Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 45

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 45

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(II) Richard Black, son of William Black ( 1), was born in England in 1762 and was thirteen years of age when he arrived with his father at Am- herst, Cumberland. He first settled at River Philip, where he bought five hundred acres of land from Roger Robinson and remained for several years, moving later to Amherst to settle on the farm that his father bought on his first visit to Cumberland in 1774. Here he lived the remainder of his life. His youngest son inherited the homestead and his grandsons also owned it. The family still owns the farm or did recently. About 1804 Richard Black, his brother, and Thomas S. and Samuel Holsted bought a large tract of land at Amherst. Richard was an earnest Methodist and late in life, when his hearing failed, sat in the pulpit with the preacher in order to hear. He married Sally Chap- man, who also came from Yorkshire in England. They had eleven children besides two who died young and all were particularly strong and well built. The smallest of the seven boys was when grown six feet tall and weighed one hundred and eighty-five pounds. Richard Black died in 1834, aged seventy-two years. His first wife died in 1820, aged fifty-three years. He married (second) Elizabeth Smith, of Parrsboro, and she died in 1861, aged eighty-four years.

The children of Richard Black were: I. Will- iam, married Mary Bent, daughter of John Bent, of Amherst; settled on a farm in what is now called Salem, then called Sugarwood Hill, had six children; he died 1829, aged forty-six years. 2. Thomas, settled on a new farm in Salem and by persevering industry turned the woodland into fruit- ful fields and left a valuable property to his sons, died in 1838, aged fifty-three years; married Phebe Purdy, of Westchester, then called Cobequid Moun- tains; his widow married (second) Daniel Mac- Nutt. Thomas had twelve children. 3. Maria, mar- ried Thomas Gray, who came from England and taught school in the provinces for several years ; had five children. 4. Richard, Jr., married Arathusa Oxley, daughter of George Oxley, of Wallace, set- tled near River Philip on a farm that his brother Joseph left when he went to Prince Edward Island, and he improved it until it became a valuable prop- erty ; he died 1873, aged seventy-five years; she died 1871, aged seventy-three years; had nine chil- dren. 5. Joseph, the third son, married Sarah Can- field, of Wallace, lived several years near River Philip and moved thence to Prince Edward Island where for many years he was high sheriff of Prince county ; had nine children. 6. Sarah, the second daughter, married Joshua Heustis, of Wallace. where they settled ; he was justice of the peace and

for several years was custos of the county and post- master at Wallace; had six children. 7. Asher, the fifth son, owned and resided on part of his father's farm, a portion of which his grandfather bought before removing his family to this country; was justice of the peace, a very ingenious and useful citizen. Married Eleanor Archibald, of Truro. daughter of James Archibald, Esq., and had eight children; he died in 1863, aged sixty-three; his wife died in 1876, aged seventy-three years. 8. John Chapman, sixth son, married Tabitha Pugsley, of Maccan, settled in Amherst and cleared a farm where he lived until 1861, when his wife died aged fifty-six and his son-in-law took the farm; he had three children. 9. Ann, married Charles Carter, of Onslow, who settled at Amherst and was a car- penter ; he had three children; he died 1831, aged thirty-four years; his widow married (second) James Mageney, and she had six children by the second marriage; she died in 1880, aged seventy- five years. 10. George, youngest son, married Jane Coates, of Amherst, who owned and lived upon part of the old homestead-a portion of which his grand- father owned and occupied first after he came to America ; had nine children. 11. Mary G., married Elisha Gourley, a native of Colchester county, but lived for some years at Amherst, where after his marriage he built a house lately occupied by Peter Etter and lived in it several years; he removed later to his native county, and settled at Truro; they had six children and many descendants.

