Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. IV, Part 108

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 710

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. IV > Part 108

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).

Mr. Bacon was twice married and his second wife survives him. He also leaves one son, Arthur. For several months prior to his death he was con- fined to his residence, and during that time his faithful wife was untiring in her devotion to his comfort. She has never fully recovered from the effect of the sad blow, and in her bereavement she has the sincere sympathy of the entire community, who appreciate beyond expression, the full value of her late husband's labors in behalf of its moral welfare.

PETER R. CULBERT. Thomas Culbert, father of Peter R. Culbert, of Woreester, was born in Crieff, Scotland. 1828. He made his home in Deanston, Perthshire, Scotland, where he was em- ployed as woodturner and carpenter for James Finley & Co. He married Janet Robinson, born in Deanston, Perthshire, Scotland, 1833, and died 1885. Their children: William, born 1860; Mar- garet, 1862; Peter R., see forward: John, June 20, 1867; Thomas, September 20, 1870; Clementine, May 20, 1872.

Peter R. Culbert, son of Thomas Culbert, was born in Deanston, Perthshire, Scotland, June 22, 1864. He was educated there in the public schools. He began in business as clerk in the office of James

Finley & Co., in the Deanston Cotton Mills. After five years he decided to come to America. He left his native land September 27, 1888, and arrived in Boston, October 6, 1888. Two days later he went to work in the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology, which he left March 4, 1889, to take a posi- tion with F. A. Easton, the newsdealer. Worcester. He started in business on his own account as news- dealer and stationer April 6, 1896. His store was at the corner of Main and Mechanic streets. He removed October 1, 1896, to his present location, 334 Main street, adjoining the State Mutual huild- ing, where he has enjoyed an excellent business. In addition to the stationery and news business, he carries cigars, confectionery and similar goods. Mr. Culbert is a Republican in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Culbert visited Scotland and the continent in 1903 for three months, and since then have made a number of similar trips. Mr. Culbert made a visit to his friends and relatives in Scotland in 1906, spending several months abroad.

He married, January 11, 1900, Alice Elizabeth Denny, daughter of Daniel E. and Martha (Fisher) Denny. (See sketch of Daniel E. Denny for an- cestry, etc.) They have one child, Janet Denny Culbert, born December 7, 1904. Mrs. Culbert was educated in the Worcester schools, graduating from the Classical high school in 1890, and at Wellesley College, where she was a student in 1891-92. She then taught school at Evansville, Indiana, in the girls' preparatory school from 1894 to 1896; and in the Worcester Classical high school from 1806 until her marriage. She is the secretary of the Woman's Association of Central Church.

WALTER HUNT PARKER William Parker, the immigrant ancestor of Walter Hunt Parker, of East Douglas, Massachusetts, was born in Eng- land about 1610. Parker was a very common name in New England from the first, as at least twenty- five pioneers of this surname came to Massachu- setts, alone before 1650. The birthplace of William Parker is unknown and the name of Parker is so numerous in the old country that it is practically impossible to trace the English line. William Parker was a farmer or husbandman. He was in Scituate, in Plymouth colony, in 1637. and took the oath of allegiance there February 1, 1638. He was one of the proprietors of the town. He was admitted a freeman December 1, 1640, and received a grant of land as an old resident in 1671. His home was on a sixty-acre lot north of Edward Foster's river lot, and his dwelling house on Parker Land west of the small brook. His will is dated July 1, 1684, and proved October 3 following. He bequeathed to his wife Mary; to children Miles, Nathaniel, Lydia, Joseph. Mary, Judith (Judah), Patience Randall; grandchild Stephen Tatman.

