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 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
He early applied for the degrees of the ancient accepted Scottish rite. He is on record as having received the thirty-second degree in Boston Consistory, April 17, 1863, and affiliated with Massachusetts Consistory, thirty-second grade, Feb. 15, 1871, when the latter body united with Bos- ton and De Witt Clinton Consistories. In the subordinate Scottish bodies he retained membership until the date of his death, Sept. 8, 1883.
41
STEARNS.
STILES,
In the Grand Lodge of Masons of Massachusetts he acted at one time as chaplain, and also filled the office of grand steward for some time.
An elegant and life-like portrait in oil of Wor. Bro. Stearns adorns the walls of the ante-room of Sutton Hall, Masonic Temple, Boston. It was procured by his numer- ous friends in Columbian Lodge. It is a just tribute to the memory of a brother whose active interest in, and enthusiastic regard for, the Masonic institution endeared him to the hearts of all with whom he came in contact. That memory will continue a vivid thing with the various Masonic bodies he served so well.
His funeral took place in the Congregational Church of Bedford. It was largely attended by the fraternity, Colum- bian Lodge conducting the impressive burial service of the fraternity, and Joseph Warren Commandery performing escort duty on that occasion.
Mr. Stearns was also a member of the Order of Odd Fellows. Ile was a veteran Odd Fellow, having been a member of the order more than twenty-five years. Ile was not particularly active in the order, his Masonic relations being so pressing as to absorb his hours of leisure.
Mr. Stearns always manifested a citizen's interest in the town of his nativity, and was liberal in support of the church of which his father was pastor during the whole of his ministerial life.
The old homestead at Bedford, established by the third minister of the town, and purchased by Rev. Samuel Stearns (father of the subject of this sketch), became the property of Josiah A. Stearns after the decease of his mother. He lavished much of his ample salary in trans- forming the rocky acres into productive fields. Every rod of upland and meadow was precious to him. He relig- iously cherished the Lombardy poplars in front of the mansion that had given their best service to his parents, and the graceful elms that had shaded the play-grounds of a noble family. In conjunction with his sister, Miss Ann C. Stearns, he carefully preserved the chambers where great and good men had studied and slept, and where a generation had been born and trained. During seasons of active labor Mr. Stearns retired to his ancestral home for the refreshing quiet that is only found in a typical New England village, and spent the greater part of his vacation seasons here, surrounded by the children and grandchildren of his brothers and sisters, all of whom enjoyed the respect of the people of the town. In all of his arduous labors Mr. Stearns never forgot his native town; and it may truthfully be said that the children of Rev. Samuel Stearns never lost an opportunity in which to honor, by word or deed, the town of Bedford. Mr. Stearns prepared a sketch of the history of the town for Drake's " History of Middlesex County," and was spend- ing his leisure hours on a prospective work of local his- tory when his health failed. His manuscripts are sacredly cherished by his family for an extended work by some future historian.
The grand celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town was in a large measure due to his leadership, although scores of the sons and daughters of Bedford contributed freely towards the enterprise, which for conception and execu- tion was a marvel of success. Mr. Stearns planned and conducted the first " Memorial Day " service, and was active
on each succeeding day of national memorial. He wrote several occasional hymns, one of which is found on p. 70.
Eben S., D.D.) was the youngest of thirteen children of Rev. Samuel Stearns and Abigail French. He gradu- ated from flarvard College in 1841, studied theology, and was ordained as a minister of the gospel. During his ministry at Epping, N.H., he did faithful work in rescuing the records from oblivion, and in putting them into a con- dition to be of future use; but his life work was that of a teacher in several institutions for higher education. He taught in the Ipswich High School, and Free Street Female Seminary in Portland, and was principal of the Female High School in Newburyport for a term of five years. This experience prepared the way for him to do valuable work in the normal school in its experimental years. He took charge of the State Normal School of Massachusetts in September, 1849. It was then located at West Newton (was first established at Lexington in IS39). He was the third principal of the school, his pre- decessors having been Rev. Cyrus Pierce and Rev. Sam- uel J. May. The historical sketch prepared for the semi- centennial of the school, by Mrs. Electa N. L. Walton, has the following : "Mr. Stearns was devoted, earnest, exact, and gentlemanly, and won the cordial support of teachers and pupils. He had a nature of unusual gentleness, and a winsome humor that made him a delightful companion. As a teacher he inspired confidence in his pupils to do their best, while his recognition of any lady-like refinement in them was an inspiration to be true to his expectations. It seemed impossible to be rude or heedless under his observant eye. He impressed his pupils with the dignity of the teacher's work, and his influence upon them was lasting." Printed diplomas were first given at the close of his first year of work in this school.
