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 73
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[18.] DARBY, EZRA5, s. of Nathan and Abigail (Pierce) Darby, m. Ruth, dau. of Josiah and Mary (Reed) Puffer, Nov. I, 1798. He first set. on lot No. 31, 2d Div., half a mile west of the Beech Hill Schoolhouse. (See A. H. No. 31.) His last years, however, were spent at the present homestead of Geo. Harris, the house of which he is said to have built. He suc- ceeded Ezra Holden as Sexton and Undertaker. He d. April 8, 1823, a. 46. His wid. m. (2) Samuel Byam of Temp. and (3) Samuel Garfield of W. She d. April 19, 1833, a. 58. Chn .:
39. SALLY6, b. Feb. 26, 1800; m. Alvin Upham; res. W .; 9 chn .; d. Sept. 21, 1878.
40. EZRA6, b. Dec. 24, 1802; m. Abigail H. - and others; sev. chn .; res. unkn.
41. MARY6, b. Jan. 17, 1804; m. Edmund Nichols; res. W .; 11 chn .; d. April 29, 1870.
42. ORRIN6, b. June 2, 1806; m. and had chn .; res. West; dec'd.
43. NATHAN6, b. Sept. 24, 1808; d. April 20, 1832; unm.
44. LYMAN6, b. April 28, 1811; d. Dec. 23, 1831; unm.
45. RUTH P.6, b. Aug. 9, 1813; m. Edwin Terriere; res. L. I .; 4 chn .; d. June 27, 1850.
46. LUCY B.6, b. Aug. 9, 1815; m. Jacob Messinger; res. Niles, Mich .; no. chn .; d. Feb. 17, 1881.
47. EDWING, b. Nov. 22, 1817; nothing learned.
[19.] DARBY, JOEL5, bro. of the last, m. Sukey Haynes, Ash. (pub. Oct. 17, 1804), and succeeded Ezra on lot No. 31, 2d Div., which he sold in 1824, to Oliver Estey, but which his son Joel, Jr., rebought 2 yrs. afterward. He also res. awhile on the late Asaph Gates place. He seems to have been out of town for a long while but returned late in life and d. Jan. 17, 1860, a. 81. His wid. d. April 10, 1870, a. 85. Nothing has been ascertained of his chn., save that he had the following b. at unknown dates.
48. JOEL"; of whom nothing has been learned.
49. SUSAN6; m. Reuben S. Pond and left town.
50. LOENZA6; m. S. Locke Woodward; res. Vt. and had chn.
51. ADELIA6; d. young.
[23.] DARBY, ABIJAH5, s. of Andrew and Elizabeth (Sawin) Darby, m. Lovisa Wilder of Pn. and set. first in Lanc., N. H., where most of his chn. were born. He returned to W. in mid- life, spent a few yrs., then rem. to Carthage, Me., where he d. at an advanced age, the date of the event being unknown. Chn .:
52. SUKEY6, b. Dec. 20, 1789; m. Daniel North; res. Temple, Me.
53. POLLY6, b. Dec. 26, 1791; res. Weld, Me .; unm.
54. AARON6, b. May 10, 1794; m. Jane Wilder; res. Temple, Me.
55. SALLY6, b. Jan. II, 1797; m. Breck Allen; res. Hub .; 6 chn .; d. in 1890.
56. ASAPH6, b. April 25, 1800; d. May 12, 1803.
57. ABIGAIL6, b. Jan. 26, 1803; m. Gardner Brown; res. Hub .; 9 chn.
58. ELIZA6, b. Feb. 23, 1805; unm .; res. Me. and Boston.
59. ARTEMAS W.6, b. Jan. 21, 1808; unm .; res. Weld, Me.
60. JOHN6, b. Nov. 15, 1811; m. Nancy Fletcher; res. Stewartstown, N. H .; 2 chn.
609
THE DERBY FAMILY.
