Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume IV, Part 63

Author: Little, George Thomas, 1857-1915, ed; Burrage, Henry Sweetser, 1837-1926; Stubbs, Albert Roscoe
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 896


USA > Maine > Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume IV > Part 63


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121


Samuel F. Hersey filled a prominent place


in the public affairs of the state. In 1842 he represented Milford in the legislature, was elected representative from Bangor in 1857 and 1865, and a member of the state senate in 1868 and 1869. In 1852 and 1853 he was a member of the executive council; was a dele- gate to the National Republican Convention, which nominated Lincoln; and from 1864 to 1868 was a member of the National Republican committee. He was one of the organizers and first supporters of the Republican party in Maine, and was ever after one of its staunch- est upholders. He served in the state militia through the various grades from captain to major general, and at the outbreak of the civil war rendered efficient service in organizing and equipping the troops from Maine. He contributed liberally to the efforts for the re- lief of our soldiers, and was ardently devoted to the Union cause throughout the war. He felt a just pride in having been able to vote in the Chicago convention for resolves forever prohibiting the further extension of human slavery ; in the Baltimore convention of 1864 for universal freedom; and in the Maine legis- lature for the ratification of the great consti- tutional amendments which sealed the results of the war. Mr. Hersey always took a promi- nent and responsible part in the Republican councils of the state; and was frequently elected to positions of dignity and influence. In 1870 he was the Republican nominee for governor, and lost the election by twenty votes, being defeated by Hon. Sidney Perham. In 1872 he was nominated and elected by the Re- publicans as representative to congress, receiv- ing a majority of five thousand ; and he was re- elected to the forty-fourth congress in 1874. During the winter of 1873+74, while in Wash- ington, his health became impaired, and he was obliged to return home, where he gradu- ally failed until his death, February 3, 1875.


The preceding paragraphs give a brief out- line of Mr. Hersey's business and political life, but they fail to show his social influence in the community and the generosity with which he supported all good causes. He was a promi- nent member of the Universalist church, and a liberal contributor thereto. He made large donations to Westbrook Seminary. He was a director of the European and North Amer- ican railway, and a corporator and stockholder of various other enterprises, including insur- ance and banking companies. By his will Mr. Hersey left a fund of one hundred thousand dollars to the Bangor Public Library. This was loaned to the city at six per cent, and with the money they built their present City


1974


STATE OF MAINE.


Hall. He also left a bequest to the Universal- ist church of Bangor, which has been expended for a retreat for the Sunday school scholars at Sandy Point, Maine; the buildings and grounds have been fitted up at an expense of forty thousand dollars.


The death of Mr. Hersey was widely mourned. From among the many tributes and obituaries published in the Bangor papers at the time, we quote the following extract : "Mr. Hersey has for years been identified as one of our most prominent citizens, public-spirited and generous-hearted, with business ability of the highest order." From the funeral oration delivered by Rev. Amory Battles, who had been Mr. Hersey's pastor for twenty years, we take the following: "If you could have seen him when he returned from some one of his many business trips, and known with what heartiness and zest he engaged himself in the affairs of his church and Sunday school, you would have found one of his largest sources of enjoyment in the duties of these other and less public walks of life. Another beautiful trait in his character was that he was always young, and children loved him and sought his soci- ety as naturally as the sweet roses of summer gather about those who love their fragrance. We have often seen, after an extended absence, the gladness spring into the eyes of two or three hundred children when he again met them in the Sunday school."


At the memorial services held in the Halls of Congress at Washington, addresses on the life and character of Hon. Samuel F. Hersey were delivered by Congressmen Hale and Frye of Maine and Congressman Dunnell of Minne- sota, also by Senators Hamlin and Morrill of Maine. Resolutions were passed by the sen- ate and house, and members of both bodies wore the usual badge of mourning for thirty days. The following is the address of Sena- tor Morrill: "Mr. President: The bereave- ment which arrests the proceedings of the Senate touches so many hearts in the state that honors me with its confidence, and withal sun- ders ties of friendly and official relations, that I trust to be indulged in adding a few words to what has already been so feelingly and ap- propriately said. The claims of Mr. Hersey upon our respect spring from an unsullied character, from his personal virtues and public services. By the inherent energies and fidel- ity of his nature, unaided by adventitious sup- ports, he had acquired affluence in private affairs, had often been associated in the coun- cils of his state, and had at length entered those of the nation-alas! unhappily, soon to


