USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 43
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(VII) John Barnard, son of Ephraim Fair- bank, was born at New Ipswich, New Hamp- shire, March 16, 1796. He was educated in the public schools and at the New Ipswich Academy. He removed with his parents to Oakham when a boy. He taught in the com- mon schools and became principal of the acad- emy at Stamford, Connecticut. He went back to Massachusetts and engaged in the manu- facture of palm-leaf hats, straw bonnets and other straw goods. He carried on this busi- ness in Massachusetts and New York City for some twelve years, and in 1837 removed to Morga county, Illinois, settling on a farm ncar Jacksonville. He afterwards removed to a farm in Concord, ten miles away in the same county, where he lived the remainder of his life. He died in 1873, two years after the celebration of his golden wedding. He was a man of fine presence and of rare moral char- acter. A genuine Puritan in faith and practice, he was a typical deacon of the church. He was a generous giver and faithful worker in the church. He was a gentleman of the old
school, highly honored by all who knew him. He married, in New York City, November 6, 1821, Hannah M. Crissy. Children: I. Sam- uel Bacon, born December 14, 1822 ; mentioned below. 2. James Chandler, Oakham, January 13, 1825. 3. Hannah Maria, Jacksonville, May 25, 1827 ; died there August, 1829. 4. Daniel Wilder, April 27, 1829. 5. John Barnard, Sep- tember 6, 1831. 6. Hannah Maria, September 25, 1833; died in Brooklyn, New York, No- vember 29, 1835. 7. Sarah Maria, May 26, 1836: died December 30, 1836. 8. Mary Amelia, March 14, 1838; died August 23, 1838. 9. Edward Beecher, May 21, 1841 ; died September 14, 1863.
(VIII) Rev. Samuel Bacon, D. D., son of John Barnard Fairbank, was born in Stam- ford, Connecticut, December 14, 1822. He graduated at Andover Theological Seminary and received the degrees of B. A., M. A., and D. D. from Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illi- nois. He went as a missionary to India in 1846, going first to the American Marathi Mission in Bombay. His work was at Ahmed- nagar, Bombay, Vadala, and after 1889 most of the time at Kodaikanal, India. He made three visits to the United States on furloughs. During his first years he did much literary work in connection with the management of the Mission Press in Bombay. He established mission stations in various country districts at a distance from the large cities, preaching and superintending Sunday schools, where now have developed churches and large christian communities. He gained much influence in these country districts by his study of agricul- ture and the introduction of modern imple- ments and methods. He gave the natives an object lesson in the management of his own farm there, which bore larger crops than those of his neighbors. He also did much for the music of India, translating, composing, teach- ing and encouraging it. He had a strong liking for natural science and studied and wrote much along that line. He was loved and revered by all classes. It has been said of him : "The secret of Dr. Fairbank's usefulness lies, of course, in his character, of which the first trait is transparent truthfulness, and the sec- on'l is sympathy. His truthfulness makes men honor and trust him. His sympathy has led him to appreciate all good traits in the Indian character, and to like the Indian people more and more." He married ( first) in 1846, Abby Allen, who died in 1852. He married ( second) Inly 11, 1856, Mary Ballantine, born Septem- ber 10, 1836, died January 15, 1878. Chil-
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dren of first wife: I. Emily Maria, born November 21. 1816 (weight at birth 33/4 pounds ) : married, 1871, Rev. Thomas Snell Smith : missionary in Ceylon (Tillypally). 2. Mary Crocker, India, July, 1848; died same month. 3. John Melville, Bombay, May 8, 1852; died November, 1854, in Jacksonville, Illinois. Children of second marriage : 4. Anna, November I, 1857 ; married Rev. Rob- ert M. Woods ( see Woods family). 5. Katie, May 8, 1859; married, 1887, Rev. Robert A. Hume, missionary in Ahmednagar, India. 6. Melvin, March 7. 1861 ; died 1864. 7. Henry, June 30, 1862. 8. Grace, November 2, 1864. 9. Edward. June 5. 1867. 10. James, June, 1870; died 1870. II. Eliabeth, November 10, 1871 ; married, June 22, 1897, William Walter Hastings. 12. Rose, August 1, 1874. 13. Mary Darling, January 5, 1878.
