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 76

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 76

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(VIII) Clarence Ward, eldest child of Benja- min Ward and Sarah Emily ( Huse) Plummer, was born March 9, 1865, at Tilton, New Hampshire. He was educated at Tilton Seminary. He then spent three years in learning the carpenter's trade. He worked at the Lakeside House, Weirs, New Hamp- shire, for a short time. He next took a partner- ship in the clothing firm of E. D. Steele & Com- pany at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where he remained one year. In 1888 he came to Lakeport, New Hampshire, and went into the drug business as clerk for Joseph L. Odell until 1892, when he bought out the store with a partner by the name of Walter F. Thompson; firm name Plummer & Thompson. Mr. Thompson died in June, 1904, and Mr. Plum- mer became sole proprietor. He is a Republican in politics. He represented ward six, Laconia. in the state legislature of 1897. He is a member of the city council, having held that office continuously since March, 1904. He is an Odd Fellow, belong- ing to Chocorna Lodge, No. 51 ; he is a Mason, be- longing to Mount Lebanon Lodge, Union Chapter, Pythagorean Council and Pilgrim Commandery, Knights Templar, of Laconia, also a member of Mt. Sinai, Temple of Mystic Shriners. December

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5. 1889, he married Clara M. Gage, daughter of Josiah and Maria A. (Poland) Gage, born at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, in September, 1864.

PLUMMER All the efforts of Plummer genc- alogists to connect the generation of Jesse, 1740-1824, with that of any earlier generation of the descendants of Francis. who seems to have been accepted as the ancestor of all of the New England Plummers, have proved fruitless, and while it is known almost beyond a question of doubt that the families are related one or two writers on the subject have gone to the extent of giving Jesse the prominence of being founder of this branch of the family, as they have also of some others of the surname whose descent from Francis cannot be accurately traced. History gives the year of Jesse's birth, marriage and death and something of his life and places of abode, but is silent in respect to the place of his birth, his parentage and anything of his antecedents.

(I) Jesse Plummer was born September IS (28). 1740 (1742), and died December 26, 1824. His wife, Sarah Merrill, was born April 16, 1739, and died April 15, 1824. The first knowledge we have of Jesse other than that previously mentioned is that he removed with his family from London- derry. New Hampshire, to the town of Sanbornton in 1777-79, settled first in what is known as the Woodman house and after about three years took up a permanent residence in Meredith near the Sanbornton line, in the locality named for him, Plummer neighborhood. Jesse and Sarah (Merrill) . Plummer had nine sons and two daughters: Na- thaniel, born May 29, 1764, married Susannah, daughter of Rev. Nicholas Folsom: died June 13, 1853. Moses, October 20, 1765. died June 14. 1859; married. September 10, 1808, Nancy Fox. Molly, November 27, 1766, married Captain Elisha Piper. Jesse. February 6, 1768, died October 23, 1839. Amos. September 11, 1769. died June 17; 1850. Nathan, October 3. 1772, died July 5, 1850. Jo- seph, born in Londonderry, October 28, 1774, died December 3, 1863. Parker, May 20, 1777, died De- cember 12, 1861. Stephen, March 14, 1779, died June 26, 1858. Richard. June 10. 1781, in San- bornton, died January 28, 1861. Sarah, April 27, 1783. in Meredith, New Hampshire, married John Folsom.

(II) Nathan, sixth child and fifth son of Jesse and Sarah ( Merrill) Plummer, was born October 3. 1772, and died in Meredith, New Hampshire. July 5. 1850. In business life he was a farmer and shoemaker, first in Sanbornton and afterward in Meredith, where the greater part of his active life was spent. Ile is remembered as a very pious man and for many years was a deacon of the Baptist Church in New Hampton. He married, July 23. 1703. Hannah Lane, born October 15, 1777. died January 144. 1850, eldest daughter of Samuel and Judith ( Clifford) Lane (see Lane. V), and a de- scendant of William Lane, of Boston, 1651. No- than and Hannah (Lane) Plummer had eight chil- dren : Samuel. born in Sanbornton. September 25. 1704, died February 21. 1852. Polly. born in Meredith, March 1, 1796, died July 3. 1836. Abi- gail S., December 16, 1798, married Ira Sanborn. Nathan, Jr., December 8, 1800. died May 14, 1828. David. April 7, 1803, died on the old home farm in Meredith. Lane. July 22, 1805, married Mary Downing. Moses Gilman, December 11. 1807, died April 1, 1885. Charles II., March 6, 1812, died No- ber 24, 1862.

vember 16. 1847: married Abigail Lane, October II, 1838: she died November 16, 1847.

