USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Mass., including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with chronological and historical sketches, from 1639 to 1874 > Part 30
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
LIEUT. JOSEPH BANCROFT lived on the place on West Street, now owned and occupied by his grandson, Capt. George Bancroft. Lieut. Joseph was the son of Ensign Thomas and Lydia (Dean) Bancroft, was born 1735, married Elizabeth, dau. of Lieut. John and Rebecca (Par- ker) Temple, and died 1825. His wife died in 1815. It is supposed that the first owner of this place was Thomas Bancroft, son of Thomas and Sarah (Poole) Bancroft, b. 1673, and d. 1731. He was father of Ensign Thomas aforesaid. (See Early Settlers.)
The children of Lieut. Joseph were : Elizabeth, b. 1756 ; Rebecca, b. 1758; Susanna, b. 1760; m. 1778, Timothy Wakefield ; Joseph, b. 1762 ; settled on the Emory Bancroft place ; Timothy, b. 1764; m. 1789, Lydia, dau. of Daniel and Sarah Parker ; Thomas, b. 1766, and settled in Lynnfield ; Nehemiah, b. 1768, and settled on Capt. Abraham Foster's place ; Jonathan, b. 1774, and settled in Wilmington ; Hannah, b. 1771 ; m. James Weston ; Anna, b. -; m. 1807, Loea Parker. 38
-
1
298
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
The children of Timothy and Lydia, who succeeded Lieut. Joseph on this place were : George (Capt.), who m. 1819, Mary, dau. of Asahel and Betsey Porter, and now owns the place ; Parker, who m., Ist, Zerviah Carey, and 2d, Sarah P. Brown ; John H., who m. 1840, Cla- rinda, dau. of Capt. Jona. Temple ; Bradley, who m. Lydia P., dau. of Capt. Jona. Temple ; Sophia, who m. 1812, Jedde Brown ; Hannah who m. 1814, Charles Lewis ; Abner, who in. - Buttrick.
WILLIAM BANCROFT lived in the old house on West Street, now owned by Thomas Sweetser.
William was the son of Capt. Samuel, and was b. 1717 (see Early Settlers) ; m. 1742, Elizabeth Damon ; had a son William in the Revo- lutionary War ; removed to Conway.
Bancroft was succeeded on this place by Ephraim Parker, called " Master Ephraim," who was son of Ephraim and Ruth (Bancroft) Par- ker, b. 1751 ; m. Sophia Richardson, of Woburn ; had no children. Parker was succeeded by John Damon, son of John and Hepzibeth (Smith) Damon, who now lives on Pleasant Street. Damon sold the place to Isaac Roby, from North Reading, who lived on the place sev- eral years, and sold it to Thomas Sweetser, Esq., the present owner.
CAPT. ABRAHAM FOSTER lived on the late Nehemiah Bancroft place on Grove Street, now occupied by N. E. Hill. The first house on this place was built on the Plain, and removed up to the road.
.
Capt. Abraham was the son of Samuel and Sarah (Roberts) Foster, b. about 1702. (See First Settlers.)
After Capt. Foster's death, the place was purchased by Nehemiah Bancroft. Nehemiah was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Temple) Bancroft (see ante) ; was born 1768 ; m. 1791, Susanna Beard, and d. 1863, aged 95. Present owner, Nathaniel E. Hill.
WID. ABIGAIL MERROW lived on the late Emory Bancroft place, on Lowell Street, near the village. Abigail Merrow was the daughter of Thomas and Deborah Parker, b. 1683 ; m. 1710, to Henry Merrow, son of John and Deliverance, and grandson of Henry and Jane, early settlers, whose house stood seventy or eighty rods west of the corner of West and Woburn Streets. (See Early Settlers.)
Thomas Richardson succeeded the Merrows ; his wife's name was Abigail ; his children were: Molly, b. 1743 ; Hepsy, b. 1745 ; Abigail, b. 1746 ; Bulah, b. 1751 ; Ebenezer, b. 1754; m. 1777, Sarah, dau. of Jona. and Ruth Parker. Abigail and Molly aforesaid died of small- pox. The Richardsons were succeeded by Joshua Bancroft, of Wil- mington, who m. 1760 or '62, Hannah Pierson, and had no children.
