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 97
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Mr. Munjoy is believed to have attained the great age of one hundred years. There was much that was singular in his life history, which, if it could be written out in full, would make a volume of considerable size, and of unusual interest. One striking feature of it is worthy of protrayal here. His gd.f., Benjamin Stokes, was a wealthy citizen of Charlestown, owning lands and houses there, and a tidemill, the site of which, easily recognizable, was visited by the writer a few years since. In Feb., 1749-50 he made a will, giving one-third of his property to his w., and the remainder to his dau., Rebecca, evidently his only child. When he d., a few years later, his estate was appraised at ab. seventeen thousand pounds. In 1787, before which date Rebecca seems to have dec'd, the executors, who held and managed the property through the intervening years, rendered an account to the Prob. Ct., according to which there was still remaining a balance of £15,744, 18s., Iod., which pre- sumably belonged to Mr. Munjoy, the s. and prob. only chd. of Rebecca Stokes. Eight yrs. afterward, Dec. 23, 1795, the fol- lowing advertisement appeared in the Mass. Spy, published then as now at Worcester, to wit :- " If a Mr. Munjoy, born in Charlestown, near Boston, and is supposed to reside in Worces- ter County, will apply to Samuel Brazer, he may hear of some- thing to his advantage." There can be little doubt that this request related to the above mentioned property, Mr. M.'s rightful inheritance. But it seemed to have escaped his eye and that of his friends, and nothing as a consequence came of it. Many yrs. afterward rumors of this property reached the parties inter- ested, and efforts were made by them to secure it. For some unknown reason those efforts proved unavailing, and nothing was ever realized from it. During a part of the later years of his life, Mr. Munjoy assumed the name of Daniel Butterfield, which may account in a measure for his failure in attempting to obtain the fortune he so much needed, and also the pension for services in the Revolutionary War, which he claimed was his due. He d. July 31, 1834, a. 100 (?). Kate (Randall) Mun- joy d. July 28, 1818, a. 82. Keziah (Dunster) Munjoy d. Feb. 25, 1836, a. 64. Chn .:
806
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
2. EPHRAIM, b. prob. 1767; m. and res. W .; no chn .; suicided.
3. RICHARD, b. prob. 1769; nothing further found; prob. d. young.
4. CHARLOTTE, b. July 19, 1797; m. Asher B. Cutter.
5. LUCINDA, b. Dec. 1, 1801; m. Lafayette Willard; res. W .; d. Nov. IS, 1852.
6. BENJAMIN, b. June 26, 1804; m. Dolly Perry; res. W. (See Benjamin Blake.)
7. ELIZA, b. Aug. 9, 1806; prob. d. ISII.
8. MALINDA, b. Feb. 26, 1809; m. Miles Wood; res. Northboro'; 7 chn .; dec'd.
Sm. Miles Wood, 2d w .; no chn .; 1.
10. GEORGE W., b. Oct. 17, 1813; S
9. MARTIIA W., b. Oct. 17, 1813; twins; { m. Catharine P. Merrifield.
[IO.] MUNJOY, GEORGE WASHINGTON, s. of Daniel and Keziah, was pub. to Catharine P. Merrifield, W. Boylston, Jan. 28, 1839. They res. in W., Fg., and elsewhere, and had 7 chn., 4 of whom d. at W. of malignant dysentery, in a single week. The record of the family here given is incomplete and some- what uncertain, as indicated. Deaths of parents not ascer- tained. Chn .:
II. HARRIET B., b. April 4, 1840; d. Oct. 7, 1852.
12. HENRIETTA, b. 1842 ?; m. Benjamin Bartlett; res. Boston.
13. HENRY D., b. June, 1844 ?; d. Oct. 14, 1852.
14. CHARLES, b. 1846 ?; d. in the war.
15. HORACE, b. Dec. 23, 1848; d. Oct. 9, 1852.
16. HERBERT, b. July 30, 1850; d. Oct. 11, 1852.
17. HERBERT, b. at unkn. date; m. and res. Boston.
MUNROE.
This family is of ancient Scotch descent, dating back as far as the 11th century, when members of it appear as soldiers in the army of Malcolm II., who, at that early day, expelled the invading Danes from the kingdom. A long list of barons bearing the name is to be found in the heraldic annals of that country. In the time of the Reformation the Munroes were the steadfast friends of civil and religious liberty.
