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 85
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(IX) Charles Henry Harris, third child of War- ren A. Harris (8), was born in Millbury, Massachu- setts, April 15, 1867. He was educated in the public and high schools and has since been associated with his father in business. He married, May, 1888, Mary Jean Callahan, born September 25, 1863. Their children are: Augusta Martha, born March 7, 1889;
Walter Callahan, October 9, 1890; Harry Daniel, August 18, 1892, dicd August 25, 1892; Warren Timothy, March 10, 1894; Edmund Paul, April 22, 1896; Honora, June 15, 1898; Marion, March 21, 1900.
John Coller or Collier (1), immigrant ancestor of Warren A. Harris, of Millbury, Massachusetts, was first of Cambridge and Watertown, then of Sudbury. He came to Framingham with the Mellen family in 1687, and with the consent of Governor .Danforth took possession of lands lying west of Parks Corner and adjoining the Mellen estate. Col- ler's house was near the river and the bridge at Cutler's mills was called Coller's bridge in the early records. He was born probably in England or Scot- land in 1633. He was one of the committee on building the highway from Sudbury, Sherburn, Marl- boro, Framingham and the Falls on Charles river in 1684. He married Hannah Cutler, daughter of James Cutler. She was born in 1638. Their children were : Hannah, married, June 16, 1679, James Cush- ing ; John, born March 6, 1661, settled in Sudbury ; Thomas, born December 14, 1663; Mary, married, January 9, 1695, Samuel Holland; James, see for- ward; Jane, born in Boston, July 20, 1681.
(II) James Coller, son of John Coller (I), was born about 1660. He settled first in Framing- ham with his father. He was nominally one of the thirty settlers of the town of Oxford in Worcester county, but apparently did not reside there until several years after the settlement was made. He was of Framingham in 1718, at the time of the sale of the Oxford estate. In 1735 he bought the Mayo farm of Oxford. He seems to have been a quiet citizen and his name seldom appears on the public records. He married Elizabeth and (second), December 22, 1746, Hannah Twitchell. He died in 1749 and his will was proved May 29, 1749. The children of James and Elizabeth Collier were: James, born January 20, 1695-96, settled at Framingham, married Patience Gleason; lived also at Hopkinton ; Joseph, born December 16, 1702, resided at Hop- kinton, married Mercy Travis, of Hopkinton; Eliza- beth, married, 1739, Daniel Toombs; Jonas, born 1713. see forward.
(III) Jonas Collier, son of James Coller (2), was born in Framingham, in 1713, died in Oxford, February 26, 1795, aged eighty-two years. He re- sided in Oxford, was a farmer, and lived on the Collier homestead there. He married, February 14, 1740, Susannah Pratt; married (second), March 4, 1779, Mrs. Elizabeth Persons, of Spencer. Children of Jonas and Susannah were: Ebenezer, born Jan- uary 8, 1741, married Sarah Towne, 1771; Eunice, born May 1, 1742, married John Ives, December I, 1772; Jason, born January 5. 1744, see forward; Ezekiel, born April 5, 1745, was a revolutionary sol- dier, settled in Ashford, Connecticut; Jonas, born January 5, 1747, married Mary Rich; Mercy, born October 7, 1750, died April 1, 1838.
(IV) Jason Collier, son of Jonas Collier (3), was born in Oxford, Massachusetts, January 5, 1744. He was a farmer in Oxford. He was a soldier in the revolution in Captain William Campbell's com- pany, Colonel Ebenezer Learned's regiment, in 1775. This was an Oxford company. He married, Novem- ber 24, 1768, Sarah Bogle, daughter of John Bogle. She had nineteen children. She died January 23, 1814. He married (second) Hannah Farrington, born December 6, 1765, died January 15, 1859, aged ninety-two years. He died October 4, 1840. Chil- dren of Jason and Sarah Collier were: John, see forward; James, born October 6, 1770; Elizabeth, born October 6, 1771, married (first) Abel Avery ; (second) Major Nathaniel Dexter; Esther, born
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December 27, 1772, married William Prentiss ; Ezra, born May 28, 1774; Sarah, born 1775, died 1788; Jonathan, born January 9, 1777, married Olive Cum- mings; Rufus, born August 30, 1778; William, born 1780, died young; William, born September 5, 1781 , died February 7, 1813; Ruth, born May 11, 1783, died April 14, 1809; Mary, born January I, 1785, married Edward Leeds; Ebenezer, born May 10, 1786; Lucretia, born September 24, 1787; Alexander, born April 24, 1789, died unmarried September 19, 1852; Jason, born August 2, 1791; Nehemiah, born March 30, 1793; Hannah, born January 30, 1795, married, 1820, Jolin A. Wood; Joel, born April 22, 1797.
