Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume I, Part 46

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 46

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).

are said to be among the largest manufacturers of firecrackers in the world. He was a mem- ber of the Weymouth fire company and also of the Weymouth band, in his early manhood, in which he played for a number of years and of which he was a charter member and director and took an active interest for many years. He took his first degree in the Old Colony Lodge of Free Masons, in 1854, and the third degree in 1855. Afterwards he became a member of the Orphans Hope Lodge of East Weymouth. He married, September 13, 1853, Annie Maria Poole, daughter of Samuel Poole, Esq., of Scituate, the ceremony being performed by the venerable Dr. Storrs at Braintree. Five children : 1. Edmund Aubrey, born February 7, 1855, an artist, resides in London where he has a studio and is a portriat painter of note; he has six children; his eldest son, Aubrey Edward, is in San Francisco; all the others are in London. 2. Frederick Thayer, September II, 1857, a graduate of Harvard, has charge of the correspondence of Edmund S. Hunt's business ; married Bessie, daughter of Peter French, who is a prominent man in Weymouth. 3. Russell Goddard, March 23, 1863, in business with Edmund S. Hunt. 4. Mary Gore, January 25, 1868, died same year. 5. James Turner Baker, July 11, 1871, died 1905; he was educated in music in which he attained great proficiency.

Mr. Hunt published a volume of three hun- dred and seven pages entitled "Weymouth Ways and Weymouth People, Reminiscences of Edmund Soper Hunt," in 1907. His long and intimate association with the people of Weymouth, his own interesting and varied ex- periences, his knowledge of men and affairs and his remarkable memory have qualified him admirably to write a book of exceptional inter- est and entertainment to the people of Wey- mouth and of much historical value. The book is not an autobiography but a close per- sonal account of old Weymouth for the past seventy years.

Haw comes from haeg, a HAWKINS small close. Mr. Haw was the one who lived in the close. Kin means child and Hawkins was the son of ITaw. From the land of the "brown heath and the shaggy woods" does the Hawkins line trace its remote beginnings. It was then known as Haw Clan on account of a defective enuncia- tion. During the rage of a fierce battle with a rival clan the Hawkins tribe were victorious over their disconcerted opponents who at once

19I

MASSACHUSETTS.

made overtures of peace. The reply of the Hawkins chief, sententious as it was mag- nanimous is reported to have been, "I am as bold as a lion but I will hold out the olive branch of peace." The coat-of-arms of this family was a lion presenting an olive branch, the motto of which was , "to be rather than to see."

(I) Captain John Hawkins, of Tavistock, England, was a gentleman of birth and edu- cation. He was a large ship owner and cap- tain in the service of his Majesty Henry VIII.

(II) Captain William, son of Captain John Hawkins, lived in Plymouth, England. He was a great favorite of the king who showered upon him many favors. He made journeys to Brazil in the years 1530-31-32 in the good ship "Paul of Plymouth.'

(III) Sir John (2), son of Captain Will- iam Hawkins, was early bred to the sea, and made voyages to the Isles of the Canaries, to Africa, Sierra Leone, to the coast of Florida including the Saint John's river. He com- manded the ship "Victory" against the Spanish Armada, was a member of the council of war and had charge of the Sicily squadron. He was treasurer of the navy, and was entitled to some credit for raising the fund known as "the Chest at Chatham" for needy and disabled seamen. His career was mixed up much with Sir Francis Drake, and though perhaps not so great a man as his superior officer, he was a skillful and successful navigator. He was a covetous man, but whatever his faults he was one of those fearless, determined men who aided in breaking the power of Spain and establishing Englands marital supremacy. He died while on the expedition to the West Indies and was buried at sea off Porto Rico. At his request a monument was erected to his mem- ory in the church of Saint Dustan in-the-East. His life has been written by Campbell and Southey. The best likeness of him extant hangs in the hospital for seamen at Chatham bearing his name.

