USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Westminster > History of Westminster, Massachusetts (first named Narragansett no. 2) from the date of the original grant of the township to the present time, 1728-1893, with a biographic-genealogical register of its principal families > Part 103
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[34.] SAWIN, JOSEPH6, the only surviving child of Reuben5 and Annis (Robbins) Sawin, was pub. to Polly Gilbert of Ac- ton, Dec. 18, 1791. He was a quiet, undemonstrative man, a devoted member of the First Congl. Church, and a good citi- zen. He d. Feb. 14, 1860, a. almost 86 years. His wid. d. May 7, 1866, a. 93. Chn .:
856
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
61. NANCY7, b. May 24, 1792; m. Joseph Whitney; res. Gr .; 12 chn.
62 REUBEN7, b. Feb. 12, 1794; m. twice; res. W .; no chn .; d. April 6, 1863.
63. RHODA7, b. March 26, 1797; m. Hubbard Kendall; res. Gr .; 11 chn.
. 64. MIRITIA7, b. Jan. 10, 1800; m. Lowell Rawson; res. Jamaica, Vt .; 5 chn. 65. LUKE7, b. Oct. 17, 1801; m. Clarissa Lane; res. W.
66. JOSEPH D.7, b. July 21, 1805; m. Marcia M. Scribner; res. Gr .; 7 chn.
67. ELI G.7, b. July 14, 1807; m. Tabitha Bickford; res. Gr .; I chd.
68. MARY A.7, b. Sept. 29, 1809; m. Farwell Edgell; res. Gr .; 3 chn .; d. 1842. 69. JOSIAH W.7, b. Aug. 28, 1812; m. Lucy Smith; res. Sterling.
[38.] SAWIN, DANIEL7, s. of Daniel6 and Lucy (Byam), m. Priscilla Hastings, who was b. Loudan, Conn., and settled in the S. W. part of the town, on the place where the widow of Nor- man Seaver now resides. He d. Jan. 13, 1849, a. 57. She d. Sept. 27, 1867, a. 82. Chn .:
70. LUCY8, b. Dec. 22, 1814; m. Amos Sanders; res. W .; 9 chn .; living.
71. STILLMAN8, b. Jan. 12, IS17; m. Sarah Wilson; res. Leom .; 4 chn .; living.
72. EMORY8, b. June 22, 1818; m. Caroline Sibley; res. Athol; 3 chn .; living.
73. AARON8, b. Aug. 30, 1820; m. Fidelia Whitney; res. W.
74. WILLARDS, b. Oct. 5, 1822; d. unm. June 30, 1849.
[40.] SAWIN, AARON7, bro. of the last, m. Phebe, dau. Dr. Benjamin and Adah (Upton) Marshall (pub. Sept. 21), 1822. He was a blacksmith and carried on business near the S. E. Sch. Ho., and later at the stand long occupied by John K. Learned. He rem. to Littleton, and thence to Orange, where he d. at a date unknown, as also did his wife. Their chn., b. mostly in W., were:
75. BENJAMIN M.8, b. Dec. 13, 1823. 76. MARY L.8, b. July 21, 1826.
77. AARON S.8, b. Jan. 28, 1828. 78. SYLVANDER B.8, b. Jan. 11, 1830.
79. FRANK F.8, b. June 24, 1832. So. CHARLES L.8, b. Feb. S, 1834.
SI. ELBRIDGE P.8, b. Oct. 9, 1836. 82. ELBERT C.8, b. July 18, 1838.
83. HENRY P.8, b. Oct. 31, 1841.
[44.] SAWIN, JAMES7, s. of James6 and Elizabeth (Estabrook) Sawin, m. Eunice, dau. of William and Eunice (Stearns) Hyde, Dec. 2, 1819. She was b. Spencer, March 3, 1801. They located on the Nathan Baker place, in the extreme south part of the town, where Joseph E. Story now res. He d. April 4, 1872, a. 73. His wid., with an unm. dau., rem. to the center of the town, where they still live. On the 3d of March, 1891, the former, still vigorous and active, celebrated the 90th anni- versary of her birth. Chn. :
S4. ELIZABETH8, b. Sept. 3, 1820; m. Samuel Bridge; res. W .; 2 chn .; living.
