Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III, Part 28

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 28


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).


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son of John Holman, December 19, 1663. John Rigby, the father, died about 1645. Edward Breck died November 2, 1662, and his widow, Isabel, married as her third husband Anthony Fisher, senior, and there was no issue of this marriage. Mr. Fisher died in Roxbury in 1671, and his widow, Isabel, June 21, 1673.


General Samuel Breck, U. S. A., author of "Genealogy of the Breck family" says: "There are now no living representatives of the chil- dren of Edward Breck, the immigrant, by his first wife, known to the writer, but all his liv- ing descendants heard from are also descend- ants of Isabel, his second wife."


The four children of Edward Breck by his first wife were: 1. Daughter, born in Eng- land about 1618, died there when ten years old. 2. Robert, about 1620, married Margery -- about 1642, and she died about 1652, leaving one son, Robert, who died young. He purchased from his father in 1654 a house and garden in Boston ; he married, January 4. 1654, as his second wife, Sarah, daughter of Captain Hawkins. He became a merchant of distinc- tion in Boston and an "admitted inhabitant" of the town. He died about 1660, leaving beside his widow, two children, Sarah, who died young, and Robert ( 1668-1684), who married Joanna and his daughter Joanna and son Robert survived him, but both died young, and his widow married Rev. James Allen, of Boston, September II, 1673, being his third wife 3. Daughter, born about 1622, married, in Dorchester, about 1640, and died about 1645 as Mrs. Blake, leaving children. 4. Eleanor, born in Dorchester, married, Sep- tember 12, 1656, Benjamin Crane, of Medfield. They lived in Weathersfield and had nine chil- dren. By his second wife, Mrs. Isabel (Rigby) Breck, he had four children. 5. Mary, baptized in Dorchester, August 6, 1648, married Samuel Roul, July 9, 1667, and he died November 3: 1690, leaving seven children ; she married as her second husband, John Tolman, June 15, 1692, had no children by her second husband ; she died August 25, 1720. 6. John (q. v.), born 1651, was a tanner in Squantum, captain in the militia, selectman of the town : died Feb- ruary 17, 1691. 7. Elizabeth, born about 1652, married John Minot, of Dorchester, March II, 1670, had five children ; she died April 6, 1690, and her husband, January 26, 1691. 8. Sus- anna, born about 1654, married John Harris, of Dorchester, March 20, 1675.


(II) John, son of Edward and Isabel Breck, was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, 1651; was a tanner in Squantum, Dorchester, and


actively engaged in business. He was known as Captain Breck by virtue of his rank in the inilitary company of the town, was repeatedly chosen selectman of the town, carried on a mill for making cider from apples, built a vessel in the town, for which the town fur- nished trees for masts and yards in 1680; was reprimanded in 1681 for voting for a person to be on trial for the "work of the ministry," when he was not in full communion, he claim- ing that having submitted to the government of the church, he should have liberty to vote in such a case, but he afterward repented of his act and gave satisfaction there for to the church government. In 1683 he was one of three commissioners to see to laying out one thous- and acres of land granted by the general court for school land in 1695 in lieu of Thompson's Island. He was elected a selectman in 1686-88, and in 1690, March II, he was chosen one of three members of the church to seat the people in the meeting house. An item in his will made February 4, 1691, reads: "I will that one of my sons be brought up to learning at the cost of my executor, which son thus edu- cated shall acquit my executor of the moiety of his dividend. My children, I will to be well educated on the improvement of my estate." Captain John Breck died in Dorchester, Feb- ruary 17, 1691, and his widow, Susanna, born 1648, died February 8, 1711. Children born in Dorchester, Massachusetts: I. Jemima, April 17, 1672, married Benjamin Blockman, of Dor- chester, and had nine children born between June 18, 1693, and May 4, 1712. 2. Edward, April 7. 1674, married, April 1, 1698, Sarah, daughter of Enoch and Elizabeth (Oliver) Wiswell ; lived in Dorchester and Roxbury, was ensign in the military company, selectman of Dorchester 1707-13, had five children born between April 30, 1700. and March 30, 1711 ; died September 3, 1713, when his estate was estimated at two thousand and seventeen pounds and ten shillings. His widow married Daniel L. Malster, November 14, 1717. 3. Eliza- beth, September 20, 1676, married Nathaniel Butts. September 16, 1698, had four children ; died October 20, 1743. 4. Susanna, November 9. 1678, married John Tolman, February, 1696-97. 5. John, December 22, 1680, mar- ried Ann, daughter of Richard and Martha Patteshall, October 21, 1703: lived near the Old North Church in Boston ; was a cooper and merchant : died February 16, 1713. He had five children born between August 31. 1705, and May 9, 1711; his widow married William Thomas, October 21 1717, and by him


