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 81

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 81

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(VII) James Molineux, fourth child of Lieuten- ant Robert and Sarah Kast McHard (Molineux) Gibson, was born in Brownfield, June 17, 1821, and died in Conway, New Hampshire, November, 1900, aged seventy-nine. For a time he was in trade in Fryeburg, Maine, and in 1859 moved to North Con- way. New Hampshire. He went to the gold fields of the "Far West" about 1850, and mined and con- ducted a hotel in Carson City, Nevada. On his first trip to California Mr. Gibson went via the Isthmus and was detained there six months, before proceed- ing on his journey. His next trip he went by Cape Horn and his subsequent journeys were across the

continent. Returning to Maine he farmed four years in Paris. He then went west again and returned, and in 1868, succeeded his father-in-law as landlord of the well known Washington House at North Conway, which he conducted until 1878. He returned to California a third time and still a fourth and spent several years in Butte county, at both Cohasset on a timber ranch and Pine Creek on a fruit farm. He married, October 18, 1854, Martha L. Eastman, who was born in North Conway, May 13, 1827, and died November 4. 1878, daughter of Major Daniel and Martha L. (Chadbourne) Eastman. They had seven children: James Lewis. George Kast, Charles Edgar, Robert, Daniel Eastman, Helen Maria and Anna Molineux. I. James L., mentioned below. 2. George Kast, of Cohasset, was born in North Conway, August 11, 1858, married, September 24, 1885, Queen Broyles, of Cohasset. They have four children, born in Cohasset: James Franklin, Jessie Esther, Helen Luellen and Hazel Lewis. 3. Charles Edgar, a New York City manufacturer, was born in Fryeburg, September 3, 1859, married, May 29, 1894, Anna Sheehy. of Nova Scotia. 4. Robert, born in Fryeburg, September 30, 1860, and died De. cember 14, 1861. 5. Daniel Eastman, of Melrose Massachusetts, was born in Fryeburg, August 13. 1862, married, July 2, 1896, Mrs. Florence (Preble) Grant, of Melrose. 6. Helen Maria, born in Paris, November 24, 1864, married, June 20, 1888, Holmes Boardman Fifield, of Conway Corner. (See Board- man). 7. Anna Molineux, born in Paris. Decem- ber 1, 1867, is unmarried.

(VIII) James Lewis, eldest child of James Moli- neux and Martha Lewis (Eastman) Gibson, was born in Fryeburg, December 2, 1855. His educa- tion was obtained in the common schools at Frye- burg and Paris Hill Academies, and Portland Busi- ness College. At nineteen years of age he was made telegrapher and station agent of the Maine Central Railroad Company at North Conway, and held that position twenty-three years. He then started in bus- iness as a dealer in lumber and building material, which business he has since carried on with very satisfactory results. He is a director in the North Conway Loan and Banking Company. In politics he is a Republican, and active in party affairs. He was elected town clerk in 1877 and filled that posi- tion by successive elections for five years. He has also been town treasurer for seven years, treasurer of the school district. treasurer of the town library, town auditor a number of years, and justice of the police court since its institution in 1903, delegate to the constitutional convention in 1902, and member of the legislatures of 1005 and 1907. In Masonic circles he has also attained high rank. He is a member of Mt. Washington Lodge, No. 87, Free and Accepted Masons, of North Conway; Signet Royal Arch Chapter, No. 24, of North Conway ; Portland Commandery, No. 2, Knight Templars, of Portland, New Hampshire Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, of Nashua; Kora Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Lewiston, Maine, also a charter member of Highland Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of North Conway. He was made a Mason in 1876, elected to office of secre- tary at the first annual meeting, then to junior war- dent, then to worshipful master seven consecutive terms, and has held office continuously since. He has never missed a meeting, regular or special, dur- ing the ten years he served as master, junior warden and secretary.

