USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 36
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(III) David, son of Jonathan Hall, was born in 1750 and when about ten years came with his parents to Walpole, New Hampshire. More than one David Hall was a soldier in the revolution, but the following record appears to belong to this David: Soldier in Captain Ellis's company, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Dearborn's regiment, 1777-80. He married, in 1778, Lydia Graves, daughter of John Graves Jr., of Walpole. The Graves family came to Walpole from Saybrook, Connecticut, David Hall's homestead was opposite the Preston Titus house. Children, born in Walpole: I. Rebecca, married, December 26, 1805, Samuel Martin. 2. David, born 1784, mentioned below. 3. Rhoda, married, July 23, 1807, Jonathan Russell Jr., and lived at Saxtons River, Ver- mont. 4. Lydia, married, January 2, 1806, Jonathan A. P. Bates. 5. Tirzah, married . Richard Russell and resided at Nunda, New York. 6. Ezra, married Priscilla Russell, daughter of Jeduthan, and resided on the homestead of his father ; kept the tavern ; died August 20, 1863. 7. Levi, born 1792, married Susannah Foster, daughter of Henry Foster ; married (second) Mary Britton, of Surry, New Hampshire.
(IV) David (2), son of David ( 1) Hall, was born at Walpole, New Hampshire, 1784. He settled at Walpole and married Lucinda D. Burbank, who died August 8, 1840, aged fifty- one years. Children, born at Walpole : I. David, October 1, 1815, mentioned below. 2. Prudence, married Joseph Norton. 3. Louisa,
married Edward Shattuck. 4. Levi H., settled in Georgia.
(V) David (3), son of David (2) Hall, was born at Walpole, New Hampshire, Octo- ber 1, 1815, died at Lexington, Massachusetts, January 19, 1885. He attended the district schools of his native town and worked for his father on the farm during his boyhood. When he was eighteen years old he was employed as stage driver on the route between Walpole and Keene and continued for many years, becoming well known to that section of the state and to the traveling public. He became proprietor of the stage line under the firm name of Hall & Morrill. This firm had the contract for carrying the mails and transacted much baggage, freight and passenger business. He finally sold his interest in the business to his partner and engaged in the hotel business at Henniker, New Hampshire, for a year. From there he went to Boston and became a partner in the firm of Shedd & Hall, auc- tioneers and appraisers, with offices at Hay- market square. After three years he retired from the firm and continued in business alone with offices in Faneuil Hall square. In addi- tion to auctioneering he carried on a jewelry business. At the end of three years he sold his business and opened a general store at Fall River, Massachusetts, under the firm name of Hall & Wilbur. The firm dealt in clothing, jewelry, boots and shoes, fancy goods, etc. and enjoyed a large and profitable trade. He sold out after ten years in this firm at Fall River and bought the old Jonathan Harrington farm of forty acres in Lexington, Massachu- setts, April, 1858, including the home of Jona- than Harrington, who was the last survivor of the revolutionary war in that town and section. Mr. Hall engaged in farming and market gardening and for a time had an excel- lent dairy and he became one of the most enterprising and successful market gardeners of his day in Lexington. When the town of Arlington installed its water works, about twenty acres of his farm were taken for this purpose. He built a fine residence just west of the old Harrington house and lived in it many years afterward. The new house, the old house and remainder of the farm were sold by Mrs. Hall, September, 1907, to the present owner, Albert Parsons, of Lexington. Mr. Hall was a Republican in politics and attended faithfully to the duties of citizenship. He attended the Unitarian church. In his younger days he served in the state of New
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Hampshire militia in the Walpole company. He was of sterling character, upright and honorable in all his dealings and of. jovial and cheerful disposition. He was interested in the temperance movement and other reforms. He married (first ) Jane Turner, of Alstead, New Hampshire. She died in 1845. He married (second) October 7, 1846, Mary Robbins Smith, born August 7, 1821, at Lexington, Massachusetts, died there June 25, 1876, daughter of Elias and Harriet (Hastings) Smith. of Lexington. Her father was a farmer. He married (third) August 8, 1876, Mrs. Susan Rebecca (Richards) Ensworth, widow of Thomas Ensworth, of Windsor, Vermont, and daughter of Chester and Fidelia (Whit- comb) Richards, of Hartford, Vermont. She survives her husband and resides on Massa- chusetts avenue, Lexington. Children of sec- ond wife: I. Jennie, born in Boston, 1848, died there May 6, 1857. 2. William Henry, Lexington, April 29, 1860, died September 13, 1860.
