USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900 > Part 101
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122
III. Eliza Jane, dau. of John2, b. 1857, Aug. 31; m. 1880, Nov., John H. Siegel. She d. 1887, Feb. 28. They had res. at New Ulm, Minn. Had one son, Ora John.4
III. Bertha Guile, dau. of John2, b. at Newburg, 1860, May 26; m. 1881, Sept. 11, W. A. Minick, and res. in Wichita, Kan. They have Arthur D.4 and Aileen4.
II. James, son of William1, b. Bedford, 1812, June 17; farmer; m. 1835, Dec. 31, at Newburg, Emiline E. H. Posey, b. 1816, July 2, and d. 1873, July 7. He d. 1876, Nov. 28. Had ch., b. at Newburg; Minerva J.3; Mary A.3, b. 1838, Oct. 5, d. 1838, Oct. 14; Walker J.3; William C.3, b. 1842, July 18, d. 1842; Catherine E.3; John F.3; William H.3; Thomas L.3, b. 1850, Oct. 16, d. 1874, Feb. 3; Charles C.3; Cordilia D.3, b. 1854, Dec. 5, d. 1855, Sept. 21; James B.3
977
GENEALOGIES .- MCKINNEY.
III. Minerva J., dau. of James2, b. Newburg, 1836, Nov. 12; m. 1856, March 6, A. B. Hudson, who d. 1862, Feb. 22. They res. in Boonville, Ind. Ch .: James W.4; Mary E.4; Emiline F.4
III. Walker J., son of James2, b. Newburg, 1840, March 17; m. 1866, May 2, Williams Francis Boner, b. 1848, Feb. 11. He was 1st Lieut. Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regt., Indiana Vols., in the great Rebellion. He d. 1898, Jan. 26. His widow res. in Oakland City, Ind. They had ch .: Nettie B.4; Eva F.4; William W.4
III. Catherine E., dau. of James2, b. Newburg, 1844, Dec. 14; m., 1st, 1861, April 2, Charles W. Pyatte; divorced 1876. She m., 2d, Frank A. Moor, a dealer in lumber; res. Evansville, Ind. Ch., 1st mar .: James N.4; Charles McK.4; Gertie E.4; Orlando J.4 Ch. of 2d mar., Jennie E.4
III. John F., son James2, b. Newburg, 1846, March 31; m. 1867, Nov. 14, Martha A. Griffiths, b. 1850, July 11. He is a contractor, and res. at Evansville, Ind. Ch .: Charles W.4; Minerva E.4; George S.4; Annie E.4; Frank E.4; Clayton R.4; John P.4
III. William H., son of James2, b. at Newburg, 1848, Sept. 11; m. 1874, Nov. 5, Laura Palmer. He is a veterinary surgeon, residing at Geneseo, Ill. Ch .: Guy H.4; Rena E.4
III. Charles C., son of James2, b. at Newburg, 1852, Sept. 11; m. 1872, Feb. 1, Olive B. Boner; is a stable keeper, and res. at Evansville, Ind. Ch .: William C.4; Arthur E.4.
III. James B., son of James2, b. Newburg, 1857, Aug. 5; m. 1882, May 7, Mollie C. Beatly; res in Jeffersonville, Ind. Ch .: Grace4; Ray B.4 II. Wiliiam, son of William1, b. Goffstown, 1814, April 13; m., 1st, 1840, April 15, Rhoda Spellman, b. 1819, Sept. 20, and d. at Boonville, Ind., 1840, June 21. He m., 2d, 1841, Sept. 12, Catherine Cox, b. at Derby, Conn., 1817, Sept. 6. He was a merchant-miller at Sterling, Ill. He d. 1888, June 21, and Catherine, his wife, d. 1899, March 29.
