Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II, Part 20

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1008

USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 20

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NICKERSON (VII) Philip, was probably seventh in line of descent from William Nickerson, the early New England settler.

(VIII) Varanus, son of Philip Nickerson, was a sea captain. He was born in Harwich, Massachusetts, and married Rebecca Kelley. (IX) Flavius, son of Varanus and Rebecca ( Kelley) Nickerson, was a seaman and builder. He was master of a steamship plying between New York and the South for a number of years, and now ( 1908) resides at Harwichport, Massachusetts, and affiliated with the Demo- cratic party. He married Emma, daughter of Shedrick and Rhoda Small, and had children : Wilbur C., Urban H. and Phoebe E.

(X) Urban Howes, second son and child

of Flavius and Emma (Small) Nickerson, was born in Harwich Port, Massachusetts, January 17, 1874. He was graduated from Harwich High School in 1892, then attended Comer's Commercial College in Boston. For a time he was engineer in Texas, then bookkeeper in Boston, and is now salesman in New England territory for the American Steam Guage and Valve Manufacturing Company. He is a sup- porter of the Republican party and a member of the Universalist church. Fraternally he is associated with the Robert Lash Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Chelsea, Massachu- setts; Chapter of Shekinah, Royal Arch Masons, of Chelsea; Orient Council, of Som- erville, Massachusetts; Coeur de Lion Com- mandery, Charleston, Massachusetts; Engi- neers' Blue Room Club, Boston. He married, in Chelsea, July 26, 1898, Georgie N., born in Chelsea, September 2, 1878, daughter of Charles W. and Harriet ( Noyes) Fuller, who is in the furniture business. Their children are: Paul Urban, born February 9, 1900; Charles Fuller, June 14, 1902; Ruth, June 23, 1906.

The learned and venerable NICKERSON Right Worshipful Sereno Dwight Nickerson, Histor- ian of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massa- chusetts, was born in Boston, October 16, 1823; seventh in descent from William Nick- erson (born 1604), who came from Norwich, Norfolk county, England, in 1637; was at Boston, Watertown, Plymouth ; was a freeman of Yarmouth in 1643 and a deputy in 1655; who bought land of the Indians and was the founder of Chatham, Massachusetts (Mono- moy ), where he long exercised the office of religious teacher, previous to the coming of Rev. Mr. Vickery.

The line of descent is through Nicholas (2) (England, 1630-1680) ; William, second, (3) (1658-1721) who married 1691, Mary Snow, of Eastham (born 1661); Ebenezer (4), of Harwich (1697-1768, Provincetown), who married, October 18, 1726, Elizabeth Mayo, of Chatham (born 1706). Seth, their son (5), October 31, 1737-April 11, 1801, who at the age of fourteen removed with his father's family from that part of Harwich, which is now Brewster, to Provincetown, in 1751, and married, March 19, 1761, Mary Smith, of Chatham (born August 22, 1740) ; and their second son was Captain Ebenezer (6) (born August 17, 1768). He also descends from Elder William Brewster, Stephen Hopkins of

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the Mayflower (in three lines), from Governor Thomas Prence, of the Old Colony, (in two lines) Major John Freeman, and Reverend John Mayo, first minister of the Second church in Boston from 1655 to 1673. His father, Cap- tain Ebenezer Nickerson, married, secondly, September 29, 1805, Eudoxa White, of Phillips- ton (born January 10, 1783, died January 3, 1834), and established himself in business at 39 Long Wharf, Boston. For half a century he was a leading, successful, old time Boston merchant, a man of strong character and ex- cellent repute, noted for his fastidious candor and honesty, one of the founders of Park Street Church, of which he was an active influ- ential member until the end of his life at Waltham, Massachusetts, October 25, 1855. He was buried in the Nickerson tomb, Gran- ary burying ground, Boston.

Under the direction of his mother (of Lex- ington and Concord, Massachusetts, White- Wheeler-Hayward and Hosmer ancestry), who was a cultivated woman of fine mind, Sereno Dwight Nickerson's education begun in the best private schools of the period and was continued through Chauncey Hall to Phillip's Academy, Andover, where he grad- uated in 1841. He took his degree at Yale College, class of 1845, with high rank. In 1847 he received the Harvard degree of LL. B., passed examination by one of the judges of the court of common pleas, in 1848, before a presiding judge and was formally admitted to the Suffolk County Bar; but surrendered his legal ambitions in deference to his father's wish and in 1849 entered the firm of E. Nick- erson & Company, retaining his partnership until 1864, thereafter occupying himself with his real estate interests.

