Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 29

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 680

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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).

(IX) Howard, third child and second son of Arthur Douglas and Fanny (Castle) Bis- sell, was born in Buffalo, New York, Septem- ber 30, 1878. He was educated in public school, No. 16, and the high school of Buffalo, then entered Yale University, being graduated from the latter with the class of 1900. After leav- ing college he entered the employ of the People's Bank of Buffalo, continuing until 1903. He was with the Pittsburgh Steel Company for a year, then returned to the bank, and, in 1905, was appointed assistant cashier, a position he now holds. He is a member of the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce, and politically is a Democrat. His club is the Park, of Buffalo. He married, October 5, 1910, Dorothy Carroll Tre- go, daughter of Katherine (Carroll) Trego, of Hackensack, New Jersey.

(IX) Raymond, fourth child and third son of Arthur Douglas and Fanny (Castle) Bis- sell, was born in Buffalo, New York, October 26, 1880. He was educated in the Buffalo public schools (Central High) and Yale Uni- versity, where he was graduated, class of 1902. After leaving college he entered the employ of the Niagara Radiator Company, remaining until 1904. He was, for a time, with the Consoli- dated Telephone Company, in a clerical posi- tion, and, in June, 1905, was elected treasurer of the Frontier Telephone Company. In De- cember, 1908, the Frontier consolidated with the Western New York district, and Mr. Bis- sell was made assistant treasurer. After the consolidation, under the name Federal Tele- phone Company, he was elected assistant treas- urer, a position he now fills (1911). He is a member of the Westminster Presbyterian

Church, and in politics he is a Democrat. His clubs are the Park and Ellicott, of Buffalo.

He married, October 17, 1906, Helen, daugh- ter of Orsamus and Elizabeth B. (Griffin) Warren, of Buffalo (see Warren). Child : Elizabeth Warren, born November 26, 1908.

The Vought family trace in

VOUGHT America to the year 1710, and to Simon Vought, born in Ger- many, in 1680. He married, in his native land, before 1710, Christina -- , born 1684. To- gether they came to America, in 1710.

(II) John Christopher, son of Simon and Christina Vought, was born February 24, 1714. He married Cornelia Putnam.

(III) John, son of John Christopher and Cornelia (Putnam) Vought, was born August 6, 1750, died September 7, 1803. He married, November 22, 1772, Mary Grandin, born March 10, 1750. They had ten children.

(IV) Abraham, son of John and Mary (Grandin) Vought, was born December 19. 1795, died January 25, 1873. He married, May 9, 1820, Ruth Voorhees, born September 24, 1798, died April 8, 1891. They had four children.

(V) John Henry, son of Abraham and Ruth (Voorhees) Vought, was born February 13, 1825, died November 4, 1882. He married, June 9, 1858, Anne Webster. Children, all born in Buffalo: 1. William Grandin, May 14, 1860; graduate of Yale University, 1882; mar- ried, June 29, 1888, Natalie Sternberg; chil- dren : Grandin Sternberg, born June 20, 1889; John Henry, July 3, 1892; Schuyler, March 6, 1894. 2. Walter Joy, January 8, 1862; grad- uated from Yale University, 1893. 3. Anne Webster, November 7, 1863 ; married, Septem- ber 14, 1895, Edward Webster Dann; chil- dren: Dorothy, born August 27, 1896; Ru- dolph, November 5, 1897. 4. Mary Verplanck, born November 8, 1866; married, June 4, 1890, William Lansing: children : Ruth Voorhees, born January 17, 1896, now deceased; Helen Webster, born August 3, 1898. 5. John Henry. of whom further.

