Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume II, Part 35

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 704


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 35


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90


(VI) Jacob Lancaster, son of Timothy Lancaster (5), was born December 28, 1749, according to family records, but as he was baptized December 24, the correct date is probably December 20 or thereabouts. He was a soldier in the Revolution in 1777 in Captain White's company, Colonel Francis's regiment, mustered in March 16, 1777; also in Captain Jonathan Evans's company, Colonel Samuel Johnson's regiment, in which he enlisted August 23, 1777. (See page 497 Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolution, Volume containing "L."). He married Sarah Nichols, who was born in Amesbury January 15, 1756. Children, born in Amesbury: I. Thomas (twin), born March II, 1781. 2. Joseph (twin), born March II, 1781, mentioned below. 3. Moses, baptized October 10, 1784. 4. Jacob, baptized Septem- ber 21, 1788. 5. Stephen, baptized October 9, 1791.


(VII) Joseph Lancaster, son of Jacob Lancaster (6), was born at Amesbury, March II, 1781, died September 2, 1825, in Milford, New Hampshire. He was a carriage builder by trade and was engaged in the carriage business during his active life. He married Mary Gutterson, who was born March 21. 1783, in Milford, New Hampshire, and died there January 13, 1853. She was daughter of Samuel Gutterson, born January 7, 1738, and Lydia Stephens whom he married June


2, 1759, granddaughter of John, born 1692, and great-granddaughter of John Gutterson, of Andover. They lived at Amesbury, New- buryport, Massachusetts, and Milford, New Hampshire. Children : I. Joseph, born in 1806, died in 1807. 2. Elmira J., born 1808, died in 1886. 3. Mary J., born 1811, died 1903. 4. Joseph, born May 21, 1814, died August 26, 1871 ; married Rachel Emmons, who died May 2, 1891, leaving-i. Joseph Henry, born Janu- ary 2, 1842, died March 7, 1843; ii. Abbie Emmons, born August 9, 1844; iii. Henry Kent, born May 6, 1848, married Ellen L. Hall. 5. Sarah G., born in 1819, died in 1846. 6. Lydia D., born in 1822, died in 1841. 7. Samuel T., born July 12, 1825, mentioned be- low.


(VIII) Samuel Thomas Lancaster, son of Joseph Lancaster (7), was born in Milford, New Hampshire, July 12, 1825, and died in Lowell, December 2, 1890. He was educated in the public schools of his native town; at Nashua, New Hampshire, and at Boston, Massachusetts. He was apprenticed to a tailor in his boyhood and learned the tailor's trade. He went to Lowell to live in 1844 and resided there during the remainder of his life, except for about two years spent in Boston, Man- chester and Nashua. His first employer in Lowell was the well-known tailor, William S. Bennett, for whom he worked three years or more. In 1847 Mr. Lancaster ventured in business on his own account. His store and shop were on the present site of the Swan block in Lowell on Central street; in 1853 he had his shop where the Appleton block was afterwards built. In 1855 he took into part- nership Stark Totman, who retired in 1869. Later he had several partners at various times. He built up a large business as a tailor and clothing merchant and acquired a compet- ence. He disposed of his business in Febru- ary, 1886, and retired. He was in active business in Lowell for a period of forty years, and few men were more generally esteemed and respected for sterling qualities and solid worth. He was pleasant and attractive in manner, companionable, kindly and sym- pathetic, making friends readily.


Mr. Lancaster was a director of the Mer- chants' National Bank of Lowell, and at the time of his death the oldest bank director in the city. He was also a director in the Traders' and Mechanics' Insurance Com- pany, in the Lowell Hosiery Company, and Trustee of the City Institution for Savings. He was a Republican in politics, and in 1860- 61 represented ward six in the common coun-


566


MIDDLESEX COUNTY.


cil. He was a faithful member of High Street Congregational Church. He was a charter member of Kilwinning Lodge of Free Masons, and belonged to Pilgrim Command- ery, Knights Templar, and other Masonic bodies. He was a member of the Old Resi- dents' Association. From 1849 to 1851 he was lieutenant in the Old City Guards, which later formed Company D of the Sixth Regi- ment, which marched through Baltimore, April 19, 1861. He was offered the colonel on guard but refused.


