USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Richmond > History of the town of Richmond, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, from its first settlement, to 1882 > Part 18
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Jerome Aldrich - Leven - Nathan - m. Sabrina Knight, of Gilsum ; was for many years with Parker, Gannett & Co., of Boston ; he d. 1883.
Benjamin Aldrich - Leven - Nathan - m. Ma- hala Martin, dr. of David, Aug. 31, 1826; was a carpenter ; lived in North Richmond; d. April 22, 1882. Had Almina, b. Jan. 31, 1827, m. David W. Williams ; Charles W., b. Feb. 7, 1831 ; Anderson, b. Oct. II, 1834 ; Phebe J., b. Jan. 16, 1843.
David B. Aldrich - Levin - Nathan - Ist m. Olive Martin, dr. of David, Feb. 1, 1835, she d. Jan. 17, 1840; 2d m. widow Narcissa M. Crooker, Nov. 4, 1840, she d. Oct. 21, 1842 ; 3d m. Atlanta Martin, dr. of Jesse, Feb. 8, 1843, she d. Dec. 17, 1853 ; 4th m. Elmira Hartwell, May 25, 1854, she d. Aug. 24, 1863; 5th m. Mary Whipple, dr. of
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Isquire, July 6, 1864, she d. Jan. 14, 1871 ; 6th m. widow Martha Fisher, June 22, 1871. He is a car- penter ; manufactured pails at North Richmond, 1852-'56 ; has lived on the Nathaniel Taft place since 1850; has been selectman and representative to the General Court. Children by Olive : David H., b. Jan. 13, 1836; Luther, b. Sept. 24, 1837, d. Mar. 27, 1860. Children by Narcissa : Olive N., b. Nov. 14, 1841, m. Laton Martin, of Keene. Children by Elmira : Daniel B., b. March 8, 1858 ; Myra F., b. Sept. 4. 1859 ; Attie H., b. Sept 8, 1861.
Lucius Aldrich - Levin - Nathan - m., Jan. 13, 1848, Lucy Martin, dr. of Robert. He removed to Fitchburg. He there became a carpenter and master builder ; was a member of the common council, and prominent in the management of the affairs of the city. He d. Jan. 12, 1882 ; she d. Sept. 28, 1874 ; had Mary L., b. 1858. He 2d m. widow Collister, who survives him.
Hosea B. Aldrich -Levin - Nathan - Ist m. Emily Martin, dr. of Leason, Oct. 26, 1848; 2d m. Julia A. Swan, dr. of Ambrose, April 29, 1882. Emily d. April 12, 1881. By Emily, had Randall H., b. June, 1850; Frederick L., b. May 5, 1856; Fanny M., b. April 11, 1859; Emily E., b. Oct. 23, 1864.
Elbridge Aldrich - Luke - Nathan - m. Amadon of Fitzwilliam. He removed to Worcester ; was a carpenter, and worked in Bradley's car-shop for many years. He d. Dec. 4, 1879.
Robert Aldrich - Luke - Nathan -m. Eltheda, dr. of Jeremiah Barrus, jr., May 16, 1847. He was a cooper; lived at the Derrick Hews place, at the
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Four corners. He d. Feb. 27, 1877 ; had Emma J., b. Aug. 6, 1857, who married Elvin D. Stowell, of Winchester.
Charles W. Aldrich, son of Benjamin, m. Martha A. Hill, of Fitzwilliam ; b. April 2, 1829 ; m. Dec. 20, 1859. He resides at North Richmond, on his father's place. Had Elliot W., b. Oct 2, 1866.
Anderson Aldrich - Benjamin - Levin - Nathan - m. Almira, dr. of Henry Ballou, sr. He lives in Swansey.
D. Henry Aldrich, son of David B., m. Mary Norwood, dr. of Charles Norwood. He lives in Orange, Mass. She d. Jan. 2, 1863. Had a child, d. in infancy.
Joseph Aldrich was f. s. on corner of L. 17, R. 3, on the west side of the road north of Benson's.
Sands Aldrich, from Northbridge, 1836, m. Abi- gail -; had Sylvester, Sands, Daniel W., and Sally, d. Oct. 15, 1836. He d. Jan. 26, 1855, aged 75 ; she d. Jan. 27, 1868, aged 83.
