USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Sutton > The history of Sutton, New Hampshire: consisting of the historical collections of Erastus Wadleigh, esq., and A. H. Worthen, part 2 > Part 21
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Samuel Peaslee was farmer and brick-maker. He had a brick-yard about one fourth mile from his house on the road from Fishersfield to Warner. He did a good share of town business, as the early records show, reared his large family, and accumulated a good property. He died here at the age of 75 in 1821. His death was very sudden, and occurred near the time of the great tornado.
864
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Peter Peaslee lived near his father's residence, on the side of Kimball's hill, till he moved to New Chester. He died in Bridgewater, at the age of 90 years or upwards. He had no children.
Abraham Peaslee lived on the Samuel Rowell farm. He came here from the Revolutionary war, having served about seven months, being then 17 years old. He resided here till he died, rather suddenly, of fever, in 1815, near the time of the closing of the last war with England, about twenty days after peace was declared, in which important events, having been a soldier himself, he was naturally greatly interested. He was esteemed a good citizen and neighbor, and a man, of good judgment.
David Peaslee, 2d, served in the Revolutionary war five years. He was long a resident of this town.
Isaac Peaslee, 1st, settled near Long Pond, not far from the towns of Bradford and Warner, where he died at the age of 66. He reared his family in comfort, and accumu- lated some property.
John Peaslee, spoken of as a worthy citizen, lived near Jones's mill, where he died. Charles Peaslee, for several years an esteemed citizen resident in the North village, is grandson of John.
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OTHER PEASLEES FOUND ON TOWN RECORDS, NOT LO- CATED.
Betsey Peaslee m. Wadleigh Stevens, b. May 8, 1786. Children,-
Abigail, b. April 21, 1809.
Sarah, b. Feb. 12, 1811.
Wadleigh Stevens was a nephew of Phinehas Stevens.
Benjamin W. Peaslee m. Aug. 14, 1844, Hepsibah Pike, of New London.
Daniel Peaslee m., 2d, 1841, Malvina Hart, of Thornton.
The Heath family lived early near the centre of this
865
GENEALOGY.
town, where some of them died, and were buried not far from the Gile place. Two of the men married into the Peaslee family, and all finally removed to Salisbury.
PERKINS.
Edgar R. Perkins, b. May 18, 1852; m. June 27, 1872, Ida F. Wood, b. Jan. 17, 1854. Child,-
Dora F., b. July 18, 1873.
Dustin Perkins, of Newbury, m. July 17, 1880, Jennie E. Thompson, of Goshen, dau. of Samuel B. and Almira (Johnson) Thompson. Children,-
Ella Jane, b. April 17, 1882, in Newbury.
Elizabeth Josephine, b. July 24, 1885, in Sutton.
Rosa Bell, b. Dec. 10, 1887 ; d. March 13, 1888.
PETERS.
Joseph Peters, b. in Hopkinton, Dec., 1774 ; d. Feb. 25, 1829; m. 1797, Elizabeth Gould, b. Jan. 13, 1777 ; d. Aug. 12, 1857. Children,-
I. Hannah, b. Feb. 15, 1801; d. June, 1874.
II. Nathan, b. Jan. 21, 1803; m. Dolly Jewell.
III. Tabitha G., b. April 8, 1807 ; m. Edmund Chadwick. [See Chadwick.]
IV. Elizabeth, b. 1809.
V. William, b. June 2, 1811; d. May, 1851 : m. Lydia"Beals.
VI. Harrison, b. Dec. 1, 1813.
VII. Rhoda, b. June, 1815.
VIII. Cordelia, b. April 4, 1821 ; d. Aug. 13, 1844.
I. Hannah Peters m. Franklin Fisk. Children,- 1. Charles. 2. Joseph.
IV. Elizabeth Peters m. Joshua Tenney. Children,-
1. Frank. 2. John. 3. Elizabeth.
VI. Harrison Peters m. Olive Butler. Children,-
1. Horace. 2. William H. 55
1
866
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Joseph Peters, after his marriage, removed from Hopkin- ton to Goshen, where their three oldest children were born. In 1808 removed to Sutton, where he carried on the business of clothier till 1826. He did a good business while here, and is remembered as a very intelligent, honorable man. Two of his daughters, Rhoda and Mrs. Edmund Chadwick, reside in Sutton. Three of his sons removed to Hampton, and became somewhat prominent there. Nathan repre- sented the town. For William H. Chadwick, son of Ed- mund, see record of Town Officers.
