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 81

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 81

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to the Massachusetts Mechanic Association, August 7, 1816, consequent upon the acquirement of his trade. is still preserved by his granddaughter. But young Brooks had no desire to follow the hatter's vocation ; and, upon the completion of his training, his eager desire to see and know led him to make an extensive tour of the country. He visited all of the nineteen states in the Union at that time, 1816, spent the winter in Kentucky with his uncle, Abijah Brooks, who had settled near Frankfort, and went down the Mississippi to New Orleans. This year of travel, unusual in those days, gave Mr. Brooks a breadth of view and a knowledge of the South, which most of his Northern associates never at- tained. For some years after his return to Charles- town, he was employed as accountant in Nathan Adam's hide store. In July, 1835, he moved with his family to Warner, New Hampshire, where he bought a farm which he named Waterville, where by means of modest patrimony he was enabled to lead the independent life suited to his tastes. In the fall of 1857 Mr. and Mrs. Brooks moved to Concord, New Hampshire, to make their home with their only surviving child, Mrs. John Abbott. Mr. Brooks was a man of the highest ethical standards, of liberal theological views, and with ideas far in advance of his time. He possessed a cheerful tem- perament and a large heart, and was very fond of the game of whist. During most of his life he kept a diary, which bears witness to his methodic habits and fine penmanship .. In politics a staunch Dem- ocrat of the Jeffersonian type, he would never be hampered by office-holding. On September 10, 1826, Samuel Brooks married Hannah Cogswell, daughter of Emerson and Ann (Learnard) Cogswell, who was born January 7, 1791, in Concord, Massachu- setts. They had two children: Hannah Matilda, mentioned in the next paragraph; and Thomas Emerson, born July 8, 1831, at Charlestown, Mass- achusetts, died October 18, 1838, at Warner, New Hampshire. Mrs. Samuel Brooks was skillful in needlework, thorough in housekeeping, fond of gardening, rigid in her standards of conduct, given to hospitality and devoted to visiting the sick and distressed. She died at Concord. New Hampshire, January 13, 1869, aged seventy-eight years. Samuel Brooks died at the same place, March 22, 1872, aged seventy-seven.

(VII) Hannah Matilda, elder child and only daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Cogswell) Brooks, was born at Charlestown, Massachusetts, March 14, 1828. She was always called by her mid- dle name, and in later years she dropped the "Han- nah" entirely. On November 12, 1856, she married John Abbott, of Concord, New Hampshire. (See Abbott, VI).

PIPER This family is of sturdly Puritan origin,

and its founder in America was forced to seek refuge on this side of the ocean in order to escape religious persecution in England. (I) Nathaniel Piper, who was born about the year 1630, came from Dartmouth in Devonshire as early as 1653, and settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, where he died in 1676. His children were: Sarah, Nathaniel, Mary (died young) ; Josiah, John, Mary, Thomas, Margaret. Samuel, Jonathan and William. (Jonathan and descendants receive mention in this article). His widow, whose christian name was Sarah, married for her second husband Ezekiel Woodward, of Wenham, Massachusetts, and she was living therc in 1696.

(II) Nathaniel (2), eldest son and second child of Nathaniel (1) and Sarah Piper, was born

Loving &. Piper

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June 25, 1658, in Ipswich, and inherited land there from his father. He was among the commoners of that town February 13, 1678. He had three sons, Nathaniel. Thomas and Samuel, one of whom died young and the other two settled in Stratham, New Hampshire ..

(III) Thomas, son of Nathaniel (2) Piper, set- tled in Stratham and had a wife, "Tabitha," and had probably two sons, Samuel and John. But lit- tle is known of the remainder of the family as the records give no account of his marriage or family.

