USA > Maine > Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume II > Part 71
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He was married, in 1832, to Ellen, youngest daughter of James Deering, the great mer- chant of Portland. She died in 1856. Their children were: James Deering, William Howard, Francis, Samuel and Mary E. D. The daughter died at the age of five years. All the sons were brave defenders of the Union cause in the civil war. The youngest son was mortally wounded September 1, 1862, at Centerfield, Virginia. He was unmarried. The first son reached the rank of brigadier- general, as did the third son, who lost a limb in the civil war.
(VII) James Deering (1), eldest child of William Pitt and Ellen (Deering) Fessenden, was born September 28, 1833, in Westbrook, and died in Portland, November 18, ISS2. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1852, studied law in the office of his father, and was admitted to the bar. He began the practice of law in Portland, but soon abandoned this to enter the army in defense of his country. He was made captain of the Second National Sharpshooters, November 2, 1861, and was appointed on the staff of General David Hun- ter, in the department of South Carolina, in 1862-63. He participated in the attack on Fort McAllister in 1862, and in the movement of the army along the Edisto river and the at- tack on Charlestown. He was assigned to the organization and command of the first regi- ment of colored troops in 1862, but the gov- ernment decided not to employ colored troops at that time, and he did not go into this service. Before the close of the year. however, he was promoted to colonel, and in September, 1863, was ordered to report to General Hooker. He participated in the campaigns of Lookout Mountain and of Mission Ridge, and capture of Atlanta in 1864. He was promoted Alt- gust 8, in the last named year, to brigadier-
general and joined General Sheridan in Oc- tober, being present at the battle of Cedar Creek. In 1865 he was brevetted major-gen- eral of volunteers, on duty in South Carolina. At the close of the war lie returned to his na- tive state, and in 1868 was appointed register in bankruptcy for the first district of Maine. He represented Portland in the state legisla- ture in 1872-74, and continued in active life up to a short time before his decease, in his fiftieth year. He was married, November 5, 1856, to Frances Cushing Greely, of Topsham, Maine, who survived him. They were the parents of two sons: James Deering and Harry Merrill, both now residing in the city of New York.
(VIII) James Deering (2), elder son of James (1) Deering and Frances C. (Greely) Fessenden, was born April 14, 1858, in Port- land, and attended the public schools of his native city, including the high school. He fitted for college at Phillips Exeter Academy, graduating in 1876, after which he entered Harvard College, and graduated with the de- gree of A. B. in 1880. After two years' at- tendance at the Columbia Law School of New York city, 1881-83, he was admitted to the bar in the last named year. Immediately there- after he began the practice of law in New York, where he has since been actively en- gaged in his profession. He is a member of the Harvard and Metropolitan clubs and the Maine Society of New York. He was mar- ried, June 30, 1902, at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, to Rose L. Nunez.
STAPLES Among the early colonizers of New England were several of this name; all are supposed to have come from old England. John Staples settled in what now is North Weymouth, Mas- sachusetts, as early as 1636, and an Abraham Staples, who was of Dorchester in 1658, was married in Weymouth, September 17, 1660, to Mary, daughter of Robert Randall, and shortly afterwards went to Mendon, Massachusetts. In 1640 three brothers named Staples-Peter, Thomas and another whose Christian name is now unknown-arrived at Kittery, Maine. Thomas removed to Fairfield, Connecticut, and Peter remained in Kittery. The name was long written Staple.
(I) Peter (1) Staple had a grant of land in Kittery in 1671, and on July 4, three years later, purchased land of Thomas Turner. He deeded land to his son and namesake in 1694. Five acres were measured and laid out to Peter Staple. His will was made June 6, 1718, and
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probated April 7, 1719, which indicates ap- proximately the time of his death. His wife Elizabeth was probably the widow of a Mr. Edwards. She survived him and was alive in 1720. His will mentions his three sons, Peter, John and James.
(II) Peter (2), son of Peter (1) Staple, was married January 8, 1696, to Mary Long, who was born in 1678. He was a carpenter by occupation, and died December 17, 1721, leaving a widow and several children, namely : Mary, Peter, Elizabeth, Robert, Anne, Enoch, Grace and Joshua.
(III) Joshua (1) youngest child of Peter (2) and Mary (Long) Staple, was born September 16, 1712, in Kittery, and resided in that town. He was married January 17, 1735, to Abigail, daughter of John and Sarah Fer- nald. She died in August, 1761, and he mar- ried (second) Mary Ross. Children of first marriage were: Joshua, Abigail, Stephen, Mary, Lydia and Nathaniel. Children of sec- ond marriage were : Eleanor, Peter, John and Margaret.
