USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Boston and eastern Massachusetts > Part 87
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tain Charles (?), married, December 15, 1816, Hannah Cooper. 3. George, mentioned be- low ; perhaps others.
(VI) George Dyer, son of Anthony Dyer (5), was born about 1765. He was select- man of Vinal Haven, 1813 to 1829 inclusive. He was a farmer and miller. He died in Searsmont, where his son settled.
(VII) George Dyer, son of George Dyer (6), born in New Haven, Maine, January I, 1815, died in Belfast, Maine. He was a farmer in Searsmont most of his life, and was also the owner of a saw mill in that town. He was a Democrat in politics, and active in public affairs, holding the office of selectman and other positions of trust and responsibility. He married Ruth A. Boardman. (See Board- man family). Child, Susan Bennett, born April 21, 1856; married Edmund Bicknell. (See Bicknell family).
COLBURN The surname Colburn has has been variously spelled for many centuries. The ancient spelling. Colbrand, designated the pro- genitors of the family in Tipton, county Staf- ford, England, as early as 1631, and at Row- ley Regis in the same county. In the Visitation of 1619 in this county we have an account of the pedigree for some three hundred years. The derivative branches of the family, Col- bronds or Colebournes, of Kinver or Groby, Leicestershire ; of Dudley, county Stafford; and of Coventry, county Warwick, bear the same arms: Argent a chevron between three buglehorns sable stringed or. Crest: Out of a ducal coronet a reindeer's head argent attired or. The family at Bruton, county Somerset, has very similar arms: Argent on a chevron between three buglehorns sable stringed of the same and garnished or as many mullets of the last. Crest: Out of a ducal coronet or a reindeer's head argent attired gold. Another Colbourne coat-of- arms is: Gules on a fesse gules a crescent of the first a canton of the second. Baron Seaton and other distinguished persons in England belong to this family.
The American families are traced to several immigrant ancestors. Robert Colburn was a resident of Ipswich in 1648; William Colburn, of Brentwood, England, settled in Boston. Edward Colburn, of Concord, has many des- cendants in Dracut, Massachusetts, spelling the name Coburn in most cases.
(I) Nathaniel Colburn (Coleborne) the im- migrant ancestor, was a proprietor of Ded-
ham, Massachusetts, in 1637, was one of the signers of the Dedham covenant, was admitted to the church January 29, 1641, and was admitted a freeman June 21, 1641. He was a town officer and on important committees. He married, July 25, 1639, Priscilla Clarke, who was admitted to the church October 23, 1640. He accumulated considerable property, which was divided among his eleven children. He died May 14, 1691. His will was dated June 30, 1690, and proved April 26, 1692. Chil- dren : I. Sarah, born April 15, 1640; married William Partridge, of Medfield. 2. Rebecca, born February 17, 1642-43; married, 1661, John Pratt, of Medfield. 3. Nathaniel, born March 3, 1644; married, November 19, 1669, Mary Brooks, who died April 21, 1708; he died September 18, 1689. 4. Priscilla, born April 1, 1646; married, November 12, 1668, Joseph Morse. 5. John, born July 29, 1648; married, 1674, Experience Leland, born May 16, 1656, daughter of Henry and Margaret (Babcock) Leland, of Medfield; died Decem- ber 20, 1708. 6. Mary, born January 21, 1650-51; died December 17, 1685; married, October 1, 1672, John Richards, of Dedham, born July 1, 1641, died December 21, 1688. 7. Hannah, born January 20, 1652-53 ; died April 3, 1728; married, January 16, 1677-78, Thomas Aldridge, who died October 23, 1694. 8. Samuel, born January 25, 1654-55; men- tioned below. 9. Deborah, born January 28, 1656-57 ; died August 30, 1684; married, Jan- uary 15, 1679-80, Joseph Wight. 10. Benja- min, born September 24, 1659; died Septem- ber 30, 1714; married first, March 5, 1684-85, Abiah, daughter of Anthony and Joanna (Faxon) Fisher; second, Bethia Bullen, of Medfield. II. Joseph, born December I, 1662; died April 20, 1718; married Mary Hol- brook.
