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 8

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 8

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(V) Nathaniel, only son of James (2) and Anna (Herrick) Rix, was born June 6, 1714, in Preston, Connecticut, and was one of the first settlers of Boscawen, New Hampshire, where he located in 1733. He afterward lived in Concord for a time, the first two children being born there, and then re- turned to Boscawen. He was a soldier of the Co- lonial Wars; first, in 1745, in John Clough's com- pany, and second, in 1755, in Captain Joseph East- man's company. His death was caused by falling down a flight of stairs in a hotel in Concord. He was married in that town April 17, 1743, to Mary Peters, daughter of Seaborn Peters. Their children were: James, Peter, Sarah, Nathaniel and Christo- pher, besides a daughter who died unnamed.

(VI) Nathaniel (2), third son and fifth child of Nathaniel (1) and Mary ( Peters) Rix, was born July 17, 1753. in Boscawen, New Hampshire, and settled in Landaff, in this state, from which town he served three enlistments during the war of the Revolution. He removed to Stansted, Canada, in 1799, but subsequently returned to New Hampshire and died in Littleton, October 12, 1828. He mar- ried Esther Clark, who was born April 13, 1758, in Newmarket. New Hampshire, daughter of John and Esther (Knights) Clark. She survived him nearly four years and died in the same house, July 18, 1832. Their children were: Nathaniel, Esther, John, Ebenezer, Polly, George, Ruth, Clark, Hale, Margaret and William.

(VII) Nathaniel (3), eldest child of Nathaniel (2) and Esther (Clark) Rix, was born November 26, 1777, in Landaff, New Hampshire, and resided in Stansted, Canada, until the war of 1812 broke out, when he returned to his native state and settled in Littleton. He was an active citizen of that town and employed many years in town affairs. He died in Dalton, New Hampshire, October, 1856. He was married March 3, 1802, to Rebecca Eastman, who was born September 23, 1780, in Bath, daughter of Obadiah and Elizabeth (Searls) Eastman. (See Eastman VII). She survived her husband more than ten years, and died in Dalton, April 27, 1867. Their children were: Guy C., Lucretia, Narcissa, Pereis, Wilder P., Benjamin F., Charles and Re- becca J.

(VIII) Guy Carlton, eldest child of Nathaniel (3) and Rebecca (Eastman) Rix, was born Decein- ber 14, 1802, in Stansted, Canada, and was brought up in Littleton, New Hampshire. Like most young men of his time he was reared on a farm, and in the old acceptance of that term was not liberally educated. His schooling was confined to the com- mon schools, but this training was supplemented by careful study and voluminous research. To a strong practical training he added by his own exer- tions an unusual literature culture. He possessed a great taste for the study of classics. In early life he learned the trade of edge-tool making and proved to be a skillful workman. He became an itinerant mechanic. and lived in Barnston, Compton, and a second time in Barnston, Canada; in Kirby, Water- ford, Danville and East St. Johnsbury, Vermont ;

Rumney and Littleton, New Hampshire; Middle- fort, Hartland and Jeddo, New York; and Man- chester and Dowagiac, Michigan. Before living in Dowagiac he spent a second period at Jeddo, New York. Ile died in Dowagiac, January 14, 1879. He was married January 4, 1826, to Martha Gates, who was born August 10, 1807, in East St. Johnsbury, Vermont, daughter of Thomas and Patty ( Plumley) Gates. She survived him thirteen years, and died April 28, 1892, in Dowagiac, Michigan. Their chil- dren were: Caroline, Guy Scoby, Joel Eastman, Joseph, Thomas, John, Nathaniel, Martha, Benja- min Franklin, Charles and Wilder Pierce.

