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 115
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Mr. Kent married, January 16. 1862, Adeline D. Burton, daughter of Deacon Azro and Sophia ( Morse) Burton, of Guildhall, Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Kent have had six children, namely: Annie Oakes, born March 10. 1869, wife of Alpha B. For- bush. of Berlin, New Hampshire, and has one daugh- ter, Kathleen, born July 11, 1894. Emily Mann, born July S. 1872, died January 29, 1874. Nellie Burton, born April 9, 1874, wife of Stetson Ward Cushing, of Groveton. and their children are: Richard Kent, born May 15, 1902, and Barbara Burton, born January 20, 1906. Elizabeth May, born May 14, 1877, wife of H. P. Whitcomb, of Lancaster, two children: Edward Kent, born October 23. 1904, and Hubert Palmer, born March 21, 1907. Mabel Mann, born August 2, 1883. Margaret, born March 20, 1888.
The first record we have of the Cos- COSSITT sitt family is towards the beginning of the eighteenth century. They had large possessions in Canada, and from there migrated to the United States. Members of the family at- tained prominence and distinction in various pro- fessions, notably that of the ministry. Others de- voted themselves to mercantile and agricultural pur- snits, and were eminently successful in these.
(1) Rene Cossitt was born in the Place Ven- dome, Paris, France, and was educated at the Uni- versity of Paris. He emigrated to America to look after the possessions of the family in Three Rivers, Canada, and then visited the British colonies. He was brought up in the Roman Catholic faith, but his family had early united with the Protestant Episcopal Church. He removed with his family to Granby, Connecticut, then called Simsbury, and all his chil- dren are named in the records of that place. He did not purchase any land there until 1725, but after it was in his possession he made many improvements upon it, and the place was handed down from father to son for many generations. While visiting the
New England colonies he became acquainted at New Haven with Ruth Porter, from whom he received a promise of marriage providing he would not return to his native country. She was the daughter of Dr. Preserve Porter, of Farmington, Connecticut, and was well educated and refined. She died in 1770. It was shortly after their marriage that they removed to Granby, and their children were: 1. Margaret, born 1718, married Nathaniel Holcomb. 2. Mary, born 1720. married Thomas Melton. 3. Rene, con- cerning whom see forward. 4. Ruth, born 1724, married Andrew Moore. 5. Francois, born 1726, died February 23, 1816, and is buried in Evanby, Connecti- cut, where his two sons who lost their lives while in service during the war of the Revolution are also buried. He was married to Abigail Dibbley. 6. Lydia, born 1728, died June 26, 1821, unmarried. 7. Timothy, born 1731, married 1750, died 1800. 8. John, born 1735. He was one of a commission ap- pointed to erect the First Episcopal Church in Waterbury, Connecticut, and died in Liverpool, Ohio, 1816. He was twice married. 9. Alexander, born July 3, 1736, married 1759, died 1820.
(II) Rene (2), third child and eldest son of Rene (1) and Ruth (Porter) Cossitt, was born September 3. 1722, died 1786. He married Phoebe Hillyer and had children: 1. Phoebe, born Febru- ary 24, 1742. 2. Rene, see forward. 3. Ruth, born June 13, 1747. 4. Ambrose, see forward. 5. Eliza- beth, born October 18, 1751. 6. Asa, born March 22, 1754, married Mary Cole. daughter of Rev. Sam- uel Cole, mentioned hereinafter. 7. Silas, born June 22, 1758. 8. Rosanna, born May 30, 1759.
