USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Peterborough > History of the town of Peterborough, Hillsborough county, New Hampshire > Part 57
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
Fanet, b. May 24, 1790 ; m. Samuel Swan.
* Letter Judge G. W. Nesmith, Oct. 1, 1875.
18 19 20 2I 5- 8
24
294
JOHN STEELE.
5- 13
JOHN STEELE (Gen.). He was well-educated for the times. He kept school much in early life, and was ac- customed to survey land as his services were needed in the town. He was a remarkably genial and agreeable man. He possessed colloquial powers of the highest or- der, and abounded with a fund of anecdotes which no man could tell better. In the war of 1812, he went to Portsmouth as a volunteer with his regiment, being then a colonel, where he remained about twelve weeks. He was subsequently a major-general in the New Hamp- shire Militia.
He held the office of selectman seven years, and was town clerk fourteen years, from 1805 to 1820. He suc- ceeded his father on the homestead. He was engaged subsequently in manufacturing, being concerned in the North Cotton Factory in Peterborough. He m., Ist w., Polly Wilson, dau. of Maj. Robert Wilson. She d. Feb. 9, 1819, æ. 43 yrs. ; m., 2d w., Mrs. Hepzibeth Ham- mond, of Swanzey. She d. April 22, 1836, æ. 58 yrs. He d. Aug. 10, 1845, æ. 72 yrs.
25
David, b. Dec. 2, 1795 ; m., Ist w., Sally Adams, October, 1821 ; she d. March 5, 1838 ; m., 2d w., Isabella A. Nesmith, of Derry. He was graduated at Dartmouth College, 1815. Studied law and settled at Goffstown, where he remained till his death. He was a lawyer in high standing, and a man of excellent character. He was President of the Hillsboro County Bar ; d. Oct. I, 1875, æ. 79 yrs., 10 mos. ; ch., (1) John, b. Nov. 4, 1839 ; d. ; (2) James, b. June 5, 1842 ; m. - Far- well, and lives in Chicago, Ill.
26 27 28 29 30 31
Mary, b. July 12, 1797 ; m. George W. Senter. Thomas, b. Aug. 1, 1799 ; d. 1826, æ. 27 yrs.
Fames, b. Dec. 22, 1802 ; d. 1804, æ. 2 yrs. Fane, b. June 13, 1805 ; d. 1810, æ. 5 yrs.
Jonathan, b. Feb. 27, 1810; d. at Chicopee, 1852, æ. 42 yrs. Martha, b. June 13, 1812 ; m. Rev. Isaac Willey ; r. · Pembroke ; ch., (1) Albert S., b. May 10, 1850; (2) Martha A., b. Dec. 11, 1852.
6- 15
JEREMIAH S. STEELE. He lived on the farm directly north of his father's place. He m., April 29, 1823, Irene Felt, dau. Oliver Felt ; she d. May 19, 1868, æ. 71 yrs. He d. Sept. 30, 1856, æ. 68 yrs., 7 mos.
32
James, b. Feb. 9, 1824 ; m. Mary J. Lindsay, Nov. 7, 1854 ; r. Chester, Ill.
295
. JOHN H. STEELE.
Samuel M., b. Nov. 17, 1825 ; m. Lizzie Montroy, April, 1866 ; r. Hamilton, Ill. ; d. 1874, æ. 49 yrs.
Margaret, b. Oct. 6, 1827 ; d. June 11, 1828, æ. 8 mos. Cyrus Felt, b. May 21, 1829 ; m. "Susan Cochran, May, 1856 ; r. Carthage, Ill.
Mary Ann, b. March 13, 1831 ; unm. ; d. Feb. 5, 1858, æ. 26 yrs., 10 mos.
Charlotte }., b. April 22, 1833 ; m. Harrison A. Rice, June 18, 1868 ; r. Henniker.
George, b. July 11, 1836.
