USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > The history of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, 1776-1885 > Part 32
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I. Fred Elmer, b. Aug. 8, 1862.
122
II. Gertrude Elizabeth, b. Feb. 27, 1864.
I
EPHRAIM BUTTERFIELD. It is not known that the family of Ephraim Butterfield is in any way connected with the Butterfield family just sketched. The subject of this notice was born in England in 1734, and came to this country with his two brothers, Abraham and Isaac, but at what time is unknown. He made a temporary settlement at Dunstable, Mass., but the first authentic date in his history is that of settlement in Augusta, which, according to Judge North's History, was 1763 or thereabouts .* The exact date of his settlement in Farmington cannot be accurately determined. It was not later than 1793, nor earlier than 1786, probably in 1790. His brother Isaac settled in Wilton, and Abraham remained in the Kennebec valley. Ephraim Butterfield md. Mary Snow, and d. Mar. 16, 1814. She d. July 8, 1818. Eight children. The sons were Samuel, who remained at Augusta, and Ephra- im. The daughters were Betsey, who married a Wyman ; Sarah, who married a Sawtelle; Hannah, who married Solomon Butterfield, Mar. 27, 1800; Annie, who marricd a Dinsmore ; Mary, who married Micajah Coville ; and Lucy, who married a Lombard.
* North's History of Augusta, p. 92.
419
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
EPHRAIM BUTTERFIELD, JR., was b. May 1, 1772. He made a temporary home in Sydney, but came to the farm which his father had taken up, back-lot No. 8, west side, as early as 1797. Here he made his home for life. He was a man of great industry, a successful farmer, and esteemed citizen. He md., Apr. 10, 1795, Zipporah Rob- inson, who was born on Naushon Island, Apr. 7. 1775. Mr. Butterfield d. May 23, 1848, and his wife survived him until Apr. 9, 1853. Ten children :-
I. Benjamin, b. in Sydney, Feb. 20, 1796; md. Inda, dau. of Henry Butterfield, q. v., Nov. 20, 1823 ; d. July 6, 1838. He settled in Wilton. Susannah, b. Jan. 9, 1798 ; d. June 26, 1885.
II.
III. Ingols, b. Feb. 9, 1800 ; md., Nov. 1, 1829, Rhoda, dau. of John Tufts, q. v .; d. Aug. 6, 1866.
IV. Manley, b. Aug. 27, 1801 ; d. May 13, 1802.
V. Sarah, b. Mar. 9, 1803 ; md., May 10, 1826, Asa Green ; d. July 23, 1838.
VI. * John, b. Apr. 26, 1806.
VII. Sabra, b. July 8, 1808; md., Feb. 6, 1827, John T. Quincy ; (2) Mar. 15, 1846, Gideon Tirrell ; d. Jan. 2. 1854.
VIII. Betsey, b. Feb. 13, 1811 ; md., Dec. 28, 1834, Almery T. Hamlin.
IX. Abigail, b. Jan. 29, 1814: md., May 24, 1837, Caleb Jones ; d. June 11, 1838.
x. Mary, b. Mar. 11, 1816; md., Feb. 19, 1839, Caleb Jones.
JOHN BUTTERFIELD resides on the west side of the river, and is by trade a stone-mason and farmer. In religious faith he is a Universalist. He md., July 19, 1835, Judith Whittier, who was b. Aug. 3, 1809, and d. Sept. 23, 1865. He md. (2), Sept. 23, 1874, Mrs. Martha H. Quimby. Four children :-
1. * Hiram Coville, b. Sept. 18, 1836. II. Marshall Osgood, b. Sept. 24, 18.42 ; d. July 28, 1847. John Morrill, h. Nov. 23, 1845 ; d. July 27, 1847.
III.
