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. IV, Part 101

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: 878

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. IV > Part 101

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Lisabel, born March 1, 1877, a graduate of the Dundee school, and the Plymouth State Normal School, and is a teacher at Rock Springs, Wyoming. 6. Ethel A., born April 6, 1880, at home.

(IX) Walter Ellis, third child and second son of William E. and Mary J. (Blanchard) Gay, was born on the ancestral homestead, February 9, 1867. He was educated in the common schools of Hills- borough. For ten years he was engaged in busi- ness in Manchester with his uncle, Robert D. Gay, in the upholstering business, but returned home upon his father's decease and his brother's removal. and has since that time managed the farm. In ad- dition to that he deals extensively in live stock, and during the warm season has the comfort of a throng of boarders to look after. He is an energetic man of progress and influence in his town, and shows by his actions that he has an object in life. He is a Republican in politics, and attends the Methodist Church. He is a member of the Ridgely Lodge, No. 74, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Manchester. He married, October 5, 1903, Wilhelmina Pundt, born in Dundee, Illinois, December 25, 1875, daughter of John and Mary (Matz) Pundt, of Carpentersville, Illinois.

(II) Nathaniel, third son and child of John and Joanna (Baldewicke) Gay, was born in Dedham, January II, 1643. From his father he received a gift of a tract of land lying near the present town of Medfield, and another in Pocumtock "alies Dere- field in Hamshier." He was made a freeman May 23, 1677, served as a selectinan in 1704 and other years, and died February 20, 1712. He married Lydia, daughter of Major Eleazer Lusher, a prominent town official and representative to the general court. Major Lusher appears to have been as popular as he was prominent, and for many years after his death the people of Dedham were in the habit. when- ever his name was mentioned, of repeating the fol- lowing couplet :

"When Lusher was in office. all things went well :

But how they go since it shames us to tell."

Lydia died August 6, 1744, aged ninety-two years

Large Mr. Gay

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having had a family of ten children, namely : Benja- min and Nathaniel, both of whom died young; Mary, Lydia, Nathaniel, Lusher, Joanna, Benjamin, Abigail and Ebenezer. The will of Nathaniel Gay was made February 16, 1712, and probated March 20, same year. His property was inventoried at two liun- dred and twenty-seven pounds, nineteen shillings, six pence, and after naming as executors, his wife and his sons Nathaniel and Lusher, he made the fol- lowing provision, viz .: "Whereas I have been att considerable expense in bringing up my son Ebe- nezer Gay" (referred to in the opening paragraph of this article), "fitt for, and in placing. him att Harvard College, where he now remains, I do ap- point that ye charge of his further continuing there until the taking of his first degree shall be payd and discharged out of my estate, which shall be reckoned and accounted with him as his full share of mny estate."

(III) Lusher, fourth son and sixth child of Na- thaniel and Lydia (Lusher) Gay, was born in Ded- liam, September 21, 1685. His portion of his father's estate consisted of a farm located in that part of Dedham known as the Clapboard Trees, and he occupied that property until his death, which oc- curred October 18, 1769. In 1746 he was a member of the board of selectmen. His wife was before marriage Mary Ellis, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Graves) Ellis, and she died October 7, 1780, aged ninety years. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, namely : Lusher, Ebenezer, Richard, Jabez, Ichabod. Mary, Lydia, Joseph and Bunker. Bunker Gay was graduated from Harvard College in 1760. (IV) Lusher (2), eldest son and child of Lusher (1) and Mary (Ellis) Gay, was born in Dedham, December 15, 1716. In 1738 he received from his father the title to a tract of land with buildings and fruit trees thereon in Thompson Parish, Killingly, Connecticut, whither he removed the following year, and in 1747 he was chosen a dea- con of the church in Thompson. His death oc- curred in Killingly, February 19, 1803. On April II, 1739, he married Mary Colburn, daughter of Joseph and Mehitabel (Whiting) Colburn, of Ded- ham. She died in Thompson, June 13, 1746, and on June 22, 1748, he married for his second wife Han- nah Cady, daughter of David and Hannah (Whit- more) Cady. She died October 21, 1810. His chil- dren were: Lusher, Lydia, Mary, Calvin, Ebenezer, David (died young), Joseph (also died young), David, Joseph, Theodore, Sophia, Martin and Han- nah, all of whom were born in Thompson (Kill- ingly).

