Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III, Part 26

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 26

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).

rinda, February 2, 1805, died September 24, 1825, aged twenty.

(V) George, fifth son of Captain Richard (2) and Lydia (Stevenson) Abbe, was born in Enfield, Connecticut, December 24, 1794, died in Springfield, Massachusetts, May 22, 1858, aged sixty-four. For many years he resided in Enfield and was a well-known river boatman in the days before the inauguration of railroads. He was later agent for the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad at Thompsonville. His last years were spent in Springfield, where he died. He married (first) Sally Chapman, of Tolland, Septem- ber 30, 1819; and (second) Anna Harper, of Scitico. The children, all by the first wife, were: George Chapman, James, Maria S. and Warren Clifford.

(VI) James, second son of Captain George and Sally (Chapman ) Abbe, was born in En- field, Connecticut, June 1, 1822, died at his home, 79 Spring street, Springfield, Massa- chusetts, May 7, 1889. He was educated in the public schools of Thompsonville, Connecti- cut. As a young man he assisted his father in the steamboat business. Before James Abbe was twenty-one years old, however, he had learned the tinner's trade in Thompsonville, and for a few years managed a small tin busi- ness in that village and in Haydenville. He went to Springfield in 1843 and worked a while for his cousin, Joshua Abbe, a tinner, who had a stand where now the postoffice building is, corner of Maine and Fort streets. He then started a tinware and stove store in a wooden building standing on the present site of Wilkinson's block, Main street. He next started stores at Chicopee, Massachusetts, and East Greenwich, Rhode Island, about 1854, but they were continued only one year. Re- turning to Springfield with a little capital he bought out his cousin Joshua. During the period of fifteen years that followed, he was fortunate in having all the tin work of the Wason Car Company, and the Boston and Albany Railroad Company, and thereby is said to have laid the foundation of his ample wealth. In 1869 he erected Abbe's block at 309 Main street, and in company with his only son carried on the stove and tinware business, the firm name being James Abbe & Son. In 1880 the firm disposed of the business to Shepard & Wilson, and the son James T., went to Holyoke to engage in the envelope business. After the death of Mr. Shepard, a year later. he again had possession of the business and soon closed it up. Mr. Abbe did not again

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engage in business but devoted himself to the management of his real estate and had an office in his own block for that purpose. Mr. Abbe was a man of exceptional business abil- ity and his judgment in financial matters was regarded as sound. He was a director of the Pynchon National Bank, a trustee of the Springfield Cemetery Association and one of the original corporators of the Holyoke En- velope Company. He succeeded Homer Foot as president of the Hampden Watch Company, and was one of its heaviest stockholders, but sold his interest at the time of the decision to remove the works to Canton, Ohio. Mr. Abbe was greatly esteemed and loved in the com- munity in which he lived, where his social virtues and accomplishments, and his sterling integrity were best known. He was promi- nently identified with Springfield during his entire residence there, and was a willing sub- scriber to the cause of charity and benevolence. He attended Trinity Church and was one of its liberal supporters. He helped many young men, both in business and private life. Mr. Abbe was a member of the legislature in 1876- 77. He was more than once urged to become a candidate for the mayoralty, but always re- fused. James Abbe married, April, 1848, Caroline E. Terry, of Thompsonville, Con- necticut, who survives him. She was born December 6, 1826, daughter of Harmon and Emeline (Ellis) Terry. Harmon was a son of Salmon Terry, and the family is one of the old ones of Enfield, Connecticut. Two chil- dren were born of this marriage: I. James T., mentioned below. 2. Caroline L., De- cember 3, 1851, wife of Charles D. Rood, president of the Lancaster Watch Company, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They were mar- ried October 20, 1880, and resided at 93 Bow- doin street, Springfield. They have three children : Madeline A., born in Springfield, September 22, 1881 : Gladys, February 25, 1884, and Charles Dexter, October 6, 1889.

