USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 70
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(III) Thomas, son of Francis James, was born in Hingham, December 7, 1669, and
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died July 31, 1724. He was called husband- man. His estate was appraised at 1720 pounds nine shillings three pence. It included a "mansion house, part of a sloop," etc. He resided in the second precinct of Hingham. He married, May 30, 1704, Patience (Tower) Farrow, born in Hingham, March 21, 1678-9, widow of William Farrow, and daughter of Ibrook and Margaret (Hardin) Tower. Chil- dren, born in Hingham: 1. Thomas, January II, 1704-5 ; married, 1730, Hannah Holbrook. 2. Elizabeth, August 21, 1706; married, August 21, 1730, Abisha Stetson. 3. Philip, July 25, 1708; married, May 25, 1738, Mary Nichols. 4. Jane, October 7, 1710; married, June 27, 1734, Jeremiah Lane. 5. John, 1712; mentioned below. 6. Sarah, September 27, 1714; died November 28 following. 7. Mar- garet, March 19, 1715-16. 8. Content, bap- tized August 21, 1720; married, October. 1739, Samuel Hardin.
(IV) John, son of Thomas James, was born in Hingham, in 1712, and resided in the second precinct, at or near the easterly end of Jerusalem Road. He married, July 28, 1743, Deborah (Bates) Stodder, born in Hingham April 2, 1716, widow of Canterbury Stodder, and daughter of Joseph and Deborah (Clapp) Bates. She married (third) December 15. 1768, John Turner, of Pembroke. Children, born in Hingham: 1. John, March 16, 1744-5 ; mentioned below. 2. Deborah, March 23, 1746-7. 3. Francis, May 13, 1749. 4. Enoch, August 24, 1751 ; married Abigail Adams. 5. Sarah, September 13, 1755. 6. Thomas, July II, 1758.
(V) John (2), son of John (I) James, was born in Hingham, March 16, 1744-5. He removed probably after the birth of the third child, about 1769, to Goshen, Massachusetts, then a part of Chesterfield. He was in the revolution, in Captain Christopher Banister's company, Colonel John Dickman's regiment, in August, 1777, and marched to Bennington with the Chesterfield company; also in the same company under Colonel Ezra May, in the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga. He married, April 4, 1765, Lois Beal, born in Hingham, July 20, 1746, daughter of Adam and Jael (Worrick) Beal. Children, born in Hingham: I. Moses, October 23, 1765. 2. Malachi, July 9, 1767 ; mentioned below. 3. Lois, May 29, 1769. Probably others born in Goshen.
(VI) Malachi, son of John (2) James, was born in Hingham, July 9, 1767. He married, February 18, 1790, Elizabeth, daughter of
Elias Lyman of Northampton. He died August 24, 1849. Children: 1. Sophia, born November 18, 1791; married, 1815, Dr. Thomas Sears. 2. Enoch, born December 8, 1793; mentioned below. 3. Lyman, born March 23, 1796; married Maria C. Goodrich. 4. Maria, born July 2, 1799; married Samuel Howes. 5. Clarissa, born May 18, 1801 ; married, October 13, 1834, J. D. Whitney. 6. Luther, born July 13, 1803. 7. Lewis L., born May 8, 1805; married Corintha Wells. 8. Elizabeth, married A. L. Babcock. 9. Rachel L., born 1812; married David Storrs.
(VII) Enoch, son of Malachi James, was born at Goshen, December 8, 1793. He was a prominent and influential citizen of Goshen. He managed a general store there, and also engaged in woolen manufacture, having mills in Williamsburg and Whately. He married Armanilla R., daughter of Colonel Simeon Dwight. He removed late in life to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he died February 28, 1867. Children : I. Henry Lyman, men- tioned below. 2. Lyman Dwight, mentioned below. 3. Martha Dwight. 4. Mary Frances. 5. Enoch Dwight.
