USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Vol II > Part 15
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Deacon Paul Peck, born probably in Essex county, England, in 1608, died at Hartford, Connecticut, December 23, 1695 ; married Martha It is considered probable that lie came in the ship " Defence," in 1635, and remained in Boston or its vicinity until the following year. for he certainly removed to Hartford. Connecticut, in 1636, with the Rev. Mr. Hooker and his friends, and his name is in the list of pro- prietors in 1639. His residence in Hartford was on Washington street.
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not far from the former location of Trinity College. He was a deacon of the Congregational church from 1681 until his death. In his will he named his wife Martha and nine children. The fifth was
Samuel Peck, born 1647, died in West Hartford, Connecticut, January 10, 1696; he married Elizabeth , and one child was born of this union, who was
Samuel Peck, born in West Hartford, Connecticut, 1672, died De- cember 9, 1765 ; married, March 6, 1701, Abigail Collier who died Oc- tober 28, 1742, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Sanford) Collier. He settled in Middletown, Connecticut, in that part of the town which is now included in Berlin. Of their thirteen children, the eighth was
Elisha Peck, born in Kensington (Berlin), Connecticut, March II, 1720, died in Berlin, May 29, 1762 ; married May 17, 1743, Lydia Peck, who died in Litchfield, Connecticut, aged ninety-six years, daughter of John and Mehitable ( Reeve) Peck. The grandfathers of Mr. and Mrs. Peck were brothers so in consequence they were second cousins. Mrs. Peck's father removed to Litchfield, Connecticut, about the year 1720. Elisha and Lydia Peck were the parents of six children, the third was
Elisha Peck, born in Berlin, Connecticut, February 25, 1757, died in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, November 15, 1834; married Lucretia Pat- terson, born in Middletown, Connecticut, November 22, 1757, died January 1, 1847. a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Hills) Patter- son. He settled in Lenox as early as 1785, and there both 'he and his wife were buried, although they both died in Pittsfield. They were the parents of seven children. The second was
Captain Jabez Peck, born November 2, 1780, died March 10, 1867; 'he married. August 29, 1805, Alice Millard, who died May 10, 1823. He married for his second wife, March 17, 1824, Clarissa Lathrop, who was born in June, 1789, died July 28, 1847, daughter of Uriah and
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Lois Lathrop of Pittsfield. His grave and those of his first and second wives are in the Pittsfield cemetery. He came to Pittsfield in 1816 with his brother Elijah, and established a factory for the manufacture of tinware in a part of the store of John Burgoyne Root, which stood on the site of the house occupied by Jabez L. Peck at a later date. A branch of the business was established in Richmond, Virginia, but after a period of time was discontinued. His first wife bore him three children, and his second wife bore him five. His sixth child was
Jabez Lathrop Peck, born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, December 7, 1826, died April 5, 1895: he married Elizabeth Dowse, daughter of Samuel and Casendiana Dowse. In 1844 his father and uncle pur- chased the water power at the site now called "Peck's lower mill," where they established a cotton factory, and in 1853 Jabez L. Peck bought out his father's interest, and his uncle's in 1854. He was the sole owner until 1890, when the Peck Manufacturing Company was incorporated, with a capital of $100,000, and he was president until his death, and his son Thomas D. Peck was treasurer, which position he still holds. In 1861 Mr. Peck began the manufacture of balmoral skirts, in company with Mr. J. L. Kilbourn, and that led to the estab- lishment of Peck's upper mill. The business grew to such an extent that a factory was built at Louisville, Kentucky, Mr. Peck buying Mr. Kilbourn's interest in 1868. He always took a leading part in church and town affairs, was deacon and superintendent of the Sunday School and was a prominent factor in the organization of the Peck and Russell Sunday School, from which has grown a church with a fine building of its own. He was chief of the fire department from 1868 to 1873, was elected the first alderman from his ward when the town became a city, was twice elected mayor, and also served as water commissioner. He was a director in the Agricultural National Bank, the Berkshire
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Life Insurance Company, the Cemetery Association, and president of the Berkshire Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He was always prom- inent in Masonic circles. Mr. Peck and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom two survived him, a son and daughter. The son was
Thomas Dowse Peck, married June 15, 1881. Mary W. Davis, born in North Andover, Massachussetts, April 24. 1858, died March 5, 1889, daughter of George L. and Harriet K. Davis. He married (second) Mrs. Mary (Allen) Hulbert, whose parentage and ancestry are given elsewhere. Mr. Peck occupies the homestead on East street, in Pittsfield, in which his father spent so many years of his life. He attends the First Congregational Church, and takes an active interest in all branches of work connected with the church and Sunday school.
