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 31

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 31

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(III) William (3), eldest son and child of Wil- lianı and Huldah (Hood) Peacock, was born in Amherst, December 1301796. He was a farmer and a mechanic, residing for a time in Milford, and also in Brookline, but the greater part of his life was spent in his native town, where he died in 1886, at the advanced age of ninety. He married Fanny Burnham. and of this union there is one son now living. (N. B. By a special act of the legislature the latter has changed his family name from Pea- cock to Sawyer. He changed his name because of confusion in mail).

(IV) Andrew Freeman Sawyer, son of William and Fanny (Burnham) Peacock, was born in Amherst, March II, 1835. He pursued the usual studies taught in the public schools, and when old enough to begin the activities of life he served an appren- ticeship at the blacksmith's trade, which he followed as a journeyman for some years. Abandoning the forge in order to engage in the lumber business he, in due time, became an extensive manufacturer in Amherst, operating three sawmills, two of which were propelled by water-power and the other by steam. He also carried on a general store, and for many years was one of the leading business men in Amherst. In 1890 he established his residence in Nashua, where he engaged in mercantile business and he also entered the real estate business. making a specialty of purchasing farms and selling the lum- ber therefrom on the stump. For the past ten years he has devoted his energies exclusively to real estate. Mr. Sawyer was made an Odd Fellow in Milford, this state, and still affiliates with his mother lodge. In his religious belief he is a Chris- tian Scientist. He married Harriett E. Bartlett, daughter of Lemuel Bartlett, of Londonderry, and the only child of this union was Anna Eveline, who became the wife of Charles H. Mackay, of Bridgton, Maine. and died leaving one child, Fred 1. Mac- Xay.

SAWYER This family of Sawyers is supposed to be of German origin. The date of the arrival of the immigrant ancestor is not known. The name has undergone consider- able change in its orthography in America.

(I) Jabez Sawyer, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts, married Hannah Emerson. of New- bury, Massachusetts, and settled in Bradford, New Hampshire. There he and his wife spent their re- maining years. They had four children: Jerome, Charles P., Frederick T .. , who is the subject of the following sketch, and Harriet M.

(II) Frederick T. Sawyer, son of Jabez and Hannah (Emerson) Sawyer, was born in Bradford, May 13, 1819. and died in Milford, July 14, 1898, aged seventy-nine. He spent his boyhood in Brad- ford, and there started in life on his own account as a clerk in a general store. In 1840 he went to Nashua, and was similarly employed for some years. Ahout 1845 he formed a partnership with a Mr. Roby, and under the firm name of Roby & Sawyer, they engaged in the manufacture of scythes in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, until 1850. In 1854 Mr. Sawyer went to Milford, New Hampshire, where for two years he was employed as station