The first of the name in N. E., as far as known, was William Munroe1, a descendant of one of the Highland clans of Scotland, b. in 1625. He came to these shores in 1652, and set. in that part of Camb. which is now Lex- ington. He was a Selectman of the town, and held important offices in the parish established at " The Farms," as the locality was then called. His s., Lieut. John2, by his w., Hannah, had Jonas3, the f. of Ebenezer4, b. April 29, 1752, who was in the battle of Lex., April 19, 1775, under Capt. Parker, and claimed to have fired the first gun in the Revolutionary conflict. He m. May 10, 1781, Lucy Simonds, and soon after settled in Ash., where he d. May 25, 1825.
I. MUNROE, EBENEZER5, s. of Ebenezer4 and Lucy, was b. at Ash., Feb. 25, 1785. He m. Mary Sargent of Winch., and by her had 12 chn., most of whom were b. in A., where the greater part of his life was spent. July 21, 1832, he bought of Edward Kendall and Nathan Corey a small farm on the E. side of the road between the No. Com. and Scrabble Hollow, which he oc- cupied till his d., July 31, 1844. This was the Francis Barnes place, and the house, standing just below the R. R. crossing, was finally destroyed by fire. Mrs. Mary (Sargent) Munroe d. at Fg., Sept. 7, 1852, a. 62. The chn. of Ebenezer" and Mary were:
807
THE MUNROE AND MURDOCK FAMILIES.
2. EBENEZER L.6, b. July 3, 1809; d. July 25, 1857.
3. SAMUEL A.6, b. Sept. 13, ISIo; d. Sept. 23, 1876.
4. MARY S.6, b. July 5, 1812; d. W., March 17, 1834.
5. EMELINE A.6, b. March 27, 1814; m. Charles Smith; res. W.
6. CHARLES II.6, b. May 3, 1816; res. Temp.
7. LOUISA M.6. b. Feb. 2, ISIS; d. Sept. 26, 1838.
S.
JOSEPH W.6, b. April 17, 1820; res. Cal .; dec'd.
9. GEORGE A.6, b. May 24, 1823; a physician in St. Louis and Indian Ter.
IO. LORENZO V.6, b. Jan. 29, 1825. II. JOHN M.6, b. March 10, IS28.
12. FRANCIS A.6, b. July 1, 1833.
13. LEANDER V.6, b. Dec. 1, 1834; d. July 25, 1858.
14. MUNROE, JOHN5, bro. of the last, was b. Oct. 4, 1793, and m. May 6, 1819, Sophia, dau. of Thomas and Relief Gibson of Ash. He came to W. and carried on the business of manufac- turing chairs for a time with Ebenezer. He is said to have rem. hence to Cleveland, N. Y. Prob. both d. many yrs. since. Chn. :
15. ORISON J.6, b. Oct. 28, 1819; m. Ann E. Newton.
16. SOPHIA H.6, b. March 27, 1821; m. Winchester Wyman.
17. PORTER6, b. May 23, IS26; m. Harriet Maynard; res. Vt .; d. Oct. 30, ISSO.
IS. SOPHRONIA L.6, b. June 4, 1831.
MURDOCK.
The first person bearing this name in New England, so far as ascertained, was Robert1 of Roxbury, who m. Hannah Stedman, April 29, 1692. They had a son, Robert2, the father of Joshua3, a resident of Newton, whose wife was Esther Child.
I. MURDOCK, WILLIAM4, s. of the last named, was b. Jan. 14, 1748. On the 18th Sept., 1773, he purchased of Amos Conant of this town, lot No. 46, 2d Div., on which Dea. John P. Roper now res., and soon after took possession of the same. In 1775 he m. Achsah, dau. of Dea. John and Hannah (Greenwood) Wood- ward of Newton, a sister of the wife of Edward Bacon already located on the adjoining farmstead. He d. suddenly while milking, May 27, 1817, a. 69. His w., Achsah, d. Feb. 7, 1806, a. 55. Chn .:
