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 30
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John, 6 son of John,5 m. Dec. 1, 1785. Hannah Merriam, dau. of John.5 He d. 1805; she d. 1839. Ch. Anna, b. July 2, 1787, d. Nov. 18, 1808. h Otis,7 b. Mar. 27, 1791. Hannah, b. Sept. 6, 1795, m. - Swain, d. Mar. 24, IS23. John,7 b. April 10, 1798, d. May 13, 1819.
the communion service to the church connected with the Trinitarian Congregational society, and the "Back Com- mon " to the town.
Roger, 6 son of John,5 had a share of the homestead, q.v., and m. Nov. 15, 1790, Sarah Webber. He d. June 8, IS44; she d. Feb. 8, 1849. Ch. Sally, b. Oct. 8, 1797, m. Alford Fitch. Eliot, b. Nov. 9, 1800, m. Charles O. Gragg.
Otis,7 son of John,6 m. Emily Winship. He d. 1829; she d. IS31. Ch. Anna W. b. Mar. 2, 1819, m. Thomas Stiles. 11. Malvina Swain, b. Sept. 21, 1824, m. Sylvanus Lawrence.
David Reed,6 a descendant from William1 and Mabel, was a tavern keeper, and prominent in military and town affairs, m. Jan. 9, 1772, Hannah Raymond, who d. April 29, 1790; m. 2d, 1791, Abigail Simonds, who d. Sept. 1, 1803; m. 3d, Mar. 28, 1804, Martha Simonds, who d. Jan. 31, 1834. He d. Jan. 6, 1832. Ch. John,7 b. 1772, d. 1846. Polly, b. 1777, m. Jonathan Lawrence. Ilannak, b. 1784, m. Joseph Colburn. h David,7 b. 1787. By 2d wife, h Benjamin,7 b. 1793. Nabby, b. 1794, m. William Colburn. By 3d wife, Susannah, b. 1806, m. Albert Bacon.
David,7 son of David,6 m. April 23, 1812, Abigail Dan-
forth. Ch. Abigail, b. Feb. 3, 1813. Hannah K. b. Jan. 14, IS23.
Benjamin,7 son of David,6 m. April 7, 1817, Sally P. Danforth. He d. Nov. 2, 1838; she d. June 15, 1869. Ch. h William D.8 b. Dec. 16, 1817. h David,8 b. June 28, 1819. Lucy Pollard, b. Nov. 21, 1825, m. Eldridge Hart- well. George W.8 b. and d. 1828. Sarah R. b. April 1833, d. Oct. 7, IS46.
William D.8 son of Benjamin,7 m. April 20, 1843, Lydia S. Butters of Burlington.
David,8 son of Benjamin,7 m. April 15, 1848, Sarah But -. ters of Burlington. She d. Dec. 7, 1886. Ch. George Fred, m. Fanny Mason. Ida MMay, b. and d. 1863.
RICE, David, son of David and Sarah (Brown) Rice, b. Jan. 28, 1782, in Langdon, N.H. He came when quite young to Massachusetts, and learned the trade of a black- smith, after which he settled in Bedford and followed that occupation. (See Industries.) He m. Abi Willis, who d. Oct. 30, IS20; m. 2d, Jan. 31, 1822, Mrs. Nancy Robbins, dau. of Jonathan and Rebekah Page. He d. Jan. 1849; she d. April 8, 1855. Ch. Sarah, b. June 22, ISII, m. Oliver A. Wilson. Dorcas, b. Jan. 13, 1813, m. Alexander Mann. By 2d wite, Harriet, b. Jan. 14, 1823, m. Stephen Hull.
ROBBINS, Parley, m. Jan. 23, 1814, Nancy Wilson. Ch. Charles P. m. Emily A. Reed, d. Sept. 6, 1876. Ann, m. Frederick Bacon, d. June 19, 18S2.
ROBINSON, William,1 resided on a farm of 200 acres in Cambridge. He was one of the original petitioners for the separation of "Newtowne " from Cambridge in the year 1678. lle m. Elizabeth -, and d. about 1693. Ch.
