Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 64

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 64

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being taken. Clubbing his gun, and followed by a number of his comrades and neighbors, he hammered his way through the ranks of the English and fled into the woods with the bullets whistling by his ears and cutting the twigs near his head as he ran. His knowledge of Canadian-French served him well, for he was sheltered and fed in the houses of Cana- dian-Frenchmen, and after a few days re- joined the army. His military record showed that October 31, 1775, he was one of the three hundred Green Mountain Boys, under Colonel Seth Warner, who attacked and prac- tically destroyed Carlton's army of eight hun- dred men. This victory gave Montreal to the American army under Montgomery. On p. 200, vol. viii, Bancroft's History, it is stated that in November, 1775, most of the Green Mountain Boys deserted General Montgomery because their terms of enlistment had expired. But Uriah did nothing of the kind for his mili- tary record shows that he was engaged in the battle of Quebec, December 26, 1775. From Smith's Green Mountain Boys, p. 90, we find that all of them were thereupon dismissed and returned home ; immediately after which a sec- ond regiment was raised by Colonel Seth War- ner, and marched to the relief of the besieging army at Quebec. That Uriah was with this regiment also appears from his military record and that he thereupon served six months. It is plain, therefore, that he had a part in the terrible hardship and disasters of the retreat from Canada, the history of which is found in vol. viii, Bancroft's History, pp. 415-433. That he was engaged in a series of battles which resulted in the capture of Crown Point by the British, October 14, 1776, appears from his military record and from the statements made by Calvin Cross. Vol. iv, Bancroft's History, p. 157, shows that from October I, 1776, to the third of the following November, the British held Crown Point and the Ameri- cans Ticonderoga. Calvin Cross often said that his father was during this time sent from Ticonderoga to Crown Point in command of what was known as a spy boat. Being de- tained by head winds, and having no time- piece, the morning dawned with Uriah's boat in full sight of the enemy, who gave chase in a much larger boat, in which they were able to double-man their oars. Coming within mus- ket shot, they opened fire. Uriah was sitting in the stern stearing, when a musket ball cut his knee cap and lodged in the oar between the hands of one of his men. He, therefore, had the boat run ashore, and his men scattered

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through the woods. One of his men, John Cross, his cousin, remained with him on ac- count of his wound. Becoming very thirsty and knowing from previous hunting expe- ditions the country well, they went up the shore to a place where a Frenchman had made a small clearing around a large spring. Thoughtless of danger, they walked into this clearing and came suddenly upon the whole company of the enemy who had left their boats and guns under a guard and were sitting around the spring with a bottle of whiskey. Turning to the woods behind him, Uriah shouted, "Rush boys, we have them"; and with John at his back, charged down upon the British. Believing, doubtless, that the dreaded Green Mountain Boys were upon them, the twenty-five or thirty English fell over each other as they scrambled down the bank and tumbled into their boats and pulled away for dear life. In Uriah's military record it is stated that at this time he was wounded in the knee in a skirmish at a place not mentioned. It was said by those who knew him that his knee was stiff all of his life from his wound. Uriah and John, far from being elated over their escape, could not forgive themselves for not discovering their situation, shooting the guard, and capturing both boats and all of the guns. So chagrined were they that a few days later, taking advantage of a dark night, they went down to Crown Point to recover the lost boat. Landing near the fort, Uriah, who was disabled by his wound, remained with the skiff while John stole away under the high bank and after some time, returned with the boat. He said that a British soldier was on guard at the top of the rock just over where he found the boat moored, and declared that a man who would let another steal a boat from under his very nose, was not fit to live, and he returned and shot him dead. The sound of a rifle made a general alarm, but in the dark- ness the two Crosses succeeded in getting back to Ticonderoga with both boats. Perhaps it was on account of his wound that Uriah was out of the army for some months, but his rec- ord shows that he enlisted and was given his former rank just in time to take part in the battle of Bennington. Here he was one of the one hundred and fifty Green Mountain Boys under Colonel Seth Warner, who single- handed, fought Breyman's two battalions of veteran German troops until Stark could rally his scattered militia and win the final victory. From this time to near the end of the war. Uriah served in the continental army, doing

garrison duty on the Hudson in Fort Clinton, Crown Point, etc. (See Conn. in the Revo- lution, pp. 535-537 ; Smith's Green Mountain Boys, pp. 114-115, and Uriah's military rec- ords. )

