USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Chesterfield > History of Chesterfield, Cheshire county, N.H., from the incorporation of "township number one," by Massachusetts, in 1736, to the year 1881; together with family Histories and genealogies > Part 41
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was appointed by President Hayes judge of the U. S. District Court, for the district of Vermont, Mar. 16, 1877,-a position that he still retains.
WHEELER.
I. JOSEPH WHEELER, b. probably about 1729, was in Chfd. in 1770, having come, as is supposed, from some town in Mass., though, according to tradition, he was Scotch by birth, or of Scotch extraction. In 1772, he purchased of Sarah Emmons (q. v.) lot No. 12, in the 15th range, the same being a part of the farm afterwards owned and occupied successively by his grandson, Ashbel Wheeler, Sen., David W. Goodrich, and Eleazer Randall, Jr. He appears to have d. about 1805. He is known to have had, at least, 3 ch. : Benjamin (2), b. Oct. 22, 1756 .- Susanna, m., 1777, Ephm. Wheeler (q. v.) -- John (3), b. about 1768.
2. BENJAMIN, son of Joseph (1), m. Sarah, dau. of Abner Har- ris (1), and who was b. Mar. 5, 1758, and d. Nov. 9, 1821. Resided in Chfd., and lived many years on the farm now own- ed and occupied by Wm. L. Clegg. Soldier 1775. He d. Nov. 16, 1844.
Ch. : Isaac (4), b. Apr. 12, 1780 .- Polly, b. Jan. 9, 1782 ; m., 1800, Josiah Hastings (8) .- Joseph, b. Jan. 18, 1784 ; d. 1787 .- Ashbel (5), b. Nov. 26, 1785 .- Sally, b. Aug. 29, 1787 ; d. 1795 .- (Three infants b. and d. 1790.)-Clarissa, b. May 28, 1792 ; m., 1815, Eleazer Randall (5) ; d. June 7, 1844 .- Salome, b. Apr. 22, 1794; m., 1813, David W. Good- rich (1) ; d. Jan. 28, 1879 .- Chancey. b. Feb. 27, 1796; d. 1797 .- Dolly (half-sister of the preceding), b. Nov. 18, 1822 ; m., Dec. 31, 1846, Benj. V. Smith (23).
4. ISAAC, son of Benjamin (2), m., 1800, Matilda, dau. of An- drew Hastings (2). Between IS15 and '19, he rem. to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where he d.
Ch. : Nelson (6) (half-brother of the following), b. May 22, 1799 .- Lebina, and perhaps others.
6. NELSON, son of Isaac (4), m., Jan. 9, 1821, Bersheba Moore, of Putney, Vt., d. Nov. 18, 1875. Blacksmith. He d. May 1, 1864.
Ashbel Wheeler
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Ch. : Lucinda E., b. in Putney, July S, IS22 ; d. in Chfd. in 1837 .- Lorinda R., b. in Chester, Vt., Aug. 4, 1824 ; m .. Aug. 23, 1846, Wm. H. Tibbetts, of Farmington, Me .- Fan- ny E., b. in Lyndon, Vt., Nov. 27, 1826; m., in Dum., July 1, 1844, Isaac Boyden ; d. in Brat .. Sept. 24, 1875 .- Laura M., b. in Lyndon, May 8, 1829; m. Ist, Oct. 26, 1853, Wm. H. Fairchild, of New Haven, Conn .; 2d, Wm. G. Wheaton, of Peoria, Ill. ; 3d, T. A. Plants, of Pomeroy, O .- Rufus S., b. in Lyndon, June 19, IS31 ; d. Apr. 28, 1832 .- Susan A., b. in Lyndon, July 14, 1833 ; m., Apr. 13, 1851, Newell R. Lougee, of Gilmanton .- Lorenzo B., b. in Barton, Vt., Jan. 16, 1836; d. Mar. 18, 1839 .- Demanster H., b. in Barton, Feb. 27, 1838 ; unm. Res. in Putney, Vt .- Permelia and Paulina, b. in Putney, Nov. 20, 1840. Permelia m. Edwin French, of Dum. ; Paulina d. May 1, 1842 .- Emma A., b. in Putney, Dec. 2, 1845 ; d. Apr. 14, 1854.
5.