(IX) Guy Scoby, eldest son and second child of Guy Carlton and Martha (Gates) Rix, was born November 12, 1828, in Littleton, New Hampshire. He received a limited education in the common schools, and attended one term in the high school at Rumney, New Hampshire, and one winter in the common school in Middleport, New York, which was his last schooling. At the age of sixteen he accompanied his parents to Western New York, and in the fall of that year (1844) they removed from Hartland to Middleport, about ten miles away. A year latter they removed to the little town of Jeddo, about five miles from Middle- port, on the "Ridge Road." There he re- mained, working for his father in the shop until 1851, when his parents removed to Michigan and he returned east to visit his grandparents, who were living at Haverhill, New Hampshire. Here he met the lady whom he afterwards made his wife, and in consequence concluded to live in his native state. He entered the employ of Jonathan S. Nichols, of Haverhill, working in the blacksmith department, and remained until the spring of 1853, when he went to Littleton, his native town. Here he entered the employ of Daniel C. Quimby, a carriage manufacturer, but in July of the same year he left and went to Manchester, Michigan, where his parents were then residing. There he entered into partnership with Mr. Munroe Ingraham in the foundry and machine business. In May, 1854, he returned east for his bride and was married on the date of their meeting after a separation of almost three years. Immediately after their marriage lie returned to Michigan, but was taken down in the fall with fever and ague, which malady also at- tacked his wife. Being dissatisfied with conditions there he disposed of his interest in business and returned to Littleton, and again entered the employ of Mr. Quimby. In the spring of 1855 he removed to Concord, New Hampshire, and took employ- ment in the shops of Lewis Downing & Sons, car- riage makers, where he remained until the war of 1861, when he removed to western New York and located in a village between Niagara and Orleans counties. In company with his brother Joel he here began the business of carriage making and custom blacksmithing, and this continued until July 1, 1862, when he enlisted as a soldier in defence of the Union and became a member of Company A. One Hundred and Twenty-ninth New York Volunteer In-

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fantry, under Captain Erastus Spalding and Colonel Peter A. Porter, of Niagara Falls. He was mustered into the service August 22, 1862, at Lock- port, and on the next day the regiment was on the way to Baltimore, Maryland, where it did guard duty in and around the city for some time. On December 18th of that year the regiment was re- organized as the Eightli New York Heavy Artillery. In Grant's campaign, 1864. it was ordered to the front. Mr. Rix was appointed armorer at Federal Hill. Baltimore. October 26, 1862 and became bri- gade armorer at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, May 17. 1863, and artificer in May of the following year. He participated in the battles of North Anna River, Cold Harbor (June 30, 1864) and the engagements in front of Petersburg (June 16-17-18-22). In the last engagement he was wounded and taken to the rear. He was taken to Washington, D. C., and placed in Mount Pleasant hospital, where his right leg was amputated July 7, 1864. His wife went to Washington and cared for him until early in No- vember of that year, when they both went to Jeddo, to the old home of his father, which he had pur- chased while in the service. In February, 1865, he returned to the hospital again in Washington, and was discharged March 25 of that year. He returned to Jeddo and commenced the carriage business anew, which he continued for eight years. In 1873 he made a visit to the east, and finding a favorable opening for himself he returned to New York and sold out his plant, and in November, 1873, moved his family to Concord, New Hampshire. Here he entered the employ of the Concord Carriage Com- pany as foreman of the blacksmithing department. In 1879 he was offered flattering inducements to go to St. Louis as superintendent of a large carriage mannfactory, and accepted, and a year later he moved his family to St. Louis, but the climate proved injurious to his wife's health, and he re- turned his family to Concord, but continued to hold his position in St. Louis for a period of four years. At the end of that time his employers abandoned carriage manufacturing and , engaged in the pro- duction of street cars, and he resigned his position and returned to Concord and re-entered the service of the Concord Carriage Company. Since 1898 he has been retired from labor at his trade. Mr. Rix has always possessed a strong taste for litera- ture, and despite his lack of education has turned out some very creditable works. He is the author of an exhaustive history of the Eastman family and of the Rix family, and has done a great deal of genealogical work in connection with various fam- ilies. He has been a contributor of material to numerous town histories in his native state, and still at his great age manipulates the typewriter and produces genealogical matter of value to many peo- ple. He has been a strong temperance man all his life, and is probably the oldest "Son of Temperance" in this state, if not in the United States, having been initiated in June, 1847. in Jeddo Division No. 27. by the great temperance advocate, Philip S. White, of Philadelphia. He was also made an Odd

Fellow in Moose Hillock Lodge, No. 25, in Haver- hill, New Hampshire, in January, 1852. He is a member of E. E. Sturtevant Post No. 2, Grand Army of the Republic, at Concord. He is a justice of the peace and quorum. Both he and his wife are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Concord. He was married in Warren, New Hampshire, May 28, 1854. by Rev. James Adams, to Abigail Augusta Place, who was born February I, 1835, in Haverhill, New Hampshire, daughter of James and Mary Lovejoy (Gould) Place. Follow- ing is a brief account of their children : Mary Louise, born in Strafford, New Hampshire, is the wife of Samuel Alfred Clay, residing in Concord, and has two children: Martha Abbie, a native of Concord, resides in that town, the widow of Herbert L. Tre- vette, and she has three children; Guy Carlton, born in Concord, resides in Boston, Massachusetts, and had two daughters; Minnie, a native of Jeddo, New York, is a wife of Howard S. Smart, and resides in Concord, having two children, Frank, a native of Jeddo, is ummarried and lives with his parents. The same is true of James Carlton, who was born in Concord.

