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 76
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30. EDGELL, JOHN2, s. of the first named, William1 and Elizabeth (Norman) Edgell, b. ab. 1729, was also an early set- tler and for many years a resident here. When a lad he was apprenticed to Jacob Pike of Fram. to learn the housewright's trade. Upon arriving at a proper age, he was impressed into military service for a campaign in the F. and I. War, joining the Co. of Josiah Willard, Jr., which was assigned to Fort Dum- mer, Brattleboro'. While on the march from Northfield, July 14, 1748, the detachment of men to which he belonged fell into an ambuscade of the enemy, and he with ten others was taken
633
THE EDGELL, ELLICK, AND ELLIS FAMILIES.
prisoner and sent to Canada. He suffered great privations and indignities, which so broke down his health that when he was released, a few months later, his employer petitioned the General Court for extra compensation on that account. His apprentice. ship over, he came to Nar. No. 2, purchasing May 30, 1759, lot No. 24, 2d Div., now occupied in part by Leonard M. Gates, and set. upon it. At the expiration of 8 yrs. he sold to James Ross of Lanc., and bought lot No. 7, 2d Div., located on Bean Porridge Hill. This lot he cleared and built upon as he had done upon the other. In 1776 he conveyed the property to Zachariah Rand and not long after left tn., going, according to Barry, historian of Fram., to Westminster, Vt., where he d. at a date unkn. He m. Rebecca, dau. of Ephraim Winship of Lexington, and neice of Jonas Winship, an earlier settler here, and had :
30. EPHRAIM3, b. Sept. 6, 1763.
31. REBECCA3, b. Dec. 27, 1765; d. Aug. 26, 1767.
32. JOHN3, b. April 7, 1768.
34. LEVI3, b. Sept. 26, 1772.
33. REBECCA3, b. Aug. 9, 1770.
35. ABEL3, b. 1774 ?.
He also prob. had a son William3, who was killed by a falling tree at Rochester in 1800. Abel Edgell3, named above, m. Susannah Holden, of whom was b., Aug. 15, 1802, John Quincy Adams Fdgell+. He grad. at the University of Vt. in 1827, and at Andover Theological School in 1831; was ordained at W. Newbury Sept. 19, 1832, and dismissed Oct. 27, 1853. He was not settled again, but labored 10 years as Agent of the Society for promoting Collegiate and Theological Education at the West, when his health gave way and he retired to Burlington, Vt., where he d. Sept. 15, 1867. " A man of superior scholarship, and remarkable for modesty, simplicity of purpose, and great conscientiousness in religious duty."- Cong. Quar- terly. Of this branch of the Edgell family nothing further is known.
ELLICK, NATHAN, ptge., etc., unkn., came from Grafton in 1814, and purchased of Jabez Bigelow a part of lot No. III, near the old red sch. ho. site in the easterly section of the tn., which included prob. the present homestead of Richard T. Dodge, and having m. Lucy, dau. of Ephraim and Sarah Bige- low, res. there some half a dozen years. He then sold to James Harrington and bought, June 20, 1820, of Dr. Asaph Rice, the farm owned for half a century by his f., the second minister of the tn. His w. d. May 15, 1820, a. 28. He at length disposed of his est., left tn., and no rec. of him since has been fd.
I. ELLIS, PRESTON, S. of Timothy and Dorothy (Partridge) Ellis, was b. in Franklin, Oct. 28, 1803. He m. Samantha, dau. of Liberty and Rachel (Holbrook) Patridge, Dec. 30, 1830, and soon after set. in W. He was for a time associated with his f .- in-law in the lumber business. In 1839 he began gathering and buying berries and small fruit of various kinds, which he manufactured into marmalade and other forms of preserves for the general market. His productions proving popular and sala- ble, he enlarged his business from time to time until it became one of the most extensive and remunerative industries of the
634
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
tn. By the aid of his w .- a most capable and worthy woman - and other members of his fam. he was enabled to accumulate a considerable amount of property, a portion of which he very properly secured to his helpmeet and companion for her own personal benefit, use, and disposal. She was a devoted member of the Baptist Chh. and contributed liberally to its support. She passed away Oct. 16, 1881, when 70 yrs. of age. He fol- lowed her 9 yrs. later, Nov. 19, 1889, a. 86. Chn :
