Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. IV, Part 39

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 39

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ard, born 1881, resides in New York city; Thomas Franklyn, see forward.

(III) Dr. Thomas Franklyn Davies, son of Hopkins Bowen Davies (2), was born in New York city, November, 1876. He attended the public schools of New York and entered the College of the City of New York, from which he was graduated in 1894. He decided to study medicine and entered the New York Homeopathic College in New York city, where he graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1898. He became visiting surgeon of the Laura Franklyn Hospital at One Hundred and Eleventh street, near Fifth avenue, New York. Then for two years he was on the staff of the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women. He opened an office and began the practice of his profes- sion in New York city in 1900. He camne to Worces- ter, January 1, 1903, and practiced in that city.

DUDLEY FAMILY. Francis Dudley (I), the immigrant ancestor of Mrs. Charles H. Norcross, of Sutton, Massachusetts, was born in England about 1640. He settled at Concord, Massachusetts, about 1663, and married Sarah Wheeler, daughter of George Wheeler, of Concord, October 26, 1665. His wife died there December 12, 1713. His rela- tionship to Governor Dudley has not been estab- lished, but it is believed that they were related in some way. Francis may have been the son of John Dudley, who was in Charlestown, Massachusetts, from 1655 to 1671. Francis was a soldier in the King Philip war; he was on a pay roll of troops February 29, 1675-76, for twelve pounds, ten shill- ings. Their children: 1. Mary, born February 9, 1666, married Joseph Fletcher. 2. Joseph, died No- vember 3. 1702; married, 1691, Abigail Goble. 3. Samuel, see forward. 4. Sarah. 5. John, born March 10, 1675, married, May 16, 1707, Hannah Poultney. 6. Benjamin, born March 6, 1681-2. 7. Francis, married first Sarah - second Abigail

(II) Samuel Dudley, son of Francis Dudley (I), was born at Concord, Massachusetts, June 27, 1682. He was a resident of Littleton, Massachu- setts, from 1714 to 1728, when he settled in Sutton. He removed to Douglass in 1745. He was town clerk of Littleton in 1716-17. He was moderator of the Sutton town meeting in 1728, was lieutenant as early as 1730, was deputy to the general court in 1731, the first from the town of Sutton. He was a leading citizen of the town and had the post of honor in the seating of the church. He was one of the first board of selectmen of the town of Doug- lass. The farm at Sutton was on the county road between Millbury and Wilkinsonville, then part of Sutton. He built a house on the site of the pres- ent residence of George Dudley. He was one of the largest landowners in Sutton. He was a justice of the peace, town clerk 1748, moderator 1750, se- lectman from 1757 to 1770, constable 1759, on the school committee from 1764 to 1768. He died in Douglass May 27, 1777. He married (first) Abi- gail King, who died August 9, 1720. Children : Samuel, Jr., born July 28, 1705, married Abigail Waters. Francis, born December 10. 1706, married Sibyl Leland. David, born November 4, 1709 (trip- let). Jonathan (triplet ), born November 4, 1709, married Hannah Putnam. Abigail (triplet), born November 4. 1709, died young. Patty, born Sep- tember 13, 1718. Rogers, see forward. Ile mar- ried (second), 1720, Lydia Wetherbee, who died

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at Douglass, March 27, 1747. Children of Samuel by his second wife: Paul, born September 24, 1721, died young. Charles, born December 10, 1722. Will- iam, born May 28, 1726, at Littleton, where the pre- ceding six also were born. He married (third) Sarah Shepard. The only child of the third mar- riage was: Douglas or Douglasette, born Septem- ber 9, 1748, at Douglass.

(111) Rogers Dudley, son of Samuel Dudley (2), was born in Littleton, Massachusetts, August 9, 1720. He settled on a farm on the old road from Worcester to Sutton, near Dorothy pond. He married Mary Sibley. Their children: I. Mercy, born at Sutton, April 20, 1746. 2. David, sec for- ward. 3. Mary, born December 14, 1751, married, 1764, Jonathan Eliot.

(IV) David Dudley, son of Rogers Dudley (3), was born in Sutton, Massachusetts, January 14, 1750. He married, December 16, 1773. Lois Whit- ney. He was called "Fat David" because of his corpulence. He built the house next the present John Paul place, near Dorothy pond. He was one of the Sutton minute men who marched on the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775, umder Captain Andrew Eliot and Colonel Learned. Their chil- dren: 1. John, married Huldalı Gould; their daughter Lois W. married Caleb Cutting: their daughter Susan married Francis Strong. 2. David, see forward. 3. Luther, born about 1785; his daughter married - Cutting. 4. Sally. 5. Betsey, born February 9, 1787, married, August 18, 1811, John March, of Connecticut. 6. Dr. Joseph, born March 14, 1790. 7. Amasa, born October 17, 1792, married Ann Fletcher and had Joseph Amory, William Il. and Paul Whitin, mentioned elsewhere in this work. 8. Polly, born 1775, married Dwinnel, of Brooklyn.

