Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. I, Part 1

Author: Stearns, Ezra S; Whitcher, William F. (William Frederick), 1845-1918; Parker, Edward E. (Edward Everett), 1842-1923
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 858


USA > New Hampshire > Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. I > Part 1


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THE LAMSON COLLECTION UNIVERSITY OF N.H. DIMOND LIBRARY DURHAM, N.H.


Ozna S. Stearns


GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY


OF THE


STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE


A RECORD OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HER PEOPLE IN THE MAKING OF A COMMONWEALTH AND THE FOUNDING OF A NATION


COMPILED UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF EZRA S. STEARNS


EX-SECRETARY OF STATE; MEMBER AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC-GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY; CORRESPONDING MEMBER MINNESOTA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY; MEMBER FITCHBURG HISTORICAL SOCIETY ASSISTED BY WILLIAM F. WHITCHER


TRUSTEE NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE LIBRARY, MEMBER NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND NEW ENGLAND METHODIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND EDWARD E. PARKER JUDGE OF PROBATE, NASHUA


VOL. I


ILLUSTRATED


THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK CHICAGO


1908


INTRODUCTORY


T HE present work, "Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hamp- shire," presents in the aggregate an amount and variety of genealogical and per-


sonal information and portraiture unequalled by any kindred publication. Indeed, no similar work concerning New Hampshire Families has ever before been presented. It contains a vast amount of ancestral history never before printed. The object, clearly defined and well digested, is threefold:


First. To present in concise form the history of New Hampshire Families of the Colonial Days.


Second. To preserve a record of the prominent present-day people of the State.


Third. To present through personal sketches the relation of its prominent families of all times to the growth, singular prosperity and widespread influence of New Hamp- shire.


The reading public of New Hampshire, as well as other States, has long been famil- iar with the historical and genealogical work of Mr. Ezra S. Stearns. He has contrib- uted much to the perfection of family history embodied in many of local histories pub- lished by various towns of the State, beside those published wholly from his pen. His latest work of this charac- ter, the History of Plymouth in two handsome volumes, has re- ceived many encomiums from press and critical literary author- ities. The work herein embod- ied may be justly regarded as the crowning effort of a life devoted largely, in the midst of other public services, to genealogical research. His pains and tireless efforts in the interest of accuracy and thoroughness are well known and need no sponsor. His efforts have been seconded by several able assistants, including Miss Frances M. Abbott, of Concord; First Meeting Place of Legislature at Concord, 1782. J. C. Jennings, of Wayne, Maine;


IV


INTRODUCTORY


James A. Ellis and Francis L. Gownen, of Boston, genealogists, and many others, to whom thanks are hereby tendered.


It is to be regretted that indifference or unwise prejudices on the part of a very few have interfered with a proper representation of their families, but it is confidently assert- ed that this work covers all that can be reasonably expected from finite efforts. No mat- ter has been printed that was not first submitted to persons most interested for revision and correction, and many articles have been submitted to several individuals in order to secure most complete criticism and revision. In some cases family traditions have been put forward, and in these there is sometimes conflict; where such was the only authority, effort has been made to reconcile as far as possible.


There are numerous voluminous histories of the State, making it unnecessary in this work to even outline its annals. What has been published, however, relates principally to civic life. The amplification necessary to complete the picture of the State, old and nowaday, is what is supplied by these Genealogical and Family Memoirs in more ample degree than heretofore. In other words, while others have written of "the times, " the province of this work is a chronicle of the people who have made New Hampshire what it is.


