Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume II, Part 75

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 75

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He married Almira Hoar, of Littleton, Massachusetts. Their only surviving child, Estella A., born February 3, 1851, married David C. Cutler, and lived at West Acton with her father; their children: Etta, Ethel, Emma, Adelbert and Zelia Cutler.

(VIII) Oliver W. Mead, son of Nathaniel Mead (7), was born in Boxborough, Massa- chusetts, October 19, 1823. He was educated in the public schools, and remained on the farm which he conducted until he came of age. Then he taught school for two years in Lunenburg and Littleton, Massachusetts, until he entered partnership with his brother in the produce commission business as related above. He was a first class business man in every sense of the word, of marked financial ability,

a clever salesman, shrewd at a bargain, but upright and straightforward always. He was systematic in the details of the business and of large executive ability. He was called upon to fill many positions of trust ; was director of the First National Bank of Ayer for several years ; trustee of the North Middlesex Savings Bank of Ayer; member of the Boston Cham- ber of Commerce; and a charter member of the Boston Fruit and Produce Exchange.

He married three times. He married first, May 22, 1851, Mary E. Hartwell, of Harvard, and had four children. He married second, August 22, 1867, Susan A. Morrill, who died a few months after their marriage. He mar- ried third, January 19, 1869, Lucy M. Emery of Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Children of Oliver W. and Mary E. Mead : I. Warren H., born December 18, 1853; married Lizzie Blandon, December, 1877; he died January 29, 1879. 2. Julian A., born April 15, 1856; married Mary D. Emerson, December 12, 1889, and settled in Watertown, where he is a very successful physician. 3. Emma A. born March 6, 1859, married George Sumner Wright, son of George C. Wright (See sketch of Wright family). 4. Nelson A., born Jan- uary 1, 1866 ; died young. Children of Oliver W. and Lucy M. Mead: 5. Hobart E., born July 4, 1870. 6. Louis Guy, born October 3, 1873; graduate of Harvard College and Har- vard Medical School.

(VIII) Varnum B. Mead, son of Nathaniel Mead (7), was born October 16, 1832, in Boxborough. He was brought up on the old homestead, and received his education in the public schools. He has had a varied and inter- esting career. At the age of nineteen he went to the Hawaiian Islands and was in business there five years. He then had a valuable bus- iness experience in Fitchburg and Acton, Mas- sachusetts, and Montreal, Canada, shipping produce chiefly to his brothers, A. & O. W. Mead, of Boston. He worked on salary one year for this firm, and in 1867 was admitted to the partnership. Among other positions of trust he was president of the Franklin and Megantic railroad of Maine. He lived in West Acton many years, but his present home is in Somerville, Massachusetts. In politics he is a Republican. Personally agreeable and attrac- tive in manner, he has many warm personal friends. In business circles he maintained the high standard set by the founders of the house. He married first, Martha A. Keyes, and second, September 18, 1859, Direxa E. Stearns, born July 15, 1835, died March 20,

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1900, daughter of Levi and Direxa (Jewett) Stearns, of Townsend (See sketch). Chil- dren: I. George Varnum, born March 18, 1861, mentioned below. 2. Frederick Stearns, born February 1, 1863; mentioned below. 3. Adelbert F., born June 1I, . 1866; mentioned below.

(IX) George Varnum Mead, son of Var- num B. Mead (8), was born in Townsend, Massachusetts, March 18, 1861. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Acton, and two years at the Chauncy Hall School, Boston. He is a commission merchant in Boston, with his place of business at 35 North Market street. Since 1883 he has made his home in Somer- ville, residing at present at 66 Chandler street. He is a member of the Boston Fruit and Pro- duce Exchange, also the National League of Commission Merchants of the United States. He is a Republican in politics. He married, November 17, 1883, Effie R. Wright, daughter of George C. and Susan H. (Davis) Wright, of West Acton (See George S. Wright sketch). She is a member of the Anne Adams Tufts Chapter, D. A. R., Somerville, Massa- chusets. They have one child, Francis Var- num, born at Somerville, August 19, 1885 : educated in the public and high schools of Somerville and the Ringe Manual Training School of Cambridge: is now associated in business with his father, dealing in fruits and produce at 35 North Market street, Boston. He is a member of the Boston Fruit and Pro- duce Exchange.

