Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. II, Part 29

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 29

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Valentine Hill married (first) Frances

who died February 17, 1646; (second) Mary Eaton, daughter of Governor Eaton. She married (sec- ond) John Lovering, of Dover; and (third) Ezekiel Knight, of Wells, Mainc. There is an interesting entry on the oldest records of Dover births, etc. : "Nathaniel Hill son of Vallentine Hill of douer by his wife Mary was born in oyster Riuer the be- ginning March 1659-60. Mrs. Mary Hill alias Knighit was before me the 23d of May 1702 and acknowledged that Nathaniel Hill was the son of her first husband Vallentine Hill." (John Wood- man Justs Peac.)"

Children of Valentine and Frances Hill were: Hannah, born March 17, 1638-39, married, January 24, 1659, Antipas Boyce: John, born September I. 1640. died young: Elizabeth, born December 12, 1641, died young: Joseph (twin), born 16.44. died same year: Benjamin (twin), born 1644, died same year : Joseph, born August 18, 1646. Children of Valentine and Mary were: John, born August 19, 1647: Samuel, born December 8, 1648: Mary, born December 29, 1649, married Rev. John Buss, in whose charge were the records when lost by fire; Elizabeth, baptized May 25, 1651; Nathaniel, born March 31, 1660, see forward.

(II) Captain Nathaniel Hill, youngest child of Valentine Hill (1), was born in that part of Dover now Durham, New Hampshire, March 31, 1660. He was a taxpayer in Dover in 1681. He settled on his father's land on the north side of Oyster river. His farm extended from the falls in the river. near Durham village, across the line of the present Boston & Maine. Railroad tracks. He was a leading citizen, captain in the militia and for many years member of the provincial council. He mar- ried Sarah Nutter, daughter of Anthony Nutter, and granddaughter of the distinguished Hatevil Nutter. Children of Captain Nathaniel and Sarah Hill were: Samuel, see forward: Valentine.

(III) Samuel Hill, son of Captain Nathaniel Hill (2), was born in what is now Durham, New Hampshire, about 1690. He inherited part if not all of the homestead and lived in Durham, after- wards Lee. New Hampshire. Among his children was Samuel. see forward.

(IV) Samuel Hill, son of Samuel Hill (3), was born in Durham. now Lee. New Hampshire, October 6, 1720 (family record of Frances E. Wil- lard, a descendant through her mother). He died in Danville, Vermont. Miss Willard in her auto- biograph says that he was a veritable giant; well- to-do: self-sacrificing: of robust integrity. He married Abigail Hutchins, of another old Dover family. She was born in what is now Lee, New Hampshire, February 20, 1733, died at an advanced age in 1829 at Ogden. New York. Children of Samuel and Abigail Hill were: Nathaniel. see forward; John, born about 1760. married Polly Thompson, 1796, among whose children was Mary Thompson Hill, born January 3. 1805, the mother of the famous temperance advocate. Frances E. Willard. There were probably other children.

(V) Nathaniel Hill, son of Samuel Hill (4), was born in Durham. New Hampshire, about 1745. He was a soldier in the revolution. He was ensign in Captain Alpheus Chesley's company in 1778. Robert Hill, John Hill and Henry Hill were in the same service and three of the four in the same company. They were perhaps brothers. Nathaniel Hill married at the close of the revolution and set- tled in Loudon. New Hampshire. He was there in 1785, when he signed a petition, and in 1789 his son Nathaniel, Jr. was old enough to sign as an inhabitant. Loudon was incorporated January 23, 1773. from Canterbury, which was some fifty years older. The rest of Canterbury was incorporated

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as Northfield later. There seems to have been no other branch of the Hill family in this vicinity. Children of Nathaniel Hill were: Nathaniel, born about 1770-5; Levi, see forward.