Mr. Nickerson was married, October 16, 1883, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, to Louisa R. (Kilbourn) Cheever, who was born at Au- gusta, Maine, July 12, 1833. She was the widow of Tracy P. Cheever, and mother of three children. She died September 1, 1899, having no children by her second marriage.

He was one of the organizers of the Third National Bank of Boston and a director for several years, and being well known and popu- lar and companionable he was much sought after socially during many years, and was, at one time and another, a member of almost every club and secret society in Boston. His inclination, however, was averse to club life and gradually he withdrew from all except the order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. In fact, his life has been given to Masonry.

Fifty-three years ago-in April, 1856, he be- came a member of Winslow Lewis Lodge of Boston, and its Worshipful Master in 1861- 62-63. In 1860 he entered Grand Lodge as Warden of his own Lodge and for forty-eight years held office uninterruptedly. Appointed district-deputy in 1864 and deputy Grand Master the following year, he was elected Grand Master in 1871-72-73 and is thus the oldest living past Grand Master. He has re- ceived all the degrees in the Lodge, Chapter, Council, Commandery and Scottish Rite, in- cluding the thirty-third, which he received in 1871. He is now the senior permanent member of the Grand Lodge, that distinction coming to him with the honors accorded to him in 1865.

Seven years after leaving the East of the Grand Lodge he was installed Recording Grand Secretary, December 1, 1881. Here he found himself in that relation to the order where his wide experience obtained its fullest possible use. In it he has builded a monument to his love for the order and for mankind. He continued in the office of Recording Grand Secretary until July, 1908, when he resigned to become His- torian of the Grand Lodge which he was made by unanimous vote, as a fit recognition of this long service.

Right Worshipful Sereno Dwight Nicker- son, by his early legal training, personal famil- iarity with events and eminent ability, is well fitted for the post of trust and honor he now holds. In it, by means of his valuable collec- tion of historical Masonic documents relating more especially to the Grand Lodge of Massa- chusetts, and his wide and critical knowledge of the ancient craft, he will put the fraternity in touch with the dignified and interesting past.

One of the most notable NICKERSON and important of the in- dustries of the eastern part of the state of Massachusetts is the cultivation of cranberries, and exporting them to the West Indies, Europe and other countries. Within the last century, among those closely identified with this industry, are several gen- erations of the Nickerson family of which this sketch treats.

(I) Stephen Nickerson was born in East Harwich, Massachusetts, in 1814. He was engaged in the fishery business all of his life, was a member of the Methodist church and a Republican in politics. He was married to Charity W. Long, and had children: Stephen, Rosalie B., Alonzo R., Bethia, Dora, Arthur and Augustus Manning.

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(II) Augustus Manning, son of Stephen and Charity W. (Long) Nickerson, was born in South Harwich, Massachusetts, 1846. He followed a seafaring life until he was twenty- five years of age, then established himself in the business of manufacturing seines, nets, twines, etc., remaining thus engaged for a period of twenty years. He then engaged in the cultivation of cranberries on Cape Cod, in which he is interested at the present time, while residing in Boston. He is a member of the Methodist church, and his political affiliations are with the Republican party, having been nominated to the legislature in 1892, from Barnstable county, and serving for two terms. He married, February 4, 1868, Nancy, daugh- ter of Benjamin and Betsey Snow, and they have had children: I. Benjamin S., see for- ward. 2. Augustus M., born April 22, 1873. 3. Nellie, born 1878; died young. 4. Ernest, born 1881; died 1889. 5. Nellie, born 1884; died 1889. 6. Natalie B., born December 18, 1889. The mother of these children died Jan- uary 13, 1896. She was born in 1849.

(III) Benjamin Snow, eldest child of Au- gustus Manning and Nancy (Snow) Nicker- son, was born in Harwichport, Massachusetts, December 5, 1870. He was educated in the public and high schools of Harwich and the Bryant & Stratton Business College in Bos- ton, from which he was graduated. His first step in business life was in the hardware busi- ness in Wareham, Massachusetts, where he remained for two years, and then engaged in the raising of cranberries on Cape Cod, with which he has been prominently identified up to the present time. He has been in the business for almost a quarter of a century, has built many of the larger bogs on Cape Cod him- self, and has shipped as many as twelve thous- and barrels in one year. This is a large ship- ment for an individual grower. Mr. Nicker- son is a member of the Methodist church, and upholds the principles of the Republican party. He was married, in Boston, March 30, 1896, to Sadie Emily, who was born in Lynn, Mass- achusetts, February 14, 1874. She is the daughter of Nehemiah and Anna Spring, the former engaged in the manufacture of shoes, and their other children are: Agnes, Mina May, George E. and William. Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson have no children.

