USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > History of the town of Medfield, Massachusetts, 1650-1886 : with genealogies of the families that held real estate or made any considerable stay in the town during the first two centuries > Part 23
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145. JAMES F., 1858; m. in 187S Mary E. Kern.
146. FANNY L, 1860.
147. JOSEPH E., 1862 ; m. in 1886 Charlotte B. Dyer.
148
WILLIAM PITTs (Hezekiah, + Hezekiah,3 Joseph,2 James 1) was born in Dover in 1777. He married in 1789 Keziah Mason (63), and removed to Medfield about 1798 to live with his wife's father, then in advanced age. He had an eccentric and somewhat fool- ish brother-in-law, Ebenezer Mason, who assisted about the farm- work. One day, in the spring of 1802, as the two were at work in the field laying out manure from a cart preparatory to planting. Mason became offended, and struck Allen on the head with the shovel he was using. He died soon after from the effects of the
GENEALOGIES. 305
blow. For this act. Mason was executed at Dedham the same year. Children : -
149. REUBEN, 1789: m. Mary B. Shedd.
I 50. WILLARD, 1793; lived in Deerfield.
151. MARTHA, 1796; m. Raph Battelle of Dover.
152. IRA, 1797; m. Pamela Whitney; second, in 1837, Esther Townsend : lived in North Providence, R.I.
I 53. AMOS, 1799; m. Adaline Goodenough.
154. MARY, 1802; m. Uriah Brett (1): second, Deacon Capen of Canton.
155.
WILLIAM ALLEN came to Medfield, and settled on the west side, about 1668. He has sometimes been called the son of James ; but there is no evidence that this was the fact, and many things quite positively indicate the contrary. He married in 1668 Eliza- beth Twichell, daughter of Benjamin of Dorchester, who had set- tled at the "Farms." Elizabeth died in 1717 ; and he married, second, Abiel Barber (25), probably. He died in 1738, “aged according to the best accounts upwards of 90 years," as the Med- way records state. Children : -
156. MARY, 1671. 157. WILLIAM, 1674; died young.
+158. WILLIAM, 1684.
+159. BENJAMIN. 160. ELIZABETH : m. in 1705 Eleazar Partridge (49). 161. MARTHA ; m. in 1705 Daniel Thurston (26).
158.
WILLIAM 2 (William 1) married in 1705 Hannah Evans (3), and lived in Medfield several years, on her father's homestead, at the corner of Bridge Street. He was in Wrentham in 1706; in Ded- ham, 1707; in Medfield again, 1719. His wife died in Medway in 1740 ; the following year, he sold his estate in Medfield, and we lose sight of him. Children : -
162. WILLIAM, 1706-1706. 163. WILLIAM, 1707 ; went to Rutland.
164. HANNAH, 1715: m. Edward Cobb of Medway.
159.
BENJAMIN 2 (William 1) married in 1696 Mary Fairbanks (10). He went to Ashford, Conn., where he died; and his widow mar- ried Nathaniel Gary of that place. Children : -
165. BENJAMIN, 1697.
166. MARY, 1698. 167. LYDIA, 1700. 168. EDWARD, 1703.
169. DAVID, 1705.
306
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
170.
JOHN ALLEN, son of Abel of Weston, born 1699, came to Medfield about 1728, having bought the homestead of Jonathan Boyden, Jr., on the Walpole road, now or lately owned by J. B. Cram. He married in 1725 Elizabeth Hastings, who was re- ceived to full communion here from the church in Weston in 1731. He became a member of the Second Baptist Church in Boston in 1752, and was one of the originators of Baptist meetings in this town. He died of small-pox in 1764. His wife died in 1767. Children : -
171. JOHN, 1730-1752.
172. ESTHER, 1733; m. in 1761 Stephen Whiting of Dedham.
+173. NATIIAN, 1737.
174. SARAII, 1739-1740.
175. ENOCHI, 1741-1778 ; m. Jane -- , who survived him, and m. in 1783 Joseph Turner of Walpole.
176. ELIZABETH, 1744: m. in 1766 Simeon Page of Walpole.
173.
