USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Plainfield > History of the town of Plainfield, Hampshire County, Mass., from its settlement to 1891, including a genealogical history of twenty-three of the original settlers and their descendants, with anecdotes and sketches > Part 8
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to laying out ways through the tract. These ways were all to be four rods wide and so laid as not to divide any proprietor's lot. Only a few of these ways were ever used, and the vacancies left for that purpose were the occasion of numerous disputes in after years among the owners of the abutting lots. The matter was finally settled by a committee chosen by the town for that purpose, so far as concerned that portion of the tract lying in Plainfield.
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF THE EARLY SET- TLERS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, WITH ANECDOTES AND SKETCHES.
EBENEZER BISBEE.
Ebenezer Bisbee, one of the first settlers of the town, was born in 1754, probably in Bridgwater, Mass. He served a short time in the Revolutionary army and settled here as early as 1779, on the farm now occupied by Wm. H. Packard, in the southwest part of the town. He was chosen one of the Selectmen in 1788 and served 15 years. Died Jan. 12, 1837.
Children : Isaac, born April 2, 1779; Barton, April 3, 1781; James, Aug. 11, 1783; John, July 3, 1785; Nabby, Aug. 6, 1788; Jennett, Aug. 16, 1790; Arza, Aug. 11, 1792, died Sept. 3, 1796; Galen, Sept. 1, 1797; Mehitable, May 25, 1800.
1. Isaac mar. Martha Robinson, Nov. 6, 1801.
2. Barton mar. Lovina Bird, Oct. 26, 1803.
3. James mar. Polly Packard, Jan. 28, 1807.
4. John mar. Mary Lyon of Goshen, Feb., 1810. He spent most of his life in Plainfield. Died Jan. 10, 1879 in consequence of injuries received by falling down a flight of stairs. He spent his last years with his daughter, Mrs. L. Campbell, his wife having deceased Feb. 25, 1860, at
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the age of 72. Children : Eliza M., born Dec. 16, 1810; Jared, Nov. 25, 1812 ; Lovisa, April 18, 1815; Uzal, April 13, 1818; John Foster, April 5, 1821; Cyrus L., June 14, 1828, died Oct. 17, 1838; James D., May 7, 1829.
Eliza mar. Sylvester Higgins of No. Adams, June, 1834.
Jared mar. Hannah Fowler, April 19, 1837. Children : Almon D., born Jan. 8, 1838; Martha H., Oct. 5, 1844; Eliza, Jan. 14, 1846; James D., May 29, 1847; John F., Feb. 15, 1850; Flora E., Jan. 27, 1852.
Lovisa mar. Leonard Campbell, April 15, 1835.
Uzal mar. Olivia Longley of Hawley. Children : Har- riet, Alice, Julia and Carrie.
Nabby, daughter of Ebenezer, mar. Rufus P. Bates, Nov. 29, 1804.
Jennett, daughter of Ebenezer, mar. Stephen Hayward, Sept. 11, 1812, died Feb. 2, 1838.
Galen, son of Ebenezer, mar. Penelope Patch, Jan. 1, 1824. Children, born in Plainfield, Lucinda, Nov. 27, 1824.
Mehitable, daughter of Ebenezer, mar. Joel Lyon, March 8, 1821.
JOSEPH BEALS.
Joseph Beals was born in Bridgwater, Mass., in 1752. He came here with his family in 1779, when this town was still a part of Cummington. In 1789, a year of great scarcity, he suffered the loss of his house and nearly all his provisions by fire. His religious experience, dating from this calamity, was the subject of the tract, "The Mountain Miller," by Wm. A. Hallock. It has been print- ed in the French and German, as well as the English lan- guage, and its circulation has reached several hundred thousand copies. The second house which he built is the
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same now occupied by Nelson W. Cook, though it has been considerably altered. His grist-mill was a few rods above the present mill of J. A. Nash. Served as selectman in 1795. Was chosen deacon of the Plainfield church in 1803. Died July 20, 1813, aged 61. His children were Samuel, born in Bridgwater, Sept. 26, 1775 ; Joseph, Jr., also born in Bridgwater, July 3, 1778 ; Robert, born Dec. 7, 1780; Lydia L., May 19, 1787, died Dec. 4, 1804; Polly, April 13, 1789; Lovisa, Jan. 4, 1792.