(VIII) Henry Lyman, son of Enoch James, was born in Williamsburg, February 13, 1829, died July 5, 1896. He attended the public schools of his native town, Hopkins Academy at Hadley, the Williston Seminary at East- hampton, and the New Haven grammar school. After he had returned home from his schooling, his father removed to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and to his son he gave the woolen business in Whately and the store. in Will- iamsburg. This general store has been owned by the James family for a century or more, and is one of the oldest in the country con- ducted by the same family. In 1866 Mr. James admitted to partnership his brother, Lyman Dwight James, who continued the bus- iness after his death. He bought the business of Henry Wells, near the present site of the new Meekins Library, and manufactured car- penters' tools until the factory was destroyed by fire. Mr. James also conducted the woolen mill at Whately with success for many years, and the business was prosperous. He made his home at Williamsburg, however, and drove to the mill several times a week. He was a great lover of horses, and in his stables there could always be found some valuable animals.
In the fifties Mr. James met his first stroke of ill fortune. A cyclone destroyed a part of the mill property in Whately and soon after- ward the remainder of the mill was burned.
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He then bought of Lewis Bodman the woolen mill in Williamsburg, just above the railroad station, south of the village, and conducted his business there with success until the fatal blow of 1874 came. The flood caused him a heavy loss, carrying away eleven houses, more than a hundred bales of wool, and ruined all the contents of the basement of the mill and dye-house, including machinery and supplies. But his was the only mill in Williamsburg and Haydenville not entirely destroyed by the flood. He repaired his damages and resumed business, receiving none of the fund sub- scribed for the relief of the owners of dam- aged property, etc. The business reverses of later years were largely due to lack of capital resulting from these disasters. In fact, most of the industries of the town never recovered from the shock, or removed to other locations. No calamity ever worked greater change in a town than did that fatal catastrophe of 1874 to Williamsburg. The Williamsburg of to-day is a sad picture in comparison with the town before the river flood. During the last five years of his life Mr. James was in ill health and not in active business. In 1891 he suf- fered a stroke of apoplexy and another shortly before his death. He was one of a number of industrial leaders in the Connecticut valley in his generation, each of whom virtually built up a town through the development of mills and factories. He belongs in the class with Joel Hayden, William Skinner, Samuel Williston and Horatio G. Knight. Mr. James took great interest in his own town, and did his utmost to develop its resources, before and after the disaster.
He was appointed postmaster by President Lincoln, and continued in the office for twenty- five years. In politics he was a stanch Repub- lican, and he figured prominently in many a campaign. He was active in supporting Henry L. Dawes for congress. On the night of the congressional campaign, Mr. Dawes was speaking at a rally in Williamsburg. Re- turning from the convention with the news of the nomination of Mr. Dawes, Mr. James found the nominee in the midst of his speech, and he took advantage of the opportunity to break the news to the people, and interrupted the speech for that purpose. Mr. Dawes was thoroughly surprised and overcome by the good news, which was received with vocif- erous applause, and had to take his seat to recover his composure, before continuing his address. Mr. James represented his district in the general court in 1875, and for ten years
was an active and influential member of the Republican state central committee of Massa- chusetts.
Mr. James traveled extensively in this coun- try and foreign lands, and one of his last trips was taken in company with H. G. Knight, late of Easthampton. He possessed considerable literary ability, and had a nimble wit, writing many articles for the Springfield Republican and other publications, generally under the nom-de-plume of "Peter." Many of these articles were descriptive of his travels. He wrote in a humorous vein usually, was keen in observing, and piquant in criticizing. There was a characteristic ease and originality in his work that attracted the general reader. He attended the Congregational church. He mar- ried, May 31, 1860, Maria Louise, daughter of Dr. Elbridge Simpson, of Hudson, New York. Children: 1. Mabel Louise, married Norton Chase, of Albany. 2. Maud Arma- nella, resides in the James home, Williams- burg. 3. Bertha Simpson, died aged seven. Two others died in infancy.
Dr. Elbridge Simpson (see above), son of John B. and Eunice (Tucker) Simpson, was born at Ashfield, January 29, 1812, and died in Hudson, N. Y., in October, 1880. He attended the public schools, and commenced the study of his profession as a student in the office of Dr. Samuel McClellan, at Nassau, New York. He remained with that distinguished physician for about a year, and then studied under Dr. John McClellan, of Johnstown, Columbia county, New York, and at the Williams Medi- cal School, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where he was graduated in the class of 1838 with the degree of M. D. He commenced practice at Newark, Wayne county, in partnership with Dr. Coventry, and in 1841 went to Catskill. Thence he removed in 1845 to Hudson, in the same state, succeeding to the practice of Dr. Samuel McClellan. In 1858 he removed to Toronto and practiced in that city and Mon- treal until 1873, when he returned to Hudson, living there the rest of his days. He was a member of the Columbia County Medical Society and of the New York State Medical Society from 1856.
