USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 76
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(VIII) Judge William Ellison Parmenter, son of William Parmenter (7), was born in Boston, March 12, 1816, and died October 4, 1903, at Arlington, Massachusetts. He re- ceived his early education at the Framingham Academy and the Angier Academy at Med- ford, and entered Harvard College, graduating in 1836, and then taking a course in the Har- vard Law School. He read law in the office of John Mills, United States district attorney, and was admitted to the Suffolk county bar in 1842. He practiced law in Boston for thir- ty years, and in 1871 was appointed by Gov- ernor Claflin special justice, and later in the same year associate justice of the municipal court of that city. In 1883 Governor Butler appointed him chief justice, a position which he occupied until his retirement in January, 1902.
In politics, he was an active Democrat up to the time of the civil war, and was chairman of the Democratic state committee in 1858. After 1860 he took no active part in politics, although he always took an interest in public matters. During the war he showed himself to be an actively patriotic citizen. He was captain of the West Cambridge Drill Club, an organization of which many members joined the Union army. In 1824 he removed with his parents from Boston to East Cambridge, where he resided until 1853, when he made his home in Arlington for the rest of his life. The only public office he ever held besides that on the bench was that of a member of the Arlington school board. He was chairman of the board nearly a quarter of a century, and did more than perhaps any other man to raise the standard of the Arlington schools.
He had a remarkable memory, and in his old age could recall many notable incidents which he 'had witnessed, and many anecdotes of famous men. In 1823 and 1824 he attend- ed the Eliot School in Boston, and recalled clearly the visit of Lafayette to the city at that time, and the procession when Lafayette's carriage was drawn between two lines of school children. When only six years of age he attended the Catholic Cathedral on Frank- lin street, then the only Catholic church in Boston, one Sunday with his father, and saw Bishop Cheverus, afterwards bishop of Bor- deaux, sitting in his episcopal chair. The bishop was beloved by all Boston, and his go- ing back to France was much regretted. In 1825, from the roof of the home of a school- mate, he saw the procession on the occasion of the laying of the corner stone of Bunker Hill monument, as it passed through Prince street on the way to Charlestown.
He was a freshman in college, and was pres- ent at commencement when the degree of LL.D. 'was given to Andrew Jackson. The ceremonies took place in the chapel, at that time in University Hall, and a Latin speech was pronounced by a member of the senior class, ( who was afterwards professor ) Francis Bowen. Judge Parmenter remembered Wen- dell Phillips well. He is quoted as saying: "I recollect being present in Faneuil Hall in 1837, when Wendell Phillips, then a young lawyer, made a speech at a meeting which had been called for the purpose of taking some ac- tion on the doings of the mob which had killed Editor Lovejoy, of St. Louis, because of the abolition sentiment of his paper. Attorney General Austin spoke on that occasion against expressing any condemnation of the mob, and said that Lovejoy had died by his own illegal act, and had consented to his own death. Phil- lips came from the floor, mounted the rostrum, and denounced the attorney general. His speech on that occasion was the first of his great public' efforts, and brought him at once into prominence. At the time there was a divided feeling at the meeting, and Phillips' speech created considerable tumult. However, the meeting passed resolutions condemning the crime."
He recalled distinctly the burning of the Ursuline Convent in Charlestown, August II, 1834. There was much excitement at the time on account of an incendiary pamphlet which had been published, called "Six Months in a Convent." He was present at the trials which followed, and knew well the victim of the only
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conviction which was obtained, that of a boy who was not present at the time of the fire. but was guilty of some disorderly acts on the ground afterward. He was sentenced to state prison, but later pardoned.
In the early forties Judge Parmenter was with his father, who was a congressman in Washington, and heard all the famous men of the time. Among them were Clay, Calhoun, Webster, Choate, Silas Wright, Benton, Mc- Duffee and Rives. He says : "I was present in the senate chamber at the long evening session in 1845, when resolutions were passed author- izing the annexation of Texas. I remember very well hearing John Quincy Adams, then in the house, reply to the attacks of Wise and others made on him in consequence of his presentation of petitions favoring the aboli- tion of slavery. It was a great treat, and I remember his fiery tongue and speech; how his face flushed and the blood coursed through his veins so that the very bald spot on the top of his head was red. All this I enjoyed, de- spite the fact that I was a Hunker Democrat."