The family hercin traced was not WHITAKER among the Puritan Pilgrims, but has long been identified with Massachusetts and New Hampshire in a worthy inanner. It seems impossible to discover positively the time of arrival in America.

(I) The first of record appears in Shirley, Massachusetts, where John Whitaker had a son born in 1744. Jolm Whitaker is supposed to have come from England, but no record is found of his birth, death or marriage.

(II) John (2) Whitaker, son of John (I), was born, 1744, in Shirley, Massachusetts, and died Oc- tober 1. 1829. He was married in Groton, Massa- chusetts. December 23, 1766, to Thankful Pierce, who was born in the same year as himself, and survived him nearly two years. dying September 6, 1831. They were the parents of ten children, namely : David, John, Susan, William (died young), Susanna, William, Lucy, Asa, Levi and Anna.

( III) David, eldest son of John (2) and Thankful (Pierce) Whitaker, was born January 26. 1767, probably in Groton, and died September 24, 1852. in Pittsford. Vermont. His first wife was Lydia Fish, who died November 24, 1791, leaving one child, Polly, who became the wife of Jolin Rice. and the mother of eight children. Mr. Whitaker married (second) Anna Beach, who was born .August 3. 1771. at Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and died April 21, 1867. in Bethel. Vermont. They were the parents of twelve children, all of whom were born in Windsor. Vermont, namely: David (died young ). Ira, Nancy, Marshall. John, David, George, Reuben, Chancey, Lydia Fish, Caroline and Paschal. (IV) Lydia Fish. second daughter and tenth child of David and Anna ( Beach) Whitaker. was born December 23. 1811, in Windsor, Vermont, and

- JAG Bishop;

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died June 21, 1886, in Montpelier, same state. She was married January 11, 1828, to Mulfred Dayton Bullard. (See Bullard. VII).

This is a family long identified with

BISHOP the history of New Hampshire, and early implanted in Massachusetts. It was conspicuous in struggles with the Indians, in the days of settlement in the Merrimack Valley, and bore its part in subduing those enemies of civilization. It was also identified with the pioneer times of other "sections of the state and aided in settling the Connecticut Valley, as well as the Mer- rimack.

(I) Edmund Bishop, emigrant ancestor of one of the several Bishop families early in New Eng- land, settled before 1640 in that part of Salem Village which is now in Beverly, Massachusetts. He was a husbandman and also a sawyer. ITis first wife Hannah, the mother of his children, died be- fore 1680. He married (second) Budget Oliver, widow of Thomas Oliver. She was executed as a witch June 10, 1692, and he married (third), March 9. 1693. Elizabeth Cash. He was not living in 1715, and his children were: Hannah, Edward and Mary.

(II) Edward (2), only son of Edward (1) and Hannalı Bishop, was born in 1648 and baptized April 23, of that year. Previous to 1703 he was a resi- dent of Salem Village, and removed thence to Rehoboth, Massachusetts, where he was an inn holder, and there died May 12. 1711. He married Sarah Wildes, of Topsfield. Massachusetts, and their sons were: Edward, Samuel, Jonathan and Ebenezer.

(III) Edward (3). eldest son of Edward (2) and Sarah ( Wildes) Bishop, was born about 1680 in Salem Village, and lived in Salem, Ipswich and in Newbury. The Christian name of his wife was Susanna, and they had sons, Josiah, James, Daniel and Benjamin.

(IV) Josiah. eldest son of Edward (3) and Susanna Bishop, lived in Ipswich until 1727, when he removed to Newbury, Massachusetts. About 1740 he removed to Boscawen, New Hampshire, and was there engaged in clearing land, but it is probable that his family remained in Newbury. Only one member became a resident of New Hamp- shire. In the summer of 1746, while at work in his fields at Boscawen. he was surprised and captured by the Indians, and because of his resistance he was slain. lle was married February 7. 1704, to Sarah Adams, who was a daughter of Thomas Adams. Four of their children were born in Ipswich, and four in Newbury. They were: Bethia, Susanna, Sarah, Enos, Jeremiah ( died young), Lydia. Benja- min and Jemima.

