Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume I, Part 41

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 41

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(V) Edward (4), fourth son of Isaac and Sarah (Chaffee) Morris, was born in Wood- stock, Connecticut, December 12, 1756, died in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, April 29, 1801. He was a farmer and lived on the Bliss home- stead in South Wilbraham. He served in the revolutionary war principally in the army of Canada. He and his brother Joseph were in the army on its retreat from Quebec under General Thomas in 1776. For three days, during the passage over the lake, the only food which Edward Morris had was a bit of pork as large as one of his fingers, which he found in the bottom of a boat. Joseph was one of the sick, and died at Fort George August 10 .. The evening that Joseph died Edward left the camp for the purpose of getting some milk for his brother. Night had fallen before he re- turned. On his return to quarters he stumbled over the body of a man lying on the ground ;

entering the tent, he found Joseph was not there ; taking a light, he went in search of him, and found that the body over which he had stumbled was that of his brother, who was dead. After his marriage Edward Morris took up his residence with Colonel Bliss, his father-in-law, who had no son living, and had charge of his farm, Colonel Bliss being en- gaged in public business, and being away much of the time. Mr. Morris held several offices in Wilbraham, being constable, warden, high- way surveyor, and at the time of his death coroner. He and his wife were members of the Congregational church in South Wilbra- ham. He married, March 28, 1782, Lucy, daughter of Hon. John Bliss, of Wilbraham, a descendant of Thomas and Margaret Bliss, of Hartford, Connecticut, 1639 (see Bliss VII). She survived her husband thirty-five years, and died April 15, 1836. Children : Oliver Bliss, Edward, Isaac, John Bliss, Lucy, Abby, Thirza, Richard Darius, Lydia and Ed- ward Alonzo.

(VI) Judge Oliver Bliss, eldest child of Ed- ward (4) and Lucy (Bliss) Morris, was born at the Bliss-Morris homestead in South Wil- braham, September 22, 1782, died in Spring- field, April 9, 1871. He fitted for college under Rev. Moses Warren, of South Wilbraham, who had married Lydia Bliss, his mother's sister. He entered Williams College in 1797. at the age of fifteen, making his journey thither on horseback. He graduated in 1801. He studied law in Springfield with Hon. George Bliss, and was admitted to the bar of Hamp- shire county in 1804. He entered upon the practice of his profession in Springfield, which became large and profitable. He was intensely interested in the cause of his clients, and labored for them with impulsive efforts. In 1812, after the formation of Hampden county from Hampshire, he was appointed prosecut- ing attorney, and held that office again from 1821 to 1832. In 1813 he was appointed regis- ter of the court of probate, and held that office until 1829, when on the death of Judge John Hooker of that court, he was appointed his successor. He held this office until 1858- twenty-nine years-when the court was re- organized. He represented Springfield in the legislature in 1809-10-II-13. In 1820 he was a delegate in the convention called to revise the constitution of the state. He was a Federalist until the Federal party gave place to the Whig, and thenceforward he was a Whig. In poli- tical matters he had very decided views. He was naturally an anti-slavery man, although

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not an abolitionist. When a boy he had wit- nessed a conflict between his father and the pursuers of two runaway slaves from Con- necticut, who had sought refuge in his father's house, and in which his father received a seri- ous injury. On the passage of the fugitive- slave law in 1850, he did not hesitate to de- nounce it and openly declared his purpose of protecting, with all his power and influence, any slave who should appeal to him for aid. He was an advocate of the benevolent causes of his time; especially those of the Bible and missions. When the temperance reformation took its rise, about 1826, under the lead of Dr. Hewit and others, and spread rapidly through Connecticut and Massachusetts, awakening in its progress the consciences of large numbers of people in regard to the pre- vailing social custom in the use of intoxicat- ing drinks, he at once threw himself into the cause with the greatest possible zeal, publicly advocating and speaking for it in Springfield and the neighboring towns. His habits of life were simple and democratic, and he ab- horred show and ostentation. He was ex- ceedingly social and fond of company, and thoroughly enjoyed the society of a few friends who were accustomed to assemble fre- quently at his house; generally on Sunday evenings; keeping up, as he did, the time- honored New England custom of observing Saturday evening as holy time. He was fond of historical study, especially that of local his- tory and genealogy. He delivered the address on the occasion of the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the settlement of Springfield, May 24, 1836. He was a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and also of the New England Historic-Genealogi- cal Society. He had treasured in his memory a vast number of historical facts relating to family history. He often interested and astonished people with his knowledge of their ancestral lines. He was accustomed to say : "In my youth I saw an aged man who remem- bered seeing persons who came over in the Mayflower." He loved and revered the good which had come down from the past. He disliked innovation on many old customs, and new ones had little control over him. It has been written: "The qualifications of Judge Morris as a public speaker are admitted by all who ever heard him. He had a fine physi- que, a good voice, a nervous impetuosity of expression when in his prime, and an unbend- ing pertinacity which carried an audience with him. When distinguished men visited Spring-

