Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 80

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 80

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(IV) John Farrow, son of John Farrow (3), was born in Hingham, September 28, 1719; went to Windham, Maine, with his father ; was constable 1762 to 1765, and select- man in 1760. He married Hannah Wooster. He removed to Bristol, Maine, where he died April 29, 1801, aged ninety-one; his widow died there February 14, 1815, aged ninety- two. Children, probably all born in Wind- ham, certainly the first six: I. Abigail, born February 3, 1745-6, baptized February 9; died 1750. 2. Ezekiel, born January 1, 1748-9; removed to · Bristol, where he belonged to So- ciety of Friends ; married Miriam Hooper. 3. Timothy, born September 17, 1751 ; baptized January 19, 1753. 4. Josiah, born February IO, 1754; mentioned below. 5. John, born

April 25, 1756; lived in Bristol; soldier of revolution. 6. Thomas, born April 13, 1758; revolutionary soldier. 7. Seth of Bristol; rev- olutionary soldier. 8. Joseph, moved to Prince Edward Island; revolutionary soldier. 9. Hannah.

(V) Josiah Farrow, son of John Farrow (4), was born in Windham, Maine, February IO, 1754, and was baptized there April 14, 1754. He was a soldier in the revolution from Bristol, Maine, in the Continental army from Captain James Hilton's company, Third Lin- coln regiment, in 1777, to Captain Foster's company, Colonel John Greaton's regiment ; sergeant in Captain Colton's company, same regiment, 1777 to 1779, and in the colonel's company of the regiment in 1780, serving till January 30, 1780. He was at the taking of Burgoyne. He removed to Bristol with his father, and thence to Isleborough, Maine. He married, February 21, 1785, Ruth Richards, of Bristol, who died May 7, 1834, aged seven- ty .(gravestone). He died August 14, 1819, aged sixty-six (gravestone). He was a ship- builder and blacksmith, and conducted one of the largest and best farms on the island. He had his blacksmith shop near the shipyard, and followed his trade all his life, in addition to his other occupations. He owned much real estate. He was a Quaker in religion; a Democrat in politics. Children : I. Josiah, Jr., born January 2, 1786; lived in Isleboro; rep- resentative to the general court; removed to Belfast and held many offices ; married Mary Boardman. 2. Betsey, born September 29, 1787 ; died January 2, 1817 ; married Stephen Boardman. 3. Samuel, born May 26, 1789; died January 3, 1826; married Phebe Parker. 4. William, born February 21, 1791 ; married Charity Coombs, and Jerusha Blake, widow, of Penobscot; resided at Isleboro and Belfast, Maine. 5. John, born February 9, 1793; drowned at sea, March 3, 1818. 6. Joshua, born October 4, 1794; mentioned below. 7. Esther, born September 21, 1797; married Isaac Case Boardman, of Isleboro, in 1817. 8. Philip, born December 14, 1800; married No- vember 20, 1823, Mighill Parker, Jr. IO. Harriet, born June 23, 1802; married George Harvey. 'II. Thomas, born March 28, 1806; married. 12. , Elmira, born September 23, 18II : married Robert Hichborn, of Stockton.

(VI) Deacon Joshua Farrow, son of Josiah Farrow (5), was born at Isleboro, Maine, Oc- tober 4, 1794, and died March 13, 1879. He was in his day the best educated man in his native town. He received his education un- der the direction of Master Powers, an old

1798

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

English school teacher who drifted into town and stayed there teaching school and drinking rum the rest of his days. There was no public school at that time, and in many families schooling was sadly neglected. Joshua Far- row worked at shipbuilding with his father until he was a man grown, when he went to sea. In the West Indies he lost his health and had to return home to recuperate. He resumed his trade, going out as a house car- penter and conducting his farm. He bought part of his grandfather's homestead near the center of Isleboro. Of large physique, happy and cheerful, he attracted friends and won the confidence of his townsmen. He was a devout member and deacon of the Free Will Baptist chuch at Isleboro, and had charge of its finan- cial affairs. Of exemplary character and pub- lic spirit, he was a very useful citizen. He was in early life a Democrat, later a Republi- can. He held the offices of selectman, assessor, constable, overseer of the poor and justice of the peace. He served in the state militia. He married September 27, 1821, Eunice Frim, born February 26, 1797, daughter of James and Mary (Thomas) Frim, of Isleboro. Their only child was : Joshua, mentioned below.

