USA > Maine > Oxford County > Norway > A history of Norway, Maine : from the earliest settlement to the close of the year 1922 > Part 36
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of Lieut. Isaac Thayer, a Rev. Sol., b. Buckfield, 1802. Of their eight children, James Orlando, the 7th, b. Paris in the vicinity of Streaked Mt., Dec. 4, 1841, m. Adelia A. Higgins, b. Norway, May 12, 1844. He was in the hardware business here for many years, a leading citi- zen, member of the board of selectmen, etc. He d. June 25, 1918. Wid. d. 1923-2 ch:
I. Estelle A., b. Feb. 21, 1867; m. Frank E. Bell. He d. Portland where he was in business, Dec. 25, 1912. Mrs. Bell resides
(1922) in Norway-no ch. II. Ella Higgins, b. May 1, 1868; d. Oct. 10, 1886.
JOEL T. CROOKER, son of Calvin 3d, b. June 1834, m. Mary Matthews of Paris, b. Sept. 1, 1833. He was a stable keeper and horse dealer for many years. Served a period as deputy sheriff. He d. in Mass. Dec. 6, 1900. His w. d. Mar. 3, 1889; buried in Pine Grove. 3 ch .: Wallace W., b. Mar. 1859; d. Nov. 5, 1860; Gertrude, b. July 1864, d. Mar. 3, 1865; Cora E. m. Walter S. Abbott, who d. Dec. 23, 1887, "aged 43;" she d. Mar. 22, 1898, "aged 41;" ch., Eugene, b. Jan. 1900, d. July 30, 1901. John B., another son of Calvin Crooker, b. 1836, m. 1, Eliza A. Matthews, d. Aug. 24, 1867; 2, Laura Merrill. For many years he was a blacksmith at Steep Falls. He d. June 8, 1898. Wid. lives with daughter in Auburn-ch: three, last by 2d wife. Addie A. and Eugene, d. young; Charles d. in Mass. unm., Jan. 30, 1909, and Carrie m. Elmer Russell; 3 ch .: Eugene O. resides in Yarmouth, is married and has one child; Agnes M. m. Joseph H. Jewett, Spanish War soldier. He d. from disability con- tracted in the service; widow has a pension. Iva E. m. Fred W. Rowell and lives in Bangor; Edna m. a Knight, res. Lisbon Falls; Rose m. Howard Strout of Auburn; Nellie m. John Suitor of Auburn.
JOB B. CROOKER of another family, b. Jan. 9, 1820, m. Mary Monk. He came to Norway in the sixties. For many years he was a mill- man at Steep Falls. He d. Nov. 5, 1893. His wid. d. Dec. 4, 1902, aged 81 yrs. 2 mos .- ch .:
I. Clara, m. 1, Wm. Jordan, 2, John Walker. She d. a short time ago; 1 ch. by 1st husband, Gertie, m. Fred D. Hosmer and has one ch., Paul F., b. Oct. 30, 1898, m. Mildred E. Noyes. He served in the World War. Has position in P. O.
II. Melvin, m. Henry Burgess of Paris.
III. Mary Ellen, m. Horace Pike.
IV. Mercy Ann, res. unm. on the old homestead.
V. Abby, m. Josiah Linnell of Otisfield.
VI. Sarah, res. unm. in Auburn.
VII. Alice, m. John Neal of Auburn.
CROSS.
The origin of the family name of Cross was given to one who dwelt by a wayside cross, a religious shrine, a market cross or near cross-roads.
The market crosses were erected as stands for itinerant preach- ers, and were surmounted with crosses. The first memorial crosses reported were those erectetd by King Edward I of England in 1290, in memory of his deceased wife, Eleanor, which were set up at the places where the funeral procession rested on the way to Westminster
1
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where she was to be buried. One of them (at Waltham) was pre- served for over 600 years and may still be in existence. At St. Paul's Cross, London, by decree of King Henry VIII, sermons were delivered favoring the Reformation. Here Queen Elizabeth and a great congregation of the nobles and gentry of the city gathered one thanksgiving day to hear a sermon preached to arouse the people to defend their country against the threatened attack of the Spanish Armada.