Mr. Stearns was in the South, on account of a throat trouble, when the spring term of IS51 opened, and he addressed the school thus by letter : "Outspread before us lies its page of unsullied purity. . .. New hopes are the blossom wreaths that surround it, and guardian angels whisper encouragement and. peace as they hold out and beckon us to write, and write we must and ever shall; there is no escape. We write with the blood of the soul, indistinct, pale at first it may be, but ere long to blaze forth in brightness more dazzling than the sun, and more enduring than if engraved on marble, Each letter, well formed or ill, cach attempted erasure, each careless spot, each foul blot, remains. ... Is it not, then, of the utmost importance that you begin rightly?"
In September, 1855, Mr. Stearns resigned, to take charge of the female academy at Albany, N.Y. He was chancellor of the State University of and principal of the State Nor- mal School of Nashville for several years. He died while performing these double duties, in ISS7. He was honored with the titles of D.D. and LL.D. in the last years of his useful life. He was twice married, and a widow and three children survive him.
STILES, Thomas, of Moretown, Vt., came to Bedford a young man, served as clerk in a store, and became the proprietor and followed the business many years. He was a justice of the peace, and postmaster ; was town clerk from 1846 to 1863, and in other important town offices. He m. April 11, 1838, Anna W. Reed. He d. Dec. 19, 1878; she d. Sept. 11, 1885.
42
TAYLOR.
WEBBER.
TAYLOR, John, son of William and Mary (Merriam), b. Oct. 19, 1653, m. Mar. 26, 1678, Eunice Woolley. Ch. Eunice. Mary, m. Nathaniel Merriam, q.v. Rebecca, m. Joseph Bacon (see family and epitaph). David, m. Ruth Jones. Jonathan, m. Mary Jones.
Mrs. Eunice Taylor and her son-in-law, Dea. Nathaniel Merriam, gave a cup to the church, which is still pre- served.
Samuel, b. in England, came to this country in 1840, wife d. in England in 1841; m. 2d, 1842, Anna Jane Lang- hard. Ile d. Dec. 17, 1883; she d. Feb. 22, 1884. Ch. William and Alice.
WALTER, Frederick A. b. in London, Eng., Mar. 2, | He d. Sept. 25, 1833; she d. May 24, 1817. Ch. Polley, d. 1834, m. 1856, Anne C. Hibbs, and settled in Bedford, | an infant. h Hiram,5 b. June 9, 1794. William,6 b. May 1872. He d. Mar. 7, 18St. Had 8 ch. 19, 1796, m. Mariah Gifford of Charlestown, d. Mar. 1853. Mary, b. Feb. 22, 1799, m. Daniel Hartshorn. h Benjamin Abbott,5 b. Dec. 25, 1802. Betsey Abbott, b. Aug. 26, 1806, m. George Wilson, d. Aug. 25, 1846. Susanna, b. Nov. 14, 1809, d. Sept. 5, 1855. Moses,5 b. and d. 1811.
WEBBER CRADLE, USED BY THE FAMILY SINCE 1690.
WEBBER, James,1 of Scotch descent, ca ne from New York to Medford; b. probably 1665, d. Mar. 19, 1729, was father of Jonathan,2 James,2 Benjamin,2 and Nathan.2 The Webbers of Bedford descended through Benjamin,2 who m. Sept. 6, 1727, Susanna Whitmore, dau. of John and Mary (Lane) Whitmore of Medford. (See Chap. VII.)
ford, d. July 20, 1792. Ch. Susanna, b. Mar. 21, 1728, d. April 2, 1743. Martha, b. Aug. 2, 1729, m. John Hos- mer, both d. in Medford. Benjamin,3 b. Feb. 14, 1731, supposed to have settled near Pomfret, Conn. h John,3 b. Nov. 25, 1732.