ASHBEL, son of Benjamin (2), m., 1804, Diana, dau. of Elea- zer Randall (2), and who d. Sept. 13, 1852. For many years he was a well-known merchant and distiller at the West Vil- lage (see pp. 162, 165), being also engaged, a part of the time, in farming. Commencing business with little or no capital. save his own native tact and shrewdness, he succeeded in ac- quiring a considerable fortune. He was, also, a violin-player, and in his early and middle manhood was extensively employ- ed to play at balls and "kitchen-dances," often in company with Mr. Asa Smith, Mr. Gardner Smith, or other old-time knights of the bow. The store which he established at the West Village was extensively patronized, and was long one of the principal stores in the town. He d. June 20, 1866.
Ch. : Prusha, b. Sept. 22, 1805 ; d. June 29, 1810 .- Foster A. (7), b. Feb. 23, 1808 .- Prusha, b. Dec. 16, 1810; m. Ist, Apr. 23, 1829, Harden Ford (q. v.) ; 2d, Jan., 1843, Chas. L. Strong (q. v.)-Eliza, b. Dec. 24, 1813; m., 1834, Nor- man Harris (II) ; d. in San Francisco, Cal., Feb. 5, 1868 .- Ashbel, b. Jan. 2, 1817 ; m., Apr. 17, 1838, Harriet, dau. of John C. Hall, M. D., of Concord ; d. in Chfd., June 25, 1871. Had no ch .- Maria, b. June 22, 1819; m., 1840, A. Sidney Baxter, then of Rockingham, Vt., now of N. Y. City ; d. Apr.
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4, 1854 .- Laura S., b. June 30, 1824 ; m., 1850, Joseph H. Buffum, of Walpole ; d. June 11, 1856 .- Helen Mar and Wm. Wallace, b. Feb. 24, 1827. Helen M. m., May 28, 1853, Lucien, son of Alpheus Snow (6), and d. at Acapulco, Mex- ico, June 29, 1853 ; Wm. W. d. Aug. 29, 1830 .- Sarah M., b. Dec. 27, 1829 ; unm. ; d. Oct. 8, 1850.
7. FOSTER A., son of Ashbel (5), m. Betsey Gibson, of London- derry, Vt., b. Sept. 8, 1808. He resided many years in Janes- ville, Wis., where he d. Nov. 2, 1878.
Ch. : William W., b. Nov. 15, 1833 ; m. Helen M. Dustin. Res. in Emporia, Kan .- Charles F., b. Feb. 17, 1836 ; m. Julia A. Dustin. Res. in Topeka, Kan .- Ellen S., b. Mar. . 2, 1840 ; m. Dr. Judson Hale, d. Dec. 18, 1872, a. 39. She d. in Janesville, Mar. 19, 1881.
3. JOHN, son of Joseph (1), m., 1791, Lucy, dau. of Thomas Holmes (q. v.), and who d. in 1863, a. nearly 90. He rem. about 1806 to Concord, Vt., where he d. in 1838.
Ch. : Joseph, d. Apr. 22, 1795, a. 3 yrs. 7 mos .- Harry, d. Apr. 21, 1795, a. 2 yrs. 4 mos .- Lucy, b. Oct., 1794 ; m. Warner Bingham, and was the mother of Hon. Harry Bing- ham, of Littleton, the eminent lawyer, and Hon. George A. Bingham, lately one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court of this State. She d. Oct., 1839 .- John, b. Apr., 1796 ; d. July, 1878 .- Edith, b. 1797 ; d. May, 1860.
WHEELER, JAMES, may have been in Chfd. in 1770. His wife
was Esther -- , d. in 1794. He d. in 1792. Only 2 ch. were recorded : Lucy, b. Sept. 22, 1769 ; Fames, b. Aug. 5, 1772, and d. 1777.
WHEELER, JAMES, said to have been the brother of Ephm., Ben- jamin, 2nd, and Randall Wheeler (q. v.), may have been in Chfd. in 1773. His wife was Rachel Selectman 1792 (?), 1800, '01. His name disappears between 1815 and '19.
Ch. : Jonathan, b. Apr. 18, 1777 ; Hannah, b. Mar. 12, 1775 ; Silas, b. May 21, 1780, and m., 1803, Sally Bishop ; Rachel, b. Nov. 3, 1782 ; Ephraim, b. Jan. 26, 1785 ; Leon- ard, b. July 14, 1787 ; Roswell, b. May 11, 1790; Leah, b. June 23, 1792 ; Fanny, b. Dec. 1, 1794.
