History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 151

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 151

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He was for many years postmaster of Norton, was several times elected representative in the State Leg- islature, served two terms as member of the Governor's Council, and was a trustee of the State Industrial School for girls at Lancaster. Though not an office- seeker nor ambitious of political honors, he was un- mistakably a Christian patriot, gratefully accepted the honors that were freely bestowed, and faithfully discharged the duties involved. Throughout his life he was the faithful son of his father in devoted at- tachment to the cause of freedom. He was warmly interested in the cause of education and of Christian institutions. He and his wife were in cordial sym- pathy with the father in the founding of Wheaton Female Seminary, and after his father's death were its liberal patrons, making large additions to the original endowment funds.

He was retiring and unobtrusive, sensitively ab- horred ostentation, and accordingly preferred to dis- tribute his charities as privately as possible. In this, his chosen and habitual mode of doing good, he made many individuals and society in general greatly his debtors. Quiet in his tastes, with sympathies quick and strong, he was a very genial man. His character was marked by a peculiar spontaneity, tenderness, and constancy of humane feeling that made him prominently the young man's friend, ready to com- mend the worthy and to aid any who needed his assistance. A lover of Christ and His Church, he was a liberal supporter of the gospel at home and abroad, and was ever ready to contribute generously to the cause of Christian missions. After a brief but painful illness he died in Norton, Jan. 17, 1865, at the age of sixty-eight years, four months, and three days, greatly lamented. His last words were, "I am grounded in Christ."

NATHANIEL NEWCOMB.

Nathaniel Newcomb was born in Norton, Mass., April 12, 1797, and he was sixth in direct descent

from Francis Newcomb, who was born probably in Hertfordshire, England, about 1605, and came to America in the ship " Planter" in 1635, accompanied by his wife, Rachel, then aged twenty, his daughter, Rachel, of two and a half years, and son, John, aged nine months, and, after residing in Boston three years, settled in Braintree (now Quincy, Norfolk Co., Mass.), where he died May 27, 1692, aged about eighty-seven. His gravestone says " aged one hundred years." Tra- dition says he came from Oxfordshire, England, and that he was of pure Saxon blood. He owned several tracts of land in Braintree. He had ten children. His son Peter, born in Braintree, was a " husband- man," and much in public office. By his wife Su- sannah, daughter of Richard and Sarah Cutting, of Watertown, he had nine children. His estate was inventoried at £740 1s. His son Jonathan (third gen- eration), also born in Braintree in 1685-86, was a " yeoman," and owned several pieces of land. He bought, Jan. 22, 1727, fifty-two acres of land in Norton for three hundred and sixty pounds, and removed thither in March, 1728. The same year he bought thirty-five acres more for two hundred and forty-five pounds, and in 1742 seventy acres for two hundred pounds. He served in the memorable expe- dition against Louisbourg, on Cape Breton, and died while in the service in 1745. By his wife, Deborah, he had eight children. She died in 1780, aged ninety- five. Joseph Newcomb (fourth generation), son of Jonathan, was born in Braintree, but removed to Norton with his parents when but twelve years old. He married Judith Pratt, of Mansfield, Oct. 3, 1745, and lived in Norton until his death, Oct. 2, 1778. He served in the old French war, first in 1749, in Z. Leonard's company, of Raynham; in 1757 was in S. Witherell's company, of Norton. He had seven children. His will disposes of about six hundred and fifty acres of land, and his personal estate in- ventoried at £1286 6s. 8d. Josiah (fifth generation), his youngest child, was born in Norton, April 14, 1764, was a farmer and resided during his life in Norton. He was a soldier of the Continental army of the Revolution, enlisting July 27, 1780, in Capt. John Allen's company, of Carpenter's regiment. He mar- ried (first), in 1782-83, Rebecca, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Tisdale) Godfrey, who was born in Easton, Sept. 27, 1765. She died Sept. 25, 1831 ; (second) in 1834, Charlotte Forest. He had four children, all by his first wife.

Nathaniel Newcomb (sixth generation) enjoyed the advantages of common schools only in educa- tion, and when about seventeen entered the employ of his brother-in-law, Simeon Presbrey, in a cotton- mill in Stoughton, and was ever after identified and connected with cotton-manufactory. He married, April 17, 1823, Betsey, daughter of Gen. Thomas and Esther (Newland) Lincoln, of Taunton, where she was born Feb. 10, 1795. Their children were : (1) Betsey Thomas, who married William A. Hay-

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ward, of Milford, Mass., and had one child, Harriot B .; (2) Harriot A., who resides in Norton.

