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 53
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Benjamin Carr, son of Parker Carr (2), was born at Chester, New Hampshire, November 4, 1775. He settled in Vermont and was one of the pioneers at Cabot, where his children were born, viz .: I. Ben- jamin Page, see forward. 2. Martha, born Septem- ber 20, 1811. 3. Mary, born March 6, 1814, died Oc- tober 17, 1870. 4. Sarah, born July 24, 1816. 5. Almira, born June 19, 1821. 6. Parker, born August 16, 1823, died May 27, 1883. 7. Allen, born Novem- ber 25, 1825. 8. William, born December 20, 1828.
(IV) Benjamin Page Carr, son of Benjamin Carr (5), was born at Cabot, Vermont, October 26, 1807. settled in East Concord, Vermont, and was a farmer. He married, 1831, Asenath Bedell, of Peru, New York, who was born at Plattsburgh, New York, in 1810. Children of Benjamin Page and Asenath Carr were: I. Allen, born March 16, 1832, at Peru, New York. 2. Fanny, born at East Con- cord, Vermont, August 16, 1835, died March 14, 1840. 3. Mary E., born August 15, 1837, died Aut- gust 16, 1865. 4. Charles Il., born February 14, 1839, died December 1, 1863. 5. Arnold E., see for- ward. 6. William B., born September II, 1841. 7. Alonzo P., born November 3, 1844, died at Senaca Locks, Maryland. 8. George Albert, born May 7, 1847. 9. Warren H., born March 10, 1850. IO. Luvira, born December 1, 1851.
(V) Arnold E. Carr, son of Benjamin Page Carr (4), was born in East Concord, Vermont, May 12, 1840. He settled at Lyndon and later at Burke, Vermont, where he is now living. He has been a farmer all his life. He is a veteran of the civil war and a member of the Grand Army.
(VI) Frank Barker Carr, son of Arnold E. Carr (5), was born in Lyndon, Vermont, September 27, 1866. He received a common school education,
and at an early age began to earn his own living, attending school only during a ten or twelve week session each winter, and working the remainder of the time with Joshua Bemis, a farmer, of Lyndon. He remained in the employ of Mr. Bemis until he was twenty-six years old, when he left his native town to seek his fortune elsewhere. In the spring of 1892 he found employment in Lunenburg, Massa- chusetts, with George N. Proctor, as overseer of a large and productive farm. After four years he re- moved to Fitchburg and entered the employ of C. A. Cross & Company, wholesale grocers, taking charge of an extensive farm that the firm owned just out- side the city and assisting in the store also. He re- mained with Cross & Company until April, 1900, when he purchased of Herbert Litchfield "Fair View" farm in Lunenburg. Mr. Carr's place is about a half mile from the village of Lunenburg and commands a delightful view of the surrounding country. He has a herd of thirty cows and has es- tablished a inilk route in Fitchburg and vicinity. He is a shrewd and successful farmer, and a capable business man. In 1906 he was elected a member of the Lunenburg board of selectmen, an honor that testifies to the esteem in which he is held by his townsmen. In politics he is a Republican and in religion a Congregationalist. He married, at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, October 6, 1891, Jessie Harris, daughter of Hugh and Jennett ( McIntosh) Harris, of Leeds, province of Quebec, Canada. Her father was a coal miner. Children of Frank Barker and Jessie Carr are : Harris Arnold, born in Lunenburg, February 13, 1892; Maurice Fairbanks, born in Lunenburg. December 5, 1899.
THOMAS C. SHELDON. Godfrey Sheldon (1), the immigrant ancestor of Thomas C. Sheldon, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, was born in England in 1599. He came to New England about 1660 and settled in Scarborough, now in the state of Maine. He married Alice He died in 1671, leav- ing by will most of his real estate to his son William. The will was dated March 13, 1664. It mentions also. his brother, John Sheldon. The children: John, born about 1630, settled in Billerica, Massachusetts, and is the progenitor of a large number of descend- ants; William, of whom later.