(II) Samuel Colburn, son of Nathaniel Colburn (I), born January 25, 1654-55, died May 18, 1694; married, March 12, 1682-83, Mercy Partridge. Children: 1. Sarah, born December 12, 1684. 2. Samuel, born Novem- ber 10, 1685; died December 3, 1685. 3 Mercy, born November 6, 1686; died Febru- ary 18, 1686-87 (?). 4. Ephraim, born No- vember 5, 1687 ; mentioned below. 5. Mary, born November 5, 1691 ; died April 16, 1742. 6. Abiell, born September 27, 1694.
(III) Ephraim Colburn, son of Samuel Colburn (2), born November 5, 1687, . died August 7, 1775; married, December 5, 1709, Elizabeth, born May 21, 1694, daughter of Timothy and Sarah Whiting. Children : I.
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Hannah, born March 9, 1710-II ; married, August 23, 1732, Ebenezer Lewis, of Dorches- ter, born May 29, 1705, son of John and Anna (Whiting) Lewis. 2. Samuel, born March 6. 1714; married first, Mary ,who died December 10, 1750; second, June 21, 1751, Mercy Dean. 3. Ephraim, born December 31, 1716; mentioned below. 4. Elizabeth, born May 3, 1719; married Jonathan Russell. 5. Sarah, born December 5, 1722 ; married, Octo- ber 13, 1755, Job Buckmaster. 6. Rebekah, born March 10, 1724-25; married, April 25, 1745, Ebenezer Hartshorn. 7. John, born September 18, 1727; married, May 24, 1753, Mary Smith, of Needham. 8. Mercy, born April 13, 1730.
(IV) Ephraim Colburn, son of Ephraim Colburn (3), born December 31, 1716, died December 17, 1776; married, March 31, 1743, Abigail Fairbanks, who died November 2, 1808. Children : I. Elithure, born August 12, 1714: married, March 7, 1784, Nathan Ellis. 2. David, born March 26, 1747 ; mar- ried, April 30, 1771, Rebecca Richards, born July II, 1751, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca ( Whiting) Richards. 3. Ichabod, born February 20, 1754; mentioned below. 4. Abigail, born April, 1758; married, February 7, 1778, Robert Boyd. 5. Lucy, born Febru- ary 13, 1765 ; died February 8, 1850: married, June 26, 1791, Lemuel Gay, born January 25, 1764, died June 3, 1844, son of Lusher and Judith (Green) Gay. 6. Lydia, born January 5, 1767 ; died August 31, 1775.
(V) Ichabod Colburn, son of Ephraim Colburn (4), born February 20, 1754, died March 8, 1828. He was a soldier in the Rev- olution, in Captain William Ellis's company, Captain Heath's regiment, April 19, 1775 ; also corporal in Captain Abel Richards's company, Colonel McIntosh's regiment, 1778, on ser- vice at Roxbury and Boston. He married, December 13, 1781, Anna Ellis, who died March 31, 1829. Children: 1. Mille, born December 8. 1782; died June 1, 1802. 2. Thatcher, born February 20, 1787 ; mentioned below. 3. Betsey, born November 1, 1789; died August 15, 1803.
(VI) Thatcher Colburn, son of Ichabod Colburn (5), born February 20, 1787, died December 26, 1866; married, June, 1823, Hitty Cleveland, who died July 26, 1881. Children : I. Waldo, born November 13, 1824; mentioned below. 2. George Cleveland, born May 3, 1827; married first, Louisa H. Sparrow ; second, January 6, 1866, Helen S. Sherman. 3. Ichabod Ellis, born August 20,
1828; died January 20, 1848. 4. Allen, born October 28, 1832; married. December 18, 1856, Nancy Colburn. 5. Howard, mentioned below.