Mr. Newcomb began business for himself in his native town as one of the earliest manufacturers, and was successfully engaged for a few years in the manufacture of cotton thread. He then bought of James Beaumont the patent-right to make wadding, and continued in the wadding and batting business till, having accumulated a handsome fortune by his untiring industry, rigid economy, and business ca- pacity, he retired from active connection with manu- facturing in 1860, and was at that time, and probably at the time of his death, the oldest cotton-thread manufacturer in America. He was a careful and cautious man, and the road to wealth to him was made by slow and steady accumulation, never by brilliant and fortunate speculation. He took no risk, and the result showed the wisdom of his course. He was often asked for advice, and was a safe counselor. During his life he used his money for business pur- poses, but often expressed a desire to leave at his death a token of remembrance to the town with which he had been so long identified, and his daughter car- ried his wish into execution by the erection of the town hall. Mr. Newcomb was a Democrat in politics, and by no means desired office. His wish was to be free from all official position. He was of strong and positive nature, and successful in nearly everything he undertook.

April 17, 1873, Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, and enter- tained a large number of friends from various places near and remote. Their wedded life continued till the death of Mr. Newcomb, Nov. 18, 1876. Mrs. Newcomb died Aug. 16, 1878.

The history of Nathaniel Newcomb is that of a self-reliant, earnest, and successful business man. His life was one of steady and active devotion to business, and his success was the natural result of his ability to readily comprehend any subject presented to him and courage to act in accordance with his con- victions. He was a cheerful and social gentleman, possessing sterling qualities of character, which en- titled him to the respect of all who knew him. He was an extensive owner of real estate, not only in his own town, but in other places.

HON. CROMWELL LEONARD.

It is a curious fact that, in certain families, a predi- lection or aptitude and inclination for a certain pro- fession or occupation seems to manifest itself through many generations, and among members of the family in widely remote parts of the world, and under perhaps diametrically opposite circumstances. The Leonards are noted throughout this country and Europe, and have been so for generations, for their connection with the iron interests. Although the particular member of the family of which we write chose a different

field for his life's work, yet in tracing his ancestral history we find that he comes from a family who were prominently identified with iron business on both con- tinents. The Leonards have been a family of consid- erable prominence in England for many generations. They are descended, so several authorities inform us, from Leonard, Lord Dacre, of England, and through two lines from Edward III., viz .: through John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and Thomas Plantage- net, Duke of Gloucester. James and Henry, brothers, were the first who came to America. They were sons of Thomas Leonard, of Pontypool, County Monmouth Wales, which place is famous for its iron-works and mines. They were identified with the first three iron- works established in America,-at Braintree, Lynn, and Taunton. They finally settled at Taunton, and were the progenitors of the family of Leonards who have been more or less prominently identified with the history of Bristol County from that time to the present. The Leonards have almost invariably been men of great wealth and high position. Hon. George Leonard, of Norton, a descendant of the same family, owned the largest estate in Bristol County, if not in New England, and his timber lands were undoubtedly the most valuable in the State. The keel of the frig- ate "Constitution" was taken from his lands. It is said that he " lived in baronial style, surrounded by numerous tenantry."

The famous Daniel Leonard, antagonist of John Adams in the questions of allegiance, and author of the famous "Massachusettensis" papers, and afterwards chief justice of Bermuda, was of this family. Hon. George Leonard and his father were judges of probate in Bristol County many years. It is worthy of note that the first genealogical account of any considerable extent printed in New England was Dr. Forbes' " Account of the Leonard Family." We have not been able to trace the direct unbroken line from James (1) Leonard to Cromwell, but that he is a de- scendant of James there can be no reasonable doubt, as it is known that the family to which he belonged descended from the Taunton Leonards.

HON. CROMWELL LEONARD was the son of Jona- than Leonard by his second wife, Rebecca Smith. He was born Dec. 1, 1788. He was grandson of Jacob and Mary (Wild) Leonard. He married, June 15, 1815, Belinda Copeland, of Mansfield, by whom he had four children. He married for his second wife, June 20, 1849, Harriet Morse, of East Cambridge, daughter of Dr. Caleb Morse, of Moultonborough, N. H. She was born Oct. 19, 1810. Her mother was Anna (Ambrose) Morse. Her father, Dr. Morse, was one of the pioneer physicians of that part of New Hampshire, and was a man of remarkable mental and physical vigor. He lived to his eighty-third year, and continued in active practice until a few days prior to his death. Hon. Cromwell Leonard was one of the most prominent and most highly-esteemed men Norton has produced. He enjoyed in a very

Cromwell fernand

George B. Creine

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high degree the esteem and confidence of his fellow- townsmen. He served for many years as moderator of town-meetings, selectman, assessor, representative to General Court, etc. Like most of the Leonards he lived to a good old age, and probably no man who ever lived in the town was more sincerely mourned than he when the summons came " to join the innu- merable caravan." Mrs. Leonard now resides in West Somerville, Mass., near North Cambridge line.

