History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 207

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 207

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In politics, Mr. Crocker was a member of the old Whig party, and as such served as a member of the Executive Council in 1849, during the administration of Governor George N. Briggs. In 1853 he was elected a representative to Congress, and served in that body from Dec. 5, 1853, to March 3, 1855. He was on several committees, and won a good reputation as a wise counselor and a faithful representative. In local municipal affairs he has always taken an active and leading part. He has been a director in both the Bristol County and the Machinists' Banks of Taun- ton, and for several years a trustee of the insane hos- pital at the same place. He is at present a trustee of Brown University, and of the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church, located in New York City.

Although the direct descendant of an early Con- gregationalist minister, he early expressed a prefer- ence for the Protestant Episcopal Church, and he and his brother William erected about 1826 and virtually sustained for many years the first church of this order in Taunton. From the founding of the church to the present time he has acted in the capacity of either warden or vestryman, and has served as a delegate to the Diocesan Conventions at different times, and also has thrice been a member of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The beautiful stone edifice of St. Thomas parish, the finest-finished church building in Taunton, has been erected largely through Mr. Crocker's instrumentality.

For sixty years Mr. Crocker has been an active and earnest advocate of temperance, and has delivered lectures on the subject to great acceptance in various localities. His influence has always been exerted in favor of this important reform, as well as in behalf of sound morals and practical religion.

In 1854, Mr. Crocker retired from active politics, but was steadily engaged in business up to the time of his death.

William and Samuel L. Crocker married sisters, granddaughters of the distinguished Isaiah Thomas, of Worcester, Mass., founder of the American Anti- quarian Society, and sisters of Judge Benjamin F. Thomas, of that city. The first wife of Mr. Samuel L. Crocker was Hannah Weld Thomas, whom he married June 15, 1825, and who died Nov. 22, 1827. His second wife was Caroline, sister of the first, whom he married April 13, 1830, and who departed this life Jan. 28, 1875. Their children are Mary Caroline, who married Gen. Darius N. Couch, commander dur- ing the late war of one of the grand divisions of the Army of the Potomac, and subsequently of the De- partment of the Susquehanna; Sally, wife of Ed-

mund H. Bennett, for the past twenty-five years judge of probate and insolvency, and at present dean of the Boston University of Law ; and Ellen Louisa and Samuel L. Crocker, Jr. The latter graduated at Brown University in 1856, was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1859, and has resided for many years abroad.

(Since the above was written Mr. Crocker has passed away. He died in Boston, Feb. 10, 1883.)

WILLARD LOVERING.

Among the representative men of Taunton, those who have largely advanced her material prosperity, and left an impress never to be obliterated, we must mention Willard Lovering. He was son of William and Mehitabel (Claflin) Lovering, and was born in Franklin, Mass., Nov. 18, 1801. His father was a farmer, and his early years were passed in farm-work, and, toward his majority, his winters in teaching. He began his long and active business career by serving an apprenticeship in the City Mills at Franklin, where he was employed for several years, rising step by step, until he had charge of the entire establishment. He took charge of the business of the Blackstone Canal corporation of Providence, R. I., in 1833, and re- mained in that position three years, retiring to take the agency of the Carrington Mills, at Woonsocket, R. I. Here he was for three years also. Then, in 1836, he removed to Taunton, and was manager of the Whittenton Mills, which position he occupied for over twenty years, until the failure of C. H. Mills & Co. in 1857. In 1858, associated with his sons, he pur- chased the Whittenton Mills, and successfully con- ducted it, much enlarging the works and business, until 1864, when failing health admonished him to retire, which he did, leaving the business to the suc- cessful management of his sons, the Lovering Broth- ers of the present extensive manufacturing establish- ment.

Mr. Lovering represented Taunton in the State Legislatures of 1865-66, and was always interested in and consulted in all the important interests of Tann- ton during his entire residence here. He was twice married, first to Susan Loughead, adopted daughter of John Croade, of Warren, R. I. They had two chil- dren,-Charles and William. Second, Jan. 1, 1839, to Sarah C., daughter of Governor Marcus and Char- lotte (Hodges) Morton. They had two children,- Henry M. and Charlotte M. Mr. Lovering sustained a high rank as a manufacturer. A man of rare good judgment, executive ability, and systematic, practical business talent, he maintained a character of unblem- ished integrity through life, and died Dec. 15, 1875, sincerely mourned by an unusually large circle of friends of every rank in life. He was at one time president of the Taunton Branch Railroad, and at I his death was president of the Taunton Savings-

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Bank. He was prominently connected with the Episcopal Church for nearly half a century, and in his latter years a devoted member of St. Thomas Church.

