USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > New London > A history of the town of New London, Merrimack county, New Hampshire, 1779-1899 > Part 12
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MACFARLAND, JAMES .- In 1797, Capt. John Woodman and James Macfarland were partners in the general store just south of the meeting-house on Summer street, and were recipients of the following license :
" NEW LONDON, June 14, 1797 " this may certify that we the subscribers do approbate wood-
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THE PIONEERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
" man & macfarland to Retail and mix spiritus Lickers in the " town of Newlondon near the meetinghouse
" Levi Harvey Select
" Anthony Sargent ยง men"
James Macfarland was the partner of Captain Woodman until 1801, when he appears to have sold out his interest to Robert M. Wallace. He was clerk of the " publick vendue " of non-residents' lands, April 9, 1799.
MARCH, DANIEL .- This pioneer on the Newton L. Sargent farm came to N. L. from Acworth. His first wife was Abigail, dau. of Jesse and Dolly (Crocker) Blake, b. 1776, and she was the mother of his three children. About 1804 he m. Dolly Blake, a sister of Abigail, b. 1782, who d. March 17, 1849. At the time of his second marriage March removed to the Edmund Davis place, on what was then known as Haselton's hill. At this location he was probably preceded for a short time by Ephraim Gile, who afterwards lived on the top of Burpee hill. Gile, however, had done very little towards clear- ing the lot, so to March may be given the honor of being the actual pioneer on two of the N. L. farms of to-day. His sec- ond clearing has been occupied by three generations of his descendants,-his dau. Abigail, who m. Aaron Young ; her dau. Emmeline, who m. Edmund Davis ; her dau. Nettie, who m. Arthur Holmes. Daniel March is reputed to have been a descendant of one of two March brothers who came over from England in colonial times. Mrs. Arthur Holmes has a chest of drawers and one of a pair of mirrors which these brothers brought with them from their old home. The mirror is of very heavy glass, with a unique carved frame which was originally surmounted by a crown of elaborate design. Daniel d. March 10, 1813. The children of Daniel and Abigail (Blake) March were,-
I. Daniel, b. July 4, 1797. In the churchyard is a headstone inscribed "Mary, wife of Daniel March, died Feb. 15, 1826, aet. 31." This Mary was doubtless the first wife of Daniel, who later m. " a Sunapee woman and moved to New York state," which is the only knowledge his relatives in N. L. have of him.
2. Abigail, b. July 5, 1799 ; m. Aaron Young of Wendall (Suna- pee), Oct. 29, 1818, and res. in N. L.
3. John, b. Aug. 4, 1802 ; removed to Michigan, where he m.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
MAYBERY, RICHARD .- Richard Maybery was chosen hog- reeve in 1797 and 1798. He is said to have been a " roving character " of merry disposition, and to have lived at one time in a small house located on the land to the northeast of the Hominy Pot road near the brow of the hill, now owned by Frank Call. Richard d. May 10, 1844, aged 73 years ; Mrs. May- bery d. Jan. 8, 1852, aged 75 years.
MERRILL, NATHANIEL .- Nathaniel Merrill is reputed to have been a companion of James Lamb at the time of the lat- ter's settlement in Heidleberg, but did not remain here long. He is probably the Nathaniel Merrill who later res. in Acworth, where he m. Lydia Fields, and d. at the age of 84. Chil- dren,-
I. Woodbury, b. 1787 ; m. twice, and had children.
2. Betsey, m. Jedediah Sabin of Lempster, and res. in N. L.
3. Polly, d. unmarried.
4. Philena, d. unmarried.
5. Irene, m. Jesse, son of Jesse and Phebe (Farmer) Dow, b. Oct. 20, 1788, and res. in N. L.
6. Nathaniel, b. 1802 ; m. Hannah S. Collins of Springfield, and had seven children, of whom Emeline S. m. Merrill Robie, now a res. of N. L.
