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 80
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(II) Walter Fitts, son of John Fitts (1), born, it is supposed, about 1450 and died 1510, married
Mary Sampson, and they had two sons: John, mar- ried a daughter of Roger Grenville; Robert.
(III) John Fitts, son of Walter Fitts (2), born in latter part of fifteenth century, married Agues Grenville, daughter of Roger. Their children: 1. John, married and succeeded to his father's estate. 2. Edward F. 3. George. 4. Grace, married Job Eliot, Earl of St. Germain. 5. Honor. 6. Catherine, married William Bond. 7. Margaret, married Rich- ard Olcott. S. Francis.
(III) Robert Fitts, son of Walter Fitts (2), and his grandsons, Robert and Richard Fitts, emi- grated to Massachusetts. His son's name was also Robert Fitts.
(1V) John Fitts, son of John Fitts (3), married Mary, daughter of Sir John Sydenham, of Brimp- ton, Somersetshire. He was an eminent lawyer, and left a large manuscript volume called "Fitz, his Reports." He inherited Fitzford, and hc or his father built the manor house. His only son was John.
(IV) Robert Fitts, son of Robert Fitts (3), died at the age of twenty-nine, leaving a son, Walter Fitts, (father of the emigrant).
(V) Sir John Fitz (or Fitts), son of John Fitts (4), was made a knight by Queen Elizabeth. He married Gertrude Courtney, of Powderham Cas- tle. Sir John Fitz fought a duel at the gateway of the Fitz mansion with Sir Nicholas Slanning, in 1599, and the latter was killed. Upon some facts in the history of Sir John and his father was founded the romance "Fitz of Fitzford," by Ann Eliza Bray, a copy of which is in the Worcester Public Li- brary. The only child of Sir John was Mary Fitz, born about 1690. She married four times, first Sir Allan Percy, 1608; second, Thomas Darcy ; third, Sir Charles Howard; fourth, Sir Richard Gren- ville, who died in 1658. She died in 1672.
(V) Walter Fitts, son of Robert Fitts (4), was a contemporary of Sir Francis Drake, who married a niece of the mother of his cousin, Sir John Fitts. He is said to have had business relations with Sir Richard Grenville. His son Robert was born in 1600. His son Richard was also an emigrant.
(VI) Robert Fitts, son of Walter Fitts (5), was among the original settlers of Salisbury, Massa- chusetts, 1639. Tradition says that previous to going to Salisbury he settled in Ipswich, 1635. He came from Tavistock, Devonshire, England. He was a planter, a man of high social position, of education and Puritan integrity. He removed to Ipswich. about 1652, and died there May 9, 1665. He mar- ried first, in England, Ann Barnes, and (second) Grace, sister of Robert Lord. Robert and Grace Fitts gave testimony December 22, 1664, as to the promise made by Simon Thompson desiring their son Abraham, who married his daughter, to come to Ipswich and reside. The will of Robert Fitts, dated January 5, 1663, proved June 26, 1665, men- tions wife Grace and son Abraham, to whom he left land at Salisbury, which he purchased of his brother (in-law) william Barnes, brother of his first wife, no doubt. The widow dicd April 25, 1681. The estate of Robert Fitts was valued at two hundred and thirty pounds, which showed him to have been a wealthy man compared with his neigh- bors.
(VII) Abraham Fitts, only son of Robert Fitts (1), was born about the time his parents came to America, say 1635. . He married, May 16, 1655, Sarah, daughter of Simon Thompson, of Ipswich, the magistrate for the occasion being the governor, Simon Bradstreet. She died June 4, 1664. He mar- ried (second) the widow of Tyler Birdley, January
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7, 1668. He was a farmer, living in Ipswich. Numerous writings bearing his signature, from Jan- uary 8, 1657, to January 16, 1690, are on file. He was admitted a freeman and took the oath March II, 1673-4. He was impressed for service in the Nar- ragansett expedition against King Philip, November 30, 1675, with twenty-eight others from Ipswich, three of whom were killed and twenty-two wounded, December 17, 1675. He was also in the expedition to Canada in 1690. He died March 27, 1692. Chil- dren of Abraham and Sarah (Thompson) Fitts: I. Sarah, born February 21, 1657, died January 14, 1660. 2. Abraham, died 1714. 3. Robert, born March 30, 1660, died June 15, 1661. 4. Sarah, born March 15, 1661. Children of Abraham and Rebecca (Birdley ) Fitts : 5. Robert, born May 28, 1670, died young. 6. Richard, born February 20, 1672. 7. Isaac, born July 3, 1675.
