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. IV, 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: 878

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. IV > Part 1

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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. IV

ILLUSTRATED

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK CHICAGO 1908

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NEW HAMPSHIRE

Of English origin are all the FARNSWORTH families of Farnsworth in the United States. The name is derived from one of the two places in Lancashire, England, called Farnworth. One of them is in the parish of Prescott, not far from Liverpool, and the other is in the parish of Dean, a few miles north- west of Manchester, in the hundred of Salford. The name is thought to be taken from the latter place.

The word is Saxon and derived from fearn, meaning fern, and Wearth, a place, a farm, an es- tate; and signifying a place or farm where ferns grow. The greater number of the English families spell their name Farnworth, and so did the early settlers of this family in America, but as the writers and recorders of those early times spelled it ffarne- worth, ffernworth, ffearneworth, ffarnot, ffearnoth, and finally Farnsworth, the Farnsworths them- selves finally adopted the last form, which is now uni- form orthography in America. The pronunciation in early times in this country was probably as if spelled Farnotlı.

(I) Matthias Farnsworth, by occupation a weaver. first appears of record in Lynn, Massachu- setts, where he was a resident in 1657, but he had probably already resided there some years at that date. When he came to this country is unknown. He was a farmer and had a farm near what is now Federal street, on which he lived until 1660 or 1661, when he removed to Groton. There he shared in the distribution of lands with the other proprietors. The records show that Matthias had the following uplands : His houselot, ninety acres, more or less, lying on both sides of the mill highway, bounded on the north by the side hill by "James his brook," &c .: six acres and a half, more or less, lying on Indian hill ; eighteen acres, more or less, bounded west by Mill road ; seventy-one acres, more or less, lying on the other side of the Mill road. His meadows: In south meadow. fourteen acres, more or less, bounded on several points by the town com- mon : six acres, more or less, near the mill; five acres and a half, more or less, near the mill; two acres and a half, more or less, at Half Moon Meadow; in all something over two hundred and twelve acres of virgin soil.

The first of the lots described was the one on which he built his log house. This was undoubt- edly burned by the Indians when nearly the whole town was destroyed by them, March 13, 1676. A. number of settlers were killed, the others escaped to Concord, and on March 17 removed in sixty carts what was left of their portable property. In the spring of 1678, Matthias Farnsworth with his family, including his three eldest sons, who were then of age, returned to his clearing in the woods and rebuilt his house and began anew. This latter house stood until 1820, when it was torn down to make room for improvements. Here he lived until his death, January 21, 1689. He was admitted a freeman of the Colony, May 16, 1670, and made his

will January 12, 1089, being then seventy-seven years of age.

Matthias Farnsworth was a prominent member of his church, of which he was one of the early members, and a leading citizen of the town. He was one of the council of eleven held in Groton, in May, 1664, to consider certain "uncomfortable differences that had been amongst them about Church Government." He filled many offices in the town, the most important of which were those of constable and selectman. He held the office of con- stable, whose duties then were the collection of rates and taxes for the settlement as late as 1684. when he was seventy-two years old.

He was probably twice married, but nothing is known of his first wife, by whom he probably had three children. He married (second), Mary, daugh- ter of George Farr, of Lynn, Massachusetts. She survived him many years, seems to have been a householder in 1692, made her will December 5, 1716, and died between that date and March 7, 1717, when her will was proved. The children of Mat- thias Farnsworth were: Elizabeth, Matthias, John, Benjamin. Joseph (died young), Mary, Sarah, Sam- uel, Abigail, Jonathan and Joseph.

(II) Benjamin, third son and seventh child of Matthias Farnsworth, was born in 1667, and died in Groton, August 15, 1733, aged sixty-six years. He built a house and lived on the east side of the road running on the westerly side of the broad meadow. He owned a large stretch of land west of the meadow, and southerly of the road from Farmer's Row, across the meadow to the First Parish Meetinghouse. His house was standing till 1830. He held the office of selectman and other town offices. He and his wife were church mem- bers, and their children were baptized. He mar- ried, in 1695, Mary Prescott, born February 3. 1674. in Lancaster, Massachusetts, daughter of Jonas and Mary (Loker) Prescott. She died October 28,

1735, aged sixty-one. They had Mary, Martha (died young), Benjamin, Isaac, Ezra, Amos, Lydia. Aaron, Martha, Jonas and Deborah.

