Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Boston and eastern Massachusetts, Part 80

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 768

USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Boston and eastern Massachusetts > Part 80

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speech in opposition to the National govern- ment taking over the Philippines.

ELDREDGE Savage, author of the "Stand- ard Genealogical Dictionary," says the surname Eldredge,

Eldridge and Eldred were originally the same, and Freeman, in his "History of Cape Cod," quotes Savage as authority in speaking of the Eldridge families of old Barnstable county, beginning with Nicholas, son of Robert Eld- redge, as being the first representative under the charter.

( I) The Beverly Eldredges are of the Har- wich branch of the parent family. The first of whom we have any account is Captain West Daggett Eldredge, born in Harwich, March 18, 1785, died in Beverly, Massachusetts, No- vember 4, 1873. Ile was a mariner for more than thirty years and made numerous voyages to far-distant ports in Europe and the Orient. During his latter years he lived on a farm in Beverly. He married, December 12, 1810. Anna Thissell, born March 28, 1790, died March 30, 1874; children: 1. William James. born Beverly, February 17, 1812, died young. 2. William West, February 19, 1814: sce for- ward. 3. Esther Thissell, November 18, 1816. 4. Joseph E. F., September 16, 1818. 5. James Flint, June 19, 1821. 6. Annie, September 9, 1823, married, October 10, 1844, James D. Abbott, cordwainer. 7. Elizabeth, born Octo- ber 9, 1825. 8. Stephen, November 25, 1827. 9. Benjamin, June 26, 1829, died April 22, 1832.

( 11) William West Eldredge, second son and child of West Daggett and Anna (This- sell ) Eldredge, born February 19, 1814, died January 1, 1891. He was reared and edu- cated in Beverly and lived there all his life. By occupation he was a fisherman and a shoe- maker, and also a stone mason. He married, March 24, 1836, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Gilham ) Obear, of West Virginia, born January 29, 1815. Chil- dren: 1. Benjamin West, born March 22, 1837. 2. West Daggett, born November 7. 1838; enlisted during civil war in Second Heavy Massachusetts Artillery: was trans- ferred to the navy, serving until close of the war as ensign, later hospital steward ; after the war was inspector in government service. 3. Ann Elizabeth, August 1, 1840. 4. Perley Gilham. 5. Louise Loring, July 10, 1846.

(III) Perley Gilham Eldredge, fourth child and third son of William West and Mary Elizabeth (Obear ) Eldredge, was born in Bev- erly, Massachusetts, November 15, 1843. He

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attended school in his native city until he was thirteen years old, then struck out for himself and learned the trade of shoemaking. In the year 1886 he formed a firm with Messrs. Millett and Woodbury and went into business. the firm style being Millett, Woodbury & Com- pany, which was continued until November, when Mr. Eldredge sold his interest. He served in the civil war, enlisting in 1864 in the Eighth Massachusetts Regiment, and is a mem- ber of Post No. 89. G. A. R. Like his father he is a Baptist in religious preference. He married, April. 1873. Mary A., daughter of Joshua and Sally ( Andrews) Kennison, of Beverly, a descendant of old Massachusetts stock, and ninth in a family of eleven children. Children : Edward Perley, May 21, 1874. lives at home with his parents ; Eleanor Obear, born September 15, 1888, died January 25, 1908.

Richard Kimball was from

KIMBALL the parish of Rattlesden, Suffolk county, England, where his son Henry was born and baptized August 12, 1615. He married Ursula, daugh- ter of Henry Scott, of Rattlesden. The will of Henry Scott, dated September 24, 1624. was proved in the court of the archdeaconry of Sudbury, January 10, following. He was buried in Rattlesden, December 24, 1624. The will mentions Abigail, Henry, Elizabeth and Richard Kimball, his grandchildren, the children of Richard and Ursula (Scott) Kim- ball; his wife Martha, and sons Roger and Thomas Scott, the latter of whom came to America in the same ship with Richard Kim- ball and Martha Scott, the widow, aged sixty years. The family came to America in the ship "Elizabeth" of Ipswich, sailing April 30. 1634. The ages of the family as then given were: Richard, thirty-nine, with wife Ursula and children; Henry, fifteen; Elizabeth, thir- teen : Richard, eleven; Mary, nine; Martha, five ; John, three; Thomas, one. They settled in Watertown, where Henry Kimball, aged forty-two, and family also settled. This Henry is thought to have been a brother. He came in the same ship.

