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 98
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Their chn. were:
2. FREDERICK W., b. Aug. 30, 1857 ?; res. N. Y .; m .; 2 chn.
3. EDGAR ERNEST, b. May 14, 1859 ?; res. Cal .; unm.
4. JOSEPH MANN, b. 1861 ?; res. Boston; m .; I chd.
814
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
I. OSBORNE, AI, s. of Samuel and Rachel (Gibson) Osborne, was b. Stow, Sept. 19, 1801. In his early manhood he went to Fitzwilliam, N. H., where he m. Elizabeth W. Dakin of Sud- bury. He afterward rem. to Ashburnham, and was employed there in the manufacture of lumber. In the summer of 1835 he came to this town and had charge of the so-called Goodale Mill in the north part, taking up his abode in the house now oc- cupied by Andrew Burnham. He was a man of good repute and standing among his fellow-citizens, and held some subordinate public offices. He was not here many years, going to Fg. with his family, where he d. April 29, 1881, a. 79. His widow sur .. vived him 5 years, passing away July 15, 1886, at the age of 74. Of their 4 chn., the two daus. only survive,-one an accom- plished and successful school-teacher; the other a skillful and popular milliner and dressmaker. They res. Fg. The 4 were:
2. AI DAKIN, b. Ash., March 29, 1833; enlisted in the army; d. Dec. 1, 1861.
3. ELIJAH WILLARD, b. Dec. 20, 1834; d. unm. at Fg., Oct. 31, 1855
4. HANNAH F., b. W., Oct. 24, 1838. 5. MARY ANN, b. March 14, 1842.
I. OXFORD, CLARENDON, S. of Zachariah and Joanna, was b. Sterling, Jan. 20, 1806. He m. Martha Freeman of Gr., and set. in the west part of this town on the old turnpike. The relations of the family, social, industrial, and religious, were with Gr. people. Mr. Oxford d. Jan. 4, 1883, a. 77. His wid. is still living. Chn., the dates of birth being uncertain :
2. WILLIAM H., b. 1830; m. Maria Grimes; res. Gr .; 3 chn .; d. Feb., 1891.
3. MARTHA A., b. Oct., 1832; d. 1833.
4. ANNA M., b. May, 1835; m. Emory Waterman; no chn .; living.
5. CORDELIA, b. Dec., 1838; m. twice; res. Gr .; 2 chn .; living.
6. FRANCIS E., b. Sept., 1841; m. twice; res. Gr .; 7 chn .; living.
7. CHARLOTTE, b. Aug., 1843; d. Nov. 29, 1850.
S. JAMES C., b. May, 1849; went South; 10 chn .; living.
9. DARIUS G., b. Sept. 23, 1850; m. Lucretia Wright; 2 chn.
10. RUFUS E., b. Dec. 10, 1852; d. July 8, 1854.
PAGE.
In the year 1630, John Page of Dedham, Eng., accompanied by his wife and two chn., embarked for America in one of the vessels belonging to the fleet which brought John Winthrop and a large representation of the Mass. Colony to these shores. With many of his fellow-voyagers, he set. at Watertown, then newly occupied, where he was made "freeman" the fol- lowing year, and where he became a leading spirit in public affairs. He d. Dec. 18, 1676, a. ab. 90. His w. was Phobe Paine, who belonged to a family distinguished in English annals, one of its early scions, Sir Thomas Payne, having been knighted for personal courage and prowess displayed in one of the Crusades to the Holy Land.
John Page2, s. of the immigrant, b. 1630, a short time before his parents left their native land, m. Faith Dunster and located in Groton ab. 1662, He occupied there many positions of trust and honor, and rendered impor- tant service in both secular and religious concerns. After the destruction of the town by the Indians in 1694, he returned to Watertown, where he d. in 1711. One of his s., Samuel3, was the first white settler of Lunenburg, and was widely known as "Old Gov. Page." Another, Jonathan3, b. June
815
THE PAGE FAMILY.
