Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. II, Part 11

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 732

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. II > Part 11

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Francis Nourse was an early settler before 1639 and was a proprietor of the town of Salem in 1647. He lived for forty years near Sperry's on North River street between the main village of

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Salem and the ferry to Beverly. He was a wood worker, called a tray maker. In those days wooden dishes were the rule; there was little pewter, less silver and china, and the plates, trays and trenchers of wood were the ordinary dishes. He was a skilled workman, and a respectable man of great stability and strength of character. He was called frequently as umpire and arbitrator in cases of dis- pute over land boundaries. He served on local juries and on committees to lay out land grants and highways. He bought the Bishop farm at Salem village, April 29, 1678, on favorable terms and set- tled there, it contained some three hundred acres ; his children all built their homes and lived on it, and the sons were men of influence in the town and church. They were prosperous, and it is believed that their success in acquiring a large estate, paying for it and prospering as the Nourses had,. was the cause of the malicious charge against the wife and mother, Rebecca Nourse. The story of her trial is well known. She was arrested and pro- tested her innocence of the charge of witchcraft. With steadfast dignity and unwavering patience she bore the ordeal of her trial, where crazy fanatics even threw their muffs and shoes at her and had fits and exhibitions of that sort in court. Thirty- nine of her friends among the highest and most respectable in the town signed a statement testify- ing to her blameless character and faithfulness to the church. These names have been inscribed on a tablet on the memorial recently erected over her grave at Danvers. The jury found her not guilty, but the court reversed the verdict and condemned her to deatlı. She was hanged on Witch Hill and buried in the little cemetery at Danvers.

Francis Nourse married her August 24, 1644. Her maiden name was Rebecca Towne, daughter of William and Jane Towne, of Yarmouth, Eng- land, where she was born February 16, 1621. She was hanged July 19, 1692. Children of Francis and Rebecca Nourse were: John, born 1645, died 1719; Rebecca, born 1647, died 1719; married, April 15, 1769, Thomas Preston ; Samuel, see forward : Mary, married, October 25, 1678, John Tarbell; Francis, died February 5, 1716; Sarah, born 1663, married, July, 1700, Michel -; Elizabeth, born January 9, 1665, married, October 25, 1678, William Russell ; Benjamin, born January 22, 1666, died 1748; removed to Framingham, Massachusetts.

(II) Samuel Nourse, third child of Francis Nourse (1), was born at Salem village, February 3, 1649, died there July 15, 1715. He married, 1677, Mary Smith, daughter of John Smith, who was born March 3, 1660, died December 10, 1716. Sam- uel was admitted a freeman 1690. He was baptized in the North Parish (Danvers) church March 2, 1689, his wife March 23, 1690, and their children Samuel, Mary, George, Margaret and Rebecca, April 13, 1690. They settled in the North Parish. Their children were: Samuel, see forward; Margaret, born February 24, 1680; George, born January 25, 1682 (Savage says January 29), died 1709: Mary, born May 25, 1685, married John Daggett; Rebecca, born September 15, 1688, married Jonathan Kenney ; Ebenezer, born 1690, died 1704.

(III) Samuel Nourse, eldest child of Samuel Nourse (2), was born June 7. 1678, died 1740. He settled in Salem village and his children were born there, viz .: Abigail, baptized May 18, 1710; Rebecca, baptized July 20, 1712; Samuel. baptized May 29, 1715; Francis, see forward; Eunice, baptized Sep- tember 28, 1718: Phebe, baptized July 23, 1721.

(IV) Francis Nourse, fourth child of Samuel Nourse (3), was born in the North parish of Salem village, now Danvers, Massachusetts, and baptized

in the church there when an infant June 30, 1717. He was a farmer at Danvers, where his children were born, viz .: Samuel and the next four were baptized together February 15, 1756, at the North Parish church; Peter, see forward; Philip, Eunice, Benjamin, Phebe, baptized September 25, 1757; Jacob, baptized May 18, 1760; Abigail, baptized Jan- uary 17, 1762; Ede, baptized May 19, 1765; Oliver, born August 25, 1771.