IV. Luther Voldamus, b. Oct. 29, 1849; mnd. Lottie Decker; d. Apr. 21, 1879. I child :
I. Florentine Judith, b. Sept. 28, 1876.
HIRAM COVILLE BUTTERFIELD resides in Farmington, and is a carpenter by trade. He md., Sept. 15, 1861, Mary H. Dobbins, who was b. in Norridgewock, Nov. 13. 1839, and was the dau. of John and Phebe (Lambert) Dobbins. Three children :-
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 IO II I2 (8)
13 14 15 16 17 (13)
2
420
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
18
I. Minnie Ermina May, b. Apr. 21, 1863 ; md., Jan.
1, 1883, David A. Chandler.
19
I1. Walter Mendall, b. Mar. 5, 1867.
20
III. Charles Otis, b. Sept. 17, 1870.
Chandler.
The Chandlers in America trace their ancestry to William and Annis Chandler, who came from England in 1637, and settled in Roxbury, Mass. He is spoken of by the records of that time as a man of eminent piety, but in delicate health. He lived but four years after his arrival in this country. Four children accompanied the parents. The oldest, a daughter, Hannah, married George Abbot of Andover, and is the ancestress of the Andover family of Abbots, and therefore of the Jacob Abbot family of Farmington. The second son, Thomas, born in England about 1630, is the ancestor of the Moses Chandler family. The third son, William, is the ancestor of that branch of Chandlers to which belongs David H. Chandler, late Clerk of Courts for Franklin County. Thomas Chandler was one of the proprietors and early settlers of Andover, Mass., and was representative to General Court. He married Hannah Brewer of Andover, by whom he had eight children. His death occurred in 1703. The fourth child of Thomas and Hannah was Will- iam, born May 28, 1659. He married, April 21, 1687, Elinor Phelps of Andover, and was the father of four children. William Chandler, their second son, was born July 20, 1689, and was a clothier at Andover. He married Susanna Burge of Westford, and died July 27, 1756. Moses was the third of the fourteen children of William and Susanna Chandler, and was born May 19, 1720. He was twice married : June 28, 1742, to Dorothy Marble of Andover, who died in 1760; (2) Mar. 19, 1762, to Elizabeth Kendall or Kimball of Leicester. Moses Chandler was a soldier in the French and Indian war, and removed with his family to Winthrop, where he followed the trade of a blacksmith. He died in Wilton, Mar. 16, 1820.
I COL. MOSES CHANDLER was the ninth of the eleven children of Moses Chandler noticed above, and was b. Aug. 27, 1757. His early life was spent in Dunstable, and he formed one of that patriotic company who were among the first to offer their services for the defense of their country's liberties. Although but seventeen years old at the time the battle of Bunker Hill was fought, he resolved to take a part among his older companions. His own firelock was out of order, and sending his brother-in- law, Samuel Butterfield, to get it repaired, he took Butter- field's musket and hastened to the field, arriving in time for the action. He was one of the eighty men who, under the command of Ethan Allen, stormed and captured Ti- conderoga, May 10, 1775.
421
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
Mr. Chandler removed with his father to Winthrop, and there married Sarah Berry. He settled in Farmington in 1785, upon lot No. 6 on the west side of the river. This farm he soon sold, and made his permanent home on the next lot above. ( The love of military life did not desert him upon his adopting the more peaceful pursuits of agri- culture. He was chosen captain of the South Company of militia, and was the second colonel who commanded the first regiment formed on Sandy River, succeeding in office Col. Ezekiel Porter. In 1806 he represented the town in the General Court at Boston. He d. Apr. 27, 1828. His wife survived him until Jan. 24, 1851, when she d., aged 87 years. Ten children :-
I. Henry, b. in Winthrop, Dec. 2, 1784; d. young.
11. Hannah, b. Apr. 4, 1786; md., Dec. 28, 1814, George Wheeler of Chesterville ; d. Apr. 12, 1870. 7 chil. :
1. Albert Gallatin Wheeler, b. Oct. 28, 1816; md., May 18, 1841, Fanny O. Rackliff of Industry. He was a me- chanie of rare skill, and a man much respected for his real worth. For many years he was a deacon of the Baptist Church. He d. Aug. 18, 1883 ; she d. Mar. 6, 1885. 2 chil.
