Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume IV, Part 68

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 68

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).

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construction in New York City. On June 15, 1904, he married Edith Luce, daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth Luce, of Boston, Mas- sachusetts.

The name Pierre (Peter)

PEARSON which was introduced into England by Norman French and anglicized into Pier or Piers, is the word from which comes the name Pierson or Pear- son. The family bearing this patronymic in- cludes many citizens of high standing. In the old parish of Byfield, which was made from parts of Newbury and Rowley, Massa- chusetts, stands an ancient house which has been occupied by several generations of Pear- sons, most of them bearing the name of Ben- jamin. This fine old mansion was built in 1684, and is notable for its stairways of solid oak and beautiful broad panelling. Under the clapboards there is a structure of white oak plank, set perpendicularly and stretching from the sills to the eaves, with portholes here and there. The whole plan of the house bears eloquent testimony to the perilous times in which it was built, when a man's house needed literally to be his castle. Until recent years the homestead was shaded by a magnificent elm, perhaps the finest in Massachusetts, which now can be seen only in pictures, for it suc- cumbed to a great storm, November 27, 1898.

(I) John Pearson came from England and settled in Rowley, Massachusetts, in 1643, and then set up a fulling mill, the first mill for this purpose in America. He was a man of property, and active and prominent in the com- munity. His first grant of land was in the "uplands laid out in the field called Batchel- der's Plaine," and was "one house lott Con- taineing an Acre and a halfe lying on the South side of Richard Lighton." His name appears often in the town records as grantor and grantee of land. He was made freeman probably in 1647, and was one of the "five men" or selectmen, and as a representative of the town opposed the tyrannous acts of Sir Edmond Andros, and was fined. He was rep- resentative in 1678, and was made deacon October 24, 1686. He died December 22, 1693. His wife's name was Dorcas. She survived him ten years, and died January 12, 1703. Their children were: Mary (died young), John, Elizabeth, Samuel, Dorcas, Mary, Jeremiah, Joseph, Benjamin, Phebe, Stephen and Sarah. John, the eldest son, was born in 1644, was appointed deacon in 1686, and died 1696.

(II) Benjamin, son of John and Dorcas

Pearson, was born in Rowley, April 1, 1658, and died in Newbury, June 16, 1731. He set- tled at Byfield, 1682, and a deed for land con- veyed to him is extant bearing that date. In 1704 he removed to Newbury, where he bought, April 2, 1705, of Francis Wainwright, a saw mill and yard on the Falls river. Au- gust 10, 1709, Eldad Cheney and others sold to Benjamin Pearson, of Newbury, "carpen- ter," for forty-six pounds and ten shillings, twenty-four acres of land "on ye southerly side of the Falls river." He erected a fulling mill which was in operation for many years, and soon afterward a house, which is still standing, and was recently owned and occupied by Benjamin Pearson, a descendant of the original Benjamin, who erected the house and succeeded the Cheneys two hundred years ago. Benjamin Pearson married, January 20, 1680, Hannah, daughter of Daniel Thurston, and they were the parents of: Hannah, Phebe, Daniel, Ruth, Abigail, Benjamin, Sarah, Jedediah, Mehitable, Jonathan, David, Oliver and Bartholomew, of whom all but two were born in Rowley. Hannah (Thurston) Pear- son died within ten weeks after her husband.

