USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Oxford > History of the town of Oxford, Massachusetts with genealogies and notes on persons and estates > Part 59
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GEORGE W., b. 9 Dec., 1827, in Rhode Island, son of Robert, m. 5 Jan., 1849, Emily A., dau. of Edward H. Shumway, settled at North Oxford, and had AUGUSTA E., b. 3 Aug., 1855, m. 1882, George H. Browning; MIRANDA S., b. 13 Oct., 1858, m. 1881, William P. Bowditch.
JONAS, Revolutionary soldier.
JUDE, his son JOHN, and an infant resided at Oxford 1780.
EBENEZER, aged 49, d. 13 July, 1794.
RUTH, w. of Samuel, Jr., d. 28 July, 1797.
RUTH, widow, aged 96, d. 4 March, 1799,
HANNAH, w. of Ebenezer, d. 24 Sept., 1802.
EMILY, dau. of Joseph, d. 26 Feb., 1824.
NANCY, w. of Joseph, d. 22 Feb., 1826.
DEBORAH, aged 65. d. 30 April, 1831.
JAMES, and Abigail Sibley, m. intentions 30 March, 1834.
WILLARD, aged 46, d. 1 April, 1834.
HANNAH S., and Jacob W. Saunders of Smithfield, R. I., m. int. 2 Oct., 1841.
ALEXANDER, son of Reuben, aged 19, d. 15 Aug., 1842.
SARAH J., dau. of Charles, d. 22 Aug., 1844.
ANN, w. of Eden, aged 48, d. 28 June, 1847.
SALLY, aged 77, d. 31 Oct., 1848.
POLLY, aged 76, d. 3 Jan., 1851.
LOUISA M., dau. of George, of Burrillville, R. I., aged 32, d. 28 July, 1872.
62
482
DAVIS .- DEAN.
JOSHUA, aged 69, d. 17 Jan., 1877.
ESTHER, m. n. Cooper, d. 6 Aug., 1877.
DAY, RALPH, Dedham, 1645, had RALPH, m. Sarah Fuller. They had, with others, RALPH, b. 1683, m. 30 June, 1716, Martha Battle, and had RALPH, b. 1717, and JONATHAN, b. 22 Dec., 1719, m. (1) 7 July, 1743, Hannah Battle of Dedham; m. (2) intentions 7 Aug., 1784, Prudence Whiting of Dedham; bought 1783, being then of Needham, the home lot of Joseph Chamberlain, Bondet Hill, H. 38, sold one-half 1784 to David his son, and d. there 4 Jan., 1802. . Children : JONATHAN, b. 4 May, 1744, m. 21 May, 1767, Mary, dau. of John Mayo, settled at Dudley, now Webster, prior to 21 Oct., 1776; he was a leading man, able and honorable, colonel of militia, coroner; he d. 10 May, 1819; ch .: Jonathan, b. 1768, d. young; Mary, b. 1770, d. young; Jabez, b. 1772, m. Sally Eddy, settled in Dudley [father of Gen. Jonathan, b. 1779, d. 1871, at Worcester]; Jonathan, b. 1774, d. young ; Dolly, b. 1776, m. Asa Har- ris ; Hannah, b. 1778, m. Augustus, brother of Sally Eddy; Rebecca, b. 1781, m. Parker Palmer; Elizabeth, b. 1784, m. Rufus Larned; John H., b. 1787, m. 9 Sept., 1821, Patty Kidder, he d. 1865 [father of Augustus E. of Webster]; DAVID, b. about 1759.
