Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. II, Part 99

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 99

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

He married (first), January 18. 1824, Rebecca Sadler. of Holden. He married (second), April 5. 1826, Mary Merrifield. born June 29, 1804, died October 30, 1883. daughter of Asaph and Martha (Morse) Merrifield. of West Boylston. Their chil- dren: Mary Jane, horn February 5, 1831, died De- cember 24. 1851; Frederick Lyman, born August 27. 1838, see forward: Arnold, born Mav 9, 1842, «lied March IO, 1865: Mandana, horn October 4, 1846. resides with her brother, Frederick L. Bryant, of Holden.

(VII) Fredeirck Lyman Bryant, son of Lyman

Bryant (6), was born at Holden, Massachusetts, August 27, 1838. He had a common school educa- tion. At the age of thirteen he began to learn the trade of shoemaker and he followed the trade, manu- facturing boots and shoes until he was thirty years old. Among his employers were Captain John Partridge and George Partridge. About 1868 he began to work with his father at the carpenter's trade, working in the mill, getting out lumber such as barn boards and planks. He built a cider mill in 1873 and built up an extensive business. His father retired and deeded the saw mill and shop to him. He installed a steam plant and modern ma- chinery for making lumber. He deals extensively in wood. timber and lumber of all kinds, and has supplied the trade at Holden with wood and kind- ling since 1872. He has also the ice business at that town exclusively. He and his sister are the present owners of the handsome property accumu- lated by their father. Mr. Bryant is a member of the Holden Baptist Church. In politics he is a Repub- lican.

He married (first), May 10, 1868, Angeline Holmes, born September 22, 1846, died January 7, 1877, daughter of Lorenzo and Jerusha (Wood- ward) Holmes, of North Brookfield. Their chil- dren: Edward Everett, born June 21, 1870, died August 6, 18So; Henry Arnold, born August 19, 1872, married, May 28, 1894, Gertrude Locke, of Worcester, and they have one child, Earle Wesley; Maud Irene, born October 19, 1874, married David G. Story and they have Bryant Story, born May. 1905; Luella Edna, born August 17, 1876, died December 21, 1881. Frederick Lyman Bryant mar- ried (second), December 12, 1877, Eliza Jane Newell, born in Holden, June 15, 1846, daughter of Nahum and Olive (Davis) Newell. Their only child: Walter Lyman, born December 19, 1879. graduate of Harvard College, 1902, and Harvard Law School, 1905, and is now, a practicing attorney in Worcester.

RUFUS J. FORBUSH. Daniel Forbush, Forbes, or Farrabas (I), the immigrant ancestor of Rufus J. Forbush, of Westborough, Massachusetts, was a native of Scotland. Something of the origin and history of the Forbes family in Scotland is given elsewhere in this work in the sketch of the Forbes family of Westborough. Daniel Farrabas was the an- cestor alike of all the old families of Massachusetts, or nearly all, bearing the name of Forbes and For- bush. Daniel Forbes is believed by the best author- ities to have been born in Kinellar, Scotland, the son of Daniel Forbes, of that place. A Daniel Forbes died there in 1624.

Daniel Farrabas, as the name was commonly spelled in the early records, came to New England and settled first in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he was married in 1660. It is believed that he was one of the Scotch soldiers taken prisoner by Crom- well and sent to this country. He apparently had little education and could not write his name. He had land granted to him in Cambridge, February 27, 1664, and March 27, 1664. He sold the land March 19, 1671. and removed to Marlborough, Massachusetts, about 1781.

