Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 58

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 58

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He married, December 14, 1887, Grace Watson, daughter of George and Eleanor Watson, of Spen- cer. Their children are: Eleanor Grace, born March 25, 1889; Marion Williams, August 29, 1893.

DELANO ALEXANDER GODDARD, young- est son of Benjamin Goddard (5), was born in Worcester, August 27, 1831. His early education was obtained in the Worcester schools. His father had hoped to send all his boys to college, but owing to financial reverses the older sons had to forego the benefits of a liberal education. When Delano reached the age when his preparation for college examina- tions should begin, the father felt his circumstances improved enough to warrant the expense of a col- lege education for the youngest son and the one perhaps most attracted by learning and study. Ben- jamin Goddard was a man of broad sympathy, but rather taciturn. He was a strong anti-slavery man, a man of firm integrity in business, but seldom given to the expression of his feelings. He had the characteristic habit of the old Yankee stock of hiding his sentiments and emotions. One day as Delano was standing at his machine in the wire mill, where his half holidays were industriously spent, his father stopped at his side and said ab- ruptly : "Delano, do you want to go to college?" The reply came without hesitation: "Yes, sir !" Ap- parently the father expected this decision, for he said: "Go home, change your clothes and go to the academy to be examined." There was no more talk. The boy went home. That interview was characteristic of both. Delano graduated from Wor- cester Academy with honor, delivering the vale- dictory of his class. Ile entered Brown University in 1849, but the following year entered the sopho- more class at Yale College and graduated in 1853.

He left Worcester and sought his opportunity in the west. He began his career as an editor in a humble way 'on the local weekly, The Herald, at Painesville, Ohio. A year later he returned to his native city. He was on the staff of The Chronicle. a Boston daily, in 1856. Early in 1857 he became the associate editor of The Worcester Transcript, a daily newsparer, but soon became the editor of The

Spy, under the Hon. John D. Baldwin, a post filled afterward by Captain J. Evarts Greene, late post- master of Worcester. While writing the editorials of The Spy Mr. Goddard served the city in the legislature in 1861 and in 1867 in the house of repre- sentatives. He was for about a year trustee of the public library. In April, 1868, he became editor of the Daily Advertiser of Boston and filled this position with unsurpassed intelligence and ability, till his death, January II, 1882. In 1876 he took a sea voyage for his health and spent a few weeks in England and the Isle of Wight. In 1880 he made an extended trip through the southern and western states.

He was specially interested in the American In- dians and perhaps no work of his pen was under. taken with more intense earnestness than his pleas for the nation's wards. He wrote little except for his newspaper. He contributed in 18So a paper on "Newspapers and Newspaper Writers in New Eng- land, 1787-1815" to the New England Historic- Genealogical Society and a number of other papers to learned societies to which he belonged and also some magazine articles. He was a member of the council of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and member of the American Antiquarian Society. He took the degree of A. M. in regular course at Yale College in 1856. Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, presi- dent of The Massachusetts Historical Society at the time of Mr. Goddard's death, said in a tribute at the society meeting next day: "Amiable, intelligent, accomplished, he had entered heartily into our work. I often met him here and never without a renewed sense of the variety of his information, of the candor of his judgment, of the kindness of his heart, and of that singular modesty which sometimes threatened to conceal his sterling abilities." Charles C. Smith, the author of a memoir published by the Historical Society of Mr. Goddard, said of him: "Mr. God- dard's character was such that no one who was brought into anything like intimate relations with him could help being attached to him as by hooks of steel. Those who were connected with him in his daily duties felt for him an affectionate regard which he called loyalty to the paper-apparently not suspecting that it was a personal relationship to their chief." Rev. Edward Everett Hale took oc- casion to speak of the editor's duty toward history. "In a word," he concluded his eulogy, "with fresh memory for the loss which this society and the press of this country have both sustained, I should say that we could in no way draw better the dis- tinction between the two schools of journalism- that which is bad through and through, because it is sensational, and that which is good through and through, because it aims at truth-than by saying of the two that the editor in the first school fails because lie is false to the claims of history, and that the editor of the upright school triumphs be- cause to history he is true." These are but brief selections from the tributes paid to the deceased. When the history of journalism in Massachusetts is written for the Nineteenth Century the name of Delano A. Goddard, of Worcester, will take a place among the foremost editors of his generation.