(VII) Joshua Farrow, son of Deacon Josh- ua Farrow (6), was born at Isleboro, Maine, March 21, 1826. He was educated in the common schools of his native place, supple- mented with a course in the Belfast (Maine) Academy and high school, and by private in- struction under Rev. George W. Field, an eminent divine and schoolmaster. In his youth- he learned the carpenter's trade while working for his father. He followed this trade many years. He began to teach school at the age of nineteen, and for a period of. twenty years he taught the winter term in Isleboro, serving the town also as chairman of the school committee and superintendent of schools. He worked at his trade of car- penter in Boston, Chelsea, Malden and else- where. He worked for two years after he was of age, at Bangor, Maine. He built the Seaside House, a summer hotel at Sabbath Day Harbor, Maine. Besides his carpenter- ing and contracting, school teaching, etc., he was a shipowner .. He had ten of the largest and best vessels that ever sailed out of Pe- nobscot harbor. He built six three-masted schooners which he owned at one time. At one time he owned a large farm at Belfast, and conducted it six years. Among the buildings he erected in Boston was one on the site of the present post office building. He built many buildings in Chelsea, Massa- i. Edna Lee, born September 16, 1894; ii.

chusetts. In 1866 Mr. Farrow made his home in Winchester, Massachusetts, where he followed his trade and engaged in the bus- iness of contractor and builder, in which he was signally successful until his death. He built many of the fine residences for which Winchester is famous. He was at one time in the life insurance business at Winchester. He was active in the famous old "know-nothing" movement in politics, and joined the Republi- can party soon after its organization. He was a Unitarian in religion; was active in the Washingtonian temperance movement; took the pledge in his youth, and always remained a total abstainer and a zealous temperance man. Unostentatious in his manner, he was a man of the strictest integrity, practical judg- ment and sterling worth. He died at home, January 14, 1908, and is survived by six sons and a daughter.

He married, June, 1848, Dorothy Helen Dodge, at Isleboro. She was born February 25, 1830, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Stewart) Dodge, of Isleboro, Maine. Her father was a mariner. Children: I. Millard Fillmore, born December 3, 1849; married October 20, 1873, Martha Stanley; children: i. Herbert E., born September 14, 1875; ii. Maud, born August 27, 1887. 2. Frederick, born June II, 1854; married first, August 13, 1879, Harriet Bradley Clark, of Charles- town, Massachusetts; married second, Feb- ruary 8, 1893, Luella D. Long, daughter of Dr. S. M. and Ann (Eldredge) Long; child of first wife, Marion; child of second wife, Dorothy, born March 23, 1896. 3. Isabella, born April 28, 1856; married November 25, 1878, Charles W. Hunt, of Hudson, Massa- chusetts; no children. 4. Marion, born May 21, 1860, died March 25, 1901; married Feb- ruary, 1894, Dr. Edward S. Hanna, of Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania; child, Dorothy S. Han- na, born February I, 1895. 5. George, born July 14, 1861; lives at Reading, Vermont; married Emma Menzer; one child, Clinton, born November 9, 1894. 6. Charles, born November 4, 1864; married December 5, 1905, Anna McDonald, of Newton, Illinois; no children. 7. Dr. Franklin, born March 6, 1867; married December 26, 1894, Flor- ence Stevens Green; children: i. Merrill Ar- thur, born June 28, 1896; ii. Dorothy Helen, born September 27, 1897; iii. Ralph Law- rence, born December 25, 1900, died Decem- ber 26, 1905. 8. Eugene, born September 13, 1868; married March 24, 1893, Rose Beau- dro, of Winchester, Massachusetts; children:

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

1799

Luella Viola, born June 23, 1898; iii. Helen Lucinda, born August 26, 1900; iv. John Le- roy, born. September 21, 1902; v. Robert Eugene, born April 8, 1905; vi. Byron Man- ton, born October 5, 1906.