He married (first). April. 1630. Mary Rawlins, daughter of Thomas Rawlins. She died August, 1651. He married (second), November 13. 1651, Mary Turner, daughter of Humphrey Turner. William Parker, of Seituate, should not be con- fused with William Parker, of Saybrook. Con- necticut, or William Parker, of Taunton. Massa- chusetts, both of about the same age as William of Scituate. And there was also a William Parker, of Watertown and Sudbury. Massachusetts. . Chil- dren of William and Mary (Rawlins) Parker were: Mary, born Jannary 1. 1640, married Theophilus Wetherell; William, December, 1643, of whom

١٠٠

ATC

BUSTUN PUBLIC RY

403

WORCESTER COUNTY

later: Patience, February, 1649, married Randall. Children of William and Mary (Turner) Parker were: Lydia, May 9, 1653, second wife of Theophilus Wetherell, who married first her sister Mary; she died September 7. 1719, aged sixty- seven years; Miles, June 25, 1655, settled in Scit- uate ; Joseph, October 4, 1658; Nathaniel, March 8, 1661, died during the Phipps' expedition to Can- ada, 1690: Judith, mentioned in the father's will. (II) William Parker, son of William Parker (1), was born in Scituate, Massachusetts, Decem- ber, 1643. Savage says that he married, 1693, Mary Clark, but the Scituate records give his marriage March 2, 1696-97, to Rachel Clarke. He resided in Freetown, near Dartmouth, Massachusetts. If he married twice as given above, the children of William and Mary were: Alexander, born at Scituate; Joshua, born at Scituate; Elisha, born at Scituate. Children of William and Rachel Parker, all born in Freetown, probably, were: Nathaniel, William, Miles, Elisha (second), Samuel, Joseph, born August 31, 1714; Rachel, Mary.

(III) Joseph Parker, son of William Parker (2), was born at Freetown, Massachusetts, August 31, 1714, and died at Enfield, Connecticut, August 30, 1795, aged eighty years. He resided in Free- town and Douglas, Massachusetts, and at Enfield, Connecticut. He married Betsey Bardeen, who was born December 16, 1723, and died November 26, 1817. Their children, most of whom settled in Douglas, were: Samuel, married Abigail Bige- low {intentions dated March 29, 1762; married (second) (intentions dated October 2), 1773, Bethia Crowninshield, of Sutton; Joseph, Jr., Judith, Elizabeth, then of Freetown, married . (intentions September 13), 1762, William Jepherson, Jr. (Jef- ferson), of Douglas; Lydia, married at Douglas (intentions February 26), 1772, Nathan Spooner ; Susanna. Some relation to the foregoing were: David Parker, of Douglas, who married, September 1775. Susan Aldeson, and Archelaus Parker, of Douglas, who married, 1773, Betty Richardson.

(IV) Joseph Parker, son of Joseph Parker (3), was born in Freetown, Massachusetts, Febru- ary 29, 1751-52. He settled at Douglas, Massachu- setts, where he died January 21, 1810. He married Eunice Emerson (intentions dated January 7, 1770). She was born June 29, 1752, and died at Douglas, March 18, 1845, aged ninety-three years. Children of Joseph and Eunice Parker, all born at Douglas, were: Mary, July 29, 1770; Eunice, Prince, April 30, 1775, of whom later.

(V) Prince Parker, son of Joseph Parker (4), was born April 30, 1775, at Douglas, Massachu- setts, and died 1866. He settled in his native town. He married (intentions dated February 25, 1795) Olive Aldrich, who died at Douglas, Decem- ber 21, 1840, aged sixty-three years. She was born in Uxbridge, October 1, 1777. Their children, all born at Douglas, were: Joseph, born May 24, 1796; Abel. July II, 1798; Purloine, April 1, 1800; Polly, December 16, 1803; Prince, Jr., November 27, 1805. died February 15, 1859; Asa, February 27, 1808; Olive, June 29, 1810: Olive, June 29, 1812; Zara, May 25, 1814. of whom later; Moses, No- vember II. 1818.

(VI) Zara Parker, son of Prince Parker (5), was born in Douglas, Massachusetts, May 25, 1814. He received his early education in Douglas. He began to work in the Douglas axe factory when a young boy, then returned to farming. He car-

ried on an extensive business in wood, lumber, farm products, etc., and had a long and honorable career in his native town. He attended the Con- gregational Church. He was a kindly, charitable, generous man, a faithful citizen. In politics he was a Democrat of the old school and held several town offices at various times. He died at his home in Douglas, January 15, 1901.

