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 30

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 30

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here he has since resided. For the last twenty- five years he has given much attention to the breed- ing of fine Holstein stock for breeding purposes, and has supplied many farmers with the foundation for herds of this strain. He keeps from ten to fifteen cows, mostly thoroughbreds, and produces some fine veal for the market. Mr. Virgin's farm is model of neatness, and his fine farm barn is one of the most complete and convenient to be found anywhere. With complete tool houses, and other necessary or desirable farm appurtenances, he is able to dispose of his work advantageously and with much satisfaction to all concerned therein. The paternal acres are well tilled, and have not been allowed to deteriorate in productivity, and their owner may be congratulated. His home is hospitable, his family bright and interesting, and the head of the house is among the influential citi- zens of his town. He attends the Congregational church of East Concord, and supports Democratic policies in public affairs. He has served as ward supervisor and member of the city council, and was a member of the constitutional convention of 1903.

Mr. Virgin was married December 24, 1879, to Rose Ella Johnson, who was born September 12, 1858, in Concord, a daughter of Matthew Harvey and Hannah (Sargent) Johnson, of Concord. Matthew H. Johnson was a son of John Johnson, whose name was changed by legal enactment from Hoag to Johnson. Hannah Sargent was a daughter of Wells Sargent (see Sargent, VII). Mr .and Mrs. Virgin are the parents of three daughters. Bessie Ella, the eldest, was born February 21, 1881, and is the wife of Roy Walker Maynard, a large farmer and milk dealer of Loudon. Belle Florina, born December 26, 1883. Bernice Johnson, August 16, 1889, remains at home.

The ancient English family of Norrey

NORRIS or Norreys is mentioned in records as early as the year 1311, when Sir Henry Norreys married Joan, daughter of Sir Henry Molyneux, and acquired the manor of Speke, in Lancashire. For many centuries the family flourished in Sutton and Lancashire. Famous fami- lies of the name of Norris are now found in Speke, Lancaster, and Ryecote, in Berkshire. From Thomas Norreys, of Speke, descended in a direct unbroken line five generations of Norreys whose forename was Nicholas, the same as that of the immigrant ancestor of the family of this sketch. Early some of the English Norrises settled in Ire- land and among them were members of note.

(I) Nicholas Norris, the settler, was born probably about 1640. The tradition in regard to him is that he was of English extraction, being a descendant of one of the English who had settled in Ireland where he was born. He was "a stow- away" in an emigrant ship, and reached America at the age of fourteen. He first appears of record in the town of Hampton, "IImo. 21st day, 1663," O. S., or January 21, 1664, new style, when he mar- ried Sarah Cox. In 1666 he sold to John Godfrey,

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his brother-in-law, "My house Lott, three acres more or less, with my dwelling house being & standing upon ye same." That same year he ap- peared in Exeter. In 1677 he took the oath of allegiance, desired the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, in 1690, and was a soldier in garrison from August 3 to August 31, 1696, in the commanding of Kinsley Hall. His home was near Meeting-house hill in Exe- ter village. One hundred acres was granted him by the town of Exeter, January 31, 1681; three acres, February 3, 1698; twenty acres the first Monday of April, 1705; and thirty acres in 1725. It is also stated that on March 8, 1721, ten acres of land were laid out to him by the town of Exeter, on the "North side of a Masteway leading from Col. Hil- ton's to Pawtuckawage Mills." He deeded away land June 10, 1721. He was a resident of Exeter about fifty-seven years, but the date of his death is not known. From the record it may be inferred that he was an active and prosperous citizen. A large progeny has sprung from him. His children, all but the first born in Exeter, were: Sarah, died young; Sarah, John, Moses, Jonathan, Abigail, Sarah, James and Elizabeth.

(II) Moses, fourth child and second son of Nicholas and Sarah (Coxe) Norris, was born in Exeter, August 14, 1670, and always lived in Exeter. He received from his father sixteen acres on the "road to Hampton Farms," April 9, 1698, and on the same date he received land from his father-in- law. He was a soldier from August 31, 1696, to September 28, 1696. February 2, 1721, he deeded land to his children to the possession of which they were to come after the death of himself and wife. He lived a number of years after making this deed, but how long is not known. He married, March 4. 1692, Ruth, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Robey) Folsom, and granddaughter of John Folsom, the immigrant to Exeter. Their children were: Samuel, Jolin, Moses, Nicholas, Joseph, Jonathan, James and Ruth.