fall under the heavy hand of disease, which ere long was to remove him hence. His was an active and useful life in the departments of practical duty and endeavor, whereby society is advanced through a community of interests, the general welfare, the highest good of the greatest number. He was ever the sagacious, upright, eminently successful man of business, of generous impulses, of a truly catholic spirit, charitable, liberal and humane, whose daily life was without reproach, and was an example to all. He sprung from among the people in the common walks of life, was by the simplicity of his tastes, the habits formed in pursuits, in- timately connected with their interests, and by his truly democratic intentions always in deep- est sympathy with them, and was therefore fitly and not infrequently, their trusted repre- sentative. The memories of Mr. Hersey will be cherished by the people of Maine, as among the public men who had rendered valuable public service in its councils, who in private life was faithful to every duty, to the obliga- tions of friendship and the claims of good neighborship."


Samuel F. Hersey was thrice married, but his five children were all by the second wife. In January, 1835, Samuel Freeman Hersey married Eliza Ann Stowell, of South Paris, Maine, who died in September, 1836. In July, 1839, he married Jane Ann Davis, who died January 17, 1862. The five children of this union were: Roscoe F., Dudley H., Eugene M., Edward Louis and a daughter. On March 23, 1871, Samuel F. Hersey married his third wife, Emily M. Sanborn, daughter of Hon. Abraham and Emily (McClellan) Sanborn, who was born March 9, 1837. She proved a devoted wife and nurse throughout her husband's long and trying sickness that ended in his decease. Edward L. Hersey, the last surviving son of Samuel F. Hersey, died at St. Paul, Minnesota, September, 1908. He removed to St. Paul shortly after his father's death. He had large business interests there.


CLARY This is a Scotch name which was transported in the seventeenth century to northern Ireland, and brought thence to this country in a great im- migration from that religion in the first half of the eighteenth century. Like all those immi- grants, this family was affiliated with the Scotch Presbyterian church, and preserved in common with others the distinctive character- istics of the forefathers. This people were known as Scotch-Irish.


(I) Early in the eighteenth century Daniel


Albert E. llary


1975


STATE OF MAINE.


McClary and his wife Catherine, with their sons William and Daniel, came from the north of Ireland to Massachusetts. After living for a time in Groton, in that colony, they settled in the adjoining town of Lunenburg, in 1739. The father is supposed to have died there, and the widow, Catherine McClary, with her sons, William and Daniel, removed to New Ipswich, New Hampshire, about 1751, where all were landed owners in 1763. About this time the sons discarded the prefix to their names and afterward went by the name of Clary. Both were soldiers in the revolutionary army, and after that struggle was closed the former re- moved to Belfast, Maine, with his son Daniel, who later moved to Brooks, Maine.


(II) Daniel (2), son of Daniel (I) and Catherine Clary, resided in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, where he died. He married Cath- erine Taggart, born in 1747, daughter of John Taggart, of Peterboro, New Hampshire, one of the first settlers there, and of a Scotch- Irish family. Children, born in New Ipswich : Barbara, 1767; Elizabeth, 1770; Margaret, 1772; Daniel, 1774; Sarah, 1776; Mary, 1778.


(III) Daniel (3), only son of Daniel (2) and Catherine (Taggart) Clary, was born in New Ipswich, 1774, and removed to Jackson, Maine, about 1801. There he took up a large tract of land which he cleared and developed into a fine farm, and resided thereon to the time of his death in the summer of 1856. He married, in Dublin, New Hampshire, Persis Morse, born 1779, a daughter of Reuben and Abigail (Mason) Morse, of Dublin (see Morse VIII). She died in Jackson, Maine, 1837. Children: I. Betsey, born in Dublin, 1800; married Ebenezer Thorndike; lived in Dixmont, Maine, where she died, leaving chil- dren. 2. Persis, born in Jackson, died in in- fancy. 3. Catherine, born in Jackson, Febru- ary 8, 1805; married Aaron Snow, of Jack- son, where they lived and died, leaving chil- dren. 4. Daniel, born in Jackson, January 21, 1807; married Rosanna Erskine; lived on his father's farm in Jackson ; later moved to Dix- mont, Maine, where they died, leaving chil- dren. 5. Persis, born in Jackson, February 10, 1809; married Samuel Snow; lived in Jack- son, where they died, leaving children. 6. Abigail, born in Jackson, January 26, 1812; married Edwin Morse, of Worcester, Massa- chusetts, where they lived; both died there, leaving children. 7. John, mentioned below. 8. Ashley, born July 18, 1818, died 1837. 9. Mary J., born June 5, 1820, died August 2, 1844. 10. Martha, born June 3, 1822; mar-