NATHAN (John) lived on the place which was his father's, which he seems to have occupied in connection with his brother Enoch until the death of the latter. He sold the place in 1782 to Edward Cleaveland (1). He removed with his family to Walpole, where he died in 1803. He married, first, Thankful Hartshorn in 1765, who died in 1770; second, Rachel Carriel of Walpole. Children : -
177. SARAH, 1766; m. in 1793 Oliver Allen (71); second, in ISoi, Eneas Johnson (12); third, George Harding of Medway.
178.
JOHN, 1767.
179. DUTY, 1770.
I So. THANKFUL, 1771.
181. ESTHER, 1773.
182. LUCY, 1775.
ARMSBY.
JOSHUA ARMSBY first appears in Medfield records in 1704, the year of his marriage with Mehitable Boyden (11). Nothing further is known of him except the birth of two children. He died prior to 1715, in which year his widow married - Titus. Children : -
2. MEHITABLE, 1705.
+3. JOSHUA, 1708.
3
JOSHUA 2 (Joshua 1) lived west of Noon Hill, near Norfolk line. He married in 1733 Esther Cheney (28). He died in 1793. Children : -
4. HULDAHI, 1734; m. in 1757 Benjamin Boyden of Walpole.
5. PHEBE, 1735-1759.
6. ENOS, 1737 ; m. in 1763 Joanna Perry ; settled in Sutton.
307
GENEALOGIES.
7. MERAR, 1740 1702.
S. ESTHER, 1744: m. in 1768 James Plimpton of Sturbridge.
(). ZADOCK, 1746-1786.
10. SHEM, 1749-1777.
11. ADAR. 1751-1825.
12. MOLLY, 1754-1829.
4-13. MATTHIAS, 1757.
17. JOSHUA; graduated from Harvard College in 1773; settled in Sutton. He was dismissed from the Medfield church to that in Sutton in 1799.
13.
MATTHIAS 3 (Joshua,2 Joshua '), during the latter part of his life, resided on the Wrentham side of the line. He married in 1783 Unity Boyden of Walpole, who survived his death in 1799, and married John Turner. Children : -
+15. SIIEM, 1783 ; born in Walpole.
16. CYNTHIA, 1785; m. in 1806 Obadiah Sartwell.
17. MATTHIAS, 1787; died in Illinois, leaving four sons.
18. MOLLY, 1789; m. Josiah Day of Walpole.
19. SILAS, 1792; said to have died while in college. He kept school here in IS11.
20. WILLARD, 1798; died in Chelsea, leaving a family.
15.
SHEM + (Matthias, 3 Joshua,2 Joshua ') married in 1805 Elizabeth Perry (17), who died in 1807 ; second, Sally Farral, who died in 1872. He died in 1861. Children : -
21. ELIZABETHI, ISO5; m. William Fales of Wrentham.
22. MARY : m. Joseph Bailey (2).
BABCOCK.
LOWELL BABCOCK was born in Sherborn in 1801, son of Colonel Moses Babcock and wife, Betsey Leland. He married Thankful Sanger, born in Sherborn in 1803, daughter of Benjamin Sanger and wife, Olive Bullard (56). He removed to Medway in 1835, and died there in 1872. Children : -
2 . ADALINE E., 1821; m. in 1847 Thaddeus R. Haynes, who died in E. Medway in 1860.
3. ALBERT H., 1823; resides in Charlestown.
+4. BENJAMIN J., 1825.
5. OLIVE M., 1835: m. in 1853 William S. Tilden (7).
+6. LOWELL, 1837.
7. MARY A., 1843-1861.
4.
BENJAMIN J.2 (Lowell :) came to Medfield in 1841. He married in 1847 Milletiah T. Johnson (14), who died in 1870; second, in 1871, Abby J. Colburn of Dedham. Children : -
8. FRANCIS L., 1849; physician ; resides in Dedham.
9. ALBERT J., 1851 ; m. in 1880 Emma L. Bruce (10).
308
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
IO. WILLIAM A., 1857 : m. in 1885 Carrie L. Rockwood.
CHARLES B., 1859: m. in 1879 Winifred C. Marvel.