The Chief Justice heard Rufus Choate, Frank Dexter, Webster and Jeremiah Mason, Webster's great opponent, in court. He re- membered when Chief Justice Shaw took his seat on the supreme bench in Middlesex for the first time after his appointment in 1830.
Judge Parmenter became a member of New England Lodge, No. 4, I. O. O. F., of East Cambridge, in 1842, when the Odd Fellows numbered only three hundred in the state. He went through the various chairs of the order, and in 1847 became grand master of the grand lodge of Massachusetts, and after- ward member of the grand lodge of the United States. He was a member of one of the old- est societies extant in New England. It is called "A Republican Institution," and was founded in 1819. It was organized originally as a Democratic organization politically, and so continued until politics changed in 1834. The membership is substantially by inheri- tance, and it became a social association, meet- ing on March 4 every year. It has sixty or seventy members, whose fathers or grand- fathers were among the organizers of the society. In 1844 he became a member of Mount Lebanon Lodge of Free Masons of Boston, and later of the Hiram Lodge of West Cambridge (Arlington). He was master of his lodge from 1857 to 1861, and later was dis- trict deputy grand master of the state. He was a member of the old First Parish (Uni- tarian) church, and always took a deep inter-
est in the work of the church, serving as mod- erator, as chairman of the parish committee and in other ways. He was buried from the church.
At the age of eighty, Judge Parmenter was described as a man about five feet eight inches tall, with smooth face, piercing blue-gray eyes, high forehead, and hair that was gray rather than white ; whose walk was firm ; speech mild and distinct, and hearing perfect. At that age and for several years afterwards his mind was vigorous and clear, and his health perfect, as it had been all his life. He was a man highly respected by his associates and beloved by all.
He married, June 30, 1853, Helen James, of South Scituate, Massachusetts, born De- cember 23, 1823, and died at Arlington, March 31, 1898, daughter of Joshua and Sally (James ) James. Her father was a farmer and black- smith, and was born June 20, 1787, and died July 21, 1859. Her mother was born Decem- ber 25, 1785, and died January. 20, 1874. Children: I. William Ellison Jr., born Feb- ruary 7, 1855, graduate of Harvard, 1877; married, June 6, 1894, Ione Frederica Fisher, of Cayuga, Mississippi, daughter of George and Jane Eliza (Smith) Fisher ; is a farmer in Orange Park, Florida; children: i. Mary Fisher Parmenter, born December 7, 1895; ii. Helen Fisher Parmenter, born May 2, 1902, died September 1, 1903; iii. William George Parmenter, born December 20, 1904. 2. James Parker, born November 29, 1859; mentioned below.
(IX) James Parker Parmenter, son of Judge William Ellison Parmenter (8), was born at Arlington, Massachusetts, November 29, 1859. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, graduating from the high school in 1876, and then taking a post-graduate course of a year to fit himself for Harvard College. He entered college in the fall of 1877, graduating with the degree of A. B. in 1881. Three years later, in 1884, he graduated from the Harvard Law School with the degrees of LL.B. and A.M. He then en- tered the office of Charles P. Greenough, where he read law until he was admitted to the bar in January, 1885. For the next ten years he was associated with Mr. Greenough, and in 1895 he opened an office at 53 State street, Boston, for general practice, remaining until 1902. At this time he was connected with the Bay State Gas Company as one of its attorneys. In 1902 he was appointed asso- ciate justice of the municipal court of Boston, where he now presides.
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Judge Parmenter resides on Russell street, Arlington, in the family homestead. He is interested in history, and has contributed to the history of Arlington in Hurd's "Middle- sex County History," which was published in 1890. He has served his town in positions of trust as a member of the school committee from 1886 to 1895, and as a trustee of the Robbins Library at Arlington, from 1883 to the present time. He is a member of the Bar Association of the city of Boston; of the Ab- stract Club (a society of lawyers ) ; of the Arl- ington Historical Society; of the Unitarian Club of Boston; of the "Republican Institu- tion," of which his father was a member; of the Bunker Hill Monument Association; the Bostonian Society; the American Forestry Association ; and the Appalachian Club. He is a trustee of the Arlington Savings Bank, and treasurer of the Channing Home hospital in Boston. Judge Parmenter is unmarried.
