USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 88
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Taylor, who was born in Hancock, April 19, 1798, and bore him five children. His father, Ebenezer Burtt, born February 13, 1757, died September 8, 1831 ; married Lydia Stanley in Tewksbury, Massachusetts; she died Septem- ber 12, 1823 ; he had a saw and grist mill, and his house at Hancock, built in 1788, still stands. Ebenezer was the son of Thomas and Esther (Brown) Burtt, and grandson of Thomas Burtt, who was born in Reading, Massachusetts, in 1685; married, in 17II, Elizabeth Cariford or Lariford. The father of Thomas Burtt was Thomas Burtt, who married, November 18, 1672, Mary South- wick, of Reading. The immigrant ancestor, father of Thomas Burtt, was Thomas Burtt. born about 1600, brother of Edward Burtt, of Charlestown, and Hugh Burtt, of Lynn ; died in Boston in 1670. The Burtt family came from Darkin, Somerset county, Eng- land. Mrs. Spalding survives her husband, residing in the homestead in Lowell. The only child of Augustus E. and Maria A. (Burtt) Spalding: Edward Francis men- tioned below.
(VIII) Edward Francis Spalding, son of Augustus Edwards Spalding (7), was born in Chelmsford, June 26, 1861. He was edu- cated in the public and high schools of Lowell and in the Burbank Academy of Woburn, Massachusetts, finally taking a business course in the Lowell Commercial College. He is a Republican in politics, and in 1889 was elected to the Lowell common council. He is a Uni- tarian in religion. Mr. Spalding succeeded to the large real estate interests of his father, and his time is occupied in the management and improvement of this property. He is a bright, progressive young business man, standing well in the opinion of his associates and high in the esteem of all who know him. He married, December 24, 1889, Juliette F. Gallagher, of Lowell.
George Bowers, the immi- BOWERS grant ancestor, was the only early settler of the name, not- withstanding a family tradition about ten brothers coming to this country. It seems likely that the ten brothers of the story went from Scotland to England, and that only one came to New England. The family is said to be of Scotch ancestry. George Bowers was in Scituate, Massachusetts, in 1636. He was a planter of some property and standing, and an early member of the Scituate church. He was admitted a freeman there March 7,
1636-37, and was a town officer. He sold his land at Scituate, April 2, 1640, and located at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he lived the remainder of his days. He died in 1656. His house was on the east side of North avenue, now Massachusetts avenue, not far from the railroad bridge. He also owned land in Charlestown adjoining Cambridge. He was fined May 31, 1652, for voting, not being a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay colony, showing that being a freeman in the Ply- mouth colony did not, as he had supposed, entitle him to vote in Massachusetts Bay col- ony. His wife Barbara died March 25, 1644. He married (second), April 15, 1649, Eliza- beth Worthington. His widow married (sec- ond), June 25, 1657, Henry Bowtelle. Bowers in his will bequeathed to his wife; to sons Benanuel, John and Jerathmeel; daughters Patience and Silence. Children: I. Benanuel, married Elizabeth Dunster, cousin of Presi- dent Henry Dunster, of Harvard College; re- sided in Charlestown. 2. John, graduate of Harvard, 1649, teacher at Plymouth; minister at Guildford, and Brandford, Connecticut; pastor at Derby in 1677 until his death, June 14, 1687. 3. Jerathmeel, born May 2, 1650, mentioned below. 4. Patience, married Humphrey Bradshaw. 5. Silence. 6. Ma- thew (?), died at Cambridge, January 30, 1644-45.
(II) Jerathmeel Bowers, son of George Bowers (I), was born in Cambridge, May 2, 1650, died April 2, 1724. He removed to the adjacent town of Chelmsford; was admitted a freeman February 2, 1685, and was a town officer. He fought in King Philip's war, and had a large tract of land granted for his ser- vices. He was guardian of the Pawtucket Indians, a neighboring tribe. His was the first house built in the present limits of the city of Lowell, and was on what is now Wood street. He sold his homestead January 2, 1683-84. He represented Chelmsford five years in the general court. Children of Je- rathmeel and Elizabeth Powers: I. Jerath- meel, Jr., resided in Chelmsford near Paw- tucket (now Lowell), and was a leading and enterprising citizen. 2. Jonathan, born April 13, 1674, mentioned below.
(III) Captain Jonathan Bowers, son of Je- rathmeel Bowers (2), was born in Chelms- ford, April 13, 1674, died February 12, 1744- 45. He removed to Billerica in 1729. He was lieutenant in Captain Wilson's company, Colonel Tyng's regiment; promoted captain in 1715. He married, May 17, 1699, Hannah Barrett, who died October 16. 1765. aged
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married, January I, 1761, Hannah Kidder, of eighty-six years. Children, born at Chelms- ford: I. Jerathmeel, born January 5, 1700, married, March 17, 1735-36, Elizabeth Farly, daughter of Timothy. 2. Jonathan, born July 5, 1701, married, June 7, 1726, Mary Grimes. 3. John, born September 20, 1707, married, August 14, 1733, Anna Crosby, daughter of Josiah. 4. William, born January 8, 1712. 5. Benjamin, born March 7, 1713, graduate of Harvard, 1733; ordained at Middle Haddam church, Connecticut. 6. Josiah, born Janu- ary 10, 1719-20, mentioned below.
