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 89

Author: Heywood, William S. (William Sweetzer), 1824-1905
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Lowell, Mass.: Vox Populi Press : S.W. Huse & Co.
Number of Pages: 1082


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 89


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I. KNOWER, THOMAS5, s. of John4 and Phebe, was b. Dec. 17, 1748. His first recorded presence in this town was when ab. 30 years of age, having been a resident tax-payer in 1779. He received a warm welcome to the place, as evinced by the fact that he m. Feb. 10, 1780, Anna, dau. of Reuben and Ann (Rice) Miles, and established a home on the W. part of the Gov.'s farm, where his gt .- gd.s. now resides. The estate had been pur- chased by the father of his w. fourteen years before, and prob. came into his possession at a later date, as her share, in part at least, of the large paternal property. He seems to have been a joiner as well as farmer, and to have worked somewhat at that trade, building the town stocks in 1793, etc. He d. Nov. 22, 1825, a. 77. His wid., Anna (Miles) Knower, d. Oct. 7, 1849, a. 91. Chn., 6 daus. and I s .:


2. PHEBE6, b. March 26, 1781, d. Aug. 19, 1785.


3. NANCY6, b. Feb. 21, 1783; m. John Brown; res. W .; no chn .; d. July 3, 1805.


4. SALLY6, b. May 7, 1785; m. John Brown and Jonas Patch; res. W. and Ashby; d. Aug. 2, 1861.


5. PIIEBE6, b. March 5, 1787; m. Joseph Brown and David Goodhue; res. W .; d. Nov. 7, 1839.


6. POLLY6, b. May 1, 1789; d. Nov. 2, 1791.


7. LUCY6, b. Oct. 5, 1791; d. Nov. 6, 1791.


8. THOMAS6, b. Jan. 6, 1795; m. twice and res. W.


[8.] KNOWER, THOMAS6, s. of the last, an industrious, frugal, successful farmer of his time, m. Dec. 5, 1820, Elmira, dau. of Jonathan and Rhoda (Cowee) Eager, and (2) Sally, dau. of Nathan and Sally Estabrook of New Ipswich, N. H. (pub. May 10), 1835. He inherited his father's farm and spent his days there, passing away Sept. 22, 1879, a. 84. His w., Elmira (Eager), d. Oct. 30, 1834, a. 36; and Sally (Estabrook), Feb. 17, 1875, a. 69. Chn .:


9. MARY BIGELOW7, b. March 24, 1823; d. July 18, 1831.


10. HORACE BROWN7, b. Jan. 21, 1828; m. Mary A. Sawin; res. W.


[IO.] KNOWER, HORACE B.7, s. of the last, m. Jan. 4, 1854, Mary Adelia, dau. James and Eunice (Hyde) Sawin, and set. with his parents on the ancestral farmstead, which came into his possession after their decease. Like his f. and gd.f., he was an industrious, well-to-do farmer, keeping up the repu- tation of the paternal line for good husbandry and uprightness of character. His career was brought to a tragic close at the


741


THE KNOWER AND LAMB FAMILIES.


So. Main st. R. R. crossing in Gardner, where, in attempting to pass, he was struck by a train and instantly killed, Oct. 7, 1885. His wid. is still living upon the old place. Chn. :


II. CALVIN HEYWOOD8, b. June 28, 1855; d. Aug. 27, 1871.


12. CHARLES FRANKLIN8, b. Dec. 21, 1856; m. Edith E. Prescott; res. W.


[12.] KNOWER, CHARLES FRANKLINS, just named, m. Nov. 26, 1879, Edith E., dau. Geo. H. and Emily A. (Taylor) Pres- cott. Upon the sudden d. of his f. he succeeded to the manage- ment of the home estate, which he still retains. Chn. :


13. HENRY HORACE9, b. Jan. 10, 1882. 14. ALVIN LAWRENCE9, b. June 19, 1884.


15. GLADYS GEORGIANA9, b. Aug. 19, 1886.


16. BESSIE MARIA9, b. Nov. 8, 1888. 17. MARY EMILY9, b. Aug. 11, 1890.


I. LABRECK, FRANK, S. of Lewis and Esther of Highgate, Vt., m. (1) Hattie S., dau. of John and Amelia Borey of Belcher- town, and came to W. early in the seventies. After the birth of 5 ehn. his w. d., Sept. 27, 1886, a. 27, and he m. (2) Mary L., dau. of Anthony L. and Mary L. Bogart, from Can. Chn .:


2. FRANK, b. May 12, 1874; d. May 24, 1879.


3. NETTIE M., b. Jan. 18, 1878. 4. JOHN A., b. March 22, ISSO.


5. LOUISA A., b. April 24, 1882. 6. LEVI F., b. Sept. 1, 1884.


7. LULU M., b. Feb. 15, ISS8.


LAMB.


