Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume I, Part 92

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 92

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the last marriage in South Weymouth under the publication of marriage intentions.

All the American Sanborns SANBORN are descended from three brothers who settled in Hamp- ton, New Hampshire, in 1639. The surname is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words Sand and Burn (stream), evidently a place name before it became a surname, and it seems prob- able that the English progenitors who first used Sanbourne, the original form of Sanborn, as their surname, were in Sambourne, Wiltshire. The earliest mention of the name in England in 1194 gives it de Sambourne, and since the fourteenth century these two forms have been the accepted spelling in England, the only two surviving branches in that country using them. The American progenitors spelled the name Samborn and Samborne, but gradually the name has been changed to Sanborn, the form accepted generally by almost all the American descendants. In Illinois it is spelled Sanborn and in Michigan, Sandburn. The Sanborn or Samborne coat-of-arms: Argent, a chevron sable, between three mullets gules, pierced or. Crest : A millett as in the arms.

The Sambourne ancestry has been traced by V. C. Sanborn, compiler of the genealogy, to Nicholas Sambourne, of Wiltshire, in 1320. Nicholas Sambourne was born about 1320; probably held the fourth part of a knight's fee in Biddestone, St. Nicholas, Wiltshire ; repre- sented Bath City at the parliament held at Westminster, November 3, 1391. His son, Nicholas Sambourne, was born about 1350; held the fourth part of a knight's fee, men- tioned above, was in parliament in 1393-4; married Katherine, youngest daughter and co- heir of Sir John Lusbill, or De Lusteshull, who was connected with the House of Lancaster. A grandson, Walter Sambourne, born 1420, held Fernham and Lusbill manors, but prob- ably lived at Southcot House, near Reading, Berkshire; married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Drew, of Seagry, Wiltshire ; she died in 1494 and her will is extant. Nicholas Sam- bourne, son of Walter and Margaret, born about 1450, made his home in Mapledurnam, Oxfordshire; married Elizabeth, daughter of John Brooks, of Beaurepaire, Hampshire, de- scendant of an ancient and honorable family, from which she inherited considerable prop- erty, including Timsbury, which the Sam- bournes occupied. Timsbury House, now the most ancient Sambourne residence in England, is celebrated for the interesting and artistic

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Tudor architecture. The house today is prac- tically unchanged since 1542, except for minor alterations and repairs and the loss of one wing by fire. The probable line of descent from this Nicholas to the American immigrant is thus given by the family historian: Nich- olas Sambourne, born 1500; Edward, born about 1550, and William, who married Ann Bachiler, and was of Brimpton, Berkshire, in 1616, their sons, Lieutenant John, mentioned below. William and Stephen, being the three American immigrants.

(I) Lieutenant John Sanborne, the immi- grant ancestor of the Sanborn family of Som- erville. Massachusetts, was born in England in 1620, and settled in Hampton, now in New Hampshire, as early as 1640, when he was granted a house, lot and tract of land there in that year. In 1643 he signed a petition with other Hampton men, and after that the records contain numerous references to him. His house in Hampton was next to that of Stephen Bachiler, across the road from the meeting house green and nearly opposite the old meeting house. John Sanborne and his brothers William and Stephen were sons of an English Sanborne (probably William of Brimpton). Berkshire, and Anna, daughter of Rev. Stephen Bachiler. Their father died about 1630. The three brothers are said to have come to America in 1632 with their grandfather Bachiler. In 1647 Bachiler deeded his property at Hampton to his four grand- children, the three brothers named and Nathan- iel Bachiler, "all now or lately of Hampton." They were the ancestors of Daniel Webster.

February 2, 1657, John Sanborne was chosen a selectman, but exempted ; March 30, 1657, he was appointed on a committee to see to the building of a house for the minis- ter, Rev. Mr. Cotton. His familiarity with the town records and boundaries led to his being chosen on all committees to examine old grants or establish boundary lines. Thus in 1651 and again in 1658 he was chosen a committee to join with the town clerk to ex- amine all the grants and appointments of lands, highways, and the like ; and to perfect the same in the town book. In 1661 San- borne was again a selectman and also on the committee to hire the school teachers. In 1664 he was chosen ensign of the Hampton military company. He was a selectman also in 1665-68-71-74-75-78-79; commissioner to end small causes in 1666-67-69 for the town of Hampton ; foreman of the grand jury 1676. Hle was admitted a freeman May, 1666; com-

missioned lieutenant of Hampton forces Octo- ber 15, 1669. In the contest with the Mason- ian proprietors he refused to yield to the de- mands of Mason and was imprisoned, Octo- ber 21, 1684. He was elected to the general assembly, 1685.