(VIII) Abraham Fitts, son of Abraham Fitts (7) and second child, married first, Margaret, daughter of Sergeant John and Anne Choate, who were the emigrant ancestors of Rufus Choate, Jo- seph H. Choate and others who have made the name famous in America. John Choate was born 1624 and died December 4, 1695, remembering Mrs. Fitts in his will dated 1691, proved May 1, 1697. Margaret, wife of Abraham Fitts, died February 28, 1691-2. He inarried ( second), January 9, 1693, Mary Ross. Children of Abraham and Margaret ( Choate) Fitts : I. Abraham, see forward. 2. Ebenezer, born August 6, 1685, died young. 3. Anna, born June 18, 1686, died young. 4. Robert, born July 19, 1690, ancestor of Worcester county branch.
(1X) Abraham Fitts, first son of Abraham Fitts (8), died June, 1763; married (published March 3), 1721-2, Phoebe Fuller, died August 25, 1739. He married (second) (intentions dated November 18) 1739, Elizabeth Cross, widow. In 1736 he received a quitelaim deed from his brothers and sisters of their interest in a Narragansett right, probably of their grandfather, for service in King Philip's war. He and his wife were members of the First Church of Christ, Ipswich. Children of Abraham and Phoebe ( Fuller) Fitts: I. Abraham, baptized Sep- tember 29, 1723. 2. Daniel, see forward. 3. Phebe, baptized October 6, 1728. 4. Mary, baptized October 6, 1728. 5. Abraham, baptized January 23, 1732, died September 30, 1736. 6. James, baptized July 7, 1734, died May 20, 1736. 7. Sarah, baptized March 21, 1736. 8. Abraham, baptized April 11, 1738.
(X) Daniel Fitts, second child of Abraham Fitts (9), baptized May 2, 1725, married Christiana Smith, of Ipswich, December 15, 1750. He united with the First Church of Ipswich the following year. Children of Daniel and Christiana (Smith) Fitts : 1. Daniel, see forward. 2. Abraham, baptized November 26, 1753. 3. Moses, baptized May 8, 1755. 4. Eunice, baptized April 23, 1758, died young. 5. Israel, baptized December 30, 1759. 6. Stephen, baptized April II, 1762. 7. Solomon, bap- tized March 18, 1763. 8. James, baptized September 8, 1765. 9. David, born July 1, 1767. 10. Lydia, died young. Daniel Fitts removed to Pomfret, Con- necticut, and bought three hundred and sixty acres of land in Ashford of Stephen and Amasa Keyes, known as the Knowlton farm, November 6, 1770. He was a soldier in the revolution in the Ashford company, Colonel Israel Putnam's regiment, No. 13. Captain Thomas Knowlton, later Colonel, com- manded this company. It was in the battle of Bun- ker Hill, and Daniel Fitts died in the service during the siege of Boston, September 7, 1775, at Brook- line, Massachusetts.
(X1) Daniel Fitts, Jr., eldest son of Daniel
Fitts (10), married Elizabeth Fuller, of Ashford, Connecticut. He settled there in 1777. He was a farmer. Two brothers, Moses and Israel, were soldiers in the revolution. Another brother, Stephen Fitts, married Polly Knowlton, daughter of Colonel Knowlton. Children of Daniel and Elizabeth (Ful- ler ) Fitts: 1. Daniel, born March 30, 1776. 2. Eben- ezer Fuller, born December 23, 1778. 3. Benjamin, born November 30, 1780. 4. Elizabeth, born May 12, 1783. 5. Duty, see forward. 6. Rhoda, born May 27, 1787.