(III) William Black, son of Richard Black (2). was born in Amherst, 1783, died 1829. He married Mary Bent, daughter of John Bent, of Amherst. They settled upon a farm in what is now called Salem, then called Sugarwood Hill from the rock mnaples with which it was originally covered. They had one daughter and five sons. Their children were: I. Maria, married William Sharp, son of Matthew Sharp, of Maccan, settled in Amherst and have three daughters ; he died 1848, aged thirty-seven years. Their children are: Mary Jane Sharp, mar- ried Robert C. Sharp, of Amherst, where they lived and had four children; Selina Sharp, married Joseph Cove, and resided in Amherst until 1881, when they removed to Boston; had eight children ; Emma Sharp, youngest daughter, married William Cove, a physician who lived and practiced at Spring Hill, had several children, only two of whom grew up. 2. Edward of whom later, 3. Luther, married Jane Gibson, of Shinimicas, Cumberland, where they purchased a farm and lived; had seven children. 4. Ezra, married Mary Ann Carter, daughter of James Carter, of Amherst, owned and occupied half of his father's homestead in Salem; had five children. 5. Daniel, married Jane Embree, of Salem ; lived at Leicester, Cumberland, and had five children, four of whom died young of diphtheria. 6. Rufus, the youngest son, when a young man went to Canaan, Queens county, New Brunswick, where he married Jane Price ; they had seven children.

(IV) Edward Black, son of William Black (3), was born in Salem, Nova Scotia, married Matilda Freeman, daughter of William Freeman, of Amherst. They owned and lived on half . of his father's homestead at Salem. They had five sons and six daughters. Their children were: Sarah, married Hazen Goodwin, lived at Point de Bute, New Brunswick, and had one child who died young ; Clifford, died in 1869, aged twenty-four years; Bessie, married Joseph Black, of Amherst; they have three daughters, Clara Maud, Jane and Sarah ; another died young; they live on a portion of the first farm of William Black, bought in 1774: Clara A., of whom later; Alice, married Arthur Walker.

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resides at Cambridge, Vermont; J. Avard, Margaret, Fred, Walter, Amelia, Cyrus.

(V) Clara A. Black, daughter of Edward Black (4), was born at Salem, Nova Scotia, October 12, 1850; married Edwin W. Wheeler, of Worcester, April 4, 1872. (See Wheeler family sketch under Captain Edward W. Wheeler.)

THE FREEMAN FAMILY. William Freeman (I), who came from England about 1765 and settled in Nova Scotia, was an emigrant ancestor of Cap- tain E. W. Wheeler, of Worcester. His posterity is very numerous throughout the Dominion and particularly at the head of the Bay of Fundy. He was probably in Nova Scotia before the main body of English or those families allied with the Blacks from Yorkshire. He married Jerusha Yeomans about the time of their arrival in America. They had five sons and nine daughters, of whom one son died in infancy, and the others were: Sarah, Will- iam and Jerusha (twins), Samuel, Joshua, Eliza- beth, Dorothy, Martha, Philip, Hannah, Ann, Char- lotte, Rebecca. The daughter Sarah married Weatherliead, and had nineteen children.

(II) William Freeman, son of William Free- man, married Desire Newcomb, of Horton. They had one son and seven daughters. Mrs. Freeman died in 1811. He married (second) Sarah Dimock, sister of Rev. Joseph Dimock, and had three sons and three daughters. The two youngest sons, Jo- seph and G. William Freeman, inherited the farm and lived there. George William Freeman was an inventor. Their children were: Rufus, a merchant, died when a young man, built part of the Lamy Hotel; Pamelia, Olivia, Mary, Charlotte, Eunice, Margaret, Desire, Jane, Daniel, Joseph, Matilda, George William, Elizabeth.

(III) Matilda Freeman, daughter of William Freeman (2), married Edward Black (3), and they were the parents of Mrs. Edwin W. Wheeler, of Worcester, mother of Captain Edward W. Wheeler.

