History of Gardner, Massachusetts

Front matter

History

of

Gardner,

To the reader

To the reader.

This work was left unfinished by the author at the time of his death; he had collected together most of the scattered materials of which it is composed, leaving it in a form, that little else was to be done but to prepare it for the press.

In putting this work together, I may fail to mention some things that ought to be recorded, for want of information. I have taken considerable pains to learn what I could with regard to the Town since its formation as such, to the present time.

A very interesting part of the history of some towns will be lost sight of here; I refer to those places that were once settled by the Indians; some of them were one hundred and forty years previous to the incorporation of this town.

To you who have given your patronage by kindly furnishing us with statistical and other facts, with regard to the ecclesiastical, the manufacturing, the mechanical, and other interests of the people here, I would return my sincere thanks.

M. K. G.

Introduction

Introduction.

I am aware that it would seem to be the very height of presumption for a man at the age of eighty-six, to attempt to write a hook. My object in the first place was merely to note down some facts with regard to the early history of Gardner, recorded only in the memory of a few of the oldest inhabitants of the Town. The pleasure experienced in this employment was such as to lead me to extend it to the present time.

Some may object to the minuteness of detail, and familiarity of scene indulged by the author. Every writer has his own way of stating things; his peculiar mode of address; his individual style of writing. Then too, the tastes of readers differ widely; what is dull to one may be interesting to another; facts may be recorded that will afford interest in reading to those who may recollect the circumstances in connection, that would appear dry or insipid to one of the present generation. I am aware that it will be remarked, (and with truth too,) that "I could have written a better history myself, or at least a more interesting one." We do not make special claims to erudition, or a style of writing which shall attract for its novelty. I doubt not your friend could have done better in the meridian of life.

I would cherish the hope therefore, that this little volume may find readers whose charity will induce them to deal gently with the infirmities of age. In writing this history we shall endeavor to avoid all prejudice or partiality, and hope it may meet with a kind reception from an indulgent public.

Gardner, Sept., 1857.

Table of Contents

Table of contents.

Incorporation of the Town

Incorporation of the Town.

In the month of May, 1785, Mr. John Glazier, of Westminster, drew a petition to which he obtained about thirty signatures, and presented it to the Massachusetts Legislature, praying that honorable body to set off from the northwesterly part of Westminster, the west part of Ashburnham, the south portion of Winchendon, and the east part of Templeton, all in the County of Worcester, land enough for a Town. And in duty bound will your petitioners ever pray. Accordingly the Legislature granted their request and incorporated a Town by the name of Gardner, in honor of Col. Thomas Gardner, a noble patriot, who fell in battle fighting for the liberty of his country.

Gardner was incorporated June 15th, 1785. The number of inhabitants then in town were about three hundred and seventy-five, and sixty families; they were poor (with few exceptions) and lived in small ordinary houses; like new settlers hr other places, they were obliged to labor hard to subdue the land and bring it into a state of cultivation. There were but few mechanics in town at this time;—three blacksmiths, four carpenters, and three shoe-makers.

Situation and Extent

Situation and Extent.

Gardner is situated fifty-eight miles north-west from Boston, and twenty-five miles north from Worcester. It is 42½° north latitude, and contains about nineteen square miles, or 14,000 acres.

Its surface is uneven; there are no mountains in the place, though the traveler, in passing through the town, would think it pretty well dotted with hills.

There is a very pleasant one east of the common, familiarly known by the name of Esq'r Glazier's hill, now owned by Capt. Joel Cowee. About one-half mile west of the common, is another, owned by Dea. S. W. Bancroft. Southwest of the common is one owned by William Lynde. In a south-east direction is one belonging to Dr. Parker, formerly known by the name of Capt. Bickford's hill.

The original growth of timber in this town, was beech, birch, maple, hemlock and ash, with some elm and bass-wood. In the west part of the town was a large growth of white pine. A walnut tree may be found on the land of Capt. John Edgell, nearly opposite his residence; its origin was a walnut from West Boylston, planted by Mrs. John Glazier, in the year 1800. Another of the same description is located in the garden of Jonathan Brown; the walnut was planted by a brother of his, when a lad.

