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 92
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I. MELLEN, JOSHUA, ptge., etc., unascertained, was b. Fram., Jan. 16, 1749. He m. Rebecca Mellen of Hopkinton in 1771, and soon after appeared in W. He owned for a time 2d Div. lot No. 79, which he sold to Elisha Whitney in 1780. He after- wards lived on the Jacob Goodale lot, and finally in a ho. that stood in what is now pasture land, a short distance east of Mud Pond. (See A. H. Nos. 24, 6, 13.) He was wretchedly poor, as is remembered by a few persons still living, made so, it is reported, by strong drink, and the family were dependent, more or less, upon public or private aid in consequence, even then often suffering for want of the necessaries and comforts of life. In 1820 the town paid Ezra Wood $11.20 for carrying what remained of the family to Oxford, on what grounds does not appear. There he d., Jan. 30, 1828. Chn .:
2. DOLLY, b. Dec. 8, 1771.
4. JOSHUA, b. Aug. 20, 1775.
6. Unnamed, b. April 30, 1779; d. inf.
8. Unnamed, b. April 19, 1782; d. inf. 9. REBECCA, b. Jan. 22, 1784.
10. SIMON, b. Feb. 7, 1786.
12. SUKEY, b. July 15, 1792.
3. JONATHAN, b. Sept. 6, 1773.
5. CALVIN, b. Sept. 27, 1777.
7. POLLY, b. March 31, 1780.
II. PERSIS, b. June 5, 1788.
766
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
MERRIAM.
The story of three brothers so often told in regard to the immigrant ances- tors of N. E. families, and so often purely apocryphal, is well authenticated in the case now to be considered. Robert1. George1. and Joseph Merriam1, sons of Wm. of Hadlow, Kent Co., Eng., came to this country ab. 1638, and settled in Concord. Robert1 was a man of prominence there, holding the office of Town Clerk, and serving as Rep. to the Colonial Legislature. He d. in 1681, without issue. George1 rem. early to Conn., where he had chn., but their descendants have not multiplied to any great extent. One of them, a resident of Dorchester, has been for some yrs. collecting data for a complete genealogy of those bearing the name in America. Joseph1 re- mained in the Mass. Colony. and of him came, with the advance of the gen- erations, the Merriams of W. His s. Joseph2 m. Sarah Stone, and had Thomas3, b. 1672, who m. Mary Harwood. They were the parents of a second Thomas4, who m. Tabitha Stone of Waltham, and located in Lex- ington. These had at least 8 chn., 5 of whom became permanent residents of W., while another was temporarily here, though finally locating just beyond our borders, in Hub. One of the 5, a dau., m. Nathan Whitney; a second dau. m. Josiah Cutting,-of both of whom due notice may be found in the proper place. A third dau. m. David Whitney of Waltham, bro. of Nathan, and became the gd.mother of Rev. Charles Wellington, D. D., long the esteemed minister of the First Chh. and Society of Temp. Sketches of the sons are appended in the order of their advent in the place.
I. MERRIAM, NATHAN5, the second s. of Thomas4 and Tab- itha, was b. April 7, 1725. He was in Nar. No. 2 in 1751, lo- cated nominally on lot No. 81, which he had purchased the year before of Joseph Brooks, though as a matter of fact, his " cleared land and a small house or shed " was at the northeastern ex- tremity of lot No. 82, then recently bought of Daniel Walker, in order that he might have his dwelling near the newly laid out thoroughfare through that section of the township. This was the farm now in possession of Daniel and James S. Harrington. Mr. Merriam m. March 26, 1755, Mary, dau. of Stephen and Melicent Hosmer of Concord. The union, however, was des- tined to a brief continuance, as he d. the following year. He left no chn. and his property went to his bros. and srs., the home estate not long after passing, as elsewhere narrated, into the possession of Jonas Whitney, gd.f. of the late H. G. Whitney. His wid. m. (2) - Wyman, bef. Nov. 8, 1760, and res. in some one of the lower towns.
