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 15

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 15

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HABarlon

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had two sons. John and Thomas, and four daugh- ters, Rebecca, Abigail, Mary and Sarah. The first was born about 1640. In February, 1665, the town granted to him "the land between Swaden's Creek and Pincomb's Creek, in the Great Bay, so that it be no man's right of property, the said land is to ex- tend into the swamp and no farther." In 1660 the town granted fifty acres in addition in the same vi- cinity. In 1658 the town granted the South Mill privilege to John Pickering on condition of his keeping in repair a way for foot passengers in going to meeting. He then built the mill. John Picker- ing died in 1669, and his estate was entailed, passing into the possession of his eldest son, John. In course of time there were no male descendants of John Pickering, and the property passed out of his family into the hands of John Sheafe.

( II) Thomas, second son of John and Mary Pickering, inherited the farm of more than five hundred acres on Great Bay, then in Portsmouth, but now in Newington, and for more than two cen- turies it remained in the family. He died 1719-20. His will was dated August 14, 1719, and proven April 20. 1720. His wife's baptismal name was Mary. It is from this Thomas that all who now bear the name of Pickering in the vicinity of Ports- mouth have descended. Thomas Pickering was noted for great physical strength. He built his log hut on the bay, and while clearing the land was visited by a press gang from an English man-of-war in the harbor. There were two mnen in the party who visited the outskirts in the hope of finding men alone and thus being able to carry them away. They found Thomas Pickering on his premises, felling trees. After conversing with him and compliment- ing his fine' muscular development, they remarked that he was just such a man as His Majesty needed and commanded him to leave his work and follow them. Pickering declined, saying that he had a young family and was needed at home. Their reply was. "No excuse, sir, march." The spirit of Amer- ican liberty was already developed among the colon- ists in that far day, for these words could not be brooked by the lord of the forest, and seizing one of the men by the back of the neck with his left hand he placed his face on the ground and with the right raised his axe as if to chop off the fellow's head. His terrified companion seized his arm and begged for mercy. Pickering permitted them to go and they lost no time in getting away from the scene and appeared to feel that they had escaped from a lion's power. His brother John was also a man of might and one day they made a test of strength upon a wager. Captain John, the elder, piled up stacks of grain until he had ten bushels on his back, with which he walked up the steps into the mill. Thomas bore eleven and a half bushels and with a firm step went over the same track, thus win- ning the wager. One of the daughters married a Brackett and was the ancestress of the Brackett family now living in Greenland. One married a Seavey of Rye. another married a Wycks of Green- land. one a Gove and one a Chamberlain. In 1681 Thomas Pickering was taxed four shillings and six pence as his part of the Province rates for Ports- mouth. He was one of the signers of the petition against Governor Cramfield. His children were : James, Joshua, Thomas, Mary, Sarah, Rebekalı. Abi- gail. Bezaleel. Hannah. Elizabeth, Martha and Me- hitabel. (Thomas and descendants receive mention in this article).

(III) James, the eldest son of Thomas Picker-

ing, was born about 1680, and was the first male Pickering born in Newington, New Hampshire. He was a farmer in Newington and a lieutenant in the French war. From him sprang all the Pickerings of Newmarket (some of whom emigrated to the south). all those in Rochester and Barnstead, be- sides those remaining in Newington. His brother Joshua married a Smithson from Portsmouth, by whom he had six sons. His second brother Thomas married for his first wife a daughter of Colonel Downing, and for his second a Miss Janvrin, of Portsmouth. From him descended all the Picker- ings living in Greenland, and several families in Newington. One of his sons was Richard. Colonel Thomas, a grandson, in the last war with England commanded a regiment stationed on Pierce's Island. Lieutenant James married in 1717. The children were: John, Winthrop, Anthony, Thomas and Abi- gail. He died in 1768.

(IV) John, the eldest son of Lieutenant James Pickering, was born about 1718, and died in Newing- ton in 1790. He was the father of eight children, all born in Newington: Valentine. William, Ste- phen, James, John, Temperance, married a Hodg- don : Sarah, married a Tasker; and Polly.

(V) Stephen, third son and child of John Pickering, was born in Newington in 1739. He married Sarah Grow or Mehitable Grow, and settled in Barnstead. New Hampshire, where he died in 1825. His will was probated July 14, 1825. Their children were: James. Jacob. Stephen. Daniel. An- drew. Polly Gilman, Abigail, Rosmon Drew, Sally and Lois.

