Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 61

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 912


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 61


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(III) Francis Davis, third son of Francis Davis (2), was born in West Amesbury, Mas- sachusetts, September 29, 1687. He resided in Amesbury between 1720 and 1730, and died there October 9, 1753. His will was made at Amesbury, January 6, 1745, and proved November 12, 1753, shortly after his death. He married in Haverhill, Massachu- setts, September 6, 1716, Joanna Ordway, who was born in Haverhill, September 6, 1693, and died at Amesbury, December 3, 1775. The three brothers named in the tra- dition as the immigrants may be those of this family. Most of the similar traditions are based on similar facts. Children: I. Gid- eon, born June 5, 1718, married, June 7, 1744, Elizabeth Hoyt. 2. Gartreet (Gertrude), born January 20, 1719-20, married - Ni- chols. 3. Anna, born November 14, 1721, married Stevens. 4. Francis, born October 26, 1723, mentioned below. 5. Phil- ip, born September 14, 1725, married, Febru- ary 15, 1749, Miriam Webster. 6. Joanna, born July 16, 1731, married, April 30, 1754, John Hubbard.


(IV) Captain Francis Davis, son of Fran- cis Davis (3), was born at Amesbury, Octo- ber 26, 1723, and baptized July 6, 1729, in the second parish. He was drowned at Derry, New Hampshire, November 26, 1784. He married, September 3, 1745, Elizabeth Ferrin, who was born at Amesbury, September 20, 1724, and died at Davisville, Warner, New Hampshire, December 20, 1793. Both owned the covenant at Warner, New Hampshire. In 1865 he bought of Samuel Hadley, of Ames- bury, a half-share, and of Joseph Peaslee, of Amesbury, in Warner; December, 1767, he and his wife sold their homestead and removed to Warner about then. He built the mill at Davisville which was named for him and others of the family. The mill and homestead have remained in the possession of the family, his lineal descendants. He was active in procuring the charter for Warner, was authorized to call the first town meeting of the inhabitants, was chosen the first mod- erator and the first representative to the leg- islature, was captain of the military company and the first citizen and patriot of the town during the Revolution. He was drowned November 26, 1784, on his way from Warner to Amesbury.


Children: I. Gertrude, born at Amesbury, December 22, 1746, baptized there May 17, 1747. 2. Zebulon, born June 2, 1748, mar- ried Hannah Currier. 3. Sarah, born 1749. 4. Joanna, born October 22, 1751. 5. Wells,


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born March 29, 1753, married, October, 1776, Abigail Sawyer ; soldier in the Revolution. 6. Ichabod, born February 21, 1755. 7. Fran- cis, born May 27, 1758, married, October 19, 1780, Lavinia Thurber; soldier in Revolution. 8. Elizabeth, born February I, 1759, died Oc- tober 23, 1763. 9. Aquila, born June 27, 1760, mentioned below. 10. Paul, born March 28, 1762, married, September 7, 1783, Betty Eastman; died October 31, 1784. II. Na- than, born November 9, 1765, married, March 9, 1786, Molly Fox.


(V) General Aquila Davis, son of Captain Francis Davis (4), was born at Amesbury, June 27, 1760, baptized August 31, 1760. He was a soldier in the Revolution and served in campaigns on the Hudson, in New Jersey and at Saratoga. He witnessed the sur- render of General Burgoyne. He rose to the rank of colonel after the war, and com- manded the Thirtieth New Hampshire Regi- ment from 1799 to 1807, and was brigadier- general of the Fourth Brigade from 1807 to 1809. He resigned, but when the war broke out in 1812 he raised the first regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers, enlisted for one year and was commissioned colonel by Pres- ident Madison. Subsequently his regiment was transferred to the Forty-fifth United States Infantry and he accepted the lieuten- ant-colonelcy. After the war he returned to his mills and a farm at Davisville, and was one of the leading citizens of Warner until his death. Following is his discharge from the Revolutionary service, after three years of hard service: "Aquila Davis, of the Third New Hampshire Regiment, formerly an in- habitant of Amesbury, having faithfully and honorably served as a soldier in the service of the United States of America, the term of three years, it being the term of his enlist- ment, is discharged from the service, and is at liberty to return to his home. D. Liver- more, Captain Third New Hampshire Regi- ment, May 10, 1780."


