USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Shirley > History of the town of Shirley, Massachusetts, from its early settlement to A.D. 1882 > Part 38
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4. POLLY, b. at Shirley, June 8, 1797; she has been twice m., (first) to James Holden, pub. April 6, 1820; m. (second) Peter Washburn, April 30, 1848, d. Nov. 18, 1875.
5. REUBEN, b. March 30, 1799, m. Mary Chute, and had twelve children ; he d. Aug. 15, 1858 ; his widow d. Oct. 11, 1858.
(1.) Augustus, b. at Shirley, Nov. 30, 1822, m. Mrs. Rhoda Maria Reed of Shirley, Nov. 11, 1853, r. Shirley (1882) ; he has had four children : 1. "Mary," b. at Shirley, June 24, 1858, m. George S. Sanderson of Shirley, May 14, 1876, had one child, and d. Feb. 23, 1878 ; 2. "George," b. at Shirley, May 4, 1860, m. Augusta M. Hodgman, Nov. 23, 1880, r. Shirley (1882) ; 3. "Henrietta," b. at Shirley, April 23, 1862 ; 4. "Herbert," b. at Shirley, Sept. 7, 1864.
(2.) Abby, b. April, 1826, m. Asahel York, and d. May, 1864 .
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Autoglyph Print, W. P. ALLEN, Gardner, Mass.
RESIDENCE OF MRS. SYLVANUS HOLDEN.
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GENEALOGY .- HOLDEN.
(3.) Adelaide, b. Jan. 31, 1828, m. Harvey Rideout.
(4.) Hannah, b. Nov. 28, 1830, m. James McGroon.
(5.) Francis Reuben, b. Sept., 1832.
(6.) Martin Francis, b. Jan., 1834, m. Lucinda Scott, r. Boston (1876).
(7.) George, b. Oct., 1836, m. Ellen Reed of Shirley, June 17, 1861, r. Boston (1882).
(8.) Anna Mary, b. May 15, 1838, m. E. D. Elwell, r. Boston (1876).
(9.) Walter, b. Sept. 12, 1839.
(10.) Elizabeth, b. May 31, 1841, m. Frank Edgecomb, d. Feb., 1874.
(II.) Alonzo, b. Oct. 10, 1843, d. March, 1860.
(12.) Lucius, b. Jan. 31, 1845.
6. LEANDER, b. June 23, 1801, d. at Shirley, May 12, 1878, unm.
7. PHILEMON, b. Oct. 6, 1803, has been twice m., (first) to Eliza Stuart, April 5, 1832 ; she d. July 30, 1862 ; m. (second) Sarah A. Rollins of Pepperell, April, 1863 ; she d. May 21, 1876, r. Shirley (1882), unm.
8. ERIE, b. Dec. 23, 1806, m. Ann Goodrich of Fitchburg, d. at Lunenburg, July 13, 1849.
9. LUCY, b. Dec. 25, 1808, r. Gardner, unm. (1877.)
IX. PHEBE, b. Aug. 16, 1768, m. John Warren, Feb. 18, 1798.
X. A DAUGHTER, b. July 23, 1770, d. Jan. 1, 1771.
XI. ELEANOR, b. May 10, 1773, m. Thomas Gass of Groton, Dec. 16, 1805, d. at Brimfield.
holden, Simon,4 (Stephen,3 Stephen,? Richard,1)-usually called Lieutenant Simon, on account of a military commission he had borne,-was b. at Groton, 1731, m. Sarah , and was settled on the farm now owned by the heirs of the late Porter Kit- ridge, in an easterly section of the town. His lands lying along the banks of the Squannacook river, were easily reduced to a state of prolific. tillage, giving him large returns for his labor. At the time of his settlement as a farmer and housekeeper, and at a subsequent period, he was a large land-holder, and, in the parlance of that day, was called a rich man. But tradition says that at a later date he became reduced in property through the mean treatment of those in whom he had confided in his business transactions,-was reduced to poverty, and died in Lunenburg, a wayfarer, in the house of a Mrs. Moffit, who lived on the road from Shirley to North Leomin- ster. His remains lie in the old cemetery of the town, the location" of his grave and the date of his death being alike unknown to the present generation. He had ten children :