Among the early proprietors of Leicester, who, in 1687. bought of the native Indians the territory now including the central village of that town, and christened it Strawberry Hill, was Col. Joshua Lamb1, presumed to have been of English birth and the head of the family of that name in this part of the country. His sup. s., Jonathan2, had John8, a res. of Spencer, the f. of James+, who set. in Hub. One of the s. of James+, Pliny5, m. Re- becca Brown, and from this union came the Lamb families of W.


LAMB, GREENLIEF6, s. of the last named, was b. Hub. Jan. 25, 1805, and m. Hannah H., dau. of Stephen and Hannah Frost of that town, April 12, 1827. They res. in their native place awhile, then were in Gr. for a year or two, rem. to W. ab. 1834. He was a blacksmith, and first plied his trade here at the Thomas Gaut shop on Main st., on or near the spot now occupied by the store of George W. Bruce. He subsequently built the well-known stand on Bacon st.,-a shop and dwelling,- where he located permanently. He is said to have been a superior workman and had an extensive patronage. In con- neetion with his regular calling he manufactured elliptie ear- riage springs, forks for agricultural uses, etc., which had an ex- cellent reputation and a large sale. He d. Feb. 26, 1877, a. 72. His w., Hannah F., d. May 28, 1876, a. 72. Chn. :


2. JOHN G.7, b. May 30, 1828; m twice; res. W. and Worc .; I chd .; d. Sept. 9, 1872.


3. STEPHEN F.7, b. June 1, 1834; m. Anna P. Brown; res. W.


4. MARY F.7, b. March 28, 1836; m. Spencer Frost; res. W .; 2 chn .; on Sch. Com., I877-78.


5. CHARLES A.7, b. May 18, 1841; d. Sept. 2, 1842.


742


HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.


[2.] LAMB, JOHN G.7, s. of the last, m. (1) July 31, 1854, Mary B., dau. of Loring Chase, b. Newfane, Vt., 1831. She d. May I, 1855, and Nov. 2, 1857, he was pub. to Lizzie Richardson of Phillipston. Res. a few years in tn., then rem. to Worc., where he d. Was in the civil war. (See Chap. XX.) Had but I chd. :


6. HENRY W.8, b. June 27, IS59; res. Boston.


[3] LAMB, STEPHEN FROST7, bro. of the last, m. Nov. 10, 1859, Anna P., dau. Philander C. and Louisa (Whitney) Brown, and succeeded to his f.'s calling and estate. He is a reputable citizen of the town, having held the office of Assessor and filled other important positions in the people's gift. Chn .:


7. CHARLES G.8, b. Sept. 28, 1860; m. Alice M. Mansfield; res. Denver, Col .; State Veterinary surgeon; I chd .; living.


8. LILLIAN B.8, b. Sept. 21, 1864; m. Cyrus T. Miller; res. W.


9. JOHN WM.3, b. June 21, 1866; m. Ada C. Miller; res. Fg.


IO. GEORGIE L.8, b. June 15, 1880.


II. LAMB, AUGUSTUS6, another s. of Pliny5, and Rebecca, a. 32, m. (I) Amanda, dau. Liberty and Dorinda Patridge, June 2, 1844. He was also a blacksmith and had a shop near the sawmill of his f .- in-law. Mrs. L. d. April 9, 1853, a. 32. He m. (2) Amanda Colman, and left tn. many years since. Chn. :


