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 95
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(VIII) Leonard Edmund, second son and child
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of Leonard and Lusanna (Jennison) Richardson, was born October 15, 1833, in Auburn, Massachu- setts and was ten years of age when he came with his parents to Newport, New Hampshire. His pri- mary education was supplied by the public schools, after which he was a student at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, New Hampshire, and graduated there with the class of 1853. In the succeeding winter he began the study of medicine with Dr. John L. Swett, of Newport, and subsequently at- tended one course of lectures at Dartmouth. He graduated from the medical department of Harvard College with the class of 1857, and shortly afterwards began the practice of medicine at Newport. Hearing of a favorable opening for a practitioner at Stod- dard, New Hampshire, he removed to that place and continued for a period of eight years in successful practice there. From Stoddard he removed, in May, 1860, to Hartford, Connecticut, where he continued in active pursuit of his profession until his death, which occurred August II, 1900. Dr. Richardson was devoted to his profession, and won a reputation second to none in the city of Hartford. He never held, aspired to, or felt that he had the time for public office. He and the other members of his family were members of the Central Congregational Church. He married, September 28, 1858, Lois M. Kibbey, daughter of Deacon Austin and Aurilla (Fletcher) Kibbey. Their children are: Lorraine I. and Lillian A. The former was a graduate of Northfield (Mass- achusetts) Seminary, class of 1884, and the latter of Hartford high school, class of 1887. Mrs. Richard- son survives her husband and now resides in New- port. Her grandfather, Philip W. Kibbey, came from Munson, Massachusetts, to Newport. He was born May 19, 1761, in Munson, a son of Jacob Kib- bey. He was a noted singer, and engaged in farming in Newport, where he died February 5, 1853. He was married April 27, 1786, to Sarah, daughter of Dr. Abner Meigs, of Newport. She was born April 5, 1765, in Claremont, and died September 3, 1854, at Newport. They were the parents of nine children, namely: John M., Nathaniel C. (died young), Sarah C., Philip M., Nathaniel C., Orren C., Arial A., Austin L., Abial L. and Lucy C.
Austin L., seventh son and eighth child of Philip W. and Sarah (Meigs) Kibbey, was born Jan- uary 4, 1805, in Newport, and was a farmer in that town, where he died September 1I, 1884. He was a
Deacon of the Baptist Church, and a highly respected citizen. He resided on the paternal home- stead in the northern part of the town for forty years. He was married, May 10, 1831, to Aurilla Fletcher, daughter of Deacon Timothy Fletcher, of Newport. (See Fletcher, VI). She died June 6, 1862, and he subsequently married Mrs. Albira Wheeler. His children were: William B., who was a farmer and selectman of Newport. Orren C., who was also a prominent citizen of that town, and interested in Sunday school work especially and church work generally, characteristics for which the Kibbeys and Fletchers have been and are notable in the com- munity. Lois M., born July 3, 1837, is the widow of Dr. Leonard E. Richardson, as above noted. Sarah A., the second daughter, married Enoch Nichols, of Winchendon, Massachusetts.
TOPLIFF
The name Topliff in New England is borne mainly by persons who are descended from one immigrant an-
cestor of the name, Clement Topliff. As a race the Topliffs have been moral, industrious and highly respected.
(1) Clement Topliff, immigrant ancestor of the Topliff family in New England. came over with
John Mather in the second emigration, soon after 1635. He settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and was admitted to the First Church in 1639, and made freeman in 1640. In the land records he is assigned two acres and a quarter four rods at the neck and it is also that "Goodman Topliff" was assigned a portion of the land in "Cowes Pasture." The present Topliff street in Dorchester runs through his original homestead. He died December 24, 1672, and was survived more than twenty years by his wife, Sarah, who died July 29, 1693. Their gravestones are in the old cemetery at Stoughton. His will, dated January 26, 1666, was probated Jan- uary 31, 1673. Their daughter Sarah married, in 1659, David Jones. Obedience married, 1660, David Copp, for whom Copp's Hill was named. Patience married, 1667, Nathaniel Holmes, of Roxbury.
