USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Bedford > History of the town of Bedford, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to the year of Our Lord 1891 > Part 23
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Among other estimable traits of the Bacons, a notable one has been their musical talent, manifested during the entire history of this town. Many of this name and their descendants have been prominently identified with vocal or instrumental music.
Jonathan, 4 2d son of Michael,3 b. July 14, 1762, m. Jan. 3, 1694, Elizabeth Giles, who d. in 1738; m. 2d, Sept. 22, 1739, Elizabeth (Hancock) Wyman. He d. Jan. 12, 1754. (See epitaph.) Ch. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 26, 1695. Sarah, b. Dec. 25, 1696, m. Israel Putnam. Anna, d. young. Jona- than,5 b. Dec. IS, 1700, m. Ruth -, and had William,6 who d. young. Mary, b. Sept. 18, 1702. Breget, b. Jan. 5, 1706-7. (See epitaph.) Anna, b. Aug. 19, 1709.
Jonathan Bacon4 was a man of prominence in Billerica, although living far from the centre of the settlement. In 1699 he was approved by the selectmen " to sell victuals and drink." It was ordered by the "Great and General Court," in 1705, that Jonathan Bacon and others shuuld have proportionable shares with other common proprie- tors and inhabitants of Billerica in all future divisions of undivided and waste lands belonging to the town, accord- ing to their proportion of the town charges for the last seven years. Jonathan, with two brothers, was in the Indian wars with "Mager Lane," in 1706. When the town assigned the schoolmaster to the different sections, in 1722, he was to go "one month to Jonathan Bacons." Jonathan4 and brother, Josiah, protested against certain proceedings of the town in 1710. He represented the town of Billerica at the "Great and General Court" in 1726, and was selectman in 1719 and 1727. He was promi- nent in the petition to secure the formation of the town of Bedford. As a "principal inhabitanc," he was appointed to assemble the people in the first town meeting, Oct. 6, 1729, at which time he was chosen one of the selectmen. (See frontispiece and epitaph.) Benjamin,4 already men- tioned as the son of Michael,8- who, with Jonathan,4 be-
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came the limbs of the ancestral tree to continue the promi- nence of the family in this town, -was the son to remain on the homestead. He, with brother, Joseph,4 had land deeded by Michael,3 their father, in 1704, deed not recorded until 1710.
Benjamin,4 son of Michael,3 was born about 1688, m. Dec. 2, 1712, Abigail Taylor of Concord, d. 1727 (tomb- stone, Billerica yard). Ch. h Benjamin,5 b. Dec. 6, 1713. h John,5 b. June 16, 1716. Abigail, b. Sept. 25, 1718, m. James Simonds of Woburn. Samuel,5 b. July 21, 1721. Mary, b. -? In a will dated Nov. 25, 1727, all the chil- dren except Mary are mentioned, and provision made for a child if one should be born after the father's death.
Benjamin,5 m. Feb. 15, 1739, Catherine, dau. of Col. John Lane. They both d. in 1791. Had 4 ch. d. young, h Benjamin,6 b. 1741. Elijah,6 b. 1754, m. Amittai Lane, d. 1788.
Benjamin Bacon5 was a deacon of Bedford Church from 1759 till his death in 1791. In 1784 he deeded one-half of his real estate to his son Elijah. Benjamin6 and Elijah6 were engaged in the Concord fight. Of the twenty-six "minute men " from Bedford, at Concord fight, six were Bacons, and there were two in the company of militia in that engagement. There were nine Bacons reported as liable to do military duty May 15, 177 5-
Benjamin,6 m. May 27, 1766, Esther Davis; m. 2d, Dec. 31, 1789, Amittai (Lane) Bacon ; m. 3d, Anna (Crosby) Jaquith. He d. Jan. 19, 1828. Ch. Esther, b. Mar. 24. 1767, m. - Emes. h Benjamin,7 b. May 6, 1769. Catherine, b. Mar. 4, 1771. m. - Emes. Isaac," d. young. Jessee,7 d. young. h Stephen,7 b. Sept. 28, 1778.
Benjamin Bacon,6 by marriage with the widow of his brother Elijah, gained possession of the half of his father's estate given to Elijah,6 and being heir to the other half, became owner of the whole of the Bacon homestead, which at that time comprised only a part of the original Mitchell farm.