2. DAVID, son of Jonathan (1), m. Mercy, dau. of Nathaniel Fisher of Franklin, settled on his father's farm, where he d. aged 33, 17 June, 1792; en- sign in militia. His widow m. 29 April, 1798, Ebenezer Howard of Thompson, Conn., she d. 3 Aug., 1841, aged 85. . . . Children : EBENEZER, d. young ; DAVID, b. 12 April, 1779, m. (1) 30 March, 1808, Sarah Gates of Worcester, where they settled, she was long an invalid, d. 7 Oct., 1831, aged 49; m. (2) 7 April, 1835, Rebecca, dau. of John Mayo, returned to the homestead on Bondet Hill, where both d .; he d. 7 Jan., 1860, she d. aged 90, 11 April, 1876; ch. by first m. : Jonathan, b. 9 Jan., 1812, m. 2 Dec., 1834, Elizabeth Hinds, resided at Leominster, they had Hannah H., b. 1835, David W., b. 1837, Rebecca E., b. 1844; William F., b. 14 Sept., 1814, m. Hannah Colton, and had Julia A., d .; he was a hotel keeper at Fitchburg, where he d .; JONATHAN, b. 1781, m. 3 March, 1805, Elizabeth or Betsey Earle of Leicester, of Quaker parent- age, settled in Ox., where he d. 2 June, 1809, she removed to Leicester; they had Orrin E., b. 23 Aug., 1806, d., no ch .; EBENEZER, b. 7 Oct., 1783, m. 26 Jan., 1815, Abigail Nutting ; he was of Boston in 1807, and removed soon to Buffalo, N. Y., where he became wealthy at building and selling houses after the great fire; he d. 16 March, 1871; they had Abigail E., b. 20 Dec., 1816, m. William Martin of Buffalo; Mary Ann, b. 5 Sept., 1819, m. E. H. Esterbrook of Buffalo; Ebenezer, b. 21 March, 1822, a physician at Grand Tower, Ill .; De Witt C., b. 1824, d. young; Hiram C., b. 25 Dec., 1826, lawyer in Buffalo, unm .; David F., b. 11 June, 1829, lawyer in Buffalo, representative to State legislature; FISHER, b. 18 April, 1787, surgeon in United States army in the war of 1812, and d. 1814 in the service.
REBECCA, and Peleg Corbin of Thompson, m. 26 May, 1789.
JONATHAN, and Emily Mellen of Westboro', m. intentions 22 May, 1824.
LEWIS M., son of Nathaniel of Maine, aged 33, d. 22 March, 1827. ZEBINA, and Thankful Vinton of Dudley, m. 5 March, 1837.
THOMAS J., w. Clarissa, had CHARLES G., b. 13 June, 1844.
HIEL, son of Samuel of New Salem, aged 70, d. 19 Jan., 1873.
DEAN, REV. WILLIAM N. T., b. 18 July, 1846, at Fall River, son of Nathan D. and Eliza W. [Durfee] Dean, studied at Bangor, Me., from Oct.,
483
DEAN .- DE WITT.
1868, till his graduation in June, 1873; post graduate course at Union Theo- logical Seminary, New York, 1873-4; ordained and installed 3 Feb., 1875, at Somerset, dismissed 19 June, 1876; acting pastor at Norton, 1 July, 1876, to 30 Sept., 1881, and at Orange 1 Jan., 1882, to 31 Jan., 1886. Began preaching at Oxford 16 Jan., 1887, and installed 16 Nov., 1887. He m. 1 Aug., 1876, Clara F. Copeland of Holden, Me. . . . Children : NATHAN J., b. 12 and d. 13 May, 1877, at Norton ; EVELINE L., b. 24 Sept., 1878, at Norton; ELIZA W., b. 20 Dec., 1882, at Orange.
DOLLY, of Dudley, and Thomas Larned, m. intentions 29 Jan., 1829.
DELANY, ESTHER, of Ward, and William Smith, m. 30 Dec., 1778.
DELVEE, PETER, m. intentions 7 June, 1766, Lucy Town of Charlton; ch., BATHSHEBA, b. 14 Nov., 1766; LUCY, b. 8 Oct., 1768.
DEMMONS, PRUDENCE, resided at Oxford, 1780.
DENEHY, MICHAEL J., aged 23, d. 25 Jan., 1888.
DENNIS, DAMARIS, of Dudley, and Joseph Clemmons, m. int. May, 1750. SALLY, and William Mayo of Dudley, m. intentions 5 June, 1825.
ERASMUS, and Chloe Taft, m. intentions 26 May, 1827.