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she had two children, William and Ann Thomas. 6. Robert (q. v.). 7. Nathaniel, December 1, 1684, married Martha Ireland, of Boston, had three children: was drowned October 26. 1736: his wife died September 27, 1781. 8. Hannah, December 22, died Decem- ber 23. 1686. 9. Hannah, February 17, 1688, married Rev. Ebenezer Devotion, a graduate of Harvard, A. B., 1707, and they had a son, Ebenezer Devotion, Yale, A. B., 1732. 10. Samuel, September 14, 1690, married Grace Painter. of Boston, November 21, 1710, had one son, Samuel, baptized January 2, 1715.


(III) Robert. son of John and Susanna Breck, was born in Dorchester, December 7, 1682. He was the son selected under the will of his father "to be brought up to learning" and he was prepared for matriculation at Har- vard and was graduated A. B., 1700, A. M., 1703, in the class with John Winthrop, Simon Bradstreet, Daniel Hooker. John Whiting, etc. He was a very learned man and was a noted Hebrew scholar. He was a non-conformist preacher on Long Island in the province of New York during the administration of Lord Cranbury. He returned to Massachusetts and was ordained October 25, 1704, at Marl- borough. Massachusetts, as successor to the Rev, William Brinsmead, and he ministered to the congregation at Marlborough twenty- six years. He married, September 8, 1707, Elizabeth Wainwright, of Haverhill, Massa- chusetts, and they had six children, born in Marlborough: I. Elizabeth, September 23. 1709. married. December 22, 1725, Abraham Williams, a leading citizen of Marlborough. She died January 13, 1728-29. 2. Sarah, Octo- ber 10. 1711, married, January 20, 1728, Dr. Benjamin Gott, of Marlborough, and had two children; Sarah (Gott) Brigham and Anna (Gott ) Brigham, and four grandchildren, Eliz- abeth. Anna, Susanna and Samuel Brigham. 3. Robert, July 25, 1713, graduate at Harvard, A. B., 1730, A. M .. 1733, ordained minister at Springfield, Massachusetts, January 26, 1736, was pastor of the Old Church, Springfield ; married, April 28, 1736, Eunice, daughter of Rev. Daniel Brewer, of Springfield, Massa- chusetts, and they had four children, born between June 3, 1737, and September 10, 1742. His wife died August 12, 1767, aged sixty years, and he married as his second wife Helena, daughter of Governor Talcott, of Con- necticut, and widow of the Rev. Edward Dow, of Hartford, Connecticut, who died in Hart- ford, July 9, 1798. The Rev. Robert Breck (2) was settled minister of the church at


Springfield, Massachusetts, from July, 1736, up to the time of his death, which occurred at Springfield, April 23, 1784. 4. Hannah, Feb- ruary 10, 1717, married, September 1, 1737, the Rev. Ebenezer Parkman, of Westborough, Massachusetts, born September 5, 1703, grad- uated at Harvard, A. B., 1721, A. M., 1724; ordained at Westborough, Massachusetts, October 28, 1724, died December 9, 1782. They had eleven children born between December 28, 1738, and January 6, 1761. Widow Han- nah ( Breck) Parkman died in Westborough, Massachusetts, August 20, 1801. 5. Samuel (q. v.), May 17, 1723. 6. Anna, March 13, 1725, died November 24, 1726. The Rev. Robert Breck was a man of high standing in his profession and his death on January 6, 1731, was the occasion of great sorrow and of eulogistic speech for both clergymen of all denominations and appreciative laymen, who had enjoyed the advantages that grew out of his friendship and companionship. His widow died June 8, 1736.