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agent of the Nashua & Lowell railroad. At the end of that time he and the late William R. Wallace formed the firm of Wallace & Sawyer, dealers in general merchandise, which did a prosperous busi- ness for some years. In 1869 the firm dissolved and Mr. Sawyer was made cashier of the Souhegan National Bank, an office which he filled to the time of his death with efficiency and conscientiousness that was a credit to him and gave satisfaction to bank officials and patrons alike. From the date of . its organization till his death he was a director of the bank. October 19. 1874, the Souhegan National Bank was robbed in the following manner: About one o'clock in the morning six men, masked and heavily armed, effected an entrance into Mr. Saw- years' residence on the east side of the river and bound and gagged him and the members of his fam- ily. Leaving three of their number there, the re- mainder of the robbers took Mr. Sawyer across the river on a footbridge to the bank, and by torture compelled him to open the vault. There the rob- bers seized spoils to the value of one hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars, mostly non-negotiable bonds. They then conveyed Mr. Sawyer to his home, bound him in a chair and fastened it to the floor. The children of the family were locked in closets ; and about three o'clock in the morning the robbers departed. As soon as they were out of hearing Fred W. Sawyer, then a boy of twelve years, broke out of his place 'of confinement, gave the alarm, and then liberated the other members of the family. The burglary made a great sensation, and the selectmen of the town offered a reward of three thousand dollars, and the bank a like sum, for the capture of the criminals, but they were never caught. A few months later the most of the stolen bonds were recovered by the bank on payment of a reward for their return. Mr. Sawyer was elected town treasurer in 1871, and continued to fill that office by consecutive annual elections the remainder of his life, a period of twenty-seven years. He was also notary public for many years. In politics he was a Republican, but his political belief was not of the rancorous type that denies the existence of any merit in other parties. He was elected to the state legislature in 1864, and re-elected in 1865. He was elected moderator in 1873. Mr. Sawyer's long resi- dence in Milford, nearly forty-five years, had given him an intimate acquaintance with the people of that town. He was a man of sterling character, good judgment, familiar with the best business methods, attentive to duty, a firm, true friend and a valued citizen. He married, January 7, 1859, Sarah S. Lovejoy, who was born in Amherst, August 22, 1833, died October, 1905, daughter of William H. and Hannah ( Shedd) Lovejoy. Four children were born to them: Bertha Caroline, Frederick Willis, Chester Ayer, and Gertrude. Bertha C., born June 22, 1860; married, July 28, 1881, David S., son of Jolın and Sophia (Dolbear) Blanpied, and resides in Newton, Massachusetts. Frederick W. is mentioned below. Chester A., born July 16, 1868. is a finisher in a Nashua furniture factory. Gertrude W., born August 4, 1874; married, April 17, 1900, George D)., son of James T. and Florence (Derby) White, of New York City, and resides in Brooklyn, New York.

(III) Frederick Willis Sawyer, second child and eldest son of Frederick T. and Sarah S. (Lovejoy) Sawyer, was born in Milford, April 16, 1862, and educated in the common schools of Milford and at Chauncey Hall School in Boston. His first busi- ness position was as clerk for the Palmer Manu- facturing Company of New York City in 1880-81.

In the latter year he went to Boston and became ex- change clerk in the Blackstone National Bank. where he was employed part of that and the following year. He then returned to Milford and became assistant cashier in the Souhegan National Bank, and served in that capacity until the death of his father in 1898, when he succeeded to his father's place as cashier of the bank and as town treasurer. In private and public business Mr. Sawyer has proved himself a worthy successor of his honored father, and has been called to serve the public in political life. He is a Republican, and in 1901, and again in 1903, he was elected to the state legislature. He was the author of the bill requiring United States flags to be placed on the public school build- ings of New Hampshire. and carried the measure through the house. He had a place on important committees, and was chairman of the committee on banks. In religion he is a Congregationalist, and is a liberal contributor to the support of the church of that denomination in Milford, and its auxiliary societies. He is a Thirty-second Degree Mason; a member of Benevolent Lodge, No. 7, of which he is a pastmaster; of King Solomon Royal Arch Chapter, No. 17, of which he is a past high priest ; of Israel Hunt Council, Royal and Select Masters ; of St. George Commandery, Knights Tem- plar; and of Edward A. Raymond Consistory, ,Thirty-second degree. Mr. Sawyer is (1907) de- puty grand master of New Hampshire. He mar- ried, October 26. 1893, Bertha M., widow of Joseph W. Hyde, and daughter of Aaron S. and Martha A. (McCluer) Wilkins, born in Amherst, December 17, 1863. They have three children: Grace Miriam, born August 10, 1894; Marguerite, February 19, 1899; and Donald Frederick, February 12, 1900.

CURRIER The virility. energy, industry and moral stamina which characterized the pioneers of New England have been distinguishing traits of the family herein noted. They were early in Massachusetts, aided in clearing away the wilderness, in the establishment of religion and education, and in the material development of a nation. One of her ablest Governors was given to New Hampshire by this blood.