CHAPMAN FAMILY. William Chapman, an early settler in Nova Scotia, was an ancestor of Captain E. W. Wheeler, of Worcester, Massachu- setts. He came from England and settled at Point de Bute. His children were: William, married a daughter of Charles Dixon and settled at Ft. Law- rence; Thomas, settled at I't. Lawrence; Jolm, mar- ried Sarah Black; Henry, married - Seaman, of Wallace; Mary, married George Taylor, of Mem- ramcook, now Rockland; Sally, married Richard Black, ancestor of Captain Wheeler through his mother's family; Nancy, married (first) Thomas Robinson, (second) James Roberts ; Jane, married John Smith, who came from England when a young man and lived at Ft. Lawrence, had nine athletic sons, and one daughter who married Israel Embree.

THOMAS HARLOW REED. William Reed (I), of Woburn, was the emigrant ancestor of Thomas Harlow Reed, of Worcester, Massachu- setts. He was born in England in 1587. He came to New England at the age of forty-eight in the ship "Defence" in July, 1635, bringing with him his wife Mabel, aged thirty, and three children : George, aged six, Ralph, aged five, and Justus, aged eighteen months. He settled first in Boston where he was admitted a freeman September 2, 1635. He lived also at Dorchester and Scituate, Massachusetts. He was a constable in the latter town in 1644. While living there his wife rode on horseback to Dor- chester with an infant in her arms to have the child baptized in the church to which Reed belonged. In 1648 they were living in Muddy River ( Brookline), Massachusets. He finally settled in Woburn, Massa- chusetts, in 1648, on land bought of Nicholas Davis

July 7, 1648. It is said that the cellar hole where his house was located in Woburn can be discerned in what has been called in late years the Baldwin pasture on the road to Kendall's mills.

He married Mabel Kendall in England. They returned to England after their children were grown up and he died there at Newcastle on Tyne, in 1056, aged sixty-nine years. His will was probated in London, England, October 31, 1656, and letters of administration were granted by the Protector, Oliver Cromwell, himself, to the widow. She returned to New England and married (second) November 21, 1660, Harry Summers, Sr., of Woburn. She died at the home of her son, George Reed, June 5, 1690. at the age of eighty-five.

The children of William Reed were: George, see forward; Ralph, Justus, Michael, Israel, Abigail. married Francis Wyman; Bethia, married, 1657: Sarah, married Samuel Walker, Jr., 1662; Rebecca, married Ensign Joseph Winn, 1664.

(II) George Reed, son of William Reed (1). was born in England in 1629. He was a child of six years when he was brought to New England by his parents. He settled after his marriage in Woburn, Massachsetts, where the committee, November 9, 1653, laid out for him a six-acre home lot in place of one previously granted to him. He was admitted a freeman there in 1684. He married, October 4, 1652, Elizabeth Jennison, daughter of Robert Jenni- son, of Watertown. She died February 26, 1664-5. He married (second), November 9, 1665, Hannah Rockwell, of Charlestown, Massachusetts. He died February 21, 1705-6, aged sixty-seven years.

The children of George and Elizabeth (Jennison ) Reed were born in Woburn, viz .: Elizabeth, born July 29, 1653; twin sons, born and died November 14, 1654; Samuel, born April 29, 1656; Abigail, June 27, 1658; George, September 14, 1660; William, see forward; Sarah, February 12, 1664-5. The children of George and Hannah (Rockwell) Reed were : Hannah, February 18, 1669-70; John, March IS, 1672; Mary, June 15, 1674; Timothy, October 20, 1678; Thomas, July 15, 1682.

(III) William Reed, seventh child of George Reed (2), was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, September 22, 1662. He married Abigail Kendall, May 24, 1686, by whom was introduced a singular characteristic of the Kendall family of Woburn, an inherited tendency to an extra number of fingers and toes. William Reed was a prominent man in the town and colony. He was captain of the Lex- ington militia company, and is the progenitor of the Lexington Reed family. Captain Reed was a justice of the peace and magistrate there for many years. He was a selectman and represented the town repeatedly in the general court. He was one of the original members of the Lexington church. The historian of Lexington goes out of his way to remark of the descendants of Captain Reed that "no family of early settlers has sustained its stand- ing through all the periods of town history better than the Reed family." His homestead was in the northwest part of the town, near Bedford street. He acquired a large estate and was able to leave a valuable farm to each of his sons. Some of this land is still held in the family. At one time his home was in the most populous part of the village.

