, 
1833, was a teacher in the public schools ; Lucy 
Harrington, born June i, 1834, the only survivor 
of the family, was for many years a teacher in the 
Westborough public schools ; .Ann Frances, born 
December 13. 183;, died February 9, 1843 ; Mary 
Jane, born November 21, 1837, died February 9, 
1843. within an hour of the death of her sister of 
scarlet fever, and both were placed in the same 
coffin : Daniel Edward, born December 22, 1840, 
died December 30, 1840. 

CHARLES F. MERRIAM. Joseph Merriam 
Ci) was the emigrant ancestor of the late Charles 
F. Merriam, of Westminster and Leominster. Jo- 
•^eph Merriam with his brothers Robert and George 
came from Hadlow, Kent county, England, where 
their father William resided. They settled in Con- 
cord. Massachusetts, in 1638. Joseph arrived at 
Charlcstown in July, 1638. and was listed for the 
voyage as an "undertaker." 

George Merriam had one son and his line of 
male descent became extinct with the death of his 
great-grandson, Robert, who was town clerk and 
representative, left no issue. So the Merriams of 
this generation belonging to this family are descended 
from Joseph. He was made a freeman at Concord, 
March 14. 1639, died January I, 1641. His widow 
married (second) Joseph Wheeler, of Concord, 
died March 12, 1671. 

The children of Joseph and Sarah Merriam 
were: William, Sarah, married Thomas Wheeler, 
of Concord, died before 1681 ; he died June 12, 
if>02; Joseph, born 1629: Elizabeth, married Thomas 
Henchman, of Chelmsford and Charlestown. died 
1705: he died 1703; John, born at Concord, July 9, 
1641 (posthumous). 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



125 



(II) Joseph Merriam. son of Joseph Merriam 
(i), was born in England, 1629, lived at Concord 
and Cambridge, Massachusetts (probably over the 
Cambridge line in Lexington). He took the free- 
man's oath May 22, 1650. He married at Concord, 
July 12, 1653, Sarah Stone, daughter of Gregory 
Stone, of Cambridge. Joseph died at Concord, April 
20, 1677; his wife died at Lexington, April 5, 1704. 
Their children were : Sarah, born at Concord, Au- 
gust 7. 1654, married, June 14, 1688, Eleazer Ball, 
of Concord, who died November 15, 1698; she mar- 
ried (second), June 7, 1699, Samuel Fletcher, of 
Chelmsford; she died April 29, 1703: Lydia, born 
August 3. 1656, died December 16, 1690: Joseph, 
born at Cambridge, May 25, 1658: Elizabeth, born 
May 20, 1660, married Isaac Wood ; John, born at 
Cambridge, August 30, 1662 ; Mary, born June 14, 
1664, married Isaac Stearns ; Robert, born Decem- 
ber 17, 1667; Ruth, married, December 3, 1690, 
Nathaniel Stovv, of Concord, died July 14, 1718; 
Thomas, born 1672 ; David, died 1744, at Townsend, 
Massachusetts. 

(III) Thomas Merriam, son of Joseph Merriam 
(2), was born at Concord, Massachusetts, 1672, 
He married, December 23, 1696, Mary Haywood, 
of Concord. She was dismissed from the Concord 
church to Lexington in 1698. He was constable 
of Lexington in 1716, selectman in 1718-22-25. He 
died August 16, 1738: she died September 29, 1756, 
aged eighty-one years. Their children were : 
Thomas, baptized April 21. 1700: Lydia, baptized 
August I, 1703. married Nathaniel Estabrook and 
resided at Reading: Nathaniel, baptized December 
9, 1705, married Esther Muzzy, daughter of Ben- 
jamin Muzzy: Simon, baptized November 28, 1708, 
died February 8, 1747: David, baptized September 
2, 1711. died December 15, 1743". in Townsend; 
Isaac, baptized July 11, 1714, married and had a 
child; died September, 1741. 

(IV) Thomas Merriam, son of Thomas Mer- 
riam (3), was born at Lexington, Massachusetts, 
baptized April 21, 1700. He married Tabitha Stone. 
He was admitted to the church August 2. 1721. She 
died June 22, 1760: he died June 4. 1752. Their 
children were: Samuel, born December 21, 1723, 
married, June 4, 1752, Anna Whitney : Nathan, April 
7, 1725, married Mary Hosmer, March 26,' 1755: 
Mary, June 15, 1727, married David Whitney, of 
Waltham, Massachusetts ; Hannah. August 7, 1729, 
died February 14, 1730: Thomas. August 24, 1731, 
married Sarah VVilder; Tabitha, May 10, 1733, mar- 
ried Nathan Whitney, of Waltham, moved to West- 
minster, had family ; Lydia, October 28. 1734, mar- 
ried, March 27, 1755, josiah Cutting, of Westmin- 
ster, Massachusetts ; Hepzibah, February 24, 1737, 
died August 10, 1740; Elizabeth, July 27. 1738, mar- 
ried,^ November 5, 1755, Moses Sawtell, of Con- 
necticut: Eunice, June 30, 1740. died April 7, 1741. 
The foregoing children were born at Lexington, 
Massachusetts. Five of them located in Westmin- 
ster, Ma.«achusetts, and a sixth at Hubbardston, 
and adjoining town. 

(V) Thomas Merriam, son of Thomas Merriam 
(4), was born in Lexington, Massachusetts, August 
27, 1731. He removed to Westminster and in 1751 
was in charge of and at work on lots 83 and 84, 
now the homesteads of Olive M. Merriam and Otis 
Flagg. of Westminster, then owned by Thomas 
Merriam (IV). his father. The southwest portion 
of these lots was sold to his brother-in-law, Nathan 
Whitney, who had also lot 90. where the present 
sumrner home of Edward A. and George C. Whit- 
ney is located. He was a cordwainer (shoemaker) 
as well as farmer, probably the first shoemaker of 



Westmmster. He married Sarah Wilder, daughter 
of Joshua and Sarah (Keyes) Wilder, at Lancaster, 
Massachusetts, November 24, 1762. She was born 
at Princeton, said to be the first female child born 
m the town. She died August 13, 1819, aged eighty 
years; he died December 20, 1821. Their children 
were: Sarah, born October 2, 1763, married Isaac 
Puffer, resided at Leyden, New York, had children; 
Jonas, November 21, 1765, married Anna Clark and 
(second) Nabby Allen, resided in Westminster; 
Tabitha, November 20, 1767, died September 19, 
1769: Tabitha, February 22, 1770, died young; Asa, 
May 8, 1772. 

(VI) Asa Merriam, son of Thomas Merriam 
(5), was born at Westminster, Massachusetts, May 
8, 1772. He married Lucinda Puffer, daughter of 
Josiah and Mary Puffer, of Westminster, May 18, 
1797, and settled on lot 83, town of Westminster, 
now known as the Temple place, opposite W. J. 
Black's house. He died February 8, 1836; she died 
September 11, 1851. Their children were: Sally, 
born March 18, 1798, married George Adams, re- 
sided at Westminster ; died October 12, 1883 ; Asa, 
July 7, 1799. married Sally Warren, resided at 
Westminster and Hubbardston, had ten children, 
died 1886; Thomas, July 23, 1801, married Betsey 
Whitney, resided at Westminster; Reed, October 
I, 1803: Mary, January 13, 1807, married S. H. 
Stearns, resided at Westminster, had one child, 
died August 19, 1851 ; Lucena, March 13, 1809, 
married B. F. Murdock, resided at Westminster, 
had one child, died January 2, 1840; Farwell, March 
8, 181 1, died unmarried January 20. 1836; Betsey, 
.April 24, 1814, married J. Nelson Minott, resided 
at Westminster, had one child, died February 8. 
1887. 

(VII) Reed Merriam, son of Asa Merriam (6), 
was born at Westminster, October i, 1803. He 
succeeded to his father's homestead and biiilt for 
his own use the house now occupied by Mr. Black. 
He married (first) Susan Raymond, daughter of 
Joseph, March i, 1832: (second) Rebecca Maria 
Minott, daughter of Joseph and Sally (Graves) 
Minott, November 4, 1834. He was a nervous ex- 
citable man. and his health gave way entirely some 
time before his death, March 13, 1880. His- wife 
Susan died October 24, 1833, aged 34 years ; Re- 
becca died June 21. i860, aged fifty-one years. Their 
children were : (jeorge Porter, born March 20, 
1833, died August 27, 1845; a child died March 25, 
1837: Charles Farwell, born February 14. 1840. 

(VIII) Charles Farwell Merriam. son of Reed 
Merriam (7), was born at Westminster, Massachu- 
setts, February 14, 1840. He was raised on the old 
farm, attending the Westminster schools. He com- 
pleted his education at Kimball Union Academy in 
New Hampshire, where he studied surveying. He 
practiced his profession for a time but preferred 
farming. He was interested in town affairs and 
served on the school committee. He was a staunch 
Republican. He attended the Congregational church 
and was a teacher in the Sunday school. He was 
a kindly Christian gentleman, well beloved by those 
who knew him. He married (first) Carrie A. 
Boutelle, of Leominster, Massachusetts. November 
22. 1S62. She died Julv 10, 1863. He married 
(second) Myra L. Wood, daughter of Timothy 
Dwight and Emeline (Clark) Wood. October 27, 
1868. Mr. Merriain removed to Leominster, Massa- 
chusetts, where he died of consumption. August 10, 
187-!. at the age of thirty-three. He had no chil- 
dren. Mrs. Myra L. Merriam, his widow, has a 
pretty home at Leominster, where for many years 
she has been engaged in teaching school. 



126 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



GEORGE W. COGSWELL John Cogswell 
(I) the immigrant ancestor of George W Logs- 
well oi Shrewsbury, Massachusetts %yas born m 
Wenbury Leigh, Wiltshire, England, in 1592, .the 
son" of Edward and Alice Cogswell, of an ancient 
and honorable English lineage. He married in 
England, September 10, 1615, thzabeth Thomp on, 
daughter of Rev. William and Ph.llis Thompson 
Her father was vicar ot the parish. They resided 
at Westbury till 1635. when they settled in Ipswich 
Massachusetts Thev came on the lU-fated ship 
•■ingel Gabrid," whiVh was wrecked off the Maine 
coast August IS, i635. the passengers of which were 
washed ashore at Pemaquid, Maine. Mr. Cogswell 
was the third settler in that part of Ipswich now 
the town of Essex. He was admitted a freeman 
March 3, 1636. He was a farmer in America but 
a woolen manufacturer in the old country, and the 
English Cogswells at Westbury still own and oper- 
ate woolen mills there, or did so um.l _ recently. 
His descendants have been very prominent in -^I'^^sa- 
chusetts in every generation. Children: Daughter, 
resided in London; Mary, married, 1649, Godtrey 
Armitage: William, baptized March. 1619, see for- 
ward; John, baptized July 25- 1622; Hannah mar- 
ried i6i2. Deacon Cornelius Waldo, ancestor of the 
famous Worcester family of this name; Abigail, 
married Thomas Clark; Edward born 1629; Sarah, 
married, 1663, Simon Tuttle; Elizabeth, married, 
July 31, 1657, Nathaniel Masterson 

(II) William Cogswell, son of John Cogswell 
(i) was born in England, 1619, at Westbury Leigh, 
Wiltshire. He died December 15, i/OO. He mar- 
ried 1649, Susanna Hawkes. born 1633, m Charles- 
town. Massachusetts, daughter of Adam and Anne 
(Hutchinson) Hawkes. They settled in Chebacco 
(Essex). He was a leading citizen, often modera- 
tor and selectman. He gave the land for the first 
meeting house site. He died December IS, i/OO- 
His will is dated August 5. 1696. Children: t-hza- 
beth, born 1650: Hester, born August 24, 1675, mar- 
ried Samuel Bishop ; Susanna, born January 5 JbS7 
(twin); Ann (twin), born January 5. i6S7; Wil- 
iam, born December 4. 1659: Jonathan, born April 
26 1661; Edmund, died May 15. 1680: John, born 
M'avi2. T66S. see forward; Adam born January 
12, T667; Sarah, born February .3. 1668. 

(III) Lieutenant John Cogswell, son of William 
Cocswell (2). was born in Chebacco, May T2, 1665, 
dkd J710. He married Hannah Goodhtie, daughter 
of Deacon William Goodhue. Jr.. and wife Hannah 
(Dane) Goodhue. She was born July 4, 1673. died 
December 2:;, 1742, married second) Lieutenant 
?horras PerW, 17.3. CKMrcn of John and Hati- 
nah Cogswell: Hannah, born March 27, 1603: Will- 
iam, born September 24. 1604. see forward ; Susan- 
na born March to. 1696; John, born pecember 2^ 
,699; Francis, born March 26 '70' : Elizabeth mar- 
ried, October 20, 1717, Colonel Joseph Blaney , 
Margaret, born January 19. 1707 : Bcthia Joseph 

(IV) William Cogswell, son of John Cogswell 
(%) was born September 24. 1694. at Chebacco, 
Massachusetts, died February i^ 1762. He rnar- 
ried September 24, 1719. Mary Cogswell, daughter 
of Captain Jonathan CorswcH. She \yas born 1699 
and died June 16, 17.^4. He married (second), 
March ,3. 17.^5. Mrs. Kli.abeth (Wade) Appleton, 
daughter of Captain Thomas Wade, widow of Ben- 
iamin Appleton. She died December '3. 1783. Will- 
lam built the old Cogswell mansion which has re- 
mained to the present day in the possession of 
lineal descendants in the Cogswell , amII^^ The 
children of William and Mary Cocswell: Ebenezxr 
born June 13. T720; John, born February 2.3. 1722. 
Mary born September 15, 1723; Jonathan, born May 



g 1725, see forward; Jacob, born May 18, 1727; 
Lucy, born June 28, 1728; Sarah, born February 5. 
I7'9- William, born May, I73t- Children of Will- 
iam and Elizabeth: Hannah, baptized December 7, 
1735 died young; Hannah, baptized June 7. '737; 
Will'iam, born March s. I740, died young; Susanna, 
born April 19. I74i. died young; Samuel, born 
March 15, 1742; Susanna, born July 9, 1743; vVill- 
iam, born May 31, 1745- ,. , ,,,.„. _ 

(V) Jonathan Cogswell, son of William Cogs- 
well (4), was born, at Chebacco, May 9. 1725, died 
February 11, 1812. He married, March 16, 174°, 
Mary Appleton. born March 25, 1729, died June 
30 1813 daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth 
(Wade) Appleton. Thev resided until his death 
in the Cogswell home, built in 1732. He was dea- 
con of the church at Chebacco thirty-two years. 
Children: Nehemiah, born 1749; William, born 
■\ugust 26 1750, see forward; Jonathan, born Janu- 
ary 4 1754; Elizabeth, born June 7, 1756; Joseph, 
bo'rn December 20, 1757; Benjamin, born June 27, 
I7S9- Mary, born December 19, 1760, died August 
^' 1784; married, June 24, 1784, David Choate, 
lather of Rufus Choate by his second wife; Han- 
nah, born August 12, 1762: Benjamin, born Oc- 
tober 17 1764, died young: Benjamin, born August 
15, 1766; Nathaniel, born May 17, 1768; Sarah,. born 
January 13. 1770; Aaron, born December 28, 1771; 
child, born' October 12. 1773- ^ ^ , _ 

(VI) William Cogswell, son of Jonathan Cogs- 
wll (5), was born in Chebacco, August 26, 1750- 
He married, August 18, 1781. Jemima Haskell, ot 
(Gloucester. She was born July 7. 1755- They set- 
tled in 1790 in Lunenburg. Massachusetts where he 
died April 24, 1806; she died July 16, 1838. Their 
children : Sarah, born August 19. I7f'2, died August 
10 1817; Mary, born October 27, 1784; William, 
bo'rn September 4. '786: Francis, born February 21, 
I78S' Clarissa, born February 24, 1789; Jonathan, 
born'Mav 13. 1792: Hannah, born April '3, 1795 ; 
Scth, born February 21, 1798, see forward; Eliza- 
beth, born April 11. 1801. 

(VII) Seth Cogswell, son of William Cogswell 
(6) was born in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, Feb- 
ruary 21. 1798. died March 27, i877- He was edu- 
cated there in the public schools. He followed 
farming for his occupation, buying a place m Leo- 
minster when a young man. He also followed the 
trades of shocmaking and carpentering to some ex- 
tent He joined the Methodist Episcopal /nurch 
upon attaining his majority, and was a faithful 
member the remainder of his life He was made 
a lay preacher and was active in the duties of that 
office He was a Republican in politics after that 
party was organized. He was a highway surveyor 
in Leominster some ycrs. .^,. ^ , . 

He married, October 10. 1832, F.liza Dalomiple, 
born October 31, 1806. daughter of James and Azu- 
bah Dalrvmple, of Framingham. Massachusetts. 
Their children: Francis R.. born December i, 1833. 
conducts a sugar refinery in New Orleans Louisi- 
ana- married, September 12, 1S76. Emma Mitchoff , 
James D., born October 26. 183.S, married. Novem- 
ber iRSi Francelia Lombard, of Westminster, 
Ma'ssachusetts. and has one .son; Annie Parmcnter, 
born December t6. 1838, died March 12, 1841 : Angc- 
line E born February i. 1842. resides in Leomin- 
ster- C-.corge W., born March 29, 1844, see for- 
ward; Martha C, born March 2, 1848, resides in 

Leominster. , c ^1 r- 

(VIII) George W Cogswell, son of beth Logs- 
well (7), was born in Leominster. Massachusetts. 
March 29, 1844. He was educated m the pubbc 
schools and learned the carpenter's trade, which he 
followed for several years. In 1873 he settled in 




^/.^^^. y/^o:r.. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



127 



Shrewsbury, where he devoted himself to farm- 
ing and the wheelwright's business, purchasing the 
property and business of Mrs. Whitney, after death 
of Mr. Whitney. For more than thirty years he 
has been prominently identified with both the busi- 
ness and agricultural interests of the town. He 
is active in public affairs, having served the town 
some six years on the board of assessors. He is 
a Republican in politics. He is an active member 
of the Shrewsbury Historical Society, of which he 
was the treasurer from 1902 until the present time 
(1906). He is a member of Ridgley Lodge No. 112, 
Odd Fellows. He is prominent in the Methodist 
Episcopal church, of which he has been trustee 
since 1886, treasurer of board of trustees since 1891, 
and treasurer since 1883 of its Sunday school. 

