HIENRY DUNSTER
AND
HIS DESCENDANTS.
BY
SAMUEL DUNSTER,
ATTLEBOROUGH, MASS.
CENTRAL FALLS, R. I.:
E. L. FREEMAN & CO., STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINTERIS.
1876.








INTRODUCTION.
When the life of Henry Dunster was published in 1872,
a genealogy of the male branches of his descendants, as
far as known, was added in an appendix. Some of the
female descendants were grieved that they and their
children could not be noticed. This just appeal could
only be met by urging the want of space allotted, and
the difficulty of identifying many of them after having
parted with their patronymic.
It is our purpose, as far as we are able, to amend this
acknowledged wrong and add more information, not
then accessible, of those who retain the name, as well as
those who by marriage have dropped it.
The name Dunster signifies a dweller upon a dun, or
down, and is of Saxon origin. There is a market town
in Somersetshire, England, and a castle there by that
name. Hence, we suppose, the origin of the crest(Book of Family Crests, Vol. I., page 155, and Vol. II.,
plate 85, No. 25,)-" Dunster, out of the top of a tower,
ar. an arm emboss, vested gri., cuffed of the first, holding a tilting spear, sa." But no knowledge or intimation
has ever reached the writer that that or other crest was
ever used or referred to by the American head of the
family. He was quite too democratic for that, as his
whole life shows.
There are several families in this country by the name
besides those descended from President Dunster, the
earliest of which appears to be Charles Dunster, who, as
Mr. Oliver Dunster, his great grandson, of Barnardsville,
New Jersey, states " was one of the twelve proprietors of
all South Jersey, and owned a great deal of land in West




IV                  INTRODUCTION.
Jersey," on some of which he now resides. The Dunsters in Leesville, Ohio, appear to be descended from
him. But the Dunsters of western New York, are of
a more recent immigration. They came from the County of Kent.  There is also in Grass Valley, California,
an Isaac Dunster, who came only a few years ago. There
was a Thomas Dunster in Newark, New Jersey, not related to Oliver, who had a son Henry, who was a Methodist minister. He had a son-an eminent bank note
engraver-now in the employ of the Russian government.
In the Army Hospital at Memphis, Tenn., in 1863,
there was the death of a "Dunster," but we have not
been able to identify his parentage. The account is
from a correspondent of the St. Louis Republican, which
we copy:
"A HOSPITAL SCENE AT MEMPHIS.-We came to the body of a
non-commissioned officer, a fine, large man, who during the last
few hours had become insane. The bone of his thigh was shattered by a ball, so high up that amputation could not be performed, so nothing was offered him but to lay there and die. Watching the terrible hues of mortification come upon his limb, feeling
the horrible poison steal up toward his vitals, grasping and deadening new tissues each hour, it proved too fearful for even the
strong man, who to his physicians had uttered no cry or complaint, and his mind fled for relief to insanity.
"As we approached he fixed a pair of cold, despairing eyes upon
us and exclaimed, pointing back over his shoulder,'Do you see
him, old Death there, sitting on the headboard and laughing? A
grim army joker in truth. The other night I felt a cold touch,
and it woke me. The moon flung in a bar of light, and I saw old
Death feeling of my wound. The icy touch numbed it, and the
next time I woke his hand was closer to my body. So it goes;
and lie will soon be pulling on my heart chords.' The maniac
then stopped as if for the purpose of reflecting, and during our
stay would part of the time be musing, part laughing, occasionally breaking out with the exclamation:'I plead to him that
they would be lonely at the old home; a wife and child are pleasanter than a tomb.'
"And so we left him, the utter corruption, the rottenness of the
tomb, and the vitality of a great man joined in one being, grappling upon the hospital bed. Life, with the full, strong pulse of
thirty years, had marshalled its forces, been defeated, and was
retreating upon its citadel, pursued by the decay growth of a few
days. The arteries would soon, stung by the poison tide, stagnate, and block up the gates of the heart. His name was C. P.
Dunster, from Illinois, I believe, but the regiment he belonged to
I have forgotten."




INTRODUCTION.                    V
The name appears to have been originally written
Dunstone. In an old letter in our possession, on the
back of which is the most extended sermon extant in
President Dunster's hand, it is so written, as it also is in
a record in Henry VIII. time. Could it, in the formation of surnames, have had any reference to the expression, "A great rock in a weary land?"  This letter having never been printed, we insert entire:
" 1655, the 20 Augt
Cousin Dunstone my kind love remember.d unto you my wife
yor Cozen mary Baldis Coy [Kay] tho growing od is in good
health I heard from her the last April I heard yor wife is dead
I desire you to remember my love to my sonn in Law Benjamin
Phillipps and ye rest of o.r ffreinds Crave here leave to rest.
Yor Loving Kinsman
This day we saled                  Tho. Greene
from ye Barbadoes
to England. I came
from Ginny to Barbadoes"
The name is an ancient one in England, especially in
Lancashire. As early as Henry VIII., there are records
in the parish of Middleton of the burials of Hugo,
Katherine, Johannes, and Georgius Dunster, all within
the year 1543; and in Edward VI. reign, George, Jannet,
Elizabeth ux Johannes Dunster and Johannis Dunster.
In Mary's reign, (1553), Anna, and before 1600 seven
others.
Among the nine weddings of "Dunsters " recorded in
the parish of Middleton between 1544 and 1594, is Henry
Dunster and Anne Strete, 25th July, 3 Edw. VI., 1550;
Edmund Dunster and Jane Hopwood, July 29, 4 Edw.
VI., 1551; also Henry Dunster and Katherine Kaye, 15th
May, 6 Edw. VI., 1553.
There are seven births recorded there before 1600,
among which are Martha filia Jac. Dunster, 27th Jan.,
1593, and Mary filia Jac. Dunster, 4th May, 1595, and
other children of Edmund and Richard. Dunster.
There were several Dunsters of some note. John, who
was Bachelor of Divinity, a canon regular in 22 Henry
VIII., 1530; Roger Dunster, a London merchant; John
Dunster, A. B., Magdalen College, 1600, A. M., 1604,
Proctor of the College, 1'611; Thomas Dunster, Proctoi
1*




V I                 INTRODUCTION.
of Wadham  College, 1688, D. D., 1690; Henry Dunster, Esq., married Mary, daughter and heir of Henry
Gardner, Esq., M. P. for Ilchester, 1660; Samuel Dunster published Anglia Redeviva, 1699, (Willard Memorial). There is also Horace's Satires, Epistles, and Art
of Poetry, done into English, with notes, by S. Dunster,
D. D., Prebendary of Sarum.  London, 1729.  4 Ed.
InI the life of Henry Dunster, page 254, is a record of
one marriage and tell baptisms, furnished by Charles
Deane, Esq., of Cambridge, who procured it in 1854
from  the Parish Clerk of Bury, in Lancashire.  This
record did not give any baptisms between 1595 and 1618.
Although it appeared identical with some facts in the
" Balehoult " Letter, it failed to give satisfaction as to
the birth of President D., or reconcile statements made
by him. These discrepancies are fully stated by Mr.
Chaplin.  We sent to Bury and had the record of the
old church there examined from 1594 to 1650. An attested copy is printed below:' Extracts from the Register of the Parish Church, Bury, Lancashire.
Anno. Dom. 1594, June, Robt., son of Henry Dunster.
1595, August, Henry, son of William.Dunster.
1597, April, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Dunster.
1600, August, Daniel, son of Henry Dunster.
1602, March, James, son of Henry Dunster.
1605, August, Robert, son of Henry Dunster.
1606, August, John, son of Henry Dunster.
1609, Nov., Henry, son of Thos. Dunster.
1611, Nov., Thos., son of Henry Dunster.
1618, June, Mary, daugh. of Henry Dunster (minor).
1620, Nov., Henry, son of Henry Dunster,
1622, Mar., Daniel, son of Robert Dunster, of Elton.
1622, May, John, son of Henry Dunster.
1625, Aug., Daniel, son of Henry Dunster, of Elton.
1627, Dec., Alice, daughter of Henry Dunster, of
Elton.
1628, March, Margaret, daughter of Robert Dunster,
of Tottington.
1632, July, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Dunster,
of Elton.
1L.J5, April, James, son of Henry Dunster, of Elton.
1638, Dec., Bitiah, daughter of Robert Dunster.
1640, March, Faith, daughter of Robert Dunster.
1649, Aug., Henry, son of John Dunster, of Elton.




INTRODUCTION.                  VII
The above are all the entries of the name of Dunster from 1590
to the end of 1650, as examined by me.  S. BAILEY.
Parish Clerk, BUry, Lancashire."
This record agrees substantially after 1617-at which
time, October 10, Henry Dunster was married to Isabell
Kay-with the one in the life of H. D.; but the entry
"1619, April xxii, baptised Elisabeth, daughter of Henry
Dunster," is entirely wanting in Mr. Bailey's copy.
In the parish records at Elton, a short distance from
Bury, is the registration of John Dunster's family of four
children,-" Henry, son of John Dunster, of Elton, born
Aug. 21, baptised Sept. 9, 1649." There can hardly be
a doubt that this Henry is the same mentioned in the
Bury records as having been baptised there. The other
children are Daniel, baptised July 27,' 1652; "Henry,
son of John Dunster, of Elton, born Aug. 24, baptised
26, 1655."  [The first Henry probably died in infancy].
Also, Mary, daughter of John D.  This John Dunster
was church warden there in 1677, and appears to have
been related to the Bury Dunsters-possibly might have
been the "John, son of Henry, baptised 1606."  There
is also the record,-" John, son of Henry Dunster,
buried Sept. 14, 1687,"-perhaps the same.
It is remarkable that there is a connected list of the
children of HENRY DUNSTER from 1597 to 1611, inclusive, with the single exception of 1609, where Henry
is named as the son of Thomas.  There is not in the
whole list of fifty-six years another child of Thomas
named; and their births came at such regular intervals
as to raise a doubt whether this Henry was not also the
son of Henry. If so, it would reconcile all the disagreements to which Mr. Chaplin refers, and make HENRY
DUNSTER to have been baptised in November, 1609, and
thirty or thirty-one years old at the time of being elected
President of Harvard College.
This doubt appeared of so much consequence that,
learning the records by age were in some places hard to
make out, Mr. Bailey was requested by us to re-examine
them, which he did, and wrote us as follows:
"11 Parson's Lane, Bury, Lancashire, England,  f
Feb'y 18, 1876.
Dear Sir:-I have carefully read over your letters to Mr. Kay




VIII               INTRODUCTION.
and Mr. Nabb respecting the entries in the register of the Parish
Church here. I have gone over the list I sent you, and compared
the names and dates with the register. The one in 1609 is plain
and distinct,-' Henry, s. of Thos. Dunster.' X * *
SAMUEL BAILEY."
This letter removes all doubt of the correctness of the
copy, and shows that if there be any mistake it must
have been in the original entry in the register. It would
be very easy for the Parish Clerk to mistake the Rector's
memorandum, and write Th. for H., and the long/ [s]
of that day for the y, and thus Henry would become
Thomas, with hardly a change in the chirography of the
other letters.  We hope that some one who has the opportunity to do so will further investigate the record of
that family, from whom we verily believe President Dunster to have sprung, by examining the wills, conveyances, court records, and tax books of that day; also the
births, baptisms, burials, which might leave the record
clear.  It would be a grateful tribute of Harvard College to the memory of her first President, whom she used
so roughly.
The Mr. Nabb referred to in Mr. Bailey's letter, whose
name is Thomas Dunster Nabb, is the son of Sarah
Dunster, who married John Nabb, and lives at 27 Back
Garden street, Bury.  They trace their relationship back
to John D)unster, whose ancestors owned the " Bolholt "
(as now written) estate.  He lived at Higher Wood Hill,
in Bury.  This John Dunster had seven children.
I. Richard Dunster.  He came to Southampton, Long
Island, about 1830; was a wheelwright; had four daughters; no sons. The oldest, Emma Dunster, married Mr.
Schroeder, and lives at Southampton.  They have had
four sons, one of whom  she named Samuel Dunster
Schroeder. He is 15 years old.
II. William  DunsteL, son of John, came to America
with his brother Richard, and was last heard of in Philadelphia.  He had a son Richard.
IlI. James Dunster.
IV. John Dunster.
V. Betsey Dunster.
VI. Sarah Dunster, who married John Nabb.




INTRODUCTION.                  IX
VII. Jane Dunster, who married Edwin Twigg, of
Bury, had four children.  Isabella, the oldest, married
Jeremiah Smith, of Bury.  About a year ago we had a
visit from him, and learned many facts of the Dunster
family.  The name does not exist in Bury now.  Were
the Newark Dunsters of this family? If so, the George
H. Dunster, of St. Petersburg, Russia, who graduated
at the New York College of Dentistry, Feb. 23, 1875,
and received the " Faculty prize for the best examina-tion in all the studies of the course," was, as we think,
descended from the same stock as Rev. Henry Dunster.
In Rev. Dr. Quint's oration, at Dover, N. H., the
name Thos. Dunstar appears, page 18, as a signer of
"The Combination for Government by ye people at Pascataq, 1640."  This is the earliest document in the history of Dover, and was dated 22d day of October, 1640.
As the earliest settlers of Dover and Portsmouth came
-from the west of England, it is probable that this Thos.
Dunster was from Somersetshire. He could possibly
have been President D.'s brother Thomas.  He was in
England, March 20, 1640, having buried both wife and
children recently.  The name appears signed last on the
"Combination."  Nothing further is known of him.
In Worcester, Mass., is a William Dunster, who came
in 1854 from Waterford, Ireland, with a brother, who
is in Canada.  They were expelled for not paying the
rents.  They are traditionally from  Lancashire, Eng.,
but have no written record.
The plan of the genealogy is made as simple as possible. Following the head of a family are the children,
arranged according to age, and numbered i, ii, &c., and
over the baptismal name a small figure to denote the
ryenerction.  This is followed by the surname, and when
deemed necessary that is followed by the parentage of
that child, in parenthesis, numbered as in the baptismal
name, so that any one can easily be traced back to the
earliest known record.  The history of each child is then
taken up, and their children numbered 1, 2, &c.; then
follow the grand-children, numbered (i) (ii) in parenthesis; then the great grand-children, numbered (1) (2),
also in parenthesis-each following its own parentage.




X                 INTRODUCTION.
When the history of any one is long, or the children so
numerous as to lead to confusion, that one is simply
named, and against the name is placed a full face figure,
1, with the sign ~, and in a subsequent page, at the same
figure, more of their history will be found.
The manuscript unexpectedly became more extended
than it was judged prudent to print. It is therefore
abridged in many places, and matter which we should
have gladly put in is omitted. Where the record of any
family terminates abruptly, it is for want of information
which could not be obtained. It is hoped that the MS.
letters and notes will be preserved in the family. To
avoid numerous foot notes, references are often made in
the text.
ABBREVIATIONS.-b. born; bap. baptised; bur. buried;
chn. children; d. died; dau. daughter; m. married;
unm. unmarried; r. or res. reside.
SAMUEL DUNSTER.
ATTLEBORO, MASS., NOV. 1, 1876.




HENRY DUNSTER
AND
HIS DESCENDANTS.
EMIGRANT ANCESTOR-HENRY DUNSTER.
Henry Dunster, the first of the name in this country,
and the first President of Harvard College, was born in
England, and came over in the year 1640. The only
known reference to the place of his birth is found in a letter* of his own, dated Feb., 1648, and addressed to Ch.
Ravius, Professor of Oriental languages in London. In
that letter he says: "Ego enim Lancastrensis sum " (for
I am from  Lancashire).  Another letter to President
Dunster, from  his father, is still extant,* * and is dated
"from Balehoult, this 20th of March, 1640." Balehoult (sometimes called Billyholt) is supposed to have
been the name of a private gentleman's residence in
* Life of Henry Dunster, First President of Harvard College.
By Rev. Jeremiah Chaplin, D. D. Boston, 1872. pp. 87, 271.
** Rev. Mr. Hunter (Willard Memorial, p. 345), says: " The
Dunsters of America are fortunate in possessing such a piece of
family evidence as this letter. It is one of the few cases which
have come under my knowledge in which New England families
can be traced by evidence that is indisputable to their English
home when they had abandoned it at so early a period."




2     HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
Bury, Lancashire. These letters, with others to friends
in Bury, indicate the place of his residence, and in all
probability of his birth, the date of which cannot be
exactly ascertained, but was about 1610-12. His father,
Henrye, had four sons (see Balehoult Letter), Henry,
Richard, Thomas and Robert, and two or three daughters, only one of whom  is mentioned by name in the
letter. Richard came to this country, as appears both
from the letter and from the college memoranda, in
1640, but nothing further is definitely known of him.
This letter, which is referred to in a manuscript sketch
of the Dunster family prepared by the Rev. John Marrett, [Harv., 1763,] was long supposed to be lost.  It was
found in the year 1853 by my son, Edward S. Dunster,
at that time a student in Harvard College, in the house
of Miss Hannah Dunster, of Pembroke, Mass., and was
by her presented to him, with other papers and books
which had been the property of President D.  She was
great grand-daughter of President D., and was then
eighty-four years of age, the sole living descendant of
her branch of the family.  The letter, herewith appended, was published, together with the other papers,
under the editorship of the Rev. Samuel Sewell, of Burlington, Mass., in the Mass. Hist. Coll., 1V Series, Vol.
II., p. 190.
THE BALEHOULT LETTER.
Grace mercy and peace bee multiplyed in Christ Jesus
vppon you Amen Kind and Louinge Sonns I am very
glad of your wellfare and good psperity I haue receiued
4 letters from you since you Ariued in new England the
first dated the 17th of August by Robte Haworth of
Boulton the second dated the 21th of August both wch
came to my hands in seauen weekes after you sent them
the Redd wheat I receiued but ye Indian wampenpegs*
weare lost out of your letter the third was dated ye 29th
of 8ber wch I receined on christms eue wth a letter of
Richards inclosed in the same the last dated the 12th of
8ber wch I receiued of one Millns that had beene wth
* The wampenpeg was the Indian money, each piece being of
the value of about the sixth of a penny.




THE BALEHOULT LETTER.               3
you in new England who lodged with me about mid
January but it seemes it should haue come by Colier your
Sisters remember theire loues vnto you both but you
must not expect them so longe as your mother and I do
liue your brother Thomas renembers his loue and hath
sent -yo 2 dozen of Almanacks but now he is a widdower for both wyffe and chyln are deade since michaellms I
pray god he take good wayes I do not know of any that
you sent for that entend to come as yett Touchinge
Richard I would aduise him not to come over againe as
yett for what soeuer is his due shall bee left in the handsof his sisters for I haue taken a generall aquitance of
Robte so that Richard and his sisters may haue what wee
two ould folke leaue and wee shall make no willfull wast
now concerninge our England since you went ouer wee
have beene sore troubled for the Scotts came into England a month afore michaellls and came to Tyne watter
where some of Our Troupers laye the Scotts proffered to
come over and our men wthstood them for a while but
ours beinge but 500 weare not able to wthstand 30 Thousand but fledd amaine insomuch as one Constable a gentleman of a company cryed to his band Ryde theenues Ryde
for your lyues and he himselfe for his pte Ridd so fast yt
he lost his capp and mist it not of rydinge two myles
Then the Scotts came pedentim towards newcastle in
some 203 [2 or 3?] dayes where ye yealded the towne
immediatly Theil was England in a fright for the did
not knowe what to doe but att last all the freehoulders
and trayned bande weare caled togather every Hundred
by itselfe and trayned for a fortnight togather also all
betwixt 16 and 60 weare caled togather so that vpon the
8th of 7ber beinge Bury fayre there was at Burye 40
Thousand wth such weapons as ye could gett and those
that had no better tooke euery one a great clubb and it
was caled Club fayre att Burye and all the prouision for
the fayre was eaten vpp that daye So that ye 800 which
trayned there weare scanted for a fortnight after of vituals the Buchers and Allewyues made a gayne of them
Then great troups of Souldiers weare sent into yorkeshire
and it was thought that there would haue beene some
Batayle speedely Butt the Lord turned all to peace and
2




4    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
a Parliment [The long Parliament.] was caled which
began the third of 9ber and the goe on very Joyffully
god bee praysed for the same And the Scotts are to remoue from newcastle before the 25th of march and the
must receiue 300 Thousand pounds to bringe them
whome againe Now for our great men of England the
most of them are proued traytors first lord deputy [Strafford.] of Ireland and the Archbishopp of canterbury
[Laud-Both were subsequently executed. ] and the great
Judges the rest of the Bishops are found in a premunire
except the bishopp of Lincolne who is suffered to bee in
the parliment house all the rest are Excluded finch ye
lord keeper is fledd wyndebancke the kings cheeffe secretary is fledd the Bishopp wrenn [Chaplain to Charles I. 1
had thought to haue flowen but his wings weare to short
All non conformists are suffred to preach and our Altars
are some of them puld vpp Surplusses and communion
books some tome the communion tabls brought downe
into the bodye of the church: Burton and Preen are
brought into the Parliment house wth great respect and
weare mett out of the citye with 200 couches in triumphe
so. that ye kinge did take it somwhat harshly and said so
many did not meete him when he came from Yorke from
quietinge the Scotts many peticions are prfered into the
Parlirnent against Idle dronken ministers and against
double beneficed parson [s] and suite made that all Chappells shall be reliued out of church Liuings your sister
Elizabeth is turned scribe and can do very well of 3
weeks tyme I pray you glue Richard good counssell and
bee the meanes to trayne him vpp in goodness and make
much of each other for it repenteth mee very sore of my
lyffe heretofore spent in Idle company and I thanke god
hartelye that plonged my lyffe to see my erors and foly
The ould Lady Ashton and Mr. Rawsthorns heire dyed
wthin 2 howers togather vpon wednessday afore eandlms
and weare buried att burye both in one graue vpon the
monday followinge The papists had conspired wth ye
deputye of Ireland to sett fightinge in the north pts that
ye might haue begun in the south where the should haue
had ayde out of Ireland and the spaniard laye watchinge
vppon the seas likewise to haue Ayded them but the




THE BALEHOULT LETTER.                 5
Holanders meetinge wth them  gaue them a great shake
and scattered them sore so that wee may well say that
man purposseth but god disposseth my lord saye and my
lord Brooke are sworne of the kings priuy Counssell
whose lyves ye byshops had ment to haue taken away not
long since your ould friend doctor Cossins for his honesty is put in the cage to see if he can singe well or no
All the monepolies for lycencesses are disanulled so that
euery man may buye and sell att theire pleasure wthout
controule we haue gotten ould Mr Horocks to bee lecturer att Burye euery thursday he begun afore christms
and hath promised for a tweueluemonth if god spare him
health and abilitie Mr Ashton of Midleton is one of our
knights for the Parliment who hath wth him for aduise
and counssell your friend ould Mr. Rathband who hath
beene wth him since it began The Scotts assone as the
came to new castle sange the 74th psalme: why art thou
lord so longe from vs &c [Sternhold and Hopkins's
version.] many great men are thought to bee faulty as
I writt afore Thus committinge you bothe to the ptection
of the Allmighty I rest
Your louing father
HENRYE DUNSTER
from Balehoult* this
20th of March 1640
This letter comes
by London."
Henry was educated at Magdalen College, Cambridge,
Eng., whence he was graduated A. B. in 1630, and A.
M. in 1634. The University here had, from an early
* Mr. Ellison, of Dover, N. H., who was born and reared in
Bury, and who is an engraver to calico printers, and therefore
accustomed to exact drawing, gave me a sketch of the vicinity,
on which he has marked a place still called Dunstar's. It is on
the Ramsbottom road, about a mile and a half from the Bury
bridge, over the river Irwell, and near the East Lancashire railroad. He has also located the place called Billyholt and the Bolholt print works on a cross-road running between the Tottington
road and Walshaw lane, about a mile from Bury bridge.
Rev. Mr. Sewall, the transcriber of the letter, had also obtained
from England independent and conclusive testimony to same
purport. [S. D. ]




6     HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
period, a reputation for liberality of opinion far beyond
that of her' ancient rival, Oxford, and it is not at all surprising that so many of her graduates, who were driven
from home by the then existing intolerance toward nonconformists, were found among the early settlers of New
England.  Among his. contemporaries at Cambridge,
were Jeremy Taylor and John Milton, Ralph Cudworth
and John Pearson, John Harvard and others, who subsequently became more or less distinguished.  He was
trained for the ministry, but it is questionable whether
he ever took orders in the church; and after a few years
spent in teaching, he emigrated to this country, apparently, so far as we now know, with no settled purpose.
He was a man of retiring disposition, and although holding to the most positive conviction of duty, he was by
nature opposed to controversy and strife; and so we may
with propriety assume that he was influenced in his
movements by a desire to avoid taking part in the angry
scenes just then commencing in England, which culminated in the establishment of the protectorate under
Cromwell and the execution of King Charles and some
of his ministers.
He arrived in Boston " toward the latter end of this
Summer," [1640]* and for a short time resided "on his
own estate at the North East Corner of Court Street and
Washington Street." **  his reputation as a ripe scholar
had evidently preceded him, for "immediately upon his
arrival he was waited on by the Governor, magistrates,
elders and ministers" and asked "by a sort of acclamatiou and general consent" to remove to Cambridge and
assume the Presidency of the College —a work which
proved to be his great life-occupation.  As to his fitness
for this work, there is abundant contemporaneous testimony. Johnson, in his " Wonder-Working Providence,"
says he was " fitted from the Lord for the work, and by
those that have skill in that way, reported to be an
able proficient in Hebrew, Greek and Latin languages."
* Johnson. Wonder-Working Providence of Sions Saviour in
New England, p. 162.
** Whitman. Hist. Ancient and Honorable Artillery. Quoted
by Chaplin.




CONDUCTING THE COLLEGE AFFAIRS.          7
Prince speaks of him as "one of the greatest masters of
the Oriental languages that hath been known in these
ends of the earth.."  Shepard, the pastor at Cambridge,
calls him  "a man, pious, painful, and fit to teach, and
very fit to lay the- foundations of the domestical affairs
of the College; whom  God hath much honored and
blessed." Quincy, Pierce, and Eliot-the modern historians of Harvard College-have also recorded their
testimony as to the purity and nobility of his character,
and his great success in both the executive and the teaching departments of the College.
Thus fitted by education as well as by an experience
of several vears in teaching, he enitered upon the work of
organizing and conducting the College affairs. The College had been already established, but it was little else
than an advanced school. The first allusion in colonial
history to it, is in an order of the General Court, Oct.
28, 1636, making a grant of ~400 "towards a schoale or
colledge, whearof 2001. to bee paid the next yeare, and
2001. when the worke is finished." There is, however,
great doubt whether any of this grant was ever paid.
The Rev. John Harvard, from whom the College takes
its name, died in 1638, and by his will left the half of
his property, about ~700, and his library, numbering
300 volumes, in aid of the College. This was its actual
beginning, for it is certain nothing had hitherto been
done in the way of starting the enterprise. A class of
pupils at once began study under Nathaniel Eaton, the
master, though little was accomplished in the direction
of securing any plan of organization. Cotton Mather
speaks of Eaton as "a blade, who niarvellously deceived
the expectations of good men concerning him; for he
was one fitter to be the master of a Bridewell than a Colledge." He is remembered to-day only for his cruelty
and his avarice, qualities not especially desirable in laying the foundation of an institution whose purpose was
to "advance learning and perpetuate it to posterity."
The task before the incoming President was, in view of
this state of affairs, no ordinary one, but it is conceded
on all sides that he was fully competent for it.
Soon after removing to Cambridge, he united with the
*2'




8     HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
church there on confession of faith.*  This would seem
to imply either that he had hitherto declined to participate in any church organization, or if, as stated by Cotton Mather, he had taken orders in the English church,
he must now have renounced all such connection, for
he was styled "an orthodox preacher of the truths of
Christ."  There are many references to his supplying
the pulpit in Cambridge and the vicinity during his
Presidency, and he took a prominent part in founding
the church at Woburn.  He manifested great interest in
the education and conversion of the Indians, and joined
heartily with John Eliot and the AMayhews in this work.
Lecllford, the Boston lawyer, says of him in this connection: "He will, without doubt, prove an instrument
of much good in this country, being a good scholar and
having skill in the tongues.  He will make it good that
the way to instruct the Indians must be in their own
language, not English." The second charter of the College, obtained in'1650 on his express petition, declares
its object is to inlclude "the education of the English
and Indialt youth of this country in knowledge and
godliness. "
Besides the business of instruction and discipline**
which largely devolved on him, he was charged with the
adminstration of the College matters, even down to such
particulars as the direction of the Commons, the keeping of the students' accounts *** (their bills being mostly
* His religious experiences are given at length in a manuscript
volume by the Rev. Thomas Shepard, entitled, " The Confessions
of Diverse propounded to be received, and were entertained as
members." This volume is now in the library of the Historic
Genealogical Society of Boston. Vide Chaplin loc. cit., p. 257.
** Corporal punishment, which had been introduced from the
English Universities, flourished at Harvard in its earlier days,
and the President personally attended to this duty.
*** In the College Library there is still preserved an account
book, in President D.'s handwriting, wherein each student is
charged with the different articles which he consumed. In the
same book, also in his writing, is the original sketch of the first
seal of Harvard College, with its simple motto, " VERITAS,"
and a record of the vote which authori ed its adoption:
"C At ye meeting of ye Governors of Harvard Colledge in




COLLEGE -DISCIPLINE.                  9
paid in commodities), the construction of the College
edifice and the President's house, the collection of his
own salary, &c.  The requisites for admission into College, the details of the course of study, and the rules and
precepts for the government of the students, were prepared by him; and Quincy says that the principles of
education established by him were not materially changed
during the whole of the seventeenth century. In College discipline he appears to have availed himself of the
common belief of the age in the active agency of malevolent yet invisible beings, and there is a tradition in the
family of his having formally exorcised the Evil One,*
whom the students on one occasion had raised, but were
Colledge Hall, this 27 of 10th 1643 * * * It is ordered y.at
yere shall be a Colledge seal in form following." A fac-simile of
which is on the title page.
Mr. Benjamin Homer Hall, in his Chapter on the " Commons,"
Harvard Book, Vol. II., p. 83, says: "The great wisdom of
President Dunster appears nowhere more clearly then in the
capacity which he exhibited in dealing with the details of the
business to which he gave the strength of his manhood and
wealth that he could ill afford to spare." After further complimentary notice, he quotes in full the " orders " prepared by PresiD., "by the scholars and officers of the College, to be observed,
written 28th March, 1650."
* Raising the devil was understood in a very different sense in
the middle of the 17th century from that which now obtains
among College boys. There was a seriousness, not to say solemnity, about the business which ill-accords with the frivolity
of modern College pranks. On whatever the tradition may have
been based, it certainly dates far back in the history of the family, being found, in almost identical terms, in branches which
were separated as early as 1741 and have had little or no association since. For the tradition in full, see response by Samuel
Dunster in Proceedings Centennial Celebration, Town of Mason,
N. H. By John B. Hill. Boston, 1870. p. 80.
This story, perhaps, might have had its origin from the famous
interview between the President of the College and the Cambridge
pastor on the question of infant baptism.  Mather Magnalia,
Vol. II., p. 96, and Life H. D., p. 106. Having failed to answer
the President's logic, the " Matchless Mitchel" wrote in his diary,
Dec. 24, 1653, " After I came from him (Mr. D.) I had a strange
experience. I found hurrying and pressing suggestions against
Paedobaptism. *  * * Yet, methought, it was not hard to
descern that they were from the Evil One." In that day this was
the tribunal of last resort in knotty questions of orthodoxy.




