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 21

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 21

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(I) The earliest information concerning John Hoyt which has yet been obtained, is that he was one of the original settlers of Salisbury, Massa- chusetts, and also of Amesbury. It seems probable that he was born about 1610 or 1615. Whether he came directly from England or had previously lived in other towns in America is uncertain. His name has not been found among those of passengers of any of the early emigrant ships. John Hoyt was almost the only individual who received all his earlier grants at the "first division" of land in Salisbury. This would seem to indicate that he was one of the first to move into the town (1640). He early re- moved to the west side of the Powow river. His name appears on the original articles of agree- ment between Salisbury and Salisbury New-town, in 1654; and he was one of the seventeen original "comenors" of the new town whose names were recorded March 16. 1655. In the divisions of land he received several lots in the "Great Swamp." "on the River," at the "Lions Mouth," and in other parts of the town. One of these contained two hundred acres, and was styled the great division. "Goodman Hoget" was one of those chosen to lay out land in "Lion's Month," etc., February, 1661. John Hoyt is also frequently mentioned on the old Amesbury records as prudentialman, selectman. constable, juryman, moderator, etc. He was a man of independent thought, and often had his "con- trary desent" entered on the records of the town, in several instances alone, one of them being on the question of his serving as selectman in 1682. He was a sergeant of the Salisbury military company, and is frequently called "Sargent Hoyt." He was also one of "the commissioned and other officers of the Militia in the County of Norfolk," in 1671. The town records of Amesbury state that he died February 28, 1688. He had two wives, both named Frances. He probably married his first wife about 1635. She died February 23, 1643, and he married his second wife in 1643 or 1644. She survived him and was living in 1697. His children were: Fran- ces, John, Thomas, Gregorie, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary, Joseph (died young). Joseph, Marah, Naomi and Dorothie. (An account of Thomas and de- scendants appears in this article. )

(II) John (2), second child and eldest son of Jolın (1) and Frances Hoyt, was born about 1638. and as he always signed his name in full (did not write his initials or make his mark ) he evi- dently had a very good education for a common man in those times. In old deeds, of which he gave and received a large number, he is sometimes called a "planter," and sometimes a "carpenter." He re- ceived his first lot of land ("on the River") in Amesbury, October, 1658, and was admitted as a "townsman," December 10, 1660. On the records of Salisbury, Massachusetts, 9, 2mn, 1667, we find the three following entries: "Jno. Hoyt Jun: tooke ve oath of fidelitie: att ye prsent Court." "Jno. Hoyt jun: upon ye request & choyce of ye New- towne is admitted by this present Court to keep ye Ordinary at ye Newtown of Salisbury, & to sell

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wine & strong waters for ye yeare ensuing." Also, "Jno Hoyt jun: is dismist by this Court from all trainings : until such time : as he shall be cuered of yt infirmity wch doth att prsent disinable him fro trayning." He had a seat assigned him in the meeting house, July 9. 1667. His name frequently appears on the Amesbury records as lot-layer, con- stable, etc. He was imprisoned in Salem "Gaol." March. 1694. for failing to discharge his duty as constable, and in his petition for release he states "That Your Petitioner has Lately mett with great losses, haveing his house plundered by the Indians, and has been visited with much sickness through the holy afflicting hand of god upon him-besides sundry of the persons from whome many of sd arreares be due are both dead & removed out of ye Towne." etc. "The Great and General Court of the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New Eng- land, sitting in Boston." granted his petition and released him from prison. He was killed by the Indians, in Andover, on the road to Haverhill, August 13, 1696. He married, June 23, 1659, Mary Barnes, daughter of William and Rachel Barnes, who survived him and was living in 1704. Their children were ten: William, Elizabeth, John, Mary, Joseph,

Sarah', Rachel, Dorothie, Grace and Robert. ( Sketches of John, Joseph and Robert, and de- scendants form a part of this article.)