Benjamin,7 m. Martha Preston. He d. 1838; she d. 1834. Ch. Sarah, b. Mar. 2, 1794, d. young. Esther Davis, b. July 24, 1795, d. 1867 ; a life-long resident of Bedford, a member of the Church of Christ (Trin. Cong.), a teacher in first Sabbath school from its organization, active in char- itable works. h Elijah,8 b. Oct. 23, 1796. Patty, b. 1798, m. James Davis, h Benjamin,8 b. Jan. 13, 1801, d. 1888. Sarah, b. Jan. 5, 1803, m. William Whitford, d. 1831. Job Lane, d. young. h Isaac Preston,8 b. July 13, 1807. h Syl- vester,8 b. Jan. 13, 1809. Jeremiah,8 d. young. Catharine, b. Mar. 27, 1816, m. John Moses Fitch; they formerly resided in Bedford, but have for many years been located in Michigan.
Elijah,8 m. Jan. 26, 1823, Mary, dau. of Elisha and Dolly (Smith) Watson. He d. Jan. 16, 1875. She d. Nov. 23, 1886. Ch. Mary Elizabeth, b. June 5, 1824, m. June 4, 1846, C. W. Bulfinch. She d. Dec. 24, 1886. Maria Esther, b. Mar. 20, 1827. Martha Davis, b. Mar. 20, 1827, m. July 2, 1855, C. H. True. Harriet Lavinia, b. Oct. 12, 1829. Henry Watson,9 b. July 8, 1839.
connected with agriculture. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Bedford (Trin. Cong.) nearly fifty- eight years.
Henry Watson,9 was born in Bedford, at the home- stead where six generations of his ancestors had preceded him (see frontispiece), At an early age his home was changed to the village, where he resided during his youth. Dr. Bacon has long been engaged in the practice of den- tistry in Boston.
Benjamin,8 son of Benj.7 m. Sylvania, dau. of David and Molly Lane. Ch. Martha Sylvania, b. July 31, 1822. Family then removed from town.
Isaac Preston,8 son of Benj.7 m. Susanna E. dau. of Willard and Mary Buttrick. He d. Sept. 18, 1885; she d. Oct. 28, 1887. Ch. h William F.9 b. 1834. Ellen A. b, 1835.
Isaac P. Bacon& was born at the ancestral homestead in Bedford, where he passed his early years (see frontispiece) ; subsequently learning the trade of wheelwright, at which he diligently worked until his decease. He was a man of genial yet positive nature, and of unswerving loyalty to his moral convictions. During the last eight years of his life, lie was a deacon of the Church of Christ in Bedford (Trin. Cong.). A memorial window honors him in the meeting- house of the Trinitarian Congregational Society.
William F.9 m. Julia C. Sikes; m. 2d, Mary W. Beal. Ch. Fred E.10 b. and d. 1861. Charles 4.1º b. 1862, Dart- mouth Col., 1883. Professor of Astronomy in Beloit Col. George P.10 b. 1866, Dartmouth Col. 1887. Teacher. WVil- liam A.10 b. 1869, Dartmouth Col, 1890. Teacher. Theo- dore H.10 b. 1874. Arthur A.10 b. 1875. Julia A., b. 1877. William F. Bacon,9 a Congregational minister of promi- nence, has been pastor at Amesbury, Mass., Laconia, N.II., and East Hampton, Mass.
Sylvester,8 son of Benj.7 m. July 19, 1843, Ann P. dau. of George and Rebecca (Siter) Kees. He d. Jan. 7, 1890. She d. Apr. 4, 1873. Ch. Emma, b. May 3, 1844, d. young. Louis,9 b. Oct. 19, 1847, d. young. Henry,9 b. Oct. 10, 1884, d. young. Anna L. b. June 30, 1849. George R.º b. May 19. 1851. Frank,9 b. Oct. 23, 1853.
Sylvester Bacon,8 was born in Bedford, and was a resi- dent of the town during his early years. Ile later engaged in the manufacture of marble mantels in Philadelphia, Pa., where he permanently resided.
John,5 son of Benj.4 lived across the line in Billerica, on a share of the homestead. He m. in 1744 Elizabeth Stearns, and d. in 1760. (See epitaph.) She m. 2d, Capt. Jonathan Wilson. They had eight children, of whom four d. young, (see epitaphs), and Reuben,6 who was at Concord fight, d. May, 1775 (see Revolution). Abijah,6 b. 1754, d. May I, 1776. h Thompson,6 b. Mar. 5, 1760.
