USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > History of old Chester [N. H.] from 1719 to 1869 > Part 41
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Stephen Dudley had a son JAMES, b. at Exeter, 1715, m. Mary Folsom, d. 1761. He had a son SAMUEL, b. at Exeter, 1720. He settled on No. 67, O. HI., and built a saw-milf. He was a peti- tioner for the road from Freetown by the Centre to Dudley's mill in 1769. In 1760 he was chosen surveyor of highways, and built a bridge across the river near Raymond Centre, but the selectmen refused to pay the bill. He sned the selectmen of Chester, and lost his case in the Inferior Court, but appealed, and at the May term of the Superior Court. 1761, obtained a verdict for £18 7s., debt, and £48 4s., cost. He had a large family; sold to his brother, the Judge, went to Maine, d. Aug. 30, 1797.
Hon. JOHN DUDLEY was son of JAMES, b. April 9, 1725, at Ex- eter; m. Elizabeth Gilman, June 22, 1749, d. 1806. He came to Raymond in 1766, to where Samuel had lived, where his great grandson. James T. Dudley, now lives. He was one of the Com- mittee of Safety from April 2, 1776 to May 29, 1784, and a Judge of the Superior Court from 1785 to 1797. He had a son Moses, Esq., b. 1766, m. Nancy Glidden, and lived on the homestead; d. 1843. They had 10 children. The 7th, Elbridge G., grad. at Dart. [See Graduates in Raymond.]
James had also a son JOSEPII, b. at Exeter, 1728, and he had a son Joseph, b. at Exeter, 1750, removed to Raymond, No. 81, O. H. He built a mill. He had nine children : 2. Joseph, b. Feb. 7, 1790, m. Sally, dan. of Thomas Dudley, moved to Candia Village, d. 1868. His son Alvin is an extensive shoe manufacturer there. J. Francis graduated. [See Graduates.] 3. Dea. Samuel, b. May 5, 1796, m. Judith Pillsbury. He learned the art of tanning and shoemaking of Elder Moses Bean, and succeeded him, and did an
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GENEALOGY -- DUSTIN.
extensive business ; and did much to build up the village and the Baptist society there.
DUNLAP.
ARCHIBALD DUNLAP came from Ireland, m. Martha, dau. of Jo- seph Neal, 1741, and lived on Neal's homestead, II. L. No. 26. Children: -
1. Joseph, b. 1742, m. Anna, dau. of Hugh Wilson, settled in Goffstown.
2. James, b. 1744, m. Dorcas Davis, had one son John, b. 1790, d. 1867. Lived on the back end of the homestead, d. 1803.
3. John, b. 1746, lived in Bedford.
4. Mary.
5. William, m. Boyes, went to Schenectady.
6. Sarah.
7. Samuel, m. Mary Cochran, went to Salisbury, N. H.
8. Martha.
The father and three daughters died in two weeks of throat distemper.
DUSTIN.
MOSES DUSTIN, son of Nathaniel and Triphena Haselton, and great-grandson of Thomas Dustin and Hannah Emerson (re- nowned for being captured by the Indians, and killing her cap- tors and escaping), b. at Haverhill in 1741, m. Mary Buck. He was a blacksmith and lived in Chester until about 1772, when he removed to Candia, on to No. 44, 2d P., 2d D. Upon hearing of the battle of Lexington, Drummer Hill beat up for volunteers, and Mr. Dustin was the first to fall in. A considerable number volunteered and went to Cambridge. Dustin served first as Lieu- tenant, then as Captain to the end of the war, and was afterwards Captain of the Aların List, which gave him a brevet title of Colonel.
Col. R. E. Patten has his watch which he carried through the war, and also his papers. He had 10 children, of whom 7 lived :-
1. Jonathan, b. 1768, m. Polly, dau. of Walter Robie; went to Stanstead.
2. Moses, went to Windham.
3. Hannah.
4. George W.
5. Nathaniel.
6. Sally.
7. Lydia, b. Aug. 11, 1792, m. Joseph, son of Peter Hall. He d. 1795, a. 51. She d. 1827, a. 77.
JOHN DUSTIN was a physician, and was at Martin's Ferry in 1775, and his widow lived there in 1818.
33
514
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
EATON.
There were two distinct families of the name who came to Candia, though they were probably distantly related.