(VII) James T., only son of James and Caroline E. (Terry) Abbe, was born in East Windsor, Connecticut, March 16, 1849, died December 15, 1907, at his home, 160 Maple street. He attended the Springfield high school and later for one year the Wilbraham Academy, entering Amherst College in the class of 1870 and remaining until the close of his sophomore year. He then entered into business with his father in Springfield and continued until 1881, when he became one of the Holyoke Envelope Company, of which he was made president. This was organized in

1880 by James Abbe, George N. Tyner and James T. Abbe. The senior Abbe sold his in- terest in the company to James D. Whitmore, of New York City, who subsequently sold his interest to George U. Tyner and James T. Abbe. Mr. Tyner was the practical man in the concern and Mr. Abbe had charge of its business affairs. The company began business on Cabot street in the water power company's building, which was destroyed by fire in Jan- uary, 1888. The factory on Jackson and Main streets was then erected, where an enormous business was built up and conducted-no sin- gle factory in the United States having so large an output of staple envelopes, three and a half millions being the daily product. Three hundred hands were employed. The machinery. used was built by the company on its own patents. In August, 1898, Mr. Abbe re- tired from the company, the plant being at that time absorbed by the United States En- velope Company. Mr. Abbe was the owner of the splendid Phoenix store and office building at 307 Main street, subsequent to the fire of November, 1893, which destroyed the new block built by him in 1889. The Phoenix building has been regarded as one of the best of its kind in western Massachusetts, contain- ing two exceptionally fine stores, thirty-five offices and two apartments under the side- walk. It has an imposing entrance, and a very attractive interior finish, with marble wains- coting and mosaic hall floors. Its equipment in elevators, lighting, heating, fire escapes, hot and cold water, etc., also is exceptionally modern and complete, and there are few hand- somer and more convenient office buildings in the city. Mr. Abbe took great pride in the care of the Phoenix building, and it is no exaggeration to state that it was kept in the best condition inside and out of any office block in the city. Mr. Abbe was a director in the Home National and Park National banks, of Holyoke, having been one of the original sub- scribers of the stock of the latter. He was also at one time a director of the Pynchon National Bank and of the Hampden Trust Company of Springfield. Mr. Abbe was one of the four original movers in the organiza- tion of the Springfield Daily Union, his asso- ciates being Oscar Greenleaf, II. K. Baker and W. E. Whipple. He was chosen as the first president of the Union Publishing Company, and continued in the presidency up to the time of his death, although his stock holding in his later years was not among the largest. The company was organized in 1895. He was a

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very public-spirited man, as well as most keen and energetic in business, and it is not strange that he should have taken a great interest in the board of trade and been one of the most active of its early members. He served as the fourth president of the board in 1894. He was instrumental also in the reorganization of the Springfield Cemetery Association, and had been its president. He was one of the promoters of the Mckinley monument fund, and was appointed a member of the committee to choose a suitable memorial. He was much interested in the Springfield public library, and for a long time was closely identified with the association. In addition to being one of the city's most sagacious men, Mr. Abbe was a man of highly cultivated tastes, and became widely known as an art connoisseur and critic. He was the owner of a fine collection of paint- ings, including numerous productions of the best native and European artists. For a good many years he occupied an apartment at the Massasoit House in the winter, and the rooms were adorned with many valuable paintings, representing the best foreign schools as well as the work of leading American artists, and including not a few master pieces. His fine residence at 160 Maple street, the James Rum- rill property, which was purchased by him some ten years before his death, is a veritable museum of art treasures, being literally filled with rare and beautiful paintings. This is undoubtedly one of the largest and finest (if not the largest and best) collection of paint- ings in the city. Mr. Abbe was a great lover of animals, especially of dogs and horses, and always owned some of the best of those ani- mals in the city. He aimed to have and usually had the handsomest dog in town among his several high bred animals. His stable was always filled with spirited family horses of high pedigree, with cob tails and great knee action. Peculiar as it seems, however, he seldom drove any of his horses or was driven after them.