Thompson,6 m. Oct. 16, 1783, Martha, dau. of John Hosmer and Martha Webber, and gr. dau. of Benjamin Webber and Susanna Whitmore. He d. 1833; she d. 1847. Ch. Reuben," d. an infant. h Jonathan, b. April 15. 1785. h John,7 b. Dec. 22, 1786. h Reuben,7 b. Nov. 25, 1788. Nancy, b. Jan. 19, 1793, m. Dec. 16, 1819, Cyrus Warren, d. July 28, 1876. Octu, b. Feb. 27, 1795, d. July 28, 1811. Thompson,7 b. April, 16, 1797, m. April 17, 1821, Rebecca P. Porter, d. Mar. 19, 1838. Eliza, b. Oct. 4, 1799. m. Joseph Webher, Jr. Elbridge,7 b. Aug. 2, 1800, m. April 27, 1823, Louisa Reed, d. Aug. 31, 1848. h Albert,7 b. Aug. 24, 1802.
Elijah Bacon8 was born, and reared as a farmer, at the ancestral homestead in Bedford (see frontispiece). Pos- sessing inventive genius and mechanical skill, he later engaged successfully in the manufacture of agricultural implements, - notably, wrought-iron plows. As a citizen, he was highly esteemed for his sterling integrity, genial and Thompson Bacon,6 settled on a farm south of the village. sympathetic nature, and excellent judgment on all points | He was a land surveyor of skill; his plans and charts are
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valuable for reference at the present time. He was a prominent Whig and later a Republican, and represented the town at the General Court in 1812.
Jonathan,7 m. July 15, 1806, Abigail Clark. She d. May 18, 1857; he d. Aug. 2, 1856. (See biographical sketch, Chap. XXI.) Ch. Twins, d. in infancy. Abi ail, b. Feb. 6, 1807, m. William Ripley, d. June 14, 1880. Clark,8 b. Sept. 15, 1808, m. Emma C. Burr, d. Mar. 5, 1857. Frederick,8 b. July 13, 1811, m. Ann Robbins, d. July 29, 1875. Caroline, b. July 25, 1813, m. May 14, 1837, Isaac W. Hurd. Warren,8 b. Jan. 13, 1816, d. Jan. 22, 1822. Eliza Ann, b. Apr. 13, 1818, m. Prescott J. Bigelow, d. Mar. 29, 1859. h Warren,8 b. Nov. 30, 1822. h Jerome Augus- tus,8 b. June 21, 1827. Emma Augusta, b. Dec. 15, 1831, m. Sebastian Kramer, d. Oct. 19, 1872.
John,? a shoemaker, and prominent citizen of Bedford, m. Betsey Cutler. He d. Feb. 1875; she d. Jan. 1879. Ch. h Edward,8 b. Feb. 15, 1817. h John Otis,8 b. Sept. I, 1822. Henry Augustus,8 b. Aug. 16, 1838, m. Myra Nelson.
Reuben,7 m. Sarah Clark. He d. Nov. 2, 1857 ; she d. Feb. 18, 1877. Ch. Sarah, b. May 19, 1807, m. Edward Flint. Nancy, b. Oct. 22, 1809, m. John Augustus Mer- riam. h Reuben,8 b. Dec. 8, 1811. Martha, b. Mar. 22, 1814, m. Joseph Hosmer, d. 1885. Ann Eliza, b. Sept. 3, 1821, m. Joseph Porter, d. Sept. 3, 1860. Mary Jane, b. Mar. 14, 1824. m. Henry Townsend. Helen F. b. April 25, 1830, m. William C. Barrett of Providence, R.I. Reuben Bacon? was a prominent shoe manufacturer, and a leading man in town and Unitarian church. He was town clerk from 1830 to 1844, was representative to General Court from his native town in 1834 and 1839-40, and a member of the State Senate in 1836. He was a justice of the peace.
Albert,7 m. June 2, 1825, Susan Reed. Ch. h Albert Thompson,8 b. Dec. 8, 1827. Albert Bacon? was a mer- chant at one time, and a man of prominence in town and Unitarian church. He represented the town in the Gen- eral Court in 1854. (See Officers.) IIe, with his compan- ion, constitute, in 1891, the most venerable and honored couple of the town, aged 89 and 85 years respectively. The sixty-sixth anniversary of their marriage was appro- priately celebrated by the town on June 2, 1891. Their bridal trip was made in a bellows-top chaise.
