History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 201

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 201

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that they recognized the right of government to set up a church, in which all should worship and should pay toward its support; but they were willing to have any church established not interfering with that church, and thus they should be excused from intol- erance. The public-school system is due entirely to the Puritan Protestantism which prevailed in Massa- chusetts long ago. Its first object was to train up youth to be able to examine and judge of the Scrip- tures for themselves. He deemed it a loss to the mu- nicipal system that the towns, as towns, are not rep- resented in the General Court.

"The larger cities and municipalities are absorbing and corrupt. They are to be saved, if at all, by large legislative bodies. The civil government should be in the hands of those who are well paid. The as- sembly should be large, and the cost would, of course, be great; but we must pay for government. He de- sired to see the municipalities strengthened and their pride encouraged. One means of connecting these celebrations will be by a celebration every half-cen- tury."

The eighth toast, "The City of Nashua," brought remarks from General Israel Hunt.

The ninth and last toast was "The Orator of the Day -by the ability, research, and eloquence which he has displayed to-day, he has proved himself worthy to be a son of old Dunstable, and we adopt him."

Mr. Loring responded with a few fitting words. The Clark family then sang an original parting song, composed by Mrs. Mary Rockwell.

A salute was fired at the conclusion of the singing, and the people having mutually enjoyed their meet- ing together, and with many felicitations on all that was connected with the occasion bade each other good by, and withdrew to their several homes.

The Rev. F. D. Austin closed his services as pastor of the Congregational Church in 1879. As the result of a revival which occurred during that period, nine- teen were added to the church. Mr. Austin was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Bernard Copping, now of Grove- land, Mass. Mr. Copping continued with the church in Dunstable five years. His labors were prospered and many improvements were made upon the par- sonage, promoting the comfort and convenience of the building.

In August, 1885, the Rev. Henry M. Perkins was called by the people to be their pastor, and continues with them at the present date, 1890. During this time several special expenditures have been made for needed improvements on the church edifice. A new bell costing $300 has replaced the old one, which, through age and long usage, had begun to give an "uncertain sound." The beautiful hymn-book " Laudes Domini," is now used instead of the old "Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book." Extensive repairs and improvements have been made at an expense of about $1500, by which two rooms have been added to

the vestry for social and religious uses, and the whole building rendered more beautiful and convenient. A " Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor " has been organized and has proved itself a very valuable adjunct of church work. Within the past few months the church has been spiritually quick- ened, and several have been added to the member- ship.

The members of the Universalist Society continue to worship in Parker's Hall, thongh they contem- plate the erection of a building when pending ques- tions respecting a location have been settled.

CHAPTER LX.

DUNSTABLE .- (Continued).

BIOGRAPHICAL.

DR. NATHAN CUTLER practiced in town before the Revolution, and was a surgeon in the war. He lived on the river road near Cutler's Brook, a little north of the State line.

DR. EBENEZER STARR came to Dunstable from Dedham soon after the Revolution and lived on a Kendall place in the northerly part of the town. He was highly esteemed both as a physician and a citizen. His death occurred September 7, 1798.

DR. MICAH ELDREDGE practiced long in Dunsta- ble, living near Salmon Brook. He married Sally Buttrick, of Concord, and had a family of twelve children, several of whom received a liberal educa- tion. He held various offices in the town. He was a deacon of the church and was twice elected repre- sentative to the General Court. The degree of M.D. was conferred upon him from Dartmouth College. He died in Nashua, N. H., in 1849. His son, HEZE- KIAH ELDREDGE, succeeded him in the practice of medicine at Dunstable.

DR. ADONIJAH W. HOWE practiced in town sev- eral years. He married Miss Martha D. Butterfield. His death occurred in 1886.

SAMUEL MARK FLETCHER graduated at Amherst College in 1846. He was a son of Capt. Mark, grand- son of Phineas and great-grandson of Deacon Joseph Fletcher, the first settler of the name in Dunstable. He studied medicine in Philadelphia and practiced two years in Westerly, R. I. He was assistant sur- geon in the War of the Rebellion ; he then practiced medicine in Denver City and Chicago, where he died, October 3, 1875.