1. Samuel mar. Sally Chamberlain, July 31, 1798. Their children were Dennis, born May 14, 1799; Otis, Dec. 16, 1801; Lydia L., Feb. 10, 1806, mar. Lemuel Allis (second wife) May 18, 1825 .- Samuel died June 30, 1851 .- Dennis mar. Almira Hadlock in 1821. Their children were Sam- uel, 2d, born Aug. 8, 1824; Dennis A., Oct. 13, 1827 ; Laura A., March 30, 1831; John C., Jan. 1, 1834 ; Flora E., Nov. 4, 1844, and two who died in infancy .- Samuel, 2d, mar. Miss Bushnell of Cheshire and removed to Michigan, where he died .- Dennis A. mar. Ruth T. Hunt of Haw- ley, March, 1847. Lives in North Adams .- Laura mar. Lewis Longley, May, 1855; died Jan., 1891 .- John C. mar. Lorinda H. Fuller of Hawley, Oct. 1855 .- Flora E. mar. Harvey L. Hadlock, June 11, 1868; died Nov. 19, 1868. Almira, wife of Dennis, was for many years insane, but was not so violent as to make it necessary to confine her. Dennis died March 29, 1879 .- Otis mar. Roxana Lazell, March 20, 1826. They settled in Hawley. Otis died in Plainfield, June 10, 1882. Children : Edmund, born Dec. 2, 1827, died in Plainfield, Oct. 13, 1862 ; Roxana, Nov. 21, 1830, mar. James Murray, 1857, live in Iowa; H. Harri- son, Nov. 5, 1838; H. Wesley, July 20, 1836, mar. Harriet Landon, June, 1859-one son, Fred W., born Oct. 23, 1861,
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He mar. Cora H. Hinckley, April 11, 1886-one son, Darwin L., born Dec. 23, 1888.
2. Joseph Beals, Jr. mar. Betsey Reed, May 13, 1802; died Aug. 7, 1847. Children: Harriet, born April 9, 1803; Loren Dec. 6, 1805; Dexter, Oct. 28, 1807; Annis, Jan. 23, 1811, died May 6, 1841; Betsey, Feb. 17, 1814, died June 23, 1839; Lydia P., Feb. 5, 1818; Joseph 3d, Aug. 6, 1821 .- Harriet mar. Lorin White, March 31, 1823 .- Loren mar. Sarah Davison, Nov. 29, 1832 .- Dexter mar. Julia Packard of Goshen. - Joseph 3d married and settled in Greenfield, Mass., as a dentist.
3. Robert mar. Nabby Vining, Jan. 10, 1805. Was chosen one of the Selectmen in 1819 and served four years. Was chosen Town Clerk in 1821, and served seven years. Died July 2, 1844. Children : Fordyce, born Oct. 21, 1806; Vesta, Sept. 29, 1808; Eli V., Jan 25, 1810; Mary, April 12, 1812; Abigail, June 24, 1816; Robert P., Aug. 24, 1819; Alden Porter, May 30, 1825 .- Fordyce mar. Mary H. Green, died in New Haven, Ct. in 1870 .- Vesta mar. Samuel Snell of Cummington, Dec. 14, 1831. He deceased, and she mar. Philo Packard of Cummington (second wife) .- Eli V. died in Pittsfield in 1854 .- Mary mar. Albert Dyer, Dec. 3, 1835. -Abigail mar. Granville B. Hall of Ashfield, April 11, 1843. - Robert P. mar. for second wife Margaret Burt, died in Springfield, Oct. 7, 1885 .- Alden P. mar. for second wife Augusta Waite of Hatfield, died at Stamford, Ct., April 12, 1889.
4. Polly, daughter of Joseph 1st, mar. Ebenezer Lovell, March 2, 1809, died July 30, 1810.
5. Lovisa, mar. Wm. Reed of Albany, N. Y., Jan. 11, 1814.
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JOHN CAMPBELL.
JOHN CAMPBELL.