S5. CALVIN H.8, b. March 1, 1823; m. Frances B. Conner; res. Boston; 7 chn .; 1.
S6. MARIA E.8, b. May 27, 1825; m. Joel Newton; res. W .; 13 chn .; living. 87. JAMES O.8, b. June 11, IS27; d. Aug. 10, 1827.
SS. LOENEZA8, b. Sept. 18, 1828; d. March 5, 1830.
89. JAMES F.8, b. Jan. 22, 1831; d. April 16, 1832.
90. MARY A.8, b. Dec. 30, 1832; m. Horace B. Knower; res. W .; 2 chn .; living.
91. FRANKLIN8, b. April 6, 1835; m. Elizabeth Moore; res. W.
92. ALBERT8, b. July 13, 1838; m. Emma Richmond; res. Worc .; I chd .; living.
93. FARWELL8, b. Nov. 28, 1841; d. Aug. 9, 1863. (See Chap. on Rebellion.)
94. LOUISA M.8, b. Dec. 7, 1844; unm .; res. with her mother.
[45.] SAWIN, JOHN7, bro. of the last, m. (1) Achsah, dau. of Jonas and Achsah (Haynes) Pierce (pub. March 22), 1829. She
857
THE SAWIN FAMILY.
bore him I chd. and d. Oct. 17, 1832. He m. (2) her sr. Mary (pub. Jan. 25), 1833, who became the mother of 4 chn. and d. April 1, 1845. His third w. was Harriet, dau. of John and Abigail (Davis) Hodgman of Ashby, m. Dec. 31, 1845. She is still living. Mr. Sawin res. on the homestead of his f. and gd.f., occupying the house now standing on the premises. He d. July 6, 1884, a. 83. Chn .:
95. MARY FRANCES8, b. May 8, 1830; m. Frederick Dickinson; res. Gr .; d. Sept. 27, 1854.
96. CAROLINES, b. July 18, 1833; m .; d. Sept. 22, 1865.
97. ADALINES, b. Nov. 12, 1835; m. Charles I. Barbour; res. Northampton.
98. EMILY8, b. June 18, 1839; m. George B. Hager; res. Gr.
99. HARRISON P.8, b. Jan. 19, 1841; d. unm. Md , Nov. 24, 1862. (See Chap. XX.) 100. MYRON W.8, b. Oct. 17, 1849; m. S. Louisa Brown; res. W.
IOI. JOHN F.8, b. Dec. 5, 1857; m. Emma F. Sawtelle; res. W.
[47.] SAWIN, CHARLES7, s. of Abner6 and Anna (Robbins), m. Patience, dau. of Jonathan and Betty (Lewis) Graves (pub. June 8), 18II, and succeeded to the homestead of his f. He was a cooper as well as farmer, devoting himself to each as the sea- son and his own convenience dictated. He d. April 9, 1849, a. 61. His w. d. Feb. 20, 1842, a. 46. They had 8 chn. :
102. REBECCA H.8, b. March 9, 1812; m. Jarvis Hunting; res. Hub .; 2 chn.
103. SUSAN M.8, b. Dec. 17, 1815; m. Henry S. Grimes; res. Winch .; 8 chn.
104. CHARLES M.8, b. Dec. 22, 1817; m. Lucy W. Marsh; res. Worc .; 3 chn.
105. ANNIS M.8, b. Aug. 1, 1819; killed by a log falling on her, July 24, 1827.
106. ADDISON A.8, b. Aug. 1, 1821; m. Cornelia A. Scott; no chn.
107. LEVI O.8, b. Oct. 14, 1824; m. twice; res. Worc .; sev. chn.
IOS. GEORGE V.8, b. July 18, 1826; d. Oct. 15, 1830.