GEORGE BOWERS CRANE.

Almost if not quite all the various families of the name Crane, Crayne, or Crain in New England are descended from the family of that name who came from England to America in the early days of the New Haven Colony, and were among the most active, enterprising, and intelligent of that hardy pioneer band who braved so many dangers and encountered and endured so many privations and hardships to win for themselves and their posterity a home in the New World. (For an account of some of the ances- tors of the Crane family, see biography of A. B. Crane in this volume.)

A few generations ago the ancestors of George B. resided in Berkley. The first of the name of whom there is any record was Henry1; he had a son John2, who had a son named Gersham3, who was a farmer in Berkley, and from frequent mention in records it is presumable he was a man of some note in his time. He had a son, Capt. John4, who became one of the leading men of his community, and a man much es- teemed for his integrity and sterling worth. He was by occupation a farmer and surveyor. He was select- man of his town and member of the Legislature. He married Rachel Terry, of Freetown, Mass., and was the first of his family to settle in Norton. He located about two miles southeast of the village of They have had but one child, George Terry, born Jan. 20, 1852. He grew up to manhood at the home of his parents, married C. Amelia Woodward, daugh- ter of Josiah and Cassandana W. (Peck) Woodward, of Norton, Sept. 4, 1878. They have one child, Martha J., born April 7, 1881, a bright little sprite that gladdens the household. Norton, and built the house now occupied by his de- scendant, George B. He was a captain of militia, and a pioneer in all reform movements. His children were John, Rachel, George, Calvin, Hannah, and Terry. Both he and his wife were members of the Society of Friends. Capt. Terry was brought up a farmer, married Rebecca Harvey, daughter of Henry George T. early developed an inclination for work- ing in iron and a marked ingenuity in that direction. As he grew older he cultivated this aptitude, and without having served an apprenticeship he became an expert blacksmith and carriage-builder, established a shop of that kind adjacent to his father's residence, and now resides with his parents, and follows black- smithing and carriage-building as his occupation. Harvey, of Taunton, by whom he had one child, Hon. John Crane, who became senator from his county, and who was town clerk and treasurer in Norton thirty consecutive years, and then declined re-election. Capt. Terry's second wife was Matilda Macomber; by this marriage there was no issue. His third wife was Roby King, by whom he had Rebecca (died in infancy ), Roby A. (married Leonard George B. Crane has been a member of the school committee in his town, selectman, and assessor ten years, justice of the peace since 1851, member of Legislature in 1856, and in 1853 was a member of the State Convention to revise the Constitution of Massa- Hall, of Taunton, now deceased), Harriet T. (mar- ried Lemuel Arnold, of Norton, now deceased), Han- nah W. (married Andrew H. Hall, of Taunton, now deceased), George B., Nancy K. (married J. Warren Dean, of Taunton, now living a widow), Matilda M. : chusetts. This convention numbered among its mem-

(married James W. Hathaway, of Freetown, now deceased), Daniel (married Wealthy Hodges, of Nor- ton, is still living), Abigail W. (died at the age of seventeen), and Elizabeth L. (became upon her sister's decease the second wife of James W. Hathaway, of Freetown, and is still living).

Capt. Terry was a quiet, unobtrusive man, choosing the private pastoral life of a farmer, and always sedu- ously avoiding everything savoring of publicity or distinction. The only office he would ever accept was in the militia, in which he ranked as captain. He was a Jeffersonian Democrat in politics, and in religious belief a Unitarian. He resided all his life on the home farm where he was born.

