Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. III, Part 10

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 772

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. III > Part 10

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Nahum (7) Gaskill, Lewis B. Gaskill's father, was born in Mendon. and succeeded to the posses- sion of the parental estate. lle was an extensive farmer, and in addition to his agricultural interests he transacted a large flour and grain business, the first to engage exclusively in that line of trade in Mendon. He was one of the most prominent and well-to-do citizens of Mendon in his day, and fully merited the high estimation in which he was held by his fellow-townsmen. He lived to he seventy- two years old. Nahum Gaskill married Sarah (or Sally ) Southwick, of Mendon, and was the father of twelve children: John Southwick, born De- cember 12, 1807 ; Samuel, January 14, 1810; Hannah, September 9, 1811; Olive, June 10, 1813; Micajah Collins, September 26, 1816; Mary Thurber, August 13, 1818; Almira Fairbanks, June 8, 1821; Gilbert, April 28, 1823; Nabum, April 18, 1825; Richard George, March 16, 1827; Lewis Boyden, see for- ward; Albert Warren, born December 28, 1831. All grew to maturity, married and reared families. Jolin S., died 1878, married Harriet E. Staples, a member of one of the oldest families in Mendon, and her death occurred September 3, 1874. Samuel was still living in 1891, and in his eighty-eighth year was vigorous and active. Hannah, wife of Abner K. Sprague, survived her husband and died in Blackstone, November 15, 1892. Olive, wife of Elkanah Barrows, died July 12, 1881. Micajah C. became a prominent civil engineer and was en- gaged in laying out several railroads, including the line from Worcester to Barre and that from Wor- cester to Orange. He also made surveys for rail- roads in Maine and other New England states. He participated actively in the civic affairs of Men- clon, serving for a number of terms as selectman and assessor and as representative to the state legisla- ture. He was twice married. Mary Thurber, mar- ried Willis Gould, died March 5, 1898. Almira Fairbanks became the' wife of Charles Fletcher, a contractor. Gilbert was for many years a suc- cessful contractor for the construction of public highways. He also engaged extensively in farming, and is living in retirement in Mendon. Nahum was a prosperous farmer during the active period of his life, and spent his declining years in retirement at his home in Hopedale, where he died in 1895. He married Fannie Eliza Wheelock. Richard G. was twice married and has a son, Richard G., who is the subject of another sketch in this work. Al- bert W. resides in Mendon, and in addition to be- ing a successful farmer he was long identified with the town government, serving as a member of the board of selectmen continuously for a period of thirty years, at the expiration of which he declined further re-election, and he also served as highway commissioner for a number of terms.

Lewis Boyden Gaskill was born in Mendon Jan- uary 4, 1829. He was reared and educated in his native town, where he acquired a knowledge of agri- culture, and resided on the parental estate until after his father's death. In 1860 he purchased the farm in Hopedale, where he has ever since resided, and in connection with general farming he con- ducted a thriving wood and lumber business for many years. Some few years ago he retired from active business pursuits. His property, which is of historic interest, as upon it was erected by Ben- jamin Ally, prior to 1688, the first saw-mill in this section of the county, is admirably located and iii-3

exceedingly fertile. He has replaced most of the old farm buildings with modern structures, but the substantial and comfortable old residence, which was huilt by George Kelley in 1783, has been preserved in its entirety. When Ilopedale was a part of Mil- ford, Mr. Gaskill was prominent in the local gov- ernment, and after its incorporation as a separate town be continued to participate in civic affairs, serving as a member of the board of selectmen, overseer of the poor and upon the board of health. In politics he generally supports the Democratic party, but acts independently when so disposed. His religious affiliations are with the Unitarian Church. In May, 1863, Mr. Gaskill was joined in marriage with Annie E. Jenckes, born in Mendon, February 9, 1844, daughter of Ezra and Julia A. (Swan) Jenckes. Mr. and Mrs. Gaskill have no children.