(VI) Jacob, second son and child of Stephen Pickering, was born about 1765, at Knight's Ferry, in Newington. and settled in Barnstead, where he was a successful farmer and passed his life. His wife, Betsey Jackson. was a native of Barnstead or Gilmanton. Their children were: Jacob, Ephraim, Joseph, Nathan Jackson, Smilinda, Hannah, Betsey Jackson and Lydia. (Mention of Betsey and de- scendants is a part of this article).

(VII) Joseph, third son and child of Jacob and Betsey (Jackson) Pickering, as born November I, 1787. in Barnstead, where he resided through life engaged in agriculture. He was a respected citizen. and lived to a good age, dying November I. 1864 He was a member of the Congregational Church, and served as justice of the peace. In political matters he acted with the Democratic party. His wife, Mary Lyford, was born December 25, 1786, and died July 13. 1844. in her fifty-eighth year. Their children are noted as follows: Hazen, the eldest, resided many years in Concord, where he was a prominent man, and died at a good age. Ann Stevens, the second, became the wife of Joseph Joy and died in Durham. Betsey Jackson married Henry Burleigh, resided many years in Pittsfield and died in Concord. Julia Ann was the wife of Gardner Bunker, a farmer of Barnstead, where she died. Jonathan Lyford filled many official stations and died in Concord. Mark resided in Boston and died there. Mary Jane is the wife of Deacon John Thompson, residing in Durham. Sophia Lyford was the wife of James R. Hill, and lived and died in Concord (see Hill. VII). Josephine is the wife of Leland A. Smith, of Concord.

(VII) Betsey Jackson, daughter of Jacob and Betsey (Jackson) Pickering, hecame the wife of Silas Bunker, of Barnstead. Mr. Bunker was born in 1783. and was a farmer in Barnstead and Tufton- borough, where he died in 1870. While in Barn-

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stcad he resided one mile north of the "Parade." He was the father of a son and daughter, Lewis and Hannah. The latter married Samuel Proctor, and had a daughter. Celia, who resides in Pitts- field.

(\'Il1) Lewis Bunker, first child of Silas and Betsey Jackson ( Pickering) Bunker, was born Jan- uary, 1818, in Tuftonborough, New Hampshire, where he passed his early life. He learned the trade of cabinet maker, and for a couple of years wrought at it in Reading, Massachusetts. While there as a Democrat he cast his first vote for Jobn Tyler, and since has never failed to vote for every Democratic candidate for president. After his resi- dence of two years in Reading he removed about 1840 to Pittsfield, where he lived ever afterwards. For over forty years he was the only undertaker in Pittsfield and vicinity. He was one of the best known men and representative citizens of the town, and a generous supporter of the Congregational Church, from whose Sunday services he was rarely absent. He represented the town in the legislature in 1862-63. and 1890-91. He joined the Corinthian Lodge of Free Masons, January 6. 1868, and at the time of his death was the oldest Free Mason in Pittsfield. The members of the lodge attended his funeral in a body, and at the grave performed their impressive burial service. With the exception of one severe illness, throughout his long life he en- joyed the most perfect health till his death from pneumonia, May 8, 1905. As a mark of respect the places of business in town were closed. Rev. George E. Lovejoy, a former pastor, assisted by Rev. James P. Harper, officiated at the services. He was buried in Floral Park cemetery. He married, July 18. 1842, Jane S., daughter of David and Rachel (Cram) Osgood. and what is unusual they lived to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage, July IS. 1902, in their pleasant home which they had occupied for over fifty years. On this occasion they received from their numerous friends beside many other beautiful and costly presents, sixty-seven dol- lars in gold. They were united in marriage by Rev. Enos George, for fifty-five years pastor at Barn- stead. His wife was born September 10, 1817, and died in Pittsfield, May 1, 1903. She was the oldest member of the Congregational Church, having joined in 1838. Their children were : Abbie, married Willis Brown. of Ilaverhill, Massachusetts, and died a few years prior to her parents, leaving one daugh- ter, Gertrude Brown, now residing in Haverhill. Myra Bunker.

(IX) Myra Bunker, daughter of Lewis and Jane S. (Osgood) Bunker, married James E. Hurst, and lives on the old homestead, still carrying on her father's business of undertaker, employing men for the purpose. She has one daughter, Mabel Bunker Ilur-t, who is eligible to the order of the Daughters of the Revolution.

(11[) Joshua, second son of Thomas Pickering, married a Smithson and had six sons. He resided in Newington, where he had a large farm.

