Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 69

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 69

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(VII) Charles Augustus Vaughan, second child of George Pike Vaughan (6), born at Shoreham, Vermont, August 19, 1847. His education was ac- quired in the common schools and academy of Thetford, Vermont, whither his parents removed during the early years of his life, and at the age of fifteen he left school to work on the farm with his father. Three years later he came to Worcester, Massachusetts, to learn the trade of carpenter, of H. & A. Palmer, for whom he worked ten years. In 1875 he started in business for himself as car- penter and builder, and has since been engaged successfully in this business. Among the many fine residences and buildings that he has built are the following: L. D. Thayer's residence, Main street ; Gilbert Harrington's, Main street; T. B. Brown's and Henry Taylor's, Richards street; William H. Saw- yer's, Lincoln street; Fred S. Taylor's, Institute road; John D. Baldwin's, Cedar street; George F. Blake's; Judge William T. Forbe's, Trowbridge road; George Moore's; George Heywood's, Gardner, Massachusetts; Andrew J. Bates's, Webster, Massa- chusetts; Mr. Sibley's country house, Spencer, Massachusetts; Mann Brothers', Leicester; The Armsby Block, Main street, Worcester; Whitins- ville public school; a number of churches in Wor- cester county.

Mr. Vaughan was for two years president of the Builders' Exchange, of Worcester. He has been active in public affairs in Worcester and prominent in public life. He is a leading Republican, serving the city in the board of aldermen in 1899, 1900-01-02, from Ward one. He is an active member of Union Church, was a member of the building committee, and has been a trustee since 1897. He is a member of the Worcester Board of Trade and of the Ver- mont Association ; a trustee of the Worcester County Mechanics' Association; a director of the Young Men's Christian Association and director of the Merchants' and Farmers' Insurance Company of Worcester. He married (first) October 6, 1869, Ann E. Morse, daughter of Willis and Maria M. Morse, of Southbridge, Massachusetts, a descendant of Sam- uel Morse, one of the pioneer settlers of Massachu- setts, and one of the leading families. She died De- cember 19, 1889. He married (second) September 19, 1896, Adele Fairbanks, daughter of William H. and Ellen ( Williams) Fairbanks, of Holden, Massa- chusetts. She is a descendant of Jonathan Fair- banks, of Dedham, the progenitor of all of that name in this country.

The children of Charles Augustus and Ann E. Vaughan were: 1. Charles Albert, born October 7, 1871 ; now a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, of the firm of Bull & Vaughan, builders and con- tractors; he was a corporal in Company C. Light Infantry, of Worcester, and served in the Spanish war, in Cuba; married, in 1900, Isabella Cundall, of Worcester, and they have had two children: Isabel and Edward Cundall Vaughan. 2. Robert Henry, born October 27, 1876; married, 1899, Elizabeth Cundall, sister of Isabella (Cundall) Vaughan, and they have four children: Charles Augustus, born October 3, 1900; Jessie, born August 7, 1902 ; Marian, born October 29. 1904; Willard Cundall, born Jan- uary, 1906. 3. Louis Edgar, born March 9, 1880, graduate of the Boston Technical school. 4. Ralph Donald, born January 28, 1884; student at Cornell University, class of 1907, making a specialty of

architectural engineering. 5. Catherine May, born May 24, 1887. The children of Charles Augustus and Adele (Fairbanks) Vaughan were: 6. George Fairbanks, born January 30, 1897. 7. Margaret, born July 16, 1902. 8. Barbara, born August 21, 1904.

CLAFLIN FAMILY. Robert Claflin (1), or Mackclothlan, was the immigrant ancestor of Charles Winslow Claflin, late of Hopkinton, and his daugh- ter, Mrs. Arthur Osgood Young, of Worcester, and in fact all of the name in this vicinity, including Governor Claflin and the late H. B. Claflin, the great dry goods merchant of New York. This name was particularly difficult for our forefathers to spell ; it is found rendered in fourteen different ways in Scotch records and about as many in the early Amer- ican records. The first of the name was probably Norse or Scandinavian, and the name means with- out the Mac, lake-land, the first of the name doubt- less taking his name from some locality. Mac means simply "son of" in Scotch and Irish names. The name is found in Ireland as Mclaughlin at present.