(1) Richard Currier, millwright and planter, the emigrant ancestor, was born about 1616 in Eng- land, and was not very remotely removed from an ancestor who took a surname from his occupation. He was among the founders of Salisbury, Massachu- setts, receiving land there in 1641 and 1642. He was a commoner and taxed there in 1650, but soon after removed to Amesbury, where his name heads the list of first commoners in 1654-55. He received lands in 1654, 1658-59. 1662, 1664 and 1668. He was a large landholder and dealer, and many deeds made by him are on record. One was made in 1685 and acknowledged the day of his death. lle was the second town clerk of Amesbury, and was authorized in 1656 to build a saw mill in company with his predecessor, Macy. In 1675 Richard Currier owned a saw mill right. His name heads the list in seating the Amesbury meeting house in 100%, among those to "Set at the tabell." He appears to have been a member of the Salisbury Church ten years later. Evidently he was one of the most prominent men in the new town of Amesbury. Though sixty years old at the time of the Narragansett war, he appears to have been a soldier in that struggle. He died in Amesbury, February 22, 1687. The baptismal name of his first wife was Ann, and they were probably married in England. She was living in 1662, and probably in 1667, as Goodwife Currier was assigned a seat in the Amesbury Church in that year. lle

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was married (second), October 26, 1676, to Joanna Pindor, who had previously been successively the wife of Valentine Rowell and William Sargent. She was a member of the Salisbury Church in 1687, and died in October, 1690. Richard Currier's chil- dren were: Samuel, Hannah and Thomas.

(II) Thomas, youngest son of Richard and Ann Currier, was born March 8, 1646, in Salisbury, and resided in Amesbury, where he received a "township" of land in 1666. He subscribed to the oath of fidelity in 1670, and was town clerk in 1674 and later. He made his will August 25. 1708, and lived more than four years after, dying September 27, 1712, in Amesbury. He was married December 9, 1668, to Mary Osgood, daughter of William and Elizabeth Osgood of Salisbury. In 1697 William Osgood deeded to his daughter, Mary, one-fourth of his saw mill in Salisbury. She died November 2, 1705. Their children were: Hannah, Thomas, Richard, Samuel. Mary, Anne, William, John, Joseph, Benjamin, Ebenezer and Daniel. (Mention of Richard and Joseph and descendants forms part of this article).

(III) Thomas (2), eldest son and second child of Deacon Thomas (I) and Mary (Osgood) Cur- rier, was born November 28, 1671, and died in Ames- bury, Massachusetts, in 1749 or 1750. He was dis- missed from Salisbury to Amesbury Church Febru- ary 8, 1700. He was married, September 19, 1700. to Sarah Barnard, born March 23, 1676-77, daughter of Nathaniel Barnard, of Nantucket.

(IV) Ezekiel, son of Thomas and Sarah (Barnard) Currier, was born in Amesbury, Mass- achusetts, April 29, 1707; married, January 15, 1733, Mehitable Morrill, born March 20, 1709-10, daughter of John and Mary (Stevens) Morrill.

(V) William, son of Ezekiel and Mehitable (Morrill) Currier, was born May 12, 1737, and died in Plymouth, New Hampshire, in 1809 or 1810. Previous to 1760 he settled in Concord, New Hamp- shire, and lived there more than thirty-five years. He was a surveyor of highways, surveyor of lumber, constable and tithingman, and one of the signers in Concord of the association test. He is believed to have been the William Currier who served in Cap- tain Marston's company in the Rhode Island ex- pedition in 1777. In the same company was Bruce Walker, his son-in-law. In 1794 William Currier removed from Concord to Plymouth, and lived in that town until his death. While living in Concord, in 1760, he married Mary Carter, born in South Hampton, New Hampshire, May 6, 1742, daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Fowler) Carter. Their children: Mehitable, who married Bruce Walker, of Concord, and afterward of Hebron, New Hamp- shire. He was a soldier of the Revolution. Daniel, mentioned below. John, born October 4, 1770, and lived in Concord. He married (first) Bridget Chamberlain, and (second) Betsey Cochran. Mary, who married Samuel Abbott, of Concord, and re- moved to Erie county, New York. Henry Morrill, born in Concord, died in Plymouth, March 24, 1815. Ruth. who became the wife of Richard Holden. Nancy, married Joseph Kimball.