BENJAMIN EATON, of Dunstable, m. Anna Rand. He d. at Dun- stable, but Anna came to Candia, and d. at her son William's. Children :-
1. William, m. Ruth Bradley, and settled on No. 62, 2d P., 2d D., since occupied by Solomon Stevens and Jacob Mead. Chil- dren :-
Benjamin, m. Anna Worthen, d. 1835. Anna, m. Solomon Stevens, d. Jan. 21, 1847, a. 85. Relief, m. Prescott, went to New York. Sarah, m. Harriman, of Bath, Me. Jesse, m. Bas- ford, went to Bangor, Me. Moses, died. Patty, m. Glines, of Moultonborough. William, went to Portland. .
2. David, m. a Clement, went to Sutton, N. H.
3. Jonathan, settled in Plaistow; had Benjamin and Deacon William, who lived in Chester, and Rev. Asa, of Boston, and James, on the homestead.
4. James, m. Abigail, dau. of Nathl. Wood, Sen .; lived on No. 39, 3d D. She d. March, 1733, a. 98. Children :-
Alexander, m. Edna, dau. of Capt. Edward Preston. JJohn, went to Maine. Benjamin, went to Maine. They were all in the Revolutionary army. Abigail, m. Jonathan Pressey, of Ches- ter. Betsy, m. a Baker and Webster.
5. Ebenezer, mn. Phebe Sargent, lived at the corner of the road west of William Eaton's. Children :-
Ebenezer, went West. David, m. a Rowe, went to Bridge- water. Sarah, m. Thurston, of Hill. Phebe, m. Plaisted, of New Hampton.
6. Jesse, mn. Sarah Worthen ; lived also on No. 61, 2d P., 2d D. Ile d. Dec. 23, 1808. She d. June 3, 1801. Children :-
Nancy, b. Sept. 30, 1775, m. Joseph, son of Moody Chase; d. Jan. 19, 1857. Mary, m. French, and Gilman, went to Unity. Sarah. m. Benjamin Pillsbury, Esq., of Candia. Hannah, m. Henry, son of Ephraim Eaton. Jesse, m. Sarah, dan. of Dea. . Caleb Prince; lived in Candia. Susan, m. Samuel, son of John Buswell; lives in Candia. Eleanor, m. Jolm, son of Dea. Caleb Prince. Ebenezer, m. Sarah, dau. of James Shirley. Love and Asa, not married.
JOHN EATON, Senior, the first of the name in Salisbury, Mass., was made freeman by the General Court of Mass., May 25, 1636. He had two sons, John and Thomas. Jolin settled on the home- stead and had EPIIRAIM, m. Mary, dau. of Capt. Henry True of
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GENEALOGY - ELLIOT.
Salisbury, Feb. 5, 1689, and had 4 sons, EPHRAIM, SAMUEL, HENRY and JABEZ.
HENRY, b. Jan. 17, 1704, m. Mary, dan. of Ensign Henry True, and lived in Salisbury on the farm of his father-in-law. Children : Ephraim, 1745, Peter, Mary and Sarah.
Ephraim m. (1) Abigail Perkins, 1768; m. (2) Sarah Stevens, 1772. He came to Candia in 1773 and purchased of Ben. Bach- elder No. 113, 2d P., 2d D., where his grandson, Henry M. Eaton, now lives. He d. 1826, a. 81. She d. 1822, a. 74. Children: -
1. Molly, m. Dr. Jacob Moore of Andover, N. H., son of Dr. Coffin Moore. They were the parents of Jacob B. Moore, for a time connected with Isaac Hill in publishing the " New HIamp- shire Patriot," and with John Farmer in publishing a Gazetteer of New Hampshire and Historical Collections; also of Henry C. Moore, a celebrated musician.
2. Henry, m. Hannah, dau. of Maj. Jesse Eaton and lived on the homestead; d. March, 1852, a. 75.
3. Hannah, m. Moses, son of Thomas Patten.
4. Peter, m. Hannah Hale, dau. of Dea. E. HI. Kelly; was a trader in Candia and went to Manchester and was father of F. B. Eaton, the historian of Candia.
5. Sally, d. unmarried.
Paul Eaton, the son of JABEZ and Sally True, came from Sea- brook to Candia previous to 1770, and bonght of Isaiah Rowe No. 114, 2d P., 2d D., now occupied by his grandchildren. He m. Molly Tilton about 1765, who d. about 1775; m. (2) Hannah Emerson. He d. 1830, a. 90. Children : -
Molly; Anna; Henry T .; John; Sally; Lydia, m. Josiah French ; and Luke.
