USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 65
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80
This Nathaniel Weare, second, born in Eng- land in 1632, married, December 3, 1656, Elizabeth Swayne, of Hampton. He went twice to England as agent of Hampton, and all those in the province who were opposed to Cranfield and Mason, and acted as their agent to prosecute the appeals against Mason before
537
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
the king in council. Besides minor offices that he held, he was a Councillor of the gov- ernment of New Hampshire from 1692 to 1698, again from 1699 to 1715, when he resigned in consideration of his age. He was Justice of the Superior Court in 1694-95. He was Justice of the Peace actively till 1699, and after that Justice of Quorum till his retire- ment. His wife, Elizabeth, died February 10, 1712. He died May 13, 1718.
Nathaniel, third, the next in line, born in 1669, son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth, was also a Judge of the Superior Court. He settled in Seabrook, near Fogg's Corner, and ended his days in this town. The house built by him is still standing; and the mill which he erected some time prior to 1720 is an old landmark of the region, and one of the inter- esting features of the Weare farm to-day. This Nathaniel was the father of Meshech Weare, born in 1713, said to have been "one of the most serviceable men the State has ever produced." A man of sterling integrity and purest patriotism, he held many public trusts. He was chosen first "President " of the State in 1784; and "he sat thirty-five years upon the bench of the Superior Court, where his father and his grandfather had sat before him." Meshech Weare was a brother of John Weare, the great-great-grandfather of John M. Weare; and John Weare's son Jonathan was the father of John Weare, second, both being natives of Seabrook. John Weare, second, managed the mill on the premises during his active life. He married in 1780 Miss Thank- ful Hubbard, of Salisbury, Mass., daughter of Joseph Hubbard.
Their eldest son, Joseph H. Weare, although his educational advantages were only those offered by the district school, was a well- informed man, able and enterprising, a suc- cessful farmer and miller. He was Lieutenant of the military training company in the town and Selectman. He died at the age of forty years. His wife was the daughter of Captain Bela Mitchell, and the grand-daughter of William Swett, of Salisbury Point, Mass. Her father, who was a mariner, died while on a voyage to the West Indies. Mrs. Weare, too, was in her prime, her forty-eighth year, when summoned by the angel of death, May
13, 1831. To this couple six children were born; namely, Joseph H., Mary A., Elizabeth B., Sarah L., John M., and Benjamin S.
John M. Weare is now the only surviving member of the family. Ile received in his boyhood only a limited district school educa- tion ; but, being naturally intelligent, he has amply made up for the lack in his early train- ing. He was thrown on his own resources when only eight years of age, and at the age of sixteen he began to work as a blacksmith and carriage-smith. He was at one time over- seer of the shop connected with the State prison at Concord. Returning thence to Sea- brook, he managed the mill and farm, as part owner, for several years, making a specialty of raising cattle; and his stock took many pre- miums at the cattle fairs. For some time now he has been retired from active work of all kinds, enjoying the prosperity which he has acquired by tireless effort, prompted by his natural sagacity and ability; for Mr. Weare is one of New Hampshire's self-made men.
November 26, 1836, he was married to Mary M. Gove, daughter of David and Susan (Gove) Gove, of Seabrook. Mrs. Mary M. Weare died February 1, 1894. As Mr. and Mrs. Weare reared no children of their own, and an adopted son, John M., died at the age of twenty-one, Mr. Weare is now alone.
In politics he has taken an active interest for sixty-one years, never missing an election, and casting his ballot in fifteen Presidential contests, always on the Democratic side. His first Presidential vote was given to Martin Van Buren in 1836. He has been elected to many offices of trust. In 1853 and 1854 he was State Senator; and, elected a member of the county convention, he was appointed to serve on the committee for investigating the pauper system. He undertook the duties of this charge all alone, visiting the different alnis- houses, and on his report at the next session of the House the farm system was adopted. Mr. Weare was one of the State Committee at the Hillsborough Convention in the Pierce cam- paign.