He married, March 24. 1842, Martha Hunt, daughter of John Hunt, of Sutton. She was born in Douglas, December 6, 1822. Children of Zara and Martha (Hunt) Parker were: I. Marelius LeRoy, born April 11, 1840, married, in Worcester, Emmeline Robbins, and their children are-Walter Everett, born October 8, 1881, in Douglas; Clifford LeRoy, July 1, 1880; Jennie Blanche, June 27, 1882. 2. Mary LeRoy, born January 4, 1849, died Sep- tember 29, 1852. 3. Clarence Edgar, born August 26, 1853, a prominent citizen of East Douglas; has been overseer of the poor and selectman; is a Democrat in National issues but independent in municipal politics ; married Alice J. Cole, daughter of Charles Cole, February 5, 1880. + Clara Eugenie, born January 5, 1857, married, August 25, 1881, Clark Taft; married (second). December 25, 1803, Ilenty Harrison Mclean. 5. Walter Hunt, born July 24. 1860, of whom later.

(VII) Walter Hunt Parker, son of Zara Parker (6), was born at Douglas, Massachusetts, July 24, 1860. He worked at home on the farm and at- tended the public schools of Douglas during his early youth. He gradually drifted into the wood business, in which his father was also engaged, and at the present time has become one of the largest owners of wood land and timber of all kinds in Worcester county. During the past few years he has cut and sold an annual average of more than a million feet of lumber. His business is prosperous and increasing. He has the energy, force of character and business ability that give him a leading position in the business world. In politics he is a Democrat and has served on the school committee of Douglas. He is a Congrega- tionalist in religion. He married, June 24. 1897, Ressie A. Brown, daughter of Windsor Brown. Their children are: Howell Windsor, born July 26, 1898; Ralph Kenneth, August 12, 1901.

THAYER FAMILY OF LANCASTER. Rich- ard Thayer (I), the immigrant ancestor not only of Lancaster but of most American families of this surname, settled in Boston, Massachusetts, and his son Richard settled in Braintree. Richard Thayer (I), born and baptized in Thornbury, Gloucester- shire, England, April, 1601, came to America in 1641, bringing with him, according to a deposition of his son Richard, eight children. He was a shoe- maker by trade. He married, in Thornbury, Eng- land, April 5. 1624, Dorothy Mortimore. He mar- ried (second) Jane Parker, widow of John Par- ker, and in 1658 joined her in a deed to her Parker children. He died before 1668. (See Suffolk Deeds V, 446). Children of Richard and Dorothy (Morti- more) Thayer: Richard, baptized February 10, 1624-25; Cornelius; Deborah, baptized February 1629-30, married, April 11, 1653, Thomas Faxon; Jael, married, March 17, 1654. John Harbour, Jr .; Sarah, married, July 20, 1651, Samuel Davis; Han- nah, married. May 28, 1664, Samuel Hayden ; Zacha- riah, died July 29, 1603, and his estate was admin- istered by his brother Richard; Abigail, died Au-

404

WORCESTER COUNTY

gust 6, 1717, aged sixty-six years; Nathaniel, see forward.

(II) Nathaniel Thayer, youngest son of Rich- ard Thayer (1), born about 1650, married Deborah 1676, and settled in Boston, Massachusetts. Their children: Nathaniel, born August 28, 1671; Deborah, August 22, 1678; Nathaniel, July 11, 1681 ; Zachariah, May 29, 1683; Cornelius, see for- ward; John, born April 2, 1687, died young; John, July 2, 1688; Ebenezer, February 1, 1689; Deborah, born October 14, 1691, died October 18.

(III) Cornelius Thayer, fifth child of Nathaniel Thayer (2), born in Boston, Massachusetts, No- vember 14, 1684; married Lydia Paine, 1706, and set- tled in Boston. Their children: Lydia, born March 6. 1707; Nathaniel, see forward; Samuel, born De- cember 30, 1712; Deborah, January 27, 1714; Cor- nelius, September 15, 1719; Tuzell, March 13, 1725.