Ever a staunch Republican, Mr. Abbe took great interest in politics, and often a decidedly active part, having been a powerful factor at times in the making and unmaking of candi- dates. He never sought public office for him- self, however, preferring to use his influence from his position as a private individual. His most conspicuous public service in recent years was as chairman of Mckinley memorial committee, which selected the design of the monument erected on Pecousic hill and carried through all details of the testimonial by public subscription to the martyred president. Mr.

Abbe's make-up was decidedly out of the ordi- nary, a combination of qualities some of which usually are considered antagonistic. He was very suave and genial in the company of other gentlemen, and full of the spirit of jocoseness, and to even a critical observer ap- peared to treat friends and those not so con- sidered with perfect impartiality. Yet, withal, he was very aggressive and a fighter to the finish, and there was a vein of Indian vindict- iveness in his disposition that led him to pur- sue one whom he considered an enemy with eager relish and unrelenting zeal. He was not a club man in the sense of being a devotee of club life, although a member of the Nyasset club, where he was seldom seen, his tastes being domestic in the extreme. He made a special feature of having the best of every- thing; whether in paintings, horses, dogs, or cigars, and he never allowed expense to stand in the way of attainments of that end. Another peculiarity was his love for his father, the two almost always being together during the father's lifetime, and his death bringing to the son much more than ordinary bitterness. An interesting and rather amusing incident in Mr. Abbe's career and that of two other de- termined men, A. N. Mayo and Frank Worthy, occurred subsequently to the fire of 1893 that swept the corner of Worthington and Main streets, when each of them tried to obtain the entire property, covered by their present blocks, for the erection of one large building. There was no giving in on any side, however, and each built his own block on his own site, but all of the buildings were erected on dif- ferent levels so that by no possibility could they ever after be joined.

James T. Abbe was married at Springfield, Massachusetts,, March 17, 1892, to Mrs. Mary H. Fuller, widow of Milton Fuller, and daugh- ter of John and Lydia (Bridges) Mulligan (see Mulligan), the latter being at one time president of the Connecticut River Railroad Company. Milton Fuller accumulated a large fortune in the Pennsylvania oil regions. Mrs. Abbe was born at Springfield, Massachusetts, and survives her husband. They were in the habit of spending their summers on the White Mountains for years, but latterly preferred the coast of Maine. They had no children.

WVELD Captain Joseph Weld, immigrant ancestor, was born in England about 1600. He came to New England with his wife Elizabeth, daughter Elizabeth, aged ten; Mary, aged eight, Han-

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· nah, aged six, and Thomas, leaving in England an elder son John, who came later. He was admitted a freeman March 3, 1636. He settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and became a house-holder, proprietor of the town, and cap- tain of the military company. He was select- man for a number of years and deputy to the general court in 1637 and afterward. He was of good estate and high repute, we are told. His wife Elizabeth died October 16, 1638, and he married ( second) April 30, 1639, Bar- bara, daughter of Nicholas Clap or Clapp, of Venn Ottery, England. (See Clapp family in this work). She married (second) An- thony Stoddard, of Boston. He died Septem- ber 7. 1646. His will was dated at Ipswich, June 2, 1646, and proved October 10, 1646. He bequeathed to wife Barbara and her chil- dren Daniel, Sarah and Marah Weld; to chil- dren of his first wife: John, Thomas, Ed- mund, Elizabeth, Mary, Hannah; to the col- lege at Cambridge (Harvard) ; to Mr. Cud- dington an annuity ; to the poor of the church. Children of first wife: I. John, mentioned below. 2. Elizabeth married, March 20, 1641, Edward Damson. 3. Mary, married Daniel Harris, of Middletown. 4. Hannah. 5. Thomas, died aged seventeen. 6. Ed- mund, born at Roxbury, July 14, 1636. Chil- dren of second wife: 7. Sarah, baptized December 31, 1640, married, July 23. 1663, John Franks. 8. Daniel, born September 18, 1642. 9. Joseph, born February 6, 1645, died aged ten months. IO. Marah, baptized August 2, 1646, married Comfort Starr.

