Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III, Part 130

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 986

USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 130

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

(I) Henry Ellsworth, the first of this family of whom there has been found a record, must at some time have lived at Pownal, Vermont, as he had children born there, but the name of his wife is not known, and his place in the family tree has not been found. His children were: Samuel, John, William, Henry Jr., Waity, Charity, Dolly and Polly.

(II) John, second son of Henry Ellsworth, was born at Pownal, Vermont, about 1780, and when a young man lived some time at Brookline, Massachusetts, where he had rela- tives. Soon after the birth of his third child he removed to Hardwick, Massachusetts, and later to Worcester, same state, where he died about 1863. In 1807 he married Lucretia Thayer ; children: 1. Sabrina, born 1808. 2. Samuel, married Hannah Proctor. 3. Henry, born about 1813. 4. John Thayer. 5. Mary C., born January 17, 1825. 6. Alexander, A11-

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gust 27, 1827. 7. Lucretia. 8. Lucy. 9. Hannah Gardiner, April 17, 1830.

(III) John Thayer, third son of John and Lucretia (Thayer) Ellsworth, was born April 24, 1820, at Brookline, Massachusetts. He at- tended school only until he was ten years of age, then finished his education by studying at home, with such success that he was a valuable contributor to several agricultural journals. He had success in his business enterprises, and when he retired to his farm he managed same with all the care and attention to detail which is necessary in any enterprise, and was amply rewarded thereby. He was a Republi- can, and an attendant of the Congregational church. He married, about 1850, Hannah Maria, daughter of Moses Lawrence, of Hardwick, Massachusetts. Children: I. Em- ory A., see forward. 2. John E., born Janu- ary 21, 1854, in Hardwick, Massachusetts; lives in Peterboro, New Hampshire; married Susie Haire; children: John T., Lawrence, Edna and Ruth. 3. Child, died young.

(IV) Emory A., son of John Thayer and Hannah (Lawrence) Ellsworth, was born Au- gust 3, 1852, at Hardwick, Massachusetts. He received his education in the public schools, and graduated from the Massachusetts Agri- cultural College in the pioneer class of 1871, being a member of the Greek letter fraternity Q. T. V. He made a study of civil engineer- ing, and later became an architect. In a

strongly Democratic city he, as a Republican, served as engineer of water works from 1872 to 1890, and as city engineer from 1884 to 1890. He is a member of the American So- ciety of Civil Engineers, which is rather ex- clusive in its membership. Mr. Ellsworth also belongs to societies as follows : Boston Society of Civil Engineers, New England Water Works Association, and American Water Works Association. He attends the Congre- gational church. He married (first) Lucy J., daughter of Ansel K. and Mary C. (Jones) Bradford, who died September 16, 1900. They had three children : 1. Edith C., born Septem- ber 20, 1875 ; married Eugene T. Bridges, and has children: Josephine, Robert and Dean Ellsworth. 2. Frank Lawrence, born May 3, 1881 ; educated at Massachusetts Agricultural College. 3. Henry Bradford, born April 30, 1889 : educated at Williston Seminary and has entered the Agricultural College. Mr. Ells- worth married (second) January 15, 1903, Carrie M., daughter of Henry Meach, born August 25, 1858.

Three brothers of this name, GRIDLEY Richard, Samuel and Thomas, descendants of Robert de Greidley, was one of the barons to fight against King John, emigrated from Essex county, England, to Boston, where Richard settled, and had seven children. Samuel Grid- ley probably died soon after his arrival, at or near Boston, as nothing further is found of him or his descendants. Thomas Gridley set- tled at Hartford, Connecticut. Many of this name fought in the revolution, the most prom- inent being Colonel Richard Gridley, after- wards a major-general, a descendant of Sam- uel ; he had been in the British army, but was chief engineer in the American army at the battle of Bunker Hill, where he was wound- ed. Captain Charles Vernon Gridley, a naval officer who won fame in the Philippines dur- ing the late war and died serving his country, was a descendant of Thomas Gridley, the emi -· grant.

