Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 17

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 17

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).

WORCESTER COUNTY

WILLIAM SEDLEY DOGGETT. Thomas Doggett (I), the immigrant ancestor of William Sedley Dogget. of Clinton. Massachusetts, was born in England in 1607. His name is spelled also Dogged. Doged and Daggett and many of his de- scendants have adopted the latter form of the name. He sailed for New England in May, 1737, from Yarmouth in the "Mary Ann," William Goose, master. He was registered as servant to Thomas Oliver of Norwich, England, for some unknown reason, perhaps for lack of funds. Many of the emigrants who came here to better their fortunes worked out their passage after coming. He settled first at Concord, Massachusetts, removed to Marsh- field, then to Weymouth. He was planter and town officer, both at Weymouth and Marshfield. In the latter town he was selectman. He was fined six pence for being an hour late at town meetings May 18. and August 13, 1657. He took the oath of fidelity in 1657. His farm at Marshfield that he occupied in 1659 was adjoining that of Peregrine White, famous as the first child of English par- ents born in New England. The cellar of his house is believed to be in the field back of the house now or lately owned by Asa Sherman, of Marshfield. He was a constable in 1660, on the grand jury May 28, 1666, and his name is constantly on the records in various public services and as holding minor offices for many years.

He died at Marshfield, August 18. 1692. His first wife died at Concord, August 23, 1642. He married (second) Elizabeth Fry, widow of William Fry. of Weymouth, and daughter of Jonas and Frances Humphrey, of Dorchester. She was prob- ably born in England and died 1652, at Weymouth. He married. at Marshfield, August 17, 1654, Joane Chillingsworth, widow of Thomas Chillingsworth, of Marshfield. She was born in England, died September 4, 1684. at Marshfield. His children : John, born at Concord, 1642, see forward : Hannah, born at Weymouth, 1646, married Blancher ; Sarah, born 1650, married - Sherman; Samuel. born 1652: Rebecca, born July 29, 1655, married Wilder.

(II) John Doggett, son of Thomas Doggett (1), was born in Concord in 1642 and died at Marsh- field. 1718. He resided at Marshfield most of his life, but in 1662 was at Hingham, where he lived for a time. His father gave him half the home farmi. April 20. 1672, and he settled at Marshfield, where he was admitted townsman May 13, 1672. He was constable in . 1682 and highway surveyor in 1684. He bought some adjoining land of Justus Eames. April 1. 1686, for ten pounds, and one of the witnesses was Peregrine White. John Doggett and his brother Samuel hired the flats on the South river of the town, probably to eut the salt hay. He was admitted a freeman in June. 1689. He was on the grand jury, May 18, 1691, and highway sur- veyor 1692. He held the office of tithingman and other places of responsibility and trust in the town. He was admitted to the church, May 30, 1697, and was on the jury at Plymouth as late as December 13, 1708.

He married (first), at Hingham, 1673. Persis Sprague, daughter of William and Milicent (Eames) Sprague, of Hingham. She was born there Novem- ber 12, 1643. and died at Marshfield. 1684. He mar- ried (second), at Marshfield, September 3. 1691, Mehitable Truant. daughter of Maurice and Jane Truant. of Duxbury. He married (third), at New- bury. June 22. 1697, Rebecca Brown, widow of Isaac Brown. of Newbury, daughter of - Bailey. She was born 1640 and died at Newbury, August 25. 1731. Children of John and Persis Doggett

were: Jolm, born at Marshfield, June 28, 1674, died March 1, 1678-79: Thomas, born 1676, see forward; John, boru February 26, 1674, probably died un- married. Children of John and Mehitable were : Isaac, born June 7, 1692, died September 21, 1692; Hannah, born December 28, 1693.

