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 109
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22. FRANCES E., b. Sept. 21, 1831; m. Edward Whitman.
23. LUCY M., b. May 12, 1833; d. Aug. 20, 1852.
( m. Calvin Clark; res. Minn.
24. ADELAIDE, b. Sept. 15, 1834; L twins; 1 unm .; res. Minn.
25. ADELINE, b. Sept. 15, 1834; S
26. JOSEPH A., b. Nov. 11, 1836; m. Abbie E. Learned; res. W .; no chn .; d. March 6, 1892.
27. HENRY M., b. Aug. 19, 1839; m. Lina W. Gibbs; res. W.
28. HELEN, b. March 9, 1842; d. Nov. 7, 1861.
29. ABBIE J., b. June 10, 1849; m. Albert Herrick.
[20.] WETHERBEE, MILTON, bro. of the last, m. Lucy Ann, dau. of Jonas W. and Phebe (Rand) Whitney, April, 1843. He d. March 19, 1848, a. 34. His wid. is still living at Fg. They had I chd .:
30. AARON F., b. March 4, 1844; resides in the far West.
906
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
[27.] WETHERBEE, HENRY M., s. of Caleb, m. Lina W., dau. of Benjamin F. D. and Abbie R. (Whitcomb) Gibbs, Oct. I, 1874. He is a mechanic, and res. in the Central village, near the church of the First Cong. Society. They have I chd .: 31. ETHEL F., b. Sept. 26, 1876.
32. WETHERBEE, EPHRAIM, bro. of Nathan (8), came to this town from Marlboro' or Northboro' ab. the year 1770, and m. Hannah, dau. of John and Mary Woodward. They lived for some years on the place at the foot of Beech Hill, and prob. built the house still standing there. He sold in 1777, and pur- chased lot No. 84, 2d Div., in the valley of Whitman River, af- terwards the Benson Barrell homestead, where John Boin recently res., which he disposed of in 1801 to Daniel Lincoln of Hingham. He was very poor, and d. in the yr. just named, leaving his fam- ily a public charge. Out of this fact arose in 1816 the celebrated lawsuit called the "Malden Case," the question involved being one of settlement. The town, after incurring great expense, was beaten, very unjustly, it was believed. Mr. Wetherbee is said to have served 3 years in the Rev. War. After his death the family rem. from town, though many years afterward his wid. returned and m. (2) Samuel Whitney from Worc., known by the unique sobriquet of "Old Truth." She d. Dec. 12, 1832, a. 83. Chn .:
33. JONAH, b. March 11, 1771. 34. ISAAC, b. Feb. 7, 1773.
35. JOSEPH, b. Feb. 7, 1775. 36. SALLY, b. Nov. 14, 1777; d. Aug. 31, 1778.
37. CALVIN, b. Nov. 30, 1780.
38. SALLY, b. Sept. 3, 1784.
39. ASA, b. Aug. 14, 1786. 40. HOSEA, b. Dec. 1, 1788.
41. HANNAH, b. Dec. 21, 1790.
42. WETHERBEE, ISAAC, connection uncertain, m. Mary, dau. of Joseph and Mary (Hazen) Rugg, Nov. 18, 1830, and lived near the R. R. crossing, east of the Noah May, now Chas. S. Smith, place. Nothing more known. Chn. :
43. EDWARD H., b. July 23, 1831. 44. EPIIRAIM K., b. March 2, 1833.
4.5. OLIVE, b. Dec. 8, 1834.
47. JOSEPH W., b. May 21, 1841.
46. GEORGE M., b. Dec. 7, 1837.
WHEELER.
The Wheelers were among the first settlers of the old town of Concord, Mass. Four of that name, George, Obadiah, Thomas, and Ephraim, sup. to be brothers, were there as early as 1640, and a fifth, Timothy, was in the vicinity ab. the same date. They were all, without doubt, b. in England. Two of them, Thomas and Ephraim, rem. to Strafford, Conn .. in 1645. The other three had descendants in W., as set forth in the following paragraphs.