ANNE F. (Irish), aged 22, d. 1 July, 1853.
DERBY, MARY, aged 78, d. 14 Aug., 1854.
ORTHIA (Canadian), aged 24, d. 30 June, 1880.
DE WITT [WITT, name changed about 1830 to DeWitt], JOHN, Lynn, 1650; had, with others, JOHN, also of Lynn, m. Elizabeth Baker, and had JOHN, b. 1679, m. Mary Dane, removed about 1707 to Marlboro', and had, with others, JOHN, Lieut., m. Sarah - - -, resided 1744 at North Brookfield, one of 48 constituting the Second Church in Brookfield, 28 May, 1752, and had, with others, BENJAMIN, b. there 15 Aug., 1750, m. 13 Feb., 1787, being then of New Braintree, Olivia, dau. of Duncan Campbell, settled at Oxford, soldier in Revolutionary war, removed about 1794 to New Braintree. [There is positive evidence that the family resided at Oxford, Dec., 1793.] He d. 17 April, 1818, at New Braintree, she m. (2) Daniel Bacon of Charlton, and d. 5 Feb., 1848, at Ox. . . . Children : STEARNS, b. 22 Dec .; 1787. [He was named for his maternal grandmother Elizabeth Stearns. This name in England has always been "Sterne," and Captain DeWitt early discarded the a and wrote " Sterns." We have adhered to the original orthography for the sake of uni- formity.] SOPHIA, b. 22 April, 1789, m. 14 Aug., 1808, William Earle, resided at New Braintree, Oxford, Franklin, and Boston, where he d. 27 Aug., 1867, she d. 3 Jan., 1885 ; they had Olivia S., b. 1812; William, b. 1814; Samuel H., b. 1816; Benjamin A., b. 1818; Paul, b. 1821; Henry A., b. 1824; Mary M., b. 1829; Nancy S., b. 1831; POLLY, b. 22 March, 1791, m. 1810, Amos Thompson ; HOLLIS, b. 22 Dec., 1792; ARCHIBALD, b. 27 Oct., 1794, m. Martha, dau. of Asa Fisher of Franklin, where they settled; he d. 17 May, 1859; they had George, Alexander, William, Martha, Horace; SUSAN, b. 17 Aug., 1796, m. Rufus Harris ; ALEXANDER, b. 2 April, 1798; NANCY, b. 29 March, 1800, m. Horace Smith of Leicester, second wife, she d. 24 Sept., 1830; they had b. at Leicester, Eliza L., b. 2 May, 1825, m. Dr. William Newton; Horace D. W., b. 2 Oct., 1828 (took the name of De Witt), m. 29 March, 1852, Sarah Jane, dau. of James Phelps of Sutton, he d. 4 May, 1859; they had Alexander, b. 7
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DE WITT.
March, 1854, at Pepperell, m. 21 Sept., 1880, Caroline, dau. of Joshua Mur- dock of Leicester; banker at Worcester. These children of Nancy were brought up at Col. Alexander De Witt's. ELIZABETH, b. 17 Feb., 1803, m. Jonas Bacon.
2. STEARNS, son of Benjamin (1), m. 24 Dec., 1815, Hannah, dau. of Anthony Butler; saddler, left the occupation 1815 and engaged in trade in which he prospered, continuing until 1826, when he entered upon and built up at Augutteback Village, the most brilliant business enterprise in the history of the town. [See Ox. Woolen Mfg. Co.] He continued as agent and manager, until he sold his interest in 1836, and was later agent at the North Oxford Woolen Mill, Texas Village. He filled well his position as a member of the Church and society to which he belonged and as a private citizen, was public spirited and influential, but did not aspire to public office, was widely known as Capt. De Witt. In person he was short and thick-set, with dark com- plexion, a pleasing address, entirely devoid of ostentation; was fond of a good horse and drove about town in a sulky in the management of the affairs of the manufacturing company. He built the house, now Mary D. Hyde's, H. 240, where he d. after a long illness, 29 Nov., 1848 ; she d. 19 Nov., 1867, at Sutton; Children : MARY B., b. 4 July, 1817, m. 5 March, 1862, Free- man Freeland of Sutton, where they settled, he d. 22 Feb., 1875; ELIZABETH K., b. 22 May, 1820, d. 27 Sept., 1856, unm.
