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. III, Part 120

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: 876

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. III > Part 120

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(II) Andy, second son of Nicholas and Eliza- beth Holt, was born in Andover. Massachusetts, in 1644, and died there January 17, 1719, aged seven- ty-five. His name appears on "A list of all the Male Persons in Andover Irom sixteen years old that took oath of allegiance ffevruary II, 1678." In 1690 he was elected member of the board of selectmen. In 1693 "Henry Hoult senr," was one of the "surveiors" (Southend). In 1694 "Henry Holt senr," was of the constables of the town and in the following year again a "surveior," and again in 1696. He married, February 21, 1669, Sarah, daugh- ter of William Ballard, and they had fourteen chil- dren. The nine sons were: Oliver, Henry. James, George, Josiah, Paul. William, Humphrey and Ben- jamin.

(III) Oliver, eldest son of Henry and Sarah (Ballard) Ilolt, was born in Andover, January 14, 1071. He married, January 16, 1698, Hannah Rus-

sell. Nine sons were born to them: Oliver, David, Uriah, Jonathan, Joseph, Benjamin, Jacob, Thomas, and William, who is next mentioned.

(IV) William, youngest child of Oliver and Hannah (Russell) Holt, was born in Andover, Massachusetts, and died in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire. The exact date of his settlement in Lyndeborough is not known, but it was some time previous to 1740, for the town records show that his son William was "born March 23, 1740." It is a tradition that William Holt came to Salem, Canada, with David Stratton, and if Stratton took a deed of some land in 1745, that is probably the year. After spending one winter with Stratton hunting and trapping, he bought the lot numbered 76, or what was afterwards the Dr. Herrick farm, taking a deed, August 9, 1753. Later he bought Stratton's Iarm, and settled there. This farm is the one now owned by his descendant, Fred A. Holt. He mar- ried Beulah and they had children : Beulah, Oliver, William and Betsy ( twins), Benja- min, Mary and Judith.

(\') Oliver (2), son of William and Beulah Holt, was born in Lyndeboro, May 16, 1766. He was a soldier inthe revolutionary war, enlisting in Lyndeboro, September 17, 1782, in Captain Wil- liam Boyes company of Colonel Reynolds regiment of the New Hampshire militia, marching September 25, and serving one year in the Canada campaign. In the ancient archives of Lyndeboro appears the following receipt: "Lyndeborough, Sept. 25, 1781. Then we the subscribers Rec'd of the Selectmen of the Town provision and supplies sufficient to carry us to Springfield £4.16. Enoch Ordway,

Simeon Fletcher. Oliver Holt, Js Hutchinson." He married Jane Karr, a daughter of James Karr, who settled in Lyndeborough in the early days. He died February 27, 1854, aged ninety-three. She died September, 1844. They had eight children: Jacob, Thomas K., Jane, Oliver, Joanna, Parker, David and Calvin.

(VI) David, seventh child and fifth son of Oliver (2) and Jane (Karr) Holt, was born in Lyndeborough, June 9, 1804, and died October 22, 1884, aged eighty years. As stated in the "History of Lyndeborough," he was a notable man in the life of the town in his day. He had a keen wit and a dry humor which made his sayings much quoted. He was a member of the Congregational Church, and a constant attendant thereof. He was public spirited, and of the duties which fall to the citizens of country towns always bore his full share. He was a member of the Lafayette Artillery for thirty years. He married (first), January 20, 1829, Bethialı Wilson of Greenfield; she was born in 1807, and died January 5, 1837, aged thirty years. He married ( second), June 18, 1837, Ann Cochran, of Antrim; she was born March 2, 1802, and died April 13, 1870; and (third) Mrs. Julia Clark. His children by his first wife were: Benjamin W., Mary J., and Miriam M. By the second wife :

Al- fred F., Francis A., Andy, and Ellen B.

