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. II, Part 130

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: 874

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. II > Part 130

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That portion of his life at Farmington, consist- ing of forty-nine years, was spent during a time when the whole community was more or less har- rassed by fear of depredations of Indians. Seldom did the settlers feel themselves perfectly safc, and as late as 1691 a committee was appointed, of which John Lee, Jr., was one. to designate seven houses, to be fortified against attacks by the Indians. John Lee died August 8. 1690, old style, and was buried in the old cemetery at Farmington. A few years since the headstone placed at his grave. through the efforts of Rev. Samuel Lee, of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, was brought to light-i. e., having sunken into the soil out of sight. In 1876 William H. Lee, of New York, erected a beautiful monu- ment, seventeen feet high, of granite to mark the spot where the ashes of his ancestor, John Lee, re- pose. The inventory of his estate amounted to £359. IS. 8d.

He married, in 1658, Mary Hart, born probably in 1630 or 1631, daughter of Deacon Stephen Hart,

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first deacon and "pillar of the Church" of Farming- ton, Connecticut. She and her husband joined the church at Farmington. July 15. 1660. Mary ( Hart) Lee married (second). January 5. 1692, Jedediah Strong, and removed to Northampton, Massa- chusetts, taking with her the two young children. The following account of her death is found in the records of Northampton :

"Jedediah Strong and his wife 'set out early in the morning to visit their children at Coventry, (Connecticut ). but when they came against the Falls at South Hadley among the broad smooth stones, the horse's feet slipped up, and he fell flat on the off side, and by the fall killed the woman, tho' she was not quite dead then, but had life in her till next day, yet never spoke a word.'" (October 9. 1710.) She died October 10, 1710. The children of John and Mary ( Hart) Lee were: John, Mary, Stephen. Thomas, David and Tabitha.

(II) John (2), eldest child of John (1) and Mary (Hart) Lee, was born in Farmington, June II, 1659, and died April 24, 1723, aged sixty-four. He lived in his father's house at Farmington. and was a man of influence in this plantation, being an- nually chosen to offices of honor and trust. "He was street and land surveyor, was one of the com- mittee appointed by the proprietors to treat with the Sachem Marsakepe, and to obtain his signature to a deed, conveying to them the tract of land named Farmington." His will was dated 1722, and proved in 1723. He married, December 27, 1682. Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Loomis, of Wind- ham, born in 1664. Her mother was Mary, daugh- ter of Deacon Thomas Judd, of Farmington. John Lee united with the church, November 24, 1686; his wife. January 3, 1687. Their children were: John. Jonathan. Mary, Elizabeth, died young : Samuel, Hezekiah. Elizabeth, died young; and Ruth.

(III) Deacon Jonathan Lec. second son and child of John (2) and Elizabeth (Loomis) Lee, was born in Farmington, Connecticut, March 20, 1686. baptized November 27, 1686. died January 16, 1758, aged seventy-two. He was a blacksmith by trade, and resided on Christian Lane, Kensington, in a house which was standing in 1872. He was a man of high character, and a deacon of the Congrega- tional Church. In 1714 he was chosen "lister" and ratemaker of the parish. In 1742 he was one of the petitioners from the South part of the parish for re- lief for "poor Kensington." He was buried in Christian Lane cemetery, beside Rev. Dr. Burnham. His will is dated May 19. 1755. and was presented to probate court by John Lee. executor, March 20, 1758. He married, June 4. 1713. Mary Root. who died September 14, 1764. Her will is dated August 31, 1764. and her son John made executor. The children of this union were: Mary, Elizabeth. Lucy, Ruth, John and Eunice.

(IV ) Deacon and Ensign John Lee (3), fifth child and eldest son of Deacon Jonathan and Mary ( Root) Lee. was born April 22. 1725, and died at Berlin. January 21. 1796, aged seventy-one. Ile resided in Berlin, and his estate was administered upon by his

sons. He married, May 7, 1752, Sarah Cole, who died April 5. 1800, aged seventy. Both were buried at Berlin. Their children were: Jonathan. died young : Jonathan. Samuel. Orren. John and Sarah. Jonathan, the second of that name, Samuel and Or -. ren were soldiers of the Revolution, and Jonathan died in the service.

