Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 25

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 25

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Nahum Burton spent his youth on his father's farm. He attended school at Wilton and became a farmer. He too went to Vermont and settled at Weston, where he lived and died. He was a Whig and like most of the pioneers extremely patriotic. He married (first) Charlotte Pettingill. After her death he married her sister, Lucinda Pettingill. Their father was in the revolutionary war at the battle of Bunker Hill, and died in Weston, New Hampshire, May 16, 1859. She was born in New Hampshire. She was a woman of exceptional beauty of character. Among her children was a son, Ezra, who was born at Weston, March 6, 1827.

Ezra Burton lived the typical life of a Vermont farmer's son in the early part of the nineteenth cen- tury. He remembers the introduction of the steam railroads and the gradual extinction of the stage coach and other former methods of transportation. He saw the industrial birth of the new era in America. He attended such schools as were within his reach at his Vermont home. There were eight children and each in turn had to do his share in helping run the farm. The pioneers who went to Vermont saw their children and grandchildren drift away. In this family Ezra was the fourth son to leave the old homestead and start life in Boston. The brothers were in the trucking business and at first he worked for them. At length he went into the business of brush making with one of his broth- ers, and he followed this business until he retired. For thirty years he was salesman of the firm and spent much of his time travelling in the United States. He began when there were few railroads, when the stage covered more ground than the steam cars. He was successful in building up a large business, and the firm established a reputation second to none for their product. He moved to Lancaster, Massachusetts, in 1868, and since then occupied the residence in which he now resides. He still retains an interest in the brush factory, although he retired from active business in 1895. He is a Republican in politics. He attends. the Unitarian church at Lancaster.

He married, April 7, 1863, Sarah Elizabeth Brace, daughter of Thomas Brace, of Salem, Massa- chusetts. Thomas Brace was a sea captain of a ves- sel in trade with China. Their children were : Linda, died young; Edward O .; Maude E., married David Hinckley; Ruth O.

SUMNER FAMILY. From the best obtainable evidence it is believed that Roger Sumner, of Bi-

cester, Oxford county, England, died December, 1608, and buried in St. Edbury churchyard, was the progenitor of the Summer family in America, at least the New England and especially the Worcester county branches. He married Joan Franklin, No- vember 2, 1601, and by this union one son was born, William (1), who became the American ancestor. William was baptized at Bicester church, Oxford county, England, January 2, 1602, and in 1625 mar- ried Mary West, and by her had two sons, born in England : Roger, baptized August, 1632, and George, baptized March, 1633. The family then emigrated to New England, settling at Dorchester, Massachu- setts, about 1635, and from this family, it is be- lieved, have sprung all the New England Sumners, including Governor Increase, Gen. W. H. Sum- ner, and our great statesman, Hon. Charles Summer, of congressional fame.

(II) William Sumner, son of William (1) and Mary, was probably born in Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth Clement, daughter of Augustine Clement, of Dorchester. He was a mariner.

(II) Roger Sumner, born in England, son of William (I), married the daughter of Thomas Joslin, an early settler at Hingham. Roger was admitted to the church at Dorchester, 1656, but moved to Lancaster and there remained until that town was destroyed by the Indians, when he moved to Milton, Massachusetts, where he was deacon of the first church. His children were: Abigail, Sam- uel and Ebenezer. Another son, William, was the father of Seth Sumner, and he the father of Job Sumner, who had a son Job, born at Milton, Janu- ary 20, 1776, and changed his name to Charles Pinckney. The last named was high sheriff of Suf- folk county, Massachusetts, and married Relief Jacobs, by whom he had children, including Hon. Charles Sumner, born at Boston, January 6, 1811, who became the great and eloquent American anti- slavery statesman, and who was brutally assaulted in his seat in congress by Brooks, a pro-slavery member.

(11) George Sumner, son of William (1), was born in England, February 14, 1634; inade a free- man, 1637; married Mary Baker. He lived on Brush hill, Milton, and was deacon of the church there. His children were. Mary, George, Samuel, William, Ebenezer, Edward, Joseph, Benjamin.

