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HE. 


Given  By 

JOSIAH  H.  BEATON  FUND 


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\.L-2^     i/      /^^A....^^     M 


MOV  2  4  1952      0  3  1 


e_y/r    S/ff//ir  /'    /H/.t     ///(    /l(  J/(  J'    (J 


/.    (j.     -J(fffJJHf/t 


//.n    .iS>-ar/,    ."//., 


I illirrrtM'i'.     ./J.    (j. 


(:i) 


PUBLrC 


ALFRED  E.  (iOODMAN 


(1.) 


frolngu^ 


The  Spirit  of  the  Past 


Twas  the  vision  of  a  dreamer: 

(ilrey  and  gaunt  of  grave  demeanor, 

Stood  a  presence  there  before  him; 

Thus  it  spake  in  bending  o'er  him: 

Ever  thinking,  tender  heart ec'; 

Of  the  lives  that  have  departed; 

I  have  come  to  you  at  last; 

With  a  message  from  the  jjast. 

So  that  time  shall  not  efface. 

Memories  of  our  ancient  race: 

liuild  ye  then  a  family  altar; 

Do  not  hesitate  or  falter. 

Ere  the  words  :  "Too  Late"  are  spoken; 

Ere  "The  (lolden  Bowl  Be  Broken  ' 

Andaliove  this  sacred  shrine, 

Builded  to  our  ancient  line, 

i  herish  every  honored  name, 

( )n  our  family  roll  of  fame. 

lirood  no  more  uj)on  the  past; 

Finish  your  alloted  task, 

Ere  The  Silver  Cord  Vou  Sever, 

And  your  deed  shall  live  forever. 

While  the  arms  of  Morpheus  bound  him: 

Haunting  memories  hovered  round  him; 

Dear  familiar  forms  and  faces, 

Which  his  fancy  fonilly  traces; 

Half  in  pleasure,  half  in  pain. 

That  he  sees  them  thus  again; 

Hears  with  sad  and  deej)  contiition. 

This,  their  ceaseless  admonition, 

Bicod  no  more  upon  the  past, 

Kinish  your  allotted  task; 

Hears  the  words  so  plainly  spoken: 

Eie  The  Golden  Howl  l>e  Broken. 


(c) 


^ntrnburttnn 


In  the  prologue,  the  author  has  suggested  the  possihihty  of  his  being  urg 
ed  to  an  exhausting  task  Ijy  a  dominating  thought,  dream  oi-  vision  if  you  will. 
We  say  that  the  mainspring  of  a  watch  starts  the  hands  moving  accuiately. 
ticking  off  the  seconds  and  minutes  till  we  die.  And  that  a  thought  originates  a 
conception  culminating  in  a  triumph  of  mechanical  or  litei-ary  skill.  But  is  it 
not  true  that  after  all  it  is  the  power  behind  the  mainspring  the  power 
behind  the  thought  f.      The  mysterious  inexplical)le  intiuencc. 

In  the  authors  case  if  it  had  not  l)een  for  this  secret  impelling  intiuence 
he  could  not  have  found  sufficient  stinuilus  in  the  face  of  material  difticulties, 
indifference  and  even  opposition  to  have  carried  on  his  task  successfully  to  the 
end.  And  until  he  did  finish  his  labors  he  had  no  surcease  from  the  tliought, 
that  a  great  obligation  had  devolved  upon  him  and  must  be  fulfilled. 
And  aftei'  all  is  it  not  sad  that  the  name  of  a  family  should  die  out,  but 
it  is  sadder  far  that  the  race  itself  should  be  forgotten,  and  that  the  great  deeds 
and  virtues  of  our  kith  and  kin  should  receive  no  recognition  and  that  at  length 
all  knowledge  of  them  should  be  lost  in  the  misty  vistas  of  the  past. 

How  often  we  have  heard  the  expression  "Very  few  people  care  about 
their  ancestors."  They  should  be  taught  to  care.  It  is  a  great  absorbing, 
and  intensely  interesting  problem,  to  trace  step  by  step  the  intricate  lines  in 
the  life  map  of  our  race. 

And  with  this  thought  I  have  dared  to  raise  my  voice  in  the  waste  places 
of  literature,  where  others  who  have  sung  far  nobler  and  sweeter  songs  have 
been  warned  liy  the  wise,  laughed  at  by  fools  and  mocked  l)y  the  profane. 


w 


MEDITATION 


CONCEPTION     BY    OUR    I  M  M  O  R  1 
JEREMY    CROSS 


(e) 


ullj0  f  aBHtttg  nf  th^  ^Mtt 


Faded  photographs  and  letters; 
Silent  harbingers  of  tears: 
Shall  we  leave  them  in  the  litter, 
Of  the  wasting  of  the  years: 
They  are  ancient  family  records ; 
Do  we  care  to  know  the  past; 
Did  they  noble  deeds  or  brave  ones; 
Were  they  honored  at  the  last. 
If  we  feel  no  pride  in  kinsmen 
We  may  never  find  the  grace. 
To  so  act  that  we  are  honored 
In  the  passing  of  our  race. 


There  were  commoners  among  them. 

Wielding  destinies  of  State: 

Famed  for  skill  in  Legislation, 

And  for  wisdom  in  debate. 

In  the  worlds  great  marts  of  commerce, 

Gravid  lirowed  and  gifted  men: 

Stately  dames  of  grace  and  beauty: 

Virtue  as  their  diadem. 

There  was  glory  won  in  V)attle: 

And  in  art,  the  highest  place: 

Kinsmen  wrote  their  names  immortal 

In  the  passing  of  our  race. 


There  were  pioneers  among  them: 
Men  of  peace,  but  still  they'd  fight 
With  their  l)il)le  in  their  left  hand, 
And  their  musket  in  their  right. 
In  the  Indian  time  of  murder. 
And  of  vengeance  quick,  condign, 
Kin  were  killed  and  the  suvivors 
Were  the  forebears  of  our  line. 
They  were  men  of  brawn  and  action: 
Took  religion  as  their  base: 
So  we  write  them  down  with  honor 
In  the  passing  of  our  race. 


(f) 


If  we  read  these  ancient  records 
We  shall  feel  an  honest  pride; 
For  our  kin  wei'e  pious  minded; 
So  they  lived  and  so  they  died; 
And  our  souls  will  stir  within  us; 
And  our  hearts  will  so  incline; 
To  proclaim  the  many  virtues 
Of  the  kinsmen  of  our  line. 
We  shall  find  that  family  honor 
Never  yielded  to  disgrace, 
.Shadowed  forth  in  these  old  records 
Of  the  passing  of  our  race. 


Is  it  not  then  interesting  to  study  the  lives  of  those  who  bore  our  names 
centuries  ago,  to  follow  their  careers  in  peace  and  war  and  to  rejoice  and  take 
pride  in  the  fact  that  we  sprang  from  worthy  ancestois  who  were  good  citizens 
great  eonuuonei's,  loyal  countrymen  and  famous  warriors.  In  fact  it  has  been 
ascertained  that  the  list  of  kinsmen  who  fought  in  the  past  for  patriotism 
and  self  preservation  is  a  long  one  ami  not  a  coward  or  deserter  among  them. 


(g) 


®ur  Harrtnr  l&ntt 


They  were  at  the  Wall  of  Acre; 
Oq  the  field  of  Agincourt; 
At  Cadiz,  and  in  the  Channel, 
Sunk  the  Spanish  hulks  of  war. 
Nailed  the  flag  to  Pompey's  Pillar, 
And  at  Asabia  Bay, 
Benedoine  and  Barcelona 
Fought  to  check  Napoleon's  sway. 
So  through  centuries  they  struggled, 
For  Old  England  and  the  Crown; 
Then  we  find  them  with  the  rebels 
At  the  bridge  at  Concord  Town; 
Still  they  battled  on  for  freedom; 
Where  the  time  or  when  the  place; 
Ever  fought  for  truth  and  justice 
In  the  passing  of  our  race. 


(h) 


®J|^  Ptgmark^t  Haasarr? 


Moans  the  night  wind,  sighing,  dying. 
Sounding  like  a  mother's  croon; 
And  the  red-man,  murder  minded, 
Wails  his  war  cry  to  the  tune. 

In  the  cabin  on  the  outskirts 
(3f  the  woodland,  go  to  rest 
Little  children,  nestling  closely 
To  their  tired  mother's  breast. 

Through  the  eerie  whispering  forest, 
Bending  closely  to  the  breeze, 
Comes  the  cruel,  painted,  Savage, 
Creeping  stealthily,  through  the  trees. 

Mothers  hear  the  children  praying: 
"Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep" 
Hear  them  as  they're  softly  saying 
"Hope  the  Lord  my  soul  will  keep." 

Fiercer,  louder,  grows  the  tempest. 
Roaring  in  an  angry  mood  ; 
Comes  the  painted  Savage — shouting — 
Suddenly  from  out  the  wood; 

Then  the  maddening  murder-clamor.- 
The  Pigwacket  Battle  Cry, — 
S.ad  it  is  that  little  children 
Suffer  so  and  so  must  die. 

Let  us  draw  the  veil  of  pity 
Tightly  o'ei-  the  killing-place; 
There  was  many  a  tragic  chapter 
In  the  passing  of  our  race. 

The  Mothers  heard  them  softly  praying 
"If  I  die  before  I  wake" 
Heard  the  little  children  saying 
"Hope  the  Lord  my  soul  will  take." 

So  their  prayers  had  all  been  finished 
Ere  the  cliildron  went  to  sleep; 
But  their  resting  was  eternal; 
And  their  .souls  the  Loi'd  will  keep. 


(i) 


There  was  the  periods  of  Indian  massacres  in  the  American  wilderness 
when  our  ancestors  had  to  kill  or  be  killed.  When  the  primal  law  of  nature 
prevailed — the  survival  of  the  fittest — and  slowly,  but  surely  the  enemy  of 
progress  was  exterminated  or  subdued  and  thus  did  our  ancestors  help  to  win 
America  for  the  world;  but  not  before  hori'ible  cruelties  were  perpetrated,  sad 
to  say  on  both  sides.  Many  of  our  kinsmen  and  several  ancestors  were  mur- 
dered. Unfortunately  women  and  children  met  the  same  fate  as  the  fathers. 
There  was  no  mercy  or  pity  and  the  atrocities  committed  on  the  dependent 
members  of  the  family  are  untliinkal)le.  Description  of  the  actual  mas.sacres 
are  thus  purposely  avoided.  The  Pigwacket  Indians  were  on  the  war  path  at 
the  time  that  our  maternal  kinsmen  were  in  their  greatest  strength  in  the  wil- 
derness and  these  atrocities  were  committed  near  Dun.stal)Ie,  Mass.,  where 
their  cabins  were  located  and  which  was  the  scene  of  the  following  recital. 


(i) 


Jin  tlf^  Nam^  nf  QlrnHH 


To  My  Kinsmen,  Greeting  : — 

I  have  endeavored  to  arrange  in  comprehensive  form  the  scattered 
fragments  of  the  Cross  family  history. 

This  lalior  has  been  done  in  memory  of  my  Mother. 

Much  is  left  unsettled,  much  unsaid,  but  how  difhcult  it  is  to  complete 
such  a  history  in  one  man's  life  time. 

I  leave  to  others  to  finish  what  I  have  liegun. 

And  now,  after  twenty-five  years  of  research ;  aided,  comforted  and 
encouraged  by  loyal  friends  I  sum  up  the  evidence  and  give  my  verdict. 

What  my  mother  thought  was  true. 

Scarcely  whispered  words,  scarcely  formed  ideas,  that  somehow  she  had 
learned  ;  by  what  someone  had  seen  ;  and  by  what  she  read  long  years  ago, 
that  her  family  were  of  royal  descent.  That  some  of  her  ancestors  fought  in 
the  crusades ;  that  they  were  famous  soldiers,  patriots  and  statesmen  of 
England  and  America,  that  the  Lawrences,  their  kinsmen,  gave  a  hundred 
heroes  to  the  world ;  that  on  her  fiither's  side  she  was  a  descendant  of  the 
ancient  Crosses,  of  Cross  Hall,  Lancashire  and  Charlynch,  many  of  whom 
were  knighted  for  valor  in  England's  greatest  battles  ;  and  lastly  among  her 
maternal  ancestors  were  those  puritans  of  New  England,  whose  descendants 
stood  in  line  at  Concord,  as  "  minute  men,"  in  the  outbreak  of  the  revolu- 
tionary war. 

It  has  been  my  task  to  find  facts  to  establish  these  family  traditions  as 
undying  truths  ;  a  labor  of  love  which  I  have  accomplished  to  the  best  of  my 
ability,  and  the  completed  ettbrt  is  now  handed  over  to  the  criticism  or  kindly 
consideration  of  all  descendants  of  "Cros.se  ". 

I  am  convinced  that  the  statements  made  in  these  pages  are  correct  as  set 
down  :  as  to  their  all  being  susceptable  of  absolute   proof  it   is   dilHcult  to 


affirm.  No  evidence  of  genealogical  research  can  be  absolutely  relied  upon  ; 
even  documentary  evidence  such  as  court  records  and  parish  registers,  to  say 
nothing  of  grave  stone  epitaphs  are  often  inaccurate. 

However,  documentary  evidence  has  been  secured  where  it  has  been 
possible,  and  all  statements  have  at  least  been  proven  to  my  own  satisfaction, 
aa  well  to  the  satisfaction  of  reputable  professional  genealogists  engaged  for 
the  purpose,  or  from  records  on  file  in  the  libraries  and  Historical  Associations 
of  the  United  States  and  England. 

It  is  true  that  the  early  history  of  every  family  gradually  fades  away  into 
tradition,  legend,  fable  and  myth. 

It  is  always  difficult  and  it  is  sometimes  impossible,  to  draw  the  line 
between  historical  certainty  and  fanciful  invention.  Indisputable  facts  and 
shadowy  tales  are  mixed  together  in  confusion,  which  the  lapse  of  ages  renders 
inextricable. 

Oral  testimony  is  certain  to  become  moditied  in  some  particulars,  and 
expanded  in  others,  in  the  course  of  transmission  from  one  generation  to 
another. 

It  is  not  therefore  a  matter  of  surprise,  however  regretable,  that  I  cannot 
claim  for  these  records  the  merit  of  absolute  reliability.  This  may  be  said 
however,  that  nothing  has  been  set  down  as  a  fact  unless  endorsed  l)y  reliable 
genealogical  authorities,  and  that  which  appears  doubtful  has  been  given  the 
semblance  of  doubt. 

It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  the  ancestors  of  my  Mother  can  be  traced 
back  to  remote  times,  the  Lawrence  line  alone  being  accurately  delineated  by 
documentary  evidence  through  many  generations. 

The  families  that  appear  conspicuously  in  the  maternal  line  are  :  Law- 
rence, twenty  generations  :  Wright,  six  generations  ;  Cummings,  seven  gener- 
ations ;  Cross,  fourteen  generations. 

A  great  deal  of  information  regarding  collateral  families  has  been  col- 
lected, but  only  that  which  is  of  interest  to  the  present  generation  of  Cross 
descendants,  and  those  who  come  after  them,  is  recorded  at  any  length. 

We  have  first  to  deal  with  the  Lawrences,  as  of  our  remote  ancestors  they 
are  the  most  numerous  yet  recorded. 

There  is  a  genealogy  still  in  print  of  the  Lawrence  family,  as  far  liack  as 
1150,  when  the  first  Lawrence  of  this  line  is  mentioned.  This  was  in  the  reign 
of  Stephen  of  England. 

It  will  be  later  shown  that  one  of  these  Lawrences  in  our  line  married 
the  daughter  of  John  Whitney,  a  descendant  of  the  royal  families  of  France 
and  England,  that  their  descendant  in  our  line  married  John  Wright,  whose 
daughter  married  Amos  Cumming.s,  whose  daughter  married  Calvin  Baily 
Cross,  the  fjither  of  Mrs.  Edwin  Goodman,  nee  Caroline  Elizabeth  Cross,  my 
mother. 


4 


LAWRENCE. 

American  Armory,  P.  A.  49. 

ITenrj'  Lawrence  came  to  New  England  from  Wissett  and  Helton,  County  Suffolk,  England,  IfiSO 

settled  at  Charleston,  Mass.,  granlson  of  .John  Lawrence,  of  Raraburg,  thlrteentli 

in  descent  from  Sir  Robert  Lawrence. 

Arms — Argent,  a  cross  riigely  gules. 

Crest  -A  demi  turbet,  tail  upwards. 

The  original   arms,  sans  crest,  were  given  to  Sir  Robert  Cross  by  King   Richard    L  for  bravery 

in  scaling  the  walls  of  Acre,  1191. 

Cross— Rugely  gules. 

Our  Lawrence  line  i.s  as  follows  :  Henry  I.,  son  of  William  the  Con- 
(jueroi',  (lied  in  1135,  and  there  ascended  to  the  throne  of  England,  Stephen,  a 
grandson  of  William  1st. 

In  lloO,  (luring  the  latter  years  of  Stephen's  reign,  was  born 

ROBERT  LAWRENCE, 
(evidently  a  combination  of  two  Christian  names).     He  was  born  at  Lanca- 
shire.    During  the  reign  of  Henry  II.  he  arrivc(l  at  manhood's  estate,  and 
became  a  soldier.     When  Richard  I.  came  to  the  throne  he  was  about  forty 
years  old,  and  followed  his  sovereign  to  the  Holy  Land.     He  distinguished 
himself  at  the  siege  of  Acre,  and  was  knighted  by  King  Richard. 
Sir  RoiiERT  L.vwrence,  of  Ashton  Hall. 
He  wore  across  upon  his  sliield  to  distinguish  his  family,  "Ruguly,  gules," 
a  rough  cross  hewn  from  a  tree,  and  the  branches  tied  in  the  shape  of  a  cross. 
ln.scri!)ed   Iteneath   was   the   motto:     "In   the   name   of    Lawrence."     Sub- 
se(iuently  a  stag  head  appears  as  a  crest. 

SECOND  GENERATION. 
SIR  ROBERT  LAWRENCE, 

Lancashire,  Ashton  Hall,  married  a  daughter  of  James  Tratford,  Pls(^. 

THIRD  GENERATION. 

JAMES  LAWRENCE, 

of  Ashton  Hall,  nuiri'ied  in  1'252,  Matilda,  daughter  of  John  de  Washington. 
(Respecting  the  name  Lawrence  and  Washington — a  brother  of  the  first  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States — Lawrence  Washington  was  one  of  the  earliest 
proprietors  of  Mt.  Vernon. 


FOURTH  GENERATION. 
JOHN  LAWRENCE, 

.  lOf  Ashton  Hall,  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Walter  Chosford,  by  whom 
he  had  a  son,  John,  his  heir  and  successor. 

FIFTH  GENERATION. 
JOHN  LAWRENCE, 

married  Elizabeth  Holt,  of  Stabley,  in  Lancashire,  in  loGO,  and  had  Robert, 
son  and  heir. 

SIXTH  GENERATION. 

SIR  ROBERT  LAWRENCE,  OF  ASHTON  HALL, 

married  Margaret  Holden  Lancashire,  sons :  Ro])ert,  Thomas,  William,  liorn 
14:'2o,  fought  under  Lancaster  at  St.  Albins  ;  another  son,  Edmond,  married  a 
daughter  of  the  famous  Norman  Miles  de  Stapleton.  William  was  buried  in 
the  Abbey. 

SEVENTH  GENERATION. 
SIR  ROBERT  LAWRENCE,  OF  ASHTON  HALL, 

married  Amphilis,  daughter  Edward  Langford,  of  Langford,  had  sons  :  James, 
his  heir,  who  married  Ciciley  Soteler,  who  had  issue,  Robert,  who  married 
Margaret  Lawrence,  whose  son,  John,  conmianded  a  wing  of  the  English 
army  at  Flodden  Field.     His  brother  William  became  a  great  land  owner. 

EIGHTH  GENERATION. 

NICHOLAS  LAWRENCE,  OF  SYERCROFT, 

son  of  Sir  Robert.  He  had  sons  :  Thomas,  John,  William,  Henry,  Oliver, 
Knt.,  whose  son  was  knighted  1619.     Oliver  died  1601. 

NINTH  GENERATION. 

JOHN  LAWRENCE, 

who  was  an  ancestor  of  the  St.  James'  Park  Suffolk  Lawi-ence's.  He  died 
1496,  leaving  Thomas,  of  Ramburg,  Suffolk. 

TENTH  GENERATION. 

THOMAS  LAWRENCE, 

Ramburg.  He  held  lands  also  in  Holten,  Wisset  and  South  Elcinham.  He 
married  and  had  sons,  John  and  Richard,  of  St.  Ives.     His  will  is  dated  1471. 

ELEVENTH  GENERATION. 

JOHN  LAWRENCE, 

married  Margory,  by  whom  he  had  a  son  Robert.  His  will  was  made  July 
10th,  1504.     His  wife  died  1507.     Both  buried  in  Ramljurg  church. 


TWELFTH  GENERATION. 

ROBERT  LAWRENCE. 

He  is  named  in  his  father's  will,  and  his  wife  in  that  of  her  mother-in-law- 
Their  issue  was  John. 

THIRTEENTH  GENERATION. 
JOHN  LAWRENCE, 

Rambnrg,  married  Elizabeth,  by  whom  he  had  :  Henry,  John,  Agnes,  Mar- 
garet, Kate  and  William,  of  Eleinham ;  exiled  by  Mary,  he  returned,  and 
preaehed  in  Elizabeth's  reign. 

FOURTEENTH  GENERATION. 
JOHN  LAWRENCE, 

married  Agnes,  and  had  John,  Richard,  died  1596,  Susan,  Elizabeth,  Mar- 
garet.    Wife  died  17)83.     His  will  is  dated  1590.     He  was  buried  at  Ramburg 

FIFTEENTH  GENERATION. 

JOHN  LAWRENCE, 

was  of  Wisset,  Suffolk.  Married  Johan.  They  had  Henry,  Robert.  Will 
dated  1014.  (Names  his  kinsman  Laxfield  and  grandson  of  Earl  North) 
Marger}',  Kate.     Will  of  John,  of  Wisset  1600. 

SIXTEENTH  GENERATION. 
HENRY  LAWRENCE, 

married  INIary.  His  father's  will  says  he  moved  to  New  England  from  Wisset. 
He  settled  in  Charlestown,  Massachusetts,  1635.  His  name  is  among  the 
inhabitants,  and  among  those  who  received  the  first  division  of  land.  He 
received  five  acres  and  a  house. 

SEVENTEENTH  GENERATION. 

JOHN  LAWRENCE, 

of  Wisset,  England,  born  1609.  Also  of  Charlestown,  Boston,  Watertown 
and  Groton,  Mass.  He  married  first,  Elizalieth  ;  second,  Susanna  liachelor, 
died  at  Groton,  1669.  Lie  had  John,  Nathaniel,  Joseph,  Feleg,  Jonathan, 
Mary,  Enoch,  Samuel,  Elizabeth,  Zacharia,  Susan. 

EIGHTEENTH  GENERATION. 

ENOCH  LAWRENCE, 

Born  Jan.  5th,  1649,  Watertown  ;  married  Ruth,  daughter  of  John  Whitney. 
She  was  widow  of  John  Shattuck. 

John  Whitney  was  descended  from  Alfred  the  Great,  of  England,  and 
Henry  first,  of  France.     The  ofikpring  of  this  marriage  claim  Royal  descent. 

NINETEENTH  GENERATION. 

ZACHARIA  LAWRENCE, 

married  first,  Abagail  Parker ;  second,  Rebecca  Powers.  He  was  born  Mav 
5th,  1708. 


TWENTIETH  GENERATION. 
ZACHARIA  LAWRENCE, 

died  1780;  married  in  1734,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Lawrence,  and 
granddaughter  of  Zacharia  Lawrence  the  first,  and  great  grand-daughter  of 
Enoch.     They  were  cousins. 

TWENTY-FIRST  GENERATION. 

SARAH, 

born  April  6th,  1738 ;  married  John  Wright,  near  Westford,  Mass.,  1754,  at 
sixteen  years  of  age.  This  is  the  connecting  link  on  the  maternal  side  of  the 
Wrights  and  the  Lawrences. 

Before  proceeding  further  it  may  be  well  at  this  stage  to  fix  in  the  mind 
of  the  reader  the  Whitney  connection  with  the  Lawrences  which  occurred  in 
the  eighteenth  generation,  and  to  point  out  again  that  the  Whitneys 
were  of  royal  descent  to  make  this  more  emphatic  and  to  bring  it 
home  to  the  reader  this  descent  is  here  introduced  with  authorities. 
For  the  final  proof  of  this  connection  I  am  indebted  to  Mrs.  Elsie  Cro.ss,  wife 
of  A.  D.  Cross,  of  Alameda,  Cal.,  whose  children  will  later  be  shown  to  have 
doubly  descended  from  the  European  monarchs. 

THE     ROYAL    DESCENT    of    children     of  Mrs.    Edwin   Goodman,  nee 
Caroline  Elizabeth  Cross : 

Alfred  the  Great,  King  of  England — Lady  Elswitha. 

E<lward  the  Elder,  King  of  England — Lady  Edgiva. 

Edmund  the  Elder,  King  of  England — Lady  Elgifa. 

Edgar,  King  of  England — Lady  Elfrida. 

Ethelred  II.,  the  LTnready,  King  of  England — Lady  Elgifa. 

Edmund  II.,  Ironsides,  King  of   England — Lady  Algitha. 

Edward  the  Exile,  Prince  Royal  of  England — Lady  Agatha,  of  Germany. 

Malcolm  III.  Canmore,  King  of  Scots — Princess  Margaret,  of  England. 

Henry  I.,  King  of  England — Princess  Matilda,  of  Scotland. 

Geoffrey  Plantagenet,  Count  of  Anjou — Empress  Maud,  of  Germany. 
Henry  II.,  King  of  England — Lady  Eleanor,  of  Aquitaine. 
John,  King  of  England — Lady  Isabella,  of  Angouleme. 
Henry  III.,  King  of  England — Lady  Eleanor,  of  Provence. 
Edward  I.,  King  of  England — Lady  Eleanor,  of  Castle. 
Humphrey,  Earl  of  Hereford — Princess  Elizabeth  Plantagenet. 
Robert,  Baron  Ferrers,  of  Chartley — Lady  Agnes  de  Bohun. 
John,  Baron  Ferrers,  of  Chartley — Lady  Elizabeth  de  Stattbrd. 
Robert,  Baron  Ferrers,  of  Chartley — Lady  Margaret  le  Despencer. 
Edmund,  Baron  Ferrers,  of  Chartley — Lady  Eleanor  de  la  Roche. 
William,  Baron  Ferrers,  of  Chartley — Lady  Elizabeth  Belknap. 
Sir   Walter   Devereaux,    Baron    Ferrers,    of    Chartley — Lady   Anne   de 
Ferrers,  of  Chartley. 


James  Baskervillc,  K.B.,  Sheritt'  of  Hereford — Katherine  Dcvereaux. 

Sir  Walter  Baskervillc,  K.B.,  Slierift' of  Hereford — ^Vnnc,  veh.  Morgan  ap 
Jeiikyn. 

Sir  James  Baskerville,  Kt.,  of  Eardisley — Eliza) )eth  Breyntou. 
Sir  liol.ert  Whitney,  M.P.— Sybil  Baskerville. 

llobert  Whitney,  of  Whitney — Elizabeth,  veh.  William  aj)  Morgan. 
Thomas  Whitney  of  Westminster — JMaiy  Bray. 
John  Whitney,  Lontlon  in  Watertown,  Mass.,  1035 — Elinor. 
John  Whitney,  of  Watertown,  KJ-Jl,  l(il>l>— Ruth  Keynolds. 
Taken  from  .Vmericans  of  Royal  Descent,  by  Ohas.  H.   Browning,  page 
418,  sixth  edition. 

FRENCH  DESCENT. 

The  Emperor  Charlemagne  had  ; 
Louis  I.,  Emperor  of  France. 
Louis  L,  King  of  Bavaria. 
Carloman,  King  of  B<ivaria. 
Arnoul,  Iving  of  (iermany,  who  had : 
Hedwige,  M.  Otto,  of  Saxony,  and  had  : 
Henry,  Emperor  of  Germany,  who  had  : 
Hedwige  INI.  Hugh,  Duke  of  France,  and  had : 
Hugh  Capet,  King  of  P'l-auce,  who  had  : 

Henry  I.,  King  of  France,  had  by  his  wife.  Lady  Anne,  daughter  of 
Jaroslaus,  (Jrand  Duke,  or  Czar,  of  Russia; 

Hugh  the  (Ireat,  Duke  of  France  and  Burgundy,  Count  de  Vermandois, 
who  married,  thirdly,  Atlela,  C-ounte.s.s  de  Vermandois,  and  had  Ity  her : 

Lady  Isabel  de  Vermandois,  died  1131,  who  married  first  in  1090,  Robert 
Baron  de  Bellomont,  Earl  of  Mellent  and  Leicester,  and  had  : 

Rol)ert  de  Bellomont,  second  Earl  of  Leicester,  justiciary  of  England,  died 
1108,  who  married  Lady  Amicia  de  Waer,  daughter  of  Ralph,  linvl  of  Nor- 
f(jlk,  Suffolk  and  Cambridge,  and  had  : 

Robert  de  Bellomont,  third  Earl  of  Leicester,  lord  high  steward  of  Eng- 
land, died  1190,  who  married,  1107,  Lady  Petronella,  daughter  of  Hugh, 
Baron  de  Grentesmaismil,  and  had  : 

Lady  Margaret  de  Bellomont,  who  married  Saher  de  Quincey,  one  of  the 
twenty-five  trustees  of  tlie  Magna  Charta,  created,  1207,  Earl  of  Winchester, 
died  1-219,  and  had  : 

Lady  Hawise  de  Quincy,  who  married  Hugh  de  Vere,  fourth  Earl  of  Ox- 
ford, great  high  Chamberlain,  died  1203,  and  had  : 

Robert  de  Vere,  fifth  Earl  of  Oxford,  died  1290;  married  Alice,  daughter 
of  Gilbert  de  Saundford,  chamberlain  in  fee  to  Queen  Eleanor,  12.')0,  and  had. 

Alphonsus  de  Vere,  second  son,  d.  v.  p.,  who  niarricd  Jane,  daughter  of 
Sir  Richard  Foliot,  and  liad  : 


■■(  ■/ 


J-^ 


/evereaux 


Arms 


Walter  Devereaux,  Earl  of  Essex 


John  de  Vere,  seventh  Earl  of  .Oxford,  who  fought  at  Ore.ssy,  commanded 
at  Poictiers,  and  was  knighted  at  Rhoims,  11th  June,  1300.  He  married 
Lady  Maud,  widow  of  Roliert  Fitzpayne  and  daughter  of  Bartholomew,  Baron 
de  Badlesmere,  executed  in  1022,  and  his  wife.  Lady  Margaret  de  Clare,  also 
of  Koval  Descent,  and  had  : 


HOME  OF  EARLY  DEVEREAUX 
View  of  Chartley  Before  the  Fire   of    1871: 

Lady  Margaret  de  Vere,  widow  of  Henry  de  Beaumont,  died  VMU,  who 
married  secondly,  Sir  John  Devereaux,  and  had  : 

Sir  William  Deveraux,  who  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  -Tohn  Barre, 
and  had : 


Sir  Walter  Dcvereaux,  kni<j;htcd  1402,  who  married  Agnes  C'rophull,  and 
had : 

Elizalieth  Devereaux,  who  married  Sir  John  Milbourne,  and  had  ; 

Simon  Milbourne,  who  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Sir  Ralph  B;iskcrviIlo, 
of  Erdislcy,  Hereford,  also  of  Royal  Descent,  and  had : 

Blanche  jMilbourne,  who  married  James  Whitney,  of  Newport  in  the 
Marches,  and  had  : 

Sir  Robert  Whitney,  K.B.,  a  Gloucestershire  magistrate,  who  married 
Margaret  Wye,  and  had : 

Sir  Robert  Whitney,  knighted  2nd  October,  1553,  died  5th  August,  15G7  ; 

married  Sybil,  daughter  of  Sir  James  Baskervillc,  also  of  Royal  Descent,  and 

had  : 

Robert  Whitney,  wlio  married  Elizabeth  Morgan,  and  had  : 

Thomas  Whitney,  of  Lambeth  Marsh,  London,  died  April,  1(537  ;  married 

12th  :May,  1583,  Mary,  (died  25tli  Septeml:)er,  1029);  daughter  of  John  Bray, 

and  had : 

John  Whitney,  born  1589;  baptized,  20th  July,  1592;  came  from  Isles- 
worth  parish,  near  London,  with  his  wife,  Elinor,  and  five  sons,  to  New 
England  in   June,   1635,  and   died  at  Watertown,  Massachusetts,  1st   June, 

1073.     He  married  first  in  London,  Elinor ,  who  died  at  Watertown  2nd 

May,  1(359,  aged  (30  years  (see  Pierce's  "John  Whitney,  of  Watertown,"  W. 
L.  Whitney's  "Whitney  family,"  Henry  Melville's  "Ancestry  of  John  Whit- 
ney," "  Magna  Charta  Barons  and  their  American  Descendants,"  page  181, 
etc.). 

Browning,  page  227. 

ANOTHER  ROYAL   DESCENT 

1.  Charlemagne,  Empei'or  of  the  West — Lady  Hildegarde,  of  Savoy. 

2.  Louis  I.,  King  of  France — Lady  Judith  of  Bavaria. 

3.  Charles  II.,  King  of  France — Lady  Richildis  (second  wife). 

4.  Princess  Judith,  of  France — Baldwin  I.,  Count  of  Flanders. 

5.  Baldwin  II.,  Count  of  Flanders — Ethelwida,  daughter  Alfred  •  the 
(ireat,  of  England. 

6.  Arnoul,  Count  of  Flanders — Lady  Alix,  of  Vermandois. 

7.  Baldwin  III.,  Count  of  Flanders — Lady  Matilda,  of  Saxony. 

8.  Arnoul  II.,  Count  of  Flanders — Lady  Susanna  d'  Inree,  of  Italy. 

9.  Baldwin  IV.,  Count  of  Flanders — Lady  Agiva,  of  Luxemburg. 

10.  Baldwin  V.,  Count  of  Flanders — Adela,  grand  daughter  Hugh  Capet. 

11.  Lady  Matilda,  of  Flanders— William  L,  King  of  England. 

12.  Henry  I.,  King  of  England — Matilda,  daughter  Malcolm  III.,  of 
Scotland. 

13.  Maud,  Empress  of  Germany — Geolfroi,  Count  of  Anjou. 

14.  Hein-y  II.,  King  of  England— Eleanor,  Duchess  of  Aquaitaine. 
Thus  merging  again  into  the  English  line. 

Browning,  page  210,  sixth  edition. 


WHO  WAS  SARAH  LAWRENCE? 

So  that  this  Sarah  Lawrence,  a  romantic  character  in  our  history,  was  the 
twenty-first  in  descent  from  Lawrence  the  Crusader,  and  it  should  be  re- 
marked that  she  was  the  great  grandrdaughter  of  that  Euth  Whitney. 

My  mother  often  spoke  of  the  Lawrences,  and  at  one  time  showed  me  a 
book  entitled  "Amos  Lawrence,  Poor  Boy  and  Merchant  Prince,"  telling  me 
that  this  Amos  Lawrence,  of  Boston, was  a  great  philanthropist  and  was  her 
kinsman. 

Twenty  years  after  my  mother's  death  I  found  among  her  effects  the 
History  of  Wesford  and  the  ftimily  record  of  the  Wrights.     In  this  record 

was  the  following :     John  Wright  Married  Sarah ,  at  Dunstable,  and  had 

Sarah  and  Mary,  afterwards  moving   to  Westfield,  Mass.     My  mother   had 
written  in  pencil  in  the  blank  space  after  Sarah  the  word  Lawrence. 

In  an  old  scrap  book  of  my  Mother's  there  was  a  brief  history  of  Cap- 
tain Lawrence  of  the  Chesapeake,  him  who  said  :  "Don't  give  up  the  ship." 
My  Mother  also  claimed  him  as  a  kinsman,  l)ut  I  lielieve  he  was  a  collateral 
line. 

The  Wrights,  Cummings  and  Lawrences  spread  all  over  Massachusetts  in 
those  days  and  the  families  frequently  intermarried,  often  cousins  marrying 
each  other,  and  at  an  early  age.  In  fact  our  Sarah  Lawrence's  mother 
married  her  cousin,  and  her  daughter  Anne,  married  her  cousin  and  a 
Lawrence. 

Here  is  the  case  where  the  family  intermarried  twice : 

Henry  Lawrence,  of  Wissett,  England 

Had  John  Lawrence,  of  Watertown,  Mass ; 

Had  Enoch  Lawrence,  of  Groton,  Mass. 

Enoch  had  Nathaniel ; 

Enoch  had  Zacharia. 

Now  this  Zacharia's  son,  Zacharia  the  second,  married  Sarah,  Nathaniel's 
daughter. 

Their  daughter  Sarah  married  John  Wright. 

Now  Nathaniel  had  another  son  James,  whose  son  James  married  Anna, 
daughter  of  Sarah  Lawrence  and  John  Wright. 

These  matters  were  more  or  less  familiar  to  my  Mother  as  she  was  eigh- 
teen years  old,  a  very  understandable  age,  at  the  time  the  daughter  of  this 
Sarah  Lawrence  was  living  in  the  same  house  with  them,  and  being  her  grand- 
mother she  would  learn  many  facts  from  her. 

Sarah  Lawrence  was  married  to  John  Wright  in  1754  at  sixteen  years  of 
age,  wliilst  her  daughter  Anne  married  the  Lawrence  referred  to  at  fifteen 
years  of  age. 

10 


I    Cli 


m 


Arms  Or— A  fesse  chequy  ardent  and  azure  between  three  eagles  heads  erased  by  the  third. 
Crest— A  unicorn  passant  regaurdant  the  dexter  paw  resting  on  a  mullet  or. 

WHO  WAS  OUR  JOHN  WIHGHT? 

We  will  now,  for  the  time,  discontinue  the  Lawrence  line,  and  .consider 
our  Icinsmen,  the  Wrights. 

The  Lawrences  were  of  noble  birth  in  England,  but,  "for  conscience  sake" 
Henry,  the  founder  of  the  American  race,  moved  to  America,  and  became  a 
luiml)le  farmer.  In  an  old  scrap  l)ook  of  my  mother's  is  the  signature  of 
Keuljcn  Lawrence,  cut  from  a  letter,  and  there  are  other  evidences  of  a  closer 
inlimac}'  between  the  Lawrences  and  Wrights. 

There  is  nothing  known  of  the  Wrights  before  their  arrival  in  to  New 
England,  l)ut,  no  doubt,  like  Henry  Lawrence,  our  first  John  Wright  migrated 
that  he  might  enjoy  freedom  of  religious  thought. 

John  Wright,  who  married  Sarah  Lawrence,  was  my  mother's  great- 
grandfather. He  was  a  ftirmer,  like  seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  population  of 
his  native  town  of  Westford,  Mass. 

I  have  liefore  me  a  history  of  Westford  liy  Edwin  R.  Hodgman.  Ex- 
tracts from  this  history  will  be  of  interest.  So  numerous  did  the  Wright 
family  liecome  in  Westford,  that  travelers  passing  through,  jokingly  affirmed 
that  the  "  Town  was  all  Wright." 

The  place  was  first  called  Chelmsford,  the  plantation  being  granted  in 
1G53,  and  the  Wrights  are  heard  of  as  "contributing  to  its  growth."  In  1660 
the  township  of  Westford  was  partitioned  otf,  and  "  ceased  to  be  the  hunting 
ground  of  the  Indians." 

In  Westford  the  land  was  not  surveyed  ;  each  man  chose  a  homestead  and 
took  possession,  and  here  we  notice  that  John  Wi'ight,  emigrant  ancestor  of 
our  John,  squatted  on  six  acres  at  We.stford  in  16.")it  (a  year  l)efore  it  was 
called  Westford). 

It  was  in  this  town  that  our  ancestors  flourished  for  many  genei'ations, 
and  took  an  active  part  in  making  history  in  revolutionary  times. 

Htxliiinan  .savs  : 


11 


"Not  from  the  court  or  council  hall,  not  from  the  home  of  wealth  and  pride, 
From  title,  rank,  or  great  or  small,  v\'ith  greed  of  gain  unsatisfied. 

Came  they  who  first  a  pathway  cleared,  through  the  wide  forest  thick  and 

drear, 
Built  their  rude  cabins  and  upreared  a  house  for  Him  they  all  revered. 
Strong,  hardy  men,  with  instincts  true,  laid  the  foundation  of  the  town  ; 
They  kept  a  noble  end  in  view,  and  worked  for  God,  not  for  renown. 
The    Old  World  cast  them  out  with  hate ;   the  New  World  took  them  in 

with  love ; 
And  here  they  built  a  Christian  State,  with  feith  and  hope  in  God  above. 
Were  they  not  heroes,  though  their  names  are  blazoned  not  on  roles  ? 
True  men,  whose  sterling  virtues  shame  the  meanness  of  some  modern 
souls  ?" 

WRIGHT  PEDIGREE. 

(From  the  History  of  Woburn,  Mass.) 
FIRST  GENERATION. 

John  Wright,  born  about  1610,  migrated  from  England  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  the  First.  He  is  first  heard  of  as  a  settler  at  Woburn,  Mass.  He 
was  one  of  the  subscribers  to  the  town  orders,  agreed  upon  at  Charlestown, 
Dec.  8,  1640. 

He  was  a  Selectman  of  Woburn,  1645  to  1647,  1649  to  1658,  and  1680  to 
1681.  He  was  Deacon  of  Woburn  church  from  Novemljer  10th,  1664,  until 
his  death  in  1688,  and  Commissioner  of  the  rate  between  1646  and  1671. 

He  must  have  been  a  man  of  some  prominence  among  the  early  settlers  to 
have  been  so  long  entrusted  with  these  public  offices. 

He  married  Priscilla,  who  died  1687. 


American  Armory,   P.  A.  80.     Arthur  Warren  of  Weymouth,  Mass.    (Father    of    Abagail 

Warren,  who   married  John  Wright  the  Second.)      Arms — Chequy  or,  and  azure 

on  a  canton  gules.         A  Lion  rampant  argent.         Crest — On  a  chapeau. 

gulew  turned  ermine,  a  wyvern  argent,  wings  expanded 

cheqye  or  and  azure. 


1-2 


8EC0ND  GENERATION. 

.John  Wright,  Woburn  and  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  died  April  30tli,  1741, 
aged  S;3.  (Grave-stone  in  Woburn's  first  burying  ground).  He  married 
Al)igail  Warren,  of  Chelmsford,  May  10th,  1(3(31.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Arthur  Warren,  of  Weymouth.     She  died  April  (3,  172(3,  aged  85. 

Like  his  father,  he  served  as  Selectman  at  Woburn,  KjSO.  1(3S1  and  1(390. 
His  will,  dated  1701,  mentions  his  wife  Abigail,  and  sons,  John,  jr.,  Joseph 
and  Ebenezor.  all  in  Chelmsford,  and  son  Josiah  in  Wol)urn.  His  four 
daughters,  Kuth  liutterlield,  Priscilla,  Deliorah  and  Lydia.  His  wife  and  son 
Josiah,  executors. 

THIRD  GENERATION. 

(from  History  of  Westford). 

John  Wright,  married  first,  Mary  Stevens,  children  :  Jacob,  Ebenezer, 
Edward,  Jacob,  Henry,  John  and  Mary.  Married  second,  Hannah  Fletcher, 
children  :  Hannah,  Thomas,  Simeon,  The  first  child  was  l)orn  1(392,  the  last, 
1710. 

John  Wright  was  a  man  of  parts.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  manufac- 
tui'e  tar  and  turpentine,  liy  ta[)ping  the  trees ;  and  in  the  earliest  records  is 
mentioned  a  license  to  John  Wright  to  tap  500  trees. 

FOURTH  GENERATION. 

Jacob  Wright,  liorn  1(398.  Settled  in  North  part  of  Westford,  and  mar- 
ried Abigail ,  children  :  Sarah,  1721  ;  John,  1723  ;  Ephraim,  1725  ;  Mary, 

1727;  Sarah,   1730;  Jacob,   1732;  Poletiah,   173-1- ;  Joseph,   173(3;    Benjamin, 
1738. 

FIFTH  GENERATION. 

John,  born  1723,  married  in  Dunstal)le,  Sarah  Lawrence,  children: 
Sarah,  born  in  Dunstable,  1755;  Mary,  born  in  Dunstable,  1757;  Oliver,  born 
1759;  Deborrah,  17(32;  John,  17(3-1:;  Elizar,  17(55;  Rachel,  17(37;  Isaac,  1770: 
AiHia,  1772;  Elizabeth,  1775;  Ebenezer,  1777. 

The  first  tax  list  of  Westford  contained  88  names,  and  there  were  four 
Wrights  and  one  Cumniings  on  the  list.  One  of  the  Wrights  was  Jacob,  our 
John's  father. 

The  plantation  of  Chelmsford  was  granted  in  1653,  and  incorporated 
1655.  The  petitioners  were  twenty  in  numV)er,  and  were  from  Concord  and 
Woliurn  Mass.    Our  first  John  Wright  being  one  of  them. 

The  Wrights  are  mentioned  as  "contributing  vei-y  much  to  the  growth  of 
the  place. 

The  Indians  at  that  time  were  friendly,  and  one  of  the  Chiefs  of  that  day 
in  a  "  talk"  to  the  whites,  stated  that  through  his  intei'ce.ssion  with  his  people, 

13 


they  had  been  allowed  to  settle  in  the  Red  man's  country  without  molestation. 

INDIAN   TROUBLES 

There  is  a  tradition,  however,  that  in  these  early  times  isolated  mui-ders 
took  place.  One  story  is  to  the  eifect  that  the  Indians  gathered  around  one 
settler's  house  at  night,  and  made  a  noise  like  a  swine,  and  that  when  the  man 
went  out  to  see  what  was  the  matter  his  wife  waited  for  his  return  in  vain. 
She  then  bari'ed  the  door  and  sat  up  all  night  with  her  children,  and  in  the 
morning  found  her  husband's  head  stuck  on  a  pole. 

TADMUCKS 

"The  early  settlers  appropriated  swamps  and  meadows  for  their  cattle. 
These  meadoAvs  were  called  '  Tadmucks.'  Thos.  Adams,  one  of  the  ancestors 
of  the  famous  Adams  family  of  American  history,  was  allowed  six  acres  on  the 
east  side  of  Tadmuck  Hill.  And  regarding  our  second  John  Wright,  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  town,  the  history  of  Westford  has  this  to  say  :  '  John 
Wright  also  had  3  acres  at  Farther  Tadmuck.'  This  was  in  lGo9,  only  there 
years  from  the  lieginning  of  the  plantation,  and  these  were  probably  the  earliest 
allotments  of  land,  and  the  records  speak  of  no  others." 

JOHN  WRIGHT  FOUNDER  OF  CHELMSFORD 

It  was  apparently  not  until  1707  that  our  Cummings  kinsmen  appeared  on 
the  scene.  This  history  says  :  "  In  the  vicinity  of  Stoney  Creek  was  the  farm 
of  John  Cummings,  and  still  further  up  was  the  farm  of  John  Waldo  Cum- 
mings."  About  1663  the  first  garrison  house  was  built  on  Eraser  Hill  and 
another  on  Brookside. 

SOUGHT  SAFETY  IN  GARRISON  HOUSE 

"  When  night  came  on,  and  the  deep  gloom  of  the  forest  settled  down 
upon  them,  the  women  and  children  hastened  from  their  homes  to  these  gar- 
risons, where  they  often  heard  the  yell  of  the  savages  startling  the  night  air. 
This  was  the  time  of  King  Philip's  war. 

WESFORD 

On  September  20th,  1729,  the  woi'st  precinct  of  Chelmsford  was  chartered 
under  the  name  of  Wesford  (spelt  without  the  "t.") 

At  the  first  town  meeting  Deacon  John  Cummings  was  chosen  Moderator 
and  Hy.  Wright,  Policeman. 

The  town  of  Wesford  at  that  time  consisted  of  87  taxpayers.  Among 
them  there  was  only  one  Cummings,  and  that  was  Deacon  John.  There  was, 
however,  Jacob  Wright,  son  of  John  the  second,  and  our  direct  ancestor,  also 
Ebenezer  Wright,  Sr.  and  and  Jr.  and  H.  Wright,  all  kinsmen. 

Ebenezer  Wright,  the  lirother  of  our  Jacob  Wright,  father  of  the  third 

14 


,)()liii.  was  appointed  Ensign  in  Captain  Choat's  Company  in  174.'),  when  Wes- 
ford  sent  a  goodly  number  of  her  sons  to  the  capture  of  Louisbui-g. 

COLONIES  EIGHT  EOR  MOTHERLAND 

After  the  peace  of  LTtrecht,  l71o,  the  French,  as  a  security  to  tlicir  navi- 
gation and  fishing,  built  the  town  of  Louisburg  on  the  Island  of  l^rcton,  and 
foi'titit'il  it  with  a  rampart  of  stone  thirty  feet  high  and  a  ditch  80  feet  wide. 

The  six  bastions  contained  4S  cannon  and  four  mortars.  On  an  island  at 
the  enti-ance  there  were  batteries  containing  thirty  cannon,  whilst  opposite  the 
entrance  were  twenty-eight  forty-two  pound  cannon  and  two  eighteen  pounders. 
At  the  entrance  to  the  town  were  sixteen  twenty-four  pound  cannon.  The 
French  took  '2o  years  to  build  these  works  at  a  cost  of  thirty  million  livers. 
The  i)laee  was  so  strong  as  to  be  c  died  the  Dunkirk  of  America,  and  it  enabled 
!"' ranee  to  ruin  the  fisheries  of  New  England.     (We  were  all  British  then.) 

In  1745  Governor  Shirley  proposed  to  the  General  Court  of  Massachussets 
that  he  I)e  allowed  to  destroy  these  works.  ^Vt  first  the  General  Court  re- 
fused to  listen  to  him,  thinking  such  a  tusk  impossilile.  The  proposal  was 
finally  carried  by  one  vote. 

Wm.  I'epperell  was  appointed  conmiander.  The  New  England  army, 
drawn  from  all  towns,  saile<l  March  24tli,  1745  and  arrived  at  Canso,  April 
4th.  There  were  4,0Q0  troops  in  all.  They  waited  three  weeks  for  the  ice  to 
break  up  around  Cape  Breton.  The  troops  w^ere  landed  April  :30th.  With 
extreme  diiiicidty  cannon  were  drawn  for  fourteen  nights  through  morass  up 
to  the  men's  knees.  Horses  and  oxen  were  also  used.  The  men  were  har- 
nessed with  the  beasts,  with  straps  over  their  shoulders.  The  New  Englanders 
got  inside  the  works,  and  Louisl)urg  capitulated  on  June  16th,  1745. 

The  plan  for  the  reduction  of  this  foi'ti'ess  was  drawn  by  a  lawyer  and  ex- 
ecuted by  a  merchant.     Out  of  4,000  men,  Massachussets  furnished  o,250. 

WESFORD  HELPS  ACADIA'S  REFUGEES 

The  peninsula  of  Nova  Scotia  acceded  to  the  English  in  1713,  was  in 
habited  by  French  people,  who  adhered  to  the  catholic  religion.  The  l);jund- 
aiy  was  unsettled.  The  English  claimed  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  French 
restricted  them  to  the  peninsula  of  Acadia  or  Nova  Scotia.  The  French  occu- 
pied forts  to  contest  their  claims,  and  New  England  gave  many  of  her  sons  to 
the  opposing  English  army.  On  May  "iOth,  1753,  the  Massachusetts  troops 
embarked,  seized  the  forts,  and  took  possession  of  the  country.  The  dithcultv 
arose  as  to  what  should  l)e  done  with  the  inhabitants,  some  of  them  actually 
liearing  arms  against  the  New  Englanders.  Those  who  did  not  bear  arms  were 
given  the  option  of  taking  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  England  oi-  leave  the 
country.  They  unanimously  refused,  and  they  were  scattered  throughout  the 
colonies.  This  situation  gave  rise  to  Longfellow's  poem  of  "  Evangeline." 
Westford  supported  many  of  these  refugees.  They  were  very  humane  to 
them.      Among  the  refugees  at  Wesford  was  a  family  named  IJobesliaw.      The 

15 


mother,  age  H3,  being  very  feeble,  and  the  young  man  Lise  Kobeshaw  being- 
very  sick.  Finally  the  town  selectmen  (including  Wright  &  Cummings)  and 
afterwards  the  general  Court  of  Massachusetts  helped  these  people.  They 
appear  to  have  been  well  taken  care  of  as  fiir  as  Massachusetts  was  concerned. 
These  refugees  were  allotted  to  the  different  towns. 

EVANGELINE 
Here  is  what  Longfellow  says  about  them  : 

"  Far  asunder,  on  separate  coasts,  the  Acadians  landed. 
Scattered  were  they  like  flakes  of  snow,  when  the  wind  from  the  northeast 
Strikes  aslant  through  the  fogs  that  darken  the  banks  of  Newfoundland. 
Friends  they  sought  and  homes  ;  and  many  despairing,  heartljroken 
Asked  of  the  earth  but  a  grave,  and  no  longer  a  friend  nor  a  fireside." 

In  1748  there  was  a  skirmish  with  the  Indians  on  the  frontier  and  many 
Wesford  boys  were  engaged.  In  1754  the  Indians  were  again  attacked,  and 
Colonel  John  Cummings,  a  relative,  was  in  command  of  one  of  the  companies. 

OUR  KINSMEN  FIGHT  THE  FRENCH 

In  17o7  the  French  and  the  Indians  were  at  war  with  England  and  Mas- 
sachusetts still  provided  her  young  men.  We  tind  our  kinsman  Samuel 
Wright  fighting  in  Captain  Sam  Davis'  Company,  and  in  Jonas  Prescott's 
Company  our  kinsman  Thomas  Wright  of  Wesford  who  was  made  Sergeant, 
also  John  Wright  Oliver  Wright,  Joel  Wright  and  Joseph  Cummings.  This 
last  Company  was  sent  to  relieve  Fort  William  Henry,  but  it  was  captured  l)y 
Montcalm  l)efore  they  could  get  there. 

In  1758  there  was  gloom  in  the  Colonies.  Things  seemed  to  be  going 
against  them.  The  English  had  given  Louisburg  back  to  France — Louisburg 
so  hardly  won  by  Massachussets.  General  Amherst  was  sent  to  re-capture 
Louisburg.  General  Abercrombie  was  sent  against  Ticonderego  and  Crown 
Point  and  General  Forbes  against  Fort  Du  Quesne. 

General  Amherst  took  Louisburg,  Fort  Du  Quesne  was  taken  and  named 
Pittsburg,  but  General  Abercrombie  was  repulsed  at  Ticonderego.  But  I'ort 
Frontenac  was  reduced  by  General  Bradstreet.  These  achievements  dispelled 
the  gloom.  Wesford  boys  were  again  prominent  in  the  fight.  At  the  battle 
of  Half  Way  Brook,  Sergeant  Oliver  AVright,  in  Captain  Lawrence's  company 
was  reported  missing.  In  Captain  Wm.  Lawrence's  Company  was  Isaac  Cum- 
mings a  kinsman,  aged  fourteen.  Age  made  no  difference.  There 
were  many  children  from  fourteen  to  eighteen,  and  some  men  of  from 
thirty-eight  to  fifty-six.  In  Captain  Whiting's  Company  there  was  another 
Isaac  Cummings  and  Reuben  Wright.  Our  kinsman  Reuben  Wright  was 
evidently  wounded,  for  he  was  in  the  hospital  from  November  23  to  December 
9th  and  then  discharged.     In  Captain  Barton's  company  was  Silas  Wright. 

In  1760  Montreal  was  reduced  and  Canada  captured  from  the  French. 
Many  Wesford  boys  went  to  fight  the  French  and  never  returned. 

16 


WESFORD  BOYCOTTS  GREAT  BRITAIN  THOUGH  EXPRESSING 
RESPECT  FOR  HER  PARLIAMENT 

(Terms  of  Resolution) 

In  1708  the  town  remonstrated  against  the  English  Stamp  Act,  by  a  long 
resolution,  and  by  another  resolution  decided  to  prevent  the  use  of  imported 
English  superfluities.  In  1773  a  resolution  was  passed  expressing  regret  that 
judges  received  their  instructions  from  the  Crown  alone.  A  committee  was 
appointed  to  correspond  with  Boston  in  this  respect,  and  Zaccheus  Wright, 
who  became  very  prominent  afterwards  recorded  this  resolution. 
The  committee  sent  their  thanks  to  "  that  zealous  patriot,  '  John 
Hancock.'"  In  1774  Zaccheus  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
correspondence  to  Boston.  Afterwards  he  was  chosen  to  meet  the 
Boston  Committee,  regarding  the  trouble  with  England,  and  pay  them  the 
town  portion,  the  town  having  refused  to  pay  it  to  the  English  representatives. 
Zaccheus  was  son  of  Ebenezer,  who  was  son  of  our  second  John. 