WYMAN FAMILY. From well authenticated sources it is now positively known that Francis and John Wyman, who were among the first settlers in Woburn, Massachusetts, came from the parish of West Mill, county of Herts, England, and were the sons named in a recently discovered will of Francis Wyman, their father. Their oldest brother, Thomas, inherited the old English estate. The names of John and Francis first occur in Woburn, where they signed town orders in 1640. A house is still stand- ing, built in 1664, by Francis. John's house stood nearby and was destroyed many years ago. They were farm houses near the town site of Woburn, and were exposed to attack of Indians during King Philip's War. The house still standing was used for a garrison, and the post-holes for muskets are still to be seen. The two brothers also had houses in the village, opposite the park at the juncture of Main and Wyman streets. Their tannery was also located nearby and the vat still exists, but are buried beneath several feet of earth. The old gravestone of Francis Wyman is still easily discernible and the inscription reads :

"Here lies ye body of Francis Wyman, aged about 82 years, died Nov. 28, 1699-the memory of ye just is blessed."

It is safe to estimate that there is now about eight thousand Wymans in America. The name of Wyman is beyond doubt Saxon in its origin, and in common with names in earlier times, spelled dif- ferent ways, as "Wiman," "Wymant," "Ymond." "Wimond," etc. The line of descent for the Worces- ter members of this family is as follows: (1) John. born 1621, married Sarah Nutt, 1644. (12) Jonathan, born 1661, married Hannah Fowle, 1690. (154) Jona- than, born 1704, married Martha Thompson. Jona- than, born 1763, married Ruby Richardson. Abel, born 1793, married Maria Wade, 1817. Horace, born 1827, married Louisa B. Horton. 1837. Horace Winfield, born 1861, married Mary W. Haskell, 1889. Horace, (2) born 1893.

Horace Wyman, born 1827, in Woburn, Massa- chusetts, was the son of Abel and Maria (Wade) Wyman, and descended from the English ancestor as above indicated, John and the Jonathans. He obtained his education at Francistown Academy, New Hamp- shire, and the Woburn Academy. He followed the occupation of a machinist and is an inventor of the higher order in American genius. The United States patent office records disclose the striking fact of his having taken out one hundred and fifty patents, most of them relating to textile machinery. Many of his machines are in use in the up-to-date mills of today. He has been an inveterate toiler and ingenious delver into the complicated realm of me- chanics, and has usually confined his labors and re-

WORCESTER COUNTY

scarch to the one line of improving and bringing forth the best possible looms and factory machinery- a true benefactor to all mankind, as goods have been cheapened by the use of machines first con- ceived in his own brain and then wrought out with his own skillful hands. He has been from time to time associated with others, but ever studying the best results. The Crompton Loom Works of Wor- cester owe much of their success to his connection with them. When George Crompton died in 1886, the business was soon incorporated with Horace Wyman as vice-president and manager.

Mr. Wyman was married to Louisa Horton. daughter of Sparrow Horton, or Orleans, Massa- chusetts, in 1837. Mrs. Wyman comes of English extraction. Their three children are: I. Horace Winfield, born 1861, married Mary W. Haskell, of Kansas, in ISS9; M. Louisa; Adelaide, married Ernest Wood, of Worcester.

Of the subject's son, Horace Winfield Wyman, it may be said that he received his education in the public schools of Worcester, the School of Poly- technies and Worcester Academy. In 1883 he formed a partnership with Leman F. Gordon, and they engaged in the manufacturing business at Wor- cester, having in operation an extensive forge-mill and do a very large business. They employed as high as one hundred high-grade workmen, as early as 1898. Drop forging in iron and steel in all sizes are made at this plant. Some of the most pon- derous machinery to be found in America may here be seen in daily operation. The product of this shop finds ready market in all parts of the world, and a large exporting business has been carried on for several years.

In reviewing the bright career of Dr. Wyman, Jr., one is impressed with two facts: first, he came of a good intelligent family, and second, that he took a proper school training before launching out into the great business calling which he chose for his life work.