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WHEELER, EPHRAIM, said to have been the brother of James Wheeler (q. v.), m., 1777, Susanna, dau. of Joseph Wheeler (1). Only 2 ch. were recorded : Sarah, b. June 28, 1777 ; Molly, b. Dec. 8, 1780.
WHEELER, BENJAMIN, (styled Second, to distinguish him from Benj. Wheeler (2) ), said to have been the brother of James Wheeler (q. v.), was in Chfd. in 1787. His wife was Eliza- beth - His name disappears between IS15 and '19. Four ch. were recorded : John, b. May 4, 1790 ; Lymon, b. Apr. 1, 1792 ; Hosea, b. Mar. 23, 1794 ; Hannah, b. Apr. 4, 1796.
WHEELER, RANDALL, said to have been the brother of James Wheeler (q. v.), 1787-about 1800.
WHEELER, JEREMIAH, from New Salem, Mass., m., 1781, Atha- liah Cobleigh. He rem. about ISoo to Windham, Vt. Three ch., at least, were born in Chfd .: Patty, b. Mar. 22, 1783 ; Thene, b. Nov. 20, 1787 ; Abigail, b. Mar. 6, 1790.
WHITE.
1. JOHN WHITE was in Chfd. in 1794. His wife was Lydia d. Oct. 31, 1842, a. 77. He d. Dec. 7, 1825, a. 62.
Ch. : (So far as known, but order uncertain) John, d. in Hoosac, N. Y .- Willard .- Warren .- Freedom .- Henry, d. in Chfd., Nov. 19, 1844, a. 55 .- Facob T. (2) .- Sarah T .. m., 1817, Nathaniel Albee (q. v.) ; d. in 1849, a. 54 .- Polly.
2. JACOB T., son of John (1), m., 1823, Lucy, dau. of Richard Hopkins (1), and who d. Oct. 25, 1871. Resided in Chfd. He d. Dec. 24, 1863, in his 73d year.
Ch. : George R., unm. ; d. at San Francisco, Cal., Oct. 18, 1850, a. 26 .- Ann, m. Justus R. Rogers, of Keene .- Sarah, m. Arza A., son of Josiah Higgins (4) .- Harriet 11., d. young .- Harriet M., d. young.
WHITE, JOHN, in Chfd. 1776. His name disappears before 1787. WHITE, NATHANIEL, m., 1797, Sally Farr.
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WHITE.
I. EPHRAIM WHITE resided in Chfd. for a few years previous to 1814 or '15, one of which years he d. His wife is said to have been Elizabeth Smith.
Ch. : Bradford, d. in Chfd., Sept. 19, 1826, a. 26 .- Wash- ington, m., 1830, Adeline M. Crosby ; d. before 1834. Had one dau., Elizabeth, m. Ist, John Palmer ; 2d, Hiram Bryant. -Malinda, m. -- Fuller .- Clarissa, unm .- Warren (2).
2. WARREN, son of Ephraim (1), m., 1826, Sally, dau. of John Darling (1), and who d. Feb. 8, 1873. He d. in Chfd., Oct., 1827.
Ch. : John W., b. Nov. 26, 1827 ; m. Ellen M. Kimball. For many years he resided in Boston, being employed as a salesman in a large dry-goods store, and was also, for a while, a member of a firm in that city. For about the past ten years he has been a resident of Chfd. ; and to his enterprise and perseverance is mainly due the construction of the steamboat that bears as its name the italicized word in this clause. He has had two ch. : James W., Ellen M.
WHITNEY, EPHRAIM, was in Chfd. in 1776. His wife was Jane Bancroft, of Salem, Mass., d. in Chfd., Nov. 9, 1795, in her 73d year. He d. Oct. 2, the same year, in his 72d year. His dan., Molly, m. Ist, Col. Samuel King (2) ; 2d, Capt. Simon Willard (q. v.) ; d. in Wincr. about 1832.
WHITNEY, EPHRAIM, Jr., probably son of Ephraim (q. v.), m. Rhoda His name disappears about 1792. Only 2 ch. were recorded : Sally, b. Mar. 16, 1779; Dorcas, b. Sept. 22, 1782.