The soil is better adapted to grass than grain.

A little north-west and near the centre of the town, is a beautiful pond, about a mile in length and nearly one-half a mile wide; it is so well known by the inhabitants of the town that it needs no description; suffice it to say, that it is a pleasant resort for the pleasure-seeker and lover of nature, as many can testify who have enjoyed a sail across its smooth waters. There is also a small pond in the south-westerly part of the town.

Gardner is pretty well watered, although there are not many large streams in it. Otter river runs four or five miles on the south-west side of the town.

There is a brook having its rise in Winchendon, called the Bailey brook, running through the westerly part of the town and uniting with Otter river near the Goodnow mills, so called.

Another, by the name of Kneeland brook, rises in the northerly part of the town and runs in a southerly direction nearly parallel with the Bailey brook, terminating in Otter river, just below Parker & Bancroft's saw-mill. On this stream there is a large tract of meadow-land which is supposed to have been cleared by beavers, as there was no wood or timber thereon at the time of the first settlement.

There is another, rising in the north part of the town, between the other two, called the Wilder brook; after running in a southerly direction it unites with the Kneeland brook at the upper end of heaver meadow.

About one-half a mile north-east of Gardner center, may be found the head of a stream running in a north-easterly direction, through South Ashburnham, a corner of Westminster, and onward, losing itself in the Nashua river.

There are two streams rising in the east part of the town; after making very circuitous courses, they unite a little above the mills of E. C. J. and O. A. Travers. After their junction they continue in a south-westerly course to Otter river, near the pail factory of Amasa Bancroft.

There is another stream of some size, which has its rise in the town of Hubbardston, running in a northerly direction and uniting with one of the last mentioned streams, near the house of Joseph Maynard. On this stream is a large reservoir for the benefit of the mills below.

The last stream which I shall mention, is called the Pond brook: it is the outlet of Crystal lake, and runs in a southerly direction into Otter river; on this stream, as also on most of the others, are more or less mills, of which I shall speak more particularly hereafter. It will be seen by the preceding, that the people of Gardner have geographically taken a high stand; as the water flows from its surface in opposite directions to the Connecticut and Merrimac rivers.

Family History

Family History.

The early inhabitants of the town were from the State of Massachusetts; from thirty different towns, and mostly from the counties of Middlesex and Worcester. They were distinguished as a class of people for their independence, persevering enterprise, intelligence, industry and probity.

They were subject to many hardships and privations. Without roads or carriages, or even beasts of burden; their own shoulders bore their grain to the distant mill, with no other guide than marked trees. With the lofty forests frowning upon every side, it was their mission to "go ahead" with their iron powers of locomotion, and make glad "the wilderness and the solitary place," while "the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose."

We would not regard it as a calamity that we have in this department so little that is allied to fame; it is but the common lot of humanity. While it is true that few of our citizens have been known to fame, it is also true that fewer have been known to infamy. As it is of familiar every-day incident, mainly, that the fabric of life is formed, we therefore claim an equality with common people.

Without doubt there may be found some mistakes in connection with the family register: this part of the work has been the most laborious and difficult to the writer. To those who have aided us in collecting these materials we render our sincere and hearty thanks.

If the register of any family is omitted residing in town previous to the year 1800, it is because it could not be gathered from any accessible sources of information.

Abbreviations.—Dau. for daughter, m. for married, ch. for children, ae. for age, and d. for died.

Early Settlers.

Bickford, Capt. William, from Beading, bought a tract of land on the great road to Royalston: he put up a saw and grist-mill,—the first that were built in Gardner,—where E. C. J. & O. A. Travers' chair-shop now stands. He was instrumental in building up the town; was chosen Captain of the first Militia company formed here. He served a period in the French war at Nova Scotia, and would have been a pensioner had he lived until the act was passed. He m. Tabitha Parker: their ch. were:—1. Tabitha, m. Nathan Howard; whose ch. were:—Amos and William. 2. William, m. Betsy White; whose ch. were:—Cassandana, Amanda Malvina, d., and Betsy, d. 3. Ebenezer, m. Sarah Hill; whose ch. were:—Roena, George W., Francis A., Asa D., Sarah, David, Mary, Martha and William. 4. Nathan, d. 5. David, d. 6. Edmond, m. Nancy Emory; whose children were:—Albert, Lucinda, Tabitha, Oliver E., Nancy, Betsy, d., Lydia, Charles and Otis, d. 7. David, d. Mr. Bickford d. in 1832, ae. 89.