John,3 son of Benjamin,2 m. April, 1760, Sarah, dau. of Joseph and Amittai Fassett, who d. May, 9, 1782; m. 2d, Nov. 21, 1786, Susannah, dan. of Benjamin Simonds of Woburn, and widow of Ebenezer Page of Bedford. lle d. April 29, ISO8; she d. Feb. 5, 1825. Ch. h John,4 son of John,3 b. Dec. 31, 1760. h William.4 b. Nov. 29. 1762. h Joseph,4 b. Nov. 21, 1764. Sarah, b. Mar. 18, 1766, m. Roger Reed, d. Feb. 8, 1849. It Job,4 b. May 16, 1769. Benjamin,4 b. Dec. 21, 1770. h James,4 b. Oct. 16, 1772. Susanna, b. Jan. 28, 1774, d. June 8, 1774. h Asa,4 b. June 20, 1775. Thomas,4 b. Dec. 27, 1777, m. - Bacon, d. Aug. 6, 1846. Lydia and Lucy, twins, b. Oct. 27, 1780; Lydia m. Samuel Fletcher of Littleton, d. June 27, 1813; Lucy m. Elijah Putnam of Amherst, d. Sept. 20, 1837.
John Webber and Sarah Fassett had twelve children ; eleven of them survived their mother, who died at the age of 38 years. The aggregate age of the eleven was 781 years; average, 71 years. The eight sons lived to an average age of about 76 years.
Capt. John Webber was possessed of a strong mind and great energy. In early life he followed the seas, and was not married until twenty-eight years of age. He lived in
East Bedford some years before he purchased the Dan- forth farm (Kenrick's). He bought the farm of Samuel Danforth in April, 1773. He was often in public service ; was collector, treasurer, and clerk of the town, delegate in important conventions of the Revolutionary period, and representative.
Joltn,4 son of John,3 m. Dec. 15, 1785, Bethiah Lane, dau. of Job4 and Susanna. She d. Aug. 8, 1834; he d. Dec. 11, 1846. Ch. Amattai, b. Aug. 31. 1789, m. Zebedee Simonds, d. Feb. 20, 1853. Bethiah Lane, b. Ang. 16, 1799, m. Benjamin Reed of Lexington.
William, 4 son of John,3 m. May 10, 1791, Mary Abbott.
William Webber was prominent in town affairs, being clerk alınost one-fourth of a century ; was representative to the General Court eight years, and enjoyed the confidence of his townsmen to the end of life. He was a justice of the peace.
Joseph,4 son of John,8 m. Oct. 5, 1794, Ruth Brooks of Woburn. He d. Aug. 24, 1844. Ch. h Joseph, Jr.,5 and possibly others.
Job, 4 son of John,3 m. June 21, 1796, Sarah Davis. He d. Oct. 10, 1838; she d. Jan. 31, 1861. Ch. John,5 b. April 25, 1797, d. Sept. 24, 1879. Sally and Nancy, twins, b. June | 9, 1798; Sally m. James Park, d. Dec. 27, 1857; Nancy, d. Mar. 6, 1879. h Artemas,5 b. Mav 3, 1800. Job l'age,5 b. Nov. 23, 1801, d. Feb. 19, 1875. Elisa Farley, b. June 12, 1805, d. Jan. 21, 1839. Benjamin Newton,5 b. Aug. 24, 1812, m. Sept. 5, 1837, Ann Urie, d. Sept 12, 1837.
James,4 son of John,3 m. Hannah Davis. He d. May He d. July 27, 1732 ; she m. 2d, Christopher l'age of Bed- 21, 1852; she d. Jan. 20, 1835. Ch. Hannah Rebeckah, b.
Sept. 16, 1810, d. Sept. 18, 1844. Lydia Page, b. Jan. 27, 1813, m. David Clark of Arlington. h Williams ( adopted son).