12. JULIA7, b. Nov. 3, 1844; m. Jos. T. Marshall; res. W .; no chn.


13. MARY E.7, b. July 6, 1845; d. Jan. 9, 1855.


14. Daughter7, b. Dec. 9, 1846; d. infancy.


15. WILLIAM A.7, b. May 7, 1849; m. and had 3 chn .; res. Stoneham; d. Sept. 29, 1881.


16. CHARLES G.7, b. Feb. 12, 1851: d. June 12, 1873.


17. AMARETTA7, b. Jan. 19, 1853; d. infancy.


I. LANE, GEORGE W., untraced, came into tn. ab. 1835 with his mother, wid. Mary W. Lane, 3 bros., Francis, Edwin, Na- thaniel, and sr. Sarah, and was a res. here many years. His mother m. J. Russell Coolidge ; Francis and Nathaniel went to California; Edwin set. Groton, and still res. there; Sarah m. Samuel Hodgman and res. Gr. Geo. W. was pub. to Samira Whitcomb of Swanzey, N. H., May 4, 1841. He was a wheel- wright and res. on what is now Elliot st. He gave the friends of temperance much trouble by engaging in the illegal sale of intoxicating liquors, and was repeatedly convicted at the Worc. Court and fined therefor. He is said to have gone into the army, to have become wealthy, and to be still living, engaged in amateur farming somewhere in N. H. Chn. :


2. HARRIET E., b. Dec. 22, 1841. 3. MARY E., b. Nov. 19, 1843.


4. NANCY M., b. Oct. 26, 1845.


5. GEO. H., b. Nov. 24, 1847; d. Sept., 1849.


6. Son, unnamed, b. 1849; d. July 30, 1849.


I. LAVERS, RUFUS J., s. of George Edward and Mary, was b. Newport, N. S., Jan. 17, 1839. He m. (1) Jane W. Mills,


743


THE LAWRENCE AND LAWS FAMILIES.


May 26, 1862, and by her had 6 chn. She d. and he m. (2) July 1, 1879, Mary B. Sutherland, who has borne him 2 more. He came to tn. from Fg. in 1882 and set. upon the old Elisha Bigelow place. Chn .:


2. BESSIE JANE, b. June 7, 1863; d. Jan. 8, 1885.


3. GEORGE H., b. July 18, 1865; res. Jamaica Plain; unm.


4. ANNIE L., b. Nov. 5, 1867; res. Boston; unm.


5. MARY JANE, b. Sept. 8, 1869; m. Charles Blanchard; res. Fg.


6. ELIZA L., b. April 21, 1871; m. George Dobb; res. Fg.


7. CHARLES H., b. Jan. 25, 1873; d. June 15, 1873.


8. JOHN S., b. July 4, 18So; d. July 3, 1884.


9. CARRIE L., b. Sept. 26, 1882.


LAWRENCE, JONATHAN, a cordwainer from Littleton, was the owner of lot 27, on which the late George Smith res., in 1751, when he had a house there and was reported to the Gen. Ct. as a recent settler in the township. (See A. H. No. 83.). He was here, however, but about 3 yrs. and no subsequent traces of him have been discovered.


LAWRENCE, ABEL, from Stow, lineage etc., unknown, was the first settler on the farm in the N. E. part of the town now represented by Samuel Fiske. It was lot No. 75, 2d Div., pur- chased by him Feb. 1I, 1755, and sold in 1766 to Thomas Legate of Leom., who soon transferred it to Dr. Zachariah Har- vey. Mr. Lawrence had a w., Deborah, and chn. but their names are not found in the records. They were all "warned out" in 1761, and disappeared five years later.


LAWS.


No very satisfactory accounts of the earlier generations of this family in N. E. have been found. So far as the writer of this sketch can learn, the first record in which the name appears states that John Laws1, presumably the immigrant settler, m. Lydia, dau. of Roger Draper, in Concord, March 5, 1660. Of this union came John2, b. 1661, Thomas2, b. 1663, and Stephen2, b. 1665. It is prob. that one of these sons was gd.f. of James4, who, Nov. 13, 1756, m. Eunice, dau. of James and Maria Hosley, the sister of Joseph Hosley mentioned in the foregoing pages. James4, his f. being unk., set. in Billerica, where his w. belonged and where the first of the name here had their nativity. It is quite certain he was of the third generation from the John1 who m. Lydia Draper, the intermediate links being omit- ted, as indicated thus :-- John1, -2, -8, James4, and on that presump- tion the registry below is made up.