The first mentioned, George1, by his w., Katharine, had a s. Wm.2, who m. Hannah Buss, Oct. 30, 1659. Their s. John3 m. Dorothy Hosmer, and was the father of the first Wheeler in this town. Wm.2 and Hannah (Buss), just named, had also a s. Wm.3, b. 1665-6, who m. Sarah Fletcher, of which union came Nathaniel4, b. 1702, who m. Abigail, sr. of Ebenezer and Thomas Conant, early res. here. These were parents of Nathan- iel5, more of whom hereafter. Wm.2 and Hannah (Buss) Wheeler had a
907
THE WHEELER FAMILY.
third s., George3, who m. Abigail Hosmer, sr. of his bro. John's w., before referred to. A son of these two, Simon+, m. Dorothy Wooster, Sept. 18. 1739, and had Josiah5, b. Sept. 29, 1743, sup. to be the one of that name mentioned in proper place below.
Obadiah Wheeler1. another of the original quartette first-named, was b., according to his will, in 1608. By his w., Susannah, he had a s. Obadiah2, whose w .. Elizabeth, was dau. of Resolved White, and gd.dau. of Wm. White, one of the Mayflower Pilgrims. Obadiah2 and Elizabeth were parents of Uriah3, who settled in Sudbury, where his f. conveyed lands to him in 1712. By his w., Abigail. he had 10 chn., among whom was Elisha4, who m. Mary - and had Asahel5, the f. of Hayman Wheeler6, Esq., who res. in the No. part of this town and is well remembered by a few of our older people.
Timothy Wheeler1, also mentioned at the outset, had 3 sons, all of whom were distinguished by military titles: Lieut. Joseph2, Capt. Timothy2, and Capt. Thomas2 famed as the hero of the Brookfield battle in the time of King Philip's war. The w. of Capt. Thomas2 was Ruth Wood, dau. of I'm .. the ancestor of the earlier Wood families of W. Thomas2 and Ruth had a s. named Deliverance3, who located in Stow. His s. Thomas+ was f. of a second Thomas5, who m. Mary Gates and had Deliverance6, of whom further notice hereafter. Another descendant of the original Timothy1 lived and d. in this town, viz: Elinor, the w. of Capt. Wm. Edgell, Sen.
I. WHEELER, JOHN4, the earliest settler of the name here, was s. of John3 and Dorothy (Hosmer) Wheeler, b. in that part of Concord which is now Acton, Sept. 21, 1713. He m. Deborah, dau. of John and Deborah Darby, and the sr. of Andrew, Aug. 24, 1739. They had chn. bef. coming here, and perhaps after leaving, but no record of any of them has come to hand. He bought, prob. of Ephraim Dutton, the first settler on the prem- ises, in 1754, house lot No. 3 bounding on the N. E. side of Main st. from the Bradbury store to Bacon st., which he sold to Jabez Bigelow, March 24, 1760, and soon after left for parts unknown. Two chn. were natives of W .:
2. JOHN5, b. April 27, 1755.
3. DOROTHY5, b. March 19, 1758.
4. WHEELER, NATHANIEL5, the first permanent res. of the name in the township, was s. of Nathaniel+ and Abigail (Conant) Wheeler, b. in Concord, now Acton, May 27, 1734. The f. bought lot No. 48, the recent Dickinson place, and all dependent rights, of David Sangar, or his representatives, selling Jan. 26, 1762, to the s., who soon took possession of the same. After 25 yrs. res. there, the latter disposed of the lot to Dr. Jonas Marshall of Fg. Mr. Wheeler was pub. to Mary Taylor Dec. 8, 1759. They are known to have had but 4 chn., of whom but little has been ascertained. He seems to have spent his last days in Chittenden, Vt., perhaps with one of his chn., where he d. Aug. 30, 1809, a. 75. His w. d. Feb. 28, 1793, a. 61. His mother, Abigail (Conant) Wheeler, res. with him awhile and d. Dec. 22, 1794, a. 89. The chn. of Nath'l. and Mary were:
5. NATHANIEL6, b. Jan. 8, 1761; m. Nabby Dunn; res. W., etc.
6. ABIGAIL6, b. May 8, 1765; d. 1765.
7. JOHN B.6, b. Nov. 4, 1766; m. Molly Wetherbee; res. W., etc.
S. OLIVE6, b. March 30, 1769.
908
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS. b. 1761
[5.] WHEELER, NATHANIEL6, s. of the last, m. Nabby Dunn of Marlboro' in 1788, and res. awhile in Gr., but ret. ab. 1794 to W. He owned for a time the Josiah Jackson place, on the Winch. road, and lived upon it, and elsewhere in town. (See page 314.) Chn. :
9. MARY', b. Gr., Feb. 24, 1789; prob. d. 1797.
IO. LAVINA7, b. Aug. 20, 1791; d. unm. June 28, 1871.
II. HANNAH7, b. March 4, 1793; m Isaac Fessenden, Gr.
12. ASA7, b. W., April 16, 1795; m. Mary Ann Gray; res. W.
13. NABBY7, b. Aug. 29, 1800; d. Nov. 11, 18II.
14. NATHANIEL7, b. May 18, 1803; m. Almira Holden; res. W.
[7.] WHEELER, JOHN B.6, bro. of the last, was pub. to Molly, dau. of Nathan and Patience (Baker) Wetherbee, May 28, 1792. He res. in town a few years, and rem. to Gr., where his younger chn. were b. Death dates of himself and w. unknown. Issue :
15. NATHAN7, b. Oct. 14, 1792. 16. OTIS7, b. Aug. 11, 1794.
17. CYNTHIA B.7, b. April 11, 1797. I8. JOHN B.7, b. Jan. 25, 1799.
19. ASENATH", b. Aug. 7, 1800.
21. BENJAMIN F.7, b. Feb. 15, 1804.
20. MARY T.7, b. April 3, 1802.
[12.] WHEELER, ASA7, s. of Nathaniel6 and Nabby (Dunn) Wheeler, m. Mary A., dau. Timo. and Lucy (Boynton) Gray of Fg. He lived in different localities about town awhile, but fi- nally settled in a small house on Winch. and Gr. road, half a mile W. of the village, where he d. June 28, 1841, a. 46. His wid. survived him many years, d. March 14, 1886, a. 86. Chn .:
22. SARAH A.8, b. Jan. 30, 1823; d. unm. March 2, 1884.
23. MARY J.8, b. Oct. 16, 1824; d. unm. July 7, 1846.
24. SUSAN A.8, b. July 30, 1826; m George W. Davis; res. Brooklyn, N. Y.
25. CHARLOTTE L.8, b. Feb. 15, 1829; m. Sylvanus Brooks.
26. A. AUGUSTUSS, b. July 3, IS32; m. Lucy Gates; res. W. and Gr .; 2 chn. b. W.
27. HANNAH E.8, b. Oct. 1, 1835; d. unm. Nov. 22, 1881.
[14.] WHEELER, NATHANIEL7, brother of the last, m. in 1827, Almira, dau. of Stephen and Elizabeth (Miller) Holden, and res. for a time on the old Holden place on Bragg Hill, and subsequently at dif. localities in town. He d. March 15, 1849, a. 45. Chn .:
28. JOHN8?, b. 1827; d. Jan., 1828.
29. MARY E.8, b. Feb. 19, 1829; m. Stillman Eaton; res. W .; 4 chn .; living.
30. LUCY E.8, b. May 20, 1831; d. March 31, 1841.
31. STEPHEN N.8, b. April 9, 1834; m. Sarah A. May; res. W., etc.
32. JAMES M.8, b. July 9, 1838; m .; res. Townsend; chn .; dec'd
33. WHEELER, JOSIAH5, sup. son of Simon4 and Dorothy Wooster, was b. Acton, Sept. 29, 1743. May 19, 1767, he rec'd a deed of lot No. 5, 2d Div., on B. P. Hill, of his kinsman, Na- thaniel Wheeler of Acton, and soon located there, building the first house, which stood some 20 rods W. of the present res. of Amos Robinson. He m. in 1773, Huldah Page of Harvard, said to have been a woman of great bravery and independence. (See page 474.) Mr. Wheeler d. Dec. 14, 1826, a. 83. His w., Huldah, d. 3 mos. before, Sept. 15, a. 80. Chn .:
909
THE WHEELER FAMILY.
34. ABIGAIL", b. Feb. 5, 1774; m. Israel Wood; res. Barre, Vt .; 7 chn.
35. HULDAH6, b. May 4, 1776; m. John Brown; res. Wilmington, Vt .; sev. chn.
36. POLLY6, b. April 25, 1779; d. April 2, 1794.
37. THURZA6, b. March 6, 1781; m. Joel Page; res. W .; 7 chn .; d. Fg., Jan. 13, 1846.
38. MARTHIA6, b. March 27, 1783; m. Pliny Wheaton; res. Barre, Vt .; 7 chn.
39. JOSIAHIS, b. July 19, 1785; m. Betsey Puffer; res. W.
40. BETSEY6, b. March 18, 1788; m. Zachariah Sheldon; res. Fg .; sev. chn.
41. NANCY6, b. June 13, 1790; m. Ephraim Hartwell; res. Fg .; sev. chn.
42. LEWIS6, b. April 18, 1793; m. Mary Stowell; res. W., etc.
[39.] WHEELER, JOSIAH6, s. of the last, m. Betsey, dau. of Josiah and Mary (Reed) Puffer, 1807. On Dec. 19 of that year he bought the N. E. corner of his father's farm and built on it the house which he afterwards occupied through life, and which was destroyed by fire many years since. (See A. H. No. II.) He was a man of genial temper and "given to hospitality," a kind neighbor and worthy citizen. He d. May 20, 1851, a. 64. His w. d. Aug. 10, 1846, a. 58. Chn .:
43. JOSIAH A.7, b. Sept. 1, ISO8; m. twice and had I chd .; res. Lockport, N. Y.
44. LYMAN™, b. Aug. 1, ISIo; d. Nov. 20, 1810.
45. BETSEY, b. Sept. 24, 1811; d. Sept. 1, 1813.
46. BETSEY™, b. Jan. 4, 1814; m. Theodore Whitney; res. W .; 2 chn .; d. March 31, 1884.
47. NEWELL R.7, b. May 6, 1816; m. twice; res. W.
48. ASA W.7, b. Nov. 15, 1818; d. Sept. 13, 1833.
49. CLINTON D.7, b. Nov. 15, ISIS; m. Susannah F. Darling; res. Fg .; 6 chn .; d. 1893.
50. ORANGE™, b. April 24, 1821; m. twice; res. Worc., etc .; no chn .; d. Nov. 29, 1882.
51. MARY A.7, b. Sept. 24, 1823; m. Farwell Morse; res. W .; chn .; d. June 15, 1866.
52. CAROLINE M.7, b. May 13, 1827; m. David W. Hill; res. W .; 2 chn .; d. Aug. 13, 1854.
53. MARTHA M.7, b. Jan. 9, 1829; m. Edward Baldwin; res. Fg .; 1 chd .; living.
54. HARRIET F.7, b. Aug. 15, 1832; d. unm. April 4, 1875.
[42.] WHEELER, LEWIS6, bro. of the last, m. Mary Stowell of New Ipswich, N. H., 1817, and res. in W. Fg., and finally in Ashby, where he dec'd. Their chn. were:
55. LEWIS G.7, b. W., Oct. 27, 1818; m. Mary E. Chandler; res. Charlestown; sev. chn .; living.
56. MARY A.7, b. W., May 15, 1820; d. unm. Dec. 26, 1881.
57. JOHN P.7, b. W., Feb. 5, 1823; m. - Smith; res. Gloucester; sev. chn .; 1.
58. SARAH E.7, b. Fg., June 2, 1824; m. Gilman Blanchard; res. New Ipswich; sev. chn .; living.
59. SUSAN C.7, b. Fg., Aug. 5, 1826; m. Daniel C. Morse; res. Worc .; 1 chd .; 1.
60. MOSES S.7, b. Fg., Feb. 2, 1828; m. Lucy Hartwell and res. West; 5 chn .; 1.
61. JOSHUA S.7, b. Fg., Oct. 16, 1829; m. Dorothy M. Leathers; res. Worc .; 4 chn .; living.
62. Unnamed7, b. June 16, 1831; d. infancy.
63. JOSIAH P.7, b. W., May 26, 1832; killed in the war.
64. HARRIET L.3, b. W., June 13, 1834; m. 3 times; res. Lunenburg; sev. chn .; 1.
65. ASA N.7, b. W., May 15, 1836; m. Martha Garfield; 4 chn .; d. Jan. 7, 1891.
66. MARTHA E.7, b. Mason, N. H., May 1, 1840; m. Gilbert Godding; res. Boston; chn .; d. Feb. 6, 1870.
[47.] WHEELER, NEWELL R., s. of Josiah6 and Betsey, m. (1) Sarah, dau. of George and Sally (Merriam) Adams, Sept. I, 1842. She had I chd. and d. Nov. 26, 1845. He m. (2) Julia
910
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
M., dau. of Richard and Hannah (Dike) Morse of Hub., March 25, 1847. She had 2 chn., and is still living, Gr. He res on the old homestead, but came to a comparatively early grave, Feb. 28, 1853, at the age of 36. Chn .:
67. FRANK E.8, b. Aug. S, 1843; m. Jennie M. Pride, etc .; res. Worc .; 2 chn. 68. LYMAN A.8, b. May 30, 1850; m. Lizette Powers; res. Gr .; I chd ; living.
69. NEWELL R.8, b. April 17, 1853; d. April 1, 1854.
[49.] WHEELER, CLINTON D.7, bro. of the last, whose name, originally Francis D., was changed by act of the Leg. in 1845, res. for some years in W. but rem. to Fg., where he afterward lived. He m. Susannah F. Darling of Holden in 1845, and had sev. chn., most of whom d. in childhood. He d. March, 1893, a. 74, and his w. some 2 yrs. before. Chd. :
70. FRANK D.8, b. W., Aug. 12, 1848; m. twice and res. Worc .; sev. chn.
71. WHEELER, DELIVERANCE6, s. of Thomas5 and Mary (Gates) Wheeler of Stow, was b. Dec. 22, 1749. He owned land on B. P. Hill or near by, and also in what is now Gr. His name appears in the tax lists for several years ab. 1780. He m. Elizabeth, sr. of Zach. Whitman, and is said to have rem. finally to N. Y. State, whence no tidings of him have been received.
72. WHEELER, HAYMAN6, s. of Asahel5 and Thankful (Good- now) Wheeler, was b. Sudbury, April 6, 1766. He m. (1) Sally Wheeler, prob. dau. of Israel5 and Lucy, and if so, his cousin, Dec. 6, 1787, and lived for a time in his native town. He came to W., 1792, and bought part of lot No. 115, 2d Div., with lands adjoining bordering on Mud Pond, building and occupying through life the house in which James Marvel now resides. He was a man of acknowledged ability and worth, and for sev. yrs. was elected to the respective offices of Assessor and Sch. Com., the duties of which he fulfilled with fidelity and honor. He held a commission as Justice of the Peace during the later yrs. of his life, and was well known in his day as "Esquire Wheeler." His Ist w. having had 13 chn., d. Oct. 5, 1812, and he m. (2) Bet- sey, dau. of Matthias and Sarah Mosman, who bore him 2 more. He passed away May 14, 1821, a. 55, his wid. following him May 12, 1859, a. 82. Chn., most of whom d. young, though but few dates have been found :