(III) Captain Benjamin (2), second son of Benjamin (1) and Hannah (Thurston) Pearson, was born August 12, 1690, in By- field, Massachusetts. The Byfield church rec- ords state that "Capt. Benj. Pearson died April 5, 1774, aged 84 years of a languishing disorder." He inherited the homestead and mill of his father in Byfield, was a member of the church in that parish and captain of the military company. Captain Pearson was twice married, but the nine children were all by the second wife. On November 2, 1717, he married Judith Getchel, of Newbury, who must have died young, as on June 23, 1720, he married Jane Noyes, of Newbury. The By- field church records contain this statement : "The widow Jane Pearson, Relict of Capt. Benj. Pearson died March 2, 1782, of a lan- guishing and painful disorder. In her 84th year." The births of the nine children of Captain Benjamin (2) and Jane (Noyes) Pearson are taken from the Newbury record, and their baptisms are found in the Byfield church record. I. Benjamin (3), mentioned below. 2. Jane, born July 23, 1723. 3. Isaac, July 25, 1725, died at Newbury, February 25, 1727. 4. Isaac, Newbury, October 21, 1728, married Sarah Gerrish, of that town, Novem- ber 28, 1751 ; he was a clothier and miller and moved to Boscawen, New Hampshire, about 1767, and died there March 8, 1805. 5. Oliver, May 14, 1731, married, in Newbury,

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December 2, 1755, Hannah Pearson, of Row- ley. 6. Judith, September 22, 1733. 7. Me- hitable, June 8, 1736. 8. Enoch, January I, 1738, married Betty Whitten, February 26, 1761. 9. Jane, July I, 1741, died May 13, 175I, "aged abt. 10 years, of a fever" (By- field church records).

(IV) Benjamin (3), eldest child of Benja- min (2) and Jane (Noyes) Pearson, was born at Byfield, Massachusetts, April 15, 1721, and died there in August, 1797. His will is on file at the probate office in Essex county. "Lieutenant" Benjamin (3) Pearson married, September 13, 1743, Jane Woodman, of New- bury. The published records of Byfield, Row- ley and Newbury end at this point.

(V) Benjamin (4), son of Benjamin (3) and Jane (Woodman) Pearson, was born July 15, 1754, died December 8, 1825. He married Hannah - -, born October 12, 1758, died February 15, 1815. Had children: I. Mary, born July 7, 1780 (Mrs. Stephen Brown), died .June 21, 1860. 2. Dorothy, May 8, 1784 (Mrs. Chute), died May 8, 1870. 3. Hannah, No- vember 1, 1787 (Mrs. Alexander) died June 14, 1861. 4. Jane, December 27, 1789, un- married, died February 19, 1839. 5. Benjamin, March 17, 1794, married Lois Noyes; died July 24, 1844. 6. Enoch, September 1, 1796, died June 29, 1877. 7. Judith, September 5, 1799, died March 29, 1824.

(VI) Mary, daughter of Benjamin (4) and Hannah Pearson, was born at Byfield, Massachusetts, July 7, 1780, and died at Waterville, Maine, June 21, 1860, at the age of eighty years. On August 23, 1803, she was married to Stephen Brown, of Bucksport, Maine. (See Brown I.)

The branch of the Jones family, JONES some members of which are sketched in this article, has been settled in Portland for more than a century, its members being useful citizens of the munici- pality.

(I) Levi Jones, born in Houlton, Maine, April 23, 1830, was a cooper by trade, for some time was foreman in J. H. Hamlin & Sons' West India Cooperage Company, and died in Cumberland. He married Susan A. Frye, born March 17, 1828, died 1893. They had three sons: Charles Fremont, born in Portland, married Lizzie Louden; Henry M., mentioned below; Louis M., married Grace Drum.

(II) Henry M., second son of Levi and Susan A. (Frye) Jones, was born in Port-

land, Maine, May 6, 1857, and attended the public schools until he was fourteen years old. He then went into the employ of C. A. Don- nell, a manufacturer of brass goods, with whom he continued fourteen years. In 1888 Arthur S. Megguier and Henry M. Jones bought Mr. Donnell's business and formed a partnership under the firm name of Megguier & Jones and together carried on the industry until the death of the senior partner in June, 1892. Mr. Jones carried on the business alone from that time until February, 1895, when H. C. Gilson bought an interest in the enterprise, which was incorporated under the style of the Megguier & Jones Company, Mr. Jones becoming its president. The firm makes a specialty of structural steel work for fire proof buildings and manufactures patent sidewalk lights and gratings, wire guards and railings, ship and yacht furnishings. Their products are among the finest of their kind in the city, and noted for their artistic and sub- stantial finish. They are also largely engaged in nickel plating and polishing. They employ one hundred skilled mechanics and their goods are sent all over the country. Mr. Jones is always alert to everything of advantage in his business and is a past president of the Build- ers' Exchange, and a member of the Portland Board of Trade. He is a Republican in poli- tics, but does not take an active part in party matters. In religious faith he is a Univer- salist. Henry M. Jones married, September 22, 1881, Emma E. Kimball, daughter of George and Elvira (Hodgden) Kimball, of Bethel. Three children have been born of this union : Harold D., Albert H. and Marion. Harold D. was educated at Cornell College. He now resides in Boston, where he is em- ployed by the Fireproof Construction Com- pany. Albert H., born 1883, is in business with his father. Marion, born 1891, is at home.