II. Thomas Shirley, son of William1, b. at Spencer, N. Y., 1817, Jan. 17; m. 1843, May 3, Salome B. Chase, b. at Antwerp, N. Y., 1822, March 30. He d. at Newburg, Ind., 1853, May 18. His wife d. at Sterling, Ill. Had one son, Albert H.3
II. Joshua Vose, son of William1, b. Spencer, N. Y., 1819, Oct. 22; is in furniture business at Sterling, Ill. He m., 1st, 1847, May 20, Jeanette Garwood, b. in Ohio, 1828, Nov. 18; d. 1849, June 12. He m., 2d, 1850, May 12, Emeline Garwood, b. 1827, May 13, d. 1868, Aug. 4. He m., 3d, 1869, Dec. 17, Mary E. Little, b. in Goffstown, 1823, Aug. 5. Ch. of 1st mar., Harriet J.3 Ch. of 2d mar., William E.3; Margaret O.8; Thomas S.3; Mary A.3; John G.3; Russell S.3
II. Nancy Jane, dau. William1, b. Spencer, N. Y., 1822, Feb. 21; m. 1846, May 10, Francis Macy, b. Nantucket, Mass., 1823, Jan. 16, a car- penter. She d. 1879, Oct. 10. He d. 1884, July 31, at Boonville, Ind. Ch .: Ella3; Frank3.
II. Harriet Shirley, dau. of William1, b. Spencer, N. Y., 1825, Feb. 22; m. Carlos Johnson, Newburg, Ind. She d. 1846, June 15. They had a son, Shirley Johnson3.
II. Martha Maria, dau. of William1, b. Eteeka, N. Y., 1828, Feb. 19; m., 1st, 1845, Feb. 24, Curtis DeForest, b. Boonville, Ind., 1824, July 10, and d. 1865, Sept. 10. She m., 2d, 1868, Oct. 8, George T. Medcalf, b. 1838, March 27. She d. 1900, Dec. 27. He res. at Newbury, Ind. Ch .: Mary J.3; William H.3; Frances B.3; Thomas C.3; Joseph A.8; John M.8; Albert C.3; Daniel W.8; Neel C.3
II. Cordelia, dau. of William1 (twin to Cornelia), b. Spencer, N. Y., 1830, July 5; m. 1856, Sept 7, Addison S. Melvin, b. Chester, Ohio, 1828, Sept. 22, a merchant. He d. Newburg, Ind., 1893, July, and she d. 1898, July 23. Ch .: Joshua M.3; Arthur N.3; Addison S.3; Alonzo D.3; Jennie R.3
63
978
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
MCLAUGHLIN.
I. John Mclaughlin and his wife, Mary, came from Ireland about 1735, settled in Bedford on land which he afterward sold to Samuel Gordon. He occupied a house a little north of the pres- ent so-called Gordon house. He afterward built a small house on the south side of the farm afterward known as the Mclaughlin farm, about a mile southeast of the Center. This farm is now owned by Martin Kelly. On this farm, in this house or in the one built by his great grandson Rodney Mclaughlin just north of the road, there either were born or resided, at least, six g nerations of the Mclaughlin family. John Mclaughlin was the first town clerk of Bedford, serving two years in 1750 and 1751. He had five ch .: John2, Thomas2, Isabella2, Rosanna2, and Mary2 .*
II. Capt. Thomas, 2d son of John1 and Mary McLaughlin; m. Margaret Ayers of Derry, and is supposed to have resided on a farm a little north of the Bowman brook on the River road. He served as ensign in Canada in 1754, as lieutenant at Bunker Hill, and was knocked down by earth thrown up by a ball on the retreat of the Americans at Charlestown Neck. He moved to Maine in 1802 or
*There is in possession of a descendant the will of Mary McLaughlin, in a fine state of preservation, which reads as follows:
" In the name of God Amen this 18th Day of September D 1784 I Mary McLaughlin of Bedford in the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire Widow being of an advanced age and weakened Constitution but of a sound dispossing mind and Memory Thanks to God then for Calling to mind that it is appointed for all persons once to Die Do make this my last Will and Testament I Recomend my Soul to God who gave it And my Body to be Buried in a decent christian like man- ner at the discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but I shall Receive the same again by the mighty power of God through Jesus Christ And as to su h wor dy Estate where with it has pleased God to bless me I give and disposs of in the follow- ing manner and form viz
