USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Royalston > The history of the town of Royalston, Massachusetts > Part 30
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Jacob Estey, son of Isaac and Sarah (Gould) Estey was born Aug. 10, 1744; he came to Royalston with his father, and inherited the homestead and also succeeded his father as deacon of the Baptist church. He was a man of importance in town affairs, serving on the board of selectmen for several years, also assessor and school committee, and was on many important committees. He married Sarah Chamberlain. They both died in 1829, aged respectively eighty-five and eighty years. The children of Jacob and Sarah (Chamberlain) Estey were: Isaac, Sarah. Israel, John, Joseph and Polley.
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HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
Isaac Estey, the eldest son and his brother Israel settled in Hinsdale, N. H., where they built a saw mill and engaged in the manufacture of lumber. The enterprise, however, proved far from prosperous, and as the statute law then permitted im- prisonment for debt, under its provisions Isaac Estey was arrested and thrown into the county jail as a debtor. Upon his release he resorted to agriculture for the support of himself and family, and passed the remainder of his life in that pursuit. His wife was Patty Forbes, daughter of James and Abigail Forbes, who bore him eight children.
Jacob Estey, sixth child of Isaac and Patty (Forbes) Estey, was born in Hinsdale, N. H., Sept. 30, 1814. When four years old he was adopted by a wealthy family in Hinsdale, and after spending nine years under their roof, at the age of thirteen he left his foster parents and walked to Worcester, Mass., where one of his older brothers resided. The following four years he labored upon farms in the towns of Rutland, Millbury and vicinity. When seventeen years old he apprenticed himself to a firm in Worcester in order to learn the plumber's trade and the manufacture of lead pipe. Before he attained his majority he resolved to establish himself in business and for this purpose he 'removed to Brattleboro, Vt., where he commenced busi- ness' with his hard earned savings of $200 as sole capital. From the beginning he was successful, and established a reputation for ability and probity which he always retained. In 1848 he erected a large building and rented the upper part of it to the proprietors of a small melodeon factory, but as they were unable to pay the rent, Mr. Estey accepted in 1850 an interest in their business in payment of his claims and a few years afterwards purchased the entire establishment. He devoted much time to this new industry and in the course of a few years thought best to dispose of his plumbing business and give his attention ex- clusively to the making of organs. He erected a second and larger building, but in the fall of 1857 both buildings were destroyed by fire. He rebuilt at once, but in 1864 the new establishment was also destroyed by fire, but he promptly erected a much larger building. In 1866 his son-in-law, Levi K. Fuller, and his son, Julius J. Estey, were admitted to part- nership with himself. In 1869 a new location was secured and large buildings erected to accommodate the rapidly increasing business, which developed into Brattleboro's leading and best
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THE ESTEY FAMILY
known industry. Mr. Estey was always a strong advocate of the republican party and in 1868 and 1869 represented Brattle- boro in the state legislature and was also a member of the state senate from Windham county in the biennial sessions of 1872 and 1874. He was one of the principal movers in the organiza- tion of the First Baptist church in Brattleboro in 1840 and was during his life one of its most active and liberal supporters, holding the position of deacon, as did his grand-father and great grandfather in the early history of the Royalston church. His death on April 15, 1890, was a great loss to the community in which he had lived so many years. He was married May 2, 1837, to Desdemona, daughter of David and Anna (Kendall) Wood of Brattleboro. They had three children, the eldest of whom died young; the others were : Abby E., and Julius J. Estey.
THE GARFIELD FAMILY
The first member of the Garfield family connected with Royalston history was Joshua Garfield who was born in Shrews. bury, Mass., Dec. 23, 1751. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and went to Warwick where he bought a farm, which he after- wards exchanged for one in Royalston to which place he moved 'n 1784. He married Abigail Rawson of Sutton, Mass. They had eleven children, the six youngest of whom were born in Royalston. The oldest son, Charles, settled in Ohio about 1830; . Artemas and Caleb settled in Vermont; Joshua, twin brother of Caleb, died young, as did John, twin brother of Abigail; Lucy married Gideon Horton Dec. 16, 1801; Nelly married David Cook July 16, 1815; Hannah married Eliphalet Chase July 28, 1813; and Anna married Sylvester Walker of Townsend, Vt., March 31, 1813, Joshua Garfield died May 6, 1828, aged seventy-six years, and Abigail his wife died March 15, 1831, aged seventy-five years.