2. Olive Chandler Wheeler, b. Mar. 16, 1819.
3. Sarah Berry Wheeler, b. Nov. 17, 1820; md. Stephen J. S. MeClure ; lives at Sacramento, Cal. 2 chil.
4. Hannah Wheeler, b. Sept. 21, 1823 ; md., Nov. 19, 1867 (pub.), Simon P. Whittier.
5. George Oliver Wheeler, b. June 8, 1826. Lives at Grizzly Flat, Cal.
6. Moses Chandler Wheeler, b. Nov. 22, 1829. Lives at Grizzly Flat, Cal.
IO
7. Andrew Jackson Wheeler, b. July 22, 1832 ; md., June 19, 1858, Julia S. Luce, and lives in Farmington. chil,
II 12
III. Levi, b. Jan. 22, 1788 ; d. in Robbinston.
IV. Nehemiah, b. May 18, 1790 ; md., Mar. 3, 1814, Jerusha, dau. of Abner Ramisdell, q. v .; d. Apr. 2, 1833. Chil.
13
V. Sarah, b. July 10, 1792 ; md., Dec. 28, 1815, John Dodge, who d. Aug. 7, 1872. Resided at Quincy, Ill. ; d. Nov. 6, 1872. 9 chil.
54
2 3 4
5 6 7 S 9
422
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
14 15
Levina, b. Apr. 17, 1794; d. Nov. 14, 1804. VI. VII. Moses, b. Nov. 23, 1796. Resided upon the homestead farm during his active life. Repre- sented the town in the legislature in 1842, and was selectman in 1844-45. Unmd.
VIII. Oliver, ! b. May 15, 1799 ; S d. Feb. 13, 1816.
IX. Olive, S d. young.
x. Thomas Jefferson, b. Apr. 4, 1802 ; d. Feb. 15, 1830; unmd.
19
SAMUEL CHANDLER, eldest son and fourth child of Moses and Dorothy (Marble) Chandler, was b., probably, at Westford, Mass., Aug. 16, 1745. He first lived in Deering, N. H., but removed to Readfield about 1778. and to Farmington before 1791. He settled upon the south portion of back-lot No. 7, west side, thence after a few years removing to Wilton. The town records show six children by his wife, Rebecca Walton :-
20
1. Samuel, b. in Deering, N. H., Feb. 18, 1777 ; md., Jan. 21, 1804, Beulah Pease ; md. (2) Jan. 24, 1844, Lydia Fuller of Winthrop.
21
II. Moses, b. in Readfield, Nov. 6, 1778; md. Mary Wheeler ; md. (2) 1814, Lydia Nudd.
22
III. Jacob, b. in Readfield, Mar. 19, 1781 ; md. Fanny Walton of Jay.
23
IV. Phæbe, b. in Readfield, Mar. 12, 1783 ; md. Ed- ward Wheeler.
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V. Rebecca, b. Apr. 26, 1791; md., 1809, William Walker.
25
VI. Sally, b. Feb. 8, 1793 ; md. Nathaniel Walker.
Childs.
Samuel Child emigrated to New England not later than 1624, since his son Richard was born in that year in this country. This family can therefore lay claim to earlier settlement in this country than any Farm- ington family noticed save those of Pilgrim descent. Richard Child was married Oct. 15, 1649, to Mary Lennett of Barnstable, and their son Richard was born Mar., 1653. Richard, Jr., was a respected citizen and deacon in the Congregational Church. He married about 1678 Elizabeth Crocker, by whom he had eleven children, and died Jan. 15, 1716. His eldest son, Samuel, was born in Barnstable, Nov. 6, 1679; married, July 7, 1709, Hannah Barnard. Samuel Child removed to Deerfield, Mass., where he was an influential citizen and Congregational deacon, and died Mar. 18, 1756. Jonathan, the fifth of the eight children of Samuel Child, was born in Deerfield, Mar. 23, 1718, and married about 1739 Rebecca Scott, who died at the great age of 102 years. He removed to Hardwick, and appears to have changed the name from Child to Childs.