(III) Rev. Rene (3), second child and eldest son of Rene (2) and Phoebe (Hillyer) Cossitt, was born December 29, 1744. He was a clergyman of the Episcopal Church, and was ordained by the Bishop of London in 1773. Upon his return to this country he officiated in the parish of St. Andrew's. in Sims- bury, Connecticut, where on June 26, 1774, he bap- tized seven children, three of them being his cousins, children of Francois Cossitt. He was a stanch Royalist, and was registered in the official list as the incumbent of Haverhill parish, New Hampshire. After the Revolutionary war he removed to Sydney, Cape Breton, in 1786. and many years later to Yar- mouth. Nova Scotia, where he died in 1815. An ac- count of him is to be found in the centennial cele- bration of Union Church, Claremont, taken from the centenary of the Episcopal Church, West Claremont, 1771-1871. The first record of a parish or vestry meeting in Claremont is as follows :
"The book in which this record was made was first presented to the church in Windsor, November, 1773, being the first vestry meeting held by the Rev. Rene Cossitt after his return from England with Holy Orders, at which Samuel Cole, Esq., was ap- pointed clerk; Captain Benjamin Brooks and Lieu- tenant Benjamin Tyler were chosen wardens ; Daniel Warner. Asa Leet and Ebenezer Rice were chosen vestrymen. Here, then, we have the Church which had been preserved six years, now fully established and prospering under the nurture of a zealous min- ister. The discouragements and privations attending
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the position of a missionary over such an outpost in the wilderness may readily be conceived.
"They had also, first. to pay their rate of tax as did all the people of the town for the support of the congregational order. He was surrounded by con- stantly increasing numbers who were hostile to the faith and worship which he was commissioned to uphold and defend. We find in the records no men- tion at the time of his settlement, of any salary be- yond the sum of thirty pounds sterling allowed him as missionary by the venerable society. But in 1777, at the Easter meeting, it was agreed to give him thirty pounds lawful money for preaching the last year. This proved too heavy a burden, and in 1778 they agreed to give Mr. Cossitt fifteen pounds for the year ensuing. This compelled him to seek other means of living. until January, 1781, when they agreed to give him thirty pounds for a year ending at Christmas, allowing him four Sundays to visit vacant churches. He agreed to throw all other busi- ness aside and apply himself to the ministry. It was not sufficient to maintain him and his family, however. This was his salary until he left. An anecdote is related of him which appears authentic. He had given his note to a prominent man and land- holder in town, to an amount equal to his yearly in- come. He had already paid some installments upon the note, together with the interest, when one day his creditor called and demanded the whole amount. Mr. Cossitt replied it was out of his power to pay any portion of it immediately, but that when his salary became due he would pay a definite sum, which he named. This answer was not satisfactory, and the whole sum was demanded at the time men- tioned. He replied it would be impossible, he must reserve enough to buy bread for his family. 'Unless you promise to pay me then,' said the creditor. 'I shall site you at once and take all you have.' 'You can do that,' he answered ; 'you can attach my furni- ture, my library and my horse, you can confine me in jail. But you will not obtain nearly enough from my effects to satisfy your claims, and you will put it out of my power not only to support myself and those dependent upon me, but to redeem my pledge to you, which, God being my helper, shall certainly be fulfilled in a reasonable time.' But the owner of the note clung to the pound of flesh, as he loudly proclaimed his intention to bring an execution against him that very night. Seeing him inexorable, and blank ruin staring him in the face. the good man went to the door and called back the hard usurer, and said, 'My friend, if you are determined to carry out this purpose you will need your note. When you were here to get the last payment which is endorsed on it, you inadvertently left it on my table. I have kept it safely. Ilere it is, sir.' The note was never sued upon, the minister being allowed his own time in making settlement."
Rev. Rene married, 1779, Thankful Brooks, and had children : I. Rene, born 1780; graduated from Dartmouth, and was controller of the customs at Sydney, Cape Breton ; died 1819. 2. Benjamin. born 1782. 3. George Germain, born 1785: was a magis- trate. and married Anna Wilson, who died childless
in 1862. 4. John, born in 1790, died in 1846, un- married. 5. Sophia, born 1792, died 1826, unmar- ried. 6. Phoebe, born 1795, died 1863. 7. Clemen- tine, born 1797. 8. Mary, born 1800. married James Demancy. 9. Frances, born 1802, was a noted teacher. 10. Emily, born 1805.