I. LAWS, THOMAS5, s. of James4 and Eunice (Hosley) Laws, was b. Nov. 20, 1737. On the 21st of March, 1760, he bought of his bro .- in-law, Joseph Hosley, who had been some years in this place, No. 68, 2d Div., in the extreme north part of the town, on which Malachi Hession now lives, and soon after took possession of it. His w. was Hannah -. Late in life his mother, Eunice (Hosley) Laws, came here to live, and d. in 1813, a. 92. He d. Sept. 14, 1803, a. 65. His wid. d. Nov. 1, 1806, a. 71. Chn .:


744


HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.


2. THOMAS6, b. July 9, 1761; m. Mary Locke; res. W. and N. H


3. SOLOMON6, b. Aug. 29, 1766; m. Alovisa Kendall; res. W .; no chn.


4. HANNAH6, b. April 7, 1770; m. Jonathan Southwick, Dublin, N. H.


5. RACHEL6, b. April 25, 1774; m. Heman Ray; res. W .; chn.


[2.] LAWS, THOMAS6, s. of the last, m. Mary, dau. of Eben- ezer and Phebe (Mores) Locke, Rindge, N. H., Sept. 4, 1787. He lived in town ab. 14 yrs., on a part of his f.'s farm, which was divided between him and his bro. Solomon. In 1801 he sold out and rem. to Peterboro', N. H., where his 3 youngest chn. were b. The dates of the death of himself and w. are unkn. Chn .:


6. PHEBET, b. Feb. 20, 1789; d. Feb. 25, 1789.


7. AMOS7, b. Jan. 14, 1790; d. March 12, 1795.


8. SAMPSON7, b. Oct. 22, 1792; d. Feb. 27, 1795.


9. AMOS7, b. June 14, 1795; d. Sept. 5, 1797.


10. THOMAS7, b. May 11, 1797; m. three times; res. Petersham; 3 chn .; d. May 31, 1853.


II. MARY1, b. Jan. 19, 1799; m. James Childs; res. Temple, N. H .; I chd .; d. May 10, 1827.


12. NATHANIEL F.7, b. May 1, 1807; m. Polly Childs; res. Temple, N. H .; 3 chn.


13. EBENEZER", b. May 1, 1803; m. Melinda Wooley; res. Washington, N. H.


14. SOLOMON™, b. Nov. 13, 1806; m. Olive M. Johnson; res. Temple, N. H.


The last of these chn., Solomon7 (14), was of literary and religious habits and aims in life. He fitted for college, grad. Dartmouth, 1836, studied divinity, and was settled as a Universalist minister at Temple, N H., where he res. many years, much esteemed as a man and of good repute in his profession. Late in life he rem. to Marlboro', N. H., and still later to the West, where he d. His w. was Olive M. Johnson of Chester, Vt. They had sev. chn.


[3.] LAWS, SOLOMON6, youngest s. of Thomas and Eunice, m. Alovisa Kendall of Fg., March 12, 1801, and succeeded to his f.'s estate, the whole of which came into his possession after the rem. of his bro. from town. Having no chn. he set. his estate upon his bro .- in-law, Wm. Kendall, who cared for himself and w. in their more advanced and dependent years. The date of the death of Solomon Laws and w., Alovisa, has not been learned. With them this branch of the family in town became extinct.


15. LAWS, JAMES5, s. of James4 and Eunice (Hosley) Laws, was b. Billerica, March 12, 1742. He followed his bro. Thomas to W., and in 1768 his f. deeded to him lot No. 42, 2d Div., on which his gd.s., James H. Laws, now res., and there he soon after located. He m., before coming here, Anne Danforth. He d. Nov., 1821, a. 79. His w. d. Nov. 5, 1813, a. 69. They had the following chn .:


16. ELIZABETH6, b. July 28, 1766; m. Eli Sawyer; res. W.


17. ANNA6, b. Feb. 18, 1768; m. Joseph Gibbs; res. Ash .; 8 chn.


18. Lucy6, b. Feb. 14, 1770; m. Benjamin Sawin; res. Gr .; chn.


19. JAMES", b. Dec. 13, 1772; m. Thankful Metcalf; res. W.


20. WILLIAM6, b. Oct. 18, 1774; m. and set. Sharon, N. H .; sev. chn.


21. RHODA6, b. Oct. 4, 1776; m. Edward J. Locke; res. Peterboro', N. H.


[19.] LAWS, JAMES6, s. of the last, m. Thankful Metcalf of Ash., Nov. 21, 1797, and succeeded to his f.'s estate. His w.'s


745


THE LAWS FAMILV.