Hannah Reed, wife of John,6 gave the principal part of | Elizabeth. Hannah, b. at Concord, July 13, 1671 (called Ann). She d. in Cambridge, Oct. 5, 1672. Il'illiam,2 b. July 10, 1673. Mercy, b. Aug. 7, 1676. David,2 b. May 23, 1678, "lame and helpless in 1695." Samuel,2 and h Jona- than,2 twins, b. April 20, 16So. They were all living, except Hannah, when the will was probated in 1693.
Jonathan,2 son of William,1 m. Ruth -. He d. 1753; she d. April 25, 1759. Ch. h Jonathan,3 b. Feb. 21, 1706-7. Ruth, b. Jan. 29, 1708-9. Abigail, b. Feb. 4, 1710~II, m. Nathaniel Bacon of Lexington. James,3 b. Aug. 30, 1715, m. Anna Trask. Lydia, b. Aug. 29, 1718, m. Caleb Simonds. Hannah, b. Jan S, 1720-21.
Jonathan Robinson2 is thought to have m. Ruth Cutler of Cambridge, dau. of Richard, in whose will, made in 1693, Poulter,6 son of John,5 m. Sept. 1, 1789, Molly Hart- well, and settled in Littleton. Ilad 6 ch. Their son John Poulter,7 b. Dec 22, 1805, m. April 4. 1832, Nancy Whit- ! is the following: "For the two Robinsons, grandsons to comb, and settled in Bedford. After twenty-seven years the deceased." (This was found in papers left by Jonathan Robinson.) Isaac Powers of Cambridge sold to Jonathan | Robinson of Cambridge, weaver, in 1706, a lot of land at Cambridge farms (Lexington). Jonathan was tything-man in 1735, and in 1744 was on a committee to "dignify and seat the meeting-house." they returned to Littleton, remained three years, and then settled in Lexington. John P'. Reed was representative from Bedford in IS41 and 1843, and a man of influence and stability of character. Ch. John Henry, d. young. Nancy J. b. Oct. 4, IS35, m. Levi W. Webber. John Morton, b. Mar. 6, 1840, resides at Lexington.
Jonathan,3 son of Jonathan,2 m. Elizabeth -. He d. 174S. Ch. Elizabeth, b. June 20, 1732. Jonathan,4 b. Sept. 29, 1733. h Jacob,4 b. Feb. 3, 1738-9. Submit, bap. July 17, 1743.
Jacob,4 son of Jonathan,3 m. Elizabeth Draper. They were admitted to church Mar. 21, 1775. He d. June 18, 1776; she d. Sept. 24, 1830. Ch. Jacob,5 b. Oct. 28, 1762, m. Ilannah Simonds. Elizabeth, d. young. h Jesse,5 b. July 14, 1767. Jonathan,5 b. June 20, 1769, was twice married. Betsey, b. Feb. 26, 1772, m. White of Watertown. Anna, b. June 28, 1774, m. Gardner of Cambridge. Nathan,5 d. young.
Jesse,5 son of Jacob,4 m. Nov. 21, 1793, Rebecca, dau.
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SAGE.
of Samuel Tidd of Acton, who was at the battles of Lex- ington and Bunker Hill. He d. 1843; she d. 1863. Ch. Rebecca, b. Feb. 14, 1795, m. Diar Quimby. h Jesse,6 b. June 4, 1797. Sarah, b. Aug. 29, 1800, m. Diar Quimby, and lived in Charlestown, had several cli., d. 1871. Anne, b. Aug. 6, 1804, m. Nathaniel Paine of Hyannis. Had one son. Elisa. Mary. h Charles,6 b. April 10, 1816. Martha. (For Eliza, Mary, and Martha see epitaphs. See also homesteads.)
Jesse,6 an old-time schoolmaster, m. Asenath Buttrick of Pelham, N.H. He d. Nov. 1876. Had 8 ch., of whom Jesse Orin7 resides at Mount Vernon, N.H., and has two sons and two daughters. Edwin7 resides at Littleton, and has two sons and one daughter. He is deacon of the Bap- tist church in that place. Charles Henry7 volunteered for three years in the rebellion, and died in the service.
Charles,6 son of Jesse,5 m. Sept. 1840, Sophia Billings of Acton. She d. July 2, 1882. Ch. Ellen S. b. June 11, 1842, d. Mar. 31, 1887. h Charles F3 b. Sept. 15, 1844. lı Walter B.7 b. Sept. 20, 1846.