RANDALL The surname Randall is a shortened form of the per- sonal name Randolph which was in general use before the time of the Norman Conquest, and is found in the Domesday Book belonging to no less than thirty-three different men. From 1120 to 1232 the name belonged to three famous Earls of Chester, England. We find a St. Radulphus, Bishop of Bourges, as early as 888, and among the Northmen the personal name Rondolfe (a house-wolf) from the earliest times. The name is spelled Ralph, Ranulph, Ranulf, Radulphus, Roff and Rauffe.

(I) "Widow Elizabeth Randall" was living in Watertown in 1653, with her two sons, Stephen and John, and died there December 24, 1672, aged eighty years. Stephen mar- ried Susanna Barron, December 14, 1653, and had a son Stephen, who died leaving no issue.

(II) Sergeant John Randall, son of Eliza- beth Randall (1), married Susanna who died May 14, 1673. He served in King Philip's war. There were two soldiers of that name, one serving under Captain John Hol- brooke, of Weymouth, and the other under Captain Jonathan Poole, of Reading, both credited with service August 24, 1676. He died June 16, 1680. His will was dated April 22, 1680, and proved October 5, 1780. Chil- dren: I. Susanna. 2. Sarah, born August 7, 1659. 3. Stephen, mentioned below. 4. Mary, married March 15, 1702, Jonathan Tainter. 5. Samuel, born March 20, 1669; died January 24, 1730; married January 27, 1709. Elizabeth Gleason. 6. Eleazer, born April 30, 1672.

(III) Stephen Randall, son of Sergeant John Randall (2), removed to Stow, where his sister Sarah, wife of James Wheeler, lived. He received a grant of thirty acres of upland March 10, 1685, adjacent to that of his broth- er-in-law. This land has been in the Randall family for more than two hundred years.

(IV) John Randall, son of Stephen Ran- dall (3), received from his father March 22, 1732, the "southerly part" of the farm.

(V) Silas Randall, son of John Randall (4). received from his father, October 18, 1772. part of the homestead. He died intestate

1805. He married Elizabeth Witt, born De- cember 20, 1774, died December 27, 1843. Children: I. Betsey. 2. Mary. 3. John, mentioned below. 4. Ebenezer. 5. Silas. 6. Josiah. 7. Sarah. 8. Marsylvia. 9. Moses. IO. Eli.

(VI) Dr. John Randall, son of Silas Ran- dall (5), born at Stow, Massachusetts, De- cember 20, 1774, died at Boston, December 27, 1843. He was graduated at Harvard Col- lege in 1802, took the degree of M. B. 1806, and M. D. 1811. He was a successful physi- cian, one of the most eminent of his time, and practiced in Boston. He acquired a handsome property. Notwithstanding his removal to Boston and his deep interest in his profession, he retained a strong affection for his native town, and above all for the home of his ancestors. By degrees he bought from his brothers and sisters the whole of his father's property, uniting the farm under a single owner again, built a comfortable house near the site of the original dwelling, and it became a summer home for his family. His city home was on Winter street, Boston, on the site of what is now the store of Shep- ard & Norwell, corner of Winter Place. It is marked by the following inscription: "On this site once stood the home of Samuel Adams, who bought it in May, 1784, and died in it October 2, 1803. In grateful memory of the Father of the Revolution, this tablet is placed by the Massachusetts Society of the Sons of the Revolution 1893."