(IV) Joshua (2), eldest son and child of Joshua ( I) and Abigail (Fernald) Staples, was born December 12. 1738, in Kittery, and resided in Berwick, Maine. He was married January 27, 1761, to Heplisibalı Hanscom.
(\') Stephen, son of Joshua (2) and Heph- sibalı ( Hanscom) Staples, was born in Ber- wick, Maine, and lived in that part of the town which now is South Berwick. The maiden name of his wife was Hill : his last days were spent in Tamworth, New Hampshire.
(VI) Enoch, son of Stephen Staples, was born in Berwick and died in Limington, Maine. (VII) John, son of Enoch Staples, was born in Limington, Maine, in 1800, and died in Scarborough, Maine. in 1884. He married Anna Libby, born in 1802 and died in 1894. He was a farmer and lumberman and operated a sawmill. Jolin Staples and Anna Libby had children: Elizabeth, died in infancy ; Marcel- lus, Charles Austin, Statira, Elbridge, Marcus and Hiram.
(VIII) Charles Austin, son of John and Anna ( Libby) Staples, was born in Liming- ton, Maine, July 31, 1836, and now is one of the oldest lumbermen and sawmill superin- tendents in the region in which he lives. He was given a good education, attending acade- mies in Limington and Litchfield, and after leaving school at once took up the work of lumbering in its several departments, and in all the years of his wide experience he perhaps has given more attention to superintending lumber work than to any other of the opera-
tions pertaining to lumbering in general. For fifteen years he was superintendent in differ- ent mills, and for the last ten years he has been in charge of the large mill plants of the International Paper Company, at Gardiner, Maine. Something more than forty-five years ago Mr. Staples engaged in more hazardous work than lumbering. At Brunswick, Maine, in 1862, he enlisted in Company A of the Twenty-fourth Maine Volunteer Infantry, and served under General Banks at New Orleans and elsewhere in the operations of the army comprising the Department of the Gulf. At the end of the term of enlistment he returned with his regiment to Maine and was mustered out of service at Augusta in the winter of 1863-64. Mr. Staples is a Mason and a con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Miranda Carll Taylor, now deceased, daughter of John B. Taylor, by whom he had three children, the eldest of whom, a daugliter, died in infancy. Those who still live are Adalı, now Mrs. Alfred G. Cross- man, and Frank Leslie, see forward.
(IX) Frank Leslie, only son of Charles Aus- tin and Miranda Carll (Taylor) Staples, was born in Topsham, Maine, June 8, 1866. He acquired his early literary education in public schools and Coburn Classical Institute, Water- ville, Maine, where he fitted for college. In 1885 he entered Bowdoin College for the class- ical course and graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1889. He studied law under the direction and in the office of Orville D. Baker, of Bath, one of Maine's most prominent and learned attor- neys, and in 1891 was admitted to practice in the Maine courts. He opened an office in Bath the same year, remaining until 1893, when he removed to Augusta. He became partner with Mr. Baker, his old preceptor, and established the law firm of Baker, Baker & Staples, which firm, during the following seven years, was well known in all the court and professional circles in that part of the state. However, at the expiration of that period the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Staples returned to Bath, and has since lived in that city. On August 22, 1904, he was appointed judge of the municipal court, his commission being signed by Governor John Fremont Hill. On June 17, 1907, Judge Staples formed a law partnership with Walter S. Glidden, the firm style being Staples & Glidden, as since known in legal circles in Sagadahoc county, and they conduct a large and growing business. In politics Judge Staples is a Republican of un- doubted quality, and one of the influential men of his party in the state, but he is not in any
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sense a politician or seeker after public office. He is a member of Augusta Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Cushnoc Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Trinity Commandery, Knights Templar ; Sons of the American Revolution.
Judge Staples married, September 23, 1896, Anna Louise, daughter of Dennis M. and Jennie B. Roberts, of Bath, and they have one child, Muriel Roberts Staples.