(VII) Andy, sixth child and third son of David and Ann (Cochran) Holt, was born in Lynde- borough, February 1, 1842. He was born on the farm where his ancestors for generations have lived and where he now resides. At twenty years of age, September 15, 1862, he enlisted in Coll- pany G, Sixteenth New Hampshire Volunteer In- fantry, and was mustered into the United States service October 22, 1862, as a corporal; was pro- moted to sergeant March, 1863, and was mustered out August 20, 1863. He took part in the siege of Port Iludson. August 1, 1864, he again enlisted,

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and the same day was mustered in as a corporal of the Lafayette Artillery. He was mustered out September, 1864. After he left the military service he returned to farming which he has since pur- sued, having a farm of two hundred acres, where he lived comfortably and independently until 1904. He has been largely identified with the business and social interests of the town. He was elected a member of the board of selectmen first in 1870, and has held that office seventeen terms since. Hle represented the town in the legislature of 1903, and has at one time or another been chosen to fill about all the offices in the gift of the town. He is the conceded leader of his political party in town, and has always been a prominent figure in its social affairs and on committees in educational inter- ests. He was chairman of the committee under whose charge the History of Lyndeborough was brought out in 1906. He has always taken great interest in military affairs, was captain of the La- fayette Artillery Company several years, is still an active member of the organization. Harvey Holt Post No. 15, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized September 28, 1868, and named in honor of Harvey Holt, a brother of Mrs. Andy Holt, who was the first soldier killed in battle from this town and state, falling at the first battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. Andy Holt is a charter mem- ber of this Post, of which he was commander some years. He is also a charter member of Pinnocle Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, organized December 26, 1873, and was its first master, serving until 1875, and again in 1877. He is also a member of Laurel Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Wil- ton. He married, May 4, 1864, Abby J., daughter of Harvey and Lois ( Crain) Holt. She was born February 20, 1846. She is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps. They have had four children. Flora M., Parker, Fred A., and Harry W. Flora M., born August 21, 1867, married, June 2, 1887, Edwin IV. H. Farnum of Francestown. Parker, born April 3, 1870, died August 9. 1876. Fred A., November 30, 18SI, married, February II, 1903, Annie M., . daughter of Charles H. and Susie (Watkins) Senter of Lyndeborough. He is a farmer, and is captain of the Lafayette Artillery. Harry W., April II, 1883, is a mail carrier on a rural free delivery route, and lives with his father.

(Il) Nicholas (2), son of Nicholas (1) and Elizabethi Holt, was born in Andover, Massachu- setts. He married, January 8, 1679, Mary, daughter of Robert Russell, and died October 8, 1715, at An- dover. His father deeded him. September 9, 1684, "one third of the farm where he now dwells." His widow died April 1, 1717. They had eleven chil- dren, of whom the sons were: Nicholas, Thomas, James, Robert, Abiel, Joshua and Daniel.

(III) Nicholas (3), son of Nicholas (2) and Mary (Russell) Holt, was born in Andover, De- cember 21, 1683, and died there December 1, 1756. He married (first), September 16, 1708, Mary Man- ning, who died March 8, 1716. He married (sec- ond), April 12, 1717, Dorcas, daughter of Timothy and Hannah (Graves) Abbott. She was born May 6, 1697, and died October 25, 1758. Nicholas had - ten children born to him, of which the sons were: Stephen, Nicholas, Benjamin, Timothy, James, Na- than, Joshua and Daniel.

(IV) Benjamin, son of Nicholas (3) and Mary (Manning) Holt, was born in Andover, July 23, 1709. He settled in Suncook, New Hampshire, about 1745. and died in 1784, aged seventy-five. He married, April ;, 1737, Sarah Frye, who was born May, 1717, and died in Pembroke, New Hampshire,

in 1804, aged eighty-seven. Their twelve children, of whom the first five were born in Andover, Mas- sachusetts, and the remainder in Pembroke, were : Sarah, Nathan, Benjamin, Abiah, Molly, William, Frye, Phebe, Hannah, Dorcas, Nicholas and Daniel. (V) Benjamin (2), third child and second son of Benjamin (i) and Saralı (Frye) Holt, was born in Andover, Massachusetts, February 28, 1741, and was taken by his parents to Pembroke, where he died March II, 1826, aged about eighty-five. He married, September 22, 1763, Hannah Abbott, who was born September 7, 1743, and died March 17, 1813. Their children were: Sarah, Nicholas, Han- nah, Molly, Phebe, David, Mehitable (died young), Mehitable, Elizabeth, Dorcas and Dolly.