James L. Gibson married, January 2, 1877, Addie WV. Dow, who was born June 30, 1854, daughter of

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Joseph and Mary Dow, of Wheelock, Vermont. They have two children: Fanny L. and Harvey Dow. Fannie L., graduate of Lasell Seminary, class of 1880, married in 1883, Ernest R. Woodbury, principal of Thornton Academy of Saco, Maine, formerly of Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, New Hampshire. Harvey Dow graduated from Bowdoin College i11 1902. He entered the employ of the American Express Company, and was soon after- ward made financial agent for the provinces, and is now assistant financial manager with jurisdiction over New England.

(IV) Arrington, sixth son and eight child of Deacon Timothy Gibson, was born in 1717, and did not remove with his father to Henniker.

(V) Thaddeus, son of Arrington Gibson, was born in or near Stowe, in 1757, and was a soldier in the revolution. He settled in that part of Warner, New Hampshire, known as Peabody Pasture Parade, but remained there only a short time. He lived for a time in Milford, and removed thence in 1783 to Henniker, and settled on the border of what was than an almost unbroken wilderness. Being strong, athletic and resolute he did much towards bringing that portion of the township under cultivation. He died February 23, 1834. The church record of Mil- ford shows that he came to reside in that town January 10, 1772, accompanied by his wife Elizabeth, and two children. She died March 17. 1819, and he was married March 30, 1831, to Lydia, Kent. His children were: Lewis, Polly and Nahum.

(VI) Polly, only daughter of Thaddeus and Eliz- abeth Gibson, was born in 1780, and became the wife of John Whitcomb (see Whitcomb III).

DEMERITT This name is an unusual one in America, and seems to be confined to the neighborhood of Dover, Durham and Madbury, New Hampshire, and to set- tlers who have gone forth from those regions. With- out doubt all of the family are descended from Elie or Ely de Merit, a Huguenot refugee, who came to this country from the Isle of Jersey. shortly after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and had a grant of land in the township of Dover, New Hamp- shire, April 11. 1694. He married as early as 1695, Hopestill or Hope -, and died about 1747. leav- ing five children. His will seems to indicate that he had an estate in the Isle of Jersey, where the family had first taken refuge. The eldest son of the pio- neer was Eli Demerit, born March 1, 1696, who lived both in Durham and Madbury, and received the grant of the township of Peeling. now Woodstock, this state, in 1763. Ilis eldest son, Captain Samuel Demerit, served in the Colonial wars. The present line is undoubtedly derived from this stock, but the connecting links are lacking.

(I) Major John Demeritt was born in Madbury, New Hampshire, and carried powder to the Ameri- can troops at Bunker Hill, afterward serving through the Revolution.

(II) Paul, son of Major John Demeritt, was born at Madbury, New Hampshire, and married Betsey Davis, of the neighboring town of Lee. by whom he had four children : The youngest. Mark, is mentioned below.

(III) Mark, youngest of the four children of Paul and Betsey (Davis) Demeritt, was born at Farmington, New Hampshire, June 6, 1792, and died November 3, 1876. In 1817 he married Abigail Leigh- ton, who was born at Farmington in 1799. They had ten children : Four of whom are now living: Mar- tha F., Joseph L., Lois S., and Emma B.

(IV) Emma B., youngest daughter of Mark and Abigail (Leighton) Demeritt, became the wife of Edward P. Hodsdon, now of St. Louis (See Hods- don VIII).

FISHER The possession of a family record ex- tending several generations beyond the emigrant ancestor, shows that this fam- ily was one of intelligence and prominence. The record its members have made in New England shows that the Fishers have been an intelligent, ac- tive, brave and energetic family, holding leading po- sitions in the localities where they lived. Their Revolutionary record shows the Fishers of that day to have been courageous men thoroughly imbued with the desire for civil liberty, just as the first "settlers" had been imbued with a desire for liberty to worship God as they chose. Their monuments are the records which as citizens they have left, and they made substantial improvements upon the property they have held, much of which they hewed out of the untrodden wilderness.