He died May 12, 1718, aged fifty-six. His wife died October 12, 1734. Their children, all born in Lexington, Massachusetts, were: Abigail, born May 29, 1687; William, see forward; Mary, April 8, 1695; Benjamin, October 22, 1699; Joshua, June 20, 1702; Hepsibalı, December 10, 1705.

(IV) William Reed, second child of William Reed (3), was born July 18, 1693, at Lexington,

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Massachusetts. Ile married, about 1719, Saralı Poulter, daughter of John Poulter. Like his father lie became an active and efficient citizen of Lexing- ton. He was justice of the peace and magistrate for many years and became widely known as Squire Reed. He was prominent in the church as well as the town. Ite was selectman eleven years and a rep- resentative to the general court for the extraordinary period of seventeen years. He was popular as well as influential. He was captain of the militia com- pany of the town and during the French war was in the service with part of his company, in 1755. His homestead was the house lately occupied by Christopher Reed on Bedford. street, Lexington. He died there February 11, 1778, aged eighty-hve years. His wife died November 25, 1709. Their children, all born in Lexington, were: William, born Jau- uary I, 1720; Sammel, see forward; Sarah, June 3, 1725; Mary, March 10, 1728; Oliver, March 25, 1730; John, May 28, 1731; Hammon, April 28, 1734; Eliot, April 28, 1737; Hannah, October 21, 1740; Nathan, November 9, 1743.

(V) Samuel Reed, second child of William Reed (4), was born in Lexington, Massachusetts, May 4, 1722. He settled in Burlington, Massachu -. setts, and became a prominent man there and was for many years deacon of the church. He married Eunice Stone, of Lexington. She was born July 2, 1724, and died April 25, 1809. He died April 28, 1809. The children of Samuel and Eunice ( Stone) Reed were born in Burlington, Massachusetts, viz. : Samuel, born August 6, 1744, died February 23, 1798; Micah, see forward; Moses, born May 31, 1749, married, April 23, 1770, Sarah Whittemore, of Lexington, where he settled and became promi- nent ; Frances, May 3, 1751; Eunice, November 17, 1753, died February 19, 1754; Abigail, born August 13, 1757, died April 16, 1795; Lucy, October 12, 1759, died November 21, ISO1; Sarah, December 31, 1762; Mary, August II, 1767.

(VI) Micah Reed, second child of Samuel Reed (5), was born in Burlington, Massachusetts, September 28, 1746. About 1780 he removed to Hardwick, Massachusetts, and later to New Brain- tree. He married Elizabeth Paige, daughter of John Paige, of Bedford, Massachusetts. She was born August 2, 1748, and died March 21, 1838, aged ninety years. He died March 1, 1804, at New Braintree, Massachusetts. Ile was in the third Woburn com- pany in the revolution under Captain Timothy Winn in 1775, and Captain Eleazer Brooks in 1777. His deathi was caused by a fall from a scaffolding on which he was working. The children of Micah and Elizabeth ( Paige) Reed, born in Hardwick and New Braintree, were: Micah, see forward; Eliza- beth, born January 2, 1777, died October 17, 1778; Elizabeth, February 25, 1779; Samuel, June II, .1783; died at Burlington, Vermont, May 5, 1846; Eunice, January 13, 1787, married James Barr, of New Braintree, and (second) Perley Granger.

(\'Il) Colonel Micah Reed, eldest son of Micah Reed (6), was born October 17, 1773, in Burlington, probably. He came to Hardwick when a young boy with his parents. Ile spent most of his active life, however, in the neighboring town of New Brain- tree, where he died August 3, 1825. His home- stead was in that part of New Braintree known as Ditch Meadow, and he kept a tavern as well as a farm. He was prominent in the military affairs of the state for a long period, and was colonel of a' Worcester county regiment. He was a man of large influence and high standing.