Mary Allen Peck, wife of Thomas D. Peck. is a descendant of En- glish ancestors who seated themselves in America in early colonial days.
William Allen, born in England, died in Salisbury, Massachusetts, June 18. 1686: married Ann Goodale, who died 1678, and he married (second) Alice (name unknown). who died April 1, 1687. He was granted four acres of land on Deer Island, Newbury, Massachusetts, June 19, 1638. Deer Island has been for many years past the hospitable home of Richard L. Spofford. Esq., and his wife, the distinguished authoress. Harriet Prescott Spofford. In 1639 the names of William Allen and sixty-seven others are in the original list of townsmen of Salisbury. November 7. 1639. he was granted in the first division of lands one acre for a house lot, four acres for a planting lot. and two acres of meadow. He was chosen constable March II, 1649. and sur- veyor of highways March 14. 1672. His first wife, Ann Goodale, was daughter of Richard and Ann Goodale, of Salisbury, Massachusetts. He had eleven children, of whom the seventh was
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Benjamin Allen, born in Salisbury, 1652. died September 3, 1723. He married. September 3, 1686, Rachel Wheeler, widow of Henry Wheeler. She died May, 1694. and he married (second) November 13. 1699, Hopestill Leonard, who died 1754. He was chosen hayward in Salisbury, 1692: and in 1693 bought land lying partly in Swanzey and partly in Rehoboth, to which place he removed, and was elected representative, May. 1704. He had four children by his first wife, and eight by the second. His second child. Benjamin, was born in Salis- bury, Massachusetts, May 20, 1689; his wife's name is not known, but he had a son Benjamin, who married, in Rehoboth, December I, 1737. Susanna Thresher, born in Rehoboth, May 22, 1710, daughter of Arthur and Mary (Stevens) Thresher. Benjamin and Susanna had three children. The first was Barnabas, born in Rehoboth. April 29. 1741 ; married, at Providence, Rhode Island, February 12, 1761, Amey Camp, born in Rehoboth. September 13. 1744, daughter of Nicholas and Amey (Perry) Camp. They had fourteen children. They were in Adams. Berkshire county, as early as 1771, and Mr. Allen was a member of the Baptist church in Stafford Hill, New Providence. now Chester. He served on three occasions in the revolution, in Colonel Benjamin Simond's Berkshire county regiment. His third child was Reuben, born in Rehoboth. June 12, 1765, died in Sweden, New York, August 15, 1822. He married Hannah Way, born in Westfield. Mas- sachusetts, November 12. 1774. died October 25. 1833. daughter of Martin and Hannah (Sterling) Way. They removed from Adams. Massachusetts, to Springfield, Otsego county, New York, in 1789. and later to Sweden, New York. He had nine children. The fourth was
Dr. Sterling Way Allen, born July 27. 1801, died May 16. 1883; married, July 30, 1829. Mary Ann Hannibal, born November 4. 1806. died May 2, 1892, daughter of Isaac and Polly (Beach) Hannibal. Dr.
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Allen removed to Pontiac, Michigan, in 1825, and practiced medicine there until 1854, when he removed to Grand Rapids, Michigan. He had three children, of whom the youngest was the father of Mrs. Peck. He was
Dr. Charles Sterling Allen, born in Pontiac, Michigan, May 16, 1836, died October 14, 1894. He married, December 2, 1860, Anjenett Holcomb, born March 18. 1840, daughter of Truman and Phebe ( Pike) Holcomb. Mrs. Allen now (1903) resides with her daughter, Mrs. Peck, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Mrs. Peck married (first) Thomas H. Hulbert. and (second) Thomas D. Peck, of Pittsfield. Mrs. Peck numbers among her ancestors who were early settlers in this country, Richard Wheeler; Nicholas Camp, who in 1716 married Ann Pullen; Anthony Perry and wife Elizabeth; Samuel Carpenter and wife Sarah Redaway; John Butterworth and wife Sarah: Robert Wheaton ; George Way and wife Elizabeth Smith: Joseph Vest and wife, - Bud- dington : Thomas Lee and wife Phebe Brown, who was a daughter of the Rev. Chad Brown; Kirtland: Edward Smith and wife Elizabeth Bliss, granddaughter of Thomas and Margaret Bliss; Will- iam Sterling and wife Ann (widow Neal) : Reinold Marvin, George Clarke and wife Sarah; John Mack and wife Sarah Bagley; Henry Bennett and wife Sarah Champion, daughter of Henry Champion ; Anthony Annable, born in England in 1599, who came over in 1623 with wife Jane Alcock and daughter Sarah. and was deputy for thirteen years, and formed a company in 1642 of which Miles Standish was captain, to guard against Indians: Thomas Beach and wife Sarah Platt. daughter of Richard Platt, of Milford. Connecticut: William Tyler and wife Abigail Terrill. daughter of Roger Terrill. and grand- daughter of Thomas Ufford: Elder John Strong and wife Abigail Ford. daughter of Thomas Ford, of Windsor. Connecticut; Henry Woodward :
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John Ingersoll; Thomas Bacon and wife Avis; William Buell; Edward Griswold and wife Margaret-all the foregoing being through her father, Dr. Charles S. Allen.
