USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 16
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 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
(III) Joseph Wright, born in Andover, in November 13, 1713, went to Woodstock with the rest of the family in 1722. Married Abi- gail Chaffee, in Woodstock, May 22, 1733. She died in 1745, and in 1746 he married for a second wife, Mary In 1767 or 1768 the family moved to Winchester, New Hamp- shire, where he died March 27, 1785. Chil- dren, all born at Woodstock: I. Sarah, born September 29, 1734, married Abiel Narrimore, in Winchester, New Hampshire. 2. Huldah, born March 21, 1736. 3. Abiel, October 9, 1739, died young. 4. Abigail, September 8, 1741. 5. Samuel, born January 28, 1744. 6. Hannah, December 16, 1747, married Deacon Asahel Jewell, November 5, 1767. 7. Rebec- ca, February 26, 1749, married Mr. Richards, in Winchester.
(IV) Samuel Wright, born in Woodstock, January 28, 1744, where he learned the shoe- maker's trade. In 1768 he married Mary Co- burn, in Winchester, New Hampshire, and set- tled there and became a farmer. The same year he bought of Josiah Willard in Winches- ter, "a lot of land in that town situated on the side of Meeting House Hill and shore of Humphrey Pond." The latter is two miles north of Winchester Village. Samuel Wright was a soldier serving as a lieutenant in Colonel Ashley's regiment of New Hampshire militia, on June 29, 1777, for the relief of Ticonder- oga. On page 888 of Vol. III of the New Hampshire 'State Papers, Samuel Wright is named as one of the five selectmen of Win- chester, New Hampshire, who on April 22, 1782, ordered the town treasurer to give a receipt for all soldier bounties "due to the town of Winchester." He died July, 1786. Accord- ing to the inventory of his estate, the home farm of two hundred and sixty-three acres was appraised at £393 sterling, and the build- ings at £100 sterling. After his death his wid- ow Mary married Samuel Smalley for her sec- ond husband, and after his death she went to live with her son-in-law, Samuel Gleason. Children, all born in Winchester: I. Mary,
938
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
born in 1769, married Richard Gale, January 17, 1787, in Winchester. 2. Azubah, born Sep- tember 10, 1772, married Samuel Gleason, De- cember 26, 1787. 3. Susannah, born 1775, married Robert Prentiss. 4. Eunice, born 1775, married Daniel Twitchell, in 1794. 5. Olive, born August 8, 1777, married David Hatch, of Chelsea, Vermont. 6. Erastus, born January 29, 1779. 7. Jason, born April, 1781, married Lydia Thayer, about 1811. 8. Clar- issa, born 1783, married Horace Hedges, 1813. 9. Samuel, born August, 1786, married Lu- cinda Hedges, removed to Norwich, Vermont. She died 1817, and he married, in 1818, Clara Dyer. He was a blacksmith, and the only skilled edge tool maker in that part of Ver- mont at that time.
(V) Erastus Wright, born January 29, 1779, in Winchester, New Hampshire, married Susannah Pratt, of Winchester, in 1804. She died June 10, 1849, aged sixty-eight. In his old age he lived with his son, Dr. Samuel G. Wright, of Gill, and after his death with his oldest son, Noah P. Wright, at Keene, where he died October 26, 1865. He was a black- smith, and according to the historian of the Wright family, Mr. Samuel Morrison Wright, he was "one of the happiest dispositioned men" he ever knew. Children, all born in Winches- ter : I. Olivia Pratt, born October 9, 1805, married Larnard Hawkins. 2. Orvilla, born October II, 1807, married Rev. Obed Sperry. 3. Diana, born July 14, 1809, married Allen Cross, in 1737. 4. Noah Pratt, born June 4, 18II, married Joanna Stamford. 5. Mary Ann, born January 1, 1814, married Ephraim Foster, in 1856. 6. Erastus Alonzo, born February, 1816, married Abby S. Walker. 7. Susan Elvira, born May 22, 1818, married Richard Moore, April 8, 1843. 8. Sarah Alexander, born October 8, 1822, married Charles Richardson. 9. Samuel Gleason, born September 20, 1826.
