Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 47

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 47

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(VII) John Kendall, son of David Kendall (6), was born in Boylston, Massachusetts, Novem- ber 6, 1829. He began his schooling in Boylston, but did not continue long, for at the age of twelve years he became highly incensed at what he felt was an unprincipled act on the part of the teacher toward a pupil. So he broke away from the yoke of school life and hired out at farming to Squire Aaron White, of Boylston, who was at that time, it is said, the richest farmer in the county. He re- mained with the Squire until 1847, when he be- came clerk in the country store at Boylston, kept by a Mr. Hathaway, for whom he worked a year. In 1848 he came to Worcester and began to learn the fur business with J. H. Knight, where he re- mained until 1862, when Mr. Knight died. He and William H. McClennen formed a partnership and bought the business. The business was conducted under the firm name of Kendall & McClennen un- til 1875, when Mr. McClennen sold his interest to his partner, and Mr. Kendall continued alone. The store at that time was at 163 Main street. Their stock included hats, caps and men's furnish- ings as well as furs. 1n 1888 Mr. Kendall took into partnership David Boyden, who continueed with him until he died in 1895 : he then admitted his son, John M. Kendall, to partnership. The firm was in business until 1897, when he retired from active life. He was a prosperous and successful mer- chant and knew the fur business in every branch. His favorite sport was fishing and he was known all over the county among the disciples of Izaac Walton. He died July 14,1903. He was a member of the Old South Congregational Church, and a Republican in politics. He was a member of the Worcester County Mechanics' Association. He belonged to no secret societics. He married, August 10, 1852. Mary T. Knight, daughter of Erastus and Theo- damia (Cushman) Knight, of Chesterfield, Massa-

chusetts. Her father was a farmer in Chesterfield. Children of John and Mary (Knight) Kendall were: Olive Cushman, born in Worcester, July 16, 1862 (1855 in Genealogy), is living in Worcester ; John Melvin (see forward).

(VIII) John Melvin Kendall, son of John Kendall (7), born in Worcester, Massachusetts, March 5, 1866, received his early education in the public schools of this native city, where he passed through the grammar schools and graduated from the Classical high school in 1883. He entered Am- herst College in the fall in the class of 1887, but after a year he returned home at the desire of his father and entered the store. He became his father's partner in 1895 and remained in the business until 1897, when his father and the firm retired from bus- iness. He then entered the employ of the Den- holm & Mckay Company as expert buyer of furs and manager of the fur department. He continued in this position eight years. In 1905 he withdrew to become the treasurer of the John L. Parker Company, manufacturers of sheet metal goods, hav- ing become a part owner of the business. He is a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, and has been treasurer, vestryman and superintendent of the Sunday school.

He has taken an active part in Republican poli- tics, frequently serving his party as delegate to the county and state conventions. He served the city in the common council for four years, 1902-3-4-5. He has been a trustee of the City Hospital since 1903, and is one of the overseers of the poor. He is a member of Regulus Lodge, Knights of Pythias, No. 71, of Worcester, and of the Hancock Club. Mr. Kendall is a musician of distinction and has written several successful operas. He is a clever writer and is regarded as an authority in baseball matters. In years past he has written much for The Spy on dramatic and sporting sub- jects. He is an earnest, capable business man, and stands high in the estimation of the entire com- munity in which he has lived all his life. He mar- ried, June 27, 1904, Caroline Eliza Davis, daughter of Samuel E. and Hannah E. ( Robinson) Davis, of Boston. She was born August 23, 1868. Her father was a woolen manufacturer. (See sketch of Samuel E. Davis.)

DR. JEREMIAH FISKE. The family of Fiske flourished for centuries in England in the county of Suffolk. As early as the reign of King John in 1208 we find the name of Daniel Fisc. of Laxfield, appended to a document issued by the king con- firming a grant of land in Digneveton Park, made by the Duke of Loraine to the men of Laxfield, May I, 1208. There was the seat of the family for a long period. The ancient coat of arms is : Checquey, argent and gules upon a pale, sable, three mullets, pierced, or.