(III) Samuel, eldest son of Moses and Ruth (Folsom) Norris, was born in Exeter, probably about 1693, and always lived in Exeter. By the terms of the deed his father made, February 2, 1721, he was to receive one-half of the homestead, the land "to be on that side and adjoining Joseph Robinson's land throughout both upland and swamp," and also one-half of the land lying "on the east side of the road leading from Hampton Town to Exeter." His brother Joseph had the other half of the homestead and his father's house. The land owned by them remained undivided, and after the death of Samuel was sold by his widow Ruth, son Samuel, and Joseph Norris, October 30, 1754. Samuel Norris inherited from his father one-eighth of a saw mill at Petuckaway. He dealt somewhat in real estate. His last recorded sale was made May 18, 1753. lle died before October 30, 1754. He married Ruth, whose surname is un- known. They were the parents of one child, Samuel, who is further mentioned below.

(IV) Samuel (2), only child of Samuel (1)

and Ruth Norris, was born in Exeter. New Ilamp- shire, probably about 1714, and died before Febru- ary 27, 1765. He deeded away his patrimony as stated in the preceding paragraph. He lived in Epping and dealt more or less in real estate. Octo- ber 26, 1758, he bought seventy acres of land of Enoch Clark, a part of which he left to his son, Samuel Norris, by will. His will was executed November 21, 1764, and probated March 26, 1766, but for some unexplained reason his estate liad been administered upon by his wife Mary, who was appointed administratrix, February 27, 1765. She is said to have been a half blooded Indian, and her surname is not known. Their children were: Benja- min, Samuel, Zebulon, Mercy, Mary, Ruth and Deborah.

(V) Samuel (3), second son and child of Samuel (2) and Mary Norris, was born in Epping, New Hampshire, June 17, 1734. Like several of his ancestors he dealt much in land. He lived in Epping until October 21, 1769, when he sold the place upon which he then lived and immediately moved to Deerfield, where he resided for a few years. He lived for a time in Sandwich, New Hampshire, and finally went to Corinth, Vermont, in 1779, and there spent the remainder of his life. He married (first) Huldah (Bartlett probably ), who was born April 24, 1734, and died in Corinth, Vermont, November 2, 1780; (second)

Burleigh, perhaps of Sandwich, New Hampshire. He died in Corinth, Vermont, May 16, 1816, and was buried there. His children, all by his first wife. were: David, Huldah, Samuel and Zebulon (twins), Jonathan, Moses and David (twins), John, Taylor, Polly and Josiah.

(V1) John, eighth child and seventh son of Samuel (3) and Huldah Norris, was born in Deer- field, July 20, 1770, and died in Washington, Ver- mont, September 16, 1865, aged ninety-five years. He was a farmer by occupation, and a Free Baptist in religious faith. He resided in Deerfield, New Hampshire, and Corinth, Vermont. He married Sally Currier, who was born April 4, 1770, and died February, 23, 1860, aged ninety. They had four children: John, David, March and Sabrina.

(VII) March, third son and child of John and Sally (Currier) Norris, was born in Corinth, Ver- mont, August 15, 1800, and died in Colebrook, New Hampshire, August 20, 1879. He resided for some years in Corinth, Orange county, Vermont. He was a Free Will Baptist in religion, and a Demo- crat in politics. He married Polly ( Marshall ) Sleeman, who was born in Corinth, Vermont, Janu- ary 1, 1800, and died in Colebrook, Vermont, July IS, 1889, daughter of Moses and Dolly (Maloon) Marshall. Six children were born to them: Lu- cinda Serepta, Clark Currier, Heman Russell. George Sleeper, Mary Lovilla and Sabrina Lodina.

(VIII) Mary Lovilla, fifth child of March and Polly (Marshall) (Sleeman) Norris, was born August 27, 1839, and died January 18, 1881, aged forty-two years. She married (first) Dr. Stephen Hurd; married (second) James Sawyer, of Cole- brook, New Hampshire. By the first husband there

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was one child, Iva H., who is next mentioned. (IX) Iva Hortense Hurd, only child of Dr. Stephen and Mary Lovilla (Norris) Hurd, was born in Lancaster, New Hampshire, 1861, and mar- ried March 15, 1883, at Colebrook, Walter Drew, ( Sce Drew).

SEWARD Although Thomas Seward, the pro- genitor of this branch of the Seward family in America, reached these shores more than a century after the first settle- ment by the English in Massachusetts, neverthe- Jess he became the ancestor of those who sufferel the privations and hardships, and performed the labors necessarily incident to the founding of the town and the development of civilization in a 1.ew country, and left descendants whose services in the memorable conflict for free government reflect honor on their names and upon their descendants who have founded societies to perpetuate the memory of a noble line of ancestors. Thirty-four Massa- chusetts men bearing the name Seward fought in the Revolution. Inter-marriage with members of Revolutionary families have been frequent, and some Sewards of the present generation trace back to four or five forbears, who took part in the great struggle for liberty.