10    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
unable to allay. Under Dunster, the College prospered,
and he was found equal in all respects to the expectations which had been formed of him.  " That which was
before"-says the historian Hubbard —"but at best a
schola illustra grew to the stature and perfection of a
College" and "soon acquired so high a reputation that
in several instances youth of opulent families were sent
over to receive their education in New England."  In
addition to the College work of so diversified a character,
he found time to correspond with learned men abroad,
and to devote his personal attention to the supervision,
through the press, of several publications. The first
printing press in North America, was set up in Cambridge, in 1639, " as an appendage of Harvard College;"
for it was considered too powerful an engine for good or
evil to be entrusted in private hands, and accordingly
for more than a hundred years it was kept under the
supervision of the General Court.  In 1641 it was put
under President D.'s management, and it was transferred
to the President's house, where it remained until 1655.
Among its earlier issues, was "The whole Booke of
Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English  Metre."
This book, now known as the "Bay Psalm Book," appeared in two editions-1640 and 1647. The translation
was made by thxee well known ministers of the dayMather, of Dorchester, and Eliot and Weld, of Roxbury-and it was intended to take the place of the Sternhold and Hopkins' version, in which, as is well known,
the translation was often very inaccurate, while the versification, as Mr. Chaplin says, "was too rugged even
for our not very fastidious fathers." The new version
" did not, however," says Neal, " satisfy the expectations
of judicious' men," and accordingly for a further improvement it was committed to the President.  Associated with him in the work of "revising and polishing,"
was Mr. Richard Lyon, and the result of their combined
labors seems to have been, on the whole, very satisfactory, for in its new form the book passed through more
than fifty editions. The poetry * was, it is true, a little
* Mr. Chaplin, in his life of President D., says: " The Oriental learning necessary for the work of revision, was probably sup



TRANSLATION OF THE PSALMS.                11
rough and shaky, though a great improvement on the
prior editions. The authors themselves seem to have
had mild doubts as to the smoothness of the metre, for
in their preface they say, "If the verses are not always
as elegant as some desire or expect, let them consider that
God's altar needs not our polishing; we have respected
plied in the main by the President, and this, we judge, was
worked up into something like poetry by the junior partner in
the enterprise; for Mr. Lyon, we are told, added to the original
work a number of songs and rhymes of his own composition. It
is due to Mr. Dunster's memory to relieve him, if possible, of the,charge of -furnishing the poetry." It gives us pleasure to be able
to exonerate the partnership from at least one poetic error, which
we fear Mr. C. himself, or his printer, is justly chargeable with.
In printing as a specimen of the work the first psalm, he gives
-the third verse, viz.:
He shall be like a planted tree
by water brooks which shall
In his due season yield his fruit,
whose leaf shall never fail.
Fail in the last line should read fall. The word shall in those
days was generally pronounced with a broad Scotch accent so as
to rhyme with fall. Scott-Lady of the Lake, Canto 4, XVII.,
1. 24-makes shall rhyme with all. The modern change in pronunciation has made many other of those old rhymes uncouth.
In Sternhold and Hopkins' version, the first verse of this psalm
reads:
The man is blest that hath not lent to wicked men his ear:
Nor led his life as sinners do, nor sat in scorner's chair.
I can remember well the very common pronunciation of the
word chair as if it were spelled cheer. For the following amusing
illustration of this I am indebted to Mr. A. A. Tufts, of Dover,
N. H. The Rev. Hugh Adams, minister in Durham, N. H.,
1718-1750, was a graduate of Harvard College, in the class of
1697. His classmate, Southmayd, cut the legs nearly off a chair,
and then sent Read, another classmate, to ask Adams to visit him.
On entering the room, he was politely invited to be seated. The
chair gave way, and Adams found himself sprawling on the floor.
Collins, a fourth classmate, being present to see the fun. On getting up, Adams immediately made this parody on the verse:
Blest is the man who hath not lent
To wicked Read his ear,
Nor hath his life like Collins spent,
Nor sat in Southmayd's chair.




12    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
rather a plain translation than to smooth our verses with
the sweetness of any paraphrase.  We have attended
conscience rather than elegance, fidelity rather than ingenuity," &c. The quaint Cotton Mather bears his testimony as follows: "Now, though I heartily join with
those gentlemen who wis i that the poetry hereof were
mended; yet must I confess that the Psalms have never
yet seen a translation, that I know of, nearer to the
Hebrew original."
For some twelve or thirteen years Mr. D. remained
President of the College, and administered its affairs
with eminent success. Indeed it is doubtful if in the
early history of Harvard any one person ever had so
large an influence in perpetuating her existence and
shaping her policy as her first President. But at this
time the public avowal on his part of sentiments of opposition to infant baptism created an intense excitement
in the colony, and roused a violent spirit of opposition
toward him. Says Eliot,* one of the historians of Harvard, "the orthodox spirit of the whole colony was instantly roused; and the strongest because involuntary
testimony is borne to the intellectual power and moral
influence of Dunster, by the alarm his defection excited,
and the harsh measures dictated by that feeling, while
his conscientiousness is attested by the meekness of his
submission to the rebukes which were sternly administered. "
The first public and official movement taken against
him was by the magistrates who sent a letter to the ministers in the early part of the year 1653, directing them
to make an examination of the whole matter as a basis
for their future action. TUpon this a conference was
held at Boston, Feb. 2d and 3d, 1653-4, at'which were
present nine leading ministers of Boston and vicinity,
besides Mr. D. and two ruling elders, twelve in all, and
before them Mr. D. publicly defended his views. The
conference labored with the "erroneous gentleman" and
endeavored to convince him of his mistake. But having
failed, as Cotton Mather quaintly puts it, "to expedite
* Sketch of the History of Harvard College, and of its present
state. Boston, 1848. p. 15.




PRESIDENT DUNSTER RESIGNS.           13
the entangled out of the briars," the General Court, in
May following, passed a vote commending it "to the
serious consideration and special care of the overseers of
the College * * * not to admit or suffer any such
to be continued in the office or place of teaching that
have manifested themselves unsound in the faith," etc.
Mr. D. understood the significance of this action, and
the next month, June 10, 1654, he forwarded through
the overseers a letter of resignation.  This was "ungraciously" accepted by the Court on the 25th of the
same month and referred back to the overseers, with an
order to secure "some meet person to carry on the work
of the College " in case he (D.) should persist in his resolution more than a month. Here was an avenue of escape opened to him, for he could now retain his position
at the cost of silence only. Hubbard says he might have
remained "in the place where he had spent the choise
part of his studies and his life  *  * * if he had been
endowed with that wisdom, which many others have
wanted besides himself, to have kept his singular opinion
to himself, when there was little occasion of venting
thereof." But he was thoroughly and conscientiously
an honest man-not as too many are honest only from
motives of policy-and there was for him but one course
to pursue. It is no surprise, therefore, to learn that in
the following month, July, he made another public
avowal of his sentiments, on the Sabbath day, in the
church at Cambridge. The overseers then being no
longer in doubt, and feeling that he was past recovery
from the " briars " aforesaid, proceeded "to inform him
that the interests of the College and the colony required
his removal."  Thereupon a second time, October 24,
1654, he sent his resignation, the final one to the overseers. It is interesting here to note that his successor,
Mr. Chauncey, who was appointed a few days subsequently, was notified in the tender to him of the position that "it was expected and desired that he forbear
to disseminate or publish any tenets concerning the necessity of immersion in baptism, and celebration of the
Lord's supper at evening, or to oppose the received doctrines therein. " What a difference between the two men




14    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
— the one sacrificing his position rather than stultify his;
conscience, the other purchasing a place on the condition of silence as to doctrines which it was well known
he entertained.
For his offence in July, Mr. D. was indicted some
months subsequently by the grand jury, the presentment being "for disturbance of the ordinances of Christ
uppon the Lord's daye."  He was tried, convicted and
sentenced according to the ecclesiastical law, "to be
publiquely admonished and give bond for his good behavior."  A second time, also some two years later-a
child having meantime been born to him-he was indicted by the grand jury and tried by the County Court,
for practically the same offence, the presentment being
now "for not bringing his child to the Holy Ordinance
of Baptisme." He was: again convicted, solemnly admonished of his dangerous error, and ordered to give
bonds for his appearance at the next court of assistants
at Boston. The bond was executed, but there is no
record of any further proceedings in the case.
Eleven days after his forced resignation, Mr. D. sent
to the General Court a petition,* wherein, without receding in the slightest particular from his avowed position, he invoked their merciful consideration of his circumstances. After expressing his hope that it might
not be thought nor reported that he "cast off his place
out of any froward morosity, foolish levity, or ingrateful
despising, either of the Court's forbearance or the overseers' amicable conferences," he makes three special requests.  First, for an allowance in salary which had
been commended to the Court by a committee thereof;
second, to be permitted to remain in the President's
house during the settlement of his accounts with the
corporation, and third, to be allowed to continue in the
colony in the work of teaching or preaching, " or in any
other laudable or liberall caling as God shall chalk out
my [his] way." This appeal, says Quincy, was treated in
a heartless way, and in the reply to the third request
was equivalent to warning him out of the colony.
* The original of this petition is now in the library of Harvard
College.




PRESIDENT DUNSTER REMOVES TO SCITUATE.   15
Notwithstanding this contenmptuous treatment, six days
later-Nov. 10, 1654-he sent to the Court a brief paper
of "Considerations," intended as a rejoinder to the reply of the Court to his second request, which had been
dismissed  "as most unreasonable."  These considerations had reference to the material circumstances of
himself and his family, and to the necessity of his remaining at Cambridge in order to acquaint the incoming
President with the administration of the College duties.
This paper, which shows not only a most positive conviction of the correctness of his position, but a most
commendable spirit of submission, closes in these words:
"The whole transaction of this business is such, which
in the process of time, when all things come to mature
consideration, may very probably create grief on all
sides;, yours subsequent, as mine antecedent. -I am not
the man you take me to be.  Neither if you knew what
I hold and why, can I persuade myself that you would
act, as I am at least tempted to think you do. But our
times are in God's hands, with whom all sides hope, by
grace in Christ, to find favor, which shall be my prayer
for you, as for myself."  The "simple, touching pathos"
of this appeal was not without effect, and he was allowed
to remain until the following March-some three months
-in the President's house.*
Shortly afterward he removed to Scituate, in the
adjoining colony of Plymouth, which was much more
tolerant in religious matters than her sister of Massachusetts Bay.  Mr. Deane, in his history of the place,
says, "we find notices of him  the same autumn (1655)
employed in the ministry, in which he continued nearly
five years."  His persecutions had already attracted the
attention of the Baptists of the mother country, and on
the 10th of July, 1656, he received from Mr. Edward
* The history in detail of this treatment of Dunster-which
was a notable specimen of the intolerance of the early settlers of
New England-is well told by Mr. Chaplin in his life of President D. The original documents bearing upon the case are
quoted in full by him. The reader who may desire further information regarding the matter is referred to this book, it being
impossible here to give more than this brief summary of the
transaction.
3




16     HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
Roberts, a leading member of that denomination in Dublin, a letter,* dated Dublin, 3d, 1655, urging him  to
make that place his home, and informing him that ~50
had been granted by the Lord Deputy (Henry Cromwell, younger son of the Protector) for the transportation thither of himself and his family.  The invitation
Mr. D. saw fit to decline, and he remained in the place
which had giveni him  so kindly a welcome, and which,
says Mr. Chaplin, deserves honorable mention for its
friendly treatment of dissenters.
President D. died at Scituate, Feb. 27, 1659-60. In
his will,** which was dated Feb. /8, 1658, he directed
that his body should be transpd rted  "to Cambridge
there to be enterred by my [his] lovinge wife [babes]
and other relaccons;" and it is a striking evidence of the
character of the man that he made special legacies to
persons who during his life had been his most unrelenting persecutors.   Also to a number of relatives and
friends, among whom he mentions "my cousin Bowers,'"  "my cousin fayth  Dunster,"2  "my sister Willard'3 and " sister Hills4 and all her children borne in
this country."
* The original of this letter, which is a remarkable specimen of
chirography for that day, is now in my possession. It is endorsed
in President D.'s handwriting-" Received 10th of July, 1656,
from ye hand of Goodwife Price. ye order of ye consel inclosed." Unfortunately the order has been lost.
* * The original of President D.'s will was stolen from the
Probate office in East Cambridge about the year 1850. It is difficult, therefore, to reconcile the discrepancy in different copies
between the words "wife" and "babes."  Mr. Pulsifer's copy
in the Probate office is clear and distinct, and reads "wife."
Mr. Harris, Librarian of Harvard College, 1831-1856, and who,
with his son, prepared an unpublished memoir of President D.,
a copy of which I was kindly allowed to make, insisted that the
word in the original was "babes." A copy of the will, in the
handwriting of Wm. G. Means, in the library of Harvard College, has it " babes." It seems probable, from internal and collateral evidence, that the word must have been "babes." For
copy of the will, see Chaplin, loc. cit., p. 303. [E. S. D.]
1 Bowers Bennaniel and Dunster Elizabeth, married at Cambridge, 9th day 10th month, 1653. " He was a Baptist, and arrived at the distinction of being more frequently fined by the




PRESIDENT DUNSTER'S PLACE OF BURIAL.    17
The place of burial was in the old cemetery opposite
the College grounds, a few rods northwest of the church
now  standing therein.   Over the grave was placed a
horizontal slab of stone with an inlaid tablet of lead,
County Court for not attending public worship than any other
man."  Willard Memorial, p. 341.
2 Faith married John Page, of Groton, Mass., May 12, 1664.
She had children by this marriage in 1669, 1672 and 1674. See
Butler's Hist. Groton.
3 It has been a question of considerable debate, whether Major
Simon Willard's third wife was "sister" or "cousin" of President D. Dr. Samuel Willard says Mary D. was the third wife of
Major Willard and that she was " cousin." The question is discussed at some length in the Willard Memorial without being
authoritatively settled, but a final reference is made to the fact
that President D., in his will, calls Major W.'s third wife his
" sister;" and adds, "if this expression is to be taken literally it
ends the question."
4 "3My sister Hills." Joseph Hills, of Malden, was married
four times: 1. Probably in England. "Rose Dunster, sister of
Rev. Henry Dunster, first President of Harvard College. She
died at Malden, March 1, 1650-1. 2. Hannah, widow of Edward
Mellows, married June 24, 1651. 3. Helen Atkinson, daughter
of Hugh Atkinson, of Kendall County, of Westmoreland, Eng.
Ceremony performed Jan., 1655-6, by himself, for which he was
admonished by the Court, and fined ~5. 4. Ann, widow of
Henry Lunt, March 8, 1664-5." (Gen. Sketch of Descendants of
Thos. Greene. App. p. 71.) His third wife was living at the
date of President D.'s will, and had probably two children by
Mr. H. She was not a blood relation of H. D., neither was Mr.
Hills. Still he calls her "sister Hills." Heretofore it has been
understood that she was his natural sister. This record precludes
that relationship, and makes her sister only as she was the wife
of his brother-in-law by a former marriage. The language of the
will in this connection is peculiar: " Concerning my daughter
Elizabeth my mind and will is that she shall be at the disposing
of her mother during her life in her minority and in case of my
wive's death then to live with my sister Mrs. Hills of Mauldon
during her minority and faithfully and carefully serve her as if
shee were her own child, and in case there also the Lord by
death should make such uncomfortable breaches in the family
that shee could not live comfortably there then she shall live with
my sister Willard of Concord."  Did not the phrase "In case
there also the Lord by death" allude to the possible death of Mr.
Hills, a firm friend and the executor of his will? In that contingency,- Elizabeth would be left with a step-aunt, whose own
children might receive her best affections.




18    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
upon which was an inscription.  This tablet has disappeared long since, and is supposed to have "done service for the country in the shape of revolutionary bullets."  By reason of this loss, as well as by many years'
neglect of the grounds, even the place of burial became
at length doubtful.  A most interesting account of its
re-discovery and identification is given by Mr. Chaplin
in his life of President D. This account was written by
the late Mrs. H. C. Conant, a sister of Mr. Chaplin,
who derived it from a personal narrative of Mr. Sibley,
then assistant librarian of the College. Mr. T. W. Harris, the librarian, and his son, WT. T. HI-arris, [Harvard,
1846] who were well known for their genealogical and
antiquarian researches, were specially prominent in the
matter of the identification of the grave. The grave
was restored by the order of the College authorities in
1845, and the stone slab which now replaces the missing
tablet contains the following epitaph from the classic
pen of Mr. Charles Folsom:
HENRICUS. DUNSTER
PRIMUS. COLLEGII. HARVARDINI. PRAESES
VIR. PIETATE. DOCTRINA. PRUDENTIA. INSIGNIS
OBIIT. SCITUATE. AN. M. DC. LIX.
HUC. TRANSLATUM. EST. CORPUS
UT. QUOD. ILLE. IN. VOTIS. HABUERAT
PROPE. ACADEMIAM. A. SE. TUM. NUTRITAM. IN. CUNABULIS
EX. RE. FAMILIARI
TUM. RITIBUS. DISCIPLINIS. LEGIBUS. INSTRUCTAM
REQUIESCERET
MONUMENTUM. HOC. INJURIA. TEMPORIS. DIRUPTUM
SOCII.;ETERNUM. ACADEMIE. DECUS. CURANTES
REFICIENDUM. JUSSERUNT. AN. M. DCCC. XLV.




FAMILY SECTIONS.                  19
FAMILY SECTIONS.
THE NUMBERS OF WHICH ARE REPEATED
AT THE TOP OF THE PAGES IN FULL
FACE FIGURES.
Dunster Henry..........................  1
Dunster David........                       2
Dunster Henry......................... 3
Dunster Jonathan....................... 4
Wade-Thomas-Elizabeth (Dunster)....  5
Dunster Henry.........................  6
Carteret Elizabeth (Dunster)............. 7
Dunster David.......................... 8
Dixon Martha (Dunster)..........            9
Marrett Mary (Dunster).................. 10
Cutler Abigail (Dunster)................. 11
Dunster Isaiah..................          12
Dunster  Jason...........................13
Taylor Betty (Dunster)..................14
Bemis Molly (Dunster)................    15
Dunster Hubbard................16
Dunster Thomas...................... 17
Wilder Marguary (Dunster).............18
Bailey Ruhamah (Dunster)...............19
Dunster Henry Carteret................. 20
Blood Ruth (Dunster)................       21
Dunster Henry.22
Swallow Rebecca (Dunster)..............23
Wright Martha (Dunster)........      24
Dunster  Isaiah..........................25
Dunster Jason............................26
Dunster Samuel Cutter...................27
Dunster Jason.......................... 28
Kimball Mary (Dunster).................29
Dunster Isaiah..                           30
Russell Betsey (Dunster).................31
Dunster Samuel.........................32
3*




~I"~'. t~'  477~                                               S.t 
r 118tats F-     ##X7                                                        t;                        z- n If  CA                                      I CmD7Fac-simile of Mr. Dunster's autograph writing taken from an interleaved copy of "A CONCENT
OF THE SCRIPTVRE," a book which belonged to him, and is now in my possession.




HENRY DUNSTER.                  21
HENRY DUNSTER.
Fac-simile of autograph.
1. HENRY' DUNSTER, Rev., President of Harvard
College, from Aug. 27, 1640, to Oct. 24, 1654, married
June 21, 1641, Elizabeth, widow of the Rev. Jose, Josse
or Joseph* Glover.  She died Aug. 23, 1643.  "She
was buried in the ancient burying ground at Cambridge
and has a stone much gone to decay."  There were no
children by this marriage. He married a second time,
Elizabeth, (surname unknown.) The date of this marriage is also unknown. There is a tradition that she
came from England when about eighteen years old, and
was soon married. She appears to have been well educated and to have had a superior mind.  She died Sept.
12, 1690. The Cambridge epitaphs state she was sixty
years old. This is an evident error, or she would have
been only fifteen years old when their eldest child was
born, which is very improbable.  His children, all by
the second wife, were:
2 ~. i. DAVID 2 DUNSTER, born May 16, 1645.
ii. DOROTHY 2 DUNSTER, born Jan. 29, 1647-8,
died young.
3 ~. iii. HENRY2 DUNSTER, born about 1650, died
young.
4~. iv. JONATHAN2 DUNSTER,'born Sept. 28 or Oct.
27, 1653; both dates appear on the town
records.
5 ~. V. ELIZABETHa DUNSTER, born Dec. 29, 1656.
*According to the Glover Memorial and Genealogies, the
Christian name is Joseph on the church records at Sutton and
wherever it occurs in English records and in the English County
histories. Sibley's Harvard Graduates, p. 208.




22    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DUCENNEd!iTS.
2
2. DAVID 2 DUNSTER* (Henry ), born May 16, 1645,
unfortunately fell under public censure.  At the County
Court, June 17, 1662, being only seventeen years old, he
was adjudged guilty of a youthful indiscretion, for which
he was sentenced "to pay a fine of ~20 to the use of the
county or to be whipt and also to give ~50 bond with
sufficient securities for defraying the charges," which
might naturally be expected. (COourt Record.) He soon
after went to England, and probably never returned.
In 1664 his mother, who was his guardian and who
signed the ~50 bond on his behalf, petitioned the Court
for relief, alleging that she "hath been at great charge
and expense for him since the death of your servant his
father: 1. In learning here, in hopes of his progress
therein, about ~100. 2. His voyage to England in hope
to settle him there about ~50. 3. To Mr. Stedman **
towards the court's sentence ~30. 4. There is due to his
sister out of his estate by will ~50 so that it is indeed
doubtful whether he have any clear estate of his own
left beyond which your petitioner did not understand
herself to be engaged." There is an old tradition (Rev.
Isaiah Dunster's Bible,) that President Dunster's son
Henry was a lawyer in England, and died there without
issue. This tradition may be safely rejected as utterly
false in regard to Henry, who undoubtedly died young,
but it may be substantially true in regard to David.
Their father says in his will: "I have given unto my
son David liberal education in schools of learning from
his childhood unto this very day;" and the mother says
she expended about ~100 during the next three years for
his advancement in learning here, until he departed for
England. A proper foundation was laid for subsequent
legal studies, and it is possible, indeed not very improbable-and it is surely most devoutly to be wished-that
he may have become a successful and eminent lawyer in
England, but we have no certain knowledge of his history after he left Cambridge.
* Rev. L. R. Paige, Gen. Reg., Vol. XXVII., p. 307.
* * The County Treasurer.




HENRY AND JONATHAN DUNSTER.            23
3-4
3. HENRY 2 DUNSTER (Henry 1). "Among the births
recorded in Cambridge in 1650 is that of Henry, son of
Henry and Elizabeth Dunster, but neither the day nor
month of birth is indicated, nor does the name subsequently appear. The tradition of his being a lawyer has
been mentioned, and its lack of probability.  There can
be no reasonable doubt that he died before Feb.'8,
1658-9, the date of his father's will. Not only is his
name omitted while other children are specially designated, but the testator's whole estate is bequeathed to
others, no part being reserved for him or for any other
person not named."  Tlhere is strength in the conjecture
that he and his sister Dorothy (ii) were the "babes " referred to in the will.
4. JONATHAN2 DUNSTER (Henry1), born Sept. 28
or Oct. 27, 1653, was a farmer, and inherited lands lying
on both sides of the division line between that part
of Cambridge called Menotomny (now Arlington) and
Charlestown (now Somerville).  In the Charlestown
Records, Dec. 30, 1706, there is an entry: "Ordered
"Also to Warn A INegro Man and A Negro
woman at Mr. Jona. Dunster's, to remove forthwith out
of this Towne and also to Warn s'd Dunster that he Entertain them no Longer at the peril of the law."  "Jona.
Dunster Tything man for the year ensuing March ye 5th
1715-16."  So that at this time he resided in Charlestown. In 1695, a difficulty arose between the town of
Charlestown and Jonathan Dunster, of Cambridge, about
a landing place on the south side of Mistick river, "and
the said difference not yet ended."  Charlestown appointed " Capt. John Cutter as their agent to prosecute
the same to effect, and the said Cutter & Dunster not
being able to compose the s'd difference," therefore " the
above named Capt. John Cutter & Mr. Jonathan Dunston agree, Nominate & Choose, James Converse of
Wooburn & Lieut. Peter Tufts  *  *  *  to hear &
determine the said difference."  They divided the landing place, and appear to have dissatisfied both parties.
Another committee was appointed, who reported that
they found the highway called the Bridgeway wch goeth
through the field encroached on in sundry places and




24    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
ploughed up & sown wth Indian corn by Mr. Dunster
*  * * but denied by him to bee any townway."
The day after his marriage contract with Ruth Eaton
(Nov. 24, 1719), he gave a deed, the original of which
is now in my possession, as follows:
"To all Christian People To whom This present writing shall come. Jonathan Dunster of Charlestowne in
the county of Middlesex in the Province of the Macsachusett Bay in New-England Yeoman sends Greeting.
Know ye That I the sd Jonathan Dunster (for and in
consideration of the natural affection I have and bear
unto my well beloved and only [by his first wife] son
Henry Dunster of Cambridge * * * husbandmanand for other good considerations me thereunto moving)
Have given and granted * * * unto the sd Henry Dunster his Heir and assigns forever the one full moiety or
half of a certain piece of land containing by estimation
thirteen acres * * * within the bounds of Cambridge
aforesd (on part of which the house and Barn of sd
Henry Dunster now stands           being now in the
actual possession of sd Henry) bounded Westerly by the
Road leading to Concord-Northerly by land of William
Russell and James Smith of Boston easterly on Woburn
Road leading to Charlestown-Southerly by Walter Russels land-or however otherwise butted or bounded."
To this deed, just above the signature, in his own hand,
is written: "Memorandum. it is to be understood that
I give this in part of my Sons portion"
"JONATHAN DUNSTER" [seal]
He died intestate in 1725, aged about 72 years  Henry
Dunster, his son, was appointed administrator, his widow
having refused to perform that duty. His estate was a
long while unsettled. Henry, to whom as the oldest son
a double portion was set off, was unwilling to accept the
award of the committee, (Messrs. John Fillebrown, of
Cambridge, Robert Converse and Josiah Johnson, of
Woburn, Stephen Hall and William Willis, of Medford,)
and complained that the part set off to him at 16s. per
acre was no better than that set off to his brothers at 12s.
Testimony as to. the value of the land was given by




SETTLEMENT OF JONATHAN'S ESTATE.        25
"Messrs. William Russell, Gershom  Cutter and John
Cutter, good friend to Henry D."  The papers were recommitted by the judge to the committee, who reported
that "In case we should proceed to make any alteration
as we proposed it would no wise satisfie the uneasy party,
but being willing To be resolved by the party him self
we sent and desired his Company with us, who returned
answer that he had run after us long enough already.
Whereupon we wrote to the Gentleman and desired he
would send us his minde in the same way. Whereupon
he wrote a few lines Intimating that watt we proposed
was yett in favor of the other party without even subscribing the same. Therefore we are humbly of Opinion
there is not any Mesures that we Can Safely Take in
Altering Either the Valluation or Distribution we have
already perfected that will make that uneasy Gentleman
any satisfaction"  * * * The judge then offered the
"same to Jonathan the 2d son who also refused, then
to Thomas the third son who did the like, then to the
dee'ds [deceased's] youngest son David who was willing
to accept thereof at the Rate in the Inventory."  "But
afterwards it was mutually agreed among them all that
each person should take their propotion in Land and
they propose to make a distrobution among themselves
and if they can't do it they are to come upon my citation
to nominate Commr. to be appointed for that purpose."
On the 10th of July, the heirs came together and chose
a new commission of five, and "they are to divide the
whole of the Real Estate of ye Dec'd equally among
them (Eldest Son two parts) and what each has had in
advance to be considered."  "I the subscriber relict
widow of the herein before named decea'd have perused
the afore written accot and do hereby signify my satisfaction therewith.                her
RUTH K DUNSTER."
mark.
( Coitrt Records, Charlestown, Lib. 18.)
JONATHAN2 DUNSTER, married Dec 5, 1678, Abigail
Eliot. She died, and he married April 5, 1692, Deborah
Wade, daughter of Major Jonathan Wade, of Medford,
and grand-daughter of Gov. Thomas Dudley. She died,




26    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
6-7
and he married (contract dated Nov. 23, 1719,) Ruth,
widow of Joshua Eaton, of Reading. She survived him,
and married Nov. 22, 1732, Lieut. Amos Marrett, of
Cambridge, and was published Sept. 30, 1742, to Peter
Hayes, of Stoneham.
His children by first wife were:
6~. i. HENRY3 DUNSTER, born July 17, 1680, m.
Feb. 25, 1707-8, Martha Russel, daughter of Jason Russel, by whom he had eleven children, and died Jan. 28,
1753. His widow married March 15, 1759, Francis
Locke. (Book of Lockies. )
ii. ELIZABETH3 DUNSTER, born Feb. 22, 1681-2,
died young.
His children by second wife, Deborah Wade, were:
iii. JONATHANS DTUNSTER, b. about 1695, at Charlestown, Mass., d. April 11, 1742, unm., aged 47 years and
5 months. He left by will his property to his brothers
and sisters. The inscription on his grave stone at Arlington is: "Here lyes Buried ye Body of Mr. Jonathan
Dunster, who departed this life April 11, Anno Dom"'
1742, aged 47 years & 5 mo."
7 ~. iv. ELIZABETH3 DUNSTER, b. about 1699, m.
Capt. Philip Carteret, or DeCarteret, and died Jan. 25,
1787, aged 87 years.
v. THOMAS3 DUNSTER, b. at Charlestown, and died
between April 3, 1 726, and April 1, 1728.  He is mentioned in the agreement between the heirs of Jonathan'
Dunster as having lately deceased at the latter date.
vi. DOROTHY3 DUNSTER, b. about 1702, admitted to
church in Medford-full communion-April 21, 1728.
She was married April 13, 1732, the record in Charlestown being:  "Mr. Solomon Page of Hampton in New
Hampshire and Dorothy Dunster of this Town were
joyned in marriage by the Rev'd Mr. Hull Abbot April
13, 1732." Mr. Page was the ninth child of Samuel
Page by his second wife, Anne Marshall, whom he married Nov. 18, 1702, and was born March 16, 1710. He
graduated at Harvard College, 1729, and was admitted
to the church the same year. (Hampltoib Records.) Mr.
Page was "schoolmaster of the Town" when a son




THE PAGE FAMILY.                27
named Lemuel was baptized Sept. 17, 1738. He supplied the pulpit in Hampton six months from March 15,
1733, at the request of the town, "the pastor being
sick." He was dismissed by the church to the Second
Church in Salsbury, Mass., Dec. 4, 1757, after which
no trace of him could be found until the present month
(Aug. 1875). A letter from Mr. A. G. Page, of Bath,
Maine, states that in "the old grave yard at Bath,
Maine, is a slate stone among the undergrowth with this
inscription:"
"In Memory of
REV. MR. SOLOMON PAGE
who was educated at
Harvard College.
He departed this life
March 12, 1788.
Aged 78 years."
His wife (Dorothy) died at Hampton, Oct. 13, 1741,
aged 39 years, leaving five children:
i. 
iii. HEPSEBETH 4 PAGE, born about 1736, died at Capt.
Carteret's, in Cambridge, Aug. 5, 1765, aged 29 years.
Mrs. Carteret was her aunt. (See records of second parish
Cambridge, now Arlington, by Rev. Samuel Cooke.)
iv. LEMUEL4 PAGE, baptized at Hampton, N. H.,
Sept. 17, 1738.
v. SIMON4 PAGE, baptized at North Hampton, N.
H., May 11, 1740.
Mr. Page married again, and had Judith born in 1743,
and Wilson in 1745. A further inquiry of Mr. A. G.
Page, elicited the fact that he also had a son Edward
H., who had descendants in Hartland, Maine. They
could give no record of Edward, but referred to Mr.
William H. Page, of Syracuse, Nebraska.  From him
was learned the fact that Edward H. Page, who kept the
second public house in Bath, died there in 1822, and was
73 years old, therefore was not a son of Dorothy (D)
Page. From William  H. Page was also learned, that
4




28    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
5
Rev. S. Page preached the first sermon in the first Congregational Church at Bath.  That church was torn
down fifty years ago.  It is hoped that the "Page
Family" will fill up this deficient record.
5. ELIZABETH2  DUNSTER (Henry,l) was born Dec.
29, 1656. Her birth, which has been supposed to have
been in Scituate, is recorded in Middlesex County. She
was the child whom  her father refused to bring to the
"Iholy Ordinance of Baptisme," for which he was put
under bonds for " Good Behavior." This transaction is
fully recorded by Dr. Chaplin (Life of Henry Dunster,
pp. 153-165). She lived with her mother, probably in
Charlestown.  It is doubtful if President D. took his
family to Scituate, although the history of that town
implies that he did.  She married, about 1686, Major
Jonathan Wade (his first wife died Nov. 1, 1683), of
Medford. Major Wade died Nov. 24, 1689, leaving nine
children, of whom four are mentioned (in the will of
Dudlev Wade, his only son, who never married) as " the
four sisters of whole blood."  Major Wade's children by
Elizabeth2 Dunster were (viiith* child) of Major Wade:
i. ELIZABETH' WADE, born 1687.  She died Aug.
19, 1721. Unmarried.
ii. DOROTHY3 WADE, b. Feb. 17, 1689, died young.
ELIZABETH3 WADE (Elizabeth,' Henry,1) made a will,
dated "Marshfield June 14 Annoq. Dom. 1715," proved
Sept. 8, 1721.  "I Elizabeth Wade daughter of Jonathan Wade late of Medford in the county of Middlesex,
Esq., deceased-  give and bequeiath all my estate
unto my dear and honor.d mother Elizabeth Thomas of
Marshfield the wife of Nathaniel Thomas of Marshfield
in the county of Plymouth, Esq."               In a
codicil, dated Aug. 4, 1721, she "further directs that
if my honoured mother-doth not stand in need to
sell my housing and lands nor will them away in her
life-time, then I give them as follows to the three sons of
Jonathan Dunster that were born of my sister-[half
sister] Deborah Dunster: I give to Jonathan Dunster
* N. E. Hist. and Gen. Register, Vol. XXVII., p. 309.