field the Judge was quite apt to be selected for the speech of welcome. He introduced John Quincy Adams to the people in the First church, and was also chosen to welcome Henry Clay at the ovation given him at the old town hall. He was a well read man, and in his age was very fond of going over his Virgil and repeating Greek. With all his solid study, too, he had time to take in all the current fic- tion which he devoured with the greatest eager- ness. His taste for the classics, together with an extensive vocabulary and ready diction, contributed to the graces of his oratory, which was so famous in those days." Oliver B. Morris married, September 15, 1813, Caro- line, daughter of Hon. George and Hannah (Clark) Bliss, of Springfield. (See Bliss VII). She was born in Springfield, December 28, 1791, and died February 9, 1842. She was a woman of most amiable and estimable character and greatly beloved by all who knew her. Children: Henry, and George Bliss, next mentioned.

(VII) George Bliss, second son of Hon. Oliver Bliss and Caroline ( Bliss) Morris, was born in Springfield, November 12, 1818, died July 7, 1872. He was prepared for college in Springfield and graduated from Amherst Col- lege in 1837. He afterward studied law with his brother, graduated from the Cambridge Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1840. After that time he practiced law in partnership with his brother or separately until 1853, when he was appointed clerk of the courts pro tempore on account of the ill health of the clerk, Richard Bliss. On the resignation of Mr. Bliss, a few months later, Mr. Morris was appointed by the supreme court to hold the office for life. In 1856 the office was made elective, and Mr. Morris was chosen by popular election to fill it. He was three times re-elected, and in 1871 was elected for another term of five years. For a year or two before his death his health was not good, although he was able until the last months before his demise to attend most of the time to his official duties. About the be- ginning of 1872 he became a victim of quick consumption, but so lately as Wednesday be- fore his death on Sunday he was able to re- turn from Branford, Connecticut, where he had spent a week in the hope of benefit from the sea air. While eating breakfast he was attacked by hemorrhage from the lungs, and in five minutes he was dead. His courtesy and efficiency in the transaction of the business of the office made him popular alike with the

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bar and the people, and his death was the county's loss of a faithful officer. Mr. Morris married, August 23, 1842, Elizabeth Lathrop, born in South Hadley, Massachusetts, April 28, 1821, died in Springfield, November 8, 1894, daughter of Wells and Catherine ( Bon- tecou) Lathrop (see Lathrop). Children : George Bliss, Robert Oliver and Caroline. George Bliss, born November 5, 1843. grad- uated at Harvard College in 1864, studied law at Cambridge Law School, was admitted to the Hampden bar in 1867, and very soon after removed to New York City, where he has since practised his profession. Caroline, born September 18, 1848, married Thomas WV. Fitch and resides in Summit, New Jersey. (VIII) Robert Oliver, second son of George Bliss and Elizabeth (Lathrop) Morris, was born in Springfield, October 18, 1846. He received his early education in the public schools of Springfield, and at the age of six- teen was sent to Wilbraham Academy. Dur- ing the second year of his course his health became impaired, and after finishing the term he withdrew from school life and his educa- tion was subsequently carried on at home under a tutor. All through his early manhood his health was delicate, but at the age of twenty he had regained some of his former vigor and went to Boston where he entered a wholesale house as clerk. Here he remained six months. He returned home and studied law under his father's direction, with the object of being admitted to the bar, continuing until the death of his father, in 1872. During his father's illness he acted as clerk of the courts, pro tempore, and afterward he was appointed to the vacant place by the supreme court. He had been admitted to the Hamp- den county bar and at the next election he was chosen to the office. Although Mr. Morris is a Republican, he has never failed of nomi- nation by both Democratic and Republican parties ever since he took the office, which he has now (1909) held thirty-seven years con- secutively. His business qualifications have caused him to be called to fill various positions where a man of ability and principle was needed. In 1877 he became a trustee of the Five Cents Savings Bank, and still retains the position : in 1888 he was elected vice-president and held that position nine years, until 1897, when he was made president of the bank, a position which he still holds. He is vice-presi- dent of the City Library Association, and chairman of the Board of Sinking Fund Com- missioners of Springfield, and has served as