Sylvester Aldrich- Sands -m. Sarah, dr. of Abner Twitchell. He came to town about 1828; lived at first on the Twitchell place ; 1845, he bought of Augustus Cass the old Luke Cass farm, and there resided until his death, Sept. 20, 1874, aged 69; had no children. She died June 25, 1876, aged 74.
Sands Aldrich, jr., - Sands -m. Betsy Amadon, dr. of Jeremiah ; removed from town.
Paine Aldrich, son of Amasa, of Swansey, m. Hammond, sister of Joseph Newell, jr.'s wife. He bought the Cook mills at North Richmond, 1820 ;
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he built over, or repaired, the same. He removed to Worcester about 1830, and there acquired a compe- tency in building turn-tables. Had one son, Cy- renus, now living in Worcester.
ALLEN.
Three bearing this name appear among the early settlers of the town - Moses, Ezra, and Joseph - sons of Joseph and Lydia, of Mendon. The first two settled near each other, but Joseph bought a farm in the south-east part of the town. All of these came about 1767. Moses, only, permanently remained ; the others removed from town prior to 1800. But few of the name remain. Jerahmeel and his son Eben are the only male representatives therein.
Moses Allen, b. Nov. 30, 1745, Ist m. Comfort Buffum, b. Dec. 10, 1745, dr. of Joseph Buffum, of Smithfield, and sister of Jedediah Buffum. He located on L. 9, R. 5, and built the house now stand- ing on the premises, 1771. The farm is now owned and occupied by Amos Martin. 2d m. Phebe Mc- Intyre. Had ten children by Comfort, viz. : Abra- ham, b. Sept. 25, 1768 ; Jerahmeel, b. May 11, 1770 ; Moses, b. May 25, 1772 ; Comfort, b. Aug. 12, 1774, m. Silas Boyce; Hannah, b. Sept. 24, 1776, m. Reuben Bowen ; Abigail, b. Dec. 5, 1779, m. Moses Emerson ; Martha, b. June 3, 1781, m. Zephaniah Bowen ; Margaret, b. Aug. II, 1783, m. Martin Cass ; Sally, b. June 30, 1786, m. Daniel Cass ; Lydia, b. May 2, 1788, m. Sylvester Wicks, of Cranston, R. I. He d. 1824; Comfort d. Oct. 28, 1804 ; Phebe d. 1829.
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Ezra Allen, brother of Moses, b. Oct. 18, 1747, m. Lucy Mann, March 2, 1769; settled on the lot next south, L. 8, R. 5. His house stood about forty rods south of the road, on the ridge towards the pond ; an old cellar-place, and some fruit trees still indicate the spot. He was succeeded by his brother Olvin, who sold to Moses Allen, jr. Ezra removed from town prior to 1789, and died in Mendon, 1813. Had two children : Ruth, b. April 27, 1770, and Lydia, b. Dec. 3, 1772.
Joseph Allen, b. Jan. 7, 1755, m. Mollie Barney, dr. of Constant, Dec. 27, 1776. He was the owner of the farm of which Jonathan and Nathan Cook were afterwards occupants. He sold to them, 1797. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and was in General Washington's army in New York, 1777.
. Abraham Allen - Moses -- m. Kesiah Potter, Dec. 30, 1790. After his marriage he lived a few years on a place between Tully Brook and Danvers Mar- tin's, on the north side of the road. A few old apple trees are still about the old house spot. He re- moved to Croydon, N. H., about 1800. Had three children.
Ferahmeel Allen - Moses - Ist m. Mary Thurber, dr. of Hezekiah, April 19, 1792; 2d m. Rachel Emerson, of Stoddard, Oct. 4, 1798; Mary d. Sept. 14, 1793. Had by Mary, Lilburn, b. April 5, 1793 ; and by Rachel had seven children, viz. : Melancy, b. Sept. 2, 1799, Ist m. Otis Cass, 2d m. Nathaniel Kingsley ; Hannah, b. April 18, 1802, m. Nathaniel Kingsley ; Ezra, b. Oct. 1, 1805; Varnum, b. Oct. 8, 1810; Lamira, b. Aug. 25, 1812; Mary, b. Oct. 2, 1814, m. Winslow Taylor ; Orrin M., b. April 30,
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1817. He bought the east part of his father's farm. His buildings stood on the north side of the road, nearly opposite of where Benjamin Bliss now lives. He removed to the place now owned by Nathaniel Hills about 1839, and in 1852, he, together with his sons, Varnum and Orrin M., removed to Tioga County, Penn. He was a blacksmith, and had a shop near his first place of residence. The buildings on the old place have been removed. He was over 90 when he died.