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PHELPS.
Nathan Phelps, b. 1777, in Amherst; d. Feb. 22, 1837, in Sutton : m. Hannah -, b. 1771; d. Feb. 20, 1827, in Sutton. Children,-
I. Ira, m. - McIntyre.
II. Nathan, m. Lucy Wilkins, of New London.
III. Polly, m. William Pressey (brother to Carlos G. Pressey).
IV. Amanda, b. 1814; d. Dec. 18, 1839.
Nathan Phelps, Sr., m., 2d, March 23, 1828, Abigail Messer, b. March 4, 1775 ; d. Jan. 16, 1854.
Jonathan Phelps, brother to Nathan, Sr., b. in Amherst ; d. in Sutton : m. Hannah Marden, b. in Bradford, Mass., 1770 ; d. in Sutton, April 22, 1833. He m., 2d, Oct. 15, 1834, Sally Brown, of Wilmot. Children, the first three b. in New Boston, ---
I. Hannah, b. Dec. 8, 1806; m. Nov., 1829, Samuel Felch. [See Felch.]
II. Jeremiah, b. 1804 ; d. Oct. 11, 1842.
III. Lucinda, m. 1836, Stephen Felch ; no children living.
IV. Caroline, m. Dec. 20, 1830, Levi Cheney (1st wife).
II. Jeremiah Phelps m., 1835, Drusilla Smith, dau. of Moses and Drusilla (Smart) Smith, b. Nov. 29, 1812 ; d. March 1, 1881. Children, --
867
GENEALOGY.
1. Alonzo, b. July, 1836.
2. Caroline M., b. 1841; d. April 14, 1876 : m. July 18, 1863, John H. Frazier.
1. Alonzo Phelps m., 1st, Jeanette Whitney. Child,-
(1) Walter.
He m., 2d, 1870, Mrs. Ellen M. (Bean) Holton, of Henniker, b. March 21, 1848, dau. of Charles Alden Bean. Children,-
(2) Mattie B., b. June 30, 1872.
(3) Charles I., b. Aug. 3, 1875.
Mrs. Ellen M. (Bean) Phelps d. Sept. 24, 1887.
PHILBROOK, OR PHILBRICK.
Benjamin Philbrook, of Hampstead, b. 1712; d. 1810, in Sutton : m. April 14, 1736, Sarah Chute, of Hampstead, b. 1713 ; d. 1813. Children, b. in Hampstead,-
Jemima, b. Oct. 29, 1737.
James, b. Nov. 29, 1739.
Abigail, b. Feb. 26, 1742 ; d. winter of 1826.
Betsey, b. April 26, 1744 ; d. 1821.
Benjamin, b. June 10, 1746; d. 1845, in Hopkinton.
Joseph, b. Aug. 17, 1748; d. 1840: m. March 19, 1765, Ruth Hovey ; lived in Hopkinton.
Mary, b. June 23, 1750 ; d. 1834.
Mehitabel, b. Aug. 24, 1752 ; d. Oct. 27, 1812.
Sarah, b. March 10, 1757 ; d. Dec. 20, 1843.
Several of the above children came to Sutton to live, viz.,-
Abigail, m. Jan. 24, 1774, Thomas Walker. [See Walker.] Mehitabel, m. Phineas Stevens. [See Stevens.]
Sarah, m. April 16, 1781, Joseph Johnson. [See Johnson.]
Benjamin, m. April 16, 1867, Anna Knight, of Hampstead, and she became mother of the eight children whose birth record follows. The date of her death is not found, but must have been between the birth date of her last child, 1783, and the date of her husband's 2d marriage. The record of his publishment to Lucy Buell, of New- port, is found on Sutton books, dated May 8, 1790. They had a son, William, born to them.