16 17 18
423
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
The third of his twelve children, Ebenezer, was born Jan. 25, 1744; married, Nov. 15, 1769, Abigail Willis, and died Mar. 7, 1809. He was the father of Ebenezer Childs, who settled in Farmington.
1 EBENEZER CHILDS (vide page 298), above-named, was b. in Hardwick, Mass., July 2, 1787. Upon the breaking out of the war with Great Britain in 1812, he entered the military service as captain in the 9th Reg. U. S. Infantry, and was assigned for duty in the " Army of the Center," and to operate upon the Niagara frontier. He participated in many of the sanguinary battles on that frontier, being severely wounded in the side at the battle of Fort Erie, Canada, and received an honorable discharge in 1814. He was early enrolled as an invalid pensioner, and at the time of his death, Sept. 1, 1874, was the oldest pensioner upon the rolls of the Augusta agency. Capt. Childs removed to Farmington about 1815, and embarked in trade. He was considered one of the leading merchants in town for many years. He was a prominent pillar in the Baptist communion, and aided largely by his influence and pecuniary means in erecting the expensive brick edifice in the Center Village known as the Baptist Church. He was prominent in the early agitation of the anti-slavery movement, possessing the courage of his convictions. He was a man of ability - in character above reproach. His first wife, whose name was Hannah Lowell (a grand- daughter of Reuben Lowell, q. v.), d. July 16, 1834, aged 44 years. He md. (2) Pede Johnson, b. Oct. 21, 1798 ; d. Jan. 30, 1854. He md. (3), Feb. 25, 1855, Mary Bullen, who d. Feb. 14, 1876, aged 83 years. Two children by second marriage :-
I. Calvin Newton, b. Jan. 15, 1838; is a successful business man at Milwaukee, Wis .; md., Dec. 16, 1862, Ella V. Blanchard of that city ; s. p. II. * James Upham, b. Oct. 17, 1840.
JAMES U. CHILDS entered the service of the United States by enlisting in Co. G., 16th Reg. Me. Vols., after- wards rising by gradation until he reached the rank of Ist lieutenant, the date of his last commission being June 12, 1863. Mr. Childs was in many of the battles in which his regiment bore an honorable part, and was taken prisoner at the battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863. After being confined in Libby Prison nearly a year, and experi- encing some of its horrors and sufferings, he was trans- ferred to other Southern prisons. Attempting to escape, he was recaptured three different times, but at last suc- ceeded in reaching the Union lines in safety. In the spring of 1865 the 16th Regiment (of which Lieut. Childs
2 3 (3)
424
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
was still a member) was stationed in southern Virginia doing active service, and was in the front ranks at Appomattox Court House when Gen. Robert E. Lee sur- rendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, thus closing the civil war of the United States.
In 1865 Mr. Childs entered the clothing business in company with W. F. Belcher, in which he continued until 1870, when he left the firm. He subsequently succeeded B. R. Elliott in the jewelry business.
Mr. Childs md., Dec. 11, 1866, Ellen Frances, dau. of Anson and Drusilla (Belcher) Stanley of Winthrop. She was b. May 10, 1843, and d. Jan. 9, 1878. Four chil- dren :-
4 5 6
I. Pede Frances, b. Oct. 1, 1867.
II. Jean Ingelow, b. Mar. 22, 1871.
IT1. Isabel Upham, b. Apr. 27, 1873; d. Aug. 23, 1873.
7
IV. Samuel Clifford Belcher, b. June 15, 1874; d. Aug. 17, 1874.
Church-
It is a tradition in the Church family of Farmington that it is de- scended from Richard Church, the famous Pilgrim warrior, who was a relative of Col. Benjamin Church, so well known in the history of the French and Indian wars. Several facts tend to prove the truth of the tradition, but the line has not been successfully traced. The mother of John Church was Mary Winter, but his father's Christian name is not known.