HARVEY BRADISH WILDER. Nicholas Wilder (I), to whom the ancestry of Harvey Bradish Wilder is traced, settled on Sulham estate in Berkshire county, England, in April, 1497, when the property was given him by Henry VII. The property is now or was at last accounts still in the Wilder family. Four of the line have been rectors of the parish. Nicholas Wilder was a chief in the army of the Earl of Richmond at the battle

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of Bosworth, 1485. When he was given the Sulham estate he was also given a coat of arms which may be found in Burke or the Genealogy. He had but one son, John.

(11) John Wilder, son of Nicholas Wilder (I), inherited his father's estates in 1525. His children were : John, see forward; Agnes, died 1580.

(III) John Wilder, son of John Wilder (2), and grandfather of Thomas Wilder, who emigrated to New England, married the only daughter and heiress of Thomas Keats, who built Sulham House. It was given in 1582 by entail to William Wilder, their son. During the nineteenth century it was greatly improved and the church was restored and repaired by the owner, John Wilder, D. D., who was also rector. Since 1777 Purley Hall has been the residence of the inheritors of the estate. It is about two miles north of Sulham. Thomas Wilder, the fourth son, received the entailed Wilder estate. The sons John and Thomas were also provided for in his will. Their children were: John, Nicholas, William, Thomas, Eleanor, Joan, Alice.

(IV) Thomas Wilder, son of John Wilder (3), was born in Sulbam, England. He settled in Ship- lake, Oxford county, but was proprietor of the Sulham estate. He was born and died in Shiplake, however. He married Martha - -. He died in 1634 and she went to New England where two of her sons, Edward and Thomas, settled. She came on the ship "Confidence" in 1638 with her daughter Mary. She settled near her son Edward in Hing- ham, where she was a proprietor in 1638. She died April 20, 1652. Some authorities spell the name Shiplake, Shiplock. The children of Thomas and Martha Wilder were: John, heir to his father's estates, died in 1688; Thomas, see forward: Eliza- beth, born 1621, married Thomas Ensign; Edward, married Elizabetlı Ames, settled in Hingham, Massachusetts, died October 28, 1690; Mary, came to Hingham also.

(V) Thomas Wilder, son of Thomas Wilder (4), was born in Shiplock, England, in 1618. He settled in Charlestown, New England, where he was a proprittor as early as 1638. He was admitted a freeman June 2, 1641. He bought land in Charles- town, October 27, 1643. He was selectman in 1660 and 1667 and held other offices. He removed to Lancaster in 1659. He married Ann - in 1641. She died June 10, 1692. She was admitted to the church May 7, 1650. He died October 23, 1667. He may have been born later than the date given as he deposed June 17, 1654, that he was thirty- three years of age. His will was dated January 22, 1667-8 and proved March 4, 1667-8. Hle bequeathed to his wife and six children named below. The children of Thomas and Ann Wilder were: Mary, born June 30, 1642, in Charlestown; Thomas, born September 14, 1644; John, born 1646; Elizabeth, born 1648; Nathaniel, see forward; Ebenezer.