He married (first), in Cambridge, March 26, 1660, Rebecca Perriman, who is supposed to have been a sister of Thomas Perriman, of Weymouth, and of Frances Perriman, who married, June 8, 1654, Isaac Andrew, of Cambridge. His wife died May 3. 1677, and he married (second), May 23, 1679, Deborah Rediat, of Concord, the daughter of John Rediat, who was born in England 1612, came to America on the ship "Confidence," sailing April

352

WORCESTER COUNTY

24, 1638, and for a time servant of Walter Haynes, of Sudbury, formerly of Sutton Manfield, England. Daniel Farrabas died October, 1687, at Marlborough, and his widow Deborah married ( second), May 22, 1688, Alexander Stewart, who was in Marlborough as early as 1687 and was by trade a shipwright. Children of Daniel and Rebecca Farrabas were: Daniel, Jr., born at Cambridge, March 20, 1664, married Dorothy Pray ; Thomas, born at Cambridge, March 6. 1667, married Dorcas Rice; Elizabeth, born at Cambridge, March 16, 1669; Rebecca, born at Concord, Massachusetts, February 15, 1672, mar- ried Joseph Byles, she died at Westborough, Janu- ary 28, 1768, aged ninety-four years, lacking one month; Samuel, born about 1674, married March 8, 1699, Abigail Rice. Children of Daniel and De- borah Farrabas were: John, born 1681, of whom later: Isaac, born October 30, 1682; Jonathan, born March 12, 1684, married Hannah (Hayward) (Far- rar) Holloway.

(II) Captain Samuel Forbush, son of Daniel Farrabas, or Forbush (1), was born about 1674. With his father, and brother, Thomas Forbush, Samuel was one of the first settlers in that part of Marlborough that hecame Westborough. He was also one of the original members of the Westbor- ough Church. He was formerly a member of the Marlborough Church and took sides with his brother in favor of the settlement of Rev. John Emerson in 1702 as the successor of Rev. Mr. Brinsmead. Marlborough, December 11, 1711. His house was appointed a garrison house during Indian troubles and his brother Thomas was assigned to it with others. At the first town meeting held in Westborough in 1718 Samuel Forbush was elected one of the fence viewers; in 1723 he was a select- man ; February 14, 1718, he was one of a committee of five appointed to wait on the general court's committee to set out the minister's lot. The pro- prietors of Marlborough had already. March 13, 1710, granted a portion of land "for the benefit of the ministry on the westerly end of Marlborough, called Chauncey Village." This committee on which Forbush served made an additional assignment of one hundred acres in a narrow strip across the town, from east to west. Samuel Forbush died 1766, about ninety-two years old.

He married, March 8, 1699, Abigail Rice. She was among the first women admitted to the West- borough church. She was a sister of the wife of Thomas Forbush, and was born May 9, 1671. (See sketch of the Rice families of Westborough). Chil- dren of Sammel and Abigail Forbush were: Samuel, of whom later; Charles, born about 1709, married Margaret Lovejoy.

(1II) Captain Samuel Forbush, son of Captain Samuel Forbush (2), was born about 1710. He married Sarah -, who was admitted to the Westborough Church, May 18, 1746. He always lived in Westborough. His will was dated March 28, 1758, and proved December 15, 1767. His land and dwelling house were north of the Dr. Hawes place and near what is now East Main street, West- borough. Children of Captain Samuel and Sarah Forbush were : Samuel, of whom later ; Abigail, born August 29. 1731. died July 6, 1737.

(IV) Samuel Forbush, son of Captain Samuel Forbush (3), was born in Westborough, Massachu- setts. January 13, 1733. He was a leading citizen of Westborough and was selectman 1773-74-87-88- 91-92. He married. July 21. 1756. Abigail Forhush, and both were admitted to the church October 24, 1762. She died August 22. 1788, and he died July 27. 1818. Their children were: Rufus, born May 6, 1757, married Mary Brown; Isaac, born Sep-

tember 18, 1758, married Jedediah ; Abigail, born May 6, 1760, married Nathaniel Andrews and had six children; Lydia, born February 9, 1762, died unmarried; Coolidge, born October 18, 1763, of whom later; Sarah, born March 8, 1756, married, April 2, 1797, Thomas Lathrop; resided in West- borough where he was town sexton many years; had two children; Persis, born May 18, 1768, died September 3, 1777; Samuel, born August 25, 1771, married Sally Nichols; Joel, born October 28, 1773; Jonah, born November 12,' 1775, married Martha Wood; Polly, married Phineas Maynard, of West- borough, and settled in Worcester; they had one daughter, Mary, teacher in the public schools.