On the maternal side Mrs. Peck is descended from Thomas Hol- comb and wife Elizabeth Bliss, giving another Bliss line; Peter Buell and wife Martha Cozzens; Thomas Buttoiph and wife Ann; John Hoisington, through son James, born in Southington, Connecticut, 1721, who married Elizabeth Richards, daughter of Thomas Richards; Hugh Pike, born 1657, and wife Sarah Brown, granddaughter of Thomas and Mary Brown; John Kelley, born in England; Richard Knight and wife Agnes Coffley; William Stickney, born 1592, and wife Elizabeth; An- thony Morse and wife Mary ; Lionel Chute and wife Rose Baker; Daniel Epps and wife Martha Read.
JOHN THOMAS BARRY.
John Thomas Barry, proprietor of the Wilson House, the leading hotel of North Adams, was born in that place June 18, 1853. his parents being William and Margaret (Buckley) Barry. The father was employed for a number of years in the Eagle mill, owned and operated by A. W. Richards and Samuel Gaylord. The mother was a daughter of Daniel Buckley, who was a leading butcher of North Adams, and was at one time the owner of a large tract of land which is now known as Kempville, and is within the city limits.
John Thomas Barry when a boy of nine years was employed in the old Estey mill on River street, working for one dollar and fifty cents a week. When sixteen years of age he secured a position in the Arnold Printing Works, where he remained until twenty-five years of age. He then embarked upon an independent business career as a dealer in wines
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and liquors. In 1899 he leased the Wilson House, which was erected by A. B. Wilson, inventor of the Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine, at a cost of one hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars. It contains one hundred elegantly furnished rooms, and has the reputation of being one of the best hotels in western Massachusetts. It is the headquarters of commercial travelers visiting this section of the country, and the cafe is without a superior in the vicinity. Mr. Barry is very popular with the traveling public and with his fellow citizens in his native town. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and also of the North Adams Court, Foresters of America.
JENKS FAMILY.
The Jenks family of Adams, of which the late Daniel and the late Hon. Edwin F. Jenks were distinguished representatives, is of early New England origin, and its members from its original American pro- genitor down to the present time have been identified with the develop- ment and maintenance of the industrial interests of Massachusetts and other states.
They are the descendants of Joseph Jenks, who was born at Ham- mersmith, county of Middlesex, England, in 1602. This Joseph had a son born in 1632, who, according to an authoritative record, was known as Governor Joseph, and who is said to have emigrated to Massachusetts Bay at the age of eighteen years. Information at hand does not state clearly whether one or both of these Josephs came to America but if the date of Governor Joseph's birth as given here is correct, it must have been the latter's father who became the first iron-founder, die-sinker and machinist in New England. In 1642 a company composed of speculators residing both in old and new England, among whom was a son of Gov-
.
,
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ernor Winthrop, purchased of one Thomas Hudson a tract of land in Saugus (afterward Lynn ) containing three thousand acres, for the pur- pose of establishing an iron-foundry. The first foreman of this foundry was Joseph Jenks, and in the year just mentioned he produced from his own casting the first metallic implement ever manufactured in New England, namely : an iron kettle, which, in conformity with a stipula- tion made at the time of the land purchase, was presented to Thomas Hudson. This kettle has been long one of the most valued antiquities and prominent objects of interest in the collection of the Lynn Historical Society. In a diary kept by an early Saugus settler which is still in existence, there is an entry bearing the date August 4, 1651, reading thus :
"Att these iron workes they do make all kinds of affaires, such as the first sawmill and water wheel chains, plow irons, scythes, boltes, and ye like. And their axes and trammels be strong and well shaped. Some of ve workmen be exceedingly skillful and ye fame of ye works be verie great. Ye workes be mostlie owned by certain rich men in Old England, but some of ye richest and wisest men have something to do with these workes, which showeth ye they think them worth."