(III) George Sumner, son of George (2) and Mary (Baker) Sumner, married Ann Tucker, of Roxbury. Their children were: Samuel, born No- vember 13, 1695, died February 8, 1782; George; Ann; Mary; William; Susanna; Elizabeth; Josiah ; Abigail.

(IV) Samuel Sumner, son of George (3), and Am (Tucker) Sumner married Elizabeth Griffin, daughter of Joseph Griffin, of Roxbury. They set- tled at Pomfret. Elizabethi was born February 2, 1700, and died November 13, 1772. She was esteemed a woman of exemplary piety. Their children were : Ann; Samuel; Elizabeth; George; Joseph, born January 19, 1740, died December 9, 1824; Saralı.

(V) Joseph Sumner, son of Samnel (4), and Elizabeth (Griffin) Sumner, was born July 19, 1740, at Pomfret, Connecticut. He became a member of Yale College, and from that institution received high honors. He early devoted his life to the ministry, and in June, 1762, when twenty-three years of age, commenced preaching. During all the trials and conflicts of his life he was noted for cheerfulness, and other social graces. Not easily provoked, he knew what was due to his character and he secured respect from all. Soon after he commenced preach- ing, says Aaron Bancroft, D. D. (father of the his- torian, George Bancroft) in a tribute-sermon on Mr. Sumner: "In the contest between the parent coun-

WORCESTER COUNTY

try and the American provinces, he proved himself an efficient patriot, and during the Revolutionary struggle he suffered the inconveniences and priva- tions to which men of his profession were exposed from the state of public affairs, and all these trials he bore with patience and equanimity. His consti- tution was vigorous; through all his life he was blessed with good health. During the period of sixty-two years he was never absent from the stated communion of his church, and till bodily infirmity rendered him unable to officiate, the public exer- cises of the Sabbath in this place were suspended only seven times, on account of his indisposition, or his journeyings. His method of preaching was evangelistic ; he dwelt not on controversy, but, well instructed in the essential truths of revelation, kept back nothing profitable to his people. An advocate for Christian liberty, and supporting the Protestant principles of the sufficiency of Scripture as the rule of faith and practice, he endeavored to secure the harmony of the church by inspiring Christian breth- ren with unity of spirit, and binding them together in the bond of peace." As an illustration of his broad, liberal views, it is related that at a meeting of the Worcester Association of Ministers, as was usual. Dr. Bancroft applied for admission to men- bership. Opposition was made by some of the members, and the subject was put over to the next meeting, and at that time a majority appeared against Dr. Bancroft's admission. On this result, Dr. Sumner of Shrewsbury, and Mr. Avery of Holden, arose and declared that they would not belong to a body which passed so illiberal a vote as that rejecting Dr. Bancroft, and that the Asso- ciation inight meet when and where they would. but they would no longer be considered members of it. In consequence of this withdrawal the Asso- ciation was broken up. Dr. Sumner, of whom this memoir is written, married Lucy Williams, of Pom- fret, Connecticut, June 8, 1763. Their children were : Sarah, Samuel, Joseph, Joanna, Lucy, Elizabeth Dorothy, Erastus.

(V) Increase Sumner, governer of Massachu- setts, son of Increase (4), was born in Norfolk county, Massachusetts November 27, 1746. The first rudiments of his education were taught him by Judge William Cushing, of the supreme judicial court, who was preceptor of the public grammar school in Roxbury in 1752. His father believed that the life of an honest, hard-working farmer was the best for his son, but afterward many importuned him to educate his son and namesake to fill higher places of public trust. All obstacles having been surmounted, he entered college in 1763 and grad- uated 1767. He spent the next two years in teach- ing at Roxbury. He studied law under barrister Samuel Quincy, and was admitted to the bar in 1770, opening his office at Roxbury, in the house in which his mother continued to reside until her death. In 1776, a period of great difficulty, Mr. Sumner was chosen a member of the general court, serving until 1780, and was then elected senator from Suf- folk county, Massachusetts.