12. MARY A., 1870-1870.
6.
LOWELL 2 (Lowell .) married in 1859 Alfreda Bailey of Rumney, N.H. Children : -
13. GEORGE G., 1861 ; m. in 18St Estelle A. Brown.
14. HERBERT W., 1864.
15. EDWARD L., 1867-1879.
16. MARY A., 1876.
17.
EBENEZER BABCOCK was born in Sherborn in 1793. He mar- ried in 1824 Sylvia Jennings, who died in 1830 ; second, in 1833, Mary Whitney. He came to this town about 1845, where he re- sided till his death in 1876. Children : -
18. MARY JANE, 1825-1869; m. in 1853 Stephen F. Turner (77).
19. SYLVIA A., 1827; m. in 1856 Enoch Adams.
20. D. ELIZABETH, 1830; m. in 1856 Francis Bentley.
21. CAROLINE A., 1834-1836.
22. RHODA W., 1836-1836.
23. CHRISTIANA C., 1838-1840.
24. E. GRANVILLE, 1843 : m. in 1867 Clara A. Morse.
25. ANNIE W., 1857; m. in 1879 George F. Giles.
BAILEY.
MARTIN BAILEY was born in Marlboro in 1788. His parents soon removed to Newfane, Vt., from whence he came in 1807 to Medfield. In 1812, he married Asenath Kingsbury of Foxboro, who died in 1877, aged eighty-seven. She was a member of the Baptist church for sixty-nine years. He died in 1874. Children : -
2. JOSEPH, 1813 ; m. Mary Armsby (22); settled in Wrentham, now Norfolk, on the homestead of her father.
+3. MARTIN, 1815.
4. NANCY, 1817; m. in 1836 James Chickering, and resides in Ashland.
5. ASENATII, 1820; m. in 1840 Charles Hutson, and resides in Illinois.
+6. FRANCIS, 1829. 7. ABIGAIL, 1832.
3.
MARTIN 2 ( Martin ) married in 1839 Elvira Heald, an adopted daughter of Captain William Felt, who inherited his estate on Main Street, opposite the head of South Street. She died in 1856, aged thirty-eight. Children : -
S. MARY E., 1841; m. in 1868 Nathaniel Fitch; resides in Naples, Ind.
9. GEORGE W., 1850.
309
GENEALOGIES.
6.
FRANCIS 2 (Martin ) was a tinplate worker by trade. He married, first, Mary Taylor of Walpole, who died in 1851 ; second, Lizzie Taylor, sister of his first wife. He died in 1870. Children : -
IO. HERBERT, 1851 ; resides in Norwood.
II. ARTHUR.
BAKER.
ABIJAH BAKER, son of John of Dorchester and wife Preserved Trott, was born in 1691, and came to Medfield soon after his marriage with Hannah Jones. He settled on the Walpole road, on the spot lately owned by heirs of Isaac Guild ; the old well being still in use at the barn, near which stood the house. He died in 1761, and his wife in 1776. Children : -
+2. ABIJAH, 1718.
3. THANKFUL, 1721; m. in 1742 Daniel Morse of Walpole.
4. MARY, 1724; m. in 1746 John Ellis, Jr; probably removed to Bellingham.
5. S HANNAH, 1728-1729. 6. ) ELIZABETH, 1728; m. in 1747 Bezaleel Turner (29).
+7. MICAH, 1731.
8. EBENEZER, not recorded in Medfield, but mentioned in his father's will; resided in Walpole.
2
ABIJAH 2 (Abijah 1) was a housewright by trade, and became heir to the property of Nathaniel Allen on South Street (where Mr. Rhodes now lives), who was a relative of his wife. He mar- ried in 1742 Esther Hill of Medway. About 1761, he sold out and removed to Franklin, where he died in 1780. Children : -
9. JAMES, 1743 ; settled in Franklin.
IO. SILAS, 1744-1744. +II. PRESERVED, 1745.