(I) Thomas Gridley came to Hartford, Connecticut, in 1632, with Rev. Thomas Hooker's flock, and became a landholder be- fore 1639. September 5, same year, he was in Windsor, being one of thirty men sent by that town with Captain Mason to fight the Pequot Indians, for which service his heirs received fifty acres bounty lands, October 12, 1671. He probably died about 1655, as the inventory of his estate was made June 12, that year, the amount being a little over two hundred eighty- two pounds. October 3, 1653 he attended a meeting of the original proprietors of North- ampton, Massachusetts, held at Springfield, and he removed to the former place, but re- turned to Hartford before his death. He mar- ried, September 29, 1644, Mary Seymour, sup- posed to be daughter of Richard Seymour, who survived him many years, and after his death married Deacon John Langdon ; she re- moved with her family to Farmington, where both the sons became original proprietors, and where the family lived for five generations. Thomas and Mary (Seymour) Gridley had two sons: Samuel, born November 25, 1647, and was twice married; and Thomas. They had one daughter, Mary, who married Thom- as Root, of Westfield, Massachusetts.

(II) Thomas (2), younger son of Thomas (I) and Mary (Seymour) Gridley, was born in 1650, in Hartford, Connecticut, removed with his mother to Farmington, Connecticut. and died there in 1742. He married December 25, 1673. Elizabeth Clark, who died in Farm- ington, in 1696, and their children were: I.

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An infant, born and died in 1681. 2. An in- fant, born and died in 1682. 3. Thomas. 4. John, born October, 1684. 5. Samuel, March, 1686. 6. Mary, 1687, died young. 7. Mary born in 1689, married William Judd. 8. Jona- than, born October, 1690. 9. Elizabeth, born October, 1693, married Benjamin Andrews. IO. An infant, born and died 1697.

(III) Thomas (3), son of Thomas (2) and Elizabeth (Clark) Gridley, was baptized June 17, 1683, and died in Farmington, Connecticut, in 1754. He married, August 9, 1710, Eliza- beth Bronson, and among their children were Jonathan and Thomas.

(IV) Thomas (4), son of Thomas (3) and Elizabeth (Bronson) was born probably at Farmington, Connecticut, where he resided. He was twice married, and had five children : I. Roger, born in 1752; married June 1, 1775, Sarah Thompson, and died March 17, 1790. 2. Selah, born August 31, 1757 ; married, Jan- uary I, 1779, Lois (or Sarah) Russell, and (second) Elizabeth Tichley. 3. Rev. Elijah. 4. Doctor Giles, born December 10, 1769-70, died in May, 1816; married Ruth George. 5. Thomas H., born January 31, 1775, died Au- gust 4, 1857 ; married (first) Lucilla Kirtland, February 23, 1800; she died June 24, 1826, and he married ( second) Mary Beaman.

(V) Rev. Elijah, third son of Thomas (4) Gridley, was born March 27. 1760, at Farm- ington, Connecticut, and died in Granby, Mas- sachusetts, June 10, 1834. He graduated from Yale College in 1788, and the next year was installed as pastor of the Congregational church at Mansfield, Connecticut, where he re- sided for eight years, then became pastor of the Congregational church at Granby, Massa- chusetts, where he occupied a house which had been used by the two preceding pastors, and which was afterward occupied by his son Ad- dison. He served the church for nearly forty years, and was a great power for good in the community, being an earnest and convincing speaker, and taking great interest in the well- being of his flock, visiting many of them on horseback. He had a friendly manner, a ready smile, and kind word for all. He married, April 29, 1789, Ruth, daughter of Hon. Eben- ezer White, of Chatham, Connecticut, born November 11, 1767, died May 13, 1851, at Granby : they had nine children, of whom only three sons and one daughter reached ma- turity, viz .: 1. Ralph Wells Gridley, gradu- ated at Yale College, was settled as pastor of Congregational Church at Williamston, Mas- sachusetts ; later removed to Ottawa, Illinois,

and was a pastor of a church there until his death. 2. Deacon H. W. Gridley, also of Ottawa, Illinois. 3. Addison ; see forward. 4. Laura Wells, married William Bowdoin, of South Hadley Falls, a lawyer there ; she left one son.