(VI) Nathaniel Wilder, son of Thomas Wilder (5), was born in Charlestown, November 3. 1050, died July, 1704. He married Mary Sawyer, of Lan- caster, daughter of Thomas Sawyer and his wife Mary and was born July 4, 1652. ( See sketch of Sawyer Family.) He settled in Lancaster, was lientenant in the company, and was killed by the Indians. The children of Nathaniel and Mary (Sawyer) Wilder were: Nathaniel, born 1675, set- tled in Petersham; Ephraim, born August 16, 1678, of Lancaster, representative in general court; Mary, born May 13, 1679; Elizabeth. born April 20, 1685, died 1707; Jonathan, born 1686, married, and was killed by the Indians 1707: Dorothy, born 1686, mar- ried Samuel Carter ; Oliver, see forward.

(VII) Oliver Wilder, youngest son of Nathaniel

Wilder (6), was born in 1694. He married, 1713, Mary Fairbanks, daughter of Jonathan Fairbanks. who served in Captain Champney's company under Sir William Phipps in the Canada Expedition, and was a grandson of the emigrant, Jonathan Fair- banks, of Dedham. ( See sketch.) She was born in 1692 and died June 15, 1745. When he was six- teen years old he was working on his father's farm with his brother Nathaniel, when they were at- tacked by Indians. Three years before their brother Jonathan had been brutally tortured to death by the Indians and their brother Ephraim severely wounded. Oliver and Nathaniel managed to escape to the gar- rison, but the Indian servant who was working with them was killed. Oliver was an ensign in the service August 23. 1725, and at that time was living at Turkey Hills. In 1726 he refused to accept the office of constable and declined to pay the five pound fine which the law imposed as a penalty for refusing to take office. He rose through the various grades to the rank of colonel. At the age of sixty- three he turned out with his regiment at the Fort William alarm in 1757 and marched as far as Spring- field, Massachusetts. He was in the Crown Point expedition in 1759. He often served the town as moderator and selectman. He owned a mill privi- lege. His home was at South Lancaster and his house is now or was lately standing. The place is now known as the Heald place. He was a consin of Judge Joseph Wilder, another very prominent Worcester county man. Colonel Oliver Wilder died March 16, 1765. There are stones suitably in- scribed marking the graves of Colonel Wilder and his wife.

The children of Colonel Oliver and Mary (Fairbanks) Wilder were: Hannah. born January 15, 1716, died November 23, 1723; Mary, December 24, 1717: Oliver, see forward; Tilley, June 23, 1722; Keziah, February 27, 1725; Tamar, May 23, 1727; Phinehas, April 24, 1730, imarried, 1780, Lois Boies; Lois. April 20, 1733; Moses, May 4. 1736, married Submit Frost; Abigail December 16, 1740.

(VIII) Oliver Wilder, third child of Colonel Oliver Wilder (7), was born May 17, 1720, at Lan- caster, Massachusetts. He settled in that part of Lancaster set off as Sterling. He was justice of the peace and captain of the militia company there. He became one of the leading citizens. He served in the Indian wars. He married (first), June 6, 1739, Sarah Townsend. She died 1743. He married (second), 1745, Ruth The children of Oliver and Sarah (Townsend) Wilder were: Ezra, born May 27, 1741, died 1816; Oliver and Sarah (twins), born November 7, 1743; Samuel, born Jan- uary 13, 1746. The only child of Oliver and Ruth Wilder was: Tamar, born May 27, 1748.

(IX) Samuel Wilder, fourth child of Oliver Wilder (8), was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, January 13, 1746. He settled in Sterling. He died October 22, 1824, aged seventy-nine years. He was a sergeant in Captain Benjamin Houghton's com- pany, Colonel John Whitcomb's regiment in the revolution at the Lexington Alarm in 1775. Later he was a lieutenant. He married, Jannary 15. 1772, Martha Rugg. The children of Lieutenant Samuel Wilder or Mr. Wilder as he is designated usually on the records were: Calvin, see forward; Alice, baptized April 10, 1774; David, baptized April 6, 1777; Daniel, baptized April 4, 1779; Polly, bap- tized November 18, 1779; John, baptized August 26, 1781; Josiah, baptized October 26, 1783; Luke, bap- tized October 2, 1785; Dolly, baptized May 25, 1788. (Five children of Samuel, Jr., recorded as baptized 1794 to 1808 may be his also.)

