Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 20

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 886

USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 20

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).

Shelton. He was captain in the Second Mas- sachusetts Regiment of Infantry and died on the field of Cedar Mountain, August 1I, 1862.

Thomas Greaves Cary was a man of scholar- ly tastes, wrote with ease and elegance, and was an attractive speaker. Several pamphlets written by him to meet the political or com- mercial crisis of his day were considered by the leading men of the times to be of great value. His memoir of Thomas Handasyd Perkins is an interesting work, giving a vivid picture of one of the eminent merchants of old Boston.

Mr. Cary was president of the Boston Athenæum from 1844 to 1859. He was con- nected with the management of the "Perkins Institution for the Blind," (as it was then call- ed) and of various other works of philan- thropy.

This useful life ended on the third of July, 1859.

Thomas Handasyd Perkins, father of Mary Perkins, who married Thomas Greaves Cary, was born in Boston, December 15, 1764, and died in Brookline, Massachusetts, January II, 1854. His father, James Perkins, was a Bos- ton merchant, a man of influence and large means, and married December 29, 1755, Eliz- abeth, daughter of Thomas Handasyd Peck, importer, and dealer in furs and hats, of Bos- ton. Children of James and Elizabeth (Peck) Perkins, all born in Boston : Elizabeth, Janu- ary 18, 1756; Ann Maynard, May 25, 1759; James, March 30, 1761 ; Thomas, December 15, 1764; Samuel, May 24, 1767; Mary, May 24, 1769; Esther, March 28, 1771; Margaret, March 27, 1773.

Thomas Handasyd Perkins was educated in Boston public schools and privately, and after passing several years in a Boston count- ing house, visited his brother James in Santo Domingo, in 1785, and soon became associated with him in business pursuits. However, the climate of that region proved injurious to his health, and he soon returned to Boston and devoted his attention to the interests of the firm in this country. In 1789 he went as su- percargo to Batavia and Canton, and in the latter city established the firm of Perkins & Co., and had charge of its business there ; he also made a number of successful ventures in the Pacific, on the northwest coast of Amer- ica. The principal firm of which he was a member was that of J. & T. H. Perkins, which for thirty years was remarkable both for the magnitude and success of its enterprises, al- though during the negro insurrection in the

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West Indies in 1795 the firm suffered very heavy losses.

James Perkins, senior partner of the firm, died in 1822, and soon afterward Mr. Thomas H. Perkins retired from active business pur- suits. In 1805 he was elected to a seat in the senate of the general court of Massachusetts, and during much of that time for the next eighteen years represented Boston in one or the other of the branches of that body. In 1827 he was the principal founder and incor- porator of the Quincy railroad, for which the claim is made that it was the first railroad constructed and operated in this country. About this time he was commissioned lieuten- ant-colonel of Massachusetts militia, hence the title of Colonel, by which he was familiarly addressed. In 1823 he gave his house and lands in Pearl street, Boston, a property conserva- tively estimated to be worth $50,000, for what afterward became known as the Perkins In- stitution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind. The only condition of this munificent gift was that the sum of $50,000 should be raised by popular subscription for its main- tenance, which was done, although he also contributed to that fund. He was one of the largest donors to the fund for the establish- ment of the Massachusetts General Hospital, the largest contributor to the Mercantile Li- brary Association, and with other members of his family gave more than $60,000 to the Bos- ton Athenaeum. He also took an active part in the erection of Bunker Hill monument, and likewise was deeply interested in urging for- ward the work of completion of the Washing- ton monument. While living in Europe and at other times he wrote diaries and autobio- graphical sketches which in part were publish- ed in Mr. Thomas Greaves Cary's memoir of him. In 1788 Thomas Handasyd Perkins mar- ried the only daughter of Simon Elliot, Es- quire, and this was a union which lasted more than sixty years. It was begun with the ne- cessity for rigid economy, but the connection doubtless gave an important turn to his busi- ness career, for it led to an intimate acquaint- ance with Captain James Magee, a relative of Mrs. Perkins, who had made one voyage to China ; and it was in the ship "Astrea," Cap- tain Magee, master, that he sailed as super- cargo, bound for Batavia and Canton in 1789.