(VI) Addison, son of Rev. Elijah and Ruth (White) Gridley, was born December 18, 1801, at Granby, Massachusetts, and died there July 4, 1901. He was educated in the schools of his native town, and lived on the place occupied by his father, carrying on a farm. In early life he was an enthusiastic Abolitionist, but after the organization of the Republican party espoused its cause. He was always a devout member of the Congregational church, and a contributor towards its support. He married (first), in 1827, Sybil, daughter of Chester and Lois (Preston) Ayers, by whom he had five children, of whom two were Henry Wells and Charles Addison. His wife died November 14. 1845, and he married (sec- ond) Maria, daughter of Thomas and Clarissa (Stevens) Burnham, by whom he had one child, Edward White, who removed to Hol- yoke.

(VII) Charles Addison, son of Addison and Sybil (Ayers) Gridley, was born October 27, 1845, at Granby, Massachusetts, where he received his early education. He afterward attended the high school at South Hadley and business college at Springfield, after which he remained at home and managed the farm until he reached the age of twenty-two, when he entered into business partnership with Eliot Montague, carrying on a general store at South Hadley ; two years later he bought out his partner and took his brother Edward into the firm, and they did a very good business until 1876, when they were burned out, and Charles A. Gridley sold out. In 1878 Mr. Gridley engaged in business again, and now carries on the enterprise alone, and by his careful management has built up a large trade. Although a thorough business man, he finds time to interest himself in the welfare of the town, and for several years was a member of the school board. He also takes an active part in church affairs, having been chairman of the committee which superintended building the present church, and for many years served as parish treasurer. He was for some time super- intendent of Evergreen Cemetery, which owes much of its beauty to the time and attention he bestowed upon same, and has been clerk of the Cemetery Corporation for twenty years. He is one of the successful business men and

A. a. Kindly

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public-spirited citizens of South Hadley, which has been his home for many years. He is chairman of the trustees of the Gaylord Li- brary Association, also a member of the Town Library Committee. He married, June 4, 1874, Martha P., daughter of Edward C. and Elizabeth (Smith) Miller, granddaughter of Joseph and Martha ( Walker) Miller, great- granddaughter of Leonard Miller, who was a revolutionary soldier. They have two chil- dren : I. James Leonard, born October 4, 1876: married Pauline, daughter of Joseph and Dorcas (White) Clark; and they have four children: i. Greta C., born March 30, 1904 ; ii. Elizabeth L., born January 26, 1906; iii. Charles L., born December 27, 1907; iv. child just born. 2. Bessie, born November II, 1878; married, October 24, 1906, George F. Canny ; one child, George Gridley.

The origin of Angell as a sur-

ANGELL name is uncertain. Some au- thorities claim it is derived from Angel, a town in France, and some claim it is from the Greek word meaning "messen- ger." In very ancient times it was used in connection with the christian name, to describe one, and later to show that the family was of extraordinary beauty. In the Bysantine Em- pire in 1185. Konstantinos Angelos was a young man of noble family who received his name for that reason.

(I) Thomas Angell, immigrant ancestor, was born in England about 1618. There is a tradition that he was the son of Henry Angell, of Liverpool, England, and that at the age of twelve he went to London to seek his fortune. In 1631 he came with Roger Williams in the ship "Lion" from London to Boston. and he was then regarded as a servant or apprentice of Williams. He went with Williams to Sa- lem, remaining until 1636. He removed with him to Providence, Rhode Island, and had granted him the lot where now the First Bap- tist Church, the high school house and Angell street are situated, fronting on North Main street. In 1652-53 he was elected a commis- sioner, and in 1655 constable, which office he held for many years. He was a farmer. His will was dated May 3, 1685, and proved Sep- tember 18, 1685. He was about seventy-six years old at the time of his death. He mar- ried Alice -, whose will is dated October 2, 1694. and proved the January following. Children : I. John, mentioned below. 2. James, married Abigail Dexter. 3. Amphillis, married Smith. 4. Mary, married

Richard Arnold. 5. Deborah, married Seabury. 6. Alice, married Eleazer Whipple. 7. Margaret, married Jonathan Whipple.

