Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 33

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 33

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(III) William Buffington, son of Benjamin Buf- fington (2), born probably in Swansea, Massachu- setts, possibly Salem, fifth day of week, October 9, 1703; married Susanna, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Chase, all of Swansea, July 25, 1726. Susanna was born fifth day of week, April 7, 1704. They had nine children born at Swansea: 1. William, born December 20, 1726, third day of week; married Phebe, daughter of James and Martha Luther, Feb- ruary 5, 1746-7. 2. Elizabeth, born February 9, 1729, first day of week, married Ezekiel Chase. 3. Susanna, born June 9, 1731, fourth day of week, married William Luther, June 16, 1748. 4. Sarah, born May 1, 1735, fifth day. 5. Phebe, born May 29, 1739, first day. 6. Samuel, see forward. 7 Hannah, born March 5. 1741, seventh day. 8. Martha, born September 22, 1744, first day of week. 9. Benjamin, born September 7, 1747, second day of week; married Hannah ; had son William, married Mary Lawton, March II, 1770.

(IV) Samuel Buffington, son of William Buf- fington (3), born Swansea, Massachusetts, July 26, 1740; married born March 13. 1739, died February 2, 1809. They settled on the homestead at Swansea. Their children: 1. Elisha, see forward. 2. Samuel, born about November, 1770; died February 16, 1816, aged forty-five years, four months. 3. Susanna, born October 23, 1773, died July 30, 1827, aged fifty-three years, nine months and seven days. 4. Elizabeth, born 1775, died April 7, 1807.

( V) Elisha Buffington, son of Samuel Buffing- ton (4), born Swansea, June 8, 1767, dicd April 17, 1858, aged ninety years, ten months and cleven days;

married Sara Chase, born July 19, 1762, daughter of John Chase, who died March 27, 1786, aged sixty- five years, three months, and whose wife died May 19, 1805, aged seventy-eight years, three months. Sara died December 13, 1841, aged seventy-nine years, five months. Peace Chase, her sister, died Novem- ber 27, 1788, aged thirty-nine years, six months. Jonathan Chase, her brother, died July 25, 1824, about seventy-eight years old. Martha, her sister, died March 15, 1826, aged seventy-two years, twelve days. Children of Elisha and Sara (Chase) Buf- fington : I. Susanna, born March 13, 1794, died April 8, 1818. 2. Martha, born October 27, 1795, married Peleg Gardner; she died April 19, 1842. 3. John, born April 16, 1798, died June 28, 1816, in Havana, Cuba. 4. Frances, born December 10, 1800. 5. Phebe, born January 7, 1803. 6. Samuel, see for- ward.

(VI) Samuel Buffington, son of Elisha Buf- fington (5), was born in Swansea, Massachusetts, on the old homestead there October 3, 1806. He was a man of influence and a Quaker. He carried on the farm. He married Eliza Ann Mason, born June 7, 1810, died. 1881. He died October 26, 1871. Their children were: John H., born August 13, 1829; Sarah E., born February 3, 1834, died July 30, 1835; Elisha Dewey, born in Swansea, November 4, 1836; Samuel L., born October 7, 1839, lives on the old homestead, married Augusta Wood, and their chil- dren are: Mabel, Raymond W., Julia S. Durand, Elisha L., Elizabeth, Paul, Carl, all living on the old homestead; Frank Benton, born January 9, 1842, died April 14. 1855.

(VII) Elisha Dewey Buffington, son of Samuel (6), was born in Swansea, Massachusetts, Novem- ber 4, 1836. He was brought up on the old Buf- fington homestead which has been in the family from the time of King Philip, of whom it was bought.