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CROSBY Simon Crosby, the immigrant ancestor, was born in Eng- land in 1608. He embarked for New England in the ship "Susan and Ellen," April 18, 1634, with his wife Ann, aged twenty-five years, and son Thomas, aged eight weeks. He was a prominent citizen of Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he was selectman in 1636-38. He resided at the cor- ner of Brattle street and Brattle square near the site of the old Brattle House. He died September, 1639. His widow Ann married (second), the Rev. William Thompson, of Braintree, before 1646, surviving her second husband, who died December 10, 1666. Thomas Crosby, believed to be his brother, was in Cambridge as early as 1640, residing on the westerly side of Ash street, removing thence to Rowley, Massachusetts. Children : I. Thomas, born February, 1634, graduate of Harvard in 1653, minister in Eastham, Mass- achusetts. 2. Simon, Jr., born in Cambridge, August, 1637, mentioned below. 3. Joseph, born February 1638-39, settled in Braintree, where many descendants have lived: married Sarah Brackett.
(II) Simon Crosby, son of Simon Crosby (I), was born in Cambridge in August, 1637. Married, July 15, 1659, Rachel Brackett, daughter of Deacon Richard Brackett, of Braintree. He settled in Billerica, Massachu- setts, on the north side of Bare Hill, and be- came a large landholder, innkeeper and lead- ing citizen. He was representative and dep-
uty to the Provincial assembly in 1691 and 1697-98. He died there January 22, 1725-26. Children: I. Rachel, born August 20, 1660; married, January 6, 1685, Ephraim Kidder. 2. Simon, born 1663, mentioned below. 3. . Thomas, born March 10, 1665-66. 4. Joseph, born July 5, 1669. 5. Hannah, born March 30, 1672, married Samuel Danforth. 6. Na- than, born February 9, 1674-75. 7. Josiah, born November II, 1677. 8. Mary, born No- vember 23, 1680, married John Blanchard. 9. Sarah, born July 27, 1684, married William Rawson, of Braintree, October 26, 1706.
(III) Simon Crosby son of Simon Crosby (2), was born in Billerica, Massachusetts in 1663. He married Hannah who died May 6, 1702. He married (second), March 16, 1702-03, Abigail Parker, widow of John. She died, a widow, March 31, 1755. His house was near Shawsheen. Children, born in Bil- lerica : I. Simon, born August 23, 1689. 2. Abigail, born January 6, 1691. 3. John, born April II, 1694, died January 6, 1695-96. 4. John, born April 18, 1696. 5. Samuel, born October 4, 1698, mentioned below. 6. Han- nah, born June 12, 1700. 7. Mary, born May I, 1702. 8. James, born May 29, 1704. 9. Phineas, born November 26, 1705. 10. Solo- mon, born April 8, 1708. II. Nathaniel, born December 3, 1710, died May 28, 17II. 12. Rachel, born June 7, 1712. 13. Benjamin, born December 16, 1715.
(IV) Samuel Crosby, son of Simon Cros- by (3), was born in Billerica, October 4, 1698. Married, at Billerica, December 9, 1729, Dorothy Brown. He settled in Shrews- bury in 1729 on house lot No. 8 and died there January 23, 1749, aged fifty. His widow, Dorothy, married Jonathan Wood, of Upton, and they removed to Spencer where she died in 1781 and her second husband in 1796, aged ninety-four years. Children, born in Shrews- bury : I. Dr. Samuel, born February 2, 1732, mentioned below. 2. Sarah, born April 21, 1734, married, February 6, 1750, Robert Cook, of Westboro. 3. Jabez, born February 7, 1736, settled in Brookfield, Massachusetts. 4. Elisha, born January IO, 1738. 5. Silas, born December 9, 1740, married, July 8, 1763, Rebecca Forbes, of Westboro, and went to Wilmington, Vermont. 6. Abigail, born De- cember 22, 1742. 7. Aaron, born November 27, 1744. 8. Hannah, born August 29, 1747, married Spring, of Uxbridge, and Col- onel Fletcher, of Northbridge.