Charles Robinson6 lived at the homestead in Bedford
Walter Billings,7 son of Charles,6 m. June 5, 1870, Ella M. Bullard of Sherborn. She d. Mar. 25, 1872. He m. 2d, Clara F. Mason of Vermont. Ch. Ada Sophia, b. Mar. 5, 1871. Charles Frederick,8 b. Aug. 15, 1875. Ella F. b. Nov. 3, 1877. Ethel, b. Dec. ISSO. Frank Billings,8 b. Dec. 1885.
Walter Billings Robinson7 removed from Bedford to Natick in 1867, where he is a coal and lumber merchant and a man of prominence.
ROWE, Moses E. b. in Candia, N.H., Feb. 21, 1823, m. Nov. 27, 1850, Rose A. Morse, b. in Maine, Nov. 27, 1824. Ch. Emma J. b. Mar. 2, 1852, d. Oct. 31, 1856. Minnie E. b. Nov. 24, 1853, m. John Brainerd. Frank H. b. Feb. 12, 1856, m. Ada Champney. Fannie B. b. Nov. 23, 1865, m. A. Elmer Blake. Hattie L. b. July 15, 1868, m. Dana B. Clark.
Moses E. Rowe settled in Bedford on the Ephraim Jones farm. He has occupied many positions of trust in town ; was chosen a deacon of the Church of Christ, Mar. 29, 1886. which office he now fills.
SAGE, Samnel,6 b. in England, came to Bedford in 1800. He was a representative of the sixth generation, in each of which the oldest son was Samuel. Samuel4 was b. Feb. 6, 1718. Samuel5 was b. 1752, m. Mary Cole. Their tombstones in the village burial-ground, in England, read thus : "Sacred to the memory of Samuel Sage, late of Dundry, who died Feb. 27, 1836, aged 84 years. Also Mary, his wife, who died Sept. 1, 1834; aged So years." Samuel5 and Mary Cole had 13 ch., of whom Samuel,6 b. "Friday morning, half past one, Dec. 15, 1775," was the immigrant. He m. Jan. 1, 1815, Lucy Porter of Bedford. He d. April 8, 1860; she d. Oct. 23, 1865. Ch. Mary, b. May 19, 1816. Samuel,7 d. young. h Samuel, b. Sept. 28, 1826.
Samuel Sage6 was a wheelwright by trade, and followed the business in the village. The landed estate in England was large, but the family possession for hundreds of years was broken by sale after the death of Samuel.5
Samuel,7 m. Feb. 12, 1862, Martha M. Hill. He d. Nov. 13, 1877. Ch. Mary Hill, b. Mar. 1, 1863, d. July 25, 1887. Samuel,8 b. Feb. 27, 1869, d. April 3, 1888.
Samuel Sage7 was often in town office, and was a land surveyor of acknowledged ability. He entered the Union army in July, 1864, for one hundred days, but was confined in hospitals most of the time on account of illness. While there he was joined by his wife, who did faithful hospital service in care of her husband and in the relief of his sick and wounded comrades. He removed to Billerica in 1869, where he died in 1877.
Martha (Hill) Sage was a graduate of Woburn High School, and a successful teacher for years. The inscrip- tion on the soldiers' monument of Billerica was prepared by her. She was the successful one of seven who com- peted for the honor.
Mary Hill Sage graduated at the Salem Normal School,
NON 99BS
until 1867, when he removed with his family to Natick. He was a faithful man in the town and church, and a mem- ber of the school committee for a series of years.
Charles F.7 son of Charles,6 m. April 19, 1869, Cornelia F. Clark of Gorham, Me. Ch. Ernest Frederick,8 b. Feb. 5, 1870, a physician in Maynard. Edward Henry,8 b. June 12, 1873, d. July 27, 1877. Cora Belle, b. Sept. 14, IS75, d. April 5, 1879. Charles Walter,8 b. June 3, 1878. Twin boys, b. May 27, 1880, d. at birth.
Charles F. Robinson7 resided in the West for about nine years immediately succeeding his marriage, but re- moved to Natick in February, 1878, and later to Marlboro, where he is a successful business man. He is deacon of the Orthodox Congregational church. (See military his- tory.)