(IV) Ambrose, fourth child and second son of Rene (3) and Phoebe (Hillyer) Cossitt, was born September 17, 1749. He removed to Claremont, New Hampshire, in 1767, and prior to attaining his ma- jority established a country store on the present site of the corner of Broad and Chestnut streets, and it is said brought the first barrel of flour into the town. He purchased a farm on which he resided until his death. which occurred July 13, 1809. This farm, which is located at the south end of Broad street, is now (1907) in the possession of his great-grandson, Henry Cossitt, who still resides upon it. Ambrose Cossitt was prominent and influential in the public matters of his time. He served as justice of the peace, was seven times elected selectman, and six times town clerk, from 1792 to 1797. He was suc- ceeded in the store and on the farm by his son, Am- brose Cossitt. Jr., better known as Judge Cossitt. He married, February 1. 1778, Anne Catherine Cole, born in 1754, died August 18, 1828. She was the daughter of Rev. Samuel Cole, of Framingham, Con- necticut, who was a graduate of Yale in 1728. He was one of the early pioneers of Claremont, New Hampshire, and was one of the founders of the Episcopal Church in that place. Ambrose and Anna (Cole) Cossitt had children: 1. Anna Catherine, born May 5. 1779. Married Ayers Perkins and had several children. 2. Mary Alma, born February 26. 1781. Married Joshua Jewitt and had children. 3. Betsy Ruth, born April 21, 1783. 4. Ambrose, Jr., see forward. 5. Samuel Cole, born February 13, 1788. 6. Francois Rene, born April 24, 1790. 7. Phoebe Lavinia, born May 2, 1793. died March 25, 1794. 8. Charlotte Rosanna, born February 4. 1797, died 1825. She married in Tennessee, 1820, Jacob Voorhees, of Morris county, New Jersey.
(V) Ambrose (2), fourth child and eldest son of Ambrose (1) and Anne Catherine (Cole) Cossitt. was born August 28. 1785, on the old homestead where his grandson now resides. He was a man of excellent education, and a leading spirit in all mat- ters of importance in Claremont and Sullivan county, holding very efficiently a number of public offices. He was president of Claremont Bank from its organ- ization in 1848 until it became the Claremont Na- tional Bank in 1864. He was selectman in 1823-24- 33; representative in the New Hampshire legislature, 1824; postmaster from August 30, 1842, to April 17. 1843: and was appointed county justice of Sullivan county January 8, 1833, and served until that office was abolished in 1835. He married, September 29. 1805, Patty Walker, who died September 21. 1849, and he survived her until April 7. 1866. Their chil- dren were: 1. George Ambrose, born May 31. 1807. 2. Lucy Fisher, born February 10, 1800. Married Morris Clarke. 3. John Francois, see forward. 4. Emily Ruth. born November 21, 1813. died April 13. 1897, 'inmarried. 5. Charlotte Lavinia, born March
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10, 1816, died, unmarried, April 13, 1844. Both were residents of Claremont. 6. Harriet Elizabeth, born March 6, 1826.
(V) John Francois, third child and second son of Ambrose (2) and Patty (Walker) Cossitt, was born October 9. ISII. He attended the public schools of Claremont, and his education was com- pleted under the tuition of Rev. Father Barber, a Catholic priest of West Claremont, who had a select school. When he attained his majority he estab- lished himself in the general merchandise business in Groton, Vermont, being associated with his broth- er-in-law, Morris Clarke. This partnership con- tinued until Mr. Cossitt returned to Claremont in 1850, when he purchased the old homestead from his father and erected a new dwelling house upon it. He devoted himself to farming and trading, pur- chased lands in Hubbard township, and rapidly ac- quired a competence. He became identified with the growth and improvement of Claremont, and died in 1882, a highly respected citizen. He was a master in the Order of Free and Accepted Masons. and a charter member of the Grange. He married Sarah Farwell, and they had one child : Henry Ambrose.