(V) Dr. Samuel Crosby, son of Samuel Crosby (4), was born in Shrewsbury, Febru-
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ary 2, 1732. Married Azubah Howe, daugh- ter, of James Howe, of Westboro, in 1753; was surgeon in the Revolutionary army ; mag- istrate, etc. He lived on Boston Hill in the southeast part of the town of Shrewsbury un- til 1781, when he removed to Winchendon. In 18II he removed to Montpelier, Vermont, where he died December II, 1814, aged eighty- three. His widow Azubah died there October 14, 1818, aged eighty-five years. Children: I. Sarah, born September 24, 1754, married, February 8, 1779, Stephen Bailey, of Bolton, and died there in 1812. 2. Samuel, born Sep- tember 12, 1756, graduate of Harvard in 1777; settled in Charlestown, New Hampshire; died there in 1802. 3. Simeon, born September 13, 1758, mentioned below. 4. Dorothy, born August 26, 1760, married, October 28, 1784, Dr. Israel Whiton, of Winchendon ; she died in Antrim, New Hampshire, 1826. 5. John, born October 1, 1762, died young. 6. Euse- bia, born August 23, 1763, married Dr. Royal Humphrey, of Athol ; died 1833. 7. Otis, born January 15, 1766, graduate of Dartmouth Col- lege in 1791 ; invited to a pastoral charge at New Gloucester, Maine, but died before or- dination, unmarried, 1795. 8. John, born Oc- tober 18, 1767, settled in Montpelier, Ver- mont. 9. Flavel, born January 26, 1770. 10. Arethusa, born March 22, 1773, married Thomas Wilder, of Winchendon, and settled in Dixmont, Maine. II. Sophia, born January 9, 1775, married Daniel Spooner, of Hartland, Vermont.
(VI) Simeon Crosby, son of Dr. Samuel Crosby (5), was born in Shrewsbury, Massa- chusetts, September 13, 1758. Ward's his- tory says that he had a family at Winchendon, though the records do not indicate it; that he died in Cambridge, New York, in 1818. He married, May 7, 1787, in West Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lydia Frost, who was born in West Cambridge and baptized November 16, 1766, the daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Cutter) Frost. Ephraim Frost, father of Same Frost, died July 26, 1769, aged eighty- seven, at West Cambridge. Ephraim Frost, father of Ephraim Frost, was son of Edmund Frost, the immigrant, who settled in Cam- bridge. (See Frost sketch for lineage in full). Simeon Crosby seems to have lived at Shrews- bury and Lexington during the Revolution. Simeon Crosby, of Lexington, was a soldier in Captain John Reed's company, Colonel John Robinson's regiment, in 1777 ; in Captain Francis Brown's company, Colonel McIn- tosh's regiment, in 1778. Possibly he had
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other service credited to other towns. He and his wife were admitted to the Baptist church at Cambridge, Northwest Precinct, July 21, 1787. Children: 1. Simeon, Jr. 2. Isaac. 3. Samuel, born July 26, 1791, died April 6, 1853; married, December 2, 1822, Margaret Frost ; children : i. Samuel C., born September 7, 1823, died April 12, 1899; married, Novem- ber 18, 1854, Elizabeth P. Searle; ii. Maria, born December 26, 1824, married, January 9, 1849, Alba A. Farr, of Littleton, New Hamp- shire. 4. Jesse, born September 27, 1795; married (first), December 31, 1818, Hannah McClure, born in 1797, daughter of John Mc- Clure, and had children : i. Hannah, born Aug- ust 20, 1821; ii. George, born May 15, 1824, died May 24, same year; iii. Franklin, born September 28, 1826, died December 21, 1899; he married Mary Shepherd Ingraham, June 16, 1853; had one son, Charles Franklin, born April 1, 1857, died July 29, 1903; iv. Martha, born June 15, 1828, died August 23, 1833 ; v. Jesse, born May 18, 1831, died May 21, 1831. Hannah (McClure) Crosby died August 16, 1837. Jesse Crosby married (second) Fanny McClure, sister of his first wife, born in 1812; children : i. Martha, born September 12, 1839, died December 29, same year; ii. Martha Tufts, born June 26, 1841, died July 30, 1873 ; iii. Mary, born August 22, 1843, died August 25, 1851 ; iv. Eliza Patten, born November 16, 1845, died September 23, 1847; v. Elizabeth Patten (Mrs. Myron Taylor), born July 19, 1848; vi. Fanny, born June 16, 1853, died July 24, 1854. Jesse Crosby, father of the afore- mentioned children, died April 3, 1872; his wife, Fanny (McClure) Crosby, died Febru- ary 3, 1873.
