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 77

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 77

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(V) Elijah. second son and child of Aaron and Elizabeth (Ingalls) Rollins, was born in 1759. prob- ably in Newmarket, New Ilampshire, as his father, the Indian fighter, had his home there at that time. Elijah Rollins lived in Sanbornton, this state. He was a revolutionary soldier. serving with his elder brother Nathaniel in Captain Gordon's company, Colonel David Gilman's regiment. This regiment, raised in the neighborhood of Exeter in December. 1776, joined Washington in Pennsylvania, and was at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. Elijah Rollins, who was a youth of but seventeen at the time, was probably living with his father in Deer- field when he enlisted. Elijah Rollins was twice married. His first wife, to whom he was united in 1779 or 1780. was Mary Prescott, daughter of Jesse and Sarah ( Dearborn) Prescott, of Kensington. this state. They had six children: Ebenezer. born March 22, 1781, whose sketch follows; Betsey, mar- ried Eleazer Ladd. of Deerfield: Hannah, married Josiah Leavitt, and lived in Ohio; Sarah, married Simon Smith, of Deerfield; Ruhamah. married John Copps. of Northfield. New Hampshire: Mary, born September 26. 1799, lived in East Tilton, this state. About 1800 Elijah Rollins married his second wife. Mary Chase, daughter of Moses Chase, of Deerfield, New Hampshire. They had five children: Aaron. born June 29, ISO1 : Chase, who died in his twenty- fourth year: Mahala, married John Hill, of North- field: Elmira, married Leonard Sanborn, of North- field ; and Lydia, who died in her sixth year, Elijah Rollins, the father, was drowned December 19. 1809. while attempting to cross the ice off Bailey's Point in Sanbornton Bay. Ilis widow. Mrs. Mary ( Chase ) Rollins, died October 25, 1822.

(\'1) Ebenezer, eldest son and child of Elijah Rollins and his first wife, Mary Prescott, was born March 22. 1781, probably at Sanbornton. New Hampshire, where his father settled in early life. Ebenezer Rollins lived in Grafton, this state. In February, 1807. he married his first cousin, Betsey Rollins, eldest daughter and child of Aaron (2) and Mary ( Morse) Rollins, of Deerfield. New Hampshire. (Sce Rollins. V). They had eight children: Sewall M .. born November 11, 1807: Mary M., mentioned below : Elijah, born December 2, 1812: Gilbert W., born July 4. 1817: Elizabeth S., born October 8. 1820, married Daniel Bean, of Dan- bury, New Hampshire ; Lyman P., born January 18, 1823; Alfred A., born May 14. 1825, postmaster at Grafton. this state: and Sarah, born January 14. 1820, married Lewis Burrows, of Grafton. Ebenezer Rollins died September 19. 1869. aged eighty-eight years, and his wife preceded him by five months, dying on April 4 of that year.

(VII) Mary M .. eldest daughter and second child of Ebenezer and Betsey ( Rollins) Rollins, was born October 28, 1810, probably at her father's home in Grafton. New Hampshire. About 1838 she was married to John Folsom (2) Ladd. of Deerfield, this state. and they had four children : Mahala E., born January 24. 1839: Alpheus J .; George M., and Mary A. Mary Adelaide Ladd. the youngest child, born June 20, 1854. was married July 3. 1873, to

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John Moody Hill, of Deerfield, New Hampshire. ( See Ladd, VIII, and IHill, III).