Isaac Weeks Nickerson, NICKERSON grandfather of Fred Her- bert Nickerson, of Melrose, Massachusetts, was born February 9, 1800,

possibly in Swanville, Maine, son of Eleazer and Mercy (Rogers) Nickerson. He was a lumberman and farmer by occupation, a Prot- estant in religion, and after the formation of the Republican party was a staunch adherent to its principles. He married Jane Field, born March 7, 1803; children : I. Josiah, born April 8, 1826. 2. Sarah Jane, December II, 1830. 3. James, September II, 1835 ; see for- ward. 4. Ann Maria, April 7, 1838.

(II) James, second son of Isaac Weeks and Jane (Field) Nickerson, was born in Swan- ville, Maine, September II, 1835. He follow- ed the same occupation as his father, that of lumberman and farmer, or as a Protestant in religion and a Republican in politics, and served his town in the capacity of selectman for many years, and as school agent. He was a man of influence in the community, and was highly respected by his townsmen. He mar- ried, in Monroe, Maine, May 10, 1857, Martha Maria Clements, born in Monroe, Maine, July 8, 1838, youngest of a family of fourteen chil- dren born to Captain John P. and Caroline (Neally) Clements. Captain John P. Clem- ents was born in Somersworth, New Hamp- shire, July 26, 1791, and his wife was born in Limerick, Maine, March 18, 1795. The first ancestor of the Clements family to come to America was Robert Clements, who came from England in 1642 and landed at Salisbury, Massachusetts, from which place he went to Haverhill, Massachusetts. He was the first deputy of the town, and held several offices of importance in the community. He was ap- pointed to give the oath of fidelity to the in- habitants of Haverhill and to fix the limits of Haverhill. The Clements family claim direct descent from Robert Clement, marshal of France, and it is supposed that the family set- tled in Ireland during the reign of James I. Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson had two children: I. Chester James, born March 29, 1862. 2. Fred Herbert, mentioned below.

(III) Fred Herbert, second son of James and Martha Maria (Clements) Nickerson, was born in Swanville, Maine, July 24, 1863. He attended the common schools of Swanville; the Maine Central Institute, Pittsfield, Maine, graduating therefrom in 1882; Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, graduating therefrom in 1886; and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he pursued special courses. During the time that he was fitting for and attending college he taught one term in the common schools of Monroe, Maine, one in Winterport, Maine, two in Swanville,

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Maine, and three in Belfast, Maine. Since his graduation from college he has been steadily engaged in school work, as follows: Principal of Dexter ( Maine) high school, two years; vice-principal of Maine Central Institute (Pittsfield, Maine), one year; principal of Westbrook ( Maine) high school, two years ; principal of Everett (Massachusetts) high school, two years : superintendent of schools, Whitman, Massachusetts, five years; superin- tendent of schools, Melrose, Massachusetts, eleven years, serving in that capacity at the present time (1909). He is a director in the Melrose Co-Operative Bank. He served as a member of the school committee in Pittsfield and Swanville, Maine. He is a member of the Congregational church, and a Republican in politics. He holds membership in Wyom- ing Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Melrose, Massachusetts; Waverly Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Melrose; Westbrook ( Maine) Lodge, Royal and Select Masters; Old Colony Commandery, Knights Templar, of Abington, Massachusetts ; Massachusetts Schoolmasters' Club ;

Middlesex County Teachers' Association ; Massachusetts Super- intendents' Association ; New England Super- intendents' Association; Harvard Teachers' Association ; Massachusetts Teachers' Associa- tion ; American Institute ; National Educa- tional Association.

He married, at Lewiston, Maine, November 28, 1888, Angie Belle, born in Lewiston, Maine, August 7, 1866, only child of William and Juliet ( Wells) Akin; William Akin is a mer- chant by occupation. Child, Paul Sumner Nickerson, born November 8, 1892, at the present time ( 1909) attending the high school of Melrose, Massachusetts.

NICKERSON Howard Clinton Nicker- son, son of Abner and Bertha (Chatwyn) Nicker- son, and grandson of Curtis Abner Nickerson, was born at Pubnico Beach, Nova Scotia, De- cember 18, 1880. He was educated in the common schools, and his first business employ- mient was clerk in a grocery store. Later he engaged in business on his own account in Pubnico, continuing until 1901 when he came to Boston, Massachusetts, and purchased an interest in his brother's restaurant which had been established many years previously near Long Wharf, in which he still continued. Mr. Nickerson is a Democrat in politics ; he is a member of John D. Young Commandery,

Order of Golden Cross, Temperance Society, and Temple of Honor. He resides in Everett.

