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 39
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
Rev. Mr. Emerson was a sound scholar, a good citizen, a social and agreeable companion, and an honest man. As a theologian, he was a rigid Calvinist ; as a preacher, he was fluent, but not eloquent ; seldom poetical or pathetic, sometimes prosy, frequently long-winded and tedious, except when his discourses were historical, and then interest- ing and instructive. He was a man of great firmness and pertinacity, loved influence, and for many years possessed it in his own parish to an unbounded degree ; was a friend of education and good morals. In 1812 he was classed as a federalist and an opposer of the war and of the National Administration, but in his latter years he was an earnest republican, opposed to the whole system of slavery, and was a true patriot. He died in 1860, aged 88 years.
DAVID GARDNER. Passing from the old parish church westerly, we then found standing on the common land, near where is now the town pound, a wheelwright's shop owned by David Gardner, who pursued his vocation there a few years, and then sold out and went, it is pre- sumed, to Hingham, from whence he came. A daughter of his is now the wife of Calvin Nichols, of this town. His wife was a Crocker, sister to Wid. Benj. H. Eaton, and to the late Wid. Benj. Swain. This shop was bought by Thomas Skinner, removed to the foot of Fitch's Hill, converted into a dwelling, and is now owned by James Connell.
WILLIAM DEADMAN purchased, about this time, a part of the house, a small cottage, that stood where now stands the house occupied by his widow and his son William, the other part of the cottage being owned for several years by Wid. Molly Parker. He subsequently bought the other part, and erected the present dwelling. He was son of Wil- liam Deadman, of Stoneham, a soldier in the Revolution ; his mother was Mary, dau. of Capt. Thomas Green ; she lived to a great age ; was a pleasant and worthy woman ; d., aged 98.
William (Jr.), m. 1813, Sally, dau. of James Boutwell ; was the first captain of the Washington Rifle Company, who belonged to South Reading ; was a man of high respectability, of great mechanical inge- nuity, and of excellent taste and skill in contriving and arranging the useful and ornamental surroundings of house, garden, and field. He was town sexton for many years, and d. 1865, aged 77.
His predecessors on this place were a family of Tottinghams, from
.
3
392
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
Woburn ; Elisha, the elder, who m. 1764, Mary Pike, of Woburn ; was a blacksmith, and had a son Aaron ; the father and son were both intemperate. The widow of Elisha, Mary, died 1818, aged 82.
NATHANIEL BROWN lived on the place recently occupied by Wid. Lucy (Poole) Jennings ; he was son of Gen. Benjamin Brown ; b. 1756 ; m. 1800, Rhoda, dau. of Abiel and Thankful Brown, and d. 1832, aged 76. Had several daughters, of whom Rhoda, late wife of Charles Lee, of South Reading, was one. Mr. Brown was a laborer and gardener ; poor, but honest and industrious. His wife was de- ranged for many years. The house was then a one-story cottage, built by adding his father's old currier shop (that was removed hither from the side of the pond), to old Tottingham's blacksmith shop, which stood on this spot, the same being common land ; and a lot of land, forty feet square, was voted to Mr. Brown during life. He was per- mitted, however, to improve additional land as a garden. This land (the forty feet square) was sold by the town after Mr. Brown's death, and was owned a while by Col. Elbridge Gerry, of Stoneham, who re- built and enlarged the house.
JAMES HARTSHORN (Jr.) lived on the same spot, where he died in 1870 ; was one of the few who owned and occupied the same domicil for more than half a century. He was the son of Dea. James and Sarah (Hop- kinson) Hartshorn ; b. 1776; m., Ist, 1803, Abigail Coggin, of Woburn ; m., 2d, 1819, Mary, dau. of Thomas Poole, of Woburn. Chil. : James, b. 1807; m. Maria Williams ; is a trader in Boston, and lives in Belmont ; Abigail, b. 1809 ; m. Samuel Gardner, and lives in Wake- field ; Jacob Coggin, b. 1810 ; m. Mary Blanchard ; was father of the present Jacob C. Hartshorn, and is now dead ; John Francis, b. 1812 ; m. Henrietta Burt, and lives in Wakefield ; George A., b. 1813, who m. and settled in Woburn ; William Hubbard, b. 1826; Charles Fred- eric, b. 1835 ; Mary Parker, b. 1830, now the wife of John Rayner, and other children, who d. young.
He was colonel in the cavalry corps, and town treasurer for many years.