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SKELTON.
after completing a course at the Howe School in Billerica, and was the youngest in years, but oldest in service, as teacher in the Emerson School, Concord, when she died.
Samuel Sage8 was a graduate of the Howe School, and was a student in Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y, when he died. He was the last to bear the Christian name in a family that is traced back eight hundred years at the fam- ily seat at Chew Magna, near Bristol, Eng.
SIMONDS. The Simonds family of this town origi- nated in Woburn. The name first appears in the records of that town in 1644. The date of their arrival in this country is unknown. " William Simonds1 of Woburn m. Jan. 28, 1644, Judith, dau. of James Hayward." It is quite probable that William1 of Woburn was descended from William and Alice of England, to whom there is a memo- rial in the cathedral church, Winchester, Eng., with the following inscription : -
Here lieth William Symonds, Gentleman, Of Winchester, twice Mayor & Alderman. Alice, his wife, lies buried by his side. The one in June, in July the other died.
On the 18th day, 1601, Shee ;
On the 27th day, 1606, Hee. His merit doth inherit Life and Fame ! For whilst this city stands, Symonds his name, In poor mens Hearts shall never be forgotten ; For Poorer Prayers rise when flesh lies rotten !
Members of the early generations of Simonds became associated with Bedford families through marriage, but established families do not appear here until the opening of the nineteenth century. Benjamin of Woburn, of the fifth generation, with sons Benjamin and Zebedee, settled in the south part of the town in IS05, and engaged in the manufacture of shoes.
Benjamin6 bought a portion of the Thomas Woolley farm in IS12. He m. Oct. 27, 1812, Mary, dau. of John and Mary (Smith) Simonds of Leominster, who d. Dec. S, 1817; m. 2d, Aug. 11, 18IS, Elizabeth Butler of Leomins- ter. He d. July 31, 1836; she d. Nov. 22, 1834. Ch. Caro- line, b. Jan. 5, 1814, m. Cummings E. Davis of Harvard. Mary Ann, b. Nov. 22, 1815, m. Elijah C. Whitcomb of Fitchburg, d. Aug. 1891. By 2d wife, Jane, b. July 17, IS19, m. Eben Chenny of Royalston. Minerva, b. May 20, 1821, m. Sylvester Sawyer of Royalston. Justin,7 d. young. Justin,7 b. Sept. 7, 1825.
Benjamin Simonds6 was a schoolmaster, an extensive shoe manufacturer, and a man of influence for some years. He removed from Bedford to Clarksville, Mo., where he died.
Zebedee,6 son of Benjamin,5 m. June 25, 1807, Amittai Webber of Bedford. He d. Sept. 20, 1826; she d. Feb. 20, 1853. Ch. John Webber,7 b. Jan. 14, 1808, d. Aug. 28, 1870. h George,7 b. Jan. 15, 1810. Amittai, b. April 7, 1812, m. Nov. 1, 1832, Daniel Flagg, d. Mar. 1887. William,7 b. April 2, 1814, d. June 8, 1838. h Henry,7 b. Jan. 19, 1817. Harriet, b. Nov. 6, 1818, d. Feb. 28, IS43. h Edward,7 b. Jan. 28, 1820. Bethiah, b. July 23, 1821, m. Mar. 31, 1842, Hiram Whitford of New Hampshire. Zebedee," d. an infant.
Zebedee Simonds6 came to Bedford with his father in 1805, was a shoe manufacturer, and a man who enjoyed the confidence and respect of his townsmen. He was chosen deacon in the church, Jan. 17, 1826, but eight months before his death. A memorial window to his memory was placed in the meeting-house of the Trinita- rian Congregational society, by his descendants, in 1886.
He was possessed of a good musical talent, which he used in the service of song in the choir of the church.
John Webber Simonds,7 son of Zebedee,6 enjoyed but limited advantages for education, but was a man of much ability. He was representative from his native town to the General Court in 1844 and 1852, and a member of the convention for revising the constitution in 1853, during the deliberations of which he was often called to the chair. He filled many positions of trust in the town. He gave some attention to civil engineering, and was prominent in laying out the new cemetery. His good taste and skill are seen in the excellent arrangement of those grounds. He devoted much time to the study of the early history of his native town, and left manuscripts of value pertaining to the early families which have been of benefit to the writer of this volume.