(X11) Duty Fitts, fifth child and youngest son son of Daniel Fitts (II), born March 18, 1785, was a farmer. He married, 1809, Olive Butler, born January 9, 1789. She was brought up in the family of Henry Storrs, of Mansfield, Connecticut. She was a woman of fine character, ever cheerful dispo- sition, best of mothers and devoted wife. Both were members of the First Congregational Church of Eastford, Connecticut. Children of Duty and Olive (Butler) Fitts: 1. Lucy Cleveland, born De- cember 7, 1809, married Parker Pennock and had one son, Henry Clark Pennock, who resides in Carson City, Colorado. Mrs. Lucy Cleveland Pennock, who died January 12, 1835. 2. Laura, born December 6, ISII; she grew up to be a beautiful woman, be- loved by all; died suddenly October 30, 1836. 3. Henry Lucian, born December 31, 1815; was a young man of great promise and business ability; began business career with David Clark, of Hartford, Con- necticut; took a better position in New York in 1836; died there very suddenly, September 12, 1836. 4. John Augustine, see forward.
(XIII) John Augustine Fitts, fourth child of Duty and Olive (Butler) Fitts (12), born at East- ford, Connecticut, October 20, 1819; married, August 27, 1847, Caroline Nichols Skinner, born January 16, 1830. He was in his early days a custom boot- maker, and later became an upper leather cutter. He was educated in the public schools and was brought up as a Congregationalist, but in later years joined the Methodist church. He was first a Whig, but one of the first in his neighborhood to join the Re- publican party when it was formed, and he remained a Republican all his life. He was an admirer of Henry Clay, Henry Ward Beecher and James G. Blaine as types of leading Americans. lle always was deeply interested in public questions. He died April 3, 1894. The following was written of him at the time of his death: "lle was a man who was much respected and esteeined by everyone who knew him, unostentatious, yet possessed of a sound mind and genial disposition. He was an affectionate and kind husband, an indulgent father and obliging neighbor. He will be much missed. He bore his sickness with Christian fortitude. Caroline N. Skinner was the daughter of Captain Jonathan Skinner, of Eastford, Connecticut, for a number of years the leading manufacturer and business man of that little town. She was educated in the public schools of Eastford, Holliston, and Boston, and made a special study of music. She taught school for a few terms in her native town, and was organ- ist of the Methodist church there for over forty years. She took a great interest in this church, of which she was a member and of which her father had been one of the founders and chief supporters. She was always interested in public affairs of the country, and still maintains that interest. Of late ycars she has lived with her only daughter, Mrs. Thomas King, of Highland Park, Connecticut. She still owns her home at Eastford. Children of John A. and Caroline N. (Skinner) Fitts: I. John Her- bert, see forward. 2. Carrie Laura, born October 22, 1854, married Thomas King; children: Marion C.,
PURT
Dilas Dunton
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born May 10, 1880; Edna May, born April 26, 1888, died August 3, 1890; Ralph C., born August 27, 1891. Thomas King was born in Worcester; since 1890 he has been superintendent of two large reser- voirs comprising the water supply of the town of South Manchester, Connecticut.
(XIV) John Herbert Fitts, eldest child and only son of John A. Fitts (13), was born in East- ford, Connecticut, July 31, 1850. He obtained his education in the public schools of his native town. At the age of fifteen years he went to work as clerk in a grocery store at-Eastford. In June, 1866, he entered the employ of Bowditch & Co., furniture dealers of New Haven, where he remained for one year, ill health causing him to return home. After a year he began work again and was employed alternately in the store and on the farm until the spring of 1873, when in March he began keeping books for the Excelsior Gas Machine Company at Warren, Massachusetts, and also for B. A. Tripp & Co., in the same office. When the Gas Company removed its business to Connecticut in 1875 he re- mained with Tripp & Company, who had a boot manufacturing establishment, until the spring of 1876, when dull times caused a closing up of the boot making plant. Mr. Fitts returned to Eastford and found work there, remaining in Eastford with the exception of a few months in Spencer, Massa- chusetts, and again in Willimantic, Connecticut, until 1881, when he moved to Montville, Connecticut, to take a position in a general store there. In 1883 he moved to Webster, Massachusetts, where he was clerk for three years and a half in the Merino Store, nine and a half years for D. Wood & Co .; and since August, 1896, in the store of S. Slater & Sons, where he is now employed as manager of the grocery department of this well known milf store. He is an earnest Republican. He cast his first vote for president for General Grant. He joined the First Congregational Church of Webster in 1888, and has served on the church committee. He is a member of Benjamin Franklin Council, No. 333, Royal Arcanum, and has been vice-regent two years.