(I) Thomas Seward came to America from England, in the middle of the eighteenth century, and settled in Pepperell, Massachusetts, where he died, August 19, 1757, at the early age of twenty- eight, having been born in 1729, in England. Ilis wife was Hannah, her maiden name having prob- ably been Martin. She was also born about 1729. and died at the house of her son, Josiah, in what is now Sullivan, New Hampshire, March 23, 1787. When Thomas Seward died, he left his young widow with three little boys, neither of whom could walk, the eldest being a cripple, the second too young to walk, and the third a new born babe. With a courage and perseverance, characteristic of the woman of that time, she supported her children and brought them to maturity with such assistance as they were able to render. Their names were Thomas, Josiah and Samuel. The eldest. crippled from birth, lived and died at Pepperell, the other two bought farms in that part of Stoddard, New Hampshire, which later became a part of the newer town of Sullivan.

(II) Deacon Josiah Seward, second son of Thomas and Hannah Seward, was born at Pepperell, Massachusetts, February 22, 1756, died at Sullivan, New Hampshire, July 10, 1828. He married, February 22, 1781, Sarah Osgood, then of Raby (now Brook- line), New Hampshire. She was born in Billerica, Massachusetts, January 31 (Old Style), 1749-50, died at Keene, New Hampshire, July 2, 1835: daughter of Joseph and Sarah ( Pierce) Osgood. She was a first cousin of Benjamin Pierce ( father of ex-President Franklin Pierce). Josiah Seward was at work in his mother's field, at Pepperell, when he was summoned, as a minute man, to march with others, among them his younger brother, Samuel,

under the lead of their famous townsman, Colonel Prescott, to Cambridge. He worked all the night of June 16, in helping to throw up the famous earth- works on the hill where, upon the 17th of June, 1775, was fought the battle of Bunker Hill. The coat which he wore was long preserved in the family, pierced with several bullet holes, although he was not injured during the engagement. On June 17, 1825, he was one of the surviving vete- rans who participated in the exercises attending the laying of the corner-tone of the Bunker Hill Monu- ment, on the fiftieth anniversary of the battle. The veterans were hospitably entertained in Boston, in- troduced to Lafayette, and honored with seats upon the platform. Mr. Webster's graceful allusion to them, in his memorable oration was an eloquent exhibition of oratory. On October 17, 1792, he was one of the covenanters of the First Congregational Church in Sullivan. Ile became a deacon of that church in 1798, and held the office for thirty years, until his death. Ife was a successful farmer, acquir- ing a competence for the time in which he lived. He purchased the farm in 1781, and portions of it still belong to Rev. J. L. Seward, D. D., of the fourth generation from him. Deacon Seward had eight children : Hannah, Josiah, Jr., Sarah, Abigail, Thomas, Betsey, Fanny and Rebecca.

( III) Josiah (2), elder son of Deacon Josiah Seward (1), was born on the old Sullivan home- stead (while it was still a part of Stoddard), Octo- ber 30, 1783, died in Sullivan, September 14, 1831, of typhus fever, a malady rarely known in later years. Six members of his own and his father's families were ill of that serious fever at the same time. His oldest son, also named Josiah, just fitted for college, died a few days before him of the same disease, Josiah, Jr., purchased and lived upon his father's farm, surviving the latter only three years. He married February 22, 1807, Polly Wilson, born at Keene, March 23, 1784. died there September 19, 1864, daughter of Daniel and Abigail ( Morse) Wil- son. She was a woman of marked intellectual power, a first cousin of Hon. James Wilson, Sr., of Keene. Her grandfather was one of the well- known Scotch-Irish immigrants. He settled at Townsend, Massachusetts, while the most of them settled in or near Londonderry, New Hampshire. The three children of Josiah and Polly were Josiah (3), Daniel, and David. Mrs. Seward's grandfather, Thomas Morse, was the first English settler of Dublin, New Hampshire.

(IV) David, youngest of the three children of Josiah Seward (2), was born in Sullivan, Septem- ber 14, 1816, died at Keene, November 3, 1886. He married, October 1, 1840, Arvilla Matthews, born in Hancock, New Hampshire. December 26, 1818, died at Keene, January 1, 18SI, daughter of James and Abigail (Keith) Matthews. David's father died on the former's fifteenth birthday. From that time he managed the old homestead farm in Sulli- van, for his mother, and later purchased it with other land. He was a successful farmer. He was a justice of the peace and settled many estates,

J. L . Seward.

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wrote deeds, mortgages. and wills, and "squired together" many couples in marriage. Ile later be- came interested in the meat business and, still later, in the wood and lumber business. Ilis last days were spent in Keene. He had only three chil- dren who lived to maturity : Josiah L .. Emily Nor- manda, who was educated at Miss Hall's school in Keene, and died unmarried ; and James Byron Seward, a merchant in New York City.