(I) Rev. Thomas Weld, brother of Cap- tain Joseph Weld, was vicar at Terling, county Essex, England, from 1624 to 1632 ; was noted by Archbishop Laud as "uncon formable" No- vember 25, 1630, and fined November 16, 1631. He came to Roxbury, Massachusetts, with his family, arriving June 5, 1632, and was minister of that town for several months alone and then was ordained pastor in com- pany with Mr. John Eliot, teacher, in Novem- ber, 1632. He was in full sympathy with the course of Governor Winthrop and his party against Mrs. Hutchinson and Mr. Wheel- wright in 1637 and wrote a preface to the sec- ond edition of Winthrop's book "Antimonians and Familists Condemned" (1643). He com- piled the famous Bay State Psalm Book. jointly with Richard Mather and John Eliot in 1639. He wrote other books. He was sent by the colonial government to England with Mr. Ilngh Peter and Mr. William Hibbens in 1641, and accomplished much in advancing

the interests of the colony during the period of the revolution in England. After much public service, he became vicar of Gateshead parish at Newcastle, England, about 1649. He died in London, March 23, 1660. His widow Margaret left a will dated March 20, proved November 16, 1671; bequeathing to her brother William Doggett and her sister Anna, his wife; to children of sister Elizabeth Wade, deceased, to kinsman John Jefferson. Chil- dren, baptized at Terling: I. John, June 6, 1625. 2. Thomas, July 26, 1626. 3. Samuel, October 8, 1629. 4. Edmund, July 8, 1631. (II) John, son of Captain Joseph Weld, was born in England, according to family rec- ords, October 28, 1623, died September 20, 1691. He came to Massachusetts after his father and joined the family at Roxbury, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was admitted a freeman in 1650 and was a soldier in King Philip's war, 1675. He married Margaret Bowen, of Roxbury, daughter of Griffin Bowen, of Boston, who came from Kangenith, Glamorganshire, Wales. Children, born at Roxbury: I. Joseph, June 6, 1649, died young. 2. Joseph, September 13, 1650, mentioned below. 3. John, May 25, 1653.

4. Ephraim, November 14, 1655, married, August 28, 1672, Samuel Gore. 5. Margaret, September 29, 1657, died aged seventeen. 6. Mary, April 3, 1660, married Joshua Gardner. 7. Abigail, August 27, 1663, died young. 8. Esther, December 28, 1664, died young. 9. Hannah. September 5, 1666, married, Novem- ber II, 1685, William Heath.

(III) Lieutenant Joseph (2), son of John Weld, was born at Roxbury, September 13, 1650, died February 14, 171I-12. He lived at Roxbury also. His will was dated December, 6, 1692. He married (first), in 1674, Eliza- beth Devotion, who died in 1678, and ( second ) November 27. 1678, Sarah Faxon, born August 28, 1659. at Braintree, daughter of Thomas Faxon, and granddaughter of Thomas Faxon, the immigrant. She married ( second) April 29, 1719, Jacob Chamberlain. She died October 14, 1745. Her will dated February 9, 1734-35, proved November 10, 1745, men- tioned her children and grandchildren. Chil- dren of first wife: 1. Margaret, born No- vember 5. 1675. died young. 2. Elizabeth, January 17. 1678, died young. Children of second wife : 3. Margaret, February II. 1681, married, July 16, 1701, Benjamin White. 4. Joseph, July 12, 1683, married, May 22, 1711, Elizabeth Chamberlain. 5. Sarah, 1685, baptized October 25, died December 30. 6.