He married, May II, 1850, Lucy A. Moody, who was born at Canterbury, New Hamp- shire, October 19, 1823, daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Foster) Moody, of Canterbury. She survives him. Children: I. Walter Moody, born November 6, 1857, mentioned below. 2. Mary Maude, born November 26, 1861, resides in the homestead at Lowell with her mother.


(IX) Walter Moody Lancaster, son of Samuel T. Lancaster (8), was born in Lowell, November 6, 1857, and died at Worcester, Massachusetts, August 16, 1901. Mr. Lan- caster had just reached the prime of life and by his untimely death the city of Worcester lost one of its brightest and most successful literary men of the younger generation. While Mr. Lancaster had devoted some years to business pursuits, it is by his literary work on Massachusetts and New York newspapers that he will be best remembered. He was connected with the Worcester Spy at two separate times and was regarded as one of the best news- paper men in the state. His especial field in journalism was that of music and art criticism for which he was eminently fitted by his natural gifts and by the course of study which he pursued at Harvard University. His work and reputation, like that of many other clever journalists, was merged with that of the paper for which he wrote, but his articles and reviews of the Music Festival, which he reported for many years for the Spy won for him in his own city, Worcester, and outside, a deserved recognition of his ability. By his death the management of the Music Festival lost one of its ablest supporters. Mr. Lan- caster was possessed of a ready pen and was a master of journalistic style. His articles were always clean, sparkling and entertain- ing. Besides his musical and art work, he had also a wide reputation as a political writer. In private life and among his asso- ciates in newspaper work and in business, Mr. Lancaster was pleasant and genial, and he had many warm friends. In manner he was


modest and unassuming and required to be known thoroughly before his true character could be appreciated.


He was born November 6, 1857, in Lowell. On the maternal side he was fifth in descent from John Rogers, president of Harvard Col- lege; and of Captain Asa Foster, of Andover, Massachusetts, a prominent officer in the American army in the French and Indian war. Mr. Lancaster's boyhood was spent in Lowell, where he attended the public and high schools and was prepared for college. He was graduated at Harvard University in the class of 1879. He gave special attention during his college course to the study of music under Professor John Knowles Paine. After leav- ing college he engaged in business in Boston as an architect, and was in business in Lowell for a short time, but after three years he con- cluded that his taste and ability suited best literary work, and he severed his business re- lations and took a position on the editorial staff of the Lowell Mail. In 1885 he was elected a member of the Lowell school board. From 1886 to 1888 he was on the staff of the Worcester Spy. Then he went to New York as assistant to Henderson, the art critic of the New York Times. In 1890, at the time of his father's death, he returned to Worcester and was on the staff of the Spy until the fall of 1899. He filled all the important editorial po- sitions on the paper, from that of city editor to editorial writer. The city of Worcester owes more than it can ever know to Walter M. Lan- caster for the clean, able, honorable and truth- ful editorial page that characterized the Spy. His work was never ponderous, nor tedious, nor superficial. He was straightforward, up- right and manly in every published thought, as he was in speech and action. The last two years of his life were spent in literary work, writing musical criticisms, editorials and mag- azine articles. Although his health was not good, he was a persistent worker. In the win- ter of 1900 he was the musical critic of the Boston Herald during the season of Grand Opera, succeeding Wolff, the famous critic of the Herald. His last work was the preparation of the program book for the Music Festival of 1901, the eighth of his production in this series. He was a member of the Bohemian Club, the Tatmuck Country Club and the Quinsigamond Boat Club of Worcester.


He married at Worcester, June 4, 1892, Sarah Hill, daughter of J. Henry Hill, a prom- inent Worcester lawyer. His widow resides at their home, 48 Sever street, Worcester. Children : Southworth and Bruce.


WALTER M. LANCASTER


567


MIDDLESEX COUNTY.


The Favor family of America FAVOR is of French Huguenot origin. At the time that many French Huguenots came from England and other Protestant countries in which they had taken refuge from the persecutions of the Catholic authorities of France, the progenitor of this family came to Salisbury, Massachusetts. Many of them settled at Marblehead, and fol- lowed the sea. At Salisbury and other ports along the coast, branches of these families are found. The original spelling of this surname is Le Fevre. The article was dropped and the spelling, varied by different branches of the family, became Feavor, Favor and Favour. Usage still differs as to the spelling of this family name, some preferring Favor, others Favour.