(V) Peter Nouisc, second child of Francis Nourse (4), was born in the North parish of Sa- lem village, now Danvers, Massachusetts, in 1743- He was a farmer, also a cordwainer by trade. He bought land first in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 17, 1768, in company with John Putnam, John Putnam, Jr., George Small, all of Danvers, Massachusetts, from William Burnett Brown, form- erly of Salem, then of King William county, Vir- ginia, one hundred and fifty acres. Some of this land was in Lunenburg. The same partners and William Brown, of Salem, and Joseph and Abigail Blaney had land in common November 14, 1768, in Fitchburg, Lunenburg and Ashby. It: the partition, June, 1769, Nurse received an eighty acre farm on Pearl hill, Fitchburg, and settled there. He was in Fitchburg in 1770, when a tax unfairly assessed was abated. He lived there about twelve years and then removed to Rockingham, Windham county, Vermont. He was in Rockingham in 1793. He sold his farm at Fitchburg, May 5, 1782, to Timothy Batchelder of Lunenburg, and probably went to Ver- mont at that time. He sold a small lot to Batchelder, December 9, 1798, and another to Amos Lawrence at the same time. He was then in Rockingham. He was a man of very strict religious views, a mem- ber of the orthodox church. He was elected fire ward of Fitchburg in 1778. He married Lydia Lowe, of Ipswich, Massachusetts, in the part now called Hamilton. Their children were: Samuel, born and baptized June 7, 1767. at Danvers; Francis, baptized at Danvers, January 8, 1769; Daniel, see forward.

(VI) Daniel Nourse, son of Peter Nourse (5), was born at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, about 1780. He removed to Vermont when a young child with his parents and they settled at Rockingham, Ver- mont. He was a farmer. He was an active member of the Baptist church, and in politics was a Whig. He was a minute man in the war of 1812. He mar- ried Nancy George, born in Warner, New Hamp- shire, and their children were: Lydia, born about 1817; Daniel George, see forward; Clarissa. He married (second) Emily Darby, of Rockingham. Vermont. There were no children by the second marriage.

(VII) Daniel George Nourse, second child of Daniel Nourse (6), was born at Rockingham, Jan- uary 8, 1819. He was educated there in the com- mon schools, and after the prevailing fashion helped his father on the farm at Saxton's River until he was about thirty years old. He then leased a grist mill at Waitsfield, Vermont, and conducted that business for several years. He then removed to Saxton's River and worked in a mill there. In 1858 he bought the Brockway Mills in the north part of Rockingham township, continued about twelve years then entered into partnership with L. II. Coggswell under the firm name of Nourse & Coggswell. Later they admitted M. L. Lawrence as partner. About 1870 he sold out his interests in the firm to his partners, and bought a large farm which he carried on two years. He removed to North Hadley, Massachusetts, in 1872, and conducted a grist mill and grain business there for several years until his death, April, 1882. He was a Congre-

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gationalist in religion and a Republican in politics. He served on the school committee in Rocking- ham, Vermont. He was in the militia when a young man. He was a man of the strictest integrity, en- joying the esteem and confidence of all his business associates and the friendship of all whom he knew. He was interested in public affairs and was especi- ally active in the temperance movement.

He married (first) Mary Wheeler, of Rocking- ham, Vermont, daughter of Asa and Persis (Burke) Wheeler, of Rockingham. Her father was a ma- chinist and built looms and mills. Daniel married (second) Eliza Wheeler, sister of his first wife. Children of Daniel George and Mary Nourse were : Lucius Wheeler, died 1903, in Minnesota; Charles Augustus, killed in Brockton, Massachusetts, 1880; George Romaine, employed in Vermont Farm Ma- chine Company, at Bellows Falls, Vermont; Frank Wilbur, see forward. Child of Daniel George and Eliza Nourse was: Mary Eliza, married W. H. Faulkner, in Andover, Massachusetts.