MESSER, JAMES How .- James How, second son and third child of Lieut. Samuel and Sarah (How) Messer below, was b. at Methuen, Mass., Oct. 18, 1762, and was but a lad when his father removed from that town to the almost unbroken wilderness of Heidleberg in 1775. In 1784 he m. Elizabeth, dau. of Lieut. Ebenezer and Jane (McCordy) Shepard, b. June 12, 1765. They res. on Messer hill, on the farm recently owned by George P. Sholes. Elder Seamans records the fact that on Oct. 2, 1800, there was a violent thunder-storm, and the How Messer house was struck by lightning ; the house was shattered considerably, and Mrs. Messer and those of the chil- dren not in bed stunned. Elizabeth (Shepard) Messer d. March 8, 1843. Children :
I. Nancy, b. May 15, 1785 ; m., Sept. 26, 1808, Edmund, son of Edmund and Lydia (Morgan) Davis, and res. in N. L.
2. Betsey, b. Jan. 26, 1788 ; m., June 2, 1811, James Fitts of Lei- cester, Vt.
3. Timothy, b. April 28, 1790; m., in 1816, Phebe, dau. of Jesse and Phebe (Farmer) Dow, b. June 6, 1791, and res. in N. L.
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4. Ebenezer S., b. March 9, 1793 ; went to Pennsylvania, and m .; one of his children is Hon. James C. Messer of East Toledo, Ohio.
5. James How, b. April 1, 1795 ; m. Miss Eaton, and moved to Goshen, where he was drowned. His dau. Apphia lived in N. L. with Abiel Burpee's folk, and his son George with his uncle, Obediah Morgan of Sutton.
6. Mindwell, b. July 14, 1798 ; went to Albany, N. Y.
7. Robertson, b. June 7, 1800 ; went to Pennsylvania and m.
8. Huldah, b. July 25, 1803 ; m., Oct. 23, 1827, Obediah, son of John and Lydia (Lee) Morgan, of N. L., b. Oct. 25, 1799, and res. in Sutton.
9. George, b. Oct. 21, 1804 ; d. June 5, 1805.
Io. Curtis, b. Aug. 9, 1808 ; m., November, 1838, Clarissa, dau. of John and Tryphosia (Parker) Wood, b. Dec. 19, 1814, and res. in N. L.
MESSER, JOSEPH .- Joseph, son of Jacob and Hulda (Per- kins) Messer, grandson of Richard Messer of Methuen, Mass., and nephew of Lieut. Samuel Messer of N. L., was one of the three pioneer Messers from whom are descended the numerous families of that name in the town to-day. He came to N. L. in 1791, and began a clearing on the top of Morgan hill, making his home with John Dole until the time of his marriage, Nov. 27, 1792, to Rebekah Runnels of Methuen. Joseph Messer was a man of more than ordinary height, and some- what spare in frame. Quiet in speech, yet firm in his opinions, he soon acquired considerable influence in the town and was much respected by his fellow-citizens. Rebekah (Runnels) Messer was the mother of seven children, and d. Dec. 23, 1825, aged 56 years. Joseph m. (2), Dec. 28, 1826, Mrs. Eunice, widow of Dea. Jonas Shepard. Eunice d. Feb. 16, 1841, aged 71 years ; Joseph d. May 17, 1851, aged 86 years. Children of Joseph and Rebekah Messer :