Dr. John Randall married March 12, 1809, Elizabeth Wells, granddaughter of Samuel Adams, mentioned above, daughter of Hannah (Adams) Wells. She was born May 25, 1783, and died January 29, 1868. Children : I. Eliz- abeth Wells, born September 28, 1811; died at Springfield, Massachusetts, April 12, 1867; married September 15, 1836, Alfred Cum- ming, of Augusta, Georgia; Alfred Cumming belonged to a distinguished Southern family, and was appointed by President Buchanan in 1857 Governor of Utah Territory, and sent thither with an escort of twenty-five hundred United States troops under General A. S. Johnston, the celebrated Utah expedition of that year ; he died at Augusta, Georgia, Octo- ber 9, 1873. 2. John Witt, mentioned below. 3. Belinda Lull, born January 17, 1816; died at Roxbury, March 14, 1897. 4. Maria Hay- ward, born October 5, 1820; died 'at Boston, May 25, 1842. 5. Hannah Adams (changed her name to Anna Checkley), born June I, 1824 ; died at Boston, April 23, 1862.

(VII) John Witt Randall, son of Dr. John

1- 1.

1800

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Randall (6), born November 6, 1813, in Bos- ton, died at Roxbury, January 25, 1892. He received his preparatory education at the Bos- ton Latin School, in company with many who were afterwards his classmates in college, by whom his peculiar and marked originality of character is well remembered. Though among them he was not wholly of them, but seemed to have thoughts, pursuits, and aspirations to which they were strangers. This was also the case after he entered college, where his tastes developed in a scientific direction, en- tomology being the branch to which he specially devoted himself. The college did lit- tle at that time to encourage or aid such pur- suits ; but Mr. Randall persevered until he had a very fine collection of insects, and extensive and thorough knowledge on that and kindred subjects, while his taste for poetry and the belles-lettres was also highly cultivated. He studied medicine after graduation, but his ac- quisitions as a naturalist were so well known and recognized that he received the honorable appointment of Professor of Zoology in the department of invertebrate animals in the South Sea Exploring Expedition (called "Wilkes's"), which the United States was fit- ting out at this time. The wearisome delays and jealousies which occurred before the sail- ing of the expedition finally caused Mr. Ran- dall to give up his appointment. - After that time he led a quiet and retired life, devoting himself to his favorite pursuits, adding to them also the collection of engravings, of which he had one of the most rare and original collec- tions in the country. He spent much time in the cultivation and improvement of his an- cestral country home at Stow, for the ancient trees of which he had an almost individual friendship. He says of himself: "As. for my present self, I will say no more than that, for health's sake to be much out of doors, I have been for a long time engaged in hydraulic, planting, building, and other improvements on my grounds, which create, it is true, pleasant occupation, but which, when compared with wild nature, so varied about me, I am impress- ed with the conviction how inferior are our artificial pleasures to those simple enjoyments of wood, water, air and sunshine, which we have unconsciously and inexpensively in com- mon with the innumerable creatures equally capable of enjoying them. As to my literary works,-if I except scientific papers of sub- jects long ago abandoned, as one of 'Crusta- cea,' in the Transactions of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; two on 'Insects,' in the Transactions of the Boston

Society of Natural History ; one manuscript volume on 'Animals and Plants of Maine,' furnished to Dr. Charles T. Jackson to accom- pany his Geological Survey of that state, and lost by him; 'Critical Notes on Etchers and Engravers,' one volume; classification of same, one volume, both in manuscript, incom- plete and not likely to be completed, together with essays and reviews in manuscript not likely to be published,-my doings reduce themselves to six volumes of poetic works, the first of which was issued in 1856, and review- ed shortly after in the North American, while the others, nearly or partially completed at the outbreak of the civil war, still lie unfinished among the many wrecks of time painful to most of us to look back upon, or reflect them- selves on a future whose skies are as yet ob- scure." His poems were published in 1899 by George H. Ellis, Boston, edited by Francis Ellingwood Abbott, with an introduction on the Randall family, from which much of this sketch is taken. The book is entitled . "Poems. of Nature and Life."