It was September 30, 1779, when he formed a connection of much importance in every well- rounded man's career, by his marriage with Eliza - beth Hyslop, of Boston, a lady of rare intelligence, and remarkable for her amiable disposition. During the same year he was chosen a member of the con- vention for forming a state constitution. In June, 1782, he was chosen a member of congress by the Massachusetts legislature, in place of Timothy Dan- ielson, who resigned; but Sumner never took his seat in that body. August of the same year he was made associate justice of the supreme judicial court. In

1797 he was elected governor, and was re-elected, and his able, firm and patriotic administration won for him a lasting place in the great heart of the commonwealth. In 1799 he was made governor by an almost unanimous vote. Out of three hundred and ninety-three towns in the state, including the "District of Maine," one hundred and eighty were unanimous for Sumner. But at the commencement of the political year he was bedridden, and June 7. 1799, in his fifty-third year, his career ended. "No death,' says one biographical writer of that day, "except Washington's (which took place six months later ) was ever more deeply deplored in Massachut- setts." Personally, it should here be added of Gov- ernor Sumner, that he was a devoted son, a loving and attentive husband, a kind and affectionate father and friend. The purity of his morals was never once questioned. He was a practical farmer and enjoyed the cultivation of the soil. He was a lover and owner of fine horses. In horticulture, he found great delight, and with his own hands grafted his whole orchard. In early life he made a public profession of Christianity, becoming a member of the Congregational Society and church. The only child of Governor Increase Sumner and his wife Elizabeth Hyslop was William Hyslop, born July 4, 1780.

( VI) William Hyslop, only son of Governor Increase Sumner (5), was born, "on the night of July 4, 1780." He graduated from Harvard College, 1799; was aide-de-camp to Governors Strong and Brooks, to the former 1810-16, and to the latter 1816-48, when he was appointed adjutant-general by Governor Brooks. He held that position under Brooks, Eustis, Lincoln and Davis, till 1834, when he resigned. For eleven years from 1808 he was one of the representatives of Boston. September 10, 1814, he was appointed by Governor Strong executive agent to repair to "the District of Maine (then in- vaded by the enemy) and promptly provide every practicable means for defense of that part of the state." In December, 1814, he was appointed by the Board of War to borrow money of the banks and pay off the troops which had been called out in Maine. In 1816 he was agent with Hon. James Lloyd to present the Massachusetts militia claim to the United States government for its services. In November, 1826. he was appointed by the secretary of war, a member of the board of army and militia officers of which Major General Scott was president, to re- port a plan for the organization of the militia and a system of cavalry tactics. He first married Mary Ann Perry, October 4, 1826. She was the widow of Raymond H. Perry, brother of Commodore O. H. Perry. Mr. Sumner died July 14, 1834.

(VI) Samuel Sumner, son of Joseph (5), and Lucy (Williams) Sumner, was born at Shrewsbury, September 2.4, 1765. He was graduated at Dart- mouth College, 1776, and appointed English pre- ceptor of the Leicester Academy, July, 1788. After leaving Leicester he studied theology with his father, and was ordained over the church and society at Southboro, June, 1791. In 1797 he was dismissed by letter to St. Albans, Vermont. He next moved to Bakersfield, Vermont, and became pastor. The peculiar circumstances under which he was ordained are thus given: "The region of the country about Bakersfield was, in the beginning of the last cen- tury, an almost unbroken wilderness. Indeed, it is said Mr. Sumner's first approach to its wild do- main was by a path designated by blazed trees. As the place was so difficult to cross, Dr. Sumner ar- ranged that the ceremonies of installation should be held in his own church in Shrewsbury, where they were performed after the approved orthodox man-

JUSTUN UBLIC LIBRARY

Geo Summer

WORCESTER COUNTY

ner, the only peculiarity being the absence of the minister installed." He afterward removed to Troy, Vermont, where he died at the home of his son, in 1837, aged seventy-two years. He is said to have often expressed himself, that in selecting the pulpit for his sphere of duty, he mistook his calling.