Col. II. T. Eaton lived on the homestead; m. Elizabeth, dau. of Col. Nathaniel Emerson. He d. 1851; she d. 1818.
ELLIOT.
EDMUND ELLIOT, of Amesbury, bought H. L. No. 31, in 1747, and afterwards No. 134; m. Mehitabel Worthen. HIe d. Oct. 8, 1789; she d. April 11, 1806. Children: -
1. Jonathan, b. Dec. 8, 1748. settled in Pembroke.
2. Elizabeth, b. 1750. 3. Mehitabel, b. 1756.
4. Jacob, b. Nov. 5, 1755, m. Martha Sleeper, April 10, 1798; lived on the homestead, was at Bennington and at R. I., in the Revolution ; d. Dee. 6, 1841. She d. 1850. Chil. :- Edmund, lives at Exeter; Eliza; Martha; Jacob, lives at Raymond; John S., d. at Chester; James M. M., lives at Chester.
5. Sarah, b. 1758.
6. John, b. 1761, went to Ohio.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
7. Ephraim, b. 1764, m. Mary, dan. of Edward Robie; S. Ed- mund; and 9. Ezekiel. The last three settled in Thornton, N. H
EMERSON.
In 1656 MICHAEL EMERSON moved into Haverhill, and in 1661 he had a lot of meadow assigned him. In 1665 he was chosen " to view and seal all leather " in town. It was the first choice of sealer of leather in Haverhill, and he was annually re-elected for many years, so it is probable that he was a shoemaker. It is said that he settled near the present site of the depot, and that his farm lay the east side of Little River. He m. Hannah Webster, April 1, 1657, and they had fifteen children, the oldest of whom was Hannah, b. Dec. 23, 1657; m. Thomas Dustin, Dee. 3, 1677, and by him had thirteen children. She was the heroine who was captured by the Indians and carried to the confluence of the Mer- rimac and Contoocook rivers, with Mary Neff and a young man named Samuel Lannerson, and they killed their captors and took their canoe and returned to Haverhill.
Michael Emerson had a son JONATHAN who was one of the grantees of Chester and was admitted at the request of the Gov- ernor. In 1690 he was commander of one of the garrisons at HIaverhill, and in 1701 the Indians attacked his garrison and he repulsed them. In 1705 he and others had a privilege granted them of setting up a grist-mill. In 1741, in the settlement of the province line he was left in Haverhill.
Jonathan Emerson had a son SAMUEL, b. 1707, who settled in Chester. In 1722 Jonathan purchased the right of Samuel Mars- ton, the H. L. No. 52 on which Samuel settled, and September, 1735, it was deeded to him, and the lot was called Jonathan Emer- sou's when the road was laid out in 1730. SAMUEL first appears on Chester records in 1731, when he was chosen town clerk, and he was re-elected every year up to 1787. He was at the same meeting chosen one of the selectmen. He filled a place in Ches- ter which no other man has filled, or could fill. He was the first justice of the peace in town. After he came to Chester he did nearly all the land surveying, and wrote most of the deeds; he was surveyor to lay out the second part of the second division in 1736, and all subsequent divisions. It was said that he had so tenacious a memory, and his organ of locality so largely developed, that if any bound was lost he could tell nearly where it stood. He was a man of such integrity and judgment, and the people had so much confidence iu him, that nearly all the minor controversies were without any legal formalities referred to him, and his decis- ion was beyond review or appeal.
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GENEALOGY - EMERSON.
SAMUEL EMERSON m. Sarah Ayer, of Haverhill, Feb. 15, 1733. Children : -
I. Samuel, b. Sept. 13, 1734, d. 1736.
II. Jonathan, b. April 19, 1736, d. Nov. 7, 1760, at Crown Point.
III. Samuel, b. Jan. 11, 1738, d. Nov. 17, 1755, at Albany. He and Jonathan were soldiers in the French war.
IV. Sarah, b. Oct. 17, 1739. m. Dea. Stevens, of Kingston.
V. Nathaniel. b. May 2, 1741, m. Sarah Tilton, Nov. 15, 1764, settled on No. 117, 3d D., where Freeman Parker now lives, in Candia ; and where Jonathan had commenced a settlement. Chil- dren : -
1. Jonathan, d. young.
2. Anna. m. Seth Knowles, went to Maine.
3. Samuel, m. Mary, dau. of John Varnum, lived in Raymond.
4. Sarah, m. Edward Robie, went to Corinth.
5. Nathaniel. m. Polly, dau. of Simon Norton, lived in Maine, and on the homestead.
6. Richard, m. Sally, dau. of John Clay, lived on the home- stead; m ule the survey and plan for Carrigain's map; d. 1806.