(V) Samuel Lee, third son and child of Deacon John (3) and Sarah (Cole) Lee. was born October 2, 1757. and died March 31, 1803. He lived near his brothers, Orren and John, in the "Blue Hills" region in Kensington, and was one of the earliest manufacturers of tinware in the country. He served in the Revolution in the company of Captain Selah Hart. Colonel Walcott's regiment of Wads- worth's Brigade. He did duty in and around Bos- ton during the early part of 1776. and was one of the force which occupied Boston after the evacua- tion by the British. He was taken prisoner and confined on one of the "Prison Ships" in New York Harbor, and so nearly starved that when fortunate enough to catch a rat, which he ate, he pronounced it "the sweetest meat he ever tasted."

He married (first). 1784. Sybil Stanley, who died April 19, 1792; and (second). in 1794. Sarah Ben- nett, who died March 23, 1830. His children, both by the second wife, were: Laura, and Samuel, who is next mentioned.

(VI) Rev. Samnel (2) Lee. second child and only son of Samuel (1) and Sarah ( Bennett) Lee, was born in Kensington, a parish of Berlin, Con- necticut, March 18, 1803, and died in New Ipswich, New Hampshire. When he was less than two weeks old his father died. leaving him to the sole charge of his mother. Seven years later she mar- ried Nathan Boardman, and removed to Westfield, taking with her the two children. When a lad of fourteen, he was for some months very ill from in- flammation of the hip joint, and not only obliged to use crutches for years, but, as a consequence, was always lame, though later he recovered his former agility. This illness determined the whole course of his life. While on what he supposed to be his deathbed, his pastor visited him, and prayed that he might recover and become a minister of God. Never before had he thought of the possibility of such a life. Never after could he feel that he might devote his life to any other calling. In the face of poverty and disease, he fitted for college ; a part of the time the pupil of Rev. S. G. Goodrich ( Peter Parley), carning by "teaching for seven dollars a month, boarding 'round, and going on crutches." He graduated from Yale in 1827, and from New Haven Theological Seminary in 1830. November 4. 1830, he was ordained the pastor of the Congre- gational Church in Sherborn, Massachusetts, which had just separated from the parent Unitarian Church. At the ordination Dr. Taylor, of New Ilaven, preached the sermon. Dr. Lyman Beecher gave the charge, and Dr. Pond. of Bangor, ad- dressed the people. Here he remained five years. "until all his congregation were converted." The church in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, then the

truly yours Sana Lee

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second largest in the state, called him to be their pastor, though they had never heard him preach, and he was installed there, May 5, 1836. and dis- missed, November 4. 1860, 01 account of feeble health. He never took another pastorate, though, after some years given to recuperation. he was able to follow the studies in which his soul delighted and he published two books: "Eschatology," en- dorsed as a book of reference hy President Porter, of Yale College; "The Bible Regained," (dedicated to his daughter), and numerous articles for the theological periodicals. During the later years of his life he preached in neighboring pulpits, as he had opportunity. August 8, 1878, though not in usual health. he preached at the Baptist Church in New Ipswich, from the text: "And Abraham died, an old man, and full." The effort was too much for his strength. He went home and to his bed, from which he was never again to rise. In a few days paralysis rendered the left side helpless, and for three years it was his mission to show the graces of patience and submission, and to be minis- tered unto as a child. August 27, 1881. the end came, and he joined the long company of those dear to him by the ties of family and religious kinship who had preceded him to the heavenly world.

Mr. Lee's activities were not confined to his parish. Early in his ministry he attended "pro- tracted meetings," and continued the work for many years. His labors were abundantly blessed. At Rindge, New Hampshire, more than fifty persons as- cribed their conversion to a single sermon. Earnest in every good work, he was active in all measures that looked toward progress for good. He was prominent in state Christian charities, and earnest in his aid to temperance and anti-slavery reforms.

