Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. II, Part 22

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 22

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(II) John Richardson, son of John Richardson (1), was born about 1645, doubtless in Maine. He had a grant of land at Wells, Maine, June 20, 1673, and was among those who left the town during King Philip's war, 1676-7. He settled in that part of Dedham called Boggastow, later Medfield. The name Bogistow, variously spelled, has since been applied to the pond, meadow and stream at South Sherborn, formerly in Medfield. John Richardson first appears in Medfield in 1676 when he served in the Medfield garrison for a month. In 1678 he received a grant of land from the town on the west side of Charles river. Moses Richardson, a de- scendant, owned the old homestall of John at Med- field in 1689 and later. He was a cordwainer by trade, but also had a farm of about fifty acres. He died April 21, 1697, and his widow Rebecca ad- ministered his estate. She was appointed July 18, 1700.

He married, May 1, 1679 (by Ralph Wheelock, magistrate) Rebecca Clark, born in Medfield, Au- gust 16, 1660, youngest daughter of Joseph and Alice Clark, early settlers in that part of Dedham, later Medfield, incorporated 1651. Joseph Clark was admitted a freeman May 18, 1653, died 1684. The widow of John Richardson married (second) John Hill, of Sherborn; she died February 17, 1738-9, aged seventy-nine years. The children of John and Rebecca Richardson were: John, born August 25, 1679, married Esther Breck; Elizabeth, September 20, 1681, died before 1711; Daniel, Au- gust 31, 1685, of whom later; Joseph, born about 1687. married, October 18, 1706. Hannah Barber ; Mehitable, June 16, 1689: Benjamin, 1693, married Elizabeth -: Rebecca, February 28, 1696-7, mar- ried Eleazer Hill, of Sherborn, August 18, 1712, settled in Douglas, Massachusetts.

(III) Lieutenant Daniel Richardson, son of John Richardson (2), was born in Medfield, Massachu- setts, later Medway, August 31, 1685. He resided in Medfield until 1723. Ile and his wife owned the covenant which entitled them to have their children baptized, June 8. 1712. His wife was admitted to full communion March 15, 1712-3: he was admitted October 13. 1723: his wife was dismissed from the old church to the new one at Medway June 28, 1747. He gave a deed of gift January 3, 1745-6, of half his dwelling house where his son lived to his son Daniel. His will, 1747, names Daniel and William, sons, also daughter Hannah, wife of Jona- than Underwood. of Westford, Massachusetts. His estate was valued at 1,859 pounds. He died Au- gust 28, 1748.

He married Hannah Underwood, who was bap- tized April 13, 1690. Their children were: William, born February 3, 1710-II, married, May 21, 1739. Hannah Ellis; Hannah, December 25, 1718, married Jonathan Underwood, June 15, 1739; Daniel, of whom later.

(IV) Daniel Richardson, son of Daniel Riehard- son (3), was born in Medway, Massachusetts, June 26, 1721. He settled in Medway and died there December 23, 1770. He had several sons in the revolution. He married Judith -, born in Med- way, 1721, died December 22, 1788. Their chil- dren. all born at Medway, were: Bathsheba, born April 21, 1743, died April 25, 1827, aged eighty- four years; Elisha, January 25, 1745, married Sarah Ellis : Hannah, January 30, 1747, died January 22,

Edward &. Frost

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1795, aged forty-eight years; Sally, December 24, 1748; Abigail, November 13, 1750, died June II, 1830; Daniel, February 10, 1752, died 1831, aged seventy-nine years; was soldier in revolution ; Judith, February 2, 1754; Patience, February 18, 1756, died November 24, 1792, aged thirty-six years; Justina, April 22, 1760, married Sarah Morse; (second) Polly Babbitt, settled in Charlton, Massa- chusetts; Silas, of whom later; Mary, September 12, 1764, died October 31, 1778.