(V) David Dudley, son of David Dudley (4), was born at Sutton, Massachusetts, June 5, 1781. He married, February 22, 1804, Phebe Dudley, daughter of Peter Dudley, and a remote cousin. Their children, all born at Sutton, were: 1. Caleb, born 1804, died October 22, 1830. 2. Peter, born 1807, died July 31, 1840, at Sutton. 3. Elbridge Gerry, born 1810, died at Sutton, April 12, 1834. 4. Betsey E., born 1815, died at Sutton, April 19, 1834. 5. David T., see forward.

(VI) David Tyler Dudley, son of David Dudley (5), was born at Sutton, Massachusetts, September 24, 1817. Ile was educated in the public schools and learned the trade of machinist at which he be- came very skillful. He was gifted also with in- ventive genius. For many years he was prominent as a manufacturer of shuttles. He bought his fac- tory site of the Sutton Manufacturing Company, February 14, 1851. He built the house occupied later by his son, Henry T. Dudley, in 1871. The large shuttle shop owned by D. T. Dudley & Son was built by Warren Wilder in 1867. David T. Dudley was a man of high character and mmusual ability. He was persistent, energetic and upright in business. He died at his home in Sutton, Sep- tember 5, 1896.

He married ( first) Lucy Larkin Wilder. Her brother, Levi Wilder, was a noted teacher of music. lle tanght in Baltimore and other cities. Through his efforts music was introduced into the schools of Brooklyn fifty years ago when teaching music in the public schools was an innovation. Mr. Dudley married ( second ) An E. Leland, June 1. 1869. He married ( third) Fannie A. C. - , who survived

him. Children of David Tyler and Lucy Larkin (Wilder ) Dudley were: 1. Henry T., born at Sut- ton, April 27, 1841, married Lucina H. Chase; was in partnership with his father and succeeded to the business ; their children-Beulah C., born December 9, 1867; Lucy Gertrude, born August 14, 1869. 2. Augusta L., born August 21, 1847, married Hale and resided at Binghamton, New York; had one son Fred D. Hale. 3. Frederick C., born Au- gust 24, 1857, married, October 22, 1872, Angie A. Anderson. 4. Sumner A., born March 15, 1854, resides at Taunton, Massachusetts. 5. Charles F., born April 3. 1856. 6. Nettie P., born February 13, 1859, married Charles Il. Norcross, see forward.

Charles H. Norcross, only child of John Moses and Mary (Sherman) Norcross, of Derry, New Hampshire, was born at Derry, August 13, 1850. He removed with the family to Sutton when he was only eight years old and has had his home there ever since. He was educated in the Sutton public schools. He began to work when a young man in the shuttle shop of D. T. Dudley & Son and has remained there ever since in various capacities. He is at present one of the owners of the business, which has been in operation at the village of Wil- kinsonville since 1825. The business of the firm was incorporated; the product of the factory is shuttles and shuttle irons. Mr. Norcross is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows and the Free Masons. He is a Republican in politics. He married Nettie P. Dudley, daughter of David Tyler Dudley, men- tioned above. Their children are: Annie, born 1884, died in infancy; Edith D., born 1885, died June 2, 1892.

LOUIS DEBLOIS BARTLETT. The Bartlett family of England is ancient and of an honorable record. The arms borne by them are virtually all variations of falconer's gloves arranged triangularly, two above, and one below, pendant with bands about the wrists and golden tassels. The family seat from centuries ago down to the present time is at Stopham. John Bartlett was the head of the family there in 1360.

(I) Roger Bartlett of Branscomb, Devonshire, England, whose direct ancestry has not been traced, was the first known progenitor of Louis Deblois Bartlett, late of Fitchburg, a well known inventor and machinist. Roger's wife was Mary.

