USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 138
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(VII) John, son of Major General William (4) Frost, was born at Springvale, Maine, about 1785, was lost at sea about 1830. He removed to Dedham, Massachusetts, and married there, April 19, 1819, Fannie Cheney, born July 22, 1796, baptized May 12, 1822, by Rev. Isaac Boyle, of St. Paul's Church (Episcopal), at Dedham, Massachusetts. She was daughter of John and Hannah ( Adams) Cheney. She married ( second) Pond, of Dedham. ( See Cheney family). Children of John and Fannie Frost, first three born at Dedham, the others in West Sudbury: 1. John Hill, May 19, 1820, died June 20, 1820. 2. Mary Hill, December 10, 1821, died July 8, 1902 ; married July 10, 1842, Jonathan Herrick Towne; chil- dren : i. Olivia Cheney Towne, born June 6, 1843, married, January 27, 1866, James E. Dow and had William Dow, born November 8, 1866, Herbert Dow, November 16, 1869. and Nellie Augusta Dow, October 1, 1872
(married Harry Clayton French and had Harry Clayton French Jr., born May 22, 1889, and Eva May French, born February 1, 1892) ; ii. Mary Frances Towne, born June 6, 1843, married Joseph Kestvig; iii. John Henry Towne, born June 17, 1847, died 1849; iv. Charlotte Augusta Towne, born April 18, 1850, married Edgar A. Richards; v. Angeline Taylor Towne, born August 18, 1854, married (first) November 10, 1872, Edward Rollins and had Angeline Mary Rollins, born May 13, 1874; married (second) December 6, 1877, William E. Shackley; vi. Phineas Stowe Towne, born February 4, 1856; vii. George Lewis Towne, born January 4, 1862, adopted by Amos Ridley and name changed to Ridley ; married, June 20, 1887, Edith Horton Sears and had George Lincoln Ridley, born November 20, 1888, and Paul Sears Ridley, May 11, 1893 ; viii. Charles William Towne, born December 9, 1867, married, August 20, 1890, Minnie Felicity Briegel and had Lillian Mary Towne, born June 26, 1891, Evelyn Elizabeth Towne, May 4, 1893, Minnie Felicity Towne, June 10, 1895, Angis Melinda Towne, March 4, 1897, Florence Mildred Towne, October 23, 1901, and Frederick Charles Towne, June II, 1904. 3. George Henry, born January 16, 1824, men- tioned below. 4. John, born January 2, 1829, died at Dedham, August 2, 1843.
(VIII) George Henry, son of John Frost, was born in Dedham, January 16, 1824, died at Dorchester, June 20, 1907. His father died and George found life at home with a step- father unpleasant; so at the age of twelve he ran away to sea. He spent the winter at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and then was three years at sea mostly on trading vessels to Florida and the West Indies. In 1840 he enlisted in the United States navy at Charles- town, Massachusetts, and was sent to Norfolk, Virginia, then to the Brazilian Station. Lieu- tenant Farragut, afterwards Admiral Farra- gut, was first officer on the vessel on which he was stationed. They cruised along the coast of South America between Rio Janiero and Montevideo, then across to the Mediterranean, stopping at Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Port Mahon, Marseilles, Toulon, and Naples. He was honorably discharged April 18, 1844. The next five years he spent on trading vessels. In October, 1849, he shipped with one hun- dred and fifty-five others on the ship, "Rich- mond," sailing from T Wharf, Boston, around Cape Horn to Valencia, California, where the vessel was disabled. There he engaged on the barque "Anita," which loaded with
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quartermaster's stores for Santa Cruz and Monterey. Returning to San Francisco, he went to Portland, Oregon, and up the Colum- bia river for a cargo of piles for Valencia, repeating the trip with a similar cargo to San Francisco. He then engaged on the sailing vessel, "Hercules," bound from San Francisco to Panama. Provisions running short, the captain put into Rio, but failing to get an adequate supply refused to go further. Mr. Frost crossed the isthmus on foot and by ox- team to Greytown, where he took passage for home. After a short stay at home, he engaged on the ship, "Kate Sweetland," for Australia, and remained at Melbourne about a year, returning home with the intention of taking his family and settling in Australia. Finding his wife ill, he remained at home, running on coasting vessels, and between trips learned to bottom boots at Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Here he finally bought a home, and lived for a few years. He then went to Acton, and bought a country store, which he conducted until the breaking out of the civil war. He then entered the transport service for