The  period  of  the  revolution  was  one  of  great  significance  in  the  Town  of 
Westford.  Westford  troops  took  part  in  the  first  armed  resistance,  and  among 
them  were  many  of  our  kin.  Rev.  Willard  Hall,  and  two  other  men,  remained 
steadfast  to  the  king.     Hall  until  his  death. 

The  resolutions  passed  when  the  Wrights  and  Cummings'  flourished  in 
Westford,  will  be  interesting.  They  were  kin,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
town  attairs.  The  wording  is  moderate,  and  in  the  light  of  future  events 
appears  reasonable. 

"  We,  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Westford,  in 
Town  ]\Ieeting  asseml^led  the  31st  day  of  October,  1765,  professing  the  great- 
est loyalty  to  our  most  Gracious  Sovereign,  and  our  sincere  regard  and  pro- 
found reverence  for  the  British  Parliament,  as  the  most  powerful  and  respect- 
able liody  on  earth,  yet  at  the  same  time  being  deeply  sensible  of  the  ditti- 
culties  and  distress  to  which  that  august  body's  late  exertion  of  their  power, 
in  and  l)y  the  Stamp  Act,  must  necessarily  expose  us,  think  it  proper  in  the 
present  critical  conjunction  of  affairs,  to  give  the  following  instructions  : — " 

The  instructions  are  addressed  to  Captain  Prescott,  their  representative 
at  Boston,  as  follows,  after  preamble,  : 

"  We  are  alarmed  and  astonished  at  an  act  called  the  Stamp  Act,  by  which 
a  very  grievous,  and  we  apprehend,  unconstitutional,  act  is  laid  upon  us.  We 
huml)ly  apprehend  l)y  the  royal  charter  granted  to  our  forefathers,  that  they 
had  jjower  of  making  laws  for  our  internal  government,  and  for  making  taxes, 
invested  in  the  general  assembly;  and  by  the  same  charter  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Province  are  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  natural  free-born 
subjects  of  (rreat  Britain.  The  most  essential  rights  of  a  British  subject  are 
those  of  being   represented  in  the  same  liody  which  exercised  the  power  of 


levying  taxes  on  them  and  having  their  properties  tried  by  juries.  These  are 
the  common  privileges  of  mankind,  and  we  apprehend  we  were  not  represented 
in  parliament  of  Great  Britain  when  the  said  act  was  made,  and  it  is  certain 
this  act  admits  of  our  properties  being  tried  by  Courts  of  Admiralty  without  a 
jury ;  so  at  once  we  are  deprived  of  our  most  valued  rights  and  privileges, 
which  is  contained  in  our  charter,  as  we  humbly  conceive  (and  more  to  the 
same  effect) 

We,  therefore,  think  it  is  our  indispensable  duty  to  ourselves  and  our  dear 
children,  as  it  is  our  undoubted  privilege,  in  the  most  open  and  unreserved 
manner,  but  in  decent  and  respectful  terms,  to  declare  our  great  dissatisfaction 
with  the  Stamp  Act,  and  we  think  it  incumbent  on  you  to  by  no  means  join  in 
countenancing  and  assisting  in  the  execution  of  the  said  act,  that  our  children 
who  come  after  us  may  not  accuse  us  of  tamely  giving  our  rights  away. 

We  also  instruct  you  to  see  that  the  money  in  the  Province  treasury  may 
not  be  applied  for  any  other  purpose  than  that  intended  in  the  Act  for  supply- 
ing the  treasury." 

Then  followed  in  1768  and  1770  resolutions  discouraging  the  importation 
of  British  Goods,  and  in  1773,  objecting  to  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court 
being  made  independent  of  the  people. 

In  1774  Boston  asked  Westford  to  express  their  views  on  the  strained  re- 
lations between  England  and  America  ;  they  did  so  as  follows  : 

" But  lieholding   the  general   union   of  the  colonies  with  their 

uninterrupted  exertions  in  the  cause  of  liljerty,  so  inspires  our  breasts  that  we 
are  constrained  in  a  peculiar  manner,  to  assert  our  readiness  in  all  necessary 
occasions,  to  unite  with  the  colonies  in  general  and  this  Province  in  particular 
in  every  constitutional  method  for  the  redress  of  grievance,  and  continuousness 
sf  our  liberties,  though  we  do  not  mean  to  approve  of  any  riotous  conduct  or 
in  the  least  to  indicate  any  disregcXrd  to  our  Sovereign  Majesty,  or  the  dignity 
of  the  Crown.  Neither  do  we  plead  for  anarchy,  but  we  seek  the  enjoyment, 
of  those  charter  privileges  which  Americans  have  long  enjoyed  heretofore  in 
which  time  a  happy  harmony  existed  between  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies. 
It  is  the  opinion  of  this  Town  that  if  the  plan  of  administration  so  far  succeed 
that  as  the  general  use  of  dutied  tea  should  take  place  among  the  Colonies,  it 
would  be  attended  with  very  destructive  consequences,  nor  do  we  think  there 
are  any  good  advantages  to  accrue  from  the  use  of  East  India  tea,  considered  ^ 
without  a  duty,  which  might  not  be  ol)tained  from  plants  of  our  own  production. 
Therefore,  resolved  that  we  will  not  purchase  or  use  or  approve  to  be  used  any 
tea  whatever  until  such  duty  be  repealed." 

FIGHTING  MAD 

On  January  16th,  1775,  the  town  voted  to  procure  eight  guns  as  a  starting 
point.  These  guns  cost  $100.00.  Cousin  Zaccheus  Wright  was  one  of  a  com- 
mittee of  three  to  procure  them. 

18 


On  Fel)rii;iry  '27tli  the  following  agreement  was  recorded  by  the  town 
seleetmen  : — 

"  We,  the  subsribers,  having  seen  the  (articles  of)  Association  drawn  up 
hv  the  grand  Aiiarican  Continental  Congress,  respecting  the  non-importation, 
non-cousumption  and  non-exportation  of  goods,  etc.,  signed  by  the  delegates 
of  this,  and  the  delegates  of  other  colonies  of  this  continent,  and  having  atten- 
tively considered  the  same,  do  heartily  approve  thereof,  and  to  every  part  of 
Ihein,  and  in  order  to  make  the  same  (articles  of)  association,  etc.,  our  personal 
act,  do  by  these  presents,  under  the  sacred  ties  of  virtue,  honor  and  the  love 
of  our  country,  firmly  agree  and  associate  fully  and  completely  to  ol)serve  and 
keei)  every  article  and  clause  in  the  (articles  of)  Association,  with  respect  to 
importation,  exportation  and  non-consumption,  and  will  duly  inform  and  give 
notice  of  every  evasion  or  contravention  of  said  agreement,  as  far  as  we  may 
be  able  so  to  do,  and  that  we  will,  as  far  as  we  can,  encourage  and  promote  a 
general  union  thereof." 

This  agreement  was  signed,  or  voted  to  be  signed  by  every  inhabitant  of 
the  town. 

On  May  'ioth,  1775,  the  Selectman  voted  that  C'apt.  Jonathan  Minot  ;ind 
Oliver  Bates  have  charge  of  all  the  men  in  this  town  from  1(5  to  GO,  and  train 
them,  and  to  take  care  that  the  "alarm  men"  (John  Wright  was  one  of  them) 
were  properly  equipped.  The  "  alarm  men  "  were  those  who  were  directed 
practically  to' sleep  on  their  arms,  to  be  called  out  at  a  minute's  notice.  They 
were  also  called  "minute  men"  for  the  same  reason. 

WESFORD  WANTS  INDEPENDENCE 

"  We,  your  committee  to  draft  a  letter  to  Boston,  report  as  follov.s  : 

"That  in  our  humble  opinion,  nothing  .short  of  a  state  of  independency 
will  so  well  answer  for  our  safety  and  in  case  should  the  Congress  declare  a 
state  of  independence,  we  will  acquiesce  thereto,  and  risk  our  lives  and  for- 
tunes in  support  thereof.  Voted  to  by  300  weight  of  powder  ball  and  fiint 
answerable  to  the  powder  and  to  purchase  fifteen  guns  to  add  to  our  store."  It 
was  voted  to  give  twenty-four  pounds  to  each  man  for  continental  service  for 
three  years.  In  1780  the  Committee  on  Correspondence,  a  very  important 
post,  which  meant  really  the  mouthiiiece  of  Congress  in  the  town,  comprised 
among  others  Thomas  and  Hy.  Wright. 

THE  FIGHT  AT  CONCORD 

The  First  Aumed  Besistance 

On  April  19th,  177"),  the  British  arrived  at  Concord  to  seize  munitions  of 
war  stoi'cd  in  the  cellars  of  private  houses  of  the  Colonials.  On  that  day  tliey 
were  met  at  Concord  Bridge  l)y  the  Massachussett  "  minute  men."  Major 
Butterick  and  Colonel  Robinson  were  together.  Although  Major  Butter- 
ick  was  in  command,  he  asked  ('olonel  Robinson  to  act  as  his  superior, 
being  a  senioi-  officer  in  another  regiment.    This  was  refused  and  they  marched 

19 


side  by  side.  Rev.  Dr.  Ripley  who  was  at  the  fight,  said  fift}  years  after  that 
when  the  bridge  at  Concord  was  reached  the  British  were  sighted  on  the  other 
side.  A  British  soldier  fired  the  first  shot,  the  bullet  passing  under  Colonel 
Robinson's  arm,  and  wounding  Luther  Blanchard,  a  Filer.  Colonel  Robinson 
was  a  Westford  man,  and  the  Westford  Company  were  in  Concord  when  the 
first  shot  was  fired.  There  is  little  doubt  that  when  the  fight  commenced 
Robinson  and  Butterick  were  marching  Iireast  to  breast  and  Bmcroft  says 
with  their  fuses  trailed.  There  were  three  companies  engaged  ii\  the  fight  that 
day,  slaughter  took  place  among  the  British.  The  Colonials  hiding  behind 
trees  and  banks  of  the  earth,  firing  on  them  as  they  marched  down  the  high- 
ways. The  Wrights  had  rushed  to  the  front.  John  joined  the  "minute  men" 
my  great-great-grandfather  fights  at  52. 

JOHN  WRIGHT,    AGED  52 

We  find  a  Sergeant  in  Captain  Underwood's  Company  at  Concord  in  the 
brunt  of  the  first  struggle  with  the  British,  and  his  cousin  Ebenezer  was  a 
private  in  the  same  company.  They  helped  to  drive  the  English  back  from 
Concord  with  severe  loss.  In  Captain  Bates  Company  that  same  day  was 
Joseph  Wright,  Jr.,  a  cousin,  and  Ephraim  and  Pcletiah  Wright,  our  John's 
own  brothers.  All  the  Westford  boys  were  drafted  from  sixteen  to  sixty. 
When  the  British  were  advancing  these  companies  fired  without  orders  and 
were  censored. 

In  the  company  of  Oliver  Bates  engaged  the  same  day  was  Timothy  Cum- 
mings,  drummer. 

In  Johnathon  Minot's  Company  cousin  Zaccheus  Wright  was  first 
lieutenant  in  command,  and  Amos  Wright,  his  brother  Jacob,  son  of  our  Jacob 
Wright  was  corporal,  and  James  Wright  private. 


CONCORD  BRIDGE 

The  Bridge  at  Concord  where  the  first  armed 
resistance  took  pl<Jce. 


20 


MERIAM'S  CORNER 

Where  out  Wright  and  Cummings  ancestors  fired  upon  the  British 

The  British  Troops  retreating  from  the  Old  North  fridge 

Were  here  attacked  in  flank  hy  the  men  of  Concord 

and  neighboring  towns  and  driven  under 

a  hot  fire  to  Charlestown. 


?^ 

:.,-.,  ..^^'i 

i 

gj^ 

^^^M 

WRIGHT'S    TAVERN 

"Uhis  tavern  was  run  hy  one  of  our  kinsmen 

One  of  the  first  places  of  interest  that  attracts  the  visitor  entering  Concord  Square  is  the  quaint  old 

hostelry  known  for  generations  as  Wright's  'Uavern.        The  town  records  show  beyond  the  perad- 

Venture  of  a  doubt  that  it  Was  erected  in  1 747,  and  a  study  of  its  interior,  with  its  generous  old 

fire-places,  deep  Wainscotting  and  low  ceilings,  emphasizes  the  truth  of  the  records.       But  it  is 

not  alone  its  age  that  makes  it  appeal  to  the  sight-seer.        The  old  tavern  has  a  history  that 

adds  greatly  to  its  interest.       Prior  to  the  Revolution,  in  its  capacity^  of  Town  Tavern,  it 

was  the  rendezvous  of  the  earnest  agitators  oj  the  great  conflict  to  come,  while  on  jlpril 

19  it  Was  the  place,  hy  appointment,  at  which  the  Minute  Men  Were  to  meet  in  case 

of  an  alarm  being  given  of  the  approach  of  the  British.       Later  in  the  day,  when 

the  Minute  Men  had  gone  to  the  Q^attle  Ground,  Colonel  Smith  of  the   1 0th 

British  T(egiment  made  the   Tavern  his  headquarters.        The  sto'y  is  told, 

whenever  mention   is   made  of  the    Wright   Tavern,  that  Major  Pitcairn, 

while  stirring  his  toddv  with  his  fingers,  on  that  eventful  U^ineteenlh  of 

April,  boasted  to  the  officers  and  men  about  him:    "In  this  Way  we 

will  stir  the  blood  of  the  damn  rebels  before  night." 

•21 


■F'       1     rr    k  y   f* 


PUcairn  stirring  the  brandy 


NINE  WRIGHTS  RALLIED  ROUND  ROBINSON  AT  CONCORD 

TEN  FOUGHT  LATER  IN  THE  REVOLUTION 

On  June  14th,  177(3,  the  selectmen  sent  three  delegates  to  the  General 
court,  instructing  them  that  to  say  that  nothing  short  of  independency  would 
satisfy  the  town. 

In  1777  Zac.  Wright  was  chosen  one  of  a  committee  to  look  after  the 
families  of  the  men  killed  in  battle.  In  1778  the  town  voted  for  the  perpetual 
union  of  the  thirteen  states  of  America,  and  they  instructed  their  represent- 
atives in  Congress  to  vote  that  way. 

In  1781  the  town,  including  1200  persons,  was  divided  into  three  clas.ses 
to  provide  soldiers  for  the  army.  Zac.  Wright  was  at  the  head  of  Class  One. 
The  taxes  were  heavy  on  those  1200.  Besides  the  war  tax,  there  were  the 
State  Silver  Tax,  the  Single  rate.  Silver  Money  Rate,  Corn  rate,  Beef  rate, 
Continental  rate.  Town  rate,  Minister  rate,  and  Highway  rate. 

In  1781  Zac.  Wright  was  on  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  with 
Boston,  the  highest  honor  in  town.  In  1783  Great  Britain  acknowledged  the 
independence  of  the  United  States,  leaving  that  country  impoverished,  and  its 
finances  ruined.  The  Congress  in  that  year  was  instructed  to  prevent  British 
sympathisers  returning  to  Massachusetts,  and  as  the  country  groaned  under 
an  immense  debt,  to  be  frugal. 


Act'ordint;'  to  an  alpliabetical  list  compiled,  ten  Wrights  are  mentioned  as 
serving  in  tlie  Revolutionary  war,  but  there  were,  undoubtedly,  more.  The 
list  is  as  follows:  Abraham  Wright,  Amos.  Ezekial,  James,  Joseph,  Jonas, 
Oliver,  Feletiah,  Peter,  Stephen,  and  Zaccheus  Wright.  Al)rahani  was  grand- 
son of"  our  Jacob,  and  son  of  I^)hraim;  Amos,  son  of  Eleazer  and  grandson  of 
of  third  John;  James,  son  of  Simeon,  grandson  of  our  third  John;  Joseph,  son 
ofour-Tacob;  Jonas,  son  of  Thomas  and  grandson  of  our  third  John;  Benjamin 
and  Peletiah,  sons  of  Jacoli;  Oliver,  son  of  my  great-great-grandfather,  John; 
and  Petei',  son  of  Thomas,  grandson  of  our  third  John. 

In  177<5,  in  flonathan  Minot's  company,  was  Henry  Wright,  grandson  of 
John  Wright  and  Mary  Stevens  and  son  of  Henry  Wright,  also  Joseph  Wright 
son  of  Jacol)  Wright,  my  great-great  grandfather.  In  the  company  of 
Zaccliareous  Wright  there  was  Stephen  Wright,  who  was  present  at  the  battle 
of  White  Plains,  1770.  He  was  grandson  of  John  and  Hannah  Fletcher,  and 
son  of  Henry  Wright.  In  Captain  Fletcher's  company,  1770,  there  was  Peter 
Wright,  who  was  grandson  of  John  and  Hannah  Fletcher,  and  son  of  Thomas. 
In  Jonathan  INlinot's  company,  Amos  Wright  served  from  Dec.  1770  to  May 
1777.  He  was  grandson  of  John  and  Mary  Stevens,  and  son  of  Ebenezar. 
In  Captain  Butterfields  company  there  was  Abraham  Wright  and  Ebenezar, 
grandson  of  John  and  Mary  Stevens  and  son  of  Ebenezar.  In  Oliver  Bate's 
regiment  there  was  Jos.  Wright,  son  of  Jacob,  my  ancestor,  and  Peletiah  and 
Ephraim,  also  sons  of  Jacob,  so  that  they  would  be  my  great-great  uncles. 
In  Captain  Parker's  regiment  there  was  Jonas  Wright,  grandson  of  John  and 
Hannah  Fletcher,  and  son  of  Thomas.  He  is  descril^ed  as  nineteen  years  of 
age,  and  live  feet  four  in  stature.  In  Colonel  Brook's  company,  Concord,  1777 
and  1779,  Peter  Wright,  sergeant,  served  for  two  years  and  was  paid 
£91  I'Js.  9d.  by  the  continental  Congress.  He  was  grandson  of  John  Wright 
and  Hannah  Fletcher,  and  son  of  Thomas.  In  Colonel  Reed's  regiment, 
which  went  to  the  relief  of  General  Gates,  there  were  Ezekial  and  Abraham 
Wright.  In  Cai)tain  I.saac  Wood's  company  177!^,  there  was  Abel  Wright, 
grandson  of  John  and  Hannah  Fletcher,  and  son  of  Thomas  Wright. 

On  May  25th,  1783,  Zach.  Wright  was  chosen  one  of  a  committee  to  take 
into  consideration  the  new  form  of  Government,  sulmiitted  for  the 
independent  colonies. 

The  town  accepted  the  Declaration  of  Rights  from  Congress,  with  the 
exception  of  Clause  3,  to  the  effect  that  the  State  sliould  control  the  Church. 
They  would  not  stand  for  that :  They  said  it  would  lead  impiety.  They  agreed 
as  to  the  lil)erty  of  the  press;  that  ministers  be  exempt  from  taxation.  They 
wished  to  substitute  the  following:  "That  all  men  have  a  natural  and  inalien- 
al)le  right  to  worship  God  according  to  their  own  conscience,  etc."  Westford 
tlid  not  prevail.  The  Boston  convention  decided  that  the  Church  and  State 
should  not  be  separated.  Westford  was  ahead  of  its  time,  that  was  all. 
Aftei-  about  fifty  years,  in  1883,  Congress  amended  this  Clause  3. 

WESFORD  WAS  ALL  WRIGHT 

It  would  l)e  tedious  to  emunerate  the  names  of  all  the  children  and  grand 

•23 


children  born  to  John  Wright  and  his  two  wives  in  Chelmsford  and  Westford, 
sufficient  to  say  that  in  five  generations,  and  in  a  period  of  about  125  years, 
303  Wrights  were  born,  and  this  is  only  counting  the  male  issue  that  is  in  the 
name  of  Wright.  If  the  same  record  had  been  kept  up  since,  and  the  Wrights 
have  not  migrated  extensively,  no  wonder  passing  commercial  travelers  through 
that  town  said  that  one  can  never  make  a  mistake  in  speaking  to  a  stranger, 
that  he  is  sure  to  be  a  Wright. 

A  few  more  notes  regarding  the  Wrights,  and  the  Cummings'  line  will  lie 
taken  up. 

WEIGHTS  AS  CIVIL  SERVANTS 

ZACCHEUS  BECAME  WESTFORD'S  FIRST  CITIZEN 

Regarding  our  kinsman,  Zaccheus  Wright:  He  rose  much  in  public  favor 
after  the  Revolution,  he  being  representative  at  the  General  Court  at  Boston 
for  the  following  years,  1777,  1788,  1789,  1791,  1792,  1793  and  1794.  In  1794 
he  was  made  Justice  of  Peace,  and  held  the  position  nntil  1803,  He  died 
March  20,  1811,  aged  72,  and  the  record  call  him  Zaccheus  Wright,  Esquire, 
which  they  have  done  in  no  other  case  noticed. 

In  1742  Henry  Wright,  brother  of  our  Jacob,  was  selectman,  andcigain 
in  1753.  In  1705  the  son  of  this  Henry  Wright  was  selectman,  Henry,  Jr., 
and  in  1706  Zaccheus  was  selectman,  and  Henry  Jr.,  Treasurer,  and  in  the 
following  years  Zaccheus  was  selectman:  1767,  1769,  1770,  1771,  1772,  1773, 
1775  and  1776. 

Zaccheus  must  have  been  a  man  of  extraordinary  talents  to  be  in  such 
great  demand  in  the  public  service.  He  does  not  appear  to  have  married,  and 
he  evidently  devoted  all  his  time  to  the  interests  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  the 
town  of  his  birth,  and  the  State  of  Massachusetts.  The  Wrights,  being  so 
numerous,  naturally  were  connected  by  marriage  with  a  great  many 
Massachusetts  families.  The  Adams  family  gave  two  presidents  to  the  United 
States.  Esther  Adams,  of  this  family,  married  one  of  our  kinsmen,  Henry 
Wright. 

FAMILIES  THE  WRIGHTS  MARRIED  INTO 

The  Proctor  family  was  a  very  prominent  one.  They  were  active  in  the 
Revolution  and  in  town  affairs.  Thomas  Wright,  grandson  of  the  third  John, 
married  Mary  Proctor.  Ten  Proctors  fought  in  the  Revolution.  Esther 
Wright  married  James  Proctor  in  1783,  and  Sarah  Wright  married  John 
Proctor  in  1771.  Robert  Prescott,  who  married  Jane  Heldrith,  1645,  settled 
at  Concord,  Mass.  In  1771  Peletiah  Wright,  son  of  our  Jacob,  married  Alice 
Powers,  and  his  brother  Ephraim  married  Abigail  Whittmore.  The  Prescotts 
were  a  noted  family.  Colonel  William  was  at  the  forefront  in  the  Revolution, 
and  his  regiment  occupied  the  trenches  at  Bunker's  Hill.  Abram  was  Boston 
representative  for  years.  In  1779  Zach.  Wright,  J.  P.  married  Oliver  Wright, 
son  of  John  my  great-gi'eat  grandftither,  to  Dolly  Prescott.  In  1787  Stephen 
Wright,  son  of  the  third  John,  was  married  to  Sarah  Prescott.  One  Abigail 
Wright  was  married  to  Elienezar  Prescott,  and  another  Abigail  to  David 
Prescott,  while  George  Wright  married  Mary  Ann  Prescott.     In  1788  there 

24 


were  married  by  Zach.  Wrig^ht,  J.  P.,  Sarah  Wright,  daughter  of  our  fourth 
ilohn,  and  -Tolni  Hadlock.  The  founder  of  the  Prescott  family  was  John 
Prescott,  wlio  married  Mary  Piatt,  Standish,  England,  and  landed  in  Boston 
lti40.  Xatlian  Wright  and  Ann  Trowbridge  were  married  l)y  Zach  Wright, 
J.  P.  Nathan  Wright's  signature  appears  in  the  Pollv  Wi'ight  Bible  on  the  tlv 
leaf 

Fletcher:  Lydia  Wright  married  Andrew  Fletcher,  and  Oliver  Wright, 
grand  daughter  of  our  third  John  Wright,  married  kSamuel  Fletcher,  who 
fought  in  the  revolutionary  army.  The  founder  was  Robert  Fletcher,  who 
came  from  England  to  Concord,  Mass.,  in  I()30. 

Hildrith :  llhoda  Hildrith  married  Levi  Wright,  Dorcas  Hildrith  married 
Simeon  Wright,  son  of  our  Jacob,  in  1737.  In  Hudson's  history  of  the  Hrst 
resistance  ot  Concord  liridge,  there  are  three  men  mentioned  as  lieing  foremost 
in  the  fight :  Col.  Kobinson,  Major  Butterick,  and  private  Oliver  Hildrith. 
There  were  ten  Hildrith's  who  fought  in  the  revolution.  The  founder  of  the 
familv  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  was  Richard,  who  received  the  freedom  of 
the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  May  10.  1(543. 

Adams:  Esther  Adams  married  Henry  Wright,  son  of  our  third  John 
The  founder  was  Henry  Adams,  who  settled  in  Braintree,  Mass.,  1030.  He 
gave  two  presidents  to  the  United  States.  Samuel  Adams  was  Lieut.  Gov.  of 
Massachusetts  for  two  years,  and  Governor  for  one  year,  Jonas  Prescott  was 
representative  at  Boston  for  ten  years,  C.  P.  Wright  was  representative  in 
1845,  and  Oliver  Wright  IH.")!. 

Minot  :  James  Wright  married  Mary  Minot,  17;")7  :  Samuel  V/ right  ma:- 
ried  ^lary  Minot,  1744:  Jonathan  Minot  was  captain  of  his  company. 

Butterlield  .•  Ruth  d;;ughter  of  John  Wright  the  Third,  married  Robt.  But- 
terfield,  17.')0  ;  Mary,  daugliter  of  our  Jacob  W^right,  married  Elizor  Butterfield, 
174{»:  Jacob,  Jr.,  son  of  our  Jacob  Wright,  married  Lucy  Butterfield,  1755; 
Reul)en  Bntteriield  was  captain  of  a  revolutionary  company  in  1777.  Two 
other  Bulterfields  fought  in  the  revolution.  The  founder  was  Nathaniel  and 
Benjamin.     They  settled  in  Wesford  from  Wobuin,  1738. 

Stevens  :  Deliverance  Stevens  married  Ebenezar  Wright  in  1730.  He  was 
a  son  of  our  third  John.  Samuel  Stevens  married  iJuth  Wright,  1731.  The 
Stevens  were  very  intimate  in  my  grandmother's  I'auiily.  One  little  Stevens 
girl  of  nine,  worked  a  Iwautiful  sampler  for  my  grandinotliei-,  which  I  still  have, 
and  the  Stevens  family  gave  my  grandmother  Cross  a  large  gold  brooch,  with 
the  hair  of  the  individual  members  of  the  Stevens  fimily  cleverly  set  therein, 
with  the  initials  in  tiny  gold  letters,  designating  whos(>  hair  it  was.  I  have  the 
brooch  also. 

Sarah  Wright,  daughter  of  (»ur  third  John  Wright,  married  Ebenezar 
Patch.  Flannah  Wright, daughter  of  our  third  John,  married  John  l^nderwood, 
who  was  a  revolutionary  soldier.  -rose{)h,  the  son  of  Joseph,  was  the  founder  of 
the  family.  He  was  first  heard  of  at  Reading,  KJSI.  Ebenezar  Wright,  grand 
S(m  of  the  third  John,  married  Su.sanna  Ayres.  Ruth  Wright,  daugliter  of 
John  the  second,  married  John  Knight,  Sarah,  daughter  f)f  John  Wright  the 
second,  married   Samuel  Porter,  killed  at  the  Sudluiry  fight.      Deborah,  sister 

25 


of  Euth  Wriglit,  married  Jas.  Barnes,  killed  at  the  Sudbury  fight.  The  sisters, 
were,  no  doubt,  widowed  on  the  same  day.  In  April,  1775,  when  the  first  call 
to  arms  was  made,  Barnes  and  Oliver  Bates  had  command  of  all  the  Westford 
men.  Four  Minots  fought  in  the  revolution.  Mary  Minot  was  sister  of  Captain 
Jonathan  Minot,  who  led  his  army  in  the  first  fight  at  Concord.  Lieut.  Zaccheus 
Wright  and  James  Wright,  were  in  his  company.  The  founder  of  the  family  in 
America  was  George  Minot,  of  Dorchester,  Mass.,  son  of  Thomas  Minot  of 
Essex,  England. 

Heald:  Joseph,  son  of  our  Jacob  Wright,  married  Dorothy  Heald.  Eph- 
raim  and  Oliver  Heald,  who  fought  in  the  revolution,  were  both  brothers  of 
Dorothy.     The  founder  was  Josiah  Heald,  of  Westford,  1729. 

From  the  history  of  Westford,  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  Oliver  Bates 
died  of  smallpox.  He  was  born  in  1720,  and  married  in  1744  Ruth  Wright, 
daughter  of  Ebenezar  Wright  (son  of  our  third  John)  and  Hannah  his  wife. 
At  the  head  of  his  company  as  captain,  he  pursued  the  British  from  Concord 
Bridge,  and  received  a  wound  which  caused  his  death  July  4, 1775.  Our  Jacob's 
sons,  Peletiah  and  Ephraim,  and  Joseph,  Jr.,  were  all  in  this  regiment,  Joseph 
being  sergeant,  proof  positive  that  they  were  in  the  thick  of  the  first  fight  with 
the  British. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  in  every  Wright  home,  whether  it  was  mother  or 
father,  daughter  or  son,  prayers  were  being  offered  up  for  the  safety  of  loved 
ones  in  those  tragic  days  of  the  revolution. 

The  Wrights  were  prolific  pioneers  raising  up  stalwart  sons  to  protect  the 
fireside  from  savage  tribes,  to  fight  Britain's  battles,  to  mark  out  pathways,  to 
lay  down  foundations  for  future  generations  and  to  aid  in  the  up-building  of  a 
new  nation 


26 


THE  WRIGHT  BIBLES. 


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d  rly^^     113C- 


.lOHX    WKKiHTS  RUiLE 


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n 


I'DI.I.V    WKKiUrs    IJIIiI.E 

27 


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'^i^ji/"^/ 


p^ij 


^/^  ^y  ^^^ 


■<^^^^^. 


or 


^1/^^^'''''- 


<L- 


7^;:5^;^..^ 


JOHN    WR.GHT'S    BIBLE 


RUEBEN     WRIGHT'S     BIBLE 


WKKiHr   lUHl.KS 

'I'lircc  Wri^'lit  Kihles  liave  t'alleii  into  my  possession  through  my  mother. 
No.  1.     Tlu'  hilile  of  John  Wright  who  married  Sarali  Lawrence.     ( )n  the 
lilaiik  Ic.ifis  the  following:  John  Wright — His  I'.ook 

•■  Life  is  the  time  to  love  the  Lord 
The  time  to  earn  the  great  reward 
And  wliile  tlie  lamp  holds  out  to  Imrii 
The  vilest  sinner  may  return." 

Wesfoi'd.  17S1»-  -The  name  of  Anna  Wi-ight.  his  daughter,  is  also  written  in 
the  book. 

Xo.  "J.  Reuben  Wright,  a  great  uncle  to  Saiah's  children,  born  17:3-1:.  On 
the  front  page  Reuben  Wright  has  written  his  name  and  the  date  177:3,  as 
lollows:  Reuben  Wright — His  Book.  May  the  Lord  give  him  grace  therein 
to  look.  After  this  Polly  Wright  evidently  took  possession  and  her  name  is 
\\  ritten  in  several  places.  She  was  the  first  child  of  John  Wright  and  Sarah 
L;iwrence,  and  in  oiu-  faniilv  this  bible  was  known  as  "The  Pollv  \\'riL!.ht 
I'.ible.". 

Xo.  :!.  Ebenezar  Wi'ight,  l)orn  1740,  another  great  uncle  of  John  Wright's 
children.  On  the  back  page  was  written  Ebenezar  Wright— Mis  Bil)le.  1S04. 
Lolly  however  also  captured  this  l)il)le  for  her  name  appears  on  the  front  page, 
where  .she  has  copied  the  verse  written  in  the  bible  f)f  her  fath-';-,  John 
Wright. 

I""lizabeth  Wright,  lovingly  called  "  Betsy,  "  was  married  on  Octoher  Oth, 
\7W.  to  Amos  Oummings.  Zaccheus  Wright,  then  Justice  of  Peace,  officiating. 
From  this  marriage  sprang  anothei-  line,  their  daughter  Caroline  marrying  my 
grandfather,  (ah  in  B.  Cidss. 


(T.M  Mixes. 

ISA.VC  cr.MMlXliS 

(!LXKIL\T10X  I 

Isaac  Cummings  was  the  progenitor  of  the  race  in  America.  He  un- 
doubtedly left  Old  England  for  New  England  owing  to  religious  jjersecutioii. 
I'radition  .says,  however,  that  his  family  were  from  Scotlanil.  Accord- 
ing to  this  tradition,  Lsaac  Oamins  Ois  he  spelt  his  name),  was  descend- 
ed fi'oni  "  Red  Cumin"  of  Badenoch.  in  Invernesshire.  Here  tlie  elan  flourish- 
ed from  lOso  to  1 :{;)().  'i'he  Hrst  of  the  name  who  figured  prominently  was 
slain  with  Malcolm  III  in  109:3,  leaving  two  son.s.  John  and  William.  From 
John  all  the  Cumins  of  Scotland  are  .said  to  have  descended.  Sir  flohn,  the 
Red  Cumyn  of  Comyn.  was  the  first  Lord  of  Badenoch,  and  in  li'fO  was  am- 
bas.sador  from  Alexandei'  II  to  Louis  IX.  His  son  John,  callcMl  the  Black 
l/)i-d  of  I'.adenoeli.  vowcij  to  suppoi't  (^)ueen  Margaict.  daughter  of  .Alexander 


III.,  and  at  her  death  he  became  an  uusuccesjful  competitor  for  tlie  crown  of 
Scotland,  as  the  son  and  heir  of  John,  who  was  the  son  and  heir  of  David, 
King  of  Scotland. 

Another  tradition  runs  :-  -Uomius,  Coniyngs,  C'oniyns,  Comyn,  Cumings, 
Cummings,  a  family  which  rose  tt)  great  power  in  Scotland  and  England. 

In  1445  one  branch  gave  birth  to  the  historian,  Phillip  de  Comins,  ;;ud  an- 
other branch  followed  William  the  Xornian  to  the  conquest  of  England.  RoI)^'!'t 
de  C'nmins,  with  700  horse,  seized  Durham  for  William.  His  nepiiew,  William, 
becinie  Chancellor  of  Scotland.  The  family  obtained  the  earldom  of  Angus 
and  Athol. 

Another  John  Comyn,  .son  of  the  Earl  of  Badenoch,  was  an  unsuccessful 
competitor  for  the  Crown  of  Scotland.  He  was  defeated  by  Bruce  hi  a  pitched 
battle  in  loOf).  Those  who  were  not  sliin  in  battle  took  refuge  in  P^nglaud, 
an<l  married  into  the  best  families. 

Another  tradition  is  from  an  educated  American  in  Rome,  who  states  that 
the  family  is  very  old,  and  was  first  heard  from  in  Lom!).r'dy,  Italy,  in  the 
fourth  century.  It  then  c.ime  over  the  Alps,  and  settled  in  the  north  part  of 
France,  where  was  founded  the  town  of  Cummines,  where  live.l  Pliillip  of 
Cummin.s,  the  father  of  Ancient  History.  Then  they  went  to  Scotland,  Eng- 
land and  Ireland.  There  is  much  more  to  this  effect,  but  it  will  be  more  in- 
teresting to  commence  the  tracing  of  our  own  American  line. 

Strangely  enough,  Lsaac  Cummings.  the  founder,  was  known  as  "Goodman" 
I.saac  I'ummings.  No  doubt,  the  preli.K  was  given  to  him  as  a  title  by  courtesy, 
owing  to  his  goodness  of  character. 

The  first  mention  of  I.saac  Cummings  is  in  the  records  of  Essex  County, 
where  the  clerk  of  Watertown  notes  tiiat  Isaac  Cummings  has  received  a 
grant  of  thirty-five  acres  in  I'le  earliest  general  land  grant  of  1(330,  called  the 
"great  dividends." 

The  town  clerk  of  Ipswich  also  records  that  he  owned  a  planting  lot  in 
lieedy  Marsh  in  that  town  in  KJJS.  In  li]30  he  owned  a  house  in  Ipswich 
village,  next  to  Kev.  Nathaniel  Rogers,  and  was  then  known  as  a  Commoner. 
In  that  year  he  sold  land  on  the  highway  leading  to  Jelu-ey's  Neck.  He  was 
made  a  freeman  May  18tli,  1042,  and  was  a  proprietor  in  Watertown  the  .same 
year,  and  at  Topsficld  afterwards,  where  he  was  Commoner  with  thirty  others. 
Commoners  were  tho.se  who  had  a  right  to  commonage  or  cattle. 

In  1652  Isaac  Cummings  for  thirty  pounds  l)ought  150  acres  of  hind  I'rom 
Samuel  Syminds.  The  farm  was  in  Topsiield.  It  ran  along  each  side  of  How- 
letts  Brook.  On  March  iZSth,  1S54,  John  Fuller  brought  suit  against  him. 
March  2nd,  165(),  Isaac  Cummings  was  witness  against  W^m.  Douglas.  IMarch 
1657,  Isaac  Cummings  was  sued  for  debt  by  Zeroljabell  Phillips,  of  Ipswich. 
On  Dec.  13,  1656,  Isaac  Cummings  bnmght  suit  against  John  Fuller,  evidently 
a  counter  suit.  All  these  law  suits  did  not  seem  to  hurt  his  standing,  for  he 
continued  to  prosper,  and  to  be  designated  as  "Goodman"  Cummings.  He 
was  on  the  Grand  Jury  in  1675,  and  was  moderator  of  the  town  Selectmen  in 
in  1676.     He  died  two  years  afterwards. 

30 


His  last  will  and  testament  is  of  peculiar  interest.  It  will  lie  remembered 
in  those  days  even  lords  and  ladies  spelt  quaintly. 

THE  LAST  WILL  AND  TESTAMENT  OF  ISAAC  COMINS,  SENIOR 

Original  Spelling 

I,  being  sencable  of  my  approaching  desolation,  being  ;ilt  present  weak  in 
body  yet  perfect  in  my  understanding,  having  by  the  grace  ul'  god  Ijene  helped 
to  provid  for  my  future  state  in  another  world  ;  do  now  in  ordering  what  god 
hath  been  pleased  to  bestow  upon  me  of  the  blessings  of  this  life,  take  care  and 
order,  that  in  the  first  place  my  debts  be  duly  payd ,  nextly  I  doe  by  this  my 
last  will  and  testament  confirme  to  my  son  Ifaas  (Isaac)  the  ten  acres  of  divi- 
sion land  on  the  south  side  of  the  great  river  be  more  or  less  ;  nextly  I  doe 
giue  vnto  my  son  in  law  John  Jewett  ten  pountls  part  in  cattle  and  part  in 
hovshovld  goods.  Next  I  do  will  and  bequeath  to  my  grandson  Lsaac,  the  son 
of  my  son  Isaac,  one  year  old  heifer,  one  little  sow,  the  Indian  corn  he  has 
jilanted  for  himself  and  the  flax  whiche  he  hath  sowne,  item  1  doe  giue  unto 
liim  my  chest,  the  second  in  l>ignes,  the  lock  and  key.  my  history  book,  (hooks 
were  scarce  in  those  days)  with  such  books  as  are  his  owne  is  a  bible  and  test- 
ament, item  I  doe  giue  him  ten  povds  to  be  payed  at  seuenteen  years  of  age  in 
Covntry  pay,  item  1  doe  giue  unto  my  son  in  law  John  Pease  thirty  povds  to 
be  payed  out  of  the  stock  of  cattle  and  hovshovld  goods  as  much  as  may  beatt 
present,  and  the  rest  in  two  years,  item,  I  doe  make  my  son  John  my  sole  exe- 
cutor and  doe  giue  unto  him  my  hovse  and  lands  being  forty  acres  more  or  less, 
consisting  in  of  vp-land  and  meadows  with  all  the  privileges  and  emolvments 
and  apvrtainces  therevnto  belonging  provided  that  this  land  shall  stand 
bond  in  part  and  in  whoU  for  the  payment  of  these  legacyes  and  in  case 
the  said  legacyes  shall  not  be  paid  according  to  this  my  will,  the  land  shall  he 
sovld  and  payment  made  out  of  the  price  thereof,  and  the  remainder  sliall  l)e 
the  executors  my  will  further  is  if  any  of  these  my  children  shall  throvgh  dis- 
content att  what  is  done  fV)r  them  in  this  my  will ;  cause  trovlile  to  arise  to 
the  executor  then  there  shall  be  nothing  payed  to  him  or  them  liut  the  legacy 
or  legacyes  willed  to  them  shall  return  too  and  remain  in  the  hands  of  ihe 
executor  as  his  proper  right. 
(hited  the  eighth  of  the  third  month  1()77. 

My  desire  farther  is  that  Is  lac  and  Thomas  Dorman  would  take  care  that 
this  my  will  be  duly  perforii:ed. 

(signed)  Isjiiic  Cumings,  Sr. 
Witness.  the  mark  x  of  John  Poor,  Sr. 

Thomas  Dorman 
Isaac  libstcr 
Probated  June  14,  1077 

The  inventory  of  chattels  and  household  goods  left  by  the  founder  of  the 
Cummings  race  in  America  is  sutHciently  interesting  to  print  in  full,  and  it 
suggests  to  the  imagination  the  personal  ap{)earance  of  tiiis  progenitor  of 
ten  thousaml  Cununings  looked  in  the  <lays  of  long  ago,  ami  also  how  the  old 
homestead  was  furni.shed  and  the  value  of  chattels. 

:J1 


(Ireay  siite.  ... 
Cloth  sute. ... 
G  yards  of  clotli,  with  Imttons.   silk  and  thread 

they  cost  at  the  merchants .  . 
An  old  (irat  Coat  9s  wascotOs.  . 
A  payer  of  Gren  brchs  &  two  payer  di's 
:i  [)ayer  shoos  Is  :  f)  payer  stokins  Ss.  . 
•i  shirts  10s,  .seven  caps  7s,  one  silk  cape  4s.  . 
10  bands  10s,  7  handcovchrs  3s.  . 
4  hates  8s  a  cloth  luxxl  &  startups  1  :  (> 
a  fether  beed  &  bolser  &  pillow .  . 
a  nu  couerlit  24s  an  old  couerlet  os.  . 
Curtins  &  valants,  beedsted  cord  and  matt.  . 
a  smale  beed  with  a  pillow  &  a  rugge.  . 
one  payer  sheets  oOs  &  other  payer  l(5s 

3  pillow  bers  (?)  6s,  3  napkins  3s  Gs.  . 
2  table  cloths  os  Gs,  7  towels  i)s  Gs.  . 

two  sacks  and  willit  (?)  one  I)agc 

8  small  remnents  of  cloth.  .  

fl  ax  and  tow 

0  pounds  cotton  woole   .  . 

a  broad  howe  2s,  a  broad  howe  3s  Gs .  . 

an  iron  foot  (?)  Is  Gd  ;  3  hay  forks  4s  Gd 

an  iron  spitt  3s  7  an  ades  5s  a  hand  saw  'is  Gd 

axe  3s  Gel  &  old  spad  3s  botle  &  4  wedgis  Gs  .  . 

a  mare  40s  yearling  colt  lossadle,  panel  with  bridle 

&  gurte  &  crooper  20s .  . 
Brass  pot  20s  iron  pott  Os  2  payer  potthooks 
an  old  kettle  Gs — 3s  Gd  brass  candle  sticks  4s  potlid  1 
pewter  18s  tine  J)d   1    glac  Is  (glass  was  scarce) 

spons    2s 
earthen  wrre  Gs  8d  tramel  tongs  Bellis  12.  . 
hamer  pinchers  os  fann  3s  chern   os .  . 
a  nu  powdering  tub  (?)  3s  Gd  4  paiels  8s  8d .  . 

2  Kelors  (?)  4s  old  o  powdering  tub  1  s  2  barels  2 
half  bushel ;  peck  ;  half  peck .  . 

4  trays  4s  4  bouls  4s  dishes  and  ladle  8s  8d  one  doz 
tranchers  Is  2  barels  os 

3  siues  3s  3  thayers  7s  little  table  and  form .  . 
a  desk  Gs  1  chest  21s  Gd  two  old  chests  4s.  . 
3  books  lOsachest  OS  two  books  lOs.  . 
Corn  lOs  Malt  Gs,  baker  3s  kneding  trof  2s.  . 
A  Worming  pan  and  friing  pan 
eight  swine 

3  cows  12  pounds  ;  two  year  old  ster,  yearling 
bowsing  and  lands  with  all  priueledges  &  a|){)urten- 


i'oiUlds         Slll^; 
•  > 

3  1.-) 

1  I'.i 

1.". 

Oil 
1  01 

]:; 

(I!) 


10 


Of) 

10 

J  , 
il.") 

00 

1 1 

10 
02 
OG 

ot; 
(t.-) 

Ou 
10 
12 

1.") 

12 
14 

01 
IS 
13 
11 
07 
03 

OG 
14 
01 
(C) 
01 
10 

OG 


aiu-(>s.  upland  anil  meadow  is  alxmt  forty  acres.  .  100 

depts  dni'  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  4 


12o  12 

(presunialily  cash  on  liaiid).  .  .  .  40  09  (5 


10(j  1  0 


John  \Vhi[)ple 

■lolm  Howe 

Depts  due  from  the  estat  about  ..  ..  ..  19  IG  (j 

John  Comings  testified  on  oath  before  the  Worshipful!  Sanuiell  Symonds  Esq. 
l)ep.  ;  Governor  &  maior  (Mayor)  (len'll  ((General)  Esq.  &  the  clerk  being  pre- 
sent the  1-ith  June  1(377  and  testifiec  on  oath  this  to  be  a  true  Inventory  of 
the  estate  of  his  late  father  deceased  to  the  liest  of  his  knowledge  c't  if  more 
appeare  to  add  the  same. 

As  attest.   Sgnd  Kol)ertLord  C'ler. 

What  an  interesting  key  this  is  to  that  old  world  in  which  Isaac  C'oniings 
Sr.,  lived  ;  How  many  queries  it  suggests  !    What  a  train  of  thought  it  starts  ! 

Isaac  Comings  was  a  v>^ell-to-do  farmer,  and  that  his  house  was  one 
i)f  the  chief  places  in  his  village.  "ioO  years  ago,  he  had  rugges,  brass 
[candlesticks,  brass  pots,  feather  beds,  coverlids,  table  cloths,  napkins,  hand 
severs  (handkerchiefs)  which  I  am  confident  in  those  days  were  luxuries. 
SL)m3  m  vy  be  startled  at  the  spelling  of  Isaac  Sr.,  and  Jr.  I  have  the  copy  of 
1  letter  written  by  Sir  Robert  Cross,  (a  kinsman)  to  the  then  Lord  Salisbury, 
;ind  the  spelling  in  that  letter  is  far  more  phonetic,  astounding  and  abl)reviated 
than  it  was  in  Isaac  Cimiings"  will. 

Isaac  Comings,  Sr.,  was  l)orn  IGOl,  and  died  May,  1677.  I  have  before 
in-  a  !)o  ik,  written  liy  A.  O.  Caariiings,  014  pages,  giving  a  detailed  account 
of  two  thousand  families,  spreading  from  the  original  stock,  and  my  own 
line  is  traced  in  this  volume  without  a  break  through  six  generations,  from  1001 
to  the  death  of  Amos  Cummings.  1805.  •J04yeai-s.  I  have  to  thank  the  author 
for  his  many  kind  letters  of  explanation  and  good  will  written  to  me  (hu'ing 
ni_\   n'se.i relics. 

JOHX  WAS  X()T  COMMENDED  BY   THIS  CHURCH 

The  children  of  Lsaac  Comings  Sr.,  wei-e  John,  born  lOoO  ;  Isaac,  born 
lO:):!;  and  I'^iizabetli,  born  1001.  Elizabeth  married  John  Jewett,  of  Rowley, 
and  Lsaac,  Sr.,  gave  him  as  a  marriage  portion  ten  acres  of  land.  She  died  two 
years  after  her  father.  1079.  My  ancestor  was  John,  stm  of  Isaac.  Sr..  and 
his  fii'st  l(orn. 

GENERATION  II. 
I'his  John  was  born  10:30,  and  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Ensign  Thomas 
and  Alice  (French)  Hewlett,  of  Ipswich.  He  leccived  by  his  father's  will  the 
homestead,  cf)nsisting  of  forty  acres,  and  bai'u.s,  orchards  and  fences,  and  in 
lOsO  sold  the  same  to  lulward  Nealand.  This  farm  was  l)ounded  by  land  of 
this  Nealand,  by  Tol»ija  Perkins  and  the  Ipswich  ( 'onniion  Land  (cattle  run). 

:j:J 


About  1(358  he  removed  to  Boxford,  Mass.  He  was  made  freeman  in  KiTo. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  memlters  of  the  church  at  Topsford,  Mass.,  KjS."). 
The  Topsford  church  records  state,  "Voted  dismission  to  John  Gumming  and 
his  wife."  John  Cummings  without  commendation  (evidently  John  Cummings 
did  not  altogether  agree  with  the  minister),  and  his  wife,  with  commendation, 
to  the  church  to  be  shortly  gathered  at  Dunstable.  He  removed  with  his  family 
to  Dunstable  about  1680,  where  he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers.  He  was  a 
selectman  in  1682  and  a  member  of  the  church  1684.  He  died  Dec.  1,  1701), 
and  his  wife  six  days  after. 

His  wife,  Alice  (French)  H()wlett,wa.-5  the  daughter  of  Sergt.  Thomas  How- 
lett,  and  the  widow  of  Thomas  French.  This  Thomas  Howlett  is  said  to  have 
arrived  at  Ipswich  with  Winthrop's  Heet  in  1630.  He  was  a  planter  in  1638. 
A  deputy  to  the  General  Gourt  in  Boston  1630,  and  freeman  Maich,  1633.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Ipswich.  His  homestead  adjoined  the  lot  of 
Thomas  Hardy.  He  was  a  Sergeant  in  the  early  Indian  War,  and  sul)se(iuent- 
ly  an  Ensign.      His  wife,  Alice  (French)  Hovvlett,  died  June 'idth,  166(5. 

The  children  of  John  Gummings  and  Alice,  his  wife,  were  :  John,  16")7  ; 
Thomas,  1658;  Sarah,  who  married  into  this  same  French  family  ;  Abraham  ; 
Isaac;  and  Ebenezar,  killed  by  the  Indians,  November  2nd,  1688,  and  not 
buried  until  the  following  November  28th  ;  William  and  Eleazar,  twins  ;  and 
Benjamin  l)orn  1673:  Samuel,  1(577. 


GENERATION  III. 

JOHN  (JOHN— ISAAG) 

John  Gummings  married  Sept.  30,  16S0,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sanuud 
and  Hannah  (Brackett)  Kinsley,  born  in  Brainti-ee,  1657.  She  was  called 
"Goody  Gummings."  They  settled  in  Nathaniel  Gutler's  place  in  the  south  pai't 
ofNashau,  but  lived  for  a  time  in  Dunstable.  While  at  Nashau  in  1706,  their 
home  was  attacked  by  Indians.  His  wife  was  killed,  but  he  escaped  with  a 
broken  arm  to  a  swamp  about  half  a  mile  south  and  near  the  present  State 
line,  and  remained  in  hiding  over  night.  Then  he  made  his  escape  to  Farwell 
Block  House.      (From  Belknap's  history). 

He  fought  the  Indians  from  his  house,  no,  doulit,  until  his  wife  and  the 
children  were  with  him  killed.  He  had  prol)al)ly  sent  the  younger  ones  to  the 
Block  House  earlier  in  the  day.  Their  residence  was  half  a  mile  east  of  Dun- 
stable— "John  saw  military  service.  His  house  was  one  of  the  seven  fortified 
houses  of  Dunstable  1711." 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  what  that  military  service  was.  His  wife 
and  children  killed  by  the  Indians.  (If  he  was  a  man  of  spirit)  would  make 
him  a  terror  to  hostile  savages. 

34 


THE  PKnVACKET  MASSACKP:— 1711. 

Thk  Authou 

Wailing  night  wind  through  the  forest  :  moaning  in  a  mournful  mood. 

And  the  red-men  murder-minded,  stealthy-creeping  through  the  wood. 

In  the  c"d)in  children  praying  ju.st  before  they  go  forest 

While  the  mother  draws  them  fondly,  fondly,  to  her  tired  breast. 

>i)  she  hears  them  softly  praying,   '  Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep' 

Hears  the  little  children  saying,  'Pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  keep.' 

Wails  the  night  wind  through  the  forest.     Moaning  in  a  mournful  mood. 

C'omcs  the  red-men  murdei'-niinded,  suddenly  from  out  the  wood. 
I'oines  towards  the  cabin  shouting,  the  Pigwacket  l)attle  cry 

Tiien  the  awful  tragic  moment,  'twas  a  pity  so  to  die. 

Mothers  heard  the  children  praying  'If  I  die  Ijefore  I  wake' 

Heard  the  little  children  saying  'Pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  take' 

■>«)  the  children  finished  praying  just  I)efore  they  went  to  rest 

But  their  sleeping  was  eternal,  and  their  souls  were  with  the  blest. 

Let  us  draw  the  veil  of  pity  closely  o'er  the  murder  place 

There  was  many  a  tragic  chaptei'  in  the  passing  of  our  race. 

John  ( 'unuuings  wife's  grandfather,  Stephen  Kinsley,  the  emigrant  died 
":>,  was  made  freeman  1  <)-10  was  representative  to  Cxeneral  Court,  a  distinguish- 
honor  in  those  days,  l<>;iO.  He  was  ordained  a  ruling  elder  of  the  Braintree 
lucli.  1(5:5(1. 


Sanuicl  Kinsley  oi'  (Kingsley)  son  of  Stephen,  was  born  about  KilMi.  He 
3(1  at  lirainti-ee  and  in  .Miltnn.  He  married  Hannah  Brackett,  dving  June 
th,  1 »)():.'. 


Captain  Ricliard  lirackett  died  in   1()31,  aged  SO.       In  1(5;3:2  Sanuiel  lived 
Boston  :     and    in  Braintree,  1<)41  ;     Freeman,    103(5  ;  joined  the  Artillery, 
}9 ;    ordained  deacon,    1(54'2  ;     was  town  clerk    for  many  years;    and  was 
idly  captain  of  the  Braintree  Trained  Band. 


John  ("umming.s,  Jr..  and  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  had  eiglit  children  : — John. 
"*2  :  Sanuiel,  1(584;  Elizabeth,  wlio  married  into  tlie  Fi'cnch  family  ;  Hannah, 
i)0 ;  Ebenezer,  (who,  like  his  mother,  was  massacred  by  the  Indians  in  1724, 
:h  seven  others,  in  another  awful  ti-agedy  of  which  al)solutely  no  details  are 
en)  ;  Anna,  1(5(»!-!  :  Lydia,  1701  ;  and  William,  17(12.  (but  four  years  old  when 

mother  '(roody'  Cummings,  was  killed  by  the  Indians.  This  William  is  our 
x^stor.     If  his  father,  as  suggested,   had  not  taken  him  to  the  Block  House 

safety,  and  he  had  met  witli  the  same  fate  as  his  mother  and  the  other 
Idren,  wliat  then  kinsmen  ? 

35 


(DEACOX  WILLIAM  AVENGES  HIS  MOTHER'S  DEATH. 
HIS  LIFE  SAVED  BY  AN  ACCIDENT.) 

GENERATION  IV. 
DEACON    WILLIAM,   SON  OF  JOHN  JR.   AND  ELIZABETLI 
(JOHN  ISAAC) 

Deacon  William  C/unimings,  .son  of  the  .setu)n(l  John,  was  a  prominent 
churchman.  The  Indian.s  stirred  up  all  the  red  l)lood  in  those  Anglo  Saxon 
pioneers,  and  they  were  not  fighting  them  foi'  glory,  but  to  protect  their  homes 
and  their  fire.sides.  William  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  William  and  Esther 
Llarwood,  gran(l-<l;iughter  of  Nathaniel  Harwood.  His  wife  wa.s  born  in 
Dunstable  'l7(><j. 