(III) Thomas Doggett. sou of John Doggett (2), was born at Marshfield, Massachusetts, 1676, and died there January 5, 1730-37. He gave his son Thomas part of the homestead, February 27, 1701. He was a juror at Plymouth. May 10, 1708, field driver, March 21, 1708-09, on the grand jury, January 10, 1710, highway surveyor, hogreeve, etc. He was a farmer and prominent in town affairs. He married (first), at Marshfield, January IS, 1698-99. by Rev. Edward Thompson, Experience Ford, daughter of William Ford, of . Marshfield. She was born 1676 and died there October 25, 1728. He married (second), Sarah Phillips. He died January 5, 1736-37, and is buried in Cedar Grove cemetery, alongside the grave of his first wife. Both graves are marked with stones. His second wife married, at Pembroke, September 7. J737. Joseph Ford, of that town. The will of Thomas Doggett was dated April 19. 1736. The children : William, born October 30, 1699. died February 16. 1699-1700: John, born 1702; Persis, born 1704: Thomas, born 1706, see forward; Sarah, born 1709, died unmarried. September 30, 1745; Experience, born 1714. died at Lebanon, Connecticut, 1730.

(IV) Thomas Doggett, son of Thomas Doggett (3), was born at Marshfield. Massachusetts, 1706, and died at Middleborough, Massachusetts, August II. 1788. He married, at Marshfield, December 11, 1728, by Rev. Joseph Gardner, Joanna Fuller, a descendant of Samuel Fuller, of the "Mayflower." So all their descendants are eligible to the May- flower Society. Thomas was a yeoman of Marsh- field and Middleborough. He was executor of his father's estate and was part owner of the sloop "Middleborough" in 1732. He sold the homestead, March 6, 1741, at Marshfield, and bought at Marlboro, May 7, 1741, settling there before Sep- tember 7. His will was dated August 30, 1785. and proved October 6, 1788. Their children, all born at Marshfield, were: John, born 1729: Thomas, born 1731, died young ; Mark, born 1733, died young ; Jabez, born March 3. 1734: Seth, born February 15. 1736; Simeon, born January 4, 1738, see forward ; Experience, born May I, 1740, baptized April 23. 1741. died at Middleborough, 1830; Joanna, born March 16, 1742.

(V) Simeon Doggett, son of Thomas Doggett (4), was born at Marshfield, January 4. 1738, and died at Middleborough, May 6. 1823. He and his brother Jabez served in the French and Indian war under Captain Benjamin Pratt, being at Oncida Station, New York, September 28, 1758. He was a carpenter by trade, as well as a farmer. In the revolution he did not think it right for the colonies to rebel, and as a consequence he was forbidden by the town authorities to leave his farm. He and a neighbor, who was suffering from the same cause, used to meet daily to talk it over, each remaining religiously on his own farm. He was a stanch Episcopalian in religion. He built his house on the highway from Taunton to Plymouth in the town of Middleboro, and it was occupied for many gen- erations by his descendants. He married, February 28, 1760, Abigail Pratt. daughter of David Pratt, who was a native of North Carolina. The chil- dren: Thomas, born at Middleboro, April 14, 1761 : Elkanalı, born October 27. 1762; Simeon, born March 6, 1765. see forward; Abigail, born March 4. 1775.

WORCESTER COUNTY

(VI) Rev. Simeon Doggett, son of Simeon Dog- gett (5), was born in Middelboro, Massachusetts, March 6, 1765, and died at Raynham, Massachu- setts, March 20, 1852. His early associations were those of an orderly, industrious and pious Puritan home. His mother was a native of North Caro- lina and had brought with her from her southern birthplace the prepossessions of an Episcopal train- ing, and she took care to indoctrinate the mind of her son with the tenets of the English church. The sterner influences of Calvinism in his home were softened by the grace of the Armenian liturgy, and while a heretical bias was thus given to the faith of the child an attachment to the English ritual was fostered which no length of years, no change of opinions, no constant use of other methods could weaken. His father, though not rich, was in easy circumstances and able to prepare and send his son to college. Simeon entered Brown Uni- versity, where he was graduated in 1788 at the age of twenty-three. He taught school for a year at Charlton, Massachusetts. His mind was directed to theology, and after being refused admission to one Congregational church, he was admitted by Rev. Dr. Hitchcock's church at Providence and he began to study. He lived six months in a planter's family in Virginia. In 1790 he went to live in the family of the celebrated Dr. West, of Dartmouth, and studied divinity under this eccentric but able teacher. He became a tutor in Boston University in 1791 and held the position five years. In May, 1792, he was licensed to preach by the Rhode Island Convention of Congregational ministers and began immediately to supply pulpits and preach at every opportunity. One of his early sermons was printed. and it was one of the first published in the United States which openly defended Unitarian views.