Unique in conception and treatment, this work constitutes one of the most original and permanently valuable contributions ever made to the social history of an American commonwealth. In it are arrayed in a lucid and dignified manner all the important facts regarding the ancestry, personal careers and matrimonial alliances of those who, in each succeeding generation, have been accorded leading positions in the social, professional and business life of the State. Nor has it been based upon, neither does it minister to, aristocratic prejudices and assumptions. On the contrary, its fundamental ideas are thoroughly American and democratic. The work everywhere conveys the lesson that distinction has been gained only by honorable public service, or by usefulness in private station, and that the development and prosperty of the State of which it treats has been dependent upon the character of its citizens, and in the stimulus which they have given to commerce, to industry, to the arts and sciences, to education and religion-to all that is comprised in the highest civilization of the present day-through a con- tinual progressive develop- ment.


The inspiration underly- ing the present work is a fervent appreciation of the truth so well expressed by Sir Walter Scott, that "there is no heroic poem in the world but is at the bot-


Peavey House, Exeter


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Gov. Benning Wentworth


Eleazer Wheelock First President of Dartmouth College


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John P. Hale


Salmon P. Chase


U. S. Ship Portsmouth. Built at"Portsmouth Navy Yard, 1843


----


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Court House, Lancaster


Soldiers' Monument, Keene


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INTRODUCTORY


tom the life of a man." And with this goes a kindred truth, that to know a man, and rightly measure his character and weigh his achievements, we must know whence he came, from what forebears he sprang. Truly as heroic poems have been written in human lives in the paths of peace as in the scarred roads of war. Such examples, in whatever line of endeavor, are of much worth as an incentive to those who come afterward, and as such were never so needful to be written of as in the present day, when pessimism, forgetful of the splendid lessons of the past, withholds its effort in the present, and views the future only with alarm.


Every community with such ample history as New Hampshire, should see that it be worthily supplemented by Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of its leading families and prominent citizens. Such a work is that which is now presented. And, it should be ad- mitted, the undertaking possesses value of the highest importance-in its historic utility as a memorial of the development and progress of the community from its very founding, and in the personal interest which attaches to the record made by the individual. Ou both these accounts it will prove a highly useful contribution to literature, and a valuable legacy to future generations. Out of these considerations the authors and publishers have received the encouragement and approval of authorities of the highest standing as genealogists, historians and litterateurs. In the production of this work, no pains have been spared to ensure absolute truth-that quality upon which its value in every feature depends. The material comprising the genealogical and personal records of the active living, as well as of the honored dead, was gathered by men and women experienced in such work, and acquainted with local history and ancestral families. Much has been gathered from the custodians of family records concerning the useful men of preceding generations, and of their descendants who have lived useful and honorable lives. Such custodians, who have availed themselves of this opportunity of having this knowledge placed in preservable and accessible form, have performed a public service in rendering honor to whom honor is due, in preserving the dis- tinction which rightfully belongs to the Colonial Fam- ilies, and which distinguishes them from later immi- grations; and in inculcating the most valuable and en- during lessons of patriotism and good citizenship.


Than New Hampshire, no other State or region offers so peculiarly interesting a field for such re- search. Its sons-"native here and to the manner born," and of splendid ancestry-have attained dis- tinction in every field of human effort. An additional interest attaches to the present undertaking in the fact that, while dealing primarily with the history of native New Hampshire, this work approaches the dig- nity of a national epitome of genealogy and biography. Owing to the wide dispersion throughout the country


Town Hall, Lebanon First Meeting House in Lebanon Village, built 1782


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INTRODUCTORY


of the old families of the State, the authentic account here presented of the constituent elements of her social life, past and present, is of far more than merely local value. In its special field it is, in an appreciable degree, a reflection of the development of the country at large, since hence went out representatives of historical families, in various generations, who in far remote places-beyond the Mississippi and in the Far West- were with the vanguard of civilization, building up communities, creating new common- wealths, planting, wherever they went, the church, the school house and the printing press, leading into channels of thrift and enterprise all who gathered about them, and proving a power for ideal citizenship and good government.


