The discovery of a grandmother : glimpses into the homes and lives of eight generations of an Ipswich-Paine family gathered together by one of the ninth for the tenth, eleventh and twelfth generations

Front matter

The

Discovery of a Grandmother

Glimpses into the Homes and Lives of Eight Generations

Chapter One. Early Life from Auto-Biography 198 The Journal 202

Two. The Country under Jackson, 1835-6 204

Three. Bangor in 1835-6 221

" Four. The Young Man and Lawyer in 1835-6

Aspiration 236

Five. Extracts from the Auto-Biography

Realization 245

Six. Letters 267

" Seven. Mary Hale Paine 272

Selma Ware Paine. Poems 279

Chapter One. The Home 292 The Mother 301

Two. The Pastor 305

A Sermon 307

Three. The Scholar 311

Four. The Poet 316

Five. Extracts from a Journal and Letters 320

Six. Poems of the Segur 326

Part Vn. The Patriots of the Family 335

The Grandmother, Abiel Ware Paine, at Sixty-one. . .Frontispiece

Drawn and framed by T. O. Paine Paine Coat of Arms facing page 16

From water color Abbey of St. Edmands, Bury St. Edmands. St. Mary's Church 18 Home of William Paine, Gen. I, at Ipswich 22

From wash drawing Home of William Paine, Gen. V, at Foxboro 28

From drawing by T. O. P.

Home of Lemuel Paine, Gen. VI, at Foxboro 30

From drawing by T. O. P.

Home of Lemuel Paine, Gen. VI, at Foxboro 32

From photograph Pen and Ink Sketches by Asa Paine, Gen. VII, at the Age

of Twelve 34-35

From original, 1794

Old Winslow 38

Lemuel Paine, Gen. VII 42

From daguerreotype

Henry W. Paine, Gen. Vni 56

Frederic Paine at Sixty-five, Gen. VII 66

From daguerreotype Abiel Ware Paine, at Sixty-three 72

From daguerreotype

The Old Church at Winslow 82

Rev. Thomas Adams 82

Facsimile of Abiel Ware Paine's Sketch Book 94

Timothy's Chamber, at Cloverside 120

From drawing by T. O. P.

Cloverside, the Old Homestead 156

From drawing by T. O. P.

Charles Frederic Paine, Gen. VIII 160

From daguerreotype

The Home Lane facing page 170

Albert Ware Paine, at Eighty, Gen. VIII 198

Inscription on Lexington Monument 200

Copy by A. W. P. at twelve, facsimile

The Home at 88 Court St 262

His Garden Mine of Health 266

Mary Hale Paine, at Seventy-five 272

Selma Ware Paine, Gen. IX 280

Timothy Otis Paine, at Thirty-eight, Gen. VIII 292

Agnes Howard, at Twenty-two 302

From daguerreotype

The Temple 312

From drawing by T. O. P.

To a Chickadee 326

Facsimile of manuscript of T. O. P. 1842

Part I. From England To Winslow

Chapter One. From England to Ipswich Two. From Ipswich to Foxboro Three. From Foxboro to Winslow

Paine Coat of Arms, from water color

Abbey of St. Edmands, Bury St. Edmands, St. Mary's Church Home of William Paine, Gen. I, at Ipswich, from wash drawing Home of William Paine, Gen. V, at Foxboro, from drawing by

T. O. P.

Home of Lemuel Paine, Gen. VI, at Foxboro, from drawing by

T. O. P.

Home of Lemuel Paine, Gen. VI, from photograph Pen and Ink Sketch, by Asa Paine, Gen. VII, at the age of

twelve, from original, 1794 Lemuel Paine, Gen. VII, from daguerreotype Henry W. Paine, Gen. VIII

FROM ENGLAND TO IPSWICH.

ANTE-EMIGRATION PERIOD

In 1886 my father, Albert Ware Paine, writes in his autobiography:

During the last eight or ten years, I interested myself largely in hunting up my ancestry and establishing the genealogy of our family. The work was an arduous one and one where at the start I had nothing to start with. I knew nothing of my family back of my own father, the name of his father not being known. But by perseverance I went my way and what I at last accomplished is made evident by my published work, "Paine Family, Ipswich Branch." The family was so little known that it had no distinctive name and it was left to me to name it, as I did, "The Ipswich Branch."