He married (first) Elizabeth G. Henshaw, born 
December 24, 1845, daughter of Alvin and Cynthia 
(Sawyer) Henshaw, of Shrewsbury. He married 
(second), July 20, 1899, Sarah M. Wheelock, born 
March 29, 1851, daughter of Luke M. and Roxanna 
(Bartlett) Wheelock. of Shrewsbury. His only 
child was : WaUer Alvin, born September 5, 1873, 
died December 15, 1875. aged two years, three 
months, ten days. 

ADDISON MACULLAR. Horace Macullar, 
fat'her of Addison Macullar, settled in Rutland, 
Massachusetts, where his parents and other mem- 
bers of the familv had lived. He bought a farm in 
Barre, May 13, 1812, of Silas Partridge, of Tolland, 
Connecticut, and Phebe Partridge, of Barre. The 
family came to Worcester county early in the eigh- 
teenth century. Margaret McCullo married John 
Parlin, of Concord, April 2, 1745. She was living 
then with the McCullo or Macullar family at Rut- 
land. Massachusetts. Horace Macullar married 
Jane Kelley, October 14. 1814. She died May 11, 
1840. Their children, all born at Barre were : Mary 
Jane, born October 19, 1815 ; Lyman Brooks, born 
August 30, 1819. lived in Worcester, using the name 
of Lyman Brooks, dropping Macullar: Joel Addi- 
son, born December 19, 1822. generally known as 
Addison Macullar, the name he used in business ; 
Susan Kelley, born May 31, 1825; Martha A., born 
September i, 1829; Eliza R.. born March 23, 1832; 
Horace Henry, born December 7, 18,^4, died March 
14, 1836; Charlotte Auguste. born April 11, 1837. 

Addison Macullar, son of Horace Macullar, was 
born in Barre, Massachusetts, December 19. 1822. 
He was brought up in Barre and learned the 
printer's trade in the office of the old Barre Ga- 
zette. He went to Worcester and worked for a 
time for the firm of Luther & Freeland, clothiers, 
and then returned to Barre, where he and John 
Felton. v/ho had been a compositor also in the 
Gametic office, opened a retail clothing store in 
Barre. His next venture was in Worcester, where 
■with George B. Williams, formerly with Luther & 
Freeland, and Dr. Moules, brother-in-law of Mr. 
Macullar, he started the firm of Macullar, Williams 
& Co. Dr. Moules was a silent partner. At first 
Mr. Williams retained his position as clerk in a 
Boston clothing store, acting at the same time as 
buyer for the Worcester store. Charles W. Parker, 
who subsequently became a member of the firm, 
was a fellow clerk of Mr. Macullar in Worcester. 
The original firm of A. Macullar & Co. was or- 
ganized in May, 1849, and two years later the name 
became as stated above, Macullar. Williams & Co. 
and the Boston store was opened in 1852 for the 
manufacture and sale of clothing at wholesale at 
Nos. 35 and 37 Ann street, now North street. The 
Worcester business was continued, but the Boston 



house soon becime the important part of the busi- 
ness. 

In 1854 the Boston store was removed to 47 
Milk street and in 1857 the firm occupied the old 
Washington Coffee house, then 158 Washington 
street and located just south of Milk street. In 
i860 the store formerly occupied by George W. 
Warren & Co. at 192 Washington street was leased 
and the firm name became Macullar, Williams & 
Parker. Since 1864 they have been at the present 
location, 400 Washington street, Boston. The origi- 
nal building was erected for them by the trustees 
of the Sears estate. (See Sears Family in this 
work). The building was burned in the great Bos- 
ton fire, November 9, 1872. The building was re- 
built and the firm removed from their temporary 
quarters at 33 Washington street to the new build- 
ing in April, 1874. The original partners were in 
business together in perfect harmony for more than 
twenty-five years. Before the death of Mr. Macullar 
several other partners had been taken into the firm: 
Nathan D. Robinson, Ira B. Fenton, James L. Wes- 
son and Hatherly Foster. The retail department 
has been run since 1857, begun as an experiment 
w-hen they dared not extend credit and could not 
find customers able to pay cash. Aided by liberal 
advertising the experiment was a success from the 
first, and the firm won the reputation that it has 
since held as manufacturers of superior goods and 
developed an enormous retail trade. 

Mr. Macullar lived in Boston from 1855 to 1870, 
and twenty-eight years in the present home in Wor- 
cester. The Worcester business 'became his prop- 
erty and was run by his son, Frank R. Macullar, 
under the name of Macullar & Son at 372 Main 
street. Older residents of Worcester will recall 
the advertising of the Macullar firm on account of 
its rhymes in which local hits abounded. Follow- 
ing are some examples : 

Let poets sine of sylvan grots. 
And flowery groves, and rural cots. 
I'll praise the vests, and pants and coats 
Of Great Macullar. 

Yes. pants he has of every hue. 

The pure jet black and the black and blue. 

And every style that's fresh and new. 

And handsomer by far. 

Than those you buy at slop-shop stalls. 

And large supplies of overalls. 

With suits throughout for parties. Balls 

At the new Bazaar. 

Macullar, Williams & Co. stores. No. 2 Piper 
Block, 271 Main street and the old stand 172 Main 
street. January 16. 1851. 

After the death of the original partners the 
business of Macullar & Son was consolidated with 
that of Parker, established in 1847 by Samuel 
Parker. The incorporators of the new firm of 
■ Macullar, Son & Parker Co., organized in 1900 with 
a capital of $8,000 were : Herbert S. Parker. Will- 
iam J. Schmidt and the Macullar heirs. The pres- 
ent officers are Herbert S. Parker, president and 
treasurer. Mr, Schmidt was one of the employees 
in the Macullar shop. The concern is now located 
at 425 Main street. 

Addison Macullar married Martha M. Reed, a 
native of New Hampshire, daughter of Cheney 
Reed. Their children were : Charles A., born April 
29, 185s. died January 16, 1873; Frank R.. born 
.April 3, 1857. married Emma J. B. Burbank; he 
died August 13. 1900; she resides at 30 William 
street, Worcester, and has one daughter, Margaret 
B., born July 18, 1890. Mrs. Addison Macullar re- 
sides in the old home at 805 Main street. Cheney 
Reed, father of Mrs. Addison Macullar, was born in' 



128 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



1789 in Oakham, a son of Silas Reed, who married 
Elinor Hunter, of Oakham. He was born in Eng- 
land. Cheney Reed was a farmer and merchant 
and later in life a druggist. He was a soldier in the 
civil war. He married Hannah Langmade, of Chi- 
chester, New Hampshire, and was the father of 
nine children, all born in New Hampshire : Curtis, 
Sally Ellinor, died young ; Sally, EUinor, Andres, 
Elizabeth, Martha, Mary, John L. 

HENRY MARTIN HAYWARD. William 
Hay ward (i), the immigrant ancestor of Henry 
Martin Hayward, deceased, late of Winchendon, 
Massachusetts, was born in England or Ireland. 
Thomas Hayward, of Duxbury and Bridgewater, 
with whom he seems to have been connected was 
from Aylesford, England. There is a tradition in 
the family that the early ancestors came from Den- 
mark and settled in Ireland. There is another tra- 
dition also to the effect that the founders of this 
family in America were, when children, induced to 
go aboard ship just before sailing and were brought 
to this country and bound out to a farmer to pay 
their passage. In all likelihood, however, the name 
and family is English although it may have origi- 
nated in England with the conquest of the Danes. 
The name is spelled Hawared, Haywood. Heywood, 
Heyward, Haiward and in fact as many ways as 
human ingenuity can devise, and there is no more 
difficult name to trace through the maze of bad 
spelling and numerous individuals of the same name 
in the same towns. 

William Hayward was first of Charlestown, 
Massachusetts, in 1637. He was of age when the 
colony was settled and a proprietor in the year men- 
tioned. He removed to Braintree. whence perhaps 
the tradition that the first comers settled in Ded- 
ham. which is a neighboring town. One John Hay- 
ward who lived in Dedham died without having 
sons to perpetuate his name. William was deputy 
to the general court in 1641 from Braintree. He 
signed his own name William Haywood, as witness 
to a deed of William Everill in 1654. He was 
drowned May 10, 1659. when probably about forty- 
five years of age, and when most of his children 
were minors. Administration was granted June 
14, 1659, to his widow Margery for herself and 
children. She died July 18. 1676. The administra- 
tion of her estate was granted August i, 1676, to 
her son Jonathan. The names of their children 
as far as known were : Samuel, first of the name 
to locate in Mendon where his brother-in-law, Ferd- 
inando Thayer, located. (He bought a house lot 
April 6, 1672, and later acquired five hundred to 
one thousand acres. His descendants in Mendon 
and Milford, formerly part of Mendon, have been 
very numerous. Ballou believes that he came from 
Swansea as well as his brother William and Jona- 
than, whom Ballou thinks a younger brother, but 
who was son of William.) William, see forward. 
Jonathan, married. May 6. 1663. Sarah Thayer, of 
Braintree; he settled in Braintree and had a large 
family there ; he may have owned land also at Men- 
don : he may even have lived there for some time, 
but his permanent home was in Braintree. Huldah, 
married. February 14, 1652. Ferdinando Thayer, the 
progenitor of the Thayers of Mendon and all Wor- 
cester county. Perhaps other branches of the Hay- 
ward family are from this family. 

(II) William Hayward. younger son of William 
Hayward (i). was born in Braintree or vicinity 
about 1750. Her father was drowned in 1659, and 
he seems to have gone to live with relatives at 
Bridgewater and Duxbury, where several branches 
of the Hayward family were living, but the exact 



relationship seems impossible to determine. Will- 
iam first appears on the public records at Swansea, 
near Duxbury, 1672. the same year that William 

married Sarah and their children are all 

recorded at Swansea. William appears to have had 
land at Mendon as well as his brothers, and his 
sons Jonathan, Samuel and William settled there 
or in the vicinity, but he may have lived at Swan- 
sea all his life. Apparently the author of the Mil- 
ford history believes he settled about the time that 
his son Jonathan came to Mendon. He calls Jona- 
than a brother of Samuel and William. He had 
brothers of that name, but the two first settlers 
were his father William and uncle Samuel. Chil- 
dren of William and Sarah Hayward, born at 
Swansea, were: Jonathan, born April 8, 1672, see 
forward; Margery, named for her grandmother, 
Margery (Thayer) Hayward; Sarah, born March 
-. '675-76. named for her mother ; Mercy, born 
June 9, 1678; William, born January 30, 1680-81, 
named for father and grandfather ; Samuel, named 
for uncle; Huldah, born March 13, 1685. named for 
iiunt who married the Thayer progenitor of Men- 
don; Oliver, born March 17, 1687; Hannah, born 
March 11, 1689. 

(III) Jonathan Hayward, eldest son of William 
Hayward (2), was born in Swansea, Massachu- 
setts, April 8, 1672. He came to Mendon when 
under age and lived with his uncle, Samuel Hay- 
ward. He fell in love with a Mendon girl, in spite 
of her name, Trial Rockwood, daughter of the first 
John Rockwood. of Mendon. She was born in 
1676-77. From the fact that their eldest child ap- 
pears on the Swansea records it is presumed that 
Jonathan took his bride to Cape Cod for a few 
years. He returned to Mendon and before 1710 
located his home northeast of Bear hill, near Great 
meadow, and became a large landowner. He had 
several hundred acres from the Sherborn road 
south along Beaver street beyond the junction with 
Mount Pleasant street. He married (second) 

Grace , about 1705. Children of Jonathan 

and Trial Hayward were : Sarah, born December 
17, 1694, at Swansea; William, born January 30, 
1096-97, see forward; Jonathan. Jr., bovn April 8, 
1699. married January 22, 1717. Lydia Albec. set- 
tled in Mendon; David, born July 8, 1701, at Men- 
don. Children of Jonathan and Grace, all bom at 
Mendon. were: Joseph, born May 15, 1706; John, 
born February 4. 1709. married, lilarch 6, 1728-29; 
Samuel, born March 11, 1716; Trial, born April 
25, 1717, married John Hayward, April 3. 1740; 
Sarah, born April 25. 1718; Elizabeth. 

(IV) William Hayward. son of Jonathan Hay- 
ward (3). was born at Mendon. Massachusetts, 
January ^o. 1696-97. died in Westmoreland, now 
Surrey. New Hampshire, August 10, 1768. He mar- 
ried Joanna , born in ^lendon, probably 1686, 

died in Westinoreland. November 2, 1767. Their 
gravestones may be seen in the old burying ground 
in the southern part of Surrey. New Hampshire. 
Children of William and Joanna Hayward were: 
Martha. Joanna, married Benjamin Carter, the pio- 
neer of the name in Surry ; Rachel. Daniel. William, 
Peter, see forward. 

(V) Peter Hayward. son of William Hayward 
(4), was born in Mendon. Massachusetts, in 1725. 
He was the first settler in Westmoreland. New 
Hampshire, removing from Mendon about 1752, to 
the part now Surry, New Hampshire. The mother 
came on horseback, carrying three little ones, one 
in her lap and two in baskets hung on each side of 
the horse. Peter Hayward established his home in 
the wilderness and built his house which is still 
in good repair, 1881. In 1755, during the Indian 



r"^- 








WORCESTER COUNTY 



129 



outbreaks in llie French and Indian war, he was 
obliged to hurry liis family to tlie fort at Keene 
for protection against Indians. Ht went with the 
company in pursuit of a band that had killed one 
woman at the very gate of the fort. He was one 
of the incorporators of Gilsum, New Hampshire, 
March 2, 17(19. He served in the revolution with 
his son Silvanus. It is related that Peter Hay- 
ward went to the battle of Bunker Hill wearing 
a leather apron and taking his dog with him, and 
that after the ammunition failed he was a con- 
spicuous figure in charging bayonets, still accom- 
panied with the dog. He died in Surry, New Hamp- 
shire. August I, 1791. 

He married (first) Ruth Rutter, of Mendon, 
Massachusetts, who died in Surry, October 10, 1761. 
He married (second), June 2, 1762, Esther Holmes, 
• of Ashford or Mansfield. Connecticut. She died 
in Surry, May 28, 1782. He married (third), May 
6, 1783. Mrs. Hannah Fay. Children of Peter and 
Ruth Hayward were: Peter, Deborah, married 
Nathaniel Dart ; Huldah, married Jonathan Smith ; 
Rachel, married Jonathan Carpenter ; Silvanus. see 
forward; William, married Lucy Russell. Chil- 
dren of Peter and Esther Hayward were ; Ruth, 
married Benjamin Carpenter, Jr.; Molly, married 
Moses Field ; Calvin, married Lucinda Field ; Elias, 
married Lena Smith; Esther, married Solomon 
Mack. 

(VI) Silvanus Hayward. son of Peter Hay- 
ward (5), was born in Westmoreland. New Hamp- 
shire, now Surry, May 16, 1757. He bought the 
west half of the eleventh lot, sixth range, for 
thirty-eight pounds in April. 1791. It was then a 
thick dark swamp and people laughed at his folly 
in selecting such a homestead. He afterward 
bought a strip from the lot west of his, so that he 
owned all the village south of Dr. Webster's. He 
built a log house in 1791. Fourteen years later he 
built another and better one. Having a taste for 
study he managed to fit himself for college, and he 
entered Dartmouth in 1780. He was in college with 
the notorious Stephen Burroughs. In his junior 
year he found it impossible to continue for want 
of funds, his father being able to assist him but 
little. He received a certificate from President 
Wheelock written on parchment, valued under the 
circumstances as much as a diploma. He married 
soon afterward and settled in Surry, where he lived 
for eight or nine years, when he removed to a lot 
of sixty acres in the northwest part of Gilsum. He 
remained there only a year, sold out and returned 
to Surry, but returned again to Gilsum the next 
year and lived on his old place while clearing what 
is now the village. 

Having both a theoretical and practical acquaint- 
ance with the art of surveying, he was extensively 
employed in that profession. He was a noted school 
master, teaching for many winters after he came to 
Gilsum. He also taught singing school and played 
the bass viol in the church choir many years. He 
served the town frequently as moderator and was 
selectman three years. He was a ready speaker 
and often conducted religious meetings. In 1795 
he built a saw mill and in 1806 began to burn brick 
on his place. He was a soldier in the revolution 
in Colonel Ashley's regiment (seventh company), 
•marching to the relief of Ticonderoga in June, 1777. 