(IV) Captain Samuel, son of Thomas Piper, was born at Tuftonborough, New Hampshire, Feb- ruary 2, 1771, and married Rebecca Copp, who was born August 10, 1769. They had six children, Patty, born July 1, 1795, married Nathaniel Chase. Thomas (see below). Polly, born May 11, 18o1, married Luther F. Hall. Sukey, August 6, 1803, died March 13, 1805. Susan, November 7, 1807, mar- ried Howard Blodgett. Josephine, March 18, 1810, married Thomas B. Blodgett.

(V) Thomas, son of Captain Samuel Piper, was born in Tuftonborough, New Hampshire, May 8, 1798. He removed with his parents to Stewarts- town. New Hampshire, and married (first) Emily Williams, by whom he had one child, William Piper, born December 13, 1825, died September 11. 1896. He married (second) Esther Beecher, December 28, I826, by whom he had five children: Loring Gilbert (see below). Emily W., married Frank Hodg- don, of Lancaster, New Hampshire. Hiram M., who married Mary Carleton, of Stewartstown. Esther P., who married (first) James Hibbard, and (second) Stephen Carleton. of Stewartstown. Ar- villa P., who married (first) Samuel P. Pitkin, and (second) Seneca S. Merrill, of Colebrook.

(VI) Loring Gilbert, son of Thomas and Esther (Beecher) Piper, was born at Stewartstown, New Hampshire, February 19, 1828. He married, May 10, 1863, Phebe A. Tibbetts, daughter of Joseph Y. Tibbetts. of Stewartstown. Her mother was Apha Pickard, who was born May 28, 1809, and is still living at the age of ninety-eight years, strong and vigorous both in body and mind. Loring G. Piper was educated at the common schools, and at an early age engaged in buying and selling cattle. His principal business was farming, at which he was very successful. He became the owner of a large river farm in Colebrook and managed it in a model manner. He bought large herds of cattle and sheep and took them to market, and in the carly sixties be- came engaged in the manufacture of potato starch in Colebrook and later in Aroostook county, Maine. He was a Democrat in politics and was one of the strong men of Coos county. He was one of the selectmen both in Stewartstown and Colebrook, was county commissioner for three years and a member of the legislature in 1883. He was a man of strong common sense and much more than ordinary ability, and his financial condition testified to his success. He died November 4, 1896, respected by all the com- munity. He had two children: Esther Apha. born August 15, 1864, who married, May 25, 1887, Charles E. Clark, merchant, starch manufacturer and lum- ber dealer at North Stratford, New Hampshire. They have one child, Harriet Phebe, born April 16, ISSS. Joseph Thomas (see below).

(VII) Joseph Thomas, son of Loring and Phebe A. (Tibbetts) Piper. was born in Colebrook, on the farm where he now lives, July 21, 1873. He was educated at the common schools, at Colebrook Academy, and at Shaw's Business College at Port- land, Maine. During the later years of his life his · father, Loring G. Piper, was in poor health, and the

son, Joseph T., with ease and skill took upon him- self the care of the farm, starch business and other interests of his father and carried them along and still carries them along with fidelity and wisdom. He has recently been engaged quite extensively in the manufacture and sale of lumber. He is unmar- ried and lives at the home of his birth, looking after his various interests and caring for his mother and venerable grandmother.

(II) Jonathan, sixth son and tenth child of Nathaniel and Sarah Piper, was born in Ipswich (probably) in 1672. He went to Concord, Massa- chusetts, in 1731, and his death occurred there May 11, 1752. He married, May 7, 1695, Sarah Leach, of Boxford, Massachusetts, who died in Ipswich, May 6, 1700, and on or about October 9 of that year he married Alice Darby, of Beverly. She died in Concord, April 23, 1758. Jonathan Piper was the father of nine children: Samuel, Jonathan, Na- thaniel, Josiah, Jolın, Alice, Sarah, Mary and Joseph.

(III) Joseph, youngest child of Jonathan and Alice (Darby) Piper, was born at Ipswich, in 1718. He married, November 18, 1743, Esther Wright, daughter of Henry Wright, of Westford, Massachu- setts. He died in Acton, whither he had removed from Concord, December 19, 1802, and his wife died April 7, 1808, aged eighty-seven years. Their chil- dren were: Joseph, Philip, Esther, Sibyl, Jonathan, Solomon, Rachel, Alice, Mary, Thomas, Silas and Submit.