2. ARTEMAS5, b. Sept. 6, 1776; m. Keziah Clark; res. W. Boylston; 9 chn .; d. 1855.
3. JOHN5, b. Oct. 3, 1778; m. twice; res. W.
4. JOSHUA5, b. Oct. 28, 17So; m. Clarissa Hartshorn; res. W. Boylston; 5 chn.
5. HANNAH5, b. Feb. 4, 1783; m. Stephen Dole; res. Fg.
6. LYDIA5, b. Aug. 30, 1785; m. Luther Clifford; res. Hub.
7. LUCY5, b. Oct. 25, 1787.
S. ANNA5, b. Oct. 19, 1790; m. Elijah F. Woodward; res. Newton; 7 chn.
9. SAMUEL5, b. Aug. 21, 1792. IO. CATA5, b. Feb. 20, 1796.
[3.] MURDOCK, JOIIN5, s. of the last, was an exemplary citi- zen and Dea. of the First Cong. Chh., 1828-1848. He m. (I) Joanna, dau. Jonathan Clifford of Southboro', July 1, 1804, who bore him 7 chn. and d. March 5, 1820, a. 37. On the 15th of May, 1821, he took for a second wife Sally Keyes of Pn., by whom he had 3 more. He passed away Oct. 19, 1848, a. 70. After his decease his wid. removed to the South to live with her son
808
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
Artemas and thence to Chicago, where she d. some years since. Chn. :
II. BETSEY C.6, b. July 17, 1805; m. Lawson Rice; res. Lawrence; 3 chn .; dec'd.
12. JOHN F.6, b. Aug. 2, 1807; d. Jan. 10, 1810.
13. J. FRANKLIN6, b. Oct. 28, ISI0; res. W. and Lowell; m. three times; sev. chn .; living.
14. WILLIAM6, b. Feb. 7, 1813; ] S d. Feb. S, 1813.
15. ACHSAH6, b. Feb. 7, 1813; S
&twins; { d. Feb. 24, 1813.
16. JOANNA6, b. June 17, 1815; d. June 25, 1817.
17. LUCY W.6, b. June 3, 1819; d. June 4, 1819.
IS. SARAH J.6, b. Oct. 14, 1824; m. Alvin W. Osborne, and had chn .; res. W., etc.
19. ARTEMAS W.6, b. Dec. 15, 1828; went South and had fam .; d. Chicago.
20. CATHARINE M.6, b. June 22, 1834; no report received.
[13.] MURDOCK, JOHN FRANKLIN6, s. of the last, b. Oct. 28, ISIO, m. (1) Lucena, dau. of Asa and Lucena (Puffer) Merriam, Dec. - , 1830, by whom he had I child. She d. Jan. 2, 1840, a. 30, and he m. (2), the following Sept., Mary M. Bowker of Fitch., who d. without issue April 21, 1841, a. 30. A few months later he m. (3) Harriet N. Bowker, sr. of his second wife, by whom he is sup. to have had other chn. He left tn. many yrs. since and located in Lawrence. His first chd. was:
21. HARRIET7, b. W. at date unkn., and res. Worc., unm.
I. NEWELL, AUGUSTUS W., s. of Lyman and Rachel, was b. at Mason, N. H., Aug. 29, 1846. He m. Oct. 20, 1873, Abbie F., dau. Isaac Newell Smith, and set. in the Whitman River valley where he now res. Chn .:
2. FREDERICK I., b. June IS, 1874. 3. GEORGETTE, b. Dec. 30, 1875.
4. WILLIAM A., b. Oct. 17, 1877; d. Feb. 5, 1891.
5 MARY I., b. Nov. 29, ISSO. NINA, b. Feb. 5, 1884.
7. LESLIE A., b. May 25, 1889; d. Oct. 24, 1890.
NEWTON.
Richard Newton1, the immigrant ancestor of those bearing this name in W., was in Sudbury as early as 1640, where he was made "freeman" five years afterward. He rem. thence to Marlboro', of which place he was one of the early settlers, locating on territory now included within the limits of South- boro'. His son, Daniel2, was f. of Nathaniel3, of whom was the following, to wit :
I. NEWTON, RICHARD4, s. of the last named, b. May 27, 1722, in S., m. Jan. 22, 1743, Martha Pike of Framingham. He lived in his native town for some years but bought, March 23, 1757, lot No. 14, 2d Div., lying west of the well known Bigelow farm, on which he built a house and made a home. (See A. H. No. 69.) His w., Martha, d. Jan. 18, 1767, and before the end of the year he was pub. to Mary Flagg of Marlboro'. The date of his own death is unknown, but it occurred before 1773, in which year his homestead was sold by the administrator of his estate, Daniel Hoar. He prob. had no chn., none being named in the distribution of his property. He was chosen "Sealer of Lea- ther " at the first mecting of the District of Westminster.