He helped the cause of education in every way in his power: as one of those who originated teach- ers' institutes. the forerunner of normal schools, as superintendent of public schools; in Appleton Academy as "trustee, instructor. lecturer, and coun- sellor, and friend of the student"; in the state legis- lature, and in helpful intercourse with the young. He was especially happy in his guidance of young men, and the church owes some of its bright lights to his influence.

Mr. Lee had a character of rare strengtlı, deter- mined, persistent, self-reliant, of positive judgments, methodical. and of great executive ability, yet his strength was saved from harshness by a "nature most kind and sympathetic, abounding in all gentle courtesies and charities," and "singularly attractive social qualities." As a writer, he had fertility of thought and fluency of expression; was "a trained logician, acute metaphysician, and apt in illustra- tion." His sermons, though preached from very brief notes, "felicitous in analysis and arrange- ment," and he had "a fervor and spirituality in de- votion never to be forgotten."

The Hollis Association of Ministers, of which Mr. Lee was for many years a member, in resolu- tions passed after his death, accorded him the possession of "superior intellectual powers, a noble,

generous, cordial nature, a firm belief in the essen- tial doctrines of revelation, and unusual power as a preacher." Socially he was a staunch friend, help- ful in all emergencies, chivalric, a stimulating com- panion, helpful and appreciative critic, and wise counsellor. The fullest and ripest wealth of his nature, in all its best manifestations, was shown in his home in a degree appreciated only by those who there knew him.

When a comparatively young man, Mr. Lee be- came interested in learning everything possible about his ancestors. About 1852 he learned that Deacon Charles Lee was engaged in the same pur- suits, and they became mutually helpful; after Dea- con Lee's death his daughter, Sarah Marsh, and Mr. Lee continued their researches. About 1870 he opened a correspondence with Mr. William Henry Lee, of New York City, and they found to their mutttal pleasure that they were relatives: and for years they carried on a voluminous correspondence. The discovery of the headstone of John (I) seemed to them something tangible as a rallying point, and the enthusiasm in both gentlemen was aroused. After an exchange of many letters, the millionaire furnished the monument, and the clergyman se- lected the Biblical texts and arranged the inscrip- tions. William Henry said to the daughter of Rev. Samuel, "I owe a great deal to your father. He was the one who first aroused my interest in genealogy.

In 1874 Mr. Lee furnished for the New England Historical and Genealogical Register an article con- taining the record of the first four generations of his family (aided in this as in all his literary pur- suits, by his daughter), which involved a great deal of labor, as the older the manuscript, generally the less legible it is found to be.

In the delirium preceding paralysis which closed his life, Mr. Lee was greatly troubled, lest some im- portant genealogical records be lost, and was re- assured only by having them brought to him, and the partial reading of the Lee Book of 1878, was among his last conscious pleasures.

He married (first), November 3. 1834, Emily Fiske, born September 22, 1810. and died March 5, 1843. daughter of Deacon Samuel and Nancy (Stone) Fiske, of Natick, Massachusetts. Married (second), January 14, 1846, Lydia Coggswell Went- worth. born July 21, 1816, and died March 6, 1855, daughter of Paul and Lydia (Coggswell) Went- worth. Married (third), June 3. 1856, Mary Jane Chandler, born January 23, 1802, and died May, ISSI, daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Orr) Chandler. of Bedford, New Hampshire. By the first wife he had one child: Sarah Fiske; by the second, four: Samuel Wentworth, John Went- worth, died young: George William, and Joseph Wentworth, died young.

(VII) Sarah Fiske Lee, only child of Rev. Samuel (2) and Emily (Fiske) Lee, was born at New Ipswich, September 14, 1838.