The home lot of Richard Kimball was six acres on the Cambridge line, now in the city of Cambridge, near the corner of Huron avenue and Appleton street. He was admitted a freeman May 6, 1635. and was a proprietor in 1636-37. Soon after this he moved to Ipswich, where the settlers required the services of a wheelwright. He followed his trade and carried on his farm, The town

granted him a house lot February 23, 1637, next adjoining Goodwin Simons, at the west end of the town. He was granted at the same time forty acres beyond the North river, near the land of Robert Scott. In 1641 he was mentioned as one of the commoners of Ipswich and was appointed one of the select- men, ("Seven Men") March 1, 1645. He had various other grants of land and served on various town committees. He was one of the executors of the estate of his brother-in- law, Thomas Scott, who died February, 1653-54. He was one of the proprietors of Plumb Island. He married, second, October 23, 1661, Margaret, widow of Henry Dow, of Hampton, New Hampshire. She died March 1, 1675-76. His will dated March 5, 1674, was proved September 28, 1675. He be- queathed to his wife fulfilment of marriage contract, and named children and other rela- tives. He died June 22. 1675, aged eighty years. Children: 1. Abigail, born in Rat- tlesden, Suffolk county, England, died in Salisbury, Massachusetts, June 17, 1658; mar- ried in England John Severans ( Severance) ; twelve children. 2. Henry, born in Rattlesden, 1615. 3. Elizabeth, born in Rattlesden, 1621. 4. Richard, born in Rattlesden, 1623 ; died May 26, 1676, in Wenham, Massachusetts. 5. Mary, born in Rattlesden, 1625, married Rob- ert Dutch, of Gloucester and Ipswich, and had six children. 6. Martha, born in Rattlesden, 1629, married Joseph Fowler, son of Philip and Martha Fowler ; he was killed by the Indians, May 19, 1676, near Deerfield, Mass- achusetts, in King Philip's war ; had four chil- dren. 7. John, born in Rattlesden, 1631, died May 6, 1698. 8. Thomas, born 1633, died May 3. 1676. 9. Sarah, born in Watertown, Massachusetts, 1635, died June 12, 1690; mar- ried, November 24, 1658, Edward Allen, of Ipswich, and had cleven children. 10. Ben- jamin, born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, 1637, mentioned below. II. Caleb, born in Ipswich, 1639. died 1682.

(II) Benjamin Kimball, son of Richard Kimball (1), was born in 1637, about the time his father moved from Watertown to Ipswich. He died June 11. 1695. He resided in Exeter, New Hampshire. In 1639 removed to Salis- bury, Massachusetts, thence to Rowley, where May 12, 1663. he bought land of Elizabeth Starrett, of Haverhill. This land was in what was later Bradford. On February 20, 1668, at the first town meeting in Merrimack, after- wards Bradford, he was elected an overseer of the town. He bought various other lots of

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land in Bradford. He and his brother Rich- ard Kimball were soldiers in 1683-84 in Cap- tain Appleton's company. Another brother, Thomas, was killed by Indians, May 3, 1676. Benjamin was a cornet of horse troops. His house was in the west part of Bradford not far from the ancient cemetery. He was a wheelwright as well as carpenter and farmer.

He married, in Salisbury, April, 1661, Mercy Hazeltine, born October 16, 1642, died January 5, 1707-08, daughter of Robert and Ann Hazeltine. She was one of the first members received into the church at Bradford, when she and sixteen other women were admitted January 7, 1702-03. He owned a fourth part of a saw mill at Haverhill near Amesbury, bought of Matthew Harriman. The gravestones of Benjamin and Mercy Kimball are in the old graveyard. Children : 1. Anna, born December 23, 1661, died Jan- uary 1, 1774; married, April 21, 1682, Rich- ard Barker, of Andover. 2. Mary, born December 27, 1663, died February 5, 1664. 3. Richard, born December 3, 1664, died Jan- uary 10, 1710-II. 4. Elizabeth, born July 24, 1669, married Edward Carleton, of Bradford. 5. David, born July 26, 1671. died June 14, 1743. 6. Jonathan, born November 26, 1673. mentioned below. 7. Robert, born March 5, 1675 -76, died February 24, 1744. 8. Abra- ham, born March 24, 1677-78, died February 25, 1707-08. 9. Samuel, born March 28, 1680. 10. Ebenezer, (twin), born June 20, 1684, died January 23, 1715. II. Abigail, (twin), born June 20, 1684, died January 23, 1715 : married, June 2, 1703, Moses Day. .