24, 1677, remained in Groton, and was largely identified with the growth and prosperity of the town. By his w., Mary, he had Joseph4, b. Oct. 22, 1714, who m. Abigail Shedd. and had Jonathan5, b. July 22, 1742. The latter located in Fg. ab. the time of its incorporation, and spent his remain- ing life there, enjoying the respect and confidence of his fellow-townsmen on account of his unblemished character and upright dealings with all men. In 1769 he m. Esther Willard of Harvard, and had 7 chn., of whom one be- came a permanent resident of this town.
I. PAGE, JOEL6, s. of Jonathan5 and Esther, was b. in 1782. He m. Feb., 1806, Thurza, dau. of Josiah and Huldah (Page) Wheeler, and lived for many years on his f.'s farm in Fg. In 1823 he rem. to W., having made arrangements with the f. of his w. to have the homestead on Bean Porridge Hill, now owned by Mr. Robinson. After residing there some 12 yrs. he sold to his s. Josiah and returned to Fg., where he d. May 22, 1853, a. 71. His w., Thurza, d. Jan. 13, 1846, a. 65. Mr. Page was " well known for his feats of prodigious strength, and was the acknowledged champion in all the athletic sports of his day." He also inherited from his ancestors corresponding intellectual energy and force of character. The chn. of Joel6 and Thurza Page, b. Fg., were:
2. MAJORT, b. April 7, 1807; m. Dorinda Miller; res. W.
3. HARRIET", b. April 10, 18og; m. Sidney Smith; res. W. and Stg .; 4 chn .; d. Aug. 6, 1843.
4. JOSIAH™, b. May 30, 1811; m. Lucinda Whitney; res. W.
5. EMELINE7, b. July 11, 1813; m. Josiah Puffer; res. W .; 3 chn .; d. Dec. 21, IS78.
6. MARIA7, b. 1815; m. S. P. Gibson; res. Ashby; I chd .; d. April, 1864.
7. BETSEY7, b. 1817; d. in infancy.
8. JOEL7, b. Nov. 25, 1820; m. Sarah Pierce; res. Fg .; 5 chn.
[2.] PAGE, MAJOR7, s. of the last, came to W. with his f. when 16 yrs. old. In 1833 (pub. June 9), he m. Dorinda, dau. of Ezra and Lucy (Whitcomb) Miller, by whom he had 5 chn. During the last years of his life he owned and res. in the Corey house, nearly opposite the bakery. He was a chair maker by trade, reserved in manner, upright and honorable in his deal- ings, and much respected in the community. He held the office of Selectman 2 yrs., and received other tokens of public regard. He d. Nov. 23, 1863, a. 56. His wid. is still living, making her home with her dau. in Waltham. Their chn. are:
9. LUCY M.8, b. Dec. 1, IS33; m. Daniel Stone; res. W., etc .; 4 chn .; living.
IO. Unnamed8, b. Aug. 22, 1835; d. infancy.
II. MARY D.8, b. Oct. 21, 1837; m. A. P. Bateman; res. Winch .; 5 chn .; living.
12. CHARLES H.8, b. Feb. 8, 1839; m .; res. E. Momnouth, Me .; no chn. (See p. 419.)
13. GEORGE H.8, b. Nov. 29, 1840; unm .; d. June 26, 1864. (See p. 410.)
[4.] PAGE, JOSIAH7, bro. of the last, also came to W. in 1823 with his f., and m. June 18, 1835, Lucinda, dau. of Smyrna and Ruth (Whitney) Whitney. Ab. that time he purchased the home place and remained on it until a few years since, when he rem. to the Gaut house at the Center. He was an industrious, successful farmer, and a man of sterling integrity and worth.
816
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
He was a member of the Board of Selectmen in 1849, and in other ways has served the general weal. He dec'd Jan., 1893, and his wid. Feb. 24, the same year. Chn .:
14. PORTER F.8, b. July 19, 1837; m. Elsie K. Wood; res. W.
15. CHARLES W.8, b. Sept. 7, 1845; m. twice; res. Danvers; 3 chn. (See below.) 16. FRANCIS H.8, b. July 24, 1847; d. April 15, 1865.