JOSEPH WILBAR.

Joseph Wilbar, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was born in Easton, Mass., Dec. 13, 1792, and died at his residence in Taunton, Mass., July 16, 1881. He was seventh in lineal descent from Samuel Wildbore, who with his wife, Ann, daughter of Thomas Bradford, of Dorchester, England, settled in Boston as early as 1633. The name is variously spelled (see sketch of Hon. Daniel Wilbur, Somerset, Mass.). Samuel Wildbore's second wife, Elizabeth, was admitted a member of the first church in Bos- ton Nov. 29, 1645. Mr. Wildbore was admitted a freeman of Boston in 1634 (Boston records). He settled in Taunton at an early day, and became one of its largest landholders. He had residences in Boston and Taunton. He with some associates built and put in operation an iron furnace in that part of Taunton now Raynham (see sketch of Theodore Dean). "He was a man of wealth for the times, and evidently of very respectable standing in society, exerting a wide influence in each of the places where he dwelt."

He died Sept. 29, 1656.

His children were Samuel, Jr., Joseph, William, Shadrach, and Sarah.

After the death of their father the children by com- mon consent dropped the "d" in the first syllable and generally the " e" final, spelling the name " Wilbor."

Shadrach Wilbor, son of Samuel Wildbore, settled in Taunton (afterwards Raynham), on lands received probably from his father. He was evidently a man of wealth and influence in his time. He held several important trusts, representing his town in the pro- vincial government, and served as town clerk for thirty-five successive years. For lifting his voice, however, in opposition to the evils, as he deemed them, in the government of Sir Edmund Andros, he was apprehended and imprisoned in Boston, Aug. 30, 1687, but it is not probable that he long remained there. He married Hannah ---- , and had ten chil- dren, of whom Shadrach, Jr., born Dec. 5, 1672, was the third son and sixth child. He died in 1696 or 1697.

Shadrach Wilbor, Jr., son of Shadrach, was born in Taunton (now Raynham), and was a farmer by occu - pation. It is not known whom he married. He had five sons, viz. : Shadrach, Meshach, Joseph, Jacob, and Abijah. The first two sons settled in Taunton, but it is not certain where the other three settled.

Meshach Wilbor, Sr., second son of Shadrach, Jr., was born in Taunton (now Raynham), married Eliz- abeth -, who died Nov. 30, 1776, in the seventieth year of her age. They had six sons, the youngest of

whom was George, a native of Raynham, as the town was now called.

The date of Meshach's death is not known. Nothing is known of George Wilbor, or Wilbur, as he now spelled his name, except that he settled in Titient parish, Bridgewater, Mass., and was a farmer by oc- cupation. He had a son George, who settled in Eas- ton, Mass., and followed farming. This George Wil- bur was twice married, first to Betsey Packard, and had eleven children, of whom Joseph Wilbar, the sub- ject of our notice, was one. Mr. George Wilbur married for his second wife Widow Mary Francis, by whom he had two children. The name began to be spelled with an "a" instead of a "u," thus " Wilbar."

JOSEPH WILBAR was of the sturdy New England yeomanry ; educated in the New England common schools of two generations ago, and starting out in life from thence to make his own way, he belonged to that great class which was so common fifty years since, but is fast passing into a traditional type as our civilization grows complex. In 1820 he married Elizabeth Capen, and two years later, at the age of thirty, came with her to Taunton. The following year his wife died, and in 1825 he was again married to Miss Huldah W. Briggs, who only survived her wedding-day a year and four months, leaving behind a daughter, Elizabeth W., wife of Lovett Morse (de- ceased).

In August, 1827, he married Miss Fanny M. Lin- coln, who survives him after a wedded life of almost fifty-four years. Of this union there were four chil- dren ; three died in infancy, one only, Joseph E., present register of deeds, attaining maturity.