12. THANKFUL, 1747-1833; unmarried.
13. ABIJAH, 1749-1824; lived in Franklin.
14. JOHN, 1751 ; lived in Franklin.
15. ESTHER, 1753-1759.
16. NATHANIEL, 1755-1759.
17. ESTHER, 1759. 7.
MICAH 2 (Abijah ') inherited his father's homestead, where he lived till about 1766, when he sold it and removed to Walpole. He afterward lived for a short time in Medfield. He married in 1751 Abigail Streeter, who died in 1761 ; second, in 1763, Eliz- abeth Whitmore of Stoughton. He removed to Royalston about 1785. Children : -
IS. REBECCA, 1751; m. in 1773 Joshua Hews (3).
19. HANNAH, 1754-1754.
310
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
20. MicAll, 1755.
21. NATILAN, 1757-1755.
22. ABIGAIL, 1758.
23. ELIZABETH, 1763.
21. RHODA. 1765.
25. MICAH, 1766: born in Walpole.
20. HEPSIBAH, 1768; also in Walpole.
27. SARAH, 1777-1778; born and died in Medfield.
II.
PRESERVED 3 (Abijah,2 Abijah ') settled at first in Walpole. In 1781, he bought the estate belonging to heirs of Isaac Boyden, near where C. D. Strang now lives. Two houses stood on the west side of the road, and the barn on the east. This he sold in 1789 to Francis Hamant and John Needham. He died in 1792, and his wife in 1794. Children : -
28. ASA.
29. NAHUM, 1778-1852 : insane and a pauper.
30. PRESERVED.
31. ELIZABETH.
32. RACHEL ; m. Wood ; dismissed to church in Uxbridge in 1797.
+-33. AMOS.
33.
AMos + (Preserved,3 Abijah,2 Abijah ') married in 1796 Abigail Smith (19). His wife died in 1806, and he removed to Vermont. Children : -
34. ELECTA, 1797 : m. Sewall Ware.
35. AMOS, 1798 ; died in Providence, R.I.
36. PRESERVED ; went to Vermont.
37. ABIGAIL, 1804; m. Benoni Morse of Medway.
38. S THOMAS, 1806; died in Medway, unmarried.
39. WILLIAM, 1806; went to Vermont.
40.
JOEL BAKER, son of Joseph Baker and wife, Monica Gay, was born in W. Dedham in 1787. He came to this town about 1817, bought the "Thurston lot," and built the house now owned by B. F. Crehore. In a shop adjoining, he carried on for many years the business of a wheelwright. He married Abigail Heaton, of Charlestown, N.H., who survived her husband, and died in 1873, aged eighty-three. He died in 1860. Children : -
+41. JOSEPH H., 1820. +42. THOMAS J., 1822.
43. JULIA A., 1828-1863: m. in 1850 George W. Chenery (65).
311
GENEALOGIES.
41.
JOSEPH H.2 (Joel :) married in 1854 C. Anna Wharton of Brooks, Me., who died in 1861 ; second, in 1864, Mrs. Mary C. Keith of Wakefield, daughter of Ralph Battelle of Dover. Children : --
44. JOSEPH H , 1855 ; m. in 1884 Hattie S. Dupee.
45. ROBERT W., 1859; m. in 1886 Lizzie McFeat.
42.
THOMAS J.2 (Joel ') married in 1851 Cynthia A. Breck (17). Children : -
46. FREDERICK J., 1853.
47. EDWARD T., 1855.
48. JULIA A., 1859.
49. SARAH B., 1861.
50. MOSES E., 1863.
BALCH.
JOHN BALCH was born in Beverly in 1772. He married in 1792 Phebe Hammond of Braintree, and came to Medfield after his eldest son established himself in business here. He died in 1849 ; his widow, in 1861. Children : -
+-2. WESLEY P., 1794.
3. PHEBE, 1797; m. Joseph Marshall.
4. ENOCH, 1799-1825.
+-5. JOIIN, 1801.