mother was Margaret Shattuck, dau. of Wm. of Groton, a rela- tive of the w. of Dea. Joseph Holden. Mr. Laws d. Aug. 14, 1860, a. 87. His w. d. Jan. 5, 1852, a. 76. Chn. :


22. JAMES7, b. Sept. 9, 1797; d. May 10, 1803.


23. DAVID7, b. March 10, 1799; m. Nancy Wilder; res. W .; 3 chn.


24. JOSEPH7, b. March 3, ISO1; d. July 10, 1803.


25. HOSEA7, b. Aug. 13, 1803; m. twice; res. Boston; 5 chn .; d. Feb. 18, 1887.


26. THANKFUL7, b. May 30, 1805; m. Ruel Lawrence; res. Ash .; 5 chn .; d. Oct., 1849.


27. ANNA D.7, b. July 4, 1807; m. John Rogers; res. Roxbury; no chn .; d. April 8, ISS5.


28. J. HERVEY7, b. Sept. 8, 1809; m. Julia A. Hastings; res. W.


29. SYLVIA7, b. Sept. 3, 1811; m. - Morton; res. Ash .; 5 chn.


30. MARY", b. Nov. 2, 1815; d. Nov. 24, 1815.


31. S. NEWELL7, b. July 23, 1817; m. Fidelia Whitney; res. Gr .; 4 chn .; living.


[23.] LAWS, DAVID7, s. of the last, m. Nancy, dau. of Caleb and Sarah (Whitney) Wilder, Ash., April 24, 1828. He shared the paternal homestead with his bro., J. Hervey, and like him was an intelligent, high-minded, estimable citizen. He was Town Assessor in 1851. He d. March 22, 1875, a. 76. His wid. is still living at Ash. Chn. :


32. SARAH ANN8, b. Feb. 3, 1829; d. Aug. 14, 1829.


33. LYMANS, b. Sept. 30, 1830; m. Eliza J. Fay; res. Boston; 4 chn .; d. June 16, 1890.


34. M. REBECCA8, b. May 29, 1833; m. James H. Bancroft; res. Worc .; d. Nov. 2, 1879.


[28.] LAWS, JAMES HERVEY7, bro. of the last, m. Julia A., dau. of John and Sarah (Green) Hastings, Ash., March 24, 1836. Mr. Laws is still living in the enjoyment of a serene old age and the respect and confidence of his fellow-townsmen. His more intimate relations, social, commercial, and religious, have been with the inhabitants of Ash., who hold him and his family in high regard. He is a Methodist by conviction and associa- tion, and has been an active and liberal supporter of the chh. of that denomination in the town named, honoring and adorning his Chn. faith by a correspondingly upright, humane, devout life. His w., a worthy companion for ab. half a century, passed to her rest Nov. 19, 1885, at the a. of 74. Chn .:


35. Unnamed8, b. June 13, 1837; d. infancy.


36 and 37. Twins8, unnamed, b. April 24, 1838; d. infancy.


38. SARAH G.8, b. Jan. 7, 1840; d. Aug. 15, 1848.


39. ELLEN A.8, b. June 22, 1841; living unm.


40. HIRAM8, b. June 27, 1844; m. Mary E. Dutton; res. Bedford; 4 chn .; living. 41. JULIA E.8, b. Feb. 26, 1846; d. June 9, 1849.


42. SIDNEY J.8, b. May 13, IS48; m. Emily J. Braman; res. Worc .; 2 chn .; living.


43. WALTER H.8, b. April 25, 1850; res. W. unm.


44. MARY E.8, b. Oct. 18, 1852; d. Jan. 11, 1873


45. ANNA C.8, b. May 24, 1857; res. W. unm.


Walter H. Laws (43), the youngest s. of the above family, res. with his f. and sr. (who is their housekeeper) on the original James Laws' homestead. He is an intel- ligent, enterprising farmer, much interested in the subject of agriculture, both in its scientific and practical aspects and relations, and in whatever is conducive to human good and happiness. He was chosen Selectman in 1885 and 1886. A worthy name closes the record of a worthy family.


746


HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.


LEARNED.