The family tradition supports the belief that Robert Mclaughlin was a soldier in the Scottish armny, taken prisoner by Cromwell at the battle of Dunbar. Many of these prisoners were sent to New England and sold for a term of years to the colonists. Robert settled in Essex county and was admitted or accepted as a townsman November 4, 1661, in Wenham. He received a grant of land in 1669 in Wenham and sold some land in 1673. He was sur- veyor of highways there. His house or part of it is still standing and the old well is still in use. The place was owned lately by a family named Richards. Robert Claflin married Joanna Warner, October 14. 1664. She was probably a daughter of John War- ner, an early settler at Ipswich and later at Brook- field, Massachusetts. He died shortly before Sep- tember 19, 1690, when the inventory of his estate was filed by Thomas Fiske, administrator. The children of Robert and Joanna Claflin, all born at Wenham except the second, were: Joanna, born August 12, 1665; Robert, probably born at Brook- field ; Elizabeth, May 18, 1670; Priscilla, August 22, 1672: Daniel, January 25, 1674, of whom later ; Abigail, March 19, 1676; Mary, February 22, 1678; Antipas, 1680.

(II) Daniel Claflin, son of Robert Claflin (1), was born in Wenham, Massachusetts, January 25, 1674. He was a tanner by trade and lived in Wen- ham until after May 25, 1722, when he sold to Emer- son Cogswell, of Ipswich, for eighty pounds his home, bark, mill, tan vat and material for carrying on the trade of tanner. He had three acres of land. He then removed to Hopkinton, Massachusetts. He was probably attracted to this town by the large number of Scotch Presbyterians who located there among the first settlers. The town was incorporated December 24, 1715. It was bought with a legacy of eight hundred pounds given by Governor Edward Hopkins, of Connecticut, "for the breeding up of youth in the way of learning for the public service of the country in future time." and "for the uphold- ing and promotion of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ in New England." The income from the rentals of the land owned by the trustees of the estate was paid to Harvard College. Claflin was one of the most prominent of the early settlers. He was sclectman in 1727 and town treasurer in 1729 and several years after that.

He married, March 11, 1701, Sarah Edwards, probably daughter of Rice Edwards, who was in Salem in 1643 and removed to Wenham, where he died in 1683. Sarah died January 6, 1743, at Hop-

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William He Dexter

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kinton, and Claflin died at Framingham, the ad- joining town, 1775, calling himself in his will "old and decrepid." The children of Daniel and Sarah Claflin, born at Wenham, were: Daniel, born Feb- ruary 19, 1702; Sarah, April 27, 1703; Mesheck, November 4, 1705, died June 3, 1706; Joshua, June 8, 1707; Caleb, December 11, 1708; Cornelius, Feb- ruary 2, 1711; Robert, August 16, 1714; Ebenezer, July 2, 1716, of whom later.

(III) Ebenezer Claflin, son of Daniel Claflin (2), was born in Wenham, Massachusetts, July 2, 1716, and died at Hopkinton in 1793. His wife was received into the church at Hopkinton, September 10, 1731, by letter from the Ipswich Church. He served in the second Hopkinton company, under Captain Jolin Jones, and was later on the trainband and alarm list of the town of Hopkinton. He mar- ried in Hopkinton, May 22, 1739, Hannah Smith, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Smith. Their children, all born at Hopkinton, were: Hannah, April 26, 1741; Ebenezer, September 14, 1742; Dolly, 1744, died July 1, 1839, unmarried; Isaac, of whom later ; John, July 5, 1750; Aaron, 1753.

(IV) Isaac Claflin, son of Ebenezer Claflin (3), was born at Hopkinton, Massachusetts, 1748, and died there May 19, 1831. He was a soldier in the revolution in Captain "Jolin Holman's company, Colonel Samuel Bullard's regiment, and responded with his company on the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775. He married Mary Stimpson, daughter of Stephen and Hannah (Haven) Stimpson. His wife died at Hopkinton, July 27, 1825, aged sixty-nine years. Their only child was James, born at Hop- kinton, July 4, 1790.

(V) James Claflin, son of Isaac Claflin (4), was born at Hopkinton, Massachusetts, July 4, 1790, and died there May 25, 1851. He settled at Hop- kinton also. He married, August, 1812, at Barre. Massachusetts, Susannah Wadsworth, and she died January 9, 1890, aged ninety-eight years. Their children, all born at Hopkinton, were: Thomas Jef- ferson, born August 21, 1813; Mary Wadsworth, September 7, 1816; Charles Winslow, April 4, 1820, of whom later; Martha Wadsworth, April 15, 1823; Isaac, June 13, 1826; Susannah, January 28, 1828; James Fitzgerald, March 25, 1834.

(VI) Charles Winslow Claflin, son of James Claflin (5), was born at Hopkinton, April 4, 1820, and died October 13, 1884. He was the founder of the business still bearing his name in Boston and Worcester. He was one of the most successful coal merchants of New England. He married, April IS, 1844, Ann Maria Valentine, who was born De- cember 23, 1819. Their children, born at Hopkin- ton, were: Emma Francis, born February 21, 1845; Charles Leslie, of whom later; Mary Valentine, November 3. 1855, of whom later.