ELIZABETH DUNSTER THOMAS' WILL.        29
5
and Thomas Dunster one half of my housing and lands
to them and their heirs forever that are lawfully begotten
of their body, and the other half of my housing & lands
I give to David Dunster and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever."  "And in case any of these
sons should have any of these lands after my mother's
decease to pay the income to my honoured uncle Jonathan Dunster during his life."  Her mother was appointed sole executrix, and in her bond is styled " Madam
Elizabeth Thomas widow of the late Honble Col. Nath'.
Thomas Esq."
Major Wade died in 1689, and his widow, Elizabeth
Wade, was administrator, with others, and the estate
was divided March 23, 1697-8, to widow, Elizabeth,
children, Dudley, Deborah Dunster, Prudence Swan,
Katherine Wyer, Susanna Wade, and Elizabeth3 (Dunster) Wade. In a subsequent division, June 11, 1744,
a share was given to the heirs or assigns of the
daughter Elizabeth [the children of Jonathan Dunster].
After the death of her husband (Major Wade), she remained a widow more than a quarter of a century. At
length she became the wife (probably the third wife) of
Col. Nathaniel Thomas, of Marshfield, about 1714 (his
second wife died in 1713). Col. Thomas died Oct. 22,
1718, aged 74 years, and she returned to Medford, where,
after a second widowhood of about eleven years, sla died
between May 31 and Nov. 8, 1729, and was probably
buried at Medford. She made a will, which, as it exemplifies her character and disposition better than anything
we can say, we give entire. It was copied for us from the
Middlesex Records by Lorenzo Marrett, Esq., although
the substansce of it had been communicated before by
Rev. L. R. Paige. All we knew of her, and all that had
been published prior to 1872, was printed in Life H. D.,
p. 237, in these words: " Elizabeth is mentioned in her
father's will." At that time she was only two years old.
ELIZABETH2 (DUNSTER) THOMAS' WILL.
I, Elizabeth Thomas of Medford in the county of
Middlesex, widow, do make this. my last will and testament. I commit my soul to God and my Body decent




30    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
5
Burial.  Imprs.  My will is as follows:  I give to my
Nephew  Mr. Henry Dunster after my just debts and
funeral charges are paid, 1 give him all my stock of Cattle and horses only two cows and a horse I reserve Also
I give him  all my utensils for husbandry Carts Plows
with all other of the like tools Also I give him one years
service of my Negro Boy named Daniel he using him
well and giving him two suits of Cloaths at the years end.
Item. I give to his son Henry Dunster my Silver
Porringer* marked HDE and I give him one third of my
Books. **
Item.  I give to Jonathan Dunster and David Dunster and Elisabeth Cartrell and Dorothy Dunster all my
Housing and Land and meadows, marshes and pastures
woodlands and garden lands and all the lands from the
Brick House*** to the River that was their aunt Elizabeth
Wades I now  give them  with  all the rights in the
thirds that would have fallen to Elizabeth Wade had she
lived, with all manner of Housing and land that belongs
to me I give to these four children that were born of
* This Porringer, which is now in my possession, being badly
worn in several places was repaired in 1854. The monogram was
not altered. There can be no doubt that it was the property of
President Dunster, who was the father of Mrs. Thomas. In the
inventory of his estate (Court Records, Charlestown, June 21,
1659) there is this entry: " In plate of divers sorts, a whistle and
corrall ~38, 18s." The monogram will apply to no other family.
It has been in the family, as tradition has it, all the way down.
*I Among the books from Rev. Isaiah Dunster's library now
in our possession, is one entitled, "English Liberties, or, The
Free-Born Subject's Inheritance, containing: I. Magna. Charta.
II. The Proceedings in Appeals of Murther. III. Laws Against
Conventicles, Protestant Dissenters, &c. London. Printed by
G. Larkin for John How, at the Seven Stars, at the south-west
corner of the Royal Exchange, in Cornhil." (No date.) It has
"Jonathan Wade 168" and " Jonathan Wade of Meadford"
written on the blank leaf, and in the same hand and ink, "have
allway God before you." In a later hand and different ink is
"husband's."  Was this written by Elizabeth2 (Dunster) Wade?
arm The third [brick] house was built by Mlajor Jonathan Wade,
who died in 1689. It was sometimes called, like the other two, a
"fort," and is yet standing in good repair, and used as a comfortable residence. It is seen from the main street as we look up




ELIZABETH DUNSTER THOMAS' WILL.             31
5
Deborah Dunster and to the heirs of their Bodye lawfully begotten, forever, and if any of them die without
heirs of their body then to the next Heir and so forever
and I further add they shall let no lease for more than
three years.
Item.  I give to my two nieces Elizabeth Cartrell and
Dorothy Dunster all my household goods-Plate Pewter
& Brass fine Linnen and Bedding with all other things
(only what I reserve for Peggy) equally divided. I give to
my niece Dorothy my gold necklace and gold buttons
and my case of silver Instruments. I give to Elizabeth
Cartrell my great Bible and all my other two thirds of
Books equal among the four Kinsfolk.
Item. I give to my Negro man named Toney his
freedom, being a faithful servant for forty years.  I also
give him ten pounds in money and a cow and the liberty
of one acre of my marsh for to mow for three years after
my decease and also to pasture his cow three years and
the liberty to live in that Chamber that is mine for three
years and also to have half the Provision in the House
at my Decease and also to improve one acre of land ill
my field for three years. I also give him the liberty of
the Chamber for his life if he need it.
Item.  I give to the Rev. Mr. James Gardener of
ilarshfield five pounds in money to be paid him by my
executors in three months after my decease.  I give to
Jonathllan* Dunster my great Copper that holds a barrel and a half. I give to him and to his Children if
he have any and if not then to return to his sisters Cartrell and Dorothy Dunster.
Item. I give to Jack and Peggy one half of all the
Provisions in the House at my decease and they have the
liberty to pasture a cow and to get one load of Hay for
their cow for three years after my decease.
the Governor's lane. Its walls are very thick, and it is ornamented with what has been called " port-holes. " When first built
it was only half its present size; the addition was made by Benjamin Hall, Esq., about seventy-five years ago.  (Hist. Medford,
p. 48.)
* Jonathan did not marry, and the "copper" kettle went to
Henry3 Dunster, who willed it to his son Henry 4.
4*




32    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
5
Item my will is that my heirs shall see that Toney
be relieved at all times as his need requires. My will is
to my boy named Daniel, he shall be sold to Defray
charges while he is twenty one years of age and then I
free him and give him a cow or a horse which suits best
my executors.
Item  my meaning is as to the Land I give to Jonathan Dunster & David Dunster and Elizabeth Cartrell
and Dorothy Dunster they shall be equally divided
amongst them for Quantity and Quality and to not any
ways Disagree.
Item. I give to my two neices all my Silk Cloathes
the other I give to Margery my molatto woman.
Item. My will is that my negro man named Jack
shall live with his wife and Children he payving to my
nephew Mr. Henry Dunster fifteen pounds in one year
after my decease. I give to my mollato woman Margaret all her Children free from any claim of any body of
my heirs. I also give her a small House Plott of Land
namely 30 feet one way and forty feet long lying next to
Nathaniel Halls House I give to her and her children,
and I give her a cow and a feather Bed and a Brass Kettle with some other small things. I also give Jack'the
liberty to improve one acre of Land for three years in
my field and also the liberty he and his wife to live in
the chamber that is mine for three years. Also the Improvement of one half of the Garden and Toney the other
half for three years and then to return to my heirs.
Item. I give to Nathaniel Thomas Esq. a Gold Ring
and to the Rev. Mr. James Gardener of Marshfield a
Ring. I give to the Rev. Mr. James Colman a spoon
washed with gold marked T. C. I give to Mr. Richard
Brooks a gold Ring. I give Madam Usher my Colash
for one year and then to return to my two neices. And
I constitute my five Cousins Henry Dunster Jonathan
Dunster and David Dunster and Elizabeth Cartrell and
Dorothy Dunster to be executors of this my last will and
Testament and order that none of my estate shall be
prized. Further and my Bearers shall have gold Rings.
And if the money That I leave at my decease will not




ELIZABETH DUNSTER THOMAS' WILL.         33
5
Defray all Charges then every One to bear an equal
share in the charge.
LYDIA WADE             ELIZABETH THOMAS [seal]
SIMON TUFTS
AMMI RUHAMIAH CUTTER.
My mind is That Toney shall have a Black Coat and
Toney shall have the Frying Pan two old Pewter Dishes,
the biggest Brass Skillet, the old Chairs in the Kitchen,
the old saddle and Bridle the little Pot and a pail and
his chest and further my mind is that he and Peggy
shall have half the Indian Corn and half the Barly and
he-that is Toney-a Hogg and Pigg My mind is Peggy
shall have the great Pott and the little Brass Skillet and
the old Brass Kettle that was my dear Child's, one Pewter Dish six Plates marked E. W. [Elizabeth Wade, her
daughter.]
A paper of Directions for my heirs to do as to my
funeral-Six Bearers-Coll. Byfield of Boston, Judge
Davenport Jonathan Dows of Charlestown, President of
the College, Simon Bradstreet Benjamin Colman-all
to have a ring if alive at my decease.
These " freedmen" came into her possession by marriage. There is abundant evidence that President Dunster never owned a slave. His whole life would refute
such an inference.  Her wishes appear to have been
fully carried out. Although they seem to have continued to live in the families to whom she was related, they
were brought up in moral and religious instruction, and
treated as "a brother beloved."  We hope none of them
were the ones whom the government of Charlestown ordered her nephew " that he Entertain them no Longer
at the Peril of the Law."  "Toney," whose welfare
seems to have been the burden of her mind, lived and
died in the Dunster family, and reposes in the same
cemetery with them, and the record is: "Toney Dunster died March 4 1745 aged 90 years." "Peggy" seems
to have lived with " Aunt Carteret " (Elizabeth 3 Dunster
Carteret). In Mr. Cooke's Records, 2d Church, Cambridge, are these entries: "Carteret, Pegg, woman servant of Capt. C. died Dec. 10 1757." Also, "Negro




34    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
Child at Mr. Dunster's died April 2 1750."  "Negro
boy of Capt. Carteret died April 12 1747 aged 6;" and
"Negro Child (girl) of Capt. Carteret died August 15
1753."  "Negro child of Mr. Dunster died March 24
1747 aged 7 days."  (Honest Mr. Cooke, he wrote in
common language, which enthusiasts of this day have
intentionally perverted to mean something worse.)
In Bond's History of Watertown, p. 754, it is stated
Mahitible Dunster was warned out of town, May 15,
1695. Much pains have been taken to get a full copy of
the record, but without success.  We think she was a
liberated slave, living at Jonathan Dunster's.
In looking over this faithful record, so often referred
to, our eye caught, almost the next entry to our own
grandfather's marriage: "Punch servant of Mr. Samuel
Brooks of Medford and Rose servant of William Cutler,
Cambridge narried June 3, 1754."  Tracing the baptisms, we found:  "Prince son of Rose Cutler slave b.
June 10, bap. June 12 1762;" and further on, "Experience a Mulatto-brought by Geo Cutter bap. Nov. 23
1783 by Rev. Mr. Marrett."
One of these unfortunates has made his mark in history. He was probably the son of Jack and Peggy. S.
A. Drake, (Historic Fields and  Vfzansions of Middlesex,
p. 358,) after graphically describing the march of Gage's
troops from  Boston towards Lexington, says:  "It is
a tradition in Arlington that the first person to give the
alarm here was Cuff Cartwright, a negro slave who lived
at his master's on the road not far from the pond. -An
officer gave the black a dollar to silence him, but as soon
as the detachment had passed, Cuffee struck across the
fields, and roused the neighborhood." William R. Cutter writes:  "Cuffee Cartwright, colored, (a corruption
of' Carteret') died in West Cambridge, Jan. 25, 1826,
aged 77." "A noted character, and a servant of Revolutionary officers. He distinguished himself in an exploit at the time of the march to Lexington. Old Cuff
was a great story-teller, and many in Arlington now
remember him.  A fuller relation of him can be had
among my acquaintances.  He was the last representative, I believe, of the Carteret family in Arlington."




HENRY 3 DUNSTER.               35
6
How different was the thoughtful and Christ-like
action of this good woman from the tumultuous scenes
we have just passed through.  It seems to us that in
God's plan of "development," irresponsible national
"glorious victories" are only accountable individual
"struggles for existence."  In this struggle, some have
survived to exhibit traits learned there, at which they
would have shuddered before.  Others, boasting of their
reckless daring, strive to keep the enmity alive. Many,
ponder on the cost, misery and unfathomable mystery
of "God's strange work," as war is sometimes called;
and a fearful number have fallen, among whom we can
count nineteen killed -or wounded of our own blood or
marital relations. We never intended to say a word on
this painful subject-" It slipped out itself."
6. HENRY' DUNSTER (Jonathan,2 Henrty,') was born
in Cambridge, July 17, 1680.  Ie " owned the covenant
and was baptized Feb. 1, 1707-8."  From this, it appears that Jonathan Dunster, his father, like President
D., neglected to bring his children to the ordinance of
baptism. He married Feb. 25, 1707-8, Martha Russell,
who had owned the covenant and was baptized Feb. 13,
about two weeks before their marriage. They were both
admitted to full communion in the First Church, Cambridge, March 11th or 16th, 1710-11. They were both
constituent members of the Second Church in Cambridge, now the First Congregational Church in Arlington. To the first pastor of this church, Rev. Samuel
Cooke, he gave wood gratis for seven years. He resided
on what was then known as Menotomy Field, or more
recently as Charlestown Neck, now Arlington. "No
vestige of the Dunster residence alluded to remains save
the site, which for thirty years and over has been vacant
as far as any dwelling or household structure is concerned. It is at this day one of the most sightly, eligible
situations for a mansion in the section.  Its present
pecuniary value could not readily be estimated. A large
and thriving village of new houses, with uncommon railroad facilities, is rising around it." (W. R. C.) The
division of the paternal estate, and the dissatisfaction of




36    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
6
Henry at the valuation of 16s. per acre for this land, has
been alluded to in. the settlement of Jonathan Dunster's
estate. Perhaps this discontent was, in some measure,
owing to the fact that no part of the large landed estate
of Elizabeth Thomas, his aunt, was given to him, but
all of it to his half brothers and sisters.  On the fifth
day of October, "Annoqe Domini" 1744, "Jason Russell," (and his wife, Elizabeth Russell,) "of Cambridge
in the county of Middx in his Majesties Province of the
Massachusetts Bay, in New England, yeoman-For and
in consideration of the sum of Two Hundred Pounds in
Bills of Credet in the old Tenor" gave a deed (now in
the writer's possession) to "Henry Dunster of Cambridge aforesd yeoman " "of one certain Piece or Parcel
of land situate in Cambridge aforesaid Containing twelve
acres be it more or less Bounded northeasterly on Charlestown Road Easterly on ye said Dunster's Land partly,
and partly on Land Belonging to Mr. James Smith southwesterly on Concord Road and northwesterly on Land of
Jason Winshipp's, reserving the buildings Standing on
the Premises to my own use and the Liberty of taking
of the Same at any time when I shall See Cause."
In the writer's possession, handed down in the family,
on a paper measuring ten by seven inches, and containing sixty lines in the plain handwriting of Rev. Samuel
Cooke, is the following will:
"In the name of God. Amen! I Henry Dunster of
Cambridge in ye county of Middlesex and Province of
ye Massachusetts Bay in New England, Husbandman:
Being Weak in Body, but of perfect mind & memory
blessed be God therefor, and not knowing how soon it
May please God to call me away by Death: Do make &
Ordain This My Last Will & Testament: That is to say
principally & in ye first place I Give and Recommend my
Soul into ye hands of God who gave it and my Body I
recommend to ye Earth to be Buried in a decent Christian Manner at ye discretion of -my Executors.  Hoping
in the mercy of God thro ye merits of Christ to receive
ye same made like unto Christ's Glorious Body at the
General Resurection.  And as touching my Worldly Es



HENRY 3 DUNSTER'S WILL.            37
6
tate wherewith it has pleased God to Bless me in this
Life, I Give Demise and Dispose of the same in manner & form as follows (viz)
Impr)rihmis.  I give & Bequeath to Martha My Beloved
Wife the use & Improvement of ye one half of all my
real Estate during her Natural Life and also ye improvement of ye one half of my Dwelling House & Barn Likewise ye improvement of ye one half of my stock of Cattle,
Horses, Sheep &c( also the use of ye one half of my Carts
Ploughs & certain Tackling or anlly other tools or Inmplements belonging to Husbandry. I likewise Give to
my sd Wife ye use & improvement of the whole of my
Household Stuff as Beding, Pewter, Brass, Iron, Chairs,
Linning &c during her Natural Life, as also ye use of my
clock and ye whole service & improvement of my Negro
Woman Nancy During my sd wife's Life.
Item. I give and Bequeath to My Beloved Son Jason
Dunster to him  and his heirs forever all my Lands
Messuages & tenements together with all my Just Debts,
Stock and movable effects of every kind not heretofore
disposed of or not hereafter mentioned in this my last
Will & Testament. He allowing his mother, my sd wife
ye Improvement as above mentioned and paying ye following Legacies herein Mentioned and also all my Just
Debts & funeral expenses.
Item. I give to my beloved son Isaiah Dunster (besides what I have done for Him in Giving Him a Liberal
Education) the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds in Bills
of ye old Tenor so called or what shall be in value equal
at ye time of Payment to what sd old Tenor Bills now
pass for, to be paid within the space of three years after
ye decease of mv sd wife Martha Also my Silver Tankard
marked HDM to be delivered to him Upon My sd Wife's
decease.
Item. I give to my Beloved Son Henry Dunster besides What I have already Given to Him my Large Copper Kettle to be delivered to Him upon ye decease of
my sd wife.
Item. I give to my Beloved Daughter Martha Dickson besides what I have already given to her the sum of
one hundred and fifty pounds in bills of the old Tenoror what shall be equal * * *




38    HENRY I)UNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
6
Item. I give to my Beloved Daughter Mary Marrat
besides what I have already given her ye like sum of one
hundred and fifty pounds in Bills of ye old Tenor. * *
Item. I give to my Beloved Daughter Abigail Cutler
besides what she has already received the suri of One
Hundred & fifty pounds in Bills of the Old Tenor or
what *  *  * ye above sums or Legacies to be paid to
the persons above named or their heirs within three years
after ye decease of my sd wife Martha.
Also I give & Bequeath to my D. Daughter Abigail &
Her Heirs forever a certain tract of Land containing one
acre more or less Lying in Cambridge second precinct
bounded Northerly on Concord Road Easterly on the
Winshipp's Pasture, on ye other sides on my Land as ye
wall now stands She maintaining the whole of ye fence
adjoining my Land. Furthermore I Give & Bequeath
to my above named Beloved Son Jason Dunster my
above sd negro woman Nancy to him & his heirs after
my sd wife's decease and also ye whole of that part of the
Stock, Team Tackling &c which I have Given my Wife
for improvement during her life and Likewise what shall
remain of ye House hold Stuff not already disposed of
by me and which my sd wife shall not dispose of in her
lifetime He paying ye Legacies & debts as above. I do
likewise Hereby constitute & appoint my Beloved Wife
Martha & my Beloved Son Jason Dunster to be executors of this my last Will and Testament Hereby revoking
all former Wills  *  *  *
I do hereunto set my hand & seal this eighth day of
October Annoq1 Dom. one thousand seven Hundred and
forty eight-and in the twenty Second year of ye reign
of George ye Second of Great Britain ye King &c.
Signed Sealed Published, pronounced & Declared by
ye sd Henry Dunster to be His Last Will and Testament
in presence of us       HENRY DUNSTER." [seal]
the subscribers
HUBERT RUSSELL
His
WALTER X RUSSELL
mark
SAML COOKE.




HENRY 3 DUNSTER.                39
6
HENRY3 DUNSTER died at Cambridge (now Arlington), Jan. 28, 1753, as appears from the record in his
son Jason's Bible (now in my possession), written by
Rev. Samuel Cooke, his pastor, as follows:
" MR. HENRY DUNSTER
Dyed Janr 28, 1753 zEt. 73
be ye also ready for
at such an hour as ye
think not of the Son
of Man Cometh."
The following copy of inscription is taken from the
original stone (slate) now standing in a group of graves
around a venerable apple tree, near the horizontal slab of
the Rev. Samuel Cooke, in the centre of Cambridge
second precinct burying yard, now the old cemetery in
Arlington:
"Here Lyes Buried the Body of Mr. Henry Dunster
who Departed this Life Janr 28 Alnno Dom' 1753, in the
73rd year of His Age.'Therefore be ye also ready for in
such an Hour as you think not ye Son of Man Cometh."'
In the same group of graves are buried Mrs. Elizabeth
Dunster DeCarteret and her husband, with several of
their children.  The stones are such as would be erected
over persons of family and substance at the time of their
erection.
His wife, Martha (Russell), survived him, anid married
Francis Locke (his 2d wife), March 15, 1759.  "She
was the daughter of Joseph Russell, who married Mary
Belcher, June 23, 1662, and was born July 26, 1691, at
Cambridge.  Francis Locke, his first wife Elizabeth,
and his daughter Elizabeth, were original members of
the church in West Cambridge [Arlington], which was
founded 1739." (Book of the Lockes, p. 24.)
In the " Cutter Famcily of New England' it is stated,
p. 380, that "the mother of Jason Dunster [son of
Henry] was Martha Russell, daughter of Jason and Mary
(Hubbard) Russel, of Cambridge, and born May 2,
1691."  The Cutter record is correct.  She, Martha
5




40    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
6
(Russel Dunster) Locke, died of the palsy, in Menotomy,
June 27, 1771, aged 81 years.  (Dr. B. Cutter's MSS.)
In the Middlesex probate office is a bond of Martha
Dunster, widow, Jason Dunster, Edward Dixon, and
Joseph Belknap, to perform the duties of executors to
the estate of Henry Dunster, late of Cambridge.
HENRY' DUNSTER had eleven children by his wife,
Martha (Russell):
9 l. i.  MARTHA4 DUNSTER, b. Feb. 7, bap. Feb.
13, 1708-9, m. Edward Dickson, March 18, 1730-31.
10 ~. ii.  MARY4 DUNSTER, b. July ye 8, bap. July
13, 1712, m. Amos Marrett.
11 N. iii.  ABIG(AIL4 DUNSTER, b. March 18, 1714,
bap. March 21, 1713-14, m. James Cutter, Jr.
iv. ELIZABETH 4 DUNSTER, b. July ye 7, 1716, died
Nov. 7, 1716.  She was one of the grand-children [It
should have been great grand-children] referred to in
Chaplin's Life of Henry Dunster, page 227.  She was
buried in Old Cambridge, near President D.  The inscription on her head-stone is still plain and distinct,
and reads:
" ELIZABETH D UNSTER,
Daughter of Henry
&     Martha Dunster
aged 4 months.
Died november 7 1716."
12 l.  v.  ISAIAH4 DUNSTER, born Oct. 21, 1720,
m. first, Hannah Dennis, May 26,.1750, second, Mary
Smith, Nov. 13, 1766.
vi.  HENRY4 DUNSTER, born Feb. 13, bap. Feb. 17,
1722-3.  He married April 27, 1748, Abigail Moor.
He is mentioned in his father's will of Oct. 21 (?), 1748,
as lately deceased.  By this, it appears that his father
made another will a few days after the one copied on a
preceding page.  He died Oct. 13, 1748, childless.  His
wife, Abigail (Moor), had a daughter, March 4, 1749,
who lived one-quarter of an hour. (Rev. S. Cooke's
Record.) He was buried at Arlington. The inscription
on his grave stone is:




HENRY4 DUNSTER.                41
6
"Here lyes Buried ye Body of Mr. Henry Dunster
Junr who Departed this Life October 13, Anno Dom'
1748 aged 25 years & 8 moth."
His widow, then Abigail Harrington, was dismissed
from the 2d Church Sept. 15, 1751, to the church in
Lexington.  She was married to Jonathan Harrington,
Aug. 1, 1750, by whom she had eight children, the
fourth of whom was Jonathan, who was the last survivor of the battle of Lexington, and to whom she said,
onl that eventful morning: "Jonathan, get up, the
Regulars are coming, and something must be done."
She died June 30, 1776. (Hist. Lexington, Gen. Reg.,
p21p. 91, 94. )
In the probate records at East Cambridge, the will of
Renry4 Dunster, Jr., is recorded, as is also an inventory
of his estate, in which is mentioned a beaver hat valued
~8 Os. Od.; a "new wigg" valued ~4 Os. Od.; an "old
wigg'" valued at ~0 10s. Od.; a fine linen Shirt valued
~3 Os. 0d.; a new full trimmed blue Coat valued at ~16
Os. Od.; a pair of leathern Breeches valued at ~9 Os. Od.;
a " fustin " Coat valued at ~6 Os. (d,; a blue Jacket valued at ~4 Os. Od.; a "streight" bodied Coat valued at
~4 Os. 0d.; a stuff Jacket valued at ~3 10s. 0d.
At the time of his death he owned about fifty acres of
land in what is now Arlington, which appears to have
been sold by his widow to his brothers and sisters. The
deed, a copy of which, written by Mr. Cooke, was found
among Rev. Isaiah l)unster's papers, is sketched as follows:
"To All People to whom these Presents Shall Come
Greeting  Know Ye That I Abigail Dunster of Cambridge in ye County of Middlesex in ye Province of ye
Massachusetts Bay in New England Relict Widow of
Mr. Heiiry Dunster Junr of Cambridge aforesaid Deceased For Divers Good Causes, & Considerations
Me thereunto Moving But More Especially *For & in
Consideration of ye Sum of Twelve Hundred & thirty
pounds in Good & Passable Bills of Credit of ye Old
Tenor to me in hand well & truly paid by Mr. Isaiah
Dunster of Harwich in ye county of Barnstable in ye
province aforesd Clerk and Jason Dunster Edward Dick



42    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
6
son and James Cutler Junr all of Cambridge aforesd
Husbandmen and Also in consideration of certain Priviliges* & Improvements on ye Estate of my Husband
Decesed by me still to be enjoyed Have Given 
unto the said Isaiah Dunster Jason Diunster Edward
Dickson & James Cutler Junr. their Heirs & Assigns
forever equally as tenants in common all the Right Title
Interest, Claim Challenge & Demand whatsoever which
I ye sd Abigail Dunster have had or Ought to -have (in
& unto ye estate both Real & Personal where of my late
husband Henry Dunster Junr Died Seized and Possessed)
by virtue of marriage or by any other ways-means
whatsoever.
The Sd estate consisting of about forty acres in the
Homstead with one Dwelling House and a Barn Standing on ye Same  Also about Ten Acres of Pasture Land
on the South easterly side of ye Road over against sd
Homstead  To Have & to Hold all ye above sd Estate
*   * *    *  *  unto them ye sd Isaiah Dunster Jason
Dunster Edward Dickson & James Cutler their Heirs &
Assigns forever To their only proper use benefit & behoof
forevermore * * * * * shall & may from time to
time and at all times forever hereafter by force & Virtue
of these presents Lawfully Peaceably & Quietly Have
Hold Use Improve Occupy Possess & Enjoy ye above
Remised & Released Premises without the Lawful Lett
Suit Denyall Contradiction or Expulsion of me ye sd
Abigail I)unster * * *
In Witness Whereof I ye sd Abigail Dunster have
hereunto set my hand & Seal This Twentieth Day of
December In ye Twenty Third year of his Maj.tYs Reign:
Anno Domini One thousand seven hundred & forty nine.
Signed Sealed & Delivered  ABIGAIL DUNSTER [seal]
in presence of us
CHARLES MOOR
AARON CUTTER        Vera Copia. Attst SAMI'L COOKE.
* It is probable that the "certain privileges and improvements " on the estate of Henry Dunster, Jr., " by me still to be
enjoyed," gave rise to the repeated lawsuits between the Dunsters
and Jonathan Harrington, who married the widow of Henry D.
Fragmnents of the writs are still in the family, by which it appears
that Harrington recovered ninety pounds.




