USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > History of the town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts : from its earliest settlement to 1832; and of the adjoining towns, Bedford, Acton, Lincoln, and Carlisle; containing various notices of county and state history not before published. > Part 37
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > History of the town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts : from its earliest settlement to 1832 : and of the adjoining towns, Bedford, Acton, Lincoln, and Carlisle > Part 37
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387
APPENDIX.
Merriam, Solomon, and others, who d. young ; and second wife, Sarah Blood, 1741, and had Sarah, Samuel, Phineas, Hannah, and Noah, now living. This line includes all the families of the name in " Nine acre corner."
WHITAKER. Jonathan Whitaker was here before 1690; son of John of Watertown, b. 1664. Nathaniel and David m. about 1700, and had large families in the town. David d. Aug. 1791, a. 84; his wife d. 1798, a. 90. Elizabeth d. Jan. 1708, “ an aged woman."
WHITING. See Ecclesiastical History, p. 165 .
WHITTEMORE. Benjamin Whittemore m. Esther Brooks, 1692, and afterwards resided in the town ; d. Sept. 8, 1734, a. 65 ; she d. 1742, a. 73. He was representative several years ; left Benjamin and Nathaniel, who had families in the town.
WIGLEY. Edmond Wigley m. Mary, da. of John Miles, about 1667, but left no issue.
WILLARD. Major Simon Willard was one of the most dis- tinguished leaders in the first settlement of this town. He came from the county of Kent, and resided in Cambridge in 1634, when he became acquainted with the situation of Musketaquid by trading with the Indians. He accompanied Rev. Peter Bulkeley, assisted in making the first purchase from the natives, resided in Concord with the first company, one of the leading men of the town, being town-clerk till 1654, and representative fourteen years. In 1660 he removed to Lancaster, and was at Groton in 1672. He had a large tract of land granted him at Nonascoicus, between Lancaster and Groton. He d. at Charlestown, April 24, 1676. He was the first military commander in the town, was promoted to the rank of major in 1654, and commanded the forces in Ninigret's and Philip's war. He was chosen an Assistant twenty-two years, from 1654 to his death, and was very much employed in the public business of the
country. When Philip's war broke out, he gave directions to the several towns in Middlesex county, in relation to their garrison- houses. His first wife was Mary Sharp ; second, Elizabeth Dun- ster, sister of President Dunster of Harvard College ; and third, her sister Mary. By them he had seventeen children ; of whom, John m. Mary Hayward of Concord, 1698, and had David, Jonathan, Mercy, and Simon ; of whom, Jonathan only m. and lived here. From Simon Willard have descended all or nearly of all the name in New England, many of whom have been much distinguished in public life.
388
APPENDIX.
WILSON. William Wilson m. Sarah Blood 1686 ; he d. 1745, a. 76; she d. 1717, a. 56. His second wife, Hannah Price. He was town-clerk, representative, captain, and otherwise distin- tinguished. His children were Samuel, Sarah, and Hannah.
WOOD. William Wood was the distinguished ancestor of this family, and came here in 1638, with his nephew, the Hon. Thom- as Flint. From his connexions, and other circumstances, he is supposed to have been the acute author of a book entitled "New England's Prospect." That author was the first one who men- tions the original name of Musketaquid, either applied to the place or the river in Concord. He d. May 14, 1671, a. 89, leaving an only son Michael, and a daughter Ruth, the wife of Capt. Thomas Wheeler. Michael d. May 13, 1674, having had Abraham, Isaac, Thomson, Jacob, John, and Abigail, who m. Stephen Hosmer. Of whom, Jacob m. Mary Wheeler 1697 ; he d. Oct. 6, 1723, a. 40, having had Jacob, Mary, Ephraim, Dorcas, Hannah, Mili- cent. Of these, Ephraim m. Mary Buss ; d. March 20, 1789, a. 88, and was father to Ephraim, town-clerk, judge of the court of common pleas, &c., and grandfather to Daniel Wood, now living. The collateral branches of this family have been numerous.