I. ABRAHAM, b. May, 1753, d. April 18, 1754. His remains are buried in the earliest grave of the old cemetery.
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
II. HANNAH, b. Jan. 20, 1755, m.
III. SIMON, b. May 22, 1757; he was twice m., (first) to Mary Pierce, pub. Sept. 7, 1777; she d., and he m. (second) Lydia Page, April 20, 1794. He had four children :
1. POLLY, b. at Shirley, m. Samuel Sever, a farmer of Charles- · town, N. H., pub. April 1, 1798, and had three children :
(1 ) Mary B., b. Nov. 25, 1799, m. Apr. 18, 1826, Ara Powers, b. 1797, son of Samuel and Chloe (Cooper) Powers, of Croyden, N. H. Mr. Powers resided in Charlestown, N. H., where he d. Sept. 29, 1865 ; his widow d. Nov. 2, 1868 ; children : I. "Mary Ellen," b. May, 1827 ; 2. "Samuel C.," b. Dec., 1832 ; 3. "George Holden," b. April 6, 1837, m. Jan. 1, 1863, Lo- raine Sophia Hubbard, b. Nov. 12, 1842, daughter of Edwin F. and Hannah Hubbard, of Charlestown, N. H., r. Charlestown ; children : I. George Clifford, b. Oct. 3, 1864 ; 2. Sadie Lo- raine, b. Nov. 11, 1866 ; 3. Ara Edwin, b. May 10, 1871 ;; 4. Franklin Hubbard, b. July 28, 1873.
(2.) Valeria A., b. May 6, 1805, m. Dea. John Putnam of Charlestown, N. H., b. June 24, 1799 ; he was deacon of the church of the South Parish in Charlestown for many years, and d. Sept. 3, 1865 ; Mrs. Putnam d. July 31, 1871 ; chil- dren : I. "John," b. Jan. 28, 1829, m. Oct. 2, 1854, Rebecca Winter, daughter of Sanford and Rosalinda (Reckard) Winter ; he d. Aug. 15, 1858 ; his wife, Rebecca, d. 1859 ; they had one child : 1. George, b. Feb. 2, 1856 ; 2. " Valeria Annette," b. June 17, 1833, m. (first) Sept. 18, 1860, George Bond ; m. (second) Oct. 30, 1872, William Daggett ; 3. "Rosetta Mary," b. May 19, 1835, m. Sept. 18, 1860, Franklin W. Putnam, b. Nov. 27, 1832, son of Nathan P. and Nancy (Grinnell) Put- nam, of Charlestown, N. H .; children : 1. Augusta, b. Dec. 10, 1869 ; 4. "Wesley D.," b. Nov. 16, 1840, m. Nov. 16, 1863, Mary J. Parks ; children : 1. Mary Belle, b. Feb. 3, 1865.
(3.) Louisa J., b. Nov. 6, 1809, m. Nahum Dodge, son of Elijah and Sarah (Jackson) Dodge of Stoddard, N. H. ; he was accidentally injured by the caving in of a bank of earth, which caused his death. He had three children : I. "Me- lissa L.," b. May 27, 1832, m. Oct. 10, 1854, William H. Hamlin, b. Oct. 9, 1832, son of Ashbel and Mary (Grout) Hamlin, of Charlestown, N. H. ; their children were : I. Fred W., b. July 24, 1855 ; 2. Louise J., b. Sept. 22, 1857 ; 3. Mary E., b. Dec. 6, 1862 ; 4. Walter H., b. April 15, 1868 ; 5. Myrtle B., b. May 10, 1875, d. May 4, 1876 ; 2. "Hosea Nahum," b. June 17, 1838, m. Sept. 10, 1862, Lucy Ann Breed, b. Sept. 10, 1842 ; children : 1. Prescott N., b. July 4, 1863, d. Aug. 20, 1863 ; 2. Charles N., b. March 6, 1866, d. Nov. 8, 1867 ; 3. Emma L., b. July 28, 1867 ; 4. Josie, b. July 25, 1868, d. Sept. 16, 1868; 5. Nahum Charlie, b. July 16, 1870. Mr. Hosea N. Dodge is a farmer of Charlestown,
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GENEALOGY .- HOLDEN.