After the war he returned to his home in Lunenburg, as is evinced by the following, which is found in vol. i, Vt. Hist. Gaz. pp. 1015-1018: From the town records: "Where- as, the inhabitants of Lunenburg, in the county of Orange and state of Vermont, being desti- tute of any form of government to act as a town, we the inhabitants of Lunenburg do think proper to form a warrant by the major part of said town, dated the 5th day of Sep- tember, 1781, to meet at the dwelling house of Mr. Reuben Howe, in Lunenburg, on the IIth of September, instant, at two o'clock P. M. to act on the following articles, namely * *

* to choose a town clerk, selectman and constable **

** Lunenburg, 5th of September, 1781. Uriah Cross and 7 oth- ers." "Pursuant to the above warrant the freemen of said Lunenburg met and chose * * Uriah Cross, Simeon Howe and George White, selectmen. "Buckland may have been the local name of the neighborhood where Uriah lived at the time, possibly on ac- count of its fame for deer and moose. No mention of Buckland is found in any history of Vermont, and it is certain that at this time Uriah was living at a place called Buckland, for the family Bible of his son Calvin states that the latter was born at Buckland, Vermont. About 1789 Uriah Cross moved to Paynesville (now Hamilton), New York, where with his brothers-in-law, Elisha and Solomon Payne, the founders of that place, he was one of the pioneers. Later he was a resident of Staf- ford, Genesce county, New York, where his wife Anna ( Payne) Cross died in 1825. His application of a pension shows that August 23, 1832, he was a resident of Georgetown, New York. His tombstone, which is still stand- ing in the cemetery of that town, shows that he had just completed his eighty-eighth year and that he died April 4, 1835. Children : 1. Lucy, married Selah Way and had Harvey and Samuel Way. 2. Moulton, married Martha Hartson, and had daughter, Wealthy, born July, 1818, died at Cleveland, Ohio, April 3. 1831. 3. Calvin, mentioned below. 4. Electa, married Jeremiah Mathewson and lived in Pulaski, New York. 5. Anna, born in Ver- mont. February 2. 1787; died January 23. 1872, in Parkman, Ohio; married, 1805, her cousin. Noah Cross, born 1784, son of Joel

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Cross, brother of Uriah. Joel died 1848 in Parkham, Ohio. Joel was born apparently at Orford, New Hampshire, and was named from some member of the Mann family in which Joel seems to have been a family name. 6. Rebecca, married James Harmon, son of Thaddeus Harmon, born at Pawlet, Ver- mont, August 27, 1788. 7. Amelia, married Thomas Shannon. 8. Myrabo, married

Sprague. 9. Wealthy, married William Hurl- burt and had a son William Henry Hurlburt, who was a prominent farmer near South Haven, Michigan. 10. Abraham, resided in Harden county, Ohio, and had Abram, Annie, Abbie, Napoleon, Augustus, who is a lawyer in Marion, Ohio. II. William, died in Han- over, Jackson county, Michigan, and left chil- dren: Eliza, Harriet and Catherine.