Beard, Andrew, from Reading, settled in the south part of the town, in the early part of the town's history. Was a carpenter and a hard working man. The remnant of an aged tree is now standing near his former residence upon which he killed a bear. He married Miss Burnap; their ch. were:—1. Lizzie. 2. Tabitha, m. Abel Woodward; whose ch. were:—Aaron, Abel, Tabitha, Isaac, Mary, Nancy and Lock. 3. Andrew, m. Lucy Dunn; whose ch. were:—Andrew and Vinal Cranston. 4. Artemas, m. Lydia Baker; they had one child whose name was Lydia. 5. Aaron, m. Anna Dunster; whose ch. were:—Betrix, Mary, Lydia, Hephzibah, Anna, Dorcas, Lucy, Maria and Aaron. 6. Mary. 7. Abel. 8. Bethia. 9. Dorcas, m. Mr. Jewett. 10. Hephzibah. 11. Lucinda. Mr. Beard d. in 1831.

Bolton, Ebenezer, from Reading, was a farmer in the south part of the town. He was a minute-man at the battle of Bunker hill; at one time he felt the bullets brush his hair as they passed him. He received a pension for his services. He m. Elizabeth Holt; their ch. were:—1. Betsy, m. Nathan Taft; whose ch. were:—Nathan, Hollis, Jerusha, Lovina and Asa. 2. Esther, d. 3. Jerusha, m. Silas Holt; whose ch. were:—Reuben and Esther. 4 and 5. Abram and Asa, (twins,) d. 6. Ebenezer, m. Lenday Leland; whose ch. were:—Hollis, Horatio Nelson, Panthia, d., Emily, Ransom, Rhoda and Bellarmin. Mr. Bolton d. in 1835, ae. 87.

Baker, John, from Marlborough, was a farmer in the south part of the town. He m. Elizabeth Marshall; their ch. were:—1. Milley, m. Nathan Eaton; whose ch. were: —John, Milley and Myra. His second wife was Ellen Parmenter; whose ch. were:—Mary, d., Nathan, Mary, James, Eleanor, Benjamin, Marshall, d., Marshall, Eleazer, Stilman, William, Nancy and Sarah. 2. Esther. 3. Lydia. Mr. Baker d. in 1835, ae. 87.

Baker, Jonas, from Marlborough was a farmer in the south part of the town. He m. Miss Adams. His second wife was Susan Simonds; whose ch. were:—Joseph Simonds, Jonas and Betsy.

Baker, George, from Marlborough; he was brother to the two last mentioned individuals; they all located in the same vicinity and were of like occupation. He m. Dinah Parmenter; their ch. were:—1. Artemas, m. Sarah Nichols; whose ch. were:—Artemas, David, Luther, Sarah, Quincy, Isaac, Ibri, Uri, Persis, Amos and Chloe. 2. Persis. 3. George Adam, m. Olive Holden; whose ch. were:—George Holden, Willard, Roxa and Sumner. 4. Nancy. 5. Dinah, m. Eber Underwood; whose ch. were:—Gilman, Curtis, Dexter, Israel and Calvin. 6. Amos.

Baker, Thomas, from Westminster, settled on a farm now owned by Daniel Adams. He m. Mary Lewis; their ch. were:—1. Ezra, m. Lucy Priest; whose ch. were:—Fanny, Joel, Levi, d., Betsy, Joseph and Charles. 2. Richard, m. Althina Whitney; whose ch. were:—William, Lucy, d., Mary, Walter, Betsy, Francis L., Richard Baxter, Calvin H., Lucy Ann and Angeline Maria. 3. Mary, m. David Nichols; whose ch. were:—Roena, Marietta, Noyes and Marcus. 4. Joseph, m. Esther Holt; his second wife was Lucy Davis; whose ch. were:—Alexander and Lucy. 5. Roena. Mr. Baker d. in 1842, ae. 81.