(II) John, second son of Peter (I) and Elizabethi (Beadle) Staples, was born in Kit- tery, Maine. He married Mary, daughter of Peter and Mary (Renwick) Dixon. His will, made November 21, 1744, was proved July 16, 1745. Children: I. John, born September 3, 1699, died young. 2. Hezekiah, February II, 1702. 3. Solomon, June 20, 1705, married Martha Tobey. 4. Samuel, April 11, 1707, married (first) October 2, 1727, Patience, daughter of Thomas More, of York; ( second) Mercy, daughter of Nicholas Cane. 5. Han- nah, February 8, 1709-10, married (first), June 17, 1736, John Drew, of York; (second) November 12, 1739, Edward Whitehouse. 6. Thomas, January 9, 1711-12, married, Novem- ber 21, 1733, Sarah, daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Gowen) Ferguson. 7. Mary, January 21, 1714, married Hanscom. 8. Ann, March 10, 1716, married, August 21, 1733, Joshua Brooke. 9. John, January 2, 1717-18, not mentioned in will. 10. Elizabeth, February II, 1719-20, married, November 17, 1736, John Thompson Jr. 11. Mark, October 31, 1725, died about 1782.
(III) Hezekiah (I), second son of John and Mary (Dixon) Staples, was born in Kit- tery, February II, 1702, and married, Febru- ary 22, 1727, Anna, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Furbish) Thompson. They had two sons (and perhaps others) : Miles, born Sep- tember 22, 1729 : and Hezekiahı Jr., born 1734, who was a revolutionary soldier, lived in Kit- tery and York. He married, July 5, 1755, Mary Park.
(IV ) Miles, son of Hezekiah ( I) and Anna (Thompson) Staples, was born in Kittery, September 22, 1729. He was married June II, 1753, by Rev. Benjamin Stevens, to Sarah Trefethern, and settled in Stockton, Maine. They had several children and many descend- ants. He died February II, 1810, and his wife Sarah, born 1728, died also in Stockton, 1808.
(V) Miles (2), son of Miles ( I) and Sarah (Trefethern) Staples, was born at Prospect, Maine. He moved near Swansville, and there married, but the name of his wife is not given. Children: Hezekiah, Anna, Josiah, Miles, Jo-
seph, Mary, Jane, Aaron, Reuben, George and Alfred.
(VI) Hezekiah (2), eldest son of Miles (2) Staples, was born in Swansville, Maine. He married, 1815-16, Elizabeth, daughter of Gen- eral William James and Huldah (Stinson ) Treat, who was born September 1, 1792, at Frankfort, now Prospect, Maine. She was the granddaughter of Lieutenant Joshua Treat, armorer at Fort Pownal, and one of the first settlers on the Penobscot river. Mrs. Staples was industrious, high-minded and sympathetic, a good manager, as shown by her having the responsibilty during her husband's absence at sea of the conducting of a large farm and the bringing up of her family. Children : I. Maria, born December 30, 1816. 2. Aaron, November 4, 1818, died September 5, 1819. 3. Hezekiah Jr., January 1, 1820, master of the brig "J. W. Godfrey," which sailed for Florida, December 17, 1852, and was lost on the home voyage. 4. Lydia T., May 8, 1821. 5. Richard T., July 5, 1822, passenger on the brig "J. W. Godfrey," and lost with it. 6. James, January 19, 1824. 7. Samuel, June 22, 1826, died March 18, 1827. 8. Josiah S., September I, 1827, was master of the brig "Mariel," and lost with it on Cohasset Ledge, April 6, 1852. 9. Elizabeth Ann, September 4, 1830. 10. Mary Amanda, October 2, 1831, died July 14, 1865. II. Samuel M., August 3, 1833, died in West Indies October 7, 1852. 12. George Andrew, February 13, 1837.