Charles E., b. July 23, 1838 ; m. Mary E. Smith, Octo- ber, 1859, of Norwich, Vt .; 2d w., Alma Fletcher, November, 1870.
STEPHEN P. STEELE, a graduate of Williams College, Williamstown, Mass., 1808. He studied law, and prac- tised his profession in town. He held many offices of trust ; was town clerk six years, from 1823 to 1829; representative to the General Court, 1841, '42 ; a dele- gate to the Constitutional Convention in 1850. He m. Mrs. Jane McCoy. He d. July 22, 1857, æ. 73 yrs.
David Powers, b. June 14, 1850 ; vocalist, Boston.
JOHN H. STEELE (Gov.), of a race entirely distinct from the preceding, was born in Salisbury, in the County of Rowan, N. C., Jan. 4, 1789. His father was a native of the north of Ireland, but came to this country early in life, and established himself as a brick-mason in Salis- bury. Gov. Steele was left an orphan at an early age, having neither father nor mother, brother nor sister, to watch over him, and to rejoice in his ultimate success in life. His early advantages for an education were limited. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to what was called the "chair-making business," which consisted in making Windsor chairs, gigs, and sulkies. Having heard of the progress of mechanical skill and enter- prise in this town, from Capt. Nathaniel Morison, who was about this time temporarily residing in Fayetteville, N. C., he came to Peterborough in May, 1811, which was his home during the remainder of his life. Without funds and without friends, he at first worked for Capt. Morison at carriage-making, afterwards at machinery, at $13 per month .. This opened the way for the develop -. ment of his mechanical skill and genius. He was soon himself a manufacturer, and in 1817 he put in operation the first power-looms in New Hampshire. In 1824, he commenced the erection of a new and extensive cotton- mill in West Peterborough, which he finished and super-
33 34 35 36 37 38 39
8- 22
40 I
296
JOHN H. STEELE,
intended till 1845. He was chosen Representative to the Legislature for 1829, and for the years 1840 and '41 he was elected Councillor for the old Hillsboro District. In 1842, partly on account of his health and partly for the purpose of examining the improvements in machinery for manufacturing, he visited England, and also the op- pressed country from which his father emigrated so many years before.
He was elected Governor of the State in 1844, and also the succeeding year, 1845. After retiring from manufacturing business, he returned to his farm, not merely to guide and direct, but to lead, in a course of skilful and scientific husbandry. The course did not prove remunerative, and he abandoned it before his death, and took up his residence in the village. He held in town, besides the office of Representative, that of moderator for six years, from 1830 to 1838, selectman 1846. He always had great influence in town, and it was generally exercised for its best interests and welfare.
He m., Ist. w., Jane Moore, dau. John Moore, Nov. 5, 1816. She d. July 30, 1831, æ. 34 yrs. ; 2d w., Nancy Moore, dau. of John Moore, Jan. 8, 1833. She d. Feb. 26, 1870, æ. 68 yrs., 8 mos. He d. July 3, 1865, æ. 76 yrs., 6 mos.
¡Edwin, b. May 12, 1817 ; m. Abigail M. Warren. Fohn, b. Dec. 26, 1819 ; unm. ; an imbecile.
+ Henry, b. July 6, 1822 ; m. Mary Ann Chapman.
i George, b. July 26, 1828 ; m. Charlotte W. Low.
Hardy, b. July 20, 1831 ; d. Oct. 30, 1832, æ. I yr., 3 mos.
t Charles, b. Jan. 2, 1834 ; m. Maria J. Swan.
I- 2
EDWIN STEELE. He was selectman 1851 ; m. Abigail M. Warren, of Dublin, May 22, 1838. He d. Nov 10, 1862, æ. 45 yrs.
8 9 IO
Fane H., b. Dec. 2, 1839 ; m. Samuel N. Porter, D.D.S. Mary C., b. March 22, 1842 ; d. Sept. 20, 1844, æ. 2 yrs., 5 mos.
t John Henry, b. July 24, 1845 ; m. Anna S. Follansbee.