He married, September 23. 1877, at Eastford, Connecticut, Katherine McElhiney, of Warren, Mas- sachusetts, born in St. John, New Brunswick, April 17, 1846, and received her education there. She was the daughter of George McElhiney and Lydia (Den- nison) McElhiney. Her father was a builder and contractor. a member of the Reformed church of Scotland, leader of the choir for many years, and efder of the church. The father of George Mc- Elhiney served under Wellington in the British Artillery, and was a day's march away at the battle of Waterloo. He helped to bury the dead after- ward. Children of John Herbert and Katherine (McElhiney) Fitts: I. Georgia Winnifred, born May 1, 1878, at Eastford; educated in public schools of Dudley and Webster; attended Nichols Academy,
Dudley, and graduated at the Webster high school. 2. Herbert Venner, born February 6, 1880, at East- ford; educated at Dudley and Webster, and Nichols Academy; was clerk at the Slater Store for a year, clerk in Millbury and Woonsocket stores, and is at present working in the store of Richard Barnett, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. 3. Annie Nichols, born May 21, 1882; was educated in Webster and Dudley, graduated at Webster high school; married Edward M. Salisbury, of Charlton, October 12, 1903; he is a graduate of Spencer high school and of Becker's Business College; has been bookkeeper at Slater Milfs; is now in weaving department learn- ing the business.
SILAS DUNTON. Samuel Dunton (1), the immigrant ancestor of Silas Dunton, of Millbury, Massachusetts, was born in England or Scotland about 1620. Family tradition says that he was Scotch. He is the best known and most prominent of the early settlers of this name in New England. Edward and Elizabeth Dunton, perhaps relatives of his, were in Salem and members of the church there in 1039, but soon afterwards they removed, per- haps back to England or the old country whence they came, as no more is known of them. Robert Dunton, the only other early settler of this name in Massachusetts, was possibly father and probably a brother of Samuel. Both of them settled in Read- ing. Robert was a proprietor there in 1644 and a prominent man, holding many town offices later, se- lectnian in 1047-48-49. Samuel Dunton was also a proprietor in 1644 at Reading, though reported earlier at Salem or Lynn. He died November 7. 1683. His will, proved December, 1684, bequeathed to sons Samuel, John and Nathaniel; daughters Hannah, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary and Ruth; grand- son Samuel; refers to land which Thomas had to use; John was to maintain his father and mother the remainder of their lives. His estate was settled by his son John; his accounts mention payments to Hannah, Sarah, Nathaniel and Samuel Dunton.
Samuel Dunton married Ann or Hannah Felcli, daughter of Henry and Margaret Felch. She died July, 1689. Children of Samuel and Ann Dunton were : Samuel, born at Reading, October 15, 1647, see forward; Hannah, born February 24, 1649-50, married Thomas Williams; Nathaniel, born January 16, 1655-56, inarried (first ) Sarah ; (second) Abigail Lilley; (third) Abigail Richardson; Eliza- beth, born March 25, 1658, married Nathaniel Ev- ans; Sarah, born March 28, 1660; Mary, born March 5, 1661, died at Andover, Massachusetts, February 17, 1714, "an old maid;" Ruth, born April 4, 1663; John, executor ; Thomas, mentioned in will.