BABCOCK Captain Robert Babcock, im- migrant ancestor, was a pro- prietor of Dorchester, Massa- chusetts. before 1648, when he bought addi- tional land. He was a town officer and cap- tain of militia. He removed to Milton. In January, 1674-75. he was in Sherborn acting as a commoner, and was chosen on a com- mittee to treat with Captain Gookin in regard to the exchange of lands between Natick and Sherborn. He returned soon to Milton. His will was dated November II, 1694, and proved March 7 following. He bequeathed to wife Joanna, son Nathaniel, grandchild Caleb, and son-in-law, Henry Vose. Children: I. Sam- uel. baptized July 7. 1650: mentioned below. 2. Jonathan, baptized March 7, 1651. 3. James, baptized March 12, 1654. 4. Abigail, baptized April 27. 1656, aged about three months. 5. Nathaniel. born March 14, 1657-58. 6. Caleb, baptized October 21, 1660, aged about two months. 7. Ebenezer, baptized July 5. 1663, aged about seven months. 8. Hopestill, bap- tized November 8. 1663. 9. Hannah, baptized May 28. 1665. aged about three months. IO. Elizabeth, baptized July 14, 1667, aged about six months. II. Thankful, baptized June 24, 1669.
(II) Samuel, son of Captain Robert Bab- cock, was baptized in Milton, July 7, 1650, died September 17. 1690. He resided at Milton, where his children were born. Children : I. Hannah, born May 23, 1675. 2. James, March 28, 1677. 3. Mary, June 29, 1680. 4. John, November 21, 1682; mentioned below. 5. Elizabeth. March 10, 1686.
(III) John, son of Ensign Samuel Babcock.
was born in Milton, November 21, 1682. He married there August 7, 1707, Sarah Billings, of Dorchester, a descendant of Roger Billings, the immigrant. Children, born at Milton: I. Sarah, December 15, 1708. 2. John, Novem- ber 21, 1710; mentioned below. 3. Hannah, July 18. 1713. 4. Joseph, October 20, 1716. 5. Stephen, August 3, 1719.
(IV) Lieutenant John (2), son of John ( I) Babcock, was born in Milton, November 21, 1710: died January 28, 1775. He married, August 15, 1734, Hannah Babcock, born Sep- tember 13, 1713, died January 12, 1776, daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth Babcock. Chil- dren, born at Milton: I. Elizabeth, June 18, 1735. 2. Hannah, July 19, 1736; died young. 3. Hannah, May 8, 1738. 4. Sarah, June 16, 1740. 5. Lydia, November II, 1744. 6. Joseph, July 14, 1746; mentioned below. 7. Stephen, October 20, 1748.
(V) Major Joseph, son of Lieutenant John (2) Babcock, was born in Milton, July 14, 1746, died May 28, 1813. He was in the revo- lution from Milton in Captain Daniel Vose's train band company, Colonel Robinson's regi- ment, and answered the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775; also first major in Colonel Benjamin Gill's first Suffolk regiment in Feb- ruary, 1776, at Dorchester Heights, and on guard duty at the mouth of the Milton river : also in Colonel William McIntosh's regiment from March 19 to April 5, 1778, and in Cap- tain Gerrish's company under General Wash- ington in 1779 in a company raised in Essex and Suffolk counties for the continental army. He married ( first ) November 2, 1769, Hannah Howe ; ( second ) Grace -, who died Sep- tember II, 1810, aged fifty-eight. Children, born in Milton: 1. John, May 21, 1772. 2. Sally, February 25, 1774; died young. 3. Sally, August 1, 1776. 4. Stephen, August 12, 1778. 5. Joseph, April 25, 1780. 6. Sam- 11el How, May 31, 1782. 7. Charlotte, Febru- ary 9, 1785 ; married, May 25, 1807, Joshua Belcher, of Boston (see Belcher). 8. John, September 30, 1786 ; died September 25. 1701. 9. Elizabeth, July 30, 1788.