Baldwin, Josiah, one of the first inhabitants, lived in town a few years; was a soldier in the revolutionary war three years. He m. Susanna, dau. of Israel Green; they had one child whose name was Susanna, who m. James Cowee; their ch. were:—Persis, Joel, Rebecca, Susanna, Betsy, Mehitable, Sarah, Lucinda, Person, George Washington, Aaron, James, William, John and Ruel Green.

Bacon, Joseph, from Sherburne, was a farmer and carpenter, residing about 1½ miles north-west of the center of the town, on the place now occupied by Joseph Whitney. He m. Abigail Cole; their ch. were:—1. Charlotte. 2. Arna, m. Betsy Sawin; whose ch. were:—Betsy, and Sophronia. 3. Joseph, d. 4. Abigail. 5. Atarah, m. Mr. Burbank; whose ch. were:—Abigail, Mary, Joseph and Benjamin. 6. Eliab, m. Christiana Comee; whose ch. were:—Calvin Cole, Eliza Caroline, Francis, Nancy, Cynthia Maria, James and Matthias Clark. 7. Arathusa. 8. Joseph, m. Lucy Wood; whose ch. were:—Sereno, Almira and Francis. 9. Francis, m. Malinda Kendall; whose ch. were:—Mary, Charles, Maria and Asa. Mr. Bacon d. in 1808, ae. 62.

Bancroft, Jonathan, from Ward, (now Auburn,) was a farmer and shoe-maker, living where now resides his grandson, Dea. S. W. Bancroft. He very narrowly escaped being drowned while attempting to cross the pond one evening on the ice; coming to an open place unawares, he fell in, but managed to get on to the ice again and returned home. He was at the taking of Burgoyne in 1777. He m. Sarah Case; their ch. were:—1. Jonathan, m. Betsy Parker; whose ch. were:—Sophia, Mary, d., Laura French, d., Jonathan Ormond, Mary Amanda, Laura Elvira, Jesse Parker, Lucius Lorenzo and Smyrna Osgood. 2. Smyrna, m. Sarah Whitney; whose ch. were:—Harvey Mansfield, Smyrna Winslow, Mary Elmira, Sarah Whitney, Amasa and Viola. 3. Sarah. 4. Mary, d. 5. Betsy. 6. Lucy. 7. Roxa, m. John Phillips; whose ch. were:—Warren, d., Eliza, Caroline, Warren and Mary Bancroft. Mr. Bancroft d. in 1826, ae. 76.

Brick, Jonas, from Sherburne, was a farmer, living in the south part of the town. He m. Hannah Richardson; their ch. were:—1. Silas, m. Anna Pike; whose ch. were:—Eliza, Milly, Maria and Ann. 2. Asahel, m. Betsy Snow; whose ch. were:—Asahel Augustus, Ephraim Sumner, Susan Sawyer, Jonas Richardson and Jerome Snow. His second wife was Mrs. Carpenter; they had one child whose name was Jane Elizabeth. 3. Charlotte, m. Mr. Wells; whose ch. were:—Emma, Charlotte, Judith, Willard, Wealthy, Sarah and Elizabeth. 4. Sarah. 5. Enoch. 6. Elijah, m. Sarah Comee; whose ch. were:—Alfred Harrison, David Comee, Mary, d., and Maria, (twins,) Eliza, d., Sarah, Mary, and Walter. 7. Jonas, d. 8. Judith. 9. Jonas, m. Esther Whitney; whose ch. were:—Mary Ann and Esther. Mr. Brick d. in 1822, ae. 64.