James Ebenezer Martyn was MARTYN born in British Honduras, Oc- tober 16, 1837, of American parents, and was brought to the United States while yet a babe. He was educated in the schools of Boston, through grammar and Latin schools, and at the age of sixteen began busi- ness life in the office of Nickerson & Company, Boston, who were ship owners and merchants, owning twelve ships and four steamers, and engaged in foreign trade. He remained with them twenty-four years, continuously, except as hereafter noted, and until the firm finally went out of business.

Mr. Martyn early manifested a methodical, analytic and mathematic turn of mind, and was naturally inclined to accounts, and to practical methods for obtaining desired finan- cial and business results. His methods were simple and clean, his judgment farsighted, and he had the courage of his convictions. He was in close touch with men handling large affairs, and they promptly recognized in him a kindred spirit and accorded to him their confidence and respect. He was quiet, pleasant in manner and never rude, but he was exceeding firm on occasion, and had great capacity for work, being left-handed and able to write well, but differently, with either hand, and on long tasks, such as obtained before typewriters came in vogue, he rested-by the simple method of changing hands. But Mr. Martyn was never enthusiastic for mere personal gain or ad- vantage, as his more than fifty years business experience demonstrated. Moreover, he had a fine old-fashioned chivalry and honor that often led him to prefer others rather than himself. There were many examples in line with this, but a few will suffice: Mr. Albert W. Nickerson had a large interest in a copper company which he came to regard as worthless, and when Mr. Martyn differed with him, he offered the property to him at his own price and to pay for it when he pleased. This Mr. Martyn refused to consider, but afterward when Mr. Nickerson had died and this prop- erty was scheduled at one dollar in the assets, and would be sold on first offer, at any price, then Mr. Martyn resisted a sale even to him- self, but took over the control of it and finally realized nearly $100,000 from it and turned the money over to the estate. A friend of Mr. Martyn had invested in this same copper mine

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and had died. Mr. Martyn took that interest in charge also, and with a percentage of result like that obtained for Mr. Nickerson's estate. In the settlement at the end of the business Mr. Welch, attorney for this owner, sent Mr. Martyn two thousand dollars commissions, but Mr. Martyn refused to accept it and re- turned to Mr. Welch his two checks for one thousand dollars each, payable respectively to the two fatherless daughters of his friend. Their letters in return are eloquent of surprise and gratitude, but only a few extracts may with propriety be given. One says: "It was not till I had read Mr. Welch's note more than once, and looked at the checks over and over, that full understanding came to me, and with a rush of gratitude for such an unexpected, generous gift from you." * * "We had no idea the returns would be so large." *

* "Have often heard my father speak of you" ** * * "but such an expression from you gives us happiness. We shall never forget this generous action on your part." The other says the same, and also "Nothing could exceed the surprise and wonder that came to us yesterday through your kindness. It is very touching to have such generosity brought about through my dear father's constant thought for others."

"The financial help is full of mean-

ing "and is a comfort. With heartfelt thanks."

For years Mr. Martyn was much occupied with the administration of the Atchison, To- peka and Santa Fe railroad, because of his business relations with its president, Mr. Thomas Nickerson, senior partner of Nicker- son & Company. Mr. Joseph Nickerson was a director of the railroad, and had the largest interest, and he thought Mr. Martyn should be elected to the vice-presidency, because he was that de facto, and needed official authority. The directors approved of Mr. Martyn, but there was a candidate developed as soon as the matter came before the directors (Mr. Martyn was not only not a candidate, but did not know or think of being considered), and the "candidate" was elected by a majority of one vote.

After being with Nickerson & Company eight years, Mr. Martyn was made discount clerk of the Tremont Bank of Boston. His bond was signed by Thomas Nickerson, Os- borne Howes, Ezra H. Baker and Choate Burnham, which was justly regarded at the time as a handsome compliment to a young man of twenty-four. He at once reorganized the department and was soon in shape to ii-13

handle the line of five thousand discount sat- isfactorily. He remained with the bank four years, and the bank examiner said his was the best kept discount department in the state, and its ledger the handsomest. He resigned to return to Nickerson & Company practically as junior partner, till the death of the senior partner, Thomas Nickerson, and the changed conditions of business caused the old house to close its doors and retire.

At different times he was treasurer of Bos- ton corporations whose directors were Gov- ernors Claflin, Ames, Bodwell, and men of that stamp, and in addition to these he had another close friend in Solomon Lincoln, Esq., who often spoke of his safe, sane and sagacious financial ability, and this repute went abroad until he was much sought after to fill official positions or a director's chair. When Addicks got control of the Bay State Gas Light Com- pany he came to Mr. Martyn's office and offer- ed to make him vice-president and general manager of the company, with a substantial salary, and power to name the president and directors. Mr. Martyn, he said, could assemble the best men as directors, and always had a spare governor in his vest pocket . Mr. Martyn considered the offer, but thought best to de- cline.