During his earlier residence here his principal business was land surveying, by which he became familiar with the real estate of the town. He very soon became prominent in town affairs, and from about 1830 was on the board of selectmen, most of the time chairman, until he was appointed register of deeds in the spring of 1841. He was a leader, by the simple strength of his convictions, in the politics of the time, and his connection with the public interest increased constantly. He was a member of the Con- stitutional Convention in 1852, with Governor Morton and Hon. Henry Williams. He held the office of register of deeds for almost thirty-three years until the end of 1873. Familiar with the town affairs, with its real estate and its men, becoming widely known throughout the region, and as widely respected for his wisdom and sagacity, and trusted for his in- tegrity, he found business increasing to the limit of his ability, and had he not been very moderate in his charges he might have reaped a rich pecuniary har- vest. Probably no man has had so much to do with the settlement of estates and the adjustment of differ- ences of opinion, or been so often called upon to serve on boards of reference and counsel. From the beginning of the Bristol County Savings-Bank he was one of its pillars, his sagacity and knowledge of real

Joseph willar

SoBayles

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TAUNTON.

estate proving .of inestimable service. In 1865 he succeeded Capt. Silas Shepard as president, and re- tained the position during his life, his resignation a year or two before his death being refused, not as a mere matter of courtesy, but because of the worth of his name, even after his activity had ceased by reason of age and infirmity.

He united with the Broadway Congregational Church in September, 1826, at the age of thirty-four, although for some years previous he had been a steady attendant upon its worship. He never was able to fix the date of his conversion. Religiously educated, always serions and conscientious, his religions life began like the light of dawn, and grew and bright- ened as the years went by. Possessed of strong feel- ing, he was yet not a man of superficial emotions ; he believed the truth, and quietly and decisively accepted it, opening all the windows of his soul Godward, and so the light that was in him grew and broadened ; but men never saw any flare of lamps or any flashing of lightning.

In August, 1828, he was chosen deacon, which office he held for almost fifty-three years, though for the last few years relieved from its active duties. This term far exceeds that of any other deacon of that church.

But his deaconate is measured by deeds, not years, long as it was. From the first he felt and accepted a heavy share of responsibility in the church. His post in the prayer-meeting was not vacated. Week by week and year by year the church knew where to find him Thursday night. All his life he taught in the Sabbath-school until eighty-seven years old, and the influence he has exerted on the young men whom he has taught goes on now that he has fallen asleep.

For thirty years, until nearly eighty years old, he was treasurer of the society, and in that arduous and responsible position, if he expected others to do their duty, he spared himself least of all. Year after year, if a deficit occurred, he gathered a few on whom he conld depend, stated the amount, and called upon them to make it up, his own subscription never lagging behind.

So he walked in the light, as God is in the light, and they had fellowship together, until at last to us he was not, for God took him.

Joseph E. Wilbar, the present register of deeds, is the only surviving son of Joseph and Fanny M. (Lin- coln) Wilbar, and was born in Taunton, July 9, 1832. The line of descent has been as follows :

(1) Samuel Wilbore, (2) Shadrach Wilbor, Sr., (3) Shadrach Wilbor, Jr., (4) Meshach Wilbor, Sr., (5) George Wilbor, (6) George Wilbar, Jr., (7) Joseph Wilbar, and (8) Joseph E. Wilbar.

Mr. Wilbar received his education at the local schools in his native town. At the age of seventeen he entered the office of register of deeds as clerk for his father for the Northern District of Bristol County. He served in that capacity till December, 1861, when

he was appointed postmaster of Taunton, and served for more than four years. He then again entered the register of deeds' office, this time as clerk and assistant register of deeds, and continued in that relation till Jan. 1, 1874, when he was elected register of deeds to take his father's place. This position he has filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constit- uents till the present time (1883). He is Republican in politics, trustee of Bristol County Savings-Bank since 1874, and president since January, 1882. He is also a director in Bristol County National Bank.

He married Emma, daughter of Albert and Harriet (Ide) Barrows, of Norton, Dec. 26, 1861. Of this union there are five children, -Albert E., Arthur L., Charles B., Helen M., and Louise R.

Mrs. Wilbar was born in Norton, June 25, 1839. Her father was an agent for many years of Barrows' factory, at Barrowsville, in Norton. Her grandfather was named Carlos Barrows.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilbar are members of the Broadway Congregational Church in Taunton.

EDMUND BAYLIES.