REV. WILLIAM HENRY CROSS, a Baptist preacher, b. Hiram, abt. 1810, settled in northern New York in the late thirties where several of his large family of children were born. He was twice married. He early espoused the anti-slavery and temperance causes and entered heartily into the old Liberty party movement and on its demise, became a member of the Free Soil party. He lived first on the Saranac river in Clinton County, but later removed into Essex County in the region where Gerritt Smith, the noted abolitionist, had acquired a very large tract of land among the hills and mountains of the Adirondacks, where fugitive slaves might find a temporary place of abode-free from the baying of bloodhounds-till homes could be provided for them across the St. Lawrence under the British flag. Old John Brown of Harper's Ferry fame, procured a lot of Smith at North Elba, on which he built a rough habitation and from which could be seen a view scarcely surpassed anywhere for its grandeur and magnificence. Here beside a great boulder his remains in accordance with his wishes repose. When John Brown went into that region he found the Baptist preacher Cross stirring. up the people against the wrongs and barbarism of slavery, and accepted him as his chief worker there in the cause of freeing the slaves. Cross em- ployed runaway slaves to work on the farm and in making charcoal, and exhibited a negro woman, in his appeals to the people, who bore the marks of the cat-o-nine-tails and the teeth of ferocious dogs. A great fire broke out in 1857 in the region where he lived, which de- stroyed not only the forest trees but also the vegetable mould on the top of the ground-practically destroying the farm, and Cross re- turned to Maine. This probably saved the lives of two of his sons who would no doubt, have been with John Brown at Harper's Ferry, for the father had often declared that when trouble arose between Free- dom and Slavery, he wanted every son of his to take part in it, and when the Civil War broke out five of his sons-all that were old enough-enlisted and went into the Union armies. They were Moses, Aaron, Thaddeus, Solomon and John Brown-all Bible names but one. Aaron was one of the body guard of Gen. John F. Rey- nolds, who was killed at Gettysburg. Thaddeus, b. at Saranac, N. Y., Apr. 12, 1845, enlisted at Saco, where he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade, in Co. A of the 10th Me., Oct. 2, 1861, at 16, giving his age as 19. He served the whole period of his enlistment and was in eleven battles and skirmishes and came out of them with- out a scratch and was never sick enough to be sent to the hospital for treatment. He was captain of a militia company for a period after the war and had the reputation of being one of the best drill masters in the state. He came to Norway in 1886, from Bridgton, was supt.
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of the corn factory for many years and served as deputy sheriff for some sixteen years. He had a leg amputated in 1916. Thaddeus Cross m. in 1865, Georgianna Dodge of Bridgton. He d. 1923. 4 ch .:
I. Annie Geneva, b. Apr. 21, 1872; m. Allie L. Cook, a barber in Norway village. 1 ch., Pearl Frances, a music teacher, b. Oct. 1, 1891; m. 1922, Scott L. Kilborn.
II. Ulysses Grant, b. July 26, 1875; d. B. Sept. 1895.
III. Mildred M., b. Apr. 15, 1878; m. 1, Thomas McCormick; 2, Wm. L. Libby; 2 ch. by 1st hus .:
1 Roland Laughton, b. Dec. 21, 1899, graduate of Bowdoin. Medi- cal student (1922) at Louisville, Ky.
2 Edward S., b. Jan. 11, 1902.
CUMMINGS.