(III) Jonathan Kimball, son of Benjamin Kimball (2). born in Bradford, Massachu- setts, November 26, 1673, died September 30, 1747. He married, July 15, 1696, Lydia Day, born March 18, 1676, died September 16, 1739, daughter of John and Sarah (Pengry) Day. He married, second, November 3, 1739, Jane Plummer, widow, who died in 1764. She survived him. He bequeathed all his lands to be equally divided between his four sons, Ben- jamin. Jonathan, Nathaniel and Isaac, No- vember 2, 1733. Children, born in Bradford : 1. Benjamin, born May 16, 1697. 2. Jona- than, born October 30, 1698, died at Boxford, August 12, 1746. 3. Nathaniel born August 30, 1700, mentioned below. 4. Lydia, born February 15, 1703-04, married. May 22, 1729, Thomas Eaton. 5. Moses, born March 20, 1705-06, died young. 6. Isaac (twin), born July 2, 1707. 7. Rebecca (twin), born July 2, 1707, married, January 7, 1731, Stephen

Webster. 8. Ruth, born January 30, 1709-10, married, October 2, 1730, Joseph Hardy. 9. Abraham, born June 12, 1712, died young. 10. Mehitable, married, March 1, 1737, Eben- ezer Webster, born September 22, 17II. II. Hannah, baptized January 19, 1718.

(IV) Nathaniel Kimball, son of Jonathan Kimball (3), born in Bradford, August 30, 1700, died in 1772. He lived in Bradford and owned much real estate. He also owned land in Chester, New Hampshire, and in Dracut and Haverhill, Massachusetts. He married, January 9, 1729, Dorothy Tenney, born 1704, died November II, 1784. Children : I. Moses, born December 8, 1729, died before his father. 2. Ann, born February 24, 1731, died 1751. 3. Sarah, born October 7, 1733, married, February 17, 1756, Jonathan Chad- wick. 4. Lydia, born October 21, 1736, mar- ried, April 28. 1768, John Thurston, of Fitch- burg, Massachusetts. 5. Rebecca, born Aug- ust 3, 1737, married, February 14, 1769, Wil- liam Foster, of Boxford, Massachusetts. 6. Nathaniel, born July 22, 1739, married, July 29, 1761, Susanna Bailey, and died soon after- ward. 7. Jonathan, born January 10, 1742, died February 19, 1763. 8. Samuel, born November 18, 1743, resided at Boxford. 9. Dorothy, baptized December 3, 1745, died young. 10. Daniel, born June II, 1747, men- tioned below. II. Hannah, born June 29, 1749, married, July 11, 1779, Moses Spofford. (V) Daniel Kimball, son of Nathaniel Kimball (4), born in Bradford, June II, 1747, was drowned in the Merrimack river while returning from the marsh with a boat load of hay, August 19, 1800. He resided at Bradford. He was town treasurer for a num- ber of years and frequently selectman. While not serving in the revolution, he was very active in town affairs at that time. He was appointed lieutenant in the Fourth company of the Third regiment, Essex county division, June 17, 1786, and was afterwards known as Lieutenant Daniel Kimball. He was a suc- cessful man. He married, January 12, 1769, Elizabeth Tenney, born February 5, 1753. died November 9, 1836. Children: I. Bet- sey, born September 23, 1770, died 1817 ; mar- ried, May 31, 1792, Nathaniel Gage, of Andover, Massachusetts. 2. Nathaniel. born July 26, 1772, died October 23, 1778. 3. Mary, born March 3, 1774, married, April 22, 1799, Rev. Jonathan Whittaker, of Sharon, Massachusetts. 4. Jane, born February 26, 1776, married, January 16, 1801, Richard Gage, of Londonderry, New Hampshire. 5.

Charlotte Heimball

Daniel Kimball.

Leurs Historien. Pub

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Daniel, born July 3, 1778, died January 7, 1862. 6. Nathaniel, born April 28, 1780, died at Manchester, New Hampshire. 7. David Tenney, born November 23, 1782, died at Ipswich, February 3, 1860. 8. Samuel, born March 9, 1785, mentioned below. 9. Clarissa, born September 24, 1786, died at Needham, Massachusetts, April 30, 1855 ; married Rev. William Ritchie. 10. Sophia. born October 16, 1788, died August 9, 1826; married, June, 1824, Edward Kimball. II. Almira, born October 22, 1793, died August 15, 1826 ; mar- ried Leonard Everett, of Canton, Massachu- setts.