Joshua Bancroft was succeeded by Capt. Joseph Bancroft, son of
299
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Joseph and Elizabeth (Temple) Bancroft. (See ante.) He m. 1784, Abigail Upton, of North Reading. He died in 1832, aged 70. His children were: Abigail, who m. Miles Johnson ; Rebecca, who m. 18Io, Aaron Parker ; Susanna, b. 1788 ; m. Jonathan Parker ; Betsey, b. 1793 ; m. 1815, Rufus Damon ; Lucetta, b. 1798 ; m. 1839, Rufus Damon ; Emory, b. 1804; m. 1832, Harriet, dau. of John and Sally (Herrick), and d. in 1864; Emily, b. 1804; m. 1827, George Porter ; Joseph, b. 1801; m. 1833, Betsey Wakefield, and m. 1846, Mahala Foss, and d. 1868.
Emory succeeded to the house and a part of the farm of his father, and his brother Joseph succeeded to the other part of the farm, and his house stood near the old house.
The children of Emory : Emory, Solon (counsellor at law), who m. El- len M. Temple, dau. of Abraham ; Frederic and Alvin. The children of Joseph, who was an excellent land surveyor, were John M., also a land surveyor and engineer, who m. Mary, dau. of Samuel L. Hay ; Sarah J., Lewis H., and Mary E.
JOHN BOUTWELL lived on the place on Salem Street now owned and occupied by Dana Parker, son of Amos and Betsey (Taylor) Par- ker. (See Early Settlers.)
John Boutwell was the son of John Boutwell (see Early Settlers), and m. 1722, Elizabeth, dau. of John and Elizabeth Parker.
ISAAC BURNAP lived on the place on Ash Street now owned by S. S. Crouch, and formerly known as the Capt. Jonathan Weston place.
Isaac Burnap, son of Joseph and Tabitha (see Early Settlers), was born 1713 ; m. 1736, Susanna Emerson. Their children were: Su- sanna, b. 1736 ; Martha, b. 1737, and m. Richard Melenda ; Bethiah, b. - , and m. 1860, John Nichols ; Tabitha, b. 1741 ; Sarah, b. 1750 ; Elizabeth, b. 1745 ; m. 1765, Andrew Beard, and removed to Gardner ; Rebecca, b. 1745 ; m. 1763, David Nichols, and removed to Gardner ; Joseph, b. 1747 ; m. 1768, Abigail Bickford ; was captain ; left his wife and went to New York; Jacob, b. 1748 ; m., Ist, Ruth Hopkins (was Rev. Dr. Burnap, of Merrimack, N. H.) ; Abigail, b. 1752 ; m. 1771, Tho. Taylor, of North Parish.
Wid. Mary Merrow lived on High Street, on the place now owned by Mrs. Benjamin Hartshorn. She was the dau. of William and Tabi- tha Cowdrey. She m. 1737, Edward Merrow. (See Early Settlers,) Jonathan Foster, whose wife was a dau. of John Merrow, bought the place of the Merrows, and at his death it was sold to Simon Nichols.
Simon Nichols was the son of John and Joanna (Nichols) Nichols, b. 1745, and d. 1828. His wife was Mary Parker ; she d. 1846, aged 98.
300
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
Their children were : Mary, who m. James Boutwell ; Hannah, b. 1773 ; m. 1795, Richard Temple, and d. 1826; Simon, b. 1774; m. 1797, Rebecca Nick, and d. in North Reading; Nancy, b. 1776 ; m. 1799, Jacob Cheney ; Amos, b. 1778 ; m. 1801, Molly Pratt ; Lucy, b. 1780 ; m. 1802, David Flint ; Betsey, b. 1781 ; m. 1801, Daniel Pratt ; Oliver, b. 1787, and. d. young, greatly lamented ; Lucinda, b. 1783; Timothy, b. 1791 ; Abigail, b. 1785.
This Burnap place was sold to Capt. Jonathan Weston, son of Jona. and Ruth (Flint) Weston (see after); was b. 1757; m. 1779, Lucy, dau. of Jona. and Mary Parker ; was a soldier in the war of the Revo- lution, and d. 1839. Children : William, b. 1780, was father of Sumner Weston, of Reading ; Jonathan (Esquire) went to Eastport, Me .; Re- becca, m. 1810, Edmund Parker, Esq., of Reading. George Winn succeeded Capt. Weston on the place, and died there.