Asa,4 son of John,3 m. April 30, 1801, Eliot (Reed) Lane. He d. Nov. S, 1850; she d. July 26, 1878. Ch. Ruhamah, b. April 14, 1802, m. Nov. 30, 1826, William Hartwell,6 d. Aug. 31, 1879. Eliot, b. June 26, 1804, n. Eldridge Merriam, d. July 24, 1855. John Lane,5 b. Dec. 3. 1808, m. Sarah Whitford, d. Feb. 12, 1859. Lucy and Lydia, twins, b. June 5, 1811 ; Lucy m. Nov. 13, 1828, Ben- jamin F. Ilartwell, d. April 20, 1834; Lydia d. an infant.
Hiram,5 son of William,+ m. July 20, 1824, Fidelia l'age. He d. Jan. 18, 1857; she d. April 5, 1834. Ch. Mary AAbbott, b. July 16, 1825, d. young. George Edward,6 b Jan. 24, 1827, m. Sophia -. Has 2 ch. in California. Harriet L. m. G. L. Sanderson, lives in California. Mary J. m. T. II. Dearing, M. D., of Braintree. Fidelia Page, b. Feb. 25, 1834, adopted by Reuben Thorpe of Lowell, m. 1862, A. W. Sturdy of Attleboro.
Benjamin Abbott,5 son of William, 4 m. April 12, 1826, Mary Ann Twist. 1Ie d. Aug. 7, 1846; she d. Ang. 9, 1890. Ch. Caroline Matilda, b. April 21, 1827, d. Feb. 9, 1839. h Levi W'illiam,6 b. Feb. 17, 1832. Henry Phelps,6 b. Feb. 22, 1842, m. Esther Flint, d. May 6, 1890.
Joseph, Jr.5 son of Joseph,4 m. 1819, Eliza Bacon. He d. in South America in 1849; she d. Feb. 16, 1890, in Minnesota. Ch. Octa,6 b. 1819, resides in Manderville, La.
44
WEBBER.
WILSON.
Charles Stone,6 b. Nov. 17, 1820, d. 1834 of cholera at New Orleans. Theresa, b. Mar. 9, 1824, m. 1844, Joseph Litch- field, d. 1853. Joseph Thompson6 and Henry Augustus,6 twins, b. Sept. IS28; Joseph T. d. June 1, 1844; Henry A. d. 1829. Irene WV. b. Jan. 26, 1837, m. Dec. 17, 1855, Ben- jamin F. Clark.
Mrs. Eliza Webber died at the home of her daughter, Irene W. Clark, Minneapolis, after a long and useful life of ninety years in the world which she helped to make beautiful. She was active in all reforms for the benefit of humanity, particularly her own sex. At the age of eighty- six she was made president of a woman's suffrage league, and was the first to cast her vote when school suffrage was granted to the women of Massachusetts, being then four- score years of age. She was a firm Spiritualist, active in temperance work, and in her last years, spent in Minneapo- lis, she became an enthusiastic Nationalist, and was an inspiration to the club by her own hopeful words concern- ing the brotherhood of humanity, a theme ever prominent in her thoughts.
Artemas,5 son of Job,4 m. May 20, 1827, Sarah Wyman Richardson. He d. IS46; she d. 1874. Ch. I Marcus Bruce,6 b. Mar. 9, 1828. Sarah Abigail, b. Jan. 23, 1830, m. Henry Gleason, d. Dec 23. 1876. Ruth A. b. Feb. 16, 1834. Maria Cordelia, b. Dec. 4, 1837, m. Alvah Cotton.
William,5 adopted son of James Webber and Hannah Davis, m. Oct. 11, 1835, Mary W. Gleason, d. Feb. 1848. Ch. It Charles W.6 b. 1836. h William A.6 b. 1840. h Edwin F.,6 b. 1843.
Levi William,6 son of Benjamin,5 m. Nancy J. Reed. Ch. Abbott Reed,7 b. Sept. 23, 1877.
Levi W. Webber is a successful merchant in Boston.