(I) William (2) Hawkins, the founder of the American family, was descended from the above distinguished naval commander, and was born in England in 1609, dying in Provi- dence, Rhode Island, subsequently to 1699. He was one of the pioneers in Providence plantation and received grants of land there in 1638-40. He was made a freeman in 1655 and served in King Philip's war, receiving for his service therein a share in the Indian cap- tives of August 14, 1676. He signed the agree- ment for establishing a better form of govern-

ment for the colony. He married Margaret Harwood, born in England in 1612.

(II) John (3), eldest son of William (2) and Margaret (Harwood) Hawkins, lived in Providence. December 29, 1710, he deeded forty acres of land to his wife. July 27, 17II, he confirmed a deed made by his brother Ed- ward, and October 19, 1715, he gave full con- sent to his sons to sell all their land they had of him. He married the widow of Humphrey Damarill whose christian name was Sarah.

(III) William (3), eldest son of John (3) and Sarah Hawkins, was born in Providence, December 14, 1716. He sold land to Joshua Winsor, March 6, 1731, also land to Elisha Knowlton, and in 1744 gave to his son Job a right in lands west of "the seven mile line." The name of his wife was Mary. Children : Job, Rufus, and others.

(IV) Rufus, son of William (3) and Mary Hawkins, was born in Providence, died in Johnston, Rhode Island, April, 1788. He · served as lieutenant in Captain Edward Shel- don's company in 1746, connected with the colonial militia. His will was executed August 13, 1784, proved in May, 1788. The witnesses to the same were Perley Williams Junior, James Winsor and Noah Matthewson. His son Rufus was named executor.

(V) Rufus (2), son of Rufus (1) Haw- kins, was born in Providence, 1739, died in Johnston, February 7, 1818. He located in Johnston and built a machine shop at a place named for him, Hawkinsville. In this shop was made the first machine for carding woolen cloth. He was ensign in Captain Ezekiel Olney's company in 1783. He married, No- vember 7, 1761, Martha, daughter of Charles Waterman ; she died in Johnston, February II, 1804.

(VI) Captain Nehemiah, son of Rufus (2) and Martha (Waterman) Hawkins, was born in Johnston, July 7, 1762, died there on Inde- pendence day, 1830. He was commissioned as captain of Johnston Rangers. He was called the most skillful mechanic in Rhode Island at that time. He married, May 29, 1785, Han- nah, daughter of Samuel and Ann (Winsor) Winsor. She was born February 7, 1762, died September 29, 1845. Her ancestry is traced herein. Children : Alpheus, William H., Ephi- raim, Martha, Milley, Lydia Ann, Hope and Betsey.

(VII) Alpheus, eldest son of Captain Nehe- miah and Hannah (Winsor) Hawkins, was born in Johnston, September 4, 1795, died in Hoboken, New Jersey, October 29, 1847. He

192

MASSACHUSETTS.

was a justice of the peace, and was a locomo- tive builder, working on the first one made in this country. He lived in Lowell and Springfield, Massachusetts, and Baltimore. He married, June 30, 1825, Celia Antis, daughter of Richard Rhodes, of North Scituate, Rhode Island, whose ancestry is traced herein. She died in Springfield, November 13, 1902, hav- ing attained the remarkable age of a centenar- ian. Children: William Rhodes, Elizabeth Fenner, Nehemiah, Richard Fenner, mentioned below, Frank Porter, Mary M., deceased, and Mary M.