Nathaniel  Harwood  was  born  in  England  l(i2(i,  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth, lived 
several  years  in  Boston  and  removed  about  1  <)().">  to  Concord.  He  was  made 
Freeman  1(590  and  died  at  Concord  I'el).  7,  171*5.  Llis  wife  died  Api'il  •_'.">.  I7l."). 

William  Harwooil,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Elizabeth  Harwood,  was  boin  in 
Boston,  March,   '28,   1(5(5").      In  his  infancy  the  family  I'emoved   to  Concord, 
where  Nathaniel,  the  father,  died  February  7,  171.')-(5.      William,  the  son,  mar- 
ried at  (Joncord,  May  11,  1(592,  Esther  Perry,  bora    August  11,  1(574,  daughter 
of  Obadiah  and  Esther  (Hassell)   Perry,  see.     About    17(H),  they   removed  to 
Dunstalile.     He  was  a  worthy  man  and  a  valued  citizen.     Lie  was  elected  to 
otKce  on  many  occasions.     He  died  Septembei'  17,   1740.     Esther,  his  wife, 
died  (October  S,  1747,     Gravestones.     Three  children  were  born  at  Concord, 
and  seven  at  Dunstable.     Their  gravestones  are  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Nash;iu. 
They  were  : 
1.  '  Elizabeth,  born  July.  l()i»4. 
'2.     l^sther,  born  January  lOth,  l()ii()  7  :  mari'ied  in  Concord.  August  liiJ, 

17'24,  Joseph  Baker  of  Marll)<)r(). 
'.].     John,  l)orn  May  2'^,  1(199.     Lie  was  a  soldier  in  Lovewell's  third  ex-. 

[)edition  and  was  killed  at  Pigwacket,  May  cS,  17lJ."). 
4.     Thomas,  born  January  9.  170:i.     He  was  a  prominent  citizen. 
.").     Sarah,   born  June  2(5,   170(i  :  married  Dea.  William  Cummings.  son 

of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Kinsley)  Cummings. 
().      MaiT,  liorn  March  *2.i,  1709  :  married  Thomas  Pollaid  of  l)unst;ible. 
He  was  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Sas'ah  (Farmer)  I'ollaid  oi'  Lillcrica, 
7.     Abigail,  l)orn  April  9.  1710. 
s.     Rachel,  born  July  21,  1712. 

9.      Dorcas,  born  March  (5,  1717:   died  Deceml)er  11,  172:!. 
10.      Lydia,  boi'u  Octoliei'  .'>,  1722. 

diihn  Harwood,  l)orn  1<')99,  w;is  one  of  Lovewell's  mnskatcers.  He  was 
slain  at  Pigwacket,  May  >>i.  172.").  Lie  was  Sarah  (Hai'wood)  (^"ummiiigs 
bi'other. 

HASSELL— PERRY 

The  Has.sell  and  Perry  lines  have  liecn  given  at  some  length  for  the  ])nr 
pose  of  showing  how  the  families  intermarried  in  those  days  which  made  it 
l)ossible  for  the  descendant.s  of  the  New  England  Pioneers  to  have  a  connnon 
interest  in  so  much  that  was  good  and  great  in  their  worthy  kinsmen.     These 
records  also  point  out  the  great  numlier  who  were  killed  by  Indians. 


Richard  llassell,  l)()in  1(5:2:2,  settlod  in  Cainbiidge  before  104:1  lie  was 
admitted  freeinaii,  KJ47.  lie  and  his  wife,  Joan,  were  early  meml)ers  of  the 
church  of  ('ainl)ri(lge.  In  the  division  of  Shawshin,  now  Billerica,  l)y  Cam- 
bridge in  !().') •_>.  he  received  h)t  0}),  of  00  acres.  He  removed  to  Billerica  in 
1070,  and  A|)ril  1:2,  1078,  he  was  chosen  'to  inspect  the  lads  on  the  Sabbath 
days."  He  i-emoved  from  Billerica  to  Dunstable  in  1079.  He  was  an  intelli- 
gent man  and  a  worthy  citizen.     There  is  no  record  of  his  death. 

CHILDREN 

1.  Elizabeth,  born    September  20,  1043;    married  Noveml)er  1,   1061, 

Jo.seph  Wright,  Ijorn  in  Woburn  about  1039,  son  of  Dea.  John 
and  Priscilla  Wright.  He  was  a  deacon  and  a  selectman  of 
Woburn.  He  died  March  31,  1724;  she  died  June  28,  1713. 
Eleven  children. 

2.  Joseph.  l)orn  September  20,  1045. 

:5.  Esther,  born  December  (5,  1048  ;  married  Obadiah  Perry  ;  married, 
second,  Martin  Townsend.     See  Perry  family. 

4.  Alice,  liorn  about  100"),  married  Christopher  Temple  ;  married,  second, 
Jacob  Kendall.     See  Temple  family. 

Jt).-ieph  Hasscll,  son  of  Richard,  was  born  in  Cambridge,  September  20, 
104;').  He  manied  August  21.  1007,  Anna  Perry,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Anna  Perry  of  Waiertown,  In  his  life  he  was  a  good  townsman  and  in  the 
achievements  of  his  descen<lants  his  name  is  boldy  written  in  the  annals  of 
Dunstable.  His  daughter,  Anna,  was  the  mother  of  Capt.  John  Lovewell,  his 
daugiiier,  Abiah,  was  the  mother  of  Col.  Joseph  Blanchard,  and  his  grand- 
daughter, Usther,  was  tlie  wife  of  Col.  Zaccheus  Lovewell.  Fox  confuses  this 
family  with  that  of  liichard,  his  father.  Joseph  Hassell  and  his  wife  and  .son, 
Benjamin,  were  slain  by  the  Indians,  Septeml)er  2,  1(591. 

CHILDREN 

1.  Anna,  l)orn  in  Watertown,  October  0,  10(59,-    married  December  7, 

1(58(5,  John  Lovewell.     See  Lovewell  family. 

2.  Elizabeth,  born  in  Concord,  Septeml)er  11,  1(571  ;  died  June  19,  1672, 
:>.     Abiah,  born  in  Concord,  May  13,  1073  ;  married  May  2.3,  1090,  Capt. 

Joseph  Blanchard.     See  Blanchard  family. 
4.     .Iosej)h,  no  record  of  birth. 

;").     Richard,  captured  by  Indians  during  (^)ueen  Anne's  war. 
0.     Benjamin,  slain  by  Indian.s,  1(591. 

Jose{)h  Hassell.  son  of  Joseph,  was  l)orn  al)out  1(57.").  He  was  a  soldier 
under  Lieut.  William  Tyng.  His  daughter,  Esther,  married  Colonel  Zaccheus 
Lovewell. 

PxMijamin  Has.sell,  son  of  .Joseph  Hassell,  .Jr.,  was  a  soldier  in  Lovewell's 
third  expedition.  During  the  battle  he  left  the  Held  and  returned  to  the  fort. 
At  the  time  he  was  censured  he  was  the  soldi(!r  whom  Rev.  Thomas  Symmes 
refu.sed  to  mention  liy  name  in  his  sermon.  Sui)se(iuently  he  was  a  useful  and 
respected  citizf^n  in  .Merrimack.  His  daughtei',  Adah,  being  the  first  child 
born  in  that  town. 


Elias,   son  of  Benjamin,  scloctnian,  1776. 
married  Mary  INIorrill. 

Deacon  William,  son  of  Elias,  married  l^etsy  Buttertield  ;  and  secondly, 
her  sister,  Khoda,  (and  widow  of  Nathan  Powers.) 

Jason,  son  of  Benjamin.  He  served  in  Moore's  Co. — Prescott's  regi- 
ment. He  was  a  Corporal  in  Capt.  Peter  Cross  Company — (Probably  a  Cross 
Kinsman.) 

PERRY  KILLED  BY  INDIANS. 

01)adiah  Perry,  son  of  William  and  Anna  Perry  of  Wateitown  :  married 
August  '21,  1<>(j7,  Esther  Has.sell,  born  Cambridge,  December*},  1()4S,  daughter 
of  Richard  Hassell.  See  Hassell  family.  They  lived  a  few  yeai's  in  Water- 
town  and  were  one  of  the  first  families  of  Dunstable.  On  account  of  the  ex- 
posure during  King  Philips  Wur,  he  removed  to  Concord  and  soon  after,  to 
Billerica.  It  is  recorded  in  Billerica,  "Feliruary  10,  167.")-(j,  Obadiah  Perry, 
l)elonging  to  Dunstal)le  tf)wne,  now  resident  at  Concord,  but  being  inf( treed  to 
remove  from  thence  and  not  accounting  it  safe  at  ye  present  to  remove  to  his 
owne  at  Dunstable,  desiring  at  present  to  hire  a  house  at  Billerica,  the  select- 
men, con.sidering  his  condition,  do  gi'ant  him  libei'ty  to  hire  in  this  town.  " 

He  returned  to  Dunstable  before  1680,  and  was  there  killed  by  the  In- 
dians, September  28, 16^11.  "Oltadiah  Perry  and  Chri.stopher  Temple  dyedlty 
the  hand  of  our  Indian  enemies,  September^  the  twenty  eighth  day  in  the 
mctrning.'"  His  widow,  Esther,  nnrried  second,  August  n((,  KiOo,  INIartin 
Townsend  of  Watertown.     Hi;  died  1(5{>8. 

Record  is  found  of  si.x  children  of  Obadiah  and  Esther  (Ha.s.sell)  Perry. 

1.  Obadiah,  born,  Watertown,  Octolter  11.  16<jt». 

2.  Ebenezer,  born,  Watertown.  November  20,  1671. 

'3.     E.sther,  born,  Watertown,   Augu.st   11,    1674;  married  at  Concoid, 

May  11,  1602,  to  William  Harwood.     (See  Harwood  family.) 
4.     Samuel,  born,  Billerica,  July  10,  1677  ;  died  Novemlier  2."),  1(577. 
;").     John,  born,  Dunstable,  January  ;3],  1682. 
(5.     Elizabeth,  born,  Dunstable,  April  7,  1683. 

TO  RETURN  TO  WILLIAM  CUMMINGS,  SON  OF  JOHN 

AND  SARAH  (HARWOOD)  CL^MINGS. 

He,  William,  was  in  the  second  expedition  of  the  famous  Captain  John 
Lovewell,  with  his  cousin.  Jonathan  Cummings,  against  the  Peaquhat  Indians. 
They  left  Dunstable  Jan.  29,  1725,  and  triumphantly  marched  into  Dover,  and 
later  into  Bo.ston,  with  ten  Indian  scalps  stretched  on  hoops  and  elevated  on 
poles,  for  which  they  received  a  bounty  of  one  hundred  pounds.  William  ami 
Jonathan  were  also  in  the  party  of  Captain  Lovewell  in  his  last  and  fatal  ex- 
pedition that  left  Dunstalile  about  the  sixteenth  day  of  April,  172."),  old  style, 
which  numbered  forty-six  men. 

From  "Potter's  Histoiy  of  Manchester  :" — "When  out  but  a  short  time 
Tol)y,  a  friendly  Indian,  attached  to  the  expedition,  becoming  lame  was  sent 
back,  with  great  reluctance  on  his  part.  At  Contoocook  William  Cummings, 
of  Dunstable,   became  so  lame   in  consecpience  of  a  wound  receive  frumd  tiie 

:18 


enemy  sometime  previous,  that  he  was  oliliged  to  return  home,  his  kinsman 
(Jonatlian),  returning'  with  him  to  assist  him  on  his  way." 

All  the  snldicrs  uinler  Lovewell  were  grantees  of  land  in  reward  for  duty 
ilone.  William  Cummings  was  one  of  these  grantees,  of  Suneook,  now  Pem- 
broke. X.H.  Soon  after  the  grant  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  township.  He 
settled  in  that  part  of  I)unstal)le  now  called  Hudson,  his  farm  lying  on  the 
Hudson  Kiver.  He  died  17")7,  his  wife,  17(39.  If  he  had  not  come  home 
lame,  he  would.  un<loul)tedly,  never  have  retiuned  at  all,  for  his  company, 
perished. 

Williams  chiklren  were  :— Sarah,  17-28;  Ebenezer,  1730:  JOHN  HAR- 
^^'()()l),  ouraneestor.  Dorcas.  17:37  ;  Rebecca,  1740  ;  Joseph,  174*2;  Thaddeus, 
174.-). 

John  Harwooil  Cummings,  son  of  Deacon  William,  was  Ijorn  April  4th, 
1733.  at  Dunstal)leand  died  at  Nottingham  West,  nwir  Hampshire,  or  Hudson, 
as  it  is  called  at  present,  in  1707.  He  married  at  Groton,  Mas.s,,  May  5,  1763, 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Sarah  (Simons)  Worcester. 


Harwood  Arms 

Jo'in  Ilarwooi  of  Roston,  Mass.,  1615.     Will  pioverl  in  London  IfiKS 

.\ni)s— Ai'tfent,  a  ('lievron  between  three  .stajjs  heads.  cabo.ssed  .sable 

Crest— A  stag's'  liead,  cabossed  sable 

gp:neration  v. 

John  n.\i;w()()D  tummings,  son  of  deacon  wileiam 
(  r.M.\nx(;s  and  sarah  harwood, 

(JOHN  JR.,  JOHN  SR,  ISAAC) 

Had  issue:  l>;>njamin,  17<)4  ;  AMOS,  my  kinsman,  born  Sept.  11,  1707: 
Juliii.  who  settled  in  Xew  York;  and  daughter,  Elizabeth.  1773. 

GENERATION  YI. 

AMOS    P.  CUMMINGS,    SON    OF    JOHN    HARWOOD    CUMxMINGS 
AND  SAltAH  CUMMINIJS,  (WILLIAM,  JOHN,  JOHN.  ISAAC) 

Was  Ixtrn  at  Dunstalile  Sept.  11th,  1707.  He  married  Elizabeth  Wright, 
of  Westford,  Mass.  She  was  born  1773,  and  died  at  Windsor  (mv  mother's 
Lc^me),  18.30,  aged  83.      He  died  Fel).,  180.3.     Children:     Luciiida,  17SI8  ;  Be- 

39 


linda,  1802  ;  Caroline  K.  (my  <,n'anfImother),  180G  ;  John  Ilarwood,  1800  ;  and 
Harriet,  1812."     (History  of  Deerfield.) 

And  thus  the  Cummings  hne  is  as  follows  : 

Isaac  Cummings,  born  1601;  John  Cummings,  born  1030;  John  Cum- 
mings, born  1057  ;  Deacon  William  Cummings,  born  1702  ;  John  Harwood 
Cummings,  born  1733;  Amos  Cummings,  born  1707, 

Before  taking  up  the  Cross  line,  it  might  l)e  as  well  to  record  a  few  of  the 
Cummings  kinsmen  who  attained  prominence  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  etc. 

Captain  John  Cummings  was  a  prominent  military  man.  He  was  grand- 
son of  our  John  the  first.  He  died  aged  72.  Deacon  Isaac,  born  1033,  was 
son  of  Isaac.  He  was  sergeant  in  the  British  Colonial  army.  The  British 
impressed  him  for  the  Narragansett  expedition.  Abraham,  son  of  our  first 
John,  born  Dunstable  1(580,  married  our  kinswoman,  Elizal)etli  Wright,  of 
Woburn.  She  had  an  extensive  practice  as  midwife,  and  was  distinguished 
for  sagacity  and  energy.  Thomas  Cununings,  grandson  of  Isaac,  1(570,  select- 
man at  Boxford.  Deacon  John  Cummings,  son  of  our  .second  John,  l)orn  1082, 
moderator  first  town  meeting,  Chelmsford,  married  into  famous  Adams  family. 
He  was  selectman,  and  clerk  of  Chelmsford.  Jonathan  Cummings,  grandson  of 
our  first  John,  was  deacon  and  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  town  of  Merri- 
mac,  Mass.  Ephraim  Cununings,  grandson  of  our  second  John,  was  modciator 
of  the  town  of  Nottingham  West  for  several  years,  born  1700.  Captain  John 
Cumming.s,  born  lOJKS,  grandson  of  our  first  John,  was  prominent  in  the  militia 
and  held  various  offices  in  the  town.  Elezar  Cumming.s,  l)orn  1701,  estal)lished 
the  fir.st  ferry  across  the  Merrimac  River,  and  first  hotel  at  Hudson,  N.H.  He 
was  town  selectman.  Cajjtain  Jos.  Cummings,  adopted  by  Thomas  Howlettat 
the  age  of  twelve.  He  died  in  1794,  aged  102.  He  was  strong  mentallyand  phy- 
sically, and  when  nearly  one  hundred,  could  mount  his  horse  from  the  ground. 
He  had  173  descendants. 

Samuel  Cummings,  great-grandson  of  Lsaac,  married  Prudence  Lawrence 
of  Groton,  Mas.s.,  1739.  He  signed  the  charter  for  I)unstal)le,  Mass.,  and  was 
first  town  clei'k.  Justice  of  Peace  f(jr  Hollis,  N.H.,  and  town  moderator  or 
Mayor.  In  1747  he  was  delegated  to  the  General  Court,  New  Hampshire. 
He  held  his  commission  of  Justice  (jf  Peace  from  the  king. 

Lieut.  Nathaniel  Cummings,  great-grandson  of  Isaac,  born  in  Dunstaljle, 
soldier  in  Louisburg  expedition. 

Captain  John  Cummings,  great-grandson  of  Isaac,  revolutionary  soldier, 
1775,  in  Col.  Prescott  regiment. 

Deacon  John  Cummings,  first  moderator  of  Westford,  was  son  of  second 
John.  He  married  Elizal)eth  Adams.  He  was  moderator  of  the  first  town 
meeting  of  Westford,  clerk  in  1730.  He  was  very  prominent  in  Westfoid 
affairs.  His  son,  Lieut.  John  Cummings,  married  Sarah  Lawrence,  daughter 
of  Elizor  Lawrence  of  Littleton  ;  so  that  father  and  son  married  into  two 
famous  familie.'^.  He  died  at  Hancock,  aged  83.  His  daughter  Al)igail,  mar- 
ried Jonathan  Sawyer,  and,  strangely  enough,  this  is  the  line  of  ISIis.  Lorana 
Cross,  of  Lawrence,  Mass. 

40 


l.ieiit.  I'h'ii).  I'mniniiiys,  i^iaiidsoii  ofsecoinl -lolin,  born  Hullis,  X.H.,  17.")7, 
(licil  ;i<,'e(l  47.     He  was  a  niiiiute  man  at  Hunker  Hill. 

Nathaniel  Cnmniings,  gieat-t,'reat -grandson  of  our  iir.st  John,  was  a  min- 
ute man  in  Col.  Prescott's  Company,  and  reported  on  that  fateful  day,  April 
11».  177."). 

Oliver  Cummini^s,  direet  descendant  from  our  first  John,  was  a  revt)lution- 
ary  soldii-r.  being  in  liis  fatiier's  eonijjany  as  a  ritler  at  White  Plains. 

Deacon  Asa  Cummings,  revolutionary  .soldier,  born  at  Ipswich,  17.')J»,  dietl 
aged  St(.     He  was  a  prominent  man  at  Albany,  Me. 

Daniel  Cummings,  direct  descendant  from  Isaac,  marched  at  the  alarm, 
April  lit.  177.'). 

Captain  Free  Cummings,  born  17.')1,  died  aged  SI,  was  minute  man  in 
Providence,  K.I.,  Dec.  177(5. 

Aloses,  descendant  of  Isaac,  was  l>orn  at  Ipswich,  1720,  and  mai-ried 
Esther  Atlams.  He  was  remarkable  chiefly  as  the  son  of  JMoses  Cummings 
and  Abigail  Estev,  whose  mother  was  burned  as  a  witch. 


EKHIT  CUMMINdS  SOLDIERS  IN  REVOLUTION 
MOSES  CUMMINGS  MOTHER  BURNED  AS  A  WITCH 

In  those  days  the  belief  in  witchcraft  generally  prevailed,  and  thousands 
of  innocent  women  were  legally  murdei-ed  as  a  result.  Mary  Estey  was  one 
of  them.  Where  such  a  glaring  error  could  exist  amongst  an  enlightened 
people,  it  leads  one  to  wonder  if  some  of  the  beliefs  almost  universally  .shared 
bv  the  peoples  of  the  civilized  world  to-day,  are  not  ju.st  as  wrong,  and  will 
not  be  considered  so  in  future  ages. 

Mary  Esteys  maiden  name  was  Towne  and  she  came  from  Norfolk,  Eng- 
l.ind.  Her  sister.  Rel»ecca,  on  July  li»,  l(51)-_',  was  found  guilty,  and  executed 
as  a  witch.  Mary  was  arrested  April  2 1st,  KiiCi.  and  kept  in  jail  until  May 
isth,  and  released.  On  May  IHth  a  second  warrant  was  issued.  She  was 
called  from  her  home  at  midnight  and  taken  to  Salem  Jail,  and  placed  in 
chain.s.  She  was  tried,  found  guilty,  and  condemned  to  death,  and  on  Sept., 
\(')U'2,  was  executed  with  seven  otheis. 

Evidently  the  grandmother  of  Mo.ses  Cummings  was  a  l)right  intelligent 
woman,  and  possessed  an  intellect  of  a  superior  mould  to  the  blatant,  lanting, 
religious  fanatics  around  her.  Her  petition  to  governor  Pliipps  is  a  master 
piece,  and  is  worth  re-producing.       She  said   in   hei-  comnumication  : — "The 

41 


lmml)le  petition  of  Mary  Estey  unto  His  Excellency  William  Phipps,  and  to 
the  honored  Judge  and  Jiench  now  .sitting  in  Judicatine  in  Salem,  and  to  the 
Rev.  Minister.s,  huml)ly  showeth  that,  whereas  your  poor  and  humhle  petition- 
er. 1)6  condemned  to  die,  do  humbly  beg  of  you  to  take  into  your  judicious  and 
pious  consideration  that  your  poor  and  hunil)le  petitioner,  knowing  my  own 
innocency,  blessed  lie  the  Lord  for  it,  and  seeing  plainly  the  wiles  and  sub- 
tility  of  my  accusers,  Ijy  myself  cannot  but  judge  charitably  of  others  who 
are  going  the  .same  way  as  myself,  if  the  Lord  step.s  not  mightily  in.  I  was 
confined  a  whole  month  upon  the  same  account  and  then  cleared  by  the  afHicted 
persons,  as  some  of  your  honors  know,  and  in  two  days'  time  I  was  cried 
out  upon  them,  and  have  l)een  confined,  and  am  now  con<lenmed  to  die.  The 
Lord  above  knows  my  innocency  then  and  likewise  now,  as  the  great  day  will 
be  known  to  men  and"  angels.  I  petition  to  your  honors,  not  for  my  own  life, 
because  I  know  I  must  die,  and  my  appointed  time  is  set,  and  the  Lord  knows 
it  is  so,  but  if  it  be  po.ssible  no  more  blood  should  be  shed  which  cannot  be 
avoided  in  the  way  and  course  you  go  in.  I  (luestion  not  that  Your  Honors 
do  to  the  utmost  of  your  powers  in  the  discovery  and  detecting  of  witchcraft 
and  witches,  and  would  not  be  guiltv  of  innocent  blood  for  the  world,  BY 
MY  OWN  INNOCENt'Y  I  KNOW  YOU  ARE  IN  THE  WRONG  WAY. 
1  hum)  »ly  beg  that  Your  Honors  examine  these  afflicted  persons  strictly  and 
keep  them  apart  foi- s;)me  time,  and  likewise  to  try  some  of  these  confessing 
witches,  I  being  c;)ntid8nt  several  of  them  have  belieil  themselves  and  others, 
as  will  appear  in  the  woi-ld  to  corns,  whither  I  am  now  going.  I  QUESTION 
NOT  YOU  WILL  SEE  AN  ALTEILVTION  IN  THESE  THINGS 
(prophesy).  They  s.ay  as  myself  and  others  have  made  a  league  with  the  Devil, 
we  cannot  confess,  t  know,  and  the  Loi-d  knows  as  well,  they  belie  me,  and 
so  I  question  not  they  do  others,  I  beg  Your  Honors  not  to  deny  this  my  j 
humble  petition  from  a  poor  dying  innocent  pei'son."  j 

It  will  1)3  observed  that  she  did  not  plead  for  her  own  life,  and  thus  has 
been  called  by  her  descendants  "  The  .Self- Forgetful."  After  her  execution  her 
husband  fought  for  years  to  have  her  good  name  restoi-ed.  After  twenty  long 
years  theixeiieral  Court  annulled  the  decision,  and  granted  twenty  pounds  to 
the  husband,  to  assist  in  defVaying  the  expenses  of  his  petition, — tardy  and 
astoundingly  in  idetjuate  reparation  !  i 

Dr.  Palfry,  in  his  history  of  New  England,  says  :  "  The  people  of  Massa- 
chusetts, like  all  other  people  of  the  seventeenth  century,  believed  in  witch- 
craft. They  tliought  they  had  scripture  for  the  belief,  and  knew  they  hail  law 
for  it.  The  belief  was  common  from  the  most  learned  to  the  uneducated.  In 
14H-i:  Pope  Innocent  issued  a  Ball,  punishing  witchraft  with  death.  jNIai'tin 
Luther  wrote,  '  I  should  have  no  ccjmpassion  on  these  witches,  I  would  burn 
them  all.'  Bi.shop  Jewell,  before  (^)ueen  Elizabeth  said,  'May  it  plea.se  your 
Grace,  witches  and  sorcerers  are  increasing  in  our  I'ealm.'  Lord  Bacon,  one 
of  the  wisest  men  that  ever  lived,  acknowledged  witchcraft  as  one  of  the  de- 
clinations from  religion.  In  P)()4  Sir  Matthew  Hale  ordered  two  witches  to 
be  luuig.  John  Wesley  s.'ud  in  fffect  'Giving  up  witchcraft  is  giving  up  the 
Bible.'     During  ( "romwells  time  sixty  witches  were  hanged  in  SuffbUc."' 

4-2 


DEACON  WIIJ.IAM  CUxALAIINdS 

A    I.OVKWEM.    MrsKKTHP:R 

Wild  i)()i  I'.i.^'  a\i:n(;i:i)  the  dkaih  oi'  his  mothkh 

Tlieie  were  pioneers  anioni;  tliem,  men  of  peace  l)ut  still  tliey'd  tioiit 
Willi  tlieir  I5ible  in  tlieir  left  hand  and  llieir  musket  in  tlieir  risiit 
Oh!   the  Indian-time  of  murder,  and  of  venifeanee  (luiclc.  condiun 
Kin  were  killed  and  the  survivors  were  the  forbears  of  our  line 
So  tliBse  men  of  hravvn  and  sinew  took  relijfion  as  tlieir  base 
So  we  write  tliein  down  WITH  HONOR  in  the  passing'  of  our  race 

THE  LITTLK   IJEHEL. 
ANOTHEU  IMMOKTAL  NAME  ADDKDTO  OUR  LIST  OF  KINSMEX. 

ria'DF.xcE  (("UM^r^X(;s)  wrioht  leads  a  compaxv  of 

A>L\Z()XS. 

DK'KSSFI)   IX  THEIR   HLSIUXDS  CLOTHINO  THEV  (lUARD 
.ILWETTS  lUHDOE  AXD  ARREST  A   ROYALLST  SPY. 

IMJCDFXCE    l{EI'RESEXTS    THREE  OF  OUR  LINES,  SHE    WAS  A 

C'U.\L\n\(iS.  A  ^YRI(iHT  AXD  A  ORAND  DAUGHTER 

OF  A  LAWRENCE. 

Sriniiiol  ( "iiininiiii,'s.  grandson  of  our  .second  Joliii.had  a  daiightei-,  Priid(Mieo. 
win  is  historically  inciitioned  in  connection  with  the  i-evoliition.  She  married 
one  of  our  kinsmen.  David  Wrio;ht,  son  of  Samuel  and  Anna  Lawrence  Wright. 
Tho  following  is  an  abstract  from  "  Loyalists  of  the  American  Revolution  :" 
•■  After  the  de[)ai-ture  of  Cf)l.  Pre.scott's  minute  men,  Mrs.  David  Wright,  of 
I'epp'.'rell.  Mrs.  Jos.  Shuttick  and  neighboring  women  collected  at  what  is  now 
Jewett's  Bridge,  over  the  Nasshau  Rivei'  lietween  Pepperell  and  Groton,  and, 
CL')THED   IX  THEIR   HUSRANDS  APPAREL,  left  liehind,  ami  armed 


4:; 


with  muskets,  pitcliforks,  and  other  weapons,  and  liaving  elected  Mrs,  Wright 
their  commander,  resohitely  determined  that  "  no  foe  to  free(k)m"  foreign  (jr 
domestic,  should  pass  that  bridge.  Soon  there  appeared  Mr.  Leonard  Whiting 
on  horseback,  supposed  to  be  treasonaV)ly  engaged  in  carrying  intelligence  to 
the  enemy.  Whiting,  by  direction  of  Mrs.  Wriglit,  in  her  assumed  position  as 
sergeant  of  the  Bridge  Guard,  was  seized,  taken  from  his  horse,  searched  and 
detained  as  a  prisoner.  Despatches  were  found  in  his  l)oots  whicli  were  sent  to 
the  Committee  of  Observation  at  (Iroton."  There  now  .stands  at  the  place 
where  the  incident  took  place,  a  stone  two  and  a  half  feet  by  three  and  a  half 
or  four  feet,  with  thi.s  in.scription,  '  Near  this  spot  a  party  of  patriotic  women, 
under  the  leadership  of  Mrs.  David  Wright,  of  Pepperell,  in  April,  177."),  cap- 
tured Leonard  Whiting,  a  tory.  who  was  carrying  ti'easonable  desjjatche.s  to 
the  enemy  at  Bo.ston.  He  was  taken  a  prisoner  to  Groton,  and  the  despatches 
taken  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Cambridge.'  She  died  Dec.  2,  1S2:5. 
He  died  IKU).  Prudence  Wright,  Chapter  D.A.R.,  of  Pepperell,  is  named 
after  her. 

John  Cummings,  the  great  grandson  of  our  first  John,  is  interesting  in  as 
much  as  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Rachel  Howard,  she  being  a 
member  of  the  famous  Howai-d  family  of  England,  and  a  direct  descendant  of 
King  Edward  L  They  had  two  children,  John  and  Willard,  who,  of  course, 
share  this  distinction. 

THIRTY  CUMMINGS  KINSMEN  FOUGHT  IN  THE  REV^OLUTION. 
SOME  OF  THEM  ANSWERED  THE  FIRST  CALL  TO  ARMS. 
AS  A  RACE  THEY  WERE  OF   FINE  PHYSIQUE   AND 
NOTED  FOR  LON(iEYITY. 

Amos  Cummings,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  W^right  and 
Sarah  (Lawrence)  Wright,  died  at  my  mothers  home  in  his  9Hth  year.  He 
was  six  feet  four  inches  and  built  in  pr()pt)rti()n. 

THE  ELM  OUTLASTS  THE  MAN. 
AN  AGED  CITIZEN. 

TAKEN  FROM  THE  VERMONT  JOURNAL. 

Died,  in  Windsor,  Feb.  <>,  l'^*}."),  Mr.  Amos  P.  Ciunming.s,  in  the  ninetv- 
eighth  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Cummings  was  born  Sept.  11,  17<)7,  in  West  Nottingham,  N.  H.  In 
his  .seventh  year  he  went  from  his  home  to  live  in  Deerfield,  Mass.  This  was 
before  the  revolutionary  war.  He  rememl)ered  distinctly  the  beginning  of  the 
war,  the  excitement  which  was  caused  at  Deerfield,  by  the  intelligence  of  the 
first  battle,  and  the  efiorts  which  were  made  to  raise  troops  and  ecjuipthem  for 
the  first  C'ontinental  Army.  There  is  standing  in  Deerfield  an  elm  tree,  which 
Mr.  Cummings  set  out  in  May,  1775,  two  months  l)efore  the  declaration  of  In- 
dependence. Its  trunk  is  fifteen  feet  and  a  half  in  circumference,  and  the  tree 
formerly  shaded  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet  of  ground,  though  it  has  lost 
some  of  its  branches. 

In  his  thirteenth  year  he  set  out  for  Vermont  with   a   family  which  was 

4-1 


iiiovini,' tt)  tlio  town  (»t'  Wostrrtield.  On  his  way  u[),  the  party  heard  of  the 
liiiriiin<j:  of  Hovalton,  and  on  that  account  remained  for  a  year  or  two  in  a  place 
tiii'tlier  down  the  river.     He  located  in  Windsor,  Vermont,  before  the  year 

He  joined  the  Congregational  Church  in  his  sixty -eighth  year.  His  re- 
markalily  vigorous  constitution  enal)led  him  to  lal)or  on  the  farm  until  his 
ninety-fifth  year.  He  walked  for  a  mile,  and  attended  church  on  his  ninety- 
fourth  l)irthday.  He  became  very  familiar  with  the  Scriptures,  and  liked  to 
rej)eat  a  portion  of  them  when  he  could  no  longer  read.  His  last  words  were, 
"  I  am  not  afraid  to  die,  because  my  God  is  with  me." 

Much  of  the  information  obtained  regarding  the  early  Cumings'  was  from 
a  genealogy  of  the  family  by  A.  ().  Cummings  who  claimed  to  have  unearthed 
ten  thousand  descendants  of  the  first  pioneer  I.saac  of  that  name. 

This  claim  was  made  years  ago,  and  no  doubt  the  number  has  l)een  since 
materially  increased.  Isaac's  descendants  should  be  grateful  to  Mr.  A.  O. 
( 'ummings  for  his  remarkable  work. 

As  we  read  we  marvel  at  the  rapid  growth  of  the  human  race  and  the 
wonder  of  it  all,  that  the  pioneer  I.saac  Cumings  should  have  l)een  able  to  give 
the  heritage  of  his  name  to  a  thousand  of  his  cliildren's  children  unto  the  ninth 
and  tenth  generation. 


(;OTX(J   TO   MARKET 
H)7){) — I.saac  Cammings  anil  Family     Ipswich.  INIas.s. — 1050 

45 


Isaac  Cuming  good  old  soul 

Was  lioi-n  in  1001 
Long,  long  ago,  Init  I  am  told 

His  race  is  not  yet  run. 
Xot  yet — indeed  there  seems  no  end 

For  this  is  what  I  hear 
A  thousand  Cumingses  descend 

From  this  old  pioneer. 
And  you  who  share  the  Cuming  name 

If  this  you'll  have  no  doubt 
The  way  you  still  keep  'Cuming'  on 

You'll  never  'peter  out.' 


13(10 — Marriage  of  Sir  William  Crosse  de  Charlynge  and  Eleanoi'  daughter  of 

Ranulph  of  and  Eleanor  (Gamvil)  Cotgieave  (Lord  de  Hargrave 

Tarvin  and  Tattenham)  1 :]{)() 

Without  wishing  to  appear  Hippant.  it  might  be  suggested  that  the  split   .skirt 
had  been  introduced  several  centuries  ago  l)y  the  male 
portion  of  the  human  race. 


CROSS. 

SUB  CRUCE  SALUS 

THE  FOUNDERS  OF  THE  ENGLISH   LINE  FLOURISHED  IN 

THE  REIGN  OF  EDWARD  I. 

Cross — The  family  oiDe  La  Croy.s,  deCruce,  Del  Crosse,  Crosses  (spelled 
these  ways  in  ancient  deeds)  were  seated  at  Wigan  Co.,  Lancaster,  ICngland,  in 
*^he  reign  of  the  first  Edward,  1230 — 1250  :  and  about  13o0  were  seated  at 
Crosse  Hall.  They  were  afterwards  at  Liverpool  and  Charlynch:  (Patro- 
nimics  Britannica  Page  7(3.) 

46 


WKJAN. 

Caiiulen  wrifing  in  1(307  says- — Here  Duglcss  a  small  brook  ;  near  which 
our  .Vi'thur  (as  Xinnius  says)  defeated  the  Saxons  in  a  very  memoial)le  battle. 
Near  the  rise  of  it  stands  Wiggin,  a  town,  formerly  called  Wibiggin  as  they 
affirm  ;  I  have  nothing  to  say  of  the  name,  but  that  the  Lancashire  men  call 
buildings  'l)iggin'  ;  nor  of  the  town,  except  that  it  is  neat,  and  plentiful,  and 
has  a  corporation  consisting  of  Mayor  and  Burgesses,  also  that  the  rector  of 
the  church  is,  as  I  am  lead  to  believe.  Lord  of  the  Town. 

THE  FAAHLY  NAME  OF  CROSS. 

The  name  was  originally  taken  from  the  syml)olic  cross  of  the  Chi'istians. 
In  the  Crusades  the  cross-crosslet  was  used  on  the  ai'ms  of  the  family.  Their 
heraldic  motto  was  'sub  cruce  .salus'  (safety  under  the  cross).  The  Maltese 
Cross  in  the  beak  of  the  heron  is  one  of  the  few  birds  found  in  the  e<irly  coats 
of  arras. 

THE  ENGLISH  CROSSE  FAMILY  IS  SEVEN  CENTURIES  OLD. 

LANCASTER  AND  SOMERSET  CROSSES. 

LIXKIXG  UP  THE  LONG  GENEALOGICAL  CHAIN. 

Undoubtedly  the  Crosses  of  Wiggin,  Lancaster,  were  the  ancestors  of  the 
Crosses  of  Crosse  Hall,  Lancaster,  and  they  were  in  turn  the  ancestors  of  the 
Crosses  of  Charlynch,  Somersetshire. 

It  has  also  been  claimed  that  the  descendants  of  John  and  William  Cross 
of  Haverhill,  X.H.,  1700,  are  of  this  Charlynch  line. 

It  has  ])een  further  asserted  that  the  connecting  link  between  the  English 
and  American  Crosses  was  Robert  Crosse,  Sr.,  of  l{)swich.  Mass,,  and  that  he 
had  a  son  John  Crosse,  Sr.,  who  married  Ruth  Swan  and  that  these  twain  be- 
came the  ])arents  of  the  Crosses  of  Haverhill. 

My  attitude  is  as  follows  :  I  Itelievc  that  my  mother  Elizabeth  CaroHne 
Cnt.ss  ((iooihuan)  descended  from  the  Wiggan  and  Charlynch  Crosses  through 
Robert  Cross.  Sr.,  of  Ipswich,  Mass',  an<l  his  descendant  William  Cross,  of 
Haverhill. 

I  cannot  prove  these  statements  by  documentary  evidence,  I  can  only 
aitirm  that  I  am  .satisfied  to  accept  them  as  correct  and  to  acknowledge  the 
Charlynch  Crosses  as  my  English  ancestors  and  Robeit  Cross,  Si-.,  of  Ipswich, 
Mass.,  as  the  founder  of  our  American  line. 

It  is  probably  of  some  importance  that  these  assertions  cannot  be  gainsaid. 
No,  not  with  all  the  .skill  and  resourcefullness  of  the  most  al)le  genealogist  of 
the  (lay.  It  cannot  be  said  '  here  is  the  proof  that  you  are  wrong."  Unfor- 
tunately however  the  only  evidence  we  can  produce  to  ])ack  up  our  assertions 
is  of  a  presumi)tive  nature.  For  these  reasons  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  explain 
that  while  I  am  .satisfied  to  enjoy  whatever  i)leasure  there  is  to  be  derived  from 
reading  the  i'(>cords  of  the  illustrious  English  ( 'I'osses  with  thr  moral  cei'tainly 

47 


that  they  were  (as  Camden  expresses  it)  "of  our  tlock,"  I  can  do  no  more  than 
to  invite  my  Cross  kinsmen  to  share  my  belief.  As  regards  the  presumptive 
evidence  here  introduced  T  hope  it  may  prove  as  satisfactory  to  my  readers  as 
it  is  to  me.  It  is  no  doubt  wrong  in  many  details — but  in  the  essential  points 
I  believe  it  substantially  correct. 

The  credit  of  binding  together  the  weakened  links  must  be  given  to  Mrs. 
Lorana  Cross,  of  Lawrence,  Mass.,  a  lady  to  whom  is  largely  due  whatever 
success  may  be  attained  by  these  earlier  Cross  memoirs. 

There  has  hardly  been  a  letter  written,  an  article  pulilished  or  a  book 
printed  regarding  the  early  history  of  the  Cross  family  where  it  has  not  been 
tVmnd  necessary  to  borrow  the  result  of  Mrs.  Cross'  lalxjrs.  She  is  now  7s 
years  of  age  but  still  actively  following  the  bent  of  her  inclinations  in  genea- 
logical work.  Many  years  ago  she  was  colaborating  in  this  field  with  kinsmen 
who  have  since  passed  away.  Mrs.  Cross  remains,  to  encoin-age  and  inspiie 
us  to  greater  effort.  She  has  often  .said  that  when  she  lays  aside  the  woi-k. 
she  hoped  others  would  take  it  up  and  persevere  until  happily  they  forged  a 
perfect  genealogical  chain  from  the  Wigan  Crosses  through  seven  centuries 
till  to-day. 

No  matter  what  may  occur  in  the  future.  No  matter  what  may  he  the 
criticism  of  Mrs.  Cross'  contentions  to-day,  to  her  must  go  the  greatest 
measure  of  praise,  for  what  she  has  already  accomplished.  The  attempt 
to  prove  our  claim  l)eyoiid  the  perad venture  of  a  doulit  l)y  documentary  ev- 
idence, has  taxed  the  brains  and  resourcefullness  of  the  most  skillful  gen- 
ealogists of  the  past  half  century. 

These  facts  make  Mi's.  Cross'  presentation  all  the  more  remarkable  and 
as  this  lady  is  perhaps  the  best  able  to  speak  on  this  subject  she  will  present 
her  own  case  in  these  memoirs. 

Her  contention  is  that  Robert  Cross,  Sr.,  of  Ipswich,  Mass.,  was  a  son  of 
John  Cross,  a  sea  captain,  who  .sailed  between  Ipswich,  England,  and  Ipswich, 
Mass.,  in  the  seventeenth  century  and  who  was  a  brothei-  of  Sir  Robert  Cross 
of  Charlynch,  Somersetshire,  a  soldier  hero  of  the  Elizabethian  period. 

That  Robert  Cross,  Sr.,  settled  in  Ipswich,  Mass.,  early  in  the  seventeenth 
century  and  was  the  founder  of  our  American  line. 

Undoubtedly,  the  presumptive  evidence  regarding  the  English  Crosses  is 
strong  enough  to  carry  conviction  with  it. 

As  to  the  period  between  Robert  Cross,  Sr.,  and  John  and  William  Cross, 
of  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  some  of  the  evidence  may  not  be  considered  permissable, 
but  much  will  be  found  that  is  jjermissable  and  seems  difficult  to  set  aside 
even  should  we  so  desire,  and  after  all  it  is  on  the  evidence  as  a  whole  that 
the  case  must  rest. 

It  will  then  be  understood  that  these  Cross  memoirs  for  the  period  men- 
tioned— that  is  from  the  Wigan  Crosses,  of  Lancaster,  to  John  and  William 

4s 


Cross,  of  llavL'rhill,  N.  II., — will  he  presented  by  Mrs.  Cross  in  these  pages 
aud  that  it  will  be  essentially  in  her  own  words,  the  author  introducing  the 
head  lines  and  the  illustrations  originally  taken  from  old  prints  representing 
the  actual  scenes  and  any  documents  which  may  have  been  sent  to  him  from 
England.  For  these  "  subheader] es"  and  illustrations  the  author  requests  that 
his  i-eaders  gi'ant  him  a  liberal  literary  license  as  his  object  is  to  stimulate  in- 
terest in  what  many  believe  to  be  a  rather  dry  subject. 

Mrs.  Cross'  presentation  is  in  the  form  of  chronologically  arranged  ex- 
tracts from  the  scores  of  intensely  interesting  letters  written  to  the  author  by 
this  gifted  lady  correspondent,  whose  genealogical  labors,  it  must  l)e  remem- 
bered, were  carried  on  wholly  in  the  interests  of  her  children  and  grand- 
children, that  she  might  be  aide  to  present  to  them  in  her  life  time  a  compre- 
hensive record  of  their  illustrious  ancestors. 

BY  MRS.  LOKANA  CROSS. 

The  first  paper  here  submitted,  is  one  sent  to  the  author  by  the  Rev. 
William  Bell,  of  Charlynch,  Somersetshire.  It  is  interesting  as  it  bears  the 
name  of  the  great  Camden  and  proves  the  connection  between  the  Crosses,  of 
Ci-oss  Hall,  Lancaster,  and  the  Crosses  of  Charlynch. 

VKKP.ATTM  COPY  OF  THE  CROSSE  AND  COTGREAVE 
PEDIGREES. 

Sir  Ranulph  Cotgreave,  Lord  de  Hargrave,  Tarvin,  and  Tattenhall,  in  tlie 
County  Palatine  of  Chester,  living  in  ye  reigns  of  Henry  IV.  and  Henry  V., 
married  Elinor,  daughter  of  Sir  Francis  Gamvil  de  ^loUington,  in  ye  .said 
Countie  ;  and  had  issue  : 

1.  Ranulph,  his  heir,  who  espoused  Elinor,  daughter  of  Tatibrd,  Esq.,  de 
P)rett()n.  in  ye  Countie  of  Fhnt. 

'J.  Elinor,  who  w^edded  Sir  William  Crosse  de  Charlenge,  in  ye  Countie 
of  Somerset,  and  Sutton,  Cheshire.     And  had  issue  : 

William  Crosse,  Esq.,  de  Charlenge  and  Sutton,  his  heirs,  who  wedded 
Isabel,  daughter  of  Robert  de  Holme,  Lord  de  Frannure,  in  ye  first  named 
Countie.     And  liad  issue  : 

-John  Crosse,  Esq.,  de  Charlenge  and  Sutton,  who  married  Constance, 
daughter  of  William  Boteler,  or  Butler,  Escj.,  de  Warrington,  in  ye  Countie  of 
Lancaster.     And  had  issue  : 

John  Crosse,  Esq.,  de  Charlenge  and  Sutton,  who  espoused  L^rsula, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Went  worth,  Es(|.,  de  Broughton,  in  ye  Countie  of  Flint. 
And  had  issue  : 

Sir  William  Crosse  de  Charlenge  and  Sutton,  who  married  Anghard, 
daughter  of  Matliew  Ellis,  Esq.,  de  Overleigh,  near  Chester. 

45» 


1390 — Sir  William  Cross  of  Charlynge  and  Elinor  daughter  of 
Lord  de  Hargrave  and  Tattenhall — 1390 

DEFINITION  OF  AIIMORIAL  BEARINGS  CONNECTED  WITH 

THE  FAMILIES  OF  CROSSE  AS  DEPICTED  IN 

THE  COTGREAVE  PEDIGREE. 

1st  Shield.  Quarterly  of  12 — 1st  Quarter,  Gules  &  Or,  in  the  first  and 
fourth  quarters,  a  crosslet  argent  for  Crosse.  2nd  Argent,  a  canton  sable  for 
Sutton.  3rd  Azure,  a  chief,  and  three  chevronells  in  base,  or  for  Fitz-hugh. 
4th  Or,  on  a  fesse  asure,  three  garbs  of  the  first  for  Vernon.  r)th  Gules,  a 
saltire  argent,  for  Neville.  6th  Gules,  a  cross  finery  or,  for  Latimer.  7th 
Argent,  a  saltire  gules,  on  a  chief  of  the  2nd  three  escallope  shells  of  the  1st, 
for  Talboys.  8th  Or,  a  lion  rampant,  double  quewed  sable,  for  Wells.  9th, 
Per  pale  asure  and  Or,  a  cross  engrailed  counterchanged,  for  Pole.  10th, 
Varier,  Azure  and  argent,  a  fesse  fretty  gules,  for  Marmion.  11th,  Argent,  a 
cross  engrailed  gides,  for  Gournay.  12th,  Azure,  a  lion  rampant  argent  for 
Montalt,  impaling  gules  a  fesse  intlented  ermine  lietween  three  bugle  horns  or 
stringed  argent,  for  Cotgreave. 

2nd.  Shield.  Crosse  with  the  said  tpiarterings,  impaling  barry  of  six  or 
and  azure  in  dexter  chief  point,  a  canton  argent  charged  with  a  ro.se  gules, 
seedes  and  barbed  proper,  for  Holme. 

3rd  Shield.  Crosse  with  the  same  quarterings,  impaling  argent  three 
covered  cups  in  bend  between  two  l:iendlets  engrailed  sable,  for  Boteler  or 
Butler. 

4th  Shield.  Crosse  with  the  aforesaid  quarterings,  impaling  sable  a  chev- 
eron  between  three  leopards  heads  or,  for  Went  worth. 

5th  Shield.  Cros.se  with  the  above  (juarterings,  impaling  ermine  a  lion 
rampant  sal)le,  for  Ellis. 


50 


1415 — Sir  William  Crosse  at  Agincourt— 1415 

Ye  aforesaiil  Sir  William  Crosse  de  Charlenge  and  Sutton  was  descended 
from  ye  very  ancient  family  of  ye  Crosses  of  Crosse  Hall  in  ye  County  of 
Lancaster,  (juartered  ye  ensigns  of  ye  above  ancient  families  in  right  of  his 
mother,  JNIaude,  daughter  and  Co-heirs  of  Sir  William  Sutton  de  Sutton  and 
Elton  in  ye  County  Palatine  of  Chester ;  and  was  living  temp :  Henry  V.,  and 
was  slain  whilst  fighting  under  that  monarch  at  ye  Battle  of  Agincourt,  A.D. 
1415. 

This  is  to  certify  that  the  above  was  compiled  by  me,  from  records  in  ye 
possession  of  the  Cotgreaves  de  Hargrave,  Tarvin  and  Tattenhall,  in  ye  Coun- 
tic  Palatine  of  Chester. 

[Signed]  WILLIAM  CAMDEN. 

August  16th,  1598. 

The  aforesaid  was  extracted  from  a  Pedigree,  in  my  possession,  of  the 
Cotgreaves  de  Hargreave,  etc.,  in  the  County  of  Chester,  which  family  my 
father,  the  late  Sir  John  Cotgreave,  of  Netherlegh  House,  near  Chester, 
(through  females)  represented. 

Witness  my  hand  and  seal  this  9th  July,  1849. 

[Signed]  ELLEN  COTGREAVE. 

N.B.  In  Burkes  History  of  The  Commoners,  Edition  of  1839,  Vol.  1, 
Pago  5:30,  it  is  mentioned  that :  Sir  John  Cotgreave,  Knt.,  of  Netherlegh 
House,  in  the  County  of  Chester,  b.  22nd  July,  1770;  m.  first  20th  August, 
1791,  Miss  Catherine  Crosse  of  the  ancient  family  of  Crosse  of  Crosse  Hall. 

SHElfLOCK  HOLMES  METHODS. 

In  proving  the  coiinection,  as  lietween  the  Engli.sh  and  American  Crosses, 
and  as  between  the  Ipswich  and  Haverhill  Crosses  in  America,  the  process  of 
deductive  reasoning  had  to  be  resorted  to. 


51 


Arms   of  Charlynge    Crosses.     Traced   from   those   originally   painted   by   a 

London  artist  for  Jeremy  L.  Cross,  our  kinsman.     Clusters  of  grapes 

and  stalks  of  corn  tell  their  own  story. 


5-2 


Tvaljjh  and  Jeremy  cross  the  brine 
To  purchase  the  arms  of  the  Charlynch  Hne. 
Why  should  they  liave  the  same  desh-e 
To  own  the  arms  of  Somersetshire  ? 

"Jeremy  L.  Cross,  of  our  line,  macie  a  trip  to  England  one  hundred  years 
ago  undoubtedly  for  the  purpose  of  looking  up  his  ancestors.  While  there  he 
gave  an  order  to  a  skillfull  artist  to  paint  for  him  the  crest  and  armorial  bear- 
ings of  the  Charlynch  Crosses.  He  l)rouglit  this  painting  back  with  him  and 
gave  it  an  honored  place  in  his  library  at  his  own  home." 

"  This  act  of  Jeremy  L.  Cross  can  lead  to  no  other  belief  than  that  he 
at  least  was  convinced  of  his  descent  from  the  Somerset  line." 

Jeremy  Cross  had  great  literary  ability  and  being  a  famous  freemason  and 
lecturer  had  accustomed  himself  to  historical  research.  Again  Miss  Eliza 
Cross,  his  sister,  was  living  in  my  time,  and  she  assured  me  that  her  brother 
had  proven  the  English  connection,  and  not  until  he  was  convinced  and  had 
the  documents  in  his  possessions  to  substantiate  his  claim,  did  he  [mrchase  the 
Arms. 

Miss  Eliza  stated  that  her  brother  had  discovered  that  there  was  a  knight 
in  the  family — Sir  Robert  Cross,  and  that  llobert  Cross,  Sr.,  a  member  of  this 
same  Charlynch  family  to  which  Sir  llobert  belonged,  had  settled  in  Ipswich, 
Mass.,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  American  line. 

.MRS.  LORAXA  CROSS'  EVIDENCE  CONTINUED. 

(JENERAL  RALPH  CROSS  ALSO  BUYS  THE  CROSS  ARMS. 

BEIXC  A  SOLDIER  HE  PREFERS  THOSE  OF  SIR  ROBERT  CROSS. 

One  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  (General  Ralph  Cros.s,  of  the  Colonial 
army,  gave  an  order  to  a  well  known  London  artist  to  paint  for  him  the  anus 
of  Sir  l\ol»ert  Cross. 

He  was  in  London  at  the  time  and  was  evidently  an  American  of  distinc- 
tion, as  it  is  said  that  some  guild,  or  other  religious  or  philanthropic  Society, 
presented  him  with  a  large  family  bil)le  which  was  afterwai'ds  used  by  Whit- 
held,  the  great  Divine,  on  the  occasion  of  his  evangelical  work  in  the  Colonies. 

That  Creneral  Ral[)h  Cross  purchased  the  arms  in  177:3,  and  that  hfty 
years  after,  Jeremy  L.  Cross,  his  kinsman,  also  purchased  the  Cross  arms 
(each  time  the  work  being  performed  l)y  skilled  artists)  is  significant  in  itself 
and  seems  to  very  strongly  indicate  that  both  of  these  distinguished  kinsmen 
had  no  doubt  whatever  of  the  English  connection." 

Jeremy  Cross  was  of  the  Haverhill  \.  H.  Line:  (ieneral  lial|)h  Cross  was 
of  the  I|)swieh-NewI)uryport  line.  Still  they  had  one  thought  in  common  to 
have  in  their  po.ssession  the  arms  of  the  same  ancestral  family. 

Docs  not  tills  further  suggest  a  coimcction  between  the  Havei'hill  and 
Ipswich-Newbury  lines^  and  the  descent  from  a  common  ancestor  Robert  Ci-oss 
Sr.  ol'  Ipswich,  Mass. 


"In  1773  the  feeling  was  rather  hostile  between  England  and  the  Amer- 
ican colonies,  for  in  two  years  afterwards  they  openly  rebelled.  This  is  men- 
tioned to  cr-eite  the  impression  that  (General  Cross,  a  leader  in  the  American 
army,  would  not  have  been  inclined  to  purchase  Sir  liolierts  arms  purely  from 
a  sentimental  notion,  that,  as  he  Sii'  Kobert  was  of  the  same  name  and  an 
English  naval  otticer,  he  should  like  to  have  them. 

Undoubtedly,  a  man  of  his  standing  and  character,  chosen  to  lead  and 
manage  men,  would  not  encourage  such  a  childish  fancy:  certainly  not  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  have  these  arms  painted  by  an  artist  ynd  [)araded  on  the  walls 
of  his  home. 

He    must    have   genuinely    believed    he    was  a  kinsman. 

Robert  Cross  Sr.  lived  in  Ipswich  f(ir  many  years;  Robert's  son  and  grandson 
would  certainlv  have  an  al)solute  knowledge  of  this  kinship,  thus  the  infoiina- 
tion  would  come  fresh  and  convincingly  to  General  Ralpli  Cross,  who  Cduse- 
quently  decided  to  have  a  visible  token  of  his  great  warrior  kinsman  in  his 
own  keeping,  that  it  might  be  treasured  I)y  his  family  for  all  time.  These 
arms  are  now  in  po.ssession  of  Prt)fessor  Cross  of  the  college  of  Technology, 
lioston,  the  great  grandson  of  (ienei'al  Ralph  Cross."  And  are  here  repro- 
duced. 