John Campbell was born Nov. 2, 1752. Served in the war of the Revolution, and witnessed Burgoyne's surrender to Gates in 1777. Mar. Lydia Kent, June 25, 1783, and settled here as early as 1784. They lived in a small house on the exact site of the old Campbell house, torn down in 1890. His wife Lydia died Sept. 6, 1806, aged 51. He mar. for a second wife, Betsey Hunt of Hawley, Jan. 18, 1809. She died Sept. 7, 1818, aged 38. For a third wife he mar. Mrs. Asenath Claghorn of Hawley, Nov. 1819. Her daughter by her first husband, Mrs. Temperance At- kins, is still living in town. He died April 25, 1833. Children of John and his wife Lydia were Ebenezer, born July 13, 1784; Levi, March 5, 1786; Edmund, Feb. 19, 1788; Sally, Dec. 8, 1789; Amasa, May 30, 1791; Betsey, July 15, 1797.
1. Ebenezer is not further mentioned in the records. He married and had at least one son, Ebenezer, Jr.
2. Levi mar. Clarissa Joy, daughter of Joseph, June 14, 1810, died Nov. 6, 1874. Children : Leonard, born April 15, 1811,; Levi N., Nov. 13, 1812. Clarissa M., Sept. 16, 1821; Joseph Lyman, Dec. 19, 1824; also a daughter who died in 1818, aged 3, and another in 1828, aged 11 .- Leon- ard mar. Lovisa Bisbee, April 15, 1835. Held the office of Deputy Sheriff for 28 years, and Postmaster over 30 years. Has served as moderator of town meetings more times than any other citizen. Had one son, Fred E., born May 17, 1836. He mar. Amanda L. Pratt, Oct. 30, 1860. They had one child, Kate L., born Sept. 16, 1862; mar. Merritt O. Wallace. Reside in Florence, Mass. Fred E. died in Florence, Mass., Oct. 29, 1886. The following resolutions
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were passed by "Florence Lodge, No. 1207, Knights of Honor," on his decease :
" Whereas, it has pleased the Supreme Dictator of the Universe, to again invade our circle, and call from the fraternity before to that beyond, Brother Frederick E. Campbell, and
Whereas, in his death our lodge has sustained the loss of a valued and efficient member, the community an honest, upright citizen, his family a kind, loving and faithful husband and father, therefore,
Resolved, that while we bow in humble submission to the Divine Will, we desire to express the deep sense of personal loss we feel, and extend to the afflicted family our earnest and heartfelt sympathy in their great bereavement and sorrow, and say that while we shall see his face no more, his life and example will ever remain to stimulate and bind us more closely together in the ties of our com- mon brotherhood.
Resolved, that our lodge be draped in mourning for thirty days, and that a copy of these resolutions be placed on our records, and a copy be sent to the family of the deceased."
Levi N. mar. Ruth W. Hall of Hawley, May, 1841. Was chosen one of the Selectmen in 1849, and held the office twenty-two years; longer that any other person in the his- tory of the town. He was for the greater part of the time, Chairman of the board. Was chosen a member of the School Committee in 1841, and held the office nineteen years. Represented the town in the legislature in 1854, and the district in 1864. Has for the last ten years resided in Florence, Mass. Children of Levi N. and Ruth were George L., born July 28, 1846; Ruth Florence, Dec. 25, 1850. Ruth, wife of Levi N., deceased Feb. 3, 1851. For a second wife, mar. Rachel Whitmarsh, Nov. 24, 1852. Children. Herbert S., born Nov. 3, 1857; Louis L., Aug. 30, 1859; Addie C., Feb. 29, 1864.
George L. mar. Laura E. Warner, daughter of William, Nov. 27, 1867. Reside in Northampton. Florence cares
Campbell.
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JOHN CAMPBELL.
for her father, his wife having deceased in January, 1887.
Herbert S. mar. Minnie B. Howes, June 10, 1879. Re- side in Northampton. Children: Harry N., born June 8, 1880; Cherie M., Sept. 4, 1889.