(VII) Hon. Waldo Colburn, son of That- cher Colburn (6), was born in that part of Dedham now called Westwood, November 13. 1824, and died September 26, 1885. He re- ceived his early education in the schools of his native town, and at the age of fifteen entered Phillips Academy, at Andover, remaining until 1845. After two years of varied pursuits, in- cluding civil engineering and surveying, on May 13, 1847, he entered the law office of Ira Cleveland, and later took a course at Har- vard Law School. He was admitted to the bar May 3, 1850, and continued in the practice of his profession until May 27, 1875, with eminent success. During this period he held many positions of trust and responsibility in the town. A representative to the general court in 1850 and 1854, he became the chair- man of important committees, and "earnestly opposed loaning State's credit to the Hoosac Tunnel scheme.' A senator in 1870, "He served on the judiciary committee and had charge of drafting the well known corporation act." From 1855 to 1864 he was chairman of the selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor, and for many years was moderator of town meetings. He was elected a member of the Dedham Institution for Savings in 1850, a trustee in 1860, and its president in 1877, and continued in these offices until his death. He was also a director of the Dedham Nation- al Bank. On May 27, 1875, Governor Wil- liam Gaston appointed Mr. Colburn one of the justices of the superior court, and this action was highly commended. His promo- tion to the supreme court bench by Governor John D. Long was equally well merited. The latter position he held at the time of his death. Politically Judge Colburn was a member of the old Whig party, but upon the death of that organization he became a member of the Dem- ocratic party. He was for several years a candidate of that party for attorney-general. He married first, November 21, 1852, Mary E. Gay, born 1830, died October, 1859. He married second, August 5, 1861, Elizabeth C. Sampson, born February 1, 1827. Children : I. Mary Ellis Gay, born June 1, 1856. 2. Anne Florence, born February 5, 1858; mar- ried, July 11, 1888, Dr. Andrew Hall Hodg- don ; children: i. Waldo Colburn Hodgdon, born August 14, 1889; ii. Andrew Yates, Feb- ruary 18, 1891 ; iii. Richard Lord Hodgdon,
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April 26, 1896, died December 7, 1897; iv. Howard Wellington Hodgdon, born Septem- ber 30, 1898; v. Ruth Ellis Hodgdon, October 17, 1900. 3. Waldo Cleveland, born Febru- ary 4, 1871 ; died September 9, 1872.
(VII) Howard Colburn, son of Thatcher Colburn (6), born on the old farm at West- wood, Dedham, December 4, 1838, died un- married, September 28, 1907. He resided on the farm which has been in the Colburn family since it was originally granted to Nathaniel Colburn, the immigrant ancestor. He received his education in the public schools. and in Williston Academy, Easthampton, Massachu- setts. For several years he remained at home caring for the farm. He was a young man of steadiness of mind and character, and had many friends among his townsmen. In 1872 he was elected a member of the board of selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor. He was re-elected except in 1887 until 1892, when he declined re-election. He was chair- man of the selectmen from 1883, of the board of assessors until 1892, with the exception of three years, and of the overseers of the poor until the incorporation of Westwood, with the exception of one year. He was an excellent town officer, and gave his time and attention freely to the work. He made himself familiar not only with all the many details of the town business but with the laws governing the same. He carefully scrutinized proposed appro- priations, and was cautious and thrifty in the management of town finances. Although he was prudent and conservative, he was not penurious. He was particularly interested in the care of the poor, and kept his membership in the board of overseers after he had de- clined to serve in any other office. His judg- ment in matters concerning the conduct of this department of town business was especially good, and he used great wisdom in distribut- ing help in the proper channels. He was elected a trustee of the Dedham Institution for Savings in 1887, and vice-president in 1905, and was on the important committee on invest- ment and securities. April 5, 1881, he was elected a director of the Norfolk Mutual Fire Insurance Company ; of the Dedham Mutual Fire Insurance Company July 1, 1885, and treasurer of the company July 7, 1886. He was elected director of the Dedham National Bank January 8, 1884. All these positions he held at the time of his death. In 1885 he was appointed deputy sheriff of Norfolk county, by Sheriff Augustus B. Endicott, and held this office and that of special sheriff at the
time of his death. Mr. Colburn enjoyed the confidence and esteem of every one who knew him, and his long years of public service bear mitte testimony to his sterling worth and in- tegrity.
