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 20

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

USA > New Hampshire > Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. I > Part 20

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Edmund W Baldwin.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

4, 1822, married Jonah Grover, 1804 or 1805; Marcia, born February 17, 1784, died at Jamestown; New York, at an advanced age, married Ahaz French; Elisha, born September 19, 1788, died August 26, 1875; and Charlotte, (MIrs. Enos Alger), born October 8, 1892, died June, 1877. Jabez Baldwin adhered to the faith of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

(VI) Elisha Baldwin, youngest son of Jabez and Judith ( Brace) Baldwin, was born in Stratford, Sep- tember 19, 1788, and died there August 26, 1875, aged eighty-seven years. He was educated in the public schools and those of private tutors, and remained as he had grown up, a farmer. He was a Federalist in politics, and filled with fidelity places to which he was elected. He was a Baptist in religious faith, and prominent in the church at Stratford, of which lie was one of the original members. He married Huldah, daughter of Edmund and Huldah (Loth- rop) Alger, of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, March 10, 1818. She was a woman of courageous spirit, indomitable energy and excellent executive ability, and acquired an education which, thoughi limited as compared with the present standard, was considered fine in those days. Hospitable and untir- ing in her ministrations to the poor and sick, she was the "Lady Bountiful," and for many years, the beloved physician of the community, a woman who would have been prominent in any place and at any time. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin were among the charter members of the Baptist Church and for years defrayed a great portion of the expenses for sustaining preaching, making many sacrifices in order to build the churches at North Stratford. The children of Elisha and Huldah ( Alger) Baldwin were : Elisha Alger, born December 30, 1818, died May, 1895: William Lothrop, born May 18, 1820, died December 27, 1878; John Brace, born Novem- ber 12, 1822, died September 17, 1842; Edmund Willis, born March 24, 1825, died June 12, 1847; Jedidiah Miller, born March 9, 1827, died February 2, 1887; Lucinda Ammette ( Mrs. Jabez Alger ), born November 14, 1829, died August 14, 1892; and Lucia Annie (Mrs. R. R. Thompson), born February 27, 1833.

(VII) William Lothrop, second son and child of Elisha and Huldah (Alger) Baldwin, was born on the ancestral acres in Stratford, May 18, 1820. He attended the common schools and Lancaster Academy, and acquired a good education. While still a youth he developed a strong love for agri- culture and a capacity as a judge of cattle ; but over-work impaired his health, and before he at- tained his majority he was compelled to .abandon farming. For several years he taught successfully in New Hampshire, Rhode Island and the province of Quebec, and also gave lessons in vocal music. About 1848 he returned to Stratford, and in connec- tion with his brother, Elisha A., he engaged in building mills. This was before railroads had been run into the upper country, and the machinery had to be hauled from Portland, Maine, a distance of one hundred and thirty miles. On Mill brook they constructed a saw and grist mill; then added a turning lathe, shingle and clapboard machines, and manufactured machinery. Thus the Baldwins' mill was the first of modern pattern in that section. They afterward built many more mills in the Upper Coos country. In 1849 the Baldwin Brothers built a mill on the Vermont side of the Connecticut, at the mouth of the Nulhegan river, which was destroyed by fire, February 20, 1885. It stood on the site 110w occupied by the immense mills of the Nulhegan Lumber Company. William L. Baldwin removed to Bloomfield, and resided there fourteen years.

The first lumber this firin sawed there was rafted in May, 1851, and was the first sent to Massachusetts through the canal at Fifteen-mile falls, and also was the first lumber rafted for transportation down the Upper Connecticut. The flourishing village of North Stratford grew up around the site of this industry, which gave employment to many persons. Under a charter granted July, 1850, the Baldwin Bridge Company erected the toll-bridge across the Connecticut at Stratford, which was opened for travel in June, 1852. Mr. Baldwin's identification with the development of business in Stratford was highly important in many ways, as the above state- ments show. From 1865 to the date of his death, December 27, 1878, his business life was in Strat- ford, and comprised lumbering, merchandising and farming. He was a man of warm heart and gener- ous impulses, and in order that his employes might have work and not suffer he operated his mill at a loss from 1856 to 1858, during a period of great depression consequent upon scarcity of money, and the worthlessness of the paper cur- rency of that day. In politics he was a staunch Republican, and served as selectman and justice of the peace in Bloomfield, and was the first postmaster at North Stratford. He gave evidence of his acumen as a business man by buying timber lands before most men had any conception of the value they would soon attain. He was one of the original thirteen charter members of the Baptist Church in Stratford, and was a markedly consistent and prac- tical Christian. He married, February 8, 1850, Maria Jane Holmes, born in Colebrook, New Hamp- shire, December 17. 1822, daughter of John and Saralı (Towne) Holmes, of Colebrook. (See Holmes elsewhere in this work). She died June 12, 1904, aged eighty-two years. She was a woman of strong individuality and great executive ability. Her en- ergy and capability were powerful factors in the household, and to her husband she was an efficient helpmeet, a wise councillor and an intelligent com- panion. The six children born of this union were : Edmund William, John Holmes, Mary Annette, Mira Agnes, Isabella Sarah and Jane Maria. All except the eldest of these died young.