George," son of Zebedee,6 m. April 16, 1835, Ann, dau. of Joseph and Susanna (French) Jaquith of Billerica. He d. Oct. 26, 1876; she d. Oct. 9, 1870. Ch. h Merton,8 b. June 17, 1837. Laura Any, b. July 9, 1842, m. Nov. 29, 1866, James Jones.
George Simonds? was a prominent citizen of the town, was often in town office, and enjoyed the confidence of the entire community until his death.
Hleitry, son of Zebedee,6 m. Nov. 16, 1848, Jane Lewis, settled in Woburn, d. 1871. Ch. Clara Josephine, b. Nov. 2, 1849. Emma Frances, b. July 30, 1852.
Edward, son of Zebedee,6 m. June 13, 1844, Mary Tidd, and settled in Woburn, where he has been often in town office. Ch. Mary Elizabeth, b. Feb. 24, 18 57.
Merton,8 son of George,7 a skillful painter, and a jus- tice of the peace, In. Eliza Porter Webber. Ch. M. Adelle, b. Aug. 23, 1861, d. July 26, 1876.
Eli, a prominent citizen of Lexington, descendant from the immigrant William, located in Bedford, with son, Wil- liam Henry, who m. Jennie E. Garty of Concord. She d. Mar. 20, 1891. Ch. Frank H. b. April 5, 1878.
SKELTON or SKILTON. Several of the name have lived in town, probably all descendants of Rev. Samuel of Salem.
Daize, m. June 19, 1770, Ruth Hartwell. Had several ch. b. in this town, and others b. in Woburn. Of these, Artemas m. Mary Hodgman of Carlisle, and settled on her homestead, where son George S. lived, died, and is repre- sented by three sons.
Elias, m. Dec 2, 1830, Louisa Hartwell, who d. July 2, 1836; m. 2d, Cynthia Stearns. He d. July 21, 1887; she d. 1891. Ch. Samuel, d. an infant. Mary Louisa, b. Oct. 5, IS 33, m. Reuben Lane.
Elijalt (Capt), m. Sarah - He d. Jan. 30, 1852; she d. Dec. 31, 1873. Ch. Elijah, b. Mar. 27, 1816. Sarah, b. Oct. 31, 1818, d. Feb. 4, 1852. Edwin, b. Sept. 28, 1820, d. April 11, 1849. Emily, b. and d. 1822. Emily, b. July 4, 1823, m. - Kimball of Woburn. William, b. Jan. 16, 1826.
Mrs. Sarah Skelton and Mrs. Emily Kimball each gave legacies to the Church of Christ connected with the Trini- tarian society of the town, and a tablet to their memory is seen in the house of worship.
George C. purchased the Jacob Gragg farm, and settled here in May, 1883. His line of descent from Rev. Samuel of Salem is Samuel,2 Joseph,3 Thomas.4 John,6 b. 1744, m. 1768, Joanna Johnson, d. IS21. John,6 b. 1771, m. 1809, Sally Jaques of Wilmington, d. in Charlestown, 1824.
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STEARNS.
George,7 b. 1812, m. Caroline Curtis of Stockbridge, Mass. George C.8 b. April 28, 1838, m. April 28, 1863, Annie G. L., dau. of Charles Gilman of Somerville. Ch. Annie G. L. b. and d. July, 1864. Edward Jared," b. June 14, 1865. Alice Gordon, b. June 8, 1868. Walter Elliot,9 b. Aug. 31, 1870. George Ashley,9 b. Dec. 9, 1872. Florence Lowell, b. Nov. 6, 1874. Caroline Isabell, b. Oct. 5, 1880. Annie Gilman, b. Dec. 5, 1884.
George C. Skilton, with his father, began the manufac- ture of pickles at Somerville in 1831, and is still engaged in that business, under the firm name of Skilton & Foote. The farm of 100 acres is stocked with thoroughbred cattle, and conducted by his son, Edward J.