(IV) Solomon, fourth son and sixth child of Joseph and Esther (Wright) Piper, was born in Concord, October 20, 1754. He was living in Acton when that quiet neighborhood was thrown into ex- citement by the Lexington alarm, and he was one of the patriots of that town who marched to Concord. He subsequently participated in the campaign which resulted in the surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga, and he also served in the Rhode Island expedition under General Sullivan. In 1785 he went to Temple, New Hampshire, but removed to Dublin in 1794, and he died in the last named town, De- cember 20, 1847. He married, September 28, 1788, Susanna Pratt, who was born in Greenwich, Mass- achusetts, November 3, 1768, daughter of Rufus Pratt. She died June 27, 1844. The children of this union were: Solomon, Rufus, Cyrus, Jonas, Jolın, Susanna, died young; another Susanna, Arte- mas, James. Emily, Hannah and Elvira.

(V) Cyrus, third son and child of Solomon and Susanna (Pratt) Piper, was born in Temple, De- cember 30, 1792. He resided in Dublin, where in early life he followed the shoemaker's trade, but he later kept a general store. He was succeeded in business by his son, and his death occurred February 25, 1877. He married Catherine Greenwood, who died in . July, 1877. She bore him six children, namely: Catherine. who married Henry Morse; Martha, who became the wife of Leonard Snow; Cyrus, who will be again referred to; Calvin, Eliza- beth Jane, who married Everett M. Eveleth; and Ellen, who married Thomas S. Corey.

(VI) Cyrus, third child and eldest son of Cyrus and Catherine (Greenwood) Piper, was born in Dublin, November 23, 1819. He completed his education at the Peterborough (New Hampshire) Academy and immediately thereafter was engaged in teaching school. Entering the grocery business in Boston as a member of the firm of Bliss & Piper, he remained there some five or six years, whence he returned to Dublin to purchase the general store which had been carried on by his father for many years. He later went to reside in Marlboro, this state. and still later removed to the old Hastings

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place in West Keene, where he followed agriculture some four or five years. He finally erected a resi- dence on Washington street, Keene, and spent the remainder of his life in retirement. He died in Northampton, Massachusetts, January 10, 1888. His first wife, whom he married September 12, 1844, was Eliza Gleason, daugliter of Phineas Gleason. She died February 4, 1845. He was married a second time, February 26. 1846, to Abigail, daughter of John Wight, and she died in 1860. His third wife was Jerusha Allison, and they were married De- cember 22, 1863. The Allisons are an old and highly reputable New Hampshire family of Scotch descent.

(I) Samuel Allison, who was born in the north of Ireland in 1690, and was descended from Scotch Covenanters, emigrated in 1718 and settled in Nut- field (now Londonderry), New Hampshire. He was called "Charter Samuel" on account of having been one of the original incorporators, and his farm was located in East Derry, January 13, 1760. Their chil- dren were: Janet, Rebecca, Martha and Samuel.

(II) Captain Samuel, son of Samuel and Kath- erine ( Steele) Allison, was born in Londonderry, 1722, and died there June 5. 1792. He served in a local military company raised for the defence of the town against the French and Indians in 1744-45. For a number of years he was a selectman and also served as coroner of Rockingham county. He signed the test in 1776. He married Janet McFarland, who was born in Rowley, Massachusetts, daughter of Andrew and Betty (Christy) McFarland. She died in Weathersfield, Vermont, October 16, 1809. The children of this union were: Katherine, died young ; Samuel, Janet, Andrew, Margaret, Susanna, died young ; Susanna, Katherine, John, James, Sarah and Stephen.