Marcus Bruce,6 son of Artemas,5 m. Nov. 22, 1852, Elizabeth Frances Gleason. He d. Feb. 12, 1886; she d. 1887. Ch. Kate Putnam, b. Jan. 21, 1855, d. Aug. 12, 1864. It Wallace Gleason,7 b. Aug. 13, 1856. Carrie Maria, b. Aug. 9, 1858, d. May 23, ISSI. Arthur Wyman,7 b. Sept. 9, 1860, d. May 15, 1863. Henry Francis,7 b. Dec. 7, 1862, d. Oct. 22, 1864. Warren Putnam,7 b. May 12, 1864, d. Feb. 28, 1866. Marian Waldo, b. Oct. 21, 1865. Alfred Augustus7 and Alden Brown,7 twins, b. Nov. 28, 1868. Lizzie Frances, b. Jan. 15, 1871. Olive Putnam, b. Nov. 19, 1872. Lewis Butler,7 b. June 4, 1875, d. Oct. 4, 1875. Marcus Howard,7 b. Aug. 10, 1876, d. Nov. 2, 1876.
Marcus B. Webber5 was early engaged in the manufac- ture of shoes, later became a merchant, which business he followed until death. Ile was postmaster nearly a quarter of a century, selectman, collector of taxes, school commit- tee, and in other positions of public trust within the gift of the town. He was superintendent of the Sabbath school connected with the Church of Christ and Trinity Congre- gational Society for twenty-five years. A memorial win- dow, the gift of the Sabbath school, adorns the house of worship of that society, where he labored for the good of others.
Charles W.6 m. Mar. 17, 1869, Sarah A. Davis. Ch. Mabel L. b. Dec. 30, 1869. Arthur P.7 b. Aug. 26, 1872. Ernest W.7 b. June 13, 1881.
Williant A.6 m. Francis M. Whitney. Ile is prominent in musical circles and an inventor of musical instruments.
Edwin F. m. Maria H. Kelley, who d. April 2, 1881. Ch. Louise Gertrude. He is a noted singer and musician.
Wallace Gleason,7 son of Marcus B.6 m. June 22, 1881, Mary A. Putnam. Ch. Carrie Putnam, b. June 3, 1882.
Paul Baron,8 b. April 27, 1884. Marcus Bernard,8 b. Jan. 3, 1888. Lewis Gleason,8 b. Aug. 30, 1891.
Wallace G. Webber7 entered Blackstone Bank, Boston, as a boy, was rapidly promoted in positions of trust, until he resigned to form the copartnership of Paine, Webber & Co., Bankers and Brokers. He has met with financial success, and enjoys the honor and confidence of the public. His love for the town of his nativity and that of his ancestors led him to make many ventures to promote its welfare. He purchased tracts of land, opened streets and put house- lots into the market, and built many houses. Ilis transac- tions in real estate in the latter part of the nineteenth cen- tury, and those of Joshua Page in the early part of the century, mark two very important epochs in the history of the town. He was chosen as his father's successor in the superintendence of the Sabbath school, where he is a faithful worker. He is president of the Bedford Lumber and Manufacturing Company, also president of the Bed- ford House Association. He was chairman of the Build- ing Committee of the Union School House.
Twins seem to be an inheritance in the Webber family. Twin daughters were born to Capt. John1 and Sarah (Fas- set) Webber. There were two instances in the third gen- eration, viz., to Job2 and Sarah (Davis) Webber, and also to Asa2 and Eliot (Reed) Webber. (Sarah Davis was a twin. See Davis family.) Joseph,6 Jr., and Eliza Bacon had twins. Twins were born to Marcus B.6 and Elizabeth F. (Gleason) Webber, and Elizabeth F. Gleason was a twin.
WILSON, or WILLSON. The family was located in the Shawshine district very early in the history of the set- tlement.
"John (Sen.), first appears upon the tax-list in Woburn, in the rate for the country, assessed 26 Aug. 1666, and is numbered among those who had right in the common lands of the town in 1668." (Sewall's Woburn.)