Elisha Buffington when a boy attended school at Warren, Rhode Island, in the winter, and worked on his father's farm in the summer. At the age of eighteen, in 1854, he went to California, by way of the Isthmus. He stayed in California, but a short time, and then returned by way of Lake Nicaragua. For a short time he taught school in Lansing, Michi- gan. Afterward he walked from Michigan to Pike's Peak and back. Although the party had a wagon and perhaps some horses, there were always too many sick to admit of the well ones riding. He returned to Massachusetts and entered a druggist's shop in Fall River, where he learned the business, which he found congenial, and in which he was to achieve success. He started for himself in Wor- cester in 1862, buying the drug store of William H. Goulding, where Buffington's store is at present. Very soon after he started, he added the manu- facture of homeopathic remedies. and later the wholesale department, which soon became the most important part of the business. When the Day build- ing was burned the store was located in the Flagg building, the next block, but was removed to the new Day building as soon as it was completed. Soon afterward the business was incorporated as the Buf- fington Pharmacy Company, by whom it has been carried on since his death. The original officers of the company were Mr. Buffington and some of his clerks in the store.

Mr. Buffington was always an enthusiastic sports- man and traveler. In 1893 he was appointed a mem- ber of the Massachusetts State Fish and Game Com- mission, and was very active in propagating and preserving fish and game, not only in Worcester county but throughout the state. He was a member of the Oquosic Angling Club, composed of enthu- siastic and regular anglers in the Rangeley Lakes.

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He was practically the founder of the hatchery of the Fish Commission at Wilkinsville, and had an earnest desire to have Lake Quinsigamond properly stocked with fish. He was serving his third term on the Fish and Game Commission at the time of his death. He had a taste for travel and means to gratify it, made many trips abroad, and brought home many artistic and interesting souvenirs of his travels. His house is filled with treasures that he collected when abroad. He was a liberal contributor to the Worcester Art Museum Corporation, of which he was a member : and was a member of the Society of Antiquity, the Home Market Club of Boston, the Tatnuck Country Club, the Worcester Club, and the Commonwealth Club. IIe was a director of the Worcester Safe Deposit and Trust Company. He attended the First Unitarian Church. In politics he was a stanch Republican. His grand- father on his mother's side was Squire Mason, who was a member of Governor Lincoln's staff when it contained but three members. Mr. Buffington died November 19, 1900, after a short illness at his home, 33 Chestnut street. He married, November 4, 1867, Charlotte Eaton Walker, daughter of Benjamin and Charlotte (Eaton) Walker. Her father was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, but lived most of his life in Worcester. Her mother belonged to the Eaton family, one of the best of the old Worcester fam- ilies ; her grandfather was Nathaniel Eaton. Mr. Buffington had no children.

There could be no better and more appreciative tribute to the character of Mr. Buffington than that sent to the editor of the Worcester Spy by Colonel E. B. Stoddard, one of his dearest friends, who has himself passed away since then. It was pub- lished November 20, 1900, as follows :

"He belonged distinctly to that class of men, who, without early advantages of education, have by their own native intelligence and energy made their way to recognized positions of prominence and influence in the community. Mr. Buffington began at the bottom of the ladder, so far as worldly ad- vantages are concerned, but was not destined to stay there. He was gifted with rare common sense and quick insight, and easily took in the essential con- ditions of any situation. Success was no accident with him. He saw the path to it, and followed it with the necessary self-denial and persistence to accomplish his object. Whether in the accumula- tion of property or the keeping of it by judicious investment, his judgment was always of the sound- est. But though he thus acquired a large compe- tence, he was by no means a mere money getter. He knew not only how to get it, but how to spend it. He always looked upon money as a means, not as an end. He had a large range of interests, and was constantly engaged in making investigations into many subjects. His knowledge of nature, of plants and animals especially, was wide and accurate. Per- haps no man in this community had a better com- mand of everything relating to game, not only the haunts and habits, but the game laws and usages and the best method of propagation and protection. He had also a genuine interest in art, not merely of American and European art and artists, but various forms of art in the East, where he traveled extensively and observed intelligently. His large collection contains not only pictures of unusual merit and high value, but also tapestries, ceramics and other objects of rare excellence. His taste in this direction was fully shared and greatly assisted by his accomplished wife. Even in his recreations, as whist and chess, he was not content with any superficial practice of the game. but always wanted to go to the bottom of it and find its underlying

mathematical principles. Above all, Mr. Buffington was a steadfast friend and genial companion, and it is his cheerful, loyal and affectionate disposition that will be longest remembered by those who knew him best."