(V) Coolidge Forbush, son of Samuel Forbush (4), was born at Westborough, October IS, 1763, and he settled in that town. He married, October 11, 1789. Hannah Miller, who died October 29, 1825. He died February 3, 1832. Their children were: Persis, born April 7, 1791; Hannah, born November 21, 1792, married Moses Gill, of Maynard; Clarissa, born September 21, 1794; Irene, born October 27, 1796, died unmarried : Joel, born August 20, 1798, of whom later; Salome, born March, 1801, married Elmer Newton, resided in Millbury and had one child; Charlotte, born January 12, 1804; Elbridge, born February 24, 1808, married Martha B. Dal- rymple.

(VI) Joel Forbush, son of Coolidge Forbush (5), was born August 20, 1798, in Westborough, Massachusetts. He was a farmer in Westborough all his active years. He was a leading citizen. He was selectman of his native town 1856-57. He mar- ried Rachel Warren. Their children were: Henry Warren, born July 22, 1830, married in Suncook, New Hampshire, December 31, 1873, Elsie K. Sar- gent, born October 18, 1832, died September 1, 1886; he is a manufacturer of school furniture and sup- plies, residing in Philidelphia, 1026 Arch street; Harrison Coolidge, born September 18, 1832, re- sides in Philadelphia; Clarissa Maria, born Decem- ber 20, 1834; Rufus J., of whom later.

(VII) Rufus J. Forbush, son of Joel Forbush (6), was born at Westborough, Massachusetts, Oc- tober 31, 1837. He received the usual common school education of the public schools and helped his father on the farm. He succeeded to the farm after his father, and has carried it on to the present time. He has been successful in a material way. He takes the interest of a good citizen in town af- fairs and has served the town faithfully as assessor for a number of years. He is a Republican of inde- pendent proclivities. He attends the Unitarian Church. Liberal in his views he is of a kindly and generous nature. Mr. Forbush never married.

DAWSON FAMILY. Henry Dawson (1), the English progenitor of the Dawson family of Mill- bury, Massachusetts, and Broad Brook, Connecti- cut, to which Charles Dawson, of Holden, belongs, was the son of a gamekeeper on a nobleman's estate called Leven's Park. The father's name is unknown, but it is known that he held the position of game- keeper about forty years, and that Henry Dawson succeeded him and filled the same position for forty years. Among his children was John, see forward. (II) John Dawson, son of Henry Dawson (I), was born in Kendall, Westmoreland, England, prob- ably between 1735 and 1740. Ile was by trade a wool comber. and is reputed to have been a man of fine appearance and of more than ordinary ad- dress and education for a man in his station, being able to read and speak Latin, but withal of rather improvident habits. He lived to be seventy-five years of age or more. He married, about 1765,

ION PUBLIC LIBRARY

Chas Dawson.

353

WORCESTER COUNTY

Margaret Calvert, daughter of Matthew Calvert, of Lancaster, England. Their children were: I. Matthew, named for his maternal grandfather, by whom he was "bound to the sea" at the age of twelve years: at the age of twenty-four years he sailed from Liverpool to Africa, the second in com- mand of a merchantman or trader; both he and his captain died on the voyage of fever. 2. Mark, was a tailor at Preston, Lancashire, where his chil- dren resided also. 3. John, also a seaman, was living at Whitehaven, Cumberland county, England, when last heard of. 4. Agnes, married John King, resided in Blackburn, Lancashire, and had several children. 5. Mary, see forward. Their were for more daughters, two of whom died in infancy and two died unmarried.