[27.] DARBY, AARON5, bro. of the last, m. Susannah, dau. of Elijah and Isabella Wood, Gr., and set. upon the place first occupied by his f. and now in possession of his dau., Susan. He d. May 9, 1870, a. 98. His w., Susannah (Wood), d. May 29, 1855, a. 78. Chn .:
61. ASAPH6, b. Sept. 21, 1801 ; d. June 25, 1805.
62. WALTER6, b. June 27, 1803; m. Mary Winchester, Temp .; res. W.
63. CYNTHIA6, b. Sept. 5, 1805; m. Nathan Rice; res. Pn .; 9 chn .; d. April 3, 1877,
64. ASAPH6, b. Sept. 21, 1807; m. Mary Lyman.
65. MOSES6, b. July 1, 1810; m. Rhoda Perry; d. Feb. 1, 1880.
66. SALLY6, b. May 28, 1813; m. Asa Dike; res. W .; 5 chn .; living.
67. SUSAN6, b. April 3, 1816; unm .; living on old place.
[30.] DARBY, MOSES5, bro. of Aaron5, m. Lois Gilbert, Nov. 29, 1801, and set. with his bro. on their f.'s place. He was by trade a blacksmith. He d. 1805. Chn .:
68. JOISAH G.6; res. Burlington, Vt. 69. - 6; d. in 1805.
[34.] DARBY, JOHN5, s. of John4 and Hannah (Gerry) Darby, m. Sept. 21, 1794, Betsey Ross, of unknown birthplace, ptge., etc. He res. in Sterling awhile, where he operated a carding machine, but returned to the old homestead, succeeding his f. in the gristmill, which he run until within the memory of some of the older inhabitants now living. He was the last miller who carried on business at the outlet of the pond. He is also understood to have been one of the first chairmakers in town. Hed. Feb. 11, 1827, a. 54. His wid. d. Aug. 5, 1839, a. 64. Chn .:
70. PHEBE", b. Nov. 30, 1794; d. June 14, 1795.
71. WILLIAM", b. June 26, 1797; d. Nov. 1, 1800.
72. ALMOND", b. May 10, 1800; m. Abigail Kendall; res. W .; no chn .; d. Feb. 2, 1864.
73. PHEBE G.6, b. July 11, 1803; d. unm. Dec. 14, 1850.
74. JOHN6, b. June 2, 1808; d. Oct. 2, 1809.
75. ELIZABETH6, b. July 9, 1810; prob. d. young.
The third of the above chn., and the only s. who lived to mature age, Almond Derby, was a quiet and inoffensive, but useful and worthy citizen, industrious, up- right, and exemplary in all the relations of life. He was one of the first chair- makers in W., succeeding his f. on the ancestral estate, and going thence to the Narrows, where he continued the business in partnership with John Edgell, now of Gr., in the old gristmill building, the original use of which they, in part, also main- tained. He afterward moved to the Dea. Thurston place, now owned by John Lynde, where he d. Feb. 2, 1864, a. 63. He m. Abigail, dau. of Ezekiel and Abi- gail Kendall of Sterling, in 1830, but had no issue. She d. Sept. 11, 1880, a. 77.
[35.] DARBY, JOSEPH5, bro. of John5, inherited jointly with him the property of their f., represented more recently by the homestead of John K. Learned. He bought the trip-hammer establishment on the stream below the gristmill site, and moved the building to the junction of the Worc. and Pn. roads and set up the business of blacksmithing. He also plied his trade in the central village at the Thomas Gaut stand near where Bruce's store is now located, selling to Jesse Warren in 1804. Later in life he resided in both Sterling and Leom., but finally came back to W., where he d. Sept. 2, 1822, a. 47. He m. (1) April 19, 1796,
39
610
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
Lovisa, dau. of Stephen and Anna (Stearns) Calef, by whom he had 10 chn. She d. in July, 1816, and he m. (2) Deborah May of Sterling the following year, who bore him 2 chn. more. The date of her d. has not been found. Chn .:
76. HANNAH6, b. Nov. 1, 1796; d. 1800.
77. EZRA6, b. Aug. 17, 1798; m. Abigail Holt; res. Sterling; 2 chn .; d. Oct. 22, 1825 78. HANNAH6, b. July 22, 1800; m. Elbridge Dix; res. Boston; 3 chn.
79. JOSEPH6, b. April 6, 1803; m. Clarissa Underwood; res. Fg .; d. Nov. 8, 1848. So. ELVIRA6, b. Feb. 8, 1805; m. Benjamin Phelps; res. Hub .; d. Feb. 22, 1868.
SI. ARAD5, b. April 4, 1807; res. Prov., R. I.
