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 9
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111
the store of Jackson & Company of Boston. Ile was admitted to partnership in the firm in 1881 and remained in the business until his death, May 13, 1899. He was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church until late in life, when he joined the Christian Science Church. He was a Republican in politics. He was a member of Bunker Hill Lodge of Odd Fellows, Charlestown, Massachusetts, and of Post 36, Grand Army of the Republic, Arlington, Massachusetts. He was a man of high principles and enjoyed the esteem and confidence of all men with whom he had dealings.
He married, August 27, 1863, Elmira Hamlin Foster, of Boston, born August 23, 1844, daughter of Joseph Samuel and Persis Hamlin (Clark) Fos- ter. Her father was a teacher by profession. Chil- dren of Thomas Henry and Elmira Hamlin Syl- vester were: Joseph Adelbert Austin, born Feb- ruary 10, 1865, married Charlotte Reading; Elmira Evelena, horn November 18. 1867, married Bert Leroy Knowles, of Worcester; they reside at 42 Shattuck street, Worcester; Thomas Henry, Jr., born April 13, 1870. see forward.
(V) Thomas Henry Sylvester, son of Thomas Henry Sylvester (4), was born at Chelsea, Massa- chusetts, April 13, 1870. He obtained his early edu- cation in the district schools of his native town,. moving with his parents to Boston when eleven years old; he attended the Cotting high school,. from which he graduated in 1887. Ile took a post- graduate course in the high school, entering Boston University in 1888. He left that institution in Oc- tober, 1891, and entered Harvard University, where he was graduated in 1893, receiving the degree of A. B. During his college course he studied with the intention of being a physician, but owing to the healing of his sister by Christian Science he became interested in the work of the new cult and eventually practiced healing in accordance with Christian Sci- ence methods. In 1894 he went into patent broker- age and followed that for two years, studying Christian Science and perfecting himself in its methods. He went to New York city in 1895 in connection with the sale of patents and remained there about two years in that business. In 1898 he came to Worcester, where he entered upon the practice of Christian Science, and has been located there ever since, being the only male practitioner in the county of Worcester and recognized as one of the best in his profession. He has frequently been abroad in connection with his practice. His office is at 115 Lincoln street. Mr. Sylvester was one of the promoters of the first Christian Science Church in Worcester, in March, 1898, and is today one of its firm supporters, being the first reader of the church. Mr. Sylvester is a Republican in politics. He is a prominent Free Mason, being raised in Morning Star Lodge, Worcester, October 24, 1899. He became a member of Worcester Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, January 12, 1900; of Hiram Council, March 1, 1900, and was knighted in Wor- cester County Commandery, June, 1906. He was made a member of the Massachusetts Consistory, April. 27, 1900, Scottish Rite Masonry. He is past chancellor of Freedom Lodge, No. 121, Knights of Pythias ; member of Worcester Lodge, No. 243,
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Worces- ter Council, Royal Arcanum, No. 12; associate mem- ber of Post 36, Grand Army of the Republic, of Arlington, Massachusetts. He- belongs to the Wor- cester Harvard Club, the Theta Delta Chi Society, Iota Chapter. of Harvard.
He married, March 28. 1895. Marie Dudley Ryder, born at Englewood, New Jersey, May 26,
30
WORCESTER COUNTY
1873, daughter of Mitchell and Caroline (Irwin) Ryder. Their children are: Hamlin Ryder, born born October 16, 1896; Elaine, March 5, 1901.
DELANO FAMILY. The descendants of the Pilgrim ancestor, Philip Delano, of Plymouth, have the satisfaction of tracing their ancestry in the old country for a dozen centuries. They have established the full right to bear the arms of the Delano family, which could be of no better stock and which embraces a host distinguished men its numbers.