NICKERSON

Nickerson is a variation of the name Nicholson, and it was not unusual in early

times for the same man to spell his name both ways, indifferently. The families in Dennis Massachusetts, are understood to have moved to that town from Chatham, Massachusetts. The name prevails to such an extent in some of the Cape towns that it is difficult to fur- nish a genealogical record that shall be satis- factory. For generations the Nickersons of the Cape have been famous as sea captains.

(I) Shubael Nickerson resided in Dennis,

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Barnstable county, Massachusetts, and there by his wife Thankful he had several children. (II) Josiah, son of Shubael and Thankful Nickerson, was born in Dennis, March 17, 1751, died July 9, 1828. By his wife Reli- ance he had Shubael, mentioned below ; Henry, 1785, died December 4, 1838; and Fred, 1797, died May 20, 1862.

(III) Shubael (2), son of Josiah and Re- liance Nickerson, was born in Dennis, Septem- ber II, 1782, died July 29, 1858. He was probably a farmer in Dennis. By his wife Sally he had son Josiah.

(IV) Josiah (2), son of Shubael (2) and Sally Nickerson, was born September 8, 1825, in Dennis, died in Portland, April 26, 1888. He went to sea at the age of eight years, and continued to follow the sea until the close of the civil war. He was a master mariner and sailed between New England and West India ports until the outbreak of the war, and after that time his business was principally bringing cotton from the Confederate states. He was shot at a southern port three times, but the fact that he was a Mason becoming known prevented further trouble. After 1855 he set- tled in Portland at 106 India street, and car- ried on the business of ship broker and com- mission merchant until about the time of his death. He married, January 20, 1853, Clarissa S., born in Dennis, Massachusetts, July 21, 1830, daughter of Peter and Thankful Hall. The former was born at Dennis, February 12, 1799, and died in Dennis, July 20, 1861. Jo- siah and Clarissa S. had three children : Peter Hall, Peter Sears and George Arthur. The first died young ; the second is mentioned be- low; George Arthur, born February 18, 1862, died July 14, 1870.

(V) Peter Sears, son of Josiah (2) and Clarissa S. (Hall) Nickerson, was born Sep- tember 15, 1856, in Dennis, Massachusetts, died February 19, 1908, in Portland, Maine. He attended the primary schools in Dennis, and at ten years of age was taken to Portland, where he attended the public schools and Gray's Business College. Later he went into business with his father and was his partner till the death of the father in 1888, but as the shipping business dwindled away he gradually drew out of it and worked into the coal busi- ness until about fifteen years ago, 1893, when he gave up the shipping business altogether. In the latter year he joined the firm of Peter S. Nickerson & Company, and dealt in wood and coal. He was a Republican, and for a number of years was prominently identified with Republican politics in ward three, being a