ELIZABETH 3 DUNSTER CARTERET.            43
MIDDLESEX SS. Dec 22 1749
Then The Within Named Abigail Dunster appeard &
acknowledged ye within written Instrument to be Her
free Act & Deed before me
WILLIAM LAWRENCE J. PACIS."
On the copy of this deed is the mark of the nails in
the heel of a boot, made probably to identify the paper.
Such an act was common in "old times."
vii.  ELIZABETH4 DUNSTER, b. May 9, bap. May 10,
1724, d. June 27, i72, [last figure gone.]
13 X. viii.  JASON4 DU-NSTER, b. July 24, 1725, N.
S., bap. July 18, 1725.  (For this discrepancy, see note
to Rev. Isaiah Dunster on a subsequent page.)  He married Rebecca Cutter Nov. 6, 1749, and died in Mason,
N. H., Feb. 19, 1805.
ix.  EUNICE4 DUNSTER, born May 21, bhap. May 26,
1728, died July 11, same year.
x. JONATHAN4 )UNSTER, b. May 27, bap. June 1,
1729; died July 9, same year.
xi.  RUTH4 DPUNSTER, b. Oct. 1, bap. Oct. 7, 1733,
died June 30, 1735.  She was the other child referred
to by Chaplin as one of the grand-children.  Her grave
stone is close to President Dunster's, and is inscribed:
RUTH DUNSTER,
Daugtr of Mr. Henry
&      Mrs. Martha
Dunster, Died
June 30 1735 Aged
1 year & 9 months.'.  iv.  ELIZABETH' (DUNSTER) CARTERET (Jonlathan,2 Henry,l) was born about 1699, not Feb. 22,
1681-2, as stated in Life H. D., p. 237, that Eliz'abeth
died young.  She was married Nov. 16, 1727, to Capt.
Philip Carteret, or DeCarteret, a mariner, of Boston.
The record of their marriage in Charlestown is: " Philip
Cartwright of Boston & Elizabeth Dunster of this town
were joyned in marriage by the Reverend Mr. Simon
Bradstreet, November 16, 1727."  She was admitted to
*5




44    HENRY I)UNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
full communion in Medford Church April 21, 1728, and
dismissed to Menotomv Church Sept. 1, 1739. They
lived in Charlestown, but the place was called Cambridge
Precinct, and is now Arlington.  He was master of a
vessel sailing from Boston, and was probably born about
1703, in France, as the name would imply.  He owned
landed property to considerable extent in the vicinity of
Cambridge..  When absent on voyages his wife signed
his name to all necessary papers, as appears by public
records. She was evidently a woman of more than ordinary executive ability, and made a prominent impression
on her relatives.  Every branch of the Dunster family,
within our knowledge, has retained a memory of "Aunt
Carteret," or, as most of them  call her, "Aunt Cartwright. "
In 1857, Edward S. Dunster, then a student in Harvard College, visited Westminster and Gardner, M3ass.,
to obtain information of the "Dunster Dcescendants."
Mrs. Precilla (Dunster) Estabrook, then 70 years old,
(a notice of whom will appear farther on,) told him,
with other traditions whicl mayv be referred to in other
pages, and which he copied verbatim:  "I used to hear
much talk about Aunt (:artwright, sister of my grandfather.  She lived in Notomyv.  When the Regulars
were in Boston, she took her silver and hid it in the ash
heap; her money she sewed up in a leather apron and
threw it into the well.  Aly grandmother often used to
talk about Aunt Cartwright, and used to tell the story of
President Dunster's laying the Devil."
Capt. Carteret died at Arlington, and the inscription
on his grave stone in the Dunster group is: " Here Lyes
Buried the Body of Capt. Philip DeCarteret, who departed this Life April 19, 1767.  Aged 64 years."  She
survived him twenty years, and managed the property,
which was large, during her life.  She, also, was buried
in Arlington, and the inscription is:  "Erected to the
memory of Mrs. Elizabeth DeCarteret widow of Capt.
Philip DeCtarteret who Died Jany. 25 1787 in the 88
year of her age."  She was one of the original members
of Cambridge Second Church, organized Sept. 9, 1739.




CHILDREN OF CAPTAIN P. (AIRTERET.  4:
The children  of Capt. P. Carteret and Elizabeth3
(Dunster) Carteret were:
i.  MARY 4 CARTERET, bon 1730, died Nov. 17, 1751,
aged 21 years.
ii.  RUTH4 CARTERET, born 1736, died June 2, 1754,
aged 18 years.
iii.  ELIZABETH4 CARTERET, born 1737, died June 8,
1751, aged 14 years.
iv.  ABIGAIL4  CARTERET, born about 1739 or 1740,
married Oct. 12, 1758, William  Whittemore, who was
the son of Samuel* and Elizabeth (Spring) Whittemore.
te graduated att  arvard College, 1755, was admitted
"full communion to Menotomy Clhurch Oct. 26, 1755."
Abigail, his wife, was admitted to the same church July
29, 1781.  She died Aug. 27, 1809, aged 70 years.  He
died in West Cambridge, March 17, 1818, aged 86 years.
* Samuel Whittemore, the father of William Whittemoie, (H.
C., 1755,) died at Menotomy, Feb. 2, 1793. "' When the British
troops marched to Lexington he was 81 years old, and one of the
first on the parade. He was armed with a gun (King's Arm) and
horse pistols. After an animated exhortation to the collected
militia to the exertion of bravery and courage, he exclaimed,'If
I can only be instrumental of killing one of my country's foes, I
shall die in peace.' The prayer of this venerable old man was
heard, for on the return of the troops from Lexington he lay behind a stone wall and discharged his gun. A soldier immediately
fell. He then discharged his pistol and killed another, at which
instant a ball struck his face and shot away part of his cheek
bone, on which ta nzmiber of soldiers ran up to the wall and gorged
their malice on his wounded head. They were heard to exclaim,' We have killed the old man.' About four hours after, he was
found in a mangled situation His head was covered with blood
from the wounds of the bayonet, which were six or eight, but,
providentially, none penetrated so far as to destroy him. His hat
and clothes were shot through in many places, yet he survived to
see the complete overthrow of his enemies and his country enjoy
all the blessings of petce and independence. His funeral will be
to-morrow at four o'clock, P. M., from his house at Menotomy,
which his relations and friends are requested to attend." (Columbiac  Cetioel, Feb. 6, 1793.)
"This old gentleman was posted in the rear of the house of
Hon. James Russell, in West Cambridge, on the road to Woburn,
awaiting the return of the enemy from Lexington. On discovering the flank guard (five in number) approaching, a friend who
was with him deserted him, but he refused to run, saying,'I am




46     HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
Rev. L. R. Paige, referring to the Cambridge records
then in his hand, said the children of Abigail (Carteret)
and William Whittemore, A. M., were:
1.  ELIZABETH5 CARTERET WHITTEMORE, b. April 4,
1763, bap. at West Cambridge April 10, 1763.  She
died Nov. 8, 1763, aged 7 months..2.  ELIZABETH5 CARTERET WHITTEMORE, b. Oct. 6,
bap. Oct. 7, 1764.  She married first, Moses Robbins,
and second, John Frost, Nov. 9, 1802, published Aug.
14, 1802.  Frost's first wife died March 18, 1802.  She
died May 1, 1813, aged 49 years.  She was, probably,
also the mother of William Whittemore Frost, who was
baptized Nov. 20, 1803, of whom  there is no other
record.  (Cutter Famcily, _p. 46.)
3.  PHILIP5 CARTERET WHITTEM1ORE, b. Sept. 1, bap.
Sept. 7, 1766, married Lydia Phelps.
4.  WILLIAM5 WHITTEMORE, b. Jan. 28, bap. Jan.
29, 1769, d. July 3, 1771, aged 2 years, 5 mos. 6 days.
5.  VILLIAM5 WHITTEMORE, b. June 30, bap. July
5, 1772, married Feb. 2, 1796, Anna Cutter, daughter of
Samuel and Rebecca (Hill) Cutter, of Menotomy.  She
was born June 19, 1771. She was baptized, no doubt,
on a profession of faith Nov. 24, 1799, at Second Church
in Cambridge.  At the same time, her husband owned
the covenant, and their first child, Ann, was baptized.
He was a farmer, residing on his wife's father's homestead, and died in Chelsea, Mass., Oct. 17, 1854. She
died Oct. 27, 1849.  Had seven children:
(i)  ANN6 WHITTEMORE, b. Oct. 21, bap. at Menotomy, Nov. 24, 1799. She married May 26, 1822, (May
eighty years old and I will not leave, for I am willing to die if I
can kill one British red coat.' On the nearer approach of the' guard' he shot one with his gun and another with his pistol, and
while raising his second pistol he received a wound in his face
* * * He was taken to the hospital (Cooper's Tavern) on the
corner of Medford road, in West Cambridge. Surgeons Welch
and Spring dressed his wounds (one shot wound and thirteen
bayonet wounds). He was born July 27, 1696, and his tomb
stone, now in the burying ground in West Cambridge, has the
following inscription, viz.:'In Memory of Capt. Samuel Whittemore who departed this life Feb. 2 1793 Aged 98 years.'"
(See Hist. Catter Family, N. E., Supplement p. 390.)




THE WHITTEMORE FAMILY.              47
22, Hist. Lexington) Samuel Adams, born in West Cambridge, Sept. 28, 1790.  They removed to Lexington in
1827.  He died Sept. 16, 1866.  She died May 14, 1862.
They had four children:
(1)  ANNAS' ADAMS, b. June a, 1823. She married
April 2, 1867, John Beals.
(2)  W. FRANK7 ADAMS, b. April 16, 1829, married
Emma C. Balles, of New Jersey.
(3)  ROBINSON7 ADAMS, b. Nov. 24, 1832, went to
New York, died 1866.
(4)  GEORGIA7 ADAMS, b. June 6, 1839, m. May 10,
1857, Albert Griffith, of West Cambridge.  She died
May, 1859.  (Hist. Lexinzton.)
(ii)  ELEANOR 6 WHITTEMIORE, b. June 25, 1801, died
Oct. 5, 1805.
(iii)  WILLIAM AUGUSTUS6 WHITTEMORE, b. Nov. 30,
1804, married Abigail C.. Tuffts, Jan. 8, 1838. He died
in Arlington, Aprlil 24, 1867. He resided on his father's
homestead.  She is living in Arlington, and has six
children:
(1)  WILLIAMI AUGUSTUS7 WHITTEMIORE, b. -, unm.
(2)  ABB[E I.7 WHITTEMAORE, b. —, married Simeon
Barker, of Arlington.  They have a daughter, Emma
Gertrude8 Barker.
(3)  EPHRAIM T. WHVITTEMORE, b. —, unmarried.
(4)  BIENJAMIIN F.7 W HITTE\IORE, b. -, unmarried.
(5)  LIZZIE7 WHITTEMORE, b. -, m. Clarence F.
Hobbs, of Arlington.  Th'lley have a daughter,  Laura
E.8 Hobbs, b.
(6)  GEORGE HENRY7 WHITTEMIORE, b.   u, unm.
(iv)  SUSAN FRANCES6 WIHITTEMIORE, born May 11,
1807, m. Pascal Sprague, of West Cambridge, April 15,
1832, and died Jan. 17, 1850.  They had four children:
(1) GEORGE7 SPIAGUE, b. -, m., and died
without issute.
(2) HARRIET A.7 SPRAGUE. b., married Geolge
Going, of Boston.  rThey have four children, whose
names ha've not been obtained.
(3) JOIIN  SPRAGUE, b.  ~, now in California.




48    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
(-) MARY ELLA'7 SPRASGUE, dead. Possibly, others
died young.
(v) ELEANOR SOPHIA 6 WHITTEMORE, born Nov. 24,
1809, married John P: Daniels, Oct. 18, 1832, died in
Arlington, Dec. 25, 1868. They had children:.(1) ELLEN S.7 DANIELS, b. -, m. Edwin Robbins,
and had Frank,8 Henry Parker,8 Nellie,8 and Nathan8
Robbins.
(2) JOHN P.7 DANIELS, b., mn. Sarah Hanson.
Have two children.
(3) HARRIET7 DANIELS, b., unmarried.
(4) SARAH A.7 DANIELS, b., m. Albert Winn,
Jr., of Arlington.  They had two children, both died
young. The other children of John P. and Eleanor
Sophia (Sprague) Daniels died young.
(vi) GEORGE WASHINGTON6 WHITTEMORE, b. May 5,
1812, m. Cynthia Richardson, and died July 17, 1870.
He was proprietor of Wilde's Hotel, Elm street, Boston.
Their children were:
(1) GEORGE HENRY' WHITTEMORE, b., unm.
(2) FRANK 7 WHITTEMIORE, born, married, and
believed to have two children.
(3) HELEN7 VWHITTEMORE, b.-, unm., and deceased.
(4) FLORENCE7 WHITTEMORE, b. -, m. a clergyman, and died within a few days (Dec., 1875).
(5) FRED 7 WHITTEMIORE.
(6) WILLIE 7 VHITTEMORE.
(vii) THOMAS'7 WJHITTEMO RE, b. May 9, 18105, married Clara Richardson, of Fitchburg, Mass., July 27,
1837, resides at Chelsea;, and have two children:
(1) THOMIAS6 WHITTEMORE, b., married Abbie
Clark, and have two children:
(i) LILLIE8 WHITTEFMORE.
(ii) CORA8 WVHITTEMIORE.
(2) CLARA7 WHITTEMORE, b., m. William W.
Viles. No children.
6. ABIGAIL5 WHITTEMORE, b. Aug. 16, bap. Aug.




DAVID 3 DUNSTER.                49
8
18, 1776, married John Davenport, both of Cambridge.
Presumed, says Mr. Paige, to be the keeper of the
Davenport Tavern.
8.  vii. DAVID3 DUNSTER (Jonathan,'2 Henry,1) was
the seventh and youngest child of Jonathan 2 and Deborah (Wade) Dnnster, and was born in Charlestown
about 1706. He was a "Minor" "in the twentyeth
year of age" when his father died in 1726. Joseph
Hartwell was appointed his guardian.  His bond is recorded in Middlesex probate office. In some documents
he is called a tanner.  He married, about 1730, Mary,
daughter of Hubbard and Elizabeth (Dickson) Russell.
She was baptized Dec. 14, 1712, and was admitted full
communion Sept. 6, 1741, to the Second Church in
Cambridge (Mr. Cooke's).  Her husband, David,3 was
admitted full communion  June 13, 1742.  He had
" owned the covenant" previously.  They were "regularly dismissed" from that church "Oct. 17, 1742, to
be imbodyed in a church to be gathered at Narraganset
No. 2, so called."  (Rev. MX. Coolce.)  Mary (Russell),
wife of David3 Dunster, was a niece of Martha Russell,
the wife of Henry3 Dunster.
[Jonathan, Thomas, David, Elizabeth and Dorothy,
all children of Jonathan2 and Deborah (Wade) Dunster,
" owned the covenant," and were baptized in Cambridge
First Church, April 14, 1723.]
At the settlement of his father's estate, before referred
to, he came into possession of large landed property in
Cambridge Precinct, then called Menotomy Field, afterwards West Cambridge, now Arlington.
"In 1646 the Inhabitants of Charlestown granted to
Henry Dunster Prest. of the college and his heirs & assigns Wenatomie or Menatomy bounded with Cambridge
bounds on one side, Misticke pond & River and Menotomy
brook being the bounds of said field on the other side."
This tract seems to have comprised the greater part of
that interesting section now in Arlington limits, known
even till quite lately as Charlestown End, and from its
shape was vulgarly y'cleped by fellows of the baser sort
as "Squash End."  Here, at the head, was the cele



50    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
8
brated Square Sachem Reservation, under the shadow of
high hills, whence is now obtained a wonderful view of
the surrounding territory.  The mansion house of David
Dunster, sold to Joseph Winship, which was torn down
in 1798, had a hipped roof, and William R. Cutter, who
furnished this slketch, says that it is well remembered
by his present living grand-parents, who could tell how
many windows there were, and the number of rooms on
each floor.  The house was, they believe, unpainted on
the outside, like many at that day.
"David Dunster of Charlestown yeoman by Deed
March 12 1742 conveyed for ~750 to Joseph Winship
the younger of Cambridge yeoman the home place north
west of the road with the house and barn namely 18
acres of Land in Charlestown bounded E. and N. E. bv
Medford river and pond N. W. and N. E. on Simon
Holden's land W. by a'drift-wavy' leading to said Holden's land, South on land of Jonathan Dunster there
being a road leading from Medford over the'wairs' to
Menotomvy running through said Messuage and understood to be excepted in this deed and also 3 acres of Salt
marsh in Medford bounded east on Solomon Page's*
Marsh S. on Medford River N. on Ebenezer Cutter's and
W. on John Willis marsh, with a dwelling house & barn
on the abovesaid 18 acres or homestead.
Witness           (Signed)    DAVID DUNSTER
PHILIP CARTERIET                 MARY DUNSTE1R
JONATHAN ROBINSON "
Again, " David Dunster of Narragansett township No.
2 so called in the county of Worcester yeoman for ~250 in
good bills of the old Tenor conveyed Nov. 18 1742 to Joseph Winship of Charlestown Middlesex county yeoman
11I acres of Land in Charlestown bounded N. E. by land
of Joseph Winship N. WV. on a highway leading to Medford S. WV. on a two rod Roadway joining to Geo. Cutter
land and S. E. by George Cutter's land and East by
Medfqrd River.  Dunster's wife's name Mary.  Signed
by him  only.  Ephraim  Frost and John Cutter witnesses. Eben Trowbridge Just. Peace."
* This was the Solomon Page who married his sister.




DAVID4 DUNSTER'S WILL.             51
8
"At a meeting of the proprietors of Narragansett No
2 at the house of Mr. Ebenezer Stedman in Cambridge
Dec. 2d 1741 in the division of Upland David Dunster
drew a lot No 10 Home lot." In a second division of
upland he had the same number of the lots, and also
the same in a division of meadow lots.
"At a meeting of the proprietors of Narragansett No.
2 held at the house of Mr. Ebenezer Stedman in Cambridge 1st September 1742 -       voted and accepted
the Acre of land given by Mr. Dunster for a burying
place and chose Mr. IIolden, Mr. More, Mr. Hoar, Mr.
Bemas, Miller & Bigalow a committee to stake it out and
take a deed of Mr. Dunster for the same."  (Westmninster Town Records.)
Mrs. Priscilla5 (Dunster) Estabrook, to whom reference is made in Elizabeth 3 (Dunster) Carteret, related:
" My Grandfather, David, was not a son of President D;
of this I am positive.* My Grandfather, David, was the
third settler in this town [Westminster].  He had a garrison house near where the Baptist Meeting House now
stands." At one time he was directed to put his garrison house in better condition for defence.
T''he quantity of land in Narragansett No. 2, drawn
by David Dunster, must have been large, for Jan. 14,
1744, he sold two lots, of sixty acres each, to William
Brattle for 25 pounds lawful money, which "I drew
myself upon the tenth lot which I purchased of Winm.
Wallace of Medford."  There are also four deeds of
parts of this tenth lot recorded.
In 1758 he made a will, of which the following is a
sketch:
"In the name of God Amen this nineteenth day of
May One thousand seven hundred and fifty eight * * *
I David Dunster of a place called Nargansett Township
No 2 in the county of Worcester * * Husbandman
1st I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands
of God that gave it and my body into the Earth * * *
* In the family records of some of the Westminster Dunster's,
Jonathan2 had been omitted, making David3 the son of Henry.'
In this Mrs. Estabrook was right.
6




52    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
8
nothing doubting 1 shall receive the same again at the
Resurrection by the mighty power of God.
Imrgpr'imis. I give unto Mary my beloved wife and unto
Hubbard and Thomas my two oldest sons all my real
and personal estate and all my utensils for husbandrygoods with claims * * * to my wife whom I constitute
and appoint executrix with my oldest son Hubbard, To
my wife I say I give and bequeath my house and all my
lands during her continuance of my widow  -  but if
she see cause to marry again to acquit her right to all
my Estate.
Itenm.  To Hubbard - of my real & personal estate
after my wife has done with it.  To Thomas I do.  To
Elizabeth Taylor wife of James Taylor my eldest daughter -    ~2 10s. over and above what she has already
had and besides what I did for her in her sickness.  To
Mary Bemis wife of David Bemis my 2nd daughter besides what she had at her setting out and what she had
incash of me I bequeath her 10 shillings.
To Marguary Dunster my third daughter I give &
bequeath four pounds.
To Ruhamah my fourth daughter I give and bequeath
four pounds.'l'o Carteret Henry Dunster my youngest son when
one and twenty       Fifty Pounds-to be paid 42 by
Hubbard and ~ by Thomas and I further order that he
shall live with his mother and Hubbard till 21
Hubbard and Thomas to have six years to pay these
legacies --- I further add that none of my estate shall
be prised [appraised].
Item. To the Rev. Isaiah Dunster of Harwich I give
a gold Ring. (Codicil) I give to Marguary & Ruhamah
a low chest of Drawers apiece, Three pewter Platters
apiece 4 a Doz. Chairs apiece.  Recorded Worcester
Probate office 4 Oct. 1758."
DAVID3  DUNSTER died in the summer of 1758.
Mrs. Estabrook says: " My grandfather died in Rutland, in this State,* of the camp disorder. He had gone
* Rutland, "iin this State." This error was the result of confounding two different events. The prisoners at Rutland, Mass.,
were British, captured with Burgoyne in 1777.




MARTHA4 DUNSTER.                53
9
to see his son Thomas, my father, who was a soldier in
the war, and was sick at Rutland with the same disease.
My father got well, but grandfather died." In a subsequent letter her daughter, Miss Betsey Estabrook, states
that her mother says: " He died in Rutland, at the barracks, where he went to care for his sick son, Thomas,
then about twenty years old, stationed there for the exchange of prisoners of war. He recovered. His father
took the camp disorder and died, and was buried in the
barracks there." This must have been at the disastrous
campaign against Ticonderoga in the French war. That
event took place in July, 1758.
His wife, Mary (Russell) Dunster, died after 1772.
They had seven children:
14 ~. i. ELIZABETH4 (BETTY), baptized April 25,
1730-1, married James Taylor.
15 ~. ii. MARY4 (MOLLY), baptized March 4, 1732,
married David Bemis.
16~.  iii. HUBBARD,4 born 1735? m. Ruth Bailey.
1T ~. iv.  THOMAS,4 baptized May 8, 1737, married
Lidia Peirce.
18 ~. v. MARGARY,4 baptized Dec. 23, 1739, married Joshua Wilder.
19 ~. vi.  RUHAMA,4 born -., m. Dudley Bailey.
20 ~. vii. CARTERET4 HENRY, b.  ~, m.
9. i. MARTHA4 DUNSTER (Henry,' Jonathan2,2 HeZry,l)
was born at Cambridge Feb. 7, bap. Feb. 13, 1708-9, and
was admitted to church Jan. 14, 1727-8.  She married
March 18, 1730-31, Edward Dixon, or Dickson as it was
afterwards written.  He was the son of John Dixon,
who married Margary Winship, Cambridge, May 12,
1687. She died Oct. 6, 1734, in her 72d year. He died
March 22, 1737, in his 82d year. John Dixon was son
of William D., who was freeman, 1642, and member of
Cambridge Church. The wife of William was Jane, who
died Dec. 4, 1689, aged 73. On William's grave stone
is inscribed:
" The memory of ye Just is blessed." (Camb. Epitaphs.)
He, EDWARD, was baptized Jan. 18, 1702, and admitted member of Cambridge First Church June 30, 1728,




54    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
9
about six months after Martha4 Dunster, and died in
Cambridge, May, 1787, aged 86 years. The date of his
wife's death has been doubted. Following the Cambridge Epitaphs, we placed it, in Life H. D., p. 238, in
1800. It is in the Epitaphs, JMrs. "Martha Dixon died
1800." In a will of her husband, dated 1753, her name
is mentioned, but in a will of " Edward Dixon," dated
April 6, 1788, there is no mention of her. The latter
will was that of Edward5 Dixon, her son, who died unmarried. They had seven children, baptized at Cambridge First Church:
i. EDWARD5 DICKSON, baptized April 2, 1732, died
May 3, 1732, aged 1 month, 2 days. Grave stone in Old
Cambridge burying ground.  (Cambridge Epitaphs.)
ii. MARTHA' DICKSON, born Dec. 8, 1734, bap. Dec.
15, 1734, d. in May, 1788, unmarried.  (Camb. Records.)
iii. EDWARD5 DIXON, b. in Cambridge June 7, bap.
June 12, 1737. Edward Dixon died 1825. (Cambridge
Epitaphs, p. 162.) This date is probably wrong. Mr.
Paige writes: " He was a harness maker, and died Oct.
30, 1820. No issue."
iv. ELIZABETH5 DIXON, bap. Nov. 4, 1739. Samuel Cook, Jr., and Elizabeth D)ickson were married in
First Precinct, Cambridge, April 26, 1764. She was,
probably, this Elizabeth5 Dixon. She was living July
4, 1817. No record of children.
v. HENRY5 DICKSON, bap. Nov. 8, 1741, mar. July
24, 1766, Elizabeth Cox. He "owned the covenant"
May 24, 1767, in order to have his children baptized.
Henry Dickson and Sarah Cooke, daughter of Rev. Samuel Cooke, were married in Cambridge Nov. 15, 1774.
[From this, it appears that his first wife, Elizabeth
(Cox), died, leaving children, as he "owned the covenant" to have them baptized.] She died about 1785,
and afterwards he married Mercy. He died Sept.
23. 1815. His widow, Mercy, died Dec. 4, 1815, aged
69 or 70. There was a " widow Sarah Dickson (Henry's)
died of a fever Sept. 30, 1780." (Cooke.) She could
not have been the widow of this Henry. The three
children of Henry5 Dickson, one by each wife, were:




THE DICKSON FAMILY.               55
9
1. ELIZABETH 6 DICKSON, born 1767, daughter of
Elizabeth (Cox) Dixon. She died MWarch 3, 1800. Unm.
2. EUNICE6 COOKE DICKSON, dan. of Sarah (Cooke)
Dickson, bap. May 17, 1778, m. Dec. 21, 1806, John
Goddard, of Cambridge.  She died prior to Feb. 14,
1817. They had:
(i)  HANNAH7 GODDARD.  (ii)  CHARLES7 HENRY
GODDARD.  (iii)  JOHN7 GODDARD.
3. HENRY7 DICKSON, son of third wife (Mercy), bap.
Feb. 21, 1790. He died before his father.
vi. GILBERT5 DICKSON, bap. Nov. 18, 1744, married
Martha Varnum.
vii. ISAIAH5 DICKSON, born or bap. April 12, 1747,
owned the covenant, " in order his children be baptized,"
Feb. 9, 1777.  He married Judye (Judith) Synimms, of
Woburn, May 15, 1773.  She died in Oct., 1783, and he
married July 10, 1788, Sarah Cooper. Ile died. Aug.,
1805.  His children by Judith (first wife) were:
1. JOHN6 ELIOT, bap. Feb. 9, 1777, died 1783.
2. JUDITH,6 bap. Nov. 10, 1781, died 1783.  Both
died in the same year with their mother.
By second wife, Sally Cooper:
3. EDWARD6 DICKSON.  4. ANNN5 COOPER DICKSON. 5. ABIGAIL6 DICKSON.
Tlie dates of the births of these children are unknown.
They were all living in 1820, and are named in their
Uncle Edward's will.  Edward appears to have come of
age in June, 1814.  Both of the daughters were born
prior to 1800. Ann 6 Cooper Dickson is thought to have
married William  Everett.  (H. D. B.)  Rev. L. R.
Paige thinks Edward6 Dickson may have been the one
who died at Bedford, Mass., March 23, 1825, aged 33.
These items are "based on researches in the Collections of the late Dr. B. Cutter, by W. R. Cutter," and
the "Records of Rev. L. R. Paige."
For the record of vi. Gilbert5 we are entirely indebted
to Henry Dunster Billings. It is given mostly from his
MS., but condensed a little where it could be. The
*6




56     HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
9
descendants are tabulated to correspond with other families.
vi.  GILBERT5 DICKSON (Martha,' Henry,' Jonathan,2
Henry,l) was born 1743, (?) and married Dec. 3, 1772,
Martha Varnum, born July 12, 1750, daughter of Jonas
and Lydia (Boyden) Varnum. She, Lydia, was daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Boyden.  He kept a
tavern in Acton, and is styled, "a cooper."  He was
worth at one time considerable property.  Later, he
owned a house in Cambridge, near the College, where
he lived till the close of his life. He died of lock jaw
Sept. 15, 1818. His wife died June 20, 1800, aged 50
years, from a severe cold, contracted while attending
Washington's mock funeral in Cambridge. They had
eight children:
1.  HANNAH 6 DICKSON, b., 1771, mar. Thomas
Rundle,* born in England. He arrived in this country
with only fifty cents in money; was a cabinet maker and
circular stair builder, said to be the first of that trade in
the country. He died in Boston Jan. 5, 1841, aged 64
years.  He was never naturalized.  His wife, Hannah6
D., died of old age, while on a visit to her sister (Sally
Shedd) in Pepperell. They were childless. Lived at 21
Warren, now Washington street, and were both buried
at Mount Auburn.
There was a John Dickson, who married Elenor
"Runel," in Cambridge, June 30, 1781.  (Cooke.)
2.  SALLY 6 DICKSON, (Gilbert,' Martha4 Dunster,) b., 1775, m. Joshua Shedd.  She spent most of her
time in Pepperell with her Aunt Nutting,** her mother's
* A letter from Z. Jamison, of Cambridge, Jan. 31, 1837, to
Dr. Martin Dunster, says: "Mr.'Rundlett' married Hannah
Dickson. He was a carpenter, and lived in Pleasant street, Boston." The same letter says: "Mrs. Hammond lives also in
Boston (or did lately), and kept a milliner's shop in Washington
street." The letter also says: "A near neighbor of mine, a Mrs.
Sawin, is a descendant of President Dunster, and lives in the
house of Mrs. Monroe (Cambridge)." We have no knowledge of
this Mrs. Sawin. [S. D.]
**The Nuttings were among the early settlers of Groton, which
originally contained Pepperell and other towns. In the papers of
Rev. I. Dunster is an " Indenture of an Apprentice," filled out,




INDENTURE OF AN APPRENTICE.              5D
9
sister, who, having considerable property and no children, welcomed those of her niece. She was for many
years a member of the Orthodox Church, and a devoted
Christian woman, beloved by all who knew her. She,
died in Pepperell, of heart disease, Sept., 1848, leaving
seven children:
(i)  SARAH' SHEDD, unmarried.
(ii) MARTHA' DICKSON SHEDD, married Orris T.
Chapin, and had:
(1)  THOMAS8 RUNDLE CHAPIN.
(2) AUGUSTINE8 C. CHAPIN.
(iii)  JOHN7 SHEDD, m. Ruth Elliot, and had three
children:  (1)  MARY8 EVELINE SHEDD, who in.
Wilson.  (2)  MARTHA8 ANN SHEDD.  (3) Unknown.
(iv) SARAH7 SHEDD, died unmarried.
(v)  JoSHuA' SHEDD, mar. and has three children.
(vi)  MARY7 EVELINE SHEDD, mar. Leonard Snow,
has one child.
(vii) WILLIAM' 7 SHEDD, m. and has five children (?)
apparently, in his hand, and probably left with him for safe keeping. This child was made, by this document, a " servant," for
whose security and that of another class of unfortunates to their
masters, the Constitution of the United States made special provision. It is copied for the benefit of our young friends, with
the hope that they will never experience what it is to be " bound
out ":
" THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH
That Nehemiah Nutting son of Nathaniel Nutting of Groton in
ye County of Middlesex Husbandman of his own free Will and
Accord and with the Consent of his Father doth put and bind
himself to be an Apprentice unto William Nutting of Groton
aforesaid Husbandman to learn the Art Trade or Mystery of an
Husbandman and with him the said William Nutting after the
Manner of an Aprintice to Dwell and Serve from the Day of the
Date herof for and during the full & Just Term of Eleven Years
next ensuing and fully to be compleat and ended. During all
which said Term the said Aprentice, his said Master honestly and
faithfully shall Serve-his secrets keep close-his lawful & reasonable Commands every where gladly Do and Perform-Damage to his said Master he shall not wilfully do-his Masters
Goods he shall not waste embezel purloine or lend unto others
nor suffer the same to be wasted or purloined but to his power
shall forthwith discover and make known the same unto his said




58    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
9
3.  PATTY 6 DICKSON (Gilbert,5 Martha4 Dunster,) was
born Feb. 6, 1778.  She was the only child at home
when her father died. By arrangement with the other
heirs she kept the house, in which she kept scholar
boarders, and living alone, laid aside enough to carry
her through life. About 1837 she sold her house, and
lived with her different relations. Enfeebled by a severe
sickness, she fell the entire length of a flight of stairs,
fracturing her hip, and died in Cambridge, Aug. 6, 1868,
aged 90 years and 6 months.  She was buried at lMount
Auburn.  "One of her most cherished possessions was.
the Bible of Henry Dunster, which she rarely permitted
to be moved from  her chamber.  It was left to the
writer (H. D. B.), on condition that he should be named
Master. Taverns or Ale-houses he shall not frequent At Cards,.
Dice or any other unlawful Game he shall not play. Fornication
he shall not commit nor Matrimony contract with any person during the said Term. From his Masters Service he shall not at any
Time unlawfully absent himself but in all Things as a good, honest and faithful Servant and Apprentice shall bear and behave
himself towards his said Master during the full Term of Eleven
Years commencing as aforesaid.
AND THE SAID William Nutting for himself his heirs &c Doth
Covenant Promise Grant and Agree unto and with the said Apprentice in Manner & Form following THAT IS TO SAY, That
he will teach said Apprentice or cause him to be Taught by the
best Ways and Means that he may or can the Trade Art or Mystery of a Husbandman &c & to Read ye English Bible & to write
a Legible hand (if the said Apprentice be capable to learn) and
will Find and Provide for and unto the said Apprentice good and
sufficient Cloathling, Meat Drink Washing & Lodging both In
Sickness and In Health, fitting for an Apprentice during said
Term and at the End of said Term to dismiss said Apprentice
with two Suits of apparrill for all parts of his body one of which
to be suitable for Lord's Day and other such occasions & to pay
said Apprintice Twenty pounds equill to twenty pounds Old
Tenor of this day [$8.88]. In Testimony Whereof The said Parties to these presents Indentures have interchangeably set their
Hands and Seals the twenty sixth Day of November in the
Eighteenth year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George ye
Second by the Grace of GOD King of Great Britain France and
Ireland and in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Four.
Witness                   WILLIAM NUTTING  [L. S.]
JACOB NUTTING.
JOHN SHEPLEY Junr."