The name is derived from the town of Lannoy, a few miles from Isla, now Lille, France. Away back in A. D., 863, this town was called Alnetum, later L'Annois and Lannoy. The meaning of the word is unknown. It has been spelled L'Annois, L'Annoe, L'Aulmais, L'Aulnoy, but more often Al- netum. Today Lannoy is a small manufacturing town, seven miles from Lille, with a population at the last census of 1,904. The first Lord of Lannoy, progenitor of the family, was Hugues de Lannoy, mentioned as a knight of Tournai d'Auclin in 1096. On the same list was Simon de Alneto. A charte des Chanoines (cannons) de St. Pierre a Lille mentions Gilbert de Lannoy in 1171 and Hugues de Lannoy is mentioned in 1186. It is impossible to present in this place an extended history of the family in its early days in France. That has been done with remarkable care and apparent accuracy in the genealogy, which is authority for all said here about the origin and early history of the family. There seems to be no flaw in the following pedigree in the direct male line of the American emigrant, Philip Delano or Delanoy.
I. Arnulphe de Franchmont. 2. Conrad de Franchmont. 3. Hellin, Marquis de Franchmont, married Agnes, daughter of Othon, Duke of Ba- varia. 4. Hellin II de Franchmont, married Agnis de Duras. 5. Jean de Franchmont, married Ma- hienne de Lannoy. 6. Hugues de Lannoy. 7. Hugues de Lannoy. 8. Guillebert de Lannoy. 9. Baudoin "Le Begue." 10. Baudouin. II. Philipe. 12. Jean, born about 1511, died May 25, 1560; was made chevalier de la Toison d'or in 1546; chamberlain to the emperor Charles V from 1519 to 1556; gouv- ernor de Haymont and captain general of same province of Flanders in 1559; married Jeanne de Ligne de Barbancon, daughter of Louis de Ligne, seigneur de Barbancon and his wife, Marie de Berghes. 13. Gysbert de Lannoy, born at Tourcoing, 1545, of Roman Catholic parents, but became a Protestant and was disinherited by his father. 14. Jean of Leyden, was born 1570, died at Leyden, 1604. He married at the Walloon Church (Tornai), January 13, 1596, Marie le Mahieu, of a Brabant family. 15. Philip, the American emigrant, see forward.
It is shown that the Delanoy family for all these centuries remained pure Norman and Flemish blood, never intermarrying with the French race.
The following lines of descent show some of the royal ancestors of Philip Delano :
I. Huolf, first Duke of the Normans, a Viking. A. D., 860. 2. William Longsword, Duke of the Normans. 3. Richard, the Fearless. 4. Richard, the Good. 5. Robert I, the Devil. 6. William, the Con- queror, King of England, Duke of Normandy 7. Henry I, "Beauclerc." 8. Matilda, married Geoffroy Plantagenet. 9. Henry II, King of Eng- land, 1154 to 1189. IO. Matilda, married Henry V, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria. II. Henry VI, married Agnes, daughter of Conrad, son of Frederick I, a descendant of Alfred, the Great (849), Cerdic (495) and other ancient English noble
and royal personages. 12. Agnes, married Othon, Duke of Bavaria. 13. Agnes, married Hellin de Franchmont. 14. Hellin 11. 15. Jean de Franch- mont, born about 1300. 16. Hugues de Lannoy, born 1311, died 1349. 17. Guillebert. 18. Baudouin, Le Begul. 19. Baudouin. 20. Phillippe. 21. Jean, died 1560. 22. Gysbert, born 1545. 23. Jean, of Leyden. 24. Phillippe, the American emigrant mentioned below.
The line of Philip Delanoy is traced to Charle- magne and his ancestors to the year A. D., 611, viz .: I. St. Arnoul, (611). 2. Ansegise, A. D., 679. 3. Pepin, Le Gros, 714. 4. Charles Martel, Duke of the Franks, 741. 5. Pepin, "the short," King .of France, 768. 6. Emperor Charlemagne, Soo. 7. Pepin, King of Italy. 8. Bernard, King of Italy. 9. Pepin Il. 10. Pepin, Compte de Vermandois. II. Beatrix, married Robert, Duke of France. 12. Hugue, the Great. 13. Hugue Capet, King of France. 14. Robert, the Saint, King of France. 15. Alix de France, married Bondouin, fifth count of Flanders. 16. Judith, married Guelph, Duke of Bavaria. 17. Henry III. IS. Henry IV. 19. Henry V. 20. Henry VI. where the line connects with the one previously given.