(VII) Mary Valentine Claflin, daughter of Charles Winslow Claflin (6), was born at Hopkin- ton, Massachusetts, November 3, 1855. She mar- ried, January 16, 1890, Arthur Osgood Young, of Worcester, son of Stephen Young. Mr. Young has been a member of the firm of C. W. Claflin & Com- pany for many years. The business was in charge of Charles L. Claflin, son of C. W. Claflin, when started in Worcester, in 1875, and later an office was opened in Boston. The business at present is a partnership and is owned by the Charles L. Claflin estate of Hopkinton, Arthur O. Young, of Wor- cester, and Edward W. Pierce, of Brookline. The wholesale department in Boston is in charge of Mr. Pierce, and the Worcester business, wholesale and retail, is in charge of Mr. Young. The main office in Worcester is at 375 Main street. The firm has extensive yards at 5 Grafton street, 301 Shrewsbury

street, and at Ludlow street, opposite the station at Jamesville. Mr. Young's home is at 26 Institute road, Worcester.

· The children of Arthur Osgood and Mary Val- entine Young are: Charles Claflin, born December 5, 1893; Margaret Valentine, February 1, 1897; Ar- thur Osgood, Jr., November 5, 1898.

DEXTER FAMILY. The following family to which William H. Dexter, business factor and phil- anthropist, belongs, descended from Gregory Dexter, of Rhode Island, one of the companions of Roger Williams, when he founded Providence plantation in 1636-1674.

William H. Dexter, was born in Charlton, Massa- chusetts, January 11, 1823. He is the son of John B. and Lucinda (McIntyre) Dexter. The father was born in Marlboro, Massachusetts, June 24, 1795; died at Worcester, November 24, 1867. He married Lucinda McIntyre, February 12, 1818, a native of Charlton, born April 8, 1793; died at Worcester, January 5, 1866. William H. attended the schools of his native town, entering his father's store when but fourteen years of age. Later he clerked at Bur- rillville, Rhode Island, but returned to Charlton and re-entered his father's store, where he remained for a time, and then spent five years clerking in Boston, three years in a hotel with Pardon Stevens and two years in a general merchandise house. His various clerkships imbued him with the notion of becoming a merchant himself. In 1846,

having acquired a good knowledge of business . and sufficient capital he came to Worcester, opening the first grocery store off of Main street. Here he operated five years with much success. He then started in business as a wholesale and retail flour and grain merchant. Here he laid well the foundation of his future business career, which proved more than usually successful. Three years later, 1854, he bought land of Judge Charles Allen, on Franklin square, and erected a fine four-story block, moving his business to the ground floor. He paid one dollar per foot for the land and many thought he paid more than it was worth, but he looked ahead and had faith in the location and pros- perity which finally came to Worcester. The same land he sold in 1893 at thirteen dollars per foot. He kept pushing ahead in his operations and became easily the largest grain and flour merchant of his city, at the same time building up for himself a good and lasting business reputation over a large area of country.

In 1873 he retired from the flour business by selling to Curtis & Company. He then gave his at- tention to the development of Franklin square, which he so named. Dexter's name adorns the five-story blocks on the square, and another block was erected by him on the northeast corner of Main street and Allen court. The Franklin building, erected by Mr. Dexter in 1872, stands near the postoffice building, and was at that time one of the largest building blocks in the city. It has has an imposing brown stone front; contains numerous offices and fine stores, and has paid on the investment good returns for thirty years. Mr. Dexter has always been noted for his rare good judgment in real estate matters.

From 1873 to 1878, inclusive, he was a valued member of the city council, and was for three years a member of the school board. He has never been especially interested in holding office, being too much absorbed in his own affairs. He was an originator of the First National Fire Insurance Company, of which he was a director for twenty-four years, and three years vice-president and manager, resigning to look after his real estate business. While this worthy

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gentleman has been an active business factor in Wor- cester, and has amassed a goodly fortune, he has not become sordid and miserly, but on the contrary, has been a benefactor second to none. His religi- ous life has ever been consistent with his profession. He has been identified with the Main Street Bap- tist Church for about fifty years, and has rendered invaluable aid to the Worcester ( Baptist) Academy. as a trustee and treasurer, having had charge of the endowment fund for nearly a quarter of a cen- tury. He has been a great force in the upbuilding of this institution, having accomplished more, perhaps, than any other man. In 1892 he gave the United States government five thousand dollars to help pur- chase the site for the new post office building, and many thousands toward the erection of Dexter hall, Worcester Academy. This structure, named for him, is among the finest up-to-date dormitories in this country, East or West. Half of his time has been spent in behalf of the institution. He has en- couraged study and research among the students, by giving valuable prizes to them for merit, hence is revered ever as a father by the whole faculty and students roll. One of the supreme pleasures of his life has been to aid struggling young men, many of whom have made their mark in the world.

