USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 73
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
Anna, born May 28, 1766; married Moses Lane. 12. Jonathan, born January 6, 1769; married Mary Leavitt.
(VI) David Marston, son of David Mar- ston (5), was born in Hampton, February 5, 1756; married, 1782, Mary Page. He was a soldier in the Revolution, a private at the age of eighteen in Captain James Norris's com- pany, Colonel Poor's regiment; also in the Continental army in 1776, from North Hamp- ton. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. In his youth he worked on his father's farm. His occupation as given on the Revolutionary war rolls was cord- wainer (shoemaker). After his marriage in 1782 he removed to Parsonsfield, Maine, where he bought a farm in the west village, and became a well-to-do farmer, raising many fine horses as well as cattle and sheep. He died there January 29, 1835. He was very re- ligious, and of exceptional force of character. He was a devout and generous member and for many years deacon of the Baptist church, and he brought up his children to a strict ob- servance of the rules of religion as he under- stood them. In politics he was a Democrat, and a town officer many years. He was repre- sentative to the general court of Massachusetts from Parsonsfield, Maine, (then in Massachu- setts ), from 1806 to 1809. ' He married, April 4, 1782, Mary Page, who died in 1847. Chil- dren: I. David, born March 23, 1783. 2. Abigail, born February 23, 1785; married Eben Marston. 3. Mary, born January 25, 1787; married Jonathan Ayer. 4. Levi, born 5. Anna, born June 6, 1792 ; married Andrew Page. 6. Jacob, born October 16, 1794; died September 6, 1796. 7. Elizabeth, born April 8, 1797; married Jeremiah Mar- ston. 8. Jacob, born April 16, 1799; mention- ed below. 9. Ruth, born December 6, 1801 ; died November 12, 1803.
(VII) Jacob Marston, son of David Mar- ston (6), was born at West Parsonsfield, Maine, April 16, 1799, and died there January 29, 1853. He was brought up on his father's farm, and had a common school education. He learned the trade of blacksmith in his youth, and when not engaged in farming fol- lowed his trade. He remained at home with his father until his death, then became the owner and conducted it the rest of his life. His blacksmith shop was near the farm. In addition to the shop and farm he was a stone cutter, and employed a number of men in getting out stone for various uses. He was prominent in church and town affairs, being
Dr. Marston
I24I
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
a member of the Baptist church, active in the temperance movement, beloved by all· his friends and neighbors. In politics he was a Democrat, and represented his district in the Maine legislature ; was selectman for a num- ber of years in Parsonsfield; also overseer of the poor and member of the school committee.
He married, in 1826, Martha Doe, who was born March 21, 1807, at Parsonsfield, and died June 7, 1870, daughter of John and Abigail (Giddings) Doe. Her father was a farmer. Children : I. John Doe, born June 3, 1827; married, 1852, Mary Staples, of Old Orchard, Maine ; child, William Staples, born May 23, 1853, married, December 29, 1880, Marguer- ite Woodrugg of St. Catherine's, Ontario, Canada, (children: William Woodruff, born October 9, 1881; Peirce, born January 13, 1883). 2. Abigail Giddings, born July 24, 1829; . died October 1, 1849, unmarried. 3. David Wells, born March 27, 1831 ; died un- married, February 5, 1852. 4. Comfort Hilton, born September 29, 1833; married, June, 1854, Addison Woodbury Glidden, of Effingham, N. H .; she died January 23, 1906; children : i. Clinton Elmer Glidden, born September 12, 1856; ii. Ira Woodbury Glidden, born October 14, 1862; iii. Mamie Edalla Glidden, born September 24, 1866, died January 22, 1869; iv. Nellie May Glidden, born August 9, 1868. 5. Oran Butler, born April 20, 1836; men- tioned below. 6. Hon. Ira Doe, born April 30, 1838; married Goodee Weir; resides at Kearney, Nebraska, where he is judge of the county court. 7. Elizabeth, born December 27, 1839, died aged two years. 