(II) Samuel Dunton, eldest child of Samuel Dunton (1), was born in Reading, Massachusetts, October 15, 1647. He was a soldier in King Philip's war in 1675-70-77, and was under Captain Thomas Wheeler in the expedition against the Nipmucks to Brookfield and Groton. He died before 1785. He married, at Reading, June 17, 1673, Sarah Kendall, daughter of Deacon Thomas Kendall. She was born at Reading, June 22, 1653. She married (sec- ond) Richardson. Children of Samuel and Sarah Dunton: Samuel, see forward; Sarah, born at Reading, February 22, 1676-77, married Thomas Frost; Rebecca, born February 12, 1678-79, died young ; Ebenezer, born April 29, 1681, settled in Roxbury; Thomas, born October 9, 1683, died No- vember 9, 1683.
(III) Samuel Dunton, eldest child of Samuel Dunton (2), was born in Reading, Massachusetts, July 17, 1674, and died at Woburn, 1705, when a young man. The mother Anna was appointed guardian of the two children in 1705. They were: Rebecca, born about 1698; Samuel, see forward.
(IV) Samuel Dunton, only son of Samuel Dun- ton (3), was born about 1699. He settled in Woburn on the place probably bought by his father and in- herited by him. In 1721-22 he bought twenty-seven acres of land of Samuel Pierce. He sold the fot he had from his father's estate May 27. 1728, and also the land bought of Pierce, amounting in all to ninety acres, for one hundred and seventy pounds. He then removed to Wrentham, Massachusetts. 1728.
He married, in Woburn, September 25, 1722, Deborah Pierce, daughter of Benjamin and Mary
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(Read) Pierce. She was born at Woburn, Decem- ber 5, 1700, and died at Wrentham, August 8, 1702. Her grandfather was Sergeant Thomas Pierce, who inarried Elizabeth Cole, daughter of Ryce and Ar- rold Cole. Mary Read, mother of Mrs. Dunton, was the daughter of Ralph and Mary ( Peirce) Read and was born in Woburn, October 15, 1070. Children of Samuel and Deborah Dunton were : Samuel, born in Woburn, June 27, 1723, married Sarah Bennett; was a soldier in the revolution; settled in Willington, Connecticut; Deborah, born at Woburn, 1724-25, married Ebenezer Lawrence; Rebecca, born at Woburn, December 20, 1726, mar- ried Captain Jonathan Whitney. The remaining children were born at Wrentham, Massachusetts : Thomas, born May 7, 1729, died January 24, 1749- 50; Ebenezer, see forward; Benjamin, born Feb- ruary 8, 1732; Gershom, born February 8, 1734-35; Jesse, born March 27, 1737; Sarah, born September 3, 1739, married Ebenezer Tucker; Molly, born March 5, 1741, died August 6, 1741; Jerusha, born November 12, 1746.
(V) Ebenezer Dunton, son of Samuel Dunton (4), was born in Wrentham, Massachusetts, March 19, 1730-31, died September 4, 1821. He settled in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, about 1760. He was a soldier in the revolution in Captain Timothy Par- ker's company, Colonel Warner's regiment, in 1775, and in Captain Adam Martin's company, Colonel Ebenezer Learned's regiment, later in the same year. He died September 4, 1821. He mar- ried. about 1758, Beulah Cheney, born August I, 1734, died July 12, 1824. Their children, all born in Sturbridge, were: Silas, see forward; Moly, born May 18, 1762; Beulah, December 11, 1764; Jerusha, March 2, 1767; Benjamin, February 23, 1769; Keziah, April 9, 1771; Henry, April 9, 1773.
(V1) Silas Dunton, son of Ebenezer Dunton (5), was born in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, July 26, 1760, and died there September 21, 1847. He settled in Sturbridge and was a farmer there. He was a soldier in the revolution in Captain Abel Mason's company, Colonel Jonathan Holman's regi- ment, in 1777, in Rhode Island; also in the same company in Colonel Job Cushing's regiment, rein- forcing the northern army in 1778; also in Captain John Putnam's company, Colonel Wage's regiment, in 1778, under General Sullivan, in Rhode Island.
He married Eunice - born September 15, 1760, died April 1, 1840. Their children were : Zenas, born July 10. 17So, settled in Sturbridge, a blacksmith; Lovisa, March 1, 1782; Samuel, March 20, 1784, married Relief Whittemore, January 10, 18OS; settled in New York state; Lavinia, January 3, 1786; Moses, see forward; Hannah, March 17, 1790; Eunice, March 25, 1792; Luther, July 29, 1794, died October 8, 1796; Percy, December 1, 1796; Perley, March 23, 1800, was a blacksmith, died un- married.