868
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Children of Benjamin Philbrook and Anna Knight (1st wife),-
I. John, b. Jan. 21, 1769; lived in Sutton.
II. Joshua, b. Feb. 25, 1771; lived in Sutton.
III. Anna, b. March 7, 1773.
IV. Nancy, b. Nov. 10, 1774.
V. Knight, b. March 2, 1776 ; settled in Vermont.
VI. Eben, b. July 17, 1778 ; d. May 3, 1788.
VII. Benjamin, b. July 21, 1780 ; settled in Vermont.
VIII. Alice (or Elsie), b. Aug. 19, 1783.
IV. Nancy never married; was lame, and many years an in- valid : d. in Sutton.
VIII. Elsie m. July 30, 1807, John Johnson, of Enfield; they lived in, Enfield.
I. John Philbrook m. April, 1790, Dorothy Colburn, his cousin. Children, b. in Sutton,-
1. Hannah, b. Aug. 9, 1792.
2. John, b. May 3, 1793 ; went to Haverhill, Mass ..
3. Samuel, b. Feb. 2, 1795; d.
4. James, b. Aug. 22, 1796 ; settled in Warner.
5. Susanna, b. April 17, 1798 ; m. Feb. 24, 1820, Nathaniel Eaton, Jr., of Lempster.
6. Samuel, 2d, b. Dec. 21, 1799.
7. Chute, b. Sept. 1, 1800,
8. Hiram, b. Aug. 4, 1801; went to Lempster.
9. Benjamin, b. Aug. 6, 1805.
10. Orlando, b. June 3, 1807 ; m. Charlotte Pierce : lived in Wilmot.
11. Oliver, b. -; went to Newport.
12. Caleb, b. - -; went to Lempster.
13. Nathaniel, b. -; went to Lempster.
John Philbrook and wife finally removed from Sutton to Lemp- ster, in which town their sons, Hiram, Caleb, and Nathaniel, and daughter Susanna, with her husband, had already settled.
4. James Philbrook m. Nov. 20, 1823, Betsey Simons, dau. of Eben- ezer and Elizabeth (Steele) Simons. Children,-
(1) Bartlett, b. Jan. 29, 1825.
(2) Lucinda, b. Sept. 24, 1829.
(3) Luke, b. Aug. 24, 1831.
(4) George, b. Oct. 14, 1833.
(1) Bartlett Philbrook m. Hannah Fifield ; m., 2d, Martha Shedd. Children,-
Frank ; Nellie.
869
GENEALOGY.
(4) George Philbrook in. Dec. 21, 1859, Esther A. Davis, b. April 1, 1844. Children,-
Kate, b. Sept. 6, 1860 ; d. Feb. 11, 1884.
Walter G., b. March 16, 1863 ; d. Jan. 2, 1883.
Amelia M., b. Dec. 6, 1865 ; d. June 25, 1885. George B., b. Nov. 17, 1870.
II. Joshua Philbrook m. Oct. 25, 1801, Hepsibah Russell. Chil- dren, b. in Sutton,-
1. Annah, b. Feb. 5, 1803
2. Joseph, b. April 25, 1804.
3. Joel, b. Aug. 5, 1805.
4. Nathaniel, b. Feb. 15, 1807.
5. Cyrus, b. Dec. 11, 1808.
6. William R., b. Feb. 18, 1810.
7. Harrison, b. Oct., 1811.
8. Mary Ann, b. Feb., 1815.
6. William R. Philbrook m. Jan. 24, 1834, Anna Keyes, of Antrim. Children, b. in Newbury,-
(1) William K., b. Feb. 3, 1835.
(2) Mary Ann, b. March 12, 1837.
(3) Lavonia, b. 1839.
(4) Joseph R., b. 1841.
(5) Hepsibah Alvira.
(6) Joshua R.
(7) Cyrus F.
(8) George H.
(1) William K. Philbrick m. March 17, 1864, Ann E. Fisk, dau. of Levi Fisk, of Sutton. Children, b. in Sutton,-
George S., b. Sept. 25, 1866.