THEODORE P. BROWN. James Brown (1) was the emigrant ancestor of Theodore P. Brown, of Worcester, Massachusetts, the manufacturer of the Simplex Piano Player. He was born in Scot- land about 1720-30. There is a tradition in the family that he was wealthy, having with him a chest of gold. Owing to a storm or shipwreck the gold was lost. Besides the gold it is said he had twenty fine linen shirts that were also lost on the journey over. He was a tailor by trade. He married Han- nah Blanchard, of Dunstable, Massachusetts, and their descendants have been numerous in the vicinity. Dunstable is now Nashua, New Hampshire. The Blanchards were among the pioneers there. Thomas Blanchard, her emigrant ancestor, came to America from the vicinity of Andover, England, in the ship "Jonathan," in 1639. He settled first at Braintree. His son George was with him. He bought of Rev. John Wilson, February 12, 1650-1, house and land in the south part of Malden, Massachusetts. (Pope says he came from Penton, Hants, England.) He married first in England. His wife died there. He married (second) Agenes (Bent) Barnes, widow, a sister of John Bent. She died on the passage over. He married (third) Mary He died May 21, 1654. His will is dated May 16, and was proved June 20, 1654. He made bequests to his wife Mary; to children George, Thomas, Samuel, Nathaniel; to grandson Joseph, and to the church at Malden. He provided that Benjamin Thompson should be fitted for the University ( Harvard) if his parents con- sent. Benjamin was son of Deacon John Blanchard. Benjamin does not appear in the list of Harvard graduates, however. His estate was administered by his widow, appointed June 3, 1656.

(II) Deacon John Blanchard, son of Thomas Blanchard, the emigrant, was one of the pioneers at Dunstable, Massachusetts, now Nashua, New Hampshire. He was admitted a freeman in 1649. He was one of the founders of the Dunstable Church in 1685. Children were: Joseph ; Thomas; Hannah, born January 6, 1659; Benjamin; James; Sarah ; Mary ; Nathaniel.

(III) Thomas Blanchard, son of Deacon John Blanchard, and grandson of Thomas Blanchard, the emigrant, was born about 1670 and must have been a young child when his father went to Dunstable. He married Tabitha She died November 29, 1696. He married (second) Ruth Adams, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, October 4, 1698. He died March 9. 1727. In the possession of Mrs. Charles E. Wheelock, 8 Cottage street, Worcester, is a deed from Thomas to his son Thomas, dated 1721, of land in Dunstable. Children of Thomas and Tabitha Blanchard were: Abigail, horn May 5. 1694; John, May 20, 1696. Children of Thomas and Ruth (Adams) Blanchard were: Thomas (see for- ward) ; William, born 1701; Ruth, April I, 1703.

(IV) Thomas Blanchard, son of Thomas Blanch- ard, and grandson of Deacon John Blanchard, of Dunstable, was born August 12, 1699. He served in the Indian wars and was taken prisoner in Sep- tember, 1724. He was a prominent man in Dunstable, and held various town offices. Mrs. Wheelock has the original tax warrant for the year 1738, for the old town of Dunstable, issued to Thomas Blanchard as collector of taxes. It shows the results of his work. It contains a full list of the taxpayers of the town. Joseph Blanchard, son of Captain Jo-

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sephi Blanchard, who was uncle of Thomas Blancli- ard, heads the list.

Hannah Blanchard, born about 1740, daughter of Thomas, married James Brown, the emigrant. He died in 1778. A copy of his will, dated October IO, 1778, is owned by Mrs. Wheelock. It is a certified copy made soon after the will was proved in the Nashua court. It should be noted that James Brown, of Dunstable, was a lieutenant in the battle of Bunker Hill, according to the history of Dunstable, and no other James Brown of the right age and de- scription is to be found.