He was Representative for the town in 1875 and 1876. Among his local offices was that of County Road Commissioner, which he
538
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
held in 1851. In his younger manhood he took an active interest in military affairs, and was promoted from the rank of Sergeant to that of Colonel in the training militia; and during the War of the Rebellion he was agent for filling the quota .of men for the town. Mr. Weare was the first extensive breeder of blood cattle in this section, and was a promi- nent member of the Board of Agriculture, his age, experience, and success making his opinions of much value. He was President and Director of the Rockingham County Agri- cultural Society for several years; was ap- pointed by Secretary Guthrie superintendent of the erection of the Portsmouth (N. H. ) cus- tom-house, and held the office until the fail- ure of the contractors; was appointed by United States Marshal Stephen W. Dearborn deputy to take census for Seabrook, Kensing- ton, South Hampton, and Newton in 1860; has been Justice of the Peace for fifty years, and Notary Public for several years, at one time did large probate business, and was guardian for many children. William Swett, Mr. Weare's great-grandfather, enlisted, ac- cording to his diary, May 2, 1758, in Captain William Osgood's Company, Colonel Preble's Regiment, to go to Canada. He kept a diary all the time he was gone, noting down some- thing every day. The diary is now in Mr. Weare's possession. Mr. Swett afterward enlisted as Second Lieutenant in Captain Joseph Page's Company and Colonel Titcomb's Regiment, in the War of the Revolution.
About the time this goes to press will doubtless be held at Dearborn Hall, Seabrook, "the third annual meeting of the descendants of Nathaniel Weare, who went twice to Eng- land as agent of the people of the province of New Hampshire," the call for the reunion having been M. Weare, President."
ALBERT CLARKE, of Exeter, N. H., was born in this town, May 23, 1843. lle is a son of William Henry and Sarah (Hilton) Clarke, and is of the eighth generation of his family in this country. His immigrant ancestor, Nathaniel Clarke, who was a native of Wiltshire, Eng-
land, was one of the wealthy and influential men of old Newbury, Mass., holding the office of Justice of the Peace, and exercising author- ity in town affairs and in matters connected with the Church of England. He died in Newbury in 1690, aged forty-eight; and he bequeathed to his posterity, among other things, a brigantine.
His son Nathaniel, second, was born in Newbury, March 13, 1666; and a third Na- thaniel, son of Nathaniel, second, was born in the same place, July 29, 1689. Nathaniel, third, was mortally wounded in the French and Indian War. His son Samuel, the next in line, was born in Newbury, April 23, 1710; and Samuel's son Moses was born in Salis- bury, Mass., October 24, 1737. Moses Clarke, or Deacon Clarke, as he was com- monly called, was a strong Baptist in religion. He refused to sign the Association Test. He lived to be fourscore, spending the latter part of his life in Stratham, N.H. His wife, whose maiden name was Mehitable French, was the mother of nine children. Deacon Clarke had a son whose name also was Moses Clarke. He was born, December 23, 1773, in Stratham, Rockingham County, N. H., and settled about 1790 in Exeter, where he died in 1803. He was a merchant or trader. His wife was Jane Robinson, a native of Greenland, this county. Five children were born to this couple, namely : John, who died at the age of twenty ; Charles, who served in the War of 1812, and died at the age of sixty-seven in Exeter; Robert, who died in Boston, at the age of forty-one; William Henry; and a daughter, who died in childhood.