Alice L., b. Aug. 17, 1868 ; d. Sept. 25, 1874.
Bessie J., b. Oct. 15, 1870 ; d. Sept. 28, 1874.
Ida Mabel, b. March 15, 1873; d. March 6, 1877.
Elmer E., b. Sept. 28, 1875.
Herbert A., b. March 1, 1878.
Lura Estella, b. Sept. 25, 1880.
(2) Mary Ann Philbrick ın. Benjamin Fisk (2d wife). Children,- Ida A .; Mary Belle.
(4) Joseph R. Philbrick m. Marietta Dolby.
(5) Hepsibah A. Philbrick m. George Sanders.
The wife of Benjamin Philbrook, Sr., lived to the age of one hundred years. On the day she was a century old her son, Benjamin Philbrook, Jr., held a religious meeting at his house to celebrate the remarkable occurrence. She lived just twelve days after it. She was long remembered by some of our older citizens as a very kind, good woman,
870
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
who kept possession of her bodily and mental faculties to the very last of her life; she could see and hear well as long as she lived.
Benjamin Philbrook, Jr., her son, was best known as the " tythingman," though, by the way, he had nothing to do with the collection of tithes, his official duties being only to prevent Sabbath-breaking in general, and to preserve order in the sanctuary during worship. He lived to the great age of ninety-nine years, lacking only a few months of his mother's age.
Another of this family, Mrs. Walker, lived to be very aged, as did her sister, Mrs. Joseph Johnson, reaching eighty-six years.
Mrs. Lovejoy, sister to Mrs. Philbrook, the centenarian, followed to this town her son by her first husband, Leonard Colburn being the name of the son. She died here at a. great age. She was long remembered as a very capable, good woman. She was a famous carder of wool, and carded for nearly every family in town.
The tendency to extreme longevity seems to have existed in the Philbrook family before the long-lived woman who was mother of Benjamin Philbrook, Jr., came into it. Nathan Philbrook, of Hampton and Sanbornton, died in 1794, at the age of ninety-seven, and consequently must have been born in 1697, some fifteen years before the birth of Mrs. Philbrook, of Sutton. A Benjamin Philbrook died in Sanbornton in 1862, aged ninety-five years.
The Gile genealogy has the following : "Samuel Gile,, born at Haverhill, Feb. 13, 1702-3, married Sarah Emer- son, probably daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Philbrook) Emerson. She was born in 1708, and died Sept. 10, 1804. They lived in Chester in 1823, and later in Haverhill, where he died Dec. 1, 1775." The second child of this marriage was Ephraim Gile, who came to Sutton, and in his case the Philbrook blood seems to have asserted itself plainly enough, by keeping him alive ninety years.
871
GENEALOGY.
PIKE.
(The Pike ancestors came from England, and settled early in Attleborough, Mass.)
Capt. John Pike m. Eunice, dau. of Ruel and Polly (Hurd) Keith, of Newport. She was b. May 6, 1770. Children,-
James M., b. Dec. 2, 1817 ; m. Sarah Cilley ; m., 2d, Mrs. Abby Palmer.
Delia W., b. Oct. 10, 1819; m. Joseph Bean, of Sutton.
Hepsibah, b. Aug. 6, 1821; m. Benjamin Peaslee, of Sutton.
John K., b. July 27, 1823; m. Lucy Wilson, of Cohasset, Mass.
Eunice, C., b. Oct. 14, 1825 ; m. Benjamin R. Morse, of New- bury.
Ziba, b. April 15, 1827 ; unmarried.
Samuel K., b. Sept. 21, 1829 ; m. Hannah Leach, of Sutton.
Harriet E., b. March 7, 1831; m. William S. George.
Mary H., b. Sept. 4, 1833; m. Claude Goings, of New London.
Nancy, b. March 17, 1835; m. Austin Goings, of New London.
PRESBY.
Mason W. Presby, b. Feb. 9, 1833; d. Oct. 10, 1881 : m. Oct. 23, 1854, Laura A. Bean, b. July 16, 1832. Chil- dren,-
Henry E., b. Nov. 21, 1855 ; d. Oct. 1, 1857.