(I) Anthony Fisher lived in the latter part of Queen Elizabeth's reign. in the parish of Syleham, county Suffolk, England, on the south bank of the Waveney river, which separates Suffolk from Nor- folk, on a freehold estate called "Wignotte." His wife was Mary, daughter of William and Anne Fiske, of St. James, South Elsham, county Suffolk --- an old Puritan family of that county, which had suffered during the religious persecutions of Queen Mary's reign. The parish record of Syleham con- tains several references to Anthony Fisher and his descendants which are annexed in the language of the records, namely: Anno Domini 1585, Joshua Fysher et Maria Fysher, Gemini baptisandi fuer 24th die Februarii ano Super dicto.

Anno Domini 1591. Antonius Fysher bapt. erat 23 Aprilis anno sup. dicto.

Anno Domini 1599. Cornelius Fysher the sonne of Anthonye Fisher was bap. the six daye of Augusti.

Anthony Fysher was buried the eleventh day of April, 1640.

Anno Domini 1621. Joshua Fysher, the sonne of Joshua Fysher, was baptized on the ii daye of Aprille.

Anno Dom. 1633. Amos Fysher and Anne Lord were married September 24.

Joshua Fysher and Anne Luson were married 7th February, 1638.

This Anthony Fisher, of Syleham, had four sons and two daughters as appear from the record: Cornelius, Joshua. Anthony, Amos, Marie Brigge and Martha Bucingham.

(II) Anthony (2). son of Anthony (1) Fisher, of Syleham. county Suffolk, England, was baptized there April 23, 1591. He came to New England with his first wife Mary and children, probably from Yarmouth, in the ship "Rose," arriving in Boston, June 26, 1637, and settled in Dedham. He subscrib- ed to the Dedham Covenant, July 18, 1637. January I, 1638, he was one of the committee "Chosen to continue the Fabricke of a Meetinghouse.' On July 28, 1638. he was assigned his house lot: "An- thony Fisher twelve Acres more or lesse made vp good by an inlargmint Runs in amongst the Rockes, & for Woode & timbr as it lyeth betweene Mr. John Allin through out towards the South & Thomas Wighte through out towards the North. And abutts vpon the Waest towards the Eeast & the Waest in the Rockes towards the Waest the limitts marked & doaled accordingly," and other parcels of land.

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He bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, a house lot and other lands in Dedham, of the estate of Samuel Cooke, of Dublin, October 19, 1652.

Anthony's wife Mary joined the Dedham Church, March 27, 1642, but he was not "comfortably receiv- ed into the church," "on account of his proud and haughty spirit" until March 14. 1645. He was made a freeman, May, 1645, was chosen selectman of Ded- ham "to aet in town affaires" in 1646-47, county commissioner, September 3, 1660. a deputy to the general court, March 21, 1649, and was woodseve in 1653-54-55-57-58-61-62. He was chosen com- missioner, March 5. 1666, and selectman of Dorches- ter, December 5, 1664, December 4. 1665, and Decem- ber 3, 1666. From a minute bearing date March 9. 1652, it is inferred that he gave the bulk of his property to his sons and they bound themselves to support their mother if she were left dependent. The inventory of his estate, showing only personal property in Dedham and Dorchester, was presented July 26, 1671. He died at Dorchester. "Mr. An- thony Fisher Departed out of this life in the Soth year of his age (April 18), 1671." "In Anthony Fisher we find an Englishman of strong, positive points of character, with' liberal means for the times, of favorable consideration by his fellow-set- tlers as a citizen."

The time of the death of his wife Mary is in- certain; he married again "the 14th of (9 mo :) 1663," Isabell, widow of Edward Breck, of Dor- chester (who had died November 2, 1662), "She being by her first marriage the widow of John Rig- ben. and probably the latter's second wife; Anthony "being at the time of the marriage about 72 years of age." His widow, "The Widow Fisher Depart- ed this life the 22d (mo :4) called June. 1673." His children. all by the first wife and born in England, were : Anthony, Cornelius, Nathaniel, Daniel, Lydia and John.