The HON. ISAAC FLETCHER, grandson of Deacon Joseph Fletcher, was born in Joint Grass, in the northwesterly part of Dunstable, November 22, 1784; was graduated with honor at Dartmouth College, in the class of 1808, and taught for some time in the academy at Chesterfield, N. H. He afterwards stud-

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ied law with Messrs. Prescott & Dunbar, at Keene, N. H. In 1811 he removed to Lyndon, Vt., where he enjoyed an extensive practice. He was for some time State attorney for Caledonia County, was also a Representative of Lyndon in the State Legislature, and was twice elected Representative to Congress, serving in that office from 1837 to 1841. He was a prompt and energetic man, and possessed many other admirable traits of character. His death occurred October 19, 1842.

The Hon. Isaac Fletcher once wrote to his son, Charles B. Fletcher, as follows :

" From my earliest recollection, my constitution and health have been feeble, aud have continued so to the present time, but yet able to endure much application, labor and fatigue. Que rule of my father's economy was that all the money spent by the children must be earned by them- selves. By the greatest industry in raising potatoes and tobacco, I pos- sessed myself of money enough to buy Pike's large Arithmetic, und commenced the study of it during the leisure evenings I could spare. By dint of perseverance, I mastered every rule, and could solve any problem in the whole book. This laid the foundation for mathematical studies, which have been of use to me through life. I have ever de- voted myself, when opportunity would allow, with more pleasure to the study of that science than any other." He also said : "Iu 1803 my father came to a resolution to suffer me to acquire a liberal education. He iu- formed me that all he could do for me was to give me my time, and if I thought, hy industry and economy, I could succeed in the attempt, I might make the experiment, but should I fail, there would be always a seat at his table and food enough and work enough for me to do on his farm. Thus encouraged and supported by my father, I collected all my movable effects, consisting of clothes and a few hooks, and left home with a fixed and determined resolution to tax my genius aud industry to the utinost to acquire an education. With budget in band I took my departure for Groton to prepare for college. At this time I was possessed of a yoke of oxen, a few sheep, and other property, in all to the amount of about $150, which I converted into cash and funded in order to draw upon us necessity might require. I did not feel myself able to take board near the academy, but at the distance of a mile and a half, where I could get it cheaper than in the village. I commenced fitting for college in September, 1803, and entered the Freshman class in Dart- mouth College in 1804. I may as well say, once for all, my feelings anf- fered mincb, for my means were scanty and my dress and style humble."

In addition to the other offices, already mentioned, which Mr. Fletcher held, was that of adjutant and inspector-general of the militia of the State. Gen. Fletcher continued his classical studies through life, and to them added the study of the French language and literature. Of him his biographer says: "He was an indulgent parent, a kind-hearted friend, chari- table to all, unwilling to offend or pain ary one, hos- pitable and generons, and accomplished more for good and less for evil, I think, than most others."

AMOS KENDALL, son of Deacon Zebedee and Molly Kendall, was born in the northerly part of Dunstable, near Salmon Brook, on Sunday, August 16, 1787. His boyhood was spent in hard work on his father's farm, and in attending school during the winter season. He had a fondness for books, and employed many of his leisure hours in reading. His general demeanor gained for him the title of deacon. He was fitted for college, partly at the academy in New Ipswich, N. H., and partly in that of Groton. In graduating at Dartmouth College, in 1811, he took the highest honor of his class. William M. Rich- ardson, Esq., of Groton, taught him the profession of

law, in his office. In the spring of 1814 Mr. Kendall removed to Kentucky, where he was for some time employed as a tutor in the family of Henry Clay at Ashland. His acquaintance with this great states- man resulted in the formation of political views and aspirations. On leaving the family of Mr. Clay he commenced the practice of law, and soon afterwards became the editor of a Democratic journal, called the Argus, published at Frankfort, Ky. He exerted his influence and effort for the election of Gen. Andrew Jackson to the Presidency, and in 1829 received from him the appointment of fourth anditor of the treasury. He held the office of Postmaster-General from 1835 to 1840. He introduced many reforms into this department, and removed the burden of debt. In 1845 he assumed the entire management of the interest of Prof. Samuel F. Morse in the mag- netic telegraph, and was the founder and first presi- dent of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Washington. He married for his first wife Miss Mary B. Woolfolk, by whom he had four children ; and for his second wife Miss Jane Kyle, by whom he had ten children. Dartmouth College conferred on him the degree of LL.D., in 1849. He strongly advocated the common- school system, and was a liberal benefactor of good causes. He was led to join the Calvary Baptist Church at Washington, from hearing a sermon by the Rev. A. B. Earle on, " Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian," delivered March 23, 1865. He was an active member of this church, and gave to it in all $115,000. He also contributed about $20,000 to the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, $6000 to found a scholarship in Columbia College, and abont $25,000 in aid of two mission schools, one of which is called Kendall's Chapel. In the autumn of 1862 he went to live at Kendall Green, in Taunton, N. J., and in 1866 visited Europe and the Holy Land. He died at Washington, on the 12th day of November, 1869, leaving in manuscript an Autobiography, which has been published in a handsome volume of seven hun- dred pages.