(I) Philip Favor, the immigrant ancestor, was born about 1660. He may have been re- lated to John Favor, who was in Haverhill as early as 1641, but about whom history tells us very little more. Philip Favor married, in 1688 or 1689, Mary Osgood, daughter of John Os- good and granddaughter of the pioneer, Will- iam Osgood, of Salisbury. (See Osgood sketch). This wife died January 12, 1710-II, and Philip married second Sarah


Children of Philip and Mary Favor: I. Richard, born March 31, 1690. 2. John, born March 31, 1692. 3. Cutting, mentioned be- low. 4. Ann, born April 12, 1696. 4. Willer- bee, born July 27, 1707. 5. Elias, born Febru- ary 13, 1709-10. 6. Mary, born August 17, 1710. All born at Salisbury.


(II) Cutting Favor, son of Philip Favor (I), doubtless named for some descendant of John Cutting, of Newbury, was born in Salisbury, about 1694. He settled in Newtown, New Hampshire, and attended the Second Church of Amesbury, across from Salisbury. He had a grant of land in Newtown, December 6, 1749. His house was near East Kingston and South Hampton, New Hampshire, in Newtown. He signed a petition for a highway in Newtown in 1755, and again in 1769 he signed with the other residents of the town of Newtown, ap- pointing a committee. His sons Timothy and John also signed, indicating that they were of age in 1769. Mary Wells, whom Cut- ting Favor married November 16, 1725, was born March II, 1702, daughter of TitusWells, granddaughter of Rev. Thomas Wells, and great granddaughter of the immigrant, Thomas Wells (1). Titus Wells was of Ames- bury, Massachusetts, and Salisbury, and of Chester, New Hampshire. Children of Cut- ting and Mary (Wells) Favor: I. Timothy,


see forward. 2. Cutting, see forward. 3. Mary, baptized December 31, 1727. 4. Ann, baptized March 30, 1729. 5. Hannah, born April 4, 1731. 6. Elizabeth, born May 6, 1733. 7. Anna, born February 23, 1738-9. 8. John, see forward.


(III) Timothy Favor, son of Cutting Fa- vor (2), was born in Newton, New Hamp- shire, about 1726, and died there December 19, 1824, almost a hundred years old. He married Abigail Hoyt, born October 29, 1736, died at Newton, October 3, 1798, daughter of Michah and Susanna Hoyt. Michah Hoyt, born January 18, 1704, was son of Lieutenant Thomas and Elizabeth (Huntington) Hoyt; grandson of Thomas Hoyt, born January I, 1640, and great-grandson of John Hoyt (I) the immigrant. (See Hoyt sketch.) Timothy Favor lived all his life at Newton, but until about 1760 was a member of the church at West Amesbury, over the line in Massachu- setts. Children of Timothy and Abigail Fa- vor (spelt generally Favour and Feavour) : I. David, born May 31, 1753, baptized July 21, 1754, at West Amesbury. 2. Elizabeth, born March 20, 1755. 3. Mary, born February 4, 1757: baptized at West Amesbury, April 16, 1758. 4. Thomas, born December 1, 1759. 5. Samuel, born October 10, 1761 ; mentioned below. 6. Susannah, born May 4, 1771. 7. Sarah, born March 30, 1773. 8. Dolle, born April 1, 1775. 9. Jacob, born October 23, 1776; died September 22, 1822, at Newton. IO. Olley, born November 12, 1779.


