USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hanover > History of the town of Hanover, Massachusetts, with family genealogies > Part 23
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The house at Assinippi for so long a time owned and occupied by Robert L. Killam was constructed, about 1759, by David Jacobs,. one of the first settlers in that part of Assinippi now Hanover. This house was for many years used as a tavern.
Mr. Jacobs was Selectman, a member of the Committee of Safety in the Revolution and, for several years, Representative. He died in 1808, and his son Perez, the father of a large family, resided. here until his death in 1828.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
Rev. Robert L. Killam purchased the house about 1830, and here he resided until his death. He was for many years pastor of the Church in the village,-a member of the school committee, and always helpful and kind. After his death the house was occupied by his son, Robert W., a merchant in the village, who inherited and cultivated the same amiable traits which distinguished his father. The house is now owned by Edwin H. Rumsey.
The house of John F. Simmons on Washington street was con- structed about 1750, and was probably first occupied by an Otis. David Jacobs succeeded Mr. Otis, and his daughter, Relief Jacobs, was the mother of Hon. Charles Sumner, Senator from Massa- chusetts. An older sister, Hannah, was living, at the time of the Senator's death, with Mrs. Blanchard, at Assinippi. She died in 1900, aged 94.
David Jacobs sold the house to Ebenezer Simmons, and the latter enlarged it, making it two stories instead of one.
Ebenezer, a man of affairs, kept a store in the ell of the house,- and here dwelt Perez Simmons and his son, John F. Simmons, and here, attached to the house, was their law office.
In this house have dwelt, for longer or shorter periods, five gen- erations of the Simmons family.
Mr. John F. Simmons adds the following regarding the first Simmons who settled in the vicinity of this house :- "The old Sim- mons homestead where Ebenezer was born stood about half a mile south from this house on the east side of Washington street, where the late Daniel Chapman formerly resided. The old house was two stories high at the south end, and an ell extended northerly
therefrom. It was demolished and the present house built partly on its site. Here lived Elisha Simmons, Ebenezer's father, and
Elisha was a black- here his children were born (ten in all).
smith. His shop stood just south from the house between the two large ash trees which still stand there. Elisha's oldest child was William, a graduate of Harvard in the class of 1804, and one of the first Judges of the Police (now Municipal) Court of Boston. His son George was a Unitarian clergyman, who was obliged to leave his pastorate in the South on account of his very pronounced views on African slavery. George left three children, Elizabeth, now living with her mother at Cambridge, Mass .; Doctor William, a physician in Bangor, Maine, and Edward, an artist, who painted "The Return of the Flags" and "The Battle of Concord," now in the rotunda of the State House in Boston; and also the decorations
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PUBLIC BUILDINGS. OLD HOUSES.
for the latest built Court House in New York City. George's wife (neé Ripley), still survives him. She is the owner of Hawthorne's "Old Manse" in Concord, although the family does not reside there now, as they once did. Joshua Simmons, the father of Elisha, lived, it is believed, a little to the east of Elisha's house.
The house on Main street now owned and occupied by Ethan T. Perry was built about 1728, probably by John Bailey, as in 1734 John Bailey sold it to his son Jacob and in the deed speaks of it as the house where the said Jacob lives. Jacob was married in 1728.
This house was occupied by the Bailey family for more than one hundred years, the present owner purchasing it previous to 1855.
Charles Bailey, who lived here, (a son of Jacob aforesaid), was killed in Boston by the fall of a chimney, as he was passing through the street.
The father of Andrew J. Bailey, for a long time city solicitor of Boston, was born here, removing to Charlestown.
The house of Henry W. Percival, on Main street, was constructed by Joseph House, a ship builder, about 1712. He sold it to John Bailey, who was, in early life, also engaged in shipbuilding.
Calvin Bailey, the son of John, resided here until his removal to Maine, and the house was then purchased by Abisha Soule, and has since been owned by him or by one of his descendants.
The original house, which was two stories high with the end to the street, was moved back from its original location by Mr. Soule and enlarged.
John Bailey was a colonel in the Revolutionary War, his son Luther serving as a major in his father's regiment. Colonel Bailey was second in command at Dorchester Heights, and was more than once especially commended by Washington for his valor. Both the Colonel and Major Bailey, his son, died in this house. Colonel "Bailey for a time after his return from the army, kept a hotel in this house.
It is an interesting fact that his neighbor, Caleb Sylvester, a Revolutionary soldier, who lived a few rods north of him, also won the commendation of Washington, and was by him presented with a souvenir which the family still preserves.