(VI) John Henry (2). son of John Henry (I) and Anne (Webster) Vought, was born in Buffalo, New York, April 29, 1870. He · prepared for college at the Briggs School, in Buffalo, and entered Sheffield Scientific School. Yale University, whence he was graduated. class of 1892, with degree of Ph. B. He at

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once took a position with the Lehigh Railroad Company, in the mechanical department, and later transferred to the Auburn division of the same road, as road foreman of engineers, and later promoted to general foreman at the Wilkes-Barre shops. Next he was promoted to be master mechanic, with headquarters at Hazleton, Pennsylvania; then assistant super- intendent of motive power, with headquarters at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. This was the termi- nation of his railroad career. In 1905 he came to Buffalo to take the position of general man- ager of the Buffalo Coated Paper Company. In 1907 he became president of the Cyclone Grate Bar Company, which position he now fills (1911). He is a member of the Epis- copal church, and an Independent in politics. His club is the Saturn, of Buffalo.

He married, October 8, 1895, Mary Warren, daughter of James D. and his second wife, Mary (Mills) Warren (see Warren VII). Chil- dren : Katherine Warren, born January 1, 1897, at Auburn; New York; Anne Webster, Janu- ary 5, 1902, at Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

PRESCOTT The name of Prescott is of Saxon origin and is com- posed by the combination of two Saxon words, priest and cottage, and sig- nifies priest-cottage, or priest's house. It is a name long known in England. Orders of knighthood were conferred upon some branches of the family who were among the nobility of England. A coat of mail and armor, such as worn by ancient knights, was brought to this country by the emigrant, John Prescott, hence it is inferred that some of his ancestors had been warriors, and probably had received the order of knighthood. There is also preserved by his descendants a family coat-of-arms which was conferred upon a remote ancestor and worn by the Prescotts of Theobold's Park, Hertfordshire, Baronets, and by the ancient families of Lancashire and Yorkshire: Sable, a chevron between three owls argent (two in chief, one in base). Crest : A cubit arm coup- ed erect vested, gules cuff, ermine holding in hand a pitchpot (or hand beacon), sable, fired proper.

and armor. He married a daughter of Roger Standish. Their son James, for bravery and military prowess, was created lord of the manor of Dryby, in Lincolnshire, had new arms granted him, and was afterward known as Sir James Prescott. He married Alice Mol- ineaux, and left an only son John, who mar- ried and had a son James, the ancestor of the New Hampshire Prescotts. James Prescott's second son Roger (brother of Sir James) had by his second wife, Ellen Shaw, a son Ralph, baptized 1571-72. He married Ellen

Their fifth child, John Prescott, is the Amer- ican ancestor of the Prescotts herein recorded.

(I) John, son of Ralph Prescott, was bap- tized at Standish, in Lancashire, England, 1604- 05. He is named in his father's will. He mar- ried, January 21, 1629, Mary Platts, at Wygan in Lancashire. He later sold his lands in Standish, and resided for some time in Sower- by, parish of Halifax, Yorkshire. He left his native land to avoid persecution and from mo- tives of conscience, seeking an asylum in America. He first landed at the island of Bar- badoes, in 1638, where he was a landowner. In 1640 he came to New England, settling at Watertown, Massachusetts, where he had large grants of land. In 1643 he associated himself with Thomas King and others for the purpose of purchasing of Sholan, the Indian sachem of the Nashaway tribe, a tract of land which was to be terr miles in length and eight in breadth. He is spoken of in reference to this transac- tion as "John Prescott, the stalwart black- smith." He later settled on this tract, first called Nashaway, later Lancaster. He became a leading spirit among the early settlers, his great energy and strict integrity giving him com- manding influence. He took the oath of fidel- ity in 1652, and was admitted a freeman in 1669. He was a farmer, also millwright and blacksmith. He built a corn mill and began grinding May, 1654, following this by the erec- tion of a sawmill. Lancaster suffered greatly from Indian depredations, and for three years was uninhabited. In 1679 some of the first settlers returned, among them the Prescotts. Mr. Prescott lived to see the town rebuilt and prosperous. He was a man of strong athletic build, and severe, stern countenance. When- would clothe himself in his coat of mail (brought from England), with helmet, cuirass gorget, which gave him a fierce and frightful appearance. Many stories are told of Mr.