(VI) Sarah Sumner, eldest daughter of Joseph (5), and Lucy (Williams) Sumner, married William Jennison, of Worcester, in 1788.

(VI) Joanna Sumner, second daughter of Jo- seph (5) and Luey Sumner, married, September 6, 1806, Edward Sumner, of Roxbury. He was a cousin of Governor Increase Sumner.

(VI) Lucy Sumner, third daughter of Joseph (5) and Luey Sumner, born at Shrewsbury, Deceni- ber 2. 1771, married Joseph Wheeler, of Worcester, January 13, 1793. In 1803 they moved to Dixfield, Maine, then a part of Massachusetts, and known as "the District of Maine." Dixfield was then known as "Township No. I, on Androscoggon River, Dis- triet of Maine," and letters were so addressed to Mr. Wheeler.

(VI) Erastus Sumner, youngest child of Joseph (5) and Lucy ( Williams) Sumner, born February IO, 1783, married Lavinia Boyd, of Marlboro, July 12, 1805. Their children were: L. Caroline, born January 7, 1807. 2. Lucy, born August 14, 1809. 3. Lydia Ann, born November 8, 1814. 5. Jane Augusta, born November 18, 1817. 6. George, born March 22, 1819; died September 19. 1821. 7. Cath- erine Whipple, born July 8, 1822. 8. George, born July 25, 1824; died 1893.

(VII) George Sumner, son of Erastus (6) and Lavinia (Boyd) Sumner, was born July 25, 1824, and died 1893. He was the grandson of Rev. Dr. Joseph Sumner. His first entrance into mercantile life was at the age of fifteen years, in the store of Bigelow & Goodnow. in the "Old Tavern House." in Shrewsbury. After two years of training there he came to Worcester as a clerk for Henry H. Cham- berlain, founder of the house of Barnard, Sumner & Putnam Co. His ability rapidly advanced him until he was made a partner in the growing business and continued at its head throughout his life, and his son Edward P. is still an active partner in the coneern. Before his marriage he made his home with Allen Rice, and was thrown into the company of men who have left footprints on the business and social ways of Worcester, including the "Sixteen Associates," a society of social and literary character. He was an active member of the Worcester City Guards, as well as of the old State Guards in time of the civil war. In the financial circles of the eity his judgment was often appealed to. He became a director in the Wor- cester Safe Deposit and Trust Company, and vice- president of the Five Cents Savings Bank. He was a regular attendant of the Church of Unity. He had no taste for political preferment, but had deep con- cern for the business welfare of the city. He was a liberal contributor to the Library and Museums of the Worcester Society of Antiquity. In 1888 he published a work entitled "Memorials of the Rev. Joseph Sumner, D. D., Minister of Shrewsbury, 1762-1824." The man who could say "George Sum- ner is my friend" had a friend indeed. He was a lover of the beautiful in both art and nature, but no painter himself.

One of the rules of the society of "Associates." all being single men at the time, was "He who mar- ries first shall provide a supper for the Club." Mr. Sumner married, in 1854, Sarah E. Richardson, daughter of Charles and Mary Richardson. of Man- chester, New Hampshire, and he carried out the obligation taken under the above named club rule, in a royal manner. To Mr. and Mrs. George Sum-

ner were born: I. George R., born May 30, 1861; married Louisa Ford, of Portland, Maine ; had one child, George Sumner. 2., Mary Locke, born Feb- ruary 5, 1863; married William D. Sewall, of Bath, Maine; had four children-Arthur, Margaret, Dorothy and Sumner. 3. Edward Prentiss, born Jan- mary 18, 1866; married Pertha Perry, of Worcester ; had two children, Catherine and Frances. 4. Caro- line Allen, born April 12, 1867; married Albert G. Liscomb, of Worcester.