(II) John, son of Thomas Angell, was born in Providence and died there July 27, 1720. For a few years he lived on the Daniel Henckes' farm five miles from Providence, towards Lime Rock on the Lewisquisit road. He removed to Providence and continued farming. He married, in 1669, Ruth, daugh- ter of John Field. He was admitted a free- man October 16, 1670. Children : I. Thomas, born March 25, 1672; married Sarah Brown. 2. John. 3. Daniel, May 2, 1680, mentioned below. 4. Hope, 1682; married Lydia Olney. 5. James, married Susannah Wilkinson.

(III) Daniel, son of John Angell, was born in Providence, May 2, 1680, died June 16, 1750. Like his father he was a farmer, and a man of great size and strength. "He was in the habit of going to Boston market with his team, to trade in that town. On one of these occasions he put up at a tavern where there was a British officer with his fencing clubs, who challenged him for a duel. Mr. Angell told him lie was no fighting man. The officer told him he could not be excused; he could have his choice in the fencing clubs. Well, said Mr. Angell, if I must fight, I believe I would rather have one of my wagon stakes than either of these clubs. This was agreed to and a ring was formed; the officer with his fencing club and Mr. Angell with his wagon stake grasped by the middle in his right hand. As they stepped into the ring, "I am not used to this business" said Mr. Angell ; "you must tell me when you are ready." "All ready" replied the officer. These words were scarcely out of his mouth when the left fist of Mr. Angell came down upon the officer's nose like a sledge hammer, which laid him sprawl- ing on the floor. The blood flowed freely and covered his face. After a few seconds he par- tially recovered from the shock and turned upon one side, when Mr. Angell told him to come again if he had not got enough. "Enough, enough," said the officer, "I am whipped." Mr. Angell married in Providence, May 2, 1702, Hannah, daughter of Samuel Winsor. Children: I. Samuel, born Decem- ber 12, 1707. 2. John, October 18, 1709. 3. Nedabiah, April 29, 1712, died April 19, 1786. 4. Joshua, February 26, 1714. 5. Mary, Jan- uary 4, 1716. 6. Job, January 1, 1718, men- tioned below. 7. Daniel, October 27, 1720. 8. Ezekiel, 1722, died September 27, 1782. 9. Waite. 10. Mercy, married Bradway.

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(IV) Job, son of Daniel Angell, was born January 1, 1718, died in 1786. He lived in Providence, where he conducted a meat mar- ket. He married (first) Lydia Fenner, who died 1806; (second) Ruth Mowry. Children, all by first wife: I. Joseph, died aged eighty- eight. 2. Fenner, mentioned below. 3. John. 4. Job. 5. Daniel. 6. Zelotta, married Ben- jamin Winsor. 7. Mercy, married Nathan Cargill. 8. Abigail, married Richard Lee. 9. Lydia, married Darling Medbury.

(V) Fenner, son of Job Angell, was born in Providence, June 25, 1757, died aged nine- ty-four. He kept a tavern in Providence in the large gambrel-roofed house on Orms street, Smith's Hill. He was in addition a cattle dealer and butcher. He was in the rev- olution, stationed on Dutch Island, Rhode Island, to prevent English ships from passing up the bay. He married (first) Sarah Sprague, daughter of Joseph Sprague. He married (second) Amey Johnston. Children, all by first wife: I. Nicholas, born January II, 1783; married Sally Richmond. 2. Nancy, June, 1784; married Asa Newell. 3. William, September 19, 1788, died 1850; married Sid- ney Smith. 4. Sally, May 17, 1791 ; married Aaron Pierce. 5. Mary, December 21, 1793 ; married Morris Child. 6. Joseph, March 12, 1796; married Hope Hawkins. 7. Job, Sep- tember 27, 1797, mentioned below. 8. Phebe. December 25, 1799, died April 4, 1856; mar- ried Morris Child. 9. Deborah, March 5, 1804: married George Cleveland.