(V) Silas Richardson, son of Daniel Richard- son (4), was born at Medway, Massachusetts, Janu- ary 12, 1762. He was a wheelwright by trade. In 1790 he bought of Caleb Leland a farm of seventy- five acres at Leominster in the part called North Leominster for a thousand dollars. He moved there immediately, developed his land, bought more and when he died was possessed of a handsome estate, amounting to about three hundred acres. The orig- inal farm is owned by his descendants still. He died at Leominster, June 15, 1833, aged seventy- one years.

He married, February 21, 1791, Abigail Daniels, born 1768, daughter of Moses and Abigail (Adams) Daniels, also of Medway. She died January 18, 1829, at Leominster, aged sixty years. Their chil- dren, born at Leominster, were: Horace, born De- cember 20, 1794, married Sally Joslin; he died No- vember I, 1865; Abigail, August 17, 1749, married Henry Bullard ; (second) Farnham Plummer ; Silas, Jr .. March 22, 1802, married Annis (Agnes) Smith; Moses Daniels, of whom later.

(VI) Moses Daniels Richardson, son of Silas Richardson (5), was born on the homestead at North Leominster, Massachusetts, May 19, 1805. He lived there all his life, helping his father in his early years and later succeeding to the place. He received a common school education, in the public schools of his native place, and at Groton Academy. He was a shrewd and progressive farmer, ready to adopt new methods and constantly im- proving the paternal estate. Though his activity was somewhat hampered by ill health in later years he always maintained a high standard of excellence. His fields and buildings gave ample evidence of his skill and attention. He was a member of the Leominster Baptist church, which he joined in 1828 and was clerk and deacon. In politics he was a Republican and took the interest of a good citizen in public affairs.

He was thrice married. He married (first), May 28, 1828, Mary Cowden, born in Fitchburg, February 16, 1809, died August 28, 1840. He mar- ried (second), December 15, 1842, Eunice T. Smith, born in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, January 7, 1818, died August 24, 1851. He married ( third ), November 19, 1853, Abby W. Putnam, of a well known Worcester county family (See Putnam fam- ily). She was born in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, April 22, 1818, daughter of George and Polly (Car- ter) Putnam. He died July 24, 1888. She is liv- ing on the homestead with her son. The farin- house is at 606 Main street, North Leominster. The children of Moses and Mary Richardson were: I. George Daniels, born February 8, 1836, died August 22, 1842. 2. Mary Abigail, born January 4, 1838, married, June 1, 1865. Putnam Simonds, who was born at Fitchburg, February 15, 1829. The children of Moses Daniels and Abby W. Richardson were : 3. James A., born July 19, 1854, at North Leo- minster; after leaving the high school he remained at home until 1879. He was appointed by his uncle as assistant to the United States fish commis- sion in California, and was afterwards superintend- ent of part of the state fish hatcheries. In 1895 he

attended a course in zoology at Stanford University. In 1896 he established fish hatcheries at Kodiak, Alaska, for the Alaska Packers' Association of San Francisco. These are a great success and looked upon as a model. He married, March 22, 1899, Clara R. Edmondson, at San Francisco; they have one child, James Albert, Jr. 4. Dana P., born Octo- ber 14, 1855; he was graduated from the Leominster high school in 1876, received the degree of M. D., from Harvard Medical School in 1882 and is now a practicing physician at North Leominster. He mar- ried Fannie L. Benton, of Fitchburg, and they have one son, James Putnam.

FROST FAMILY. The Frost family, worthily represented in the present generation by Dr. Edward Eastman Frost, of Worcester, Massachusetts, traces its origin to Jesse Frost, whose son, Jesse Frost, born March 9, 1735, married, May 6, 1760, Joanna Spaulding, born March 29, 1739, who bore him the following children: Jesse, September 6, 1762; Jo- anna, July 9, 1764; Ira, April 9, 1767; William, March 26, 1769; Olive, August 19, 1771; Joseph, March 3, 1774; Benjamin, October 26, 1776; and Jacob, December 8, 1780.