(V) Lusher (3), eldest son and child of Lusher (2) and Mary (Colburn) Gay, was born in Killingly March 21, 1740. April 30, 1761, he married Judith Green, daughter of Henry and Judith (Guile or Guild) Green. He died April 18, 1778, and his widow subsequently became the wife of David Wil- son, of Dedham. Lusher Gay was the father of seven children, namely : Willard, Lemuel, Mary, Sally, Colburn, Hannah and Nabby.

(VI) Colburn, third son and fifth child of Lusher and Judith (Green) Gay, was born in March, 1770. He resided in Dedham, Massachu- setts, until about 1815, when he moved to New Hampshire, and died in Surry, October 26, 1824. He was twice married-first to Sarah Ellis, who died in 1803, and his second wife, whom he married in 1810, was Mrs. Lucy Brackett (nec Walker). of Stoughton, Massachusetts. His children were : Willard (who died young), Phineas Ellis, Willard, Sally, Hiram, John and Annie.

(VII) Willard, third son and child of Colburn

and Lucy ( Walker-Brackett ) Gay, was born in Ded- ham, February II, 18II. He settled upon a farm in Swanzey, New Hampshire, and resided there for the remainder of his life, which terminated in 1882. Ilis first wife, whom he married April 14, 1841, was Fanny Wright, daughter of Caleb Wright of Keenc. She died March 30, 1842, leaving one son, Dr. George Washington Gay, who will be again referred to. On March 30, 1843, he married for his second wife Emily H. Farwell, daughter of Samuel Farwell, of Nelson, New Hampshire. She became the mother of six children, namely : Ella Harriet, born February 4, 1844, became the wife of Z. G. Taft; Phineas Ellis, born May 14, 1846, mar- ried Lizzie Hill; Mary Anna, born November 23, 1847; Reo A., born March 24, 1851, died December I, same year ; Emma W., born May 10, 1855, died December 18, that year; and the latter's twin sister, Carrie Louise, who died February 18, 1861.

(VIII) George Washington Gay, M. D., only child of Willard and Fanny ( Wright) Gay, was born in Swanzey January 14. 1842. His early education was acquired in the public schools and at Powers Institute, Bernardston, Massachusetts. His pro- fessional studies were pursued under the direction of Dr. Twitchell, of Keene, and at the Harvard Medical School, from which he was graduated in 1868, and he immediately began the practice of his profession in Boston, giving his attention almost exclusively to surgery. His professional advance- ment was rapid, and the thoroughly able and conscientious manner in which he handled a number of serious cases during the early days of his career resulted in the creation of a very large private practice, and this, together with his public hospital work, has gained for him an honorable position among Amercan surgeons of the highest rank. Dr. Gay's professional appointments have been somewhat limited owing to his unusually extensive private prac- tice, but those which he has considered a duty to accept have been highly important. From 1872 to 1899 he held the post of visiting surgeon to the Boston City Hospital, when he was appointed senior surgeon, which position he still holds. In 1888 he was appointed instructor in clinical sur- gery at the Harvard Medical School, in which ca- pacity he continued to serve until 1900, when he became lecturer on surgery and still retains that position. He is president of the Massachusetts Medical Society (1906-08), a member of the Ameri- can and the British Medical Associations, and of the American Surgical Association, and also affili- ates with other professional bodies and with the Masonic order. His contributions to the literature of his profession, which have appeared from time to time in the standard medical journals, cover a varied line of subjects relative to surgery, and per- haps the latest and most opportune are those upon Appendicitis, in the diagnosis and treatment of which he stands high among the surgeons of this coun- try.