(IV) Samuel, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Wainwright ) Breck, was born in Marl- borough, Massachusetts, May 17, 1723. He was graduated at Harvard, A. B., 1742, A. M., 1745. He then took up the study of medicine and from about 1743 to about 1747 practiced his profession in Worcester, Massachusetts; in Windsor, Connecticut, 1743, and at Great Barrington, Massachusetts, 1750, where he was parish assessor, in 1752; surgeon's mate in Colonel Dwight's regiment in the second French war ; an original founder of the Epis- copal church, organized in Great Barrington, September 21, 1762. He was married about 1744 to Elizabeth Cooley, of Springfield, Mass- achusetts, and by her he had eight children. and about 1760 his wife and eighth child, an infant, died of small pox. He married, in 1762, Mary Long, of Stockbridge, Massachu- setts, and by her his ninth child, John Aaron. was born and he was baptized December 13, 1763. Dr. Samuel Breck was mortally injured by falling through a bridge over which he was riding on a dark night and he died in Spring- field, April 23, 1764. The children of Dr. Samuel and Elizabeth (Cooley) Breck were as follows: 1. Nathaniel, born in Worcester, August II, 1745. 2. Elizabeth, June 6, 1747. 3. Anne, probably about 1749. 4. Nancy, prob- ably about 1751. 5. Thankful, probably about 1753. 6. Samuel (q. v.), May 25, 1755. 7. Wainwright, probably about 1757, enlisted in the Indian wars from West Springfield, Mass- achusetts, and was killed. &. An infant ; who


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died with her mother from small pox about 1759.


(V) Samuel (2), son of Dr. Samuel (I) and Elizabeth (Cooley) Breck, was born prob- ably in Windsor, Connecticut, May 25, 1755. He married, October 23, 1777, Elizabeth, sister of Tom Allen, known as the "famous fighting parson," and first cousin of General Ethan Allen. He was in business in Northampton, Massachusetts, in company with Samuel Clark and he built a store there in 1789. He sep- arated from his wife about 1795, leaving their six children with the mother, and he removed to Kinderhook, New York, and was married at Lebanon Springs, New York, in 1797, to Hannah Baldwin, widow of James Davidson (1756-1793), and the mother of Abigail B. and Elizabeth Davidson, and he had by her one son, John Baldwin, born in Ballston, New York, October 6, 1789. Samuel Breck died at Kinderhook, March 4, 1804, and Hannah ( Baldwin) (Davidson) Breck died September 17, 1832, aged seventy-two years. The chil- dren of Samuel and Elizabeth (Allen) Breck were born in Northampton, Massachusetts : I. Samuel, October 6, 1778, died in Savannah, Georgia, March 14, 1814. 2. Eunice, March 14 1781, married Increase Clark; he died March 2, 1826, and his widow, December 13: 1857 3. Joseph, (q. v.) April 17, 1785. 4. Wainwright, October 2, 1788, died October 4, 18II. 5. Aaron, August 2, 1791, died October 3, 1868. 6. Moses, July 4, 1793, married Judith Kinsley, at Northampton; had no chil- dren; was a strong anti-slavery and temper- ance advocate ; died April 10, 1882.


(VI) Joseph, son of Samuel (2) and Eliza- beth ( Allen ) Breck, was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, April 17, 1785. Like his brother Moses, he was an extreme Abolitionist and temperance advocate. He lived in Claren- don and Hardwick, Vermont, and about 1825 removed to the Western Reserve, Ohio. He married, October 20, 1805, Elizabeth Bowen, of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, who became the mother of nine children and died June 25. 1850, and her husband died at Elmira, New York, January 4, 1854. Children : I. Caro- line Clark, born in Clarendon, Vermont, June 16, 1806, married Joseph Barber, of Wor- cester, Massachusetts, September 25, 1834, and he was a merchant in Angelica, New York, where he died April 27, 1869, and his widow removed to Cleveland, Ohio ; they had no chil- dren. 2. Allen Yales, Clarendon, Vermont, July 9, 1807, married Isabella Mercy Grozer ; was a merchant in Warsaw, New York; had