N. H. 3. "Arvilla," m. John W. Fisk, son of Aaron and Hannah (Laughton) Fisk, of Charlestown, N. H., r. South Acworth, N. H .; children : 1. Algine Aaron; 2. Leon Nahum ; 3. Flora.
2. SIMON, b. June 27, 1780, m. Mary Kezer of Shirley, Nov. 1I, 1804, d. June 9, 1805.
3. NATHAN, b. at Shirley, 1782, m. Delilah Dickerson, daughter of James Dickerson of Shirley, July 8, 1804, d. April 13, 1807 ; he had one child :
(1.) Simon, b. Sept. 14, 1804, m. Sarah Hill Teal of Charles- town, 1829, r. Woburn .(1882) ; he has had three children ; I. "Albert Parker," b. Aug. 22, 1829, m. Lydia Shaw of Chicopee, July 1, 1858 ; he has had two children : 1. Alfred Simon, b. April 4, 1859, d. Aug. 4, 1859 ; 2. Albert Luther, b. April 4, 1859, d. Aug. 28, 1859 ; 2. "Sarah Frances," b. March 26, 1835, m. Benjamin Franklin Chamberlain, Jan. 26, 1859, d. May 18, 1861 ; 3. "George Whitfield," b. Sept. 27, 1840, m. Savilla C. Quimby, July 22, 1866 ; he has had four children : I. Ida May, b. May 1, 1867, d. May 9, 1867 ; 2. Sarah Maria, b. March 26, 1869 ; 3. Amy Jeanette, b. Feb. 17, 1871, d. in one week; 4. Bertha Eliza, b. March 30, 1874.
4. LUTHER, b. July, 1786, m. Delilah, the widow of his elder brother, Nathan, pub. April 19, 1812, d. Sept. 1, 1830 ; he had seven children :
(1.) Luther, b. Jan. 12, 1813, m. Lucy Phelps of Shirley, May 27, 1835, d. March 4, 1865. Mr. Holden was a blacksmith by profession, and he united in his character, industry, fru- gality, honesty and perseverance, and was thus enabled to live himself and assist others to live also; in all his ways and works he was a manifestation of humility and brotherly kind- ness. He had two children : i. "Charles," b. July 30, 1836, m. Mary Shattuck of Townsend, Jan. 1, 1861, r. at Shirley, and is engaged in his father's profession ; 2. "Susan," b. June 27, 1840, d. March 10, 1853.
(2.) Alvin, b. at Shirley, Nov. 30, 1814, m. Elizabeth Balcom of Shirley, Jan. 1, 1842, had one child, and d. July 28, 1858 ; his child, I. "Ellen Elizabeth," m. Lewis Goss of Cambridge, and d. Nov., 1875.
(3.) Harriet, b. Nov. 6, 1816, m. Luther Fuller of Fitchburg, had several children, and d. at Lunenburg, May 19, 1852.
(4.) Nathan, b. at Shirley, March 6, 1819, m. Adeline Page, daughter of Mr. Simon Page of Shirley, Dec. 8, 1840, r. Shirley (1882). He has had seven children : I. "Mary Ade- line," b. at Shirley, Feb. 9, 1841, m. Francis W. Hodgman, Feb. 16, 1858, r. Shirley (1882). She has had six children : I. Frederick Simon, b. Oct. 20, 1859, d. May 7, 1861 ; 2. Mary Augusta, b. Nov. 9, 1862 ; 3. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 29, 1865 ; 4. George Warren, b. Aug. 3, 1868 ; 5. Harry, b.