REV. GEORGE MURILLO BARTOL. John Bartol (I), who lived and died in Crewkerne, Som- ersetshire, England, was the father of the immigrant ancestor of the Bartol family of America, to which Rev. George Murillo Bartol, of Lancaster, belongs. He was a glover by trade. He married at Crew- kerne, March 17, 1598, Agnes Williams. Among their children was John Bartol, of whom later. John Bartol, Sr., died at Crewkerne and was buried there February 20, 1639-40.

(II) John Bartol, son of John Bartol (I), was born at Crewkerne, and baptized there April 26, 1601. He married Parnell His father died probably soon after he left England and he inherited the estate in England, which Thomas Letchford, a Boston attorney, conveyed to Henry Hazzard, of Bristol, England, mariner, consisting of house and garden at Crewkerne, July 25, 1641. Ile was plaintiff in a civil suit in 1640 and again in 1644. He lived at Salem a short time before settling in Marblehead. He was selectman of the latter town in 1649-56-57- 58-64. He was called a planter in the records, but was probably also a mariner. He was found drowned and the inquest was held October 1, 1604. His estate was administered in the Essex county court, Novem- ber 29, 1664. Many of his descendants have lived in Marblehead. The children of John and Parnell Bartol were: William, born 1629 (aged thirty-two in 1662, another record) ; John, Jr., born 1631, aged forty-two in 1673. Mary, born at Marblehead, Feb- ritary 1, 1642. Probably others died young.

(III) William Bartol, son of John Bartol (2). was born in England in 1629. He died in 1690, leav- ing five sons and three daughters.

(IV) Robert Bartol. son of William Bartol (3), was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, about 1660, married, March 16, 1681, Sarah Beckett. He died in 1708 .. They had four children.

(V) William Bartol, son of Robert Bartol (4). was born in Marblehead in 1691. He married, May 4, 1718, Mary Felt. ( One of this name was born at Casco Bay, October 12, 1687.) They had four children.

(VI) George Bartol, youngest son of William Bartol (5), was born in 1721, died at Freeport, Maine, in 1788. He settled there and his children were born there and his grandchildren to the num- ber of thirty-one. He died there and was buried with his wife and children in the old burying ground on the hill that overlooks the town and Casco Bay. Ile died January 21, 1788. Mrs. Hannah Bartol died April 4, 1784, aged sixty-five years. He married (second) Hannah Allen, at Falmouth (now Maine). April 17. 1746. Their children were: William, born 1747, died 1843; married Elizabeth Grant, who was born in 1749 and died 1833; George, of whom later : John, baptized July 21, 1734, married Mary Carter ; Samuel, born 1753. died 1786; married Mary Soule. The children of the first marriage were: Mary, baptized May 25. 1746, married · Wins-

low; Deborah, baptized May 29, 1743, died young ; Deborah, baptized June 10, 1750.

(VII) Jolin Bartol, son of George Bartol (6), was born in North Yarmouth, Maine, July, 1734.

WORCESTER COUNTY

He bought a place of his father containing fifty acres at Havaseeket. He married Mary Carter. Their children were: John, born 1779, died 1805: Daniel, born 1781, married Mary Lowe; Solomon, born 1782; Desire, born 1784, died 1806: Jacob, born 1786, died 1804; Dorcas, born 1788; Ephraim, born 1791 ; Reuben, born 1793, married Chase, and had Reuben and Joseph; Ammi, born 1795; Miriam, born 1797, died 1809; Alfred, born 1801, married Coffin and had Ansyl, Melinda, George, John and Martha; George, born 1803.

(VII) William Bartol, another son of George Bartol (6), was born 1747, and died 1843. He mar- ried Elizabeth Grant, who was born in 1749 and died in 1833. Their children were: David, of whom later ; Hannah; Elizabeth, married Trott ; Susan, married Trott; Sarah : Esther, mar-

ried Douglass ; Samuel, married Sarah Weston, and had Samuel and Sarah Trott; Lucretia, married Denison ; Jane, married Stetson.