S2. LOVISA6, b. June 28, 1809; m. Alexander Bigelow; res. W .; 3 chn .; living.
83. NANCY6, b. Oct. 25, 1811; m. Jacob S. Constantine; living.
84. WILLIAM6, b. 1813; d. infancy.
85. ELIZA6, b. Aug. 4, 1815; m. - Stuart; res. Ashby; d. Dec. 13, 1861.
86. MARTHA M.6, b. Aug. 29, 1818; unm .; d. Feb 2, 1877.
87. WILLIAM6, b. July 14, 1820; m. twice; sev. chn.
[36.] DARBY, ABEL5, another s. of John4 and Hannah, m. Mary Howard, but remained here only a short time. Chd .: 88. MARY6, b. June 3, 1799.
[38.] DARBY, ANDREW5, bro. of the last, m. Lorinda ab. 1808, and lived in town some years. He was something of a musician and served as trumpeter in the company of troop. Nothing is known of his later life. Chn .:
89. ALMIRA6, b. Aug. 24, 18c9. 90. ANGELINA6, b. Nov. 21, 1811.
91. ALZINA6, b. Feb. 2, 1816. 92. AMARILLA6, b. Aug. 7, 1823.
[62.] DERBY, WALTER6, s. of Aaron5 and Susannah, m. Mary, dau. of Ichabod and Abigail (Simonds) Winchester of Templeton, July 4, 1837, and lived on the old place. He d. March 13, 1855, a. 51. His wid. d. Sept. 27, 1881, a. 74. Chn .:
93. HENRY N.7, b. April 26, 1838; m. Julia A. Murphy; res. W.
94. SARAH I.7, b. Nov. 12, 1840; unm .; res. Wellesley.
95. MARY E.7, b. Nov. 23, 1842; unm .; res. Wellesley.
96. CHARLOTTE M.7, b. May 12, 1844; unm .; res. Wellesley.
97. AARON W.7, b. Nov. 27, 1846; m. Mary M. Cutting; res. W.
[93.] DERBY, HENRY N.7, s. of the last, m. Sept. 16, 1862, Julia A., dau. of Cornelius and Jane Murphy of Fg., and lives at So. W .; a chairmaker by trade. Chn .:
98. GEORGE T.8, b. Aug. 24, 1863. 99. FRANK W.8, b. April 19, 1868.
[97.] DERBY, AARON W., bro. of the last, m. March 25, 1869, Mary Maynard, dau. of Samuel and Mary Cutting of Hub., and res. in W. till recently, when he rem. to the west. Chn .: 100. FLORENCE EDITH8, b. May 3, 1871. 101. RODNEY E.8, b. July 5, 1877.
102. DARBY, EBENEZER3, bro. of Andrew (1), the progenitor of all those chronicled above, was a cooper by trade and res. in Nar. No. 2 in 1757, when, with other heirs, he quitclaimed all rights in his f.'s est. to his bro. Robert. He also, in the same yr., enlisted as a sold. in the Co. of Capt. Ballard for service in the F. and I. War. He m. Eunice Tarbox of Wenham, and had 10
611
THE DICKINSON AND DIKE FAMILIES.
chn., none of whom seem to have been b. here. He is supposed to have located finally in York, Me., where a considerable pos- terity has succeeded him. One of his descendants, Samuel C. Derby, Prof. of Latin in the State University at Columbus, O., is engaged in the preparation of a Genealogy of the Derby family.
I. DICKINSON, ISRAEL, S. of Nathaniel and Ruth (Comins) Dickinson (a descendant, no doubt, of Nathaniel, the immigrant, who was in Wetherfield, Conn., 1637, rem. to Hadley, 1659, freeman 1661, Deacon of the chh. later, dying June 16, 1676), was b. at Swanzey, N. H., Nov. 12, 1788. Coming to W., he m. Betsey, dau. of Merari and Bettie (Heald) Spalding, and set. on the Sangar-Wheeler place, half a mile beyond No. Com- mon. He d. April 1, 1860, a. 71. His wid. d. May 23, 1873, a. 81. Chn .:
2. FREDERICK, b. April 9, 1822; m. twice; res. Gr .; 6 chn .; dec'd.
3. CLARA A., b. Dec. 13, 1829; m. Curtis Glazier; d. Nov. 9, 1887.
4. ISRAEL, b. May 21, 1831; m. Hattie Earle; res. W.
5. FERDINAND, b. July 22, 1835; m. Hattie Maynard; res. W. and Rochester, N. Y.
[4.] DICKINSON, ISRAEL, s. of the last, m. Hattie S., dau. of Jonathan P. and Sylvia (Hamilton) Earle of Hub., Jan. 20, 1869, and set. in the central village. They have no chn.