(III) Mary Dawson, daughter of John Dawson (2), was born in Hawes, Yorkshire, England, De- cember 10, 1775, and died at Holcombe, Lancashire, September 4, 1845. She had one son named Henry Dawson, see forward. She married in Preston, Thomas Crompton, born in Holcombe, parish of Bury, Lancashire, May 13, 1768, and died November 27, 1849, eldest son of Ralph Crompton. The seven children of Thomas and Mary (Dawson) Cromp- ton were: James, born in Preston, Lancashire, April 15, 1803, settled in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Rachel, born in Preston, December 21, 1804, died February 21, 1806. William, born in Preston, Sep- tember 10, 1806, was living 1873 in Windsor, Con- necticut. Ellen, born in Holcombe, March 30, 1811, lived in Hartford, Connecticut. Ralph, born in Hol- combe, October 7, 1814, died in Rochester, Wis- consin, March 18, 1872. Matthew, born in Hol- combe, November 19, 1818, died at age of seven months. Margaret, twin sister of Matthew, died aged five months. From the above William Cromp- ton is descended the famous Worcester family of the name. (See sketch.)

(IV) Henry Dawson, son of Mary (Dawson) Crompton (3), was born in Preston, Lancashire, England, October 13. 1799. When a young man he learned the trade of block printer and worked at his trade at Ramsbottom, Belmont and Whitefield, Lancashire, England. He came to this country in 1845 and entered the employ of his brother, William Crompton, in the lower village in Millbury, Massa- chusetts, as block printer, and he worked there for two years. His family came over in 1846, a year after he came, and in 1847 he removed to Broad- brook, Connecticut. in Hartford county, where he was employed in the finishing room in the Broad- brook mill and later as watchman in this mill. He died at Broadbrook, February, 1868. after a short illness. He loved nature and was a skillful gardener. In his younger days he was employed in the choice gardens of one of the large estates. He had a remarkable memory, much native ability, and was a man of high character and strict principles. He was a member of the Presbyterian and of the Protestant Episcopal Church at different periods of his life. In his later days he was a Republican in politics.

He married, 1821, Alice Westenholme, daughter of John Westenholme, of Holcombe, England. Mrs. Dawson, her son Robert, and daughters Mary, Eliza- beth and Alice, were of the twenty original mem- bers of the Congregational Church at Broadbrook, organized May 4. 1851. The children of Henry and Alice Dawson were: John, born in Nuttall Lane, January 11, 1822, resided in Worcester ; Sam- nel, born at Nuttall Lane, August 1. 1823, died October 2, 1827: Mary, born at Nuttall Lane, March 12, 1825, died November 1, 1826; George, born in Nuttall Lane, January 12, 1827, settled at Blair, 11-23

Nebraska ; Mary, born in Nuttall Lane, October 22, 1828, resides at Broadbrook; William A., born in Nuttall Lane, July 15, 1830, resides 1873 at Beloit, Wisconsin ; Charles, born April 9, 1832, see for- ward; Robert W., born in Nuttall Lane, November 3, 1833. settled at Blair, Nebraska; Alice L., born in Nuttall Lane, March 12, 1835, resides in South Norwalk, Connecticut : Elizabeth, born at Belmont, December 4, 1836, resides at Canaan, Connecticut ; married - - Adams; Rachel M., born in Belmont, July 21, 1839, resided in South Norwalk, Connecti- cut ; Henry, born in Belmont, March 29. 1841, set- tled in Worcester, Massachusetts ; Jane, born in Bel- mont, March 31, 1843, settled in South Norwalk: James E., born at Whitefield, May 28, 1845, settled at Worcester; Joshua B. (twin brother of James E.), born Mav 28, 1845, died at Millbury, Massa- chusetts, October 31, 1847.