73. LUCY I.7, b. Sudbury, April 5, 1788; d. April 13, ISOS.
74. DOLLY™, b. S., Nov. 19, 1789; d. April 6, 1817.
75. SALLY7, b. S., July 24, 1791.
77. POLLY™, b. W., Feb. 5, 1797.
78. JERUSHA7, b. W., Nov. 6, 1798; d. Oct. 12, 1800.
76. HAYMAN7, b. W., July 8, 1795.
79. JERUSHA7, b. W., Nov. S, 1800. So. JEFFERSON7, b. W., Sept. 13, 1802.
SI. DORCAS7, b. W., April 2, 1804; d. Aug. 9, 1820.
S2. ISRAEL L.7, b. W., April 11, 1806; d. 83. BETSEY7, b. W., March 27, ISO8.
84. ISRAEL7, b. W., Feb. 10, ISIO. 85. LUCY I.7, b. W., Oct. 5, 1812.
86. ASAHEL7, b. W., Feb. 27, 1814; m. twice; res. Ash .; I son; d. 1855.
87. ANNA7, b. W., July 6, 1816; m. Russell Pratt; res. W .; 3chn.
911
THE WHITCOMB AND WHITE FAMILIES.
I. WHITCOMB, OLIVER, S. of William and Hannah, b. Har- vard, came from Ash. as early as 1778, and bought a part of lot No. 81, 2d Div., in the upper section of Whitman River valley, where Luther Barrell formerly res. There he lived some 24 years, selling in March, 1802, to Samuel Marsh of Hingham, and rem., it is supposed, to Keene, N. H. He m. Oct. 16, 1770, Dorcas Dickinson of Ash., and had:
2. OLIVER, b. Ash., March 3, 1772; taxed in W. 1793.
3. GEORGE W., b. Ash., May 29, 1774; pub. Polly Hosley, Ash., Dec. 12, 1798.
4. LUCY, b. Ash., April 17, 1777. 5. SARAH, b. W., Jan. 19, 1781.
6. AMos, b. W., Feb. 25, 1784; d. Dec. 25, 1794.
7. JOSEPH, b. W., April 28, 1787; d. May 20, 1794.
8. LYDIA, b. W., April 22, 1790.
9. BENJAMIN, b. W., May 22, 1794; d. Sept. 30, 1796.
WHITE.
One of the original proprietors and an early settler of Lancaster, the old- est town of Worc. Co., was John White, a very active, much esteemed, and highly influential citizen. He came to this country in or before 1638, tar- ried at Salem a few years, whence he went with his w., Joan, and chu., to the Nashaway plantation, as Lanc. was then called. He was a man of consid- erable native ability, culture, and refinement, as he was also a man of prop- erty and standing, paying as he did for a time the highest tax in the town- ship. His family, which was large, occupied an important place in the growing settlement, and contributed very much to its intellectual, moral, and religious character and reputation. Two of his married daus. were slain by the Indians in the attacks on the place during King Philip's war, while a third, Mary, the wife of Rev. Joseph Rowlandson, was taken captive by them Feb. 10, 1676, and made to accompany them in their wanderings from place to place till the following May, when she was ransomed at what is called " Redemption Rock," on the borders of the little hamlet of Everett- ville. Pn. The narrative of her travels, written at the time and afterwards published, is regarded as a valuable contribution to the literature of those primitive days, not only detailing her own personal experiences, but throw- ing much light upon the character and purpose-the habits and customs of the wild sons of the forest, among whom the lot of our forefathers and foremothers was cast.