George B., the fifth child and eldest son of Capt. Terry by third wife, was born in Norton, Bristol Co., Mass., Nov. 10, 1810. He was brought up a farmer's boy, and while he did not enjoy the advantages for a scholastic education, now so common among the better classes of New England people, yet he had whatever instruction the common schools of his town afforded, of which he made the most, and being early taught to labor, he laid the foundation, by abundant and healthful outdoor exercise, for a rugged constitution and well-developed physique, which, notwithstand- ing the more than ordinary amount of hard labor he has performed, he has maintained to his old age. As soon as he had arrived at proper age he taught school winters and farmed during summer months. This he continued about ten years. During the last forty years he has done a great deal of surveying in his own and all adjacent towns. In addition to farming, which has been the principal business of his life, he has also done considerable wood and lumber business. He married, Jan. 31, 1849, Martha Jones, of Rayn- ham, daughter of Samuel and Mary Jones. (For ancestral history of Jones family, see biography of Samuel Jones elsewhere in this volume.)

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bers many of the brightest intellects of which the old Bay State could boast.

Mr. Crane has always been a Democrat in politics. In religion a Unitarian. He has done a great deal of probate business and settled many estates. He is a remarkably well preserved man for one of his years, his step being as elastic and his carriage as erect as most young men. He is a man of sterling integrity, honest, earnest, and sincere. All his life he has been energetic, industrious, and progressive, always favor- ing whatever tended to the advancement and best interest of his community. He is a man of modesty and merit, and one of Norton's most useful and es- teemed citizens.

LEWIS BILLINGS DEANE.

The name Den or Dene, which was the original way of spelling what is now written Deane or Dean, made its appearance in England soon after the intro- duction of surnames. It was apparently derived from the Saxon word den or dene, meaning a valley, and being first given to estates of that character, soon passed to their possessors. The family is probably of Norman origin, as the first of the name of whom we have any account was Robert de Den, butler to Ed- ward the Confessor, and doubtless one of his "Nor- man favorites," as it is known he owned estates in Normandy. Later on the name is met with in Essex, Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, Oxfordshire, etc., many of them knights and nobles. After the abolition of feudalties by Henry VII., the terri- torial prefix " de" dropped into disuse. The letter a was introduced into the name Dene during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and it became Deane. The Deanes of England have been a highly respectable and prominent family. Henry Dene, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor under Henry VII .; Sir Richard Deane, mayor of London in 1629; Maj .- Gen. Richard Deane, the regicide ; and Sir Anthony Deane, comptroller of the navy, were of that fam- ily.

The Deanes have resided for centuries at and in the vicinity of Taunton, Somersetshire, England, and from that place came most of the early immigrants of that name to America. Stephen Deane was the first of the name to land in America. He came on the ship "Fortune," November, 1621. He built the first corn-mill in Plymouth Colony. John and Walter Deane, brothers, who came to America in 1637 from Taunton or immediate vicinity, in England, were the progenitors of most of the present extensive Deane family in Massachusetts. They settled at Taunton, Bristol Co., which place is said to derive its name from Taunton, England. "They took up their farms on the west bank of the river, about one mile from the present village of Taunton," and their descendants still occupy the ancient homestead. Hon. Silas Deane, of Connecticut, minister to France, 1776, and a de-

scendant of same original family, was the one who enlisted the sympathies and finally the services of Lafayette in our struggle for independence.1

The Deanes, wherever residing, have been noted for certain characteristics, among which may be men- tioned strong will-power, earnest purpose, untiring energy, and integrity of character.

Lewis B. Deane, of whom we write, is the youngest of a family of nine children. John Dcane, his father, was born June 4, 1774; died Jan. 7, 1841. Betsey (Smith) Deane, the mother, was born March 9, 1785, died March 18, 1832. Their children were John, born Feb. 29, 1811. He married a Whiting, of Dedham, was freight agent in Boston of N. B. and T. Railroad, but resided in Dedham. He died Sept. 4, 1864, leaving two children. Maria, born Oct. 27, 1813, married Henry Hunt, of Norton, died Dec. 22, 1871, leaving one child. Isaac, born March 28, 1815, died Sept. 3, 1860, unmarried. Elisa, born Dec. 23, 1816, married Parker Makepeace, of Norton ; has two chil- dren. Oliver, born June 11, 1818, married Eliza Hunt, of Norton ; resides in Canton, where he is en- gaged in coal and ice business and farming ; has one child. Calvin, born Feb. 27, 1821, married and re- sides in Canton ; runs an express from Canton to Boston. Cornelia, born Oct. 10, 1822, unmarried, re- sides with Parker Makepeace. Laprellott, born April 9, 1824, died Nov. 30, 1865, unmarried.