ISAAC CUMMINGS, the American immigrant ancestor, was one of the early Puritan colonists who came from England in Governor Endicott's company and settled at Salem and vicinity in 1627. He was born in 1601. He died May 22, 1677. The name of his wife is not known. It is concluded, by her not being mentioned in his will, she died before it was executed. He lived in Topsfield and was deacon of the church there for many years. Isaac Cummings had two sons and two daughters. Dea. Isaac 2, the second son, b. 1633, m. 1659, Mary, dau. of Robert and Grace Andrews. She was b. 1638. He served in the attack on the Narragansett Indians and was a sergeant in King Phillip's War. He had ten children: John 3, the 5th, b. June 7, 1666, m. 1688, Susannah, dau. of Joseph and Phebe (Perkins) Towne, b. Dec. 24, 1670, and d. Sept. 13, 1766. He d. 1722. They had nine children. David 4, the 4th son, b. Apr. 5, 1698, m. Anna She d. Feb. 9, 1741, leaving six children. He m. 2d, Sarah Goodhue of Ipswich. They had five children, the oldest of whom was Jonathan 5, b. Oct 14, 1743. He was afterwards the proprietor of the Cummings Purchases. His bro. Stephen, b. Jan. 27, 1745, "died after coming home from sea," May 27, 1765. In every generation since there has been a Stephen Cummings.
JONATHAN CUMMINGS was a soldier in the Revolution, and a black- smith by trade. He m. Mary, dau. of Job Eastman of Pembroke. They settled in Andover. They had 11 children. She died July 26, 1801, "aged 59," and he m. 2d, in 1802, Mrs. Mary (Lovejoy) Parker, but had no children by her. He died in 1805, aged 62.
MAJ. JONATHAN 6, the oldest son and 4th child, came to the tract his father had purchased and became the most influential man in the region. He was b. in Andover, Feb. 15, 1771. He m. about 1802, Joanna, dau. of Col. Jedediah and Abigail Cobb of Gray. He d. July 12, 1820, and his widow m. in 1823, Capt. Charles Barbour of Gray, by whom she had two daughters. She d. June 30, 1844. Ch-
I. Mary Holt, b. March 20, 1804, m. 1822, Dr. Josiah Little. She d. in Minot, Oct. 6, 1829. 3 ch.
II. Eliza, b. Oct. 6, 1806; d. Oct. 22, 1808.
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III. Daniel, b. Aug. 18, 1810; m. 1843, Amanda Chellis, set. in Mo. He d. in 1885, "Everybody's friend." 11 ch., one named for Edward Little.
IV. Clarissa Ann, b. Aug. 20, 1815; d. Gray, Dec. 4, 1832, unm.
V. Lewis Ladd, b. Jan. 30, 1818. A civil engineer; d. Mar. 25, 1847. ch. by 2d husband:
VI. Martha Maria, b. Sept. 27, 1824; m. Rev. Wm. P. Merrill of Gray.
VII. Abigail Reed, b. June 13, 1827; m. Wm. Deering; s. in Chicago.
AMOS CUMMINGS, brother of the preceding, b. July 2, 1781; m. 1803, Abigail Judkins. He was an early settler on the tract pur- chased by his father, and was living in Norway on his farm in 1816. He had at least two children, Stephen and Abiather. The family strangely disappears from any mention in the town histories.
DR. STEPHEN CUMMINGS, b Andover Jan 12, 1773, m 1794, Eleanor, dau of Ephraim and Sarah (Conant) Hale of Temple, N. H. They settled in Waterford, where he was clerk of the Proprie- tors, and one of the prominent citizens there. He removed to Port- land, where he became distinguished as a physician and surgeon. His wife d there May 31, 1824. He d in Cape Elizabeth, Mar 2, 1854, aged 81 .- 6 ch, 3 in W. and last 3 in P.
I Nathan, b Aug 20, 1796 m Emily Illsley of Portland
II Sarah, b July 15, 1798 m Chas. Bradley of Boston
III Dr. Sumner, b Apr 24, 1800; d unm. in P. Nov. 24, 1848.
IV Stephen, b Feb 4, 1803 m Frances Whitney
V John Moreland, b Mar 31, 1812, m Harriet Courser
VI Fitz Henry, b Feb 7, 1816, d unm July 26, 1837.