THE DICKSON FAMILY.              59
9
Henry Dunster, with the hope that he would become a
Baptist minister, which hope she was permitted to indulge to the last."
4. JoHN 6 H. DICKSON (Gilbert,5 Martha4 Dunster,)
was born 1781.  "lie was a cabinet maker, (learned his.
trade in Maine.) He there became engaged to a young
lady; but going to New York city on business, was taken
sick with yellow fever, and died Sept. 30, 1805."
5. POLLY6 DICKSON lived with her Aunt Nutting
(on her mother's side) when her sister Sally2 was married. She married Simon Hosley, by whom she had one
child:  (i) SIuloN7 HOSLEY.  He died young.  She
removed to Boston, and there married Dr. John Hammond, a widower, of Philadelphia.  Dr. Hammond
practiced in Watertown, Mass., about three years, and
then moved to Watertown, N. Y., where he died, leaving four children:  (1)  CHARLES,' died in infancy.
(2) CHARLES  E. D.  (3)  THOMAS7 RUNDLE. (4)
C. M.7 HAMMOND, a daughter, who married Luther
Sanderson.
6. LYDIA6 VARNUM DICKSON was born Sept., 1789.
"She devoted her life to charitable purposes, visiting
the poor and needy wherever she could find them.
Rigidly Orthodox in her religious belief she never united
with a church, looking in vain for one whose spirituality
rendered a connection desirable." She died unmarried,
at Charlestown, July 30, 1868.
7. GILBERT6 DICKSON, died in early childhood.
8. ABIGAIL6 DICKSON, born Sept., 1793. At the
age of fourteen or fifteen she went to live with her Aunt,
Nutting. She was a favorite with her uncle and aunt.
She there married her second cousin, Walter Fiske,
grand-son of Daniel Fiske and Elizabeth Varnum, and
the'son of Walter and Phebe (Abbott) Fiske. Mr. and
Mrs. Nutting settled their home in Pepperell on this
young couple, on condition that they should be cared
for by them until death, which was rigidly complied
with.  Both died in their old homestead.  On this
homestead, the six children of Walter and Abigail'
(Dickson) Fiske were born. The family was an unusually happy one. But adversity came, and Mr. Fiske




60    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
9
was obliged to sell the old place in 1837. They moved
to Cambridge, keeping boarders about a year. Thence
to Weld, Maine, taking two of their children, Sarah and
Henry, with them. They lived on a farm about three
years, then moved to Dedham, Mass.  While living
there, Mrs. Fiske came to Newton to visit her daughter,
Mary Ann7 Billings, where she died, Aug. 24, 1846.
Was buried at Mount Auburn.
The six children of Walter and Abigail6 (Dickson)
Fiske are:
(i) MARY ANN7 FISKE, born June 6, 1813. When
about eleven years old she went to live with her Aunt
Hammond, in Boston. Here she married John Edgar
Billings, born in Boston, July 10, 1810. They removed
to Newton, Mass., about 1844.  Here Mr. Billings
died, after a long sickness, Feb. 18, 1857, was buried
at Mount Auburn. His was the only death which has
occurred in the family.  Mrs. Billings is in perfect
health, her sister (Hannah7 Maria) and two younger
children living with her, and the other three in the immediate vicinity. These five children are:
i. CHARLES8 EDGAR BILLINGS, (Mary Ann7 Fiske,
Walter,6 Gilbert5 Dickson, Martha4 Dunster,) born in
Boston, Nov. 12, 1834, entered the employ of Brewer,
Stevens & Cushing, druggists, in Boston, when he was
fifteen, and' continued with them  and their successors
until 1860. He then entered the firm of J. R. Nichols
& Co., manufacturing chemists.  Soon after the great
fire, Dr. Nichols retired, and he formed a new firm, Billings, Clapp & Co. He was superintendent of Dr. Wellman's Sabbath School, in Newton, for three years, but
in consequence of an attack of nervous prostration in
May, 1873, he resigned this position, and retired from
active business, though his name and interest continue
in the firm. He spent about a year traveling in Europe
for his health. Since his return, 1874, he has been resting at his home. He has for several years been a director
of the Newton National Bank. He married Aug. 7,
1861, Mary Murdock, of Newton.  They have three
children:




THE BILLINGS FAMILY.               61
9
(i) MARY9 NICHOLS BILLINGS, born in Newton,
June 4, 1868.
(ii)  EDGAR9 FRANCES BILLINGS, born in Newton,
May 4, 1871.
(iii)  GEORGE9 BACON BILLINGS, born in Newton,
June 7, 1872.
ii. EDWARD8 TUCKERAMAN BILLINGS, (Jozhn Edgar7
Fiske6 Dickson,5 XiMartha4 Dunster,) the second child of
John Edgar and Mary Ann Billings, was born in Boston,
Dec. 17, 1838, entered the employ of Brewer, Stevens
& Cushing, of Boston, when fifteen years old. UTpon
the failure of their successors, 1860, he established himself at Newton in the apothecary business, which he still
conducts.  He married Sept. 1, 1870, Abbie Holland
Ewings, of Townshend, Vermont, and has one child:
(i)  EDWARD9 ABBOT BILLINGS, born June 7, 1871.
iii. ELLEN s FISKE BILLINGS, the third child of John
Edgar and Mary Ann Billings, born at Boston, May 24,
1843. She was married May 19, 1868, to James Albert
Sullivan, an apothecary, in Watertown, Mass., where
they now reside. They have one child:
(i) HARRIET9 BILLINGS SULLIVAN, b. Nov. 23, 1873.
iv. EMILY 8 LEAVETT BILLINGS, b. at Newton, Mass.,
Sept. 17, 1845, completed her education at the Newton
High School, and is now living at her mother's.
v. HENRY8 DUNSTER BILLINGS, (John E.7 Fiske6
Dickson,5 Martha 4 Dtunster,) born at Newton, July 16,
1849, attended the Newton High School for three years,
then spent six months at the Lawrence Scientific School
at Cambridge. Entered the employ of James R. Nichols
& Co. July 9, 1866,.and has remained with them and
their successors until the present time.  He owns the
English Bible of Henry Dunster.*
* This Bible is in old English letters, having references in
Roman. It has the Litany of Charles I. and Sternhold and Hopkins' version of the Psalms as far as LXVIII., the rest gone. On
a blank leaf dark with age, and written in a bold, clear hand, is
a record of the children of Henrys3 Dunster, from which I have
been enabled to add to the record in Dr. Chaplin's Life of Henry
Dunster, pp. 238-9, three children, who died in infancy, also




462    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
9
(ii)  BENJAMXIIN7 NUTTING FISkE (Walter,6 Gilbert5
Dickson,) was born in Pepperell, Feb. 29, 1815.  He
lived at Pepperell till 1837, and then went to Boston.
Here he married July 1, 1846, Eliza Pierce Warren, of
that city, and moved to Medway, Maine, where he has
since resided. They have three children, all living with
or near them. No death has occurred in this family.
(1)  EMrILY8 DICKSON FISKE, b. at Medway, Me., m.
Charles Moore, and has three children:  (1)  RACHEL9
BEMILY.  (2)  ANNIE.9  (3)  BERTHA9 MOORE.
(2)  THEODORE8 VARNUM FISKE, b. at Medway, Me.,
married Augusta Hathaway, and has two children.
(3)  HENRY8 DUNSTER FISKE, is unmarried.
(iii)  SARAH7 NUTTING FISKE, born March 31, 1817.
After the return of her parents from Weld, Maine, she
lived with her Aunt Hannah Rundle and her sister Mary
Ann (Billings) until her marriage, at Boston, May 4,
1843, to Isaac Pierce Blood, born at Hollis, N. H., Feb.
17, 1803.  She lived at Hollis until her death, of heart
disease, April 21, 1865, aged 48 years and 20 days.
They had five children:
(1) HARRIET8 MARIA BLOOD, born in Hollis, July
17, 1844.
(2)  GEORGE8 HENRY BLOOD, born Jan. 7, 1848.
(3)  MARYr8 ANN BLOOD, born June 20, 1851.
(4) ABBIE8 LOUISA BLOOD, born July 7, 1853.
(5)  CHARLES8 WALTER BLOOD, born July 13, 1857.
"Cousin Hattie," to whom  I am  indebted for the
above dates, says:  "There is nothing particular to say
about us."  I will, however, add (says H. D. B.) that
other matter. This record is undoubtedly correct. It is believed
to be by Rev. S. Cooke. The binding has been repaired and indorsed, " HOLY BIBLE, 1634, H. DUNSTER." The imprint is:
London. Printed by Robert Barker, Printer to the King's most
excellent Magistie, and by the Assigns of John Bill, 1634, (old
Testament) 1636, (new Testament.) The title page is surrounded
by the banners of the twelve tribes of Israel and of the Apostles.
On one page is written, " Mary Jonson, hur booke." It is a most
valuable antiquity, and from its association a relic of rare merit.
S. D.




THE FISKE FAMILY.               63
9
the girls have been well educated; Mary graduating at
the State Normal School in Framingham, and taking an
advanced course. George married, in Brookline, N. H.,
Harriet Augusta Hills, of Hollis, April 8, 1875. Charles
learned the apothecary business at J. A. Sullivan's, in
Watertown, but is now at home.
(iv) ACHSAH,7 daughter of Walter and Abigail (Dickson) Fiske, born in Pepperell, Feb. 8, 1819, after her
removal from Pepperell, lived with her sister Mary
Ann Billings until her marriage, in Portland street,
Boston, July 4, 1839, to Charles Bell Merrill, a dry
goods merchant, of Boston.  She had two children:
(1) CHARLES8 HENRY. (2) ACHSAH8 MARIA. She
died at Boston, Aug. 23, 1842, when her daughter was
but a week old. She was 23 years of age. Mrs. Merrill
was buried in Mount Auburn, but was afterwards reinterred and laid by the side of her husband, in Chelsea.
Their children were:
(1) CHARLES 8 HEN'RY FISKE.  He served in the
war, was wounded in battle, and died in Washington
Hospital, July, 1864. He was unmarried.
(2) ACHSAH8 MARIA FISKE, mar. her second cousin,
Jabez Merrill, has two children living: (1) GRACE9
MERRILL, died in infancy.  (2) EDITH.9 (3) 
The husband of Achsah7 (Fiske) Merrill married a
second wife, by whom he had two children, one dying
in infancy, the other when about four years old.
(v) HANNAH7 MARIA FISKE, born May 5, 1822, in
Pepperell, lived there till seven years of age. She then
lived with her Aunt Hannah Rundle for four years.
Since her mother's removal from Pepperell, she has
lived with her sister Mary Ann Billings [in Newton].
"To her retentive memory and her sister's (says H. D.
B.), this record of their family history is due."
(vi) HENRY7 WALTER FISKE, b. in Pepperell, June
18, 1827, lived with his father until he was sixteen, when
he moved to Medway, Me., where he married Feb. 15,
1852, Harriet Waite, by whom he had: (i) ABIGAIL8
DICKSON FISKE. (ii) HARRIET8 ELLEN. After his
7




64    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
wife's death, he married at Dexter, Me., Sarah Elizabeth
Green, of that place, Dec. 31, 1863. He moved to Canada, and lived there until 1867, when he moved to Cambridgeport, Vt., and soon after to Mattewamkeag, Me.,
where he has since lived. He has had: (iii)  LAURA8
(?) died in infancy.  (iv)  CHARLES8 EDGAR, by his
second wife.
10. ii. MARY4 DUNSTER, (Henry,3 Jonathan,2 Henry,') the second child of Henry and Martha (Russell)
Dunster, was born in Cambridge July 8, bap. at First
Church July 13, 1712.  She was admitted to full communion March 9, 1730-31.  She married Amos Marrett,
of C(ambridge, Sept. 21, 1732. He was born Sept. 5,
1703, and was the nephew (not the son, as stated in Life
H. D., p. 239,) of Lieut. Amos Marrett, who married
Widow Ruth Eaton (Dunster).
A manuscript, entitled, "A Brief Account or Genealogy of the Marrets Taken 1773," is in possession of
Samuel Sewell, Esq., a descendant of Mary4 Dunster.
It has been the subject of some criticism by the Willard
Memoir. It has never been published, and we copy it
entire, as well as its accompanying paper, "A  Brief
Account of the Families of Dunsters, A. D. 1764."
This was the next year after the author of both papers
(John Marrett) graduated at Harvard College. Both
papers were evidently made up from  tradition, as the
language shows, and some of the errors in it, which are
pointed out by Mr. Willard, p. 339, also occur in the
family Bible of Rev. Isaiah Dunster, which have been
referred to, and it is believed corrected.  The "Balehoult" Letter, which was probably in his possession at
the time his nephew, J. Marrett, made this account,
and the public records of their own town, were evidently
not consulted. They would have corrected some of these
statements.
A SCHEME OF THE DUNSTERS.
"A Scheme of the Families of the Dunsters-From
whom descended my Mother, Mary Marrett."
1st. " Henry Dunster favoured with a liberal Education lived in Old England as it appears by a Letter of




A SCHEME OF THE DUNSTERS.           65
10
his (Dated Balehoult March 20 1640) to his son Henry
in N. England at which time it seems he was an aged
Man living at ye above ment'ed Place. he had then living
four sons and two daughters which see in ye Scheme."
(1) Henry-(2) Henry, Thos, Rich'd, Robt, Faith,
Dorothy.
(3) Henry, Jonathan, Elizabeth.
(4) Henry, Jonathan, Thomas, David, Elizabeth,
Dorothy.
(5) Isaiah, Jason, Martha, Mary, Henry, Abigail.
" Henry was sent for to N. England to take ye Charge
of the College at Cambridge upon him as accordingly he
did, and was the 1st President of Harvard Colledge
which post he Sustained for a Number of years till inclining to ye Anabaptist Persuasion he left ye College
and after yt was ordained at Scituate where he finished
his Days."
2d. Thomas, Richard & Robert never came over to
N England Their Posterity if they had any Remain on
ye other Side of ye Atlantick Faith and Dorothy Came
over to N. England after their Brother Henry-Faith
married Rice of Sudbury by whom she hath left much
Issue  Dorothy married to      Willard of  -  by
whom she hath left issue
3d. Henry died without Issue a Lawyer in Old England  Jonathan lived in Cambridge a farmer, had six
children v. Scheme
Elizabeth married Wade of Medford & then Col.n
Thomas of Marshfield But left no Issue
4th. Henry lived in Cambridge a farmer had six
children v. Scheme
Jonathan & Thomas died at Charlestown without
Issue David's Issue are at Westminster or No 2
Elizabeth married to Philip Carteret by Winm. she hath
Issue Dorothy married Solomon Page of Easthampton
and hath Issue
Isaiah (favored with a Liberal Education) is now an
Ordained Minister at Harwich on Cape Cod & hath One
Daughter
5th. Henry a Farmer lived at Camb. died without




66    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
Issue  Jason lives at Camb. a Farmer hath much Issue
[In a later hand]-" Died Jan. 180(5 ~E 80."
Martha married Edw. Dickson of Camb. hath Issue
Mary married Amos Marrett of Camb. by whom she
had three sons & three daughters two sons & one daughter now living " Mary died June 29 1795 ~E 83 " [Written in a later hand.]
Abigail married to James Cutler of Camb. and hath
Issue
" March 2 1766 she died at Newton & buried at Lexington 4th."  [In a later hand.]
GENEALOGY OF THE MARRETT FAMILY.
"A Brief Account or Genealogy of the Family of the
Marretts  Taken Anno 1773
Marrett is a French name There are now of that
name in France Called French Protestants  Family
probably sprung from Normandy
But it matters but little from What Country yy originated if yy are but honest & good Men.
SCHEME TO JOHN MARRETT.
1st Thomas Marrett
2d  John
3d  Edward, Amos, Thomas, John, Hannah, Susannab, Abigail, Lydia, Mary.
4th  Amos, Amos, John, Edward, Hannah, Susannah, Abigail, Mary.
5th  Amos, Amos, John, Abigail, Ruth, Mary.
1. Thomas Marrett is supposed to have come over to
N England Anno. 1635 about the time yt Rev. Mr.
Shepherd & Company came and settled in Cambridge
who succeeded the Rev. Mr. Hooker & Company in Cambridge by purchase of their Estate (wn they removed to
Hartford in Connecticut)  " Rev Mr Hooker & Co removed Ju ne 1636" [In a later hand.] There are records
in Cambridge Town Book of ye said Thomas having parchased of the town Anno. 1639. But he lived in town
before ys date.
2. John came from England with his father and settled in Cambridge. Succeded his father in his inheri



GENEALOGY OF THE MIARRETT FAMILY.         67
10
tance -his name is several times mentioned in Camb.
Town Book for buying & Selling Lands he appears to
have been a farmer and of what other occupation I cannot find out —he married Miss Abigail Eddes but whether
he married her before he came over or after I cannot tell.
3. Edward lived in Cambridge ablout half a mile
from  the College on the Watertown road  He was a
Glazier and Tanner  He died Anno 1754= April 11  he
married Hannah Bradish of Cambridge.  They both
died in one week (she on the 9th) and were both buried
at one time in the same grave —both attended meetingthe preceding Sabbath.  He was 84 & she 85 years of
age-left much Issue  See Scheme
Amos was a farmer in Cambridge and a Lieutenant in
ye foot Comnpany in Cambridge  he married Bethiah
Langhorn of Cambridge for his first wife ancd Mrs. Ruth
Hays * a widow of Reading for his second wife —he had
no children but made his nephew Amos Marlett his heir
he died 1739, aged 81 years
Thomas never Married-was killed in Sudbury fight
April 20 1675 with the indians
John never married he died att Sea
Hannah married Samuel Itastings of Cambridge wht
Issue she left or whether any I cannot tell
Susannah married Amsdel of Camb. a glazier
Abigail married Rice of Sudbury
Lydia died young
Mary married Joseph Hovey of Cambridge by whom
she left Issue and afterwards she married 2 i Husband
Nath. Parker of Newton
4. Amos the 1st died when about 3 years old
Amos the 2nd lived in Cambridge possessed Lieut.
Amos Marrett estate  lIe was a olazier and farmer by
occupation  Married MARY DUNSTER of Cambridge by
whom he had six children.  See Scheme.  He died 1747
in the month of November aged 46 years
John died of Small Pox in Boston when about 18
years old
* See ante " Jonathain Dunster." [S. D.]
*7




68    HENRY I)UNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
Edward lives in Cambridge a Taylor by trade or a
Merchant Tailor.  He was made Capt. of the foot Company in Cambridge.  Afterwards the company was divided and on a special Occasion had an independent Captain's commission over both Companies. Soon afterwards
laid down his commission.  He married for 1st wife
Mary Wyatt of Boston by whom he had 5 children but
one now living viz Thomas.  Capt. Edward Marrett
died Sept. 13 1780 aged 67.
[Memo. in a later hand]-Capt Edward Marretts 1st
wife died Dec 1787. His 2n wife was Susannah Foster a
widow of Boston now living.  Deacon Thomas Marrett
died at Cambridge June 23 1784 E 43 years
Hannah married to Joseph Lawrence of Cambridge,
Gunsmith, (afterwards removed into Connecticut Colony) by whom she hath Issue
Susannah married to John Pierce of Boston a carpenter, afterwards he removed to Stowe where he purchased
a good farm.  He bath been dead some years and his
widow is again married to Samuel Witt of Marlboro, a
farmer, & for a great number of years a representative to
the General Court for yt town  She and her'2 husband
both living  She never had any children  [Mrs. Wit
died Dec., 1794, aged 96 years.]
Abigail married Judah Monis of Cambridge Hebrew
Proffessor at Harvard College.  They are both dead and
died without Issue
Mary married John Martyn of Boston afterwards a
settled minister at Northboro, in the county of Worcester by whom she hath much issue IIe is dead. She
lives yet at Northboro [In a later hand]-" She is dead."
5.  Amos ye first died in infancy.
Amos ye 2d lived at Cambridge about a mile from the
College married Abigail Tidd of of Lexington afterwards
sold att Cambridge to one Capt Ruggles & bot att Lexington where he now lives  he hath four children viz
Amos, Daniel, Abigail and Ruth (& since John, Thomas
& Betsey) John favored with a Liberal Education was
Graduated at Harvard College Anno 1763 is a Preacher
But unsettled in the ministry as yet He lives at Newton
has his home at Mr. John Pidgeons [In a later hand]



THE MARRETT FAMILY.                69
10
"1774 Dec 21 John was ordained Pastor of the 2~
Parish in Woburn."
Abigail died in infancy. Ruth never was married.
She died at Newton May 2 1766 and was buried att Lexington aged 31 years  Mary died att Cambridge in the
fifteenth year of her age Anno 1754 of a consumption
Acct. taken June 1 1773
Thomas Marrett who is favoured with a Liberal education and was graduated at Harvard College 1761 now
lives at Cape Ann a trader and is Deacon of the 3ra
Church in Glocester
N. B. There are but six of ye name of Marrett in
the male line of the aforesaid family now living in these
parts viz Capt Edward Marrett of Cambridge and his son
Thomas of Cape Ann and Amos Marrett of Lexington
and his two sons & his brother John  four females of ye.
name viz Capt Marrett wife Amos Marretts wife & their
two daughters.
June 1 1773." [End of MS. S. D.]
This list is not made out in the order of birth, but
like official papers of that day, the males are named first,
and after them the females, according to age.  The account is generally correct, and far more reliable than the
" Scheme " of the Dunsters.  The children of AMos and
MARY4 (DUNSTER) MARRETT are rearranged to correspond with the plan adopted in other faniilies, and such
further notice of themn  made as is necessary and attainable.
AMo10  MARRETT, husband of Mary4 Dunster, died in
Cambridge, Nov., 1747, aged 46 years, leaving her a
widow with four children, the eldest 12, and youngest,
6 years old. These she cared for with great ability, giving her youngest, John,5 a college education.  In a few
years, both her daughters died, her oldest son was married, and her youngest unsettled in the ministry.  It is
not strange that she was melancholy and dejected.  She
avoided association with others, prefering the then solitary habitation of her brother, who had just settled on
the borders of the wilderness, to the more social comforts
to be had in the neighborhood of her birth, still she was




,A()   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
not forgotten by her sons, as letters show.  She lived
a widow almost half a century; and the traditions of
"Aunt Mary" are still fresh in memory.  She died at
her brother's, Jason Dunster, in Mason, N. H., June
29, 1795, aged 83 years, and was the first, we think, to
occupy the Dunster group in the cemetery at Mason
Centre. For near eighty years her grave was unmarked,
when a plain stone was erected at it with this inscription:
"Mary Dunster, widow  of Amos Marrett, born at
Cambridge July 8, 1712. Died at Mason June 29, 1795,
aged 83 years.  Ex dono S. Dunster, 1873."
The six children of Amos and Mary (Dunster) Marrett were:
i. AMios5 MARRETT, b. —, died in infancy.
ii. ABIGAIL5 MARRETT, b. Aug. 25, 1733, died young.
iii. RUTH5 MARRETT, b. April 30, 1735.  She died in
Newton, May 2, 1766, and was buried at Lexington on
the 4th. Unmarried.
iv. A}ios5 MARRETT, b. Feb. 4, 1738, mar. Abigail
Tidd, of Lexington.
v. MARY5 MARRETT, born Aug. 20, 1740, died 1754,
aged 14.
vi. JOHN5 MARRETT, born Sept. 10, 1741, (H. C.,
1763,) married Martha Jones.
iv. AMos5 MARRETT, born Feb. 4, 1738, mar. Dec.
14, 1760, Abigail Tidd, born Jan. 12, 1738, daughter of
Daniel and Hepzibah (Reed) Tidd. He married as of
Cambridge, where he probably resided some five or six
years after his marriage, when he moved to Lexington.
They were admitted to the Lexington Church Sept. 15,
1771, from the First Church in Cambridge.  He died
March 24, (28th, J. if. Diary,) 1805, aged 66. He was
a soldier in Capt. Parker's company in 1775, and was in
the Jerseys three months the year following. He was
selectman for' Lexington, 1785-86-89 and 91. (Hist.
Lex. Gen., p. 130.)  In July, 1776, he and his two sons
and eighteen others were innoculated for small-pox at
his own house.  (Rev. J. iiarrett's Diary.)
His children by Abigail Tidd were:




THE MARRETT FAMILY.                71
10
1. AMios,6 born in Cambridge, Oct. 4, 1763, married
Nov. 28, 1786, Patty Reed.
2. ABIGAIL,6 born in Cambridge, June 4, 1765, mar.
Oct. 6, 1788, Jonathan Smith.
3. DANIEL,6 born in Cambridge, July 18, 1767, mar.
July 24, 1796, Mary Muzzy.
4. RUTH,6 born Nov. 12, 1768, died 1775, buried
Oct. 13.  (Rev. John Marrett's Diar)y.)
5. BETSEY,6 bap. Nov. 28, 1773, died Nov. 3, buried
7th, 1797, aged 24.
6. JoHN,6 baptized July 9, 1775, died Dec. 17, 1797,
aged 22~.
7. T'HoMAs,6 baptized July 20, 1777, died July 6,
1798, a student of Harvard College.
1. AMos6 MARRETT, b. in Cambridge, Oct. 4, 1763,
mar. Nov. or Dec. 28, 1786, Patty Reed, born Dec. 5,
1765, daughter of Hammon and Betty (Simonds) Reed.
He was in the battle at Lexington, April 19, 1775. He
died Nov. 10, 1824, aged 61.  She died Oct. 16, 1849,
aged 85. They had nine children:
(1) PATTY,' born Sept. 9, 1787, mar. Jonas Cutler.
(2) SALLY,7 born Oct. 1, 1789, mar. June 15, 1823,
Benjamin Locke, Jr.
(3)  HANNAH, 7 born Dec. 24, 1792.
(4)  NABBY,' b. Aug. 18, 1795, d. Apr. 6, 1854, unm.
(5)  BETSEY,7 born July 4, 1798, mar. April 30, 1826,
Amos Towne.
(6)  MARY,' born March 18, 1801, m. April 1, 1827,
Joel Adams.
(7) JOHN,7 born Oct. 17, 1803, died 1858, unmarried.
(8) EMILY,7 born Dec. 26, 1806, mar. King George,
Nov. 17, 1830.  (This was not the King George of whom
it was said if he had not been a King he would have
made an excellent tailor.)
(9) HARRIET,7 born Sept. 13, 1809, mar. April 22,
1842, Ivory Sanborn.  They have had several children.
Of the families of these nine children we have no further
record in Hist. Lexington, but they are noticed further on.
2. ABIsAIL6 MARRETT, daughter of Amos and Abigail (Tidd) Marrett, was born in Cambridge, June 4,




72    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
1765, married Oct. 6, 1788, Jonathan Smith, his second
wife. She died at Lexington, March 30, 1794, was
buried April 5. She had one child:
(i) HARRIET' SMITH, born Jan. 6, 1791, married
Jan. 1, 1823, Imla Parker, born Sept. 4, 1791. He
was the son of Imla and Hannah (Ames) Parker, of
Groton, and died March 20, 1836? aged 44 years. Their
only child, named Abigail8 Marrett Parker, after her
great grandmother, was born Aug. 20, 1824, not 1827,
as her' mother's Bible has it —(wrong, said Mrs. P.) She
was a school teacher in the primary school, Lane Place,
Fort Hill, Boston, for fifteen years. She died in Boston, Aug. 11, 1863, aged 39 years, unmarried. She was
placed in the Parker family tomb, in Groton, Mass.
In 1873 Mrs. Imla Parker was visited at her residence,
No. 2015 Washington street, Boston Highlands. She
was found an amiable and benignant lady, who, though
82 years old, had a wonderful memory, and stated many
facts of her relatives, which, it is believed, exist in no
record, and hardly in any memory but hers. Among
her few papers she had kept a Eulogy on her mother's
death, which she permitted to be copied:
"Died in Lexington, on 30th of March, 1794, Abigail
Marret, wife of Jonathan Smith, aged 29 years. Being
of a placid and even temper she was ever easy and content. Delighted with industry she was always busily
employed.  Fond of peace she gave no provocation.
Averse to contention she received il silence the provocation of others. Kind and tender she worthilv sustained the relations of a wife and parent.  Amiable
in disposition she was beloved by all her acquaintance.
Patient under affliction she uttered not a complaint, or
expressed the least discomposure of spirits during the
course of a lingering, and the latter part of the time a
very painful disease; and pious in life, her death was in
the greatest composure of mind, and'tis presumed,
glorious and happy."
From her lips we learned that besides
(i) HARRIET'T-ABIGAIL (MARRET) SMAITH had:




THE MARRETT FAMILY.               73
10
(ii) CYRUS,7     Twins, born Oct. 20, 1792, (not
(iii) AUGUSTUS,7  Dec. 20, as in Hist. Lex., p. 225.)
(ii) CYRUS7 SMITH, born Oct. 20, 1792, mar. May,
1825, Mary Porter, daughter of Noah and Mary (Miller)
Porter, of Boston, where they had two children:
(1) CYRUS8 AUGUSTUS SMITH, born July, 1826. He
went to sea when about fifteen vears old, which business
he continued till about 1868; was mate part of the time.
He now, says Mrs. P., lives with his step-mother, at
Marlborough, in feeble health, and unmarried.
(2) THOMAS JEFFERSON SMITH, born at Boston,
about 1829, was educated for a physician; went into the
army as a soldier; was under Gen. Butler; was wounded
in the battle at, and died (probably) in hospital. He was unmarried.
(iii) AUGUSTUS' SMITH, the other twin, born Oct.
20, 1792, was found drowned in a watering trough, in
Lexington, in the year 1839. He was not married.
Mrs. Parker gave other information of the children of
Amos6 and Patty (Reed) Marrett, which we add to the
list as numbered above.
P. S. Mrs. Imla Parker died at her home, April 15,
1876, aged 85 years, 3 months and 18 days. (?)  She was
entombed at Groton, beside her husband and daughter,
She lived a widow forty years.
(1) PATTY' MARRETT, born at Lexington, Sept. 9,
1787, mar. 1811, Jonas Cutler, son of Thomas Cutler, of
Lexington, born March 3, 1782. They bought a farm
in Westminster, Mass., where he died Jan. 29, 1830,
aged 48. She died Nov. 20, 1852.
They had three children:
(1) JONAss  CUTLER, born at Lexington, Nov. 15,
1811, mar. at Leominster, April 30, 1855, Martha M.
Hager, daughter of Elijah Hager. They live on the old
place bought by his father. Have no children.
(2)  AMos8 MARRETT CUTLER, born at Westminster,
July 13, 1816, mar. at Fitchburg, Mary Barnes, of Westminster. Reside at Westminster. Keeps a livery stable.
Hiave two children:




74    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
(i) ABBY9 MARIA CUTLER, married Marcus Miller.
(ii) MARY9 ARDELIA, married George Brooks.
(3) MARTHA8 CUTLER, born at Westminster, Feb. 28,
1814, mar. at Fitchburg, Jan. 10, 1854, Sanford Sawyer,
son of Amos Sawyer. Is a carriage maker. Have had
three children:
(i) EMILY9 SAWYER, died young.  (ii)  OLIVER9
SAWYER, d. young. (iii) FRANK9 MARRETT SAWYER.
(2) SALLY7 MARRETT, married Benjamin Locke, Jr.,
June 15, 1823. Had three children:
(i) ELIZABETHR  LOCKE, born Feb., 1824, married
Jeduthan Richardson, of Woburn, now living in East
Boston, and has three children, all living.
(ii) BENJAMIN8 FRANKLIN LOCKE, born 1826? mar.
Eliza Hill, of Arlington, have one daughter, Louisa9
Locke, lives in Arlington.
(iii) ALBERT8 LOCKE, born 1828? mar. about 1869,
Mina Hill, sister to his brother B. Franklin Locke's
wife. He (Albert8) went to South America. Mrs. P.
being asked to what part, could not remember, but said,
" where the earthquakes are."
(3) HANNAH'7 MARRETT, born Dec. 24, 1792, died
in Lexington, 1823? twenty-five years old, unmarried.
(4) ABIGAIL7 (NABBY), born Aug. 18, 1795, died
April 6, 1854, unmarried.
(5) BETSEY,7 mar. Amos Towne, of Woburn, April
30, 1826. Two children:
(i) ELIZABETH8 TOWNE, mar. a Bruce, and lives at
Fitchburg, a carpenter, and has three children.
(ii) HARRIET8 TOWNE, born, married Thomas
Simonds, who is in the shoe business at Reading. Have
three children, Alice,9,
(6) MARY,7 born March 18, 1801, mar. Joel Adams,
of Shirley, Mass. Have three children, John,8 Mary
Ann,8 and Albert8 Adams.
(7) JOHN,7 born Oct. 17, 1803, died 1858, unmarried.
(8) EMILY,7 born Dec. 26, 1806, mar. King George,
of Sanbornton, N. IH., and has two children:




THE 3MARRETT FAMILY.             75
10
(i) ELIAS  GEORGE. (ii) MARTHA8 GEORGE, mar.
-  Baxter, and lives at Lakeville.
[There was a Mr. George, Methodist minister, preached at Springvale, Me., in 1836.]
(9) HARRIET,7 born Sept. 13, 1809, mar. Ivory Sanborn. Have had six children:
(i) LOUISA,8 born -, died young.
(ii) GEORGE8 SANBORN, mar. Ada -, of Waltham.
He is a watchmaker at Waltham.
(iii) LYMAN,  b.   both died same day of dysentery.
(v)  ELLEN8 M.ARIAH,  Twins.
(vi) EMMA8 MALINDA,
Ellen died when about 3 months old.
Emma married Charles Swan, of Reading, about 1826.
Have no children.
3. DANIEL 6 MARRETT, (Amos,5 Amos and Mary4 D.,
Henry,3 Jonathan,' Henry,') the third child of Amos
and Mary (Tidd) Marrett, was born in Cambridge, July
18, 1767, and married first, July 24, (Feb. 24, Hist. Lex.)
1796, Mary Muzzy, daughter of Wm. and Lydia (Reed)
TMuzzy, of Charlestown, born Jan. 2, bap. Jan. 7, 1770.
He graduated at Harvard College, 1790, and was classmate of Hon. Josiah Quincy and Gov. Crafts, of Vermont. From his class of forty-two there were five members of Congress and two judges. He studied theology
with Dr. Stearns, of Bedford, Mass., and was ordained
pastor of the Congregational Church in Standish, Maine,
Sept. 21, 1796, and continued to hold'that relation for
more than thirty-three vears, resigning in Dec., 1829.
In addition to his ministerial duties, he engaged in horticulture extensively. He had a large orchard of the finest
fruit in the State, and was the first to introduce grafted
fruit; and owned the first covered carriage in that neighborhood. By Mary Muzzy he had six children:
i. DANIEL7 MARRETT, born July 15, 1797, Saturday
afternoon, at three o'clock. He married Jan. 26, 1825,
Abigail March, daughter of Col. James March, of Gor8




76    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCEN'DANTS.
10
ham. She died March 15, 1856. He was a merchant.
resided in Portland, and died Dec. 3, 1875. Both buried
in Westbrook.  Three children:
1. EDVwIN8 AUGUSTUS MARRETT, born March 12,
1826, mar. Mary Louisa Nelson, daughter of Samuel
Nelson. He is a merchant in Portland. They are Unitarians. Have no children.
2. JAMES  SULLIVAN MARRETT, (Daniel,7 Daniel,6
Amos,5 Amos and MJary4 D., Henry,3 Jonathan,2 Henry,l)
born May 30, 1827, married Sarah Jennie (?) Gorham,
daughter of Hon. Jason Gorham, of Barre, Mass. Resides in Portland, is a merchant and carpet manufacturer. "Never held any political office."  "Was councilman several years."  "Did nothing towards the late war
but to pay money." (Letter.) They have two children:
(i)  ELIZABETH9 MARCH MARRETT, b. Aug. 10, 1856.
(ii) CHARLES9 GORHAM MARRETT, b. Feb. 23, 1861.
3. ORLANDO8 MELVILLE MARRETT, born May 19,
1829. married Dec. 4, 1851, Louisa Small, daughter of
Francis Small, of Windham. He was a merchant ship
chandler, and engaged in navigation. He was Orthodox
(Congregational) in religion. Filled several offices of
local importance; was President of the City Council.
For many years President of the Mercantile Library
Association, and Vice President of Board of Trade. He
died Jan. 9, 1870. Had one child:
(i) JAMES9 E. MARRETT, born April 7, 1854, now
living in Portland.
ii. JOHN'7 MARRETT, b. Feb. 1, 1799, Friday morning,
at 10 o'clock, died May 3, 1821, at Standish, Me. Unm.
iii. Aros7 MZARRETT, born Nov. 27, 1800, Thursday
afternoon, at 3 o'clock, Thanksgiving Day, mar. April
12, 182(i, Mary S. Strothers, of Bridgeton, Me., and
died a few weeks after at Bridgeton, Me. No children.
iv. CAROLINE7 MARRETT, born July 3, 1802, 121 A.
M., Saturday, d. Dec. 27, 1817, aged 15 y., 5 mo., 24 d.
v. WVILLIAM 7 MARRETT, (Daniel,6 Amos,5 Mary 4 Dunster,) born Sept. 5, 1804, Wednesday, at 2~ o'clock, P.
M.  He took his medical degree at Bowdoin College in




THE MARRETT FAMILY.               77
10
1830, and settled as a physician in Westbrook, Maine.
He was for many years a deacon of the Congregational
Church at Saccarappa Village.  He married Adaline
Irish, daughter of Gen. James Irish, of Gorham, Me.,
and died in 1860 at Westbrook.  One child:
(i) MARY8 MUZZY MARRETT, born Sept. 22, 1834,
married Fabius M. Ray, a lawyer in Portland.  He is
Treasurer of a Savings Bank at Saccarappa.  Resides in
Westbrook.  Has two children, Addie and Willie.
vi. MARY ANN7 MARRETT, born Feb. 1, 1808, Monday, 1I P. M. She mar. June 2, 1833, Warren Duren,
of Woburn, Mass. She died Oct. 4, 1839, aged 31 years,
9 months and 4 days, and was buried at Woburn. She
left one child:
(i)  CAROLINE8 AUGUSTA  DUREN, born Oct. 25,
1835, and died May 13, 1852, aged 17 years, unmarried.
Mr. Duren moved to Lexington, where he has been
several times in town office. He married 2d Oct., 1848,
Mary Chandler. He carries on the shoe business.
MARY (MUZZY) MARRETT, first wife of Daniel6 Marrett, died March 6, 1810, aged 40 y., 2 mo.2 4 d., and
was buried at Standish, leaving all her six children living.
REV. DANIEL6 MARRETT, married second wife, Oct. 8,
1810, Dorcas Hastings, born at Lexington, June 27,
1785 or 6, daughter of Maj. Samuel and Lydia (Nelson)
Hastings. Maj. Hastings was taken prisoner with Gen.
Lee on Long Island.  At the time of his capture a,
British officer wounded him with a sword in the neck,
but his "queue " broke the force of the blow and saved
his life. By her he had eight children more, making
fourteen.
vii. LEANDER7 (first child of Dorcas) MARRETT, born
Sept. 16, 1811, Monday, at 7 A. M., died July 13, 1814,
aged 2 years and 4 months?
Viii.  LORENZO' MARRETT (Daniel,6 Amos,5 Amos and
Mary4 Dunster, Henry,3 Jonzathan,2 Helnry,') was born
at Standish, March 18, 1816, Monday, at 5~ P. MI. Ile
graduated at Bowdoin College, Maine, Sept. 1838; was




78    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
tutor in Jackson College, Columbia, Tenn.; studied law
at Dane Law School, Harvard University, and with
Nathan Dane Appleton, Alfred, Maine; was admitted to
the bar in Cumberland Co., Ate., 1842; settled in Cambridge, 1843, where he now resides. To him we are indebted for most of the records of his father's (Daniel6)
family. He writes: "I think I am  the only direct
descendant in Cambridge of Thomas Marrett, who settled in Cambridge, 1630." He has some interesting
relics of the Marrett family, among which is a copy of
the " Spectator," having the autograph of all his ancestors, from Thomas down. He married Eliza Anthony
Winsor, of Pawtucket, R. I., Aug. 14, 1845. She died
Feb. 25, 1876. No children.
ix. ISABELLA' ANNETTE MARRETT, born July 20,
1817, on Sunday, at 6 o'clock, died March 4, 1818, aged
7 months and 7 days.
x. AVERY7 WILLIAMS MARRETT, born Jan. 19, 1819,
on Tuesday, at 5 P. M., mar. Nov. 25, 1847, Elizabeth
Bancroft Weston, daughter of Rev. James and Sarah
(Chase) Weston, born Jan. 5, 1820, in Augusta, Me.
He is a farmer, and lives on the old place. Seven children:
1. HELEN 8 MARIAH MIARRETT, born Jan. 20, 1849,
graduated at Tilden Female Seminary, class 1869, West
Lebanon, N. 1H., and is now preceptoress of Gorham
Seminary, Maine. She is a member of the Orthodox
Congregational Church in Standish.
2. WALTER8 HASTINGS MARRETT, b. Oct. 28, 1850.
He is a member of the senior class, 1876, Bowdoin College, and a member of the Congregational Church in
Standish.
A GRADUATE'S BIG WALK.
SUMMIT HOUSE, MT. WASHINGTON, N. H., Aug. 25.
-Mr. Marratt, graduate of Bowdoin College, who took
a prize at Saratoga this summer, walked from the top of
this mountain to Portland yesterday. The distance is
90 miles.- N. Y. Tribune.
The prize at Saratoga was a very handsomely engraved
medal. He had previously taken a number of silver




THE MIARRETT FAMILY.              79
10
vases, cups and goblets at College field days. Always
won them easily. The best time in walking he ever
made was half a mile in 3 minutes, 27 seconds.  " Have
now given up walking altogether, and am giving my
whole attention to teaching" at Yarmouth, Me. One
of his sisters is his assistant.
3. MARY8 ELIZABETH, born Feb. 21, 1852.
4. CARRIE8 LOUISA, born Dec. 26, 1855.
5. HENRY8 WESTON, born April 19, 1857.
6. CHARLES8 NELSON, born Feb. 4, 1860, died July
12, 1872, aged 12 years, buried at Standish.
7. FANNIE8 SARAH, born Oct. 10, 1865.
xi. DANE' APPLETON MARRETT,   Twins.
xii. SAMUEL7 HASTINGS MARRETT,
Dane Appleton, born at 3 o'clock, A. M., and Samuel
Hastings at noon, on Saturday, Jan. 12, 1822.
xi. DANE7 APPLETON MARRETT, married Eliza Ann
Locke, of Lancaster, Mass., June 7, 1848, lives at Chelsea, Mass. Three children:
1. SAMUEL8 IHASTINGS, b. Aug. 10, 1850, d. young.
2. DANE8 APPLETON, born July 1, 1855.
3. AUGUSTUS,8 born, 1858.
xii. SAMUEL7 HASTINGS married Francis A. Locke,
of Lancaster, Mass., June 7, 1848.
Twin brothers married twin sisters at the same time.
Samuel7 Hastings and Frances A. (Locke) Marrett
had Frances8 Hastings, born Aug. 27, 1849. She died
an infant.
Samuel7 Hastings Marrett died May 22, 1850, aged 28
years, 4 months and 10 days.
xiii. HELEN7 MARIA, born July 3, 1823, at 4 o'clock,
P. M. She died March 15, 1846, aged 23 years, 7 mo.,
22 days, unmarried, and was buried at Standish.
xiv. FRANCIS'7 GRENVILLE MARRETT, born Sept. 8,.1826, on Friday, at 6 o'clock, P. M. He was an organ
builder, at Detroit, Michigan, died at Cambridge, Mass.,
unlmarried, and was buried at Standish, Maine.
*8




80    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
Rev. Daniel6 Marrett died at Standish, Maine, April
14, 1836, aged 68 y., 8 nmo., 26 d., and was buried there.
Dorcas (Hastings) Marrett, second wife of Rev. Daniel Marrett, was a member of the Congregational Church,
and died Aug. 6, 1857, at Standish, aged 72 years, 1
month, 9 days, and was buried beside her husband and
his first wife, Mary (Muzzy) Marrett.
vi. JOHN 5 MARRETT, (Amos and Mary4 (Dunster),
Henry,' Jonathan,2 Henry,') was the sixth and youngest
child of Amos and Mlary4 (Dunster) Marrett, and was
born in Cambridge, Sept. 10, 1741, 0. S., Sept. 21, N. S.
He was probably baptized in the First Church of Cambridge, of which his mother, before her marriage, was a
member in full communion.  His father died Nov.,
1747, when he was six years old, and left his mother to
watch over and educate her four children.  What property was left for that purpose is not now apparent, but
from the fact that her daughter, Ruth, died in Newton
and was buried in Lexington, and that her youngest son
often refers to Newton as a residence, it would seem that
she parted with the home residence given her husband
by his uncle, and lived in Newton, or elsewhere.
His education was not neglected. He entered Harvard College 1759, when eighteen years old, and graduated 1763, in the class with Timothy Pickering. Of his
early religious experience no facts have reached us.
After graduation he seems to have resided with his
mother in Cambridge, and have had an oversight of the
farm. He kept a Diary, which is now the property of
his grand-son, Samuel Sewall, of Burlington, Mass. It
commenced with the year 1767, and is, excepting 1768,
which is missing, attached to the Almanac of each year.
We have been kindly permitted by Mr. Sewall to examine it, and have copied a few items illustrating his
life, and regret that our limits compel us to omit many
very interesting ones.
He seems to have studied Divinity at Harvard, and
was, in 1767, apparently, a member of the "Ministers'
Meeting."  These meetings were held at each minister's
residence, alternately.  The one for May of that year is




REV. JOHN MARRETT'S DIARY.          81
10
entered " May 5 Ministers meeting to be here." He has
also in the calender marked the Sabbaths on which the
Sacrament was held.
The Diary for 1769 is dated Cambridge. They all
give notes of the weather, his journeys, places of preaching, his work on his farm in detail, and often the expenses, &c.
REV. JOHN MARRETT'S DIARY.
"Jany. 18 1769  Started on my journey to Yarmouth." Here he preached till April 11, when the
church gave him a call to settle. This he declined,
although given with unusual unanimity. After visiting
his uncle, Rev. Isaiah Dunster, by whom he was probably introduced to that people, he preached at Barnstable,
then returned to Cambridge, and roomed at the College
till Aug. 5, 1770, when he went to Mr. Pidgeons, at
Newton.
June 3 Witnessed transit of Venus
Sept 4 Saw the comet Its tail appears to be 20 rods
long. 13th do. Its tail about 30 degrees
1770 March 8.            Went to Boston  Saw ye
largest Funeral perhaps that was ever in Boston 8 or 10
thousand present-four men buried in one grave who
were shot by the Centry Guard of regulars on Monday
night last. [The Boston massacre, of which he gives a
graphic account.]
Oct. 8. Went to Cambridge in evening. Made an
entertainment for the Gentlemen of the college and
quitted living at the college. Gave up my chamber after
possessing it 3 years & 4 mo.
Oct 12 Set out on a journey to see my mother
14 Preached at Mason, 20. back to Newton
"Can go no where else"
1771 July 12. About three nights agone a mad Dog
passed by here  "It is about two years since mad Dogs
came into this country " Preached at Stow 12 Sabbaths.
1772 June 14 preached at Ashby "a new place but
good land. Settles fast." He preached here six Sabbaths.




82    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
1773 March 31  Very warm  the "Silver Tankard
filled with Cyder Sweated like Summer"
April 11 Left off my wigg & wear my hair.
Sept. 29. Very hot & dry. At Rhode Island they
sell the water in the town for 11s. 3 pence pr. bbl.
Oct 21 One Levi Ames executed at Boston for stealing
31 preached at Stow the last of my engagement
15 Sabbaths
Dec 16 " A meeting of ye town of Boston & ye neighboring towns about landing a Quantity of Tea In ye
eveng about 300 Chests of Tea a Board ye Ships in ye
harbor all flung over Board & Destroyed by ye ple. yy
mett with no resistance"
1774 May 17 removed from Newton to Lexington to
live with my Brother. I have lived at Mr Pidgeons three
years & nine months
Sept 2 (P. S.) Abt 3000 of ye country ple assembled
at Cambridge with fire Arms & Clubs yy obliged Col.
Oliver Judges Danforth & Lee to resigu yr Counsellor
ship & Mr Phipps not to act as Sheriff.  [Mob law
rampant in Massachusetts!]
29  The Church in Topsfield [where he had preached
several Sabbaths] gave me a call. He declined this call
also.
Oct 11 A provincial Congress at Concord began to day
12 rode from Lex. to Concord to see ye Congress
Nov 10 gave my answer to the call I received from
Woburn Precinct  *  *  *  I asked for wood-not
granted as yet.
16  Messrs Zachs Gould & Daniel Bixby lodged here
last night & tarried to day. They came as a Comtte
about Topsfield affairs
17. Capt Johnson and Dea Reed of Woburn visited
me & informed me that the 2nd parish in Woburn had
complied with terms for settling with them in the ministry.
29. Rode to Woburn attended parish meeting  Ordination appointed to be 21 of Dec.
Dec 21 Last night and to day Exceedingly cold, fair.
Themo. 60~ A. M. My Ordination at ye 2nd Parish in
Woburn.  Went into meeting house a little before 12




REV. JOHN MARRETT'S DIARY.           83
10
clock came out half past two oclock P. M. Revd Messs
Cushing of Waltham began with prayer.  Clark of Lexington preached from 1 Thess. 2-4.  Sermon an hour
and ten minutes long. A very good Sermon. Cook of
Cambridge prayed and gave the Charge. Stone of Reading prayed after the Charge. Morril of Wilmington
gave the Right Hand.  Was sung 97 Hymn a stave and
a half from the 4 verse-good singing  Council Supped
at Lieut. Walkers.
Thus he remained unsettled for eleven years after his
graduation, and at least eight, probably more, after he
began to preach.  In this interim, certainly the last five
years, he preached almost every Sabbath. Most of the time
as a substitute for others. He preached in nearly every
pulpit in and around Boston. His sermons, the manuscripts of which are now in the possession of Mr. Sewall,
at Burlington, are of the Calvinistic faith, yet liberal and
free from bigotry. They are artistic in form, systematic
in detail, with an evident intention to mould the affections and purify the life, rather than charm the head
and dazzle the understanding.  A single sentence, written apparently after he had noted "some conversation
on points of Divinity at Topsfield," gives an insight into
his views. It is copied verbatim:
"The Doctrine of Election, must be consistent with
mans free agency so yt wn Gd Judgeth sinners yy shll
Stand Condemned, in foro consce that is, yy are not condemned because Gd would not Save ym but fr yir own
sins & because yy would not attend to & accept of ye
offers of salvn."
Very soon after his ordination he moved to Woburn
(Jan. 13, 1775).  "Board at Madam Jones's for 40s. pr
week, and keep my horse myself." Here he staid about
a year. Madam Jones was the widow of his predecessor
in that church. He afterwards married her daughter.
The first. Sabbath in that year he "went to meeting on
snow shoes."  After moving to Woburn he devoted his
time to the interests of the parish-visiting the sick, attending funerals, solemnizing marriages, and adminis



84    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
tering consolation to the afflicted-all of which are
noted. He found time, however, to attend to a farm he
had bought in Lexington, which he kept till April 18,
1785, and also to the homestead of Madam Jones, which
ultimately came into his possession through his wife.
The details of these transactions are curious and interesting, embracing daily entries for forty years, excepting a
month, when he "bespoke a' Birth' in ye Hospital at
Lincoln for ye Small Pox"      "took 5 small mercurial Pills 2 doses of Salts Whole expense about ~40
Old Tenor" ($16.)
On one occasion he writes: "Had a Blister on my
arm for a sore eye."  (This looks like the famous similia
similibus curantur, but failed to carry out the formula
of infinitesimal doses.)  On another, he "Bottled 11
Doz & One bottles of Cyder."
The first year of his ministry was the eventful one of
the opening of the Revolution.  In this he took an
active and decided stand against the Mother Country.
On the 9th of Feb., 1775, he attended "a Lecture at
Lexington on the Times"       "I began with prayer
Mr. Cushing preached from Ps. 22, 28' He is the Governor among the Nations."'
March 7 attended training at Lexington. 21st training, viewed arms at home April 4 rode to Reading and
heard Mr Stone preach a sermon to the Minute Men
April 8. People moving out of Boston on account of
the troops
April 19 fair, windy & cold. "A Distress'g Day.
Abt 800 Regulars marched from Boston to Concord as
yy went up yy killed 8 men at Lex.gton meetg house,
they huzzard & then fired as our men had turned yr
backs, who in number were abt 100 & yn yy proceeded
to Concord. Ye adjacent Country were alarmed ye later
part of ye night precedg. Ye action at Lexn was just
before Sunrise. Our men pursued ym to and fm Concord on yr retreat back. Several killed on both sides
but much ye least on our Side as we pickt yin off on yir
retreat. Ye Regulars were reinforced at Lexgton to aid
yir retreat by 800 wth two three field pieces they burned




REV. JOHN MARRETT'S DIARY.         85
10
3 houses in Lexgton and one barn & did other Mischief
to buildings they were pursued to Charlestown Where
yy entrenched on a hill just over ye neck. thus Commences an important Period
April 20 rode to Lexn and saw the mischief the Reg-'ulars did
21. rode to Concord. The country coming in fast
to our help.
22. All quiet here Our forces gathered at Cambridge
and towns about Boston  The regulars removed from
Charlestown to Boston the day before yesterday
23. S. (abbath) Preached at home. Soldiers travelling down and returning brought their arms with them
to meeting with warlike accoutrements. A Dark Day.
In the forenoon service just as service was ended Dr.
Blodget came in for the People to go with their teams to
bring provisions from Marblehead out of the way of the
Men of War. Considerable number at Meeting
24. packing up my most valuable effects to be ready
to move on any " sudden occasion "
25 rode to Cambridge. Our forces very numerous
there
26. returned home via Lexgn Many houses on the
road pillaged by the regulars between Lexington and
Charlestown
There was one important personal incident in the
affair at Lexington which Mr. Marrett passes without
notice, unless the words "sudden occasion" give a hint
of it.
It was well known that one of the objects of Gen.
Gage was to seize John Hancock and Samuel Adams.
On the night preceding the march to Lexington, these
men were lodging at the Clark parsonage, formerly the
residence of Rev. John Hancock, in an apartment of which,
says Drake, (Hist. Fields, &c., p. 366,) there is no doubt
Hancock courted Dorothy Quincy, who was then living
in the house under the protection of Madam Lydia Hancock, the Governor's Aunt. The people of Lexington
were apprised by Revere and others of this object of
Gage, and insisted that Hancock and Adams should go




86    HENRY DUN-STER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
to a place of greater safety.  "They first repaired to the
hill southeast of Mr. Clark's, where they remained until
the troops passed.  They were afterwards conducted to
the house of Madam  Jones, widow of Rev. Thomas
Jones and Rev. Mr. Marrett, in Burlington " (then
Woburn). Mrs. Clark had arranged to have fresh salmon, the first of the season, for the breakfast of her
family on the morning of the 19th.  The abrupt departure of her guests had disappointed her as well as
themselves.  On their way they recollected their expected entertainment.  They stopped at Mr. Reed's for
a short time, sent back the servant to get the rarity, and
took it with them for Madam Jones to cook. Upon a
new alarm, they were conveyed by Mr. Marrett along a
cart-way in the woods to the house of Amos Wyman, in
a little clearing, about three miles distant, in the corner
of Billerica.  The "elegant repast," as Drake calls it,
was not quite ready, and they left it untasted.
In the meantime, by Mrs. Jones' directions, the servants had drawn the elegant-carriage which had brought
the "Patriots" to her house, into the thickly wooded
swamp to avoid any trace to their whereabouts.
On arriving at Mr. Wyman's, they asked if they could
be supplied with something to eat, saying they had had
neither breakfast nor dinner.  Mrs. Wyman replied she
had nothing in the house except the cold pork and potatoes left of their boiled dinner. Mr. Adams rejoined,
please let us have some of them.  The patriotic woman,
taking down from the kitchen shelf a wooden tray containing the boiled salt pork and unpeeled potatoes left
of the family dinner, set it, with some brown bread, before her guests.  Woman like, she apologized for the
humble fare.  Mr. Adams, with his usual courtesy,
assured her he had made a hearty meal, and had never
tasted anything better.  Hancock is reported to have
given Mrs. W. a cow  in his more prosperous days.
(Family tradition.)
Dorothy Q., who had refused to have her lover separated from  her at Lexington, appears to have been left
at Mrs. Jones'.  Mr. Marrett constituted himself "Master of Ceremonies " and apprised his proteges of the




REV. JOHN MARRETT'S LETTERS.         87
10
progress of events. They came back to Mrs. Jones' the
next day, but appear to have returned to Wyman's,
where Paul Revere and Dorothy Q. joined them. They,
with the "women and children of several of the neighboring families who had fled thither for safety, fearing
that if they remained at home'the Regulars' might
come and murder them or carry them off," made quite a
party, " roughing it in the woods."
On the 4th of September of the same year, Dorothy
Quincy was married at Fairfield, Conn., to John Hancock, afterwards the famous President of the Continental Congress.
On the 12th of June following, Gen. Gage, by proclamation, exempted Hancock and Adams from his offer of
a general pardon, and declared all persons who might
give them shelter or aid, rebels and traitors.
We think it was prudent in Mr. Marrett not to commit the part he had taken in the affair to writing. Had
the rebellion been unsuccessful, his head might have
"graced the hill called Bacon."
The Wyman house was long since torn down.
There is not a doubt of the truth of this matter. It
is detailed in the histories of Lexington and Woburn.
" Miss Quincy, afterwards Mrs. Hancock, was connected with the Sewall family, and often gave to my father
an account of the affair. She was one of the party. He
also doubtless heard it from Madam Jones, who was living after he came to Burlington."  (Samzuel Sewall's
Letter.)
As it has never been published before, we copy here,
in full, a letter of Rev. J. Marrett to his uncle, Isaiah
Dunster, found among the papers of the latter:
"REVD HOND & DEAR
SIR  I hve yis week recvd yrs of ye 3d Inst. & think
myself very happy in ye continuation of yr. Friendship
& Correspondence we I sh'll always endeavour to Cultivate & endeavour to Deserve: I acknowledge my past
defficiencies But hope for future amendments  ~ I hve
sent you a Letter sometime ago we I hpe by yis time has
reached you. I am glad you continue Steadfast in ye
9




88    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
Cause of Liberty; but I never entertained ye least Doubt
to ye Contrary knowing yt you are not given to Change
w" you are once established on rational principles. As
to those around you of different Sentnts yy will only increas yr glory by yir opposition-I think with you Concerning ye Drs. Serm. yt it is a very good one. as to ye
two men unarmed yt were killed in a house at Menotomy, am not absolutely Certain but take ym to be Jabez
Wyman who used to work for Mr Cook and Jason Winship killed in ye tavern yt Capt Adams formerly owned,
now Cooper at the Corner. Wyman was certainly killed
yer & I think Winship but am not Certain yy were unarmed; but its likely enough yy were drinking phlys
[flip]. Wyman was warned of ye Danger but says he let
us finish ye mug yy wont come yet he died as a fool
dieth. the woman you speak of was Deacn Adams wife
She had newly been brot to bed a few Days before: ye
Regulars Came into ye house & one of ym presented hs
peice at her but she Screamed for mercy & another prevented his firing but pulled off ye Cloths & told her to
get out of ye way, or to use yir phrase to make herself
Scarce. So she went off but I know not where. her
childn were some of ym under ye bed & I think remained
undiscovered. yy set ye house on fire But it was soon
put out: yy set John Cutters house on fire But by ye
Activity of our ple it was soon put out; our ple pressed
so hard upon ym yt yy had not time to Excute yir Masters will so fully as yy desired. Menotomy meetg house
received no other Damage than some of ye windows be'g
broken and some Balls fm Small Arms Shot into it.
Lexgton meetg had a Cannon Ball a six pounder Shot
thro it besides many small arms fired into it. yy broke ye
windows of Mr Cooks house and fired into it & ye kitchen
ye setty room & ye best room N. E. yy plundered as
much as ye time would admit; took, broke & Destroyed
wht yy could-Jason Russel ye Old man was ye person
killed & in his house whose Dth I have mentioned in my
other Letter —it was not your Brother Harrington yt was
killed nor his Son It was Moses Harringtons Son it
runs in my mind yre were two of yt name killed but I
forget whose son ye other was.