(III) Cutting Favor, Jr., born April 17, 1727, son of Cutting Favor (2), settled in 1768 in New Chester, now the town of Hill, New Hampshire. The state papers say of him : In 1768 settlements were made in New Chester by Captain Cutting Favour and Carr Huse, the latter being town clerk there thirty- three years. Several other Chester men set- tled later in New Chester, and the town was incorporated in 1778. Favor signed a peti- tion with other inhabitants asking for arms and ammunition to protect themselves from the enemy in 1776. Cutting was a member of the committee of safety that year. He signed the petition for the incorporation of the town in 1778, and the petition to set off the town of Bridgewater in 1787. In laying out the road from Plymouth to Hill, New Hampshire, in 1798, his house was mentioned in the de- scription. He was a soldier in the regiment of Colonel David Webster at Saratoga, and had the rank of captain. He served under Captain John Willoughby in the regiment of Colonel David Webster as lieutenant. He


568


MIDDLESEX COUNTY.


was at the battle of Saratoga under Brigadier General Whipple and Colonel Webster in 1777. He was constable of New Chester in 1779, and paid off the soldiers of that town. Children: I. Molly, baptized at Hawke, now Danville, New Hampshire, July 22, 1764, and others.


(III) John Favor, son of Cutting Favor (2), was born July 6, 1740, and baptized at Amesbury, Massachusetts, July 6, 1740. He removed from Newtown, New Hampshire, to Weare, and is the ancestor of most of the families of the name in that section of the state. He married, about 1761, Lydia Hoyt, who was born April 13, 1746, daughter of Reuben and Hannah Hoyt. (See Hoyt sketch). The Favors settled Barnard Hill, in Weare. Children: I. John, married Fanny Chase, of Hopkinton. 2. Joseph, married Hannah Burnham; resided at Hill, New Hampshire. 3. Moses, born November 29, 1765, died April 5, 1835, at Hancock; settled on Society Land, later called Bennington, New Hampshire. 4. Cutting, born about 1770; removed to Newbury, New Hampshire. 5. Reuben, removed to Norway, Maine. 6. Ze- badiah, married Sarah Burnham, of Dunbar- ton, New Hampshire. 7. William, settled in Maine. 8. Timothy, settled in Maine. 9. Betsey; married James Peaslee; removed to Canada. 10. Sarah, married Obadiah John- son, and removed to Newbury, New Hamp- shire. II. Polly, married Jonathan Worth- ley.


(IV) Samuel Favor, son of Timothy Favor (3), was born at Newton or Newtown, October 10, 1761, and died at Malden, Massa- chusetts, April 22, 1840 (gravestone). He was a soldier of the Revolution in 1781 in Cap- tain Jacob Webster's company, Colonel Rey- nold's regiment. At the time of his first mar- riage he removed to New Chester (Hill), New Hampshire, where he lived the remain- der of his life. His uncle, Captain Cutting, was one of the two first settlers of the town. Samuel Favor, then of Newton, married, March 28, 1782, Molly Stevens, of Kingston, New Hampshire (by Rev. William Thayer). She died August 18, 1803, at Hill. He mar -. ried second, February 12 or 26, 1804, Mrs. Hopewell W. Brown, of Kingston, (by Rev. William Brown). The records have her name spelt Hope, Hoppy, Hopy, etc. She died at Malden, Massachusetts, November 16, 1845. aged seventy-two years (gravestone). Children of Samuel and Molly Favor, born at Hill I. Martha, born October 13, 1782, died May 2, 1796, aged twelve. 2. Samuel Jr., born July


29, 1786. 3. William, born June 16, 1789; died April 24, 1795-6. 4. John, born March 27, 1792, died April 19, 1796. 5. Spofford, born August 30, 1794; died March 8, 1795 or 1796. 6. Martha, born June 26, 1796. 7. Mary, born February 12, 1799. Children of Samuel and Hopeful W. Favor: 8. Nabby, born January 21, 1805. 9. Nathaniel Brown, born September 17, 1806; mentioned below. IO. Rolinda, born May 8, 1809, died young. II. Rolinda, born July 27, 1810; died young. 12. Rolinda, born June 23, 1811. 13. Susan- na, born August 16, 1813. 14. Harriet New- ell, born September 13, 1815. 15. Commo- dore, born January 20, 1817. 16. Joseph Brown, born August 24, 1820.


