USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Lyman > Historical sketches of Lyman, New Hampshire > Part 5
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* The younger members of this family changed the spelling of their name to Berkley.
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1822, at the age of sixty-one years. His son, Amos, located on the farm now occupied by Francis Little, near the Pettyborough brook. His children were : Laura, Samuel, Spofford, and Lydia.
MOSES WALKER.
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CHAPTER V.
LATER SETTLERS.
WALKER-COREY-THORNTON-MOORE-SHERMAN - GORDON-ASH- EASTMAN-GOULD-CASS-GIBSON-YOUNG-MASON-HOSKINS - HURD- PATRIDGE-KENT-SMITH-GARLAND -ESTERBROOK -LYNDE-BASS- PRESBY - BARTLETT - HASTINGS - GILMAN - FOSTER- DOW -DYKE- LOCKE-TITUS-PARKER-FORD-CHASE-STEVENS -BEDELL-SWAN -- WHEELOCK-MARTIN-WILLIAMS-STICKNEY-MCALPEN.
ELIJAH WALKER married Abigail Hill and located in Royalston, Mass. Their children were, namely : James, Jabez, Jonah, Moses, Calvin, Williard, Rhoda, and Hannah.
MOSES WALKER was born in Royalston March 1, 1792. He married Sophia, daughter of David Fisher and Sophia Thayer, and came to Lyman in 1816, pur- chasing the farm now owned by Eliphalet Mason, then owned by Ephraim Miner. He had born to him five daughters, namely : Sophia P., Harriet, Harriet (sec- ond), Lucy M., and Louisa Minerva. In 1846 he sold his farm and moved to Tinkerville, where he remained one year, and bought the Kent farm in 1847. His wife, who was always a feeble woman, died in 1850. He subsequently married Mrs. Mariah Stoddard, and moved to Waterford, Vt., in 1860, where he lived sixteen years. He returned to Lyman in 1875, and
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spent the last years of his life with his daughter, Mrs. Luther B. Hoskins, and died June 14, 1880. Coming to town in 1816, which was called the "cold season," he told the writer that during the first year he lived pretty short, but after that the family had plenty to eat. He always took an interest in public affairs, and held many offices of trust. He was a great reader, a man of industry and intelligence, high character, and much esteemed by his fellow-townsmen. Politically a Republican, religiously a member of the Universalist church.
JABEZ, brother of the above, came to town a few years earlier, and lived for some time on the *farm now occupied by Osman P. Titus, where he reared a family of four children, namely: Abigail, Hannah, Jane, and Henry. He moved to Peacham, Vt., late in life where he lived and died with his son Henry.
CALVIN WALKER, brother of the above, married Phebe Thurston, came to Lyman, and lived for a time on the first place west of the Hurd farm, also on the Jacob Williams farm, afterwards moved to Wolcott, Vt., where he died. His son Hiram resides, at present, in Denver, Colorado.
OLIVER COREY married Betsy, a sister of Dea. David Gordon, and lived on the place now owned by Charles
* This farm was owned at that time by Samuel and James Hutchins, who were merchants in Bath upper village. They had sold Lemuel Parker goods till he had become so involved that his farm passed into their possession.
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Woolson, as early as 1807. He reared a family of four sons and four daughters, namely: Eliza, born in 1808; Saphronia, born in 1810; James, born in 1812; William, born in 1814; Jane, born in 1816; Dorcas, born in 1818; Jonathan, born in 1822; and Ira, born in 1824. Mr. Corey died in 1872, aged ninety years.
JOSHUA THORNTON was a descendant of Matthew Thornton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence from New Hampshire. He was a fifer in the war of the Revolution which he entered at the age of fourteen years, and was with Gen. Washing- ton at Valley Forge. He married Hannah George and came from Plymouth to Lyman about 1800, locating on the farm lately occupied by D. C. Parker. He was born in Uxbridge, Mass., Nov. 1, 1764, and died July 27, 1843. He was a man of education and ability, and a leader in his day. He was selectman, town clerk, represented the town in the state legisla- ture, and was justice of the peace for many years. His children were, namely: Adna, William, Stella, and Polly. Polly married Benjamin Clark.