Having accomplished so much, I could not bear to have my labor lost, and so I concluded to perpetuate it by publishing the work, as I did (1881).

My father being by nature "a digger," when undertaking any work, was never content not to go back to the very beginnings of things. So, in his genealogical researches, while he started by seeking a more intimate acquaintance with his immediate ancestors, he ended by going back to the Aryans, via Scandinavians, etc. He divided his Genealogy into two parts, the Ante-Emigration and Post-Emigration Periods. In the latter he felt himself on sure ground, and in the former he was very hopeful of the accuracy of his conclusions.

Passing over this general history of the human race, I begin with what he calls "The Family Patronymic."

Part I consists almost entirely of extracts from this Genealogy.

The Family Patronymic

The patronymic of the family, the surname of "Paine," in its various forms of spelling, proves beyond a doubt its Norman origin. In Bardsley's "History of English Surnames" a minute history of the name is given.

Rollo or Rolf, the Northman, in the 9th century, firmly established himself in power as Duke of Normandy and became a convert to Christianity, and with his encouragement and support the doctrines became generally received in the villages of his dukedom. The people outside of the larger places still held very generally to the former creeds and resisted the innovation. So generally was this the case that to be a "countryman" came to be merely another name for unbeliever, so that the same word — "paganus" — came to represent or express a two-fold meaning. Hence the word which originally meant a dweller in the country as distinguished from one in the city, came to be a reproach as expressive of the idea of an enemy of the Christian religion, the two words "peasant" and "pagan" being used to express a liver in the country and a disbeliever.

When William the Conqueror passed over to England a large number of this class of citizens went with him and the term Pagan spread over the Island.

At about the same time, the habit became prevalent of using surnames to indicate unity or identity of family connections and this word was very naturally adopted for that purpose and became one of the most common surnames, lasting long after its original signification had ceased. The name gradually changed its form from Paganus to Pagan, Pagen, Payen, Payne and Paine, also Payson, Pyson and others. In Italy it took the form of "Paganini" or "Pagani." It indicates only a common Norman descent. Bardsley writes, "At the close of the Norman dynasty, it had threatened to become one

FROM ENGLAND TO IPSWICH 15

of the most familiar appellations in England and this while in our dictionaries * pagan' still represents a state of heathenism, in our directories it has long been converted to the purpose of Christianity and become at the baptismal font a Christian name."

Hugh de Payne

Following close upon the Norman conquest, in the latter part of the eleventh century, the Crusades began to rage. The history of the first, which was composed largely of Normans under the leadership of Robert Duke of Normandy, and which commenced its march in the last year of that century has a peculiar interest to the Paine race. At the termination of this crusade, Hugh de Payne remained behind for the purpose of more surely securing its grand results. For long months he, with others, acted the part of guide for all such pilgrims as might need aid and conduct to their journey's end and more particularly from the crossing of the Jordan to the city of Jerusalem. For this purpose he organized a force adapted to the occasion and diligently attended to the work. In company with Godfrey de St. Omer, he instituted an order known as the "Templars of the Cross," the sole object of which was to further the great objects of the Crusaders' mission, by protecting the Holy Places and rendering safe the journey of all pilgrims to the Holy Shrine. The original organization embraced only seven others beside themselves. Starting with this small beginning, the order soon began to extend its limits and its power until it became the most powerful and opulent of all organizations. Started in a.d. 1118, it continued to exist until 1312, when it was abolished by Philip the Fair and Pope Clement V.

To establish this Hugh de Payen as the progenitor of the Ipswich Branch of the Paine family, my father gave very careful study, made very careful deductions, and drew his conelusions to his own satisfaction, so that in his mind there remained very little doubt of his identity as the ancestor to whom and to whose father we should turn as being the first in written history.

In Domesday we read "Edmund, the son of Pagen, holds of the King and Hugh holds of him."

Domesday

When William the Conqueror became fully seated in power, he divided his land largely among the soldiers and followers from his native state. After this general division, he caused an inventory and appraisal of the whole kingdom to be made, taking account not only of the names of the parties occupant but also of all their estates with the names of the dispossessed owners, and the higher chiefs or barons under whom they held. These reports were reduced to order and compiled under the name of "The Domesday. " The original compilation was in 1086 and has been preserved with all the care of Holy Writ.