WHITNEY, JOEL, m. Ist, -, and had, at least, 2 ch. : Joel, b. Feb. 21, 1777 ; Nabby, b. May 19, 1786, and m., 1806, Ti- tus, son of Ebenezer Farr (4). Joel, Sen., m. 2d, Edee Far- well, widow of Benj. Farwell (2). She was a midwife, and was long known as "Granny Whitney."
WHITNEY DANIEL, m. Eunice His name is not found after 1794. Four ch. were recorded : Adolphus, b. Dec. 13, 1782, and d. 1785 ; George, b. Jan. 11, 1785; Vashni, b. June 3, 1788 ; Calvin, b. Aug. 23, 1790.
WHITNEY, MOSES, had a son, Moses, d. 1774.
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WILBER, JOSEPH, from Taunton, Mass., settled in Chfd. in 1838 or '39. His father and mother, Isaiah and Prudence Wilber, came to Chfd. with him. The former d. May 3. 1853, a. SI ; the latter, Sept. 19, 1849, a. 77. Joseph m. Lydia, dau. of Bethuel Field (1), and who d. Dec. 29. 1876. He d. Feb. 20, 1877, a. 63.
Ch. : Sarah F., m. Wm. R. Smith, now of Chfd. ; d. Nov. 25, 1877, in her 39th year .- Addie O., m. Erving A. Hildreth, of Chfd. ; d. Sept. 24, 1874, in her 27th year.
WILD.
BENJAMIN WILD came from Norton, Mass., in the autumn of 1801, and settled in the eastern part of the town. His wife was Sarah Babbitt, d. in Chfd. in 1826, in her 74th year. He d. the same year, in his 79th year.
Ch. : (All b. in Norton) Sally, m. Lysander Makepeace. of Norton .- John (2) .- Nancy, m., 1807, Orlo Richardson (2) ; d. Apr. 4, 1872, a. nearly 90 .- David, who entered Dartmouth College with the intention of preparing himself for one of the "learned professions," but was obliged to abandon the under- taking on account of ill health. At the same time his voice failed, so that he could not speak aloud. He m., in 1817, Ab- igail, dau. of Moses Smith (3), and settled in Fredonia, N. Y., where he became a popular magistrate. One of his daugh- ters, Ann, m. Judge Sanford E. Church, of Albion. N. Y., lately deceased .- Nathan (3), b. June 14, 1787 .- Abigail, m. Marcus Holbrook (2) .- Elsie, m., 1820, John, son of Ichabod Albee (3).
2. JOHN, son of Benjamin (1), m. Lydia Newcombe. He resided a number of years in Adams, Mass., and then rem. to Ellis- burg, N. Y., where he d. about 1834 or '35.
Ch. : Benjamin F., b. May 24, 1803 .- Charles P., b. June 3, 1804 ; d. in Adams, while a young man .- Salome, d. young. -Samuel, d. young .- Sarah, d. unm .- Mary, m. - McKee .- Elsie, m. Roderick Brewster, and resided in N. Y. State.
3. NATHAN, son of Benjamin (1), m., Aug. 18, 1814, Rachel Newcombe, sister of his brother John's wife, and who d. in Greene Co., Ind., July 17, 1840.
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In his youth he had a fondness for mathematical studies, which he pursued at home, with the assistance of his brother David. The latter once remarked, in later years, that the ed- ucation which he had acquired did himself but little good, but was of great value to his brother Nathan. Nathan applied himself assiduously to the study of surveying and astronomy, and soon became one of the most skillful surveyors in the State, and an astronomer of considerable proficiency. After his mar- riage he settled on a farm situated near the present stage-road leading from Factory Village to Keene, about one mile from the former place. This farm is at present owned by Rev. T. L. Fowler. He now engaged not only in practical farming and surveying, but in the publication of an almanac, known for a while as "The Improved New England Almanack and Ephemeris," and afterwards as "The Farmer's, Mechanic's and Gentleman's Almanack." He appears to have begun the pub- lication of his almanacs about 1819, and they were generally, though not always, printed by John Prentiss, at Keene.
(For a description of this almanac, and a few extracts there- from, see p. 191.)
Not only was Mr. Wild a practical farmer, surveyor, astron- omer and almanac-maker, but he also held several important civil offices. He was selectman from 1820 to '25, and repre- sentative to the General Court in '31 and '32. In '33 and '34, he was a member of the New Hampshire Senate. In the midst of a useful and honorable career he was summoned away by that messenger who comes, sooner or later, to all ; and, on the fifth day of March, 1838, he passed away from the place of his earthly labors.