(III) Aaron, eighth child and fourth son of Benjamin and Mary (Prescott) Farnsworth, was born August 29, 1709, and died in July, 1700, aged sixty years. He married (first), March 29, 1739. Hannah Barton, who died about 1743; married (second), 1744, Sarah , who died about 1747 : married (third). 1749, widow Elizabeth Parker, who died December 12, 1766, aged forty-seven. Married (fourth), June 16, 1767, Sarah Bennett, born in 1723. After his death she married a Bolton. and died June 24, 1822, in the one hundredth year of her age. The children of Aaron and Hannah (Barron) Farnsworth were: Zaccheus, Sybil (died young), Mary, Hannah, Eunice, Samuel, and Es- ther : by second wife, Sarah and Aaron; by third wife, Elizabeth (Parker) Farnsworth, Timothy and Sybil.

(IV) Mary, third child and second daughter of Aaron and Hannah (Barron) Farnsworth, was

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born in Groton, March 29, 1732. and died September 19, 1796. She married, March 2, 1767, Colonel Osmyn Baker (See Baker I).

The McLane family is of Scottish

McLANE descent. Those emigrating to New Hampshire came from the county of Argyle. The Clan McLane was located at Loch Buoy. The family seems to have been honorable and distinguished, Sir John McLane, to whom the present family traces its lineage, having rank with the nobility, claiming descent from a younger branch of the family of Charles the Pretender. Those earliest there seem to have possessed the sterling virtues characteristic of those who origi- nally settled in Londonderry, and on their arrival came among them before finally locating. They were strong in their religious convictions and in- tensely patriotic. Captain Obadiah McLane, who settled in Goffstown, was a fellow-clansman and a prominent officer in the Revolution, who was given the special duty of looking after the Tories and de- serters, and had with them some romantic and des- perate encounters.

(I) Sir John McLane married, and had among other children a' son Daniel.

(II) Daniel, son of Sir John McLane, was a soldier in the army of Charles the Pretender at the battle of Culloden, April 16, 1746. He married Molly Beaton. by whom he had among his children two sons, Malcolm and Hugh.

(III) Malcom, son of Daniel and Molly (Bea- ton) McLane, was born in the parish of Lear Cas- tle, Argyle county, Scotland. He emigrated to this country in 1775, landing in Boston. He spent some time among his countrymen in Londonderry and New Boston, and finally located in Francestown in 1784, buying of Hugh Morrill the place next north of the Haunted Lake. He married, Isabell, daughter of John and Jenny (Carmichael) Living- ston, by whom he had the following children: Jane, born May 1, 1780, died December 7, 1852; John, born March 6, 1784; Daniel, born October 10, 1787, married Mary Starrett; Nancy, born April 2, 1789, died June 26, 1819; Niel, born February 6, 1791, never married ; Mary, born October 9, 1792, died March 9, 1873; Isabel, born April 4, 1794, died Jan- uary 21. 188t ; Archibald, born May 26, 1796, died unmarried, December 17, . 1852.

(IV) John, eldest son and second child of Mal- com and Isabell (Livingston) McLane, was born in New Boston, March 6, 1784. He settled on a farm in Francestown. near his father, where he resided till 1822, when he removed to Newport, and some time after to Fairlee, Vermont, and died there August 8, 1851. He was a prominent man, and in Fairlee was honored with election to town offices, and represented the town in the legislature. He was also for a time associate judge of the court in Caledonia county. He was a man of positive convictions, clear-headed, capable, and highly re- spected by all. He married, August 24, 1815, Eliza- beth McCollom, who died in New Boston, Septem- ber 30, 1882, aged ninety-one years. Their children were: Neil, born January 19, 1816, married, Octo- ber 14, 1849, Sarah C. Kelso, of New Boston; Alex- ander, born January 16, 1817, married, in 1850. Bet- sey Church, of Kirby, Vermont : John ; Charles, born April 28, 1819. married (first). Rebecca Bailey, and ( second), in 1852, Edwina Powell; Rodney, born July 18, 1820, married, November 17, 1853,

Adeline Farley, of New Boston; Mary, born Octo- ber II. 1822, married, in 1851, James Lyford, of Canterbury ; Nancy J., born in Newport, April 30, 1823; George Waterman, born April 30, 1824, mar- ried, November 19. 1848, Philena Renyon, of Plain- field; Elizabeth, born in Newport, June 29, 1825, died in Fairlee, Vermont, March, 1842; Clarissa, born August 5, 1827, died August 15, 1819; Helen, born July 31, 1828; Sarah, born in Sunapee, July 22, 1830; Marion, born in Sunapee, July 4, 1833, died December, 1853; Robert E., born in Grafton, October 23, 1834, married Emma Burton, of Athol, Massachusetts.

