USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I > Part 125
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and owns large brick and stone factories covering seventy-four thousand square feet of land. More recently Mr. Fletcher purchased the patents of the Criss-Cross tube cleaner, and is now engaged in the manufacture and sale of this very useful contrivance. His office and factory are at 26 Southbridge street. The device for cleaning tubes is the best known for use in boilers, gun barrels, etc. It is a metallie spring arrangement that will adjust itself to the variations of size and shape in the tube and yet effectively cut the dirt and deposits to be removed. The factory is rushed with orders from all parts of the country. Mr. Fletcher is doing business under the name of the Reversible Tube Cleaner Company. He has secured additional valuable patents since buying the original in 1905. He has salesmen on the road in Canada and England as well as in this country. He is di- rector and active in the management of the Thurston Wrench Company, a rapidly growing concern with a very valuable patented wrench. The factory is on Hermon street. With these business interests and the care of his real estate, Mr. Fletcher is a busy man. He is not only successful in the various lines of business he has undertaken, but his methods have been fair and honorable, and he has the re- speet and friendship of even his active rivals in trade. He is a Republican. His personal popularity and success in business brought to him requests to run for office, which in most cases he declined. He served the city as member of common council in 1892. however, and again in 1893. When the city had elected a Democratie mayor through dissensions in the Republican party, and the city seemed to be about to continue the administration then in power, a conference of leaders was held and Mr. Fletcher selected as the man best fitted in the city to bring harmony in the party and redeem the city for the Republicans, as well as to give a thoroughly capable business administration. He was consulted and re- luctantly consented to run. At the city' convention next day the nomination was made, and Mr. Fletch- er's election followed. He was mayor of Worcester in 1902, and re-elected for the following year by an increased majority. He gave the city a clean, honest and business-like administration; the tax rate was reduced: waste in various departments cut off and less money borrowed; he paved Main, Mechanic and School streets, and made many important im- provements in the highways of the city. He became interested in the City Hospital and great improve- ments have been effected in that institution. The coal strike occurred while he was mayor, and he organized the Fuel League, contributing one thou- sand dollars of his own money to buy Welsh coal to be sold to the people at cost. The day the coal arrived in Boston, Worcester dealers dropped their price from fifteen dollars a ton to twelve, and the day the Fuel League began to sell at eight dol- lars and a quarter a ton Worcester dealers dropped their price to eight dollars and a quarter, while coal was selling elsewhere in the state as high as twelve dollars a ton. He made a strong effort to establish a consumptives' home, or hospital, and though the movement has not yet resulted in build- ing, he organized a corporation, of which he was the first president, for the purpose of holding the funds collected and raising more for the purpose. In a word, Mr. Fletcher gave the city a business administration of its municipal affairs. Mr. Fletcher is a member of Montacute Lodge, F. and A. M .; Quinsigamond Tribe of Red Men; the Worcester County Agricultural Society; and the Worcester Board of Trade. He is president of the board of' trustees of All Souls Universalist Church. He has
been a director of the Worcester County Mechanics' Association.
A statement issued December 3, 1901, by a com- mittee of twenty-five Republicans, contained this summary of Mr. Fletcher's character: "He is a successful business man, in the vigor of manhood, trained and fitted by previous service in the city government to manage its affairs. He has not sought the office, but the office has sought him. He stands as the type of honest, independent, clear-headed, vigorous and successful since Worcester needs these qualities in her mayor in the coming year." James Logan, general manager of the United States En- velope Company, was chairman of this committee.
He married (first), June 17, 1880, Mary E. Mi- lant, of Boston, one child, Charles Edward, died August 23, 1881. Mrs. Fletcher died August 8. 1881. He married (second), February 18, 1887, Helen Bassett, born February 17, 1860, died Decem- ber 22, 1893, daughter of Hon. William Bassett, of Berlin. The children of Edward F. and Helen (Bassett) Fletcher were: Raymond Bassett, born April 16, 1890, a student in the Worcester high school ; and Earle Whitney, born February 11, 1892, died March 10, 1894. Mr. Fletcher married (third), July 7, 1897, Florence M. 'Bassett, a sister of his second wife. Mr. Fletcher resides at No. 2 Tirrell street and has a summer home at Berlin, Massa- chusetts.