Louis L. mar. Margie W. Stockwell of Northampton. She deceased in a year or two after their marriage, and in 1890 he mar. Alice S. Spear, also of Northampton. In February, 1877, he became clerk in the Northampton Post Office, under Postmaster Joy. He remained as clerk and Asst. P. M. for about five years, when he was appointed to a position in the railway mail service, and April 1, 1882, went on duty on the route from Palmer, Mass. to Brattle- boro', Vt. In Jan., 1883, he was transferred to the line between Boston and New York, via Springfield. Was gradually promoted to higher grades and in May, 1889, was appointed "clerk in charge" of a crew of twelve clerks. This line is considered one of the heaviest in the country, and three postal cars are required on the night trains. He resigned this position in August, 1890, to ac- cept the appointment of Postmaster of Northampton, which office he now holds. During his service as railway postal clerk, he was called upon for twenty-four examina- tions, each consisting of from 500 to 1000 questions. In fifteen of these he passed 100 per cent., and in the other nine he stood above 99 per cent. As postmaster, he is most thorough and efficient, and has made several import- ant improvements in the service.
Addie C. mar. Chas. Huxley of Florence, in 1888, in which place they now reside.
Clarissa M., daughter of Levi, mar. Thos. D. Clark of Hawley, June 29, 1842.
Joseph L. mar. Adeline C. Eldridge of Hawley, May,
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1851. They had one or two children who died in infancy. She deceased, and he married for a second wife, Augusta Eldridge, a sister of the first. They have one daughter, Mary. Reside in Florence, Mass. He was for several years, while in Easthampton, a Deputy Sheriff under Maj. Longley.
3. Edmund, son of John, mar. Nancy Shaw, daughter of Josiah 1st, May 23, 1817. Had one son, Josiah Dwight, born Oct. 30, 1818, and two who died in infancy. He mar. Lucy Adams of Chicopee. Had one daughter, Lizzie S., born Dec. 23, 1844, died Oct. 24, 1861. J. Dwight died Feb. 17, 1849.
4. Sally, daughter of John, mar. William Joy, March, 1810.
5. Amasa mar. Sally Bester, Oct. 14, 1813. Children: Emily B., born Sept. 26, 1815; John T., Feb. 12, 1818; Betsey P., June 1820; Sally M., May 23, 1822.
6. Betsey, daughter of John, mar. Watson Pool of South Hadley, Dec. 5, 1822.
ABRAM CLARK.
Abram Clark was born in Attleboro', Mass., in 1751. Settled in Plainfield not far from 1783, on the farm where L. K. Thayer now lives. His wife was Silence Gloyd, from Abington. He died Nov. 24, 1834. Children : Susanna, born Oct. 19, 1782; Polly, Aug. 5, 1784; Betsey, April 15, 1786; James, Nov. 29, 1787; Lydia, Sept. 4, 1789, died June 7, 1890; Elijah, May 4, 1791; Samuel, Nov. 28, 1792; Abram, Jr., Feb. 22, 1796; Silence, July 2, 1801, died Jan. 13, 1808. 1. Susanna mar. Asa Thayer, Dec. 2, 1804, died March 5, 1870.
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ABRAM CLARK.
2. Polly mar. John Shaw, Jr., Oct. 24, 1802, died April 20, 1808.
3. Betsey mar. Reuben Kingman of Goshen, March 18, 1808.
4. James mar. Zeruah Bigelow of Cummington, March, 1808. Children: Mary Ann, born July 17, 1810, and prob- ably others. He removed from town soon after his marri- age and became a minister of the Baptist denomination. His wife deceased and he returned to Plainfield when over 70 years old. At the age of 74 he married Hannah Gur- ney, (widow of Joseph Gurney and previously of Beza Reed, maiden name Stockwell.) He preached for the Baptist Society for a short time, being their last regular minister, and died July 5, 1868.
5. Elijah mar. Waity Jenks of Cheshire. She died Jan. 17, 1850, and he married for a second wife, Lucretia Lyman of Hadley, July, 1851. He represented the town in the legislature in 1835 and 1836, and was for many years a Justice of the Peace. Died in West Cummington about 1884. Children of Elijah and Waity were John, born Dec. 26, 1813; Minerva, Feb. 4, 1816; Samantha, Oct. 7, 1818; Lewis, Dec. 13, 1822; Elijah Alden, May 12, 1827; James Dwight, July 6, 1830. John mar. Hannah Jones, Dec. 1834, and removed from town.