(.Y) Calvin Wilder, eldest child of Samuel

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Wilder (9), was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, October 30, 1772, and was baptized in the Lancas- ter church, November II following. He died April 5. 1832, aged sixty years. He married, December 17, 1795, Susanna Celandine or Solendine, of Lan- caster. They settled in Lancaster. Ile was select- man of the town in 1812-15-24-25. He served the town in other offices and committees. He was one of the leading citizens. His only son was Alexander Hamilton Wilder, born July 20, 1804, see forward.

(XI) Alexander Hamilton Wilder, only son of Calvin Wilder (10), was born in Lancaster, Massa- chusetts, July 20, '1801. He married, November 10, 1835, Harriet Eaton, of Philadelphia. She was the daughter of Nathaniel and Eunice ( Wilder ) Eaton. Her mother was from another branch of the Lancaster Wilder family. Her parents were married in 1792.

Alexander H. Wilder received his carly educa- tion in the schools of Lancaster. He came to Wor- cester at the age of nineteen in 1823 and entered the office of the register of deeds under Artemas Ward, Esq. When twenty years old he suffered an attack of rheumatic fever that crippled him for life, but did not interfere seriously with his duties in the register's office. He was a clerk and assistant to MIr. Ward for twenty-three years. He succeeded him as register June 17, 1846, and was elected and re-elected to this office until his death. From 1823 to 1874 he was continuously in the register's office as clerk and chief. More than half of the business of the office, from the establishment of the county in 1731 to the day of his death, was performed under his administration. His name first appears as register in book No. 409 and is signed for the last time in book No. 945. During the latter years of his service he had no opponent at the polls, both par- ties honoring him with a nomination. The Spy said at the time of his death: "Probably no one who habitually transacts business with that office can remember the time when Mr. Wilder was not em- ployed in it, and the experience of very few goes back to the time of the register who preceded him. His unfailing courtesy and patience, his quiet and systematic business methods, his absolute rectitude and accuracy, made him a model official, whose service and example have been of inestimable value to the community." He was a man of deep re- ligious feeling. He was for many years member of the Central Congregational Church, but joined the Plymouth Church when it was formed. He was generous in his charity. He was a man of many friends. Few men were better known or more highly esteemed in the county. He died December 12, 1874. The children of Alexander Hamilton and Harriet (Eaton) Wilder were: Harvey Bradish, see forward; Alexander E., born August, 1839. died September 29, 1839.

(Xll) Harvey Bradish Wilder, only surviving son of Alexander Hamilton Wilder (II), was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, October 12, 1836. He attended the Worcester public schools, the Thetford ( Vermont) Academy and the Leicester Academy. He began the business of life in the office of the register of deeds, under his father's administration, in 1853. In April, 1855, he accepted a clerkship in the book store of Ticknor & Fields, in Boston, but in August, 1856, he was called back to Worcester, Massachusetts, to become chief clerk in the regis- ter's office. In 1875 he served as register, having been appointed by the county commissioners to fill the unexpired term of Alexander H. Wilder. He resigned this office at the expiration of a year, and Mr. Charles A. Chase was elected and served during the year 1876. At the election in 1876 Mr. Wilder