Hon. EPHRAIM WOOD was born Aug. 1, 1733, and d. April 8, 1814, in his 81st year. He was son of Ephraim, and grandson of Jacob Wood. He was bred a shoemaker, and had no other ad- vantages of education than what were afforded by the very imper- fect common schools of that day. Though he did not possess what are popularly called brilliant talents, or ardent feelings, he had a calm, considerate mind and sound judgment, which pecu- liarly fitted him to act an important part in the times in which it was his lot to live. As early as 1771, he was chosen town-clerk, selectman, assessor, and overseer of the poor, and re-elected twenty-seven years, and for much of the spirit of those times which has come down to us as matter of record, we are indebted to him, as this History will fully show. He was one of the first justi- ces appointed by the Council after the secession from British au- thority, and held the office during the remainder of his life. He was also one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas. "In him," says a notice published soon after his death, " were united those qualities and virtues, which formed a character at once amia- ble, useful, respectable, and religious. Early in life he engaged in civil and public business, and by a judicious and faithful discharge of duty acquired confidence and reputation with his fellow-citizens and the public. The American revolution called into exercise his active and vigorous powers ; and as a magistrate and in various de- partments he rendered important services to the community. The
389
APPENDIX.
rights and liberties of his country were near his heart, and he was a warm and zealous defender of them against all encroachments. He was a true disciple of the great Washington, a friend to " liber- ty with order," and firmly attached to the union of the States and the constitutional independence of the individual States. In do- mestic life, his disposition and example were highly amiable and worthy. As a Christian, he was devout and humble, sincere and ardent. Having lived the life, he died the death of the righteous."
WOODHOUSE. Henry Woodhouse, or Woodis, as his name was sometimes written, came to Concord from London, about 1650, freeman 1656. His farm, estimated at three hundred and fifty acres, lay between the two rivers, and descended to his son-in-law, Joseph Lee, whose posterity successively held it for more than one hundred years. Joseph Barrett, Esq. now occupies it. He d. June 16, 1701 ; his first wife, Ellen, 1693 ; second wife in 1717; had one son, who d. young, and four daughters, b. between 1650 and 1662. Mary m. Joseph Lee ; Hannah m. Cheney ; Milicent m. Joseph Estabrook; Sarah m. John Daken; Elizabeth m. Si- mon Davis.
WOOLLEY. Christopher Woolley m. Priscilla Woodell 1646, and had several children. He d. Jan. 28, 1701 ; she 1674; sec- ond wife, Mary How, d. Dec. 26, 1695. His son Thomas d. Nov. 18, 1726. Jonathan Woolley, says the Bedford records, d. July 25, 1766, a. 61, " by a fall from a stone-wall, which killed him in a minute."
WRIGHT. Edward Wright came to Concord about 1650 ; d. Aug. 28, 1691 ; his wife Elizabeth d. Feb. 15, 1690. Chil- dren, Nathan, Martha, Sarah, Edward, Hannah, Peter, and Sam- uel. Of whom, Peter, " a weaver," d. Jan. 15, 1717, a. 53, and left a legacy for the benefit of the poor of the town. Samuel d. Oct. 1, 1741, a. 80; his wife Sarah, 1758, a. 92; their son Jo- seph d. Oct. 16, 1815, a. 94, grandfather to Anthony and Nathan M., now living. e
) 1
390
APPENDIX.
NO. IV.
OLD AND NEW STYLE.