Jacob Frost, youngest son of Jesse and Joanna (Spaulding) Frost, was born in Dummerston, Ver- mont, December 8, 1780. He was educated in the common schools of that place, completing his studies at an early age. He then took up farming, which line of occupation he followed throughout the active years of his career, He afterward moved to Ver- non, Vermont, where his death occurred at an ad- vanced age. At one time he was the owner of con- siderable property, but lost the same owing to a flaw in the title, thinking everyone, like himself, was honest. He was a Whig and later a Republi- can in politics, but as far as can be ascertained held no offices. He was a man of strict integrity and honesty, bringing up his family on those principles, and was of the Unitarian faith, much devoted to his church. He was a member of one of the early companies of militia. He married Dolly Kathan, daughter of Lieutenant Daniel Kathan, of revolu- tionary fame, and his wife Ruth (Barret) Kathan, of Dummerston, Vermont. Lieutenant Kathan was a farmer, and died October 19, 1809. The children of this union were: Elmira, died about the age of fifteen years; Livinia, born in Vernon, Vermont, June 30, 1809, married Alonzo Newton, of Vernon, Vermont; Jesse, (see forward) ; Eliza, born May 30, 1815, married Eastman Belding, of West North- field, Massachusetts; she is now (1906) a widow, and resides in Springfield, Massachusetts ; Fannie, born May 26, 1818, married (first) Erastus Hub- bard, and (second) R. D. Stevens, of Charlestown, Vermont ; she died July 7, 1905.

Jesse Frost was born in Vernon, Vermont, July II, ISII. He was educated in the common schools of that town, and the Goddard Seminary at West Brattleboro, Vermont. He learned the trade of shoemaker by working at the bench, and was later a shoe manufacturer, conducting a factory of his own for a number of years. In or about the year 1843 he left Vernon, accompanied by his wife and child Theodore, and by means of an ox-team and wagon traversed west, locating in Rochester, Wisconsin, where he purchased land and erected a log cabin, residing there for some time. Finally he disposed of his land and returned to Vernon, Vermont. This land afterward proved to be very valuable, and sold for a fabulous price. Later he located in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he pur- chased a grocery and provision business, which he subsequently sold to good advantage. While a

WORCESTER COUNTY

resident of the city of New York he purchased fruit by the ship-load, and sold the same at good prices, thereby realizing a considerable profit. He was always successful in his business ventures, and with the competence acquired was enabled to enjoy several years of retirement from active pursuits. He returned to Vernon, Vermont, in which town at one time he owned more land than any other person in that locality, and there his death occurred March II, 1882. He was of the Advent faith, much de- voted to his church and one of its pillars. He was a conscientious Christian, beloved by all who knew him. and a man whose word was as good as his bond. He was a Republican in politics, holding the office of selectman, and appraiser of town property, being an expert in land valuation.

Jesse Frost married Sophia Alice Tyler, daugh- ter of Jesse and Alice ( Pierce) Tyler, of Vernon, Vermont. Their children are: Theodore, born in Vernon, May, 1837, died January 2, 1840; Julius Orlando, (see forward) ; Julia S., born in Vernon, October 16, 1841, married and had one daughter, Minnie B., now deceased; John Hunt, born in Ver- non, August 3, 1843, died May 10, 1865; Edward Eastman, (see forward).

Julius Orlando Frost, second son of Jesse and Sophia Alice (Tyler) Frost, was born in Vernon, Vermont, June 16, 1839. When thirty years of age, in 1869, he became associated with J. B. Kehlor & Brother, St. Louis, Missouri. Later he went with A. Pillsbury & Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota, repre- senting that firm in the East. He remained with this concern until Henry Russell was placed in charge, but in 1883 went with Christian Bros'. Crown Roller Mills. He remained with them until the consolidation, and since that time has repre- sented L. Christian & Co., Minneapolis. He was the first mill agent to introduce "Archibald's Extra" in New England, handling the account for E. T. Ar- chibald, later Tennant & Hoyt and J. B. A. Kern & Sons, as well as several winter wheat mills. About three years ago Frederick J. Lingham be- came a partner in the firm, which conducted a large business in New England, and December 20, 1905, this connection was dissolved by mutual consent, the business being continued by the junior partner, Frederick J. Lingham. Mr. Frost was probably the best known flour salesman in New England, having an experience of nearly forty years, and he also had a wide acquaintance in New York and the West. Although retired from the flour trade, Mr. Frost has not given up active business, having entered into business relations with his brother in the management of a hotel in Worcester, Massa - chusetts, where "the boys" will always be welcome when they are in that city. He is the owner of several farms in Vernon, Vermont, where he raised blooded Jersey cattle, prize poultry and pigs. He is also a lover of horses, and has won numerous prizes in various contests.