8. George Whitefield, born April 3, 1842; married, Jan- uary 28, 1866, Harriet Maria Puffer, of Arl- ington, Massachusetts, born in Newton, Mass- achusetts, September 1, 1836; children: i. Maria Abigail, born September 3, 1867, in Arlington, married, October 16, 1890, in West Somerville, Massachusetts, John Franklin Ferry, of Concord, New Hampshire, born No- vember II, 1862; (their children: Warren Franklin Terry, born February 18, 1895; Marion Katherine Terry, born August 30, 1899; George Hilliard Terry, born June 25, 1901, died January 23, 1902 ; all born in West Somerville, Massachusetts) ; ii. George War- ren Marston, born December 10, 1869, in Arl- ington ; married in West Somerville, June 28, 1907, Mary Ethel Davis, born in Providence, Rhode Island, February 14, 1872-73; no chil- dren. 9. Maria Elizabeth, born November, 1844 ; married, June 5, 1882, Henry S. Colby, of Richmond, Maine, born July 12, 1851,
died February 25, 1893; no children. IO. Jacob, born March 15, 1847, married Martha Annie Batson, of Danvers, Massachusetts ; children : i. Charlotte Pauline, born December 26, 1880; ii. Grace Bernice, born February 21, 1895. II. Frank Russell, born June 28, 1850, mentioned below. 12. David Bennett, born August 20, 1852, died June 18, 1905 ; married, June 27, 1877, Linnie Cline, of Cambridge, Illinois ; child : Mary Linnie, born June 4,
1894.
(VIII) Oran Butler Marston, son of Jacob Marston (7), was born at Parsonsfield, April 20, 1836. He received his education in the public schools of his native town, helping his father on the farm during his youth, and learn- ing the trade of carpenter. In 1860 he left home and entered the employ of James Nowell, builder and contractor, of Boston, for whom he worked five years, part of the time as foreman. In April, 1865, Mr. Marston re- moved to Arlington, where he worked as a journeyman for Edward Storer, then one of the leading builders and contractors of Arl- ington. He was soon promoted to foreman. In 1882 Mr. Storer retired from business, and Mr. Marston established himself in business, beginning in a small way at Swan place, where he purchased a lot and built his shop. No man in his calling every enjoyed a more uninter- rupted reputation for good and reliable work than Mr. Marston. Among his first contracts was a house for Henry Swan. He built the residence of George I. Doe ; for Henry Swan, on Massachusetts avenue; for Clarence T. Parsons, Arthur Bacon, Herbert L. Tileston, Frederick Rich, Charles Whytal, Frank M. Bott, Mrs. Wetherbee, George A. Smith, L. K. Russell, R. W. Hilliard, and the C. W. Allen house and many others, all of which stand as a monument to his skill and genius. He remained in active business until a short time before his death. He died September 14, 1904. Since then his daughter, Mrs. F. B. Wadleigh, has successfully conducted the bus- iness.
Mr. Marston was a man of peculiarly quiet and even disposition and temperament, but his sterling worth was understood and appreci- ated by his friends. He is held in grateful remembrance by many of the younger gener- ation whom he has helped by word and ex- ample. He was in his day one of the leading business men of the town, taking part in every movement intended to improve and benefit his native town. In politics he was a Democrat. One who knew him wrote: "A contractor and
I242
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
builder by occupation, beginning life as most men begin, in a humble way, in course of time he became the employer and bearer of respon- sibility. . The buildings that he erected are monuments. There was thought, artistic sense and honesty of purpose in them. It was his motto, 'What is worth doing, is worth doing well.' The abomination of his life was care- less, partial or cheap work. So enamored with accuracy was this man that frequently he gave people much more, in order to have it right, than was called for in the contract. As long as these buildings stand, his monument will be visible, and even longer than this." He held many positions of trust and honor in the church, but none more 'sacred in his sight than the superintendent of the Sunday school, serving at two different periods. A lover of children and young people, he was their com- panion, friend and father. In his later years the venerable man, with his wagon filled with children, in the midst of a circle of young people, or presiding at a session of the Sun- day school, were characteristic. When the Arlington Co-operative Bank was founded he became a stockholder, and from the first was a director and member of the investment board. He was a member of the Arlington Improvement Association.