I. Hezekiah, b. Nov. 20, 1793 ; d. March 16, 1794.
2. Mehitable, b. Jan. 19, 1797 ; d. Oct. 21, 1814.
3. Joseph, b. Sept. 22, 1798 ; d. March 24, 1799.
4. William, b. Oct. 19, 1800 ; d. July 31, 1802.
5. William, b. Nov. 28, 1802 ; d. May 5, 1804.
6. Rebekah, b. May 31, 1805 ; d. Jan. 6, 1825.
7. Jacob, b. Dec. 17, 1807 ; m., Sept. 27, 1832, Mary Mahala, dau. of Joseph and Anna (Sargent) Putney, b. Oct. 9, 1813, and res. in N. L.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
MESSER, NATHANIEL SMITH .-- Nathaniel S. Messer, the son of James and Sarah (Long) Messer, grandson of Richard, and nephew of Lieut. Samuel, was b. Oct. 13, 1756, at Methuen, Mass. He m., March 9, 1785, Sarah Clough of Salem, who was b. July 23, 1760. In January, 1786, Nathaniel S. and his wife, with their eldest son Isaac, then a babe only 10 months old, moved from Methuen to N. L., following a line of spotted trees during the latter part of their journey, and having their goods on an ox sled. They made a clearing and built a log house on Burpee hill, a little northwest of the Benton M. Stan- ley residence, and there began their pioneer life. Among other things, apple seeds brought with them were planted near the house, from which trees were grown which years after- wards furnished many a rare supper of baked apples, with milk, to parents and children. Nathaniel later built the house now owned by Benton M. Stanley, and lived there till his death, January 20, 1832 ; Sarah (Clough) Messer d. Oct. 1, 1820, aged 60 years. Children :
I. Isaac, b. March 25, 1785 ; m., Jan. 16, 1806, Martha Stevens of Warner, b. April 28, 1787, and res. in N. L.
2. Phinehas, b. April 4, 1787 ; m., Nov. 21, 1811, Lois, dau. of James and Sarah (Adams) Brocklebank, b. March 11, 1787, and removed to Springfield.
3. Nathaniel, b. Oct. 22, 1789 ; m., Dec. 29, 1818, Rebekah, dau. of Ebenezer and Prudence (Chase) Sargent, b. June 10, 1795, and res. in N. L.
4. Sarah, b. June 21, 1793 ; m., Dec. 3, 1818, John Clough of Salem, where she res. She d. at Lawrence, Mass.
5. Hezekiah, b. March 21, 1795 ; m., Sept. 19, 1820, Sophronia, dau. of Ezekiel and Sarah (Page) Sargent, b. Aug. 20, 1799, and res. in N. L.
6. Enoch, b. Sept. 5, 1797; m., Nov. 24, 1825, Betsey, dau. of John and Phebe (Messer) Morgan, b. Nov. 4, 1804, and res. in N. L.
7. Frederick, b. Nov. 8, 1800 ; m. (1), November, 1826, Eliza Evans, b. May 4, 1804. Eliza d. Feb. 11, 1829, and Frederick m (2), in 1830, Martha Whittier of Danbury, where he afterwards res. He was the father of eleven children.
8. Charles, b. June 5, 1803 ; m., Nov. 6, 1827, Lois, dau. of Ebenezer and Prudence (Chase) Sargent, b. April 28, 1807, and res. at Danbury.
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MESSER, LIEUT. SAMUEL .- Through the courtesy of Mr. Moses Haynes Messer of Onarga, Illinois, great-grandson of Lieut. Samuel Messer, much valuable material concerning the origin and descent of the pioneer Messer families of N. L., and otherwise unattainable, has been made available for this history. There were in N. L., before 1800, three Messers,- Lieut. Samuel, who came in 1775, and his two nephews, Joseph and Nathaniel S., who were among the later settlers. These three pioneers look to Richard Messer of Methuen, Mass., as their common ancestor, and this Richard was the grandson of that Richard who, on March 18, 1669, m., at Haverhill, Mass., Hannah, b. Aug. 5, 1651, dau. of Theophi- lus and Susanna (Bosworth) Shatswell. Shatswell was an English emigrant who located first at Ipswich, Mass., but in 1646 removed to Haverhill, where he held several important offices. Hannah (Shatswell) Messer d. Dec. 27, 1670, at the birth of her son, Abiel ; Richard d. April 29, 1671, and the four-months old babe, thus doubly orphaned, became the charge of Robert Emerson and his wife, of Haverhill. Abiel m., Jan. 3, 1695, Abigail, dau. of Onesiphorus Marsh, b. at Hingham, Mass., Feb. 21, 1671. He finally located in Me- thuen, on the west bank of the Merrimack. Here he cleared land, and by authority of the general court of Massachusetts Bay established a ferry. Abiel d. Aug. 6, 1756; Abigail d. March 3, 1761.