[5.] DICKINSON, FERDINAND, bro. of the last, m. Hattie, dau. of Luther Maynard, Oct., 1860. He remained in town a few years, succeeding to the ownership and management of the hotel, upon the d. of his f .- in-law in 1863. He greatly enlarged the house and fitted it up for summer boarders, but not long after sold out and rem. to Rochester, N. Y. His w. d. and he m. (2) Addie Brooks, Oct. 5, 1882. Chn. b. W .:
6. CHARLIE E., b. Nov. 18, 1862. 7. LUTHER C., b. Nov. 8, 1864.
DIKE. All attempts to trace this family to its immigrant head have proved unavailing. The name has been connected with the history of Salem and vicinity from an early date. One Anthony Dike was in Co. with Roger Conant, 1631. The first of the name in this town came from Beverly, but a careful searching of the records there revealed nothing of his lineage back of his parents, who were m. June 10, 1703. It is stated by E. M. Stone, the writer of a history of that town, that Benjamin Dike, one of its inhabitants, was slain by the Indians at Cape Sable, N. S., in 1714-15, and tradition has identified him with the father of the W. settler. But the well authenticated facts given below prove the fallacy of that assumption, though it is possible that his grandfather, whose name is unknown, may have been the victim in the massacre referred to. For lack of reliable data concerning the earlier generations, the record of this family begins with the first comer to these borders, as herein set forth.
I. DIKE, NICHOLAS, was s. of Benjamin and Ann (Lucas) Dike, b. in Beverly, Nov. 2, 1722, his f. dying a short time pre- vious thereto. Upon attaining his majority, he came to Lunen- burg, where he spent a few years before rem. here, and where
612
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
he became acquainted with the woman whom he afterwards made his wife. On the 31st of May, 1751, he purchased of Joshua Church, Bolton, lot No. 74, long known as "the Dike place," situated near Schoolhouse No. 3, in the south part of the town, and soon took up his abode there. He was a man of unusual intelligence, native good sense, sound judgment, and executive ability, winning at an early day the favor and confidence of his fellow-members of the new township and of the general public, and rising to numerous positions of responsibility, service, and honor, which he filled creditably and acceptably. He was one of the Standing Committee of the propriety two years previous to the incorporation of the district, was frequently called upon to preside over town meetings, and held repeatedly the office of Selectman. He was elected Representative to the General Assembly of Mass. in 1776, serving during the critical period which intervened between the renunciation of allegiance to George III. and the formation of the State government. He was the second civil magistrate in the place, receiving his com- mission as Justice of the Peace prob. in 1776 or 1777, as he was in the discharge of the duties of the office during the latter year. In the records of the Worc. Co. Courts, his name appears in connection with important commissions and posts of public duty more frequently than that of any other W. citizen of his time. He had much of the martial spirit and was active in military affairs, receiving various appointments and promotions in that behalf. He was a soldier in the F. and I. War in 1757, and Aug. 26, 1761, was commissioned "Capt. of the militia Company of Foot in the town of Westminster in the 2d Regi- ment of Militia in the Co. of Worcester whereof Jos. Wilder is Colonel," by Gov. Bernard. After the commencement of hostilities with the mother country, he received the appoint- ment of "Col. of the 2d Regiment to be raised by the State to defend the line of forts in and about the town and harbor of Boston." (For details of military service in that capacity and otherwise, see Chapters VII and X.) Col. Dike m., prob. in 1756, Mary Hastings (?) of Lunenburg, by whom he had 3 chn. He d. July 29, 1812, a. 90. His w. d. Oct. 2, 1800. Chn .:
2. MARY, b. May 28, 1757; m. Shadrach Newton; res. W., etc.
3. NICHOLAS, b. Dec. 31, 1760; m. Joanna Baker; res. W.
4. SAMUEL, b. Oct. 31, 1763; taxed 1788; no further record.
[3.] DIKE, NICHOLAS, s. of the last, m. Joanna, dau. of Richard and Mary (Sawyer) Baker, Jan. 8, 1785, l. a few yrs. in Halifax, Vt., but ret. to W. and set. on his f.'s est. He was a man of strong physical and mental characteristics, but of nervous temperament with tendencies to insanity, which devel- oped into an incurable mania during the last years of his life. He d. March 2, 1833, a. 72 ; his wid., Joanna, d. March 10, 1848 a. 84. Chn .:
613
THE DIKE AND DIVOLL FAMILIES.