(VIII) Edmund William, eldest and only sur- viving child of William and Martha' J. ( Holmes) Baldwin, was born in Stratford, May 7, 1852, and was educated in the common schools and at Kimball Academy, and as he grew up became familiar with the different lines of business in which his father was engaged. After leaving school he taught in Colebrook Academy, and then went to Manchester. Delaware county, Iowa, and was in the grain and stock, lumber and coal business thirteen years, a part of the time on a salary and a part of the time for himself. In 1884 he returned to New Hampshire and settled at North Stratford, and has carried on farming and also dealt in farm machinery. He is a member of Stratford Lodge, No. 30, Knights of Pythias, and Coos Grange, No. 256, Patrons of Hus- bandry, of Stratford. He married, August 14, 1878. at Rock Island, Illinois, Flora R. Madison, who was born May 16, 1852, at Elizabeth, Illinois, and edu- cated in the public schools of Galena, Illinois, and Dubuque, Jowa, daughter of John R. and Susanna ( Smith) Madison, of Dubuque, Iowa. John R. Madison was captain of Company I. Nineteenth Regiment, Third Infantry, during the Civil war, and was a great-grandson of Colonel James Madison, of Virginia, who, being unable to go into the field, was commissioned colonel of militia for home de- fense and chairman of the first committee of safety of Orange county, Virginia, during the Revolution.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin : Mary A., born July II, 1879, died August 28, 1881; Flora E., born August 5, 1881, died April 2, 1885; Berta Edith, born May 6, 1884; Jeanette Holmes, born September 28, 1886; and William Lothrop, born November 19, 1889. All these chil- dren were born at North Stratford, with the excep- tion of Berta Edith, who was born at Newell, Iowa. William Lothrop is a student at Dartmouth College, and Berta Edith and Jeanette Holmes are students at the Brown University.

(Second Family.)

BALDWIN There are various reasons for sup- posing that the Baldwins are of Norman origin, and one of them is the fact that the first earl of Devonshire, who received his title from William the Conqueror, bore that name. The name was prominently identified with the ancient nobility of France, and antedates the period of the first crusade, during which Bald- win (1058-III8) was made king of Jerusalem.

(I) Henry Baldwin, the emigrant ancestor of the family now being considered, was of Devon- shire, and arrived at Charlestown, Massachusetts, prior to 1640, in which year he signed the order for the settlement of Woburn. Inr 1652 he was admitted a freeman in Woburn; was a selectman there in 1681; and a deacon of the First Church from 1686 until his death, which occurred February 14, 1697-98. He resided at New Bridge in North Woburn. November 1, 1649, he married Phebe Richardson, daughter of Ezekiel and Susanna Richardson, who were also among the original set- tlers of Woburn. Phebe was baptized in Boston June 3, 1632, but may have been born in England. She became the mother of eleven children: Su- sanna (died young), Susanna, Phebe, John, David, Timothy, Mary, Henry, Abigail, Ruth and Benja- min. The mother died September 13, 1710.

(II) Henry (2), fourth son and eighth child of Henry (I) and Phebe (Richardson) Baldwin, was born in Woburn, September 15, 1664, and died there January 17; 1739. He was married May 4, 1692-93, to Abigail Fiske, daughter of David and Abigail (Seaborn) Fiske, who subsequently settled in Lexington, Massachusetts. Abigail Baldwin, who survived her husband, was the inother of Henry, David, Isaac, Abigail (who died young), James (who died young), Abigail, James and Samuel.

(III) James, fifth son and seventh child of Henry and Abigail (Fiske) Baldwin, was born in Woburn, October 19, 1710. He resided 011 the family homestead all his life, which terminated January 28, 1791. May 29, 1739, he married Ruth Richardson, who was born in Woburn, June 17, 1713, daughter of Joseph Richardson, granddaughter of Samuel Richardson and great-granddaughter of Samuel Richardson, the latter a brother of Ezekiel Richardson, previously referred to (see Richardson, I). She was the mother of Cyrus, Ruel (died young), Loammi and Ruel. Ruth survived her hus- band but a short time, her death having occurred May 13, 1791, in her seventy-eighth year.