(VI) Samuel Kimball, son of Lieutenant Daniel Kimball (5), born in Bradford, March 9. 1785, resided and died in Goffstown, New Hampshire. He married, April 10, 1806, Anna Smith, of Salem, New Hampshire. Children: I. Daniel B., born March 15, 1807. mentioned below. 2. Samuel Augustus, born March 21, 1809. 3. William Ritchie, born February 18, 1811, married Almira Coburn ; married, second, June 11, 1871, Sarah A. M. Grover. 4. Milton, born May 13, 1815. died January 25, 1816. 5. James Smith, born December 26, 1816, died September 1, 1819. 6. Louisa Maria, born July 8, 1819, married Henry Lancaster, of Manchester, New Hamp- shire. 7. Laura Ann Smith, born December 2, 1821, married James B. Stevens, of Goffs- town, New Hampshire. 8. Mary Smith, born December 19, 1824, married George Stoddard, of Goffstown. 9. Susanna Everett, married her brother-in-law, James B. Stevens. IO. Almira, married Lewis Page.

(VII) Daniel B. Kimball, son of Samuel Kimball (6), born in Bradford, March 15, 1807, died December 28, 1879. He was edu- cated in the public schools of his native town. Early in life he engaged in the shoe and leatlı- er trade in Boston, and continued until 1873 when he retired. His place of business was at that time at 67 Kilby street. He resided in Haverhill and Bradford all his life. The section of Bradford in which he lived is now part of the city of Haverhill. He was active in public life, and a man of much influence in the community. He was a prominent member of the Congregational church of Bradford. In politics he was a Republican, though never an aspirant for public office. He was devoted to his home and business. He married, June 19, 1838, Charlotte Chandler Tenney, born January 22, 1815, died February 12, 1907, at the advanced age of ninety-two years and twenty-one days, the only child of James

Chandler and Charlotte ( Peabody) Tenney, both members of old Bradford families. She was named for both her parents. Her father was a shoe manufacturer, born April, 1789, in Bradford, died when only twenty-six years old. Her mother was born in Bradford, May 19, 1791, died there June 28, 1823, also in early life.

Charlotte Chandler Tenney, when but eight years old, and while Bradford Academy was yet a school for both boys and girls, in 1823. was enrolled as a student, and for ten years following received her education there under Benjamin Greenleaf, the preceptor, and Miss Abigail C. Haseltine, preceptress. In 1833, when she was a senior, she and Mary Anne Allen were called upon to assist in teaching. After completing the course, at which time she was not graduated, nor were diplomas granted, she returned to the school as a pre- ceptress, teaching Latin in 1834-35-36. In 1842 she was awarded her diploma, that being the first year in which diplomas were given in the academy. At the time of her death, Mrs. Kimball was the oldest living student of Bradford Academy. Since her marriage she lived in the old Kimball homestead in Brad- ford, very near the house in which she was born, and which still stands on the lot adjoin- ing the George Cogswell school. During all the years of her long life Mrs. Kimball's inter- est in her alma mater never lagged, and at the annual reunions and commencements she was always an honored and distinguished guest. During the centennial celebration of 1903 she was present, the oldest student of the school. Her birthdays in later years were always memorable occasions for a host of relatives and friends, and each year she received from far distant points loving remembrances of school days from classmates and school friends. Her last birthday, a month before her death, was quietly observed, but she received the gifts and tokens with smiles, the memory of childhood and schools again revived. She was interested in genealogy, and knew much of the history of the old families of her native town.

Children : I. Charlotte Peabody, born April 24, 1839, educated at Bradford Acad- emy, teacher there for several years ; married. March 15, 1870, John Howard Nichols, born at Kingston, New Hampshire, December 18, 1837, treasurer of the Dwight Manufacturing Company and of the Great Falls Manufactur- ing Company ; was for several years in busi- ness in China ; they reside in Newton, Massa-

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chusetts ; children : i. Howard Gardner Nich- ols, deceased, was born April 16, 1871, gradu- ate of Harvard College in 1893, agent of the Dwight Manufacturing Company at Alabama City, Alabama, where the company has a large mill; ii. Eleanor Hunnewell Nichols, born April 14, 1872, graduate of Smith Col- lege in 1895; iii. Grace Nichols, born July 23, 1874; iv. Charlotte Nichols, born February 4, 1879, married Edward Farnham Green. 2. Edgar Leroy, born December 5, 1844. 3. Katherine Anna, born August 8, 1846, died unmarried January 5, 1890. 4. Alice Carle- ton, born February 23, 1850, died May 18, 1854. 5. Eleanor H., born July 25, 1855. 6. Grace Haseltine, born September 12, 1858. Miss Eleanor H. Kimball and Miss Grace Kimball reside in the old home, 181 Main street, Bradford. The children of Mrs. Dan- iel B. Kimball erected a stone in memory of their maternal great-grandfather, Jolın Ten- ney.