ANDREW BEARD lived in 1865 in a house that stood on the hill, a few rods southwest of where Silas G. Emerson now lives, and which fell down soon after. The first occupants of this house were two Harts- horns, who kept tavern therein.
Andrew Beard married, in 1740, Elizabeth Nichols, and in 1765, m. Elizabeth Burnap. His children were : William, b. 1745 ; Cleaveland, b. 1748, and lived on John Burrill place. Joseph, b. 1748, and m. Susanna Hartshorn, of Lunenburg, in 1773 ; Phebe, b. 1752 ; Dorcas, b. 1753 ; Hepzibeth, b. 1755 ; Abigail, b. 1757 ; Molly, b. 1763 ; Eliz- abeth, b. 1768 ; Andrew, b. 1772. William aforesaid, who was b. 1745, succeeded to the place ; was a farrier ; m. 1767, Sarah Nichols, and 2d; Dorcas, before 1788. The children of William were: Sally, Fanny, William, Edmund, by first wife ; and by second wife, Langdon, b. 1788 ; Polly, b. 1790 ; Betsey.
NATHANIEL BATCHELDER lived on the place now occupied by Mrs. Herrick Batchelder, on Franklin Street, near Pearl Street, formerly owned by the late John Batchelder, Sen.
Seargt. John Batchelder, who died in 1676, among other children had Nathaniel, b. 1675. (See Early Settlers.) He built a house on the Herrick Batchelder place for his son Nathaniel, who was born in 1714, and who m. 1751, Abigail (Nichols) Flint, of North Reading. The children of Nathaniel and Abigail were : Abigail, b. 1756; Na- thaniel, b. 1759; m. Patty Gerry, and settled on the place now owned by his son Nathaniel.
John, b. 1762 (see below) ; Simeon, b. 1762, and went to North Reading. John succeeded to the homestead ; m. 1790, Sally Herrick, and d. 1832.
1
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
301
JOHN BATCHELDER.
DAVID BATCHELDER lived on the place recently owned by his grand- son, Nathaniel Batchelder, on corner of Pearl and Franklin Streets.
David was the son of Nathaniel and Hannah (Ellsley) Batchelder, b. 1716. (See Early Settlers.)
This place is supposed to be the more ancient homestead of the Batchelders in this part of the town, and was first occupied by the father or grandfather of said David, who removed hither from what is now the corner of Main and Cordis Streets, in Wakefield. David suc- ceeded to this homestead of his father ; lived here with his sister, both of whom died single.
Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel and Abigail, succeeded his uncle David on this place ; m. Patty Gerry, of Stoneham ; tore down the old house and built the present one soon after his marriage. Chil. of Nathaniel and Patty were : Abigail, b. -; m. 1801, Obed Symonds ; Nathan- iel, b. 1786 ; m. 1811, Polly, dau. of Thomas and Hannah (Damon) Symonds, and still lives, with his wife, on this place ; David, a son of Nathaniel, last named, now lives in Wakefield.
SAMUEL DAMON lived on the late John Damon place, on John Street, in the house now owned by John Norwood.
Samuel Damon, b. 1726, was son of John, who built the house afore- said, and Rebecca, and grandson of Samuel, b. 1656, who was killed by falling from his horse in returning from church. (See Early Set- tlers.) Samuel, first above named, m. 1754, Abigail Smith. Children of Samuel and Abigail were : Samuel, b. 1756, and m. 1779, Abigail
302
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
Sweetser, and removed to Lancaster ; Benjamin, b. 1760 ; Daniel, b. 1757, and m. 1782, Anna Emerson (see after) ; Abigail, b. 1763, and m. Eben Wakefield, and removed to Amherst, N. H .; Rebecca, b, 1768, and m. Maverick Smith and removed to Amherst, N. H .; John, b. 1766, and m. 1790, Hepzibeth Smith, and succeeded to the home- stead. The house on this place is famous for having been the resi- dence, in 1774, of his late Excellency, Dr. John Brooks, formerly Gov- ernor of Massachusetts.
JOSEPH DAMON lived on the place now owned by Rufus W. Damon, on South Street, near Woburn line.