809
THE NEWTON FAMILY.
2. NEWTON, TIMOTHY6, a descendant of the same ancestral head as the last named, was s. of Timothy5 and Huldah (Wheel- ock) Newton of Hub., b. July 5, 1771. His father owned lands in the place at an early date, and was sometimes taxed here, though he was prob. only a transient resident. He was a na- tive of Shrewsbury, s. of Elisha+ and Sarah (Tomlin) Newton, b. May 17, 1737. Elisha+ was s. of Moses3 of Marlboro', who was s. of Moses2, a s. of the first Richard.
Timothy Newton6, bought 3d and 4th Div. lots of Benjamin Richardson, Sterling, Sept. 24, 1796, the estate of his s. Joel", lately dec'd, and made the first improvements on it, build- ing a house and otherwise fitting it for a home. He m. Nov. 9, 1800, Phebe How, and had a large family. He d. July 29, 1842, a. 71. She. d. June 12, 1844, a. 71. Chn .:
3. JOEL7, b. Jan. 20, 1802; 1 Sd. Aug. 1, 1818.
4 SALLY™, b. Jan. 20, 1802; } twins; 1 d. Sept. 8, 1802.
5. TIMOTHY7, b. Nov. 13, 1803; m. Mary Cobleigh; res. Gr .; no chn .; d. Sept. 2, 1883.
6. POLLY7, b. Nov. 21, 1805; m. Samuel Warren; res. Hub .; 7 chn .; d. Oct 17, 1875.
7. ELIZA7, b. Dec. 3, 1807; m. Stephen Sawin; res. Ashby; no chn .; d. June 2, 1838.
8. RUFUS7, b. May 8, 1810; m. Rebecca Willard; res Gr .; 4 chn .; d. March 29, 1859.
9. REUBEN", b. May 8, 1810; m. Wealthy Gates; res. Northfield; 3 chn .; d. Jan. 12, 1863.
IO. SALLY7, b. Nov. 4, 1812; d. Oct. 3, 1833.
II. Lucy7, b. Dec. 17, 1814; m. Joel Baker; res. Temp .; 9 chn.
S d. July 15, 1835.
1 3. AUGUSTUS7, b. April 11, 1817; S
12. AUGUSTA7, b. April 11, 1817; ] twins; 1 m. Mary Mitchell; res. Indiana; 3 chn.
14. PHEBET, b. April 11, 1819; d. Dec. 7, 1819.
15 JOEL7, b. Feb. 11, 1821; m. Maria Sawin; res. W.
[15.] NEWTON, JOEL7, youngest s. of the last, and the only one of the family who set. in W., remained on the homestead, which he occupied and cultivated through life. He m. March -, 1842, Maria, dau. of James and Eunice (Hyde) Sawin. They had a large and interesting family. Several of the daugh- ters have exhibited marked literary abilities, and have made an honorable record for themselves as teachers and in other spheres of useful service. Mr. Newton d. Oct. 27, 1891, a. 70. His wid. is living. Their chn are:
16. TIMOTHY8, b. March 8, 1843; d. March 21, 1843.
17. ABBY B.8, b. Aug. 6, 1844; m. Charles W. Griffin; res. Worc., etc .; 2 chn .; 1.
IS. ALONZO C.8, b. July 21, 1846; m. Etta Upton; res. Gr .; no chn.
19. MARCUS M.8, b. Feb. 8, 1848; m. Mattie Priest and Lizzie White; res. Gr .; 2 chn.
20. EMMA A.8, b. March 23, 1850.
21. SUSAN A.8, b. Aug. 19, 1852; d. Jan. 8, 1862.
22. LIZZIE M.8, b. April 21, 1854; m. Henry K. Trask; res. New Haven, Conn .; no chi.
23. MATTIE L &, b. March 11, 1856; d. Oct. 28, 1857.
24. FRANK W.8, b. Jan. 23, 1859; m. Susy A. Cary; res. Gr .; I chd.
25. LULA M.8, b. Feb. 1, 1861.
26. AUGUSTUS", b. Oct. 19, 1863;
§ d. the same day.
27. AUGUSTINE8, b. Oct. 19, 1863; § twins; { d. the same day.
28. EDITH G.8, b. March 8, 1869.
810
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
NICHOLS.