(V) Aaron (2), fourth son and child of Aaron (I) and Elizabeth (Ingalls) Rollins, was born June 14. 1763. probably at Brentwood, New Hampshire, where his father moved that year from Newmarket. He lived at Deerfield, this state, and married, about 1788, Mary Morse, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Holgate) Morse, whose people formerly lived at Newbury, Massachusetts, and afterwards at Deer- field. Mary Morse was born March 4, 1769. and was a descendant of Anthony Morse, of Newbury, who was born at Marlboro, Wiltshire, England, May 9, 1606. (See Morse. V). Aaron (2) and Mary (Morse) Rollins had six children: Betsey, born July 24, 1789; Aaron. born May 20, 1796, mar- ried Betsey Gerrish, of Deerfield; Sidney M. and Mahala (twins), born December 17, 1799, died young : Sally, born March 23. 1802, died in her twenty-seventh year; Harriet, born September 24, 1805 married Jeremy Rollins, of Deerfield, her first cousin. Of this family, Betsey, the eldest daughter, in February, 1807, married her first cousin, Ebenezer Rollins, of Deerfield. (See Rollins, VI). Aaron (2) Rollins, the father, died at Deerfield. January 9, 1853, at the advanced age of ninety-four years and seven months.

( II) Joseph, sixth son and child of James and Hannah Rawlins, was born in Newington, New Hampshire, about the year 1664, where he resided and held the office of town surveyor in 1740, and held other town offices from 1743 to 1748 inclusive. He was one of the original proprietors of the town of Barnstead, and owned land in Dover and Dur- ham also. His will dated February 14, '1749, was proved May 30, 17449. By it he gave to his wife Sarah, who was executrix. all the estate during her life: and after her decease to his son Joseph a "double portion" and land in Dover, Durham and Barnstead ; to Samuel and Noah the residue of land, and to Noah the dwelling house after "the decease of his widow": to his daughters, Sarah Allard, Mary Dam, Deborah and Elizabeth, thirty pounds each. Witnesses to the will were: Edward Rawlins. Elizabeth Downing and George Walton. Joseph Rawlins was admitted to the church in Newington, March 25. 1744; his wife was admitted May S, 1727. Their children were: Joseph, Sarah, Mary, Samuel, Noah, Deborah and Elizabeth.

( III ) Samuel. second son and fourth child of Joseph and Sarah Rawlins, lived in Newington. He was constable of the town in 1726, and highway surveyor from 1730 to 1734, and was admitted to the church in Newington, August 6. 1721. Ile married ( first), May 5, 1720. Alice Dam, of Newington. She was admitted to the church April 24. 1737. Mr. Rawlins married ( second ), May 13, 1744. Esther Bickford, who died September 23. 1802, aged eighty- three years. His children were : Hannah, John, Alice, Lydia, Samuel, Jonathan. Hannah, Paul, Elizabeth, Sarah Salome, Agnes, Susanna and George.

(IV ) Samuel (2). second son and fifth child of Samuel (1) and Alice (Dam) Rawlins, was born in Newington, September 23, 1729. Ile was a town officer. and was constable and surveyor in 1749. and continued to hold these offices almost continuously until 1770. He died 1700, and his will was proved January 13, 1800. Ile married, April 12. 1752, Mary Iluntress. Their children were : Abigail, Joanna, Mary, Elizabeth and Samuel.

(V) Mary, third daughter of Samuel (2) and Mary ( Huntress) Rawlins, was baptized August 8. 1702, in Newington, and became the wife of Ben- jamin Colbath, of Middleton (see Colbath, III).

(Second Family.)

This name was formerly spelled ROLLINS Rawlins and is among the early ones of New England. It has been iden- tified with the early development of Massachusetts and of New Hampshire.