Moses Garfield, second son of Joshua and Abigail (Rawson) Garfield, was born in Warwick Dec. 7, 1777. He married Mary, daughter of Aaron and Mary (Woodbury) Bliss, Feb. 6, 1799; she died Aug. 3, 1836. They bought the farm previously owned by his father, Joshua. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was a farmer in Royalston all his active life.
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HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
Moses and Mary (Bliss) Garfield had twelve children: Ira, Eri, Mary and Joshua died in infancy; Gardner, born Nov. 5, 1805; Ansel H., April 21, 1807; Andrew B., Jan. 8, 1809; Susan M., March 25, 1811; Nancy A., Feb. 9, 1813, Moses; Oct. 11, 1816; Abigail R., July 16, 1820; Julia A., Aug. 17, 1825; Gard- ner Garfield married Fanny Kennedy; Ansel H. married Elvira Raymond Nov. 8, 1838. These brothers owned adjoining farms and occupied a large house, each owning half, situated at the "city" so called. Gardner died Mar. 2, 1883, aged seventy- seven years and Fanny, his wife, died Nov. 16, 1888, at the age of seventy-nine years. Ansel H. died Nov. 14, 1857, aged fifty and Elvira his wife Oct. 8, 1852, aged forty-nine.
Andrew Bliss Garfield, son of Moses and Mary (Bliss) Garfield, born at Royalston, Jan. 8, 1809. He received his education in the schools of his native town and worked during his youth and early manhood on the farm. He learned the trade of millwright while a young man. He settled in Mill- bury, Mass., and worked on the construction and changes of many of the mills of the Blackstone valley, in which he accu- mulated a fortune. He married Jan. 8, 1835, Hannah D. Dwinell of Millbury; she died April 3, 1892. They had six children: Moses Dwinell, Andrew Paine, Hannah Eliza, Julia God- dard, Susan Maria and Leonard Dwinell. Abigail R. Garfield married Wilcut Harwood of Barre, Mass., in 1844. He fol- lowed the occupation of a farmer all his life. They had two children: Julia Maria, wife of David B. Hilton of Barre; and Emma, wife of Andrew P. Garfield. Mrs. Harwood died April 7, 1900, the last one of the twelve children of Moses and Mary Bliss Garfield.
Moses Garfield, Jr., son of Moses and Mary (Reed) Garfield, was born in Royalston Oct. 11, 1816. He married Mary Salina Boom of Richmond, N. H., Dec. 21, 1848. He died Oct. 9, 1899; and his wife, July 14, 1899. They had five children: Mary Abbie, born Dec. 13, 1849, and died in Royalston June 20, 1880, of consumption, she had taught twenty-one terms of school; Ellen Salina, born Jan. 25, 1851, and after teaching school for a few years married James C. Prentice of Warwick. She died in Tully July 28, 1910; Julia Elvira, born in Richmond, N. H., she taught school for awhile and then married Charles Richardson of Royalston, they had one son, Charles Ernest; Fannie Maria, died in infancy; Flora Jane, born in Royalston Oct. 6, 1860,
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MOSES GARFIELD, JR.
WILLIAM W. CLEMENT
STEPHEN RICHARDSON
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THE GARFIELD FAMILY
after teaching a few terms of school she married, Dec. 24, 1881, Thomas C. Butterworth of Royalston as his second wife. Mr. Butterworth was born in Worcester Jan. 17, 1849, and was a steam-fitter by trade. They had four children. Mr. Butter- worth died Jan. 16, 1912. The farm is now carried on by a son, Spencer Garfield Butterworth, who was born in Royalston Oct. 30, 1895.