(VI) Daniel, second child and eldest son of William and Mary (Carter) Currier, was born in Concord, October 26, 1766, and in 1795 removed to Plymouth, where the remainder of his life was spent. He died June 4, 1818. He is remembered as a substantial citizen, and a successful farmer on what is known as the lower intervale. In 1784 he married (first) Mary Smith, of Bow, New Hamp- shire. She was born August II, 1763. and died September 19, 1832. After the death of his first

wife Mr. Currier married Joanna Pillsbury. All his children were by his first wife, viz .: Abigail, born in Concord, married Noah Chapman. Nathaniel, born in Concord, October 6, 1791. Moses, born in Plym- onth, April 18, 1794. Daniel, born 1797. dicd 1847. William, born March 21, 1800, died March 13, 1897. Samuel, born June 11, 1802, died May 2, 1897. Mary, born August 27. 1805, married Alfred Kelley; died November 30, 1893.

(VII) William, fifth child and fourth son of Daniel and Mary (Smith) Currier, was born in Concord and died in Holderness. He was a farmer in the locality in which his father lived, but later on left Plymouth and took up his residence in Hold- erness, where he lived from 1848 to the time of his death. During the last twenty years of life he was totally blind. On February 22, 1827, William Cur- rier married Sophia Robinson Doyen, born in Pem- broke, New Hampshire, daughter of Nathaniel and Deborah (Smith) Doyen. Their children: William Wallace, born 1828, died about 1844. Edwin Bruce, a farmer now living in New Hampton, New Hamp- shire. Mary Annis, married Alson L. Brown, son of Joseph Brown, and lives at Whitefield, New Hampshire. Ann French, married Frank B. Cox, and died in Laconia, 1897. Maria George, married Alphonzo F. Jones, and lives at Plymouth, New Hampshire.

(VIII) Edwin Bruce, second child and son of William and Sophia Robinson (Doyen) Currier, was born in Plymouth, New Hampshire, September 9, 1830, and was educated in the common schools of that town. Like his ancestors for several genera- tions before him his chief occupation has been that of farming, although he is an extensive cattle raiser and owner of considerable timber land. He re- moved from Plymouth to Ashland about 1857, and in the latter town held the offices of selectman and collector of taxes. He is now a resident of New Hampton. He is a member of the Free Will Bap- tist Church, and in politics is a Republican. Mr. Currier married Mary A. Smith, who was born in New Hampton, 1833. They had children: William Crosby. Jessie Maria, May Etta, John Sherman, Nettie Louise. Alson Brown, Jennie Augusta, Fred Edwin and Alice Maude.

(IX) John Sherman, son of Edwin Bruce and Mary A. (Smith) Currier, was born in Ashland, New Hampshire, July 10, 1864, and was given a good education in the public schools of Ashland, New Hampshire, and the New Hampton Institute. After leaving school he was for eight years book- keeper for a paper mill company, and since then has devoted his attention to farming pursuits. He is a member of the Congregational Church and poli- tically is a strong Prohibitionist. Mr. Currier has been twice married; first, in Tilton, Mav 12, 1888. to May Louise Nichols, daughter of James and Elizabeth Nichols. She died October 27. 1899. He married (second). in Salmonton, New Hampshire, May 20, 1903, Vienna Smith, daughter of Zebulon Smith. She was born in Gilford. New Hampshire, April 12, 1878. They have one child, George Smith, born April 27, 1904.

