Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume I, Part 107

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 924

USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 107

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JACKSON This family is one of the most ancient and numerous in Eng- land. The surname is obviously derived from Jack and son, and belongs to the same class of names as Richardson, Dickson, Bilson, and was in use in the eleventh or twelfth century, when surnames were adopted in Eng- land.

(I) Jonathan Jackson was a weaver in Leeds, England, and according to family tradition the family had lived there for many generations. His father was born there in 1727, and died there in 1829, at the remarkable age of one hundred and two years. Jonathan was born about 1750-60, at Leeds. He had little educa- tion, and early in life began work at the weaver's trade. Then the weaving was done at home on hand looms. He married first -- - Gee, who died about 1804, and he married again. He lived at Slack, a town near Leeds. His second wife died April 12, 1818, and he then went to live with his son John, at Mount Pleasant, Eng- land. Children : Benjamin, mentioned below ; Hannah, Jonathan, Betsey, Sarah, John.

(II) Benjamin, son of Jonathan Jackson, was born at Slack, near Leeds, England, about 1783. He learned his father's trade, and became a very expert hand weaver. He had little schooling. He came to this country at the age of twenty, and is given credit for weaving the first piece of broadcloth made in this country, according to the "History of Connecticut Valley." He was the only one of the family to come to Amer- ica, and he returned to his native land several times to visit relatives. He settled and made his home in Leeds, Massachusetts, then becom- ing an important manufacturing place. He was an expert weaver, following that trade all his life, and, after the ancient custom of the family, teaching it to his sons. He went to

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England in 1830 and found his sister Betsey living in Leeds, his brother Jonathan about six miles from that town, and his sister Hannah in the town of Slack. He made another visit to the old country when he was seventy-five years old. He was pious, but rather stern and austere. He died December 28, 1863, aged about eighty years. He married and had children.

(III) Benjamin (2), son of Benjamin (I) Jackson, was born in Leeds, Massachusetts, about 1815, and died there. He was educated in the public schools, and learned the black- smith trade. He settled in Greenfield, Massa- chusetts. He married Olive Sanderson Stebbins, born May 17, 1818, daughter of Ralph and Sub- mit ( Sanderson) Stebbins, of Conway, Mass- achusetts (see Stebbins). Children, born at Greenfield: Elizabeth, Andrew, Charles Baker.

(IV) Charles Baker, son of Benjamin (2) Jackson, was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, January 23, 1852, and was educated there in the public schools. He followed farming until 1870, when he worked for two years in a car- riage factory and two years as clerk in a grocery store. In 1880 he engaged in the trucking and ice business in Greenfield, and has conducted this business with much success to the present time. He also deals extensively in horses, and has a large sale stable. He is a Unitarian in religion, and a Democrat in politics. He mar- ried, 1876, Zilpha C. Thayer, born 1859, daugh- ter of Lyman Thayer, of Greenfield. Children : I. Charles Baker, Jr., born 1886. 2. Bertha Olive, 1888; married Arthur S. Chapin, of Northampton, Massachusetts ; children: Rich- ard, born 1902 ; Eleanor, 1906.

(For first generation see Rowland Stebbins 1). (II) John Stebbins, son of STEBBINS Rowland Stebbins, was born in 1626, in England, and was living in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1651, but bought a house that year in Springfield. He was one of the original proprietors of Pocum- tuck, owning twenty cow commons, and drew house lot, No. 13, there, in what is now Deer- field, Massachusetts, but probably was not a settler. He made his home in Northampton. I Ie died March 9, 1679, "in an unusual manner," and witchcraft was suspected as the cause of death. A jury of inquest found "several linn- dred spots, small ones, as if they had been shot with small shot, which we scraped and under them were holes into his body." No prosecu- tion followed the inquest, however. He mar- ried, May 14, 1646, Mary, widow of Abraham Munden, probably daughter of Thomas Mim-