The immigrant head of the Nichols family in this part of the country is supposed to have been Richard1, an early settler of Ipswich (Agawam), who rem. after a few years to Reading, where he became a permanent resident. By his w., Annis, he had Jonas2, the f. of Jonathan3, whose s., Benjamin+, m. Mary, of parentage unknown. Of this union came the first of the name who located within the limits of the present town of W. A second cousin, David5, had previously taken up his abode in the section set off to form Gr. in 1785, as noted on a subsequent page.
I. NICHOLS, BENJAMIN5, s. of Benjamin4 and Mary of Read- ing, was. b. in 1754. He m. Rebecca, dau. of Joseph and Eliza- beth (Temple) Bancroft of R., in 1779, and soon after came to this town, locating in the Minott neighborhood, on the place now owned by John Scott. He d. Nov. 22, 1818, a. 64. Date of d. of w. unkn. Chn. :
2. BENJAMIN6, b. prob. 17So; went to Me., m., and had chn.
3. EDMUND6, b. April 25, 1782; m. twice; res. W.
4. HANNAH6, b. May 11, 1784; m. Samuel Spencer of Boston.
5. WILLIAM6, b. March 7, 1786; unm .; drowned at sea.
6. BETSEY6, b. Nov. 22, 1788; prob. d. 1800.
7. REBECCA6, b. April 1, 1791; m. Oliver Whitney and moved to Vt.
S. SUSANNAH6, b. Aug. 19, 1793; prob. d. 1800.
9. SALLY6; birth not recorded; m. Martin Dunster; res. Gr .; no chn .; d. July 2, I845.
[3.] NICHOLS, EDMUND6, s. of the last, remained with his f. and succeeded to the homestead. He m. (1) Dorcas, dau. of Joshua and Vashti (Knight) Whitney of Gr., Oct. 31, 1808, who, after giving birth to two chn., d. June 1, 1812, a. 24. He was m. (2) to Betsey, dau. of John and Lucy Adams, June 17, 1813. He d. Nov. 7, 1839, a. 57. His second wife d. at a date un- known. He had, in all, 9 chn. :
IO. JOEL", b. Oct. 22, 1809; m. and res. Gr .; 3 chn .; living.
II. BETSEY7, b. July 12, ISII; m. twice and has had 4 chn .; living.
12. HASKELL7, b. Jan. 17, 1815; m. Mary -; res. W., etc .; dec'd.
13. DORCAS7, b. Sept. 29. 1817; m. Benjamin Nichols and Lyman Hale; res. Roy- alston; no chn .; living.
14. SUSAN7, b. May 4, 1820; m. Joseph Woodbury; res. W .; 2 chn .; living.
15. HARRIET7, b. May 24, 1822; m. -- Kilburn; res. Winch .; 2 chn .; living.
16. Unnamedī, b. April 29, 1824; d. April 30, 1824.
17. CHESTER7, b. Aug. 24, 1825; m. and lived Keene; 5 chn .; d. I891.
18. WILLIAM7, b. Oct. 16, 1827; m. Hannah Baker; res. W.
19. MARTHA7, b. Dec. 24, 1829; m. Oliver M. Merriam; res. W .; 2 chn .; d. Oct. 11, 18So.
20. JANE7, b. Nov. 29, 1832; d. Jan. 30, 1847, a. 14.
[12.] NICHOLS, HASKELL", s. of the last, m. Mary -, and after res. in town a few years and having 2 chn., rem. to N. Y. State, where he d. not long afterward. Chn .:
21. JOSEPH SHEPHERD8, b. Sept. 24, 1844. 22. Daughters, b. March 6, 1846.
[18.] NICHOLS, WILLIAM", bro. of the last, m. Sept. 18, 1851, Hannah, dau. of Elmer and Lucinda (Conant) Baker, and set. near Wachusett Lake. Chn .:
811
THE NICHOLS FAMILY.
23. JANE E.S, b. April 7, 1853; d. Oct. 31, 1854.
24. HENRY E.8, b. April 23, 1855; m. Nettie A. Underwood; res. W .; 2 chn.
25. EMILY J.8, b. March 24, 1859; d. June 4, 1875.
[24.] NICHOLS, HENRY E.8 s. of the last, m. Nettie A., dau. of George C. and Susan (Oaks) Underwood, Gr., May 19, 1878, and has 2 chn .:
26. ETHEI. E.9, b. May 26, 1885. 27. - 9; perhaps older.
28. NICHOLS, EDMOND7, s. of David6 and Rachel (Howard) Nichols, and gd.s. of David5 alluded to above, was b. Gr., Aug. 26, 1801. He m. Mary, dau. of Ezra and Ruth (Puffer) Derby in 1823, and set. in W., res. in different sections of the town, but finally purchasing and occupying the Kendall property, in the W. part of the central village, now in possession of his sons. He was a farmer, chair maker, dealer in real estate, etc., -- an enterprising, shrewd, successful business man in his time. He d. March 22, 1870, a. 68. His wid., Mary (Derby) Nichols, d. five weeks later, April 29, a. 65. Their chn. were:
29. AUGUSTUS E.8, b. Feb. 19, 1824; m. Sophia C. Bemis; res. W .; d. Oct. 22, 1859.
30. FREDERIC8, b. Oct. 30, 1825; m. wid. Aurelia B. Fisher; res. W .; 3 chn.
31. MARY A.8, b. March 3, 1827; m. James M. Clark; res. W .; no chn .; d. March 12, 1858.
32. FRANCIS8, b. Sept. 11, 1829; m. wid. Sophia B. Nichols; res. W.
33. CAROLINES, b. July 30, 1832; m. Thomas Greenwood; res. Gr .; 4 chn.
34. LUCY8, b. Sept. 20, 1835; m. James M. Clark; res. W .; 2 chn .; d. Aug. 29, 1869.
35. LYMANS, b. Jan. 29, 1839; m. Ellen A. Peabody; res. Pn .; 4 chn .; living.
36. GEORGE8, b. Aug. 10, 1841; unm .; d. May 5, 1867.
37. CLARA A.S. b. March 5, 1844; m. John R. Conant; res. Gr .; 1 chd .; living.
38. CHARLES8, b. July 4, 1847; m. Alice A. Brown; res. W.
39. MARCUS M.8, b. June 27, 1849; m. Abbie I. Reed; res. W.
[29.] NICHOLS, AUGUSTUS E.8, s. of the last, m. Sophia C. Bemis, and set. in W. He was a chair maker by trade as most of his bros. were. He d. Oct. 22, 1859, a. 35, and his wid. m. (2) his bro. Francis, as shown below. Chd. :
40. GEORGE CLAYTON9, b. July 1, 1858; d. Nov. 28, 1886, unm.
[30.] NICHOLS, FREDERIC8, bro. of the last, m. wid. Aurelia Fisher, dau. of Stephen and Sophia Bemis, and set. on the Dea. Edward Kendall estate, where he still lives. For some yrs. he was engaged in the manufacture of chairs, but finally sold the business to his younger bros. Chn. :
41. ALICE S.º, b. Nov. 2, 1874. 42. RUTH B.9, b. April 18, 1877.
43. CHARLES G.9, b. Feb. 16, 1883.
[32.] NICHOLS, FRANCIS8, bro. of the last, m., as stated, So- phia, wid. of Augustus, and was awhile in business with his bros. His w. d. Aug. 29, 1890, a. 57. Chn .:
44. FRANK A.9, b. April 25, 1867; m. Carrie Nickerson; res. Wis .; I chd.
45. CARRIE S.9, b. Feb. 12, 1869; died young.
46. EDMUND9, b. June 8, 1871. 47. EDITH C.º, b. June 8, 1871.
812
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
[38.] NICHOLS, CHARLES8, a younger s. of Edmund and Mary, m. Dec. 10, 1871, Alice A., dau. of Timothy and Eunice (Lord) Brown. Entering into partnership with his bro., M. M. Nich- ols, some years since, they succeeded to the business started at the W. end of the central village by their older bros., and built up a large establishment as stated in the Chapter on " Indust- ries," contributing very essentially to the prosperity of the town in later years. The chn. of Charles and Alice are:
48. MARY A.9, b. Aug. 26, 1873. 49. ABBIE B.9, b. Dec. 26, 1875.
50. LOUIS C.9, b. 1 ec. 28, 1877.
51. ARTHUR E .? , b. May 28, ISSo; d. May 26, 1889.
52. EDMUND L.9, b. Feb. 10, 1890.
[39.] NICHOLS, MARCUS M.8, the youngest of Edmund"'s sons, m. Abbie I., dau. of Phineas W. and Sally P. Reed, Dec. IO, 1871, and engaged in business as just noted. He served for some years, 1876 to 1881, as Town Clerk. Chn. :