He married f first). April I, 1783, Olive Metcalf. 
born at Wrentham. Massachusetts, December 10, 
1756, daughter of John and Abigail (Fisher) Met- 
calf. She died July 19, 1799. He married (second), 
February 19. 1781, Lucinda Lee Champlin. born 
at Lyme, Connecticut, April 13. 1769. died Septem- 
ber 2, 1808. He married (third), August 10, 1810, 
ii— 9 



Mary Webb, of Rockingham. Vermont. He died 
October 1, J817. Children of Silvanus and Olive 
Hayward were : Claudius Drusus, born at Frank- 
lin, November 15, 1783, died at Saratoga, New 
York, March 20, 1839 ; married Sally Redding and 
had nine children. Clarissa Harlow, born at Surry, 
March 17, 1786, died at Dublin, May 2, 181 1; mar- 
ric'd, April 29, 1807, Levi "Willard and they had 
two children. Horace, born Surry, May 2, 1787, 
died at Wooster, Ohio, August 3, 1869; luarried 
(first) Lydia White and had six children; married 
(second) Abigail Weed and had one son. Am- 
herst, born in Surry, November 18, 1788, .sec for- 
ward. Julia Harcourt, born March 21, 1790, died 
March 23, 1816. Olive Metcalf, born in Surry, July 

19, 1791, died at Newton, Massachusetts, October 
30. 1858; married, March 12, 1812, Levi Willard and 
had five children. Emily, born at Surry, Septem- 
ber 9, 1792, died February 22, 1813. Rachel, born 
December 10, 1794, died 1S30; married Courtenay 
Brigham and had one child. Huldah, born Febru- 
ary 25, 1798. died September 3, 1859; married 
Thomas Simpkins and had six children. Theron, 
born July 12, 1799, died May 7. 1875; married 
(first), December 6, 1827, Calista Webster and had 
five children; married (second), December, 1864, 
Ann W. Farman. William, born May 21, 1802, 
married Hannah Davis. Harriet, born August I, 
1804. died December 30, 1875 ; married Daniel Deets 
and had four children. George Champlin, born 
December 20, 1806, married, June 29, 1834, Esther 
Patten Wilkins and had six children. 

(VII) Amherst Hayward, son of Silvanus Hay- 
ward (6), was born at Surry, New Hampshire, 
November 18, 1788. When about four years old 
he removed with his parents to Gilsum, New Hamp- 
shire. He was brought up by Colonel Jonathan 
.Smith, who married his father's sister. He received 
a good education in the district schools of Gilsum. 
After his marriage in 181 1 he went to live with 
Colonel Smith in Rockingham. Vermont, but in 
December, 1815, returned to Gilsum to live. He 
was with his father the first year, then just above 
the village. This was the famous cold season when 
frosts came every month in the year and food was 
scarce. He managed to procure what was necessary 
to buy for his family by peeling and selling birch 
brooms at nine pence apiece. The spring after his 
father's death he settled on the homestead and 
lived there the remainder of his life following farm- 
ing and by great industry and careful management 
he acquired a comfortable competence. He was a 
man of sound judgment and good character, an 
earnest advocate of temperance and was the first 
man in town to raise a building without providing 
liquor for his neighbors who came to help. He 
was a decided anti-slavery man and a public speaker 
of considerable ability. He was gifted like his- 
father with musical ability; he led the choir and 
played the bass viol in church for forty years. He 
was a deacon of the Congregational church for 
twenty years. He built a saw mill in 1820 and a 
shoe shop in 1835 for A. W. Kingsbury. He was 
active in town affairs and served as constable nine 
years, school committee in 1822 and selectman one 
year. He died January 16, 1867. 

He married (first), February 24, 1811, Betsey 
Cole, born in Orange. Massachusetts, September 11, 
1792. died August 9, 1820, daughter of John and 
Pollv (Bemis) Cole. He married (second), June 

20. 1821, Polly Cole, born in Gardner. Massachu- 
setts. August 28, 1800, died November 21, 1826. 
She was a sister of his first wife. He married 
(third). December 18. 1827, Sarah Fish, who died 
.\ugust 16, 1883. Children of Amherst and Betsey 



I30 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



(Cole) Hayward were: Jonathan Smith, born in 
Rockingham, Vermont, December li, 1811. died 
March 4, 1813. Louisa, born in Rockingham, Ver- 
mont, August 27, 1813, died August 10, 1815. Am- 
herst, born October 23, 1815, died December 17, 
1815. Nahum Osgood, born September 8, 1817, mar- 
ried, February 21, 1S41, Hannah Glover and they 
had four children — Marj' Elizabeth, George Nahum, 
Caroline Elizabeth, Theron. Olive Metcalf, still 
living (jgoO), born July 22, 1819, married, April 4, 
1839. Jeremiah Abbott and they have four children 
— Ellen Jane, George, Frank, Lizzie Emrna. Chil- 
dren of Amherst and Polly Hayward were: Julia 
Ann, born May 23, 1822, died July 25. 1866; mar- 
ried Aaron D. Damm and had one child — Damon. 
Henry Martin, born November i, 1823, see forward. 
Cludius Buchanan, born February 23. 1825, still liv- 
ing ( 1906) : married May Louisa Dart and had five 
children — Olive Mary, Edith Theodo, Dan Ambrose, 
Julia Antoinette, Elbridge Thurston, Harry Mar- 
tin. Children of Amherst and Sarah Hayward were: 
Mary Elizabeth, born November I, 1826, died May 2, 
1827. Silvanus. born December 3, 1828, married No- 
vember 23, 1853, Harriet Elvira Eaton, born April 6, 
1829, a descendant of Francis Eaton, who came in 
the "Mayflower" ; they had five children — Arthur 
Jameson, Belle, Grace, Paul, John Stark. Ebenezer, 
born November 15, 1830. died November 15, 1830. 
Clarissa, born August 20, 1831, died August 20, 
1831. Betsey, born August 3. 1833, died April 2, 
1835. Sarah Jane, born October 23, 1835. Emily 
Graham, born February 8, 1838, died April 16, 1866. 
Esther White, born December 6, 1841, married, 
March 5. 1866. 

(VIII) Henry Martin Hayward, son of Amherst 
Hayward ("). was born at Gilsum, New Hampshire, 
November i, 1823. He attended the district school 
and heloed on his father's farm until about seven- 
teen years old, when he removed to Westminster, 
Vermont, to work on a farm, going to school there 
and later at Gilsum in the winter term, \yhen he 
came of age he went to work in a bakery in Bos- 
ton. In 1846, two years later, he went to Winchen- 
don. Massachusetts, and learned the carpenter's 
trade of Sidney Fairbanks. He worked for Mr. 
Fairbanks some four years, then for Murdock & 
Fairbanks at Glenallen, part of Winchendon, hav- 
inc charge of the repairs in this wooden-ware fac- 
tory. After a few years he was made superinten- 
dent of the factor}'. He remained in that position 
until Captain Ephraim Murdock died in 1882. when 
the business was sold to Wilder P. Clark. Mr. 
Hayward remained in the position of superintendent 
for two or three years until the plant was moved to 
the village. Mr. Hayward was with Mr. Clnrk until 
i8q' when the plant was moved to Watervillc, 
when he retired after thirty-six years of active 
service in this business at seventy years of age. 
He owned a farm in the north part of Winchendon 
and took much pleasure in cultivating it. He died 
at Winchendon, January 4, 1906. at his residence 
on Lincoln avenue, corner of Grove street. In 
early life he attended the Orthodox church, but in 
later venrs was a Unitarian and was connected with 
the Church of the Unitv. In politics he was first a 
Whig and after the Republican party came into 
existence he supported it. He was a delecate to 
the famous Gardner and Benchley Know- Nothing 
parlv convention. He was an assessor of the town 
of Winchendon from 180.1 to iSoo inclusive. He 
was for a number of years one of the board of fire 
engineers He belonged to no serct societies. In 
his vonngcr davs he was a sergeant in the New 
Hampshire militia, and later also in Winchendon. 



He married, August 22, 1850, Lucinda Taft, born 
August 18, 1827, daughter of Hervey and Fidelia 
(Raymond) Taft, of Royalston, Massachusetts. Her 
father was a farmer and prominent in the militia. 
The children of Henry Martin and Luncinda Hay- 
ward were: George Amherst, born January 9, 1853, 
in Winchendon, married Jane Rosetta Betterly, of 
Clinton, and their children are — Clarence Edwin, 
born March I, 1883; Mary Austin, born February 
18, 1884, died November 21, 1884; Bernice May, 
born December 24, 1886; Olive Cleona, born April 
8, 1S92, died June 18, 1895. Edwin Dana, born Jan- 
uary 23, 1857, married Mary Wright, of Keene, New 
Hampshire, and they have four children — Ralph 
Edwin, born April 21, 1889; Paul Bertram, June 
4, 1891 ; Don Martin, July i, 1893; Albert Wright, 
May, 1897. Edwin Dana Hayward, bookkeeper, re- 
sides in Keene. 

JOHN MARTIN HAGER. William Hager or 
Hagar (i), one of the pioneers at Watertown, 
Massachusetts, was the immigrant ancestor of John 
Martin Hager, of Winchendon, Massachusetts. He 
was born in England about 1625, and married in 
Watertown, March 20, 1644-45, Mary Beniis, daugh- 
ter of Joseph and Mary Bemis, pioneer settlers of 
Watertown. (See sketch of the Beniis Family of 
Worcester, descended from the same immigrant an- 
cestors.) Names like Hagar and Harrington were 
frequently spelled as they were pronounced by the 
Englishman who dropped his "H's" then as at the 
present time. The surnames Agar and Ager are 
from this same family. 

William Hagar was a man of good social stand- 
ing, not particularly active in public aflfairs, but it 
is to be noted that his children married into the 
best families of the town. He died January 10, 
1683-84, and his will, dated January 10, 1683-84, 
the day of his death, was proved April i, following. 
His aged widow died December, 1695. Their chil- 
dren were : Mary, born December 25, 1645, died 
young; Ruhamah (twin), November 20, 1647, mar- 
ried Joseph Wait; Samutl (twin), born November 
20, 1647, see forward; Hannah, November 21, 1649, 

married Priest; Sarah, September 3. 1651, 

died March 7, 1746; married Nathaniel Whitney; 
Susanna Grout, William, February 12, 1658-59, died 
May 8, 1731 ; Rebecca, October 28, 1661, married 
Nathaniel Healy ; Abigail, about 1665, married, 
March 30, 1687, Benjamin Whitney; Mehitable, mar- 
ried, June 20, 1687, Nathaniel Norcross. 

(II) Samuel Hager, third child of William 
Hager (i), was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, 
November 20, 1647, married Sarah Mixer. He died 
February 13, 1704-05, and his widow Sarah died at 
Wallham. 1745. His will was dated May 27, 1704. 
He was admitted a freeman April 18, 1690. Chil- 
dren of Samuel and Sarah Hager were: Sarah, born 
in Watertown, baptized May 24, 1691 ; married, Au- 
gust 19, 1717, Joseph Stratton, of Watertown; Mary, 
baptized July 25. 1697; Samutl, born September I, 
1698 ; Isaac, see forward. 

(III) Isaac Hager, youngest son of Samuel 
Hager (2), was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, 
April 24, 1701. He married, July 16, 1724, Pru- 
dence Allen, born May 18. 1703, daughter of Joseph 
and Elizabeth Allen. Children of Isaac and Pru- 
dence Hager were: Isaac, born May 5, 1725; John, 
September 17, 1726, see forward; Elisha, February 
18 1727-28: Daniel. January 17, 1728-30, died Au- 
gust 3, 17.18; Elizabeth, October 8. 1732. died Au- 
gust 17. 1750; Mary, May 18. 1736. married Samuel 
Garfield; Lydia, January 15, i7,'!6-37. died July 30, 
1740; Eunice, May 24, 1730, died July 20, 1740; 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



131 



DanieJ, February 28, 1740-41 ; Lydia, December 8, 
1742; Nathan, January 26, 1744; Eunice, June 26, 
i74«. 

(.IV) John Hagar, son of Isaac Hagar (3), was 
born in Weston, Massachusetts, September 17, 1726. 
Bond says that he removed to Groton in 1755, but 
he seems to have been a soldier from Weston durnig 
the revolution. John Hagar, of Weston, was in 
Captain Seth Washburn's company. Colonel Jona- 
than Ward's regiment, in 1775. He was in Captain 
Charles Miles' company. Colonel Jonathan Reed's 
regiment, in 1777; in Captain Jonathan Fisk's com- 
pany of Weston, Colonel Brooks' regiment, in 
1776, and Captain Simon Hunt's company. Colonel 
brooks' regiment, in 1777-78. He married, January 
14, 1746, Hannah Stearns, m.arried (second), Jan- 
uary 0, 1757, Sarah Child. Children of John and 
Hannah Hager were: Hannah, born April 9, 1748, 
married, 1771, Eben Hubbard, of Dudley; William, 
April 12, 1749; Amos, February 8, 1750-51, mar- 
ried Anna Harrington; John, June 13, 1752, died 
young; Joel, May 18, 1753; John, October 6, 1754, 
died young; John, see forward; Stephen, Novem- 
ber 26, 1759; Lucy, October 8, 1760, died Decem- 
ber 27, 1842. 

(V) John Hagar, son of John Hagar (4), was 
born in Groton or Weston, October 6, 1757. He was 
a soldier in the revolution as well as his father. He 
was late in life a revolutionary pensioner as papers 
on file in the Worcester probate office prove. John 
Hagar, then of Shrewsbury, was in Captain Job 
Cushing's company. Colonel Artemas Ward's reg:i- 
ment, in 1775. Two years later, in 1777, he was in 
Captain Asa How's company. Colonel Wing Spoon- 
er's regiment, and also m Captain Benjamin Gates' 
company. Colonel Rufus Putnam's regiment. He 
was then of Petersham. He settled in Phillipston 
about the time of his marriage, in 1780, and August 
30, 1784, bought a farm of Samuel Taylor, Jr., in 
what was then Templeton, now Phillipston, where 
he was then living. This place adjoined the farm of 
Jonathan Stratton. He lived there during his 
active life, and deeded it to his two sons, Cyrus and 
Washington Hagar, January 23, 1826. He died at 
Phillipston, May 11, 1842. 

He married, at Waltham, October 7, 1780, Eunice 
Whitehead, of Waltham. Their children were : 
Elisha, see forward. Lucy, married Levi Carruth. 
Cyrus. Washington, died February I, 1872, at Phil- 
lipston, leaving widow Abigail and children : James 
W., of Phillipston; George B., of Gardner; Joseph 
E., of Atliol ; Eunice A., married Lorenzo Stow; 
Abigail E., married Frank J. Clark; Lucy A., mar- 
ried .^rthur B. Robbins. Abigail, married Silas 
Baker. 

(,VI) Elisha Hager, son of John Hagar (5), 
was born probably in Northboro or Shrewsbury, 
just before the family settled in Templeton, now 
Phillipston, Massachusetts, about 1782. He settled 
in Halifax, Vermont, after his second marriage, in 
1836-37, to Elizabeth (Carruth) Vosburg. Chil- 
dren of Elisha Hager were : Daniel, John, Elisha, 
Jr., Madison, Eunice. One child, born to Elisha 
and Eliza Hager was : Albert Martin Vosburg, see 
forward. 

(VII) Albert Martin Vosburg Hager, son of 
Elisha Hager (6), was born at Halifax, Vermont, 
and educated in the district schools there. He took 
charge of his father's farm at an early age, and 
his father then retired from active business. He 
added a saw mill to his other interests and built 
a wood working plant for manufacturing chair stock. 
He built a planing mill also. In 1884 he sold out 
his interests in Halifax and went to Coleraine, 
Massachusetts, where he carried on the farm be- 



longing to his second wife, After a few years they 
sold the property at Coleraine and removed to Lin- 
coln, Nebraska. After two years he returned to 
Massachusetts and built a residence in Athol, where 
he is now living. He is at present employed by 
Arthur F. Tyler, manufacturer of sash and blinds. 
Mr. Hager is a Universalist in religion and Re- 
publican in politics. He was assessor of the town 
of Halifax, and in 1877 representative to the Ver- 
mont legislature. He was clerk of the Halifax 
school board. 

He married (first), January 26, i860, Minerva 
Chloe F"airbanks, daughter of Asa and Sally 
(Satcey) F'airbanks, of Whitingham, Vermont. They 
had eleven children, viz. : John Martin, born Octo- 
ber 29, i860, see forward ; Fordis Albert, Freeman, 
Otis, Leon Sanford, Orlo James, Alta Minerva, Myra 
Ellen, Clarence James, Clara Sally, Lura Hattie. 

(VIII) John Martin Hager, son and eldest child 
of Albert Martin Vosburg Hager (7), was born in 
Fialifax, Vermont, October 29, i860. He attended 
the common schools of his native town and after- 
ward the select school there until he was twenty 
years old. He then took charge of his father's 
farm, assisting his father also in the factory, where 
they manufactured chair stock and similar wood 
products. At the age of twenty-five he started in 
business as a photographer, but after six months 
went to work at Lonsdale, Rhode Island, for Cut- 
ting & Bishop, contractors and builders, of Worces- 
ter, Massachusetts, who had a large contract at 
Lonsdale, for the Lonsdale Cotton Company. He 
worked there afterward for the Lonsdale Cotton 
Company and later went to Valley Falls, Rhode 
Island, to help build a large rolling mill. He was 
in the employ of C. W. Lee, shoe manufacturer, of 
Athol, and of Hill & Green and Frank Breed until 
1899, when he accepted a position with the New 
Home Sewing Machine Company, operating auto- 
matic screw machines and other machines in their 
factory until July, igoi, when he removed to Win- 
chendon and started in business for himself as a 
shoe dealer. Since February i, 1903, his store has 
been located in the Rome block. He has developed 
a large and growing business. Mr. Hager attends 
the Methodist church. He is an active Republican, 
has been secretary of the Republican town commit- 
tee and has frequently been chosen on important 
special committees by the town. He is a member of 
Artisan Lodge, Free Masons, of Winchendon ; Tul- 
ley Lodge, No. 136, Odd Fellows, of Athol, and of 
Watatic Tribe, No. 85, Red Men. of Winchendon. 

He married, June 19, 1886, Nellie E. King, daugh- 
ter of Hinckley and Julia T. (Sperry) King, of 
North Prescott, Massachusetts. Her father was a farm- 
er. Children of John Martin and Nellie E. Hager were : 
Infant, died young; Pearl Fairbanks; born June 15, 
1891 ; Alice King, born June 19, 1899. 

DR. THOMAS EDWARD DUFFEE, son of 
Nicholas J. Duffee, and grandson of Thomas Duffee, 
is descended from Irish stock. Other branches of 
the family spell the name Duffy and McDuffee. A 
prominent MeDuffee family located before the revo- 
lution at Chester, New Hamp.shire, and many of 
the Duffees and McDuffees belong to this branch. 