(VI) Levi Hill, son of Nathaniel Hill (5), was born about 1770-80 either at Lee, New Hamp- shire, or at Loudon, after his parents settled there. He received a rather brief schooling. He worked with his father developing the farm and remained at home helping his father until his death, when the farm became his. He was a farmer all his life, and raised sheep and cattle for beef. He also dealt in horses considerably. He removed to Springfield, New Hampshire, in his later years and bought a farm, which he carried on until his death. He was a member of the Springfield Congregational church and was a deacon there as well as at Lou- don. He was always called Captain Hill from his rank in the state militia. He died about 1861.

He married Lydia Wiggin, of Canterbury, New Hampshire, the town of which Loudon was former- lv a part. She was a descendant of Governor Thomas Wiggin, who deeded June 4, 1663, a large tract of land at Durham. New Hampshire, to his son Andrew. Andrew Wiggin became a sort of patron for the township. His son Jonathan, who died in 1738, had a daughter who married a Mr. Hill. Children of Levi and Lydia Hill were: Langdon Levi, Joseph Wiggin, born December 12, 1805. see forward; Susanna. Cyrus, Levi Franklin.

(VII) Joseph Wiggin Hill, son of Levi Hill (6), was born at Loudon, New Hampshire, Decem- ber 12, 1805, died November 10, 1886. He attended the public schools there. He removed with the family about 1825 to Springfield, New Hampshire, and helped his father on the farm, but soon after- ward removed to Boston and worked in the City Hotel for about five years. He returned to Spring- field and bought a tract of wood land, which he cleared and cultivated until 1840. He then traded for a large farm in the eastern part of the town. Later he sold it to his son Joseph and bought an- other smaller one, which he worked for ten years, sold it and bought the one which he owned at the time of his death. In religion he was a Methodist. In his early days he was a Democrat, afterward a Republican. He was a representative to the New Hampshire legislature for two years, and was on the board of selectman of the town. He was inter- ested in the militia and was lieutenant of the Springfield company.

He married, June 8, 1825, Abigail Cole, dangh- ter of Isaac Cole. Her father was a molder in an iron foundry. Children of Joseph W. and Abigail Hill were: Benjamin Franklin, born December 15, 1831, married Lavinia Davis, of New London, New Hampshire, and they have five children-Nellie, George, Hattic. Mabel, Eugene. Joseph, born Sep- tember 10, 1833. Lydia Jane, born February, 1836, married Leonard N. Heath, of Springfield. New Hampshire, no issue. Susanna A., married John Crocker, of Grantham, New Hampshire. Emily Elizabeth, married Herbert Taylor of Andover, New Hampshire, and they had four children-Al- bert. Grace, Louisa, Daisy. Nellie, died aged four years.

(VIII) Joseph Hill, second child of Joseph Wig- gin Hill (7), was born at Springfield, New Hamp- shire, September 10, 1833. He was educated in the common schools there. At the age of sixteen he went to Lake Village to school. continuing for two years. He served an apprenticeship of two years, following it in the winter months with his uncle, B. J. Cole, learning the iron moulder's trade. He worked

at home on the farm summers during this time and then bought the farm. After working it eight years he sold it and went to Yonkers, New York, where he worked in the foundry of the Clipper Mowing Machine Company about three years. In 1873 he went to work again for his uncle, B. J. Cole, in his iron foundry at Lakeport, New Hampshire. He later worked for C. B. Mahan in his mowing machine works at Lebanon, New Hampshire, and for a year for D. B. Emerson. In 1881 he removed to Keene, New Hampshire, and entered the employ of James B. Elliott, who had bought the Clipper Machine works at Yonkers. Here he remained until 1883, when he removed to Winchendon, Massachusetts, and in partnership with his son-in- law, Andrew Bosley, started a foundry. In Sep- tember, 1905, he built a large new foundry and removed to his present location on Spruce street, ner the Boston & Maine Railroad, where the busi- ness is prospering greatly. The firm makes all kinds of iron castings. Few men have a more intimate knowledge of the details of their business or a more careful training than Mr. Hill. He at- tends the North Congregational Church. He is a Republican and was a delegate to the state con- vention in 1905 and has been to other important conventions of his party. He is a member of the Avon Club of Winchendon.