109. GEORGE V.8, b. Dec. 12, 1830; m. Lucy Hunting; res. Fg .; killed Oct. 17, 1851.
Of the above family, the second son, Addison Abner8 (106), becoming deeply interested in religious things, studied for the Chn. ministry and was first settled as pastor of the Baptist Chh. in Ticonderoga, N. Y. He afterwards was located at Colchester and Bristol, Vt., where he acted as Clerk and Treasurer of the Addison Co. Baptist Assn. He spent some years as missionary in the valley of the Missis- sippi, dying finally at Irving, Iowa, May 19, 1864, at the age of 43. In a pamphlet edition of "Notes" concerning the descendants of John Sawin of Watertown, the author, Thomas E. Sawin of Wendell, thus speaks of him: He "was one of those very few who have lifted themselves out of very adverse circumstances into a life of letters and professional usefulness."
[51.] SAWIN, JONATHAN,7, s. of Luther6 and Eunice (Gilbert) Sawin, was b. in Windhall, Vt., March 30, 1802. He m. in 1830, Maryann Thomson of Londonderry, Vt., where he res. several years. He rem. thence ab. 1838 to Gr., and soon after to this town, and here spent the remainder of his life, dying May 17, 1871, a. 69. He was a carpenter by trade, and built for himself and occupied the house near the late Horace B. Knower's, now owned by Charles N. Dike. The date of his w.'s death is unknown. Chn. :
IIO. CLIMELIA8, b. Londonderry, Vt., Nov. 6, 1831; m. Rufus Young.
111. MIRANDAS, b. L., Sept., 1833; m. Orra Smith; res. L.
II2. SANDFORD M.8, b. L., July 30, 1836. (See Rebellion Record.)
113. ALMINA R.8, b. Gr., March 4, 1842.
114. LUTHER J.8, b. W., Sept. 24, 1846. (See Rebellion Record.)
115. ORA W.8, b. W., Sept. 12, 1853; m. Lilla A. Smith; res. W.
858
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
[62.] SAWIN, REUBEN7, S. of Joseph6 and Polly (Gilbert), m. (1) Abigail, dau. of James and Abigail (Stearns) Miller (pub. March 22, 1823), and set. on lot No. 36, the original Noah Miles place, So. W., where Mrs. Julia A. Foster now resides. His w. d. Nov. 14, 1834, and he m. (2) Abigail, dau. of John and Abigail (Davis) Hodgman of Ashby. He d. April 6, 1863, a. 69. No chn.
[65.] SAWIN, LUKE, bro. of the last, m. Clarissa, dau. of Elkanah and Annis Lane of Swanzey, N. H., Dec. 20, 1825. After residing in Gr. a few years he came to W., and building a new house for himself near that of his f., set. there for life. He became a convert to the principles of the Baptist church at an early day, and was a steadfast and active supporter of that form of Chn. faith. He d. Nov. 17, 1855, a. 54. His wid., sur- viving him nearly 30 years, d. July 3, 1884, a. 79. Chn., half of whom were b. in Gr. :
116. MARY G.8, b. June 18, 1827; d. Aug. 7, 1829.
117. MARIA S.8, b. Jan. 15, 1829; m. Marcus Wright; res. Gr .; I chd .; d. Aug. 25, 1851.
IIS. OTIS F.8, b. June 15, 1831; d. Dec. 25, 1833.
119. MARY G.8, b. May 14, 1833; m. E. Kendall; res. Gr .; d. July 12, 1855.
120. LYMAN W.8, b. July 3, 1835; d. Sept. 4, 1835.
121. LURENA L.8, b. Oct. 15, 1837; d. Sept. 15, 1847.
122. OTIS W.8, b. Oct. 22, 1839; m. Mary E. Seaver; res. W.
123. JOEL C.8, b. Sept. 26, 1842; d. Dec. 27, 1858.
[73.] SAWIN, AARONS, s. of Daniel7 and Priscilla (Hastings), m. Fidelia Whitney of Rochester, Vt., and lived in town more or less during life. He d. May 26, 1865, a. 48. Nothing learned of his wid. thereafter. Only I chd. is named in W. records: 124. SYDNEY ADIN9, b. Nov. 16, 1856.