Benjamin F., b. Oct. 3, 1857 ; m. Jan., 1887, Georgiana Ed- munds. Child,-Lilian.
Mary J., b. July 28, 1860; m. Nov. 8, 1885, Charles Woodward.
Florence E., b. April 24, 1863 ; m. March 10, 1886, John Couch. Child,-Delma, b. June 21, 1887.
Martha A., b. May 21, 1867 ; m. March 10, 1886, Leander Hilliard.
John W., b. March 19, 1869.
Jennie S., b. March 15, 1871; m. April 26, 1888, Eugene Muzzy.
Blanche R., b. Jan. 21, 1874.
Amasa G., b. Feb. 21, 1880 ; d. March 19, 1880.
6
872
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
PILLSBURY.
The common ancestor of the Pillsbury families of Massa chusetts and New Hampshire was William, born in the county of Essex, England, in 1615. He came to Dorches- ter in the colony of Massachusetts Bay, in 1640, and there married Dorothy Crosby. He removed in 1651 to New- bury, Mass. (now a part of Newburyport), where he pur- chased a house built by Mr. Edward Rawson, a gentleman of wealth and learning, and the first local judge. This house then purchased of Mr. Rawson has been in Pillsbury hands ever since. It is situated on High street.
The coat of arms of the Pillsbury family, when in Eng- land, is described in heraldic terms thus, -- " Per fesse, sable and azure ; on an eagle displayed argent three griffins' heads, erased of the second." Crest, an esquire's helmet ; motto, " Labor omnia vincit."
The name of Pillsbury was sometimes spelled Pillesberry and Pillsborough.
William and Dorothy (Crosby) Pillsbury had born to them ten children-seven sons, of whom four lived to marry, and three daughters. Moses, second son, b. 1645 or 1646, in Dorchester, m. Mrs. Susanna (Whipple) Worth, widow of Lionel Worth. They had six children, of whom Caleb, third son and sixth child, was b. in Newbury, 1681; he d. 1759; he m. July 27, 1703, Sarah Morse.
Caleb, son of Caleb and Sarah (Morse) Pillsbury, was b. in Newbury, Jan. 26, 1717 ; d. Feb. 7, 1777-'78. He m. July 8, 1742, Sarah Kimball, of Amesbury, Mass. This Caleb Pillsbury was at the time of his death the represent- ative from Amesbury to the Massachusetts General Court. Of him the author of the History of Amesbury says, "Caleb Pillsbury died this year, 1778, having led a useful and hon- orable life. He held almost every office within the gift of the people." He was captain in the French War, and his commission is yet in possession of Caleb G. Pillsbury, of Holland, Vt.
873
GENEALOGY.
The children of Caleb and Sarah (Kimball) Pillsbury were eight in number, of whom the eighth, Micajah, was b. May 22, 1763. A little brother, named Micajah, b. 1761, but died in early infancy, has occasioned some confusion of dates in the records kept by some of the descendants.
Micajah Pillsbury m. 1781, Sarah Sargent, dau. of Sam- uel and Sarah (Kendrick) Sargent, of Amesbury, who were married in Amesbury, May 19, 1757, and soon after re- moved to Kingston.
Children of Micajah and Sarah (Sargent) Pillsbury,-
I. Stephen, b. Oct. 30, 1781, in Amesbury ; d. Jan. 22, 1851, in Londonderry.
II. Joseph, b. April 1, 1784, in Amesbury ; d. 1869, in Sutton.
III. Moses, b. June 19, 1786, in Amesbury ; d. 1868, in Sutton.
IV. John, b. May 24, 1789, in Amesbury ; d. Oct. 11, 1856, in Sutton.
V. Sally, b. April 29, 1791, in Amesbury ; d. May 2, 1875, in Sutton.
VI. Betsey, b. Oct. 16, 1794, in Amesbury ; d. Sept. 21, 1836, in Sutton.
VII. Nancy, b. Oct. 11, 1798, in Sutton.
VIII. Dolly, b. Feb. 16, 1801, in Sutton.
Micajah Pillsbury moved from Amesbury to Sutton in February, 1795. He lived in this town till his death, in 1802. His wife sur- vived him many years. She d. June 28, 1830. They settled in the southerly part of the town, on the old road leading from South Sutton to Fishersfield (Newbury), near the top of what was called Coburn's or Dodge's hill. Mr. Pillsbury was a respected citizen, and filled several offices of trust. He was frequently called upon by his fellow-townsmen to settle matters in controversy between them, and acted as a sort of judge or referee.