Another pedigree connects Philip Delano with Priam, King of the Franks, in 382, and still another with Guelph, Prince of the Scyrri, A. D., 476. Of course, the royal ancestors of any family are legion in case any connection is established, for the con- stant intermarriages connect the ruling families of all nations to some extent. The royal and some of the noble family genealogies are available, of course.
(I) Philip Delano, the immigrant ancestor of Charles Wesley Delano, of Worcester, Massachu- setts, was born in Leyden, Holland, 1602, and bap- tized there 1603. His parentage and ancestors are given above. The Delano family went to Leyden to escape persecution in France where the Catholic party was in power and the Inquisition active. They were French Protestants or Huguenots. Philip grew up under the teachings of the separatists of the established Church of England, who fled to Holland in 1608 to abide in Leyden. Thus he became affili- ated with the Pilgrims who came over on the "May- flower" and it is believed that he started in the first company that came to Plymouth in that vessel. He is supposed to have been in the companionship, the "Speedwell," which sailed from Southampton for America, but had to put into Dartmouth on account of a leak. She sailed again August 31, after re- pairs were made, but sprung a leak once more and returned to Plymouth, England, where the voyage was abandoned and eighteen of the passen- gers who could not be accommodated on the "May- flower," including Robert Cushman, remained in England until the "Fortune" sailed next summer. At any rate Philip Delano came to America on the ship "Fortune" in 1621, then aged nincteen years. In 1624 he had an acre of land granted him at Plymouth, but gave it up as he settled in Duxbury. Winslow is authority for the statement that the name was formerly De la Noye. The records also give Dillanoe, Dillnoe. Dilnow, Dillno and Delanoy. The correct form of the name given by the geneal- ogist is: Delano de Lannoy. The arms of the family : Ar. a chevron bet. three boars' heads, sable.
Philip was admitted a freeman January 1, 1632- 33. His farm at Duxbury, granted October 2, 1637, was north and northwest of Alden's on the north side of Stony or Mill brook, below the site of the late tack factory. It was bounded by lands of Morse Bumpas and Alden and comprised forty acres. He was often employed in the early days
31
WORCESTER COUNTY
as surveyor of lands and frequently served on the grand jury. He was a volunteer in the Pequot war, June 7. 1037. He died at Bridgewater, Massachu- setts, about 1681, aged seventy-nine years. The probate court was not established until 1686 and his estate was settled according to the records in the registry of deeds, July 5, 1682. He died in- testate, but left a memorandum expressing his wishes and intent and this noncupative will was al- lowed July 7, 1682.
He married (first), at Duxbury, December 19, 1634. Hester Dewsbury, of Duxbury. He married ( second), at Duxbury, 1657, Mary Pontus, widow of James Glass, daughter of William Pontus. The children of Philip and Hester: Mary, born 1635, married Jonathan Dunham; Esther, born 1638; Philip, Jr., born about 1640, married Elizabeth Clark; Thomas (Doctor), born March 21, 1642, married Mary Alden; John, see forward; James, died unmarried ; Lieutenant Jonathan, born about 1651, married Mercy Warren; Rebecca, born about 1651. married John Churchill. The only child of Philip and Mary was : Samuel, born 1659, married Elizabeth Standish.
(Il) John Delano, son of Philip Delano (I), was born at Duxbury, Massachusetts, about 1644. In 1690 he was living on the north side of the path which led from the mill to South river, Duxbury, and his name appears among those who leased the common lands. I11 1703 measures were about to be taken for the division of these lands, and twenty acres were voted to every householder, Septem- ber 12, 1707. His name appears frequently on the public records. He was a cordwainer or shoemaker as well as planter. He sold his homestead "where he now dwells" to his son, John, Jr., February 24, 1719. Later he conveyed lands to Thomas Delano, Sr., and Joshua Delano, three acres of upland given him by his father, part of the farm "where he dwelt with us."