3. HOLLIS, son of Benjamin (1), was early in trade with his brother Stearns in the north part of the old tavern building, later was a thread manu- facturer for a short time and a farmer. He built in 1834-5 the house on the west street, now Wellington's, H. 234. In May, 1836, he fell in his barn and was so injured he never walked afterward, but was a great sufferer through life. He m. (1) Sarah, dau. of Asa Harris, she d. 9 June, 1840; m. (2) 10 March, 1842, Mary Howes of Dennis. He d. 30 July, 1853. . . . Children : CAROLINE, b. 13 Nov., 1820, m. Charles Fuller ; BENJAMIN A., b. 13 Nov., 1822, m. 3 Feb., 1848, Lurana J., dau. of Lyman Wetherell, no ch., farmer, settled in Ox., removed 1875 to Sutton, where he d. 10 Oct., 1881; WILLIAM M. T., b. 25 Jan., 1825, m. Elsie Childs of Thompson, Conn., removed to Elgin, Ill .; they had Frank, m. and resides at Rockport, Ill. ; Clinton ; William, m .; El- mer; last three reside at Elgin; MARY M., b. 22 Sept., 1827, unm. ; CHARLES H., b. 1831, d. 1832.
4. ALEXANDER, son of Benjamin (1), was, says Ammidown in his Historical Collections, " emphatically what is termed a self-made man. . . . Self-reliance was his motto; and from this resource he arose to whatever position he sustained in either public or private life." His opportunities for education were small. He went at 15 years of age into the store of the Merino Manufacturing Co. of Dudley, remaining four years, travelling a part of the time to sell goods, and thence in 1818 to Franklin into cotton thread manu- facture in partnership with Dr. Miller, and the next year leased and operated a mill at Foxboro', and also opened a country store, himself selling his thread from a wagon on the road. After his marriage he manufactured thread at Franklin with his father-in-law till 1823, and in 1824 in partnership with his three brothers, Stearns, Hollis and Archibald, began the same business at the present Buffum Village in Ox. He continued here but a few years, and as his means increased became interested in manufacturing cotton and woolen goods in other places, continuing his residence in Oxford during his life with the
485
DE WITT .- DIXON.
exception of three years, from 1837 to 1840, when he was a partner in a com- mission house in Boston and resided there, and about one year, 1848 to 1849, when he resided at Worcester. He was pecuniarily interested in various rail- roads, banks and insurance companies, and held offices in several prominent corporations, 26 years director in the Worcester Merchants' and Farmers' Insurance Co., 27 years in the State Mutual Life Assurance Co., 20 years with the Mechanics Savings Bank as president and trustee, 21 years with the Mechanics National Bank, nine years as president, five years president of the Oxford Bank, three years president of the Worcester and Nashua Railroad, 17 years director of the Providence and Worcester and 25 years director of the Norwich and Worcester Railroads. He was often moderator in town meetings, was representative to the General Court for five years, in 1842, 1844, 1850 and 1851 State Senator, in 1853 member of the convention for amending the State constitution. In Dec., 1852, he was elected over the Whig and Democratic nominees as representative to Congress from the ninth Mass. district on the Free Soil ticket, was reelected, serving two terms, from 1853 to 1857. He accumulated a handsome estate, gave freely of his means to charitable objects, and was many years the largest contributor in the town to religious institutions. In person he was large, of a florid countenance, attractive, and in manner social, free and jovial. Both himself and widow left legacies to the Congregational Church, noted under "Ecclesiastical affairs."
