Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. III, Part 23

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 23

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WORCESTER COUNTY

was at length compelled to relinquish teaching and retire to the quiet surroundings of her home in Rutland, where she resided until her removal to Malden. She has acquired a high reputation which has been the means of bringing her many flattering offers to resume educational work, but she has been reluctantly obliged to decline as the feeble condition of her health will not admit of any undue physical exertion.

NOURSE FAMILY. Francis Nourse (1), the immigrant ancestor of the late Benjamin Alden Nourse, of Westborough, Massachusetts, is per- haps best known as the husband of Rebecca Nourse, who was a martyr to the witchcraft delusion of Salem. The story of her life, trial and death is given elsewhere in this work. Her maiden name was Rebecca Towne, daughter of William Towne. Her sister, Sarah Towne, married Edmund Bridges and (second) Peter Clayes, and both of the sisters were involved, in the witchcraft persecutions at Salem. Rebecca was hanged July 19, 1692, aged seventy years. Subsequently the jury, judges and prosecutors all acknowledged their delusion and prayed for pardon for their error. A monument to Rebecca Nourse has been recently erected.

Francis Nourse was a quiet, peaceable citizen. The first record of him is found in the Essex court files of 1639. He was a proprietor of Salem in 1647. He deposed November 26, 1666, that he was forty-five years old. He settled in Salem Vil- lage, that part of the town now Danvers. He died there November 22, 1695, aged seventy-seven years. His birth date in England is given on good author- ity as January 18, 1618. The children of Francis and Rebecca Nourse were: John, married Eliza- beth Smith; Sarah, Rebecca, married Thomas Pres- ton, whose daughter married Peter Clayes, Jr .; Samuel, Francis, born February 3, 1661, at Read- ing; Mary, married John Tarbell; Elizabeth, Ben- jamin, born January 26, 1666, see forward; Michale, a daughter, married William Russell.

(11) Benjamin Nourse, son of Francis Nurs (Nourse, Nurss, Nurse, etc.) (1), was born in Danvers, Massachusetts, then Salem Village, Jan- uary 26, 1666, and died at Framingham in 1747. He came to Framingham with his relatives Clayes and Bridges, mentioned above, in 1693, and located on what is still known as Salem Plain and built a house between those now or lately of F. C. Brown and W. G. Lewis. He bought of Joseph Buckmin- ster, February II, 1707, "a message now in actual possession of said Benjamin Nurse home lot of 12 aeres on the south side of Stony Brook, fifty aeres on the north side of the brook and 38 aeres adjoin- ing Coller's meadow." He was for a long time one of the leading citizens of the town of Framingham. He was selectman and served in other important positions for the town. He left his real estate to his son Aaron, who sold it June II, 1764, to Abner Bixby, who in turn sold it to Richard Fiske.

He married ( first ) Tamazin and (sec- ond), February 16, 1713-14, Elizabeth ( Sawtelle ) Morse, widow of Joseph Morse, of Watertown. The children of Benjamin and Tamazin Nourse were: Tamazin, born at Salem, November 13, 1691, married Ebenezer Heminway; Benjamin, Jr., born at Framingham, January 20, 1694; William, born March 8, 1696, see forward; Elizabeth, born September 18, 1699, married Theophilus Phillips, of Hopkinton ; Ebenezer, born March 27. 1701 ; Mary, born April 24, 1703; Moses, born March, 1705; Aaron, born January 11, 1708.