He was a close student all his life, and few physicians kept in closer touch with the devel- opment of medical science or sooner modified his methods in the light of new discoveries. He took a prominent place in his profession, and as the years passed his skill was recog- nized by both laymen and the profession. He grew to have confidence in his own judgment,
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so often tested in the sick room and so often successful in his treatment. He had a genial and benevolent face, an impressive bearing, a persuasive voice, and a good deal of magnet- ism of manner and address. He was, it has been said, a "natural physician," one of the finest compliments to his ability. The quali- ties which made him eminent were hereditary, but trained by medical education and devel- oped by long and diversified practice. One who knew him well, wrote at the time of his death: "His original sagacity and intuitive perceptions, admirable common sense and manipulatory tact, guided by adequate pro- fessional knowledge, made him a very skillful and successful practitioner. He was neither theoretical nor speculative, but was intensely practical. As a surgeon he was fertile in mechanical resources, and was a deft surgical operator. He had the wisdom to perceive that the main end of all medical education is to make a good practitioner. His intercourse with his patrons was marked by the most friendly cordiality. His professional relations to the other sex were always delicate and refined, and his purity of character was unquestioned. He had a sort of chivalric deference for refined women, and a nice sense of professional honor will go with him to the grave. To an extraordinary degree he was a generous and benevolent man, and not a tinge of a mercenary spirit discolored his life. He was especially kind and benignant to the poor."
At a meeting of the Columbia County Medi- cal Society after his death, Dr. Thomas Wilson paid an affectionate tribute to the memory of Dr. Simpson, from which we quote : "We are here to-day, not only to show our respect for our departed brother, but also to mingle our griefs and sympathies with those of the bereaved family. He has passed the mysterious boundaries of time, and we all deeply deplore his loss. He is now done with earth, but we are to tarry awhile. He has climbed up life's rugged pathway ; exercised the high functions of his calling; discharged faithfully its many and varied obligations ; tasted the sweets of success; and now, past manhood's bright meridian, amid the scenes and surroundings of his active life, beloved and honored by those who knew him best, he finishes his earthly career. Though his mortal remains are now shrouded for the tomb, yet he leaves for our contemplation his past life, redolent with good, and eloquent in example. Our medical society loses a worthy member,
and this city a valuable citizen. The afflicted can no more listen to his councils, encourage- ments and consolations, more precious to them than the rarest gems. Never again will he appear at the bedside to assuage pain and anguish of body, and, most of all, henceforth will be missed by the tender loving hearts gathered about his own family hearthstone."
He married, in 1838, Sally A. Groat, born in 18II, died in 1850, daughter of Captain Peter and Amanda (Rogers) Groat. Children: I. Elbridge. 2. Maria Louise, married Henry Lyman James (see James family). 3. Carrie, died October 25, 1907; married Thomas C. Stratton, of Montreal. 4. Albert.
(VIII) Lyman Dwight, son of Enoch James, was born in Williamsburg, Massachusetts, January 21, 1836, died there May 30, 1902. He attended the public schools of his native town and Amherst Academy. His father hav- ing moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, he spent two years there, and then returned to Will- iamsburg, the town of his birth, where he spent the remainder of his life. He first entered the general store of his brother, Henry Lyman James, as clerk, then became a partner, and later sole owner. The business was an old-fashioned country store handling all kinds of general merchandise. After many years of active life he retired in 1898, about four years before his death. In politics he was a Repub- lican, and in religion a member of the Con- gregational church of Williamsburg. He was a director of the First National Bank of Northampton about twenty-five years, and at the time of his death was vice-president, and was also a trustee of the Nonotuck Savings Bank. For twenty-five years he was a trustee of the Northampton Insane Asylum, and was serving in that capacity at time of death. Mrs. James had a beautiful club house on the Insane Asylum grounds constructed in mem- ory of her husband, who was deeply in sym- pathy with these unfortunate people.