"Imprimis I give to my Daughter Mary Simpson my two iron pots one iron dish Kettle a done iron Skillet two pewter Basons and a wooden plater and a note her late husband Thomas Simpson owed me of 3 : 15 : 0 : on Int rest and my iron Hatchet and my Bed Bolster two pillows and two Blankets and two sheets and my home spun pladed gown
" Item I giv to my Grand daugh'er Isabel Daughter to my said daughter Mary Simpson my Riding hood and a Chest with one drawer and my Tramel
"Item I give to my Grand daughter Isabel Gibson my Cloak
"Item I give to William McFerson of Goffstown a plain Chest and Bed and a Bed- sted
"Item I give to my son John Mclaughlin my black Gown and black peticoat
"Item { give to my son Thomas Mclaughlin all that he owes me on notes and otherwise on condition that he provide at his own Cost a pair of Handsom well cut double Gravestones and sets them up at my Grave and my late husbands in Memory of his honore I father John Mclaughlin and me and Ialso give him my s ill yards And my fur hor will is that what money is due me on Notes or otherwise not before willed I order my Executor to collect as soon after my ecease as may conven- iently be done and my Funeral charges and charges of sickness &c be paid out of the same And if then shall be any money left beside the Charges aforementioned and paying my Executor the money h expends for the ' robate of this my will &c and for his necess iry trouble in Executing this my will &c my will is that my Exe- cutor piv the same to mv above said son Thomas Mclaughlin to help him to pur- chase the Gravestones above mentioned And my will is that all other of my Estate not before willed and ordered whatsoever or whensoever the same may be found I give to mv above sail Daughter Mary Simpson And I nominate consti ute and appoint John Orr of said Bedford Gentleman to be Executor of this my last will and Testament Hereby Rev king and di-annulin all other Wills Legacies and Bequests and Executor - by me willed and named Ratifieing and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament
"The day and year above named
"Signed Sealed published pronounced and declared by said Mary Mc Laughlin as her last Will and Testament in presence of us
" Dav d Pitten hr
" Mary X Patten mark
" Alexander Patten
her " Mary X McLaughlin" mark
979
GENEALOGIES .- MCLAUGHLIN.
1803, where he died, aged 84. He left descendants in Maine and Massachusetts. A grandson, Ephraim Mclaughlin, adopted the name of Mason for himself and family in. 1842.
II. John, son of John1; was b. in Ireland, 1720, June 1; m. Jannet Tag- gart, who was b. 1736, Jan. 7, and d. 1819, Nov. 14. He d. in Bedford, 1807, Oct. 28. They had seven ch .: Isabella3, b. 1759, March 12; James3, b. 1761, June 13; Martha3, b. 1763, June 29; Patrick3, b. 1767, Aug. 19; John3, b. 1775, April 19; Daniel3, b. 1778, Dec. 24; Mary3, b. - , d. 1786, May 7. Their descendants reside chiefly in Maine.
III. Patrick, son of John2, b. 1767, Aug. 19; m., 1793, Deborah Martin, b. 1771, Jan. 3, dau. of Nathaniel and Marcy (Goffe) Martin (the latter being a dau. of Col. John Goffe). Patrick d. 1834, Nov. 16. Deborah, his wife, d. 1832, Jan. 30. They had eight ch., all b. in Bedford: Polly4, b. 1794, March 2, d. 1815, Sept. 5; Daniel4, b. 1798, Feb. 4; John4, b. 1800, July 16; Hannahª, b. 1802, July 31; Rodney4, b. 1804, Aug. 12; Nancy4, b. 1808, Nov. 20, d. 1831, Sept. 7, and two who d. in infancy.
IV. Daniel, son of Patrick3, b. 1798, Feb. 4; m. 1st, Fanny Gault, b. 1790, March; dau. of a Revolutionary soldier, John Gault, and his wife, Molly Orr, of Bedford. Fanny, his wife, d. 1854, Sept. 14. He m., 2d, Harriett E. Johnson of Stoddard, 1870, March 31, and d. 1876, Oct. 2. Had six ch. by 1st mar., all b. in Bedford: John Gault5, b. 1821, enlisted in Co. H, Tenth N. H. regiment, and served throughout the War of the Rebellion, d. at the Soldiers' Home at Tilton, N. H., 1897, July 17; Deborah5, b. 1822, d. 1853, March 23; Nancy Jane5, b. 1824, m. Greenleaf Walker (see Walker); Dolly Frances6, b. 1826, Feb., d, 1847, Aug. 31; George Gault5, b. 1830, June 5; Patrick Henry5, b. 1834.