Sir  Roliert    Cross  Arms. 

Inscriptioni-Quarterly  Argent  and  gules.     In  the  first  (piarter  a  cro.ss  crosslet 
of  the  second,  was  confirmed  by  William  Camden  in  Apiil  1*502  in  the  44th  year    i 
of  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  to  Sir  Robert  Cro.ss  Kt.  son  of  William  Cro.ss  of  Char- 


:)4 


]('w^v  ill  tlie  County  of  Somersett,  Gentleman  and  a  crest,  then  granted  for  his 
valorous  and  laudable  service  to  (Jod,  his  Prince,  and  Country,  in  sundry 
Military  employments  both  by  sea  and  land  especially  against  the  Spanish  Ar- 
mada l.')SS  at  the  overthrow  and  burning  of  the  Spanish  Navy  and  in  bay  of 
Cadiz,  at  the  capture  of  the  famous  Town  of  Cadiz  1596.  For  which  he  most 
deserved/v  received  the  honors  of  Knighthood. 


Faustina  E.  L  in  Bil)lioth-Cotton — (i.  S.  Karle  pinxit  177:3. 

The  Cross-Crosslet  as  it  is  called  is  of  Teutonic  or   German   origin.     The 
order  was  of  an  ecclesiastic  Nature. 


Edmonds  complete  body  of  Heraldry  says:  "The  family  of  Cross  bore 
the  Cross-Crosslet  on  their  arms  during  the  cru.sades.  Sir  Iloljert  was 
Knighted  I\v  the  Earl  of  Essex  whose  features  appear  in  these  memoirs. 
Lord  Howard  the  High  Lord  Admiral  assisted.  It  will  be  noted  that  tlie 
shield  is  a  Norman  shield,  and  refers  to  the  Norman  descent. 

Arms  were  not  registered  until  the  reign  of  King  James  who  succeeded 
l">li/,iln"tli.  It  was  in  King  James  time  that  Sir  Robert  got  both  his  Coats 
re<dstcred.  the  first  I'iven  him  by  Elizabeth  eighteen  vears  before. 


Geneial  K  dph  Cross  actually  made  a  tri[t  to  England  to  secure  this 
painting. 

Jeremv  Cross  ol)tained  the  arms  of  the  Charlynch  Crosses  at  the  Col- 
\v<j,v  of  Heraldry.  It  was  somewhat  similar  to  Sir  Robert's  arms  but  did  not 
have  the  Knights  helmet  as  a  crest. 

Cross  n:un"s  run  thi'ough  4  Vdiiuiuis  of  indices  in  the  dooms  day  liook  of 
William  L 

In  ancient  Somerset.shire  and  Herald's  Visitations,  we  learn  that  William 
Cross  father  of  Sir  Robert,  was  ignol)l(Ml  in  1<>1':>.  also  his  two  l)rothers,  Char- 
les and  Andrew.  The  following  is  the  record,  as  .sent  by  Geo.  Fredei-ick  Lee, 
D.  I).,  vicar  of  All  Saint.s,  Lami)eth.  I'Jigland.  The  following  persons  of  the 
Tenderlicld  Hundred  disclaimed  (ii'Utry  before  the  Herald: 

Ch:is.  Cro.ss,  Gentleman.  Ignolde  Spaxtim 

Andi-ew  Cross.   ( Jentlein:ui.       Ignoble  Spaxton 
William    Cross,   (n-ntleinan.     liriioblc   Charliiige 


Tliis  was  Sir  Roberts  father,  and  his  two  uncles.  I  have  read  their 
fathers  will,  and  he  gave  them  all  land  in  Spaxton." 

It  has  l)een  said  that  the  Crosses,  being  farmers,  (agriculturalists  and 
vinticulturalists,  as  Jeremy  Cross,  the  historian,  seemed  to  have  ascertained,) 
were  not  able  to  afford  to  keep  up  their  connection  with  the  nobility. 
I  have  ))een  told  by  genealogists,  however,  that  it  was  a  common  practice  for 
the  nol)ility  in  the  17th  century,  to  snub  the  King's  Heralds  on  their  visita- 
tions by  refusing  to  appear  before  them  and  give  them  money.  They  claimed 
that  once  no1)le,  always  noble,  and  although  the  Herald  declared  them  ignoble, 
that  it  did  not  as  a  fact  materiallv  affect  their  standing  among  the  no))ility. 


ADMIRAL  CROSS 

Explanation  of  the  Arms  given  by  Mrs.  Cross:    Color.  Silvery  White. 
Admiral's  E^nsii^n.    (iiven    in    this    Case  to  Sir  Knl)ert. 


The  wreath  in  the  Cross  Arms  .signifies  the  method  in  ancient  times  ot 
fostening  the  crest  to  the  helmet.  The  cross,  unless  expressly  stated  to  be 
on  chapeau.  or  coronet,  is  always  on  wi'eath.  Robert  Cross  crest  was  a  heron, 
with  a  C'ro.ss  i)attie. 

The  shield:  Party  per  cross:  party  divided  l)y  lines:  party  per  cross, 
divided  bv  two  lines.  The  one.  perpendiculai',  the  other  horizontal  crossing 
each  other  in  the  centre,  which  forms  a  (piai'terly  and  describes  the  Cross 
arms,  and  is  called  a  Norman  shield.  The  Norman  shield  varied  in  shape. 
It  was  first  long  and  narrow,  a  board  covered  with  hide.  By  degi'ees  it  ceas- 
ed to  be  used  in  war,  and  became  moi'C  and  more  used  as  an  arcliltcetural 
ornament. 

The  mantling  is  a  sort  of  cloak  or  mantle  extended  behind  the  shield 
sufficiently  ample  to  include  the  whole  achievement.  It  is  generally  repre- 
sented Hotant,  which  means  jagged  with  a  sword,  an  evidence  of  prowess. 
The  mantling  of  Knight's  were  crimson  lined  with  satin.  Thus  the  mantle  on 
the  Cross  arms. 

The  .scroll,  or  ril)bon,  under  the  arms  was  for  the  order  or  motto  of  the 
Cross  family.  Sir  Roliert  Cross  became  an  Admiral.  The  letters  "M.  N." 
mean  Majesty's  Navy,  and  "L.  L."  Lord  Lieut,  of  the  country. 

The  S.  S.  Collar  as  seen  on  Robert's  arms,  entitle<l  the  wearer  to  silvei- 
spurs. 

5(3 


Tho  S.  ("ollar  of  Kni^htliood,  from  Ik-i-ry's  Eiicvclopedia  of  HcM-aldry. 

"Tlie  king  had  agreed  with  his  men  that  all  those  of  his  company  who 
weiv  not  <ientlemen,  he  would  make  them  so,  and  give  them  warrants  of  it 
and  have  them  henceforth  enjoy  such  privileges  as  the  gentlemen  of  England 
had:  and  to  the  end  that  they  should  be  known  from  others,  he  gave  them 
leave  to  wear  a  collar,  powdered  with  the  letters  "8."  meaning  sovei'eign. 
.Subsecjuently  the  titled  nobility  wore  the  "S.  8."  on  their  collar. 

KEY.    W.    A.    BELL   BELIEVES. 

IJev,  W.  A.  Bell,  rector  of  Charlynch  the  seat  of  the  English  Crosses  wlu) 
settled  in  Tjjswich,  Mass.,  in  the  seventeenth  century  wrote  that  he  believed 
our  .VnuM'ican  Crosses  were  descended  from  the  Charlynch  family.  Mr.  Bell 
wrote  the  Life  and  Times  of  Sir  Robert  Cross." 

STKACHEY  SAYS  'ITS  SO.' 

Mr.  Strachey  the  famous  editor  of  the  London  Spectator  carried  on  a 
brisk  correspondence  with  the  Author. 

This  distinguished  journalist  atlirmed  that  the  Massachusett  Cro.sses 
sprang  from  the  Charlynch  line. 

Years  before  this  correspondence  was  in  progress,  he  had  written  in  his 
journal: 

"In  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Sir  Robert  Cross  with  two  other  shiijs 
of  the  line,  .seized  and  sunk  the  JNIadre  de  Deo  of  the  Crown  of  Portugal  the 
largi>st  of  warships  of  the  Armada. 

Today  we  learn  that  on  the  defeat  of  the  Spanish  Navy  by  the  Americans 
the  Spani.sh  Commanders  sword  was  received  V)y  Lieut.  Wainwright,  a  kins- 
man of  Sir  Robert  Cross  of  the  Spanish  Armada.  Thus  three  hundred  years 
after  his  illusti-ious  kinsman  liad  gained  immortal  fame  by  as.sisting  as  com- 
mander to  drive  the  Spaniards  from  the  sea  a  warrior  of  the  .same  blood  acts 
a  conspicuous  part  in  again  humbling  the  Spaniai'ds  to  the  dust." 

Mr.  Strachey  suggested  writing  to  the  Countess  of  Malmsbury.  this  was 
done  and  the  following  letter  received: 

EXTRACT  FROM   LETTER    FROM   THE 
COUNTESS  OF  MALIMSliURY 

1 1.')  (^)ueen's  (iate. 

I  am  much  oldiged  to  you  for  your  interesting  letter.  If  I  ever  should 
be  in  that  part  of  the  world.  I  shall  certainly  try  to  visit  the  farm  house 
(Cross  honieste.id,  Methuen.)  wliere  eight  generations  of  the  Cro.sses  have 
lived.  John  and  Robert  are  names  in  my  family,  of  members  who  settled  at 
Fayne  Court.  ]^>loomlield,  near  Bridgewater,  before  KJOO,  when  the  house 
was  rebuilt.  It  was  unfortunately  burned  down  a  few  years  ago,  and  every 
paper  destroyed,  including  all  those  relating  to  Sir  Robert  Cross.  1  do  not 
des|):ur  of  eventually  olitaining  some  of  the  infoi'ination    from    other  (piaiters. 


and   I  am   at  present    engaged    in  trying  to  reconstitute  the  family  pedigree, 
which  was  also  Imrnt. 

I  liave  never  heard  that  Sir  Rol)ert  'Jrosse  was  married,  but  he  may 
have  been.  I  have  never  heard  that  any  member  of  our  family  lived  at 
Ipswich,  (Massachusetts.)  Sir  Roljert's  .sister  married  into  the  Strachey 
family.  Sutton  Court  belonged  to  her.  My  father  took  the  name  of  Hamil- 
ton with  a  property  from  his  mother's  brother,  Col.  Hamilton.  My  brother 
John  succeeded  him,  whose  name  was  also  John,  and  Capt.  John  Hamilton, 
the  present  head  of  the  family,  will,  I  trust,  in  time  rel)uild  Fayne  Court, 
when  he  inherits  it  at  my  mother's  death. 

Yours  truly, 

Su.san   Malcmsliury." 

Countess  Malmesbui-y  also  enclosed  a  crest,  (neatly  executed  in  pencil 
by  herself,  for  these  momoir.s)  granted  to  Sir  Kol)ert  by  (.^hieen  Elizaljeth  for 
his  services  during  the  Spanish  Armada  Invasion. 


Crest   granted    to    Sir  Robert   Crosse   by   (^)ueen  Elizabeth,    for  his  Services 

during  the  Spani.sh  Armada,     Motto:  Se  Inserit  .Vsfeis. 

Reproduced  from  the  original  drawing  done  by  the 

Countess  of  Malmsburv  for  these  memoirs. 


THE    CUMMINGS    ELM 

All  ths  old  pioneer  race?  seem  in  have  had  a  family  elm  as  well  as  a    family    bible.      The   Cresses 
and  Ciimminu's  certainly  had  such  a  tree.  The  VVashini^Hoii  elm  of  revolutionary  days  is  typical 
of  them  all.     Amos  Cumininu-s  planted  the  C^umniing-s  elm  two  months  before    the  revolu- 
tion. It  is  symbolical  of  the  Family  Tree  of  Life.  It   may  flourish     fur   centuries  and 
then  its  ample  brandies  may  become  sapless:  wither  and  drop  off.  until  nothiiijr  is 
left  but  a  memory  ''Here  is  where  tlie  old  tree  stood." 

r)8 


1^'    t^  &*      A^  v'V  X^^ 


//    <///2/.     A/^^^^<'     r^/«^^,      -    ^^^^^  Z'.'  .^ 

Lcttrr  from  tlie  Countess  of  Malmcsliurv,    whose   maiden    name   was  Cross — 

Clianged  hy  Law  to  Hamilton — She    descended  from    the 

Charlyneh  Crosses — and  Ijeing  Countess  of 

Mahnesl)ury  before  her  marriage, 

retains  the  title. 

The  Inllowing  co])y  of  a  most  interesting  letter,  written  by  Sir  IJobert 
Cross,  and  sent  by  IJev.  Mr.  Bell,  at  once  proves  that  Sir  Kobeit  was  married, 
very  much  married;  Init  had  no  i.ssne. 

LETTEIJ  OF  SIR  KOBEUT  CIJOSSE  TO  LOUD  SALLSBURY. 

H)(M)-7.     Ki'b.     II. 

Afartinabbe. 

Right  lioiiorable  and  very  good  lord.  T  have  som  tims  watted  at  yoin- 
chanil)er,  to  showe  my  love  and  dutie  to  your  Lo.  &  then  have  fond  you  so 
over  liordened  wythe  matters  of  state,  and  abondences  of  .sutters,  &  my  bis- 
nes  so  small',  that  I  thought  yt  titter  to  forbare   though    once    1    had    a  gf)od 


l.')90    Marriage  of  Sir  Koliert  Crosse    loftO 

'I  thoiu'-ht  vt  mv  l)este  course  to  betake  me  to  a  wyffe — Now   I  heir    say  that 
the  pore  fortune.  I  had  wyth  her,  the  two  parts  tharof  wyl 
Ije  taking  from  me,  because  she  is  a  recusant' 


OUK    'BOBS" 
l.">9.">    Sir  Kobert  Crosse   on   the  occasion  of  his  receiving  Knighthood    ].")().') 


GU 


I  Continued  from  \y.\'^v  .">{».] 

<k'sir  to  have  l)een  a  liiunlde  sutter  tor  a  \n)iv  ward,  and  watted  youi'  comyng 
fourthe,  and  seeing  your  lo:  accompaned  with  greatt  lordes  did  forbare  to 
])resse  or  trohle  you  then. 

Now  I  do  mouste  luinilily  inti'ott  your  lionerable  favor  in  this  my  pore 
distressed  cause,  weh  heir  I  mouste  make  relation  of.  After  the  decesse  of 
of  our  latte  sottren  (^)uin  Elizabeth.  I  found  in  myselfe  a  newe  estate,  and 
seeing  ther  woulde  be  no  ymployment  for  me,  I  thought  yt  my  beste  course 
to  betake  me  to  a  wytte.  well  then  I  did,  thinking  to  have  lived  in  pease  with 
my  selfe  and  the  world,  but  now  I  heir  .say  that  the  pore  P\)rtune  I  had  wythe 
lier.  the  two  parts  tharof  wyl  be  taking  from  me,  becau.se  she  is  a  recu.sant. 
1  have  my  emlevore  tt)  alter  her  from  it.  and  have  found  that  grasse  with  the 
lord  of  Cantelbury  to  com  to  my  house,  and  sr  Cristott'er  Perkes  twvse  with 
Sr.  Edwaie  Hobbie  once,  and  sithes  Crissmase  a  divine  of  the  lo  of  Cantel- 
buries:  but  all  thes  neither  I  can  yt  alter  her  inward  thoughts  in  that  poy- 
nte,  which  hath  ben  some  hindrance  to  me  in  the  contiye  I  life  in  and  have 
foi'born  to  l)e  a  suttei-  or  com  tt)  the  courte,  although  ther  wear  reason  to 
move  me  therunto,  for  I  have  loste  bind  and  ben  wonded  twy.se  in  his  Maties 
serves,  at  the  taking  of  the  C'assel  of  Edden-lioro  wch  Kirkadye  then  lo  of 
(Irandge  had  the  keeping  of,  and  Hering  of  his  Matie  bountie  to  manye  that 
could  <  'lialendge  littel  of  deserte,  might  incouridge  me  to  become  a  sutter, 
and  had  drawn  a  pettison  to  his  Matie  wit  a  desier  of  your  lionerable  forber- 
aiue  and  tavor  in  it:  but  first  I  wld  have  ben  glad  to  .see  if  I  could  bring  her 
from  lier  popise  opinion  and  seeing  I  cannot  doo  it,  I  niaye  by  your  honerable 
good  means  find  this  faver  to  enjoye  this  mye  pore  estate  that  t  am  in  posses- 
sion of,  wherlty  I  maye  have  meat  to  eate  the  remainder  ot  my  yeares,  and 
not  to  be  giving  to  another  over  my  hed,  that  .shal  not  bee  so  redy  and  wyll- 
ing  to  doo  the  king  .serves  as  myselfe;  thus  being  to  tedious  and  troublesome) 
to  you  Id  doo  humble  ciave  pardon,  wthall  my  l)este  wy.shes  for  yoiii'  longe 
ami  liappie  lyfe. 

Yours  to  be  commanded, 

(signed)    Robert  {'ro.s.se." 

I'KOFE.S.SOlf    (ROSS   VISITS    THE   HOME   OF   (HIS) 
ANCESTOKS. 

Lettei'  to  ]\Irs.  Cross. 

■A'ou  will  lie  interested  to  know  that  I  visited  Cliarlynch  (now  Charlinch. 
a  few  years  ago  (ISSS)  for  an  afternoon.  The  little  village  is  about  five  miles 
fioni  Hridgewater.  The  old  church,  dating  from  the  loth  century  or  earlier, 
is  situated  at  the  top  of  a  very  steep  hill:  close  by  it  the  rectory.  The  church 
is  of  stone — ivy-covered,  with  a  painting  copied  fi-oni  one  in  the  National  (xal- 
lery  over  the  altar. 

The  list  of  rectoi-s  was  on  a  marlile  slab:  among  them  Francis  Cro.sse,  died 
li)(»4.  I  found  in  the  churchyard  close  by,  the  tomb  of  William  Crosse,  father 
of  .'^ir  Rolieit.  also  of  this  Francis,     'i'he  inscription  couM  not  all  be  traced." 

01 


THE  SPANISH  ARMADA 

FKAXCIS  DUAKP:  flHST  TO  ASSAIL— CROSS   FIFTH 
■  OKOSS  SINKS  A  SHIl' 

EXTRACTS    FROM    SOUTHEY'S  HISTORY    OF   THE    ADMIRALS 
OF  THE  SI'ANISH  ARMADA.— MADE  BY  MRS.  (TJOSS 

'  Sir  F'rancis  Drake  and  Tenner  were  tlie  first  to  as.sail;  Fentoii.  Sontli- 
well.  IJeeton.  Cro.s.se  and  Revman  followed,  then  the  Lord  Admiral  eanie  no 
w  itli  Lord  Tlionia.s  Howard  and  Loi'd  ShelMeld. 

"They  fought  from  4  in  the  morning  till  .'>  oi-  ()  at  night.  The  great  shi]  s 
of  the  enemy  wei'e  found  vulnerable  in  the  close  action  of  the  day.  Many  of 
them  were  pierced  thi'ough  and  through  between  wind  and  water.  One  was 
sunk  liy  ('aptain  ( 'rosse  in  the  Hope." 

THE     CAl'Tl'RE 

'"They  entered  the  Town  without  fui'thei'  o|)position  and  possessed  them- 
selves of  what  little  had  been  landed  or  drifted  ashore  from  the  wreck.  What 
was  of  more  conseiiuence.  tliey  obtained  from  the  prisoners  by  threats  of  vi- 
olence, information  that  there  was  three  large  galleons  at  a  little  distance,  and 
holdinu'  the  s  une  course. 


"THE     ARMADA     Sl(illTEI)  . 

THE  QUEENS  SHIP  FORESKIHT 
CAPTAIN  CROSSE  LEAVINO  DOVER  FOR  THE  OPEN  CHANNEL 

"By  this  time  more  of  Raleighs  ve.s.sels  had  come  up,  with  Sir  Robert 
Cro.sse  in  the  Foresight — a  (,)ueen"s  ship.  Tlieir  united  numbers  were  now 
sufficient,  by  .spi-eading  fro:ii  north   to   .south,  yet  keeping  si.uht  of  one  another 


to  cover  the  two  whole  degrees.  On  the  fifth  day  the  Madie  de  Dios  came 
in  sight,  one  of  the  largest  galleons  l)i>longing  to  the  crown  of  Portugal. 
Thomas,  who  cune  up  with  her  first,  again  and  again,  delivered  his  {)eals,  as 
fast  as  he  could  fire  and  fall  astern  and  load  again,  thus  hindei'ing  her  way, 
although  st)inewhat  at  his  own  cost,  until  otluM's  could  come  up.       l^urrows  in 


Hen 


A    KE:\rAPvKAP.LE    PICTURE 

the  artist  has  caught  the  Crosse  .shij),  the  moment  the  Spaniards    .seized 
it  l)v  the  shrouds.     He  tries  to  lower  .sail  hut  is  too  late. 


■Sir  Pol ici't  Crosse  coming  u|j  to  give    his    broadside,    came  so  near  that  be 

cahning  his  .sail  he  unwillingly  fell  alioard  the  galleon  which 

lashed  his  ship  fast  liy  the  shrouds  and  .sailed 

awav  with  hci'  l>\'  his  side. 


'•IK  VE  JIK   MEN   SAVE  THE  (,)rEENS  SHIP." 
CKOS.SE  IS   RESCUED  AND  THE 
EXE^rV  T.\KEX. 

Noi'ton  had  no  intention  of  hoarding  the  enemy  before  daylight,  if  tliei'C 
had  not  been  a  cry  from  Captain  Crosses  vessL^l  The  Eoi-esight,  "if  ye  l)e  men, 
.save  the  (^)ueen's  sliip."  Upon  this  he  laid  the  galleon  aboard  on  one  side, 
while  the  Tiger  boa I'ded  her  thi'ough  the  foreside,  A  de-5[)erate  struggle  en- 
sued when  the  men  entered  the  "Channels,"  The  Eoresight  being  so  low, 
without  any  resistance  the  getting  u])  would  have  been  difficult,  but  there  was 
strong  resistance,  some  irrecoveral)Iy  falling  by  the  board.  The  assault  con- 
tinued an  hour  and  a  half  so  bi-ave  a  l)ooty  making  the  men  fight  like  dragons, 
lint  when  the  forecastle  was  won.  tlic  I'orhigcsi' sought  to  hide  tlirmschi's. 


"The  Engli.sli  turned  to  pillage,  and  each  man  lighted  a  oancile,  and  l)y 
this  they  nearly  lost  their  prize,  for  hy  their  earelessness  they  tired  the  cabin 
where  the  cartridges  were  stored,  and  they  weie  as  eager  to  desert  as  to  board 
her,  if  Norton  and  others  had  not  quenched  the  Hames. 

"Then  the  prisoners  were  secured  and  the  men  had  leisure  to  look 
around.  The  sight  was  a  fearful  one,  to  see  those  miseral)le  creatures  lying 
around  torn  with  shot.  A  man  could  hardly  walk  without  stepping  upon  a 
dead  l»ody  or  a  bloody  How. 

"The  slaughter  was  mostly  about  the  helm,  for  the  greatness  of  the  steei-- 
age  re(|uired  twelve  men  at  once,  and  where  they  were  massed  our  men  often 
killed  four  or  five  with  one  shot.  The  General  was  moved  with  commisera- 
tion, and  ordered  our  own  surgeons  to  attend  the  wounded. ' 


CliOSS     SHIP    "SWIFT  ^VUE"  400   TONS,  IN  ACTION  AT  CADIZ. 
KEKIN  (^UEEN  ELIZABETH. 

CAPTrilE  OF  CADIZ. 

CROSSE     WAS    OREDKED     TO     RUSH    IN    AND    SCATTER  THE 

ENEMY.     HE    DID  SO,  AND   KECEIVED 

KXKiHTHOOD  FOR   VALOK. 

FROM    EN(HJSH     BATTLES     ON    SEA    AND    LAND. 

By  John  (xrant. 

The  (Queen's  ships,  fourteen  in  number.  Warspite,  (50(>  tons^Captain 
Sir  Walter  R^ileigh,  Repulse,  700 — Sir  Wm.  Mcmson,  with  the  Earl  of  Es- 
sex on  board.    Swift  Sure,  100  tons — Cai)taiii  Sir  Robert  Cro.ss." 

(54 


59 

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'asvo  9q4  ui  paAjoAUi  uoi4?anI)  un;iu  aq4  jq  -pjaqdn  st?AV  J4i4uu![d  oi[4  jo  .lOAig 
ui  4Jnoo  .I9AVOI  aq4  ui  40ip.iaA  aq4  (.•(;{»  i  -.idy  ui  puw 'U04S0<:[  ii;  4.inoo  .loqSiq 
aq4  04  pa[i79ddu  4Uiq)uajap  aqx  ;yi4up;id  aq4  .loj  40ip.iaA  i?  pau.ni4a.i  A".m(' aqj 
pui;  't()f»l  Auj\;  UI  pui;[;(^f)i  auuf  ui  qoiAvsdj  }V  4.1110,^  .loi.iajuj  9q4  ui  poi.q  si?av 
9si;o  siqj^  qoiAvsdj  ui  pui?"j  jo  f^^tAOV,  oc  Jo  A.iaAooa.i  aqj  .loj  '•H'  'iui;qu.iug 
uqoj^'  -A  'MX  'sso.i;3  4.ia([oj|  JO  41US  9i[4  ui  saadt?d  9q4  Suoiui?  pa[)njoui  auii^ 
auo  41!  A[i(i!<(0,id  siiAv  qoiqAV  '{;»j{)l  '^^(J  <?  Q\miu  'ssbj^  'qoiAvsd  j  jo  'ms  'sso.13 
4.ia([Oj.[  a'<[  uoqisodop  ii  jo  4di.iosnm;ui  [imi^i.io  aq4  paA.isse.id  si  c-y  'oj  'sq4iJ9(2 
piu!  sajii;u.u!]\;^  'sq4.ii<^  jo  ounqoA  v,  ui  'U04S05.J  ui  4.11103  juioipiip  auiaadng 
91(4  JO  >[.i9j.:)  9q4  JO  9.31440  aq4  uj — •ssi?j\[    'qoiAvsdj   jo    'Mg    'sso.13    ■j.iaqojx 

ti(5i  AiHioos  ivoif  Hnvaxat)  axv 
'iv.iiJiuism  (ixvif)xa  Avax  am  ao  sDxiaaaooad  koha 

"t:iin  p9ip  Qqs  'oi9i  psip 

9'!  'OfOl  9.ioj9([  91U1491UOS  i;ou9uiy  04  aun.'o  put? — i?uut?snk^"  p9i.i.it;iu  oqAV  ui?p 
-.iO|'    U9qd94x   JO  J94qi)ni?[)  9i[4  st?a\  sso.13  1-19(10JX  jo  9JIA\  9q4  ut?p.iof  uu\' 

■sso.13  aJ).io9f)  [)ut;  uqo|'  uaapjiqo  ajoiu  oa\4  .iaAaA\oq 
pt?q  9fx  t-Cld  I'l'^'  StOl  ui  'sdi'i[.i9d  'u.ioq  U99([  9At?q  A"t?iu  A9qx  I'ZOI  putJ 
too  I  "!  I'ai.i.iuui  9.I9AV  s.i04q/im;p  oa\4  'asoqj  saptsag  SCOl  'ZOtOl  T-ItOI 
'OCOl  :sAvo[ioj  St?  9.it?  q4.n<{  jo  S94t?p  uavou>[  9qx  Jaiiq -lo  'S'JO  I  P"'- 0C9t 
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89 

^/s9i{uui?j  ui?ou8xuy  A[.n79  am  ui  op 
Aoip  SI?  '.^ijun?}  qoui|.un{^^  di\}  in  .inoa.i  Ant'iuii^uoo  i.igqo^x  pm?  lutJUji^Y  'Mi^U 
-i?zij2  JO  sauiim  ii«ijsi.in^~)  9qx  usavsSo^  tu^\Y  jo  spjay  diu.un  aip  jo  .la^sis 
jaqjo  din  st!Av  A'[([i?uiiisa.id  oqAv  puu  'aa>[an(j  'lUAY  p3;.i.n?ui  oqAv  'iu{}ji;j\r  sapis- 
-9(1  nia.ipjiqo  9s9qj  IPH'^'H  -i^^uoid  aqj  A'piiiJ^.ia^^  'f-BOl  '6o  'SnV  '^so.tq  uaijd 
-9^t<  lui^idBQ  'J9qjo.i([  sn[  oj  9;i;js9  s  .i9q;i?j  siq  jo  9.n!qs  siq  popaap  'ajiw  siq 
't?qi.n;j\[  qjiAV  'oqAV  put;  'ffipx  '(3t  qa^^i  iiOA\[n;9.ix  W[}.it'f\r  pai.i.nuu  oqAV  '^.igqoix 
uos  1?  si!Av  9.i9t[:j  xc;c)X  uj  'puBisi  9q4  JO  .I91LU0  'Mk^'  %i9qojj  }0  u9,H)pqo  puiJ 
U9qd9jf<  oj  S.I9JSIS  pin;  J9ino,iq  9.i9av  .I9JSIs  .laqvJ  auo  \mv  qj9([T;zij3  put;  5.i9C[0JX 
jinp  SAvoqs  siqx  "xis-A^.ioj  si;  aSi;  siq  9al'8  5.i9qojj  'OAVci-Xyy  s^•  SuiAjpsa^  jo 
ouiij  aqj  ji?  981;  .laq  9ab.o  ai{t^  •9.ioj9q  s-UJaX  uaAas-Aj.iiqj  0}v\^  aqj  pa-iafpuaiu 
-aj  aqs  \vi[}  paqijsa;  'uosiax  R^^'it'zqg  'SMa^sts  aqj  jo  9110  put;  '(A'vp  siq;  oj 
OS  p9i[i;o  'puKjsj  ssoa^)  .laAiJX  ooot;q9q3  9q5  iii  piu!{si  s  .iaqji;j  siq  .ii;au  ^i^aq  v. 
ui  'qoiAvsdi  JO  iiaAvsSoQ  uiBqji ^  .inj  pa>[.ioAV  's.ia:|sis  siq  jo  o.uj  pin;  aq  jx;qj  Sin 
-.Ci;s  'H8ni  'CI  'idac,'  x»^^'p  '}iAi;pLyi!  siq  si  'piiy  j  ;i;q^  sso.13  j.iarjojj  jo  iiopiiaiu 
js.iq  aqx  'ItOl  ui  ii,i0([  si;av  oqAv  '.(aiiaq^  qja((i!zq^i[  '^Jl-^^^  ^Fl.l"  l^-MJ  luo.ij  .ny 
^oii  si!A\  pin;  i;f)i)i  ui  jpsq  i;  put;  uaajxis  si;a\  'uopisodap  siq  oj  .ouipjoaai;  "sso.i,) 
uaqdajk^  jo  al)i;  aqj^  qjiAv  siq  ui  'AM;pu|-uos  siq  'sso.i^  :).ia((OJi  put;  .laq  pa 
-uoijuaiu  oqAv  'ui!pjo|)  uaqdaj^,"  '.loqjoj^^  siq  jo  .laq^i;;  aip  luo.ij  auiL'u  ui;qsuq^^ 
siq  p9Aiao9.i  'sso.i^^  j.ia(|oj|  .laauoid  aqi  JO  uos     'uaqdojv;     u^qi    pm^'U    !•• 

ssoMO    1    n  "Aan 

ox   oxa  'AJ)oivaMao  AaxiiHO  am  ao 

iTOHiaY  ajoj  H  sYHO  Aaa  ao  naxiaT  v  ivoua  xovMxxa 

"SjadBj  ;}amun;ji.,  aqj  si;  ua\ou:>i  a.ioAv  qaiqAV  'sp.iooa.i  siq  jo  3110  yaj  Sin 
-a([  s.iapjas  A"i.n;9  gqj  jo  u9.ii)iiqo  9qj  jo  A\a;iu  jo  s9iui;u  9qj  .loj  sjunoaai;  qoiqAv 
pijss9oans  A'ljBijJvd  jnq  si;a\  aq  'sao.mos  aaqio  luoaj  luaqj  a.iojs9,i  04  pg^diuaj 
-41;  jjauiiuBjj  auo   'aiq  Aq   paAOjjsap  a.iaAv    sp.iooaa    '•ss^'J\[  'i[oiA\sdj  aqj 

saaooaJT  xsoi 

•s.ixix  xosxy  ■ssvj\[   'H'niAHHKOs" 

A[iuii;j  SS0.13  aqj  jo  .lojsaaui;  juRiiiiuiiui 
aqi  Suiuaaoiioo  Apms  .loj  |t;ijajmu  Suijsa.iajui  xassg  put;  qoiA\sdj  jo  sui;i.io;siq 
aqj  OJ  saqsuunj  asuo  siqx  "uojsog  put'  iua[i;k;;  jo  sp.iooa.i  j.moa  aqj  .ououn; 
uoijt;Sijs9AUi  qSno.ioin  aaoui  v  A((  X)a{i;9A9J  a([  sdi;q.iad  jqSiui  }U([  '.icaja  jou  si 
ua.ip[iqo  siq  aq  oj  jqSnoqj  A'jSuo.qs  aai;  oqAv  saaqjo  pui;  uaqdajs  1>"^'  l-i3qo|I 
suos  aqj  jo  saji;p  qj.iiq  aqi  apnjaui  jou  saop  uoiiisodap  siq  AqAv  jsnf  -pp 
s.a'aA  gg  uaaq  9Ai;q  ppiOAv  9q  (.-(jox  "I  'qduiSoini;  siq  paqot;^'  si  uoqi;ai;[o 
-ap  siq  ox  ./JaAu  oooi;q9q3  jo  9pis  qino^'  aqj  uo  paAij  .laAa  n-m  aojaudo.i  j 
jsji;  put;  u^iu  js9jii9iout;  aqj  un;  j,,  :  s9Jt;i09[»  'mc;  'sso.13  j.ia([0^x  '-'S  '^so.i;;) 
j.iaqojx  JO  j9}qSm?p  aq;  '>{ai.i.iajj  a'.u;j\[  Suiujaauoo  sasodgp  oqA\  'sjt;aA  <:9 
paoB  'p|iqa.nt;j  .lajjti^Yv  p"i?  ..'Jaq;o.iq  Xiu„  '-jt^'  'ssojq  jaaqojx  sapv^s  oqAv  'C69l 
UI  sjBaX  z.i  p9.ou  'SAvaax)uy  uqoj^  -jnaiT;  aaaAv  suoijisodap  apt;iu  oqAv  saaqjo 
Siiouiy  -^gox  ui  sat'aA  OZ  P^^"^^  suas.  'jv;  'sso.13  :)Jac[ojx  •(•(}{)  x  ui  savaA  sf  paSi; 
'uaqdajg   put?    'C'69I    ui  sjvd.i  ^e  paSB  '^aaqojj  'zia  "as"  'ssoaQ  5a9([0j[  jo  suos 


STEPHEN  JORDAN'S  WILL, 

(Original  spelling.) 

The  lust  will  and  testinient  of  Stephen  Jordon  of  Newbury  in  the  County 
of  Essex,  writen  this  oth  of  Aperall  one  thousand  six  hundred  sixty  and 
seven,  having  through  (xods  grace  perfeckt  sens  and  memory  i  doe  comend 
my  soule  to  God  that  give  it  and  my  Body  to  the  earth  in  asured  hope  of  the 
resurection  of  the  just;  and  for  what  estat  the  lord  hast  given  me  i  despose  of 
it  as  following,  fei'st  I  give  to  my  daughter  Goose  of  Ipswich  fifteen  pound, 
which  is  in  her  husbands  hand  allredy  alse  I  give  to  my  daughter  Androse  of 
Ipswich  fciftene  pounds  which  is  in  her  husbands  hand  allredy  for  my  house 
anil  land  in  Newbury  I  give  it  to  my  wife  duering  her  naturall  life  and  after 
her  deses  I  give  it  to  Stephen  Grose  the  son  of  Kobert  Grose  of  Ipswich  my 
sonne  in  law.  To  cows  I  gieve  to  my  wife  halfe  of  my  household  goods  I 
gieve  to  my  wife  and  the  other  halfe  to  my  to  sonnes  Robert  Grose  and  Jno 
Andros  eijually  divided.  My  will  is  that  Steven  Gross  shall  give  to  his  -wife 
and  my  grandchild  Elizabeth  Androse  out  of  the  land  given  unto  him  the 
some  of  five  pound.  Sined  with  my  hand  this  oth  of  Aperall  1067  in  presence 
of  us  whose  names  are  here  written 


Susjinna  Wlieller.  (her  marke. 
Mary  ^I.  Ayer,   (her  marke.) 


Steven  Jorden,  x  (his  mark 
Allowed  -29  March  1(570. 


In  these  days  it  was  customary  for  the  early  pioneers  to  provide  for  their 
tlder  sons  during  their  life  times,  and  to  arrange  for  their  younger  sons  in 
their  wills. 


GKOSS   1SI..\XI). 

Narrows — Ganoma  I'nint  Ksscx  .Massachusetts.      (  )\vned  l)y  IJobert  Gross.  Sr. 
as  well  as  the  juljoining  town  l»5.i4 — 1()7*J.     l>y  his  son  Stephen 
Gross  l(>7-_'     1700.     Owned  by  the  Ghoat  family  for  the 
next  L'lJO  vears.      Now  a  bcautitui  siinuiier  iJesort. 


()1> 


ROMANTIC  CROSS  ISLAND 

ELIZABETH  CHENEY'S  MOTHER   DRIVES    A    HARD    BARGAIN 

WITH  ROBERT  CROSS.     SHE  DEMANDS  CTIOSS 

ISLAND  FOR  A  DOWRY. 

(Extract  from  an  Essex  Newspaper.) 

Cross  island  is  a  granite  formation  near  our  eastern  l)or(ler,  wiiicli  guards 
oui'  gateway  to  the  sea.  It  is  a  runaway  cliilil  of  Cape  Ami:  a  strayed  frag- 
ment oftlie  great  granite  peninsula.  Yet  it  is  a  finished  jn'oduction  of  nature, 
graceful,  independent,  rising  up  out  of  its  watery  lied  north  of  the  deep  chan- 
nel, thereby  denying  any  connection  with  the  ledges  and  (piarries  of  the  great 
wipe.  How  happy  a  life  the  Indian  race  lived  here  in  this  very  centre  of  fish- 
ing and  hunting  privileges  we  must  leave  the  imagination  to  define.  Alas  I 
A  nation  without  annals  and  without  letters — when  it  dies,  it  dies  indeed  ! 
Thus  died  the  Lulian  race  and  left  no  record  of  this  happy  hunting  ground. 

Very  early  in  the  history  of  our  town,  in  1(5:37,  the  town  of  Ipswieli 
granted  this  Island  and  the  adjoining  farm  on  the  point  to  John  Perkin.s,  Jr. 
This  man  let  no  grass  grow  under  his  feet,  yet  the  island  took  not  his  name, 
neither  Ins  it  brought  down  to  us  any  moniento  of  his  ownership.  This 
ownership  was  of  short  duration. 

Nicholas  Marble  was  another  early  owner,  long  ago  forgotten  fioni 
among   men. 

THE  CROSSES  OWN  THE  TOWN. 

Robert  Cross,  Sr. 

July  10,  1<).'')4,  the  i.sland  and  the  adjoining  town  passed  from  the  hands 
of  Nicholas  Marble  to  Robert  Cross,  Sr.,  and  although  the  members  of  the 
Cross  family  owned  it  for  nearly  half  a  century,  yet  it  was  not  called  by 
their  name  until  their  ownershiji  ceased. 

ROMANCE  OF  THE  ISLAND 

While  Robert  Cross,  the  father,  was  an  extensive  land  owner,  the  son, 
Stephen,  had  no  land,  yet  loved  he  a  fiiir  maiden  of  Newliury,  Elizabeth 
Cheney  by  name.  Elizabetli's  mother  withheld  her  consent  to  her  marriage 
for  a  year,  until  the  very  island  was  made  the  make-weight  which  turned  the 
scale  and  made  two  young  hearts  happy. 

A  romantic  spot,  indeed  ! 

The  father  gave  the  son  the  island  on  which  the  young  couple  .settled. 
The  original  deed  of  gift  having  been  lost,  the  two  witnesses  of  this  deed  wei-e 
called  into  court  13  years  later  and  the  deposition  of  one  of  them  was  as 
follows:     "Deposition  of  John  Kendrick,  aged  4*2  years. 

"This  deponent  testifyeth  and  saith  that  in  the  year  1072,  I,  the  .said  De- 
ponent, was  at  the  house  of  (^)uarterniaster  John  Perkins  in  Ipswich;  where 
was  Robert  Cross,  Sen'r.,  and  widdow  Cheney  of  Newlairy.  and  they  were 
discoursing  about  and  concerning  their  son  and  daughter,  viz:    Stephen  Cross 

70 


ye  sonn  of  said  IJoIxM-t  Cross,  and  Elizal)eth  Clienoy,  daughter  of  the  s'd  wid- 
dow  the  said  Holiert  Cross  then  tk'sired  the  said  widdow  to  give 
lier  daughter  EHzal)eth  in  marriage  to  his  sonn  Stephen;  the  sd 
\vid(h)\v  would  not  eonsent  to  the  same  except  the  said  Kobert  would  give  his 
sonn  Stephen  sum  land  for  to  settle  u[)on;  the  said  Kobert  tould  the  s'd  wid- 
dow that  he  ha<l  an  island  in  Cheliaceo  river,  which  he  did  intend  for  his  sonn 
Stephen,  which  he  valued  to  l>e  worth  two  hiuidred  pounds  sterling  or  theire 
abouts;  the  said  witldow  then  said  unto  the  said  Kol)ert  that  if  he  would  give 
his  sonn,  the  s'd  Stephen,  all  that  island  that  shee  would  then  give  her  daugh- 
ter Elizabeth  unto  the  s'd  Stephen  in  marriage,  which  he,  the  said  Robert  (lid 
freely  promise  to  doe  and  immediately  thereupon  the  s'd  Kobert  Cross  drew 
a  deed  of  gift  to  his  sonn  Stephen  of  the  s'd  island  and  sul)scribed  his  hand  to 
it;  to  the  which  deed  I,  the  said  deponent,  was  one  witness,  and  Quarter- 
master John  I'eikins  was  the  other  witness,  and  upon  these  terms  the  said 
Robert  Cross  and  widdow  Cheney  agreed  and  their  sonn  and  daughter,  in  sum 
convenient  time  after,   were  joined  together  in  matrimony. " 

"John  Kendrick  made  oath  to  the  truth  of  this  court  in  Ipswich,  March 
31,  lOH.-).  " 

Reader.  When  you  visit  this  island  you  can  see  to  this  day  the  remains 
of  tlie  cellar  over  which  stood  the  house  of  this  young  bride,  Elizabeth  Cheney. 

But  was  there  not  danger  from  the  Indians  in  that  early  day  ?  Yes; 
when  our  }oung  couj)le  had  been  two  years  on  the  island  the  Ipswicli  people 
so  feared  an  assault  upon  themselves  that  the  general  coiu-t  appoiuti'd  a  guard 
to  protect  the  hou.se  of  the  public  officer,  who  was  absent  from  home  on  pub- 
He  (hitie.s,  but  whose  house  was  near  the  present  hou.se  of  Aklen  Story. 

How  Tuucli  more  exposed  was  our  Stephen  by  sea  and  by  land? 

( 'apt.  Stephen  Cross,  this  first  settler,  was  a  constant  church-goer.  Dur- 
ing his  first  six  years  on  the  island,  the  CheI)acco  meetinghouse  not  having 
been  built,  he  attended  church  at  the  Xorth  meetinghouse  in  Ipswich.  He 
would  go  in  his  log  canoe  to  the  landing  in  the  Argilla  district  of  Ipswich, 
near  the  house  of  the  late  Alvin  Stoi-y,  and  walk  the  rest  of  the  way.  Tradi- 
tion says  that  for  one  year  he  did  uot   miss  a  Sabbath. 

lint  the  closing  yeai-  of  the  17tli  century  witnessed  the  passing  of  the  is- 
land into  other  hands. 

THE  ISk.WI)  SOLD 

Stephen  ( 'ross.  of  Ipswich,  marinei',  witii  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  sold  to 
dohn  Ap[)letoii.  Jr.,  Eeli.  '2'.K  HJHS,  a  tract  of  mar.^h  land  in  the  Chebacco  in 
the  s.iid  I'arish  of  Ipswich,  given  him  by  his  fatiier,  Koliert  Cro.ss,  Sr.,  part  of 
the  farm  on  which  his  father  was  then  living.  Signature  of  Ca|)tain  Stephen 
Cro.ss  acknowledged  June  12.  I(;{t4.      Essex  County  Deeds  Id  lit, 

Robert  Cross,  Jr..  son  of  Kobert  Cross.  Sr.  entitled  to  rights  of  conunon- 
age  in  l(i(54:  voted  in  town  affairs.  KiTSl.  He  married  in  H)(i4  Martha  Tread- 
well,  who  diiMl  in  lt;77. 

71 


Children. 

Ralph,  ¥eh.  IT),  16r)8. 
Robert,  Jan.  '21,  1GG5. 
Timothy,  Nov.  29,  1067. 
Martha,  Mar.  If),  1(570. 
Abel,  Apr.  5,  1670. 
Stephen.  Apr.  27,  1678. 
Natlianiel  ( 
Marv? 
Ann? 

THE  CROSSES  WERE  SHIPBUILDERS 

Ralph  Cross,  Jr.  grandson  of  Robert  Sr.,  born  in  Ipswich  August  1706 
moved  to  Newburyport  and  married  Sarah  Johnson. 

Their  children  were,  Stephen,  l)orn  1731,  and  Ralph,  born  1738,  both 
brought  up  with  their  father,  Ralph,  in  his  ship  yard.  In  Cothn's  history 
of  Newbury  three  Ralphs  are  mentioned,  here  are  three  Ralphs." 

CROSS     HUSE 

RALRH  CROSS  JR.,  LEAVES  HOME  ON  ACCOUNT 
OF  HIS  STEP-MOTHER. 

Professor  Cross  of  Boston  wrote  to  me  that  he  remembers  hearing  from 
his  own  people  that  Ralph  Cross  his  ancestor  could  not  get  along  with  his 
stepmother  and  left  home  to  liecome  a  great  shipbuilder. 

And  again  the  author  has  the  same  tradition  in  a  letter  from  Harry  Huse 
a  naval  officer  who  was  second  in  command  under  our  kinsman  Lieut.  Wain- 
wright  {who  received  the  sword  of  the  Spanish  Commander.) 

Extract  from  letter  of  Harry  P.  Huse  : 

"My  grandfather,  Ralph  Cross  Huse,  was  the  son  of  Samuel  Huse  and 
his  wife,  Sarah  Cross.  I  think  the  name  was  Sarah.  My  great-grandfather 
was  Ralph  Cross,  who  left  Ipswich  as  a  boy,  because  he  could  not  get  along 
with  his  .step-mother.  His  father  was  Robert  Cioss,  Jr.,  Prof  Cross,  of  the 
Boston  College  of  Technology,  is  ii  descendent  of  Robert  Cross,  of  Ipswich. 
Perhaps  a  letter  to  my  father  would  elicit  the  information  you  desire." 

HUSE  BIBLE  THE  BIBLE  USED. 

(Letter  from  Caleli  Huse,  Dated  1904  to  the  Author.) 

My  age  is  73,  I  am  the  son  of  the  late  Ralph  Cross  Huse.  My  great- 
grandmother's  name  was  Cross — She  descended  from  the  Ipswich  Cross  fam- 
ily (Robert  Sr.) 

The  grandson  of  my  ftxther's  second  wife,  was  called  Ralph  Cross  Huse. 
A  large  and  very  handsome  bible  which  should  have  come  to  me.  was  left  to 
him. 

72 


This  was  one  of  the  liil)los  import  I'd  hy  liulph  Cross  of  Newburj^port, 
Mass..  and  was  used  in  a  Meetinit,'  House  when  Whitfield  preached  there. 
This  Ralph  Cross  was  my  great  Uncle." 

Letter  from  Mrs.  Huse,  wife  of  the  above  member,  Ralph  Cross  Huse, 
Dati'd  liMU. — "Caleb  Hu.se  is  right.  We  have  the  bible.  So  precious  is  this 
book  that  w(>  ivould  not  let  it  out  of  the  house  to  be  photographed  as  you 
suggest."  (Note  l»y  Author — One  ot  these  books  was  certainly  used  by  the 
great  divine  Whitfield  and  is  now  called,  the  Whitfield  Bible,  being  in  pos.ses- 
sion  of  the  church  of  that  name,  in  Newlmry,  and  is  in  such  a  decayed  condi- 
tion that  it  is  ke[)t  under  glass,   and  locked  up.) 

As  before  ex|)lainod  it  was  presented  to  (ienl.  Ralph  Cioss,  during  a  visit 
to  London. 

These  facts  arc  riientioned  incidently  to  cleai'  the  way  for  the  argument 
in  favor  of  the   R  )bert  Cro.ss,  Sr.,  connection. 

THE  FIRST  AXIOM  IX  EUCLID 

•THIXGS    WHICH    ARE    EQUAL    TO    THE    SAME    THING   ARE 

EQL' AL  TO  OXE  AXOTHER. 

For  as  one  Stephen  Cross  was  a  descendent  of  one  George  Cross,  who  in  turn 
was  a  descendent  of  Robert  Cross,  Sr.,  of  Ipswich  Mass.  And  again  where- 
as Moses  Cross  was  a  descendant  of  the  Haverhill  line,  and  was  a  cousin  of 
the  said  Stephen  Cross,  therefore  the  said  Moses  Cross  as  well  as  Stephen 
had  Robert  Cross,  Sr.,  as  a  common  ancestor. 

It  is  further  asserted  that  John  Cross,  Sr.,  our  ancestor,  married  Ruth 
Swan,  and  that  John  Cross,  Jr..  was  their  son  and  that  William  Cross,  our 
ancestor  being  a  brother  of  the  said  -Tohn  Ci-oss,  Jr.,  was  also  a  son  of  John 
Ci'oss.  Sr. 

MRS.  LOR  AX  A  CROSS  COXTIXUES. 

THERE  WAS  DOCUMEXTARY  EVIDEXCE  OXCE. 

It  would  ajjpear  that  nearly  100  years  ago,  Jeremy  L.  Cross  decided  to 
secure  documentary  evidence  proving  his  ascent  (as  was  previously  mentioned) 
not  only  from  the  Charlynch  family,  liut  from  Robert,  Sr.  of  Ipswich.  This 
task  lie  accomplished  according  to  the  statements  of  his  own  immediate 
family,  who   in  tiieir  turn  imparteil  the  information  to  myself. 

THE  WHITE   HAIRED  TRUNK. 

RECOLLECTIONS    OF    ELIZA    CROSS.       THE    MISSING   PROOFS 

PURLOINED  BY  MASONS. 

Ill  |ss7.  licaring  of  these  precious  documents  A\iiicli  would  pro\e  my 
children  s  Cross  descent,  I  vi-sited  the  home  of  .Miss  Eli/a  Cross  of  Haverhill, 
N.  H. — who  was  a  sister  of  .Jeremy  Cross.  It  was  my  intention  to  copy  the.se 
documents. 


When  I  asked  for  them,  Miss  EHza  said:  "They  are  all  in  the  White 
haired  trunk."  This  trunk  was  Ijrought  from  the  attic  and  examined.  There 
were  no  papers  in  the  trunk,  they  were  gone. 

The  only  explanation  that  Miss  Eliza  could  give  was  that  they  had  been 
taken  by  freemasons,  who  had  been  searching  for  masonic  documents,  as  they 
often  did  when  they  visited  her  house.  These  masons,  had  evidently  thought 
them,  of  masonic  value,  and  had  carried  them  away  with  other  papers. 

I  then  asked  Miss  Eliza  to  tell  me  from  memory  what  the  papers  contained 
she  replied  as  follows  :  "Well  there  was  a  knight  in  the  family.  Sir  Robert 
Cross,  and  there  was  another  Robert  Cross,  who  came  from  Old  England  to 
New  England  and  settled  at  Ipswich,  and  this  Robert  Cross  had  two  sons 
John  and  George,  among  his  children.  Jeremy  Cross  learned  that  from  his 
Father  William  who  was  born  in  174"2.  This  John  Cross  settled  in  Haverhill, 
N.  H.,  and  his  brother  George  went  to  Xewburyport,  Mass. 

George  Cross,  had  a  large  family,  his  oldest  son  being  William.  The 
Newburyport  Crosses  were  de.scendents  from  Ralph  Cross  they  were  brought 
up  in  the  shipyard  of  their  father  Ralph  Cross,  Jr.  They  were  descentled 
from  Rol)ert  Cross  of  Ipswich. 

These  statements  of  Miss  Eliza  were  the  basis  of  an  exhaustive  search 
made  by  me,  I  found  they  were  susceptable  of  proof. 

Miss  Eliza  said  that  George  Cross'  eldest  son  was  William,  and  I  found 
this  to  be  the  case  and  it  reflected  tlie  light  of  creditability  on  all  her  story. 

MRS.  LORANA  CROSS  CONTINUES. 

"By  a  pedigree,  known  as  the  Preeble  Document,  it  Avas  found  that  this 
same  George  Cross  was  a  son  or  grandson  of  Roliert  Sr.  To  prove  the  de- 
scent from  Robert  Sr.  (if  it  could  not  be  done  directly,)  we  had  to  .show  re- 
lationship with  this  .said  George  Cross  and  in  doing  so  the  fact,  was  shadowed 
forth,  that,  (as  Miss  Eliza  said,)  "John  and  George  were  brothers,  John 
staying  in  Haverhill,  and  George  going  to  Newburyport."  We  first  got  a 
record  of  Stephen  which  we  knew  was  a  son  of  the  .said  George,  and  we  find 
that  Moses  Cross  (an  ancestor  of  ours)  was  his  cousin." 

COUSINS  STEPHEN  AND  MOSES. 

EXTRACT  FROM  MRS.  VOLE  SMITH'S  HISTORY  OF    NEWBURY 

AN  INTERESTING  GLIMPSE  INTO  COLONIAL  MARINE  HISTORY 

Our  Ship-Building  Kinsman. 

Stephen  and  Ralph  Cross  of  Newburyport,  put  the  first  flotilla  on  the 
great  lakes  (Oswego  and  Ontario,)  among  those  to  accompany  them,  under 
contract,  to  build  vessels  there  for  the  Government  was  a  relative  Moses 
Cross.  This  was  about  the  loth  of  May,  1756.  The  Colonies  were  at  war 
with  France  and  the  Crosses  were  captured.  (They  were  all  British  then.) 
They  were  taken  to  France  in  their  own  ships.  Stephen  kept  a  journal,  in  it 
he  says  his  uncle  (Ralph)  who  was  among  those  taken  ill,    was   sent    to   the 

74 


hospital,  that  Stephen  (with  one  other  prisoner)  was  afterwards  taken  sick 
and  also  went  to  the  hospital,  there  he  met  "His  Relative  Moses  Cross,"  (Our 
Moses)  in  a  violent  fever  and  ([uite  senseless.  (This  Moses  Cross  was  born 
171(5.) 

Stephen  recovered  and  was  returned  to  his  native  hmd,  Moses  improved 
in  healtli  I)iit  died  18  months  afterwards  (see  name  of  this  Moses  mentioned  in 
land  deed.) 

THE  LATE  JUDSON   CROSS  SUSTAINED  THIS  EVIDENCE. 

The  Late  Judson  Cross  was  a  brother  of  Rev.  L.  F.  Cross  and  father  of 
Mrs.  Kuappin  of  Vancouver,  B.  C,  being  descended  from  John  Cross,  the 
brother  of  William  Cross  our  ancestor. 

IVFRS.  LORANA  CROSS  CONTINUES 

Jmlson  Cross  said  when  hearing  of  Mrs.  Vale's  record  regarding  the  re- 
lationship of  Moses  and  Stephen  that  the  discovery  pleased  him  very  much, 
foi-  it  contirnuMl  what  he  had  already  heard,  and  to  his  mind  placed  the  (|ues- 
tion  beyond  dispute.  He  said  his  (Irandniother  had  tokl  him  his  kinsman 
Moses  lived  with  the  .ship  Iniilding  family  tluring  the  trouble  with  the  French 
and  as  Moses  was  of  his  line  he  was  now  (^uite  convinced  that  the  relation.ship 
between  the  Methuen  and  Xewbury  Crosses  spoken  of  by  Miss  Eliza  was 
correct. 