The surname Guild, Guld, Gulde GUILD or Guile, is of Scotch origin, the records showing the surname as early as 1449, when one Alexander Gulde owned property at Sterling. In the sixteenth

century we find the family in Dundee, and in the seventeenth in Forfarshire and Perth. The Scotch family may have descended from the Guille family of the Isle of Guernsey, the original seat of which was on the bay called Saint, in the parish of St. Martin. Accord- ing to tradition they were there before or at the time of the Conquest. At the dedication of the St. Pierre du Bois Church, in 1167, John Guille is mentioned as one of the honor- able gentlemen present. The name of Guille is said to be Norman, probably the Norman form of the Latin Aegidius, or Giles, in Eng- lish. The Scotch coat-of-arms of Guilds closely resembles that of the Guernsey family named Guille.

The American families of Guild and Guile are descended from two brothers, John Guild, mentioned below, and Samuel Guild, who with their sister Ann arrived in Massachusetts about 1636 and settled in Dedham. They were probably quite young when they came, and it is conjectured that Ann was the oldest, being about twenty, John about eighteen, and Sam- uel sixteen years of age. Ann married, March 16, 1638, James Allen, and in 1649 settled in Medfield, Massachusetts, adjoining Dedham. Samuel Guild went in 1640 to Newbury, Mas- sachusetts, and soon afterward joined the set- tlement at Haverhill.

(I) John Guild, immigrant ancestor of this branch of the family, was born probably in England about 1616, and came to America in 1636, with his brother Samuel and sister Ann. He was admitted to the church at Dedham, July 17, 1640, and the same year bought twelve acres of upland upon which he built a house, which was occupied by himself and descendants for more than two hundred years. He was admitted a freeman May 10, 1643, and as one of the original grantees was as- signed three roods and twelve rods of land, to which he added by further grants and pur- chases much real estate in Dedham, Wren- tham, Medfield and Natick. He was thor- oughly honest in all his dealings, industrious and frugal, modest in his deportment, and re- tiring in his habits. He never held any of- fice, and the town records show that he at- tended town meetings but once in several years, and then on an occasion of considerable excitement in relation to making alterations and additions to the meeting house. He mar- ried, June 24, 1645, Elizabeth Crooke, of Rox- bury, who died August 31, 1699. She was dis- missed from the Roxbury church July 4, 1649. He died October 4, 1682. His will is dated October 3, and proved November 3, 1682.

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Children : I. John, born August 22, 1646; died young. 2. Samuel, born November 17, 1647; mentioned below. 3. John, born No- vember 29, 1649; married Sarah Fisher. 4. Eliezur, born November 30, 1653; died June 30, 1655. 5. Ebenezer, born December 21, 1657 ; died April 21, 1661. 6. Elizabeth, born January 18, 1660. 7. Benjamin, born May 25, 1664; died young.

(II) Samuel, son of John Guild, was born in Dedham, Massachusetts, November 7, 1647, and died there January 1, 1730. He was a soldier in King Philip's war in 1675, a pri- vate in Captain Mosely's company. He was admitted a freeman at Salem in May, 1678, and in 1703 was one of a committee to invest and manage the school funds; was selectman of Dedham, 1693 to 1713; and deputy to the general court in 1719. He married, Novem- ber 29, 1767, Mary Woodcock, born March 9, 1631-32, daughter of Samuel and Ann ( Her- ring) Woodcock, of Dedham. Children : I. Samuel, born October 12, 1677; married Sarah Hartshorn. 2. Nathaniel, born Janu- ary 12, 1678; mentioned below. 3. Mary, born May 9, 1681 ; died May 27, 1768; mar- ried, May, 1714, John Fuller, of Dedham. 4. John, born June 18, 1683; died October 29, 1684. 5. Deborah, born September 16, 1685. 6. John, born October 2, 1687; married Abi- gail Robinson. 7. Israel, born June 11, 1690; married Sarah 8. Ebenezer, born July 23, 1692; married Abigail Daggett. 9. Joseph, born September 13, 1694; married Abigail Fisher, Hannah Curtis and Beulah Peck. 10. Elizabeth, born April 14, 1697.