(IV) Ruel, youngest son and child of James and Ruth (Richardson ) Baldwin, was born in Wo- burn, June 30, 1747. He spent his entire life in his native town, but the date of his death does not appear in the records at hand. October 4, 1769, he married Keziah Wyman, who bore him four children: Ruel, Ruth, James and Josiah. Keziah married for her second husband a Mr. Johnson, by whom she had six children.

(V) Lieutenant James, second son and third child of Ruel and Keziah (Wyman) Baldwin, was

born in Woburn, October 7, 1773. He resided for some time in Dunstable, Massachusetts, from whence he removed to Westford, same state, and he died November 24, 1827. He was a prominent church- man and a deacon. His marriage took place in De- cember, 1798, to Priscilla Keyes, who was born in Westford, December 26, 1772, daughter of Issachar Keyes. She died August 11, 1849. Their children were: Stephen Keyes, Josiah, Josephus, who were born in Dunstable; Eliza.

(VI) James, fifth son and eighth child of James and Priscilla (Keyes) Baldwin, was born in Westford, May 13, 1812. In early manhood he entered the employ of his brothers Josephus and Edwin, who were engaged in the manufacture of textile mill appliances in Nashua, such as spools, bobbins, shuttles, etc., and remained there until about the year 1859, when he established the present James Baldwin Bobbin and Shuttle Company of Manchester under the name of James Baldwin & Company, and engaged in the manufacture of bob- bins, spools and shuttles. This business has ex- panded into large proportions, becoming one of the most important industrial enterprises in that city. When the U. S. Bobbin and Shuttle Company was organized, this company was among those which constituted the combination, and it is now known as the James Baldwin Company Division of that con- cern. Mr. Baldwin died in Manchester, May 22, 1893. He was one of the most able and successful business men of his day, and is justly entitled to an honorable place among the pioneer manufacturers of that city, whose foresight and perseverance made possible the development and present magnitude of its industrial activities. Like his ancestors he par- ticipated conspicuously in religious affairs and was a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Nashua, and later of the First Baptist Church in Manchester. His first wife, whom he married October 12, 1834, was Harriet Robbins, of New Ipswich, New Hamp- shire; she died March 1, 1835. He married (sec- ond), April 9, 1840, Mary Buttrick, of Concord, Massachusetts, who died July 30, 1857, aged forty years. He married (third), August 4, 1858, Julia Ann Hunton, of Nashua, who died October 28, 1877. He married (fourth), February 22, 1880, Mrs. Eliza W. Brown, of Manchester. His first wife died childless. The children of his second union are: I. James Francis, who will be again referred to. 2. Mary Emily, born July 25, 1846, and is now the wife of John C. Littlefield, of Manchester (see Littlefield, VIII). 3. Harriet Ella, born July 16. 1848, deceased; she married Ludger Vincent and had two children. 4. Isadora, born December 15. 1851, died January 2, 1852. 5. Luther Chase, born July 17, 1854, is now general superintendent of the U. S. Bobbin and Shuttle Company's general office in Providence, Rhode Island. He married Julia A. Dearborn. 6. Charles Henry, born June 10, 1857, died September 9, 1857. The children of his third union are : Frederick Charles, born May 11, 1859, graduated from Dartmouth College, and is now principal of the Foster School, Somerville, Massa- chusetts. David C., born December 25, 1870, died young.

(VII) James Francis, eldest son and child of James and Mary (Buttrick) Baldwin, was born in Nashua, July 12, 1843. He was educated in the Nashua public schools, and at an early age began to assist his father, under whose direction he rapidly acquired a good knowledge of the business. He has been actively connected with the Bobbin and Shuttle industry in Manchester from its estab- lishment to the present time, and when it was in-

James Baldwin

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

corporated (about 1887) with the elder Baldwin as president, he assumed the responsible position of treasurer and manager. These arduous duties he performed with such superior ability as to greatly enhance the importance and prestige of the enter- prise, and at the consummation of the merger ( 1898) already noted, he became superintendent of the U. S. Bobbin and Shuttle Company (James Baldwin Company Division). In that responsible capacity he is pursuing the same liberal and progressive policy as that which characterized his efforts under the old regime, and the Manchester plant, which employs an average force of three hundred and fifty skilled workmen, is well abreast of its associate concerns as regards the quality and quantity of its output.