THE SHEBNA PAINE FAMILY
Shebna Paine was born in Greenwich, Mass., Nov. 4, 1801. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Truro, Mass., on Cape Cod. When he was about 16 years old his father was lost at sea and on the son devolved the care of his widowed mother and an invalid brother. Later on he learned the shoe- maker's trade serving an apprenticeship for several years. About 1828 he came to Royalston and bought a small tract of land of Nathaniel Bragg on which he built a shop and his house. He worked at his trade for about twenty-five years and in that time made the shoes for most of the people for miles around. His health at that time forbade his work in-doors, and the rest of his life he spent farming. He was married Jan. 5, 1830, to Almira Conant of Warwick. She was born April 21, 1806, in Warwick, and her ancestors on both sides were among the earliest settlers of that town. He brought her to the home he had built for her where they both spent the rest of their long and useful lives. She died Jan. 12, 1878, and he died May 4, 188 9, aged 87 years, six months. They were devoted workers in the cause of religion, education and temperance and were held in high esteem by the people of the town. Six children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy. The children were: Charles G. G., Sarah Leonard, Mary Elizabeth and Ellen Almira.
Charles G. G. Paine, oldest child of Shebna and Almira (Conant) Paine, was born Sept. 30, 1833, in Royalston. He fitted for college at Royalston and Ware high schools and grad- uated from Amherst college in 1861, being Salutatorian of his class. After graduating he was principal of the Grafton high school and later teacher of Greek and Latin in the Highland Military Academy, Worcester, principal of the Cambridge
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HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
Classical institute, superintendent of the schools of the American missionary association for the Freedmen, Hampton, Va., teacher in the Boston Latin school and of mental science in the Chicago high school, and was teaching in Detroit, Mich., when he died suddenly of heart failure in 1892. He married, Dec. 31, 1863, Linda T., daughter of John T. Whitney of Milton, Mass. He was survived by one daughter, Lillie W. Paine, who has been a successful teacher in the high school of Detroit for nearly twenty-five years.
Sarah L. Paine was born Aug. 21, 1835. She was a student at Mount Holyoke seminary, and from there went to Ashtabula, Ohio, where she taught for five years in the grammar school of that city. She married Amos C. Fish, a flour dealer and prominent business man of that place, Aug. 21, 1861. He died in 1891. They had an adopted daughter, Kittie Clover Fish, who resides with her mother, and one son, Amos P. Fish, an electrician of Philadelphia, Pa.
Mary E. Paine was born Aug. 10, 1841. She was a student at Mt. Holyoke seminary and in 1864 graduated from the state normal school at Salem. She had planned to spend her time in teaching, but her health did not allow her to do so. She still resides at the old home which has been in the Paine family about eighty-five years. She is especially interested in the study of the birds of Royalston.
Ellen A. Paine was born Nov. 30, 1844. She graduated from the Salem normal school in 1864, after which she spent several years in teaching. She married Barnum A. Searle of Southampton, Mass., Nov. 12, 1872. He was a successful farmer in Royalston and Athol for over thirty years. Several years ago they removed to his native town of Southampton. Two children were born to them in Royalston.
Sarah Paine Searle, born Nov. 11, 1874, married Fred N. Clark, a farmer of Easthampton, Mass., they have one daughter, Zoe Searle Clark.
Frederic L. Searle, born Nov. 13, 1876, is a machinist in Athol, Mass. He married Ruth A. Randall of Athol, and they have a son, Randall Brooks Searle.
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THE PRATT FAMILY
THE HEYWOOD FAMILY
Silas Heywood married Hannah Goddard of Shrewsbury, Mass., Nov. 11, 1779.' He settled on a farm in Royalston in the northeast part of the town about 1780. His family was one of the sufferers in the epidemic of 1795, five of his children dying in that year. He was succeeded on his farm by his son, Silas, Jr., who married Hannah Heywood of Winchendon.
Solymon Heywood married Harriet Holman Nov, 25, 1829. Their children were: Sidney Holman, born Jan. 24, 1831, and died Aug. 18, 1833; Stephen Holman, born Sept. 4, 1833; Sid- ney Solymon, born Oct. 30, 1839, Mary Jane, born Aug. 10, 1837; and Harriet Elizabeth, born Jan. 3, 1841.