Joseph Damon, b. 1686, was son of Thomas and Lucy Ann (Emer- son) Damon ; m. 1707, Mary Batchelder. (See Early Settlers.) Joseph and Mary had a son Jabez, b. 1722, who m. Lucy Wyman, of Woburn. The children of Jabez and Lucy were : Joseph, b. 1759 (see below) ; Jabez, Aaron, Jerusha. Joseph, last above named, succeeded his father on this place, and m. 1782, Patience Richardson ; was a soldier of the Revolution and died in 1843. His son Rufus succeeded to this place, and m., Ist, Betsey Bancroft, and 2d, Lucetta Bancroft, sisters, who were daus. of Joseph and Abigail (Upton) Bancroft, and d. in 1870, aged 82. His son Rufus is the present owner of the place.
LT. JONATHAN EATON lived on the place now occupied by Widow B. F. Newhall, on Ash Street, near Wakefield line ; recently owned by Chas. Tweed, and before that, by Jonas Parker.
Jonathan Eaton, b. 1714, son of Thomas and Lydia Eaton (see Early Settlers) ; m. Mary, dau. of Joseph and Mary Damon. She died in 1786, at the age of 76, and he m. Anna Hayes, of Stoneham. The children of Jonathan and Mary were : Jonathan, Lydia, and Edmund. Edmund, b. 1742, succeeded his father on the place and m. 1766, Sarah Brown. Edmund, 2d, son of Edmund and Sarah, b. 1767, m. 1790, Judith, dau. of James Bancroft, Esq., and was killed by the fall- ing of a bridge in Charlestown.
Edmund, son of Edmund and Judith, is now living in Reading. Edmund, the first, sold the place to Jonas Parker, and removed to Wakefield.
THOMAS EATON, Sen., Capt., lived on the Esq. Prescott place, on Summer Street; was son of Joshua and Rebecca (Kendall) Eaton, b. 1685, m. 1708, Lydia Peirce, of Watertown, d. 1774. (See Early Settlers.) His father, Joshua, is supposed to be the first Eaton who settled in what is now the town of Reading. Thomas, aforesaid, suc- ceeded his father on this place. His children were : Thomas (Jr.), Capt., b. 1729, succeeded his father on the place, m. Elizabeth Gerry,
303
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
and d. 1787 ; Joshua, b. 1734, settled in the house now owned by Ivory Murray.
The children of Capt. Thomas and Elizabeth were : James b. 1757, and m. Lydia Nichols, and removed to Auburn. Betsey, b. , and d. single.
Thomas (3d), Lieut., b. 1754, succeeded to the place, and m. 1781, Abigail Bryant, of Stoneham, and d. in 1787; being the same year that his father died. His children were : Joseph, b. 1781, and Abigail, b. 1785, who succeeded to the place and m. 1813, Joshua Prescott, Esq., a native of Westford, who graduated at Har. Coll. in 1807, and died 1859, aged 78. Abigail, d. 1867. Their children : Thomas E., Alfred A. (Esq.), Elizabeth, and Abigail still live on the place.
JOSHUA EATON lived where Ivory Murray now lives, on Oak Street, near Summer Street. He was son of Capt. Thomas and Lydia Eaton (see before, and also Early Settlers) ; was b. 1734, and died 1772 ; his wife's name was Molly. His children were : Joshua, b. 1757, was killed in the Revolutionary war, at the battle of Sara- toga, Oct. 7, 1777 ; Betsey, who m. a Boutwell and removed from town ; Charles, b. 1759, a soldier in the war ; m. 1780, Rebecca Poole, and settled in what is now Wakefield ; Polly, b. - , m. 1789, John Rayner, of Wakefield. The place has since been owned by Edmund Wiley, and is now owned by Ivory Murray, aforesaid.
THOMAS EATON, 3d, lived in the Benj. Young house, that recently stood on a private way west of Main Street, and was burned down in 1868 or '9.
Thomas Eaton, 3d, was probably the son of John and Abigail (Roberts) Eaton, and b. 1725. (See Early Settlers.) He m. Betsey, dau. of John and Elizabeth Boutwell. He built the house aforesaid. His children were: Thomas, b. 1748; Betsey, b. 1749 ; Dorcas, b. 1754; Eda; Asa, b. 1757 ; Amos, b. 1760. Thomas, b. 1748, suc- ceeded his father; m. 1770, Abigail Bancroft, of Worcester. The children of Thomas and Abigail were: Thomas, b. 1775 ; Joshua, b. 1778 ; Loammi, b. 1780.