(VI) Dr. Samuel Gleason Wright, born September 20, 1826, in Winchester, married Louisa B. Randall, of Richmond, New Hamp- shire, March 15, 1855. He died at Gill, Mass- achusetts, October 2, 1861. He received his education in the schools of Winchester and Mount Caesar Academy, Swanzey. He stud- ied medicine with Dr. Pierce, in Winchester, and attended the Berkshire Medical College at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, at that time a very popular institution, and graduated there. He commenced the practice of his profession in his native town of Winchester, but a little later went to Gill, Massachusetts, and opened an
office there. He was a young man of marked ability, was showing great skill in his profes- sion, had secured the confidence of the com- munity, and was having a large practice, but died at Gill, October 2, 1861, as the result of an accident deeply lamented by the entire com- munity. After his untimely death his wife re- turned to Richmond, New Hampshire, her former home, and took up the work of teacher, and subsequently taught in Swanzey. Her father, Joseph Randall, died when she was twelve years old, and she had been thrown much upon her own resources. She was bright and talented, and was eager to acquire an edu- cation. The country district schools in the forties were not graded, and the teachers were for the most part inexperienced and did not remain in the same school long enough to win success. In 1846, when only sixteen years old, Mrs. Wright began her work as a teacher. From that time until her marriage, in 1855, with Dr. Wright, she gave a part of her time to teaching and a part of her time to study at Mount Caesar Academy. There were at that time no colleges for women, but by her untir- ing industry and perseverance she obtained an education equal to most college graduates of the present time. After her husband's death she found herself with two little children to care for, the youngest being only two years old, and with scanty means for their support. This responsibility, stress and strain developed all her powers of mind and heart. She turned to teaching as a means of livelihood for her- self and her little ones, and she made it a pro- fession. In 1868 she went to Troy, New Hampshire, teaching in the district schools, and later in the high school, remaining there for seventeen years. Though the high school was largely supported by tuition fees, her great popularity as a teacher kept the school room crowded to its full capacity. She became a power in the life of the town, and helped much in its intellectual and moral development. It was while teaching there that she completed her one hundredth term of school, and she was honored by her former pupils and the peo- ple of the town by a public reception and ad- dresses from several leading townsmen com- mending her work in the highest terms. She accepted an invitation to go to Marlboro, New Hampshire, and taught in the high school there for five years, gaining new laurels. In fact, her reputation as a successful teacher was so great that her services were in great demand. Some of her former pupils prevailed on her to accept a position as teacher in Seneca, Kansas,
939
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
a thriving city in that new state. In the last eight years of her teaching there she was the principal of a fine new twelve room building in which she taught the high school depart- ment, and for the last three years before she resigned her pupils were admitted to college without any examination, but on certificate- the best possible proof of her thorough and excellent work as a teacher in preparing pu- pils for entering college. But her health had become somewhat impaired, and she resigned her position when she had reached the height of her remarkable career. In the home of her son, Mr. Irwin O. Wright, of West Medford, Massachusetts, she spent the remaining years of her life, occasionally revisiting some of the places and friends that she had known in her fifty years as a teacher. She died in Novem- ber, 1901. Mrs. Wright was more than a teacher ; she was a thorough scholar in all the branches she undertook to teach. She kept abreast of the age, and made herself the peer of all who occupied like positions with herself. She was a lover of the beautiful in nature, in art and in literature. Children, born in Gill, Massachusetts: i. Irwin Orlay, born June 5, 1856. 2. Lillian Adelle, October 2, 1859, mar- ried Lee S. McCollester, died of consumption, in 1886, at Claremont, New Hampshire.
(VII) Irwin O. Wright, born in Gill, June 5, 1856, married Mary Evelyn Dearborn, daughter of Joseph A. and Evelyn (Leavitt) Dearborn, of Hampton, New Hampshire, in 1882. Mr. Wright was educated in the schools of Troy, New Hampshire, came to Boston in 1873. From 1874 to 1890 he was in a tele- graph office in Boston. Since 1890 he has been in the telephone work, and for several years has been superintendent of the Boston division of the New England Telegraph and Telephone Company, with office at 119 Milk street, Bos- ton. He is a member of the Boston Athletic Association, Boston City Club, New Hamp- shire Club, of Boston, Medford Savings Bank Corporation, Medford Council, Royal and Sel- ect Masters, Coeur de Lion Commandery of Knights Templar. He is a life member of the Medford Historical Society, was the first president of the Medford Citizens' Associa- tion, is a member of the Medford Club, and was its president for three terms. He resides on Boston avenue, West Medford. They have one child, Hope Wright, born January 17, 1898, in West Medford.