Jerome Augustus,8 son of Jonathan,7 m. Marion M. Darling; m. 2d, Lizzie F. Merriam of Boston, granddau. of Francis Jackson, a co-worker with Garrison and Phillips. She d. Jan. 6, 1882. Fle m. 3d, Anna R. March of Bed- ford. Ch. Clara D., who m. Ist, Orrin Smith, and had Marion D., and Jerome. By 2d wife, Frank,9 graduate of Harvard College, 1890, and a student at Harvard Law School. By 3d wife, Charles Aaron, b. Dec. 25, 1889. Mary and Abigail (twins), b. June 13, 1891. Jerome A. Bacon8 was the youngest son of Jonathan.7 He lived at
home until he was fifteen years of age, when a desire for more than an ordinary education prompted him to seek advantages outside of his native town. He attended school at Concord, under Henry and John Thoreau, and completed a course at Lawrence Academy, Groton. He paid his expenses by his own efforts. At the age of nine- teen years, his father rewarded his ambition by giving him the choice of a college course or a start in business. He chose the latter, and learned the gold leaf and dental foil business in his brother Clark's factory at Boston. After six months' experience he was given the oversight of the apprentices, and soon started the business for himself on the homestead at Bedford. This he conducted, together with the manufacture of the patent lever blind fastener, and gave employment to seventeen people. Through per- sonal application and skillful management, he acquired sufficient wealth to enable him to relax close application, which declining health of his wife made necessary. After the death of his father, he purchased the homestead, and enlarged and beautified it for his own residence. His keen perception of business possibilities led him to purchase the mill of the Lawrence Paper Co., at Lawrence, Mass., and he entered upon the manufacture of paper entirely inexperi- enced. In 1881 he organized the Bacon Paper Company, taking nine-tenths of the stock himself. He then turned his attention to Berlin Falls, N.H., where he saw a remark- able water power, which he began to utilize, in company with Henry H. Furbish, in the extension of the manufac- ture of chemical wood fibre for paper stock, which he was already manufacturing there. They bought the entire water privilege and adjoining lands, built new mills and scores of houses for operatives. Thirty-two tons of fibre are turned out from these mills daily. The enterpise has led to the development of the town, which now has a population of about 4000 people, or nearly six times that of ten years ago. Mr. Bacon has interests in other mills, together with an orange plantation on St. John's River, Florida, that comprises eighty acres of trees, planted under his personal supervision during a season of ill health when recuperat- ing in that state. Mr. Bacon is a helpful friend of his native town and of the church of his father's choice, where he worships. He is of a retiring nature, and all his acts are free from ostentation.
Albert T.8 son of Albert,7 m. 1848, Sarah A. Gragg, who d. Nov. 30, 1877; m. 2d, Sept. 10, 1879, Carrie L. Moar. Ch. Edna L. b. April 10, 1881. Albert Reed,9 b. April 22, 1883. Albert T. Bacon8 attended the schools of the town, then the academy at Concord, under Henry and John Thoreau, and later the Lawrence Academy at Groton, under Rev. James Means. He is the leader of the Bedford Cornet Band, organized in 1888. He inherited the mechan- ical talent of the family, which he developed by working on watch and clock machinery at his home in early life. In 1853 he entered the employ of the Boston Watch Com- pany, then located at Roxbury. He finished the first watch completed by the company. He went with the company to their new and permanent location at Waltham, and served in the various departments of the business until he was made superintendent, in 1858, in which position he remained until 1877, when he resigned and returned to his native town. He was prominent in promoting the enter- prise, and saw the small company of 1852, which employed twenty hands, pass through its many vicissitudes until it be- I came the American Watch Company, with nine hundred em-
HOMESTEAD OF JONATHAN BACON. Erected by him A. D. 1837.
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ployees and a daily producing power of one hundred and fifty watches. Mr. Bacon is a member of Monitor Lodge, F. & A.M., being a past master ; also a member of Waltham Royal Arch Chapter, and of De Molay Commandery of Knights Templars, of Boston.