ADNA THORNTON married Betsy, daughter of Jona- than Moulton, and built a house on the farm since owned by William Webster, taking the land from his father's farm. They reared a family of six children, namely : Sidney, William, Reuben, Hannah, Martha, and Sarah. Adna Thornton died in 1842, at the age of fifty-one years.
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WILLIAM THORNTON, son of Joshua, married Betsy Bishop and located in town. They had three daugh- ters.
SIDNEY THORNTON, son of Adna, married Ellen Francisco, and has always resided in town with the exception of five years which he spent in California. William, son of Adna, died in Rhome, Georgia.
THOMAS MOORE came from Bedford, N. H., to Ly- man about 1815, and married Octavia Web, daughter of Col. Azariah Web, Aug. 29, 1816. Their children were, namely: Azariah, James T., Delancy, Lucy, Maria, Greenlief, Francillion, Nancy, and Burnis. Mr. Moore died July 30, 1866, at the age of seventy-three years and three months.
JAMES T. MOORE, who was a son of Thomas, mar- ried Martha Thornton, and remained on the old home- stead of his father. He spent the greater part of his life in town and died in Lisbon October 1, 1899, at the age of eighty years and one month.
COL. AZARIAH MOORE, son of Thomas, married Harriet Gordon, and spent much of his early life in town, afterwards lived in the White Mountains at the famous Willey House, later in Lisbon and California, and died in Whitefield in 1898, at the age of eighty years. He had one son, John, who recently died in Whitefield.
COL. AZARIAH WEB was a soldier of the Revolu- tion and commanded a regiment. He lived in Ly- man, but died and was buried in Guildhall, Vt.
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BENJAMIN SHERMAN, one of the early settlers of Lyman, located in the south-eastern part of the town before 1800, where he employed himself with farming and blacksmithing. His son, Smith, was born in Ly- man in 1805, and lived here until 1848, when he moved to Lisbon, where he died in 1867. He was a farmer, married three times and reared a large family of children. One of his sons, J. F. Sherman, still re- sides in town. He represented the town in 1881, has been selectman and held various other positions of trust and responsibility.
ANDREW GORDON, son of Jonathan Gordon, was born in Bath and came to Lyman when a boy and lived with John Kent. He subsequently lived with his uncle, Dea. David Gordon, and married Harriet, daughter of Ezra Smith. He had three sons and two daughters, namely : Jonathan, Isaac, Ransome, Har- riet, and Jennie. He married for his second wife, Abigail, daughter of Samuel Millen. He died June 30, 1893, at the age of ninety-three years and ten months.
JONATHAN GORDON, brother of Andrew, married Sarah Ann Howe, and lived in various parts of the town. He died in 1881, aged seventy-nine years.
WILLIAM GORDON, son of the above, married Nancy Little, had three children and died in town in 1890, at the age of fifty-six years.
DAVID ASH came to Lisbon from England, and was one of the first settlers of that town. His son Phineas
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married Hannah Cowen, a sister of Rev. Charles Cowen, and came to Lyman about 1816 and cleared up his farm near Young's pond. Among his children were, namely : Hulda, Hannah, Sallie, Sabin, Phineas, William, and Zachariah. He died in 1868, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife Hannah Cowen died in 1883, at the age of eighty-five years.
JONATHAN EASTMAN was born in Littleton, one of a family of eleven children, and a son of William Eastman. He came to Lyman at an early date and married Roxanna, daughter of David Gordon. "Aunt Roxy" was noted chiefly for her skill in treating the sick with roots and herbs. Mr. Eastman lived on the Gordon place most of his life, but died in Littleton Nov. 6, 1869, at the age of eighty-three His wife Roxanna died in 1875, at the age of eighty-four years. Their children were, namely : David, Hiram, Harriet, Lucinda, and Saviah.