(IV) Nathaniel Thayer, second child and eldest son of Cornelius Thayer (3), born in Boston, July 17, 1710; married Ruth Elliott, sister of Rev. Dr. Andrew Elliott, minister in Boston before 1742 to his death, 1778. Nathaniel Thayer remained in Boston during the occupancy of the town by the British during the revolution. Children of Nathaniel and Ruth ( Elliott) Thayer: Ebenezer, see for- ward; Catherine; Ruth; Lydia; Deborah.

(V) Rev. Ebenezer Thayer, only son and eldest child of Nathaniel Thayer (4), born in Boston, July 16, 1734; graduated from Harvard College 1753; married Martha Cotton, niece of his prede- cessor in the ministry at Hampton, New Hamp- shire, and daughter of Rev. John Cotton, of New- ton, Massachusetts, When he was invited to preach at Hampton, June 4, 1766, there were two other candidates, and the parish was divided into fac- tions. When he was engaged as minister a re- monstrance was signed by twenty-two families, largely on the ground that the town could not afford to pay the salary of one hundred pounds per annum, although twenty pounds was payable in farm produce. The remonstrants proved wiser than they knew, for the one hundred pound salary be- came a thing of little value during the period of depreciated Continental currency. When the town was considering an appropriation to make good the loss in the minister's income by reason of the de- preciation of salary he wrote a letter waiving his claim on the taxpayers, in which he said the money part of his salary was comparatively noth- ing. "My salary five years ago," he said, writing in 1779, "would have purchased three thousand pounds of sugar, now about one hundred pounds." In 1786 something was voted Mr. Thayer to make good in part the loss from depreciation in the money in which he was paid. He accepted the call July 18, 1766, and began his pastorate September 17, 1766. The feeling engendered by the factional controversies before he came soon disappeared, al- though a few joined the Presbyterian Church at the time. The parsonage built for Mr. Thayer in 1767 is still standing, although no longer owned by the parish. During his ministry lasting twenty-six years at Hampton, he baptized six hundred and forty-one persons and received one hundred and two into full communion in the church. He died suddenly September 6, 1792. His widow was al- lowed to occupy the parsonage for several years after his death. His memory is still alive in Hamp- ton. The town history states that his cane given to the senior deacon, John Lamprey, has descended

to his great-granddaughter, Mrs. George W. Mace. Ilis everyday cane is now in the possession of Deacon James Perkins.

Mr. Thayer's setiments on some points of doc- trine differed somewhat from those of many of his brethren. His orthodoxy was less rigid, but his life was as much above reproach as any man's. He was amiable in disposition, upright and honest in his dealings, affable and courteous in his intercourse with others, and was greatly beloved by the people of his charge. Five years after his death his suc- cessor in office, addressing those who had been under his ministry, said: "The affection with which his name is mentioned, and the tears which do annually drop over his grave, are the surest testi- mony of your attachment and of his virtues." The following epitaph is inscribed on his gravestone :

"While o'er this modest stone Religion weeps.

. Beneath a humble, cheerful Christian sleeps ;

Sober, learned, prudent, free from care and strife, He filled the useful ofhces of life ;

Admired, endeared, as busband, father, friend Peace blest his days and innocence his end ; Blameless throughout, his worth by all approved True to his charge and by his people loved, He lived to make his bearers' faith abound

And died that bis own virtues might be crowned."

His wife, born November 30, 1739, died in Boston, February 11, 1809, leaving "that good name which is better than precious ointment." The chil- dren of Rev. Ebenezer and Martha (Cotton) Thayer were: Ebenezer, born July 15, 1765; Na- thaniel, see forward; Martha, born April 21, 1771; John, born July 14, 1773; Catherine, born Septem- ber 28, 1779, married Rev. Jacob Abbott, died Jan- uary 7, 1843; Andrew Eliot, born November 4, 1783.