The Baylies family in this country come of Quaker stock in England, where Nicholas Baylies appears on June 5, 1706, as a witness to the marriage of his son Thomas, and is described as "of the parish of Aloe- Church, county of Worcester." Thomas married Esther Sargeant, daughter of Thomas Sargeant, of Ffullford-Heath, in the parish of Soby-Hull, county of Warwick. He carried on iron-works in England, first at Colebrook-dale, and afterward at some place on the Thames. With his son Nicholas and daugh- ter Esther he came to Boston from London in June, 1737, then returned, and the year after brought over his wife and two daughters. He settled at Uxbridge, Mass., about 1738, and established iron-works there. His son Nicholas was interested in iron-works at Taunton, to which place he removed from Uxbridge, probably not earlier than 1745. He married Eliza- beth Parks, of Newton, Mass., in 1738, and by her had seven sons and one daughter. He was a noted patriot at the time of the Revolution, and died in 1807. Two of his sons, William and Hodijah, were educated at Harvard College. The former was dis- tinguished for eminent talent, both as a physician and for varied acquirements in other departments. The latter, born Sept. 17, 1756, was one of the same class at college as Rufus King and Judge Dawes, with whom, throughout their lives, he maintained a close and cordial friendship. On graduating from college in 1777, he obtained a commission as lieuten- ant of infantry, enlisted a company, and his first ser- vice after recruiting was on the Hudson, where he was attacked by a fever which nearly proved fatal. When Gen. Lincoln was appointed to the command of the Southern Department he selected Hodijah Baylies as one of his aides-de-camp, and in that ca-

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

pacity he participated in the unsuccessful attempt to storm Savannah. When Gen. Lincoln capitulated at Charleston, May 12, 1780, Maj. Baylies became a prisoner of war, and as soon as his exchange was ef- fected he rejoined the army, and in 1782 became one of the aides-de-camp of Gen. Washington, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel by brevet. He was with the commander-in-chief at the surrender of Cornwal- lis at Yorktown, where Washington appointed Gen. Lincoln to receive the English general's sword. He remained in Washington's military family until the end of the war, after which he spent some time at Mount Vernon, and in 1784 returned to the North and married Elizabeth, daughter of Mary (Cushing) and Maj .- Gen. Lincoln.

After a short residence at Hingham he removed to Tannton, where he owned iron-works which he su- perintended, making bar-iron and afterwards an- chors, and continuing this business until 1806. In 1785 he removed to Dighton, where he bought land, on which was a house which had been a hotel during the war, and which he remodeled. About that time he was appointed collector of the port of Dighton, and held this office for many years, resigning it in 1833. In 1810 he was appointed, by Governor Gore, judge of probate for the county of Bristol, and in 1814 he was elected by the General Court of Massa- chusetts a member of the Hartford Convention. In 1834, at the age of seventy-eight, and in the full vigor of his mental faculties, he resigned the office of judge of probate, and retired from all public employments. He died April 26, 1843, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. His wife died at Dighton in 1823. They had three sons and one daughter: William, who was a graduate of Harvard College and died early; Ed- mund, the subject of this sketch ; Amelia, who mar- ried Dr. Alfred Wood, of Dighton, and died without issue in 1862; and Benjamin L., who died in 1869. William and Benjamin never married. Edmund Baylies was born at Hingham, Sept. 22, 1787, and attended school there, and later at Dighton, until he was sixteen years of age, when, having no taste for a classical education, he went to Boston, entering as apprentice the commercial house of Cunningham Brothers. His first successful adventure was in 1805, as supercargo, in charge of a vessel for Hamburg with a cargo of sugar and colonial products, which he sold at high prices just before the battle of Auster- litz and the closing of the European ports by Napo- leon. After this he made several voyages to Arch- angel, landing there goods which he undertook to have delivered in Paris, which he did in spite of Napoleon's police. He also took part of a contract for supplying flour to the English peninsular army under Wellington, and in carrying this out he went to Lisbon with a cargo of flour. He afterwards formed a partnership with Mr. Thomas B. Curtis, of Boston, for carrying on trade with Russia, and retired from business in 1836. In 1835 he purchased land at |

Taunton, from Dr. Alfred Williams, and built on it a stone house. Up to this time he had resided in Mount Vernon Street, Boston, but in 1838 he removed to Taunton, generally passing the winter in the city and the summer in the country until 1848, when he sold the house in Boston and remained permanently at Taunton, with the exception of occasional trips to Europe. In 1819 he married Elizabeth Ann, daugh- ter of Ruth (Larkin) and Phillips Payson, of Charles- town, Mass. Mrs. Baylies, was born in 1799, and died at Boston, Oct. 10, 1846. She was possessed of great personal beauty, and was universally beloved for her kindness of disposition, her amiable manners, and her unaffected piety. Three children were the issue of this marriage,-two daughters and one son.