This place was occupied in 1765 by Jonathan Cowdrey, who was of a different family from that on Cowdrey's hill ; lived in town a few years, and removed ; he was a clock and buckle maker; made the old weather-cock that for nearly a century was perched upon the spire of the old church. The place was afterwards sold to Dr. John Hart, who enlarged the house, and built a hall in it particularly for the use of the Mount Moriah Lodge of Freemasons ; it was occupied, subsequently, for a public house by Mr. Harvey, Oliver Pope, and perhaps others.
393
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Caleb Eaton and Dea. David Smith were the immediate predecessors of the late owner.
COL. JAMES HARTSHORN.
FRANCIS HAY lived where Ebenezer Hartshorn now lives ; was son of Dr. John Hay ; b. 1783 ; m., Ist, Polly Mansfield, and 2d, Sarah Myrick, and removed to Charlestown. Chil .: Mary, who m. Mr. Munroe; Sybil, who m. Mr. Burbank, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Antoinette, who m. Mr. Griffin, of New York city, and now lives in New Jersey.
Mr. Hay was a cabinet-maker, a very ingenious mechanic and cun- ning workman, and a very honest man, though somewhat peculiar.
50
394
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
He built, perhaps in connection with his brother John, this house, sold one half of it to his sister, Wid. Elizabeth Nichols, and the other half to Ebenezer Hartshorn, who subsequently purchased the whole. Mr. Hay removed to Charlestown, as previously stated. Mr. Hartshorn has lived on the place nearly, if not quite, fifty years; is a brother of James Hartshorn, above named ; was born 1788 ; m. 1813, Mary Winn, sister of Maj. Suel Winn. Chil. : Mary W., b. 1816 ; m. 1837, John Eaton, and is now a widow ; Sarah, b. 1817 ; m. 1840, Micah Heath, and lives in Wakefield ; Eliza Nichols, b. 1820; m. Leonard Clifford, and is now a widow ; Ebenezer Francis, b. 1822, and settled in Cali- fornia ; Lucyette, b. 1827 ; has lived in California, and now in Wake- field, unm. ; Jane, lives in Wakefield, unm.
EBENEZER WILEY lived in the house recently occupied by Samuel Winship ; was son of James and Mary (Bryant) Wiley ; b. 1781 ; m. 1804, Jerusha, dau. of Capt. Nathaniel Cowdrey ; was a prosperous shoe manufacturer, and an excellent man. He died of fever in 1817, aged 36. Chil. : Charlotte, b. 1805 ; m. 1824, Robert Stimpson, and lives in Charlestown ; Sylvester, b. 1808 ; m. and settled in Hartford, Ct., and d. in 1869 ; Francis, b. 1810; m. Lydia, dau. of Abraham Sweet- ser ; went to Ohio and there died ; Clarissa, b. 1811 ; m. 1831, Lemuel Sweetser, and lives in Wakefield.
This house was built from a "tin shop" that was removed hither from the Common, and that once stood near where the house and store recently owned by P. C. Wheeler now stand.
JOSEPH ATWELL lived in the house recently occupied by the late Joel Winship ; he was son of Joseph and Pearn or Pamela (Cowell) Atwell ; his father was a. native of Lynn, and his mother was a native of Eng- land, being the dau. of Wid. Cowell, who married Elias Bryant, of Stoneham.
Joseph (Jr.) m. 1803, Sarah, dau. of Capt. Nath'l Cowdrey ; was select- man, town collector, and a respectable citizen ; he d. 1835, aged 54. His wid. became the 2d wife of Capt. Henry Knight. Chil .: Joseph Warren, m. Abigail Melburn, and is now d .; Benj. F., went South, and there died ; Sumner died unmarried.
Mr. Atwell sold this house many years ago to Doss Freeman, a col- ored man, and removed subsequently to Cowdrey's Hill, to the place recently owned by Henry List. The house was built by Samuel Stacey, who came from Townsend ; m. 1800, Hannah, dau. of John and Lydia Vinton, and d. 1815.
Freeman was succeeded by Capt. Wm. Emerson, son of Wm.
395
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Emerson, of Melrose, and grandson of Thomas Emerson, Sen., of South Reading.