(VII) James, fourth son of Hezekiah and Elizabeth (Treat) Staples, was born in Swans- ville, January 19, 1824. He inherited from his mother qualities which contributed largely to his success in life. He spent his youth in Swansville, working on his father's farm in summer and attending school in winter, until he was fourteen years old. He then went to the high school at Searsport, Maine, for three terms, for two terms to the academy in Bel- fast, Maine, and for one term to a school at Hyannis. Desirous of having a college edu- cation, he prepared himself and at the age of seventeen was prepared to enter, but too close application to his studies had undermined his health and he was compelled to forego the realizing of this ambition. After this great disappointment he accepted a position as teacher, and until he was twenty-five he taught school in winter and managed his father's farm in summer, and after that time for four years he taught continuously in Belfast, Maine. In this line of work he was pre-eminently success- ful and throughout his life held the profession of the teacher in the highest esteem as one of
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the noblest and most usef 1 of avocations. In 1851 he married Ilarriet II. Shirly, daughter of Hugh Shirly. In the following year his wife and their infant died, and during that year three of his brothers were lost at sea, and another scafaring brother died in the West In- dies. These repeated blows affected his health and led him to leave his native state, give up his chosen profession and go to Bridgeport, Connecticut. In 1854 he embarked in the lumber business in Bridgeport, entering into copartnership with S. C. Nickerson, under the name of Staples & Nickerson. The firmn did a prosperous and growing business and the future looked bright and promising, when the terrible crash of 1857 swept over the country, and, with thousands of others, the firm was forced out of business. In 1859 Mr. Staples opened a real estate office in Bridgeport, the first one in the city. His great energy and ability soon put him on the road to success, and he became the leading agent and one of the best and most consulted anthorities on real estate in Bridgeport. In his later years, after he had attained a full measure of success, he was wont to say of this trying period of his career : "My friends told me I could not earn enough to season my food. I told them I was brought up in Maine and never had it very highly seasoned and I would take my chances." In 1863 the business of fire insurance was added, Mr. Staples associating his brother, George A., with him, under the firm name of J. & G. A. Staples. In 1874 a banking de- partment was opened, under the name of Staples & Company, and placed in charge of Thomas R. Cruttenden, one of the copartners. In 1884 the firm of James Staples & Company, bankers, insurance and real estate agents, was formed. The members of the firm were James Staples Philip L. Holzer and Frank T. Staples, the last named being the only son of James Staples by his union with Sarah Elizabeth, the only daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Turney) Trubee, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, whom he married in 1858. She was a granddaughter of Captain Aaron Turney, of Fairfield, Connec- ticut, who ably defended Fort Gowers Hill, Fairfield, during the revolution, and a lineal descendant of Andris Trubee, said to be de- scended from a family of Spanish refugees. The business of the firm prospered to such a degree that larger offices were required, and in 1892 a fine banking house, known as the Staples Bank Building, was erected on the corner of State and Court streets, where the firm, one of the principal business houses in the city, is now located.
Mr. Staples was a man of strong character. Honest, fearless, sagacious, positive, indus- triotis, faithful to his engagements, ready to take responsibility and, with a clear intellect, he mastered the problems of life and rose to the highest ranks of usefulness and distinction in his community. With him to decide was to act, and once started on a course of action, he pursued it with a singleness of purpose, an in- defatigable energy and a tireless persistence that assured the certain accomplisliment of his object. And yet withal he was a man of gen- ial disposition, kindly nature, a human sym- pathy and generous responsiveness to the needs of suffering humanity that caused his presence to shed sunshine in every circle and won for him the respect and affectionate re- gard of his associates. He took an intense interest in the upbuilding of his city and the welfare of its people, and was ever ready to devote himself to their service. He was one of the incorporators of the board of trade, and as chairman of the executive committee of that organization he held the position that he most desired, in that it enabled him to do the greatest possible amount of work in ad- vancing the interests and growth of Bridge- port. Surrounded and aided on that com- mittee by such men as P. T. Barnum, Nathan- iel Wheeler, David M. Read and Frank Arm- strong, notable impetus was given to the city's development into one of the chief cities of the state. True to his early tendency, he was particularly interested in the schools of his town and became a member of the board of education on its formation and served on that board for many years. In politics he was a Republican and ardently supported the princi- ples of that party, but he never desired office. In 1900, at the earnest solicitation of his friends who wished to do him honor, he con- sented to represent Bridgeport in the legisla- ture, and he was elected by a handsome ma- jority. As a member of the house he dis- played that same interest and forceful activity on behalf of measures affecting his city that he did in private life, and never feared to express the approval or opposition his judg- ment dictated. He had the distinction of being the oldest member of the legislature. He was a total abstainer from the use of intoxicating liquors and tobacco. He lived simply and un- ostentatiously, and was devoted to his family, yet he loved the society of his fellows and was a member of the Sea Side Club from its or- ganization. His humor and ability as a story- teller made him a delightful companion. In religious belief a Universalist, he was a faith-
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ful member of that denomination. His faith was immovable in the doctrine of the Father- hood of God and the brotherhood of man, and this faithi was a living force in his daily . life. He died February 28, 1903. The world is better because he lived.
(VIII) Frank Trubee, son of James and Sarah E. (Trubee) Staples, was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, November 24, 1863. He was educated in the public schools of Bridgeport, and has followed the occupation of banker. He is a member of the firm of James Staples & Company, bankers, of Bridgeport. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Staples married, December 16, 1884, Laura Frances, daughter and only child of the late William and Mary E. Stevens, of East Bridgeport, who was born October 18, 1863. They have one child, Richard T., born September 4, 1885.
CUSHMAN It is not every family that can boast of a Mayflower an- cestry, but in Robert Cush- man those of that name and lineage may right- fully set up Puritanic descent. The name is supposed to have originated from Cush, a geo- graphical locality. Then we have the man of Cush, i. e., who lived at Cush, and in the process of evolution we have Cushman.