Reuben,S son of Reuben,7 m. Ist, Ruth Corbin. She d. July 19, 1838. He m. 2d, Jane M. Davis. He d. Feb. 22, 1891 ; she d. Oct. 5, 1879. Ch. Alonzo Reuben,? b. May 4, 1834, d. Mar. 26, 1835. Orlando,9 b. Feb. 6, 1836. Reuben Alonso," b. July 1, 1838.
Edward,8 son of John7 m. April 3, 1839, Charlotte Hatch, d. Nov. 18, 1857. She m. 2d, Dec. 9, 1859, Benjamin Brown, d. Oct. 11, ISSS. Ch. Emily Frances, d. young. Lydia Ella, b. June 14, 1845, m. George B. Wheaton. George Edward,9 d. young. Clara Estelle, b Dec. 2, 1849, m. John E. Dodge, d. Mar. 22, ISSO. Charlotte Eva, b. Jan. 30, 1853, m. Theodore L. Russell.
John Otis, son of John,7 m. Clara A. Goodwin. Ch. Alice, d. an infant. George H.º b. June 9, 1850, m. Eliza K. Whelpley of Boston, have Clara M. b. Jan. 3, 1881. Eu- gene," b. Sept. 1853, m. Bertha Lawrence, of Ashby, have Lawrence, b. Jan. 13, 1882, Ramona Z. b. Sept. 1885. Jo- sephine, b. 1855, m. S. S. Wiltsie, of Illinois, have George P. b. July, 1885. Mary A. b. Sept. 1859, m. Edward M. French, have Roland, b. 1886, Annie J. b. 1890. Theodore,9 b. 1857, m. 1882, Addie Mann, have Florence, b. ISS5. Clarence S. b. 1865, m. Hattie Anderson. Charles," b. 1868, d. young.
Warren,s son of Jonathan,7 m. Ang. 1, 1841, Lucy A. Lawrence. He d. Feb. 5, 1868. Ch. Frederick Warren,9 d. young. h Walter Frank,9 b. Mar. 8, 1846. Frederick War- ren,9 b. May 4, 1849, d. Oct. 23, 1871. Flora Adelaide, b. Sept. 30, 1852, m. Horace K. Osborn of Arlington.
Walter Frank,9 m. Oct. 21, 1868, Isabel F. Gilbert of Arlington. He d. Dec. S, 1890. Ch. Warren Lawrence,10 b. Dec. 21, 1869. Flora Isabel, d. young. Marion Nickerson, d. young. Franklin Gilbert,10 b. Oct. 6, 1875. Olive Thayer, b. Aug. 13, 1887. Lucy Ann, b. Sept. 3, 1888.
Stephen," m. Nov. 28, 1799, Mary Porter. He d. 1859; she d. 1856. Ch. Susan IV. m. Timothy Jones, d. Oct. 5, ISSS. Mary P. m. John Dudley, d. Sept. 29, 1826. Stephen Jr.8 m. Maria Parkhurst, of Temple, N.H., d. Jan. 1867. Eliza, b. 1804, d. 1823. Caroline, b. Jan. 24, 1807, m. Abel S. Munroe, d. Jan. 21, 1866. Nancy, b. Nov. S, ISIo, m. Abel Fitch, 2d, Nathan O. Reed. Harriet V. m. Silas Sawyer, of Sharon, N.H., d. Aug. 19, 1856.
Nathaniel,4 son of Michael ; and Sarah Bacon, b. 1675, m. Judith Wyman. Ch. Nathaniel,5 b. 1700. Judith d. an infant. Judith, b. 1702. Abi, ail, b. 1704-5, m. Thomas Grover. Sarah, b. 1707, m. Benj. Grover of Stoneham. Michael,5 d. an infant. Susanna, b. 1710, m. Nathan Brooks of Concord. Michael,5 b. 1713. Joseph,5 b. 1716. Thomas,5 b. 1721.
Michael,5 son of Nathaniel# and Judith, m. Nov. 24, 1743, Sarah Whittemore of Lexington. She d. April 17, 1745. He m. 2d, Mar. 5, 1747, Elizabeth, dau. of Job and Mary Lane, had 9 ch., of whom David6 was killed by Wil- liam Merriam on June 15, 1810. SolomonG lived on a rough farm on Pine Hill road.