The children of James and Hannah ( Blanchard) Brown were: John; James, settled in Waterford, Ohio, (Mrs. Wheelock has a letter written by him in which he mentions the death of his first wife in 1798 and his second marriage) ; Phebe; Hannah ; Isaac; Daniel; Samuel; Aaron, (see forward). The will indicates that all but Samuel and Aaron were of age, as it specifies that the others receive their bequests, and the two youngest receive theirs when they become of age.

(II) Aaron Brown, son of James Brown (I), was born in Dunstable or Nashua, New Hampshire, November 17, 1773. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He married, September 5, 1797, Hannah Proctor, daughter of Reuben Proctor, of Merrimac, New Hampshire. She was born July 13, 1778. He lived in Nashua and died April 24. 1844, in Canton, Maine, where he removed about 1815. He was a charter member of the Livermore Falls, Maine, Lodge of Free Masons and was a prominent man in the order. The children of Aaron and Hannah ( Proctor) Brown were: James (see forward) ; Nancy, born at Dunstable, December 28, 1799, mar- ried Rev. Bartlett; Larned Small, born in Dunstable, March 18, 1801; John, (see forward) ; Reuben Proctor, born in Wilton, Maine, January 28, 1805; Jefferson, born in Wilton, Maine, September 22, 1806; Arthur, born in Wilton, Maine, October 15, 1807; Rebecca Proctor, born in Wilton, February 5, 1810: Abigail Bigelow, born at Jay, Maine, March 29, 1812; Susannah Carpenter, born in Jay, Maine, July 16, 1815; Hiram, born February 9, 1817, at Jay, now Canton, Maine; Orin, born October 20, 1818. at Jay, now Canton, died in Texas; Belinda Bartlett, born in Canton, Maine, July 1, 1821.

(III) James Brown, son of Aaron Brown (2). born in Dunstable, Massachusetts, or Nashua, New Hampshire, August 5, 1798; died April 8, 1881, at Grafton, Maine. Married (first) Mary Thompson. July 4. 1824. She died April 19, 1833; married (second) Ruth Stewart, October 28. 1838; she died February 4, 1901. The children of James and Mary (Thompson) Brown were: James Monroe, (see forward) ; Arthur, born September 24, 1827. died October 15, 1857; Ira Bisbee, born April 5, 1829, died March 12, 1831 : 1ra Bisbee, born June 10, 1831, died July 19, 1831 : William Thompson, born January 16, 1833, married Esther H. Swan, June 10, 1859; he died April 28, 1861. The children of James and Ruth (Swan) Brown were: Mary. ( see forward) : George Miller, born August 16, 1844, married Ella M. Briggs, March, 1864: Euthalius Irving, born November 14, 1848, married Freda W. Small.

(III) John Brown, son of Aaron Brown (2). born in Wilton, Maine, December 29. 1802; he mar- ried Iluldah Gardner. When he was a young boy the family removed to Livermore, Maine. He was a house carpenter and farmer. His children were: John Quincy, married Lucia Littlefield, resides at Portland: Joanna Allen, married Seth L. Davis, a farmer at Errol, New Hampshire ; Hannibal Gard- ner, married Mary Parlin, resides at West Parish, Maine; Aaron, (see forward) ; Bartlett Jackson.

married; resides in Hyde Park, Massachusetts; has been in the same house for thirty-five years; Maria Eunice, dressmaker, Tremont street, Boston; Orin Hutchinson, born 1838; married; was a soldier in the civil war, prisoner in Libby for months, and came home and died at his brother Hannibal's, at Patten, Maine; was in a cavalry regiment.

(IV) Aaron Brown, son of John Brown (3). born in Livermore, Maine, July 29, 1832; died in Lawrence, Massachusetts, 1903. He married Ella M. Ratcliffe, born March 26, 1829. He was a cab- inet maker by trade. He became an architect and followed his profession in Boston and various towns in Maine and New Hampshire. He was a man of great mechanical skill and his son Theodore evi- dently inherits some of his inventive genius from his father. The children of Aaron and Ellen M. ( Rat- cliffe) Brown were: Arabella, died in infancy ; Wendell Phillips; Theodore Parker, born at Malden, Massachusetts, October 2, 1860.