In 1796 Bristol Academy in Taunton was formally opened with Mr. Doggett as first pre- ceptor, and his address was another milestone in theological emancipation in New England. He ac- cepted a call to settle at Mendon, Massachusetts, and was ordained January 17, 1813. He resigned his position at the academy, but remained on the board of trustees. The Mendon church was large. in- fluential and supposedly orthodox, yet it called him. knowing his Unitarian views, unanimously and did not rescind the call when he required a change of the church creed before he became minister. After a notable pastorate he was dismissed January 4, 1830, at his own request, and settled at Raynham, where he wished to spend his declining years. His means placed him above the fear of want: he had a good library and at Raynham leisure to enjoy it. He visited the southern states in 1834-35, and preached the sermon at the dedication of the Uni- tarian church at Savannah. He retired from the ministry at Raynham in 1845. His eighty-seventh birthday was celebrated by his townsmen and friends very elaborately and pleasantly. He died March 20, 1852. He and his wife made a joint will.

He married. October 29, 1797. Nancy Fobes, daughter of Rev. Perez Fobes, LL. D., and Prudence (Wales) Fohes. She was born at Raynham, Massa- chusetts. September 8. 1769. and died there Decem- ber 14, 1854. Their children: John Locke, born at Taunton, September 9, 1798; Samuel Wales, born at Taunton, July 9. 1800: Simeon, horn at Taunton, November 11, 1802, died in Georgia, July 21, 1826; Prudence Wales, born at Raynham, September 30, 1804, died at Raynham, December 27, 1854: Perez Fobes, born at Taunton. Massachusetts, June 2, 1806, see forward: Theophilus Pipon, born at Taun- ton, January 20, 1810: Abigail, born at Taunton,

November 8, 1812; William Paley, born June 29, 1814, died at Raynham, November 25, 1836.

(VII) Dr. Perez Fobes Doggett, son of Simeon Doggett (6), was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, June 2, 1806, and died at Wareham, Massachusetts, January 28, 1875. In early life he lived on the farm and his education was obtained largely through his father's excellent library. He spent two years in Florida, working for his brother in mercantile business. He decided at length that he would study medicine and began in the office of Dr. Usher Par- sons, a distinguished physician at Providence. He attended the Jefferson Medical School at Phila- delphia for three years, and was graduated at the age of twenty-five years. He began immediately to practice in Wareham, Massachusetts, and was fortun- ate from the outset in winning the confidence of his patients. He had a good practice. "For forty-four years he went in and out among his friends, neigh- bors and patrons in his own and surrounding towns, meeting with the success which a man may com- mand who is well equipped for his business." He died suddenly, falling in the street just after making a professional call in apparently full possession of his physical and mental health. He was sixty-nine years old.

"Dr. Doggett was not a brilliant man and in some directions he was as simple-minded as a child, but it is believed that few men bring to the study and practice of their profession more of those peculiar and varied mental and physical qualifications which help to make up the true physician and surgeon."

"Timid and slow in some departments of life, in everything relating to his profession he was always alert, quick to see, prompt to act. Proving him- self the well trained, patient, conscientious physician, whose judgment was not often at fault, he also demonstrated by delicate operations skillfully per- formed that a brilliant surgeon was only con- cealed by his narrow field and lack of opportunity."