[An incident of his boyhood gives a hint as to his qualities. He had a con- test on a certain occasion with a school-fellow as to the occupation of a favor- ite seat in the school-house. The teacher on being appealed to decided that the one being first at school the next day should have it. Alexander went home, told his mother of the case, got his supper and returning to the school- house established himself in the coveted seat and there spent the night. Very early in the morning his competitor arrived but only to find himself out- witted. ]
He m. 5 June, 1820, Mary, dau. of William Makepeace of Franklin; he d. 13 Jan., 1879, she d. aged 89, 6 April, 1887, no ch.
DIETLER, MRS. MARY (German), aged 27, d. 15 Oct., 1860.
DIKE, SARAH, resided at Ox. May, 1759.
ANTHONY, and Ann Jennison, m. 16 Jan., 1775.
EBENEZER, and Abigail Call, m. intentions Dec., 1843.
DIMON, MARTHA G., m. n. Sawyer, dau. of William of Warner, N. H., aged 36, d. 9 Nov., 1872.
DINSMORE, MELISSA, dau. of John, aged 23, d. 9 March, 1867.
DISPAU, LOIS, of Ward, and Asa Cheney, m. intentions 22 July, 1815.
DIXIE, EDMUND F., from Marblehead, came in 1827, was about two years bookkeeper of Ox. Woolen Mfg. Co., and 1828 to 1833 trader at centre, a good singer, several years chorister at the Congregational Church, removed to Worcester, m., no ch.
CAPT. WOLSTAN, brother of Edmund F., resided here one year, and was trader at centre 1838.
DIXON, JOHN, b. 7 April, 1791, at Carlisle, Eng., m. (1) 14 Jan., 1810, Sarah Ramsey, b. 20 Aug., 1791, at Carlisle, dyer and bleacher at East Village,
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DIXON .- DORRANCE.
now Webster, she d. 28 Jan., 1835, at Webster, m. (2) 12 March, 1836, Mary Rutledge, b. at Kirkoswald, Eng., he d. 11 May, 1849, at Webster. . . . Children : JOHN, b. 8 Jan., 1814, in Eng., m. 4 July, 1841, Mary A. Ireson of Webster, had 5 sons and a dau., he d. in 1872 at Brooklyn, N. Y .; GEORGE, b. 3 Sept., 1818, in Eng., m. 21 Dec., 1848, Ann Lilley, and had Anne, b. 15 March, 1858, d. 1884, at Worcester, he d. 6 Nov., 1858, at Webster; ROBERT, b. 25 Dec., 1820, in Eng., m. 12 May, 1852, Louisa B., dau. of Ruel Moffitt, no ch., he d. 26 Sept., 1854, at Webster; JAMES P., b. 4 March, 1826, at Ox., drowned 21 July, 1833; JOSEPH, b. 27 Sept., 1827, m. 4 July, 1851, Priscilla Hood, he d. 20 Aug., 1878, in Texas; SARAH A. E., b. 28 Jan., 1832, m. 10 Sept., 1868, Robert C. Taylor, settled at Quincy, Ill., where he d .; WILLIAM J., b. 1834, d. 1841; by second m. CHARLES W., b. 13 Dec., 1836, m. 30 July, 1860, Angeline Phipps; MARY JANE, b. 1839, d. 1841; WILLIAM H., b. 26 Oct., 1842, m. 20 May, 1872, Kate Young of Brookfield, Mo., residence, Wy. Ter.
CURTIS, and Lydia Wight, both of South Gore, m. 4 April, 1776, Revo- lutionary soldier.
DODGE, DAVID, m. intentions 9 Aug., 1823, Lucena Fitts of Charlton; they had WILLIAM F., b. 11 Aug., 1824, she d. same day, aged 22.
ALGERNON S., son of Abner of Northbridge, removed to Ox. about 1850, m. Julia Ann, dau. of John Gates, he d. aged 71, 13 Sept., 1887. . . . Children : GEORGE H., b. 11 Dec., 1840, m. 13 May, 1873, Charlotte Wellington, select- man, school committee; CHARLES P., b. 8 Oct., 1842, m. Mary, dau. of Ashley Wood of West Boylston, she d. 6 July, 1880; NELSON G., b. 12 July, 1849.