(III) William Nourse, son of Benjamin Nourse (2), was born in Framingham, Massachusetts,

March 8, 1696, and died at Westborough, not far from his native place, April 15, 1779. His marriage, December 12, 1723, 10 Rebecca Fay, was the first recorded in the town of Shrewsbury. He was liv- ing on house lot No. 3 in Shrewsbury, 1729, and was set off with his farm to the town of West- borough in 1741. It is difficult to say whether the children were born in Shrewsbury or Westborough. All were born on the same farm in what was then Shrewsbury township and is now Westborough. The locality where he lived is still known as Nurse's Corner. His wife died at Westborough, June 22, 1776. The children were: Mary, born September 14, 1724, married Eleazer Williams, in Westbor- ough, in 1742; Samuel, born May 30, 1725, died young : Lydia, born June 23, 1727 ( Westborough record is July 30, probably date of baptism) ; Dan- iel, born May II, 1729, see forward; Benjamin, born July 1, 1731, married Luey Ball, 1759, at Grafton; Abraham, born March 23, 1733; Rebekah, born Au- gust 4, 1734 (Shrewsbury record July 12, prob- ably right) ; Priscilla, born October 18, 1736, ( West- borough record December 12) ; Zerviah, born Octo- ber II, 1739, died at Westborough, September 29, 1775.

(IV) Daniel Nourse, son of William Nourse (3), was born in what is now Westborough, then Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, June 15, 1729. He lived at Westborough and served from that town in the revolutionary war. He was a private in the company of Captain Seth Morse, the regiment of Colonel Ward on the Lexington alarm, April 19. 1775. Again he served in the company of Captain Joseph Warren, Lieutenant-Colonel Wheelock, en- listing September 27, 1777, in the northern army. He was corporal in 1779 in the company of Captain Adam Henry, serving as guards for the troops of the convention at Rutland. He married Sarah and their children, all born at Westborough, were: Daniel, April 6, 1760; Sarah, February I, 1762; Priseilla, March 29. 1764; Joseph, May 9, 1766, settled in Shrewsbury; married Hannah Da- vis; Benjamin, November 3, 1768, see forward; Hannah. November 2, 1770, died November 20, 1770; Mary, December 29, 1771; Joel, April 13, 1774, settled in Shrewsbury; married Anna Par- ker: Noah, August 20, 1778, died September 24, 1778; Abijahı, October 3, 1781, died September 15, 1783-

(V) Benjamin Nourse, son of Daniel Nourse (4), was born in Westborough, Massachusetts, No- vember 30, 1768, and died there May 20, 1861, at a very advanced age. He settled in Westborough also. He married, May 8, 1796, Asenath Davis, of Grafton, of one of the best known and most numer- ous of the old Worcester county families. She died March 30, 1838. Their children, all born at West- borough, were: David, born March 29, 1798; Ben- jamin Davis, July 31, 1800, died February 22, 1826; Joseph Joslin, December 26, 1807, see forward.

(VI) Joseph Joslin Nourse, son of Benjamin Nourse (5), was born at Westborough, Massachu- setts, December 26. 1807, and died March 25, 1838, aged thirty-one years. He died in the prime of life, leaving a widow and one son. He married, at Grafton, 1833 (intentions March 16), Sarah A. Mer- riam, born in Grafton, January 7, 1813, daughter of Timothy Merriam. She remained on the old home- stead until her death at an advanced age in 1903. She was a woman of unusual ability and sterling character. The only child of Joseph Joslin and Sarah A. Nonrse was: Benjamin Alden, born at Westborough, July 19, 1836, see forward.

(VII) Benjamin Alden Nourse, son of Joseph Joslin Ncurse (6), was born in Westborough,

. 1

Benjamin . I. Scurse

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Massachusetts, July 19, 1836. He attended the dis- trict schools of his native town and had hoped to be able to go to college, but had to abandon that hope and help liis widowed mother carry on the farm. He made the most of every opportunity to study, however, and under the tutorship of Silas C. Stone pursued the high school course. As a farmer he was unusually successful. He believed in new methods and progress and became one of the most prominent and well-to-do farmers of his sec- tion. He was a man of good natural ability, sound judgment and business ability. He helped many young men to success in life by teaching them the right way to conduct a farm.