Sidney Solymon Heywood enlisted in Co. A, 21st regiment Massachusetts volunteers. He served three years and was wounded three times. After the war he lived in Holyoke, Mass., New York City, and for many years in Jackson, Mich., where he had a large flour mill and was one of the prominent business men of the city, being president of the Eldred Milling Co. He married Clara Jane Chapin of Rochester in 1870. She died the same year and he married second, Mary Adelaide Lyman of Jackson in 1878. Mr. Heywood was a man quiet in manner, quaint in expression and impressed himself strongly in the affection and respect of all whom he was thrown in contact with. He died at Jackson June 17, 1911. He had three sons, Sidney and Stephen of Jackson, Harry of Indianapolis, Ind., and two daughters, Mrs. Gilbert Loomis of Detroit, and Mrs. John Bennet of Jackson. A sketch of Stephen Holman Heywood appears in the Biographical chapter. Harriet Elizabeth Hey- wood married Joseph P. Estabrook.
THE PRATT FAMILY
The place known for many years as the Pratt place on the road leading from Athol to Richmond, N. H., was first settled by Daniel Warren, and afterwards came into possession of Jabez Pratt, who had a blacksmith shop there and carried on business as long as he was able to work. He married Rebecca Shepardson July 23, 1799, and died July 21, 1847. They had five children: Alden, Daniel, Jabez, Sally and John.
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HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
1. Alden Pratt married Achsa Fisher, sister of Jason Fisher, Aug. 27, 1822. He was a farmer and lived on a farm near the Baptist Common; made acqueduct pipes. Afterwards lived in Petersham and Templeton where he worked in saw mill, running the old up and down saws. They had nine children: Julia, married George Harrington of Templeton; Christina, married Nahum Mace of Orange; Alfred, never married and died about thirty years of age; Miranda married Hammond Bosworth of Royalston; Mary, married Edward Prouty of Templeton; Ellen, died when a young woman; Emily, married Silas Bosworth of Royalston; George, married Cordelia Gay of Orange.
2. Daniel Pratt married Bathsheba Delva of Warwick. He lived on the home farm and cared for his father. After- wards lived in Petersham and was a teamster. They had thirteen children: Eunice, married a Shepardson of Capt. Mudge's company; Gilbert, married Julia Delana: they had two sons, Eugene O. Pratt now engaged in the hardware bus ness in Clinton, and J. Golan Pratt now engaged in the grocery busi- ness in Marlboro, Mass. Joel died when eighteen years old; Sally died young; John died when a boy; Sally became a cripple when sixteen years old and lived to be over seventy years of age; Hannah died young; Persis, married Levi Newton of New Salem; John married Alice Stone, and married (2) Jennie M. Haskins, lived in Royalston, Petersham and North Dana, drove team when young and was a peddler 35 years; Laura, married J. A. Houghton of Petersham; Mary, married George S. Talcott of Connecticut and lived in Gardner; Lucy, married E. L. Taft of New London, Conn.
3 Jabez Pratt married Laura Farrar in 1823. Went to Boston and worked in a brick yard the first summer. About the time of his marriage he and his wife united with the Methodist church and he received a local preacher's license. He was the only coroner in the city for many years and officiated in the Webster (Parkman) murder case. Was Deputy Sheriff for a long time. He had two sons: George M., the oldest, had talents as a musician. He went to Europe and studied music, and soon after his return opened a house on Beacon street, when he was taken sick with small pox and died. The stroke was too heavy for the father to bear and he soon died at the age of fifty- two. Joseph Warren, the second son, was of a roving disposi-
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THE PRATT FAMILY
tion, and on returning from a trip to California, sickened and died. The mother's clothes caught fire, which caused her death. The whole family were buried in Mt. Auburn cemetery.
THE CHAMBERLAIN FAMILY
Thomas Chamberlain came from England and settled in Woburn, Mass., in 1644, removed to Chelmsford, Mass. His son, Samuel, married Elizabeth - -, and their son, Thomas, married Abigail Hildreth of Chelmsford.
