Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 32

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 32

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DICKINSON FAMILY. Eleven centuries ago a soldier of fortune made his appearance at the court of Halfdan Huilbein, King of Norway. His name was Ivar. He had been a shepherd and had been captured by the Northmen and carried to sea. He drifted into a life of adventure. He became a favorite at the Norwegian Court. The King made him general of his army and in 725 gave him his daughter Eurithea in marriage. He was called Prince of Uplands. When the King died the son of Ivar became heir to the throne and during his minority Ivar was regent. S011,

Eystein, reigned until 755. He was succeeded hy his son, Harold Harfager. Rollo, a Prince of this line, overran Normandy in 910. His sixth and youngest son. Walter, received the castle and town of Caen as an inheritance. His great-grandson, Walter de Caen, accompanied William, the Norman, to Eng- land at the time of the Conquest. To this noble- man the line of Dickinsons descended from the first American pioneer. Nathaniel. may be traced. Nathaniel is the fifteenth in line, as follows:

(I) Walter de Cacnm. later Walter de Kenson, taking the name from his manor in Yorkshire.

(II) Johnne Dykonson. frecholder of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, married, 1260, Margaret Lam- bert. died 1316.

(III) William Dykenson, frecholder as above, died 1330.

(IV) Hugh Dykensonne. freeholder as above, died 1376.

(V) Anthoyne Dickensonne, freeholder as above, married. 1376, Catheryne De La Pole ; he died 1396.

(VI) Richard Dickerson, freeholder as above. married. 1300, Margaret Cooper, died 1441.

(VII) Thomas Dickinson. freeholder as above. married. 1470, Margaret Lambert; alderman first ward Hull 1113-4: mayor 1444-5; died 1.475.

(VIII) Hugh Dickinson, freeholder as above, married, TJ51, Agnes Swillington; removed 1475 to Kenson Manor, Yorkshire; died 1509.

(IX) William Dickinson, freeholder of Kenson Manor. married. 1475, Isabel Langton: died 1546. (X) John Dickinson. settled in Leeds, York- shire, married in 1499. Elizabeth Danby: alderman 1525-54: died in 1554.

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(X1) William Dickinson, settled Brindley Hall, Staffordshire, married in 1520, Rachel Kinge; died 1580.

(XII) Richard Dickinson, of Bradley Hall, mar- ried, 1540, Elizabeth Bagnall : died 1605.

(XI11) Thomas Dickinson, clerk in the Ports- mouth navy yard, 1567 to 1587, removed to Cam- bridge 1587; married, 1567, Judith Carey ; died 1590. ( XIV) William Dickinson, settled in Ely, Cam- bridge, married, 1594, Sarah Stacey, of Ely; died 1628.

(XV) Nathaniel Dickinson, son of William Dickinson (14), was born in Ely, Cambridge, in 1600. He married, January, 1630, at East Bergolat, Suffolk, Anna Gull, widow of William Gull. They came to Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1636 or 1637. He was one of the leaders in the colony. He was town clerk in 1645, representative to the general court in 1646 and 1647. He removed to Hadley, Massachusetts, in 1659, and was admitted a free- man there in 1661. He was chosen deacon of the church and first recorder of the town. He was selectman, assessor and town magistrate. He was a member of the Hampshire Troop and on the first board of trustees of Hopkins Academy. He re- sided a few years at Hatfield. He died at Hadley, June 16, 1676. He married (first) in England ; ( second ) Anne - , when he went to Hadley. The children of Nathaniel and Hannah (Gull) Dickinson were: John, born 1630, killed in King Philip's war: Joseph, 1632, killed by Indians, 1675; Thomas, 1634; Anna or Hannah, 1636, married John Clary and Enos Kingsley, of Northampton ; Samuel, see forward; Obadiah, April 15, 1641; Nathaniel, August, 1643: Nelremiah, about 1644; Hezekiah, February, 1645-6; Azariah, October 4, 1648, killed in swamp fight, August 25, 1675.