SMITH, John, settled here in 1838. He was from the south shore of Massachusetts, and was probably descended from John of Plymouth, who had children there whose marriages are recorded between 1640 and 1650. Our John was the 8th ch. of Benjamin and Sarah (Peterson) of Dux- bury, b. Jan. 4, 1792. The generation is uncertain, but probably the fifth. He m. 1817, Mercy Tilden of Marsh- field, who d. Oct. 25, 1820; m. 2d, 1821, Bethiah Rogers of Marshfield. Hed. Ang. S. 1863; she d. May 14, 1878. Ch. Lucy Drew, b. July 11, IS19, m. Silas F. Wild of Medford. By 2d wife, Elizabeth, b. Aug. 26, 1822, m. Moses F. Brown. h John Allyn,6 b. Feb. 4, 1824. h George Henry,6 b. Sept. 19, 1825.
John Smith was of a seafaring family, and followed the sea in early life, sailing under his brother, Capt. Jacob Smith, who commanded the ship that brought the first Brazil nuts to the United States. John was in South America (aged about twelve years) when his mother died. During the French war (previous to the war of 1812) his brother's ship was captured and burned, and the crew taken prisoners. John, with three hundred others, was confined in the hold of a brig, which was so low studded that he could not stand upright. His possessions con- sisted of a pair of duck trousers, a guernsey frock, and five doubloons concealed in his stockings. The fare of the prisoners was "horse bean " soup, damaged rice, and bread. Their allowance of water was one pint a day per man. The imprisonment of John Smith was during the time when the English impressed American sailors, which caused the war of ISI2. When liberated he walked four hundred miles to reach home, begging his way. He started in business in Boston, on Codman's Wharf, where Quincy Market now stands. His business was supplying ships' stores. Later, with George Merriam of Brighton, he formed the firm of Smith & Merriam, dealers in West India goods, at No. 21 Long Wharf. In 1828 he kept the Half-way House between Boston and Plymouth. It was situated in West Scituate, near the Hingham line. He bought the Pollard farm in Bedford in 1838, and settled there, where he con- pleted his life.
John Allyn, 6 son of John,5 m. Martha Gleason of Med- ford. Ch. Anna Winslow, b. April 2, 1851, m. Francis C. Thieler. Horace Allyn,7 b. Aug. 12, 1853. Sarah Peterson, b. June 14, 1857, m. George M. Weston. Harry Mansurgh,7 b. Dec. 2, 1862.
George HI.6 son of John,5 m. ]Jannah E. Hartwell, of Bedford. Ile d. Oct. 1889; she d. Mar. 1890.
SPAULDING. Those of the name in this town, as far as known, descended from Edward, one of the original set- tlers of Chelmsford in 1654. Sampson of the fifth genera- tion settled in Billerica, very near the Bedford line, and
was identified with the church and society here, where the family burial place is seen. He was b. Mar. 1, 1775, m. Mar. 27, 1804, Susanna Skinner, and d. Feb. 19, 1835. Of Io ch. 3 settled in Iowa. Benjamin Adams, b. 1815, a grad- uate of IHarvard College (1840) and of Andover Theologi- cal Seminary (1843), was one of the "Iowa Band" of eleven of his class who went to that territory as home missionaries. He was pastor at Ottumwa from 1851 to 1863, and d. there in 1867. He m. IS47, Ann Nichols Norris. Martha Rebekah, b. 1819, m. 1851, James W. Norris of Ottumwa, where she still resides. She was a school teacher here at one time. Andrew Josiah, b. 1823, m. 1851, Elizabeth A. Brown of Concord, N. H., and d. at Ottumwa, 1860.
Charles, son of Ira and Joanna (Fletcher) of Chelms- ford, b. Jan. 8, 1803, m. May 4, 1826, Elizabeth Wilson. He d. April 17, 1878. Ch. Lewis, b. June 10, 1828, m. Annie B. Cutler, d. June 11, 1870. George and Augustus, d. in infancy. Caroline, b. Jan. 13, 1839, d. Aug. 23, 1852.
Charles Spaulding came to Bedford in 1819, and learned the shoe business. He was a man of influence in the town and Unitarian church, of which he was a deacon for many years.