(III) Nathaniel, son of Samuel Guild, was born in Dedham, January 12, 1678, and died there January 28, 1774. He was appointed by Governor Belcher, October 10, 1736, ensign in Captain Eben Woodward's Second Foot Com- pany. He married Mehitable Farrington, or Hartshorn, who died February 10, 1771. Chil- dren: I. Mehitable, born February 18, 1707- 08; married, September 23, 1726, Jacob Ellis. 2. Mary, born October 24, 1709; married John Morse. 3. Nathaniel, born March 20, 1712; married (first) Mary Boyden; ( second) Ann Rhodes. 4. Susanna, born November 23, 1713; died September 2, 1714. 5. Sus- anna, born June 6, 1717; died September 13, 1742 : married December 11, 1735, Jacob Hart. 6. Samuel, born July 13, 1719. 7. Rebecca, born September 6, 1721 ; died April 21, 1793; married, January 28, 1742, Deacon Samuel Cony. 8. Sarah, born April 18, 1723 ; married, November I, 1748, Jonathan Billings Jr. 9.

Moses, born May 14, 1725; married Rhoda Mann. 10. Aaron, mentioned below.

(IV) Aaron, son of Nathaniel Guild, was born in Dedham, April 5, 1728, died at South Dedham, February 3, 1818. He was known as Esquire Aaron, and more commonly as Major Aaron. He was in the Revolution, in Captain Fales' company, Colonel Nichols' regiment, as ensign, and answered the Lex- ington alarm. The family genealogy says that when the news of the war came, he with his son Aaron was plowing in a field in front of the house, and that he left his oxen and plough standing in the furrow to hasten to the scence of action, arriving in time to fire upon the British, who were fleeing towards Boston. During the war he held various of- fices. Member of committee of safety, 1774; muster master, 1775; in 1779 was a member of the committee to make provisions for the families of non-commissioned officers and sol- diers, and in 1780-81 served on the commit- tee of correspondence and safety. He mar- ried (first) June 1, 1752, Sarah Cony, born April 18, 1733, died February 18, 1755, daughter of Nathaniel Jr., and Sarah Cony. He married (second) Anna Cony, born Sep- tember 23, 1728, daughter of Nathaniel Sr. and Abigail (Ayer) Cony. He married (third) December 1I, 1777, Sarah May, of Stoughton, a widow, who died June 6, 1812. He is said to have brought her home with her three daughters and household goods in an ox cart. Children of first wife : I. Aaron, born January 4, 1753; married Lydia Bacon. 2. Oliver, born January 29, 1755; married Anna Bullard. Children of second wife: 3. Sarah, born August 27, 1757, died January 23, 1842; married, October 18, 1778, Abiathar Fales. 4. Jacob, born April 23, 1760, married Chloe May. 5. Annah, born March 19, 1762; married. March 18, 1784, Jonathan Fuller. 6. Joel, born January 20,, 1765; mentioned below. 7. Abner, born May 28, 1767; died May 12, 1792. 8. Priscilla, born April 23, 1770; married November 24, 1789, David Lewis. 9. John, born August 5, 1772 ; married Rebecca Eaton. 10. Nathaniel, born June 23, 1775 ; married Hannah Tyler.

(V) Joel, son of Aaron Guild, was born in South Dedham, January 20, 1765, and died there January 14, 1842. He was a farmer and blacksmith at South Dedham. He mar- ried, January 4, 1789, Hannah Weatherbee, born May 13, 1766, died January 14, 1842. Children, born in South Dedham: I. Clar- issa, born June 23, 1792; died March 3, 1854;

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married, September 7, 1815, Jesse Morse. 2. Reuben, born September 20, 1793; married Olive Morse. 3. Joel, born February II, 1796; mentioned below. 4. Abner, born No- vember 27, 1798; married Mary Fairbanks. 5. Benjamin, born June 14, 1800; married Electa A. Keith. 6. Horace, born November 24, 1802; married Amelia Fisher. 7. Hannah, born May 25, 1805; married, June 25, 1825, Rufus Ellis. 8. Warren, born May 1, 1808; married Julia A. Woodward. 9. Louisa, born June 2, 18II; married (first) February 4, 1829, Lewis Ellis; (second) November 20, 1843, Samuel Green.