Samantha mar. Alden W. Mason, Nov. 30, 1837.
Elijah A. mar. Loraine F. Warner, Oct. 30, 1849. Chil- dren: Willis A., born Nov., 1850; George W., Aug. 1, 1854 .- Loraine F., wife of Elijah A., died Oct. 18, 1854. He married for a second wife, Hannah L. Lyman, Dec. 3, 1856. Their children were Chas. L., born Oct. 2, 1857; Alice L., Oct. 25, 1861.
James Dwight mar. Flora Stevens, Sept. 26, 1851, died
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Feb. 1, 1856. They had one child, Flora Ellen, born May 28, 1853.
6. Samuel mar. Lucy Sheldon. Children: Lorinda, born Nov. 17, 1816; Parthena R., Nov. 16, 1819; Polly, Dec. 11, 1821; Samuel Sheldon, Dec. 22, 1823; Eliza Ann, Sept. 19, 1826.
JACOB CLARK.
Jacob Clark was born in Abington, Mass., in 1755. Served in the Revolutionary war and came to Plainfield in 1783. He mar. Susanna Jones, sister of Jacob. They lived on the farm since occupied by his son Chester, where H. H. Fenton now lives. Died July 16, 1832. Children: Hannah, born March 1, 1783; Sarah, Nov. 27, 1784 ; Re- bekah, Jan. 17, 1787; Mary, July 9, 1789; David, March 13, 1792, died March 13, 1796; Jacob, Jr., Sept. 22, 1794; Lucy, Sept. 22, 1797; Nancy, Oct. 4, 1799; Levi, Dec. 30, 1802; Chester, May 4, 1805; Alanson, May 14, 1807.
1. Hannah died Nov. 27, 1830.
2. Sarah died March 7, 1813.
3. Rebekah mar. Daniel Coe of Durham, N. Y ., Feb. 17, 1822.
4. Mary mar. Rev. James Jewell of Durham, N. Y., July 1, 1816.
5. Jacob, Jr., remained in town and was engaged in woolen manufacturing and trade. He never married. Was chosen Town Clerk in 1841, and served three years. Died Feb. 16, 1848.
6. Lucy died May 12, 1828.
7. Nancy died July 7, 1803.
8. Levi mar. Electa Joy, daughter of Joseph, Oct. 2, 1828. Both are still living in town. He kept store for
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some years in company with his brother Jacob, until his death, when he conducted the business alone for seven or eight years. He was Postmaster some four years, and had charge of the office about eight years. Was chosen Town Clerk in 1848, and held the office five years. Children: Mary J., born May 9, 1830, mar. Wm. H. Dyer, May 18, 1854; Charles C., born Dec. 12, 1836. He has not married yet.
9. Chester mar. Minerva Jones, daughter of Jacob, Dec. 1, 1831, and remained on the old homestead, died March 18, 1885. Children : Seth W., born Sept. 22, 1833; Elizabeth S., Sept. 19, 1842. Seth W. mar. Nancy W. Jones, Sept. 3, 1855. They lived for some years after their marriage in Brooklyn, N. Y., but returned to Plainfield about 1862, where they have since resided. He was chosen one of the Selectmen in 1873, and has served six years in all, being Chairman for several years. Has served 13 years as one of the School Committee, being elected to that office in 1863. He is at present, president of the Cumming- ton Creamery Association, an office which he has held since the formation of company. Was chosen deacon of the Cong. Church, March 3, 1877. Children : Nellie M., born in 1857; Fred D., 1860, both born in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Henry D., born Oct. 26, 1865; Alice C., May 8, 1868; Ma- rian N., June 2, 1870 ; Frank S., June 27, 1873, died Jan. 28, 1875.
Nellie M. mar. Arthur R. Tirrell, Nov. 27, 1879.
Fred D. mar. C. Helen Gurney of Cummington, June 23, 1885. Children: Etha Helen, born June 23, 1886.
10. Alanson never married. Was by trade a tailor, and lived in the family of his brother Chester. Died Oct. 10, 1883.
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HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
ANDREW COOK.