He married, June 3. 1859, Mrs. Elvira (Lull) Towers, daughter of Gilman Lull, of Hopkinton, New Hampshire. Her father was a farmer. The children of Joseph and Elvira Hill are: Jennie May. born July 3, 1861, married Andrew Bosley, of Winchendon, and they have four children- Josephine Elvira, born February 5, 1878; Fred- erick Andrew, born February 24, 1880; Bertha Kate, born January 14, 1889; Hazel Elsa, born March 3, 1890. Kate Marcella, born November 13, 1865, married Frederick Vose, of Peterborough, New Hampshire; have no children. Carrie Abigail, born March 25, 1873, married Frank Joy, of Keene, New Hampshire; has no children.

TUCKER FAMILY. There is good reason to believe that the English family from which Elliot S. Tucker, of Winchendon, descended, dates its English origin from John Tucker, whose arms granted in 1079 by William, the Conqueror, with an estate at South Tavistock, Devonshire, are and have always since then been used by the Tucker family in England. John Tucker came to England with William I from Normandy and fought at the battle of Hastings in 1066. He married the Widow Trecareth, supposed to be the former owner of the estate. The Tucker family spread over Dorset, Somerset. Gloucester and York counties in England and Pembroke in Wales.

(I) William Tucker, of Thornley, Devonshire, undoubtedly a descendant of the John Tucker, mentioned above, and bearing his arms, was the first English progenitor to whom the line of the American family can be traced. He was born about 1500. He married Josea Ashe, daughter of William Ashe, of Devonshire, Their children were: George, born about 1540, see forward: Thomas, married Joanne Cartillon, daughter of Robert Car- tillon : John, horn in Thornley. married Elizabeth Kempe, daughter of Robert Kempe, of London; Josea, married William Barbebin and twice after- ward.

(II) George Tucker, son of William Tucker (1), was born about 1540. His children: George, born about 1570, see forward; Nicholas, married Anne Powell, of London; Tobias, married Maria Fiske;

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Daniel ; Mansfield, married Elizabeth; Martha, mar- ried Charles Freeman, of Hingham; Elizabeth; Hester, married Richard Codwell.

(III) George Tucker, son of George Tucker (2), was born in Devonshire, England, about 1570. He married Elizabeth Stoughton, the first daughter of Francis Stoughton, of Cragford. They settled in Milton-next-Gravesend, England, where he was a man of mark. The manor was conferred on his father by Queen Elizabeth in 1572; he was one of the most important citizens as shown by the order or names at the granting of the city charter of Gravesend, September 3, 1572-73. There was a George Tucker in Marblehead, in 1647, but it is doubtful if this George ever left England. His children were: George, born 1595, married Mary Darrett, daughter of John Darrett, of Codshill; John, born 1599, settled in Hingham, Massachu- setts; Robert, see forward; Henry, born 1609, probably settled in the Bermudas; Esther, born 1612; Elizabeth, perhaps the wife of Thomas Greenough, of Boston; Maria, Anne, married John Beal, of Arlington, Kent, England; Sarah, Martha. (IV) Robert Tucker, son of George Tucker (3), of Devonshire, England, was the immigrant ances- tor. He was baptized at Milton-next-Gravesend, June 7. 1604, and doubtless born the month pre- ceding. He settled in Weymouth, coming in the company, it is believed, of Rev. Mr. Hull in 1635. He was a town officer there in 1643. He removed to Gloucester, where he was the town clerk for a time and where some of his children were born, but he returned to Weymouth. About 1662 he removed to Milton, Massachusetts, and bought sev- eral lots of land on Brush hill of Widow Frans- worth, Elder Henry Withington and Mrs. Fenno, amounting in all to one hundred and seventeen acres, bordering on the farm of his son, James Tucker, who purchased his place some time prev- iously. Robert Tucker was for many years town clerk of Milton, and the first records are in his hand. He represented the town several years in the general court. He was selectman in 1677. He was active in the church. The court records show that he was fined twenty shillings in 1640 for call- ing James Brittan a liar, but as James was whipped once, and hanged later, it may be presumed that Tucker knew that he was a liar. Robert Tucker died March II, 1682, aged seventy-eight years. His homestead was on Brush hill and his house there, built about 1680, was at last accounts restored and in excellent condition, one of the oldest houses of the first settlers in New England. His will was dated March 7, and proved March 30, 1681-82.