Richard, the eldest of their seven children, b. Nov. 9, 1695, m., Nov. 30, 1721, Mehitable, dau. of Samuel and Abigail (Emerson) Smith, b. Feb. 22, 1702 (just 30 years before the first president of the United States), and settled about a mile west of his father's residence, on what is to-day the " Pleasant Valley road." Richard and Mehitable (Smith) Messer had at least eight children. James, the second of these, was the father of Nathaniel Smith Messer, who came to N. L. in Janu- ary, 1786. Jacob, eighth child of Richard and Mehitable, had a son Joseph, whose settlement on Morgan hill in 1791 has been referred to previously. Samuel, who was the sixth child, was the sturdy pioneer of 1775. Another son of Abiel was Nathaniel, b. Sept. 15, 1704, who was the grandfather of Asa Messer, D. D., LL. D., a graduate of Brown university in 1790 and president of that institution from 1802 to 1826.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
Dr. Asa Messer became the owner of the original Messer homestead on the banks of the Merrimack, and about 1807 purchased a 400-acre farm in Newbury, on what became after- wards known as " Messer hill," and placed his brother Alpheus in charge.
Lieut. Samuel Messer, the first settler on Messer (Knight's) hill, sixth child of Richard and Mehitable (Smith) Messer, was b. at Methuen, June 30, 1736. He m., June 1, 1758, Sarah How of Methuen, and res. across the road from his father's house until 1775, when he came to N. L. He was by trade a carpenter and joiner, and was one of the most promi- nent and influential men in his adopted town. He early received a commission as justice of the peace, and in his house the first town meeting was held, Aug. 3, 1779, over which he presided as moderator and was chosen as first selectman in due course of procedure. Though familiarly addressed as 'Squire, he was nevertheless held in great respect by all the country around. This is aptly illustrated by a custom of the early days, known through the medium of Mrs. Ebenezer Sargent, whose maiden name was Prudence Chase. Her father lived in Wendall (Sunapee), and many of the people in that section attended church at N. L., in the meeting-house near the ceme- tery. In the summer they crossed Lake Sunapee by boat to Pike's landing (in Soo-Nipi park), thence walked over the Norris road and Messer hill to the meeting-house. The chil- dren making the trip used to go barefoot to Norris corner, but there shoes and stockings were put on and other garments carefully brushed and adjusted, because it would not do to pass 'Squire Messer's house barefooted and untidy. On the return trip the foot-gear was removed at Norris corner. The early records refer to Samuel Messer as "Lieut." Samuel, a title pre- sumably gained in a colonial company. Lieut. Samuel and Sarah (How) Messer were the parents of ten children, all, except perhaps the youngest, b. at Methuen. Samuel d. Feb. 27, 18II, aged 74 years; Sarah d. March 1, 1823, aged 84 years. Children :
I. Samuel, b. Oct. 26, 1759 ; d. May 10, 1763.
2. Patty (Martha) b. Nov. 2, 1760; m. John Austin, and moved to Rochester, Vt.
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THE PIONEERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
3. James How, b. Oct. 18, 1762 ; m., in 1784, Elizabeth, dau. of Lieut. Ebenezer and Jane (McCordy) Shepard, b. June 12, 1765, and res. in N. L.
4. Samuel, b. July 17, 1764; m. Patience Johnson, a sister of Josiah Johnson of Springfield and an aunt of Lewis T. John- son, lately res. at Elkins. In 1800, Samuel Messer, Jr., was living in the house on Summer street known as the "old " George Williams house. Later he lived on the present Ben- jamin Davis place, then in Wilmot, whence he removed to Thetford, Vt. It is of interest to note that Samuel Messer, Jr., was authorized to call the first town-meeting of Wilmot, in 1808, and acted as its moderator, as his father before him had officiated at N. L. in 1779. They had one child, Zuar Eldredge, b. N. L., March 22, 1801, whose son William m. a ward of George M. Knight, Esq.
5. Betsey, b. May 5, 1766.
6. Ruth, b. June 9, 1768 ; m., April 2, 1793, Calvin Burpee, and res. in N. L.
7. Zaccheus, b. Dec. 6, 1770 ; m., May 13, 1794, Hannah, dau. of Lieut. William and Abigail (Flood) Hutchins, b. Sept. 14 1772, and res. in N. L.
8. Sarah, b. October, 1772 ; m., Nov. 28, 1799, Jacob Messer of Methuen, Mass., who was at one time a captain-general in the Massachusetts militia.