(IV) John, son of Joshua and - (Smith- son) Pickering, was born in Newington, and was a very prominent citizen of the state. He graduated from Harvard College in 1761, and was long dis- tingnished as a practitioner before the state and federal courts and in his late years was a judge of the United States district court for New Hamp- chire. He was married to his second cousin, - Sheafe, daughter of William Sheafe, a member of

one of the most influential families of the city of Portsmouth. He died April 11, 1805, at his home in Portsmouth.

(V) Jacob S., son of Hon. John and

(Sheafe) Pickering, was born in Portsmouth, and died there. He was for many years the cashier of the Rockingham Bank, and was a respected and esteemed citizen of Portsmouth throughout his life.

(VI) John J., son of Jacob S. Pickering, was born July 8, 1822, in Portsmouth, and resided through life in that city, where he died. He suc- ceeded his father as cashier of the Rockingham Bank on August 31, 1849, and after filling that posi- tion more than twenty-six years was elected presi- dent of the bank, January 1I, 1876. As a banker and financier he attained an honorable distinction which few have achieved. At the time of his death he was also president of the Concord & Portsmouth Railroad and director in the Portsmouth Atheneum. and until its dissolution was president of the Ports- mouth Aqueduct Company. He was also president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani- mals. He held various positions of trust and dis- charged their duties with ability and fidelity. He was the dispenser of a great many bounties in a quiet and unostentatious way; he made no parade of his charities, but there are many families who miss his timely benefactions. When in health he was one of the most constant attendants upon the services of the Unitarian Church, of which his uncle by marriage, Rev. Parker, was for many years pas- tor. Mr. Pickering was a graduate of Phillips- Exeter Academy and one of the last surviving pupils of the celebrated tutor, Moses Harris. Dur- ing his long life his personal and business records were without blemish. He possesses a fine literary taste and had a large acquaintance with the best authors, with a great knowledge of local history. He had a keen sense of humor and a very retentive memory, and was a most interesting and agreeable conversationalist. As a business man he stood without a peer, as a citizen and friend he was widely and deeply appreciated, and his memory will ever be cherished most lovingly by all who were privileged to know him.

(III) Thomas (2), third son and child of Thomas (1) Pickering, was born November 28, 1703, in Newington, New Hampshire, and died De- cember 9, 1786. His will was dated April 4, 1782, and was proven January 17, 1787. He married (first), February 7, 1727. Mary, daughter of Colonel Downing, and (second), May 18, 1743. Mary Jan- vrin. of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The children by the first wife were: Nicholas, Temperance, John Gee and James. The children by the second wife were: Elizabeth, William, Mary. Benjamin, Sarah. married James Joy: Richard, Alice and Patience.

A noted member of the Pickering family was James F. Joy, born in 18to, son of Jame, and Sarah Joy, for many years a leading member of the bar in Detroit. He became interested. in railroad enter- prises and was prominent in the organization of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad which was effected under that title in 1856. In 1866 he was president of the Michigan Central Railroad and hield that position as late as 1871. The St. Mary's Falls ship canal was constructed by a company which he organized.

(IV) Richard, son of Thomas (2) and Mary (Janvrin) Pickering, was born April 15, 1755, in Newington, New Hampshire, and died December I,

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1831. agcd seventy-six years. Mary Thompson, his widow. died October 10, 1837. and her will was proven December 14, 1841. She was a daughter of Judge Ebenezer Thompson. Among the prominent men of New Hampshire at the Revolutionary period was the Hon. Ebenezer Thompson, councillor of the state under the temporary constitution, and again under the state constitution, member of the com- mittee of safety, judge for many years of the court of common pleas, justice of the superior court of judicature, etc., etc. He was born March 5, 1737, . Old Style, at Durham, New Hampshire, and died August 14, 1802. He married Mary, daughter of Vincent Torr, a native of Devonshire, England ; she was born September 1, 1740, Old Style: she married Ebenezer Thompson, May 22. 1758. They had five children : Sarah. Ann. Ebenezer, Benjamin, Mary, who married Richard Pickering. The father of Hon. Ebenezer Thompson was Robert Thompson who must have reached manhood, or nearly so in 1707. He could not have been born later than 1688 or 1690. Strange to say, no record has been found of his birth, marriage or the precise time of his death. It is certain. however, that he was married as early as 1722 to Abigail, daughter of Captain Samuel Emerson and of Judith. his wife.