(VIII) Richard Fenner, third son of Al- pheus and Celia ( Rhodes) Hawkins, was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, March 9, 1837. His early education was gained in the Springfield public schools. At the age of sixteen he began working for Stone and Harris, railway bridge builders. In 1862 he was taken into the firm as a partner and the concern is now known as the Hawkins Iron Works. He erected the New Bedford and Springfield jails, the Williman- . Goveror Bates assumed the gubernatorial chair set bridge near Holyoke, the Northampton Iron bridge for the Massachusetts Central railroad. He also did the iron work on the stations of the Boston and Albany railroads at Springfield, that of the New York Central at Buffalo and Rochester. He likewise ex- tended the pier on the Connecticut River road for the Boston and Albany, and built all the bridges on the New York and New England from Waterbury to Fishkill, some of them on the Delaware and Lackawanna. In addi- tion, he built a series of bridges over Lake Champlain for the Lamoille Valley. To be a bridge builder is a far reaching accomplish- ment uniting the commerce and interest of two communities and is a work that withstands the wear of centuries. Thomas Carlyle said he had rather have constructed the bridge his father built at Ecclefechan than to have writ- ten all his books. The Hawkins iron plant covers two acres upon which are erected seven spacious buildings. Mr. Hawkins has been more or less identified with current affairs of interest in his city, but prefers to devote his immediate time to the details of his business. He has, however, served in the board of alder- men, and was one of the prime movers in organizing the board of trade of which he was for a long time director. He has been a trustee of the Hampden Savings Bank. He married, in New York, September 3, 1862, Cornelia Morgan, daughter of Amasa Bemis and Sarah Fry (Cadwell) Howe. Children : Paul Rhodes, mentioned below ; Florence, mar-

ried Thomas Dyer, January 16, 1898; Edith and Ethel (twins) ; David Smith.

(IX) Colonel Paul Rhodes, eldest son of Richard Fenner and Cornelia Morgan (Howe) Hawkins, was born in Springfield, June 23, 1867, and educated at the Worthington street school, the old high and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he grad- uated in 1887. Returning to Springfield he at once took an active part in the social and political life of his home city, and was soon a councilman in ward four. Some years later he served in the board of aldermen from ward six. In 1890 Mr. Hawkins entered the militia as first lieutenant of Company B, Second Regi- ment, and served four years. Then he was appointed on the staff of Colonel E. P. Clarke as regimental adjutant, in which position he served until January 3, 1900. On the election of Governor Crane he was made aide-de-camp with the rank of major on the governor's staff and remained throughout his term. When Major Hawkins was retained on the staff and made lieutenant-colonel and assistant inspector- general. On the declaration of war with Spain Colonel Hawkins volunteered his services to the government and was appointed by Gov- ernor Wolcott regimental adjutant of the Sec- ond Massachusetts Infantry, United States Volunteers, with the rank of lieutenant. The colonel proceeded with his regiment to the front and saw some hard service at the battle of ElCaney where the troops were under fire for twenty-four hours. As the scene of the conflict waged from different points now at El Pozo Hill where the batteries were planted, now on the banks of the muddy Aquadares river, or around the demolished sugar house, or out on the Marianaje road towards San- tiago, the colonel on that hot July day was in the thick of the scrimmage wherever his duties as staff officer called him, unmindful of the screeching Mausers that entailed so frightful a death-toll on the brave American boys. He was also present at the surrender of Santiago. Colonel Hawkins has been commander of Gen- eral Lawton Camp, Spanish War Veterans, and 1903 was elected commander-in-chief of the national muster league of Spanish war veterans. In 1908 he received his commission from state of Massachusetts and went on re- tired list as full colonel. He is a member of the various Masonic bodies, of Hampden Lodge of Odd Fellows. Also he is a prominent club man. He is engaged in the iron business with his father.

193

MASSACHUSETTS.

(The Winsor Line).

This name is derived from local geography. The town in England was first called Wind- shore on account of the many indentations along the shore at this point. The word be- came corrupted by use to Windsore, then Windsor, Winsor. There was a castle there from time immemorial and Walter Fitz-Other, who was a Norman nobleman, was made gov- ernor of the stronghold, and from then on called himself Walter de Windsor, and he is founder of the race. We have the English successive generations in Robert (I), a Roman Catholic in Henry VIII's time, Samuel (2), John (3), and Samuel (4). Justin Winsor, the Harvard librarian and eminent historical writer, is of this line.

