USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 39
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ii. Solon, born April 30, 1808, died young; iii. Patty, born December 20, 1810, died young; 4. Caleb, born February 17, 1813; v. Tem- perance, born May 21, 1819; married Frank- lin Kelley, and lived at Northfield, Minne- sota.
(VI) Amos Dwinell, son of Amos Dwinell (5), was born in Croyden, New Hampshire, about 1790. He settled in Newport, the town adjoining. He married Achsah Turner, and they had a son, James Fisher, of whom see further.
(VII) James Fisher Dwinell, only child of Amos and Achsah (Turner) Dwinell, was born July 23, 1825, in Newport, New Hamp- shire. Soon after his birth his parents re- moved to Marshfield, Vermont, where he obtained a good common school education. When he was about twenty years of age he found employment in the dry goods business in Lowell, but after a short time went to Charlestown, and began business by selling tinware and glassware. In 1849 he located in Boston as a member of the firm of Taylor & Dwinell, operating a coffee roasting and grinding establishment. He was identi- fied with this industry for about a half century, with some changes in partner- ship, and constant enlargements and im- . provements. At the time of his death and for some years before, the firm name was Dwinell, Wright & Company, known throughout the entire country for its ex- tensive business as manufacturers of and deal- ers in coffee, spices, etc. He was a man of great energy and public spirit, and served his community in various important relations. He was an original Republican in politics, and was elected in 1859 and 1860 as a repre- sentative from Charlestown to the general court, and was a member of the board of aldermen of Charlestown for three years from 1863 to 1865, both inclusive. He sub- sequently removed to Winchester, where he took an active and useful part in all town affairs. He was one of the incorporators and first trustees of the Winchester Savings Bank, and at the time of his death was presi- dent of that institution. Upon its establish- ment in 1873 he became a member of the Winchester water board, and his service with it only terminated with his decease, he hav- ing for many years acted at its head, and in that capacity witnessing the successful in- auguration of the water system of the town. He was a member of the original commission which investigated the feasibility of the town of Winchester establishing its own water sup-
ply, and also of the commission which built the first reservoir. After the establishment of the water board in 1873, he remained on the board, his services ending with the com- pletion of the second reservoir. His services in the state legislature were industrious and salutary. He sat in the house of representa- tives in 1883, and was a member of the stand- ing committee on roads and bridges. He was state senator in 1889 and 1890, and in the former year was chairman of the joint stand- ing committee on water supply, and also a member of the joint standing committee on drainage; and in his second year was chair- man of the joint standing committees on water supply and on drainage, and a member of the joint standing committee on public service. He was active in the councils of the Republican party, and was a member of the city committee of Charlestown from its or- ganization until his removal to Winchester, and from 1870 to 1872 was a member of the Republican state central committee. He was a delegate to the Republican national conven- tion at Cincinnati. which nominated Mr. Hayes for the presidency. Throughout his public career he was recognized as a man of broad intelligence, vigorous mind, wise and independent judgment and sturdy integrity, as well as sincere and hearty in his friend- ships. Had he had inclination for a political life, so well was he regarded for his abilities and personal qualities, he could have com- manded almost any position in his state. He was affiliated with various Masonic bodies- William Parkman Lodge, Woburn Royal Arch Chapter, Boston Commandery of Knights Templar, and had attained to the thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite. He was also connected with the order of Odd Fellows, the Calumet Club of Winchester, the Middle- sex Club, and numerous benevolent organi- zations, to all of which he contributed with unstinted liberality. He died at his home in Winchester, November 8, 1898, after a short illness from cerebral hemorrhage.
Mr. Dwinell married Martha C. Mason, who was born in New Hampshire, April 14, 1824, daughter of Noah and Martha (Mason) Mason. The following named children were born of this marriage: James H., born De- cember 12, 1854, of whom further; Emily F., born November 4, 1857; and Martha A., born July 28, 1865, died in January, 1878.