(II) William Sheldon, son of Godfrey Sheldon (1), was born in England about 1630. He was a miller. In 1659-60 he was granted land at Billerica, where liis brother was located, on condition that he build a mill to grind corn within two years. In ad- dition to this home lot of eight acres he was given forty-four acres on Fox hill by Fox meadow, near the lot of his brother John. For some reason he did not settle and build the mill, and in 1663 the grant was declared forfeited. The brother John was indignant over the transaction and even removed from the town for a time, living at Woburn. The town acknowledged itself wrong to some extent by offering to settle the differences between it and Will- iam Sheldon over the mill by giving a generous grant of land to his brother Jolin. In some way the brothers settled matters. William Sheldon was inade his father's heir by will dated the year he would have had to come to Billerica to live to have obtained his rights. The final grant and settlement were made after the father's death, so that one brother probably had to remain in Maine to care for the paternal property, the other remaining in Billerica. The district now known as Maine was
1
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Lr
Thor to Sheldon
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not a pleasant place to live in just then. William Sheldon was driven from home by the Indian war of 1675 and for a time lived in Salem. Again in 1690 he had to leave Scarborough on account of the hostility of the Indians.
The children, born at Saco or Scarborough, were : Ephraim, of whom later ; Mary, Lydia, Sarah, Rebecca, Hepzibah, Nathaniel, died at Salem, No- vember 3, 1675. aged ten years.
( 111) Ephraim Sheldon, son of William Shel- don (2), was born in Scarboro, (now Maine), or vicinity. He married Jane Their children were: Ephraim, of whom later; Nathaniel.
(IV) Ephraim Sheldon, Jr., son of Ephraim Sheldon (3), was born in Scarboro or vicinity in 1708. He removed to Reading, Massachusetts, where many of his descendants have lived. The children of Ephraim Sheldon were: Eunice, married Horace Dexter ; Abraham, born 1731, settled in Rending ; William, settled in Reading; Nathaniel, of whom later ; Ephraim, settled in Lynnfield; Mary,
married Derby ; Samuel, born in Reading, settled in Wilton, New Hampshire, progenitor of many of the New Hampshire branches.
(V) Nathaniel Sheldon, son of Ephraim Shel- don (4), was born in Reading, Massachusetts, or re- moved there when very young. He lived at Reading and also apparently at Andover and Ashby. He married Hannah Fitch. Their children were: Han- nah, born 1750-5, married Jacob Damon, of Reading ; Nathaniel, Jr .. was a soldier in the revolution from Reading ; Zachariah, of whom later; Susan, married Russell Sheldon ; Lucy, married Jonathan Lawrence, of Ashby; William, was a soldier in the revolution ; settled in Ashby; Mary, married Amos Eaton, of Wilton, New Hampshire, where her Uncle Samuel lived: Elizabeth, married Joseph Eaton, and settled in Ashby; Benjamin, settled in Fitchburg; Tamer, married Jonathan Page, of Ashby.
(VI) Zachariah Sheldon, son of Nathaniel Shel- don (5), was born in Reading, Massachusetts, in 1754. and died in Fitchburg in 1815. He was a soldier in the revolution in Captain John Flint's company, Colonel David Green's regiment; also in Captain Amos Upton's ( third Reading) company in 1775. He settled in Fitchburg about 1788, buying a farm on the Ashby road near the town line where his sons were born and also later his grandsons. He was a prominent citizen and held various town offices in Fitchburg.
He married Polly (Mary) Jones. Their children were: Rebecca, born at Andover, Massachusetts, February 17, 1786; Zachariah, Jr., born at Andover, December 7. 1788, was a prominent citizen and con- tractor in Fitchburg; Polly, born January 17, 1791 ; married William Carleton; Samuel, of whom later ; Josiah, born September 20, 1797, married Orinda Fitch, resided in Fitchburg and had a grist mill on the present site of the Star Worsted Mill, also a saw mill near by; Hannah, born January 3, 1801, married Daniel Works.
(VII) Samuel Sheldon, son of Zachariah Shel- don (6), was born in Andover, Massachusetts, De- cember 7, 1787. He was an infant when the family removed to Fitchburg. He inherited the home- stead on the Ashby road and his children were born there. He married, June 3, 1819, Tamer Pratt, of Dublin, New Hampshire. Their children: Francis, born March 25, 1820, of whom later; John Pratt, born February 2, 1822; Samuel Dexter, born May 21, 1825; Thomas, born November 9, 1826.