STEPHEN CUMMINGS, son of the preceding, m Frances, dau of Wil- liam C. Whitney. They settled in Norway where he d in 1863 .- 7 ch
I Wm. C., b Mar 2, 1826, m 1, Euphemia J. Bradbury, 2, Elvira Judkins. wid d Feb 4, 1909 aged 66
II Sumner, b Apr 10, 1828
III Frances Ellen, b Jan 19, 1830 m Otis True
IV Stephen Henry, b June 2, 1832 m Mary L. Loring. He d Nov 26, 1910.
V Charles Bradley, b Dec 18, 1834; m Frances E. Staples.
VI John Moreland, b Oct 15, 1840 m Elva A. Caldwell, d Apr 16, 1907, wid d July 14, 1908-no ch.
VII Harriet Cushman, m Chas H. Tibbetts of Fryeburg. 2 ch, Ellen, b Nov 14, 1870, Edith b Dec 15, 1872.
CHARLES B. CUMMINGS m Jan 1, 1861 Frances E. Staples. He d Jan 26, 1899. She d Apr 8, 1904. 6 ch:
I Charles Sumner b Jan 26, 1862 m 1886 Ella Haskell. He d Mar 1897, she d July 9, 1888-no ch.
II Stephen B. b Apr 27, 1863 m 1887 Mattie M. Jordan.
III Fred H. b Sept 24, 1866 m Cora B. Shedd-no ch.
George I. b Mar 31, 1869 m 1899 Inez M. Stuart.
V Edwin S. b Oct 7, 1873 m 1899 Kate H. Elliott.
VI Fannie W. b May 19, 1878 m Geo. H. Cullinan. 2 ch., Henry C.
b Apr 27, 1906, and a dau b Mar 1905, d in infancy.
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STEPHEN B. CUMMINGS, son of Charles Bradley m Mattie M. Jor- dan .- 3 ch.
1, Ruth, b Mar 6, 1896. She is well educated, proficient in music, and a highly accomplished young lady. 2, Stephen Jordan, b Oct 16, 1903. 3, Dorothy H. b Sept 28, 1911 d Aug 10, 1920-a little earthly angel.
GEORGE I. CUMMINGS, bro. of Stephen B. m Inez M. dau of Albert H. and Hannah (Hall) Stuart. She is a descendant of Mary, Queen of Scotland. Was a successful school teacher, prior to marriage. From the effects of an injury received while on a business trip to Boston, he d Mar 4, 1914. She d Aug 9, 1921 .- 2 ch: 1, Charles Francis, b Feb 25, 1902, a student at Bowdoin Coll. 2, Julia, b Nov 19, 1906.
EDWIN S. CUMMINGS, bro of the preceding m Kate H. Elliott. 2 ch: 1, Elliott Staples, b Aug 28, 1912; 2, George Edwin, b May 9, 1918.
ELISHA CUMMINGS (Daniel, Joseph, John, Isaac, Isaac) b in Tops- field, June 15, 1755 m Sept 26, 1778, Mary Dolly of Gray. Was a Sol. in the Rev. and one of the founders of the Univ. Ch. So. in Nor. Settled in Norway east of the Witt place about 1792. He d in Green- wood Oct 18, 1827 .- 9 ch:
1, Betsey, b Jan 31, 1779 m 1816 Luke Owens b in Ireland, a de- serter from an English ship; 2, Daniel, b July 5, 1780 m Abigail Bartlett set. in Paris, lived on place afterwards Joe Tufts farm. Their only ch Almira m Alvin Swift; 3, John, b Apr 4, 1782, m Martha Bartlett set. in Albany; 4, Polly, m Chas. Dolbier, set. in Kingfield; 5, Abigail, m Noah Dean; 6, Ruth, m A. Lopez, s. in Free- man; 7, Urania, m Jacob Pike of Norway, b Mar 30, 1794, d Mar 15, 1847; 8, Lucretia, m Elijah Jordan, Jr., b Dec 18, 1802; 9, Char- lotte, b 1803, m Andrew Richardson of Greenwood.