(VIII) James H. Dwinell, eldest child and only son of James F. and Martha C. (Mason) Dwinell, was born December 12, 1854, in Charlestown, Massachusetts. He attended
James T. Dimell
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the public schools there and in Winchester, and in 1874 entered Harvard University, where he was a student for two years. He then entered upon business with his father in the firm of Dwinell, Wright & Company, and was so engaged until 1899, the year after his father's death, when he retired from ac- tive business life. He is and has been for years active in community affairs in Winches- ter, and has rendered one year's service as a selectman and four years as a member of the sanitary commission. He is a member of the Unitarian Church, and in politics is a Repub- lican. He is a member of William Parkman Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and past master in the same; and of DeMolay Com- mandery, Knights Templar. He is a member of the Calumet Club, and has been president of that body.
Mr. Dwinell married Alice B. Magee, of Winchester, daughter of John and Charlotte (Tilton) Magee, and they have two children: James Fisher, born March 29, 1880; and Charlotte, born July 27, 1882.
PARKER Abraham Parker, the immi- grant ancestor, is presumed to have been born in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. He first settled in Wo- burn, Massachusetts, where he was admitted a freeman in 1645. His name is on the Wo- burn tax roll that year. He removed to Chelmsford upon its incorporation in 1653, and lived there until his death, August 12, 1685. He was a prominent and influential citizen. The inventory of the estates of Abra- ham and Rose Parker was taken March 23, 1696, and administration granted to their son Moses. He married, November 18, 1644, Rose Whitlock. Children: I. Hannah, born Oc- tober 29, 1645. 2. John, born October 30, 1647, mentioned below. 3. Abraham, born March 8, 1649-50, died October 20, 1651. 4. Abraham, born August, 1652. The preceding were born at Woburn, the following at Chelmsford: 5. Mary, born November 20, 1655, married, at Chelmsford, December II, 1678, James, son of Captain James Parker, of Groton. 6. Moses. 7. Isaac, born Septem- ber 13, 1660. 8. Elizabeth, born April 10, 1663. 9. Lydia. 10. Jacob, born March 24, 1669.
(II) John Parker, son of Abraham Parker (1), was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, Oc- tober 30, 1647, and died in Chelmsford, April 14, 1699. He was named in memory of his uncle, John Parker, of Billerica. His estate
was not settled until 1729, when it was ap- praised for five hundred and forty-four pounds fourteen shillings, a large property for that time. He married Mary Danforth, daughter of Captain Jonathan Danforth, of Billerica. She was living in 1730. Children: I. John, mentioned below. 2. Thomas. 3. Daughter, married Henry Blaisdell. 4. Daughter, mar- ried Samuel Woods. 5. Daughter, married Thomas Crosby. 6. Elizabeth.
(III) John Parker, son of John Parker (2), was born in Chelmsford, 1683, and died there February 20, 1741. He married Re- becca who died at Chelmsford, Feb- ruary 21, 1741, aged fifty-three years. Chil- dren: John, mentioned below; Jonathan, Re- becca , Jacob, Samuel, Isaac.
(IV) John Parker, son of John Parker (3), was born in Chelmsford, January 13, 17II. He married Hannah He had the rank of lieutenant in the militia company of his native town, where he lived all his ac- tive life. Children: Rebecca, Ephraim, men- tioned below ; John.
(V) Ephraim Parker, son of Lieutenant John Parker (4), was born at Chelmsford, Oc- tober 20, 1738. He was executor of his fath- er's estate. He bought of Jackson Harris, of Dracut, a farm of fifty acres in Dracut, ad- joining the Merrimac river, on the road lead- ing from Bradley's Ferry to the house of Eleazer Barrows. He also bought two other parcels, one of sixteen, the other twelve acres, in Dracut, and sold his land in Chelmsford to Isaac Parker. He was a soldier in the Revolu- tion on the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775, in Captain Stephen Russell's company of Dracut, Colonel Green's regiment. His will is dated 18II, bequeathing to wife Sybil, son John, son Warren, son Ephraim, Jr., and daughter Sybil. He married Sybil Children : John, mentioned below; Warren, Sybil, Ephraim, Jr. Ephraim Parker, Sr., died June 26, 1811. His widow died November 28, 1815.