The first names on the list of persons admitted to the first chh. in Charlestown were William and Goditha (afterwards called Judith) Learned1, under date of Dec. 6, 1632 ; an organization of that body having taken place on the 2d day of the preceding month, when Rev. Thomas James was ordained as its pastor. They were from Bermondsey, Surrey Co., Eng., the birthplace of several of their chn. Among these was Isaac2, b. Feb. 25, 1623, who, after living in Chasn. awhile, made a permanent settlement at Chelmsford. His son Benoni8 went to Sherborn, where he had a family. Thomas4, in the next generation, returned to Watertown and there spent his days, as did also his s. David5, the father of Thomas6, who located in Cambridge. There Samuel7 was b. ab. 1770. He m. Lydia Knapp and es- tablished himself as farmer and blacksmith in the E. part of Gardner, where, between 1794 and 1812, eight chn. were b. to them. Two of these became res. of W. and are noted in the order of their coming, as well as of their continuance here.


I. LEARNED, JOHN KNAPP8, s. of the just named Samuel? and Lydia, was b. Gr. Dec. 22, 1806. He m. (1) Maria, dau. of John and Betsey (Howe) Miller, Aug. 12, 1832, and set. on the old Darby place, a mile S. E. of the village, at the corner where the Pn. and Worc. roads separate. There he set up blacksmith- ing, a trade in which he was engaged for many years, his shop being the only one in that part of the town. The buildings on the place have essentially disappeared, though their site is still easily recognized. (See A. H. No. SI.) Mr. Learned's Ist w., Maria, d. Jan. 30, 1858, a. 47, and he m. (2) Betsey Miller, sr. of Maria, on the 5th of the following April. She d. May 30, 1870, a. 56. He m. (3) Dec. 22, 1871, wid. Marion M. Moulton, dau. of Josiah and Eunice Goddard of Hub., who survived him. Late in life he rem. to Gr., and thence to Hub., where he d. June 2, 1879, a. 72. Chn. :


2. JOHN M.º, b Jan. 31, 1834; d. Oct. 24, 1855; an unfortunate cripple.


3. SUSAN M.9, b. Aug. 8, 1838; m. W.n. F. Goodnow; res. Gr .; 2 chn .; living.


4. ELIZABETH A.9, b. July 12, 1841; m. Joseph A. Wetherbee; res. W .; no chn.


5. ALONZO K.9, b. April 15, 1844; res. Holden, unm ; a superior and successful teacher.


6. LUCY M.9, b. Aug. 19, 1846; m. Clark P. Roundy; res. Gilsum, N. H .; d. Nov. 2, 1870.


7. LEARNED, SAMUEL, bro. of the last, b. 1796, res. a few yrs. on the Daniel Sawin place, in the S. W. part of the town, coming from Gr., where he had 6 chn. His w., when res. here, was Emma (Kemp), wid. of John Eaton. He d. Winch., Jan. 7, 1859, a. 62.


LELAND.


Henry Leland1, b. in Eng. ab. 1625, came to this country in 1652, taking up his residence in Sherborn, as one of the original proprietors and first set- tlers of the town. He d. April 4, 1680, leaving a considerable family, from which has descended a numerous posterity. Ebenezer2, one of his s., had James8, who went to Grafton and established an important branch of the family there. Phineas4, s. of James8, was f. of Eleazer5, who m. Elizabeth


747


THE LELAND AND LEONARD FAMILIES.


Sherman, whence came the name of one of their s., Sherman Leland,- a man of eminence in his day, being for many years a Judge of Probate for Norfolk Co.


I. LELAND, SALMON6, was another s. of Eleazer and Eliza- beth, b. ab. 1787. He m. Ezoa Millen (date unknown), and com- ing to W., purchased, Sept. 6, 1811, lot No. 57, known later as the Keyes place, near Mrs. Julia A. Foster's residence, the buildings of which were some years since removed. (See A. H. No. 80.) In the year 1831 he sold to Jotham Keyes, and went to Cato, N. Y., with his family. Nothing since is known of him or of his descendants. Chn .:


2. MARY ANN7, b. April 8, 1813. 3. JOHN M.7, b. Sept. 2, 1815.


4. CAROLINE7, b. Jan. 16, 1821; d. Feb. 22, 1831.


5. SALMON7, b. April 7, 1828. 6. MENDELI7, b. April 15, 1830.


7. LELAND, ELBRIDGE G.7, s. of Amasa6 and Martha (Seaver) Leland of Gr., was b. Aug. 8, 1820. Amasa6 was fourth cousin of Salmon, his descent from the same immigrant ancestor run- ning thus: Henry1, Hopestill2, William3, Simon4, Simeon5, Amasa6. Elbridge G.7, m. Jan. 26, 1869, wid. Laura Jane (Park- hill) Taylor of Potsdam, N. Y., and res. on the Sebina Spalding place, Beech Hill. No chn. reported.