It is related of him that while stationed on an island on Lake Champlain, he mounted a battery of guns and kept the British at a re- spectable distance, although his artillery was nothing but painted logs-the kind known to the army as "Quaker guns." General Davis was a man of sound judgment in peace as well as war; he served the town many years as representative in the legislature, and was a shrewd and sagacious legislator well known throughout the state. In many walks of life he demonstrated his ability. He was a man of sharp wit and exceptional humor, genial and


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magnetic in manner. He died February 27, 1835, and was buried at Warner, March 3, following, with Masonic honors. He had al- ways enjoyed good health until his last ill- ness. He died at Cumberland while on a journey to Sharon, Maine.


He married, August 8 or 10, 1785, Abigail Watts Stevens, of Concord. She was born July 12, 1766, and died January 14, 1862, at Davisville. Children: Paine, born February 2, 1786, died March 28, 1832; married Mary Dow. 2. Sarah Ambrose, born February 4, 1788, died October 10, 1856; married Simeon Virgin. 3. Abigail Watts, born March 24, 1790, died February 4, 1869; married Alpheus Davis. (See sketch of Nathaniel Davis, of Lowell). 4. Theodore Stevens, born June 3, 1792, died January 15, 1835. 5. Nathaniel Ambrose, born June 29, 1794, mentioned be- low. 6. Persis H., born October 3, 1796, died October 27, 1841; married Stephen Currier. 7. Nathan, born February 7, 1799, died August 25, 1841; married Judith Bus- well. 8. Daughter, born and died June 6, 1801. 9. Charles, born April 12, 1803, died October 30, 1882; married Sarah Currier Foss. 10. Aquila A., born August 2, 1806, died March 27, 1866; married Rhoda Straw. II. James, born June 3, 1809, died December I, 1842; married Adaline Eastman.


(VI) Nathaniel A. Davis, son of General Aquila Davis (5), was born at Davisville, Warner, June 29, 1794, and died there Octo- ber 24, 1866. He was in the lumber and mill- ing business, as well as farmer, and was a well-to-do citizen. He married Mary Clough who was born May 7, 1808, in Boscawen, New Hampshire, and died in Warner, Sep- tember 29, 1892. Children: I. Stephen C., born in Warner, March 28, 1830, mentioned below. 2. Walter Scott, born at Warner, July 29, 1834, educated in the high school at Contocook, Gilmanton Academy, Tubbs Un- ion Academy at Washington, New Hamp- shire; Thetford (Vermont) Academy; the New London Scientific Institution; he taught school for a time and in 1854 entered partner- ship with Samuel H. Dow, dealing in wood, hemlock bark, and lumber; in 1865 Paine Davis became his partner; in 1871 the firm was dissolved and Walter S. retained the lum- ber business; then he entered partnership with George W. Dow in the paper and straw board business; bought out Mr. Dow in 1875 and took in as partner Henry C. Davis, his brother; had a grist mill, saw mill, and thresh- ing machine; in February, 1871, he patented a turbine water wheel; in April, 1874, he re-


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moved from Davisville to Contocook; March, 1878, he was representative in the legislature from Hopkinton, New Hampshire; May 3, 1857, married Dollie Jones, daughter of Dan- iel Jones, Sr., once a partner of General Aquila Davis. 3. Gilman. 4. Lucretia A. 5. Mary E. 6. Stillman E. 7. Henry C., partner of Stephen C., mentioned above.


(VII) Stephen C. Davis, son of Nathaniel A. Davis (6), was born in Davisville, Warner, March 28, 1830. He attended the public schools of his native town, the Academy at Contoocook, the Gilmanton Academy, Tubbs Union Academy at Washington, the Acade- my at Hancock and Academy at Northfield, and later taught school several terms. He as- sisted his father in his various enterprises when he was not in school and remained at home until he was of age. In 1851 he came to Lowell and learned the lumber business of the late Mr. Otis Allen, and in 1866 he with Captain Newman Storer bought the location and business of Mr. Allen. Mr. Davis had several subsequent partners, among whom were George W. Greene, of Nashua, as silent partner, he being a brother-in-law, and about 1872 the late Mr. Benjamin F. Sargent joined Mr. Davis and the business became the Davis & Sargent Lumber Company, remaining so until Mr. Sargent's death in April, 1905. In 1906 Commander Edward H. Scribner, United States Navy, who married Mr. Davis's elder daughter, became president of the com- pany, and in October, 1906, Ernest Davis Scribner, a grandson, was taken in as a junior partner, thus continuing the business in the same family. Mr. Davis has been at the same place and in the same business for fifty-five years. He is known as a shrewd, careful and far-sighted business man. Mr. Davis has been a member of his city government twice, but never has sought public office. He belongs to the Middlesex Chapter, Sons of American Revolution. He is a Unitarian in religion, and a Republican in politics.