Mr. Frost married Nettie Warner, of Vernon, Vermont, and they have one child, John H. Frost. Edward Eastman Frost, youngest son of Jesse and Sophia Alice (Tyler) Frost, was born in Ver- non, Vermont, November 8, 1849. He attended the common schools of that place until the age of eleven years, when he went to the city of New York and was placed in a private school there. By constant study he successfully passed examinations for the New York College, but through illness was compelled to give up his collegiate course. He came to Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1869, and en- tered the dental office of J. B. Waller, and there studied for one year. In 1871 he entered Harvard Dental College, from which institution he was

graduated with high honors in 1874. Returning to Worcester he entered the dental office of Dr. John Gould, and after serving there for two years opened his own office on Elm street, where he con- tinued for twenty-three years, building up a very lucrative practice. As an investor of real estate Dr. Frost has been very successful, he having en- tered into that line of work in 1878. In 1882 he pur- chased the old Exchange Hotel, which he still owns, conducted the same for some time, and finally leased it to good advantage. He has also bought and sold many pieces of property. He is the owner of several blocks in Worcester, several tenement houses and tinimproved property, and the Lincoln House, one of the leading hotels of Worcester, which he pur- chased in 1893 and which he has conducted ever since. He owns a beautiful estate in West Boylston, overlooking a number of townships, which he pur- chased in 1902, and where he and his family reside during the summer seasons; it is one of the oldest landmarks in the township and county. As a lover of highbred horses and an expert judge Dr. Frost has no equal. He has owned and operated a number of track horses with success. He was first lieutenant in Battery B of Worcester, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, in 1884, and was connected with the organi- zation for four years. He is a member of the Worcester board of trade, and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a Republican in politics and loyal in his support of his chosen candidates. He is a Congregationalist in religion, having been reared in that faith. He is a self-made man in the truest sense of the word. He entered his profession against the wishes of his father, and therefore did not look to him for aid, but defrayed his own expenses.

Dr. Frost married, August 24, 1903, Mabel A. Richardson, daughter of Charles O. and Mary E. (Faulkner) Richardson, of Worcester, and they have two children: Dolly Kathan, born July 4, 1904, and Edward Eastman, Jr., September 2, 1905.

ALVIN E. ESTABROOK. Joseph Estabrook (I), the first American ancestor of Alvin E. Esta- brook, of Leominster, Massachusetts, was born in Enfield. Middlesex county, England. Originally, however, the Estabrook family came from Wales, where it was established as early as 1413. The family is found still earlier in Holland, where the name was spelled Estenbrugge. Two brothers came from England with Joseph or about the same time in 1660, one settling in Swansea and the other in Concord, Massachusetts. Joseph entered Harvard College and graduated in the class of 1664, After three years of study for the ministry he was or- dained and installed as colleague of Rev. Peter Bulkley, the first minister of Concord, Massachu- setts, where he resided for the remainder of his life. He died in 1711. He preached the election sermon In1 1705. Rev. Joseph Estabrook must be counted among the leading preachers and ministers of the first generation in Massachusetts. The following extract from a eulogy in the Boston News Letter, the first newspaper of the colony, reveals the posi- tion he held in the estimation of his contemporaries : "Eminent for his skill in the Hebrew language and a most orthodox, learned and worthy divine; of ex- cellent principles in religion, indefatigable in the ministry and of holy life and conversation."

