Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume I, Part 25

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 25

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Levina, married Benson. 2. Lydia, married Warfield. 3. Betsey, married Albee. 4. Stephen. 5. John. 6. Ethan. 7. Jesse. 8. Daniel, born 1771 (probably not the youngest, however ), mentioned below.

(IV) Daniel, son of Jesse Tourtellotte, was born at Mendon, Massachusetts, 1771, died at Sutton, August 17, 1844. Some of his descend- ants have not used the final vowel in the sur- name. He settled in Sutton, Massachusetts, where he bought his homestead of Colonel Jason Waters. It was originally a wheel- wright shop owned by Reuben Chase and Origen Harback and in the present generation was owned by the late George C. Earle. Daniel was a very prominent man in his day in Sut- ton, deputy sheriff several years and justice of the peace. He married Freelove Angell, born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, February 28, 1779, died at Millbury, Massachusetts, No- vember 16, 1869. Children, born at Sutton : I. Paris, May 14, 1797. 2. George Angell, Au- gust 30, 1800, died at Worcester, February 16, 1847, buried at Sutton. 3. Daniel Comar, August 25, 1804, mentioned below. 4. Samuel, August 5, 1806. 5. Charles Angell, March 21, 1810. 6. Maria, August 5, 1812, married John Gleason, of Worcester. (See New England Register, July, 1908). 7. Stephen Decatur, October 1, 1815. 8. Ruth Angell, June 16, 1821, died November 25, 1839.

(V) Colonel Daniel Comar, son of Daniel Tourtellotte, was born August 25, 1804, at Sutton. He was educated in the common schools of his native town. He was colonel of his militia regiment, and one of the leading citizens. He bought a house, the Parley Waters House, as it has been called in late years. His brothers, Paris and George A. Tourtellotte, succeeded Colonel George C. Earle as proprietors of the tavern at Sutton. Charles A. Tourtellotte succeeded George A. as owner of the old hotel stand and George A. kept a hotel afterward at Templeton where he died. Charles A. Tourtellotte kept a hotel at Millbury, still known by the older citzens by his name. Daniel C. Tourtellotte learned the trade of blacksmith and wheelwright and had a shop a little north of the tavern equipped with water power and he did an extensive wheelwright business for many years. About 1845 lie removed to Worcester. He married (first) (intention dated October 6, 1827) Sarah Sibley, born 1807, died December 28, 1843, daughter of Moses and Sarah Sibley. He married (second) Huldah Sarepta Stock- well, born July 1, 1818, died August 13, 1846,

Daniel Comar Jourtellotte

MASSACHUSETTS.

daughter of Peter and Huldah Stockwell. He married (third) Elizabeth Lyons. Children of first wife, born at Sutton : I. Helen Maria, born January 15, 1829, married (first)

Burden; (second) Dexter Sanders; children, Herbert and Clarence. 2. William Henry, November 15, 1831, mentioned below. 3. Daniel H., October 23, 1833. 4. Ruth Angell, December 15, 1835. 5. Sarah Sibley, Decem- ber 18, 1837. 6. John, December 10, 1839. 7. Frances Cornelia, October 29, 1841, married Kirby. Child of second wife: 8.

Sarepta, born and died April 13, 1846, at Worcester. Children of third wife, born in Worcester: 9. Edward, married Belle Kins- ley. Io. Louisa. II. Sarepta, unmarried.

(VI) William Henry, son of Colonel Daniel Comar Tourtellotte, was born in Sutton, No- vember 15, 1831. He was educated in the public schools. of Worcester. He married Mercy Jane Comstock, born March 22, 1834, daughter of John and Sabra (Needham) Com- stock. (See Comstock family). Children: I. Alice Jane, born April 22, 1855, married Her- bert H. Sawyer, born July 6, 1857, (see Saw- yer family). 2. Minnie D., August 13, 1857, died June 15, 1872.

(The Comstock Line).

The name Komstock is frequently found in Germany, but the name is there uniformly spelled with a K. In the Muniment Office at Frankfort-on-the-Main in Germany is a pedi- gree of the family of Comstock which gives nine generations previous to 1547 when Charles Von Komstohk, a baron of the Roman Empire, was implicated in Von Benedict treason, and escaped into England with several noblemen of Austria and Silesia. The arms are or (gold) two bears rampant sable (black ) muzzled, gules (red) in chief; and in base a sword issuing from Crescent, the point downward; all the last gules (red). Upon the arms a Baronial helmet of the German Empire mantled or and gules (gold and red) surmounted by a Baron's Coronet jewelled proper, issuing therefrom an Elephant proper and rampant. The Bears imply Courage. The sword issuing from the Crescent shows that the family had fought against the Turks. The Elephant rampant in the Crest was given as an indication of per- sonal prowess and sagacity.

