USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Brookline > History of Brookline, formerly Raby, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire : with tables of family records and genealogies > Part 17
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Of these seven schoolhouses there are remaining at the present time (1914) only two; i. e., that in the Pond district, which has been trans- formed into a dwelling house; and the schoolhouse in the village, which at the present time is in use for the Grammar schools. The bell which hangs in the tower of this house was a gift from the late Ensign Bailey to the district in the fifties, soon after the house was built.
At the date of the building of the seven schoolhouses the number of the town's school children was two hundred and fifty (250), divided among the districts as follows: number one, 49; number two, 16; num- ber three, 33; number four, 61; number five, 34; number six, 30; number seven, 27.
The division of the town into seven school districts continued for a period of thirty-five years or until 1884. In the meantime, however, several attempts to abolish the system were made.
The first of these attempts occurred in 1880, when there was an article in the warrant for the annual March meeting-"To see if the town will divide into five districts"; and a committee of seven, one from each school district, was appointed to consider the matter.
At a subsequent meeting, in the same year, this committee, which consisted of Jedidiah L. Wilbur, dist. 1, Eli S. Cleveland, dist. 2, Joseph Sawtelle, dist. 4, Franklin Gilman, dist. 5, William H. Hall, dist. 6, and Ichabod Lund, dist. 7, reported in favor of the division into five districts. The report was accepted, and the selectmen and superintending school committee were instructed to make the division. But at a subsequent meeting in April of the same year this vote was rescinded.
For the following three years the question was allowed to rest with- . out any action on part of the town. But in the meantime, to those of its citizens who had its educational interests at heart, it was becoming more and more apparent that its antiquated school system as well as its old- fashioned schoolhouses had passed their days of usefulness; and that a change, both in methods of teaching and in the style of the schoolhouses, was absolutely necessary to the future welfare of its public schools.
These advocates of a change in the public school system kept the matter in constant agitation. Among them no one worked more strenu- ously or more ably for the cause than did the Rev. Frank D. Sargent,
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
superintendent of the schools for the years 1882 and 1884; as is shown by his reports for those years.
Gradually the public developed a preponderating sentiment in favor of the change and when, at the March town meeting, in 1884, there ap- peared an article looking to the abolishment of the system of seven school districts, and the establishment in place thereof of a new system in which the entire township should be included in one district, the article was passed almost unanimously.
The Public Schools under the One District System. New Schoolhouses.
At the same meeting at which the town voted to include all its schools in one school district, i. e., April 8, 1884, a vote to build three new school- houses was also passed; and Joseph A. Hall, David H. Kendall and the board of education, which that year consisted of Rev. Frank D. Sargent, were elected as a committee to superintend the building of the same. At the same time the selectmen were instructed to appraise the school property owned by the town. This appraisal was made the same year; and its valuation, as reported by the board of selectmen, was found to be eleven hundred and twenty-three and 1% dollars ($1123.50).
Notwithstanding the foregoing action by the town relative to the building of new schoolhouses, some, at least, of the old houses continued to be used for school purposes for several years after it was taken; the house in district number two remaining in the service until 1886. In the meantime, however, the schoolhouses in districts numbers three and six became so dilapidated as to be unfit for further occupancy and they were abandoned.
Finally, however, in 1886, the building committee reported the three schoolhouses as completed and ready for use, and they were that year turned over to the school authorities. Of these three houses, however, only one was newly built, the other two having been supplied by repairing and remodeling two of those in use under the old system. The new house of the three was located on "The Plain" on the east side of the highway to Pepperell, Mass., and about one-half mile south of the Congregational meeting-house. At the present time it is in use for a primary school. The second of these three "new" schoolhouses was, and is, located in the Pond district on the west side of the highway to Mason, and about one hundred rods north of the junction of the latter highway with the high- way leading out of it to the old Mathew Wallace place. It is the same
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
schoolhouse which under the seven district system was in use in district five; its location under that system having been on the west side of the east highway to Milford, a few rods north of the old James McDaniels place.