7. Elizabeth, m. Col. H. T. Eaton, d. 1818.
8. Hannah, m. Richard Jenness, went to Piermont.
9. Lydia. m. Samuel Patten.
10. Nabby, mn. John Lane, Esq., Nov. 21, 1811; she d. 1867.
Col. Nathaniel Emerson filled many offices, civil and military. He was an officer in the militia from 1763 to 1775, under the King, and Lt .- Col. under the State. IIe was in the battle of Benning- ton, and Lt .- Col. in 1778. He was Representative 1790, 1792, 1794 and 1798. He d. April 30, 1825; she d. Jan., 1814.
VI. Abigail, b. 1743, d. 1754.
VII. Hannah. b. 1745, d. 1749.
VIII. Lydia, b. 1746, d. 1754.
IX. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 23, 1747, m. Col. Barnard, of South Ilampton.
X. Hannah, b. 1750, d. 1754.
Sarah Ayer d. Nov. 18, 1751. SAMUEL m. (2) Dorothy Sanborn, wid. of Thomas Dearborn, Nov. 26. 1754.
XI. Moses, b. Nov. 15, 1755, m. (1) Lydia, dau. of Theophilus Sargent. She died, and he m. (2) Lydia, dau. of Abraham Fitts. Children : -
Moses, lives in Candia.
Lydia, m. Richard Towle; went to Steuben Co., New York.
Susan, m. Sherburne Dearborn.
Jonathan, lives in Candia ; John and Sarah, went to N. Y.
Abraham, b. Sept. 14, 1800, m. Abigail, dau. of John Dolby,
518
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
lives on the homestead ; had two sons graduated, John D., 1853, and Luther Wilson, 1862. (See Graduates in Candia.)
Thomas, m. Sarah Ann Haynes, lives at Manchester; and Dor- othy, went to New York.
Moses lived on No. 65, 2d P., 2d D., where his son Abraham now lives.
XII. John, b., Aug. 13, 1757, m. Eliabeth, dan. of Dea. Nathl. French, Dec. 25, 1783; lived on the homestead. Children : -
1. Waity Gray, b. Nov. 3, 1784, m. Israel IInse, 1807.
2. Sarah, b. Sept. 8, 1786, m. Josiah IIaselton, 1809, alive 1869.
3. Betsy, b. Feb. 14, 1789, m. Gen. Daniel Hoit, of Sandwich.
4. Samuel, b. Feb. 4, 1792, grad. at Dartmouth, 1814, a lawyer in Moultonborough. (See Graduates.)
5. Nancy, b. June 14, 1794, mn. Rev. Isaac Jones.
6. Susan, b. 1796, d. 1812.
7. Clarissa, b. Nov. 13, 1798, m. (1) Edwin Frost, went a mis- sionary to Bombay; m. (2) Henry Woodward, a missionary at Ceylon ; m. (3) William Todd, a missionary.
8. John S., b. Dec. 28, 1800, grad. Dart. 1826. (See Graduates.)
9. Nathaniel F., b. May 11, 1804, mn. Clarissa Goodhue, 1831; lived on the homestead, and at Chelsea, Mass.
XIII. Nabbe, b. Oct. 13, 1760, m. Benjamin, son of Dea. Jona. HIall, and Capt. Isaac Towle, d. April 5, 1844.
XIV. Susanna, b. April 13, 1762, mn. Josiah, son of Peter Dear- born, went to Wearc.
XV. Anna, b. Nov. 14, 1763, m. Asa, son of Peter Dearborn ; went to Chelsea, Vt.
SAMUEL d. Sept. 26, 1793; Dorothy d. March 25, 1804; John Emerson d. April 3, 1844; Elizabeth d. July 15, 1852, a. 90.
Capt. AMOS EMERSON m. Susannah, dau. of Capt. Abel Morse, 1762, lived in different places in Chester, and was a Capt. in the Revolutionary army; d. in Candia, 1823. There are seven chil- dren recorded from 1764 to 1778, of whom nothing is known.
EMERY.