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
1872 ; 6. Charles A., b. Nov. 20, 1876. 2. "Eliza," b. Aug. 14, 1842, m. Charles Barrett, April 30, 1860 ; she has had four children : I. Frank M., b. at Shirley, March 19, 1861 ; 2. Fernando H., b. at Athol, Sept. 27, 1867 ; 3. Willie N., b. at Lunenburg, May 8, 1869, d. at Shirley, Oct. 3, 1873 ; 4. Charles, b. at Shirley, Dec. 28, 1873, d. Feb. 1, 1874. 3. "Hannah," b. April 16, 1844; she has been twice m., (first) to James A. Hartwell of Groton, Aug. 20, 1862 ; he d. in the army ; m. (second) William Craig, July 22, 1864, r. Ayer (1882). 4. "Francis," b. Aug. 7, 1845, d. Sept. II, 1845. 5. "Luther," b. Sept. 16, 1846, m. Julia Butterfield of Pepperell, Dec. 17, 1876, r. Pepperell (1882). 6. "Sarah," b. July 16, 1849, m. Frank Craig of Westford, July 2, 1870, d. at Chenoa, Ill., Oct., 1876 ; she had one child : I. Edessa Laolett, b. at Chenoa, July 21, 1876. 7. "Julia Ann," b. Feb. 25, 1851, m. Charles Craig, Feb. 22, 1867 ; she has had four children : I. Julia Ann, b. at Halifax, N. S., Dec. 22, 1869, d. Dec. 25, 1869 ; 2. Robert E., b. at Shirley, Jan., 1871, d. Dec .. 4, 1871 ; 3. Alice Jane, b. at Chicago, Ill., Jan. II, 1872 ; 4. Lewis E., b. at Ayer, April 25, 1875.
(5.) Sullivan, b. May 13, 1821, d. at Boston, of small pox, July, 1845.
(6.) Eliza, b. May 14, 1821, d. May 16, 1823.
(7.) Caroline, b. Oct. 5, 1826, has been twice m., (first) to John Balcom of Shirley ; she was divorced 1850; m. (second) S. P. Lord of Ellsworth, Me., 1851, r. Ellsworth.
IV. SUSANNA, b. June 25, 1759, m. Isaac Foster of Lunenburg, pub. Feb. 17, 1782.
V. ABRAHAM, b. June 25, 1761. .
VI. HEZEKIAH, b. May 5, 1764, drowned July 27, 1767.
VII. MIRIAM, b. July 23, 1766, m. Jonathan Foster of Mason, N. H., pub. Jan. 19, 1781 ; she had two children :
1. JONATHAN, b. Aug. 5, 1782.
2. MIRIAM, b. June 12, 1785.
VIII. SARAH, b. Nov. 3, 1769, m. Ephraim Gilmore, Feb. 5, 1789.
IX. JAMES, b. Feb. 19, 1772, m., and had four children.
X. JEMIMA, b. May 8, 1774.
Dolden, Asa,4 (Nathaniel,3 Stephen,2 Richard.1) His mother's maiden name was Abigail Stone, and his father and mother were m. March 24, 1713. They had seven children, of whom Asa was the youngest ; he was b. at Groton, Aug. 23, 1732. He was twice m., (first) to Dorothy Wait of Groton, Dec. 6, 1757; she d. July 5, 1807; he m. (second) Sybil Lakin of Pepperell, Oct. 28, 1810 ; he d. June 23, 1813. He probably came to Shirley when he was
469
GENEALOGY .- HOLDEN.
twenty-one years of age, about the time the town was incorporated, and settled upon land that probably had been in the possession of his ancestors back to Richard, the immigrant, and which have been an inheritance of the family through all its generations unto the present day. It is now owned by Almond M. Holden, who is of the fourth generation from Asa, and the seventh generation from Richard.
Asa Holden was a man of great public benefit during his active years, and was highly respected by persons of every age. He might justly be called a representative man in the town. He served his fellow-citizens as one of their selectmen for fifteen years, and had other important trusts committed to his charge. He had nine children, all b. at Shirley.
I. ASA, b. Dec. 5, 1758 ; he was one of the gallant eighty who practically answered the call of the 19th of April, 1775 ; he was then seventeen years of age. He also enlisted, seven days after- wards, into the regular service for eight months. He m. Dorcas, a daughter of Dea. Hezekiah and Margaret Sawtell, and d. Jan. 24, 1850. He had six children :
1. LYDIA, b. Nov. 19, 1785, m. Rev. L. Pierce of Alstead, N. H., became a resident of Bloomfield, Ohio, and had one child :
(1.) "Lydia, d. Jan. 26, 1820.
2. DORCAS, b. at Hancock, N. H., June 6, 1787, m. Solomon Woodward, b. 1784, a blacksmith of Springfield, Mass., where she d. leaving sons :
(I.) Erastus. (2.) Nathaniel. (3.) Solomon. (4.) Asa, m.