and Mr. Chase were both candidates, and Mr. Wilder was elected. It is a notable fact that Mr. Wilder was connected with this office as clerk for his father, and as register for a period of forty-four years, until his retirement January 1, 1901. His successor was Daniel Kent, the present register. Mr. Wilder was recognized as a model officer. The Worcester registry is the third largest in the state, being exceeded in volume of business done only by the registry offices of Suffolk county and Middlesex county, both older and larger. Worcester held its rank even after the towns of Fitchburg, Leominster, Lunenburg, Ashburnham and Westminster were taken to form a new registry in August, 1884. ( See Merriam family of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.) The office is looked upon as showing the highest efficiency and accuracy. Since the new quarters were occu- pied in the new court house the registry has had the best modern appliances and conveniences, as well as fireproof rooms. Since his retirement Mr. Wilder has lived at his home in Worcester, No. 12 Walnut street, having no active business. He is a charter member of Quinsigamond Lodge of Free Masons. He is a member of the Ancient and Hon- orable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. He was a member of Worcester City Guards from 1856 to 1861. He was appointed adjutant of the Third Bat- talion of Rifles, Fifth Brigade, Third Division, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, January 18, 1861, and March 2, 1861, was appointed on the staff of Brigadier-General George H. Ward, Fifth Brigade, Third Division, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, with rank of captain. He was first sergeant of Artillery in the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1877, and second lieutenant in 1880. He is a member of the Commonwealth Club.

He married, October 21, 1862, Anna F. Chapman, of Ossipee, New Hampshire. She died November 12, 1864. He married (second), June 14, 1870, Mary J., daughter of Dr. Jefferson Pratt, of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and they have one son, Charles Pratt Wilder, born in Worcester, April 3, 1873.

NELSON R. SCOTT. The name Scott is ob- viously of Scotch origin. The families bearing that name are now scattered all over the world. Before the year 1200 there were well established lines in the counties of Peebles, Fife, Forfair, Roxbury, Dumfries, Selkirk, Kincardine, etc. Members of the Scott family have held the dukedoms of Buc- cleuch and Queensbury ; the marquisate of Dumfric- shire; the earldoms of Buccleuch, Deloraine, Drum- lanrig, Sanquahar and Tarras; the viscounties of Hermitage, Nith, Torthorwald and Ross. Alexander Scott was in the Scotch Parliament in 1473, and throughout its history the Parliament, frequently if not always, had members of this family among its membership.

The branch of the Scott family that went to the north of Ireland at the instance of the Protestant rulers of England to settle in the place of dispos- sessed Roman Catholic Irish have still some repre- sentatives there, though many of the Scotch-Irish branch have come to America. In 1890 there were born in the whole of Ireland only one hundred and ninety-six persons of the name of Scott. Of this number one hundred and forty-seven were in the Ulster counties of Anitrim, Down and Londonderry, indicating a population of about seven thousand.

(I) John Scott, the pioneer ancestor of Nelson R. Scott, of Worcester, was from the Scotch Cov- enanters of Ulster. He came among the first Scotch- Irish emigrants in 1718, or soon before. He must have brought with him more than most of the set- tlers, for he soon became one of the heaviest tax-

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payers of the town of Leicester, Massachusetts, where he bought land and made his home. His wife Martha and five or more children came with him. He bought his first land of the original pro- prietors of the town of Leicester. The original homestead which he settled upon remained in the hands of his descendants until 1850. It has been known to the present generation as the Grosvenor farm. The farm is situated in Auburn, formerly Ward, formerly Leicester.

John Scott was on the ministerial tax list dated December 7, 1727, as owning thirteen hundred and three acres of land, the largest amount of any per- son on the list. He paid the largest tax in 1735 and subsequent years. In his will he bequeatlis a coat of armor, an indication that some ancestor had been a knight some generations before. His will is dated 1753, and it was allowed May 15 following. Before he died lie deeded lands to his son Matthew, December 29, 1743-4; to his "beloved son" Nathaniel, August 1, 1749. Thomas received the homestead in the will. The children were: Matthew, born 1712, died at Leicester, November 25, 1797, aged eighty- eiglit. according to town records; married Martha Lockard, January 2, 1745-6; Nathaniel, was captain in the revolutionary war, married Eunice Woods (intention dated January 2, 1762) ; Elizabeth, mar- ried Hugh Cunningham; Thomas (see forward) ; Rebecca, married James Browning, of Rutland, Jan- uary 15, 1756; Jane, married Thomson.