On November 25. 1868. Dr. Gay married Mary E. Hutchinson, daughter of B. F. Hutchinson, of Milford, New Hampshire, and she died February 22. 1873. His present wife, whom he married in 1875. was Grace Greenleaf, daughter of J. H. Hathorne. of Boston.

The family of Guay comes into New GUAY Hampshire from the Province of Quebec. Canada, where the family has been seated for many years, although it had its origin in France. Through the several generations of the family life in the Province of Quebec the Guays, like nearly

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all others of the same nationality, came to be known as French-Canadians, but unlike most of them the Guays have occupied a higher station in the social and civil history of the province and the name is known in the professions, trades and in the church, having representatives in each.

(I) Thomas Guay was a Farmer of Point Levis in the county of Levis, Province of Quebec, Canada. His lands were extensive and he was thrifty, provi- dent and much respected in the community in which he lived. His wife before her marriage was Julia Poire, a woman of French ancestry and Canadian birth, and she bore her husband five sons and three daughters.

(II) Thomas, son of Thomas and Julia (Poire) Guay, was born at Point Levis, Province of Quebec, and lived there until he had passed middle age, and then removed to Laconia, New Hampshire. He mar- ried Sarah Nolan, daughter of John' Nolan, of St. Agathe, Canada, who was born in Cork, Ireland, and came to Quebec when he was a young man. On her father's side Sarah was of Irish birth, while through her mother she was of English and Scotch descent. Thomas and Sarah (Nolan) Guay had a large family of thirteen children, several of whom died in extreme infancy. Thomas J., now a con- tracting builder in Laconia, senior member of the firm of Guay & Wallace. John Michael, mentioned below. Alfred (I) and Alfred (2), both of whom died very young. Emma, who died at the age of nineteen. Catherine, wife of I. J. Malouin, of La- conia. Alfred L., a foreman carpenter, living in Laconia. Joseph T., a painter, living in Laconia. Albert T., a painter, living in Laconia. Four other children whose span of life was very short.

(III) John Michael, second child and second son of Thomas and Sarah (Nolan) Guay, was born at St. Agathe, Province of Quebec, Canada, Sep- tember 28, 1861, and was eighteen years old when his father left that place and came to Laconia, New Hampshire. At St. Agathe he was given a good education in public schools and also in an institution of a grade equal to that of the normal schools in this state, and after the removal of the family to Laconia he learned the trade of general and decora- tive painting, and followed it, steadily for a time and afterward in the intervals of service under the municipal government of Laconia, for since 1889 he has been more or less closely identified with the department of police of that town and subsequent city, and now is head of the department. In 1889 Mr. Guay was appointed town patrolman, and in 1891 became chief of police and served in that ca- pacity until 1893, when the charter of the incor- porated city of Laconia was granted and an organ- ization was effected under it. He then returned to his trade in the car shops, and in 1896 was appointed postman under the free mail delivery service in- augurated in Laconia during that year. He was mail carrier about five and a half years, then re- turned to the car shops, worked there between four and five years, and November 4, 1905, was ap- pointed city marshal by the board of police com- missioners of Laconia. This office he still holds, and it is said by business men and others who represent large property interests that the high standing of the police department of the city is largely due to the capable and efficient superin- tendence of its present marshal. Mr. Guay is a Democrat-there is no question about that-but he never has been offensive in his partisanship and has many warm political supporters in the opposite party. In 1902 he was the Democratic candidate for the office of sheriff of Belknap county, which

is a reliable Republican jurisdiction so far as ma- jority is concerned, but Mr. Guay fell short of election by only eighty-five votes. He was a mem- ber of the city council of Laconia from March to November, 1905, and retired from that office to enter upon his duties as city marshal, as has been mentioned.

July 8, 1888, John Michael Guay married Mary Murphy, daughter of Jeremiah and Mary Murphy, of Erving, Massachusetts. Two children have been born of this marriage: Irene Bernadette, born in Laconia, January 20, 1891, and John Augustus, born in Laconia, March 10, 1894.