These records are presented in a series of independent genealogical and personal sketches relating to lineal family heads, and the most conspicuous representatives in the present generation. There is an entire avoidance of the stereotyped and unattractive manner in which such data is usually presented. The past is linked to the present in such style as to form a symmetrical narrative exhibiting the lines of descent, and the his- tory of distinguished members in each generation, thus giving to it a distinct personal in- terest. That these ends have been conscientiously and faithfully conserved is assured by the cordial personal interest and recognized capability of the supervising editors, of prom- inent connection with the leading patriotic societies, all of whom have long pursued gen- ealogical investigations with intelligence and enthusiasm.


THE PUBLISHERS.


White Mountains, from Bethlehem


Joseph Heimball


NEW HAMPSHIRE


The name in England, as records KIMBALL show, appears in the various forms of Kymbolde, Kembold, Kembould, Kembolde and Kemball. Henry Kemball, a brother of Richard, has descendants in New Hampshire (sce Kemball).


(I) The common ancestor of the great majority of Kimballs in this country was Richard Kimball, who with his family embarked at Ipswich, in the county of Suffolk, England, April 10, 1634, in the ship "Elizabeth," William Andrews, master. He arrived at Boston, and from thence went to Water- town, Massachusetts, where he settled and became a prominent and active man in the new settlement. He was by trade a wheelwright. He was pro- claimed a frecman in 1635, May 6, and was a pro- prietor in 1636-37. Soon after this date he was in- vited to remove to Ipswich, where was needed a competent man to act as wheelwright to the new settlement. Here he spent the remainder of his days as one of the leading men of the town. He died June 22, 1675. Richard Kimball married (first) Ursula Scott, daughter of Henry Scott, of Rattles- den, in the county of Suffolk, England. He married (second), Margaret Dow, widow of Henry Dow, of Hampton, New Hampshire, October . 23, 1661. His children, eleven in number, were by his first wife: I. Abigail, born in Rattlesden, county of Suffolk, England. She married in England, John Severans, and they came to America. She died at Salisbury, Massachusetts, June 17, 1658, and he died at the same place, April 9, 1682. They were the parents of twelve children. Their youngest child, Elizabeth Severans, married in 1686, Samuel East- man, of Salisbury, Massachusetts. Her grand- daughter, Abigail Eastman, born July 10, 1737, daughter of Thomas and Abigal ( French) Eastman, married Ebenezer Webster, and was`the mother of Daniel Webster, the statesman. 2. Henry is men- tioned at length below. 3. Elizabeth, born in Rattles- den, Suffolk county, England. 4. Richard, receives further mention in this article, with descendants. 5. Mary, born in Rattlesden, England, in 1625, married Robert Dutch, of Gloucester and Ipswich, Massa- chusetts. 6. Martha, born in Rattlesden, August, 1629, married Joseph Fowler, who was born in Eng- land in 1622, and was killed by the Indians, May 19. 1676, near Deerfield, Massachusetts. 7. John, born in Rattlesden, England, 1631, died May 6, 1698. 8. Thomas, born 1633, died May 5, 1676. 9. Sarah, born at Watertown, Massachusetts, 1635, died June 12, 1690. She married, November 24, 1658, Edward Allen, of Ipswich, Massachusetts. 10. Benjamin is the subject of a paragraph in this article. II. Caleb. born at Ipswich, Massachusetts, 1639, died 1682.


(II) Henry, eldest son and second child of Richard Kimball, was born in Rattlesden, Suffolk county, England, baptized August 12, 1615, and came to America in the ship "Elizabeth" with his father