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Sarah, baptized June 16, 1687, married June I. 1709, John Williams. 7. John, born August 19, 1689, married, December 3, 1712, Mehita- ble Child, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth Child. 8. Thomas, January 10, 1692. 9. Deborah, February 22, 1694, married Joshua Child Jr. 10. Mary, April 18, 1695, married Samuel Davis. II. Daniel, August 14, 1697, mentioned below. 12. Edward, June, 1700, died February, 1701. 13. Ebenezer, October 19, 1702, married Mary Craft, daughter of Samuel.

(IV) Daniel, son of Lieutenant Joseph (2) Weld, was born August 14, 1697. He also lived in Roxbury. He married, in 1720, Eliza- beth Tucker, born 1701, died 1784. He died January 20, 1760-61, twenty-four hours before his wife's death. Children, born at Roxbury : I. Daniel, baptized August 20, 1721. 2. Stephen, born July 7, 1723, died August 16, 1745. 3. Noah, December 7, 1725. 4. Eliza- beth, June 14, 1728, married, December 12, 1745, Isaac Child. 5. Job, August 14, 1730. 6. Edward, April 1, 1733, died October 17, 1761. 7. David, 1734, mentioned below. 8. Jonah, baptized February 1, 1738. 9. Ann, baptized February 1, 1738.

(V) Deacon David, son of Daniel Weld, was born in Roxbury in 1734, died there Jan- uary 9, 1820-21. His will is dated August 24, 1808, and proved February 6, 1821, bequeath- ing to his sons land in Brookline, Roxbury and Newton. He married, July II, 1756, Sarah Davis, born 1737. He was a prominent citi- zen of Roxbury and for many years deacon of the church. Children, born in Roxbury : I. Abigail, August 1, 1757, married, May 14, 1776, Thomas Dudley. 2. Mary, October 12, 1759. 3. David, August 3, 1761, married Hannah Murdock. 4. Edward, March 6, 1766, died aged sixteen. 5. Elizabeth, March 22, 1768, married, January 18, 1789, Benjamin Corey. 6. Susanna, August II, 1770, mar- ried, April 18, 1790, Benjamin Billings. 7. Daniel, November 20, 1772, married, May 29, 1800, Hannah Williams. 8. Hannah, Jan- uary 14, 1775, married John D. Williams. 9. Anna, March 22, 1777, married, 1802, Jona- than French. IO. Aaron Davis, December 21, 1779, mentioned below.

(VI) Aaron Davis, son of Deacon David Weld, was born in Roxbury, December 21, 1779. He married (first) December 25, 1804, Betsey Williams, who died April 10, 1807, aged twenty-three. He married (second) Susanna Morey, born in 1784, died October 2, 1816, aged thirty-eight. He lived in Roxbury

on what is still known as the Weld farm, one of the most beautiful estates in the suburbs of Boston. He was a prominent and influential citizen of the town. Child, Aaron Davis Jr., mentioned below.

(VII) Aaron Davis (2), son of Aaron Davis (I) Weld, was born in Roxbury, No- vember 16, 1805. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and suc- ceeded to the Weld farm. He was a promi- nent and useful citizen of Roxbury, where he died April, 1889. He conducted a large and very successful business as a commission mer- chant in Boston and imported manila hemp extensively. He was a Republican in politics and in religion a Unitarian in his youth and later an Episcopalian. He married Abigail Harding, of Providence, Rhode Island, born 1807, died 1871, daughter of Richard and Abby (Stoddard) Harding. Children, born at Rox- bury: I. Aaron Davis, born October 8, 1831, mentioned below. 2. Adeline Kinnicutt, mar- ried Benjamin Cutler Clark. 3. Richard Hard- ing. married Laura Townsend Winsor. 4. Alice, married Thomas Blake Williams. 5. Cordelia Frances, married Frank Wayland Reynolds.