ISAAC CUMMINGS, bro of the preceding b in Topsfield, Nov. 22, 1758 m 1781 Elizabeth Bryant b Dec 22, 1767. He was a Rev. Sol. and one of the founders of the Univ. Ch. So. Came to Norway abt 1791 and set'd on the Lee's Grant; d Oct 1, 1842, and bur at West Poland with his wife, who d Feb 3, 1843-15 ch:
1, Elizabeth, b Sept 18, 1782, m Consider Fuller, Jr., b May 31, 1780. He d at W. Paris Mar 2, 1872. She d Sept 17, 1850; 2, Chloe, b Oct 15, 1784, m Dr. James Merrill of Hebron. She d Sept 8, 1840; 3, Isaac, Jr. b Gray, Oct 31, 1786, m 1810 Betsey Shaw b June 26, 1789. Set. 1, on the Lee's Grant,-d Dec 7, 1862; 4, George Williams, b Nov 22, 1788, No. 4 Paris, m 1814 Lucy Pratt b July 17, 1797. He was a settler on the Lee's Grant in later Millett neighborhood, was fifer in Capt. Bailey Bodwell's Co. in 1812-15 war. He lived many years in Hamlin's Grant-d in Wis. June 11, 1870. His wife d in Woodstock Dec 25, 1840; 5, Abigail, b 1790, d young; 6, Moses, b No. 4 Aug 2, 1791, m Lydia Pratt, b Apr 15, 1801; 7, Mary W., b Sept 22, 1793, m 1814 Timothy Welcome of Minot; 8, Abigail F., b Jan 2, 1796, m A. Herrick of Poland, s. Wis .; 9, Daniel B., b Minot Apr 23, 1798, m 1823 Lydia Bryant b Nov 8, 1803. Set. in Wood- stock-d there May 6, 1869; she d Sept 18, 1842; 10, Lydia, b Dec. 7,
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1799, m Daniel Hussey of Windham; 11, Hannah, b Mar 9, 1802, m John Buck, s on Hamlin's Gore; 12, Solomon, b Apr 11, 1804, m Cinderilla Lapham, b Aug 1, 1807, d Apr 15, 1826; 13, Lois M. b June 19, 1806, m Joseph A. Herrick of Poland; 14, Joseph, b Norway June 2, 1808, m 1827, Cinderilla (Lapham) Cummings; he d Aug. 15, 1856-5 ch b in Bethel; 15, Ruth, b Nov 5, 1810, m 1828 Stephen Buck of Hamlin's Grant.
DANIEL CUMMINGS
E.
LYDIA CUMMINGS
DANIEL CUMMINGS, bro of the preceding, b Gray (1st white child born there) Oct 6, 1766, m 1, 1789 Abigail Fletcher, b June 13, 1768; 2, Hannah Briggs. He d suddenly in G. Jan 29, 1827-9 ch: Daniel, b Gray, Apr 16, 1791 m 1. Nancy Bird, b Sept 11, 1798; 2. Mrs. Lydia Pratt Cummings, wid of Moses. He s. in S. E. section of Lee's Grant. His 1st wife d Nov 12, 1834. He d July 12, 1875; 2 w d July 27, 1879, aged 76-ch by 1st wife: 1, Louisa, b Jan 6, 1818, d unm Nov 27, 1892 aged 72; 2, Elvira, b Apr 20, 1820 m 1848 Otis Brooks; 3, Samuel Fessenden, b May 2, 1822, m 1844, Nancy B. Neal, set. in N. H .; 4, Polly Bird, b Mar 21, 1824; 5, Nancy Bird, b Jan 20, 1826, m Eben H. Marshall; 6, Edwin, b Apr 15, 1828, d Oct 7, 1860, aged 32; 7, Levi Lincoln, b Nov 25, 1832, d Feb 1, 1834; by 2 w, 8, Daniel Lincoln, b Jan 9, 1837, m 1 Amanda Merrill, 2 Lucretia Andrews; 9, Moses Orrington, b Feb 7, 1839, m Sarah S. Partridge; 10, Loren G. b Mar 25, 1844, d Aug 18, 1846.