9. Jacob, m., Sept. 23, 1802, Catharine, dau. of David and Catha- rine (Shepard) Smith, b. Dedham, Mass., March 15, 1783, and res. in N. L.
10. Phebe, m., in 1804, John Morgan, 3d, son of John and Lydia (Lee) Morgan, b. Feb. 14, 1780, and res. in N. L.
MESSER, ZACCHEUS .- This son of Lieut. Samuel and Sarah (How) Messer was b. Dec. 6, 1770, and m., about 1794, Hannah, dau. of Lieut. William and Abigail (Flood) Hutch- ins. He lived for a number of years on the spot where the house of George M. Knight, Esq., now stands, but later in a cottage which was located near Little Sunapee, almost oppo- site the " baptizing-place." Zaccheus d. Jan. 1, 1855 ; Han- nah, his widow, d. at Lowell, Mass., Jan. 14, 1865, aged 92 years, 4 months ; both are buried at N. L. Children :
I. Samuel, b. Nov. 10, 1794; m. Thirza, dau. of Joseph Battles, b. Oct. 30, 1801, and res. in N. L.
2. William, b. Nov. 10, 1794 (twin brother of Samuel) ; m., March I, 1820, Mary, dau. of Jesse and Dolly (Crocker) Blake, and res. in N. L.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
3. Phila, b. Nov. 30, 1795 ; m., April 8, 1820, Cushing, son of Joseph Pillsbury of Wendall and a brother of James H. Pills- bury of N. L.
4. Abigail, b. Dec. 18, 1798; d. Jan. 22, 1799.
5. Matthew, b. Jan. 1, 1800; m., March 29, 1823, Ruth Haynes of Haverhill, a lineal descendant (on the paternal side) of brave Hannah Dustin. Matthew res. with his parents in N. L. until he was eight years old, when he was adopted by his aunt, Sarah Messer, of Methuen, Mass. He learned the hatter's trade, and carried on the business for more than 40 years. His home was in Methuen, but the last few years of his life were passed with his son Willard, at Lawrence, Mass. When General Lafayette visited the United States in 1824, the capital of the Granite state was one of the points in his triumphal tour, and Matthew Messer played the fife in escort to the cortege from Methuen to the New Hampshire line. He was also present at the laying of the corner stone of Bunker Hill monument in 1825, and listened to Daniel Webster's memorable oration. Matthew d. Oct. 12, 1886, aged 86 years; Ruth d. Aug. 2, 1868, aged 69 years. Children, b. Methuen :
(1). Jacob Hazen, b. March 16, 1824.
(2). Harriet Maria, b. Dec. 1, 1825.
(3). Leveret, b. June 16, 1827.
(4). Moses Haynes, b. Jan. 29, 1829; m. Jan. 29, 1858, Lu- cinda, dau. of Abram and Experience (Guild) Lehigh of Onarga, Ill., b. Jan. 21, 1833. His early employment was on the farm and in his father's hat shop. He was a stu- dent at New Hampton academy for two years, and took a course in the higher mathematics and civil engineering at Yale college and Brown university. During his connec- tion with the city engineer of Boston, he assisted in survey- ing and constructing railroads in western Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, and in New Hampshire on the line from Bradford to Claremont. In 1855 he went to Chicago, and was employed by the Illinois Central. He settled in Onarga in October, 1855, and has been a prominent and useful citizen, holding numerous offices of public trust. Children : (a) Warren, b. Feb. 2, 1859 ; d. Feb. 15, 1859. (b) Clarence Edgar, b. Sept. 16, 1860. (c) Augusta, b. May 6, 1863. (d) Nellie, b. Jan. 17, 1865 ; d. Aug. II, 1865. (e) Angie, b. June 20, 1876.
(5). Margaret, b. March 3, 1832.
MATTHEW MESSER.
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THE PIONEERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
(6). Elbridge, b. March 16, 1834.
(7). Marantha, b. March 6, 1837 ; d. March 10, 1837.
(8). Willard, b. Aug. 18, 1838 ; res. in Lawrence, Mass.
(9). Marantha Corliss, b. Jan. 5, 1841. Miss Messer recently spent some months in N. L., and was greatly interested in procuring the early history of her ancestors, particularly of Lieut. William Hutchins. The portrait of Matthew Haynes Messer is here inserted through her kindness. Her home is in Woburn, Mass.