He married, January 14, 1861, Anne Eliz- abeth Brown, born at West Parsonsfield, Maine, April 25, 1840, and died at Arlington, Massachusetts, June 18, 1896, daughter of Nathan and Comfort (Stevens) Brown, of Parsonsfield. Her father was a farmer and shoemaker. Children: I. Edwin, born at Boston, March, 1863; died soon. 2. Nellie Comfort, born in Boston, June 12, 1864; mar- ried, September 14, 1892, Francis Bowen Wadleigh, of Winchester, Massachusetts; en- gaged in the mill remnant supply business ; they have no children.
(VIII) Frank Russell Marston, son of Jacob Marston (7), was born at Parsonsfield, Maine, June 18, 1850. He married first, Aug- ust 14, 1871, Susan A. Young, of Middleton, New Hampshire; married second, September 29, 1883, Ada L. Davis, of Farmington, and she died June 22, 1902 ; married third, January 3, 1905, E. Ellen Davis, of New Durham, New Hampshire. Children of the first wife: I. Fred B., born May 30, 1872 ; married Hes- ter Bumpus, of Maine; child, Frank M. Mar- ston. 2. Mattie A., born June 10, 1874; mar- ried Fred J. Twombly, of Haverhill, Massa- chusetts ; children: i. George Twombly; ii. Raymond Twombly; iii. Twombly ;
iv. Son. 3. George F., born November 8, 1876; unmarried.
Thomas Wellman, the im- WELLMAN migrant ancestor, was born in England, about 1620. He came over in the ship "Hopewell," when he was twenty-one years old. He was an inhabi- tant of Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1640. The. family, according to some traditions, is said to be Welsh, but the name is English. He married Elizabeth Children : I. Abraham, born about 1643; father of Thomas, born 1669, who settled in Reading. 2. Isaac, born about 1650; mentioned below. 3. Eliz- abeth. 4. Sarah. 5. Mary. 6. Stephen (?), killed by the Indians, September 18, 1675, at Deerfield.
(II) Isaac Wellman, son of Thomas Well- man (I), was born about 1655, in Lynn, or vicinity, Massachusetts. He married, March 13, 1679, Hannah Adams, who died after I7II. He married second (intentions dated August 23, 1717), Mary Slafter, who sur- vived him. Some of this family settled in Killingworth, Connecticut. Children, born at Lynn: I. Isaac, born February 7, 1679-80; died September 18, 1682. 2. Stephen, born September 6, 1681; mentioned below. 3 Isaac, born about 1684; his widow died about IZII.
(III) Stephen Wellman, son of Isaac Well- man (2), was born in Lynn, September 6, 1681; died, 1767. He married (intentions dated April 27, 1706), 'Abigail Boston, of Wells, Maine. Children: I. Stephen Jr., born at Lynn, August 19, 1712 (recorded at Lynn). According to the family historian, he "fell down stairs and broke his silver cord," dying in consequence, July 1, 1768. He married at Salem, January 9, 1740, Susanna Pedrick, who died June 24, 1768, of consumption. Children, born at Lynn : I. Thomas, born May 13, 1742 ; married Martha Follet, of Attleborough, born 1737, died April 19, 1792. 2. Jesse, born December 27, 1743. 3. Stephen, born June 21, 1746. 4. Susannah, born September 20, 1749. 5. Ezekiel, born February 6, 1751-52; mentioned below. 6. Bartholomew, born May 25, 1754. 7. Ann, born May 5, 1759. 8. Caleb, born May 3, 1761; married Susanna Williams.