(III) Richard (2), second son and third child of Thomas and Mary (Osgood) Currier, was born April 12, 1673, in Amesbury, where he was a yeo- man and died February 8, 1748. It is evident that he was a careful and painstaking man, for his will was made nearly four years previous to his death. He was married August 29, 1695. in Salisbury, to Dorothy Barnard, who was born about 1677, daugh- ter of John and Frances (Hoyt) Barnard, and granddaughter of Thomas Barnard, the patriarch

GMCourrier (M.D.

Arthur Currier.

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of that family in Amesbury. She was the only child of her parents in 1718, and no record of other children appears. She survived her husband nearly seventeen years and died March 2, 1765. in her ninety-first year. Her children were: David, Jon- athan, Hannah, John, Dorothy. Richard, Miriam, Aaron. Barnard, Mary and Moses.

(IV) Richard (3), fourth son and sixth child of Richard (2) and Dorothy (Barnard) Currier, was born February 12, 1708. He was married No- vember 25, 1731, in the second Salisbury Church, to Sarah Morrill. and they settled in South Hampton, New Hampshire. Among their children were: James, Ruth, Barnard, John and Richard. ( Barnard and descendants receive mention in this article).

(V) James, son of Richard (3) and Sarah (Morrill) Currier, was a native of Massachusetts, but the date of his birth is not at hand. He went from Newburyport, Massachusetts, to Salisbury, New Hampshire, where he erected the dwelling- house now or formerly occupied by Mrs. Farnum, and he built the first grist-mill in Salisbury, which stood opposite the mills now owned by John Shaw. He afterward removed to Enfield, New Hampshire, where he spent the remainder of his life. The chris- tian name of his first wife, who died November 13, 1802, was Lydia, and he was again married, but neither the christian or the surname of his second wife appears in the records consulted. He was the father of Nathan, Gideon and perhaps others.

(VI) Nathan, son of James Currier, remained on the homestead farm in Salisbury and died No- vember 6, 1844. On May 13, 1802, he married Sally Carter, of Canterbury, New Hampshire, who died in Wilmot, this state, December 7, 1845. The children of this union were: Nathan, who will be again re- ferred to; Thomas W., who resided in Wilmot ; and Sarah E., who became the wife of Jesse Stevens, and died May 24, 1851. Thomas W. Currier, who died in Wilmot, married Elmira Bixby. She sur- vived him and became the wife of Cyrus Hobbs, of Wilmot.

(VII) Nathan (2), eldest child of Nathan (I) and Sally (Carter) Currier, was born in Canter- bury, March 4. 1805. He was a prosperous farmer. His death occurred August 31, 1851. On October 4. 1835, he married Mary Jane Frazier, daughter of Benjamin Frazier, of Salisbury. She became the mother of three children, two of whom are now liv- ing, namely: Mary Jane and George Washington. Mary Jane Currier married John Allen Cross, and has one daughter, Anne, who married Euzeb G. Hood, of Nashua. The mother of these children died in Weare, New Hampshire.

(VIII) Dr. George Washington Currier, only son of Nathan and Mary J. (Frazier) Currier, was born in Wilmot, March 8, 1841. He attended the public schools of Wilmot and Andover Centre, and was graduated from Crosby's Academy, Nashua, in 1864. He studied medicine at the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons in New York City, and after the completion of his professional preparations he lo- cated for practice in Nashua. He was prominently identified with the medical profession of that city for upward of thirty years. or until his retirement some eight years ago, and he is now engaged in the drug business as a member of the firm of Blanchard & Currier. IIe is extensively interested in the financial affairs of the city and is president of the Nashua Trust Company.