Moses Allen, jr. - Moses -m. Mary Dow, dr. of Nehemiah Dow, of Salisbury, N. H., Oct. 29, 1795. Had nine children, viz. : Sarah, b. Nov. 30, 1796, m. Elijah Arnold, of Smithfield; Judith, b. Jan. 26, 1798, m. Jonathan M. Dow ; Comfort, b. April 13, 1800, m. Daniel Johnson, of Lynn ; Buffum, b. 1802, m. Eunice Allen, and lived in Lynn ; Ruth, b. Dec. 27, 1802, Ist m. David Randall, 2d m. Obed Hark- ness ; Joanna, b. 1805, m. Richard Bowen; Samuel D., b. 1807 ; Elizabeth, b. Dec. 8, 1809, m. Sumner Hewitt, and lives at Eagle Grove, Wright Co., Iowa ; Isquire S., d. young. He bought of his uncle Olvin, about 1795, the farm now owned and occupied by Mrs. S. D. Allen, and built the house now standing on the same about 1812-'15. He d. 1861, aged 89 ; she d. 1843, aged 77.
Lilburn Allen - Jerahmeel - Moses - Ist m. Zil- pah Cass., dr. of Jonathan, Nov. 9, 1815; 2d m. widow Esther Whitcomb, dr. of Wilderness Martin. By Zilpah he had Lilburn, b. July 23, 1817, who m. widow Elizabeth Dustin, and removed to Pennsyl- vania and there d. April. 1880 ; Moses Ancil, b. Aug. 3, 1821, m. Elvira Whipple, dr. of Otis, sr .; Mary,
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b. Feb. 27, 1825, m. Z. Anson Cass ; Zimri, b. Oct. 8, 1828, m. Amie Martin, dr. of Stephen, from Bar- ton, Vt. All of these children moved to Pennsyl- vania, except Moses A., who lives in Fitzwilliam. By Esther he had Asa W., b. July 18, 1836, and Jerahmeel, b. Dec. 7, 1837. Mr. Lilburn, sr., lived on the farm north of the old Paul Boyce place, and sold the same to his sons Asa W. and Jerahmeel, and went to Tioga County, Penn., and lived with his son Zimri, where he d. March 20, 1881. Zilpah d. June 14, 1835, aged 43. Esther d. 1865.
Ezra Allen - Jerahmeel - Moses - m. Emily Martin, dr. of John, son of Wilderness, and removed to Tioga County, Penn., 1848. Had Hannah, b. Sept. 1, 1845 ; Ethan, b. Aug. 12, 1847.
Samuel D. Allen - Moses - Moses - Ist m. Har- riet Butterfield, dr. of lawyer Erastus Butterfield ; 2d m., April 12, 1866, Martha A. Foster, of Ashby. By Harriet he had two sons, viz. : Moses, b. 1842, and Milton, b. 1844. Moses enlisted in Company F., 14th New Hampshire regiment, and was killed at the battle of Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864. Milton had the misfortune to lose a leg, which was ampu- tated at Keene. He removed to Wright County, Iowa, when he d. 1882. By Martha A. he had one dr., Lizzie A., b. March, 1867, m. Eben S. Allen, Oct. 25, 1882. Samuel D. bought his grandfather Allen's farm, and built the house now occupied by Mrs. W. C. Jillson. He moved to Wright county, Iowa, 1856, but returned at the breaking out of the Sioux war, and lived a while in the Friends' meeting- house, which he bought and repaired for a dwel- ling. He removed again to his father's place ; from
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thence he went to Ashby, where he d. 1870, aged 63. His wife Harriet d. April 12, 1865, aged 56.
Moses A. Allen, son of Lilburn, m., June 30, 1857, Elvira, dr. of Otis Whipple ; lives in Fitzwilliam, on the Phineas Howe place. No children.