He married at Duxbury, Mary Weston, daughter of Edmund Weston, Sr. He was born 1606 and died 1696, emigrant from London, England, in the ship "Elizabeth and Anın" to Duxbury and was on the list of those able to bear arms 1643, and was sur- veyor 1652. His progenitor in England was Hay- leric de Weston, of Surrey, in the time of Henry I, (IIOO) and the family arms are: Ermine on a chief az. five bezants. Children of John and Mary Delano: Israel, born about 1679, died unmarried 1704; Lydia, born about 1680; Mary, born about 1683; Nathaniel, born about 1685; Mercy, born about 1687 : John, Jr., born about 1689, see forward.
(III) John Delano, Jr., son of Jolin Delano (2), was born about 1689, at Duxbury, Massachu- setts. He married there, July 2, 1718, Sarah Cole, daughter of John and Patience Cole. She was born in 1694 and died February 19, 1764. His widow sold to Samuel Cole the house of her late husband where "Miles Sampson now dwells," in 1741. The children: Israel, born October 4, 1720, died September 4, 1765: Isaac, born 1722; Patience, born 1724; Thankful, born 1727; John, 3d, see for- ward.
(IV) John Delano, 3d., son of John Delano, Jr., (3). was born at Duxbury, Massachusetts, in 1730. He was lost at sea July, 1771. He married in Pembroke, Massachusetts, May 22, 1758, Ruth Cox, who was received in the church at Pembroke, September 29, 1771. She died there. Her children were baptized in the Second Church of Pembroke. Her dower rights were set off in 1772. John De- lano bought his place in Pembroke, five acres of Abigail Cox and others. The children: Ruth, hap- tized August 6, 1760; married Ebenezer Whitman
Sarah, baptized April 3, 1763, married Gershom Ramsdell; John 4th, baptized April 14, 1765, see forward; Israel, born August 7, baptized September 20, 1767; Abel, baptized August 15, 1770, died 1799; married, January 21, 1796, Deborah Pindrin.
(V) John Delano, 4th, son of John Delano (4), was born in Pembroke, Massachusetts, April 14, 1765. He married (published at Boston, February 9, 1792) (by Rev. Peter Thacher), June 28, 1792, Betsey Deverich, a native of Boston. He settled in Illinois. Their children: I. John, born 1795, see forward. 2. Oliver, born April 3, 1797, died aged fifty-three years at Truro, March 30, 1852; mar- ried Jane , born in New York, January 23, 1801, died at Truro, January 23, 1850, and had chil- dren-William, born at Truro, October 15, 1826; Betsey Long, born September 24, 1828, died unmar- ried 1850; Jane Hutchins, born September 27, 1831, died November 20, 1851; Israel Oliver, born Janu- ary 14, 1834, died August 12, 1849; Benjamin Long, born June 2, 1843. 3. Betscy, married at Truro, November 25, 1819, Benjamin Long.
(VI) John Delano, son of John Delano (5), was born in Pembroke, Massachusetts, or in Illinois, in1 1795, died in Truro, November 14, 1855, aged sixty-two years, according to the records. He spent his boyhood in Illinois, whither his father went, but later came back to the vicinity of the former home of the family and settled at North Truro, where his brother Oliver also lived. He followed the sea and became the master of a vessel, making long voyages. Later he went to the Banks on fish- ing cruises and did much mackerel fishing about Cape Cod. He died while still in active life, break- ing a blood vessel while lifting. Once he was given up for lost while away on a fishing trip. He was a man of attractive personality, much beloved by luis family and friends, of scrupulous integrity. He was class leader and steward of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Truro, Massachusetts. In poli- tics he was a Whig.