FITTS The family of Fitts, or Fitz, is one of great antiquity, and according to Charles Edwin Fitz, of New Orleans, Louisiana, the names of three or four of its members appear on the roll of Battle Abbey. The name Fitz was doubtless derived from the French word "fils" (Norman French "fiz") signifying son. John Fitz, bencher, of Lincoln Inn, was born at or near the town of Tavistock, Devonshire, Eng- land, famous for producing so many sages in the law, the study of which he sedulously fol- lowed and became so expert that he was accounted one of the most illustrious lawyers of his day. He reared his family to wealth and greatness. John Fitz was in the prime of life in 1428. He established a country home about a mile from the town of Tavistock, but within the parish. One of his descendants, also named John Fitz, buried in 1539 or 1559, commemorated by a stone in the Tavistock church. There are the figures of a knight and lady on the stone, showing that he was a sold- ier. His arms also were inscribed on the stone. The sons of John Fitz were: I. John, inherited his father's estate; died without issue. 2. Walter, who after his brother, suc- ceeded to the estate. 3. Roger. (The Eng- lish history of the Fitz family was taken from the history written by Mr. James Harris Fitts, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama).
(II) Walter Fitts, son of John Fitts (I), was probably born about 1450, and died 1510. He married Mary Sampson. Children : I. John, married a daughter of Roger Greville. 2. Robert.
(III) Robert Fitts, son of Walter Fitts (2), emigrated to Massachusetts with his great-grandsons, Robert and Richard. He had a son Robert.
(IV) Robert Fitts, son of Robert Fitts (3), died at the age of twenty-nine, leaving a son Walter.
(V) Walter Fitts, son of Robert Fitts (4), was a contemporary of Sir Francis Drake, who married a niece of the mother of his cousin, Sir John Fitts. He is said to have had business relations with Sir Richard Gre- ville. He had two sons-Robert, born 1600, and Richard.
(VI) Robert Fitts, son of Walter Fitts
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(5), was born 1600. He and his brother Richard emigrated to Massachusetts previous to 1639, when he was a property owner in Salisbury, Massachusetts. His brother Rich- ard settled in Newbury, near Salisbury, and both were called planters in the records. Tradition says that previous to going to Salis- bury he settled in Ipswich in 1635. He came from Tavistock, Devonshire, England. He was a man of high social position, of educa- tion and Puritan integrity. He removed to Ipswich in 1652, where he lived until he died, May 9, 1665. He was on the tax rolls in Salis- bury in 1650, and owned a share in Plum Isl- and in 1664. Ile and his wife Grace gave testimony December 22, 1664, as to the prom- ise made by Simon Thompson desiring their son Abraham, who married his daughter, to come to Ipswich and reside. He married first, in England, Ann Barnes, and second, Grace, sister of Robert Lord. The will of Robert Fitts, dated January 5, 1663, and proved June 26, 1664, mentions his wife Grace and son Abraham, to whom he left land at Salisbury, which he purchased of his "brother William Barnes," no doubt the brother of his first wife. The widow died April 25, 1684. The estate was valued at two hundred and thirty pounds, which was a large sum for those days.
(VII) Abraham Fitts, son of Robert Fitts (6), was born about the time his parents came to America, say 1635. He married, May 16, 1655, Sarah, daughter of Simon Thompson, of Ipswich, Governor Simon Bradstreet per- forming the ceremony. She died June 4, 1664. He married second, the widow of Tyler Bird- ley, Rebecca Birdley, January 7, 1668. Abra- ham Fitts lived at Salisbury, Massachusetts, during his youth, but at the time of his mar- riage removed to Ipswich, Massachusetts, at the request of Symon Thompson, his wife's father, who conveyed to him the house and land he had bought from Humphrey Griffin, containing three acres, bounded by Rocky Hill towards the west, John Fuller to the south, and the highway east and northeast. He was heir and executor of the will of his uncle, Richard Fitts, who left no children. He joined the church in full communion February 22, 1673. He was admitted a freeman March II, 1673-74. The estate was inventoried at three hundred and sixty-six pounds ten shill- ings. He had a house and fifty acres of land at Ipswich, besides land at Salisbury. Chil- dren of first wife: 1. Sarah, born February 21, 1657; died January 14, 1660. 2. Abra-
ham. died 1714. 3. Robert, born March 30, 1660; died June 15, 1661. 4. Sarah, born March 15, 1661. Children of second wife: 5. Robert, born May 28, 1670; died young. 6. Richard, born February 26, 1672: mention- ed below. 7. Isaac. born July 3. 1675.