park commissioner. He is a member of Ros- well Lee Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Morning Star Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and Springfield Commandery, Knights Temp- lar, the Nayasset and the Winthrop clubs. He is a man whose urbanity and perfect self- command under all circumstances have made him a large and ever-widening circle of friends. He is a studious, cultured gentleman, an enthusiastic ornithologist, and has a good scientific library. He has written numerous articles relating to ornithology. In 1901 he published a volume entitled "The Birds of Springfield and Vicinity." During his long association with lawyers he has collected a large quantity of biographical matter, which he contemplates publishing in book form. He is an enthusiastic sportsman and is as fond of gardening as he is of hunting. Mr. Morris enjoys travel and has visited South America, the West Indies, and Newfoundland, and made a trip on horseback through the Rocky Mountains. While visiting the firstnamed countries he was accompanied by Mrs. Morris. Robert O. Morris married, November 27, 1872, Lizzie, daughter of George and Pamelia ( Ball) Cadwell, of Springfield.

(The Bontecou 'Line).

This name is of Dutch or Flemish origin, and was first spelled Bontekoe (pronounced Bon-te-koo), and is undoubtedly derived from a symbolic representative of a brindled or spotted cow, used by some remote ancestor as his business or house sign. An instance of this kind is found recorded in Rose's Bio- graphical Dictionary, which states that Cor- nelius Van Bontekoe, a physician, the son of a burgher of Alcmaer, whose name was (Johan) Gerard Decker, but who obtained the name of Bontekoe from his having appended to his house the sign of a cow of many colors. The hamlet of Bontecou Mountain in Ulster county, New York, derives its name from a Dutch tavern of early times called Bontekau (pronounced Bontecoo) from its sign, which represented a brindled cow. The earliest known member of the family is William Isbrant Bontekoe, a Dutch navigator, who lived in the early part of the sixteenth century, from whose adventures Alexandre Dumas wrote a tale entitled "Bontekoe," being the first in the volume "Les Drames de la Mer." The family in France, which doubtless originated in Hol- land, was Protestant, and endured the pri- vations and suffering imposed upon the Huguenots by the Romish church both before

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and subsequent to the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

(I) "Pierre Bontecou, merchant, his wife (Marguerite Collinot), and five children," writes John E. Morris, compiler of The Bon- tecou Genealogy, "were in 1684 fugitives from the Isle of Re to 'La Caroline,' as we are in- formed by the records in the Archives Nat- ionales in Paris. The Government of Louis XIV, after placing all possible hindrances in the way of his escaping subjects, and con- demning to the galleys those who were arrested in their flight, still kept its eye upon those whose efforts had terminated in success, and their names and destinations became a matter of national record, to which we are indebted for this earliest knowledge of our fugitive an- cestor. Although his departure from France was made from the Isle of Re, his previous residence was in La Rochelle, hard by, a city of large commercial importance, and a strong- hold of Protestantism. In this city his son Daniel was born, and doubtless his other chil- dren. The flight of the family to 'La-Caroline' (a general term used to designate the Conti- nent of North America ) was by way of Eng- land. and it was not until 1689 that they appeared in New York." Madame Bontecou is said to have stated that she came to New York during the time that Leisler had the gov- ernment, and that she and her family were well received by him. But little is found of record of the early Bontecous in New York. Tradition says the family had a competence in France, but the records of the French church in New York City state that "Madame Bondecoux" for several years accepted a pen- sion from that institution, which would indi- cate that for a time the family was in poverty. In the church records the names of members of the family are found. Pierre Bontecou was probably a man of some prominence among his countrymen and in the church. No date of the death of either Pierre or his wife has been found. We only know that he was alive in 1724. One church yard of the old Huguenot Church in Pine street-L'Eglise du Saint Esprit-undoubtedly received their remains ; and in 1831 they were removed with all others buried there to the vault in St. Mark's church yard, Stuyvesant place and Second avenue, where they continue to repose. The children of Pierre and Marguerite (Collinot ) Bontecou were: Marguerite, Peter, Sara, Daniel, Sus- anne, Marie, Rachel, Timothy, next mentioned.