He married, November 26, 1832, at Wareham, Lucy Maria Fearing, daughter of William and Eliza- beth (Nye) Fearing. She was born at Warehanı, August 27, 1807. and died there October 2, 1885. Their children, all born at Wareham, were: Charles Seymour, born March 9. 1836, resides Brookline, Massachusetts; William Sedley, born November 9, 1837, see forward: Anna Maria, born November 5, 1839, married in Sandwich, Massachusetts, Novem- ber 25, 1858, by Rev. Nathan P. Philbrook, to Walter Danforth Burbank, son of Samuel Burbank :. she died March 16, 1870: he was born in Sandwich, 1834, and resided at Wareham; died 1893.

(VIII) William Sedley Doggett, son of Perez Fobes Doggett, MD. (7), was born at Ware- ham, Massachusetts, November 9. 1837. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. He chose a mercantile career and began as clerk in a Boston dry goods establishment, in which he was employed five years. He then went to Glaston- hury, Connecticut, was associated with his brother in the manufacture of woolen goods and remained in that business for some years. He left there to conduct a general store at Warren, New Hamp- shire, where he remained eight years, doing a modest but prosperous business. He removed to Clinton, Massachusetts, and engaged in the dry goods busi- ness. After a long, honorable and very success- ful career there, for a period of twenty years, he retired in 1897. Mr. Doggett has taken an interest in the affairs of Clinton and has invested largely in real estate there. He built one of the finest business buildings in the town. known as the Dog- gett Block. He is a Republican and has been stead-

WORCESTER COUNTY

fast in his support of the principles of his party. Ile has never cared for public office. He is a member of Clinton Lodge of Odd Fellows, and has been its treasurer for many years.

Mr. Doggett married, at Auburn, New York, June 21, 1866, Frances Pomeroy Willson, who was horn at Auburn, July 5. 1842, the daughter of Harvey and Fanny (Pomeroy) Willson. Her father was a merchant at Auburn. Their children are: Lucy Fearing, born at Auburn, August 7, 1867, married Ernest Silberburg and they have four chil- dren; Anna Frances, born at Warren, New Hamp- shire, May 3, 1871, married Edward Page and they have one child; Amy Willson, born at Clinton, Au- gust 31, 1884.

MOEN FAMILY. The Moen family, for more than a half century prominently identified with the manufacturing interests of the city of Worcester, and whose members have borne a most useful part in promoting the development of its various in- stitutions, financial, educational and religious, is of French origin.

Louis Moen and his wife, Madeleine D'Arquienne, came from France about 1808, and settled in the village of Wilna, Jefferson county, New York. A son of Louis Moen by a former marriage remained in France, and his descendants still reside in Paris.

Augustus Rene Moen, son of Louis and Madeleine (D'Arquienne) Moen, was born in Paris, France, September 1, 1799, and was nine years old when he accompanied his parents to the United States. He was educated in Wilna, New York. About the year 1830, having made the acquaintance of S. H. Collins, the famous ax manufacturer of Collinsville, Connecticut, Alr. Moen removed to that place to accept a position as his business agent, or salesman. He subsequently conducted a hardware business on his own account in the city of New York, with residence in Brooklyn, Long Island. He afterward made his home in Stamford, Connecticut, where he died, August 24, 1867, after enjoying the entire confidence and esteem of a wide circle of friends. He was married, in Utica, New York, October 7, 1823, to Sophie Anne Le Clanche, who was also born in Paris, France, August 30, 1803, daughter of Nicholas and Maria (Pint) Le Clanche, the latter born in Treves, a city of Rhenish Prussia. Sophie Anne Moen survived her husband nearly a score of years, dying January 30, 1887. Their children were:

. I. Philip Louis, see forward.

2. Mathilda Louisa, born July II, 1826, in Wilna, New York; married Lewis R. Hurlbutt, April 1I, 1854, and died January 25, 1881.