son, of Hartford, Connecticut ; (second) No- veniber 17, 1657, Abigail, daughter of Robert Bartlett, of Northampton, and she married (second) December 28, 1681, Jedediah Strong, and died July 15, 1689. Children of first wife: I. John, born January 28, 1647; mentioned below. 2. Thomas, died April 24, 1649. 3. Ann, born April 10, 1651 ; died 1653. 4. Ed- ward, born July 12, 1653; died October 16, 1653. 5. Benoni, born June 23, 1655; ser- geant ; in 1667 he conspired with other lads of Northampton to "run away to the French" in Canada : stole "24 shillings in silver and seven shillings in wampum" to pay Quanquelatt, an Indian, for helping them carry out the plan ; the theft and plot were discovered ; Quanquelatt was whipped and forced to give up the money ;" "Nims, the ringleader in these villainies," got fifteen lashes on the naked back, and Stebbins and the others eleven each ; in 1677 he attempted to settle on his father's home lot in Deerfield, but was captured in the Ashpelon raid that year : came again at the resettlement and was a prominent man-selectman, assessor and con- stable ; built on his father's lot the house so successfully defended by seven men and a few women against a horde of the enemy, February 29. 1704, and he alone of the party was slain ; married, 1677, Mary (Broughton) Bennett, widow of James Bennett, who was killed at the Falls fight ; she and her husband were both fined because she wore silk when his bride, contrary to the sumptuary laws of the colony ; he married (second ) 1691, Hannah, widow of Joseph Edwards, and she married (third) Thomas French, whose wife was killed by the Indians when a captive on the march to Canada 1704. Children of second wife: 6. Samuel, born January 21, 1658-9: lived at Northamp- ton, Deerfield, Boston and Leicester, and finally settled at Belchertown, about 1727; died Sep- tember 3. 1732 ; married, March 14, 1678, Mary French ; (second ) March 14, 1692, Sarah Will- iams, at Rhode Island. 7. Abigail, born Sep- tember 24, 1660: married, May 30, 1678, Will- iam Phelps. 8. Thomas, born May 6, 1662: died April 28, 1712; married, September 26, 1684, Elizabeth Wright, who married ( second) June 16, 1715. John Hannum. 9. Hannah, born July 8, 1664; married, November 15, 1670, aged fifteen, John Sheldon : was killed in old Indian house, February 29, 1704. 10. Mary, boru September 10, 1666; married, November 17. 1683, Thomas Strong, of Northampton. IL. Sarah, born June 4, 1668; married, 1687, Will- iam Southwell, of Northampton. 12. Joseph, born January 17, 1670-1 ; lied June 8, 1681.

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13. Deborah, born March 5, 1672; married, 1690, Benjamin Alvord. 14. Benjamin, bap- tized May 3, 1674 ; a trooper in Pomroy pursuit, 1698; removed to Belchertown, 1741 ; married, December 21, 1709, Mary Ashley. 15. Rebecca, baptized February 26, 1676; married, 1697, Nathaniel Strong. 16. Thankful, born May II, 1678; married, July 18, 1700, Jeriah Strong.