He married Elizabeth Allen, sister of Deacon Henry Allen, of Boston. Their children were: Sarah, born at Weymouth, March 17, 1639, married Peter Warren; James, born 1640, married Rebecca Tolman; Joseph, born 1643; Elizabeth, born 1644, married Ebenezer Clapp; Benjamin, born 1646, mar- ried Anne Payson; Ebenezer (twin), born 1652, died before his father; Experience (twin), born and died 1652; Ephraim, born August 27, 1653, married Hannah Gulliver; Manasseh, see forward ; Rebecca, married Fenno; Mary, married Samuel Jones.

(V) Manasseh Tucker, ninth child of Robert Tucker (4), was born in 1654. In 1711, Mr. Tucker, Samuel Miller, John Wadsworth and Moses Belcher bought three thousand acres of land from the town of Boston, lying in Braintree and called the Blue Hill Lands. The land abutted on the south boundary of Milton. In 1713 Moses Belcher sold his undivided quarter to his associates for three hundred and eighty-five pounds and they then

devided the land in thirds. One half the tract was annexed to Braintree, the other half to Milton, Manasseh Tucker owned and lived in the mansion built by his father on Brush hill. He was admitted a freeman in 1678, and was deacon of the First church of Milton. He was the last survivor of the first settlers in Milton among the church members, and after his death, April 9, 1743, the church took appropriate action : "And as all that generation were gathered to their fathers the church passed a vote April 17 that they would renew the Convenant with God and one another."

He married, December 29, 1676, Waitstill Sum- ner, born December 20, 1661, died March 19, 1748, eldest daughter of Roger and Mary (Joslyn) Sum- ner. Her father was the son of the immigrant, William Sumner, and her mother was daughter of the immigrant Thomas Joslyn, of Lancaster, form- erly of Hingham, Massachusetts. Children of Mannaseh and Waitstill Tucker were: Ebenezer, born December 22, 1682, married Jane Clapp : Manasseh, Jr., December 22, 1684, married Hannah Shepard; Samuel, see forward; Mary, March 25, 1693, married John Dickerson; Waitstill, June 5, 1695, married Ezra Clapp; Jasaniah, July 19, 1698, married Susannah Sumner ; Benjamin, August 18, 1705, settled in Middleborough; Elizabeth, married John Paysan: died July 9. 1781.

(VI) Samuel Tucker, third child of Mannaseh Tucker (5), was born at Milton, Massachusetts, March 15, 1687. He married, March 2, 1712, Pe- becca Leeds, of Dorchester, Massachusetts. He was the first to settle on the thousand acres of land his father had bought of the town of Boston, May 9, 1711. It was located in what is now the south part of Milton and was called Scott's Woods. He was prominent in town and military affairs, captain of the Milton company. He died there December 25, 1758, aged seventy-two years. Children of

Samuel and Rebecca Tucker were: Samuel, see forward; Nathaniel, born April 29, 1725, Harvard College, 1744, died 1748; Rebecca, November 27, 1722, baptized December 2, 1722, married Nathaniel Swift.

(VII) Samuel Tucker. son of Samuel Tucker (6), was born September 25, 1719. at Milton, Massa- chusetts, died there May 27, 1776.

He married (first) Susannah Thatcher, 1742, and (second) Elizabeth Heywood, 1749. Children of Samuel and Susannah Tucker were: Mary, born May 22, 1745; Susannah, October 26, 1748. Chil- dren of Samuel and Elizabeth Tucker: Samuel, July 14, 1750, married Abigail Vose; Joslin, Janu- ary 9, 1752, settled in Gardner, Massachusetts; Elizabeth, July 12, 1753: Rebecca. March, 1755; Eunice. June. 1756; Seth, see forward; Elisha, June 20. 1760, died at Winchendon, Massachusetts, Oc- tober 10, 1808, farmed in partnership with his brother Seth; Nathaniel. 1769, died February 10, 1738, bequeathed a thousand dollars to the poor of Milton.

