Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 62

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 62

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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ple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He was a member and treas- urer of Grace Episcopal Church Parish in Am- herst. He trained himself for a sharpshooter in the time of the civil war, and enlisted for one hundred days but hostilities closed before he was mustered in. He had many staunch friends, as many, one of them said, as any man in western Massachusetts. He was of quiet, rather retiring character, but was gen- erous and warm hearted, and his lovable char- acter gained the perfect confidence and firm friendship of almost everyone who came into close contact with him. He was a tremendous worker, and his long hours and continuous efforts caused the weakening which made his disease fatal. By his persistent effort he built up the business of his Springfield store to double that which he had set as his aim. He (lied of disease of the kidneys. He had not worked quite so hard during the last few months of his life, and would soon have re- tired into a well-earned rest had longer life been given him. Few men have more general respect and affection of family, friends and employes than was given to Henry Adams.

He married, September 23, 1873, Miranda Sarah Morgan, of Waterford, Connecticut, born in Waterford, October 20, 1849, died February 27, 1899, daughter of Enoch F. and Clarissa (Ayer) Morgan. Children : I. Charles Baker, see below. 2. Infant, died un- named. 3. Mary Elizabeth, born in Amherst, December 6, 1880; student at Vassar College two years ; married, September, 19, 1904, Ed- ward Josiah Savage, of Cromwell, Connecti- cut. They now live in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, where Mr. Savage is connected with the Sholar Business Building Service. They have one child, Mary Elizabeth, born in New Haven, Connecticut, July, 1907. 4. Henry, born June 5, 1883; lives in Imperial, California.

(IX) Dr. Charles Baker, eldest child of Henry and Miranda S. (Morgan) Adams, was born in Washington, D. C., June 30, 1874. He received his preparatory education in the pri- vate and public schools of Amherst, Massa- chusetts, graduating from the high school in 1892. He entered Amherst College the same year, and graduated A. B. in 1896. Selecting the practice of medicine as his future employ- ment. he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, from which he re- ceived his degree of M. D. in 1900. After a year's experience as an interne in Mercy Hos- pital, Springfield, Massachusetts, he engaged

in the general practice of his profession at Pittsfield, where he remained three and a half years. From March, 1905, to September, 1907, he was in the medical department of the industrial division of the Columbian Life In- surance Company. While in New York he was appointed first assistant in the out-patient department of the New York Hospital, surgi- cal division. He engaged in private practice in Newburg, but was there only a short time before he was called to Springfield, Massachu- setts, by the fatal illness of his father. Since that time he has resided in Springfield, and conducted the drug store which his father had. In October, 1908, Dr. Adams engaged in the practice of medicine in Springfield, making a specialty of genito-urinary diseases. He is a member of the Springfield Academy of Medi- cine, and the Massachusetts Medical Society. He is a member of Crescent Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons.

He married, May, 1907, Beatrice Smith, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who was born August 9, 1881, daughter of Rudolph Maxi- milian and Miriam (Keyser) Smith, of Phila- delphia. They have one child, Beatrice Eliza beth, born November 30, 1909.

ADAMS John Adams, immigrant ancestor of this branch of the family in America, was born in Crediton, Devonshire, England, in 1685, and died May 10, 1754, aged sixty-nine years. His grave in Franklin cemetery is marked by a stone. He was forced to serve as a cabin boy on a British man-of-war which sailed to America. At Boston the boy refused to return to the ship, and a reward was offered for his capture. He was found at Medfield, seized, and mounted upon a horse, started for Boston, but managed to escape. He had a brother Peter, and a por- tion of a letter written at London by him to his brother John, is still in existence. It is as follows :

"London, April ye 25th, 1730.