GRAVES The family of Graves is one of the most ancient in England. It went in with the Norman army, and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The name has been spelled De Grevis, De Greves, Greve, Grave, Greaves, Greeves and Graves. The coat-of-arms: Gules an eagle displayed or ducally crowned argent. Crest: A. demi- cagle displayed and erased or enfield round the body and below the wings by a ducal coro- net argent. The English family was repre- sented by many men of honor and distinction.
(I) Thomas Graves was born in England before 1585 and came to New England with his wife Sarah and five children, all of mature age, the youngest being about sixteen years old. They settled in Hartford, Connecticut, where Thomas was a property holder in 1645. He was exempted from training in the militia on account of his age, he being over sixty years old. In September, 1661, he removed to Hat- field, Massachusetts. He died in November, 1662, and his son Isaac was appointed admin- istrator of his estate in Massachusetts, and Nathaniel in Connecticut. Children, all born in England: Isaac, John, Samuel, Nathaniel, Elizabeth.
(II) John, second son of Thomas and Sarah · Graves, was born in England; about 1645, came to Hartford with his parents, settling in Wethersfield, where May 18, 1654, he became a freeman; he was several times afterward
selected to run the boundary line between Wethersfield and adjoining towns. He, with his wife and five children, accompanied his father and brother Isaac to Hatfield, and with his brother was killed September 19, 1677, when they were building a house for John Graves Junior, the Indians surprising them and giving them no time to protect themselves. He married (first) Mary, daughter of Lieu- tenant Samuel Smith, of Wethersfield, and (second) Mary, daughter of John Bronson, and widow of John Wyatt, of Haddam, Con- necticut, who after his death married for her third husband, Lieutenant William Allis, June 25. 1678, and she married ( fourth) Captain Samuel Gaylord. The children of John Graves were: John, born about 1653: Mary, about 1654; Isaac, about 1655 ; Samuel ; Sarah, about 1659: Elizabeth, December 6, 1662, at Hat- field; Daniel, December 7, 1664; Ebenezer, November 20, 1666: Bethiah, January 7, 1668, died January 21, 1668; and Nathaniel, June IO, 1671.
(III) Samuel, third son of John Graves, was born about 1657, at Wethersfield, Connec- ticut, removed with his parents to Hatfield, and about 1725 from there to Sunderland, Massachusetts, where he died March II, 1731. By his wife, Sarah, who died October 15, 1734, he had children as follows: Sarah, born July 1, 1687; Jonathan, October 27 1689: Abraham; David, December 9, 1693; Noah, December 19, 1695; Mehitable, December 19, 1696: Samuel, January 30, 1697.
(IV) Abraham, son of Samuel and Sarah Graves, was born December 12, 1691, at Hat- field, Massachusetts, and removed to Swanzey, New Hampshire, where he died October 28, 1777: he was one of the founders of the church at Swanzey, and a prominent citizen. He married, May 23, 1717, Thankful, daugh- ter of Robert Bardwell, born about 1697, died March 12. 1775, and their children were: Thankful. born February 10, 1718, died young ; Elizabeth, about 1719; Asahel, 1721 ; Abraham, 1723 ; Joshua, about 1725 : Lydia, 1726; Mary, 1728: Sarah, 1729; Mehitable, 1731 ; Elijah ; Abner, about 1734; and Lucy, about 1737.
(V) Elijah, son of Abraham and Thank- ful (Bardwell) Graves, was born about 1732, at Swanzey, New Hampshire, and married Submit (Scott) Dickinson, thought to be daughter of Joseph Scott, of Hatfield and Whately, Massachusetts, and they had two sons. Elijah. born about 1760, and Gad.