Ch. : Nathan Ransel (4), b. July 14, 1815 .- Mary E., b. Mar. 16, 1820; unm. ; d. in Chfd., Jan. 14, 1843.
4.
NATHAN R., son of Nathan (3), m., Sept. 25, 1838, Maria E., dau. of Abraham Wood (3). In 1840, he rem. to Greene Co., Ind., where he d. Apr. 7, 1851. The sad fate of the little col- ony of Chesterfield people who attempted to settle in that part of Indiana, is described by his son, an eminent lawyer of Cin- cinnati, O., as follows :
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"N. R. Wild, with his wife and infant child, started for the West in 1840, and after a long journey by wagon, stage and boat, arrived at, and settled in, Greene Co., Indiana. There was about him here quite a settlement of Chesterfield people, who had either gone out shortly before, or with, him. There were Dr. A. G. Skinner and family, Mrs. Skinner being formerly Sy- bil Wood; F. B. Cressey and family, Mrs. Cressey being formerly Rebecca Wood; Levi Wood, and Abraham Wood and wife, parents of Sybil, Rebecca, Levi and Maria, wife of N. R. Wild. There were also the mother and sister of N. R. Wild, and Ballard Cressey and family. These all owned adjoining farms, and life in the West began for them very brightly. All depended on their farms for a living, except Dr. Skinner and N. R. Wild, the latter being a surveyor and civil engineer.
Only a few years did this little community remain together. The grave- yard was laid off on one of the farms, and one after another of the little com- pany was laid away in it. Mrs. Cressey, Mrs. Skinner, Levi Wood, Abraham Wood and wife, the mother and infant child of N. R. Wild, followed each other in quick succession. Dr. Skinner moved back to New York, and, upon the death of N. R. Wild, in 1851, his widow was left without a relative near her of all those who had left their eastern home but eleven years before."
Mrs. Wild having sent one of her boys, Charles, to live with her sister in.New York, removed, in 1852, with the other three to College Hill, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio, in order that she might obtain better facilities for educating them.
"For several years her life was severe and straitened, but she never faltered. The boys went to school, and worked during vacations, until the oldest two, Edward and Levi, graduated. Before that time, she had gotten Charles back, and very soon the boys took upon themselves the support of the household."
Mrs. Wild still resides at College Hill. The ch. of Nathan R. and Maria E. Wild are as follows : Eleanor, d. in infancy. -Edward N., b. July 28, 1841 ; m., Feb. 19, 1874, Amelia F. Goodman. He studied law while teaching school, and serving as mate in the gun-boat service on the southern rivers, in the War of the Rebellion. He is now practising his profes- sion in Cincinnati, and is the author of a work entitled "Jour- nal Entries under the Codes of Ohio," a standard book of forms in that State .- Levi, b. Aug. 23, 1843. He studied medicine, and went to Youngstown, N. Y., to practise with Dr. Skinner. He d. Sept. 2, 1873, of consumption .- Charles R., b. Sept. 25, 1845 ; m., Oct. 10, 1872, Maria L. Davey. He is secretary of the "Western Biographical Publishing Co.,"
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at Cincinnati, the "College Hill Railroad Co.," and the "Buck- eye Cannel Coal Co."-Walter, b. Jan. 14, 1848; d. May 6, 1875. At the time of the financial panic of 1873, he had charge of the Buckeye Cannel Coal Company's works in Daviess Co., Ind. The coal business having been ruined by the panic, and he having lost a hand by an accident, he became despondent, and in a fit of mental aberration, shot himself.
WILLARD, Capt. SIMON, probably from Wincr., appears to have settled in Chfd. about 1788. He m., about the same time, Molly, wid. of Col. Samuel King (2), and who is said to have d. in Wincr. about 1832. He resided in Chfd. till about 1813, when he rem. to Wincr., where he d. at the age of nearly 100 years. He represented Chfd. in the General Court 1794-'96, and afterwards seven successive years (1801-'07.)
Ch. : Elijah, b. Dec. 28, 1788 ; unm .- Catharine, b. Aug. 2, 1791 ; m., 1811, Joseph Pattridge (4) ; d. in Osceola, Ill., Feb. 3, 1865 .- Fane, b. Oct. 2, 1793 ; m. Jarib, son of John Sanderson (4) ; d. June 3, 1852 .- Seth, b. Feb. 2, 1796; m. Fanny Battles.