3. Augustus M., born May 22, 1830, died in infancy.

4. Cornelia Ann, born October 3, 1832, in Col- linsville, Connecticut ; married, November 21, 1855, William W. Rice, Esq., of Worcester, Massachusetts, afterward mayor of that city and member of con- gress from that district. She died June 16, 1862. 5. Henry A. R., born September 30, 1838, in Brooklyn, New York; married Mary Biddle, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died in London, England, November 10, 1887.

6. Edward A., born May 31, 1841, in Brooklyn, New York; married Mary Sophia Cram, of Port- land. Maine, and died. 1903.

Philip Lonis Moen, eldest child of Augustus Rene and Sophie Anne (Le Clanche) Moen, was horn in Wilna, New York, November 13, 1824. He began his studies in the town of his birth, and later in turn attended schools in Carthage, New York, Collinsville, Connecticut, and Brooklyn, New

York, His studies in the later city were prepara- tory to a course in Columbia College, New York, but an eye ailment necessitated his discontinuance, and he turned his attention to commercial affairs. setting himself to learn the details of the hard- ware trade, the occupation of his father. While thus occupied he made the acquaintance of Ichabod Washburn, of Worcester, Massachusetts, whose manufacturing interests required an occasional visit to the city of New York, where he marketed a por- tion of the product of his mills. In the year 1846 the anniversary of the American Board of Foreign Missions was held in Brooklyn, and as delegate to that assembly the elder Mr. Washburn, accom- panied by his daughter, was assigned for the ses- sion to the home of Augustus R. Moen, where a friendly acquaintance was formed which later re- sulted in young Philip Moen coming to Worcester to claim the daughter as his bride.

Philip L. Moen was first associated with his father-in-law, Ichabod Washburn, at his Grove street works, and later with Messrs. Henry S. and Charles Washburn in the rolling mill at Quinsigamond vil- lage. This firm was dissolved January 12, 1849. and April 1, 1850, Mr. Moen became a partner with his father-in-law in the wire-drawing industry, where he filled a much needed place, assuming the finan- cial conduct of the business, while Mr. Washburn directed the mechanical operations. Under the new firm the business prospered and increased in volume and from that modest beginning grew until many acres were covered with the great structures from which went out thousands of tons of wire to assist in the forwarding of civilization throughout the world. Mr. Moen had the satisfaction of living to enjoy the fruits of his energy and financial ability, coupled with the technical knowledge of such an expert mechanic as Ichabod Washburn. At the death of Mr. Washburn, in 1868, Mr. Moen succeeded to the presidency of the corporation, a position which he retained up to the time of his decease.

The same characteristics which made Mr. Moen so successful in the world of business would also have rendered him a most valuable public official, but the demands of his life occupation were too pressing for many interludes. In 1854 and 1855 he was a member of the city school committee, and in 1885, as a presidential elector from the Tenth District, he cast an unsuccessful ballot for James G. Blaine. Mr. Moen was always a Republican in politics, and ever. ready to assist in advancing the principles of his party. In his religious affiliations he was a member of the Union Congregational Church, and for many years one of its deacons. There was nothing relating to the good of human- ity that did not receive his hearty and generous sup- port. He was a zealous advocate and liberal sup- porter of the Young Men's Christian Association, was president of its board of trustees, and as a life member he was the second largest contributor toward the construction of the elegant home of the Association now standing in Elm street, in the city of Worcester. As an earnest advocate of higher education he lent his efforts in behalf of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and was one of its trustees from its founding until his death, a portion of the time serving as treasurer of the corporation. He was a director of the Central National Bank. president of the board of trustees of the Memorial Hospital, director of the State Mutual Life Insurance Company, trustee of the People's Sav- ings Bank. trustee of the Home for Aged Women, director of the Free Public Library, president of the Worcester County Mechanics Association, and a member of the Worcester Agricultural Society.