ried Lyman Green, of Troy, Maine; both are now deceased, leaving children.


(IV) John, second son of Daniel (3) and Persis (Morse) Clary, was born September 16, 1813, in Jackson, and resided for some years in Troy, Maine, whence he removed with his family to Lincoln, same state. Sub- sequently he returned to Troy, and in 1851 went to California, where he died October 5, 1852. His life was characterized by strict in- tegrity, and he was loved and respected as a christian man. He married, February 2, 1842, Sybell Heald, of Troy, Maine, daughter of Samuel and Mary Heald, of Troy (see Heald (VIII). She was born October 17, 1820. She married (second) December 14, 1857, Alonzo Whitcomb, of Worcester, Massachusetts, and died January, 1906. Mr. Whitcomb was for many years a successful manufacturer of ma- chinery at Worcester, Massachusetts, where he died March 28, 1900. Children of John Clary : I. Abby Annette, born January 10, 1843, died April 3, 1848. 2. John Everard, November 16, 1845, died March 27, 1848. 3. Agnes Sybell, December 6, 1846, died May 5, 1903, at Worcester. 4. Mary Ella, March 15, 1848, died April 4, 1875; for several years she was a school teacher; she married Edmund W. Bagley, who died May 20, 1881 ; they left one son, John L., born September 12, 1874, now residing in Troy, where he has served as se- lectman and assessor many years. 5. Albert E., mentioned below. 6. Samuel Heald, born June 9, 1851, at Lincoln, Maine, has resided in Worcester, Massachusetts, since 1857, and has been several years treasurer of the Worces- ter Trust Company, a man of prominence and highly respected by all. He married, January 21, 1886, Nellie Olive Thayer, of that town, and they have two children, Ernest Thayer and Eleanor. The former is a member of the class of 1909 at Harvard College.


(V) Judge Albert E., second son of John and Sybell (Heald) Clary, was born March 15, 1848, in Troy, and for several years taught school with marked success in that town and in Dixmont. In the years 1871-72-73 he was chairman of the school committee of his native town, and also served two years as town clerk. While engaged in teaching he began the study of law, and subsequently entered the Boston University Law School, from which he grad- uated in the class of 1874, and received the degree of LL.B. in June, 1875. He was ad- mitted to the Suffolk bar in the same month, but continued his legal studies in Boston for another year. In April, 1876, he began ac-


1976


STATE OF MAINE.


tive practice of his profession in Boston, and has there continued to the present time. In February, 1886, he was appointed associate justice of the East Boston district court, and in May, 1903, was appointed judge of that court, which position he still fills. He is a past grand of Zenith Lodge, No. 42, I. O. O. F., and a member of Mt. Tabor Lodge, F. and A. M .; St. John's Chapter, R. A. M., and of William Parkman Commandery, K. T., all of Boston. He married, April 14, 1881, Rosalia L. Dunn, daughter of Alanson and Hannah (Townsend) Dunn, of Saco, Maine.


HEALD The immigrant members of this family were settlers of Concord in 1635. The Healds have al- ways been found among the steady and pro- gressive citizens of the country.


(I) John Heald came from Berwick, Northumberland county, England, and settled as early as 1635 in Concord, Massachusetts, where he was one of the first twelve settlers of the town, and a freeman. He died May 24, 1662. His wife's name was Dorothy, and his children included: John, born probably in England; Dorcas, Gershom, Dorothy, Dorcas, Israel.