Joseph,+ son of Michael,3 b. May 8, 1685, m. May 9, 1716, Rebecca Taylor of Concord. He d. 1747; she d. 1778 (see epitaph). Ch. Rebecca, d. unmarried. Ruth, m. Joseph Robbins, of Acton. Lydia, m. Amos Brooks of Harvard. Eunice, m. Samuel Bacon of Stow. For setting
off " widow's thirds " see page 5.1. The heirs sold to Sam- uel Bacon of Stowe, who with his wife Eunice (Bacon) Bacon settled on her homestead, later Thompson Bacon's. Their ch. are Samuel, b. Feb. 16, 1749-50. Joseph. b. Nov. IS, 1751. Abigail, b. Mar. 15. 1754. Noah, b. Jan. 26, 1756. Stephen, b. Mar. 24, 1758. Joshua, b. Feb. 23. 1760. Seth, b. Sept. 26, 1761. Rebecca, b. Feb. 11, 1764. Mary, b. Dec. 31, 1765. These ch. of Samuel and Eunice are of the sixth generation, but as the father is not of the Bed- ford line from Michael they are not indicated as are oth- ers.
BILLINGS. The family settled in that part of Con- cord which is now Lincoln. The line of descent in that town has been from Joseph through Nathan to John, m. Lydia Dennis. Ch. Lydia F b. ISO1. Mary, b. 1803. John D. b. 1805, mn. May, 1832, Eliza Ann Stearns, d. Mar. 27, 1871 (see Industries). She d. Mar. 3. 1875. Ch. Mary Ann, b. Mar. 18, 1833, In. Oliver J. Lane. John Winn, b. Jan. 9, 1837, d. 1840. William P. b. 1810, m. 1834, Ada- line A. Bond, who d. Jan. 1875.
BLAKE, John Quiney, son of William and Susanna Childs, b. in Boston June, 1809, m. Lucretia (dau. of Isaac Davis, a Boston merchant who perished on steamer Lex- ington Jan. 29, 1840), b. July, 1815. Ch. Anna Maria, b. Nov. 2, 1834, m. Francis H. Holton, I ch. Walter Francis, b. June, 1836, soldier in Union army, wounded at Fredericks- burg, pensioned, drowned Aug. 1886. h Edwin Henry, b. Nov. 2, 1838. Clara Matilda, b, Aug. 31, IS41, m. Byron Harmon, M.D., of Woburn. Theodore Ernest, b. Dec. 3, 1843, m. Elizabeth Mathers. Eveliue Amelia, b. Jan. 29, 1846, m. Eben Pratt, 6 ch. Frederick William, b. May I, ISAS. Arthur Wellesley, b. Oct. 14, 1851, m. Alice M. Mc- Cuen, I ch. Irene Adelia, b. April, 1854, d. 1874. Josiah Q. b. Mar. 3, 1856, d. young. George Washington, b. Feb. 4, 1861, m. Mary Perkins, I ch.
Edwin Henry, m. June 1, 1862, Mary L. Parkhurst. Ch. Charles Ernest, b. and d. 1863. Eddielena, b. and d. 1864. h Alfred Elmer, b. May 27, 1866. Clarence Willfred, b. July 27, 1869, d. Mar. 17, 1884. John Quincy, b. Oct. 14. 1874. Edwina Alay, b. Dec. 11. 1875. Charles Warren, b. Mar. 20, 1881. Edwin H. Blake started in the grocery business in this town April, 1860. Sold out and removed to East Cambridge Dec., 1864, where he followed the same business until 1882, when he returned to Bedford where he resides. He was on the board of Overseers of Poor of Cambridge 1872, alderman 1878-9, selectman of Bedford from 1884 to 1891, representative from Dist. 19 in the Legislature 1888.
Alfred Elmer, m. Sept. 27, 1887, Fanny Belle Rowe. Ch. Edwin Rowe, b. July IS, 1890.
BOYNTON, William, from England, settled in Row- ley, Mass. His son probably went from Rowley to Groton or Pepperell. The line has been William,1 Mo- ses,2 Abram,8 John,4 John T.,5 who was b. in ISIS, m. in 1843 Mary, dau. of Zebediah and Susan Adams. He has been often in town office. Ch. Mary Etta, b. Aug. 10, 1846, m. Frederick Davis. Nellie A. b. June 12, 1850, grad. of Fram- ingham Normal School. Teacher at Emerson School, Concord.