William Henry Clarke was born in Exeter, December 4, 1800. He was but three years of age when his father died; and he was reared by his grandfather, Deacon Moses Clarke. For many years he was engaged in trade, in which he was successful; and he owned much valuable real estate. He died in 1863. Mr. William H. Clarke was married in Exe- ter, February 16, 1825, to Sarah, daughter of Colonel Richard and Martha (Leavitt) Hilton. She was descended from two of the Colonial governors of Massachusetts, John Winthrop and Thomas Dudley. Her first ancestor in this country was Edward Hilton, who came
539
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
from London in 1623. His son, Colonel Ed- ward Hilton, married Ann Dudley, daughter of the Rev. Samuel and Mary (Winthrop) Dudley, and grand-daughter of Governor Winthrop and Governor Dudley. Colonel Edward and Ann (Dudley) Hilton were the great-great-grandparents of Colonel Richard Hilton, the father of Mrs. Clarke. Colonel Hilton was a native of New Market, Rocking- ham County, N.H. His wife was born in Exeter. Mrs. Clarke was an exemplary Chris- tian woman, always ready to help the poor, to visit the sick, and to act as a peacemaker. She was a member of the Congregational church. Her life embraced eighty-two years, and she retained her faculties and activity to the last.
Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Clarke the following is a brief record : Charles, a journalist by profession, was En- sign on the monitor " Nahant," at Charleston, S.C., at the time of the Civil War. He died in Worcester, Mass., at the age of sixty-three, leaving four children. William A., who was born in 1827, was a shoemaker by trade, and was a Corporal in the army at the time of the Civil War. He died in North Weymouth, Mass., January 20, 1889. John, who was born in 1830, resides in Exeter. George Washing- ton, who was born in 1832, opened the first store in Charleston, S.C., after the war, and managed a large and successful business. In 1867-68 he was Mayor of Charleston, where he built the famous shell road; and he was Collector of the port under General Grant. In 1878 he returned to Exeter, and engaged in the coal business, shipping large cargoes up the river. His wife was Sarah Maria Stod - dard, of Upton, Mass. Her father was a large shoe dealer in Charleston, S.C. George W. Clarke reared four sons and two daughters : Edward H. is a hotel-keeper at Raymond, N. H. ; Martha is the widow of Charles P. Wright, of Greenfield, Mass., and has two sons and a daughter; Sarah is the wife of Richard N. Oakman, of Greenfield, Mass., and has one daughter.
J Albert Clarke, the youngest child of Will- iam Henry, adopted book-keeping as a voca- tion, and commenced his business career at the age of eighteen, as clerk in the United
States internal revenue department. From 1863 to 1867 he was employed as a book- keeper in Boston, and he then returned to Exe- ter with the Choate Manufacturing Company. This company closing up its business here in 1868, Mr. Clarke, in company with Mr. Will- iam Burlingame, organized the Exeter Ma- chine Works, now one of the best-known con- cerns of the kind in New England, leasing the property of the Choate Manufacturing Company. In 1870 the plant was destroyed by fire, thus terminating the lease. The same company, which had changed its name to the Exeter Foundry and Machine Company, built a new brick plant, and gave a new lease to the partners. This lease ran till 1876, when the partnership was merged in the corporation, the partners becoming shareholders, and the name Exeter Machine Works included the whole. They produce stationary engines, sec- tional boilers, radiators, house-heating appa- ratus by steam or hot water, and between 1871 and 1889 divided total dividends of ninety- seven per cent. Mr. Clarke is one of the principal stockholders and one of the Board of Directors. As a society man, Mr. Clarke has been active and popular ; and he has some rich society badges voluntarily bestowed upon him by benefit organizations in recognition of his services and loyalty.
AMUEL NOWELL, an old resident of Derry, N.Il., and the owner of two good farms, was born in this town, August 5, 1825, a son of Captain Nathaniel and Mary Nowell. His father was a native of Newburyport, Mass., and his mother of Derry. His grandfather, Captain Nathaniel Nowell, Sr., who followed the sea in his younger days, was the first of the family to settle in this town.
Captain Nathaniel Nowell, Jr., father of Samuel, was an intelligent and well-educated man. He went to sea when quite young, and was Captain of a vessel at the age of twenty. Following a sailor's life until he was sixty years old, he saw much of the world, but had a remarkably fortunate career, meeting with no serious mishap during all those years. The last part of his life was spent on a farm
540
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
near the centre of the town of Derry, where he died in 1843. Five children were born to him and his wife, namely: James, a resident of East Derry, and Samuel, the subject of this sketeh, the only ones living to-day; and Alfred, Frederick, and Betsey, who have passed away.