From Vermont Historical Gazeteer, page 313, it appears that about the time Uriah finally settled in Lunenburg, Daniel Cross set- tled in the adjoining town of Danville. Calvin often stated that he had an uncle who lived near his father and it seems safe to assume that this Daniel Cross was none other than Uriah's brother, of that name. Calvin said that during the revolution, this uncle whom we shall call Daniel, was called out with his com- pany to garrison a certain fort which was at- tacked by the British and Indians. After fighting for some time, the Americans were out of ammunition and scattered through the woods, pursued by the Indians. Daniel ran, carrying his musket until he came upon two Indians. One shot at him, and the other snapped his gun, which missed fire. With one blow with the butt end of his gun, Daniel finished the latter and then turned just in time to receive a stunning blow in his forehead from the tomahawk of the other Indian. As Daniel lay prostrate the Indian sprang upon him with his knife. Daniel seized his enemy by the wrist and a life and death struggle en- sued; the Indian trying to stab, and Daniel holding him off. Help came from an unex- pected quarter, Daniel owned a large dog, which had followed him to the war, but had not been seen since the fight began. The ani- mal now came running up following his mas- ter's track, and seized the Indian by the leg. The latter with a savage grunt, turned upon the dog, while Daniel laid hold of the toma- hawk and soon settled the fray. Fleeing then to a large river which was near, an Indian rose from under the bank and raised his toma- hawk. Plunging under the arm of his foe, Daniel seized him and the dog laid hold of him

at the same time. A convenient stone in the water's edge soon settled the Indian. Fol- lowed by his dog, Daniel sprang into the water and swam for his life. When he was nearly across, Indians came up and fired at the fugi- tive, but he crawled among the thick reeds which were growing in the water, and there he lay hidden until night, his dog, perfectly quiet, lying beside him. The Indians searched for hours, often coming within a few rods, and then went away. Calvin said that Daniel car- ried the mark of the tomahawk, which made a deep dent in the frontal bone, until his death, and that he had often seen the dog which Dan- iel kept with great care, until it died of old age.

(VII) Calvin, son of Uriah Cross, was born at Buckland, Vermont, January 21, 1781. He married, April 11, 1805, Polly Hosmer, born August 8, 1784, died December 29, 1818, at Georgetown, New York. Among her ances- tors were five of the original congregation of Rev. Thomas Hooker, who were the original settlers of Hartford, Connecticut; Thomas Hosmer; John Steele, the colonial secretary ; Governor John Webster; Andrew Warren; John Hopkins; also Governor Robert Treat of Connecticut, and Governor William Brad- ford of Plymouth Colony; and through her mother, Polly Belden, from General Simon Willard of Massachusetts, and Governor Wells of Connecticut. Calvin Cross died February 23, 1868, aged eighty-seven years, one month, two days, at Morrisville, New York. Chil- dren : 1.' Ashbel, February 28, 1806, born at Hamilton, New York; died at Georgetown, New York, March 14, 1828. 2. Lydia, Febru- ary 28, 1807; married, September 28, 1826, Davis Norton; died at Erieville, New York, November 27, 1866. 3. Mary, born at George- town, April 12, 1808; married, January 17, 1833, Melvin Stiles, who died December 14, 1860, aged forty years, one month, seventeen days. 4. Ambrose, born at Georgetown, Sep- tember 15, 1809; married, December 24, 1834, Adeline Bliss. 5. Orrin, born at Hamilton, New York, November 3, 1811 ; died there Feb- ruary 6, 1834. 6. Amanda Malvina, born at Georgetown, April 17, 1813; died at Millvil- lage, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1885; married, January 20, 1844, Aaron Gates, who died at Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, February 17, 1861. aged forty-two years, seven months. 7. Ed- mund Burke, mentioned below. 8. Charles Uriah, born at Georgetown, December 25, 1815; married, September 6, 1836, Sarepta West. 9. Calvin, August 21, 1817; married.

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February 13, 1837, Emily Roby. 10. Fanny Cordelia, at Georgetown, December 23, 1818; died January 1, 1866; married, October 26, 1840, Henry Brown.