6. BENJAMIN, 1804; m. in 1826 Chloe Smith (154); lives in Providence.
7. EBENEZER H., 1806; m. Betsey Childs of Mendon ; second, Sarah Wood of Upton.
8. LYDIA H., 1808; m. in 1831 Orin Nichols of Lowell.
9. ELLEN B. H., 1812-1876; m. in 1836 George S. Mason (89).
10. MARY B., 1817-1840; m. George Davis.
2
WESLEY P.2 (John ') came to Medfield when a young man, and worked in a bakery, then on the corner of North and Green Streets. After the failure of the proprietor, he started business on his own account in a building which stood on the site of J. R. Cushman's late residence on North Street. In 1818, he bought one acre of land on Main Street, and erected a house and bakery on the spot now owned and occupied by Henry M. Parker, where he carried on a successful business for many years. He served as a selectman repeatedly, and held the office of town treasurer ; was an enterprising and influential citizen. He married in 1817 Rebecca Battelle of Dover, who died in
312
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
1820 ; second, in 1821, Mary Baker of Dedham, who died in 1845; third, Mrs. Eliza A. Brackett of Lowell. He died in 1856. Children : -
II. ALBERT B., 1819; resides in Lowell.
12. WESLEY P., 1822; resides in Boston.
13. MARY R. H., 1823; m. George Pettes of Boston.
14. ELIZABETH C., 1828-1845.
15. WILLIAM A., 1849.
16. ELIZABETH A., 1851.
5.
JOHN 2 (John 1) resided in this town for several years; after- ward removed to Boston, where he died in 1868. He married in 1827 Abigail Fairbanks (20). Children : -
17. JOHN F., 1829-1869; m. Elvira Janes (3).
IS. ELIZA E., 1835.
19.
PETER BALCH was, without doubt, son of Deacon Samuel of Bev- erly. He bought land and buildings in Medway in 1716. Six years after, he was in Medfield apparently a poll-tax payer only. In 1725, he married Elizabeth Dwight (5); lived in Medway a few years after his marriage, where he was deacon of the church 1730-32, and where three of his children were born. He returned to Medfield about 1733. His oldest child died, and the youngest was born here. He was a cordwainer by trade. In 1734, he was chosen tithing-man, and the next year highway surveyor and sealer of leather. In 1738, he was chosen deacon of the church here. About 1740, he removed to Framingham, where he was a deacon of the church again. He died in Framingham in 1755, aged seventy. Children : -
20. MARY, 1726-1736.
21. ELIZABETH, 1729; m. Daniel Adams of Framingham.
22. TIMOTHY, 1732-1741.
23. SARAH, 1734; m. John Pike of Framingham.
BARBER.
GEORGE BARBER was born in England about 1615. He em- barked for the New World in the "Transport " July 4, 1635, receiv- ing a certificate of his conformity to the orders and discipline of the Church of England from the minister at Gravesend. He was accepted a townsman at Dedham in 1640. Among the names of those who were members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1646 is that of "Captain George Barber." In 1647, he took the freeman's oath at Dedham. He was one of the fore- most in forming the settlement at Medfield, and in November, 1651, made a contract with the selectmen to build a mill "for the
313
GENEALOGIES.
supply of the town," which he did, locating it on Mill Brook, just below where it crosses Elm Street. This mill he sold the next year to Henry Adams. In 1652, he was on the committee for lay- ing out highways, and to his care was intrusted the cutting of the fine timber trees that grew along Vine Brook. In 1663, he "beat the drum," and received from the town therefor four bushels three pecks of corn. He was frequently employed in the settlement of estates, and was also, for some time, the principal military officer of the town. He served ten years on the board of selectmen, twenty-three years consecutively as town clerk, and four years as representative to the General Court. His house was on Main Street, near where that of the late Bradford Curtis now stands. He married in 1642 Elizabeth Clark, who died in 1683 ; second, Joan, widow of Anthony Fisher of Dedham. He died in 1685. Children : -
2. ELIZABETH, 1641-1643.
3. MARY, 1643-1643.
4. MARY, 1644-1700 ; m. in 1666 Jonathan Morse (II).
+5. SAMUEL, 1647.
+-6. JOHN, 1649.
7. ELIZABETH, 1651-1714; m. in 1669 Daniel Morse (10).
8. HANNAH, 1654.
+9. ZECHARIAH, 1656.
10. ABIGAIL, 1659.
5.