GEORGE JENNISON. The Jennings family and the Jennison family are descended from the same immigrant ancestor. Two brothers, Robert and William Jennings, came to New England in 1630 or before. They came from Colchester, Eng- land. One of the descendants of Robert Jennison was prominent among the pioneers of the town of Worcester. None of the founders was more promi- nent.
William Jennison was a settler in Charlestown and built his house there in 1630. He sold out and removed to Watertown, where Robert Jennison settled. August 16, 1631. He held the rank of cap- tain. He was admitted a freeman May 18, 1631. He was formerly a partner of Richard Spitty of Grey's Inn, London. He was one of the first selectmen ; was deputy to the general court; went for a pilot in the ship "Thunder" to Bermuda, October 17, 1633, and reported improved conditions there on his return; commanded a company against the Pequot Indians in the war in 1636; was called to court in July, 1644, for a slight difference of opinion on the question between Parliament and the king, proved to be most loyal to the colony and common- wealth; was employed by the Earl of Warwick to see to his vessel at Boston, June 27, 1646; returned to Colchester, England. He was ensign August 16, 1631 ; captain March 9, 1636-7; captain of the Train- band 1638; selectman 1635-42-44; deputy to the general court 1637-42-45.
(1) Robert Jennison, brother of the preceding. settled at Watertown in New England and was appointed ensign to Captain Patrick in the military company August 16, 1631. He was a proprietor of Watertown and was admitted a freeman in May, 1645. As attorney for his brother William, formerly of Watertown, then of Colchester, England, he sold land in 1657. His wife Elizabeth died October 30, 1638, aged thirty years. He married (second) Grace - -, and she died November 26, 1686. He died July 4, 1690. His will was dated Septem- ber 15, 1688, with a codicil April 21, 1689, proved October 7, 1690; it mentions his wife, daughter, Michal Warren, son-in-law, George Reed; son
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Samuel, executor; grandsons, William and Robert Jennison.
His children were: I. Elizabeth, born April 12, 1637, married, in Woburn, October 4, 1652, Deacon George Reed, who was born 1629, son of William and Mabel Reed, of Woburn. 2. Michal, born December 17, 1640, married, February 10, 1657-8, Richard Bloys, who died August 7, 1665; she mar- ried (second) John Warren, Jr .; she died July 14, 1713. 3. Samuel, of whom later.
(II) Ensign Samuel Jennison, son of Robert Jennison (1), was born at Watertown, Massachu- setts, December 15, 1642. He married, October 30, 1666, Judith Macomber, who died March I, 1722-3. Their children were: Judith, born August 13, 1667; Mercy, January 23, 1669-70; Racliel, October 8, 1671; Samuel, of whom later; William, October 17, 1676, settled in Worcester, one of the founders, judge of the court, died in Worcester, September 19, 1741; Elizabeth, twin of the preceding, born Oc- tober 17, 1676; Grace, February II, 1678; Peter, Oc- tober 1, 1681; Robert, July 24, 1684; Lydia, May 18, I688.
(III) Samuel Jennison, son of Ensign Samuel Jennison (2), was born October 12, 1673. He mar- ried Mary Stearns, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Manning) Stearns. He lived in Watertown or Newton. Their children were: Mary, born August 17, 1700; Hannah, July 17, 1702; Samuel, of whom later; William, February 9, 1706-7 (H. C. 1724) ; Nathaniel, April 5, 1709, settled in Watertown, later in Weston, married, October 23, 1729, Abigail Mead ; John, February 19, 1710-II, married in Lunenburg, July 21, 1740, Mary Hubbard ; Lydia, April 2, 1712; Abigail, April 22, 1715, married in Lunenburg, Sep- tember 24, 1739, Jonathan Hubbard, Jr .; Mercy, March II, 1717-18; Sarah, died November II, 1720; Eunice, born 1721-2, married, July II, 1739, Joshua Richardson, of Woburn.