(XVI) Samuel Dickinson, fifth child of Nathan- iel Dickinson (15), was born in Hatfield, Massa- chusetts, July, 1638. He was admitted a freeman in 1690, and served in the war in 1675-6. He died November 30, 1711, aged seventy-three. He mar- ried. January 4. 1668, Martha Bridgeman, daughter of James Bridgeman, of Springfield and Northamp- ton, Massachusetts. She was born November 2, 1640, and died July 16, 1711, aged sixty-one years. Their children were: Samuel, born August 17, 1669; -, December 12, 1671; Nathaniel, Feb- rnary 10, 1672: Sarah. November 5, 1675; Azariah, February 2, 1681; Ebenezer. see forward; Ann, December 17. 1683: Joseph, August 3, 1686: Han- nah. April 4. 1689.

(XVII) Ebenezer Dickinson, sixth child of Samuel Dickinson (16), was born in Hatfield, Feb- ruary 2, 1681. He settled there. He married, June 27. 1706. Hannah Frary. He died March 16, 1730. Their children were: Editha, born August 23, 1707 : Flizaheth, August 2. 1709; Nathan, see forward ; Hannalı. February 17, 1715: Reuben. August 2, 1717: Samuel (twin), October 14, 1718: Mary (twin), October 14, 1718, died unmarried, 1754: Ebenezer. January 5, 172.1.

(XVIII) Nathan Dickinson. third child of Ebenezer Dickinson (17), was born in Hatfield, May 3. 1712. Ile removed from Hatfield to Am- herst, Massachusetts, an adjoining town, in 1742, and died there August 7, 1796, aged eighty-four. He married (first) Thankful Warner: (second) Joanner Leonard, of Springfield; (third) Judith Hosmer. His children were: Nathan, see for- ward: Ebenezer, January 3, 1741 ; Irene, Julv 13. 1743, died March 28, 1834. aged ninety; Enos, March 28, 1746: Azariah. March 6, 1752: Elihu, October 14. 1753; Shelah, September 20, 1755, soldier in revolution, died April 30, 1777; Thankful,

March 15. 1758; Lois, baptized August 5, 1759; Asa, baptized May 10, 1761; Levi; Joanna, baptized April 6, 1766. The following children were by the second wife : Stephen, baptized July 6, 1770; Judith, married Daniel Heath.

( XIX) Nathan Dickinson, eldest child of Nathan Dickinson (18), was born in Hatfield, Massachu- setts, October 19, 1835. He was a soldier in the revolution. He served in Lieutenant Noah Dickin- son's company in 1775 and in Captain Reuben Dick- inson's company in 1777-78. He resided in Am- herst, Massachusetts, where he died at the age of ninety. August 3, 1825. He married (first), Janu- ary 15. 1761, Esther Fowler, who died March 15, 1803, aged sixty-three. He married (second), March 10. 1804, Jerusha Blodgett, widow, who died October 17. 1818. Children of Nathan and Esther (Fowler) Dickinson, all born in Amherst, were: Timothy, born 1761; Perez, March 26, 1763; Ezekiel, May 25, 1765: Esther, May 3, 1767: Esther, December 14, 1768; Irene, December 30, 1770; Samuel Fowler, see forward: Anna, April 15, 1780.

(XX) Samuel Fowler Dickinson, seventh son of Nathan Dickinson (19), was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, October 9, 1775. He received his early education in that town . He fitted him- self for college and entered Dartmouth, from which he was graduated in 1795. Upon com- pleting his college course he returned to his father's home in Amherst and entered the law office of Judge Simeon Strong, where he studied until he was admitted to the bar. He became one of the ablest lawyers in western Massachusetts. He was a natural leader of men and quite naturally became prominent in politics. He served his district in the general court in the house and senate for twelve years. He was town clerk of Amherst for many years. His public career was brilliant and he became well known throughout the state. He was an influential Whig leader. Perhaps his greatest public service was the part he took as founder of Amherst Academy and Amherst College. For the college he sacrificed his property, his time and his professional opportunities, and he was held in the highest regard by the friends and alumni of that institution and his memory is cherished there for his generous and distinguished service to the col- lege. He was for many years the college treasurer. He was prominent in the church as well as the state. At the age of twenty-one he was elected deacon of the Congregational church, to which he belonged, and he was a church officer all his active life. In 1833 he removed from his old home in Ain- herst to Cumberland, Ohio, where he maintained his prominence as a citizen. He practiced law there, but hecame interested in Lane Seminary and acted as its steward. Later he filled the office of steward for the Western Reserve University. He exercised his benevolence here repeatedly in helping deserving boys through college. His memory is cherished at West- ern Reserve University with the same affectionate regard and honor as at Amherst. He helped both institutions in the trying days of their early life. He died at Hudson, Ohio, April 23. 1838.