(II) Samuel, only surviving son of Clement and Sarah Topliff, was born May 7, 1646, in Dorchester, and became one of the foremost men of that town, both in civil and religious affairs, He was con- stantly employed in various town capacities, such as constable, assessor, town clerk, selectman, and was an elder of the church. He died October 12, 1722, in Dorchester. He married Patience Trescott, born May 7, 1665, in Dorchester, daughter of William Trescott. Omitting those of their children who died in infancy, there were: Patience, Thankful, Wait- still, Joseph, Ebenezer, Nathaniel and Samuel.
(III) Samuel (2), youngest surviving child of Samuel (1) and Patience (Trescott) Topliff, was born May 30, 1695, in Dorchester, and was the ancestor of nearly all the Topliffs in New England. He lived in Dorchester until 1729, when he moved to Milton, Massachusetts, and five years later to New London, Connecticut. Soon after he settled in Wilmington, Connecticut, where he died November I, 1754. He married, February 8, 1715, Hannah Tres- cott, and they had sons : Clement, Calvin and Luther.
(IV) Calvin, son of Samuel (2) and Hannah (Trescott) Topliff, was born August 24, 1729, in Milton, Massachusetts, and died December 23, 1809, in Tolland county, Connecticut. He married, Jan- uary 9, 1758, Jerusha Bicknell. He married (second), in 1792, Ruth Weber.
(V) Calvin (2), son of Calvin (I) and Jerusha (Bicknell) Topliff, was born November 28, 1758, in Tolland, and was a soldier in the Revolution. He was a pioneer settler of Hanover, New Hampshire; a farmer, and cultivated the farm now owned by his descendant, Elijah M. Topliff. No record appears of his first marriage, which probably occurred in Connecticut. There were two children of this union, Abijalı and Dr. Calvin. (Mention of the latter and descendants appears in this article). He was mar- ried (second), June 19, 1803, to a widow, Ruth (Freman) Durkee, in Hanover. She left one child.
(VI) Abijah, son of Calvin Topliff, was born in Hanover, Grafton county, New Hampshire, and died in 1876, aged about eighty. He was a prosperous farmer, spent life in Grafton, and always had plenty for his needs and something to spare. His success in the management of his own affairs led his towns- men to entrust matters of public interest to his man- agement, and he was elected and served as select- man for many years, and member of the legislature for two or more terms. He was fully alive to the benefits of higher education, and his children were all well instructed. He was a man of substance and influence, and was a member of Governor Isaac Hill's council. He married Susan Miller. born in Hanover, New Hampshire, died aged thirty-two, daughter of Elijah and Eunice (Tenney) Miller. Four children were born of this marriage: Elijah
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M., see forward. William H., was a general specu- fator in Hanover, New Hampshire; he died in Bos- ton, Massachusetts, aged thirty-six years. He left one son, Frank W., in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and one daughter, Ella J., who married William Davis, and resides in Derry, New Hampshire. Charles C., took a course in medical science, was a surgeon in the Civil war, a physician in Fishersville, New Hampshire, and died at the home of his brother, Elijah M., 1885. Ella A., now resides with her brother, Elijah M., in Manchester.
(VII) Elijah Mf., eldest child of Abijah and Susan (Milfer ) Topliff, was born in Hanover, Graf- ton county, New Hampshire, November 10, 1827. He grew up on his father's homestead, and was familiar with all kinds of farm work. His primary education was obtained in the public schools. He later prepared for college at Thetford and then entered Dartmouth College, from which he graduated with the class of 1852. Fifty years later he was one of sixteen of the eighteen survivors of that class who met at Hanover to celebrate the semi-centennial anniversary of that event. While at Hanover he read a year's course in law under the supervision of A. O. Brewster, Esq., then a leading lawyer of western New Hampshire. After leaving college he went to Manchester and read law in the office of Judge David Cross (see sketch elsewhere), whose office was a favorite and famous resort of law students. In 1854 he was admitted to the bar, and at once formed a partnership with his law preceptor which lasted six or eight years. The firm was a strong one and its practice extended into every county in the state.
Mr. Topfiff's attention was not all put upon the faw. He was the son of a father who was much in politics, and while yet a boy he was often in the society of political leaders and heard much dis- cussion of a political nature. When he went to Man- chester his reputation had preceded him, and rather against his inclination he was brought into local politics. He was chairman of the Republican city committee for some time and later a member of the Republican state committee, and its chairman for three years. In May, 1868, he went as chairman of the New Hampshire delegation to the Republican National Convention at Chicago, and there supported General Grant's candidacy for the presidency. April 19, 1869, just a month and a half after General Grant was inaugurated, Mfr. Topliff was appointed collec- tor of the second internal revenue district of New Hampshire, then one of the most lucrative offices in the state. This position he held for about eight years. He was four times sent to the legislature to represent a Manchester constituency.