(VIII) Richard Fitts, son of Abraham Fitts (7), was born February 26, 1672. On January 16, 1691, his father conveyed to him in fee all his lands in Salisbury, where he built a block house for his residence and to shield his family from the Indians, by whom they were repeatedly attacked. These same lands have never passed out of the family, being still owned by the descendants of Robert Fitts, grandfather of Richard, to whom they were originally granted. The will of Richard Fitts was dated July 25, 1741, and proved January 14. 1745. He died December 3, 1744. He married March 18. 1694-95. Sarah Thorne. Elis wife was a superior woman, remarkable for resolution of character, walking sixteen miles to worship at Ipswich, of which church she was a member. "She was a dutiful and affectionate wife, a kind mother, and a pious, charitable and useful member of society. She (lied March, 1773, aged one hundred years." Children : I. Isaac, born December 19, 1695 : died August 10, 1696. 2. Sarah, born July 12, 1607; married, February 8. 1721, Jeremiah Allen. 3. Nathaniel, born July 13, 1699; died February 6, 1784. 4. Martha, born February 27, 1702; married, April 1, 1727, John East- man, of Salisbury. 5. Richard, born January 20, 1705: mentioned below. 6. Ward, "daughter, borne 9th June, 1707." 7. Daniel, born April 30, 1710: died March 30, 1796. 8. Jerusha, born December 10, 1712; married Roger Eastman, January 25, 1730.
(IX) Richard Fitts, son of Richard Fitts (8), was born January 20, 1705. He settled in what was afterwards South Hampton, New Hampshire, then an uncultivated territory infested by Indians. On July 26, 1742, he with twenty-eight others who had "done con- siderable" towards building a meeting house at a place called "Logging Plain," gave it to the town, which had been incorporated the May preceding. March 1, 1756, he was on a committee appointed by the town to survey a route for a highway. He died February 23, 1791. His will was dated May 3, 1787, and proved March 16, 1791. He married first, April 6, 1727, Sarah Brown, born September 14, 1708, died about 1754, daughter of Eph- raim and Lydia Brown of Salisbury, Massa- chusetts. He owned the covenant of the Con -
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gregational West Church at Salisbury, De- cember 24, 1727. His wife Sarah united with the same church May 5, 1728. He married second, April, 1757, Dorothy Evans, of Salis- bury. Children, all by first wife: 1. Sarah, born November 27, 1727; married Daniel Quimby, of Amesbury, Massachusetts. 2. Daniel, born September 25, 1729; baptized October, 1729. 3. Nathaniel, died unmarried, May II, 1779. 4. Elizabeth, born February 5, 1733; baptized March 9. 1733; published to Timothy Flanders, of Salisbury, December 2, 1752. 5. Jonathan, born July 29, 1734; mar- ried Susannah Pike. 6. Lydia, born Novem- ber 3, 1737 ; baptized December 4, 1737 ; mar- ried Ebenezer Eastman. 7. Abigail; born September 10, 1739; married Nathaniel Mor- rill, of Brentwood, New Hampshire. 8. Mary, born May 22, 1743; married Moses Jones, of Enfield, New Hampshire. 9. Eph- raim, born May 10, 1745; mentioned below. IO. Martha, born March 13, 1747; married Jonathan King. II. Isaac, born March 27, 1749; died unmarried, February 17, 1778, at Concord, New Hampshire, from disease con- tracted in the revolution. 12. Anna, born Jan- uary 20, 1751; married Moses Sawyer, of Salisbury, New Hampshire. 13. Child, died young. 14. Child, died young.