[91.] SAWIN, FRANKLINS, s. of James and Eunice (Hyde), m. Elizabeth Ann Moore, Ackworth, N. H., Sept. 3, 1857. He res. in his native place, and has had 4 chn .:
125. WALTER9, b. June, 1858; d. Jan., 1862.
126. CLARA L .? , b. July 28, 1860.
127. FARWELL L.9,
I 28. FLORA LOUISA9, 3 b. Feb. 22, 1866.
[100.] SAWIN, MYRON W.8, s. of John and Harriet (Hodg- man), m. Nov. 24, 1870, S. Louisa Brown, a native of Sudbury, and remained with his parents on the old homestead. Chn. : 129. WILBER P.9, b. Dec. 6, 1873. 130. WALTER9, b. Oct. 26, 1878. 131. HATTIE9, b. April 17, 1880.
[115.] SAWIN, ORA WEBSTERS, s. of Jonathan7 and Maryann (Thompson) Sawin, m. Oct. 9, 1872, Lilla Adelia, dau. of Ora and Miranda Smith of Somerset, Vt. They res. awhile at Keene, N. H., where their first chd. was b., rem. thence to this town, where they now live. Chn. :
132. LIZZIE L. M.9, b. Sept. 29, 1873. 133. CHAUNCEY W.9, b. Sept. 19, 1876.
134. FRED ORA9, b. Sept. 10, 1879; d. Jan. 31, ISSO.
135. OSCAR G.9, b. July 20, 1889.
859
THE SAWIN AND SAWYER FAMILIES.
[122.] SAWIN, OTIS W.8, s. of Luke7 and Clarissa (Lane) Sawin, m. Mary E., dau. of Asahel and Tamer R. (Hill) Seaver, April 10, 1859. He is a chair painter by trade, though living upon the original Dea. Joseph Miller farm, which he to some extent cultivates. Chn. :
136. L. ASHTON9, b. March 28, 1860; m. Mabel F. Sawtelle; res. W. 137. ERNEST J.9, b. July 2, 1872; res. W.
[136.] SAWIN, L. ASHTON9, s. of the last, and the only Sawin of the 9th generation set. in town, m. Mabel F., dau. of Evander and Sarah J. (Lewis) Sawtelle of Sydney, Me., Jan. 28, 1885. They have I chd. :
138. ALMA E.10, b. June 5, 1886.
All the Sawins thus far mentioned were descendants of Munning2, second son of John1. the immigrant, as indicated. Another branch of the family has been represented in town at different periods, springing from Thomas2, the third and youngest son of the original settler. This Thomas2 was a Narragansett soldier from Watertown, upon whose right his son John3 be- came a Grantee of Nar. No. 2, and drew lot No. 68, bordering on the E. side of Wachusett lake. This John8 is said to have been the first permanent white resident in Natick, where his s. John+ was b. 1721. John4 was the f. of Ezekiel5, b. 1752, who, entering the Continental army, was in the battle of Bunker Hill. In 1777 he m. Mary Parker and set. in Pn., where he d. 1816, having had a family of 11 chn.
139. SAWIN, EBENEZER6, s. of Ezekiel5 and Mary (Parker) Sawin, was b. Pn. in 1787. He m. Hannah, dau. of Isaac and Hannah (Walker) Williams, July 28, 1806. They res. some- times in the Williams homestead, near the So. E. schoolhouse, and sometimes in the Narrows, he being for a time joint owner and manager of the sawmill which stood on the stream below the present residence of Samuel H. Sprague. He d. Oct. 20, 1821, a. 34. Hannah, his w., d. April 14, 1823, a. 35. Chn .:
140. LUCY, b. 1806; d. June 11, 1823.
141. MISYLVIA A.7, b. 1809.
142. HANNAH7, b. 1811; m. Safford Clark; res. Ash .; had chn.
143. ISAAC W., b. 1814.
144. SUSAN7, b. 1816; m. John Kemp; res. Gr.
145. NANCY, b. ISIS; d. June 12, 1843.
146. CLARAMON7, b. 1821; m. Wm E. Rice; res. W.
[In closing this record of the Sawins of Westminster, it may be stated that a pamphlet of 48 pages entitled "Sawin: Summary notes concerning John Sawin and his posterity" was prepared and published in 1867 by Thomas E. Sawin of Wendell, to which the writer of this work acknowledges his indebtedness for many of the facts chronicled above. Thomas E. Sawin is of the Munning branch of the original stock, the line of descent from the immigrant running thus :- John1, Munning2, John3, Daniel+ (bro. of Stephen+ of W.), John5, John6, Thomas E.7, b. IS10.]
I. SAWTELL, MOSES, ancestry unkn., with w., Clarissa, was a res. in tn. for some years, as indicated by the record of the births of his 7 chn. copied herewith :
2 SUSAN A., b. - 17, 1821; d. infancy. 3. SUSAN A., b. Nov. 11, 1824.
4. EBENEZER W., b. Feb. 17, 1827. 5. WALTER H., b. Feb. 22, 1829; res. W.
6. BENJAMIN F., b. Jan. 11, 1830 ?.
8. GEORGE H., b. Dec. 29, 1835. 7. FRANCES A., b. Feb. 28, 1833.
860
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
[5.] SAWTELL, WALTER H., s. of the last, m. Mary F., dau. of Philander C. and Louisa W. Brown, Oct. 31, 1860. He enlisted in the War of the Rebellion, and d. in hospital, July 26, 1864, of wounds received in battle. (See page 412.) His wid. m. (2) Andrew J. Bolton, July 28, 1870. She d. Dec. 23, 1888, a. 57, Walter and Mary F. Sawtell had :
6. EMMA F., b. Aug. 16, 1861; m. John F. Sawin; res. W.
SAWYER. Repeated and persevering attempts to trace the ancestral relations of the people of this name in town have been without satisfactory results. The parents, even, of the first two here have been only presumably determined. The latter came from Reading, where the family appeared quite early, but Sewall's History makes no mention of those who rem. to W. They were, without doubt, brothers, and their wives were sisters -the daus. of Capt. William and Susannah Flint, also of R. For want of authentic dates, little more can be given in this connection than a simple registry of the several families, with such personal notices as the information at hand and limited space allow.
I. SAWYER, JONATHAN, prob. s. of William of Reading, was b. ab. 1740. He came to W. in 1764 or early in 1765, and located on the farm now owned and occupied by Porter F. Page. He was a sturdy, enterprising, prosperous farmer, adding lot after lot to his original estate until he became one of the largest landed proprietors in town. His extensive domain joined, it may be, to a somewhat commanding presence, gave him the sobriquet of "King Sawyer," by which he was widely known in the later years of his life. Soon after coming here he m. Susan- nah, dau. of William and Susannah Flint of Reading, by whom he had a large family. He d. March 5, 1823, a. 80. His w., Susannah, d. Aug. 12, 1819, a. ab. 78. Chn. :
2. JONATHAN, b. Feb. S, 1768; m. Betsey McCormick; res. South; 1 chd.
3. SUSANNAH, b. Feb. 22, 1770; m. John Jackson; res. W .; S chn.
4. JACOB, b. June 15, 1772; m. Mary Rice; res. W.
5. PEGGY, b. Dec. 9, 1773; m. Cyrus Winship; res. W .; S chn.
6. ZADOC, b. Feb. 4, 1776; m. Sally Kendall; res. W., etc.
7. ZIBAH, b. May 5, 1779; is said to have gone West and d. there unm.
S. NANCY, b. July 1, 17SI ; d. 1801.
9. LEVI, b. July 13, 1783; m. wid. Rand; res. W.
IO. JULIA, b. Aug. 6, 1785; d. 1803.