He married, March 21, 1802, Lucretia Gunn, born October 3, 1775, of Montague, Massachusetts. Their children were: 1. Edward, born January 1, 1803, graduate of Yale College, 1823; married, May 6, 1828, Emily Norcross, daughter of Joel Norcross, of Monson, Massachusetts; he was representative and senator in the general court of Massachusetts, member of the governor's council, congressman ; he died in Boston. 2. William, see forward. 3. Lu- cretia, born December 16, 1806, married Rev. Asa Bullard, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she

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died. 4. Mary, born February 10, 1809, died in New York city March 31, 1852; married Mark H. New- man, of New York. 5. Samuel Fowler, Jr., born August 16, 1811, died in Richmond, Virginia; his home was at Macon, Georgia; he married in the south. 6. Catherine, born February 17, 1814, died in New York city; married Artematus Sweetser, son of Joseph Sweetser, of New York. 7. Timothy, born March II, 1816, died in Griffin, Georgia; married January 10, 1838, Hannah Dickinson, daughter of Ezekiel Dickinson. 8. Frederick, born August 13, 1818 (or August 31, 1819, Hadley History), gradu- ate of Amherst College, 1837; died in Billerica, Massachusetts : married, February 17, 1846, Mary Richardson, of Billerica, leaving three sons. 9. Elizabeth, born May 29, 1823, died in Worcester ; married Augustus N. Currier, and had three chil- dren.

(XXI) William Dickinson, second child of Sam- uel Fowler Dickinson (20), was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, September 7, 1804. He attended the Amherst district schools and Amherst Academy until fifteen years of age. His education was shaped to fit him for a business career. He went to work first as a clerk in a dry goods store in Boston, where he remained several years and learned the essentials of business. He came to Worcester and worked in the grocery store of Mr. Butman in the old Brinley block on the corner of Main and Elm streets. After some time in this business he started in business for himself in the manufacture of paper at Hard- wick, Massachusetts. After a few years he sold out his mill and returned to Worcester, in 1836, and was elected cashier of the Central National Bank, then the Central Bank, and since 1903 part of the Worces- ter Trust Company. He filled the position of cashier with signal ability, and after fourteen years in that office resigned to become the treasurer of the State Mutual Life Assurance Company. He was well fitted for the great trust and responsibility of this position. It proved congenial to him and he re- mained in it for nearly forty years. He held a promi- nent position in the financial life of Worcester for many years. He was treasurer also of the Merchants' and Farmers' Insurance Company for about forty years. He was a director in the Quinsigamond Bank, later the Quinsigamond National Bank, merged in 1905 with the Worcester Trust Company. He was also director in the Providence & Worcester Railroad, now leased by the New York, New Ha- ven & Hartford Railroad Company.

In 1863 Mr. Dickinson began the manufacture of paper making machinery, with others, and was inter- ested in this business for eight years. He subse- quently manufactured felt, a business in which his son, Samuel F. Dickinson, was interested with him. The factory was in a large block which he built on Foster street.