(IV) James Monroe Brown, son of James Brown (3), born November 15, 1825; died Septem- ber 11, 1895; married Eunice E. Frost, November 15, 1849. They were the parents of Mrs. Charles E. Wheelock, of Worcester, Massachusetts.

(IV) Mary T. Brown, daughter of James Brown (3), born August 22, 1839; married George H. Otis, October 10, 1863. Their children are: Frances Lillian, married Fred Decker, of Burling- ton, New Hampshire; Arthur Monroe; Jennie M., married Harvey C. Philbrook, of Bethel, Maine; Will Howe.

(V) Theodore Parker Brown, son of Aaron Brown (4), was born in Malden, Massachusetts. October 2, 1860. When he was two years old the family moved to Sterling, Massachusetts. When he was five years old the family moved again to Lis- bon, New Hampshire, where he attended the public schools. He came to Worcester with his parents at the age of thirteen. He began work in the shoe factory of Hon. Joseph H. Walker, and remained with him for nine years. He is known by the gen- eral public, and all over the world among dealers in musical instruments, as the inventor and manufac- turer of the Simplex Piano Player. He began to manufacture this instrument at 9 May street, Wor- cester, when piano players were a novelty, and looked upon by the people generally as toys. He developed and perfected the instrument until it ranks first among the piano players in the opinion of competent judges. It has won prizes at the Ex- positions. It has been a very popular instrument. The general recognition of the value of piano play- ers, and the very promising future for the business. has made the Simplex Player an article of which the citizens of Worcester take a peculiar pride on ac- count of its production here. The success of Mr. Brown in the business world has been very gratify- ing to his friends. He is especially popular in the Masonie bodies to which he belongs. He is a men- ber of Montauck Lodge; of Lawrence Chapter; of Hiram Council and the Worcester County Com- mandery, Knights Templar; the Consistory. thirty- second degree; the Commonwealth Club, of which he is president, and to the Tatnuck Country Club. He is a Republican in politics and was a member of the city council, Worcester, in 1892, and president of that body in 1893.

He married, January 13, 1881, Alice J. Daniels, born April 26, 1863, daughter of Horace and Anın M. (Inman) Daniels, of Paxton, Massachusetts. She was educated in the public schools of Paxton and at the Friends' school. Providence, Rhode Island. The children of Theodore Parker and Alice J. ( Daniels ) Brown were: Barbara, born May 5. 1884,

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SALIC

Thirdone OR Sales

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graduate of Worcester high school and is taking a four years' course at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston; Marjorie, died young ; Dorothy, died young.

ELDRED FAMILY. The late Frederick Augustus Eldred, of Worcester, traced his descent from Je- hosaphat Eldred, who came from England in 1731. He bought of Isaac Green land at North Falmouth, it being the fourteenth and fifteenth lots of the allot- mncnt, and is spoken of in history as a yeoman. His son, Lemuel Eldred, born November 5, 1751, in Fal- mouth, died July 24, 1842, in the ninety-first year of his age.

William Eldred, son of Lemuel Eldred, was born Sepember 25, 1780, in Falmouth (Quisset), and re- ceived his education in the schools of that town. He was a farmer, and it was from his farm that the first shipment of Cape Cod cranberries was ob- tained. He was also a salt manufacturer, having on his land salt works where he evaporated sea-water. During the war of 1812 he served in the militia as a member of Colonel Dimmick's regiment, and par- ticipated in the defense of Falmouth. The British sailed into the harbor, and under cover of night tried to land in their smaller boats, but were re- pulsed by Captain Eldred's company, who were con- cealed behind the sand hills along the beach. The British finally sailed to North Falmouth, where they burned much shipping. Captain Eldred and others of the townspeople were joint owners of some of these vessels, and appealed to congress for reimbursement under the French spoliation act, but Captain Eldred, losing his claim papers, abandoned the case and never received his share of the in- demnity. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican. He was a member of the Congrega- tional church, in which he held various offices, and to the work of which he was sincerely and earnestly devoted. Mr. Eldred was twice married. His first wife was Miss Fessenden, and their children were: I. Cornelius, born in Falmouth, as were all the others. 2. Edwin, married Elizabeth Knowlton, of Williamstown, Massachusetts, and had several chil- dren. among them Lucian, recently died in Wor-