Asa W. Allen, son of Lilburn, m. June 17, 1871, Ellen S. Wells. He lived with his brother Jerahmeel on the home place a while, and then removed to the farm formerly owned by George Handy. He d., by suicide, May 8, 1876. Left no children.
ferahmeel Allen, son of Lilburn, Ist m. Melissa J. Swan, dr. of Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer, Dec. 9, 1860 ; 2d m. Lydia L. Bowen, dr. of Zimri, June 29, I875. Had by Melissa J., Eben S., b. Jan. 25, 1861. He is the present proprietor of the old Wake- field tavern at the Four corners. Melissa J. d. March 28, 1868. Had by Lydia, Asa Z., b. April 8, 1876 ; d. in infancy.
Eben S. Allen - Jerahmeel - son of Lilburn, m., Oct. 25, 1882, Lizzie A. Allen, dr. of Samuel D., and lives on the farm with his wife's mother. Had Asa S., b. April 28, 1883.
AMADON.
Jeremiah Amadon, b. March 31, 1780, m. Abigail Harwood, b. March 30, 1781 ; came from Uxbridge to Swansey, 1816; moved to Richmond, 1819 ; lived at various places in town; finally bought the old Deacon John Cass farm, known as the Simeon Cook place, 1841. He d. Dec. 14, 1865, aged 87 ; she d. Aug. 16, 1871, aged 92. Had Maria, m. Loamma Green ; Abigail, m. Luther C. Curtis; Cyrel, b.
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April 2, 1812 ; Martin, b. Aug., 1818; Betsy, m. Sands Aldrich, jr. ; Perley, b. July 15, 1821.
Cyrcl Amadon - Jeremiah - m., Nov. 27, 1834, Adaline, dr. of .Richard Weeks; lives at the Four corners, on the place built by A & W. Bassett. Had Alonzo, b. in Swansey, Aug. 19, 1835, d. Jan. 16, 1838 ; Frank, b. June 16, 1837 ; Andrew, b. Feb. 14, 1840; Julia, b. July 4, 1843; Henry, b. April 28, 1845 ; Estella, b. Aug. 20, 1850, d. Sept. 21, 1865.
Perlcy Amadon, m., Nov. 29, 1843, Keziah, dr. of John Starkey ; lives on the Simon Cook farm, in a house once owned by William Weeks. Had Mary A., b. Feb. 26, 1845,. m. Orlan Whipple ; Edwin E., b. Sept. 29, 1848 ; George E., d. in infancy.
Frank Amadon - Cyrel - Jeremiah - m. Hattie J., dr. of Silas Whipple, the son of Otis ; she d. 1876 ; lives near the Sprague mills ; is engaged in the lum- ber business. Had by Hattie J. : Enez R., b. May 9, 1863 ; Emma E., b. June 16, 1867 ; two d. in in- fancy; 2d m., Nov. 14, 1881, Lydia O., dr. of Alvan Barrus. Had by her an infant, b. Jan. 17, 1883.
Andrew Amadon - Cyrel -Jeremiah - m. Sil- oria, dr. of Zerah C. Goddard; lives on the Zerah Goddard place, and owns the Sprague mills. Had Willie A., b. April 3, 1872 ; Daisy B., b. July 30, 1877-
Henry Amadon - Cyrel - Jeremiah - m. Lucy Combs ; lives on the Abraham Arnold place.
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AMES.
Luther Ames, from Brockton, Mass., Ist m. Mary A. Spinney. She d. Feb. 25., 1880, aged 50; 2d m. Harriet L. widow of Ozra T. Cass, 1883. He lived on the Seth Curtis place from 1878 to 1881, and now resides on his wife's place.
ANDERSON.
James Anderson, from Rhode Island, m. Nancy Parks. She d. 1873. Had seven children, three of whom live in town, viz. : Martha J., James B., and Mina R.
James B. Anderson -James - m. Melissa J. Simonds ; lives in the Bowman Howe house.
ARNOLD.
Abraham Arnold, m., Feb. 13, 1794, Mary Bar- rus, dr. of Abraham Barrus. He lived on the Elisha Brigham place, now occupied by Henry Amadon. He removed to New York. Had Sarah, b. Oct. 29, I794.