He was prominent in public affairs and ofter called by his fellow townsmen to fill places of trust and honor. He was for many years a member of the school committee, was selectman from 1872 to 1876, inclusive, in 1876 was representative to the general court from his district, and again, twenty years later, was sent to the legislature from his district. On Monday, February 1, 1897, a few weeks after he had entered upon his legislative duties, he was stricken with apoplexy and died the following day. In the house he was serving on the committee on charitable institutions and but a few days prior to his death, in company with the other members of that committee, he visited the West- borough Hospital for the Insane and the Lyman School in his town. When his colleague, Repre- sentative Cook, of Milford, announced his death, the house adjourned as a mark of respect to the de- ceased. A committee appointed by the speaker at- tended his funeral.

Mr. Nourse was active in the temperance move- ment and in the work of his church. He joined the Evangelical Congregational Church at the age of thirteen years, and for thirty-five successive years served as deacon of the old church, always con- tributing freely to the support of the church and the cause of religion. Throughout his life he was a thorough Bible student and taught a class in the Sunday school more than forty years. He was kindly, generous and charitable in all the walks of life. The only secret order to which Mr. Nourse belonged was the Farmers' Organization, the West- borough Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.

He married, May 1, 1860, Jane Fay, born in Grafton, October 16, 1837, daughter of Benjamin Willard and Martha (Brewer) Fay. Children of Benjamin Alden and Jane Nourse were: Willard Joslin, born October 1, 1866, a lawyer, residing at Gunnison, Colorado; Arthur, July 13, 1868, see for- ward; Ernest Morrison, May 21, 1871 ; Bertha May, March 14, 1875, died January 16, 1879. Deacon and Mrs. Nourse adopted a daughter, Edna, now Mrs. Fred H. Doolittle, of Northfield, Massachusetts.

(VIII) Arthur Nourse, son of Benjamin Alden Nourse (7), was born in Westborough, Massachu- setts, July 13, 1868. He succeeded his father as owner of the homestead. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, the Westbor- ough high school and the Massachusetts Agri- cultural College at Amherst, from which he was graduated in 1890. On leaving college he went to California and spent five years on a ranch, first as assistant and then as bookkeeper. He returned to help his father on the homestead, and since his death has fairly taken his place as farmer and busi- ness man. Like his father he is interested in the public schools and has been a member of the school committee since 1900. He is a Republican also. He is a member of the Evangelical Congregational Church, in which his father was active for a life- time. He is a member of the Lodge of Free iii-6

Masons of Westborough. He married Gertrude E. Lesure, of South Royalston, Vermont. They have one child, Dorothy Fay.

THE RICH FAMILY OF ROYALSTON is of ancient English origin. As early as A. D. 1236 Edmund Rich was the Archbishop of Canterbury. Baron Richard Rich, who was born in London in 1498, was a poor barrister of humble family who rose to fame, became a wealthy nobleman and founded the most powerful family in England. His sons were the Earls of Warwick and Holland, famous and powerful. The former was president of the Plymouth council and admiral of the Eng- lish navy.

(1) Richard Rich, immigrant ancestor of Ben- jamin Warren and George D. Rich, of Royalston, Massachusetts, was born in England. He appeared first at Dover Neck in New England, later settling on Cape Cod and dying in 1692 in Eastham, Massa- chusetts. He bought land in Dover of Samuel Treworgey and wife Dorcas T., who came from Cornwall. The deed is dated November 6, 1674. Philip Demon, of Dover Neck, who died June, 1676, in a will dated May, 1676, mentions his own son Evans and his kinsman, Richard Rich, as ex- ecutors. Mr. Rich was a man of position, property and influence as shown by his record and his marriage with Sarah Roberts, daughter of Gov- ernor Thomas Roberts. His only child, known, was Richard, see forward.

(II) Richard Rich, son of Richard Rich (1), was born about 1640, perhaps in England. He was at Eastham, Massachusetts, 1665. He was taxed there in 1671 and admitted freeman, August 23, 1681. His children, born at Eastham, were: John, born 1665, married Mary Treat, daughter of Rev. Samuel Treat; Thomas, removed to Connecticut or New York; Richard, born 1674, see forward; Sam- uel, born 1684, was tithingman in Truro, 1711, died 1752; Sarah, married Samuel Treat, son of Rev. Samuel Treat; Lydia; Joseph, voter at Eastham in 1695.