Mr. Kendall faithfully served the Cabinet of which he was a member, and was so influential as to be called the President's " right-hand" man. He was a leading figure in American politics for nearly a third of a century. He was a public-spirited man, and an earnest Christian. As he looked at the rising sun on a beautiful morning his last words were, "How beautiful, how beautiful !" He soon closed his eyes in peaceful death.

The Rev. Dr. Sunderland said at his funeral, " He was a man of great modesty of disposition. He sought no display, and if he had a fault it was that he was altogether too retiring and diffident. He was an honest man, purely and exactly a faithful man. Honest and faithful to his fellow-men, he was no less so to his God." Rev. Dr. Samson also said of him, " From his youthful editorials up to his elaborate papers there were a clearness and force and a fascina-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

tion of which many still speak as having riveted their attention whenever they took up anything com- ing from his pen. As agé and the refining influence of growing religious faith and hope mel- lowed the ripening fruit of his last years, a sweetness and serenity of temper came over him, which made his family and every circle where his hoary locks were seen moving take on a new delight because of his presence."

Mr. Kendall thus vividly describes the discipline of his father's family : "Grace before and thanks after meat, and morning and evening prayers, with the reading of a chapter in the Bible and the singing of a hymn of Sunday, accompanied by the bass-viol, played by their eldest son while he was at home, con- stituted the regular religious exercises of the family. The father and mother never failed to attend church on Sunday, except in case of sickuess or when absent from home; and the entire family, one member only excepted, were required to maintain a like regularity in Sabbath observances. Except in special cases, all labor beyond the simplest preparation of food for man and beast, and all recreation, were strictly pro- hibited on Sunday. The evening was spent in learn- ing and reciting the Westminster'Catechism, in read- ing religious books, and in practicing sacred music. The whole family could sing, and, when all were present, could carry all the four parts of ordinary tunes."

A change seems to have come over the good Dea. Zebedee Kendall, in respect to the nse of an innocent instrument, as indicated by the following :

" When Amos was a little boy, a fiddle was an abomination to his father and mother. His eldest brother, who had quite a taste for music, having constructed a bass-viol or two, determined to try his hand upon a fiddle, and produced a very good instrument. Not daring to bring it to the house, be kept it in a cooper's shop not far distant. His father, bunting there for something one day, mounted a bench so that bis bead was raised above the beans of the shop, when his eyes fell upon the un- Incky fiddle. He took it by the neck, and apostrophizing it, 'This is the first time I ever saw you !' dasbed it into the fireplace.

" Being on a visit to his parents about thirty years afterwards, Amos Kendall went to meeting in Dunstable on a Sunday, and there sat his father in the deacon's seat, beneath the pulpit, as in former times, and there was a fiddle in the choir ! "

Mr. Kendall sometimes wrote poetry. The follow- ing graceful lines were sent to his wife in 1829 :-.

TO A WILD FLOWER. BY AMOS KENDALL.

On the white cliffs of Elkhorn, with cedars o'erspread, Where beauty and wildness in silence repose,

A gay little wild flower raised up its head, By Zephyrs carersed as in sweetness it rose.

Its beauties no culture could ever impart, No garden or meadow can boast such a gem ;

All untive it blossomed, for never had art

Transplanted its root or enameled its stem.

I saw it and loved it ; and now on my breast It breathes ont ils fragrance, its beanty displays ;

My heart leaps to meet it, in ecstasy blest, The dream of my nights and tho charm of my days.

And oh, thought of rupture ! not like other flower

Does it droop on the air, life and loveliness flinging ;

But its charms andits fragrance. increase every bonr,

Aud sweet little buds all around it are springing .. -Autobiography, p. 288.