I. Stephen Pillsbury m. March 5, 1816, Lavinia Hobart. She was daughter of the first male child born in Plymouth, N. H. Chil- dren,-
1. Mary Bartlett, b. Jan. 5, 1817.
2. Lavinia Hobart, b. Nov. 8, 1818 ; d. Sept., 1871.
3. Josiah Hobart, b. Aug. 15, 1821; d. Nov. 5, 1879.
4. Stephen, b. Jan. 26, 1824.
5. Edwin, b. March 16, 1826.
874
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
6. Ann Judson, b. July 1, 1828. ,
7. Adoniram Judson, b. June 11, 1830 ; d. Sept. 18, 1851.
8. William Stoughton, b. March 16, 1833.
9. Leonard Hobart, b. Dec. 25, 1835.
In his early life Stephen Pillsbury was quite noted as a school teacher. In 1815 he was ordained as a Baptist minister, and was settled as such at Hebron, and afterwards at Sutton, Dunbarton, and Londonderry. His ministry extended over a period of about thirty-five years. He was one of the very first persons in the state to espouse the temperance reform movement, and he published an appeal on this subject to the people of the state, and one also to those engaged in the liquor traffic. He neglected no opportunity to do good to his fellow-men. When resident in Sutton he represented the town in the legislature in 1833. While in Londonderry he was elected superintendent of schools several times, and always identi- fied himself with the cause of education. He was one of the most correct, exemplary Christian gentlemen of his day, prudent, amiable, and unselfish, and was much respected by all who had opportunity to know him. He came to be regarded as one of the fathers of the denomination with which he was so long connected. The wife of Stephen Pillsbury was in all respects a very superior woman,-intel- ligent, refined, and possessed of a very lovable disposition. She gained the esteem as well as the love of all who came in contact with her. Her literary attainments were of a high order. She composed several excellent religious hymns, and contributed many valuable articles for publication.
1. Mary Bartlett Pillsbury, m. Valentine W. Weston, of New York city, who d. in 1863. They had two daughters. She now resides in Lawrence, Kansas.
Mrs. Weston devoted several years of her life to portrait and landscape painting, for which she early displayed a rare taste and talent. Some of her pictures became widely known, and are highly appreciated by good judges. Many years ago the present writer, knowing the distinction which Mrs. Weston had attained as an artist, wrote to her, asking some points in her career, and received in reply the proof-sheets of the sketch of Mrs. Weston in Mrs. Ellet's "Lives of Female Artists," from which might be gathered the de- sired facts, and a letter commencing,-
" March 25, 1870.
" Please accept my thanks for the honor you propose do me by giving me a notice in your History of Sutton. My life as an artist
875
GENEALOGY.
is all I care to have known. All the vicissitudes by which one gains the discipline of life are not always interesting or profitable to others. Whether I shall ever be permitted to complete my career as an artist, which cost me so much effort in the beginning of life, is now a little doubtful. Anyway, I am content. My two daugh- ters, whose lives would have been sacrificed had I trusted them in their delicate childhood to the care of an ordinary hired nurse, are worth more to me than all the fame and wealth of the world. Still, my longing to be engaged in works of taste and imagination costs me daily a good deal of suffering."