On his maternal line of ancestry he is descended from William Randall (I) who was born in England, and came to Providence,
Rhode Island, in 1635. He lived in Marsh- field, Massachusetts, in 1637, and removed to Scituate, Massachusetts, in 1640, where he lived until his death. His wife's name was Elizabeth They had nine children, born in Scituate, of whom the oldest was Wil- liam Randall (2), born in 1649, died in 1712. He settled in Providence, where he was a mil- ler. He married Rebecca Fowler, daughter of Henry Fowler, of Providence, Rhode Island. They had five children, the oldest of whom was William Randall (3), born September 10, 1675. They lived in Providence. He married Abiel They had eleven children of whom the oldest was William Randall (4), born in 1698, and lived in Rhode Island. He married, April 14, 1720, Mercy Williams, daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Hearndon) Williams, and great-grand-daughter of Roger Williams. His brothers, Joseph and John, married sisters of Mercy Williams. William and Mercy (Williams) Randall had four chil- dren. The oldest child was Abraham Randall (5). He was born November 24, 1731, and settled in Smithfield, Rhode Island, but re- moved to Richmond, New Hampshire, with his family in 1763, where he was substantially the first settler in the town. He changed again in 1786 to Swanzey, New Hampshire, where he remained till he died. He married Sarah Ly- ons, and they had eleven children. The sixth child was Levi Randall (6), born December 22, 1761, in Rhode Island. He settled in Rich- mond, New Hampshire. He married Huldah Newell, daughter of Joseph Newell, November 12, 1792. They had fifteen children. The third child was Joseph Randall (7), born August 24, 1796, in Richmond, New Hampshire. He removed in 1823 to McDonough, Chenango county, New York, where he died a few years later, when his family returned to Richmond. His wife was Mary Holbrook, daughter of David Holbrook. They had seven children of whom the sixth was Louisa Randall (8), born June 2, 1830. She was a teacher in her early life, and again after the death of her husband. She married Dr. Samuel Gleason Wright. They had two children, the oldest was Irwin O. Wright (9) of West Medford, Massachusetts, married Mary Evelyn Dearborn.
(I) Mrs. Mary Evelyn (Dearborn) Wright, the wife of Irwin Orlay Wright, is a lineal descendant of Godfrey Dearborn, one of the early settlers of Hampton, New Hampshire. He came from England to Exeter, New Hamp- shire, and was one of the thirty-five men who signed the famous combination for the
940
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
government of the place in 1639. About 1649 he went to Hampton, and he seems to have been a leading citizen of that town. He mar- ried his first wife in England, but her name is not known; November 25, 1662, he married (second) Dorothy, the widow of Philemon Dalton, of Hampton. Children, all by his first wife: I. Henry, born about 1633, married Elizabeth Marrian, died January 18, 1725. 2. Thomas, born about 1634, married Hannah Colcord, died April 14, 1710. 3. Esther, mar- ried Richard Shortridge, of Portsmouth. 4. Sarah, born about 1641, married Thomas Nudd, died August 21, 1714. 5. John, born about 1642.
(II) John Dearborn was born about 1642, died November 14, 1731. He married, Decem- ber 12, 1672, Mary Ward, daughter of Thomas Ward. In Dow's History of Hampton, it is stated that he was one of a company formed in 1692 to build a saw mill on Little river, Hampton. October 31, 1699, he was recorded as one of the owners of the brigantine "In- crease," forty tons burthen, that had just been built in Hampton. In 1704 he was one of a committee of three to build a barn on the par- sonage (lot) for the use of the minister. In the record of his death he was called "good old John Dearborn." Children: I. John, born September 2, 1673. 2. Thomas, born June 22, 1676, married Huldah Smith, died April 4, 1754. 3. Mary, born May 6, 1678, married Stephen Batchelder.
(III) John Dearborn, deacon, born Septem- ber 2, 1673, died March 19, 1746. Married Han- nah Dow, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Lamprey) Dow, January 10, 1695. In 1710 he was appointed one of the committee to pro- cure a minister for the town. At a meeting of the church in Hampton in 1721, he was elected one of the deacons. Children, born in Hamp- ton : I. Ann, born October 22, 1695, married Joseph Philbrick, July 30, 1718. 2. Joseph, born April 9, 1699, died December 9, 1700. 3. John, born March 28, 1703.