(V) Josiah Lafayette, son of David Seward, was born in Sullivan, New Hampshire, April 17, 18.45. After leaving the district school, he was a student at the Westmoreland Valley Seminary, then under the instruction of Rev. (now Rev. Dr.) S. H. McCollester, 1859-60; graduated at the Phillips Exeter (New Hampshire) Academy, in 1864; graduated at Harvard University, with degree of Bachelor of Arts, in 1868; taught school at Frank- ford, West Virginia, 1869; taught a private school in Boston, Massachusetts, 1869-70; was the first principal of the Conant Free School ( now Conant High School) of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, 1870-71; took the degree of Master of Arts at Harvard in 1871; graduated from the Harvard Divinity School, with the degree of B. D., in 1874; ordained over the South Congregational (Unitarian ) Church, at Lowell, Massachusetts, December 31, 1874; remained the pastor of that church fourteen years, until July 31, 18SS; pastor of the Unitarian Church at Water- ville, Maine, August 1, 1888, to November 25. 1893 ; pastor of the Allston Unitarian Church, Boston, Massachusetts, November 26, 1893, to October S, 1899; pastor of the First Congregational ( Uni- tarian) Church, of Dublin, New Hampshire, from May II, 1902, to the present, with residence at Keene, New Hampshire. He has been much inter- ested in Freemasonry, having received all the de- grees of the York and Scottish Rites, including the Thirty-third and Last Degree. He has been master of a council of Royal and Select Masters at Keene, master of a chapter of Rose Croix Masons at Lo- well, and is now (1907) master of Social Friends Lodge at Keene. He has held for twenty years the office of grand prior in the Supreme Council for the Thirty-third and Last Degree, for the North- ern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States. Thc Massachusetts Council of Deliberation has, for many years, published the discourses which he has annually delivered before that body. He has written a "Ilistory of Sullivan. New Hampshire, to thic Twentieth Century" and is re-editing, and bring- ing to date, the "Ilistory of Dublin, New Hamp- shire." In 1898. Colby University (now Colby College) gave him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity (D. D.). He is a member of the New Hampshire Society Sons of the American Revolu- tion as being a descendant of five Revolutionary soldiers, also the local Chapter Keene, No. I. Dr. Seward has for many years taken much interest in genealogical and historical research and has for many years been a valued and valuable correspond- ing member of the New Hampshire Historical

Society, and has contributed extensively to journal- istic and maga ine literature. Ile is unmarried.

Tradition and probability identify COGSWELL the name Cogswell with the old English town of Coggeshall, the ancient Canonium of the Romans, which is located forty-four miles from London, in the county of Essex. It is the family tradition of the Cogswells now holding the ancient Cogswell possessions in Westbury, county of Wilts, England, that their ancestors came from the county of Essex, and were known as Coggeshall, with the various spellings appearing in the forms Cogshall, Coggesliall, Cogge- shale, Cogesholl, Cogeshole, Coggashael, Cogshol, Coxhall, Cockshall, and Coggshale. Beside the family tradition the experts in such matters say that Cogswell and Coggeshall in England have the same origin. But while Coggeshall and Cogswell have the same origin in England, they are distinct names in America. the Coggeshalls of this country descend- ing chiefly from John Coggeshall, the first governor of Rhode Island, while the Cogswells are descended as stated below.

(I) Robert Cogswell, as appears from his will, was a manufacturer of woolen cloths, and lived in Westbury, Leigh, county. of Wilts, England. The register of the parish gives the date of his burial June 7, 1581. His wife, Alicia, survived him, and was buried August 1, 1603. Their children were: Robert, Richard, Stephen, Joane, Margaret, Mar- gery, Edith, and Edward, next mentioned.

(II) Edward, eighth child and fourth son of Robert and Alicia Cogswell, was born in West- bury, Leigh, county of Wilts, England, and there resided. He was a clothier, and carried on the business with his father and forbears for genera- tions before him. He died in 1616. Ilis estates were designated Ludborne, Horningsham, and Ripond Mylls. His widow Alice survived him but a few weeks. Their children were: Margaret, Elizabeth (died young), Elizabeth, John (died young), Robert (died young), Andrew and Robert (twins), John, Margery, Anthon (died young), Anthony, Geoffrey, Elenor and Walter.