(III) John (3), son of John (2) Stebbins, was born at Springfield, January 28, 1647. He was a carpenter by trade. When his brother Benoni planned to run away in 1667, John knew about it, and when the plan was dis- covered, John suffered with the others, being sentenced by court to ten stripes or to pay ten shillings to the county treasurer. His father paid the fine. He received a grant of lot 36, May 10, 1670, and of lot 13, May 14, 1671. He was a soldier in Captain Lothrop's company, and the only man known to have come out whole from the Bloody Brook massacre. Two days afterward he enlisted in Captain Moseley's company, and was serving in March, 1676, and probably through King Philip's war. After- ward, when impressed for military duty at Hadley, he was fined, but the statement of his service and the facts of the impressment were sufficient to secure his discharge from the pen- alty and service. He lived at Boston for a time and worked at his trade at Muddy River ( Brookline) and Cambridge Village (Newton). He returned to Deerfield at the resettlement, and lived on lot 35. In 1685 his home lot was on "Plumbtree Playne," as Wapping was called until 1689. He was hayward at Deerfield in 1689; on school committee in 1700. His house was burned and the entire family taken cap- tives by the Indians, February 29, 1704. He, his wife and son John are the only ones known to have returned, the others choosing to live in Canada. He died December 19, 1724. His will, dated July 31, 1723, at Deerfield, bequeath- ed to Dorothy his wife; one-eighth to each of his children in Canada-Samuel, Ebenezer, Joseph, Abigail and Thankful, provided they would return to New England to live, but if not, each was to receive but the proverbial five shil- lings. AaronDesnoions, son of his daughter Abi- gail, was evidently living with his grandfather, and he was made heir in place of his mother, provided he "continue in this country." The son John was to have a treble portion and rest of the estate to be divided between the children that returned from Canada. There is no evi- dence that any but Samuel returned, and he did not stay and receive his portion. John married Dorothy, daughter of John Alexander,

of Newton, where she was living in 1733. Children : I. John, born about 1685 ; mentioned below. 2. Abigail, born about 1687; married, February 3, 1703-4, by Rev. John Williams James Denyo (Desnoions in the will), one of the three "Frenchmen from Canada" in Mr. Williams's list of captives ; she was taken pris- oner with her husband; son Aaron, born in Canada, December 14, 1704, returned to Deer- field and founded the Denio family; Abigail was baptized in the Catholic church as Mar- guerite DeNoyan, at Montreal, May 17-28, 1708. 3. Samuel, born December 25, 1688. 4. Thankful, September 5, 1691; married a Frenchman in Canada, Adrien L. Gram-La- vallée. 5. Ebenezer, December 5, 1694; bap- tized in Catholic church as Jacques Charles ; remained in Canada. 6. Joseph, April 12, 1699 ; settled at Chambly, Canada; died April 23, 1753 ; married Mary Sanssouci. (For children see "Deerfield History").

(IV) John (4), son of John (3) Stebbins, was born at Deerfield, about 1675. He was captured with the rest of the family in 1704, but returned with his parents to Deerfield. He had a grant of land May 8, 1723, as a commoner, and again in 1743 grants of seventy- five acres and ninety-three acres. He lent the town five pounds December II, 1728. He lived on the homestead lot, No. 35: died at Deer- field. September 7, 1760. He married (first) about 1714, Mary who died August 30, 1733, aged thirty-seven; (second) August 25, 1735, Hannah, born February 12, 1798-9, daughter of Edward and Mercy (Painter) Allen. Children, born at Deerfield: 1. John, June 24, 1715 ; died unmarried. 2. Ebenezer, October 26, 1716; probably died in Louisburg expedition, February 7. 1746. 3. Joseph, Octo- ber 20, 1718; married Mary Stratton. 4. Mary, September 20, 1720 ; married October 18, 1743, Daniel Arms. 5. Abigail, March II, 1723 : married, November 11, 1741, Daniel Nash. 6. Samuel, May 5, 1725 ; married Martha Bard- well. 7. Experience, October 31, 1727; mar- ried, December 5, 1745, Enoch Bardwell. 8. Thankful, April 1, 1729; married, August 30. 1749, Jonathan Severance. 9. Moses, October 18, 1731 ; married Mercy Hawks. 10. Simon, January 6, 1736; married Hannah Hinsdale. II. Dorothy, January 6, 1738; married June 12, 1787, Lawrence Kemp. 12. David, April 20, 1741 ; mentioned below. 13. Hannah, Feb- ruary 19, 1744 : died June II, 1744.