(V) Nathaniel Brown Favor, son of Sam- uel Favor (4), was born at Hill, September 17, 1806, and died at Lowell, Massachusetts, July 3, 1883. He was educated in the district schools of his native town. He came to Low- ell in 1831 at the age of twenty-five, and be- came associated with William Fiske in the manufacture of cloth boxes for the various corporations of Lowell. He was successful in his business venture. In 1853 he estab- lished the sash, door and blind factory which he conducted the remainder of his active life, erecting for that purpose one of the shops at the Wamesit mills, and continuing until fail- ing health a few years before his death com- pelled him to relinquish it. He took an active interest in public affairs, and was a citizen of much public spirit and influence. He was a member of the common council of the city in 1848 and 1849, and was a representative from his district to the general court later, serving on important committees. He was in later life a Republican. At the time of his death he was one of the oldest members of Oberlin Lodge of Odd Fellows, having be- come a member in 1844. He was an honored member of the Old Residents Association. He was an earnest member of the First Uni- versalist Church of Lowell, a man of the strictest integrity, a faithful friend, and a good citizen. He married, October 9, 1831, Shuar Bohonan, who was born in Washington, Ver- mont, August 25, 1803, and died in Lowell, January 3, 1882. Children: I. Nathaniel Proctor, born March 15, 1833; mentioned be- low. 2. George Henry, born February 5, 1835. 3. James Henry, born November 14, I836. 4. Adelaide, born January 10, 1840, died July 31, 1840. 5. Chauncey Oberlin, born January 4, 1842. 6. Adelaide Eliza, born August 30, 1845.


(VI) Nathaniel Proctor Favor, son of Na-


569


MIDDLESEX COUNTY.


thaniel Brown Favor (5), was born in Lowell, March 15, 1833. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. When a (IV) Daniel Hoyt, son of John Hoyt (3), was born March 2, 1689-90, and died March 3, 1742-3; married Sarah Rowell (intentions dated December 9, 1710). He married second, Elizabeth Baxter, July 24, 1729. His grave- stone stands in the old burying ground at West Amesbury. His will was proved March IO, 1742-3. Children, born at West Amesbury : I. Mary, born May 14, 1712; married Robert Millikin. 2. Reuben, born October 3, 1717; mentioned below. 3. Jethro, died young. 4. Eliphalet, born October 28, 1716; died January 30, 1720. 5. Lydia, born March 15, 1717-8. 6. John, born December 20, 1720. 7. Elipha- let, born June 2, 1723. 8. Sarah, born August 26, 1725. young man he entered his father's sash, blind and door factory and learned the trade. His father admitted him to partnership, and the firm name became N. P. Favor & Son. The business prospered, and after his father re- tired he continued it during the remainder of his life. He died at Lowell, August 4, 1905. During the last years of his life he suffered greatly from heart trouble, and was an invalid for a long time. He was well known in the business world, and universally respected for his many good qualities. He was conscien- tious, upright and honorable in all the rela- tions of life, and had the confidence of the business world and the esteem of all his towns- men. He was a very capable business man (V) Reuben Hoyt, son of Daniel Hoyt (4), was born in West Amesbury, October 3, 1713. He married, February 27, 1734-5, Han- nah Beorter. He left the west parish of Ames- and fairly won the prizes that came to him. He was a member and liberal supporter of the First Universalist Church. In politics he was a staunch and loyal Republican. In 1872 . bury in 1755, and settled in the adjoining town and 1873 he served the city of Lowell in the common council. He married, October 22, 1861, Sarah Jane Richards, who was born in Lowell, April 19, 1842, the daughter of Luth- er and Maria Jane (Bean) Richard. She sur- vives him, and lives in the home in Lowell. Children, born in Lowell: 1. Maria Jane, born October 6, 1868. 2. Carrie, born March 20, 1873. 3. Edith Augusta, born December 18, 1874. 4. Arthur R., died in infancy. 5. Annie P., died young. 6. Wier C., died young.


(For first generation, see other sketch of Hoyt family,)


(II) John Hoyt, son of John HOYT Hoyt (I) was born at Ε alis- bury, Massachusetts, about 1639. Children: I. William, born September


5, 1660. 2. Elizabeth, born February 8, 1661-2. 3. John, born March 28, 1663. 4. Mary, born October 11, 1664. 5. Joseph, born July 14, 1666. 6. Sarah, born 1668; married Faun Clement (see sketch). 7. Rachel, born June 28, 1670. 8. Dorothy, born Janu- ary, 29, 1673-4. 9. Grace, born March 29, 1676. 10. Robert.