Richard Pickering was a very exact and respect- able man, and was the richest one in the town. Every person acquainted with him had confidence in him. He was upright, honest and square. a good citizen and whatever he said was believed. He was a man generally esteemed, one in early life of great physical power and industry. He held several offices and took a strong interest in affairs, and gave ad- vice with much ability and judgment. His wife was a lady possessing great beauty of person, as well as energy of character. He was one of the Newington "Sons of Liberty" who at the period of the Revolu- tion pledged their lives and fortunes in support of their country, and against its oppressors. His chil- dren were : Temperance. Mary. John K .. Richard, Eben T., Sarah Ann and William L.

(V) John Knight, eldest son and third child of Richard and Mary (Thompson) Pickering, was born November 9, 1792. in Newington, and died No- vember 8, 1859. in Portsmouth. He married. Octo- ber, 1823. Lucy Maria Goddard, who was born Feb- ruary I. 1793. and died December 29, 1872, a daugh- ter of Hon. John Goddard, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Mr. John Pickering, in an eminent de- gree, possessed several of prominent mental and physical characteristics of his ancestors, John Pick- ering and his sons, John and Thomas. His resi- dence and place of business were principally at Portsmouth. New Hampshire. although for a short period he. with his brother-in-law. Langdon God- dard, was engaged in mercantile pursuits in the city of New York. John Knight Pickering removed to Portsmouth from Newington at an early age. He was a merchant of energy and skill, and a highly respected gentleman. For energy of character, de- cision, perseverance sterling integrity, and an exact methodical system in the transaction of business. he probably had no superior in the community. His word was indeed a bond. and from what he regarded right nothing could swerve him. In the victory he was able to make over a strength of natural temper- ament greater than falls to the commen lot of man, he manifested in his social and domestic life a cor- responding strength of mind. His children were: John (died young), Annie G., David S., Charles G. and Mary Elizabeth Langdon. The last named be-

came the wife of Captain Thomas A. Harris, of Portsmouth (see Harris, second family, III ).

NILES This family has produced several men of mark in the United States, first among whom, perhaps, was the Rev. Dr. Sam- uel Niles, for more than two score years pastor of the Congregational Church at Braintree, Massachu- setts (now Quincy). He it was of whom Charles Francis Adams said: "So long as Dr. Niles lived my father always went to him as to questions of conscience and duty, because, as my father used to say, 'Dr. Sam Niles is beyond all question the great gun of the gospel.'" Another eminent man of this race was Hon. Nathaniel Niles, of Fairlee, Vermont, judge of the supreme court of that state and, earlier, judge of the supreme court of Massachu- setts. He was a man of very pronounced character and ways. Of him the late brilliant Dr. Benjamin Crosby said: "If any youth in this day within fifty miles of Burlington. Vermont, had suddenly been asked. 'Who made the world?' he would have said, 'Judge Niles.'" He had an amusing and edi- fying habit of preaching, when he had leisure for it, during the terms of the supreme court. His famous sermon at the burial of Mrs. Ann Niles was bought for the British Museum, where one of the Niles family later found it. The late William Watson Niles, judge of the supreme court of New York. and William Niles, who has a very celebrated fancy farm near Los Angeles, California, are noted members of the family. Another Niles, a gradu- ate of Dartmouth College, owned the site of the city of Niles, Michigan, where he settled in the early days of Michigan statehood. Judge Jason Niles, of Mississippi, an older brother of Bishop Niles, of New Hampshire, was greatly distinguished for his learning and his eccentricity. Though a hard-worked lawyer, having a small income and a large family, he managed to add several languages and branches of learning and science to his univer- sity education. He and his wife were the only teachers his children ever had. llc was a man of most astonishingly tenacious memory. The late Bishop Bissell, of Vermont, once told Bishop Niles that he had seen Judge Niles read carefully three times over an entire act from a play in Greek and then heard him repeat it verbatim. The late Hon. L. Q. C. Lamar said of Judge Niles: "I have no doubt he is the most learned man, and has the most varied, most interesting and best read private li- brary south of Washington. in the United States." On one occasion Bishop Niles was on the streets of Kosciusko, Mississippi. with the speaker of the house of representatives of that state, an uncompro- mising Democrat, when the latter, pointing across the street toward Judge Niles, said: "There goes the best loved man who ever walked the soil of Mississippi." The distinguished ability and great service of Bishop Niles, of New Hampshire, re- quire no comment among the people of the state where he has spent so many years of his useful and exceedingly busy life. In many families of this lineage, law, medicine and divinity, in the order given, were the chosen professions of succeeding generations. A writer is quoted as saying of the Nileses, that they were endowed with a keen sense of humor. were good neighbors, noted for "toeing out." having broad shoulders, high backs, short necks, and possessing a great fondness for getting into cold water. The name was once spelled "Nials and Nialls," and some of the ancestors of

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the present stock who bore it were taken from Ire- land. the original home of the family, to Wales.