Throughout this book there are a large number of instances showing the holdings of Pagen (Payne) in various parts of England. On this broad Norman plateau, every family of "Paine" may find his ancestral home, if only he is able to trace it out.

Coat of Arms

My father turns critically to the Coat of Arms and to the names of William and Robert which occur so frequently throughout the early generations, William the Conqueror and Duke Robert being patrons of the Paynes.

Not that the Coat of Arms was that used by Hugh de Payne, for he died before these were adopted in England, but that the assumer was of his lineage, none other having a right to assume his characteristics, save his heirs, these being as a sacred heirloom, their title alone. Some one or two centuries passed

STOaX

BUG

FROM ENGLAND TO IPSWICH 17

before such Coats of Arms were adopted and very shortly after that we find that of "Leicester and Suffolk Counties" used by the progenitors of the Ipswich Branch then living at Market Bosworth in the County of Leicester. Few subjects connected with the early history of a family have more interest than that of the Coat of Arms adopted by its early founders. This not only tells of the general character or specific virtues of the assumer or his progenitors, but furnishes the best and most reliable evidence of family identity, especially where direct and positive means of knowledge are wanting.

The Coat of Arms of the Paine family is that which in works of Heraldry is known as "The Arms of Payne of Market Bosworth, County of Leicester and of the County of Suffolk." The family first settled in Leicester and afterwards removed to Suffolk from whence the original American ancestor emigrated bringing with him for use, this highly prized armorial ensign.

The illustration given here was taken from a water color. The colors are: the three "martlets sable," black; the "crest" or wolf's head, azure; the border and belt, red; the shield, silver; the "bezants" or coins and "mascles," gold. In Burke's Encyclopaedia is this description: "Argent,1 on a fesse,2 engrailed,3 gules.4 Between three martlets 5 sable,6 as many mascles,7 or,8 all within a bordure9

1 " Argent," silver, referring to the shield, purity.

2 "Fesse," the belt of the knight.

3 "Engrailed," indented or wavy edges, denoting that the honor was obtained with difficulty.

4 "Gules," red, referring to the belt, courage.

6 "Martlets," birds of a swallow kind without feet, denoting a younger son having no landed inheritance.

6 "Sable," black, denoting antiquity of lineage.

7 "Mascles," the three rhombs of lozenge forms in the middle of the belt, signifying meshes of a net; fishing privileges.

8 "Or," gold, goodness.

9 "Bordure," an additional honor or mark of cadency distinguishing one branch from another.

of the second,1 bezantee,2 crest, a wolf's head erazed,5 azure 4 charged with five bezants,5 salterwise.6 "

The Family Lineage

The first definite information of the family is that which is found in the "Visitation of Suffolk County," a work compiled in 1561. The family is described in this work as well as by Gage in his "History of Suffolk County" as resident in Leicestershire upon the famous Field of Bosworth where the last great battle of Roses was fought. The more accurate name is Market Bosworth, near the central point of the Kingdom, it being one of the places where Pagen of Domesday had land. The identity of lineage is made certain by the continued use of the Coat of Arms by the family at Bosworth and afterwards in Suffolk County and by the original American families for two generations after emigration.

Beginning with the history of the family as presented in the "Visitation," we have

Gen. I Sir Thomas Payne, Knight of Market Bosworth: 14—?

Gen. II Edmund of Bosworth, the youngest son of Sir Thomas: 1540

Gen. Ill William Payne, the eldest son and heir of Edmund: 15—?

1 "Second," of the second color named red.

2 "Bezantee," sprinkled with round pieces of gold. Said to indicate the coins of Byzantium or Constantinople, and that they had been to the Crusades and ransomed.

3 "Erazed," when the head is torn from the body and presenting at the neck a rough or ragged appearance instead of straight, showing strength as against skill with sword.

4 "Azure," blue, truth and fidelity.

5 "Bezants," substantive of bezantee, gold coins.

6 "Salterwise," arranged in the form of a cross, X, signifying Crusade service .

FROM ENGLAND TO IPSWICH 19

[He removed to Suffolk County and took up his residence in Hengrave and is known as Payne of Hengrave, a man of much note and importance in his day, being in the service of Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, as bailiff of his Manor of Hengrave.]