5. BENJAMIN, b. H., Oct. 5, 1785; m. twice; res. W. and elsewhere.
6. NANCY, b. H., Feb. 28, 1788; d. April 7, 1788.
7. NANCY, b. W., April 16, 1789; m. Joseph Day; res. Shirley; no chn.
S. POLLY, b. W., May IS. 1791; m. Asahel Miller; res. unknown; 9 chn.
9. HANNAH, b. Aug. 17, 1793; m. Richard Morse; res. Hub .; 4 chn.
10. SAMUEL, b. April 2, 1795; m. Lydia Bacon; res. Hub .; I chd.
I1. LUCINDA, b. April 15, 1797; m. James Morse; 5 chn .; res. W.
12. AMOS, b. Feb. IS, 1799; m. Annis Hill and Sarah W. Alden; res. W.
i3. SABINA, b. Jan. 13, ISoo; m. Ezekiel Day: res. Uxbridge; 7 chn.
14. ASA, b. Dec. 30, 1802; d. Aug. 21, 1804.
15. ASA, b. Nov. 17, 1804; m. Sally Derby; res. W.
16. RoxY, b. Dec. 26, 1806; unm .; d. Oct. 6, 1885.
[5.] DIKE, BENJAMIN, S. of the above, m. (I) Susannah Matthews of Hub. in 1809, and (2) Lucy Sampson of Ash. (?) He 1. for some years on the original Abner Holden (Fenno) place, near Hobart Raymond's residence, but moved to Rutland ab. 1826. His chn., b. mostly or entirely in W., were:
17. JOHN M., b. June 9, 1812 ?. IS. JOANNA, b. March 26, 1814 ?. 20. BENJAMIN, b. March 24, 1820.
19. LUCY, b. April 6, 1816.
21. NANCY D., b. March 31, 1822.
22. ELIZABETH, b. July 20, 1824; d. Aug. 19, 1824.
23. MARY, b. July 9, 1825; d. Dec. 26, 1827.
24. CHARLES E., b. March 11, 1828.
[12.] DIKE, AMOS, bro. of the last, m. (1) Annis W., dau. of Nathaniel and Annis (Whitcomb) Hill of Gr., Feb. 20, 1825. She bore him 3 chn., becoming subsequently insane and dying Oct. 8, 1845, a. 45. He then m. (2) Sarah W. Alden of Temp. and had I more chd. He l. for a time with his f., but afterward was on the Col. Bond farm near the Raymond sawmill. He rem. finally to Lunenburg, where he d. March 11, 1873. Wid. still living. Chn .:
25. AUGUSTUS, b. June 8, 1825; m. (1) Martha W. Kilburn, (2) Lucy A. Kilburn; res. Worc .; 2 chn.
26. JEROME, b. Nov. 26, 1827; m. Elizabeth P. Hills; 3 chn.
27. AMos, b. April 3, 1830; d. Jan. 26, 1836.
28. SARAH, b. 1852; m. Alfred S. Billings; res. Leom .; 2 chn .; d. May 8, 1879.
[15.] DIKE, ASA, the youngest s. of Nicholas and Joanna, m. Sally, dau. of Aaron and Susannah (Wood) Derby, May 25, 1847. He res. on the home place a few yrs., but finally dis- posed of it and located on the little farm of Jonathan Sawin, west of the Knower homestead. He d. April 14, 1889, a. 84. His wid., Sally (Derby), is still living. Chn .:
29. ELLEN R., b. May 7, 1849; n. Wm. H. Carter; res. W.
30. MARY S., b. July 1, 1851; m. Alonzo Wheeler; res. Westboro'; I chd.
31. ABBIE E., b. May 8, 1853; m. John N. Lee; res. Boston; no chn. rep.
32. CHARLES N., b. Dec. 26, 1855; unm .; res. W.
33. MARTHA J., b. April 4, 1860; m. Chas. L. Penhallow; res. Westboro'; I chd.
I. DIVOLL. MERRICK, ptge. unkn., b. July 8, 1796, came to W. ab. the year 1825 and m. Peggy, dau. of Josiah and Sarah (Sever) Cutter, who had been adopted by Ezekiel Flint. He succeeded to the est. of Mr. Flint on Beech Hill, now owned
614
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
by S. D. Hobbs, remaining there till his death, which occurred Sept. 27, 1847, at the a. of 51. His wid., Peggy, d. Oct. 22, 1883, a. 88. They had 2 sons :
2. LUKE, b. Dec. 30, 1826; m. Syrena M. Warner, etc .; res. W.
3. EZEKIEL. F .; m. Mary M. Jackson; res. Temp.
[2.] DIVOLL, LUKE, s. of the last, m. (1) Syrena M., dau. of Ezra and Sally Warner, Lunenburg, 1858. His w. d. Dec. 12, 1874, and he m. (2) Martha S., dau. of John and Sophronia Lewis. He d. Aug. 16, 1882, a. 55. Chn .:
4. GEORGE E., b. May 16, 1859; m. Lillian R. Howe; res. W .; no chn.
5. MERRICK L., b. March 23, 1866.
DODD.
John Dodd1 came from the north of Ireland ab. 1742, when 18 years of age, and settled in Bedford. He was a weaver by trade and is said to have produced the first linen goods manufactured in this country. The name of his wife has not been learned. He had, however, a s. William2 who m. Anna Child and located for a time in Holden, but rem. eventually to Pn., where he became prominent and active in public affairs, enjoying in a high degree the regard and confidence of the community. He held the office of Town Clerk for many years, the duties of which he discharged with scrupulous fidelity.
I. DODD, RUFUS3, s. of William2 and Anna (Child), was b. Pn., Feb. 22, 1770 (?). He came to W. ab. 1800, and formed a partnership with Isaac Miles in the English and W. I. goods trade. They dissolved March 14, 1804, and Mr. Dodd associated himself with Zadoc Sawyer in the same business at the so-called Bradbury store. He m. Jan. 16, 1803, Polly, dau. of Ebenezer and Polly (Monroe) Parker, Pn., and res. in the old Minister Marsh house on the Common, though he does not appear to have been the owner of it. He was repeatedly honored with the robes of office by his fellow-townsmen, having been a member of the Sch. Com. 1806-10, and a Selectman in the last 2 yrs. He d. Oct. 20, 1810, "much lamented," leaving, so far as is known, an only chd. His wid. m. (2) Dr. Isaac Warren of this tn. Chd .:
2. MARIA, b. W., date unkn .; m. Strong Mirick; res. Pn .; sev. chn.
3. DODD, WILLIAM3, bro. of the last, b. April 19, 1775, the day of the Concord and Lexington fight. He prob. came to W. to live with and work for Rufus. He m. Rebecca, dau. of Stephen and Rebecca (Wood) Hoar, Aug. 12, 1809. No chn. rep. He d. ab. 2 months after his bro.'s decease, Dec. 19 of the same year. His wid. m. (2) Zachariah Whitman and had 3 chn.
4. DODD, JOHN3, another bro. of Rufus, was only a tempo- rary resident of the tn. He was admr. of the latter's est., and was chosen Constable to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of the same. No fam. rep. and no information ob- tained of his subsequent life.
615
THE DODGE AND DOTY FAMILIES.
I. DODGE, ANTIPAS, place and date of b., ptge., etc., not ascertained, was here ab. 1780 and a few years afterward, though his name does not appear in the tax lists until 1786. He m. Lucy, dau. of John and Mary Woodward, and had 2 chn. while in tn. Nothing further known. Chn .:
2. NANCY, b. Sept. 22, 1782. 3. POLLY, b. Oct. 5, 1784.
4. DODGE, RICHARD T., a native of Me., came from Chelsea, 1885, and located on the little homestead on the highway lead- ing from the old Sch. Ho. No. 4 site to the residence of Alonzo Curtis, which he purchased of Mr. Swallow, who occupied it for some years as a summer residence. His w. was Jerusha Spen- cer, a native of Conn. They had 2 chn., who were b., and always res., elsewhere.