(II) John (2), eldest child of John (I) and Dorothy Heald, born probably in England, was made a freeman in 1680. He married, at Concord, June 10, 1661, Sarah, daughter of Thomas Dane, one of the first settlers of Con- cord, and they had: Elizabeth, John, born September 19, 1666, Gershom, Sarah and Hannah.


(III) John (3), eldest son of John (2) and Sarah (Dane) Heald, was born September 19, 1666; married, December 18, 1690, Mary Chandler, and died November 25, 1721. They had nine children: John, Timothy, born June 7, 1696; Josiah, Elizabeth, Samuel, Amos, Ephraim, Dorcas and Eunice.


(IV) Timothy, second son of John (3) and Mary (Chandler) Heald, was born June 7, 1696, in Concord, and was one of the original proprietors of Townsend, Massachusetts. He died March 28, 1736. He married, 1722, Han- nah -. Children: Timothy, born Octo- ber 14, 1723; Simon, March 7, 1725; Stephen, April 1, 1727 ; Thomas, July 18, 1729; Josiah, Ebenezer and Hannah.


(V) Timothy (2), eldest child of Timothy (I) and Hannah Heald, was born October 14, 1723, in Concord, New Hampshire, and set- tled in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, before 1750. His name appears among the proprie- tors of the town and elsewhere in the town


records. He was for many years town clerk, and was chairman of nearly every committee appointed to lay out roads or settle land claims. About 1770 he removed to Winslow, Maine, which was then a part of Waterville, and was not separated until 1802. He was active and prominent in the early history of Winslow, being moderator of its first town meeting, May 23, 1771, at which he was elected one of the first three selectmen. During the revolution he was a member of the committee of safety. He had purchased land in Winslow previous to his removal thither, and in 1778 he built the first mills at Norridgewock, Maine. He mar- ried, in 1748, Elizabeth Stevens. Children : Timothy, John, Sybell, Jonas, Josiah, Thomas, Ebenezer and Betsey.


(VI) John, second son of Timothy (2) and Elizabeth (Stevens) Heald, was born in New Ipswich, 1751, and moved with his father to Winslow when about nineteen years old. When about twenty-seven years old he settled in Norridgewock, Maine, where he was con- stable and collector in 1788, and selectman and assessor in the two succeeding years. He was in the service of the government for a few months in 1777. He married Rebecca (Willis) Heywood, born June 9, 1757, in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, eldest child of Zimri and Jane (Foster) Heywood. Zimri Heywood, son of Nathan and Esther (Willis) Heywood, was born September 5, 1731, in Lunenberg, Mas- sachusetts, and settled in Ashburnham, same state. He removed thence with his family about 1771 to Winslow, Maine, where he owned a tract of land. He was prominent in public affairs in both Ashburnham and Win- slow, and was the first representative from the latter town to the general court. He married, June 5, 1756, Jane, daughter of Deacon Moses Foster, of Ashburnham. Children: I. John, born 1777, died in Ohio after 1822, leaving children. 2. Jonas, 1778, resided in Plymouth, Maine, and had sons and daughters. 3. Re- becca, 1780, married Timothy McKenny ; moved to Mercer, New York, about 1814. 4. Nathan, 1783, lived in Palmyra, and left sons and daughters. 5. William, 1786, was a sol- dier in the war of 1812, and received for his services a grant of land near Vandalia, Illi- nois, where he died about 1822. 6. Samuel, mentioned below. 7. Arba, who went to In- diana and died between 1854 and 1857.


(VII) Samuel, fifth son of John and Re- becca (Willis) Heald, was born in Norridge- wock, March 16, 1790, and when about nine- teen years old joined a settlement on the Se- basticook river, now Pittsfield. In 1816 he


-


1977


STATE OF MAINE.