(V) Enos, eldest son of Joseph and Sarah (Adams) Bishop, was born January 31, 1705, in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Soon after attaining his majority, before 1739. he removed from Newbury, Massachusetts, to Boscawen. New Hampshire, and in 1754, when the Indians made their memorable at- iii-14

tack on the cabin and the family of Philip Call. Enos Bishop was one of the thirteen men who set out in pursuit of the enemy. The company fell into an ambush, and he was captured and taken to Can- ada. He subsequently escaped and returned to Boscawen, where he lived until 1769, when he re- moved to Lisbon, New Hampshire. In 1775 he served in Captain Jane Osgood's company of rangers upon the northern frontiers, and in the following year he completed an enlistment in Col- onel Bedel's regiment. In the autumn of 1776 he

enlisted in the Continental service and served in the first New Hampshire record of . Colonel Cilley's regiment. In the descriptive roll of New Hamp- shire soldiers in 1778 he is called fifty-two years of age, and described as five feet seven inches in stature. with light complexion. He was reported sick January 10, 1778. and died in the service August S of that year. He was married in New- bury, Massachusetts. November 21, 1749, to Eliza- beth Belamy. She died while he was in captivity, and he subsequently married Anna (surname un- known). Two children were born of the first wife. namely : Josiah, who was a prominent citizen of Lisbon (his name is erroneously printed Jonah in the "History of Boscawen") ; and Susanna. The children of the second wife were: John, who lived in Lyme, New Hampshire: Elizabeth. Sarah, Han- nah, Benjamin (who was a Methodist minister and lived in Lancaster), and Enos, who lived in Lisbon.

(\'1) John, second son and third child of Enos Bishop, and eldest child of his second wife, Anna, was born December 10, 1757, in Boscawen, and was twelve years of age when his parents removed to Lisbon. He was a soldier in Colonel Bedel's regi- ment in 1776. and in the autumn of that year went into the Continental service and was assigned to Colonel Cilley's regiment, in which his father served. He was discharged in 1780, and in old age drew a pension for his military services. He resided in Lyme, New Hampshire, and was living as late as 1840. The records of this town have been burned, and full account of his family cannot be secured.

(VII) John (2). son of John (1) Bishop, was born 1784, probably in Lyme, and resided in Han- over. New Hampshire, where both he and his wife died in 1826. Both were admitted to the church at Hanover Center in 1816. He was chosen a town officer at the annual meeting in March. 1812. He was married in Hanover, October 29, 1800, to Abi- gail Parker, who was born March 7, 1780. in Han- over, daughter of Dan and Beulah (Smith) Parker. They had children: Harriet; Mary Ann: John Gil- man. born August 28, 1817: James Monroe, whose sketch follows; and Isaiah Moody, born September 21. 1824. Dan Parker was a Revolutionary pen- sjoner and was living as late as 1840 in Canaan. New Hampshire.

(VIII) James Monroe Bishop, second son and fourth child of John and Abigail ( Parker) Bishop. was born in Hanover. New Hampshire, May 14. 1821. and died at Stamford. Connecticut, June 16. ISor. At the age of seven years the death of both

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of his parents left him an orphan, after which he was adopted by his maternal grandparents, who re- moved to Canaan, New Hampshire, about 1840. While living in Hanover he had attended school and there laid the foundation which he had not the incans to complete in an academic course, but by working out among the farmers of the locality of his home, and by teaching school during the winter seasons, he earned money sufficient to improve him- self in the academies at Lebanon and Canaan. In the spring of 1846 he took up the study of medicine with Dr. Jones, of Canaan, afterward continued it with Dr. Wheat, and still later spent two years under the preceptorship of Dr. Mead. of East Andover. During this time in connection with his studies he taught school as a means of supporting himself.

In the winter of 1848-49 Dr. Bishop taught school in Maine, and in the following spring went to Plymouth as assistant to Dr. Goodrich, with the intention to succeed him in practice upon his re- moval from that town, which then was his purpose ; but as Dr. Goodrich afterward decided to remain in Plymouth he went to Bristol, New Hampshire, and began practice there in November, 1849, and from that time until his death he was one of the most prominent and popular figures in medical circles in Grafton county.

His professional career was begun in accordance with the teachings of the old school of medicine. and at a time when the doctrines propounded by Hahnemann were attracting great attention in the medical world but were not tolerated in any of the established schools of medical instruction; nor were those who proposed to practice according to the law of similars permitted to matriculate at any of the so-called regular schools. Although he was well grounded in medicine and held a license to practice, Dr. Bishop felt the need of a medical course leading to the degree, and with a determination to accom- plish that end he entered the Eclectic Medical Col- lege at Worcester, Massachusetts. completed the course of that institution and . graduated M. D. in 1855. After graduation Dr. Bishop practiced gen- eral medicine in Bristol and its vicinity under the eclectic system for about fifteen years. and then be- came a full convert to the doctrine of similia sim- ilibus curantur. As an eclectic he was a member of the New Hampshire Eclectic Medical Society. serving as censor. vice-president and president of that body. During the last twenty years of his professional life he adhered strictly to the homoco- pathie practice and was one of the ablest exponents of that school of medicine in the state. He held membership in the Homoeopathic Medical Society of the State of New Hampshire and served as its vice-president, president and secretary, holding the latter office at the time of his death.