2. MERRIAM, THOMAS5, a younger bro. of the last, was b. Aug. 27, 1731. He also, though but twenty years of age, was here in 1751, in charge of and "at work " upon lots 83 and 84, now represented by the homesteads of Oliver M. Merriam and Otis Flagg, but then owned by his father. About this time the S. W. portion of these lots was sold to his bro .- in-law, Na- than Whitney, who was in possession of lot No. 90, the present summer home of Edward A. and George C. Whitney, in order that he might have a more eligible and commanding site for his prospective dwelling house. Besides being a tiller of the soil, Mr. M. was a " cordwainer," and interluded his labors on the land with "whipping the cat " and keeping the people of the new
767
THE MERRIAM FAMILY.
settlement well shod. He was perhaps the first journeyman shoemaker in the township. He m. Sarah, dau. Joshua and Sarah (Keyes) Wilder, at Lanc., Nov. 24, 1762. She was a native of Pn., and is said to have been the first female chd. b. on its territory. Thomas Merriam d. Dec. 20, 1821, a. 90; Sa- rah, his w., d. Aug. 13, 1819, a. 80. Chn. :
3. SARAH6, b. Oct. 2, 1763; m. Isaac Puffer; res. Leyden, N. Y .; sev. chn.
4. JONAS6, b. Nov. 21, 1765; m. Anna Clark and Nabby Allen; res. W.
5. TABITHA", b. Nov. 20, 1767; d. Sept. 19, 1769.
6. TABITHA6, b. Feb. 22, 1770; d. infancy.
7. ASA6, b. May 8, 1772; m. Lucena Puffer; res. W.
[4] MERRIAM, JONAS6, s. of the last, m. (I) Anna, dau. Eli and Lois (Stone) Clarke of Hub., and succeeded to the estate of his father. Both he and his bro., Asa (7), were noted for their story-telling propensities. His w. d. Oct. 4, 1831, a. 60, and he m. (2) Nabby Allen of Pn. He d. Oct. 30, 1857, a. 91. Chn .:
8. JONAS7, b. March 21, 1790; m. Prudence Miller; res. W.
9. LUCINDA7, b. April 15, 1791; m. Benjamin F. Wood; res. W.
10. JOHN7, b. Aug. 2, 1792; m. wid. Sally Severy; res. Gr. and W.
II. POLLY7, b. Jan. 18, 1795; d. May 4, 1831, unm.
12. PERSIST, b. Feb. 28, 1798; m. Otis Ware; res. Barre.
13. NANCY7, b. Sept. 27, ISO1; m. Aaron Wood; res. Gr. and W.
14. CLARK, b. April 11, 1804; m. Lorinda Clarke; res. Pn.
1 5. SARAH7, b. Aug. 20, 1805.
16. T. WILDER7, b. Nov. 6, ISII; d. Nov. 3, 1832.
[7] MERRIAM, ASA6, bro. of the last, m. Lucena, dau. of Josiah and Mary (Read) Puffer, May 18, 1797, and set. on lot No. 85, the Temple place, opposite where Wm. J. Black now lives. He d. Feb. 8, 1836, a. 63. His wid. d. Sept. 1I, 1851, a. 80. Chn. :