"Loveing Brother :- This day I received a letter from Our Cousin Samuel Adams and the letter you sent them. I never knew you was living till about 10 days agoe and sent down for your letter. I have been married in Lon- don this Twelfth year and have seen many voyages to New England late years. About fourten years agoe I put your name in the News at Boston too hear of you but not hear- ing of you then, I gave you over for Dead. My name was allways in ye news, I being Master of a vessel. so that if you had but

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minded the news you might have thought of me. If this comes to your hand I hope you will lett he hear from you. Our Sister is Edward Mounie's widow of four Children. Joseph is dead many years agoe, and our Uncle Nathl. and Roger and Cousin James. There is liveing beside our sister and 4 children, Cousin Samuel and Seven Children, and Aunt Adams and three (the rest of the page miss- ing and the other side follows). If you should receive this letter, I would have you mind the directions I have Wrote and the first of your neighbours that Goes to Boston give it to them and Desire them to goe to the Coffee house and there are bags that belong to the Ships that are coming to London, and it will come as safe as If you had brought it yourself. If you should Goe to Boston yourself I would have you call on my Landlady Mrs. Hanah Dem- ings at the South End."

Peter afterwards married Mrs. Demings. and settled in Beaufort, North Carolina. John settled in Wrentham, Massachusetts, and was one of the first settlers in that part of the town now South Franklin. He was a weaver by trade, and a farmer. His farm remained in the family many generations. What remained of the first house was destroyed in a great wind storm in 1815. His will is dated May 8, 1754, two days before his death. He mar- ried, September 24, 1713, Sarah Fairbank, born March 22, 1690, died May 13, 1754. daughter of John and Hannah Fairbank of Wrentham. Children, born in Wrentham: I. Ensign John, June 18, 1715; died May 30, 1793; lived in Wrentham; married Rachei Adams. 2. Mary, March 15, 1716-7; died 1801 ; married Jabez Fisher. 3. Sarah, Feb- ruary 15, 1718-9; died 1762; married Mat- thew Smith. 4. Hannah, March 25, 1721 ; died 1792; married Michael Metcalf. 5. Peter, February 2, 1722-3; mentioned below. 6. Abigail, February 14, 1725. 7. Ann, Febru- ary 7, 1728. 8. Esther, March 8, 1732; died 1763. 9. Elizabeth, July 14, 1735; married Henry Wilson.

(II) Peter, son of John Adams, was born in Wrentham, February 2, 1722-3, and died March 12, 1802. He succeeded to the old homestead, where he lived all his life. He married, March 10, 1751, Esther Ward, born February 17, 1732, died November 11, 1809. Children, born in Wrentham: I. Jemima. March 16, 1752; died October 20, 1790; mar- ried Jesse Robbins ; lived at Union, Maine. 2. Captain Joel, July 21, 1753 ; died October 23, 1830 ; married Jemima Robbins ; was in the rev-

olution ; lived at Union, Maine. 3. Molly, No- vember 7, 1755; died June 26, 1757. 4. Peter, February 24, 1758; died September 27, 1778; died of fever while in the revolutionary serv- ice. 5. Eunice, February 24, 1760; died Au- gust 1, 1853; married Calvin Metcalf. 6. Ward, November 28, 1762; died October 25, 1792; married Olivia Daggett. 7. Junia, Sep- tember 26, 1765; died August 15, 1775. 8. Esther, July 15, 1767; died November 23. 1817; married Eli Taft. 9. James, May 6. 1769 ; mentioned below. 10. Apollos, Febru- ary 24, 1771 ; died September 4, 1775. II. Nehemiah, January II, 1773; died December 14, 1854 ; married Mary Clark.