(I) William Comstock, immigrant ancestor, came from England with his wife Elizabeth and settled first in Wethersfield, Connecticut. He subsequently removed to New London. Children: I. Samuel, mentioned below. 2. i-6

William Jr. 3. Daniel, died in New London in 1683, aged about fifty-three. 4. Probably Christopher, of Fairfield in 1661.

(II) Samuel, son of William Comstock, was born probably in England, and died about 1660. He married Ann - , who married (sec- ond) John Smith, a stone mason, and died after 1661. The name of Samuel Comstock appears frequently on the court records both as plaintiff and defendant. He removed to Providence, Rhode Island, and March 1, 1654, bought of John Smith, who afterwards became Ann Comstock's second husband, his house and lot, comprising four acres of land, in the north part of Providence. Children : I. Samuel, mentioned below. 2. Daniel, born in May, 1665.

(III) Captain Samuel (2), son of Samuel (I) Comstock, was born in 1654, died May 27, 1727. He resided in Providence, Rhode Island. He was deputy to the general assembly in 1699-1702-07-08-1I. He was appointed May 6, 1702, on a committee by the assembly to audit the general treasurer's accounts and other colony debts. He deposed March 22, 1717, that he was sixty-three years old. His will dated December 21, 1726, proved Septem- ber 18, 1727, bequeathed to wife Elizabeth his negro woman Effie and all the rest of movable estate for life, at her death to be given to the children. He married, November 22, 1678, Elizabeth Arnold, who died October 20, 1747, daughter of Thomas and Phebe (Parkhurst) Arnold. Children: I. Samuel, born April 16, 1680, died April 1, 1727 ; married Anne Inman. 2. Hazadiah, April 16, 1682, died February 21, 1764; married (first) Catherine Pray ; (second) August 10, 1730, Martha Balcom. 3. Thomas, November 7, 1684, died 1761 ; mar- ried, July 9, 1713, Mercy Jenckes. 4. Daniel, July 9, 1686, died December 22, 1768; married (first) -; (second) August 2, 1750, Eliz- abeth Buffum. 5. Elizabeth, December 18, 1690, married, December 1, 1717, John Sayles. 6. John, March 26, 1693, mentioned below. 7. Ichabod, June 9, 1696, died January 26, 1775; married . (first) September 13, 1722, Zibiah Wilkinson ; (second) March 26, 1747, Eliza- beth Boyce. 8. Job, April 4, 1699, married (first) Phebe Jenckes; (second) November 22, 1735, Phebe Balcom.

(IV) John, son of Captain Samuel (2) Comstock, was born March 26, 1693, died Jan- uary 12, 1750. He resided in Providence, was a blacksmith, and a very wealthy man for his day. He deeded much of his property to his sons before he died. To his son Samuel thirty

MASSACHUSETTS.

acres, dwelling house and barn ; to son Joseph seventeen acres and dwelling house; to son Jeremiah one hundred and fifty acres ; to son John, a quarter of forge adjoining to corn mill etc; to sons John, Jonathan, James, Nathan and Ichabod "my homestead farm and dwell- ing house in which I now dwell, about 170 acres, and also land in the neck I bought of Sam, an Indian, and other lots." Adminis- tration of his estate was granted to his sons Samuel and John, February 12, 1750, and the inventory was one thousand nine hundred and sixty-eight pounds, two shillings. He was buried in the North Burial ground. He mar- ried (first) Esther Jenckes, daughter of Will- iam and Patience (Sprague) Jenckes. He married (second) Sarah Dexter, born June 27, 1698, died 1773, daughter of John and Alice (Smith) Dexter. Children : I. Samuel, born 1715, died January 16, 1755; married, January 1, 1738, Anne Brown. 2. Joseph, married, June 7, 1747, Anne Comstock : died March 2, 1800. 3. Jeremiah, mentioned below. 4. John, died 1813: married, April 4, 1751, Mary Ballou. 5. Jonathan, married, April 9, 1750, Sarah Comstock. 6. James, born De- cember 12, 1733, married Esther Comstock; died March 7, 1791. 7. Nathan, born Decem- ber 5, 1735, died 1816; married, March 29, 1764, Mary Staples. 8. Ichabod, died De- cember 19, 1800; married, April 1I, 1760, Sarah Jenckes.