(III) Anthony (3), eldest child of Anthony (2) Fisher of "Dorchester." came with his parents to New England and settled in Dedham, 1637 ; was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1644: made a freeman May 6, 1646. and joined the Dedham church July 20, 1645. He was chosen surveyor of Dedham. 1652 to 1654: in 1652 he settled the estate of Henry Brookes; Feb- ruary 3, 1652, Anthony was one of those appointed to capture wolves at ten shilling for each wolf killed, and May 5. 1662, Dorchester "voted whether Anthony Fisher shall have four ponds allowed out of the town rate for killing six wolves; the vote was affirmative."

Anthony Fisher, Jr., and Samuel Fisher were among the first to go to Wollomonopoag (Wren- tham) in 1661, and to claim part of the six hundred acres for the encouragement of the plantation, An- thony being one of the committee of Dedham Pro- prictors who were assembled January 12, 1662. to look into the matter and reported "they have secur- ed but ten men, and they cannot go with so small a company-that they are not desirous to leave the world altogether,' as they put it, but will go if they can 'proceed in a safe way.'" Anthony located his improvements upon the easterly and southeasterly side of Whiting's Pond or the Great Pond, but their houses (his and those of others) were some dis- tance from the pond, probably on what is now Franklin street and on South

street. In 1688 there were but thirty-six taxpayers living in Wrentham. November 6, 1664, he was sent from Dedham to view the land "about 12 or 14 miles from Hadley," Pocomptuck, the land which Ded- ham took instead of that which it claimed at Na-

tick, and in 1669 Anthony received one hundred and fifty acres there for his part in surveying the grant. November 8, 1669, he was one of those who went and treated with Philip Sagamore and bought the land at Wrentham.

Anthony's name first appears in the records as paying the town and county rate in 1648. Soon thereafter he rented land of Governor Stoughton, and on "ye 6th of ye Ith mo. 1651, (January 6, 1052) he paid his annual rent in 5 bushels of Indian Corne 0-15-0." Each year thereafter he came before the selectmen of Dedham and paid the rent due. He was assessed for ninety-five pounds, ten shillings, February 20, 1657. The history of Dorchester says Anthony, Ir., was selectman of Dorchester in 1664. We learn that Dorchester "paid Anthony Fisher £4. IOS. for printing the catechism," prepared by Rev. Richard Mather, the pastor. Anthony probably lived just previous to his death, on the land bonght of Mr. Stoughton, situated near the Neponset river, but within the bounds of Dorchester. The inventory of his estate made April 7, 1670, includes "Houses and lands thereof belonging in Dedham," £40; lands purchased of Mr. Stoughton and other landed prop- erty the total being three hundred and fifty-nine pounds, five shillings, two pence.

Anthony Fisher married, in Dedham. September 7. 1647. Joanna, only daughter of Thomas and Joane Faxon, of Braintree. Anthony died February 13. 1670, and his wife died October 16, 1694. Their children were: Mehitable, Experience, Josiah, Abiah, Sarah. Deborah, Judith, and Eleazer.

(IV) Eleazer, youngest son of Anthony (3) and Joanna (Faxon) Fisher. was born in Dedham, September IS, 1669, and died there February 6, 1722. The size of the appraisement of his property at his death, six hundred and sixty-five pounds, indicates that he was a prosperons man of substance. He married, in Dedham, October 13. 1698, Mary, daugh- ter of William and Mary (Lane) Avery, born in that town August 21, 1674. and died in Stoughton, March 25. 1749. Her father, William Avery, was baptized October 27. 1647, in the parish of Brek- ham, near Oakingham, a market town in county Berks. England, and was the son of the immigrant, Lieutenant William Avery, also a physican. The children of Eleazer and Mary were: Eleazer. Wil- liam. Jemima, David. Ezra, Nathaniel, Mary, Eze- kiel. Timothy, Stephen and Benjamin.