(Il) Roger Bartlett, son of Roger Bartlett (1), born in Branscomb, England, February 6, 1723, came to Boston on business when a young man, with no intention of making his home in New Eng- land. He fell in love with a pretty Charlestown maiden. Annie Hurd, and she promised to marry him. He returned to England, and after obtaining the reluctant consent of his parents he returned to New England, and October 9 or 10 (the records differ ), 1749, he married his fiancee at Charles- town. She was descended from John Hurd, a pio- neer at Boston. John Hurd, a tailor by trade, served his apprenticeship with William Hutchinson. He was admitted as an inhabitant of Boston 1639, and a freeman May 13, 1640. He died September 23, 1690. The children of John and Mary Hurd were: 1. John, born August 5, 1639. 2. Hannah, baptized September 20, 1640. 3. Jolin, born July 17, 1643. 4. Joseph, September 10, 1644. 5. Ben- jamin, November 28, 1652. 6., Jacob, mentioned be- low, ancestor of Annic (Hurd) Bartlett, mentioned above. 7. Samuel, May 4, 1655. 8. Mehitable.

PURI IC

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(III) Samuel Bartlett, son of Roger Bartlett (2) ( four of whose seven children died young ), born November 17. 1752, married, September 19, 1775, Mary, daughter of Isaiah and Elizabeth Barrett, of Boston. He was a silversmith. While living in Concord he was elected register of deeds of Mid- dlesex county in 1795, and soon afterward removed to Cambridge, where he lived the rest of his days. His widow died August 1, 1823, aged seventy-two years. He remained in office until his death Sep- temher 29, 1821. The names of three of his twelve children are on the Cambridge records-Lydia, Jo- anna and Joseph. His children were: 1. Danghi- ter. 2-3. John and Joseph, twins, born November, 1782; John died July 31, 1783, and Joseph, died Oc- tober 2, same year, at Concord. 4. Samuel, born March 22, 1784. 5. John, mentioned below. 6. Ben- jamin Dixon, born about 1789; graduated Harvard College 1810, Harvard Medical School 1813; prac- ticed at Concord, 1813; removed to Bath. Maine, 1816 ; removed to Cambridge, and died there February 7. 1853, aged sixty-three years. 7. Mary, married Willard Buttrick, of Dracut, April 18, 1799. 8. Elizabeth, died unmarried, at Cambridge, August 6, 1873, aged eighty-five. 9. Susan, died unmarried, at Cambridge, October 6, 1875, aged about eighty- five years. 10. Lydia, died September 25, 1796. II. Joanna, died October 21, 1837, aged forty-four. 12. Joseph, born July 17, 1799, at Cambridge; died there October 2, 1799.

( IV) Rev. John Bartlett, fourth (or fifth as given above) child of Samuel Bartlett (3), was born at Concord, May 22, 1784. He received a common school education in that village and when a young man opened a store at Castine, Maine, with the intention of leading a mercantile life, but suddenly changed his mind and entered Harvard College with the intention of studying for the min- istry. He was graduated in 1805. The influences that were about the hoy favored his religious de- velopment. In early life, under the ministry of Rev. Dr. Ripley, whom he always held in reverent and grateful rememberance, he developed a strongly re- ligious character. In childhood he was frank, cheer- ful, generous, the same qualities that distinguished him through life. The story is told of him that at the age of seven he had a new pair of shoes of which he was uncommonly proud, but he came home from school the first day without them, having gen- erously given them to a poor lad. He prepared himself for college under Professor Frisbie, who was living in his father's family at the time, and his intimate association with that scholar had a strong influence upon him. After he graduated from col- lege he studied theology two years at Cambridge. The chaplaincy of the Boston Almshouse was of- fered him, and he entered zealously upon the dis- charge of his duties. He may properly be called the first minister at large in Boston. At this time he studied medicine in order to know better how to help the sick and suffering poor in his charge. At his suggestion a meeting of the wealthy and benevolent men of the city was called to consider measures for the treatment of the insane, and the result was the McLean Insane Hospital at Somer- ville. Through his instrumentality also. a society was formed for the relief of destitute families dur- ing the trying period of the Embargo. He was the chief agent of the society, and accomplished a large amount of benevolent and highly effective labor. Mr. Bartlett was chaplain for three years, iv-10

and during at least a part. of this time continued his theological studies under Dr. Channing. He was called as minister to the Second Congregational Church at Marblehead, and ordained there May 22, 1811. He lived in Marblehead the rest of his life. He did not confine himself to the duties of this position. He assisted in the formation and manage- ment of the Humane Society of Marblehead, a so- ciety composed of women of different denominations to help the sick and needy. He was active in the Masonic fraternity, and was charged with the in- spection of the lodges in Essex county. He took great interest in the youth of his congregation, especially in the Sunday school. He overtaxed his strength during a series of terrible marine disasters that afflicted his people, and suffered a stroke of paralysis in the pulpit. He went to the Mohawk Valley, in New York, to rest and restore his health, visited Staten Island and West Point, and returned to his pastoral work, but was unable to go on with it. In the thirty-eighth year of his pastorate at Marblehead he died, February 3, 1849. His was un- doubtedly the most eventful pastorate in the history of the Church. He became a Unitarian with Dr. Channing and a large proportion of the New Eng- land ministers, and a majority of his church sup- ported his views when the division came. Those who differed with his liberal views withdrew from the Church and in 1832 founded the Orthodox Church, as it is generally called.