(II) Timothy, youngest child of Pierre and Marguerite (Collinot) Bontecou, was born in

New York, June 17, 1693, and baptized in the French church, July 2. When of suitable age he went to France to learn the trade of silver- smith. "From the time of his leaving Amer- ica until the year 1735 (a period of probably more than twenty years), we have no posi- tive knowledge of his history. It is quite likely that he remained abroad long enough to lay the foundation of, if not to have fully acquired, the comfortable fortune which he subsequently possessed. He probably, also, married in France, for his wife Mary died in New Haven, Connecticut, November 5, 1735,

at the age of thirty-three years. * He *

again married, September 29, 1736, Mary Goodrich, daughter of Colonel David and Pru- dence (Churchill) Goodrich, of Wethersfield, Connecticut. Colonel Goodrich was an officer in the army during the French and Indian war, a prominent citizen in his town, and a justice of the peace, and in the latter capacity performed the ceremony of his daughter's marriage. She was born December 15, 1704, and died about 1760. Timothy Bontecou was a considerable owner of real estate, both in New Haven and in New York. His religious affiliations were with the Church of England, and in the absence of a church of that denomi- nation in New Haven he became a member of the one at Stratford, being registered there October 12, 1735, and some years later, when a new church was to be erected, he contributed £15 toward the building of it and became the owner of a pew. Undoubtedly he was a regu- lar occupant of his pew on the Sabbath; the distance of fourteen miles to Stratford being no great obstacle to the privilege of worship- ing in his own church. His wife Mary is registered as a communicant there May 25, 1740. When Trinity ( Episcopal) Church in New Haven was established he was one of the founders, and its first recorded warden, in 1765. He was also a member of the committee appointed to purchase a site for the church edifice. He owned and occupied a large square pew in church, prominently located. At the time of the British invasion of New Haven, in July, 1779, he was an old man eighty-six years of age, a resident of the household of his son Peter, on the corner of Olive and Wooster streets. On this occasion he was the victim of outrage by the British troops. A mob of soldiers visited the house, and the old gentleman was robbed of his silver knee and shoe buckles, his daughter-in-law, the wife of Captain Peter, being ordered to pull them off. Personal violence was offered; and on an

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attempt by the soldiers to bayonet him she interposed herself between them, and saved his life. Infuriated at being baffled in their murderous design, they were ripe for any de- gree of iniquity, and the daughter of Captain Peter unfortunately presenting herself at this juncture, she was seized by the soldiers, and her abduction attempted; but her mother with great tact and courage interfered, and while entertaining the soldiers with food and drink, secretly sent for assistance, which speedily arrived in the form of a guard of soldiers, obtained through the efforts of an influential royalist neighbor. This put a stop to their outrageous conduct, but they had well nigh succeeded in their designs upon old Timothy, for he was found by the guard with a rope around his neck, the other end thrown over a beam of the house, and the mob evincing a diabolical disposition to pull him up, which was prevented by the officers in charge. The once ample estate of Timothy Bontecou was undoubtedly greatly depreciated and diminished during the war, and what remained of it was deeded by him to his son Peter in 1778, in consideration of support during the remainder of his life. He died in New Haven, February 14, 1784, aged ninety-one years, and was buried beneath Trinity Church. He is known to have been a prominent and useful citizen, a zealous churchman, and a good man." The children of Timothy and Mary (Goodrich) Bontecou were: Peter, Daniel, David, James and Mary.

(III) Dr. Daniel, second son of Timothy and Mary (Goodrich) Bontecou, was born in New Haven, September 9, 1739, died August 20, 1778. He graduated from Yale College in 1757; then went to France to pursue the study of medicine. About 1760 he was appoint- cd surgeon in the French army, and undoubt- edly served in that capacity a number of years. He returned to New Haven and engaged in the practice of his profession in 1771. He was a prominent member of Trinity Church, New Haven, a vestryman in 1774-75. and 1777-78, and for the latter period clerk of the vestry. Like many others who died dur- ing the revolution, he left but little estate, the principal item of value in the inventory being a silver tankard valued atfit ios; the next being "one negro woman, Flora, value fio." This woman he had rescued from a brutal master by purchase. The Connecticut Journal of September 2, 1778, contained an obituary notice of Dr. Bontecou, in which he is spoken of as "a gentleman of liberal education in his

profession to which he was regularly bred, he was truly respectable, was prudent and judi- cious in his practice ; possessed many good and useful qualities, was modest and benevo- lent and just ; a worthy citizen and an excel- lent Christian." He married, September 12, 1775, Mrs. Rebecca Rohde, widow of Dr. John Rohde, and daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Southmayd ) Starr, of Middletown. She was born June 8, 1733. After the death of Dr. Bontecou she married, December 23, 1787, Captain Ephraim Pease, of Enfield, whither she removed with her children, and died there April 6, 1802. Children : Rebecca, and Daniel, next mentioned.