IV. John, son of Patrick3, b. 1800, July 16; m. in Guilford, Me., 1826, April 23, Martha Glass, b. Danville, Me., 1800, Sept. 11, and d. Derry, N. H., 1870, July 17. John d. 1875, Feb. 8. They had six ch .: Mary Jane5, b. Guilford, Me., 1827, March 7, d. in Bangor, Me., 1833, Oct. 6; Rodney5, b. Guilford, Me., 1828, April 9; Persis5, b. in Guilford, Me., 1829, July 29, d. in Bangor, Me., 1855, Dec. 6; John5, b. in Guilford, Me., 1831, March 11, d. in Bangor, Me., 1837, March 6; Mary Jane5, b. Orrington, Me., 1834, July 27; John Edwards5, b. Bangor, Me., 1839, July 7, d. in Bangor, Me., 1839, Sept. 17.
V. Rodney, son of John4, b. 1828, April 9; m. 1855, Nov. 6, Cynthia White at Washington Heights, New York City. She was b. in Dixfield, Me., 1825, March 29, and d. in Jamaica Plain, Mass., 1897, Dec. 6. He res. at present in Pittsfield, N. H. They had one ch .: Frederic Rodney6, b. 1856, Oct. 1, at Jamaica Plain, Mass.
V. Mary Jane, dau. of John4, b. 1834, July 27; m. W. H. S. Lawrence of Bangor, Me., and had one child, Percy F6., b. - , d. 1896. She d.
IV. Hannah, dau. of Patrick3, b. 1802, July 31; m. Charles Rollins (see Rollins). Her descendants, Rodney F. Rollins, his sister, Mrs. Eliza D. (Rollins) Porter and family, and George C. Mclaughlin are the only descendants of the Mclaughlin family now residing in Bedford.
IV. Rodney, son of Patrick3, b. 1804, Aug. 12; m., 1st, 1831, Oct. 25, Abigail Hodgman, b. 1811, May 23, dau. of Abijah and Abigail (Dowse) Hodgman of Bedford: she d. 1846, Oct. 21. He m., 2d, 1847, June 10, Jerusha C. Spofford, b. 1813, May 29, dau. of Chandler Spofford; she d. 1854, Aug. 18. Rodney d. 1851, Aug. 23. There were seven ch. by the 1st mar. and three by the 2d mar., all b. in Bedford, viz .: Abijah Hodgman5, b. 1832, July 26,
980
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
d. 1834, Sept. 2; Nancy5, b. 1835, Feb. 21, d. 1858, Mar. 16; Sarah A.5, b. 1837, June 1, m. George Whitford (see Whitford); Rodney Sumner5, b. 1839, July 9; Clarissa Hodgman5, b. 1841, Dec. 17, d. 1844, Aug. 13; Charles Edward5, b. 1844, June 6, d. in Longview, Tex., 1873, July 25, while serving as civil engineer during the building of the Southern Pacific railroad; an infant5, b. and d. 1846, Oct. 10; Abby Elizabeth5, b. 1848, Sept. 9, d. 1850, June 2; Harriet Ella5, b. 1850, Aug. 26, d. 1850, Dec. 22; Herman C.5, b. 1851, Dec. 19.
V. Herman C., son of Rodney4, b. 1851, Dec. 19; m. Hermione Leonard ; res. in Manchester, where he d. 1890, March 9. Had four ch., b. in Manchester: , b. 1883, Feb. 17, d. 1884; - -, b. 1884, July 16, d. -; Alice6, b. 1885, Nov. 28; T. Leonard6, b. 1889, March 26, d. 1890, Jan.
McQUESTEN.
William McQuesten, the immigrant ancestor of the family of this name, came to America about 1735, and settled in Litchfield, N. H. The family originated in Argyleshire, Scotland, and removed from that place to Cole- raine, north of Ireland, towards the close of the sixteenth century.
I. William McQuesten, b. 1685; d. 1769; m. Margaret Arbuckle, b. 1688, d. 1776. Ch .: John2, William2, Simon2, and Margaret2.
II. William, son of William1, b. 1732; d. 1802; m. Margaret Nahor, b. 1738, d. 1796. Ch .: William3, David3, Hugh3, John3, James3, Eliza- beth3, Lucy3, Sarah3, Mary3, and Jane3.