(Stephen  we  know  to  have  been  the  son  of  George  and  George  was  the 
brother  of  our  John  Cross  Sr.) 

EXTRACT  FROM  PREEBLE  FAMILY  TREE. 

SHOWING  GEORGE  THE  DESCENDENT  OF  ROBERT  SR. 

There  were  two  Preeble  Genealogies.  The  one  states  that  George  Cross 
of  Xewbury  may  have  been  descended  from  Rol)ert  Sr.  of  Ipswich.  The  other 
ileclares  positively  that  he  was  descended  from  Robert  Sr.  It  is  not  necessary 
to  pulilish  the  entire  genealogical  line. 

The  Preebles  were  descentled  from  Sally  Cross,  who  married  Enoch  Pre- 
cbles.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Deacon  Thomas  Cross,  son  of  Thomas  Cross 
b.  March  10th  U)S{»  and  Sarah  Bordman  of  Ipswich  anda  descendent  of  Robert 
Cros.se,  a  commoner  of  Ipwich  in  K541,  with  the  title  of  senior.  Robert  Cross 
had  a  seat  appointed  him,  "one  of  the  short  se.its"  near  the  pulpit  in  the  meet- 
ing house  then  recently  built  in  1700.  These  short  seats  seem  to  have  been 
appropriated  to  the  elderly  people.  He  must  have  l»een  more  than  eighty 
years  old.  It  appeal's  from  a  subscription  toward  a  compensation  for  the  mil- 
itary .services  of  Major  (afterwards  (Jenei'al)  Deaison,  in  1048,  and  a  list  of 
persons  entitled  to  certain  rights  of  commonage  in  1004  that  he  was  among  the 
wealthier  portion  of  the  inhal)itants.  (Jeorge  (the  CJeorge  referi'cd  to)  a  son 
or  grandson  of  R()l)ert.  had  a  son  Thomas,  born  March  10,  1(589,  wlio  was  the 
fatlier  of  Deacon  Thomas  (father  of  Sally  Cross). 

(The  Author:  Anson  Titus,  the  well  known  Massachusetts  genealogist, 
was  instructed  to  follow  up  these  clues.  He  soon  abandoned  them  for  theories 
of  his  own.  Failing  to  prove  these  new  theories,  he  acknowledged  Mrs.  Cross' 
were  the  more  prol);ib!e,  but  ho  could  ni)t  p!-ove  them  or  disprove  the.n  in  the 
absence  of  documentai'V  data  which  he  was  unal)l('  to  find). 


(Author: — It  miglit  be  said  in  reference  to  the  Moses  Cross  nientione  1  in 
Stephen  Cross'  diary  that  there  was  really  two  Moses  (^ross') 

There  was  a  Moses  Cross,  son  of  Nathanial,  as  well  as  a  Moses  Cross  the 
descendent  of  John  Cross  Jr.  of  Haverhill  Mass.  The  Mo.ses,  son  of  Nathanial. 
was  born  in  Ipswich  1720,  married  Anna  (toss  of  Newbury  1753. 

(Still  there  is  the  direct  statement  of  the  late  Judson  Cross  that  his 
(jrandmother  had  told  him  that  it  A\as  his  relative  Moses  that  was  with  the 
Crosses  in  their  shipbuilding)  (This  reference  to  another  Moses  is  made  not 
to  throw  discredit  on  Mrs.   Cross'  evidence, 

KOBEKT  CK0S8  DIGS  UP  A  SACAMORE. 
AND  SITS  IN  THE  STOCKS. 

"In  1(><)7,  liobert  Cross,  for  his  l)arbai'ous  ;ind  inhuman  conduct  by  dig- 
ging up  the  Sagamore,  his  grave,  and  carrying  the  skull  ujjon  a  pole  (and  so 
forth)  was  sentenced  to  he  imprisoned  until  next  lecture  day  and  then  im- 
mediately after  meeting  to  sit  in  the  stocks.  He  was  afterwards  compelled, 
to  make  up,  assisted  by  one  John  Andrews.  "The  vSagamore's  toml)."  This 
was  probably  Roliert  Cro-^s,  Jr.,  son  of  tlis  patriarch   of  that  name." 

MIJS.    CROSS  CONTINUES. 

Eli/a  Cross  evidence  regarding  the  .statement  of  the  Iti'otliers  John  and 
George  Cross  is  supported.  The  bi'other  of  my  hu.sband  as  well  as  my  hus- 
bands father  .said,  that  two  brothers  settled  in  Haverhill.  Their  name  was 
Cross.  One  aftei'wards  went  to  Newburyport  and  the  f)ther  remained  in 
Haverhill  and  that  he  was  the  ancestor  of  my  children. 

WAR  RECORDS  OF  BROTHERS  JOHN  AND  GEOIJCIE 
CROSS  DISCLOSED. 

King  Phillip's  "War — Naragansett  Ijounty  Land  (irantees  and  claimants 
of  Naragansett  Township,  now  Buxton  JNIain.  George  Cross,  grantee  his  son 
William  claimant.  (Note  that  Geoi-ge  brother  of  our  John  had  a. son  Willia!n) 
see  statement  Eliza  Cross.  Other  war  reeoi-ds  Mass.  archives  Vol.  0.  In  the 
list  of  Captain  Mosley's  company  taken  at  Dedham,  Dec,  7th,  1075. — John 
Cross.  Again  Farmers  Genealogical  Register — Names  credited  with  military 
service  under  captain  Mosely  at  Mt.  Hope. — John  Crosse.  Daring  the  s  ime 
period  complaint  made  that  John  Crosse  had  ere  lit  under  two  capttiins. 
Henchman  and  Burliank.  Credited  under  Captain  Poole  and  Walden  1075 — 
George  Cross. 

"Credited  under  Sundry  Acceptance  at  ^^arbIehead,  August  '2-i.  KuO. 
George  Crosse,  one  pound,  sixteen  shillings  and   eight  jjcnce. 

"Aug.  20th,  1075,  list  of  soldiers  credited  under  Daniel  Henchman.  King- 
Phillip's  war,  1075,  John  Cross,  one  pound  six  shillings  and  six  pence. 

70 


THIS  JOHN  SAID  TO  BE  A  BROTHEIJ  OK  ROBERT,  SR. 

In  Coffins  History  of  Xcwburv,  Mass.,  in  speaking  of  John  Cross,  he 
says: 

"John  Ward  and  others  of  Xe\vl)iiry  ])etitioned  the  General  conrt  for  a 
place  ot  settlement,  referred  to  Governor  Winthorp  to  consider  Pentuckett, 
and  so  forth.  They  were  granted  Pentnckett,  (then  to  he  called  Haverhill, j 
Mav  i;»,  1<)4(),  at  Boston.  Twelve  men  then  went  from  Newbnrv  to  Haver- 
hiir(P.  inU'othn.r 

"May,  l()4(t,  Edward  Woodman  (when  the  way  was  settled),  Christopher 
Batt  and  John  (^'ro.ss  were  appointed  to  .settle  the  ferry  (jnestion,  as  they  think 
meet.     "CotKns  History  p.  o."].)"" 

"In  the  .June  session  PUl,  appointed  Jno.  Woodridge,  Matthew  Bayse, 
Jno.  Cross  an<l  (Jeorge  Giddings  to  lav  out  Sals' uiiy.  and  Pentucket  (Haver- 
hill.) (Cha.ses  Hi.story  of  Haverhill,  p.4:]. )' 

"Jolni  Woodridge  married  a  daughter  of  Governcn-  Dudley.  Edward 
Woodman  lived  in  Xewl)ury,  Christoplier  Batt  lived  in  Salisbury,  and  John 
Cross  lived  in  Hampton.  (Wincowit.)" 

"Rev.  Stephen  Bachelor  took  a  company  from  Newliury  and  Ipswich  and 
formed  a  town  of  Hampton  in  1  ():]{>.  John  Cross  and  Ann,  his  wife,  sailed 
from  England  to  Ipswich,  Mass.,  IdO.").  They  moved  to  Hampton.  He  was 
admitted  freeman.  1(5:>0.  His  child  Hanna  was  baptized  thei'e  by  Rev.  Ste- 
phen Bachelor.  He  was  representative  to  the  General  Court  1(540.  Hence 
lie  was  ;;ppointe;l  one  of  the  fei-ry  commission  ibr  jMeirimac  River  at  Carrs 
Islaml,  and  to  lay  out  Haverhill.  He  died  lf).')2.  He  had  a  son  John  h\  his 
tirst  wife,  Marv,  which  .son  lived  in  Watertown  where  his  widow  went  to 
live. 


Showing  tlie    residence    of   (ieoi-ge    Cross,   .son  of  Lorana  Cross  and  the  last 

male  descendant  of  his  line.      The  Cross  Homestead  in  the 

distance.      Here  can  be  seen  a  corner  of  the  Estate 

bartered  liv  rcil-men  for  {>  bolts  of  bi-o  idchith. 


78 


EKillT  CENERATIONS  BORN  OVER  ONE  CELLAR 

Clipped  from  a  newspaper 

At  the  old  Cross  homestead,  Methuen,  the  landmark  for  more  than  two 
and  a  lialf  eeiituries,  was  born  Dec.  '21  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Homer  F.  Cha.se,  a 
son.  Ilie  mother  was  of  the  seventh  generation,  making  the  son  of  the  eighth 
generation  of  the  family  in  the  house,  though  the  latter  does  not  bear  the 
name  of  Cross.  The  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  Methuen.  The  land  was 
olttained  fiom  the  pioprietors  of  Haverhill  of  which  it  was  a  part.  Thei-e  was 
also  an  Indian  title  obtained  from  the  Red  Men  by  paying  for  the  .same  in  red 
broadcloth,  for  as  much  land  as  a  man  could  walk  around  in  a  day.  John 
Ci'oss,  the  common  ancestor,  l)egan  his  walk  at  the  mouth  of  the  Spicket, 
where  his  father-in-law,  Robert  Swan,  of  Haverhill  owned  the  land,  and  chip- 
ped his  way  up  Broadway  to  Salem,  where  he  owned  still  other  land,  and 
came  down  what  is  now  the  division  line  between  Methuen  and  Haverhill,  at 
Hake's  brook,  arriving  just  as  the  sun  was  setting.  The  Intlians  reserved  the 
right  under  the  bank  for  fishing  and  hunting. 

John  Cross,  being  the  store-keeper  of  Haverhill,  undouI)tedly  furnished 
this  same  red  l)roadcloth  to  the  colonists  from  the  Rowley  fulling  mill,  the  first 
to  be  built  in  the  Western  world,  which  wa.s  near  his  home  in  Ipswich. 

The  deeds  of  the  land  as  they  descended  from  father  to  son,  were  given  in 
the  town  of  Haverhill  and  Province  of  Mass.  Bay,  New  England,  mentioning 
the  reign  of  (ieorge  1,  II  and  III.  The  house  which  was  contemporaneous 
with  the  old  Whittier  homestead,  was  like  that  built  with  three  rooms  and  a 
long  low  roof,  but  since  then  other  additions  have  been  made  and  although  the 
old  structui'e  still  fiu-ms  the  basis  for  the  building,  modern  improvements  have 
been  added.  It  bids  fair  to  shelter  generations  yet  to  come.  The.se  facts  re- 
gai'iling  the  old  homestead  which  is  blessed  by  a  new  generation  of  the  same 
family  that  has  for  years  occupied  the  place  reminds  one  of  Longfellow's 
"(Jolden  Milestone": 

Happy  he  whom  neither  wealth  nor  fashion. 

Nor  the  march  of  an  encroaching  city  drives  an  exile 

l'"r(iiii  the  hearth  of  his  ancestral  homestead. 

CROSS  SWAN 

It  will  i)e  noticed  that  this  article  written  many  yearsago  besides  announ- 
cing an  important  event  in  the  Methuen  Cross  family,  gives  an  interesting  ac- 
count of  the  first  John  Cross  as  a  store  keeper  at  llaverhill,  and  selling  the 
cloth  turned  out  by  the  Swans  (he  married  into  their  family)  at  their  fulling 
mills  at  Rowley,  that  his  land  joined  the  Swans  and  that  he  was  in  ijusiness 
toucii  with  them. 

HAD  SEEN   liETTKR    D.WS 

I'rom  records  l)y  Hunnnett  :  "The  [leople  of  this  Town,  (Ipswich)  many 
of  th'Mu  are  of  goinl  rank,  having  had  ye.-irly  rental  from  large  estates  in  Eng- 
land l>efore  they  canu-  to  this  wilderness.  "  Among  the  n.unes  heiv  nu-ntioned 
were  John  Cross  and  Rtlieit  Ci'oss  which  reads  well  along  with  the  statement 
that  they  were  descended  from  the  Chailynge  Ci'osses. 

7!» 


SIGXIFIGANCE  OF  A  '-LIST"  OF  NAMES. 

Taken  from  a  book  entitled,    "Ipswich — the  body  pohtie  10:33 — 1700." 
"From  thi.s  time  on,  no  maji  shall  be  admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the  body 
poyitic,  but  such  as  are  members  of  churches,  \\ithin  the  limits  of  the  same." 

Enrolled  1078, — these  names  appear  consecutively  as  here  yiven — "George 
Cross,  Ralph  C'ross,  Kobert  Cross,  Stephen  Cross."  Undoul)tedly  they  wei'e 
enrolled  at  the  same  moment,  came  to  the  enrollment  together,  and  George 
being  the  eld(;st  tof»k  up  his  pen  first.  Were  they  not  brothers  and  all  de- 
scendents  of  Kobert    Cross,  Sr? 

It  is  for  these  reasons  that  the  claim  has  l)een  made,  that  Kobert  Cross. 
Sr.,  wa.s  the  founder  of  the  American  line,  and  the  first  generation  here  re- 
corded. It  is  also  claimed  that  he  had  a  son,  John  Cross,  whom  we  will 
designate  as  Senior. 

^[KS.  LOKAXA  CKOSS  CONTIXUES 

GEXEKATION  II. 

JOHN  CKOSS  SK.  SOX  OF  ROBEKT  CROSS,  SK. 

The  Claim  would  have  been  weak  had  I  not  found  a  wife  and  children 
for  John  Cross,  Sr.  It  is  claimed  that,  this  time,  there  is  some  documentary 
evidence  although  unfortunately  not  immediately  obtainable. 

DID  ROBERT'S  SOX  JOHX,  MARRY  RUTH  SWAX  > 

The  first  liint  of  his  wife's  name  was  suggested  by  a  deed  of  gift  of  cer- 
tain land  by  Rolieit  Swan,  Sr.,  to  John  ('ross.  This  John  Cross  being  the 
brother  of  William  of  Haverhill,  X.  H.  People  do  not  give  large  tnicts  of  land 
away  as  a  rule,  why  did  Robeit  Swan  do  so  ?  Surely  he  was  a  relative.  He 
explained  in  his  deed  that  it  was  becau.se  John  Cross  was  a  "nephew  or  a 
cousin  and  for  the  love  he  bore  him." 

Anson  Titus  followed  up  this  clue  and  hitherto  discovered  an  unrecorded 
daughter  of  Robt.  Swan,  Sr.,  one  Ruth  Swan.  All  cjther  daughters  had  been  ac- 
counted for.  He  also  found  a  document  .showing  the  division  of  the  estate  of 
R.  Swan,  Sr.,  in  1724  and  in  this  document  there  was  a  clause  to  the  atfect  that 
Ruth  Hart.shorn  of  her  heirs  were  to  received  their  share  etc.  She  had  then 
l)een  dead  for  many  years,  in  fact  a  record  was  found  that  she  had  succuml)ed 
to  smallpox  in  lODO.  This  seemed  a  great  disappointment  for  Ruth  Swan 
evidently  married  John  Hartshorn  and  not  John   Cross. 

However  I  made  a  careful  search  among  the  Libraries  in  JNIassachui-etts 
that  wei'e  within  reasonable  reach  Ibi-  Swan  and  Cioss  marriages  and  saw  in 
one  of  the  books  .sulimitted  what  appeared  to  me  the  record  of  the  mai  riage 
of  John  Cross  and  Ruth  Swan  anil  a  foot  note  that  she  had  died  of  smallpox 
in  KHIO. 

When  I  found  this  record  it  was  late  in  the  afternoon  and  I  was  in  a 
hurry  to  get  home,  I  took  no  note  of  the  name  of  the  Iwok  thinking  to  come 
back  next  day  and  make  a  proper  copy  of  the  entry.  Unfortunately  wlien  I 
did  return  the  librarian  and  his  assistants  were  unable  (.search  as  they  would) 
to  find  this  .same  book  for  me  again.     Still    I    am  .sure  I  saw  the  record    plain 

80 


enough.  Tims  it  would  a{)pear  that  Ruth  Swan  first  married  John  Cross  and 
after  the  two  hoys  John  and  William  were  born,  John  Crosse  died,  and  she 
married  Jno.  Hartshorn  under  her  maiden  name  which  was  sometimes  done 
after  short  marriages  in  those  days. 

HAVERHILL  RECORD 

John  Hartshorn  married  Ruth  Swan  Sept.  19,  107*2.  Their  children  (1) 
John  b.  1(373;  (2)  Ruth  born  1674;  (3)  Jonathan  born  May  14th  1677,  married 
Sarah  Cross,  daughter  of  John  Cross  and  Sarah  Peacock  1729  ;  (4)  Su.sanna 
born  1680  (5)  (6)  and  (7)  Elizabeth  Abagil  and  Martha,  the  last  born  16S8. 
Ruth  his  wife  died  of  smallpox  1690. 

(Author: — Thus  it  will  be  noted  that  according  to  these  assertions  John 
Cross  married  Ruth  Swan  and  had  John  Cross  Jr.  and  William.  That  after 
John  Sr.  died  Ruth  Swan  married  John  Hartshorn  ixinl  had  Jonathan.  This 
Jonathan,  according  to  the  records,  married  Sarah  Cross,  daughter  of  his  half 
brother  John  Cross,  who  was  the  son  of  his  mother's  first  husband  John  Cross 
Sr.;  such  a  marriage  though  it  would  have  been  no  doubt  permitted  by  the 
church  was  unusual.  It  is  possilile  there  has  been  a  confusion  of  names  as 
there  were  several  Hartshorn  families  Hourishing  in  Haverhill  at  the  time.) 

( Autlior: — I  wish  to  put  my  readers  in  possesion  of  the  theory  which  was 
entertained  reuardinu'  the  gift  of  land  to  John  Cross  by  Rol)ert  Swan  Sr.  be- 
fore  Mrs.  Critss  made  the  announcement  referred  to  as  liaving  found  the  mar- 
riage record  of  John  Cross  Sr.  and  Ruth  Swan.  It  was  this: — Robert  Swan 
Sr,  about  the  same  date  that  he  gave  land  to  John  Cross,  sold  land  to  his 
brother  William  Cross  for  hard  cash,  and  s^ldit  without  any  endearing  terms 
of  afiection  and  without  reference  to  him  as  a  cousin  or  nephew.  Why  did  he 
make  this  distincticjn?  Undoubtedly  Roliert  Swan  Sr.  was  a  relative  or  con- 
nected by  marriage  of  John  Cross,  but  did  John's  brother  William  share  this 
relatioiisjiip  ? 

Thomas  Hartshorn  the  second  in  line  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Susanna 
Hartshoi'u:  he  was  born  in  Reading  Oct.  :30th  164S.  His  first  wife  died 
soon,  and  he  mai'i'ied  secondly  Oct.  21st  1674,  Sarah  Swan,  a  sister  of  Koliert 
Swan  who  deeded  the  land  as  a  gift  to  John  Cross  and  sold  it  to  William. 

Thomas  and  Sarah  (Swan)  Hartshorn  lived  at  Haverhill  whei'c  several 
children  were  born.  Among  them  was  Sarah  Hartshorn  b.  April  4th  1678. 
Now  did  this  Sarah  marry  Pe:icock  and  then  marry  secondly  John  Ci'oss.  She 
Would  then  l)e  a  niece  of  JJobert  Swan,  and  if  she  was  the  wife  of . John  Cro.ss, 
that  would  ex|)lain  why  Rt^bert  Swan  Sr.  gave  the  land  to  John  Cross  and 
called  him  "Xcpliew '  aiid  sold  the  land  to  William  Cross  with  no  such  appela- 
tion.  Of  course  S  irah  Teicoek.  wife  of  John  ( 'r(jss  may  have  been  a  niece  of 
Robert  Swan  foi'  s:)inL' other  re.i-^ou. 

81 


1040     Deputy    Ivichard   Swan  and  Anna  Tninibull,     1040 

THE    SWAN    FAMILY. 

The  Swan's  were  very  early  settlei-s,  Richard  was  born  in  En^dand  al)Out 
1595,  dying  in  1078.  He  came  to  America  in  1038.  He  was  deputy  of  the 
General  Court  100:3-1673.  He  was  in  Kiny  Pliillip's  war  and  on  a  military 
expedition  to  Canada.  He  was  proprietor  of  the  Fulhng  mills  at  Rowley, 
Mass.  He  married  first  .Vnn  who  died  in  England  and  second  Mrs.  .Vnn 
Turnbull.  (Author, — It  is  interesting  to  note  that  this  Ann  Turnbidl  is  an 
ancestor  by  another  route:  This  lady  married  three  times,  first  Michael  Hop- 
kinson,  second  John  Turnbull.  By  her  second  marriage  she  had  a  daughter 
Abigail  who  married  Joseph  Bailey;  fatlier  of  John  Bailey;  whose  daughter 
Elizabeth  married  Jonathan  Cross  whose  son  Bailey  married  Susan  Bagsle3% 
whose  son  was  Calvin  Bailey  C'ross  the  author's  grandfather.)  Richard  Swan 
was  Ann's  third  husband.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  Elizabeth;  Francis;  Rt)l)- 
ert;  Jonathan;  Su.san;  John. 


1050  Deputy  Robert  Swan  and  Elizabeth  Acie — In  Boston  Court  Dress  1050 

&2 


Kobert  Swan  was  born  in  England  1(328,  d.  Feb.  11.  1098.  He  married 
first  Elizabeth  Acio,  b.  Iij2'2,  dau.  of  William  Acie,  came  in  KJ38,  d.  I(j89 
married  secondly  ILinna  l\uss.  He  was  in  King  Phillijxs  war  and  was  dep- 
uty   from  Haverhill,  1084. 

('hiij)Kex  oe  First  Wife. 

1.  Huth,  m.  hrst  John  Cross,  second  Jno.  Hartshorn 

•2.  Elizabeth  b.  Kj"):],  m.  Mathew  Harriman 

;).  Sarah  b.  10.")'),  m.  Thomas  Hartshorn 

4.  Robert  b.  1057,  m.  P^lizabeth  Storey 

.").  Ann  b.  1058,  m.  Nathanal  Ayre  (killed  by  Intlians.) 

0.  Kiehard  b  10<>0 

7.  Timothy  1).  1003 

8.  Dorothy  b.  100(5  m.  Saml.  Dalton  (killed  by  Indians.) 

9.  John  1).  1(>()8 

10.  Samuel  b.  1070  d.  1(57]. 

11.  Samuel  b.  1072 

12.  Joshua  b.  1(>74 
i:J.  Caleb  1070 

William  Acie  was  born  in  England  and  died  in  1090.  He  had  a  grant 
of  land  in  liowley,  Mass.,  1(343.  He  was  constal)le  and  held  other  town 
ottices,  he  married  Margaret. 

Fl'LL  TEXT 
llOBEKT  SWAX  SK.  (iAVE  LAND  TO  JOHN  CKOSS  WITH 

EXPKESSIOXS  OF  AFFECTION  AND    BY  KEASON 

OK  HIS   RELATIOXSHIF 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents:  That  I,  Koliert  Swan.  Sen.,  of  llaviMliill, 
in  the  county  of  Ms.sex  in  New  England,  for  divei's  good  causes  anil  considei'a- 
t ions  me  hereunto  moving  but  especially  for  and  in  consideration  of  ye  love 
that  1  have  for  and  do  bear  unto  my  Cousin  or  Nephew  John  Cross  where  up- 
on I  do  freely  be([ueath  unto  give  and  bestow  upon  my  afoi'csaid  Kinsman 
John  Cross  of  ye  same  i)Iace,  a  certain  tract  or  parcel  of  land  lying  and  being 
in  ye  Township  of  Haverhill,  namely  ye  one  half  of  that  tract  or  parcel  of  land 
which  I  purciiast'd  of  John  Mt'rrill  the  one  half  for  (juantity  and  (juality,  the 
othei'  half  I  have  sold  unto  William  Cross  and  ye  land  which  I  have  disposed 
of  unto  William  and  -lohn  is  bounded  as  followeth  on  ye  South  West  liydohn- 

n3 


ston  Brook  so  called  next  unto  Joshua  Swan's  land  and  go  from  Johnston's 
Brook  on  Merrimack  River  down  the  River  to  a  Ledge  of  Rocks  with  a  Stake 
by  them,  from  there  running  Westerly  to  a  White  Oak  Ti-ee  marked  on  three 
sides,  go  from  there  to  a  Pitch  l^ine  Tree  which  is  a  division  l)ound  mark  be- 
tween Rol)ert  Swan  and  Josuha  Swan,  the  one  half  of  this  land  mentioned 
within  these  bounds  for  (juantity  and  quality  to  him  the  said  John  Ci'oss,  to 
have  and  to  hold  and  furthermore  to  describe  ye  whole  of  ye  sd  land  that  I 
have  here  given  unto  John  Cross  and  sold  William  Cross.  John  Cross 
is  to  have  one  quarter  or  fourth  part  of  sd  undivided  land  both  for  quantity 
and  quality  ye  parcel  of  undivided  land  is  bounded  as  followeth.  Running 
from  ye  forenamed  Pitch  Pine  Westerly  to  a  little  White  Oak  marked,  stand- 
ing on  ye  West  side  of  a  Brook  called  Bloody  Brook,  from  there  North  East- 
erly to  a  White  Oak  standing  on  the  North  side  of  a  little  Swamp  from  there 
to  a  Pine  Tree  by  ye  other  land  that  is  divided  l)etween  Timothy  Osgood  and 
sd  Robert  Swan  ye  first  al)ove  mentioned  land  and  also  this  last  named  parcel 
of  land  l)oth  paroells  of  land  as  they  are  therein  set  out  and  described.  To  him 
the  said  John  Cross,  his  heir.s.  Executors,  Administrs  or  Assignee,  to  have  and 
to  hold,  use,  possess,  occupy  and  enjoy  and  that  forever.  And  I  sd  Robert 
Swan  do  warrentize  this  my  gift  and  bequeathmt,  and  do  avouch  that  at  the 
time  of  ensealing  and  delivering  hereof  that  I  am  ye  legal  and  proper  owner  of 
the  same  and  that  I  have  good  right  to  give  and  dispose  of  }e  .same  and  that 
it  is  free  from  all  former  sales,  l)argains,  gifts  ur  grants,  judgements  or  execu- 
tions thirds  or  dowengs  or  any  incuml)rance  whatsoever  and  that  henceforth 
ye  sd  John  Cross  may  possess  and  enjoy  and  make  use  of  ye  .same  without  a 
denial  or  disturbance,  lett  or  hindrance  made  by  me  ye  sd  Robert  Swan  or  my 
heirs,  executors,  administrs  or  by  any  other  person  or  persons  whatsoever  in 
by  form  or  under  me  to  ye  confirmation  hereof  I  sd  Roliert  Swan  do  bind 
myslf  and  heirs,  executors  or  administr.?  unto  John  Cross,  his  heirs,  executors, 
administrs  or  assigns  firmly  by  these  presents.  In  confirmation  of  ye  same  I 
have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  twenty-eighth  of  xApril,  in  the  year 
1709  ;  and  in  the  eighth  year  of  ye  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lady  Queen  Anne 
of  Great  Britain 

Signed  and  Sealed  and  Delivered  in  the 

presence  of  us  Witnesses  RoV)ert  Swan  Sen. 

James  Turner  Seal. 

Ebenezer   Hartshorn 

Acknowledged  Feb.  '22,  1714. 

Recorded  31 ;  Essex  Co.  Deeds,  Salem,  Mass. 

ROBERT  SWAN  SR.  SELLS  LAND  TO  WILLIAM  CROSS 
JOHN'S  BROTHER. 

NOTE    THE  DIFFERENCE— NOT    FOR  LOVE  OR  BY  REASON  OF 

RELATIONSHIP.     THE  ONLY  CONSIDERATION 

BEING    COLD     CASH. 

Know  all  men  1)y  these  presents  that  I  Robert  Swan,  Senr.,  of  Haverhill 
in  ye  County  of  Essex  in  New  England,  for  divers  good  causes  and  consiilera- 
tions,  me  thereto  moving.     But  e.siDccially  for  and  in  consideration  of  ye  Sume 

84 


of  twenty  pouiuls  socured  to  me  I)y  Bill  under  ye  hand  of  William  Cross  of  ye 
same  place  ye  which  is  to  my  full  satisfaction  and  content,  whereupon  I  have 
bargained  and  sold.  And  do  by  these  presents  bargain  or  sell  Alienate  make 
over  dispose  of  and  conhrm  unto  and  upon  ye  al)ove  s'd  William  Cross,  a 
certain  tract  or  [Vcell  of  land  lying  and  l)eing  in  ye  township  of  Havei'hill,  ye 
one  half  of  that  haul  which  I  {)urcliased  of  John  Merrill  and  it  is  l)oimded  as 
followeth  on  ye  west  by  Johnsons  IJrook  so  called  next  to  Joshua  Swanns 
land  and  so  from  Johnsons  bro(»k  or  Merrimack  river  down  ye  river  to  a  ledge 
of  rocks  with  a  stake  by  them  thence  running  westerly  to  a  white  oak  tree 
mai'ked  on  three  sides  so  from  thence  to  a  pitch  pine  tree  which  is  a  division 
bound  marke  I)etween  l\ol)ert  Swann  and  Joshua  Swann  ye  one  half  of  this 
land  mentioned  within  these  bounds  both  for  cpiantity  and  quality  to  him  ye 
s'd  William  Cross,  and  furthermore  adding  to  ye  tract  of  land  that  I  do  here- 
l)y  sell  unto  ye  s"d  William  Cross  to  make  out  unto  him  ye  one  half  of  ye  land 
that  1  l)ought  of  John  Merrill  ye  other  being  not  divided  but  lyeth  undivided 
between  Timothy  Osgord  and  ye  s'd  IJobert  Swann  the  which  William  Cross 
is  to  have  one  (ju:irter  or  fourth  part  of  for  quantity  and  (juality  and  ye  whole 
of  that  undivided  l;)nd  is  bounded  as  followeth  running  from  ye  boiuis  unto 
ye  pitch  pine  westwardly  to  a  white  oak  standing  on  the  west  side  of  a  brook 
called  lUoody  Brook  from  thence  northwesterly  to  a  white  oak  standing  on  ye 
north  side  of  a  little  swamp  from  thence  to  a  pine  tree  l)y  ye  other  land  that 
is  divicbd  between  s'd  Osgord  and  s'd  Swann  and  this  last  mentioned  pine 
within  these  bounds,  William  Cross  is  to  have  ye  quarter  or  ye  forth  part  of 
to  him  and  his  Heirs  Executors  Administrators  or  Assignes,  to  have  and  to 
hold  and  that  forever,  and  I  myself  and  ye  ensealing  hereof  to  be  ye  true  and 
lawful  owner  thereof  and  that  it  is  free  from  all  former  sale  or  mortgages,  gifts 
or  grants,  dowers  or  executions  or  any  other  incumbrances  of  what  kind  so- 
ever S(j  yt  henceforth  ye  sd  William  Cross  may  have  ye  whole  use  improve 
enjoyment  of  ye  sd  demised  premises  to  him  and  his  heirs  or  assignes  and 
that  forever  with  all  ye  priviledges  therein  and  thereon  liotli  of  wood  and 
timber  streams  of  water  or  springs  or  any  other  benefit  as  it  is  herein  set  foi'th 
and  preserved  to  confii'U  sd  Ci'oss  in  ye  title  hereof  according  to  this  Bill  of 
Sale  I  do  l)ind  myself  and  heirs  and  executors  and  admin'rs  to  ye  sd  William 
Cross  his  heirs  and  assignes.  In  witness  hereof  I  have  here  to  sett  my  hand 
and  seal  this  I'Oth  day  of  April  in  ye  year  1700. 

Kobert  Swaiui. 
Signed  sealed  in  pi'e.sence  of  us 

Witnes.ses : 

Joshua  Swann: 
Iioliert  Swaiui. 

E.s.sex    is   in  Andover  ye 'i'Jnd  of  Feb'ry.,    171-1. 

Kobert  Swan  personally  ajjpeared  and  acknowledged  this  statement  to  l)e 
his  Act  and  I)eed. 

Before  m(>  Xehimiah  -Jewett.  Jus.  Peace. 

Kecorded  Apr.  :]0,  171;^. 

Essex  Co.  Deed.s,  Salem.  Mass.,  :!4  :  1  7:{. 


OTHER  TRANSFERS 

Abstract: 

William  Cross,  Metliuen,  yeoman,  partly  in  consideration  of  that  parental 
love  and  attection  which  I  have  to  my  son  Joseph  Cross,  Methuen,  yeoman, 
and  partly  a  payment  of  £17  10  s  L.  M.,  I  transfer  to  him  that  tract  of  land 
where  he  nowdwells,  Iwunded  as  foUoweth,  viz:  Beginning  at  Stake  and  Stones 
by  the  Highway  and  thence  running  Easterly  1»y  land  of  John  Cross  and  Mos- 
es Cross  to  a  Stake  and  Stones  thence  running  Northwardly  about  thirty  nine 
Pole  to  a  Stake  7  Stones,  thence  Westwardly  by  said  John  and  Moses  Cross' 
land  to  a  great  Rock  thence  Southwesterly  to  a  Stake  and  Stones  by  the  High 
way  and  thence  Southwardly  by  ye  said  Highway  to  ye  bounds  fii-st  mention- 
ed containing  thirtv  three  acres. 

Apr.  •_>,  1 747.  ' 

Witnesses  ; 
Archie  Swan 
Robert  Swan,  Jim. 

Acknowledged  April  H,  1747.     Recorded  April  12.   1748. 

E.ssex  Deeds  90  :  17*5 

Abstract 

William  Cross,  Methuen,  yeoman,  partly  in  consideration  of  that  parental 
affection  which  I  have  to  my  son  William  Cross  Junr.,  and  partly  in  consider- 
ation of  £40. 

Covey  lands — where  I  now  dwell — beginning  at  a  Stake  and  Stones  at 
bound  of  land  I  lately  gave  to  my  son  Joseph,  from  thence  running  Northward- 
ly by  his  land  till  it  comes  land  holden  by  John  Cross  and  Moses  (!ross,  from 
thence  running  Easterly  by  said  land  and  by  land  of  Edward  Webber  and 
Thomas  Cross  and  Moses  Cross  to  a  Stake  and  Stones,  and  so  to  another  Stake 
and  Stones  by  Merrimack  River  from  thence  running  Southwardly  by  the 
Merrimack  River  to  land  holden  of  Moses  Cross  and  so  Westerly  by  said 
Moses  Cross'  land  to  the  Boiuid  first  mentioned  only  reserving  the  Highway 
laid  out  through  said  land,  the  whole  of  said  land  containing  forty  acres  more 
or  less. 

May  1,  17r)2. 

Acknowledged  July  {>,   17.")<5. 

Recorded  Oct.  28,  170."). 

Essex  Co.  Deeds,  Salem,  120:61. 

John  Cross,  Methuen,  £  20.  to  William  Cross,  37  acres,  more  or  less. 
"Beginning  at  Merrimac  River  at  a  Stake  and  Stones,  thence  Westerly  to  a 
great  Rock,  thence  Southwardly  to  a  Pine  by  the  country  road,  thence  Easter- 
ly about  300  rods  to  a  white  Oak  marked,  thence  Ea.sterly  to  a  heap  of  Stones 
by  Merrimac  River  thence  down  the  river  to  the  first  Bound  mentioned. 

THE  AUTHOR  WILL  NOW^  RESUME  THESE  MEMOIRS. 

THE  CROSS  BROTHERS  JOHN  AND  WILLIAM. 

They  were  married  in  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  in  1706  and  1708  respectively. 
They  were  in  that  part  of  Haverhill.  N,  H.,  which  in  1725  became  Methuen, 
Mass.,  and  is  today  Lawrence,  Mass. 

86 


They  lived  in  a  log  cabin  on  the  estate  of  what  is  claimed    was  first    pvir- 
ehas-'d  from  the  Indians  hv  their  father  in  exchange  for  red  liroadcloth. 
TUE  FAIVIILV  lUVOUACl 

This  ancient  homestead,  first  a  log  cabin,  had  a  very  large  and  solid  stone 
foundation,  evidentl}'  intended  as  a  sort  of  fort  or  protection  against  the 
Indians.  On  the  author's  visit  to  the  homestead,  8  years  ago  he  was  struck 
with  its  massive  i)ase,  and  was  sure  that  in  some  places  a  team  of  horses  could 
be  driven  along  the  top. 

In  170S,  John  and  William  removed  the  logs  and  built  over  the  big  cellar 
a  long  low  building  of  three  rooms,  and  there  the  boys  lived  with  their  brides. 

For  the  past  'JOO  years  additions  were  made  until  the  homestead  now 
contains  thii-teen  rooms. 


1700     The  Little  Pui'itan,  _Aiarv  Fravlo.     1700. 


WILLIAM  CROSS  SR.  FOUNDER  OF  OUR  LINE. 
He  stood  at  the  end  of  the  well  known  trail. 
In    front    of    the    cal)in    of     -Mary     Fraile. 

S7 


THIlil)  GENERATION. 

William  Cross,  Sr.,  married  Mary  Fraile,  the  name  in  the  earliest  records 
is  Frayle  (tradition  had  it  that  William's  wife  was  a  Mary  Favoli.)  (This  is 
not  according  to  the  records.)  Tiie  marriage  took  place  April  0th,  170*3. 
She  died  at  Methuen,  Jany.  'i^th.  1709,  in  her  S!>th  year. 

He    lived     in 
His    wife   was 


1(;42.  d.  \W2. 
(().)  I)el)orrah 


He 


George  Frayle  had  a  grant  of  ten  acres  in  Lynn  in  KJOO. 
Lynn  and  his  name  is  occasionally  met  with  in  the   records. 
Elizabeth.     He  died  l(j(){».     He  had  seven  children. 

(1. )  George  b.  1041.     {-2.)  Elizabeth  b.  1(541.     (3.)  Hanna 

(4.)  Eunice  b.  1044.     (o. )  Samuel    born   March  7th,  104") 

b.   1048.  (7.)  Ruth  h.  1053. 

Samuel  Fraile,  son  of  George  b.  March  7th,  1()4.">,    lived    in    Salem 
was  a  soldier  in  King  Phillip's  war. 

He  was  one  of  the  grantees  of  Townsend,  Mass.,  1718.  He  did  not  go 
there. 

In  1708  he  married  Jane  Gould.  Eunice  married  1070,  Al)iaham 
Patch,  Ipswich.     Ruth  married  1723,  Nathanell  Torbox,  Lynn. 

George  Fraile,  Jr.,  died  young  and  was  unmarried.  Samuel  Fraile  was 
the  father  of  Mary  Fraile.  (Several  new  kinsmen  were  introduced  to  us  by 
Hon.  Ezra  S.  Sterns,  just  as  these  memoirs  were  going  to  pr-ess,  among  them 
the  Hassells  and  the  Periy's,  and  Gould's  Senator  Stearns  also  tells  us  of 
the  real  name  of  William  Cross'  wife,  which  was  Fraile  not  Favoli.  The 
Fraile  history  is  now  lieing  looked  up,  but  it  is  hardly  likely  that  it  will  lie  in 
the  printers.  Miss  Grace  Cross  however  has  ascertained  that  when  the  em- 
igrant George  Fraile  had  land  allotted  to  him  by  the  committee  on  farm  dis- 
tribution in  Lynn,  INIass.,  in  1038,  the  following  names  appeared  as  having 
been  allotted  land  at  the  same  time  : 

"Goodman"  Cross;  "Goodman  "  Watkin:  George  Fraile.  So  that  there 
was  a  Cross  in  Lynn  in  1038.  George  Frail  died  in  1003  and  his  son  George 
in  1009  as  formerly  mentioned  as  the  result  of  an  accident,  a  piece  of  timber 
weighing  1500  tons  rolled  upon  him.) 


GOULD  ar:\ls. 

88 


WILLIAM  CROSS,  SR,  AND  MARY  (FRAIL.) 

Cross  had  Issue: — (1.)  Joseph;     (2.)  William,  Jr. 
FOURTH  GENFRATION 


Deacon    William    Cross,     son   of  the   P'omider,    who   afterwards  became  a 
Seperatist    and    went    to  jail   for   the   cause. 

WILLIAM    CROSS,     JR. 

William  Cross,  Jr.,  afterwards  Deacon  William  m.  Mary  Corliss,  Nov.  5, 
1741.     She  died  Feb.  17th,  180.").     They  had  issue  : 

William  III.,  b.  Wed.,  Aug.  4,  174l';  m.  Abagail  Ladd,  Sep.,  17<57. 

Jonathan,  b.   Sat.  Oct.  1,  1743;  m.  Elizabeth  Bailey — Our  ancestor. 

Simeon,  b.  Sun.  Mar.  10,  174o. 

David.  1).  Sun.  Mar.  8,  174();  m.  Polly  Frye. 

Stephen,  b.  Tue.  July  l^."),  174{>:   d.  April,' 17o8. 

Molly,  b.  July  1"),    1751;   m. — Hasting.-;. 

Ruth.  1).  Fri.  June  10,  ]7o:>;  m.  Jas.  Atwood,  Alexandria.  N.  H, 

Lydia.  b.  Thui-s.  July  <}.  17.");],  m.  John  Haivey,  Dracut. 

Abijah,  b.  Thurs.  July  (5,  17.")8;  m.  Elizabeth  Parker,  Dracut. 

Deborrah,  i).  Sat.  Aug.  2,  17(50;  m.  — Hazleton. 

Benjamin,  I).  Wed.  Aug.  24,   17<J3;  d.  ^Lar.  IT),  17<)(5. 

All  these  children  were  born  (as  their  father  and  grandfather  was  before 
them)  at  the  Old  Cross  Homestead. 

DEACON  WILLIAM  (iOES  TO  JAIL. 

William  Cros.s,  Jr..  was  a  Deacon  of  the  First  Church  Methuen,  but  be- 
came interested  in  the  liaptists  at  that  time  called  Seperatists,  he  neglected 
to  p:iy  his  Minister's  tax.  He  was  under  a  mandate  of  the  courts  ordered  to 
comply  with  the  reijuirements  of  citizenship.  He  refused  and  was  taken  to 
jail.     •"Kissing  his  wife  Moily  good  liyc  lie  liadc  her  to  be  of  good  cheer   and 


mounting  his  horse  followed  the  officers  to  Salem,  choosing  rather  to  submit 
to  the  penalties  of  disobeying  the  law  than  to  act  contrary  to  his  religious  con- 
victions." 

FIFTH  GENERATION 

Jonathan  Cross 
Jonathan  Cross,  son  of  William  Cross  Jr.  and  Mary  (Corliss)  Cross  (Wil- 
liam Jr.,  William  Sr.,  John  Sr.,  Kobert)  married  Elizabeth  Bailey  and  had  Is- 
sue  (1)   Rebecca  (2)   Elizabeth  (3)  Persis  (4)  Olive  ("))   Fanny    (0)  Benjamin 
(7)  Bailey  (8)  Nathan. 

JONATHAN  THE  REVOLUTIONARY 

Jonathan  lived  at  the  old  homestead  at  Meuthen  until  his  lirother  Aliijah 
was  married  when  he  moved  to  Salem  N.  H.  where  his  wife  (as  Elizabeth 
Bailey)  had  lived  before  him.  When  his  son  Bailey  married  he  moved  to 
Caanan  N.  H.  Jonathan's  war  record  is  as  follows: — He  served  in  (Jenl.  Titi- 
comb's  regiment,  joining  at  Providence  R.  I.,  and  was  allowed  travelling  ex- 
penses from  Methuen.  He  was  in  active  service  for  two  months  and  eighteen 
days  in  1777.  He  then  joined  Captain  Davis  company  the  regiment  of  Col. 
Cogswell,  enlisting  Sep.  25th  1778,  and  served  one  month  and  seventeen  days, 
in  attempting  with  his  regiment  to  hold  the  posts  against  the  British  in  and 
around  Boston. 


BAILY  CROSS  HOME. 

Pioneer  Home  of  my  Great    Grandfather,    Bailey   Cross   at  Caanan,  N.  H.. 

where  my  Grandfiither  Calvin  Bailey  CIross  was  born    1808. 

and  where  he  met  his  Grandfather  Jonathan 

Cross,    the  Re\olutionary. 

GENERATION  YI 

Bailey  son  of  Jonathan  Cross  and  (Elizabeth  Bailey)  Cross  (William  Jr. 
William  SV.,  John  Sr.,  Robert  Sr.)  married  Susanna  Bagley,  March  KJth  1S02. 
She  was  probablv  the  daughter  of  Timothy  Bagley  of  Worchester  Mass.  They 
had  issue.  (1)  Leonard,  b.  Feb.  14tli  1803:  (2)  Luther,  Sept.  Kj  1804:  (3)  Lem- 
ira  b.  Aug.  31st  1806  ;  (4)  Calvin  Bailey,  b.  Aug  10th  1808  ;  (5)  Amy  b.  June 
12th  1811  (buried  in  the  same  grave  as  her  fiither)  (6)  Susanna  b.  June  12th 
1813  (four  months  after  her  father's  death. 

90 


(Copied  at  Town  clerk's  office  Caanan  by  C  B.  Cross  my  (Grandfather  and 
•riven  to  me  many  yeai's  atro  for  these  memoirs. 


BAGLEY  ARMS 

John  Bagley  settled  in  New  England  1750. 

Arms — Or  three  lozenges  azure. 

Crest — On  top  of  a  spear  issuing,  a  wyvern  sans  leg  tail  mowed. 

After  Bailey's  death  his  widow  .Susan    (Bagley)    Cross   married   Stephen 
Worth.    One  of  their  children  was  Mrs.  Beamer. 


MRS.  liEAMEH. 

Half  sister  of  Calvin  Bailey  Cross  (my  grandfather.) 

Extracts  from  letters  of  Mrs.  Beamer,  to  the  Author. 

Accoriling  to  the  records  in  my  Inble  Jonathon  Bailey  Cross  married 
Susanna  Bagley,  ^farch  l(>th.  ISO'i.  "lie  died  of  spotted  fever  February  •2Hth, 
1812.  Thev  had  six  children.  After  his  death  the  widow  nuiiried  Stephen 
Worth,  my  tathei-.  so  that  I  am  Calvin  Bailey  Cross  (your  grandfather's  half 
sister.     There  were  four  daughters  l)y  this  marriage,  and  I  was  one  of  them. 

91 


Baily  Cross  was  born  in  Methuen  and  died  in  Canada.  They  were  de- 
scended from  Sir  Robert  Cross.  I  am  tlie  only  one  of  my  line  and  generation 
living,  and  I  do  not  expect  to  stay  much  longer,  as  I  am  seventy-nine  years  of 
age  now. 

Written  from  Columbus,  Ohio,  1907  : 

I  am  well  for  my  age,  eighty-three.  My  children  are  : — 1,  Clara  (Patter- 
son), Columbus,  Ohio  ;  2,  Frank  P.  Beamer,  Covington,  Ohio  ;  3,  William  W. 
Beamer,  Rock  Hill,  .South  Carolina :  4,  Charles  E.  Beamer,  Orion,  Mich.  ;  5, 
Thomas  W.  Beamer,  Spartenburg,  South  Carolina  ;  (5,  Alvin  C.  Beamer,  Cleve- 
land, Ohio  ;  7,  Arthur  S.  Beamer,  Oak  Park,  111.;  8,  Mary  Harriet. 

I  do  not  remember  your  great  grandfather,  Calvin  Cross  distinctly.  I  was 
born  in  Hartford,  Vermont,  Feb.  (J,  1824.  I  recollect  moving  to  Ohio  when  I 
was  six  years  old.  My  father  died  a  year  later  and  left  my  mother  with  five 
girls.  She  took  her  children  and  went  to  your  great  uncle's  house  (Dr.  Luther 
Cross),  to  keep  house  for  him  in  your  home  town  of  St.  Catheiines,  staying 
until  he  was  married. 

The  year  I  was  ten  years  old  I  spent  with  your  grandfather  in  Windsor, 
and  when  mother  came  back  from  Ohio,  I  stayed  with  my  step-sister,  until  I 
was  sixteen.  Then  I  became  homesick  and  again  went  to  Ohio.  Shortly 
afterwards  I  was  married.  The  reason  that  the  second  family  was  so 
scattered  was  that  my  father  pui'chased  government  land,  l)ut  the  title  was 
faulty  and  we  lost  it. 

MY  GRANDFATHER.— SEVENTH  GENERATION. 

Calvin  Bailey  Cross,  son  of  Bailey,  (Jonathan;  William;  William  John, 
Sr.;  Robert  Sr.)  married  Caroline  Cummings.     Children: 

1.     Caroline  Elizabeth;         2.     Edward  Bailey. 

From  my  mother's  scrap  book;  "Edward  B.  Cross,  only  son  of  Calvin  B. 
and  Caroline  R.  Cross,  aged  four  years  and  nine  months,  died  at  Troy,  N.  Y., 
Aug.  22,  1839. 


GRANDFATHER   CROSS  AT  (50 
92 


GRANDFATHER  CROSS. 

Taken  on  his  O-ind  l)irtli(lay.     In  presenting  this  portrait,  he  said,  "My  friends 

asked  nie  to  sit  for  my  photograph  on    my    O'ind    birthday 

that  they  might  have  a  souvenir  of  me  in  my  green 

old  age."     My  grandfather  died 

in  his  O.'^th  vear. 


GRAXI)M()THEI{  CROSS. 
Caroline  (Cummings)  Cross  died  in  1>^S7  aged  84.     As  a  child  I   was   alarmed 
at    my  Grandmother's   appearance.       Being   a  Cummings  she  was  a 
great  size  and  over  six  feet  tall.     Her  gentle  rea.surring  man- 
ner quickly   dissipated   these  fears.     In  1S83  my  grand- 
mother  presented    my  mother  with  the  history  of 
Westfoid,  showing  her  descent  from  The 
Wrights   and    Cumming.s. 

93 


.  ,.•1 

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aq*     it-.- 

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^ '  f  - 

■-^-' 

G.oai 

ft. 

l.,-.,-.  ■■■'^ 

—I 

/f62. 

^I'J Plt(t> 

e/7- 

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-^f^ 
^//t^ 

/Z^'*^ 

^/c 

.«^- 

y^ 

Written   at   9o   years   of  age  shortly  before  his  death.     Farewell  letter  from 
"Grandpa"  Cross.       'To  him  the  Sun  was  always  Shining.' 

Windsor,  Vt.  May.  12th,  1902. 
Dear  Alfred, 

Yours  Ree'd.  with  thanks,  the  sun  shines  but  it  is  cold  and  I 
have  a  fire  to  keep  me  warm.  My  cold  is  not  yet,  but  I  shall  be  all 
right  as  soon  as  it  gets  warm  weather.     Love  to  all  of  you. 

C   B.  Cross. 

FREEMASONS  TRIBUTE  A  GOOD  CITIZEN  AN    HONORED   AND 
BELOVED  "BROTHER"  AND  A  REVERED  GRANDFATHER. 

Extract  from  a  letter  from  M.  O.  Perkins,  Secretary  of  Lodge  Number  18 
F.  and  A.  M.,  Windsor,  Vt.,  May  12,  1902,  to  A.  E.  Goodman. 

It  was  a  melancholy  pleasure  for  the  Lodge  to  perform  the  last   duty  of 
mason  to  mason  on  earth,  for  our  venerable  brother,  your   grandfather,    C.  B. 

94 


Cross.     Several  years  ago  he  left  a  small  sum  to  the  Lodge  to  pay  his  funeral 
expenses. 

Our  venerable,  and,  I  assure  you,  honored  and  beloved,  brother,  was 
made  a  mason  in  Vermont  Lodge  in  1868.  He  was  initiated  July  16th  of 
that  year;  crafted  August  25th,  and  raised  Oct.  1,  following  until  his  last  year 
he  maintained  his  interest  in  matters  of  masonic  but  only  occasionally,  of  late, 
had  attended  meetings  of  the  lodge,  owing  to  the  dithculty  he  had  of  climb- 
ing the  stairs  to  the  lodge  room.  He  freijuently  talked  with  me  on  the  sub- 
ject, and,  as  on  other  matters  on  which  he  conversed,  was  always   interesting. 

His  body  was  placed  beside  his  wife  and  son  in  the  old  south  cemetery. 
The  beautiful  burial  ceremony  of  the  craft  was  recited  in  a  very  impressive 
manner,  by  Past  Master  Luther  C.  Parkhurst,  one  of  the  most  accomplished 
ritualists  in  Vermont.  The  l)earers  were  Bros.  Stanley  R.  Bryant;  our  Post- 
master, Arthur  Z.  Thompson,  member  of  the  board  of  Selectmen;  A.  D.  Cot- 
ton, formerly  superintendent  of  the  Shoe  Factory  here,  now  retired;  and  M.  L. 
Harris,  a  well  known  engineer  on  the  Boston  and  Maine  Koad.  All  were 
personal  frientls  of  your  grandfather,  although  much  younger  in  years.  In 
fact,  one  might  well  add,  who  was  not  a  friend  of  this  venerable  brother  ?  and 
who  did  not  deem  it  an  honor  to  he  so  called?  The  musical  service  at  the 
grave  was  beautifully  remlered  by  the  best  of  our  select  quartette;  Daniel 
Payson,  Figman  F.  Caliot,  F.  S.  Hale,  and  Miss  Minnie  Barbour.  Kev.  Mr. 
Goildard  of  the  Episcopal  Church  was  the  olliciating  clergyman.  All  these 
men  were  masons,  good  and  true.  Brother  Payson  standing  high  in  the  Gi'and 
Boilies. 

PAUL  KEVERE'S  LODGE 

The  Loflge  to  which  your  grandfather  belonged  was  directly  descended 
from  the  oldest  Lodge  in  Vermont,  viz  :  Vermont  Lodge  No.  17,  rightly  of  Old 
Massachusetts  Grand  Lodge,  and  chartered  by  the  latter  in  1781.  Tlie  recpiest 
for  the  charter  was  dated  Cornish,  N.  H,  At  that  time  the  towns  on  l)oth 
sides  of  the  river  were  claimed  by  both  Vermont  and  New  Hampshiie,  and 
towns  of  the  latter  were  actually  represented  in  the  Vermont  legislature,  while 
the  judge  of  the  Vermont  Supreme  Court  lived  in  New  Hampshire.  'I'he  chart- 
er located  the  Lodge  in  Sjjringlield.  Vermont,  and  bore  the  name  of  Paul 
Revere  as  Junior  Grand  Wardcin.  It  is  now,  and  has  been  for  years  in  my 
possession.  ^Meetings  of  the  Lodge  were  held  in  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  until 
1789,  when  the  (juestion  arose  as  to  the  legality  of  so  doing.  The  Massachu- 
setts (irand  Lodge  held  the  previous  irregularity,  and  a  division  of  the  Ledge 
took  place,  the  Vermont  members  meeting  for  a  time  in  Springfield.  Wlien 
the  Vermcmt  (J rand  Lodge  was  changed  it  was  Number  1  on  the  Vermont 
Register. 

M(^RGAN  EXCITEMENT 

The  Anti-Masonic  madness  in  18.10  throttled  its  existence,  and  it  was 
only  resu.scitatcd  in  1850.  when  it  bec.-.me  No.  18.  Ira  Allan  and  CJov.  Chip- 
man  of  tli(>  e.irlv  davs  were  memluTs.  I  have  the  records  of  the  Lodge  since 
I7s9. 

95 


With  the  assurance  that  the  Lodge  now  deeply  regrets  the  passing  hence 
of  your  grandfatlier,  whom  we  thought  was  to  have  Ijeen  crowned  hy  Him 
with  the  century  gariand,  we  earnestly  and  profoundly  sympathise  with  you  in 
your  atHiction. 

NO  BEARS  AND  WILD  INDLVNS  FOR  HLM 

My  grandfather  in  his  life  time  talked  little  about  his  ancestors.  He  re- 
membered his  own  grandfather,  Jonathan  Cross  coming  to  Canaan,  where  his 
fiither  Bailey  Cross  lived.  He  said  he  was  a  short,  powerfully-) )uilt  man,  with 
a  heavy  black  beard.  He  had  come  from  Methuen  to  settle  at  Canaan,  but 
soon  went  back,  saying  that  the  bears  and  wild  Indians  were  too  numerous  to 
suit  him. 