in 1634. He first settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, but some time after 1646 followed his father to Ips- wich, and about 1655 removed to Wenham, and spent the remainder of his life in that town. November 8, 1657, he subscribed £3 as minister's rate, one half in wheat, the other half in Indian corn, "at Mar- chant's price." In 1659 he subscribed £3.50, one- half in corn ; and in 1660-1, he contributed ros toward the new meeting house. He was chosen constable, October 22, 1669. He died in Wenham in 1676, leaving an estate inventoried at £177 12s. He mar- ried (first), about 1040, Mary, daughter of John and Mary Wyatt, who came to America in the same ship with him. Mary dicd in Wenham, August 12, 1672, and he married (second), Elizabeth (Gilbert ) Ray- ner, widow of William, son of Thurston Rayner, and daughter of Humphrey and Elizabeth Gilbert. Henry and Mary (Wyatt) Kimball were the parents of thirteen children: Mary, Richard, Jolin, Caleb, Dorcas, Abigail, Sarah, Henry, Mehitable, Benjamin, Joseph, Martha and Deborah. (Mention of Joseph and descendants appears in this article).


(III) John, second son and third child of Henry and Mary ( Wyatt) Kimball, was born at Water- town, December 25, 1645, and died previous to May 20, 1726. When sixteen years of age he went to live with his grandfather, John Wiatt, of Ipswich, where he remained until the death of Mr. Wiatt, in December, 1665, when he became heir to the property left by him, provided he performed certain conditions. This property was bounded by the "Meeting house Green," which shows where he lived. He sold his estate March 25, 1667, and removed to Newbury, where he was living June 17, 1668. About 1669 he removed to Amesbury, where he afterward lived. He testified in the trial of Susan Martin for witchcraft, May 16, 1692. A full report of his testi- mony may be found in Increase Mather's account of witch trials. He was a yeoman and wheelwright, and took the oath of allegiance December 20. 1677, was made a freeman in 1690, served as appraiser of different estates, and died in 1726. He married (first), October, 1665, Mary, daughter of Francis and Jane Jordan. He may have married (second), February 9, 1713. Mary Presscy, of Amesbury, as a marriage is recorded at Newbury between John Kimball and Mary Pressey. If this be so she soon dicd, and in April, 1715, he married (third), the widow Deborah (Weed) Bartlett, born June 15, 1659, daughter of John Weed, who survived him. He had seven children, all by the first wife. Their names are: Mary, John, Abigail, Joseph, Abraham, Hannah and Deborah.


(IV) Jolin (2), oldest son and second child of Jolin (I) and Mary (Jordan) Kimball, born in Newbury, July 19, 1668, was a wheelwright by trade, and lived in Amesbury. He married Hannah, daugh- ter of Nathaniel Gould, as is shown by a deed made February 11, 1714, in which John Kimball, Jr., and


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NEW HAMPSHIRE.


wife Hannah, of Amesbury, Samuel Gold, Joseph Gold, Thomas Beedle, and Mary Jones, widow of Joseph Jones, children of Nathaniel Gold and Eliza- beth his wife, conveyed property that they inherited from Nathaniel Gould, who died in 1693. The nine children of this marriage were: Benjamin, who died young ; Sarah, Jonathan, Judith, Benjamin, Hannah, Mary, John and Nathan.


(V) Nathan, fifth son and ninth child of John (2) and Hannalı (Gould) Kimball, was born in Amesbury, June 21, 1719, died in 1753, and resided in Amesbury. He married, December 16, 1742, Han- nalı Ring, and they were the parents of children : Nathan, Josiah, Bachelder, Hannah, Esther, Judith and Thomas.


(VI) Nathan (2), oldest son and child of Nathan (1) and Hannah (Ring) Kimball, was born in Amesbury, March 3, 1743, and died December, 1816. At the time of his marriage he resided in Hopkin- ton, New Hampshire, where he was a farmer. He afterward removed to Weare, and lived there at the time of his death. He married Judith Kimball, born May 12, 1739, daughter of Benjamin Kimball. She died May 2, 1785. They had five children : Betsey, Hannah, Judith, Benjamin and Mark.


(VII) Hannah, second daughter and child of Nathan and Judith (Kimball) Kimball, married Samuel Muzzey, of Weare, and settled in Newbury. (See Muzzey, VIII).