(10). Caroline Elizabeth, b. Jan. 24, 1843.
6. Zaccheus, b. June 17, 1802 ; m., and removed to Springfield. He had eight children.
7. Abiel, b. Sept. 15, 1804; removed to Lowell, Mass., where he m. Betsey Rogers and d., leaving three children,-Almira, Mary, Henry.
8. Joseph, b. Sept. 3, 1806; moved to Springfield, Vt. He m. Mary Spofford, and had,-
(1). Isadore, m. Capt. James Little of Melrose, Mass., and had three children, Harry, Arthur, and Georgianna. Georgi- anna m. Mr. Hayward of Claremont, and was the mother of a cadet at West Point.
(2). Elizabeth, never married.
(3). Jerome, a hotel-keeper in New York state.
9. Hannah, b. Nov. 8, 1808; m. Hugh, son of John and Polly (Boyce) Clough, and res. in Sunapee and N. L.
IO. Abigail, b. Aug. 31, 1811 ; m., January, 1832, Levi Muzzey of Springfield, and res. at Carroll, Whitefield, Lisbon, Methuen, Mass., Manchester, and Fisherville (Penacook). Levi d. Oct. 18, 1856, at Fisherville, and Abigail became an itinerant preacher. She has published a book, "Life Sketches and Experience," Cambridge : Press of Dakin & Metcalf, 1865. Abigail m. (2) Mr. Tripp, and res. at Winterport, Me. Chil- dren by first husband, Levi and Ransom.
There were also two other sons, each named Jacob; one d. Oct. 29, 1816, aged 20 months, the other on Aug. 29, 1823, aged 6 years.
MORGAN, CAPT. JOHN .- While the War of the Revolution was interfering with Moses Trussell's plans for making a per- manent settlement in N. L., there came to the lot where he had felled the first tree laid low by a white man's axe in Alexan- dria Addition, a sea-captain from Manchester, Mass., who, weary of the calling of his earlier manhood, had determined to
IO
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
devote himself to other pursuits. With keen eye and practical foresight he had picked from the forest primeval a lot of land which from his day on proved to be one of the best in town, and was the very one where Trussell had made his small clearing and planted the first crop of corn. Captain Morgan built a log house a little to the east of Belden Morgan's present dwelling, and later had a frame house on the exact site where his great-grandson now lives. It was in this house that he passed the remainder of his days,-a prominent and useful citizen of his adopted town, and the founder of a long line of worthy descendants. Bethia, his wife, d. Nov. 8, 1804, aged 73 years. Of his children, b. in Massachusetts, John Morgan, Jr., b. 1753, and a dau., Margaret, came to N. L. He also had at his home, in 1800, a grandson, Henry Morgan, who later m. and res. at the Hominy Pot.
MORGAN, JOHN, JR .- John Morgan, Jr., the son of Capt. John Morgan mentioned above, m. Lydia Lee of Salem, Mass., and came to N. L. with his father soon after the incor- poration of the town. His farm adjoined his father's on the southeast, and the house which he built, located between Belden Morgan's and E. A. Todd's, on the southwest side of the present highway, was his home for more than forty years. Part of the farm is now in pasture and owned by Joseph Fletcher. John, Jr., was a man of great physical energy and vigor,-characteristics that have been handed down through more than one generation of descendants. He was one of the first company of persons baptized by Elder Seamans after his settlement as minister in 1788, and his wife was baptized a few months later. John d. Aug. 26, 1825, aged 73 years ; Lydia d. Sept. 9, 1823, aged 64 years. The children of John and Lydia (Lee) Morgan were,-
I. John, b. Feb. 14, 1780; m., June 7, 1804, Phebe, dau. of Lieut. Samuel and Sarah (How) Messer, and res. in N. L.
2. Solomon, b. March 2, 1782 ; removed to Vermont.
3. James, b. April 10, 1784; m., 1811, Eliza Stanley of Hopkinton, and res. on King's hill, Sutton. They had several sons.