He married Elizabeth Atkins, daugliter of Eben- ezer and Mary (Paine) Atkins. Her father was a farmer. She was born October 14, 1802, died at Provincetown. Massachusetts, December 12, 1874. Their children : I. Elizabeth Deveraux, born at Truro, December. 1821, married at Provincetown, March 21, 1869, Elkanah Paine, born at Orrington, Maine, June 1, 1811, died at Provincetown, May 4, 1875, leaving no children. 2. Mary Atkins, born January 17. 1825, married, December II, 1843, Syl- vanus Smith Kenyon, born March 29, 1815; they have children: Benjamin Walker, born Oc- tober 20, 1845, married in Worcester, February 6,
1868, Ella Rosina Howe, daughter of Israel and Deborah M. (Parker) Howe; she was born Decem- ber 13, 1851, and they have children: Addie Louise, born June 16, 1880, married Herbert Bartlett, of Hartford, Connecticut; Francis Crocker, born Jan- uary 20, 1850, died young. 3. Zuruiah Atkins, born October 22, 1827, died at Northi Truro. January 7, 1850; married there, November 3, 1848, John Smith, Jr., born October 21, 1827, and they have a daugh- ter Zuruiah, who married Edward Small. 4. Har- riet Newell, born October 12, 1829, died at North Truro, July 26, 1853; married, December 25, 1850, James Henry Allen, a native of Heath, Massachu- setts, died at Eureka, Nevada, March, 1889, and they had children-Rev. James Francis Allen, born in Provincetown, December 25, 1851, married. May 15, 1873, at Worcester, Ida Alecia Rice daughter of Barnabas Davis and Lydia Alecia (Howe) Rice, born in West Boylston. May 15, 1854, resides at 50 South street, Lynn, Massachusetts; children Robert Francis Allen, born at Coleraine, Massa-
32
WORCESTER COUNTY
chusetts, November 28, 1884; Ida Adecia Allen (twin), born August 22, 1888; Florence May Allen, (twin), born August 22, 1888. 5. Betsey Augusta, born July 16, 1833, married (first) at North Truro, December 2, 1851, John Smith, Jr., born Novem- ber 6, 1825, lost at sea September 6, 1854; married (second) at Provincetown, March 2, 1862, Elijah Doane, who was born at Eastham, January 23, 1816, died at Provincetown, May 7, 1884; she married (third) at Worcester, October 11, 1884, Henry Clark Wilson, born July 11, 1829; her children were: John Forest Smith, born August 6, 1853, married (first) Nellie Pinkham, (second) Mary Shippee; had Philip Sheridan Doane, born Sep- tember 17, 1864, married Edith Young, of Worces- ter. 6. John, born August 3, 1835. see forward. 7. Isaiah, born at North Truro, August 31, 1837, mar- ried Frances Calkins, of Worcester. 8. Emily Frances, born October 5, 1839, married in Worces- ter, William Ansel Washburn, and had two chil- dren, Alice, died young. 9. Jane Louise, born Octo- ber 5, 1842, married (first at Provincetown, Janu- ary 10, 1865, Isaac F. Cook; married (second) at Worcester, Thomas Baird and ( third) - Taylor ; has one child Harriet Cook.
(VII) John Delano, son of John Delano (6), was born at North Truro, Massachusetts, August 3, 1835. He received his carly education in the common schools of that town. When he was twenty years old he began to go to sea. After three years of sea life he started to learn the mason's trade and afterwards worked for Charles Fuller, of Province- town. Then he went to Charlestown, Massachu- setts, where he was employed by Henry A. Cook, his cousin, for three years. About 1863 he came to Worcester and found employment with Daniel S. Burgess, with whom he worked four years. After four years more as a journeyman in the employ of J. E. Stearns he went into the business as mason and contractor on his own account, and has carried on a large and successful business to the present time. He has had the contract for the Walker house at the corner of Main and Benefit streets; for A. H. Hammond's factories; for S. D. Waite's Block on Pleasant street and many other residences and other buildings. He is a member of Grace Metho- dist Episcopal Church and has been steward and class leader. In politics he is a Republican. He has been a member of Montacute Lodge of Masons since September 23, 1867, and is a member of Worcester Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and of Worcester Lodge of Perfection, Fourteenth Degree, Scottish Rite Masonry. He is well known in Masonic cir- cles. He married (first) at North Truro, February 16, 1859, Sarah Williams Johnson, daughter of Henry and Julia Ann ( Atkins) Johnson. She was born at North Truro, October 15, 1836, died at Worcester, May 6, 1863. He married (second ), December 16, 1869, Jane Eunice Prentice, daughter of Benjamin and Mehitable (Winter) Prentice. She was born August 3, 1847. The children of John and Jane Eunice Delano are: Charles Wesley, born March 12, 1871, see forward; Carrie Mae, born June 5, 1877, married, October 25, 1898, James Weston Ilowe, of Worcester, and they have Medeline Prent- ice, born August 8, 1899.