The third in number of these houses is that which at the present time is standing in the fork formed by the junction of the highways to Milford and Greenville, two miles north of the village Main street. It is the schoolhouse formerly of the old school district number seven; where its location was on the west side of the highway to Milford near the Beri Bennett sawmill.
The building of the new house, with the removal and continued use of two of the old ones, and the retention and continued use of the old schoolhouse in the village, reduced the town's schoolhouses to four in number, a number which up to the present time (1914) has remained unchanged.
With the establishment of the one district system, the name district as applied to the classification of the schools, became obsolete; and in its place were substituted the words primary and grammar, representing, re- spectively, the two grades into which the schools were that year divided. Under this system the school located on Milford street in the village was classed as a grammar school, and the remaining three as primary schools -a classification which at the present time (1914) still exists .*
At the time it was made the number of the town's school children was ninety-four (94), divided between the sexes as follows: Boys, 42; girls, 52. At the present time (1913) the whole number of pupils in the schools is 86, of which number 43 are boys and 43 are girls. The text- books in use at the present time are as follows: Arnold and Kittredge's Grammar, Charles E. Merrill's Readers,-"Graded Literature"-Went- worth's Arithmetics, Montgomery's History, Redding and Hirman's Geography, Albert F. Blaisdel's Physiology.
Superintending School Committees, 1815-1914.
1815; Rev. Samuel Wadsworth, James Parker, Sr., Thomas Bennett.
1816; Rev. Samuel Wadsworth, James Parker, Sr., Thomas Bennett.
1817; James Parker, Sr., Samuel T. Boynton, Thomas Bennett.
1818; James Parker, Sr., Samuel T. Boynton, Thomas Bennett.
1819; James Parker, Sr., Thomas Bennett, Nathaniel Shattuck.
* In the summer of 1914 the grammar school was removed from the school-house in District No. 4 into the school-room in Daniels Academy building.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
1820; Samuel T. Boynton, James Parker, Sr., John Daniels.
1821; Thomas Bennett, George Daniels, James Parker, Sr.
1822; Nathaniel Shattuck, Isaac Sawtelle.
1823; Nathaniel Shattuck, James Parker, Sr., Randal McDonald. 1824; John Sawtelle, George Daniels, James Parker, Sr. 1825; No record. 1826; No record.
1827; Nathan Corey, David Harris, Nathaniel Shattuck.
1828; Rev. Jacob Holt, Dr. David Harris.
1829; Rev. Jacob Holt, Dr. David Harris.
1830; Rev. Jacob Holt, Dr. David Harris.
1831; Rev. Jacob Holt, Dr. David Harris.
1832; Rev. Jacob Holt, Dr. David Harris.
1833; John Smith, John Sawtelle.
1834; John Smith, Alpheus Shattuck, Dr. David Harris.
1835; John Smith, Eli Sawtelle.
1836; No record.
1837; Rev. Henry C. Eastman, Dr. David Harris.
1838; No record.
1839; No record.
1840; Rev. Daniel Goodwin, Dr. David Harris.
1841; Rev. Daniel Goodwin, Dr. David Harris, George A. Daniels.
1842; Isaac Sawtelle, Nathaniel Shattuck, Ransom Fisk.
1843; Isaac Sawtelle, Ransom Fisk, Fernando Bailey.
1844; Rev. Daniel Goodwin, Ransom Fisk, Fernando Bailey.
1845; Rev. Daniel Goodwin, Nathaniel Shattuck, Jr., William Gilson.
1846; Nathaniel Shattuck, Jr., Ithimar B. Sawtelle, Fernando Bailey.
1847; Nathaniel Shattuck, Jr., Eldad Sawtelle, Dr. David Harris.
1848; Nathaniel Shattuck, Jr., Ithimar B. Sawtelle, N. Herman Shattuck. 1849; Francis A. Peterson.
1850; N. Herman Shattuck, Dr. Jonathan C. Shattuck, Fernando Bailey.
1851; Dr. Johathan C. Shattuck, Isaac Sawtelle, Francis A. Peterson.
1852; Dr. Jonathan C. Shattuck.