In 1755 RICHARD EMERY was of Exeter, and THOMAS EMERY was of Plaistow. In 1757 RICHARD EMERY commanded a com- pany in the Crown Point expedition. Oct., 1765, Richard Emery and Mary Blunt were m. by the Rev. Mr. Flagg; and he is styled " Major" in 1767, in Chester records; but nothing further is known of him.
THOMAS EMERY afterwards lived in Hampstead, and d. at Brad- ford, N. H., and had a son Eliphalet, who settled in Bedford, and a dau. who m. a Burroughis, and lived nearly opposite Judge
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GENEALOGY-FITTS.
Calfe, in Hampstead. Jonathan, b. about 1750, learned the trade of carpenter of Capt. Edward Preston. He m. Elizabeth Glidden. In 1774 he bought part of No. 74, 2d P., 2d D., and settled on it, near No. 5 school-house in Auburn. Children: -
Dolly, unmarried; John, m. Rebecca, dan. of Peter Aiken, was lost at sea; David, m. Polly Porter, d. 1809; Betsy, m. Jacob Burrill; Thomas, lived at Sheldon, Vt .; Moses, m. Lois Stebbins. and d. on the homestead; Richard, m. Polly Palmer and lived on the Dea. Leach place, near the Pond, where his son Stephen now lives; Jonathan, m. Nancy Eaton, now alive at Washington, Vt .: Samuel, m. Abigail Noyes, lived at Washington ; James, lived in Vermont.
FIELD.
JOHN FIELD, leather-dresser, bought No. 77, 4th D., 1779. and settled there. He d. 1791, and the place was sold to Dea. E. II. Kelly, in 1792.
FITTS.
The American ancestor of the family of Fitts, or Fitz, was ROBERT, who, with his wife, GRACE D., was among the original settlers of Salisbury, Mass. The plantation was begun by Mr. Bradstreet and others in 1639. The record of land granted to Robert Fitts is on page 21 of the early town records. The list contains 68 names, among which is " Rob. ffitts." The name of " Rob. Fitt, Planter," as he signed it, appears several times on the Salisbury and Norfolk county records, from 1640 to 1662. IIe removed to Ipswich, and was there Jan. 5, 1663, and d. May 9, 1665, leaving a wife, Grace, and a son Abraham. His wife d. April 25, 1684.
ABRAHAM FITTS m. SARAII TOMSON, May 16, 1655, by " ye wor- shipfull Symon 'Bradstreet." She was dau. of Simon Tomson. He m. (2) wid. Rebecca Birdly, Jan. 7, 1668. Abraham Fitts d. March 27, 1692, will proved April 6, 1692; inventory, £36G 10s. They had seven children. The sixth,-
RICHARD, b. Feb. 26, 1672, m. Sarah Thorne, March 18, 1694-5. Jan. 16, 1691, his father conveyed to him all of his lands in Salis- bury, including the original grant to his grandfather, and the land is yet in the possession of his descendants. Richard Fitts d. Dec. 3, 1744; she d. March, 1773, a. 100. They had eight children, the seventh,-
DANIEL, b. April 30, 1710, m. Ruth Brown, at Salisbury, Nov. 11, 1734. She was b. 1712, d. June 3, 1788. Daniel d. March 30, 1796. He was celebrated as a blacksmith. Children: -
ABRAHAM, b. Oct. 24, 1736. IIe learned the blacksmith trade
520
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
of his father, and came to Chester in 1759. HIe m. Dorothy, dan. of Ensign Henry Hall, May 27, 1760. It is said that he worked awhile near Enoch Colby's, but he owned 6 acres of land north- west of the brick school-house in Chester, which he sold to Moses Underhill in 1778. July 2, 1763, in consideration of £720, old tenor, Enoch Colby, Jr., sold him 20 acres of the north end of the lot on which he lived (No. 89, 3d D.), with two rods on the west side, to the brook, for watering. He there set up his trade, and by industry became wealthy, and settled his sons on farms. He and his descendants have filled a large space in the history of Can- (lia. He was one of the fourteen original members of the church in Candia, in 1770; was a petitioner for the incorporation of Can- dia, and held various offices of trust. He was selectman of Ches- ter in 1764. He d. Aug 6, 1808; she d. Nov. 8, 1804. Children : -
1. Lydia, b. March 9, 1761, m. Moses Emerson, 1785, d. 1835.
2. Dorothy, b. Oct. 31, 1762, m. Dea. Samuel Cass, and Dea. Eben Nay, of Raymond; d. 1836.
3. Daniel, b. Jan. 21, 1765, m. Rachel French, of Salisbury, Mass., 1790. HIe lived on No 64, 3d D., d. Sept. 17, 1829. She d. June 21, 1830. Children : -
Mary, b. 1790, d. unmarried, 1818; Salome, m. Moses Buswell ; Daniel, b. Dec. 4, 1794. in. Nancy Hall, of Bradford, and Mrs. Lu- cinda (Johnson) Kimball; Joseph, m. Mahala Buswell; Rachael, m. John Pillsbury; Benjamin; Judith Hall; and Abraham.