(VI) Henry Ambrose, only child of John Fran- cois and Sarah (Farwell) Cossitt, was born on the Cossitt homestead where he now resides, December 21, 1852. He represents the fourth generation who have resided on the land. He obtained his educa- tion in the public schools of Claremont, and for two years was a student in the high school. He is a thrifty farmer and stock dealer, and is one of the progressive and enterprising men of the town. He has added to and improved the old dwelling house in many ways-building piazzas, etc. He is the owner of a number of farms adjoining his own, and also several fine residences on Broad street. He is con- sidered one of the most public-spirited citizens of the town, and is a prime mover in any plan which has for its object the advancement or improvement of the community in which he resides. He takes an especial interest in educational matters, and has given all his children the advantages of the best schools. He married. January 7, 1874, Anne Elizabeth Ells- worth, born at St. Amand, province of Quebec, Can- ada, July 14, 1852, daughter of Edgar Alvah and Catherine (Primmerman) Ellsworth, the former born in New York state, the latter in Canada, and they are both now residing in Canada. The chil- dren of Henry A. and Anne E. (Ellsworthi) Cossitt are: I. Sarah Catherine, born in Claremont, New Hampshire. December 6, 1878. She was graduated from the high school and Mount Holyoke College, and then taught for a short time in the high school in Beverly, New Jersey. She married, October 25, 1904, James Albert McCommons, of Erie, Pennsyl- vania, who is also a college graduate, and they have one child: Catherine Elizabeth, born July 23, 1905. 2. John Henry, born October 8, 1880. He was grad- uated from the Claremont high school, and is now holding an excellent position in Chicago, Illinois. 3. George Ellsworth, born January 21, 1889. He was educated in the public schools of Claremont and, having always had a decided talent for mechanical
work, took up the study of machinery, and now holds a position as machinist with the Sullivan Ma- chinery Company in Claremont.
FELLOWS The early records of New England give honorable association to this name, and the history of New Hamp- shire gives it an early and a worthy place. It furnished the first settler of Andover in this state, and many leading citizens of the state, past and present, have borne the name. The first record now attainable locates its origin in Nottinghamshire. Eng- land. Three brothers and one sister came thence about 1635 and located in different portions of New England. William, the eldest, settled at Ipswich. Massachusetts. Richard, the second, settled in Hart- ford. Connecticut. Elizabeth, the fourth, settled in Boston, her married name being Moriche. The youngest. Grace, married an Allane and lived in Lincolnshire. England.
(I) Samuel Fellows, the third in the above fam- ily of brothers and sisters, was born in England about 1619, and settled at Salisbury, Massachusetts, in 1639. His wife, whose christian name was Ann (surname unknown), died there December 5, 1684. He died December 5, 1729. Record of two of their children is found, namely: Samuel and Hannah.
(II) Samuel (2), son of Samuel (1) and Ann Fellows. was born in 1646 in Salisbury, and made his home in that town, where he subscribed to the oath of allegiance and fidelity in 1677. His name ap- pears among the list of freemen in that town in 1690. He died about the beginning of the year 1730, admin- istration of his estate being granted to his son Thomas on March 2, 1730. He was married June 2, 1681, in Salisbury, to Abigail Barnard, daughter of Thomas and Eleanor Barnard, pioneers of Salisbury. She was born January 20, 1657, in that town, and was admitted to the Salisbury church November 11. 1705. Their children were: Samuel, Thomas, Joseph, Ann, Ebenezer, Hannah, and Eleanor. (Ebenezer and descendants receive extended mention in this article ).
(III) Thomas, second son and child of Samuel (2) and Abigail (Barnard) Fellows, was born Jan- tiary 29. 1686, in Salisbury, and was baptized an adult and owned the covenant November IS. 1705. He was admitted to full membership in the Salisbury church in 1719. He was married in Salisbury, De- cember 10, 1713, to Elizabeth Eastman, probably the second daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Scriven) Eastman. She was born December 1, 1689, and was baptized October 4, 1704. The Salisbury records show the death of two of their children: Elizabeth and Abigail. There were, probably several others, supposed to include Jeremiah.
(IV) Jeremiah Fellows. was a resident of Kensington, New Hampshire, where he was married January 14, 1748. to Ruth Rowe. Their children were: Jeremiah, Benjamin, Ruth, Jonathan, Ephraim, Daniel, and Nathan.
(V) Benjamin, second son and child of Jere- miah and Ruth (Rowe) Fellows, was born January 9, 1753, in Kensington, where he resided probably
معدي
James & fellows
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throughout his life. He was married there Febru- ary 2. 1775, by Rev. Jeremiah Fogg, to Sarah James, and their children included : Benjamin, Daniel, John, and a daughter who married Benjamin Sanborn, all of whom lived .in Deerfield, New Hampshire.