[4] SAWYER, JACOB, S. of the last, m. Mary, dau. of Rev. Asaph and Elizabeth (Clough) Rice, Aug. 25, 1801. He res. on the paternal estate for some years, then disposed of his inter- est in it and rem. to the central village. Later in life himself and w. went to live with their daus. in Fg., and thence to Boston, where their last years were spent. He was a man of much natural ability and general intelligence, and of great phys- ical strength. He served one year on the Sch. Com., and held other less important positions in town. His w. was an excellent woman, and their chn. were highly esteemed wherever known for their native talents, amiableness of disposition, courteous manners, and moral worth. Chn .:
861
THE SAWYER FAMILY.
11. Unnamed, b. prob. 1802; d. infancy.
12. MARY ALMIRA, b. Nov. 2, 1803; d. March 7, 18II.
13. NANCY AURELIA, b. Aug. 22, 1805; nnm .; res. Fg. and Boston; dec'd.
14. BENJAMIN RICE, b. Jan. 1, 1807; d. March 15, 1807.
1 5. BENJAMIN RICE, b. Feb. 4, 1808; prob. d. young.
16. ELIZABETH C , b. March 4, ISIo; unm .; res. Fg. and Boston; living.
17. GEORGE S., b. April 25, 1812; unm .; res. Vedalia, La .; dec'd.
18. MARY C., b. Sept. 13, 1814; m. Rev. - Jackson; res. N. H .; chn .; living.
19. JULIA, b. March 11, 1816.
20. SUSANNAH F., b. May 9, 1817; d. July 8, 1838.
21. JACOB, b. June 4, 1820; d. May 2, 1837.
22. CATHARINE, b. Jan. 17, 1822.
George Shattuck Sawyer (17), of the above family, fitted for College at W. Academy, entering Dartmouth in 1835, and grad. 4 years afterward. He read law, and going South engaged in the practice of his profession at Vedalia, Concordia Parish, La., where he had an honorable clientage and a prosperous career. He suffered much professionally and pecuniarily by the Rebellion, his business being essentially destroyed for some years. After the war he resumed practice, but the condition of the country was such as to greatly embarrass and to hinder his efforts. As order gradually came out of the prevailing chaos, he slowly recovered his lost fortnnes as a lawyer and was securing something like his former patronage and prosperity, when he was suddenly stricken with death. The following Resolution, passed after his decease by the Concordia bar, shows in what estimation he was held by his professional brethren:
"Resolved, That in his death the bench, bar, and people of the parish have sus- tained a loss, not easily replaced, of a just lawyer and citizen" -"a lawyer of erudition and energy, whose name has appeared as counsel in some of the most important cases in our courts." " His suit to recover parish bonds, issued without authority, saved the community nearly $500,000."
[6.] SAWYER, ZADOC, another s. of Jonathan and Susannah, was m. to Sally Kendall, the records say, May 12, 1805. He res. in town some years, and was an active and public-spirited citizen. He was in trade with Rufus Dodd at the so-called Bradbury Store awhile, and after the death of Mr. D. purchased the heirs' interest in the concern and continued by himself till 1815, when he disposed of the property to David Cobb. He served the tn. as Selectman, as member of the Sch. Com., and also held for a time the office of Dep. Sheriff of Worc. Co. He moved ab. 1816 to Windham, Vt., and finally to Townshend in the same state, where himself and w. prob. d. Chn. :
23. JOHN MILTON, b. Feb. 11, 1806. 24. JULIA ANN, b. March 10, 1808.
25. EDWIN, b. Oct. 6, 1810. 26. FRANCIS D., b. Aug. 7, 1813.
27. FRANKLIN, b. June 2, 1815.
After leaving W. they had Henry, Sarah, Delia, Augusta, but nothing is known of them.
[9.] SAWYER, LEVI, bro. of the last, lived on the paternal estate with Jacob for many years, and subsequently in different localities ab. tn. He m. Dec. 29, 1833, Fanny, wid. of Crosby Rand, and had, according to the records, but I chd. : 28. JULIA AUGUSTA, b. May 19, 1835; no account of her afterward.