(VII) John Crosby, son of Simeon Crosby (6), was born at West Cambridge, Massachu- setts, 1797. He received a common school ed- ucation, and early in life began to work on his father's farm and later for other farmers of the vicinity. At the time of his marriage he bought the old Frost farm at Belmont and conducted it a number of years. During the winter of 1851, the year that the Minot's Ledge light-house was carried away during the worst storm on record, he was exposed and took a severe cold which developed into con- sumption of which he died three years later, February 24, 1854. He was ambitious and industrious, conscientious, honest, upright, of sound principles and excellent character. He was an earnest advocate of temperance re- forms. He was a faithful member of the old Arlington Baptist church. In politics he was
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a Whig, and active in the support of its candi- dates and policies. He belonged to the militia company in his younger days. He married, April 13, 1817, Mary Bucknam, of West Med- ford, Massachusetts, born in 1797, died in 1885, daughter of Spencer and Mary (Frost) Bucknam. Children: I. Belinda Green, bap- tized November 9, 1817-18, married, June 12, 1843, James W. Brooks, of West Cambridge. 2. Eliza Ann, born November 10, 1819, died February 9, 1893; married Jacob H. Hutchin- son, of Winchester, Massachusetts; children : i. Mary Eliza Hutchinson, born January 22, 1839, died May 13, 1854; ii. George Homer Hutchinson, born June 27, 1843, died April 28, 1907; iii. Adelaide Crosby Hutchinson, born November 15, 1851; iv. Frederick Hut- chinson, born December 5, 1857, died Decem- ber 17, 1857. 3. Louisa Lydia, born July, 18-, died August 25, 1852; married, October, 1840, Daniel B. Keating, of West Cambridge, born August 4, 1818, died February 7, 1907 ; chil- dren : i. Abbie Louisa Keating, born June 27, 1841, married, April 19, 1860, Oliver J. Locke, of Winchester ; (children : Elwood Os- borne Locke, born March 12, 1863, died Octo- ber 21, 1865; Lewis Oliver Locke, born Octo- ber 9, 1866, married, March 15, 1903, Dorothy I. Fisher, of Cambridge, and had Marjory, born October 30, 1906, died December 6, 1906; Warren Shattuck Locke, born Novem- ber 27, 1868, died August 7, 1878; Idalene Crosby Locke, born February 8, 1879, died September 23, 1895; Alice Caroline Locke, born June 25, 1880, died October 25, 1880) ; ii. Mary Ann Keating, born July 11, 1843, died November 11, 1847; iii. Ella Maria Keating, born August 25, 1845, died Novem- ber 25, 1847; iv. Walter Keating, born Aug- ust 1, 1847, died February, 1886, married Alma Bushnell, of Oregon; v. Lewis Edwin Keating, born August 25, 1849, died June 17, 1883; married, February 5, 1883, Albina D. Conover, of New Jersey. 4. Mary, baptized October 1, 1826, married Clark Brown, of Tuftonborough, New Hampshire ; son, Charles Brown. 5. John Spencer, born April 17, 1829, mentioned below. 6. Sarah R., born May 30, 1835.
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(VIII) John Spencer Crosby, son of John Crosby (7), was born at West Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 17, 1829. He received his education in the common schools of West Cambridge, and was employed at intervals on his father's farm. At the age of sixteen he entered the service of Stetson & Keyes, dry goods dealers, on Hanover street, Boston.