For fifteen years Mr. Topliff had a very large practice, being in nearly every case that was tried in the local courts. His practice was general, and though he was never the general counsel for any great corporation, he was often called to assist their attorneys in trials of importance. A jury trial was his delight, and a case of that kind requiring a week for its disposal gave him opportunity to indulge in the wit and humor which he has always enjoyed. The volume of his business attested the success of his practice. In 1894 the judges of the supreme court appointed Isaac W. Smith, Alfred F. Bachelder and Mr. Topliff trustees of the New Hampshire Trust Company, and from that time he has had very little to do with the courts, his atten- tion being confined to his work as trustee and other matters. Since their appointment his two associate trustees have died, and for some years Mr. Topliff has had the sole management of this trust. The amount collected and disbursed to the stockholders
by the trustees has been nearly $4,000,000, and every cent collected has been properly accounted for. He closed up the account February 9, 1907. For several years Mr. Topliff was a director of the Peoples' Savings Bank, and for fifteen years past he has been its president. As a lawyer, a public officer, and a manager of the funds of others Mr. Topliff's course in fife looks to a superficial observer like an easily won success. But the critical eye detects the fact the every act in relation to his business has been carefully planned and skillfully executed, and that his success is the result of steady and painstaking endeavor. He is now (1907) eighty years old, and in the full enjoyment of his physical strength, health and mental facilities, and probably gets more pleasure out of life than most men many years his junior. As a business man he is the peer of any of his associates, and in personal and social relations he is what every one loves, but seldom sees, a gentle- man of the old school. In the past few years he has evaded the rigors of four New England winters by spending them in Florida.
He married, September 1, 1855, Hannah Aldrich, born in Fall River, Massachusetts, and died in Man- chester, 1891, aged fifty-two years. She died in church from a paralytic shock.
(VI) Dr. Calvin (3), son of Calvin (2) Topliff, was born in 1807, in Hanover. He received an excellent medical education for his day. He began practice in Alton in 1829, but removed to Freedom in 1830, and was in constant demand as a physician until his death, which occurred in 1867. In the Civil List and Town Annals we find the following : Calvin Topliff was clerk 1840-41-42-43-44-45, repre- sentative 1846-47, clerk 1848-49-50-51-52-53 and 54. He was first master of the Masonic lodge, and was considered one of the best informed Masons in the state. He married August 15, 1831, Ann Andrews, of North Effingham. Their children, all born in Freedom, were Lydia Jane, Ruth Freeman, Orestes and Charles Franklin (twins), Rosan Towle, John Franklin and Albion Pease.
(VII) Doctor Albion Pease Topliff, was born March 14, 1843, at Hanover, New Hampshire, was son of Dr. Calvin and Anne Andrews Topliff. He was educated at the Masonic Charitable Institution, Effingham, this state, and entered the medical school of Dartmouth College, graduating in the class of 1868. After receiving his medical degree he took a post-graduate course at Bellevue Hospital, New York City, and then began practice in his native town of Freedom. In 1871 he removed to Gorham, Maine, and about three years later he went to Woodfords, now a part of Portland, where his prom- ising career was cut short by his early death at the age of sixty-two years. Dr. Topliff was a member of the Mfaine Medical Association, the Cumberland County Medical Society and the Maine Academy of Medicine. He was of the Protestant Episcopal church, and was well advanced in Masonic circles, being past commander of the Knights Templar, and a member of Greenleaf Chapter. On December 9, 1875, Dr. Albion Pease Topliff married Caroline B. Adams, daughter of James and Anne MI. Adams, of Norridgewock, Maine, where Mr. Adams was a prominent attorney. They had four children : Ber- tha, born January 12, 1880; Annie T., February 8, 1877; Florence A., October 9, 1885; and Philip, March 19, 1888. Dr. Albion P. Topliff died Mfay 8, 1904.
The Johnson family of Massaclıu- JOHNSON setts, which sprang from the im- migrant, Captain Edward Johnson, "the father of Woburn," is distinguished by the
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number of its members who have been leading citi- zens in Woburn, where it has been ably represented, and in many other towns in Massachusetts and other states, both in New England and the west.