(VI) David, second son and sixth child of Benjamin (2) and Hannah ( Abbott) Holt, was born May 12, 1772, and resided in Pembroke, Maine, then Shelburne, New Hampshire, 1830, and later, Rum- ford, Maine, where he died February 1, 1859, aged eighty-seven. He married, November 10, 1795, Chloe Chandler, who was born August 30, 1771, and died March 16, 1859, aged eighty-eight. She was the daughter of Timothy and Mary ( Walker ) Chandler. They had children : Betsey Parker, Ruth, Benjamin, Timothy, Chauncey, Mary W., Alonzo, Dorcas and Hannah Norris.

(VII) Timothy, fourth child and second son of David and Chloe (Chandler) Holt, was born in Pembroke, March 7, 1802. He resided in Pem- broke until the time of his father's removal, and then accompanied him to .Shelburne and Rumford, living in the latter place some years, and finally dying in Andover, Maine, 1871. He was a quiet man, taking no prominent part in politics, but was a staunch member of the Congregational Church. He married, September 27, 1825, Nancy Cochran, who died in 18So. They had eleven children, the first two born in Pembroke, and the others in Rum- ford, Maine. Their names are: Samuel Webster, Robert Scott, Chauncey, David, William, Hannah, Chloe, George L. (died young), George L., John Dearborn and Cynthia E.

(VIII) David, fourth son and child of Timothy and Nancy (Cochran) Holt, was born in Rum- ford, Maine, February 21, 1833, and was a farmer and lumberman. He removed from Maine to New Hampshire, in 1859, and settled at Berlin Falls, where he resided a few years, and then removed to Milan, where he lived retired some years before his deatlı. He was attentive to his own affairs and cared nothing for public office holding. In religious affiliations he was a Methodist. He mar- ried Velina Howard, who was a daughter of Wash- ington Howard, and died February, 1907. They had six children: Charles W., Kate, Giles O., George 11., Amanda and Frank.

(1X) Giles Ordway, third child and second son of David and Velina (Howard) Ilolt, was born in Hanover, Maine, August 3, 1861. Ile was edu- cated in the schools of Berlin and Milan. After leaving school he engaged as clerk for Ira Mason, who was engaged in the mercantile business, and served in that capacity for several years, or until the death of Mr. Mason when the business was closed out. He then entered the employ of C. C. Gerrish & Company, general mercantile business, and during this term of service established a livery business in Berlin, also dealing in horses and car- riages, purchasing extensively in the west, and he continued this line of busness for a period of ten years. In 1903, in company with C. M. C. Twitchell, he purchased the Berlin Water Company plant. He also became interested in the Cascade

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Electric Light & Power Company, and he is treas- urer and general manager of both companies. He married, November 2, 1887, Annie L. Gerrish, who was born in Bethel, Maine, daughter of William and Rachel ( Whiting ) Gerrish, of Berlin. They have one child, Arthur G., born 1890.

In New England history the sur-

KNIGHT name Knight (sometimes spelled with slight modification ) is found in town and church records as early as the time of the Puritans, and came to this country from England, where the family has several branches and is one of great antiquity. Various authorities give us the names of what purport to be ancestors of some par- ticular branch of the family. hence it can hardly be said that all representatives of the surname are descended from a common head.