(VII) Charles Wesley Delano, son of John Delano (7), was born at Worcester, Massachusetts, March 12, 1871. He attended the public and high schools there, graduating in 1890 from the Class- ical high school. In the fall he entered Wesleyan College at Middletown, Connecticut, from which he received his degree of A. B. in 1894. He ac- cepted a position as teacher in the Robbins school at Norfolk, Connecticut, where he remained a year.
In the fall of 1895 he came to the Classical high school, Worcester, as teacher in Latin and English. After ten years he was appointed to his present po- sition in the new South high school on Freeland street. During his college course he qualified as a preacher and was licensed to preach by the Quar- terly Methodist Conference in 1892 and afterward was ordained as a local deacon, in Boston, Massa- chusetts, by Bishop Willard F. Mallalieu in April 1899. In 1903, after completing the regularly pre- scribed course of study, he was ordained a local elder by Bishop Andrews in Brookline, Massachu- setts. He has supplied pulpits at Brookfield in 1899, at North Grafton, 1900 to 1904 inclusive, and at various places in the vicinity since.
He is a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Worcester and was superintendent of the Sunday school three years. He was president of the Worcester circuit of Epworth Leagues for four years. He has been a member of Morning Star Lodge of Free Masons since April 28, 1896, and was worshipful master in 1901 and 1902 and since then has been its secretary. He has been a member of Worcester Royal Arch Chapter of Ma- sons since April 21, 1899, and was high priest of that body in 1903 and is a trustee of the permanent fund. He is at present district deputy grand high priest of the Fourth Capitular District. He is a member of Hiram Council of Royal and Select Masters, and is at present the thrice illustrious master of the body.
In politics he is a Republican. He belongs to the college fraternity of Alpha Delta Phi. While in college he was in the Wesleyan Glee and Man- dolin Club and is interested in musical affairs. He entered the declamation contests each year in col- lege and took a prize in his junior year, the junior exhibition prize. He is secretary of the School Masters' Club of Worcester county. He is a mem- ber of the Classical Teachers' of New England Association and New England Association of Teach- ers of English1.
He married, September 30, 1900, Annie Chase Barnard, born in Worcester, December 21, 1873, daughter of William C. and Annie Louise (Chase) Barnard, of Worcester. Her father is a real estate broker. The children: Gertrude Barnard, born March 25, 1901, died same day; Lillian, born March 8, 1902; Charles Barnard, born January 6, 1906.
LEWIS BOYDEN GASKILL. The Gaskill family of Hopedale, of which Lewis B., Richard G. and William Gaskill are representatives, as is also Judge Gaskill, of Worcester, was established in Worcester county by Samuel Gaskill early in the eighteenth century. The American origin of the family however goes back to a much earlier date in the colonial period. Edward Gaskill, the ances- ter in common of all who bear that name in New England, immigrated from England and was granted land in Salem as early as 1637. His son, Samuel Gaskill, who interested himself in the Quaker doc- trines and attended the meetings of that sect, bc- came amenable to the strict Puritan law operative against heretics, and was severely punished for this offence.
Lewis B. Gaskill, the principal subject of this sketch, is a descendant in the eighth generation o' Edward, the Salem settler, and is of the fourth generation in line of descent from Samuel Gaskill. who located in Worcester county. Samuel (4) Gaskill, who was a great-grandson of Edward, came to the South Parish of Mendon (now Blackstone) in 1736, and purchased of Stephen Sweet a large farm for which he paid the sum of four hundred
LEWIS B. GASKILL
PUSLIC LIRRS
33
WORCESTER COUNTY
and fifty pounds sterling. lle had at least two sons, Ebenezer and Benjamin. Samuel (6) Gaskill, son of Ebenezer and the grandfather of Lewis B., was a lifelong resident of Mendon and a prosper- ous farmer.
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.