(V) Jeremiah, son of John Comstock, mar- ried, October 25, 1749, Phebe Arnold, born November 18, 1729. Children: I. Esek, men- tioned below. 2. David, born at Gloucester, Rhode Island ; married, 1780, Rachel Harring- ton, and removed to Danby, Connecticut. 3. Lavina, married, March 19, 1780, Amos Brown.

(VI) Esek, son of Jeremiah Comstock, married, March 22, 1770, Hannah Carey, daughter of Benjamin Carey, of Uxbridge, Massachusetts. She died August 30, 1839, aged ninety-seven years. He lived in Glou- cester and Burrillville, Rhode Island. Chil- dren: 1. John, born October 10, 1786, men- tioned below. 2. Jesse, born at Burrillville, married, September 25, 1810, Rachel and removed to Michigan in 1822. 3. Caleb, (lied 1849; married, September 13, 1844, Waity Whipple. 4. David, died about 1851; married Mary Lasure. 5. Ruth. 6. Rhoda. 7. Enropa. 8. Deborahı.

(\'II) John, son of Esek Comstock, was born October 10, 1786, died September 25, 1834. He resided in Burrillville. He married, in 1816, Sabra Needham, of Charlton, Massa-

chusetts, who died August 21, 1868. Chil- dren: I. Jesse, born May 10, 1818, died Octo- ber 3, 1893 ; married, August 26, 1840, Hannah Bushnell. 2. William, July 14, 1820, married Elizabeth Talbot. 3. Clarissa, October 17, 1822, married Otis Lamb. 4. John, Septem- ber 7, 1824, married Dorcas Ward. 5. Ruth, November 13, 1826. 6. Hiram, January I, 1829, married (first) August 15, 1854, Sarah Talbot ; (second) December 20, 1856, Ellen Talbot; (third) September 23, 1864, Mary M. Wood. 7. Susan Emeline, July 25, 1831. 8. Mercy Jane, March 22, 1834, married Will- iam Henry Tourtellotte (see sketch of Tour- tellotte family ).

( For first generation see Thomas Sawyer .).

(II) Caleb, son of Thomas

SAWYER (I) Sawyer, was born in Lan- caster, February 20, 1659, died February 13, 1755. He had a grant of thirty acres on the east side of Bare Hill, now Har- vard. He probably built his house soon after the massacre of 1697, and he was in the Bare Hill garrison in 1704. Near his home was the famous "rendezvous tree" often mentioned in the old records. Sawyer outlived all the other pioneer settlers of Harvard. His old house, now or lately owned by James Ford, is still known as the Washington Warner place. Before his death Caleb Sawyer divided his farm between his sons Seth and Jonathan. Seth lived in the old house with his father ; Jonathan built a new house to the northward. Caleb Sawyer was selectman in 1737. He married, December 28, 1687, Sarah Houghton, whose brother James went to Harvard to settle with him, and is ancestor of the Houghtons of Harvard. Children: I. Jonathan, born 1690, mentioned below. 2. Seth, 1705, died May 29, 1768; married (first) January II, 1726, Dinah Farrar, who died October 25, 1727; (second) October 12, 1732, Hepsibah Whitney, of Harvard; children: i. Betsey, born November 15, 1741; ii. John; iii. Caleb ; iv. Phinehas, July 25, 1746; v. Dinah, April 25, 1749. 3. Abigail, 1706, died August 6, 1760; married, November 18, 1729, Thomas Wright; children: i. Thomas, born May 18, 1730 ; ii. Abel, 1749. 4. Hepsibalı, 1708, mar- ried, February 25, 1724, William Whitcomb; children : i. Mary, born 1730; ii. Abigail, 1731 ; iii. Thankful, 1734; iv. Relief, 1735: v. Han- nah, 1738; vi. Hepsibah, 1740. 5. John.