Connected with these works was a machine shop in which Joseph Jenks constructed the first fire-engines used in America, and this fact is attested by an act of the Boston town meeting held March 1, 1654, as follows: " The Selectmen have power and liberty to agree with Joseph Jenks, for engines to convey water in case of fire, if they see cause to do so." The die for the famous Pine Tree Shillings was made at the Sangus works by Joseph Jenks from a design by his wife Elizabeth, and in reference to this first coinage in New England it is worthy of note that the original design contained no sign denoting a recognition of British authority, thus constituting the first act of independence on the part of the colonists toward the mother country. It is claimed on good
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authority that Joseph Jenks was the inventor of the common hand scythe, and that he was granted a patent thereon, thus bringing to the Jenks family the distinction of having been awarded the first mechanical patent in the new world. It was a novelty at the time, and was referred to by an early chronicler as an implement for "the more speedie cutting of grass." The site of the Saugus iron works, which ceased operations about the year 1688, is marked by an iron tablet placed there by the Lynn Historical Society, and inscribed thus :
" THE FIRST IRON WORKS. The first successful iron works in this country established here. Foundry erected in 1643. Joseph Jenks built a forge here in 1647 and in 1652 made the dies for the first silver money coined in New England. In 1654 he made the first fire engine in America."
Some time prior to the abandonment of the Saugus plant, Joseph Jenks severed his connection with it and went to Rhode Island, where his son William was born in 1674. From the latter the line of descent is through Dr. John (3), Edmund (4), Samuel (5), Daniel (6), to Edwin F. (7) Jenks. Dr. John Jenks became an extensive land holder in Rhode Island, owning at the time of his death the greater portion of the township of Smithfield, his possessions having embraced nearly three towns, including that of Woonsocket. His son Edmund, who was the first of the family to visit Northern Berkshire, made his initial journey here in 1768 on horseback, and purchased a large tract of land extending from Stafford's Hill to the village of Adams. In July of the following year he returned to Adams in the same manner, accompanied by his wife and eldest daughter, preceding the rest of the family, who, together with the household goods, came on ox-teams. Edmund Jenks was the father of eight children: Ruth, Annic. George. Dr. William. Charles, Samuel, Thomas and Edmund. Thomas and Edmund died at the age
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of eighty-three years, George at sixty-three, William at sixty-seven, and Charles died at eighty-one years.
Samuel, fourth son of Edmund Jenks. Sr., engaged extensively in agricultural pursuits and also in manufacturing. He operated a saw and grist mill on the site of the present plant of the L. L. Brown Paper Company in Adams, and with his sons, William and Daniel, manufact- ured cotton cloth until about the year 1837. He was one of the first to discern the true character and extent of the industrial sesources of this locality, and he utilized them as far as was possible at that early period. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-seven years. Of his two sons, William and Daniel, the former, who never married, was a good busi- ness man, but of a retiring disposition, and always resided with his brother at the old family homestead on the corner of Center and Com- mercial streets.
Daniel (6) Jenks was born at the Jenks homestead in 1779. He was naturally active and energetic, and although possessed of abundant means he participated in the activities of life to their fullest extent, devot- ing his efforts from early manhood to extreme old age to developing the industrial opportunities and enlarging the business interests of Adams. With his brother William and their nephew. Levi L. Brown, he engaged in the manufacture of paper, establishing in 18449 the firm of L. L. Brown and Company, whose products subsequently acquired a world-wide repu- tation, and from which developed the well-known L. L. Brown corpora- tion, organized in 1873. The early success of the enterprise was due in no small measure to his business ability and progressive tendencies, qualities which he also used in various other directions with advantage. The welfare of the town as a unit seemed dearer to him than his own private interests, and he is therefore remembered by those of his genera- tion now living, not only as the most prominent business man of his
John T. Barry
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day, but also as a high-minded, public-spirited citizen who never for a single moment descended to the level of selfish greed. In politics he was an exemplary Democrat of the old school, but he never participated ac- tively in political affairs, although his sterling worth and universal pop- ularity made him extremely eligible to public office. He was a man of commanding presence and superior muscular development, possessed of an ever-smiling countenance, and above all was so affable and courteous that he easily made and maintained to the end a large number of warm friendships. Daniel Jenks died in February, 1879, at the age of nearly eighty years.