I JOHN CHURCH, a patriot and soldier of the Revolution, was a native of Connecticut, whither his ancestor Richard Church had removed in 1636. He came from Shutesbury, Mass., to Fort Western - now Augusta - with his father- in-law, Deacon Samuel Cony, in 1778, where he remained nearly thirteen years, but not finding the farming lands of the Kennebec fully equal to his expectations, and as about this time "the tame of Sandy River sounded loud," he resolved to visit that region with a view to settlement. Accordingly, in the autumn of 1790, he came to the town- ship with Supply Belcher, and the result of their expedi- tion was the purchase of two lots of land side by side in what is now the center of the village, and the removal of their families the following winter. The journey to the new settlement was slow and difficult, and progress was much impeded by the great depth of snow on the ground ; even when their destination was finally reached, the cabins erected the autumn before were found to be buried in drifts.
425
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
About this time a rivalry for supremacy sprang up between the east and west sides of Sandy River. The latter had the start, as mills had been erected, a post-office established, and various mechanical industries put in operation. Moses Starling owned the land on the west side most desirable for store and house lots, but held it at fabulous prices ; while John Church on the east side offered lots at low figures, and the result was: Mr. Church sold his land; Mr. Starling kept his; and thus business was transferred from the west to the east side of the river. Mr. Church, as one of the founders of the Center Village, did much to promote its growth and prosperity. In 1802 he conveyed to "David Moore, treasurer of the first Meeting House Society in the center of Farmington, and his successor in said office, for the use of said society so long as it shall be improved for public use " two acres of land situated in the heart of the village, and now consti- tuting the court-house site and common. Upon the orga- nization of Franklin County in 1838, it was proposed to change the upper part of the old meeting-house into a court-house, and some question arose as to the construc- tion of the restriction in Mr. Church's first deed. There- upon application was made to Mr. Church to remove the restriction. He at once consented, and with a hand palsied by age signed a release of the property for a con- sideration of two hundred dollars. The second deed made a condition, however, that the property " be always used for some public building, court-house, town-house, or meeting-house."
In 1793 Mr. Church erected upon his lot - No. 25, east side,-the first house (known as the old Church house) on the elevation where the village is situated, and opened it as the first hotel on the east side of the river. He was by trade a blacksmith, and a man of industrious habits. Mr. Church md., in Shutesbury, Mass., May 18, 1778, Susanna, dau. of Samuel and Rebecca (Guild) Cony, and grand- daughter of Nathanael and Abigail (Ager) Cony of Boston. He d. Mar. 12, 1838, aged 85 years. His wife was b. Oct. II, 1755 ; d. May 6, 1844. Seven children :-
I. Sophia, b. July 5, 1781 ; md., Apr. 13, 1800, Henry Stewart, q. v .; d. Feb. 12, 1822.
3
II. * John, b. Sept. 14, 1783.
4
III. Delight, b. Aug. 11, 1785; md., June 27, 1802, Jason D. Cony, q. v. ; md. (2), Aug. 20, 1812, Daniel Stewart, q. v. ; d. Oct. 23, 1834.
IV. * David, b. July 17, 1787.
V. Susanna, b. July 22, 1789 ; md., Feb. 22, 1807, Dr. Andrew Croswell of Mercer, who graduated from Harvard College in 1799, and was a
2
5 6
426
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Som- erset County. He d. June 4, 1858. She d. July 6, 1861. 6 chil. Their dau. Susan, b. Dec. 3, 1810, md., Dec. 26, 1831, Lieut. Henry Knox Thatcher of the U. S. Navy, a grandson of Gen. Knox. He distinguished himself in the late Rebellion, and became an Admiral. His death occurred in Boston, Apr. 5, 1880.
VI. *Samuel, b. May 9, 1791.
VII. * Daniel Cony, b. Feb. 27, 1795.
JOHN CHURCH, JR., was a native of Augusta, came with his father to the township when a lad, and succeeded to the homestead. He was a blacksmith by trade, an indus- trious, hard-working man, respected in all the relations of life. He served the town as selectman in 1827-28. He md., Apr. 14, 1811, Lucy Soule of Halifax, Mass., where she was b., Jan. 13, 1791 ; d. Apr. 29, 1844; he md. (2), Dec., 1845, Mrs. Elizabeth Barton. He d. Apr. 7, 1859. Two children :-
I. Susan Cony, b. Jan. 7, 1813 ; md., Oct. 9, 1836, William Weston of Anson; d. Apr. 9, 1842. He was b. Mar. 10, 1810, and d. in Milwaukee, Wis., Nov. 5, 1882 ; s. p.