HENRY KNIGHT lived in the house lately owned by Thomas Win- ship, and formerly owned by Capt. Nath'l Cowdrey. Mr. Knight was born in Harvard, in 1792 ; was son of Elisha Knight, of Stoneham ; m., Ist, 1813, Ruhamah, dau. of Joseph Eaton, of Woburn, and grand- daughter of Jonathan Eaton, of Woburn, who was a native of Reading ; m., 2d, Sarah, wid. of Joseph Atwell ; m., 3d, Dorothy, wid. of Charles Richardson.
Was captain, selectman, and was a soldier in the war of 1812, and is now dead. Chil .: Lydia F., b. 1814; m. 1832, Capt. Thomas Rich- ardson ; is now a wid. ; Laurillia, b. 1818 ; m. 1838, Hiram Eaton, of Wakefield ; Sophronia O., b. 1821; m. Jona. Eames, of Wilmington ; Henry Clay, b. 1829 ; m. Phebe Hurd, and lives in Wakefield.
WILLIAM EMERSON occupied a part of the same house with Capt. Knight.
He was son of William and Sarah (Cowdrey) Emerson ; b. about 1783 ; m .- Newhall ; had many children ; was captain ; removed to Bangor, Me., owned and occupied a while the house now owned by Samuel Winship.
ELM STREET.
AMOS BOARDMAN lived on the place lately owned and occupied by Hannah (Bancroft) Emerson, wid. of Benj. Emerson.
He was the son of Amos Boardman, formerly of Chelsea (living on lands that have since been annexed to Saugus) ; he afterwards removed to Reading, and occupied the place in Woodville recently owned by the late Lowell Emerson, dwelling in an old house, now demolished, that stood near the said Lowell's house, on the opposite side of the road.
His mother was Elizabeth, dau. of Benj. and Elizabeth (Burnap) Smith, and a descendant of John and Dea. Francis Smith, early set- tlers. He was a descendant, in the fourth degree, from William Board- man, of Cambridge, who settled there in 1638, and died there in 1685, aged 71. He married in 1779, Mary Lewis, of Billerica ; was a soldier in the Revolution, and afterwards a colonel in the militia; and a school committee-man several years. He died 1823, aged 68. His widow died 1843, aged 88. 1
Col. Boardman was a notable man, of portly and commanding per- sonal appearance ; active, energetic, public-spirited, and patriotic ; he exercised much influence in his day and generation. He was full of
396
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
martial ardor, and never felt better than when on parade at the head of his regiment. An old swivel or cannon which the colonel pro- cured to usher in training and muster days with its sounding boom, and which was also used on Independence days, being left in the mean time upon the common, is not forgotten by those who were the boys of those days. He was also a warm and zealous friend of education and of the common schools, over which he long had official superintend- ence. His earnest and stirring addresses to his scholars, when he made his official visits, will be long remembered ; he was profuse in his com- mendations, and inspiring in his portrayal of what the pupils might become by good behavior and faithful study. "In fact," he would say to them, " by so doing you may be sure to rise in the world ; true, you may not all become colonel, as I am, though some of you may, and gen- erals, governors, and presidents too, but you may all get to be some- bodies, captains, sergeants, corporals, at least."
He gave his own children a good education, for the days in which he lived ; and those children have consequently risen in the commu- nity, and become somebodies.
He changed his religious sentiments in his latter life, and from an Orthodox Congregationalist became an active Universalist, and was one of the founders of the Universalist society in South Reading. Children : Amos, b. 1780 ; followed the sea; became a sea-captain ; died in 1811, in London, unm. ; Mary, b. 1782 ; m. 1804, John Lam- bert (see Fam. Ac't) ; Sarah Smith, b. 1784; m. 1808, Burrage Yale, Esq. (see Fam. Ac't) ; Rebecca, b. 1786 ; m. 1818, Dr. Moses Long, of Concord, N. H., had several daughters, and d. 1823, aged 37. She was for several seasons the teacher of the Centre School, succeeding her sister Sarah S. in this office ; was a thorough and faithful instruc- tor, but a most strict and rigid disciplinarian ; Nancy, b. 1788 ; was a teacher of the west district school, and of a private academy. She was tall, and somewhat masculine in her personal appearance, with majestic step and genteel bearing, gifts that were common to this branch of the Boardman family. She married Samuel Fletcher, Esq., of Concord, N. H., and died there in 1842, aged 35, without issue ; Lydia, became the 2d wife of Rev. Thomas A. Merrill, D. D., of Middlebury, Vt. ; is now a widow ; has had no children ; Asa Lewis, b. about 1792 ; m. 1827, Mary, dau. of Silas Smith ; succeeded to the homestead, and was a shoe manufacturer, justice of the peace, etc. ; was well informed, social, and jocose. He d. at sea, 1830, aged 38 ; Benjamin, became a counsellor-at-law ; was married, had several children, and is now dead.