His son John is doubtless the one who had a grant of thirty acres of land, in 1685, "for encouragement towards his corn-mill." He was established there as a miller before that date, as in 1683 Billerica voted "to give one days work of each man in ye town and of team of those that have them for the making a sufficient way to John Wilson's corn-mill." According to Billerica records, "21. 3m. 1683, at a town meeting on a training day, the town granted to John Wilson, Junr. privilege upon our commons for ye future, to the proportion of a five-acre lot, he paying to ye town's use twenty shillings in silver, within six months." John Wilson, Jr. (Lieutenant), was prominent in the early wars, "at the Eastward," in 1692-3, and Cotton Mather says "distinguished himself by the relief of Dover from an Indian alarm."
Lieut. John2 died in Bedford, Feb. 1, 1735, aged 84 years. There are several depressions on the surface, on the Wil- son farm, that suggest early cellars; and family traditions strengthen the evidence. The records prove that several families were flourishing here soon after the incorporation. The several heads may have been sons of John.2
" Mr. Samuel Wilson, Jr., d. Jan. 21, 1740.
"Mr. Joseph Wilson, Jr., d. Sept. 12, 1748, aged 43.
" Mr. Ebenezer Wilson, d. Mar. 9, 1751.
" Rhoda, dau. of Mr. Joseph Wilson, Dec. 17, 1753.
"Mr, David Wilson m. July, 1755, Judith Johnson of Woburn.
" Mr. David Wilson d. Jan. 23, 1757.
.
45
WILSON.
WOOLLEY.
"Jacob, the son of Jacob and Hannah Wilson, b. Sept. 19, 1734."
John2 and Rebecca deed to sons Francis3 and Samuel8 the mills and homestead in Bedford, Feb. 23, 1729.
Francis,3 m. Patience -. Ch. Rebecca, b. May 7, 1733, m. William Maxwell of Bedford. Probably had other children, among whom was hi James.4
James, 4 m. Lydia -, d. June 24, 1753. Ch. Lydia, b. April 22, 1744. Ruth, b. Oct. 6, 1745. Mary, b. June 17, 1748. Pattee, b. Aug. 30, 1750. I James,5 b. Dec. 14, 1752.
James,5-m. Abi Wheeler, d. 1825. Ch. Abi, m. Amos Butters. James,6 b. Nov. 14, 1775, m. Dolly Gleason. John,6 m. Polly Goodwin. Thaddeus,6 b. Nov. 16, 1778, m. Mar. 11, 1802, Molly Lane. h Francis,6 b. Mar. 15, 17SI. Lydia, m. - Woodward. Phineas.6
Francis,6 m. Elizabeth Colburn. Ch. h Francis,7 b. Dec. 16, 1804. Elizabeth, b. Sept. 27, 1807, m. Charles Spaulding.
Francis,7 m. Feb. 7, 1828, Alvira Heath. He d. Jan. 12, IS57 ; she d. Aug. 19, 1860. Ch. Alvira A. b. Feb. 23, 1830, d. Oct. 21, 1885. Emeline S. b. Sept. 9, 1823, m. Wil- lard Brockway, d. April 24, 1870. Addie, b. Feb. 1839, d. July, 1860. Nellie Z. b. Mar. 10, IS45, m. James Holmes of Plymouth, N.H.
Jonathan (Capt.) (generation uncertain), m. a dau. of .Hugh Maxwell; m. 2d, Oct. 8, 1761, Elizabeth (Stearns), widow of John Bacon. Ch. I Jonathan, Jr., b. 1763.
Capt. Jonathan Wilson was killed April 19, 1775. (See epitaph and military history.)
Jonathan, Jr., m. July 24, 1784, Rebekah Page, d. Sept. 25, 1797. Ch. Susanna, b. Feb. 8, 1785, m. June 17, 1806, Timothy Jones. Levi, b. April 2, 1788, m. April 8, 1813, Sukey Harrington. Cyrus, b. Nov. 28, 1790 (at Lex- ington), d. Dec. S, 1790. Nancy, b. Oct. 14, 1792, m. Jan. 23, 1814, Parley Robbins.
Jonathan Wilson, Jr., served a campaign of three months, in 1780, in Rhode Island. (See Chap. XXVIII.)
WOOD. The first of the name in this town descended from William, who settled in Concord in 1638. The line is William,1 Michael,2 Jacob,8 Capt. Ephram,4 Ephram, Esq.5 (Judge), Daniel,6 Elijah,7 Henry8 (who settled in Bedford in 1850).