(111) Captain Jonathan, son of Caleb Saw- yer, was born at Lancaster, 1690, died Sep- tember 30, 1746. He removed with his par-

MASSACHUSETTS.

ents to Harvard when a lad and lived there all his life. He was selectman in 1734, and on the building committee of the church in 1732. He was in the Lancaster troop, and in 1737 succeeded Captain Thomas Carter as captain under Colonel Samuel Willard. He married Elizabeth Wheelock, born 1699, died Novem- ber 14, 1791. Children: I. Jonathan, born 1716, married, September 30, 1740, Betty Whiting ; child, Luke. 2. Elizabeth, 1717. 3. Caleb, June 19, 1720, married Reed ; children: i. Abigail; ii. Caleb, born March 2, 1754; iii. Ephraim; iv. Manassah, born March 2, 1759, a revolutionary soldier ; v. Jonathan. 4. Olive, 1726. 5. Sarah, June, 1727. 6. Manasseh, baptized April 10, 1729, mentioned below. 7. Lois, baptized March 8, 1732.

(IV) Manasseh, son of Captain Jonathan Sawyer, was born in Harvard, Massachusetts, and baptized in the First Church at Lancaster, April 10, 1729. He had half his father's home- stead, upon which he built his house. He be- queathed his home to his son Luther, who in turn left it to his son Arad, and all three gen- erations spent their lives on this farm. He had the third seat in the meeting house in 1775. He marched to Cambridge on the alarm, April 19, 1775, under Captain Joseph Fair- banks, doubtless his brother-in-law, Colonel Asa Whitcomb's regiment. Left place of rendezvous April 20, 1775, service two days. He was too old to enter the Continental army, being above the age limit, but on the Rhode Island alarm, July 22, 1777, served again under Captain Hezekiah Whitney, Colonel Josiah Whitney's regiment, service two days. He married, at Harvard, February 18, 1756, Lydia Fairbanks, born August 16, 1731, daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Brown) Fairbanks, descend- ant of Jonathan Fairbanks, of Dedham. Chil- dren, born at Harvard: I. Jonathan, born March 9, 1758, killed in the revolution. 2. Jabez, December 24, 1759, mentioned below. 3. Lydia, November 30, 1761. 4. Rhoda, March 30, 1764. 5. Abijah, August 12, 1766. 6. Manasseh Jr., September 6, 1768, married Mercy Mead; children : i. Jonathan, July 26, 1789; ii. Manasseh, July 28, 1791 ; iii. Rebecca, March 14, 1793; iv. Nathaniel, December IO, 1795 ; v. Mercy, December 26, 1798; vi. Josiah, December 9, 1802. 7. Joseph, April 4, 1771, died young. 8. Luther, April 8, 1773, died April 2, 1824, married, December 30, 1797, Achsa Burnham; children: i. Luke, born De- cember 7, 1798; ii. Luther, January 18, 1802; iii. Sophia, December 27, 1803; iv. Nahum, January 1, 1805; v. Mary, June 13, 1806; vi.

Arad, July 15, 1808; vii. Cephas, March 16, 1810; viii. Lydia, December 4, 1811 ; ix. Abner, October 9, 1813; x. Jabez, January 4, 1819; xi. Achsa.

(V) Jabez, son of Manasseh Sawyer, was born at Harvard, Massachusetts, December 24, 1759, died at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, De- cember 21, 1841. He was brought up on his father's farm, acquiring the usual common school education of a farmer's son at that period. He remained on the farm until after the war of the revolution, and after that up to the time of his marriage. He served as a pri- vate in Captain Samuel Hill's company, Colonel, Josiah Whitney's regiment, and marched from Harvard, October 2, 1777, under Lieutenant- Colonel Ephraim Sawyer on a thirty days ex- pedition with the northern army under General Gates; service to October 26, 1777, twenty- four days. ( Mass. Rolls, vol.xiii, p.870). Previ- ous to his marriage in 1787 he removed to West Fitchburg and bought a farm on the old road to Ashburnham, near the Cowden farm. On March 3, 1800, he was voted school com- mitteeman in District No. 6, also March 5, 1810, and February 14, 1816. He was chosen highway surveyor, March, 1805, March 6, 1809, March 4, 18II. He was chosen fence viewer March 6, 1815. He is buried in the old South Street cemetery. He was a man of a kindly and amiable disposition, beloved by all who knew him. He married, 1787, (intentions dated Au- gust 18, 1787) Hannah Brooks, born May 17, 1766, died December 15, 1846, daughter of John and Eunice (Darby) Brooks, of West- minster, who were married January 1, 1754. Children : I. Lydia, born August 16, 1788, married, September 17, 1812, Ebenezer Thurs- ton, of Fitchburg. 2. Levi, August 2, 1790, died August 5, 1790. 3. Jabez, born Septem- ber 10, 1792, died July 28, 1824 ; married, April 8, 1819, Susan O. Thurston; children: i.