(VIII) Edmund Burke, son of Calvin Cross, was born in Georgetown, New York, June 11, 1814. He was educated in the com- mon schools, and was for a time a teacher. He studied for the Baptist ministry, was licensed, and preached the gospel acceptably for several years, and was later a missionary to Burmah. He married (first) August 27, 1843, Julia Ann Putnam, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Putnam, who at the time he was in charge of the church at Randolph, resigned rather than denounce Masonry ; he was at that time chaplain of the lodge at that place. The lodge raised a contribution to help him until he could get another church, but this was not necessary as he immediately had a call from the First Baptist Church of Springfield. Sur- viving children: I. Benjamin P., married Susie Brock, of Vermont ; children : Mary Wil- son, Earl Bennett, Merne Casell. 2. Edmund H., mentioned below. 3. Julia P., married Andrew Crumb, who was born in Brookfield, New York ; their only child, Effie C., married David B. Lawton, of New York, now deceased, and they had one child, David B. Benjamin P. Cross and Mrs. Julia P. Crumb are both missionaries in Burmah. Edward Burke Cross married (second) Clara Baldwin. No children.

(IX) Edmund H., son of Edmund Burke Cross, was born in Tavoy, Burmah, while his father was in missionary work there. He was educated by his mother, and in the public schools of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. whither he came in his fifteenth year. He then entered Union College, Schenectady, New York, where he made a special study of chem- istry. For a year he was employed in the engineer corps of the Indiana & Grand Rapids railroad. In 1869 he came to Springfield and took employment in a drug store for three years. In March, 1872, he established his pres- ent business. In addition to his retail business he has a manufacturing and export trade to Burmah, being the first to put up drugs for that market, with directions printed in the Karen language. He also conducts a station- ery and news department. He has been active in public affairs, since 1887 has been a member of the school committee of Huntingdon, four years excepted. In 1897 he was elected a water commissioner, and served on the board that selected the site and installed the municipal water works. He is now the treasurer of the

fire district. In religion he is a Baptist, and in politics an independent. He is affiliated with Huntington Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He married, in 1874, Alice Rust, born January 19, 1849, daughter of George and Elvira E. (Robinson ) Rust. Children : I. Edmund R., born November 12, 1874; grad- uate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 2. Albert Ashley, January 31, 1877 ; a druggist, who passed examination before Massachusetts State Board of Pharmacy in January, 1909. 3. Florence, July 16, 1879. 4. Joseph Putnam, August 14, 1886. 5. Robert Packer, June 3. 1893 .*

CHARMOIS Victor Charmois, father of

Mrs. Albin F. Norman, of Cambridge, Massachusetts,

was a native of Alsace, France. Upon the completion of his studies he learned the art of designing and became a designer and maker of fine furniture and cabinet work. In early manhood he emigrated to the United States, settling in New York City, where he worked for a short time at cabinet making. He then removed to Boston, Massachusetts, entering the employ of Ellis & Hazelton, and later was employed by a Mr. Fellows in Salem, Massa- chusetts. Subsequently he went to East Cam- bridge, Massachusetts, where he was employed by Ellis & Doe. In 1867 Mr. Charmois went to France, and upon his return the following year became a member of the firm of Doe. Ellis & Charmois, manufacturers of fine furni- ture and cabinet work, and this connection continued until the death of Mr. Ellis, when the firm was dissolved. Mr. Charmois then returned to Boston and was employed by the firm of Lawrence, Wilde & Howe, on Corn- hill. Later he entered the employ of E. H. Brabrook, whose place of business was at the corner of Washington and Elm streets, where the firm of A. H. Davenport & Company is now located. Mr. Charmois remained in the employ of Mr. Brabrook until the death of the latter, when the business was continued by the firm of A. H. Davenport & Company, and he continued in the employ of the new firm until his death in East Cambridge, August 28, 1883, aged fifty-seven years, three months and two days. Mr. Charmois was an artistic designer and carver of furniture and cabinet work, thus securing positions with the makers of the finest work, and his name was well known to

*NOTE-We are under obligations to Jasper C. Gates, of Detroit, Michigan, from whose notes the preceding genealogy was prepared.