II. David, b. Mar. 15, 1815 ; d. Apr. 10, 1816.
DAVID CHURCH, brother of the preceding, when a young man was a clerk for Howard and Crosby, and afterwards for Samuel Howard, at Augusta, where he remained some years. He subsequently removed to Salem and engaged in farming, and thence removed to Farmington, where he d., Aug. 4, 1848. He md. Hannah Blake of Phillips, who d. Aug. 4, 1861, aged 54 years. Five children :-
II 12
I. Ellen Blake, b. Sept. 13, 1824; md., Dec. 30, 1859, William S. Gilbert of Kingfield ; d. June 16, 1877. I dau.
II. David, b. May 1, 1832 ; md., Jan. 1, 1862, Mae A. Wade. 2 chil.
13 14 15 (7)
111. Samuel Blake, b. Apr. 16, 1834; md., Nov. 27, 1862, Flora S. Wade ; s. p.
IV. John Wesley, b. July 21, 1836.
V. Caleb Blake, b. 1838 ; d. Aug. 28, 1859.
SAMUEL CHURCH settled in Salem in the early history of that town, and engaged in farming. He md., June 29, 1817, Betsey Brown, and d. in Salem, Mar. 27, 1829. His wife removed to Farmington, and d. Nov. 14, 1879, aged 82 years. Five children :-
16
1. Mary Butler, b. May 20, 1818 ; d. Aug. 1, 1818.
7 8 (3)
9
IO (5)
427
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
II. Elizabeth Brown, b. Nov. 21, 1819 ; d. June 26, 1836.
III. Sophia Stewart, b. Apr. 14, 1822 ; md., Jan. 4, 1843, Daniel Clark ; d. Aug. 12, 1873. 4 chil. IV. Edward Butler, b. Feb. 27, 1825; d. Jan. 3, 1846.
V. Samuel Cony, b. Aug. 12, 1828 ; d. Mar. 24, 1829.
DANIEL CONY CHURCH was a farmer and mechanic, and resided for some time in Salem, but the later years of his life were spent in Farmington. He was a man of great kindliness of heart, and always ready to minister to the wants of the needy. He md., in 1822, Elizabeth Howard, dau. of Hugh Stewart, q. v., and d. Mar. 11, 1856, his wife surviving him until Feb. 29, 1884. Nine children :-
I. * Jacob Cony, b. Mar. 28, 1823.
II. Henry Stewart, b. Dec. 25, 1825 ; d. Apr. 17, 1837.
III. Daniel Cony, b. Oct. 17, 1827 ; md., Jan., 1853, Emma R. Hewins, who d. Apr. 6, 1854; md. (2), July 11, 1857, Helen Louise Fuller. 5 chil. by second marriage. Resides in Ports- mouth, N. H.
IV. Mary Stewart, b. Oct. 17, 1829 ; md., Nov. 23, 1848, John F. Sprague. Resides in Mauston, Wis. 2 chil.
V. Bell Stewart, b. May 7, 1831 ; md., Jan. 16, 1862, Rev. B. F. Lawrence. Resides in Meriden, N. H. ; s. p.
VI. Samuel, b. July 15, 1833 ; d. May 22, 1842. VII. Elizabeth Vesta, b. Dee. 9, 1835 ; md., Dec. 15. 1873, Benjamin R. Elliott. Resides in George- town, Col.
Henry Stewart, b. Mar., 1837 ; d. Oct. 6, 1839.
VIII. IX. Hannibal Hamlin, b. July 15, 1840 ; md., Nov. 6, 1866, Hannah O. Weare of York. Is Superin- tendent of the Lawrence Gas-Light Company. 4 chil.