He married (first) Mary Tuck, daughter of Robert Tuck, of Gorlston, Suffolk, England, and Hampton, New Hampshire. She died December 30, 1668. He married (second) Margaret (Page) Moulton, widow of William Moulton, and daughter of Robert Page, of Ormsby, Norfolk, England, and Hampton, New Hampshire. Children:` I. John, men- tioned below. 2. Mary, born 1651, died 1654. 3. Abigail, born February 23, 1653, married Ephraim Marston ; died January 3, 1743. 4. Richard, born January 4, 1655. 5. Mary, born 1657, died 1660. 6. Joseph, born March 13, 1659. 7. Stephen, born 1661, died 1662. 8. Ann, born November 20, 1662, married Ste- phen Palmer. 9. Dinah, married James Mars- ton. 10. Nathaniel, born January 27, 1666. II. Benjamin, born December 20, 1668. 12. Cap- tain Jonathan, born May 25, 1672.

( II) John Sanborne, son of Lieutenant John Sanborne (I), was born in Hampton, about 1649: was admitted a freeman April 25, 1678. He married, November 19, 1674, Judith Coffin, daughter of Tristram Coffin, of Newbury. She was born December 4, 1653, and died May 17, 1724. John died Septem- ber 23, 1727. Children : I. Judith, born August S. 1675, married Ebenezer Gove. 2. Mary, born July 2, 1677, married Ebenezer Stevens. 3. Sarah, born May 8, 1679. 4. Deborah, born 1681, married Samuel Fellows and (second) Benjamin Shaw. 5. John, born 1683. 6. Tristram, born 1684-85. 7. Enoch, born 1685, mentioned below. 8. Lydia, born February 24, 1687. 9. Peter, born 1689. 10. Abner, born April 27, 1694.

(III) Enoch Sanborn, son of John San- borne (2), was born in Hampton, 1685, lived in Hampton Falls, where he owned a small farm, and a mill, in 1750. In 1707 he went with Captain Chesley's expedition to Port Royal. He married, March, 1700, Elizabeth Dennett, daughter of Alexander Dennett, of

Portsmouth : (second) April 1, 1736, Mehit- able Blake Godfrey, daughter of Jolin Blake, of Hampton, and widow of Jonathan Godfrey. Enoch was a saddler by trade. He deeded his land in Halestown to his son John in 1760. Children : I. Elizabeth, baptized 1712, died young. 2. Ebenezer, born July 25, 1712. 3. Judith, born December 8, 1715 ; married Jolin

2. I. Soubor

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Philbrick. 4. Moses, baptized March, 1717; mentioned below. 5. John, baptized July 19, 1719. 6. Elizabeth, baptized June 18, 1721; married Alexander Salter and (second) John Damrell. 7. Enoch, baptized June 28, 1724. 8. Sarah, baptized May 7, 1727. 9. Isaac, bap- tized November 18, 1737.

(IV) Moses Sanborn, son of Enoch San- born (3), was born in Hampton Falls, bap- tized there March, 1717; lived there and in the neighboring town of Kensington, New Hampshire. He married, January 7, 1742, Elizabeth Mitchell. He died June 8, 1802. Children : 1. Dorothy, born February 25, 1744, married Paine Blake. 2. Henry, born March 1, 1746, mentioned below. 3. James, born De- cember 6, 1748. 4. Moses, born October 25, 1758, died unmarried 1777. 5. Jesse, born De- cember 10, 1764.

(V) Henry Sanborn, son of Moses Sanborn (4), was born in Kensington, New Hampshire, March 1, 1746; lived and died in Kensington ; signed the association test there. He married, November 22, 1769, Anne Blake, daughter of Jedediah Blake, of Hampton Falls. He died May 3, 1798. Children: 1. Dorothy. born in Kensington, January 9, 1772, married Samuel Dow, of Northwood, New Hampshire. 2. Ebe- nezer, born June 14, 1773. 3. Henry, born June 14, 1775. 4. Moses, born April 25, 1777 ; mentioned below. 5. Newell, born July 15, 1779. 6. Polly, born October 29, 1781 ; mar- ried Ebenezer Sinclair, of Monmouth, Maine. 7. Betsey, born June 16, 1784, married William Graves. of Hartland, Maine. 8. Ann, born April 28, 1786, married, June 23, 1813, Moses Dow, of Epping. 9. James, born June II, 1790. 10. John, born September 14, 1792.