A  LIKEABLE  MAN 

The  Author  rememliers  his  grandfather  well.  He  was  gentle,  kind  and 
considerate  of  others,  in  fact  a  very  likeal)le  man.  He  smoked  con- 
stantly and  took  his  nip  of  brandy  when  he  felt  like  it  indulgences  which  did 
not  apparently  l)ring  him  to  an  early  gi-ave.  In  fact,  he  would  pi'obably  have 
lived  to  boa  hundred  if  he  had  not  fallen  down  stairs  and  injured  his  kidneys, 
dying  in-forty-eight  hours,  at  the  age  of  ninety-five. 

LAFYETTE'S  SILVER  BUCKLES 

My  grandfather  said  that  he  remembered  General  Lafyette  coming  to 
Windsor  some  years  after  the  war  of  1812,  and  that  the  citizens  might  see  him 
better,  standing  on  the  top  of  a  drygoods  box.  He  rememl)ered  how  he  look- 
ed with  his  black  silk  short  pants  and  long  stockings,  and  the  silver  buckles 
on  his  shoes  and  his  powdered  wig. 

FAMILY  RECORDS  LOST. 

My  grandfiither's  house  was  de.stroyed  by  fii^e  sometime  before  his  death, 
and  all  the  rare  old  furniture  and  family  records  were  lost. 

MY  GRANDFATHER'S  CLOCK. 

One  hundred  years  without  slumbering. 

A  gi-andfather's  clock  dated  1802  was  in  my  grandfather's  house  when  he 
was  a  bal)y.  It  is  now  in  possession  of  my  brother  E.  C.  Goodman,  Van- 
couver, B.  C. 

A  story  is  told  to  the  effect  that  when  the  British  soldiers  were  appi'oach- 
ing  Vermont  in  1812  that  the  little  Crosses'  being  made  aware  of  the  fact  hid 
inside  and  behind  this  old  clock.  My  Grandfather  then  four  years  old  could 
have  accomplished  the  fete  (of  hiding  inside  the  veneraljle  time  piece)  accord 
ing  to  measurements  made.  Two  generations  of  Crosses  have  passed  away 
since  then  but  Grandfather's  clock  is  still  running. 

90 


CROSS  HOMESTEAD 


In  the  Words  of  Longkeli.ow  : 

There  groups  of  merry  children  pkyed, 
There  youths  and  maidens  (h-eaming  stayed  ; 
Even  as  a  miser  counts  his  gold 
Those  hours  the  ancient  time  piece  told 
Forever  Never 
Never  Forever. 

From  that  chaml)er  clothed  in  white 
The  hride  came  forth  on  her  wedding  night, 
And  in  the  hush  which  followed  the  prayer 
Was  heard  the  old  clock  on  the  stair 
Forever  Never 
Never  Forever. 

All  are  scattered  now  and  Hed, 
Some  are  married,  some  are  dead, 
As  in  the  days  long  since  gone  l)y 
The  ancient  time  piece  makes  reply 
Forever  Never 
Never  Forever. 

A  MOUNTAIN  CLIMBER  AT  84. 

From  oM  ccpv  of  tlu-  Vermont  Journal,  Windsor  Vt  Mr^  C.  B  Cross 
has  re  urned  from'  abroad  where  he  has  l.een  visiting  friends.  Our  esteemed 
citizen  i.rihe  oldest  resident  of  Wind.sor  and  is  still  in  excellent  health  for  h,s 
advanced  years. 

At  84  Mr.  Cross  scaled   Mt. 
would  shrink  from  iM-i'forming. 


Eschutnev,  a  fete  which  many  men  of  hfty 


CROSS  CENTENARIANS. 

William  Cross,  our  Johnathan's  brother,  lived  to  be  one  hundred  years 
and  seven  months'  old,  Abijah  Cross,  his  In-other,  died  in  his  hundredth  year, 
Johnathan  lived  to  a  very  great  age.  Eliza  Cross  was  97  when  she  died  and 
my  grandfather  Calvin  Cross  passed  away  in  his  95th  year. 

HIGH  COST  OF  LIVING? 

From  an  old  print  in  my  mother's  scrap  Ijook  (Windsor  Vermont  Journ;il) 
C.  B.  Cross  found  among  some  papers  a  few  days  ago,  two  old  rate  l)ills  and 
warrants  for  the  collection  of  school  taxes  in  Windsor  Vt.  from  ISIO  to  isil. 
Amos  Cunnings  was  the  collector.  An  endorsement  on  one  of  the  papers, 
shows  that  $8  was  paid  for  'boarding  the  teacher  the  summer  past.'  Another 
endorsement  read  .$14  and  92  cents  for  boarding  the  Master  and  his  horse. 
Persons  jiaying  their  taxes  in  wood  will  be  allowed  $3  a  cord  for  the  .same. 

FROM  MY  MOTHER'S  SCRAP  BOOK 

Dated  1S45  when  my  mother  was  seven  years  old 
Mr.  Cross  to  R.  Wardner  Dr., 

To  tuition  of  daughter  Elizabeth  12  weeks  at  twelve  and  a  half 
cents  a  week — .$1..')0 

Received  payment 

R.  Wardner 

GRANDMOTHER'S  GOLDEN  WEDDING 

From  my  Mother's  Scrap  Book: — The  Cxolden  Wedding  Anniver.sary  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  B.  Cross  took  place  yesterday  (on  Sept.  2  >  18S;I)  The  tible 
was  spread  in  the  fashion  of  Ye  Olden  Tyme  with  cake  wine  and  flowers.  May 
many  years  of  happiness  still  be  reserved  for  them.. 


t^ot-u^ 


MY  MOTHER'S  BIBLE 


^CiAjCc 


98 


^a^M^.  >f,../-e^a  ^o-^LJ^     ^'Moy-!   loa 


MV  .M()TIIp:irs   I5I11LE 

It  contains  in  her  li;ui(l\vi'itin>,'  the  (ieath  of  her  ^n-.indmother,  annts  and 
mother,  and  ther(>  she  has  recorch'd  lier  own  niarria<,fe  and  the  hirthsof  liei'ofl- 
sprini,'.  On  the  l)lank  paj^c  of  the  hihle  is  written  l.izzic  Cross,  Windsor,  \'t. 
•This  Httle  hook  was  <,riven  to  niehy  Aunt  Lucin(hi,  isr>.l.  May  I  long  keep  it 
in  renieinheiance  oflier."  0*\\  mother  was  then  17.)  'I'he  next  entry  is  'My 
(xranihnother  KHzaheth  ("umminLCs  died  on  Friday  morning  Aug.  stli,  IS."),").' 
Sacred  to  her  memory  are  these  words  "Oh  who  that  .saw  hei-  parting  hours 
would  wish  lier  liack  again.'     'My  Aunt  Behnda  died  the   .May  foHowing.' 


MY  MOTHER'S  BIBLE 


Mv  Father 


My  Mother 


TOO 


KIXGSLEY  ARMS 

Julm  C'ummiiig  Jr.  married  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  tlie 
Grand-daughter  of  Kicliard  Kingsley. 


AMOS    CUMMINGS 

yi\  (ireat  Grandtatlier  (Maternal)  The  gi'aiid  old  man  of  the    ("ummings    line, 

who  died  at  my  ( irandniother's  residence  Windsor,  Vt.,    aged 

{»<s.     He  was  one  of  the  largest  men  in  New    luig 

land,  l)eing  (5  feet  4  in.,  tall  and  huilt 

in  propoi'tidii. 


*->. 


f^j^.Ufl- 


■y^Cl-Z-^ 


Signatures  of  A.MOS  (T.MIXGS    aii<l  .lolIX    ll.VKWonD  Cl'.M.MlXCJS 
my  Great    Grandfather    and    ( ireat  (J reat  Grandfather. 


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CROSS— COKLISS— BAILEY  LINE 


Cross  of  Wigan  1230  iSir  Ranulph  Cotgrave — Elinor  [Francis 

Cross  of  Cross  Hall  Lancaster  13o0      '  Canivil.] 

Cross  of  Charlyncli  HoO  Rani]l[)h  Cotgrave — Elinor  Tatiurd. 


Sir  William  Cross  ..married, 

William  Cross  .  .married. 

John  Cross  .  .married. 

John  Cross  .  .married. 

Sir  William  Cross  .  .married. 


Elinor  Cotgrave 
Isabel  dan.  Robert  de  Holme 
Constance  dan.  William  Boteler 
Ursnla  dan.  Thomas  Wentworth 
Anuhard  dan.  Mathew  Ellis 


John  Cross  son  of  William,  whose  shi[)  sailed  between  Ipswich,  England. 
and  Ipswith,  Mass. 

Roliert  Cross,  Sr.,  John  Cross'  son,  settled  at  Ipswich,  Mass.,  married 
Hanna  Jordan  dan.  Stephen  Jordan. 

John  Cross,  Sr.,  Robert  Sr's.  son,  said  to  have  married  Rnth  Swan,  dan. 
of  Robert  Swan,  Sr.,  anil  grandaughter  of  Richard  Swan,  her  mother  I»eing 
Elizal)eth  dan.  of  William  Ado. 

William  Cross  of  Haverhill  married  Mary  dan.  Samnel  Fraile  and  Jane 
Gonld  f'rand-daughter  of  George  Fraile. 


William  Cross married . 


[George  Corliss   *  Johan  dau.  T.  Davi.^ 
John  Corlis  dan.  Jnilford  Wilfred 
|j(mathan  Corliss     Elizaljeth  Moore. 
Marv  Corliss 


Jonathan  Cross     ....  married .... 
Bailey  Cross — Susan  Bagley 
Calvin  B.  Cross     .  .  .  .married.  .  .  . 
Caroline  Elizabeth  Cross    married 


Richard  Bailey — Edna  Holstead 
Joseph  Bailey — Abigal  dan  Jno.  Trum- 
(bnll  and  Mrs.  Ann  Ilopkinson 
Deacon  John  Bailey — Snsanna   dan<di. 


John  Bailey — Eliz. 
Elizabeth  Bailey 


S:uiniel  Lenney 
Jcmathan  Corliss 


Caroline  Cnmmings  (see  Cnmmingsline 
p]dwin  Goodman   (See  Goodman  line.) 


104 


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105 


This  chart  is  perhaps  most  interesting  as  a  genealogical  ti'iimiph.  I  do  not 
make  any  claims  for  it  beyond  that  fact  that  it  is  the  product  of  years  of  pati- 
ent research,  I  do  not  guarantee  absolute  accuracy,  for  it,  any  more  than  I  do 
for  any  other  statement  in  these  memoirs.  But  I  did  not  pul)lish  the  chart 
until  it  was  endorsed  by  the  Genealogical  Society  of  California,  of  which  I 
have  the  honor  to  be  a  member,  and  liefore  it  had  a  further  endorsation  of  sev- 
eral reputable  professional  genealogists  in  Massachusetts  and  California..  If 
it  is  any  honor  to  be  related  to  the  crowned  heads  of  Europe,  that  honor  may 
be,  I  claim,  by  every  son  of  Adam  ;  we  are  all  kin.  But  it  is  not  a  fact  that 
gives  us  pause,  that  out  of  the  teeming  millions  of  humanity,  we  are  of  those 
few  who  have  traced  the  purple  line  of  royalty  across  our  own,  and,  through 
its  many  ramifications,  find  it  leading  to  the  thrones  of  every  nation  in  Chiist- 
endom. 

If  as  is  affirmed  we  can  pronounce  the  name  of  every  founder  of  our  line 
from  Alfred  the  Great  until  to-day,  shoidd  it  not  inspire  us  with  the  thought 
that  we  should  strive  to  emulate  the  good  deeds  of  our  own  royal  ancestors 
and  so  live  that  we  may  not  be  forgotten  in  the  passing  of  our  race. 


CROSS  HOME 

This  is  the  end  of  my  maternal  line.  The  records  disclose  the  remarkable 
fact  that  every  one  of  our  Xew  England  ancestors  without  excejjtion  was  pro- 
minently identified  with  the  aftairs  of  his  Town.  They  were  public  spirited 
and  progi-essive,  and  not  a  drone  in  the  ancient  hive  has  been  discovered. 

With  very  few  exceptions  they  served  as  selectmen  on  their  Town  coun- 
cils, and  there  seemed  to  have  l)een  a  regular  race  of  Deacons.  While  all  those 
who  could  shoulder  a  musket  fought  in  the  Indian,  French  or  lievolutionaiy 
wars. 

Is  it  not  far  better  to  knoAV  that  all  our  ancestors  ranked  well  above  the 
average,  mentally  and  physically,  then  that  some  of  them  had  reached  exalted 
positions  in  the  affairs  of  life  and  that  the  balance  were  insignificant  and  not 
worth  remembering. 


106 


Tlie  race  appears  to  have  been  sound  all  through  ;  the  men  and  women 
persuing  such  a  well  regulated  and  prudeiiteour.se  of  living  as  most  conducive 
to  their  corporeal  and  mental  faculties  in  their  fullest  energy  thereby  enabling 
them  to  exercise  those  talents  with  which  ( Jod  had  blessed  them,  as  well  to 
his  gloiy  as  to  the  welfare  of  their  country  and  their  kind. 

KING   PHILLIP'S  WAR 
CORLISS  -  CUMMINGS  -  PERRY  -  HOWLETT  -  FRAILE 

CROSS  (SWAX)  and  LAWRENCE 

Names  of  our  ancestors  who  took  part  in  a  war  of  extermination.  These 
were  our  English  ancestors  fighting  to  protect  their  homes  in  the  wilderness 
overseas.  They  had  not  lost  sight  of  the  allegiance  they  owed  to  their  King 
and  country  ever  remembering  that  God  had  emj^lanted  in  their  l)reasts  a 
sacred  and  indisoluble  attachment  towards  that  country  from  whence  they  de- 
rived their  birth  and  infant  nurture.  So  when  England  was  in  peril  overseas 
they  marched  with  their  sons  against  her  common  enemy  the  French  to  Eng- 
lands  glory  and  to  Americas  permanent  gain. 

The  founder  race  had  passed  away  and  the  sons  and  grandsons  born  in 
the  wilderness  grew  up  with  an  intense  patriotism  for  their  native  land,  of  New 
England,  which  their  fathers  had  at  such  a  terrible  cost  wrested  from  the  sav- 
age red  man,  and  with  intense  suttering  and  privation  preserved  for  their 
posterity. 

It  was  these  sons  and  grandsons  who  said  to  stubborn  King  George,  if 
you  will  not  let  us  have  a  voice  in  our  own  Government,  then  without  your 
leave  we  will  govern  ourselves. 

Canadian  descendents  may  still  have  some  lingering  notion  that  they 
should  not  enthuse  too  much  over  ancestors  who  turned  against  the  old  'Hag' 
(that  we  should  all  reverence  and  honor)  even  though  they  are  convinced  that 
it  was  George  III  stupidity  that  caused  the  troul)le,  and  that  the  Colonials 
were  in  the  right. 

They  must  remember  that  we  were  all  liriti.sh  then  and  the  authoi'  has 
purposely  entered  exhau.stively  into  the  history  of  the  rebellion  as  it  concerned 
our  !;wn  ancestors  in  old  Wes'tford  showing  that  thoy  too  were  most  reluctant 
in  taking  up  arms  against  their  Mother  country.  It  was  a  civil  war.  that  first 
outl)reak,  and  the  author,  although  a  loyal  F>ritish  subject,  still  feels  a  pride 
in  the  fact  that  these  ancestors,  when  attacked  by  the  J5i-itish,  rushed  to  the 
front  i)repared  to  sacrifice  their  lives  not  only  for  'Freedom'  (theii-  battle  cry) 
luit  for  their  homes  and  their  families.  lam  proud  of  the  fact  that  we  had 
.so  many  bi-ave  men  in  the  ranks  and  in  the  .same  breath  proud  to  relate  that 
my  Giandfather  as  a  mere  Itoy  was  a  Can  idian  volunteer  when  liritian  called 
all  loyal  sons  to  assist  in  regaining  her  American  Colonies  in  the  war  of  ISl-J. 
Let  lis  honor  our  brave  ancestors  whatever  side  they  were  on.  They  foiiglu 
acL-oidingto  their  conscience  with  their  wliole  heart,  their  whole  mind  and  their 
whole  strength,  and  remember  once  more  'we  were  all  Briti.sh  then. 

1U7 


As  far  as  our  ancestors  who  fought  in  King  Phillips  War  are  concerned, 
there  is  no  room  for  sectional  feeling.  They  were  Englishmen  striving  to  ex- 
terminate a  race  of  Indians  which  were  a  constant  menace  to  their  property 
and  their  lives. 

I  will  take  the  liberty  to  ([note  Butterworth's  American  History.  As  this 
is  taught  in  the  schools  of  the  U.  S.  it  will  doubtless  be  familiar  to  every 
American  school  child.  The  illustrations  represent  exactly  those  perilous  times 
and  while  apologising  to  American  readers,  I  will  ask  Canadian  reatlers  to  re- 
member that  they  are  simply  copies  of  illustrations  from  this  well  known 
school  book  printed  to  assist  the  imagination. 


From  American  History 

EXTRACT  FROM  BUTTERWORTH'S  HISTORY. 

"  Chief  Massaseit  had  two  .sons  who  were  christened  by  (lovernor  Wins- 
low  of  Massachussetts,  Philip  and  ^Vlexander.  Alexander  succeeds  Ma.".^aseit 
but  died  suddenly  on  his  way  home  from  Plymouth.  I'hilp  was  a  noble 
Indian  and  governed  his  tribe  with  judgment. 

At  first  friendly  he  grew  to  suspect  that  dangers  threatened  ids  people 
from  the  encroachment  of  the  whites.  His  people  were  lieing  crowded  back 
into  narrow  places. 

An  Indian  convert  of  Philipp's  trilie  was  educated  at  Camlnidge  and  re- 
turned to  make  troul)le.  He  accused  King  Phillip  of  treachery  to  the  whites. 
He  was  waylaid  and  killed  by  Phillip's  tri1)esmen.  The  pioneers  in  turn  way- 
laid the  murderers  and  hung  them.  Phillip  and  his  ti'ibe  could  not  bear  this 
and  broke  out  in  open  reljellion. 

The  Colonist  being  better  equipped  soon  overcame  the  enemy  and  Philli}) 
became  a  fugitive. 

The  cabins  of  the  Indians,  their  winter  stoi-es  <xeve  destroyed  by  fii-e,  and 
even  sad  to  say  their  old  women  and  children  perished  in  the  flames. 

108 


By  I'u.'i  the  foiee  of  tlii>  Iiidiatis  was  Itrokon  with  the  death  of  the  fugi- 
tive lMiini[»  and  traitor  liilians  kilhug  him  in  a  swamp  where  he  hiy  eonoealech 

Of  the  great  tril»e  of  Xarragansettes  scarcely  a  100  survived,  and  the  last 
of  that  tribe  the  family  of  Wanipanor.gs  finally  disappeared,  the  young  son  ot 
King  Phillip  heing  sold  into  slavery  in  IJernuida. 

The  Author — Tliis  is  not  good  reading  hut  it  nuist  bo  I'emembercd  it  was 
war  to  the  death.  There  was  no  safety  for  our  ancestors  after  that  unfortun- 
ate attair  of  the  "over-educated  Indian."  The  savages  had  to  be  killed  or  they 
would  have  exterminated  the  Colonists. 

Tliere  is  but  one  expression  to  use  it  is  well  worn  l)ut  most  expressive 
whatever  be  the  motive,  self-preservation,  loyalty,  patriotism,  or  glory  "  War 
is  hell." 


Till-:  PATH  or  r,\A)\i\'   Life. 


i(i<t 


DEATH    IN    THE    FIELD. 


FROM  BUTTERWORTH'8  HISTORY. 
We  read  that  Obediah  Perry  after  serving  in  King  Phillip's  war   (for  his  fam- 
ily's sake    moved   further   afield.      He  was  later  persuaded  to  re- 
turn and    was   murdered  by    the   Indians.       Butterworth 
here  illustrates  similar  scenes  of  nuu'der  constantly 
taking  place  in  these  troublesome  times.     All 
honor  to  their  ancestors  who  faced  such 
perils  in  laying  down  the  founda- 
tions of  a  new  nation. 


FROM  BUTTERWORTH'8  HISTORY  OF  AMERICA 

It  was  the  pioneer  homes  such  as  thi.s,  that  was  burned  by   the   Indians 
the  inmates  massacred.     It  was  such  a  cal)in  as  this  that  would 
represent  the  scene  of  the  Pigwacket  Massacre  when 
the  Cummings  Kinsmen    were  slain. 

110 


and 


Moans  the  night  wind,  dyini,',  sighing 
Sounding  JJke  a  mother's  croon, 

Fierce  the  red  man  murder  minded 
Wails  his  wai-  cry  to  the  tune. 

In  the  distant  cabin,  chikh-cn, 
Just  befoi'e  they  go  to  rest 

Praying  as  they  nestle  closer 
To  their  tired  mother's  breast. 


From    Butterworth's   History  descriptive  of  the  midnight  attacks  of  the  Pig- 

wacket   Indians' referred  to  by  the  Author.     In  one  of  these  attacks 

Ebenezer   Cummings   son  of  our  John  Cummings  was  killed  as 

well  as  his  mother,  while  Deacon  William   Cumming,s   arm 

was  broken.     (Note   the    portrayal    of  these  incidents) 

Here   we  see  the  ancient  nuisket  with  the  rest 

used  afterwards  l)y  Deacon  William  in 

his  Lovewell  raids. 


Moaned  the  night  wind  sighing,  dying,  natui'c  in  a  mimrnful  mood 

Comes  the  red  men  nnu'(l(M'  minded  suddenly  from  out  the  wood 

Then  the  moment  pregnant  bursting  with  the  thought  that  they  must  die 

And  the  maddening  murder   clamor  The  Piguacket  l)attle  cry. 

Let  us  draw  the  veil  of  pity  closly  o'ei'  the  killing  place 

There  was  miiny  a  tragic  chapter  in  the  passing  ofouri'ace. 

II  I 


THE  END  01"  THE  WAll  0¥  EXTEllMINATIOX. 

King  Phillip's  Head  on  a  Pole.     A  similar  scene  to  this  occurred    fifty   years 

later.     In   Lovewell's   second   expedition   against   the  Pigwackets 

Deacon  Cumings's  mother  and  brothers  had  been    killed    l)y  the 

Pigwackets  and  he  joined  the  muskateers   to   avenge   their 

deaths     He  and  two  kinsman  John  Harwood  and   -To- 

nathan  Cummings  marched    with  the    little    band 

into  Boston  with  ten  Pigwacket  .scalps  hoisted 

on  poles  and  going  to  the  Court  House 

midst  the  joyous  clamoring  crowd 

received  the  Ijountv  thei'eon. 

112 


THE     IJON'S     WIIELP 
OUR   ARMY    LIST  (BRITISH  COLONIES)  INDIAN 
AND  FRENCH  WARS. 
CUMMIN(iS  : 

L  Deacon  (Sargcant)  Isaac  (Isaac)  Impressed  for  Nai-a^aiisett  Kiii"  riiillin's 

War.  .1 

•2.  (Jolin-Lsaac)  Ancestor  King  lMiilli|)'s  war,  wife  and  cluldi'(>n  kill(>(l. 

:>.  Deacon  William  Ancestor  (John-John-Isaac)  Mnskateer   I*igwacket  War. 

4.  Captain  John  (Xathanial--rohn-Isaac)  Indian  Wars. 

.').  Cai)tain  Joseph  (Al)raham-John-Isaac)  Indian  Wars. 

().  l>ieut.  John  (John -John- John-Lsaac)  French  and  Indian  Wars. 

7.  Deacon  William  Cniiniiings  (John-John-John-Isaac)  French  war  17.')."). 

8.  Samuel  (Sanuiel-.rohn-.Iohn-Isaac)  French  war  17.")."). 

{».  Ca])t.   David  (Ephriam-Tliomas-John-Lsaac)  Toconderoga,  Saratoga 

10.  Lieut.  Nathanial  (Nathanial-Nathanial  -Tohn-Lsaac)  Louisliurg   17.')4. 

11.  Lieut.  Thomas  (Josep!i-Al)raham-.Iohn-Isaac)  French  and  Indian,  Louis'g. 

12.  Eleazer  (Eleazei--Al)raham-.Iohn-Lsaac)  French  and  Lidian. 

13.  Daniel  Cumming-i  (.loseph-Johii-Isaac-Isaic)  Louishurg  174."). 

14.  .lohn  Cummiiigs  (.Tohn-.Tolin-John-Isaac)   Fi'cnch  and  Indian  17.")."). 
1.").  Caj)tain  .lotliam  (.larahmael-Samuel-.Iohn-.Iohn-Isaac)  French. 

WRIGHTS: 
K).   Ebenezer  (Ehenezer-John-.John-.Iohn)    Pigwacket. 
17.   Sanuiel  Wright  Oswego    17.")7. 

15.  .John,  Ancestor  Great  Great  (Jreat  Grandfather  Oswego  I7r)7 
10.   Thomas     (Thomas-John-.Iohn-John)  French  wai's. 

20.  Oliver  (Thomas- John-.Tohn-.Iohn)  17.')7  Louishurg. 

21.  .Tohn  Corlis.s,  King  Phillip's  War. 

22.  Pol  )ert  Cress,  Sr?     Ancestor         Pequot  War 

2;>.  George  Cross  ?  Ancestor  King  Phillip's  war 

24.  .John  Cross,  Sr  ?  Ancestor  King  IMiillip's  war 

2.").  Ricliard  Swan  ?  Ancestor  King  Phillip's  war 

2<j.  Samuel  Fraile  Ancestor  King  Phillip's  war 

27.  Perry  01  )ediah  Ancestor  King  Phillip's  war  killed  KJHO. 

28.  .John  Harwood  Kinsman  Pigwacket  war    l^ovewell's  nuiskateers 

killed  l)y  Indians  172.'). 
20,  Sai'geant  Thos.  Ilowlett  Ancestor  Kiiig  Pliilli|)s  war 
:»0  Laurence  Enoch         Ancestor         King  Phillip's  war   wounded  pensioned 

ARMY  LIST  CONITUED 

Our  Revolutionary  Kinsmen 
CUMMINGS 

1.  Simeon  (.Jonthan-Thomas-.Iohn-Isaac) 

2.  Lieut  Simeon  (Nathanial-Nathanial-.Iohn-I.saac)  Mimite  Man 

o.     Eli.sha  (Lsaacl.saac  Isaac-Isaac)  Served  in  thr(>e  diffeient  companies 

4.     Joseph  (John-John-Lsaac-Lsaac)  J>exington  and  Puid^er  Hill.  .Minnte  Man 

.").     .Tonthan  (David-. lohn-Isaac-Lsaac) 

li:; 


0.  Thaddeus  (Samue/Thonias-I.saac-Isaac)  Ivhode  Island 

7.  Jonathan  Cunimings  (8amuel-Thomas-I.saae-Is:iac)  Minute  Man  Lexington 

8.  Captain  John  (John-John-Juhn-Isaac)  Bunker  Hill 

9.  Ciptiin  Eleazer  (John-John-John-John-I.saac)Minute  Man  Bunker  Hill 

10.  Ebenezer  (William- John -John- John-Isaac) 

11.  William  (William- John- John- John-Isaac) 

12.  Phillip  (William-John  John-John-I.saac) 

13.  Thomas  (Thomas-John-John-John-Isaac)  Fifer  with  Zach  Wright's  Co. 

14.  Timothy  (Thomas- John- John- John-Isaac)  Minute  Man  from  E.  Westford 
1.').  Ephriam  (Ephriam- John- John- John-Isaac) 

1(3.  Samuel   (Samuel-Sanuiel-John-John-I.saac)    ROYALIST  PROSCKIBED 

17.  Thomas  (Samuel-Samuel-John- John-Isaac)  KOYALIST  PllOSlJIIBED 

18.  Lieut  Benjamin  (Samuel-Sauuiel-John-J()hn-Isaac)Minute  Man  Ix^xington 

19.  Captain  Jotham  (Jarahmael-Sa)nuel-John-Isaac)\e\v  Hampshire  Hangers 

20.  Captain  Enoch  (Ehenezer-William-John-Isaac) 

21.  OHver  (Capt.  Oliver-Nathanial-Nathanial-John-Isaac) 

22.  James  (Capt.  Oliver-Xathanial-Xathanial-John-Lsaac) 

23.  Captain  Josiah  (Oliver-Xathanial-Nathanial- John -Isaac)  Guard  over  Bur- 

goyne's  soldiers 

24.  David  (Abraham-Al)raham-John-Isaac)  1812. 

25.  Thomas  (Thomas-Joseph-Abraham- John-Isaac). 

26.  Deacon  Asa  (Thomas-eloseph- Abraham-John-Isaac). 

27.  Isaac  (Elisha-Lsaac-Lsaac-Isaac-Isaac). 

28.  Jonathan  Cunuuings  (Joseph-Lsaac-Lsaac-Isaac-I.saac). 

29.  Captain  Free  (Jacol)-Jo.seph-.Iohn  I.saac-Lsaac).     Minute  man. 
80.  Asa  (Jacoli-Joseph-John-I.saac-Isaac).     Frontier. 

WRIGHTS 

31.  Ezekiel  Wright.     1778. 

32.  Joseph  (Jacob-John-John-John). 

33.  Jonas  (Thomas- John- John -John). 

34.  John  Ancestor  (Jacob-John-John-John) 

35.  Ebenezer  (Thomas- John- John- John). 

36.  Ephraim  (Jacob-John-John-John). 

37.  Peletiah  (Jacob-John- John- John). 

38.  Col.  Zaccheus  (Ebenezer- John- John- John). 

39.  Amos  (Ebenezer-John-John-John). 

40.  Henry  (Henry-John- John- John). 

41.  Peter  (Thomas-John-John-John). 

42.  Stephen. 

43.  James  (Simeon-John- John- John). 

44.  Al)raham  Wright. 

45.  Oliver  (Thomas-John-John-John). 

46.  Jonathan  Cross-Ancestor-1777  and  1778. 

47.  George  Cross,  son  of  Simeon.     1812. 

48.  Abijah   Cross,  our  ancestor,   Jonathan's  I)rother  present  at   surrender 

Burgoyne 

49.  Mrs.  David  (Cummings)  Cross,  in  charge  of  Amazons  at  James's  Bridge. 

MINUTE  MEN— REVOLUTION. 

Wrights  who  answered  first  call  to  arms  in  1775. 
114 


I.  Joliii  Wright  my  gi  vat -great  graiidfatlKM-  (Jacob-John-John-Jolin). 
'2.   His  hrotlier  P^phraiin. 

3.  His  brother  Peletiah. 

4.  His  Uncle  Joseph,  son  of  Jacob. 

5.  fJonas  Wright  (Thomas-flohn-John-John). 
().   El)enezer  (Tlionias-John-fJohn-John). 

7.  I*eter  (Thomas-John-Jolin-.Iohn). 

8.  OHver  (Thonias-John-John-John). 

9.  Colonel  Zaceheus  (Ebenezer-John-John-lohn).- 

10.  Amos  (Ebene/er-frolin-John-John). 

II.  Henrv  f Henry- John- John- John- John). 
12.  Stephen  Wright. 

l;{.  James  (Simeon- John- John -John- John). 
14.  Al)raliam  Wi'ight. 
1.-).  Ezekiel  Wriglit. 

CUM  MINGS. 

10.  Lieut.  Simeon  (Nathanial-Nathanial- John-Isaac). 

17.  Joseph  (fTohn-John-Lsaac-I.saac.) 

18.  Jonithan  (Simuel -Thomas-Isaac-Isaac). 

19.  Timothy  (Thomas- John- John- John-Isaac. ) 

20.  Captain  Free  (Jaeolt- Joseph -John-Isaac-Isaac). 


llj 


THEY  WERE  AT  THE  WALLS  OF  ACKE 


ON  THE  FIELD  AT  AGIXCOURT 


At  Cadiz 


And  in  tlie  Channel 
Sunk  the  .Spanish  Imlks  of  war. 


ii; 


CAPTAIN    THOMAS    HOLLOWAY 


Nailed  the  Flag  to  Pompey's  Pillar 


ADMIRAL    HOLLOWAY    (HONEST   JOHN) 

And  at  Asalia  Kay 
118 


William   riggs  (frigate  Amelia) 

Alacant  and  Bai'celona 


Fouglit  t<t  clieek  XapDlcaii's  sway. 

Hit 


So  through  centuries  thev  battled 


For  old  Entrland  and  the  crown. 


120 


/^WSfP"^^^^^"''^?^^'^^ 


CONCORD  BRIDGE 

Then  we  find  them  with  the  rel)els 
At  the  l)ri<lKein  Concord  town 


SPIRIT  OF    1773 

And  they  Itattk-d  still  for  freedom 
When  tlie  time  or  where  the  place 
Ever  fought  for  truth  and  justice 
In  the  passing  of  oui-  race. 


A  FAMOUS  LIST 

OVn  EMKiKANT  ANCESTORS 

FROM  OLD  ENOLAND  TO  XEW  ENGLAND 


1. 

2. 

8. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 

n. 

12. 
13. 
14. 
la. 
Ki. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 
25. 
2G. 
27. 
28. 
29. 
80. 
81. 
32. 
83. 
34. 
85. 
86. 
87. 
88. 
89. 
40. 
41. 
42. 
48. 


Acie  William  b.  England  1590,  came  to  Rowley  1043 


Acie  Margaret 

Acie  Elizal)eth  (Swan) 

Brackett  Richard 

Cross  Rol)ert  b.  England   1()13 

Corliss  George  b.  Englaml  1(317 

Cummings  Lsaac  b.  England  KiOl 

Davis  Thomas 

Fi'ailc  George 

Fraile  Elizabeth 

Holstead  Edna  b.  Yorkshire 

Hassell  Richard  1).  England  1<)22 

Hassell  Joan 

Howlett  Thomas  b.  Englan<l 

Harwood  NaLhanial  b.  England  1()2( 

Harwood  Elizabeth 

Jordan  Stephen 

Jordan  Susanna 

Kingsley  Samuel  b.  Enghuid  1(530 

Kingsley  Stephen  b.  England 

Lawrence  Henry  b.  Wi.ssett  Eng. 

Lawrence  ALiry 

Lawrence  John  1).  Wissett  1009 

Lenney  Samuel 

Perry  Obediah  b.  England 

Perry  Esther  (Hassell) 

Reynolds  Roliert 

Swan  Richard  1).  England  1028 

Trumbull  John 

Trumbull  Ann 

Wright  John  b.  England  1010 

Wairen  Arthur 

Worcester  Benjamin 

Worcester  Sarah  (Simon.-^) 

AVilfred  Juliford 

Whitney  John  b.  England  1020 

Howlett  Alice  (French) 

Brackett  Alice 

Brackett  Hannah  (Kinsley) 

Bailey  Joseph  as  a  baby 

(touIJ  Jane 


1043 
1(343 
Ipswich  1031  Boston 
Ipswich  1034 

Ipswich   1039  Newbury  port 

Ipswich  1031 

Haverhill  1040 

Lvnn  1(530 

'•'     1(530 

Rowley  1035 

Ipswich  1(540  Camliridge 

Ipswich  1040 

Ipswich  1039 

Ipswich  1040  Boston 

Ipswich   1(340 

Ipswich  1(535 

Ipswich  1035 

Biaintree  1037 

Braintree  1037 

1585  Chai'leston  1035 

1035 

1035 

Rawlev  about  1040 

Ipswich  1030  Dunstable 

Ipswich  1030 

Watertown  1035 

Rawley  1038 

Rowlev  about  1(340 

Rowley  altout  1040 

Chariestown  1(540 

Wyemouth  1040 

Braintree  al)out  1(340 

Haverhill  about  1640 
AVatertown  1(342 

Ipswich   1(529 

Ipswich  1029 

Ipswich  1037 

Rowley  1(535 
Lvnn  Mass. 


Baumstead  (Mrs.  Loui.sa  Holloway) Grimsby  Ont.  1>^32 
Hollowav  Arrabella  (Mrs.  H.  K.  "Goodman")  (irimsbv.  Ont.  1832 


12: 


41.  (idoilmaii  llciuv   Kiyu's  (iriiiisliy.  ( )nt.  ls:!i' 

4.").  Rigys  Mart lia  ("Mrs.  Till )s.  (ioodmaii)  (^)ii('ln'c         ISli' 

4<;.  (loodmaii  Araliella  (Mrs.  ,Ias.  Mcrallum)  (^)uebec  IHli' 

47.  Hi^'Ks  William  Nova  Scotia   ISli' 

4S.  IloUoway  Alfred  Delaware  about  IHI.") 

4!i.  l>a;4ster  Eunic(!  (A[rs.  A.  IloUowav)  Delaware  al)Out  ISI.') 

.")(».  IJaidwin  Dr.  W.  1).  St  Jolins  (,)iie.  about  ISl.*) 

.")!.  Ki<i.i,'s  Abigail  (Mrs.  r>aldwiii)  St.  -lohn.s,   Que.  about  islT) 

.')•_'.  IJaliiwiu  Maria  (Mr.s.  Al)bott)  St.  .John,   ()uq.  about    Isl.") 

't',].  Musgrave  Miehael  Virginia  about  1<)7") 

r)4.  liall  Klizalieth  Virginia  about  K57.") 

This  list  of  course  is  (juite  iiu-oinplete. 

The  following  names  were  borne  by  the  emigrant  ancestors  of  the  children 
of  Edwin  (ioodman  and  Elizabeth  Cross.     Mark  them  well. 

ACIE  BALL  lUiACKETT  BAILEY  BAGLEY 

CM^OSS  CUMMIX(;s  COIUJSS  DAVIS  FRAILE 

(U)ODAL\N  GOULD  HOLSTEAD  HASSELL  HOLLETT 

HARWOOD  HOLLO  WAY  JORDAN  KINGSLEY  LAWRENCE 

LENNEY         MUSGRAVE  PERRY  REYNOLDS  JJKUJS 

SWAN  TRUMBULL  WHI(4HT  WARREN  WORCESTER 

WILFRED     WHITNEY 


nVV,    I'ioUS  riONEElJS. 

1():5(»     Landing  at  Ipswich,  New  England     lOoO 

ibert  ( 'ross— Hanna  Jordan      IJichard  Brackett— Richard  Hassell— Stephen 

.Jordan     Joan    Hassell-  Thomas    Howlett     (Jeorge    Corliss 

Nathanial  Harwood     Elizabeth    Harwood — Stephen 

Kingslev     Edna    Holstead — Esther 

Ha'.s.sell    Obe.liah  Rerrv. 


Several  of  our  ancestoi'S  went  to  Court  at  Boston,  among  them  the  Swans 
and  Thomas  Howlett  while  among  other  kinsmen  Zaccheus  Wright  represent- 
ed Westford  in  that  capacity  for  many  years. 

Butterworth's  history  describes  the  mode  of  their  travelling  hither. 


Butter  worth's  History 

Ancestors 

Richard  Swan  Deputy  1660-73 
Rowley.  Robert  Swan  Deputy 
1668  Haverhill.  Richard  Brackett 
Deputy  Ipswich;  and  many  kins- 
men among  these  Zaccheus  Wright 
Westford. 


In  these  days  of  'Railway  Fliers'  Ocean  Grey  Hounds'  *-.o  .say  nothing  of 
aeroplanes  vve  cannot  conceive  the  difficulty  of  tra\  elling  in  our  ancestors 
days  in  New  England  unless  our  imagination  is  assisted  by  the  artist. 


124 


Trial  of  Mary  Estie 

The  insanity  which  took  possession  of  our  forefathei's  to  punish  women 
and  children  ancl  put  them  to  death  for  what  they  called  witchcraft,  has  al- 
ready been  described  in  these  pages  when  a  kinsman  was  killed  though  guilt- 
less misdemeanor  or  crime.  Subsequently  when  the  madness  had  passed  off 
all  England  and  the  Colonies  bowed  their  heads  in  shame  for  what  they  had 
done. 

The  picture  reproduced  will  l)ring  such  scenes  more  vividly  to  our  minds, 
and  cause  us  to  be  thiinkfiil  that  we  live  in  this  more  humane  and  eidightened 
age. 

FEMALE  LINE 

COIILLSS 

Mary  Corliss  m.  William  Cro.ss  Jr.  (William  Sr.:  John  Sr.;  liol)ert  Sr.) 

AN  INI)L\N  RAID 

The  ancestors  of  Mary  Corliss  from  a  volume  entitled  'Hoyt's  ( )ld  l""aiiiilics 
of  Salisl)urv  and  Amsbuiy,  Mas.s.,  by  Daniel  Hoyt,  p.  li:3.-(Jeorge  Corliss  of 
Haverhill,  "iarinei',  V).  al)Out  1<)17,  canie  to  this  country  in  l<}:iJ»,  may  have  been 
in  Newl)urv  first,  .settled  in  Haverhill  as  early  as  KU.').  selectman  in  li'AH.  He 
married  Oct.  -2(5,  1<)4.">,  Johanna  Davis,  daughter  of  Thomas  Davis.  He  died 
Oct.  1{»,  KJS.-).  Will  Oct.  18,  Nov.  -io.  108.").  Ls.sue:— ^Mary  1).  Sept.  s,  1<!4(5,  m. 
Jan.  •_»:],  1  (»»;.').  Win.  Nett.  He  moverl  from  Newbury  to  Haverhill.  She  was 
captured  bv  the  Imlians  with  .Mrs.  Hannah  Dustni  in  1«)(>7.  She  seems  to 
have  been  restored  to  her  friend.s,  for  .she  died  in  17-J-i.  {'2)  Jolin  b.  March  4, 
H)47.  m.  Dec.  17.  1»)S4.  Marv  Willford.  (:!)  Johanna,  b.  Apr.  1^,  Kt.lO.  m.  Dec. 
•_Mt.  Kitiit.  Jos.  Hunkins.  (4)  "Martha  b.  June  •_',  Kl.Vi.  m.  Dec.  1,  1<)74,  Samuel 
Lidd,  (.'))  Deboiah,  b.  June  (5,  If!:).'),  m.  Thomas  Eastman.  (»))  Ann,  b.  Nov.  8, 
1():)7,  m.  Nov.  1.  1(577.  John  Kol)l)ie.  (7)  Huldah.  b.  Nov.  IS,  KifJl.  m.  Nov.  ."). 
H;7il,  Sanuiol  Kin^sburv.  (s)  Sarah,  h.  Feb.  I's,  ]WA.  m.  Nov.  4,  KisH,  Jo.seph 
Aver. 


Page  114,  John,  the  second  child  of  George,  was  a  soldier.  His  wife  was 
a  daughter  of  Juliford  Wilford.  He  served  in  King  Phillip's  war  under  Lieut. 
Berrv  Sweet,  June  1670.  He  died  Feb.  17,  l«J97-8.  His  children:-  (l)  John, 
1).  Mar.  4,  l«8o,  m.  1711,  Ruth  Havness.  (2)  Mary  h.  Fel).  -25,  1(377-8.  (:3) 
Thomas  b.  Mar.  2,  1689-90,  m.  Dec.  4,'  1717,  Rebecca  George,  (-i)  Hannah,  b. 
1691-2,  m.  John  Hines,  Jr.,  of  Brookfield.  (5)  Timothy,  b.  Dec.  13,  169:3,  d. 
178:],  m.  Miss  Hutchins,  (6)  Jonathan,  b.  July  16,  1695,  d.  Mar.  22.  1787  Eliza 
Moore.  (7)  Malictable,  b.  May  15,   1698. 

Jonatlian,  the  sixth  child  of  John,  died  in  Salem,  N.  H.,  1787.  Elizabeth 
Moore  of  Haverhill,  his  wife,  died  Aug.  2,1786.  Children:  fl)  JNlary  b.  July 
27,  1717,  married  William  Cross. 

The  other  children  were,  Elizabeth  1719;  Priscilla  1722;  Jonathan,  1724; 
Lydia,  1727;  John  Moore,  1730;  Asa,  1732;  David  1734;  David  who  died  in 
French  War;  Abel;  Susanna.  Mary  Wilford  married  the  second  time  Thomas 
Davis,  selectman  of  Havei'hill.  They  had  two  children,  Johamia,  who  married 
George  Corliss  and  Joseph. 

Joseph.  Mrs.  L.  F.  Cross  found  this  name  on  a  deed  of  property.  There 
may  have  been  other  children,  l)ut  no  trace  has  been  found  of  them. 

FEMALE  LINE  BAILEY  FAMILY 

Elizalieth  Bailey  m.  Jonathan  Cross,  (William  Cross,  Jr.,  William  Sr., 
John  Sr.,  Robert  Sr.) 

RESEARCHES  AND  RECORDS  OF  MERRIMACK  VALLEY 

Vol.  1,  p.  77. 

1.  Gen.  (p.  77). 

Richard  Bailey,  b.  about  1619,  who  died  sometime  between  1647-1650, 
owned  an  estate  in  Rowley,  Ma.ss.  There  is  a  tradition  in  the  family  to  the 
present  day  that  he  came  from  Yoi'kshire,  England,  sometime  about  l()30-35, 
and  Joshua  Coifee  says,  "Richard  Bailey  came  with  Richard  Dummer  in  ship 
Barvis  150  tons."  His  wife's  name  was  Ednah,  by  whom  he  had  one  child 
they  called  Joseph,  1).  about  1635  or  later  for  when  Richard  Bailey  made  his 
will  in  1647-8  his  son  Joseph  was  under  14  years  of  age.  His  wife's  maiden 
name  perhaps  was  Holstead,  for  their  son  Joseph  acknowledged  the  receipt  of 
£9  4s.  in  1667,  which  was  his  portion  of  £4(5  given  to  the  child  or  children  of 
Eilnah,  his  mother,  l)y  William  Holstead,  whom  he  called  his  inicle.  After 
the  death  of  Mr.  Biiley  his  widow  Ednah  married  15th  9th  month,  1649, 
Ezekiel  Northend  of  Rowley. 

2.  Gen.  (p.  77). 

Joseph  settled  in  the  north  part  of  Rowley  in  the  Merrimack,  not  far 
from  the  western  borders  of  Newbury,  Mass.,  at  the  time  when  several  of  the 
Rowley  families  first  began  to  settle  there,  which  part  was  at  first  called  the 
Merrimack  Lands,  i^ut  soon  incorporated  by  the  name  of  Bradford.  He  was 
one  of  the  le:iding  men  of  the  town  of  Bradford. 

126 


lie  nijirrit'd  Abigail,  dauglitcr  of  tfolui  'l'ruinl)iill  and  Ann  his  wife.  This 
Ann  married  :>  times — first  >Iiehael  Ilopkinson.  second  -John  Trnml)ull,  tliird 
Uichard  Swan — which  again  carried  us  hack  to  the  Kowlcy-Swan-Crosses. 
liichard  Swan  being  claimed  as  Father  of  Ruth  Cross,  -foseph  Bailey  was 
chosen  to  fill  civil,  military,  ecclesiastical  and  other  offices  of  trust.  He  was  one 
of  the  selectmen  of  the  town  twenty-five  years  between  KJTo  and  1710,  and 
one  of  the  deacons  from  the  formation  of  the  church  until  his  death,  October 
11,  17V2.  His  wife  Abigail,  died  Nov.  17,  1735.  We  have  not  been  able  to 
trace  her  father.     Issue: 

1.  Abigail,  m.  Samuel  Tenney,  d.  Nov.  28,  l(j!-iO. 

•2.  Elder  Richard,  1).  Sept.  30,   167.'),  m.  Feb.  21,  170(5,  Jouma  Webster. 

3.  Anne,  b.  Sept.  2-1,  1678,  m.  Sept.  10.  1702,  Jonas  Platts. 

4.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  19,  1(581,  m.  JNIar.  18,  170(5,  Robert  Hasting.s. 

5.  Joseph,  1).   1683,  settled  in  W.  Newbury. 

6.  Ednah,  b.  June,  1686,  m.  jNIay  2,  1717,  John  Hastings. 

7.  Deact)n  John,  b.  Nov.  2(5,  1691,  m.  Susanna  Tenney. 

8.  Sarah,  b.  July  (5,  1(594,  m.  James  Davis. 

3.  Gen.  (p.  lo8). 

Deacon  John  Bailey,  b.  Nov,  26,  1(591,  married  Susanna,  daughter  of 
elder  Samuel  Tenney,  b.  Feb.  5.  1694-5,  lived  in  Bradford  until  after  1712, 
when  he  removed  to  vvest  part  of  Haverhill  (afterwards  Methuen),  where  he 
died  about  1750.  He  was  a  man  of  influence  in  his  town  as  appears  by  the 
records  of  Salem,  and  was  chosen  one  of  the  deacons  of  the  second  or  north 
church  of  Methuen  (now  .Salem  N.  H.),  Mar.  3,  1739-40.  It  appears  they  had 
nine  children,  and  prol)al)ly  most  of  them  were  married  and  had  descendants, 
but  have  not  been  able  to  trace  out  more  than  a  few  of  the  l)ranches  so  fully 
as  is  desirable.     They  had  : 

Samuel,  b.  at  Bradford,  August  28,  1713. 

Sarah,  (the  fir.st  one  recorded  of  them  in  the  Haverhill  records),  b.  Apr.  21,  1715 
Hannah,  b.  Sept.  21,  1718. 
John,  b.  Feb.   18,   1720-21 

Joshua,  li.  Sept.  5,  1723,  probably  m.  Sarah  Davis  of  Amesbury. 
Susanna,  b.  June  10,  1733;  m.   1,  Nathaniel  Kimball,  2,  Joseph  Hardy. 
4.  den.  (p.  158). 

A  MAN  OF  BRAWN. 

John  Bailey,  b.  Feb.  I8,  1720-21,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jona- 
than Corliss  ()f"  Salem,  for  his  first  wife,  who  died  in  1787,  aged  (54,  second 
wife  widow 'Mvrv  Hastings  (.seep.  156).  He  settled  on  a  farm  close  to  the 
liorders  of  Mrthu'en,  now  called  the  Patee  place,  where  his  children  were  born; 
and  afterw.inis  exchanged  with  I'atee.  and  removed  to  North  Salem,  N.  H., 
where  he  died.  Tradition  says  that  "he  was  a  very  strong  man  and  when  a 
certain  barn  was  raised  he  could  shoulder  and  carry  either  stick  that  comin-ised 
the  frame,  and  he  made  a  visit  to  the  l)uilding  the  last  time  he  ever  rode  out, 
to  .see  what  he  h.ul  done  in  his  younger  days."  They  had  besides  other  child- 
ren. Klizalictli  wlio  married  Jonathan  Cross. 

127 


COLLATERAL  FAMILY 
DESCENDANTS  OF  WILLIAM  CROSS  JR. 

William  the  third  child  of  W^illiani  Cross  Jr.,  and  Mary  Corliss  (William 
Sr.,  John  Sr.,  Robert  Sr.)  b.  in  Haverhill  N.  H.  Aug.  3rd  1742,  m.  Alngail 
Ladd.  Sept.  4th,  1807.  They  had  eight  children  among  them  (1)  Deborah 
married:  (2)  Lydia  married;  (:})  Abigail,  married:  (4)  Jeremy  Ladd  Cross,  b. 
Haverhill  N.  H.  June  •27th  178:J,  d.  Jan.  26th  18(50,  aged  ftJ.  unmarried:  (.')) 
Eliza,  (kno^vn  in  the  fiimily  as  Miss  Eliza)  b.  Haverhill  June  18th  1700,  d. 
1887,  unmarried:  she  was  a  teacher  in  1818  and  an  anti-slave  worker  with 
Garrison  an<l  Phillips  and  the  author  of  '(^Id  Signs  and  Sayings.' 


MISS  ELIZA  CROSS. 

Daughter  of  William  Cross  III.,  and  sister  of  famous  freemason  Jeremy  Ladd 

Cross.     Born  1790,  died  1887,  aged  U7.     Living  so  long  ago  and 

so  recently  she  threw  much  light  on  the  Cross  history. 

ELIZA  CROSS  ON  HER  96TH  BIRTHDAY 

By  Mrs.  Lorana  (French)  Cross 

We  sometimes  find  pansies  amid  the  snows  of  winter,  and  sometimes 
amid  the  wintry  snows  of  age,  we  find  those  who  seem  to  have  eluded  the 
grasp  of  Father  Time.  Thus  we  thought  as  we  gave  our  hand  to  Miss  Eliza 
Cross  on  her  96th  birthday. 

This  veteran  lady  was  born  in  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  June  13,  1790.  She  was 
greatly  interested  in  the  Anti-slavery  movement,  and  Wm.  Lloyd  Garrison, 
Wendall  Phillips,  and  others  gratefully  acknowledged  her  work  of  tongue  and 
pen.  On  Memorial  day  the  soldiers,  after  decorating  the  graves,  were  invited 
to  her  home.  After  serenading  her,  she  marshalled  them  into  a  hollow  square 
sixty  innuml)er,  and  addressed  them  as  'citizens,  soldiers  and  patriots.'  She 
spoke  of  their  sympathies,   and  said,  'her  own  had  been  from  the  dawning  of 

128 


ANCESTORS  OF  ARTHUR  DUDLEY  CROSS 
Samuel  Cross  Sr. 

Sanuiel  Cross,  third  child  of  Abijah  and  Elizabeth  (Parker)  Cross  (William 
Jr.  William  Sr.  John  Sr.  Robert  Sr.) 

Had  children  by  his  first  wife  Abigail  Richardson  (1)  Elizabeth  m.  Sentor 
Farley  {'2)  Samuel  m.  first  Lydia  Frye  second  Mary  Moore,  third  Lydia  Kem- 
ball(JJ)  Nelson  b.  Aug.  ](>,  1814,  m.  Elizabeth  Berry,  second  {•!}  Mary  E. 
Thayer. 

Sanuiel's  second  wife  Hannah  Berry  (widow)  (maiden  name  Daniels)  had 
two  daughters  by  her  first  husband  Berry;  Elizabeth  who  was  Nelson  Cross' 
first  wife  and  Susan  who  married  Jas.  Merrill. 

Children  of  Samuel  Sr.  by  Hannah  Berry 


MRS.  WM.  BERRY  CROSS 

nee  Mary  Ann  Hihon,  taken  at  ihe  time 
of  her  marriage,  1858 


WILLIAM  BERRY  CROSS 

Born  1826.       Father    of    Arthur    Dudley 

Cross  (husband  of  Mrs.  A.  D.  Cross 

nee  Elsie  C.  Pheby 


1.  Jerome  b.  Sept.  7,  I8:i4:  m.  Mary  ().  Sargent 

2.  VVilHam  I).  Feb.  17,  1S2<):  m.  Mary  Ann  Hilton 

3.  Abayail  1).  Aug.  14,  1Sl'9:  in.  David   Robinson 

4.  Mary  H.  b.  is;}!;  m.  (1)  (Jeo.    Farley.  (2)  David   Robin.son,    her  biothcr-in 
law. 


\:i'2 


Dr.  Enoch  Cross  was  l)orn  at  Metluien,  in  this  commonweakh,  July  19, 
1801.  His  parents  were  Abijah  C'l'o.ss  of  Methuen  and  Ehzabeth  Parker  of 
Draciit.  His  grandparents  on  his  father's  side  were  WiUiam  Cross  of  Methuen 
and  Mary  CorHss  of  Salem,  N.  H.  In  the  line  of  his  father,  he  was  a  German 
of  the  fifth  generation.      The  old  Cross  home  in  Methuen  was  never  owned 

by  any  white  man  till  purchased  by  John  Cross  the  ancestor  of  him  whose 
life  we  honor  and  whose  death  we  mourn  to-day.  This  John  Cross  puichased 
the  old  home,  where  our  brother  was  born,  from  the  Indian  paying  ck)th  for  so 
much  land  as  he  could  walk  around  "between  sun  and  sun.". 

In  the  old  house,  still  standing,  are  some  of  the  tim1)ers  which  composed 
its  framework  when  it  first  took  the  place  of  the  Indian  wigwam  some  two 
hundred  years  ago.  Enoch  Cross  was  one  of  ten  children,  and  the  last  one  to 
pass  from  the  earth. 