three daughters ; he died in Bound Brook, New Jersey, July 24, 1876, and his wife in the same place, December 8, 1866. 3. George Wain- wright, August 20, 1809, married Marcia Dun- lop, October 19, 1841 ; he served as a marshal and sheriff of Steuben county, New York, and they had three children (sons) who lived in Bath, where the father and mother died, the mother in 1849. 4. Elizabeth Ann, Hardwick, Vermont, December 4, 1811, married John F. Geiger and (second) Benjamin Sackett and had one child by her first and two by her sec- ond husband. 5. Marie Louisa, October 30, 1814, married Horatio Campbell Staniford and had five children. 6. Samuel Perry, March 18, 1817, married Mary E. Baldwin; was a merchant in New York City; died in Green- field, Massachusetts, July 29, 1880; they had three children: George Cuyler, 1840, Charles Albert, 1842, and Ella Mary, 1844. 7. William Gilman (q. v.). 8. Joseph Bowen. January 27, 1821; Dartmouth, M. D., 1850; married, had one child, William Davidson, who died young with no descendants; Dr. Joseph Bowen Breck died at Elmira, New York, March 18, 1855. 9. Edward Ruthven, May 3, 1823, married Sarah E. Howell, of Rushville, New York, May 14, 1845, had one child, Edward Ruthven ( 1846-1885), who married Helen Cornelia Hirds, at Ithaca, New York, and left one child, Horace Howell, born March 12, 1884.


(VII) William Gilman, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Bowen) Breck, was born Novem- ber 14, 1818. He was graduated in arts at Oberlin College and M. D. at Harvard, 1854. He married Mary Van Deventer at Penn Yan, New York, September 20, 1843, and practiced medicine in Springfield, Massachusetts, from 1845 up to the time of his death which occured at Chicopee, Massachusetts, suddenly, while visiting a patient January 22, 1889. He visited the hospitals of Europe for study and observa- tion ; was surgeon for the Boston and Albany railroad and for the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad. He was consulting surgeon during the war, being sent to the front by Governor Andrew and was for sev- eral weeks with General Grant at Pittsburg Landing and afterward with the Army of the Potomac in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Mary- land, being present at the second battle of Bull Run, at Antietam and at Gettysburg. He was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and its vice-president for one year. He was president of the Hampden District Medical Society ; senior surgeon of the Spring-


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field Hospital staff and member of the advisory board of the Children's Home Corporation. He was an organizer and a member of the Springfield Society for Medical Observation. Dr. William Gilman and Mary (Van De- venter) Breck had one child, Theodore Frel- inghuysen (q. v.).


(VIII) Theodore Frelinghuysen, only child of Dr. William Gilman and Mary (Van De- venter) Breck, was born in Vienna, New York, July 29, 1844, and was brought by his parents to Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1845. He was prepared for college at Williston Sem- inary, Easthampton, Massachusetts, and was graduated at Harvard University Medical School, M. D., 1866, and then spent two years in study and practice in the hospitals of Vienna and Paris. During the civil war he was acting assistant surgeon in the United States army, 1864, and 1865 at Norfolk and Portsmouth, Viriginia, and in 1869, after returning from Europe, he began the regular practice of med- icine in Springfield, Massachusetts. From 1870 he was surgeon of the Boston and Albany railroad, from 1877 medical examiner for the second district of Hampden county, and served on the medical staff of the Springfield Hospital for twenty years. His professional affiliations included membership in the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Massachusetts Medico- Legal Society, the National Association of Railway Surgeons, the Hampden District Med- ical Society, of which he was the founder, 1888-89, member of the advisory board of Harvard Medical School, and member of the Springfield Club. He was a member of Nay- asset Club, in which he served as president, a member of Christ Protestant Episcopal Church of Springfield. He married, April 18, 1872, Helen Cordelia, daughter of Elmer and Weltha Ann ( Beecher ) Townsend, of Boston. Dr. Theo- dore F. Breck died in Springfield, Massachu- setts, June 25, 1904. Children : 1. Helen Town- send, born in Springfield, March 13, 1873, mar- ried, in Springfield, October 15, 1896, John Corse Howard, of Chicago, Illinois, and they have one child, Helen, born October 15, 1901. 2. William Gilman (q. v.).


(IX) William Gilman (2), only son of Dr. Theodore Frelinghuysen and Helen Cordelia (Townsend) Breck, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, June 12, 1875. He married, June 23, 1898, Edith, daughter of Colonel Samuel and Eleanor S. Woods, born in San Francisco, California, October 10, 1876, and their children are: I. Eleanor Woods, born in Springfield, Massachusetts, May 15, 1899.