Andrew Cook was born in 1737. Was one of the very earliest settlers, having come here previous to 1774. He lived on the place since occupied by Horace Daniels, east of Dea. S. W. Clark's; died March 6, 1814. Children: Hannah, born Oct. 6, 1774; John, Oct. 18, 1776. These two were, so far as known, the first of each sex born in the present town limits. They both died in infancy or early childhood. His other children were John 2d, born Oct. 27, 1778; Joseph, Feb. 1, 1781; Hannah 2d, Nov. 13, 1783. He also had daughters, Sarah, Lois and Amy, whose names do not appear on the town records.
1. John mar. Susanna Gurney, Sept. 15, 1796. He was by trade a carpenter and builder and many of the oldest houses now standing were built by him, as well as others of later construction. Children: Thomas, born May 23, 1801; Edson, May 27, 1803; James, March 29, 1805; Ros- well, July 9, 1811; Benjamin F., March 25, 1815; John Jackson, Sept. 24, 1817, besides three daughters who died in childhood .- Thomas mar. Rachel Gurney of Ashfield, Jan. 1824, and settled in Cummington. Died April 16, 1856. Children: Elmira and Elvira, twins, mar. John Snow and Alonzo Eldridge; Henry W., mar. Selina Shaw; Sarah D .; Rachel, mar. Ansel B. Cole, Feb., 1856; Lovina and Martin L. Martin was a member of the 52d Mass. Reg't in the late war, and died Sept. 8, 1863, aged 27 .- Ed- . son mar. Esther Abel of Goshen, Feb., 1824. Died sud- denly while crossing the field between Jared Dyer's house and the village, Feb. 5, 1858. He had been dead some hours when discovered. Children: Maria E., born Feb. 15, 1825; James Edward, Sept. 9, 1826; Edson, Jr., April 8, 1831; Alfred E., May 16, 1839; Susan E., May 27, 1844.
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ANDREW COOK.
James Cook mar. Susan Joy, daughter of Isaac, Jr., Jan. 24, 1833. They lived on the homestead formerly occupied by Joseph Beals, the " Mountain Miller." Died Oct. 21, 1881. Children: Harriet, born Oct. 27, 1833; Andrew S., July 31, 1837; Nelson W., March 29, 1840; Franklin, June 30, 1843 .- Harriet mar. C. Wells Smith of Worthington, June 18, 1851 .- Andrew S. mar. Addie M. Livermore of Peru, Dec. 1862. They reside in Springfield, Mass .- Nel- son W. mar. Mary E. Davison, Nov. 2, 1864. They live on the old homestead, which he has greatly improved; his mother, aged 88, living with them. Was a member of the 37th Mass. Reg't in the late war .- Franklin entered the army and died in the service at Beaufort, N. C., June 20, 1863. James and his son Nelson W. were both carpen- ters. It was the family trade.
Roswell mar. Elsie Thayer, Aug. 19, 1830, died March 27, 1881. Children: Laura A., born Feb. 10, 1831; John F., June 12, 1835; Royal, Dec. 25, 1837; and Flora.
Benj. F. mar. Abigail Bates, Oct. 11, 1836, died Aug. 31, 1842. Children: Martha and Jared Allen.
John Jackson mar. Irene Rice of Hawley. Children: Mary, Joseph, William and Adrian .- The wife of John, son of Andrew, died Sept. 18, 1836. For a second wife he married Hannah Packard, daughter of Caleb Packard of Ashfield, May 30, 1838. He died July 9, 1849.
2. Joseph mar. Sally Joy, Sept. 19, 1799. Children: Levi, Jason, Laura, Clarissa, Electa and Bennett.
3. Hannah, daughter of Andrew, mar. Jacob Gardner, Jr., Feb. 20, 1806.
JESSE DYER.