SPRAGUE, John, of military distinction, is the first of the name in town, and was a descendant, doubtless, of Nicholas of Billerica. He was b. April 26, 1759, and m. April 1, 1784, Phoebe Fitch. Ile d. Mar. 6, 1810; she d. Mar. 25, 1841. Ch. Phoebe, b. Aug. 14, 1784. Sarah, b. July 10, 1787, d. April 24, 1805. John, b. Oct. 15, 1788, d. May 25, 1805. Lowell, b. Mar. 6, 1791. Betsey, b. Dec. 3, 1792, d. Sept. 27, 1822. Mary, b. Oct. 5, 1795, d. Nov. 24, 1840. Susanna, b. July 11, 1798, m. William Clark. STEARNS, variously spelled.
tearns
"Arms. Or, a chevron between three crosses flory sable. Crest, a cock starling proper." This illustration, furnished by Henry A. Stearns, Lieutenant-Governor of Rhode Island, was originally taken from one belonging to the Manning family, descendants of Isaac Stearns.
"It is the same as that borne by families of the name of Sterne in the counties of Bucks, Cambridge, Hertford, and Norfolk, England; the same also as that borne by Richard
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STEARNS.
STEARNS.
Sterne, Archbishop of York, who was descended from the Sternes of Nottinghamshire. It is probable that all the families of the name of Stearns in the United States are descended from three early immigrants, -viz., Isaac, or Charles, who settled in Watertown, or Nathaniel, who set- tled in Dedham."- Bond.
Isaac,1 came to this country in 1630, probably with Gov. Winthrop, and settled in Watertown, near Mount Auburn. He was made freeman May IS, 1631, which is the earliest date of any such admission. (Bond.) He d. June 19, 1671; wife Mary d. April 2, 1677. Of their several ch. Isaac,2 the fourth, b. Jan. 6, 1632-3, m. Sarah Beers, and settled in Lexington in 1660. He d. 1676. Their son, John,3 b. 1675, m. April 26, 1699, Mary, or Mercy Davis of Concord. He is mentioned as a land owner in the description of the southern boundary of the town of Bed- ford in 1729. His dwelling was south of that known as Stephen Davis' estate. (See Homesteads.) He d. June 14, 1734, and is recorded thus : " Father of Zachariah, Elea- zer, and Benjamin Stearns." From his will is the follow- ing : " Bequeath to my daughter Mercy Kendal all the right I have in a Molatto girl named Mary, now living with me." Zachariah,4 son of John,8 was a petitioner from the Concord side for the incorporation of Bedford, and was established in a home here. He m. Sarah, and had 6 ch. All soon disappear from the town.
John,2 son of Isaac,I was a purchaser of the Dudley farm. One of his portions was fifty acres in the southwest corner, bounded by the river and Winthrop farm, which became the permanent Stearns homestead. He was prob- ably born in Watertown in 1631, and became one of the earliest inhabitants of Billerica. He m. Sarah Mixer of Watertown. She d. June, 1656, the first death in Billerica, except an infant of Henry Jefts. He m. 2d, 1656, Mary Lathrop of Barnstable. He d. Mar. 5, 1668-9. His son, John,8 b. "2d week " May, 1654, was either the first or sec- ond child born in Billerica.
John,3 m. Elizabeth Bigelow of Watertown, who d. April IS, 1694; he m. 2d, Joanna, widow of Jacob Parker, and dau. of Thomas Call of Malden. He d. Oct. 26, 1728; she d. Dec. 4, 1737. Their son, John,4 b. Nov. 25, 1686.
Jorn Stearns
m. Esther Johnson, dau. of Edward of Woburn, gr .- dau. of William Johnson, Esq., and great gr .- dau. of Capt. Ed- ward Johnson, author of "Wonder Working Providence of Zion's Savior in New England." They had several ch., of whom Bond says four settled in Lovewell, Me., where the father d. aged 86. His son, Josiah,5 b. Jan. 20, 1731-2, m. Sarah, dau. of Uriah Abbott of Bedford. Their son, Sam- ttel,6 became the fourth minister of Bedford, q.v. John Stearns4 deeded land, in Mar. 1762, to his son, Edward,5- the mill yard. This joined other real estate known as the Lieut. Edward Stearns homestead, which was set off to Bedford in 1766.
Edward Stearns
b. May 9, 1726, was the head of the family in Bedford. He m. May 9, 1755, Lucy, dau. of Thomas Wyman and
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