NOAH, of Dudley, and Mary Wiley, m. 12 March, 1761, Revolutionary soldier from Ox. 1780.
ISAAC, of Sutton, and Mrs. Martha Town, m. intentions 9 Dec., 1775.
DANIEL, of Ward, and Elizabeth Parsons, m. intentions 26 Jan., 1785. MARK, of Dudley, and Bethia Hill, m. 19 Nov., 1789.
DAVID, and Polly Heyward, both of Charlton, m. 16 Dec., 1794.
DANIEL, JR., of Ward, and Melicent Heyward, m. 30 Nov., 1817.
RELIEF, of Ward, and Eli Barton of Leicester, m. 8 May, 1821.
DAVID, and Ruth Freeman, m. 14 April, 1826.
MRS. OLIVE, aged 66, d. 4 March, 1872.
WILLIAM, aged 77, d. 8 Aug., 1877.
MARY C., m. n. Wood of Boylston, aged 29, d. 15 July, 1880.
DOLLARD, MICHAEL, aged 50, d. 24 Jan., 1854.
DONLEN, ELLEN, aged 24, d. 2 Feb., 1883.
DONOHUE, JOHN, aged 48, d. 28 Sept., 1861.
MARY ANN, aged 20, d. 24 July, 1867. MRS. ANN, aged 50, d. 7 Feb., 1871. MICHAEL, aged 64, d. 16 Oct., 1871. JOHN, aged 28, d. 21 May, 1872.
DOOLAN, MARY, widow, aged 80, d. 6 March, 1865.
DORE, JOHN, son of James of Newfield, Me., aged 50, d. 15 Sept., 1865. ELIZABETH, w. of James, aged 20, d. 6 Aug., 1852.
DORRANCE, ROBERT, came to North Ox. before May, 1827, cotton man- ufacturer, in partnership with William K. Greene in 1832-3. He m. Lucy,
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DORRANCE .- DOWSE.
dau. of Dea. Jedediah Kimball of Woodstock, Conn., joined Ox. Church 19 April, 1829. 14 June, EDWARD [Robert?] A. d. young, and JEDEDIAH K. were baptized, family removed to Killingly, Conn., before May, 1834, later resided at Hampton, Conn., where he d. 11 Oct., 1861, she removed to Amsterdam, N. Y., where she d. April, 1878, aged 83. They were worthy people, active in Church affairs, he was chosen one of the standing committee 1832. JEDEDIAH K. m. Jane Spicer of Hampton, had ch.
DORSEY, MRS. ELLEN, aged 37, d. 11 Nov., 1870. MICHAEL, son of James, aged 19, d. 11 May, 1879.
DOUGHTY, DANFORTH, and Betsey Cudworth, m. 11 Dec., 1838. SOLOMON [Salmon?], aged 73, d. 25 April, 1877.
ANNA, widow, m. n. Newell, Barre, aged 74, d. 7 Jan., 1878.
DOW, DOWE, AMASA, b. 9 March, 1775, at Coventry, Conn., d. 14 Sept., 1808, in "John Brown's Tract," New York. Hem. Anna Marsh of Sutton, b. 15 Aug., 1780, d. 30 Dec., 1814, at Ward. They had DANIEL, b. 31 Aug., 1804, d. 5 Nov., 1865, at Auburn; EMELINE, b. 17 Oct., 1806, m. 25 Dec., 1825, James Patterson of Southbridge, and d. in 1830, at Leicester; AMASA, b. 26 Oct., 1808.
2. AMASA, son of Amasa (1), came in childhood with his mother to Ox- ford. A few weeks before his birth his father had died in the wilds of New York State; she was on her journey back to Massachusetts, and at a place about 30 miles from Utica Amasa was born. Lived in childhood with David Nichols, in youth employed at South Leicester and the Oxford Woolen Mill, and in Rhode Island Mills, returned about 1840 to Oxford Woolen Mill, and went thence in 1842 into centre tavern as partner with Rice Barton, after six months, went into the watch and jewelry shop of Daniel R. Dana in Sigourney's building, later burnt, and in 1844 became proprietor, in 1845 removed to Dan- ielsonville, Conn., where he has since resided; watchmaker and jeweller. He m. 14 May, 1834, Harriet S. Adams, b. 30 March, 1812, at Sturbridge, she d. 12 April, 1879, at Danielsonville, . . . Children : MARSHALL P., b. 20 June, 1835, at North Providence, R. I., residence, Danielsonville; CHARLOTTE E., b. 12 Nov., 1840, at South Leicester, d. 1846, at Danielsonville; HARRIET A., b. 28 April, 1843, at Ox.