(III) William, eldest child of John (2) and Mary ( Barnes) Hoyt, was born September 5. 1660, died July 19, 1728. His grandfather, William William Barnes, for whom he was probably named. deeded him two or three pieces of land. From the Old Norfolk records we learn that he took the oath of allegiance and fidelity December 20, 1677. The town records state that he was chosen tithing man 1693-94 and 1697-98. He probably lived at the "Lion's Mouth." The amount of inventory of his property at his death, 1728, was three hundred and twenty-three pounds. He married, January 12, 1688. Dorothy Colby, daughter of Samuel Colby, Sr .. who survived him and was living in 1740. They had nine children: Elizabeth, Dorothy, Abner, Maria, Susanna, Philip, William, Hopestill and Miriam.

(IV) Abner, third child and oldest son of Wil- liam and Dorothy (Colby) Hoyt, was born in Amesbury, January 25, 1693, and died in Rumford (now Concord) in 1747 or 17448. He was a car- penter. His name is mentioned on the Amesbury records in March, 1729. The next year he sold his house and land immediately north of his father's homestead. "near Lion's Mouth," and immediately after March 9, 1730, removed to "Penny Cook" (now Concord), New Hampshire, being one of the proprietors and earliest settlers of the place. His name is one of ten signed to a request dated Sep- tember 18. 1732, to Benjamin Rolfe, proprietor's clerk, to call a meeting of the proprietors "to con- sider of what is proper to be done concerning build- ing a mill. and to agree with some man or men to do the same and also to raise one hundred pounds for the support of the Rev. Timothy Walker."

Among the garrisons established in 1746 was one around the house of Jonathan Eastman, on the Mill road, and Abner Hoit and Jacob Hoit and their families were assigned to it. At that time the inhabitants were in great fear of an attack from either their French or their Indian enemies or both.

Abner Hoyt owned land on "The Mountains" on what is now East Penacook street, in East Concord. "On one occasion," says Bouton. in his "History of Concord," "his daughter Betsey went out to milk the cows, just at twilight. She was accompanied by a soldier named Roane for a guard. While she

milked the cows Roane sat on the fence; but in- stead of looking out for Indians his eyes were at- tracted toward Betsey. She. observing his gaze, said. 'Roane, you better look the other way, and see if there are any Indians near.' Turning round at that moment, he saw an Indian with tomahawk in hand, creeping slyly toward him. Roane screamed, leaped over the fence, and ran, gun in hand, leaving Betsey to do the best she could for herself. Fortunately, however. Betsey regained the garrison in safety." Abner Hoit married, Novem- ber 14. 1717. Mary Blaisdell, who died about 1747. Their children, of whom the youngest only was born in Concord, were: Jacob, Zeruiah, Betsey, Stephen. Apphia. Philip, and John. Zeruiah was married (intentions published January 27, 1741), to Josepli Farnum (see Farnum III).

(V) John (3), seventh and youngest child of Abner and Mary ( Blaisdell) Hoyt. is said to have been the second male child born in Concord, Sep- tember 10. 1732. He died February, 1804, or 1905. In September. 1754. Captain John Chandler had command of a company of nine men. "in His Ma- jesty's service." for eight days, from September 8 to 16. probably on sconting service. and John Hoyt as one of these was allowed pay to the amount of fif- teen shillings eight pence. The great highway be- tween Plymouth and Portsmouth ran through San- bornton. Canterbury and the north east part of Con- cord. In that section of the town John Hoyt built a log house and kept a tavern that was very cele- brated in that day. The oven in it was so spacious that a boy twelve years old could go in and turn around. All the transportation of merchandise in those days was done by means of horse or ox- power, and many teams were employed. Mr. Hoyt charged half a pistareen, or abont nine cents. for keeping a yoke of oxen over night: one night thirty- three teams, or sixty-six oxen, put up there. The barn was large and well filled with hay, which was chiefly cut from a meadow of natural mowing be- longing to the farm. Mr. Hoyt also raised his own stock-cattle, sheep, etc .. and his table was well sup- plied with fresh meat ; but travellers usually carried their own bread and cheese. This tavern was kept there from 1780 till Mr. Hoyt's death in 1805. John Hoit married. July 2, 1755. Abigail Carter, who when a "little girl saw one Indian or more in the bushes on the Sabbath before the Massacre." She clied May 25, 1824. aged eighty-seven. Her de- scendants were thirteen children, eighty-two grand- children, one hundred and five great-grandchildren. and five of the fifth generation. The thirteen chil- dren were: Marv. Abigail. Abner, Martha, Sarah, John. Susanna. Ezra. Jacob, William. Ruth, Betty, and William 2d.