17. SALLY™, b. March IS, 1798; m. George Adams; res. W .; d. Oct. 12, IS83.
18. ASA7, b. July 7, 1799; m. Sally Warren; res. W. and Hub .; 10 chn .; d. 1886.
19. THOMAST, b. July 23, ISO1; m. Betsey Whitney; res. W.
20 REED7, b. Oct. 1, 1803; m. twice; res. W.
21. MARYT, b. Jan. 13, 1807; m. S. H. Stearns; res. W .; I chd .; d. Aug. 19, 1851.
22. LUCENA7, b. March 13, 1So9; m. B. F. Murdock; res. W .; I chd .; d. Jan. 2, IS40.
23. FARWELL7, b. March S, ISII; d. unm. Jan. 20, 1836. [1887.
24. BETSEY7, b. April 24, 1814; m. J. Nelson Minott; res. W .; I chd .; d. Feb. 8,
[8.] MERRIAM, JONAS™, s. of Jonas and Anna, m. Prudence, dau. Asa and Bethia (Winship) Miller, June 1, 1819. He lived for a few years in Gr., then returned and settled for life on the Samuel Sawin, now Samuel Bridge, place. He had 9 chn., who had unusual natural talent and taste for music. Jonas Mer- riam d. Nov. 6, 1857, a. 67. His wid., Prudence, d. Feb. 3, 1873, a. 77. Chn. :
25. ALFRED8, b. Jan. 26, 1821; m. Elvira D. Dix; res. W. and Conn .; chn .; dec'd.
26. MARTHA8, b. Aug. 28, 1823; d. Sept. 30, 1823.
27. GEORGE W.8, b. Oct. 23, 1824; m. twice; res. W.
28. NEWELL A.8, b. Oct. 31, 1826; m. Elizabeth Mason; res. Gr. and West; no chn.
29. FRANCIS A.8, b. Sept. 4, 1828; m. Eliza Whitney; res. W.
30. CATHARINE H.8, b. Oct. 30, 1830; m. Elmer Baker; res. W .; 2 chn .; d. May 6, 1879.
768
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
31. MARTHA8, b. March 29, 1833; d. March 31, 1833.
32. AARON W.8, b. Aug. 11, 1834; m. Sarah A. Whitney; res. Gr.
33. T. WILDERS, b. May 23, 1840; res. Gr .; unm.
[IO.] MERRIAM, JOHNG, bro. of the last, m. wid. Sally Moore Severy, of W. Boylston, whose husband had been killed by a runaway horse, and set. for a time in Gr., where he carried on the business of fulling cloth, at the stand now occupied by the large chair manufactory of Bent Bros. and Co. In 1832 he re- turned to W., and located on the old homestead, devoting him- self to farming for the remainder of his life. He d. Dec. 31, 1858, a. 66. His wid. d. - -. Chn. :
34. CALEB S.8, b. July 18, 1817; m. Abbie A. Parker; res. W.
35. ANNA C.8, b. Nov. 22, 1819; m. Joseph B. Drury; res. W .; S chn .; living.
36. JONAS8, b. March 19, 1823; m. Betsey S. Priest; res. W. and Fg .; 7 chn.
37. OLIVER M.8, b. Sept. 2, 1825; m. Martha Nichols; res. W.
38. S. REBECCA8, b. July 2, 1828; m. Otis Flagg; res. W .; chn .; d.
[19.] MERRIAM, THOMAS7, s. of Asa6 and Lucena, m. Betsey, dau. John and Elizabeth (Stearns) Whitney (pub. April 7, 1829). He purchased and set. upon the original Nathan How- ard place in the easterly part of the town, where he spent his days, dying suddenly Sept. 24, 1877, a. 76. His wid. d. July 15, 1888, a. 89. Chn .:
39. MARY E.8, b. June 4, 1830; living W. unm.
40. SARAH M.8, b. June 7, 1835; living W. unm.
41. JOIIN F.8, b. Aug. 23, 1838; living W. unm.
[20.] MERRIAM, REED, bro. of the last, succeeded to his father's home estate, building for his own use, it is understood, the house now occupied by Mr. Black. He m. (1) Susan, dau. of Joseph Raymond, March 1, 1832, and (2) Rebecca Maria, dau. of Joseph and Sally (Graves) Minott, Nov. 4, 1834. He was of a nervous, excitable temperament, and during the later years of his life his mind became unbalanced, especially upon the subject of religion, in which, from his early years, he had been deeply interested. He d. March 13, 1884, a. So. His first w., Susan, d. Oct. 24, 1833, a. 34. The second d. June 21, 1860, a. 51. Chn .:
42. GEORGE PORTER8, b. March 20, 1833; d. Aug. 27, 1845.
43. Name and date of birth not found; d. March 25, 1837.
44. CHARLES FARWELL8, b. Feb. 14, 1840; m. twice; res. W .; dec'd.
[27.] MERRIAM, GEORGE W.8, s. of Jonas" and Prudence, m. (1) Lizzie, dau. of Thomas and Sarah (Phillips) Henderson, July I, 1851, and set. on the original sawmill lot, No. 112, at Wachu- settville ; a mechanic. His w. d. Nov. 7, 1867, a. 35, and he m. (2) her sr., Sarah A. Henderson, the divorced w. of Stillman M. Carter, May 16, 1876. His buildings were destroyed by fire a a few years since, but were soon replaced. He has since sold his property there and now res. on M. H. Hill. Chn. :
45. DORA L.9, b. March 21, 1854.
46. FRANKLIN9, b. Feb. 27, 1860; d. June 9, 1864.
769
THE MERRIAM FAMILY.
[29.] MERRIAM, FRANCIS A.8, bro. of the last, m. Eliza, dau. of Jos. H. and Betsey (Pratt) Whitney, May 8, 1851. They res. in Phillipston a few years, but have more recently lived here. He was a sawyer and general mechanic by trade. Gave much attention to music and conducted the choir of the First Parish with praiseworthy success. He d. Feb. 16, 1891, a. 62. Chn. : 47. SARAH E.9, b. Feb. 26, 1861; m. F. H. Battles; res. W .; no chn. 48. CLARA L.9, b. July 27, 1864; d. Aug. 30, 1865.
[34.] MERRIAM, CALEB S.8, s. of John7 and Sally, m. July 12, 1843, Abbie A. Parker of Prov., R. I. A man of enterprise, mechanical ingenuity, and public spirit. He began business life on the old homestead, but at an early date transferred his operations to the neighborhood of the R. R. Station, where he has res. during his later years. He has been engaged in manu- facturing chairs, getting out chair stock, and in running a grain and flouring mill. The latter branch of business he transferred to his s. Eli a few years since, with the buildings, etc., pertain- ing to it, he himself putting up the dwelling where he now lives, and shop opposite. By the purchase of the town meadows and conversion of them into a reservoir, he greatly enhanced the value of his own property and of other water privileges on the same stream below. He has served the town some years as Auditor and in other responsible positions. The chn. of Caleb S.8 and Abbie A. are :
49. MARTHA S.9, b. Nov. 21, 1844; m. Frederic L. Rolph of Lowell; res. Fg .; I chd.
50. JAMES B.9, b. Dec. 5, 1846; d. Dec. 28, 1848.
51. ELI HI.9, b. June 4, 1848; m. Abbie L. Davis; res. W.
52. JOHN W.9, b. Nov. 28, 1852; m. twice; res. Fg.
53. MARY S.9, b. Feb. 20, 1857; m. Peter Poland; res. Fg.
[36.] MERRIAM, JONAS8, bro. of the last, m. Betsey S. Priest of Temp. (pub. Feb. 28), 1847. He remained on the old home- stead some 20 or more yrs., being engaged most of the time in the manufacture of chairs and tributary lines of business, but finally sold his interests in town and rem. to Fg., where he d. Dec. 24, 1887, a. 64. His wid. res. Fg. Chn .:
54. MARY ANNA9, b. Aug. 3, 1849; m. - Wilkins; res. Hudson; 7 chn.
55. EMMA E.9, b. Aug. 8, 1851; m. Seth Twichell; res. Fg .; I chd.
56. LUCY E.9, b. March 1, 1854; m. Warren Lewis; res. Lunenburg; 2 chn.
57. IDA N.9, b. Nov. 16, 1856; m. Walter Wood; res. Fg .; no chn.
58. ESTA JANE9, b. Aug. 11, 1861; m. Samuel P. Lewis; res. Fg .; I chd.
59. EUGENE A.9, b. Nov. 6, 1866; res. Fg .; unm.
60. NELLIE P.9, b. May 8, 1869; d. in 1886.
[37.] MERRIAM, OLIVER M.8, bro. of the last, m. Martha, dau. of Edmund and Betsey (Adams) Nichols, Nov. 29, 1855, and has res. on a part of the ancestral homestead. He was engaged for some yrs., in connection with his bros. and otherwise, in mechanical pursuits, but more recently has confined himself to farming. His w., Martha, d. Oct. 11, 1880, a. 50, and he m. (2) 1881, Emily J. Kilburn of Winch. Chn. :
61. ELSIE JANE9, b. Dec. 16, 1858; m. Charles H. Gates; res. Gr.
62. HERBERT MOORE9, b. June 28, 1864; m. Jennie Bolster; res. Ash.
49
770
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
[44.] MERRIAM, CHARLES FARWELL8, s. of Reed and Rebecca M., m. (1) Carrie A. Boutelle of Leom., in Nov., 1862, and set. with his f. on the home place. His w. d. July 10, 1863, and he m. (2) Myra L., dau. of T. Dwight and Emeline (Clark) Wood, Oct. 27, 1868. He d. Aug. 10, 1873, a. 33.
[5I.] MERRIAM, ELI H.9, s. of Caleb S.8 and Abbie A., m. Sept. 25, 1873, Abbie L. Davis of Fg., and succeeded to the grain and flour business started by his f., as heretofore stated. By enterprise and industry, with increased facilities for produc- ing and handling goods, he has built up a large trade and may be regarded as one of the town's most successful and substan- tial citizens. His chn. are:
63. MABELLE C.10, b June 5, 1875. 64. CORA A.10, b. July 3, 1877.
65. GRACE E.10, b. June 24, 1879. 66. HAROLD D.10, b. July 30, 1882.
67. CHARLES S.10, b. Jan. 19, 1885. 68. ARTHUR E.1º, b. April 18, 1886.
69. MERRIAM, DAVID5, another s. of Thomas4 and Tabitha, and bro. of Nathan5 and Thomas5, bought of the heirs of his dec'd f., in 1765, lot No. 33, 2d Div., known in more recent times as the Jonas White farm, in the west part of the town. This lot he prob. improved, though it does not appear that he built and lived upon it. (See A. H. No. 32.) He was a resi- dent here in 1769, when he was pub. to Martha Conant of unkn. birth and ptge. He located permanently just over the line in the N. E. corner of Hub., on the farm afterwards occupied by his s .- in-law, Shubael Russell. He d. in 1826.
.
70. MERRIAM, SAMUEL5, the oldest s. of Thomas+ and Tabi- tha, but the last to locate here, b. Dec. 21, 1723, was dismissed from the Lex. to the W. chh. in 1772, though he came here some 3 yrs. before. On the 10th of March that year, he bought of Dea. Joseph Miller house lot No. 61, lying upon the east side of Graves' Hill, where he and his s. and gd.s. of the same name, each in his time, resided, gaining an honest but a not luxurious livelihood. The farm buildings are now gone and only an old cellar marks the dwelling place of three generations of the hard-working yeomanry of the town. (See A. H. No. 95.) Mr. Merriam m. Anne, dau. of David and Rebecca Whitney of Waltham, June 4, 1752, and had 7 chn. Though b. in Lex., yet they all came to W. with their parents, lived and d. in the vicinity, and are therefore tabulated in the usual form. The f. d. in 1804, a. 80; the mother, in 1802, a. unascertained. Chn. :