John White1 d. in 1673. One of his sons, Josiah2, b. 1643, was made Dea- con of the church, an office for which the family seems to be specially quali- fied, and in which it has been for successive generations well represented. Josiah2 d. Nov. 11, 1714, leaving a s. Josiah3, who was b. Sept. 16, 1682, and who m. Mary Whitcomb. He succeeded his father as Deacon, held various town offices, and went 4 years as Rep. to the Gen. Ct. His s. Joseph4, b. Nov. 1, 1719, the third in regular succession who filled the same office in the church, m. Patience Ball in 1765. Of this union sprang the first permanent family of the name in this town.
I. WHITE, JAMES5, s. of the last mentioned couple, was b. June 22, 1767. He came to W. as early as 1794, when he, like many other worthies, as well as unworthies, was "warned out." May 3, 1795, he m. Sally, dau. of Reuben and Anna (Rice) Miles, and 3 yrs. later bought of Samuel Hoar lot No. 17, now owned by Henry F. Partridge, where he subsequently lived and d. He was a highly reputable townsman, and mem- ber of the church, holding the office of Dea. from 1809 to 1831.
912
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
He served several years on the Board of Selectmen, and in other offices for indeterminate periods. His w., Sally, d. April 4, 1806, after bearing him 5 chn., and he m. (2) Mary, dau. of Noah and Mary (Palmer) Wiswall of No-town, now W., in 1808. She d. without issue, July 26, 1811, a. 45, and he m. (3) Thankful Patch of Ashby, to whom he was pub. June 3, 1812. She bore him 2 chn. He d. April 18, 1846, a. 78. His 3d w., Thankful, d. July 19, 1845. Chn. :
2. MARY M.6, b. June 1, 1796; m. Anthony Lane; res. Lanc.
3. JAMES6, b. May 21, 1798; m. Emma Lewis; res. Antwerp, N. Y .; 4 chn .; d. Jan. 17, 1876.
4. JOHNG, b. June 28, ISoo; m. Lucy B. Howe; res. W., etc.
5. JOSEPH H.6, b. July 18, 1802; m. Emeline Howard; res. Antwerp, N. Y .; 4 chn .; d. July 6, 1879.
6. REUBEN6, b. Sept. 10, 1804; d. unm. at Antwerp, N. Y., Oct. 18, 1858.
7. SALLY W.6, b. Sept. 18, 1813; d. unm. Dec. 3, 1831.
8. NANCY6, b. Aug. 18, 1815; m. Daniel Harrington; res. W .; 9 chn .; living.
[4.] WHITE, JOHN6, s. of the last, prepared for and entered the Medical Dept. of Brown Univ., Prov., R. I., from which he grad. in 1824 or 1825. He entered upon the practice of his profession in W., becoming the leading physician here, with a large practice in neighboring towns. He was one of the town's most intelligent, high-minded, enterprising, and justly esteemed citizens, holding the office of Treasurer, as he did that of Sch. Com., for many years, and serving the public in other important and responsible positions. A Whig in politics to begin with, he sympathized with the "Conscience" wing of the party, joining the Free Soil Movement in 1848, and the Republican party in 1856. He represented the political anti-slavery ele- ment of the town in the Legislature of 1851,- a session made memorable by the election of Charles Sumner for the first time to the Senate of the United States. In religious conviction and by association he was a Universal Restora- tionist, and an earnest and conscientious supporter of the chh. of that faith under and subsequent to the ministry of Rev. Charles Hudson. A friend of popular education, he took great interest in the public schools, and lent his influence, both by precept and example, to the promotion of Temperance, Anti- Slavery, and other great moral and social reforms. Animated by a genial disposition and generous impulses, he was social in his temperament, free and easy in conversation, and a ready public speaker. His kindness to the poor and unfortunate was proverbial. "I never knew him," says his son, "refuse a call, by night or day, in sunshine or storm, though he knew there was no fee to be had for the trip."