(VI) Joel, son of Joel and Hannah (Weatherbee) Guild, was born in South Dedham, February II, 1796, and died in Nor- wood ( formerly South Dedham), December 3. 1865. He was a blacksmith and farmer, and lived in that part of Dedham which became Norwood. He married, at Holliston, June I, 1822, Lucretia Phipps, born May 15, 1801, died January 14, 1890, daughter of William and Lucretia (Plympton) Phipps, of Ashland. Children : I. Joel Anson, born April 13, 1823; mentioned below. 2. Lucretia Jane, born September 27, 1825; married, April 24, 1854, John Newell Smith, of South Walpole, who died April 15, 1881 ; children: i. Walter Newell, born May 19, 1855, married Sarah Chase, of Taunton, Massachusetts, in August, 1883 ; ii. Melville Guild, born 1857, died 1908, married, in 1887, Hattie Lawrence Bennett, of Providence Rhode Island, died 1891 ; chil- dren : Carl Ellis, 1888-1891, and Hattie Law- rence, 1891-1891 ; iii. Lillian Jane, born July 19, 1859. married May 22, 1879, Charles Her- bert Carter, of Franklin, Massachusetts ; chil- dren : Blanche Newell, born September 17, 1881, married H. Howard Noyes, of Chicago, April 24, 1907, child Newell Carter born July 15, 1908; Florence Putnam, November 4, 1883-September 6, 1884; Herbert Melville, born January 2, 1891 ; iv. Ada Estella, born March 19, 1870, married, October, 1894, Charles Heritage Woodbury, who died April 26, 1907, aged 27; child, Marion Guild, born May 5, 1903. 3. John Phipps, born March 23, 1828, died young. 4. Emily Augusta, born October 3, 1836; married, February II, 1856, Lyman B. Nichols, of West Amesbury; chil- dren : i. Emma Alcena, born March 26, 1857, married, November 24, 1881, Charles F. Foss ; child, Dr. Ralph Emery, born January 22, 1883, now of Peabody; ii. Horace Lyman, born February 22, 1860, died February II, 1864; iii. Herbert Foster, born August 6,

1862, died February 6, 1864; iv. Lizzie Alice, born December 12, 1864, married William Farmer, of Salem, who died at Thomas Hos- pital, in Peabody, Massachusetts, October 27, 1909; child, Ruth Nichols, born in Salem, Oc- tober 5, 1890; v. Louis Lyman, born April 2, 1867, married, June 16, 1897, Mary Louise Teague, of Peabody ; children: Philip Gard- ner, born in Peabody, April 7, 1899, and John Teague, born in Peabody, December 15, 1905; vi. Jennie Florence, born October 31, 1869; vii. Edmund Sargent, born October 8, 1872, married, October 5, 1898, Alice Merrill Saw- yer, of Peabody ; children: Horace Sawyer, born in Peabody, July 2, 1899, and Emily Guild, born in Peabody, March 12, 1901 ; viii. Marion Rogers, born August 7, 1875; ix. Harry Guild, born June 15, 1883, married, October 14, 1908, Grace Silsbee Kezar, of Sa- lem; child : Kezar Guild, born 1909. 5. Susan Elizabeth, born February II, 1842.