This family name, which is KINGSFORD borne by only a small number of persons in this country, is de- rived from the name of the English town whence came the bearer of the name.

(I) Charles C. Kingsford was born in Lake- ville, Massachusetts. He married Sarah Ashley and they had three children : Arthur, Charles and John, whose sketch follows :

(II) John C., youngest son of Charles C. and Sarah (Ashley) Kingsford, was born in Lakeville, May 4, 1845. He attended the common schools of Lakeville, and also two years at Taunton high school. After farming a short time in Middleboro, then in Taunton, Massachusetts, he went to Provi- dence, Rhode Island. After conducting a gentle- man's furnishing store for a short time, he became a clerk in the post office at Riverside, a suburb of Providence, and has ever since been in that employ and resided in Providence. In politics he is a staunch Republican. For a time he was captain in the United Train of Artillery of the Rhode Island state militia. He is a member of the Riverside Congre- gational Church, and has been superintendent of its Sunday school. He is a past master of St. An- drew's Lodge, No. 21, Free and Accepted Masons, of East Providence. He married Arabella F. Thatcher, who was born in Providence, daughter of Nelson Wood and Deborah (Pratt) Thatcher. Their chil- dren are: Howard Nelson, Gertrude Ashley, Ar- thur Henry, Gorham, Frank W., Carlton Lynwood, and Winthrop Cox. Howard C. is mentionel below. Gertrude A., married William E. Atkinson and lives at Riverside, Rhode Island. Arthur Henry resides in Providence. Frank Wentworth is in the automobile business in Detroit, Michigan. Carl- ton L. attends the East Providence high school. Winthrop Cox is in school.

(III) Howard Nelson, eldest child of John C. and Arabella F. (Thatcher) Kingsford, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, September 24, 1871, and attended the common and high schools in East Providence. He entered Dartmouth College in 1893, and graduated with the class of 1897, and subse- quently took a post-graduate course at Harvard. He was made instructor in pathology and bacteri- ology in Dartmouth College. In 1901 he became professor in these sciences, and the following year was appointed bacteriologist for the state of New Hampshire, having charge of the state laboratories in Concord and Hanover. He is also medical di- rector for Dartmouth College. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 21, Free and Accepted Masons, of East Providence, Rhode Island; St. Andrew's Royal Arch Chapter, No. I, of Lebanon; Washington Council, No. 10, Royal and Select Masters, of Lebanon; Sullivan Commandery, Knights Templar, of

Claremont : Edward A. Raymond Consistory,

Sublime Princes of the

Royal Secret, thirty-

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second degree, Nashua; and Bektash Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine of Concord. He married, July 16, 1898, Mabel P. Clark, who was born October 21, 1869, in Pawtucket, daughter of Charles R. and Sarah P. (Reney) Clark, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

MACKENZIE The clan Mackenzie, one of the ancient tribes of Scotland, has an honorable record, and has pro- duced many men of prominence in peace and in war. Among the former are Sir Alexander Mackenzie, the Arctic explorer, for whom the Mackenzie river was named; George, author of "Writers of the Scots Nation"; and Henry, who was the author of "The Man of Feeling."

(I) Alexander Mackenzie, a native of Scot- land, was probably a fisherman.

(II) Colin, son of Alexander Mackenzie, was born in Scotland, in 1844, and after receiving a com- mon school education fitted himself for the position of electrician. In 1866 he came to America, landing on Cape Breton Island, and finally settling at Ellsworth, Maine, where he now resides. For years past he has been an employe of the Western Union Telegraph Company. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Presbyterian Church, and in political faith is a Democrat. He is a valued member of the Ma- sonic order, in which he has attained the thirty- second degree. He married Elizabeth Corbett, who was born in St. John's, New Brunswick, daughter of Alexander Corbett, the father being a native of Scotland. They have seven children: Daniel, an electrician, resides in Boston; Colin, conducts a hotel in Ellsworth; Nicholas B., is mentioned be- low; Annie Louise, Maud Eva, Minnie Elizabeth and Jessie May.