(III) Joseph, sixth son of Henry and Mary (Wyatt) Kimball, was born in Wenham, January 20. 1661-2, and died 1713. He married Elizabeth Needham, born February 1, 1674, at Lynn and died October 6, 1708. He lived in Boston and followed the sea, and probably was lost at sea. Administra- tion on his estate was granted his brother-in-law, Ezekiel Needham, April 14, 1713. Children : I. Joseph, born February 24, 1701, mentioned below. 2. Mary, born May 27, 1703, in Boston.


(IV) Joseph (2), son of Joseph (1) and Eliza- betli (Needham) Kimball, was born in Boston, Feb- ruary 24, 1701; died 1767 at Preston, Connecticut, where he was an early sattler. He married in Bos- ton, May 25, 1721, Bethia Mackerwithe, of Dedham, Massachusetts. Children, all born in Preston: I. Benjamin, born April 15, 1722; died August, 1796. 2. Bethia (twin), born February 18, 1723-4. 3 Sarah (twin), born February 18, 1723-4. 4. Joseph, born December 29, 1731; died October 22, 1822, in Plainfield, New Hampshire; mentioned below.


(V) Joseph (3), son of Joseph (2) and Bethia (Mackerwithe) Kimball, was born in Preston, Con- necticut, January 9, 1732; married May 2, 1754, Hannah Morgan, who was born October 1, 1731, and died March I, 1756, in Preston. He married second, Mary Clift, daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Doggett) Clift, born at Marshfield, Massachusetts, October 1, 1738, died July 9. 1781. He married third, Eleanor Dunlap, born at Killingly, Connecti- cut, October 25, 1743, died December 18, 1833, at Plainfield, New Hampshire. Eleanor Dunlap was the daughter of William and Sarah (Ledlie) Dun- lap, emigrants from Ireland, some say Scotland. Her brothers were: John, Joshua and Robert. Her sisters were: Elizabethand Mary. Joseph Kimball settled at Plainfield. New Hampshire. in 1764. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and took part in the battles of Fort Ticonderoga and Bennington. The inscription on the family monument reads: "He was the first proprietor of a farm inclosing this cemetery, a successful hunter and kind neighbor, a soldier of the Revolution at Fort Ticonderoga in 1776." The original slate-stone slab, still standing,


is inscribed "Lieutenant Joseph Kimball," but


whether he was lieutenant in the regular army or the militia is not known. He settled first in the town then known as Plainfield Plain, and later removed to a farm near the village of Meriden, New Hampshire, where he lived until his death. Joseph Kimball had one brother, Benjamin, who died at Plainfield, Au- gust, 1796, aged seventy-seven. Benjamin Kimball's son, Daniel Kimball, died February 27, 1817, aged sixty-three years. He was the founder of Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, New Hampshire. Han- nah Chase Kimball, wife of Daniel Kimball, died June 17, 1847, aged eighty-nine. Joseph Kimball's only child of first wife: I. Hannah, born March 22, 1755, died May 10, 1756. Children of second wife, born in Connecticut : 2. Wills, born March 31, 1760, died August 13, 1843, married Mercy Roberts; their son Elisha died April 3, 1873, married Tryphena Ticknor. 3. Hannah, born September 6, 1761, died August 19, 1788. 4. Benjamin, born March 6, 1763, died March 18, 1815. 5. Elisha, born March 1, 1765, died September 3, 1766. Children of second wife, born in Plainfield, New Hampshire: 6. Mary Clift, born November 30, 1767, died January 27, 1855. The second white child born in Plainfield, New Hamp- shire. 7. Sally, born July 15, 1769, died March 9, 1803. 8. Lydia, born April 3, 1771, died October 2, 1775. 9. Joseph, born September 9, 1775, died Sep- tember I, 1823, at Deerfield, near Utica, New York. Children of third wife: 10. Eunice, born January 19, 1783, at Plainfield, New Hampshire, died Oc- tober 4, 1862, at Hopkinton, New Hampshire; mar- ried Abraham Brown, who died December 15, 1852. II. Betsey, born December 16, 1784, in Plainfield, New Hampshire, died January 19, 1866, at Meriden, New Hampshire, unmarried. 12. Robert, born De- cember 16, 1786, mentioned below.