(V) John Collier, eldest child of Jason Collier (4), was born October 16, 1769, died March 9, 1813, at Oxford. He married Sally Warren, of Cambridge, born February 20, 1779, died April 30, 1815. He lived in Oxford and Charlton. Children of John and Sally Collier were: Joseph W., born January 28, 1796, at Providence, resided at Oxford until his father's death; Sally, born August 19, 1797, died at Newton, 1808; Harriet, born February 16, 1799, at Charlton, married Marcus Smith, of Wrentham; Marietta, born January 13, 1801, at Charlton, mar- ried Almon Bickford; John, Jr., born January 24, 1803, lost at sea, 1815; Susan P., born December 6, 1805, at Oxford, married Samuel Andrews; Augusta, see forward; Jonas, born in Oxford, August 31, 1809, died January 18, 1892, at Nelson, Michigan. (VI) Augusta Collier, youngest child of John Collier (5), was born in Oxford, Massachusetts, December 19, 1807. She married, November 27, 1828, Harry W. Harris and settled in Millbury. He died April 10, 1868. (See Harris family sketch herewith.)
Abraham Bryant (1), the immigrant ancestor of Saralı Frances Bryant, of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, who married Warren A. Harris, of Millbury, was one of the early settlers of Reading, Massachusetts. He was born in England about 1640. He was a blacksmith by trade. His home was on what is now Elm street on the south side, west of Joseph Harts- horn's place.
He married (first), 1664, Mary, daughter of Deacon Thomas Kendall. She died in 1688 and he married (second) Ruth Frothingham, of Charles- town. She was widow of Samuel Frothingham, and died in 1693. Children of Abraham and Mary Bry- ant were: Mary, born 1666, married, 1684, John Weston; Rebecca, born 1668, died 1670; Abraham (2), born 1671, father of Abraham, who settled in Sudbury; Thomas, born 1674; Anna, born 1676; William, born 1678; Kendall, born 1680; Abigail, born 1683, died 1694; Tabitha, born 1685.
(III) Abraham, son of Abraham (2), born 1700, married Sarah Frinks, and lived in Sudbury.
(IV) John Bryant, the great-grandson of the immigrant, Abraham Bryant (I), and son of Abra- ham Bryant (3), was born in 1722 in Sudbury. He settled in Lynnfield Centre, and his children, born there, were: Mary, born May 12, 1746; Jonathan, January 13, 1748, see forward; Elizabeth, November 10, 1749; Sarah, May 14, 1753; Lydia, June 15, 1755; Benjamin, October 6, 1757.
(V) Jonathan Bryant, son of John Bryant (4). was born in Lynn, January 13, 1748. His children, born at Lynn, were: Anna, baptized August 13, 1775; John, born April 14, 1771, baptized August 13, 1775, see forward; Saralı, baptized August 13, 1775.
(VI) John Bryant, son of Jonathan Bryant (5), was born at Lynn, Massachusetts, April 14. 1771. He was baptized at Lynn, August 13, 1775. He set- tled at Lynnfield, adjoining Lynn. Among his chil-
dren, born in Lynnfield was Jonathan, who was born 1814.
(VII) Jonathan Bryant, son of John Bryant (6), was born at Lynnfield, Massachusetts, January II, 1815, and died September 20, 1906, aged upwards of ninety-one years. He married Sarah Parker Spokes- field, born in 1816, in Reading, died January 20, 1873. Among their children was Sarah Frances Bryant, born at Lynnfield, January 15, 1844.