SAMUEL 2 (George 1) settled on his father's place. He was ac- cepted as a townsman in 1675, and became a very prominent citizen. He was schoolmaster, representative five years, select- man for thirty-one years, town clerk twenty-eight years, and was chosen deacon of the church in 1710. His house was probably one of the best in the town, and we find in 1688 that the town- meeting was held there.
He married in 1674 Mary Harding (4), who died in 1731. He died in 1736. Children :
II. MARY, 1675-1676.
12. SAMUEL, 1678-1704.
13. JAMES, 1680-1704.
14. HANNAH, 1683-1755; m. in 1706 Joseph Richardson (5); inherited the homestead.
15. THOMAS, 1686-1691.
16. MARY, 1693-1704.
6.
JOHN 2 (George ') settled in the north part of the town, where John G. Hutson now lives. He had a house there as early as 1684. He, with six others, obtained in 1674 a grant on the North Brook for the purpose of building a saw-mill. This mill is said to have been a little distance below where the box factory
314
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
and saw-mill now stand. He was married at Dorchester in 1674 to Abigail Badcock, daughter of Robert. He died in 1688, at the age of thirty-nine. Children : -
17. JOHN, 1676: removed to Mendon.
IS. ABIGAIL, 1679: m. Ichabod Harding (11).
19. ELIZABETH, 1681 : m. in 1699 John Death of Sherborn.
+20. GEORGE, 1684.
21. ABIEL, 1689.
9.
ZECHARIAH 2 (George :) settled on Bridge Street, near the corner of the road leading to Dingle Dell. He owned what is now the town farm, and appears to have built his house shortly after the Indian war. He married in 1683 Abiel Ellis (55), who died in 1716. He died in 1705. Children : -
22. BENONI, 1684-1684.
+23. ZECHARIAH, 1685.
24. JOSEPH, 1687-1770; resided in West Medway.
25. ABIEL, 1691 ; m. probably William Allen (155).
26. JOHN, 1693-1754 ; settled in Medway; deacon of the church.
27. RUTH, 1695; m. in 1730 Henry Smith (20).
28. THOMAS, 1698-1705.
29. ELIZABETH, 1700; m. in 1722 Jonathan Battle.
30. MARY, 1703.
20.
GEORGE3 (John,2 George ') inherited his father's place at the north part of the town, where he spent his life. He was chosen deacon of the church about 1725. He served the town as a select- man, and went as representative four years. By his will, he gave the estate to his daughter, she to pay to her brother John the sum of twenty pounds. Deacon Barber died in 1747, his wife Ann having died the previous year, aged sixty-one. Children : -
+31. JOHN, 1708.
32. ANN, 1726-1813; m. in 1744 Nathan Penniman ; second, in 1747, Joshua Bullard (31). The Barber homestead was sold in 1751 to Robert Hinsdale (24).
23.
ZECHARIAH 3 (Zechariah,2 George 1) received his father's estate in Bridge Street. In 1717, the estate was represented as inca- pable of division ; and he paid off his brothers and sisters. He married in 1717 Deborah Partridge (14), who died in 1723; second, in 1725, Mary Allen (13), who survived his death in 1746, and became the wife of William Mann of Wrentham. Children : - -
33. ZECHARIAH, 1719-1746. 34. DEBORAH, 1720-1740.
+35. ELISHIA, 1722.
315
GENEALOGIES.
31.
JOHN 4 (George,3 John,2 George :) lived here till 1739, when he is said to have removed to Sudbury. It is believed that he en- listed under Governor Shirley, and was killed in the expedition against Fort Niagara. He married Hannah -, and the births of two children are recorded here : -
36. ABIGAIL, 1736. 37. HANNAH, 1737.
35.
ELISHA 4 (Zechariah,3 Zechariah,2 George :) inherited the Bridge Street place, and lived upon it till about 1754, when he removed to Sherborn, where he died in 1803. He married in 1751 Silence Fairbanks, who died in 1804. Children : -
38. ZECHARIAII, 1752; resided in Sherborn, perhaps also in Warwick.
39. DEBORAH, 1754; m. Thomas Greenwood of Winchendon.
40. SARAH, 1756; m. Zibeon Hooker.
41. ELISHA, 1758-1814; lived in Sherborn.
42. OLIVER, 1763-1814; lived in Sherborn.
43. SILENCE, 1765.
All but the first were born in Sherborn.