(IV) John Dearborn, born March 28, 1703, died March 24, 1754. Married Anna Sanborn, daughter of John and Ruth (Robie) Sanborn, September 30, 1724. They lived in Hampton, and their children were born there. I. Anne, born December 17, 1725, married Joseph Wad- leigh, January 14, 1749. 2. John, baptized December 22, 1728, died young. 3. Hannah, born December 3, 1730, married Thomas Blake. 4. Mary, born August 1, 1732, mar- ried Wadleigh. 5. Ruth, born June 5, 1734, married Dearborn Blake. 6. Elizabeth,
born March 5, 1736, married Joseph Sanborn. 7. Josiah, born January II, 1738, married Sarah Freese, died September 15, 1814. 8. John, born July 2, 1740. 9. Miriam, born May 8, 1742, married Jeremiah Sanborn. 10. Paul, born September 29, 1744, died September 22, 1746.
(V) John Dearborn, captain, born Hamp- ton, July 2, 1740, died October 19, 1794. Mar- ried Zipporah Towle, daughter of Francis Towle. He was a member of the committee of safety and captain in the Revolutionary war. (See History Hampton, pp. 255 and 272). Children, born in Hampton: I. John, born August 3, 1763, married Mary Marston ; mar- ried (second), Deborah Cote, died December, 1845. 2. Dolly, born July 12, 1765, married Jonathan Marston, died May 21, 1785. 3. Jeremiah, born January 8, 1768, married (first), Ruth, and (second), Nancy, daughters of Nathaniel Batchelder ; moved to Parsons- field, Maine, died January 25, 1851. 4. Levi, born December 25, 1769, married Patience Godfrey, died September 27, 1848. 5. Francis, born April 3, 1772, married and settled in Par- sonsfield. 6. Jacob, born May 8, 1774, mar- ried Mary Brown ; settled in Parsonsfield, died in 1854. 7. Elizabeth, born September 12, 1776, married Joseph Sanborn, of Sanbornton. 8. Zipporah, born June 15, 1778, married Dav- id Towle, died October 23, 1846. 9. Anna (Nancy), born June 12, 1781, married Eben- ezer Dearborn, son of Phineas. 10. Josiah, born November 12, 1783. II. Thomas, born August 25, 1786, married Ruth, daughter of David Johnson. 12. Jonathan, born August 22, 1788, married Sarah Towle, died February 24, 1862.
(VI) Josiah Dearborn, blacksmith, born November 12, 1783, in Hampton, died 1866. Married Anna S., daughter of Thomas and Rachel (Philbrick) Leavitt, was many years a tavern keeper in Hampton. He built the Union House on the site of the old Leavitt Tavern; member of a newly organized fire company in 1833. Children, all born in Hampton: I. Samuel, born August 28, 1804, married Eliz- abeth Murphy, died 1866. 2. Sally, born June 2, 1806, married David Marston. 3. John, born September, 1807. 4. Dolly, born August 25, 1810, married Jacob H. Brown, died Au- gust 20, 1848. 5. Josephine, born September 25, 1821, married Major David Marston.
(VII) John Dearborn, born in September, 1807, married (first) Mary Ann Towle, daughter of James and Abigail (Brown) Towle, July 12, 1828; married (second), Sep-
94I
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
tember 28, 1846, Deborah, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Mace) Marston. They lived in Hampton. Children: 1. Abby Ann, born No- vember 6, 1828, married, September 27, 1851, John Newell Brown, of Seabrook. 2. Josiah James, born October 17, 1830, married Nancy Knowles. 3. Joseph Alvin, born March 18, 1832. 4. John Worthen, born August 22, 1833, married Sarah M. Brown. 5. Samuel Wesley, born July 19, 1835, married Sarah O. Mason. 6. Hale Bradford, born February IO, 1840, drowned in the canal at Richmond, Vir- ginia, October II, 1865. 7. Thomas Horace, born March 18, 1842, married Mary Dow.
(VIII) Joseph A. Dearborn, born March 18, 1832, married Eveline, daughter of David M. and Clarissa (Towle) Leavitt. He is a carpenter, and they live in Hampton. Chil- dren: I. Clara Maria, married John Orrin Drake, of Rye. 2. Mary Evelyn, married Irwin O. Wright. 3. Marcia Leavitt.