(IV) Daniel (2), only son of Dr. Daniel (I) and Rebecca (Starr) (Rohde) Bontecou, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, April 20, 1779, died in Springfield, Massachusetts, November 24, 1857. He was not born until after the death of his father. He was princi- pally brought up under the guardianship of his step-father, Captain Ephraim Pease. When a young man he engaged in mercantile business in Enfield, where he continued until 1806, when he removed to Springfield, Massachu- setts, and formed a partnership with Colonel Solomon Warriner in the dry goods business. In 1817 this partnership was dissolved, and after continuing alone for some years, Jona- than Hunt was admitted as a partner, and they continued together until 1835, when Mr. Bon- tecou sold his interest and retired from busi- ness and employed his leisure moments in cul- tivating several pieces of land which he owned in the outskirts of the town, and took great pleasure in the occupation. While in Enfield he was active in the militia and held the rank of sergeant in the Thirty-first Regiment. He represented Springfield in the Massachusetts general court in 1820. He was elected dea- con in the First Congregational Church, March 5, 1833. continuing in that office until May 2, 1845, when he became a member of the South Church, where he was shortly afterward elected deacon, and held that office till his (leath. In 1815 he bought of Colonel War- riner a homestead on Main street, from which he removed in 1846 to the corner of Main and Howard streets, where he passed the remainder of his life. The Springfield Republican said of him: "He has lived long, sensibly, and use- fully ; his name is associated with no brilliant (leeds, but honor, integrity, and piety belong to it. Useful and faithful to his day and genera- tion, he is called home ripe for its immortal- ity." He married (first) March 16, 1798,

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Sybil, daughter of Rev. Elam and Sybil (Pease) Potter, of Enfield, Connecticut, and granddaughter of his step-father. She died May 5, 1810, aged twenty-nine. He married (second) November 13, 1816, Harriet Bliss, daughter of Hon. Moses and Abigail (Met- calf) Bliss, of Springfield. She was born March 23, 1782, and died November 10, 1853. Children by wife Sybil: Catharine Rhodes, a daughter, Daniel, Martha, Potter, Sybil Pease, and Mary ; by wife Harriet: William (died young ), Harriet and William Ely.

(V) Catherine Rhodes, eldest child of Daniel (2) and Sybil ( Potter). Bontecou, was born in Enfield, Connecticut, December 26, 1798, died December 24, 1832. She married, November 12, 1819. Wells Lathrop, of Springfield (see Lathrop X).

(The Lothrop or Lathrop Line. For preceding generations see John Lowthroppe 1).

(VI) Joseph, fourth son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Scudder) Lothrop, was born in October, 1661, died in Norwich, July 5, 1740. He was a member of the first church. He married (first) April 8, 1686, Mary Scudder, who died September 18, 1695. He married (second) February 2, 1696, Elizabeth "Water- house," daughter of Isaac and Sarah Watrous. She was born March 22, 1661, died November 29, 1726. He married (third) November 22, 1727, Martha Perkins, widow of Deacon Joseph Perkins, of Newent, now Lisbon; then a part of Norwich. His children were : Barna- bas, Joseph, and Abigail, by wife Mary; Me- hitable, Samuel, Elizabeth, Sarah, Temper- ance, Solomon, Ruth, Esther and Zeruiah, by wife Elizabeth.

(VII) Solomon, second son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Watrous) Lothrop, was born in Norwich, December 13, 1706, died May 10, 1733. He settled in Norwich. He seems to have been a person of early eminent piety, of good natural talents, and of more than a com- mon education of that day. He married, Feb- ruary. 6, 1729, Martha, widow of Thomas Todd, of Rowley, Massachusetts, and daugh- ter of Deacon Joseph and Martha ( Morgan) Perkins, of Lisbon, Connecticut, where she was born August 28, 1705. After his death she married (third) May 29, 1739, Matthew Loomis, of Bolton, Connecticut. The chil- dren of Solomon and Martha were: Martha, and Joseph, next mentioned.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume I, Part 41

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