WILLARD.
2. GIBSON WILLARD, brother of Thomas Willard (3), came from Harvard, Mass., and settled in the south-east quarter of this town, probably about 1789. His wife was probably Mary Hall. His will was made Oct. 9, 1816, and proved Apr. 15, 1817.
Ch. : (So far as known, but order uncertain) Solomon (4). -Mary, m., 1798, James Henry (2) ; d. Feb. 25, 1850 .- Phineas, m., 1803, Hannah, dau. of Daniel Colburn (2), but had no ch .- Reuben (5), b. about 1777 .- Rebecca, m. - Haskell, and rem. to Canada.
4. SOLOMON, son of Gibson (2), m. - -, and had, at least, the following ch. : Gibson, m., 1829, Lucy W., dau. of Jona. Tay- lor (1) .- Mary, m. Sullivan, son of Zadock Presho (1) .- Diana, m. Asahel Wetherbee (2) .- Lewis .- Phineas.
5. REUBEN, son of Gibson (2), m. Ist, Nancy Reed, d. at High- gate, Vt. ; 2d, in Swanton, Vt., Samantha Lathrop ; 3d, 1850,
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Mrs. Lurana Wheeler, wid. of Ephm. Wheeler, of Wmd. At the time of the second war between Great Britain and the United States, he lived at Highgate, Vt., and for a while drove a team that carried provisions for the American army. He d. in Wmd. in 1853.
Ch. : (By Ist marriage) Nancy, m., in Ohio, Stephen Loucy. -Sabra, m. Frederick Foltz, at Indianapolis, Ind .- Wash- ington, m. Eliza, dau. of Daniel Forbush, of Chfd., and rem. to Wis .- Levi, m. - -, at Dover, Vt., and rem. to Iowa .- (By 2d marriage) Hannah, b. Mar. 13, 1817 ; m., 1839, Hen- ry O. Clark (4) .- Rebecca, b. Mar. 6, 1819 ; m. Sumner, son of Eli Black ; d. July, 1853 .- Prutia, m. Bradley Hill ; d. Oct., 1847 .- Roana, m. Chas. Blackmer, at Belchertown. Mass .- Mary, m. Henry Brown, at Swzy .- Russell, m. Viola Pike. at West Wardsboro', Vt. [Five d. in infancy. ]
3. THOMAS WILLARD, brother of Gibson Willard (2), also came from Harvard, Mass., about 1791, and settled on the farm after- wards owned by Samuel Goodrich, now owned and occupied by Willard Henry. He probably rem. to Highgate, Vt., about 1806. His wife's name has not been ascertained, but he had, at least, the following ch. : Stephen, m. Mary, dau. of Wm. Henry (1) .- Sally, m., 1796, Abel Fletcher (1) .- Sibyl, m., 1799, Bunker G. Hubbard (5). [Another dau. m. (perhaps) Levi Buttrick.]
WITHINGTON, EDWARD, son of Benjamin, came from Chelms- ford, Mass., and settled in Chfd. about 1819. His father, Ben- jamin, also came with him, and d. in Chfd., May 16, 1851, a. nearly 90. Edward was a tanner. (See p. 160.) He m. Ly- dia Hodgman, of Chelmsford, d. Mar. 4, 1879, a. nearly S7. He d. Jan. 27, 1863, in his 74th year. 1
Ch. : Seth, b. in Chelmsford, Dec. 3, 1812; unm. Res. in Chfd .- Edwin, b. about 1816 .- Mary F., b. about 1818 ; m. Chas. C Tenney, of Dum .- James D., b. Oct. 5, 1820 .- Al- bert, b. Sept. 9, 1823 ; d. 1825 .- Albert C., b. Nov. 2, 1825 ; res. in Milford, Mass .- Asaph, b. June 26, 1828 .- Henry H., b. Nov. 18, 1836 ; m. Sarah, dau. of Robert Johnson, of Chfd .. and who d. at East Brookfield, Mass., Sept. 27, 1878, in her 35th year.
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WITT.