2. PRESTON P., b. Dec. 15, 1831; m. Electa Bishop; res. W.
3. RHODA M., b. Nov. 4, 1834; d. unm. April 1, 1890.
4. MARTHA F., b. Jan. 13, 1837; m. Henry J. Partridge; res. W .; 4 chn .; living.
5. JAMES, b. July 8, 1839; d. same day.
6. MYRA E., b. April 11, 1851; living; unm.
[2.] ELLIS, PRESTON P., s. of the last, m. May 12, 1859, Electa, dau. of David N. and Rebecca (Kendall) Bishop, Hub., and set. in a house built by himself, a few rods east of his f.'s residence. He was in the preserve business with his f. before the decease of the latter, but has now abandoned it for farming. His w. d. March 1, 1870, a. 33, leaving 2 chn. :
7. WALTER E., b. June 22, 1862. 8. HENRY L., b. Aug. 1, 1869.
I. ELMER, JOSEPH, ptge. unkn., was b. at Vernon, Vt., May 24, 1785. He m. March, 1808, Eliza Goss of Northfield, and res. many yrs. in his native place, where all his chn. were b. Ab. 1830 he came here and located at the Miles' tavern stand on the old turnpike, in the east part of the tn., keeping there a public house. His later life was spent in Worc., where he d. Nov. 17, 1864, a. 79. His w. d. at Oxford, March 4, 1846, a. 55. Chn. :
2. MARTHA M., b. Dec. 20, 1814; m. Silas Jewett; res. Sterling; 4 chn .; d. July 23, 1887.
3. RALPH A., b. May 5, 1816; d. Vernon, March 20, 1823.
7. RUTH E., b. Nov. 28, 1818; m. Wm. Seaver; res. Worc .; 3 chn .; d. April 15, 1865.
5. LUCY P., b. 1820; d. Aug. 13, 1822.
6. Lois, b. Oct., 1821; d. Aug. 12, 1822.
7. BELINDA A., b. Jan. 29, 1826; m. Warren Goodnow; res. Whittingham, Vt .; I chd .; d. Sept. 5, 1871.
8. SARAH J., b. June 7, 1827; m. A. W. Seaver; res. Worc .; 2 chn .; living.
9. JOSEPH A., b. Oct., 1828; d. July 15, 1829.
I. EMERSON, JACOB, untraced, was on lot No. 35, 2d Div., west of the Lyman Drury place, in 1762, when a road was laid out for him. In 1767 he was fined for killing deer. His w. was Sarah, dan. of Thomas Dole of Lanc., whom he m. July 5, . 1766. Left W. ab. 1780 for parts unkn. Chn. :
2. SARAI, b. June 15, 1767.
3. JACOB, b. Aug. 15, 1769.
1. HANNAH, b. Oct. 1, 1771. 5. REBECCA, b. Oct. 8, 1773; d. June 22, 1775.
6. JOHN, b. Jan. 12, 1776. 7. JEREMIAH, b. July 5, 1778.
The latter of these, Jeremiah, was a public charge in Charlestown in 1840, and application was made to W. for aid in supporting him.
8. EMERSON, AUGUSTUS, s. of Oliver and Ann (Law) Emer- son, was b. Acton ab. 1770. He came to this tn. ab. 18II, and
635
THE EMERSON AND ESTABROOK FAMILIES.
purchasing the Silas Beaman house and store on the easterly verge of the Common, where Geo. S. Ham now lives, went into trade there, continuing the business, sometimes by himself and sometimes with a partner, for 20 yrs. or more. He also kept a public house awhile. He was popular in tn. and seemed pros- perous in business, living in apparent comfort and competency, but late in life became greatly reduced financially, and d. at length a tn. charge, June 17, 1844. The name of his w. was Caroline -, who was also from Acton, and who d. May 19, 1826, a. 56. They had no chn., but a foster daughter, Caroline Brooks, a niece of Mrs. E., res. with them, and is pleasantly remembered by some of the older inhabitants. She m. a Mr. Fletcher and went to Jamestown, N. Y., where she, in venera- ble widowhood, still res.