John Bailey had a large family of children and three of them, John, Calvin, and Lebbeus, were excellent mechanics, making the long eight-day clock that now commands such large prices. Leb-
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
.
beus moved to Maine, and his daughter married Doctor Carey, who was the father of Annie Louise Carey.
The house of George W. Curtis was erected, soon after the in- corporation of the town, by his ancestor, John Curtis, and has been owned and occupied continuously by the family, with the family name, to the present time.
It is a colonial mansion standing back from Main street, and is in form substantially the same as when constructed.
Mr. John Curtis, the founder of our Public Library, was born in this house. He was a son of John Curtis, who was noted in his day as an abolitionist.
Both father and son early espoused the cause of freedom for the slaves, and both were on intimate terms with Garrison, Pillsbury, Phillips, Thompson, and others of that magnificent period. The father was with Mr. Garrison, when the mob tried to destroy that glorious life.
Benjamin Curtis, a slight, studious young man, went from this house in 1862 and was killed at Antietam in one month from the date of his enlistment.
The Stockbridge house, on Main street, was built, in 1809, by William Stockbridge, and is a good type of the more substantial houses of the time.
This house has always been owned and occupied by members of the Stockbridge family, and the father of the late United States Senator Stockbridge of Michigan, was born here.
The present house took the place of one which had stood just across the street for nearly a century. The original house was erected by Edward Wanton, the quaker preacher, about 1710, and was the first house erected in this part of the town. The first public school in this quarter of the town was kept in this house.
Edward Wanton presented this house to his son Philip, as a gift. Philip moved to Rhode Island, and Caleb Barker a brother-in-law of Philip, conveyed the house to John and Joseph Bailey in 1722. In 1786 Seth Bailey sold the property to David Stockbridge, and in 1789 David sold it to his son William.
The original house was owned and occupied by the Bailey family for nearly three-fourths of a century. Three of the seven children of William Stockbridge, who were born in the house now standing are still living.
The house on Union street now owned by Parker McNayr was
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PUBLIC BUILDINGS. OLD HOUSES.
constructed probably before 1735 by Benjamin Curtis, or one of his sons, and was occupied by the Curtis family for many years, when it passed to the Stetson family, and was for a time occupied by them. Later it was owned and occupied by Seth Bailey and, in 1799, Israel Perry, administrator of the estate of Seth Bailey, sold the property to Joshua Dwelley and for three generations it was oc- cupied by the Dwelley family. Mary Dwelley, a sweet, self sacri- ficing woman, died here in 1893, aged 89 years, having lived to bury her husband, two daughters and two sons, leaving but one child, a bachelor, who later sold the property to Parker McNayr, the present owner. Mrs. Dwelley's sons, Joseph and Hosea, were in the Civil War service.
The writer of this has sat in the "Chimney Corner" here and looked up to the stars while the fire burned brightly by his side.
NOTE .- When Joshua Dwelley purchased this house "Birch Bot- tom Road," as it is called, was located just east thereof, but he changed it to its present location.
Previous to 1790, for thirty years at least, there was a small house just east of the house above described, which was owned and occupied by Elisha Palmer, a blacksmith, and here his large family of children were born.
The large two-story house on Main street now owned and occu- pied by John S. Smith was constructed about 1729 by Benjamin Stetson, and he and his descendants occupied it for two generations, when the property was purchased by Israel Hatch, whose de- scendants have owned and occupied the house to the present time. John Hatch, a son of Israel, lived here. He was a captain in the Revolutionary War.
This house is typical of the time of its construction, facing the south, with its large, old fashioned chimney, and is but little changed in form since it was built. This is one of the houses which has stood for nearly two hundred years with but one change of family. The well on the lawn here has supplied the occupants all this long time with never-failing, sweet water.
The school house which stood near the spot in 1760, now forms the basis of the one-story part of the house.
The house on the corner of Main and Union streets was built about 1715, probably by Benjamin Curtis, as he was living here in 1727. He was one of the Selectmen elected immediately after the incorporation of the town. He or his son Benjamin lived here
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
until about 1760, when the house was sold to Colonel John Bailey. About 1763, Joshua Dwelley purchased this property, and he and his descendants have owned it to the present time, the present owner being Charles W. Briggs, a great grandson of Joshua.
Joshua Dwelley was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War, and his son Lemuel was engaged with George Curtis in the anchor in- dustry for many years. Mary T. Briggs, a granddaughter of Joshua, is still living at the age of eighty-seven years, with mem- ory unimpaired.