In addition to his industrial activity Mr. Bald- win is prominently identified with the financial inter- ests of the city, and is a director of the First Na- tional Bank. He has rendered his share of service in a public capacity as a member of the common council, the board of aldermen and the state legis- lature; in politics he is a Republican. In the Ma- sonic order he has taken thirty-two degrees, being affiliated with Lafayette (Blue) Lodge; Mount Horeb Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Adoniram Council, Royal and Select Masters; Trinity Com- mandery, Knights Templar; Becktaslı Temple, An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and Edward A. Raymond Consistory. He is also a leading member and past officer of both the lodge and encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. For many years he has been a member of the First Baptist Church.

Mr. Baldwin married (first), July 12, 1864, Mary Elizabeth Palmer, daughter of Gilman Palmer, of Chicago, Illinois. She died in 1900. He married (second) Isabella McPherson, who was superin- tendent of the Elliot Hospital while he was a trustee of that institution. Of his first union there is one daughter, Stella Mabel Baldwin, who married Mitchell Ward, of Manchester, receiving teller in the Manchester Savings Bank.

HERSEY The first of this name of whom there is any record is Hughe de Hersey, who was governor of Frau. Nor- mandy, in 1204. There is mention of a certain Sir Malvicius de Hercy in the year 1210. The family appears to have come originally from Flanders. Edward I of England held another Hugh de Hercy, that is, took his rents during his minority. Sir Malvicius de Hercy married Theophania, daughter of Gilbert de Arches, Baron of Grove, and from him have descended the family of Hercy of Grove, one of the first families in the county of Nottingham. Branches of this family appear to have settled in several of the counties of England; one in Oxford- shire, another in Berks, and so on. Persons of this name were in Sussex, England, from 1376 to 1482, possessing an estate seven miles in circumference. The Herseys of Grove show direct descent in the male line down to 1570 only. but branches of the family in Oxfordshire and Berkshire continue as late as 1794. The name in early records is written Hersce, Harsie and Hearsey.

(I) William Hersey is said to have been the son of Nathaniel Hercy, who died in Reading, Berkshire county, England, in 1629, and whose chil- dren were: William, born 1596, and Thomas, 1599. From William sprang all the Herseys of Hingham, Massachusetts, and many more. He came to New England in 1635. and early in the autumn of that year located in Hingham with others who were pas- sengers on the ship he came in. July 3. 1636, he

had a house lot of five acres granted to him, on what is now South, nearly opposite West street. At the time of the trouble about the election of officers for the train band 1644-1645, William Hersey was assessed a lieavy fine for supporting the views of Rev. Peter Hobart and his friends; and the family rate towards the erection of the new meeting house was the largest but one upon the list. In deeds he is described as a "husbandman." He was made freeman in March, 1638, and selectman, 1642, 1647, and 1650; and was a member of the artillery com- pany in 1652. He died March 22, 1658. His will, dated March 9, 1658, was proved April 29. following. The appraisement of his property in the inventory thereof was four hundred nine pounds, thirteen shill- ings, sixpence. The christian name of his wife was Elizabeth. She died in Hingham, October 8, 1671. The children of William, probably born in England, were : Gregory, Prudence, Nathaniel, William, Frances and Elizabeth, the three last named accom- panying him to America. Three others, Judith, John and James, were born in Hingham.

(II) William (2), eldest son of William (I) and Elizabeth Hersey, was born in England and came to New England with his parents in 1635. He was made a freeman in 1672; was constable in 1661 ; and served as selectman in 1678-82-90. He dicd September 28, 1691. His will made in 1689 was proved January 27, 1692. He married (first), about 1656 or 1657, Rebecca Chubbuck, who was born in Hingham, in April, 1641, and died June 1, 1686, aged forty-five years. She was the daughter of Thomas and Alice Chubbuck. The christian name of his second wife, as appears by his will, was Ruhamah. There is no entry of this marriage, how- ever, nor of ner death, on the Hingham records. The twelve children, all by wife Rebecca, were: William. John, James, Rebecca. Deborah, Hannah, Elizabeth. Ruth, Mary, Joshua, Judith (died young), and Judith.

(III) James, third son and child of William (2) and Rebecca (Chubbuck) Hersey, was born in Hingham, December 2, 1661. and died May 23, 1743, aged eighty-one years. He was a farmer and re- sided on South street, in West Hingham. He was a man of good parts, and was constable in 1694: selectmian 1719 and 1721, and represented the town in the general court in 1734-35-36. In his will made May 27, 1739, mention is made of land purchased of his brother William and of land owned in Abing- ton; and bequeathes all his property to his wife Susanna, including "my negroes, to her and her heirs forever." He married his wife Susanna, whose surname does not appear, at a place and date both of which are missing. She died in Hingham, June 10. 1762. in the eighty-fourth year of her age. But two children are credited to them in the "His- tory of Hingham": Susanna, who died at sixteen years of age ; and James, who died at eight years of age. A manuscript history of the family says : "James had three sons : James, John and Peter."

