USA > Maine > Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume II > Part 93
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(IV) Ralph (2), eldest son of Ralph (I) and Rachel (Neale) Pope, was born in Dor- chester, November 11, 1705, and died in Stoughton, Massachusetts, January I, 1750. He lived on the road to Dorchester Swamp on land his father had given him. It is now called Summer street. He was a physician, but nothing has been handed down to us con- cerning his practice, only that he refused to accept fees for services performed on Sunday. He was a kind and benevolent man, greatly beloved by those who knew him. In connec- tion with his practice he carried on a farm and was in the lumber business. Dr. Pope owned a slave, but he was human toward him and had him baptized the same day as his first- born child. He bore the title of captain, but as to his services history is a sealed book, though undoubtedly there is much fighting be-
hind the name. Ilis will was dated December 24, 1749, and the gravestone erected to his memory is still standing in the cemetery at Stoughton. November 27, 1729, he married Rebecca, daughter of Richard and Rebecca (Lobdell) Stubbs, of Hull, Massachusetts. Rev. Ezra Carpenter officiated. Children : Re- becca, Frederick, Samuel Ward, Lucretia, William, Rachel, Hannah and James. The mother attained eighty-four years.
(V) Colonel Frederick, first son of Ralph (2) and Rebecca (Stubbs) Pope, was born in Stoughton, Massachusetts, May 15, 1733, and died August 20, 1812, during the tumultuous scenes of the war for sailors' rights. Fred- erick was but seventeen when his father died. and upon his young shoulders, inexperienced as he was, fell the burdens and responsibilities of caring for his younger brothers and sisters, and being a prop to his mother. This duty he performed with great fidelity and steadfast- ness remarkable for one of his years. He was tall, lithe and strong, calm under excitement, rather reserved in his manner, but when he spoke his words were to the point and carried weight. Colonel Pope was representative to the general court in 1787-88-91-96. A man of Frederick's constitution and make-up was not one to remain quietly at home in times of martial trouble, and we find him as we should expect to, at the front, as a private in Captain Talbot's company in the early days of the rev- olution. In June, 1775, he raised a company of fifty-eight men, of which he was made cap- tain. In May, 1777, he was colonel of a bat- talion formed for the defence of Boston har- bor. He was married to a Bridgewater girl, Molly, daughter of Joseph and Mary Cole, by Reverend John Porter, June 8, 1758. She was a capable woman and worthy to be the life- mate of a youth of such high standing. Chil- dren : Ralph, Rachel, Samuel Ward, Alex- ander, Frederick, William, Mary and Elijah.
(VI) Samuel Ward, second son of Colonel Frederick and Mary (Molly) (Cole) Pope, was born in Stoughton in February, 1763, and died in Charleston, South Carolina, in April, 1797. A dozen years old when the revolution broke out, he was a comfort to his mother, her husband being away to the wars. He went to Charleston, South Carolina, after attaining manhood, and engaged in house building. He there wooed and won a beautiful southern girl, Mary Wood. Children : William, Elizabeth and John.
(VII) Hon. William, first born of Samuel Ward and Mary (Cole) Pope, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, March 30, 1787.
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His parents dying when he was quite young, he was taken to Massachusetts and brought up in the family of his grandfather. With his uncles he acquired a considerable knowledge of the lumber business, and removed to Ma- chias, Maine, built a sawmill, and engaged in lumbering and farming. In 1821 he was se- lectman in Machias, and was elected on the council of Governor Kent. He held many im- portant commissions in the Maine militia, and in the war of 1812 he often joined with others and went out to sea for the purpose of cap- turing some British cruiser on the coasts. In 1841 he returned to Boston and resided at 2 Garland street. In this city he served in the common council, the board of aldermen, and a representative to the general court. He was a director in the Boylston National Bank, of which he was made president but declined to serve. In Boston he still conducted the lumber business, shipping from the Maine base of supplies to his wharf on Harrison avenue. After the discovery of gold in California, the firm established a branch there and sent out lumber. In addition to lumbering they built vessels every year in the East Machias ship- yard. They had ships of their own building in the China, East India and Australian trade. He was a man of fine form and features, dig- nified bearing, and pleasing conversational powers. In religion he was a Universalist, but he was not set in his views and did not object to worship with the sect with which his lot happened to be cast, and contributed his share toward the support of preaching. Colo- nel Pope was noted for his modesty, having little faith in noise and presumption ; while, with this trait, he showed some of the best ele- ments of character-strength, persistence, plainness, integrity, love of country and all public interests, practical religion, sincere and enduring friendship, and great domestic af- fection. In all these respects he stood promi- nent. He had largeness of nature, with un- usual symmetry and proportion. None would fail to mark his presence and bearing, while, at the same time, it would be difficult to say what was the particular trait of character that had arrested attention. His body was well in- spired by the presence and power of his higher life; its athletic amplitude was still full of beauty ; its ruggedness fitting it for hard work and long endurance, was not gross and earthy, but eminently refined and finished. Hence with equal fitness of presence he could stand in the midst of the lumber enterprise, at the head of a regiment of stalwart Maine militia.