ORRINGTON M. CUMMINGS, son of the preceding m Sarah S. Part- ridge, who d many years ago. Mr. Cummings moved to the village where he had a livery stable on Danforth St. Was always very popular with the traveling public-ch: Ida May b Aug 21, 1860, d July 7, 1878 and Carrie E. b Jan. 15, 1865, m Thomas Thibodeau. She d Apr 29, 1894, leaving 4 ch: Irving, Earl, May and Tessa. Archie d in infancy.
DAVID B. CUMMINGS, a younger son of Daniel b Gray, July 22, 1817, m 1846, Mary A. Swett, he d in G. Feb 19, 1896-8 ch: 1, James L. b Sept 7, 1848 m Margaret M. Nettles; 2, Martha W. b May 14, 1849, d Oct 24, 1876; 3, Susan S. b Dec 6, 1850, m Lewis J. Frink;
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4, Llewellyn D. b Mar 15, 1853, m 1878 Fanny Libby; she d Nov 28, 1892-3 ch: Herman L. b Jan 7, 1880, Eugene Ray, b Feb 22, 1882 and Harry M. b Sept 5, 1885; 5, Eleanor F. b Oct. 20, 1856, m 1877 Adna A. Keene; 6, Charles L. b Jan. 15, 1859; 7, Thirza A. b Jan. 29, 1861, m 1880, Fred A. Lovejoy; 8, Hattie M. b May 13, 1864, d Dec 28, 1886.
CURTIS
FRANCIS CURTIS, probably the first of the race in N. E. was at Plymouth in 1671 when he m Hannah Smith. They had John, Ben- jamin, Francis Elizabeth, Elisha and Ebenezer. Ebenezer m 1710 Mary Tinkham and had Jacob, Caleb, Mary and Sarah. His wife d and he m 2 Martha Doughty and had Eunice, Martha and Seth, b 1727. Noah of Pembroke, perhaps son of Seth, b Plymouth, Aug 17, 1750, m 1781 Deborah dau of Seth and Ruth (Morton) Luce b on Cape Cod, May 25, 1757. He was a Rev. Sol .; came to Norway in 1797 (when census of 1800 was taken had eight in his family). He settled on the Lee's Grant, but in a few years after he removed to the southern part of Woodstock where he died. Three generations of his descendants lived on the old homestead-6 ch:
1, Morton, b Apr 8, 1782, m 1, Dorcas Young, 2, Polly Barrows. 5 ch: Seth, Deborah, Crosby (lived to be over 94), Daniel and Ransel. 2, Rachel, b May 13, 1784 m Josiah Churchill, 5 ch: Ezra, Levi, Daniel, Nancy, m Demeric Swan of Buckfield, son of Gideon, Maria B. m Demeric Swan (perhaps other children). 3, Noah, Jr., b Nov 27, 1786, m Abigail Tuell. 4, Seth, b March 17, 1790 m Sally Davis, 4 ch: Adoniram, Lorenda, Eliza J. and Nehemiah, a Baptist preacher. 5, Charles, b Oct 22, 1792, m Jane Deering, 7 ch: Eve- lina, John D., Charles, Mary J., Noah, Mark and Eunice. 6, Daniel, b Apr 23, 1798, m 1 Clarissa Chase, 2 Charlotte Estes; 4 ch: Ed- mund, Isaac, Matilda and Ruth. Noah Jr. changed farms with David Dudley of Paris in 1823. He d Paris Mar 23, 1858; wid d July 20, 1858-8 ch: Mahala m Gilbert Dudley, William m Marcella Swift, Alonzo d unm, Columbia m Joshua Crockett, Kingsbury m Sophia Young, Amanda d young, Augusta m Ansel G. Dudley, Chas H. m Lydia M. Tuell.