(I) Lord Symond Fiske, to whom the English and American line is traced, was the progenitor of Dr. Jeremiah Fiske, of Clinton, Massachusetts. It is believed that he was grandson of Daniel Fiske, the first mentioned in the records of the locality ; he was Lord of the manor of Stadhaugh, parish of Laxfield, county of Suffolk, England, from 1399 to 1422. He married ( first ) Susannah Smyth and (sec- ond) Katherine -. His will was dated December 22, 1463, and was probated at Norwich, February 26, 1403-4. He bequeathed "his soul to God, the Virgin Mary and all the Saints in Heaven." He named each of his sons, William, Jeffrey, John and Edmund, and daughter, Margaret Dowsing. His wife Katherine, son John and Nichols Nolock were the executors. He died February, 1464. The chil-

Jeremiah Finske 1

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Iren : William, married Joanne Lynne; Jeffrey, mar- ried Margaret -; John; Edmund, married Mar- gery -; Margaret, married Dowsing or Dowling. (II) William Fiske, son of Lord Symond Fiske (1), was born at Stadhangh, county Suffolk, Eng- land, and died 1504. He married Joan Lynne, of Norfolk. Her will was dated July 15, 1504, proved February 28, 1505. It mentions her sons John, Augustine, Simon, son's wife Anne, daughters Margery and Margaret. Sir John Fiske and her sons John Fiske and son Simon were executors. The children : Thomas, married Anne - William, married Joan -: Augustine, married Joan Simon, see forward; Robert, married Joan John, Margery, Margaret.

(III) Simon Fiske, son of William Fiske (2), was born in Laxfield. He married Elizabethi who died at Halesworth, June, 1558. They resided at Laxfield. His will was dated July 10, 1536, and proved July 13, 1538. He was buried in the chancel at the end of the church of All Saints, Laxfield, next his father and other members of his family. He died June, 1538. The children : Simon, see for- ward: William; Robert, married Alice -; Joan, married -- Iverton; Jeffrey ; Gelyne, married - Warner : Agnes, Thomas, Elizabeth, John.

(IV) Simon Fiske, son of Simon Fiske (3). was born in Laxfield, England. His will was dated January 25, 1505. The children : Robert, see forward ; John, married Thomasin Pinchard; George, married Anne -; Nicholas, married Joan Crispe; Jeffrey. Jeremy, William. Richard, married Agnes Crispe ; Joan, Gelyne, Agnes.

(V) Robert Fiske, son of Simon Fiske (4), was born in England, 1525. He married Mrs. Sybil .(Gould) Barber. For some time he was of the parish of St. James, South Elmham, England. Sybil was in great danger of religious persecution at the time her sister Isabella was confined for her religious opinions in Castle Norwich. The children : William, born 1566, see forward: Jeffrey, married Sarah Cooke; Thomas, married Margery -; Eleazer, died at Metfield; Elizabeth, married Robert Barnard.

(VI) William Fiske, son of Robert Fiske (5). was born at Laxfield, England, 1566. He married Anna Anstyle, daughter of Walter Anstyle, of Tib- benham, Long Row, Norfolk. He married (second) Alice He lived in St. James parish, South Elinham. He and his father had to leave the coun- try on account of their Puritan ideas. His will was dated November 25, 1616, and proved May 17, 1623. His children: John, born at South Elmham, married Anne Lantersee: Nathaniel, born at South Elmham, see forward; Eleazer, born at South Elin- ham, settled in Norwich; Eunice, unmarried ; Han- nah, married William Candler, and their son Rev. Mathias Candler, was author of the celebrated Candler manuscript in the British Museum; Hester, married John C. Chalke, of Rednall; Mary, married Anthony Fisher, ancestor of the Fisher emigrants at Dedham, Massachusetts. (See sketch of Fisher families in this work).

(VII) Nathaniel Fiske, son of William Fiske (6), was born in England. He was named in the wills of his father, his uncle Eleazer, and cousin Eleazer, of Weybred, England. He married Mrs. Alice ( Henel) Leman. The children: Nathaniel, see forward: Sarah, married Robert Rogers.