IT is proper to explain what is meant by old and new style. - The new style was adopted by Great Britain in 1751, when a law was passed enacting that the year 1752 should begin on the 1st day of January ; that the 3d of September should be reckoned the 14th, and that the intermediate eleven days should be omitted in the calendar. In the old, or Julian style, the year began the 25th of March, and contained 365d. 6h. ; in the new, or Gregorian style, the year began the 1st of January, and contained 365d. 5h. 49m. 12s .; differing from the true tropical year twenty-two sec- onds only ; and making a difference in the two styles of one day in 129 years. One is made nearly conformable to the other by dropping one day from the old, and adding one to the new style in each century, excepting every fourth, whose centennial year is considered leap-year. The new style was first adopted by Catho- lics in 1582; and not generally by Protestants till some time after- wards, and not yet by Russia. To meet the wishes of both, it was generally customary from the first settlement of this country till 1752, though not uniformly, to give a double date from Janua- ry Ist to March 25. Thus, January 9, 1725, was written Janua- ry 9, 1724 - 5, or 1724. March was also reckoned the first month, April the second, May the third, &c., and dates were sometimes made accordingly. Thus, 18th 4mo. 1667, or " 18. 4. 67," was 18th June, 1667. In the preceding history, the dates are given as if the year began on the first of January, in all cases where it could be ascertained, and the latter of all double dates between that time and the 25th March is used. Thus, January 9, 1724, is given January 9, 1725. In other respects the dates an- terior to 1752 are in old style. To & certain the day in new style at the present time, corresponding to any date in the old style, it is necessary to add ten days from 1500 to 1700 (1600 being a leap- year), and eleven days from 1700 to 1752. Thus, the 2d of Sep- tember, 1635, the date of the incorporation of Concord, will cor- respond with the 12th September, 1835 ; and July 3, 1735, the date . of the incorporation of Acton, with the 14th of July, 1835. Want of careful attention to double dates, and difference in style, has occasioned many mistakes ; and among others, the anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrim fathers at Plymouth has been erroneous- ly celebrated on the 22d, instead of the 21st of December, the latter being the true date corresponding with the old style.
391
APPENDIX.
NO. V.
[After the History of Bedford was printed, the Rev. Mr. Stearns died. The following biographical notice is extracted from a sermon preached by the Rev. Samuel Sewall at his interment.]
" Rev. Samuel Stearns, of Bedford, was a son of Rev. Josiah Stearns of Epping, N. H., by his second wife, a daughter of Rev. Samuel Ruggles of Billerica. He was born at Epping, April 8, 1770 ; fitted for college after his father's death, at Exeter Acade- my, under the patronage of Hon. John Phillips, its founder ; and graduated at Harvard College in 1794. His theological studies he pursued under the direction of Rev. Jonathan French of Andover, (whose daughter, Miss Abigail French, he afterwards married,) and was ordained over the Church and Society in Bedford, April 27, 1795. A new religious society having been legally formed, Nov. 9, 1832, by the name of the " Trinitarian Congregational Society "; and the Church having voted, at a meeting, May 9, 1833, to dissolve its connexion with the First Parish, and to accept an invitation given it to unite itself with the new society, for the purpose of maintaining public worship and the institutions of the Gospel, Rev. Mr. Stearns was solemnly constituted the Minister, or Religious Teacher of that society, June 5, 1833. He died Dec. 26, 1834, of a decline, the result, probably, of a scrofulous affection, with which he had been many years more or less afflict- ed. It is worthy of remark, that during the whole of his protract- ed ministry, almost thirty-nine years, he was never absent from his people at any communion season but one, viz. that which oc- curred about a fortnight before his death. Previously to the com- munion before, viz. that on the second Sabbath in October, he had cherished an earnest desire that he might be able, if it were God's will, to officiate once more on the interesting occasion, and then bid his church farewell ; though he was apprehensive that the weather, or the state of his health, would be such, as to prevent him. But in this particular, divine Providence was propitious to his wishes. The weather on that day was remarkably fine ; and (to use his own words) " his spirits were enlivened, and strength seemed to be given him for the occasion." Having obtained his son, Rev. William A. Stearns of Cambridgeport, to perform the previous services, the venerable man about the close of the sermon, with thankful heart, yet with emaciated countenance and feeble step, entered the house of God ; and there, having once more, ac- cording to his desire, ministered the memorials of Christ's dying
392
APPENDIX.
love, and united with the church in singing a hymn, he took his final leave of them in the solemn, affecting address, alluded to in the foregoing discourse. From that day he went no more abroad, being confined to his house, and most of the time to the room in which he died, till his death."
No. VI.
VOTES FOR GOVERNOR.
Date.
Candidates.
Con
Bed. Act.
Lin.Car
Candidates.
Con.|Bed.Act. Lin.Car. Scat.|
1780.
Hancock
121
25
54
42
28
Bowdoin
I
1781.