EMERSON, Rev. BROWN, s. of Jacob and Dorotha, was b. at Harvard, grad. Yale Coll., studied theology with Dr. Fisher of H. and at And. Sem., and was set. as pastor of the Orthodox (Cong.) Chh. in W. Boylston in 1837. He afterwards preached at Torringford, Conn., Northumberland, Pa., Dracut, Billerica, and Vineland, N. J., coming from the latter place to W. in 1859, and being installed as pastor here June 7th of that year. He re- signed his charge in March, 1862, and went to Burlington, Conn. He has since deceased. His w. was Catharine B., dau. of Rev. Brown Emerson, D. D., of Salem, a distant relative, to whom he was pub. March 26, 1838.
ESTABROOK.
This name was known in Wales as long ago as 1413, and in Holland, under a Dutch form - Estenbrugge,-at even an earlier date. Its antiquity and place in English annals have not been ascertained, It did not appear in this country till 1660, when three brothers. b. in Enfield, Middlesex Co., came hither to make for themselves a home. One of them settled in Swanzey. Mass., another in Concord, while the third, Joseph1, already prepared for college, entered Harvard and graduated in 1664. After three years' study of theology, he was ordained and installed as colleague of the Rev. Peter Bulkley. the first minister of Concord, where he remained till his death in 1711. He is said to have been "eminent for his skill in the Hebrew language, and a most orthodox. learned, and worthy divine: of excellent principles in religion, indefatigably laborious in the ministry, and of holy life and conversation."-(Boston News-Letter). He preached the "Election Sermon" in 1705. He m. Mary Mason and had four sons. two of whom, Benjamin2 and Samuel2, grad. at Harvard and became clergy- men, the former at Camb. Farms (now Lexington), the latter at Canterbury, Conn. Of the other two, Joseph2, the oldest of all, m. (1) Millicent Wood- house (Woodis) of Concord, and (2) wid. Hannah Loring of Hingham. He set. first in the latter town, but rem. before 1696 to Lexington, where he was an active and influential member of the church and a highly respected and much honored citizen. He was elected Dea. in 1716, a position which he held as long as he lived, besides filling almost every civil office in the people's gift. - Town Clerk, Treasurer. Assessor. Selectman, and Representative to the Great and General Court. His s. John3, b. July 28, 1694, m. Prudence Harrington, Oct. 27, 1720, and of this union came, in the order of Nature and Providence, the Estabrooks of W., as herein set forth.
636
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
I. ESTABROOK, JOHN4, s. of John and Prudence, was b. Oct. 20, 1729. He was in Narragansett No. 2, very soon after at- taining his majority, having had money paid him by the Treas- urer of the township in 1751. During that same year, Oct. 17, he bought lot No. 103, located in the E. part of the town, the most of which has remained in possession of the family to the present day.
Mr. Estabrook, having cleared an opening in the wilderness and erected a suitable shelter for a family, m., prob. early in 1756, Anna, dau. of his near neighbors, Thomas and Mary Bemis, by whom he had, it is believed, the largest number of chn. ever b. in town of the same parentage. Mr. Estabrook d. in 1804, a. nearly 75. His wid., Anna, d. Feb. 26, 1832, a. 92. Chn .:
2. JOHN5, b. Dec. 5, 1756; m. Hannah Conant; res. W .; no chn .; d. Jan. 6, 1826.
3. ANNE", b. Sept. 15, 1758; m. Thomas Farnsworth; res. W .; chn. [1839. 4. MARY5, b. Sept. 17, 1760; m. Joel Miles; res. Fitzwilliam; 9 chn .; d. Sept. 30, 5. ELIZABETH5, b. Jan. S, 1763; m. James Sawin; res. W .; 5 chn .; d. I ec. 26, 1852.
6. JOSEPH5, b. March 13, 1765; d. Oct. S, 1772.
7 ISAAC5, b. April 9, 1767; d. Oct. 20, 1772.
8. SAMUEL5, b. Oct. 19. 1769; d. by lightning, July 25, 1783.
9. THOMAS5, b. June 4, 1772; m. Hepzibah Hunt; res. W.
IO. MILICENT5, b. July 23, 1774; d. Dec. 14, 1777.