(VII) George Bartol, son of George Bartol (6) and brother of the two preceding, was born about 1750 and died 1796. He married, January 12, 1775, Jane Soule, daughter of Barnabas Soule, of Free- port. She was born 1756 and died January 24, 1833. Her second husband was Captain James Bacon. Her ancester, George Soule, came over on the "May- flower" on the first voyage. He married about 1623 Mary Beckett, who came to Plymouth in 1621. They settled at Duxbury and had eight children. Their son, John Soule, born 1632, died 1707, married Hester Dewsbury, born 1638, died 1738, and they had nine children. Their fifth son, Moses Soule, died in 1751, leaving nine children. The third son of Moses was Barnabas Soule, born 1705, died 1780; married Jane Bradbury. She was born 1718, and Jane who married George Bartol (VII) was one of her nine children.

The children of George and Jane ( Soule) Bartol were: Solomon, born 1775, died September 23, 1781; Barnabas, born 1777, of whom later; George, of whom later, ancestor of Rev. George Bartol ; Jane, born 1781, married Fields : Phebe. born 1784, died 1876; married ( first) - Veazie ; (second) Soule; Sarah, born 1787, mar-

ried Latchfield : Patience, born 1789, died 1871 ; married Lufkin : Samuel, born 1791, died 1817; married Mary Chandler; Elizabeth, born 1793, married Staples ; Polly, born 1796-8. (VIII) David Bartol, son of William Bartol (7), was born 1781 and died 1819. His children were : Saralı, married Trott; Benjamin,

born 1810, married Blanchard ; George, born 1812, married Betty Mitchell; William, born 1814, died 1842; Jane, born 1816, married

Merrill; Elizabeth, born 1821, died 1840; Mary, born 1824.

(VIII) George Bartol, son of George Bartol (7), was born August 8, 1779, and died April 6, 1855. He is the father of Rev. George M. Bartol and also the late Rev. Dr. Cyrus A. Bartol. Like his father, he was a merchant. He kept the leading general store at Freeport, Maine, for many years. He married Ann Given, March 27, 1809. ller father was a soldier in the revolution. The children of George and Ann Bartol were: Samuel Veazie, born December 29, 1809, died February, 1810; Horace Veazie, born April 23, 1811, died January 6, 1881 : Cyrus A. (Rev. Dr.), born April 30, 1813. married, February 7, 1838, Elizabeth Howard, died December 16, 1900, leaving one child, Elizabeth Howard, born January 14, 1842; Samuel Lewis, born July 23, 1817, died September, 1818; George Mu-

rillo, of whom later; Mary, born December 12, 1822, died June 21, 1902.

(IX) Rev. George Murillo Bartol, son of George Bartol (8), was born in Freeport, Maine, September 18, 1820. He attended the public schools of Port- land, where the family lived during his youth. He prepared for college at Phillips Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire. He was graduated in regular course from Brown University, Providence, in 1842. He studied for the ministry in the Harvard Divinity School at Cambridge, from which he was grad- uated in 1845. He began immediately to· preach. He occupied the pulpit of the First Unitarian Church of Chicago for several months. He preached for some time in various other towns.

His first accepted call was to Lancaster to the pastorate that for nigh sixty years he filled with ability and success. Under date of June 19, 1847, he wrote in reply to the call of the Society at Lan- caster : "I have given to the proposal of the Uni- tarian Society in Lancaster, by you, their committee, my most serious consideration. I beg that you will not deem me wanting in a proper sensibility to this mark of confidence and esteem on the part of those you represent. I return my warmest thanks for the invitation and for the flattering terms with which it was accompanied. I am happy to accept it and hereby very respectfully do so. With fervent prayers that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of His Holy Spirit may be with you all, I remain, my brethren, in the truth and affection of the Gospel, ever your friend and servant."

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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 25

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