(I) Nicholas Rawlins is found as a resident of Newbury, Massachusetts, as early as 1678, at which time he took the oath of allegiance. The family tradition says that he came from Ireland, but there is nothing on record to show whether this is cor- rect or not. He settled in that part of the town which is now West Newbury, above the Artichoke river and the Bradford road. Soon after his arrival in the colony. King Philip's war broke out and he served under Colonel Samuel Appleton, who com- manded the Massachusetts forces, in defence of his home. This was a terrible struggle for the infant colony and about every eleventh family was burned out and every eleventh soldier in the struggle per- ished. Some twelve or thirteen towns were entirely destroyed and six hundred buildings, chiefly dwell- ing houses, were consumed. Six hundred of the flower of the New England settlers were killed. Nicholas Rawlins died at Newbury in June, 1693, and in September following, his widow was ap- pointed administratrix of his estate. He married, October 31, 1679, Rebecca, daughter of Deacon Robert Long, of Newbury. After his death she married Richard Ormes. "citizen and freeman of Armour's Hall, London," then a resident of New- hury. He died between 1712 and 1715. He is re- ferred to in old deeds as a brazier. The children of Nicholas Rawlins were: John, Daniel, Mary, Joseph, Benjamin. Rebecca and Martha.

(II) Benjamin, fourth son and fifth child of Nicholas and Rebecca (Long) Rawlins, was born March 2, 1686. in Newbury, and resided on the farm belonging to his father which came into his posses- sion partly by inheritance, but mainly by purchase from the other heirs. He was a weaver by occupa- tion and became a large land owner, having prop- erty in Haverhill and Rowley, the latter at Plum- mer's Island. He died about 1749, his will being proved on May 29 of that year. He was married ( first). November 22, I,II, to Elizabeth Plummer, of Newbury, who died childless. He was married (second), in 1716, to Hannah Annis. Her children were John, Benjamin, Stephen, Hannah, Joseph and Sarahı.

(III) John, eldest child of Benjamin and Han- nah (Annis) Rollins, was born June 2, 1717. in Newbury and resided in West Newbury. In 1768 he removed with his family to Salem, New Hamp- shire, where he died at an advanced age. He was married (second), November 23. 1742, to Mary Carr. of Newbury. His children were: John ( died young), Hannah, Stephen. Benjamin. John, Moses, David, Abel and Rhoda. (Mention of Abel and de- scendants forms part of this article).

(IV) John (2), fourth son and fifth child of John and Mary (Carr) Rollins, was born in West Newbury, February 8, 1755. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary war he was enrolled in the New- bury company of minute men commanded by Cap- tain Noyes. He subsequently removed to Salem, New Hampshire, going there after 1783, and he died in Gilmanton. this state, March 16, 1821. He was

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Harri. 1 November 14, 1770, to Mehitable March, of New bury, and their children were: Polly. Rhoda, Moses and Jonathan March.

(\) Moses, third child and eldest son of John and Mehitable ( March ) Rollins, was born in West Newbury, July 26, 1783. He resided in Salem for the greater part of his life, and died there Novem- ber 15. 1848. His first wife, whom he married Oc- tomar o. INOS, was Betsey Osgood, who died March 11. 1840, and he was again married December 9 of tl. same year to Arethusa Cross. His children were: Emily M., Eliza J., Mary Ann. Moses Os- grad, John Sanborn and Charles E.

(\]) John Sanborn, second son and fifth child of Meses and Betsey ( Osgood) Rollins, was born in Salem. September 25, 1821. For many years he was a prosperous farmer and a surveyor of lumber 11 Holderness, from whence he removed to Plymouth about 1883, and he died May 22, 1896. He married Abigail D. Kimball. daughter of Samuel Kimball, sf llolderness, and she became the mother of four children, namely: Charles, born August 31, 1845, now a publisher in Chicago, Illinois. Frank Her- bert. who will be again referred to. John and Abi- gail (twins), born in May, 1861. The mother of these children died May 16, 1892.