Henry,6 m. Nov. 26, 1848, Lydia Augusta Willis. She d. Nov. 9, 1885. Ch. Elisabeth F. b. Aug. 26, 1849, m. Albert R. Boynton. h Charles H. b. June 20, 1851.
Henry Wood is-a flourishing farmer, has been prominent in town office, and was representative to the General Court from District No. IS in ISS 5.
Charles H.9 m. July 28, 1870, Harriet F. March. Ch. Henry March,10 b. and d. Nov. 1871. Frances Lydia, b. Mar. 5, 1873. Howard March,10 b. Mar. 22, 1875. May Josephine, b. Mar. 17, 1876. Elizabeth Farmer, b. Aug. 26, IS78. Geor e Henry,10 b. Dec. 12, 1881. Florence Willis, · b. Feb. 16, 1890.
For Stephen A. (M.D.) see professional men.
For WOOLLEY, see Homesteads.
WRIGHT. The name appears here before the Revo- lution. Judah and Tabitha had Tabitha, Bettey, and Patty'
James and Ruth (probably Fassett) established the fam- ily here. He d. Dec. 24, 1818; she d. Jan. 6, 1830. (See epitaphs.) Ch. Ruth, b. Aug. 9, 1769, d. Sept. 16, 1775- Sally, b. Dec. 12, 1772, d. Sept. 2, 1775. h James, b. Nov. 2, 1774. h John Tidd, b. Dec. 16, 1777. Betsey, b. Aug. 6, 1779, m. Joseph Brown, d. June 30, ISIS.
James Wright was in the Revolution, was a deacon of the church from 1785 to 1817, and a leader in the music of the church services.
James, m. Mar. 16, 1797, Dorcas Page. He d. Mar. 27, 1826; she d. Nov. 22, 1846. Ch. Timothy Page, d. young. h Joseph Bixby, b. Sept. 13, 1804. Dorcas Emily, b. July 12, 1806, m. Seth Sweetser of Woburn. Sally, b. Sept. 22, ISoS, m. Abel S. Monroe. Betsey, b. Mar. 28, 18to, m. Ed- mund Hoar. Margaret S. d. young. Caroline, b. Sept. 28, IS14.
Jol T. m. Oct. 11, 1796, Hannah Proctor. Ch. Han- nah, Ruthy, Gloriauna, and others.
Joel and Dolly H. had George Cleveland, b. Jan. 7, 1823. Joseph Bixby, m. Mary E. Smith. He d. July 18, 1879; she d. Oct. 5, 1857. Ch. James E. b. Aug. 16, 1833 (vinegar manufacturer in Cambridge). Henry E. b. 1836 (can manufacturer in Somerville).
LANE HOMESTEAD,
Built by John Lanet about 1750, continued in the family possession by Jonathan,5 Jonathan,6 and birthplace of Hon. Jonathan A. Lane.7 (See Homesteads, p. 102.)
Weep not that the world changes -did it keep A stable, changeless course, 'twere cause to weep.
- Bryant.
COMMONWEALTH
MASSACHUSETTS. )
By His Honor Samuel Adams, Efq.
Lieutenant-Governor and Commander in Chief
OF THE COMMONWEALTH of MASSACHUSETTS.
To AvnerStearns Gentleman Greeting.
YOU being appointed Ensign ofalcompany in the Seventh Regiment (Second Brigade) third Division of the Militia of this Commonwealth, comprehending the County g/ Middlefor -
By Virtue of the Power vefted in me, I do by thefe Prefents (repofing fpecial Truft and Confidence in your Ability, Courage and good Conduct) Commiffion you accordingly : You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to difcharge the Duty of an Consign in Leading, Ordering and Exercifing faid Company in Arms, both inferior Officers and Soldiers ; and to keep them in good Ordergand Difcipline : And they are hereby commanded to obey you, as their Consign And you are yourfelf to obferve and follow fuch Orders and Inftructions, as you fhall from Time to Time, receive from me, or your fuperior Officers.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.