Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 133

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 824

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 133

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He married Emma Augusta Hovey, September 12, 1880. She is a daughter of Eben Hovey, of Hallowell. Maine, born April 12, 1859. in Hallowell, Maine. Their children are : I. Pearl C., born October 1, 1881, died October 13, 1881. 2. Walter Hallowell, born July 25, 1886: attended the Wor- cester high school. (In 1902 when Mr. Hall retired and sold his interest to Mr. Hildreth, Walter H., his son, entered his father's shop to learn the busi- ness and assist as salesman. He is at present asso- ciated with his father in the business but not as a partner). 3. Margaret Ina, born January 29, 1890: lives at home. 4. Bessie Andrews, born Octo- ber 26, 1892; lives at home.

BOYCE FAMILY. Joseph Boyes (I), the im- migrant ancestor of Franklin James Boyce, of Wor- eester, was born in England about 1615. The name is also spelled Boyce and Boyse. It is of French origin meaning Wood, and probably dates back to the Norman conquest. Du Bois is still a common name in France. In Scotland, whence came most of the Boyes families of America, either directly or from the branches settled in Ulster province, Ireland, the family home is in Forfarshire. Jo- seph Boyes, who came to America, was a tanner by trade. He settled in Salem, where he was a pro- prietor in 1639. He was admitted to the church there April 7. 1640, and was made a freeman May IS, 1642. He sold his house and land in 1657. But little is known of him. His will was dated November 4, 1684, and proved February 18, 1694-5, bequeathing to his wife Eleanor, son Jo- seph ; daughters Mary Southick; Hester -; and

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Elizabeth Hanson; to Joseph's children, Joseph and Benjamin.

The children of Joseph and Eleanor Boyes were : Hester, baptized February 21, 1640; Eliza or Eliza- beth, baptized at Salem, March 6, 1642, married - - Hanson; Joseph, of whom later; Benjamin, bap- tized May 16, 1647, died before 1684; Mary mar- ried - Southick.

(II) Joseph Boyce, son of Joseph Boyce or Boyes (I), was born March, 1644, baptized at Salem, March 31, 1644. He lived in Salem until about the time of his father's death. He married, February 4, 1667-8. Only the first child is re- corded at Salem. Their children: Sarah, born December 4, 1668; Joseph, mentioned in grand- father's will, 1684; Benjamin, mentioned in will aforesaid; William, born about 1690, of whom later.

(III) William Boyce, believed to be the son of Joseph Boyce (2), was born about 1690, perhaps in Rhode Island. The first records relating to William Boyes are found at Mendon, Massachusetts, when he was hired as school teacher. Under date of August 20, 17IS, we find: "Having settled with Thomas Sabford, town treasurer, for ye years 1716 and 1718, the selectmen then agreed with William Boyce to be ye town's School Master from ye day of ye date until ye 4th day of March next to keep said school at ye direction of ye selectmen and that ye selectmen pay ye sd Boyce after ye rate of 28 pounds a year and likewise after that rate for the time ye said Boyce has kept school in ye said town of Mendon from ye 12 day of May last to ye day of date hereof, ye sd Boyce giving account to ye selectmen what time he hath lost.' One writer gives the date of his coming to Mendon as 1717, but from this record it appears that he began May 12, 1718. He must have been well edu- cated to have filled the position. He was already a man of family and had probably taught elsewhere in the colonies. The fact that he came to Mendon at the time the first Scotch-Irish emigration be- gan to come makes it worth while to consider whether he could not have been one of these im- migrants. It seems out of the question to think that old Mendon would hire a Presbyterian Scotch- inan for a school teacher under any circumstances, such was the feeling in evidence against the Scotch- Irish who came into the colonies. He proved sat- isfactory as a school teacher and citizen. He continued to teach until 1728, when he was suc- ceeded by Grindal Rawson, son of Rev. Grindal Rawson, and the first person living in Mendon to graduate at the college. Mr. Boyce's contract in 1721 contained the curious provision that he should keep a "Reading and wrighting school during the year, unless the town shall be presented (by the grand jury) for want of a grammar school, when he was to cease teaching at ye selectmen's orders." His salary was twenty-eight pounds unless "Mov- ing" when he should receive thirty pounds. He taught most of the time one quarter each year in four different sections of the town-at the school house; at the south end; at Mill river and at Great river (Uxbridge). He gained in favor rapidly. He was a selectman in 1723-24. He bought the lands and rights of Obadiah Wheelock, and December 5, 1719. the town of Mendon laid out to William Boyce fifty acres of the seventh division, and forty acres of Obadiah Wheelock on the south of Wigwam Hill. He bought more land of John Rawson Jan- uary 25, 1719-20, in Mendon, and another piece the same day of William Hayward. He bought other land in Mendon January 13, 1723-4, of Woodward Thompson; November 15, 1726, of Nathaniel Wood-