or sit with Governor Kent's council, or with the board of aldermen of our own city.
"Persistence was a ruling trait of his char- acter. He insisted on carrying his point, and wind and tide turned against him in vain. His will had often to bend during the troublous times of 1812, when he was commencing in life ; it never broke. It rose elastic and turned disasters into victories. He outrode many a commercial gale that swept down and ruined the less firm in purpose.
"He was a man of great moral integrity, and confidence and trade came naturally to his counting-room. He was plain and true. None doubted his word. He disdained to make commerce a strategy, but sought rather to base it on the high principles of industry and justice-not a narrow and legal, but a broad and magnanimous justice. Business was life with him, and a fit theater for the exercise of the noblest virtues. He gave to it liis con- science and heart, and won a name from the midst of traffic that stands untarnished by stain or blot.
"He was an ardent patriot. He entered heartily into the spirit of the late national campaign, and saw no honorable course to be pursued but to conquer rebellion and make liberty and equal rights universal, having noth- ing to do with concession and compromise. He was equally friendly to all public interests, civil or social or religious, and gave much time and money for their promotion. He loved his race. He had a humanitarian heart. *
"At home he was full of peace and sunshine. He loved his family with a constant and gen- erous love, which was gladly and tenderly re- quited. He has left them the treasure of a name that shall be ever fragrant in their meni- ories-an 'inheritance for his children's chil- dren.' "
He married Peggy Dawes Billings, Sep- tember 27, 1810, the Rev. Charles Lowell, D. D., acting as master of ceremonies. She was the daughter of William Billings, of Boston, who was distinguished in his time as a public singer and musical composer. He is said to have been the first composer in the United States. She died at the home, No. 2 Gar- land street, Boston, February 8, 1862. "She was a woman of great energy and activity ; rearing her children and managing her large family with great care and industry. Her house might emphatically have been called her sphere of action, so constantly and untiringly did she labor there, sacrificing her inclination
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to accompany her husband on his business ex- cursions, which were frequent and which would have given her the opportunity of visit- ing her friends and relatives, to her conscien- tious and unostentatious discharge of house- hold duties. Nor was she neglectful of her neighbors. The sick found her ever ready to contribute to their happiness by her counsel and sympathy, while the poor ever found in her a bountiful benefactress. Her doors were open to all. and her house might almost have been called a hotel, so constantly was it filled by friends and even strangers visiting that part of the country ; and never will they forget her cordial greeting and hospitable attentions. Pos- sessing an affectionate disposition, great in- tegrity of character, and a genial tempera- ment, she was an agreeable companion and friend, until disease laid his hand upon her, depriving her of all which could render life a blessing to herself or her friends. Her sickness was painful and protracted, taking from her speech and the entire use of her limbs. Her children lose in her one of the best of mothers, and her husband a faithful wife."
The children of this noble couple were : William Billings (died in infancy ), William Henry, Samuel Ward, Lucy Swan, John Adams, Andrew Jackson, James Otis, Eliza Otis, Edwin, Julia, George Washington and Hannah Elizabeth.
(VIII) James Otis, sixth son of Colonel William and Peggy D. ( Billings) Pope, was born February 17, 1822, in Machias, Maine. He was taken into the great firm of William Pope & Sons, which later became S. W. Pope & Company, and afterward J. O. Pope & Com- pany, and he continued in the business through life. Few men had the success equal to Colo- nel Pope, father of James O. and founder of the firm, in holding together six of his sons in co-operative business life, and the harmony of that co-operation was not strained but had the full naturalness of a father with his boys. and brother with brother. The sure outcome of this unity of action, good feeling, division of labor and talent was the accumulation of wealth. Colonel Pope was prone to name his sons after the heroes of the revolution, and James bore that of the Boston patriot. Hc married Olive Frances, daughter of Simeon and Louisa Foster Chase, of East Machias, who was born June 9, 1835, and died Decem- ber 12, 1901. Children: John Adams, see forward. Warren Foster, see forward. Ar- thur Ward. Helen Augusta. Macy Stanton, see forward.