(V) Lieutenant David, son of John (4) Stebbins, was born in Deerfield. April 20, 1741. He was commissioned second lieutenant in the

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revolutionary army, May 3. 1776, in Captain Nathan Frary's company, Fifth Hampshire regiment ; was lieutenant also of Captain Enoch Chapin's company, Colonel Jacob Gerrish's regiment, detached from Hampshire county militia to guard stores at Springfield and Brookfield for six months from July 1, 1778. He owned pew 23 in the new meeting-house in 1777. He removed from Deerfield to Conway about 1792, and died there September 30, 1816. He married, December 18, 1765, Rhoda Shel- don, born October 24, 1748, at Deerfield, died August 8, 1826, at Conway, daughter of Abner and Lucy ( Bardwell) Sheldon. Children, born at Deerfield : 1. Sylvester, July 8, 1767; mar- ried Elizabeth Dwelly. 2. Lucy, June 18, 1768. 3. John, May 25, 1771 ; married Sarah Sanders. 4. Horace, August 13, 1773. 5. David, August

16, 1775 : settled in Sherman, New York ; mar- ried Irene Collins. 6. Malachi, January 14 ( ?), 1777. 7. Chester, July 22, 1778; married Nancy Burroughs. 8. Israel, November 20, 1783, died March 3. 1790. 9. Rhoda, born September 21, 178 -. 10. Ralph, January 20, 178 -; mentioned below. II. Israel, January 27, 1792 ; died of wounds received in battle of Bridgewater in war of 1812, July 26, 1814.

(VI) Ralph, son of Lieutenant David Steb- bins, was born January 20, 178-, at Deerfield, and died July 11, 1858, at Conway. He was a farmer, living at Conway, Deerfield and Hoosac, New York. He was a Seventh Day Baptist in religion. He married Submit Sand- erson, born 1787, at Whately, daughter of Eli- jah Sanderson. Children: 1. John, died aged seven years. 2. Rhoda Sheldon, August 28, 1808. 3. Sarah Parker, January 2, 1811 ; mar- ried John Goland ; (second) Albert Jones. 4. Israel, born March 20, 1812 ; married Dorothy Allis. 5. Marinda Arms, August 31, 1817; died 1832, at Conway. 6. Olive Sanderson, May 17, 1818; married Benjamin Jackson ( see Jackson ). 7. Submit, August 16, 1819; mar- ried Austin Lec. 8. Charles Hitchcock, May 24, 1822; married Charlotte Ellen Jenks. 9. Mari- etta Augusta, September 2, 1825 ; married Aus- tin Wells. 10. Ralph, Jr., November 26, 1828; died in Cummington, 1851. 11. James Sand- erson, born August 31, 1830; married Almena ; died 1863, in the civil war ; his widow lied at Millers Falls, Massachusetts.

MELLEN James Mellen was a native of Ireland. He came to Massachu- setts with his parents and set- tled in Worcester. He had a common school education and was a skillful mechanic. He

began at the foot of the ladder on the Boston & Worcester railroad, later the Boston & Albany, and was promoted from time to time until he became a locomotive engineer, one of the first and best on that road. He left the railroad business to become a merchant in Wor- cester, and also conducted a livery stable. Dur- ing the gold fever of 1849 he sought his for- tune in California, but like many others lost his life and was never heard from after leaving home. He married Margaret Brennan, also a native of Ireland. She was a gentle, refined and capable woman, and managed to care for her little family, and equip her sons with edu- cation and character. Both sons attained dis- tinction in professional and public life. She died March 10, 1886. Children: 1. James Henry, born October 7, 1845 ; was educated in the public schools of his native city ; a news- paper writer, editor and publisher ; representa- tive to the general court for a longer period than any other man of his day, serving on important committees and exerting a large in- fluence in legislation ; for many years an alder- man of the city and a leader in that body ; one of the most influential and prominent Demo- crats of the commonwealth: an able public speaker and campaigner ; married (first) Julia Mooney ; children : William, John, Catherine, Annie, James, Frances, Richard. He married ( second ) Mary Hagan ; child, Mary. 2. Will- iam M. E., mentioned below.