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the fine furniture trade throughout the coun- try. He possessed excellent traits of character, being genial, kindly, hospitable and generous hearted, aiding to the extent of his means all who appealed to him for assistance, and he was esteemed and respected by all who had the honor of his acquaintance. He was a member of Putnam Lodge of Masons of East Cam- bridge.

Mr. Charmois was married in New York City to Mary Augustine Tissier, of France, and they were the parents of one child, Mary Victoria Eugenia, born in East Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 1, 1857. She was mar- ried in East Cambridge, at her residence, 14I Thorndike street, November 14, 1881, to Albin Francis Norman. They were the parents of two children: Victoria Frances, born Sep- tember 8, 1882, in East Cambridge, Massachu- setts, died July 8, 1899, and Gaspard Charmois Norman, born January 13, 1884, died October 22, 1884. Victoria Frances Charmois was a charming girl and had many friends in East Cambridge. She was a pupil of the Harvard school and soon would have graduated. She was a member of the Junior Alliance of Mr. Reccord's church, a new organization of which Mrs. Austin C. Wellington, of Cambridge, was the head. She died suddenly of rheumatism of the heart, at her mother's cottage, Beach- mont, Massachusetts, where she was spending the summer.

Morris Johnson was an al- JOHNSON derman of Stanford, county Lincoln, England, and mar- ried a daughter of Lacy of Stanford. Chil- dren : Robert, mentioned below, Catherine.

(II) Robert, son of Morris Johnson, was archdeacon of Leicester, and had a son Abra- ham, mentioned below.

(III) Abraham, son of Robert Johnson, married (first) - Meadows, and had a Isaac. He married (second) Cicely. on daughter of Lawrence Chadderton, D. D. Children: Samuel, Daniel, James, mentioned below, Nathaniel, Francis, Elizabeth.

(IV) Captain James, son of Abraham Johnson, was the immigrant ancestor. At the age of twenty-eight he came to Boston in the ship "Amitie," from London, in October, 1635. He was admitted a freeman, May 25, 1636. He was a leather worker and glover by trade. He was a town officer, and captain of a foot company. He was lieutenant of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston in 1638. His homestead was probably on Tre-

mont street, Boston. He married (first) Mar- garet who died March 28, 1643; (second) Abigail Oliver, daughter of Elder Thomas Oliver. Children, all by second wife : I. James. 2. Joseph, born and died 1644. 3. Abigail, November 25, 1645; died young. 4. Abigail, February 12, 1646. 5. Elizabeth, bap- tized April 29, 1649; died young. 6. Samuel, baptized March 16, 1651; mentioned below. 7. John, baptized March 13, 1653. 8. Eliza- beth, born April 12, 1655; died young. 9. James, baptized April 15, 1655. 10. Mary, born March 27, 1657. II. Hannah, Novem- ber 23, 1659; died young. 12. Hannah, June 12, 1661.

(V) Samuel, son of Captain James John- son, was baptized March 16, 1651. He was a glover by trade and resided in Boston on the homestead. He married Phoebe Burton, daughter of Edward Burton, of Hingham. Children : Samuel, Edward, Jonathan, men- tioned below, Elizabeth.

(VI) Jonathan, son of Samuel Johnson, was born in 1682, and removed to Lynn, Mass- achusetts, September 24, 1707. He was granted a house lot there, although on his first coming to Lynn he was warned out of town by the constable, but refused to go. Ten years later he was chosen constable, and gave simi- lar warnings to others. In 1721 the town voted a grant to erect a mill. He entered a protest against such a grant, saying that he preferred chair making to milling. He was tythingman in 1731 and 1732. He died at Lynn, May 8, 1741. He married (first) May 30, 1710, Sarah Mansfield, who died August 28, 1728, daughter of Joseph Mansfield. He married (second) Susannah Mower. Chil- dren : 1. Mary, born December 12, 1712. 2. Phebe, December 15, 1714. 3. Sarah, Janu- ary 12, 1718-19. 4. Edward, August 10, 1721 ; merchant in Lynn and Salem, Massachusetts. 5. Jonathan, December 3, 1723; mentioned be- low. 6. Elizabeth, September 14, 1726.