(V) Major General Henry Dearborn, born in 1751, went to Nottingham, New Hampshire, and settled as a physician, but responded for the call for minute men and commanded a company at Bunker Hill ; was major at the sur- render of Burgoyne, and distinguished him- self at Monmouth. He was a member of con- gress from Massachusetts from 1793 to 1797, and secretary of war 1801 to 1809. As senior major general, he was in command of the United States army at one time, and in the war of 1812 took York (now Toronto in Canada), and Fort George at the mouth of the Niagara river. He was United States minister to Por- tugal, 1822-24; died at Roxbury in 1829. Gen- eral Dearborn was third cousin of Captain John Dearborn (5).
PIERCE John Pierce (or Pers), was the immigrant ancestor of the Pierce family in America. He was born in Norwich, Norfolk, England, in 1588, and died August 19, 1666, in Watertown, Massa- chusetts. He was a weaver. He came to New England either in the "John and Dorothy" of Norwich, or the "Rose" of Yarmouth. Wil- liam Andrews was master of the former, and William Andrews, Jr., of the latter. With him were his wife Elizabeth, and children, John, Barbara, Elizabeth, Judith, and one ser- vant, John Gedney, aged nineteen years. These were the younger children, some having pre- ceded their parents. He settled at Watertown, Massachusetts. He was made a freeman, March, 1638-39. Children: I. Anthony, born
1609, mentioned below. 2. Esther, married, 1636, Joseph Morse, Jr. 3. Mary, married Clement Coldam. 4. Robert, born about 1620. 5. John. 6. Barbara. 7. Elizabeth, married, 1643, John Ball, Jr. 8. Judith, mar- ried Francis Wyman.
(II) Anthony Pierce, son of John Pierce (I), was born in England in 1609. He came to New England before his father and settled in Watertown, near Cambridge. His homestall was on the north side of the road from Cam- bridge to Watertown, west of the homestall of John Stowers. He bequeathed it to his sons Joseph and Benjamin. He had also a farm of eighty-six acres and other lands. He was admitted a freeman September 3, 1634. His wife Mary died 1633. He married (second), 1633, Ann -, who died January 20, 1682- 83. His will was proved September 6, 1671. Children: I. John. 2. Mary born December 28, 1633, died young. 3. Mary, 1636. 4. Jacob, September 15, 1637. 5. Daniel, Janu- ary I, 1639-40. 6. Martha, April 24, 1641. 7. Joseph, 1647, mentioned below. 8. George, 1649. 9. Judith, July 8, 1650.
(III) Joseph Pierce, son of Anthony Pierce (2), was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, probably in 1647. He married (first) Martha and (second ), June 15, 1698, Elizabeth (Kendall) Winship, daughter of Francis Ken- dall, of Woburn, and widow of Ephraim Win- ship, of Cambridge. She was born at Woburn, January 15, 1652. He was admitted a freeman April 18, 1690, and he died in 1713. His widow Elizabeth and son Jacob were appointed to administer the estate December 2, 1713. Children, all born at Watertown: I. Joseph, born October 2, 1669. 2. Francis, July 27, 1671, mentioned below. 3. John, May 27, 1673. 4. Mary, November 26, 1674. 5. Ben- jamin, March 25, 1677. 6. Jacob, December 25, 1678. 7. Martha, December 24, 1681. 8. Stephen, October, 1683. 9. Israel, October 7, 1685. 10. Elizabeth, September 9, 1687, mar- ried Joseph Bemis.
(IV) Francis Pierce, son of Joseph Pierce (3) was born at Watertown, July 27, 1671. He married, December 17, 1697, Hannah John- son, of Lexington ; "a good girl whom I love," wrote Rev. Mr. Bailey. She was then living at Mr. Bond's, was baptized and owned the covenant February 27, 1686-87. Mr. Pierce was one of the original members of the Wes- ton Church. John Johnson, of Cambridge, gave his daughter Hannah, wife of Francis Pierce, two houses and lands in Cambridge Farms (Lexington). The will of Francis
942
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
Pierce was dated April 18, 1728, and was proved June 10, 1728, bequeathing to his eldest son Francis, and to other children, Wil- liam, Jacob, Thomas and Hannah. He died in Weston, April 22, 1728. Children, born in Weston: I. Francis, born February 14, 1698, married (published July 23), 1722, Ruth Graves. 2. Hannah, September 3, 1702, died young. 3. Thomas, October 4, 1705, men- tioned below. 4. William, May 1, 1708, mar- ried Sarah Whitney. 5. Mary, July II, died August, 1711. 6. Jacob, August 9, 1712, mar- ried Mary Chadwick. 7. Ebenezer, died No- vember, 1714. 8. Hannah, March 8, 1715-16, married, November 5, 1743, Joseph Locke, of Lexington. 9. Jonas, 1717, married, April 30, 1743, Mary Adams.