2. Ruth Townsend, Springfield, Massachusetts, March 1, 1901. 3. Theodore Frelinghuysen, Springfield, Massachusetts, July 18, 1904.


The surname Dyer is taken from DYER the trade-name, Teinturer, its French equivalent, also used as a surname. The famous Italian, Timtoretta, was so-called from the fact that his father was a tintore or dyer. The coat-of-arms of the Dyer family of Tottenham, county Middlesex, Eng- land, is: Or a chief indented gules. Crest : Out of a coronet a goat's head sable armed gold. The family was prominent also in county Hertford.


(I) Deacon Thomas Dyer, immigrant ances- tor, was born in England. The record of the Dyer family is to be found as early as 1436. Thomas Dyer came from England in 1632 and settled soon afterward in Weymouth, Massa- chusetts. He was admitted a freeman there May 29, 1644. He was a cloth worker by trade. He was also an inn keeper in Wey- mouth and was one of the leading citizens of his day. He was deputy to the general court in 1646 and four years afterward. He was deacon of the Weymouth church, and held various town offices. He died November 3, 1676. His will was dated November 3, 1676, and proved November 13, 1676. He bequeathed to his wife fifty pounds and the estate of her former husband at Medfield. He bequeathed to his children mentioned below, to his grand- children, to his pastor, Mr. Samuel Torrey, and the Weymouth church. His estate was valued at two thousand one hundred and three pounds. The widow Elizabeth in her will, dated November 20, 1678, proved January 31, 1678-79, bequeathed to her sons, Abraham and John Harding, daughter Elizabeth Adams, daughter Prudence, son Joseph Dyer and three. grandchildren. Thomas Dyer married (first) Agnes Reed, who died December 4, 1667. He married (second) Elizabeth ( Adams) (Hard- ing) Frary, widow successively of Abraham Harding and of John Frary Jr. She died 1678-79. Children, all by first wife, born at Weymouth: I. Mary, July 6, 1641, married Samuel White. 2. John, July 10, 1643. 3. Thomas, 1645, died young. 4. Abigail, 1647, died March 13, 1717-18; married Jacob Nash. 5. Sarah, 1649, married John Ruggles. 6. Thomas, May 5, 1651. 7. Joseph, November 6, 1653 (twin), mentioned below. 8. Benja- min (twin), November 6, 1653. 9. William, about 1658, married Joanna Chard. 10. Elinor, about 1660.


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(II) Joseph, son of Deacon Thomas Dyer, was born at Weymouth, November 6, 1653. He married Hannah Frary. Children, born at Weymouth: I. Hannah, October 10, 1682, died aged two months. 2. Hannah, February 13, 1683. 3. Joseph, June 19, 1686, mentioned below. 4. Benjamin, April 13, 1688. 5. Mary, April 12, 1690, died October 6, 1691. 6. John, April 9, 1692. 7. Thomas, April 15, 1694. 8. Mary, died October 24, 1697. 9. Mehitable. June 1, 1700. 10. Sarah, August 29, 1702.


(III) Joseph (2), son of Joseph (I) Dyer, was born at Weymouth, June 19, 1686. He married there (intention dated ) April 16, 1726, Jane Stephens, who died December 6, 1806, aged ninety-nine years. Children, born at Weymouth: I. Sarah, March 20, 1727. 2. Jane, May 2, 1729. 3. Joseph, September 17, 1731, mentioned below. 4. Mary. 5. Hannah, January 8. 1734, died January 9, 1734. 6. Benjamin, February 9, 1735. 7. Joanna, July 2, 1737. 8. Asa, July 26, 1739. 9. Stevens, October 20, 1741. 10. Mary, March 13, 1744. II. James, June 14, 1746.


(IV) Joseph (3), son of Joseph (2) Dyer: was born at Weymouth, September 17, 1731, died there September 15, 1807. He was a soldier in the revolution, a private in Captain Samuel Ward's company, Colonel Solomon Lovell's regiment, in 1776. He probably had other service, the record of which is difficult to identify. He married (intention dated Decem- ber 24, 1754) January 8, 1755, Hannah Bates, of Weymouth. Children, born at Weymouth : 1. Hannah, January 9, 1756. 2. Betty, August 6, 1757. 3. Benjamin, January 29, 1759. died at sea November, 1794, aged thirty-three years. 5. Samuel. April 14, 1766. 6. John, April 23, 1768, mentioned below.