(IX) John Adams, eldest son of James O. and Olive F. (Chase) Pope, was born May 8, 1858, in East Machias. After attending Washington Academy he was engaged by the firm of J. O. Pope & Company, and continued therewith until they sold out in 1901, since which be has enjoyed a restful leisure at his beautiful home in East Machias. He is a Re- publican, and meets with the Congregational church. John A. and brothers, Warren F. and Macy S., presented to the town of East Ma- chias a substantial stone bridge, which spans the river at East Machias. The bridge bears the following inscription: "This bridge is erected in memory of William Pope and his sons, William Henry, Samuel Warren, John Adams, Andrew Jackson, James Otis, Edwin, and George Washington Pope, founders of a lumber business which began near this site and extended to neighboring towns, to Boston, and to the Pacific coast, and which was con- ducted by these men and their descendants, from 1807 to 1901."
(IX) Warren Foster, second son of James O. and Olive F. (Chase) Pope, was born at East Machias, March 30, 1861. He attended the public schools and graduated from Gray's Business College, Portland, in 1882. He re- sides in East Macbias, and is a mechanic and surveyor of land. He married, October I, ISgo, Kittie M., daughter of Jacob Stuart, of Machiasport. Children: Morrill Stuart, born July 2, 1891. Susan Helen, July 31, 1892, died August 12, 1895. Leona Kellogg, April 26, 1894, died August 21, 1895. Winona, Feb- ruary 11, 1896. James Warren, October 17, 1897. Ralph Chase, February 23, 1899. Will- iam Jacob, April 25. 1904.
(IX) Macy Stanton, youngest son of James O. and Olive F. (Chase) Pope, was born at East Machias, July 26, 1869. In the ship- yards and upon the extensive timber lands owned by his father, he grew up and gained his knowledge of the woods and of the lumber industry. He attended the public schools and graduated from the Washington Academy, East Machias, June 20, ISSS. He entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall of 1888, and graduated from the depart- ment of civil engineering in May, 1892. Short- ly after graduating, he entered the employ of the Associated Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Companies, of Boston, and the greater part of his time there was spent on a series of tests of cast-iron water pipe and fittings, made at Nashua, New Hampshire, under the direction of John R. Freeman. In the fall of 1892 Mr. Pope returned to the institute as assistant in-
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structor in hydraulic engineering to Professor Dwight Porter, and he remained there until the following June. He then re-entered the employ of the Factory Mutuals, though a por- tion of his time was again devoted to the pri- vate work of Mr. Freeman in the preparations of designs for a new reservoir, dam and pump- ing station for the Pennichuck Water Works at Nashua, New Hampshire, and for repairs and improvements upon the water power plant of the l'iscataquis Pulp and Paper Company. From this time until February, 1898. his time was divided between testing work along vari- ons lines, in the laboratory of the Factory Mutuals, as well as in the field: to work in the plan department, involving the surveying of mills and the drawing up of plans of them, and private work done for Mr. Freeman, which included certain investigations relating to the water supplies of New York and Bos- ton. In February, 1898, under leave of ab- sence from the company, he returned to his home at East Machias, and he also made a trip to the southern states and California with his mother. In June, 1900, he returned to the Factory Mutuals, and was employed in ma- king special inspections of mills in different parts of the country, being specially qualified for this work by his broad experience in the inspection department of the Factory Mutuals and his own business training. Mr. Pope took a deep interest in engineering matters, and was a member of various engineering societies, such as the Boston Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the New England Water-works Association, and the Society of Arts, as well as of the Tech- nology and Appalachian Mountain clubs. He was devoted to his old home, and took a warm and active interest in its affairs. For some years he had been one of the trustees of the Washington Academy at East Machias. He was much interested in its growth and development, and gave financial assistance to it on more than one occasion. His old alma mater also commanded his attention, and he always took a friendly interest in its welfare and progress. In his will he left it the sub- stantial sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, while other public hequests were to the Wash- ington Academy, and various Maine hospitals. In June, 1904, feeling the need of rest and change, he took a ten weeks' trip abroad. He was not well during the summer, and shortly after his return serious symptoms appeared, and after an illness of a month he died at Brookline, Massachusetts, December 10. 1904. Sound common sense, simple tastes with high
ideals, love of work, a just appreciation of nature and a good knowledge of men, were marked characteristics in the life of Macy S. Pope, who will long be remembered as a wor- thy example of a fine and virile type of New Englander.