(VIII) Sarah Frances Bryant, daughter of Jon- athan Bryant (7), was born at Lynnfield, January 15, 1844. She married, November 1, 1876, Warren A. Harris, of Millbury.
FREDERICK ESTES ABBOTT, JR. George Abbott (1), the immigrant ancestor of Frederick Estes Abbott, Jr., of Boylston, Massachusetts, died in Rowley, Essex county, Massachusetts, shortly after his settlement there. The general court re- ferred his will to the Salem court, November II, 1647. The inventory was taken August 30, 1649, and shows that he owned land at Newbury; had thirty books, a large library for a colonial house, and other real estate. We learn of his family from the will of his son, Thomas Abbott, made September 5, and proved September 27, 1659, in which he be- queathed to his wife Dorothy, father-in-law, Rich- ard Swan; brothers George, Nehemiah and Thomas Abbott. (Note that the deceased Thomas speaks of a brother Thomas in this will). George Abbott, of Andover, Nehemiah Abbott, of Ipswich, and Thomas Abbott, of Concord, sold, by deed of No- vember 25, 1659, land at Rowley formerly belonging to their father, George Abbott, deceased, subject to the life interest of Dorothy, widow of the de- ceased Thomas Abbott, their brother. There are fre- quent cases where two brothers have the same name, as appears in this instance. The children of George Abbott were: Thomas, died September 7, 1659, mentioned above; George, see forward; Nehe- miah, settled in Ipswich; Thomas, settled in Con- cord, and signed deed November 25, 1659, after death of brother of the same name.
(II) George Abbott, Jr., son of George Abbott (I), was born in England, about 1630, and came with his parents to Rowley. He settled in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1655. He must not be confused with the George Abbott of another family, also of Andover, though they were probably related in some way. He died March 22, 1689, aged sixty years, and his wife died 1728, aged ninety-nine years, having married (second) Henry Ingalls, who died 1719, aged ninety-two years. George Abbott married, May, 1658, Sarah Farnum, and they lived near the north meeting house in Andover. He was the sexton for many years, a man, we are told, who was greatly respected. The children of George and Sarah Ab- bott were: George, Jr., born January 28, 1659, died January 24, 1724; Sarah, September 6, 1660; John, August 26, 1662; Mary, March 29, 1664; Nehemiah, July 20, 1667, died October 8, 1750; Hannah, Sep- tember 20, 1668; Mehitable, February 17, 1771, died young ; Lydia, September 29, 1675; Samuel, May 30, 1678, see forward; Mehitable, April 4, 1680.
(III) Samuel Abbott, son of George Abbott, Jr. (2), was born in Andover, Massachusetts, May 30, 1678. He settled in Sudbury, and married there, June 16, 1705, Joyce Rice, daughter of Edmund and Joyce Rice. The children of Samuel and Joyce Ab- bott, born in Sudbury, were: Joyce, born August 18, 1706; Martha, March 10, 1712; Samuel, August 21, 1716, mentioned below; and George.
(IV) Samuel Abbott son of Samuel Abbott (3), was born at Sudbury, August 21, 1716, and set- tled there. He married, 1737, Abigail Myrick. Their
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children, all born at Sudbury, were: John, born June 5, 1738, died May 23, 1799; Ephraim, May 27, 1740; Jason, October 6, 1742, died at Paxton, August 9, 1770; Samnel, September 27, 1743, sec forward ; Sarah, February 27, 1745; Rebecca, March 19, 1748; Abigail, May 7, 1751; Abraham, January 11, 1754, settled at Warwick; Abijah July 11, 1756, died April 11, 1810; Amos, 1759, died 1839, married Abi- gail Hayden; Jonas; Lewis; Onesimus; and Abigail. (V) Samuel Abbott, son of Samuel Abbott (4), was born in Sudbury, Massachusetts, September 27, 1743. He was a blacksmith by trade. He settled in the town of Framingham, adjoining Sudbury, on what is called the Deacon John Adams place, which he bought, May 11, 1772, of David Eames. He was a soldier in the revolution, a private in Captain Samuel Edgell's company, and marched with his company at the Lexington call, April 19, 1775. He was in the service later in 1775, and in Captain Jesse Eames' company, Colonel Samuel Bullard's regi- ment, in 1776. He died of smallpox at Sherborn, an adjoining town, in 1791-2. He married Martha Jen- nings, daughter of Joseph and Rachel Jennings. She married (second) Noah Eaton. The children of Samuel and Martha Abbott were: Betsey, bap- tized May 15, 1774, married William Hastings; Polly, baptized August 15, 1774, died young; Josiah, born September 26, 1775, see forward; Patty, bap- tized June 14, 1778, died young; Sally married Amariah Forrester; Nabby, baptized June, 1783, mar- ried Thomas Hastings.