397
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
The colonel had other children, who died young, one of whom was drowned in the great pond.
The immediate predecessor of Col. Boardman upon this place was Dea. Francis Smith, son of John and Elizabeth (Lynde) Smith ; was b. 1716 ; m., Ist, 1746, Sarah Boardman, of Chelsea, and m., 2d, 1785, Wid. Sarah Bryant. The deacon, having no children, and being a cousin to the colonel's mother, and his wife being aunt to the colonel, he made the colonel his heir, and in consideration of a promised main- tenance during life, gave him full possession of his property. And, as often happens in such cases, he lived, it is said, to regret the arrangement. At any rate, he left the homestead, and went to live at the house of his second wife, which stood on the westerly part of Church Street, and was last known as the Boutwell house, now taken down. The prede- cessor of Dea. Smith on the Col. Boardman place, and probably the first occupant, was Thomas Hay, a brother of Dr. John Hay, who re- moved to Dublin, N. H.
TIMOTHY KINSMAN kept a grocery store on the spot where now stands the dwelling-house of James Eustis. There was then, on this site, a large, unpainted, gambrel-roofed mansion, with a large L. The store was kept in the L part, and the main house was occupied as a tenement house by various tenants for many years, until the present proprietor, some forty years since, took possession, renewed the build- ings, planted gardens and orchards, and restored the place to more than its pristine glory.
This was an early seat of the Goodwin family, who were among the early settlers of the town, and for many years some of the most influ- ential and eminent inhabitants. (See Early Settlers.)
JAMES NICHOLS, son of Samuel, and a descendant of Richard (se Early Settlers), was b. 1735 ; m., Ist, 1764, Mary, the only dau. of Capt. John and Mary (Parker) Goodwin; Capt. John was the last Goodwin owner ; and Mr. Nichols, at the death of his wife's parents, succeeded to this property and also to the Kendall Parker place, now occupied by M. F. Leslie, Hero W. Nichols, and others.
His first wife d. 1767. He m., 2d, about 1768, Wid. Anna (Hay) Wright, of Stoneham ; she d. 1769; m., 3d, 1770, Wid. Patience (Pritchard) Hero, and she d. 1793 ; m., 4th, 1794, Wid. Eunice Walton, of Cambridge, who was mother to the wife of his son, Hay Nichols. He d. 1810, aged. 75.
He was a baker by trade ; had lived in Malden and Salem ; was called lieutenant ; was a very industrious man. Children by Ist
398
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
wife : James, b. 1765 ; a man of tall and stalwart frame, but of weak and wayward intellect. He died unm. in 1837, aged 71.
By 2d wife : Hay, b. 1769 ; m. 1799, Eunice Walton, of Cambridge ; kept a grocery store in the above-named mansion ; was selectman, jus- tice of the peace, and representative ; a man of intelligence and ability. He died 1806, leaving one son, Leonard Hay, now living in Stoneham.
By 3d wife : Samuel, b. 1772 ; m. 1797, Elizabeth Hay, settled in Boston ; was a bricklayer ; was father of the late Rev. Samuel, who d. 1844; of Eliza, wid. of Lilley Eaton, and of Eunice, wife of Adam Wiley. He d. 1810. Hero, who settled in Salem, and whose son, Hero W., and other children, live on the Kendall Parker place. Polly, who m. Joseph Eustis, of Salem, and d. in early life, leaving one son, James Eustis, who now owns the Dea. Goodwin place, aforesaid. A dau., Betsey, was insane, and d. young, unm.