(V) Ezekiel Wellman, son of Stephen Wellman (4), was born February 6, 1751-52, at Lynn; died there December 7, 1816. He resided at Salem. He married Elizabeth Ellin-
----
Henry Dexter
I243
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
wood, who was born in Salem, February 20, 1752 ; died in Beverly, January 20, 1842, aged eighty-nine years. Children, born at Salem: I. Elizabeth, born September 22, 1776; mar- ried Philip Leach, who was lost at sea; sec- ond, Captain Timothy Hawks, who was lost at sea ; she died April 25, 1863, aged eighty- seven years, at Tapleyville, Danvers. 2. Anna, born December 7, 1778; married Jacob Reed, who died June 6, 1875; she died at South Danvers, July 27, 1855. 3. Lydia B., born September 25, 1780; married James Os- borne, who died at Lynn, April 6, 1854, aged seventy-six ; she died December 24, 1866. 4. Elisha, born May 10, 1783; married Clap Trask ; he died September 26, 1824. 5. Desire E., born February 16, 1785; married John Porter Webber, of Beverly; she died January 5, 1865. 6. Samuel, born April 27, 1788; died unmarried, October 12, 1820. 7. Stephen, born October 27, 1791 ; mentioned below.
(VI) Stephen Wellman, son of Ezekiel Wellman (5), was born October 27, 1791; died December 19, 1855, aged sixty-four years. He settled in New Salem, New Hamp- shire, and married there, Charlotte Rollins. Children: I. John Rollins, born November 17, 1819; mentioned below. 2. Hannah Chase, married, April, 1845, Asa M. Sawyer, of South Danvers; married second, John Paine, of San Francisco; children: i. George Sawyer ; ii. Thomas Sawyer ; iii. Simon Saw- yer. 3. Elizabeth Woodbury, born January, 1827; married Josiah S. Burrell; children : i. Charlotte E. Burrill, born March 29, 1845; ii. Charles Smith Burrill, born March 22, 1847, died July. 17, 1864 ; iii. Mary Alice Bur- rill, born April 29, 1850; iv. Frank Rollins Burrill, born February 9, 1859. 4. Lucy Hynes, married Charles H. Simonds, of South Danvers; died at West Andover, June 5, 1852, aged twenty-one; one son, William Augustus Simonds, aged five months. 5. Caleb. 6. Bartholomew, lost at sea. 7. Susan, married, July 12, 1887, James Brown, of Lynnfield ; children: i. John Brown, married
Mansfield; ii. Stephen Brown, born 1794, died 1864; iii. Jonathan Brown; iv. Rebecca Brown, married Elijah Hewes; v. Susanna, married John Seaver ; vi. - Brown.
(VII) John Rollins Wellman, son of Ste- phen Wellman (6), was born in Salem, Mass. achusetts, November 17, 1819. He was edu- cated in the public schools. He was engaged successfully in the metal and iron business at Lawrence, where he spent his days. His death occurred June 21, 1899. He was a Re-
publican in politics. He and his family attend- ed the services of the Baptist church. He was a member of the Royal Arcanum, and of Grecian Lodge, Free Masons, at Lawrence. He married, November 18, 1874, Lucretia C. Tucker, of Cherryfield, Maine, daughter of · David W. and Mary (Tucker) Tucker. Their only child was John Ralph, born August 8, 1876; mentioned below.
(VIII) John Ralph Wellman, son of John Rollins Wellman (7), was born August 8, 1876. He was educated in the public and high schools of Melrose and at Brown University, from which he was graduated in 1899. He studied law at. Harvard Law School and is now practicing law in Boston. He is a Re- publican in politics. He is a member of Lodge, Free Masons ; of the - Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; of - Council Royal and Select Masons ; of Hugh De Payens Com- mandery, Knights Templar, and of the Order of the Mystic Shrine.
He married Cora C. Cutter, daughter of E. Cutter Jr., April 15, 1902. Children : I. John Rollins, born September 10, 1903. 2. Ephraim C., born August 14, 1904, died Oc- tober 26, 1907. 3. Elizabeth B., born July II, 1906.