Franklin Wyman, son of David and Huldah (Brown) Wyman, was born January 20, 1808, and traces his line back to Francis, the Woburn emi- grant and tanner. Francis had a son Timothy, born in 1661; his son, Joseph, born in 1695, settled at Billerica and had a son Joseph, Jr., born in 1725, and his son David, born 1767, brings it down to him of whom we write this notice. His father, David Wyman, learned the art of fulling eloth in Dracut, and opened a mill for that purpose in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. In 1793 he moved to Westminster, Massachusetts, where he bought water power on a small stream and established a "fulling mill." He died there in 1839.

Franklin, who was bred and educated in West- minster, when nineteen years of age, asked his father if he would buy his time of himn-as was the olden custom. His father replied, "I don't talk with boys; you stay and work for me." At the age of twenty-one years Franklin went to Gardner, Massachusetts, where he bought a wood lot on credit. He hired men to clear off the land, sold the wood and returned home with the money. lle asked to borrow more money of his father to engage in business, but his father said, "No, you can't succeed at borrowing money-you will fail and lose all." The young man borrowed elsewhere, and bought more timber land and made good profits. He then engaged in chair making and was successful. He finally settled at Westminster, built a mill and en- gaged in paper manufacturing. Ile began inex- perienced, but worked his way up until he built other large paper mills on the same stream and in time, with the improved machinery, he became one

of the heaviest paper men in the United States. He was highly successful and a remarkable man. He built a dam, flooded one thousand acres of land and had control of the head waters of the Nashua river. This water was needed to supply the city of Fitch- burg, and he sold his rights to the city in 1891 and thus closed his mills and retired. His- great executive ability caused him to be repeatedly elected to official positions. He was selectman six years from Westminster, and a member of the state legis- lature two terms. Politically he was a Republican and was a liberal Christian.

He married (first), December 31, 1839, Hen- rietta B. Hazen, of Shirley, who died in 1860. Their children : Augustus, born 1843, died 1849; Charles, born 1848, died 1851; Charles F., born 1853, of Worcester. He married (second) Amelia E. Ash- ley Brooks, who died in 1864. She bore him one child, Alfred A., of Fitchburg. He married (third) Sophia L. Gardner, daughter of Jerome Gardner, of Harvard, Massachusetts, who survives him. Their only child. Evelyn May, died in 1895.

Oliver B. Wyman, born September 16, 1826, was the son of Seth, Jr., and Lucy ( Baker) Wyman. His great-grandfather was Colonel Ross Wyman, who settled at Shrewsbury ( where Oliver B. was born), in 1746, and was among the first to locate there. Rose's father was Ensign Wyman, of Wo- burn, and won much fame as a brave revolutionary soldier. Oliver B. was one of a family of ten children. He grew to manhood in Shrewsbury, where he received his schooling. For several years, in company with his brother Charles, he constructed telegraph lines. In 1850 he retired from such business and returned to Shrewsbury to take charge of the old family homestead, an historic old place. Gold excitement in 1851 took him to California, which trip consumed nearly two years. With the exception of fifteen months' military service, he has been en- gaged in general agriculture and lumbering. lle enlisted in 1863, in the Fifty-first Massachusetts In- fantry, and was mustered in 1864. Politically he is a stanch Republican and has been chairman of the town committee. He held numerous offices, includ- ing selectman, and in 1878 represented his district in the legislature. Fraternally he is a Master Alason and also belongs to Shrewsbury Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. January 1, 1852, Mr. Wy- man married Hannah L. Carter, descendant of Rev. Thomas Carter, the first ordained minister of Wo- burn, Massachusetts. The only child born of this union is Agnes.