(V) John, third son and child of John and Elizabeth (McCollom) McLane, was born in New Boston, April 14, 1818. He received his education in the district schools. His occupation was that of carpenter and farmer. He went to Boston, Massa- chusetts, and for five years ran a store for himself, and then returned to New Boston and worked in a door shop. He built himself a house where he after- wards resided. Politically he was a Republican, and religiously a Presbyterian. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He died August, 1900. He married, November, 1850, Han- nah E. Whipple, by whom he had James Neil, and perhaps other children.

(VI) James Neil, son of John and Hannah E. (Whipple) McLane, was born in New Boston. No- vember 8, 1858. He was educated in the public schools. After leaving school he learned the trade of blacksmith, and worked at it for fourteen years. He was then engaged in carrying on the lumber business for three years. Afterwards he went into partnership with his brother Reid in running a grist mill, and carrying on the feed business. He has also handled some real estate. In politics he is identified with the Republican party. Denomi- nationally he is a Presbyterian. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has filled the chairs. He has been selectman, and rep- resented his town in the legislature in 1902. He has also been a road agent. He married, Septem- ber 22, 1881, Rebecca H., daughter of John and Mary (Crombie) Andrews, of New Boston. She received her education in the district schools and Francestown Academy, from which she graduated. Afterwards she went to Boston and took a course in training for a nurse. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church. The children of Mr. and Mrs. McLane are : Francis, born in 1883; Alice W., born in 1885, married Waldren Stevens; child born February 22, 1888; John W., born October 19, 1892; a daughter, born January 25, 1895; a son, born August 9, 1897.

Several persons of this name came to

AMES Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early days of its existence, and from one of these ancestors an untraced line no doubt runs to this family.

(I) James Ames was born November 16, 1741, and died January 30, 1827, aged eighty-six years. His children were: Jacob, Peter, James. Caleb, Mary and Comfort. (Mention of Caleb and de- scendants appears in this article.)

(II) James (2), son of James (I) Ames, was born about 1780, and died in Gilford. He owned and cultivated a farm of one hundred and fifty acres of land. He was a cooper by trade, and also worked

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at farming during the latter part of his life. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion a Free Will Baptist. He married Catherine Thompson, a native of Gilford, by whom he had four children : James Thompson, Morrill, Mary and Susan.

(III) James Thompson, eldest child of James (2) and Catherine (Thompson) Ames, was born in Gilford. 1821, and died in Gilmanton, 1886, aged sixty-five. He was educated in the common schools, and learned the cooper's trade. For some time he lived in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where he worked at his trade. He returned to Gilmanton where he engaged in farming up to the time of his death. In early life he was for a few years engaged in mercantile pursuits at West Alton. He was a Free Will Baptist and a Democrat, and lived up to his profession in both. He married Catherine Glidden, who was born in Alton, 1821, and died in Peabody, Massachusetts, in 1881, aged sixty. She was the daughter of Noah and Polly Glidden, of Alton. The children of James (3) and Catherine (Glidden) Ames were : Gorham B., James N., Frank P., and George, the latter dying in in- fancy.

(IV) James N. (4), second son of James (3) and Catherine (Glidden) Ames, was born in Alton, September 18, 1850. After leaving the common schools in which he was educated, he engaged in farming two years. Subsequently he removed to Salem, Massachusetts, where he ran a meat wagon for sixteen years. After a short stay in Salem, Massachusetts, he removed to Peabody, where he kept a provision store seven years, after which he carried on business in Boston Highlands and subsequently in Malden. From the latter place he came to New Hampshire and took charge of a farm of two hundred and six acres in Gilford, on which are fine farm houses, an orchard and a stock of cattle. Here he is engaged in farming, but his principal occupation is the entertainment of summer boarders, who find here a beautiful and agreeable place for rest and pleasure. Mr. Ames married (first), in November, 1871, Emma A. Dearborn, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts, 1845, daugh- ter of Charles and Mary Dearborn. She died in the winter of 1874, and he married (second) Mary Ellen Hayes, who was born in Alton, Massachusetts, 1855, daughter of Ezekiel and Lydia Hayes. By the first wife there was one child, Hattie, who died young. By the second wife there are four chil- dren : Bertram Frank, born July 21, 1877; Thur- low H., August 21, 1879; Maynard J., September 5, 1888; and Morrill Roger, August 5, 1891.