The following was taken from one of the newspapers at the time of his death: "The death of Lyman D. James, of Williamsburg, removes from us a man who was first and always public-spirited. He was brim full of enthusiasm, as active as a young man, and as keen in his interest in the world. That he was nearly seventy years old never occurred to those who knew him. Young men, all young people, liked lim heartily. He had good humor in abundance, and delighted in a busy life. His devotion to the state's interests, as senior trustee of the Northampton Asylum, a
Lyman Dame.
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place he had held for twenty-three years, was a matter of note all through the common- wealth. Had it been his private enterprise he could not have given closer, more faithful, attention, and much of the notable success of that large institution is due to him. He had a very kindly nature, and people who had no special business relation with him, 'took to him,' to use a homelike New England phrase. Whatever his more prominent services have been, this constant good will and good humor for all people, old and young, made him a man whose daily presence was an influence for good. He goes from us still young, full of high courage, good work, and plans for the future, leaving a most grateful memory."
Mr. James married, September 10, 1857, Helen Eliza Field (see Field). Children: I. Henry Dwight, who lives in Haydenville, Massachusetts. 2. Howard, who lives in St. Paul. 3. Grace Fidelia, married John W. Gil- lette, and resides in Hudson, New York. 4. Philip Lyman, who resides in Chicago, Illi- nois.
(The Dwight Line-For preceding generations see John Dwight 1).
(IV) Colonel Simeon Dwight, son of Cap- tain Henry Dwight, was born February 18, 1719-20, and died February 21, 1776. He was a colonel of militia, and at the time of his death was high sheriff of Worcester county. He was a farmer, and resided at Western (now Warren) Massachusetts. He married, December 14, 1743, Sibyl Dwight, born Octo- ber 8, 1725, died March 19, 1784, daughter of Captain Samuel and Mary (Lyman) Dwight. Children: I. Sibyl, born October 4, 1744; married Major Elihu Kent; died August, 1822. 2. Sarah, born May 1, 1746; married Timothy Ruggles. 3. Anna, born December 19, 1747; died November 23, 1751. 4. Jerusha, born October 15, 1749; died unmarried. 5. Colonel Henry, born February 18, 1752; mentioned below ; died November 26, 1819. 6. Anna, born November 10, 1753; married Deacon Asahel Hatheway; died March 17, 1807. 7. Simeon, Jr., born Sep- tember 13, 1755; died February 1, 1815. 8. Edmund, born January 6, 1757; died March 7, 1758. 9. Lydia, born October 12, 1759; died August 20, 1761. 10. Edmund, born May 3, 1761 ; died unmarried September, 1803. II. Elihu, born February 17, 1763 ; married Lydia Chadwick. 12. Samuel, born December 7, 1765; died April 10, 1817. 13. Lydia, born
December 4, 1767; married Shadrach Trum- bull; died August 8, 1844.
(V) Colonel Henry Dwight, son of Colonel Simeon Dwight, was born February 18, 1752, and died November 26, 1819. He resided most of his life at Belchertown, Massachusetts, where he was a farmer and citizen of high standing, holding various public offices. He married, June 23, 1774, Ruth Rich, born 1756, died 1837. He was a soldier in the revolution, a second lieutenant in Captain Estes Howes's company, First Belchertown regiment, in 1776; also in the same company, Fourth Hampshire regiment, and in Captain Jonathan Bardwell's company, Colonel Elisha Porter's regiment, in 1777, with the Army of the North; lieutenant in Third company, Colonel Porter's Fourth regiment, in 1780. His resig- nation from the service was accepted April 18, 1780. Children : 1. Lieutenant Joseph Haw- ley, born March 26, 1775 ; died unmarried, at Fort Niagara, November 13, 1801. 2. Henry, Jr., born November 7, 1777 ; died February 10, 1841. 3. Colonel Simeon, born September 24, 1779; mentioned below. 4. Charles, born April 5, 1782; died 1815. 5. Solomon Rich, born May 24, 1784; died unmarried, 1846. 6. Sophia, born July 3, 1786; married Justus Dwight; died November 26, 1814. 7. Pere- grine, born September 14, 1788; died April 24, 1793. 8. Thomas, born September 28, 1790; died unmarried, February 9, 1857. 9. William, born November 5, 1792; died July 13, 1810. IO. Peregrine, born March 15, 1795; died August 4, 1842. II. Clarissa, born November 23, 1799; married Myron Lawrence; died February 10, 1852. 12. Daughter, born and died April 21, 1802.