(VI) Josiah Abbott, son of Samuel Abbott (5), was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, September 26, 1775. He lived on his father's place, and died there August 11, 1856. He married, September 5, 1803, Ruth Esterbrook, of Holden, who died July 30, 1863. Their children, all born at Framingham, were: Mary, born September 30, 1804, died Jan- uary 26, 1826; Cyrus, born May 23, 1806, married Mary Puffer; he died September 21, 1833; Ebenezer E., born July 2, 1807, see forward; Eliza C., born May 30, 1810, married, September 15, 1833, Rev. Benjamin Schneider, missionary at Broosa and Aintab, Turkey; she died September 14, 1850; Josiah, born May 22, 1811, graduate of Yale, 1835, M. D., married Arminda White; Alexander, born March 6, 1813, was a physician married Mary de Pew, Kinderhook, New York; Martha Ann, born November 28, 1815, married Rev. Nathan Shotwell; she died September 23, 1849; James, born October 20, 1818, died June 18, 1838; Susan Maria, born July 10, 1820, married Rev. Benjamin Schneider, missionary above named, who died at Boston, De- cember 14, 1877; Almira, born August 12, 1822, died February 10, 1825; Franklin, born August 12, 1826, died July 9, 1847.
(VII) Ebenezer E. Abbott, son of Josiah Abbott (6), was born at Framingham, Massachusetts, July 2, 1807, and was educated there in the public schools. He learned the trade of tanner, and became asso- ciated with his brother Cyrus in the ownership and management of tanneries at Coldbrook, in Barre, Massachusetts. In 1850 he settled in Worcester and established himself in the real estate business. His home was at the corner of Pleasant and Hudson streets. He was in the militia in his younger days and when the civil war broke out, although he was too old to enlist, he served in the local militia known as the Home Guards. He died at Worcester. He married Augusta Kendall, daughter of David Kendall, who was a prosperous farmer and hat man- ufacturer of Barre. Their children were: Ellen A., deceased; Frederick Ebenczer, born August 2, 1835, see forward.
(VIII) Frederick Ebenezer Abbott, son of Eben-
ezer E. Abbott (7), was born in Barre, Massachiu- setts, August 2, 1835. A portion of his boyhood was spent in Oakham, an adjacent town. At the age of fifteen he removed to Worcester with his parents. He attended the public schools of Barre and Worcester, and the Academy at Thetford, Ver- mont. He became associated with his father in the real estate business. When his father retired he entered partnership with G. H. Estabrook, as claim agents and real estate dealers. The name of the firm was Abbott & Estabrook, and their office was over the old post office, Pearl street, Worcester, and later in the Central Exchange building, Main street, Worcester. For a time he was engaged in keeping a hat and cap store, but soon returned to the busi- ness of claim and pension agent. He is a justice of the peace. He has large real estate interests in Worcester, and also has extensive interests in the lumber business in the south. He enlisted at the beginning of the civil war in Company H, Fifteenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, but was rejected by the medical examiner as being physically unable to withstand the fatigue and ex- posure of army life. In politics he is a Republican, and has frequently served his party as delegate to nominating conventions. Mr. Abbott's offices are at present at 492 Main street, and his residence at 15 Charlton street. He married, November 29, 1858, Harriet A. Munroe, daughter of Allen K. and Mary (Chase) Munroe. Her father was a successful shoe manufacturer of Bristol, Rhode Island. The children of Frederick E. and Harriet A. Abbott were: Nellie A .; Grace M., died in childhood; Frederick Estes; Harry Carlton, married Mary E. Green, daughter of C. O. Green, of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, and settled there; their children are -Charles F. and Dorothy B. Abbott; Edward E., married Mabel Tallman, daughter of George B. Tallman, of Worcester, and has one child-Helen B. Abbott; Mabel H., resides at home with parents.