Gregory Belcher, immigrant
BELCHER ancestor, was born about 1606, according to his deposition in 1665. He was in New England as early as 1637, when he was a proprietor of Braintree. On December 30, 1639, he was granted a lot of fifty-two acres on Mount Wollaston ( Brain- tree ), where he settled. He was admitted a freeman May 13, 1640, and served as select-
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man in 1646. In 1664 he purchased land in Milton which he gave to his son John at his marriage. In 1657-58 he leased the Salter farm in Braintree from the estate of William Tyng, of Boston, and with others, in 1667-68 he bought the place, his interest being one- eighth. With his son-in-law, Alexander Marsh, he bought the iron works, with two hundred acres of land, in Braintree. He died Novem- ber 25, 1674. He married Katherine who survived him and died in the spring of 1680. Her will was dated September 3, 1679, and proved July 20, 1680. Children: I. Eliz- abeth, married Thomas Gilbert. 2. Josiah, born about 1631. 3. John, about 1633. Moses, about 1635 : mentioned below. 5. Sam- 11el, August 24, 1637. 6. Mary, July 8, 1639; married, December 19, 1655, Alexander Marsh. 7. Joseph, December 25, 1641.
(II) Moses, son of Gregory Belcher, was born in Braintree about 1635, and inherited the homestead. He is called corporal on the records. He died July 5, 1691, and made his will three days before his death. He married, May 23, 1666, Mary Nash, probably daughter of James and Alice Nash, of Weymouth. Chil- dren : I. Mary, born September 8, 1668; mar- ried, June 5, 1688, Joseph Bass. 2. Sarah, March 2, 1670-71 ; died young. 3. Mercy, March 2, 1771-72 ; died young. 4. Moses, 1674; mentioned below.
5. Mehitable, September 12, 1676; married, December 25, 1701, Joseph Brackett. 6. Elizabeth, April 25, 1679 ; married, December 25, 1701, Ichabod Allen. 7. Cath- erine, November 23, 1681 ; died August 13, 1682. 8. Anna, May 21, 1684 : married, Octo- ber IO, 1717, Nathaniel Wardell. 9. Catherine, July 5, 1686; married, November 30, 1705, Jabez Athearn.
(III) Moses (2), son of Moses ( I) Belcher, was born in 1674, and inherited the homestead in Braintree, where he lived until his death about 1745. He held numerous town offices between 1712 and 1733'and his name occurs in several real estate transactions. He married (first ) May 20, 1715, Anne Sarson, born about 1696, died January 28, 1721-22, daughter of Samuel and Anne ( Clay) Sarson, of Martha's Vineyard. He married ( second ) January 3, 1726-27, Alice Wilson, of Braintree, born June 9, 1698, died 1754, daughter of Dr. John and Sarah ( Newton) Wilson, and great-grand- daughter of Rev. John Wilson, first pastor of the first church in Boston. Children, all by first wife: 1. Moses, born March 8, 1716; mentioned below. 2. AAnne, May 19, 1718. 3.
Mary, December II, 1720; died August 18, 1725.
(IV) Moses (3), son of Moses (2) Belcher. was born in Braintree, March 8, 1716, and lived in Braintree. On April 20, 1736, his father was appointed guardian for him and his sister Anne for property left them by their grandfather, Samuel Sarson, in Boston. He marricd Eunice Mayhew, born April 4, 1716, daughter of Experience and Remember (Bourne ). Mayhew, of Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard. Children: I. Eunice, born Decem- ber 25, 1736. 2. Lucy, March 2, 1738-39. 3. Captain Sarson, June 21, 1741 ; mentioned be- low. 4. Mary, May 24, 1744; died Septem- ber 23, 1748. 5. Mayhew, March 12, 1746; died in Bridgewater, unmarried, 1778; in the revolution. 6. Anne, about 1747; married, in Bridgewater, April 21, 1774, John Keith, of Hardwick.
(V) Captain Sarson, son of Moses (3) Belcher was born June 21, 1741, died Decem- ber 24, 1794. He settled in Boston and carried on the business of hatter. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com- pany in 1765. He served in the revolution as captain of the eighth company of Boston mili- tia, Colonel Hatch's regiment. He married, March 24. 1763, Fenton or Fanny Hill, born March 7, 1742-43, died August 25, 1793, daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth Hill. Children: I. Joshua, mentioned below. 2. Elizabeth.