(III) James, fourth son and tenth child of Cap- tain Samuel and Janet ( McFarland) Allison, was born in Londonderry, February 22, 1767. He lo- cated in Wheatfield, Vermont, and died there February 23, 1805. He married Anna Moore, who was born in Londonderry, April 23, 1765, and died in Weathersfield, October 26, 1834. She was the mother of three children: Janet, John and Samuel. (IV) John, eldest son of James and Anna (Moore) Allison. was born in Weathersfield, Feb- ruary 26, 1790, and died there July 29, 1863. He married, January 1, 1824. Jerusha Sweet, of Han- over, New Hampshire, who was born in 1795, and died in 1829. In 1832 he married for his second wife Mrs. Anna Porter, who was born in Bradford, Ver- mont, December 16, 1800, and died Feb. 20, 1845. The children of his first union were: Bolivar, James Stockman and Jerusha. Those of his second mar- riage are: Letitia, John Quinton, Almira, De Forest and Cyntha Allen.

(V) Jerusha, youngest daughter of John and Jerusha (Sweet) Allison, was born in Weathers- field, July 23, 1829, and became the wife of Cyrus Piper, Jr., as previously stated. She had two chil- dren: Mabel Elizabeth, born February 2. 1865, died while a member of the sophomore class. Smith Col- lege, October 16, 1885; and Louis Allison Piper.

(VI) Louis Allison, youngest child of Cyrus and Jerusha (Allison) Piper, was born October 14, 1866. From the public schools of Keene he went to a preparatory school in Northampton, Massachusetts, and was graduated from Harvard University in 1890. He acquired his early business training in the Hol- brook (retail) grocery store, Keene, and was later transferred to the wholesale department of the same firni as head bookkeeper, and still occupies that posi- tion, and is a member of the firm, the Holbrook

Grocery Company. He is one of the progressive young men of Keene and his future prospects are practically assured. In his religious belief he is a Unitarian. In 1891 he married Mary L. Nims, daughter of Lanman Nims, of Keene. Their chil- dren are: Elizabeth A., Allison N., and Winthrop De Forest Piper.

It has not been possible to trace the history of this branch of the family for more than two gen- erations.

(I) Dayton G. Piper was born in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, May 29, 1824. He was a shoe- maker in early life, and afterwards moved to Strat- ford, in the north part of the state, where he con- ducted a store until his death. He married Phebe Ann Crown, daughter of John B. and Olive Crown, of Stratford. There were two children: Julia Ann, and Frank Nathaniel, whose sketch follows. Day- ton G. Piper died at Stratford, in 1860, at the early age of thirty-six, and his widow died in 1862.

(II) Frank Nathaniel, son of Dayton G. and Phebe Ann (Crown) Piper, was born at Stewarts- town, New Hampshire, September 10, 1854. His father died when he was six years old, and his mother two years later, and the orphan boy was cared for by his maternal grandfather, John B. Crown. a well-known citizen of Stratford, and later by an uncle in Hopkinton. Frank N. was educated in the common schools of the towns where he lived, and afterwards went to the Literary and Scientific Institution at New London, and also to the Institute at New Hampton. For several years he was en- gaged in bridge construction for the Boston, Maine & Eastern railroad. In 1875 he returned to Strat- ford, where he taught school and engaged in farming for a few years. He then bought a farin and grist mill at Stratford Hollow, which he carried on for four years. In 1895 he bought his present place, a fine farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres, half a mile below Northumberland station. Mr. Piper keeps thirty head of cattle, including ten cows and five horses. Mr. Piper is a progressive farmer, familiar with the most modern agricultural methods, and his help have the assistance of the latest im- proved machinery. In 1889, under President Harri- son, he received an appointment as mail agent from Island Pond. Vermont, to Portland, Maine, which position he held for six years. His valuable farın has since taken the bulk of his time. Mr. Piper is an energetic man of business, and an esteemed citi- zen. He has been a member of the school board, both at Stratford and Northumberland, and was one of the supervisors at the latter place. He was elected on the Republican ticket to the legislature from Northumberland in 1903. He is justice of the police court at Groveton. He was made a Mason in Island Pond Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons ; is now a charter member of Benton Lodge, Guildhall. Essex county ; was district deputy grand master ; is also past master of Blue Lodge, and also a past grand of Ammonoosuc Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Groveton. At the organization of Cape Horn Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, Mr. Piper was a charter member, and was its popular master for a year.