candidate in some of the memorable three or four days caucuses they held in that ward in days gone by. He served two years ( 1894-95) in the council, but declined to become a candi- date for alderman, although often urged to do so. He was an attendant of the Congrega- tional church. He was a member of the board of trade and the following fraternal organi- zations: Portland Lodge, No. 1, Free and Accepted Masons; Greenleaf Chapter, No. 13, Royal Arch Masons, Portland Council, No. 4, Royal and Select Masters; St. Alban Com- mandery, No. 8, Knights Templar ; Maine Con- sistory, Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret; Kora Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of No- bles of the Mystic Shrine, and a thirty-second degree Mason; and Iona Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Also Harmon Lodge, No. 19, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he was a past grand; Woodbine Lodge, Rebeccas; Machigonne Encampment, No. I, Patriarchs Militant ; Pine Tree Lodge, Knights of Pythias; Improved Order of Red Men; the Ancient Order of United Workmen ; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 188; and Forest City Castle, Knights of the Golden Eagle. Peter S. Nickerson mar- ried, December 25, 1878, at Portland, Ella Frances Nash, born in Portland, May 22, 1853, daughter of David W. and Mary E. (Smith) Nash.

SKELTON The name of Skelton is quite unusual in this country, and most of its earlier representa- tives lived in the south, where they ranked among the best families of Virginia. In Eng- land the house dates back to ancient times. During the reign of Edward I. one of the Skeltons of Armathwaite Castle, county Cum- berland, represented that county in parliament. Their arms were: Field Azure, a Fess Or with a Cornish chough Sable beaked and legged Gules. Crest, a peacock's head erased proper in the beak, an acorn Or stalked and leaved Vert. The chough is a bird not met with in American literature, but readers of Shakespeare will remember that the poet speaks of "russet-pated choughs" in "Midsum- mer Night's Dream." The bird belongs to the Crow family. The Virginia Skeltons are said to be descended from the Cumberland house, and their arms are the same, except that in the American escutcheon the chough is re- placed by three fleur de lis Or. Mr. James Skelton, a gentleman of wealth and high so- cial standing, was living in the parish of Saint James, county Goochland, Virginia, as early as

Peter J. Nickerson

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the year 1735. He married Jane Meriwether, whose mother, Mary Bathurst, was a member of the ancient family of Bathurst, England.

The only Skelton mentioned among the early settlers of New England is Rev. James Skelton, who came to Salem, Massachusetts, from county Lincoln, England, June 29, 1629. He was nearly two months on the voyage, hav- ing set sail from the Isle of Wight on May fourth. He was born in 1584, bred at Clare Hall, Cambridge University, where he took de- grees in 1611 and 1614. He might have filled an important place in the new community, but his early death, August 2, 1634, cut short all achievement. It is thought his widow married again, and traces of his descendants have been lost. The following line is derived from a more recent immigrant.

(I) Thomas Skelton came from England about 1790 and settled at Monmouth, Maine. The region at that time was in the heart of the forest, and much patience and energy were re- quired to clear a farm. Thomas Skelton mar- ried Mary Wright and moved to Bowdoin, where their six children were born: Thomas (2), whose sketch follows; Richard, William, Robert, Mary and Sidney. The original Thomas Skelton appears to have achieved suc- cess and prosperity for those days, because it is recorded that he had the first spring wagon, hung on leather straps, ever seen in his town, and he often told how proud he felt when he drove through the village in it.

(II) Thomas (2), eldest child of Thomas (I) and Mary (Wright) Skelton, was born at Monmouth, Maine, March 26, 1807. He worked with his father on the home farm and attended school; and later he learned ship car- pentry, at which he was employed many years in Bath. He married Mehitable Preble, of Bowdoinham, about 1830, and they went to live in Bowdoin, where their seven children were born: Sidney, 1832; Dorcas, Rebecca, Miriam, Helen, Susan A. and Thomas W.

(III) Thomas W., youngest of the seven children of Thomas (2) and Mehitable (Preble) Skelton, was born December 3, 1845, at Bowdoin, Maine. He was brought up on the home farm where he still lives. He had good educational opportunities in his youth, and for several years engaged in school teach- ing during the winter, spending the summer on the farm. He finally gave up the teaching and devoted his whole time to agriculture. He is a Republican in politics, and attends the Methodist church. February 7, 1870, he mar- ried Mary Luella, daughter of John and Sarah (Knight) Holbrook, of Bowdoin. Her great-

grandfather was one of the Holbrooks of Harpswell and came thence to Bowdoin. Thomas W. and Mary Luella (Holbrook) Skelton had two children: William B., whose sketch follows; Linwood Thomas, born No- vember 25, 1872, married Eleanor Allard, daughter of Horatio C. Allard, of Litchfield, Maine, and they live on the homestead at Bow- doin.