(IX) Frederic Stearns Mead, son of Var- num B. Mead (8), was born at West Acton, Massachusetts, February 1, 1863. He was educated in the public schools of Acton, at Chauncy Hall School and Massachusetts Insti- tute of Technology, Boston. Like his brothers he has followed the commission business in Boston. He is a member of the Boston Fruit and Produce Exchange, and in 1906 was pres- ident of the organization. He is also a mem- ber of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, the National League of Commission Merchants of the United States, and the National Poultry and Game Association. He resides in Arling- ton, and served on the board of selectmen for the years 1906 and 1907. He married Septem- ber 18, 1884, Lizzie M. Gates of West Acton. Children: I. Frederic Stearns, Jr., born Sep- tember 18, 1885. 2. Edward Adams, born March 30, 1896.

(IX) Adelbert Francis Mead, son of Var- num B. Mead (8), was born in West Acton, Massachusetts, June II, 1866. He was edu-

cated in the public schools of Acton, in the Chauncy Hall School, Boston, where he was graduated in 1883, and in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, which he attended two years. He is a member of the alumni of both of the latter named institutions. He left school to work for the commission house of A. & O. W. Mead & Company, of Boston. He is at present engaged with his brothers in the same business in Boston. He is a member of the Boston Fruit and Produce Exchange, and of the National League of Commission Merchants of the United States. Mr. Mead has been president of the Boston Branch of the latter organization. He is also a member of the Sons of the American Revo- lution, and the Fairbanks Family Association. His home is at 74 Chandler street, Somerville. In politics he is a Republican. He married, November 16, 1889, Theodosia Bertha Wright, daughter of George C. and Susan H. (Davis) Wright, of West Acton (See Geo. S. Wright sketch). She was educated in the public schools of Acton and the Concord high school. She is a member of the Anne Adams Tufts Chapter, D. A. R. of Somerville, and is treas- urer of the Woman's Universalist Missionary Society. Children : I. Marion Elizabeth, born August 28, 1890, student in the Somer- ville Latin High School, class of 1909. 2. Sum- ner Adelbert, born October 30, 1892, student in the Somerville Latin High School, class of 1910. 3. Lucian Wright, born June 15, 1895. 4. Varnum Cleveland, born August 5, 1898. 5. Lois Bertha, born October 3, 1902.

George V., Fred S. and Adelbert F., all sons of Varnum B. Mead, after leaving school went to work in the commission house of A. & O. W. Mead and Company, remaining there until 1900, when they purchased the name and good will of the firm. Since that time they have not only maintained the high standing of the firm, but have increased the business in all departments.

STEARNS

The surname Stearns is of English origin, the spelling varying from Stearns,

Sternes, Sterns, Strans, to Sterne and Stern. It is a well-known name in the counties of Nottingham, Berks, Norfolk, Hertford, Suf- folk, and Cambridge. The oldest coat-of- arms known in the family is that of the Arch- bishop of York (1664-1683), viz: Or, a chevron between three crosses flory sable. Crest : a cock starling ppr. The arms at that

George V. Mead.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

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time were doubtless in use for many genera- tions.

1631, and was selectman several years.

1647 he and Mr. Bisco were appointed by the selectmen "to consider how the bridge over the river shall be built, and to agree with the work-men for doing it, according to their best discretion." This was the first bridge over Charles river. He was a tailor by trade as well as farmer. He died June 19, 1671, and his will was proved in October following. He married Mary Barker, daughter of John Barker, of Stoke Nayland, Suffolk, England. The wife of John Barker was Margaret, and she married second -- Munnings, of Gaynes Colne, Essex, and gave a letter of attorney August 24, 1640. John Barker was a clothier by trade. Mary (Barker) Stearns died April 2, 1677. Children: I. Mary, baptized Janu- ary 6, 1626, at Nayland; married July 9, 1746, in Woburn, Isaac Learned. 2. Hannah, bap- tized October 5, 1628, at Nayland; married December 25, 1650, Henry Freeman. 3. John born about 1631. 4. Isaac Jr., born January 6, 1633; mentioned below. 5. Sarah, born September 22, 1635; married June 7, 1655, Deacon Samuel Stone. 6. Samuel, born April 24, 1638; died August 3, 1683. 7. Elizabeth, born 1640; married April 13, 1664, Samuel Manning. 8. Abigail, married April 27, 1666, Deacon John Morse.