Among the published works of Mr. Bartlett to be found in the American Antiquarian Library at Worcester are: "God not the Author of Sin-a Discourse delivered before the Second Congrega- tional Church and Society in Marblehead, 1819;" "Preaching Christ in Love,"-a discourse delivered before the same church, 1825; and another sermon bearing on the difference between the Unitarians and Calvinistic branches of the Congregational Church, delivered in 1829. The following is an ex- tract from a letter of Rev. Dr. Andrew P. Peabody, of Harvard College :

"In temperament aod in the traits of his mental character and culture he was the most complete representative of the golded mean'-if it be golden-that I ever knew. He was always serene and happy, never elated or buoyant, He was kind and genial in his manner, but with no empressement even toward his dearest friends. In conversation he was neither sprightly oor dull ; he contributed more than is often in the power of the most gifted to the entertainment and profit of a social gathering or a clerical gathering. yet, when the hour was over, you could recall nothing peculiarly striking or brilliant to which he had given utterance. In his manners he was modest and unobtrusive, yet self-possessed, easy and dignified.

As to his acquirements, he made no pretensions to schol- arship, seemed to have only a few obsolete books, and one would have thought him too busy to read much ; yet what it became him to know he always knew, and in the discussions of our club on questions of theology and exegesis he often supplemented the deficient learning of those of us who had much to do with many books. His sermons were always good, but never noteworthy- impressive but not exciting. His style was singularly chaste, pure and rythmical, with little ornament and with little versatility. His treatment of a subject was methodical, with distinctly stated divisions. and often with sub-divisions. and with just that develop- ment of each which satisfied the demands of the occasion and fell short of the point of weariness. His voice might remind one of ' Pleyel's Ilymn,' a rich melody compressed within the range of three or four notes on the diatonic scale. His intonations were more agreeable to the ear than those of any preacher whoni-l now recall to mind, but his delivery had so little compass of tone and the cadences fell with such unvarying ictus upon the anditory nerve that from gratified and interested attention the passage to somnolence was by no means difficult. His acceptableness as a preacher corresponded very closely to the absence from all ex- tremes that I have remarked in his professional endowment Wherever he was known to preach the worshippers were glad to see him in the pulpit, and felt when the day closed that it had been a good day. yet he was very little asked for or talked about in the churches.

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"I come now to speak of the gifts he possessed in no mod- erate or ordinary measure. In his relation to his own flock and to the people of Marblehead in geoeral he manifested, with the evident desire to be faithful to the last degree. cerraio peculiar capacities and adaptations. Ile studied medicine to a consider- able extent before he became a minister, and he practiced snc- cessfully among the poorer people of the parish and the town. He was skilled in all the arts that contribute to the comfort and re- finement of home life, and by his example, iofluence and generous aid he exerted a constantly elevating and refiniog agency for the less cultivated portion of the community around him. He was active and sincere as a peacemaker, and suppressed a great deal of incipient litigation He was an excellent business man. and drew ordinary legal instruments with accuracy, and took the very best care of property. His services in this line were often put in requisition for the care of families of his seafaring parishioners. the writing of wills, the administration of estates, and the guard- ianship of minors. Wherever it was a charity to assume a charge

of this class, he was always ready to uodertake it, however oner- ous. He attended the probate court almost as regularly as the judge and register. At the same time his almsgiving weot to the outside limits of his ability. During the early part of his ministry, when Marblehead drew all her wealth from the sea. the casual- ties incident to the maritime profession multiplied greatly the number of bereaved and destitute families, aod constaot demands were made on Mr. Bartlett's moderate aod well husbanded re- sources. They were never made in vain, and I have been told by one who koew well that it was by no means an uncommon thing for him to meet some urgent case of need by sending the dinoer from his own table. "

A brother minister who was intimate with him for many years summed up some of Mr. Bartlett's various functions in this wise: "If one of his par- ishioners were very sick, he would first prescribe for him, then pray for him. If the case was likely to prove fatal, he wrote the sick man's will, watched with him the last night of his life, comforted the mourners, made the post-mortem examination, of- ficiated at the funeral, then presented the will for probate. gave bonds as executor and was appointed guardian of the children."