One of the carliest of the name in New England, and perhaps the first, was Deacon Richard Knight. mercer, who came from Romsey, England, to New- bury, Massachusetts, in the ship "James," in 1635. It is possible that this Richard may have been ac- companied by his father, also named Richard, as the following extract from the Newbury Records would seem to indicate : "Honorable Sir :

An honest and godly man, a friend of mine in Newbury, whose name is Richard Knight. whether of ignorance or wilfulness by some neighbor is presented for his wife's wearing of a silk hood. supposing he has not been worth two hundred pounds. It being a grievance to him, who is ad- vanced (in years) to be summoned to court, that never useth to trouble any, at his request I thought fit to inform you on my owne knowledge his estate is better worth than three hundred, and therefore 1 desire you would, as you may, forbeare, in your warrant to insert his name in it, it may he: if not, at least that you would take private satisfaction of him in your chamber, which he can casil give you, or any, in a moment," etc.

John Knight, mercer, brother of Deacon Richard, came with him in the "James" in June. 1035, and from him descended many of his surname in this country. William Knight, who appears not to have been of near kin to either Richard or John, is men- tioned in Ipswich, Massachusetts, as commoner, 1641, having received a grant of land in 1639, and in 1641 he began to preach in Topsfield. One Alex- ander Knight possessed land in Ipswich in 1630, and was a commoner in 1641. Besides these there were several other progenitors of branches of the family in various parts of New England, notably in Massachusetts. Connectient and Rhode Island, but mention of them all in this place is not deemed necessary.

It is not safe to assume that any one of the Knight immigrants above mentioned was the an- cestor of the particular branch of the family in- tended to be treated here, and in the absence of re- liable data with which to connect that old revolu- tionary patriot and soldier with any of the pre- ceding generations of his ancestors leading to the immigrant. the present narrative must begin with William Knight, of Worcester, Massachusetts, and Hanover, New Hampshire.

(I) William Knight was born probably in Massachusetts, and with his brother served as a soldier in the ranks of the American army during the Revolutionary war. He enlisted in Massachu- setts and served with the troops of that province in the Continental army. The record of his indi- vidual service is not readily ascertained, as there

were no less than six persons among the men from that region who bore the name of William Knight and the same number who enlisted under the name of William Knights. Mr. Knight left Worcester in 1808 and took up his abode in the town of Hanover, New Hampshire, where he established a comfortable homestead property, which after him was occupied successively by his son and grandson and was the birthplace of his great-grandson. He married and was the father of eleven children.

(II) William, son of William Knight above mentioned, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, 1788, removed with his father's family to Hanover and eventually sticceeded to the ocenpaney of the old home and farm. On January 14. 1815. he mar- ried Avis Ladd, born in Haverhill, New Hampshire, a daughter of John and Hannah ( Eastman) Ladd, of Haverhill ( see Ladd, V). William Knight died January 28, 1860; his wife Avis died May 20, 1856. Their children were: Edwin Perry, John and Francis Knight, all of whom are now dead.

(III) Edwin Perry, eldest child and son of William and Avis ( Ladd) Knight, was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, October 15, 1816, and died in that town October 22, 1857. After com- pleting his literary education he took up the study of medicine with the intention of entering pro- fessional life, and to that end entered Norwich University, but later abandoned his course and His turned his attention to farming pursuits. estate in lands comprised about three hundred aeres and was made to produce abundantly under his prudent management. In politics Mr. Knight took an carnest interest, though not for his own ad- vantage, and was a loyal adherent to Democratic principles as long as he lived. He married. April 17, 1845, Elizabeth W. T. Vaughan, who was born in Ilanover. New Hampshire, September 27, 1825. and died in Bloomington, Illinois. May 4. 1872. daughter of Silas T. and Polly ( Ingalls ) Vaughan ( see Ingalls ). They had five children: Edwin F., deceased: William Franklin, Charles E, deceased ; Emma E., and Myra V. Knight.