Generals' Butler and Banks, and later owned and was master commanding the barques, "E. Wright Jr," and the "R. B. Walker." Later he went into the lumber business at Harrison Square, with Otis, Shepard & Company, later Shepard, Frost & Company. Selling out the lumber business he went into business at Neponset, buying the coal wharf operated by J. B. Robin- son. Ten years later he sold this to his son and entered the leather business with J. Alba Davis & Company, on High street, and later with Nicholas & Frost on Purchase street, after which he retired. At one time he was a butter and egg merchant in Faneuil Hall Market. He was a member of the Neponset Congrega- tional church, of which he was treasurer ; later a member and steward of the Neponset Meth- odist Episcopal church, afterwards a member of the Pilgrim Congregational Church at Upham's Corner. He was a member of the New England Society of California Pioneers, and a director of the Pacific National Bank. In politics he was a Democrat, but later a Republican. He married (first) October 27, 1845, Olive Celestina Pond, born April 22, 1828, died May 13, 1855, daughter of James Preston and Sukey ( Whiting) Pond, of South Franklin, Massachusetts. Hle married ( sec- ond) November 28, 1855, Susan Melinda Pond, born August 10, 1833, sister of his first wife. Children: 1. Mary Cheney, born Octo- ber 19, 1847, died June 20, 1883; married
John Bispham. 2. Charles Henry, Hopkin- ton, April 13, 1849, died May 13, 1855. 3. George Edmund, March 28, 1850, mentioned below. Children of second wife: 4. Everett Preston, Acton, September 23, 1857, died Jan- uary 26, 1859. 5. Herbert Adelbert, Acton, January 17, 1860, died August 8, 1862. 6. Walter Eugene, Acton, July 29, 1862, men- tioned below. 7. Nellie Maria, Acton, Febru- ary 28, 1865, married, January 9, 1907, Arthur Henry Merritt, of Mattapan, son of George Henry and Emma F. (Shumway) Merritt, of Dorchester. 8. Henry Adelbert, Franklin, May 18, 1867, married, January 26, 1888, Annie Maria Kimball, daughter of Charles Wakefield and Annie Adelaide (Leonard) Kimball, and had Charles Kimball, born August 8, 1899.
(IX) George Edmund, son of George Henry Frost, was born at Franklin, Massachusetts, March 28, 1850. At the age of five years he removed with his parents to Acton, and attend- ed the schools there until fourteen years of age, assisting his father in the general store. He then went to Jacksonville, Florida, and was clerk in his father's store there for a time. He then came to Franklin, Massachu- setts, and found employment in the straw shop for the winter, and on the farm of Elbridge Robbins in the summer. Next he was clerk in the general store of Stewart & Chapman in Franklin. Removing to Dorchester, he entered the employ of his father in the lumber busi- ness, and at the same time continued his school- ing in the Harris school for a year. In April, 1869, he went to work for his father in the coal business, and was clerk five years, then becoming a partner in the business, under the name of George H. Frost. In 1872 he bought the business of his father and conducted it up to April, 1888, when he took as a partner his brother, Henry A. Frost, using the same firm name. In 1905 another brother, Walter E. Frost, was admitted into partnership, and the firm name became George E. Frost & Com- pany. The business is located at Neponset Bridge under a lease from John Foster heirs. The plant covers nearly two acres and the firm employs twenty-seven men and twenty teams. They deal in coal and wood, and the trade is wholly local, within a radius of five miles. Mr. Frost resides at 2 Frost avenue, where lie built his home in 1893. He is a member of the Appleton Methodist Episcopal church, and is a trustee of the church, and on the board of stewarts. He is also treasurer of the Sunday school, and actively interested in the work of the church. In politics he is independent. He
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is a member of Neponset Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Reliance Re- bekah Lodge, No. 127. He is a trustee of the Dorchester Savings Bank. He married (first) June 29, 1874, Clara Olive Hawes, born at Norwood, died at Dorchester, December 28, 1883, daughter of Sylvester and Harriet Eliz- abeth (Willett ) Hawes, of Dedham. He mar- ried (second) November 24, 1887, Mary Fran- ces Savage, born at Taunton, October 28, 1858, daughter of William and Anna ( Frellick) Savage, of Taunton. Child of first wife: Clarence Edmund, born December 26, 1883, a grocer, living unmarried at Dorchester. Child of second wife: William Preston, born June 5, 1891, graduate of New York Military Acad- emy, near West Point, New York.