I- 4
HENRY STEELE, a machinist by trade. Devoted his last years to trading in town. He was town treasurer for six years, from 1849 to 1855. He m., Aug. 6, 1846, Mary Ann Chapman, b. Dec. 12, 1823. He d. Feb. 21, 1865, æ. 42 yrs., 7 mos.
2 3 4 5 6 7
297
EPHRAIM STEVENS.
Isadore M., b. April 30, 1851 ; d. Feb. 28, 1870; æ. 18 yrs., 9 mos.
Alice E., b. July 14, 1854 ; d. July 18, 1870, æ. 16 yrs. Franklin P., b. Nov. 9, 1856.
Nilla f., b. March 2, 1858.
I- 5
GEORGE STEELE. Worked many years at the paper- manufactory of A. P. Morrison & Co., till he removed with his family to Pleasant Valley, Wis., in 1868. He m., Aug. 12, 1852, Charlotte W. Low, dau. of William Low, and granddaughter of Dr. Peter Tuttle, late of Hancock, b. Sept. 19, 1831.
Charles Hardy, b. May 29, 1853. William Low, b. Oct. 26, 1858. Henry Tuttle, b. May 3, 1861.
CHARLES STEELE. He resided many years in Nor- walk, O., engaged in the business of railroading, but has recently re. to Toledo, and is now master of the yard on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway. He m., Nov. 6, 1853, Maria J. Swan, dau. of Capt. William A. Swan, of Peterborough.
18 19 20 2I 22
Anna f., b. in Norwalk, O., Nov. 21, 1855.
J. Henry, b. in Norwalk, O., May 16, 1857 ; d. March, 1858, æ. 9 mos.
Emma E., b. in Norwalk, O., Feb. 28, 1859.
Charles F., b. in Norwalk, O., March 13, 1865 ; d. Sep- tember, 1869, æ. 4 yrs.
Fred. Ames, b. in Norwalk, O., April 2, 1873.
2- IO
JOHN HENRY STEELE, stationer and bookseller in Pet- erborough ; town clerk 1871, '2, '3, '4, '5, '6, which office he now holds ; m., Nov. 6, 1867, Anna S. Follansbee, dau. of George F. Follansbee.
23 24 25
Mary Abbie, b. Jan. 28, 1869 ; d. Aug. 24, 1869, æ. 7 mos. Harrie Leon, b. Aug. 22, 1872. Katie, b. Dec. 28, 1874.
THE STEVENS FAMILY.
I
EPHRAIM STEVENS came to town from Townsend in 1797, to work at blacksmithing for Samuel Smith, and continued in his employ many years. He was b. in Townsend, Jan. 10, 1771 ; d. March 4, 1853, æ. 82 yrs. He m. Jerusha Chapman, b. in Ipswich, Mass., March 4, 1773 ; d. Nov. 3, 1871, æ. 98 yrs., 7 mos.
38
II 12 13 14
15 16. I7 1- 7
298
JERUSHA STEVENS.
2 Ferusha, b. Townsend, Dec. 4, 1793; m. Nehemiah Woods ; d. April 25, 1875, æ. 81 yrs.
3 Ephraim, b. Townsend, April 9, 1796; d. March II, 1802, æ. 6 yrs.
4 t Joshua, b. Peterborough, Dec. 5, 1798; m., Ist w., Lydia Peavey ; 2d w., Mrs. Sarah D. Goss.
5
Betsey, b. Peterborough, June 22, 1806; m. Benjamin Fessenden ; r. Townsend ; one ch.
6
Lucy, b. Peterborough, Dec. 8, 1812 ; m. Hamar Lewis ; r. Townsend ; four ch.
I- 4
JOSHUA STEVENS is a machinist by trade. He has worked at the various factories in town many years. He now resides in the village. He m., Ist w., Lydia Peavey, June 29, 1826, b. in Greenfield, Nov. 12, 1803. She d. Jan. 26, 1856, æ. 52 yrs., 2 mos. ; m., 2d w., Mrs. Sarah D. Goss, of Temple, Sept. 24, 1868.