Samuel Nowell received most of his rudi- mentary education in Distriet Sehool No. 4 of Derry, but mueh of his present knowledge has been since acquired by reading and obser- vation. He has been engaged in farm work since early boyhood, and has acquired his property by assiduous labor and judicious economy.
Mr. Nowell was married September 13, 1861, to Gustie M. Rowlins, who was born in Epping, N. H., a daughter of William and Purney (Dane) Rowlins, both her parents being natives of Haverhill, Mass. Mr. Rowlins, who was a tailor by trade, also man- aged a farm in Epping; and both he and his wife died in that town. Mrs. Nowell has one surviving brother, William, an attorney in San Francisco, Cal. She is a woman of much executive ability and pleasing social qualities, and is identified with the United Order of the Golden Cross, the Pilgrim Fathers, the Patrons of Husbandry, and the Woman's Re- lief Corps. Mr. Nowell votes the Republican ticket. Though not an office-seeker, he served efficiently at one time on the School Committee. He is well known throughout the town, and has the regard and esteem of all its citizens.
OSEPH WEARE BROWN, a highly respected resident of Kensington, and a descendant of one of the first settlers of this town, was born upon the farm where he now resides, September 5, 1826, son of Joseph and Mary Ann (Weare) Brown. Five generations of the family have tilled the soil sueeessfully upon the Brown homestead in Kensington; and they deseended from the original settler in America, John Brown, who emigrated from England, and settled at Hampton in 1638. His son Jacob, who mar- ried Sarah Brookin, was the father of Jona- than Brown, the original owner of the Brown
property. He was a pioneer settler of Ken- sington, and succeeded in establishing a eom- fortable home for himself and his family in the face of many difficulties. Jonathan Brown married Joanna Abba, and his children were: Jonathan, Abba, Joseph, Moses, Joanna, and Abigail. Joseph Brown, Mr. Brown's great- grandfather, was born in Kensington, May 3, 1741, and resided here until his death, June 19, 1817. He continued upon the farm the improvements inaugurated by his father, and further beeame prominent in public affairs, serving as Representative to the General Court and as a Seleetman of the town. He was also a Captain in the Colonial militia. He and his wife, Anna, were the parents of thirteen ehildren; namely, Moses, Jonathan, Joseph, Sewell, Nehemiah, Nathan, Stephen, William, John, Mary, Joanna, Rachel, and Anna.
Stephen Brown, the next in line, was born December . 16, 1778. He succeeded to the possession of the homestead, on which he con- tinued to reside until his death, which took place January 15, 1855. He was an active and industrious farmer. He supported the Whig party in polities, and was a Seleetman of the town. He served with the rank of Cap- tain in the War of 1812. In his religious views he was a Unitarian. He married Susan Bagley, of Salisbury, Mass. ; and she became the mother of the following ehildren: Joseph, born Mareh 9, 1802; Amos, born Mareh II, 1803; Polly, February 18, 1806; Nancy, born in 1807; John, born Deeember 25, 1811; Stephen, born February 4, 1817; Moses and Jonathan, twins, born July 13, 1818; and Susan R., born December 27, 1825. But two of these survive: Moses, who resides in Vineyard Haven, Mass. ; and Stephen, who is a resident of Kensington. The mother died January 22, 1856.