( IV) William Franklin. a successful and thoroughly reliable business man of Laconia, New Hampshire, and whose connection with the mer- cantile life of that town and subsequent city has extended over a period of more than forty years, is a native of Hanover. Grafton county, New Hamp- shire, and was born October 13, 1847. His young life was spent at home on his father's farm. and he was given a good education in the Hanover public schools and the academy at West Randolph, Ver- mont. In January, 1864, then being less than sev- enteen years old, he went to Laconia and found employment as clerk in the general grocery and provision store of Parker Brothers. After three years he bought out the former proprietors and be- came senior partner of the firm of W F. Knight & Company. This was the actual beginning of a career which has continued to the present time with gratifying success, although occasional changes have been made in the personnel of the partnerships, and the business has grown from one of moderate "proportions to one of the most extensive mercantile enterprises in Belknap county. The firm name of W. F. Knight & Co. was continued for ten years, then for a like period Mr. Knight was sole proprietor of the business, and at the end of that time George Tetreau acquired a partnership interest and became junior partner of the firm of W. F. Knight & Tetreau. This firm was succeeded by the present firm of Knight & Huntress, a name well known in all trade cireles in New Hampshire and by all

William F. Knight.

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people in the region of which Laconia is the prin- cipal trading center. For many years he was as- sociated with the firms of Mansen & Knight, and later with that of Knight & Robinson, in the fur- niture and carpet business.

As a patriotic politician in his childhood days he was taught by his father the doctrine of De- mocracy and that he should be a Democrat and so his first flag was unfurled for Buchanan and Breck- enridge. After coming to years of manhood and recognizing new conditions in the great war for liberty, he joined the ranks of the Republican party and cast his first ballot for U. S. Grant in 1868. Was elected as clerk of the Laconia Repubican Club, and has always been interested and identified with the work of the party. He was first elected as town clerk for Laconia in 1875-6; served two terms as county treasurer, 1883 to 1887; represented Laconia in the general court, 1889; was chosen as state senator in 1894-95 from the Sixth district; appointed quartermaster general on the staff of Gov- ernor C. A. Busiel in 1896; served four years as a member of the Laconia city council from ward four, and was elected mayor of Laconia in 1907. For many years was treasurer and clerk of the Laconia Public Library; actively identified with the organ- izing and work of establishing the Laconia Hospital Association, and as clerk and a member of the building committee; treasurer and trustee of the Masonic Temple Association since the date of its incorporation in 1894, and a member of the build- ing committee that completed the first and to re- build the second Masonic Temple; a director of the Laconia National Bank and tristee of the City Savings Bank and Laconia Building & Loan As- sociation. As a Mason he is a member of Mount Lebanon Lodge, No. 32, Union Royal Arch Chapter, No. 7. Pythagorian Council, Pilgrim Commandery and received the Scottish Rite degrees in Concord and the Consistory work in Nashua, including the thirty-second degree; was grand high priest of the Grand Chapter, 1895-90; past high priest Union Royal Areh Chapter, No. 7; past master of Pytha- gorian Council, No. 6; an attendant at the Uni- tarian Church, and is president of the First Uni- tarian Society of Laconia.

MIr. Knight married Fannie E., daughter of James Taylor, of Franklin, New Hampshire, Janu- ary 14, 1874.

As early as 1641 Ezekiel Knight, Sr.,

KNIGHT and his son, Ezekiel Knight, Jr., were inhabitants of Wells, York county, Maine. From Ezekiel Knight, Sr., have descended a numerous progeny, many of whom yet live in Maine.

(1) Thomas Knight was born June 12, 1759. He married (first) Dorcas Cox, who was born March 27, 1764; and (second) Joanna Starah, who was born June 3, 1766. His children were: Thomas and Mark.

(11) Thomas (2), son of Thomas (1) Knight, was born in Westbrook, Maine, June 23. 1784. 11e was a joiner, painter and glazier. He married Eliza- beth Pierce, who was born June 27, 1787. The twelve children born to them were: Isaiah \\'., Dorcas, Sophronia, Erastus, Albert, James Monroe, Harriet B. F., Eveline, Charles Price. Albina, Hen- rietta Carter and Franzilla.