Presumably Benjamin Curtis, the Selectman, constructed the house in Scituate that stood just east of Diana Pierce's, before 1700, but he located on Main street as early as 1715.
The house on Union street now occupied by Charles H. Dwelley and Percy W. Dwelley was constructed, about 1730, by Joseph Curtis. He lived here but a few years, when he moved to a house on Pleasant street and became a large land owner and was, gener- ally, an influential man. He was known as Governor Curtis.
After Mr. Curtis's removal, the house was owned by Abijah Stet- son, and he and his descendants lived here until about 1856, when William Curtis, who married Cassandra Stetson, moved to his father's house on Main street.
About 1790, Lemuel Dwelley bought one-half of this house and, when Mr. Curtis moved away, he purchased the other half and his descendants have occupied the whole house to the present time.
This is another of the old-time houses with the large old fash- ioned chimney and brick oven, and with a kitchen and fireplace so large that Mrs. Dwelley, with her five children, and Mrs. Curtis, with as many, were able for years to do all the necessary cooking for their large families, without friction, and with mutual friend- ship and respect. The house has been somewhat enlarged since it was originally constructed.
For a time Christiana Cushing kept a private school in the southwest chamber.
Mrs. Priscilla Stetson, the wife of Joshua, had twin children, Angeline and Cassandra. The former was the mother of Joshua S. Grey, who has been for several years Representative from Rock- land, and Cassandra was the mother of Benjamin Curtis, who, at twenty-one years of age, surrendered a promising life at Antietam.
NOTE .- Mrs. Priscilla Stetson was born on the dark day.
The house on the corner of Plain and Main streets was probably
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constructed by Amos Sylvester, who married Desire Rose in 1757, or by his father Amos Sylvester. The house was constructed be- fore 1759, as is shown by a deed of that date.
Mr. Amos Sylvester lived here until 1769, when he sold the same to Deacon Israel Perry. This Israel was a man of affairs, Select- man of the town, and lived here until his death, in 1817. He was the father of Hannah, the wife of Edward Stetson.
After the death of Israel's wife, in 1824, the property was sold to Ethan Perry, who resided here until his death in 1880. Since Mr. Perry's death, there have been several owners of the estate, the present owner being Dr. A. D. Josselyn, recently of Chicago.
Israel Perry had eight children, as did Ethan Perry, all born here, presumably.
The house on Broadway near the South Hanover railroad station was probably constructed by Joseph Barstow, about 1720. Mr. Barstow was one of four persons who established the Forge and Finery, where now stands the tack factory of Ezra Phillips & Sons. It is doubtful if Mr. Barstow lived in this house, although it seems to have been owned by a son and grandson.
Elijah Cushing, who married Mr. Barstow's daughter in 1775, constructed the house at Cushing's Corner, Hanson, the two houses being similar in architecture and erected about the same time.
Mr. Robert Salmond came into possession of this Barstow house as early as 1790 and resided here until his death, in 1829. He was engaged in the manufacture of anchors at the Barstow forge.
Mr. Salmond's widow resided here with her sons, John and Wil- liam, both of whom were engaged in the manufacture of tacks. William died in 1842, and John in 1845, both unmarried. Mrs. Salmond lived until 1847.
After the Salmonds, Mr. William M. Brewster resided here for several years and, about 1860, I. Gilman Stetson purchased the property, and this was his home until his death.
The house is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Annie E. Stet- son, the widow of Fred Stetson, a son of I. Gilman.
Mr. I. Gilman Stetson was, for many years, Selectman, and died while holding that office. He was for quite a long time engaged in the grocery business in the store on the corner of Broadway and Myrtle street.
The long house on Broadway, opposite the end of Water street, now owned by Morrill A. Phillips, is one of the older houses, hav- ing been constructed probably before 1750.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
The first owner of whom we have positive knowledge was Ben- jamin Studley, who was Selectman in 1778 and for several years thereafter. His first child was born in 1754. He may have con- structed the house, but probably bought it of Thomas Josselyn.
In 1794, Mr. Studley conveyed this house with sixty acres of land to Josiah Smith, Jr., a grandson of Rev. Thomas Smith. Pre- sumably he lived here, as Barry speaks of it as the Smith house.
In 1804, Mr. Smith sold to Robert Salmond, who owned the property for eight years, when he sold it to Jesse Reed, a brief sketch of whose life is given in the chapter on Mills, Manufactures, and Industries.