Joseph Brown, father of Joseph Weare Brown, was born at the homestead in Kensing- ton, Mareh 9, 1802. Sueeeeding by inheri- tance to a portion of the aneestral estate, he carried on general farming during the aetive period of his life, and also figured prominently in public affairs. He served as a Seleetman for four years, represented his town in the legislature for one term, and was a Captain in
541
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
the State militia. In politics he acted origi- nally with the Whig party, but later became a Democrat. He died April 18, 1888. His wife, Mary Ann Weare Brown, who was born in Seabrook, August 10, 1807, became the mother of two children: Joseph W., the sub- ject of this sketch; and Stephen A. The last-named, who was born April 12, 1829, married Harriett M. Day, who is no longer living. He died in 1856. Mr. Brown's mother died August 6, 1890. His parents were Congregationalists in their religious affiliations.
The following is a partial record of Mr. Brown's maternal ancestors : Nathaniel Weare, of Newbury, Mass., born in England in 1631, married December 3, 1656, Elizabeth Swayne. They removed to Hampton in 1662. He was Councillor more than twenty years. In 1694-95 he was Chief Justice of the Su- preme Court, and he was Justice of the Peace and Quorum throughout his business life. He died May 13, 1718. His son Nathaniel, born August 29, 1669, married Huldah Hus- sey, November 17, 1692. He was a Deacon, Justice of the Peace eight years, Justice of the Superior Court four years, and Representative two years. Nathaniel's son, John Weare, born November 12, 1696, married Deborah Taylor, December 6, 1720. His son, Deacon Jonathan, born June 28, 1724, married Janu- ary 1, 1747, Sarah Lane, daughter of Deacon Joshua Lanc. Deacon Jonathan died Novem- ber 6, 1790, and Sarah, his wife, June 8, 1784. John Wcarc, son of Deacon Jonathan, born 1757, married Thankful Hubbard, De- cember 14, 1780, and died in 1800. Thank- ful Hubbard was the daughter of Joseph Hub- bard, of Salisbury, Mass., onc of the Com- moncrs. Joseph Hubbard Weare, son of John, born December 6, 1781, married Octo- ber 21, 1804, Betsey Mitchell, daughter of Belah Mitchell, of South Hampton. She was born March 22, 1784, and died May 13, 1831. He died in 1822. Mary Ann, the daughter of Joseph H. and Betsy (Mitchell) Weare, born August 2, 1807, married Joseph Brown, November 25, 1825.
Joseph Weare Brown has resided at the an- cestral homestead all his life, with the excep- tion of three years. His education was ac-
quired in the schools of Kensington and at the academy in Gorham, Me. He taught school for four terms during his early manhood. Aside from that he has given his attention principally to agriculture, though he has prac- tised surveying to some extent, and has settled several estates. He is at the present time one of the largest farmers of this town. He still keeps the old cstate in a high state of cultivation, and at one time he owned two hundred and forty acres of valuable land.
On April 21, 1851, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Sarah Blake Hilliard, who was born in Kensington, March 11, 1828, a daugh- ter of Joseph Chase Hilliard.
Of his wife's ancestry the following is recorded: Emanuel and Elizabeth Hilliard were in Hampton October 10, 1657. Their son Timothy, born 1646, married Apphia Philbrick, December 3, 1674, and died August 17, 1723. Benjamin Hilliard, son of Timo- thy, born July 19, 1681, married April 3, 1706, Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Chase. He died November 18, 1723. His son, Jo- seph Chase Hilliard, was born August 13, I 720. His son, Theophilus Hillard, married a Blake. Their son was Joseph Chasc Hill- iard, who married Sarah Hodgdon; and their daughter was Sarah Blake Brown. Sarah Hodgdon was the daughter of Hanson Hodg- don, a pensioner of the Revolutionary War, in which he saw much service.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Brown have had three children, as follows: Susan L., born January 14, 1852, is the wife of David Web- ster, of Haverhill, Mass .; Sarah Anna, born May 6, 1855, dicd May 27, 1859; and Mary Lizzie, born April 25, 1858, married Charles Edward Fish. Mrs. Fish and her husband reside with her father on the homestead. They have two children : Ralph Brown Fish, born December 3, 1884; and Josephine W. Fish, born March 3, 1888. Mrs. Brown died July 31, 1895. She was a member of the Congregational church.