(VI) Moses Sanborn, son of Henry San- born (5), was born in Epping, New Hamp- shire, April 25, 1777 ; moved to Wales, Maine. He was a farmer all his active life. He mar- ried. March 18, 1801, Nancy Fogg, daughter of Major Josiah Fogg, of Raymond, New Hampshire. She was born July II, 1770, and died February 23, 1838. He died April 12, 1852. Children: I. Clarissa, born July 18, 1802, married Parker Dow, of St. Albans, Maine. 2. Sarah, born June 9, 1804. 3. Henry, born February 18, 1808; mentioned below. 4. Dudley F., born December 5, 1820.

(VII) Henry Sanborn, son of Moses San- born (6), was born in Epping, New Hamp- shire. February 18, 1808. He went to Maine with his father's family and followed farming at Wales and Greene, Maine. He married, January 22, 1834, Ann Crossman Daly, who

was born in Wales, Maine, April 9, 1812. She died in Lewiston, Maine. He died July 14, 1864. Their only child : James Solomon, men- tioned below.

(VIII) James Solomon Sanborn, son of Henry Sanborn, was born in Wales, Maine, March 29, 1835. His youth was spent in Wales and Monmouth. Maine, and in Nashua, New Hamp- shire, and he received the education of the dis- trict schools of that time. He began his busi- ness career as traveling salesman for the seed house of A. H. Dunlap, of Nashua, New Hamp- shire, and for a number of years he proved his ability as a commercial traveler to the satisfac- tion of his employers and to his own advantage. His first venture on his own account was in Lewiston, Maine, where he went into the coffee and spice business. In 1868 he became con- nected with the firm of Dwinell, Hayward & Company, of Boston, dealers in coffee and spices. The firm of Chase & Sanborn was formed in 1878 and the greatest success has attended the firm from the outset. The coffees and teas prepared for the market by this con- cern have a world wide reputation. At the World's Fair in 1893, the firm supplied the coffee for all the restaurants upon the grounds.

Mr. Sanborn made his home in Somerville, Massachusetts, in 1872, and except for the period of five years from 1884 to 1889 in Bos- ton, lived the remainder of his life in Somer- ville, and in Poland, Maine, where he had a stimmer home. His stables at Elmwood were famous. He paid special attention to breeding French coach horses. In 1897 he became part owner and manager of the Maine Farmer, a weekly newspaper that has been well known in New England for half a century. Mr. San- born loved nature and traveled extensively in America and Europe. He visited the countries that produced coffee and spices, the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America. He was a splen- did type of the American business man whose siiccess was won by his own native ability, resourcefulness and endeavor. He was ener- getic and persevering, of high character and broad mind. He died May 10, 1903.

At the time of his death the Somerville Jour- nal said: "The firm of Chase & Sanborn was formed in 1878 and the successful history of that firm is too well known to require any comment. A partnership is a phase of active life. which not only tests the business ability of men, but also their temperaments, and no man was ever happier in his relations with those associated with him than was the late Mr. San- born. He was a great, big-hearted, big-brained

i-28

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man, and not only believed that honesty was the best policy, but made it a cardinal principle of his life, because he believed that it was right. Any suggestion of fraud or deceit in business in a direct or indirect manner was always promptly condemned. He would succeed only along honest and legitimate lines, and never by precept or example did he ever depart from this rule. He never envied the success of others, and only desired to secure success such as his brains and his industry and his honesty entitled him. His temperament was one of those happy combinations of good cheer and sunshine which made association with him always a pleasure, and gave those who came in contact with him in his daily life that comfort and encouragement which makes men better fitted to cope with their daily trials.

"He was a helpful, kindly nature, and he seemed to realize always that the best deeds of a man's life, and those which give him the most satisfaction are those occasions where he has helped those that are poorer and weaker than he is. His whole career was lightened and brightened all the way along by constant deeds of kindness, with substantial aid wherever it was required. Those who knew him intimately were always inspired by his example, and found

joy and comfort in following his lead.

"For thirty years he had been a resident of Somerville, and among the pleasant, associa- tions of his later years, none were dearer to him than his friendships formed in his early acquaintance in Somerville. In his leisure moments he was found at the fireside and in * * the library. *

"With a deep love for the New England farm and the scenes of his carly boyhood, Mr. Sanborn purchased several years ago an old homestead and estate in Poland, Maine, which had been converted into a fine stock farm, not to be duplicated in America. Ilis reputation for growing high-class road horses, French coaches, has attracted many visitors to Elm- wood through the summer seasons. Here Mr. Sanborn has enjoyed recreation from business duties, which leisure time he had richly carned. Meanwhile the active duties of his department in the firm were transferred to his two sons, Charles E. and Oren C., who have been care- fully trained and are thoroughly conversant with the business."