DOWLING, MRS. MARY, aged 64, d. 25 June, 1863. WILLIAM (Irish), aged 29, d. 27 July, 1863. MRS. MARGARET, aged 63, d. 3 May, 1869.
DOWSE, SAMUEL, son of Eleazer of Sherborn, b. 27 June, 1797, came to Oxford about 1819, began business in copartnership with Stearns Witt at the Col. De Witt homestead, H. 226. In 1824 they built the store opposite, where he remained in trade many years. Meantime the Oxford Woolen Co.'s factory in which he was interested was built, in which he was owner until 1841. He was also for a time an owner in the thread mill. He was a worthy man, active in Church affairs, attractive and social in manner, and few men in his time equalled him in the management of country trade. He m. 5 June, 1824, Casendiana, dau. of Leavens Shumway. He d. 13 Sept., 1844, at Ox., she d. 3 Dec., 1860, at Pittsfield. . . . . Children : MARY B., b. 1 April, 1825, m. Henry G., son of Jona. Davis; ELIZABETH D., b. 2 Dec., 1828, m. 2 Nov., 1853, Jabez L. Peck, leading citizen and woolen manufacturer, Pittsfield;
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DOWSE .- DRURY.
they had Thomas, b. 1857; Mary C., b. 1867; and others d. young; THOMAS, b. 10 May, 1833, m. 6 Nov., 1860, A. Fish, residence, Duluth, Minn. ; had Fred, b. 1861; Robert P., b. 1865; Nathalie R., b. 1870; MARTHA, b. 10 May, 1840, m. 8 Jan., 1873, Everett H. Converse, Brooklyn, N. Y.
DRESSER, JOHN, JR., of Rowley, m. 21 Nov., 1662, Martha Thorla, and had, with others, JONATHAN, b. Jan., 1674, and RICHARD, b. 29 June, 1679. Jonathan bought land 1717 at Pomfret, Conn., where he settled and was father of John, who settled in Killingly. In Feb., 1738, Gideon Stevens of Gloucester, fisherman, sold to Jacob Dresser of Killingly 140 acres in Oxford township-Papillon land-and 5 April, 1739, Dresser conveyed the same to John Dresser (supposed to have been the above), who removed there, m. in- tentions 2 Feb. 1740, Sarah Scott of Dudley, and d. there; date of order of appraisal 7 Dec., 1789. . . . Children recorded at Oxford : SARAI, b. 2 Dec., 1740, m. 22 Feb., 1759, John Coburn; HANNAH, b. 9 Oct., 1742, m. Lyon; JOHN, b. 7 Sept., 1744, m. Patience -, and had Caleb, Joshua, Anna ; he d. about 1776; ASA, b. 6 May, 1746, administrator of his father's estate; ABIGAIL, b. 3 July, 1748, m. Elisha Thompson; JOSEPH, b. 8 July, 1750; BENJAMIN, b. 16 Sept., 1753; PRUDENCE, b. 13 Aug., 1755, m. Asa Chamberlain; DAVID, ISAAC, MARY, m. Aaron Dresser, and JAMES are also named in settlement of estate.