71. ANNA6, b. Oct. 10, 1753; m. Samuel Warren, etc .; res. W. and Ash .; 5 chn .; d. Sept. 15, 1790.
72. EUNICE6, b. June 22, 1755; m. John Fessenden; res. W .; no chn .; d. May 9, 1840.
73. SAMUEL6, b. March 25, 1757; m. Elizabeth Fessenden; res. W.
74. RUTH6; bap. Feb. 25, 1759; m. Richard Graves, Jr .; res. W. and Pn.
75. TABITHA6; bap. Dec. 28, 1760; m. Thomas Johnson; res. W .; no chn .; d. July 12, 1836.
76. NATHAN6, b. April 29, 1764; m. Abigail IIolden; res. Gr. and W.
77. JONATHAN", b. Feb. 22, 1766; m. Betsey Harris; res. Gr .; 7 chn .; d. Dec., 1826.
771
THE MERRIAM FAMILY.
[73.] MERRIAM, SAMUEL6, s. of the last, m. Jan., 1785, Eliza- beth, dau. of Timothy and Elizabeth (Pierce) Fessenden, and res., as stated, on the patrimonial est. He d. June 31, 1838, a. 81. She d. May II, 1842, a. 77. They had 6 chn. :
78. POLLY7, b. March 20, 1786; lived W. unm .; d. March 4, 1855.
79. Unnamed7, b. June 15, 1788; d. infancy.
80. REUBEN7, b. Oct. 31, 1790; d. June 24, 1792.
SI. BETSEY7, b. Dec. 31, 1793; res. W. unm .; d. Feb. 13, 1865.
82. SAMUEL7, b. April 24, 1798; 1 ( m. Elmira Puffer; res. W.
83. REUBEN™, b. April 24, 1798; S twins; ) d. infancy.
[76.] MERRIAM, NATHAN6, bro. of the last, m. in 1785 Abi- gail, dau. of Abner and Elizabeth (Darby) Holden, and res. in both W. and Gr., his chn. being b. partly in one town and partly in the other. After his death, Aug. 15, 1794, his wid. m. (2) Joel Whitney, Aug. 16, 1796, by whom she had sev. chn., dying Nov. 18, 1848, a. 81. The chn. of Nathan6 and Abigail (Holden) Merriam were:
84. JOEL7, b. Feb. 21, 1786; m. Polly Farnsworth; res. W.
85. NATHAN7, b. Nov. 27, 1787; m. Ruth Keyes; res. W.
86. REUBEN™, b. May 15, 1790; d. June 7, 1808.
87. ASAPH™, b. March 20, 1792; m. twice; res. various places; 6 chn .; d. Sept. 19, 1868.
88. ABIGAIL7, b. Jan. 29, 1795; m. Farwell Cowee; res. W., etc .; chn .; d. Sept., 1830.
[82.] MERRIAM, SAMUEL7, s. of Samuel6 and Elizabeth (Fes- senden), m. Elmira, dau. of Samuel and Polly (Wood) Puffer, Dec. 27, 1831, and followed in the footsteps of his lineal prede- cessors. He d. Sept. 9, 1853, a. 55, and his wid. m. (2) Ezra Baker of Gr. Since his death, some years since, she has res. with her chn., her home now being in Boston with her dau. Mary- Mrs. Frederick P. Whitney. Chn. :