DAVID G. EASTMAN, son of Jonathan, lived and died on the old homestead. He was a man of intelli- gence, with a good business capacity, and held various positions of trust in the town. He was born in 1815, and died in April, 1881. Saviah married Nathan Whitcomb and resided in town.
SEARLE EASTMAN, who was a son of James, was born in Bath. He married, first, Rebecca Bailey, and lived in Haverhill several years, but came to Lyman in 1846, locating on Moulton Hill. He married, sec-
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ond, Sally Moulton, and reared a family of seven children, namely : Orrin, Joel, Persis, Lurancy, Hulda, Priscilla, and Augusta. He died in 1870, at the age of eighty-one years. He was a good citizen, and a man of high standing among his friends.
MAJOR CALEB GOULD was born on Briar Hill in the town of Haverhill, N. H., in 1790. He married Hep- sibah, daughter of William Miner, and located in Lis- bon, on the place now owned by Harry Hastings. He afterwards lived in Newbury, Vt., for a short time, and moved to Lyman in 1827, locating on the farm recent- ly occupied by J. F. Sherman. His children were, namely : Laura Jane, born in 1817, died in 1865; Samuel Newell, born in 1822, died in 1895; William Denison, born in 1824; and Solon Southard, born in 1825, died in 1898. Mr. Gould was a man of high character and social position, and above the average of his townsmen in intelligence and knowledge. He held the rank of Major in the state militia, was a good bass singer, and commanded respect and influence by his worth and ability. He died in Concord, Vt., June 2, 1862. Mrs. Gould died in 1880, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years.
SAMUEL CASS lived in the early history of the town on the farm now owned by David H. Miner. He married Hepsibah Parker, daughter of Lemuel Parker, May 17, 1804, and had six sons and seven daughters. He said he had no money to give his sons, but was
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going to give them all a good name; hence we find in his family : George Washington, Andrew Jackson, James Monroe, James Sullivan, John Quincy Adams, and Moses Edson. Late in life Mr. Cass moved to the place now occupied by Merrit Moulton, where he died April 3, 1843, at the age of sixty-three years and three months.
SAMUEL GIBSON married Betsy Stuart and lived in Francistown, N. H. Their children were, namely : Samuel, John, Anna, Gabriel, Martha, Jane, Betsy, Robert, Adam, and William. The Gibsons and Stuarts were Scotch, driven from Scotland to the north of Ireland.
ADAM GIBSON who was a son of Samuel, came to Lyman about 1801. He married Mary Moore, a sister of Thomas Moore, and located on the place afterwards owned by Leonard Parker. He had born to him six children, namely: Sallie, Margaret, Jane, Nelson, Adam, and Samuel. He married, second, Mrs. Stevens, mother of William Dee Stevens, and built the house since owned by Merrit Moulton, where he died May 27, 1854, at the age of eighty-one years.
SAMUEL GIBSON, son of Adam, who was a son of Samuel Sen., married Mercy Hoskins and lived in town. Among their children are Mrs. J. E. Weller, a prominent Christian Scientist of Boston, Mrs. R. D. Rounsevel of Littleton, and the late Mrs. Edwin Nelson.
SAMUEL HOSKINS, M. D.
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NELSON GIBSON, brother of the above, died in town, and his sister Jane married Arnold Buffum and died in California.
WILLIAM GIBSON, son of Samuel Sen., in early times lived on the road under the mountain on the place afterwards owned, for a short time, by Dr. Sam- uel Hoskins. He had one daughter who was receiving attentions from a young man named Moore, a medical student. He went to visit her one evening, and the next morning her parents found her dead in the room. The young man had fled and was never again heard from. This mystery was never explained. The Gibsons of Lyman were sturdy, mentally and physic- ally, frugal, industrious and honest.
JOHN YOUNG came from Lisbon to Lyman about 1812, and located near Young's pond, on the farm since owned by Jesse Richardson. He married Miss Pamelia, a daughter of Stephen Eastman, and reared a large family of children, among whom were: Bracket, John, and four daughters. He died in 1861, aged seventy years. Young's pond derived its name from this family.