bury, and four parcels February 6, 1738-9, one of Obadiah Wheelock, one of James Heath, one of Jo- seph Dorr and the other of Jonathan Hayward.

He died in 1733 in Mendon. Guardians were appointed for his nine children February 7, 1734-5, giving their approximate ages. The names of the other children are to be found in the administration papers of Jonathan, son of William Boyce. The children of William Boyce were: I. William, Jr., born 1714, died 1738. Benjamin, born 1719, resided in Abington in 1742, probably the one who died at Mendon, 1787; John, of whom later; Samuel, born in 1721, resided in Medfield in 1742; Jonathan, born 1723, resided in Uxbridge in 1747, died that year, administrator appointed May 14, 1747; Bethia, born 1726; Margaret, born 1726. Daniel Boyce, who drew land in Mendon in 1733, may belong in this list of William's children, but if so, he died before the settlement of his brother's estate in 1747.

(IV) John Boyce, son of William Boyce (3), was born in 1718, in Mendon, Massachusetts. He probably settled about the time of his marriage in Uxbridge, formerly part of Mendon, where he owned land in 1739. He sold part of the house lot of his father, William Boyce, to Edmund Nurse, of Mendon, July 30, 1739. His brother William died in 1738, leaving a wife Lydia and four broth- ers. His brother Jonathan, blacksmith, died 1747. John was administrator of his estate. By deed dated February 15, 1747, he bought of his two surviving brothers their interests in the estates of the two deceased brothers, William Boyce, late of Mendon, and Jonathan Boyce, late of Uxbridge. The broth- ers were Samuel Boyce, of Medfield, blacksmith, Benjamin Boyce, of Abington, cordwainer. Benja- min died in 1787, leaving four children-Jonathan, who died without issue; Lucius; Asa, who left no sons; Phebe, and in his will mentions the children of his daughter, Lydia Going. It follows that John Boyce, of Rutland, if he belonged to this family, was son of Samuel or of John Boyce. Samuel was last heard of in Medfield, while John removed to Oxford Gore, while John of Rutland was living in Rutland. John Boyce sold out in Mendon, January 22, 1781, to Benjamin Read and to his brother, Ben- jamin Boyce, who returned from Abington. This land was that of his father and brothers and a lot bought of John Legg, May 30, 1751. He sold a lot of land in Oxford South Gore, thirty-two acres, July 10, 1786, to Benoni Benson.

He married Sarah -, who survived him. He died at Oxford South Gore in 1791, intestate. In the administration of his estate the names of Pris- cilla, Amplias and Asenath are mentioned. Cenia lived there at the time. John of Rutland must have been son or nephew.