RICHARD, son of John of Rowley, bought land in 1706 in Mashamoquet, now Pomfret, Conn., settled there, removed soon to Thompson, where he d. 1728. He had sons JACOB, the first male child b. in Thompson [Miss Larned], and RICHARD, b. 22 Sept., 1714. Jacob lived at the homestead, Richard hav- ing conveyed to him his right. The same date, 8 March, 1736, Jacob con- veyed to Richard 100 acres with buildings at Oxford, now Charlton, where he settled. He m. 12 Oct., 1741, Dorothy, dau. of Col. Moses Marcy; d. 27, Aug., 1797; an influential man at Charlton, chairman first board of selectmen, and first town clerk. . . . Children recorded at Ox. : NANCY, b. 18 Sept., 1742; EUNICE, b. 15 Aug., 1744, d. 6 June, 1773; REUBEN, b. 26 Oct., 1746; DORO- THY, b. 1748, d. 1751; RICHARD, b. 21 April, 1751; MARY, b. 15 May, 1753, His son MOSES, b. 17 April, 1755, succeeded him as owner, the father having deeded to him on 7 March, 1788 (Moses being then of Goshen), " the farm whereon I now live," 200 acres, bounded south on Nathaniel Blood and Richard Blood, etc. Moses was to pay said Richard's debts, sundry legacies to chil- dren, maintain the mother and the negro man, etc., according to the terms of a certain bond. Moses was major of militia, m. Abigail Blood, and d. here 29 Nov., 1813, leaving a goodly estate for the times. HARVEY, his son, b. 5 Oct., 1788, was the next owner. He was well known in all the region and was one of the most competent business men the south part of Worcester County has produced, prominent Freemason, carried on carriage, harness, and furniture manufacturing extensively, and kept a store in addition to the cultivation of his large farm. The locality is known at this day as "Dresser Hill." He removed to Southbridge, engaged in cotton manufacture; d. 8 Feb., 1835, aged 46.
MERCY, of Oxford, and Joseph Knight of Middletown, Conn., m. 30 May, 1738, at Thompson.
AARON P., and Emma Hobart, m. 1 Oct., 1827.
DRURY, DR. BENJAMIN, Francestown, N. H., and Elizabeth Learned, m. intentions 1 Oct., 1781.
489
DUDLEY .- DUNBAR.
DUDLEY, REV. ELIAS, third pastor at Oxford, was b. 12 Aug., 1761, at Saybrook, Conn., son of Daniel and Susanna. The family removed to New- port, N. H., where the father d. 1811, aged 92. Elias was graduated, 1788, at Dartmouth College, studied theology with Dr. Emmons, ordained to his first and only pastorate, at Oxford, 13 April, 1791. He is represented as a man of excellent character and a faithful and efficient preacher, much interested in the education and moral culture of youth, receiving pupils at his own house who later spoke of him with much interest and commendation. He was of a melancholic temperament, subject to great depression of spirits, and constantly depreciated his own efforts. It is related of him that late in his ministry he would prepare for the Sabbath and, as the hour of service approached, would become so depressed that he felt obliged to send word to his waiting hearers that he could not appear before them. The esteem in which he was held by his people is shown by the fact that only after repeated requests from him and by the advice of physicians, would they consent to a council to consider the subject of his dismission. To a committee of confer- ence on the question of his leaving, he wrote in Jan., 1799, " my health is yet extremely low, and my state I think precarious. From the nature of my com- plaints, being very much upon my lungs, I must freely own I see no probability of being able to preach." He removed in 1799 to Newburyport, where he en- gaged in business and took short voyages to Labrador for his health. From Newburyport he removed about 1805 to Prospect, Me., where he d. 25 Jan., 1808, aged 47. He m. 22 Oct., 1793, Mary, dau. of John Spring of North- bridge, she removed to Uxbridge after his death and died there. . . . Chil- dren : HANNAH, b. 19 Nov., 1794, m. Luther Bullard of Uxbridge, she d. 7 June, 1845, they had Charles H., once minister at Rockville, Conn. ; OTIS, b. 14 Nov., 1796, residence, Williamsburg, O., had ch .; JOHN SPRING, b. 19 July, 1798, d. 23 Aug., 1816, at Millbury; ELIAS, residence, Cincinnati, O .; MARY, d. 1 Aug., 1837, at Uxbridge, aged 32; two others d. young. [His. Mendon Association.]
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