(VI) Gad, son of Elijah and Submit (Scott-
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Dickinson ) Graves, was born August 4, 1763, at Swanzey, New Hampshire, and removed to Canaan, Vermont, where he died June 28, 1841. He married, June 8, 1785, Mary, daughter of Samuel Smead, of Montague, Massachusetts, born February 18, 1767, died August 31, 1848, and their children were: Philena, born September 27, 1787; Sophia, July 30, 1789; Polly, December 14, 1791, died September 1, 1798; Louisa, born September 6, 1794. died August 31, 1798; Rufus, born September 1, 1799; Isaac, February 14, 1802; and Albert.
(VII) Albert, son of Gad and Mary (Smead) Graves, was born August 10, 1806, at Swanzey, New Hampshire, and died Octo- ber 14, 1894, at Chicopee, Massachusetts, where he resided after his marriage. He was a machinist, also a cabinet-maker. He married, May 27, 1832, Norella Maria Kenney, born February 13, 1814, died February 10, 1881, and they had two children: Albert Kenney, and Julia Maria, born July 3, 1840, married Amos O. Kenney, November 26, 1861, died August 9, 1882.
(VIII) Albert Kenney, only son of Albert and Norella Maria (Kenney) Graves, was born January 2, 1834, at Windsor, Vermont, and learned trade of machinist. He worked at this trade for some time at Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, and then removed to Holyoke, where he filled a position of master mechanic, and for twenty-eight years was employed as superintendent of the Holyoke Machine Com- pany. Later he removed to Chicopee, for sev- eral years was superintendent of Ames Manu- facturing Company, previous to working in Holyoke. He married, October 6, 1859, Lydia Ellen, daughter of Hugh Kennedy, grand- daughter of Dr. Kennedy, born April 19, 1839, and they had one child, Albert Melville.
(IX) Albert Melville, only son of Albert Kenney and Lydia Ellen ( Kennedy) Graves, was born November 10, 1862, at Holyoke, Massachusetts, but soon removed with his parents to Chicopee, where he received his education in the common and high school, and then spent four years studying at the Normal Art School, of Boston. Afterwards he spent another year in Boston, studying in various art schools and studios in Boston. Mr. Graves has opened a studio at his home in Chicopee, where he makes a specialty of landscape and portrait painting. lle married, December 29, 1882, Lillian Emma, daughter of William A. and Letitia (Graves) Pratt, born May 21. 1861. They have no children.
Abraham Bryant, immigrant BRYANT ancestor of this branch of the family, was born in England in 1647, where the name Bryant is traced back to Sir Guy de Briant, who lived in the reign of Edward III and whose descendants had a seat in Castle Hereford, Wales. The arms of the English family are: Three piles meeting near the base of the escutcheon, azure. Abraham Bryant's home was in Reading, now Wakefield, Massachusetts, on the south side of Elm street, west of the place of Joseph Hartshorn. He married (first) in 1664, Mary Kendall, died March 8, 1688, aged forty, daughter of Thomas Kendall, of Woburn. He married ( second) Ruth (Dodge) Frothingham, widow of Samuel Frothingham, of Charlestown. She died in 1693, childless. Children, all by first wife, born in Reading : I. Mary, 1666, married John Weston. 2. Rebecca, 1668, died 1670. 3. Abraham, 1671. 4. Thomas, 1674. 5. Anna, 1676. 6. William, 1678. 7. Kendall, 1680, married, 1704, Elizabeth Swaine. 8. Abigail, 1683. 9. Tabitha, 1685.
(I) John Bryant was a descendant of Abra- ham Bryant, for all the Bryants that settled in Lynn in his time were of the Reading family. Reading was an adjoining town and formerly part of Lynn. The records are lacking, but it is possible that John was son or grandson of Thomas Bryant, son of Abraham Bryant. John Bryant was born in 1722, died according to his gravestone at Lynnfield, October 5, 1795. He married (first) (intentions dated October 13, 1743, at Lynn ) Margaret Smith, of Beverly. Massachusetts. She died at Lynn, June 4. 1757, "of something supposed to breed in her brain"-very likely a tumor. The cause of death is found not infrequently on the Lynn records. He married (sec- ond) August 4, 1761, Anna Larcom,
of Beverly. He gave his residence then as Lynnfield. She was born in 1732, died August 24, 1812, at Lynnfield. Children: 1. John, died March 7. 1766, aged twenty-one years. 2. Mary, born at Lynn, May 14, 1746, married, October 9, 1765, Jephthah Tyler, of New Marl- borough, Massachusetts. 3. Jonathan, January 13. 1747-48, mentioned below. 4. Elizabeth,
November 10, 1749, married Emerson.