(VI) Robert, youngest child of Joseph and Eleanor (Dunlap) Kimball, was born in Plainfield, New Hampshire, December 16, 1786, died Septem- ber 20, 1876, at Lebanon, New Hampshire. He mar- ried at Wolcott, Vermont, November 19, 1817, Fanny Willis, born January 3, 1792, in Hanover, New Hampshire, died at Lebanon, New Hampshire, Sep- tember 15, 1860. She was the daughter of Dyer and Elizabeth (Warner) Willis, of Hanover, New Hampshire. Children : 1. Daughter, horn and died September 4, 1826. 2. Robert Byron, born October 24, 1827. died March 16, 1877, at Lebanon, New Hampshire. 3. Mary Elizabeth, born January 21, 1834.


Robert. Kimball was a worthy representative of his race, a race of men strong physically and intel- lectually. Like the Kimballs who preceded him, he was ready in the defence of a friend, a cause, or an opinion. With the Vermont volunteers he saw service in the American army in the War of 1812, and was present at the battle of Plattsburg. In early life a merchant in Morristown, Vermont, he removed to Plainfield, New Hampshire to assist in the management of his aged father's farm. Each of these towns, during his residence in it, chose him as its representative in the state legislature. On the death of his father he removed to Lebanon, New Hampshire. He was at once recognized as a leading citizen, and continued to exert a wide influence in the town until the infirmities of age compelled him to step aside from active life. He represented Lebanon in the legislature in 1842 and 1843, was a member of the convention which revised the consti- tution, and was president of the Bank of Lebanon - for twenty-five years. Mr. Kimball was a Mason, when it cost to be a Mason; an original owner in both the Concord and the Northern railroads, and their staunch supporter; an abolitionist, when abo-


Robert Kimball


R. @Kim ball


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NEW HAMPSHIRE.


litionism was most unpopular. When at the age of eighty-nine, he died, full of years and of honor, it might well be said of him that he had "fought the good fight."


(VII) Robert Byron, only son of Robert Kimball, was born October 24, 1827, in Plainfield, New Hamp- shire, and died March 10, 1877, at the family home- stead in Lebanon. He never married. He was a successful business man and financier, and a director of the Savings Bank and the National Bank of Lebanon. His was a busy, useful life, too full of business cares and private enterprises to admit of his holding public office. But his deeds of charity and his unblemished character caused him to be widely beloved, and he still lives in the memory of his townpeople, a Christian gentleman.


(VII) Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Kim- ball, born in Plainfield, New Hampshire, January 21, 1834, has lived since her infancy in the Kimball homestead in Lebanon, New Hampshire. She is un- married, and has an adopted daughter, Anna Cunn- ingham Kimball, born in Lebanon, New Hampshire, October 2, 1881.


(11) Richard (2), fourth child and second son of Richard (1) and Ursula (Scott) Kimball, was born at Rattlesden, county of Suffolk, England, about 1623, and came to America with his father in the ship "Elizabeth." He went to Wenham between the years 1652 and 1696, and was the first settler of the name in that town. He was called a wheelwright and yeoman. He was a large landowner, and ap- pears to have been the largest taxpayer among the early settlers. He was a grand juror of the town of Wenham in 1661. He died in 1676. Ile married twice, both of his wives having Mary for the given name. It is probable that his second wife was Mary Gott. His first wife died September, 1672. He had nine children, of whom eight were alive at the time of his death, as is shown by an agreement made between them and his widow. Their names follow : John, Samuel, Thomas, Ephraim, Caleb, Christo- pher, Richard and Nathaniel. ( Samuel, Thomas and Caleb and descendants are mentioned at length in this article).




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