January 22. 1879, Frank Nathaniel Piper married Isabella, daughter of James P. and Eliza Ann Hayes, of Northumberland. They had five children : Olive Crown, born March 10, ISSo, died July 23 of that year: Erwin James, born June 25, ISSI, died March 2, 1882; Ethel Ann, born November 8, 1887, died February 20. 1889: Ruby Mildred, born August 13, 1889; Ruth E. B., born October 29, 1898. Mr. Piper and his wife are members of the Eastern Star,

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Olive Branch Chapter, No. I, Lancaster; Thirty- second degree Lodge of Perfection, St. Johnsbury, and the Consistory at Burlington.

Several centuries ago when men, in WRIGHT order to distinguish themselves more readily, took surnames, many assumed the name of the art or craft at which they worked. "Wright" originally denoted a workman, an artificer. a maker, and was a designation usually applied to those who wrought in wood, as smith was applied to those who worked in metal. It is highly probable that almost every person bearing the name Wright as his original surname is descended from an Eng- lish ancestor who was an artificer. As the name could have been and was assumed by any artificer who chose to do so, it follows that there may be numerous families whose origin is not identical. Hence in this country there are several lines of this name not of the same descent. The name appears early in the Colonial records, and has been borne by many distinguished citizens both in Colonial and recent times.

(I)) John Wright, emigrant ancestor, was born in England in 1601, and died in Woburn, Massachu- setts, June 21, 1688, aged eighty-seven. He was one of the first settlers of Woburn. and a subscriber to the compact of 1640. He was a selectman ex- cept two years, from 1645 to 1664, a representative in 1648, and a deacon of the First Church of Wo- burn. His wife Priscilla died April 10, 1687. Their sons were: John and Joseph.

(II) John (2), son of John (r) and Priscilla Wright, was born in 1630, and died April 30, 1714, aged eighty-four. He lived a few years in Chelms- ford, but returned to Woburn. He and his brother Joseph were presented to the grand jury for with- drawing from the church, and in other ways giving encouragement to the Baptists. He married, May 10. 1661, Abigail Warren, daughter of Arthur War- . ren, of Weymouth. She died April 6. 1726. aged eighty-four. Their were : John, Joseph, Ebenezer, and Josiah. (Ebenezer and descendants receive mention in this article).

(III) John (3). oldest son of John (2) Wright, was born in Chelmsford in 1662. He married (first) Mary Stevens, and (second) Hannah Fletcher. The children of the first wife were: Jacob, died young : Ebenezer, Jacob, Henry. John and Mary : and by the second wife: Hannah, Thomas, and Simeon. (Men- tion of Thomas and descendants appears in this article ).

(IV) Jacob, fourth son and child of John (3) and Mary ( Stevens) Wright, was born in Chelms- ford in 1698. He settled in the north part of Chelmsford. By his wife Abigail he had: Sarah, John, Ephraim. Mary, Sarah, Jacob, Pelatiah. Jo- sephi and Benjamin.

(V) Ephraim, third child and second son of Jacob and Abigail Wright, was born in Chelmsford in 1726, and lived in Westford, a part of ancient Chelmsford. He married, May 2, 1751, Abigail Whittemore. of Dunstable. She was born in 1730 and died March 24. 1814. They had ten children : Abraham, Abigail, Ruth, Sarah, Ephraim, Nathan, Lydia, Jotham, Hannah and Jacob.

(VI) Nathan, third son and sixth child of Ephraim and Abigail ( Whittemore) Wright, was born in Westford in 1763. He lived until aged in Westford, and died in Lowell. in 1846. He married, October 21, 1788, Betsey Trowbridge, who died July 16. 1835. They had nine children: Nathan. Parker. Jotham Bruce. Edmond (died young). Edmond, John, Walter, Martin and George Sumner.