(IV) Josiah Bowers, son of Jonathan Bow- ers (3), was born at Chelmsford, January 10, 1719-20, and died April 20, 1794. He resided all his active life in Billerica and followed farming. He married, January 17, 1744, Abi- gail Thompson, daughter of Benjamin Thompson, the first town clerk. He married (second), January 28, 1773, Maria Trow- bridge, daughter of Rev. Caleb Trowbridge. She died September 29, 1787, aged fifty-six. Children of Josiah and Abigail Bowers: I. Abigail, born October 12, 1744, married, No- vember 29, 1764, Amos Muzzy. 2. Hannah, born October 20, 1746, died December 16, 1753. 3. Josiah, born December 12, 1748, married, January 6, 1774, Hannah Richard- son. 4. Joseph, born September 9, 1751, died March II, 1772. 5. Benjamin, born Febru- ary II, 1754, mentioned below. 6. Sarah, born February 17, 1756, died July, 1766. 7. Andrew, born September 17, 1758. Harvard graduate, 1779; married, January 10, 1790, Polly Pollard. 8. Denison, born May 5, 1761. 9. James, born August 22, 1763, graduate of Harvard, 1794; rector of Episcopal church. IO. Hannah, born October 28, 1765, married Rev. Jacob Norton. Child of Josiah and Maria: II. Sarah, born December 11, 1776, married Luther French.
(V) Benjamin Bowers, son of Josiah Bow- ers (4), was born at Billerica, February II, 1754, and married, March 28, 1784, Silence Stickney, daughter of Jonathan Stickney. She died October 16, 1803. He was a soldier in the Revolution in the company of Captain Jonathan Stickney, regiment of Colonel Ebenezer Bridges in 1775; also in Captain Isaac Wood's company of guards at Cam- bridge, Concord and Sudbury in 1778; also in Captain Edward Farmer's company, Colonel Jacob Gerrish's regiment, in 1778. Children, born at Billerica: I. Anna, born March 14, 1785, married, May 7, 1813, Rev. Joseph Richardson. 2. Jonathan Stickney, born February 1, 1787. 3. Wilder, born April
13, 1789, mentioned below. 4. Josiah, born September 1, 1791, graduate Yale Medical school, 1816; one of first homeopaths; set- tled at Huntington, Long Island; died No- vember 5, 1868. 5. Joseph Thompson, born September 24, 1794. 6. Benjamin Franklin, born September 30, 1796, graduate of Yale Medical School in 1819; settled in New York. 7. Abigail Thompson, born July 26, 1799, died July 31, 1826. 8. Harriet, born Septem- ber 3, 1801, married, May 10, 1825, Thomas Rowe.
(VI) Wilder Bowers, son of Benjamin Bowers (5), was born in Billerica, April 13, 1789. He married Sarah Thompson. He was a farmer at Billerica. Child, Arthur, born April 27, 1832, mentioned below.
(VII) Arthur Bowers, son of Wilder Bow- ers (6), was born at Billerica, April 27, 1832, and died at Lynn, Massachusetts, November 22, 1903. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. He worked on the farm of his father and as clerk in a general store when a youth. He engaged in busi- ness on his own account when a young man, and became one of the largest and most pros- perous dealers in men's clothing and furnish- ings in the city of Lowell. He was enter- prising, sagacious and far-sighted in business, and was upright and honorable in his meth- ods. Although a man of much influence, he devoted himself almost exclusively to his own domestic and business concerns. In politics he was a steadfast Republican, but personally did not care for public office. In religion he- was a Unitarian and attendant of the Unitari- an church.
He married, May 16, 1864, in Lowell, Cath- erine Isabella French, daughter of Josiah Bow- ers and Mary Ann (Stevens) French. Her father was a very prominent citizen of Lowell, mayor of the city, president of the Lowell Na- tional Bank, part owner of a number of manu- facturing corporations, represented his district in the general court, was universally respected and honored by his townsmen. Children of Arthur and Catharine Isabella Bowers: I. Eugene French, born at Lowell, July 7, 1865, died December 28, 1898. 2. Maude Thomp- son, born August 20, 1872, in Lowell, mar- ried, October 31, 1905, Arthur E. Hatch, son of Frederick and Lena (Searle) Hatch, of Lowell. -
(For early generations see preceding sketch.)