removed with his family to the town of Joy, later called Troy, Maine, where he passed his last years. He was commissioned a captain in the Maine militia, June 14, 1821, and on April 30 of the following year was commissioned postmaster at Joy, Maine, and held this office continuously until 1846. From about 1822 to the end of his life he was justice of the peace, and he also served as a commissioner to qual- ify public officers. He filled many other pub- lic stations in his town, and was a member of the house of representatives in 1855. True and faithful to every trust, of which he had many, he was a much respected citizen, and died at Troy, May 17, 1864. He married, about 1811, at Pittsfield, Mary, daughter of John and Mary (Morril) Carle, of Water- boro. She was born January 9, 1791, in Wa- terboro, and died at Troy, May 19, 1875. Her father, John Carle, was born 1759, died in September, 1833. He married, in 1780, Mary Morril, born 1759, died 1841. Mary was their seventh child and third daughter. Children of Samuel Heald : I. Sarah J., born July 15, 1812, in Pittsfield, died June 27, 1892, in Los Angeles, California ; married, in March, 1833, Increase Sumner Johnson, born October, 1800, in Haverhill, Massachusetts, died February, 1869, at Geneva, New York. 2. Peter, July, 1815, Pittsfield, died at Troy, Maine, March 9, 1896. He married Celinda Haskell, who died in Iowa, 1854; children: i. Laurette; ii. Mary Frances; iii. Sarah J .; iv. John Peter, went to Fort Pierre, South Dakota, where he married Elsee E. Lieser, he died November 17, 1902 (children : Samuel C., September 22, 1884; John P. Jr., July 24, 1886; Sybell, July 23, 1896) ; v. Joseph Cummings; vi. Alice. Mr. Heald married (second) Lydia Pinkham, of Harpswell, Maine, who died May 1, 1895; children : Dora C., Samuel, Isaac P., Nettie, Georgia, Lydia Alidia and Lillian. The last two reside on the old homestead of Samuel Heald in Troy; they have established a high reputation as teachers in Troy and adjoining towns, and the elder has held the office of su- perintendent of schools in Troy. 3. Sybell, see forward. 4. Mary Elizabeth, see forward.


(VIII) Sybell, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Carle) Heald, was born October 17, 1820, in Troy ; and married, February 2, 1842, John Clary, of Jackson, Maine (see Clary IV). She married (second) Alonzo Whit- comb, of Worcester, Massachusetts. Sybell Heald Whitcomb was a woman of rare excel- lence in every respect, of scholarly intellect and superior literary ability, being highly cultured in matters of various learning, a sincere and


devout Christian, with an integrity of mind that caused her to frown upon everything false or wrong, taking great interest in public matters, and one of the best informed persons upon all such questions. She had a wide ex- perience in early life, assisting her father in legal matters and in the postoffice, which then was the only one for miles around and which did a large business, and also as a teacher for a number of years before and after her first marriage. Her genial humor and kindness of temper gave her a great charm in society and in her family.


(VIII) Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Sam- uel and Mary Heald, was born in Troy, April 29, 1826; married, March 31, 1853, Charles A. Vickery, born at Unity, Maine, July 10, 1827. They lived several years at Troy, then at Fairfield, Maine, after that at Portland, Maine, and later moved to Clinton, Massa- chusetts, where he died December 9, 1891. He was engaged in the dry goods business. Children: I. Minnie Elizabeth, born in Troy, March 26, 1854. 2. Augusta May, born in Troy, July 29, 1857 ; married Walter R. Dame. of Clinton, Massachusetts, August 30, 1893; she died October 23, 1894. 3. Lucia Florence, born in Fairfield, Maine, April 26, 1860, now a physician at Jamaica Plain, in Boston, Mas- sachusetts. 4. Charles H., born in Fairfield, Maine. August 18, 1861 ; married Minnie Wal- lace, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, November 22, 1892; they have one daughter. 5. Ger- trude, born in Fairfield, February 15, 1863; married Rev. Thomas L. Fisher, at Clinton, Massachusetts, January 5, 1893; are living in Ayer, Massachusetts; they have one son.


Thomas Thaxter, immigrant THAXTER ancestor, came to Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1638, from Hingham, England, accompanied by his wife Elizabeth, in the ship "Diligent." He was granted a house lot in Hingham Centre, near the training field. A few years after he bought of Captain John Mason a house and land which had previously belonged to Robert Peck. The estate was on Bachelor, now Main street, and included the spot where Joseph B. Thaxter, a lineal descendant, now or lately re- sided. Two years later he made several pur- chases of land at Broad Cove and Weymouth river, and in 1652 he bought the house and land where his son John resided. He was a linen weaver by trade, and was admitted a freeman, May 18, 1642. He was a deacon of the church. He married Elizabeth who married (second) William Ripley, and


1978


STATE OF MAINE.