5. Sarah, May 14, 1753, married Parker. 6. lydia, June 15, 1755, at Lynn, married, Sep- tember 12, 1775, John Gowen, of Lynn. 7. Benjamin, October 6, 1757.
(II) Jonathan, son of John Bryant, was born at Lynn, Massachusetts, January 13, 1747-48, died April 4, 1778. His farm was at
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Lynnfield Centre opposite the old town hall, and a part of the property is now owned by John H. Hewes, whose wife is a descendant. He was in the revolution in Captain Ezra Newhall's company, Colonel John Mansfield's regiment, and answered the alarm at Lexing- ton, April 19, 1775, and served through the summer ; also in the same company, Colonel Israel Hutchinson's regiment, in the fall of that year, and receiving a bounty coat for ser- vices. He married, at Lynn, December 4, 1770, Sarah Norwood, born April 14, 1752, died June 30, 1829. She married (second) - Derby. Children : 1. John, born April 14, 1772, mentioned below. 2. Anna, 1773, died at Lynnfield, March 17, 1797. 3. Sarah, died young. All three children were baptized August 13, 1775.
(III) John (2), son of Jonathan Bryant, was born at Lynn, April 14, 1772, died Sep- tember II, 1827. The Lynn records give the date of his birth as April 14, 1771. He was executor of the will of his grandfather, John Bryant, and one of the heirs, his father having died when John was six years old. He was a prosperous farmer at Lynnfield and owned the Hart farm, which he bought in 1793. He added to it at various times by purchase and at his death his property was valued at four thousand dollars. In his will he divided the prop- erty equally between his eight children, making specific bequests to each. He married, April 28, 1807, Sarah Brown, born January 21, 1781, at Lynnfield, daughter of James and Lydia ( Nichols) Brown. Children: I. John Jr., born May 3. 1810, died March 13, 1895; mar- ried, December 29, 1835, Rebecca Richardson, of Townsend; children : i. John Warren Bryant, born October 9, 1836, died April 28, 1877, married, June 5, 1861, Cynthia A. Nel- son and had John Vilas, born October 3, 1863 (married, August 3, 1892, Alice V. Stone ), Laura, October 10, 1865 (married, June 3, 1886, Robert M. Christopher) and Maurice Albert, June 28, 1872; ii. Albert Richardson Bryant, born June 25, 1842, died September 20, 1901 ; married, June 29, 1865, Sarah Ellen Danforth. 2. Sally, February 21, 1813, died No- vember 12, 1875 ; married, November 5, 1840, William Smith: children: 1. William Bryant Smith, born July 29, 1851, died unmarried Octo- ber 4, 1883 ; ii. Lyman Brown Smith, March 22, 1855, married, November 5, 1896, Sarah Isa- bella Miller. 3. Jonathan, January 1I, 1815, mentioned below. 4. Brown, October 10, 1816, died at Rio Pecos, Mexico, January 13, 1868. 5. Anna, May 17, 1818. 6. Lydia Nichols,
February 19, 1820, died July 28, 1907; mar- ried, November 28, 1844, Edwin Mudge, of Danvers ; children : i. Francis Brown Mudge, born October 4, 1845, died September 8, 1855 ; ii. Lydianna Bryant Mudge, March 20, 1853, died October 8, 1855 ; iii. Sarah Wilson Mudge, April 12, 1857. 7. Maria, January 5, 1823, died unmarried November 10, 1895. 8. Ben- jamin, June 4. 1827, died unmarried March 7, 1899.