(V) John Boyce, son of nephew or John Boyce (4), was horn in 1736. He bought land in Rut- land of William and Sarah Phillips of Boston, January 19. 1767. He had been living there since his marriage in 1763 and for some time previously. He sold a lot of land in Rutland, February 14, 1769, to John Smith. who married his wife's sister. His place was in the southern part of the town. The history of Rutland says of him: "John Boyce had land in Dublin originally laid out to William Fen- ton, on which he lived many years. He bought land in Rutland. April 16, 1777. of William Whit- taker, and February 8, 1775, land at Paxton of Hollen Maynard, of Northboro. He sold land at Barre. May 21, 1782. to Joseph Robinson, of Barre, and February 18, 1784, one hundred and seven acres at Barre to the same man. John Boyce and his son Thomas sold out their interests in Rutland to Jo- seph Sweetser, of Paxton, December 14, 1813. On

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tlie same day he deeded various lots to hiis son, John, Jr., who remained at Rutland. He deeded a farm of sixty-one acres to Jolui, Jr., June 20, 1794. at the time he gave an undivided half of the home- stead to Thomas.

He married (first), April 7, 1763. at Rutland, Martha Dickee or Dickey, who died April 19, 1810. He married (second), July 23, 1812, at Rutland, Mrs. Anna Oliver, widow of James Oliver, of Barre. She died November 8, 1828, aged eighty years, at Barre. He died at Barre, May, 1817, aged eighty years or more. The children of John and Martha Boyce were: I. Thomas, baptized November 3, 1765, married, February 18, 1790, Patty Reed, who died April 30, 1810; married (second) (intentions dated January 3), ISII, Widow Margaret Thompson, of Princeton. Thomas had twelve children born at Rutland. 2. Jane, born October 4, 1767, married Elijah Stearns, Jr. (Intentions dated June 25), 1785. 3. Martha, born at Rutland, baptized June 25, 1769. 4. Isabel, born in Rutland, baptized Septem- ber 1, 1771; married Darius Bent (intentions dated January 28. I . 1797). 5. John, Jr., born April 28, 1773, settled in Rutland, of whom later.

(VI) Jolin Boyce, son of Jolin Boyce (5), was born at Rutland, Massachusetts, April 28, 1773. He received a common school education and worked during his youth for his father on the farm. After his marriage he purchased a farm which he worked until IS19, when he removed to Worcester and bought the old Bigsbee farm, which is now owned in part by the heirs, his grandson, John Richard Boyce, located on Webster street. Although during his last years he was retired he continued to live there until his death. He was a Whig in politics and an Episcopalian in religion. He was in his younger days a member of the state militia.

He married (first), May 28, 1794, Ruth Thomp- son, who was born December, 1768. He married ( sec- ond), May, 1812, Polly Bond, of Leicester, who died March 8, 1813. He married (third), June 29, 1815, Lucy H. Prouty, of Brookfield, who was born Feb- ruary 24, 1782, and died November 3, 1827. He married (fourth) Hannah D. Fuller, of Worces- ter. The children of John and Ruth Boyce were: James Thompson, born March I, 1795; Martha Patty, born December 1, 1796; John Frazier, born Novem- ber 12, 1798; Ruth, born May 22, 1801 ; Clarinda, born March 18, 1804; Witness, born October 21, ISII, died November 24, ISII. The children of John and Polly Boyce were: Mary Eliza, born March 3, 1813. died January 31, 1814. The children of John and Lucy were: Lucy J., born March 1.4, 1819; Samuel Dexter, born September 24, 1825. The children of John and Hannah were: George Wash- ington, born January 7, 1830; Louisa Elizabeth, born July 13, 1831 ; William W., born June 14, 1834, died August 20, 1839.