On the 10th of June, 1827, Dr. White purchased the former store and hotel property on the north side of the street, near the S. E. end of the Central village, now represented by the brick house of Edwin L. Burnham, which was his place of abode while he remained in town. He subsequently became the
DR. JOHN WHITE.
913
THE WHITE FAMILY.
owner of a considerable landed estate, and carried on for some years somewhat extensive agricultural operations in connection with his large professional practice. He sold his various prop- erties in W. ab. 1852, and rem. to Watertown, N. Y., where he resumed his professional labors, and continued them until obliged to relinquish them by failing health and the infirmities of advancing years.
Dr. White m. Dec. 4, 1827, Lucy Barron, dau. of Dr. Josiah and Lucy (Shattuck) Howe of Templeton, a woman of exceed- ing amiability and lovableness of character, and one most pleas- antly remembered by all those whose happy privilege it was to know her. He passed from the scenes of earth and time at Watertown, N. Y., Aug. 19, 1868, at the age of 68. His wid. survived him nearly a dozen years, entering upon the realities of the higher life at Clinton, N. Y., where she had a home with her oldest dau., Feb. 18, 1880, a. 73.
The following notice of Dr. White appeared in a Watertown paper the morning after his demise :
"This eminent citizen, benevolent medical practitioner, and active business man departed this life at his residence last evening about 6 o'clock. In his death our people are all bereaved by the loss of their ever kind, patient, generous physician, who always came at their call without the remot- est prospect of compensation, and who not only tendered his own medical services gratuitously, but provided, in cases of destitution, the patients with needed and palatable nourishment, often more important than medicine. The Dr. was from Mass., and brought with him, more distinctly than almost any other person possessed, the traits . . . belonging to the N. E. character.',
The chn. of Dr. John6 and Lucy B. (Howe) White were :
9. MARY L.7, b. Feb. 5, 1829; d. March 28, 1831.
10. LUCY S.7, b. Nov. 25, 1830; d. Aug. 10, 1833.
II. JOHN L.7, b. Dec. 5, 1832; res. Bloomington, Ill .; a physician of wide practice and high standing.
12. ELLEN R.7, b. Feb. 14, 1835; m. Dr. J. I. Scollard; res. Clinton, N. Y .; no chn.
13. JOSIAH HI.7, b. Feb. 3, 1837; a successful business man in the far West.
14. MARY M.7, b. Dec. 18, 1840; d. Watertown, March 16, 1857.
15. 'CHARLES H.7, b. Sept. 2, 1843; m. A. M. Martin; res. Ithica, N. Y .; I chd.
16. ABBY M.7, b. March 2, 1847; m. Dr. John J. Stephens; res. Washington, D. C .; no chn.
An entirely distinct branch of the White family appeared in town at an early date, and is still represented here. It seems to have originated on N. E. soil with another John White1, who came from the old world in the ship Lion which reached Boston Sept. 16, 1632. He at once joined the set- tlement at New-towne, now Cambridge, his name being found among the first proprietors the same year. Two years later he was one of the Selectmen. In 1636 he went to Hartford, Conn., with the company of which Rev. Mr. Hooker was leader, and assisted in founding a plantation, removing thence in 1659 to Hadley as one of the first settlers of the place, and dying there in 1683. He was a Puritan of the " most straitest " sort. He had 4 sons : Nathaniel2, Daniel2, Jacob2, and John2, one of whom is sup. to be the f. of Daniel3, a res. of Cambridge Farms (Lexington) 1695-1711, etc. The latter had by w., Mary, a s. Joseph4, b. April 17, 1704, who m. (1) Hannah - and (2) Mary -, and had Io chn., one of whom was Ebenezer5, the f. of a W. resident, as set forth below.
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