WRIGHT Deacon Samuel Wright, the immigrant ancestor, said to be son of Nathaniel Wright, and descendant of John Wright, Lord of Kel- vedon Hall, who died in 1551, of London, England, and of an ancient English family, was an early settler at Springfield, then Aga- wam, Massachusetts. He was there in 1639, a proprietor as early as 1641, and removed to the neighboring town of Northampton in 1655 or 1656. He was a prominent citizen, serving the towns in which he lived on important committees and in various offices. He was deacon of the church at Northampton, and in the absence of the pastor sometimes conduct- ed the services and preached regularly in 1656 and 1657. He was admitted a freeman April 13, 1648. He died while asleep in his chair, October 17, 1665. He married, in England, Margaret -, who died July 25, 1681. His will, dated November 10, 1663, proved March 27, 1666, mentions wife Margaret, sons James and Judah, with residue to son Sam- uel ; daughters Mary, Margaret, Hester and Lydia. Children : I. Benjamin, born in England, 1627; died at Northampton, 1668; married at Springfield. 2. Samuel, born about 1629: mentioned below. 3. Hester, born about 1631 ; married, February 18, 1651- 52, Samuel Marshfield. 4. Margaret, born about 1633; married, December 8, 1653, Thomas Bancroft. 5. Lydia, born about 1635 ; married, October 23, 1654, Lawrence Bliss ; second, October 3, 1678, John Norton ;

third, John Lamb; fourth, 1692, George Col- ton ; she died February 13, 1699. 6. Mary, born about 1637. 7. James, born 1639. 8. Judah, born May 10, 1642. 9. Helped, born September 15, 1644, died young. 10. Han- nah, married, November, 1645, (given in "Pope's Pioneers").

(II) Samuel Wright, son of Deacon Sam- uel Wright (1), was born in England, in 1629. He was an "Engager" for Northfield, Massa- chusetts, in 1671, and settled there in 1673. He fell a victim to the Indians in King Phil- ip's war. September 2, 1675. He married, November 24, 1653, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Burt. His widow married second, September 26, 1684, Nathaniel Dickinson, of Hatfield. Children: I. Samuel, born Octo- ber 3, 1654. 2. Joseph, born June 2, 1657; married Thankful Taylor and Mary Barker. 3. Benjamin, born July 13, 1660. 4. Eben- ezer, born March 20, 1663; married Hannah Hunt. 5. Elizabeth, born July 31, 1666 ; mar- ried, September 26, 1684, Thomas Stebbins. 6. Eliezer, born October 20, 1668; mentioned below. 7. Hannah, born February 27, 1671. 8. Benoni, born September 12, 1675 (ten days after the father was killed).

(III) Lieutenant Eliezer Wright, son of Samuel Wright (2), born in Northampton, Massachusetts, October 20, 1668, died May 12, 1753. He was a lieutenant in Father Rasle's war. He came to Northfield with his father in the early settlement. He was a blacksmith by trade. He married Mary Par- dee, who died August 16, 1746. Children : I. Eliezer, born 1689. 2. Hepzibah, born February 14, 1691 ; died June, 1693. 3. Mary, born September 12, 1695, died May 3, 1714. 4. Azariah, born March 6, 1697; mentioned below. 5. Nehemiah, born January, 1699. 6. Eldad, born March 2, 1701 ; made bed lines, halters, and sold "cheirs," 1720. 7. Benoni, born November 26, 1702. 8. Martha, born December 8, 1704; married Nathaniel Dick- inson, killed by Indians at Pauchaug Hill. 9. Sarah, born January 10, 1707. 10. Phineas, born July 20, 1710. II. Miriam, born Feb- ruary 10, 1715 ; died June 3, 1726.