The Prescotts of America have traced their descent to the times of Queen Elizabeth, and . ever he had any difficulty with the Indians he to James Prescott, of Standish, in Lancashire, one of the gentlemen of that shire who were required by an order of Queen Elizabeth, dated August, 1564, to keep in readiness horsemen

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Prescott and his coat of armor, which seems to have stood him in good stead in several instances. . He died in 1683. Children, first four born in Sowerby, England : I. Mary, mar- ried Thomas Sawyer, of Lancaster, Massachu- setts. 2. Martha, married John Rugg. 3. John (2), married Sarah 4. Sarah, married Richard Wheeler. 5. Hannah, married, as sec- ond wife, John Rugg, whose first wife was her sister Martha. 6. Lydia, married Jonas Fair- banks, who was killed by the Indians when Lancaster was destroyed, 1676; she married (second) Elias Barron. 7. Jonathan, settled in Concord, which town he represented in the general assembly nine years; he was captain of militia, and in 1676 his house was fortified as a garrison house. He married (first) Dor- othy -, (second) Elizabeth Hoar, (third) Mrs. Rebecca (Wheeler) Bulkley. 8. Joseph. 9. Jonas, of further mention.

(II) Jonas, ninth child of John Prescott, the emigrant, and Mary ( Platts) Prescott, was born at Lancaster, Massachusetts, June, 1646, died December 31, 1723. He was a black- smith by trade and had a wide reputation. The town of Groton being in need of a smith, in- vited Jonas Prescott to remove to near the centre of the town to a lot of land which the town voted as an inducement. He accepted, and built a house and shop on the land and removed there in 1675. He also had a corn and saw mill, and became one of the largest land holders of the town. He lived on his farm near Lawrence Academy, where, on a large stone in the wall enclosing the farm of Stuart J. Park, is this inscription :

J. P. 1680 rebuilt by O. P. 1784 rebuilt by S: J. Park 1841.

The initials "J. P." are for Jonas Prescott, who lived upon the farm, and was grandfather of Colonel William Prescott, the hero of Bunker Hill: "O. P." are those of Oliver Pres- cott, a brother of Colonel Prescott. Jonas Prescott married, December 14, 1672, Mary, born September 28, 1653, died October 28, 1735, daughter of John and May (Draper) Loker. Her parents wanted her to marry a lawyer, and violently opposed her marrying Prescott. They resorted to harsh and extreme 10-W

measures, but "love found a way," and they were married. They had a large family. Mary lived to be eighty-two years of age, and at that time had one hundred and seventy-five descendants. . Children: 1. Mary, married Benjamin Farnsworth. 2. Elizabeth, married Eleazer Green. 3: Jonas (2), of further men- tion. 4. Nathaniel, died young. 5. Dorothy, married John Varnum. 6. James, died young. 7. Sarah, married John Longley. 8. Abigail, married James Prescott. 9. Martha, married Shuabel Hobert. 10. Susannah, married Colonel William Lawrence. II. Deborah, married Samuel Parker, brother of James. 12. Benjamin, married Abigail Oliver ; an eminent public deputy, justice of the peace, lieutenant- colonel of militia, justice of the superior court, and appointed to represent the colony at the court of Great Britain, but declined. He left three distinguished sons : Hon. James, Colonel William (of Bunker Hill fame), and Dr. Oliver, of Groton.

(III) Jonas (2), son of Jonas (1) Prescott, was born in Groton, Massachusetts, October 26, 1678, died September 12, 1750. He lived at Forge Valley, which since 1730 has been included in the town of Westford. He en- larged and improved the forge and iron works erected by his father, adding additional forges for making iron, as well as for other purposes. The water privilege and works on Stony Brook at Forge Village have ever since their purchase of Andrew, the Indian, been owned, held and occupied by the Prescott family. Jonas (2) was captain of militia, justice of the peace (as his father had been), and deputy to the general court in 1720. He married (first), October 15, 1699, Thankful Wheeler, of Concord, died No- vember 1, 1716; (second), April 30, 1718, Mary Page, born 1687, died July 19, 1781, aged ninety-four years. Children: I. Ebene- zer, of further mention. 2. Jonas (3), mar- ried (first) Elizabeth Spalding; (second) Eliz- abeth Howard; (third) Mrs. Rebecca (Jones) Barrett ; was a farmer and justice of the peace. 3. Thankful, married Timothy Spalding. 4. Mary, married Joseph Stone. 5. Sarah, mar- ried Deacon Samuel Minot. 6. Dorcas, mar- ried (second wife), Deacon Samuel Minot.