During Thomas Nickerson's life Mr. Martyn for ten years or more managed his personal business affairs, greatly to their advantage. He often drew Mr. Nickerson's will, and these wills always gave one thousand dollars to Mr. Martyn, until the last one he drew, in which this bequest was omitted. Mr. Nickerson quickly noticed this and found fault with Mr. Martyn for "cheating himself," but Mr. Mar- tyn had considered the matter and had left it out on purpose, and so it stood, but neverthe- less he just as helpfully assisted to administer the estate.

During recent years Mr. Martyn has occu- pied himself looking after properties in trust, and in taking life leisurely. (?) His office is still at 53 State street, but it does not witness the bustle and activity of former days. Occa- sionally they are recalled when a leading citi- zen of the olden time drops in, and the days go on.

Mr. Martyn is a Republican, but never held office. He had political influence once and used it, of course, but that is another story. When the civil war was on, Mr. Martyn would have gone into the army, but the surgeon's examina- tion revealed an injury that he sustained when eight years old. He was in his neighbor's

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stable and experimenting with the hay cutter. Incidentally he cut the first two fingers of his right hand so nearly off that they were only attached at the centre by the inside skin, and although they grew on again so as to be ser- viceable commercially, they were classed as unfit for trigger pulling, and Mr. Martyn was rejected. He was married in Boston, Massa- chusetts, June 4, 1860, to Catharine Amelia Choate, who was born in Maine, August 18, 1837. Children: Alice Maude, born Boston, March 30, 1864, married H. P. Quick, a mechanical engineer, of New York City, and they have one child, Sidney Choate Quick, born March, 1906; and Millie Agnes, born Boston, March 10, 1877, married Dr. Reuben T. Johnston, of Brooklyn, New York.

Mr. Martyn's father was Henry Martyn, born in London, England, but came to this country when a lad, and married Mary Ann Trescott, who was Mr. James E. Martyn's mother. At the time of his marriage Mr. Henry Martyn was engaged in the mahogany trade, carrying it from place of purchase in his own vessels to his yard in this country for storage and sale. His wife went with him on a visit to British Honduras, and liked it so well there that she remained for a year and a half, during which time James Ebenezer was born, and christened! by a Baptist minister. When the family returned to the United States, christening by the Baptist was declared de- cidedly irregular, and the boy was christened over again-twice; first in the Unitarian church of which the mother was a member, and then in the Episcopal church to satisfy the canon law of the Church of England. All of which being happily accomplished, Mr. James E. Martyn has gone his way without further church assistance, fearing to avail of it, per- haps lest it might be thought unfair if he were to unite with any one denomination after so many had officiated in his christening. Mr. Martyn's grandfather was James Martyn, born in London, England, and his brother was Henry Martyn, a much celebrated missionary to the East Indies, about whom the "Life of Henry Martyn" was published by the Ameri- can Tract Society.

Nicholas Pynchon, a native PYNCHON of Wales, came to London, England, early in the six- teenth century, and after a residence in that city of many years he gained the high position of sheriff of London, in 1532. One of his sons, John, lived at Writtle, in Essex, and he there

married Jane, heiress of Sir Richard Empson, and through this marriage John Pinchon be- came the father of six children. He died No- vember 29, 1573, and his widow afterward married Sir Thomas Wilson, secretary of state, in 1577, and dean of Durham, in 1575, in the reign of Elizabeth, and who had served as Elizabeth's instructor and private secretary, in 1558. Sir Richard Empson, her father, was one of the two financial ministers during the. reign of Henry VII., the first of the Tudor Kings of England, and after the accession of Henry VIII. Sir Richard was arrested, charged with extortion while in office, and with his associate in office, Edmond Dudley, was sent to the block on Tower Hill, London, August 18, 1510. The children of John and Jane (Empson) Pinchon were: William, John (q. v.), Sir Edward, Agnes, Elizabeth and Jane. John, known as John of Writtle, son of Nicholas, of Wales, had a son John, known as John of Springfield, who married an heiress bearing the surname of Rochard, and their son, William, of the fourth generation from Nich- olas, of Wales, sheriff of London, became one of the patentees of the Colony of the Massa- chusetts Bay in New England on its formation for the purpose of exploiting the country lying north of the Plymouth Colony in New Eng- land.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II, Part 20

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 1008

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1008