(III) James, son of Peter Adams, was born at Franklin, May 6, 1769, and died there April 16, 1830. He owned a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, on the road from Franklin to South Franklin, and was a prosperous farmer and prominent citizen. He served as tax collector and justice of the peace. While in Dedham on official business he met with an accident, running a pitchfork into his knee. Blood poisoning resulted and his leg was am- putated, but death occurred soon afterward. He was a deacon in Dr. Nathaniel Emmons's church at Franklin. He married (first) Sep- tember 25, 1795, Sarah Bacon, born at Frank- lin, March 13, 1768, died 1806, daughter of Seth and Abigail ( Whiting ) Bacon; (second) May, 1808, Lucy Fairbanks, born July 19, 1789, died July 26, 1878, daughter of Levi and Molly ( Fuller ) Fairbanks. Children: I. Chloe Fales, born January 1, 1797; died July 23, 1897 ; married, October 15, 1821, Joseph Addison Metcalf. 2. Thomas Bacon, born January 16, 1799 ; mentioned below. 3. James, born October, 1800 ; died 1868; married Caro- line Brooks. Children of second wife: 4. Sarah Bacon, born June 27, 1809; married, June 21, 1838, Rev. Ebenezer W. Robinson. 5. Peter, born April 3, 1811; married Clarissa Richardson. 6. Lucy Maria, born March 19, 1817: married, April 21, 1840, James Bige- low.

(IV) Thomas Bacon, son of James Adams. was born in Franklin, June 16, 1799, and died at Hilliston, June 16, 1860. He went to school until he was ten years of age, and remained with his father on the farm until he was twenty-one. He then fitted himself for a teacher, and taught school at Winthrop, Maine, and vicinity a few years. He then learned the trade of tanner, which he followed for a time. He and his cousin Joel Adams went into partnership in the tanning business at

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Readfield, Maine. From 1831 to 1838 he was engaged in farming at Winthrop, Maine, and then removed. to Holliston, Massachusetts, where he carried on the Traverse tannery a few years. Subsequently he became a finisher of boots and shoes in the factory of William S. Batcheller. His home was on Prospect street, where he died of consumption. He was a man of quiet tastes and manners, but of strong religious and temperance principles. He was a Republican in politics, and an early abo- litionist. He was a member of the Orthodox church at Holliston. When a young man he belonged to the Franklin militia. He married. December 26, 1827, Elizabeth Adams, of Read- field, Maine, born June 20, 1802, died August 27. 1877, daughter of Captain Eli and Esther (Harding) Adams. Her father was a black- smith and farmer, and served on coast guard in 1814. Children: 1. John, born September 3. 1828: died September II, 1828. 2. Esther Harding, born February 6, 1830; married. January, 1862, John Allen, of Franklin; chil- dren: i. Edward Bernard Allen, born Febru- ary 4, 1863; ii. Susan Augusta Allen, Sep- tember 10, 1865. 3. Sarah Elizabeth. born May 25, 1832 ; married, July 1, 1863, Henry C. Gay, of West Medway ; children : i. Emma D., born August 20, 1866, died November 15, 1866: ii. Hattie Aurelia, born May 1, 1869, married Frederick Moore; iii. Edith Lillian. born February 16, 1872, died November 13. 1880. 4. Catherine Cochran, born September I, 1834. 5. Abigail, born February 27, 1837 ; died August 9. 1854. 6. Harriet, born June 28, 1840; died February, 1880. 7. James Thomas, mentioned below.

(V) James Thomas, son of Thomas Bacon Adams. was born at Holliston, October 16. 1844. He attended the public and high schools of his native town and Wilbraham Academy. During his youth he worked in the shoe fac- tory at Holliston when not in school, and at nineteen began to work regularly in the shoe factory of William S. Bachellor at Holliston. In 1866 he removed to West Medway, and was employed in the shoe factory of L. A. O. Partridge. Afterward he was in the shipping department of Charles E. Whitney's shoe fac- tory at Medway for eight years, and shipping clerk in the factory of J. Warren Thompson for six years. For two years he was night watchman in the Sanford Mills, and for three years and a half clerk in the grocery store of W. H. Norton in Medway. He began busi- ness as a grocer on his own account in Febru- ary, 1889. in Medway, and has built up a large