Dr. Duffee was born in Hillsboro, New Hamp- 
shire, April 17, 1872, and attended school there. 
When he was eleven years old his parents moved 
to Marlow, New Hampshire, wliere he attended the 
grammar and high schools. In 1891 he went to 
Keene, New Hampshire, where he entered the em- 
ploy of the American Express Company as clerk. . 
After two years he took a position with the Bick- 
more Gall Cure Company of Oldtown, Maine, and 



13^ 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



represcmed the company throughout the United 
States and Canada for some four years. In 1900 
he decided to study medicine and entered the Uni- 
versity of Vermont Medical School. He took a 
four ytar course and received his degree of M. D., 
June J4, 190J. In the fall of 1903 he went to East 
Bridgcwater, Massachusetts, and took charge of the 
practice of Dr. \V. H. Adams until January 1, 1905. 
when he turned his practice over to Dr. W. B. 
liannerman. He then went to New York city and 
entered the New York Post Graduate College, where 
he took the regular eye and ear course. He studied 
also in the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, Dr. 
Knapp's private hospital and the New York Eye 
and Ear Hospital. At the same time he took special 
instruction under Dr. Alexander Duane. He re- 
turned to East Bridgewater for a few weeks during 
the summer, but went back to New York to do spe- 
cial work at Dr. Knapp's private hospital. He 
came to Winchendon, December I, 1905, and asso- 
ciated himself with Dr. W. B. Thorning. He passed 
the state board of examination at Providence, Rhode 
Island, in the fall of 1905, and is registered as a 
practiting physician in Vermont and Massachusetts 
also. Dr. DufTee is designing at present a series of 
instruments for special surgical operations on the 
nose and throat. While in Bridgewater he was town 
physician. He is a Republican in politics. He is a 
member of the Delta Mu Fraternity of the Uni- 
versity of Vermont. He has been a member of 
Company H, National Guard, state of New Hamp- 
shire. He is a membtr of Artisan Lodge, ¥. and 
A. M., of Winchendon, also the Massachusetts Medi- 
cal Society, the American Medical Association, and 
the Winchendon Country Club. 

FRANK EMERY WILLIAMSON. The an- 
cestral line of Frank Emery Williamson is traced 
from Jonathan Williamson and his wife Mary, who 
were residents of London, England, and came to 
New England about the year 1734 with their young 
baby boy, Thomas, who was born in Horsley Down, 
London, March 22, 1733, O. S. The father, Jona- 
than Williamson, may have made a brief stop at 
the town of Newbury, Massachusetts, for it is re- 
corded that he came from that town to Pawnelbor- 
ough, Maine, a town named by the legislature of 
Massachusetts, February 13. 1760, and to be shire 
town of Lincoln county. This Jonathan and Mary 
Williamson had according to the records at Pawncl- 
borough, name of the place having been changed 
June 10, 1802, to Wiscasset, the following children: 
Thomas, born March 22, 1733, in London, England; 
Jonathan, March 15, 1735, in Georgetown, lilaine; 
Samuel, January 7, 1739, in Pawnelborough, Maine. 

The senior Jonathan was an active man in town 
and church affairs, was selectman, moderator ot 
various town meetings and for many years the town 
clerk. When the old meeting house was built, 
which structure was started in- 1764 and completed 
all but the steeple in 1767, he was a member of the 
building committee. November 4, 1766, he with 
other settlers of Pawnelborough petitioned the Mas- 
sachusetts legislature for leave of the town to 
choose another collector of taxes as the one pre- 
viously chosen failed to act. 

Thomas Williamson, the eldest son of Jona- 
than and Mary Williamson, married. January 26, 
1 761, Sarah Blacklidge, of Pawnelborough. The 
intention of marriage was published November 5, 
1760. He was styled ensign and must have ren- 
dered military service. He died February 3, 1778, 
leaving five young children for whom his widow, 
Sarah Williamson, was appointed guardian. Their 
children were: Sarah, horn October 22, 1761; 



Mary, 1763; Elizabeth, 1765; Ruth, January 28, 
1768; Abigad, March 21, 1771 ; Lucy, 1773; Anna, 
1775; Hannah, 1777. 

Samuel Williamson, youngest son of Jonathan 

and Mary Williamson, married (.first; Mary ; 

she died September 4, 17O5. He married (.second) 
Lydia Pike, of Pawnelborough, I-ebruary 0, 1766, 
the intention havmg been published January 11, 
17O6. Their children were: Mary, born April 28, 
1759. deceased; Lydia, September 28, 17O0, died 
January 6, 170O; Jane, March 21, 1762; Mary, Au- 
gust 29, 1765, Matthew, November 8, 1766; Lydia, 
October 8, 1768; Frances, September 20, 1770; Jon- 
athan, December 12, 1772, married Mary Dccosta; in- 
tention dated June 17, 1796. 

Jonathan VVilliamson, Jr., second son of Jona- 
than and Mary Williamson, married Hannah . 

He was a farmer and was apponited surveyor of 
lumber. His wife Hannah must have died, for 
Alay 25, 1791, intention of marriage of Jonathan 
Williamson, Jr., to Abigail Williamson was put on 
records of the town. Children, born in Pawnel- 
borough, were: Stephen, November 23, 1700; Betty, 
January 25, 1763; Esther, October 25, 17O5 ; Han- 
nah, September 12, 1771. 

Captain Stephen Williamson, eldest son of Jon- 
athan Williamson, Jr., married, December 25, 1785, 
Sarah Young, both of Pawnelborough, Maine. They 
were married by Thomas Moore, justice of the 
peace. Mr. Williamson died November 13, 1840, 
aged seventy-nine years. They had three sons; one 
settled in Strong, Maine, one in New Portland, 
Maine ; and the third one was . 

George Williamson, born 1797, in Stark, Maine, 
married (first) Mary Ingalls, by whom he had six 
children. He married (second) Maria Newbot, by 
whom he had nine children. He died December 2, 
1879, aged tighty-two years. His children were : 
Joseph, Warren, Alilton William, see forward; Nel- 
son, -Melvina, I'hebe, Lewedwin, John, William, 
Julia, Lavena, Avalla, Nancy, Laura and Anne. 

^lilton \Villiam Williamson, born in Stark, 
Maine, July 4, 1826, came to Worcester, Massachu- 
setts, in 1850, and entered the employ of Joseph 
Walker, Jr., & Company, boot and leather dealers, as 
a boot fiinisher, remaining several years, in 1857 
he was engaged in the grocery business, the firm 
being James F'. Raymorc & Company. Some years 
later he was making hats and bonnets for Sewall 
H. Bowker, but in 1864 removed to Wrentham, only 
to return to Worcester in the fall of the succeed- 
ing year, where he again took up the manufacture 
of hats and bonnets at No. 5 Central Exchange 
building. From 1873 to 1878 he was engaged as 
machinist, but the last few years of his life he 
worked at carpentering. He died June 14, 1893. He 
married Mary Ann Marcy, of Sturbridge, Massa- 
chusetts. Their children were : Frank Emery, born 
December 4, 1854, and Mary Stella, February 9, 
1862. 

I'Vank Emery Williamson, only son of Milton 
W. and Mary Ann (Marcy) Williamson, was born 
December 4, 1854, at the home of his parents. No. 
51, Sumner street, Worcester, Massachusetts, since 
which time, with the exception of about one year, 
he has been a resident of the city of his birth. 
After attending the public schools, at the age of 
fifteen he entered the employ of the Worcester & 
Nashua Railroad Company as office boy, John M. 
Williams then being agent for that company. Young 
Williamson was advanced in the office of the freight 
department as fast as his experience and proficiency 
became known, and in 1878, in addition to his duties 
as bookkeeper in the office, he was for six years 
conductor on the evening and morning passenger 



I 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



133 



train which ran between Worcester and Ayer Junc- 
tion. In 1885, when the road was leased to the 
Boston & Maine Railroad, he was promoted to the 
position of cashier in the office, and for ten years 
performed acceptably the duties of that office. In 
187s he entered the employ of the Worcester County 
Institution for Savings as auditing clerk. This is 
one of the largest and most successful savings banks 
in the state, with assets in 1906 of more than 
twenty-one million, five hundred and fifty thousand 
dollars, and number of depositors over forty-two 
thousand. Mr. Williamson is a quiet, unostentatious 
gentleman, a good business manager, and faithful 
to his trust. He represented his ward in the city 
council for four years, 1895-96-97-98. He is treasurer 
of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, of which or- 
ganization he is a valuable member. He holds fra- 
ternal relations with the Odd Fellows and the 
Order of Free Masons. In January, 1906, he was 
elected auditor for the city of Worcester, a position 
for which he is most admirably adapted by experi- 
ence as an accountant. 

He married, November 15, 1877, Ida May, daugh- 
ter of Luther G. and Joanna (Wright) Moore, the 
former a farmer and resident of the northerly part 
of Worcester. Their children are : George Emery, 
born September 11, 1878, is a graduate of the Wor- 
cester Polytechnic Institute, class of 1900. He then 
took a post-graduate course in mechanical engineer- 
ing, and is at present (.1996) the constructing engi- 
neer of the Union Metallic Cartridge Company at 
Bridgeport, Connecticut. He married, June 9, 1903, 
Alice May, daughter of Hon. William A. Lytic, of 
Worcester. Arthur Moore, born May 13, 1881, is 
also a graduate of the Worcester Polytechnic Insti- 
tute, class of 1902, and is'at present (,1906) chemist 
for the International Acheson Graphite Company 
of Niagara Falls, New York. 

GEORGE WASHINGTON FOSTER. Reginald 
Foster (i), the immigrant ancestor of George Wash- 
ington Foster, of Leominster, Massachusetts, was 
born about 1595 in Barmton, England. He came to 
America about 1635 with his wife Judith, five sons 
and two daughters, and settled at Ipswich, Massa- 
chusetts, about 1638. He resided near the East 
Bridge. His name was often spelled Reynold. He 
bought of John Tuttell, September 26, 1638, a house 
and lands in Ipswich. He had charge of the town 
herd of cattle on the south side of the river in 
1643 ; the work to be done (by permission of the 
authorities) by his son Abraham. In 1661 he was 
highway surveyor. He owned shares in both Plum 
and Hog Islands. He died in 1681. His will was 
made April 30, 1680, and proved June 9, 1681 ; be- 
queathed to wife Sarah what she brought at mar- 
riage and other things; bequeathed to sons, Abraham, 
Renold, Isaac, William and Jacob ; to daughters. 
Sarah, wife of William Story, and Mary, wife of 
Francis Peabody ; to grandchild Hannah Story. 

He married (first) Judith — in England. 

She died October, 1664, at Ipswich. He married 
(second), September 20, 1665, Sarah Martin, widow 
of John Martin, of Ipswich. She married (sec- 
ond) William White, of Haverhill, September 21, 
1682, and she died February 22, 1683. The children 
of Reginald and Judith Foster were : Mary, born 

about 1618, married Wood and Lieutenant 

Francis Peabody; Abraham, of whom later; Regin- 
ald, born 1636, married Elizabeth Davis ; William, 
born 1633, married Mary Jackson; Isaac, born 1630; 
Jacob, born 1635, married Martha Kushman and 
Abigail Lord ; Sarah, born 1620, married William 
Storey. 

(II) Abraham Foster, son of Reginald Foster 



(1), was born in Exeter, Devonshire, England, 1622, 
and died at Ipswich, January 25, 1710-11, aged about 
ninety years. He came with his father to New 
England, when his age was given as sixteen years. 
He lived at Ipswich and joined the church there 
in full communion April 12, 1674. He was called 
yeoman on the records. Fie left no will, but dis- 
tributed his property by deed December 21, 1698. 

He married, 1O55, Lydia Burbank, daughter of 
Caleb and Martha Burbank, of Rowley, and grand- 
daughter of John Burbank, of Rowley. The chil- 
dren of Abraham and Lydia Foster were : Ephraim, 
born October 9, 1657 ; Abraham, born October, 1659, 
married Mary Robinson; James, born January 12, 

1662; Benjamin, born 1670, married Ann ; 

Ebenezer, born July 15, 1672, married Mary Bar- 
man ; Mehitable, born October 12, 1675, married 
Ebenezer Averill ; Caleb, born November 9, 1677, 
married Mary Sherwin; Isaac, born 1668, died Feb- 
ruary 13, 1717; an infant, born December 27, 1668; 
Ruth, married, April 16, 1702, Jeremiah Perlcy, of 
Boxford. 

(HI) Benjamin Foster, son of Abraham Foster 
(2), was born at Ipswich, Massachusetts. 1670. He 
was a weaver by trade as well as a farmer. He 
lived in Topsfield, then in the adjoining town of 
Boxford, and finally removed to Lunenburg, where 
he died September 12, 1735. His children were all 
born at Ipswich except the last two, who were born 

at Boxford. His wife Ann removed to Bil- 

lerica and lived there after his death. The children 
of Benjamin and Ann Foster were: Benjamin, born 
November 25, 1700, married Mrs. Sarah Lowe; 
Amos, born April 28, 1702, of whom later; Deb- 
orah, born May 7, 1704; Kezia, born May 4, 1707, 
married, September 5, 1741, Jacob Corey, Jr., of 
Tewksbury; Gideon, born October 10, 1709, married 
Lydia Goldthwait ; J?mima. born February 12, 1711- 
12, died young; Isaac, born December 3, 1722, mar- 
ried Mary Rice; Jemima, baptized December, 1725, 
married, July 28, 1738, Jonathan Fish, Jr., lived 'in 
Lunenburg. 

(IV) Amos Foster, son of Benjamin Foster 
(3), was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, April 28, 
1702. He married, October 8, 1725, Elizabeth Kitt- 
ridge, of Haverhill, and she died November 29, 
1756. He removed to Boxford with his father and 
thence to Tewksbury, where he was living in 1730. 
His will was proved June 17, 175*4. He died April 
28, 1754. The children of Amos and Elizabeth 
Foster were : James, born August 15, 1736, married 
three wives whose given names were, Dolly, Betty 
and Lydia; Jonathan, born August 23, 1732, married 

Lydia , Sarah Allen, Mrs. Olive Harwood ; 

Amos, born November 30, 1727, of whom later; 
;\Iary, born October 7, 1734, married, June 13, 1770, 
James Kittridge. 

(V) Captain Amos Foster, son of Amos Foster 
(4), was born at Tewksbury, November 30, 1727. 
He died February 19, 1798, at Tewksbury. He mar- 
ried (first) Hannah . He married (second) 

Sarah , died November 3, 1799. He was a 

soldier in the revolution, entering as ensign and be- 
ing promoted to the rank of captain. He was first 
of Captain Jonathan Brown's company (Southeast 
company of Tewksbury), Colonel David Green's 
Middlesex regiment, in 1775. The following year 
he was second lieutenant in the company of Captain 
Joshua Baldwin (eighth or east Tewksbury) in 
Colonel Simon Spaulding's (seventh Middlesex) 
regiment. Later he became captain of his old 
(eighth) company under Colonel Jonathan Brown 
in 1780. He was also captain in Colon;! Cyprian. 
How's regiment, 1780. and marched to reinforce the 
Continental army, part of the regiment going to 



134 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Fislikill, New York, the remainder to Rhode Island. 
The children of Captain Amos Foster were: 
Amos, born May 23, 1753, was in the revolution ; 
William, born April 10, 1756, married Olive How- 
ard; Hannah, born April 10, 1764; Nathan, of whom 
later; Jesse, born February 8, 1764, had guardian; 
Elizabeth, born F'cbruary 19, 1766; Susannah, born 
October i, 1771; Alice, born September 29, 1778, 
married, July 31, 1798, Amos Blanchard ; Orpha, 
born 1785; Stephen, born about 1780, had guardian. 

(VI) Nathan Foster, son of Captain Amos 
Foster (5), was born at Tewksbury, Massachusetts, 
May 14, 1762. He went to Maine before he was of 
age and located at what became the town of Nor- 
way, Maine. He was a farmer and became a promi- 
nent citizen. He died suddenly of apoplexy in his 
yard while at his usual work, February 5, 1836. 

He married at Norway, Maine, May 17, 1791, 
(the first marriage in the town) Miriam Hobbs, 
who was born July 17, 1772, and died December 
24, 1804. She was the daughter of Jeremiah Hobbs, 
of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, aitd Norway, Maine. 
Mr. Foster married (second) Sally Hobbs, sister 
of his first wife; she was born January 8, 1782. The 
children of Nathan and Miriam Foster were : Nathan, 
born April 9, 1794, married Mrs. Sarah (Gilson) 
VVheelock; Miriam, born May 18, 1791; Hannah, 
born October 14, 1792, died June 22, 1811; Amos, 
born March 31, 1796, died April 20, 1827; was a 
soldier in the war of 1812 in Captain Amos Town's 
company; Jeremiah, born September 23, 1797, cor- 
poral in Captain Amos Noyes' "Aroostooc VVar" in 
1839 in Maine ; William, born April 5, 1799, of whom 
later. The children of Nathan and Sally were: 
Samuel, born February 15, 1804, died July 6, 1806; 
Sally, born August 31, 1805, died July 10, 1806; 
Sally, born April 17, 1807, married, April 11, 1842, 
Hon. David Frost, school teaclfcr. selectman, justice 
of the peace, legislator, etc. ; Samuel, born January 

27, 1809, married (first) Sarah and (second) 

Caroline Cross, resided in Norway; Serena, born 
December 11, 1810, married, November 13, 1838, 
Susan Frost; Hannah, born June 22, 1813, married 
Simon Frost; Luther F., born March 3, 1815, mar- 
ried Emma B. Millett; David, born May I, 1818, 

married Hannah ; Harriet, born October 5, 

1820, died June i, 1828; Lydia, born January 17, 
1823, married, 1842, William Frost, Jr. ; Clarissa, 
born January 27, -1826, married Fred Knight. 