WORCESTER COUNTY

Mr. Moen was a man of commanding presence, genial, courteous, conscientious, with frank, open manners, bearing all the marks of a gentleman of the old school. His loss from the social as well as the business world was deeply felt throughout the city, county, and even far beyond their bounds, wherever he was known. He died at his home in Lincoln street, Worcester, April 23, 1891.

Mr. Moen married (first) November 17, 1846, Eliza Ann, daughter of Ichabod and Ann G. (Brown) Washburn. Their only child, Annie Eliza, died in her third year, March 21, 1854. The mother died January 25, 1853, in her twenty-seventh year. Mr. Moen married ( second) March 26, 1856, Maria Sloan Grant, of Chelsea, Vermont, a lineal de- scendant of Mathew Grant, one of the first settlers of Windsor, Connecticut. Their children were: Philip Washburn, of whom further: Sophie, who resides in Boston : Cornelia, died in infancy ; Alice, married Arthur Edward Childs, whose home is in Boston.

Philip Washburn Moen, eldest child of Philip L. and Maria Sloan (Grant) Moen, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, April 28, 1857. After receiving his early educational training at home, he accompanied his parents during a European tour, and on their return, after a final year in the high school, he entered Yale University, where he took the academic course, graduating with honors in 1878. After his graduation he studied for two years in Sweden, after which he spent a year in travel on the continent. He then returned home and entered upon his business career, in May, 18SI, joining the firm of Washburn & Moen, becoming first a director, later the treasurer, and in 1888 added to the latter duties those of general manager, re- maining in that twofold position until 1899, when the American Steel and Wire Trust Company pur- chased the business and plant, Mr. Moen being re- tained as one of the vice-presidents. As an executive officer he was ready and decisive, with thorough knowledge of the great industry, which was de- veloped to larger proportions under his manage- ment. Four years after the property was acquired by the American Steel and Wire Trust Company he relinquished connection with it, to busy himself with his personal affairs. He held positions as a director of the Worcester Trust Company, the Wor- cester Consolidated Street Railway Company, the People's Savings Bank, the Worcester Electric Light Company, and trustee of the Massachusetts Lighting Company and the Boston and Worcester Electric Company. He was vice-president of the Massa- chusetts Home Market Club, and a member of the Boston University and Union Clubs, also of the University and Yale Clubs of New York city. Al- though a Republican in politics, he seldom accepted public trusts, but was a liberal contributor to all legitimate expenses of the party, and might have held the office of mayor of the city of Worcester had he been willing to accept a nomination. He was from boyhood a member of the Union Congrega- tional Church, of which he became a trustee and chairman of the building committee. The Memorial Chapel, now a part of the church property, was a tribute from him, with his mother and sisters, to the memory of his father, Philip L. Moen, who was for many years identified with all its interests. To the Young Men's Christian Association of Worces- ter he lent his personal aid. and followed his father as chairman of its board of trustees.

Mr. Moen was married, in Edinburg, Scotland. June 5. 1800, to Margaret Brown, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Leishman) Struthers, of

that city, her father being a retired manufacturer. These parents are now deceased. After his retire- ment from business Mr. Moen took special delight in amplifying and beautifying his summer home in the hill-town of Shrewsbury. To this attractive country seat was given the name of Ard-na-Clachan, suggested perhaps from his associations with Scot- tish life and localities. Here he erected upon a most sightly outlook a charming residence, where, surrounded by the broad acres of a beautiful farm, he passed more than half his time in superintending the cultivation of fields and the growing of choice varieties of fancy domestic animals, in which he took special interest, and which he delighted in exhibit- ing to the many friends who visited him. At the New England Fair, in connection with the Worcester Agricultural Society, in September, 1904, as a inem- ber of the committee of arrangements and the re- ception committee, and also as a department super- intendent, he was constant and untiring in his ef- forts to make the occasion a triumphant success. Immediately after the close of the fair, although

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.

Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 17

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