(VI) Benjamin (2), oldest child of Benjamin (1) and Sarah (James) Fellows, was born January 22, 1776, and died in Deerfield, April 24, 1864, aged eighty-eight years and three months. He was a farmer and blacksmith, and for fifty years was a deacon of the Baptist Church. He was married in Deerfield, October 17, 1799. by Timothy Upham, clergyman of Deerfield, to Mary Goodhue, daughter of Robert W. and Mary (Ayer) Goodhue, who was born June 20, 17So, and died in Deerfield, April 8, 1866, aged eighty-five years and ten months. They had seven children: Jeremiah, born November 27, 1800. Gilman, born October 18, 1802. Mary, born January 2, 1805, died young. Mary, born August 19, 1806, died young. Benjamin, born December IS, ISOS. Jonathan G., born July 31, 18II, David, born September 3. 1812.
(VII) Jeremiah, oldest child of Benjamin and Mary (Goodhue) Fellows, was born in Deerfield, November 27, 1800, and died at the home of his son James in Pembroke, December, 1875. He was a farmer most of his life. For several years he was associated with Nathaniel Bacheler, in Manchester, where they had contracts for building a part of one of the large canals. Later he returned to his farm in Deerfield. He was a Democrat, and represented his town in the state legislature. He married first, January 24, 1821, Mary Thompson, who was born in Deerfield, and died August 26, 1833; second, her sis- ter, Saralı Thompson, who was born in Deerfield, in 1802, and died August 28, 1866; and third. a Mrs. Dow. The children by the first wife were: I. David A., born January 25, 1824. 2. Mary Jane, born August 18, 1826, died in infancy. 3. George \V., born October 20, 1828. 4. Thomas J., born Septem- ber 5. 1821. David A. was a "forty-niner," having gone with the first rush of gold seekers to California, and there he died, aged seventy. George W. went to the Pacific coast years ago, and now resides in Port- land. Oregon. Thomas J. was drowned in California, February 27, 1854. The children of the second wife were: Timothy G., born June 20, 1835, died in Can- dia, in 1903; James G., born August 6, 1838, and a daughter who died in infancy.
(VIII) James Gilman, youngest child of Jere- miah and Sarah (Thompson) Fellows, was born in Deerfield. August 6, 1838, and was educated in the common schools of Deerfield, and at the Pembroke Academy. He was not only brought up on a farm, but he liked his home and occupation so well that he assisted his father on the farm four or five years after attaining his majority, and then, being a young man of well-known integrity, he was placed in charge of the town farm of Deerfield, which he car- ried on for four years. He then removed to Buck- street (the village of Allenstown), where he farmed in a small way and supplied the people of the neigh- borhood with meat. About 1870 he settled in Sun- cook and opened a grocery and provision store which
lie successfully conducted for the next dozen years or more. The following two years were spent in recovering his health, which had been shattered by too close attention to business. Since 1875 Mr. Fel- lows has been engaged in the lumber and wood busi- ness, buying and preparing large areas of standing timber for the market. In 1890 he took his son into partnership, and for some time their attention was given exclusively to the cutting and marketing of timber. In 1900 they acquired a half interest in the Smith Box and Lumber Company, of Manchester, which they still have. Subsequently, under the firm name of Fellows & Son, they bought and have since conducted a plant on Valley strect, Manchester, where they manufacture shooks. The two plants employ a considerable number of men and teams, and turn out a large product. Mr. Fellows is a thor- oughly reliable man. In business he has been suc- cessful, and in business circles his name is synono- mous with that most honest. His successful conduct of his business has attracted the attention of the public to him, and he has been called to fill various honorable positions in public life. In politics he is a Republican. He has served as selectman four years, was deputy sheriff under Sheriffs Dodge and Picker- ing six years, was representative in the legislature two years, and has served two terms as senator from District No. 1I, covering a period of eight years. In official life he has displayed the same commendable characteristics as he has in business, and his course has met with the approval of those whose interests it was his duty to serve. He is a member of Jewell Lodge, No. 94, Free and Accepted Masons, of Sun- cook, and of Union Lodge, No. 32, Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows. of Deerfield. .