Samuel Thurston, born December 22, 1819; ii. Mary ; iii. Jabez, October 5, 1824. 4. Asa, October 22, 1794, died 1881 ; married (first) Nancy Thurston ; child, Nancy, born October 6, 1819, married J. B. Davis; married (sec- ond) Betsey Keyes ; children : i. Joseph Henry, born March 26, 1825; ii. Henry Edwin, Feb- ruary 19, 1827, married Mary E. Wilson ; chil- dren: Franklin and George; iii. Evelyn Eliz- abeth, November 3, 1828, married Titus C. Waters; iv. Lydia Elvira, August 14, 1830; v. Ephraim, July 21, 1832, married Francis F. Farrar ; vi. Charles K., July 14, 1835, married Elizabeth L. Russell; child, Fannie E .; vii. Alvin Manasseh, August 8, 1839, married

...

MASSACHUSETTS.

Sarah A. Collins. 5. Manasseh, December 26, 1796, mentioned below. 6. John, December 2, 1798, married Maria Lincoln. 7. Edward, May 7, 1804, married, 1824, Mary Lincoln ; children : i. Charles; ii. Mary ; iii. Henry; iv. Laura. 8. Charles B., May 3, 1808, married Elizabeth Haskell, of Fitchburg; children: i. Charlotte; ii. Fannie, married Charles Dean; iii. Anna.

(VI) Manasseh (2), son of Jabez Sawyer, was born at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Decem- ber 26, 1796, died at Fitchburg, October 30, 1836. His educational training was limited to the public schools. During his early manhood years he was taught habits of industry and economy. He early learned the trade of shoe- maker, and later with his brother, John Saw- yer, entered into partnership in the manufac- ture of shoes and occupied for a number of years a shop in the main street. They dis- solved partnership in the latter part of the twenties, and he became associated with affairs of the town and continued as a town officer up to his death. He was elected hog reeve, March 3, 1823 ; highway surveyor and constable, Feb- ruary 18, 1826; assessor and selectman, March 3, 1828; collector, March 7, 1831 ; was on the school committee and had the hiring of teachers and general school business. He built a house on Main street later owned by Walter Haywood, and he and his brother John resided at one time on Mechanic street. He was a man of good judgment and a leader of affairs. He was a proficient scholar and kept in touch with the affairs of the world at large by con- stant reading. He was strong in principles, especially on the temperance question. He married Dolly Lincoln, of Leominster, died at Cambridge, daughter of Thomas and Abigail (Gibbs) Lincoln. Children : 1. Abigail Laura, born August 23, 1824, died August 22, 1825. 2. Thomas Lincoln, June 6, 1826, died 1847. 3. John Snow, September 6, 1831, mentioned below.

(VII) John Snow, son of Manasseh (2) Sawyer, was born at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, September 6, 1831. He was educated n the public schools, at Stephen Holman's Academy and at Lawrence Academy of Groton, Massa- chusetts. He stood at the head of his class in the Fitchburg high school. At the age of eighteen years he began work in the scythe factory at West Fitchburg. After a year in this trade he became clerk in the general store of Crchore & Smith. He was in that position one year, then clerk for a year in the Union

Store of Fitchburg, and for three years in the grocery store of Abel Stevens. In 1852 he was clerk in the store of John Gove, dealer in furnishing goods, Merchants' Row, Boston, later clerk in a commission house on India wharf and for the American Powder Company at the same location. He embarked in business as a grocer in Syracuse: In 1859 he bought a patent right for roofing and engaged in the roofing and contracting business throughout New England, with his place of business at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He also established a fire insurance agency with an office on Mass- achusetts avenue, Cambridge, and has built up an extensive business, representing the Ger- mania Fire Insurance Company; National Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, German Alliance and the Middlesex Mutual Fire In- surance Company of Concord, Massachusetts, of which he has been a director for many years. Since 1890 Mr. Sawyer has manufac- tured cement under the firm name of W. F. Webster Cement Company, at Cambridgeport, the product of the concern finding a market in all parts of the country. The United States government uses large quantities of this cement in the construction of fortifications, etc. In the early part of the civil war he held the rank of lieutenant of a local company of home guards. In September, 1862, he raised a com- pany in the Fifth Massachusetts Regiment, assigned later to the Sixth Regiment, and he was commissioned captain September 6, 1862, Colonel Follansbee, of Lowell, commanding the regiment. They left for Virginia soon afterward, going to Washington, thence to Norfolk by steamer and twenty miles by rail to Suffolk where they went into camp. The regiment was assigned to the Seventh Corps, under General Halleck's command, and while not engaged in severe fighting took part in many minor engagements. In politics Mr. Sawyer is a Republican and he was a member of the conimon council of Cambridge in 1866- 67. He was made a member of Mizpah Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, November 9, 1868, and was worshipful master in 1878-79. He was director of the Cambridge Masonic Hall Association for a time. He is charter member of the Cambridge Trade Association. Mr. Sawyer is fond of music and has an excel- lent bass voice. For many years he sang in various choirs in Boston, and he is the oldest living member of the famous Handel and Haydn Society of Boston, a member of its board of government. He is a member of the