Augustus Arnold, from Winchester, bought the Thornton mills about 1848. Had Andrew S., Au- gustus, and Lucy, who d. 1863. He d. Dec. 19, I865.
Andrew S. Arnold, son of Augustus, m, Emeline E. Kimpton, dr. of Samuel ; lived with his father; is now in Somerville, Mass.
ATHERTON.
Jonathan and Solomon Atherton, from Attleboro', were among the first settlers. The year they came
18
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we are unable to determine from any record at hand, but incline to the belief that they may have made their entry as early as 1762; but the time tradition says they were here was 1758, which is quite doubt- ful. Jonathan Atherton m. Amey Saben, Dec. 6, 1770. Had nine children, viz. : Jonathan, b. Oct. 27, 1771, d. Oct. 29, 1771 ; Orinde, b. Jan. 30, 1774, d. March 13, 1774; Jonathan, b. Jan. 17, 1776, d. young ; Peltiah, b. Jan. 31, 1778, d. Feb. 26, 1778; Saben, b. Jan. 15, 1779 ; Jonathan, b. March 11, 1781 ; Amey, b. Oct. 28, 1783, m. James Kelton ; Sarah, b. Dec. 28. 178-, m. Samuel Bliss ; Samuel, b. Jan. 29, 1790, m. Patience Tyler, and moved to Attleboro'. Mr. Atherton settled on L. 3, R. 12, and the place has been kept in the family name to the present time. He d. Aug. 20, 1814, aged 76 ; she d. April 23, 1800, aged 53.
Saben Atherton - Jonathan - m. Nancy Reed, Jan., 1806. Had Alvan, b. Nov. 9, 1806; Amey, b. June 26, 1813, m. Willard Forbes. He, together with his brother Jonathan, lived on the old home- stead. He was on the board of selectmen three years. He d. Feb. 22, 1841, aged 62 ; she d. Nov. 29, 1832, aged 49.
Jonathan Atherton, jr .- Jonathan-m. Azubah Bliss of Royalston. Had nine children, viz. : Jonathan B., b. Dec. 29, 1810; Samuel, b. March 26, 1812 ; Mary, b. Feb. 27, 1815, m. Asahel Jewell, d. Sept. 30, 1881 ; Eliza, b. Jan. II, 1817, d. Sept. 20, 1849; Rhoda, b. Feb. 1I, 1819, d. Jan. 31, 1824 ; Julia A., b. June II, 1821, d. June 12, 1824; Sarah N., b. April 14, 1823, d. Jan. 11, 1824 ; Rhoda E., b. Feb. 10, 1826, d. Sept. 28, 1880, m. Henry
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Holman ; William, b. April 4, 1828, m. Emily A. Bliss. He, with his brother Saben, inherited their father's farm, and lived together in the same house. He removed to Winchester, 1835. He was a justice of the peace, representative to the General Court five times, selectman seven years, and moderator at the annual meetings fifteen years.
Alvan Atherton - Saben- Jonathan -m. Mary Ann Stearns, of Warwick, June 10, 1835. He re- mained on the old homestead, and had the whole farm after his uncle moved to Winchester. He was on the board of selectmen four years. Had eight children, viz. : Nancy A., b. May 22, 1836; A. Halsey, b. Aug. 12, 1837 ; Eunice A., b. Feb. 14, 1839, d. Sept. 24, 1841 ; Ann M., b. July 13, 1840, d. Oct. 10, 1841 ; Arlon S., b. April 4, 1842 ; Maria A., b. April 9, 1844, d. Dec. 27, 1867 ; William S., b. March 7, 1846; David L., b. March 9, 1848, d. Oct. 4, 1871. He d. Dec. 28, 1863 ; she d. Nov. 12, 1876.
A. Halsey Atherton, son of Alvan, m. Esther S. Swan, dr. of James, June 19, 1868. He lived on the old place until the house built by his great-grand- father was destroyed by fire, 1878. Since then he has removed to Winchester. None bearing the Ath- erton name now remain in town. Had four children : Mary E., b. April 6, 1869; Cora L., b. June 10, 1872 ; James A., b. May 9, 1876 ; Willie S., b. July 20, 1881 ; d. Feb. 19, 1882.