1853; Dr. Jonathan C. Shattuck.
1854; N. Herman Shattuck. 1855; Nathaniel H. Lund.
1856; N. Herman Shattuck. 1857; Benjamin Gould. 1858; Dr. Jonathan C. Shattuck.
1859; Joseph F. Jefts.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
1860; Dr. Jonathan C. Shattuck.
1861; Dr. Jonathan C. Shattuck. 1862; Rev. George C. Thomas. 1863; Fernando Bailey.
1864; Rev. Theophilus P. Sawin.
1865; Rev. George F. Eaton.
1866; Dr. David P. Stowell.
1867; Henry K. Kemp.
1868; Rev. Charles H. Chase.
1869; Edward E. Parker.
1870; Benjamin Gould.
1871; No record. 1872; No record.
1873; Edward E. Parker.
1874; Mrs. Mary E. Shattuck.
1875; Rev. William E. Bennett.
1876; Henry K. Kemp.
1877; Henry K. Kemp.
1878; Charles A. Stickney.
1879; Benjamin Gould.
1880; Benjamin Gould.
1881; Benjamin Gould.
1882; Rev. Frank D. Sargent.
1883; Rev. Frank D. Sargent.
1884; Rev. Frank D. Sargent.
Board of Education.
1885; No record.
1886; Rev. F. D. Sargent, Dr. Alonzo S. Wallace, George W. Bridges.
1887; Dr. Alonzo S. Wallace, George W. Bridges.
1888; Dr. Alonzo S. Wallace, Charles A. Stickney, Charles Shattuck. 1889; George H. Nye, George E. Stiles.
1890; Caroline E. Hardy, Orville D. Fessenden, Mrs. Ella W. Tucker.
1891; Mrs. Ella W. Tucker, Caroline E. Hardy, George W. Bridges. 1892; George W. Bridges, Rev. George L. Todd.
1893; George W. Bridges, Mrs. Ella W. Tucker.
1894; Ella W. Tucker, Orville D. Fessenden, George E. Stiles.
1895; Ella W. Tucker, Orville D. Fessenden, George E. Stiles. 1896; Orville D. Fessenden, Ella W. Tucker, George H. Nye.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
1897; Ella W. Tucker, Orville D. Fessenden, George H. Nye.
1898; George H. Nye, George W. Bridges.
1899; George H. Nye, George W. Bridges, Miss Myrtie L. Shattuck.
1900; George W. Bridges, Myrtie L. Shattuck.
1901; Rev. John Thorp, George W. Bridges.
1902; Rev. John Thorp, George W. Bridges.
1903; George W. Bridges, Eddie S. Whitcomb, Alpha A. Hall.
1904; Eddie S. Whitcomb, Harry H. Marshall.
1905; Harry H. Marshall, Ella W. Tucker.
1906; Harry H. Marshall, Ella W. Tucker.
1907; George Nye, Eddie S. Whitcomb, Mrs. Nancy J. Daniels.
1908; Mrs. Nancy J. Daniels, Eddie S. Whitcomb, Mrs. Abbie B. Bennett.
1909; George L. Dodge, Nancy J. Daniels, George H. Nye.
1910; George L. Dodge, George H. Nye, Mrs. Nancy J. Daniels.
1911; George L. Dodge, Nancy J. Daniels, George H. Nye.
1912; George H. Nye, Nancy J. Daniels, Arthur A. Goss.
1913; George H. Nye, Nancy J. Daniels, Arthur A. Goss.
1914; Dr. Charles H. Holcombe, Ella W. Tucker, George H. Nye.
A Partial List of the Names of the Town's Native Born Teachers, 1850-1910.