Edwin F. (7) Jenks was born in 1821. At an early age he became connected with the firm of L. L. Brown and Company, and subsequently relieved his father of the cares of the latter's business and real estate interests. He was given entire charge of the company's outside affairs, and during the excitement attending the opening of the Pennsylvania oil fields he visited that locality in its interest, purchasing several farms which proved exceedingly profitable investments. In association with L. L. Brown and William Whiting he organized the Whiting Paper Com- pany of Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 1865, and became its treasurer. The equal of his father in business ability, integrity and sound judgment, 'he also resembled him in other respects, particularly so in his absolute free- dom from selfishness, and he devoted a considerable portion of his valuable time to those who needed the advice and assistance of an upright man, serving without compensation as adviser to the inexperienced, and as trustee for widows, and guardian for the property of minors, many of whom have ever since retained for him a warm place in their memory for the kind interest he manifested in their welfare. In 1854 and 1855 Mr. Jenks represented Adams in the state legislature, and from that time forward he was an active participant in civic affairs. In 1857-58 he was
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a member of Governor Gardner's council, and in 1862-63 he served in the state senate, to which he was elected by the Republican party. He sub- sequently became a valued member of the board of trustees of the Wor- cester Insane Asylum. His legislative service was not alone in the inter- est of Berkshire county, but proved a benefit to the entire commonwealth, as lie was a staunch supporter of the Hoosac Tunnel project, and successfully advocated the state loans necessary for the com- pletion of that avenue of commerce connecting New England di- rectly with the Empire State, and thereby shortening the route to the great west. He was of a cheerful disposition, attractive in both manner and appearance, possessing all the characteristics of a per- fect gentleman : was bright, witty and inclined to humor; was fond of athletic sports and of amusements ; and during the memorable trip of Governor Banks and the other state officials over the Hoosac Mountains in the interest of the tunnel, he was the life of the occasion. Edwin F. Jenks died in 1868 and it has often been regretted that he could not have been spared to witness the official opening of the Hoosac Tunnel, the completion of which he was so largely instrumental in securing.
In 1842 Mr. Jenks was united in marriage with Miss Nancy S. Fisk, daughter of Daniel Fisk. She survived her husband, her death having occurred in 1881, at the age of sixty-three years. Edwin F. and Nancy S. Jenks were the parents of four children : I. Edmund D. Jenks was married to Mary E. George, of Martinsburgh, New York, in 1868. He died at Adams, Massachusetts, in 1889, and she died there in 1899. Six children were born to them, of whom four are now living : Edwin F., Grace M., Nancy M. and Ernest Claude. Edwin F. was mar- ried to Elizabeth K. Adams, in 1904, and they have one daughter, Eliza- beth, all living at Adams, Massachusetts.
2. Charles C. Jenks was married to Estella Mosher, of Scottsville,
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New York, in 1868. They have one son, Daniel A., all living in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Mr. Jenks has been identified with the manufacture of paper all his life, and is at the present time president of the L. L. Brown Paper Company, of Adams, Massachusetts.
3. William S. Jenks was married to Cornelia B. Dean, of Cheshire, Massachusetts, in 1881. She died in 1905, leaving her husband and two daughters, Mildred D. and Jessica E., all now living at the Jenks home- stead in Adams, Massachusetts.
4. Lucy B. Jenks was married in 1882 to Edward J. Noble, and they have one son. Robert E., all now living at Adams, Massachusetts.
EDWIN F. JENKS.
Edwin F. Jenks, son of the late Edmund D. Jenks (see Jenks fam- ily), received his preliminary schooling in Adams and was graduated from Williams College. class of 1893. Immediately thereafter he became associated with the L. L. Brown Paper Company. Adams, with which company he is still connected.
He married in October, 1905, Elizabeth K., daughter of the late John S. Adams, of Adams.
CARLTON THOMAS PHELPS.
Carlton Thomas Phelps, of North Adams, Massachusetts, is a worthy representative in the present generation of one of the early settled fan- ilies of this country, his ancestors being among the men who founded a nation in the face of difficulties and dangers which would have deterred those of less heroic mould. The founder of the branch of the family to which he belongs was William Phelps, a native of England, from whence he emigrated in 1630, settling in Boston, Massachusetts.
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