(VI) Rev. Nathaniel Thayer, second child and second son of Rev. Ebenezer Thayer (5), born in Hampton, New Hampshire, July 11, 1769; married Sarah, daughter of Colonel Christopher Toppan, October 22, 1795. He prepared for college at Exeter Academy, being one of the first class of- fered for admission to Harvard College, which he entered at the age of sixteen. He passed the ordeal of college life in safety and honor, gaining distinc- tion as a scholar in a class that included Rev. Will- iam Emerson and President Kirkland in its mem- bers. He graduated in 1789. He began at once to study for the ministry under Rev. Dr. Osgood, of Medford, a man of reputed orthodox faith, but who breathed the very spirit of freedom, and whose fervid eloquence in the pulpit no one could hear without emotion. That the pulpit profited by the teachings of Dr. Osgood the life and ministry of his pupil, Dr. Thayer, fully evince. Dr. Thayer was also a champion of religious freedom and a strenu- ous vindicator of the right of private judgment in matters of religion and of independence in Con- gregational churches. Dr. Thayer was first a can- didate for the church at Church Green, Boston, and a majority of the parish voted to call him. At Hampton, New Hampshire, his father's parish voted to call him, but he declined. For a time he was a tutor or instructor in Harvard College. He afterwards passed a year at Wilkes-Barre, on the banks of the Susquehanna river, in Pennsylvania, in the family of Hon. Timothy Pickering, secretary of war in the cabinet of President Washington. Al- though he commenced his active ministry in Penn- sylvania, his life work was in Lancaster, Massachu- setts, where he accepted a call and was ordained

OSTON

PUBLIC LIBRARY

THE HOUGHTON HOUSE

Still River ( Harvard ) Mass. The Westerly part was built 1692 and 1704 by James Houghton. Five generations of Houghtons have owned it. Edward Warren Houghton being the possessor of it. 1896. At one time it was used as a garrison house, affording protection from the Indians.

405

WORCESTER COUNTY

October 9, 1793, as colleague of the venerable Rev. Timothy Harrington, who died two years later. Dr. Thayer began his ministerial life at twenty- four years of age. He was a person of medium height, with a face of remarkable power of ex- pression, and was an accomplished puplit orator and an able divine. His mother was a lineal descendant from Rev. John Cotton, the first minister of Boston, and through her he was descended from an unin- terrupted succession of clergymen for nearly two hundred and thirty years. His father, too, was a man of learning and dignity, of even temper and perfect manners. "Though always appropriate and sometimes rich in thought happily expressed, the effectiveness traditional of his discourses was largely due to the thrilling tones and skillful emphasis of the orator." Because of his power in the pulpit and wisdom in church affairs he was frequently summoned from great distances to aid in ordination and council. "But not alone," says one of the town historians, "nor chiefly for his public teachings was he prized by the people. His benignant presence was sought as a blessing in times of joy, a comfort in great sorrow. The prayer from his lips was the never-omitted prelude to business at the town meet- ing. The young bashfully, the old unreservedly, confided their hopes, soul experiences and troubles in him, assured of hearty sympathy and wise counsel. He was the depositary of family secrets; the com- poser of neighborhood disputes, the ultimate referee in mooted points of opinion or taste." The day was never too long for his activity. In the summer mornings by five o'clock the early travelers saw him tilling his garden by the roadside. In the after part of the day he rode about, stopping to greet ·everyone he met with kindly inquiry, carrying con- solation to the sick and sorrowful, help to the destitute, the refreshment of hope to the despond- ent, cheerfulness and peace to all. The charm of his fireside, with its hearty hospitality, was freely and unostentatiously open to every chance guest. The wife and mother, who presided with simple dignity over the household, survived her husband exactly seventeen years.