7 8 9
Lydia Ann, b. Oct. 24, 1827 ; m. Charles S. Gray. Louisa C., b. Jan. 22, 1830 ; m. George W. Brown, June 23, 1864; r. Townsend.
Albert, b. Jan. 23, 1837 ; m. Jennie Abbot, June 5, 1862 ; one ch., Ida.
IO
Charles, b. Nov. 24, 1839 ; d. Jan. 7, 1849, æ. 9 yrs., I mo. George Eddie, b. Nov. 28, 1852.
THE STUART FAMILY.
The name of this family is spelled differently by the branches of the same family, - Stuart and Stewart. We adopt the former spelling.
I
WILLIAM STUART, son of Solomon and Martha Stuart, b. 1700, came to Peterborough from Lunenburg about 1750, and settled on land south of the "Smith farm." He m. Margaret Sanderson. He d. March 15, 1753, æ. 53 yrs. He was the first man that d. in town. He was buried in the little cemetery on meeting-house hill. She d. March 8, 1795, æ. 87 yrs.
2
John, b. Lunenburg, Aug. 28, 1737 ; killed in Rodgers' fight, March 13, 1757.
3 4
5
t William, b. Lunenburg, Nov. 5, 1740 ; m. Elizabeth White. Thomas, b. Lunenburg, May 3, 1743; m. Elizabeth Stinson. + Charles, b. Lunenburg, Oct. 8, 1745 ; m. Esther Fergu- son.
II
299
SARAH STUART.
6 Elizabeth, b. Lunenburg, April 8, 1748 ; m. Gilbert Mc- Coy.
I- 3
WILLIAM STUART. He m. Elizabeth, dau. of Patrick White. He d. Oct. 25, 1771, æ. 31 yrs. Was buried in little cemetery on meeting-house hill. His wid. m. John Gregg. She d. Nov. 2, 1803, æ. 59 yrs.
John, b. 1769; d. at Charles Stuart's, March 17, 1795, æ. 26 yrs.
7 8 William, b. 1771 ; m. Rachel Cram. He lived with Patrick White till he bought his farm, where George Steele now lives. He d. May 25, 1822, æ. 51 yrs. ; one ch., John, b. March 25, 1800 ; m., June 1, 1826, Elizabeth Lacy, of Hillsboro. He d. Aug. 30, 1874, æ. 74 yrs., 5 mos.
I- 4
THOMAS STUART. He was seven years old when his father moved to town. He lived in the east part of the town. He m. Elizabeth Stinson. He d. Nov. 7, 1833, æ. 90 yrs. She d. Sept. 28, 1787, æ. 47 yrs.
John, b. -; m. in Maine, and then went West, but where unknown.
Margaret, b. Aug. 30, 1770 ; m. Silas Spring. Fane, b. 1772 ; unm. ; d. June 10, 1822, æ. 49 yrs. William, b. 1774 ; m. Abigail Palmer ; one ch., Elizabeth ; m. J. C. Stickney, and re. to Utah. He d. Sept. 7, 1863, æ. 89 yrs. She d. June 30, 1859, æ. 81 yrs. Elizabeth, b. 1776 ; m. John Brackett.
Thomas, b. 1779 ; unm. ; d. Nov. 17, 1829, æ. 50 yrs. Mary, b. 1781 ; m. Josiah Brackett.
CHARLES STUART settled on a lot given to his wife by her father, John Ferguson, now known as the "Faxon farm," where he lived till his death. He held various offices of trust in town ; was selectman ten years, from 1781 to 1798 ; was on the Committee of Safety for 1779, and held other minor offices. He m., Aug. 27, 1766, Esther Ferguson, dau. of John Ferguson, b. at Groton, Mass., March 31, 1747. She d. Aug. 22, 1826, æ. 79 yrs., 4 mos. He d. Oct. 13, 1802, æ. 57 yrs.