(VII) Joel Anson, son of Joel Guild, was born at South Deadham, (now Norwood) Massachusetts, April 13, 1823, died in Brook- line, March 15, 1890. He was educated in pri- vate schools and lived on the homestead. On the death of his father in 1865, his mother continued to live on the place a short time, then moved to the Phipps homestead in Ashland, Massachusetts, and afterwards lived with her daughter, Mrs. Emily Nichols, in Peabody, Massachusetts, until her death in January, 1890, at an advanced age. When a young man he worked in the office of the registrar of deeds at Dedham, and later for Benjamin Boyden, in South Dedham, as clerk in his grocery store. He purchased a grocery busi- ness of Jerry Davenport near the old Punch Bowl Tavern, in Brookline, Massachusetts, in 1847, and for many years conducted it with success. He erected a brick business block which bears his name, at the corner of Wash- ington and Boylston streets, Brookline, a few years later, and located his store there, build- ing up a very extensive business, which he conducted until his retirement in 1876, when he sold his interest to Francis H. Bacon. Mr. Guild held many positions of public and pri- vate trust, being on the board of assessors of the town of Brookline for a period of eleven years, previous to 1876 for a number of years a prominent member and treasurer of the First Parish Church, also treasurer of the Bethany Sunday School building fund for two years, a member of Beth-horon Lodge of Free Masons until his death, having served as treasurer of the same for a long period. He

Jetrisonquila

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was also treasurer of the Brookline Social Club, vice-president of the Brookline Savings Bank for several years, president of the First National Bank from its organization until his death, and treasurer of the Brookline Electric Light Company for two years before its con- solidation with the Brookline Gas Company. He was faithful to every trust and efficient in every office that he filled. It was a lifelong habit to give to every duty and task that fell to his lot the very best of his powers, working conscientiously and thoroughly. His final ill- ness was caused by overwork at a time when the burden of the assessor's office fell chiefly upon him. Those who were in his employ were among his most sincere friends, for he was considerate and just and never unreasonable in his demands or harsh in his dealings with employees. He possessed to the fullest degree the love and respect of those intimately asso- ciated with him in social and business life. He was pleasant and agreeable as a companion, of uniform good temper and kindly disposition. He was distinctly popular in all walks of life, and had many friends among the humble as well as the influential, the poor as well as the rich. He was especially devoted to his family and honored and beloved in his home. He loved music and sang for many years in the famous Handel and Haydn Society of Bos- ton. In politics he was a Republican, and for a considerable period was active and influen- tial in the choice of candidates and in the sup- port of the policies of his party. He was a lover of nature, and cultivated flowers in his garden as a form of recreation, enjoying the work. He was a member of the Massa- chusetts Horticultural Society. He loved ani- mals, especially dogs and horses, and owned some fine thoroughbreds. He was fond of hunting and fishing, spending many happy hours in the woods, and numbered many sportsmen of similar tastes among his friends. During the funeral services the stores in Brookline were closed as a mark of honor, and flags floated at half mast on all the public buildings. The inscription on his monument is "Well done, good and faithful servant".

He married (first) December 22, 1851, Sus- anna Howard Foster, of Brookline, born Oc- tober 22, 1822, died April 22, 1873, daughter of Lemuel and Sarah (Ford) Foster. He married (second) September 1, 1874, Sarah Ella Maynard, born at Portsmouth, Rhode Is- land, March 28, 1850, daughter of William and Patience (Brownell) Maynard, of Ports- mouth. By his first wife he had one child,

Sarah Foster, born in Brookline, July 12, 1855, married, October 29, 1878, George Rogers, of Brookline, born in Boston, May 29, 1851, died at Bar Harbor, Maine, August 13, 1908. Children : I. Madelaine Guild, born September 16, 1879, a student at Smith Col- lege. 2. Grace Hovey, born January 31, 1881. 3. Ethel Dana, born September 23, 1883.

John Rogers, grandfather of George Ro- gers, aforementioned, was born in Gloucester, December 1, 1748. He was a graduate of Harvard College, 1767, and died in Boston, November 24, 1827.