(VI) Joshua, son of Captain Sarson Belcher, was born about 1780-90. He and his sister Elizabeth were minors in 1796, after the death of their father, and had guardians appointed by the Suffolk probate court. He died intestate in 1816. He was a book publisher in Boston, in partnership with Mr. Armstrong and their firm published Scott's Bible and other notable works. He married Charlotte Babcock, daugh- ter of Major Joseph and Hannah (Howe) Babcock, of a famous old Milton family. Their daughter, Frances Catherine, married in Sep- tember, 1828, Josiah B. Woods. ( For ancestry see John Woods I).
(VII) Rev. Robert M. Woods, son of Josiah B. Woods, was born in Enfield, January 24, 1847. He attended the public schools of his native town and studied for a year under the tutor- ship of Josiah Clark, of Easthampton. From 1860 to 1863 he was a student at the High- land Military Academy of Worcester, Massa- chusetts. He studied divinity at the Union Theological Seminary of New York, at the Andover Theological Seminary and Yale
Post m. Woods .
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Divinity School. In the meantime he was an instructor in English and mathematics at Am- herst College. In 1873 he went abroad and spent fifteen months in travel and study in Europe and the Holy land. He preached his first sermon at Hatfield, November 19, 1876, and was ordained there November 21, 1877. He continued in this pastorate to the time of his death, June 19, 1909, with gratifying suc- cess, both as preacher and minister of his peo- ple. Both as a clergyman and as citizen he exerted a large and wholesome influence in the community. He married, October 29, 1879, Anna Fairbank, daughter of Rev. Sam- uel B. Fairbank. (See Fairbank family). Children, born at Hatfield: 1. Josiah Bridges, born October 16, 1882. 2. Allen Fairbank, February 3, 1884; died October 5, 1892. 3. Katharine, October 29, 1885. 4. Charlotte, July 8, 1887. 5. Margaret, March 18, 1889. 6. Mary Ballantine, September 10, 1891. 7. Frances Belcher, May 2, 1893. 8. Grace Fair- bank, November 23, 1895. 9. Dorothy, May 27, 1900.
BEMIS The Bemis family is of ancient origin, and John Bemis, father of the American immigrant men- tioned below, lived in Dedham, county Essex, England. His will was proved June 28, 1604, and mentions children Isaac, Luke, Mary, James, Susan, Joseph, mentioned below, and Abraham. The name was spelled variously Bemus, Bemis, Bemas, etc.
(I) Joseph Bemis, immigrant ancestor, was born in Dedham, County Essex, England, in 1619, and came with his sister Mary to Water- town, Massachusetts, as early as 1640, when he was about twenty-one years old. Mary married William Hagar, March 20, 1644-5, and died in December, 1695. There is some evidence to show that he was married in England and that his wife Sarah came over with him. Their first child, however, was born in Watertown in 1642, and recorded at Boston. Possibly it may have been born in Boston. He was a blacksmith and farmer. He served the town as "haward," collector of taxes, member of school committee, and select- man in 1648-73-75. There was an amusing case before the magistrate where he was fined for having "one disorderly hog." On another occasion he was fined three pounds for cut- ting trees on the common land without formal permission of the authorities. Most of the fine was remitted. He was fairly well-to-do, leaving an estate valued at over two hundred
pounds. His will was made the day of his death, August 7, 1684, and proved October 7 following. The widow administered the estate. She died in 1712, and the estate was divided among the heirs November 18, 1712, except those parts already given to the eldest son Joseph and daughter Martha. Children : I. Sarah, born January 15, 1642-3 ; married, October 2, 1694, John Bigelow. 2. Mary, born September 10, 1644; married February 16, 1683-4, Samuel Whitney. 3. Joseph Jr. (twin), born October 28, 1647, died young. 4. Ephraim (twin with Joseph), died a few days later. 5. Martha, born March 24, 1649; died unmarried. 6. Joseph, born December 12, 1651 ; mentioned below. 7. Rebecca, born April 17, 1654; married (first) April II, 1684. John White; (second) April 1, 1686, Thomas Harrington. 8. Ephraim, born Au- gust 25, 1656. 9. John, August, 1659.