16 17
Margaret, b. Dec. 7, 1767 ; m., Ist hus., Lieut. John Moore ; 2d hus., Asa Evans ; 3d hus., Richard Gil- christ. She d. Aug. 7, 1818, æ. 51 yrs. Sarah, b. Nov. 2, 1769; m. Asahel Going ; ch., (1) George ; d. ; æ. 18 yrs. ; (2) Charles, d. early. She d. June 10, 1834, æ. 65 yrs. He d. at Lancaster, March 13, 1843, æ. 72 yrs.
9 IO II 12 I3 14 I5 I- 5
·
300
ELIZABETH STUART.
18 19
Elizabeth, b. Sept. 4, 1771 ; m. Samuel Turner.
Mary, b. Dec. 12, 1773 ; d. April 10, 1858 ; one ch., Sarah Ferguson, m. Samuel Gates.
20 Fenny, b. Oct. 19, 1775 ; m. Oliver Carter ; 2d hus., Capt. Thomas Sherwin.
2I Esther, b. March 17, 1780 ; m. - Moore, Northum- berland ; d. June 15, 1846, æ. 66 yrs.
22
John, b. Sept. 5, 1782 ; m. Sally Brazier, of Groton ; d. 1848, æ. 65 yrs.
23 Martha, b. Aug. 15, 1785 ; m. John Evans, Boston ; d. Sept. 3, 1871, æ. 86 yrs.
24
Charles Fesse, b. Sept. 20, 1788 ; m. Eliza Austin ; d. in Lancaster, May 17, 1836, æ. 46 yrs. ; ch., (1) Charles ; d .; æ. 20 yrs. ; (2) Arabella, m. Prof. F. Bowen, Har- vard University, Cambridge.
THE SWAN FAMILY.
I
JOHN SWAN, called "Old John," came to Peterbor- ough from Lunenburg. He was the progenitor of all the Swans in town. His son, Gustavus, having begun the Samuel Morison place, went to New York to make brick, and his father, John Swan, came from Lunenburg to Peterborough to live, and d. on this farm. He plant- ed the first apple-tree in town on this farm. He m., in Ireland, Ist w., Peggy McCrossin ; 2d w., Mrs. Jane Wilson, mother to Maj. Robert Wilson; her maiden name was Jane Bell ; 3d w., Mary Glaney, originally Mary Alld, aunt to Capt. William Alld. Dates of death unknown.
2 3 4 5 6
t Gustavus, b. 1717 ; m. Isabel Wilson.
t Fohn (Lieut.), b. -; m. Agnes Nay, dau. Deacon William McNee, Sen.
William, b. - -; m. Mary Russell ; d. in French war, and his wid. m. Moses Adams, of Dublin, and had nine children.
Jeremiah, b. about 1736 ; m. Nabby Stuart, or Saunders. He was lost in the French war, 1758 or '59.
t Alexander, b. - -; m. Elizabeth Pitman ; 2d w., Lizzie Stiles, of Lunenburg ; deserted by her former husband.
I- 2 GUSTAVUS SWAN. He m. Isabel Wilson, of Townsend, Nov. 4, 1747. He d. Jan. 8, 1769, æ. 52 yrs. She d.
7 t Willam, b. March 17, 1747 ; m., Ist w., Annas Wood ; 2d w., Abigail Colburn.
8 t Robert, b. Sept. 16, 1752 ; m. Jane Alld.
301
WILLIAM ALLD SWAN.
Jean, b. March 9, 1755 ; m. -. Stimson ; r. Maine. Elizabeth, b. July 24, 1759 ; m. - - Parker ; r. Stoddard. Susey, b. June 30, 1761 ; m. Frank Stuart ; r. Grand Isle, Vt
I2
t Jeremiah, b. April 25, 1764 ; m. Anna Wilson ; d. Jan. 3, 1828, æ. 65 yrs.