Frances D. Parker, Martha Bailey, Amanda Sawtelle, Caroline Shat- tuck, N. Herman Shattuck, Edward E. Parker, Ellen C. Sawtelle, Theresa Seaver, Celia A. Hobart, Myrtie L. Shattuck, Josie Seaver, Carrie Rus- sell, Lizzie H. Hutchingson, Loella V. Shattuck, Jennie M. Russell, Bertha A. Swett, Florence N. Hobart, Mrs. Emma Kline, Minnie A. Colburn, Cora F. Cleveland, Fannie M. Cox, Mabel L. Edson, Mabel S. Tucker, Bertha E. Bohonon, Edith M. Bohonon, Jennie A. Shattuck, Mary L. Brown, Mabel L. Hodgman, Mae E. Kline, Frank W. Kendall, Bertha Kline, Grace Whitcomb, Marion Stiles, Helen Hobart, Juliette H. Gilson.
Of those whose names appear on the above list, four at least adopted teaching as an avocation and made it their life work. The names of the four are as follows: Ellen C. Sawtelle, Juliette H. Gilson, Louisa O. Shat- tuck, and Frances D. Parker.
RESIDENCE OF ELLEN C. SAWTELLE
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
189
MISS ELLEN C. SAWTELLE
ELLEN CATH- ERINE SAW- TELLE was born in Brookline Marclı 16, 1843. She is the daughter of Joseplı and Catherine (Parker) Sawtelle, and a lineal de- scendant of Richard Sawtelle, an early settler in Groton, Mass., coming there from Watertown, Mass. On her mother's side of the house she is a de- scendant in the fifth
generation of Deacon Thomas Parker, an early settler in Reading, Mass. She was educated in the public schools of her native town, Appleton Academy of Mont Vernon, and the State Normal School at Salem, Mass., graduating at the latter institution in 1864. Soon after her graduation at the Normal School and during the same year, she received an appoint- ment as teacher in the public schools of Boston, Mass., and was immedi- ately assigned to a position in the Hancock Grammar School, where from the date of her appointment to the present time, a period of forty-eight years, she has taught continuously.
During this period she has filled every position open to the school's corps of teachers, holding for a large portion of the time that of first assistant. In 1904 she was appointed master of the school; a position which she continues to hold at the present time, and in the occupancy of which she is one of eight only of the city's female teachers who have attained to the honor of that position.
The Hancock School is one of the largest and, from its location and the number and character of its pupils, one of the most important of Bos- ton's public schools. As its master, Miss Sawtelle has exercised a most powerful influence in the work of Americanizing the children of the foreign born population of the city. Her labors in this line and the results ac- cruing from them are justly regarded as being entitled to rank with the city's largest and most important missionary enterprises. In retiring from
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
her work as a teacher, which she contemplates doing at the end of the present school year (1912), Miss Sawtelle will leave behind her the repu- tation of having been for many years one of the city's most conscientious and efficient public school-teachers.
Miss Sawtelle's success as a teacher has been fully equalled by her success socially. There is probably not a better known woman in Boston. She numbers her friends by the legion not only in the city, but also in the towns in the vicinity. She is an active and honored member of many of the city's social and literary societies, including the Twentieth Century Club.
During all the years of her sojourn in Boston, she has retained her love and affection for, and continued to hold her residence in, her native town where, with the exception of several seasons spent in traveling in Europe and in her own country, she has passed her vacations in the old homestead, receiving and entertaining her friends and acquaintances with a hearty and generous hospitality which is one of her marked characteris- tics, and where she enjoys the respect and esteem of her fellow townsmen.
In the early part of June, in accord with her often expressed deter- mination to retire from teaching during the year 1912, Miss Sawtelle announced her resignation as Master of the Hancock School. The news of her resignation was received with sincere expressions of regret by her friends; and especially so by the two thousand girls who had graduated from the school during the years of her connection with it; who, in recog- nition of their esteem for her, on the evening of June 7th, tendered her a reception in the Hancock School building, at which more than five hundred of their number were present.
At the close of the reception, her former pupils organized themselves into a permanent association under the name of "Miss Sawtelle's Girls."
JULIETTE HANNAH GILSON was born in Brookline, Jan. 11, 1845. She is a daughter of William and Hannah W. (Wheeler) Gilson, each late of Milford, deceased. Miss Gilson graduated at Mount Holyoke Seminary. 1868; she was a missionary in Southern Illinois, 1868-70; professor in Bluenhof Seminary, Stellenbosch, Cape Colony, 1876-1883; mission work among Kaffirs and Zulus, South Africa, 1883-1886. Regular and post-graduate course at Hartford Theological Seminary, 1890-94, receiving degree of S. T. B .; missionary of A. B. C., Zulu Mission, Rho- desia, Africa, 1896 to present time.