(VI) Jacob. ninth child and fourth son of John (?) and Abigail (Carter) Hoyt, was born March 28, 1772, in the old tavern. He resided after 1819 on the east side of the Merrimac river, on "the Mountain." as it was called. He was a farmer and bridge-builder, and was very vigorous in mind and body long past his eightieth year. The house he occupied was first erected at "the Fort." by Captain Ebenezer Eastman, before 1748, and afterward taken down and moved to the Mountain. Mr. Hoyt bought the farm of two hundred acres on which the house stood in 1819. and spent the remainder of his life there, making great improvements on his farm, and keeping the old mansion in good repair. The site is one of the most desirable, and furnishes one of the most extensive and beautiful prospects on the east side of the river. Jacob Hoyt married (first). October 27. 1800, Ruth Virgin, and they were the

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parents of one child, Prudence V. Mrs. Hoyt died July 28, 1803, and he married (second) Fanny Tucker, February 7. 1805. Their children were: Sophia, John, Daniel Vose, Rachel. Fanny Jane, Jedediah T., William, Ruth E., and Jacob N., only one living, residing in Illinois.

(VII) John (4), second child and oldest son of Jacob and Fanny (Tucker) Hoyt, was born in East Concord, November 10, 1807. After acquiring a common school education he learned the art of paper making, and went into business for himself at Peterboro, New Hampshire. Afterward he went to Ohio and established himself in business in Cleve- land, and later in Delaware, Ohio. In 1875 he re- turned to New Hampshire and carried on the busi- ness of paper making in Manchester, in company with his son William, under the firm name of John Hoyt & Co. The business was large and profitable, and was kept going until 1886. Mr. Hoyt died in 1891. He was an industrious man, careful and at- tentive to business, depending for success on his in- dustry and the good quality of the articles he made. He married Margaret Morrison Jewett, of Peter- boro, New Hampshire. They were the parents of children : Elizabeth, died 1901, married Elias S. Root, had two children, Margaret, married Arthur B. Claflin, now resides in Beverly, Massachusetts : and Orville, now in Paris; William Jewett. and Fanny H., born August 21, 1843, 110w the wife of John C. Sawyer, of Manchester.

(VIII) William Jewett, only son of John (4) and Margaret Morrison (Jewett) Hoyt, was born in Delaware, Ohio, April 1, 1842. and educated in the public schools of his native town. At the age of eighteen years he entered his father's mill to learn the art of manufacturing paper. The following fif- teen years he devoted to perfecting his knowledge of the business, becoming an accomplished and skilled man in the business. In 1875, on removing to Manchester, New Hampshire, he became a part- ner with his father, and bought out the plant of the Martin Paper Company, and continued the business under the name of John Hoyt & Company for ten years. In 1885 the company was incorporated, John Hoyt becoming president. and William Hoyt secre- tary and treasurer. The health of both father and son failing, the business was sold the following year, and after that time neither was in active business. Mr. Hoyt is a stockholder and director in the Man- chester National Bank, a position for which his wide experience well qualifies him. He is a popu- lar man with his associates, and a member of the Calumet, the Derryfield, and other clubs. Though a strong Republican and interested in politics, he lias never cared to hold office. He is a member of the Franklin Street Church Society. He married, February 3. 1875, Emma A. Cobb. daughter of Ahira and Maria Cobb, born March 25, 1854, died January 3, 1897.