29. SAWYER, NATHANIEL, bro. of Jonathan (1), and sup. s. of William of Reading, was b. there ab. 1737. He m. Jerusha Flint, sr. of Jonathan's w., prob. in 1761, and set. in his native place, where 6 of his 10 chn. were b. In May, 1768, he bought of Jonathan Townsend of W. lot No. 88, 3d Div., which Mr. T. seems to have occupied awhile afterward, Mr. Sawyer not
862
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
moving to town till ab. 1773. This lot was half a mile S. E. of the present residence of Porter F. Page. (See A. H. No. 8.) Mr. Sawyer was active in town affairs, and served in the office of Selectman 2 yrs., and elsewhere at the call of his fellow- citizens. He dropped dead in the field, July 26, 1797, a. 60. His wid., Jerusha, d. Feb. 20, 1824, a. 84. Their chn. were:
30. JERUSHA, b. May 25, 1762; m. Zachariah Rand; res. W., etc.
31. NATHANIEL, b. Feb. 14, 1764; m. Betsey Pierce; res. Rutland.
32. ELI, b. Oct. IS, 1765; m. Anna Laws; res. W.
33. REBECCA, b. Dec. 7, 1767; m. Asa Brooks; res. Vt.
34. AMOS, b. Dec. 13, 1769; m. Anna Willard; res. W.
35. DORCAS, b. Aug. 28, 1772; m. Joseph Edgell; res. W. and Gr .; S chn.
36. WILLIAM, b. Oct. 26, 1774; m. and res. at Exeter, N H.
37. TAYMER, b. Nov. 28, 1776; d. young.
38. AARON, b. April 29, 1779; m. and had fam. at Nashua, N. H.
39. RACHEL, b. March 28, 1783; m. David McIntire; res. Fg .; sev. chn.
[32.] SAWYER, ELI, s. of the last, was b. at Reading, came to W. while yet a lad, and m. Anna, dau. of James and Anna (Danforth) Laws, July 1, 1790. He set. upon his father's estate and was in his generation a leading farmer in the No. part of the town. Of his large family, mostly daus., little has been learned. He d. June 30, 1841, a. 75. His wid., Anne, d. Oct. 3, 1856, a. 88. Chn .:
40. ANNA, b. May 16, 1791; m. Levi Rice; res. Ash .; 7 chn .; d. Aug. 29, 1883.
41. POLLY, b. Nov. 24, 1792; m. Nathan Hartwell; res. Fg.
42. JOEL, b. Dec. 13, 1794; d. Aug. 11, 1798.
43. REBECCA, b. Oct. S, 1796; m. Josiah Hartwell; res. Fg.
44. ABEL, b. Sept. 4, 1798; m. Lucy Holt, etc .; res. W. and Ash .; 7 chn.
45. RHODA, b. July 11, ISO0; m. Nathan Hartwell.
46. MARIA, b. Jan. 29, 1So2; m. Joseph F. Burgess; res. Ash.
47. SOPHIA, b. Nov. 30, ISO3.
48. ROENA, b. Feb. 20, 1806; m. John M. Sawyer.
49. JAMES L., b. Jan. 18, 1810.
[34.] SAWYER, AMos, bro. of the last, also b. at Reading, m. (1) Anne Willard of Fg. (pub. March 26, 1793), who bore him one chd. and d. soon after. He m. (2) Abigail B., dau. of Charles Willard, Fg., presumably sr. of his first w., Dec. 15, 1796. He bought and settled on the place owned by his bro .- in-law, Zacha- riah Rand, on B. P. hill, No. 7, 2d Div., which, later in life, he sold to another bro -in-law, David McIntire. It was the re- cent Robert McTaggart farm. He d. Jan. 31, 1848, a. 78. His wid., Abigail B., d. Jan. 6, 1855, a. 78. Chn. :