He married, January 1, 1855, Mary Alnette Greene, born in Nashua, New Hampshire, November 19, 1834, daughter, of Francis and Nancy (Steele) Greene, of Wilton, New Hampshire. Children: Carrie A. and Ger- trude M. Carrie A. married, March -, 1883, Edward H. Scribner, at present commander of the United States navy yard at Charles- town, Massachusetts; their children: Ernest D., Warren F. and Stephen H. Scribner. Ernest D. attended public and high schools of Lowell and Phillips Andover Acad- emy.


The Sanderson family is SANDERSON of ancient English origin. In America most of the Sandersons are traced to two brothers, Rob- ert and Edward, mentioned below.


(I) Robert Sanderson, and wife Lydia, were among the first settlers of Hampton, New Hampshire, in 1638. . Their daughter Mary was born there in 1639, and baptized October 29, 1639. Soon afterward he removed to Watertown, Massachusetts, of which he was a proprietor in 1642, and there he married, about 1642, Mary, widow of John Cross. He remained in Watertown until about 1653, when he removed to Boston, where he was a deacon. He sold his house and ten acres of land in Hampton, July 20, 1650, to Richard Swain. He was then of Watertown, and Oc- tober 17, 1653, he bought land of William Godfrey. He was a goldsmith and silversmith by trade. John Hull, a selectman and many years town treasurer of Boston, the first mint master of New England and the coiner of the pine tree shillings, in his diary under date of 1652-3 relates how he was chosen to make coin and adds: "I chose my friend Robert Sanderson to be my partner, to which the court consented." September 1, 1658, he says : "My boy, John Sanderson, complained of his head aching, and took his bed; a strong fever set in and after 17 days sore sickness, he de- parted this life." Under date of November 8, 1658, he says: "The Lord exercised with sickness my partner Robert Sanderson, and his son Joseph, but yet was pleased to recover them both. Joseph kept the house about a month, and my partner 18 days."


He died October 7, 1693. His will was proved October 20, 1693. He bequeathed to his wife Elizabeth, son Robert Sanderson, and daughter Anne West; grandchildren Robert Darby, Mary Caswell, Joseph Jones; children of Robert and Anna, and of James Penniman; great-granddaughter Abia Beard; son-in-law Richard West; brother Edward Sanderson ; Joseph, son of William Sanderson; refers to house and land at Watertown, had by former wife; mentions kinsman William Shattuck, of Watertown. His wife Mary died June 21, 1681, aged seventy-four (gravestone), and he married third, Elizabeth who died Oc- tober 15, 1695, aged seventy-eight, leaving will. Children: I. Mary, baptized October 29, 1639, married James Penniman. 2. Jo- seph, born January I, 1641-2. 3. Benjamin, baptized July 29, 1649. 4. Sarah, baptized January 18, 1651. 5. Robert, baptized October 22, 1652. 6. John, died September 18, 1658.


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(1) Edward Sanderson, brother of Robert Sanderson, and the immigrant ancestor of this family, born in England, same to Watertown about the same time as his brother. He mar- ried October 15, 1645, Mary Eggleston, be- lieved to be the eldest daughter of Bagot and Bridget Eggleston, of Dorchester, afterwards of Windsor, Connecticut. He sold his house and land in Watertown to William Shattuck Sr., and probably removed to Cambridge. The name is frequently spelled Sanders and Saun- ders in the early records. Children: I. Jon- athan, mentioned below. 2. Hester, baptized March 20, 1686-7.