(VII) William Foster, sixth child of Nathan 
Foster (6), was born at Norway Centre, Maine, 
April s, 1799, and died there January 26, 1884. He 
attended the district schools of his native town 
and was apprenticed at the blacksmith's trade, in 
the shop of the veteran Daniel Town, of Norway. 
When he became of age he left his native town and 
journeyed on foot to Boston, where he obtained 
employment at his trade in a shipyard. After a year 
or two Daniel Town, his former master, invited 
him to return to Norway and enter partnership 
with him. Mr. Town was getting old and the op- 
portunity seemed excellent to the young man. He 
returned and the business of Town & Foster pros- 
pered. In 1829 Mr. Foster erected a building at 
Frost's Corner and located his business there, fol- 
lowing his trade until 1844, when he turned to farm- 
ing. He lived on his farm in Norway the remainder 
of his life, except for a few years at South Paris. 
Maine, whither he went so that his children could 
have the advantages of better schools. While living 
there he was postmaster. He returned to Norway 
in i860. As a farmer he was progressive and pros- 
perous, as a citizen active and influential in public 
affairs. He was an earnest Free Mason, a member 
of Oxford Lodge for many years. He died January 



26, 1884, at the advanced age of eighty-live years. 

He married. May 26, 1830, Calista Wood, of 
Waterford, Maine. She was born July 16, 1809, 
and died October 19, 1881. The children of William 
and Calista Foster were : William Franklin, born 
January 14, 1833, married Almira H. Smith ; Nathan 
Albert, born October 4, 1835, married Harriet N. 
Grover; Olive S., born December 7, 1830, married, 
January, 1850, Theodore Lyman Laselle, who was 
born October 26, 1826; she died March 24, 1867, 
leaving son, George Laselle, of Norway, and William 
F. Laselle, of Leominster, Massachusetts ; Miriam 
Hobbs, born July 23. 1839, married Levy M. Pierce, 
247 Union street, Springfield, Massachusetts, who 
was born in West Boylston, Alassachusetts, June 21, 
1^33 '• graduate of Colby, high school teacher, now a 
music dealer; his son. Rev. William Foster Pierce, 
is president of Kenyon College; Hannah Maria, 
born January 17, 1845, died July 4, 1870; Charles 
C, born December 7, 1S46, married Dora E. 
Wheeler; George W., of whom later. 

(Vlli) George Washington Foster, youngest 
child of William Foster (7), was born in Norway, 
Maine, July 10, 1849. He acquired has early educa- 
tion chiefly in Chicopee, Massachusetts, and studied 
bookkeeping under private tuition. He was employed 
for a time as bookkeeper in New York city. He 
returned to Leominster and entered partnership 
with his brother in the boot and shoe trade there. 
In 1886 he acquired an interest in the F. A. Whit- 
ney Carriage Company of Leominster and became a 
director and treasurer of the concern. He directed 
its financial affairs with conspicuous ability and 
great success until his death in 1891. He built a 
handsome residence on Grove avenue in Leominster, 
and invested largely in Leominster real estate. He 
built and owned the Foster block there. In politics 
he was a Republican. He was well known in Ma- 
sonic circles, having taken the Knight Templar de- 
gree. He was a member of the Orthodo.x Congre- 
gational church. He died at Leominster, January 
5, 1891. 

He married, November 2, 1874, Elizabeth Por- 
ter Witt, daughter of Thomas and Rachel (Porter) 
Witt. She was born April 26, 1850. at Norway, and 
her father was born there June 3. 1809, a descendant 
of Benjamin Witt, an early settler who came from 
Lynn. Massachusetts, and belonged to one of the 
old Essex county families. Mrs. Foster survives 
her husband. Their children are: Alice M., born 
at Leominster, September 14, 1876. married Edward 
Williard Blodgctt, and has two daughters : Eleanor 
and Battina ; Florence E., born at Leominster, Au- 
gust 26, 1881, resides at home with her mother. 

THOMAS E. THOMPSON is the son of 
Thomas and Margaret (Fitzgerald) Thompson, of 
New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was born in the 
city of New Bedford, May 6, 1864. He received his 
education in Ilinois, where his father located when 
he was very young. After graduating from the 
high school he accepted a position as teacher in the 
puljlic schools of Saxton River, Vermont. He taught 
later at Fitzwilliam. New Hampshire, Sandwich and 
Lawrence, Massachusetts. While he was at Law- 
rence his good work and evident ability as a teacher 
attracted the attention of the school committee of 
Leominster, Massachusetts, and the position of su- 
perintendent of the Leominster schools was offered 
to him. He accepted and since 1895 has filled the 
office with credit. To an exceptional degree he has 
won the respect and co-operation of the teachers and 
the confidence and support of the parents of pupils. 
He is popular among the school children too. The 
secret of his success is his great interest in the work 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



135 



0^ education, his knowledge of human nature and 
his sympathy with the difficulties and pleasures of 
youth. He is in charge of about twenty-four hundred 
pupils. There are sixty-three teachers and ten sep- 
arate buildings in the town. Under his direction the 
standing of the Leominster schools has been high 
and the town has gained a reputation for its educa- 
tional facilities. When the rivalry between the 
progressive and wealthy town? and cities of Massa- 
chusetts is considered, all the more credit must be 
given the energetic superintendent to whose ex- 
ecutive ability the constant improvement and high 
standards are largely due. 

He is a member of the Leominster Club and of 
the local council of the Royal Arcanum. He at- 
tends the Congregational church. In politics he is 
a stanch Republican, though his activity is limited 
by the nature of his office. There can be no politics 
as such in well-regulated public schools. 

It may be appropriate to give a brief sketch of 
the public schools of Leominster, of which Mr. 
Thompson is in charge. The town was incorporated 
in 1740 and as soon as the meeting house had been 
provided for the pioneers turned their attention to 
the need of a school. In December, 1747, the first 
money was raised "for schooling." The church had 
been in use for several years, but was not actually 
completed until 1753. So the church and school 
grew side by side. There was no school house at 
first. In 1747-48-49 the sum of ten pounds annually 
was devoted to teaching. In 1748 it was voted "to 
build a school house and set it at the meeting house 
in said town, twenty-four feet long, eighteen feet 
wide and seven feet stud." It was probably built in 
1749 at a cost of thirty-five pounds. Jacob Pea- 
body was the teacher in 1750. In 1767 the town 
was divided into three school districts and three 
new school houses voted. The annual appropriation 
had risen to forty pounds, but when the revolution 
brought its full measure of hardship it was diffi- 
cult to keep the schools open. In many places 
there was no school for several years. Leominster 
made no appropriation for schools in 1777. As the 
town grew better schools were provided. In 1850 
the town paid $1,900 for schools and the high school 
was established. In fifty years the cost of schools 
in the town has increased ten fold and the value 
of the schools as increased porportionately. In 
1883 the town voted to employ a superintendent of 
schools. The first superintendent was elected soon 
afterward. The committee selected William E. Pul- 
sifer, principal of the high school at Stoughton, 
Massachusetts. He remained in office until April, 
1885, when he resigned to take a more lucrative 
position in a Boston publishing house. His suc- 
cessor and Mr. Thompson's predecessor was I. Free- 
man Hall, who had been in the same work at Ded- 
ham, Massachusetts. Mr. Hall was an excellent sup- 
erintendent and Mr. Thompson found the schools 
well organized when he began his work at 
Leominster. 

Some mention should be made of Dr. Caleb Cles- 
son Field, for whom the Leominster high school has 
been named in grateful memory of a lifelong devo- 
tion to the schools. From 1838 until 1881 he was a 
member of the school board of Leominster and it is 
safe to say that during much of that period he was 
not only member but the whole board. All that a 
superintendent could do he did in the earlier days. 
To quote from his biography: "He labored with un- 
failing interest and zeal, with rare wisdom and suc- 
cess, for the wise and permanent development of 
our system of schools and after a service of over 
forty-three years left the schools among the best 
in the state. On the anniversary of his death the 



teachers and pupils have been accustomed to cover 
his grave with flowers." "The schools of Leom- 
inster will always bear the marks of his wise care, 
faithful oversight and unfailing interest. As our 
modern life makes larger and larger demands upon 
the time of the individual and the system of public 
instruction becomes more comprehensive, special 
supervision by men who can devote all their time 
to the work must take the place of the old way. 
But in the years before this was possible, any town 
was most fortunate, if among her citizens there was 
one who had the will and the ability to do for her 
public schools what Dr. Field did for the public 
schools of Leominster." Jonas Horace Kendall was 
another great and good friend of the Leominster 
schools. He made large bequests for educational 
purposes to the town. 

Leominster is an active growing manufacturing 
town with a large percentage of foreign population 
to be Americanized in the public schools. It re-, 
quires a broad and versatile superintendent to man- 
age a pubHc school system for the diverse elements 
to be found in the great mill towns and cities of 
New England. The success of the public school sys- 
tem is not the result of accident. It is the result 
of far-sighted planning, ceaseless labor and constant 
experiment and change. 

Mr. Thompson married in 1891, Mary L. Hager, 
of Wellesley, Massachusetts. They have one child, 
Dorothy. 

WOOSTER F. DODGE. Richard Dodge (i), 
son of John Dodge and his wife Margery, was born 
in Somerset county, England, probably in 1602. He 
was the emigrant ancestor of Wooster F. Dodge, 
of Leominster, Massachusetts. The lineage has been 
traced back further in the old country than is 
possible with most of the early emigrants to New 
England. Richard's father had three other chil- 
dren. Mary and Michael died in England, never 
emigrating to America. William was the first to 
emigrate. He was a passenger on the "Lion's 
Whelp" to Salem in 1629. He settled in Salem and 
died about 1692. Richard came to Salem in 1638 
"desiring accommodation" and evidently got it, for 
he settled in the town where his brother was living, 
but later he removed to Wenham and in 1644 be- 
came a proprietor of Beverly. His brother William 
bought a two hundred acre farm that year in Salem 
bounds. Richard and his wife Edith Dodge be- 
came members of the Wenham church, and he was 
on the list of twenty-one subscribers to funds for 
Harvard College. He lived on what is known as 
Dodge Row and gave the land for the cemetery 
there. He left an estate valued after his death at 
one thousand, seven hundred and sixty-four pounds, 
two shillings. 

His children were : John, baptized December 
29, 1631, in England, lived at North Beverly, died 
October 11, 1711. aged eighty years; Mary, bom 
1632, married, 1653, Zechar Herrick, died August 
18, 1710; Sarah, baptized 1644, died 1726, married 
Peter Woodbury, born 1640, died 1704 : Richard, 
born 1643. resided at Wenham, died .'Vpril 13. 1705 ; 
Samuel, born 1645, at Ipswich, died December 4, 
1705; Edward, born at North Beverly, February 13, 
1727; Joseph, born 1651, at North Beverly, died 
August 10. 1716. 

(ID Richard Dodge, son of Richard Dodge (l), 
was born at Beverly, Massachusetts, in 1643. He 
died April 13, 1705, at Wenham. He married, Feb- 
ruary 23. 1667, Mary Easton, born 1641. died No- 
vember 28, 1716. iiis farm was in the southerly, 
part of Wenham and he had a large estate. _ He 
gave his cider mill to his son Richard. He willed 



136 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



a negro slave Mingo to his oldest son. He and his 
wife are both buried and have gravestones in the 
old burying ground at North Beverly. Their chil- 
dren were: Richard, born July 12, 1670, died July 
7. ^7i9, at Ipswich; Mary, born March 30, 1672, 
married Charles Gott, of VVenham ; Martha, bap- 
tized June 7, 1674, married Dr. John Davidson, of 
Ipsw ich ; Daniel, born April 26, 1677, graduated at 
Harvard College, 1700; William, born 1678, married, 
1699, Prudence Fairfield. 

(IH) Richard Dodge, son of Richard Dodge 
(2), was born at Wenhani. July 12, 1670, died at 
Inswich, July 7, 1739. He was a prosperous farmer. 
He married, November 16, 1694, Martha Low, 
daughter of Deacon Thomas Low, of Chebacco in 
Ipswich. She died at the age of sixty-eight years. 
Their children were: Martha, born May 29, 1696, 
died at Beverly, October 5, 1721 ; she married Rev. 
John Conant, son of John and Bethiah Conant, born 
July 7, 1686; Nathaniel, born October 8, 1698, died 
young; Lucy, born May 3. 1700, married Daniel 
Conant, January 23, 1716-17; Nathaniel, born De- 
cember 1, 1701, probably died young; Margaret, 
born September 2, 1702; Barnabas, born 1706 or 
1707, died October 11, 1739; Paul, born 1709-10, 
died January 3. 1773; Richard, born at Ipswich, 
married Sarah Tuttic, died in Sutton. 

(IV) Richard Dodge, son of Richard Dodge 
(2), was born in 171 1 or 1712 in Hamlet parish, 
Ipswich. He inherited a third of his father's farm 
and in 1734 bought also the third of his brother 
Barnabas. Later he .sold his Ipswich property and 
bought a farm at Sutton, where he settled. Their 
children were born at Ipswich, as follows : Rufus, 
born March 14, 1736, married Elizabeth Dodge, of 
Brookfield, published October 28, 1756, resided at 
Gageboro; Richard, born May 2r, 1738, probably 
died young, in which case there was another .son 
Richard born later; Nathaniel, born December 9, 
1740, married Sarah Dodge, of Brookfield; Asa, 
married Lydia Buxton, February 9, 1779; James, 
settled in Gageboro, Berkshire county ; Thomas, set- 
tled in Dudley in 1777; Sarah, married Reuben 
Town, July 7. 1767 ; Mary, married Enos Buxton, 
January 3. 1775. 

(V) Richard Dodge, son of Richard Dodge (4), 
was born at Ipswich. Massachusetts, 1750 or 1752. 
With his son Stephen he bought, August 24, 1796, 
a farm at New Grantham, New Hampshire. He 
bought other lands there and moved with ox teams 
one hundred and twenty-five miles through the 
forests. There were no roads. He had lived first 
at Sutton after his marriage and there his children 
were born. In 1776 he bought his brother's in- 
terest in his lather's farm there. He lived also at 
Charlton. Massachusetts. He and both wives are 
buried at New Grantham, New Hampshire, where 
they died. His children were: Ananiah, born No- 
vember 23, 1772, died December 8, 1846, at Palmer, 
Massachusetts; Levi, June 22, 1772, died Decem- 
l)er 8, 1S3.S; Stephen, October 24, 1779, died May 
If, 1S72; Simon, February 22. 1781, died September 

23, 1817, had son James S. ; Lois. August 24. 1783, 
died September 13, 1872; John, December 11, 1785; 
Parly, March 24, 1788; Patty, August 10. 1790; 
Aniasa, October 15, 1792; Joshua, November 23, 
1795- 

(VI) Stephen Dodge, son of Richard Dodge (5), 
was born at Royalston, Massachusetts, December 

24, 1774. He moved with his father and other 
members of his family to New Grantham, New 
Hampshire, March, 1797, married Mary Dunbar, 
of New Grantham. Novemlwr 10. 1799. She was born 
at Bridgcwater, Massachusetts. September 24, 1779. 
Stephen served in the war of 1812. His children 



were : Salmon H., born July 31, 1800. in Croydeii> 
New Hampshire ; Malynda, April 9, 1802, died No- 
vember 21, 1803; Ira, February 28, 1804; Lois, Janu- 
ary 27, 1806; Stephen, January 29, 1808; Azel Dun- 
bar. November 13, 1809, at Malone, New York, 
died November 6, 1857, at New York city ; Still- 
man, December 19, 1811, died at age of eight weeks; 
Patty, June 1, 1813; .\lven, June 23, 1815, died 
July 12, 1815 ; Susan, July 23. 1818. at Sand Lake, 
New York; Mary Jane. December 19, 1823, in 
Cavendish, Vermont, resided at Sand Lake and Lud- 
low, Vermont, where family settled October 15, 
1820. 

(VII) Stephen Dodge, son of Stephen P. Dodge 
(6), was born in New Grantham, New Hampshire, 
January 29, 1808. He was a pattern maker as 
well as a farmer at Ludlow, Vermont. Among his 
children was a son — Stephen, of whom later. 

(VIII) Stephen Dodge, son of Stephen (7), 
was born at Ludlow, Vermont, 1808, died in 
Leominster, Massachusetts, June 26. 1855. He was 
brought up in Ludlow and received a common 
school education. He took up the comb making 
industry which he followed at Ludlow for a time, 
and then removed to Leominster, which is a centre 
of manufacturing of this kind. He was a Republi- 
can ,and held several town offices. He married 
Elvira Foster, of Worcester, Massachusetts. Their 
children were : Helena H., Wooster F., born March 
28, 1841; Alice F. 

(IX) Wooster F. Dodge, son of Stephen Dodge 
(8), was born at Leominster, Massachusetts, March 
28, 1841. He was educated there in the common 
and high schools. .Xt the age of twenty he en- 
listed in the First Massachusetts Infantry band. At 
his discharge ne.\t year he re-enlisted immediately 
in Company H, Fourth Massachusetts Heavy 
Artillery, and served till he was mustered out 
at the close of the war. He returned to his home 
in Leominster and entered the Jewett Allen Piano 
Case factory at Leominster. He went to Andovcr 
later to work in the same line. He finally went into 
business in Leominster, establishing a steam laundry. 
He sold the laundry later when he bought the box 
factory which has been in the hands of the Dodge 
family since 1857. He enlarged the capacity of the 
box factory and has succeeded admirably in the 
business. Mr. Dodge is a strong and influential 
Republican. He represented his district in the gen- 
eral court in 1902 and 1903 with credit. He has 
been selectman of Leominster for seven years and 
has given the townspeople unusual satisfaction. He 
is a member of the Grand Army, a Mason and an 
Odd Fellow. He and his family attend the Uni- 
tarian church. 