(I) The American progenitor was Joshua, son of Samuel (4) Winsor, mentioned above. He was in Providence in 1637 and died there in 1679.

(II) Samuel, son of Joshua Winsor, was born in Providence in 1644, died there Septem- ber 16, 1705. He was a deputy in 1674 and received a share in the Indian captives, and was on the grand jury in 1687. He married Mercy, widow of Resolved Waterman, a daughter of Roger Williams. She was the mother of Samuel, Hannah and Joshua.

(III) The Rev. Samuel (2), eldest son of Samuel (I) and Mercy (Williams) (Water- man) Winsor, was born in Providence, No- vember 18, 1677, died November 17, 1758. He was ordained pastor of the First Baptist Church of Providence. He always preached gratuitously and would not accept an invita- tion to a Sunday dinner in the fear it might be interpreted as a pay for Sunday services. His will was executed December 20, 1749. He married Mercy, daughter of Abraham and Deborah Harding. His wife was living in I749. Children : Samuel, Martha, Mary, Lydia, Hannah, Deborah, Mercy and Free- love.

(IV) Rev. Samuel (3), eldest son of Rev. Samuel (2) and Mercy (Harding) Winsor, was born in Providence, November II, 1722, died there January 26, 1803. He served in the revolution with the rank of captain. He succeeded his father in the pulpit, being ordain- ed in 1759. In the old Winsor burial ground is this inscription on his tombstone "Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Samuel Winsor who departed this life January 26th A. D. 1803 in the 8Ist year of his ministry as Pastor of the ancient Baptist church in Providence & John- ston." He married Lydia Olney, from which

line comes the Hon. Richard Olney, the states- man of Cleveland's cabinet. He married ( sec- ond) Ann, daughter of Johnna Winsor. By Ann he had Hannah, who married Nehemiah Hawkins, and was the grandmother of Rich- ard Fenner Hawkins, so that he was doubly descended from Roger Williams.

(The Rhodes Line).

Rhodes is an island in the Mediterranean, also a town in Guienne, France. The Rhodes are a very ancient and respectable family of Norman extraction, and the first one we come to in history is William de Rhodes who accom- panied Richard I to Palestine in one of the crusades. There was a Rhodes a pilot with Sebastian Cabot in his initial trip to America, and from him the little state of Rhode Island was named, small territorially but immense in its influence over commerce and manufac- turing. The eminent historian, James F. Rhodes, is of this line.

(I) We begin our table with Zachariah Rhodes, who was born in England in 1603. He was first of Rehoboth, Rhode Island, but later removed to Providence. July 3, 1644, he "with twenty nine others agreed to bind them- selves together under a government of mine persons chosen from the inhabitants of Sea- cunk." August 21, 1648, he was one of a committee sent to Massachusetts to ascertain the damage done to Pomham of Warwicke and to demand redress for him. He was of those from Pawtuxet who asked to be dismissed from the government of Massachusetts, June I, 1658. He was a commissioner for several years and in 1663 was appointed to treat with the Indians regarding a consideration for their lands. He was on the committee who run the boundary line between Rhode Island and Plymouth Colony, also a deputy and town councellor. He was imprisoned a short time in jail in Boston for openly remarking, "the court has naught to do in matters of religion."

(II) John, son of Zachariah Rhodes, was born in Providence in 1668, died at Warwicke, August 14, 1716. He was a soldier in King Philip's war, receiving his share of the Indian captives. He was a man of some parts and possessed of legal knowledge; he was several years attorney general of Rhode Island and was clerk of the assembly. He married Waite, daughter of Resolved and Mercy (Williams) Waterman, February 12, 1685. She died sub- sequent to 1712. The above Mercy (Williams ) Waterman was a daughter of the celebrated Roger Williams.

i-13

194

MASSACHUSETTS.