(VII) Frank Herbert, second son and child of John S. and Abigail D. ( Kimball) Rollins, was born in Holderness, August II, 1853. He was graduated from the State Normal School in 1872 and from the New Hampshire Conference Seminary in 1874. Go- ing to Philadelphia he entered the insurance busi- ness, and from the Quaker City he went to Chicago, where he engaged in the wholesale grocery trade. Returning to his native state in IS79 he located in Plymouth and turned his attention to the mann- facture of stoves, building up a large and prosperous business. He also utilized his knowledge of the in- surance business previously acquired and became the local agent of several well-known companies. In 1888 he withdrew from the active management of the glove manufacturing business on account of faling health, retaining. however, his interest in the concern for some time afterwards, and accepting the position of general agent and adjuster of the Peo- ple's Insurance Company, with headquarters in Chi- cagn, he retained it for two years. In IS93 he crested Rollins Block on Main street, Plymouth, and established himself in the furniture business. In public affairs he was a prominent figure, serving as a selectman, a member of the board of water commissioners and upon the committee formulated for the purpose of negotiating public school funds, and the town received the benefit of his business ability and sound judgment. Mr. Rollins was a «dli-male man; beginning life with only a willing hand and a strong heart, he forged his way by his clear brain to a position of affluence and by his honorable and upright dealings won the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He was a promi- nert member of Olive Branch Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, passing through the chairs; was master for three years of Pemigewasset Chapter. Royal Arch Masons, also past high priest and a member of the Royal and Select Masters and the Knights Templar. His death, which was some- what untimely, occurred January 16, 1904.

On April 30, 1880, Mr. Rollins married Mary Ellen Ross, who was born in Bath, New Hamp- shire July 24, 1858. daughter of Harvey Putnam and Eliza Hayes ( Balch) Ross. She was graduated from the New Hampshire State Normal School in

1877. In addition to his widow, who is still residing in Plymouth, Mr. Rollins is survived by two sons, Ross Ilerbert, born October 7, 1886, was graduated from the Plymouth high school in 1903, from Phillip Exeter Academy in June, 1904, and from the Stone School, Boston, June, 1907; and Frank Balch, born September 26, 1890.

(IV) Abel, seventh son and eighth child of John and Mary ( Carr) Rollins, was born June 10, 1757, in West Newbury, and resided in Salem, New Ilampshire, where he was a farmer. The time of his death is approximated by the fact that his will. dated July 3, 1824, was proved September 6, 1825. Ile was married, November 29. 1790, to Deborah Bailey, of Salem, and their children were: Lucy, Phineas, Charlotte, Robert. John, Hannah and Richard.

(V) Phineas. eldest son and second child of Abel and Deborah ( Bailey) Rollins, was born July 16, 1793, in Salem, New Hampshire, and resided for twenty years at Dedham, Massachusetts. While a resident there, he was overseer in a cotton mill. He returned to Salem and died about 1835, at the age of forty-two years. Administration of his estate was granted to John Clendennin, September 10, 1835. He married Elizabeth Jane Pottle, who bore him three children: Charles Henry, George Augus- tine and Lucy J.

(VI) George Augustine, second son and child of Phineas and Elizabeth J. ( Pottle) Rollins, was born in Dedham. Massachusetts, April 22, 1827. He was educated in the common schools, and at the age of fourteen years became an apprentice to the machinist's trade in Manchester. New Hampshire, where he went at that time. After working at the trade six years he took charge of the Josephus Baldwin shop, in Amoskeag, and filled the position of foreman for two or three years, working on the first engine turned out there. On terminating his connection with these works, he took a position as machinist in the Stark Mills, where he continued until 1852. when he removed to Nashua. His first years in that place were spent in the employ of John Gage, prior to going to Manchester, from whence he went in 1853 to form a partnership with Josephus Baldwin and Jesse Gilman, under the firm name of Rollins, Gilman & Company, manufacturers of ma- chinery. They began work in the shop just vacated by J. H. Gage & Company, in the Nashua Manufac- turing Company's building in Water street. In 1854 Mr. Gilman sold his interest to the company, and the name of George A. Rollins & Company was assumed. In 1863 George W. Davis, of Milford, bought Baldwin's interest in the business and re- moved to Nashua, and the firm took the name of George W. Davis & Company. In 1865 a large lot of land on the line of the Worcester & Nashua rail- road was purchased, and the shop now occupied by the company was built. The work up to this time was largely gun machinery and heavy tools. In 18(7 a patent was secured for a steam engine. and attention was turned toward the construction of steam engines. In 1879 the company dissolved and divided the property, including the lot, and the name of George A. Rollins & Company was re- sumed. January 23. 1892, the company was in- corporated as the Rollins Engine Company. Mr. Rollins at once began to improve what was then the most modern pattern of engines, and soon produced an engine approaching perfection. The workman- ship on the product of this shop is excelled by no other in town. About thirty men are employed in