BROWN. (Not numerous in Bedford.) In the early years of the town's history there was a family but of very remote connection, if any, with that now in the town. Joseph m. Nov. 6, 1754, Desire Batchelder, d. 1762 (see epitaph). She m. 2d, Stephen Mead, d. Sept. 9, 1797.
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Joseph and Desire had several ch., among whom was Cap- tain Joseph, b. 1755, d. 1808.
There were three early settlers of Watertown by the name of Brown, and thought to have been of the same family, viz., Richard, Abraham, and John. The records of Boston show that there was an Edmund Brown, proprietor, of Boston, as early as 1647 ; and according to a land suit, 1682, Edmund was nephew to Abraham and brother to John, of Watertown, and a son of John, of Hawkedon, England. Robert Brown, a near relative of John, was a reformer and founder of the denomination of independants called originally Brownists, and now represented in church organization and government by the various denominations of Congregationalists.
John,1 b. in Hawkedon, England, 1631, m. 1655, Esther or Hester Makepeace, of Boston (probably England). Set- tled in Watertown, N.E., and later Marlboro and Falmouth. His will; dated at Watertown, Nov. 20, 1697, says, "late of Falmouth." Of their twelve ch. Joseph,2 the last, b. 1677, m. Nov. 15, 1699, Ruhamah Wellington, of Watertown, where they settled. Ile was selectman, constable, and town clerk from 1700 to 1708. He sold his farm in 1709 and removed to Lexington, where he and his wife were admitted to the church, May, 1713, of which he was later a deacon. He d. Jan. 11, 1766; she d. July 1, 1772, aged 92. Ch. Ruhamah, b. 1701. ht Daniel,3 b. 1703. John,8 b. 1706, d. 1730. Joseph,8 b. 1708. James,8 bap. Sept. 2, 1708, in Lexington. Josiah,3 b. 1714, bap. Aug. 12, 1715, admitted to church Mar. 11, 1730, graduated at Harvard Col. in 1735, settled in Sterling. Benjamin,3 b. 1720, d. 1801. William,3 b. in 1723, was a deacon of church of Framing- ham and selectman of town.
Daniel,3 m. about 1728, - Eliot, who d. 1734-5. He m. 2d, Anne Bright, of Watertown, who d. Jan. 18, 1780, in Lunenburg He d. Feb. 26, 1796. Ch. John,4 d. an in- fant. Ruhamah, b. April 7, 1731, m. John Reed, of Bed- ford. It Nathaniel Bowman,4 b. July 1, 1738. Abisha,4 bap. Aug. 13, 1738. Anna, b. April 29, 1739. Daniel,4 b. Dec. 20, 1741. Esther, Dec. 20, 1743. m. Nathaniel Tottingham, of Westminster. Jerusha, b. Mar. 18, 1746, m. Abisha Brown, of Concord. Martha, b. June 18, 1749, m. Zach- ariah Brown, of Concord. John,4 b. April 12, 1751, killed on Lexington Common April 19, 1775. Hannah, b. April 8, 1756. Mary, b, May S. 1758.
Nathaniel Bowman,4 m. Feb. 9, 1765, Abigail Page of Bedford. Both admitted to Lexington church Oct. 6, 1765, and were dismissed to the church in Lunenburg in 1783. He d. July 30, 1806; she d. Aug. 8. 1799. Ch. Susannah, bap. Oct. 24, 1766, m. Cook, of Plymouth, Vt. Abigail, bap. April 26, 1767, m. Robert Bishop. ht Nathan- iel,5 bap. Mar. 26, 1769. Anna, bap. Feb. 3, 1771. Nancy, m. French, of Concord. Hannah, d. unmarried in Michigan. Ruhamah, m. Daniel Barrett, of Vermont. Polly, m. Moses Fitch, of Bedford. Daniel,5 d. in Michigan. Thomas,5 set- tled in Vermont, and became the founder of a large and influential family. h Joseph,5 b. Jan. 24, 1782.
Nathaniel,5 m. Mar, 30, 1797, Ruth Lane, of Bedford, where they first settled, removed to Plymouth, Vt., and founded a prominent family. He d. April 28, 1834; she d. Aug. 18, 183S. Ch. Amos,6 b. Mar. 23, 1799. John 6 (see epitaph). Abigail, b. Mar. 19, 1803. Mary Ann, b. Sept. 9, 1805. Ruth Davis, b. Oct. 17, 1807. John Page,6 Jan. 12, 1810.
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