(II) Caleb, son of James (I) Ames, was born in Gilford, October 12, 1782, and died in New Hamp- ton, May 19, 1862, aged eighty. He grew up a farmer, and was educated in the district schools. At the age of twenty-six he removed to New Hampton, where he remained two years. Before his marriage he bought a farm of one hundred acres, which he cleared, and on which he built a log house and barns. He settled on that place about 1809. and was a prosperous farmer. He served a term in the war of 1812, being stationed at Portsmouth. The day before he would have been discharged he learned of the serious illness of one of his chil- dren, and set out for home, sixty miles away, walk- ing the whole distance from Portsmouth to New Hampton in a day and a half. Not being present to be mustered out and receive his discharge, he was not able to obtain the pension afterward granted to soldiers of the war of 1812. He married, January 30, 1809, Sally Burleigh, eldest daughter of William and Sarah (Ames) Burleigh (see Bur-

leigh), who was born January 27, 1788, and died May 19, 1862, aged seventy-nine. Their children were: Sarah, William Burleigh, James (died young), James Marston, Peter B., Almira and Daniel H.

(Ill) James Marston, fourth child and third son of Caleb and Sally ( Burleigh) Ames, was born in New Hampton, July 13, 1817, and died in Bristol, December 28, 1881, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. He left home at twenty-one years of age, and for six years was employed as a quarryman. He then bought the homestead of his father, which he enlarged until he had three hundred acres of land, and he also rebuilt the buildings. In 1866 he removed to Bristol, and settled at what is called the North End on the farm now owned and occu- pied by his son, where he and his wife spent the re- mainder of their lives. He was an active, hard- working man, who took good care of his own affairs and felt an interest in matters of public importance. His exemplary habits and success in taking care of his own caused many of his neighbors to come to him in times of doubt or adversity for advice. In religious belief he was a Baptist, and in pol- itics a Democrat. He married, February 17, 18.45, Abigail F. Batchelder, born June 8, 1827, daughter of Benjamin and Mary ( Spaulding) Batchelder, of Bridgewater. She died January 10, 1886, in the sixty-second year of her age. They had two chil- dren : Mary Comfort, who was born in New Hampton, January 7, 1852, and married January I, 1872, Laurin C. Tilton; and Burleigh M., whose sketch follows.

(IV) Burleigh Marston, first child and only son of James M. and Abigail F. ( Batchelder) Ames, was born in New Hampton, March 8, 1848. He lived in his father's family and attended school until about nineteen, and then went to Watertown, Mas- sachusetts, and stayed a year, and then (1867) for six or seven years was a manufacturer of straw board at Bristol. In 1875 he engaged in the manu- facture of gloves which he carried on for a time. He owns the paternal homestead which he carries on, and is also a dealer in wood, coal, ice, etc. He has built and sold several houses in Bristol. He is a trustee and vice-president of the Bristol Savings Bank, and a director of the First National Bank of Bristol. He is a Democrat and a Free Baptist. He is a member of Union Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Bristol. He married, Febru- ary 14, 1869, Mary Ann Locke (see Locke, VII), who was born September 21, 1850, daughter of Orrin and Nancy J. (Favor) Locke, and they have two children : Aletea Elfra, born in Bristol, February 27, 1872, who married Nathan P. Smith, of Plymouth ; they have one child, Abby F., born May 12, 1889. Ethel Winnifred, born November 17. 1879, who married (first) Charles E. Spencer ; married (second) George P. Fifield; their home is also in Plymouth.

AMES This family name appears carly in Mas- sachusetts, whence it spread into New Hampshire; and it is from an carly Massachusetts branch of the family that the Ameses of this article have descended.

(I) John Ames is supposed to have moved from Newmarket, New Hampshire, to Parsonfield, Maine, where he died. He was a farmer. He married Elizabeth Neal, and they had six children: Samuel, John, Marston, Catherine, Daniel and Betsey.

(II) Samuel, eldest child of John and Elizabeth (Neal) Ames, was born in 1770, and died in 1861, aged ninety-one years. He settled in Tamworth,

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New Hampshire, where he was a farmer for some years; and then moved to Wakefield, New Hamp- shire, where he died May, 1861. He married Susan Glidden, who was born 1771, and died 1872. Their children were: Betsey, Marston, John, Susan, Ja- cob, Samuel, and Daniel, all born after 1796.