Obituary notice of John Rogers Esq., who died at Gloucester, November 24, 1827: The death of the venerable John Rogers Esq., of this town, has already called forth expressions of respect for his character, and gratitude for his public services and Christian example, which are awarded only to "the memory of the just". But our fellow-citizens will not be satisfied without a public record of his vir- tues, and of the principal services which he rendered to the community. We shall trace his history to Rev. John Rogers, of London. Prebendary of St. Paul's, Vicar of St. Sepul- chre's, and Reader of Divinity. This eminent defender of Protestantism was one of the principal authors of the first English trans- lation of the Bible. His learning and zeal ren- dered him a dangerous opponent of the Church of Rome; and he was selected as the first martyr in Queen Mary's reign. He was burnt at Smithfield, February 4, 1555.

(I) John Rogers, of London, left ten chil- dren. It is not known from which of these the family was descended, to which our friend belonged; but there are several facts, which lead us to suppose that his name was John. It is known only that some of them were minis- ters, and that the one to which we refer, died at an early age.

(III) Rev. John Rogers, of Dedham, in Essex, was educated by one of his uncles. He was first settled at Haverhill, in Suffolk, but for the last thirty-one years of his life was a highly distinguished preacher at Dedham.

(IV) Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, second son of John Rogers, of Dedham, was born at Ha- verhill, England, about the year 1598, and was educated at Emanuel College, Cambridge. Af- ter preaching about ten years he removed to America, to avoid the storm of persecution. He arrived in November, 1635; and in 1638, February 20th, was ordained colleague pastor with Mr. Ward or Mr. Norton, of the church

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at Ipswich, Massachusetts. He died July 2nd, 1655, aged 57. Nathaniel Rogers possessed a slender constitution and feeble health; but he was eminently distinguished for his learn- ing and piety. Cotton Mather says of him : "He was one of the greatest men that ever set foot on the American strand."

(V) Rev. John Rogers, eldest son of Na- thaniel, was born in England, about the year 1630; came with his father to New England, and was educated at Harvard College. He preached occasionally at Ipswich, but devoted most of his time to the practice of physic until 1683, when he was chosen president of Har- vard College. He died on Commencement day, July 2nd, 1684.

(VI) Rev. John Rogers, born July 7th, 1666, was eldest son of the former. He was educated at Harvard College, and settled as colleague pastor with Rev. Jabez Fitch, at Ips- wich. He was an eminent preacher, and a pattern of virtue, and continued in the min- istry till his death, December 28th, 1745.

(VII) Rev. John Rogers, eldest son of the former, was born January 19th, 1692; was educated at Harvard College, and settled at Kittery. He died October 16th, 1773.

(VIII) Rev. John Rogers, pastor of the church in the Town Parish, Gloucester, was the eldest son of Mr. Rogers of Kittery. He was born August 7th, 1719; educated at Har- vard College, and died October 4th, 1732.

(IX) John Rogers Esq., was the eldest son of Rev. John Rogers, of Gloucester. He was born at Gloucester, December I, (old style) 1748; was educated for college partly by his father and partly by his grandfather at Kit- tery, and graduated at Cambridge in 1767. He died November 24th, 1827. Immediately after he graduated he commenced teaching a school in Manchester. He afterwards engaged in the same employment at Gloucester, and continued in it for more than forty years. In 1782 he was elected town clerk, and continued faith- fully to perform the duties of that office till the time of his death, a period of almost forty- six years. His integrity and the stability of his principles were so well known and highly appreciated, that his claims to this office were scarcely disputed, even in times of the highest political excitement. It has been justly re- marked, that this fact is also highly creditable to his fellow-citizens.

Mr. Rogers held the office of notary public for many years ; and discharged the duties of

several temporary offices with uniform pro- priety. As a man of business, he was dis- tinguished for punctuality and exactness. These, added to his integrity and a mind clear, prompt, and vigorous, were the qualifications which he brought to every duty. It was easy at all times to discover in him that indepen- dence of principle, which rendered his ances- tors so eminent in times of persecution. It is not common in these days, when all opinions are tolerated and the way to heaven is ren- dered so broad that few or none can miss it, for any one to find occasion to manifest the boldness and inflexibility which distinguished the martyrs ; but in Mr. Rogers they showed themselves so fully, even in the smallet con- cerns, as to leave no doubt that his virtue was equal to any trial.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 20

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 886

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 886