Miss Gilson's life was passed in this town until 1865, when she re- moved with her father to Milford. Since then, as appears from the fore-
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going, she has passed many years in Africa, devoting herself to mission- ary work, an avocation for which by natural abilities, training and edu- cation, she is thoroughly fitted; and in which she has acquired a most excellent reputation, and one far more than local in its extent. Miss Gilson is a good public speaker, and as such is well known in this vicinity.
LOUISA O. SHATTUCK, a daughter of Gardner and Silence (Warren) Shattuck, was born in Brookline, Nov. 11, 1827. She was educated in the public schools of her native town and in the Female Seminary at West Townsend, Mass. In 1849 she removed from Brook- line to Framingham, Mass., where she made her home with her brother, Gardner L. Shattuck. She taught for several terms in the public schools of Framingham, Mass., and subsequently in the Hopkinton, Mass., High School. About 1854 she returned to Brookline, where for several years following she engaged in teaching, both in public and private schools.
Miss Shattuck was apparently born with a predilection for teaching as a profession. It constituted a predominating element in her character throughout her entire life; always enthusiastic, she was uniformly suc- cessful. She excelled especially in Latin and drawing.
In 1858 she left her old New England home for California, sailing from New York July 5th. After what was then considered a quick pas- sage, she arrived in San Francisco July 28. In San Francisco she met and married Pillsbury Hodgkins, who was then employed as an agent by the Wells-Fargo Express Company, running on the company's boat be- tween San Francisco and Stockholm. In the latter place, soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hodgkins settled and established their home; and in that place were born their children, three sons and one daughter.
Mrs. Hodgkins' children received their education largely, if not wholly, from their mother.
In 1892 her husband died, and soon after his death she removed from Stockholm to San Francisco, where she made her home with one of her sons.
In San Francisco, true to her natural predilections, she resumed her old calling of teaching, confining her work, however, to the instruction of private pupils, among whom were many Chinese, in whom she was especially interested. She never taught in the public schools of San Francisco.
Mrs. Hodgkins took a lively interest in the early, as well as the mod- ern, history of San Francisco; was closely identified with many of its
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
leading clubs and societies, and keenly alive to and deeply interested in all matters appertaining to the welfare of its citizens.
She died in San Francisco Jan. 28, 1911, her death occurring on the anniversary of her arrival in California fifty-three years before. She is buried in San Francisco.
FRANCES D. PARKER the only daughter of James and Deverd (Corey ) Parker, was born in Brookline, Dec. 26, 1833. She was educated in the public schools of her native town and in Appleton Academy, New Ipswich. At sixteen years of age she commenced teaching in the public schools of Brookline and, with the exception of brief intervals taken for test, continued to follow her chosen calling until her death. During her career, Miss Parker taught in nearly all the towns bordering on Brookline, acquiring the rep- utation of being a thorough, MISS FRANCES D. PARKER conscientious and compe- tent instructor. Up to the year 1870 her work was confined to the common schools; but in the latter year she accepted a position as assistant in the Warrensburg Academy, Warrensburg, N. Y., where she remained two terms.
In 1876-77 she was elected as a teacher in the public schools of Nashua, where she taught in the Grammar grade until failing health compelled her to resign her position. She was a Christian woman. Throughout hier life she enjoyed the respect of and was held in the highest esteem by her friends and acquaintances. She died at her home in Brookline Feb. 16, 1889, and is buried in the family lot in the "cemetery-on-the-plain."
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
College Graduates from Brookline with Short Biographical Sketches of Their Lives.
1. Benjamin Mark Farley, Harvard, 1804.
2. George F. Farley,
Harvard, 1815.
3. Ephraim J. Hardy,
Dartmouth, 1857.