Dr. Bishop was seventy years old at the time of hi- death, which occurred at Stamford, Connecticut, while on the way to attend the session of the Inter- mitional Hahnemannian Association at Atlantic City, New Jersey, in June, 1891. During the forty-

three years of his residence in Bristol he was closely associated with the best interests and his- tory of that town. His practice always was large and occupied much of his time, yet he took an earnest in- terest in the welfare of the town and its institutions. He was town treasurer from 1860 to 1870; one of the incorporators of the Bristol Savings Bank in 1868; member of the superintending school com- mittee in 1866, 1872. 1875 and again in 1884; mem- ber of the board of education of Union School Dis- trict No. 2 in 1878 and 1881: trustee of the Minot- Sleeper Public Library from 1884 to the time of his death, and at one time a member of the Bristol Board of Health. He was a member and one of the officiary of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Bristol, a Free and Accepted Mason, and in politics was a Republican.

Dr. James Monroe Bishop married, November II, 1852, Margaret Ayer Locke. She was born in Concord, New Hampshire, August 13. 1832, daugh- ter of Samuel B. and Betsey ( Philbrick ) Locke. Their children: Mary Abbie Bishop, their eldest child, was born in Bristol, graduated in Classical course from Tilton Seminary, taught school in Bristol one year. and studied music at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Massa- chusetts. She now lives in Lynn, Massachusetts. Daniel Locke Bishop, their second child, was born in Bristol, May 15, 1856, and died August 26, 1856. Lizzie Belle Bishop, their third child. was born in Bristol, graduated from Chelsea ( Massachusetts) high school in 1877, and from the classical depart- ment of Tilton Seminary in 1878. She afterward taught four years in the graded school of Bristol and one year in Dickinson Seminary at Williams- port, Pennsylvania. She married. August 23, 1893, Edwin H. Johnson, of Lynn. Massachusetts, who died March 22, 1804. Channing Bishop, their young- est son and child, is a practicing physician of Bristol.

(1X) Channing Bishop was born in Bristol, July 26, 1864. His earlier literary education was acquired in the Bristol public schools and Tilton Seminary, and his higher education at Brown Uni- versity. Providence, Rhode Island. He was edu- cated for the profession of medicine, first under the instruction of his father, and afterward at the Bos- ton University School of Medicine, where he made the course and graduated M. D. in June, 1889. Since he came to the degree in medicine, Dr. Bishop has engaged in active general practice in Bristol, and in connection with professional pursuits has taken a commendable interest in that town and its institutions. He was appointed a member of the board of education of Union School District No. 2 in 1891, and served as superintendent from 1893 to 1896. On the death of his father, in IS91. he was appointed to succeed him as secretary of the board of trustees of the Minot-Sleeper Public Library, and since 1891 he has been a member of that board. He is a member, and in 1899 was master of Union Lodge. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons: mem- ber and secretary of Cardigan Lodge, Independent

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Order of Odd Fellows; charter member of Merrill Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and ex- member of the Bristol Board of Health

Dr. Bishop married, May 15, 1893, Lena B. Cragin. She was born December 24. 1866, a daugh- ter of Richard W. and Nancy Jane (Emery) Cragin. Richard W. Cragin was born November 21, 1825, in Weston, Vermont, and was married July 15, 1860, to Nancy Jane Emery. She was born June 29, 1834, at East Andover, New Hampshire, a daughter of William A. Emery. The children of Richard W. and Nancy J. Cragin were: George E., born April 10, 1801; and Lena B., December 24, 1866.

Investigation tends to establish the

WILLARD origin of the name Willard in the old German duchy of Alsace or in Lorraine, its neighbor. In the time of William the Conqueror, the family was fully established in Eng- land, and from the time of the compilation of Doomsday Book until now, Willards have been resi- dents in the counties of Sussex and Kent. The im- mediate ancestors of Simon Willard, the immigrant progenitor of the Willards of this article, resided in the southwesterly part of Kent in the hundred of Brenchley and Horsmonden.

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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 8

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