(1) Captain Edward Johnson was born at Water- ham in the parish of Herne Hill, near Canterbury, in Kent county, England, in 1599, and died in Wo- burn, Massachusetts, April 23, 1672, aged seventy- three. Without doubt he came to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the fleet with Governor Winthrop in 1630. He requested admission as a freeman of the Colony October 19, of that year, and was admitted freeman on taking the oath May 18 following. After living some time in Charlestown, or Salem, or other plantations to satisfy himself, he went back to Eng- land to bring his wife and children in 1636 or 1637. Upon his return voyage his name is registered as follows, in a list of those who embarked from the port of Sandwich for the American plantations, in June, 1637: "Edward Johnson, of Canterbury, joiner, and Susan his wife, 7 children, 3 servants." He arrived in New England in the course of the summer or early in the fall of 1637, and settled at Charlestown, where grants of land were repeatedly made to him for his accommodation in 1637, and in April, 1638. In the settlement of Charlestown Vil- lage, now Woburn, for which he was one of the com- missioners appointed by the church at Charlestown, he took a leading part. The commissioners held their first meeting at Charlestown, December IS, 1640, where he presented a plot of the contemplated town, and was chosen recorder or clerk, and held that office until his death. He was greatly devoted to the cause of religion, for which he had abandoned his native land and good estate, and it is strange that there is no evidence as to which of the churches he belonged before the gathering of his own at Woburn. His interest in the church was deepened and lasting, and from the beginning he was one of its distinguished members. His influence in the town's affairs was equal to his influence in the affairs of the church. He was a member of nearly all the important committees for the distribution of the lands of the town, and was continued uninter- ruptedly as a member of the board for the trial of several causes; and with few intermissions he was a member of the board of selectmen till his death. He was captain of the town's military company, and also a deputy from Woburn to the general court nearly every year from the time of the selection of one in 1646, until his death-twenty-six years. He was a member of important committees, and in 1655 was chosen speaker pro tempore. In 1643 he went with Captain Cooke, Lieutenant Atherton and forty men to Rhode Island to take Samuel Gorton who had become obnoxious to the Massachusetts govern- ment. At the restoration of King Charles in 1660, the charter of the colony was thought to be ill danger, and Captain Johnson was one of a committee, appointed by the general court, May, 1661, con- sisting of eight laymen and four clergymen to con- sider what should be done and make report at the next session. In June, 1662, Deputy-Governor Bell- ingham, David Gookin, Thomas Danforth, Edward Johnson and others were appointed a committee for sending a deputation to England to plead the cause of the Colony there. And in 1664 he was one of a committee of four distinguished citizens, Hon. Rich- ard Bellingham, Major-General Leverett and Cap- tain Thomas Clark being the other three, to whom the charter of the colony was delivered by the gen- eral court for safe keeping. Captain Edward John- son and Captain Simon Willard were appointed com- missioners of the Massachusetts Bay Colony to es-
tablish the northern boundary of the Colony, and with two surveyors and Indian guides ascended the Merrimack river to Lake Winnepesaukee, and there placed an inscription on a boulder now famous as the "Endicott Rock," and since 1892 enclosed in a suitable structure for its preservation.
He was the author of "A History of New Eng- land from the English Planting in 1628 till 1652; or Wonder Working Providence of Sion's Savior, in New England," which was published anonymously in England in 1654. It has many errors of the press and has been noted for indefiniteness or in- accuracy of many of its dates and statements, yet it contains much authentic information which could be supplied from no other source. By the terms of his will written with his own hand he leaves bequests of his estate in England and of property in Massa- chusetts to his widow Susanna, and seven children- five sons, Edward, George, William, Matthew and John; and two daughters, Susanna and Martha.
(II) Major William, third son of Captain Ed- ward and Susanna Johnson, was born in England, about 1630, and died in Woburn, Massachusetts, May 22, 1704, aged about seventy-four years. The following account of him is obtained principally from Sewall's "History of Woburn." He was brought to Massachusetts when a child, by his parents, in 1637. The extent of his education is not known, but it was evidently much above the or- dinary for the locality and age in which he lived. He accompanied his family to Woburn on the re- moval of the family therefrom, and ever afterwards lived in that town.