In his funeral address, Rev. Charles L. Noyes, pastor of the Winter-hill Congrega- tional church which Mr. Sanborn attended in life, said, in part : "Without any endowment but his native strength, he rose out of the ob-

scurity of the humble circumstances and the little town where he was born, to enter the great movements and encounter the eager com- petition of our times. By his natural mag- netism and ascendency he gathered about him a notable array of persons with those talents he was able to combine his own. In an age when a splendid material prosperity has been the glory of our country, he took conspicuous share in the commercial enterprise which has contributed to the wealth and power and com- fort of the times in which we live. Emerson has said: 'It is the privilege of any human work which is well done to invest the doer with a certain haughtiness.' It is his way of saying that a man's work raises him into a true aristocracy. There is such an aristocracy of honorable and useful workers growing up in our democratic land, and if there are ranks in it of higher and lower, he must stand among the foremost, whose work has been done on sound and wholesome principles, and with results of national importance and extent. Strength, that tribute cannot be denied to him of whom we speak. But it has been said,

'Oh, it is excellent

To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous To use it like a giant.'

"We have seen men who have controlled great affairs, have built up great enterprises, but have done it by overriding other personalities, crushing other interests, making all things bow to their will and minister to their emolument. Now, those who have had any relations with Mr. Sanborn, even the most superficial, most of all those who have had to do with him inti- mately, must be well aware of the fine, friendly spirit with which he dealt with other men-his respect for others' personalities, his sense of their rights and capacities. The spirit of co- operation was strong in him. He recognized that truth of nature set forth in the Scriptures in the figure of the body and its members. He knew that his individual success lay in union with all the other members, in business, or political or social body, and his greatest joy was in a success in which others contributed and shared, cach according to his merit and aptitude. This it is which has enabled him. together with other social traits of heart and mind, to live and work so many years in part- nership with his equals, only with increasing mutual respect and affection. Those who have been his juniors and subordinates had found him all the time more desirous to bring out their powers, push them forward to success,

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make them share in the prosperity and power of the concern, than to profit himself by their labors. His pride in his business, if I may judge by his way of speaking of it in conver- sation, was rather in the men and their char- acter and ability, than in the profits and fame it had brought him. What was true in the matter of his business was true in every other activity of his, as neighbor, as patriot of his state and country. Everywhere he was like a great current of force pouring in its full charge into any channel open for him, finding most satisfaction and joy when thus he was able to help on others, better mankind, bring new life and pleasure to anyone.

"Yes, the first impression, ever deepened by larger acquaintance, was of the rugged strength and splendid force of his personality. But there is something greater than that, on which we all agree : it is our sense of respect for his moral character. From all sides I hear this unanimous acclaim, that it was the strong, steadfast purpose of this man to do things honestly, truthfully, justly, honorably, squarely. He had a large magnanimous, open spirit. 'He was honest,' one has recently said, 'not because he believed honesty was the best policy, though he did believe that and proved it, but it was his nature, his satisfaction to be honest.' He loved things honest, just, pure, of good report, as he hated the small, mean, low, underhanded, hypo- critical, wherever he met it. His morality was not merely that negative kind which avoids evil, but a great positive passion for good, which he wanted to see prevail in all things. 'He was always working to make things better.' This was as true of his recreation as of his work. He had large unselfish interests and ambitions. In his business he had an ideal that it should be as honorable as it was successful, that it should raise the credit and tone of all business. He meant his native state should be better that he was born in it and raised stock in it. He meant this city of ours should profit by his residence here. His presence and sup- port was never wanting in any movement that he believed for the advantage of the city. If he gave liberally, as he always did to any object that proved itself worthy to his mind, it was in no careless or vain spirit, but he wished that church and association and charity, and the people through them, might be the better, stronger, more useful, for his contribution of money. * * *

"There is love in our hearts for one whose heart was large, generous. tender. compassion-

ate. This gentle side of his nature was not always expending itself in words, but it was always ready to the call of need or friendship. We should have to read the secrets of many lives to know of all the persons, who, in their hour of misfortune, or even failure or fault, had been set back on their feet, or steadied and braced, by some encouraging word, faith- ful help, or substantial gift from Mr. Sanborn. No one could ever go to him in behalf of a good cause, or another person in need, that he did not respond to such an appeal with gener- osity and eagerness as if it were a favor to be informed how to put his means to good use. With the swiftness which the light flows from the sun to things that grow by its power, his help would run to the places and persons proved worthy of his aid. And all his generosity, of which there is no full earthly record, grew out of his natural kindness, together with that feature of his character of which I have spoken, a desire, as far as he could 'to make things better,' to put an end to distress and pain and discomfort, to equalize comfort and happiness in our human lot, to help the distressed and un- fortunate, and make the world a place where all might share more evenly in the common bounty of wealthy Nature.