(X) Ephraim Fitts, son of Richard Fitts (9), was born May 10, 1745. He learned the trade of a blacksmith with his cousin Abra- ham Fitts, of Chester, New Hampshire, and settled there. He was tithingman 1769-72-73. besides holding other town offices. He was in the revolution, in the Chester company, and after the war settled in South Hampton, New Hampshire. He died April 13, 1800, and letters of administration were granted to his widow and his son Thomas Worthen Fitts, May 19, 1800. He married, August 29, 1765, Rhoda Worthen, of Chester, New Hampshire, Rev. Mr. Cotton, of Sandown, New Hamp- shire, officiating. She was born 1743, and died February 28, 1826. Children: 1. Sarah, born December 13, 1765; married Thomas Clifford. 2. Lydia, born March 19, 1768; died March 5, 1778. 3. Richard, born Febru- ary 22, 1770; died October 6, 1835. 4. Eliz- abeth, born February 4, 1772; married Feb- ruary 24, 1800, Nathaniel Howe, of Enfield, New Hampshire; died 1858. 5. Thomas Worthen, born March 17, 1774; mentioned below. 6. Mary, born September 14, 1776; married May 9, 1823, William Clifford, of Candia, New Hampshire. 7. Lydia, born February 6, 1779; died unmarried, February
7. 1860. 8. Isaac, born August 31, 1781 ; died August 20, 1854. 9. Ephraim, born June 6, 1784; died November II, 1842. 10. Josiah, born September 23, 1787; died October 2, 1853.
(XI) Thomas Worthen Fitts, son of Eph- raim Fitts (10), born March 17, 1774, died at Dorchester, New Hampshire, June 11, 1813. He married, November 28, 1799, Sarah French, of South Hampton, New Hampshire, Rev. Nathaniel Noyes officiating. She died March 7. 1866, aged eighty-five. Children: I. Parmelia, born July 17. 1801 ; married Elihu Woodman, of Kingston, New Hampshire. 2. Thomas Jefferson, born December 21, 1802; married December 29, 1829, Thankful F. Moore, of Dorchester, New Hampshire. 3. Daniel French, born April 2, 1805; married Susan Fellows, of Danville, New Hampshire. 4. Sarah, born January 14, 1807; married Russell F. Clifford, of Warren, New Hamp- shire. 5. Drusilla, born January 28, 1809; died February 8. 1809. 6. Joseph, born December 28, 1810; mentioned below. 7. Elizabeth, born December 24, 1812; married Joseph Magoon, of East Kingston, New Hampshire.
(XII) Joseph Fitts, son of Thomas Wor- then Fitts ( II), was born at South Hampton, New Hampshire, December 28, 1810. His education was obtained in the district schools of Dorchester, New Hampshire, and he worked on his father's farm until he came of age. In 1831 he left home and located at Haverhill, Massachusetts, where he worked at the trade of shoemaker, and later became a manufacturer on his own account. He built up an extensive and prosperous business in Haverhill, and became one of the leading shoe manufacturers of that city. He employed many men, and his relations with his help were admirable. His advice was frequently sought by younger men in the same line of business. He was a useful and public-spirited citizen, upright and straightforward in his methods, and commanded the respect and con- fidence of all with whom he had business rela- tions. He retired from active business a few years before his death, but continued to live in Haverhill. He died there December 4, 1883, aged seventy-three years. Mr. Fitts was a Republican in politics, and served the city as a member of the common council from Ward Four. He was a devout and loyal mem- ber of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Haverhill, was one of its trustees, and sup- erintendent of its Sunday school. He was a
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member of Merrimack Lodge of Free Masons, Haverhill. Mr. Fitts had invested to a large extent in Haverhill real estate, and he did much to build up the city in a material way, building a large number of dwelling houses from time to time on Mount Washington and in other districts of the city.
He married, October 8, 1834, Hannah Rowell, born August 12, 1813, died March 6, 1902, daughter of Philip Rowell, of East Kingston, New Hampshire. She was a mem- ber of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, and was active in its missionary society. Chil- dren, born in Haverhill: 1. Alfred M., born December 12, 1836; drowned in the Merri- mac river, June 30, 1858 ; had been associated in business with his father, and had a promis- ing career before him. 2. Mary Frances, re- sides at home, 78 Washington avenue, Haver- hill. 3. Warren J., born June 7, 1841 ; was commissioned second lieutenant of the Thirty- fifth Regiment in the civil war; married Louisa H. Rugg; children: i. Annie L .; ii. Ralph W. 4. Leroy B., born October 5, 1846; resides in Haverhill ; married Frances Thurs- ton ; children : i. Mabel ; ii. Howard. 5. Han- nah P., born 1849; died July 29, 1850. 6. Horace L., born January 10, 1852; died 1882; married Eva Adams; son, Wallace J. Mary Frances Fitts is a life member of the Methodist Episcopal Church Woman's Home Mission Society, also a life member of the Haverhill Children's Home Society.
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