3. ASA, b. at Hancock, Dec. 11, 1788, d. June 1, 1795.
4. AARON, b. at Hancock, Nov. 22, 1790, m. Lucy White of Langdon, N. H., Jan. 19, 1815, d. Oct. 17, 1874. He had four children :
(1.) Nathaniel C., b. Nov. 7, 1815, m. Sarah Crocker of Charlestown, N. H., May 14, 1841. He had six children, and they were all born at Charlestown : I. "Lucella T.," b. Aug. 23, 1842, m. Theodore Allen of Bellows Falls, Vt., had two children : 1. Carrie ; 2. Charlie. 2. "Charles A.," b. March 19, 1845, d. Aug. 18, 1846. 3. "Sarah E.," b. Oct. 14, 1846, m. George Mellish of Walpole, N. H .; she had three children : 1. Bertie, killed at the age of three years ; 2. Emma ; 3. Park Clinton. 4. "Georgianna," b. Dec. 6, 1847, m. George Smith. 5. "Ellen M.," b. Jan. 27, 1850, m. Albert Whitcomb of Fitchburg, and had two children : I. Charlie ; 2. Nettie. 6. "Emma J.," b. May 6, 1852, d. Sept. 8, 1855.
(2.) Lucy Ann, b. June 26, 1822, m. David C. Whitcomb of Fitchburg, July 8, 1849, d. Aug. 9, 1853.
(3.) Lydia, b. Oct. 26, 1824, d. Dec. 4, 1870, unm.
(4.) Oscar S., b. Oct. 19, 1835, m. Frances E. Dickey of Lang- don, N. H., Oct. 10, 1860 ; he has had four children : I. "Leola A.," b. March 31, 1862 ; 2. "M. Liona," b. May 15, 1864 ; 3. " Harvey D.," b. Nov. 30, 1866 ; 4. "Frank Oscar," b. April 25, 1875.
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
5. NATHANIEL, b. at Hancock, Oct. 28, 1792 ; he was twice m., (first) to Frances Buell, m. (second) Julia Shipman ; he had seven children :
(I.) Sarah Maria, b. Feb. 17, 1830, d. July 3, 1834.
(2.) Henry White, b. June 26, 1831, d. April 16, 1838.
(3.) Frances Eliza, b. May 15, 1833, d. July 28, 1834.
(4.) Julia, b. Jan. 22, 1835.
(5.) Shipman Nathaniel, b. Aug. 31, 1838.
(6.) Charles Asa, b. Oct. 21, 1840, d. Dec. 7, 1863.
(7.) Joseph Waite, b. Nov. 16, 1843.
6. SARAH, b. at Hancock, N. H., m. Silas Angier of Acworth, N. H., Oct. 7, 1816, and had eleven children :
(1.) Sarah J., b. at Weathersfield, Vt., July 15, 1817 ; she was twice m., (first) to Benjamin F. Wilson of Troy, Vt. ; he d. at Langdon, N. H .; m. (second) of Troy, Vt., r. Troy (1877).
(2.) Olive, b. April 12, 1819, d. young.
(3.) Elmira, b. Aug. 29, 1820, m. George W. Warner, May 7, 1840.
(4.) Silas, b. April 25, 1822, m. Laura Stoughton, March 15, 1848.
(5.) Samuel N., b. June 23, 1824, m. Harriet Decker, Nov. 25, 1847.
(6.) Asa H., b. May 2, 1826.
(7.) Rawson, b. 1828, m. Harriet Cole.
(8.) Dorcas, b. Aug. 17, 1830, m. Albert Hodson.
(9.) Mary L., b. Nov. 21, 1832, d. young.
(10.) Louisa, b. June 11, 1836, d. young.
(II.) Calista, b. Oct. 16, 1838, m. Jerry Hodskins.
II. PHINEHAS, b. at Shirley, July 14, 1760, m. Miriam, daughter of Jonas and Esther (Patterson) Longley, Nov. 25, 1789, d. in middle life, when, as it would seem, there might be many years of usefulness before him. He had five children :
1. ALMA ELLERY, b. at Shirley, Jan. 26, 1792 ; she has been twice m., (first) to Edward Tyler, March 2, 1814; he d. Dec. 26, 1823 ; m. (second) Samuel Bacon, May 2, 1826; he d. April 23, 1868 ; she remained a widow unto Aug. 15, 1879, and d. She had nine children, all b. at Harvard.