and prosperous business. In addition to gro ceries he deals in grain and feed of all kinds. Many of his customers are in the adjoining town of Franklin. His son, Walter R. Adams, though still a member of the firm of Adams Brothers, of Needham, is a clerk in his father's store. Mr. Adams owns a homestead on Vil -- lage, and recently purchased the Oren A. Mason homestead in Medway. He is a mem- ber of the First Congregational Church of Medway, and has served on various commit- tees. In 1908 he was elected deacon. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and has served as dele- gate to various nominating conventions. He is a member of Medway Lodge, No. 163, Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand, and member of the grand lodge. He was active in the militia while living in Holliston. Mr. Adams is interested in the temperance move- ment and in the various missionary organiza- tions of the church, and contributes liberally of his time and money to these charities. He married, at Medway, November 2, 1869, Eu- nice Rockwood, born October 27, 1848, daugh- ter of Benjamin and Sarah ( Pond) Rockwood. Her father was a carpenter; he was deacon of the Norfolk church. Children: I. Emily Mason, born August 23, 1870; married, De- cember 17, 1895, Henry Francis Spencer, of Medway ; children : i. Eunice Hope, born No- vember 6, 1896; ii. Orville Holland, January 30, 1900. 2. George Thomas, born January 16, 1873: mentioned below. 3. Walter Rock- wood, born February 2, 1876; married, Sep- tember 30, 1908, Mary Elizabeth Blake, of West Medway, Massachusetts. 4. Harry James born October 8, 1879.

(VI) George Thomas, Son of James Thomas Adams, was born at Westborough. January 16, 1873. His parents moved to Medway when he was but six months old, and he was educated there in the public schools. At the age of fourteen he began work as clerk in his father's grocery store and continued there for six years. He then took a similar position in the grocery store of G. E. Martic of East Foxborough, and after four years there he returned to Medway to work for his father. In 1898 he came to Needham as clerk in the grocery store of A. L. Woodruff & Son, and was employed there for five years. In 1903 he became associated with his brothers, Harry J. and Walter R. Adams, in the firm of Adams Brothers, in the grocery business at Needham. George T. Adams is manager of the business, which is the largest in this line in the town, employing eight clerks and seven

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delivery wagons. Mr. Adams resides on Pick- ering street, where he owns a residence and a large stable. He is a member of the First Unitarian Church of Needham. In politics he is a Republican. He has been a member of Norfolk Lodge of Free Masons since March 12, 1906, and is a member of the Massachu- setts Retail Grocers' Association.

He married, October 27, 1896, at Mansfield, Massachusetts, Carrie Louise Segler, born at East Foxborough, June 27, 1870, daughter of Henry and Martha ( Wyman) Segler, of Fox- borough. Her father was a mason by trade. Children: 1. George Fairbanks, born August 27, 1902 ; died September 2, 1902. 2. James Wyman, born March 16, 1907.

WRIGHT The number of immigrants of this name in early times in New England was large, and from them have sprung various lines of descend- ants not related. Three Wrights settled in Massachusetts in time to be numbered among the pioneers-one at Lynn as early as 1630 or 1632, another at Plymouth, in 1638, and the third was of Rehoboth 1644.

(I) Richard Wright, of Plymouth, of un- known antecedents, appears at Plymouth as early as 1638, and spent the remainder of his life there. He early received grants of the public land, among which are the following : "Att a Towns meeting held at Plymouth the 3rd * The Towne graunted to Richard Wright twenty five acres to bee layed forth for him at Winnatucksett to him and his as- signs for ever in Regard that hee was to have had * * in the Township of Plymouth which he bought of *

* as appears by a Record of Court . bearing date *

1638 which hee was never possessed of *

111 any place ; In consideration * if the Towne * * * Among the Names of those who have interest and properties in the Townes land att Punckateesett over against Rond Island' March 1651, is 'Richard Wright.' * 6 * 1659. The Towne Graunted unto Richard Wright five and twenty acres of land to be added to that which formerly was allowed to bee his due which was twenty five acres in lieu of a pcell of land which hee should have had att Manomett Ponds att which fifty acres of land are to bee layed forth for him at Winnatuxett by Mr. Bradford and Elder Cushman ; and hee then said 'Richard Wright hath alsoe libertie to looke out some meddow there to compensate him with all that soe a competency may be confirmed