89. ADELAIDE E.8, b. Oct. 6, 1832; m. Willard Foskett; res. Gr .; 3 chn .; d. Nov. 20, 1891.
90. REUBEN P.8, b. Nov. 9, 1835; m. Elizabeth Brooks; res. W.
91. EDSON8, b. March 21, 1837; d. Oct. 17, 1853.
92. MARY W.8, b. March 2, 1839; m. Fred. P. Whitney; res. Boston; 2 chn .; 1.
93. MARTHA JANE8, b. Nov. 17, 1842; m. George Miller; res. Boston; 2 chn .; ).
94. CHARLES HENRY8, b. March 14, 1851; d. May 3, 1852.
Mary W. (Merriam) Whitney (92), of the above family, was gifted by nature with unusual musical talent, by the judicious cultivation and use of which she has attained praiseworthy distinction in the world of song, and reflected honor on the place of her nativity. She studied in Boston some dozen years with such accom- plished teachers as Mrs. J. H. Long, Rudolphsen, Mrs. Jennie T. Kempton, and Chas. R. Adams, singing meanwhile and subsequently in some of the leading churches in the city. She then spent a year in Europe under the tuition of some of the best instructors of London and Paris. While in the English capital she achieved repeated successes in her efforts at the Crystal Palace, Royal Albert Hall, and elsewhere,- her renderings of solos and other parts in some of the masterpieces of the great composers being received by audiences of ten or twelve thousand per- sons with rapturous applause. Since her return in 1884, she has sung not only in Boston churches, but in Handel and Haydn Oratorios, for Thomas' orchestra, and in Opera companies, East and West. She is a great favorite at Saratoga, where her voice has been heard for many years past on public occasions, in halls, hotels, and open parks. She was one of the quartette selected to sing at the funeral of Gen. Grant on Mt. McGregor in 1885.
On the 23d of Nov., 1858, she m. Frederic P .. s. of Joseph and Nancy (Sawin) Whitney of Gr., and has had 2 chn .:- Edson Leone, b. Nov. 3, 1861, grad. Harvard
772
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
Univ. 1885, was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1886, received the degree of PH. D. from his Alma Mater in 18SS, and is now Prof. of History at Norwich Univ., Vt .; Harry Clifford, b. Sept. 28, 1863; d. Sept. 24, 1864. Her home is in Boston.
[84.] MERRIAM, JOEL", S. of Nathan6 and Abigail, m. Polly, dau. of Asa and Damaris (Gates) Farnsworth, March 31, 1808. He lived many years in the Narrows, where he made cooper ware and run a carding machine. Later in life he res. on the place now owned and occupied by Hobart Raymond. A man of sturdy frame and of mental and moral character to corre- spond. An earnest Baptist, and Dea. of the church. He was interested in all questions of reform, especially in temperance and anti-slavery. For the latter cause he was a vigorous worker in both the moral and political arenas, being one of the few original Liberty Party men in town. He lived to see the great national curse removed and to rejoice in the proclamation of "liberty throughout all the land to all the inhabitants thereof." He d. Aug. 18, 1867, a. 81. Polly, his wid., followed him to the spirit world July 22, 1873, a. 84. Chn .:
95. Unnamed8, b. 188; d. infancy.
96. FRANKLIN8, b. March 5, 1810; m. Eunice Ward; res. Weare, N. H .; 4 chn .; living.
97. REUBENS, b. June 28, 1812; d. Dec. 5, 1812.
98. ALBERTS, b. Dec. IS, 1813; m. Laura Carter, etc .; res. Gr., etc .; 4 chn .; 1.
99. JOEL8, b. May 28, 1816; m. Elmina Perkins; res. W .; chn.
100. ARTEMAS8, b. July 21, ISIS; m. Salome Holden; res. W.
IOI. MARYS, b. April 27, 1821; m. Amos Pierce; res. W. and Fg .; 2 chn .; d. Aug. 27, 1868.
102. HANNAH F.8, b. Nov. 11, 1823; m. Edward Bacon; res. W .; 6 chn .; d. Oct. 17, 1884.
103. SARAH E.8, b. June 14, 1826; d. unm. Oct. 4, 1846.
104. STILLMAN8, b. March 11, 1829; killed by a falling rock, June 25, 1835.
[85.] MERRIAM, NATHAN", bro. of the last, m. Nov., 1811, Ruth, dau. of John and Lucy (Hale) Keyes of Pn., and set. upon lot No. 53, the present Albert Howard farm, in which he had some hereditary interest. He subsequently left the place and res. in the village. A serious accident at a later date so impaired his physical and mental faculties that he was rendered incapable of self-support, but was most kindly and faithfully cared for during the following years of his life by his oldest s., as were also his w. and a dependent dau. He passed from his earthly labors and sufferings at Temp., Oct. 23, 1852, a. 64. His wid., Ruth, d. at Temp., Feb. 20, 1863, a. 76. Chn .:
105. ABNER HOLDEN8, b. May 11, 1812; m. Emily Wood; res. W., etc.
106. ELIZABETH H.8, b. July 17, 1815; d. Ang. 20, 1837.
107. ABIGAIL8, b. July 17, 1817; d. Nov. 26, IS79.
108. NATHANS, b. June 2, 1819; d. Aug. 25, 1837.
109. JOSEPH D.8, b. Aug. 28, 1821; m. Maria Allen, etc .; res. Fg .; 2 chn .; living. IIO. PHEBE K.8, b. Nov. 10, 1823; d. May 2, 1836.
Asaph Merriam7 (S7), bro. of the two last, was educated for the Chn. ministry, and ordained to his chosen work under the auspices of the Baptist denomination, ab. the year 1826. His first settlement was at West Royalston, and he subse- quently held pastorates at New Ipswich, N. H., Canton, Athol, Bolton, where he was located many years, and elsewhere. He was a man of devout and earnest spirit, of deep and tender sympathies, a conscientious preacher, a faithful pastor,
Lux Eng. Co., Boston Mass.
HON. JOEL MERRIAM.
773
THE MERRIAM FAMILY.
thoroughly consecrated to the Master's service as he understood it. He was highly esteemed by those for whom he labored and by his professional brethren, and his life was crowned with usefulness and honor. He was twice married: (1) to Anna W. Gibson of Fg., April 18, 1815. She d. May 5, 1827, and he m. (2) Feb. 14, 1829, Lorena Davis. He had 10 chn., most of whom d. in childhood or early maturity, two only becoming heads of families. Evelina, b. Aug. 17, 1825, m. J. Chandler Partridge of Temp., had 3 chn., and d. July 29, 1869. For some years she was teacher in the Academy; a lovely character. Marietta A. E. was b. April 20, 1831, m. Charles White of Bolton, where she is still living. Rev. Mr. Merriam d. Sept. 19, 1868.
[90.] MERRIAM, REUBEN P.8, s. of Samuel and Elmira, m. May 7, 1856, Elizabeth, dau. of Nathaniel Brooks of Stg. He disposed of the paternal estate, and of late years has res. in the Abraham Wood house on the old Common. He has had 4 chn .: III. JENNIE E.9, b. March 20, 1857; m. Frank A. Merriam; res. W .; 3 chn .; d. Jan. 15, 1889.
112. MARY LIZZIE9, b. May 17, 1860; m. Charles Kendall; res. Fg .; 3 chn.
113. CARRIE R.9, b. Feb. 8, 1864; m. Wm. S. Winter; res. Winch .; 4 chn.
114. EDDIE E.9, b. Jan. 16, 1871.
[99.] MERRIAM, JOELS, s. of Dea. Joel and Polly, m. Elmina, dau. of Benjamin and Achsah (Boutelle) Perkins (pub. Feb. 15), 1840. He was a painter by trade, and was in business for some years with Joseph B. Drury, now of Gr. He res. at sev. places ab. the village, but finally purchased and occupied the Whitman house, where his s., Frank A., now resides. He was an earnest, public-spirited citizen, active in town and chh. affairs and in various causes of reform and philanthropy. He was early in life a Liberty Party man, doing with his might what seemed to him best for the overthrow of the system of Am. Slavery. He labored earnestly for the Temperance reformation and the sup- pression of the traffic in intoxicating liquors. The tn. honored him with numerous tokens of regard and confidence. He served for sev. yrs. each, as Selectman and Assessor, and two terms in succession was he chosen to the upper house of the Gen. Ct. He d. May 7, 1873, a. 56. His wid. d. Nov. 30, 1885, a. 67. Chn. :
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