(IV) Samuel Jennison, third child of Samuel Jennison (3), was born September 26, 1704, married, February 13, 1733-4, Abigail Holden, of Watertown. The children of Samuel and Abigail were: Samuel, born November 6, 1734; Abigail, October 7, 1736; Mary, June 27, 1741 ; Phinehas, of whom later ; Lucy, baptized April 20, 1746; Sarah, June 8, 1748; Will- iam, baptized September 23, 1750; Joshua, baptized April 22, 1753; Mercy or Mary, baptized April 22, 1753.
(V) Phinehas Jennison, fourth child of Samuel Jennison (4), was born in Watertown, September 27, 1743, married, August 28, 1767, Susan Newton; married (second), August 27, 1792, Sarah Whitney, who died in 1815 at the age of seventy-two years. Phinehas Jennison removed from Watertown to the adjoining town of Newton in 1795 and died there February II, 1825, aged eighty-two years. His chil- dren were: Phinehas, baptized January 14, 1770; Susan, baptized January 14, 1770; Elias, baptized April 26, 1772, died 1842, married Sally Tallman and had twelve children; Benjamin, baptized Octo- ber 23, 1774, of whom later; Phineas, baptized Sep- tember 30, 1781; Josiah, baptized September 30, 1781, settled in Holden, Massachusetts; William, baptized 1784, died unmarried; Fanny, born in Newton.
(VI) Benjamin Jennison, fourth child of Phinehas Jennison (5), was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, and baptized October 23, 1774. He settled in Newton and was for many years an under- taker at West Newton. He was a leading citizen. He attended the Congregational church. He mar- ried, 1804, Mary Tolman, who died March 7. 1842, aged sixty years. (Records of marriage give name Sukey. Gravestone gives the name Mary and age
fifty-six.) The children of Benjamin and Mary Jennison were: Joel, married Lucy Trowbridge, No- vember 10, 1831; George; Albert, married Elizabeth Wilton ; Edwin, Matilda, Mary.
(VII) George Jennison, second child of Benjamin Jennison (6), was born in Newton, Massachusetts. He handled the freight in the early days of the Boston & Worcester Railroad at the first depot in Worcester. He was a member of the Congregational church. In politics he was a Whig. He married Nancy Fiske. Their children were: George, of whom later; Mary Jane, born May 25, 1838, at Worcester, married Curtis E. Robinson, of Framingham, and had one child, Fred N. Robinson, born at Holyoke, Massa- chusetts ; Martha Sophia, born February 25, 1840, in Worcester, died there; married William H. Rich- ardson, of Poultney, Vermont, and had one child, George William Richardson.
(VIII) George Jennison, eldest child of George Jennison (7), was born January 6, 1836, at Worces- ter, Massachusetts. His father died when he was only four years old and he went to live with his grandfather, Benjamin Jennison, at West Newton. He went to school there until he was thirteen, when he removed to Millbury, Massachusetts, and worked for a year on the farm of Charles A. Smith. He then came to Worcester and started to learn the trade of tin, sheet iron and copper worker in the shop of his brother-in-law, Isaiah D. Russell, on Front street. After his four years of apprenticeship was out he worked two years for various concerns, and four years for George R. Peckham making con- denser rolls for carding machines. He made copper pumps for N. G. Tucker, Pleasant street, for several years. He finally changed his occupation and be- came clerk in the fish market of G. P. Cobb & Co., on Front street, and about eighteen months later opened a store on his own account at 24 Green street. The business was prosperous and he ac- quired a competence, retiring in February, 1903, when he sold out to George W. Barker.
Mr. Jennison attends the First Universalist Church. He is a Republican and has been some- what active in politics, having represented his party in municipal, councillor, senatorial and state con- ventions, and received the nomination for repre- sentative to the general court. He is a member of Athelstan Lodge of Free Masons; Eureka Chapter of Royal Arch Masons: Hiram Council and is a fourteenth, sixteenth and eighteenth degree Scottish Rite Mason. He is a member of Quinsigamond Lodge, No. 43, Odd Fellows; of Blake Lodge, Knights of Pythias ; of the Worcester Veteran Fire- men's Association, having been a member of the fire department twenty-five years, of which he has been the president; and of the Worcester County Me- chanics' Association.