(II) Isaac Stearns Jr., son of Isaac Stearns (I), was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, January 6, 1633; was admitted freeman 1665, and died August 29, 1676; married June 24, 1660, Sarah Beers, daughter of Captain Rich- ard and Elizabeth Beers of Watertown. Cap- tain Beers was an original proprietor ; captain in King Phillip's war, and was slain in battle by the Indians, September 24, 1675, at North- field. He settled at Cambridge Farms, now Lexington. His widow married second, July 23, 1677, Thomas Wheeler, of Concord. Chil- dren: I. Sarah, born January 14, 1662 ; mar-

ried December 27, 1678, John Wheeler, of Concord. 2. Mary, born October 8, 1663; married January 1, 1694, John Cutler, of Lex- ington, who died September 21, 1714. 3. Isaac (3d), born August 26, 1665. 4. Samuel, born January II, 1667-8; mentioned below. 5. Abigail, born 1670; married November 23, 1692, Samuel Hartwell. 6. John, born 1675; lived in Concord and Bedford.

of Uxbridge. 7. Rebecca, born April 15, 1708; married Samuel Whittemore. 8. Thom- as, born July 4, 1710; mentioned below. 9. Captain John, born July 23, 1712; lived at Dedham and Attleborough, Massachusetts. IO. Joseph, born 1715, baptized April 15 ; mar- ried June 9, 1763, Mary Shattuck, of Monson, Massachusetts, and Hollis. II. Benjamin, born January 6, 1718, lived in Rutland, Massa- chusetts.

(IV) Thomas Stearns, son of Samuel Stearns (3), was born July 4, 1710, at Lex- ington. He married Abigail Reed, daughter of Ebenezer Reed, of Uxbridge, Massachusetts. She had three children. He married second (name unknown), who had two daughters; and third, Mary Heald, of Chelmsford, who had six children and died in 1809. When his mother moved to Littleton, Thomas was twenty years old, and as he was a minor his mother bought for him in her own name eighty acres known as the Powers farm, in the south part of Littleton, near Nagog Pond, for four hundred and fifty pounds. The next year she deeded the farm to Thomas, and his chil- dren were born there. He left the homestead to his son Noah. He died December 28, 1784. Children : Ebenezer, born January 28, 1744. 2. John, born June 2, 1745. 3. Josiah, born July 18, 1747. 4. Abigail, born October I,

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time were doubtless in use for many genera- tions.

(I) Isaac Stearns, the immigrant, was born in England and embarked for America on April 8, 1630, in the ship "Arabella," with Sir Richard Saltonstall and family, Governor Winthrop and many others, arriving at Salem, Massachusetts, June 12, following. Three other ships were in the same party. They preferred Watertown to Salem and Stearns among others made his home there. He had a home- stall in 1642 at Watertown, on the east side of the highway, bounded by land of John Warren, John Bisco and the Pequasset Mead- ow. He was admitted a freeman May 18, 1631, and was selectman several years. In 1647 he and Mr. Bisco were appointed by the selectmen "to consider how the bridge over the river shall be built, and to agree with the work-men for doing it, according to their best discretion." This was the first bridge over Charles river. He was a tailor by trade as well as farmer .. He died June 19, 1671, and his will was proved in October following. He married Mary Barker, daughter of John Barker, of Stoke Nayland, Suffolk, England. The wife of John Barker was Margaret, and she married second -- Munnings, of Gaynes Colne, Essex, and gave a letter of attorney August 24, 1640. John Barker was a clothier by trade. Mary (Barker ) Stearns died April 2, 1677. Children: I. Mary, baptized Janu- ary 6, 1626, at Nayland; married July 9, 1746, in Woburn, Isaac Learned. 2. Hannah, bap- tized October 5, 1628, at Nayland; married December 25, 1650, Henry Freeman. 3. John born about 1631. 4. Isaac Jr., born January 6, 1633; mentioned below. 5. Sarah, born September 22, 1635; married June 7, 1655, Deacon Samuel Stone. 6. Samuel, born April 24, 1638; died August 3, 1683. 7. Elizabeth, born 1640; married April 13, 1664, Samuel Manning. 8. Abigail, married April 27, 1666, Deacon John Morse.

(III) Samuel Stearns, son of Isaac Stearns (2), was born in Lexington, January II, 1667-8. He was tithing man and assessor in Lexington for several years, and was killed November 19, 1721, by a falling tree. His widow was administratrix of the estate; she removed to Littleton in 1730 with some of her children, and to Chelmsford in 1750. Chil- dren: I. Sarah, born January 15, 1696-7; married May 21, 1729, William Wheeler, of Stoughton. 2. Mary, born January 27, 1698-9; married John Powers. 3. Abigail, born Feb- ruary 8, 1700; married November 28, 1717, Joseph Temple. 4. Samuel, born March 7, 1702, lived at Hollis, New Hampshire. 5. Ruth, born May 25, 1704; married February 5, 1723, Oliver Livermore. 6. Phebe, born February 23, 1706; married - Cummings, of Uxbridge. 7. Rebecca, born April 15, 1708; married Samuel Whittemore. 8. Thom- as, born July 4, 1710; mentioned below. 9. Captain John, born July 23, 1712; lived at Dedham and Attleborough, Massachusetts. IO. Joseph, born 1715, baptized April 15 ; mar- ried June 9, 1763, Mary Shattuck, of Monson, Massachusetts, and Hollis. II. Benjamin, born January 6, 1718, lived in Rutland, Massa- chusetts.