JOHN SWAN (Lieut.). He m. Agnes Nay, dau. of Dea. Wm. McNee, Sen. Dates of their deaths unknown.
Mary, b. Aug. 14, 1758 ; m. Richard Gilchrist, Dublin ; d. Jan. 16, 1816, æ. 57 yrs., 5 mos. ; ten ch.
Agnes, b. March 26, 1760 ; m. Ezra Morse, Dublin, 1779 ; d. Aug. 22, 1815, æ. 55 yrs. ; five ch.
Elizabeth, b. March 5, 1762 ; m., April 2, 1782, John Caldwell ; re. to Coleraine, Mass.
Margaret, b. March 14, 1764 ; m. a French doctor, near Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Jeremiah, b. March 6, 1766. John, Fr., b. 1768 ; m. Agnes.Nay ; re. to Ohio.
Aaron, b. 1770 ; m. Azuba Bullard, Feb. 6, 1790 ; one ch.
ALEXANDER SWAN. He m. Elizabeth Pitman ; 2d w., Lizzie Stiles, of Lunenburg.
t John, b. - -; m. Sarah Taggart. Gustavus, b. -; m. Montgomery. He was drowned in the Penobscot River.
Alexander, b. - ; killed by fall of a joist.
WILLIAM SWAN. He m. Annas Wood, by whom he had seven ch., all probably b. in Peterborough ; m., 2d w., Abigail Colburn, by whom he had his two last ch. He re. to St. Albans, Vt. He was drowned in Lake Champlain, Christmas, 1799, by the breaking of the ice, on his way to Montreal, and was buried Jan. 1, 1800, æ. 53 yrs.
23 24
Martha, b. Jan. 23, 1771 ; m. Samuel Alld. Sarah, b. May 22, 1773 ; m. Silas Gears, of Durham, Canada.
Gustavus, b. April 8, 1776 ; m. Polly M. Wood, of North Island, Vt. ; re. to Canada.
William, b. May 12, 1778 ; d. young.
Jenny, b. May 30, 1780 ; m. William Gears, Durham, Canada.
25 26 27 28 Joseph, b. Sept. 27, 1782. 29 Nathan, b. Sept. 8, 1784. 30 t William Alld, b. Dec. 4, 1798, at St. Albans, Vt .; m., Ist w., Judith Jackman ; 2d w., 1831, Tamazon Stone.
9 IO II
.
I- 3 I3 14
15 16 I7 18 19 I- 6 20 2I 22 2- 7
302
BETHIAH SWAN.
3I Bethiah, b. March 24, 1800 ; m. Enoch Sawyer, Dec. 7, 1816 ; seven ch. ; she d. May 10, 1876, æ. 76 yrs.
2- 8
ROBERT SWAN. He lived in the east part of the town. In presenting the following sketch of Mr. Swan, we indicate the methods by which the early settlers, with their slender opportunities, became such intelligent men.
He came up in the early days of the town, when all was comparatively a wilderness, and when they were sur- rounded by all kinds of trials and hardships, when even they could hardly answer the imperious demands of nature, as to what they should eat and as to what they should wear. With all these natural wants to supply, it could not be expected that these early settlers could do much towards affording an education to their children, and they, of course, came up with little school training. There was also a dearth of books, no newspapers, and not the least attempt at anything like periodical litera- ture. The Bible was almost their only book, and this they read and understood far in advance of this genera- tion, which, having so much to read, let this volume, too often, be a sealed book to them. Capt. Swan, in early life, enjoyed no school advantages; he had no special culture, beyond the teachings of the Bible and the routine of the farming of those days. Under such circumstances, we know not how it was that he made such intellectual improvement, that he acquired such a very general knowledge of passing events, and also so much of history and politics. He possessed great natu- ral powers, and gathered up knowledge by intuition, as it were ; he only needed to have a thing repeated to him before he incorporated it into his own mind, and made it his own. He did not read much ; he had no opportu- nity to do so ; but he was an acute observer, a ready lis- tener, and a deep thinker ; and contrived, by his accurate observation and the careful hearing and digesting of all his information, to be always posted among the foremost on all foreign and domestic affairs. He was much respected by the best people in town, for his judgment, his exten- sive information, and excellent common-sense. In town affairs he was often employed on important committees, and always found to be a safe and judicious counsellor in all exigencies. He was a good talker, not a whit be· hind the best of the men of that day, and his expressions are repeated to this time,- " By the Lord !" "By the Lord !" with which he interlarded much of his talk, and especially when he was in any degree under the inspira- tion of liquor.