WILLIAM, 2 child of Noah, Jr., b June 8, 1811 m Marcella, dau of Caleb Swift, b May 28, 1812-4 ch : Isabella A. m Wallace Mitchell, Marietta A. m Caleb Fuller, Alvah, and William Eugene, b July 1843, m Cynthia A. Warner; she d about 1887 and he married 2 Georgia A. Gage-3 ch by 1 w:
I 'Alton L. b No. Paris, May 3, 1868, m Cordelia A. Swett; he is agent of Can. Ex. Co., since 1909; 3 ch: 1, John Eugene, b Dec 13, 1893, went to Australia; enlisted from there in World War; missing in great battle in France, June 1, 1918. 2, George Leon, b Dec 24, 1900. 3, Hosea A. b Sept 14, 1908. She m 2, Hosea A. Mckay, 1 ch by 2 hus, Helen E. b June 8, 1914. II George Leon, b No. Paris, Aug 19, 1870, m Nellie M. Smith of So. Paris, b Portland, Aug 13, J872; 1 ch: Mildred Idell, b Norway, Mar 14, 1897. III Phineas W. 1 Jan 1, 1873, m 1, 1906 Lucinda Spiller, d Mar 13, 1909, aged 24; 2 Ruth Kneeland-5 ch: George Arthur, b Jan. 15, 1913; Casper
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Eugene, b Feb 26, 1914; Leroy Linwood, b June 24, 1915; Gordon Elmore, b Sept 12, 1916; Calvin Phineas, b Mar 15, 1919.
GUY L. CURTIS of another family, m Feb 1895, Lula E. Herrick. He is a thrifty farmer, living near Noble's Corner-ch: Clara Elea- nor, b June 6, 1914, d July 27, 1917.
CUSHMAN
ROBERT CUSHMAN, b England, between 1580 and 1585, is the an- cestor of the Cushmans of New England. He was one of the prin- cipal men of the Pilgrim band, and chief promotors of the emigration to the New World in 1620. He came over with his son, Thomas, a boy of fourteen years of age, in the Fortune in Nov. 1621. He re- turned to England in the interest of the colony, the next month, leaving Thomas behind in the care of Gov. Wm. Bradford. He d early in 1625. No mention is anywhere made of name of wife, date of her death or of any other children except Thomas. He m Mary dau of Isaac Allerton, one of the Pilgrim Fathers. She was said to have been 11 years old, the year they landed in this country. She survived all of them, dying in 1699. Thomas Cushman became the Ruling Elder of the Church: after William Brewster's death and served for over 40 years. He d Dec 11, 1691, aged nearly 84. He left four sons and two daughters. One of the sons, Isaac was a preacher and might have succeeded his father had he so chosen. Thomas the oldest son, b Sept 10, 1637 m 1664 Ruth, dau of John Howland the Pilgrim. He d Aug 23, 1726 at Plymouth aged 89- 5 ch: Benjamin, the youngest b Feb 1691, m Sarah Eaton in 1758. A complaint was made to the Church that he was neglecting the communion etc. At the same time he made a complaint against Dea Sam'l Bryant. After a hearing it was decided that Benjamin should confess, "and thus render Christian satisfaction for his offenses." He refused. Five years afterwards, the same thing occurred with the same result. Cushman's answer to the committee report was that "the devils in hell could not treat him worse than the church (at Plympton) had." . He was publicly admonished in Nov. of that year. Seven years after, the affair was amicably adjusted, and he was restored to good fellowship. This was three days before his death-10 ch: Caleb, the 2 ch b May 15, 1715 m 1742 Sarah Barrows and settl'd in Carver, Mass., and had 10 ch. Two of their sons, Caleb Jr. and Gideon settl'd in Shephardsfield (Hebron) after the War of the Revolution in which they had served. Caleb Jr. b July 1757 m 1784 Charlotte Packard. He d Jan 17, 1835. She d Sept 20 1820-13 ch-Caleb the 4th ch b Apr 26, 1791 m 1813 Betsey E. Bumpus and settl'd in Norway-7ch: 1, Charles b Mar 24, 1814 m 1849 Lydia Evans; 2, Salmon b Mar 2, 1817 m 1845 Abigail Hill; 3, Charlotte b Mar 1820 m 1844 Samuel P. Frost; 4, Elvira b Mar 20, 1823 m 1844 Wilson Hill; 5, Beza b Oct 11, 1826; 6, Ansel H. b May 29, 1829, m Esther M. Holden; 7, Bethany Evelina b Aug 31, 1832 m 1854 Ceylon Watson.