(VIII) Frank Wilbur Nourse, fourth child of Daniel George Nourse (7), was born at Waitsfield, Vermont, November 27, 1850. When he was four years old he moved with his parents to Rockingham, Vermont. He attended the public schools until nineteen years of age, when he went to work in his father's grist mill and continued until he was twenty-four. He worked four years in a mill at Bellows Falls, Vermont, and at Alstead, New Hamp- shire, for John D. Holmes. He finally leased the business at Alstead of Mr. Holmes and carried on a lumber and grain business there for seven years. Then he entered into partnership with George E. Holmes, son of Jolin D. Holmes, his former em- ployer, under the firm name of Nourse & Holmes. Mr. Nourse's health became impaired, and after four years he withdrew from business and sold his interests to Mr. Holmes, father of his partner. For four years he was obliged by ill health to rest and recuperate, and part of this time he spent in Winchendon, Massachusetts. In 1892 he accepted the position of manager of the Winchendon Electric Light Company, and is at present the treasurer. His courtesy and good judgment in this responsible position have won for him the respect of his asso- ciates in the company and of the public which the company serves. In politics Mr. Nourse is a Repub- lican. He was made a Master Mason in St. Paul's Lodge at Alstead, New Hampshire, was worshipful master at one time, and is at present a member of Artisan Lodge of Winchendon. He is also a member of Bellows Falls Lodge of Odd Fellows at Bellows Falls, Vermont, of the Avon Club of Winchendon. Mr. Nourse married, January 13. 1880, Ella J. Holmes, daughter of John D. and Sarah T. ( Mer- riam) Holmes, of Alstead, New Hampshire. They have one son: Charles A. Nourse, horn November II, 1881, at present a machinist at Ayer, Massa- chusetts.

WOOD FAMILY. William Wood (1) was the immigrant ancestor of Oliver B. Wood, the printer and publisher of Worcester, and of Ernest Freeman Wood and George Farrar Wood, of Winchendon, Massachusetts.

William Wood was born, according to Shattuck, the Concord historian, in Derbyshire, England, 1582. He is believed to have come to New England early to collect material for the book, "New England's Prospects," an enthusiastic description of the new country, responsible perhaps for much of the emi- gration from England after its publication in London in 1636. William Wood again came to America in 1638 with his nephew, Hon. Thomas Flint, and set-

tled in Concord. The first mention of the Indian name of Concord in print was found in this book of Wood's. He died May 14, 1671, and was buried at Concord. His age was given at the time of death as eighty-one years. His will, dated Septem- ber 15, 1670, named the three children given below .. They were born in England, viz .: Michael, see for- ward; Ruth, married Captain Thomas Wheeler, the valiant Indian fighter; Abigail, married at Concord, March 24, 1667, Stephen Hosmer.

(II) Michael Wood, the only son of William Wood (I). was born in England and came probably in 1638 with his father to Concord. He made his home there on what is now Main street, beyond the south branch of the river. His near neighbors were Obadiah Wheeler, Edmund Wigley and Goodman Dakin. He was admitted a freeman May 13, 1640_ He died in Concord, May 13, 1674. He married Mary -, who survived him. Children of Michael Wood and his wife Mary were: Abraham, settled in Sudbury, was father of Deacon Nathan Wood,. born March 24, 1723, who removed in 1756 to West- minster, and who had fifteen children and many descendants there; Abigail, born at Concord, April 10, 1642; Thomas or Thompson; John; Nathaniel, died March 7, 1661-62; Mary died April 4, 1663; Jacob, born March 3, 1661-62, married Mary Wheeler, 1697; Isaac, see forward.

(III) Isaac Wood, son of Michael Wood (2), was born in Concord, Massachusetts, about 1670. He married (first) Mary -, (second ) Elizabeth -, who died May 12, 1717, and (third) Susannah: Bisco, both of Concord, April 26, 1722. She survived him. He died January II, 1740-41. The only child on record of Isaac and Mary was: Mary, born at Concord, March 17, 1689-90. The only child on rec- ord of Isaac and Elizabeth was: Elizabeth, born April 8, 1093. The children of Isaac and Susannah Wood were: Michael, see forward; Samuel, born April 22, 1728: Susannah, born August 19, 1732.