(III) Moses Gilman, youngest but one of the children of Nathan and Hannah (Lane) Plummer. was born in Meredith, and by principal occupation was a farmer, but eventually sold his farm land; and afterward conducted a saw inill at Meredith Centre. He was a prominent man in the town, taking considerable interest in its affairs, and in politics was originally a Whig and afterward a -trong Republican. He also was an earnest mem- ber of the Free Will Baptist Church and con- tributed liberally to its support. In 1834 Mr. Plummer married Betsy S. Smith, daughter of Jo- seph and Betsy Smith, born March 18, 1813. in Corinth, Vermont, died in Meredith, New Hamp- shire. April 14, 1898. Their children : Joseph Smith. born January. 1835, married (first) Elvira MI. Doloff, who died February 21. 1864: married (second) Phoebe A. Doloff. Nathan. June IS, 1837. died April 12, 1838. Edward, April 5, 1839. entered the army during the Civil war as a mem- ber of the Fourth Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, and died in the service of yellow fever. October o. 1864, at Raleigh, North Carolina. Nathan G., February 6. 1841, married, November 11. 1869. Sarah E. Glidden. daughter of Smith M. Glidden. Nathan served throughout the war of 1861-65 as a member of Company I, Twelfth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. Martin B., October 11, 1844. Ellen B., October 13, 1851, died July 17, 1878; mar- ried Charles E. Swain.

(IV) Martin Bartlett, fifth child and youngest son of Moses Gilman and Betsy S. ( Smith) Plum- mer. was born in the town of Meredith. New Hampshire. October 11, 1844. His young life was spent on the farm and in attending public schools. and in 1863 he went to Lakeport to learn the trade of machinist in the shops of B. J. Cole. On April 14. 1864, at Concord, he enlisted as private in Com- pany A, First New Hampshire Cavalry, and went with the regiment to the front, serving until the close of the war. The first engagement in which he had part was at Hanover Court House. Virginia. followed by that at White Oak Swamp, the famons Wilson raid toward Richmond and later was with Sheridan's force in its active operations in the Shenandoah valley. He was mustered out at Cloud's Mills. Virginia, and then returned to his home. Returning from the service Mr. Plummer lived at Gilmanton Iron Works until the latter part of 1868, then removed to Meredith and lived there. except for one year at Waterville, until 1872, when he settled in Laconia and secured a position with the Cook Lumber Company and still later with George W. Riley, lumber manufacturer. In May. IS92. he was appointed clerk of the Laconia Police court, which position he still holds, and in No- vember. 1892, was elected register of deeds of Belknap county, and he still holds that office by successive re-election at the end of each term. Mr. Plummer is a member and past commander of John L. Perlev Post Grand Army of the Republic, and has served as a member of the council of ad- ministration of the New Hampshire department of that organization, and in 1895 was its delegate to the national encampment at Louisville, Kentucky. He also is a member of the society of Pilgrim Fathers, the Belknap County Fish and Game Asso- ciation, and in politics is a Republican. On Novem- ber 20. 1866, Martin Bartlett Plummer married El- len S. Cook, daughter of Danforth and llannah

martin B. Lamme lumine

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( Southmayd) Cook, by whom he has four children : Lillian B., born August 8, 1867, died December 25, 1870. Mabel E., March 16, 1870, married, April 22, 1896, Amber R. Connor. Fred D., June 16, 1872, assistant treasurer of the Cook Lumber Company, Laconia. Lena B., November 4, 1876, died April I, ISS4.

(I) Jesse Plumer, from whom we have an un- broken line, was born September 18, 1740, and was fourth in descent from Francis Plumer. He re- moved from Rowley, Massachusetts, to London- derry, New Hampshire, some time before the Revo- lutionary war, as he then signed the Association test, 1775, as committee of safety, as follows : "We the subscribers solemnly promise that we will to the utmost of our power, at the risque of our lives and fortunes, with Arms, oppose the hostile pro- ceedings of the British fleet and Armies against the United States and the American . Colonies." In 1777 Jesse Plumer removed to Meredith, New Hampshire, where several generations have since resided. He married Sarah Merrill, of London- derry, who was born April 16, 1739, and died Ati- gust 15, 1824; the date of his death is not given. Their children were: Nathaniel. Moses, Molly, Jesse, Amos, Nathan, Joseph, Parker, Stephen, Richard and Sarah. Joseph Plumer, the sixth son, was long known as the "Hermit of Meredith," he having lived nearly sixty years in solitude.