(VI) John Parker, son of Ephraim Parker (5), was born in Chelmsford, about 1760. He moved to Dracut with his father's family. . He lived on Christian Hill, and was generally known as "Christian John Parker" from the location of his home. He married Mercy Co- burn. Children: I. John, born 1787, died young. 2. John, born 1789. 3. Asa, born 1791. 4. Hannah, born 1794. 5. Perley, born June 7, 1796, mentioned below. 6. Mary, born 1798. 7. Coburn, born 1800. 8. Moses, born 1802.
(VII) Perley Parker, son of John Parker (6), was born in Dracut, June 7. 1.796. He
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married there July 30, 1825, Sarah Butler, of Methuen. They made their home in Lowell. Child: John Milton Grosvenor, mentioned be- low.
(VIII) John Milton Grosvenor Parker, son of Perley Parker (7), was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, formerly Dracut. He was a prominent and successful business man of his native city, and was colonel of his regiment in the Massachusetts volunteer militia. He married, April 5, 1852, Dolly Hildreth, born September 30, 1824, daughter of Dr. Israel (6) and Dolly (Jones) Hildreth, of Lowell. (See Hildreth sketch). Child: Percy, born at Lowell.
HILDRETH Sergeant Richard Hildreth, the immigrant ancestor, was born in England, 1605, died in Chelmsford, February 23, 1693. He was an early settler at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was admitted a freeman May 10, 1643, and was a town officer in 1645. He removed to Woburn and later became one of the founders of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, part of which is now the city of Lowell. He received prior to March 3, 1663-64, grants of land amount- ing in all to one hundred and five acres, and in 1664, he was granted by the general court a hundred and fifty acres additional "being greatly disadvantaged, partly by ye hand of God of the use of his right hand whereby wholly disabled to labor." His son James, aged twenty, deposed concerning his father's corn in court, September 30, 1651. His first wife, Sarah Hildreth, who died in 1644, bore him two children: Jane and James. His sec- ond wife, Elizabeth Hildreth, bore him eight children : Sarah, Mary, Ephraim, Abigail, Joseph, Persis, Thomas and Isaac.
(II) James Hildreth, son of Sergeant Rich- ard Hildreth (I), was born in England in 1631, died in Chelmsford, April 14, 1695. He was admitted a freeman May 3, 1665. His es- tate was administered by Israel Proctor, ap- pointed May 2, 1695. He married, June I, 1659, Margaret Ward. Children, mentioned in distribution of the estate: I. Richard, eld- est son. 2. Margaret, married Israel Proctor. 3. Abigail. 4. Dorothy. 5. Ephraim, men- tioned below.
(III) Major Ephraim Hildreth, son of James Hildreth (2), was born at Chelmsford, January 9, 1680-81, and died in Dracut, Sep- tember 26, 1740. His father died when he was fourteen, and he chose for his guardian his uncle, Ephraim Hildreth, of Stow. During
his early life he was a resident of Chelmsford, though until 1701, Dracut was a part of Chelmsford. He was an inhabitant of Dracut during his manhood, and was a use- ful and influential citizen; he was town clerk most of the time from 1713 to his death in 1740; the town clerkships of Dracut were held by him and successive generations of his de- scendants almost continuously for more than a century ; he was selectman, assessor, survey- or of highways, town treasurer, tithingman, and served on various special committees of the town and church. His military titles were sergeant, lieutenant and major successively. He owned much land, and must have been in his day one of the wealthiest farmers of that sec- tion.