(VII) John Frazier Boyce, third child of John Boyce (6), was born at Rutland, Massachusetts, November 12, 1798, died August 18, 1878. He re- ceived his education in the district schools of his native town and worked afterward with his father on the farm until the family removed to Wor- cester in 1819. He came to Worcester with the family and learned the trade of dyer at Rochdale in the woolen mill there, and worked there for a num- ber of years. He removed to Millbury and worked at his trade there. He drew a quarter section of land (one hundred and sixty acres) from the gov- ernment at Franklinville, Cattaraugus county, New York, and for three years worked upon it from spring to fall. Then he exchanged it for the farm of Elliott Boyce, his cousin, at Spencer. Later he sold the Spencer property to good advantage, and

took charge of his father's farm on Webster street, Worcester. He bought the place and carried on the farm profitably until his death. He was orthodox in religion and attended the Old South Church, then on the Worcester common. He was a Repub- lican in politics and served on the school committee for many years. He was in the militia in his younger days.

He married (first), at Barre, March 6, 1838, Adeline Adams, of Barre, no children. He married (second), at Heath, Massachusetts, April 23, 1840, Sophia Temple, who was born March 6, 1810, daugh- ter of Richard and Caroline (Christie) Temple. Her father was a farmer. The children of John Frazier and Sophia Temple Boyce were: I. Ada- line Adams. born March 26, 1841, died May 10, 1860. 2. Eunice Jennette, born January 5, 1843, mar- ried Otis H. Bancroft, May 15, 1862, and they have four children-Adaline Jennette, born May 15, 1863 ; Cora Eliza, born March 22, 1865; Nettie Louisa ; Clara May, born July 23, 1873. 3. Emma_Sophia, born December 27, 1845, died unmarried February I, 1905. 4. John Richard, born February 2, 1848, died February 18, 1901; married Lizzie Cora Rock- well, and they have had two children-Bernice Ma- rion, born April 29, 1892; Raymond John, born February 12, 1894. 5. Franklin James, born March 4. 1850. 6. William Charles, born July 10, 1852, died July 15, 1889.

(VIII) Franklin James Boyce, fifth child of John Frazier Boyce (7), was born at Worcester. Massachusetts, March 4, 1850. He received his edu- cation in the common schools, taking also two terms in Howe's Business College, Worcester. At the age of twenty years he entered the employ of Rice & Griffin, manufacturers of doors, sash, blinds, etc., at the corner of Union and Exchange streets, where he was located for four years, when he and his brother, William C., took charge of the farm until the father's death, when it was willed to the three brothers, Jolın R., Franklin James and William Charles, and the two sisters. His early experience on the farm proved useful to him when he and his brother John took charge of the paternal farm. So well did the partnership with his brother succeed that it was continued after the father's death, when they became the joint owners of the property with their brother William. After the death of William in 1889 without issue. the two brothers, John R. and Franklin James, continued the same equal di- vision of the property in joint ownership with their two sisters. As the city grew the farm land be- came more and more valuable. Finally in 1889 Mr. Boyce and his brother began to build houses on the property and more than forty have been erected and sold since then. Mr. Boyce built his residence at 281 Webster street in 1874. He also owns land in Auburn, a part of his present farm. When the father died the farm contained one hundred and forty-four acres; the brothers added to until they owned over three hundred acres.

In religion Mr. Boyce is liberal, formerly at- tending the Universalist church, now the Bethany Congregational church. In politics he is a Republi- can. He is a Free Mason, member of the Morning Star Lodge, of Worcester Royal Arch Chapter, Hiram Council and of Worcester County Command- ery, Knights Templar; Worcester Lodge of Per- fection, Goddard Council, Lawrence Chapter of Rose Croix, the Massachusetts Consistory and of the Aleppo Temple. Order of Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Worcester Agricultural Society and of the New England Fair Association.

He married, December 28, 1881, Josephine E. Buck, who was born April 2, 1858, the daughter of

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Ezra and Louisa (Boyce) Buck, of Machias, New York. Her father is a farmer. The children of Franklin James and Josephine E. Boyce are : I. Eugene Franklin, born December 20, 1883, a student in Clark College. 2. Mabel Louise, born October 16, 1885, married Albert Stevens Allen, of Auburn, Massachusetts. 3. Gladys Myrtle, born July 1, 1888. 4. Hazel Emma, born February 10, 1891.