After one and a half years he returned to en- gage in business with his father, with whom he remained until he was twenty-two. At this time, for the purpose of engaging in market gardening, he formed a partnership with Francis Hill, of Belmont, under the firm name of Hill & Crosby. Three years later he bought his father's farm of four acres, adding six more by purchase, and continued the business alone, until 1867 he sold out to Sylvester Frost, of Belmont. He then moved to Arl- ington, and bought the old Whittemore place of forty-five acres on Mystic street, where he has since conducted market gardening on a com- prehensive scale, assisted by his sons. His residence stands on one of the best known sites of old West Cambridge. He is a member of the Arlington Baptist Church, where for many years he was one of its prudential com- mittee, and also a deacon. Since the forma- tion of the Republican party he has been an ardent Republican in politics. In the year 1872 he was a member of the board of select- men and chief of the fire department, and for several years served upon the school commit- tee.
He married (first), in October, 1855, Ade- laide Cynthia Frost, born at West Cambridge, August 29, 1835, died May 10, 1860, daughter of Isaac and Cynthia (Wilkins) Frost, of West'Cambridge. Her father was a farmer. Child, Helen Edith, born July 29, 1856, died January 13, 1889.
IN MEMORIAM.
Helen Edith Crosby, daughter of John S. and Adelaide C. (Frost) Crosby, was educated' in the public schools of Belmont and Arling- ton, graduating as valedictorian of her class from the Arlington high school in 1874. She was' a devoted member of the Arlington Bap- tist Church, and a faithful supporter of all its services. She labored indefatigably in its Sunday school, both as a teacher and for the general welfare of the school. She was keen in her appreciation of the best in literature, and possessed from early years marked liter- ary ability. The exceeding beauty of her char- acter manifested itself in all her social rela- tions, but it was especially felt in her home life, where for years she was the loyal and loving sister and counsellor of her brothers, her father's children by his second marriage. She died in the years of her youth sincerely mourned, and the memory of her sweet and helpful spirit still lives in the hearts of those who loved her.
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J. Howell Crosby -
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John Spencer Crosby married (second), November 5, 1863, Sarah P. Blake, born No- vember 9, 1839, at West Cambridge, now Arl- ington, daughter of Ellis and Ann Elizabeth (Wyman) Blake, of West Cambridge. Chil- dren: I. John Howell, born December 30, 1867, mentioned below. 2. Nelson Blake, born June 20, 1871, married, August 21, 1895, Cora Thankful Kimball, of Arlington. Chil- dren : i. Pauline Kimball, born May 30, 1898; ii. Miriam Blake, born September 2, 1901 ; iii. John Samuel, born December 1I, 1902; iv. Rachel, born July 13, 1907. 3. Roland Spen- cer, born October 7, 1873, married, December 27, 1899, Susan Caroline Chamberlain, of West Medford, Massachusetts. Child, Dor- othy Blake, born January 26, 1905. 4. Eliza- beth Wyman, born February 17, 1883, died March 2, 1883.
(IX) John Howell Crosby, son of John Spencer (8) and Sarah P. (Blake) Crosby, was born at Belmont, December 30, 1867. He moved with his parents when an infant to Arlington, and received his early education there in the public schools. After three years in the high school he left to assist his father in the market gardening business. In 1893 he and his brother, Nelson B. Crosby, were taken into partnership, and the firm name be- came J. S. Crosby & Sons. In 1895. by rea- son of ill health, Nelson B. withdrew from the firm, and the name was then changed to J. S. Crosby & Son. They have one of the best equipped hot house plants and most produc- tive farms of this section. Mr. Crosby bought in 1893, and still resides on the old Luke Wy- man place, one of the well known "old places" of the town. He is a member of the Arlington Baptist Church, and one of its prudential com- mittee, and is also one of the past superinten- dents of the Sunday school. He has been a member of the school cammittee of the town, and in 1907-08 served upon the board of select- men. He has always been active in the inter- ests of the Republican party. 'in Arlington, serving on its party committee both as its chairman and in the ranks. He has also served his party as delegate to various state and district conventions. He was representa- tive to the general court from his district, com- prising the towns of Arlington and Lexing- ton, in 1899-1900-01-02. He served upon the committee on taxation, banks and banking, public service, and in 1900-01-02 was a mem- ber of the house committee on ways and means. 1900 he served on a special committee on congressional re-districting.
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