(11) Nathaniel, oldest son of Jesse and Sarah ( Merrill) Plumer, was born May 29, 1764, in Lon- donderry, and died in Meredith June 13, 1853. He was a farmer, succeeding to his father's place in Meredith. He married Susannah Fulsome, daugh- ter of Rev. Nicholas Fulsome, of Meredith. She was born December 23, 1769. and died May 22, 1829. Their nine children were: John, died in childhood ; Nathaniel: Sarah: Nicholas Falsome; Mary; Jesse ; David Burleigh; Jolin (2), and George W.

(III) Nathaniel (2) Plumer was born in Mere- dith, February 19, 1793, and died January 5, 1822, aged twenty-nine. He married Betsey Bowdoin Kelley, daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Roberts) Kelley. (See Bowdoin, V). She was born in June, 1794. They had three children: Lucy, died young; George Washington, born in 1819; and Charles Nathaniel. Betsey Bowdoin (Kelley) Plumer mar- ried second, David Atwood, of Alexandria. He took the family to his home in that town, and by his will made her son Charles Nathaniel, heir to his large estate.

(IV) Charles Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel (2) and Betsey Bowdoin (Kelley) Plumer, was born December 4, 1820, in Meredith, and died in Auburn, New Hampshire, December 5. 1899. He was edu- cated in the public schools and at the New Hamp- ton Institute. He was a successful school teacher, and also taught singing schools for many years. He studied medicine, but in consequence of ill health was able to practice but a short time. His life work was done in Alexandria, where he became an extensive farmer and cattle dealer. He was a man of superior natural abilities, serving his town in its various offices, and was superintendent of the school committee for a long term of years. His church relations were with the Methodist Episco- pal Church at Bristol, and he was long a valued member of the choir. In politics he was a Demo- crat. December 4, 1845, he married Louisa Penni- man Simons. She was of excellent parentage, a daughter of Timothy and Abigail (Hill) Simons, and was born in Alexandria, October 1, 1820. Mrs. Plumer was a woman of rare intelligence, strong in

mind and forceful in character, thus endowing her children with a rich heritage. She died in Alex- andria, December 14, 1889. Their five children, all born in Alexandria were: Frances Augusta, Sarah Lizzie, David Bowdoin, Charles Lucian and Anna Louisa.

Frances Augusta Plumer married in Bristol, February 6, 1877, Willard H. Griffin, of Auburn, New Hampshire, a man of large business interests, a manufacturer of and an extensive dealer in lum- ber. He is also active in the civil affairs of his town, being its treasurer at the present time (1906). Mrs. Griffin, formerly a school teacher, has been an efficient member of the Auburn school board for twelve years; lecturer of the Grange four years, and has been librarian of the Griffin Library since 1893. They have one child, George Plumer Griffin.

Sarah Lizzie, second daughter of Charles and Louisa Penniman (Simons) Plumer, graduated at the New Hampton Literary Institute in 1875, taking second honor, her rank in the classical course being very high. She was principal of a school in Ma- comb, Illinois, until her health failed. She died in Bristol, March 19, 1885, aged thirty-four years.

Charles Lucian Plumer, in addition to farming, has been interested in the hotel business. He mar- ried Mary Payson, of Tilton.

Anna Louise is the wife of Fred Lewis Pattee. (See Pattee, VIII).

David Bowdoin, oldest son of Charles Nathaniel and Louisa Penniman (Simons) Plumer, was born in Alexandria, September 24, 1853. He fitted for college at New Hampton Institute, class of 1875; and studied law two years with Samuel K. Mason, of Bristol, and Briggs & Huse, of Manchester. Believing that an active life would be an advantage to him, as his health was not firm, Mr. Plumer abandoned the law and engaged in the resort hotel business; he was for twenty years manager of the famous hotels : The Laurel House, and the Laurel in the Pines, at Lakewood, New Jersey. During this time he developed the Waumbeck, at Jefferson, New Hampshire, and continued as its manager for thirteen years. In 1904 he removed from Lakewood, New Jersey, to Briarcliff, New York, to develop the hotel and realty interests of Walter H. Law. Mr. Plumer is now vice-president and general manager of the Briarcliff Lodge Association, and his success has been phenomenal. For residential purposes Briarcliff Manor is attracting wide attention, not only among wealthy people, but for city workers who desire country homes. Mr. Plumer has found his recreation in music. He is a member and war- den of All Saints Episcopal Church in Lakewood, and for years was a tenor and director of its choir. He is a member of the New Jersey Society of Colonial Wars, and of the Huguenot Society of America (from Bowdoin ancestry), and a member of the New York Sons of the Revolution (from thie Kelley side of the family). On March 2, 1882, in Manchester, New Hampshire, he married Fran- cena Emerson. (See Emerson). They have one child, Bowdoin.