(IV) William Bertram, elder of the two sons of Thomas W. and Mary Luella (Hol- brook) Skelton, was born at Bowdoin, Maine, August 9, 1871. He received his early educa- tion in the public schools of Bowdoin, attended the Nichols Latin school, and graduated from Bates College in 1892. He began reading law in the office of Newell & Judkins, of Lewis- ton, and was admitted to the bar in October, 1893. On January 1, 1894, he entered into partnership with Mr. Newell under the firm name of Newell & Skelton. Mr. Skelton is a Republican in politics, and his first office was that of councilman in the city of Lewiston. He then served two terms as mayor, from 1903 to 1905, meanwhile filling the office of county at- torney from 1901 to 1905. On July 20, 1906, his appointment as bank examiner took effect, and he is now holding that position. William B. Skelton is judge advocate general on the staff of Governor Cobb with the rank of colonel. He is a Mason of the thirty-second degree, belonging both to the Scottish Rite and the Shriners, and is past master of Blue Lodge, Rabboni. On May 21, 1894, William Bertram Skelton married Florence L., daugh- ter of W. S. and Elmira (Smith) Larrabee, of Auburn. They have six children : William Larrabee, born November 15, 1895; Harold Newell, January 1, 1899; Thomas Reginald, February 22, 1901; Florence Luella, August 6, 1902; John Holbrook, April 19, 1905 ; Ruth Elizabeth, July 28, 1907.

James Ashby was born in Lin- ASHBY colnshire, England, March 5, 1818, son of Thomas Ashby. He came to New Brunswick, Canada, as a British soldier at the time of the Aroostook war in 1834, and after his discharge from the army he settled in Aroostook county and in 1846 located a tract of land in what is now Fort

Fairfield township. He cleared the land and cultivated a farm. He married, May 1, 1850, Catherine, daughter of Ferdinand Armstrong, who had settled in 1820 at Parkhurst Siding near Presque Isle, Aroostook county. The children of James and Catherine (Armstrong) Ashby were: I. Wilmot T., born March 3,

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1851, resides in Presque Isle, Maine. 2. James N., born October 10, 1852, removed to Colorado, now member of Colorado legisla- ture. 3. Hiram E., September 3, 1853, died September 7, 1857. 4. Rose L., born October 31, 1855, died April 27, 1881, 5. Bertha M., born January 19, 1857, married a Mr. Kelly, of Colorado. 6. Fred C., born April 22, 1859, died June 2, 1888. 7. Herbert E., born June 12, 1861, died May 3, 1891. 8. Laura E., who married a Mr. Clark, of Fort Fairfield, Maine. 9. George Ferdinand (q. v.).

(II) George Ferdinand, son of James and Catherine (Armstrong) Ashby, was born in Fort Fairfield, Maine, July 10, 1870. He at- tended the public school of his native town, and remained on the homestead with his father up to the time of his death, November 13, 1895, when he arranged with the widow and his brothers and sisters by which he became owner of the farm and homestead. He had learned the practical part of the business of farming from his father, and he added to this knowledge by study and observation. He found diversified farming to be more profitable than the old fashioned system held to by his father, and his farm took on a new face. Fine stock, abundant harvests and the use of mod- ern machinery in cultivating and gathering the crops, which were abundant, soon replaced the more tedious antiquated methods of farming, and in the meetings of the Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry he was a recognized leader, and his advice as to modes of cultiva- tion, harvesting and marketing proved of ben- efit to the entire community, and Grange No. 153, Patrons of Husbandry, through his wise counsel, became one of the most popular and authoritative in Aroostook county. The progress of agriculture and the almost fabulous crops of potatoes, grain and fruit raised in the county became the wonder of the farmers in the older settled parts of Maine. Mr. Ashby was affiliated with Frontier Lodge, No. 112, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Fort Fairfield. He married, August 6, 1898, Eliza- beth, daughter of Charles Waldron, and they had five children: 1. Norman W., born Sep- tember 21, 1899. 2. June C., born June 29, 1905. 3. Jean A., born June 29, 1905. 4. Louise E., born March 30, 1907. 5. James F., born November 5, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Ashby and their five bright and interesting children form a family circle known throughout the county for the ministration of a genuine hos- pitality to a large circle of friends, and the stranger that passes, led by the remarkable beauty of a typical modern farmer's home, is