"Att a Towne meeting held at the meeting house att Plymouth the 20th day of May 1662.' Richard Wright desireth a smale pcell of med- dow about two accers which is over measures of what was allowed to ffrana's Billington." Among those who desire Meddow in the * soe called lying on the south side of Turkey Swamp" in Richard Wright, May 16, 1663, "Fifteen acrees of land is granted to Richard Wright lying next to his land at Monpousett ; in lieu of a psell of land by him surrendered lying at the Towne of Plymouth neare John Woods land." "Att a Towne Meeting held at the Meeting house at Plymouth the 30 day of October 1682," a Certain smale psell of land is Graunted to Richard Wright to sett a house on being at the lower Corner of the New Street and to have it as large as hee lives and when hee Endeth this life to leave it to the Towne." In August, 1643, among the names of those between sixteen and sixty years of age who are able to bear arms, is that of Richard Wright. Richard Wright died June 9, 1691, at which time he was eighty-three years old. His will, dated June 8, 1691, is recorded in the Plymouth records. The marriage of Richard Wright and Hester Cooke was solemnized No- vember 6, 1644. The children known to have been born of this marriage, were: Esther, 1649: Isaac, 1662; Adam, and Mary.

(II) Adam, son of Richard and Hester (Cooke) Wright, received a double portion of realty prior to his father's death, and was one of the first settlers of Plympton, where he was a large land holder. He built his first resi- dence in Plympton, a little westerly of the northwest corner of the second Millpond. He built the first grist mill in Plympton, the wheel set horizontal and the shaft perpendicular. It was called a Gigmill, and is said to have had a capacity of five bushels a day, and though small served to meet the wants of the first settlers. Subsequently he built a grist mill on a different plan a little above the bridge which crosses the Plympton cotton factory mill pond, this being the second grist mill in Plympton. He died September 20, 1724, in the seventy- ninth or eightieth year of his age, and was buried near the north west corner of the ceme- tery. A stone marks his grave. His will was made April 9, 1723, and is recorded in the probate records. He married (first) Sarah. daughter of John and Esther Soule, of Dux bury, granddaughter of George and Mary Soule of Duxbury, who came to Plymouth in the "Mayflower" in 1620. He married (second) Mehitable Barrows. There is no

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record of the death of either wife. His chil- dren by wife Sarah were: John and Isaac; by wife Mehitable: Samuel, Moses, James, Na- than, Esther, Sarah, Mary, and Rachel.

(III) John, eldest son of Adam and Sarah (Soule) Wright, was married May 20, 1708, to Mary Lucas, by Rev. Isaac Cushman, of Plympton. She died September 24, 1759, in the seventy-sixth year of her age, and he died May 1, 1774. in the ninety-fourth year of his age. Both were members of the church at Plympton. Children: Esther, John, Repent- ence, Benjamin, Sarah, and Adam, next men- tioned.

(IV) Adam (2), youngest child of John and Mary (Lucas) Wright, was born Sep- tember 27, 1724, and died in Plympton, in the forepart of February, 1776, aged fifty-one years three months. He lived in the house which stood about ten or twelve rods south- ward of the home in which his grandson Jo- siah Wright later lived, near the old shovel shop. He was buried in the cemetery in Plympton near the road, by the side of his first wife. His grave is marked by a stone. He was married ( first) February 28, 1754, by Rev. Jonathan Parker, to Ruth, daughter of Thomas and Lydia Sampson, of Plympton. Thomas Sampson was son of Benjamin and Margaret (Parker ) Sampson of Plympton. Benjamin Sampson was son of George and Elizabeth (Bryant) Sampson, two of the earli- est settlers of Plympton. Lydia was daugh- ter of the first Deacon Samuel Bryant, of Plympton, and Joanna his wife. Samuel Bry- ant was son of Lieutenant John Bryant and Abigail his wife, of Plympton. Lieutenant John was son of John Bryant, of Scituate, and his wife Mary was a daughter of George and Sarah Lewis. Children of Adam and Ruth : Esther, Levi, Lydia and John. Ruth Wright died August 5, 1771, aged thirty-seven years. Adam Wright was married (second) June I, 1773, by Rev. Jonathan Parker, to widow Sarah Tinkham, daughter of Moses Standish. Benjamin, born July 1, 1774, was the only child of the second marriage.