(1.) Alma E., b. Jan. 5, 1815, m. Dr. Jacob S. Eaton, r. Har- vard (1877).
: (2.) Susan, b. July 30, 1816, m. Luke Pollard, Jr., Nov. 23, 1836, d. March 7, 1839.
(3.) John Flavel, b. June 30, 1818, d. Feb. 8, 1844.
(4.) James Richards, b. May 29, 1820.
(5.) Harriet Newell, b. May 29, 1820, m. Dr. Samuel B. Kelley, March 5, 1845.
(6.) Elizabeth, b. June 21, 1823, m. Luke Pollard, Jr., Nov., 1841.
(7.) Lucia Harlow, b. Jan. 31, 1827, d. Dec. 26, 1850.
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GENEALOGY .- HOLDEN.
(8.) Samuel Newton, b. Jan. 25, 1829, m. Sarah E. Harlow, Feb. 13, 1855.
(9.) Joseph Austin, b. Nov. 4, 1835, m. Cornelia Chase, Jan. 25, 1870, d. Feb. 20, 1875.
2. MIRIAM, b. Oct. 9, 1793, m. Ellis Harlow, Jan. 12, 1814. She has had six children, all of whom were b. at Harvard. She d. at Ayer, May 3, 1876 ; her husband d. July 24, 1875.
(I.) Phinehas Holden, b. Dec. 14, 1814, m. Nancy Hapgood of Harvard, April 17, 1838; he has had nine children: I. "Ann E.," b. March 23, 1839; 2. "Charles E.," b. Nov. 6, 1840, d. March 2, 1864 ; 3. "Edward O.," b. Dec. 25, 1842, m. Mary Lapoole, Feb. 15, 1872 ; he had one child : I. Ellis Bacon, b. Oct. 5, 1873 ; 4. "Clara M.," b. Jan., 1845 ; 5. "Susan M.," b. April 23, 1847, d. Dec. 25, 1871 ; 6. “Ade- line S.," b. July 21, 1849 ; 7. "George H.," b. Dec. 10, 1851 ; 8. "John B.," b. June 28, 1854 ; 9. "Mary W.," b. Dec. 23, 1857.
(2.) Miriam H., b. Sept. 21, 1816, m. Christopher L. Willard, May II, 1843, r. Ayer (1882). She has had four children : I. "Andrew L.," b. Oct. 10, 1849, d. Aug. 21, 1850; 2. "Etta F.," b. Oct. 15, 1850, m. Charles F. Reed, Nov. 27, 1870, d. at Ayer, Oct. 30, 1876 ; 3. "Dorcasina H.," b. March 27, 1854, d. Feb. 21, 1861; 4. "Carrie A.," b. April 26, 1857.
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(3.) William H., b. July 14, 1818 ; he has been twice m., (first) to Phebe K. George, Jan. 1, 1852 ; she d. May 29, 1855 ; m. (second) Sarah Rogers, March 24, 1857, r. Ayer (1876).
(4.) Edward E., b. Oct. 17, 1820, m. Catharine W. Bowker, April 29, 1844, d. May 31, 1858. He had five children : I. " Ella G.," b. Jan. 10, 1846 ; 2. "George E.," b. Oct. 31, 1847 ; 3. "Catharine E.," b. Nov. 27, 1849 ; 4. "Edwin P.," b. May 23, 1854 ; 5. "Andrew. F.," b. May 24, 1857.
(5.) Andrew J., b. April 19, 1824, m. Martha Hosmer, June 18, 1848 ; he had one child : 1. "Fred H.," b. Feb. 18, 1851, d. Jan. 24, 1870.
(6.) Dorcasina B., b. April 9, 1826, m. O. R. Whiting, June 10, 1853, d. April 13, 1854 ; she had one child : I. "William H.," b. April 5, 1854.