(IV) Ebenezer, eldest son of Jonas (2) Prescott, was born in Groton, Massachusetts, July 19, 1700, died December 1, 1771. In 1730 he and his brother Jonas (3) and others peti- tioned the general court to be set off from Groton to Westford, which petition was

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granted that year. He married, May 24, 1721, Hannah Farnsworth. Children : Ebenezer (2), married Elizabeth Sprague; Oliver, of further mention; Sarah, married John Edwards; Joseph, twin of Sarah; David, married Abiga !! Wright; Hannah; Rebecca, married (first) James Hildreth, ( second) Wright ; Eunice, married Warren.

(V) Oliver, son of Ebenezer and Hannah ( Farnsworth ) Prescott, was born May 5, 1725, died January 1, 1803. He was a farmer of Westford, Massachusetts, where he was for many years deacon of the church. He mar- ried, June 8, 1749, Bethia Underwood, born September 27, 1729, died at Haward, Massa- chusetts, October 1, 1813. Children: 1. Sus- anna, married Nathaniel Adams. 2. Hannah, married Richard Wait. 3. Colonel Benjamin, of further mention. 4. Betsey, died unmarried. 5. Bethia, unmarried. 6. Oliver, settled first in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, then in Whitetown, Oneida county, New York; married Keziah Howard. 7. Polly, died in childhood. 8. Phebe, died unmarried. 9. Lucy, unmarried. 10. Mary, married (first ) Eliakim Hutchins ; (second) Hezekiah Sprague. 11. Abraham, deacon, captain of militia, selectman, town clerk, overseer of the poor, representative to the general court several terms; could read and discuss topics of the times when in his ninety-fifth year ; died aged ninety-seven. 12. Isaac, married Lucy Hinckley.

(VI) Colonel Benjamin Prescott, son of Oliver Prescott, was born March 15, 1954, died 1839. He settled in Jaffrey, New Hamp- shire, in 1774, when it was yet a wilderness ; was a farmer and inn keeper. He acted as a spy for the American general, and the day previous to the battle of Bunker Hill was cap- tured by the British, but made his escape the next day. He was an active, energetic, influ- ential man, highly esteemed for his integrity. uprightness and sound judgment. He repre- sented the town of Jaffrey in the New Hamp- shire legislature for eleven years, was justice of the peace, and was much employed in public business, being a prominent and leading man in the town. He was an inn keeper for forty years. He was a deacon of the Baptist church, of which he was one of the active founders, from its organization to his death. He died at the age of eighty-five years, "a shock of corn fully ripe for its season." He married, De- cember 5. 1775. Rachel Adams, of Chelms- ford, born August 19, 1757. Children, all born

in Jaffrey, New Hampshire: I. Benjamin (2), died young. 2. Benjamin (3), a farmer and machinist of Jaffrey; married widow Sally Hodge. 3. Oliver, of further mention. 4. Rachel, married James Clay, a farmer of Rindge, New Hampshire. 5. Eldad, married Clarissa Hunt. 6. Nabby, died aged eleven years. 7. John Adams, a farmer and manufac- turer of Jaffrey, justice of the peace, and rep- resented Jaffrey in the legislature, 1858-59; married Martha Ryan. 8. Susannah. died aged three years. 9. Bethiah, died aged seven years.