He married Mary Mason and had four sons, as follows: Joseph, born 1669, died at Lexington, Sep- tember 23, 1733; Benjamin, graduate of Harvard, minister, settled at Lexington, died July 22, 1697; Samuel, born 1674, graduated at Harvard College 1696, minister of the church at Canterbury, Con-

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necticut, where he died in 1727: Daniel, born Feb- ruary 14, 1676, died at Sudbury, 1735.

(II) Joseph Estabrook, son of Rev. Joseph Estabrook (I), was born at Concord, Massachu- setts, 1669, and died at Lexington, September 23, 1733. He married Millicent Woodhouse ( Woodis ), of Concord, and (second) the widow Hannah Lor- ing, of Hingham, Massachusetts. Ile settled first in Hingham, but removed before 1690 to Lexington, where he became an active and influential man in the church and a highly honored and respected citizen. He was elected deacon in 1716 and served till his death. He held almost all the other offices at various times; he was town clerk, selectman, assessor, treasurer, representative to the general court and captain in the militia. He was a surveyor as well as farmer. His children were: Joseph, born October 10, 1690, died August 19, 1740; John, July 28, 1694, married, October 27, 1720, Prudence Har- rington; Solomon, December 22, 1096, died July 7, 1097; Hannah, March 2, 1698, married, May 23, 1717, Joseph Frost; Millicent, March 21, 1699; Elijah, August 25, 1703.

(111) John Estabrook, son of Joseph Estabrook (2), was born at Lexington, July 28, 1694. He mar- ried Prudence Harrington, October 27, 1720. He was a farmer. He was elected constable in 1738- 39. He died June 19, 1742, and his widow married 11 1748 Benjamin Munroe, the youngest son of Will- iam Munroe, the emigrant, who settled Lexington. She was his second wife. She died 1778. The children of John and Prudence Estabrook were: Grace, born August 13, 1721, married Hurd ; Prudence, May 28, 1724, married Richard Winship; Millicent, July II, 1727, married Harris : John, October 20, 1729, settled at Westminster and had fourteen children; Abigail, March II, 1731, Hunt ; Elizabeth, November 21, 1734; Nehemiah, March 2, 1738, married, March I, 1759, Elizabeth Winship; Anna, February 11, 1740, married Kidder.

married

(IV) John Estabrook, son of John Estabrook (3), was born in Narragansett No. 2, now West- ininster, Massachusetts, October 20, 1729. Soon after he was of age he bought lot No. 103 in the eastern part of the town and settled. Part of this homestead tract has remained in the hands of his lineal descendants to the present time. Having cleared his land and built some kind of a dwelling. he married early in 1756 Anna, the daughter of his near neighbors, Thomas and Mary Bemis. They had fourteen children, the largest number of children ever borne to the same parents in Westminster. He died in 1804; she died February 26, 1832, at the age of ninety-two years. Their children were: John, born December 5, 1756, married Hannah Conant, resided at Westminster, died January 6, 1826; Anne, September 15. 1758, married Thomas Farnsworth ; Mary, September, 1760, married Loel Miles, resided at Fitzwilliam, had nine children, died September 30, 1839; Elizabeth, January 8, 1763, married James Sawin, resided at Westminster, had five children, died December 26, 1852; Joseph, March, 1765, died October 8, 1772; Isaac, April 9, 1767, died October 20, 1772; Samuel, October 19, 1769, died by light- ning July 25, 1783; Thomas, June 4, 1772, married Hepzibah Hunt, resided at Westminster; Milli- cent, July 23, 1774, died December 14, 1777; Joseph, November 1, 1776, ( see forward ) ; Isaac, 1778, mar- ried Priscilla Dunster, resided at Westminster ; Mil- licent, November 25, 1780, unmarried, died April 21, 1867; Samuel, November 21, 1784. married and had three children, resided at Westminster; Sally, Jan- uary 24. 1787, married Artemas Smith, had children, resided at Chester, Vermont.