III. David, son of William2, b. 1758, Sept. 27; d. 1829, July 29; m. Marga- ret Fisher of Londonderry, b. 1760; d. 1833, April 13. Came to Bed- ford in 1795. Ch .: William4, Samuel4, Sally B.4, David4, Margaret N.4, Eliza4, Calvin4, and Mary P.4
IV. William, son of David3, b. 1787, Nov. 29; d. 1818, Oct. 4; m. Clar- issa, dau. of Dr. Jonathan Gove, 1813, April 26, d. 1883, March 17. Ch .: Eliza5, b. 1814, Aug. 8, m. 1838, Dec. 28, Harrison Hobson, d. 1887, June 17; Charles Frederick Gove5, b. 1816, April 1, d. 1873, Oct. 10, m. Louisa Gleason; William5, b. 1818, Oct. 31, d. 1826, Sept. 3.
IV. Samuel, son of David,3 b. 1789, June 11; d. 1861, Aug. 5; m. 1838, Jan. 23, Lucinda S., dau. of Dr. Samuel Foster of Candia, b. 1805, Sept. 9, d. 1891, June 16. (See biographical sketch.) Ch .: Samuel Foster5, b. 1839, May 4, d. 1863, June 13, he was a musician in Co. G, Sixteenth N. H. Vols., and d. in the service at New Orleans, La .; John K.5, b. 1842, May 27, m. 1868, Nov. 5, Lucia, dau. of Rev. Calvin and Rhoda (Little) Cutler of Windham, b. 1839, May 4; David5,* b. 1846, Jan. 2, d. 1860, Dec. 10.
IV. Sally B., dau. of David3, b. 1791, July 10; d. 1857, Dec. 31; m. Stephen Sawyer, 1824, Dec. 6. Ch .: Luther Dimmock5, b. 1826, Sept. 10, m. 1853, June 22, Azubah T. Ames and d. 1892, Jan. 14; Samuel F.5, b. 1828, July 5, m. 1850, May 6, Jane Maria Hinman, and d. 1860, Aug. 27; Mary E.5, b. 1829, Dec. 6, m. 1855, June 29, Horatio C. Laws, d. 1900, Feb. 5; Stephen P.5, b. 1832, Jan. 13, m. 1853, June 21, Frances Phœbe Gillett, b. 1832, Sept. 1, d. 1897, March 18.
IV. David (M. D.), son of David3, b. 1793, Sept. 13; d. 1850, May 20; m. 1823, Pamelia Richardson. He was a physician and lo- cated in Washington, N. H. In this and the surrounding towns he had a large practice. Ch .: Julia5, b. 1825, April 22, m. 1st, 1844, -, Dr. Austin Newton, m. 2d, William F. Newton, Esq.,
* David McQuesten, who attended school in District No. 4, made a wager with a schoclmate one night as to which sho ld reach home first. Both started at his ut- most speed, but David, as he rushed into the house, only had time to say, "I've done it," when he fell to the floor, dead.
981
GENEALOGIES .- MCQUESTEN.
d. 1883, Sept. 21; Lucretia5, b. 1827, May 10, m. 1885, Dec. 25, Will- iam F. Newton, Esq .; Lucelia5, b. 1830, March 14, m. 1853, Sept. 8, William Holt, d. 1883, Aug. 5; Margaret5, b. 1832, d. 1853, March 9; William W5, b. 1833, Dec. 28, m. 1866, May, Eliza F. Webb; Jane5, b. 1836, Dec. 10, m. 1856, July 9, Milton P. Currier; John Q. A.5, b. 1835, Aug. 22, m. 1860, May 1, Louisa Keyes; Sam- uels, b. 1839, July 2, d. 1840, June 17; Charles A.5, b. 1841, July 10, m. Ellen Brown; Hattie S.5, b. 1843, Oct. 10, m. 1865, Aug. 9, James J. Russling, d. 1894, Nov. 9.
IV. Margaret N., dau. of David3, b. 1796, Feb. 12; d. 1893, June 9. Her life was wholly passed at the homestead, and she died in the room in which she was born.