.He married (first), 1867. Emma R. Brown, 
daughter of Lyman Brown, of Marlboro, Vermont: 
she died in 1874. He married (second), in 1877, 
Sibelle E. Carter, daughter of Thomas Carter, a 
prominent citizen of Leominster. His children are: 
Flora F... married F. S. Farnsw'orth. and had two 
children — Beatrice and Florence; Fred, died in in- 
fancy. 

FRED HARRIS DANIELS, mechanical en- 
gineer and metallurgist is a lineal descendant of 
Robert Daniell, who came from England and set- 
lled in Watertown, Massachusetts, previous to 16.^6. 
His home was not far from the present site of the 
L'nited States arsenal. The line of descent is traced 
through his son, Joseph Daniels, to Eleazur, David, 
Darius, the three latter having been citizens of Men- 
don. Massachusetts. Darius had a son, Joseph, born 
in Mendon, Massachusetts, who married Lucy Har- 
ris, a daughter of David Harris, who was a son 





^ "/i^^^c^^-^^^.^^^^ 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



137 



of Richard, a sou of Richard, a son of Thomas, 
a son of Thomas, who, December i, 1630, accom- 
panied by his brother, WilHam Harris, and Roger 
Williams, came to America from Bristol, England, 
in the ship "Lyon." Seven years later Thomas Har- 
ris and twelve others settled in Providence, Rhode 
Island. Joseph and Lucy (Harris) Daniels settled 
in Worcester, east of the present Union Station, on 
a farm of about one hundred acres. 

The next in line of descent was William Pomeroy 
Daniels, father of Fred Harris Daniels, who was 
for many years a citizen of Worcester. His first 
occupation was that of contractor, and later for a 
number of years he was a lumber merchant, having 
yards on Grove street, Lincoln street and Lincoln 
square. He married H. Ann Stark, who was born 
in Lyme, New Hampshire, daughter of Nathan and 
Beulah (Wilmarth) Stark. Nathan Stark, a na- 
tive of Lyme, New Hampshire, was a son of Will- 
iam Stark, also of Lyme ; William was a son of 
Moses Stark, of Groton, Connecticut; Moses was 
a son of William Stark, of Connecticut; William 
was a son of William Stark, of Connecticut, who 
in turn was a son of Aaron Stark, who settled at 
Mystic, Connecticut, 1653, and was a soldier in the 
Pequot and Narragansett wars. He was born in 
1602, and died in 1685. Doubtless Aaron Stark, 
of Mystic, and Major General John Stark, the Ben- 
nington hero, descended from the same Scotch fam- 
ily. Beulah (Wilmarth) Stark, wife of Nathan 
Stark, was born in Rchoboth, Massachusetts, 1785, 
a daughter of Joseph Wilmarth, who assisted in 
establishing the American independence during the 
■war of the revolution. Joseph Wilmarth was a son 
of Thomas, a grandson of Thomas, a great-grand- 
son of Thomas, who served in the Colonial wars, 
and a great-great-grandson of Thomas Wilmarth. 

Fred Harris Daniels was born in Hanover Center, 
New Hampshire, June 16, 1853. When he was a 
year old his parents removed to Worcester, Massa- 
chusetts, which has since been his place of resi- 
dence. After leaving the public schools he entered 
the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in his sixteenth 
year, and graduated from there in 1873, receiving 
the degree of mechanical engineer, and at once en- 
tered the employ of the Washburn & Moen Manu- 
facturing Company at Worcester. In the winter of 
1S74 he entered Lafayette College as assistant pro- 
fessor in chemistry-, at the same time being a special 
student under Dr. Thomas M. Drown, the head 
of that department. During the summer he was 
employed by the Glendon iron works at Easton, 
Pennsylvania, completing the plans of their blast 
furnaces. The same year he visited the Centennial 
Exposition in Philadelphia, making a close study 
of the engineering and metallurgical departments. 
Returning to Worcester, he resumed his connection 
with the Washburn & Moen Company, in the capacity 
of mechanical engineer and chemist. 

From this period is to be dated the real be- 
ginning of a career which was destined to be con- 
spicuously useful and brilliant. He had developed 
special abilities in iron and steel working, and he 
several times visited Europe in the interests of the 
"Washburn & Moen Company, having for his particular 
purpose a close study of the most advanced methods 
there practiced in the manufacturing of iron, steel, 
\vire rods and wire. iMuch of his time was passed 
in Sweden, where the methods employed and the 
quality produced were considered at that time very 
superior. After serving with the Washburn & Moen 
Company as chief engineer. Mr. Daniels was given 
additional duties as assistant general superintendent. 
Shortly afterward (in i88g) he was made general 
superintendent and chief engineer of all the com- 



pany's properties, and was given entire charge of 
the construction of its western works at Waukcgan, 
Illinois, the largest wire works then in existence. 
When (in 1899) the Washburn & Moen Company's 
business was purchased by the American Steel & 
Wire Company, Mr. Daniels was appointed chief 
engineer of the thirty-two plants which came into 
the ownership of that corporation, and three years 
later became a director in the company. After the 
American Steel & Wire Company became the prop- 
erty of the United States Steel Corporation, he was 
appointed chairman of the board of engineers of the 
last named body, in addition to his duties as chief 
engineer and director. For the past six years he 
has acted as president of the Washburn & Moen 
Company, and of the Worcester Wire Company. 

As the result of his studies and experiments, 
continued from the time he was a collegian, Mr. 
Daniels made for himself a world-wide reputation 
as an inventor. In 1878 and '79, he made some re- 
markable inventions, relating principally to the manu- 
facture of wire rods and wire, and especially the 
continuous rolling of wire rods and automatically 
coiling the same. From time to time he w-as granted 
more than one hundred patents covering a wide 
range of inventions, many of which proved profit- 
able to the company with which he was connected 
(the Washburn & Moen Company), resulting in 
rapid advancement and large pecuniary returns. 
Many of his expired patents are now in use in 
Europe as well as in the United States, especially 
the coiling device in rod mills, known as "the auto- 
matic reel." The Paris Exposition of 1900 awarded 
him a grand prize and gold medal for his meritorious 
achievements in the development of the wire in- 
dustry. 

Early in his active career Mr. Daniels became a 
member of the American Society of Mining En- 
gineers, the American Society of Mechanical En- 
gineers, the British Iron and Steel Institute, the 
American Society for Testing Materials, and of the 
Engineers' Club of New York city. He is also 
a prominent member of the Century Club of Cleve- 
land, the Duquesne Club of Pittsburg, and the New 
York Athletic Club. In Worcester he is a member 
of the Worcester Club, the Tatnuck Country Club, 
and the Quinsigamond Boat Club. He is also a stren- 
uous sportsman, and a member of the Muskeget Gun 
Club, near Nantucket, famous for duck and brant 
shooting. He has made several hunting trips for 
large game in the White river district of Colorado, 
Jackson's Hole County of Northwestern Wyoming, 
Quebec as far north as the Hudson Bay Company's 
post. Abitibi, and also Newfoundland, and his home 
is filled with trophies of the chase. 

Mr. Daniels married. May 17, 1883, Sarah Lydia 
White, daughter of John C. and Mary L. White, 
both of Worcester, a great-granddaughter of Seth 
White of LTxbridge. and a great-great-great-grand- 
daughter of Joseph Clark, an early settler of Worces- 
ter. Their children are : Clarence White, aged 
twenty years, a student in the Worcester Polytechnic 
Institute: Fred Harold, aged seventeen years; and 
Dwight Clark, aged thirteen years. Mr. Daniels is 
residing at No. 214 Salisbury street on the estate 
noted as the birthplace of George Bancroft, the his- 
torian. John C. White, father of Mrs. Daniels, was 
for many years in the paint and oil business on 
Front and Pearl streets, Worcester. 

Mr. Daniels had three brothers and one sister, 
as follows : Myron Morton Daniels, Company C, 
Thirty-sixth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, 
fell at the Wilderness, Virginia, Mav 6, i86a. nine-- 
teen years of age. Lieutenant Henry William 
Daniels, Company H, Thirty-sixth Regiment, Massa- 



138 

clu,sett. Votun.cers, fell at SpoUsylvania Virgmia 
CongS^ational Church, South Franunghatn. 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



HnR\rF M TOMPKINS, who served with 

kindred branches, is a descendant of an old ana 
"ir^Ili r a^;s^^of°ld:v"a^rTSeThird^ ofEngland 
*° The' Tomjk'ns faniily has had both English and 
^r^^^,''sT"^u^h Tr':L^:'\'lic^rfo^undir%t^e 

kins fami y, and V i vJ-Vp Fhp and At that t me 
Hhrk Pr nee in Vorkshire, tngiaiia. '^V ,"Vj, 

that he had entered into a plot '" \'l^ ,'%'f ^35 
Cromwell, against the King °f E"f ^nd^ m w 

^^•^t^al to 'his'V"rtr pTticutroW Uial'and 
h'A' oelih from 'the scaffold have been preserved 

wTlliam Tompkins was an artist and h.sjon Peltro 
was portrait painter to George III. and drawing 

settling in Wethersfield, Connecticut, going from 
there to Milford, of which he was one of the 
'/Sunders, and where ^is name appears on the record 
Q<: 1 freeman with a house lot ot two acres, uuc 

^"""olher pioneers of the family were: John Tomp- 
kins who also came from England and was the 
direct ancestor of Horace M. Tompkins, and w.l 
be referred to hereinafter. Edmund Tompkins, of 
Wate bury, was another pioneer Charles Tomp- 
kins one of the New Jersey fathers, was born 

in London in ,747- The f°""d«^ °/ '^^^^^L^^^/^ho 
Snnrh of the family was Nathaniel Tompkins, wtio 
Sd at Eastchester about t68o. Nathaniel was a 
family name. One branch of the family settled in 

Sx^s^^mtlgra^^-^f^,^ 

h s mes we ; seven shillings, and the value of his 
estate was one hundred and eighty-seven pounds 

en shiUings and six P-F-. "^'IV'^Rebecca and 
daughters— Elizabeth. Priscilla, Sarah. Kebecca ana 
Hannah-a cow: to his sister, a piece of gold and 
rights in a black cow. 



Among its distinguished members, the Tompkins 




TOMPKINS COAT-OF-ARMS 

kins and his wife. The descendants of Jonatnan 

of the American Revolution, for he w-as adjutant 
o the Westchester county militia, member of egis 
?-,ture during the revolution, and present at the 
idomion of Uie Declaration of Independence. 

C nrac°eristics of the family are integrity, w th 




^. /^^c/I-vy^JU^ 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



139 



and many have possessed great wealth. The coat- 
of-arms of the family is as follows: Azure on a 
chevron between three moorcocks close or, as many 
crosslets sable. Crest, a ship under full sail. 
The ship would indicate some notable expedi- 
tion by sea, by which the first bearers of the arms 
had become famous. This belongs to the Sussex, 
England, Tompkins, and was used by Thomas 
Griffin Tompkins — that is, the arms ; his crest was 
a unicorn's head per fesse argent and or, armed 
and manned of the last with a chaplet of laurel vert. 

(I) John Tompkins, emigrated to America from 
England some time prior to 1640. He settled for a 
time in Concord, Massachusetts. He joined the 
colony under Rev. John Jones in 1644, and was one 
of the founders of Fairfield, Connecticut. The 

' records show that he was at Eastchester, New York, 
from 1644 until 1688. His children were: i. Ruth, 
born April I, 1640. 2. Nathaniel, born perhaps in 

Fairfield, Connecticut; married Elizabeth ; died 

at Eastchester, New York, September 6, 1684. 3. 
John, of whom later. 

(II) John Tompkins, son of John (i) and 
Elizabeth Tompkins, born August 25, 1642, at Con- 
cord, Massachusetts, settled at Eastchester, New 
York, where all his children were born, and where 
he has a large number of descendants. His children 
were: i. Joseph. 2. John, resided at Eastchester 
on his father's homestead, of whom later. 3. Ed- 
mund, settled at Scarsdale, New York. 4. Hannah, 
married Abraham Hyatt. 

(HI) John Tompkins, son of John Tompkins 
(2), was born in Eastchester, New York, and his 
entire life was spent there. His children were; I. 
John, (of whom later). 2. Nathaniel. 3. Nehe- 

miah, married Oakley. 4. Thomas, married 

Heddy. 5. Mary, married Joseph Appleby. 6. 

Ann, married ■ Ledew, of Fishkill, New York. 

7. Ruth. 

(IV) John Tompkins, son of John Tompkins 
(3), born in Westchester county. New York. He 
was a cousin of Governor and Vice-President Daniel 
D. Tompkins, of New York. He married Mercy 
Jones, and had eleven children ; John ; Moses, of 
whom later; Nathaniel; Abraham; Absalom; Isaac; 
Tamar ; Ruth ; Hannah ; Elizabeth ; Mary. 

(V) Moses Tompkins, second son and child of 
John (4) and Mercy (Jones) Tompkins, was born 
in Westchester county. New York. He and two of 
his brothers were in the revolution, and held com- 
missions under Washington. After the war they 
received grants of land near Peekskill, New York, 
in return for military service, and they settled there. 
Many of their descendants have lived in and near 
that_ place. The original farm is still in the pos- 
session of the family, and was occupied by Gould 
Silleck, an uncle of Horace M. Tompkins, of Worces- 
ter, Massachusetts. Mr. Silleck died in Decem- 
ber, 1905, at the age of eighty-two years. 

(VI) Moses Tompkins, son of Moses Tompkins 
(S), born on the home farm near Peekskill, New 
York; married Polly Croffett and had children: 
Warren, of whom later; Nelson; Belding; Gov- 
ernor ; Jonathan ; Fountain ; Sally. 

(VII) Warren Tompkins, eldest child of Moses 
(6) and Polly (Croffett) Tompkins, was born near 
Peekskill. New York, l\Iarch 27, 1808. He was a 
carpenter and builder at Peekskill, New York, and 
built all the government buildings at West Point 
up to 1858. He constructed many of the steam brick- 
yards that fringe the Hudson river, and owned a 
farm near the Hudson. He was captain in the New 
York state militia. He married Sarah Ann Silleck, 
born April 22. 1809, died December 17, 1871, daugh- 
ter of John Silleck, and granddaughter of Dr. Gould 



John Silleck, a well known pliysician of liis day. 
John Silleck was a captain in the war of 1812. He 
married Phebe Barrett, and in addition to Sarah 
Ann they had children as follows : Henry G. ; 
Nathan; Sands; Wila ; Louis; Vasliti; Martha; 
Charles; Gould; Mary; Abby ; Jane; John B. The 
children of Warren and Sarah Ann (Silleck) Tomp- 
kins were: i. Gould Silleck, born December 21, 
1S34; died September, 1904. 2. Warren Nathan, 
January 29, 1836. 3. Seth T., March 12, 1838. 4. 
Selah, April 22, 1840. 5. Ira, January 24, 1842; died 
August, 1850. 6. Horace M., of whom later. 7. 
Wila T., March 24, 1846. 8. Ophelia, July 30, 1848. 
9. Cornelia Jane, November 25, 1850. 10. Gertrude 
Wells, November 17, 1854. H- James B., Novem- 
ber 23, 1856. 

(VIII) Horace M. Tompkins, sixth son and 
sixth child of Warren (7) and Sarah Ann (Silleck) 
Tompkuis, was born at Peek.skill, New York, De- 
cember 6, 1843. He was educated in the schools 
of his native town. Shortly after the beginning of 
the civil war and before he was of age, he came to 
Worcester, Massachusetts,' in 1862, and there enlisted 
in Company D, Fourth Massachusetts Hea\'y 
Artillery, and remained in the army until the close 
of the war. He was in Washington the night of 
the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and took 
part in the funeral procession ; was present at the 
review of both armies, and returned to Worcester 
in 1865. He started in business with his brother in 
1869 in the grocery and provision line, and continued 
this a few years. He then commenced boring ar- 
tesian and driven wells. As the methods have 
changed, Mr. Tompkins has added new machinery, 
and always kept his apparatus up to date, doing a 
cash business. For a number of years his son was 
associated with him, and the firm name has been 
H. M. Tompkins & Son. The present location. No. 
19, Gardner street, Worcester, has been their head- 
quarters for many years. The firm makes a spe- 
cialty of artesian and driven wells, but also furn- 
ishes and installs pumping plants, windmills, and all 
kinds of pipe and fitting used in this kind of work. 
The firm has an enviable reputation for good judg- 
ment and success in their well-driving business. The 
long experience of Mr. Tompkins and his mechan- 
ical skill have made him an expert in this line of 
work, second to none. Following is a partial list 
of contracts which have been executed by this firm : 
Edward F. Searls, Great Barrington and Methuen, 
Massachusetts; Knowles Loom works; Caleb Colvin 
foundry; F. E. Reed Company; Danverse Asylum; 
J. Gushing & Company, Fitchburg, Massachusetts ; 
Royal Worcester Corset Company; Worcester Gas 
Light Company ; Denholm McKay Company ; Amos 
Plow Company; Peter Wood Dyeing Company; 
Worcester Brewing Company; Worcester Woolen 
Mills; Woodward & Powell Planer Company: Spen- 
cer^ Wire Company; Washburn & Mocn Manufac- 
turing Company ; Morgan Spring Company ; Wire 
Goods Company; Webb Granite Company; W. H. 
Sawyer Lumber Company; George F. Blake, Junior; 
Frank P. Knowles; Green Hill Farm; city of Wor- 
cester school houses ; Trout Hatchery ; John C. Jef- 
ferds; N. P. Huot; John Rolston; George A. Brig- 
ham; C. Robboli & Sons; White, Pevey & Dexter 
Company; all the foregoing are of Worcester. 
Worcester county truant school, at Oakdale ; George 
H. Hastings & Sons, at Boylston ; Edward P. Sum- 
ner; George H. Harlow, and others in Shrewsbury. 
Grafton Country Club; Paul Whitin Manufacturing 
Company; Tulula Paper Company, at Fitcliburg; 
Viscoloid Company, at Leominster ; and many oth- 
ers. Mr. Tompkins is well up in the Masonic order, 
and is a member of Post 10, Grand Army of the 



I40 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Republic of Worcester. Me has traveled a great 
deal, both in this country and all over Europe, in 
company with his wife. 

lie married, September 19, 1865, Julia Maria 
Ward, born March 19, 1846. She was the daughter 
of Edward Lucius and Harriet Adelia (Fiske) 
Ward. The former was born January 13, 18:5; 
married at Springfield, Massachusetts, August 4. 
1844; Mrs. Ward was born January 24, 1817; died 
in Worcester, September 30, 1897. Mr. and Mr^;. 
Ward had but two children : Julia Maria, wlio 
married Horace M. Tompkins; and Harriet Louisa, 
who married Homer R. King, and had one daughl^r: 

Mabelle Lena, married Coe, and has one child : 

Muriel, born October 9, 1897. 