4. Edward E. Parker, Dartmouth, 1869.
5. George H. Hardy,
Wesleyan,
1874.
6. Alvin H. Wright,
Univ. of Vermont (Med.)
1891.
7. James E. Peabody,
Williams,
1892.
8. George H. Abbott,
Yale,
1898.
9. Elmo D. Lancey,
Providence University, 1899.
10. Florence D. Sargent,
Mount Holyoke,
1900.
11. Joseph B. Swett,
Albany Med., 1903.
12. Harold S. Hobart,
Dartmouth,
1908.
13. Ethel Rockwood,
Simmons, 1909.
14. Charles R. Hardy, N. H. State, 1913.
BENAJMIN MARK FARLEY was a native of Brookline, where, within its original charter limits, he was born April 8, 1783. He was a grandson of Lieut. Samuel Farley, and a son of Benjamin and Lucy (Fletcher) Farley. His father was a prominent citizen of this town until as late as 1810, and was the representative in the legislature in 1798. Benja- min Mark prepared for col- lege in the public schools of his native town and in New Ipswich Appleton HON. BENJAMIN MARK FARLEY Academy. He graduated from Harvard College in 1804, and was the first college graduate from this town (then known as Raby). He was admitted to the Hillsborough County Bar in 1808 and
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
in the same year began the practice of his profession in Hollis. In 1855 he retired from practice and removed from Hollis to Boston; from whence, after a brief residence, he removed to Lunenburg, Mass. He died at Lunenburg Sept. 16, 1865.
In his day and generation Mr. Farley ranked not only with the most eminent members of his profession in Hillsborough County, where he was a confrere of Franklin Pierce, afterwards President, Hon. Charles G. Atherton, Hon. Charles W. Morrison, and others scarcely less eminent in the profession, but also with the most eminent lawyers in the state. As a citizen he was highly honored and respected. During his residence of forty-seven years in Hollis, in addition to holding many positions of public trust, he represented the town for fifteen years in the legislature where, for several terms, he was chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
GEORGE F. FARLEY, a brother of Benjamin Mark Farley, was born in Brookline April 5, 1793. He graduated from Harvard College in 1816. He read law in the office of his brother Benjamin, in Hollis, and in the office of Luther Lawrence, of Groton, Mass. In 1821, he was ad- mitted to the bar of Hillsborough County and the same year began to practice his profession in New Ipswich. In 1831 he represented New Ipswich in the legislature, and the same year he removed to Groton, Mass., where for twenty-four years following he was a successful practi- tioner. He died at Groton, Nov. 8, 1855.
EPHRAIM JEWETT HARDY was born in Hollis May 26, 1830. He was a son of Ephraim L. and Susan Jewett Hardy. His father re- moved from Hollis to Brookline about 1840. He attended the public schools in Brookline, and fitted for college at Phillips Andover Academy, and at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden. He entered Dartmouth Col- lege in 1853, but did not live to graduate, dying in his senior year in 1857. He was a young man of great promise; a sincere Christian, of manly and decided character, and an excellent scholar. His death was deeply deplored by his classmates, and by the college generally. He is buried in the South Cemetery.
Edward Everett Parker.
Hon. Edward E. Parker was born in Brookline Jan. 7, 1842. 'He is a son of James and Deverd (Corey) Parker, and a lineal descendant in the sixth generation of Deacon Thomas Parker who came from England to America in the ship Susan and Ellen, and settled at Reading, Mass., in 1633.
مميز
"INNCROFT"-SUMMER RESIDENCE OF EDWARD E. PARKER (OLD NATHAN COREY HOUSE )
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
His paternal grandmother, wife of James Parker, 1st, was a daughter of Abijah and Sarah (Chamberlain) Boynton of Pepperell, Mass .; and a descendant of John Boynton and William Boynton, who came to America from Yorkshire, England, and settled in Rowley, Mass., in 1638. His maternal great-grandmother, wife of David Wright of Pepperell, Mass., was the leader of the band of patriotic women who captured the noto- rious tory, Leonard Whiting, at Jewett's bridge in Pepperell, in 1775.
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