He married, December 26, 1861, Caroline Blanch- ard, born January 26, 1840, in Lyndeboro, New Hampshire, daughter of Asa and Elizabeth Blanch- ard, of Lyndeboro, New Hampshire. Her father was a farmer. The children of George and Caroline Jennison, all born in Worcester, were: Alice Marian, born September 13, 1863, died February 25, 1864; Benjamin Fiske, born August 21, 1869; Mabel Blanchard, born May 27, 1872: Grace Good- win, born April 28, 1875, works at the City Hall ; Walter Russell, born September 14, 1877, is in the grocery business at Edison, Washington ; Harry Irving, born August 6, 1880, died October 23, 1882.
EDWARD A. COWEE. James Cowee (1), was "the first ancestor of the Cowee family in this country. He is the progenitor of Edward A. Cowee, of Wor- cester, Massachusetts.
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James Cowee or Cohee, as the name was some- times spelled, was born in 1726 or 1727 in the north part of Ireland of Scotch Presbyterian stock. His mother died when he was a young lad and his father took a second wife. She did not take kindly to her stepchildren, James and his brother Bartholomew, and neglected and abused them. As they grew to manhood the father decided to send them to Amer- ica, where he believed they would have a better chance than they would in the old country. Ac- cordingly, he made arrangements with a sea captain, whom he knew, to take the boys as passengers. Bar- tholomew, the youngest boy, died on the voyage. The captain of the ship proved himself a scoundrel by keeping the money that the boys' father had entrusted to him to be given to the boys when they reached their destination in America, and by selling James into temporary service in accordance with an evil custom of those days. He was taken to a frontier settlement and when his term of service expired he worked his way back among the settle- ments of eastern Massachusetts. He was at Chock- sett (now Sterling) for a time. He came to Narra- gansett No. 2, later the town of Westminster, Massa- chusetts, where he eventually settled. He bought of Rev. Elisha Marsh lot No. 96, in the north part of the town, and proceeded to turn a section of the wilderness into a farm. He bought his place October I, 1750. It is now or was recently owned by Isaac N. Smith, of Westminster. By the following July he had six acres cleared, his orchard set, and a good house built with cellar. The site of the house may he discovered near the road, a few rods below the present commodious dwelling house on the old place.
James Cowee was an industrious man, and he became a skillful, shrewd and prosperous farmer. He was a man of much independence and force of character. He became one of the largest land-holders in the town, and at the time of the federal tax levy in 1798 owned one of the most valuable residences there.
While he was working in Sterling he became ac- quainted with Mary Pearson (probably a daughter of Jolin Pearson), of Rowley, Massachusetts. They were married March 3, 1757, and had a large family of children. He died April 29, 1801, aged seventy- four years. She died March 11, 1813, aged eighty- three years. Their children were: I. John, born July 20. 1758; married Mary Rand and settled at Chittenden, Vermont. 2. Sarah, born October 12, 1759; married Zeeb Green, settled in Westminster. 3. Mehitable, born March 2, 1761; married Nathan Wood; settled in Westminster. 4. David, born March 2, 1763; married Mellicent Jackson; settled in Westminster. 5. James, born February 21, 1765 ; married Susannah Baldwin; resided in Westminster and Gardner, Massachusetts, and had fifteen chil- dren. 6. Mary, born January 17. 1767 ; married John Bigelow; had no children; died March 7, 1819. 7. Rebecca, born September 14, 1768; married (first) Jonathan Eager; married (second) John Bigelow. 8. Nathan, born June 19, 1770 ; died unmarried, April 21, 1813. 9. Rhoda, born April 30, 1772; married William Sawin: had two children; died April 29, 1823 10. Joel, born February 15, 1774; died young. II. Pearson, born October 9, 1775; married Susan- nah Upton; resided at Westminster; died August 29, 1850.