11. JOSEPH5, b. Nov. 1, 1776; m. Sally Conant; res. W.
12. ISAAC5, b. Aug. 31, 1778; m. Priscilla Dunster; res. W.
13. MILICENT5, b. Nov. 25, 1780; d. unm. April 21, 1867.
14. SAMUEL5, b. Nov. 21, 1754; went W .; m. there; 3 chn
1 5. SALLY5, b. Jan. 24, 1787; m. Artemas Smith; res. Chester, Vt .; chn.
[2.] ESTABROOK, JOHN5, oldest s. of the last, m. Hannah, dau. of Thomas and Hannah Conant, and settled on a part of the Conant farm near the outlet of Wachusett Pond. They had no chn. He d. Jan. 6, 1826, a. 69. She d. Dec. 20, 1837, a. 83. [9.] ESTABROOK, THOMAS5, bro. of the last, m. Hepzibah, dau. of Nehemiah and Submit (Bateman) Hunt of Concord. He erected a house for himself opp. that of his father, on the original homestead, and there he spent his days. He d. June 1, 1849, a. 77. She d. April 21, 1861, a. 88. Their chn., only two of whom were spared from the shafts of the destroyer till maturity, were :
16. MARY6, b. May 17, 1798; d. unm. April 9, 1866.
17. FARWELL6, b. Nov. 28, ISoo; d. May, LEOI.
IS. NEHEMIAH6, b. June 23, 1802; d. April 19, 1803.
19. JOHN6, b. April 4, 1804; m. Selecta Gould; res. W. and Vt.
[II.] ESTABROOK, JOSEPH5, s. of John4 and Anna, m. Sally Conant, dau. Thomas and Ruth, and succeeded to most of his father's estate, occupying the same dwelling until it was replaced by the one now standing, in which his dau. Mary resides. He d. Jan. 23, 1826, a. 49. His wid., Sally, d. Jan. 22, 1870, a. 82. Chn .:
20. ELLERY6, b. Dec. 28, 1805; res. on the old place; d. unm. April 16, 1886.
21. STEDMAN", b. Jan. 9, 1809; d. infancy.
637
THE ESTABROOK FAMILY.
22. HANNAH6, b. July 31, 1810; m. Daniel Hayden; res. Marlb.
23. RUTH R.6, b. Aug. 9, 1813; d. unm. July 11, 1887.
24. C'VRUS M.", b. Nov. 19, 1816; m. Bethia Colman; res. Sterling; 8 chn .; living.
25. JOSEPH W.6, b. June 29, 1819; m. Mary Perry and wid. Wellington; no chn .; living W.
26. EDWARD W.6, b. April 24, 1822; m. Mary E. Waggoner; res. Md .; 2 chn.
27. MARY ANN6, b. Oct. 20, 1824; unm .; lives W.
[12.] ESTABROOK, ISAAC5, also s. of John+ and Anna, m. Priscilla, dau. Thomas and Lydia (Pierce) Dunster, and set. on lands that his father bought of Jabez Bigelow in 1762, near Wachusettville. His dau. Betsey now occupies the house ne built for himself. He d. April 18, 1849, a. 70. Priscilla, his wid., d. March 4, 1875, a. 88. Chn .:
28. ISAAC6, b. Feb. 11, ISII; d. May 11, same year.
29. BETSEY6, b. June 19, 1812; unm .; has always lived on the home place.
30. ISAAC6, b. Feb. 18, 1815; in Florida war; res. Ga .; d. unm. June 12, 1843.
31. CHARLES ASHER6, b. May 24, 1817; m. Caroline H. Dow; res. W.
32. SAMUEL6, b. Dec. 19, 1821; d. April 24, 1833.
33. Unnamed6, b. Jan. 6, 1823; d. Jan. 9, 1823.
34. SARAH ANN6, b. Sept. 13, 1827; d. May 14, 1845.
[19.] ESTABROOK, JOHN6, s. of Thomas5 and Hepzibah (Hunt) Estabrook, m. Selecta Gould, dau. Joseph and Chloe, Tinmouth, Vt., June 5, 1831. He d. April 2, 1880, a. 76. His wid. is still living at Marlboro'. Chn .:
35. MAHALA7, b. Dec. 26, 1833; m. Frank B. Fenno; res. W .; 3 chn .; living.
36. AMELIA", b. Oct. 31, 1835; m. Josiah S. Howe; res. Marlboro'; 4 chn.
37. MARY", b. Feb. 2, 1839; m. A. M. Brigham; res. Marlboro'; 3 chn., of whom one s., Wm. M., grad. Bost. Uni., 1887.
38. J. WESLEY7, b. April 20, 1844; m. Sarah Parkinson; res. Alstead, N. H .; 2 chn.
39. SARAII A.7, b. June 6, 1849; m. Frank W. Ellis, Marlboro'; no chn.
[24.] ESTABROOK, CYRUS M.6, s. of Joseph5 and Sally (Conant) Estabrook, m. Bethia, dau. Almon and Bethia (Horner) Colman, Hub., Oct. 25, 1838. They lived in W. awhile and had 2 chn., then removed to Pn., where they remained a few years, then went to Sterling, their present place of residence. 10 chn. in all ; those of this town were :
40. EDWARD C.7, b. W., Jan. 9, 1840; m. Mary Corey; res. W.
41. ALVIN E.7, b. W., Aug. 29, 1841 ; m. Hattie Roper; res. Leom .; 3 chn .; living.
[31.] ESTABROOK, CHARLES ASHER6, s. of Isaac and Priscilla (Dunster) Estabrook, m. Nov. 23, 1846, Caroline H., dau. Joseph and Sarah (Moore) Dow of Exeter, N. H., where she was b. Sept. 4, 1827. He is a farmer, residing on the paternal estate in a house built by himself, nearly opposite the one occupied by his parents. His w. d. Dec. 25, 1889, a. 62. Chn .:
42. FRANCIS C.7, b. July 14, 1847; d. Aug. 6, 1849.
43. ISADORE P.F, b. May 10, 1851; m. Edgar A. Edwards; I chd.
44. FRANK C.7, b. Oct. 26, 1854; unm .; a paper-maker at Bristol, N. H.
45. ARIE A.7, b. Oct. 31, 1857; m. Benj. W. Wilson; res. W .; I chd .; d. Dec. 25, 1881.
46. Lewis J.7, b. Feb. 7, 1860; d. April 29, 1865.
47. HENRY D.7, b. Dec. 9, 1863; unm .; res. Florida.
48. CAROLINE J.7, b. July 10, 1870; d. Sept. 9, 1870.
638
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
[40.] ESTABROOK, EDWARD C.7, s. of Cyrus M.6 and Bethia (Colman) Estabrook, m. Sept. 8, 1875, Mary Corey of Holliston. After res. at Marlboro' awhile he returned to W. and settled upon the original homestead of the family, building a new house upon the site of the one burned many years before. Chn .:
49. ARTHUR C.8, b. May 9, 1876.
50. WALTER H.8, b. Oct. 31, 1878; d. Jan. 21, 18SS.
51. JOSEPH W.8, b. Oct. 3, 1883; d. Oct. 16, 1887.
52. ALVIN E.8, b. Aug. 29, 1885.
53. NELLIE L.8, b. Dec. 4, 1887.
54. CARRIE L.8, b. Dec. 28, 1890.
I. ESTEY, OLIVER, S. of Oliver and Elizabeth (Gay). Estey of Orange, Mass., was b. March 7, 1797. While but a lad he came here and entered the store of Dr. Bartlett as an ap- prentice, and there he remained through life. After the de- cease of the Dr. in 1819, the property of his employer came into his hands. He greatly improved it, extending trade and enhancing in many ways the value and attractiveness of the estate. He m. (1) Oct. 14, 1821, Achsah Bartlett, niece and adopted dau. of the Dr., who d. Jan. 15, 1824, leaving one child. On the 12th of the following Oct. Mr. Estey m. (2) Lucy, dau. of Wm. and Anna (Heywood) Whitney of Gr., who was his faithful helpmeet through life and who survived him more than twenty-five years. He served the town two years as Selectman and was one year a member of the School Committee. He d. May 9, 1854, a. 57. His w., Lucy, d. May 11, 1889, a. 83. Chn .:
2. OLIVER B., b. Jan. 6, 1824; m. Abigail Holden; res. W.
3. ACHSAH M., b. Dec. 8, 1825; m. Chas. G. Giles; 4 chn .; d. Feb. 15, 1869.
4. LUCY E., b. Sept. 10, 1827; m. Chas. G. Giles, 2d wife; no chn .; living.
5. WILLIAM W., b. Dec. 9, 1829; d. unm. Sept. 1, 1862.
6. GEORGE, b. April 24, 1833; m. Susan Bendick; res. G .; d. May 29, 1871.
7. FRANCIS, b. Jan. 31, 1835; lost his health in war of Rebellion and d. Jan. 19, I865.
S. ELIZA A., b. June 15, 1837; m. Alden F. Adams; res. W .; 2 chn.
9. MARY A., b. June 4, 1841; m. Geo. H. Harris; res. W .; I chd.
IO. EMMA A., b. March 24, 1848; unm.
[2.] ESTEY, OLIVER BARTLETT, s. of the last, m. Abigail, dau. Jonas and Asenath (Jackson) Holden, Nov. 17, 1846, and remained in town through life. He d. May 12, 1872, a. 48. His wid., Abigail, d. Jan. 19, 1876, a. 51. Chn .:
II. FRANK L., b. Jan. 28, 1859; d. Oct. 11, 1860.
12. FANNIE E., b. May 25, 1862; m. Chas. W. Minott; res. W.
EVANS, ELIAS6, s. of Thomas5 and Rebecca (Smith) Evans of Reading (birth-date unknown), was a descendant of Henry1, who came from Wales early in the history of the Mass. Colony and settled in that part of Reading now called Greenwood, by the following line : Nathaniel2, Nathaniel3, Jonathan+, Thomas5. The mother of Elias was a very devout, zealous Christian, after the type of her own particular school of faith, whose religious experiences were so marked and impressive, and whose labors
639
THE EVANS AND EVERETT FAMILIES.
of benevolence and piety were so many and notable, as to be deemed worthy of portrayal and commendation in a volume de- tailing and commemorating them at considerable length after her decease. In 1820, July 29, Mr. Evans bought of Jesse Stone the fulling mill built by Elisha Hall at the outlet of the town meadows, which he run for a time, and of which he was in possession ab. 20 years. During the latter part of his resi- dence here he was engaged in painting and kindred pursuits. Ab. the year 1839 he removed to Concord, N. H., where it is sup. he spent the remainder of his days. The date of his d. is unknown. No w. or chn. reported.
EVERETT.
This name has been more than ordinarily conspicuous and reputable in the State of Massachusetts and throughout the country at large during the almost entire period of their history, It has represented not only persons of supe- rior moral worth and of wide usefulness in the more retired and unobtrusive walks of life, but those of eminent gifts and praiseworthy achievements in spheres of public activity and influence, as scholars, physicians, jurists, divines, statesmen, and orators of distinction and renown. It was variously spelled in the olden time, appearing in ancient records and transcriptions as "Everard," "Everitt," etc., though the more modern and generally approved form at the present day is that given it at the head of this sketch.
The immigrant progenitor of the greater part, if not of all, the families distinguished by this name in New England was Richard Everett1, who came to these shores ab. 1632, locating at Watertown for a brief period, but rem. to Dedham in 1636, being one of the founders of that town, and dying there July 3, 1682. He is regarded as of English birth and descent, though his antecedents are unknown. He had a son, John2, who bore the title of Capt., the father of Richard3, both of whom res. in Dedham. The latter had a son Joshua4, who took up his residence in Attleboro', whence a scion of the stock was transferred to W.