Simeon Chamberlain, son of Thomas and Abigail (Hildreth) Chamberlain, was Royalston's first school-master. He was born in Littleton, Mass., March 28, 1723, and lived in Sutton and Douglas before coming to Royalston when about forty- three years old. He "embodied" with the Baptist church in 1768. He married Sarah (Marsh) Wheeler of Mendon, Mass. Their children were: Simeon, born in Sutton March 6, 1762; John and Abigail, twins, born June 28, 1765. He died Nov. 27, 1799, at the age of seventy-seven years. Simeon, the oldest son of Simeon and Sarah (Wheeler) Chamberlain, married Betty Gould of Douglas, Mass., and moved to Newport, N. H. They had five children.
John Chamberlain, the youngest son of Simeon and Betty (Gould) Chamberlain, married Martha S. Richardson of Chester, N. H. They lived in Newport, N. H., and had four children: Bela N. Chamberlain, the oldest child, was born in Newport June 14, 1823. He married H. Jane Cram of Peter- boro, N. H., Aug. 15, 1849.
Herbert Bela Chamberlain, son of Bela Nettleton and Jane (Cram ) Chamberlain, and great grandson of Simeon Chamber- lain, Royalston's first school-master, was born in Newport, N. H., Aug. 15, 1849. Simeon Chamberlain went from Royal- ston to Newport with a colony of Baptists. Herbert Bela went with his father to Brattleboro, Vt., when about five years old, and that place has been his home ever since. He was in the store of his father until his father's death in 1887, and then operated the store until about 1896 when he sold the business. He has been auditor of the town of Brattleboro twenty-eight years, and lister, or assessor, as it is called in Massachusetts, eighteen years. He is now retired from business. He married
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HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
Nettie L. Phillips of Brattleboro. They have no children living now.
Thomas Chamberlain, a brother of Simeon, came from Sutton and settled in Royalston, his building being on the first hard land north of Long Pond, and between the Tully and saw mill brook, so called. His wife, Charity, and his son Thomas "em- bodied" with the Baptist church. In this family the town boarded the first person requiring public aid. The original settler and his wife died on that place and were buried in the grave yard nearby. Molly, daughter of Thomas, Jr., and Charity Chamberlain, born April 22, 1764, was one of the earliest recorded births in Royalston
ALBION P. MOSMAN FAMILY
A family connected with Royalston during the latter part of the last century was the Mosman family.
Albion P. Mosman was born in Hope, Me., April 1, 1825, a son of William and Lucy (Safford) Mosman. His young man- hood was spent in farm work and as a sailor in the West Indian and South American trade. He also learned the ship carpenter's trade in Rockland, Me., then a large center of ship building. On August 1, 1848, he married Harriet Harrington of Rockland, Me. There were three children by this marriage all of whom are still living: Harriet A., married L. F. Smith of Winchendon, Mass., now of Watervliet, N. Y .; Charles A., is a dentist in Ogden, Utah; and Mary F., is the wife of Albert A. Fuller of North Appleton, Me., living near her father's birthplace. Their mother died in October, 1858. Mr. Mosman's second wife was Maria Coolidge of West Sterling, Mass. They were mar- ried April 1, 1860, and had two children: Edwin J. and Ellen M.
In June, 1864, they purchased the farm in the north part of Royalston, now the summer home of Miss Edith Metcalf, which was their home until 1896, when they moved to Royalston Cent rewhere they resided until the fall of 1904. On March 1, 1905, Mrs. Mosman died after a long illness at the home of her son in Waltham, and Mr. Mosman spent the remainder of his life with his children. He died Oct. 27, 1909, of apoplexy and was buried with Mrs. Mosman and their daughter, Ellen, in the family lot at Royalston Centre.