Gen. IV Anthony Paine, Gentleman, son of William of Hengrave :

[He lived at St. Edmunds Bury, one of the shires and principal town of Suffolk County and had the Manor of Nowton settled on him by his brother Henry. He died and was buried at Nowton in 1608.2

Gen. V William Paine, son of Anthony :

[He was baptized at St. Mary's church in 1565 and lived in Nowton. He inherited or had settled on him the Manor of Nowton, the same which Henry, the uncle, had bought of Henry VIII belonging to the dissolved monastery of St. Edmunds. This made him Lord of the Manor. The public records show that William Paine, sometime Lord of the Manor, was buried, Nov. 21, 1648 and must have been of the age of 83 years.]

Pages 51-54 of Paine Genealogy are devoted to statements in proof of this fact that this William Paine of Nowton is the father of the William Paine who was born in 1598-9 and who emigrated to America in 1635. My father closes this part of his studies with these words:

As already remarked their (William and Robert) father whosoever he may have been, must have been a grandson of William Paine of Hengrave who was the first and only person who introduced the Coat of Arms from Leicester County into Suffolk and was thus necessarily the great-grandfather of William and Robert of Ipswich.

His paternity being thus, presumably, established, we have an unbroken line of descent from Sir Thomas Payne, Knight of Market Bosworth about the year 1400 down to the emigration, with the further presumption in favor of the line extending back to embrace the Great Templar Hugh de Payne of crusade fame of the eleventh century and his father the distinguished "Pagen" of Domesday.

Chapter Two

FROM IPSWICH TO FOXBORO. POST-EMIGRATION PERIOD OR AMERICAN HISTORY OF THE FAMILY

Generation I

William Paine was born in Suffolk County, England, in 1598-9, probably in the Parish of Nowton. He was, pre^ sumably, the son of William Paine, Lord of the Manor of that place. He came to America at the age of 37 years in the ship Increase, Robert Lee Master, which sailed from London in April, 1635. There came with him, his wife Ann and five children, the oldest eleven years and the youngest eight weeks.

They landed at Boston and immediately took up their residence in Watertown. He formed one of the "earliest list of the inhabitants" "to whom was allotted a grant of the Great Dividends to the freeman and all the townsmen there inhabiting, being 120 in number." To each of them was assigned 70 acres. His location was in the neighborhood of the present grounds of Mt. Auburn, on the "road to the pond," present Washington St., about one half mile west of Fresh Pond.

He soon became known as a large landholder and continued through life to be a large owner of property.

Having the prestige not only of good birth but of inherited wealth, with the additional characteristic of integrity and good judgment, he was soon selected for the performance of public duties and the holding of important trusts. His ancestors in the old country had been persons of distinction and importance through a succession of generations.

Watertown soon after his settlement there, having become surcharged with inhabitants, removals were found necessary and among those who sought new homes in other places, William Paine was one.

On July 4, 1639, he with his brother Robert procured from the legislature a grant of land at Ipswich "with leave to settle a village there." Here he resided for sixteen years aiding largely in building up the village and town. May 13, 1640 he was admitted freeman and endowed with all the privileges of citizenship.

His name is found all through Legislative records of the colony, ever after, during the rest of his life. He was appointed to establish limits of Northam (Dover) of Hampton and Colchester, of "Excetter and Hampton," to settle difficulties at Hampton, to settle the lines of Dover, Exeter, of Hampton and Salisbury.

In 1645 he with others was incorporated into a company known as "Free Adventurers," for the purpose of advancing the settlement of Western Massachusetts, a work of great importance.

This enterprise was mentioned frequently in Legislative acts, and was liberally endowed. At its beginning, a grant was made to the Company of a township of land "about 50 miles west of Springfield" near Fort Aurania, on the Hudson river and afterwards during his life the attention of the Legislature was often favorably called to the enterprise. The Dutch then held possession of the river and fort, and one of the last acts of William Paine's life, was to petition the Legislature to open negotiations with the Dutch government, with a view to securing the free navigation of the river to New York.

His name is constantly associated with the names of Governors Dudley and Winthrop, especially with the younger Winthrop, in connection with various works of public improvement and enterprise. When a work of importance was to be done, he seemed to have been the Governor's main support.