(21)
JACOB CONY CHURCH, eldest son of Daniel C. Church, has always resided in Farmington, and is engaged in the transportation business. He md., May 19, 1846, Rachel V. Smith of New Bedford, who d. Jan. 19, 1859: md. (2), Apr. 21, 1859, Lura E. Prescott of New Sharon, b. Mar. 18, 1839. Six children :-
31 30
32
I. Mary Elizabeth, b. Feb., 1847 ; d. Apr. 28, 1850.
I1. Margaret Pamela, b. Mar. 12, 1849.
III. Helen Maria, b. June 16, 1851 ; d. July 8, 1867.
17 18 19 20 (8)
2I 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
428
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
33 34
IV. Henrietta Croswell, b. Dec. 24, 1853.
V. Bell Rachel, b. May 22, 1857.
35
Second marriage : VI. Emma Gertrude, b. Apr. 10, 1862 ; md., Jan. 7, 1883, Manford C. Dolloff.
Clayton.
About the middle of the eighteenth century John Clayton is found a resident of Manchester, England. Among his children were three sons, Jacob, John, and Bartholomew. All that is known of this family is mentioned below.
I JOHN CLAYTON was born in Manchester, England, Jan. 16, 1758, where enlisting as a soldier in the English army commanded by Licut .- General John Burgoyne, he followed the fortunes of that ill-fated general to Canada early in 1777. He was in the battle of Ticonderoga, July 6, 1777, at Stillwater, Sept. 19, at Freeman's Farm, Oct. 7, and at the battle so disastrous to the English army at Saratoga, Oct. 17, 1777. He witnessed the surrender of General Burgoyne to the victors under Gates and Arnold, and re- ceived his discharge from the English army in the autumn of 1783, as the following copy will show :
"By Lieut .- Colonel Oliver DeLancy, commanding His Majesty's 17th Regiment of Dragoons, whereof Lieut .- General Thomas Gage is Colonel.
"These are to certify that the bearer hereof, John Clay- ton, has served in the above said Regiment for the space of
nine years, . is for the reason below mentioned, discharged from the said Regiment, he having received his pay, arrears of pay, clothing of all sorts, and all other just demands from the time of his enlisting into the said Regiment to this day of his discharge, and he is discharged at his own request to go to Nova Scotia, and to prevent any ill-use that may be made of this discharge by its falling into the hands of any other person whatsoever, here fol- lows a description of the above said John Clayton : He is about twenty-five years of age, five feet nine inches high without shoes, brown complexion, born in England, by trade a butcher.
"Given under my hand and the Regimental seal at New York, this 24th day of September, 1783.
(Signed) OLIVER DELANCY, Lieut .- Colonel."
The above discharge bears the following indorsement :
"To all whom it may concern: John Clayton, private Dragoon. I do acknowledge to have received my pay, my arrears of pay, clothing of all sorts, and all other just de-
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER. 429
mands from the time of my enlistment in the within men- tioned Regiment to this day of my discharge.
" Witness my hand at New York, this 24th day of Sep- tember, 1783." His
(Signed) JOHN X CLAYTON. mark.
" Witness, Jos. GARDNER, Q. M. 17th Regiment Dra- goons."
Mr. Clayton first came to that part of Hallowell now Augusta, and married a Miss Cowan, who soon died, to- gether with her infant child. He came to the township, probably, in 1784, took possession of proprietor's lot No. Ir, east side, and planted twelve hills of potatoes on the ground occupied by the camp of Foster and Allen, the hunters of the winter of 1779-80. Mr. Clayton came to the township to reside permanently in 1787, where he soon after married Sally, daughter of John Austin (usually pro- nounced Asten), who became the mother of ten children. Mr. Clayton was peculiar in this : he was proud of his na- tionality, and no Roman ever felt a greater pride in being called a Roman citizen than did he in being called an Englishman, and no greater indignity could be offered him than to say anything in his presence in disparagement of his model man, John Burgoyne. Mr. Clayton was quite a poet in his way. On one occasion his children, except the two oldest daughters, who had charge of the sick, being ill, he perpetrated the following (the author not being re- sponsible for the measure or sentiment) :
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