He married, in 1707, Mercy Richardson, born in Chelmsford, January 9, 1688, and died in Dracut, December 25, 1743. Her parents were Lieutenant Josiah and Mercy (Parish) Richardson, the former the eldest son of Cap- tain Josiah and Remembrance (Underwood) Richardson, and grandson of Ezekiel and Susannah Richardson, of Woburn (See Rich- ardson family sketch), and the latter, who was of Dunstable, was a daughter of Robert Parish, of Groton, who was an early settler in Litch- field, New Hampshire, now Nashua. The slate gravestone of Mercy (Parish) Hildreth stands beside that of her husband in the bury- ing ground given by them and their children to the town of Dracut. Children of Major Eph- raim and Mercy Hildreth: 1. Ephraim, Jr., born January 18, 1708, died in Dracut, Au- gust 5, 1769. 2. Josiah, born February 14, 1710, died in Dracut, August 7, 1754. 3. Robert, born May 18, 1713. 4. Mercy or Mary, born January 27, 1715, died in Dracut, De- cember 10, 1729. 5. Zachariah, born Septem- ber 26, 1718, died in Dracut, January 10, 1745. 6. Thomas, born August 6, 1721, died at Fort Cumberland, Maryland, December 4, 1755. 7. William, born August 30, 1723, died Septem- ber 5, 1813. 8. Levi, born October 13, 1726. 9. Elijah, born May 23, 1728, died in Dracut, May 14, 1814, mentioned below. 10. Mercy, born May 27, 1732. The first two were born in Chelmsford, the others in Dracut.
(IV) Elijah Hildreth, son of Major Eph- raim Hildreth (3), was born in Dracut, May 23, 1728, and died there May 14, 1814. He and his brothers Ensign Ephraim and William confirmed by deed the promise of their father of a tract of land for a burying ground, No- vember 17, 1752. He was a minute-man in the Revolution from Dracut in Captain Simon Hunt's company, regiment of guards, com-
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manded by Colonel Jacob Gerrish from July I to December 16, 1778. He married (first), December 27, 1746, Hannah Coburn, who died May II, 1753. He married (second), Febru- ary, I, 1755, Mrs. Susanna (Merrill) Barker, of Methuen. She died October 17, 1764. He married (third), June 1, 1765, Hannah (Rich- ardson) Coburn, of Dracut. She was born December 25, 1725, died October 19, 1807, daughter of Captain Josiah and Lydia Rich- ardson. Her father, born May 5, 1691, was the eldest son of Lieutenant Josiah and Mercy (Parish) Richardson, of Chelmsford. Her mother Lydia died March 28, 1737. The par- ents of Lieutenant Josiah were Captain Josiah and Remembrance (Underwood) Richardson, mentioned above. She married Joshua Coburn and administered his estate. Children of Elijah and Hannah (Coburn) Hildreth: I. Jeremiah, born March 3, 1748. 2. Hannah, born May 4, 1750. Children of Elijah
and Susanna Hildreth : 3. October 13, 1755, mentioned Israel, born below. 4. Hannah, born October 15, 1757, married, July 6, 1775, Obadiah Richardson, of Dracut. 5. Susannah, born September 30, 1764, married, November 23, 1785, William Richardson, of Dracut. Child of Elijah and Hannah (Rich- ardson) (Coburn) Hildreth : 6. Huldah, born February 2, 1766, never married.
(V) Lieutenant Israel Hildreth, son of Elijah Hildreth (4), was born in Dracut, Oc- tober 13, 1755. Early in the war of the Revo- lution he enlisted at the age of nineteen on a privateer in Newburyport, Massachusetts, un- der Captain Newman, and in the first engage- ment with a British brig won distinction by his coolness and courage. Lieutenant Hildreth made two or more successful cruises, remain- ing with Wingate Newman or his brother, Thomas Newman, until about the summer of 1779, evading capture by the British, receiv- ing no severe wounds, and actually amassing a considerable amount of specie from his prize money. He had but two "coppers" in his pocket when he walked to Newburyport to enter the service, and after he returned he was able to lend money to the town to help carry on the war. His purse aided to equip the soldiers sent by Dracut to Claverack, New York, at a time when the town treasurer had no money to pay bounties or mileage, and he himself served as a private soldier there from October 19 to November 23, 1779, in Captain John Porter's company, Colonel Samuel Den- ny's regiment. He also advanced money, clothing and provisions when Generals Shep- herd and Benjamin Lincoln needed funds and
supplies for the soldiers that marched toward Worcester for the suppression of the domestic Rebellion, called Shay's Rebellion. He was active in the affairs of town and state, and in the formation of the new government after the secession from Great Britain. In 1783 he was elected third selectman, assessor and overseer of the poor of Dracut. He had been a tithing man, and throughout his long life held contin- uously some position of trust and honor. He was a justice of the peace in later life, a magis- trate of note, and was a representative to the general court from 1792 for six terms, his sixth re-election being in May, 1806. Lieu- tenant Hildreth attended church at the old Center meeting house of Dracut, but if the ser- mon did not suit him he would impetuously leave the service, banging the door behind him, and when the church became Unitarian he sold his pew, May 23, 1826. He died in Dracut, September 6, 1839.