Brooks, Joel, from Stow, was a farmer, living in the west part of the town, where now resides Levi Curtis. He m. Tameson, dau. of Ebenezer Howe; their ch. were:—1. Lydia, m. David Nichols. 2. Lucy, m. George Scott. 3. Betsy, m. Isaac Jackson; whose ch. were:—Susan Elvira and Betsy Tameson. His second wife was Mehitable Minott; whose ch. were:—Rockwell, Maria, Melancy, d., Ellen, d. Daniel Webster and Edward. 4. Joel, m. Cynthia Taylor; whose ch. were:—Betsy and Lucy Ann. 5. Silas, m. Emily Conant; whose ch. were:—Luke, Sylvanus, Emily Elmira, George, Joel Josiah and Webster. 6. Luke, d. 7. Ann, m. Isaac Hall. Mr. Brooks d. in 1840, ae. 84.

Coolidge, James, from Sherburne, located as a farmer in the west part of the town. When Gardner was incorporated he was opposed to being taken from Winchendon, and petitioned the Legislature to set him back to that town, but was refused the favor: after a few years he became reconciled, and took hold in earnest to assist others in building up the Town. He m. Sarah Gould; their ch. were:—1. Sarah. 2. Joseph, m. Achsah Hale; whose ch. were:—Catharine, Lucy, Joseph Hale, Sarah, Artemas and Charles Monroe. 3. Betsy. 4. James, m. Annis Sawin; whose ch. were:—Warren, Betsy, Charles, Samuel Sawin, Sarah, d., Martha, James and Abigail. Mr. Coolidge d. in 1847, ae. 94.

Childs, Daniel, was a farmer, living in the north part of the town, where Mr. Harty now resides. He m. Phebe——; their ch. were:—1. William. 2. Daniel. 3. Jonas, d. 4. Mary. 5. Timothy. 6. Nathaniel. 7. Cynthia. 8. Jonas, m. Amelia L. F. Osgood; whose ch. were:—Lucius A., Amelia A. and Amanda. 9. Betsy. 10. Harriet. 11. Lucy. 12. Charles, m. Roena Baker. 13. Abijah. 14. Francis.

Comee, David, from Lexington, located as a farmer in the east part of the town; was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; he was in a fierce battle, when a ball from the enemy cut the hair from his head, (it being clubbed up,) another ball struck his gun as it was poised before him; it tore the barrel out of the stock and left the ball remaining. He m. Christian Maltman; their ch. were:—1. David, m. Esther Baker; whose ch. were:—David, Betsy, John and Lonisa. 2. James Maltman, m. Sarah Putnam; whose ch. were:—Maria, Christian, Sarah, James M., Mary, William W., Abby, John Porter, d., Leander Porter, Eliza and Daniel Webster. His second wife was Hannah Maltman; their ch. were:—1. Benjamin, d. 2. Christian. 3. Mary, m. William Fletcher; whose ch. were:—Mary Adaline, Eliza, William and Francis. 4. Benjamin, d. 5. John, d. 6. Hannah. 7. Sarah. 8. Ruhamah, m. Abram Jaquith; they had one child whose name was Abby Mead. 9. Martha, m. Ebenezer Fenno; whose ch. were:—Lucy Ann, Harriet Newell, Sarah, Henry Clay and Bernerd Maurett. 10. Benjamin, m. Lovina Mead; whose ch. were:—Charlotte Emeline, Caroline Augusta, Martha Ann, James Monroe and Sarah Mead. His second wife was Mrs. E. A. Seager; whose ch. were:—Rosette, William, Esquire and Helen. 11. Joseph, m. Miriam Stone; whose ch. were:— Christopher Columbus, Samuel, Martha S. and George. 12. George Washington, m. Fanny Vining. His second wife was Betsy Howard: whose ch. were:—George Marsena, Francis, Fanny and Frank. Mr. Comee d. in 1828, ae. 82.