Hancock
83
30
38
20
31
1782.
Hancock
76
19
34
11
6
Bowdoin
2
4
31
1783.
Hancock
86
22
48
38
8
1
1784.
Hancock
80
27
22
17
4
1
1785.
Bowdoin
26
30
2
29
Cushing
34
16
-
-
1787.
Hancock
113
42
62
25
38
Bowdoin
43
3
17
35
5
7
1788.
Hancock
114
43
55
48
35
Gerry
9
1789.
Hancock
95
35
45
26
Bowdoin
24
10
12
-
-
1791.
Hancock
76
40
26
39
31
Gerry
5
1792.
Hancock
80
32
32
35
32
Dana
16
1793.
Hancock
78
26
33
42
31
Gerry
5
1794.
Adams
1.05
41
50
33
31
Cushing
17
1
2
35
1795.
Adams
118
36
50
46
44
Cushing
1796.
Adams
76
50
57
52
58
Sumner
51
1
5
2
2
1797.
Sumner
47
6
11
18
Sullivan
63
41
43
38
60
11
1798.
Sumner
88
31
14
41
2
Sullivan
35
3
22
3
52
2
1799.
Sumner
83
28
15
27
1
Heath
79
27
68
45
64
6
1802.
Strong
92
26
15
20
4
Gerry
91
31
77
55
63
1803.
Strong
91
30
13
23
15
Gerry
62
13
76
39
51
1804.
Strong
84
33
16
23
3
Sullivan
94
27
86
60
83
1
1805.
Strong
107
28
52
21
10
Sullivan
118
54
108
93
1
1806.
Strong
116
31
32
23
1
Sullivan
113
51
103
61
102
11
1807.
Sullivan
122
55
191
64
99
Strong
122
29
22
20
7
5
1808.
Sullivan
124
51
108
73
97
Gore
104
26
24
25
3
2
1812.
Strong
148
34
26
26
7
Gerry
140
71
1}3
95
92
1813.
Strong
148
37
36
32
14
Varnum
139
61
62
110
85
101
3
1815.
Strong
145
30
46
36
8
Dexter
145
56
116
82
97
1
1817.
Brooks
142
29
35
23
4
Dearborn
134
58
97
90
97
1818.
Brooks
108
26
31
23
7
Crowninshield
I04
58
101
66
91
1819.
Brooks
108
32
33
25
6
Crowninshield
76
56
90
84
102
1820.
Brooks
89
30
28
23
3
Eustis
94
57
87
70
92
1821.
Brooks
82
31
37
25
4
Eustis
94
50
95
72
81
1822.
Brooks
82
30
31
21
1
Eustis
88
58
98
80
78
1823.
Eustis
151
77
123
125
127
1824.
Eustis
152
83
127
112
128
Lathrop
115
35
30
26
-
1825.
Lincoln
142
95
117
106
67
1826.
Lincoln
126
88
123
72
80
J827.
Lincoln
128
25
86
72
32
Jarvis
1828.
Lincoln
170
76
124
68
56
Morton
1829.
Lincoln
127
74
114
72
77
Morton
1830.
Lincoln
151
90
82
69
74
Morton
15
13
29
6
ואוטוט
-
1790.
Hancock
72
39
47
30
34
Bowdoin
20
8
Q
-
-
-
1800.
Strong
64
17
12
11
1
Gerry
71
40
67
66
63
7
1801.
Strong
82
26
12
15
11
Gerry
90
36
77
112
75
107
3
1810.
Gerry
127
68
120
106
Gore
129
28
19
26
7
1811.
Gerry
146
69
112
80
102
Gore
113
25
15
28
4
1814.
Strong
140
33
42
36
8
Dexter
151
1816.
Brooks
139
26
35
22
6
Dexter
148
50
127
25
104
1
1809.
Gore
119
27
25
37
7
Lincoln
124
60
23
28
19
-
-
12
67
81
3
34
2
2
-
1
-
50
1786.
Bowdoin
75
29
35
33
17
1
1
--
1
-
12
3
1
24
11
27
25
4
37
-
END.
114
82
94
Otis
99
4
70
53
62
92
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