53. GRACE R .? , b. Oct. 3, 1872. 54. MAUD M.9, b. Oct. 1, 1874.
55. BELLE B.9, b. July 10, 1877. 56. EDMUND C.9, b. Sept. 6, 1879
57. BLANCHIE I).9, b. Dec. 5, 1881. 58. CLARA G.º, b. Feb. 4, 1884.
59. REINE C.9, b. Sept. 19, 1886.
[44.] NICHOLS, FRANK A.9, s. of Francis8 and Sophia, m. Car- rie Nickerson. He res. W. awhile, but subsequently rem. to Two Rivers, Wis. I Chd .:
60. SOPHIA10, b. July 29, 1892.
I. NORCROSS, NATHANIEL, ptge., etc., untraced, drew lot No. 37, the present Samuel Bridge place, in the first division of the lands of the township, and seems to have lived there for a few years, prob. making the first clearing and building the first house on the premises. He was very likely a descendant of Richard, the first schoolmaster of Watertown, who was bro. of Jeremiah, a Narragansett soldier, upon whose right he became original proprietor. Jackson in his "History of Newton " says he came hither from that town. He sold his place in Oct., 1745, to Joseph Hosley, having then left and taken up his abode in Watertown. No family reported.
2. NORCROSS, SAMUEL, was in town 1767-1773, and appears to have res. on or near Bean Porridge Hill, but whence he came or whither he went has not been ascertained. By his w., Rachel, he had while living here:
3. SAMUEL, b. Jan. 9, 1769.
4. NORCROSS, ASA, also untraced, owned lot No. 34, 2d Div., the recent homestead of Lyman Drury, and prob. occupied it, being a taxable resident here, 1765-1769. He sold to Asa Taft of Uxbridge in 1768, and his name thereafter disappears from the records.
W. P. ALLEN, GARDNER, MASS
CHAIR MANUFACTORY OF NICHOLS' BROTHERS.
813
THE O'DANIELS FAMILY.
I. O'DANIELS, DE WITT CLINTON, S. of John and Eliza- beth O'Daniels, was b. in Starkey, N. Y., March 14, 1828. He was educated for the Christian ministry at the Meadville Theo- logical School in Pa., and having been ordained, preached at Branchport, Frewsburgh, and elsewhere in his native state, com- ing to W. in 1854, and assuming charge of the Universalist Church and Society, in which position he remained two years. He supplied the pulpit subsequently at Athol and Richmond, N. H. His health at length failed, obliging him to give up the continuous duties of his profession. Returning to this town, he sank into a decline consequent upon pulmonary troubles, which terminated in death, Feb. 5, 1867, a. 38.
Mr. O'Daniels was a man of rare and varied natural abilities, enriched and adorned by culture and self-discipline. Radical in his theological views, he yet was profoundly reverent, spiritu- ally minded, and consecrated to God's service in the service of mankind. His last sermon, preached in his old pulpit at W. after disease had so fastened itself upon him as to foreshadow a fatal issue at an early day, was from the text, "To die is gain," and seemed like a message from the eternal world-a sermon never to be forgotten by those privileged to hear it.
Mr. O'Daniels m. Nov. 26, 1857, Alzina, dau. of Artemas and Mary Mann, and foster dau. of Dea. Levi and Isabella (Mann) Allen. She had spent some years in teaching, having been educated for that profession at the Westfield State Nor- mal School, and as special student for a year at Antioch College, Ohio., then in charge of the distinguished Horace Mann, its first President, a distant relative of hers. After the decease of her husband, she was engaged awhile as traveling agent of the Universalist Publishing House, Boston, for the distribution of the literature of that denomination. Subsequently she fitted herself for the Chn. ministry, and was licensed to preach by the Mass. Univ. Convention at No. Adams in Oct., 1872. She was favorably received on the part of congregations employing her, and for a year or two devoted herself mostly to the sacred calling. Her ability and scholarship were recognized by the citizens of the town, who elected her a member of the School Committee for a 3 yrs. term in 1872. But her health soon began to give way, obliging her to suspend her more active labors, and to abandon her plans of usefulness in the world. After a long illness she passed to her rest.
On the stone which marks the spot where reposes all that was mortal of this wedded pair, are the following inscriptions : " De Witt C. O' Daniels, born into this world March 12, 1828: Born into the Summer land, Feb. 5, 1867." " Alzina (Mann) O'Daniels, born into this world March 14, 1828: Born into the better land, May 8, 1880."
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