(III) Dr. Nicholas Bradford, third son and child of Colin and Elizabeth (Corbett) Mackenzie, was born in Ellsworth, Maine, August 14, 1876. His literary education was obtained in the common schools. He entered the medical department of Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in the class of 1891. After graduation he was a physician in the City Hospital of Boston three months, at the Massachusetts General Hospital three months, and then at the Children's Hospital, four months, in which time he became excellently prepared for general practice, in which he engaged soon after at Tremont, Maine. He remained there only four months, and in May, 1902, removed to Salisbury, New Hampshire, where he has since been success- fully engaged in the practice of his profession. He married Addie, daughter of Julius K. Trask, of Salisbury, who came to the latter town from Stock- holm, New York.

Enoch Place was in Dorchester, Massa- PLACE chusetts, in 1657. He was born in 1631, and died in 1695. He married in Dor- chester, November 5, 1657, Sarah -, who died in 1695, after him. In 1663 Enoch Place was in King's Town, Rhode Island, and with others of Narragansett desired to be under the protection of Connecticut. In 1664, May 5, he was ordered released from prison on giving bonds for one hundred pounds "to appear and speak further to matter concerning Timothy Mather, whom he ac- cused of speaking words of a very dishonorable nature against his majesty." In 1671, May 19, Enoch Place took the oath of allegiance to Rhode Island; in 1687 was taxed ten shillings four pence, and in 1688 was a grand juror. Under the date of 1693 Daniel Gould writes in his journal: "I went over iv-42

the water in a canoe with old Place to Canonicut." In his will, proved September 11,. 1095, Enoch Place calls himself sixty-four years old. His property, besides lands, inventoried at seventeen pounds nine- teen shillings, and comprised a cow, heifer, two yearlings, calf, four sheep, two or three lambs, pewter, iron, etc. This appears to be the earliest mention of the family name Place in New England colonial history, and it is supposed that all the other Places in the several states in that region have descended from Enoch and Sarah, of Dorchester and King's Town. Their children were Enoch, Peter, Thomas, Joseph and Sarah, all of whom mar- ried and had families.

The first of the name mentioned in the carly history of New Hampshire is in the Newington Church records : 1716, John Place married Eunice Row of Newington; 1719, Ebenezer Place married Jane Pevey ; 1727, Samuel Place married Mary Row; 1727, James Place married Mary Walker; 1745, Abraham Place married Mary Rawlins; 1751, Jo- sephi Place married Alice Dam. It may be assumed that the more recent generations of the Places in New Hampshire are descendants of those of the same name found in the church records, and it also is fair to assume that they of Newington were in some manner associated in kinship with the Places of Dorchester and King's Town, but from any record now in existence it is difficult to trace descent from any of these heads to Jacob Place of Alton, New Hampshire, and his descendants, several of whom are still living in that town.

(I) Jacob Place was born in Alton, New Hamp- shire, October 25, 1794, and died there. The farm on which he settled after marriage was cleared by him, and now is owned and occupied by one of his grandsons, having been in the family more than three quarters of a century. On July 26, 1812, Jacob Place married Hannah Clough, daughter of Perley and Sally (Smith) Clough. Jacob and Hannah (Clough) Place had nine children : Sally Pinkham, Smith Clough, Harriet Jewell, Stephen Smith, Lu- ther Brown, Perley Clough, Nancy Olive, Hannah Elizabeth and Jacob Cogswell Place.

(II) Smith Clough, second child and eldest son of Jacob and Hannah (Clough) Place, was born 1816, and died March 5, 1890. He was about forty- five years old when he enlisted for service in the civil war with the Eighth New Hampshire Volun- teer Infantry. He was a farmer by occupation, and was much respected in the town of Alton. He mar- ried, 1839, Nancy J. Dicey, died in 1888. Their chil- dren were: George E., Mary, William, Fanny, Jo- siah S., Washington N. G., Armetta, Ernest L., and Jesse Franklin Place.