(VII) Jonathan (2), son of Jonathan (I) Johnson, was born at Lynn, Massachusetts, December 3, 1723, died in 1800 at Nahant. When a young man he enlisted in a cavalry regiment under Major Graves, and served in the French and Indian war. This caused him to be called "trooper," After returning home he learned chair making and blockmaking and soon removed to Marblehead, where he set- tled. After his third marriage he bought Jeremiah Gray's interest in Nahant and re- moved there. He spent his time in farming, fishing, and following his trade. On one oc-

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casion, while out in his boat, the "Jolly Ven- ture," a severe northwest gale arose, carrying away the sails of his boat. With the small pieces of sail he had managed to make a land- ing on the lower part of Cape Cod, but lost his boat. He traveled along the shore on foot, begging food and lodging of the settlers, until he reached home after two weeks of hardship, with feet and hands badly frozen. It is said that afterwards he would stand in his door- way, whenever the wind blew furiously, and curse the north wind. The last years of his life he lived with his son Caleb. He married (first) June II, 1745, Katherine Brummage, who died February 13, 1753. He married (second) July 25, 1753, Susanna Farrington. He married (third) Ann (Alley) Williams, widow of Thomas Williams and grand- daughter of Hugh Alley. Child of first wife : I. Jonathan, born December 29, 1745; died young. Children of second wife: 2. Mary, born May 8, 1755. 3. Rebecca, February 26 1757. 4. William, January 3, 1759. Chil- dren of third wife, born in Nahant : 5. Benja- min, October II, 1771. 6. Joseph, February 12, 1776. 7. Caleb, mentioned below.

(VIII) Caleb, son of Jonathan (2) Jolin- son, was born at Nahant, December 7, 1778, died at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. With his brothers Benjamin and Joseph, he served a seven years' apprenticeship at the shoe- maker's trade with his half-brother. Among the people who spent their summers at Nahant were the Hartwells of Charlemont, Massachu- setts, with their daughter Olive. Caleb John- son soon made up his mind that she should be his wife, although when the time came for their departure, he was not an accepted suitor. Unwilling to lose her, however, he rode after them on horseback, overtaking them at Mal- den. He followed close behind clear to Wor- cester, when Mr. Hartwell, thinking that such persistance should be rewarded, offered to ex- change seats with him, and allow Caleb to ride in the carriage beside the daughter. Thus the bride was won, and they were married in 1798. They occupied the homestead, and all their children were born there. The house . was built about 1738, and had small windows and panelled walls. It is a notable fact that the first death which occurred in his family was that of his wife, at the age of eighty-four. Caleb Johnson was engaged in the fishing busi- ness nearly all his life. He was part owner of the ships "Dolphin," "Jefferson" and "La- fayette," and commanded these vessels most of the time they were in commission. He was

noted for his great endurance and remarkable memory. He never kept any accounts, yet the bills which were allowed to run, and the weekly sales of fish to his customers, always agreed with the book accounts kept by his customers. He was a contributor to church and school. He and his brother Joseph gave the land on which the Nahant Independent Church now stands. A severe accident, caused by a fall, obliged him to give up fish- ing, which he had followed for about fifty years, but he always retained his interest in the fleet, and it was a common sight to see him in his dory, when he was over eighty-four years old, waiting for the sunrise. Children : 1. Mary, born December 6, 1800. 2. Welcome William, August 26, 1803. 3. George L., April 8, 1806. 4. Clara, March 15, 1808. 5. Ed- ward Augustus, June 15, 1810. 6. Caleb Her- vey, May 21, 1812, mentioned below. 7. Dan- iel W., February 5, 1815. 8. William Fred- erick, July 30, 1819. 9. Charles Warren, Jan- uary 2, 1823.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 64

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