Many local historians and genealo- PLUMER gists in various parts of New Hamp- shire have written and treated

more or less comprehensively this name, but not one of them all is there who has traced the connection of Joseph Plumer, of Belmont and Gil- manton, New Hampshire, with carlier generations of his ancestors from Francis's time to his own. The period of his life lay in the last half of the

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nineteenth century. There is no question of doubt that this Joseph Plumer was a descendant of Francis of Newbury, but on account of some oversight or defective town records his ancestors of generations anterior to his own cannot be accurately determined.

(I) Joseph Plumer (he was sometimes referred to as Joseph senior) was born in that part of the old town of Gilmanton which afterward was set off to form Belmont, and spent his life time in that region. His wife was Elizabeth Norris, who is said to have been a sister of Captain David Norris, and by whom he had two sons, Joseph and Samuel Plumer. Sam- uel Plumer married Nancy Lamprey, and among their children were three sons, Jefferson, Benjamin and George Plumer.

(II) Joseph (2), son of Joseph (1) and Eliza- beth ( Norris) Plumer, was born in Belmont (Gil- manton), New Hampshire, and was a farmer of that town until the time of his death, at the age of forty-five years. Ilis wife was Sally Lamprey, of Gilmanton, and after marriage they settled on the farm in that town which afterward was occu- pied by their only son. Joseph and Sally (Lamprey) Plumer had six children: Eliza, who married Wil- liam Ayers and removed to the state of Maine; Sarah J., who died at the age of twenty years; Charles E., late of Gilmanton, New Hampshire ; Mary E., who married Henry Marsh, and lived in Gilmanton; Martha O., who married Benjamin Bryer and settled in Maine; and Laura A., who be- came the wife of Horace Drew.

(III) Charles E., only son of Joseph and Sally (Lamprey) Plumer, was born in the town of Gil- manton, New Hampshire, October 29, 1831, and died there July 27, 1906. He was brought up to farm work and in his father's declining years took the re- sponsibility of the management of the farm, and up- on the death of his parent succeeded him in its ownership. He was a thrifty husbandman. taking great pride in improving the old place that it might yield abundantly, and under his prudent manage- ment the Plumer homestead farm became known as one of the best in that part of Belknap county. He also gave considerable attention to sheep grow- ing and made that a profitable undertaking. lle married, April 7. 1853, Mary H. Moody, who was born in Gilmanton, December 26, 1830, daughter of Stephen S. Moody. ( See Moody, IX). Three chil- dren were born of this marriage: Etta J., now de- ceased, who became the wife of Edwin N. Sanborn, of Gilmanton, and had four children-Carrie E., wife of Frank H. Furber, of Alton, New Hampshire, and William Alberto, see forward.

(IV) William Alberto Plummer. only son of the late Charles E. and Mary H. (Moody) Plumer, was born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, December 2, 1865. His earlier literary education was acquired in public schools and Gilmanton Academy, where he graduated in June, 1884, and his higher education at Dartmouth College, where he entered in 1884 for the class of '88, but did not make the entire course on account of impaired health, which com- pelled him to abandon his studies. In January, 1886, he began a course of law study in the office of J. C. Story, of Plymouth, New Hampshire, re- maining there until September of the same year and then occupied a teacher's chair in a graded school in Canaan, New Hampshire. As a pedagogue he proved successful and while so employed he found needed rest as well as opportunity to continue his law studies, for he was determined to enter the legal profession, At one time he had superinten- dence of all of the schools of Canaan village, and

afterward for a time was principal of a private school. While in Canaan his preceptor in law was George Washington Murray (A. 31. Dartmouth, 1875), with whom he was a student until 1887, when he entered Boston University Law School, where he was graduated in June, 1889.