(VII) Moses Dunton, son of Silas Dunton (6), was born in Sturbridge. Massachusetts, March 21, 1788, and died January 16, 1867. lle learned the blacksmith trade and while yet a young man came to Millbury, Massachusetts, where, after working for a time as a journeyman, he established a smithy of his own and for a number of years carried on a successful business. His health suffered finally from the hard labor of his vocation and he had to give up his shop. He subsequently worked in the gun shop of the United States armory, then in charge of Asa Waters, a government contractor, but for several years before his death he was retired from all active pursuits.
Ile married. May 20, 1814, Zoa Pierce, born in Sutton, Massachusetts, and died in Millbury, April
29, 1871, daughter of Isaac Pierce. The children of Moses and Zoa Dunton were: Austin, born January 16, 1815, died November 25, 1897, at Millbury ; Will- iam, born November 9, 1816, resides in Newport, New Hampshire; married Lois Corbin and has two children; Silas, see forward; Martha, born Septem- ber 24, 1820, died November 11, 1899; she married (first) William H. Billings, of Charlestown, ( sec- ond) Henry Dexter; her three children were all by the first husband; Mary, born October 9, 1824, died September 28, 1841.
(VII]) Silas Dunton, son of Moses Dunton (7), was born in Millbury, Massachusetts, April 9, 1818. He received such educational advantages as were given to a farmer's boy in his day. At the age of fourteen he left the district school to be- come an assistant in his father's shop. Two years later he began his mercantile career as a clerk for A. G. Stiles & Company, general merchants, in Mill- bury, for whom he worked until the firm was dis- solved. In 1839 he went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was a salesman for three years in the boot and shoe store established in that city by Wood & Warren, of Upton, Massachusetts. After returning home in 1842, he soon went south again to dispose of a bankrupt stock of boots and shoes, which he sold to dealers in Memphis, St. Louis and Louisville. From 1844 to 1846 he was employed as a salesman in a dry goods store in Worcester, Massa- chusetts, for Hardon & Hunt, successors to H. B. Clafflin, and during the ensuing year he was clerk in a Boston clothing house for some six months, when he returned to Millbury and clerked for a woolen manufacturing company for a short time, when he went to North Oxford and took charge of a store for Benedict & Denney, cotton manufacturing company. Leaving the cotton company in 1848, he became the junior member of the firm of Robbins & Dunton, of Millbury. This firm had a flourishing business for three years, when Mr. Dunton bought out his partner. In company with Mr. Denny, who was an experienced pharmacist, added a drug store to the general merchandise in which he had been dealing, and continued for a number of years. Mr. Denny withdrew after some years and went west. Two years later Mr. Dunton took his son-in-law, James A. Morse, into partnership.
Just after the close of the civil war, Mr. Dunton sold his store and in company with others went to Richmond, Virginia, to look at timber lands along the York river. He concluded not to invest and went to Canada, where he embarked in the oil-well business. The experience was unprofitable and he returned to Millbury, where he has since lived. He bought back his old business and conducted it for two years as the head of Dunton & Morse. In 1872 he went into partnership with Thomas A. Win- ter under the firm name of Dunton & Winter, and the business has continued under this name to the present time. The firm lias a large general store and has been highily prosperous. Mr. Dunton is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of Olive Branch Lodge of Millbury, of which he has been a member since 1855. He is a Republican of the stalwart sort and has voted with that party since its organization. He cast his first vote in a presi- dential campaign while he was at Louisville, and helped to build the log cabin in which Henry Clay afterward spoke in the famous Log Cabin campaign for Harrison and Tyler. He was a representative to the general court from Millbury in 1868. He at- tends the Unitarian church. He married, August 22, 1846, Olivia L. Guild, of Oxford, Massachusetts. She was born in Augusta, Maine, daughter of Davis and Ohvia ( Lyon) Guild. She died July 25, 1884,
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