GATES FAMILY. Stephen Gates (1), the im- migrant ancestor of the Gates family of Ashburn- ham, Massachusetts, was born in England, son of Thomas Gates, of Norwich, Norfolk county, England. His line of aneestry is given elsewhere in this work ( Thomas, Peter, Geoffrey, Geoffrey, Sir Geoffrey, William, Sir Geoffrey, William, Thomas). He came from Hingham, England, to Hingham, Massachu- setts, in the ship "Diligent" of Ipswich, England, in the 1638. He was accompanied by his wife, Ann ( Hill) Gates, and two children. He removed from Hlingham to Lancaster, Massachusetts, at the settle- ment of that town, and was there in 1656 and sub- sequently went to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he died in 1662. He was admitted a freeman in 1653. His will, dated June 9, 1662, was proved October 7, 1662. Stephen, Jr., received the house and lot in Lancaster, his wife and son Simon re- ceived the place in Cambridge and his son Thomas was to remain with them at his pleasure. Ann Gates, his widow, married Richard Woodward, of Watertown, (see sketch) in 1663. Ann was known

BUS- US PULLIC

FRANKLIN WYMAN

WORCESTER COUNTY

as Gates after the death of her second husband, and she died at Stow, February 5, 1682-83. The chil- dren: I. Elizabeth, born in England, died August 3, 1704, at llingham; married, November 29, 1647, Jolin Lasell (see sketch). 2. Mary, married, 1658, John Maynard, of Sudbury; he died December 22, 17II. 3. Stephen, Jr., see forward. 4. Thomas, born 1042, married, July 6, 1670, Elizabeth Free- man. 5. Simon, born 1645, died April 21, 1693, at Brockton. 6. Isaac, baptized May 3, 1646, died Sep- tember 3, 1651. 7. Rebecca, baptized May 3, 1640, died January, 1650.

(11) Stephen Gates, Jr., son of Stephen Gates (1), was born about 1640. He died at Acton, Massa- chusetts, 1706. He married Sarah Woodward, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Hammond) Woodward, of Watertown. They resided at. Stow, Massachusetts, and he was an early proprietor of Preston, Connecticut, where some of his descend- ants are still found. His will was made at Stow, September 5, 1701, and proved in 1707. Children : Stephen, born July 17, 1665; Simon, June 5, 1666, see forward; Thomas, December 31, 1669, died 1740, at Preston; married, 1695, Margaret Geer, of Pres- ton, Connecticut ; Isaac, 1673, died November 22, 1748, at Stow; Nathaniel, 1675; Sarah, April 27, 1079, at Marlboro; Rebecca, July 23, 1682, at Mari- boro; Daniel, April 23, 1685.

(III) Simon Gates, son of Stephen Gates (2), was born at Stow, Massachusetts, June 5, 1666. He married, May 4, 1688, Hannah Benjamin, of Stow. Their children, all born at Stow, were: Simon, Jo- seph, married, 1728, Prudence Hamlin; Benjamin, married, 1727, Bethulia Rice, born March 24, 1704; Elisha, Israel, see forward ; Hannah, married - Heald; Mary, married Haynes ; Susannah, married Fitch; Elizabeth, married

Wheeler.

(IV) Amos Gates, son of Simon Gates (3), was born at Stow, Massachusetts, about 1710. He married Mary - and they resided in Stow. Their children: Oliver, soldier in the revolution ; Amos, born at Stow, April 15, 1735, died 1804, aged sixty-nine years ; married, 1771, Widow Eliza- beth Laws: soldier in the revolution; Simon, see forward; Abraham, born in Stow, was revolutionary soldier from Ashby in 1775 and 1777; Asa, Jacob, Isaac, born October 22, 1746, died February 17, 1831; was a soldier in the revolution.