(VIII) Nathaniel Fiske, son of Nathaniel Fiske (7). was born at Weybred, Suffolk county, England. He married Dorothy Symonds, of Wendham, daugh- ter of John Symonds. The children: John, born 1619. married Sarah Wyeth; Nathan, see forward ; Esther, born in England; Martha, married Martin Underwood, weaver, settled in Watertown, Massa- chusetts, died November 17, 1672.

(IX) Nathan Fiske, son of Nathaniel Fiske (8). was born in England, 1615, and died June 21, 1676. He settled at Watertown, Massachusetts, as early as 1642, and was admitted a freeman May 10, 1643. He bought land there September 10, 1643. He was a selectman in 1673. His homestall was on the north side of the road to Sudbury, granted first to R. Frake. His will was dated June 19, 1676, and he died two days later. He mentioned his five children as named below. Children : Nathan, born October 17, 1642, see forward; John, born August 25, 1647; David, born April 29, 1650, married Elizabeth Reed ; Nathaniel, born July 12, 1653, married Mrs. Mary (Warren) Child: Sarah, born 1656, married, Sep- tember 3. 1673. Abraham Gale, son of Richard Gale, the immigrant, of Watertown.

(X) Lieutenant Nathan Fiske, son of Nathan Fiske (9), was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, October 17, 1642. He married Elizabeth Fry, who died May 15, 1696. He bought two hundred and twenty acres of land in Weston, October 1, 1673, of Thomas Underwood and wife Magdalen for ten pounds. He was selectman in 1684-88-91. His widow Elizabeth was appointed administratrix December 10, 1694. His estate was divided November 23, 1696. He died October 11, 1694. ,The children: Nathan, born February 9, 1665, died December 9, 1668; Eliza- beth, born January 19, 1667, married, January 16, 1693. James Ball, weaver, born March 7, 1670, died February 22, 1729; Martha, born January 12, 1670. married, March 13, 1694, Edward Park, born April 8. 1661, son of Thomas and grandson of Richard, of Cambridge ; Nathan, see forward; Susanna, born April 7, 1674, died at Shrewsbury, April 28, 1752, unmarried; Abigail, born February 18, 1675, mar- ried, August 15, 1695, John Mixer, son of Isaac Mixer, Jr .: William, born December 5, 1677, died 1677: William, born November 10, 1678, married Eunice Jennings : Anna, died July 13, 1683.

(XI) Deacon Nathan Fiske, son of Nathan Fiske (10), was born at Watertown, Massachusetts, Janu- ary 3. 1672, married, October 14, 1696, Sarah Coolidge, who was born about 1678, daughter of Ensign John Coolidge, of Watertown. She died November 27, 1723, and he married (second), May 22, 1729, Mrs. Hannah (Coolidge) Smith, who was born December 7. 1671, and died October 4, 1750, the daughter of Simon Coolidge and widow of Daniel Smith, Jr. Nathan Fiske was deputy to the general court 1727-28-29-32, selectman 1711-14-17-19-20-22- 23-24-26-27, treasurer 1720-22-23, town clerk 1724-28- 39. He was elected deacon as early as 1717. The will of his wife Hannah was dated September 12, and proved October 22, 1750: it mentions various rela- tives in the Coolidge family. Deacon Nathan died January 26, 1741. The children : Sarah, born 1697, died November, 1713: Elizabeth. died aged seven years; Nathan, born February 25, 1701, married Anne Warren and Mary Fiske, of Sudbury : Josiah, born October 10, 1704, see forward; Henry, born January 24, 1706, married Mary Stone; Daniel, born August 19, 1709, married Deliverance Brown and Jemima Shaw: Samuel, born February 16, 17II, married Lydia Bond; Grace, born May 9, 1714, mar- ried, September 25. 1733. Benjamin Goddard, of Shrewsbury: she died at Hopkinton. October 28, 1803, aged ninety years ; Hannah, born May 19, 1719. married, February 15, 1743, William Smith, Jr., of Weston, born May 23, 1721 ; she died September 2, 1813. aged ninety-four years.