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1749, died young. 5. Mary, born September 8, 1751, died young. 6. Noah, born March 12, 1753; died September 22, 1829; soldier in the revolution. 7. Lydia, born April 9, 1758; married, 1778, Joshua Cheever Fowler. 8. Molly, born February 2, 1760; died October 14, 1813; married, 1780, Silas Smith, of Leo- minster. 9. Samuel, born May 25, 1762; died August 2, 1838. 10 .. Levi, born January 12. 1765; mentioned below.

(V) Levi Stearns, son of Thomas and Mary (Heald) Stearns (4), was born in Littleton, Massachusetts, January 12, 1765, and died December 25, 1811. He was a farmer at Lunenburg, Massachusetts. He married January 7, 1794, Elizabeth Goodrich, of Lunenburg. She died October 11, 1810. Ten children : I. Thomas, born April 1, 1794. 2. Levi Jr., born March 19, 1796, died Novem- ber II, 1800. 3. Abel, born February 9, 1798, at Lunenburg: went to Mexico before 1828; to California, then in Mexico, in 1829; made the first known shipment of gold in 1842, and the certificate of assay that he received dated August 6, 1843, is owned by the San Francisco Society of Pioneers ; he married Donna Maria Francisca Paula Arcadia Bandini, aged four- teen years, in 1840; he died August 24, 1871 ; became wealthy. 4. William, born November 17, 1799 (twin). 5. Elizabeth (twin), born November 17, 1799. 6. Levi Jr., born Decem- ber 15, 1802; mentioned below. 7. Abigail, born 1804, died young. 8. Theresa, born Jan- uary II, 1806. 9. Nancy, born June 30, 1807. IO. Charles, born June 16, 1809.

(VI) Levi Stearns Jr., son of Levi Stearns (5), was born in Lunenburg, December 15, 1802, and settled in Townsend, Massachusetts. He was a farmer; justice of the peace for thirty years; assessor and selectman ; overseer of the poor six years; tax collector many years. He married, October 5, 1826, Direxa Jewett, of Townsend. He died September 25, 1885. Children: I. Phebe Jewett, born Jan- uary 28, 1828; lived at Townsend. 2. Noah Elihu, born February 20, 1831. 3. Solomon Jewett, born May 19, 1833. 4. Direxa Eliz- abeth, born July 15, 1835 ; married September 18, 1859, Varnum B. Mead (See Mead sketch). 5. Abel Goodrich, born October 15, 1838. 6. Charles Joslin, born September 30, 1841; died August II, 1882, in California. 7. Levi Warren, born July 30, 1844. 8. Thirza Melinda, born April 26, 1847, in Town- send, died October 9, 1848.

(VII) Direxa Elizabeth Stearns, daughter of Levi Stearns (6), was born July 15, 1835;

married September 18, 1859, Varnum B. Mead. (See sketch).

Thomas Gates, Esquire, who GATES lived in 1327 in Higheaster and Thursteubie, Essex, England, was the progenitor of the Gates family.

(II) William Gates was son of Thomas Gates (I). His children were: I. Sir Geof- frey, mentioned below. 2. Ralph. 3. Chris- topher.

(III) Sir Geoffrey Gates, son of William Gates (2), married Agnes, daughter and heir- ess of Sir Thomas Baldington, of Aldersbury, county Oxford, England, and had a son Wil- liam.

(IV) William Gates, son of Sir Geoffrey Gates (3), married Mabel, daughter and heir- ess of Thomas Capdow, of Higheaster, Essex, England, and his wife Ann, daughter and heiress of Thomas Fleming of Essex. Chil- dren: I. Sir Geoffrey, mentioned below. 2. Anne, married Thomas Darcy, uncle - to Thomas, Lord Darcy of Chicke.

(V) Sir Geoffrey Gates, son of William Gates (4), married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Clapton, knight, of Kentwell, Sussex, England. Children : I. Sir John, married Mary, daughter of Sir Edward Denny. 2. Geoffrey, mentioned below. 3. Henry. 4. William. 5. Dorothy, married Sir Thomas Josselyn, of Josselyn Hall.