(VII) John (4). seventh son and child of Nathan and Betsey ( Trowbridge) Wright, was born in Westford, November 4, 1797, and died in Lowell, March, 1869. He was graduated from Harvard University in 1823; was preceptor of Westford Acad- emy from 1823 to 1825: was subsequently principal of a flourishing school in Worcester, and while there became interested in business. He was also educated in the law, admitted to the Massachusetts bar, and practiced in Worcester. In 1842 he became agent of the Suffolk Mills in Lowell, and was in successful management of that large corporation twenty-six years. His responsibility was great, and his cares were continuous. His heart failed, and he resigned in 1868, and died in 1869. He was a Whig in early life, and after the formation of the Republican party he was one of its ardent sup- porters. He was a state senator, and an earnest promoter of the schools of Lowell. He professed the Unitarian faith, and was a generous supporter of the church of that order, which he attended. He married Susan Prescott, daughter of Judge Prescott, a Harvard graduate, of Groton, Massachusetts. They had three children : Mary Jane, born in Groton, April 30, 1830, residing in Lowell, unmarried; Wil- liam P., is mentioned below: Samuel P., born in Lowell, July 9, 1839, married George D. Noyes, a patent attorney of Boston, son of Professor Noyes, of Harvard University.

(VIII) William Prescott, only son and second child of John and Susan (Prescott) Wright, was born in Groton, March, 1832, and died in Chicago, Illinois, May 9. 1896, aged sixty-four. He grad- uated from the Harvard Law School, was admitted to the bar of Massachusetts, and for a time was a clerk in the office of Judge Crosby, in Lowell. In 1856 he went to Chicago, where he became a partner with his cousins, George S. and Wallace Wright, brokers, who had established themselves there some time before. He afterward succeeded to the entire business of the firm, which he carried on alone for some years. In the latter sixties and before the great fire in Chicago, he relinquished the banking and brokerage business, and engaged in the negotia- tion of loans, in which line he continued the re- mainder of his life. He was a man of ability, possess- ing good judgment and a vigorous mind. In man- ner he was quiet and dignified, but in the home cir- cle and among his intimate acquaintances he was much loved for his social and agreeable manners. He was a Unitarian in religious faith, a Republican and a member of the Masonic order, in which he attained the Scottish Rite degrees. He married, April 7. 1858, Lydia A. Keyser, born in Bristol, New Hampshire. September 20, 1835, daughter of John and Abbie C. (Hall) Keyser. of Rumney. Four children were born of this union: Susan Prescott. born in Lowell, in 1862, died in infancy: Herbert Hamilton, born in Lowell. September 21, 1868, edu- cated in the common schools of Concord, was a clerk in the freight department of the Boston & Maine railroad. at Concord, until August 27, 1809, when he enlisted for the Spanish war, in Company F. Twenty- sixtlı United States Infantry, and served as quarter- master-sergeant until he was discharged, May 13. 1001. His service was in the Philippines, and he was stationed at Iloilo, and participated in the follow- ing named engagements and expeditions: engage- ment at San Blas, November 26. 1800; Mount Butuan, December 26. 1900: expedition under Gen- eral Hughes, November o to 30, 1809: Panay, De- comber 21, 1900, to January 4, 1001. Returning to Concord, he has since been in the employ of the Durgin Silver Plating Company. John Prescott

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Wright, born in Chicago, July 12. 1873, was edu- cated in the public schools of Concord. After some years as a clerk in the railroad offices of that city, he went to South Africa and spent three years at the mining camp of Germiston, six miles from Johannisberg. He returned to New Hampshire, and after completing the course in the Boston Univer- sity of Law was graduated and admitted to the bar of Massachusetts in 1905, and immediately began the practice of law in Boston. Mrs. Wright was unable to live in Chicago on account of the climate, and since 1878 has resided in Concord.

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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 81

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