Dr. Currier has always evinced an earnest inter- est in public educational affairs, and at one time was a member of the school board. He was made a Mason in 1860 and has been a very active and earn-

est worker in the several bodies continually since. He was at the head of the several local bodies sit- nated at Nashua, and grand high priest in 1879; grand master of the Grand Lodge in 1888-89; grand commander in 1891 ; was made an honorary member of the Supreme Council in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in 1887 ; an active member in 1889 and deputy for New Hampshire in 1891, which office he has held continually since that time. To his wise judgment and earnest endeavors the Rite is largely indebted for its present prosperous and harmonious condition throughout the state. He was the first to advocate the building of a Masonic Temple at Nashua, and spent nearly a year of his time in or- ganizing a corporation and building the beautiful Masonic Temple at the corner of Main and Pearl streets, which has been the home of the Masonic bodies since 1890. Two years later, with two others, he erected the building which bears his name im- mediately adjoining the Masonic Temple. Both these buildings have added greatly to the beauty of the city and have proved to be a profitable invest- ment for the owners. Although he has retired from active business, he is still treasurer and manager of both these building associations, president of the Nashua Trust Company. a trustee of the Masonic Home at Manchester, and was appointed on the board of trustees of the New Hampshire Agricul- tural College at Durham by Governor McLane in 1906. His first wife, who was before marriage Abby S. Walker, died in ISS8, and he subsequently mar- ried Emily V. Walsh.

(V) Barnard, second son and third child of Richard and Sarah ( Morrill) Currier, was born Jan- uary 23, 1752, in South Hampton, and seems to have passed his life in that town. His wife's name was Abigail, but the vital records of New Hampshire do not show her maiden name. They do give the births of the following children : Sarah, Ephraim, Molly, Barnard and William.

(VI) William, youngest child of Barnard and Abigail Currier. was born November 1, 1785, in South Hampton, and settled in Danville, New Hampshire. He married Sally Haynes, of North- field, New Hampshire, who was born 1790 and died April 18, 1856. He died August 6, 1854, at the age of sixty-nine years. A record of five of their chil- dren has been found, namely: Stephen H., Samuel M., Thomas, Charles H. and John.

(VII) Stephen H., eldest child of William and Sally ( Haynes) Currier, was born in Danville, New Hampshire, and engaged for some years in trading with the Indians. For over half a century he lived at Penacook, being a portion of the time on the Concord side. No mention of him appears in the vital records of the state. He married Clarisa El- liott, of Northfield, New Hampshire, who lived to a great age.

(VIII) John Albert, son of Stephen H. and Clarisa (Elliott) Currier, was born July 14, 1848, and resided for many years in Northfield, New Hampshire. whence he removed in 1870, to Manches- ter, and died there February 1, 1896. He was mar- ried in Penacook, to Mary Elizabeth Ludlow; she had one son, Arthur. Mrs. Currier is still living, residing in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

(IX) Arthur, only child of John A. and May E. (Ludlow) Currier, was born August 13, 1868, in Northfield, New Hampshire, and was but two years old when his parents settled in Manchester. He at- tended the public schools of that city, and on attain- ing his majority apprenticed himself to learn the machinist's trade with the Amoskeag Corporation. At the completion of his term of three years, he

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continued some time as a journeyman with the same employers. On September 11, 1895, he en- tered the service of the Dodge Needle Company as machinist, and by his efficient activity and faithful- ness quickly earned promotion. In 1900 lie was miade superintendent of the factory, and now has about forty men- under his supervision. He is a thorough mechanic and nothing is so small as to escape his eye, not even a needle. Mr. Currier takes an intelligent interest in the progress of events and endeavors to perform his share of the duties of a citizen. That his nature is a generous one, is denoted by the fact that he has allied himself with the great Masonic fraternity, Washington Lodge, No. 61, of Manchester, having been raised to the third degree, June 13. 1902. He was married, De- cember 30, 1896, to Mabel D. Shaw, daughter of the late Arthur Shaw and his wife, Ella ( Kelly) Shaw. Mr. and Mrs. Currier have had three children : Lillian, Olive May, and Arthur S. The first died in in- fancy. The others were born respectively in 1902 and 1905.

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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 31

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