(\') David, third son of Eleazer and Mary (Av- ery ) Fisher, was born in Dedham, June 21. 1705. and died July 30, 1779. aged seventy-four. He joined the South Parish Church (in Norwood) with his wife. November 7, 1736. His will shows him to have been the owner of valuable real estate and farm property. He married (first) at Walpole, February 16, 1732. Deborah Boyden, of that town, who died July 18. 1770, aged fifty-nine: he married (second) November 7, 1770. Elizabeth Talbot, of Stoughton, probably a daughter of Ebenezer and Elizabeth Tal- bot. of Stoughton, who was born there February 22. 1754. Elizabeth died July 2, 1802, aged seventy-six. The children all by the first wife, were: David, Thomas. Jacob, Deborah, Hannah, Nathan, Oliver, Abigail, Mary and Abner.

(VI) David (2), eldest child of David (1) and Deborah (Boyden) Fisher, was born in Dedham. Jan- uary 22. 1733. He was a member of the South Parish Church. December 5. 1762, but soon became a member of the Rev. Philip Curtis' Church at Sha- ron ; lived on Moose Hill in Sharon, then Stough- tonham. In the final settlement of his father's es- tate. February 15, 1781, the other heirs' quitelaimed 10 David for seven hundred pounds all their right in

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the estate except that part set to the widow, Eliza- beth, as her right of dower. David was lieutenant in Captain Savel's Company, Colonel Lemuel Robin- son's regiment, which marched from Stoughtonham (now Sharon) on the 19th of April. He also served in Stephen Penniman's company, Robinson's regi- ment, and in Theophilus Wilder's company, Colonel Dike's regiment, from December, 1776, to March I, 1777. He made his will March 19, 1812, probated September 1, 1812. His inventory showed proper- ty of the value of two thousand eight hundred and seventy-six dollars and sixty-two cents. He mar- ried, September 21, 1758, Abigail, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Whiting) Lewis, of Dedham, who was born there December 4. 1738. Their children were: David, Moses, Aaron, Ebenezer, Catherine, Rebecca. Mary and Mary (2).

(VII) David (3), eldest child of David (2) and Abigail (Lewis) Fisher, was born in Sharon, June 26, 1759, and died in Francestown, New Hamip- shire, November 8, 1829. "David Fisher, with other settlers from Dedham and Sharon, came here (Francestown, New Hampshire) about the year 1780, and cleared the farm known as the James Whitfield place, on the northeastern slope of Oak Hill. Here he reared a family of thirteen children.' He was large and athletic, his 'common weight' when in the prime and vigor of life was 250 pounds. He was known in both Dedham and Francestown as 'King David.' He entered the Revolutionary Army when 16 years of age." "Fisher's sawmill was built by David Fisher about the year ISoo. This mill stood about two miles north of the village toward Deer- ing. Now owned by Samuel E. Bryant, who put up a new mill in the place of the old in 1890. The stream is called Fisher's brook." He married, No- vember 20, 1781, Mehitable. daughter of Lieutenant Ebenezer and Mercy (Guild) Hewins, of Sharon, who was born there February 20, 1762, and died at Francestown, New Hampshire, May 4. 1849. Their children were: Mehitable. David, Ebenezer, Joel, Susanna, Increase, Enoch Hewins, Benjamin, Asa, Nancy, Levi, Mary and Thomas.

(VIII) Levi, eleventh child and seventh son of David (3) and Mehitable (Hewins) Fisher, was born in Francestown, March 14, 1803, and died at Merrimack, where he resided November 29, 1880. He was a farmer and stone mason. "The young days of Levi Fisher were spent on the farm of his father, receiving a common school education. He worked on the foundations of two factories of the Nashua Manufacturing Company, but after his mar- riage returned to his father's farm for a few years. Then with his wife and two children he moved to New London, New Hampshire, where he owned and operated a grist mill for several years. the spring of 1842, he bought a farm in Merrimack, where he lived until his death. He was an active member of the Congregational Church for more than fifty years, a highly respected citizen. Politically he was a Democrat." He married. February 24. 1829, Fanny, daughter of Alexander and Eliza (Gage) Wilkins, of Merrimack, who was born in Merrimack, June 12, 1808, and died April 22. 1905. Their children were: Levi W., Sarah W., George WV .. Anna L. and Cynthia M.