(VIII) Seth Tucker, ninth child of Samuel Tucker (7), was born in Milton, Massachusetts, January 18, 1757. He was a soldier in the revolu- tion in the Milton company and was stationed near West Point at the time of Arnold's treason and the execution of the spy, Andre. A man of clear mind and simple piety, he was shocked by the profanity and vice of the soldiers, and in later years used to call the army "a dreadful wicked place." After his service in the army he and his brother Elisha hought a farm at Winchendon, and always owned it in common. It is the same place owned later by Seth Tucker, Jr., and Webster H. Tucker. Seth Tucker was a man of industry and strict

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integrity. He was an active member of the Baptist church in its early days. In his later years his talks about old times and on religious themes were listened to with absorbing interest. He had an excellent memory and retained his faculties to the extreme age of ninety-eight years. There was al- ways a remarkable spirit of fraternal confidence between him and his brother Elisha. Their first property was owned in common, and their farm in WVinchendon was owned in common.

He died at Winchemlon, November 12, 1855. aged ninety-eight years. The monument erected to the memory of the two pioneers, Seth and Elisha, bears this inscription: "From the earliest days of childhood to almost the latest hours of life, these brothers here interred had all their worldly inter- ests in common, a confidence rarely bestowed, happy in its results and worthy of imitation."

He married Jane Payson, November 30. 1791. She was born March IT, 1761. died January 8, 1813, aged fifty-two years. She was descended from the immigrant, Edward Payson. of Roxbury, who mar- ried Mary Eliot, sister of Rev. John Eliot, the Indian Apostle, and their daughter, Ann Payson. married Benjamin Tucker. Many of the Tucker family have had Eliot for a given name in memory of this ancestor. Edward Payson's son, Rev. Ed- ward Payson, married Elizabeth Phillips, daughter of Rev. Samuel Phillips, and their son, Eliot Pay- son, was father of James Payson. and grandfather of Jane Payson, who married Seth Tucker, as stated above. Children of Seth and Jane Tucker were: Nathaniel. born September 10, 1792, sailed to the West Indies and was never heard from ; Eliot Payson. December 4, 1793, died February 4, 1706: Eliot Payson, November 21, 1796, married Charlotte Whitman Todd: Betsey, August 26, 1798, married Levi Greenwood; Joshua, August 7, 1800, married Susan L. Morse, died November 7, 1881 ; Jane, August 14, 1803. married Nathaniel Mer- rick. of Chesterfield, New Hampshire; Seth. see forward: Elisha, August 11. 1806, died October 13. 1808: Elisha Gustavus, August 18, 1808, mar- ried Elizabeth M. Harris; Samuel and Sewall (twins ), May 17, 18to: the former died May 29, 1810, and the latter June 5. 1810; Samuel and Sus- anna. born July 4. 1812; the latter died March 22, 3813

(IX) Seth Tucker, Jr., son of Seth Tucker (8). was born in Winchendon, Massachusetts, October 14. 1804. He received his education in the common schools there. He was much devoted to his father's interests in conducting the farm and was closely associated with his father as long as he lived. He inherited the farm and a considerable fortune. The Tucker farm is situated on Tucker bill in the east- ern part of the town. The land where the Baxter D. Whitney factories are located was bought of Seth Tucker, who laid the first stone in construct- ing the dam and mills. Seth Tucker was of in- flexible probity and honor. His character com- manded universal respect and esteem. He was a member of the Baptist church and was active in building the church in 1818. giving the church the dand for that purpose. He served the town on various important committees. In 1840 and in 1854 he served on the committee to apportion the school moneys. He was on the building committee of the town hall in 1850, cemetery commission in 1857, committee to buy a site for the new school house in 1866.