3. HENRIETTA, b. July 18, 1796, m. John Park of Harvard, Oct. 19, 1820, removed to Shirley, Oct., 1842, and d. Jan. 22, 1882 ; she had six children :
(1.) William Moody, b. at Harvard, Nov. 8, 1821, m. Julia Ann Worcester of Shirley, April 23, 1845, r. Shirley (1882) ; he has had six children : I. "Emily Madora," b. Nov. 9, 1846, d. Sept. 7, 1849 ; 2. "Milton Willard," b. June 27, 1850, d. Dec. 2, 1853 ; 3. "Francis Eugene," b. July 8, 1855 ; 4. " Ellen Worcester," b. Sept. 16, 1857 ; 5. "Mary Augusta," b. April, 1862 : 6. "Abby Newell," b. Sept. 28, 1864.
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
(2.) Mary Ellery, b. at Harvard, July 16, 1825, m. Frederic Flagg of New Ipswich, N. H., April 30, 1844 ; she has had six children : 1. "Frederic Eugene," b. March 7, 1845, d. at Belle Isle, a soldier in the Federal service at the war of the Rebellion ; 2. "William Edgar," b. Jan. 19, 1849, d. July, 1865 ; 3. "Marietta," b. Feb. 17, 1850, d. Aug. 7, 1850 ; 4. "James Clarence," b. June 5, 1851, d. Dec. 24, 1853 ; 5. "John Calvin Park," b. April 9, 1854, d. Dec. 19, 1858 ; 6. " Ann Maria," b. Nov. 15, 1855. Mr. Flagg, the father of these children, d. at Mount Pleasant, S. C., Oct. 29, 1876.
(3.) Elvira Longley, b. at Harvard, Feb. 12, 1828, m. Ephraim Tainter of Springfield, Nov. 30, 1848, r. Philadelphia, Pa. (1876.) She has had three children : I. "Eldora," b. at Philadelphia, Sept. 7, 1849, d. May 12, 1851 ; 2. "Carrie Louisa," b. at Worcester, Sept. 27, 1852, d. Jan. 4, 1853 ; 3. " Mary Ella," b. at Worcester, Sept. 10, 1858.
(4.) Ann Henrietta, b. Oct. 21, 1830, m. James B. Cutler of Lancaster, June 1, 1852, d. Dec. 23, 1861 ; her husband d. Jan. 7, 1863. She had four children : I. "Georgiana Park," b. Oct. 25, 1853, d. Oct. 20, 1854 ; 2. "Georgietta," b. Aug. 25, 1855, d. June 2, 1857 ; 3. "Annette," b. Feb. 13, 1858 ; 4. "Edward Clifford," b. May 1, 1860.
(5.) John Calvin, b. May 28, 1833, d. Feb. 9, 1854.
(6.) Frances Maria, b. at Harvard, Sept. 2, 1836, m. Samuel F. Bond of Worcester, Dec. 8, 1859 ; she has had two chil- dren : 1. "Annie Eliza," b. Nov. 5, 1861 ; 2. "Fannie Park," b. Jan. 14, 1869. Mr. Bond d. Jan. 27, 1873 ; his widow r. at Worcester (1880).
4. ABEL LONGLEY, b. Dec. 21, 1800, m. Olive Davis of Groton, April 19, 1825 ; he buried his wife Aug. 2, 1842, and then left his native town and removed to Groton, where he remained until his death, June 26, 1872.
In the character of Mr. Holden his acquaintances could witness as perfect a display of the virtues of humanity and the graces of Christian faith as are usually found on earth. His good common sense and moral excellence were happily blended in all his ways and works, and were judiciously exhibited in his relations as son and brother, and happily so in those of husband and father. In his intercourse as a citizen, he was generous, tender-hearted, and scrupulously just. He carried all these qualities into old age, and left at his death, in his example, a rich legacy for the improvement of all his surviving friends. Mr. Holden had two children, b. in Shirley :
(I.) Adolphus Longley, b. July 9, 1830, r. Groton, unm. (1882.) (2.) Miriam Olive, b. May 8, 1832, m. Jason F. Hill, April 27, 1854, r. Ayer (1882). She has had two children : I. "George Holden," b. July 29, 1856, m. Clara Frances Wood, April 9, 1882, r. Ayer, a druggist by occupation ; 2. "Effie Etta," b. May 13, 1866, d. Dec. 13, 1870.