Dr: Randall and Miss Belinda Randall re- membered Stow bountifully by giving a li- brary and $20,000 to the town, and $10,000 for the gentle poor of Stow who might need a's- sistance. Dr. Randall never married.

William H. I. Hayes was born HAYES in Boston, June 21, 1848. His. father, William H. I. Hayes, went to California with the "Forty-niners" and died there. His mother, Sarah L. An- drews, was a lineal descendant of Captain Oliver Parker, who fought under Colonel Prescott at the battle of Bunker Hill. From the very earliest times the family of Parker has been prominently identified with the his- tory of Massachusetts, and many of its mem- bers have served the state in positions of honor and trust. Mr. Hayes comes of fight- ing stock. His grandfather was in the Mexi- can war; his great-grandfather on his moth- er's side was at the battle of Bunker Hill, while his great-great-grandfather was Cap- tain Oliver Parker, in the same fight. The mother of Captain Oliver Parker did her part also in the struggle against the Indians of those days, of whom she is said to have killed three who attacked her house in the absence of its male defenders.

When eight years old Mr. Hayes removed to Groton, went to work on a farm at eleven, and attended school only during the winter months. 'At the breaking out of the war,

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

Randall (DE bem November 6, 1813, in Box ton, die at Roxbury. January 25, 1802. He receivell his proparatory education at the Bos- ton Latin School, i company with many who vere atterrace his das-mates in college, by whom his queeuhar and marked originality of character is well remembered. Though among them he was not wholly of them, but seemed to have thoughts, pursuite, and aspirations to which they were strangers. This was also the case affer he entered college, where his tastes developed in a scientific direction, en- tomology being the branch to which he specially devoted himself. The college did lit- the at that time to encourage or aid such pur- suits : but Mr. Randall persevered until he had a very fine collection of insects, and extensive and. thorough knowledge on that and kindred subjects, while his taste for poetry and the belles-lettres was also higlily cultivated. He studied medicine after graduation, but his ac- quisitions as a naturalist were so well known and recognized that he received the honorable appointment of Professor of Zoology in the department of invertebrate animals in the South Sea Exploring Expedition. (called "Wilkes's"), which the United States was fit - ting out at this time. The wearisome delays and jealousies which occurred before the sail- ing of the expedition finally caused Mr. Ran- dall to give up his appointment. . After that time he led a quiet and retired life, devoting himself to his favorite pursuits, adding to them also the collection of engravings, of which he had one of the most rare and original collec tiềm! in the country. He spent much time it the entivarion and improvement of his ap casal country home at Stow. for the ancient tpoes BE which he had an almost individual Brand hp. He says of himself: "As for my present sol. I will say no more than that, for Health's sal, to be wuch out of doors, I have been for a lon: bem engaged in hydraulic planting, building. ond other improvemerte on iny grounds, which for it's true, pleasant occupation, but which. when compared with will nature, so wanted about me, I am impress. el with the conmichon how inferior are out artificial pleasures to those simple enjoyments of wood, water, air and sunshine, which we have unconsciously and responsively in com- mon with the innumerable matures equally rapahle vi enjoying them. Ao ins literary works, -if I except scientific papers of sub- prelu long ago abandoned as one of 'Crusta- cod. In the Transactions of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia tive en Insects, in the Transactions of the Brno

Society of Natural History; one manuser volume on Animals and Plants of Main furnished to Dr. Charles T. Jackson to acco pany his Gedeical Survey of that state, lost by hin Critical Notes on Etchers Engravers, an. volume ; classification salle. one volume, both in manuscript, incor plate and not likely to be completed, together with essays and reviews in manuscript likely to be published,-my doings redw themselves to six volumes of poetic works, il first of which was issued in 1856, and revic .. ed shortly after in the North American, whil. the others, boarly or partially completed at the outbreak et the civil war, still lie unfinishe among the family wrecks of time painful most of us bu bok hack upon, or reflect then selves on a roure whose skies are as yet of scure." Hb more were published in 180 by George H Bit- Boston, edited by France Ellingues About, with an introduction on the Randul mandy from which much of thi shell itt.r. The book is entitled "Poente ( Nature and Life."