Jonas Ward, born February 15, 1785 ; married, 
December 22, 1812, Susannah Fairbanks Thurston, 
born September 18, 1792; died January 4, 1831. He 
died April 28, 1842. Their children were: i. Emily, 
born November 7, 1813. 2. Edward Lucius, of 
whom later. 3. Laura Fairbanks, born March 5, 
1818. 4. Samuel, born October 7, 1820; died 1880. 
5. Su,san Elizabeth, May 27, 1822; died October 14, 
1875. 6. John Alexander, born December 7, 1823. 
7. Lucia Maria, born May 20, 1825 ; died October 
10, 1839. 8. Nathan Ihurston, born November 13, 
1827; died October 16, 1828. 9. Sarah Sophia, born 
April 14, 1830; died January 6. 1839. 

Edward Lucius Ward, the father of Mrs. Horace 
M. Tompkins, died on his farm at Worcester, Massa- 
chusetts, April 20, 1900. When he was two years 
old, his family moved to Oxford, Massachusetts, 
where he was educated. He came to Worcester 
about 1835 and went to work for William A. 
Wheeler, one of the oldest iron founders in the 
state. He learned the trade of machinist in the 
Wheeler establishment, where he remained until 
1848, when his health began to fail and he was ad- 
vised by his physician to confine himself to outdoor 
work. About this time he bought the Sew-ell Rice 
farm in Worcester, which is noted as being the 
birthplace of the first permanent settler. Mr. Ward 
spent the remainder of his days on this farm. Previ- 
ous to this he had lived in a house in Sumner street, 
opposite the Thomas street school house, and there 
his daughter, Julia Maria, was born. 

The children of Horace M. and Julia Maria 
(Ward) Tompkins were: I. Lucius Warren, of 
whom later. 2. Mabel Ward, born May 8, 1870; 
died August 12, 1871. 

(IX) Lucius Warren Tompkins, only surviving 
child of Horace M. (8) and Julia Maria (Ward) 
Tompkins, born June 9, 1866. He was educated in 
the public schools of Worcester, Massachusetts, and 
upon leaving the high school entered the employment 
of Edyvard B. Clapp, gentlemen's furnishing store, 
at the corner of Main and Foster street. At the 
end of two years he gave up this position and took 
up architecture, working on many of the large build- 
ings in Worcester and Boston, Massachusetts, and in 
Manchester, New Hampshire. He returned to Wor- 
cester and entered into an engagement with the 
Vocalion Organ Company, making designs for their 
organs. The one used in the woman's building at 
the World's Fair in Chicago, Illinois, was of his de- 
signing. Finding that outdoor occupation would be 
more beneficial to him. he associated himself with 
his father in the artesian well business. He was 
an excellent mathematician, and a man of sterling 
integrity and good judgment. His word was con- 
sidered as good as his bond. He had full charge of 
the business during two years, while his father was 
absent in California. He was very ingenious, and 
cool, collected and resourceful in every emergency. 
He was well informed in the events of the day, and 



was a Republican in politics. He had an unblem- 
ished business record, his manner was quiet and un- 
assuming, and he was an omnivorous reader. He 
had many friends in all classes of society. While 
in pursuit of his business interests, he was run 
down by a street car. His team was destroyed, 
and he received injuries from which he never re- 
covered, his death occurring at his home. No. 51 
May street, Worcester, November 20, 1901. He 
married, June 14, 1893, Alice H. Boyd, of Manches- 
ter, New Hampshire, and had one child: Louisa 
Ward, born October 4, 1895. 

FISKE FAMILY. (1) Symond Fiske, lord of 
the manor of Stadhaugh, England, was the progeni- 
tor of the American family to which Mrs. Horace 
M. Tompkins, of Worcester, belongs. The line of 
descent has been so carefully traced by the genealog- 
ists from this English ancestor to the various Amer- 
ican families of Fiske, that it seems seems proper 
to give the line complete. 

Symond Kiske was the grandson of Daniel, lord 
of the manor of Stadhaugh, parish of Laxford, 
county of Suffolk. England, in the reigns of Henry 
IV and VI (1399-1422). He married (first) Su- 
sannah Snijth, who died, and he married (second), 

Katherine . His will, dated December 22, 1463, 

was proved at Norwich, England, February j6, 
1463-4. He bequeaths his soul to God, the Virgin 
Jlary and all the saints in Heaven. He bequeaths 
twenty pounds to each of his sons — William, Jeffrey, 
John and Edmund. He mentions his daughter, 
Margaret Dowsing, and appoints his wife, Kather- 
ine, son John, and Nichols Noloch, executors. He 
died in February, 1464. He resided at Stadhaugh. 
His children were: 1. William, born in England, 
married Joan Lynne. 2. Jeffrey, in England, mar- 
ried Margaret . 3. John. 4. Edmund, married 

Margery . 5. Margaret, married Dowsing 

or Dowling. 

(II) William Fiske, son of Symond Fiske (i), 
was born at Stadhaugh. county Suffolk, England. 
He lived in Laxficid, England, during the reigns 
of Henry VI, Edward IV, Richard HI, and Henry 
VII, dying in 1504. He married Joan Lyime. of 
Norfolk, who survived him, making her will, July 
15, 1504, as the widow of the late William Fiske. 
This document was proved February 28. 1 505. 
Their children were: I. Thomas, born in England, 

married Anne . 2. William, married Joan . 

3. Augustine, married Joan . 4. Simeon, of 

whom later. 5. Robert, married, (second), Joan 
. 6. John, married. 7. >Iargcry. 8. Mar- 
garet. 

(III) Simon Fiske, son of William Fiske (2), 
was born at Laxfield. England. He resided in Lax- 
field, and made his will July lO, 1536; it was proved 
July 13. 1538. In this will he desires to be buried 
at the chancel end of the church of All Saints, in 
Laxficid next his father, sons Robert. Jeffrey, Simon 
and William and daughters Joan Ivorton, Gelyne 
Warner, Agnes Fiske, and wife Elizabeth. He died 

June. 1538. He married Elizabeth . who died 

at Halcsworth. Their children were: i. Simon, 
of whom later. 2. William. 3. Robert, married 
Alice . 4. Joan, married Ivorton. 5. Jef- 
frey. 6. Gelyne, married Warner. 7. Agnes. 

8. Thomas. 9. Elizabeth. 10. John. 

(IV) Simon Fiske, son of Simon (3) and Eliza- 
beth Fiske. was born in I-axficld. England. His life 
was spent in the town of his birth, and he died there 
in 1605. His will is dated January 25. 1605. He 
gave legacies to his children who were all young 
at that time, and made a bequest of ten marks to 
his brother, Master John I'iske. to sing for his 
soul for one year. His children were: I. Robert, 




JJ^^Z^. 




^^^^^^t:-^/.^^ 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



141 



of whom later. 2. John, married Tliomasina Piuch- 

ard. 3. George, married Anne . 4. Nicholas, 

married Joan Crispe. 5. Jeffrey. 6. Jeremy. 7. 
William. 8. Richard, married Agnes Crispe. 9. 
Joan. 10. Gelyne. 11. Agnes. 

(V) Robert Fiske, eldest child of Simian Fiske 
(4), born at Stadhaugh, England 15 — . For some 
time he was of the parish of St. James, South Elm- 
ham, England. He also lived at Broad Gates, Lax- 
field, Suffolk county, near Framingham. About this 
time there was a season of great religious persecu- 
tion. Robert Fiske fled on account of his religion, 
in the days of "Bloody Mary," to Geneva, but re- 
turned later and died at St. James in 1600. His 
will is dated April 10, 1590, and was proved July 

28, 1600. During this time of persecution one John 
Noyes, of La.xtield, Suffolk county, a shoemaker, 
was burned at the stake in that town, September 
21, 1657; John Alcock was taken for heresy at 
Headlcy church, imprisoned, died in prison, and was 
buried in a dung-hill. Robert Fiske married Mrs. 
Sybil (Gould) Barber, who was in great danger 
during this time of persecution, .1553-8, as was her 
sister Isabella, who was imprisoned in the castle 
of Norwich, and escaped death only on account of 
the influence of her brothers. The children of Ro- 
bert and Sybil (Gould) (Barber) Fiske were: i. 
William, of whom later. 2. Jeffrey, married Sarah 

Cooke. 3. Thomas, married Alargery . 4. 

Eleazer, married Elizabeth , died without issue 

in England, July, 1615. His will and that of his 
wife mention many relatives. 5. Elizabeth, married 
Robert Bernard, a farmer of the estate of Custrick 
Hallin Wecky, county Essex, which he held of Sir 
Edward Coke, the lord chief justice. They had a 
daughter who married a Locke, and became the 
mother of John Locke, the author and philosopher, 
who was born at Wrington, Somersetshire, August 

29, 1632, and died at Gates, a country seat in Essex, 
October 28, 1704. Another daughter of Elizabeth 
(Fiske) Bernard married Thomasine, and her 
brother-in-law was John Pinchard, of Bedingfield. 
He resided at Twitshall, St. Mary, England, and 
died in 1607. 

(VI) William Fiske, eldest child of Robert (s) 
and Sybil (Gould) (Barber) Fiske, was born in 
Laxfield, England, in 1566. William is described as 
being of St. James, in South Elmham, and is said 
to have filed with his father on account of religious 
persecution. An old record says : "William Fyske 
has livery of the manor and advowson of Heking- 

ham, in county Norfolk, lately belonging to Robert 
Fyske, his father." He also lived in Dirchingham. 
He died in 1623. His will is dated November 25, 
1616, and was proved May 17, 1623. He married 

(first), .Anna Anstye. daughter of Walter Anstye, 

of Tibbenham, Long Row, Norfolk county, England. 

She died and he married (second) Alice . His 

children were: i. John, of whom later. 2. Na- 
thaniel, born at South Elmham, England, married 
Mrs. Alice (Hend) Leman. 3. Eleazer, born at 
South Elmham ; married and settled in Norwich ; 
had no male issue. 4. Eunice, died unmarried. 5. 
Hannah, born at South Elmham ; married. May 4, 
1603, William Candler, schoolmaster at Tofford. 
Their son. Rev. Matthias Candler, was the author of 
the celebrated Candler manuscript on file in the 
British Museum. Other children were John and 
Mary Candler. 6. Hester, born at South Elmham; 
married John Chalke, of Rednall, England. 7. Mary, 
born at South Elmham, England ; married Anthony 
Fisher, proprietor of Wignotte, county Suffolk. He 
died April 11, 1640. His son, also called Anthony, 
was baptized at Syleham, England, April 23, 1591 ; 
he married, in England, Mary — ■ — , and died in 



Dcdham or Dorchester, Massachusetts, April 18, 
1671. His son, Anthony, the third of the name, was 
born in Syleham, England; married, in Dorchester, 
Massachusetts, September 7, 1647, Joamia Faxon, 
born in England in 1626, died October 16, 1694. The 
third Anthony died in Dorchester February 13, 
1670. Another son of Anthony and Mary (Fiske) 
F'isher was a pioneer in New England, with his 
brother Anthony. (See Fisher family in sketch of 
Mrs. M. P. Higgins.) Of two other sons of Anthony 
and Mary (Fiske) Fisher, Cornelius, who was a 
Master of Arts, remained in England and taught 
school at East Bergholt ; and Amos, farmed an es- 
tate called Custridge Hall, in the parish of Wesley, 
which is in the hundred of Tendring, between Col- 
chester and the sea. 

(VII) John Fiske, son of William (6) and 
Anna (Anstye) Fiske, was born at St. James, Eng- 
land, and died in South Elmham, where he had 
lived in 1633. He married Anne Lantersee, daugh- 
ter of Robert Lantersee, who died on board ship on 
his way to New England, in 1637. His children 
were: I. John, born in South Elmham, England, 
1601 ; married Ann Gipps, and (second Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Henchman. 2. William, of whom later. 3. 
Anne, married Francis Chickering, who came to 
America and was admitted a freeman May 13, 1640; 
proprietor of Dedham, Massachusetts, 1638; member 
of court valuation committee, ensign, selectman, and 
deputy to the general court. His wife Anne died 
about 1649 and he married (second) Sarah Sibbell, 
June 16, 1650. 4. Martha, born in England ; mar- 
ried there Captain Edmund Thompson, son of John 
Thompson, of Holkham, in Norfolk county, and his 
wife Anne Thompson, daughter of John Hastings, 
of Holkham. They had four children born in New 
England, then returned to England, where three 
children were born at Yarmouth. Thompson was 
a sta captain, and served the state of Holland after 
the death of Charles I. While in America he was 
proprietor at Salem and Wenham, Massachusetts. 
5. Nathan, died young. 6. Eleazer, born at South 
Elmham, mentioned in grandfather's will. 

(VIII) William Fiske, second son of John (7) 
and Anne (Lantersee) Fiske, born in England about 
1613; came to America in 1637, and settled at Salem, 
Massachusetts, where he received a grant of land, 
and was admitted a freeman. May 18, 1642, and a 
member of the Salem church, July 2, 1641. Soon 
afterward he removed to Wenham, Massachusetts, 
where he was first town clerk, and then clerk of 
writs from 1643 to 1660. He was a representative 
to the general court in 1647, and until 1652. He was 
one of the most honored and prominent citizens of 
the town of Wenham. He died September, 1654 
intestate. 

He married 1643, at Salem, Massachusetts, 
Bridget Muskett, of Pelham, England. After his 
death she married, November 3, 1661, Thomas Rix, 
of Salem, surgeon. The children of William and 
Bridget (Muskett) Fiske were: I. William, mar- 
ried Sarah Kilham. 2. Samuel, of whom later. 3. 
Joseph, born in Wenham ; married Elizabeth Haman. 
4. Benjamin, born in Wenham; married Bethusha 
Morse. 5. Martha. 

(IX) Samuel Fiske, second son and child of 
William (8) and Bridget (Muskett) Fiske, born in 
Wenham, INIassachusetts ; resided in Wenham, where 
he was admitted a freeman, March 25, 1685. He was 
a tailor by trade. He held the offices of tythingman, 
constable and selectman. He left a large estate, 
which, before his death, he deeded to his sons. He 
died October 31, 1716. He married (first), Novem^ 
ber 6, 1679, Phebe Bragg, who died in Wenham, 
October i, 1696. He married (second) Mrs. Hannah 



142 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



Allen, of Manchester, born 1662 died January 30. 
172^ The children of Samuel tibke were 1. 
&el. married Sarah Reddmgton. 2. John, m^r- 
ri!^^ Abigail Poor. 3. William, born June 10, 1687. 
ried Abigail roor J Rcddiugton; second Lydia 
S'ston' th^^d Bethfah Goodf,ch. 4- Uaniel of 
whom l^tcr S. Benjamin, died unmarried, Septem- 
ber^6 I7i9 0. Hannah, born January 7, 1698; 

''"U^'^D^.h^o: fourth son and child of Sam- 
Mel (oi Fiske was probably born at Wenham. He 
re id?d^nWenham until 1748., when he moved to 

SaYem'g a"^ddaugi;tJ; of 'Hiomis Fuller, who be- 
longed to a fam.b' of high social standing in Eng- 
and and came to America in t63«, °" ,^, t"^"/ °^ °^: 
servation, not intending to stay, ^^hile in cam 
bridge, Massachusetts, he became a convert o Puri 
tanism under the eloquent preaching of Rev. 
Thomas Shepard, a famous colonial divine, and set- 
tied^n New Salem, later Middleton, Massachusetts^ 
He marned Elizabeth Tidd, of Woburn, and died in 
itoS leaving sons Thomas, Benjamin and Jacob- 
ar^' several daughters. His youngest son, Jacob 
FuUe , born in 1655, married Mary Bacon, and set- 
tled on the paternal homestead, fwo of their hve 
childr"n married Fiskes one as above ^ta^^d. The 
children of Daniel and Sarah CFuller) Fiske were . 
I. Daniel, born June 17. 1718; married f''?"" ^>'"- 
2 Sarah December 6 1719.3. Hannah May 16 
1721; married, in Wenham, July 6. -M^ Ebenezer 

Ober 4. Sarah, March 5. 1722 1 died March 31. 
1721 q Benjamin, of whom later. 6. Phebe, Oc- 
tober 5 1726 died November 18, 1726^ 7- Samuel, 

Februa';y '14, 1728; married Sarah Partridge 8. 

Coroh XHrch 20 1730: married, JJecemuer 1/, 

f7S. at Upton, EbenezeV Walker, of Upton. 9. 

"■"(xif'-Bmj.™™ Fi*,, 6(0. child of D»U1 (.o) 
and Sarah (F„U«) Fi.ke, »J. >»'»>', ""^ 

Mendon who d ed March 20, 1799. He marriea 
(saond) Keziah Adams, of Medway, (intemion.) 
luTe"o i&i His children were : i. Benjamin of 
ihomlater 2. Mary, born November 4, '750 1 died 

November 26, .750. 3- ^rf'dfZ^Z'V^^if- t 
Ichabod, June 18, 1761; died before his father 5. 
RVhecca Tanuary 8, 1764; married January 23. 1784. 
m Upton bTRev.'EfisL Fish, her cou^m Samuel 
Fiske of Shelburne. 6. Mary. 7- Obadian. i5. 
Elizabeth 9. Rebecca, died young. . . 