(VIII ) Francis Sheldon, son of Samuel Shel- con (7), was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, March 25, 1820. He was educated in the district schools of the town and learned the trade of mill- wright. For fifty-five years he worked at his trade in Fitchburg, the foremost man in his line of work. He was employed by most of the manufacturing es- tablishments in that region and in the early days of the mills had charge of most of the work in his line. Ilis partner in business was Charles Nash in later years and the firm was F. Sheldon & Com- pany. The place of business was at the rear of 136 Water street.
Few men held as high a position in the estemm of their fellow citizens. He represented ward three in the common council during the first five years after the city charter was in force, 1873-74-75-76-77- 83. He was an alderman in 1878-79. 1Ic served on important committees and was an influential and active member, taking a special interest in the fire department. He himself was for ten years foreman of Conqueror No. I Engine Company, the house of which was on West street, near E. B. Dole's stable. He was chief engineer, elected April 1, 1865, and served two years. He was at various times an as- sistant engineer and for fully fifty years had some sort of connection with the firemen of the city. lle was one of the oldest and most popular Free Masons in the city, a member of Aurora Lodge, of Thomas Royal Arch Chapter and of Jerusalem Com- mandery, Knights Templar, of Fitchburg. In reli- gion he was a Unitarian and was assessor of the Unitarian society.
The Fitchburg Sentinel said of him at the time of his death-April 25. 1896-"Mr. Sheldon's character was too well known to require extended eulogy. Faithful to duty, whether public or private, upright in his dealings, just to his employees, courteous to all, his death brings a sense of loss to a large circle of friends." He was buried in Forest Ilill cemetery.
He married, March 31, 1846, at Fitchburg, Martha S. Cowdin. She was the daughter of Philip F. and Eunice Cowdin. They observed their golden wed- ding, although Mr. Sheldon was not well at the time. Their only child was Thomas C. Sheldon, of whom later.
( !) Thomas C. Sheldon, son of Francis Sheldon (8), was born in Fitchburg. November 20, 1850. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and then became associated with his father in the mill-wright business. He studied civil engineering and followed that profession for a number of years. He was for six years city engineer of Fitchburg.
He became interested in gingham manufacturing with the Lancaster Mills at Clinton, Massachusetts, and was for many years agent and treasurer of the duck mill at South Fitchburg. The Fitchburg duck mill was built about 1848, owned by George Black- burn & Company and later by Mrs. David Nevins. Cotton duck is manufactured there, and the office and salesrooms are in Boston. Mr. Sheldon recently retired from the active management of the mill. In politics Mr. Sheldon is a Republican. He is a di- rector in the Wachusett National Bank and trustee of the Worcester North Savings Institution. lle is a Free Mason. member of Aurora Lodge, Thomas Royal Arch Chapter and Jerusalem Commandery, Knights Templar. He is president of the Park Club, the leading social club of the town with handsome quarters in a Main street building. He attends the Unitarian Church.
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Ile married in 1877, Florence W. Stevens, daugh- ter of Abel and Lydia Stevens, of Fitchburg. She died in 1894. They had no children.
WILLIAM EVERSON BANCROFT. John Bancroft (1), the immigrant ancestor of William Everson Bancroft, died on the voyage over or soon after his arrival. Land was granted to his widow Jane in 1638 at Lynn. The only child known was Thomas, born in England, in 1623 or 1624. It is likely that Thomas Banshott ( as the name was spell- ed), who came in the ship "Bevis" in May, 1638, at the age of fourteen years, was their son, coming to live with his mother.