Lieutenant Hildreth married, April 28, 1781, Susanna Hale, daughter of Captain Ezekiel Hale, who was of an old Newbury family, served during the Revolution on the Dracut committee of safety, inspection and correspond- ence, and died in Dracut, August 28, 1769, aged sixty-four. Susanna is said to have been a very handsome, attractive and accomplished woman ; she died in Dracut, February 27, 1834, aged seventy-five years. Children: I. Elijah, born October 3, 1782. 2. Susannah, born Oc- tober II, 1783. 3. Lydia, born April 16, 1786. 4. Israel, born February 28, 1791, mentioned below. 5. Elizabeth, born May 28, 1793.
(VI) Dr. Israel Hildreth, son of Lieuten- ant Israel Hildreth (5), was born in Dracut, Massachusetts, February 28, 1791, died there April 6, 1859. He was educated in the schools of his native town, studying his profession there and in the vicinity, chiefly under Dr. Thomas, of Tyngsborough, and Dr. Wyman, then of Chelmsford. He attended a course of medical lectures in Boston, and received his license to practice from the censors of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1815. He located in Dracut and achieved distinction in his profession. While he was still young the thriving city of Lowell sprung into existence on the opposite side of the Merrimac river and within half a mile of the home of the Hildreths. His practice, of course, became more widely extended, and he was extensively employed in Lowell for many years. Even after he retired from active practice he was frequently called in consultation. Later in life he engaged in pursuits ontside of his profession, and having ample means, not dependent upon his profes-
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sion as a means of support, he gradually re- linquished practice entirely. Dr. Hildreth held many public offices of trust and honor ; he was justice of the peace as early as 1824, served on many important committees, and in 1832 was defeated for congress. In 1829 he was. the Fourth of July orator in Lowell, speaking in the Universalist Church, Chapel Hill, and again in 1833 was the orator at the Fourth of July celebration at Pelham, New Hamp- shire. He was one of the founders of the Mid- dlesex North District Medical Society in Lex- ington. He was a prominent Free Mason ; was elected master of Pentucket Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Lowell, October 28, 1819, and presided as master for five succes- sive years, then declining re-election. He was also surgeon with the rank pertaining to that office in the Fifth Regiment of Infantry, Col- onel Jefferson Bancroft. He was a mem- ber of the Congregational Society of Dracut, and later of the Westerly Congregational So- ciety of Dracut.