(V) Charles Dawson, son of Henry Dawson (4). was born at Nuttall Lane, Lancashire, England, Aprif 9, 1832. He received his education in Belmont in the common schools, at Whitefield, also in Lan- cashire. He came to America when he was fourteen years old with his mother and the remainder of the children. While the family was at Millbury, he went to school one year. He followed the trade of weaver in the Ridgway Mill of William Cromp- ton, his uncle, having learned his trade mainly in England. He went to work in the Broadbrook mill after the family removed to Connecticut, and was there three or four years weaving and learn- ing the trade of loom-fixer and the art of de- signing woolen fabric patterns. James Thompson was his instructor in making patterns. He worked for two years as loomfixer at Lee, Massachusetts, then becoming overseer of the weave-room of the Bussey mills (now Merchants Mills) at Dedham, Massachusetts, where he worked one year. He was given the management of a new mill erected by Holmes, Whipmore & Company at Springfield, Vermont, and he held this responsible position about five years. From there he went to Pittsfield, Mas- sachusetts. during the civil war, and took charge of the. weave room of the Broad Mill, where he remained several years. He went to Brattleboro, Vermont, with H. P. Whittemore on a partner- ship basis, having a nominal salary and a third in- terest in the profits. But within a year Mr. Fiske of the Jordan & Marsh Company of Boston assumed control, Mr. Dawson remaining with the new man- agement. He came with the same concern to Wor- cester to the Adriatic Mill, of which he had charge from 1864 to 1865. He subsequently entered part- nership with George Crompton at 22 Front street, Worcester, in the mill supply business, under the firm name of Crompton & Dawson. The place of business was on the site of the present Poli Theatre, formerly Crompton building. At the end of three years Mr. Crompton withdrew from the firm and the name then became Dawson & Guild, continuing for three years.

In 1870 Mr. Dawson removed to Holden, Mas- sachusetts, one of the towns adjoining Worcester, and bought his present plant which was formerly used by Kimball & Talbot for the manufacture of dividers and then by John O'Brien, who sold to Dawson. Mr. Dawson started in the manufacture of shoddy and colored cottons. After two years he added looms for the manufacture of shirtings and skirtings. In a few years he substituted broad looms for the old narrow kind, and has since then made a variety of woolen goods, such as plain and fancy cassimeres and broadcloth, and during the past few years exclusively fancy thibets. In 1895 Mr. Dawson admitted his son, Charles A, Dawson,

354

WORCESTER COUNTY

to partnership, and in the following year the busi- ness was incorporated under the laws of Massa- chusetts, with Mr. Dawson president and treasurer of the company, Charles A. Dawson, director, superintendent and manager. In the spring of 1902 the company added to its plant a mnill at Hollis- ton, Massachusetts, rebuilt it and equipped it with new machinery. The new plant was managed by Charles A. Dawson, but his health failed and, after six months, the Holliston plant was sold to A. W. Darling, of Worcester, and he is now operating it under the name of the Darling Woolen Com- pany. The present organization of the Dawson Manufacturing Company is as follows: President and treasurer, Charles Dawson; secretary, Dr. C. WV. Stickney; director, Mrs. C. W. Stickney.

In politics Mr. Dawson is a Republican and he has been delegate to numerous nominating con- ventions of his party. He has been assessor in Ilolden one year and selectman three years. He joined Athelstan Lodge of Free Masons in Wor- cester in 1865. He was a member of the old Washington Club at Worcester. He belongs to the Home Market Club of Boston and the Woolen Manufacturers' Association. Mr. Dawson ranks among the most progressive and successful woolen manufacturers of the county.

He married. July 2, 1852, Jane Elizabeth Osborn, born at Egremont, Massachusetts, April 7, 1829, daughter of Ami S. and Amerilus ( Smith) Osborn. Her father was a hatter by trade. The children of Charles and Jane Elizabeth Dawson are: I. Alida Amerilus, born at Broadbrook, Connecticut, February 16, 1854, married, January 1, 1874, Henry Clay Chenery, of Holden, Massachusetts, and they have one child, Carrie Isabel, born July 20, 1880, wife of Frank Hinckley Cate, of Worcester. 2. Carrie Eloise, born at Springfield, Vermont, March 30, 1856, married Dr. Clifford W. Stickney, of Townsend, Massachusetts, and they have one son- Ralphı Dawson Stickney, born November 7, 1887. 3. Charles Ami, born September 6, 1860, see forward. 4. Freddie Henry, born July 9, 1863, died Novem- ber 9. 1863.