Solomon Atherton Ist m. Doroty ; 2d m. Mary Alexander, Jan. 9, 1794. Had by Doroty : Samuel, b. Aug. 27, 1766; Elizabeth, b. Feb. 19, 1768; Simeon, b. Dec. 31, 1769 ; Rufus, b. May 3, 1773.
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By Mary had Lemuel, b. April 27, 1778, d. 1851. His place was on L. 4, R. 12, and generally known as the Reuben Rich place. The buildings are now demolished, and the farm is growing up to wood. He d. Nov. 15, 1813, aged 73.
Simcon Atherton - Solomon - m. Peggy Barrus, dr. of John Barrus, April 17, 1797. No other record of family.
BABCOCK.
Ebenezer Babcock, from Swansey, m. Mahala, dr. of Hon. Joseph Weeks. He served apprenticeship with Daniel Bassett at the tanning and currying business, removed to Winchester about 1830. Re- mained there a short time, and then removed to Swanton, Vt., and from thence went to Blackhawk County, Iowa., where he bought a large tract of land, and was at last account engaged in farming and in land speculation.
BAKER.
Eleazer Baker, blacksmith, lived in the corner- house, opposite Peregrine Wheeler's, from 1806 to 1814, and worked in the shop at that place.
BALL.
Daniel Ball, from Troy, m., Dec. 3, 1815, Han- nah, dr. of Elder Nathaniel Bolles ; lived a while on the road west of Elias Taylor's, about 1840. No record of family.
BALLARD.
Dr. Stephen Ballard, m. sister of Josiah Hix. ' He lived on the place which was south of Dennis Hark-
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ness', and now constitutes a part of his farm. Had Anna, m. Joseph Weeks, Esq. ; and a son, Silas.
BALLOU.
Four families of Ballous and their descendants comprise all of the name that have lived in town. Marturin, James, and Jesse, were nearly the first on their respective lots, although on James', as also on Jesse's, there probably was a part cleared and a log-house on the same, before he came. Jared, who came some years after the others, bought an improved farm. All the Ballous now living in town are descendants of James. The an- cestral head of nearly all the Ballous from Rhode Island, was Maturin Ballou, an immigrant to Provi- dence, R. I., about 1640, who was contemporary with Roger Williams, and has been described as a French Huguenot, and in some publications of a recent date as a minister of the Baptist faith, the latter of which was probably incorrect.
The Maturin-Ballou Family.
. The following items of interest in relation to the genealogy of the family, with general remarks relating to various members of the same, are extracted from the biography of Hosea Ballou : -
In relation to the genealogy of the family, we have it in detail as far back, on the paternal side, as his great-great-grandfather, Mat- teaurian Ballou, - so the name was spelled by him, -who came from England, though a Frenchman by descent, about the year 1640. He occupied a portion of a royal grant of land about that time purchased from the Narragansett tribe of Indians by an agent of the crown; this tract was situated in the present state of Rhode
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Island, where descendants of the family still reside. This Matteau- rian Ballou's oldest son was named John, whose second son was named Matteaurian, who also had a son named Matteaurian, who in turn had eleven children - six sons and five daughters, the youngest of the family being named Hosea, the subject of these memoirs.
His father, Rev. Maturin Ballou, was remarkable for his unosten- tatious manner, his forgiving spirit and incekness, and the strict consistency of a life devoted, as he truly believed, to the service and glory of his Divine Master. He remained a highly respected and influential member of the Baptist church until the time of his death, at the age of eighty-two years. Benjamin, the oldest, was a man of strict integrity, and possessed a penetrating and powerful intellect. For some years the power of early influences and associations moulded his life, and he preached the Baptist religion, but was sub- sequently converted to Universalism by his younger brother Hosea, and lived and died in its faith, continuing to the good old age of eighty-two. This was the grandfather of Rev. Dr. Ballou of Med- ford, Mass., Rev. Wm. S. Ballou, of Stafford, Vt., and Rev. Levi Ballou of Orange, Mass .. David was the third son, and he also preached the Baptist faith, but like the eldest brother, was ere long persuaded of the truth of the doctrine of universal salvation, which he preached for many years, possessing a strong and well balanced mind and powerful argumentative abilities. He died at the age of eighty-two. This was the father of Rev. Moses Ballou of Bridge- port, Ct. The fourth son was named Nathan, a man of remarkable mental and physical strength, who gave his attention mainly to ag- ricultural pursuits, and who lived to be nearly eighty years of age. This was the grandfather of Rev. Russell A. Ballou of West Bridge- water, Mass. Stephen was the fifthi son, and combining many of the best qualities of his elder brothers, and possessing a most up- right and conscientious disposition, was yet remarkable for the en- dowment of a large degree of native wit and humor. He also de- voted himself to agriculture, and lived to nearly the age of seventy. All these brothers were possessed of a handsome competency, real- ized by their own economy and industry. The daughters were variously espoused, and lived, all but one, who died at the age of twenty, to be venerable and honored in years, and with a numerous offspring.