ANSEL H. CUSHMAN m Esther M. Holden b June 20, 1841. They lived in the s w part of the town on Frost Hill road and near the old county road into Waterford. He was a thrifty farmer and a good
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citizen. He d Mar 5, 1911; wid d Oct 19, 1921-5 ch: 1, Etta F. b May 16, 1862 m 1885 Arthur W. Norseworthy b England 1862. His mother having died and his father having m a 2nd w, he came to Boston when a young boy in care of the captain of the vessel he was on. His half-bro, George C. Norseworthy was then living at Lynn. They both came to Norway when the shoe factory was estab- lished here. He d June 1, 1911 "aged 49;" wid remains unm; 1 ch, Beryl May d in infancy. 2, Emma F. b Feb 27, 1864 m Walter S. Stearns; 3, Llewellyn H. b Dec 2, 1866 m Gertie M. Bennett. She d Dec 22, 1894, m 2 Grace K. Nevers. Truckman and coal dealer. 1 ch, Marita Nevers b Aug 4, 1908; 4, Lizzie M. b Nov 2, 1874 m John W. Lasselle, 1 ch, Ethelyn; 5, Ina J. b Feb 23, 1881 m Giles Frost, 1 ch, Marguerite.
DANFORTH
NICHOLAS DANFORTH 1 b 1586 emigrated from Framingham, England to Cambridge, Mass. in 1634 with a family of six children- three boys and three girls. His w Elizabeth, a dau of Rev. William Symms of Canterbury had died five years before. Nicholas was a man of ability and worth, for he was mentioned in high terms of praise by Cotton Mather in his Magnalia in which he states that King Charles I had offered him knighthood which was declined. He served as a representative in the Gen Court at Boston in 1635 and d in 1638.
CAPT. JONATHAN 2, the youngest son, b Mar 2, 1628, set'd in Billerica and m Elizabeth Pouler, who d Oct 7, 1689 and he m 2 Esther Champney of Cambridge. He was town clerk, sel, rep to the Gen Court, and land surveyor. He d in the autumn of 1712. His wid d Apr 5, 1713. Of his 11 ch, all by 1 wife, was Ensign Jonathan 3, b Feb 18, 1659, m Rebecca Parker of Chelmsford, b May 29, 1661. He d Jan 17, 1711, wid m Joseph Foster. She d Mar 25, 1754-9 ch : Samuel 4, the 5th child b Sept 16, 1692 m Dorothy Shedd b Jan 14, 1692. He was a soldier in the Narragansett Indian War and d about 1749; wid survived him; 12 ch. Joseph 5, the 4th child b June 30, 1720, removed to Dunstable now Tyngsboro and m Mary A. Rich- ardson b May 26, 1722. He d Mar 30, 1795. She d Dec 1, 1789; 7 ch. Josiah 6, the 5th child prob a Minute Man in the early days of the Rev (as was his bro Joseph) was b Jan 8, 1757 and m Sarah Blodgett b 1755. He was prominent in town affairs, a justice of the peace, and lived on the old homestead. He d May 8, 1838; wid d in 1842; 10 ch! The 9th ch was Dr. Asa, b Tyngsboro, Aug 18, 1795 m Dec 1824 Abigail C. dau of William Reed. Dr. Danforth grad at Dartmouth in 1820 and soon after settled in Norway, where he was in the practice of his profession for about 60 years. His wife d Dec 8, 1874. He d June 16, 1883-8 ch: the youngest, Asa, d Nov 27, 1846, aged 5.
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