REV. JOHN MARRETT S LETTERS.         89
10
As to ye British Parl'ts having ye supremicy over ye
American Colonies, as now contended for by yt Body I
hope yt thro ye help of Divine Providence by next Septr
great Britain will be convinced she never diior will
hold such a Power in her hands. thus I e  Answered
ve Several Questions already to ye best of my knowledge
UI was in ye Army last Sabth & left my ple Destitute in
order to promote ye publick good  Several of ye neighboring ministers hve taken yir turns. Of late it hth
been somewhat Sickly in our army-fever & flux. But
not many die. I hear it is very sickly at Boston both
among ye Inhabitants & troops & mortally so.  Our
Army appear in good Spits & are under good Regulations. no prospect of ye Regulars Comg out. yy, we
imagine are more afraid of an attack fm us two of ye
advanced Centry fm Bunker hill deserted to us yesterday
Wht yy relate hve not heard. Our Chief General is
much admired  Wish him Good Speed. We ve had a
very dry time yesterday a fine rain. I hve Just made
inquiry & am informed yt Jason Winship & Wyman were
ye persons killed who were unarmed & had not been in
the engagement but were Solacg themselves at ye tavern
ye chief of ye day & both died like fools hve also heard
yt 7 deserters are come over to us from ye enemy who
brng an acct yt 5500 troops were ye whole number yt were
in Boston & its environs & its not likely more yan 2200
of ym can performe duty-An officer afterwards camne to
our advanced Centry on Charleston Side & inquired of
our Centry how we treated deserters. who answered yy
were treated as yy ym selves were ytS well says ye Officer
and turned about to go away. Says our Centry where
are you go'ng?  back says ye Offir. Stop says Centry I
have a brace of Balls in my Gun & if you Stir another
Step you are a ded man. Come back  Upon yt ye Offir
returned and yy took care of him* Dr Eliot has got
out in Disguise. 13 in a week of ye Inhabitants of Boston die. its so sickly thus you hve it Just as I hve now
receved it how true it will prove know not. -    there
is likely to be plenty of Cyder & Indian Corn yn expect
Bread & Cyder —I hve got good Bottle Cyder & pipe &
tobacco will you come and see me? My Dutiful re



90    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
gards to Mrs Dunster & love to your Children-Am not
married From your Dutiful & Obedent Humbl Serv't
Shushan July 28 1775         J. MAR [Partof signature and
* P S Since heard yt ys. story is not true corneroflettergone.]
& Dr. Eli
of Boston we dont know
Some days after a thing is fi
Every day hear ye firing of
frequently in ye morning ye reg
SIR  Please to convey ye Inclosed to Mrs Hows when
you have opertunity & thereby you' oblige    &c "' MRS. Hows. We should Choose to have about 12 15
or 18 yds Linnen Cloth ~ of a yd wide after it is scunc
[shrunk] ye yarn to be spun so yt 12 or 14 Skeins (7
knots to ye Skein) will weigh 1 lb. before it is Boiledwe expect to pay ye Cash for it as soon as done But
should be glad to know before you begin."
The letter was directed:
For-The Rev. d   M-rIsaiah Dunster-Att Harwich.
Pr. Favour of Mr. Joseph NyeRepresentative for Harwich.
There are two or three other letters from Mr. Marrett
to his uncle, Isaiah Dunster, which are interesting. All
these letters were found in Rev. Isaiah Dunster's papers:
"REVD & HON- SIR  It is so long since we have had
any Communication between each other that I know
not what to write (and yet you would think I might
have collected matter enough by this time to fill a Letter) I have transciently heard from you two or three
times which was some Satisfaction The reason why you
have had no Letter from me is owing to ye removal of
Mrs Stone from her old place. I have repeatedly endeavored to find her present place of abode but without
success I continue at Shushan But my Income is not
answerable to so Dignified a Name. Thro Divine Goodness we are all in health  little Patty (stil ye only one)
has entered her 7th year and I dont know but is as likely
as ye fair ones of Harwich The Measles are reif amongst
us none of my family but myself have had ym and we
are in daily expectation of having ym your Brother




REV. JOHN MARRETT'S LETTERS.          91
10
Dunster comes to see me once a quarter & seldom goes
away without 6~ dollars at time  its not long since he
was here; they were all well; mother as usual. The
winter favourable but little snow not enough for transportation.
I had a full View & for Sometime of the President of
ye Union upon his Visit amongst us The View was in
the College Library; the first time I ever saw him. his
Dress was neat & modest, his personal appearance good
But not Distinguishingly great. But there is something
in his Mein, Behaviour & Address wC commands love &
respect & Discovers quietness & penetration of that &
observation (with ye greatest ease) of every thing around
him He appears affible & pleasant but not lightly so.
The Affections & Benevolence of a tender Parent as well
as ye qualities & Accomplishments of a Supreme Civil
& Military Officer appear to possess his Soul.
We have no Special News But mind our own business
& live upon the fruits of last summer's labor.  Should
be glad to hear from you ye first opportunity.  We all
unite Duty & Regards to yourself & Lady & Family.
Woburn Feby 3 1790  From your old acquaintance
Rev Mr Dunster"                   JOHN MARRET'
"REVD SIR —I rote a Letter last winter for you  I
hve nt had opportunity to send it, not havng been at
Boston since last Fall Therefor send it with this Nothing remarkable hath turned up since writ. g of ye foregong-we have not had ye Measles tho yy hve been all
round us. it has been Sickly & a time of mortality in
many paces this spring. with us in general healthy.
The Distemper called ye Influenza has prevailed-I have
been confined with it about 10 days. But now well as
we all are we hve no news. the Spring appears promising at present for a good Season The apple trees are in
yir Glory a fine show of Blossoms Should be very glad
to see you or any of yr. fam'y here.  Whether I shall
ever Come into yr. parts again or not is very uncertain
Mr Hilyard of Cambridge continued but a short time in
his agreeable Situation-Please give my dutiful Regards
to Mrs Dunster & love to yr Children  Shld be glad once
more to See them-my little Patty is in her Seventh year
*9




92    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
& grows fast-yr Brother is well for ought I know-my
Mother much so  Mrs Marrett is not present or also
would join in her regards to you & family
May 25 1790           From your old Friend
Rev Mr Dunster"                  JOHN MARRETT
[Directed] Rev Isaiah Dunster Harwich Cape Cod
The death of Rev. Isaiah Dunster took place Jan. 18,
1791. Rev. Mr. Marrett wrote to his widow a feeling
letter of condolence:
" DEAR MADAM It is a long time since there has
been any Correspondence between me & your family by
Letters & this on my part for want of Conveyance: But
tho it is a long while since you have heard from me, yet
I have not forgot you. I sincerly Condole with you &
Family under ye heavy Loss you have sustained in ye
Death of my Uncle. Alas how great is ye Change in
your Family! I have lost a Friend in whom I took great
satisfaction;  But ye best of friends must part: we live in
a world of Change; which should teach us to place our
Hopes on better things than Creature Comforts or Earthly Enjoyments. I heartily wish you & your Family the
Divine Consolations & ye Guidance Protection & Blessing of Divine Providence that your Days on Earth may
be blest & that ye Blessing of ye Just may rest on you &
yours  The first intelligence I had of Mr Dunsters
Death was by ye Publick Prints But we knew not what
he died of til Mr. Stone who was up at Election informed
me I hear ye people of Harwich are well united in Mr.
Simpkins & hope they will be happily provided for in
Another Minister-I dont know Mr' Simpkins.
If any of your Family should come to Boston I should
be glad to see them at Woburn-I heard yt one of your
daughters was at Boston last year & sent me a Letter but
I never received it nor heard she was in Boston till sometime after she returned. I should be glad to hear from
you I have received Mr' Mellens Funeral Sermon for
which I thank you —We are all in tollerable good health
Mr' Dunsters family at Mason were all well last AprilI remain your Sinceer Friend
Woburn July 18 1791.              JOHN MARRETT
Mrs Dunster" [Directed] Madam Dunster Harwich




REV. JOHN MARRETT'S DIARY.          93
10
We resume the Diary:
1775 June 17  S  Preached at home very thin meeting the men gone down to the Army on the alam yesterday  (P S) JLast night 3000 of our army went to
Charlestown and entrenched on a hill But before they
had prepared their cannon the shipping and Regulars
by land attacked them After much fighting we were
obliged to quit the entrenchment and the town. Many
killed and wounded on both sides The shipping annoyed us much  The town laid in Ashes! The adjacent
country gone down —1000 of the Regulars killed &
wounded not more than 200 of ours.
24 —Just heard that our army entrenched last night
nearer to the enemy on Bunker's hill-and that the
enemy this morning appeared with their horse in Battle
array and in readiness at the bottom of the hill to drive
our forces away-but after a while they withdrew
Dec 29 Our forces essayed to attack Bunker hill over
the ice on the Mill Pond but the Ice was not strong
enough.
1776 Aug 15 S Read the Declaration of Independence
1778 Oct 13 removed from Dea Johnson to my place
in Lex
1779. Dec 16. Morning Some Snow and then cleared
off Was Married to Miss Martha Jones-Mr. Morril
officiated
23 Moved into Parish [at Mrs Jones again]
1780 Jan 4  Great Snows —went on Rackets till Feb
no roads broken out
1780 May 19 Morning, Thunder & rain at home
An uncommon Darkness from ~ past 10 clock A. M. to
2 past one P. M. So dark that I couldnt see to read
common print at the window nor see the hour of the
clock unless close to it and scarcely to see to read a Bible
of large print people left off work in the house and
abroad. The fowls, some of them went to roost It was
cloudy, wind S. W. The Heavens looked yellowish and
gloomy what is the Occasion of it is unknown The moon
fulled yesterday Many persons much terrified never
known so dark a day People lit candles to see to dine.
1782 June 16  S. Preached at home.  My wife




94   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
brought to bed 5 oclock P M  The child lived about
3 hours A son
18 Funeral of my child
1783. Nov 2. S. My wife brot to bed last night 20
min past 1 oclock of a daughter
Nov 9 Baptized my child [Martha "little Patty."]
1786  Great commotion concerning Setting of the
Court at Concord. The courts at Northampton & Worcester prevented by mobs.
1787  Troops passing here on their way to Worcester
1803. Aug 25 Mrs Marrett Sick for three days. past
30 Mrs M. dangerously Sick of a Fever
Sept 7 Mrs M. remains very weak  Her Senses gone
11 S. preach'd A. M.-dismissed the People P. M.
i past 4 oclock my wife died
Sept 12 Busy in sorrow preparing for the funeral.
14 fair-The funeral of Mrs Marrett. Ministers Revd Messrs. Clark, Stone Dr. Cummings Dr. Osgood, Fisk, Adams-A very large collection of People
The procession reachd from meeting house into the
Burying Yard & not all went The whole conducted
with Great Decency and propriety ~ My people exceedingly Kind and helpful They propose to defray the
funeral Charges
18. Sabbath  Preached at home Funeral Sermon on
the death of my wife
1806 June 16. The great and Solar Eclipse. The
Sun totally covered. The Stars appeard bright Dark
as a Moon-Shine night as the eclipse went off could see
the moon with the sun
1810 March 21 Pidgeons flew in abundance towards
N. E. for two days
1812 March 26 Pidgeons flew in multitudes for three
days.
May 1 Some sore on my foot Dr Kitteredge here
Nov. 26 Thanksgiving. preached at home [This
appears to have been his last sermon.]
Nov 29 S. no preaching first time omitted on account
of my sore foot I know not when I shall preach again.
Dee 30  Cloudy  Wind S. W l [Written with a trem31    do        do      bling hand.]




REV. JOHN MARRETT'S DEATH.              95
10
This ends his Diary. He died Feb. 18, 1813, of a
cancer on his foot, and was buried near, but by a mistake not exactly beside his wife, in the old cemetery at
Burlington. A marble stone is erected at his grave with
this inscription:
Your fathers,      where are they?
And the prophets,   do they live forever?
HERE
Lie the Remains of the
Rev. Mr. John Marrett,
Third Pastor of the Church of Christ
in this Place,
Who departed this life
February 18, Anno Domini 1813,
AE 72.
A good man, a Just and devout.
In temper mild, in deportment blameless,
In doctrine incorrupt. Grave, sincere,
Given  to  Hospitality
and eminently Studious of the Things
that make for peace.
He labored 38 years in the Ministry
In active harmony with this people.
He died lamented
as he had lived respected & beloved.
"The Righteous hath Hope in his death."
Remember them that have spoken unto you the Word
of God whose faith follow, considering the end of their
Conversation,
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day & forever.




96    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
10
The Rev. Thomas Jones, the father of Mrs. Marrett,
graduated at Harvard College 1741, was settled at Woburn 2nd Parish in 1751. He was the predecessor of
Rev. John Marrett. He died March 13, 1774, in the
52d year of his age, and 24th of his ministry. IHe married Abigail Wiswell, of Dorchester. She was the daughter of     Wiswell, who owned "Savin Hill, now a
favorite place of residence for those who have plenty of
money." She died May 24, 1814, aged 92, having lived
a widow 40 years. In the Diary, the Wiswell family is
often referred to, especially " Lois," whom Mr. Marrett
sometimes calls "sister."
Rev. John Marrett, as we have seen, married Dec. 16,
1779, Martha Jones. She died Sept. 11, 1803. They
had two children:
1. Infant6 son, born June 16, Sunday, 1782.  He
lived about three hours.
2. MARTHA6 MARRETT, (John,5 Amos and Mary4 D.,
Henry,3 Jonathan,' Henry,') born Nov. 2, Sunday, 1783.
She is often called by her father "little Patty." She
was an object of tender solicitude, being the only daughter and surviving child.  She married Jan. 1, 1818,
Samuel Sewall, son of Chief Justice Samuel Sewall and
Abigail Devereux. He was born at Marblehead, Julie 1,
1785, graduated at Harvard College 1804, was settled at
Burlington, Mass., (over the 2nd Church in Woburn, as
formerly known-Burlington was incorporated 1799),
April 13, 1814, where he preached until 1842.  He
preached several years afterwards as a supply for the
society in North Woburn, where he organized a church.
He wrote for the American Quarterly Register, in 1838,
"A complete list of the churches and ministers of Middlesex * * * " making, in many cases, a history of the
churches and their usages. He was distinguished as an
antiquary.  He deciphered the "Balehoult" Letter, before referred to.  He also wrote the History of Woburn,
which was his last work. It was in the hands of the
printer at the time of his death, Feb. 18, 1868, aged 82
years, 8 months and 17 days. His wife, Martha,6 died
March 26, 1860, aged 75 years, 4 months and 25 days.




SAMUEL7 SEWALL.                97
10
They are buried at the new cemetery in Burlington.
They had three children:
(i) SAMUEL7 SEWALL, (Samuel and Patty6 (Mfarrett,5) Amos and Mary4 D., Henry,3 Jonathan,2 Henry,')
born Nov. 29, baptized Dec. 26, 1819. He resides on
the old Jones, Marrett, and Sewall parsonage, which he
has improved by additions and adornments since those
of his Grandfather Marrett.  With commendable regard
for the memory of his ancestors, he has left untouched
by the barbarism called modern architecture, that "best
room," where Hancock and Adams were disappointed of
their "savory breakfast," and where some of these memoranda were written. Its walls are adorned with the
painted portraits of Chief Justice Sewall and other
worthies, carrying one back to old times when ministers were not ashamed to walk to meeting on Rackets.
Those magnificent elm and chestnut trees, four feet in
diameter, which adorn the lawn in front of the house,
were mere saplings when Rev. John Marrett first visited
his " lady love." On one of those occasions, he tied his
horse to one of them. Perceiving this, Mr. Jones' colored servant removed it to a more proper place, and,
with a native politeness known only to his race, announced: "I'se fetched the gemmans horse and hitched
him where folks allers put um, cause he'd eat up the
trees me & Massa planted."  Faithful and considerate
man, he appears to have been the trusted executive of
the estate after Mr. Jones' death. Honorable mention
is often made of him in Mr. Marrett's Diary. He now
reposes in the adjacent cemetery, borne to his grave by
the selectmen of Burlington, personally, as a mark of
respect for him and the ministerial families he had
served so long; and in the Family Bible it is written of
him: "Cuff, the faithful Negro Servant of the above
Thomas & Abigail [Jones] died April, 1813, having
lived in the family about 60 years."
Mr. Sewall (Samuel) has been much in town business
-the settlement of estates, and other trusts. He is now
Clerk and Treasurer of the town of Burlington, and Justice of the Peace. To him we are indebted for much




98    HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
11
information of the Marrett family. He married March
21, 1844, Elizabeth;, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth
(Tuttle) Brown, of Billerica. She was born at Carlisle,
Mass., Feb. 6, 1820. They are both members of the
Congregational Church. They have two children, born
at the old parsonage:
(1) SAMUEL8 BROWN SEWALL, (Samuel,7 Samuel,6
John5 Marrett, Amos and Mary4 D., Henry,3 Jonathan,2
Henry,') born Aug. 17, 1846. He was clerk at Carter
& Wiley's, druggists, Washington street, Boston. He is
now in business for himself, as druggist and apothecary,
Main street, corner of Oak, Charlestown, Mass. He
married June 11, 1872, Louisa Elizabeth, daughter of T.
F. Farrington, of Cambridge. They live in Cambridge.
(2) MARTHA8 ELIZABETH SEWALL, born Tuesday,
May 18, 1858, is at school at Cambridge, boards with
her brother.  P. S. She graduated with distinguished
honor, and is now, 1876, at her father's. She has been
appointed as School Superintendent for the town of Burlington, although but eighteen years of age.
(ii) MARTHA7 SEWALL, daughter of Samuel and
Martha (little Patty) Sewall, was born Oct. 31, baptized Nov. 1, 1823, married at Burlington, Nov. 26,
1861, Luther P. Martin, of Goffstown, N. H. He is a
very successful teacher at Windsor Locks, Conn.
(iii) ABIGAIL7 DEVEREUX SEWALL, daugh. of Samuel and Martha (little Patty) Sewall, was born Sept. 7,
1830, and was baptized 12th.  She is a teacher, with her
brother-in-law, L. P. Martin, and lives with her sister at
Winsor Locks. Unmarried.
11. iii. ABIGAIL4 DUNSTER, the third child of
Henrys and Martha (Russel) Dunster, was born March
18, 1714, and baptized March 21, 1713-14, at First
Church in Cambridge. This date, 1713-14, is according to the old reckoning, when March commenced the
year, therefore the birth and baptism were really in 1714.
She was admitted to the First Church, Cambridge, with
her sister, Mary (Marrett), March 9, 1729-30, as a member in full communion, and, as she had been baptized,
she was admitted on a profession of faith, and not re



ABIGAIL 4 DUNSTER.              99
11
baptized. She married James Cutler, Jr., (not Cutter,
as is written in the family record of Rev. Isaiah Dunster,
and as printed on page 40 of this work, and from that
record printed in Life Henry Dunster, p. 239). Of the
date of this marriage we have no record, but they were
published 29th Oct., 1737. He was probably the son of
James Cutler, baptized at Watertown, Jan. 9, 1687, and
Alice. If so, he was born April 3, 1715, and died
in Salem in 1795, aged 80 years. They lived in Menotomy, and she was among the constituent members of
Cambridge 2nd Church, 1739. The history of this family is only known to us in fragments, which it is difficult
to arrange. In 1750 he was certainly in Cambridge and
was an innkeeper, and, without much doubt, at Menotomy, now Arlington. At that time, he conveyed to
Jason Dunster, of Cambridge, husbandman, for and in
consideration of one hundred and six pounds, thirteen
shillings and four pence, lawful money, "One fourth
part of a certain piece of Land and the Mansion House
and the barn thereon, lying and being in Cambridge
aforesaid which land is Bounded South Easterly on Concord Road, Easterly on James Cutlers Land Northerly
on Gilboa Road Westerly partly on WinQhips & partly on
Whitmans land Also one fourth part or piece of Pasture
Land-in Said Cambridge bounded Northerly on Concord Road Easterly on land of the town of Cambridge,
Southerly on Appletons land Westerly on Coopers land
containing about ten acres which land and buildings
were owned by Henry Dunster Junr. late of Said Cambridge deceased * * *
And that he; the said Jason Dunster, his Heirs and
Assigns shall & may from Time to Time and at all times
for ever hereafter by force and Virtue of these Presents
lawfully, Peacebly and Quietly Have Hold Use Occupy,
Possess & Enjoy the said demised and bargained Premises with the Appurtanances free & clear and freely and
clearly Acquitted exonerated and discharged of from all
and all manner of former Gifts Grants Bargains Sales
Leases Mortgages Wills Entails Jointures Dowiers Judgements Executions or Incumberances of What Name or
Nature soever
10




100   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS..11
And Abigail the wife of me the said James Cutler
doth by these Presents freely, willingly give, yield up
and Surrender all her right of dower
In witness whereof I the above named James Cutler &
Abigail my wife have put our hands and seals this twenty fifth day of January Anno Domi 1750 —and in the
twenty fifth year of the reign of his Majesty King, King,
George the Second.
(Signed &c)          JAMIES CUTLER Jun
SAMUEL RUSSEL                 ABIGAIL CUTLER"
her
"Widder" ANNA X FESSENDEN
mark
This was the same property conveyed to him, with
Edward Dickson, Isaiah Dunster and Jason Dunster, by
Abigail (Moor), widow of Henry4 Dunster, the 20th of
December, 1749, which he. James Cutler, Jr., kept only
one month.
The next we find of him in a property transaction, is
a deed (Mliddlesex, Fol. 101, p. 132,) in which he joins
with the Dunster heirs, viz.:
" Rev. Isaiah Dunster, Edward Dickson and wife,
Martha, James Cutler, of Salem, brickmaker, and wife,
Abigail, Amos!Marrett, of Lexington, John Marrett, of
Newton, Gentlemen, and Jason Dunster, of Mason,'Heirs at Law to our Late honored Mother, Martha
Locke, Cambridge, deceased.' "
This was the property left by Henry' Dunster to his
wife, who afterwards married Francis Locke. (V. ante.)
To this transaction Rev. John Marrett refers in his
Diary, Sept. 30, 1771: "Rode to Cambridge and settled Grand Mother Locke estate and lodged at Dixons."
It is pretty clear that they lived in Cambridge in 1755,
and probably kept the inn, much longer.  March 18,
1773, Jonathan Gardner conveyed to James Cutler, of
Salem, Bi-ickczmaker, house and land, bounding east on
the highway leading to the Great Pasture.  This was at
the west end of the town. He appears to have resided
there till his death in 1795.  He mortgaged the same




ABIGAIL 4 DUNSTER.              101
11
place, at the time he bought it, to William Cutler, of
Cambridge, yeoman, his wife, Abigail, releasing her
dower. She made her mark in this deed. This is very
significant.  We know she could write, and her signature, now before us, much resembles those of President
D., her Grandfather, Jonathan, and her father, Henry
Dunster-all being much alike. That mortgage was not
discharged till Feb. 21, 1795, and then done by Thomas
Brooks, administrator. He mortgaged again, May 5,
1789, to William Cutler, of Weston, Middlesex Co. In
1785 he is described as a "victualler," with a slaughter
house and bake house standing on his land. In 1789 he
mortgaged the same estate to Benjamin Phillips, and in
this deed he is described as a "brickmaker of Salem."
In this deed his wife, Huldah, releases her dower.  In
1790 he is styled a victualler in one deed, in another,
a butcher.  In 1783 he conveyed part of his land and
house to George West, who, at the same time, reconveyed it to his wife, Abtqail, and in 1793 this land is described as the land of the heirs of his second wife, Abigail. This looks like confusion; but on examining the
records of intentions of marriages (City Records), these
entries are found:
"April 6 1776 James Cutler and Widow Abigail Tozzer both of Salem."
"April 28 1787 James Cutler and Huldey Symonds
b;oth of Salem."
In the records of deaths, "Feb. 1795 James Cutler
victualler died aged 80 years."
In the probate records is found: "Admr. on Estate
of James Cutler of Salem, victualler granted to Abraham
Foster March 2 1795."  The estate was settled and receipts given by Huldah-the widow-George WVest, son
(in-law?) James Johnson, son (in-law?) and Abigail
Lander.
For these recorded items we are indebted to William
P. Upham, Esq., Harvard College, 1856.
From these scanty records, not a solitary tradition
having reached us, we can only conjecture that her hus



102   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
11
band, who was innkeeper, brickmaker, butcher, victualler and baker, was not successful in business matters.
That his wife, worn out with bearing a large family of
children, with grief for the loss of many of them, and the
care of the living, was prostrated by sickness, and while
unable to leave her bed, was called to surrender even her
right of dower. It is not wonderful that she could not
command the pen to write her name. She died soon
after, and reposes in an unknown grave.*
We look back.  She united with the church in the
very bloom of womanhood, and before the cares of the
world had made their inroads on her mind, as they must
have done afterwards. It was done on a profession of
faith, therefore deliberate.  She could say, "I know my
Redeemer liveth."  Her husband, again, yea, twice, married, and what property he had went to the children of
his last wife by a former husband, and his own children,
if any lived to maturity, are totally unknown to us.
Should this ever meet the eye of any of Abigail Dunster's descendants, they will relieve anxiety by communicating the fact.
From the records of the 2nd Church in Cambridge, in
Mr. Cooke's own hand, we learn that the children of'
Abigail4 Dunster and James Cutler, Jr., were
i.  JAMES5 CUTLER, b. May 30, bap. June 10, 1741.
ii. ABIGAIL5 CUTLER, born Sept. 22, baptized Oct. J,
1742.
iii.' ALICE5 CUTLER, born April 16, baptized April 21,
1745.
iv. MARTHA5 CUTLER, born July 14, baptized July 27,
1746.
v. HENRY5 CUTLER, born May 10, baptized May 15,
1748.
* It is stated in " Brief Account of Families of Dunsters," before referred to, in a later hand (probably Rev Mr. Sewall's),
that Abigail (Dunster) Cutler died March 2, 1766, at Newton, and
was buried at Lexington on the 4th. She certainly was living in
1773. May 2, 1766, her niece, "Ruth 5 Marrett, died at Newton,
and was buried at Lexington on the 4th." Was not she the one
referred to in that interlineation?




ISAIAH 4 DUNSTER.                103
12
vi. BETTY5 CUTLER, b. April 17, bap. April 22, 1750,
and died July 24, 1754.
vii. SARAH' CUTLER, born Feb. 1, 1753, died July
30, 1754.
viii.  WVILLIAM5 CUTLER, b. April 11, baptized April
13, 1755.
After this we have no knowledge of the children.
Perhaps the "Abigail Lander," who signed the receipt
at settlement, was ii. Abigail,5 born Sept. 22, 1742.
12.  ISAIAH 4 UNSTER, (Henry,3 JonZtChalli,52 Henry,')
was the fifth child of Henry' and Martha (Russell) Dunster, born in Cambridge, Oct. 21, 1720, O. S.  In the
Life of Henry Dunster, p. 238, his birth is stated to have
been Nov. 1st.  There is really no discrepancy here.
For many of the family records we have been indebted
to memo. made by Rev. Isaiah Dunster in Family Bibles
and other papers.  After he was settled in the ministry,1748, the date of time, style as it is called, was altered
by act of Parliament, eleven days being dropped in Sept.,
1752, and thence forward chronology was designiated N.
S. (New Style.)  This occurred while he was in active
life, and he took the liberty to alter dates to correspond
with the new mode of reckoning.  This was right as to
dates following 1752, but altering those before that time,
without marking them  N. S., makes us liable to some
confusion.  Hence official records and family ones, in
some instances, vary ten or eleven days. He was baptized in the First Church, Cambridge, Oct. 23, 1720.
We have no knowledge of his boyhood. At about sixteen he entered Harvard College, from which he graduated A. B., 1741, and A. M., in course.  He probably
resided in Cambridge, studying for the ministry with
Mr. Cooke, of whose church his father was one of the
constituent members. When about twenty-four years
old, the neighboring ministers gave him a recommendation * in these words:
* This paper was carefully kept in his family until by the death
of his daughter, Hannah, that family became extinct. It is now
before the writer.
*10




104   HENRY DUNSTER'AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
12
"These may certify that Isaiah Dunster Master of
Arts having given us satisfaction as to his Qualifications
for the work of the Gospel Ministry & of his good Disposition in that Way to Serve & promote the Kingdom
of Christ.
We accordingly heartely recomend him to that Sacred
Work wherever divine Providence may call him.
Weston May 14 1745
JOHN HANCOCK
WM WILLIAMS
JOHN COTTON
NATHL. APPLETON
WARKAM WILLIAMS
SETH STORER
NICHOLAS BOWER
SAML. COOKE"
He appears to have preached as a candidate for settlement in Sutton, Worcester Co., Mass., where they invited him to settle. To this invitation he replied:
"GENTLEMEN   Having I trust duly considered ye
Greatness and Importance of the Work of ye Ministry
and the Circumstances of the Parish in which you have
invited me to Settle & depending on ye Divine Assistance
I hereby declare my compliance with your Call provided
ye Society think it reasonable and prudent to comply
with the following Conditions viz
That immediately after my Ordination upon my Desire you enter into Bonds upon lawful Interest for ye
payment of ye sum of Four Hundred Pounds Old Tenor*
(which is already voted as an Encouragement for my
Settlement) engage to make up for ye Depreciation of
money in Said Sum till paid and pay ye Principal as
soon as you conveniently can. That at any tim6 upon
my Desire you add ye Value of One Hundred Pounds
Old Tenor to my Settlement in such Materials for Building & Labour as shall be most agreeable to me at ye same
prices for which I may yn procure ym for ready Money.
That you State the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds Old
* The Old Tenor was two-fifteenths of lawful money; so that
~400 would equal $177.78, and the yearly salary, $88.88.