(III) Isaiah Woodford, eldest child of Thomas (2) and Elizabeth ( Pierce) Knight, was born in Westbrook, Maine, August 12, 1807, and died in Dixfield. Mame. May 21, 1861. Ile was in the tin and hardware busmess in South Paris, Portland.

Bryant Pond and Dixfield, Maine. In politics he was a Republican. He was a constant attendant at church, but not a member of any religious seet. lle married, at Westbrook, now Portland, Maine, De- cember 2, 1830, Mary P. Libby, who was born in Dan- villé, Maine, Mareh 7, 1807, and died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, May 1, 1886. They had six chil- dren: Edwin R., Evelina H., Harriet A., Louisa A., Horace V. and Melrose V. Of these Edwin R., Harriet A. and Horace V. are dead; Evelina H. married A. S. Eustis, of Dixfield, Maine, and Louisa A. married O. F. Stacy, of Colebrook, New Hampshire.

(IV) Melrose Virgil, youngest child of Isaiah W. and Mary P. (Libby ) Knight, was born in South Paris, Maine, August 18, 1848. He was edu- cated in the common schools. He removed to Cole- brook with his mother's family in 1864, and learned the tinner's trade. In 1871 he began business for himself in company with A. S. Eustis, Jater C. W. Eustis, first as A. S. Eustis & Company, later Eustis & Knight, as dealers in hardware, and con- tinned the business until 1887, when he retired. ln political faith he is a Republican. He is a member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 37, Free and Accepted Masons, of Colebrook, of which he has served as treasurer from 1893 to 1903, and from 1906. Ile married, in Lancaster. November 28, 1872, Sarah Colby, who was born at Colebrook, May 10, 1852, daughter of Ethan and Mary (Chamberlin) Colby, of Colebrook.

KNIGHT There are several families of Knights of independent lineage in the New Eng- land states. The surname seems not to have been taken from a person who was of knightly degree, but rather from one who played the part of a knight in the mystery or religious plays of four or five centuries ago.

(I) Benjamin Knight was a resident of Salem, Massachusetts, before 1730, and had three sons born there. They were: Enos, John and Ebenezer.

(II) Enos, eldest son of Benjamin Knight, was born in Salem, in 1730, and died in 1804, aged seventy years. He lived in Topsfield until 1781, when he removed to New Ipswich. He married first, Lois Hawke, and died in 1788, aged sixty-two years; second, Mrs. Mary Estabrook, who died in 1797, aged fifty-seven years; and third, - - who died in 1802. His ten children, all by the first wife, were : Ebenezer, Enos, David, Benjamin, John, Elijah, and four others.

(III) Benjamin, son of Enos and Lois (Hawke) . Knight, was born in Topsfield, Massachusetts, June 16, 1765, and died May 9, 1848, aged eighty-three. He removed to Hancock as early as 1786, and set- tled on lot 10, range 4. He married first, January 9. 1787, Sarah, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Davis, of New Ipswich. She died March 20, 1800; and he married second, February 19, 1801, Lucy, daughter of Joseph Baker, of Nelson, who died June 2, 1858, aged eighty-two years. Their children were : Ira. Sarah. Nathaniel, Benjamin, Lucy, Joseph, Enos, Ruth, Emily, Elijah and Esther.

(IV) Ira, eldest child of Benjamin and Sarah (Davis) Knight, was born in Hancock, May 27, 1788. He resided in Marlow, where he died Jill- mary 14, 1880, aged ninety-two. He married fir-t. in 1811, Abigail, daughter of Ebenezer and Susannah ( Bolton) Pratt, born August II. 1791. She died November 7, 1844: and he married, second. Abigail Burton, who was born in Jaffrey in 178;, and died July 6. 18-1. His ten children. all by the irst wijn. were: Lewis A .. Nathaniel, William, Elvira, 1 1

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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. III, Part 120

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: 876

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: 876