(IV) Jonathan (2), son of John (2) Bryant, was born at Lynnfield, January 11, 1815, died there September 20, 1906. He had a com- mon school education and at the age of four- teen was apprenticed to learn the trade of blacksmith of Joseph Spokesfield, of Reading. At the close of his apprenticeship he returned to his native town and started in business, his blacksmith shop being on the main road near the common. He did a good business, but in 1853 was induced to go to California. He went by steamer by way of the Isthmus, thence to Yreka, California. Here he worked at his trade and in three years had accumulated a handsome property. He returned to Lynn- field and resumed business. About this time he purchased forty acres of the old homestead, which he carried on in connection with his trade the remainder of his life. He built a more modern shop near the old one, and con- ducted it until about 1890, when he leased it. In 1896 he retired from active work. He owned about two hundred and fifty acres of fine farming land in Lynnfield and sold much of it at a large profit. His shrewd judgment and business sagacity made his opinions and advice valuable, and he was often consulted by his neighbors and friends. He was devoted to his home and family and was respected and honored by all who knew him. He and his wife were members of the Universalist church, and he served on the parish committee and in other church offices. He was a Democrat in politics until the civil war, and then became a strong Lincoln man, and afterward a Repub- lican. He served his party as delegate to various conventions, and was town treasurer and collector nine years, also road commis- sioner and postmaster. He married, October 3. 1839, Sarah Parker Spokesfield, born No- vember 5. 1816, died January 20, 1873, daugh- ter of Joseph and Sally ( Parker) Spokes- field, of Reading. Her father was the black- smith under whom Jonathan Bryant served his apprenticeship. He married (second) Febru- ary 1, 1874, Hannah ( Wiley) Pringle, born July 4, 1830, died February 25, 1884; and
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(third) November 1, 1885, Susan E. (Thomp- son) Green, born August 17, 1834, died May 29, 1908. Children: I. Parker, born June 3, 1842, mentioned below. 2. Sarah Frances, January 15, 1844, died at Millbury, March 15, 1908; married, November 1, 1876, Warren A. Harris, of Millbury ; children : i. Francis Sid- ney Bryant Harris, born February 4, 1878, died November 22, 1880; ii. Francis Warren Harris, June 17, 1882, died January 30, 1883 ; iii. Warren Bertram Harris, March 29, 1884, proprietor of Millbury Machine Works. 3. Alice Augusta, January 16, 1847, died Febru- ary 4, 1892 ; married, November 5, 1873, John Hawks Hewes. 4. Delia Anna, August 2, 1849, married James Albert Day ; child, Edith Ella Day, born February 4, 1876, married, Oc- tober 24, 1901, Elmore Colby Temple. 5. Ella Maria, November 30, 1850, died January 26, 1892 ; married, November 5, 1879, Thomas Simpson Lunt, of Newburyport ; children : Micajah Lunt, Thomas Bryant Lunt, Alice Frances Lunt. 6. Sidney, September 27, 1857, died March 22, 1865.
(V) Parker, son of Jonathan (2) Bryant, was born at Lynnfield, June 3. 1842. He attended the public schools and a private academy at Topsfield under Master Dutton, and at the age of fifteen was apprenticed to a cabinetmaker, Augustus Parker, of Reading. He remained with him until 1861, and in June of that year entered the employ of the E. & A. Mudge Company, shoe manufacturers of Dan- vers. The following September he entered Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College in Boston, afterwards accepting a position as salesman for the Mudge Company at their salesrooms at 39 Pearl street, Boston. For seven years he traveled for the company. With George B. Martin he formed a partnership for the sale of boots and shoes, under the firm name of George B. Martin & Bryant at 15 Pearl street. The firm handled the product of the factory at Tapleyville, Danvers. At the end of four years the partnership was dis- solved and the firm of Parker Bryant & Com- pany formed, continuing the business until the great fire of 1872, when the place of business in Boston was destroyed, entailing a great loss. Mr. Bryant paid his creditors in full, how- ever, and continued in business another year. He then sold out to D. H. Darling & Company of Wakefield and entered the employ of that firm. In November, 1874, he established the Warren stables on Warren street, Roxbury, and was in the livery stable business for the
next eighteen years. He also owned and con- ducted the Highland stables at the corner of Warren and Dudley streets, and another stable at Ocean Spray, Winthrop. In 1893 he took charge of the Beaconfield stable and a year later bought it. In 1896 he sold his stable interests and retired. He was the pioneer in fitting out four-horse drags for touring parties and his stables had an enviable reputation for style and handsome turnouts. In 1899 he again engaged in business, taking the extensive undertaking establishment founded in 1894 by his son at 1354 Beacon street. He removed afterward to his present location, 1337 Beacon street, Coolidge's Corner. He has a large patronage in that section of Boston and in Brookline. He established the firm of Bryant & Graham at 331 Central street, Newton Cor- ner, and sold it October, 1905, to William Short. He and his family attended the Har- vard Congregational Church at Coolidge's Corner, and he is a member of the Harvard Brotherhood of that church. In politics he is a Republican and has at various times served his party as delegate to senatorial and state conventions and on the ward committee. He is a member of Brookline Lodge, No. 886, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is chairman of the finance committee. He is a member of the Massachusetts Undertakers' Club, the Norfolk Republican Club, the Brook- line Republican Club and also of the Massa- chusetts Undertakers' Association.