(VII) Colonel Oliver Prescott, son of Colo- nel Benjamin Prescott, was born in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, February 9, 1781, died No- vember 25, 1850. He was a farmer and inn holder in Jaffrey, colonel of the New Hamp- shire militia. justice of the peace, and held other town offices. He represented Jaffrey in the New Hampshire legislature, 1822-1826 in- clusive. He followed in his father's footsteps in regard to public service and influential posi- tion. He married (first), May 23, 1811, Mary, born at Putney, Vermont, March 12, 1782, died March 31, 1839, daughter of James and Betsey W. Clay, of Putney ; (second), January 7. 1841, Mrs. Phebe (Coffin) Brown, born April 14, 1795, died August 11, 1844; (third). March 27, 1845, Mary (Bonner) Stratton, born June 23, 1789. The two last wives were residents of Winchester, New Hampshire. Children of first wife: I. Oren, died aged three years. 2. Daniel C., of further mention. 3. Elizabeth, died in infancy. 4. Elizabeth (2), born June 20, 1819; married, May 6, 1841. Colonel Rufus, son of Benjamin and Polly Haywood. (See Haywood). She survives her husband, a resident of Fredonia. New York.

(VIII) Daniel C., only son of Oliver Pres- cott and his first wife, Mary Clay, was born July 11, 1815, at Jaffrey, New Hampshire, died in Fitzwilliam, same state, 1864. He was a farmer of Jaffrey, and late in life removed to Fitzwilliam, in March, 1866.

He married, September 12, 1841. Abigail. born July 2, 1814, at Fitzwilliam, died there, 1882, daughter of Benjamin Davidson. Chil- dren : 1. Oren D., born April 29, 1843; en- listed, September 23, 1862, as private in Com- pany G, Fourteenth Regiment New Hamp- shire Volunteers ; promoted corporal and ser- geant ; was ordered to Department of Gulf of Mexico, where he contracted the diseases of

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that climate which kept him in the hospital; he married Ella Boynton ; no issue. 2. George O., born February 24, 1845; married Electa Lennox; has child, Grace. 3. Mary A., born September 21, 1847; married John Poole, of Jaffrey, and has Aime, and Oliver, who mar- ried Mary Goet, and has Susan Prescott. 4. Susan L., born July 25, 1850; married Charles Robbins, of Jaffrey ; child, Edward Prescott. 5. Martha Jane, born September 13, 1852; now a resident of Fredonia, New York, with her aunt, Mrs. Colonel Rufus Haywood. Miss Prescott is prominent in society, and regent of Benjamin Prescott Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. 6. Marshal Davison, died young. 7. Frederick Henry, died young.

HAYWOOD The grandfather of Colonel Rufus Haywood was Benja- min Haywood, a descendant of the Haywood family of Eastern Massachu- setts. He was a blacksmith by trade, and a resident of New Hampshire. He served in the revolutionary army, and in one of the battles of that great struggle was severely wounded in the breast by a musket ball. After the close of the war he returned to his New Hampshire home, where he lived a respected citizen until his death. He married and had a son Benja- min, born 1786, died February, 1853. He in- herited industry and business ability, and suc- cessfully improved his business opportunities. He followed agriculture all his days, and ranked as one of the foremost and most sub- stantial farmers of his state. He married Polly Sawyer, a native of New Hampshire, and a member of the well-known and influen- tial family of that name in New Hampshire. She died in 1842, aged forty-six years. Chil- dren: Adeline, Rufus, Albert, Abbie and Ellen.

Colonel Rufus Haywood, eldest son of Ben- jamin and Polly (Sawyer) Haywood, was born in Jaffrey, Cheshire county, New Hamp- shire, February 6, 1820, died in Fredonia, New York, May 20, 1891. He grew to manhood on the homestead farm, and was educated in Jaf- frey Academy. After finishing his studies he taught in the district schools for five years. He then settled in Winchendon, Massachu- setts, where for a year he conducted a meat market and ran a livery. He then returned to Jaffrey, where he purchased land, built a home and store building, and engaged in merchandis- ing and operating his farm. After three years'