50. JERUSHA, b. July 29, 1793; m. Amos Polly; res. N. Salem.
51. AMOS, b. Aug. 17, 1797; m. Mary Brooks; res. W., etc .; sev. chn.
52. BETSEY W., b. March 23, ISoo; m. Amos Sheldon; res. Fg .; 3 chn.
53. JOHN, b. June 24, 1802; m. and res. Nova Scotia.
54. CHARLES W., b. Dec. 6, 1804; m. Melecinda P. Cobb; res. W.
55. SANFORD, b. May 13, 1810; m. twice; res. W.
56. SARAH, b. June 11, 1813; m. Joseph Pierce; res. Fg .; no chn.
57. STILLMAN, b. May 10, 1818; m. Charlotte Gates; res. Townsend; 2 chn.
William Sawyer (36) grad. Harvard Coll. in the class of ISoo, studied law and attained something of distinction in the profession at Exeter, N. H., and vicinity, where he had a large and lucrative practice.
Aaron Sawyer (38) grad. Dartmouth Coll. in 1805. He also studied law and located at Nashua, N. H., gaining a reputable standing among his associates at the bar as well as in the community for his legal acquirements and personal worth.
863
THE SAWYER AND SEAVER FAMILIES.
[44.] SAWYER, ABEL, s. of Eli and Anna (Laws) Sawyer, m. (1) Lucy Holt, who d. Dec. 29, 1842, a. 39 ; (2) Rhoda Weston, who d. Dec. 23, 1855, and (3) Ann Kenney. He res. here till 1831. then rem. Ash., where he d. April 9, 1883, a. 84. He had 7 chn., 3 b. W .:
58. LUCY A., b. July 28, 1822; m. S. E. Jaquith; res. Ashby; d. May 5, 1870.
59. ABIGAIL D)., b. June 13, 1828; m. J. S. Gibson; res. Ash .; 2 chn.
60. ADALINE M., b. Aug. 15, 1830; m. Ezra M. Merritt; res. Ash .; 1 chd .; d. Aug. 14, IS86.
[51.] SAWYER, AMOS, s. of Amos and Abigail (Willard) Saw- yer, m. Mary, dau. Simeon Brooks of Ash. (pub. Oct. 25), 1823. Only two chn. recorded in W. :
61. AUGUSTUS, b. June 6, 1825.
62. WILLIAM PORTER, b. April 30, 1829.
[54.] SAWYER, CHARLES W., bro. of the last, m. Melecinda P., dau. Samuel and Lucinda (Shumway) Cobb, Dec. 29, 1827. He built and occupied the house near No. Common, owned by the late Edmund A. Proctor, but his life was soon cut off. He d. Oct. 1845, a. 40. His wid. subsequently m. Reuben Fisher. She is still living at Brattleboro', Vt. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer had 2 chn. :
63. CHARLES F., b. Nov. 8, 1828. 64. HARRIET E., b. July 2, 1831.
[55.] SAWYER, SANFORD, S. of Amos and Abigail, m. (1) Samantha Ellis, who bore him 4 chn. and died. He m. (2) Martha, dau. of Jonas Cutler, in 1851, by whom he had 2 chn. Much of his mature life was spent out of town, but he res. here several years before his death, which occurred Jan. 28, 1889. His chn., all b. elsewhere, were: Sanford A., who was in the War of the Rebellion ; Walter, who d. many years since ; Charles, a res. of Somerville; one who d. young,-by first wife. By the last :- Oliver, who d. young, and Frank N., who m. Marion Ames and had I chd., dec'd. He res. W.
SEAVER.
This name in its primitive form. Sever, is an ancient one in the mother country, and, as a family designation, was derived, very likely, from the oc- cupation of the person to whom it was first applied, the word being a modi- fication of siever, - a sifter, or the user of a sieve. If, however, it originated in Holland, as some have supposed, it comes from the Dutch " seve," which is sieve in English, indicating the same origin as before mentioned. A third conjecture is that it was of Scandinavian descent, in which language the word seve signifies a rush, and a sever would be a worker in rushes, of which many household articles were made in the long-gone past. But whichever of these theories be the true one, the term sever was, no doubt. first employed to distinguish some individual from all others having the same Christian appellative, by affixing thereto his special calling in life. In this way have many of the most common English surnames, such as Carter, Taylor, Sawyer. Wheelwright, etc., gained a place in family nomenclature.
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