BARNEY.
THOMAS L. BARNEY was born in Newton in 1815. He came to Medfield in 1837, and having, in company with his brother, bought out the stock of James H. Boyden, kept store in a building on the corner of South and Main Streets, which belonged to Charles Onion, who kept the post-office there at the same time. With the exception of a year or two, when they were in business in Sher- born, they continued till 1848. Then, disposing of their stock, they commenced business in Roxbury, which continued from 1850 to 1856. The partnership was then dissolved, and Thomas came to Medfield again ; and, purchasing the stock of goods belong- ing to D. B. Farrington, he commenced storekeeping in a part of the tavern building. In 1860, he bought the old school-house, and fitted it up as a dwelling and store, on the spot formerly owned by Mr. Onion. He married in 1841 Mary M. Smith (157). Children :
2. GERTRUDE M., 1842-1845.
3. THOS. FREDERICK, 1846.
4. GEORGE L., 1852-1852.
5. MARY D., 1857-1858.
BAXTER.
REV. JOSEPH BAXTER, second minister of Medfield, was the son of Lieutenant John Baxter of Braintree, and was born in 1676. He graduated from Harvard College in 1693, at the age of seven-
316
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
teen. He first preached in Medfield when he was eighteen years old; and, though entirely acceptable, the people thought best to wait awhile before settling him, on account of his extreme youth. He received a call, however, April 26, 1694. As soon as he was twenty-one years of age, he was ordained, April 21, 1697. In 1696, he bought the homestead of Joseph Bullard on Main Street, opposite the head of Spring Street. Judge Sewall, in his Diary, speaks of visiting Medfield in 1697, and says he "viewed Mr. Baxter's house, and the orchard Captain Frary hath given to the ministry, which lies very convenient ; a living brook running by it, and through Mr. Baxter's." The orchard had belonged to John Frary, Sen., and was on the spot owned by heirs of Cyrus Stedman. Mr. Baxter's house lot contained ten acres, lying on both sides of the way. He married Mary Fisk of Braintree, who was received to church here in 1701. His salary was £70 for several years. His first wife having died about 1710, he married in 1712 Rebecca Saffin of Bristol, who died the next year. His third wife was Mrs. Mercy Brigham. He, in common with other wealthy citizens, owned slaves. In 1714, we find that "Mr. Baxter's man Tony " was paid for ringing the bell. In 1717, the salary was advanced to £80; and in 1721 he had a monthly contribution besides. The value of money was depreciating at this period, owing to the large quantities of paper money that had been issued. In 1725, he had £100.
In 1731, he had from the town a grant of "half an acre of land on the east side of the meeting-house to build a house on." This was where the straw-shop now stands. He did not build upon it, however, and in 1742 gave a quit-claim to the town.
In 1733, his salary was made £130; in 1738, £60, "new tenor "; in 1741, £180, "old tenor." In 1742, the town voted him a salary of £60, "middle tenor," or £180, "old tenor "; and he was to have a contribution "to help supply the pulpit during his weakness." In 1743, his salary was to be £55, lawful money, or {220, "old tenor." The paper money was growing worse and worse.
Mr. Baxter died of the dropsy May 2, 1745, aged sixty nine.
He published the Election Sermon, 1727, sermons to two soci- eties of young men, and other sermons, in 1729. He preached the sermon at the dedication of the first meeting-house in Stur- bridge, in 1733. When Governor Shute proposed to the Indians that a Protestant missionary be sent to them at the eastward, Mr. Baxter's name was mentioned ; and he commenced a corre- spondence with the French Jesuit, Ralle, who was then in those parts. The correspondence was in Latin, and Ralle accused Mr. Baxter of a want of scholarship. The Governor replied that the "main qualification in a missionary to the barbarous Indians was not to be an exact scholar as to the Latin tongue, but to bring them from the power of Satan, who has usurped possession of these parts of the world for so many ages, into the kingdom of the Son of God."
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