On the maternal side these children were descended from Lydia Harris, daughter of Richard Harris, who, like his ancestors, was a Quaker. His forefathers came to this country to escape the persecu- tion of the seventeenth century in England, when the infatuated Charles was oppressing his subjects by restricting the freedom of industry and billeting soldiers upon the people in times of peace, when the private papers of citizens were searched on mere suspic-
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ion, and when the bigoted Laud ruled with as high a hand and reck- less a purpose in the church as his royal master did in the state. Citizens claiming the right of freely uttering what they honestly believed to be true on the subject of religion were fined, whipped, and imprisoned. Ministers and educated citizens were branded on the forehead, their noses slit and their ears cropped for dissenting from Popish rites and ceremonies. To escape such intolerable per- secution Quakers crossed the ocean. But, alas! persecution fol- lowed them even in the wilds of America. Individuals who had left home, friends, country, and all for the privilege of worshipping the Almighty after the dictates of their own consciences, did not hesitate to deny others that privilege for which they had themselves sacri- ficed so much, simply because they differed from them in form o faith.
Rev. Maturin Ballou, the first minister in Rich- mond, was b. Oct. 30, 1722; m. Lydia, dr. of Richard Harris, of Smithfield, R. I .; was father of the celebrated Rev. Hosea Ballou, and was the fourth in descent from the original Maturin afore- named; and his lineage runs through Peter, his father, to John, his grandfather, who was the eldest son of the first Maturin; hence the subject of our notice was the great-grandson of the first of the name. Rev. Thomas Whittemore, speaking of Ma- turin, in his "Life of Hosea Ballou," says that -
Maturin was not educated for the ministry, but he began to preach in Smithfield, 1752, at the age of 30. He preached in Paw- tucket, and also at Scituate, and thence he removed to Richmond, 1767 or 1768. Richmond had been settled by a few families from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, about 1757, and among others were Anthony and Uriah Harris, brothers of Maturin's wife. She also had two sisters, Mrs. Sweet and Mrs. Phillips.
On making a visit to these relatives, he was in- vited to take up his abode among them, which soon after he did, in 1768. He was by trade a maker of old-time spinning wheels, and these he continued to make for many years. His first wife died 1773, and
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HISTORY OF THE
he m. Lydia Blois, of Attleboro', 1774. By his first wife he had eleven children. He d. 1805, and was buried in the Benson cemetery, marked by a stone inscribed with simply the letters "M. B." Mary, b. in Rhode Island, Oct. 30, 1745, m. David Bullock, Oct 17, 1771 ; Benjamin, b. Nov. 8, 1747, moved to Vermont, was grandfather of Hosea, 2d; Amey, b. June 6, 1750, d. 6 years old; Lydia, b. Oct. 21, 1852, m. Samuel Moses of Warwick, Feb. II, 1773; Maturin, b. July 8, 1755, was a Baptist preacher, d. at the age of 35 ; David, b. Sept. 15, 1758; Nathan, b. Sept. 9, 1760, m. Mary Holbrook and moved to Vermont; Sarah, b. May 4, 1763, m. Moses Wheaton, Oct. 14, 1781 ; Phebe, b. May 24, 1765, d. young ; Stephen, b. in Richmond, Sept. 6, 1768, removed to the state of New York; Hosea, b. in Richmond, April 30, 1871 ; m. Ruth Wash- burn.
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