We quote the following from Hobart's History of Ab- ington :- " The name Dyer was doubtless originally given
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HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
to designate some individual by his occupation. It occurs in English records as early as 1436, and I know not how much earlier. The Dyers were of English origin; the name occurs in the Yorkshire pedigrees. George Dyer of Dorchester came over in the " Mary and John," May, 1630. William Dyer petitioned to be made a freeman, in Wey- mouth, in 1635 or 1636. He removed to Rhode Island in 1638. From him the Dyers of that state are descended. The Dyers of Connecticut sprung from John and Thomas, who settled in Windham county. They were sons of Thomas Dyer of Weymouth, who is supposed to have set- tled there about 1632. The coat-of-arms of the Dyer family was a plain shield, surmounted by a wolf's head, as appears from a tombstone in the burying ground on Copp's Hill, Boston. I find the name very often occurs among the tradesmen and mechanics of England, and is abundant in the Post Office Directory of London. There are many of the name in Maine, descendants of Asa (brother of Jesse) and also on the Cape, descended from the same original stock."
Although Jesse Dyer lived just over the line in Ashfield, quite a portion of his farm was in Plainfield, he attended church there, his sons all settled there, and he himself in his last years removed there. He was born in Abington, Mass., in 1769. His father and grandfather were named Christopher. He came to Ashfield soon after 1790, and settled on the farm where Benjamin M. Dyer now lives. This, like the rest of the town, was heavily covered with woods. He cleared a few acres, built a small house and a barn, and married Sally Pool, daughter of Dea. Samuel Pool, Oct. 4, 1795. Children: Jared, born Nov. 1, 1796; Oakes, Feb. 22, 1799; Bela, May 24, 1802; Albert, June 25,
.
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1807; Sarah, about 1810; Samuel, July 23, 1813; Newell, Jan. 23, 1818, and one who died in infancy in 1805.
1. Jared mar. Olive Pool, daughter of Benjamin, Oct. 14, 1824. Lived where O. C. Burt now lives; died Feb. 25, 1874. Children: Wm. H., born Sept. 13, 1825; Betsey Ann, June 21, 1827, died Aug. 22, 1828; Edwin J .; June 3, 1829; Emily G., Oct. 14, 1834; Alfred T., July 19, 1839. Wm. H. mar. Mary J. Clark. May 18, 1854 .- Edwin J. mar. Marion Cole, May 4, 1853; died Jan. 2, 1882 .- Emily G. mar. J. Morton Barber, Oct. 11, 1857. Have for many years lived in Pittsfield, Mass., Mr. Barber having been employed for more than 25 years by Rice, Robbins & Co. -Alfred T. mar. Emily M. Stowell of Hinsdale, Mass., July 3, 1864. She deceased Aug. 21, 1866, and he married for a second wife Emily C. Wentworth of Hinsdale, March 20, 1867. Has been for a number of years overseer of the extensive farm of W. H. Milton at Pittsfield, Mass.
2. Oakes mar. Electa Stoddard Nov., 1824. They lived on the place originally occupied by Thomas Shaw, just below the Jared Dyer place. About 1855 he bought the Dr. Porter house, which stood on the corner south of the "Brick store," and removed it to his place. As soon as it was ready to occupy, the brick house in which he at first lived, was torn down. No buildings now remain on the place except a barn. Children: Electa S., born Jan. 26, 1826; Spencer O., Oct. 4, 1827; Lewis S., Jan. 4, 1829; An- geline M., Oct. 4, 1831; Julia M., Feb. 19, 1842 .- Electa mar. Francis K. Cottrell, Oct. 20, 1852, died Oct. 11, 1862. -Spencer O. mar. Elizabeth A. Ely of Westfield, Mass., Aug., 1855. Studied for the ministry and after preaching for Congregational churches for a few years, he joined the Methodist denomination, under which he preached until
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quite recently. He is now, or has quite recently been teaching in the High schools near Boston .- Lewis S. mar. Mary L. Porter of Hatfield, March, 1853. Has resided in Hatfield, Mass., since his marriage .- Angeline mar. Geo. W. Cottrell of Worthington, May, 1854. Went to live in Middlefield .- Julia died in Middlefield, Dec. 5, 1883. She was unmarried. Electa, first wife of Oakes, died March 4, 1842, aged 41. For a second wife he married Mrs. Nabby V. Taylor of Hawley, widow of Zebulon Taylor, March, 1844. She died Nov. 27, 1846, aged 48. For a third wife he married Mary Ford of Windsor, Aug., 1850. She died April 8, 1858, aged 56. He died in Middlefield, Jan. 28, 1877.
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