(III) William, son of John and Waite company, Colonel Green's regiment. He was ( Waterman) Rhodes, was born in Warwicke, . a sea captain. His farm was situated half-way July 14, 1695. He was chosen a deputy. His will was made July 13, 1772. He married, December 28, 1722, Mary Sheldon, of Provi- dence. Children : William, Joseph, Waitestill, Nehemiah and Eunice.

(IV) Captain William (2), son of William (I) and Mary (Sheldon) Rhodes, was born in Providence, died in Burrillville, Rhode Island, June 30, 1823. He was a cooper and worked at his trade in the West Indies. He made frequent trips there and being a wide- awake fellow, anxious to learn, and of an in- quisitive disposition, he thus acquired some knowledge of navigation. In 1775 two vessels were fitted out, one of which was commanded by Captain John Grimes with William Rhodes as lieutenant. The nautical information he had gleaned on his West Indies trips now stood him and his government in good stead. In August, 1776, he was granted letters of marque by the Rhode Island government. He was in command of the sloop "Montgomery," ten guns, ten swivels, and manned by sixty sea- men engaged in privateering. This vessel overhauled English ships on their way from the West Indies, laden with sugar and molasses, and with the prizes thus secured he made what was then a comfortable fortune. He sold his prizes for continental money which became through the depreciation worthless. His wife advised him to invest in Providence real estate. This was a case where foresight of a woman was worth heeding, and William observed that his wife was wiser than he. At the end of hostilities he bought land at Rhodesville since called Harrisville, now Burrillville, settling down to the less exciting arts of peace. He builded himself a home in which he lived quietly after his stormy career. He was a good horseback rider and made trips to South Carolina in that manner where he had invest- ments. He was a man of remarkable agility and even in his later years could cover thirty feet in three leaps. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth ( Arnold) Fenner. She died October 2, 1824, in her eighty-first year. Children: Elizabeth, Rich- ard (mentioned below), Fenner, and William, who died August 15, 1799, at Newbern, North Carolina.

(V) Captain Richard, eldest son of Cap- tain William (2) and Elizabeth ( Fenner) Rhodes, was born in Providence, December 15, 1776, died at North Scituate in 1845. He was a revolutionary soldier in Captain Dexter's

between Scituate and North Scituate and is known as the Butler farm, now occupied by Arthur Steer. Richard, both his wives, and the younger children are buried there and their tombstones are in a fair state of preserva- tion. He married Abigail ( surname unknown), who died in 1797. His second wife was Tabitha, daughter of John Harris. By his first wife was born Richard and Sarah, both of whom died young. Tabitha ( Harris) Rhodes was the mother of Fenner (died early), Thomas H., George A. (twins), Eliza, Celia Antis, Mary, Patience, Tabitha, Maria N., Waite H., Richard and Emeline (died in infancy ). Celia Antis married Alpheus Hawkins and became the mother of Richard Fenner Hawkins, herein mentioned.

(The Howe Line).

Howe or Hoo as it was once written meant a hill. Da La Howe was originally the name of the family when they came over with Will- iam the Conquorer and it meant as then written literally "from the hills." So the first Mr. Howe was the man who lived on the hill. As it is the branch roads in the vast network of railways that feed and make possible the great trunk lines of commerce, so it is the confluent streams whose torrents flood the banks of the mighty river in its onward race to the sea; so it is the subsidiary lines commingling and interlacing from which is realized the unit denominated the family. In this people we are herein considering, beginning with the first generation in 1639, no fewer than nine- teen families have contributed to the making of the brawn and brain of the last or ninth generation. Among the distinguished men of this line have been the Hon. Timothy O. Howe, United States senator from Wisconsin and postmaster-general in Arthur's cabinet, and Major General Nathaniel F. Banks, governor of Massachusetts and speaker of the National house of representatives.