(II) Lieutenant Thomas Bancroft, son of John Bancroft (1), was born in England, in 1623-24. He was at Dedham in 1647, when he married Alice Bacon, of that town. She died the following year and he married (second) Elizabeth Metcalf, whose church record remained at Dedham until 1662, when she joined the Reading Church. About 1655 Ban- croft hired a five hundred acre farm in what is now Saugus, then in Lynn, about three or four miles south of Reading, where the nearest church was sit- uated. He had no part in the Reading common lands, etc., but his son Thomas settled in Reading and was an influential citizen there. The name of Bancroft still clings to the place just south of the Straits, a narrow roadway through the rocky hills from Reading to Saugus. Surveys of the line be- tween Lynn and Charlestown of about 1670 mentions "the house that was Ensign Bancroft's." In 1670 Thomas Bancroft bought seventy acres of land at Lynnfield, only three miles east of the Reading Church, which was still the nearest meeting house, and in 1678 the deed of the adjoining Holyoke farm recites that it "had been for some years in possession and improvement of Thomas Bancroft" and a half acre with a building was reserved from the five hun- dred and fifty acres and deeded to Bancroft.
He died August 19, 1691, at Lynn, intestate, but the settlement of his estate is on record. The inven- tory of the estate was filed November 24, 1691, by his son Ebenezer, showing that he had land at Read- ing, Lynn, etc. The agreement for a division of the land was made between the widow Elizabeth; sons Thomas, John and Ebenezer; Joseph Brown, hus- band of the daughter Elizabeth; and Sarah Ban- croft, the youngest daughter. "yet unmarried." His widow Elizabeth died May I. 1711. The child of Lieutenant Thomas and Alice Bancroft was Thomas, born and died 1648. Children of Thomas and Eliza- beth Bancroft : Thomas, see forward ; Elizabeth, born and died 1650; John, born February 3. 1651-52; Elizabeth, born at Reading, December 2, 1653; Sarah, born 1660, died 1661; Raham, born 1662, died 1683; Sarah, born 1665; Ebenezer, born 1667; Mary, born 1670.
(III) Thomas Bancroft, son of Thomas Ban- croft (2), was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, 1649. He settled in Reading, Massachusetts, and became a leading citizen. He was a deputy to the general court at the time of his death, November 9, 1731, aged fifty-eight years. Ile had been selectman of the town and a soldier in King Philip's war. He built the fourth house in what is called West Read- ing. He married, 1673, Sarah Poole, daughter of Jonathan and Judith Poole. Children of Thomas and Sarah, all born at Reading, were: Thomas, born 1673; Jonathan, born 1675, died young; Sarah, born 1678; married Abraham Bryant; Mehitable, born
1678; Jonathan, born 1681; Raham, see forward; Judith, born 1688; Samuel, born 1691, died 1692; Samuel, born 1693; Elizabeth, born 1696, married, 1713, John Lamson.
(IV) Deacon Raham Bancroft, son of Deacon Thomas Bancroft (3), was born at Reading, Massa- chusetts, 1684, and settled in that town. He died 1758, aged seventy-four years. Rev. Mr. Hobby speaks of him at the time of his death as "that good man, my friend, Deacon Bancroft." He married (first). 1706, Abigail Eaton, daughter of Jonas and Hannah (Mason) Eaton. She died 1728, aged forty years. He married (second), 1730, Ruth Kendall, daughter of Samuel and Mary Kendall. She died 1758, aged fifty-six years. Children of Deacon Raham and Abigail Bancroft were: Joshua, born 1712, married (first) Mary Lamson; (second) Widow Eaton; Abigail, born 1715; David, see for- ward; James, born 1729, died young. Children of Raham and Ruth Bancroft were: Ruth, born 1731, married Ephraim Parker, who died 1751; Abigail, born 1733, died 1750; Judith, born 1735; James born 1739, married (first), 1757. Sarah Pearson; (sec- ond), 1786, Sarah Parker; soldier in the revolution, selectman, deputy, died 1831, aged ninety-two years.