(VII) Rev. Samuel Wentworth Lee, eldest child of Rev. Samuel (2) and Lydia (Coggswell)

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Lee, was born September 12, 1847. He was edu- cated at New Ipswich Academy, which was opened October, 1788. It was incorporated June 18, 1789. The greatest number of students was in 1838, two hundred and seventy-eight during the year. The principal of the Academy was called rector. after the Scotch custom. Among the alumni are eighty- three ministers and twelve missionaries. Two at least of the latter have founded mission stations, and done exceptionally useful work, especially in translating the Bible. Rev. Mary L. Moreland, the first woman in the land to be ordained a Congrega- tional minister, is one of the alumni. In order of time this academy is third in the United States as a co-educational institution. More than seventy mar- ried couples first met at Appleton. Before the days of normal schools regular instruction was given in the theory of teaching primary schools. In 1858 was published "The New Ipswich Appleton Acad- emy Almanac, and New Ipswich Directory and Statistical Register. Astronomical calculations were made for the meridian and latitude of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, by Timothy Perry. Esq., a grad- uate of New Ipswich Appleton Academy." In August, 1863. when sixteen years of age, he en- listed in Company F. Sixth Illinois Cavalry, and served till the close of the war. In June 1871, he was ordained pastor of the Baptist Church at West Indianola, Iowa. and has been especially successful in evangelistic work, to which he devotes himself with great zcal and enthusiasm. He was admitted to the bar in Iowa in 1895, and has since been a practi- tioner of law there. He is a man of ability, and re- spected and trusted by all who know him. He married. March 6. 1870. Sarah Ellen Wheeler, born at Prouty Town, West Virginia, October 6, 1852.daughter of Ben- nett and Beersheba Wheeler. Her father lost his life as a Union man during the war of the Rebellion. The chil- dren of this marriage are : George, William. Ella May, Royal Wentworth, Judson Fiske and Clara Ellen.

(V11) George William Lee, third son and child of Rev. Samuel (2) and Lydia Coggswell (Went- worth) Lec. was born June 20, 1853, and died March 10, 1884, at Boone, Iowa. Ile graduated at Dart- mouth College in 1874; was admitted to the bar in August, 1875, at Indianola, lowa, and in 1877 be- came a member of the law firm of Maxwell. Lec & Witter, of Des Moines, Iowa. On account of fail- ing health he left his profession in 1881, and sought the health which he could not regain, and died three years later. Ile was earnest and suc- cessful in his profession, and his future was one of brilliant promise. In all the relations of life he was a peacemaker: his integrity was unquestioned. and his highest ambition that he should be of use in the world. Ile married. September 15. 1880, Clara llarriet Clarke, born in Boone, Iowa, daughter of William F. and Lavinia (Ford) Clarke.

BEAL (1) John Beal came from the parish of Ilingham, county of Norfolk, England, to llingham in the Massachusetts Bay Col- ony, in 1638, in the ship "Dilligence." On the 18th

of September of that year he received a grant of land in Hingham. He was accompanied by his wife, five sons and three daughters. In 1659 he was chosen to represent the town at general court. His first wife was Nasareth Hobart, who was the mother of his children. She was the daughter of Edward and Margaret (Dudley) Hobart, was born in England, in 1600, and died in Hingham. Massa- chusetts, September 23, 1658. John Beal died April I, 1688, aged just one hundred years. His children were: Martha, Mary. Sarah, John, Nathaniel, Jere- iniah, Joshua, Caleb, Rebecca and Jacob.

(II) Jeremiah, third son of John and Nasareth (Hobart) Beal, was born in Hingham, 1631. He married Sarah. daughter of William Ripley, No- vember 18, 1652. He died in Hingham, Massachu- setts, August 10, 1716. He was known as Lieuten- ant Beal.

(III) John, son of Jeremiah and Sarah (Rip- ley) Beal. was born in Hingham, Massachusetts. March 8, 1656. He married, in 1686, Hannah Dare, who died April 27, 1762. He died December 30. I735.