(V) Thomas Pierce, son of Francis Pierce (4), was born in Weston, Massachusetts, Oc- tober 4, 1705. Married, June 5, 1728, Mary Huse. Children, born in Weston: I. Mary, born April 13, 1729, married, April 7, 1748, Daniel Carter, Jr. 2. Moses, August 16, 1730, married, January 17, 1752, Mehitable Rice. 3. Daniel, April 6, 1733, died young. 4. Han- nah, October 15, 1734, married, December 20, 1753, John Parker. 5. Ephraim, March 5, 1736, died young. 6. Lydia, May 6, 1739, died October 25, 1740. 7. Lydia, July 22, 174I, died January 7, 1755. 8. Ephraim, March 31, 1743, married, December 31, 1765, Lois Brown. 9. Daniel, July 3, 1749, died at sea.
(VI) Moses Pierce, son of Thomas Pierce (5), was born in Weston, Massachusetts, Au- gust 16, 1730, and died there. He married, January 17, 1752, Mehitable Rice, of Worces- ter, born September 10, 1731, died 1779. He is said to have been a soldier in the Revolution. He resided in Sudbury and Weston, Massa- chusetts. Children: I. Mehitable, born May 2, 1753, married, May 1, 1777, Jonas Lamb, of Spencer, who was born June 24, 1755 ; married (second), August 25, 1803, Lucretia Dunbar, widow. 2. Mary, March 28, 1754. 3. Thomas, August 12, 1756, married, December II, 1782, Lydia Underwood; died without issue. 4.
Abel, January 28, 1761, mentioned below. 5. Lydia, November 2, 1768, married, November 30, 1780, Elijah Travis; who died August 7, 1841. 6. Eliakim, July 30, 1763, married, March 30, 1788, Elizabeth Mills. 7. Hannah, September 9, 1786, married Samuel Green- wood. 8. Esther, March 20, 1794, married Aaron Pease.
,(VII) Abel Pierce, son of Moses Pierce (6), was born January 28, 1761. He was a soldier
in the Revolution and is said to have been "the shortest man in Washington's Brigade." If this be so, it must have been when he was a mere boy. We find an Abel Pierce credited with service in Captain Abishai Brown's com- pany and Colonel John Nixon's regiment (Fifth) during the summer of 1775, his resi- dence being given as Concord and Boston. If this was our Abel's record, he was less than fif- teen years old and might well be the shortest soldier. Again he appears to be in Captain Daniel Whiting's company and Colonel Asa Whitcomb's regiment in 1776. Even then he was very young. He was undoubtedly in Lieutenant William Story's company in 1779 and at that time gave his age as "eighteen, complexion dark and height five feet eight inches," therefore was no longer the shortest man. His residence was Weston. Again in 1791 he was in Captain Noah Allen's com- pany, First Massachusetts Regiment, "age nineteen years, height five feet nine, complex- ion light, hair brown, birth-place Sudbury, res- idence Weston," enlisted November 3, 1779, by Captain Ashley ; was at Peekskill, West Point, New Windsor, and in the winter of 1781 at York Hutts. The fact that his complexion was called "dark" in one enlistment and "light" in the other indicates that he was neither very dark nor very light. He grew an inch also according to this record. He mar- ried, April 1, 1784, Susanna Spring, born Oc- tober 22, 1761. Children, born at Weston: I. Sukey, born January 21, 1786, died unmarried. 2. Nancy, January 24, 1787, married Elisha Ford. 3. Moses, October 14, 1789, married (first), Sarah Dillaway; (second) Mehitable J. Nye. 4. Sewell, January 6, 1792, married Mary Stowers. 5. John H., August 18, 1794, married Charlotte M. Cutter.
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.