(IV) William Bowers, son of Captain Jonathan Bowers (3), was born at Chelms- ford, Massachusetts, January 8, 1712. He
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married, January I, 1761, Hannah Kidder, of Billerica, Massachusetts (by Thomas Kidder, Esq.). Children: I. Jonathan, born Febru- ary 8, 1762. 2. Luke, born February 25, 1763, mentioned below. 3. Hannah, born May 14, 1765. 4. Sarah, born August 17, 1767. 5. William, born November 21, 1769. 6. Olive, born March 24, 1772. 7. Philip, born January 18, 1774. 8. Timothy, born November 12, 1777. 9. Joseph, born December 31, 1780. IO. Jesse, born November 13, 1785. (V) Luke Bowers, son of William Bowers (4), was born at Chelmsford, February 25, 1763, on what is now School street, Lowell (then Chelmsford), near Pentucket Bridge, in the house standing in what is or was lately the garden of the Fred Ayres place. He en- tered the revolutionary army at the age of sixteen, and served seven years. He married Anna Pratt. Children: I. Jonathan, men- tioned below. 2. James. Probably others.
(VI) Jonathan Bowers, son of Luke Bowers (5), was born at Chelmsford, and al- ways lived there. He and his brother James were engaged for a number of years in the lumber, brick, lime and cement business. They invested largely in real estate when Lowell was young, and realized handsomely on their property. At one time they owned from Wanalansett street to Walker street on one side, and from the Vesper boat-houses to the ice-houses on the other side, extending back nearly to Walker street. Jonathan Bow- ers died December 18, 1848, aged fifty-nine years. His wife died January 29, 1870, aged sixty-seven. Children : 1. Jonathan, born March in Texas, in 1859, aged thirty-three. 3. Sarah Ann, born in 1835 ; died November 16, 1854, aged nineteen.
(VII) Jonathan Bowers, son of Jonathan Bowers (6), was born in Chelmsford, now Lowell, March 2, 1825. The house in which he was born stood on Pawtucket street, near the Vesper boat-house. He attended school at Lowell, and at an early age showed a nat- ural bent for mechanics, and also had an ar- tistic taste. At the age of fourteen he made a sword-cane, now preserved by his family, inlaid with silver and pearl, the handle richly carved, and the cane holding a blade. He also made two beautiful gilt picture frames. When a student in the high school he made a table inlaid with pearl, shells and ivory, containing at least twenty thousand pieces. This table, which is highly polished, and shows a re- markable degree of patience and skill, has taken premiums at a number of fairs, and Mr. Bowers was at one time offered ten thousand
dollars for it, but refused the offer. A work- room was early fitted up for him in his fath- er's house, and, when he was a young man, his father built him a large shop, and he engaged in the manufacture of carriages, wheelbar- rows and other vehicles. He established an extensive business. He furnished all the wheelbarrows for the workmen engaged in building the mills at Lowell. Mr. Bowers in- herited a fortune from his parents, and in 1857 he purchased the King David Butterfield property at Willow Dale, on Tyngsboro Pond (Maskuppic Lake). He converted this place into ideal picnic grounds, sparing no expense, and in a short time it became a popular resort. A unique feature of the park is the remarka- ble collection of statuary. In 1870 he built Wanalansett Castle, on Wanalansett Hill, where he resided from October to June until about 1883, when he made the "King David" house at Tyngsboro his permanent home. Here he died, December 28, 1894, of paraly- sis. Mr. Bowers was a Republican, a member of the common council of Lowell in 1846, '53 and '54. He was an intimate friend of the late Governor Greenhalge. He was beloved by all who knew him.
He married, December 25, 1850, Sarah Varnum, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Brown) Varnum. She died December 31, 1897. She was a descendant of Samuel Var- num, of Dracut. Children: 1. Minnie, born February II, 1854; lives in Middlesex street ; married Frank E. Jewett, of Lowell, vinegar manufacturer ; had Bernice, Victor, Harold and Gladys Jewett. 2. Kittie, born February 2, 1857. 3. Jonathan, born September 22, 1860; mentioned below. 4. George, married Anna Vining, and had two children : Madeline, born May 20, 1890, and George Bowers, Jr., born November 12, 1891.
(VIII) Jonathan Bowers, son of Jonathan Bowers (7), was born in Lowell, Massachu- setts, September 22, 1860. He received his education in the Bartlett school in Lowell, and was then associated with his father. Since the death of his father he and his brother George have managed the property. In 1896 they suffered loss by fire, the buildings on the lake property being destroyed. He inherited a large amount of property from his father, and is a man of wealth. He married, Decem- ber 10, 1885, Alice McNabb, born August 23, 1868, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Burns) McNabb, of Dracut, Massachusetts. Chil- dren: 1. Jonathan, Chester, born September 22, 1886, died February 27, 1902. 2. Var- num, born January 15, 1892.
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