303
POLLY SWAN.
It is always a wonder how such men happen to know so much. We can hardly estimate how much may be learned by observation and listening alone, by an eager and inquisitive mind, when all the facts and material thus taken in are all well digested and laid up for use, till we see an example of this kind. Books he had none, nor did he read any ; he read the book of life and expe- rience, till he became a strong man. I am told that he gathered up much knowledge from his associations with the late James Wilson, Esq., and other educated men in town. He was always sure to be found with a docile and teachable spirit among those who could impart instruc- tion. Dea. Samuel Weston suggests that he was most aided in his efforts in acquiring knowledge, by his fre- quent visits to the counting-room of Samuel Smith, Esq., where all topics were considered and all subjects freely discussed, which were led off by Mr. Smith, who was gifted with extraordinary conversational powers. This place became a kind of an educator of the people ; it was resorted to by a large class of the people, and especially by the politicians of all parties in the town, in which it greatly abounded some fifty years ago. Mr. Smith, being a well-educated, progressive, and reading man, and posted thoroughly in all the affairs of the day, a ready talker, and a man who loved to communicate what he knew, freely distributed his stores of knowledge, and exercised a very perceptible effect in the improvement of the whole community. Swan knew and appreciated these advantages, and richly gathered up knowledge and made it his own, without the labor of reading or study- ing. But for his intemperate habits, which grew upon him in his old age, he must have been one of the very first men of Peterborough, and in those times, too, when it took rare qualities to stand upon a level with the best men of that day.
This is a striking illustration how much a man can im- prove and educate himself under the most forbidding circumstances, if he will only arouse himself and apply all his powers in the acquisition of knowledge. This was the great and almost only culture of our fathers ; and how successfully, without books, except that Book of books which they all read and revered, without teachers or schools, did they make themselves men of such a heroic stamp ! He m. Jane Alld, dau. of Capt. William Alld. She d. April 10, 1846, æ. 84 yrs. He d. May 25, 1835, æ. 83 yrs.
3I Polly, b. June 20, 1780 ; m. -- Butters ; re. to Houlton, Me. ; d. 1850, æ. 70 yrs.
·
·
304
ROBERT SWAN.
32 33 34 35 36 37
Robert, b. Oct. 20, 1781 ; m. Margaret Scofield, of Mary- land ; d. there 1846, æ. 63 yrs.
Fane, b. 1783 ; unm. ; d. Nov. 13, 1849, æ. 66 yrs.
Lettuce, b. Jan. 15, 1784; m. Hugh Graham ; d. in St. Louis, Mo., 1852, æ. 67 yrs.
James, b. -; d. in Maryland, on a visit to his brother. t Samuel, b. June 16, 1791 ; m. Janet Steele.
Sally, b. 1796 ; m. Zadoc Chamberlain, New York ; d. 1836, æ. 40 yrs.
38
William, b. 1802 ; m. Louisa Fletcher. He d. 1865, æ. 63 yrs. She d. 1856, æ. 45 yrs.
2- 12
JEREMIAH SWAN. He m. Anna Wilson, dau. Major Robert Wilson. She d. in Montreal. He d. Jan. 3, 1828, æ. 65 yrs.