[14.] PAGE, PORTER F.8, s. of Josiah? and Lucinda, m. Elsie K., dau. of T. Dwight and Emeline (Clark) Wood, May 31, 1865. He is an enterprising, successful farmer, residing on the well-known Jonathan Sawyer place on Bean Porridge Hill. Mr. and Mrs. P. have but I chd .:
17. FRANK H.9, b. July 4, 1866; unm .; res. with parents.
Charles W. Page8 (15), brother of the last named, studied at the Medical Dept. of Harvard Univ., graduating in 1871. He first located as a regular practitioner in the profession at Fg., but, displaying some special qualifications for the position, was soon called to be Assistant Physician in the " Retreat for the Insane " at Hart- ford, Conn. He remained there till 1888, when he received the appointment of Superintendent of the Danvers Lunatic Hospital, in this State, where he now is.
While at Fg., Dr. Page, in 1873, m. Henrietta Parkhurst of Groton, who bore him 1 chd., Parkhurst9, b. at Hartford, July 28, 1874. She d. Feb. 27, 1880, and he m. (2) March 9, 1886, Caroline L. Collins of Hartford, by whom he has had (1890) 2 chn,- Atwood Collins9, b. Nov. 12, 1887, and Charles Whitney9, b. Jan. 27, 1890.
18. PAGE, CHARLES H., s. of Edson and Harriet L., was b. Westport, N. Y., m. Ann Maria, dau. of James and Mary Ryan of W., Dec. 17, 1870, and has since res. in town. Chn. :
19. CHARLES E., b. June 5, 1875. 20. GEORGE E., b. Sept. 26, 1877.
21. HATTIE M., b. July 24, 1880. 22. FRANK J., b. March 26, 1883.
23. LENA M., b. May 8, 1886. 24. BENJAMIN H., b. Nov. 12, 1888.
PALMER, REV. CHARLES M., s. of Asa and Pamelia Palmer of Orford, N. H., was b. Jan. 16, 1837. Inured to the labor of a farm in his youth, and with limited educational advantages, he yet fitted himself for teaching as a temporary vocation, subsequently preparing for college at Kimball Academy, Meri- den. He grad. at Dartmouth in 1862, and after 2 yrs. spent as Principal of the Hitchcock Free School, Brimfield, in this state, he entered Union Theological School, N. Y. City, going thence a year later to Andover and completing his studies there in 1867. He was ordained to the work of the Chn. min- istry Dec. 8, 1868, at Harrisville, N. H., where he remained 3 yrs., and was afterward employed at Corinth, 2 yrs., Meriden, 8 yrs., and at Saratoga, Cal., I yr. Returning to N. E. he began his labors with the First Chh. and Society in this town, March 18, 1883, and continued there till 1891. After a respite of a year for the recuperation of his health, he took charge of a chh. at Sharon, Vt., where he now resides.
Mr. Palmer while here was a faithful laborer in the vineyard of the Master. Holding steadfastly his own theological opin- ions, he was at the same time of a catholic spirit, happy to recognize the Chn. character wherever it existed, and happy to work with all those of whatever name, who were seeking to
817
THE PARCHER AND PARKER FAMILIES.
build up the kingdom of God in the world. Faithful to his own people, both as preacher and pastor, he was also a good citizen, interested in education, moral reform, public improvements, etc., and active in doing what seemed to him conducive of the welfare and happiness of the community. He m. Aug. 28, 1868, Marion W. Powers, whose ptge., etc., are unknown to the writer, but the union has been blessed by no chn.