(II) James Cowee, son of James Cowee (1), born at Westminster, Massachusetts, February 21, 1765 : married Susannah Baldwin, daughter of Josiah and Susannah (Green) Baldwin, February 17, 1783. They settled in Westminster, but after ten years they removed to Gardner, Massachusetts, where they
spent the remainder of their lives, and where many of their descendants have lived. Their farm at Gard- ner is known as the Eli Keyes, now or lately the property of B. P. Hill. The site of the dwelling house may be easily recognized in what is called the Cowee pasture. Of their fifteen children six , were born in Westminster, and all the others in Gardner except the last, Reuel G., who was born at Ashby, Massachusetts. The Cowee place at Gard- ner was where Hezekiah Corey afterwards lived. It was made a part of Ashburnham by act of the legislature in 1814, at the request of Mr. Corey. The children of James and Susannah (Baldwin) Cowee were: I. Persis. 2. Joel; married Bridget Glazier ; resided in Gardner and had seven children. 3. Rebecca. 4. Susannah. 5. Betsey. 6. Mehitable. 7. Sally, born April 15, 1794. 8. Lucinda, born De- cember 14, 1795. 9. Pearson, born October 6, 1797; married Sarah J. Glazier. 10. George W., born Sep- tember 3, 1799; married (first) Leonora Greenwood and had six children; married (second) Sarah Wil- cox and had five more. 11. Aaron, born August I, 1801; married Susan Spaulding and settled in Em- den. 12. James, born December 28, 1802. 13. Will- iam, born February 12, 1805. 14. John, born June 9, 1807, was the first maker of canie seated chairs at Gardner, which is now a great centre of the chair manufacturing business. 15. Reuel G. (see forward).
(III) Reuel G. Cowee, son of James Cowee (2), born at Ashby, Massachusetts, about 1809. He was the first to engage in the manufacture of chairs by machinery in Gardner, which is now one of the great centres of chair manufacturing in the East. He sold his Gardner business and moved to West Boylston, Massachusetts, in 1850. Here he bought a mill privilege and operated a grist mill. His son Aaron Cowee and his son-in-law George F. Hildreth were later associated with him in the mill and feed business. His grandson Edward A. Cowee is at present conducting the business that he established. He died in West Boylston in 1880 at the age of seventy-one years. He married Lucy Ann Severy and settled in Gardner. They had only two chil- dren. They were: Aaron (see forward) ; Mary, (see forward).
(IV) Aaron Cowee, son of Reuel G. Cowee (3), born at Gardner, Massachusetts, June 10, 1836; mar- ried Sarah Winter. They had one son: Edward A. Cowee, born July 23, 1857. Aaron Cowee owned a mill at West Boylston, Massachusetts.
(V) Edward A. Cowee, son of Aaron Cowee (4), was born at West Boylston, Massachusetts, July 23, 1857. He was educated in the schools of his native place and after graduating from the gram- mar school entered the business of his father, who had a grist mill, and dealt in grain and other sup- plies for farmers. Not only his father but his grandfather and great-grandfather were millers. Mr. Cowee has an inherited liking and aptitude for his business. Edward A. Cowee started in for himself in the grain and feed business when twenty-one years of age with M. H. Bosworth for two years and then with R. G. Cowee, his grandfather, and remained with him until the death of the latter when he took the business alone and continued the business at the old mill until driven out by the Metropolitan Water Board and at the present writing the buildings are torn down and land covered with water, there having been a mill on the property about one hundred and fifty years. At the present time he is running a mill and elevator at 193 Summer street, Worcester, with stores in different parts of the city and one in Jefferson and one in Rutland and one in Auburn. He has a livery stable at 14 Market street, Worcester. Mr. Cowee has been an active Republican all his
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life and a leader in his district. He represented the eleventh Worcester representative district in the gen- eral court in 1896 and the thirteenth district in 1897. He has been urged to become a candidate for sena- tor in his district and at this writing seems to be the probable Republican candidate in 1905. For the past few years he has resided at 25 Shaffner street .. Worcester, although he has large interests in West Boylston, where he lived for so many years. His mother lives with him.
He married. October 1, 1882, Hattie L. Cutler, daughter of Oliver B. and Harriett R. (Cutting) Cutler. They have two children: Howard, born November 10, 1884: Marjorie, born November 21, 1890.
(IV) Mary Cowee. daughter of Renel G. Cowee (3). born at Gardner, Massachusetts. November 18, 1839; married. in 1861. George F. Hildreth, born in Sterling. January 22, 1836, son of James D. and Betsey E. (Winn) Hildreth. His paternal grand- father, Timothy Hildreth, and wife were both na- tives of Sterling and died there. They were mem- bers of the Sterling Baptist church. Timothy Hild- reth was a farmer.