(I) Robert Cushman, the head of the race in this country, was born in England between the years 1580 and 1585. In religion he was a Puritan, and was one of that band of Pil- grims who left their native shores for opinion's sake. The Pilgrim Fathers of New England developed chiefly in the north of England, in the farming districts in the counties of Not- tinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Two churches of Puritans were formed in the northeastern part of England. Of one of these churches in Scrooby, Rev. Richard Clifton was pastor. To this church belonged Rev. John Robinson, Elder Brewster, Governor Carver, Governor Bradford, Isaac Allerton and Robert Cushman. The men who comprised this church were principally persons of good edu- cation and of superior minds, and Robert Cushman was a very prominent man among them. They were the true founders of our republic. Driven by persecution at home, they fled to Holland, there to seek a haven of rest. Remaining in Holland eight years, they began to look toward the wilderness of America as their permanent home. To this end they sent Robert Cushman and Deacon John Carver to England to open negotiations with King James. This was in the year 1617. After re- peated attempts and failures, the plan finally
matured, and on Saturday, August 5, 1620, they set sail from Southampton on the "May- flower" and "Speedwell," Robert Cushman and family being among the number.
(II) Thomas (I), son of Robert Cushman, was born in England in February, 1608. He was on the "Mayflower" with his father, re- turned with him to London on the "Speed- well," coming to New England again on the "Fortune" in 1621. In 1635 he served as a juryman. That year he married Mary Aller- ton, probably a daughter of Isaac Allerton. The exact locality of the house in which he lived is pointed out in the present town of Kingston, and the spring that stood near it is named after him. It is often visited by anti- quarians. In 1649 he was made ruling elder of the church, which was a very important po- sition in those days. He was one of the wit- nesses to Governor Bradford's will. He died December 11, 1694. The gravestone erected to his memory at Plymouth is still in a good state of preservation. The children were : Thomas, Sarah, Lydia, Isaac, Elkanah, Feare, Eleazer and Mary.
(III) Thomas (2), eldest child and son of Thomas ( I) and Mary (Allerton) Cushman, was born September 16, 1637, and married Ruth, daughter of John Howland, November 17, 1664. He married (second) Abigail Ful- ler of Rehoboth, October 16, 1679. He lived on the west side of the highway that leads from Plympton meeting-house to the north part of the town, "Colchester brook" running through his farm. He died August 23, 1726, aged eighty-nine, and was interred in the Cen- ter burying-ground at Plympton. Children : Robert, Job, Bartholomew, Samuel, Benjamin.
(IV) Benjamin, youngest son and child of Thomas (2) and Abigail (Fuller) Cushman, was born in 1691, and married Sarah Eaton, January 8, 1712. He married (second) Widow Sarah Bell, March 14, 1738. He lived on that part of his father's farm on the south side of and near Colchester brook. His de- scendants were : Jabez, Caleb, Solomon, Jeru- sha, Benjamin, Sarah, Abigail, Thomas and Huldah.
(V) Thomas (3), eighth child of Benjamin and Sarah (Eaton) Cushman, was born in Plympton, Massachusetts, October 11, 1730, and married Annie, daughter of Jacob Cush- man, of Halifax. He represented his town in the legislature ; he was a pious, respectable man, a useful member of the community in which he lived. In 1777 he was one of a com- mittee appointed to visit church members and endeavor to bring to repentant sinners who
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had been guilty of open scandal. He died of smallpox while attending the general court in Boston, October 30, 1777. His wife and four of his children died of the same disease Jan- uary 4. 1778. Children : Job, Jerusha, Samuel, Thomas, Zachariah, Elizabeth, Zebedee, Clara, Lydia, Chipman, Polly and Bartholomew.
(VI) Thomas (4), fourth son and third child of Thomas (3) and Annie ( Chipman) Cushman, was born January 30, 1758, in Plympton, Massachusetts, and removed to Ox- ford, Oxford county, Maine. He married Ruth Ring in 1783. He became associated with the Shakers at New Gloucester, Maine, and afterward at Alfred, Maine, where he died October, 1816. Children : Ara and Israel.
(VII) Ara (I), first child of Thomas (4) and Ruth (Ring) Cushman, was born January 10, 1784, in Oxford, Maine, and was connected with the Shakers till 1814. He married Esther Merrill, January 12, 1817, and lived in Minot, Maine. Children : Mary Susan, Rebecca Ring, Thomas, Martha Ann and Ara.
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