JOHN HAY lived on the place formerly owned by Geo. W. Hartshorn, and recently sold by Newhall to T. J. West, the present occupant. He was son of Dr. Wm. and Abigail (Boutwell) Hay; b. 1737; was a physician ; m. Sarah Ring, of Salisbury, a granddau. of Rev. Jona. Pierpont ; settled first in Woburn, but when his father became old he returned to Reading and succeeded to his father's practice and eventu- ally to the homestead. He was a very respectable physician ; enjoyed a good practice ; was a careful and gentle practitioner, and used in his practice more botanic medicines than most other physicians, so that he was sometimes called " the root and herb doctor." He was a peace- able, retiring, and upright citizen. He d. 1815, aged 77 ; and his wid. d. 1816, aged 76. Chil. : Sarah, b. 1762 : m. Dudley Porter, and re -. moved to Nova Scotia ; Jonathan Pierpont, b. 1765 ; m. 1794, Hepzi- beth Appleton ; Charlotte, b. 1766 ; m., Ist, 1786, Dr. Isaac S.Thomp- son, of Woburn, a cousin of Benja. Thompson, of Count Rumford notoriety ; settled in Maine, and m., 2d, John Flint, of Baldwin, Me. ; Charles, b. 1769, became a physician, and settled in Maine, and died there ; Abigail, b. 1771 ; m. 1793, John Chandler, and is dead ; Eliza- beth, b. 1773 ; m. 1797, Samuel Nichols, and d. 1861, aged 88; Pa- mela, b. 1774; m. 1798, Timothy Sweetser, and is dead ; Anna, b. 1776 ; m. 1799, Jesse Pope, and is dead; John, b. 1777 ; m. 1805, Sarah Lucas, and is dead ; George, b. 1779; m. and settled in Lexing- ton, Ky .; Mary, b. 1781; m. 1806, Robert Raddin, and is dead ; Francis, b. 1783 ; m , Ist, Polly Mansfield ; she d. 1816 ; m., 2d, 1817, Sarah Myrick, and removed to Charlestown and died there.
The house that long stood upon this spot, and which was built by Dr. Wm. Hay, was taken down a few years since.
399
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
JAMES HARTSHORN (Sen.) lived where Joseph Hartshorn, his son, now lives ; was son of Benja. and Mary (Swain) Hartshorn (see Early Settlers) ; b. 1750 ; m. 1771, Sarah, dau. of Dea. Ebenezer and Ruth (Bancroft) Hopkinson ; was a deacon; kept a grocery store in his early life ; a modest, upright man ; d. 1824, aged 74. Chil. : James, b. 1773, d. soon; Jonathan, b. 1775, and d. soon; James, b. 1776 (see Special Account) ; Jonathan, b. 1779, and d. 1803 ; Sally, b. 1781, and m. 1811, Stephen Hale, and d. 1813 ; Lucy, b. 1783, m. Amos Boutwell, and lived in Wakefield ; John Francis, b. 1785, and d. 1810; Ebenezer, b. 1788 (see Special Account) ; Betsey, b. 1790 ; m. Hon. Thos. Emerson (see Special Account) ; Joseph ; m. 1816, Abigail R., dau. of James Emerson, and succeeded his father on the homestead, which included as his father's share a part only of the ancient place ; the other part descending to Jeremiah, an uncle of Joseph. The chil- dren of Joseph were : Joseph, who went to California ; Abigail, who m. W. H. Atwell, Esq. ; Jona. Francis, who m. Louisa Wiley ; Nancy, who m. Luther Reed, Jr. ; and one or more who d. young.
JEREMIAH HARTSHORN lived in the northerly part of the old Harts- horn mansion ; was brother of Dea. James, b. 1760 ; m. 1786, Margaret, dau. of Dr. Oliver Swain; d. 1838. Was a soldier of the Revolution, a respectable citizen, somewhat pompous and grandiloquent in manners and language. Children : Oliver Swain, b. 1787 ; m. a dau. of Dr. Martin Herrick, and settled in Portland, Me. ; Washington, b. 1791 ; m., Ist, Lucy Haines ; m., 2d, Vesta L., dau. of Dr. Charles Hay ; settled first in South Reading; removed to Port- land ; was deacon ; d. 1854, aged 63 ; Jeremiah, b. 1802; was twice m. ; is now dead ; Thomas Swain, b. 1806 ; m. Betsey Gerry, of Stone- ham, and now lives in Reading.
These sons belonged, through their mother, to the race of " bleeders," or to a family that, for many generations, were subject to a liability to commence bleeding from some slight wound, and to continue bleeding, in spite of all efforts to stop the effusion, until life was nearly extinct, when, generally, the subject would slowly rally, and recover his usual health. It was a curious peculiarity of this malady, that it only visited daughters' sons, and that " sons' sons " and none of the daughters were thus afflicted. The first three sons, above named, were occasionally thus visited, but the youngest son has not been, and it is hoped that the malady has run out.