(II) Thomas Scott, son of John Scott (I), was born about 1720-30. He came with the family to Leicester and worked with his father to clear the land and subdue the soil. He inherited the home- stead on the death of his father in 1753. He bought land first of Thomas Denny, November 20, 1760, in Leicester, and then December 3, 1760, of Caleb Nichols, a piece of land adjoining the other. He deeded his farm and buildings to his son Thomas Scott, Jr., January 10, 1791. Nine of his ten chil- dren were living, and most of them married. in 1803, when he made his will. The will is filed May 19, 1803. He died April 23, 1803, age not ' given, in Ward, Massachusetts, now Auburn.

He married Mary Livermore, January 3, 1766. She was born in 1743. He must have been muchi older. Their children were: Asa, born August 23. 1767; Thomas, Jr., March 13. 1769; Elizabeth, Jan- uary 6, 1771, married - Eddy ; Reuben, Deceni- ber 29, 1772; Nancy, December 27, 1774, died Sep- tember 17, 1787; Catherine (twin), January 18, 1777, married Phillips ; the preceding are re- corded in Auburn as born in Ward; the following were born in Ward: David, November 1, 1779; Mary, February 4, 1781; Jerusha, April 17, 1783, married Gale.

(III) David Scott, eighth child of Thomas Scott (2), was born in Auburn, Massachusetts, No- vember 1, 1779. Ile inherited the old homestead. He was a farmer. He married (first), August 30, 1820, Chloe Ryan, of Charlton, Massachusetts, who was born April 13, 1796, and died at Auburn July 31, 1823, leaving two children; married ( second). March 13, 1825, Betsey ( Sprague) Trask, who died at Auburn August 25, 1840; married ( third) Elmira (Watson) Crosby, widow, of Brookfield, June 25 or 24. 1841; she died at Auburn July 28, 1845; mar- ried (fourth) the sister of his first wife, April 2, 1849, Ruth (Ryan) Sibley, of Spencer. She sur- vived him. Children of David and Chloe (Ryan) Scott were: David, Jr., (see forward) : Nelson Ryan, (see forward). Child of David and Betsey (Trask) Scott was: Elizabeth Sprague, born in Auburn, Massachusetts, April 16, 1827, lived and died in Worcester ; unmarried.

(IV) David Scott, Jr., eldest son of David Scott (3), born June 7, 1821; married, October 14, 1846. Lucinda H. Fay, of Princeton, Massachusetts, who was born March 8, 1823. He came to Worcester when a young man, learned the drug business and opened a drug store. For many years he was suc- cessful in business. His store was on the north corner of Main and Mechanic streets, Worcester, and he was the owner of the land and building in whichi his store was located. The block is still owned by his heirs. Mr. Scott was a prominent Free Mason and was a member of the Worcester County Commandery, Knights Templar. He died March 16, 1878. Children were: Frank, born Jan- uary 5, 1850, died young; Fred, June 13, 1852, was a physician ; died at Terre Haute, Indiana, unmar- ried; Alice, December 16, 1854. All the foregoing were born in Worcester.

(IV) Nelson Ryan Scott, second child of David Scott (3), was born at Auburn. Massachusetts, July 23, 1823. His mother died when he was but a week old. His mother's sister, Ruth W., then the wife of Deacon Sibley, of Spencer, took him to her home and brought him up. After the death of Deacon Sibley, she became the fourth wife of David Scott and step-mother to Nelson Ryan Scott. He attended the district and high schools at Spen- cer, and Leicester Academy, and worked at farming until he was seventeen, when he went to his father's home in Auburn and helped his father with the farm work there. In order to induce him to remain on the old homestead his father deeded to him an undivided half of the farm, provided lie would re- main on it and care for him the rest of his life. But farm life was distasteful to him and in March, 1849, he gave up the deed and followed his elder brother to Worcester, and went to work for him in his drug store. He learned the business thoroughly and remained there until I852.

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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 58

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