He married Deborah Thurston, daughter of Sam- uel Thurston, of Hardwick. She was born Septem- ber 23, 1778, and died June 30, 1828. He died

August 3, 1823. Their children, all born in New Bramtree, were: I. Arminiley, born September 22, 1798, never married. 2. Rebecca Paige, July 6, 1801, died January 5, 1848. 3. Abel Wheeler, January 5, 1805, died 1874; married Elizabeth Scovil, of East Haddam, Connecticut, and had a daughter Nellie, deceased. 4. Micah Thurston, see forward. 5. Samuel Gardner, May 21, 1809, died 1884; married thrice ; (first) Fannie Louise Tilton, of West Boyls- ton, and had : Sarah Elizabeth, died young; Charles Gardner, born April 22, 1835, died December 21, 1899; married (hrst) Lucella P. Ware, of Wor- cester, and had two children: Charles Arthur, who died young, and Frank Theodore; married (second ) Elizabeth P. Fielding, of Worcester, and had one child, Karl Beagary Reed, unmarried; married ( third ) Hannah W. Whitcomb; Henry Wheeler, born March 11, 1843, married Annie Lindsay, of Greensboro, North Carolina, and have four chil- dren : Fannie Louise, who married Herbert D. Bart- lett, of Worcester, and has one child, Herbert Davis Bartlett, Jr., living in Seattle, Washington; Samuel Gardner, Robert Lindsay, Elizabeth Begeary, of Seattle; Mary Frances, born May 13, 1845, married George Henry Taft, of Worcester, and has three children : Arthur Reed Taft, born January 28, 1877, died June 2, 1904; Maria Elizabeth Taft, born in Paris, France, May 9, 1881; Philip Newell Taft, born October 19, 1884. Abbie Jane, born January 31, 1850, married William Northam Taft, of Worces- ter, and has two children: Elizabeth Northam Taft, born December 15, 1882, died November 6, 1903; Donald Reed Taft, born November 7, 1886. The only child of Samuel Gardner Reed and his second wile, Cleora Eager Harlow, of Shrewsbury, was: Rev. George Harlow, of Concord, Massachusetts, who married Virginia W. Dean, of Taunton, Massa- chusetts, and has one child, Margaret Dean. The only child of Samuel Gardner and Eliza Bowman (Currier) Reed (the third wife) was: Arthur Cur- rier, deceased. 6. Hammond, born August 7, 18II. 7. Sumner, born March 29, 1813, married Jane Hen- shaw, of Charlton, Massachusetts. 8. Rebecca, born December 2, 1815, married James B. Bardwell, of New Braintree, Massachusetts, and has three chil- dren : Everett J. Bardwell, Frederick Bardwell, de- ceased; Alice R. Bardwell, deceased. 9. Dwight, born August 25, 1817, married Susan Vaughn, of East Brookfield, Massachusetts, and had two chil- dren : Susan Ella, married Dr. C. P. Lawton, of Webster, Massachusetts, and has one child, lieuten- aut Dwight Lawton, of the United States army ; Mary Emma, unmarried.

(VIII) Micah Thurston Reed, fourth child of Colonel Micah Reed (7), was born in New Brain- tree, Massachusetts, May 21, 1807. He received his early education in the schools of his native town. He worked with his father on the homestead until he was about sixteen. Then he learned the trade of mason and plasterer. He removed from his father's home at New Braintree to North Brook- field about 1834 and followed his trade there. Dur- ing all the active years of his life until about 1875 he was in business connected with his trade of mason. He was for a time interested with his son in a tin- shop and stove store, which the son managed. He retired from active business in 1875 and died at his home in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, January II, 1885. He was a devout member of the First Congregational Church of North Brookfield, took a great interest in all its affairs, and served the church on several important building committees. He was a stanch Republican, but never cared for public office. He served in the militia in his younger days and was active in his company at New Braintree

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for several years. He was in Captain John Bar- nard's company.