(XII) Deacon Josiah Fiske, son of Deacon Nathan Fiske ( II). was born at Watertown, Octo- ber 10, 1704, married Sarah Lawrence, born June 20, 1708, daughter of John and Anne (Tarbell) Lawrence, of Lexington, died 1798. He was select- man 1749-50, assessor 1743-44-48. He was dismissed

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to the Groton church May 13, 1753, and settled in Pepperell, where the births of his children (born in Waltham) were recorded. He was deacon of the church and leading citizen in that part of Groton set off later as Pepperell. He was town clerk of Groton and first town clerk of Pepperell, hold- ing that office twenty years. His will was dated September 1, 1778, and proved January 23, 1779. He died October 27, 1778. Children : David, born Janu- ary 28, 1727, died October 28, 1729; Sarah, born Au- gust 7, 1729, died May I. 1731; David, born Decem- ber 16, 1731, died February 1, 1766; killed by an apple thrown from the church window at the ordina- tion service at Lunenburg: Josiah, born February 12, 1733, see forward: Sarah, born October 7, 1736, married, April 14, 1756, Simon Gilson; Amos, born May 10, 1739, married Mary Whitney; Daniel, born May IS, 1742, married Elizabeth Varnum; Anna, born February 16, 1744, died February 12, 1745; Anna, born December 16, 1747, married, March 3, 1768, Dr. Ephraim Lawrence, a physician of Pep- perell, Pennsylvania; she died June 12, 1774; Abel, born May 28, 1752, married Anna Spaulding and ( second ) Sarah Putnam.

( XIII) Josiah Fiske, son of Josiah Fiske (12). was born at Waltham, February 12, 1733, married Sarah Colburn, of Dracut, born 1737, died 1825. His estate was administered by his widow Sarah, appointed April 11, 1767. He had a good education and taught school for several years. He was only thirty-three years old when he died "beloved by all." His widow married (second) Levi Blood, of Groton, who died April 14. 1766. His children : Josiah, born September 3, 1755, see forward; David, born 1756; Sarah, born about 1760; Phinehas, born January 29, 1765, died young ; Submit, (posthumous) born 1767.

(XIV) Josiah Fiske, son of Josiah Fiske (13), was born at Pepperell, September 3, 1755, married there, November 25, 1779, Mary Caldwell, of Cam- bridge, who was born April 20, 1755, died December 25, 1834. He was a soldier in the revolution, joined the company of Captain Dow, of Hollis, New Hamp- shire. He took part in the battle of Bunker Hill and was afterward a fifer in the army at Saratoga. At Bunker Hill he took a register from the pocket of a British officer. This article and his old fite are treasured as keepsakes by his descendants. In 1782 he moved from Pepperell to Temple, New Hampshire, and settled on the Searles farm. In 1787 he purchased the Lieutenant Jonathan Marshall farm, immediately north of the other place. His son Jeremiah afterward occupied the place. Josiah was highly esteemed. He was very pious and never was known to omit family worship from the time of his marriage to that of his death, May 29, 1832. His widow died December 25, 1834. Children: Josiah, born Nevember 14, 1781, married Betsey Kimball ; Sarah, born April 19, 1784, and died August 27, 1784; Polly, born October 12, 1785, married William Patterson, who died at Francestown, New Hamp- shire, May 13, 1832; she died at Nashuta, New Hamp- shire, January 6, 1854; Sally, born February 25, 1788, married, 1809, Earl Boynton, resided at New Ipswich, born April 20, 1788, died August 26, 1881, and had ten children; Jeremiah, born August 17, 1790, see forward: Artemas, born September 11, 1792, married Lucy Jones; David, born May 12, 1795, died July IO, 1795; David, born January 12, 1797, married Milly Sheldon, lived in Oxford, New York: Seth H., born September 20, 1800, married (first) Lydia Putnam in Marblehead, November 1, 1827. (second) Hannah Miles, in Oxford. New York, 1833, and (third) Mrs. Fanny Pollock, December 1, 1870.