(VI) Colonel Simeon Dwight, son of Colo- nel Henry Dwight, was born September 24, 1779, and died December 23, 1842. He was a carriage maker at Belchertown, and promi- nent in town affairs. He was deputy sheriff for thirty years, and colonel of militia. He was an earnest religious worker. He married, March 3, 1802, Martha Rice, born August 26, 1781, died February 29, 1840, daughter of Colonel Asa and Miriam Rice. Children: I. Armanilla Ruggles, born February 28, 1803; married Enoch James; (see James). 2. Son, born and died November 3, 1804. 3. Joseph Hawley, born October 19, 1805; married Eliza (Mason) Filer, widow ; died March 15, 1849. 4. Charles Hobart, born October 6, 1807 ; died November 11, 1857. 5. Mary Rice, born January 20, 1810; died June 27, 1811. 6.
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Mary Rice, born December 26, 1812; married Edwin P. Tucker; (second) Lewis Hawes. 7. Simeon Rich, born May 3, 1815. 8. Sereno Edwards, born November 12, 1825.
George Corless, immigrant
CORLESS ancestor, was born in Devon- shire, England, about 1617, son of Thomas Corless. He came to New England in 1639 and settled in Newbury, Massachusetts, and removed soon to Haver- hill, where he lived the remainder of his life. He settled in 1640 in the west parish of Haverhill, and the farm, now known as the Poplar Lawn farm, was at last accounts in possession of a direct descendant, having been in the family ever since." He was the first settler in that part of the town, and built a log house in 1647. His name was on the list of freemen in 1645, and was constable in 1650, selectman in 1648-53-57-69-79. His will was dated October 18, 1686, and he died October 19, 1686. It is a remarkable coincidence that Gorge Corless, his son John, and his grand- son John, all died on the same farm, each one sitting in the same chair. He married, Octo- ber 26, at Haverhill, Joanna, daughter of Thomas Davis. Children : I. Mary, born September 6, 1646; died October 22, 1722; married William Neff, and was with Hannah Dustin when she was captured by the Indians. 2. John, born March 4, 1648 ; mentioned below. 3. Joanna, born April 28, 1650; died October 29, 1734 ; married Joseph Huckins. 4. Martha, born June 2, 1652; married Samuel Ladd. 5. Deborah, born June 6, 1655 : married Thomas Eastman. 6. Ann, born November 8, 1657; died June, 1691 ; married John Robie. 7. Huldah, born November 18, 1661 ; married Samuel Kingsbury. 8. Sarah, born February 23, 1663 ; married Joseph Ayer.
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(II) John, son of George Corless, was born in Haverhill, March 4, 1648, and died Febru- ary 17, 1698. He inherited the homestead from his father, and his name is among those who took the oath of allegiance at Haverhill, November 28, 1677. He was also among the list of soldiers paid by the town August 24, 1676. He died intestate February 17, 1698, and the inventory of his estate was filed Ati- gust 1, 1698. He married Mary Wilford, born November 18, 1667, daughter of Gilbert Wil- ford, of Haverhill. She married ( second) William Whittaker, of Haverhill. Children : I. John, born March 4, 1686; mentioned below. 2. Mary, born February 25, 1687. 3. Thomas, born March 2, 1689; died 1784. 4. Hannah,
born 1691 ; died September 8, 1764. 5. Timo- thy, born December 13, 1693; died 1783. 6. Jonathan, born July 16, 1695; died March 22, 1787. 7. Mehitable, born May 15, 1698.