The surname Henderson HENDERSON is of Scotch origin and was common in Fifeshire,
Dumfriesshire and elsewhere in Scotland be- fore 1600. The family at Fordell, Scotland, bears this coat-of-arms: Gules three piles is- suing out of the sinister side argent on a chief of the last a crescent azure between two ermine spots. Crest: A hind holding a star sur- mounted by a crescent. Motto: Sola Virtus Nobilitas. The Henderson family of St. Law- rence, Scotland, bears : per pale indented sable and argent two attires of a hart counter- changed on a chief gules a crescent or between two ermine spots. Crescent : A wheel. Motto: Sic Cuncta Caduca. The family at Provost, Edinburgh, bears arms similar to the first de- scribed above.
(I) James Henderson, of the ancient Edin- burgh family, was born, lived and died in that city. He married Mary Corlew, of Edinburgh. He died in 1840. Children : 1. George, died in infancy. 2. James Chalmers, mentioned be- low.
(II) James Chalmers, son of James Hen- derson, was born in Edinburgh in 1836 and died at Thomaston, Maine. in 1890. He was educated in the schools of his native city. In 1852 he left home and came to Bath, Maine. He learned the trade of shoemaker in Scot- land, and worked at shoemaking in this coun- try for a time. In 1854 he removed to Wis- casset, Maine, and engaged in the retail shoe trade, continuing with much success until 1880, when he removed to Thomaston, Maine. Here he started another shoe store and continued in this business in that town to the end of his life. He was a prominent and successful mer- chant. Ile was a Republican in politics. He was a member of Lincoln Lodge of Free Ma- sons, No. 3, of Wiscasset, and past master of the lodge ; member of New Jerusalem Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Wiscasset. In religion he was a Presbyterian, as were his parents and ancestors before him. He married, November 4, 1854, Mary Maria, born in Wiscasset in 1836, now living in Pawling, New York, daughter of Eben and Susan Savage, of Maine, granddaughter of Jacob Savage, of Woolwich, an orderly sergeant in the war of 1812, who served at Fort Edgecomb. Chil-
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dren : 1. Horace E., born January 16, 1859, mentioned below. 2. Herbert Marshall, born in Wiscasset, October 7, 1862, a shoe dealer in Webster, Massachusetts ; married Alice Watts, of Thomaston, Maine; children: i. Bernice Mary, born January 31, 1897 ; ii. James Clar- ence, June 7, 1901.
(III) Horace Eben, son of James Chalmers Henderson, was born in Wiscasset, Maine, January 16, 1859. He attended the public and high schools of his native town and entered Bowdoin College, from which he was gradu- ated in the class of 1879. He taught school four years at Bath, Maine, was principal of the high school at Whitman, Massachusetts, for ten years, from 1883 to 1893. He thien became a master of St. Paul's School at Gar- den City, Long Island. He resigned this po- sition in 1907 and became one of the founders of the Pawling School at Pawling, New York. In politics he is a Republican. He is a mem- ber of Puritan Lodge of Free Masons; of Pilgrim Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; of Old Colony Commandery, Knights Templar, all of Whitman, Massachusetts. He is a member of the Fire Society of Wiscasset, which has been in existence since 1803, succeeding Silas Young, who had been a member for sixty-three years. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. He has a very attractive summer resi- dence on Davis Island in Edgecomb, across the bay from Wiscasset, in an ideal location. Close by his house is the old block house, formerly called Fort Edgecomb, where his great-grandfather served in 1812. He mar- ried, December 22, 1898, Annie Elizabeth, daughter of Horace F. and Cordelia E. (Ful- ler) Whidden, of Whitman, Massachusetts. They have no children.