(IV) Michael Wood, son of Isaac Wood (3), was horn in Concord, Massachusetts, July I. 1724- He settled in Lunenburg where he married Martha Platts, daughter of Abel Platts, who was the first settler of Rindge, New Hampshire. He married (second), August 21, 1764, Lois Wilson, of Lunen- burg. Children of Michael and Mary Wood were: Isaac, see forward; Elizabeth, born April 20, 1751, married Daniel Graegg, of Rindge, New Hampshire; Mary, born November 1, 1749; Hannah, born Jan- uary 18, 1754.

(V) Isaac Wood, eldest child of Michael Wood (4), was born in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, Septem- ber 7, 1746. He was a revolutionary soldier. He and his cousin, Abel Platts, Jr., were in the com- pany of Captain Nathan Hale at the Lexington alarm, April 19. 1775. He probably was in the service again. He was a mason by trade and also conducted his farm. He settled at Rindge, New Hampshire, 1772, on the farm now or lately owned by his descendants, Jonas and John E. Wood. He held positions of public honor and trust. He was selectman of Rindge in 1785-86.

He married. January II, 1770, Elizabeth Hart- well, born April 14, 1751, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth ( Tarbell) Hartwell. She died Novem- ber 20, 1819, and he died January 5. 1836, aged eighty-eight years. All their children except the eldest were born in Rindge, viz .: Amasa, born in Lunenburg, September 2, 1771 ; Jonathan, born April 17. 1773, see forward; Jonas, born December 30, 1774, resided at Lennox, New York; Isaac, born November 30, 1776; Betty, born October 11, 1778, died young : Ruth, born November 7, 1780, married Benjamin Lovejoy; David, born July 19, 1783;

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Betty, born September 10, 1785, married Stephen Emory, of Rindge; Caleb, born July 1, 1789, died 1807; Susan, married, March 9, 1826, Deacon John WV. Bens ; Eunice, married, May 3, 1830, Captain Joseph llartwell, of Lunenburg.

(VI) Jonathan Wood, son of Isaac Wood (5), was born in Rindge, New Hampshire, April 17, 1773. He married, April 10, 1779, Dolly Jones, daughter of Enos Jones. She was born May 28, 1777. Her father was the son of William and Sarah (Locke) Jones. Enos Jones was born in Lunenburg, July 4, 1742. His father at the time of his death owned one-half the Bluefield or Bellows grant in Ashburn- ham, Massachusetts, and in 1761 Enos Jones removed to that town and settled on this tract. He was a de- scendant of Lewis Jones, through Captain Josiah (II); Josiah (111) ; William (IV), who settled in Lunenburg ; Enos (V). Jonathan Wood settled in the north part of the town of Ashburnham. His wife died there January 18, 1818. He married (second), December 21, 1820, Sarah (Lake) Robin- son, daughter of Henry and Prudence Lake, of Rindge, and widow of Ezra Robinson. She mar- ried (third) Amos Stearns; fourth, May 19, 1842, Josiah Hartwell, of Fitchburg. Jonathan Wood died September 1, 1825.

Children of Jonathan and Dolly Wood were: Zulima, born November 30, 1799, married, 1823, Asa Dunn, of Fitchburg; Laura, born June 20, 1801, mar- ried, April 22, 1823, John Vose, of Leominster ; Dolly, born February 3, 1803, married, April 8, 1823, Zacheriah Parker, Jr., of New Ipswich ; Elnathan, born September 20, 1804; died July 29, 1829; George, born September 29, 1805, married, September 16, 1827, Luana Lawrence; Betsey, born June 25, 1808, married, February 6, 1827, Luther Perkins, of Wethersfield; Zoa, born January 24, 1810, died September 7, 1822; Lurena, born December 12, 1812, married, Janaury 16, 1831, Freeman Walcott ; Hart- well, born October 27, 1815, married, 1841, James Snell; she died January 1, 1843, and he died July 26, 1846; Jonas J., born January 1, 1818, married, 1852, Lucy Wood, of Mason, New Hampshire; she died November 4, 1853; married ( second) Lydia Parker, of Lawrence; she died August 12, 1859; he removed 1860 to Winchendon, where he died October 13, 1863. Children of Jonathan and Sarah Wood were. Eunice K., born March 22, 1824, married George P. Ward, son of Alvan Ward, of Winchendon; Eli- phalet S., see forward.