Conant, Josiah, from Westminster, was a farmer, residing in the east part of the town; the place is now owned by Dennis Gates. He m. Annis Derby; their ch. were:—1. Aaron, m. Lucy Bancroft; whose ch. were:—Catharine, Boswell B., d., Boswell, d., Smyrna Bancroft, Emily, d., George Farewell, Aaron Winslow, Mary Bancroft and Sarah Case. 2. Lucy, m. Isaac Miller; whose ch. were:—Gardner, Mary, William, Lucy, Lyman, James, John and Nancy. 3. Nancy, m. Alpheus Simonds; whose ch. were:—Adaline, Abigail, Nancy, Maria, Myranda, Caroline, Hannah, Augusta, Sylvenus and Rebecca. 4. Betsy. 5. Farewell, m. Lucy Wright; whose ch. were:—Rebecca, Mary Ann, Calvin, John Wesley, Charles Wright and Lucy Maria. 6. Abigail, m. Jonathan Brown; whose ch. were:—Abigail, Maria and Myranda, (twins,) Emily, Jonathan Leroy, Elisha, Martha, Charles, Lucy, Mary and Edward Reynolds. 7. Mary, m. Asahel Corey; whose ch. were:—Jonas and Charles. 8. Josiah, m. Hannah Graves; whose ch. were:—Harriet, Augusta, William, d., Walter, Joseph Lewis, d., Francis, Ellen Maria, d., George Alvah and Eliza Jane. 9. Emily. 10. Susan, m. Asa Temple; whose ch. were:—Elizabeth Holland and Christopher Columbus. 11. Lyman, m. Emma Wells; whose ch. were:—Caroline Elizabeth, Mary, Edward and Theodore. 12. Maria, m. Joseph P. Howe; whose ch. were:—Maria, Abby, Edward Payson and Emergene. 13. Lanson, d. 14. Sylvester Thomas, m. Sarah Bickford; they had one child whose name was Charles. Mr. Conant d. in 1835, ae. 77.

Clark, Joseph, from Sherburne, was a farmer in the west part of the town. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war seven years, and received a pension ten years or longer. He m. Mary Maltman; they had one child whose name was Joseph, who m. Sarah Sawyer; their ch. were Leonora, Sylvester, Mary and Joseph Monroe. Mr. Clark d. in 1837, ae. 80.

Clark, Benjamin, (brother to the one last mentioned,) from Sherburne, was a farmer, residing in the west part of the town; the place is now occupied by his son, Dea. Samuel H. Clark. He m. Martha Minott; their ch. were:—1. Esther M. 2. Benjamin, m. Rebecca Richardson; whose ch. were:—Elizabeth and Mary Ann. 3. Mary. 4. Betsy, m. Lowell Leland; whose ch. were:—Leaden, Esther M., Elizabeth, d., Martha Elizabeth, Lucy, Henry and Joseph W. 5. Sarah. 6. Joanna M. 7. Samuel Harrington, m. Mary Bennett; whose ch. were:—George and William Raymond. Mr. Clark d. in 1827, ae. 65.

Dunster, Hubbard, from Westminster, was a cooper, residing on the place now occupied by Elijah Foster. He m. Rebecca, dau. of Benjamin Kendall; their ch. were:—1. Martin, m. Sarah Nichols. 2. Prudence, m. Isaac Fitts. 3. Rebecca, m. Gilman Robbins; whose ch. were:—George, Charles, Sarah, Caroline and Joseph. 4. Louisa. 5. Aseph, m. Sarah Stoddard; whose ch. were:—Lydia Ann, Caroline, Rebecca and Lucy. 6. Jane, m. Stephen Tyler; whose ch. were:—Mary Jane and Adaline. 7. Lydia, m. Joel Nichols; whose ch. were:—Eliza Ann, Frank and Emma. Dapheny m. Mr. Parsons; they had one child whose name was Warren. Mr. Dunster d. in 1818, ae. 45.

Eaton, John, from Needham, located as a farmer in the north part of the town, where now resides his son, John Eaton. He was a soldier in the taking of Burgoyne's army. He m. Mary Larkin; their ch. were:—1. Lucy, m. Mr. Boyden; they had one child whose name was Mary Ann. 2. Josiah, m. Mary Weston; whose ch. were:—Merrick, Mary Ann, Josiah, Otis, Danford, George, Nancy and Charles. 3. Mary, m. Isaac Williams; whose ch. were:—Mary, Charles and Calvin. 4. John, m. Betsy Esty; whose ch. were:—George, Warren, Franklin, Eliza, John, Amasa, Mary, Maria and Oliver. 5. Nancy. 6. Peter, m. Catharine Coolidge; whose ch. were:—Mary Ann and Charles. His second wife was Mrs. Knowlton. Mr. Eaton d. in 1827, ae. 81.