(II) Jonathan Sanderson, son of Edward Sanderson (I), was born in Watertown, Sep- tember 15, 1646; died September 3, 1735, aged eighty-nine. He married in Cambridge, October 24, 1669, Abia Bartlett, born May 28, 1651, youngest daughter of Ensign Thomas and Hannah Bartlett, of Watertown. She died September 13, 1723. Their graves are in the old or lower graveyard at Waltham, Massachusetts, formerly Watertown. His will was dated April 2, 1728, appointing his sons John and Jonathan executors. His chil- dren were all born in Cambridge. He moved to Watertown about 1689 and settled at Piety Corner, Waltham. He was constable of Watertown in 1695; selectman ten years, 1709 to 1719. Children: I. Thomas, born March 10, 1674-5 ; married December 24, 1702, Han- nah Priest. 2. Abia, born October 28, 1673 (twin) ; died about 1739 unmarried. 3. Jon- athan (twin), born October 28, 1673; died October 4, 1743. 4. John, born March 25, 1677. 6. Benjamin, born May 28, 1679. 6. Samuel, born May 28, 1681, mentioned below. 7. Edward, born March 3, 1683-4; married Mary Parkhurst. 8. Hannah, born May 31, 1689; married October 23, 1712, George Stearns of Lexington (Cambridge Farms).


(III) Samuel Sanderson, son of Jonathan Sanderson (2), was born in Cambridge, May 28, 1681 ; married April 13, 1708, Mercy Gale, born September 16, 1683, daughter of Abra- ham and Sarah (Fiske) Gale, and grand- daughter of the pioneer Richard Gale (I). Sanderson was killed by lightning July 8, 1722. His widow died May 8, 1776. Chil- dren: I. Samuel, born December 29, 1708; died July 21, 1744. 2. Abraham, born March 28, 1711, married Patience Smith ; settled in Lunenburg. 3. Jonathan, born February 24, 1714; died March 31, 1780. 4. Mercy, born November 26, 1718. 5. Moses, mentioned be- low.


(IV) Moses Sanderson, son of Samuel San-


derson (3), was born February 22, 1721; died August 10, 1798, (gravestone at Littleton) ; married January I, 1750-I, Mary Flagg, born February 2, 1728-9, died September 18, 1789 (gravestone at Littleton), daughter of John and Hannah Flagg, and granddaughter of John and Anna Flagg, descendant of Thomas Flagg the pioneer, Watertown, through his son John and grandson John. Moses Sander- son and his wife were dismissed from Walth- am to Littleton church April 13, 1766, and had been living at Littleton for some time. He was a soldier at the Lexington call, a private in Lieutenant Aquila Jewett's company, Col- onel James Prescott's regiment, and served two days. His son Moses was also a soldier in the Revolution. He married second, Feb- ruary 7, 1766, Elizabeth Goddard. Children : I. Sarah, born February 9, 1752. 2. Lois, baptized March 24, 1754. 3. Moses, baptized July 18, 1756. 4. Samuel, mentioned below. 5. Sarah, born July 12, 1767.


(V) Samuel Sanderson, son of Moses San- derson (4), born April 30, 1762, in Littleton, Massachusetts, died in Littleton, July 26, 1832. He married Lydia Whitcomb, born June 26, 1762, died at Littleton, October 19, 1849, daughter of Jonathan Whitcomb (Jon- athan 4, 3, 2, John I). (See Whitcomb sketch). Child born at Littleton: I. Ira, men- tioned below.


(VI) Ira Sanderson, son of Samuel San- derson (5), born in Littleton July 12, 1803, died at Littleton, August 5, 1876. He was educated there in the public schools and brought up on his father's farm. He followed farming through his active life, and was a highly respected and influential citizen of Lit- tleton. He was a Democrat in politics, but held no public office. He was affiliated with the Orthodox Congregational church. He married Asenath, daughter of Ansel Hatch and wife Mary Webster, of Thornton, New Hampshire. Children: I. George Webster ; see forward. 2. Augustus Elbridge, born February 15, 1832 ; counsellor-at-law and mem- ber of New Jersey assembly 1871 and 1872; judge of county court Hunterdon county, New Jersey ; died at Flemington, New Jersey, Feb- ruary 15, 1888. 3. John Flagg, born October 2, 1833 ; was in employ of the Boston & Maine railroad, lives at Manchester, New Hampshire. 4. Francis Emmons, born November 10, 1835; farmer at Littleton, Massachusetts, died No- vember 30, 1883. 5. Ira Leavitt, born May 13, 1840: was first lieutenant in 31st New Jersey Regiment nine months in civil war, and assist- ant army surgeon ; died of pneumonia, January


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17, 1899, at Fort Meade, South Dakota, while in the service. 6. Obed Hatch, born May 16, 1843 ; graduate of Lawrence Academy, Gro- ton, Massachusetts, and Williams College ; lawyer in New York City.