In 1848 he was married to Eliza A. Foss, of Livermore, Maine. Their only child, a daughter, died in infancy. January 11, 1905, Mr. Dexter and his friends celebrated his eighty-second birthday. He is robust for one of four-score and two years. He preaches and practices the gospel of pure air and sunshine. Summer and winter, when the weather is at all suitable, both he and his good wife take their usual ride about the city.

To enumerate the many benefactions of his life would not be practical in such a sketch, but the chief, in addition to those above referred to are these : He gave, but a short time ago, the Worcester Acad- emy. a block on Main street; Newton Seminary five thousand, five hundred dollars; Dexter hall, to Wor- cester Academy ; statute in memory of the soldiers of the civil war to the town of Charlton. Charlton was his native town, where he attended school and spent his childhood days and hence the tender regard for her people. Recently he gave that place a town hall and public library, costing over thirty thousand dollars. It is a fine brick structure, complete in every detail. To the Methodist church of Charlton he gave an organ. Mrs. Dexter gave a handsome dormitory to the young ladies' Colby College, at Waterville. Maine, costing nearly fifty thousand dol- lars. Through the associations of Oread school in Worcester, she became an intimate friend of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller and her younger day associates.

In sketching the life of this busy man, one is impressed with the value of good training and a con- sistent religious life, for in such cases the results of a business career become potent factors for the common good of mankind.

GEORGE F. BLAKE. William Blake (1) was the emigrant ancestor of George F. Blake, of Wor- cester. Massachusetts. His father was William Blake, of Pitminster. England, where he was bap- tized July 10, 1594. He married there, September 23, 1617, Agnes Band, widow, whose maiden name has not been ascertained. Some recent investiga- tions however, suggest that she may have been the widow of Richard Band and daughter of Hugh Thorne, of Pitminster, baptized January 12. 1594. In the same parish in England four of the children of William Blake were baptized, but from 1624 to 1636 his place of residence is unknown. It is be- lieved that he came to America in the fall of 1635

or early in 1636 and remained at Dorchester or Rox- bury, making the acquaintance there of William Pyn- chon and others who were considering a plan of settlement in the Connecticut valley. At any rate he was with Pynchon and his associates on May 14 and 16, 1636, when they drew up and signed the articles of association at Agawam, now Springfield, and he was one of five to assign the lots and manage affairs of the colony. He drew land there but ap- parently decided to return to Dorchester and settle. He drew land in South Boston in March, 1637-8. He was made a freeman of the colony March 14, 1638-9. He was a man of integrity and ability. He was constable in 1641, selectman in 1645-7 and 1651 on the committee to build the new meeting house. In 1656 he was elected town clerk and "clerk of the writs for the county of Suffolk." and these offices he held till within six weeks of his death, which occurred October 25. 1663. He was also the clerk of the train band. In his will he made a bequest for the repairing of the burying ground. Soon after his death his widow Agnes removed to Boston, probably to live with her son, John, or her only daughter, Anne Leager. She died in Dorchester. His estate was appraised at two hundred and twenty- four pounds. His children were: John, baptized baptized at Pitminster, September 6, 1620, died at Boston, January 25, 1688-9: Anne, baptized at Pit- minster, August 30, 1618, died at Boston, July 12, 168I. in the sixty-third year of her age; William, baptized at Pitminster, September 6. 1620, died at Milton, Massachusetts, September 3, 1703, at the age of eighty-three years; James, baptized at Pitminster, April 27, 1624. died at Dorchester, June 28, 1700, aged seventy-six years; Edward, supposed to be the youngest child, died at Milton, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 3, 1692.