Elizabeth, the eldest, married Wickham Hoffman, | of New York, a lawyer, and a son of Judge Murray Hoffman. At the breaking out of the civil war he entered the army, and occupied many positions of distinction, first, on the staff of Brig .- Gen. Thomas Williams, at Hatteras, then with Gen. Butler at New Orleans, and afterwards as assistant adjutant-general on the staff of Gen. Sherman, and of Maj .- Gen. Franklin. In 1865 he held the same position on the staff of Maj .- Gen. Canby, resigned in 1866, and in the same year was appointed Secretary of Legation at Paris, where he remained for nine years under Minis- ters Dix and E. B. Washburne, and through the siege and the commune. In 1875 he was transferred to London, in 1877 to St. Petersburg, and in February, 1883, was appointed minister to Denmark.

The second daughter, Ruth, married Maturin Liv- ingston, of New York, a grandson of Gen. Morgan Lewis, of Revolutionary fame, and of Gertrude Liv- ingston, sister of Chancellor Livingston.

The son, Edmund Lincoln, married Nathalie E., daughter of Cornelia (Prime) and Robert Ray, of New York, and died at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1869, while traveling for his health. His widow now re- sides on the homestead at Taunton.

In early life Edmund Baylies belonged to the Or- thodox denomination, but after his marriage he be- came a member of the Episcopal Church, and was for many years a vestryman of St. Thomas' Church at Taunton, as well as one of those who gave most liberally towards the building of the present stone edifice. In politics he was an old-fashioned Whig, and when the war of the Rebellion broke out, he warmly supported the government ; was in favor of active measures against the South, and being too advanced in years to serve his country in the field procured an able-bodied substitute, whom he sent to the front as his representative.

Of medium height and fine appearance, with clear blue eyes and a florid complexion, he strongly resem- bled the Duke of Wellington, for whom he has been mistaken in Europe. He retained his strikingly erect carriage until his death, in his ninety-first year. He was not more remarkable for his courtly manners

Aufrech Bayles.

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TAUNTON.

than for his uprightness of character and invariable truthfulness. He was most liberal where his heart and his judgment approved, but as unostentatious in his charities as in his manner of life. He always re- gretted not having been forced to go to college, was a great reader, had a wonderful memory, and was a charming conversationalist. A man of rare judg- ment and business capacity. As a director of the Taunton National Bank, the Old Colony Iron Com- pany, the Taunton Copper Manufacturing Company, the Taunton Locomotive Manufacturing Company, and other corporations, he gave wise and prudent counsel. He was for many years a trustee of the Taunton Public Library, and was a member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. His farm interested him deeply, and he was especially success- ful in setting out trees, many hundreds of which, by their vigorous growth and commanding size, bear witness to his skill. At the death of his brother Benjamin, in 1869, the family estate at · Dighton re- verted to him, and he devoted himself to its improve- ment. He retained his faculties unimpaired until his death, which occurred at Taunton, May 16, 1878, after a short illness. His remains were interred in the family plot at Dighton, by the side of his wife, and near the other deceased members of his family.

ALFRED BAYLIES, M.D.

Alfred Baylies, son of Thomas and Bethia (Godfrey) Baylies, was born in Dighton, Mass., Sept. 16, 1787. He was brought up a farmer, and retained a warm love for rural life and horticulture all his days. He attended private schools and studied medicine with his uncle, the celebrated Dr. William Baylies, in his native town. In those days the young student visited the bedsides of the sick from the first, and experience and observation were instructors equal, if not supe- rior, to those furnished by the most munificently-en- dowed college at the present day. His studies finished, about 1813, he commenced the practice of medicine in Taunton, and from the first had marked success. He married Rebecca Dennis, daughter of James Sproat, Esq., of Taunton, Dec. 4, 1813. They had four children,-Alfred S., who became a physician ; married, December, 1844, Jane Ingell Richmond, and died in August, 1847, leaving two children,-Alfred Wood and William Sargent (deceased) ; Amelia F., married Samuel Southgate ; resides in Plymouth, and has two children ; Ann S. (Mrs. Charles R. Vickery) ; and Adaline S. Mrs. Baylies was born in 1789, and died July 24, 1843. Dr. Baylies married for his second wife Frances A., daughter of Abiathar and Nancy Dean Williams, Nov. 21, 1847. Their children are Maria W. and Esther S. He died July 2, 1873, in his eighty-sixth year. Dr. Baylies was one of the plain, unassuming gentlemen which we class as belonging to the old school. He was social, methodical, and systematic. By diligence aud faithful though ardu-

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 207

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