(VII) George Webster Sanderson, son of Ira Sanderson (6), was born in Littleton, Massachusetts, October 6, 1830. He obtained his early education in the public and private schools of his native town. He was brought up on a farm and has continuously carried it on at Littleton since 1848, at the age of eighteen.


Mr. Sanderson has been a prominent figure in the public life of the county and state for the past thirty years. He was appointed clerk of the First District Court of Northern Middle- six, June 4, 1874, and has filled that office to the present time to the complete satisfaction of the constituted authorities and his associ- ates, as well as the lawyers and others having business with the court. He is a Republican, and has been active in supporting the prin- ciples and candidates of his party. He was representative to the general court from his district in 1877, and served on the committee on public charitable institutions. He was a state senator in 1884 and 1885, serving on the committees on engrossed bills ; on the Hoosac Tunnel, and Troy & Greenfield railroad; on towns, printing, and agriculture. He was for ten years chairman of the board of trustees of the Public Library, in the foundation of which he was a leader. He was selectman and as- sessor of the town of Littleton in 1863-64-65- 66-67, also 1894-95-96. He was elected in 1900 to make a special valuation of the town of Littleton. In 1879 he presided at the semi- centennial celebration of the Littleton Lyceum. He is a member of Caleb Butler Lodge of Free Masons. He is an active member and trustee of the Congregational Society (Orthodox) of Littleton. He has been a director of the Ayer National Bank, and is a trustee of the North . Middlesex Savings Bank.


He married, November 27, 1851, Charlotte Elizabeth Tuttle, born in Littleton, October 18, 1832, died in Littleton, March 9, 1902, daughter of Edmund Tuttle and Louisa Fletcher, both of whom were born and raised in Littleton. He was captain of the Littleton militia company. Children of George W. and Charlotte E. Sanderson: I. Elizabeth Webster, born September 23, 1852, married Charles Francis Flagg, of Littleton, Febru- ary 14, 1872. 2. Mary Louisa, born October 15, 1859; married Josiah Perkins Thatcher,


of Littleton, January 1, 1884. 3. Charlotte Tuttle, born September 30, 1865; married Arthur Fred Blanchard of Acton, January 28, 1891. 4. George Augustus, born July 1, 1863, married Annie Sarah Bennett, of Ayer, Jan- uary II, 1893. 5. Fannie. Adams, born De- cember 13, 1867; graduate of Wellesley Col- lege, Massachusetts. 6. Gertrude Fletcher, born April 2, 1872; graduate of Normal Art School, Boston. The children and parents and grandparents on both sides were all born in Littleton.


George Augustus, before mentioned, son of George W. Sanderson and Charlotte Elizabeth (Tuttle) Sanderson, is one of the fifth genera- tion of Sandersons born in the same house. The house is situated in the west part of Lit- tleton, near the station of the Fitchburg divi- sion of the Boston & Maine railroad, and has been in the family of Sandersons since 1750, the original deed being now in the possession of his father, George W. Sanderson. His mother's ancestors, the Ipswich Tuttles, set- tled in Littleton contemporaneously with those of his father.


George Augustus Sanderson's early educa- tion was acquired in his native town. He pre- pared for college at the Lawrence Academy, Groton, Massachusetts, graduated from Yale College in 1885, and from the Boston Uni- versity Law School in 1887, receiving high honors at the close. He began law practice in Boston at once, still retaining his residence in Littleton. After his admission to the bar and while residing at Littleton he conducted a Bible class at the Massachusetts Reformatory at Concord each Sunday, going in the morn- ing and spending the day there. The chaplain of the Reformatory, in Our Paper, makes the following comment concerning Mr. Sander- son : "He took up his work in a very fine way. Of all the services of the kind which the Re- formatory has ever enjoyed, perhaps none were more ideal than young Sanderson's." He only relinquished his work when appointed to the office of assistant district attorney for Mid- dlesex county, in January, 1893, which office he held continuously until January 1, 1902. At the state election November 5, 1901, he was elected district attorney for the Northern Dis- trict, which comprises Middlesex county. In his private practice also he has held the con- fidence of the people to a remarkable degree. Not only is he an able lawyer, but an upright and public-spirited citizen. Since his school days at Lawrence Academy Mr. Sanderson has had the prosperity of that institution at


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heart, for several years serving as a member of the board of trustees, and president of the board.