(third) at Dedham, John Dwight. She was drowned by falling in a well, July 17, 1660. Thomas Thaxter died intestate February 4, 1653-54. Children: I. John, born 1626, men- tioned below. 2. Elizabeth, 1629. 3. Thomas, 1632, died January 6, 1646-47. 4. Sarah, 1635, married, December 13, 1655, Thomas Thurs- ton. 5. Daniel, 1638, died April 22, 1663. 6. Samuel, Hingham, May 19, 164I.


(II) Captain John, son of Deacon Thomas Thaxter, was born in England in 1626, died March 14, 1686-87. He resided on North street, Hingham, where St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church now stands. He was chosen lieutenant in 1664, and when serving against the Dutch in New York he "was preferred for" (promotion?) under orders from Crom- well. He was afterwards captain, and in 1680 was in command of a troop of cavalry. He was selectman eight years, and representative to the general court in 1666. He married, in Hingham, December 4, 1648, Elizabeth Jacobs, born in England, 1632, daughter of Nicholas and Mary Jacobs. She married (second) March 23, 1690-91, Daniel Cushing. Children, born in Hingham : I. John, December 4, 1651, died young. 2. Thomas, June 4, 1654, mar- ried, December 31, 1696, Mrs. Lydia Logan. 3. Joseph, June 1, 1656, married Mary


4. Samuel, November 17, 1658, died young. 5. Elizabeth, February 19, 1660-61, married, December 8, 1680, Daniel Cushing Jr. 6. Ben- jamin, February 4, 1662-63, died unmarried March, 1720-21. 7. Samuel, August 6, 1665, mentioned below. 8. Mary, August 19, 1667, married (first) November 28, 1688, Theo- philus Cushing ; (second) January II, 1721- 22, Captain Joseph Herrick. 9. Deborah, Sep- tember 14, 1669, married, October 17, 1687, Thomas Cushing. 10. Sarah, September 26, 1671, married (first) October 1, 1691, Na- thaniel Holmes; (second) March 18, 1713-14, John Cushing. II. Daniel, August 1, 1675, died June 9, 1676. 12. Jonathan, April 18, 1677.


(III) Colonel Samuel, son of Captain Thax- ter, was born August 6, 1665, in Hingham, died November 13, 1740. On the Hingham records he is described as "Hon. Samuel Thax- ter, late one of His Majesties Council and Colonel of this Regiment." He was a man of marked ability, and one of the most promi- nent citizens of Hingham. He was selectman in 1695, 1705-06-14; deputy to the general court in 1697, from 1708 to 1712 inclusive, and from 1714 to 1718 inclusive; was frequently elected to the office of delegate ; was one of the commissioners who settled the boundary line


between Massachusetts and Rhode Island in 1719; an assistant and otherwise distinguished in public affairs. He resided in the home- stead on North street. A distinguished cler- gyman once said he had rather have the good will of Colonel Thaxter than a whole parish in his favor. Among the many conferences held with the Indians of Maine in the endeavor to secure the safety of the settlements was one by Governor Belcher at Falmouth in Casco Bay, 1732, at which he was accompanied as would appear from an account found in the Thaxter papers by Colonel Samuel Thaxter, Rev. Nathan Ellis and Ebenezer Gay. Samuel Thaxter served as captain and major in 1756 in a company commanded by Richard Gridley for an expedition against Crown Point and Ticonderoga (against French and Indians). Fifteen out of fifty of the company were killed that day. It is said that Major Thaxter was stripped, bound to a tree, and was about to be roasted alive by the Indians when he was saved by a French officer. He died at the age of seventy-five in Hingham. He married, De- cember 29, 1691, Hannah Gridley, born April 19, 1671, died January 26, 1756, daughter of Tremble and Elizabeth Gridley, of Boston. Children, born in Hingham: I. Elizabeth, September 18, 1692, married (first) January 12, 1715-16, Captain John Norton; (second) October 31, 1723, Hon. Benjamin Lincoln. 2. John, mentioned below. 3. Samuel, October 8, 1695. 4. Sarah.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.