Having come to the law bachelor degree at the university Mr. Plummer presented himself for admis- sion to the bar in New Hampshire, and on July 20, 1889, was admitted to practice in the courts of the state. On September 2, following, he became partner with Stephen Shannon Jewett, of Laconia, and from that time to the present the firm name of Jewett & Plummer has been known in the courts and all pro- fessional circles in New Hampshire. Always a busy lawyer Mr. Plummer nevertheless has found time to take an active part in public and political affairs, and in the councils of the Democracy is known as one of the leading men of the party in this state, but he has always held firmly to the true principles of his party and is classed with what is known as the sound money element of the national Democracy. He first represented his ward in La- conia in the legislature in 1893, and by re-election in 1906 is a member of the house in the session of 1907, and a member of its judiciary committee, and the candidate of the Democratic party for speaker of the house. For several years he has been closely identified with the political and business history of Laconia. He was elected a member of the board of education March 13, 1894, served as a member until the spring of 1897, when he was elected presi- dent of the board and has been its president since. In 1896 he was a member of the New Hampshire delegation to the national Democratic convention held in Chicage. October 3, 1907, he was appointed by the governor and council, justice of the superior court of New Hampshire to succeed Hon. Robert J. Peaslee, who was at the same time appointed to succeed Hon. William M. Chase on the supreme court, who retired December 28, 1907, by reason of age limit. Among the various positions he has held in connection with the institutions of Laconia is that of director of the board of trade, Laconia Na- tional Bank, Laconia Building and Loan Associa- tion and trustee of the City Savings Bank. He holds membership in various subordinate Masonic bodies and is a Knight Templar, Thirty-second degree Mason, and is now grand master of Masons in New Hampshire, Knight of Pythias, member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and an Elk.

Mr. Plummer married, January 1, 1890, Ellen F. Murray, of Canaan, New Hampshire, daughter of George Washington Murray, A. M., and grand- daughter of John and Mary Murray. Mr. and Mrs. Plummer have one son, Wayne M. Plummer, born in Laconia, March 21, 1891.

(1) Dr. Nathan Plummer was born August 10, 1787. in Londonderry. He studied medicine at Dart- mouth, and began the practice of the healing art about 1817. and for fifty years he responded to the calls of the sick in Auburn, where he settled soon after graduation. In 1865 he bought a farm in the central part of the town, upon which he lived until his death, in 1865. In politics he was a Re- publican, and served as superintendent of schools. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and for many years a deacon. lle married first, Sarah Colby, daughter of Jacinth and Mary ( Calef ) Colby, formerly of Pembroke. The children of this union were: Mary C., William, Judith C., John, Sarah, Henry and Ann. Mrs. Plummer died March 1, 1835. Dr. Plumuner married (second ), in 1836, Mehitable

Шлейian А. Сете

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Densmore, daughter of Robert and Hannah (Long) Densmore, of Auburn. She died in 1895. The children by the second wife were: Edwin, mentioned below; Albert, born September, 1840, married Belle Steere, and lives in Racine, Minnesota ; Sarah, born 1842, married Henry Bond; Nathan, born 1849.

(II) Edwin, eldest child of Dr. Nathan and Me- hitable (Densmore ) Plummer, was born in Auburn, March 15, 1838, and at the age of twenty years went to Boston, Massachusetts, where he was a carrier of papers for two years. In the first year of the Civil war he enlisted in Company C, Second Regiment New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, and served with soldierly fidelity for three years, and took part in the first battle of Bull Run, and the engagement at Williamsburg, in which he was wounded. Later he participated in the battles of Malvern Hill (second), and Chantilly, the second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, the three days battle at Gettysburg, then in the investment of Petersburg, and the battle of Cold Harbor. He was honorably discharged at Concord, New Hampshire, June 21, 1865, the war being over. He then returned to the farm, of which he took charge for his father while he lived, and upon which he now resides. He is a prosperous tiller of the soil, and a man of influence among his townsmen. He has been elected by the Republicans to serve in various town offices, and has served as representative three terms-1875-'76-1901. His church affiliations are with the Congregational denomination. He is a member of Bell Post, No. 41, Grand Army of the Republic, of Auburn. He was married December 31, 1865, to Sarahı Webster, who was born in Manchester, daughter of Amos and Sally (Weston) Webster, of Manchester. She was educated in the public schools of her native city, including the high school, and taught school for a time. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of Massabesic Grange. Pa- trons of Husbandry. She died in April, 1904, leaving one child, Lula G., who was born August 6, 1866. She married Martin L. Piper, of Washington, D. C., an officer at the national capitol, and they have one child, Carroll.

BOYNTON The members of this early immi- grant family in America trace its pedigree through many generations in this country and England to the time of the Con- quest. In a sequestered rural neighborhood border- ing on the town of Bridlington and not far from the shore of the North Sea, in the eastern part of York- shire, England, stands the ancient village of Boyn- ton, which derives importance from its having given name to the family of Boynton, and their principal seat for centuries. The manor house was from a very early period the residence of the Boyntons, the family sent forth branches into the neighboring villages, at an early period, East Heslerton and Wintringham being the abode for several genera- tions of that branch whose descendants, William and John, came to New England in 1637 and settled at Rowley, Massachusetts.

(I) Bartholomew de Boynton. who was seized of the manor of Boynton in 1067, was the first men- tioned as having used the name as a surname. He was succeeded in his estate by his son.

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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 76

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