(1) From that country Jolin Niles, the earliest ancestor of whom we have definite record in this country, came in the ship "Speedwell" in 1635, and settled in Braintree, Massachusetts.

(II) Increase, son of John Niles, born in 1646, died in 1693. He married Mary Purchase.

(III) John, son of Increase and Mary (Pur- chase) Niles, was born in 1678 and died in 1752. Ilis children werc: Increase, born 1703; Hannal, 1705: John, 1708: Matthew, 1710 (?) ; Daniel, 1712; Bethiah, 1713; Sarah, 1715; Lydia, 1719; Peter, 1722. 1752 was a fatal year in the Niles family. In May of that year six of its members died. John, the father; his brother Ezenezer; his sister Mary; John's wife, Mary; Peter, his son; and 'Nathan, his son.

(IV) Nathan, son of John Niles, born in Bridg- water, Massachusetts, in 1757, died in 1810 at All- burn, Maine. He married Freelove , and had four children: Ephraim, Silas. Deborah and Nathan. They all died in Minot, Maine, in 1836. (V) Nathan (2), son of Nathan (1) and Free-

love Niles, died in 1836.

He married Rebecca

", and had children : James ; Nathan, killed when young; Daniel Swit, Samuel; Ruth, who married David Monroe; Charlotte Polly, mar- ried Asael Kingsley; Nathan (2), born 1783, died in 1851, weighing four hundred and thirty-six pounds; Sally M .; Samuel Burke, dicd at Yarmouth, Mainc, November, 1879.

(V1) Daniel Swit, son of Nathan and Rebecca Niles, was born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, November 6, 1775, and died December 12, 1860. in Hatley, Province of Quebec. While very young he accompanied his father's family to Minot, Maine, where they settled. Between the years 1800 and 1805 Daniel S. Niles removed to Hatley, Province of Quebec, where he was an early settler of that then wilderness country. He married (first) Re- becca Bryant, by whom he had five children: El- vira, Daniel, Salmon, Lydia and Winslow Bryant. Ile married (second) Alice Reed, a kinswoman of the late Hon. Thomas B. Reed, and they were the parents of five children: Sophia and Sally, died in childhood; Jason, a member of the forty-third congress from Mississippi, and judge of the state court, and whose son Henry now fills the position of United States district judge for Mississippi by appointment of President Harrison; Cyrus, who died in the Province of Quebec: and Jane, wife of George Barnard, of Sherbrooke, Province of Quebec. Ile married (third) Delia Woodruff. daughter of William and Ruth ( Porter) Woodruff, of Farming- ton, Connecticut, by whom he had children : Mariette Julia, and William Woodruff Niles. The first is the wife of David G. Perkins, of Vale Perkins, Quebec.

(VII) William Woodruff, son of Daniel Swit and Delia ( Woodruff ) Niles, was born in Hatley, Province of Quebec, May 24, 1832. Ilis education began early in the public schools, after which he attended the local academy, afterward Derby Academy, and Trinity College, Hartford. Connecti- cut. from which he was graduated in 1857. He he- gan teaching at the age of seventeen years and taught six terms before entering college. After graduation he was one year tutor in Trinity Col- lege and subsequently taught two years in the Ilart- ford high school, and then entered Berkley Divinity school. from which he took his degree with the class of 1861. Ile was ordained deacon the same

year at Middletown by Bishop Williams, of Con- necticut. and priest in June, 1862, at Wiscassett, Maine, by George Burgess, the great first bishop of Mainc. His first parish was that of Wiscassett, Maine, where he remained from 1861 to 1864. From 1864 to 1870 he was Professor of Latin in Trinity College, Hartford, and during the last three years of that time was also rector of St. John's Church at Warehouse Point, Connecticut. In these years he was a very busy man. developing ability and power very rapidly and fast rising in the esteem and confidence of the leaders of the church. Septem- ber 21, 1870, he was consecrated bishop of New Hampshire, at Concord. From then until now he has filled that place and discharged the duties incident to it with much credit to himself and the entire satisfaction of the many interests that he has had to direct. The diocese over which he was ap- pointed contained at the time he took charge of it seventeen church buildings in use, either conse- crated or nearly ready for consecration. Under the stimulus of his guidance it has now forty-three churches.

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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 15

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