DOTY.
Among the passengers of the historic Mayflower, was one Edward Doty1, sometimes erroneously spelled Doten, the only individual of the immortal 101, whose name decended in direct line to a W. family. He was then but a lad-a servant or apprentice of Stephen Hopkins, a substantial member of the Pilgrim Colony. A few years later, he gained unenviable notoriety as one of the principals in the first duel fought in New England. When he came to settle in life, he established himself at Yarmouth, on Cape Cod, where he d. in 1685. Joseph Doty2, s. of Edward1, b. 1651, took up his abode in Rochester, and had there Ellis3, the f. of Edward4, who had a s., Zurishaddai5, b. Nov. 19, 1731. The latter moved to Hardwick, ab. the middle of the last century, and m. there Mary Warner, of which union came the Dotys of W.
I. DOTY, JOHN6, s. of the last named, was b. in Hardwick, 1757. He was a blacksmith by trade and began life at the an- vil. At the breaking out of Shays' Rebellion in 1786, he enlist- ed as Corp. in Capt. Edward Ruggles' Co., raised by order of the Gov. to aid in suppressing it, and shared in the sufferings incident to the memorable night march through a fearful snow- storm in Jan., 1787, to Petersham, whither the insurgents had fled after the humiliating fiasco at Springfield. No doubt he also shared with his fellow-patriots the substantial breakfast which their rebel foes had prepared for their own use, but which, in their surprise and hasty retreat from the place, they left all ready to be served for the hungry appetites of their pursuers. Mr. Doty m. Mary, dau. of Paul and Susannah (Ruggles) Man- dell, Sept. 19, 1779, and had 7 chn., all b. in H. He removed to W. early in the present century,-in 1805, says the Hist. of H., though his name is not found in the tax rolls here till 1813. During the last-named year he, in connection with his s., Timo- thy, purchased the central hotel property, where he prob. res. till his d., Feb. 27, 1830, in the 73d year of his age. His wid. d. May 26, 1841, a. 80. Chn .:
2. CHAUNCYT, b. Feb. 16, 17SI; m. Isabella Hinckley; res. H .; I chd .; d. Sept. 2, 1804.
3. SUKEY7, b. Jan. 14, 1783; no rec. found.
616
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
4. PHILOTHETA7, b. Dec. 28, 1784; m. - Pierce.
5. TIMOTHY, b. July 26, 1788; m. Susan Cowee; res. W.
6. PATTY W.7, b. Oct. 26, 1789; m. Abram Wood; res. W .; no chn .; d. Dec. 18, 1837.
7. LUCIA7, b. Feb. 14, 1793; d. young.
8. MARY W.7, b. Jan. 26, 1797; m. Rev. Joseph Wood; res South; sev. chn.
[5.] DOTY, TIMOTHY", s. of the last, came to W. with his f. and was associated with him in business, as already indicated, for many years. After giving up the hotel, he built, on land belonging to the original hotel estate, the house now owned by Mr. Lovewell and Mrs. Knight, where he res. the remainder of his life. For many years he run a country store, having opened it while yet keeping a public inn. He was a man of affairs, enterprising and public spirited, of much executive ability, standing well in the community, and influential with the people at large. He held the commission of a Justice of the Peace and numerous town offices; was Selectman 5 yrs., and presided over many town meetings. He m. Jan. 3, 1833, Susan, dau. of Pearson and Susannah (Upton) Cowee, and had one s. He d. March 9, 1835, a. 46. His wid. m. (2) Milton Joslin. She d. Feb. 10, 1879, a. 69. Their s. was :
9. PEARSON C.8, b. Oct. 15, 1833; m. Louisa M. Holdbrook; res. in or near N. Y. City; 1 chd.
1. DRESSER, RUFUS, presumably s. of Oliver and Olive (Osgood) Dresser of Pn., b. Feb. 18, 1767, came from Lanc. to WV. ab. 1795, but remained only a few years, removing to Vt., it is thought, bef. 1800. He seems to have res. in Gr. at an early date, his oldest chn., according to the rec., having been b. there. He was paid a bounty for crows' heads by the treasurer of this tn. in 1797. His w. was Elizabeth, prob. dau. of James and Maria (Hosley) Laws. Chn. as far as kn .:
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