cester. Lorenzo, married, 1845, Mercy F. Grew, of Falmouth. 4. William Henry, lost at sea. 5. Frederick Augustus (see forward) ; 6. Patience, mar- ried William Eldred, of another branch of the family, and had children: Edwin, married Hannah Lovell, of Worcester : William Henry. married Harriet Mc- Farland, of Worcester, and has two children; Ar- thur Warren, a dentist in Worcester, and preceptor at the Harvard Dental College of Boston: Marion Frederica, wife of Charles Minckler, of Worcester, and mother of two children-Ralph Eldred and Glen Canon. 7. Elizabeth, married Robert Tobey, of Sandwich, Massachusetts. 8. Susan, wife of Stephen Davis, of Falmouth; their children: De- borah, Patience, Salome, Alom Hyde, John William, and Robert Franklin. 9. Hannah, wife of Benjamin Franklin Hatch. The mother of these children died, and Mr. Eldred married, when seventy years of age. Miss Worthington, of Boston. By this mar- riage there were no children. When about sixty years old Mr. Eldred's mind became unsettled and did not recover its tone for ten years, after which his reason was undisturbed for the remainder of his life, his death occurring November 26, 1859, on the homestead where he had been born and had always lived.

Frederick Augustus Eldred. son of William Eldred, was born in Falmouth (Quisset), and was educated in the common schools of his native town. When about eighteen years old he went to New

Bedford, where he served an apprenticeship of three years to a carriage-maker. Later he entered into partnership with Lyman Drury, of Worcester, in the manufacture of refrigerators, and after carry- ing on the business for several years sold his in- terest to Mr. Drury. Not long after he purchased the hat store of Mr. Barker, on Main street, and conducted the business for a number of years. In 1861 or '62 he associated with himself N. S. Lis- comb, under the firm name of Eldred & Liscomb. The connection remained unbroken until the close of Mr. Eldred's life, after which Mr. Liscomb con- tinned the business until a few years ago, when he also died. Mr. Eldred was a good citizen, but al- ways avoided public life. He was a Republican in politics, and an earnest member of the Congrega- tional church, twice serving as superintendent of the Sunday school.

Mr. Eldred married, October 2, 1848, Mary A., daughter of Albert Gallitan and Mary Cunningham (Stott) Liscomb, of Fair Haven, Massachusetts, and sister of N. S. Liscomb, mentioned above. Mr. Liscomb, the father, was a ropemaker of Fair Ha- ven, and during the gold era went to California, taking with him his small stock of machinery. He there worked very successfully at his trade for three years, at the end of which time he returned to Fair Haven. Mr. and Mrs. Eldred had no children. The death of Mr. Eldred, which occurred in 1872, de- prived the community of a good man and a worthy citizen.

HON. THEODORE C. BATES. The ancestors of Clement Bates, who was the first to come to the United States of America, are traceable for five (5) generations before the Pilgrims came to New England.

Thomas Bates, of Lydd, parish of All Hallows, county of Kent, England, who died in 1485, had a son, John Bates, who died at Lydd, England, in 1522, leaving a son, Andrew Bates, who died at Lydd, England, in 1533, leaving a son, James Bates, who died at Lydd, England, in 1614, whose three sons Clement, Edward and James embarked at Lon- don, England, for New England, April 6, 1635, in the ship "Elizabeth," William Stagg, master.

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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 33

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