(III) John (3), third child and second son of John (2) and Mary (Barnes) Hoyt, was born March 28, 1663, and died intestate August 24. 1691. In the year 1686 his father deeded him land in Jamaica, now West Amesbury, formerly the prop- erty of John (1) Hoyt. He probably lived in the west part of the town. Among the items mentioned in the inventory of his estate were three acres meadow, £15; "two lots in the Lyon's Mouth," £15; "one Lott in Children's Land," £15; "land at the Countrey pond," £6; "House and Land at Jamaicoe," £60 ;- total. £153. IOS. He married Elizabeth

who survived him and married John Blaisdell. Jan- tarv 6, 1693. She was living in 1744. The children of John and Elizabeth Hoyt were: Lydia, Mary, and Daniel.

(IV) Daniel, third child and only son of John (3) and Elizabeth Hoyt, was born in Jamaica ( West Amesbury), March 2, 1690, and died March 3. 1743. In the settlement of his father's estate, 1720 and 1722, Daniel had the "homestead at Jamaica, on the road to Haverhill." His tombstone is still to be seen in the West Amesbury cemetery. His will was proved March 10, 1743. He married (first) Sarah Rowell, marriage intentions filed December 9, 1710. She died January 2, 1729. and he married (second), July 24, 1729, Elizabeth Baxter, who survived him. The children by the first wife were: Mary, Reuben, Jethro, Eliphalet (died young), Lydia, John, Eli- phalet, and Sarah. (Eliphalet and descendants re- ceive mention in this article).

(V) John (4), sixth child and fourth son of Daniel and Sarah (Rowell) Hoyt, born December 20, 1720, died about 1795; and was called "Deacon" and "Captain." He built and lived in a house still standing in West Amesbury, at a place called the "Highlands." He married (first). November 4, 1745, Meriam Currier. She died October 15, 1787. and he married (second), November 27, 1788, Widow Mary (Kelly) Moulton. The eleven chil- dren by the first wife were: Merriam, Anne, died young ; Daniel, died young; John, Anne, Sarah, Daniel. Joseph. Hannah, Lois, and Molly.

(VI) Joseph, eighth child and fourth son of John and Merriam (Currier) Hoit, was born in WVest Amesbury, June 7, 1762. He was lame. After living some time on his father's place, he removed to New Chester, or Hill. New Hampshire. He married, December 4, 1792. Hannah Rowell, whose name appears as Sally Rowell on the publishment. Their children were: Anna, Hannah, Polly, Joseph, John. Lydia. and Merriam.

(VII) Lydia, sixth child and fourth daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Rowell) Hoyt, was born April 12, 1806, in Amesbury, and married Franklin Moseley, of Concord. (See Moseley ).

(V) Eliphalet Hoyt, fifth son and seventh child of Daniel and Sarah (Rowell) Hoyt, was born June 2, 1723. in West Amesbury. He resided in that parish until 1751, and afterwards lived in the south part of Kingston, New Hampshire, and was hay- ward there in 1769. He married, August 1, 1745, Mary Peaslee, and their children were: Anne, Mary, Eliphalet. Peaslee, Ruth, Lydia, Ebenezer, Simeon, Daniel and James. (Mention of the last named and descendants appears in this article). Eliphalet Hoyt died about the tlose of the year 1794, and his son Simeon was appointed administrator of his estate, January 9, 1795. (A sketch of Simeon appears below ).