(III) John Hoyt, son of John Hoyt (2), was born in Salisbury, March 28, 1663; had land in that part of West Amesbury, Massa- chusetts, called Jamaica. His widow Eliza- beth married second, John Blaisdell, January 6, 1692-3. Children: I. Lydia, born June 15, 1686. 2. Mary, born March 5, 1687-8;


died young. 3. Daniel, born March 2, 1689- 90 ; mentioned below .


of Newtown, New Hampshire. His will was dated June 6, 1770, and proved January, 1772. Children : I. Hannah, born February 20, 1736-7; married George, of Weare. 2. Sarah, born March 26, 1739; died October 16, 1766. 3. Elizabeth, born March 26, 1739; married John Kelly. 4. Zebadiah, born 1741 ; buried at West Amesbury. 5. Mary, born December 26, 1743 ; married Ferrin, later joined the Shakers. 6. Lydia, born April 13, 1746 ; married John Favor of Newtown. (See Favor family). 7. Zebadiah, born March 28, 1749; married Elizabeth Favor; resided at Newtown ; died 1796. 8. Reuben, born March 8, 1753 ; married Hannah Colby.


The history of the Dudley fam- DUDLEY ily in England extends back to the days of William the Con- queror, and many distinguished and noble fam- ilies are found in the history of England. But the most careful research has not made clear the exact lineage of Governor Thomas Dudley, next to Winthrop the most famous of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay colony. A full account of the various English families is given in the family history. The various English families bore arms and Thomas Dud- ley himself used a seal bearing the Dud- ley arms-A lion rampant, with a star for dif- ference.


(I) Governor Thomas Dudley, the immi- grant ancestor of the American family, was


570


MIDDLESEX COUNTY.


born about 1676 in the vicinity of Northamp- ton, England. His father was Captain Roger Dudley, a military man who flourished in the time of Robert Dudley, Queen Elizabeth's fam- ous Earl of Leicester, and appears to have been one of his soldiers, sent over by the Queen to aid Henry of Navarre to establish his throne, and to have fallen in the famous battle of Ivry. Captain Dudley is presumed to have been of the Dudley castle race.


His mother was a kinswoman of Augustine Nicholls, of Faxton, in Northamptonshire, who was born at Ecton in that county in 1559; judge of the court of common pleas and Knight of the Bath, who received his law edu- cation at the Middle Temple in London and be- came "Reader" there during the last year of the reign of Elizabeth, and sergeant-at-law at the following Michaelmas term. Nicholls was also keeper of the Great Seal to Prince Charles. Nicholls was of a distinguished family ; his grandfather, a gentleman and physician, died in 1575, aged ninety-six. His father, Thomas Nicholls, born 1530, died June 29, 1568; was buried at Pichley, alias Pightesley, Northamp- tonshire ; was apparently reader of the Middle Temple in 1566, his arms being on one of the windows of the Temple Hall. Thomas Nicholls married Anne Pell, daughter of John Pell, of Eltington, son of Thomas. Not even the name of Governor Dudley's mother is known, how- ever, and the degree of kinship to Judge Nicholls is still problematical. The wife of Captain Roger Dudley must have died when Thomas was very young. Mrs. Purefoy, a gen- tlewoman related to him, who was famous in the region around Northampton for her piety and wisdom, as well as for her philanthropic works, took extraordinary care of him; and by her efforts he was trained up in some Latin School, where he learned the rudiments of grammar and literature, which he improved afterwards by his own industry to such a de- gree that he read Latin as well as the best scholars of his day. When still a young lad he became a page in the establishment of the Earl of Northampton. We are told by contempor- ary writers that he was "a man of high spirit, suitable to the family to which his father be- longed." Strictly speaking it was afterward that his employer became an Earl, however. In 1597 when Thomas Dudley was only twen- ty-one the government asked for volunteers to go over and help Henry of Navarre in time of Civil War. Dudley was given a captain's commission and raised a company of eighty in Northampton. He was assigned to help Amiens in Picardy, a city then besieged by the




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.