The place was sold to Benj. Young, who m. 1783, Mary Gould. He had a son Benja., b. 1785, who m. 1807, Rebecca Foster, and d. 1857, aged 71 ; was father of Edward Young, now of Reading.
JAMES EATON lived on the place on Franklin Street, now occu- pied by J. Adams Emerson, and recently occupied by the late John Emerson, Dep. Sheriff.
James Eaton was the son of John and Abigail (Roberts) Eaton, b. 1733 (see Early Settlers) ; m. 1758, Lois Damon. Their children
304
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
were : Lois, b. 1758; Lucy; Sally; Abigail ; Jerusha ; Joseph, b. 1771, and m. Sarah Sweetser, and settled in Wakefield.
James Eaton was succeeded on the place by Jonathan Nichols, who m. Hannah Damon. Jonathan and Hannah both died in early life, at nearly the same time, and their remains were carried together, on men's shoulders, to the West Parish. They left a dau. Hannah, b. 1742, who m. 1761, Dea. John Temple.
The place was sold to John Emerson, son of John and Hannah (Nichols) Emerson, b. 1755 and m. 1777, Phebe Beard, and d. 1833. A son of John and Phebe, b. 1783, succeeded, and was formerly Dep. Sheriff. He m. Nancy Wiley, in 1815, and d. 1870. John A. Emer- son, son of John and Nancy, now owns and occupies the place.
EBENEZER EMERSON lived on the "Franklin Weston place," cor- ner of Franklin and Haverhill Streets, now owned by Marcus Gould. Ebenezer, aforesaid, was the son of Rev. Joseph Emerson, first minis- ter of Mendon. (See Early Settlers.)
Of the children of Ebenezer, Ist, his son Ebenezer, b. 1717, suc- ceeded, and was living on the place in 1765. He m. 1746, Anna Nichols ; she died 1749. He m., 2d, Rebecca (perhaps the sister of Anna). Chil. by Anna : Ebenezer, b. 1747 ; and by Rebecca, Daniel, b. 1760.
Ebenezer, who was born in 1747, appears to have settled on Grove Street, m. 1769, Judith Nichols, and had chil .: Judith, b. 1770 ; Joshua, b. 1776 ; and Ebenezer, b. 1772, who succeeded his father, on Grove Street, m: 1794, Rhoda Symonds, and died in 1867, aged 94.
Daniel, half-brother of Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer and Rebecca, b. 1760, succeeded his father on the old homestead ; m. 1781, Lucy, dau. of Isaac Pratt ; was father of Dea. Oliver, late of Lynnfield, of Loring of Winchester, Putnam of Woburn, and other children. He sold the old place to Col. Nathan Parker, and removed to Lynnfield. Col. Parker sold the place to Franklin Weston, son of James and Hannah (Bancroft) Weston. Franklin Weston, m. 1819, Mary, dau. of Edmund Wiley (Ist wife).
NATHANIEL EMERSON lived in a house that stood on Pearl Street north of Franklin Street, and that was torn down some thirty or forty years ago.
Was probably a relative, perhaps a younger brother, of the preced- ing ; m. 1725, Hepzibeth Burnap. Children: Nathaniel, b. 1726; Hepzi., b. 1729 ; John, b. 1732 ; Susanna, b. 1734; Tabitha, b. 1737 ; Martha and Mary, b. 1739; Samuel, b. 1740; Joseph, who d. in Chelmsford, and others.
305
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
JOHN EMERSON lived on the place now occupied by Silas G. Emerson, on Pearl Street, near Main Street ; was called Ensign.
John was the son of Nathaniel and Hepzi., b. 1732 ; m. 1755, Han- nah Nichols. Children : John, b. 1755; Nathaniel, b. 1757 ; David, b. 1762 ; Hannah, b. 1765 ; Abigail. He was succeeded on the place by his son David, who was born 1762, and who m. 1787, Sarah Gowing ; she d. 1809 ; and m. for 2d wife, Selina Gassett, of Townsend.