(VI) Ebenezer, third son and seventh child of Eliphalet and Mary (Peaslee) Hoyt, was born June 15, 1754, probably in Kingston, and lived for a time in Amesbury or Newburyport, but finally settled in Hampstead, New Hampshire. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He married. July 8, 1779, Saralı Nichols. of Amesbury. Their children were : Mehitable, William H., Daniel, Eliphalet, Joseph and Moses.

(VII) William Howard, eldest son and second child of Ebenezer and Sarah (Nichols) Hoyt. was an early settler in Sandown, New Hampshire, where he lived and died. He married Betsey French, of South Hampton. and their children were: Sarah N .. William, Mehitable, Ebenezer, Rhoda, Betsey and Nathan.

(VIII) Nathan, youngest child of William H. and Betsey (French) Hoyt, was born November 27, 1817, in Sandown. He married Sally Hook, whose father. Moody Hook, kept the old Hook Hotel, a noted tavern in its day. They had four

Publivning :

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children: Francis Moody, now deceased, whose sketch follows. Laura, who married Perley Cur- rier, now deceased ; she has land in Freemont, New Hampshire. Lotta, who died young. Belle, who married Aldine Johnston, and resides in South Dan- ville, New Hampshire. The daughters taught school prior to their marriage.

(IX) Francis Moody. only son of Nathan and Sally (Hook) Hoyt, was born in Danville, New Hampshire, March 29, 1841. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. He early showed mechanical tastes, and later, when fully de- veloped, they aided materially in the success which attended his well-directed efforts, and earned for him a place among representative business men of Manchester. In early life he thoroughly mastered the trade of shoemaker, serving an apprenticeship in the city of Haverhill, Massachusetts, He began the manufacture of children's shoes in Haverhill. but at the time of the union troubles he moved his well-established business to Raymond, New Hamp- shire, in the development of which town he was an active factor. his factory being the chief business therein. Subsequently he sought wider and larger fields for his business carcer, and the city of Man- chester, New Hampshire, offered him inducements by building a factory especially for his business and exempting him from taxes for ten years, and ac- cordingly he moved there in 1889. This factory, situated on the corner of Silver and Lincoln streets, is one of the best in New England, and is thor- oughly equipped with all modern machinery for the manufacture of shoes. Among their manufactures are the Hoyt's Amoskeag, Hoyt's Byron, Hoyt's Slayton and the Hoyt's Custom Shoes. in men's, youths' and little gents', the special shoes being called the Beacon Light shoe. The factory gives em- ployment to about seven hundred hands, thus mak- ing it one of the leading industries of the city. In July, 1902, the firm decided to sell their shoes direct to the retail trade, and this change was watched very closely by the trade. In six months the entire busi- ness had been changed without stopping the factory a single day or reducing the output a single case. In fact they had more orders than they could take care of and were obliged to run the factory over- time. At that time Mr. Hoyt said: "For twenty- five years I have made shoes. commencing from the bottom. I have built my business up to its great volume of to-day by using plenty of sole-leather. It is the best agent I ever had and to-day my hope of making 10,000 pairs of shoes a day, is based on my judgment that merchants who have bought my shoes will recognize and appreciate this. I am going to do my business with progressive merchants and I shall spare no cost to meet their requirements. I have secured thirty of the most intelligent salesmer I could procure to show Hoyt's shoes to the trade I have associated with me in every department the best men I could secure. On these lines I am ex- pecting to win the confidence of the shoe merchants of the entire country." The company, which was known as the F. M. Hoyt Shoe Company, is now in- corporated and conducting an excellent business, which is the direct result of the work of its founder. who was a man of executive ability, meth- odical habits and untiring industry, and who labored late and early in the interests of the business. Upon the incorporation of the company Mrs. Francis M. Hoyt became vice-president and one of the directors, which offices she still holds. Mr. Hoyt was a Dem- ocrat in politics, but he never aspired to or held of- fice, preferring to devote his entire time and at- tention to his business interests. He was a mem-

ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, hay- ing joined the lodge in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Mr. Hoyt married, November 27, 1866, at Haver- hill, Massachusetts, Eliza A. Meserve, born in Free- dom, New Hampshire, April 9, IS39. daughter of Edward O. and Eliza (Sanborn) Meserve. Ed- ward O. Meserve was a farmer and drover; he was the eldest child of Nathaniel Meserve. Francis M. and Eliza A. (Meserve) Hoyt were the parents of three children: Ida and Eva, twins, who died in infancy, and Luella, mentioned at length in the fol- lowing paragraph. Francis M. Hoyt died at Sugar Hill in the mountains where they were stopping for a few days' rest, of heart trouble, August 14, 1903.

(X) Luella. only child of Francis M. and Eliza A. (Meserve) Hoyt, was born at Haverhill, Mass- achusetts, December 12, 1876. She was educated in the schools of her native city and at a school in Boston, Massachusetts, conducted by a Miss Hescy. She married, June 12, 1900, Hovey E. Slayton, son of Edward M. Slayton, and grandson of Hon. Hiram King and Eliza Amanda (Mitchell) Slayton, of Manchester. Hovey E. and Luella (Hoyt) Slayton have four children: Hoyt Carl, born November 26, 1901; Hovey Edward, born November 22, 1902; Vir- ginia, born March 22, 1905; Eleanor, born

September 28, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Slayton and their children reside with Mrs. Francis M. Hoyt, in the Hoyt mansion, 1799 Elm street, Manchester. This home, with its large handsome rooms, is one of the most attractive at the North End, the finest residential quarter of the city. Hiram King Slayton. grandfather of Hovey E. Slayton, was one of the prominent men of Manches- ter. He was born at Calais. Vermont, August 14. 1825, and was a direct descendant of Captain Thomas Slayton, who came from England to the Massachusetts Colony in 1790. He was a delegate to the first national convention in Philadelphia which nominated the first Republican ticket. He was also a delegate to the convention which nomi- nated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. He was in the state legislature of 1871-72, and in the state senate of 1877-78. He was the last senator under the old constitution which gave Manchester but one of the twelve senators. His writings against the Bland bill were copied into all the New York dailies, and his resolutions against the Bland bill were passed both in the Vermont and New Hamp- shire legislatures. He was much interested in pa- triotic societies, and was made vice-president general of the first national convention of the Sons of the American Revolution.

(VI) Simeon, fourth son and eighth child of Eliphalet and Mary (Peaslee) Hoyt. was born March 17, 1757, probably in Kingston, and was the administrator of his father's estate there in 1795. He subsequently settled in that part of Gilmanton which is now Gilford, and died there April 9, 1824. He was a tall and stout man, and was noted for his strength. It is said that he weighed at one time exactly four hundred pounds. In connection with Ebenezer Smith, in 1779, he erected mills at Gilford village, on Gunstock brook. He was one of twelve men from Hawke. now Danville. New Hampshire, in Captain Moses McFarland's company, of Colonel John Nixon's regiment, in camp on Winter Hill, September 30, 1775. The Massachusetts Revolution . ary War Rolls give his residence also as Goffstown. His name and those of others is found on a receipt for advance pay, dated Cambridge, June 10, 1775. He is given as private of the same company and regiment ; muster roll dated Angust 1, 1775. enlisted April 25, 1775, service three months, fourteen days.

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He was married, September 23, 1777, to Miriam Morrill, of Hawke, who died in March. 1851. Their children were: Joseph, James, Susan, Sally. Henry, Miriam, Polly, Simeon and Nathaniel Morrill.

(VII) Susan, eldest daughter and third child of Simeon and Miriam ( Morrill) Hoyt. was born in 1782-83, and became the wife of Joseph Sleeper (see Sleeper, VI).

(VII) Miriam, sixth child and third daughter of Simeon and Miriam ( Morrill) Hoyt, married her cousin, Thomas Hoit. (See Hoit, VII).

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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 21

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