(XV) Jeremiah Fiske, son of Josiah Fiske (14), was born in Temple, New Hampshire, August 17, 1790. He married Sarah Heald, born 1798, died March 23, 1858, daughter of James Heald, born in Temple, November 28, 1777, and Sarah Walker, and granddaughter of Deacon Peter Heald and Rebecca Russell, of Townsend. He married (second) Mrs. Cemina Monroe, who died November, 1895. Jeremiah Fiske was one of the most successful farmers of the county. He settled on the homestead. After retiring from business he traveled extensively. He was the largest real estate owner in Temple, and among his holdings was what was formerly Cum- mings Hill, upon which large bonfires are built every year as they can be seen at a great distance, and a large tract called Fiske Hill. He died October 9, 1882. He was a Republican in politics. He was in- terested in the family genealogy and well posted in it. His children were well educated and at one time six of them were public school teachers. The children : James, born March 16, 1816, died 1878, unmarried. Sarah Ann, born January 20, 1817, mar- ried, December 1, 1842, Captain Charles Walton, re- sided at New Ipswich; she died in Temple, 1885. Lois, born March 21, 1819, died July 29, 1836. Josiah, born November 6, 1820, died December II, 1904; married, March 5, 1848, Rebecca Flint, who died December 16, 1852; married (second) Mary Wood, May 12, 1865. Charlotte, born July 9, 1822, mar- ried, May 14, 1846, Dr. Thomas Palmer, an expert dental surgeon of Fitchburg. Jeremiah, born Feb- ruary 10, 1824, see forward. Alvah, born November 4, 1825, died January 31, 1854, at Indianapolis. Mar- tin H., born May 10. 1827, graduate of Dartmouth, 1853; principal of seminary at Paris, Tennessee ; elected in 1854 president Paducah College, Ken -. tucky. married Henrietta F. Breed, born September 27, 1827, died January 29, 1901, at Old Fiske home- stead, Temple, New Hampshire. Emily, born May 8, 1829, died at Abington, Massachusetts, July 29, 1002; married June 2, 1856, Daniel Lamson, of East

Weymouth; killed in the battle of Fredericksburg, December, 1862. Rebecca Davis, born February 20. 1831, married, March, 1865, Thomas Fessendon and she and her son, a Presbyterian minister, the Rev. Alvah Grant Fessendon, reside at Los Angeles. Charles F., born December 2, 1832, married Emma Bailey; she died at Milford, December 2, 1894; he is practicing his profession of dentistry at Milford, New Hampshire.

(XVI) Dr. Jeremiah Fiske, son of Jeremiah Fiske (15). was born at Temple, New Hampshire, February 10, 1824. His maternal great-grandfather was the first settler in Temple, New Hampshire, and his son, Peter Heald, the first male child born in the town. He attended the public schools, the Apple- ton Academy of New Ipswich, and the Hancock Academy. He worked on his father's farm until he was of age. On account of an injury which un- fitted him for farm labor, he left home and found employment in Boston in a market. Afterward he began the study of dentistry with his brother-in-law, Dr. Thomas Palmer, at Fitchburg. In 1849 he went to Clintonville, then a part of the town of Lan. caster. then without a dentist, and began to prac- tice his profession there. As the town grew rapidly his practice grew large, and for a period of fifty years he was the leading dentist of the vicinity. The town of Clinton was formed and grew to the pro- portions of a city in that period. His first office was in the Ford block, which block he owned for sev- eral years in company with the late Dr. G. W. Bur- dett, in a front room over what is now Sargent's jewelry store. After a few years he moved into a

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larger front room in the same building, over what is now Hubberd's dry goods store, and this room is still used as a dentist's office, being occupied by Dr. Harris. During his practice eight of our prominent dentists were pupils in his office. During the civil war he was in partnership for a time with Dr. D. B. Ingalls.