At the state election in November, 1904, he was re-elected and continued to hold the of- fice of district attorney until April, 1907, when he was appointed judge of the superior court by Governor Curtis Guild, Jr. During his service as district attorney he had many im- portant criminal cases, including Barnes, East- man, Shidlofski, and Tucker, all indicted for murder. He is a senior warden of St. An- drew's Episcopal Church of Groton, and presi- dent of the board of trustees of the Ayer Pub- lic Library, and a member of the Masonic fra- ternity.


(For ancestry see Michael Bacon 1).


(II) John Bacon, son of Michael BACON Bacon (I), was born probably in England, and came to Ded- ham with his father in 1640. He was admit- ted a freeman in 1647 and was sole executor of his father's estate. By his father's will he received four acres of meadow lying in Fowle Meadow in Dorchester; "all woodlands and swamps granted me by the town of Dedham," excepting that swamp on the north of Charles river. He was frequently appointed on com- mittees for clearing lands and laying out high- ways, and was selectman 1660-61; was sur- veyor and commissioner; one of the signers of the petition of the town of Dedham against the Indians of Natick, sent to the governor and assistants and deputies assembled in gen- eral court, May 7, 1662 (Massachusetts Arch- ives, XXX, 112). He was a member of Captain Timothy Dwight's company in King Philip's war, stationed at the garrison in Wrentham in 1676. He left no will. His wife Rebecca, son John and son-in-law, Na- thaniel Kingsbury, were appointed adminis- trators of the estate. There is no record of di- vision of the property, but in the inventory "lands and rights in Wrentham" are men- tioned. He resided in Dedham until his death, June 17, 1683. He married, December 17, 1651, Rebecca Hall, of Dedham, who died Oc- tober 27, 1694. Until recently, descendants of John Bacon enjoyed part of the ancestral es- tate. Children, born in Dedham: I. John, born July 17, baptized August 3, 1656; died October 27, 1832. 2. Rebecca, born Novem- ber 10, 1658, married, February 13, 1678, John Gay, of Dedham. 3. Daniel, born March IO, 1660-61, died before April 21, 1700. 4. Sarah, born March 31, 1663. 5. Samuel, born Oc-


tober 8, 1665. 6. Thomas, born August 23, 1667, -died in Wrentham, April II, 1749. 7. Susanna, married, January 7, 1692, Jonathan Dewing. 8. Mary, born October 14, 1673, married Nathaniel Kingsbury. 9. Stephen, born August 21, 1677, mentioned below.


(III) Stephen Bacon, son of John Bacon (2), was born in Dedham, Massachusetts, Au- gust 21, 1677. Married Mary Loker, March 20, 1707-8 ; children : I. Mary, born March 20, 1708-9. 2. Lieutenant John, born May 30, 1721, mentioned below. Several others.


(IV) Lieutenant John Bacon, son of Steph- en Bacon (3), was born in Needham, May 30, 1721. He married, May 29, 1744, Abigail Sawin, who was born in 1724, daughter of John and Joanna (Lyon) Sawin, of Sherborn. John Bacon was a prominent citizen of Need- ham, selectman and assessor in 1771. He lived in that part of Needham that was annexed to Natick in 1797, called the "Needham Leg." He was first lieutenant in Captain Caleb Kingsbury's company, Colonel Aaron Davis's regiment, and responded with his company on the Lexington alarm. He was killed on the field of battle at Menotomy (West Cambridge) while fighting the British on their return to Boston. Austin Bacon, his great-grandson, gives this account of his death: "In the night or near morning the alarm was given and he set off on horseback to join his company at the more eastern part of the town, and sent his horse back when they got nearly to the Lower Falls. Soon after he had gone a trumpet sounded and some Framingham men came along with one Nero Benson, a negro, for trumpeter, and every house they passed had a blast. I think it was early the next morning before they heard from him (Lt. Bacon), when one Hawes whom they used to call "Old Hawes" came home (he had been a soldier in the French and Indian war) and gave the following account. That Lieutenant Bacon and himself were on a ledge of rocks in Menotomy behind a stone wall trying to get a good shot at the red-coats. Hawes was fearful lest the flank guard should surprise them and kept a lookout. Bacon with his powder in his hat was lying behind the wall with another, when Hawes said: "Run of you are dead; here's the guard." They tried to get over the wall, but Bacon was shot near the third button of his vest. Immediately on receiving the news, continues Austin Bacon, "my grandfather (Lieutenant John, his son) went off to see how it was and near night, April 20, came home with his clothes, the body having been buried in West Cambridge. The




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