(IV) John (2), son of John (1) and Hannah (Dare) Beal, was born in Hingham, Massachusetts, December 30, 1700. He married, December 28. 1731. Deliverance, daughter of John and Mary Porter, of Weymouth. His children were: John and Jacob.

(V) Jacob, son of John (2) and Deliverance ( Porter) Beal, was born in Hingham, Massachu- setts, February 1, 1734. He married Ruth Pool, who died shortly after, and he married Mary Tower, July 22, 1787. Their children were: Mary, Eliza- beth, John and Samuel. He died in Plainfield. New Hampshire. He served at several different times as a soldier during the Revolutionary war. The first record shows him to have been a private in Captain James Lincoln's company of Colonel Benjamin Lin- coln's regiment, which marched at the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775. on which occasion his service lasted thirtcen days. He was also a corporal in Captain Thomas Ilersey's company, under Colonel Lovell, and marched to Dorchester. March 4, 1776, the service continuing four days. In the same year he served two days at Hull, in Lieutenant Heman Lincoln's company, under Colonel Solomon Lovell. He was again in service, two days, on the twenty- third of the same month, at the same place. He also marched to Ilull, December 14. 1776, and served four days. He was a member of Captain Peter Cushing's company of Colonel David Cush- ing's regiment, which assembled at Hull, February 27, 1778, under Major Thomas Lathrop, and this service continued six days.

(VI) John (3), son of Jacob and Mary (Tower) Beal. was born in Cohasset, December 20, 1771. He married Catherine Kimball, who resided on King street. lle was for some time captain of the military company there. He died in Plainfield. New Ilampshire, in 1835. His wife died in March, 1826.

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(VII) Catherine Kimball Beal was born in Cohasset, Massachusetts, February 20, 1804. She married Thomas F. Gallup, March 23, 1833 (see Gallup, X). She died in Plainfield. Their chil- dren were: John B., Maria T., Elizabeth K. and Harriet E.

(VIII) Maria T., daughter of Catherine Beal and Thomas Gallup, was born in Plainfield, July 19, 1838, and married Alfred Woodman, August 16, 1866 (see Woodman, VI).

This name is variously spelled Cany, CANNEY Canny, Canne, Cannie, Canie, Kenny, and all the bearers of this name in New England are supposed to be descendants from Thomas Canney, of Dover.

Thomas Canney was sent to Dover, New Hamp- shire, by Captain Mason in 1631 or earlier, and took a lot of Captain Wiggins in 1634. He had other grants of land in 1652-1656 and after. He was a freeman in 1653, was taxed in 1648 and to 1668, and was alive in 1677. He was excused by the court from common training on account of loss of his sight. His first wife's name is not known. He married ( second) Jane - -. Three of his chil- dren are mentioned by name in the records : Thomas, Joseph and Mary.

(I) James Canney was born in Farmington, New Hampshire. December 19, 1810, and died in Kittery, Maine, March, 1898, aged eighty-eight. He lived with Edward Canney some years, and then removed to Kittery, Maine. In politics he was a Republican; in religious sentiment a Methodist. He married, March 17. 1836, at Tuftonborough, Betsey J. Durgin, born August 29, 1815, died Feb- ruary 15. 1893, in the seventy-eighth year of her age. They had four children: Sarah L., married Amos Wingate. of Wolfborough: Charles E., men- tioned below: True D., resides in Kittery, Maine; and Albion, who died young.

(II) Charles E., second child and eldest son of James and Betsey J. (Durgin) Canney, was born in Tuftonborough, July 7, 1843. When a young man he was employed as a clerk for some years by his uncle. who had a general store in Salem, Massa- chusetts. He then learned the shoe trade, and in 1865 settled in Dover, where he has since been em- ployed in the manufacture of shoes. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and takes an active part in party affairs, but he never asked for an office. He is one of the oldest members of Strafford Lodge, No. 29, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Mt. Pleasant Lodge. No. 16, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, his membership in the latter order running from February 28, 1874. He is also a charter meni- ber of Wanalanset Tribe. No. 7, Improved Order of Red Men, of Dover. He married, in Natick, Mass- achusetts. December 15, 1865, Sarah H. Norris, born in Dorchester, New Hampshire, December 30, 1844, daughter of Daniel H. and Caroline (Warner) Norris. Four children have been born to them: Harry H., William A., Carrie, and Charles H., whose sketch follows. Harry H., born December

25, 1864, is a shoe trimmer in Dover. William A. and Carrie died in childhood.