Dr. Fiske formerly took much interest in the Con- gregational parish, assisting materially in the build- ing of two additions to the old church, also in build- ing the parsonage. He was on the building com- mittee. He was one of ten who contributed the fund for the clock on the old church. His family are all members of the Congregational church, and his daughter has been the leading contralto in the choir for the past seven years. In politics Dr. Fiske is a prohibitionist and was the first to cast a vote for the Prohibition ticket in the town of Clinton. Like most of his party, he voted for President McKinley, but has otherwise always been a stead- fast third party man. Before the civil war he was an anti-slavery man and not a few runaway slaves received assistance from him. He entertained and kept over night an escaped follower of Captain John Brown when there was a thousand dollar reward of- fered for his arrest. It was Very interesting to hear this man tell of his many narrow escapes. He and five others, including two sons of John Brown, passed through Clinton on their way north and a reward of a thousand dollars had been offered for the capture of each of them. Dr. Fiske has always taken much interest in the Lancaster Lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he is a member. He is also a member of the Grand Lodge and Encampment and the Grand As- sembly of the Rebekahs. In 1850 Dr. Fiske was a · member of a division of the Sons of Temperance, one of the most active temperance societies that ever existed in Clinton, consisting of one hundred and twenty members, all men, including many of the leading men of the town. The society was a terror to the illicit rum seller, and did excellent work for many years. Dr. Fiske had in his keeping a beauti- ful silk banner presented to this society by the ladies of Clinton which he presented to the His- torical Society to adorn the walls of a room in the new Historical building. The donor of this beauti- ful building was a member of this once famous division of the Sons of Temperance.

Dr. Fiske has seen many changes during the fifty-seven years he has lived in Clinton. He is now one of the oldest persons in the town. The popu- lation has grown from twenty-five hundred to thir- teen thousand. Only two persons are now living on High street who lived there when he came to town. When he built his house with the eleven gables in 1857 there were only three dwelling houses in the neighborhood. In front of his house, where Dr. Otis's house, the town house, the Unitarian Church and Central Park are now, was then a swamp. Most of the land east of Chestnut street and north of Church street was then covered with a forest. His house is now half surrounded with public buildings.

On grounds of Dr. Fiske stands an English wal- nut tree, which is probably the only one in Worcester county. It was first planted in Salem by the daugh- ters of General Miller, and was brought from Temple, New Hampshire, and planted where it now is by Dr. Fiske. It is about fifty feet high and over a foot in diameter, and bears nuts every year of a superior quality.

He married. February 17. 1853. Caroline Eliza- beth Bailey. of Greenfield, New Hampshire. She was born February 19. 1830, daughter of Leonard and Betsey ( Hardy) Bailey. of Greenfield. Their children : Ella Athelia, born December 15, 1853, who

for more than a score of years has conducted suc- cessfully a private school in Clinton; for several years she has conducted her father's business as col- lector of rents and care of real estate, under a power of attorney ; she is a member of the Runaway Brook Golf Club. Carrie Novella, born July 5, 1860, an artist of more than ordinary note, has won many prizes for her work; married, October 28, 1891, Willard Forrest Hallett; they reside at 804 Lafayette street, Bridgeport, Connecticut.

DADMUN FAMILY. Samuel Dadmun (1), the immigrant ancestor of William Slocomb Dad- mun, of Worcester, and probably of all of this surname in this section of the country, was said to be of Scotch birth and family. He was born about 1690, and the first record found in which his name is mentioned is that of his marriage at Framing- liam, Massachusetts, May 27, 1714, to Martha Jen- nings, daughter of Stephen Jennings. Her father came to Framingham in 1690, married at Sudbury, January 11, 1685, Hannah Stanhope; he died Sep- tember 3, 1701, and Hannah, his widow, bought, January 6, 1702-03, of James Brewer and Caleb Johnson part of the Appleton farm lying between Lake Cochituate and Cochituate brook where her descendants lived until after the revolution. The place is known as the Luther Eaton place. Martha (Jennings) Dadmun and her children were living there with her mother in 1718. Samuel probably died in 1717 or 1718. Their children were: Samuel, see forward, and a daughter who married

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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 47

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