Ile married Valonia Harvey, of Chesterfield, New Hampshire. Their children : Webster H., see forward; Payson Eliot, died in infancy ; an in- fant, not named, died in infancy.

(X) Webster Harvey Tucker. of Seth Tucker (9), was born in Winchendon, Massachu- setts, May 4, 1834, died May 7, 1872. He received his education in the common schools of the town. He was in close association and partnership in his father's interests on the farm. He inherited. all his father's estate, including the farm on Tucker hill and much real estate in the town of Winchen- don. In addition to his farm, which he managed to good advantage, he built a number of houses, some to sell, and others to rent. Although not so active and prominent in public affairs as his father and grandfather, he was well liked and highly re- spected by his fellow citizens. He was an active member and officer of the Baptist church. In politics he was a Republican.

He married, at Winchendon, January 1, 1857, Betridge P. Parker, who was born in Londonderry, Vermont, February 27. 1838, and died in Winchen- don, Massachusetts, December 18, 1893. Their children were: Charles Webster, born May 23, 1866, for a number of years devoted his time to his interests in Winchendon and at present holds an important position with the Boston Maine Railroad, headquarters at Boston. Elliot Seth, see forward.

(XI) Elliot Seth Tucker, son of Webster Har- vey Tucker (10), was born at Winchendon, Massa- chusetts, May 31, 1872. He received his educa- tion in the public schools of the town, graduating from the high school in 1892. He then took a preparatory course and passed the examinations for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1894, but did not enter, preferring to devote his time to his interests at home. In 1899 he purchased the grocery business of George B. Raymond & Co. and conducted it successfully until he sold out in Sep- tember, 1903. In May, 1904, he entered the em- ploy of the National Novelty Corporation of New York with the A. O. Peare Company of Gardner, Massachusetts, as shipping clerk, and was trans- ferred in December following to the Mason & Parker branch of the company at Winchendon. Upon the retirement of Dwight L. Mason, May 27, 1905, he took charge of the office of the Mason & Parker business. Here he remained till June I, 1905. when he resigned to take a position of clerk of the district court of Winchendon.

Mr. Tucker attends the Church of the Unity ( Unitarian) and is chairman of the music com- mittee. He 'is a Republican in politics and has been a delegate to various conventions of his party. In 1903 he was representative to the general court from his district, and was clerk of the committee on town affairs. He was selectman of the town from 1898 to 1904, a period of six years, and chair- man of the board the last three years, 1901 to 1904. He is a prominent Free Mason, a member of Artisan Lodge. He is a member and past high priest of North Star. Royal Arch Chapter. He be- longs to Jerusalem Commandery, Knights Templar, of Fitchburg. He has passed through the chairs of Naukeag Council, No. 1013, Royal Arcanum, held all the highest offices and past regent. He was a member of Watatic Tribe, No. 85, Red Men, was president of the Avon Club of Winchendon, 1905-06.

He married. March 12, 1895, Hattie Matilda Taft, daughter of Farris O. and Sarah E. (Carter) Taft, of Brockton, Massachusetts. Her father is the proprietor of a machine shop there. They have one child, Betridge Emmeline, born January 22, 1896.

EDWIN N. ADAMS. Henry Adams (I), of Braintree, was the emigrant ancestor of Edwin N.

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Adams, of Leicester, Massachusetts, and of a large proportion of the Adams families in this country including John Adams, president of the United States, and his son, John Quincy Adams, also presi- dent. Henry Adams is believed to have arrived in Boston with his wife, eight sons and a daughter in 1032 or 1633. The colonial authorities allotted him forty acres of land at Mount Wollaston, which in 1640 became Braintree and included the present towns of Braintree, Quincy and Randolph. The name of his wife is unknown, also where and when she died. It has been thought that she returned to England with her son John and daughter Ursula. Henry Adams died in Braintree, October 6, 1646, and was buried October 8, in the graveyard in Quincy, Massa- chusetts.

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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 29

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