Dr. Hildreth married, December 16, 1813, Dolly Jones, daughter of Oliver and Dolly (Clements) Jones. Oliver Jones died October 4, 1816; he was the son of Hugh Jones, Jr., of Dracut, and his wife, Sarah (Fletcher) Jones. Dolly (Clements) Jones, born August 16, 1762, was the daughter of Daniel and Eunice Clements. Children of Dr. Israel and Dolly Hildreth : I. Rowena, born September 21, 1814, married, May 2, 1833, Henry Reade, son of Deacon William Reade, and grandson of Colonel William Reade, of Pelham, New Hampshire; Colonel William was born at Chelmsford, February 25, 1724, son of Thomas and Hannah (Bates) Reade, grand- son of Obadiah and Anna (Swift) Reade, and great-grandson of the immigrant, Esdras Reade. Children of Henry and Rowena Reade : I. Captain Harry, born in Lowell, August 5, 1841, died April 1, 1907; 2. Captain Philip, born in Lowell, October 13, 1844. 2. Sarah Jones, born August 17, 1816, married, May 16, 1844, General Benjamin F. Butler (see sketch) ; died April 8, 1876. 3. Fisher Ames, born February 5, 1818, mentioned below. 4. Susan, born November 24, 1819, married, Au- gust 21, 1850, William Prentiss Webster ; died April 12, 1874. 5. Harriet, born August 21, 1821, married, April 24, 1855, Franklin Fiske Heard; died May 1, 1866. 6. Dolly, born September 30, 1824, married, April 5, 1852, Colonel J. G. Parker. 7. John Richardson Cole, born March I, 1825, died April 10, 1826. 8. Laura Wright, born September 6, 1826,
married, July 23, 1863, George Howard Pear- son ; she died January 5, 1891.
(VII) Fisher Ames Hildreth, only surviv- ing son of Dr. Israel Hildreth (6), was born in Dracut, February 5, 1818. His early educa- tion was obtained in the district schools of his native town. Early in life he became interest- ed in public affairs, and was elected by his townsmen in Dracut to various offices of trust and honor. He was town clerk in 1841, but having a distaste for the duties of the office declined re-election ; he was town treasurer in 1841, and in 1843-44 was representative to the general court from Dracut. He was a Demo- crat, though his father and grandfather were both Federalists, and at the first meeting of the town after he became a voter he and his father spoke on opposite sides of a question and be- came involved in some personalities, to the delight of their hearers, and in the exchange of repartee the honors seem, according to the report, to have been about even. At the close of his service in the legislature he made up his mind to study law and removed to Lowell for that purpose in 1845. He commenced the pub- lication of a newspaper at Lowell in the same year, however, and though for a time he con- tinued the study of law in the office of Ben- jamin F. Butler, his brother-in-law, he finally devoted himself entirely to his newspaper and politics. He purchased of H. E. and C. S. Baldwin, with the aid of his father, the estab- lishment of the Advertiser (a tri-weekly paper) and the Patriot (a weekly). These publications were merged and his paper issued under the name of the Lowell Patriot and Republican. On November 4, 1845, Samuel J. Varney be- came associated with him for six months in the business, then Mr. Hildreth continued alone as publisher and editor up to the time of their suspension in 1863, except for the last six months of the time when he had as a part- ner Charles Hunt.
Mr. Hildreth was a forceful and able writer, especially on political topics. Prominent Dem- ocratic leaders of that day throughout the state acknowledged the valuable services rend- ered the party through his efforts, sagacity and the editorials in his newspaper, and he had offered to him various offices in recognition of his services, and in some instances he de- clined an office that the honors should go to his friends rather than himself. He devoted his en- tire time to his editorial work on the Adver- tiser until he was appointed high sheriff in 1850, and the leading editorials were always from his pen until after his appointment as
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postmaster of Lowell in 1853. After that his editorial labors almost entirely ceased, al- though the political articles upon important subjects were inspired by him until the dis- continuance of the Advertiser. During his control of that newspaper it was advanced to the front rank among political journals, and no editorials were quoted more frequently and none were heartily and generally endorsed by other editors than those of the Advertiser. During the period when Mr. Hildreth was editing his paper, vital issues divided the two great parties, and the newspaper was the arena in which these issues were fought out. From early manhood Mr. Hildreth was an ardent and sincere Democrat, believing with his whole soul in the principles and measures of his party, and as a party manager had few, if any, equals in the country. Cool, clear-headed and far-sighted, he led easily, convincing in speech as he was with the pen. He was one of the spirits that gave life and soul to the coalition of 1850 that successfully wrested the power of government from the Whig party that had been long entrenched in power in Massachu- setts. He was high sheriff during the admin- istration of Governor George S. Boutwell, and was postmaster for nearly eight years during the Pierce and Buchanan administrations. He died July 9, 1873, the last male of this line of Hildreth family.
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