successful business he sold and removed to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where in partner- ship with H. O. Houghton he engaged for one year in publishing law books. Closing out this interest, he went west, where he remained sev- eral years. While in Illinois he conducted a hotel for one year at Belvidere. Later he was teller of the bank there for two years. While west he speculated in corn, with the result of a loss of several thousand dollars of his capital. Leaving Belvidere, he purchased a farm near Chicago and began raising, buying and ship- ping cattle. While here he became convinced of the future greatness of Chicago as a com- mercial centre, and invested largely in real estate in that city, which subsequently netted him handsome profits. In 1855 he settled in Brocton, Chautauqua county, New York, where for several years he engaged in the stock business. In 1861 he formed a partner- ship with his brother Albert and a Mr. Hub- bell. They purchased several thousand horses and mules that later were disposed of to the United States Government. In 1863 he retired from the firm and accepted an appointment as paymaster in the Union army, ranking as major. He was stationed at Washington, D. C., and about the close of the war at Rochester, New York, where he was in charge of settling the accounts of New York regi- ments of that section as they returned from the field. He rendered efficient service, and was brevetted colonel by President Johnson, for "meritorious service." He was honorably dis- charged December 31, 1865.

He returned to Chautauqua county, locating at Fredonia, which was his home until death. From 1866 to 1876 he was largely engaged in mail contracts in a dozen different states, but held intimate relations with other important business enterprises. In 1866 he was one of the principal organizers of the Fredonia Sav- ings Bank, of which he was president. In 1877 he embarked in the oil business at Oil City, Pennsylvania, where he did a large and profit- able brokerage business. In this business his clear judgment and keen insight into every possible combination brought him through suc- cessfully where old and experienced operators went down in disaster. While his star was still in the ascendant and before age could im- pair his mental powers, he left the hazardous field of oil exploitation and confined his latter investments to the safer field of real estate. He was always interested in all that pertained

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to agriculture, and was a warm friend of the cause of education. He was a prominent member of the Masonic order, belonging to lodge, chapter, and commandery of Knights Templar. Colonel Haywood was big-hearted, hospitable and generous. At his beautiful home he extended to all his friends a warm -. hearted hospitality that was most cordial and unaffected. He was a man of rare intelligence, honest, genial and strengthful. His strength of character and sound business judgment car- ried him successfully through the business bat- tles of life, kept him true to every trust re- posed in him, and the epitaph "a good citizen" may be rightfully and justly written of him.

He married, May 6, 1841, Elizabeth Pres- cott, who was born in Jaffrey, within half a mile of his boyhood home in New Hampshire. (See Prescott). Children: three sons; two died in infancy, and Edward A., born January 26, 1861, died February 10, 1881.

WINSHIP The Winships, under a most remarkable variety of spellings, were early in New England, being first recorded in 1635 at Cambridge. Later the family settled at Lexington where they were among the most numerous and re- spectable families. Edward Winship settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he was made freeman in 1635. Was selectman of Cambridge fourteen years, between 1637 and 1684. He was representative, 1663-64-81 to 1686. In 1638 he was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company and also held a commission in the militia, holding the rank of lieutenant. He was also an active and honored member of the church. Lieutenant Winship was a large landowner, not only at Cambridge but at "The Farms" and at Lex- ington. He died December 2, 1688, aged seventy-five years. His wife, Elizabeth, died September 19, 1690, aged fifty-seven. Eleven children survived: Sarah, Mary. died young ; Ephraim, Mary (2), Joanna, Edward, died young; Elizabeth, Edward (2), of further mention; Abigail, married William Russell; Samuel, Joseph, Margery, married John Dixon ; Mehitabel.

(II) Edward (2), son of Edward (1) and Elizabeth Winship, of Cambridge, was born March 3, 1654, died in Cambridge, June 10, 1718. He was selectman of Cambridge, 1691- 93-95 and 1701. By an instrument signed by his heirs it appears that he had seven chil-

dren. He married, May 14, 1683, Rebecca Barsham. Children: Edward (3), of further mention; Elizabeth, born June 1, 1686; mar- ried Walter Russell; Ephraim, February 4, 1688; married Hannah Cutler; Nathaniel, married Rebecca Pierce; William; John, mar- ried Elizabeth Wyeth; Jason, born 1699.

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Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 29

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 680

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 680