The REV. SAMUEL HOWE TOLMAN was born here Aug. 12, 1826. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1848, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1852. He was, for a few years, city missionary in Bath, Me., and was ordained as pastor of the church at Wilming- ton, Mass., Aug. 14, 1856. He was dismissed in 1870, and became pastor of the church in Lenox, Mass. His mind became shattered, and he committed suicide at Nelson, N. H., Oct. 6, 1873. He was faithful and highly esteemed in his work as a minister of the gospel.

The 'REV. JOHN SPAULDING, D.D., was born in Mason, 'N. H., Nov. 30, 1800. He went to Middle- bury College in 1821, from Dunstable, where he had been for some time employed in working on a farm. Having studied theology at Andover, he was ordained as an evangelist at Newburyport Sept. 25, 1828. He was married on the same day to Miss Olive C. B. Kendall, daughter of Capt. Jonas Kendall, of Dun- stable. ' She died March 14, 1852, and her remains were brought to her . native town for burial. Dr. Spaulding's early labors were in the West. In 1841 he became secretary of the American Seamen's Society in New York City. He delivered a very able histori- cal discourse in the church at Dunstable Nov. 19, 1865. He also published an autobiography entitled " From the Plow to the Pulpit," which is full of in- terest.

Aside from its college graduates, Dunstable has sent forth into the world many sons and daughters who have been useful and honored in the several stations in life which they occupied.

THE FRENCH FAMILY .- The family of French claims its origin in France, from Rollo, Duke of Nor- mandy, who married Gisla or Giselle, daughter of Charles the Simple, King of France. Rollo is said to have been so " mighty of stature that no horse had the size to carry him ;" consequently, he was always obliged to go on foot, and received the appellation of Rollo, the Marcher. In 912 A.D., at the time of his marriage, his father-in-law, Charles the Simple, gave him a tract of land, now known as modern Normandy, in return for which Rollo received Christian baptism by the Archbishop of Rouen, and was called Robert from his godfather, Robert, Count of Paris.

From Harlovan, the third son of Rollo, in direct line, is said to have descended Sir · Maximilian de French, whose son, Sir Theophilus French (Freyn), went with William the Conqueror to England, and took part in the Battle of Hastings. Thus was the first branch of the French family planted in English soil, where it became firmly rooted and extended its branches into various sectious of that country.

I may state here that the name of French was not, as one might suppose, taken from the name of the people where the family originated, for, in searching

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its etymology, it is found that the name was origi- nally Fraxinus or Freyne, or, with the French prefix, De la Freyne, having two significations, ash tree and ashen spear. The handle of the latter was made from the wood of the ash, on account of its lightness and durability, and from that received its name. The ash-tree indicates the name of an estate, while the spear suggests warfare or military life. The following list, takeu from a "History of the French Family," by one of its members, shows the various orthographic changes the name passed through before it became really anglicized :

Frane. Freynsce.

Frensche.

Frene.

Freynsh.

Frenshe.

Frein.

Freynssh. Frensch.

Freyne.

Frainche.

Ffrench.

Freyns.

Freinche.

French.

Freignee. Freygne.

It is stated that as early as the eleventh century the name of Frene is found in various parts of Eng- land.

Within less than 140 years from the baptism of Rollo, says Lingard, the Normans were ranked among the most polished, as well as the most warlike nations of Europe, and from such men was Al-Frin, the founder of this sept, and from whom his descend- ants, says Lodge, derive the name of De Freyne.

" In the establishment of Norman power in Eng- land, De la Freigne acquired a tract of land, by grant, in Herefordeshire " (as it does not appear in the Doomsday Book, it must have been after the year 1086), " where he established his line, which was con- tinued for centuries." "It is believed that this line may be considered common to all the branches that subsequently diverged from it."

"In 1337 took place the celebrated tournament of Dunstable, where, on the roll of Knights who tilted there, appears the name of Monsieur Hugh De Freigne.

" About the year 1348 a Robert Frensh was seized of other lands in Herefordshire, on whose decease, in 1370, the custody of his estate was committed in wardship durante minoritate heredis. This record is one of many that, even at this early date, evinces the transition from Freyne to French."

Individuals of the name of Freyne or French are traceable by territorial and historic notices in Norfolk from 1200, in Kent from 1270, in Sussex from 1278, in Buckingham from 1279, in Northamptonshire from 1313, in Essex from 1323, where they gave the name to the Manor of Frenches.