(V) David Bancroft, son of Deacon Raham: Bancroft (4), was born at Reading, Massachusetts, August 2, 1718, died at Auburn, Massachusetts, (Ward), April 16, 1782, aged sixty-three years. He settled in Auburn when a young man and is the an- cestor of many of the name in that vicinity. He re- moved later to Worcester. The following is in- scribed on his gravestone :
"'O ! May my humble Spirit stand among Them clothed in white the meanest Place at Christ's right hand In infinite delight. "
David Bancroft's will was dater December 15- 1781, and was allowed May 6, 1782. The children are mentioned as given below. He owned land in Winchendon and Ward. He married ( first) Eunice , who died October 15, 1777, aged fifty-seven years. He married (second) Abigail -, who died January 4, 1779. He married (third) Ruth , October 14, 1779, at Auburn, and she died August 2, 1809, aged ninety-four years. His chil- dren : Eunice; David, married Betty Chase, of Sut- ton, July 6, 1780, at Sutton : Jonas, died January 2, 1821, aged seventy-six years; wife Sarah died De- cember 13, 1822, aged seventy-seven years; Jolin, married, 1781, Esther Merrifield, of Oxford; Ebene- zer; Jonathan, removed to Gardner : Mary, Ruth, Hannah, Timothy, see forward; Nathaniel, born 1757, died July 24, 1777.
(VI) Timothy Bancroft, son of David Bancroft (5), was born in Ward, 1761. He also lived in Au- burn. He married Mrs. Mary Rice, June 13, 1782. She died 1844, aged eighty-four years. He died March 4. 1834, aged seventy-three years. Their children, all born at Auburn, were: Comfort, born January II, 1786; married Chapin and had Lucy W., May W., Elizabeth W. and Benjamin; Peter, born 1782, died October 26, 1786, aged three years, four months, three days; Peter; Timothy Rice, born May 19, 1794, died March 21, 1795; Har- vey, born November 1, 1796, had his father's real es- tate ; Timothy, Jr., sce forward; Rominah born J.ily 24, 1801.
(VII) Timothy Bancroft, Jr., son of Timothy Bancroft (6), was born in Auburn, Massachusetts,
BOSTO
PUBLIC 1
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May 26, 1798. He moved to Worcester and settled on a farm on Lincoln street, where he died October 4. 1875. He married, June 6, 1820, Mary Clark, born in Ward (Auburn), March 3, 1801. Their chil- dren were: 1. Mary Smith, born June 3, 1821, died January 3, 1823. 2. Samuel Clark, born December 9, 1822-23, died December 21, 1838, aged sixteen years. 3. Mary S., born about 1724, married Gustavus El- liott, of Worcester, and they had four children- James Timothy, married Thilla Hubbard, of Worces- ter, and had daughters Florence and Edna: Ida El- liott, married Appleton Keene, of Worcester, and they have four children: Bertha, Jessie, Sarah and Willie Keene; Ella Mary Elliott; Rose Elliott, mar- ried William Petts, of Holden, and they have two children-Bert and Bertha. 4. Almira Salina, born April 16, 1826, died July 10, 1888; married Frederick Burrill, of Worcester, and their children are-Her- bert, Frank, Lillian, Minnie, and Laura, who married Charles Graff, of Leicester. 5. Laura, born March 25, 1828, died December 19, 18446. 6. Nelson T., born June 14, 1830, died December 27, 1898; married Elsie Jameson, a native of Maine, and their children are- Lilian, Olive, Byron, Roswell and Emery, all of whom are living in California. 7. Melissa, born April 23, 1832, married (first) Henry Walker, of Athol, Massachusetts, and had children-Harry Per- cival Walker and Florence Walker, both now de- ceased ; married (second) William Andrews, of Worcester. 8. Erastus, born July 16, 1834, married Emeline Wells, of Kentucky, and had two children- Ida and Hattie, both of whom are married and reside in Illinois. 9. Enoch, see forward. 10. Eliza J., born September 25. 1838, married Henry Pond, of Shrewsbury. II. Martha Y., born October 27, 1841, married Ira J., Lovering, of Auburn, and they have two sons-Elmer and Clifton Lovering. 12. Ros- well S., born February 3, 1845, married Ellen M. Walker, of Petersham, and they have: Harry Perci- val, married Clara Osgood, of Worcester, and has one son-Roy; Rhoda Mildred, deceased.