( II) Dr. William M. E. Mellen, son of James Mellen, was born at Worcester, April 6, 1848. He attended the public schools of his native city, and early in life began to con- tribute to the support of the family. He learned the trade of iron molder in Worcester, but was ambitious to continue his education, and with the savings of several years from his wages in the iron foundry he paid the cost of a medical education in the University of Mich- igan. While in the medical school he evinced exceptional ability, learning readily and taking high rank. He received his degree of M. D. in 1876, and at once began to practice his pro- fession at Northampton, Massachusetts. One year later he came to the adjacent town of Chicopee, and there practiced medicine the remainder of his life. He took high rank as a physician and had a large practice ; he had the faith and confidence of his fellow-practi- tioners, and was often called in consultation by them. He was a member of the Hampden District Medical Society, and was president in 1905 : a member of the Massachusetts Medi- cal Society : and in 1800 was chosen delegate

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to the Tenth International Medical Congress in Berlin, and while abroad continued his medical studies in the hospitals of London, Glasgow, Paris and Vienna.

He was naturally inclined to the study of public questions, and adapted by disposition, education and natural qualifications for public service. Almost from the time that he came to Chicopee until he died he was the most prominent Democrat of the town. A year after he located there he was elected a member of the school committee, and served on the board from 1879 to 1882. He was town physi- cian in 1883-84, and for several years was a member of the board of health, of which he was chairman in 1889. In 1891 he was elected to the board of aldermen, and in the following year became president of the board. During his service in the city council his executive ability became known and recognized, and he was appointed on all the most important com- mittees. He was a delegate to the Democratic national convention in Chicago in 1892, and served as delegate to nearly all of the Demo- cratic state conventions after he entered public life. He was appointed by President Cleve- land on the medical board for examining appli- cants for pensions in Hampden county, and served for the ensuing eight years. He was a member of the committee for drafting the city charter for Chicopee. In the fall of 1892 Dr. Mellen was nominated for mayor of Chicopee by the Democrats, and after an active cam- paign was defeated by the narrow margin of 997 to 936, by Henry Harris, then mayor. At the next city election the following year he defeated the same opponent by a majority of two hundred and thirty-six votes. His admin- istration was notable for the long and bitter controversies in the city council over the grant- ing of liquor licenses and the granting of a franchise to the Springfield Street Railway Company for the Liberty street route to Chic- opee Falls. He was an able and conservative executive and a good financier. During his term of office the tax rate was reduced from $17.50 to $13.80, the lowest rate in the history of the city after the first year. The city owes many of its improvements to his initiative, foresight and pertinacity. He persistently fol- lowed a policy or purpose once undertaken. He was an earnest advocate of the municipal ownership of electric light and gas plants for lighting streets and houses, and after a cam- paign lasting three years he succeeded in effecting the purchase of a municipal electric light plant in Chicopee. He believed in the

further extension of the public ownership of public utilities. He was a prime mover in the project to purchase the Wells property adjoin- ing the city hall lot for a city library site, and was again successful. Largely through his efforts and influence the liquor license fees were raised and the municipal revenue consid- erably increased thereby. Such policies, while wholly in the interest of the public, made political enemies for him, though at the same time they won for him the confidence and sup- port of the best citizens and a greater degree of popularity. After the fight over liquor licenses he was active in drafting and support- ing a law creating license commissions for cer- tain cities and taking from the aldermen the function of granting liquor licenses. The result of this act has been to improve the personnel of the boards of aldermen in cities where licenses are granted. Throughout his career, not only in the board of health and city coun- cil but in private practice and as a citizen, he earnestly and consistently sought to improve the sanitary conditions of the city. As alder- man and mayor he was responsible for the reg- ulation requiring all houses to connect with the sewerage system, and for the systematic col- lection of garbage, etc. In nothing did he show a greater amount of determination and public spirit than in cleaning up the town. Indeed, he came to be known as the "Iron Mayor," at a time when the city needed a man of iron at the helm. The wealthy property owner who rented unsanitary premises to poor tenants had to be coerced into obeying the law. He warned but once, and those who persisted in violating the health regulations were promptly brought into court. Though instinctively genial and charming socially, he never omitted a public duty to favor a friend, nor neglected a dis- agreeble task for fear of making enemies. He was an open and fearless fighter, upright, manly, sympathetic and earnest in character. He was a charter member of Chicopee Coun- cil, Knights of Columbus, and member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and of the United Workmen of America. He was a cor- porator of the Chicopee Savings Bank. In religion he was a faithful Roman Catholic, a liberal supporter of the parish. He died May 14, 1906, of hemorrhage of the brain. Until his last illness Dr. Mellen had enjoyed perfect health and a robust constitution. The funeral was on May 17 following, at the Church of the Holy Name. The city was represented by the mayor and other city officers, and delega- tions from the fraternities and medical organ-