John S. Sawy

MASSACHUSETTS.

New England Rating Exchange and of the Boston Rating Exchange, two important fire insurance organizations.

He married, December 29, 1857, Sarah, born December 29, 1833, daughter of Captain Levi and Emily (Fuller) Pratt. Her father was a prominent business man in Fitchburg, owner of saw and grist mills. Children: 1. Ralph Hovey, born March 5, 1860, mentioned below. 2. Emma Maria, June 21, 1865, married, April 2, 1896, George Edward McQuesten, of Bos- ton, born in Nashua, New Hampshire, May I, 1868, son of George and Theodora Tilden (Campbell) McQuesten; children: i. Bar- bara, born April 7, 1905 ; ii. George, December 21, 1906. 3. Harriet Lincoln, August 21, 1867, married, June 1, 1892, Wendell Francis Brown, of Cambridge, born November 2, 1867, son of Crawford and Mary Richmond ( Babcock) Brown, of Cambridge; child, Ralph Sawyer, born October 30, 1899. 4. Anna Gertrude, August 8, 1870, married, May 1, 1893, Ather- ton Loring, of Boston, born August 10, 1869, son of Harrison and Margaret (Gardner) Loring; children: i. Atherton Jr., born No- vember 6, 1900; ii. Anna, May 13, 1906.

(VIII) Ralph Hovey, son of John Snow Sawyer, was born in Cambridge, March 5, 1860, died April 17, 1890. His elementary education was gained in the public schools of Cambridge ; he graduated from the high school in 1878, and subsequently pursued a course in a Boston business college. He then entered the well known banking house of Richardson, Hill & Company at Boston, starting as office boy, and by his energy and strict attention to business soon gained for himself such favor with his employers that he was promoted to a position of greater responsibility and remun- eration and was looked upon as a valuable and promising factor for the firm. A short time prior to his unfortunate death he acquired an interest in the business, and for two years he was the firm's representative on the floor of the stock exchange, a very responsible and active position. He was an indefatigable worker and was considered their most valuable man, implicitly trusted, highly esteemed by his firm and business associates. His thorough unselfishness, so charmingly manifested in his home circle, was a leading characteristic of his business and social life and drew to him a large circle of devoted friends. His christian spirit was always manifest to those with whom he came in contact, and in Cambridge society he was first among his equals. He was fond of his horse and a devotee to the saddle,

being an expert horseman, and it was while riding with two of his most intimate friends that the sad and unfortunate event of his death happened, being thrown from his horse, receiving injuries that were fatal in a few hours. He was an attendant of the Unitarian church of Cambridge, a Republican in politics, and a member of Mizpah Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Cambridge.

The Evans family is of ancient

EVANS Welsh origin. The surname is spelled Evan and Evins in early

records. Among the early settlers was Eliza- beth Evans, who lived in the family of Rev. John Wheelwright, of Boston and Exeter. She came from Bridgend, Glamorganshire, Wales. David Evans was a merchant of Boston before 1650; Henry Evans, also of Boston, as early as 1643, was drowned March, 1666-67. Rich- ard Evans came to Dorchester before 1640. Thomas Evans died in Plymouth, January 27, 1634. There was one or more of the name William Evans in Massachusetts before 1650. Some of the settlers came from England and were of English ancestry. Others were Welsh, like the family of this sketch, and doubtless related. A Benoni Evans, called Welsh on the records, and either father or son of Nicholas Evans ( I), died at Windsor, Connecticut, May 7, 1689. Nothing further is known of him.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume I, Part 25

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