(II) Joseph (2), son of Joseph ( 1) Bemis, was born December 12, 1651, and died at Westminster, Massachusetts, August 7, 1684. He removed to Westminster, then called Nar- ragansett No. 2. He was a soldier in King Philip's war, in Captain James Oliver's com- pany, and his son Joseph received a grant of land for his father's services. He married Anna Children : 1. Joseph. 2. Mary. 3. Philip, mentioned below. 4. Thomas, died about 1757, in Westminster.
(III) Philip, son of Joseph (2) Bemis, was born about 1700, and was living as late as 1782. He settled in Westminster in 1738, being the third permanent settler in that town. He had probably previously lived at Cam- bridge. In 1740 he sold his rights in his father's estate to his brother Joseph and sister Mary of Cambridge. He married, Novem- ber 21. 1723, Elizabeth Lawrence. Children, born in Cambridge: I. Philip, baptized No- vember 13, 1726; married, February 22, 1749, Lydia Dix. 2. William, mentioned below. 3.
David, baptized July 30, 1729; died 1813. 4. Abigail, baptized July 25. 1731 ; died young. 5. Edmund, baptized October 22, 1732: died December 1, 1807. 6. Zaccheus, baptized July 25, 1736 ; died 1805.
(IV) William, son of Philip Bemis, was born in Cambridge, and baptized November 13, 1726.' He died at Weston, November 8, 1801. He married ( first ) probably at Prince- ton. 1755. Regina, daughter of Joshua and Sarah (Keyes) Wilder, of Princeton ; (second) November 12, 1772, Abigail Annis, who died at Harvard, December, 1823, or January, 1824. Children of first wife, born
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at Westminster: I. William, July 29, 1756; died October 10, 1764. 2. Philip, November 9. 1757 ; died October 4, 1764. 3. Elizabeth, April 17, 1759; married, November, 1780, Jonathan Phillips. 4. Joshua, March 19, 1761. 5. Regina, January 30, died March 8, 1763. 6. William, November 10, 1764; died July 25, 1776. Children of second wife: 7. Regina, born June 3. 1773. 8. Stephen, Sep- tember 10, 1774; mentioned below. 9. Annis, born September 1, 1776; married, March II, 1794, Joseph Beaman.
(V) Rev. Stephen, son of William Bemis, was born in Westminster, September 10, 1774. and died at Harvard, November II, 1828. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1798, and was ordained to preach at Harvard, Massa- chusetts, June 3. 1802. He was pastor of the church there twelve years, when his health failed and he was obliged to give up active work. He was largely identified with public affairs until his death. He married (first) at Chicopee, February 13, 1802, Sophronia Chapin, died September 10, 1804, daughter of Captain Phineas and Sabina (Wright) Chapin ; (second) April 20, 1808, Susanna Chapin, died October 5, 1810; (third) Decem- ber 8, 1811, Mrs. Rejoice (Wetherbee ) Olds, died January 29. 1856, widow of Dr. Warren Olds. Children of first wife, born at Har- vard: 1. Stephen Chapin, November 28, 1802; mentioned below. 2. Sophronia, July 23, 1804; died March 27, 1842; married Deacon John Pendleton. Children of second wife: 3. Daniel Chapin, born May 1, 1809; died September 16, 1828. 4. William Lawrence, September 21, 1810; died April 17, 1877; married (first) December 27, 1836, Eunice G. Chapin; (second) November 8, 1849, Mary Vampell, widow of Nathan P. Ames, and daughter of Robert Bayley. Children of third wife : 5. Lathrop, born October 13, 1812 ; died October 2, 1813. 6. Abigail, born De- cember 18, 1813; died July 14, 1894; mar- ried, October 10. 1836, George Whitney. 7. Catherine, born October 16, 1817; died Janu- ary 24. 1892 : married Caleb Warner.