(II) James Blake, son of William Blake (I), was born in Pitminster, England, baptized April 27, 1624. He came to New England with his father. He married about 1651, Elizabeth Clap, daughter of Deacon Edward and Prudence (Clap) Clap, who died in Dorcester. January 16, 1693-4, in the sixty- first year of her age .. He married (second) in Reho- both, September 17, 1695, Elizabeth (Smith) Hunt, widow of Peter Hunt, and daughter of Henry and Judith Smith, from county Norfolk, England. Mr. Blake lived in the north part of Dorchester. His house. built about 1650, was of such substantial character that the town voted to model the parson- age after it in 1669 and it remained in the Blake family until 1825. In 1895 it was removed from the original location on Cottage street to Richardson Park, and the Dorchester Historical Society secured possession of it and have fitted it up for their pur- poses. Mr. Blake was a busy man. From 1658 to 1685 there is scarcely a year that he did not serve the town in some official capacity. He was select- man thirteen years, later constable, deputy to the general court. clerk of the writs, recorder, sergeant of the militia company. He was deacon of the Dor- chester church for fourteen years and ruling elder for the same period. He was often called upon as administrator and in other capacities in the settle- ment of estates. He died June 28. 1700, leaving a will dated June 26, 1700. His estate was appraised at four hundred and seventy-three pounds. He and his wife are buried in the old graveyard in Dor- chester. and the stones that mark their graves are in excellent condition.

Their children were: 1. James, born August 15, 1652. married (first) Hannah Macey. February 6, 1681. and married (second) Ruth Bachellor, July 8, 1684. 2. John, born March 16. 1656-7. inherited property of his uncle John in Boston, but remained

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in Dorchester, deacon, married Hannah -, who had four children; she died May 16, 1729, he died March 2, 1718. 3. Elizabeth, born October 3. 1658, married Jeremiah Fuller. 4. Jonathan, born July 12, 1660, died November 10, 1660. 5. Sarah, born Feb- ruary 28, 1665, died May 22, 1666. 6. Joseph, born August 27, 1667, married Mehitable Bird, who died April 15, 1751; he died February 1, 1738-9, eleven children lived at Dorchester.

(II]) James Blake, son of James Blake (2), was born at Dorchester, Massachusetts, August 15, 1652. He married (first), February 6, 1681, Han- nah Macey, daughter of George and Susannah Macey, of Taunton, who died June I, 1683, aged twenty-three years. He married (second), July 8, 1684, Ruth Bachellor, who was born in Hampton, New Hampshire, May 9. 1662, daughter of Nathaniel and Deborah (Smith) Bachellor. She died in Dor- chester. January 11, 1752, aged ninety years.

There has long been a tradition in the family that the first house upon Dorchester Neck (now South Boston) was erected by James Blake. An investigation made a few years ago brought to light evidence that Captain James Foster had a dwelling there as early as 1676, but Blake's house was without doubt the second built on the peninsula about 1681. Although isolated from the village of Dorchester the house was beautifully situated to command a view of the harbor and shore. It was on the road to Castle William, later Fort Independence, and at times it became a sort of house of entertainment for the English officers at the fort. His new house was almost entirely destroyed by the British troops, February 13, 1776. Mr. Blake was a farmer. He was deacon of the Dorchester church twenty-three years. He died October 22, 1732, at the age of eighty years.

His children were: 1. Hannah, born September 16, 1685, died October 2, 1686. 2. James, born April 29, 1688, married Wait Simpson, daughter of Jonathan and Wayte (Clap) Simpson, born in Charlestown, March 30, 1685, died in Dorchester, May 22, 1753, town clerk twenty-four years, author of Blake's Annals. the original of which is deposited with the New England Historic Gencalogical Society : he died December 4, 1750. at Dorchester, had seven children. 3. Increase, born June 8, 1699, married, July 23, 1724, in Boston, Anne Gray.

(IV) Increase Blake, son of James Blake (3), was born at Dorchester, Massachusetts, June 8, 1699. He married in Boston, July 23, 1724, Anne Gray, daughter of Edward and Susanna ( Harrison) Gray, who was born in Boston, March 16, 1704-5, and died there June 20, 1751. Mr. Gray was a rope maker and became wealthy. One of his sons, Har- rison Gray, was prominent in public life and treas- urer of the province. Another. Rev. Ellis Gray, was pastor of the Second Church of Boston, and these names. Ellis Gray and Harrison Gray, have been retained among the descendants of their sister even to the present generation.

Increase Blake shared with his only brother James in his father's estate in 1732. but soon after- ward sold all his share of the real estate. He resided in Boston, where all his sixteen children were born, probably in the vicinity of Milk and Batterymarch streets He was a tin plate worker, and his trade was followed by several of his sons and grandsons. He did not appear in public life as much as his brother. He was an inn-holder on Merchants row in 1740. From 1734 to 1748 he was sealer of weights and measures, an office appropriately connected with his trade. In 1737 he leased of the town of Boston one of the shops at the town dock at an annual rental of thirty pounds. and in 1744 requested a re- newal. He died probably in 1770. It is stated that

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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 69

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