(VIII) Enoch Bancroft, son of Timothy Ban- croft, Jr. (7), was born in Auburn, Massachusetts, April 27, 1836. Ile was educated in Auburn, set- tled in Worcester and assisted his father in carrying on the farm on Lincoln street. At the death of his father, in 1875, the homestead was left to him. He was a farmer all his life. He died March 17, 1900. He was a Republican in politics and took an active interest in public affairs. He was a Congregation- alist in religion. He married Mary Prime, of Prov- idence, Rhode Island. Their children were :
I. William Everson, see forward. 2. Albion Prime, mar- ried, June 22, 1887, Anna Florence Banks, of Brook- field, Nova Scotia, and they have three children- Annie Matilda, born August 6, 1889; Clossen Al- bion, born July 5, 1896; Freeland Martin, born March 5, 1900. 3. Bertram A., inarried Susan A. Mason, of Barre, Massachusetts, and they have one son-Ralph Enoch. 4. Mary Luna, married (first) George Henry, of Worcester, and they had one child -Flora May; she married (second) Alfonso Haven and they have three children-Alfonzo James Haven, George Haven, Majorie Haven.
(IX) William Everson Bancroft, son of Enoch Bancroft (8), was born in Auburn, December 30, 1861. He was brought to Worcester by his parents when he was two years old and he acquired his ed- ucation in the public schools of that city. While still a youth he was employed on the farm and driv- ing horses for his father. He entered the Worcester
fire department and for a number of years was the driver of the famous old fire engine "Governor Lin- coln." He was subsequently for three years employ- ed in the Washburn & Moen wire works, and later he took charge of the construction of North Park for the city of Worcester. He purchased the farm on Mountain street, near Rice street, upon which he now resides and which he has carried on with much success. He has built up a large and profitable milk business and has a model dairy farm. He is a Repub- lican in politics and a Congregationalist in religion.
He married, November 23, 1885. Julia Lilian Mason, of West Boylston, daughter of William H. and Mary (Howe) Mason. Her father was a pros- perous farmer. The children of William Everson and Julia L. Bancroft arc: Allen Mason, born Jan- uary 28, 1886; Mary Prime, born April 25, 1889 ; Lucy Edith, born March 16, 1892.
GILBERT FAMILY. Thomas Gilbert (I), the immigrant ancestor of Charles Warren Gilbert, of Worcester, Massachusetts, was born in England, probably before 1600. He settled in Windsor, Con- necticut, where he bought land January 24, 1044, eleven rods and a half in width, on the east side of the road, a few rods from the house now or lately owned by George P. Hayden. He bought the place of Francis Stiles and sold it to John Drake, and his son Jacob, another neighbor, mentioning houses, cellars, garden and fences. When Stiles sold land to Robert Saltonstall, September 12, 1647, he men- tioned that the premises were occupied by Thomas Gilbert and John Bancroft. Gilbert's name was spelt Gilburt. Even in revolutionary records Gilburt and Gilbort are very common ways of spelling Gilbert. He was in Windsor from 1649 to 1651, and probably until witchcraft horrors broke up his home. He bought land of Thomas Gunn and sold it before 1658. His name appears as late as 1659-60 on the list of those seated in the Windsor meeting house, and he was credited with paying seven shillings tax then.
Henry Stiles was killed October 3, 1651. by the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of Thomas Allyn on Training Day. The jury, after an inquest. found death due to "Homicide by misadventure," and the court fined Allyn twenty pounds for his neg- lect and carelessness, besides placing him under bonds for twelve months, and taking away his arms during the year. Nevertheless, an attempt was made over a year after the death of Stiles to fasten the blame on Lydia Gilbert. She was indicted, under the charge of witchcraft, alleging: "Thou hast of late years and still dost give entertainment to Sathan (Satan)-& by his help has killed the body of Henry Stiles, besides other witchcraft." She was convicted, sentenced to be hanged and undoubtedly suffered the penalty, though the record of death has not been found. The trial was in March, 1653-54.
Stiles lived in a house only eighteen rods from the Gilbert house and at the time of his death was taking his meals at the Gilbert table, paying the sum of three shillings a week "for diet." The his- torian of Windsor says: "Possibly Lydia Gilbert may have taken some offense with their boarder and that the feeling was sufficiently well known to their neigh- bors to bring her under suspicion (so common in those days) of having invoked the aid of witchcraft to compass his death. What relation she bore to Thomas Gilbert we do not know, for he seems to have had no children born to him in Windsor, nor
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