FROM IPSWICH TO FOXBORO 23

He owned five sixths of the old stone dam built at the head of tide waters in Watertown, a corn mill being first built there and later a "fulling mill." He was largely interested in the Lynn Iron Works, the first iron works ever established in America, known as "Hammersmith"; in the Iron Mine Works of Braintree, of New Haven, the Sturbridge Black Lead Mines, originally discovered by the Indians who used the products to paint their faces. There is evidence that he was interested in ship building as at the time of his death he was part owner of five ships. He was an extensive owner of lands, among other properties being that of Thompson's Island in Boston Harbor, the present location of the Farm School. This he gave to his son John at the time of his marriage to Sarah Parker. The deed that records this, records also an assignment or sale of 1500 pounds of stock of Piscataqua (Portsmouth). The records show also ownership of lots in Topsfield, Salem, a mill privilege in Exeter and lands in Boston with mention of "the houses thereon."

But it was not solely as an extensive owner of property that William Paine was distinguished. He had important traits of character which tended to make him a valuable member of society and to be regarded with high esteem in the community. He was a sincere professor of religion and eminently a man of a high moral standard. His property evidently large in amount was ever treated as a means of advancing the public weal and it would seem that in his investments he had an eye to that use of it that would do the most good.

During the last five or six years of his life he was an active merchant of Boston having a large credit and exercising his trade on a very extensive scale. Judging from the inventory of his estate, he must have carried an immense stock of goods of all conceivable varieties that the wants of a new community could possibly demand. His credit sheet among the needy classes was found very extensive and liberal.

He was in advance of his age in matters of public improvement and enterprise. One of the first objects of his ambition as a citizen of the "new world" was the advancement of education among the common people. He and his brother Robert were two of the foremost and most active of a small number of men who, at tfiat early day, took measures to establish and endow a Free School at Ipswich. This has ever continued to exist and is doing its work upon the fund which two hundred and twenty or thirty years ago (about 1660) they provided for the purpose, the income actually received during 1879 being $330.

William Paine died Oct. 10, 1660.

In his will he made a bequest to the school, of a lot of land known as "Jeffries Neck" at the mouth of the Ipswich river which he devised to the foeffees of the school to be held inalienable, forever, "not to be sold or wasted." Further he made a donation of 20 pounds to Harvard College, small donations to the several clergymen, eight in number, settled over churches in Boston, Watertown, Ipswich, Sudbury, Chelmsford, and Rowley. 1500 pounds to his daughter Hannah Appleton's children, certain sums to his wife and other relatives and all the remainder to his son John, after providing "that if my executors shall see just cause for some pious use and necessary work to give 100 pounds, they shall have power to take it out of my estate." The will has against his name a seal of wax with the impression of a "wolf rampant."

The place of burial is not known with certainty, but the city records of Boston disclose the fact that William Paine's grave is in the Granary Cemetery and following the directions given, we find it directly under the back window of the Athenaeum building, the stone with the single inscription "Payne" upon it, forming a part or being wrought into the basement wall of the building itself. "This, presumably, is the grave of the original ancestor of the Ipswich Branch, but it may not be so."

FROM IPSWICH TO FOXBORO 25

The uniform spelling of his name not only in his will but in his correspondence was the same as now used by his family, "Paine."

Generation II

John Paine, son of William, gen. I, was born in England in 1632, and at the age of three years came to America with his father, living with him at Watertown and Ipswich. He married Sarah Parker in 1659 and took up his residence in Boston. He continued the various enterprises in which his father was engaged at death, especially his mills at Watertown, Iron Works at Lynn, trade at Boston and Portsmouth and that of the "Free Adventurers" in Western Massachusetts. He was also interested in business at Ipswich, at Dover and Exeter. He appears to have been a man of great business capacity and enterprise.

Just before his father's death, the Legislature had upon petition, ordered negotiations entered into with the Dutch government for the purpose of securing the free navigation of the Hudson river by Fort Aurania and thence to the ocean. Soon after his father's death John appeared at New York for that purpose and also to adjust the southern boundary of the colony. The Dutch having been conquered at home, they evacuated New York and the English succeeded to the right of free navigation.

In recognition "of the great pains taken by him" grants of land were made to him by the Legislature at four different times amounting to many acres in extent, one of 4000 being in consideration of "the great services in running out our southern line." The first grant was made on condition "that he should settle twenty families on the territory and then procure and maintain a Godly and Orthodox ministry there."