Eaton, Ebenezer, from Needham, was a farmer in the south part of the town. He m. Joanna Hutchinson; their ch. were:—Ebenezer, Jonas and Sarah. His second wife was Mrs. Richardson; whose ch were:—Betsy, George and Clarissa.

Eaton, Jonathan, (brother to the two last mentioned,) was a farmer, living in the west part of the town. He m. Bulah Ward; their ch. were:—1. Bulah. 2. Jonathan, d. 3. Joseph, d. 4. Benjamin, d. 5. Jonathan, m. Miss Lane. 6. Rebecca. Mr. Eaton d. in 1819.

Edgell, Joseph, from Westminster, was a farmer, living near the west village, where Charles Stacy now resides. He m. Dorcas——; whose ch. were:—Charles, Nancy, Joseph, d., Rebecca, Joseph and Kendall. He moved back to Westminster many years ago.

Edgell, Benjamin, from Westminster, was a farmer and cooper, in the south part of the town, living where Joseph Metcalf now resides. He m. Priscilla Graves; their ch. were:—1. Susan. 2. Benjamin, m. Mary Ann Dollonson. 3. Catharine. 4. Priscilla, m. Newell Brown; whose ch. were:—Charles, Sarah and Henry. 5. Mary, m. Luther Alden; whose ch. were:—Luther and Silas. 6. Farewell, m. Mary Ann Sawin; whose ch. were:—Emily, d., Elvira C. and Emily Janette, d. His second wife was Mary Ann Minott; they had one child whose name was George. 7. Louisa. 8. Lucy, m. Aseph Wood; whose ch. were:—Prucius M., d., Prucius M., Amanda, Theophilus, d., Lucy Augusta, Theophilus and Adelia. His second wife was Abby H. Pierce; they had one child whose name was Eliza H. 9. Abigail, m. Edward L. Turner; whose ch. were:—Francis E., d., Martha P., Edward S., Frank E and Harriet A. 10. Martha, m. Jonas Pierce; whose ch. were:—Calvin and Catharine, d. His second wife was Mrs. Nichols; they had one child whose name was Erastus N. Mr. Edgell d. in 1817, ae. 46.

Fisher, Gideon, was one of the first inhabitants of the town, living in the north part: was a great help to the place in clearing it of wild animals. He m. Mrs. Rebecca Hutchins; they had one child whose name was William. Mr. F. sold in a few years and left the place.

Foster, David, from Reading, was a farmer and carpenter. He was engaged in the Revolutionary war nine months, and was the last man who fled from the enemy at the battle of Bunker hill. He m. Betsy Minott; their ch were:—Betsy, d. 2. Susanna. 3. David, d. 4. David. 5. Betsy. Mr. Foster d. in 1815, ae. 70.

Foster, Samuel, from Reading, lived in the west part of the town. He m. Elizabeth Boyden; their ch. were:—1. Lizzie. 2. Samuel, m. Mary Payson; they had one child whose name was Joseph Payson. His second wife was Mary Persons. 3. Dolly, m. Mr. French. 4. Peter. 5. Jesse. 6. Assenath. 7. Jonah. 8. Rufus.

Fairbanks, Levi, from Harvard, was a farmer in the east part of the town, where his son, Levi Fairbanks, now resides. He m. Eunice Randall; their ch. were:—1. Levi, m. Miss Anderson; whose ch. were:—Phebe, Walter, Mary and Stephen. His second wife was Mrs. Pierce. 2. Jabez, m. Abigail Seaver; whose ch. were:—Abigail and Louisa. His second wife was Nancy Temple; they had one child whose name was Sardis. 3. Ephraim, m. Susan Weston; whose ch. were:—Nelson, Elisha and Stephen. 4. Joseph, m. Ruth Jaquith; whose ch. were:—Harriet Newell, Ruth Jaquith, Joseph and Alonzo. 5. Eunice, m. Stephen Weston; whose ch. were:—Adaline, Stephen, Maria and Mary. 6. Lydia, m. Arba Brooks; whose ch. were:—Eunice and William. 7. Stephen, d. 8. Luke. Mr. Fairbanks d. in the year 1845, ae. 90. His wife d. in the year 1851, ae. 92.