LEWIS BILLINGS DEANE was born Nov. 20, 1826. He knew but little of a mother's love or tender care, as he was but six years of age when his mother died. He was brought up on a farm, and after arriving at . manhood continued to follow that occupation till 1853, when he went to Boston and engaged to drive a team for his brother John. After a time he took a partnership in the business, and finally, in company with his brother Laprellott, he purchased his brother John's interest, and from that time till Laprellott's death they conducted the business together. After his brother's death Mr. Deane took Ambrose Hardy, who was a book-keeper in the N. B. Railroad office, in partnership, and they engaged not only to haul, but to load the freights of that road in Boston. The business was prosperous and successful. In 1872, having dissolved partnership with Mr. Hardy, Thomas P. Frost became a partner in the business, and two years later Mr. Deane sold out to him his interest and returned to his home in Norton. He and his brother Laprellott had previously purchased the in- terest of the other heirs in the home farm, and upon the decease of Laprellott, Lewis B. inherited his share. The homestead consists of seventy-five acres of land, with commodious dwelling and out- buildings. Mr. Deane has built a large and well- appointed barn, and is pleasantly situated in life. His home is in the suburbs of the pleasant little vil-

1 We are indebted to the researches of William R. Deane, of Boston, for much of the data above given.

Pilas A Stane

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lage of Norton Centre, and he is considered one of the model farmers of the town.

He married, Aug. 18, 1880, Rose Burns, of Provi- dence. They have no children. He is a Whig and Republican in politics, and an attendant of the Unitarian Church.

Mr. Deane is an industrious, honest, respected citi- zen of his town, and has been a successful man in whatever he has undertaken.

SILAS ALLEN STONE.

The men who came to New England in the early colonial days were not only hardy, courageous, and ad- venturous, but many, if not most, of them were men of education and intelligence. In their struggle for existence in the New World, however, they encoun- tered so many privations, and had to meet and over- come so many obstacles, that they had but little time to devote to the education of their children, and particularly was this true of the second and third generations. One result of all this was that of the first settlers we have usually quite authentic and more or less complete records, while of their children and children's children we can learn but little because of their inattention to literary matters and the consequent meagre data they have left behind them. The Stone family furnishes no exception to this general rule.

The first of the name who came to America was Deacon Simon Stone, who embarked at London, England, April 15, 1635, in the ship "Increase," Robert Lea, master, and May 25, 1636, he was ad- mitted a freeman at Watertown. He was at that time fifty, and his wife Joan thirty-eight years of age. The place of his homestead was just south of Mount Auburn Cemetery, and probably embraced part of those grounds. The records of the Plantation Office in London show that he was a husbandman in Eng- land prior to his removal to America. He became a man of consequence in the new colony. He was selectman seven years, and was a leader in church and State affairs. His younger brother, Deacon Gregory, came to Cambridge and settled in 1637. Both the brothers reared families, and from one or the other of them (most probably Deacon Gregory) the particular branch of the Stone family of which Silas A. is a member was descended.

William Stone was one of the carly settlers of the town of Norton, Bristol Co., Mass. His son, known as C'upt. William Stone, was a man of much promi- nence in the carly history of that town. He was town treasurer from 1726 to 1733, inclusive. He was one of the selectmen ten years, between 1730 and 1750. He represented the town in the Legislature five years, and was captain in the militia. His sword, made in 1745, is now in the possession of his · great-grandson, Silas A. Stone. His wife was Me- hitable Lane. He established an iron forge just above where Norton Centre Mills now stand, nearly

opposite the old Stone homestead. He had children, of whom Nathaniel was one. Nathaniel was born Sept. 2, 1753, and died April 11, 1835. His wife was Rebecca Woodward. She was born June 26, 1758, and died Sept. 8, 1806. Their children were Sarah, born Feb. 20, 1780, died Oct. 4, 1843; Sybil, born Dec. 1, 1781, died March 25, 1832; Rebecca, born Oct. 11, 1783, died May 1, 1857; Nathaniel, born June 26, 1785, died July 26, 1840; Hannah, born Aug. 18, 1787, died June 3, 1866; Lydia, born Oct. 14, 1789, died March 19, 1876; Lucinda, born Dec. 17, 1791, died July 20, 1870; Betsey, born Aug. 4, 1793, died Oct. 9, 1880; Larnard, born Dec. 25, 1794, died Sept. 12, 1859; Earl W., born Oct. 15, 1796, died Jan. 28, 1879; Fanny, born July 24, 1798, died Jan. 22, 1879; Mason, born May 21, 1800, now resides in Wisconsin.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 151

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1818

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818