As a wedding gift, Richard Parker, the father of his wife, had conveyed to him a tract of land of about 700 acres at the north end of Prudence Island situated in Narragansett bay near Providence, R. I. An intimacy had grown up between Gov. Lovelace of New York and John which led the latter to aid in the erection of Fort James "at the point of land formed by the Hudson river and Sound" at or near the spot now known as "Bowling Green." He advanced the necessary means out of his own private resources and so far won the favor of the Governor and the Duke of York afterwards King James II, that a patent of "confirmation" was made to him by them of the island named, to be held in fee forever as a Free Manor by the name of "Sophy Manor." The patent was made subject to the annual quit-rent of "two barrels of syder and six couple of capons," this in August, 1672. The following week "Paine" was made Governor of the Island for life with a council to be chosen from the inhabitants. One article was that of religious freedom. On account of further payments towards finishing the fort, he was released from the quit-rent and the island relieved from taxes. The island was thus held by him in fee and as an absolutely independent state, the smallest in America, being about six miles long and one broad. The "patent" and "commission" thus granted are now on file in manuscript in the Capitol at Albany.

His government and authority were of short continuance. His grant was alleged to conflict with a previous one made by the celebrated Indian Chief Canonicus in 1638 to Roger Williams and Gov. Winthrop and his efforts to exercise authority aroused the spirit of the colony. He was arrested and thrown into prison, but released on bail. In the Court of Trials he was indicted under the law of 1658 for unlawfully attempting to bring in a foreign jurisdiction for "intrusion" for setting up a new government within the limits of a former one without due authority. In this emergency he appealed to the Governor but he had no power to stay the proceedings and Mr. Paine was put on trial before the jury. He argued

FROM IPSWICH TO FOXBORO 27

his own case in writing but it was unavailing and he was found guilty. Here the matter stopped, he retiring from the conflict surrendering his position and claim and nothing further was done in the matter. The written argument thus offered and his letter to the Governor stamped with his seal are now on file among the manuscript documents preserved at the State Capitol at Albany. The argument is ingenious and lawyer-like. (For the argument and these documents see Paine Genealogy.)

He is said to have died at sea in 1675. Apparently, before his death he was unfortunate in business and lost his property, but there is no certainty of this. He left no will and no administration was taken out on the estate.

Generation III

William Paine, only son of John, gen. II, was probably born in Boston. The records give us only his birth in 1664, March 15; his marriage to Ruth Grover in 1691; his removal to Maiden where he lived during his manhood; and his death, April 14, 1741 at the age of 77.

Generation IV

William Paine, oldest son of William Paine, gen. Ill, was born in Maiden in 1692, married his first wife Tabitha Waite, 1717, and died 1784 at the age of 92 years although tradition grants him 105 years. "He was a man of great vigor of mind, strong constitution, obstinate and determined and a devoted friend of freedom." He moved to Norton after the birth of four children into that part which later was incorporated into the town of Mansfield.

An anecdote of him gives a picture of the state of the country which was new and infested with wild animals.

It is said that hearing in the night a pack of wolves, he opened the window and fired "his king's arm" into their midst.

In the morning fourteen dead wolves were found on the premises. It is not claimed that his one shot killed this number but that the wounded wolves in their rage added to the number.

In the "Grandmother's Sketch Book" is this entry:

November 16 18Jf.8. Anecdote of great, great Grandfather.

One anecdote of the * former William' is thought to be worthy a place in this Book. In early life he removed from Maiden to the town of Norton in Bristol county, Old Colony — where his children were born. This town is about thirty-five miles from Boston. At the commencement of the revolution, when the American army under Gen. Washington was stationed at Roxbury and the royal troops were besieged in the City of Boston, the old man then on the verge of his ninetieth year walked in one day from his home in Norton to the American camp. His erect and venerable form, his hair as white as snow — his firm step, and clear and heavy voice, attracted general attention. He was introduced to Gen. Washington and staff. 'Well ' said the Gen. 'Mr. Paine what brought you here? What good do you expect to accomplish?' 'Gen.' said the old man 'I have a number of Grandchildren in your army, and I have come here to exhort and animate them to be true men — do their duty and resist at the risk of their lives the oppressor of their country.'