(IX) Levi W. Fisher, eldest child of Levi and Fanny (Wilkins) Fisher, was born in Francestown. September 19, 1829. He was educated in the public schools, and at the age of twenty went to Canton, Massachusetts, where he was employed four years in a sash and blind factory. In 1855 he went to Lowell, Massachusetts, was employed at the same kind of work till 1860, and later at Springfield, Mas-

sachusetts. Burlington, Vermont, Potsdam, New York. and Lowell, Massachusetts, and in 1871 at Manchester, New Hampshire. In 1874 he returned to his home in Merrimack to take care of his par- ents and cultivate the home farm, and there resided until his death, January 25, 1907. The farm is five miles west of Reed's Ferry, near the Amherst line, and half a mile cast of Boboosic Pond. He was a Democrat. and a member of the Congregational Church. He married (first) October 15, 1856, Lucy A. Freeman, of Potsdam, New York, born June 2, 1829, died January 26, 1875. Married (second), May 23. 1883, Frances E. Bowen, of Rutland. Ver- mont, daughter of Milo and Martha (Berry) Bowen, born September 1, 1851. The child of the first wife was Maria L., born January 28, 1857, married Frank B. McAfee, of Bedford. The children of the sec- ond wife are: Fanny W., born March 9. 1884. married John T. Graves, of Merrimack; Ella G., born March 3, 1886, unmarried, lives with mother. Edwin Milo, born September 20, 1889, at home.

(Second Family.)

The name of Fisher was a leading one FISHER among the Scotch-Irish colonists of the. early settlements. The holders of this name have been noted for their indomitable energy, their bravery under misfortune, and many of them have made a notable record in the civic. religious and educational affairs of the various com- munities in which they lived.

(I) Deacon Samuel Fisher emigrated from the north of Ireland in 1740, in the nineteenth year of his age. The vessel in which he had embarked was scantily provisioned, and the voyage an unusually long one, and the passengers had come to the con- clusion to sacrifice one of their number to preserve the lives of the remainder. This direful lot fell to Mr. Fisher. Before the sentence had been carried into execution a sail was sighted and their signals of distress being observed, they were rescued from their terrible position. Upon his arrival in this country Mr. Fisher was bound to labor for a certain length of time for a man in Roxbury, Massachus- etts, to pay for his passage. Subsequently he found a home and employment in the family of Matthew Taylor of Londonderry, New Hampshire. Deacon Fisher was by trade a weaver, and although he turned his attention to farming he continued to make use of his loom to supply his family with all manner of cloth for household and personal needs. His person- al appearance was tall and commanding, and he was of dignified bearing. From the town records it ap- pears that he held many positions of trust and re- sponsibility in public affairs. He was elected a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church thirty years prior to his death, and faithfully performed all the duties pertaining to this office until compelled to resign by the infirmities of old age. This love for ecclesiastical office seems to have been bequeathed to his descend- ants, as about half of them in the second and third generations were deacons, and three grandsons were ministers of the Gospel. He married (first) Sarah Taylor, daughter of Matthew Taylor. He married (second) Janet Wilson. He married (third) Sarah Barber, who was of English descent. Among his seven children, was a son, Ebenezer.

(II) Ebenezer Fisher was the son of Deacon Samuel (1) and Sarah (Barber) Fisher. He was of a studious disposition, and in his youth had looked forward to a collegiate education, but as he was not of a sufficiently robust constitution to withstand the necessary confinement, he was obliged to give up this plan and settled upon a farm adjoining that of his father. For a number of years he continued to

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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 81

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