(III) Marston, second child of Samuel and Sarah (Glidden) Ames, was born in Tamworth, December 25, 1799, and died in . June, 1887, aged eighty-seven years. He was taken by his parents on their removal to Wakefield when a mere child. He settled at Ossipee and followed farming. He married in October, 1827, Clarissa Moulton, who was born in September, 1806, daughter of William and Mary Pearl of Parsonfield, Maine. She died August 11, 1876, aged seventy-one years. Their children were: William, born 1828, died young; Mary, born 1832, died 1867; Samuel and William (twins), born April 1, 1834; Martin Luther ; John born August 10, 1839; Silas, died young, and David, whose sketch follows.

(IV) David M. Ames, youngest child of Mars- ton and Clarissa (Moulton) Ames, was born in Ossipee, October 21, 1843. At eighteen years of age he began work in a tannery for Joseph Hodg- don and was employed there three years. He then went to Cornish, Maine, and worked at the same business for Albers & Allen six years, and then to Portland, where he was similarly employed two and a half years. Returning to Ossipee he culti- vated the homestead two years. In 1877 he removed to Rochester, New Hampshire, and entered the em- ploy of E. G. and E. Wallace, shoe manufacturers, and for ten years past has been foreman of their tanning department. In politics he is a Republi- can, and he has held the office of councilman of Rochester for six years. He married, February 28, 1866, Mary Cobb, who was born in Limerick, Maine, July 14, 1841, daughter of Joshua and Mary (Cook) Cobb. There were born of this union four children : I. Sarah C., born February 8, 1867, a graduate of Boston University, class of 1895, since a teacher in Rochester four years, and in Chester county, Pennsylvania, now engaged in educational work in Boston. 2. William Marston, born July 3, 1869, a graduate of Dartmouth, class of 1894, a civil en- gineer at Berwick, Maine. He married, September 2, 1896, Mabel A. Fogg, born in Springvale, Maine, 1871, daughter of John D. and Phebe A. Fogg, of Springvale, Maine, and they have three children : John D., born May 31, 1897; Marjory, born Janu- ary 17, 1902; Elizabeth Howland, born February 25, 1906. 3. Howard O., July 8, 1871, died young ; 4. Arthur O., July 23, 1878, a graduate of Roches- ter high school, bookkeeper in New Britain, Con- necticut.

QUIMBY This name is not numerously repre- sented in New England or in any part of America, but the quality of its representatives will compare favorably with that of many families of much larger numbers. It has been identified with the development of New Hampshire, and is entitled to honorable mention in connection therewith. It begins at an early period of American history, in settlement of the Massachu- setts Bay Colony, and is still continuing in a worthy way along the lines of civilization.

(I) Robert Quinby is found of record in Amas- bury, Massachusetts, as a ship carpenter and was there married about 1657 to Elizabeth Osgood, daughter of William and Elizabeth Osgood, of Sal- isbury. He purchased land in Amesbury the next year, and received grants in 1659 and 1668. He is

of record as a "townsman" in 1660, and holding a meeting house seat in 1667. He died about 1677, and it is probable that his death occurred in the Indian massacre at Amesbury, July 7, of that year. His wife. was wounded in that massacre but sur- vived. She was appointed administratrix of his estate October 9 of that year. The inventory was made August 27. Their son Robert was appointed to administer the estates of both parents Septem- ber 26, 1694, and it was not divided until 1700. Their children were: Lydia, William, Robert, John, Thomas, Elizabeth, Philip and Joseph. (Mention of Robert and descendants is a part of this arti- cle).

(II) William (1), eldest son and second child of Robert and Elizabeth (Osgood) Quimby, was born June II, 1660, in Salisbury and resided in Ames- bury. He took the oath of allegiance in 1677 and was a member of the training band in 1680. He was living in 1700, and administration upon his. estate was granted June II, 1705. The inventory was presented by his brother Robert. The christian name of his wife was Sarah, but no record of her birth, death or parentage is obtainable. Two chil- dren are recorded in Amesbury, namely: Elizabeth and William.

(III) William (2), son of William (I) and Sarah Quimby, was born, October 8, 1693, in Ames- bury. He married Hannah Barnard, who was born November 26, 1694, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Jewell) Barnard. They owned the covenant in the Second Salisbury church, February 4, 1728, and had children baptized at that church August 16, 1730, namely : Samuel, Joseph, Enoch and Hannah ; and on June 9, 1734, their sons Moses and Aaron were also baptized.

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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. IV, 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: 878

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: 878