In  1870  he  attended  a  reunion  of  the  family,  at  the  home  of  his 
boyhood,  on  the  occasion  of  the  golden  wedding  of  his  l)rother  Will- 
iam. In  writing  of  the  occasion  he  said:  "In  imaginatitm  I  could 
hear  the  stirring  voice  of  my  father  calling  me  at  early  dawn  to  the  field 
of  healthful  toil — and  again  I  could  rememlier  the  hour,  when  in 
later  years,  I  impressed  on  that  venerated  forehead  the  last  kiss  of  afiection, 
just  before  that  father  fell  asleep,  at  the  age  of  nearly  ninety  years.  But  still 
another  form  rose  up  to  memory.  I  could  see  that  loved  mother  who  many 
years  l)efore  had  sunk  down  in  death.  That  sweet  voice,  that  mild  approving 
or  relinking  eye,  that  gentle  hand  which  was  never  lifted  to  chastise,  Ijut  oft 
in  love  was  laul  upon  my  head — all  all  were  there  in  memory. 

He  took  up  his  residence  as  practising  physician  in  Bradford.  While 
here,  in  1828,  June  "ind  he  married  Miss  Ch:irlotte  T.  Pettingale,  of  SalisluuT, 
N.  H.     Four  daughters  and  two  sons  were  l)orn  to  them. 

On  his  death  1)ed  Dr.  Cross,  on  Vieing  told  the  difficulty  of  tracing  the 
Cross  Ancestors  replied  "If  I  were  a  young  man  I  would  find  out."  Since 
these  words  were  spoken  many  genealogical  prol)lems  have  been  sohed  and 
many  mysteries  cleared  up,  and  the  work  is  still  in  progress. 


HOME  OF  SAMUEL  CROSS,  Sr.   BORN  1789 
(Son  of  Abijah  Cross)  Birthplace  of  William  Berry  Cross.     Born  18-2f>. 

131 


TTis  childrtMi  wore  (I  j  Mary  ni.  Elisa  Bean:  (•_')  ("liloo  iii.  Sainl.  Han-iman 
IJev. Soldier:  (4  j  (ieorgeKev.  Soldier  lS|-_>  (:^)  Ahigal  ni.  Jiio.  (iordoii:  ((i)Siiiie- 
oii  m.  Elizaheth  Ilarrinian  (7)  Lydia  (H)  Ahijah  m.  Sarah  Feiriu  (and  had 
Sylvester,  ISKJ;  Lamira  1817:  Susan  ISlS,  who  m.  Otis  Cross  and  had  seven 
children,  Simeon,  Jonathan,  Abigail  and  (ieoi'ge  (killed  in  the  eivil  war)  Step- 
hen, Franklin  and  Alma  Marona)  (J>)  Judith  1).  17!»1. 

DAVID  CROSS 

David  fourth  child  of  William  Cross  Jr.  and  Mary  (^Corliss  j  Ci'oss  ^William 
Sr.;  John  Sr. :  lvol)ert  Sr.J  married  first  Mary  Frye,  second  Susan  Whittier.  Itv 
first  wife  he  liad  David  1).  ISi':):  (Jeorge  ().  1)."  is-i.').  By  second  wife  lie  had  .\iary 
b.  ISol  and  Susan  Ahiah  ls:!4. 

Davids  second  child  (ieorge  O.,  b.  18l>o  m.  Adaline  Kent  and  secondly 
Abby  Brown,  by  whom  he  had  Anson  K.  Cross  1802  Professor  of  the  Noi'mal 
School.  Boston:   Anson  Cross  had  Addie  Louise  1).  1864,  Evaline  b.  187(t. 

ABIJAH  CROSS'  DESCENDENTS 

Abijah  Cross,  ninth  child  of  William  Jr.  and  Mary  f^Corliss^  Cross  (William 
Sr.)  (^John  Sr.  Rol)ert  Sr.  j  m,  first  1784  Elizalieth"  Parker,  second  Hannah 
Foster,  third  Del)orrah  Spotfard. 

Abijah  was  a  revolutionary  and  was  [present  at  the  surrender  of  Burgoync. 

Their  issue  was 

1.  Susanna,  b.  INIay  ii,  178."),  m.  Jos.  Pecker,  Dec.  22,   1808 

2.  Elizabeth  b.  July  11,  1780,  m.  Henry  Austin  of  Dracut 

3.  Cai)taih  Samuel*  1)  Oct.  23,  178J),  m'f  I)  Abagail  Richardson  Sept.  13,  1808; 
('2 J  Hannah  Daniels  Berrv. 

4.  Sally  b.  Apr.  12.  1790,  m.  Alay  28  1810,  Xatlianiel  Day.  of  Bradford 
•").     Hannah  b.  Fel».  21,  171)2:  unmarried 

0.     Rev.  Abijah,  b.  Oat.  25,  1793,  m.  1824,  Permalia  Swan 

7.  David  1).  Nov.  13,  179.").  m.  1st  Mary  Fry,  2nd  Susan  Whittier 

8.  William  b.  June  2.'),  1797,  m.  June  4,   1820.  Marv  Hazleton  ofHe!>ron.  X. 

H.  d.  Sept.  4.  1872.  He  <lied  Oct.  1."),  1882 

9.  Enoch.  1).  July  19.  1801.  m.  1st  Charlotte  Pettingale.  2nd  Margaret  Camp- 

l)ell.  (Dr.  Enoch.)     See  obituary  notice.     Had  l>y  first  wife  David  A.  and 

George  O.  by  second  Mary  F.  and  Susan  A. 

(It  was  the  above  Enoch  who  said  that  there  wei'c  two  Cross  brothers  who 
came  to  Haverhill.  One  .settled  in  N^ewbury.  the  other,  the  foundei'  of  the 
Haverhill  familv,  renuiined  in  Haverhill.) 

10.  Rhoda  b.  Feb.  13,  1804,  m.  Wm.  Day,  of  Biadfoid,  .Iiuie2:),   ls27 

FUNERAL  OF  DR.  CROSS 

The  funeral  of  the  late  Di.  Enoch  Cross  was  held  this  morning  from  the 
Prospect  .street  church,  of  which  he  had  long  I)een  a  membei'  and  supporter. 
There  was  a  large  attendance  of  friends  and  relation.s,  and  the  ceremony  was 
very  im[)ressive.  The  casket  was  Iwrne  to  the  altar  to  the  accompaning  strains 
of  Beethoven's  "march  funebrc"  Rrv.  V.  S.  Hulbert  (h'livnvd  the  following 
eulogy. 


the  controversy  to  the  caiistone  of  that  Iil>erty  for  which  they  fought  and  which 
was  proclaimed  for  all'  Then  with  vociferous  cheers,  and  a  serenade  to  the 
aged  veteran,  they  returned  to  their  post. 

Miss  Eliza  was  sister  to  the  late  Jeremy  Cross,  the  masonic  author,  lect- 
urer and  publisher,  and  is  living  in  a  home  surrounded  with  comfort  and  lux- 
ury. As  we  entered  she  arose  from  her  arm  chair  and  received  us  with  the 
ease  and  grace  of  one  in  middle  age.  We  foiuid  upon  her  table  the  popular 
literature  of  the  day.  She  can  read  and  write  to  regular  correspondents,  and 
looks  for  her  daily  mail,  and  in  the  past  year  has  compiled  and  published  a 
little  book  entitled  'Old  Signs  and  Sayings.'  She  took  us  into  the  hall  and 
showed  us  the  family  portraits,  the  Cross  coat-of-arms,  and,  as  we  passed  the 
hat-tree,  we  noticed  in  honor  of  the  occasion,  the  regalia  of  other  days  was 
hung  thereon,  and  we  placed  beside  it  a  liayonet  from  the  okl  homestead  at 
Metiiuen,  where  her  ancestors  were  born.  She  led  the  way  to  the  parlor, 
where,  at  our  request,  she  seated  herself  at  the  jiiano,  and  her  Hexible  fingers 
swept  over  the  keys  as  she  sang  for  our  amusement.  The  next  morning  she 
arose  at  her  usual  hour,  six  o'clock,  feeling  that  she  had  much  that  would  in- 
terest her  guests.  With  a  little  help  she  climbed  the  hall-way  stairs  where  we 
saw  the  snowy  linen,  with  its  narrow  hems,  which  she  and  her  mother  spun; 
then  files  of  newspapers  dating  l)ack  more  than  half  a  century,  everything 
tied  up  and  labelled  as  for  mail.  With  a  little  assistance  she  reached  the  attic, 
where  w-^  saw  the  old  spinnets  and  the  paraphernalia  of  spinning;  bandlioxes 
as  large  as  Saratoga  trunks  were  drawn  from  their  hiding  places,  and  their 
contents  found  to  be  as  fresh  as  when  worn  into  the  village  church  seventy 
years  before.  Surely  we  felt  grateful  that  the  world  moves,  in  these  days  of 
iiigli  rent,  and  felt  that  it  was  really  better  to  wear  what  our  grandmothers 
would  call  an  apology  for  a  lionnet,  than  to  wear  their  extremes. 

As  the  time  for  our  departure  drew  near,  her  pet  Billy,  whose  age  she 
said  compared  with  her  own,  was  In'ought  to  the  door,  and  we  were  conveyed 
to  her  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  liroad  acres,  where  we  visited  her  fam- 
ous sugar  orchard  of  five  or  six  hundred  trees,  and  the  sugar  house,  where  the 
Mowing  sweets  had  lieen  converted  into  sugar  for  the  northern  market.  On 
our  return  we  stopped  at  the  cemetery  and  saw  the  fiimily  lot,  and  noticed 
that  her  mother  lived  to  l)e  ninety-one  years,  and  her  father  a  revolutionary 
soldier,  was  one  hundred  years  and  sevpn  months  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

"BKOTHER"  JEREMY  LADD  CROSS 

Jeremy  Ladd  Cross  fourth  child  of  William  the  III  and  Abigail  (Ladd) 
Cross  (William  Jr.  William  Sr.  John  Sr.  Rol)ert  Sr.)  was  a  noted  freemason. 
(See  Lecture  Jeremy  L.  Cross  and  Times  by  the  Author.) 

SIMEON  CROSS 

Simeon  Cross,  third  child  of  William  and  Mary. (Corliss)  Cross  (William 
Sr.)  John  Sr.  and  Robert  Sr.  went  in  1778  to  New  Chester  N.  H.  and  made 
the  first  settlement  at  what  is  still  called  the  Cross  Farm,  on  the  river  road,  in 
Bridge  water  New  Hampshire. 

129 


WILLIAM  80N  OF  SAMUEL 

Williuin  the  second  son  of  Samuel  Sr.  and  Hannah  (Berry)  Cross  (Abijah, 
WilHam  Jr.  WilHani  Si.,  John  Sr.  Robert  Sr.j  married  Mary  Ann  Hilton,  of 
Parson's  Field  INLiine,  Feb  -24,  IBoS. 

He  came  to  California  in  the  spring  of  1850  and  settled  in  Sacramento 
until  1870,  when  he  moved  to  San  Francisco,  and  died  there  May  7,  1901. 

He  was  president  for  many  years  of  the  Pacific  Navigation  Company.  I  lis 
widow  died  Dec.  10,  189.").  Their  only  child  was  Major  Arthur  Dudley  Cros.s, 
Vmrn  Dec.  14,  18(54,  who  married  May  15, 1893,  Elsie  (Chapliiu?)  Pheby,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  B.  Pheby  and  his  wife  Josephine  Chapline  of  Wheeling,  West 
Virginia,  daughter  of  General  Moses  W.  Chapline,  aide-de-camp  of  General 
Cas.s,  war  of  1812,  his  wife  being  Elizabeth  Fox,  daughter  of  Josiah  Fox,  'Father 
of  the  American  Navy.'  See  Record  .lournal  American  History,  Vol.  2,  No.  1.) 

Children:  1,  Elsie  Hilton  Cross,  b.  April  21,  1894.  2,  Arthur  Dudley  Cross, 
b.  April  24,  1898. 

Mrs.  Elsie  Chapline  (Pheby)  Cross  is  an  esteemed  correspondent  and  has 
contrilnitcd  extensively  to  these  memoirs.  The  thanks  of  the  Crosses  are 
certainly  due  to  her  for  her  successful  efforts  in  hunting  down  documents 
which  years  of  sustained  effort  by  ethers  had  failed  to  unearth. 

To  Mrs.  Cross  My  sincere  thanks. 


ArJiur  Dudley   Cross,  Sr. 
i:!:! 


Ai'tliUi'  Dudley  Cross,  Jr. 


Elsie  Hilton  L'l'oss. 


It  will  be  seen  that  the  Arthur  Dudley  Cross'  line  would  l)e  as  follows: 

William  I.  m.  Mary  Fniile 
William  II.  m.  Maiy  Corliss 
Aiiijah  m  Elizabeth  Darker 
8amuel  m.  Hannah  Berry 
William  }).  m.  AIar\  A.  Hilton 
Arthur  D.  m.  Elsie' C.  Dheby 


THE  PARKER  DINE 
FROM  THE  EMIGRANT 

(Al)ijah  Cross  married  Elizabeth  Parker) 

I.  Thomas  Parker,  b.  about  1(309,  came  to  Amei'ica  in  the  'Su.san  and 
Ellen"  l<5:J.i;  settled  in  Dynn,  Ma.ss.;  married  Amy — ,  made  freeman  May  17, 
1637:  remnved  to  Rsading  in  that  part  now  Wakefteld,  Mass.  about  1044; 
deacon:  he  died  Pith  Aug.,  1683;  wife  died  Jan  15,    1690. 

Children:    1,  Tiiomas,  b.  1636.     2,  Hannah,   1).  1638. 

A   FAMOUS  SODDIElf 

His  great  grandson,  Capt.  John  Parker,  commanded  the  minute  men  at 
Dexington  April  19,  1775.  The  hitter's  grandson  was  the  great  Unitarian 
preacher  and  anti-slavery  worker. 

134 


II.  :}.  -lohii,  1).  If.Kl,  (1.  Feb.  21,    1(591) 

4.  -lo.scph.  1).  l()4l',  d.  1(544 
.').  -losepli,  li  1(54:).  (1.  1(546 
(5.  Mary,  h.  Dec.   I'i,   1(547 

7.  Martha,  b.  March  14,  1(549 

5.  Xatlianiel,  b.  May  1(5,  Kj.ll 

9.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  30,  KJ.'):?,  d.  Oct.  -Jtj,   1(5.")G 

10.  Jonathan,  b.  .A lav  18,  UiM,  d.  1(5S0,  June  10 

11.  Sarah,  b.  May  2'),  W')S 

II.  John  Parker  married  Nov.  13,  1667,  Hannah,  daujihter  of  Deacon 
Thomas  and  Hannah  Kendall,  who  was  born  '29th  Jan.   16j0.      She  died  July 

8,  1689,  anil  he  married  .second  Jan.  28,  1690,  Thankful .    He  was  a  sergt. 

and  served  in  King  IMiilip's  war  under  Major  Swayne. 

Children : — Hannah, 

1.  John,  b.  16(J8 

2.  Tht)mas.  b.  1(570,  d.  1(589 

3.  Hannali,  b.  1(572.  d.  1(5X9 

4.  Rebekah,  b.  1(574,  d.   1()S9 
").      Kendall,  b.    1(577 

(5.      Abigail,  b.  1(579,  d.  1(579 

III  7.  Jonathan,  b.  July  18.  1(381,  d.  April  5,   1746 
s     David,  b.   1(38(5,  " 
9  Abigail,  b.  l()8Sd.  1()S9 

Children:— Thaidvful, 
1.     Hannah.  1).  1(391 
2     Rebekah.  b.  1(593 

3.  Thomas,  b.  1(59.') 

4.  Ehzabeth.  b.  1(598 

III.  Johnathan  (called  Jr.),  m.  Ann,  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
Flint,  and  gi'anddaughter  of  Thomas,  the  emigrant  (Ex-U.  S.  Senator  l-lint  is 
a  descendant  of  tlie  same  Thomas).  She  was  liorn  April  18.  1(587,  and  died 
about  1744.  Jonathan  held  the  rank  of  (,'aptain,  and  lived  until  his  wife's 
death  in  what  is  now  North  Reading,  later  removing  to  Methuen.  Mass..  where 
liis  sons  had  settled,  and  where  he  died. 

Children  : 

1.  dohnathan.  !>.  I7()9.  m.  Mary  Hincher. 

2.  Timothy.  !>.  1711.  in.  I'riscilla  Carleton. 

3.  Anna.  b.   1714.  m.  Win.  Sheldon. 

4.  John.  li.  171(5.  m.  Hannah  l'[)t<)n. 
:>.    Mary.  !>.  1719,  m.  Kendall  IJryant. 
(5.    David.  1).  1720?  m.  Lucv  Upton. 

7.    Ki-ndail,  b.  April  12,  1723,  d.  about  1800. 

IV.  Kendall  settled  in  Dracait,  near  the  Methuen  line.  in.  (1)  Mary, 
daughter  of  John  and  Judith  Harris  (2)  Priscilla  .said  to  lie  gr.  grand  daughter 
of  .Miles  Standish.  daughter  of  Daniel  and  I'riscilla  (Stevens)  Austin,  of  .\n- 

1 3.-) 


dover,  Mass.  She  was  born  July  '20,  1723,  (3)  Jane  (Fletcher)  widow  t)f 
Nathaniel  Jones.  He  was  a  farmer,  responded  on  Lexington  alarm  April  19, 
1775,  served  2  days,  afterward  held  rank  of  corporal.  His  record  is  given  in 
"  Soldiers  and  Sailors  of  Mass.  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution." 

Children:— (Mary) 

1.  Susannah,  b.  1750,  m.  Sergt.  Jona  Jones. 

2.  Kendall,  b.  1752,  m.  Mrs.  Dolly  (Jones)  Ilichard.son. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  1754. 

4.  Peter,  b.  1754,  m.  Bridget  Coburn. 

Children  : — (Priscilla). 

1.  Mary,  1).  1759,  m.  Jo.seph  Harvey. 

2.  Elizabeth,  b.  18th  or  28th  July,  17(52,  m.  Abijah  Cross. 

3.  Jonathan,  m.  Alice  Gutterson,  b.  17<54. 

4.  Priscilla,  b.  170(5,  m.  Asa  Palmer. 

5.  Kachel,  b.  1770,  m.  Peter  Harris 
(j.  Daniel,  b.  1773,  m.  Nabby  C'oburn 
7.  Nathan,  b.  1770,  m.  Elsa  Gilchrist 

*  Dr.  Moses  Greely  Parker,  President  of  the  Parker  Historical  and  Gene- 
alogical Association,  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  is  a  great  grandson  of  Kendall  Parker. 
He  is  President  General  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  llevolution. 

From  Massachusett  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  p.  884. 

Kendall  Parker,  Dracut,  Private  Captain  Stephen  Russell's  Company. 
Col.  Green's  regiment,  which  marched  on  the  alarm  19th  April,  1775.  Also 
Private  Captain  Jos.  Narmun's  Company,  Col.  Spalding's  regiment,  List  of 
persons  who  paid  money  to  hire  men  to  serve  in  the  Continental  Army  for  eight 
months,  agreeable  to  resolves  passed  April,  1778,  said  Parker,  with  others, 
hired  Ebenezer  Sawyer,  and  is  reported  to  have  paid  ten  pounds  towards  his 
hire. 

The  head  lines  of  Elizabeth  Parker's  de.^c:nit  are  as  follows  ; 

Thos.    Parker,   1609. 

Sargeant  John  Parker,  1040. 

Jonathan  Parker,  lOKl. 

Kendall,  1724. 

Elizabeth,  1702,   mai-ried   Abijah    Cross. 

DOUBLE  ROYAL  DESCENT  OF 

Arthur  Dudley  Cross  and  Elsie  (Pheby)  Cross.   Oakland,  Cal. 

It  is  so  very  unusual  for  a  husband  and  wife  to  be  al>le  to  trace  their 
descent  from  royality  that  this  remarkable  genealogical  fact  is  set  dov.'n  here 
in  brief  form. 

130 


HENRY  III,  King  of  England, 

Prince  Edmund,  Eail  of  Leicester, 

Henry,  Earl  of  Leicester,  Lancaster  and  Derby, 

Eleanor,  m.  Richard  Fitz  Alan,  K.  G.,  9tli  Earl  of  Arunde), 


-loliii  Fitz  Alan.  Lord  Maltravers, 
John  Fitz  Alan  de  Arundel, 
Sir  Thomas  Fitz  Alan.  Knt., 


Eleanor,  m.  Henry,  Lord  Percy, 

Henry,  2nd  Lord'l'ercy, 

Maud,  m.  Sir  John  Xevill,  K.  G.,  Lord 

of  Rabv. 
Sir    Ralph    Nevill,    K.  G.,      Earl     of 

Westmoreland. 
Ann,   m.    Sir   Walter    Blount,    K.  G. 
Lord  Mont  joy 
Elizabeth  m.  Henry,  Earl  of  Worcester,  Thomas  Blount,  m.  Agnes  Howley, 
Eleanor,  m.  Sir  Roger  Vaughan,  Knt.,  Anne.  m.  William  IVIarburv, 


Eleanor,  m.  Sir  Thomas  Browne, 
Sir  Anthony  Browne. 


Watkin  Vaughan, 

Sir  William  Voghan, 
Catherine,  m.  David  Evan. 
Mary,  m.  Thomas  Bassett, 

Catherine  m.  Richard  Evan. 
Jane  m.  John  Evan, 
John  Bevan,  to  Pensylvania,  KJS:]. 
EIizal)eth  in.  Jo.seph  Richardson. 
Aul)rev  Richardson 


Elizalicth  m.  Peter  Miller, 

Anna.  m.  Josiah  Fox 

Elizabeth,  m.  (ien.  Moses  W.  Chapline, 

Josephine  Isabella,  m.  Thos.  1>.  Phel)y. 
of  Oakland,  California,  he  was 
I)(»rn  in  Cornwall.  Eiiu'Iaiid. 


William  ]\Larl)ury,  of  Grisl)y,  m.  Agnes 
Lenton,  and  had;  Rev.  Francis  and 
Catherine,  m.  Christopher  Wentwoi-th, 
William  Went  worth,  m.Su.sanna  Carter, 
William  Wentworth,  of  Exeter,  X.   H., 

m.  Elizabeth  Kenny, 
Timothy  Wentworth.  m  Sarah  Cromwell 
Sanuiel  Wentworth.  m.  Joanna  Roberts 
Deborah,  m  Joseph  Ricker,  Jr. 
Peletiah  Kicker,  m.  Jane  Leighton, 
Abigail,  m.  ({eorge  Hilton,  of  Parsons- 
Held,  Me.,  .son  of  Dudley    Hilton, 
Jr.  and    Rhoda   Bickfonl.     grand- 
son of  Dudley    Hilton.    Sr.     and 
Anne  Taylor,  of  Newmarket,  N.H. 
Mary  Ann.  m.    William    Jierry    Cross, 
son  of  Sanuiel    Cross   and    Hanna 
Berry,  gi-andson  of   Abijah   Cross 
and  Elizal>eth  Parker,   of  Dracut, 
Ma.ss.,  great-grantlson  of  William 
Cross  and  Mary  Corliss,  of  Meth- 
uen,  Mas.sachu.setts. 


in: 


ELSIE  CHAPLIN E  PHEBY  Mar.  ARTHUR  DUDLEY  CROSS,  of 
Oakland,  Cal.  Memlier  of  the  National  Society  of  Americans  of  Royal 
Descent,  California  Society  of  the  Colonial  Dames  of  America,  Daughters 
of  the  American  Revolution. 

Ignited  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy,  California  (jenealogical  Society,  etc. 

Elsie  Hilton  Cross,  l)orn  Apr.  -iL  1S04, 
Arthur  Dudley  Cross,  born  Apr.  2-i,  l!S98. 

Authorities  : 

"Americans  of  Royal  Descent"  (0th  ed.),  pp.  45L  482-8. 

"Wentworth  Genealogy,"  Vol.  L,  p.  47. 

"De  Nova  Villa,"  pp.  30--2,  137,  270-334  and  chart  (Table  No.  1). 

"A  History  of  the  House  of  Percy."  etc.  Vol.  L 

"Royal  Genealogies,"  by  James  Anderson. 

"Irish  Pedigrees,"  by  O'Hart. 

"Historv  of  Parsonsfield,  Maine." 


Thomas  Bailey  Phel)y 

Father  of  Mrs.  (Phcby)  Cros.s,  taken 

18S().b.     Penzance  Cornwall,  I2ng- 

land,  183<).  died  Jan.  27th,  U»13. 


Mrs.  x\rthur  Dudley  Cross 

nee  Elsie  Chapline  Pheby,  a  valued 
co-laborator,  who  so  materially 
assi.sted  in  securing  data  for  these 
Cross  memoirs. 


138 


Arms  of  Mrs.  Elsie  (nee  Plieliy)  Cross 

Cross,  Mrs.  Elsie  Cliapline,  (nee  Phehy)  of  Oakland,  Cal.,  (Da.  of  Thomas 
Bailey  Phehy,  of  Oakland,  Cal.,  and  Josephine  Lsabella,  da.  of  Geneiul  Mo.ses 
W.  Chapline,  A.D.C.  to  (Jeneral  Ca.ss,  War  of  isii',  and  Elizabeth  Miller,  da. 
of  Josiah  Fox.  17<):3-184<i,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  17t>:],  Naval  Architect,  drafted 
the  old  .ships  Constitution,  Constelhition,  Wasp,  Hornet,  and  many  others  that 
won  renown  during  the  War  of  ISPi,  fifth  in  descent  from  Sir  Francis  P'ox  of 
St.  (termans,  Cornwall,  Eng.,  d.  1()7(*.) 

Bom  at  Silver  City,  Idalio;  m.  May  In,  1890.  Arthur  Dudley  C^ro.ss,  of  San 
Francisco,  Cul. 

Ai'nis — (Fox)  Ermine  on  a  clievron  azure   three   foxes"  heads  erased  or,  on  a 

canton  of  the  second  a  fleur-de-lis  or, 
Crest — A  fox  sejant  or  Motto — Faire  sats  dire. 

Societies-Colonial  Dames  of  America,  Daus.  of  the  Amer.  Revol.,  United  Daus. 
of  the  Confederacy,  Historic  Geneological  of  California,  Order  of  tiie  Crown. 

The  Royal  French  Descendants  of 
MR&ARTHUR  DUDLEY  CROSS.—Nee  ELSIE  PHEBY 
of  San    Francisco.  California. 

THE  EMPEROR  CHARLEMAGNE  had: 

Louis  L,  Emperor  of  France,  etc.,  who  had: 

Louis  L,  King  of  Bavaria,  who  had: 

C-arloman,  King  of  Bavaria,  who  had: 

Ainoul,  King  of  (termany,  who  had: 

Hedwige,  m.  Otto  of  Saxony,  and  had: 

Henry,  Emperor  of  (Termany,  who  had: 

Hedwige,  m.  Hugh,  duke  of  France,  and  had: 

Hugli  Capet,  king  of  France,  who  had: 

Heniy  L,  king  of  France,  who  had: 

Philip  L,  king  of  I'rance,  who  had: 

Louis  VL,  king  of  France,   who  had: 

Louis  VIL.  king  of  France,  who  had: 

Philip  IT.,  king  of  France,  who  had: 

Loiiis  \'IIL,  king  of  France,  who  had: 

Robert,  Count  of  Artois,  who  had: 

Blanche,  m.  Ednuuid,  Earl  of  Leicestci',  and  had: 


Henry,  Earl  of  Leicester,  wlio  had: 

Eleanor,  m.  Richard,  Earl  of  Arundel,  and  had: 

John  Fitzalan,  Lord  Maltravers,  who  had: 

John  Fitzalan  de  Arundel,  who  had: 

Sir  Thomas  Fitzalan,  Knt.,  who  had: 

Eleanor,  m.  Sir  Thomas  Browne,  and  had: 

Sir  Anthony  Browne,  standard  bearer,  who  had: 

Elizabeth,  m.  Henry,  earl  of  Worcester,  and  had: 

Eleanor,  m.  Sir  Roger  Vaughan,  Knt.,  and  had: 

Watkin  Yaughan,  of  Talgarth,  who  had: 

Sir  William  Vaughan,  of  Portland,  who  had: 

Catherine,  m.  David  ap  Evan,  of  Neath,  and  had: 

Mary,  m.  Thomas  Basset,  of  Miscin,  and  had: 

Catherine,  m.  Richard  Evan,  of  Collenna,  and  had: 

Jane,  m.  John  Evan,  of  Treverigg,  and  had: 

HOWEL— DHA,  PRINCE  OF  ALL  WALES,  had: 

Ankaret,  m.  Tewdwr,  earl  of  Hereford,  and  had: 

Eikcon  ap  Tewilwr  Trevor,  heir,  k.  v.  p.,  who  had: 

Teudor — Mawr,  king  of  South  Wales,  who  had: 

Rhys  Tudor,  prince  of  South  Wales,  who  had: 

Elizabeth,  m.  Edmund,  Baron  of  Vayrovve,  and  had: 

Sir  Edward,  baron  of  Carew,  who  had: 

John,  baron  of  Carew,  (p.  29H)  who  had: 

Anne,  m.  Thomas  Awbrey,  and  had: 

Thomas  Awbrey,  of  Aberkynfrig,  who  had: 

Thomas  Awbrey-goch,  of  Aberkynfrig,  who  had: 

Richard  Awbrey,  of  Aberkynfrig,  who  had: 

Walter  Awbrey,  of  Aberkynfrig,  who  had: 

Morgan  Awbrey,  of  Aberkynfrig,  who  had: 

Jenkin  Awbrey,  of  Alierkynfrig,  who  had: 

Hopkin  Awbrey,  of  Aberkynfrig,  who  had: 

William  Awljrey,  of  Alierkynfrig,  nho  had: 

Richard  Awbrey,  of  Aberkynfrig,  who  had: 

Richard  Awbrey,  of  Llanelyw,  Brecknock,  who  had: 

Thomas  Awbrey,  third  son,  who  had: 

William  Awbrey,  of  Llanelyw  manor,  who  had: 

John     Bevan,    in     1683,    who     m.     Barbara    Awbrey,     d.     1710,    and    had: 

Elizabeth  Bevan,  who  m.  Joseph  Richardson  of  Philadelphia,  and  had: 

Awlirey  Richardson,  of  Philadelphia,  who  m.  Sarah  Thomas,  and  had: 

Anna  INIiller,  who  m.  in  I*hiladelphia,  Oct.  9,  1794,  Josiah  Fox,  (b.  Falmouth, 
England,  Oct.  9,  1763,  d.  1847,  descended  from  Francis  Fox,  of  St.  Ger- 
mans, Cornwall,  d.  1670).     (See  Foster  s  "descendants  of  Francis    Fox"). 

Issue — Elizabeth  Miller  Fox,  b.  Philadelphia,  Aug.  22,  1797,  who  m.  Phila- 
delphia, June  22,  1813,  Gen.  Moses  W.  Chapline,  b.  Md.,  Oct.  27.  1789, 
d.  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  Oct.  20,  1840,  and  had: 

Josephine  Isabella  Chapline,  b.  Wheeling,  March  1,  1832,  d.  Apr.  30,  1909, 
Oakland,  California,  who  m.  Sept.  11,  1866,  Thomas  B.  Phebv  (Phoebus), 

Elsie  Chapline  Pheby,  b.  in  Idaho,  July  11,  1868. 

140 


FATHER  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY 

CHAPLINE-FOX  CONTRIBUTED 

General  Chapline  married  in  1813  Elizabeth  Fox  daughter  of  Josiah  Fox 
'Father  of  the  American  Navy.'  After  Fox  had  served  sixteen  years  with  the 
American  Government  he  settled  in  Belmont,  Ohio.  He  was  a  devout  quaker 
and  meetings  were  held  at  his  house. 

His  granddaughter  says  that  on  one  of  her  visits  to  her  grandfather,  she 
was  in  the  parlor  reading  unnoticed  when  two  country  neighbors  called.  The 
room  was  furnished  in  gold  and  white  the  furniture  being  brought  from 
England. 

The  little  quaker  lady  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  room  for  some  time  taking 
in  the  surroundings  at  last  she  tui-ned  to  her  husband  and  exclaimed  'Jeremiah 
doth  not  this  remind  thee  of  the  Temple  of  Solomon' 

When  the  l)ill  to  purchase  six  frigates  was  pending  before  congress  in 
1793  Josiah  Fox  then  an  English  naval  constructor  was  visiting  his  relative 
Andrew  Ellicott  of  West  Point. 

Fox  was  a  Master  Builder  in  the  English  Navy,  the  finest  in  the  workl. 

Ellicott  introduced  him  to  Secretary  of  war  Knox  and  to  Washington. 

They  offered  him  inducements  to  stay  in  the  country  and  build  ships  for 
them.     He  did  so. 

The  following  war  frigates  were  constructed  by  him:  The  illfated  'Cheas- 
apeake'  the  'Wasp'  which  defeated  the  British  shi}^  Frolic,  'Constitution' 
'United  States'  'Cresent'  (built  for  the  Dey  of  Algeirs)  'Constellation'  'John 
Adams'  Portsmouth'  'Hornet'  'Ferritt.' 

Thus  his  descendants  designate  him  'Father  of  the  American  Navy.'  As  a 
quaker  he  was  turned  out  of  that  order  for  building  'In.^truments  of  War.'  He 
was  afterwards  reinstated. 

He  inherited  an  English  title  but  declined  to  use  it. 

CALDWELL-CHAPLINE-CONTRIBUTEl) 

Mary  Caldwell  m.  Colonel  Moses  Caton  Chapline. 

The  Caldwell's  were  a  very  ancient  and  distinguislied  family.  According 
to  the  family  history  several  brothers  bora  in  France  had  earned  the  enmity  of 
a  ruling  soverign,  and  found  it  necessary  to  flee  the  country.  They  came  to 
Scotland  and  purchased  an  estate  from  a  Bishop  named  Douglas.  This  estate 
was  known  as  'COLD  WELL'  from  whence  the  brothers  derived  their  family 
name. 

Their  descendants  guaranteed  t(j  furnish  aimed  men  to  James  I  of  Eng- 
land. 

Cromwell's  grandmother  was  a  Coltlwell.  Many  of  the  Culdwells  followed 
Cromwell  to  Ireland. 

144 


When  General  Moses  Chapline's  eldest  son  Alexander  Hamilton  and  his 
wife  Dorcas  took  their  wedding  journey  to  Washington  they  were  guests  for 
one  week  of  President  Harrison  at  the  White  House.  It  is  said  that  the 
affection  of  "Old  Tippecanoe"  for  the  bride  was  then  illustrated  by  the  fact 
that  he  invariably  introduced  her  as  "my  daughter." 

WANTED  TO  TAKE  THE  CH(E)APLINE 

General  Moses  was  the  proud  possessor  of  the  first  door  plate  uscil  in 
Wheeling  and  for  this  reason  the  country  men  sometimes  took  it  for  a  com- 
mercial or  professional  sign  of  some  kind.  On  the  door  plate  was  the  simple 
word  CHAPLINE.  One  day  Avhen  Mrs.  Hamilton  Chapline  was  sitting 
(juietly  in  her  room,  she  was  surprised  to  see  a  tall  farmer  walk  in  unan- 
nounced. His  honest  demeanor  however  was  assuring,  "when  does  the  stage 
start  he  said."  Please  enquire  next  door  at  the  hotel  replied  the  lady.  "I 
know  all  al)out  that  stage  line  continued  the  countryman,  but  I  want  to  go  by 
the  cheapest  way  and  I  see  you  have  "ch(e)ap  line"  advertised  on  your  door. 

Many  other  laughable  incidents  are  told  of  the  simplicity  of  the  country 
folk  in  those  days.  George  Ghapline's  family  of  thirteen  children  were  per- 
mitted to  indulge  in  many  brilliant  social  events  in  their  parents  home.  These 
affairs  were  a  constant  source  of  astonishment  to  the  farmers  who  happened 
to  be  in  town.  One  evening  when  an  accjuaintance  of  the  family  was  passing 
the  mansion  during  a  l)all  in  the  second  storey  drawing  room,  one  of  a  group  of 
farmers  gazing  at  the  scene,  .said  to  him,  "Mister  how  much  does  it  cost  to  get 
in  that  show?"  Tvventy  five  cents  was  the  prompt  reply.  The  farmers  took  him 
seriously,  crossed  the  street  and  went  in.  The  joker  however  seeing  what  he 
had  done  was  in  the  house  before  them  warning  the  ladies.  So  that  the  farm- 
ers w'ere  permitted  to  remain  and  enjoy  the  gay  scene. 


JOSIAH  FOX 

Ancestor  of  Mrs.  A.  D.  Cross  (nee  Elsie  Pheby).    Taken  1840.     He  was 
known  as  "the  Father  of  the  Amei'ican  Navy" 


143 


ton,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.;  Lieut.  Col.  William  Pepperell,  Kittery,  Main;  Josepli 
Kicker;  Governor  Thomas  Robert,  Dover,  N.  H.;  Henry  Sherburne,  Ports- 
moutli,  1031:  Nath;in  Taylor,  Stratham,  N.  H.;  Elder  William  Wentworth, 
Exeter,  N.  H.;  Major  Richanl  Waldron,  Dover,  N.  H.;  Governor  John  Win- 
throp  of  Massachu.setts;  Rev.  John  Heard  of  Dover;  Hon.  Robert  Eliot  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.;  Capt.  Wm.  Gerrish,  1(339,  Newbury,  Mass. 

DISTINGUISHED    AMERICAN     ANCESTRY     OF     ELSIE     CHAP- 
LINE     (PHEBY)   CROSS— CONTRIBUTED. 

Gen.  Moses  Wm.  Chapline  was  the  .'^on  of  Col.  Moses  Caton  Chapline 
vv^ho  was  a  prominent  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  publicly  thanked 
by  Washington  ftn-  his  l)ravery  in  one  of  the  severest  fights  in  the  contest.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Cincinnati  Society.  Moses  Caton  ('hapline  was  sent  out 
to  Ohio  County  after  Braddock's  defeat  to  guard  the  frontiers  against  the 
French  and  Indians.  He  was  accompanied  l)y  Col.  El)enezer  Zane,  Col.  John 
Caldwell,  f  wife's  brother  j.  Major  John  Good,  Col.  Cresup  and  Col.  Lawrence 
Washington.  He  married  i\Iary  Caldwell,  daughter  of  James  C-aldwell  who 
came  to  America  in  17<39.  Her  father  was  commissioned  in  1777  by  Patrick 
Henry  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  one  of  the  (gentlemen  justices)  for  Ohio 
County,  Virginia,  to  be  a  member  of  the  first  Court  which  then  had  a  very 
extensive  territory,  I  believe  this  was  the  first  court  in  the  valley  of  Ohio,  and 
the  lirst  organized  Government  west  of  the  Alleghenies  in  Virginia.  Her 
mother  was  Elizabeth  Alexander  and  is  said  to  have  been  a  descendant  of 
Robert  Bruce  of  Scotland,  and  of  the  same  family  of  Alexanders  that  settled 
Alexandria,  Virginia. 

Like  his  fatiier.  General  Moses  W.  Chapline  was  a  distinguished  officer 
he  was  aide-de  camp  to  General  Cass  in  the  war  of  1812.  In  1834  he  was 
Mayor  of  Wheeling  and  received  other  prominent  appointments.  At  Wheel- 
ing in  May  "24,  182."),  a  banipiet  was  given  to  Lafayette.  Tliere  were  thirty 
distinguished  guests,  Genl.  Moses  W.  Chapline  presided.  Lafayette  proposed 
the  following  toasts  "Wheeling — the  centre  of  communication  between  east 
and  west  mav  it  be  more  and  more  beneficial.  "  On  May  24th,  182r),  took 
place  the  most  brilliant  social  event  of  the  decade  the  Lafayette  ball.  That 
the  great  Lafayette  was  su.sceptable  to  the  ills  wliich  more  common  flesh  is 
heir  to  was  ajiparent  at  this  I)all;  For  it  has  been  inferred  that  the  reason  he 
did  not  actually  join  in  the  dancing  was  because  of  an  attack  of  the  gout. 
During  the  ball  he  was  seated  on  a  raised  dias  overlooking  the  dancers. 
When  Lafavette  visited  Wheeling  in  the  same  carriage  with  him  was  Noah 
Zane  who  was  the  husband  of  Mary  Chapline,  the  only  sister  of  Moses  W. 
Chapline. 

Noah  Zane's  mansion  wa.s  the  seme  of  another  historic  l)an(juel  given  in 
honor  of  General  Harrison  at  Wheeling  in  1H40.  The  table  on  this  occasion 
was  set  elaborately.  The  centre  piece  was  a  log  cabin  built  of  mint  stick.s, 
and  at  the  door  of  which  was  a  miniture  keg  of  hard  cider.  The  food  was  on 
a  scale  as  colossal  as  the  hospitality,  one  cake  lieing  so  inunen.se  tliat  it  iva.s 
neces.sary  to  bake  it  in  .sections  and  afterwards  join  them  together. 

142 


ISABELLA  DE  VERMANDOIS  THE  SUPERWOMAN 

So  many  Crosses  including  our  own  line  claim  this  verile  woman  as  ances- 
tress that  it  will  be  interesting  to  read  what  Starr  -  Jordon  the  eminent  Cali- 
fornian  Professor  has  to  say  about  her. 

From  a  San  Francisco  Newspaper 

Dr.  David  Starr-Jordon  has  discovered  that  the  following  Californians  are 
descended  from  Isabella  de  Vermadois  who  lived  in  the  twelfth  century,  and 
whom  he  declares  was  the  Superwoman ;  the  fittest  of  the  English  race. 

Then  follows  a  long  list  among  them  the  name  of  Mrs.  Arthur  Dudley 
Cross  nee  Elsie  Pheby. 

Our  own  Cross  line  must  be  included  via  Ruth  Whitney  -  John  Wright, 
Amos  Cummings,  C.  B.  Cross,  Elizabeth  Cross,  Edwin  Goodman. 

Dr  Jordon  has  traced  1 ,000  American  families  representing  several  million 
units  back  through  their  ancestry  and  has  written  a  book  setting  out  the  re- 
sults of  his  investigation.  He  says:-  "Miss  Kimball  of  San  Francisco  has 
been  assisting  me  and  has  accumulated  a  great  deal  of  accurate  information." 

According  to  Charles  H.  Browning,  author  of  "Americans  of  Royal  De- 
scent," Lsabel  de  Vermondois,  the  keystone  of  the  ancestral  arch  of  the  "one 
hundred  fittest,"  was  a  daughter  of  Hugh  the  Great,  Count  of  Vermandois, 
who  commanded  the  French  pilgrims  in  the  first  crusade,  and  a  grandaughter 
of  Henry  the  first  Earl  of  Leicester  by  William.  Her  first  husband  was  the 
Count  de  Meulent,  afterwards  created  the  first  Earl  of  Leicester,  by  William 
the  Conqueror,  with  whom  he  invaded  England  at  the  time  of  the  conquest. 
Alter  his  death  she  married  William  de  Warren,  second  Earl  of  Surrey.  She 
was  the  mother  of  seven  children.    She  died  in  1118. 

We  selected  Isabella  de  Vermandois  as  a  common  ancestor  to  whom  we 
would  trace  as  many  American  descendants  of  Enghsh  families  as  possible. 
Isabella  is  known  to  have  been  a  woman  of  sound  mental,  moral  and  physical 
characteristics,  and  of  a  strain  so  virile  that  it  has  lasted  in  her  progeny,  down 
through  the  centuries.  That,  by  the  way,  is  nature's  way  of  purifying  the 
human  current.  The  progeny  of  the  feelile  minded  die  out,  like  withered 
branches  of  a  tree,  and  the  sound  limbs  spread  on  and  branch  out. 

MATERNAL   ANCESTOR  ARTHUR  DUDLEY  CROSS 

Arthur  Dudley  Cross  has  the  following  ancestors  through  his  mother's 
family:  John  Atkinson,  Newbury  1663;  Aquila  Chase,  Hampdon,  Mass. 
1640;  Governor  Thomas  Dudley  of  Massachusets;  Mayor  Chas.  Frost  Kittery 
Main;  Peter  Garland  Charleston,  Mass.  1639  Newbury,  Mass.;  Deputy  Gov 
Ambrose  Gibbons  began  settlement  at  Cape  Anne  1621;  Peter  Hill  Prior  to 
1648  at  Biddleford;  Edward  Hilton  Dover  1623;  Rev.  Jos.  Hull,  Weymouth, 
1635;  Captain  William  Leighton  Kittery,  Main,  1650;   Captain    Tobias  Lang- 

141 


The  grandson  of  one  of  these  Irish  Coldwells  was  created  a  Uaron  l)v 
William  11. 

His  grandson  James  lived  in  Tyrone,  Ireland.  His  son  James  settled  in 
Virginia  and  married  Elizal)eth  Alexander,  became  Jnstice  of  The  Peace  and 
held  other  high  offices.  His  Son  John  l)nilt  Fort  William  Henry.  Mary  Cald- 
well was  a  descendent. 

Rev.  James  Caldwell  became  a  Chaplain  in  the  American  army  during  the 
war.  He  was  intensly  patriotic  and  lost  heavily  in  this  worlds  goods  as  a 
result  his  home  and  church  being  burned  by  the  British.  Mrs.  Caldwell  was 
killed  in  her  house  while  praying  with  the  children. 

In  the  defense  of  Springfield  New  Jersey  during  the  battle  Parson  Cald- 
well supplied  the  men  with  hymn  books  to  use  for  wadding  exclaiming  "now 
put  'Watts'  into  them  boys." 

He  himself  was  shot  by  a  sentry  as  a  result  of  some  altercation.  His 
murderer  was  hanged.  His  son  John  E.  Caldwell  was  taken  to  France  by 
Lafayette  and  educated.  One  of  his  daughters,  Martha,  married  Patrick 
Calhoun  the  father  of  the  noted  Statesman  of  that  name. 

MILLER  FOX  CONTRIBUTED 

Anna  Miller  was  the  wife  of  Josiah  Fox  and  the  daughter  of  Peter  Miller 
who  settled  in  (iermantown.  Pa.  and  who  was  the  brother  of  General  Geoi'ge 
Miller  of  of  the  Revolutionary  Army.  Peter  Miller  was  a  fellow  apprentice, 
Avith  the  celebrated  Benjamin  Franklin  in  the  printing  business  subsecjuently 
setting  up  for  himselt,  publishing  a  weekly  paper  in  Philadelphia. 

On  discontinuing  the  publication  of  this  paper  he  became  a  Notary 
Public,  a  sworn  interpreter  of  the  German  language  and  was  appointed  by 
'His  Majesty'  Justice  of  the  Peace.  This  office  he  held  for  39  years.  He  was 
considered  the  most  learned  man  in  Colonial  America. 

He  translated  the  Declaiation  of  Independence  into  seven  languages  for 
Thomas  Jefferson. 

After  the  death  of  her  parents,  Josephine  Isabella,  the  eleventh  child  of 
General  Moses  Chapline,  while  still  a  child  was  taken  into  the  care  of  her  sister 
Mrs.  Robert  Stanton  (wife  of  a  wealthy  planter)  and  was  raised  by  her. 

At  the  time  of  the  out])reak  of  the  civil  war  slie  was  visiting  a  brother  in 
Wisconsin. 

Mrs.  Robert  Stanton  was  forced  to  Hee  to  Canada  for  having  attended  a 
ball  given  at  Wheeling  to  U.  S.  General  Fremont,  gowned  in  a  Confederate 
flag. 

Her  home  was  taken  by  General  Fremont  and  upon  their  departure  was 
confiscated.  Being  unable  to  return  to  the  South  Josephine  and  her  sister 
moved  to  California,  by  way  of  New  York  and  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  On 
their  way  they  went  to  Idaho  to  visit    their   sister   Mrs.  J(jnathan    Lawrence. 

Un 


While  visiting  her  sister  in  Idaho  Josephine  Chapline  married  Thomas  B  liley 
Pheby  of  England,  who  came  to  America  with  his  jmrents  at  the  age  of  ten  and 
settled  in  Richmond,  Va. 

His  father  taking  no  side  in  the  civil  war,  and  realizing  war  was  inevitable 
he  moved  with  his  family  to  Cahfornia  in  1860. 

His  expressed  reason  being  "that  he  had  not  raised  four  sons  to  be  targets 
for  ammunition." 

Thomas  Bailey  Pheby  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  ambition,  and  of 
most  decided  convictions.  He  identified  himself  with  the  mining  world  of  the 
Pacific  Coast.  He  was  interested  with  New  Yorkers  in  several  mining  ventures 
as  well.  His  associates  being  the  wall  street  firm  of  Mason  and  Smith  and 
Morton  and  Bliss.  Morton  was  afterwards  a  Vice  President  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  also  a  business  associate  and  close  friend  of  U.  S.  Senator  Jno. 
P.  Jones.  Much  of  his  time  was  spent  in  New  York.  His  Clubs  l)cing  the 
'Lotus'  'Manhattan'  and  'Union  League'.  His  wife  Josephine  Chapline  who 
died  but  a  few  years  before  him,  was  a  devoted  motlier  and  a  woman  who 
represented  the  highest  type  of  culture  and  character  which  the  south  produced. 

THE  POOR  MAN  MINE— BAD  INDIANS 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pheby  stayed  for  four  years  after  their  marriage  in  Idaho,  he 
being  superintendent  of  the  Poor  Man  Mine  when  it  was  producing  at  its  l)est. 

While  their  extreme  high  prices  prevailed.  They  paid  $4  a  gallon  for 
milk  and  a  wage  of  $75  to  the  man  who  went  for  and  brought  back  the  milk. 
Their  laundry  price  was  $4  a  dozen  for  clothes  merely  washed  what  might  be 
called  rough  dried. 

They  left  for  California  in  1870  with  their  three  children  and  Mr.  Pheby 's 
brother  William. 

The  roads  were  infested  with  bad  Indians  so  that  they  took  their  stage 
journeys  mostly  at  nights  with  lights  out. 

There  were  three  coaches  running.  The  one  they  travelled  in  came 
through  safely.  Of  the  other  two  one  was  occupied  by  the  armed  men  accus- 
tomed to  Indian  warfare.  In  spite  of  these  precautions  but  one  passenger  of 
the  other  two  coaches  reached  Portland  alive. 

Arriving  in  San  Francisco  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pheby  lost  their  eldest  son  three 
years  old  as  the  result  of  the  hardships  of  the  trip.  They  made  their  home  in 
Oakland  where  the  family  have  since  resided. 

Their  only  daughter  Elsie  Chapline  Pheby  married  Arthur  Dudley  Cross 
in  1893  (and  their  children  are  descendents  of  the  Cross  line  as  well  as  this 
distinguished  line,  maternal,  now  briefly  outlined  by  their  mother — Author.) 

LINE  OF  MRS.  L.  F.  CROSS  nee  LORANA  FRENCH 

Edward  French  came  to  Ipswich  in  l(j35,  and  the  next  year  he  removed 
to  Salisbury,  and  was  among  its  earliest  pioneers.  He  died  Dec.  28,  l(j74. 
His  wife,  Ann,  died  the  9th  of  March,  1683.  His  brother  William  (1)  French 
came  from  England  to  Camljridge  1635  and  became  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
Bellerica.     He  was  a  representative  from  Bellerica  in  1663,  a  Lieutenant  and 

146 


an  active  and  useful  citi/en.  His  wife  was  Klizabetli.  They  wci'e  mariied  in 
England.  She  died  ]\Iarch  81st  10G8.  He  nuinied  secondly  May  (3th,  lOUlt, 
Mary  (Lathrop)  Stearns  widow  of  Lieut.  John  (2)  Stearns.  He  died  Nov. 
20th  1681.  This  wadow  married  (3)  June  20th  1(J87  Isaac  (2)  Mixer  of  Water- 
town.  Jacob  (2)  French,  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  French  was  b.  Jan. 
16th  1639-40.  His  house  was  one  of  the  Garrisons  during  King  Phillips  war. 
He  married  Sep  7th  166")  Mary  Champney  daughter  of  Elder  llichard  Champ- 
ney  of  Cambridge.  She  died  April  1st  1681.  He  married  secondly  June  30th 
168.3,  IVIary  Converse  of  Woburn,  wdio  died  April  18th  1685.  Tlie  third  wife 
was  ]\Iarv,  who  was  drowned  June  9th,  1709.  His  fourth  wife  Ruth  died  Nov. 
6th    1730.    He  died  May  20th  1713. 

William  (2)  French  son  of  Jacob  (2)  and  Mary  (Champney)  French  was 
born  at  Bellerica  July  18th  1668.  He  married  May  22nd  169.')  Sarah  Danforth 
daughter  of  Captain  Jonathan  Danforth  of  Bellerica.  He  also  lived  in  Beller- 
ica where  he  died.  See  30th  1723.  His  widow  married  secondly  June  10th, 
1729,  Ebenezer  Davis  of  Concord,  where  .she  died  Oct.   15th  1751. 

Ebenezer  (4)  French,  son  of  William  (3)  l)orn  in  Bellerica  Aug.  5th, 
1707,  married  Aug.  27th,  1729,  Elizabeth  Hill,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah 
(Page)  Hill.  Thev  lived  in  Bellerica.  He  died  in  Dec.  31,st,  1791.  She  died 
JNIarch  26th,  1786.^ 

Jesse  (5)  French  son  of  El)enezer  (4)  b.  April  6th  1739,  married  April 
14th  1761  Abigail  Ja(|uith,  born  at  Bellerica  May  28th,  1742,  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Hannah  (Farley)  Jaquith.  In  1763  he  removed  from  Bellerica 
to  Fitchburg  where  he  lived  about  twenty  years  when  he  returned  to  Bellerica. 
The  eldest  child  Jesse  was  born  in  Bellerica  and  seven  were  born  in  Fitchburg. 

1.  Jesse  b,  Oct.  11,  1761;  removed  to  Ohio. 

2.  Samuel  b.  Mar.  14,  1763,  married  Oct.  14,  1784,  Eunice  White  daughter 
of  Nathanial  and  Lydia  (Phelps)  White.  He  lived  in  Fitchburg.  Their  child- 
ren were  Samuel,  Abel,  Lucinda,  Christopher,  Sut,  Levi. 

3.  Thomas,  b.  May  18th,  1765,  married  Sept.  21st  1788  Ruth  iVIarshall. 

4.  Luther  b.  Sept.  25th,  1767,  married  August  28,  1796,  Sally  Bowers, 
daughter  of  Josiah  and  Maria  (Trowl)ridge)  Bowers  of  Bellerica.  They  lived 
in  Bellerica  and  had  eleven  children;  one  of  these  Josiah  Bowers  was  ^Mayor  of 
Lowell,  a  benefactor  of  several  charities  and  a  most  worthy  man.  (5)  Al)raham, 
b.  Jan.  22nd,  1770,  merchant  of  Boston.  (6)  El)enezer.  b.  June  19th,  1772.  (7) 
Abigail,  b.  Sept.  11,  1774,  died  Sept.  28th  1776.  (8)  Abigail,  June  6,  1777. 

Thomas  (6)  French,  .son  of  Jesse  (5)  b.  in  Fitchburg  May  8th,  1765,  m. 
Sep.  21st,  17s^,  Ruth  Mar.shall,  lived  in  Fitchburg  where  he  died  Feb.  28,  1843. 
Their  chihlren  were:  (1)  Ruth  b.  Feb.  27th,  1789;  (2)  Mar.shall,  b.  July  1st, 
1791;  (3)  Abigail,  June  23,  1793;  (4)  Abel  b.  June  2,  1795  and  d.  April  11,  1S24. 
He  was  killed  with  a  knife  in  the  hands  of  his  cousin  Abel  French.  (Note  how 
strange  that  thev  have  borne  the  biblical  name  of  the  first  man  of  the  human 
race  to  be  slain  bv  his  fellow  man.  He  married  April  28th  isis,  Mary  Kil- 
burn  (5)  Thomas  B.  1).  March  13th  1797.  (6)  Loring  b.  March  13th  lH()0;(Lorm 
(m  records)  (7)  Joseph  b.  Oct.  29,  1H02,  married  1827  Eunice  Dole;  (8)  Su.san- 
nab.  Oct.  8th  1804;  (9)  Sumner  b.  .Ian.  1,   1>^0(!;  (\())  Mary  b.  June  25,  1808. 