Alr. Dickinson was a man of unusual business ability. He took advantage of his opportunities and made a large fortune for his day. He invested largely in real estate. He was the owner of the Dickinson Block and many other valuable parcels of real estate in the city and county. He was always interested in public affairs, especially in municipal matters. lle was originally a member of the Whig party. but like a large majority of that party turned to the Republican party when the Whig party was dissolved. He was never a strong partisan, however. He served the city for several years in the common council and in the board of aldermen. He was nomi- nated for mayor against Charles B. Pratt, the Demo- cratic nominee, but failed of election. He was a member of the school board for three years. He was the donor of the bell on the Walnut street high

school and also of the fountains in front of the school buildings. He was a director of the Free Public Library and member of the Worcester So- ciety of Antiquity. Although not a college graduate he was always, like his father, a liberal supporter of colleges and institutions of learning and pro- foundly interested in the public schools and educa- tional matters. He was appointed by Governor Benjamin F. Butler, of whom Mr. Dickinson was a warm admirer, on the board of trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester. He was an attend- ant at Union Congregational Church.

Mr. Dickinson married (first) October 31, 1831, at Andover, Massachusetts, Eliza Hawley, of And- over, Massachusetts. He married ( second) October 26, 1852, Mary Louisa Whittier, of Andover, daugh- ter of Noah and Hannah (Hawley) Whittier, of Andover. Mr. Whittier was a department superin- tendent of railroad bridges and road bed. He was captain of the Andover militia company. The only child of William and Eliza ( Hawley) Dickinson was William Hawley, born in Hardwick, October 22, 1832, deceased; married Ellen Bike, of New York city. Children of William and Mary Louisa (Whittier) Dickinson were: Helen Whittier, born in Worcester, March 5. 1855, married Thomas L. Shields, of Sewickley, Pennsylvania; they have two children : William Dickinson, a student in Cornell University, and Mary Whittier; Samuel Fowler, born in Worcester, March 14, 1857, married Nellie Goodnow,. of Worcester; George Stuart, born in Worcester, October 22, 1863, married Mabel Mar- shall, daughter of Frank Marshall, of Worcester; he is a graduate of Yale University.

GILBERT JONES RUGG, for many years prominently identified with the manufacturing inter- ests of the .city of Worcester, and who has served the community usefully in various responsible posi- tions of a public nature, is a descendant of one of the first settlers of Lancaster, Massachusetts. The immigrant ancestor and founder of his family in America was John Rugg, who came from Somerby, England, landing March 11, 1632. His wife was the ill-fated Hannah Prescott, who was cruelly killed by the Indians, September 11, 1696. She was a daughter of John Prescott, the first settler at Lan- caster, Massachusetts. To John and Hannah ( Pres- cott ) Rugg were born eleven children, all of whom settled in Lancaster and became the ancestors of various branches of the Prescott family, now widely dispersed throughout the United States. John Rugg died in Lancaster, November 24, 1055. Descended from him was Abel Rugg, who died February 14, 1843, aged ninety-two years, and whose wife, Cath- erine Frost, died November 2, 1843, the same year with her husband, at the age of eighty-six years. They were the parents of Abel Warner Rugg, born March 17, 1797. He married Hannah Jones, and they were the parents of eight children.

Gilbert Jones Rugg, son of Abel Warner and Hannah (Jones) Rugg, was born in Lancaster. Massachusetts, March 27, 1836. He was reared upon the parental farm, and was early habituated to in- dustry, frugality and perseverance-traits which were the strongest characteristics of the sturdy people of that day. He received a practical educa- tion in the neighborhood schools, common and pri- vate, his school studies concluding with his seven- teenth year, when he went to Worcester to pro- cure employment and learn a trade, purposes which he pursued with all the ardor of youth and the wise judgment of mature years, not only laboring indus- triously to master his chosen calling, but at the same time improving his mind through carefully chosen