SPRAGUE The name Sprague is said to be derived from the Dutch spraak, meaning speech or language, and was probably bestowed in early days upon some one noted for his ready tongue. Other authorities find the root in the old Norse sprackr, signifying active, lively, nimble, the original of our modern sprightly. There are great variations in the spelling of the patronymic, some of the forms being Spreck, Sprake. Spraick, Sprackett, Spragg and Spragge. The English Spragues achieved some renown on the sea, which probably ac- counts for their coat-of-arms. This emblem, on a field gules, has a fesse between three tre- foils ; crest, out of a naval crown, a demi- lion crowned. The naval crown was usually awarded to one who first boarded an enemy's
ship. Sir Edward Spragge was knighted by Charles JJ, on board the ship "Royal Charles," for gallant conduct in engagement with the Dutch fleet. With Van Tromp, Spragge fought ship to ship. Sir Edward became vice- admiral of the red and admiral of the blue, and his courage was eulogized by Dryden in the "Annus Mirabilis." The immortal Pepys describes him as "brave and resolute," and adds: "He was a merry man who sang a pleasant song pleasantly."
In America the family dates back to the earliest days of colonial settlement. Francis Sprague, a member of the Plymouth Colony, with wife and daughter, came over in the ship "Ann" in 1623. Like others of that heroic band, he suffered from the poverty of the times to which Governor Bradford referred: "The best dish we can offer is a piece of fish, with- out bread, or anything else but a cup of fair spring water. This diet hath somewhat abated the freshness of our complexions, but God gives us health." The three brothers, Ralph. Richard and William Sprague, in company with John Endicott, arrived at Naumkeag ( Sa- lem) in 1628. The name has been associated with many persons of distinction during dif- ferent periods of our country's history. Cap- tain Richard Sprague, of Charlestown, Mas- sachusetts, was one of the band who impris- oned Sir Edmund Andros. At his death in 1703, Captain Richard left money to various public institutions, among them Harvard Col- lege. Samuel Sprague, of Hingham, Massa- chusetts, was one of the band who assisted at the Boston tea party. His son, Charles Sprague, was the poet whose finished verse was admired during the early part of the nine- teenth century. Three members of the family have served in the United States senate : Peleg Sprague, of Maine, 1829-1835; and the two William Spragues of Rhode Island, the first from 1842 to 1844, and the second from 1863 to 1875. The William Spragues who were uncle and nephew are perhaps better remem- bered as governors of their native state.
(I) Edward Sprague, born in England near the close of the sixteenth century, was a resi- dent of Upway, county of Dorset, and a fuller by trade. His will was dated June 6, 1614, proved on October 13 of that year, so his death must have occurred between those two dates. The inventory of his estate showed him to be possessed of goods and chattels to the value of nearly two hundred and sixty pounds, including thirteen silver spoons, one and twen- ty brass vessels, and the less intelligible item of "one willow, four old tubs with a hedlop."
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llis live stock consisted of "one pyge, seven kyne, with three yearlings, one horse, four- score sheep and forty-two lambs." Edward Sprague's wife was named Christiana, but nothing further is known about her. The couple had six children : Ralph, Alice, Ed- ward, Richard, Christopher, and William, whose sketch follows.
( Il) William, fifth son of Edward and Christiana Sprague, was born at Upway, Eng- land, about 1009, and died at Ilingham, Mas- sachusetts, October 26, 1675. With his elder brothers, Ralph and Richard, William (1) Sprague migrated to America in 1628. John Endicott was of the party, which came over in the interest of the Massachusetts Bay Com- pany. They soon moved through the woods to what is now Charlestown, and according to Edward Everett when he made his address at the bi-centennial of Winthrop the Sprague brothers were "The founders of the settlement in this place, and were persons of substance and enterprise, excellent citizens, generous public benefactors, and the head of a very large and respectable family of descendants.'
William Sprague remained at Charlestown till 1636, when he removed to Hingham, which was his home till his death, nearly forty years later. He owned considerable land there, was one of the seven members of the prudential committee in 1645, was disbursing officer of the town in 1662, also constable and fence- viewer. William Sprague married Millesaint Eames, daughter of Anthony Eames; she died February 8, 1696. Children: 1. An- thony, born September 2, 1635. 2. John, men- tioned below. 3. Samuel, who moved to Marshfield and was the last secretary of the colony. 4. Elizabeth. 5. Jonathan, died at the age of five. 6. Perses, married John Dog- gett. 7. Joanna, married Caleb Church.
8. Jonathan, moved to Providence, Rhode Island, and was speaker of the house in 1703. 9. William, moved to Providence. 10. Mary, married Thomas King, of Scituate. 11. Han- nah, died at the age of three years.
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