1. Moses, b. Nov. 14, 1767, m. Sarah Ordway, dau. of Rev. Ne- hemiah Ordway, d. 1838; she d. 1823. Children : -
Sophia; Sally; Frederick; Moses Hall, grad. Dart., 1831; Franklin, a physician; and Alfred.
5. Reuben, b. March 8, 1770, m. Anna, dan. of Jethro Hill, 1792, lived on Mr. Hill's lot, d. 1838. Children: -
John, b. March 19, 1794, in. Abigail, dan. of John Lane, and were the parents of Rev. James HI. Fitts, the anthor of the Fitts genealogy; Joshma, m. Sarah Knowles; Eliza; and Phebe.
6. Sully, b. April 20, 1772, m. Jonathan Carr, d. 1704.
7. Samuel, mn. Sarah Towle, 1796, lived on No. 64, d. 1850; she (1. 1831. Children : -
Lydia; Sarah, m. Jonathan Brown; Clarissa, in. Jolm Emer- son ; and Asa, a teacher of music.
8. Elizabeth, b. April 17, 1777, m. Benaiah Fox; d. 1823.
9. _ 1braham, m. Susannah, dan. of John Lane, 1804. He d. Oct., 1865; she d. May, 1865, a. 87. Children : -
John L .; Isaac N. : Dorothy; Hannah G .; Sabrina; Jesse R .; Abraham; Ruth L. ; Benaiah ; and Susan.
10. Nathan. m. Nancy Dearborn, 1805. Children : -
Christopher C. ; Edward D .; Mary; Isaac; and Sarah.
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GENEALOGY-FLAGG.
NATHAN FITTS was a son of Daniel Fitts, and was b. at Salis- bury, Mass., Dec. 13, 1739. His father put him apprentice to his brother Abraham, and he came to Chester with him. He m. Abi- gail, dau. of Maj. Jabez French, June 8, 1768. He d. Jan. 27, 1781. The wid. m. Dea. Nathaniel French, and d. 1831. In 1767 Mr. Fitts bought of Benj. Dearborn H. L. Nos. 132 and 22, where he lived. Children : -
1. Hannah, b. May 4, 1769, m. Moses, son of John Sanborn, 1789, and went to Corinth.
2. Benjamin, b. June 6, 1771, m. Hannah, dau. of John Hoit. Children : -
Sally, m. Moses Robie; Betsy, m. Matthew Holmes; Hannah, d. Oct. 11, 1797.
He m. (2) Susannah, dau. of Dea. John S. Dearborn, April 10, 1798. Children : -
Susan, m. John Tabor; Benjamin, b. 1800, m. Climena Green ; Nathan, m. Judith Colby; Charles; Mary, m. Frederick Morse ; John D .; George W .; Hannah H .; Luther, m. E. F. Haseltine, lives on the homestead ; Ann C., d. young.
Capt. Benj. Fitts did a large business as a blacksmith, on the homestead, as did his son Benjamin. He d. May 20, 1857 ; she d April 15, 1860.
3. Nathan, b. Aug. 5, 1774. m. Hannah, dau. of Joseph Morse, lived on the Jabez French place; d. 1825. No issue.
4. Elizabeth, b. 1778, m. Daniel Tilton.
EPHRAIM FITTS, son of Richard Fitts and Sarah Brown of Southampton, b. May 10, 1745, m. Rhoda, dau. of Thos. Worthen, of Chester, 1765. He came to Chester and learned the trade of blacksmith, of Abraham Fitts, and lived at the head of Chester Street, nearly opposite the turnpike, southeast of the parsonage road. Isaac Blasdell, Jr., and Josiah Underhill, were his appren- tices. He had 10 children. He went back to Southampton, and d. 1800; she d. Feb. 28, 1826, a. 82.
For a very copious and well-prepared genealogy of the Fitts family, see a work by Rev. James H. Fitts, of West Boylston, Mass.