He married Rebecca Deblois. She was a worthy helpmeet. She organized the Dorcas Society in the Church. She was the daughter of Deblois, a mer- chant of Boston and Salem previous to the revolu- tion. A sister Betsey married General Despard, who was killed at the battle of Waterloo. Mrs. Bartlett died December 24, 1858. Children of Rev. John and Rchecca ( Deblois) Bartlett : I. John Stephen, born May 14. 1812. 2. Sarah Lydia, July 27, 1814. 3. Samuel William, November 26, 1816. 4. George Edward, June 1, 1819. 5. Mary Susan, January 1, 1823; married W. B. Gerry, of Marble- head. 6. Louis Deblois, mentioned below.

(V) Louis Deblois Bartlett, youngest child of Rev. John Bartlett (4), was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, September 24, 1825, and died there October 19, 1898. He acquired most of his educa- tion in the Marblehead Academy, where he studied among other things engincering under John Rug- gles. At the age of seventeen he left home to learn the machinist's trade in Boston, in the shop of Otis Tufts. His apprenticeship expired September 24, 1846, but he continued to work for Mr. Tufts, who in 1851 offered him a partnership. This was ef- fected in 1853, when a corporation was formed and Mr. Bartlett became a stockholder and superintend- ent of the shop. During the first years the company was very prosperous, and in 1854 the works were enlarged at a cost of $50,000 in order to build sugar machinery, for which they had large orders from Louisiana and Texas. A dry season next year de- layed the delivery of the machines by steamer, the purchasers declined payment, litigation and loss en- sued, causing the works to close July 12, 1856.

Mr. Bartlett invented the first kind of ash sifter to use on barrels, and realized a handsome profit from it. He was employed as a mechanical engineer

and furnished the Essex Machine Company of Lawrence with several plans for sugar mills and sugar machinery. George A. Stone, of Boston, was agent for the Pasha of Egypt in the construction of a thirteen hundred ton steamship of 1,000 horse power, and Mr. Bartlett was superintending engi- neer for Mr. Stone. Notwithstanding many diff- culties, Mr. Bartlett finished the ship. which was launched in the fall of 1858 and named "Le Voy- ageur de la Mer." In March, 1859, he left the en- ploy of Mr. Stone to take the entire charge of the manufacture of steam machinery for the Putnam Machine Company of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. In 1860 he purchased an equal share with the other proprietors in the company, and for twenty-seven years devoted himself to this concern. He was director and clerk of the company during most of this period, was treasurer for several years, and president for a short time. During this time he obtained three patents for improvements on station- ary engines, giving the Putnam Company the right to use them. He also did important and success- ful service to his company in litigation over steam engines. He won one case against George H. Cor- liss, of steam engine fame, much to the surprise of that usually successful litigant. He was for several years director of the Rollstone National Bank of Fitchburg; a trustee and member of the investment committee of the Worcester North Sav- ings Institution, and he was entrusted with the management of several large estates. He served several years as trustee of the Fitchburg Public Library, and was its treasurer at the time of his death, He was a member of the water committee of the city in 1866, and was a member one year of the city council, attending every meeting held during the year, and served on the highway com- mittee. He was an active member of the Mechan- ical Apprentices Library Association of Boston, serving as librarian and corresponding secretary ; was a member of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics' Association: Fitchburg Historical So- ciety ; Atlantic Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Marblehead. He was a justice of the peace many years. He at- tended the First Parish ( Unitarian) Church.

Ile married, October 12. 1853, Harriet Morton Barstow, daughter of Captain William C. and Sarah F. ( Morton) Barstow. Mrs. Bartlett's grandfather, Captain Silas Morton, was a revolutionary soldier, being lieutenant in Captain Duncan's company, First Regiment, commissioned January 1, 1777. 1Ie was with the American army in New Jersey, where he served as orderly and carried despatches for Wash- ington ; spent the terrible winter of 1777-8 at Valley Forge; and was at West Point at the time of Arnold's treason, and was a witness of the execu- tion of Major Andre. He was appointed lieutenant December 15, 1781, in the Second Massachusetts Regiment, with which he served at the siege of Yorktown. He received from the hand of Lafayette one of the dress swords taken from the British. These swords were ordered, by act of congress, de- livered to American and French officers for dis- tinguished services during the siege. At the evacu- ation of New York, in 1783, he was serving with the Light Infantry with the rank of adjutant. He was captain by brevet, and was later a member of the Society of the Cincinnati.

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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. IV, Part 39

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