Chil. : David, b. 1787, and settled on Haverhill Street, where his son Clinton now lives. Sally, Henry, Thomas ; and by 2d wife, Silas G. and Albert B .; Silas G. has succeeded to the place. This place has never been sold since it was first settled.
SAMUEL FARLEY lived on the place on Salem Street, formerly the "Daniel Damon place," now owned by Francis Kingman. Capt. Samuel Lamson was an early settler on this place, and died here in 1692. It was afterwards owned by Wm. Melendy and Joseph Hill, who sold it to the town, in 1760-I, for £50 and 6s., house and land. Samuel Farley, who was supported by the town, was living here in 1765. In 1767 the place was sold to Samuel Damon. (See Early Settlers.)
WID. FELCH lived on the place now' owned and occupied by Phineas Green, on Main Street, on S. W. side of Bare Hill.
This was Margaret Felch, maiden name Marg't Toothaker, from Wilmington, was m. to Ebenezer Felch, in 1733 (2d wife), (his Ist wife, who was Lydia Chandler, from Andover, d. in 1731). Chil. : Lydia, b. 1729 ; Phebe, b. 1734; Joseph, b. 1736, and Mary, b. 1739, and m. to John Farmer, in 1763.
Ebenezer Felch was the son of John and Elizabeth, b. 1701. (See Early Settlers.)
John Farmer succeeded his father-in-law on the place; had a son John, b. 1767, who d. in the Revolutionary war.
Farmer sold the place to Samuel Weston, and went to Lunenburg.
Weston sold to Nathan Mason, and went to Rowley.
Mason sold to Asahel Porter, from Stoneham.
Porter m. in 1796, Betsey Atwell, who d. in 1869.
The chil. of Asahel Porter were : Asahel ; Mary, who m. Capt. Geo. Bancroft ; George, who m. Emily Bancroft; Stillman; William ; Darius ; Eliza, who m. James Pierce, of Stoneham.
CAPT. ABRAHAM FOSTER lived on Grove Street, on the place lately owned by Nehemiah Bancroft, and now owned and occupied by Nathaniel E. Hill. The first house was built on the Plain and moved up to the road. Capt. Foster was the son of Samuel and Sarah (see
39
306
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
Early Settlers) ; b. about 1702; m. 1733, Susanna Hartshorn, and d. 1753, aged 49. After his death, the place was sold to Nehemiah Ban- croft. Nehemiah was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Temple) Ban- croft (see ante) ; b. 1768 ; m. 1791, Susanna Beard, and d. 1863, aged 95. Chil. : Susanna, who m. 1819, Samuel Parker ; Eliza, m. 1820, Charles Parker ; Miah, and James H., who m. 1828, Emily J. Eames.
JONATHAN FOSTER, brother of the foregoing, b. 1712 ; lived on the place formerly of Ebenezer Emerson, and now of Joseph Fultz, on Grove Street. The house was built by one Stimpson, a fiddler, who came near being captured one night by the Indians, while sitting on a log fiddling.
Samuel Foster, the father of Jonathan, succeeded Stimpson ; Jona- than succeeded his father ; m. 1733, Dorothy, or Deborah, Merrow, and d. in 1775, and was buried on the day of Concord fight. Their children were : Jonathan, b. 1737 ; Samuel, b. 1743, and lived in Gardner ; Anna, b. 1735 ; Dolly, b. 1738 ; Sarah, b. 1744; Jonathan, last named, m. 1761, Sarah Townsend, and had chil .: Sarah, b. 1762; Daniel, b. 1767 ; Aaron, b. 1769 ; Davis, b. 1771, and m. 1805, Wid. Nancy Russell, and lived in Wakefield; Jonathan, b. 1774; John, b. 1773 ; Dolly, b. 1776 ; Alice, b. 1781, and Anna, b. 1784.
Ebenezer Emerson bought this place of the first Jonathan Foster. He, Ebenezer, was the son of Ebenezer and Anna (Nichols) Emer- son (see ante) ; was b. 1772 ; m. Rhoda Symonds in 1794, and d. 1867. His chil. were : Rhoda, b. 1795 ; Ebenezer, b. 1804 ; Melina and Fidelia. His son Ebenezer, b. 1804; m., Ist, in 1828, Sally Peabody, and 2d, in 1849, Esther Taylor, and d. in 1861.