ELIPHALET MASON moved to Bath from Greenland, N. H., about 1822, and in 1826 came to Lyman, loca- ting in the northern part of the town. He died in 1855. Three of his sons, Joshua, Shubael S., and John, located in town.
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JOSHUA MASON married Lydia Garland. He died in 1873. One of his children, Eliphalet, still resides in town.
SHUBAEL MASON married Harriet Stoddard. He died in 1891, at the age of eighty-three years.
JOHN MASON married Matilda Farrington. He was a man of ability, served the town in various offices, and died in 1889, at the age of seventy-two years.
SAMUEL HOSKINS, M. D., a son of Eli Hoskins and Rhoda Drake, was born in Grafton, N. H., January 22, 1795. He received his education in the common schools of his native town, and the academy at Salis- bury. He was for a time a pupil of the Rev. Dr. Rolfe, and later took his degree in medicine at Dart- mouth College. He became a citizen of Lyman, and commenced the practice of medicine there, in April, 1817. July 16, 1818, he married Miss Harriet Byron Cushing, a lady of much refinement and cultivation, a native of Salisbury, N. H. During the first few years of his residence in town, he made his abode at the home of Dea. David Gordon, and his two oldest chil- dren, J. C. C. and William, were born there. He then purchased the farm, now owned by J. F. Olin, on Parker Hill, where he lived the greater part of his residence in town. He spent one year in Maine, re- turned to town and lived for a short time on the farm nearly opposite the Capt. Bailey farm; from there he moved to the place now occupied by A. J. Astle. He
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remained here until the spring of 1861, when he moved to Bradford, Vt. He died in Chelsea, Mass., January 12, 1873. His wife survived him nine years, dying at the home of her son, J. D. Hoskins, in Sioux City, Iowa, and was buried beside her husband in Woodlawn cemetery, in Chelsea, Mass. Dr. Hoskins had received a classical education which developed and quickened his naturally strong mind, placing him intellectually far in advance of the people of his time. He was a man of strong intellect, and his contact with the best and most intelligent men of the times was large and frequent. He was a benefit and help to the new town in many ways. Through his efforts the first post office in Lyman was established, during the administration of Andrew Jackson in 1833. He was appointed the first post master; and the office for a time was kept in his house. He was among the early believers and supporters of the Universalist faith. Politically he was a Whig, becoming later a Republi- can. His parents passed their last years in his home. His father was a soldier of the Revolution, and died in 1846, at the age of eighty-seven years. His mother died in 1857, aged eighty-nine years. The children of Dr. Samuel Hoskins were : John Church Cushing, Lois, William, Samuel W., Mary, J. Darwin, Allen, and Harriet,-none of whom remained in town.
J. C. C. HOSKINS, son of Samuel, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1841, after which he taught
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school and practiced surveying for several years; at length locating in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1857, where he now resides.
JAMES DARWIN HOSKINS, fourth son of Dr. Samuel Hoskins, was born in Lyman Oct. 9, 1830. He re- ceived his education in the common schools, and worked on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, with the exception of the year 1848, when he was employed in a subordinate position in the engineer corps on the Boston water works. In the fall of 1851 he went to California. Returning in the fall of 1853, he was married Feb. 28, 1854, to Emma Portland Woodley Powers, an adopted daughter of Pliny Bartlett. In the summer of 1854 they removed to the then Territory of Minnesota, and endured the hardships attendant on the opening up of that great state, settling on government land which is now a part of the beautiful city of Northfield. Mr. Hoskins took an active part in organizing the Republican party in the Territory, and in forming the laws of the new state, serving his fellow citizens faithfully in various elective offices. He removed to Iowa in 1866, where he re- mained for about thirty years, and then returned to California, where he has since resided. Mrs. Hoskins died suddenly in Los Angeles, June 26, 1900. She was was a true helpmeet, and much beloved by all her friends. Mr. Hoskins has traveled much in his own country, and in foreign lands, but always retains his
JAMES DARWIN HOSKINS.