Henry Dexter, a celebrated DEXTER painter and sculptor, born Oc- tober II, 1806, in the town of Nelson, Madison county, New York, and died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, June 23, 1876, when within three months of seventy years of age, traced his ancestry back through eight generations to the Rev. Gregory Dexter, of Olney, Northampton county, England, born 1610. Gregory Dexter was first a printer and stationer in London; an adherent and trans- atlantic correspondent of Roger Williams. He printed for Roger Williams, in 1643, a dic- tionary of the Indian language as spoken in New England. In 1644 he accompanied Roger Williams. on one of his return trips to Providence, where he became a regular preacher among the Baptists, baptizing many people in the Providence Jordan, otherwise called the Mooshassick. He was the first edu- cated printer in this country, often called to Boston and Cambridge to assist in setting up matter too difficult for the local journeyman, and as the printer of the first Rhode Island almanac. He and all his descendants lived in and around Providence up to the close of the eighteenth century, when they began to
I244
MIDDLESEX .COUNTY.
disperse, some going as far west as Connecti- cut and even New York, others to the far south, to North Carolina and Alabama. The father of Henry Dexter went to New York in 1805 to better his fortune, in which attempt he failed after various efforts at farming, shoe- making and tanning.
The date of the first schooling of Henry Dexter is not given, but he records that he learned three letters the first day and received from his teacher "a ticket of merit." School and books formed only a minute item in the. life of country children of that time, and they began very early to bear the yoke of labor. In his father's tanyard Henry drove the horse that turned the stones for grinding bark. His chief early employment, however, was helping his mother spin and weave. She had the large wheel for woolen yarns and the small for flax, and Henry had to wind quills and spool yarn for many a web and woof. From an older brother he learned the secrets of trap- ping, fishing and shooting, and in this way became familiar with the brooks and forest ways of the region. Forests were every- where as yet uncleared, and when he found any spot where he could see beyond them, it appeared to him that the world-a word he heard often and that perplexed him much- must be there. At the age of twelve years, having lost his father, the mother and chil- dren went to the home of the mother's father in Connecticut. The journey thither was through Albany, where they boarded the schooner "Sallie," Captain Spellman, which including stops was seventeen days in making New York City. The days were full of won- der and novelty to Henry who had never be- fore seen a vessel, a city, or any scenery com- parable to that of the Hudson river. He ob- served and took note of everything, and fifty years afterward could. recall every incident of the voyage. After four days the "Sallie" headed for the East river, passed through Hell Gate, and subsequently reached Provi- dence, their port of destination. From this place the journey was continued by land to Killingly, Connecticut, the home of Mrs. Dex- ter's parents.
Mrs. Dexter did not remain long with her parents. She hired a house on the borders of Killingly and Pomfret, where Henry, the oldest child at home, had plenty of work in assist- ing his mother, chopping wood, and in the care of a garden. He also worked out in the neigh- borhood, when wanted, for a dollar a week. Later he entered the employ of Stephen Dana,
in Pomfret, attending school in winter, where he proved an apt pupil, standing at the head of his classes, and assisting with the work of the farm, and he remained an inmate of this home for three years. April 7, 1822, he began an apprenticeship at the trade of blacksmith with John Chollar, at Danielsonville, six miles from Pomfret, and after a few weeks' trial was indentured to. Mr. Chollar for four years, to learn the whole art and mystery of black- smithing. In the first year he plated a hoe, a difficult work, and mended the broken horn of the anvil, which his master had told him could never be done. Eighteen months after his apprenticeship had begun an event hap- pened which, seemingly unimportant, proved of much consequence. A family by the name of Kelley moved into the house next to his master's. Mrs. Kelley was a sister of the painter, Frank Alexander, a celebrated por- trait-painter. At the close of his apprentice- ship he had become the most skilled workman in the region. Whatever could be done at the forge or bench, with anvil or hammer or file or cold chisel, he could do. Difficult jobs were entrusted to him, and he never failed of success. It was doubtless the native art in- stinct which made him such an accomplished artisan in working his rough materials. He was then earning a dollar a day and his board.