(V) Simon Gates, son of Amos Gates (4), was born in Stow, Massachusetts, about 1740. He died March 1I, 1803, aged sixty-three years. He mar- ried Susannah Reed, of Stow, who died December 18, 1833, aged eighty-eight years. He bought lot No. 26, second division, September 4, 1765, in West- minster, where they lived until set off to the ad- joining town of Gardner, thus changing their resi- dence without moving from their house. The house was lately occupied by his grandson, Horace Gates. He is the ancestor of most of the Gates families in Westminster, Gardner and vicinity. The children of Simon and Susannah Gates: Nathan, born Feb- ruary 23. 1767, at Stow, married Abigail Knowlton ; Elizabeth, born September 14, 1769, at Gardner, died September 13, 1778; Simon, born at Gardner, November 7, 1774, died September 10, 1778; Anna, born at Gardner, August 21, 1777, died September 17, 1778; Simon, Jr., born July 28, 1779, at Gard- mer, see forward; Daniel, born July 23, 1782, at Gardner, died September 17, 1847; married May 27, 1805, Phebe Mossman; Gerry, born 1784, died young ; Reuben, born April 21, 1786, at Gardner, married Anna Mossman; Ezekiel, born October 31, 1789, at Gardner, died August 2, 1809, in twentieth year ; Elizabeth, born January, 1794, never married.

(VI) Simon Gates, son of Simon Gates (5), was born in Gardner, Massachusetts. He lived in the old homestead in Gardner on Beech Hill. He married Sarah Taylor, of Ashburnham, Massachu- setts. Their children: Louisa, born May 9, 1806; Simon Hazeltine, November .4, 1807, married El- vira Bancroft; Horace, October 27, 1809, see for- ward; Dennis, February 20, 1812, married Lucy Ware; Mary, September 14, 1815, married Samuel Ilale; Dolly, born June 28, 1818, married Amos Person Spaulding.

(VII) Horace Gates, son of Simon Gates (6), was born at Gardner, Massachusetts, October 27, 1809, and was educated in the district schools of that place. He early learned the trade of chair- maker, when chairs were made by hand, and he used to get out his own stock and put the chairs to- gether. Most of his product he sold in Boston, in- vesting his money there in groceries, which he dis- posed of on his return. He had a shop on his farm and his brothers worked with him. He was at one time engaged in the fishing trade off Boston harbor. He finally bought the interests of the other heirs and became the owner of the homestead where his father and grandfather had lived in Gardner, and he was engaged in farming there until about 1885, when his sons, in turn, took the farm and he retired from active labor. He removed to Ashburnham and resided with his son, Charles H. Gates, until his death, November 18, 1899. He attended the Ortho- dox Church, Gardner. In politics he was a Repub- lican and served in the Gardner school committee and as highway surveyor there. Ile served in the militia when young. He married, June 6, 1852, Mrs. Lonisa (Fairbanks) Seaver, daughter of Jarvis Fairbanks. Her father was a farmer. The children of Horace and Louisa Gates: Charles Hazeltine, born July 13, 1853; George Walter, Sep- tember 15, 1854, married Mary Knight, resided in Fitchburg, where he died December 27, 1894, leaving no issue.

(VIII) Charles Hazeltine Gates, son of Horace Gates (7), was born at Gardner, Massachusetts, July 13, 1853. He was educated there in the com- mon schools, going to school in old No. Six until he was fifteen years old, working also on the farm. He remained with his father on the homestead until he was twenty-six years old, when he began to work on the railroad as a section hand. Then he was teamster for John T. Woodbury for a time, returning again for a year and a half to the rail- road. Ile was subsequently employed as teamster by E. Osgood & Sons, C. B. Kendall and others for two years. He came to Ashburnham, Massachu- setts, in 1884, and started in the coal business for himself. After a year he sold his business to F. W. Davis. He then engaged on his own account in the grain and teaming business, carrying on this with success for ten years. Then he bought his present farin of one hundred and fifty acres. It is in the eastern part of the township, bought of R. N. Gowell, and was called the Ivers Adams place. He successfully conducts this farm, ranking among the most prosperous farmers of the town. Mr. Gates built the house now occupied by E. D. Brig- ham. He exchanged it for the farm known as the Ohio Whitney place, where he lived five years be- fore moving to his present farm. Mr. Gates has also a fine residence on the South Ashburnham road. He attends the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican and has served the town of Ashburnham as superintendent of streets in 1901-02. He is a member of Ashburnham Grange, No. 202, Patrons of Husbandry. He was a member of the Old Farmers' Club.