Dr. Thayer was the sixth minister and re- ligious teacher of the town of Lancaster. During the long pastorate of his predecessor there had been a great change in the public mind, silently ef- fected, on religious views. Dr. Thayer was settled as a strictly orthodox believer, and there was no public avowal of a radical change in his doctrinal views, and there was no break between him and his Calvinistic brethren in ministerial relations. On the other hand, Dr. Thayer was from the first a liberal Christian. He was in full sympathy with the movement led by Dr. Kirkland, Mr. Buck- minster and Dr. Channing. Though there was no split in the Congregational Church for twenty years after his settlement, yet there was a gradual drawing together of two parties. When the separa- tion came, nearly every Congregational church in the Nashua Valley, including, of course, Dr. Thay- er's, was in the liberal or Unitarian fold. Dr. Thayer was the leader, but conservative and pa- cificatory in his relations to the dissenters who left the old churches. About 1815 the Lancaster Asso- ciation, composed of Rev. Mr. Damon, of Lunen- 'burg, Rev. Mr. Gapen and Rev. Mr. Osgood, of Sterling ; Rev. Mr. Allen, of Northboro; Rev. Mr. Clarke, of Princeton; and Father Allen, of Bolton, was formed, with Dr. Thayer as the leader and centre, drawn together by similarity of views and

unity of spirit. This Unitarian body later united with the Worcester Association.

Dr. Thayer continued his work in the ministry until a few weeks before his death. He admitted to the church three hundred and eighty-eight, bap- tized ten hundred and seventeen, and attended eighty church councils. Few New England clergy- men ever had larger influence in public and church affairs. Without holding any office aside from his connection with the schools, he was always con- sulted about town affairs. It was said that the selectmen would not mend a piece of road without first consulting Dr. Thayer. From the first he had the principal care of the schools of the town from Shirley to the Boylston line, and exercised faithful supervision over eleven or twelve district schools for many years. He visited the schools constantly, and his afternoons were almost en- tirely devoted to the schools.

As a pastor he was indefatigable. IIe visited and cared for the poor and sick, day and night.

During his ministry there were bitter political controversies. He and a majority of his charge belonged to the school of Washington and John Adams, but there were friends of Jefferson and Gerry in his congregation. He opposed the war of 1812 and preached against it. There were grave differences among his people over the temperance questions, Free Masonry and slavery. New churches were formed on both sides of his parish, but he steered his parish through all their difficulties. He was no temporizer. He maintained his opinions and respected those of others. He ministered to a large, wealthy and intelligent people till he reached a serene old age. Dr. Thayer has left quite a num- ber of published addresses and sermons. One of the mast eloquent, perhaps, is his brief address of welcome to Lafayette in Lancaster in 1826. It is said that Lafayette trembled with emotion at the time, and used to refer to the "heart-thrilling ad- dress of the venerable minister of Lancaster." His last public service was in his church, June 7, 1840. He started next day for Saratoga Springs. After spending a week there he went to Niagara Falls, and was on his way to the Susquehanna, where he first began his ministerial career, but was taken ill suddenly in Rochester, June 22, and died there the following day. His body was brought to Lancaster for burial. Dr. Thayer received the degree of S. T. D. in 1817. His home in Lancaster was first in the old house lately known as Mrs. Nancy Carleton's, but later in the old parsonage which stood a few feet south of the well in front of the house built by liis son, Nathaniel Thayer. In 1881-82 an apse was added to the brick meeting house, called the Thayer Memorial Chapel, in honor of Dr. Thayer and his wife. Its memorial character is indicated by tablets suitahle inscribed. The cost was $15,000 raised by popular subscription.

The children of Rev. Nathaniel and Sarah (Top- pan) Thayer were: Sarah Toppan, born August 21, 1796. died October 20, 1839; Martha, born April 25, 1708, married John Marston, for many years was consul of the United States at Palermo, Sicily ; Mary Ann, born April 13, 1800; Nathaniel, died in infancy ; John Eliot, born August 23, 1803, died September 29, 1857, married Ann Francis, daughter of Ebenezer Francis, of Boston; Chris- topher Toppan, born June 25, 1805, for a quarter of a century minister of the First Parish of Beverly, Massachusetts; married Augusta Brewster, daugh- ter of Oliver Brewster, of Boston, graduate of

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. IV, Part 108

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 710

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 710