(III) Charles Herbert, son of Charles E. and Sarah H. (Norris) Canney, was born in Dover, New Hampshire, February 26, 1874. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Dover and at the academy at South Berwick. Maine. After leaving school he was some time in the employ of the Na- tional Garment Cutting Company, of Natick, Mass- achusetts. From that passed into the business of shoe manufacturing at Dover, at which he worked some years. Later he went to Boston and learned the trade of ladies' tailor, and in 1896 established himself in that trade in Dover, and has since carried on a flourishing business. He is a Republican, and was a member of the common council of Dover from 1899 to 1901. He is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge, No. 16. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand, and is now (1907) grand warden of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire; also a member of Prescott En- campment, No. 23. of which he is a past patriarch, and of Canton Parker, No. 3. Patriarchs Militant, of which he is a past commander. Member of Purity Lodge, No. 7, Daughters of Rebekah. He is also chaplain of the Second Regiment of Patriarchs Militant. He has been a member of the Guppy Club for ten years past, and is now the secretary and treasurer.

He married, in Dover, February 26, 1895, Clara Elizabeth Dame, born in Lee, November 3, 1869, daughter of Israel S. and Mary (Hanson) Dame, and granddaughter of Israel and Hannah (Durgin) Dame, of Lee.

Saralı H. (Norris) Canney, mother of Charles H. Canney, is a descendant of Nicholas Norris, the im- migrant ancestor of this very numerous old New England family.

(I) Nicholas Norris was born about 1640, in England, and came to America when fourteen years of age, settling in Hampton. New Hampshire, where he married Sarah Coxe, November 21. 1663. In 1666 he deeded land in Hampton. That same year he appeared in Exeter, New Hampshire. In 1667 he took the oath of allegiance and was a soldier in garrison from August 3 to August 31, 1696. His home was near Meeting House hill in Exeter village. He deeded away land June 10, 1721, which is the last reference of him found upon any record. He must have died soon after the above date. He had nine children, born between February Io. 1667, and September 4, 1683. Sarah (1), Sarah (2). John, Moses, Jonathan, Abagail, Sarah (3), James and Elizabeth.

(II) Jonathan Norris, son of Nicholas and Sarah (Coxe) Norris, was born in Exeter (where he spent his life as a husbandman), March 5. 1673. He lived in that portion of Exeter afterward in- cluded in the town of Strathham. On March 14. 1716, he with others signed a petition for the in- corporation of the township of Stratham, which was granted. He married Lydian . His

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will was made March 20, 1718, and probated July 23, 1718. His children were: Benjamin, James, Jonathan, Lydia (Mrs. Dr. Jeremiah Robertson). and Abigail (Mrs. Joseph Prescott).

(III) Benjamin Norris, son of Jonathan and Lydia Norris, was born in Stratham, New Hamp- shire, date unknown. He was not of age July 23, 1718. He succeeded his father on the homestead, and was selectman in 1744. He owned rights of land in Bow, New Hampshire. and the records show repeated purchases and sales of real estate. He married, December 14, 1727, Mehitable, born De- cember 21, 1709, daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah (Tolson) Stevens, of Stratham. His will was made June 30. 1764, and probated November 28, 1764. His children were: Lydia (Mrs. Elisha Smith), Ben- jamin, Mehitable (Smith), Sarah (Wiggin), David, Jonathan, Nathaniel (lost at sea), Mary, Abigail and Joseph.

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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. II, Part 130

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: 874

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: 874