"There are those who have known Mr. San- born long and intimately, and been allowed a glimpse into his sacred inner motives, who could tell something of what he was to his in- timate friends and kindred. The best things that can be said of any worthy man are too personal and sacred ever to be said. Our first and holiest duties we owe to our own flesh and blood. And in this kind of piety, which binds us to be kind and true and loving, to those whom God has knit to us by the closest bonds, was the beginning of religion for this man. And though we must here pass by with veiled faces, vet in our time and day, when men are so ambitious to find their sphere and their interest in more public spheres and neglect the home, or lightly break its ties, it is good for us to pause and, at least, by our silence, to pay our respect to this side of the nature of this strong successful man of the world.

"I venture as the pastor of this church, the minister and friend of Mr. Sanborn for so many years, to bear testimony that I believe he was essentially a religious man. He was a man of reverence, a man of faith-faith in goodness, faith in good men, faith in God. * * We stand in silent reverence over powers used to such good purpose, over a life

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spent so helpfully, over a battle fought so bravely. May God give us strength to follow on !"

Mr. Frank L. Dingley wrote of Mr. San- born: "The finest talent is the most rare and it commands the highest reward. The late James S. Sanborn, of the firm of Chase & Sanborn, of Boston, rose from the ranks. He forged ahead in virtue of what was in him, subject to self-development, not in virtue of anything done for him by inflence, or by pull. He was his own architect, his own builder of fortune. His executive gift was his genius. Integrity of character was the inspiration of his gift for organizing and for executing. He never betrayed a friend. He was wholesome, genial, strong in body and mind. A great originating merchant, he leaves behind him a legacy of unique values in memories and in friendships, as well as in fame and service, as an industrial founder.

"Wherever New England enterprise is known-and the world is its open book-there the name of James S. Sanborn is a household word, there his generosity, his kindliness, his many-sided and unostentatious service are recognized. Starting at the foot of the ladder and climbing, rung by rung, Mr. Sanborn's heart went out to all who showed the real stuff or moral courage and intellectual power. Many's the struggling lad, worker, and student whom he has helped so unobtrusively that the secrets between his right hand and his left hand were scripturally maintained. The merchants of Boston have achieved nobly for the city, the state, and the nation, and none more worthy has joined the great majority than James S. Sanborn. What he has done for his native state in its varied interests of stock raising and of agriculture is well appreciated. The places where his first struggles began will miss him ; the place where his struggles were crowned with victory will miss him. Success is indeed successful when built on the foundations of intelligence, grit, zeal, loyalty, integrity and comradeship. That is the tribute which those who knew him best will unanimously pay this great merchant, this noble citizen, this self- made man-James S. Sanborn."

Mr. Sanborn married, November 6, 1856, Harriet N. Small, who died February 9, 1901, daughter of Captain John and Sarah ( Moody) Small, of AAuburn, Maine. Their children: I. Helen Josephine, born October 6, 1857; living in Somerville, unmarried ; author of "A Winter in Central America." 2. Charles Edgar, born April 29, 1860 ; married, August 1, 1887, FFlor-

ence Blazo; he died January 27, 1905 ; he was a member of the firm of Chase & Sanborn, and buyer for the coffee department. 3. Oren Cheney, born October 6, 1865; married, June 1, 1886, Lorena Armstrong, of Machias, Maine, resides in Winchester, Massachusetts; is con- nected with the firm of Chase & Sanborn ; chil- dren : i. James Oren, born in Somerville, March IO, 1891 ; ii. Helen Elizabeth, born in Somer- ville, May 2, 1897; iii. Caleb Chase, born in Winchester, May 18, 1899; iv. John Arm- strong, born in Winchester, August 2, 1901. 4. Georgie Dunlap, born in Lewiston, Maine, De- cember 20, 1867, married, February 17, 1897, Edward Sands Townsend, of Boston, born in Chelsea. in 1869 : resides in Brookline, Massa- chusetts ; children : i. Charles Edward San- born, born in West Medford, May 7, 1898; ii. Newell Colby, born in Newton Centre, August 27. 1902; iii. Clara Gary, born in Newton Centre, February 22, 1905; iv. Edith, born November 25, 1907.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume I, Part 92

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