I. EVERETT, JOSHUA5, s. of Joshua of Attleboro', was b. Sept. 21, 1741. He could have scarcely more than attained his ma- jority when he came to this town, his name first appearing in the assessor's lists of 1763. . On the 21st of June the following year he m. Molly Titus of his native place and, bringing her here, set up housekeeping in the first dwelling erected in the township, where Hobart Raymond now res., as tenant prob. of Jos. Holden, jr., and there their oldest child was b. ten months afterward. Before that event occurred, he had bought the N. E. corner of lot No. 10, now represented by the residence of E. S. Burnham, originally improved and occupied by David Dunster. He prob. moved there in 1765, cultivating to begin with the land, but subsequently starting a tannery, the first in the place. He remained some 16 years, meanwhile erecting the spacious dwelling house still standing on the premises, which he opened as a hotel in 1777. On the 26th of May, 1781, he sold his estate, with its buildings and appurtenances, to Wm. Penniman from Braintree, and, four days later, purchased of James Bowers the confiscated homestead of John Bowen, a loyalist "absentee" of
640
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
the neighboring town of Pn., and soon after located there, thus laying the foundations of, and giving a name to, what was in later days the little hamlet of "Everettville". There also in due time he started a tannery which he run in connection with his agricultural operations, and which at his decease he transmitted with his farm and other landed estate to his two sons, Wm. and Joshua, the fathers respectively of the late W. Stillman Everett and of the venerable J. T. Everett, who has recently taken up his abode in town. Joshua Everett, sen., d. Feb. 4, 1825, a. 84. His w., Molly (Titus) Everett, d. June 5, 1823, age unascertain- ed. They had 3 chn .:
2. WILLIAM6, b. April 15, 1765; m. (1) Pamela How and (2) wid. Lucy Richardson; d. Dec. 7, 1857.
3. JOSHUA6, b. Feb. 4, 1767; m. (1) Ruth Wood and (2) Lucy Roper; d. Feb. 21, 1851.
4. RHODA T.6, b. Jan. 31, 1770; m. Houghton Osgood, Pn .; d. May 7, 1853.
5. EVERETT, JEREMIAH4, s. of Richard3 of Dedham and uncle of the above-named Joshua (I), was b. Nov. 12, 1713. He was the first regularly bred physician of the town. Of his early years nothing has been learned. He m. (1) Rebecca Blackinton of Attleboro' and is said to have had seven chn., the oldest of them being Richard5, b. Jan. 3, 1737, of whom more below. He was here as early as 1763, engaged in the practice of medicine, purchasing of John Brooks the following year the S. W. corner of lot No. 4,-the Estey estate-where he resided for 18 years, the only knight of the saddle bags in town. In Dec., 1782, he sold to Dr. Daniel Bartlett and soon after left for parts unknown. His wife d. prob. before he came here, and he m. (2) Elizabeth Warren, Sept. 7, 1766. No chn. by her are reported. Prob. none of his chn. were ever more than transient residents here. The place and date of his d. have not been ascertained. Only one chd. has been brought to notice :
6. RICHARD5, b. at unk. date; m. Drusilla Shurtliff Clair; 2 chn., as herewith noted.
Richard Clair Everett6, sometimes called simply Richard Everett in the records and sometimes Clear Everett, was an intermittent inhabitant of W., between 1770 and 1791. He was s. of Richard5 and Drusilla, b. March 28, 1764. While yet a boy, his father, who was a sailor, was lost at sea, and his mother, grief- stricken and broken hearted, soon followed her beloved to the spirit world. A sister went to live with an aunt in Boston and soon after d., while he came to W. and made it his home with his grandfather. In 1779, when only 15 of age, he enlisted in the company of Capt. Cowdin of Fitchburg for a month's service in the Rev., and in 1780 and 1781 his name appears in the quota for W. as the Chap. upon that conflict will show. While in the army he was brought to the notice of Gen. Washington, who employed him as a personal attendant. Leaving the seat of war, he joined an expedition to Lancaster, N. H., where he hired out as a common laborer till 1784, when, animated by a desire to make the most of him- self, he gathered up what means he had, went to Hanover, N. H., entered Moor's Charity School in order to prepare himself for Dartmouth College then re- cently established, from which institution he grad. with 30 others in 1790. During this year, and several others before and after, he taught school in W., as the Selectmen's order books definitely show.
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