FLAGG.
REV. EBENEZER FLAGG was the son of Ebenezer, born 1678, who was the son of Gershom, b. 1641, who was the son of Thomas, who in 1637, at the age of nineteen, came over with Richard Carver from Scratby, Norfolk county, a few miles north of Yarmouth, in the hundred of East Flagg, England, and settled in Watertown, Mass. Gershom m. Hannah Leffingwell, and they had ten children, of whom the sixth was Ebenezer, who m. Elizabeth Carter, and they had eleven children, one of whom was
522
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Rev. Ebenezer, b. at Woburn, Mass., Oct. 18, 1704. He gradu- ated at Harvard, 1725, and came to Chester in 1736. Rev. Moses Hale, " now a resident of Haverhill," deeded him two home lots, marked on the map " B" and " M," being Gov. Wentworth's and the first settled minister's. The L part of the Bell house was Mr . Flagg's. He was married to Lucretia Keys by Rev. Mr. Hooper, of Boston, Nov. 15, 1739. Children: -
I. Lucretia, b. Jan. 27, 1741, m. Coffin, of Portsmouth.
II. John, b. Feb. 24, 1743, graduated at Harvard 1761; M. D., 1766; settled in Lynn; d. May 27, 1793.
III. Thomas, b. Oct. 17, 1745, went to Virginia.
IV. Josiah, b. April 8, 1748, m. Anna, dan. of Col. John Web- ster, March 18, 1777; lived on the homestead; was an officer in the Revolution; d. April 25, 1799. She d. May 1, 1799. Chil- dren :-
1. Betsy Van Mater, b. Feb. 12, 1778, m. Daniel French, Esq., 1805; d. April 23, 1812.
2. Catherine Gardner, b. Jan. 8, 1780, m. Wm. J. Folsom: d. Sept. 25, 1807.
3. Sarah Wingate, b. May 31, 1782, m. Jonathan Bell, and m.
(2) Daniel French, Esq. ; still (1869) alive in Chester.
4. Henry, b. April 9, 1785; still living, 1869.
5. Edmund, b. July 3, 1787, graduated at Dartmouth 1806; d. at Island of St. Croix, Dec. 15, 1815.
V. Sarah, b. July 8, 1751, m. Evans; d. July 29, 1831.
VI. Richard, b. April 25, 1754, d. Jan 21, 1762.
VII. Ebenezer, b. March 19, 1757, m. Mary Emerson, 1781; lived at Salem, and was a brass founder; d. 1796.
VIII. Mary, b. July 4, 1739, m. Greenough, brother of Daniel. IX. Catherine Flagg, b. 1762, died in infancy.
Rev. Eben. Flagg d. Nov. 14, 1796. Lucretia d. March 30, 1764, a. 41. Mary d. Nov. 10, 1783, a. 62. (See further, notices of Clergymen.)
FOLSOM.
JOHN FOLSOM, b. at New Market July 7, 1723; Sarah Veasey, b. at Stratham, Nov., 1727; m. Jan., 1748. She d. Sept. 19, 1756. Their second child, DAVID, b. May 20, 1750, m. Dorothy, dau. of Rev. William Johnson, of Newbury. Mass. He was a clerk for Gen. Moulton, of Hampton. They had William J., b. 1774, and John, b. March 11, 1776. He had the idea suggested to him of cutting nails by seeing a tin-worker cut off a piece from the end of an iron hoop with his shears. When John was about twelve, which would be in 1788, the family removed to Harrisburg, Penn., and there Mr. Folsom got up machinery for cutting and heading
John Folsom.
523
GENEALOGY - FOLSOM.
nails, which was very rude. They were cut with shears so fixed that they could be operated by the foot, while the iron was fed in by the hand. They were screwed into a common vise, and receiv- ed a blow with a hammer to head them. They soon made an im- provement in heading. They had two bars of iron hinged at one end, one fastened to a bench, and the other to vibrate, with dies to receive the nails near the joint. A rope or chain was attached to the end of a movable bar and to a treadle, so that with the foot they were drawn together to hold the nail to be headed. At first they not only put in every nail with their fingers, but also took them out. The next step was to bore a hole through the bench, and let the nails drop out. This machinery was used until after they came to Chester, and the heading was done in the same way while it was carried on there. I find charges on Lieut. Under- hill's book, in 1796, to W. & J. Folsom, for " making and mend- ing shears."
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