(VI) Geoffrey Gates, son of Sir Geoffrey Gates (5), married a Pascall of Essex, Eng- land. Children: I. Geoffrey, mentioned below. 2. Henry. 3. John.

(VII) Geoffrey Gates, son of Geoffrey Gates (6), married Joan Wentworth, and had one child, Peter, mentioned below.

(VIII) Peter Gates, son of Geoffrey Gates (7), was of London, England. He married Mary Josselyn, and had a son Thomas, men- tioned below.

(IX) Thomas Gates, son of Peter Gates (8), was of Norwich, Norfolk county, Eng- land. He had a son Stephen, mentioned below. (X) Stephen Gates, son of Thomas Gates- (9), was born in England, and was the immi- grant ancestor. He came from Hingham, England, to Hingham, Massachusetts, in the ship "Diligent" of Ipswich, England, in 1638. He was accompanied by his wife, Ann (Hill) Gates, and two children. He removed from Hingham to Lancaster, Massachusetts, at the settlement of that town, and was there in 1656, and subsequently went to Cambridge, Massa-

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chusetts, where he died in 1662. He was admitted a freeman in 1653. His will, dated June 9, 1662, was proved October 7, 1662. Stephen Jr. received the house and lot in Lancaster, his wife and son Simon received the place in Cambridge, and his son Thomas was to remain with them at his pleasure. Ann Gates, his widow, married second, Richard Woodward, of Watertown, in 1663. Ann was known as "Widow Gates" after the death of her second husband, and she died at Stow, February 5, 1682-3. Children: I. Elizabeth, born in England, died August 3, 1704, at Hing- ham ; married November 29, 1647, John Lasell. 2. Mary, married 1658, John May- nard, of Sudbury, who died December 22, I7II. 3. Stephen, Jr., mentioned below. 4. Thomas, born 1642; married July 6, 1670, Elizabeth Freeman. 5. Simon, born 1645 ; died April 21, 1693, at Brockton, Massachusetts. 6. Isaac (twin), baptized May 3, 1646; died September 3, 1651. 7. Rebecca (twin), bap- tized May 3, 1646; died January, 1650.

(XI) Stephen Gates, son of Stephen Gates (IO), was born 1640, and died at Acton, Massachusetts, 1706. He married Sarah Woodward, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Hammond) Woodward, of Watertown. They resided at Stow, Massachusetts, and he was an early proprietor of Preston, Connecti- cut, where some of his descendants are still found. His will was made at Stow, Septem- ber 5, 1701, and proved in 1707. Children : I. Stephen, born July 17, 1665. 2. Simon, born June 5, 1666. 3. Thomas, born Decem- ber 31, 1669; died 1740, at Preston ; married, 1695, Margaret Geer, of Preston, Connecticut. 4. Isaac, born 1673; mentioned below. 5. Na- thaniel, born 1675. 6. Sarah, born April 27, 1679, at Marlborough. 7. Rebecca, born July 23, 1682, at Marlborough. 8. Daniel, born April 23, 1685.

(XII) Isaac Gates, son of Stephen Gates (II), was born in 1673, and died at Stow, Massachusetts, November 22, 1748. He mar- ried Elizabeth Children: I. Jacob, born about 1698; died August 22, 1769; mar- ried first, Elizabeth -, who died January 24, 1741-2; second Sarah who died December 3, 1762. 2. Isaac, married

French. 3. Jonathan, mentioned below. 4. Stephen, married Betty -. 5. Phineas. 6. Hannah, born April 2, 1714. 7. Daughter, born July 8, 1716 ; died young.

(XIII) Jonathan Gates, son of Isaac Gates (12), died at Harvard, Massachusetts, Decem- ber 24, 1772. 'He married, about 1730, Eliz-

abeth Farwell. Children: I. Hannah, born October 2, 1733; died August 3, 1739. 2. Elizabeth, born October 8, 1735; married July 2, 1767, Jacob Holmes. 3. Jonathan, born May 27, 1738; married May 21, 1761, Mary Shedd. 4. Hannah, born October 29, 1740; married May 21, 1761, William Burt. 5. Mary, born May 30, 1743. 6. Henry, born June 19, 1745; married Lois -.

7. Josiah, born September 26, 1747 ; was a minute-man in the revolution. 8. John, born October 31, 1749; mentioned below. 9. Susannah, born October 13, 1753; married March 3, 1772, Oliver Fairbanks, of Lancaster, Massachu- setts. IO. Rachel, born January 18, 1756.

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Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume II, Part 75

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

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