147 


Loring  French,  son  of  Thomas  French,  li.  in  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  March  13, 
1800,  d.  in  Dracutt,  Mass.,  Dec.  27,  1880;  m.  Rebeckah  Sawyer,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Abigail  (Cmnniings)  Sawj-er,  b.  in  Weston,  Vt.,  Jan.  5,  1805,  d. 
in  Saco  Maine,  Jan.  21,  1844.  Loring  French  afterwards  married  Hannah 
Averill  on  Sept.  0,  184(3.  She  died  March  8,  1815(3.  The  children  of  Loring 
and  Kebeckah  were :  Amanda,  Electia,  Lorintr,  Adaline  and  Lorana;  Amanda, 
b.  at  Lowell,  Mass.,  Jan.  28,  1829,  d.  at  Methuen,  June  24,  1897:  Electia,  b. 
Lowell,  Mass,,  Dec.  28,  1830;  Loring,  Jr.,  b.  Saco  Maine,  April  13,  1833,  d. 
Los  Angeles,  April  4,  1888;  Lorana,  b.  Saco  Maine,  May  30,  1836;  Adaline,  b. 
Saco  INIaine  Aug.  16,  1839.  Lorana  French  married  Wm.  Parker  Cross  at 
Dracutt,  Mass.,  Nov.  24,  1853. 


MRS.  WM.  PARKER  CROSS 

Nee  Lorana  (French)  Cross  a  valued  correspondent  and  a  loyal  friend  without 
whose  efforts  these  memoirs  would  have  been  a  far  more  difficult  task 
for  in  my  investigations  Mrs.  Cross'  tireless  energy  and  enthusi- 
asm and  abiding  faith,  spurred  me  on  to  sustained  effort 
and  my  present  measure  of  success.    She  has  been 
searching  Cross  records  for  half  a  century  and 
made  it  possible  to  present  a  comprehensive 
Cross  History.  She  was  born  in  1836 
and  is   therefore  78  years  of  age 
and  is  still  an  earnest   gen- 
ealogical worker. 


e. 


/>#U/ 


14S 


ANCIENT  WHITNEY  FAMILY 

Ruth  Whitney  married  Enoch  Lawrence,  grandfjither  of  Sarah  (Law- 
rence) Wright  (Cummings-Cross.)  Eustace  De  Whitney  was  of  Flemish  de- 
scent, of  his  mother  Agnes  it  is  recorded  in  the  Doomsday  book,  Agnes  rehcta 
Turstini  Fkndreusis  et  Eustacinis  miles  hlius  ejus  Domines  de  Whitney, 
dideriHit  ecclesiae  sansti  petri  Glocest;  unam  hidam  terrae  in  {)cncomb  etc. 
(Agnes  widow  of  Turstan  the  Fleming  and  Sir  Eustace  her  son  Lord  of  Whit- 
ney gave  to  the  church  of  St.  Peter  at  Gloucester  one  hide  (120  acres)  of  bind 
in  Pencomb  etc.) 

Some  of  the  early  Lords  of  Whitney  were  of  Welsh  descent,  one  of  theni 
Sir  Peidge  Axrog  was  a  Knight  of  the  round  table  and 'To  King  Ai-thur's 
time  lived  at  his  castle  at  Cardmore. 

John  Whitney  the  Puritant  Emigrant 
By  Hy  Melville  Esq. 

He  was  the  first  in  America  and  the  son  of  Thomas  Whitney,  gentleman, 
of  Westminster  and  his  wife  INIary  Bray  and  was  born  July  20  1592.  He  was 
a  direct  descendant  of  the  W^hitneys  of  W^hitney,  where  on  the  banks  of  the 
Wye,  the  crumbling  ruins  of  their  ancestral  castle,  can  still  be  seen,  surviving 
centuries  of  border  warfare. 

His  uncle,  Sir  James  was  knighted  by  Queen  Elizabeth  at  Windsor  in 
1570.  He  was  Lord  of  Whitney,  Clifford,  Pencomb  Ocle  Pichard,  Kings,  Copel, 
Bougrid,  Tremyre  scomb,  Clifton  and  Cornwich,  and  Sheriff  of  Herefordshire. 

John  Whitney's  grandfather.  Sir  Robert  was  knighted  by  Queen  ^^ary  in 
15.33  and  represented  Herefordshire  in  Parliament;  from  thence  stretch  back  a 
long  line  of  Whitneys  and  De  Whitney's  to  the  Norman  Cont^uest. 

Whitney  was  waste  land  at  the  time  of  the  Conquest,  but  Sir  Thurston, 
one  of  the  Conquerors  knights,  commonly  known  as  Turston  the  Fleming, 
married  Agnes  daughter  of  Alrued  De  Merleberge  one  of  the  great  l>arons  of 
the  realm,  who  settled  on  her,  with  other  land,  the  Pencomb  estate,  (held  for  a 
century  in  the  family)  Agnes  had  two  sons,  PZustas  and  Turstin,  to  the  former 
of  whom  the  property  passed.  Between  1100  and  1200  Eustace  son  or  grand- 
son engaged  in  the  border  wars,  built  a  stronghold  and  took  up  his  residence 
at  Whitney  on  the  banks  of  the  Wye  and  took  the  Surname  De  (^of)  Whitney. 

The  first  mention  made  in  any  record  now  extant,  of  tiiis  family  is  of 
Robert  De  Wytteneye  1242  A.  D.  From  Robert's  son  Sir  Eustace  De 
Wvtteneye  an  authcnic  account  can  be  given  of  each  head  of  the  family  in  a 
long  line. 

After  fimi'  vciirs  of  research  Henry  Melville  of  the  New  York  bar  has 
complcteil  and    piihlisiied  a    riclily  illustrated   book  entitled  "The  Ancestiy   of 

1 52 


OUR  LINES  CROSS 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  French-Cummings  Hne  crosses  the  Cross-Cum- 
mings  line  by  the  Sawyer  connection — while  John  Cummings  married  the 
widow  of  Col.  Thos.  French  in  1650. 

The  descent  of  Rebecca  Sawyer  who  married  Loring  French  was  as  follows: 
Isaac  Cummings  emigrant,  b.  1601,  Salem  1620.  John  Cummings  b.  1630  m. 
Alice  ^French)  Howlett.  John  Cummings,  b.  1657,  m,  Hannah  (Brackettj 
Kinsley. 

Here  the  lines  diverge — the  issue  of  this  marriage  was  two  sons,  John  and 
William. 


The  Cross   ancestor  was  Deacon  William. 
Deacon  John. 


The  French   Ancestor  was 


ADAMS— CUMMINGS 

Deacon  John  m.  1862  Elizabeth  daughter  of  I'eletiah  and  Ruth  Adams, 
the  family  which,  in  the  male  line,  gave  two   presidents  to  the  United  States. 

He  was  the  first  Deacon  of  the  Chelmsford  church.  Moderator  of  the  first 
town  meeting,  and  town  clerk  in  1736. 

Their  son  John  m.  Mary  Towne  in  1738.  He  was  b.  April  19,  1717.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars.. 

His  son  Captain  John  Cummings  was  b.  at  Groton,  Mass.  March  16th, 
1737  and  m.  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Peter  Reed  of  Littleton,  Mass.  He  was 
under  Capt.  Dow  in  Prcscott's  regiment  at  Bunker  Hill.  He  was  subsequently 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain. 

He  was  a  zealous  citizen,  but  differed  in  his  religious  cimviction  from 
most  of  his  townsmen.     He  died  1805. 

His  daughter  Abigail,  b.  Feb  11th  1774  m.  March  18th  1800,  Jonathan 
son  of  Jonathan  and  Isabel  (Grimes)  Sawyer.  He  died  1775,  Peru,  N.  Y, 
She  died  in  Weston  Vt. 

Their  daughter  Rebecca  married  Loring  French. 


WHITNEY    ARMS 


Taken  from  Mathews  American  Army  and 
Blue  Book  ;  Descent  of  John  Whitney  1583-1673; 
settled  in  Watertown;  Ma.ss.,  1635;  son  of  Thomas 
gent,  died  1637,  son  of  Robert,  son  of  Sir  Robert 
d.  1567  sixth  in  descent  from  Sir  Robert  of  Castle 
Clifford  d.  1441,  who  was  seventh  in  descent  from 
Eustace  de  Whitney  of  Whitney  of  the  Wye  1200 
Great  Grandson  of  Thur.ston  the  Fleming  who 
came  with  William  the  Conqueror  1066.  Arms- 
Azure  a  cross  checjuy  or  and  gules.  Crest — A 
bull's  head  couped  sable  armed  or,  the  points  gules. 
Motto — Magnanimiter  crucem  sustine. 

151 


Grace  Cross  Born   1070 


Robert  Cross,  age  11. 
Grandchild  of  Mrs.  William 
Parker  (French)  Cross.  Son 
of  Homer  Chase  and  the 
late  Ada  Estelle  (Cross) 
Chase.  Last  representative 
of  (French)  Cross  line. 


The  Late  Ada  (Chase)  Cros.s,  ]nm\  1S62 


HOMER  CHASE  MARRIED  ESTELLA  CROSS— CHASE  LINE 

1.  Aquilla  Chase,  Chesham,  England  1018,  m.  Ann  Wheeler  d.   Newbury, 
Mass.  1070.    Had  eleven  children. 

2.  Moses,  b.  1063,  d.   1743,  m.  Ann  Folausbee  first,  Sarah  Jacob  second. 

3.  Joseph  b.  1703,  d.  1784,  m.  Mary  Morse. 

4.  Joseph,  b.  1782,  d.  1804,  m.  Su.sanna  Bancroft, 
o.   Parker,  b.  I7r>2,  d.  181;').  m.  Ruth  Kelly. 

0.  Jacob,  b.  1782,  m.  Lillie  Hodge,  180:>. 

7.  Rufus   Parker,   b.   ls!04,  d.    1870,  m.  first  Mercy  Wing,  second  Ann 
Blanchard. 

8.  Homer  Forrest,  b.  Worcester  Mass  1809  m.  .Vda  Estelle  Cross. 

I.IO 


CROSS— HAZLETON 

The  fourth  WilHam  Cross  being  the  eighth  child  of  Abijah  Cross  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Parker)  Cross  (William,  William,  John  Kobert)  b.  1798  d.  ISS'i,  m. 
June  4th  1820  Mary  Hazleton.  Thev  li^ed  in  the  Cross  Home.  They  had  issue 
(1)  Benjamin  Hazleton  b.  May  24,  ■]821,  d.  May  1st  1845;  f2;  William  Parker, 
b.  Nov."l8,  1826,  d.  Jan.  28,  1882;  (3)  James  Bradley,  b.  Jan.  4th,  1828,  d.  Sep. 

28,  1885,  m.  Aug.  15,  1871  Matilda  C.  Tucker,  b:  April  20,  1840 

(1)  Mary  Frances,  b.  Oct.  13,  1«62,  m.  Oct.  13,  1886,  Henry  W.  Eastham 
and  had  Susie  W.,  b.  Sept.  4  18S9,  Grace  b.  1897.  (2)  Susie  Fuller,  1>.  Dec.  13, 
1864;  m.  1885,  Merrill  Barton,  and  had  Charles  W.,  b.  July  26,  1886  and 
Walter  C.  b.  April  1,  1890,  d.  1891.  (3)  Charles  E.,  b.  Aug.  8,  1871,  d.  Aug. 
30,  1872.  (4)  Alice  Bradley,  b.  May  9,  1875.  She  m.  Dec.  21,  1894,  Herbert 
W.  Hatch. 

CROSS— FRENCH 

William  Parker  Cross  the  second  child  of  William  and  Mary  (Hazleton  j 
Cross,  m.  Nov.  24th  1853  Lorana  French  of  Dracut.  They  lived  in  the  old 
homestead.    They  had    issue  :     (1)   George    Loring,  b.  Oct.  22,  1S55,  m.   May 

29,  1891,  Rose  Gertrude  Messer.  They  lived  on  the  old  homestead  in  a  new 
house.  No  children.  {'2)  Frank  Parker,  b.  Oct.  30,  1858,  d.  Oct.  25,  1875. 
(ii)  Ada  Estelle,  b.  May  2,  1862,  d.  Jan.  1,  1909,  m.  June  10,  1^96,  Homer  F. 
Chase,  Aug.  9,  1869,  and  had  Gladys  and  Robert,  who  constitute  the  eighth 
generation  on  the  old  homestead.      (4j  Grace  Hazleton,  h.  Dec.  17,  1870. 


GEORGE    LORING    CROSS 

Eldest  child  of  William  Parker  Ci-oss  and  Loraiia  (French)  Cross. 


149 


John  \Miitney.' 

VllOM  THE  EMIGRANT 

1.  Thomas  Whitney  (Iloyal  Descent),  (En>,'lan(l). 

2.  Robert  Whitney,  f  England  A 

3.  (1  Gen.)  John  VVliitiiey  (the  emigrant),  b.  in  England,   1589;  settled  in 

Watertown,  Mass.,  June  K);}"):  m.  in  England  Eleanor b.  1599, 

d.  in  Waterton,  Mass.,  May  11,  K559;  m.  2nd  in  Watertown  Sept.  29,  1659, 
Judith  Clemant,  who  died  before  lier  husband;  he  died  June  1,  1(573  in  Water- 
town,  Mass. 

Children 

1.  Mary  bap.   Eng.  May  23,  1019,  dying. 

2.  John  b.  Eng.  1020,  m.  Ruth  Reynolds 

3.  Richard  b.  i(32(),  ni.  Martha  Coldam,  Eng. 

4.  Nathaniel,  h.  1(527,  m.,  Eng. 

5.  Thomas  1).  K529,  m.  Mary  Kendall  or  Kettle,  Eng. 
(5.  Jonathan  b.  England,  1(52-1,   m.  Lydia  Jones. 

7.  Joshua  b,  Watertown  .July  5,  m.  1(535  1st  Lydia,  2nd  Mary,  and  Srd 
Abigail  Tarballks. 

8.  Caleb  b.  W.  July  12.  1840, 

9.  Benjamin  b.  W.  June  (5,  1(543,  m.  1st  Jane,  2nd  Mary  Poor. 

2nd  generation,  John  b.  in  England  1620;  resided  in  Watertown.  In  1642 
he  m.  Ruth,  daughter  of  Rol)ert  Reynolds  of  Watertown,  Weathersfield  and 
Boston. 

Children : 

1.  John  b.  Sept.  17,  1643.  m.  Eliz.  Harris 

2.  Ruth  b.  Apr.  15,  1(545,  m.  1st  June  20,  1664,  John  Shattuck,  2nd 
Mar.  6,  1676,  Enoch  Laurence. 

3.  Nathaniel  b.  Feb.  1,  1646,  m.  Sarah  Hagar 

4.  Samuel,  b.  July  2(5,  1(348,  m.  Mary  Bemis 

3rd  generation,  Ruth  Whitney,  m.  1st  John  Shattuck.    He  was  drowned 
in  passing  Charlestown  Ferry,  Sept.  14,  1675.     She   married   2nd  Enoch  Lau- 
rence. 1).  March  5,  1(549.  d.  Sept  28,  1744. 
Issue  by  first  husband : 

1  John  b.  June  4,  1(566,  m.  Mary  Blood;  killed  by  the  Indians  with  his 
son  Groton,  March  8,  1709. 

2.  Ruth  b.  Jan.  24.  1668 

153 


3.  William  b.  Sept  11,  K570,  m.  Ist  Hannah  Under,  2nd  Deliverance 
Pease 

4.  Samuel  m.  Eliz.   Blood 

Children  by  2nd  husband,  Enoch  Laurence: 

1.  Nathaniel  b.  Feb.  21,  1677;  m.  Hannah^ ?    One  of  his  sons 

was  captain  of  the  Groton  Co. 

2.  Daniel  b.  March  7, 1681,  m.  Sarah 1    In  1707  he  moved 

from  Groton  to  Plainfield,  Conn.,  in  that  part  which  became  Killingly;  had  two 
wives  and  twenty-two  children. 

3.  Zechariah  b.  July  16,  1683,  m.  1st,  Abigail  Parker:  2nd  Lucy  Takin 

4.  Jeremiah  b.  May  1,  1686 

Note: — Enoch  Laurence  was  wounded  in  a  tight  with  the  Indians,  July 
27,  lGit4,  which  almost  wholly  prevented  him  from  being  able  to  do  manual 
labor.  John  Shattuck  was  in  Capt.  Beer's  Co.  in  the  Squakeag  fight,  Sept  4, 
1(575. 

Reference:— Whitney  Genealogy  by  Frederick  Clifton  Pierce,  1895,  page  22 

Society  Colonial   Wars,  1897  and  1898,  page  499. 

Enoch  Laurence,  1648,  Watertown,  Mass.,  soldier  in  King  Phillips  war 
in  Groton,  Gaversin  1691,  1692,  wounded  1694,  King  Williams  war  in  1702. 
The  provincial  authorities  granted  him  immunity  from  taxation,  and  a  pension 
of  £3  yearly  on  account  of  physical  disability  contracte  1  as  above. 


REV.  R.  T.  CROSS 
To  whom  my  thanks  are  due  for  assistance  in  compiling  these  memoirs 

154 


DESCENDANTS  OF  JOHN  CROSS,  JR. 

Rev.  K.  T.  Cross  has  pul)Iislie(l  a  work  entitled  'My  Children's  Ancestors 
Cross'  It  is  valuable  as  a  reference  to  all  Cross  kinsmen  and  sets  out  in  detail 
his  children's  ascent  to  John  Cross  of  Haverhill  1700. 

For  this  reason  this  collateral  line  will  only  be  presented  here  in  briefest 
form. 

The  I^ev.  It.  T.  Cross  in  his  volume  shows  his  royal  line  through  the  de 
Umfravills:  Lamberts;  Lymans  and  Bridgemans. 

JOHN  CROSS  JR.'S   WILL 

In  Mr.  Cross's  book  John  Cross  Jrs.  long  will  is  printed  in  full. 

After  the  usual  preamble  he  sets  forth  that  he  bequeaths  to  John,  Thomas, 
INIoses  and  Aaron  his  sons  certain  tracts  of  land;  and  he  mentions  Thomas 
Hartshorn,  husband  of  his  daughter  Sarah  as  a  beneficiary  under  certain  con- 
ditions in  the  will.  To  his  Avife  he  leaves  certain  cattle  and  one  half  his  dwell- 
ing house  and  the  improvements  one  half  of  a  large  tract  of  land  and  one  half 
the  birn.  He  also  gave  sums  of  money  to  his  daughter  Sarah  Hartshorn  and 
her  daughters  Hannah  and  Sarah. 

John  Cross  and  Sarah  Peacock  were  married  April  L5,  1708.  Rev.  Mr. 
Cross  ascertained  that  the  ancestors  of  Sarah  Peacock  were  as  follows  :  Wil- 
liam Peacock  of  Roxbury,  105:2,  came  prol)aI)ly  in  Hopewell  103")  at  age  of 
twelve,  hence  born  10i'3;  married  Mary  Willis  April  12,  10.3:).  Had  children: 
William,  born  Aug.  24,  lO"),"),  died  soon;  William,  born  July  0,  1057  and  Sam- 
uel, born  Aug.  24,  105f»,  died  probably  June,  1001. 

William  Peacock,  Jr.  b.  1057,  married  Sarah  Edsall,  Aug.  3,  1081. 
Children: 

Mary  1).  Feb.  3.  1082,  d.  early. 

Sirah  b.  Nov.  20,  108:3,  m.  Jno.  Cross  April  15.  1708. 

ElizaV)eth  b.  Aug.  10,  1080. 

William  1).  10S8. 

Samuel  b.  April  8,  1091. 

Taken  from  Savage 
Children  of  John  Cross  and  Sarah  Peacock: 

Sarah  1).  Mai-ch  10,  170!t,  m.  June  20,  1720,  Jonathan  Hartshorn,  both  of 
Methuen. 

John  b.  Sept.  22,  1711 
Thomas,  March  22,  1713-4 
Mose.s,  April  :].  1710 
Aaron.  Oct.  20,  1718 
Asa,  March  4,  1722-3 
Elizabeth,  Oct.   18,  1725 

155 


Stephen  Cross  and  Hannah  (xuild  were  married  at  Haverhill,  July  3, 
1746,  and  Samuel  Cross  of  Meuthen  and  Hannah  Eaton  of  Haverhill  were 
married  April  14,  1774.  The  children  of  Stephen  Cross  and  Hannah  Guild, 
according  to  Haverhill  records,  were  Hannah  b.  1747;  '2,  Stephen  b.  1748;  3, 
Sarah,  l7ol  and  Ann,  1751;  o,  Jessie,  b.  17o4;  6,  Thomas,  l7o7;  7,  Elizabeth, 
1759. 

John  Cro.ss,  the  eldest  son  of  John  and  Sarah,  married  July  29,  17()"2, 
Martha  Hibbord,  widow  of  Samuel  Cross.  He  died  June  '21),  17G9.  Theodore 
Cross,  their  sou,  was  born  Aug.  2."),  170");  died  April  28,  1832.  married  1790, 
Susanna  Jackman,  b.  March  27,  1709,  d.  Sept.  29,  1848.  Rev.  Gorman  Cross, 
their  son,  was  born  Oct  4,  1808,  d.  May  10,  1895,  m.  Sept.  13,  1831,  Sophia 
Murdock,  b.  Nov.  5,  1809,  d.  May  1,  1873.  Their  son.  Rev.  Roselle  Theodore 
Cross,  b.  Aug.  21,  1844,  m.  Aug.  12,  1809,  Emma  A.  Bridgcman,  who  died 
Sept.  11,  1910.  They  had  Theodore  Bridgeman,  b.  Jan  5,  1873,  d.  Feb.  3, 
1870.  Leora  Minnie,  b.  Feb.  3,  1875.  Charles  Finney,  b.  June  1,  1870,  d. 
Sept.  14,  1870.  Rev.  Judson  Lewis  Cros.s,  liorn  Nov.  10,  1878,  m.  Sept.  13, 
1904,  Florence  Emily  Isham;  ('leveland  Roselle,  b.  May  19,  1882,  m.  in  Nov. 
11,  1908,  Ruth  Ada  Savage. 

The  son  of  Rev.  Gorman  Cross  and  Sophia  Murdock,  Rev.  R.  T.  Cross, 
has  done  much  in  the  way  of  successful  work  in  tracing  the  male  and  female 
lines  of  his  own  family,  and  also  in  helping  to  straighten  out  some  of  the  diffi- 
cult Cross  problems. 

REV.  R.  T.  CROSS 

Rev.  R.  T.  Cross'  Murdock  line,  he  traces  in  a  clean  cut  fashion  to  the 
emigrant  Roliert  Murdock  born  in  Scotland  1005,  d.  1754;  while  the  Chute 
line  has  been  traced  still  further  back  to  Alexander  Chute  of  Tauton  Somerset 
England  A.  D.  1208.  The  nineteenth  in  descent  being  Ilannali  Chute  who 
married  Captain  Timothy  Jackman  (20)  Benjamin  Jackman  (21)  Timothy 
Jackman  (22)  Susanna  Jackman  m.  1790  Theadore  Cross  (23)  Rev.  Gorman 
Cross  (24)  Rev.  R.  T.  Cross. 


150 


..v-j-; 


v^-v;,'.vy;. 


RARE  OLD  .SIGNATURES 


1."): 


MASONIC  APKON  OF  WILLIAM  CKOSS  III 

Ijoi'ii  Haveihill  1742.  He  was  a  freemason,  like  his  famous  son  Jeremy. 
From  photo  liy  myself  The  apron  is  that  of  Past  Worshipful  Master.  It  is 
remarkable  for  the  number  of  symbols  it  contains  each  one  of  masonic  signific- 
ance. 

LIFE  AND  TIMES  OF  JEREMY  L.  CROSS 

LECTURE  TO  FREEMASONS  OF  VANCOUVER 

WORSHIPFUL  SIR  AND  BRETHREN  :  When  Worshipful  Bro. 
King  re(jueste(l  me  to  address  you  on  some  masonic  subject  I  felt  honored 
and  gratified.  For  it  was  in  Cascade  Lodge  that  I  first  saw  the  Masonic  light, 
and  where  that  love  of  freemasonry  was  engendered,  which  has  grown  with 
the  aflvancing  years.  I  did  not  anticipate  so  large  a  gathering  of  representa- 
tive l)rethren  so  well  and  so  favorably  known  nor  such  a  display  of  very 
illustrious  Masons  and  Masonic  students  in  the  "East".  I  urge  them  to  be  tol- 
erant in  their  criticism  of  my  remarks.     In  choosing  the  subject  of  my  dis- 

158 


course,  1  did  not  feel  ju.stitied,  ;it  thi.s  time,  to  iuldress  you  on  the  technicalities 
of  masonry,  nor  did  1  feel  worthy  enough,  to  admonish  you  as  to  your  duties  to 
(Jod  and  the  Craft. 

But  I  am  able  to  present  to  you,  the  picture  of  a  free  mason  who  lived  a 
hundred  years  ago,  who  was  ever  striving  to  perforin  those  duties,  with  all  his 
mind  and  with  all  his  heart.  And,  if  when  that  presentation,  has  been  made 
you  believe  as  I  do  that  his  example  is  worthy  of  emulation  l)y  all  good  masons, 
and  you  are  inclined  to  reflect  on  the  necessity  of  abjuring  old  errors  and  form- 
ing new  resolutions — then  my  humble  eftbrts  shall  not  have  been  in  vain. 

T  have  been  alloted  fifteen  minutes  and  that  I  may  have  this  fact  im- 
pressed upon  my  mind  I  shall  entitle  my  lecture. 

A  QUARTER  OF  AN  HOUR  WITH  CROSS. 

A    MASONIC      AUTHOR    AND    LECTURER    WHO    FLOURISHED 

BETWEEN  1815  AND  1850 

It  has  been  my  good  fortune  to  have  in  my  possession,  a  quantity  of  data 
regarding  thejife  and  times  of  Jeremy  L.  Cross. 

So  that  whilst  others  have  spoken  of  Cross  the  Mason  I  am  able  to  tell 
you  of  Cross  the  Man. 

As  a  member  of  the  craft  his  work  lives  after  him,  a  monument  to  his  zeal 
and  erudition;  as  an  individual  and  a  citizen  of  the  world  his  ideals  are  instruc- 
tive, his  acts  worthy  of  the  highest  praise. 

He  was  an  idealist,  his  mind  was  essentially  creative,  and  he  gave  all  to 
masom-y. 

He  is  best  known  by  his  'Masonic  Chart',  which,  when  it  appeared  some 
seventy  five  years  ago,  created  a  sensation  among  the  fraternity,  as  it  contain- 
ed for  the  first  time,  printed  representations  of  Masonic  symbols,  which  had 
been  previously,  only  explained  by  word  of  mouth.  His  daring  was  remark- 
able: but  my  "brethern,  it  must  be  remembered  that  he  was  backed  in  his 
enterprise  by  many  of  the  best  masons  and  biggest  minds  in  the  United  States, 
although  he' personally  bore  the  responsibility. 

You  will  be  introduced  posthumously,  to  Mos.  Wor.  liro.  Cross  by  Mos. 
Wor.  Bro.  Albert  Fyke,  and  Wor.  Bro.  Benjamin  Franklin. 

Bro.  I'yke  says  :  Jeremy  L.  Cross,  a  teacher  of  Masonic  ritual,  who,  dur- 
ing his  life  time,  was  known  and  veiy  popular,  was  born  June  27th  178o  at 
Haverhill  N.  H.  and  died  ISOI. 

Cross  was  admitted  into  masoiuT  in  1808  and  soon  after  became  a  pupil 
of  Thomas  Webb,  who.se  modifaction  of  the  Freston  lectures,  and  the  lectures 
in  the  highei-  degrees  were  at  that  time  generally  accepted  in  the  United 
States.  I'ross  having  ac(iuircd  a  competent  knowledge  of  Webl)"s  system  be- 
gan to  travel  and  lecture  through  the  country.  In  lsI9  he  published  "the 
true  Masonic  Cliart "  or  Hier()glyi)hic  Monitor. 

The  engraving  of  the  emblems  constituted  a  new  and  entirely  original 
feature  in  the  Hieroglyphic  chart,  and  became  at  once  very  popular,  so  much 
so  indeed  that  it  supeiceded  that  of  Webl>. 

15J> 


In  18*20  Cross  published  the  Templar's  chart  which  is  a  Monitor  to  the 
Degrees  of  Chivalry.  This  was  folloAved  by  the  Thirty  Ineffable  degrees  of 
Scottish  Kite  Masonry.       All  these  works  passed  through  several  editions. 

The  monument  adopted  in  the  American  system,  and  for  which  we  are  it 
is  said  indebted  to  Cross,  consists  of  a  weeping  Virgin,  holding  in  one  hand  a 
sprig  of  xA.cacia,  and  in  the  other  hand  an  urn.  Before  her  is  a  broken  column, 
on  which  rests  a  copy  of  the  book  of  Constitution,  whilst  Time  Ijeliind  her,  is 
attempting  to  disentangle  the  ringlets  of  her  hair.  Although  the  monument 
is  simple,  the  symbolic  expression  of  the  idea  that  Veneration  should  ever  be 
paid  to  departed  merit  is  well  carried  out. 

As  a  matter  of  fact  my  brethren.  Cross  confcs.sed  to  his  friends,  and  it 
does  not  detract  from  his  genius,  that  he  copied  the  idea  from  a  monument  in 
an  ancient  church  yard.  This  monument  was  by  an  unknown  sculptor,  per- 
haps copied  by  him  in  turn,  from  some  other  idealist  of  the  remote  past, 
but  Cross  gave  it  to  masonry,  and  masonry  accepted  it,  and  for  all  time  it 
becomes  a  masonic  symbol. 

The  Verdict  of  Another  Great  Man  and  Mason 

Benjamin  Franklin  says:  Jeremy  L.  Cross  was  a  distinguished  mason. 
Before  he  published  "his  chart",  it  might  be  said  without  impropriety,  that  the 
emblems  in  the  first  three  degrees,  were  the  jDroperty  of  masons,  but  as  em- 
blems only,  and  without  any  regard  to  their  relation  to  other  things. 

Indeed  until  1819  many  of  these  emblems  were  never  designated  on  the 
Master's  carpet,  were  never  seen  or  known  until  published  and  designated  by 
Cross.  And  his  authorship  is  still  more  extensive  in  the  so  called  higher 
degrees. 

Let  it  be  understood  that  Cross  attempted  to  give  the  proper  meaning  to 
the  symbols,  he  found  handed  down  as  a  heritage  to  masons  from  the  dark 
ages,  and  he  brought  to  this  task  years  of  careful  study,  and  has  done  his  work 
well. 

It  might  be  added  my  brethren,  that  so  well  has  he  done  his  work  that 
his  explanation  of  the  symbols  of  masonary  have  not  been  challenged  for  a 
hundred  years. 

Franklin  continues:  Because  of  the  lack  of  uniformity  in  the  order 
throughout  the  country,  S3veral  brethren  distinguished  for  their  zeal  and  know- 
ledge of  the  work,  were  commissioned  by  the  highest  authority  of  the  Order 
in  the  United  States,  as  lecturers  and  visitors  to  Lodges,  in  all  the 
States  in  the  union,  giving  instructions.  Brother  Cross  was  commissioned  by 
several  (Irand  Lodges  and  Chapters  as  Gereral  Lecturer,  having  been  recom- 
mended by  his  Excellency  De  Wit  Clinton,  Governor  of  New  York,  Genrl- 
Thos.  S.  Cushing  the  U.  S.  Congress,  and  backed  by  other  distinguished 
masons,  and  officers  of  the  Grand  Chapter  of  the  LTnited  States,  and  several 
State  Grand  Chapters. 

Under  such  supreme  sanction,  he  devoted  several  years  exclusively  to  the 

1(>0 


This  dagger  I  was  informed  I)y  my  guide,  was  used  by  Cross  as  a  protect- 
ion against  the  Indians.  But  we,  as  masons,  know  it  was  put  to   a  more  nobler 

purpose.      For  a  hundred  years  ago  my    Brethren  " ■ 

"  whose  bodies  have  long  re- 
turned to  the  dust  and  whose  souls  have  returned  to  God  who  gave  them. 

Behind  " "  they  heard  the  voice  of 

Jeremy  Cross  saying  to  them  " " 

In  this  travelling  bag  Cross  carried  his  personal  eftects  on  his  lecturing 
tour.  So  now  it  contains  his  possessions  which  will  always  be  kept  therein 
sacred  to  his  memory. 

I  left  the  old  attic  with  its  interesting  associations,  and  visited  the  farm 
part  of  a  greater  estate  which  200  years  before  Jeremy's  great  grandfather 
John  Cross,  had  purchased  from  the  Indians,  Receiving  as  much  land  as  he 
could  walk  around  from  sunrise  to  sunset,  blazing  the  trees  enroute,  in  ex- 
change for  nine  bolts  of  red  broadcloth. 

I  next  visited  Springfield  Mass.,  the  home  of  Cross  in  his  palmiest  days. 
It  is  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Niles,  Jeremy's  niece,  who  married  his  private 
secretary. 

It  was  veritably  a  museum  of  masonic  treasures.  There  was  not  a  piece 
of  furnitiu'e  nor  an  article  on  the  wall  that  did  not  speak  of  Brother  Cross  the 
mason  and  the  man.  IVIr.  Niles,  then  8(3  years  of  age,  was  still  living,  and  as 
he  had  been  the  closest  of  any  man  to  Jeremy  in  his  lifetime,  his  conversation 
was  most  interesting.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Niles  and  two  daughters  and  myself  sat 
midst  these  relics  of  the  past,  and  talked  on  and  on,  that  afternoon,  always  of 
Jeremy  Cross,  how  he  looked,  what  he  wore,  and  what  he  said;  of  his  mind 
being  always  obsessed  with  masonry  until  the  twilight  gathei'ed  and  the 
shadows  came  and  we  sat  silently  thinking,  when  I  fancied  that  I  heard  a  firm 
slow  step  on  the  verandah,  a  fuml)ling  at  the  latch,  as  if  by  a  man  Inu'ied  in 
thought.  Then  there  appeared  a  square  set  figure,  framed  in  the  door,  of 
medium  height,  erect,  military  bearing,  wearing  a  tall  top  hat  and  black  frock 
coat  buttoned  very  tightly  about  the  waist  and  white  duck  trousers  scruinilously 
neat.  His  clean  shaven  face  glowing  with  good  nature  and  love  of  mankinil. 
Slowly  he  removed  his  hat  and  taking  ott'  his  spectacles,  polished  them  with  a 
big  red  handkerchief.  And  as  I  looked  the  thought  came  to  me  that  I  was  a 
stranger  and  intruder  and  not  one  of  this  family  circle.  Immediately  the  figure 
was  gone.. 

In  the  Niles  home  my  reputation  as  a  relic  hunter  had  evidently  gone  be- 
fore me  for  the  daughters  of  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Niles  resolutely  insisted  thati  should 
take  no  momento's  of  my  vi.sit  away  with  me,  otherwise  I  was  welcome.  One 
of  the  daughters  informed  me  somewhat  bitterly,  that  many  masons  came  to 
their  home  to  admire  liut  stayed  to  steal.  'A  hard  thing  to  say  of  ma.sons'  she 
added,  but  somehow  after  these  masonics  visits,  .something  was  missing. 

And  l)rethren,  I  reluctantly  confess  that  my  masonic  zeal  also  got  some- 
what the  ])etter  of  me,  and  I  erred  like  the  rest,  l)ut  perhaps  not  so  deliberat- 
ely. 

1()4 


Tradition  has  it  that  it  was  in  personal  use  when,  WiUiam  dipped  his  pen 
into  the  ink  well,  and  wrote  a  defiant  answer  to  the  authorities,  who  had  de- 
manded of  him  church  tytlies,  he  would  not  pay.  In  those  days  every  citizen 
was  compelled  to  support  morally  and  financially  the  recognized  church,  or  to 
take  the  consequences.  William  who  had  been  a  deacon  of  the  said  church, 
but  became  interested  in  tlie  seperatists  or  Baptists,  and  as  he  refused  assist- 
ance, he  was  in  that  land  of  freedom  ami  lodged  in  KSalem  jail;  so  the  Puritans 
appear  to  have  come  out  of  the  'frying  pan'  into  the  'fire.'  On  the 
morning  of  my  arrival  at  the  old  homesteail,  I  was  taken  to  the  attic, 
where  everything  had  remained  practically  untouched  for  generations. 
To  me  it  was  an  enchanted  chamber.  There,  hung  about  on  pegs  was  the 
regalia  of  other  days.  Frock  coats  of  ancient  pattern,  odd  shaped  top  hats, 
spinning  wheels  where  for  generations  young  maidens  had  sat  and  sang  hymns 
as  they  spun  the  wheel  in  time  with  the  tune.  This  flax,  left  on  the  floor,  as 
if  dropped  there  yesterday,  was  once  handled  by  nimble  young  fingers,  now 
still  forever. 

This  top  hat  of  ancient  style,  at  one  time  adorned  a  far  nobler  brow  than 
mine,  for  underneath  it  throbbetl  the  brain  of  that  great  msison,  Jeremy  Cross; 
and  his  eyes  which  beamed  so  kindly  on  his  brethren  looked  out  from  those 
old  spectacles  in  the  latter  years  of  his  life. 

Nothing  had  been  touched  l>ut  dust  and  cobwebs  for  fifty  years,  (xreat 
brass  wai-ming  pans,  long  out  of  use,  hung  in  a  row  along  the  rafters.  On  one 
of  these  beams  w^is  a  bayonet  belt.  It  was  an  accoutrement  my  guide  inform- 
ed me,  that  had  been  worn  by  Abijah  Cross,  Jeremy's  uncle,  on  the  occasion 
of  the  surrender  of  General  Burgoyne  and  his  forces.  It  was  treasured  also 
because  Jeremy  had  worn  it  alternating  with  his  uncle  in  active  service  during 
the  war  of  1812. 

These  interesting  characters  of  long  ago  were  not  so  well  nourished  as 
many  of  us.  Indeed  it  would  not  go  half  way  around  some  waist  lines  that 
I  know  of. 

I  am  able  to  show  you  a  photograph  taken  by  myself  of  a  paitmaster's 
apron,  worn  by  William  Cross  Jr.,  the  father  of  Jeremy,  in  17(55  before  the 
war  of  cecession  when  they  were  all  British  subjects.  However  William 
when  he  carried  this  little  leather  pocket  book  was  a  revolutionary.  It  was 
afterwards  the  property  of  Jeremy  and  was  used  as  a  card  receptional,  and  it 
is  claimed  that  one  of  his  cards  had  been  in  its  folds  for  over  50  years,  as  when 
I  received  it  card  and  all,  it  had  not  been  touched  for  that  length  of  time. 

This  my  brethern  is  a  most  interesting  relic,  the  identical  graphite  pencil 
which  Cross  used  on  his  lecturing  tours,  and  with  which  he  delineated  draughts 
or  plans  of  masonic  symlwls  which  were  to  be  usetl  forever  afterwards  on  the 
Master's  carpet.  From  a  device  on  the  handle  he  could  figure  out  the  day  of 
week  and  the  month  of  the  year. 

163 


She  (lied  in  her  97th  year.  Her  photograph  here  produced  was  taken 
when  she  was  95.  Her  features  in  spite  of  her  advanced  age  still  display  stron^ 
personality. 

Here   is Cross   as   a   young   man  in  1819  when  he  produced  his 

'Masonic  Chart'.     I  am  also  able  to  show  you  Cross  the  old  man  near  the  time 
when  his  eventful  life  was  coming  to  a  close. 

In  190(j  I  visited  the  home  of  Cross  and  his  ancestors,  where  eight  gener- 
ations of  his  family  had  lived;  and  I  am  able  to  show  you  a  picture  of  this 
quaint  old  place.  Once  a  wigwam,  afterwards  a  log  cabin,  now  a  house  of 
thirteen  rooms.     It  was  built  in  1709. 

On  my  arrival  I  was  greeted  by  Mrs.  Lorana  Cro.ss,  whom  I  ha<l  not  pre- 
viously met  but  learned  to  know  through  an  extended  correspondance  regard- 
ing her  distinguished  kinsman. 

Mrs.  Cross  informed  me  that  Jeremy  was  oi  a  long  line  of  ancient  ances- 
tors. I  shall  not  dwell  on  this  interesting  ftict  in  Cross  history  any  longer 
than  will  enable  me  to  introduce  exhibits. 

CAMDEN  the  old  Garter-King-of-Arms  wrote  in  15S9  that  Sir  William 
Cross  of  Charlynch  Somerset,  England,  was  <lescended  from  the  ancient  family 
of  Cross  of  Cross  Hall  Lancaster,  who  had  for  their  motto  'Sub  Cruce  Salis', 
Safety  Under  the  Cross.  Sir  William  was  slain  at  the  battle  of  Agincourt 
1415.  One  of  his  sons  was  Jeremy  Cross'  ancestor. 

Another  member  of  the  family  was  Sir  Robert  Cross,  whose  coat  of  arms, 
which  I  have  here  was  brought  from  England  by  the  Rebel  General  Ralph 
Cross  in  1773. 

I  have  also  a  letter  written  by  this  same  Sir  Robert  Cross  to  the  then 
Earl  of  Salsbury,  a  copy  of  which  is  here  for  your  inspection.  I  should  recom- 
mend its  peru.sal.  It  is  a  curiosity  owing  to  its  original  spelling  and  (|uaint 
idiom,  l)ut  above  all,  it  is  a  bit  of  atmosphere  of  those  old  days  when  Kniglit- 
hoofl  was  in  Hower  and  when  religious  intolerance,  was  driving  the  best  of 
Englands  sons  over  the  sea  to  America.  Sir  Robert  was  knighted  by  Queen 
Elizabeth  for  'laudable  practices  on  sea  and  land.'  His  little  fighting  cruiser 
and  two  others  capturing  l)y  assault  the  Crown  of  Portugal,  the  largest  of  the 
big  war  hulks  of  the  illfated  Spanish  Armada. 

The  first  American  Cross  was  Robert  the  Puritan.  His  grandson  William 
built  the  Cross  homestead  at  Meuthen  ]VIass.  Family  'Ictas'  were  valuable  in 
the  eighteenth  century  and  were  carefully  preserved  and  handed  down  from 
father  to  son.     They  were  also  built  to  last. 

Thus  I  am  able  to  show  yon  a  stone  ink  well  which  is  hi.storical  on  account 
of  its  associations.  For  it  is  .said  as  the  property  of  Jeremy  Cross  it  was  used 
l)y  him  when  he  was  writing  his  famous  lectures,  being  delivered  by  our 
masonic  orators  in  America  to  day.  It  was  formerly  the  property  of  Jeremy 
Cross"  father,  William  Cross,  andis  marked  with  the  letter  'W  by  William 
himself 

16-2 


nasonic  fraternity.  He  visited  many  states  and  introduced  and  perfected  in 
nany  lodges  the  established  work,  as  it  is  practised  brethren  to-day  in  Mt. 
Herman  and  Acxcia  Lodges.  Whilst  engaged  in  these  duties,  Brother  Cross 
vas  impressed  with  the  importance  of  a  standard  work  upon  the  plan  of  "a 
ihart", 

After  consulting  with  many  prominent  masons,  he  undertook  the  task 
md  the  result  was  the  "Mason's  chart." 

It  was  received  with  great  favor  and  these  persons  who  have  in  effect 
^opied  Cross  book  and  put  it  forth  as  their  own  within  the  last  few  years  may 
iatisfy  their  own  conscience,  but  they  will  never  convince  the  great  body  of 
Veemasons  that  they  are  not  committing  a  piratical  wrong. 

The  writer  of  this  article  has  no  connection  with  Cross  whatever,  nor  any 
nterest  in  his  book,  liut  having  bad  knowledge  from  the  beginning  of  these 
natters,  as  an  act  of  justice,  he  has  written  this  article.  These  my  Brethren 
ire  the  words  of  Benjamin  Franklin.  COPIED  FROM  THE  NEW  YORK 
EXPRESS,  MAY  oTH,  1S52:  Some  time  ago  I  listened  with  interest  to 
ecture  in  the  third  degree  in  Acacia  Lodge  delivered  by  Wor.  Bro.  Scott  Con- 
vlin.  I  was  then  impressed  with  the  fact  that  the  many  illustrations  thrown 
ipon  the  screen  had  been  originally  arranged,  and  first  exhiljited  by  Cross, 
md  that  Brother  Conklin's  explanation  of  tl>em,  but  slightly  varieil,  from  that 
^iveu  l)y  Brother  Cross  on  his  lecturing  tour  through  the  United  States.  They 
ivere  Cross"  own  inspired  words. 

He  wrote  home  to  masons  that  he  found  in  his  travels  great  deviation  in 
he  ritual,  owing  to  so  mucli  being  handed  down  by  words  of  mouth,  and  he 
feared  that  in  time  a  new  masonry  would  spring  up.  This  my  brethren  was 
jefore  the  days  of  the  printed  ritual.  He  feared  that  the  old  forms  would  be 
ost,  thus  his  efforts  to  collect  in  concise  shape  and  preserve  for  all  time,  the 
mcient  land  marks  of  the  order,  and,  as  far  as  was  in  his  power,  explain  the 
symbols,  which  although  the  property  of  masons,  were  meaningless  to  the 
jreat  mass  of  the  fraternity. 

Cross  had  many  honors  conferred  upon  him  during  his  career.  He  rose 
:o  eminence  in  every  branch  of  masonry.  In  the  Scottish  Rite  he  became 
supreme  Grand  Commander  for  the  United  States  of  America,  succeeding  the 
famous  Frenchman,  General  Lafayette,  in  this  exalted  oHice.  He  also  filled 
ill  the  higher  positions  in  Craft,  and  Royal  Arch  Masoniy. 

Thus  you  have  been  introduced  liy  distinguished  brethern  to  Cross  the 
Mason.     It  is  my  humble  duty  to  make   you  acquainted  with  Cross  the  man. 

No  doubt  many  of  you  l>elieve  in  eugenics.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the  Cross 
Family  have  loomed  large  in  the  pul)lic  notice.  I  hope  I  m-iy  be  pardoned  for 
digressing  momentarily  to  speak  of  some  of  them.  His  sister  Eliza  Cross  was 
a  famous  anti-slavery  advocate,  working  side  by  side  with  Wendall  Phillips 
tind  William  I-loyd  Garrison.  She  became  with  Harriert  Beecher  Stowe  anti- 
slavery  authoress  and  was  so  known  throughout  the  Northern  States. 

IGl 


I  was  shown  many  boxes  of  masonic  jewels  and  Mrs.  Niles  pleaded  with 
Iier  daughters  to  let  me  have  just  one  of  the  smaller  emblems  as  I  had  come 
3000  miles  to  visit  them. 

The  younger  members  of  the  family  refused  point  blank  and  to  escape 
their  rising  wrath  I  retired  to  the  l)ig  verandah,  to  peruse  the  personal  diary 
of  Brother  Cross. 

That  evening  the  daughters  left  the  house  to  attend  some  social  function. 
Now  was  my  chance  on  the  jewel  box.  I  asked  Mrs.  Niles  to  allow  me  to  see 
the  jewels  once  more.  My  recjuest  was  granted  and  I  admired  a  Royal  Arch 
emblem  that  had  been  worn  by  Jeremy  C-ross.  A  sigh  expressive  of  disap- 
pointed hopes,  brought  out  the  remark  from  Mrs.  Niles  that  she  was  going 
into  the  next  room  for  a  few  moments,  and  if  when  she  came  back  she  found 
the  royal  arch  jewel  missing,  well — as  I  was  a  guest  in  the  house,  she  would 
have  to  let  the  matter  drop.  But  she  added  "for  goodness  sake  don't  breath 
it  to  my  daughters." 

Here  is  the  jewel  brethren.  I  have  a  suspicion  that  the  kindness  of 
heart  of  Mrs.  Niles,  has  been  responsible  for  many  similar  mysterious  disap- 
pearances of  masonic  eml)lems  from  Jeremy  Cross'  home.  The  jewel  is  dated 
1818  and  its  latin  inscription  means  'To  God,  our  country  and  our  fraternity, 
honor,  fidelity  and  benevolence,  and  on  the  i-everse.  To  him  who  is  not  a  mason 
these  symbols  are  meaningless  and  in  English  the  words  'we  have  earned 
wages, ' 

I  will  conclude  by  quoting  some  passages  from  the  private  diary  of  this 
great  mason.  The  secret  thoughts  of  men  who  have  done  great  deeds  are 
always  interesting.  They  are  never  intended  to  be  canva.ssed  by  the  cynical 
or  thoughtless,  and  are  sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  dead.  In  Jeremy  Cross' 
diary  we  get  beneath  the  crust;  we  find  the  man;  we  hear  his  heart  throbs,  we 
know  him  as  he  was,  and  while  these  express  human  emotions  which  once 
came  from  the  very  heart  of  Cross,  are  being  quoted.  Perhaps  we  may  hold 
the  mirror  up  to  our  own  lives  and  will  realize  our  own  difficulties  in  living  as 
masons  should,  and  brethren,  all  we  cmu  do  is  as  Cross  professed  to  be  always 
trying  to  do,  to  continually  strive  for  a  higher  standard  of  morals. 


Grip  which  held  .leremv  Cross  Ma,sonic  regalia  in  liis  travel?  as  lecturer  for  tlie  Grand  Lodges. 
On  top  tlie  tliree  Wriglit  IMbles,  tlie  bavonet  belt  worn  Ijy  Abijali  ('ross  at  the  sur.'endcr  of 
Rurgoyne:  material  from  which  clolli  wa.'^  spun  picked  up  near  a  spinning  wlieel  in  the  Cioss 
Homestead,  Lawrence,  Mass.:  .Jeremy  Cross"  high  hat. 


The  dark  object  in  the  back  ground  .Vbijah  Cross'  gift  to  his  l)ride,  a  look- 
ing glass:  oval  object  to  left,  hair  broach  given  by  the  Stevens  family  to  my 
grandmother  Cross,  containing  the  hair  of  all  the  members  of  the  Stevens 
family  with  their  initials  in  gold  scroll  work.  The  ink  well  in  which  William 
is  said  to  have  dipped  his  pen  when  he  sent  his  letter  to  the  authorities  refus- 
ing to  pay  church  tithes,  and  which  Jeremy  used  in  writing  his  famous  Masonic 
lectures.  Jeremy  Cross"  pencil  I:)y  which  he  drew  drafts  or  plans  of  his  famous 
Masonic  syml>ols.  Jeremy  Cross'  spectacles  and  dagger  used  in  Masonic  ritual. 
Pocket  l)ook  of  Abijah's,  worn  when  a  revolutionary,  afterwards  Jeremy's. 
Royal  Arch  Jewel  worn  by  Jeremy  Cross  the  famous  Freemason. 


JEREMY  CROSS'  DIARY 

He  says:  Soon  after  I  was  21  I  joined  the  society  of  Masons,  and  finding 
the  institution  was  founded  on  Christian  morals  and  not  interfering  with  any 
sect  or  denomination,  as  far  as  morality  or  good  living  was  concerned  I  be- 
came very  attached  to  the  society  and  strove  hard  to  become  proficient  in  the 
mysteries,  and  in  so  doing  I  found  I  had  frequently  to  consult  the  Ijible.  I 
found  many  of  my  questions  unanswered  and  was  obliged  to  abandon  them. 

About  four  years  ago  I  commenced  the  occupation  of  Masonic  lecturer, 
and  as  it  became  my  duty  to  persuade  others  to  lead  strictly  moral  lives,  I 
conceived  it  all- important  that  I  should  be  so  myself  or  else  my  theory  and 
practice  would  not  agree.  I  thereupon  set  about  correcting  my  own  morals, 
and  first  broke  myself  of  profane  language  which  I  was  occasionally  in  the 
habit  of  using:  and  many  other  foolish  practices,  which  abase  the  man,  and  the 
stricter  I  lived  up  to  the  moral  standard,  the  more  pleasure  and  comfort  I 
found. 

This  experience  of  Crosses  holds  good  now  as  it  did  then.  I  am  not 
speaking  at  you  my  lirethren,  but  with  you  when  I  say  that  none  of  us  has  any 
right  to  call  himself  a  self  respecting  mason  if  has  not  broken  himself  of  the 
habit  of  profanity. 

160 


Cross  continuing;  said:  It  sooins  to  1)0  plain  to  me  that  preachers  dwell 
too  much  on  this  change  of  heart  in  Cliristianity.  I  thought  this  doctrine 
rather  ideal,  and  bordering  upon  superstition  and  necessary  only  to  inHuence 
weak  minds;  and  that  the  same  Christian  conversion  may  be  produced  by 
■change  of  mind'  such  as  I  myself  experienced  wdien  I  became  a  member  of  the 
masonic  fraternity.  In  further  perusing  his  diary,  however,  we  find  that  Cross 
was  not  wholly  satisfied  in  regard  to  his  change  of  mind,  and  he  seems  to 
tactily  acknowledge  that  the  preachers  were  right. 

Perhaps  it  would  not  l)e  imprudent  forme  to  say  that  I  believe  Cross 
rightly  ])hiced  ('hristian  conversion  with  the  church.  For  masonry  is  but  the 
liandmaiden  of  Christianity;  and  does  not  profess  to  do  missionary  work  in  the 
cause  of  any  church  but  to  teach  the  members  of  the  fraternity  in  their  widest 
sense  'brotherly  love,  relief  and  truth.' 

These  comments  of  Cross  were  on  the  opening  pages  of  his  large  diary 
spread  over  several  years,  and  almost  every  leaf  thereafter  contained  his  writ- 
ten thoughts.  Often  he  speaks  of  the  'change  of  heart'  that  does  not  come, 
and  as  the  time  went  by,  he  was  ever  advancing  queries  and  asking  himself 
again  and  again  if  such  a  change  was  necessary  to  happiness  and  repose  and 
tlie  soul's  contentment.  A  few  extracts  from  Cross'  diary  will  serve  to  illust- 
rate what  I  have  said. 

Nov.  4th  1817 — At  Salem  to-day  I  lectured  to  the  Brethren,  I  impressed 
upon  their  minds  the  necessity  of  living  moral  lives,  if  they  wished  to  be  de- 
serving masons.  I  again  ask  what  is  a  'change  of  heart'  ?  Is  it  a  sudden  rend- 
ing of  the  heart  succeeded  f)y  a  disgust  of  all  sin  ?  My  heart  is  still  deceitful 
and  I  am  still  disappointed  in  myself 

It  may  be  my  lirethren  some  of  us  share  these  thoughts  with  Cross,  the 
world  does  not  change,  and  doubt  is  not  always  devil  born. 

Sunday,  Dec.  7th,  1817,  Kichmond  Va.  Met  officers  of  Grand  Lodge.  I 
was  not  pleased  in  listening  to  deflates  on  matters  of  no  importance.  Oh,  how 
I  long  to  see  them  exercise  a  different  spirit,  and  love  each  other  like  brethren. 

I  have  never  heard  a  ct)ntentious  discussion  of  trifling  matters  in  lodge 
since  then  without  thinking  of  this  passage  in  Cross  diary. 

Saturday  20th,  Dec.  1817.  I  once  thought  myself  wise  on  .scriptural 
matters  I  am  mistaken,  I  know  nothing. 

January  18th,  1818.  Spent  the  day  drafting  emblems  for  the  Masonic 
chart  which  I  am  about  to  publi.sh.  Doubtless  as  Cross  wrote  these  lines  his 
busy  brain  was  teeming  with  syml)olic  visions.  But  he  would  hardly  dare  to 
dream  that  these  symljols,  would  be  accepted  and  used  by  countless  thousands 
of  masons  for  all  time. 

Cross  was  at  one  time  sufficiently  well  known  and  sufficiently  popular  to 
have  been  a  prominent  figure  in  political  life.  He  was  a  personal  friend  of 
the  man  who  wielded  the  destinies  of  the  United  States  during  his  lifetime. 
He  was  at  one  time  nemiinated  for  Mayor  of  New  York  but  refused  to  stand. 
Masonry,  not  politics   was  his  mission  in  life.     During  the  Morgan  excitement 

1()7 


when  masonry  in  America  was  at  its  lowest  ebb,  Cross  did  more  than  any 
other  one  man  to  dispel  the  dark  clouds  and  place  masonry  in  the  proper  light 
before  the  world. 

Worshipful  Sir  and  Brethren,  I  have  shown  you  the  picture  of  a  man  who 
dedicated  himself  to  masonry.  Who  through  much  mental  suffering  was 
brought  to  the  conviction  that  GOODNESS  was  not  as  we  thought  but  as  we 
felt. 

Who  ever  strove  to  impregnate  his  heart  with  a  disgust  for  sin,  so  that  as 
a  True  Apostle  of  Masonry  lie  might  be  the  better  enabled  to  do  good  and 
live  as  a  mason  should. 

His  was  a  noble  character.  His  was  a  sublime  mission  and  if  we  emulate 
his  example  we  shall  not  err. 

Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  us 
We  can  make  our  lives  sublime 
And  departing  leave  behind  us 
Foot  prints  on  the  sands  of  Time 

— LecUn-c  Oil  Jeremy  L.  Cross  Dclirercd  liii  the  Antlior,  If)  14 


A.  E.  GOODMAN 
1G8 


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