(IV) Azariah Wright, son of Eliezer Wright (3), born in Northfield, March 6, 1697, died October 17, 1772. He was a wheelwright and weaver by trade. He came to live at Northfield in the third settlement July 4, 1727, according to his own memoran- dum. He married, January 27, 1726, Eliza- beth, daughter of William Arms, of Deer- field. and widow of Ebenezer Field, black-

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smith. She died October 1, 1772, aged seventy-seven. Children, born at Northfield : I. Mary, born October 27. 1727; married, December, 1747, Gad Corse. 2. Eldad, born April 19, 1729; died March 16, 1731-32. 3. Lucy, born March 2, 1730-31 : died October 24, 1736. 4. Eldad, born March 16, 1731-32; died January 9, 1732-33. 5. Eldad, born Jan- uary 9, 1732-33. 6. Medad, born December 27, 1734; married, June 22, 1762, Irene Hol- ton, and settled at Westminster, Vermont. 7. Azubah, born May 26, 1736; married, 1754, Thomas Alexander. 8. Azariah, born March 7, 1737-38; mentioned below. 9. Abner, born October 29. 1740 (twin). 10. Lucy (twin), born October 29, 1740; married, February 25, 1768, Ebenezer Harvey.

(V) Captain Azariah Wright, son of Azariah Wright (4), was born in Northfield, Massachusetts, March 7, 1737-38. He had a remarkable career as a soldier and pioneer. In the old French and Indian war he was a soldier under Captain John Burk, and at Hins- dale in 1757. He was peculiarly fitted by nature for the rough life of a pioneer. He delighted to act in those scenes which tended fully to develop his capacity to overcome the obstacles of an unknown wilderness. As early as 1770 lie was captain of a military company at Westminster, Vermont, where he had made his home. He was a strict discip- linarian and he is said to have trained his men with all the rigor and severity of a martinet. He took part in the events of March, 1775, leading up to what is known as the West- minster massacre. The Whigs were opposed to the holding of court by the Tory judges. against whose administration of justice and authority, derived from New York governors, they rebelled. The Whigs took possession of the court house and held it until Sheriff Pat- erson with a drunken posse attacked them with firearms and drove them out. The Whigs had no guns, and the indignation following the massacre of two men and wounding of others in this assault knew no bounds. Cap- tain Azariah and his company and several other militia companies of the vicinity, sheriff, judges, and all the guilty Tories were thrown into prison, and the prisoners of the sheriff released. But for the outbreak of the revolu- tion this massacre would have been of more historical importance. The Tory prisoners were sent to New York and never tried. His brother, Medad Wright, seems to have been in sympathy with the Tories, or at least with the New York side of this controversy, and

accepted a commission as lieutenant from the governor of New York, but never raised the company. He was also constable of the west parish of Westminster. Captain Wright has been called an "Ethan Allen" for the part he took in the New York-New Hampshire land grant difficulties which culminated in this massacre. Ife was a soldier in the revolution, and in 1776 went with twelve men of his town to Quebec. He made a famous attack on Thomas Chandler, Jr., whom he had had trouble with, and through two very illiterate and abusive letters stirred up opposition enough to cause Chandler the loss of his office as speaker of the house. Chandler sued Wright for ten thousand pounds, and got a verdict for three pounds, but the total cost, as shown by the execution issued, was $806. He was at times an obstreperous person, and at least once had trouble with his second wife, due, she said, to his chastising her. He was generally called "Uncle Riah," He was gen- erally popular, though his quick temper and bold, rough and outspoken manners made him feared by many. The singular recklessness of the man is shown by his hold-up of a minister and church that attempted to excommunicate him. There are two stories of the cause of the trouble. One states that it started in the factional feeling in the church dating from the departure of Rev. Mr. Goodell under a cloud. Uncle Riah was a friend of Goodell. and had an antipathy for the new minister, Rev. Joseph Bullen, and this feeling led to an outbreak in which Wright tweaked the min- ister's nose, cuffed his checks, and "com- mitted other enormities," so we are told. But the other story has it that Wright stayed at home from church to watch for a sly old bear that was doing much damage to his farm, and that for shooting the bear he was to be turned out of the church. At any rate, his discharge papers were in the minister's hands one Sun- day, and Riah came, not only armed, but with a week's provisions in his haversack. When the minister attempted to read the excommun- ication, Rial aimed his gun and threatened to shoot. The minister dared not proceed, and handed the paper to a deacon, John Sessions. The gun followed the paper, and the deacon declined the job that the parson abandoned. The paper was never read. One account tells of the flight of the pastor and congregation, leaving Wright in the church alone, but it is more likely that an armistice was declared, and the hatchet finally buried, for notwith- standing this rebellion and incendiary per-

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Boston and eastern Massachusetts, Part 80

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918 Publication date: 1908 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 768

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 768