(VIII) Aaron Davis (3), son of Aaron Davis (2) Weld, born October 8, 1831, died Febru- ary 27, 1907. He attended the public schools of his native town and prepared for college by private teachers. He entered Harvard Col- lege and was graduated with the degree of A. B. in the class of 1853. He became asso- ciated with his father in business and at length succeeded to the business. He maintained the high traditions and success of the house. In social life as well as in business he was highly esteemed and respected. He made use of his wealth and influence in a wise and benevolent spirit, liberal in his gifts to charity and in the support of public enterprises, especially those affecting the welfare and progress of Boston and the immediate vicinity of his home in Jamaica Plain. He was independent in poli- tics, but keenly interested in public and muni- cipal affairs. Before Roxbury was annexed to Boston, he was for a number of years a selectman of the town, and afterward for a long time was a member of the sinking fund commission of Boston, where his wide knowl- edge of financial matters and his sound judg- ment proved of inestimable value to the city. He was a director of the International Trust Company ; of the Boston Tow-boat Company and of the Ludlow Manufacturing Company. In religion he was a Unitarian. He was a

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member of the Lodge of Free Masons, Royal Arcanum and of. the Eliot Club. He married, September 1, 1859, Annie Warren Coffin, born July 15, 1834, on Chauncy street, Boston, daughter of George Washington and Mary Winthrop (Spooner ) Coffin, of Nantucket. (See Coffin family). She was carefully edu- cated. She has been prominent not only in social life, but in the wider field of religious, charitable and educational affairs of the city. She is an active and earnest member of the Unitarian church, and is president of the Union Association of Jamaica Plain and vice- president of the Jamaica Plain Tuesday Club. Children: I. Frederick Coffin, born Septem- ber 12, 1864, graduate of Harvard College in the class of 1886; resides in Lowell, Massa- chusetts, where he holds the responsible posi- tion of chemist for the Lowell Bleachery ; mar- ried, June 19, 1901, Margaret Chase : children : Helen, born February 27, 1902, and Frederick Chase, June 12, 1907. 2. Bernard Coffin, March 12, 1868, graduate of Harvard in the class of 1889 ; succeeded his father in business in the firm of Aaron D. Weld & Son, 131 State street, Boston; married, October 31, 1890, Mabel Stephenson, of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania; children, Aaron Davis, born Septem- ber 12, 1895, George Stephenson, December 23, 1898, Francis Stephenson, November 30, 1904. 3. Helen Coffin, November 1I, 1869, died August 25, 1897, unmarried. 4. Winthrop Coffin, December 12, 1873, died June 14, 1884. 5. Phillips Coffin, December 13, 1876, died July 6, 1884.

( For preceding generations see Captain Joseph Weld),

(IV) Ebenezer Weld, son of WELD Lieutenant Joseph Weld, was born October 19, 1702, at Rox- bury, died there September 24, 1767. He was buried in Roxbury and his gravestone is standing. He was a farmer in his native town. His will was proved October 30, 1767. He married, November 28, 1725, Mary Craft, born April 1, 1706, died October 10, 1763 (grave- stone record), daughter of Samuel Craft, of Roxbury, granddaughter of Samuel Craft (2), and great-granddaughter of the immigrant, Lieutenant Griffin Craft. The Craft family lived in Roxbury. Children, born at Roxbury : I. Rebecca, 1727, died March 15, 1727. 2. Eben, December 7, 1729. died February 8. 1732. 3. Mary, December 14, 1731, died young. 4. Eben, February 25, 1736, died young. 5. Nathaniel, March 24, 1739, died

December 4, 1817. 6. Eben, April 8, 1747, mentioned below.

(V) Eben, son of Ebenezer Weld, was born at Roxbury, April 8, 1747, died there March 28, 1822. He was a soldier in the revolution, a sergeant in Captain Childs's company (third Roxbury), Colonel William Heath's regiment, April 19, 1775 ; also in Lieutenant Craft's de- tachment, Colonel McIntosh's regiment in July, 1778. He married Rebecca Mayo, born 1746, at Roxbury, died 1844.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III, Part 26

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