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great love for his native town and the friends of his youth ; and though living so far away has visited them every few years to enjoy the companionship of his early friends, and the beautiful scenery of his native town. He has been much interested in the collection of these sketches, and aided and assisted in their pub- lication.
ELKANAH HOSKINS, son of Nehemiah, came from Petersham, Mass., to Littleton, N. H., May 22, 1798. He reared a family of twelve children, and died in 1805. His son, Lyman, married Rachel, daughter of John Millen, and became a citizen of Lyman in 1809, locating on the farm since occupied by George Foster. His children were, namely: Lyman, Mindwell, Will- iam, Fidellia, John, Solomon, Icebenda, and Nehemiah, He died in 1872, at the age of eighty-eight years.
DAVID HOSKINS, son of Elkanah, married Persis Stanford and moved from Littleton to Lyman about 1835, and settled on the Hutchins farm on Parker Hill. His children were: Albert, Rosanna, Sulvender, Persis, David, Shepard, and Syrena. He died July 26, 1859, at the age of eighty-one years.
LUTHER HOSKINS, brother of the above, exchanged farms with Elder William Barkley, and became a citizen of Lyman in 1817. He married Hannah Crooks, March 14, 1809, and his children were: Phila, Olive, Mercy, Luther B., and Hannah. He was a man of good natural abilities, but limited in his literary
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attainments, having been deprived in his youth of the ordinary educational advantages of the times. He was born March 23, 1782, and died October 31, 1879.
DAVID HOSKINS JR., married Angeline Knapp, and in company with his brother Sulvender remained on the old homestead. David died March 28, 1864, at the age of forty-five years. Sulvender died in 1895, at the age of eighty-four years.
HON. LUTHER B. HOSKINS, son of Luther, was born in Lyman, Feb. 16, 1822, and received his education in the common schools, and at the academies in Lan- caster, N. H. and Peacham, Vt. He married Lucy Walker and remained on the homestead of his father. He held various town offices, represented the town in the state legislature, was a member of Governor Smyth's council, was on the staff of Governor Onslow Stearns, and was treasurer of the county. He also served on the State Board of Agriculture, but later devoted much attention to probate matters, having settled nearly one hundred estates. He resides at present in Lisbon, N. H.
ALBERT HOSKINS, son of David, married Laura, daughter of Caleb Gould. They resided in Lyman a short time, but spent most of their married life in St. Johnsbury, Vt. He died in 1891, at the age of eighty- one years.
LYMAN HOSKINS JR., married Bethany Bartlett and resided in town. He died in 1889, at the age of eighty-two years.
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TIMOTHY B. HURD, son of Jacob, who was a son of Col. John Hurd, was born in Bath in 1797, and became a citizen of Lyman about 1827. He was a cloth- dresser by trade, and located at the head of Young's pond where he carried on his business for many years. He subsequently bought the Patridge farm where he died in 1884. His wife was Eliza Patridge, daughter of Nathaniel Patridge. Their children were, namely : William B., Eliza, and Persis. William B. married, first, Harriet Kennerson of Peacham, Vt., and mar- ried, second, Miss Julia Jackson of Littleton. Persis married Warren McIntire, and Eliza married Russell Underwood.
NATHANIEL PATRIDGE came to Lyman from Goffs- town, N. H., about 1803, and cleared the farm now owned by William B. Hurd. The name of Patridge pond came from this family. He reared a family of five children, among whom were : Mrs. Caroline Pike of Manchester, Ira G., who occupied the homestead, where he died in 1843. The other members of this family were, namely : Persis, Ora, and Mrs. Timothy B. Hurd. Mr. Patridge died in town May 29, 1844, at the age of seventy-six years.
JOHN KENT, son of Col. Jacob, came to Lyman about 1803, married Tabitha Peabody Nov. 15, 1804, and located on the farm now occupied by Charles Elms. Their children were, namely : Richard Pea- body, born in 1805 ; John Childs, born in 1808; Har-
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riet, born in 1811; Adriel, born in 1813; Lucia, born in 1815; and Nelson, born in 1818. Mr. Kent was a man of aristocratic and select tastes, and belonged, in his social habits, to the aristocracy of his day. Mrs. Kent was a woman of high character and great refine- ment. Mr. Kent died in town July 4, 1842, at the age of seventy years. Mrs. Kent died in 1836 at the age of sixty-one years.