(VII) Eliphalet S. Wood, son of Jonathan Wood (6), was born in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, February 2, 1825. He resided in his native town until 1866, when he removed to Winchendon. He was express agent there from 1866 to 1886. He was deputy sheriff from 1870 for many years. He was prominent in town affairs and filled the offices of constable and overseer of the poor. He married. September 20, 1846, Susan H. Farrar, daughter of John Farrar. She was born June 24, 1826; her father was born April 15, 1784, and was the son of Jacob Farrar, of Concord, who married, December 20, ISIO, Calle Stearns, daughter of William Stearns. Susan H. (Farrar) Wood died March 26, 1843, leav- ing eight children. He married (second), March 13, 1844, Lucy Houghton, daughter of Robert and Sarah (Jones) Houghton, of Leominster and Win- chendon. Children of Eliphalet S. and Susan H. Wood were: Ella Modina, born September 23, 1847, married, May 20, 1876, John E. Wakefield ; reside at 474 Grove street, Worcester; he is a wrench manufacturer at 89 Exchange street. Frank A., born May 9, 1850, died March 2, 1851. George Farrar, born August 21, 1851, married, August 25, 1874, Alice H. Merrill, daughter of E. S. Merrill,

dealer in furniture, Winchendon, Massachusetts. Calla A., born July 30, 1855, married, January 20, 1876, John W. Beaman, of Winchendon, son of Will- iam Beaman; Oliver B., born February 7, 1857, mar- ried, October 19, 1882, Jennie C. Flagg; he is pro- prietor of a book and job printing establishment, Foster street, Worcester. Walter L., born October 17, 1859, died June 25, 1864. Ernest Freeman, born June 18, 1863, express agent at Winchendon, see forward; Cora Etta, born April 4, 1867.

(V111) George Farrar Wood, son of Eliphalet S. Wood (7), was born at Winchendon, Massachu- setts, August 21, 1851. Ile removed with his par- ents to Ashburnham at an early age, and was edu- cated in the common schools of that town. He re- moved to Winchendon with his parents in 1866. lle attended the public schools there, and was two years in the high school. He also took a course in the business college of Bryant & Stratton, of Boston. lle began his business life in the employ of C. C. Parker, of Winchendon, proprietor of a general store. At the end of three years he bought the business of Mr. Parker. The store was located in the Tucker Rice block, just above the railroad sta- tion. Two or three years later the store was re- moved to its present location in the block built by himself and father. After his father's death he bought the interests of the other heirs in the build- ing, and is now the sole owner. Mr. Wood attends in North Congregational Church at Winchendon. He is a member of Manamonack Lodge, No. 121, Odd Fellows; Watatic Tribe of Red men; Avon Club, and Winchendon Country Club. In politics he is a Republican. He married, August 25, 1874, Alice Harriet Merrill. born February 2, 1849, dangh- ter of Edwin S. and Harriet ( Hand) Merrill. Her father was postmaster of Winchendon for forty years. The only child of George Farrar and Alice Harriet Wood is: Ethel Harriet, born January 22, 1881.

( VIII) Ernest Freeman Wood, son of Eliphalet S. Wood (7), was born at North Ashburnham, Massachusetts, June 18, 1863. When he was three years old he removed with his parents to Winchen- don, Massachusetts, where he was educated in the public schools. After three years' course in the high school he entered the employ of the American ex- press Company. A few years later he received an appointment to his present position as the Win- chendon agent of the American National Express Companies. Mr. Wood held the appointment of deputy sheriff for Winchendon after his father, but resigned at the end of a year. He attends the North Congregational Church at Winchendon. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of Artisan Lodge of Free Masons, of Winchendon; North Star Chapter of Royal Arch Masons; of Naumkeag Council, Royal Arcanum; of Watatic Tribe of Red Men; of the Avon Club and Winchendon Country Club.