(II) Luther Brown, fifth child and third son of Jacob and Hannah (Clough) Place, was born in Alton, New Hampshire, 1825, and although be- yond the eightieth milestone of life's journey is one of the best preserved men of his town, and even at the present day reads well without the aid of glasses. He was baptized by a minister of the Advent Church, but was not brought up under the influence of that denomination. His occupation has been that of millwright and farmer, chicfly the latter, and his endeavors in life have been rewarded with success. He has seen generations one after another of the old families come and go, and is re- garded as one of the best authorities on Alton his- tory now living. Mr. Place married, 1850, Eme- line M. Glidden, who was born in Alton, 1833, and died there, 1892. Their children are: Clara R., James Buchanan, Cora E., and Charles L. Place.

(III) Jesse Franklin Place, son and youngest

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child of Smith Clough and Nancy J. (Dicey) Place, was born in Alton, New Hampshire, 1861, and has spent his entire life in that town. He was educated in the town school, and when old enough learned the trade of millwright, which has been his main occupation in business life to the present time. He moved to his present farm in 1882, and has so im- proved it that it is regarded as one of the most attractive home farms in Alton. It is pleasantly situated on the shore of Crystal Lake, with Mt. Belknap and other noted heights in plain view from his house. Mr. Place married, June 7, 1884, Grace W. Page, who was born in Gilmanton, New Hamp- shire, daughter of Asa and Eliza (Edgerly) Page, of Gilmanton. Their children are: Franklin S., Mildred and Josephine S. Place.

(III) James Buchanan, second child and elder son of Luther Brown and Emeline M. (Glidden) Place, was born on the homestead farm in Alton, March 1857. He was educated in the Alton public school and in the academy at Wolfborough, New Hampshire, and after leaving school he taught one year; but his chief occupation has been farm- ing and shoemaking, and in connection with the farm he and his father own and operate a saw mill at Place's pond. lle is a member of Highland Lodge, No. 93, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. of Gilmanton Iron Works, and of Merry Meeting Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, of Alton. In Febru- ary, 1890, Mr. Place married Miss Amy E. Stephens, of Bangor, Maine. Their children are: Walter R., Hazel Olive and Faith Emeline Place.

NELSON The name of Nelson is of Scandi- navian origin, and was derived from Nilsson, meaning son of Nils. It is not only to be found in Scotland and Ireland, but is to be met with in nearly every county in England. especially in those along the seaboard, which in ancient times were exposed to the ravages of the piratical Norsemen in their Vikings.

(1) The Nelsons of Maine, New Hampshire and the northern counties of Massachusetts are the posterity of Thomas Nelson, who was one of the company of colonists which immigrated with the Rev. Ezekiel Rogers from Rowley, Yorkshire, Eng- land, in 1638, and settled the town of Rowley, Mas- sachusetts. This company was composed of twenty families, the majority of whom were weavers, and they were the first to manufacture woollen cloth i11 New England. Thomas Nelson appears to have been one of the wealthiest as well as one of the most able among the Rowley settlers, and acquired prominence both in business and official life. He was made a freeman in 1639, was chosen deputy to the general court in 1640, and in the following year became chairman of a committee formulated to make a general survey of the town, lay out and register houselots and transact other business in relation to land grants. In 1644 he was appointed to solemnize marriages. His death occurred in England in 1648, while on a visit to the mother country for the purpose of transacting some im- portant business, and an item in the records states that he prudently made his will prior to his de- parture from Rowley. The name of his first wife, whom he married in England. does not appear in any record on this side of the ocean. His second marriage took place about the year 1642, in Massa- chusetts, to "Joane" Dummer, daughter of Thomas Dummer, of Badgeley, England, and a niece of Richard Dummer, one of the original settlers of Newbury. Of this first union there were two sons :

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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. IV, Part 101

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: 878

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: 878