473
GENEALOGY .- HOLDEN.
5. JONAS, b. Oct. 4, 1802, m. Eliza, daughter of Nathaniel and Betsey (Atherton) Holden of Shirley, Dec. 14, 1831, r. in Shirley (1882), in the enjoyment of a green old age. He has had two children, both born at Shirley.
(1.) Edward T., b. April 24, 1834, d. May 3, 1845.
(2.) Stillman Parker, b. Nov. 10, 1840, m. Lydia Maria Chandler, daughter of Henry P. Chandler of Lawrence, Feb. 3, 1874, r. Shirley (1882), has two children : I. "Leon Chan- dler," b. at Shirley, Nov. 23, 1874 ; 2. "Cora Leslie," b. Oct. 22, 1879.
III. NATHANIEL, b. July 9, 1762 ; he was twice m., (first) to Betsey, daughter of Amos and Lydia (Gould) Atherton, March 27, 1794; she d. Jan. 21, 1829 ; m. (second) Mrs. Elizabeth Tuttle of Acton, Oct. 11, 1831 ; he d. Nov. 30, 1842.
Perhaps no man among the residents of Shirley, during the first century of its existence, ever exerted a wider and wiser influence than Mr. Holden, both in public and domestic life. His public popularity was not the gift of a day, nor the effluence of an hour, but he was a lasting favorite of the public because he proved him- self worthy of their favor. His ability to help and guide in the deliberations and operations of his fellow citizens, was amply sus- tained by the fact that he was so frequently and so long called into their service. He was a justice of the peace during a long period. He was a selectman for nineteen years. He was five times elected to represent the town in the State Legislature, and that too at a period when to send a representative to the State court was a strange work for a small town ; and he was a delegate to the con- vention of the State in 1821, to amend the Constitution of the Commonwealth.
He also maintained a sacred regard for the institutions of religion ; was a professor of religion, and received an official appointment in the church, which he did not formally accept, though he discharged the duties belonging to it while he lived. The failure of the pres- ent generation to fulfil the example of their fathers, in church observance, is a loss which will eventually be seriously deplored. Mr. Holden had six children, all born in Shirley.
1. CALVIN, b. July 19, 1795, d. Aug. 30, 1796.
2. BETSEY, b. Jan. 29, 1797, m. Daniel Dodge, July 3, 1812, d. April 2, 1864 ; she had four children, all b. in Shirley.
(1.) Harriet E., b. Oct. 14, 1812, m. James Holden of Marietta, Ohio, Oct. 12, 1857, r. Marietta, (1882).
(2.) Sarah Jane, b. 1814, d. Sept. 9, 1831.
(3.) Augusta L., b. 1823, m. Robert Somerby, June 24, 1847, d. Jan. 12, 1854.
(4.) Frances S., b. August, 1828, d. Jan. 15, 1829.
3. NATHANIEL, b. Jan. 21, 1800, he has been twice married, (first) to Rhoda Maria, daughter of Stephen and Rhoda (Parker) Longley of Shirley, pub. July 21, 1822, she d. October, 1831, m. (second) Catharine Livermore, daughter of David and Lucinda (Kelsey) 60
474
HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
Livermore, Dec. 17, 1835, d. at Ayer, Oct. 1, 1874. Mr. Holden was an industrious and thriving farmer. He was one of the first in town to break from the old conventional methods of agricul- ture, and strike out into new paths ; was not hasty to experiment unreasonably, nor anxious to reject old methods because they were old, but by combining the wisdom of past experience with new discoveries, he was enabled to gradually improve his system of action, and produce favorable results. He thus confuted the supposition, so current, that "there is no profit in farming ;" for he bountifully sustained the wants of his household, and made yearly additions to his invested capital, so that he died, compara- tively, a rich man. In this respect he outdid the enterprise of his father, of whose landed estates he was the inheritor. But while he excelled his parent at this point, he fell far behind him in relation to those public and social duties, which the good of society seems to demand. In early manhood, he accepted, at the call of his fellow citizens, certain public trusts, the require- ments of which he discharged with fidelity, but he soon with- drew from all outside services and confined himself to the obligations of domestic life, beyond the limits of which he did not often depart. Mr. Holden had seven children, all b. in Shirley.
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