(III) John, eighth child and fifth son of Ed- ward and Alice Cogswell, was born in Waterbury Leigh, in 1592, and died in Essex, Massachusetts, November 29, 1669. He married, September 10, 1615, Elizabeth Thompson, daughter of Rev. Wil- liam and Phillis Thompson. The parents with ciglit children embarked May 23, 1635, at Bristol, England, on the "Angel Gabriel" for New England. Mr. Cogswell took with him his three sons, Wil- liam, John and Edward, and five of his six daughi- ters. One daughter was left in England, who after- ward married and resided in London. Mr. Cogs- well took with him several farm and household servants, an amount of valuable furniture, farming implements, housekeeping utensils, and a consider- able sum of money. On account of calm weather they did not sail until June 4. Arrived on the

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coast of America, the "Angel Gabriel" lay off Pema- quid, Maine, when the great storm of August 15 of that year struck them. The storm was frightful, the vessel became a total wreck, passengers, cattle, goods and all were cast upon the angry waves. Some were drowned. Among those who reached the shore was the Cogswell family. Mr. Cogs- well's loss by this wreck was five thousand pounds sterling. Mr. Cogswell had brought from England a large tent which was got ashore, and in this with such things of theirs as the family could gather they began life in America. As soon as possible Mr. Cogswell went to Boston and chartered a small barque which transported his family and goods to Ipswich, Massachusetts, where a settle- ment was made. In 1636 John Cogswell was granted three hundred acres of land at the further Chebokoe; also a parcel of eight acres, upon which he had built a house. Some time in 1636 Mr. Cogs- well put up a log-house and removed to "further Chebokoe," now Essex, where he spent his last days. His descendants for eight generations, through a period of two hundred and fifty years have continued to cultivate those ancestral acres. In the house of this place are now treasured many relics and articles of household use which were brought over in 1635, and survived the wreck of the "Angel Gabriel."

John Cogswell was the third original settler in that part of Ipswich, now Essex, Massachusetts. His comparative wealth, intelligence and piety gave him an acknowledged prominence in the town and church. On the records of Ipswich his name often appears. It is uniformly distinguished by the hon- orary prefix Mr., which in those days was a title given to but few, who were gentlemen of some dis- tinction. There were only about thirty of the three hundred and thirty-five original settlers of Ipswich who received this honor. March 3, 1636, by act of the court, John Cogswell was admitted freeman. He distributed much of his property among his children while living. The inventory of his estate made December 27, 1669, was one hundred and fifteen pounds, nineteen shillings. He died Novem- ber 29, 1669, aged seventy-seven years. His wife died June 2, 1676.

(IV) William, eldest son of John and Eliza- beth (Thompson) Cogswell, was born in West- bury, Leigh, county of Wilts, England, in 1619. He was sixteen years old when he came with his parents to America. He settled on the home place in Ipswich, and spent his life there. He had many of his father's traits, and was one of the most in- fluential men of that part of Ipswich. It was largely through his efforts that the gospel ministry was established at Chebacco. He gave the land on which the first meeting house in Chebacco was built. He was a subscriber to "Denison's Compen- sation" in 1648; a surveyor of the public ways in 1663; a commoner in 1664; a tithingman in 1667; a voter in town affairs in 1079, and was often chosen selectinan and moderator of the parish meetings. lle made his will August 5. 1696, and died Decem- ber 15. 1700. The inventory of his estate amounted

to three hundred and forty-one pounds, ten sh'l- lings. He married, in 1649, Susanna Hawkes, born in 1633, in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and died prior to 1696. Her parents were Adam and Mrs. Anne (Hutchinson) Hawkes. The children born of this union were: Elizabeth, Hester, Susanna, Ann, William, Jonathan, Edmund, John, Adam and Sarah.

(V) Lieutenant John (2) Cogswell, eighth child and fourth son of William and Susannah or Susanna (Hawkes) Cogswell, was born in Che- bacco, Ipswich, May 12, 1665, and died there in 1710. He was a member of the church, and filled various public offices in the town. He died intes- tate at the age of forty-five years, leaving a pr p- erty appraised ' at eight hundred and eighty-nine pounds, two shillings. He married Hannah Good- hue, daughter of Deacon William, Jr., and Han- nah (Dane) Goodhue. She was born July 4, 1673, in Chebacco, where they resided. She married (second), in 1713, Lieutenant Thomas Perley, and died December 25, 1742. The children of John and Hannah Cogswell were : Hannah, William, Su- sanna, John, Francis, Elizabeth, Margaret, Na- thaniel, Bethiali and Joseph. (Mention of Na- thaniel and descendants forms a part of this article ).

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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 30

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