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(IX) Frederick Estes Abbott, Jr., son of Fred- erick Ebenezer Abbott (8), was born in Worcester, December 27, 1862. At the conclusion of his school- ing, which began in Worcester and continued in Shrewsbury, he spent some time on a plantation in the south. He returned and engaged in the meat and provision business at Boylston. Later he en- gaged in the retail milk business, which he con- ducted for eleven years. At present he is doing a large teaming and trucking business in Worcester, although he still resides in Boylston. He is a capable and prosperous business man. Mr. Abbott is a mem- ber of the Congregational Church to which his father, grandfather and great-grandfather in the Abbott line belonged. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Boylston Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.
He married, July 20, 1890, Nellie Ann Ward, born in Warren, Massachusetts, December 16, 1865, daughter of Charles R. and Julia (Reed) Ward. Her father was born in 1824 and died 1891, a car- penter by trade and a building contractor well known in his neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott have no children.
JESSE A. TAFT. Robert Taft (I), the immi- grant ancestor of Jesse A. Taft, late of Milford, Massachusetts, is the progenitor of the great majority of Taft families of Worcester county. He was of Scotch and Irish stock probably. He came to Amer- ica in 1678 and settled in Braintree, but in the fol- lowing year prepared to remove to Mendon. He was a carpenter by trade and a man of substance. He bought large tracts of land in the vicinity of the pond in Mendon. Later he owned a tenth of the
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township site of Sutton, and had property enough to give a large estate to each of his five sons, all of whom became prominent citizens of Mendon or Uxbridge. For more detailed account of Robert Taft, see other sketches of the Taft family. He died February 8, 1725. Children of Robert and Sarah Taft were: Thomas, born 1671; Robert, Jr., born 1674; Daniel, born 1677, see forward; Joseph, born 1680; Benjamin, born 1084.
(II) Daniel laft, son of Robert Taft (1), was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, or in England, 1677, and died 1761, aged eighty-four years. He had part of his father's homestead tract at Fortfield, and his farm has remained in the family many gen- erations. It was lately occupied by Samuel H. laft. Daniel was the legal adviser of his father and broth- ers. He was town treasurer many years, and often moderator. He was elected, February, 1730, a dele- gate to negotiate about the new county. Mendon desired to be the county seat of the new county; it was then in Suffolk. In 1731 Mendon and Ux- bridge became part of the new county of Worcester. He gave the town a site for a burying ground. He was deputy to the general court in 1728 and many other years. He was justice of the peace, the local "Squire."
He married, 1702-03, Hannah , who died August 8, 1704, leaving an infant son Daniel, who soon died. He married (second), December 5, 1706, Lydia Chapin, daughter of Captain Josiah Chapin. Daniel laft died August 24, 1761, accord- ing to his tombstone. His wife Lydia died 1758. His last years were spent in the home of his son Daniel on the Southwick farm in Mendon, where he died. His will was dated January 25, 1759. Robert and Stephen Taft signed it as witnesses and Daniel's signature is very uncertain and feeble. The parti- tion of the estate took place in 1761. Children : Daniel, born August 4, 1704, died young; Daniel, executor of the estate; Josiah, born April 2, 1709, ancestor of Lyman Josiah Taft, of Worcester ; Ephraim, whose daughter Anna is mentioned in his father's will; Japhet, David, Caleb, see forward; Abigail, deceased before her father.