His natural talents and ability for business early placed him in public positions, and kept him in the public service almost continuously during the most part of his adult life. He was chosen one of the selectmen in 1664, and again in 1672, and each fol- lowing year in succession, till 1688. That year, also, he was chosen selectman at the usual time under the Old Charter; but the choice on that day not being allowed to stand by the arbitrary government of Sir Edmund Andros, he appears to have declined a re-election on the day appointed by the governor and council for making a new choice; preferring a private station to holding office under the control of a power which was so openly hostile to the liber- ties of the people.
Shortly before the death of his father, in 1672, he was chosen to succeed him as town clerk, an office which he held without interruption till 1688. His father had been town clerk from the beginning of the town, in 1640, till the year of his death, thirty-two years, so that the whole term during which the father and son served the town in this capacity was forty-eight years. He represented the town in the general court in 1674; and again, eight years in succession, from 1676 till 1683 inclusively, either alone or associated with Humphrey Davie, Esq., of Boston, or with his distinguished townsman, Ensign James Convers. In 16844, and the two fol- lowing years, he was chosen one of the board of assistants, which, under the first charter, was not only the senate of the Colony, but the supreme court of judicature. But the colonial government, being superseded, in 1686, by a president and council, and quickly after, by a governor and council of the King's appointment, Major Johnson lived in retire- ment until the deposition of the governor, Sir Ed- · mund Andros, at the insurrection of the people in April, 1689. At that crisis he was associated with other leading men in the community as a "Council for the Safety of the people and conservation of the peace ;" and the old government, being shortly after
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revived, till a new charter could be obtained of King William, and the government orderly resettled under it, he resumed his seat at the board of assist- ants, which had been vacated three years before. For liis strong attachment to the old charter, and his expected opposition to the new one, his name was dropped from the list of councillors appointed by the crown in the provincial charter in 1691. From this time, the part he took in the management of public affairs of the country appears to have ceased. But the town of Woburn continued, on various oc- casions, and in various ways, to enjoy the benefit of his experience and services until his death.
Major Johnson, like his father before him, was eminently skillful in surveying; and of the numer- ous grants and extensive divisions of the common lands in the town, which were made during the first sixty years after its incorporation, there were but few which father or son were not employed to lay out. He was also the largest proprietor of land in the town, excepting the brothers, John and Francis Wyman, in his day. In the town records his home- stead, situated in "Pleasant Street," and seventy other distinct tracts of land, containing nine hun- dred acres in all, obtained, some by purchase, and some by inheritance or by grant from the town, are recorded as his. A considerable portion of his great landed estate lay in the northwesterly part of the town, and was eventually settled upon and im- proved by his children and grandchildren, who were among the principal founders and inhabitants of the second precinct, or Burlington.
Major Johnson was highly esteemed for his wis- dom and prudence as a magistrate. Tradition re- lates that several persons were brought before him for examination, accused of witchcraft, probably in 1692, the year of the general delusion on this sub- ject. Papers containing an account of these exami- nations are said, on good authority, to have been once in the hands of his descendants. These docu- ments are now lost. But as none belonging to Wo- burn appear to have been arraigned and prosecuted before court on this charge, it may be safely in- ferred that he had penetration enough to discern the imposture or prevailing error in this affair, and refused to cominit the accused for trial.
He was distinguished for his underlying attach- ment to the old or colony charter, under which the people had enjoyed the right of choosing their own governor, and other privileges of which they were very tenacious but which had been condemned, and declared forfeited to the crown in 1684. Like Cooke, Wiswall, Oakes and other noted public men of that day, he was for insisting on that charter. or none ; expecting probably, that by resolutely refus- ing to accept from the king any other charter, the people would eventually succeed in obtaining the restoration of the old one. In this expectation he was disappointed, and by his unwillingness to ac- knowledge and submit to the government by a presi- dent and council, which immediately succeeded the old charter government, he not only lost his former influence in the direction of public affairs, but was one in danger of being deprived of his personal liberty. On this subject, Judge Sewall, a friend of his, and an associate under the old government, thus writes in his diary: "1686 July 30. About this time, William Johnson, Esq., is sharply reproved by the Council for his carriage on the Fast day, staying at home himself, and having a Dozen Men at his House; Told him must take ye Oath of Allegiance : he desired an hour's consideration," then said he could not take it; but when his Mittimus writing or written, he considered again, and took it rather
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