THE BELISLE FAMILY. Alexander Belisle (I), first of the name in Worcester, was born in St. Damase, Canada, December 28, 1831, son of Antoine Levasseur and Marguerite (Delage) Belisle. At the age of eighteen he emigrated alone to this country, and in the spring of 1847 found employment in the shoe factory of Captain Wood at West Mill- bury. He resided in St. Marcel, Canada, for a few years, then returned to Worcester county, and during most of his life followed his trade of shoemaker in the various factories of Worcester. He died in Worcester, March 14, 1903, aged seventy-two years.

He married, in Millbury, July 10, 1853, Marie Dorval, who was born in St. Ours, Canada, 1832, the daughter of Louis and Marie (Benoit) Dorval. Her parents removed to Millbury in 1835. She died in Worcester, January 31, 1906, aged seventy-tour years. Of' the fifteen children of Alexander and Marie Belisle, six died in infancy. Those who grew to maturity were: Josephine, married Gaspard Du- puis, of of Sutton, Massachusetts; Elmire, died 1897, married André G. Lajoie, a well known grocer of Worcester; Alexander, Jr., of whom later; Felix A., of whom later; Eugene L., of whom later; George E., a lawyer, of whom later; Charles Ed- mond, managing editor of L'Opinion Publique of Worcester, of whom later; Hector L., graduate of Harvard teacher, of whom later; Anna, a music teacher, resides at the homestead, 69 Salem street, Worcester.

(II) Alexander Belisle, Jr., son of Alexander Belisle (1), was born at Ste. Victoire, Canada, Sep- tember 4, 1856. His father had returned to Canada on account of a long illness, returning to Worces- ter, December 31, 1862. Alexander, Jr., attended the public schools of Worcester and learned the trade of shoemaker with his father. He left the shoe business at the age of twenty-two to become business manager of Le Travailleur, a French news- paper, published in Worcester by the late Edward Gagnon. In 1887 he entered the insurance office of the late Colonel John D. Washburn, where he is still employed. He has taken an active part in politics and was the first Franco-American elected to the common council of his city, serving four years, 1888 to 1891. He is at present a director of the Free Public Library, and one of the best known men among the Franco-Americans of the county.

An interesting fact concerning his education was brought to mind by the death of Miss Carrie A. George recently. When a young man Alexander, Jr., attended with his father the evening school in Worcester then in charge of Miss George. Later she was the teacher at Cambridge street school when his sons went there, and all of them were in her class at various times. Thus she taught three gen- erations of the same family. Mr. Belisle is a mem- ber of several Franco-American societies, the Wor- cester County Mechanics' Association since 1882, and the Worcester Society of Antiquity.

He married at the age of twenty-one, 1877, AI- bini Boulay, who was born at La Presentation, Can- ada, March 21, 1854, daughter of Narcisse and Hed- widge ( Laviolette) Boulay, of Acton, Canada. Of their eight children, all of whom were horn in Wor-

cester, four sons are living, viz .: Narcisse A., born October 14, 1878, a clerk at present in the Worcester postoffice; Emilio H., April 21, 1881, graduate of Holy Cross College, 1906; Ferdinand J., August 20, 1883, graduate of Clark College, 1906; Eugene S., September 3, '1891, student in the Classical high school.