Elisha Fish, the ancestor of Charles Edward Fish, came to Danby, Vt., in 1778, from Rhode Island. He was one of the carliest settlers in his part of the town. He married Elizabeth Wilbur. Their son, John Fish, married Abi- gail Moulton, and succeeded to the homestead
542
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
of his father. James, the son of John and Abigail Fish, married Eunice V. Read. He was a Mason, Postmaster, and also represented the town in the legislature in 1868. Charles Edward Fish, son of James and Eunice V., was born in Lockport, Ill., April 15, 1856. Timothy Read, father of Eunice V., came to Danby, Vt., in 1826, married Eunice Kelley, and died February 19, 1849. He was Select - man five years, Lister two years, Representative two years, and Justice of the Peace two years.
In politics Mr. Brown is a Democrat, and has served capably as a Selectman for four years, besides filling other town offices. He has also acted as a Justice of the Peace for thirty-six years. He is highly respected and esteemed, both for his personal qualities and as a descendant of one of the first settlers of Kensington; and he occupies an honorable position among the prominent and well-to-do residents of the town.
FORGE E. SEAVEY, an enterpris- ing lumber manufacturer and dealer of Windham, and formerly a member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in Pelham, Hillsborough County, N. H., June 20, 1839, son of Benjamin and Sarah C. (Co- burn) Seavey. Mr. Seavey's great-grandfather is supposed to have been a resident of Hudson, N. H., as his remains were interred in the cemetery at that place. Joseph Seavey, Mr. Seavey's grandfather, was a prominent citizen of Pelham, where he resided until his death.
Benjamin Seavey, father of George E., was born in Pelham. When a young man, he learned the wheelwright's trade, which he fol- lowed for some years. He subsequently en- gaged in the manufacture of lumber, removing from Pelham to Windham, where he con- tinued to carry on a flourishing trade until his death, which took place in 1886. He was an able business man and a worthy, upright citi - zen, who won the confidence of all with whom he had dealings. In politics he acted with the Republican party. His wife, Sarah C. Coburn Seavey, was a native of Tyngsboro, Mass.
George E. Seavey accompanied his parents to Windham when he was twelve years old, and he completed his school education in this
town. At an early age he began to assist his father in the lumber business ; and, upon reach- ing his majority, he engaged in the same busi- ness upon his own account in the eastern part of the town. He later established himself at Windham Depot, where he has been located since. Commencing upon a limited scale, he advanced steadily, enlarging his facilities as his trade increased. He has been identified with the lumber interests of this section for the past thirty years. His ability in business matters has been of service to his fellow-towns- men and to the Republican party, which he actively supports ; and he has discharged the duties of the various offices of public trust which he has been called upon to fill with credit to himself and benefit to his constitu- ents. For three years he was a member of the Board of Selectmen, and he represented the district for one term in the legislature during the session of 1883-84. He is now serving his eighth year as Supervisor.
Mr. Seavey wedded Mary B. Ballou, a native of Derry, N. H. He is connected with St. Mark's Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Derry. A favorite in social circles, he has an exten- sive acquaintance beyond the limits of his own town and county.
J ONATHAN P. SANBORN, a well- known carpenter and farmer of Epping, Rockingham County, N. H., was born in this town, January 6, 1817. His parents were Moses D. and Abigail (Prescott) Sanborn. The father was a native of Dorches- ter, N. H., but came to Nottingham in early youth to learn blacksmithing with his uncle. He subsequently came to Epping, where he took unto himself a wife, and, returning to Dorchester, purchased there a farm. Not long afterward, however, he came back to Ep- ping, and here spent the rest of his days, being prominently identified with farming interests for many years. Mr. Sanborn was a man of quiet tastes, devoted to his home and family. He died on October 11, 1860, at the age of seventy-one years. His wife, who was a native of this town, laid down the burden of life August 2, 1862, being then in her eighti- eth year.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.