In 1824, about the time Mr. Reed left Hanover, he conveyed the property to Melzar Sprague and Capt. Nathan Dwelley, the for- mer living here but a short time. Mr. Dwelley, as a young man, while Mr. Reed lived here, worked with him in the building of his first tack machines. The young man was quick to learn, and soon became an expert and, when new tack factories were started, Capt. Dwelley's services were sought in the construction of the machines. He was employed by Lazel Perkins & Company of Bridgewater, Oliver Ames of North Easton, and several others.
After Capt. Dwelley moved to the Corners, he sold the house to E. Y. Perry & Company (1864), since which time it has been oc- cupied as a tenant house.
The hip-roof house near the southerly end of Winter street was constructed, as early as 1750, by Jesse Torrey, the son of Nathaniel Torrey. When Jesse Torrey died, he had these children living : Nathaniel, Jesse, James, Job and Eliab Torrey, Hannah Rogers, and Mary, wife of Joseph Torrey. There was also a daughter, Ruth Chapman, and a daughter, Betsey Torrey, but these two were not living when his estate was divided in 1799. £ The widow Mary was then living, and dower was assigned to her in this house, which was for a long time known as the Molly Torrey house.
In 1800, Nathaniel Torrey above named sold the property to Joseph Tubbs, and the house was for a long time known as the Tubbs' house.
Joseph Tubbs (who never married), was a son of the first Joseph. He constructed a house a long distance west of Winter street, in a most romantic spot, where he lived and died. Two maiden sis- ters, Eunice and Mary, also resided here until their death, aged 81 and 87 years, respectively. Their home was a model of neatness, with the old fashioned fireplace and the antique furniture. It was
HOUSE OF BENJAMIN B. HALL, CENTER STREET
HOUSE OF WILLIAM STOCKBRIDGE, MAIN STREET
THE BALDWIN HOUSE, HANOVER STREET
PANTARRIVA MAAR
THE END OF THE BALDWIN HOUSE
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a pleasant experience to call on them and see how quaintly, simply, and happily two maiden ladies could live, although bounded by a narrow horizon.
It may be interesting to read in the Tubbs genealogy an extract from the will of Joseph Tubbs, the grandfather of these two maiden ladies, and we quote it here : "Principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, hoping, through the merits, death, and passion of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to have full and free pardon of all my sins, and to inherit everlasting life; and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried, trusting that I shall at the Resurrection receive the same again, by the mighty power of God."
The house on Broadway now owned and occupied by Jane B. Reed was, in 1722, owned by Thomas Merritt of Scituate, as, in a deed of that date, he conveyed to Thomas Bardin "eighty acres of land, excepting thirty acres of said land which I formerly sold to Isaac Buck." In this deed, after giving the boundaries, he says "together with my dwelling house, barn, and fences upon the same." Presumably Mr. Merritt was the first occupant.
Previous to Mr. Bardin's residence in the house described above, he must have resided near the forge at South Hanover. (See deed James Torrey to Thomas Bardin, Book 20, Page 40.)
Thomas Bardin was one of the four persons who constructed the forge and finery at Indian Head river, about 1720. He was prom- inent in town affairs and died, in 1774, aged eighty-six years.
The newspaper account of his death said that he was born in South Wales, that he came to America in 1716, and was the first that made bar-iron in New England.
Mr. Ebenezer Curtis (whose daughter married William Whiting, the long time Selectman) resided here. Mr. David Hersey lived and died here, as did his son Robert, of pleasant memory.
Mrs. Reed, the present owner, is a daughter of Robert Hersey. Mrs. Reed's daughter, Mrs. Sproule, with her seven children, re- sides in the house with her; so that four generations of this family have made their home in this house.
The one-story house on Winter street, known as the Job Tilden house, was probably constructed previous to 1740. Joseph Tilden, the father of Job, purchased this farm of one hundred and ten acres of Thomas Rogers. Presumably Mr. Rogers constructed the house.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
Joseph Tilden, by his will dated November 8, 1763, gave to his son, Job Tilden, the improvement of this property. This son Job was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War.
This house is presented as being especially interesting, because of the fact that slaves were raised here for the market.
While there was more or less buying and selling of slaves (as in the middle of the eighteenth century nearly all the wealthy families owned one or more), this was probably the only place in our town where the owner carried on the traffic for revenue. The writer has seen two bills of sale of slaves sold from this house. One was from Job Tilden to a Mr. Bailey of Scituate. "A negro child named Morrow, nine years of age, of good bodily health and with a kind disposition."