Dea. Henry A. Emerson, son of Ebenezer and Sally, aforesaid, b. 1831 ; m. 1853, Emily P. Stimpson, and d. in 1869.
BENJAMIN FOSTER, brother of the foregoing, lived on the place on Grove Street, near Wilmington line, lately owned by Enos Tibbetts, and now owned by A. J. Francis. Benjamin Foster was b. 1715. (See Early Settlers.) The first house on this place was burned about 1760. Mr. Foster built the present house soon after. His son Samuel suc- ceeded to the homestead, and upon his death the place was sold to Henry Eames. It was afterwards owned and occupied by Enos Tib- betts, until his death in 1865. Tibbetts m. in 1822, Cynthia, dau of Asa and Anna (Eames) Parker.
TIMOTHY HARTSHORN lived on Haverhill Street, on the place recently occupied by his son Timothy, and now by his children. This Timothy, Sen., was b. 1737, and was the son of Samuel and Abigail (Taylor) Hartshorn ; (see Early Settlers) ; m. Abigail Nichols, the dau. of
307
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Daniel and Elizabeth (Batchelder) Nichols. Their chil. were : Abi- gail, b. 1761, and m. 1779 to Dea. Benjamin Pratt ; Esther, b. 1763, and m. 1780 to Ebenezer Stimpson ; Timothy, b. 1775 (see below), and Molly, who d. single.
Timothy, b. 1775, succeeded to the place; m. 1800, Sally Nelson, and d. 1844. Their children were : Sally, Mary, Timothy Ward, Eliz- abeth, and Mehitabel. Timothy, Sen., aforesaid, purchased the place of one Eaton.
JONATHAN NICHOLS lived in an old house that stood on the west side of Pearl Street, north of Forest Street. He was the son of James and Mary (Poole) Nichols, b. 1691. (See Early Settlers.) He m. 1716, Phebe Eaton. Children : Jonathan, b. 1717, and Benjamin, b. 1723. Benjamin succeeded to the homestead, and m. Mary Trow. The children of Benjamin and Mary were: Joseph, b. 1752 ; m. Molly Dudley, and removed to Hillsboro' ; Benjamin, b. 1754 ; m. 1779, Re- becca Bancroft, and removed to Gardner ; Jonathan, b. 1758 ; m. 1778, Elizabeth Calnon, and removed to Wilmington ; Jesse, b. 1760; m., Ist, 1784, Rebecca Walton, and 2d, 1789, Betty Howard ; Mary, b. 1756; m. 1776, William Beers; Ebenezer, b. 1762 ; m., Ist, 1789, Rebecca Howard, of Andover, and 2d, 1790, Betsey Dix. Ebenezer sold the place to Nathaniel Batchelder, who took down the old house about the year 1800. The old cellar is still to be seen.
RICHARD NICHOLS lived on the corner of Franklin Street, near Pearl Street, on the place lately of Asa Parker, and now of George Parker. He was the son of John and Abigail Nichols (see Early Settlers) ; was b. 1679 ; was the first man known to have lived on the place. He m. 1706, Abigail Damon. His children were : Abigail, b. 1708 ; John, b. 17II ; Mary, b. 1713 ; Hepzibeth, b. 1721 ; Mehitabel, b. 1723 ; Jacob, b. 1726 ; Richard, b. 1715, and who built the house now owned by Rich- ard B. Nichols ; Joshua, b. '1718, and who succeeded his father on the homestead. Joshua, m. Hepzibeth Hartshorn, and their children were : Joshua, b. 1746 ; Judith, b. 1749 ; and Hepzibeth, who m. 1762, Asa Parker (son of Benjamin and Sarah Parker), b. 1740, and d. 1809. Asa Parker and wife succeeded to her father's place. The children of Asa and Hepzibeth were: Joshua, b. 1774, and removed to New , Hampshire ; Lucy, b. 1779, and d. single ; Loea, b. 1782 ; was a lieu. tenant, and d. in 1814 at Fort Independence ; Levi, b. 1784 (a deacon) ; m. 1805, Polly Nichols, and went to Wilmington ; Lucinda, b. 1786; and Asa.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.