ESBuffington

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books and intercourse with persons of broad knowledge and wide experience. At the early age of seventeen he became an apprentice in the machine shops of Willard Williams & Co., with whom he remained after the expiration of his term of service, eight years in all, and only leaving his employers to accept the foremanship of the Ball & Williams man- ufactory of planers and other wood-working ma- chinery, a position for which he was eminently qualified. With well established reputation for skill as a mechanic and business qualifications of a high order, in 1864. he entered into partnership with Luke B. Witherby and Seneca Merrill Richardson for the manufacture of wood-working machinery, and cre- ated an establishment which for a third of a cen- tury has been one of the conspicuous industrial insti- tutions of the city of Worcester. For thirty years the business was conducted under the firm name of Witherby, Rugg & Richardson. After the death of his partners Mr. Rugg procured (in 1901) the in- corporation of the business under the title of the Witherby, Rugg & Richardson Company, thus per- petuating the names of those with whom he had been most pleasantly associated during a long and peculiarly useful period. Mr. Rugg became president of the corporation, and continued to act in that capacity until March 1, 1903, when he made a sale of his stock to the Hobbs Manufacturing Company.

While giving close attention to the affairs of the company before referred to-watching with pains- taking care the practical operations of the works as well as the office affairs, and keeping constantly in touch with the manufacturing world with constantly developing business as a result-Mr. Rugg at the same time gave careful and intelligent interests to many concerns of a public nature, and contributive to the advantage of the community at large. As vice-president of the Worcester Five Cents Savings Bank and a member of its investing committee he rendered service of a peculiarly useful nature. In 1871 he was elected a member of the Worcester board of aldermen, for a term of two years; was made a member of the common council of 1875-76; and again was elected to the board of aldermen in 1885. In the latter period he rendered exceptionally meritorious service on the city high- way committee, and in all his official conduct ac- quitted himself most usefully and with conscientious devotion to the trusts committed to him. At the election in November, 1904, he was elected a repre- sentative to the general court, and in that body served efficiently upon the street railway committee. Aside from official relations he has always borne a full share in all movements contributing to the interests of the city, whether in material, moral or educational lines. He is affiliated with various Masonic bodies-Morning Star Lodge, A. F. and A. M .; Eureka Chapter, R. A. M .; Hiram Council, R. and S. M .; and Worcester Commanderv. K. T.

Mr. Rugg married Miss Susan M. Earle, who died in 1896. He married (second) Celia A. Will- iams, widow of Beman A. Lovell, of Worcester. His children were by his first marriage; I. Florence E. Rugg, born April 24, 1865, married Robert A. Mason, of Worcester. 2. Clara Emily Rugg, born August 10, 1871, died in 1896; married Charles A. Rogers, and they had one child, Hazel R. 3. Alice Gertrude Rugg, born November 24, 1873, mar- ried Irvin W. Howard, of a prominent Worcester family. Mr. Rugg resides at 809 Main street, Wor- cester. where has been his home since 1871, when he first occupied it.

ELISHA DEWEY BUFFINGTON. Thomas Buffington (1), said to be from Scotland, came to

America soon after 1650 probably, and settled at Salem, where he married Sarah Southwick, Decem- ber 30, 1671. As he married the daughter of a Quaker and the granddaughter of one, it is likely that he led a very quiet life at Salem on his farm. He was not in public life or in military companies, and seems to have escaped persecution and publicity as well. His wife, Sarah Southwick, was daugh- ter of John and Sarah Southwick. Her mother was the widow of Samuel Tidd. The father of John Southwick was Lawrence Southwick, of Salem. Lawrence Southwick was a glassman, proprietor of Salem. He was admitted a freeman September 6, 1639. His wife Cassandra was received in the church at Salem 1639, and Elizabeth Southwick September 1, 1650. They were Quakers. His will, dated August 10, 1659, at the house of Nathaniel Sylvester, at Shelter Island, proved in Essex court, November 29, 1660, mentions sons Daniel Southwick and John Burnell; daughters, Provided Southwick and Mary, wife of Henry Traske; Deborah and Josiah Southwick; Ann Potter ; Henry Traske's chil- dren-Mary, Sarah and Hannah; Samuel (born February 19, 1858), and Sarah, children of John Southwick, son deceased probably before 1659.