IV. Eliza, dau. of David3, b. 1799, Aug. 13; d. 1877, April 7; m. 1835, Aug. 25, Jonas Varnum. Ch .: Hannah®, b. 1836, June 5; Edward P.5, b. 1838, Sept. 28, m. 1864, Oct., Martha J. Storer; Jonas P.5, b. 1841, Dec. 31, m. 1895, June 18, Louisa Livingston Bradford; Will- iam Bentley Oliver5, b. 1843, Aug. 17, d. 1865, Oct. 7.
IV. Calvin (M. D.), son of David8, b. 1801, Aug. 1; d. 1885, Oct. 20. He was a physician, and began the practice of his profession at San- bornton Bridge, where he remained but a short time. Removing thence he established himself in Brockport, N. Y., practised med- icine ten years, and then engaged in manufacturing in Hamilton, Ontario, making that place his home. He was m. 1st, to Margaret Barker Lerned, 1831, Oct. 11. Ch .: Calvin, Jr.5, b. 1834, Aug. 15, d. 1834, Aug. 25; Calvin Brooks5, b. 1837, Oct. 27; James Barker5, b. 1841, July 10, d. 1841, July 29. He m. 2d, 1844, Sept. 9, Esti- mate R. E. Baldwin. Ch .: Isaac Baldwin5, b. 1847, Nov. 26, d. 1888, March 7; David5, b. 1849, Nov. 12, d. 1854, Dec. 8. He m., 3d, 1853, Dec. 22, Elizabeth Fuller, and d. 1897, May 10.
IV. Mary Parker, dau. of David3, b. 1804, Feb. 28; d. 1825, Sept. 25.
This sketch makes no record of this branch of the McQuesten family later than the grandchildren of David McQuesten, who came to Bedford in 1795.
DEACON SAMUEL McQUESTEN.
A sketch by Mrs. Mary J. (Fisher) Conant.
Deacon Samuel McQuesten was the son of David and Margaret Fisher McQuesten, and was born in Litchfield, N. H., in 1789. His parents re- moved from that town in 1795, and settled in Bedford, now Manchester, where the family have since resided. The house then standing was built in 1760, and rebuilt and enlarged in 1810.
Of the four sons of David McQuesten, Samuel remained at home, the stay and support of his parents, and aided by his sisters, cared for them with filial devotion while they lived.
He was a man of good sense, sound judgment, and irreproachable habits. Peaceable, quiet, and unassuming in manner, he won the respect of the community in which he lived.
He was well informed in regard to the public matters of his time, and though in no wise a politician, he made an intelligent use, not of the suf- frage only, but of other privileges which are the birthright of every citizen.
He was not a great talker, but he was a good listener, and an occasional pertinent question or remark from him added much to the interest of the social circle. Under his grave demeanor, those intimately acquainted with him knew there was a vein of humor, and can well recollect the twinkle of his eye which showed his relish for a good joke.
In 1832 the Presbyterian church, of which he had been for several years a member, chose him as one of its elders, an office for which he was pecul-
982
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
iarly fitted. He could look back upon a long line of Presbyterian ances- tors, was nurtured in its principles, and had become thoroughly ac- quainted with its tenets, doctrines, and usages. To this may be added the fact, that of the numerous adult male descendants of his maternal grand- father, Deacon Samuel Fisher of Londonderry, in the first and second gen- eration, one half were Presbyterian elders. He was dignified in his per- sonal appearance, with a countenance of marked gravity which was not assumed.
In 1836 the Londonderry Presbytery showed their confidence in his char- acter and ability by electing him lay delegate to accompany the Rev. John M. Bartley of Hampstead to the general assembly which met at Pittsburg, Pa. Between these two gentlemen there existed a warm personal friend- ship.
Deacon McQuesten was married in 1838 to Miss Lucinda Foster of Nashua. Introducing this new element into his household perceptibly broadened its outlook, without in any measure neutralizing its former ex- cellence. They were "given to hospitality," and if they did not entertain angels unawares, they received into their home a class of cultivated, intel- ligent Christian people, thus making their home influence mutually agree- able, improving and elevating. The law of kindness was in their hearts, and in various ways they aided and encouraged many who were seeking a better education than their environment afforded.
In 1845 Deacon McQuesten resigned his ecclesiastical office, and, with. his family, removed his church relation from Bedford and connected him- self with the First Congregational church in Manchester, under the pas- torate of his townsman and friend, the Rev. Cyrus W. Wallace, D. D.