WORCESTER COUNTY

He married, April 6, 1880, Elsie J. Merriam, born December 16, 1858, daughter of Oliver N. and Martha ( Nichols) Merriam, of Westminster, Massa- chusetts. Her father was a farmer and chair manu- facturer. The children: Martha Louisa, born June 30, 1881, married, September 20, 1900, Henry C. Harrington, and they have two children-Bertrice Emily, Nelson Oliver Harrington; Oliver Horace, born June 29, 1888, lives at home with parents ; Anna Livona, born April 24, 1891.

GOULD FAMILY. The earliest mention of the surname Gould in England is found in 1235 when Thomas as

Gould church of- ficer of some kind signed a paper giving the vicar of Hemel Hempstead the nomination of the curates for Bovingdon and Flamden. A Gould was rector of the church of Moult-

soe in Buckinghamshire, August 23, 1375, died 1409. This place is about five miles north of Woburn and twenty-three from Bovingdon. The family ap- peared at an early date not only in Bucks but in Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Oxford counties. The ancestry of one of the American emigrants, Zaccheus Gould, has been definitely traced to Thomas Gould, of Bovingdon, about 1455. Doubtless the other dozen or more emigrants of this name might also be located in England with patient research.

(1) Thomas Gould, the immigrant ancestor of most of the Gould families of Sutton and southern towns of Worcester county, was born in 1639 in England. There were several other emigrants of the same name and the difficulties of tracing their descendants are very great. Very little is known of Thomas. Ile resided at Salem Village, now Dan- vers. Thomas had one brother, Adam Gould, who was a soldier in King Philip's war in Captain Jo- seph Gardner's company. He married, September 28, 1687, Rebecca Cooper : (second Hannah Knight, daughter of Joseph Knight, of Woburn, children- Rebecca, born August 25, 1678, married Ezekiel Marsh, who came to Worcester county; John, born January 31, 1679-80, a blacksmith ; Dorcas, born September 8, 1683, at Groton, married, June 1, 1711, Anthony Buxton. Child of Adam and Hannah : Thomas. died young. Thomas was appointed ad- ministrator of the estate of his brother in 1689, but he himself died soon afterward. His widow Eliza- beth was appointed administratrix June 24, 1690, and Joseph, son of Thomas, succeeded his father as ministrator of the estate of his brother in 1689, but The children of Thomas and Elizabeth Gould were : Joseph, born January 15, 1662-63, married, 1085, Bethiah Raye; Thomas, born September 16, 1604, died February 1, 1667-68; James, born February 8, 1666-67, married Deborah (second) Sarah -; Thomas, Jr., see forward; Benjamin, born August 26, 1669, was a witness April 11, 1692, 111 one of the famous witchcraft trials; Samuel, born February 6, 1670-71, married Elizabeth Thorndike; Mary, born May 7, 1694, died 1746, married John Hutchinson.

(11) Thomas Gould, son of Thomas Gould (1), was born at Salem Village, Massachusetts, 1667-68. He married Abigail Needham, daughter of Anthony and Ann ( Porter) Needham. Their children, all born at Salem Village, were: Abigail, born August 3, 1692; Thomas, born June 23, 1694. see forward ; Rachel, born April 11, 1716, married George Need- ham; George, born 1706, married, 1732, Mary Giles; removed to Lyndeborough, where he died April 29, 1783: father of Lieutenant Jonathan Gould, who settled in New Braintree; "fourth deacon of the church, elected before 1775; housewright by trade ; died at New Braintree, October 29, 1809, aged

seventy-five years; ancestor of most of the New Braintree families. Nehemiah, born October 15, 1715, married, 1737, Esther Bowers; died 1758. Provided, married, June 8, 1721, Joseph Marsh, of Salem and Killingly, Connecticut.

(III) Thomas Gould, son of Thomas Gould (2), was born in Salem Village, Massachusetts, June 23, 1694. He married (first) Margaret

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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. III, Part 10

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 772

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 772