(V) Levi, eldest son of Adam (2) and Ruth (Sampson) Wright, was born August IO, 1756, and resided the greater part of his life in the house which had been his father's home. He married Betsey West, who died while on a visit at the residence of her daugh- ter. Ruth S., wife of Captain Benjamin War- ren, of Plympton, Monday, March 20, 1820, in the sixty-sixth year of her age. Levi Wright. died in Plympton. Thursday. October

I, 1840, aged eighty-four years one month twenty-one days. Children of Levi and Bet- sey: Josiah, Levi, Adam, Betsy, Ruth, Samp- son, and John.

(VI) Josiah, eldest child of Levi and Bet- sey (West) Wright, was born in Plympton, April 3, 1780, and died there March 29, 1860, having lived almost eighty years. He was married, September 2, 1802, by Rev. John Briggs, to Lydia Loring, born May 17, 1782, daughter of Lieutenant Ezekiel and Hannah Loring of Plympton. She died in Plympton, April 27, 1850, aged almost sixty-eight years. Children : Winslow, Hannah Stetson, and Jo- siah, next mentioned.

(VII) Josiah (2), youngest child of Josiah (I) and Lydia (Loring) Wright, was born at Plympton, July 20, 1811. In 1849 he removed to Springfield, and with Henry Webster es- tablished the car axle factory which afterward went to Brightwood and was called the N. W. Talcott Axle Works. After carrying on the business for years, Mr. Wright sold his inter- est to Mr. Talcott, who conducted the enter- prise until his death. Mr. Wright later bought the foundry on South Main street, near Trask's Pond, and operated it for a few years, and then bought the Agawam foundry on Lib- erty street, on account of its superior loca- tion and railroad facilities. On April 1, 1882, on account of failing health, Mr. Wright re- tired from active business, and Wright & Em- erson sold their business and real estate to the Springfield Foundry Company. After that time his health continued to fail, although he was still about his homestead and on the streets looking after his private interests. His final illness dated from an attack of pneumo- nia in the latter part of December, 1889, from which he recovered, but was confined to his house, except an occasional ride in the open air, until his death by valvular disease of the heart. He was one of Springfield's oldest residents, and active in business until his re- tirement in 1882. He was married March 14, 1833, by Rev. Plumer Chace, of Carver, to Sarah Sherman, of Carver, Massachusetts. born June 3. 1813, daughter of Jabez and Polly Sherman. She was a resident of Springfield about forty-five years, and was a faithful at- tendant of the First Church until compelled to retire from active work on account of de- clining health. She suffered many years from occasional attacks of heart trouble. but for some weeks prior to her death had enjoyed excellent health. She died January 31, 1893. She was a direct descendant of Captain Myles

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Standish, John Alden, George Soule, and Will- iam Mullens, of "Mayflower" note. The chil- dren of this marriage were: 1. Sarah Amelia. died young. 2. Benjamin Warren, born in Plympton, July 14, 1838; is a prominent resi- dent of Marquette county, Michigan. 3. An- drew J., mentioned below. 4. Sarah, born in Springfield, July 8, 1854, died young.

(VIII) Andrew Jackson, second son of Jo- siah (2) and Sarah (Sherman) Wright, was born in Enfield, Connecticut, Wednesday, June 8, 1842, and died in Springfield, Massachusetts. March 14, 1895. When he was eight years old his parents were drawn to Springfield, the magnet for all the country about. He at- tended the local schools and graduated from the high school in 1860. This was in the days when Ariel Parish left his mark on a genera- tion of boys who became leading citizens. Then young Wright began his business life, and served two years in the Springfield post- office. He entered the locally famous Com- pany A, Forty-sixth Regiment, August 15, 1862, served his term of enlistment, and was honorably discharged after a year's service. His acquaintance with postal work led to his being detailed as clerk of the army post-office at Newbern.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 62

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