(VI) Job (2), son of Fenner Angell, was born in Providence, September 27, 1797. He was a dry goods merchant in Providence, and for many years kept a store on the corner of Westminster and Exchange streets. He re- moved to New York City and continued in the same business, realizing a handsome fortune. He married Sarah J., born September 26, 1803, daughter of Cyrus Cleveland. Children : I. George Fenner, born November 17, 1825, died young. 2. Charles Fenner, July 10, 1827, died May 21, 1832. 3. Son, February 10, 1829, died young. 4. Elizabeth, May 28, 1830 ; married John Lippitt. 5. Franklin W., June 16, 1832, died October 3, 1832. 6. Albert Cook, August 13, 1834; married Carrie C. Jackson. 7. Anna M., October 9, 1836; mar- ried Job Arnold. 8. Emily F., November 9, 1838. 9. Irving, May 26, 1841, mentioned be- low. 10. Frederic A., July 26, 1843.

(VII) Irving, son of Job (2) Angell, was born at Fishkill, New York, May 26, 1841. He attended school at Hughsonville, New Ham-

burgh, and Clinton, New York. He engaged in the dry goods business in New York City from 1858 to 1906; a partner in the firm of Thomas J. Davis & Company from 1869 to 1904. From 1873 to 1908 he resided in Pas- saic, New Jersey ; now living in Newton, Mas- sachusetts. On October 10, 1867, he married Alice C., of Providence, Rhode Island, daugh- ter of George W. and Mary Bowen Jackson ; a niece of Governor Jackson, of Rhode Island, and a cousin of United States Senator Henry B. Anthony ; she was born December 16, 1846, died March I, 1902. Children: I. Howard Bowen, born at Brooklyn, New York, July 30, 1868; attended the public schools of Passaic, New Jersey, and private schools in New York City ; since leaving school he has been engaged in the dry goods business in New York; Oc- tober 6, 1903, he married Ethel B. Rhodes, of Passaic, New Jersey, of which place he has been a resident since 1873. 2. Charles Hart, mentioned below.

(VIII) Charles Hart, son of Irving Angell, was born at Brooklyn, New York, September 20, 1871. He attended private schools in Pas- saic, New Jersey, and New York City ; enter- ed Princeton University in 1889, and gradu- ated with the degree of A. B. in 1893. He engaged in actuarial work in New York from 1893 to 1898, when he moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, and entered the actuarial de- partment of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Up to this time he was a resident of Passaic, New Jersey. In Janu- ary, 1902, he was elected assistant actuary of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, which position he now holds. On October 10, 1900, he married Jessie F., of Passaic, New Jersey, born February 10, 1874, daughter of Joseph Theodore and Ellen E. (Fisher) Speer. Children : Irving Jackson and Theodore Fisher (twins), born at Spring- field, Massachusetts, July 13, 1901.

(For preceding generations see preceding sketch).

(III) Hope Angell, son of ANGELL John Angell, was born in 1682 and died in Providence, Rhode Island, February II, 1759. He was admitted a freeman May 6, 1712, and hield many town1 offices. He lived on the farm which is 110w known as the Asylum farm, North Provi- dence. He married Lydia Olney, who died aged sixty- years nine months seven days. Chil- dren, recorded in Providence : I. Abia, born July I, 1715; mentioned below. 2. Oliver, born February 20, 1716-7: died April 13,

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1799. 3. Lydia, born May 8, 1718; married James Young. 4. Elisha, born October 13, 1719; married Susan Whipple; died Novem- ber 14, 1755. 5. Mary, born August 4, 1722. 6. Thomas, born June 13, 1724. 7. James, born January 31, 1731 ; died 1806.