(II) Felix A. Belisle, son of Alexander Belisle (I), was born in St. Marcel, Richelieu, Quebec, Oc- tober 22, 1857. He came to Worcester when a boy of five years with the family, and was educated there in the public schools and in Foster's Business College. For some years he worked at the trade of shoemaking with his father. Then he engaged in newspaper work on the Patrie Nouvelle of Cohoes, New York, and later on Le Travailleur of Worces- ter with the late Ferdinand Gagnon. In 1885 he made up his mind to study law and gave up news- paper work to enter a law office in Lowell. He completed his preparation as a lawyer in Worces- ter in the office of Henry L. Parker and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1887. He entered immediately upon the practice of his profession, in which he was eminently successful. There was need for a capable French speaking attorney in Worcester county where the French speaking population is already large and has been growing rapidly. He had a very promising career before him cut short by his death, April 13, 1905. He was taken ill in the fall of 1904 after his return from a visit to the St. Louis fair. He was twice operated upon in St. Vincent's hospital and his ultimate recovery had been expected. He died in an attack of heart failure. At the time of his death Mr. Belisle was president of L'Alliance Francaise of Worcester, a member of the St. Jean Baptiste Society, the Casino Club and of the Bar Association of Worcester Coun- ty. He married Agnes C. Smith, who survives him. They had no children.

(II) Engene L. Belisle, son of Alexander Be- lisle (I), was born in St. Marcel, Canada, March 10, 1859. He came to Worcester with the family December 31, 1862, and was educated in the public schools there. He also learned the shoemaker's trade of his father. In the early eighties he was an athlete of some note and was widely known as one of the best polo players on roller skates in New England. He started in business for himself as a grocer with a store on Hanover street, Wor- cester. He gave up this business to became the business manager and part owner of L'Opinion Publique, a daily newspaper in the French language printed in Worcester. In politics he is a Republican and has been prominent in public affairs for a num- ber of years. He was twice elected to the common council of the city of Worcester, serving in 1893-94- 95, and he was also a trustee of the City Hospital. In 1905 he traveled extensively in Europe, and in April, 1906, on recommendation of Congressman Rockwood Hoar and of Senators Lodge and Crane, he was appointed consul at Limoges, France. He is unmarried.

(II) George E. Belisle, son of Alexander Be- lisle (I), was born in Worcester, July 7, 1867. He attended the public schools there and was grad- uated from Holy Cross College in 18SS. He worked seven years in the Worcester postoffice and ten years in the postoffice department in Washington. While in Washington he used his spare time as many department clerks with ambition have done and are doing, attending the law school of Georgetown University. He completed the course and was ad- mitted to the bar. He was an active and prominent member of Carroll Institute, the Catholic Club of

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the National Capital. He succeeded to the law practice of his brother, Felix A. Belisle, who died in 1905. He is unmarried.

(11) Charles Edmond Belisle, son of Alexander Belisle (1), was born in Worcester, March 22, 1869, and was educated there in the public schools and in Foster's Business College. He learned the trade of printer under Charles R. Stobbs, of Worcester, then went to New York as journeyman and be- came a department foreman in the great printing establishment of the city printer, Martin B. Brown. In January, 1893, he returned to Worcester and in partnership with four of his brothers founded L'Opinion Publique, now a Franco-American daily newspaper, of which he is the managing editor and which he has been very successful in its field. The Belisles have built up also a large book and job printing business and have a large printing plant. Mr. Belisle is a member of several Franco-American societies. He married, July 19, 1897, Josephine M. Perreault, daughter of the well known foundryman, Presbey Pero (Perreault originally), of Worcester. She died February 3, 1900. They had no children. (II) Hector L. Belisle, son of Alexander Be- lisle (I), was born in Worcester, October 8, 1874. He attended the public schools and graduated in 1896 from the Classical high school, one of the honor men. He composed the music of the class song at graduation. He entered Harvard the same year and was graduated cum laude in 1900. He be- came at once teacher of French and history in the high school of Lawrence, Massachusetts. In the year following he was elected principal of the John R. Rollins grammar school of that city, a position he has held for the past six years. He married, June 20, 1905, Grace Mildred Potter, of Boston, a teacher in the Dorchester high school, Boston. They have a son, George Edmond, born April I. 1906.

MICHAEL PHILIP MCGRATH, of Worces- ter, a railroad builder and contractor, was born in the town in which he now resides, November 15, 1860, a son of Michael and Johanna (Powers) Mc- Grath.

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Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 133

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 824

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 824