(IV) James (2). a grandson of William (2), and perhaps a son of James Hersey (1), moved from Hingham to that part of Exeter which is now New Market, having first explored the country for the purpose of cutting ash and oak timber. as he was a carpenter or cooper. He afterwards took up land, and settled there. in company with the father or grandfather of Nathaniel Burley.

(V) James (3). "an immediate descendant" of the preceding, was of New Market. He met with an accident which resulted in the loss of a leg and afterwards of his property, so that he was unable to complete the education of his sons.

(VI) Jonathan, second son and child of James

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

(3) and Jemima (Burley) Hersey, was born, says the family records, December 22, 1746. He and his sister, Jemima, who married John Piper, settled in Wolfboro: the other brothers and sisters set- tled in Sanbornton. Jonathan Hersey, in 1771, re- ceived of Daniel Pierce, of Portsmouth, a deed of one hundred and forty acres of land, a portion of the "Great Lot" which contained one thousand acres. This farm adjoined Tuftonboro. Jonathan was a stirring man, and held several minor offices. He speculated considerably in land and eventually be- came a large landholder, and several of his sons followed his example and settled in Tuftonboro and Wolfboro. Jonathan married, February 15, 1772, Mary Wiggin, and they had eight sons and two daughters: Samuel W., James, William, John. Elijah, Polly, Jonathan, Nabby, Jacob and

(VII) John B., son of Jonathan and Mary ( Wiggin) Hersey, was born in Wolfboro, October 18, 1779, and died August 21. 1853, aged seventy- four years. He followed the traditions of his fathers and cultivated the soil. and was a well-to-do and intelligent citizen. He married, March 14, 1813, Ruth Nudd. who was born in Greenland, New Hampshire, February 14, 1788, and died May 2, 1847. They had seven children: Mary. John, William H., James P., Erastus, Hannah, and Samuel N., whose sketch follows.

(VIII) Samuel Nudd, seventh and youngest child of John B. and Ruth (Nudd) Hersey, was born in Wolfboro, June II. 1831, and died April 27. 1907, aged seventy six years. He was a mer- chant and manufacturer of clothing, starting in business in 1857. at Diamond Corner, and in 1873 removing to Wolfboro, where he continued until 1895, when he turned his attention to the excellent farm which he owned at Wolfboro. He was edu- cated at Wolfboro and Tuftonboro Academies, and during his life continued to keep in touch with the world's progress by reading. He also devoted his attention to the genealogy of his family and made some progress in discovering its carly history. He was a member of Lake Council, No. 247, Royal Arcanum, and his funeral was conducted by that order. He married. May 9. 1857. Susan E. Copp, by whom he had one son. Omah, who died young. He married (second). June 6. 1877. Catherine M. Laighton. of Portsmouth, the daughter of John and Lucy (Trundy) Laighton. The children of the sec- ond marriage were: Parry T. and Ralph Samuel. who died June 25, 1902, aged nineteen years, eleven months.

(IX) Parry Trundy, son of Samuel N. and Catherine M1. ( Laighton) Hersey, was born in Wolf- boro, January 16, 1880, and was educated at the Brewster Free Academy, and at Nichols Academy. Dudley, Massachusetts. He worked five years at the printer's trade, and has been in that business for himself since August, 1906. He is a member of Morning Star Lodge. No. 17. Free and Accepted Masons ; and of Fidelity Lodge, No. 71. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Myrtle Rebekah Lodge, No. 48. He married, September 27, 1800 Edna E. Sanborn, who was born in Wakefield, February 9, 1880, daughter of John I. and Ella C. (Grant) San- borns They have two children: Louise Elizabeth and Donald Samuel.

HOYT In the year 1871 the number of Hovts in the United States who had descended from John and Simon Hoyt was esti- mated at about nine thousand. That number has probably since doubled. The name has many varia- tions, all coming from the spelling Hoit, or Hoyt. Some now use the spelling Hoitt. The members

of the Hoyt family in this country generally belong to the middle classes, but there are among them men of wealth. Many are in the learned profes- sions, divinity, law and medicine, the latter en- gaging much the larger number. Military titles are common: there are many captains, majors and colonels, and in New Hampshire there were at one time three generals named Hoit. In the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars the family took an active part. A large number served as soldiers, and many thereby lost their lives.

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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. I, Part 20

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

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