James D. Hildreth, son of Timothy Hildreth, of Sterling, was born in Sterling, and there and in West Boylston spent the greater part of his life. He grew up on his father's farm, and attended the schools of his native town. He subsequently trans- ported various kinds of freight on wagons before the day of steam railroads. He carried goods be- tween Leominster and Boston, Gardner and Boston, Sterling and Boston and Providence and Gardner. He died at the age of fifty-eight, and his wife in 1894 at the age of ninety-three. Their children were : James N: George F .: Charles E .; Sarah A., wife of Alonzo Smith; Georgia A., married Alphonso Smith, twin brother of Alonzo, whom her sister Sarah married. Two children died young.
George F. Hildreth, son of James D. Hildreth, attended the Sterling schools when a boy and worked on the farm until he was twenty-one. He then went to Worcester, where he worked for the city for two years. In 1859 he removed to West Boylston, and for the next twenty years was engaged in the grain business there. He entered the employ of Reuel G. Cowce and became the manager of Mr. Cowee's grist mill, later entering partnership with Mr. Cowee, whose daughter he married shortly after moving to West Boylston. He was an assessor of West Boylston: trustee of the West Boylston cemetery, and superintendent until his removal to Worcester in 1897. where he has made his home' since at 5 Newton avenue.
Mrs. Hildreth is the last survivor of her father's family. She is greatly interested in the Sunday school work of her church, both at West Boylston and Worcester. Mr. and Mrs. Hildreth are Con- gregationalists. Mr. Hildreth served for twenty- five years on the parish committee of the West Boylston church.
HENRY AUGUSTUS SKINNER. Thomas Skinner (1). the emigrant ancestor of Henry A. Skinner, of Worcester, was an early settler at Mal- den, Massachusetts. He was born in England in 1617 and came from Chichester, England, some time between 1649 and 1652. He settled at Malden, where he kept a tavern. He had two sons, both of whom came to this country with him. He was admitted a freeman of Malden, May 18. 1653. He was mar- ried in England to Mary -, who came with him to Malden. She died April 9, 1671. He married (second) Lydia Ball, who died March 2. 1704. His children were: Thomas, born July 25, 1645; Abra-
ham, September 29. 1649, married Hannah who died January 14, 1725-26.
(II) Thomas Skinner, son of Thomas Skinner (1), was born in Subdeanerie parish, Chichester, England. July 25, 1645. He married Mary Pratt, daughter of Richard and Mary Pratt, of Malden, Essex county, England. Richard Pratt was baptized there June 29, 1615, died 1691. Deacon Thomas Skinner removed with his family, consisting of his wife, his sons Richard, Benjamin, Ebenezer, Nathan- iel and daughter Abigail to Colchester, Connecticut, where he was one of the original proprietors. His name and that of his son Ebenezer frequently occur in the early records. He held various town offices and served on important committees. He and his son Benjamin were granted lots January 21, 1702, and in May, 1702, he drew his house lot. The diary of his son Thomas has been preserved and gives many interesting details of family history. All the children were born in Malden. His wife died March 26. 1704. Their children were: Mary, born Novem- ber 3. 1666: Thomas, November 3, 1668, removed to Norton, Massachusetts: Abiah. June 16, 1761 ; John, April 5. 1673. settled at Norton with his brother Thomas; they were among the earliest set- tlers ; have many descendants in and about Norton ; Richard. June 2, 1675, married Hannah Pratt and had six children ; Joseph, January 13, 1678, died January 18. 1725: Hannah, died October 21. 1728; Benjamin, January 30, 1681. died at Hebron, Con- necticut, June 2, 1750; Ebenezer, April 23, 1684; Nathaniel. January 27. 1686, married, June 13, 1706, Mary Gillett, had eleven children: Abigail. Febru- ary 17. 1691, married. July 13. 1708-09, Ebenezer Mudge, born at Northampton, Massachusetts, Feb- ruary 26, 1683. died at Sharon, Connecticut, April 21, 1758; she died at Sharon.
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