In glancing backward through a vista of sixty years, one view meets the mental vision of the writer which it may not be amiss to mention. It is the subject of this sketch in connection with his colleagues in office, constituting at that time the session, Deacons Moody M. Stevens, Richard Dole, John French, and Samuel McQuesten. Each had a personality of his own, but in their efforts for the welfare of the church they were a unit. Their responsibilities, which were by no means light, were met with firmness of purpose, patient investigation, and unbiased decision. A portion of God's heritage had been given in charge to them, and they labored to preserve in its purity the faith once delivered to the saints, and the practice which is the legitimate fruit of that faith. No clamor from without, or partisan opinion from the church, made them swerve from what they considered to be just and right. Such men are a wall of strength to any church, and though they have for many years been pro- moted to a higher sphere, they deserve to be held in honorable remem- brance.
The last years of Deacon McQuesten were marked by great physical weakness. Never robust, he reached the limit of life earlier than men usually do who live as he did. After life's work was done, his attitude was that of one " only waiting." The hour of his release came in 1861.
MINOT.
I. William Minot was b. in Hampstead, 1812, May 23, and m. Betsey M. Twombly, b. in Wilton, 1820, March 14. They had a son, William Henry.2
II. William Henry, son of William1, was b. in Hampstead, 1844, June 9; farmer and musician; he m., 1867, Mary Ella, b. 1849, dau. of James and Olivia (Elliot) Walker of this town, and when he came to Bedford, res. on the old Potter place on the River road. He was educated in the public schools of Haverhill, Mass., to which place his parents had rem .; served in the Civil war in the First N. H. heavy artillery, and after the war closed res. for a time in Manchester. Mr. Minot was a musician, inheriting his
983
GENEALOGIES .- MINOT .- MITCHELL .- MORRISON.
talent as a violinist from his father, who was one of the finest of his time in Haverhill, Mass. He was a member of Louis Bell post, G. A. R. He d. in Bedford, 1894, Dec. 22; his wife d. in Reed's Ferry, 1900, July 11. Their ch. were: Mary Florence3, b. in Manchester, 1867, Sept. 1, m. George H. Wiggin (see Wiggin); Grace Ell3, b. in Milton, 1869, Jan. 28; Alice Eveleth3, b. in Milton, 1873, July 4; Bessie8, b. in Bedford, 1884, Feb. 21.
MITCHELL.
I. Dwelly was b. in Easton, Mass., 1800, July 27, son of Timothy and Mehitabel (Pratt) Mitchell; farmer. He came to N. H. in 1815, and with his father did some casting, of which there are some articles yet in existence (1903). He m. 1823, Oct. 30, Eliza D., b. here 1803, May 17, dau. of Samuel and Hannah (Atwood) Smith. They settled in Merrimack, but came to this town previ- ous to 1828, where he d. 1890, Sept. 27. His wife d. 1883, Jan. 25. They had ch., b. in Merrimack: George W.2, b. 1824, Feb. 10, and Moody C.2, b. 1825, Dec. 20. These two sons d. in Bedford, 1839, Sept. 1. Both were drowned in the Merrimack river at Cohos falls, just below Goff's Falls. The ch., b. in Bedford were: Lucretia C.2, b. 1828, Feb. 12, m. 1846, Feb. 19, Robert Mears, res. in Manchester; Mary2 and Martha2 (twins), b. 1831, Jan. 31, d. 1841, June 20; Timothy S.2, b. 1833, Dec. 10, m., 1st, 1859, Nov. 10, Margaret Horren, 2d, 1868, Feb. 24, Rose McGown, res. in Manchester; Samuel C.2, b. 1835, Nov. 3, m., 1864, Feb. 3, Emily Breace, res. in Paw Paw, Ill., where he d. 1899, Feb. 7; Nelson R.2, b. 1838, May 11, m., 1871, Nov. 17, Emma Coalman, res. Chicago, Ill .; Williams D.2, b. 1840, July 27; Abby J.2, b. 1842, March 24, d. 1843, July 5; Hannah E.2, b. 1844, Aug. 7, m., 1st, 1862, Jan. 18, George Hodgman, Jr., 2d, 1865, Sept. 13, Willianı Henderson, res. in Merrimack; James L.2, b. 1847, July 1.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.