( VI) Charles Ami Dawson, son of Charles Daw- son (5), was born at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, September 5, 1860. He removed with his parents to Middlefield, Massachusetts, and later to Brattle- boro, Vermont, and Worcester, Massachusetts, where he was well educated in the public schools and at Foster's Business College. At the age of fifteen he began to learn his father's business in the Moss Brook Woolen Mill at Holden, in the village of Dawsons. He began at the bottom and worked his way upward. acquiring a practical knowledge of every part of the business. He was admitted to partnership in the spring of 1893, and a few years later, when the business was incorporated as the Dawson Manufacturing Company, under the laws of Massachusetts, he was elected vice-president and secretary. When the Dawson Manufacturing Com- pany bought the Winthrop Woolen Mills of Hollis- ton, Massachusetts, Mr. Dawson took charge of the plant, equipped it with new machinery and put it in operation. The mill was a six-set plant. It was successfully operated by him for six months then, owing to impaired health, he was obliged to abandon his duties there and the plant was sold to A. W. Darling, of Worcester, and is now operated by the Darling Woolen Company.

Mr. Dawson died, after a short illness, at his home in Holden, Massachusetts, September 21, 1903. Mr. Dawson was an able, thorough and successful man of business. He devoted all his energies to his home and business, and had few other interests.

In religion he was a Universalist, but attended the Orthodox Church ( Congregational) at Holden. In politics he was a Republican. He was active and influential in town affairs. He was on the board of selectmen of the town of Holden from March 24, 1898, to March 21, 1902. He was a member of Worcester Lodge, No. 56, Odd Fellows, and of the Royal Arcanum.

He married, September 30, 1884, Nellie Marion Rogers, daughter of Rev. Henry M. and Marion (Browning) Rogers, of Holden, Massachusetts. The only child of Charles Ami and Nellie Marion Daw- son was: Rachel Whitney, born July 20, 1894.

CROCKER FAMILY. Edmund Crocker (1), grandfather of Jonathan Crocker, of Uxbridge, be- longed to an ancient English family, to which doubt- less all the American family also belong. The Crocker family of Fitchburg, one of the best known in Worcester county, is descended from an immi- grant at Gloucester, but most of this name trace their descent to two of the three immigrants to the Plymouth colony. Francis Crocker was at Barn- stable before 1643, fought in King Philip's war, re- moved to Marshfield, where he died about 1700. John Crocker, of Scituate, took the oath of allegi- ance February 1, 1638, removed to Barnstable where he died without issue 1658. William, brother of John, was in Scituate before 1636, removed to Barnsta- ble, was town officer and deacon, died 1692. Ed- mund is of a later generation, and it is not known whether the American emigrants were related to his branch of the family. He married Mary Ogden. He died in England; she died in Uxbridge, Massachu- setts, whither she came with her children.

(II) Edmund Crocker, Jr., son of Edmund Crocker (1), was born in England. He married there in 1819, Ann Burley. He came to America in 1834 and found employment in Millville, Massachu- setts. His brother Abraham was a soldier in the British army and fought against Napoleon. He was selected as one of the body-guard of the imperial captive at St. Helena, and for his service received a grant of land in Nova Scotia, where he settled for a time, but he later removed to Millville, Massa- chusetts, where he died. Edmund Crocker became interested in local affairs and was for many years a leading citizen. He died in Uxbridge, Massachu- setts, April 6, 1872. He had two children of whom Jonathan, mentioned below, was the oldest; the sec- ond, Deborah, died in infancy before the family came to America.

(III) Jonathan Crocker, son of Edmund Crocker (2), was born in Cowleshaw, near Oldham, Lan- cashire. England, October 7, 1820. He received a common school education there and came with his parents to this country in 1834. He went to work first for his uncle Abraham at Millville, Massachu- setts, on a farm. From there he removed to Ux- bridge, where he learned the shoemaker's trade and began to manufacture shoes on his own account in Rice City. Part of his old shop is still standing. When the business began to concentrate in larger towns and to require shops with power and expens- ive machinery, many of the farmer-shoemakers gave up their trade. He then took up the business of teaming in Uxbridge and vicinity, and this part of his business is still prosperous, being now conducted by his son Charles. He took an important part in the upbuilding of many of the industries of the sec- tion in which he lives. He drove the first load of sand used in making the foundations of what is now the Stanley Woolen Company mill, one of the larg- est plants of the town. Mr. Crocker has led an act- ive and useful life, and now at the age of eighty-six

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. II, Part 99

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