He married, September 16, 1834, Abigail Har- low, of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. She was a daughter of Thomas and Thankful ( Bannister ) Harlow, of Shrewsbury. He was a farmer and deacon of the Congregational church there. Their only child was Thomas Harlow Reed, see forward. (IX) Thomas Harlow Reed, only child of Micah Thurston Reed (8), was born in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, September 14, 1835. He attended the public schools of his native town. When seventeen years of age he and his father purchased the stove store and tin shop of C. J. Boynton, of North Brookfield. Mr. Reed carried on the business, his father being a silent partner, but after ten years, in 1863, the store was burned. He sold what was saved from the fire and came to Worcester, where he bought the stove store of Mordacai Carey on Main street, nearly opposite Elm street, where he carried on his business until the building was torn down, when he removed to No. 2 Pleasant street, where he continued in business for some ten years. Since then he has worked for S. R. Leland & Co and for John W. Green, the plumber. at Lincoln square, where he is at present the bookkeeper. Mr. Reed is a member of Union Congregational Church, which he served three years as treasurer. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of Morning Star Lodge, A. F. and A. M., of Worcester.

He married Mary Frances Whiting, June II, 1862. She was the daughter of Louis and Fannie (Parks) Whiting, of North Brookfield. Her father was a shoemaker, employed in the Bacheller shop in that town and later a farmer. He died August, 1881. The children of Thomas Harlow and Mary Frances ( Whiting) Reed are: 1. Nellie Frances, born October 21, 1865, married, July 16, 1896, Rev. Ilenry Walker, of Boulder, Colorado, and has three children : Helen Frances Walker, born May 27. 1897; Florence Hammersley Walker, born August 13, 1899; Margaret Walker, born November 6, 1902. 2. Florence Harlow Reed, born November 22, 1868, living in Boulder, Colorado. 3. Lewis Thurston, born September 5, 1870, pastor First Congregational Church, Canandaigua, New York, married Isabelle Dwight, October 25, 1899. 4. Fannie Whit- ing, born December 4. 1879, lives with parents ; graduate of the high school, teacher in the public schools of Amherst, Massachusetts. Mr. Reed lives at No. 134 Elm street, Worcester.

GEORGE MASON FOSKETT, M. D., son of Samuel Waters Foskett, was born October 26, 1856. He attended the public schools of Charlton and Webster, and prepared for college at the Nichols Academy in Dudley, and entered Amherst College, from which he graduated with the degree of Bach- elor of Arts in 1878, and in 1881 he received from the same institution the degree of Master of Arts. After leaving college he taught school in Webster from 1878 to 1880, and at the same time studied medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. F. D. Brown, of that town. He graduated from the medical department of the University of Vermont in 1882, and shortly after located in North Dana, where he practiced his profession for eight years. After two years spent in post graduate studies in New York hospitals he came to Worcester, where he has since resided, having established a large and lucrative practice. He maintains his office and resi- dence at No. 491 Pleasant street. He is a member of the Worcester District Medical Society, the Massachusetts Medical Society, the American Acad-

emy of Medicine, and the American Medical Asso- ciation. He is a member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics is a Republican. lie has attained high rank in the Masonic order, and affiliated with Athelstan Lodge, December 7, 1892. He received the royal arch degree in Eureka Chap- ter, Royal Arch Masons, April, 1894; the cryptic degrees in Hiram Council, Royal Scottish Masons, May 24, 1894; was knighted in Worcester County Commandery, Knights femplar, August 15, 1895. and has taken the fourteenth, sixteenth and eight- eenth degrees of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masonry. He is a member of Alepo Temple, Nobles of the Mystic .Shrine, of Boston. In Odd Fellowship he is a member of Anchoria Lodge, No. 142; of Mount Vernon Encampment, No. 53, and ot Worcester Canton, No. 3. He is also a member of Regulus Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and of the Hancock Social Club, of Worcester.

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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 45

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