^-70 Temima Hobrook; second. March 7. 1782. 
Ma?gery Wood, born .76.. died in Upton, February 
S, .&»3 The children of Benjamin F'^ke ^^"^^^J^ 
wi born December 17, '"o:"^""'^'' Hannah 
^ Z.^r -y rWrk Anril 4, 1778; married Chloe 



^ Fniorv lune 30, 1790; married. January i, i8u. 
Rufus™sl&e ."o'f irafL^.'shc died October 5 t.u. 
9. Elvia. June 30, 1790, ^twin ^\'^'^^^^-^^'^^^ 
benjamin, November 24, 1792. 1 ; 7"%^^"^"^! 
W 1794; died February 19, I7?5. 12. J°"='Vi "'A.ia 
gust '3a 1794, Ciwin of P^^«dmg married Ura. a 

S^:;?y^f^r\-'^^'^"«)tm-'^ 

^iir M^^^r^^i^^vJd SiH. 

UdL ^6^Rebekah, March io,'i8o.; married June 
V,^ ?8i7 lesse Whitney, born October 12, 1790, died 
4JS^i 18S0; she Vesided at MUf^ord Massachu^ 

■t U>^n who jied, a'nd she marned (second) 

-"cXmr'Galacius Fiske, son of Benjamin (12) 
and Margery (Wood) Fiske, born at Upton, Massa- 
cusetts Apnl 17. 1788; was a farmer and miUer at 
Shelburne. Masachusetts and dic-d in Liid^^^ 

Massachusetts, xMay 30, i°3J- ^V"" , ,„, jied in 
,K>^ Mirv Brown, born March 5, 1/94. "le" '" 

born No.e„b.r , .8g| ""^JJ'^Xu/M.rS 

August 2 18^3. and died in Belchertown Massa- 
October 23 1867 He was a farmer and their chil- 
dren are 1 vng at Thorndike, Massachusetts with 
fhe except on of one, Victor, who resides in C le^- 
1 ^H Ohio Mrs Dutton died October 23, i860. 
8 Franc^ Wayland, May 30. 1838; died December 
.7 1868 from' the effects of a wound received m 

''%twT'"Harriet Adelia Fiske, daughter of Ga- 

January 13. f' 5' 'J^'^Mana Ward,Tf whom later. 
**'» •flnuisa Ward born December 31, 1850. 
lhrm:;ned^°remYef2. ,869. Homer R. King, and 

"='?^T ^^luri^N^^^^r of Edward 



NTTTT FAMILY. (I) William Nutt, the immi- 

■wmmmm 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



143 



many centuries. The name of this branch of the 
family has been spelled Nutt since about 1500, and 
the principal home of the family was Kent, Eng- 
land. William Nutt was mayor of Canterbury in 
1533- It is likely that the family in Ireland be- 
longs to the Kent family, for in the present genera- 
tion a branch of the family lived across the Irish 
Sea in Barnstaple, Devonshire, and the writer has 
knowledge of the English origin of one other 
Protestant family of this name in Ireland. 

William Nutt was a fuller by trade, and when 
first known in this country was in the employ of 
Captain David Cargill, who established the first 
fulling mill in Londonderry. Nutt's homestead lot 
was drawn September 26, 1720, sixty acres east of 
Ezekiel Pond. He married at Bradford, Massachu- 
setts, where his former pastor. Rev. Thomas Symmes, 
was located, Jean Colbath (Colbreath or Galbraith 
are variations of spelling of this name) May 29, 
1723, the marriage being recorded at Londonderry. 
She was sister of the progenitor of Vice President 
Henry Wilson, whose name originally was John 
Jeremiah Colbath. William Nutt worked for Car- 
gill until the latter's death, when he bought the 
mill, August 15, 1733. In 1739 he sold out his mill 
and farm in Londonderry and became one of the 
first settlers of the adjoining town of Chester. 
About 1740 he and his son John Nutt built their 
saw mill in Chester. William Nutt died intestate 
October 26, 1751. His widow Jean was administra- 
trix; she died at St. Georges, Eastward (near 
Thomaston, Maine), in 1771. She pi-obably lived 
there with her son. Colonel David Nutt. Her son 
William, of Derryfield, New Hampshire, was ad- 
njinistrator. Their children: r. John, born 1724; 
died 1757, soldier in the French war. 2. Samuel, 
mentioned below. 3. William, born 1730; prominent 
citizen of Derryfield and ancestor of the Man- 
chester (New Hampshire) families, including the 
famous Commodore Nutt, the dwarf, and his brother, 
Major Rodnia Nutt. another dwarf, still living, 
at Dorchester, Massachusetts; ancestor of Dr. Sarah 
J. McNutt and Dr. Julia G. McNutt, well known 
physicians of New York city. 4. Colonel David, 
born I7'8, prominent in French war and revolution ; 
settled at Thomaston, Maine. 5. Robert. 6. Na- 
thaniel. 7. Benjamin. 8. Jean, niRrried John Gor- 
don. 9. Mary, died young. 10. James, died young. 

(II) Samuel Nutt, son of Williim Nutt (i), 
was born in Londonderry. New Hampshire, in De- 
cember 1828. He was a carpenter by trade, and 
worked with his father in the saw mill at Chester. 
He bought the interests of the other heirs after his 
father's death. He bought a farm in Weare, New 
Hampshire, July 6, 1763, lived there a few years, and 
was a town officer in 1765. He mnved a few miles 
to what is now Francestown, adjoining New Bos- 
ton, New Hampshire, in 1767, and wa'; the seventh 
settler of the town of Francestown, one of its in- 
corporators, and the first town clerk. He was con- 
stable, tithingman and on varinuc town committees. 
He served in 1774 on the committee of safety, and 
was for a short time in the revolutionary war. In 
1780 he was called Ensign on the records. He was 
on the committee for Francestown to consider the 
state constitution in 1788. His house on the old 
road from Francestown to New Bo'^ton now consti- 
tutes the ell-part of a brick farm-house. His farm is 
known as the Pettee place and is markfd by magnifi- 
cent elms which he is snid to have pla'^ted. Samuel 
Nutt sold his farm in 1797, and removed to Topsham, 
Vermont, where his sons and sons-in-law also lo- 
cated. He married first Gordon who died with- 
out issue. He married second. 17^9. Elizabeth 
Dickey, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (MacPher- 



son) Dickey, all of Londonderry, New Hampshire, 
all Scotch-Irish pioneers there. His wife .died Sep- 
tember 13, 1801, aged sixty-one years and is buried 
at Newport, New Hampshire. Samuel Nutt died 
July 5, 1808, aged seventy-nine years, probably at 
Topsham. Their children: l. William, mentioned 
below. 2. Elizabeth, born September 3, 1761; mar- 
ried Alexander Thompson, who died 1827; she died 
May 27, 1848. 3. Eleanor, born July 3, 1763; died 
September 23, 1843. 4. James, born March 29, 1764; 
died 1765. 5. Samuel, born June 4, 1766; died 1782. 
The preceding were born at Chester, the following 
at Francestown: 6. John, born February 29, 1768; 
died April 12, 1855 at Topsham. 7. Joseph, born 
November 13, 1769; died 1813 at Tyngsborough, 
Masssachusetts. 8. Benjamin, born July 10, 1771; 
died 1792 at Francestown. 9. Adam, born Decem- 
ber 13, 1772; went to West Indies in 1801. 10. Jenny, 
born September 23, 1774; died 1792. 11. Ann Wilson, 
born February 14, 1776; died 1862; married John 
Brewster. 12. Jean, born September 3, 1777; died 
1793- 13- David, born July 6, 1779; died August 10, 
1845. 14. Margaret, born April 24, 1781 ; died Au- 
gust 9, 1864; married Joseph Towner. 15. Infant, 
born June 16, 1783, died same day. 16. Samuel, 
born December 16, 1784 ; blacksmith by trade ; be- 
came minister of Christian church, and a famous 
evangelist; resided at Troy, Maine, and Frankhn 
Falls, New Hampshire, where he died 1872. 17. 
James Dickey, born September 14, 1788; died 1833 ; 
settled in New York. 

(HI) Deacon William Nutt, son of Ensign 
Samuel Nutt (2), born at Chester, New Hampshire, 
March 14, 1760, died at Topsham, Vermont, January 
20, 1833. He was raised on the farm in Frances- 
town. He learned the trade of shoemaker. He was 
a soldier in the Revolution, a private in 1777 in Cap- 
tain John Carson's company. Colonel Daniel Moore's 
regiment, and later in Captain Peter Clark's com- 
pany in the same regiment. In February 1780, he 
was in Captain Thomas Nichols's company, 
Colonel Whitcomb's regiment, and also in Cap- 
tain D. McGregor's company. He fought in the 
battles of Saratoga and Ticonderoga, and was at 
the surrender of Burgoyne. He was in the army 
almost continuously for nearly five years. He re- 
seived a pension in his old age, in 1832. He re- 
moved to Vermont and settled in the town of 
Topsham in March, 1796, buying a farm of Asa 
Porter, of Haverhill, June 20, 1796. Fie was a man 
of character and influence. He was one of the rul- 
ing elders of the Reformed Presbyterian church of 
Topsham, organized February 14, 1821. He was a 
man of great size and strength, said to be the most 
powerful man in the town in his day. He used to 
carry two bushels of corn on his back to the mill 
in Newbury, ten miles distant, and return with the 
meal on his back over the trail blazed through the 
woods. He married, in 1780, Mary Brewster, daugh- 
ter of Isaac and Jean Brewster, at Francestown. 
Her father was a shoemaker, born in Ireland, of 
Scotch family. She died August II, 1838, and the 
graves of both are marked by headstones in the 
burying ground at Topsham. Their children: I. 
Jane McCollum, born July 24, 1786; married Moses 
Mills and lived in Canada. 2. Samuel, born July 
17, 1788. 3. Isaac Brewster, mentioned below. 4. 
Benjamin, born January 7, 1792, died at Nashua 
December 16, 1869. 5. Elizabeth Dickey, born Oc- 
tober 25. 1793 ; married Peck and lived in 

Fayette county, Ohio. 6. Thanna, born May 27, 1796; 
died at Topsham January 21, 1875. . 7. John, born 
"ril 17. iTnS; died Tuly 12, 1825, at Tyngsborough,. 
Massachusetts. 8. Mary L., born August 29, 1800. 
9. Amy, born November 10, 1803 ; died unmarried 



144 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



at Topshani February 21, i8go; original member of 
the Presbyterian diurch ; memorial to her erected by 
women of the church there. 

(IV) Isaac Brewster Nutt, son of William Nutt 
(3), was born at Francestown, New Hampshire, 
February 15, 1790. He was a carpenter by trade 
but taught school, was a farmer, and followed vari- 
ous other callings. At one time he was a hotel clerk 
at Billerica, Massachusetts. He served in the war 
of 1812 for a short time m a regiment called to the 
defence of Boston. He was a Universalist in re- 
ligion. He died December 21, 1854, and is buried in 
the Nutt lot at Topsham. 

He married, February 6, 1825, Sally Rowe, daugh- 
ter of Captain Jeremiah Rowe (also given Munrow 
and Munroe) and his wife, Deborah Brown, natives 
of Barrington, New Hampshire, where they were 
married September 26, 1800. Sally Rowe was born 
January 15, 1804, at Richford, Vermont, and died 
March 7, 1858, at Natick, Massachusetts. The 
children of Isaac Brewster and Sally Nutt : I. Sally 
Ann Monrow, born at Sutton, Canada, April 26, 
1826; died March 6, 1897; married Isaac M. Perry 
of Natick, Massachusetts. 2. Isaac Brewster, born 
.August 24, 1827, at Topsham, Vermont ; married 
Azubah Puffer, daughter of josiah and Patience 
(Russell) Puflfer of Sudbury, Massachusetts; she 
died at Natick November 16, 1854; he resides in 
Natick. 3. ^lary Brewster, born August 24, 1829, 
at Topsham ; married Loved Garcy, resided in Iowa. 
4. Jeremiah Munroe, born May 9, 1831, at Topsham; 
served in Gen. W. T. Sherman's regiment three 
years; died April 15, l8()9. 5. Helen Mar, born 
February 22, 1833 ; died August 26, 1836. 6. Martha 
Elma, born November 8, 1834; died November 5, 
1861 ; married .Adna P. Hall of Natick, the first 
Natick volunteer killed in action in the civil war, 
leaving children. 7. Colonel William, mentioned be- 
low. 8. Helen Rizpah, born July 14, 1838, wife of 
Nathan P. Rice of West Boylston, Massachusetts. 
9. Samuel, born May 29, 1840; resides at South 
Haven, Kansas; has been sheriff of the county; 
veteran of the civil war; married at Worcester, Jan- 
uary I, 1867, Etta Stow F'rench of Grafton, born 
I-'ebruary 14, 1841. 10. Jane, born December 4 1845; 
died January 6, 1903 ; married John F"ord and set- 
tled in Kansas and Arkansas. 

(V) Colonel William Nutt, son of Isaac 
Brewster Nutt (4), was born in Topsham, Vermont, 
August 5, 1836. His early education was limited 
to a few terms in the district school of his native 
town. As soon as he was old enough he began to 
work on the farm of his father and for neighbor- 
ing farmers. In his sixteenth year, in 1852. he re- 
moved to Natick, Massachusetts, where he has since 
lived, and began to work at the shoemaker's trade. 
He supplemented his schooling by much reading 
and study, and attended private schools when he had 
the opportunity. As a shoemaker, associated with 
Henry Wilson, who afterward became vice-president 
of the United States, he became interested in the 
slavery question, and in 1857 took part in the Kansas 
movement, the result of which was to keep that state 
free from slavery. He "squatted" at Lawrence, 
Kansas. His first vote was for the Free Soil ticket, 
and he was one of the active organizers of the Re- 
publican party. He returned from Kansas to his 
home in Natick, and followed his trade as a shoe- 
maker until the civil war broke out. He was a 
member of the militia company in Natick, but left 
the organization to enlist in Company I, Captain A. 

K. Underwood. Second Regiment >Iassachusctts 
Volunteer Mililia, Colonel Gordon, May 15, i86r. 
He was made a corporal and August 11, 1861, ser- 
geant. He was a very successful drill-master, and 



was detailed early in the service to instruct officers 
as well as men of the Twenty-seventh Indiana Regi- 
ment. His first skirmish was October 22, 1861, at 
Conrad's F'erry, Virginia. After the battle of Ball's 
Bluff, in which he was engaged, he was in the hos- 
pital sick for several weeks, and was when con- 
valescent detailed, December, 1861, to recruiting 
service in Springfield, Massachusetts. He returned 
to his regiment in June at Martinsburg, Virgmia, 
after being assigned to the Twelfth Massachusetts 
Kegiment ironi April to June, 1862. The regiment 
lost nearly half its men and more than half its offi- 
cers in an engagement August 9, 1862, and from that 
time until he left the regiment in March, 1863, he 
was acting first sergeant with the special duty of 
drilling recruits. At the battle of Antietam a third 
of the regiment was killed or wounded. He was 
commissioned March 5, 18O3, second lieutenant, and 
May, 1863, first lieutenant, in the F"ifty-fourth 
Massachusetts Regiment, Colonel Robert G. Shaw, 
to whom the monument on Boston Common was 
lately erected. He was soon afterward made a cap- 
tain in the F'ifty-fifth Massachusetts. He was pro- 
vost marshal of Jacksonville, Florida, in February, 
1864; promoted major, November, 1864; lieutenant 
colonel, June, 1865, and brevet colonel at the close 
of the war. He was with his regiment at the siege 
of Charleston. He was mustered out in September 
1865. 

He became a partner in the firm of Davis & 
Plummer, shoe manufacturers in Natick, but lind- 
ing that business uncongenial, began to study law 
in December, 1866, in the office of Walter N. Mason, 
Natick. In February, 1868. he was appointed agent 
of the Freedmen's IJureau, and located in Halifax 
and Lunenburg counties, Virginia. After six 
months of this service and study of law, he returned 
to Natick and was admitted to the bar in Middlesex 
county, August 9, 1868. He opened an office in 
Natick, where he has been located ever since. 

Colonel Nutt is as prominent in political and pub- 
lic life as in military affairs. He has always been 
active in the Republican party, serving for many 
years on the town committee, often as chairman ; 
frequently being delegate to the state and other con- 
ventions of his party. He was first elected moderator 
oi the Natick town meeting, after a sharp contest, in 
1870. He was particularly well fitted for this duty 
by parliamentary knowledge, experience in presiding, 
and knowledge of town business, and often served 
the town, the last occasion being 1896. He was 
collector of taxes in 1869, 1870 and 1871 ; represen- 
tative to general court, 1871-72, serving on the com- 
mittee on labor in 1871 and on probate and in- 
solvency and woman suffrage in 1872; chairman of 
the Natick board of selectmen, 1874. 1876 and 1881 ; 
member of the board of health, 1874; overseer of 
the poor three years; member of the school com- 
mittee 1873; on many important town committees; 
deputy sheriff 1877 to i8iS6 inclusive; trial justice 
of the Natick court 1886 to 1892. He was elected 
state senator in 1901 by a vote of 7,328 to 4.204 
for his opponent, in a district that had the year 
previous elected a Democrat. He served on the com- 
mittees on constitutional amendments, military af- 
fairs and chairman of the committee on taxation. 
He was also on the important special committee 
which revised the public statutes. He has been a 
justice of the peace since 1867, and notary public 
since 1874. Colonel Nutt has made a specialty of 
probate court practice, and has had the settlement 
of many important estates and trusts. He has don