39 40
William Wilson, b. 1790 ; de Feb. 14, 1793, æ. 3 yrs. t James W., b. Feb. 14, 1792 ; m. Agnes Nancy Blair.
6- 20
JOHN SWAN (Lieut.). He always resided in town till late in life, when he went to reside with his children in New York, where he d. He m., 1764, Sarah Taggart, dau. of John Taggart, one of the first settlers in town. They lived in the marriage relation over seventy years. She d. Dec. 30, 1834, æ. 90 yrs. He survived her a few years. He d. about 1836.
Elizabeth, b. - ; m. Robert Nay. John, 4th, b. - -; m. Sally Learned; re. to New York State.
4I 42 43 44 Sarah, b. -; m. Breighton, New York.
Jonathan, b. - -; m. - -; re. to New York State.
45 46
James, b. New York.
47
Rachel, b. -; m. Enoch Hoyt ; r. Vermont. Gustavus, b. -; m. - ; r. Columbus, O. ; a lawyer ; became a judge in Ohio ; a man of talents and influ- ence. He became very wealthy. He left town 1810 ; d.
7- 29
WILLIAM ALLD SWAN. He was three years old when he came to town to live with Samuel Alld, whose first w. was half-sister to him, and was brought up by him. He resided a few years in Lowell, but returned to Peterbor- ough, where he resided many years before his death. He m., Ist w., Judith P. Jackman. She d. Oct. 17, 1829, æ. 31 yrs. ; m., 2d w., Mrs. Tamazon Stone, 1831, b. Feb. 22, 1798 ; d. June 6, 1858, æ. 60 yrs. He d. Dec. 26, 1860, æ. 62 yrs. ; Ist w., three ch. ; 2d w., five ch.
305
WILLIAM SWAN.
48 49
t Charles A., b. May, 1823 ; m., 1849, Maria L. Hill, Charlestown, N. H.
Maria, were drowned together in the Canal at Low- ell, in 1831, at the ages of 4 and 2 yrs., re-
Isabella, spectively.
50 5I Maria }., b. in Lowell, May 6, 1832 ; m. Charles Steele ; r. Toledo, O.
52 Harriet A., b. in Lowell, Oct. 14, 1833; m., June 29, 1863, John H. F. Wiers ; ch., (1) Carrie A., b. June 27, 1864; (2) Edgar S., b. Meadville, Pa., May 15, 1873 ; r. Meadville, Pa.
53 54 55
William H., b. in Lowell, Oct. 21, 1835 ; was killed by the cars at Grafton, O., Dec. 29, 1858, æ. 23 yrs. Mary f., b. in Lowell, Dec. 5, 1839 ; m. Albert B. Han- naford.
Sarah E., b. in Peterborough, Sept. 25, 1843 ; m. John J. Moore, April 6, 1863 ; ch., (1) Ella M., b. Nov. 20, 1865 ; (2) Frank S., b. Oct. 17, 1872 ; r. Meadville, Pa.
8- 36
SAMUEL SWAN. He resided many years on his farm, on East Mountain, when he purchased the Gen. David Steele farm, where he lived some years till his death. He m. Janet Steele, dau. Gen. David Steele, Sept. 7, 1817. He d. Sept. 17, 1854, æ. 63 yrs.
56
David S., b. May 21, 1818 ; m. Charlotte Moore, 1844; she d: Nov. 8, 1866. One son, Albert M. ; m., 1866, Helen Churchill. He d. February, 1874, æ. 56 yrs. ; r. Lawrence, Mass.
57 58 59 60
Elizabeth S., b. Jan. 11, 1820.
Lucy Ann, b. Aug. 9, 1823 ; m. Charles F. Mitchell, 1848 ; one son, George; r. Lawrence, Mass .; she d. June 7, 1858, æ. 34 yrs. ; he d. Jan. 8, 1851, æ. 33 yrs. Albert, b. Nov. 4, 1826 ; d. Aug. 26, 1845, æ. 18 yrs., 9 mos.
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.