(I) John Howe (3), was the son of John Howe (2), of Warwickshire, England, and the grandson of John Howe (1), of Hodin- hull, a descendant of Lord Charles Howe. John Howe (3) was in Sudbury, Massachusetts, in 1639, was made a freeman in 1641, and select- man in 1643. The selectmen appointed him in 1655 "to see to the restraining of youth on the Lord's day." His name was on a petition from the Sudbury inhabitants to the general court for a grant of land in 1656, and on May I of that year a tract six miles square was

195

MASSACHUSETTS.

granted, with conditions of settlement "so as to be able to maintain a ministry." It was then called Whipperpewicke now known as Marlborough. At the first grantees meeting held September 25, 1656, he was of a select committee to organize a new plantation, and was the first white settler there. His log cabin was near the Indian planting field and was situated about one hundred rods from the Spring Hill meeting house. For many genera- tions this spot was the home of the Howes and later he kept a tavern. He enjoyed the friend- ship and good will of the Aborigines who frequently referred their disputes to him. It is related that two Red Skins became involved in a quarrel over the possession of a pumpkin. Planted in one field it grew over the line into an adjoining lot. Learning each side of the story Mr. Howe cut the pumpkin in two pieces and divided it equally to the infinite satisfac- tion of both parties, a way of settling involved points we moderns might safely borrow wis- dom from. The general court referred to Goodman Howe and Goodman Rice a claim made upon it by Thomas Danforth. The following is a copy of a letter written by Mr. Howe which shows him to have been of fair education and to have had a ready command of forcible English.

"Honrd Sr-, My humble suit unto this Honrd Court is that they would be pleased to grant me freedom from Training and that my License for Ordinary keeping may be renewed unto me. My grounds wch I request the said are I.The consideration of a bodily infirmity I have had many years upon me wch as I grow in age encreaseth in tediousness in so much it is frequently interruptive to me in my calling. 2. I am also thick of hearing. 3. I do and am like to maintain three trained soldiers in my family. S I trust you will endeavor that I may obtain my desire in the respects men- tioned though I give you but a hint of things which if you do, you will hereby more abund- antly oblige me to subscribe myself as I already do. Yor humble servant.

John Howe Marleborough this 30th September 1662."

He died in Marlborough in 1687, and his wife whose christian name was Mary about two years later. Children: John, Samuel, Sarah, Mary, died early, Isaac, mentioned be- low, Josiah, Mary, Thomas, Daniel, Alexander, Eleazer. A grandson of John Howe (3) by the above Samuel whose name was David built the old Howe tavern on the Boston road which

has been immortallized by Longfellow as the "Wayside Inn."

(II) Isaac, third son of John (3) and Mary Howe, was born in Marlborough, August 8, 1648, died there December 9, 1724. He was in charge of Garrison number 6 on the South- borough road near the present Newton rail- road station. He married (first) Frances Wood, January 17, 1671, who died May 14, 1718. He married (second) December 2, 1718, Susanna Sibley, of Sutton. Children: Eliza- beth, Mary, John, died early, John, mentioned below, Bethiah, Hannah, Thankful.

(III) John (4), third son of Isaac and Frances (Wood) Howe, was born in Marl- borough, September 16, 1682, died May 19, 1754. He resided on the Howe homestead. He married, November 3, 1703, Deliverance, daughter of John and Tabitha (Stone) Rice, of Sudbury, whose ancestry is traced herein. Children: Jezaniah, mentioned below, Mat- thias, Isaac, Benjamin, Tabitha, Patience, Paul, Mary, Francis and Abigail.

(IV) Jezaniah, eldest son of John (4) and Deliverance (Rice) Howe, was born May 30, 1704, in Marlborough, died in Leicester, Mass- achusetts, in 1762. He resided both in South- borough and Leicester. He married Damaris, daughter of Zerubbel and Hannah (Kerley) Eager. Children: Elijah, mentioned below, Jacob, Jezaniah, George, Kerley, Miriam, Persis and Rebecca.

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 46

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