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the factory. Mr. Rollins, in addition to his inter- ests in this company. is also a stockholder in the White Mountain Freezer Company, of which he is vice-president. His long residence in Nashua, his close connection with its manufacturing interests and his position as an employer of labor and a pro- ducer of no inconsiderable output, has drawn at- tention to his interest in the town and his excellent business ability, and he has been repeatedly called into the public service. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and on the local platform of that party he has been elected member of the common council, mein- ber of the board of aldermen, and representative, in all of which offices he has proved a faithful public servant. He is past master of Rising Sun Lodge, No. 30, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is a member of Meridian Sun Royal Arch Chapter, No. 9. He married, in May 1850. at Newport, New Hampshire, Aurilla Maria Kingsley, who was born in Waterbury, Vermont, April 7, 1829. Two chil- dren have been born of this marriage: Elizabeth . Jane, who married Daniel J. Flanders, of Nashua : and Celia Maria, who married Walter Burnett. The sons-in-law and two grandsons are associated with the Rollins Engine Company.

WILLEY One account of the origin of this name states that it was anglicized from De Velley, which was the orig- inal Norman form of spelling. An English writer says that the original family may have taken its name from Willey river, in the county of Wilts. The first of the name in New Hampshire was Thomas Willey, who was in Dover as early as 1648, and it is claimed that most of the Willeys of the Granite state are his descendants.

(1) Moses Willey, who according to information at hand resided in Lee, this state, was the father of William, Mary, Henry and Moses. The latter may have been the Moses W. Willey mentioned in the succeeding paragraph.

(II) Moses W., probably the youngest son of Moses Willey, was born in Brookfield, New Hamp- shire, August 23, 1803. When a young man he went to Rochester, where he learned the trade of a dyer, and was employed in that capacity in the woolen mills of that town and in Bridgton. Maine, for the remainder of his life. He married Hannah D. Meader, and had a family of six children, of whom the only survivor is J. Henry Willey, who will be again referred to. The others were: Sarah ( who became the wife of Charles Jenness), George, Frank, Catherine ( wife of Howard Burrowa) and John W.

(III) J. Henry, third son and fifth child of Moses W. and Hannah D. (Meader) Willey, was born in Bridgton, Maine, December 3, 1858. He was reared and educated in Rochester, and as a young man he followed various occupations. lle at length entered the mercantile business as a clerk for A. WV. Stanley, a well known merchant of Rochester, and was subsequently employed in the same store by Nr. Stanley's successor, Isaae Ames, and by the latter's successor, C. H. Fairbanks. After having forwarded the mercantile interests of his employers for some ten or twelve years he determined to thenceforward labor in his own behalf, and in 1004 established himself in the grocery trade on North Main street, where he has already built up a profitable business. Mr. Willey is a Master Mason. and a member of Humane Lodge, No. 21, of Roch-

ester. He married, July 4, 1886. Cora Pinkham, of Dover.

William Willey, presumably a descend-

WILLEY ant of Thomas Willey, of Dover, re- sided in Somersworth, this state, but no information concerning his wife and family is at hand. Tradition states that when eighty years of age he frequently drove an ox team to Kenne- bunk, Maine, then the nearest market town, and that none of the farmers could get there any quicker than he.