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izations to which he belonged were in attend- ance. During the funeral all the merchants in town closed their stores. The Springfield Republican. "When a city like Chicopee, filled with many activities and interests, pauses in the middle of one of its working days and remains quiet while one of its members is being carried to his last resting place, a strik- ing tribute is paid to the dead."

He married, July 3, 1883, Catherine Burke, born November 26, 1860, daughter of Patrick Burke, a prosperous farmer of Chicopee. She survives him. They had one child, Eleanor Margaret, born September 15, 1885; graduate of the Chicopee high school, class of 1904, student one year at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and now a student in the, Normal Art School, class of 1909.

CHENERY Lambert Chenery (Ginere, Genere, Chenere, and other forms) was born in 1593, probably in England, and died in Dedham, Massachusetts, January 30, 1674. He arrived in America, landing at Salem, in 1630, went first to Watertown, then to Dedham, where he was among the first settlers in 1635-36. It is supposed that his wife and two sons came to America with him, his wife being admitted f. c. December 4, 1640, and he June 9, 1644. He married (second) May 14, 1656, Thomasis Hewes, who died in Watertown, January 2, 1670. Children : Isaac, see forward. 2. John, born in England in 1630, died in Watertown, September 5, 1675. 3. Mary, born December 24, 1659.

(II) Isaac, eldest child of Lambert Chenery, was born in England, and died in Medfield in 1711. He married. November 16, 1654, Eliza- beth Gamlyn. Children: 1. Elizabeth, born April 6, 1657. 2. Isaac, see forward. 3. Mary, November 21, 1662. 4. Ephraim, May 30, 1664. 5. Deborah, April 8, 1667. 6. Eleazer, February 26, 1668. 7. Hannah, June 9, 1671. 8. Benjamin, April 5, 1673.

(I11) Isaac (2), eldest son and second child of Isaac ( 1) and Elizabeth (Gamlyn) Chenery, was born January 3, 1659; married Rachel -; children: 1. Ephraim, born March 14, 1709. 2. Isaac, see forward.

( IV) Isaac (3), youngest child of Isaac (2) and Rachel Chenery, was born October 20, 1711, died January 30, 1742. He married Sarah Smith, fourth in line of descent from Henry Smith, who came from England in 1637 and settled in Medfield. Children : I. Isaac,

see forward. 2. Eleonia, born about 1739-44, died January 7, 1754 or 1759.

(V) Dr. Isaac (4), eldest child and only son of Isaac (3) and Sarah (Smith) Chenery, was born in Medfield, Massachusetts, in No- vember, 1742, died in Holden, Massachusetts, October 20, 1822. He married, about 1769, Susannah Pierce, of Worcester, Massachusetts, born October 2, 1748, died January 27, 1820. Children : 1. Thaddeus, born April 27, 1769, died September 25, 1857. 2. Zillah, February 5, 1771, died March 8, 1843. 3. Nathan, see forward. 4. Susannah, February 5, 1785, died at Enfield, October 31, 1872. 5. Aloney, January 27, 1788, died December 12, 1863. 6. Isaac, April 30, 1791, died March 30, 1842. 7. Leonard, April 27, 1794; died December 23, 1831. 8. Wilkes, died young.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume I, Part 107

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 924

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 924