(III) John (2), son of John (1) Corless, was born at Haverhill, March 4, 1686, and died in 1766. He resided on the old home- stead, and had willed it to his son, but outlived him, and the farm descended to his grandsons. He was a man of large stature, being more than six feet in height and finely proportioned. He had a powerful voice, and it is said that he could be heard and understood a mile away. He enjoyed remarkable health until he was over seventy-five years old. He gave each of his children a good education and provided for them liberally in every way. He married, 1711, Ruth Haynes, born February 7, 1691, died 1787. Children: 1. Ruth, born October 14, 1712; died 1802. 2. George, born March 4, 1714; died April 4, 1714. 3. John, born September 12, 1715 ; died November 15, 1753. 4. Timothy, born February 4, 1717 ; died 1760. 5. Sarah, born November, 1718; died Novem- ber 20, 1736. 6. Abigail, born November 20, 1720. 7. Joseph, born November 4, 1722; mentioned below. 8. Hannah, born August 16, 1724. 9. Infant, died young. 10. Mary, born May 8, 1727. 11. Infant, died young. 12. Jonathan, born February 25, 1730; died 1776. 13. Joshua, born January 19, 1733 ; died Janu- ary 29, 1819.
(IV) Joseph, son of John (2) Corless, was born in Haverhill, November 4, 1722, and died November 3, 1762. He married, Febru- ary 19, 1746, Mary Emerson, of Haverhill, born September 3. 1728, died November 8, 1815. Children: 1. Joseph, born November 29. 1747; mentioned below. 2. Sarah, born May 5, 1749; died 1787. 3. Ephraim, born August 3. 1751; died October 25, 1824. 4. Solomon, born June 30, 1754: died September 15, 1755. 5. Abigail, born August 9, 1756; died November 11, 1803. 6. Polly, born April 16, 1760; died May 1, 1824. 7. John, born March 25, 1761 ; died November 21, 1841.
(V) Joseph (2), son of Joseph (I) Corless, was born November 29, 1747, and died Sep- tember 20, 1820. With his first one hundred dollars which he earned peddling thread for the Londonderry settlers, he bought a hundred acres of land and a small house at Windham, New Hampshire. He moved his family there. and later built a large house which remained there until 1840, when it was removed to Lowell, Massachusetts. He married (first) about 1767, Miriam Emerson: (second)
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Betsey, daughter of Francis Utinox, a descend- ant of Huguenots. Her father left France for England, where he married Mary Lee, de- scendant of Henry Lee, whom Walter Scott has made historic. He and his wife and son sailed for America, and Betsey was born on the voyage. On their arrival the father and son both died, and the mother soon followed, leaving her daughter in charge of a godmother who bought her thread and linen of the Lon- donderry settlers. This godmother placed her charge, Betsey Utinox, in the family of Mr. Gregg, of Londonderry. She learned the weaver's trade, and used to travel among the settlers and weave for them when needed. Arriving at Windham, the constable, Joseph Corless, was obliged to serve warning on her as a transient person. He found her at the house of his mother-in-law, dressed in her red dress, weaving for them. The reading of the law terrified her, and though they soothed her by telling her that it was simply a matter of form she never forgot the scene. Afterward Joseph Corless took her for his second wife. Joseph Corless kept a tavern from 1812 to 1819. The cellar of his house may still be seen at the corner of the road leading from Windham to Richard Woodbury's farm at Salem. New Hampshire. He served in the revolution in the first military company of Windham, in 1775, under Captain James Gil- more; also in Captain John Nesmith's com- pany, Colonel Matthew Thornton's regiment in 1776, and in August of that year was in the Continental army. He was elected constable in 1780, but declined to serve. Being forced to serve he declined to collect the minister's rate and was finally excused from doing so. Chil- dren of first wife: I. Solomon, born in Haver- hill ; married Annis Houghton. 2. Sally, mar- ried Lund. 3. Polly, born February 5, 1773; died unmarried. 4. Ephraim, born June 29. 1775. 5. Peter, born September 30, 1777; died unmarried. 6. Miriam, born May 9, 1781 ; died young. 7. Joseph, born April 21, 1784; went to sea and never returned. 8. Benjamin (twin), born April 21, 1784; died young. 9. John, born September 6, 1786; died October 19, 1837; married Jane Todd. Children of second wife: 10. Cyrus, born March 27, 1794; mentioned below. II. Betsey, born May 20, 1795; married John D. Emerson. 12. Elijah, born July 21, 1796; died a young man. 13. Lydia, born January 12, 1800; married Will- iam Dustin. 14. Abigail, born December 17, 1805 : married Curtis Sargent ; died 1878.
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