(VI) Hon. Stephen Chapin Bemis, eldest son of Rev. Stephen and Sophronia ( Chapin) Be- mis, was born November 28, 1802, in Harvard, Massachusetts, and died in Springfield, Massa- chusetts, February 12, 1875. At fourteen he went to Chicopee and entered his uncle's store, and showed such ability that in four years he was taken into the partnership and eventually took over the whole business. Later he re- moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, and
became the pioneer hardware manufacturer in the Connecticut valley, having as a partner Chester W. Chapin. In a few years Mr. Bemis withdrew from mercantile life and erected a mill at Willimansett for the manu- facture of woolen machine cards, augers and machine tools. He was awarded a gold medal by the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association Fair in 1837 for excellence for these cards, also a silver medal by the Ameri- can Institute Fair of New York in 1841. He built tenements for his employees, opened a general store, and in every way looked out for their welfare. He removed his family to Willimansett with the intention of making it a permanent business, but they had scarcely got on the way before the mills were burned. Removing to Troy, New York, he engaged in the hardware trade till 1843, when he once more returned to Springfield, where the manu- facture of tools was resumed on the Mill river, under the firm name of Bemis & Call. He also established the second coal yard in that city, on the ground now occupied by the New York, New Haven & Hartford car shops. He likewise was interested in the Blanchard & Kimberly locomotive works, and finally, in company with Mr. C. W. Chapin, bought the whole plant under the hammer, selling same to a Missouri railroad, realizing handsome re- turns on the investment. In 1853 he erected the buildings occupied by the Phillips & Bemis Company. He was a director in the Agawam National Bank, and president of the Hamp- den Savings Bank. In politics he was first a Whig, but cast his first Democratic vote for Martin Van Buren in 1840. When the gun was levelled on Fort Sumter, like his two old friends, Stephen A. Douglas and General Butler, he was a true patriot, and bent every nerve to sustain and uphold the government. In 1830 President Jackson appointed him post- master of Chicopee. In 1834 he was tax col- lector of Springfield, made selectman the next year, and represented the city in the legisla- ture in 1837, when Edward Everett was gov- ernor. He held commissions as justice of the peace under Governors Boutwell, Banks and Bullock, and was one time coroner of Hamp- den county, also fire warden of Springfield. In 1856-7-8 he was a member of the board of aldermen, and in 1861 was elevated as a Dem- ocrat to the mayoralty in a Republican strong- hold over Daniel L. Harris, the straight nom- inee of his party. The next year he was hon- ored by a re-election over Henry Alexander Jr., an exceedingly popular man. As the war
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mayor of Springfield he did important work in equipping and forwarding troops to the front. He ran for lieutenant-governor on the Democratic ticket, was nominated for mem- ber of congress, and was a delegate to several Democratic national conventions. In private life he was a man of marked personality. Determination and firmness were prominent among his characterizing qualities, developed and strengthened, no doubt, by the necessities of life. Being denied the benefits of an edu- cation, he supplied the lack thereof from in- ternal resources of judgment and will and courage, and these grew with his growth, so that his best years were in the decade preced- ing his retirement. His career as a self made man was remarkably successful. Industry and enterprise made him a rich man; ability, acumen and sincerity in municipal affairs made him honored by his fellow citizens with high positions of trust and responsibility, and his personal virtues in every day life won him the undoubted respect and unbounded con- fidence of his fellowmen, and that warmer feeling which is more than the friendship of the family circle and social companionship. He married, at Chicopee, December 25, 1828, Julia, daughter of Rev. Otis and Kezina (Chapin) Skeele, who were from an old Con- necticut family. Children: I. Stephen A., born September 27, 1830. 2. William C., No- vember 16, 1832, died October 26, 1904. 3. Arthur Irving, January 18, 1835, died De- cember 2, 1893. 4. Julia E., February 26, 1838 ; married Warner F. Sturtevant ; she died about 1904. 5. Thomas O., (see sketch). 6. Edward F., May 8, 1843, died May 7, 1844. 7. Kate Chapin, March 30, 1846, married Howard A. Gibbs. 8. Henry Skeele, Octo- ber 23, 1850.
(VII ) William Chaplin Bemis, son of Hon. Stephen C. Bemis, was born at Willimansett, November 16, 1832. He was eleven years of age when his parents brought their family to Springfield, and he completed his education in the schools of that city. He was one of the organizers of the Bemis & Call Hardware and Tool Company, in 1855, and was that year
elected treasurer. Had he lived a few months longer he would have rounded out a half cen- tury of most efficient service in that capacity. On the death of William K. Baker, in 1897, he was elected president, which position, as well as that of treasurer, he held until his death, which occurred October 26, 1904. He was also a trustee of the Hampden Savings Bank. He was a trustee of Asbury Church.
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