Dr: Mardall and Miss Belinda Randall re 19 .there !! Stow bountifully by giving a 1 ; luury and /20,000 to the town, and $to.000 for the gate poor of Stow who might need as Dr. Randall never married.

Wilnam H. I. Hayes was born HAYES in Boston, June 21, 1848. His father, William H. I. Haye- vent to California with the "Forty-niners" and ched there. His mother, Sarah L. AAr drews was a lineal descendant of Captain Oliver Parker, who fought under Colone. Prescort at the battle of Bunker Hill. From the very earliest times the family of Park has been prominently identified with the hi- tory of Massachusetts, and many of its men. Lays have served the state in positions . hovor and trust. Mr. Hayes comes of fig! WE stock. Flis grandfather was in the Mex cap war: luis great-grandfather on his mos er's side was at the battle of Bunker H. while his great-great-grandfather was Ca twin Oliver Parker, in the same fight. T mother of Captain Oliver Parker did her p also in the struggle against the Indians those days, of whom she is said to h killed flote who attacked her house in absence of its male defenders

When eight years old Mr. Hayes remo to Groton, went to work on a farm at eles mul durended school only during the way whenthe. At the breaking out of the

Wim H. J. Hayes

1801

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

when only thirteen years of age, he enlisted in Company B, Sixth Regiment, under the call for one hundred days men, but returned as the call was changed. In August, 1862, he again enlisted in Company B, Sixth Regi- ment, and served in Peck's Division, Seventh Army Corps, in Suffolk and Norfolk, Vir- ginia. Here he gained the nickname of "Old Hundred" he was so young and small, being one of the very youngest soldiers who ever carried a gun. In November, 1863, he re- enlisted in Company B, of the Fifty-sixth Regiment, and served all through Grant's campaign, being mustered out in July, 1865. He was president of the association of the Survivors of the Sixth Regiment, also of the Survivors of the Fifty-six Regiment.

After the war he manufactured cigars and traveled as a salesman. In 1877 he engaged in the manufacture of cigars for himself, be- coming a wholesale dealer and making. a specialty of the brand "Old Hundred" named after the nickname given him while in the army. Mr. Hayes was elected to the house of representatives in 1893 and served with the exception of two years to the time of his death, served on the committees on elections, liquor law, insurance, water supply, street railways, rules. He took an active part in constructive legislation, and was one of the leaders of the house. He was prominent in debate, and ever ready to advocate those meas- ures for the common welfare in which he was interested. In these wordy controversies his control of his temper was admirable, and un- der the most irritating circumstances, in the midst of a most heated debate, a ray of anger never flashed from his eye, but rather a sally of wit which was half an argument and often a complete rejoinder. He was an overseer of the poor, commander of the B. F. Butler Post, No. 42, Grand Army of Republic, a member of the Red Men, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and Masons, He was a director of the Middlesex Trust Company, also a member of the Board of Trade, Home Market Club, Vesper Club, Country Club and Yorick Club. While a member of the overseers of the poor he advocated and finally through his efforts the present ambulance system was established in-the city of Lowell. While a member of the legislature he introduced the bill which cre- ated the office of judge of probate for North- ern Middlesex, also an act to establish a li- cense and police commission for the city of Lowell, and introduced the bill for redistrict- ing the city of Lowell into nine wards, which would obviate the occurrence of deadlocks in

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Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 80

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

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