8. LELAND, HOLLIS J.7, bro. of the last, was b. Gr., Aug. 22, 1830. He came to W. when ab. 21, and m. May 8, 1853, Ellen M., dau. of Sewall and Susan Goodridge of Leicester. He is a paper maker by trade and res. at Wachusettville. Chn. : 9. IDA MAY8, b. June 12, 1855; m. Charles A. Lucas; res. Bristol, N. H .; 2 chn .; d. 1891.


IO. CORA DELLA8, b. June 10, 1859; m. George W. Lucas; res. W .; I chd .; d. Jan. 25, 1885.


I. LEONARD, ENOCH, ptge., etc., unascertained, came from Canton in the latter part of the last (18th) century, and set. in what was then called the Narrows (Wachusettville). In May, 1799, he m. Polly Brooks, and had I chd. In 1804 he pur- chased "the Forge," and carried on business there with his bro. Phineas (not son, as erroneously stated on page 330) until his decease in 1808. His wid. was pub. Oct. 3, 1809, to Artemas Richardson of Sterling, where she afterward res. All the chd. known was:


2. GEORGE, b. Nov. 29, 1800; m. Mary Wood; res. Lowell; d. July 17, 1870.


3. LEONARD, PHINEAS, bro. of the last, seems to have fol- lowed him to this tn., entered into partnership with him, and after his death came into possession of the property, which he utilized till 1812, when it was sold to Nathan Corey of Harvard. In the meantime he bought the Dea. Miller sawmill below, and manufactured lumber for a few yrs. He was Capt. of the old north military Co. His w., whose name was Nancy, d. in 1812, leaving 2 chn., and he m. (2) Eunice Gibbs, prob. dau. of Paul,


748


HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.


Sept. 21, 1812. Hed. Sept. 4, 1821. Chn., the dates of birth unknown :


4. NANCY, of whom nothing has been learned.


5. KINGSLEY, a town charge in 1838.


6. RICHARD, was cared for by Jonas Merriam awhile.


7. ABEL, also cared for by Jonas Merriam awhile.


LEWIS. Several different families of this name have resided in town during its history, but it has been found impossible to trace either their an- cestral lines or their connection with each other, if such connection really existed. Much, therefore, of what is said of them, especially of those re- siding here at an early date, must be fragmentary and unsatisfactory, but it is the best that can be done at the present writing ( 1893 ), and so must stand " with all its imperfections on its head."


The names of Joseph and Nathan Lewis appear simultaneously in the list of tax-paying residents, 1769, and remain in them ab. 15 yrs., when they both disappear as mysteriously as they came. Both owned real estate, or, at least, were taxed for it on some of the years they were here, but no rec- ords of conveyances of such property are preserved. Joseph was paid for taking care of the meetinghouse in 1773. Nathan is believed to have lived for a time on lot 75 -the Hadley place - near Wachusett Mt. (See A. H. No. 92.) If so, he had a dau., Betsey, who m. Jonathan Graves, May 15, 1 778, and another dau., Mary, who m. Thomas Baker of Gr., June 8, 1788. In the preserved records of Abner Holden for the last-named year, he is spoken of as " late of W.," his then present place of abode not being given. It is possible that he had dec'd before that date. Timothy Lewis owned lands here between 1770 and 1780, and was taxed as an inhabitant during most of the intervening years. He, however, came from Reading, and prob. ret. thither. No records of a family connected with him have come to light. More definite information has been obtained concerning other persons and families that bear the name of Lewis, and while not as full and complete as could be desired, is capable of being tabulated to a limited extent.


I. LEWIS, ABIJAH, from Fg., ptge., etc., unknown, was pub. March 16, 1800, to Sally Cutter, prob. sr. of Mark Cutter, the adopted dau. of John and Mary Goodale, who had no chn. He cared for his w.'s foster-parents in their declining years, and came into possession of their estate, which was considerable, after their decease. Mr. Lewis d. April 23, 1823, a. 46. Mrs. Lewis d. Jan. 16, 1838, a. 55. Chn .:




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