During the Revolutionary War, Mr. Tilden sent one of his slaves, named Cuffee, as a soldier in the Continental Army. He was with Col. Bailey and died at Valley Forge, and his enlistment gave him a second name; for henceforth he was known as Cuffee Tilden, and so the printed rolls inscribe him.
Sarah Tilden, a daughter of Job Tilden, granddaughter of Job, and great granddaughter of Joseph Tilden, died in this house, July 8, 1880, aged eighty-three years,-the premises having been occupied continuously by the Tilden family for more than one hundred and twenty years.
The house on Broadway near the Catholic Church was probably constructed by Isaac Buck, as early as 1720. Doubtless it has been much enlarged. Mr. Buck, in deeds, is spoken of as a weaver. While in Hanover, he was influential in church and town matters. He constructed the corn-mill which stood near where now stands the brick building of Ezra Phillips and Sons and this mill was for a long time know as Buck's mill.
While in Hanover, seven children were born to him; Isaac, James, Mary, Thomas, Eunice, Hannah, and Sarah. Isaac, Jr., in a deed, describes himself as a nailer. Mr. Buck, Sr., was in Hanover as early as 1713 and as late as 1737 and was in Scituate in 1744. These facts are shown by records of deeds. He resided first on Center street, near where John F. Brooks now resides.
In 1716, Thomas Merritt of Scituate sold to Mr. Buck the land on Broadway on which the house stands. The land was then with- out buildings. In 1721, Mr. Buck mortgaged the premises to Thomas Jenkins and at this time there was a house and barn thereon.
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PUBLIC BUILDINGS. OLD HOUSES.
As early as 1730, Mr. Buck sold the property to James Torrey, the latter selling to his brother Nathaniel, who in turn sold to Josiah Palmer. Josiah Palmer, a son of this Josiah, sold the premises to David Stockbridge, a man of many estates.
Previous to 1800, Benjamin Bass came into possession of the property and lived and died here, as did his unmarried son Elisha. The latter was an ingenious mechanic and a devout man.
Some time after the death of Elisha Bass, Mr. Charles Dyer became owner and occupant. At his death, the property passed to his son, Frank Waldo Dyer, who still occupies it.
Brief mention will be made of the old houses long since gone which stood remote from any existing public way and were finally deserted and permitted to decay. In most cases the cellars are now visible.
There was one house in the field northwest of the residence of Edward M. Sweeny, probably owned and occupied by a Rogers; one near the railroad track east of the junction of Elm street and Broadway, occupied by Abner Turner; one north of the Second Congregational Church owned and occupied by one of the early Barstows; three at least between the mill of Samuel H. Church and Washington street, owned by House, Briggs, and others; one east of the house formerly owned by Daniel Chapman, occupied by a Simmons; four on Henry's lane, occupied by the Dilling- ham's, Woodworth's, Gray's, and Freeman's; one east of the house of Helen M. Priest on Main street, occupied by William Curtis, the first Baptist minister; one west of the house of Nathan G. Whiting on Main street, occupied in its later years by Thomas Hatch; one south of Plain street, on the Hanmer Hook road; three on the old way from Center street, near the end of Grove street, to Broadway, near the end of Water street, occupied by Robbins, Buck, and Sylvester; four near northwest Hanover on the old way which led westerly from Whiting street to Rockland (these latter, however, all stood just outside the bounds of Han- over in what is now Rockland) ; and one west of Silver street, known in its later years as the Thomas O. Bates house.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
CHAPTER XIII.
HOTELS. POST OFFICES. LANDMARKS.
HOTELS.
By Jedediah Dwelley.
A word about this subject may not be amiss. In 1657 William Barstow was authorized by the Colony Court "to draw and sell wine, beer and strong waters for passengers that come and go over the bridge he hath lately made or others that have occasion unless any just exceptions come in against." Afterward this "Ordinary" was kept by his son Joseph, and in 1684 Joseph Sylvester was licensed to keep it.
This ordinary must have been near the North river bridge. (See Chapter on Streams and Bridges).
There is no other record regarding hotels known to the writer until 1747, when the town voted "not to set up any more taverns in the town, that there are too many taverns already and that one tavern is sufficient for the town." Barry says, however, that Samuel Stetson's house was a tavern stand and a famous place of resort, soon after the incorporation of the town. (See Chapter on old houses).
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