4. Samuel, b. Dec. 2, 1786; m. Mehitable Robinson, and res. in N. L.
5. Thomas, b. Jan. 10, 1788; removed to New Haven, Vt., and m.
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THE PIONEERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
6. Lydia, b. June 12, 1791; m., June 27, 1811, Evans, son of Jesse and Phebe (Farmer) Dow, b. April 3, 1786, and res. in N. L.
7. Daniel, b. Aug. 14, 1793; removed to New York, and m.
8. William, b. April 15, 1796; m., Oct. 25, 1821, Mary Stevens of Fishersfield (Newbury), and res. in N. L.
9. Obediah, b. Oct. 25, 1799 ; m., Oct. 23, 1827, Huldah, dau. of James How and Elizabeth (Shepard) Messer, b. July 25, 1803, and res. on King's hill, Sutton. Obediah d. Sept. 28, 1877 ; Huldah d. Oct. 28, 1877. Children:
(1). Mary E., b. July 7, 1829 ; d. Feb. 19, 1832.
(2). Martha A., b. Feb. 18, 1831 ; m., Sept. 5, 1852, Wyman P. Kimball, and res. in N. L.
(3). George, b. Nov. 26, 1834; enlisted Eleventh N. H. V., Aug. 20, 1862 ; d. disease July 23, 1864, at Alexandria, Va.
(4). Austin, b. March 1, 1838 ; m., Jan. 6, 1867, Mary G., dau. of Harrison and Julia A. (Presby) Fellows of Sutton, b. 1848, and res. in N. L.
(5). Mary E., b. June 14, 1842 ; m., Oct. 6, 1861, Francis M., son of George W. and Martha (Peaslee) Richards of Sut- ton, and res. in Sutton and Warner. Children : (a) Elma E., b. June 17, 1862 ; d. July 26, 1864. (b) Alice M., b. July 1, 1867 ; has been a school-teacher in Warner. (c) Dura M., b. Jan. 11, 1872 ; has been a clerk with Barney Bros. of Canaan.
NORRIS, SAMUEL .- It was but for a few years that Samuel Norris was a resident of N. L., and nothing is known of his family beyond the record of births in the town book, but his name and the place where he lived is perpetuated in the Norris corner of to-day, just southwest of which an old foundation still remains to mark the site of his home. He came to N. L. with his family from Rowley, Mass., about 1797. He retained his farm and buildings until 1805, when they passed to Stephen Currier. The children of Samuel and Betsey Norris were,-
I. Samuel, b. Amherst, April 24, 1785.
2. Benjamin, b. Chester, Dec. 24, 1786.
3. John, b. Chester, Jan. 30, 1789.
4. Sally, b. Rowley, Aug. 7, 1791.
5. Deborah Hubart, b. Rowley, Feb. 25, 1794.
6. Betsey, b. Rowley, July 1, 1796.
7. Moses, b. N. L., Dec. 21, 1798.
8. David, b. N. L., May 8, 1804.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
ORDWAY, JOHN .- The official record of John Ordway's residence in N. L. is confined to the year 1784, when at the annual March meeting he was chosen hog-reeve and one of the five highway surveyors ; the return of a highway that same year determining his location as well. The road laid out was the original Pleasant street highway from the head of the lake over Littlefield's hill to the Four Corners, thence as the " Hutchins' road," which figured in the location of the meet- ing-house and burying-yard in 1788, continuing south westerly, until it struck the road from Messer hill to the mills at the Hominy Pot. The return is as follows: "begining at the "Southwest Side of Lot No Seventy nine at the path that Leads "to Ezekiel Knoltons house Runing Southely til it Comes to " the Rang Line by John Ordaways house that Stands on Lot "No Sixty nine then Runing Southwestely as the Rang Line " Runs on the northwest Side of the Range Line til it Comes to "the Northeast Corner bound of the Lot No Sixty Six then to "Run on the Southeastely Side of the Rang Line South- "westely as the Rang Runs til it Comes to the Road that "Leads from Samuel mesers to the mill." From this it would appear that the Ordway house was on that part of lot No. 69 which lay to the northwestward of the lake, but nothing beyond the facts already mentioned is known of the man or his family. There was, however, a Joseph Ordway who had his taxes abated in 1786, and he may have been the father of John.
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