He married, August 29, 1859, Lizzie M. Worces- ter, who was born in Rochester, November 22, 1839. She is the daughter of George and Mary J. (Rowell) Worcester. of Rochester, who spent their later years in Pembroke and Allenstown. Their children are: Jennie M. and Bert J. Jennie M. married Howard Starkey, superintendent of the Consolidated Ele- vator Company, and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. Bert J., born December 13, 1862, engaged for two years in the hardware business at Suncook, but for twenty years past has been in business with his father. He married. June 2, 1887, Edith Blanche Warren, of Pembroke. daughter of Hugh F. and Lydia A. (Moore) Warren. She was born August 19, 1869, and they have four children : James Warren, born June 21, ISS8; Madeline, born May 18, 1800; Elizabeth Amanda, born July 19, 1893 ; Dorris, born May 1, 1896.
(III) Ebenezer, fourth son and fifth child of Samuel and Abigail (Barnard) Fellows, was born November 10, 1692, in Salisbury, and was inarried November 12, 1718, to Elizabeth Brooks. He died February 5, 1741. His children were: John, Abi- gail, Mary, Ebenezer, Joseph, Benjamin, Ann and Elizabeth.
(IV) Joseph Fellows. the first settler of And- over, New Hampshire, was the third son and fifth child of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Brooks) Fellows, of Salisbury, Massachusetts. He was born there
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January 10, 1729, and there grew to manhood. He participated in the second expedition again Louis- burg, Cape Breton Island, in 1758-9, and an adven- turous spirit was thus developed in him which led to his settlement in the unbroken wilderness of New Hampshire soon after. The original limits of And- over included that part of the present town of Frank- lin lying west of the Pemigewasset river. The proprietors, who lived on the Atlantic coast, found considerable difficulty in securing settlers upon the land comprising the town, owing to its distance from other people and a convenient base of supplies for the pioneer. Mr. Fellows was anxious to secure a home for himself and family, and in 1761 he came to that part of the town now known as Webster Place and brought his family, then including four children, one a babe in arms. He had many hardships to en- dure, but persevered and cleared up a fine farm and becanie one of the leading citizens of the town. Dur- ing that first season the family remained in the midst of civilization, while the husband and father cleared some ground, raised a little corn and built a cabin. To get his corn ground he was obliged to carry it on his back to Penacook. There were no highways into the wilderness where his home was pitched, and the family avas obliged to make the last part of the journey on foot when it came to occupy the pioneer log cabin in the autumn. No neighbors appeared until the following spring, after which the region gradually filled up with people, and a fine New England town was developed. The first white child born in the town was the daughter of Mr. Fellows. frequently referred to in local historical notes as "Peggy." It is said that during those strenuous days Mr. Fellows sat at table with his hat on, giving as a reason for such action the fact that "the bears are so thick that I must be ready to fight, without stopping to look up my hat." On the occa- sion of the birth of the first child in Andover the father went on snowshoes for a neighbor who acted as nurse, and was obliged because of the deep snow to carry the nurse on his back. In that early period the price of a day's labor was a peck of meal. Those who now enjoy the blessings and conveniences of modern life cannot be too grateful to the fathers of New England, who endured every privation and hardship, and toiled incessantly with their hands. to establish civilization in the midst of the forest. Few now realize the condition when the solid forest must first be hewn down in order to clear sufficient space on which to set a house. The first town meeting in Andover was held at the house of Josephi Fellows, June 21, 1773, under the auspices of the town proprietors, and he purchased of them the town grist mill. February 2, 1774. for thirty-five pounds. At the first town meeting held under the State charter, July 13, 1779, Mr. Fellows was made one of the surveyors of highways. Joseph Fellows served under several enlistments as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He enlisted March 6, 1776, in Captain James Os- good's company of Colonel Bedel's regiment, and is found on the list of those in this company who furnished their own guns, his being valued at two pounds two shillings. This command served in the
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