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THE ALBION P. MOSMAN FAMILY
Edwin J. Mosman, son of Albion P. and Maria (Coolidge) Mosman, was born at Rockland, Me., April 2, 1863, and came with his parents when only about a year old, to the farm in Roy- alston, which was his home for nearly twenty years and where he lead the life of the farmer boy of that time and attended the district school. In October, 1883, he went to Boston and at- tended the Bryant and Stratton Business college for a few months taking a position early in 1884 as bookkeeper in a factory at Jamaica Plain. Early in 1887 he became cashier with a large hat and cap jobbing house in Boston. This firm was burned out in the big Thanksgiving fire of 1889 and went out of business. Mr. Mosman obtained temporary employment with an elec- trical manufacturing company and in September, 1890, was employed as accountant by the Paine Furniture Co. with whom he remained nearly twenty-three years. He is now located at State street, Boston, as confidential clerk for a trustee, who has charge of a large number of trust estates and corporations. He was married May 29, 1888, to Georgie M. Willis of Jamaica Plain. They have resided in Waltham since 1889.
THE BLANDINGS
Ebenezer Blanding was a native of Rehoboth, Mass., and came to Royalston about 1780 where he settled a place near "the city." He was an assessor in 1781, 1803 and 1804, and a selectman in 1800. He sold his place to Calvin Forbes and removed to Richmond, N. H., and from there to Richfield, N. Y., where he died at about ninety years of age. He had seventeen children, of whom at least ten are recorded as born in Royalston, the records stating that one was born "April 8, 1793, 3 o'clock p. m." and another, "April 7, 1791, at the ris- ing of the sun."
Shubel Blanding, a brother of Ebenezer, also came from Rehoboth sometime between 1782 and 1784, for a daughter is recorded as having been born to him in Rehoboth Nov. 4, 1782, and a daughter is also recorded as having been born at Royalston July 19, 1784. He was a selectman of Royalston in 1793 and 1794. Seven children are recorded as having been born to him of whom five were born in Royalston. Lewis Horton, who was one of the Rehoboth settlers in Royalston,
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HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
was the first settler west of the Tully north of the first Baptist meeting house, he died young and Shubel Blanding married his widow and annexed his farm to his own. He outlived three wives and died in Royalston March 11, 1832, at the age of eighty-one years. One of his daughters, Cynthia, born July 19, 1784, married Abel Jacobs May 1, 1806; Diadama, born May 18, 1788, married Silas Metcalf, Oct. 27, 1808; Polly, born July 30, 1779, married Seth Kendall of Athol, Dec. 11, 1804; Rosalana, born Nov. 4, 1782, married Jeremiah Matthews Nov. 28, 1799; Sarah, born May 25, 1791, married Moses Rogers of Boston April 16, 1810. Shubel, his son, born Nov. 6, 1795, became a physician, settled in South Carolina and died shortly before the outbreak of the Rebellion, being at the time of his death, a citizen of Charleston.
THE GREELEY FAMILY
Nathaniel Greeley, (a descendant of Andrew Grele, who settled in this country about 1640 at Salisbury, Mass.), was born in Weston, Vt., Dec. 13, 1809, and settled in Royalston .about 1837, his residence and mill being at the foot of Jacob's Hill. He manufactured chair stock and operated a saw mill. He married Delania Walker of Royalston, and died March 31, 1871.
His children were: Sarah, born May 17, 1838, who was not married and died in 1913 at Worcester; Jonas E., born June 12, 1841; Abel, who died in infancy was born April 18, 1843; Emily, born August 21, 1844, married Addison Taylor of Templeton and still survives him living at East Templeton.
Jonas E. Greeley enlisted in 21st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers and served nearly two years, being discharged for disability. He re-enlisted in 1863 in 57th regiment Massachu- setts Volunteers and was Sergeant in E company. He resides in Worcester and is surgeon of Post 10, G. A. R. He had two sons: Charles E. Greeley, born Aug. 29, 1869, who married Elizabeth Watson in 1904 and resides at Revere, Mass. He is advertising agent for the Dwinell Wright Co. of Boston. Archer K. Greeley, the other son, was born Feb. 21, 1876, married Bessie W. Waters of Millbury, Mass., and resides at Oxford, Mass. He is an attorney at law with offices in Web-
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