(IX) Walter Eugene, son of George Henry Frost, was born at Acton, July 29, 1862. In 1869 he removed to Dorchester with his par- ents and attended the public schools. After graduating at the Minot Grammar School, he prepared for college under the tutorship of Rev. Charles F. Rice, and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1885. On account of trouble with his eyes he was obliged to give up a professional career and entered the fancy goods store of Jacobs & Whitcomb on Federal street, Boston, as clerk and salesman, later becoming buyer for the firm. After twenty years with this firm, he resigned his position to go into partnership with his brothers in the coal business, in which he is at present engaged. He takes charge of the collections of the firm. He attends the Dix Street Church of Christ, and in politics is a Republican. He is a member of Royal Arch Masons, De Molay Commandery, Knights Templar, at Boston, and of Aleppo Temple, order of the Mystic Shrine at Boston. He married, February 8, 1893, Isabel Gertrude King, of Dorchester, daughter of Mozart A. and Mary Ann (Williams) King, of Dor- chester.
CHENEY John Cheney, immigrant ances- tor, was born in England. "John Cheny" wrote the min- ister of Roxbury, Massachusetts, John Eliot, the famous Indian Apostle, "he came into the land in the yeare 1636. He brought 4 chil- dren, Mary, Martha, John Daniel. Sarah his 5th child was borne in the last month of the same year 1636 called February, he removed from or church to Newbery the end of the next su'er 1636. Martha cheny the wife of
John Cheny." He may have been brother of William Cheney who settled in Roxbury among the first settlers. These two were the original immigrants of this name and from them descend the American families. At Newbury John Cheney prospered. His allottments of land were large. He had a good stand in the "old town" and on shore and stream else- where. He had three acres granted June 19, 1638, at the westerly end of the great swamp behind the great hill; August 25, six acres of salt marsh; then a parcel of marsh with little islands of upland on it, about twenty acres, Little river of the northwest, formerly a part of the calf common, assigned to him July 5, 1639. Lot No. 50 in the "New towne" on the field street was granted him January 10, 1643. He was a member of the grand jury April 27, 1648; selectman often; member of a committee to lay out the way to the neck and through the neck to the marshes on the east side of the old town November 29, 1654. He was interested in public affairs and was one of the famous ten men of Newbury who took such interest in the campaign of Governor Winthrop against Sir Harry Vane that they made a journey of forty miles afoot from Newbury to Cambridge to take the freeman's oath. They were admitted May 17, 1637. It was by such earnest action on the part of his supporters that Winthrop was elected again and the conservative party triumphed. He died July 28, 1666, leaving a will dated June 5, 1666, written in his own hand. He pro- vided liberally for his wife and family. The will was proved September 25, 1666. Chil- dren : I. Mary, born in England about 1627, married, September 3, 1645, William Lawes, of Rowley. 2. Martha, England, about 1629, married (first) Anthony Saddler; (second) Thomas Burkby, of Ipswich. 3. John, Eng- land, about 1631. 4. Daniel, about 1633, mar- ried, October 8, 1665, Sarah Bayley. 5. Sarah, Roxbury, Massachusetts, February, 1635-36, married, December 23, 1652, Joseph Plummer, of Newbury. 6. Peter, 1638. 7. Lydia, New- bury, 1640, married, November 12, 1657, John Denrick, of Ipswich. 8. Hannah, November 16, 1642, married Richard Smith Jr. 9. Nathaniel, Newbury, January 12, 1644, died unmarried. 10. Elizabeth, Newbury, January 12, 1647, married Stephen Cross, of Ipswich.
(II) Daniel, son of John Cheney, was born in England about 1633. He married, in New- bury, Massachusetts, October 8, 1665, Sarah Bayley, born August 17, 1644, died October
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26, 1714, daughter of John Jr. and Eleanor (Emery) Bayley. He was a man of great industry and sagacity; a useful citizen and diligent farmer. He brought up a large family and left an honorable name. He and his wife were members of the church before 1675. He was admitted a freeman May 7, 1663; was town constable in 1688. He died September IO, 1694, and the inventory of his estate was dated September 20, 1694, showing property to the amount of nearly six hundred pounds. Children : 1. Sarah, born September 11, 1666, married John Richards, Jr .; removed after 1715 to Rochester, New Hampshire, where they suffered cruelly from the Indians. 2. Judith, September 6, 1668, married John Emer- son. 3. Daniel, December 31, 1670, married Hannah Dustin, daughter of Hannah Dustin, heroine of Haverhill. 4. Hannah, September 3, 1673, married (first) December 17, 1696, Lieutenant Thomas Wiswall. 5. John, July IO, 1676. 6. Eleanor, March 29, 1679, mar- ried (first) Richard Shatswell; (second) Thomas Safford. 7. Joseph, baptized April 9, 1682, mentioned below. 8. James, born April 16, 1685.