(III) Caleb Taft, son of Daniel Taft (2), was born in Mendon, Massachusetts, about 1710. He settled in Mendon on part of his father's estate, formerly his grandfather's He died in 1782. His will was dated July 23, 1782, and proved January 7, 1783. He married Susanna ,and she mar- ried (second) Ebenezer White. She deeded her rights in Caleb Taft's estate to his son Jotham, De- cember 4, 1797. She was probably not the first wife of Caleb. Children: Jotham, see forward; Caleb, Jr., married Hannah ; Susanna, Jemima, mar- ried Stephen Partridge; daughter, married
Warfield and had Polly, mentioned in her grand- father's will.
(IV) Jotham Taft, son of Caleb Taft (3), was born in Mendon and spent his life in Dudley and Mendon. He married Mary -. He bought of his brother Caleb liis half interest in the Taft home- stead at Mendon, given them by their father. The deed is dated January 30, 1783, and he probably lived after that in Mendon. He was living there January 9, 1793, when he bought land on both sides of the road from the meeting house to the second parish of Mendon, the farm formerly of Edward Thompson. He sold land in 1791 to Elijah Taft; March 7, 1785, to George and Elijah Taft; May 10, 1793, to Seth Taft, Jr .; February 14, 1795, to John- son Legg. Among his children was Amariah, see forward.
(V) Amariah Taft, son of Jotham Taft (4), was born in Mendon about 1790. He died in Men-
don, November 5, 1862, leaving a large estate. The inventory placed the value of $43,878.29 on his per- sonal property and $8,000 on his real estate. He was a very prosperous farmer and business man. He married Watee Wood and their children were: Mary M., married Jesse F. Alderman, of Framingham; Alcy A. F., married John W. Moore, of Marlbor- ough, Massachusetts; Amariah A., see forward; Austin A., Susan A.
(VI) Amariah Aulando Taft, son of Amariah Taft (5), was born in Mendon, Massachusetts, May 15, 1824. He settled in Milford and became a lead- ing citizen there. He was a member of the board of selectmen in 1887. With his associates on that board, C. F. Claflin and E. L. Wires, he started a movement for good government that marked an epoch in the history of the town. He served for three years, during which the community enjoyed a dignified, honest and non-partisan administration of its public affairs. He dealt extensively in real estate and did a large business in executing mort- gages, drawing deeds, etc. He never employed a clerk, preferring to do even the manual part of the work of his office himself. He was generally liked and respected by his townsmen. He was a director of the national bank. He was a man of great en- ergy, activity and force of character. He died sud- denly January 10, 1893. He married, February 20, 1854, Thankful S. Wilkinson, born at Smithfield, Rhode Island, July 9, 1831, daughter of David and Thankful (Sayles) Wilkinson. Their only son was Jesse A., see forward.
(VII) Jesse A. Taft, son of Amariah Aulando Taft (6), was born in Mendon, February 8, 1857. He moved with his parents to the adjoining town of Milford when he was quite young. He attended the graded and high schools of Milford, Massachu- setts, and entered the Boston University Law School, from which he was graduated with honors in 1883. He began to practice law in Milford, where he was engaged in a successful general law business until his death. While well known in the courts of the county he confined himself largely to office practice. He was town solicitor of Milford for six years and for the same length of time town counsel for the adjoining town of Hopedale. He also represented the Draper Company in important matters. He was a director of the Milford National Bank and a trustee of the Milford Savings Bank. He was a member of the Worcester county bar, admitted in 1883, and of the Bar Association. He was a member of the Alumni Association of Boston University. In politics he was an active and influential Repub- lican. He attended the Congregational Church of Milford. Mr. Taft died October 13, 1905, at the outset of a promising career. He had the ability and the personality that promised a brilliant future for him both in his profession and as a public man. He married, April, 1884, Ida F. Thompson, daugh- ter of Charles J. Thompson. Mrs. Taft resides on the home estate in Milford. Their only son, Royal C. Taft, was born at Milford, July 8, 1889. He is at present a student in the Milford high school.
BROWN FAMILY. Joshua Brown (1), the first settler of the name in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, ancestor of Ephraim Brown, of that town, was born about 1715. He married Mary Holbrook. They settled among the first in Uxbridge, where four of their children were born: Lydia, born July 4, 1745; Aaron, February 12, 1748, see forward ; Ruth, February 25, 1753; Chloe, February 16, 1758.
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