He married, October 10, 1888, Elizabeth Clara Bennett, daughter of Charles N. and Elizabeth (Tryon) Bennett. Her father was a carpenter and contractor at Manchester, Vermont. She is a well known soprano soloist. She has been the leading soprano for twelve years at the North Congrega- tional Church, and she was for two years in a simi- lar position in the Leominster Congregational Church. The children of Ernest Freeman and Eliza- beth Clara Wood were: Madeline Bennett, born February 6, 1890; Elizabeth Nelson, born June 12, 1892.

(VIII) Oliver Brooks Wood, son of Eliphalet S. Wood (7), was born in Ashburnham, Massachu- setts, February 7, 1857. He attended the public

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schools in Winchendon, and at the age of twelve began to work in a printing office there. With the exception of five years spent in attending school, he has been actively engaged since then in the print- ing business. When a young man he became fore- man of the newspaper and job office of the Frank- lin County Times at Greenfield, Massachusetts. He worked later in offices in Fitchburg and Chicago. In 1878 he returned east and took charge of the job printing establishment of Edward R. Fiske, in Worcester, one of the largest printing establishments in the city. In 1880 he engaged with Sanford & Company, stationers and printers, Worcester, as fore- man of their printing department. In 1882 he pur- cliased a half interest in the business which was conducted thereafter under the firm name of San- ford & Wood. A few months later he became the sole owner and has carried on the printing business with marked success to the present time. In 1894, having outgrown the old quarters on Maple street, he removed to the commodious building, Foster street, where his establishment occupies the entire second story. He makes law and mercantile print- ing a specialty, and the work of his office has always maintained a high reputation for excellence and accuracy. Mr. Wood is connected with several Ma- sonie, military, social and other organizations in Worcester, and has been president of the Worces- ter Typotheta. In politics he is a Republican. He married, October 19, 1882, Jennie Chase Flagg, of Grafton, Massachusetts. Their children are: Olive Marguerite, Roger Hamilton, deceased; Hamilton Brooks, Gladys Jeannette.

SPRING FAMILY. It is believed that nearly all the families bearing the name of Spring, in the United States, but certainly in New England, are descended from John Spring, of Watertown, Massa- chusetts, and his wife, Elinor, who died prior to 1656

The name of the original John Spring appears on the earliest list of proprietors of Watertown, 1636-7. Twenty years later ( March 21, 1656-7) he executed a deed of gift to his son Henry, of his house and land in Watertown, reserving to himself during his lifetime the north end of the house. After his decease that was to go to Henry. There was also a stipulation that Henry should pay his father an annuity, and, after the decease of the father, pay John Spring, Jr., thirty pounds lawful money. The children of John and Elinor Spring were : I. Mary, born 1623, married 1642 John Davis, and died a widow in 1656. 2. Henry, born 1628. 3. John, born 1630. 4. William, born July, 1633, who settled in Barbadoes, and had a son John, who came to Newton after the death of his father in Bar- badoes, and in 1695 selected his unele, John Spring, to be his guardian. Ile made his will August 6, 1698. giving all his estate to Jonathan Green, of Newton, in token of his kindness and care.

(Il) John Spring, born 1628, was admitted free- man May 30, 1660. He married (first), January 7, 1657-8, Mehitable Bartlett, and (second) September 12, 1691, Susanna, widow of Gregory Cook. In his will dated June 29, 1695, he mentions his wife Susanna, sons Henry and Thomas, and his wife Susanna, sons llenry and Thomas, and daughters Elizabeth, Mehitable and Abigail. As early as 1680 he was elected the "town prizer." his duty being to fix the rate at which agricultural pro- ducts should pass in the payment of taxes and debts. This office he held until 1695. He was often employed in taking inventories and settling estates. His children were: I. Elizabeth, born October 13, 1659. 2. Henry, born March 1, 1662. 3. Mehita-

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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. II, Part 11

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 732

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 732