I. PARCHER, FRANK L., s. of John F. and Lydia A., was b. at Biddeford, Me., Oct. 30, 1847. He m. at Boston, May 12, 1868, Mary E., dau. of Wm. L. and Jane R. Geasling of Alex- andria, Va., and after res. in B. some 17 yrs. rem. to this town, and set. on the John Miller place near Wachusett Mt. He is by trade a millwright, with some experience in farming. His mother, Lydia A. Parcher, d. W., Dec. 20, 1891. Chn. :
2. WILLIAM F, b. Boston. May 22, 1869; d. B., March 26, 1875.
3. ORRIN E., b. B., Oct. 25, 1871; a farmer at Saco, Me.
4. NELLIE M., b. B., Jan. 14, 1874; a public school-teacher in W.
5. FRED G , b. B., May 1, 1882.
PARKER.
Thomas Parker1, prob. from Reading, Eng., came to this country in the ship Susan Ellen in 1635, set. temporarily in Lynn, but soon took up his permanent res. in Reading, originally called "Lynn Village," where he was held in high esteem. His s., Nathaniel2, who was dignified with the title of " Ensign," had Nathaniel3, a lieutenant in the colonial militia.
I. PARKER, NATHAN4, s. of Lieut. Nathaniel3, m. Tabitha Gould and settled in Nar. No. 2, locating on lot No. 30, east of the Pond, now owned by F. A. Taylor, which he bought of Nath'l Seaver, Dec. 14, 1758. He had chn., but none of them were b. here. Jan. 27, 1762, the town voted to have a school kept in his house. He returned to Reading ab. 1776, where he d. two or three years afterward. The parting of the roads be- low his place of residence, known as "Parker's Corner," per- petuates his name.
2. PARKER, CALEB5, s. of Nathan4 and Tabitha, was b. in Reading in 1743. He m. (1) Zeruiah Read of Woburn, by whom he had I s. and perhaps other chn. before coming to W. She d. and he m. (2) Hannah Garfield, sr. of Solomon, who bore him 2 chn. and prob. more. He succeeded to the homestead of his f., and res. here many years. No record of his d. or rem. has been found. He was in town as late as 1791, when he, with w. and 4 chn., was warned out. The only known register of his family, undoubtedly incomplete, is the following :
3. CALEB6, b. Reading, 1768, of whom nothing further has been learned.
4. SUKEY6, b. W., Dec. 24, 1784.
5. ABRAM G.6, b. W., Oct. 14, 1786.
Abram G. Parker6 (5) m. Lydia B., dau. of David and Rachel (Howard) Nichols, and set. first in Gr. (South Village), where he, in company with two others, built an iron mill, and carried on the manufacture of nails and other goods of a similar nature for some years, and where 2 chn. were b. to him. He rem. to Roxbury, and lived there to good old age. His w., Lydia B., d. many years before he did, and he m. a second time, his wid. surviving him until a recent date.
52
818
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
PARMENTER. Nathaniel Parmenter of Sudbury and his w., Susan- nah, had Jacob, b. 1752, Nathaniel, b. 1754, and Susannah, b. 1756. The w., Susannah, d., and he m. (2) Mary (Hinds), wid. of Capt. John Stebbins of Leicester, and mother of Mrs. Timothy Heywood, afterward of W., in June, 1757, and rem. to Spencer. He enlisted in the F. and I. War soon after, and d. in the service, 1759, leaving one s. by the last w. She subse- quently m. Philip Sweetzer of Lanc. and res. for some years at Winchendon, where she d. ab. 1780, leaving one s. by her last husband (perhaps others ). named William, a sometime resident of this town.
I. PARMENTER, NATHAN, S. of Nathaniel and Mary (Hinds) Stebbins Parmenter, was b. in Spencer, March 1, 1758. He lived in W. a few years after reaching maturity, then went to Barnard, Vt., where he m. Dorcas Aikins and had several chn. Later in life he removed to Potsdam, N. Y., and d. there. He served several years in the Rev. war. His s. Solomon m. Philena Eastman, and res. in Potsdam, where he has descend- ants now living.