William, a son of Moses Willey, a farmer of Brookfield, went from Somersworth to Brookfield, New Hampshire, walking the entire distance and car- rying on his baek the scions, or infant trees, which when planted and matured constituted the first apple orchard in that town. Ile cleared and improved what is now know as the old Willey farm. and resided there until his death, which occurred December 16, 1852. He married Susan Ilenderson, of Rochester, and had a family of nine children: Howard (who died at the age of four years ). Aziah C. ( father of J. P. Willey, of Milton), William Henry ( who died young), Howard, Joseph F., James H., Abigail P., William Henry (who will be again referred to). and Susan E., all of whom were born in Brookfield. Mrs. Susan ( Henderson) Willey died in August, 1880, aged seventy-seven years.

William Henry, seventh son and eighth child of William and Susan ( Henderson) Willey, was born in Brookfield, June 16, 1844. At the age of twelve years it became necessary, on account of his father's death, for him to take charge of the homestead farm, and this task he accomplished in a most creditable manner, performing the regular duties with the ability and precision of an experi- ienced farmer, and also attending school. When a young man he located in Wakefield ( Sanborn- ville) and engaged in the eutting and manufacture of lumber, establishing a business which rapidly in- creased in volume and is now one of the most im- portant industrial enterprises in that locality. Last year his sawmill turned out considerably more than one million feet of lumber, and he is planning for a much larger output during the coming season. In 1883 he erected for mercantile purposes a spacious building, which he stocked with general mer- chandise, including grain, and has ever since con- ducted it with prosperous results. He has also devoted considerable attention to the improvement of real estate in Sanbornville, building several dwelling houses which proved an excellent invest- ment, and he has been otherwise instrumental in forwarding the general interests of the town. In 1904 his combined business enterprises had ex- tended beyond the senpe of his own personal atten- tion, and he accordingly admitted his son to partner- ship. Although not an aspirant for publie office he was chosen by his political associates of the Dem- ocratie party as representative to the legislature in 1800-91, and in 1905 he served upon the board of selectmen. Ile affiliates with the Knights of Pyth- ias and has occupied all the chairs in Syracuse Lodge, Sanbornville.

On January 1, 1865, Mr. Willey was united in marriage with Sarah Ilayes, of Wolfboro, and of this union there is one daughter, Ida, who is now the wife of James Hayes, of Milton. Mrs. Willey died July 6, 1874. His second wife whom, he mar- ried December 31, 1877, was Sarah E. Brown, who bore him two children: Ethel, born January 9.

W. H. Willy

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1880; and William Henry, sec closing paragraph. Mrs. Willey died August 4, 1901. For his third wife he married Mrs. Sarah Rand (nee Sanborn).

William Henry (2) second child and only son of William Henry and Sarah E. ( Brown) Willey, was born in Sanbornville, August 5, 1883. He was graduated from the Nute high school with the class of 1901, and immediately entered his father's employ. Three years later he was admitted to partnership, as previously stated, and is now considered a most able and energetic young business man. In 1905 he served most acceptably as town clerk. Like his father he has held all of the important offices in Syracuse Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and is now captain of the Uniform Rank connected with that body.

BARR The following f: mily comes the

famous Scotch-Irish Presbyterian stock, which has furnished some of the best blood in the amalgamation of races which com- pose the American people.

(I) James Barr, born in 1704, at Ballymony, county of Antrim, Ireland, emigrated to America about 1720, and with three uncles-John, Samuel and Gabriel Barr-settled at Londonderry, New Hampshire. The uncle, John Barr, had served at the famous siege of Londonderry under King Wil- liam, and endured all the suffering and distress of that memorable time. On account of his courage on that occasion his property was exempt from tax- ation till the time of the American Revolution. James Barr soon moved to Goffstown, New Hamp- shire. He married Ann McPherson, born in 1708, at Ballymony, and they had five children: John, Sarah, James, Samuel, whose sketch follows, and Molly. James Barr died May 1, 1788, and his widow died February 26, 1798.

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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 77

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