In the summer of 1826 or 1827 it was an- nounced that Francis Alexander would spend his vacation at his home if half-a-dozen sit- ters, could be obtained for him. By the exer- tions of Henry Dexter, five were promised, and he himself would be the sixth. It was not any wish to see himself on, canvas that in- fluenced him, but simply the desire to discover how the work was done. This appears to have been the absorbing thought of his life at this period-"to see a painter commence a portrait and learn the rudiments of the art." A great disappointment awaited him, for when the painter began to work he could not see the canvas; it was turned from him. How- ever, he made some important discoveries by asking questions.
In May, 1828, Mr. Dexter married Miss Kelley, and they went to housekeeping in an outlying village of Killingly, where he had purchased a blacksmith's stand and begun business for himself .. Now his own master, disposer of his own days and with a house, where he could do what he pleased without observation, his mind dwelt much on painting, and he resolved to try. He had no materials for the attempt, and did not dare to go to
I245
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
Providence, the nearest city, for fear one of the six persons whom he knew in that city should discover him buying paints instead of iron. Accordingly he decided to go to Hart- ford, forty-five miles away, and where no one knew him. His mother was his first subject. He worked at once with the brush, without drawing, and in three sittings had completed the portrait as far as his skill and time would allow. It was a faithful likeness, good in form and color, whatever technical faults it had. That he might paint during any moment of leisure, he kept one room in his house which was so near to his shop that he could easily be called when wanted. The room and its purpose were kept a profound secret to all save his own family, among whom he found subjects sufficient for his frequently inter- rupted sittings. It became noised about in the town that he was painting portraits. It reach- ed the ears of Alexander, who sent him word that he would be at home shortly, and would. call and examine his work. He came; the pictures were shown, and the humble black- smith felt that his fate was in the hands of a man whom he had every reason to believe his friend. Instead of criticism, Alexander asked him if he intended to become an artist, and, if so, what was to become of his family? When Mr. Dexter flinched at this question, and "like a fool," as he himself said, "denied myself, and answered that I should never be an artist." Alexander, apparently relieved by this answer, began to speak in praise of the portraits, and suggested what was needed to improve them.
Seven years later, during which time he followed his trade of blacksmith, Mr. Dexter rented his business, sold his house and began in earnest to paint portraits of his family and friends until he felt sure enough to offer his brush to a larger public. In the spring of 1836, by the advice of Alexander, he went to Providence and opened a studio. After he had exhausted the opportunities that Provi- dence offered, he decided to go to Boston, and in the autumn of 1836 he arrived in that city and hired Bromfield Hall, on the street of the same name, a room sixty by twenty feet. This he divided into three portions, one for a studio, another for a chamber and a third he rented. The times were hard, money scarce, and sitters were scarcer. He struggled on for some time, painting a few portraits and copying a few, barely earing enough to meet his expenses. But suddenly a new turn came in his affairs. He was casually recommended
to secure some clay which the sculptor Greenough was leaving behind him when about to go to Italy, and practice modelling as a help toward obtaining a better knowledge of form in portraits. He had the clay brought to his studio, where it lay in a corner for some months, growing dry and hard. In an idle hour he gathered up some of it, softened it with water, placed it on top of a barrel and began to mould the head of a brother artist who happened in, and to whom he playfully remarked, "Come, White, let me put your head into this mud." He had no knowledge of the manner of handling clay, and having no tools, he used his fingers for forming the fea- tures. The clay became an amorphous lump ; then the rude outline of a face such as we fancy we see in clouds or mountain crag ap- peared; and at last the distinct lineaments and similitude of the face before him, frighten- ing himself and astonishing his model.
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.