2. PARMENTER, NELSON, S. of this Solomon, was b. April 29, 18II. When a young man he came to W. and learned the saddle and harness-making trade of Alvin Upham, and was an occasional resident here for many years afterward. He, how- ever, carried on business awhile at Sterling, and subsequently at Gardner. He m. May 7, 1840, Lucy Ann, dau. of Pearson and Susannah (Upton) Cowee. The later years of his life, during which he suffered from mental derangement, were spent among his family relatives at Potsdam, in which place he d. Sept. 13, 1866, a. 55. His wid. d. at Fg. in 1890, a. 76. Chn. :
3. LEANDER, b. W., June 20, 1845; d. the same day.
4. MARY LOUISA, b. Oct., 1853; d. May, 1856.
PARTRIDGE.
Among the early proprietors of the old town of Medfield was John Par- tridge1, presumably an immigrant settler, though possibly s. of William of Salisbury and gd.son of John of Buckinghamshire, a descendant. it is claimed, of Richard de Pertriche of Wishanger Manor, Gloucester Co., Eng. By his w., Magdalen (Bullard), he had John2, who located in that part of his native place afterwards set off to form Medway, now Millis. He was a school-teacher and a leader in tn. and chh. affairs. His s., Benoni3, b. 1687, m. Mehitable Wheelock and set. in what is known as W. Medway. Among their chn. was Moses4, whose wife was Rachel Thayer, and whose s., Simeon5, m. Jerusha White and had Elihu6, b. Sept. 28, 1787. The latter m. (I) Charlotte Wight, who d. in 1833, and (2) Maria Paine, dau. of Capt. Wm. Paine of Welfleet. He had 5 chn., of whom the youngest was a well-known res. here for some years.
I. PARTRIDGE, REV. LYMAN7, s. of Elihu6 and Maria (Paine) Partridge, was b. at W. Medway, Aug. 23, 1836. He grad. at the Westfield Normal School in 1856, and spent some years in teaching. Subsequently, prepared for College at Pierce Acad- emy, Middleboro', entered Brown Univ. in 1859, and grad. with the class of 1863. He studied Theology at Newton for 3 yrs., and was ordained and settled as Pastor of the Baptist Chh. in
819
THE PATRIDGE FAMILY.
Wales, Nov. 13, 1866, remaining there 3 yrs. He preached at Wakefield, R. I., 1869-72 ; at Sharon, 1872-82 ; at Roslindale (Boston) 1882-1883 ; and in this town, where he had a very pleasant and successful pastorate of 9 yrs., 1883-1892, going hence recently to W. Dedham Several of his sermons, ad- dresses, etc., have been published. He also wrote a sketch of the Bap. Chh. in Medway for Jameson's History of that town. He m. June 28, 1870, Julia O. Elliot of Thompson, Conn. Of this union there have been 2 chn. :
2. HERBERT GRAVES8, b. So. Kingston, R. I., Oct. 21, 1871; grad. Brown Univ., 1892; now in Med. Sch. of Univ. of Pa.
3. THEODORE ELLIOT8, b. Sharon, April 21, 1873; d. Oct. 24, 1874.
.
PATRIDGE. This name was derived from the one just noticed, the families in this town distinguished by it having descended from John Par- tridge1 of Medfield by an unbroken succession. His s. Samuel2, b. Feb. 22, 1671, m. Hannah Mason and had Benjamin8, b. 1709, an early settler in Bellingham. By some authorities it is claimed that this Benjamin3 was s. of Eleazer2, an older s. of John1. However that may be, he, by his w., Sarah, became f. of Joseph+, who married Catherine Richardson of Medway, and had 13 chn. One of these was
I. PATRIDGE, LIBERTY5, b. Bellingham, Jan. 13, 1776. He m. (1) Submit Miller of Winchendon, July 15, 1798, who bore him 8 chn. and d. March 1, 1813. Soon after his m. he came to W., and Dec. 20, 1799, bought of David Wyman the farm in the Minott neighborhood, lying partly in W. and partly in Gr. -the present house belonging to which stands upon the line separating the two. After residing there many years, he sold the estate and purchased the Bigelow sawmill at the outlet of Cedar Swamp, living in one end of it while he got out lumber in the other. He also erected a mill on the stream below, which was destroyed by fire at an early day. He was a consci- entious and enthusiastic believer in the speedy Second Advent of Christ and views connected therewith. After the decease of his first wife, he m. (2) Jan. 31, 1814, Rachel Holbrook of Bel- lingham, by whom he had 3 chn. She d. Oct. 29, 1861, and he m. (3) wid. Betsey Ward of Ash., who survived him. He d. at the home of his s. in Warwick, Aug. 24, 1867, a. 91. In some unkn. way the first r dropped out of this family name with him, though it occasionally gets back again among his descendants. His chn. were:
2. CATA6, b. Dec. 1, 1799; m. Joel Flagg; res. W., etc .; 7 chn.
3. DANA6, b. March 19, 1801; d. Oct. 24, 1801.
4. EDA6, b. May 31, ISO3; m. Timothy Jones; res. Franklin; sev. chn.
5. DORINDA6. b. Aug. 27, 1805; m. Almon Colman; res. Hub .; 10 chn .; d. Aug. 17, 1851.
6. ALFRED6, b. Aug. 17, 1807; m. Chloe Richardson; res. Warwick; 3 chn .; d. July 15, 1873.
7. AMOS5, b. June 23, 1809; m. Melita Reynolds; res. W., etc.
S. SAMANTHA6, b. Feb. 13, 18II; m. Preston Ellis; res. W .; 5 chn .; d. Oct. 16, ISSI.
9. Unnamed6, b. Feb. 28, 1813; d. same day.
820
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
IO. DINAH H.6, b. April 26, 1815; m. George W. Johnson; res. W., etc .; 2 chn.
Il. LIBERTY6, b. May 14, 1817; d. Dec. 21, 1832.
12. KENDRICK6, b. June 22, 1819; m. Emma Perham; res. Royalston; I chd .; d. Aug. 24, 1853.
[7.] PATRIDGE, AMOS6, s. of the last, m. Melita, dau. James and Dolly Reynolds of Charlton, March 27, 1836. He was a stonecutter by trade, an upright man and reputable citizen. He d. at Gr., April 23, 1883, a. 73. Melita, his w., d. Aug. 7, 1877, a. 64. Chn. :
13. HARRIET7, b. March IS, 1837; m. Jason A. Ray; res. Gr.
14. HENRY J.7, b. Nov. 7, 1840; m. Martha F. Ellis; res. W.
1 5. AMOS H.7, b. Nov. 30, 1843; d. in war of Rebellion, June 10, 1862. (See Chap. XX.) .
16. JOHN E.7, b. June 5, 1846 ?; m. Susan A. IIall; res. Gr .; 3 chn .; living.
[14.] PARTRIDGE, HENRY J.7, s. of the last, who restores the lost r occasionally, m. Jan. 15, 1865, Martha F., dau. Preston and Samantha (Patridge) Ellis. He is an industrious farmer, horticulturist, and mechanic ; a man of good standing, and a Dea- con of the Baptist Chh. He has served the town for several years as Selectman and in other important ways. (See page 410.) Chn. :
17. HOLMES E.8, b. Sept. 28, 1865; unm .; res. W.
18. MARIA S.8, b. Jan. 3, 1867; unm .; res. W.
19. EDA M.8, b. July 21, 1868; unm .; res. W.
20. ROELLA E.8, b. April 12, 1870; unm .; res. W.
PEARSON.