BENJ. SWAIN lived where Wid. Jacob Varnum Holt now lives ; was the son of Dr. Oliver Swain ; b. 1767 ; m., Ist, Ruth Buck, and m., 2d, Wid. Experience' (Crocker) Holt ; was a carpenter, a quiet, honest
400
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
man, and is now dead. Chil .: Benjamin, who m., Ist, Miss Wheeler, of Stoneham ; had a second wife and removed from town ; Oliver, who m. and lives in New Bedford, and other children, who d. young.
The predecessor of Mr. Swain on this place was Thomas Damon, son of Ebenezer and Dorcas Damon ; b. 1725; m. 1748, Elizabeth Stimpson ; his widow, it is said, married David Gerry, of Stoneham, and was mother of the late Dea. Gerry, of Stoneham. Her son, Tho. Damon, sold out, and went to Lunenburg. The old house that long stood on this spot was burnt a few years since, and the present one was erected by the late Jacob V. Holt.
SUEL WINN lived on the place now in part occupied by his widow, Lydia Winn. He then lived in an old house that stood a few rods easterly of Mrs. Winn's present mansion, and which was taken down a few years since.
Mr. Winn was a native of Burlington, son of Jeremiah Winn ; b. about 1784 ; m. 1808, Lydia Whittemore, of Charlestown, dau. of Philip Whittemore, of West Cambridge ; was a butcher and farmer ; a major in the cavalry, selectman, etc. He was a man of great activity, industry, and perseverance, honest and just in his transactions, somewhat rough and blunt in his manners and language, but tender-hearted and gen- erous. He acquired a handsome estate. He was killed in 1851, at the Church Street railroad crossing, by a passing locomotive, at the age of 67. He built the house now standing on the place. The barns on the place, one of which was very large, were burned not long ago. Children : Lydia, who m. Reuben Green, of Malden ; John, who m., Ist, a dau. of Edmund Parker, Esq. ; m. again, and removed to Nan- tucket ; Henry, who d. a young man, unm .; Harriet, who d. a young woman, unm. ; Eliza, who m. James Edward Emerson, and lives in Wakefield ; Suel, who lives in Wakefield; Geo. Augustus, who is m. and lives in Boston ; William, who d. young.
WILLIAM SIMPSON lived in a part of the old house above described ; he came from the State of Maine ; m. 1815, Wid. Betsey Damon, wid. of Ebenezer Damon, whose maiden name was Betsey Centre ; he was ignorant and unpolished, but kind-hearted. They sold their interest in the place to Maj. Winn, and removed to Andover ; became poor, and returned in their old age to South Reading, and d. in 1853 in the alms- house, he at the age of 73, and she much older.
This old house and farm, which thus became the sole property of Maj. Winn, was formerly owned by Ebenezer Damon, father of the Ebenezer Damon above named, b. 1718, and brother of Thomas Damon, Sen., of the Benj. Swain place ; he, or possibly his son, d. and left a
40I
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
wid., Lydia, who m. 1782, Capt. Phineas Parker, of Pepperell, who removed hither, and was the immediate predecessor of Maj. Winn, and d. 1814, aged 74. Tradition says that this farm was first settled by a family of Walkers, who removed to Lynn.
REBECCA BRYANT lived in a small, ancient-looking cottage that stood a short distance northwesterly of where Joseph Hartshorn now lives ; she was dau. of John Boutwell ; b. 1742 ; wid. of Jeremiah Bry- ant, to whom she was m. 1768 ; was mother of the late Jeremiah Bryant, blacksmith, and other children. She went soon after this to live with her children, and the old cottage was taken down. This old place had been occupied by this branch of the Bryant family for sev- eral generations ; Jeremiah Bryant, the son of Kendall, b. 1714, was living here in 1765. An Adden family at one time owned a part of it, from whom descended the present John Adden, Esq., of Reading.
JAMES BOUTWELL lived in a very ancient-looking mansion, now re- moved, that stood a short distance westerly of the last named ; he was son of John and Elizabeth Boutwell ; b. 1745 ; m., Ist, 1770, Tabitha, dau. of Jeremiah Bryant ; m., 2d, Lydia. Children : James, b. 1783 ; Amos, b. 1785 ; m. 1811, Lucy Hartshorn ; Tabitha, b. 1790 ; m. James Mitchell ; Lydia, who d. unm .; Sally, m. 1813, William Deadman, and lives in Wakefield ; and several other children.
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.