(V) Joseph Estabrook, son of John Estabrook (4), was born at Westminster, Massachusetts, No- vember 1, 1776. He married Sally Conant, daugh- ter of Thomas and Ruth Conant, and succeeded to most of his father's estate at Westminster and oc- cupying the original house until it was replaced by the one now standing in which his daughter Mary resided. He died January 23, 1826. His widow, Sally, died January 22, 1870, at the age of eighty- two years. Their children were: Ellery, born De- cember 28, 1805, resided on the old homestead, died unmarried April 16, 1886; Stedman, January 9, 1809, died young; llannah, July 31, 1810, married Daniel Hayden, resided at Marlboro; Ruth R., Au- gust 9, 1813, died unmarried July 11, 1887; Cyrus M., November 19, 1816, married Bethia Coleman, resided in Sterling, had ten children; Joseph W., June 29, 1819, married Mary Perry and (second) the Widow Wellington, had no children; Edward WV., April 24, 1822, married Mary E. Waggoner, had two children; Mary Ann, October 20, 1824, un- married, resided in Westminster.

(VI) Cyrus M. Estabrook, son of Joseph Esta- brook (5), was born at Westminster, November 19, 1816. He married Bethia, daughter of Almond and Bethia (Horner) Colman, October 25, 1838. They resided in Westminster for some time, after wards Princeton, then settled in Sterling, Massachu- setts. They had a family of ten children: Edward C., born at Westminster, January 9, 1840, married Mary Corey, resided at Westminster; Alvin E., born at Westminster, August 29, 1841, married Hat- tie A. Roper, resides at Leominster, Massachusetts ; Joseph, died young ; Joseph W., September, 1843: Mendall A., May, 1846; Sarah E., May, 1854; Ab- bie Louisa, August 16, 1856; George, died at age of ten; Charles F., 1860; Frank W., May, 1864.

(VII) Alvin E. Estabrook, son of Cyrus M. Estabrook (6), was born at Westminster, Massa- chusetts, August 29, 1841, near the old homestead. At the age of four his parents moved with him to Princeton, Massachusetts, where he received his education in the country school. He took up the trade of carriage making and at times assisted his father on the farm. He removed to Leominster, Massachusetts, in 1864, and entered the employ of F. A. Whitney, manufacturer of baby carriages. He was foreman at this factory for many years. He left the trade on account of ill health and devoted his time to the real estate business. He has achieved unusual success in his new line of work and has transacted some very large deals. He has also dealt in lumber in connection with his real estate busi- ness. He is a veteran of the civil war. He enlisted for nine months in the Fifth Massachusetts Volun- teers. While Mr. Estabrook has been too busy to accept publie office he has always taken his part in politics. He is a stanch Republican.

He married Harriet A. Roper, April 3, 1866, daughter of John Roper, a prominent citizen of Princeton, Massachusetts. Their children were : Harriet 1., born June 17, 1867, died July 23, 1871 ; Alvin C., February 18, 1874, died July 23, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Estabrook are both members of the Leominster Congregational church. While Mr. Estabrook is popular in the social circles in which he moves he seems to be particularly fond of home life. He has a very attractive residence at Leo- minster.

LEVI W. PORTER. Richard Porter (1), the emigrant ancestor of Levi W. Porter, of Leominster, was born in England. He sailed from Weymouth, England, March 3, 1635, and settled in Weymouth, Massachusetts, among the first. He was a member

WORCESTER COUNTY

of the original church, constable and selectman of the town. He took the freeman's oath and became a citizen of Weymouth, May 18, 1653. He died in 1689, leaving a will mentioning his four children. The original name of Weymouth was Messaguscus. The children of Richard Porter were: John, of whom later ; Ruth, born October 3, 1639, married Thomas Bailey, Jr., September 19, 1660; Thomas, married Sarah Vining; Mary, married John Bicknell, Jan- uary 2, 1659.

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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 22

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