(III) Richard Rich, son of Richard Rich (2), was born in 1674 at Eastham, Massachusetts, prob- ably. He died May 3, 1743, aged sixty-eight years. The children, all born at Truro, were: Sarah, born 1696, died January, 1722; Richard, born February 28, 1699, married Hannah --- - and his son, Cap- tain Richard Rich, was called "Buzzy Dick;" Re- becca, born June 15, 1701; Zaccheus, born April 2, 1704, see forward; Obadiah, born July 15, 1707, married Polly Cobb; Priscilla, born February 5, 1710, died young ; Huldal, born July, 1712; Joseph, born October 5, 1720, married Susannah Collins ; Silvanus, born September 4, 1720, married, 1740, Mary Lombard.

(IV) Zaccheus Rich, son of Richard Rich (3), was born at Truro, Massachusetts, April 2, 1704. He settled in the extreme southern part of the town of Truro. He and his brother, Obadiah Rich, settled on Beach Hill. The children of Zaccheus and Ruth (Collins) Rich: Ann, Sarah, Zaccheus, married Rebecca Collins or Hardy, 1753; Jesse, married Hannah Smith, 1757; Benjamin, born 1737, married Lucy Sauls; Thatcher, born 1739, see for- ward; Richard, called Uncle Hunn; Ephraim. born 1746; Elder Elisha, born 1758, ordained at Chelms- ford; Priscilla.

(V) Thatcher Rich, son of Zaccheus Rich (4), was born at Truro, Massachusetts, in 1739, and died at Phillipston, Massachusetts, February 23, 1817, aged seventy-eight years. He was an early settler in the town of Phillipston. He married (first) Jane Lombard. He married (second) Hannah

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who died May 1, 1823, or April 30, 1825 (two public records). Children of Thatcher and Jane Rich, born at Phillipston: Ruth, born July 2, 1765, mar- ried, September 6, 1797. Amos Parker, of Jaffrey, New Hampshire: Elizabeth, born July 17, 1767, married, April 15, 1790, Roger Brigham; Benja- min, born 1773, see forward; Jane, born May 22, 1776, married, February 14, 1801, Freeborn Ray- mond Jr .; Dinah, born October 25, 1782, married, May 26, 1807, Nahum Ward; Hannah born May 10, 1785, died May 16, 1832; Sarah, born Novem- ber 6, 1787, died May 12, 1795: Thatcher, born April 2, 1790, see forward; Sally born July 6, 1795; Priscilla, born December 6, 1797, married, August 19, 1818.

(VI) Thatcher Rich, Jr., son of Thatcher Rich (5), was born in Phillipston, Masachusetts, April 22, 1790. He settled on a farm in Phillipston when a young man. He married, May 8, 1817, Phebe Ward, granddaughter of General Artemas Ward, of Shrewsbury, and many of the former possessions of that distinguished man are in the possession of the family at Royalston. The children of Thatcher and Phebe Rich were: Lewis Damon, born July 3, 1818, died aged fifty-seven years; Thomas Walter, born May 1, 1820; Benjamin Ward, born September 27, 1821, see forward; Anna Raymond, born May, 1823, died April 16, 1825; Jeremiah Atkins, born May 8, see forward; Phebe Ann, born August 22, 1826, died 1905; George, born September 20, 1828. bandmaster of the Twenty-first Massachusetts Vol- unteer Regiment band, died 1886; John Eliot, born November 3. 1830, died July 12, 1900; Harriet, born September 20, 1835 (twin); Harrison (twin), born September 20, 1835, soldier in the Fifteenth Massa- chusetts Volunteer Regiment; now living in the National Soldiers' Home at Togus, Maine.