The sketch of Mary Weston occupies ten pages of Mrs. Ellet's book, and, would space permit its insertion entire in this work, we would gladly transcribe the whole, but a few paragraphs must suf- fice :
" Mary Pillsbury was born in Hebron. In her humble home among the mountains, though surrounded by nature's wild beauty, the child found nothing to suggest to her an idea of what art could accomplish. Nevertheless she saw objects with an artistic perception, and loved especially to study faces. When taken to church she would sit gaz- ing at those around her, and wishing that in some way, of which, as yet, she had no conception, she could copy their features. When she was twelve years old her parents removed from Hebron to Sut- ton. One day, when her father was going to preach at a protracted meeting at Bradford, she accompanied her parents thither. Near the meeting-house was a tavern-sign, on which was painted in colors, richly arrayed, the figure of the Goddess of Liberty. This work of art was executed by Elder John Gillingham, a Freewill Baptist minister. [Those are yet living who can remember to have listened with interest and pleasure to Elder John Gillingham's occasional preaching at Sutton.] Having obtained a seat near the window during the services, Mary carefully studied this picture, which ap- peared to her a perfect triumph of art. After she went home she produced a clever sketch of it. From this time goddesses of liberty multiplied in her hands, and became famous in the school and neigh- borhood. One of them was actually put into a magazine. Caring little for the sports and pleasures of her age, it was Mary's habit to shut herself up in her father's study, and read over and over again the biographies of great men and distinguished women. She kept in advance of all the school-girls meanwhile, and improved in her drawing during the hours stolen from her spinning tasks and the duties involved in the care of other children. Ambitious dreams
876
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
and longings broke on the monotony of her lonely life ; she resolved to become an artist like those persons of whom she had read, and compel appreciation from the world."
The sketch goes on to relate the different and successive steps by which she finally carried out this resolve to successful completion, and, of her paintings, says,-"Several of her copies have great merit, as her 'Angel Gabriel and Infant Saviour,' from Murillo, Titian's 'Bella Donna,' &c., 'Beatrice Cenci,' which last has been pronounced an admirable copy. She made a fine copy of Guercino's 'Sibylla Samia.' Mrs. Weston's flesh-tints are especially natural and beautiful, and she gives a high finish to her paintings. Those from the old masters and others have such wonderful fidelity that her achievements in this line alone suffice to make a reputation. 'A Witch Scene,' from -, is admirable. One of her own compo- sitions is 'A Scene from Lalla Rookh,' and she has painted both landscapes and portraits from nature."
2. Lavinia Hobart Pillsbury m. June, 1852, Samuel Andrew, of Sut- ton. She was a lady of very amiable disposition, and an excellent wife and mother, and her death was much lamented by all who knew her. They had two daughters.
3. Josiah Hobart Pillsbury m. April, 1853, Elnorah Pervere, who d. 1868. He possessed quite a literary turn, and was connected with sev- eral newspapers. In early life he identified himself with the anti- slavery cause, and was a warm supporter of William Lloyd Garrison and Horace Greeley. It may not be out of place here to allude to the fact of the relationship of the Sutton Pillsburys to Parker Pillsbury, so widely known and remembered for the ardor with which he entered into the then unpopular fight against slavery.
Josiah Hobart Pillsbury was one of the editors and proprietors of The Eagle, a reform paper published in New York city, and also of the Anti-Slavery Standard. He was one of the first settlers in the new state of Kansas, where he was elected a state senator, and was a bold advocate of the cause of freedom, and an uncompromising enemy to slavery. He was there a farmer, and also civil engineer He was elected a county surveyor, was appointed deputy collector of internal revenue, and was post-master at Manhattan, Kan., for several years, and died there Nov. 5, 1879. He was a graceful and instructive speaker.
4. Stephen Pillsbury m. March, 1852, Sarah Annie Bailey, of An- dover. He subsequently studied for the ministry, and became an or- dained Baptist preacher. He was settled at Dunbarton, Mt. Holly, Vt., Lee, Mass., and at Manhattan, Kan. His health failing him, he was
877
GENEALOGY.
obliged to retire from the ministry, and engaged in mercantile busi- ness at Manhattan. They had but one son, who died in Kansas.
5. Edwin Pillsbury m. Feb., 1847, Mary Ann Reed, of New Bedford, Mass. He removed to Kansas and went into trade. He was quite a traveller, both by sea and land, was an observer of things about him, and possessed a fund of information.
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