John Pearson1, the pioneer of the family in America, came from Essex Co., Eng., it is said, and set. at Rowley in 1643, building there the first saw- mill in N. E. He is reputed to have been a Puritan of the Puritans, giving his 13 chn., in token thereof, names from the Bible, after the manner of some in those days. His s. John2, b. 1644, m. Mary Prichard and had, with other chn., John3, b. 1674. Another John4, in the next generation, went to Lan- caster, 2d precinct ( Sterling ), ab. 1750, prob. with a bro. Bartholomew4 and sr. Mary4, who married James Cowee of this town. Among the sons of this John4 was Josiah5, bap. June 27, 1757, and Joseph5, bap. June 12, 1759, one of whom, supposedly the latter, was father of the following :
I. PEARSON, SILAS6, b. Sterling, 1786, s. prob. of Joseph5 and Mary (Farrer) Pearson, was possessed of unusual natural ability and scholarly ambitions. Upon coming to maturity, he chose medicine for a calling in life, studying with the celebrated Dr. Benjamin Rush of Phila., and taking a course in surgery under the direction of the scarcely less celebrated Dr. Twitchell of Keene, N. H. In his early practice he rode with Dr. Peter Tuttle of Hancock, N. H., a native of Princeton, where he be- came acquainted with Susannah, dau. of Samuel and Susannah (Laughton) Gates, whom he m. Dec. 22, 1812. Just before this date he had set. in this town, where he remained through life. He rose to an eminent rank in medical circles, and was so well qualified for giving instruction in the art of healing,
821
THE PECKHAM FAMILY.
that he received into his family students from time to time, who went out from under his tuition thoroughly equipped for the duties of the profession. Dr. Pearson was much inter- ested in matters relating to the public well-being, especially in the cause of education, and served for several years succes- sively as a member of the Sch. Com. He d. May 2, 1824, a. 37. His w. d. Hancock, Sept. 25, 1872, a 83. Chn. :
2. SUSAN7, b. IS21; m. Charles F. Holman; res. N. Y. City; has chn .; now living Kansas City.
3. CHARLES B.7, b. Dec. 19, 1823; m. Susan B. Davidson; res. Brooklyn, N. Y .; 3 chn .; General Agent Manhattan Life Insurance Co.
PECKHAM.
John Peckham1 was a settler in Newport, R. I., in 1638. He was un- doubtedly one of the eighteen associates of William Coddington, who, out of fealty to conscience and in the search for larger religious liberty, went out from the Mass. Colony under the inspiration of Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson, to found a plantation which should be " judged and guided by the absolute laws of Christ. " He had three sons, John2, Thomas2, and Stephen2, each of whom owned 100 acres of land in E. Greenwich in 1677. One of these was without question the father of Philip3, b. ab. 1680, who m. Sarah Black, and had among other chn. John4, b. 1714. The latter m. Tabitha, dau. of Samuel Howland, the gt .- gd.son of John and Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland, both pilgrims of the Mayflower, as was also the father of Elizabeth, John Tilley. The line of descent from John Howland1 ran through Jabez2 and Josiah3 to Samuel4, the father of Tabitha5. These all res. in R. I., where the Peckham name was widely distributed and honorably known for several generations.
John+ and Tabitha (Howland) Peckham were the parents of William5, b. Feb. 12, 1751, who m. Elizabeth Knapp and located at Petersham, whence sprang those of the name in this town.
I. PECKHAM, ROBERT,6 s. of the last couple, was b. Sept. IO, 1785. He m. Feb. 7, 1813, Ruth, dau. of Joseph and Ruth (Walcott) Sawyer of Bolton. They lived for a time at Northampton and afterwards at Bolton, but came to W. in 1820 for a permanent home. In Oct. of that year, Mr. Peck- ham bought of Alexander Dustin a lot of land in the village, adjoining the schoolhouse premises, and erected a house upon it in which he ever afterward resided. He was a painter by trade, developing unusual skill along the higher lines of his call- ing, and attaining considerable distinction as a delineator of the " human face divine." Some of his landscapes, also, still extant, have been deemed worthy of commendation by compe- tent judges in such matters.
Mr. Peckham was an active, influential citizen of the town, and an earnest, prominent member of the First Cong. Church, in which he served as Deacon for 14 years. He was also great- ly interested in questions of moral and social reform. He ear- ly espoused the Anti-Slavery cause, and was one of the original members of the Liberty Party here, becoming an ardent Free Soiler in 1848, and a Republican in 1856, and living to
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IIISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
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