Fairbanks, Noah, from Harvard, was a farmer in the west village, living where Lewis H. Graham now resides. He m. Hannah Whitcomb; their ch. were:—1. Emory, m. Eunice Heywood; whose ch. were:—Emory H., Francis J., James H., Elizabeth E., Joseph W., Susan A., Lucy Ann and Laura. 2. Noah. 3. Sewell, m. Susan Heywood; whose ch. were:—James H. and Sewell W. 4. Aseph, m. Hannah Whitcomb; whose ch. were:—Aseph Waldo, Joel Whitcomb and Martha Malvina. 5. Sophronia, m. Lewis H. Graham; whose ch. were:—Lucy Jane, Henry Lewis, Mary Louisa and Lucius Fairbanks. 6. Hannah. 7. Lucy, m. Joseph Barker; whose ch. were:—Mary Lemira, Eliza Adaline and Martha Maria. 8. Joel, m. Esther Leland. Mr. Fairbanks d. in 1852, ae. 80.

Fenno, William, from Boston, was a farmer, living in the east part of the town; the place is now owned by Hosea Hadley. He m. Rachel Ray; they had one child whose name was Mary; who m. Abel Wood; their ch. were:—Lyman T., Hiram, Sophia, Dolly, Hannah, Cynthia, Joel and William. His second wife was Lydia Ray; whose ch. were:—1. William, m. Mary Corey; whose ch. were:—Samuel Farrar, Lucy Corey, Elmira, William Wood, Stephen, Mary, Lucinda and Frances Ann. 2. Asa, m. Grata Wheeler; whose ch. were:—David Dickerson, William Stone, Mary Emily, Jonas Wheeler, Ray, Elmira, Harriet and Joel. 3. Joel, m. Sarah Corey; whose ch. were:—Sarah Clarinda, Hezekiah Corey, Willard Jefts, Charles Alexander and Joel Carmillus. 4. Elmira, m. Joseph Carter; whose ch. were:—Mary Elizabeth, Adalaide and Eveline. 5. Lucinda, m. Washington Nichols; whose ch. were:—Eliza Jane, George Burknap and Charles Monroe. 6. Lyman, m. Mary Miller; whose ch. were:—Jane Maria, Ella Isadore, George Henry and Hattie Augusta. Mr. Fenno d. in 1822.

Green, Israel, the fourth inhabitant of the town, lived one and one-half miles north-west from its center. He had four sons, who were mighty huntsmen, and were noted for killing bears. The sons all enlisted in the Revolutionary war; only one of them ever returned. He had one dau. who m. Josiah Baldwin. Mr. Green removed to Westminster before his death.

Green, Nathan, from Leicester, was a farmer, living in the north-easterly part of the town; he abstained from all spirituous liquors, and in that respect was almost an exception in those days. About the year 1820 his house was struck with lightning; Mr. Green and his wife felt the shock. It affected him like a stick of wood coming with force against his lower limbs. It stunned Mrs. Green. They heard no report, though it sounded to others like the firing of a gun; there was no rain; the hemisphere was diversified with light and brassy clouds; there appeared a black cloud in the center, "like a man's hand," from which it was supposed that the electrical fluid proceeded. The carpenter who repaired the house found it considerably shattered and thought there was not a nail but what was either drawn out, or started. He m. a French lady, Margaret, dau. of John D. Jersey, from the Island of Journsey. They had no children. Nathan Green, (a nephew of his,) lived with them from a child, to whom he gave his property; he m Fanny Bicknell; they had one child whose name was Charles. Mr. Green d. in 1822, ae. 71.