(V) John, son of Joseph (3) Dyer, was born in Weymouth, April 23, 1768, died at South Weymouth in 1848. He married there December 25, 1794, Polly Holbrook, daughter of Nathaniel and Hannah Holbrook. She died at Weymouth, June 1, 1851, aged seventy-four years, four months, eighteen days. He was a manufacturer of boots and shoes and had one of the most extensive and successful shoe factories of his day. He was also a manufac- turer and currier of leather. He became a man of large wealth and influence, highly respected and honored in the community. Chil- dren, born in Weymouth: I. Joseph, January 30, 1796, mentioned below. 2. Clarissa, March 14, 1797, married Stephen Burrill. 3. Peter, died young, January 28, 1800. 4. John, Jan- nary 17, 1801, married, October 4, 1826, Nancy


Richards. 5. Mary, January 19, 1802, married Perez Vining. 6. Benjamin, January 25, 1803, married, August 30, 1828, Bianca J. Penniman. of Hingham. 7. Hannah Ward, August 3; 1804, married Quincy Loud. 8. Betsey Will- iams, April 18, 1806. 9. Luther (twin), December 27, 1808, married, September 18, 1831, Ruth W. Holbrook. 10. Calvin (twin): December 27, 1808. II. Calvin, February 29, 1812. 12. Sophronia, February 14, 1817, mar- ried, December 24, 1839, Samuel Torrey Jr.


(VI) Joseph (4), son of John Dyer, was born at Weymouth, January 30, 1796, died at South Weymouth, February 15, 1861. He was a farmer and teamster. He married, Jan- uary I, 1823, at Weymouth, Betsey White, born 1799 at South Weymouth and died there in 1851. Children, born at South Weymouth : I. Son, died in infancy. 2. Joseph, mentioned below.


(VII) Joseph (5), son of Joseph (4) Dyer. was born in South Weymouth in 1830. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and learned the trade of shoemaker, at which he worked for various employers until 1866, when he established himself in the retail grocery business in Weymouth. He built up a large and prosperous business from a small beginning and for many years has been the leading grocer of this section. In politics he is a Republican and for six years was assistant postmaster of the town. He is prominent in town affairs and has held various positions of trust and honor, among them town auditor which he still holds. He represented his dis- trict in the general court in 1873 and served on important committees. He has been president of the South Weymouth Savings Bank since 1891. He is an attendant of the South Con- gregational Church. He is a member of no secret societies. He married, 1858, Caroline Blackington, born 1833 at Thomaston, Maine, died 1883 at South Weymouth. He married (second) September, 1889, Florence Dean, born at Braintree, daughter of Samuel and Ruth Dean. Mr. Dyer has no children.


Among the earliest emi- STILLMAN grants to New England on the Restoration of the Stuarts were a family bearing the name assigned to this article, who having become involved with the Regicides, went into the most obscure and remote parts of the colonies, settling for a time at Hadley, Massachusetts. One of these, George by name, hearing of the strange new doctrine of the Seventh-day Bap-


James Hillman


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tist, denying the sanctity of the Lord's day, being of an ardently religious turn himself, came- to Newport, Rhode Island, to convince his erring brethren ; but instead he became con- verted himself. The Seventh-day Baptist creed has always been peculiar to the Stillmans. handed down from father to son, and it was they who founded the town of Alfred, New York, the educational and religious center of the sect. Another trait common to the family has been ingenuity in mechanical invention which has cropped out in several generations. George Stillman, above spoken of, was born at Steeple Aspen, Wiltshire, England, in 1654. and died at Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1728. He was a merchant of enterprise and wealth of Hadley, Massachusetts, a member of the gen- eral court in 1698, and removed to Wethers- field in 1704. He married Rebecca, daughter of Lieutenant Philip Smith. She died Octo- ber 7, 1750. Children : George, Rebecca, Mary, Nathaniel, John, Sarah, Martha, Ann, Elizabeth, Hannah, Lydia, Benjamin.




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