Besides Thomas Buffington there was a John Buffington in Salem about the same time that Thomas first appears in the records. There seems to be no record of any descendants, nor of his re- lationship to Thomas. The name is more commonly spelled by the descendants of Thomas Buffington without the "g," but Mr. Buffington of Worcester preferred this spelling. The name was found some- times in the records spelled Bovington. The Com- moners' Record recently published showed Thomas Buffington, Sr., a landowner 1702 and as late as 1723. when, if living he must have been seventy-five and perhaps older. Savage gives three children, but it is probable that the third is a child of his son's. (See Abigail, born July 25, 1695, under Thomas Buffington (2). Thomas and Benjamin are un- questionably his sons. Joseph Buffington, whose son Joseph married at Swansea in 1734, was prob- ably another son. Children of Thomas and Sarah (Southwick) Buffington: I. Thomas, born in Salem March 1, 1672; married Hannah Ross there, and had a family in Salem, is probably the ancestor of the Salem branch of the family, many of whom were interested in the shipping business in Salem. His children were: Abigail, born in Salem July 25. 1695 (Savage makes her daughter of Thomas, Sr.) : Hannah, born in Salem May II, 1701, married Eleazer Pope, who died August 2, 1734, leaving son Stephen and others; James (?), perhaps father of Captain Zadock Buffington, prominent in Salem many years, incorporator of Acqueduct, 1798; Mary (?), baptized an adult in Salem, March 31, 1728. 2. Benjamin, see forward. 3. Joseph (?), had son Joseph who married at Swansea, Abigail, son of Samuel and Martha Shearman, December II, 1734. James Buffington, who with his wife Elizabeth joined the Congregational church at Salem, was probably the James, son of Thomas Buffington (2) mentioned above. His children : Betty, Mary, Han- nah and James, all baptized when their parents were by Rev. Benjamin Prescott, at the church now of South Danvers, July 27, 1740. They prob- ably had been Quakers until then.

(II) Benjamin Buffington, son of Thomas Buf- fington (I), born July 24, 1675, at Salem; married . Hannah They were Quakers, and the records indicate that he removed soon after mar- riage about 1700 to Swansea, where the Quakers and Baptists persecuted elsewhere lived peaceably side by side. The family tradition states that some fifty

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families from Salem went to Swansea and bought titles to their lands from the Indians, as was their custom, in addition to getting the grant from the government. Benjamin Buffington had a deed, which is now in possession of the family, and shows he bought three hundred acres of land of

Marcy, who was the only one of the settlers not a Quaker. The homestead has been in the possession of the Buffington family about two hundred years. "The Buffingtons have all been Quakers down to E. D. Buffington of Worcester," writes a member of the family, "and he was a thorough Quaker in principle, although a few years before his death he joined the Unitarian church, to which his wife helonged." The family records indicate that Ben- jamin Buffington, the settler at Swansea, had seven children. From the records of Salem, Savage's Dic- tionary, and the more recently published Vital Records of Rhode Island, in which the records of the Friends' church at Swansea are given, partial records of six have been discovered. The records of William Buffington, the son from whom Elisha D. Buffington is descended, are preserved in his old homestead at Swansea, and have been copied for use here. Children of Benjamin and Hannah: I. Ben- jamin, born Salem, May 9, 1699, probably died young (Savage mentions two others not named, presumably born in Salem. 2. Benjamin, born April 9, 1701, died June 9, 1760, at Swansea, Massachu- setts, married Isabel, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Chase (given in another Rhode Island record as daughter of Eben and Mary Chase) ; she was born July 6, 1705, at Swansea, and died June 6, 1791; both buried in the Friends' yard at Swansea; their children: Benjamin, Moses, Stephen, Elizabeth, Hannah. 3. William, see forward. 4. Esther, born in Swansea probably, married Stephen Chase (or Chace ), son of Josephi and Sarah. November II, 1728. 5. Hannah, married Silas Chase, December 20, 1733. 6. Jonathan, married Sarah, daughter of James and Martha Luther, April 12, 1735.

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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 32

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