He married, October 2, 1868, Alice Augusta Hardy, of Salem, Massachusetts, born Sep- tember 21, 1845, daughter of Augustus and Ann (Edwards) Hardy, of Salem. Her father was a manufacturer of sash, doors, and blinds at Salem. Children: I. Parker Hardy, born November 3, 1869, died December 14, 1893. 2. Charles Augustus, August 4, 1870, married (first) April 14, 1897, Martha Ann Flint, of Roxbury, born March 18, 1868, died July 9, 1898; (second) June 25, 1906, Mrs. Helen Cobb ( Holmes) Chase, of Pembroke, Massachusetts, born October 9, 1883, daugh- ter of Lester Franklin and Helen Pierpont (Cobb) Holmes; child of first wife: Martha Flint, born July 9, 1898. 3. Hattie Hamilton, February 27, 1873. 4. Fred Smith, October 20, 1878, married November 19, 1902, Eliza- beth Sellars, of Danvers, Massachusetts. 5. Fannie Edson, January 9, 1880, married, Sep- tember 10, 1902, Arthur E. Adams, of Brook- line ; children: Dorris Webber Adams, born June 2, 1905; Muriel, September 23, 1908.
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( For first generation see William Richards 1).
(II) Joseph, second son of
RICHARDS William the immigrant, and Grace Richards, was born in Plymouth or Scituate, Plymouth Colony, became with his brother John a pro- prietor of Worcester, Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1674, but the venture prov- ing unsuccessful he settled in Weymouth where he took the oath of freeman in 1681; was a fence viewer for the town in 1692-93, and made his will February 24, 1695-96. His estate was inventoried at £156, 3s on March 9, 1695-96. His first wife was Susan , by whom he had two sons and two daughters, and his second wife was Sarah - , by whom he had three sons and two daughters. His second wife became the executrix of his will, and she in the distribu- tion of the common lands of Weymouth on eight shares, one for each of the eight children of her late husband, drew one hundred and thirty-five acres. The children of Joseph and Susan Richards were born as follows : I. Joseph (q. v.) 2. Susanna, who probably married John Burrell in 1720. 3. Sarah, men- tioned in her father's will, and who married in 1730 William Davenport, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts. 4. James, born September 28, 1680. It was probably shortly after the birth of James that the mother died. The children of Joseph and Sarah Richards were: 5. Deborah, born October 19, 1684. 6. Benja- min, April 7, 1686, married Mehitable, daugh- ter of Isaac Alden, in 17II. She was a de- scendant of John and Priscilla Alden, of the. "Mayflower," 1620. She died after giving birth to five children : Mehitable, 1712; Joseph, 1714; Daniel, 1716; James, 1718; and Sarah, 1720; he married as his second wife Lydia Faxon, November 20, 1722, and she died in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, in 1788, aged ninety-two years. She was the mother by Benjamin Richards of six children, four sons and two daughters: John, 1723; Josiah, 1724; Seth, 1726; Ezra, 1728; Lydia, 1732; and Hannah, 1736. 7. William, April 12, 1688, was known as William, senior of Killingly, 1781. 8. Mary, March 6, 1689-90.
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