I. ARTEMAS WITT was in Chfd. in 1785. He lived on the farm now owned and occupied by Parker Farr. He m., in Wmd., 1777, Eunice, probably dau. of John Peacock (1), and who d. Jan. 25, 1842, a. 87. He d. Apr. 26, 1823, a. nearly 74.
Ch. : Sally, unm. ; d. in Chfd., May 9, 1839, a. 62 .- Arza (2) .- Margaret, m. Elijah, son of Amos Davis (2) .- Wil- lard (3) .- Lovisa, b. 1792 ; unm. She was a noted school- teacher, and at the time of her death, Jan. 9, 1854, she is said to have been teaching, in Hins., her 100th school.
2. ARZA, son of Artemas (I), m. He is said to have d. in Penn.
Ch. : Arza, d. in Lowell, Mass. He was a physician .- George C., m. Laura Brown, of Brat., and rem. to Wis.
WILLARD, son of Artemas (1), m., ISOS, Lydia, probably dau. of Isaiah Harvey (1).
Ch. : (Order uncertain) Almira E., m., 1832, Samuel D. Pierce .- Catharine, m. Ist, - - Purdy, of Walpole ; 2d, Harvey Allen .- Eunice, d. young .- Lovisa, d. young .- Ly- dia, rem. from the town .- Willard, m. Ist, - - Howard, of Alstead ; 2d, Mrs. Abby Thatcher, doctress. He d. in Westminster, Vt., Mar. 27, ISSI, a. 69 .- John, d. young .- Charles, rem. to Acworth.
WITT, MOSES, may have been in Chfd. in 1789, which year a dau., Bethniah, d. in her 7th year. His name does not appear, however, on the tax-lists.
WOOD.
William Wood, author of a book entitled "New England's Prospeets," em- igrated, at the age of 56, from Derbyshire, England, and settled, in 1638, in Concord, Mass., where he d. May 14, 1671, a. 89. He had, at least, 2 ch., viz., Michael and Ruth. Michael d. in Concord, May 13, 1674. One of his sons was Abraham. d. in Sudbury, Mass., in 1742. One of Abraham's sons, Cornelius, m., in 1738, Mary Eaton, and had 11 ch., only 4 of whom lived to mature age, viz. : Abraham (1), Ebenezer, Mary and Mehitabel.
I. Rev. ABRAHAM WOOD, the descendant of Wm. Wood, who emigrated from Eng. in 1638, as related above, settled in Chfd. The following interesting sketch of his life was written by his grandson, Prof. Alphonso Wood, the eminent botanist.
3.
REV. ABRAHAM WOOD.
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"Rev Abraham Wood was born in Sudbury, Mass., A. D., 1748, (Sept. 26); was educated in Harvard University, and graduated with the class of 1767. June 4, 1771, he was married to Sarah Loring, of Hingham, Mass., grand daughter of the Rev. Israel Loring, and both were soon on their way, by a perilous journey, into the then all-pervading wilderness of New Hampshire. Here, in the township of Chesterfield, A. D. 1772, he began a ministry which was to continue, without interruption, unto the end of his days. His annual salary was fixed at £80*, and assumed as a town charge, and paid, like other municipal expenses, from the public treasury. His parish was co-extensive with the township, and throughout he was reverenced and beloved almost without exception. His advice or approbation was sought in all public af- fairs, alike in civil, military, educational and religious. He not only minis- tered in the church, but solemnized their marriages, baptized their children, buried their dead, inspected their schools, addressed their martial parades, and in their family gatherings was a welcome, nay, an indispensable guest.
His sermons were generally written out, and ever true to the orthodoxy of the Pilgrim Fathers, notwithstanding the tide of Arianism which began to sweep the churches of New England in the latter part of his ministry.
In speech he was animated and inspiring, with a clear and ringing voice, and a style that appealed to the reason and conscience rather than to the im- agination of his hearers.
His ministry extended to the times of the great temperance movement. In the autumn of 1817, he read to his people the substance of Dr. Beecher's 'Six Sermons on Intemperance,' then just published and arousing the nation to a sense of the tremendous evils wrought by alcohol. Thus he inaugurated in Chesterfield that good work, the revival of temperance, pledging himself and his household.
The last five years of his life were subject to much infirmity, so that, at his own request, the Rev. John Walker was called and installed by the church as colleague-pastor. To facilitate this measure, he generously declined his salary in favor of his colleague, accepting for himself thereafter only the voluntary offerings of his people.
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