In Halsted, Essex Co., England, was born March 13, 1603, Lieut. William French, who came to America in the ship " Defence," from London, in the year 1635, and settled in Dunster Street, Cambridge. His lot was numbered twenty-four and contained one hundred and fifty acres. He resided on the westerly side of Dunster Street, about midway between

Harvard Square and Mt. Auburn Street. This estate was sold June 10, 1656. From him, in direct line, is descended the subject of this biography, Col. Jonas Harrod French.

The following quaint list of passengers in the " Defence " has been preserved :

Jully, 1635. In the Defence de Lond. Mr. Thomas Bostocke vrs. New England p. cert from Minstro Justice of Peace of his conform - ity of ye Gou'mt of Englde. No subsidy man. Roger Harlakenden, aged 23, toke the othe of allegiance and supremacie. Then follow the names of those in charge of Harlakenden, among whom are those of William French, aged 30, and his wife, Elizabeth, aged 32. (See Jobn C. Hotten's list of emigrants, p. 100.)

William French was made a freeman at Cambridge 1636, and removed to Billerica about 1652; was its first deputy in the Colonial Assembly, one of its first selectmen and a man of prominence in its early history ; he died 1681.

First Generation .- William French, of England, married Elizabeth -, and had, inter alias, Samuel, born in Cambridge Dec. 3, 1645 [Savage says later ], and died in Billerica Nov. 20, 1681. He was one of the selectmen of Billerica in 1660, and here he mar- ried Mrs. Mary, widow of John Stearns, by whom he had four daughters-Mary, Sarah, Abigail and Han- nalı. He had in Billerica the authority to solemnize marriages.

Second Generation .- Samuel2, the youngest son of Lient. William French, was born in Cambridge Dec. 3, 1645 or 1648, and settled in Dunstable on the easterly side of Nutting's Hill.

He married, December 24, 1682, Sarah, daughter of John Cummings, Sr., who had taken up lands in that vicinity, and had :

1. Sarah 3, born in February, 1684.

2. Samuel 5, born September 10, 1685.

3. Joseph, born March 10, 1687; grandfather of Colonel Joseph French, who died March 21, 1776, aged sixty-three, and is buried in the old cemetery at Littles, in Nashua, N. H.

4. John 3, born May 6, 1691.

5. Ebeneazer, born April 7, 1693 ; killed by the In- dians at Naticook, September 5, 1724. He was bur- ied, with his comrades, in the above-mentioned cem- etery, and the head-stone that marks his grave bears this quaint inscription :

" Here lyes ye Body of Thomas Lund, who departed this life Sept. ye 5h, 1726 in ye 421 year of his age. This inan, with seven more that lies in this grave, was slew in a day by the Indians."

6. Jonathan3, born February 1, 1694.

7. Richard 3, born April 8, 1695.

8. Alice", born November 20, 1699.

Samuel French 2 was one of the first founders of the first church in Dunstable, organized December 16, t685, the Rev. Thomas Weld being pastor and also one of twelve to defend a garrison established in Dunsta- ble in 1702. He was one of the selectmen of the town in 1725, and that year signed a petition to the Gov- ernor and Council for assistance in defending the town against the incursions of the Indians. He took

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up a large tract of land in Dunstable-perhaps 180 acres-some of which remains to this day in the hands of his descendants. He probably lived on the site of the house immediately on the east of Nutting's Hill. ( Town Records.)

Third Generation (III.) .- JOHN FRENCH5, born May 6, 1691 ; married and had issue :

1. John, born March 1, 1719.

2. William, born October 18, 1721.

3. Hannah.

4. Eleanor.

5. Elizabeth.

6. Ebenezer, born in 1732; married Sarah Proctor, of Acton, May 10, 1765, and died April 14, 1808. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and had, in- ter alias, John, the father of the present Benjamin French, Esq., of Dunstable.

John French 3 was by trade a wheelwright, and his house stood near that of Benjamin French, Esq. A part of it still remains. It was used at one time as a school-house. He bought land of his father, Samuel French, and the deed, dated July 4, 1714, is now in possession of Benjamin French. He bought the millstone meadow of Henry Farwell in 1721, and twelve acres of land in Mr. Thomas Brattle's farm, of Jonathan Taylor in 1732. His rate in 1744 was : poll, 8s. 4d .; real estate, 3s. 10d .; personal estate, 28. 10d. ( Town Records.)

"He was one of a committee chosen March ye 28, 1744, with the Rev. Mr. Swan, to see if anything was due him from ye town of Dunstable before ye line was run betweene ye said Province." (Town Records.)1

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 201

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034