sure of the hearty welcome of a pleasant host and of an attractive and tactful hostess.

This is probably a distinct fam- ATKINS ily from the one whose Amer- ican ancestor was Joseph Clark Atkins, an account of which is given elsewhere in this work. But in this case, as well as the one referred to, orphans were left without family history from which they can formulate their lineage. It is supposed that they are de- scendent from the Cape Cod family of the same name.

(I) Edwin Henry Atkins, a resident of Kennebunkport, Maine, is the son of Thomas and Lydia A. Atkins, who resided for many years at South Boston, Massachusetts, until the death of Thomas, at which time the widow took up her residence at Kennebunkport. Ed- win H. studied for the ministry at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, for the Methodist denomination, but his health not be- ing good, he took up the machinist's trade at the Waltham watch factory, and later located at Hallowell, Maine, in the retail boot and shoe business, and after that removed to Gardiner, Maine, where he continued successfully in the same business until 1894, at which time, on account of the poor health of his mother, he re-located at Kennebunkport, his present resi- dence, where he enjoys a lucrative business and the confidence of the people of that town. Politically Mr. Atkins is a Republican. Dur- ing his residence at Hallowell, he served as su- perintendent of schools. He is identified with and an ardent worker in the Methodist Epis- copal church. He is an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, be- longing to Asylum Lodge of Augusta, Maine, and having been noble grand and representa- tive to the Grand Lodge of that order. He married Mary Ellen Clough, born at Kent's Hill, of good old New England stock. Their children are: Thomas E., Will C. and May F. Thomas E. is located at Kennebunkport as an expert machinist and electrician, and May F. is the teacher of music in the schools of Ken- nebunkport.

(II) Will Clough, son of Edwin Henry and Mary Ellen (Clough) Atkins, was born Au- gust 25, 1873, in Hallowell, Maine. He se- cured a good education at the excellent public schools of Hallowell and Gardiner, graduating from the high school at the latter place in 1892. He taught school and did newspaper work and at the same time took up the study of law with Hon. O. B. Clason, of Gardiner, being admitted to the Kennebec bar in 1894 at

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the age of twenty-one. He then attended the law department of Yale University at New Haven, Connecticut, taking his degree of LL. B. in 1896, and being connected with the debating work and athletic side of the school life. He then returned to Gardiner and formed a law partnership with Mr. Clason. This relation existed until the autumn of 1897, when he opened an independent office in the Patten block, Gardiner. His practice has grown until to-day it has become lucrative and extensive, and he has had as varied a prac- tice as any of the younger members of the county bar. In politics Mr. Atkins is a sup- porter of the Republican party ; has served as city solicitor seven years ; as president of both branches of the city government of which he was a member five years; was nominated and elected mayor of Gardiner in 1907-08, without a dissenting vote at either caucus or polls. He is the youngest man ever elected mayor of Gardiner. He has been chief ranger of the Foresters of America, Court Robert Emmet ; cellor commander of Gardiner Lodge, nts of Pythias, and exalted ruler of Au- g Lodge of Elks. He has also been the district deputy grand exalted ruler of the lat- ter order. He attends the Congregational church. He was married in 1901 to Alice M. (Goud) Tasker, daughter of Fred and Abbie (Jackson) Goud, of Farmingdale, Maine.

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Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume IV, Part 68

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

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