(VII) Benjamin Ward Rich, son of Thatcher Rich (6), was born in Phillipston, Massachusetts, September 29, 1821, died July 3, 1900. He was edu- cated in the common schools. He conducted a gen- eral store at Royalston with much enterprise and success for many years. He was selectman of the town, and was frequently elected to offices of re- sponsibility, at various times holding virtually all the town offices. He was representative to the gen-

eral court. He was well known in musical circles. He had a good voice and ear for music and was well trained. He conducted various bands and orchestras in the vicinity. He was an upright man, highly esteemed by all his townsmen. He married Lydia B. Witt, of Royalston. Their children, all born in Royalston, were: 1. Benjamin Warren, see forward; Jeremiah Edward, born December 22, 1649, married Florence Marcy, who died in 1900 without issue; he resides in Royalston, Massachu- setts; Marcia Jeannette, born February, 1857, mar- ried (first ) F. D. Stockwell and ( second) N. Mc- Donald: has two children; resides in South Boston, Massachusetts; Charles Witt, see forward.

Charles Witt Rich, a commercial traveler, whose home is at Athol, Worcester county, Massachu- setts, where he also operates a dry goods business, was born in Royalston, Massachusetts, May 19, 1860, the son of Benjamin and Lydia ( Witt) Rich, whose ancestral history will be found in their sketch within this work.

Charles W. Rich was reared and educated in his native county. He attended the common schools and later took a commercial course at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College of Boston. After the completion of his education, he was for twelve years associated with Bradford Thomas, wholesale dry goods merchant, of Boston, and subsequently became a traveling salesman for the Sprague Com-

pany, clothing manufacturers, of Orange, Massa- chusetts, a position which he still holds. In 1900 Mr. Rich established at Athol a general dry goods business, of which the specialty is the handling of remnants. He has in his employ from four to six persons and does the largest business of its kind in the place. In his absence his wife conducts the store. Mr. Rich attends the Congregational Church ; is a prominent Mason, member of Orange Lodge, A. F. & A. M., St. Andrew's Chapter, R. A. M., Washington Council of Lebanon, New Hamp- shire, Athol Commandery, and Aleppo Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Mr. Rich is a Republican in poli- tics, which political party he believes best serves the masses.

He married, August 27, 1892, Jennie M. Hughes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Webster Hughes, of En- field, New Hampshire.

(VII) Jeremiah Atkins Rich, son of Thatcher Rich (6), was born in Phillipston, May 8, 1825. He was educated in the district schools of his na- tive town. His early life was spent on his father's farm in Phillipston and on the farm of Stephen Hale in South Royalston. When a young man he worked at the trade of a bridge builder on the Cheshire and Vermont and Massachusetts railroads. In 1850 he went to the gold mines of California in company with Captain John Whitmore and sev- eral other citizens of South Royalston. He re- mained there about five years and was moderately successful. On his return he was associated with Charles Bowker, of South Royalston, in the busi- ness of chair making. Later he became superin- tendent of George Whitney's chair manufactory in the same village, which position he held until the business was discontinued about 1893. He then re- tired from active business life, dying in November, 1899. For over forty years he was a prominent and influential citizen of Royalston. Like his brother, Benjamin Ward Rich, he served the town as selectman, as representative to the general court, and in various other offices of trust and honor. He was a prominent member and supporter of the Second Congregational Church and was clerk of the society for several years. In politics he was an active Republican. He married Susan Kendall, of Royalston, who died in 1903 without issue.

(VIII) Benjamin Warren Rich, son of Benja- min Ward Rich (7), was born in Royalston, Massachusetts, September 12, 1847. He was edu- cated in the public schools of his native town. When but twelve years old he began to work out of school hours in his father's store. Later he worked with his father in the business and finally succeeded to it. He has a prosperous business. The store was established by his father in 1840, and Mr. Rich him- self has been associated in the business for forty- five years. He carries the usual varied stock of a general country store. He has been active in town affairs. He has served the town on the board of health, for three years was on the board of select- men. He was for some years a trustee on the board in charge of the Bartlett Fund of $26,000 given to the town to take care of the poor. In poli- tics Mr. Rich is always a Republican, influential in that party, and often delegate to its nominating con- ventions. For the past five years he has been post- master of South Royalston, and the postoffice is connected with his store. He is the oldest and best known Free Mason in the town. He is a member of Star Lodge of Athol, and the Chapter and Com- mandery, also of Athol. He belongs to the Council at Greenfield, Massachusetts, and has taken the de- grees of the Order of the Mystic Shrine in Boston. He married S. Ardella Farrar, daughter of S. S.