(III) Joseph, son of Daniel Cheney, was baptized in Newbury, April 9, 1682, died May 2, 1749. He sold his share of his father's farm to his brother James, February 2, 17II- 12, and removed to Newton, settling on lands of his wife's father, in the southwest part of the town. The town made him a subordinate officer in 1714, constable and collector in 1723, and selectman in 1741. In 1744 he was one of the committee to seat the meeting. His family Bible contains the following inscrip- tion, evidently written by his own hand: "Joseph Cheney his Bible : Bought August ye 2 Day : 1736 :- " It was owned at last accounts by Mrs. Stephen Cheney of Clinton. His will was made in 1746. He married (first) (in- tentions dated November 14, 1702 in New- bury), Sarah Wiswall, who died June 27, 1718, daughter of Noah and Theodocia (Jack- son) Wiswall, of Newton, and a younger sister of Thomas Wiswall who married Hannah Cheney, Joseph's sister. He married (second) October 12, 1721, Abigail Trowbridge, born April II, 1687, died April 12, 1771, daughter of James and Margaret ( Atherton) Trow- bridge, and widow of James Greenwood. Chil- dren: 1. Sarah, born September 30, 1704, married, October 8, 1729, Israel Stowell. 2. Judith, March 22, 1706-07, married, January 15, 1731-32, Henry Tucker. 3. Hannah, June 13, 1711, married, 1735, Caleb Whitney. 4.
Joseph, February 15, 1713-14. 5. James, May I, 1716, mentioned below.
(IV) James, son of Joseph Cheney, was born May 1, 1716, in Newton. He resided first in Newton, where he held offices of trust in the town. About 1760 he removed to Ded- ham. His will was dated January 29, 1766, and proved March 7 following. He married (first) January 10, 1740, Sybil Littlefield, born November 1, 1714, died May 19, 1743, daugh- ter of Ebenezer and Lydia Littlefield. He married (second) May 31, 1745, Elizabeth Tozer. She survived him many years, and died February 20, 1802. Children: I. Sarah, born June 13, 1741, married, January 13, 1769, Lieutenant Isaac Jackson Jr. 2. Lydia, Janu- ary 15, 1743, married, November 22, 1766, Timothy Merrifield. 3. Jonathan, March 25, 1746, died November 7, 1754. 4. Sybil, Au- gust 30, 1747, married, March 12, 1766, John Reed. 5. James, June 28, 1749. 6. Elizabeth, June 27, 1751, married, November 14, 1775, Oliver Kendrick. 7. Esther, July 10, 1753, married, February 5, 1777, Elias Stimson. 8. John, April 6, 1755, mentioned below. 9. Olive, January 31, 1757, married, August 5, 1775, Thomas Morse. 10. Joseph, about 1759. II. Abigail, about 1761, died young. 12. Han- nah, about 1763, married, 1783, John Buck- master.
(V) John, son of James Cheney, was born April 6, 1755, in Newton. He served in the revolution in Captain Ebenezer Battles' com- pany at the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775; in the same company, Colonel William Mc- Intosh's regiment at Roxbury in 1778. He was corporal of Captain Cutting's company at Rhode Island in 1778. A John Cheney appears on the tax list at Natick, an adjoining town, in 1775, and may be this John. He seems to be the John Cheney who was in Captain James Mann's company, Colonel Bullard's regiment on the Bunker Hill alarm, June 15, 1775, and who enlisted at Natick in Captain Caleb Brook's company, Colonel Nicholas Dike's regiment, November 27, 1775. He is credited also for service at Dorchester Heights, July 30, 1776. He lived in Dover, formerly the fourth parish of Dedham. He married, in Newton, November 26, 1789, Hannah Adams. Children : 1. John, born November 9, 1790. 2. Olive, July 18, 1792, dicd May 28, 1857. 3. Hannalı. May 2, 1794, married John Wade. 4. Fannie, July 22, 1796; married (first ) John Frost, of Dedham (see Frost family) ; mar- ried (second) - Pond. 5. James. 6.
Sally, married - Houghton.
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