(IV) Abia, son of Hope Angell, was born in Providence, July 1, 1715. He lived on a large farm in Smithfield and North Provi- dence. Part of the farm was situated in Cum- berland. He had eight sons and his descend- ants are numerous and widely scattered. He married Freelove Smith. Children: Eber ; Solomon ; Gideon, born 1746, died 1833; Ru- fus; Abiah; George, farmer in Cumberland, married Elizabeth Mosier; Hezekiah; Benja- min, mentioned below.

(V) Benjamin, son of Abia Angell, was born in Providence, and died September 28, 1826. When a young man he sold his share in his father's farm and went to Saville, now Sunapee, New Hampshire, and carried on a farm with his brother Gideon. He later sold that farm and returned to Smithfield, Rhode Island, and rented farms at Smithfield and Providence. He was a member of the train band during the revolution. He was an in- dustrious citizen, of a social nature. His chief aim in life was the education of his children. He married Lydia Benchley, born January 14, 1760, died May 12, 1831. Children, born in New Hampshire: 1. Lemuel, October II, 1782. 2. George, March 24, 1785; mentioned below. 3. Pardon, May 12, 1788; died De- cember 27, 1862. 4. Christopher, September 16, 1790; died May 12, 1862. 5. Harriet, May 20, 1794; married Joseph B. Hawkins. 6. Almira, October 28, 1802; married Hiram L. Howard.

(VI) Rev. George, son of Benjamin Angell, was born at Smithfield, Rhode Island, March 24, 1785, and was educated there in the public schools and at Brown University. He removed to North Providence with his father in 1803, and followed farming during his boyhood and early manhood. In 1809 he was baptized and admitted to the Baptist church, and at that time determined to prepare himself for the ministry. After his marriage he took charge of a select school at Olneyville, near Provi- dence. There being no religious society there, he established a meeting for prayer and ex- hortation, taking the lead in these exercises and thus securing valuable experience for his profession. He pursued the study of divinity while teaching, and from time to time, as op- portunity offered, he preached. In the autumn

of 1812 he was called to supply the pulpit of the Second Baptist Church at Woodstock, Connecticut, in the following spring was en- gaged as pastor, and was ordained there Au- gust 28, 1813. For three years he filled this pastorate to the entire satisfaction of his peo- ple and with great credit to himself. He was invited to preach for the Union society at Southbridge, Massachusetts, composed of per- sons of various denominations worshipping together in the old parish church after the Congregationalists had withdrawn. This was in September, 1816, a short time after the in- corporation of the town. In this congregation were a number of members of Baptist churches in various adjacent towns, and they were anxious to unite in forming a Baptist society in Southbridge. Mr. Angell accepted this invitation to preach to these united people, and soon afterward was requested by them, without distinction of religious denominations, to become their pastor. He accepted the call with the distinct understanding that he should be settled as a Baptist clergyman, and this condition was accepted. He began his pastor- ate June 1, 1816. He organized a Baptist church in Southbridge January 29, 1817, with twenty-six members. He continued in this pastorate in the greatest harmony with his church and society until his untimely death, Sunday, February 18, 1827. He was greatly beloved in the community, and his death was sincerely lamented by all the people. He was an able and convincing preacher, a tireless worker. and a most earnest and pious Chris- tian. He married (first) at Smithfield, No- vember 25, 1810 (Rev. Rufus Tefft officiating) Lydia, daughter of Noah Farnum, grand- daughter of Rev. Samuel Windsor, formerly pastor of the First Baptist Church of Provi- dence. During the first two years of his pas- torate at Southbridge, his wife and two chil- dren died. In 1819 he married (second) Re- becca Thorndike, youngest daughter of Lieu- tenant Paul Thorndike, of Dunstable and Tewksbury, Massachusetts. She was distin- guished through life for her piety, charity and gentle and kindly character.

(VII) George Thorndike, only child of Rev. George and Rebecca (Thorndike) An- gell, was born in Southbridge, Massachusetts, June 5, 1823. His early education was obtain- ed in various schools of Massachusetts, Ver- mont and New Hampshire, as his mother, being left a widow with small means, found it necessary to teach for their support. Early in his boyhood he entered a large dry goods

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III, Part 130

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 986

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 986