WORCESTER COUNTY

Farrar, of Royalston, Massachusetts. She died March 27, 1900. He has no children.

(VI) Benjamin Rich, son of Thatcher Rich (5), was born in Phillipston, Massachusetts, 1773, and died there July 22, 1842, aged sixty-nine years. He married, December 21, 1797, Patty Atkins, who died August 13, 1820, aged forty-four years. Ile married (second) (intentions dated Angust 26, 1821) Abigail (Abby or Nabby) Day. He was a farmer at Phillipston. His death was caused by a fall from a load of hay. Most of his children re- moved to Vermont and died there. The children of Benjamin and Patty ( Martha in town records, though marriage record gives name as Patty) were: Myna, born September 21, 1798, married, September 25, 1816, Oliver Preston, of Athol; George, born May 8, 1801, died August 25, 1826, aged twenty-five years; Solomon, born June 9, 1804; Dinah, born July 9, 1806; Lucy, born November 20, 1808, married Oliver Preston; Benjamin, born May 12, 18II. The children of Benjamin and Nabby (Day) Rich : Martha Atkins, born June 8, 1827, died at Athol, 1900; George Dwight, born December 16, 1829, see forward.

(V11) George Dwight Rich, son of Benjamin Rich (6), was born at Phillipston, Massachusetts, December 16, 1829. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. When not in school he worked from an early age on his father's farm in Phillipston. He was for several months a stud- ent at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham. He learned the trade of chair making and later entered the woolen mill and for several years had charge of the mixing and picking of the stock. A few years ago he lost his riglit hand in an accident in the mill. Mr. Rich is a Republican in politics. He married, 1857, Emeline Campbell, of Hardwick, Massachu- setts. She died June 27, 1906, without issue.

GEORGE BOEPPLE. One of the most pro- gressive and prosperous provision dealers in the city of Worcester is George Boepple, of Quinsiga- mond village. Both his stores at 30 and 600 Mill- bury street are well known to lovers of German delicatessen as well as to the housewives who are buying staple groceries and meats.

Mr. Boepple learned his trade in Germany, where he was born and brought up. He was born in Wittemburg, Germany, August 6, 1862, the son of Jacob and Christina Boepple. His father was a butcher by trade and the son served the regular apprenticeship to a butcher, learning the art of making sausages and caring for all kinds of meats. When he had completed his apprenticeship he de- cided to seek his fortune in America, and in 1879 went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There he lived for eight years, working in various meat markets and stores. After a short stay in New York he came to Worcester, in 1888, to work for Morrill, the sausage manufacturer, at 220 Shrewsbury street. Having saved enough money to make a modest start in business on his own account he opened a store at 30 Millbury street in the fall of 1891. He made a specialty of delicatessen manufactured on the premises. The business prospered and grew rapidly. In 1899 he added the establishment at 600 Mill- bury street, where he resides, and has a large pro- vision and grocery store. This store is near the wire mills at Quinsigamond, and the excellent qual- ity of Boepple's goods have attracted a large trade there. In addition to the two retail stores he has built up an extensive wholesale trade in cooked meats, sausages and delicatessen that are manu- factured at the factory in the rear of the store at 600 Millbury street. He has an extensive and grow-

ing trade all over New England. Mr. Boepple has again illustrated the possibilities of establishing a prosperous business by dint of hard work and thor- ough knowledge of his trade, and by thrift and en- terprise in the management of his affairs.

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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 23

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