REUBEN SMITH lived in Chesterfield, N. H., and had four children, namely: Ezra, born in 1784; Lo- dicia, born in 1786; and twins, Perley and Carley, born in 1793. This family came to Lyman about 1822. Perley married Abigail Ealy, located in Tink- erville and reared a family of seven children, namely : Samuel, born in 1815 ; Juliann, born in 1818; Julius, born in 1821; Horace, born in 1823; Amos, born in 1827; Caroline, born in 1831; and Isaac, born in 1833. Perley Smith died Oct. 24, 1881.
JULIUS SMITH, son of Perley, married Persis Parker and reared a family of thirteen children. He died on the old homestead May 23, 1895, at the age of seven- ty-four years.
AMOS SMITH, son of Perley, was never married and always lived in town. He was a tailor by trade, and an excellent man in caring for the sick. He died Feb- ruary 16, 1885.
EZRA SMITH, son of Reuben, married, remained in town and reared a large family of children. He was
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noted chiefly as a fiddler, and was in great demand for local entertainments and dances. Among his children were, namely : Ezra, Chauncy, Ransome, Parker, Ol- cott, Patty, Harriet, Amy, Ladora. and Lodicia.
SMITH BROTHERS .- In this family were five sons and three daughters, namely : Reuben, Samuel, Steph- en, Ethan, Nathan, Mrs. Bailey Clough, Mrs. Enoch Clough, and Mrs. John Moulton. All information in regard to the father of this family is lost. The mother and children were in Lyman before 1800. The chil- dren were put out into different families in town, and Reuben was taken into the family of William Miner. After the children reached adult life and had homes of their own, the mother lived with them. Reuben married Lydia Hall and settled on the mountain above Moulton Hill. Among his children were, namely : Abram, Isaac, Job, Alpheus, and Assenath. He died August 23, 1868, at the age of seventy-eight years. Samuel married Mehitable Knapp, a sister of Elijah, and among his children were, namely: Abial, Edson, Stephen, Elijah, Dorcas, Amanda, and Jesse. Stephen was the father of Mrs. Milly Eastman and John Smith. He died in 1851 at the age of sixty-three years. Ethan lived on the Heath road, and was the father of Adna.
ABIAL SMITH, son of Samuel, married Mary Hunt- ley and resided in town. He died May 28, 1896, aged eighty-four years and seven months.
ABRAM H. SMITH, son of Reuben, was born May 9, 1818. He married first, Ellen Moulton, and married,
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second, Matilda Hall. He lived on Moulton Hill, and reared a family of eighteen children. He died Aug. 13, 1903.
JACOB GARLAND was born in Sanbornton, N. H. He moved to Bath, where he married Rosilla Amy in 1824, and came to Lyman about 1830. The children were, namely: George, Holland, Howard, Charles, Nancy, Ruth, and Sophia. He lived at one time on the top of the Gardner's Mountain, where he cleared up a farm, built a log house, and raised good crops for several years. The cellar and orchard can now be seen. Howard and Charles went to California, where they remained. Holland married Annette Presby, and resides in Lisbon. Jacob Garland died in 1884 aged ninety-two years.
ABRAM HALL married Sarah Floyd and came to Lyman from Lunenburg, Vt., at an early date, settling on the farm where the Dodge gold mine is located. Here he resided until his death in 1855, at the age of fifty-six years. One of his sons Abram Jr. married Mary Dow and remaind on the home place, but later moved to Lisbon, where he kept a hotel. His children were, namely : Riley, Cyrus, Charles, Harry, Laura, Caroline, and Jane.
"JOSEPH ESTERBROOK and Miss Susanna Merrill both of Lyman, married July 6, 1814."
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