ISAIAH 4 DUNSTER.             105
12
Tenor which is voted for a yearly Sallary upon the
Produce of the country in the following or some Such
Method viz
That you engage annually to pay me so long as I continue your Minister such a sum in Bills of Public Credit,
or other General Medium of Trade as shall be Sufficient.
to purchase as many Bushels of Indian Corn in the
month of May as Fifty Pounds Old Tenr would have
done & as shall be Sufficient to Purchase as many bushels of Rye as Fifty Pounds Old Tenr would have purchased in the Month of May this present year at ye General Price among yourselves. That you annually pay
me Such a Sum also as will be sufficient to purchase in
ye month of October as many pounds of Beef as Fifty
Pounds Old Tenr shall in ye month of October next & as
shall be sufficient to purchase as many pounds of Pork
in ye Month of December as Fifty Pounds Old Tenr will
in ye month of December next at ye General Price in
Worcester After three years are expired from my Ordination yt you yearly add unto my Sallary the sum of ten
Pounds Old Tenr till it come to two Hundred and Sixty
Pounds Old Tenr as ye Money is now stated. That if
this Sallary be insufficient for My Comfortable Support
you make Such farther Additions thereto as my Necessities require and your abilities will permit.
Gentlemen If you can cheerfully comply with these
Conditions it Appears to me a Foundation will be laid
for my Comfortable Maintainance. But if you think
ym Such as you cannot eaisly fullfill, I shall be glad to
know it.
So expecting to hear farther from you & desiring your
Prayers for Me yt I may be a Vessel of Honour Sanctified
& fitted for ye Masters use & Service & Praying yt ye
Society may live in Love & Peace and be directed by ye
Great Head of ye Church unto yt which may be most for
his Glory I remain your Friend & Servt.
Cambridge Augt 12 1746       ISAIAH DUNSTER
To Capt. Timothy Carter, Messrs Isaac Barnard, Josiah
Bond, Lieut. Sollomon Holman & Messrs Gershom Wait
& Richard Singletary Com'itte in Sutton Second Precinct. (to be communicated)"




106   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
12
These conditions were not complied with, although
great personal efforts were made, as the following subscription paper shows, to induce him to settle there:
"SUTTON Sept ye 1 1746
We the subscribers would Show our Willenness to
help forwards the Settlement of Mr. Dunster whome
this Parish have already voted a Call in order for to settle in ye Gospel Minestry with us in order hereto we
have Set our Names and fixed the following Sums which
we promas to pay unto Mr Dunster in work or material
sutable to carre on his Bulding if he shall settle with us
upon his demand"
(Signed by twenty-one individuals, in sums from ~10
to 3 shillings, Old Tenor.)
In March, 1747, hc had been preaching in Dartmouth,
Bristol Co., Mass., for considerable time, and had pleased
the church, as shown by this letter:
"' MR DUNSTER Sir I was yesterday at the Invitation
of the Second Precinct of Dartmouth over there to attend their meeting which was not only to Chuse their
Officers for the year as the Law directs but also to see if
the Precinct would Concur the Churches Choice of yourself for their minister & never any man could have a
more clear & full vote than you had & if Providence
should so order that you should be otherwise Ingaged I
am afraid they will never unite for a man so again. I
hope God will Incline your heart to them  as he has
united their hearts to yourself, as to your Settlement &
to Support you, this is what you may rely upon that It
will not bee less than six hundred pounds of the present
currency & three for your yearly Salery tho they were
not In a Capacity to run their votes so Just now, but
will soon do it if they can have any Incouragement that
you will come to them  the reasons why they could not
do it yesterday the bearer fMr. Tupper will render to you
and besides the Six Hundred Pound I think you may
depend upon considerable help in building if you do
build.  if Ever you desire to go to a place that the affections of the People are universall to you, this must be
It pray sir if you are not Ingaged keep yourself free for




ISAIAH4 DUNSTER.               107
12
them untill all things are brought to your mind which
if you will be so good as to let the messenger know I
hope It will be soon complyed with which is the needfull             from yours to Serve
TIMOTHY RUGGLES
Roch [ester] 4th March 1747"
Mr. Ruggles (H. C., 1707,) was the minister of Rochester, and took a large interest in the settlement of Mr.
D. at Dartmouth.  Afterwards he wrote ir. D. another
letter:
"MR DUNSTER Sir yours of 8th present came Safe
to hand and I readily Comply with your reasonable reque'st-In order to it, may remind you that Rev. Mr
Pierce was no Great favorite of the Petition (as you were
knowing) but since it is granted he is as far as I can find
Intirely Silent I may add that at the request of a great
number of the new Parish I was over at Dartmouth at.
their meeting-as far as I could observe there was rno
matter of uneasiness Capt Pope then & since has manifested his Intire Satisfaction In the thing-and as far
as I can find those who were ever uneasy. It was lest
by that means they should have a man imposed on them
by the church which they were opposed to There were
three men present at the meeting who at first did not
act but when the jealosy they had that it was a contrivance to bring in Mr Willis to be their Minister, was
removed & the vote called for the Parishe's concurrance
of the Church's choice of yourself they freely acted but
did say that they were not reconciled to a maintainance
of a minister by way of Tax but were free to do their
parts to the full with respect to yourself & they were
told that that should be all that they would require of
them, after which I heard not nor percived either at
their meeting or in any other way the least uneasiness &
It plainly appears to me that a year or two's gentle treatment of the non Petitioners by the other party will Intirely erase those difficulties I have since I received
your letter been over there occasionally & can find nothing of that nature nor anything else that looks discouraging. they have a loving desire of your return to




108   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
12
them In general & I question whether they will look
after any Body to preach to them till your time is out at
Harwich & if they do It will be only somebody to preach
for the neighboring ministers & they to them. There
are many things which might be urged upon you as Inducements to your coming to them again. Submitting
all to Divine Providence I shall only ad one thing Instead of many that might be said & that is They are Intirely united In yourself & if you reject them there is no
prospect of their being so In another I am sir your sincere friend & Humble Servant
TIMOTHY RUGGLES
Roch. 22 March 1747-8"
The church in Dartmouth had given him a call, and
the precinct "At an adjourned meeting of ye Inhabitants of the Second Precinct in Dartmouth
Voted on the Second Article Contained in the Warrant that the Precinct Offer Mr Isaiah Dunster Six hundred Pounds Old Tenor for a Settlement to Incourage
him to Come and Settle with us in the Work of the
Ministry
Also Voted that Fifty Pounds Old Tenor be added to
ye former Two hundred and Fifty Pounds Old Tenor
Voted as a Salary for Mr Isaiah Dunster which will be
Three hundred Pounds Old Tenor pr. year
Also Voted that Mr. Quishman be chosen agent toWinform Mr. Isaiah Dunster what Steps we have Taken in
Order to Obtain him to Settle with us and to Get a Minister to Preach to us Two Sabbaths
Attest   PAUL MANDELL
Precinct Clerk"
This vote, the copy of which is written in a free, distinct, and very ornamental hand, was dated after "Dartmnouth," " May 16 1748," but it was in Rev. I. Dunster's
hand. We think it was sooner, probably in April, for
this is the copy of Mr. D.'s reply:
" SIR please communicate this to ye Committee
Gentlemen I have received yours of April 15 in which
you intimate yt your Societies being unable to invite me
to Settle with them in ye Ministry sooner than they did




ISAIAH 4 DUNSTER.             109
12
lays me Under an Obligation to Comply with their Invitation. But I conceive it doth not for after I had tarried near two months with ym purely for the Sake of
their forming Some Scheme for a Maintainance, it was
thought by Several of their Committee so improbable yt
ye Society would come into any Peaceble Method yt yy
told me yy could not desire me to tarry any longer with
any View thereto altho yy should be glad yt I would tarry
if I could See my Way Clear, Upon which I concluded
to leave ye place & told them I should engage in any
other Place yt Presented. This Gentlemen some of yourselves undoubtedly remember. As to the Circumstances
of your Society which are mentioned in your Letter you
may depend upon it I shall duly consider them but cannot give you ally visit as you desire at present for The
Church & Congregation in this place have given me an
Invitation to Settle with them in ye Work of ye Ministry
and tis Thought reasonable yt I preach with ym until I
give an Answer I desire therefore yt you would immediately apply to Some Suitable Person to preach with
you till then & remain your Sincere Friend & Servt
ISAIAH DUNSTER
Harwich     ) To Deacon Jenness
May 4th 1748  to be communicated"
Although Mr. D. had given the people of Dartmouth
so decided an answer, they appear still unwilling to give
him up. The Rev. Richard Pierce, (H. C., 1724,) who
was the minister of the First Parish there, interceded in
their behalf, and sent this letter;
"REV. AND DEAR SIR I reed yours Dated May 4
1748 in which you tell me that you have an invitation
to settle in ye work of the Ministry at Harwich to which
I say I am glad to hear that you have met with such a
kind reception there but at the same time I am sorry for
our misfortune for I hear you intend to settle with them
& not with us but notwithstanding all I hear I must
beg one favor of you and that is that you would not proceed any farther with yt People nor give them any
farther encouragement than you have already given till
I have an opportunity to speak with you which I intend




110   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
12
to do with Submission to Providence on or before the
14th of this month-Of this I cannot be Denied-I had
almost said yt I will not be Denied of this favor-I have
hired a man on purpose to bring this Letter to you
therefore I trust you will not deny my Request. I have
many things to say to you but am in ye utmost hast,
being bound to Boston directly and after my kind
Respects to you I Rest your assured friend
Dartth Junie 4 1748            RICHD PIERCE"
To this he replied:
"REVD SIR  I have receved yours of 4th instant by
which I perceive you have heard yt I intend to settle in
this Place. How you had the Information I know not
but this I assure you is Truth. I am determined at
present to settle in no Place whatsoever unless a foundation may be laid for a suitable Maintainance.  What yy
have offered in this place for yt End apeares to me insufficent & tis uncertain whether yy will comply with a
Sufficiency or not. However I have frequently spoke to
some of ye Committee & Others of making proposals and
should have done it this week were it not for your Letter, for every thing considered I see no Sufficient Reason
at Present why I should not Settle in this place & ye
Cornitte I am informed have agreed to come to me for
an Answer this afternoon  But I will endeavor to convince them yt your Request to defer it till next week
may Safely be complied with But if I cant prevail with
them to Consent to this I shall make my proposals for I
hardly imagine yt there are any Considerations of Importance to be suggested relating to either place yt I am
unacquainted with. However a visit from yourself as
mentioned in yours will be exceedingly agreeable to your
Friend & Sevt                   ISAIAH DUNSTER
Harwich June 6, 1748"
This correspondence ended the negotiations at Dartmouth, and he received from the church and people
of Harwich, where he had been preaching, apparently,
for a year or so, this call to settle with them. That
from the church is in the handwriting of the aged Mr.
Stone (II. C., 1690), then the pastor of that church:




ISAIAH4 DUNSTER.               111
12
" SIR  We ye Chh of Christ in ye north part of Harwich being exposed to difficulty in regard of Gospel
Ordinances our Pastor being far advanced in years and
so enfebled as not to be able to goe through ye Whole of
his Work
We also having for some time had experience of your
ministerial qualifications wherewith Christ has furnished
You as also your good conversation in Christ Jesus: we
doe hereupon, Sir invite -you, in partnership with Our
ancient Pastor to take ye Pastoral care of this Flock;
taking ye Oversight thereof according to the Apostolicall
command given in I. Pet. 5, 2.
NATHL" STONE Pastor
Harwich May             with the joynt concurrance
3 1748               of' ye Bretheren"
To this is added, in Isaiah Dunster's handwriting:
" I Pet. 5, 2' Feed yeflock of God which is among you6
taking ye oversight thereof not by Constraint but willingly
not forfilthy Lucre but of a ready mind."'
The parish joined in the call:
"Ilarwich May ye 3, 1748  At a precinct meeting
Leagually warned & Assembled Deacon Mayo Moderator Voted to concur with ye Church to give Mr. Isaiah
Dunster a Call to settle with us in ye Work of ye Ministry Voted also to give him Six Hundred Pounds Old
tenor for his settlement and for his yearly Sallary three
hundred and fifty pounds Old tenor as it is now valued
and all ye other ministerial priviledges except what is at
present Reserved for ye Revn Mr Stone provided he Settles with us in ye work of the Ministry
A true copy attest
per JOHN SNOW Clerk"
To these calls he replied:
"To Deacon Chillingworth Foster, Deacon Joseph
Mayo & Thomas Winslow Esq Gentlemen Tis disired
yt ye following Lines may be communicated to ye Inhabitants of ye first Precinct in Harwich
GENTLEMEN Having duly considered your invitation
to me (tho very unworthy) to Settle with you in ye Work
11




112   HENRY DUNSTER ANI) HIS DESCENDANTS.
12
of ye Gospel Ministry I hereby declare my acceptance of
ye Same provided a foundation be laid for a suitable
maintenance.  What you have proposed for yt End appears to me insufficient. The Settlement I fear is much
too small: But doubt not your Rediness to make such
an addition as is Reasonable: As to ye Salary I am not
at present able to say what is sufficient for I conceive tis
for your Interest as well as my own yt some particular
method be agreed to by which ye Salary may be regulated
yearly and until this is done I know not what ye 350
which you have proposed is equal to. However I must
say yt I know not of any method which tis probable you
will agree to which will render this sufficient.  What I
desire therefore at present is yt you would propose some
Method to regulate ye Salary by, and ye more particular
& clear ye more acceptable it will be to me since there
will then be a greater prospect of ye continuance of
mutual love & Peace among us which are so frequently
inculcated in ye Gospel & which yt it may ever abide in
this Society is ye Prayer of your Servant in ye Gospel of
Christ.                              I. DUNSTER.
Har. June 7 1748"
The difficulty of "regulating the currency " occasioned thesm much trouble, and again he sent a communication:
" To the Inhabitants of ye first precinct in Harwich:
GENTLEMEN Having received Information that you
have stated the Salary voted for me on Silver at fifty
shillings pr oz. I hereby Signify that it is agreeable to
me & I know of only ye following Particulars relating to
that matter which appear necessary for the continuence
of Peace viz that ye first years Salary be paid according
to Silver as you have stated it And if ye precinct & myself should think differently concerning ye price of Silver
in any year hereafter that my Salary be paid in Coined
Silver. As to the Proposal which I sent by your Comittee at your last Precinct Meeting for your consideration
It is needless I concieve to repeat them since they must
be remembered and altho ye whole of what I then proposed is no more than sufficient for a comfortable maintenance as I concieve or than was voted A. D. 1710 as a




ISAIAH 4 DUNSTER.               113
yearly Salary for Rev Mr Stone Yet since Public Taxes
are likely to be high in this Precinct at present by Reason of ye War & for ye payment of ye Settlement and
since Providence frowns upon you as to ye fruits of ye
Earth I am willing to settle on ye Salary already voted
provided you now engage to add the value of fifty pounds
after three years and of one hundred pounds more as
money is now stated upon the Rev Mr Stones decease
and this to remain a yearly Salary during my continuance in the Ministry in this place. As to the Settlement I concieve yt as a Precinct you may provide a dweling House & Land to my acceptance for a less sum than
I can Safely accept off and I am willing to tarry in the
Place untill you have oppertunity therefor & desire that
you would do it. I hope these Conditions will be comp)lied with in Love & Peace but if they are not I expect
to be informed of it by ye Precinct as soon as Possible &
remain Gentlemen your Friend & Sevt.
ISAIAH DUNSTER.
HTarwich June 24 1748 "
There seems to have been still some difficulty in regard
to his salary, and he sent again:
" To ye Inhabitants of ye 1st Precinct in Harwich
GENTLEMEN I am informed bly your Comittee yt several among yorl'selves are desirous yt I should make
some alterations in ye Salary proposed in my answer &
ye chief Reason is because ye neighboring ministers have
not so much at present.  In answer to which I think it
may be truly said yt by far ye greater number of ye ministers in this county had a Salary when yy first settled
which would have procured as many of ye necessaries of
Life as ~500 Old Tenor will do at present & if so that
objection entirely fails.
Tis suggested also yt I am  not really desirous of settling here but I can truly say I know of no Place in
which I could more willingly settle than in this.
As to ye Settlement if ye Precinct decline purchasing
one & choose I should mention ye sum which I will accept off I declare myself contented with the addition of
~200 Old Tenor to ve Settlement already voted provided




114   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
12
I can dispose of it to my mind and ye precinct will allow
me a reasonable time therefor.
As to ye Article which mentions ye payment of Coined
Silver in case ye precinct & myself should think differently concerning an equivelent to ye Salary I am willing
ye precinct should do anything which may be Safe for ye
Precinct & myself.
I trust Gentlemen yt you will do yt as to ye Salary
which may be honourable for yourselves & afford Liberty
for me to attend ye Work of ye Ministry without Perplexity & remain yours
Harwich July 1 1748.        ISAIAH DUNSTER."
This proposition was complied with by vote of the precinct, and the whole matter appears to have been settled.
Still "specie payment" seemed to trouble some of the
parishioners, and on the 29th of August Mr. D. sent
another letter:
" To the Inhabitants of the first Precinct in Harwich
GENTLEMEN Although at your last Precinct meeting
as a Precinct you fully complied with the Proposals for
my Support in ye Work of ye Gospel Ministry which were
then laid before you-yet (as I am informed) a considerable number are uneasy on account of the Salary which
was then proposed and complied with, and therefore I
propose the following Conditions for your Consideration
viz: That the precinct engage Four hundred pounds as
a yearly Salary for me at present and Four Hundred and
Fifty Pounds after the Revd Mr Stone's Decease to be &
remain my yearly Salary during the time of my continuance in ye Ministry in this Place-Stated upon Silver at
Fifty Shillings pr. Ounce & to be regulated Annually by
ye Current Price of Silver that is to say the Salary to rise
& fall from the sums now mentioned in proportion as
the current price of Silver shall rise or fall from fifty
shillings pr. ounce with Merchants in Boston which (as
I concieve) is what was intended by a vote passed by
yourselves at a former meeting.
And if tis probable that these Conditions will be complied with in Love & Peace or others which some in the
Precinct may propose which will as well answer ye End




ISAIAH 4 DUNSTER.               115
12
Proposed I am willing & desirous that the vote which
was passed at your last Precinct Meeting may be reconsidered as far as it relates to ye Salary and that these
conditions may be lawfully Voted and then for ye continuance of Peace it may be convenient for the Precinct
to propose some Method by which it may herafter be
determined what shall be esteemed ye current price of
Silver with ye Merchant in case the Precinct & myself
should think differently concerning this in any year
herafter.  As to ye present year I concieve tis just yt ye
Salary be paid according to Silver as you have already
stated it for this was the current price of Silver about ye
time yt the Precinct gave me an invitation to settle in
this place But if there is not a Prospect that ye Precinct will comply with ye conditions above mentioned I
desire (if ye Precinct think proper) that I may speedily
be released from ye obligations which I have any ways
laid myself under of Settling in this Place: for tis undoubted yt ye Gospel hath obliged its Professors to provide a comfortable maintenance for its Ministers and I
am unwilling to accept of any Salary whatsoever unless
obtained with as much unanimity as is usual in things
of this nature. I desire therefore that the matter may
be Seriously & Calmly considered & Debated & pray yt
you may be directed unto that which will be most for
your Peace & Happiness here and hereafter and remain
your Sincere Friend & Sevt.
Harwich Aug 29 1748.         ISAIAH DUNSTER."
This letter brought matters to a crisis, as we see by a
memo. made on the back of the letter copied above:
"On ye 31 of Augst The Precinct at a meeting proposed for ye consideration of what might be laid before
them by me after Seriously Considering ye matter signified by their Comittee viz Mr Kenelon Winslow yt they
could comply with ye proposals herin mentioned with as
much uninimity as was reasonable to expect and desired
me to sign ye conditions seperately & signify my acceptance of ye same & yy would vote them & record my letter without Reconsidering the former vote. Accordingly
I wrote ye first Paragraph in this letter verbatim & after
*11




116   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS;
these words' which (as I conceive) is what was intended
by a vote passed by yourselves at a foremer meeting' I
added and if these Conditions are Complied with with
as much Uninimity as is usual in things of this Nature;
for ye Sake of Love & Peace I declare yt I am willing to
settle in ye work of ye Gospel Ministry in this place &
remain Gentlemen your sincere Friend & Sevt.
Harwich                        ISAIAH DUNSTER
Aug 31 1748"
To this is added:  "And the following method agreed
to in which to Regulate ye Salary Annually viz Yt The
Precinct Choose one man, myself another annually in
ye month of March both Inhabitants of this place of
good Report & voters in all Town affairs to enquire into
ye Price of Silver and determine what ye Salary shall be
by ye Price of Silver in ye months of April & May: &-if
these two cant agree yt yy shall Choose another to assist
them & a majority in this case to determine ye Salary
for yt year."
Thus the long and tedious negotiations, made necessary, perhaps, by the scarcity of money,* the troublous
times of the French war, and the unharmonious views
of the people about his salary, which could have been
reconciled only by their unusual unanimity in his call,
added to a general distrust of man with man, which war
always produces, were brought to a close, and Wednesday, the 2d day of Nov., 1748, appointed for his ordination.
A draft of the letters missive, in his handwriting, is
found among his old papers, which we copy:
"The Chh. of Christ in ye north part of Harwich To
the first Chh of Christ in Cambridge:-Grace, Mercy &
Peace be multiplied from God ye Father & from his Son
Jesus Christ.
REVD. HOND & BELOVED  Whereas Jesus Christ our
King & Head hath of his Grace enclined us Unanimously
to invite Mr Isaiah Dunster to take the Pastoral Charge
* The next year, " Seventeen cart and truck loads of coined
silver and about ten truck loads of coined copper" arrived. (Coll.
Hist. Soc., I. 53-58.




ISAIAH 4 DUNSTER.               117
12
over us with our Rev. Pastor (who by reason of age is
unable to perform ye whole of ye ministerial work) and
him to comply with this our invitation. And whereas
we have appointed Wednesday ye Second Day of Novemnber next to be set apart for his Solemn Ordination. We
therefore hereby request & desire yt your Revd Elder and
a Messenger chosen by you would come to this place on
sd Day to join with ye Rev Elders & Messengers of other
Chh's by us invited, in all such Ministerial Acts as ywork of such a Day requires. We also request an Interest
in your Prayers to God for us & Commending you to
GOD & his Word of Grace Subscribe your Brethren in ye
Faith & Fellowship of ye Gospel.
Harwich * Sept 6 1748 "
Thus invested with the authority of pastor, he entered
upon its duties with the ardor of a young minister who
feels the responsibility of his position and the magnitude
of his call. In his sermons he was "thoroughly evangelical," yet he delighted to dwell upon the practical
duties of life, and enforced his instructions with a gravity and sincerity which carried conviction to the hearts
of his hearers. His sermons, especially, in his early ministry, were written in full, but later in life, he appears
to have spoken ex tenmpore in the body of the sermon.
There are many fragments, having only the text, introduction and items of doctrine to be illustrated, and
duties to be applied. Among many manuscript sermons
now in our possession, is one in an excellent state of
preservation, which he preached, as shown by a memo.
oil it, at "Dartmouth July 26, 1747 P. M.," and also at.
"' Cambridge 2nd Church Oct. 18th, 1747 P. M." This
was Mr. Cooke's church, and the one to which his.
father's family belonged, and which from 1739, the date
of its organization, he had undoubtedly attended. He
also preached it at "Harwich January 31 1748 P. M.,"
when he was a candidate for settlement. The manuscript is less than six inches long, and is three and a half
wide, with the margins carefully ruled off, leaving just
three inches for use. On these pages, fifteen in number,
* This Parish was set off as a separate town in 1830? and called
Brewster.




118   HENRY I)UNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
(eight leaves in the MS.) are, on an average, forty lines,
with nine words to a line, making over 5000 words in
the discourse. The text, Matthew 5, 43, 44, 45, written
in full, begins the second page. On the blank page is
written the Psalms to be sung, all taking just half an
inch of the page, thus:
PS. 35 from v. 13 to end of 2nd ph..   PS. 133 2nd Metre
But as for me when yy. were sick    How good it is to see
my cloathing yn of sackcloth was    & how it pleaseth well
my soul I bowed with Fasts, my prayers together ev'n in Unity
did back into my bosom pass.*       for Brethrensotodwell
There were several of his sermons published. He was
evidently in advance of his times in liberality. He disclaimed all interference of the ministry with civil authority.  In a sermon preached Sept. 15, 1762, at the "instalment " of Rev. Mr. Joseph Green, Jr., as pastor of the
First Church in Yarmouth, from  Heb. 13, 17, he said:'"Altho an awful Degree of Power hath been claimed,
and through various Arts maintained by some who are
stiled the Ministers of Christ yet private Christians have
no cause to dread the Authority which really belongs to
the Christian Ministry. It clasheth not with civil Government being so far from curtailing the Authority of
the civil Magistrate and from infringing the Rights of
private Persons that ministers are peculiarly obliged to
obey Magistrates in all lawful Things and not to break
in on the Rights of private Persons The Ministerial
Authority is purely Spiritual & Ecclesiastical A spirit
of Domination in the Clergy is of the most Pernicious
Tendency Now tis easy to gather what that Obedience
& Subjection is which private Christians are required to
yield unto those who are placed over tbem in the Lord.
It respects nothing purely of a Civil Nature. In things
relating merely to Civil Society & Government -the
* This is from a version in common use at that day of " The
PSALMS of DAVID in Metre, newly translated and diligently compared with the original Text and former Translations. More
plain, smooth and agreeable to the Text than any heretofore.
Allowed by the Authority of the General Assembly of the Kirk
of SCOTLAND and appointed to be sung in Congregations and
Families." Slightly altered in a new edition.




ISAIAH4 DUNSTER.               119
12
Authority wherewith Ministers are vested, leaves Men
entirely at Liberty."
As was the custom of those days, passing events were
fruitful themes of discourse. He preached in commemoration of the achievements in the French war and the
opening of the Revolution.  At that time his views
agreed with the clergy and people in general.
In a MS. sermon, which is without date, but which is
endorsed "Mr Bascom's* 1775," showing that it was
preached at that time, from Luke IV., 18, 19, in which
he has underlined "to set at Liberty ym, yt are bruised,"
he said: "Our Saviour left men with respect to their
Civil rights where he found ym so doth Christianity
The Apostles & first Christians did not claim any civil
Privileges as Christians. They obeyed the magistrates in
things lawful even altho those magistrates were heathen
and thus ought Christians in every age to do. They
ought not to be disturbers of ye peace but exemplary in
obeying laws & magistrates of ye country to which they
belong so far as those magistrates are the ministers of
God for good to their People.
But doth it thence follow that tis agreeable to Christianity yt the followers of Christ should never find fault
with nor oppose their Rulers? By no means. If Kings,
if Rulers, if Magistrates enact Laws which are not just,
which are not for ye good of ye People in General it is
Sinful to obey ym. If ye Authority under which I am,
becomes Tyrannical, If ye Great Men make it their chief
Design to oppress ye common P.ple, I know no Law of
God which can justify me in submitting to, or joining
with them therein. If instead of being a Terror to Evil
Doers magistrates encourage them they are yn not ye
ministers of God for Good but ye Instruments of ye Evil
One and ought by all prudent methods to be opposed
and resisted.  To submit to such things and much more
to countenance, to encourage, to plead for ym is to deal
unjustly, to do what ye Gospel absolutely forbids. Let
us all stand up for our rights, but at ye same time let us
not speak evil or oppose any Authority which is of God
when duly administered."
* Mr. Bascomb (H. C., 1768,) was minister at Eastham.




120(  HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS, DESCENDANTS.
12
Among his papers found at Pembroke, is an original
Declaration of Independence.
The council of the "Province" of Massachusetts ordered, July 17, 1776(, "a copy sent to the Ministers of
ev:ery Denomination within this STATE * and that they
severally be required to read the same to their respective
Congregations as soon as divine Service is ended in the
afternoon on the first Lord's Day after they shall have
received it.",
This Declaration is directed, "Revd. Mr. Dunster,
Harwich."  There is not a doubt that he read it from
the pulpit, and from the very paper now before me.
Mr. D. was a close student and a good classical scholar.
To the numerous notes made by President Dunster in an
interleaved book, "A Concent of Scriptvre," which has
come down through the family to the present time, and
from which the photograph fac-simile which precedes
this record of the Dunster family was taken, he added a
number of additional ones.
He possessed, in a remarkable degree, a vigor of intellect and clearness of perception which well fitted him
for his station, but had not what at this day would be
called "brilliant talents," fitted to shine as an eloquent
orator, capable of captivating the extravagant enthusiasm
of a fashionable audience. His judgment was solid,
mature, deliberate, and weighty, and his position among
his cotemporaries appears to have been an honorable
one. He was genial, and at times even humorous.
Among his papers is found an amorous production,
written in a fine and distinct hand which characterized
his early manuscripts, containing 1200 words, or more,
in eighty-five lines, on a single page of paper six by
twelve inches.  We think it must have been written for
his own amusement, as a trial of skill in composition,
perhaps in his college days. It is introduced by a quotation from Ovid's Pastoral Elegy on the death of Delia,
and proceeds, sometimes in his own poetry, to enumerate
the endearing charms which delighted his imagination,
until he had exhausted, as it would seem, the terms of
* Was this the first time the word State was used instead of Bay?




ISAIAH 4 DUNSTER.                  121
12
blandiloquence with the fascination of " Dear Maddam"
to whom it is addressed.
He was often entrusted with the settlement of estates
and other business, which he did with a minuteness of
accounts which appears almost ridiculous.* In an old
account book is the entry, " Edward Clark cut of ye Oak
& Eastern wood all except 6 feet cut by myself."
This was wood voted by the parish, 1788, for his
*A reason for this exactness may perhaps be found in the
annoyance to which Rev. Henry Dunster, his great grandfather,
had been subjected by the lawsuits which John Glover, his stepson, had instituted for the " recovery of property alleged to be
in the possession of Mr. D." This matter is referred to by Dr.
Chaplin (p. 209, Life H D.). There are fourteen writs recorded
in Middlesex County about it.
In the language of a letter from Joseph Willard to Librarian
Harris, 1854, now on file at Harvard College, " This controversy
was somewhat angry. It had been continued in one form or
another for some years. It had become complex, and every day
it became more difficult of adjustment. It was a misfortune, resulting perhaps incidentally from the early marriage of Dunster
with' Josse's' widow, that no executor or administrator of the estate in this country had ever been appointed, and Dunster went on
rather more trustingly than wisely, not with the wisdom of a
business man. I find no reason to suppose that the charges
against Dunster to which I have alluded were sustained by any
evidence."
In the course of litigation, Mr. D. was required to file a "bill
of particulars," to which he replied that the court required an
impossibility, "for how should your petitioner, unless a Joseph
or a Daniel, give an account of a Gentleman's estate dead above
16 years agoe, whom nor whose estate be never knew." President D. had taken care of all the five children, giving the eldest
a college education, and declared his willingness to give a faithful and fatherly account to the full content of the two children
that have not fully received their childs' portion. The claims
were settled by referees, who reduced them from ~1447 to
~117, " leaving ~57 to be further cleared by sd Henry." Danforth, Mr. Glover's lawyer, seems to have kept that for his fee.
Rev. Isaiah Dunster must have known of this trouble, and
seems to have accounted for everything, however small, to avoid
a like difficulty. Some of the descendants of Mr. D. appear to
have taken the other extreme, and forbid the appraisal of any of
their estates.
To the will of President D., which was dated Feb. 8, (not 18,
as on page 16,) an inventory of his estate was annexed by his executors, which was particular even to the baby's wardrobe, some
little things being called by a name not now fashionable.




122   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
12
use. He appears to have been always active, and for
many years dealt in merchandise.
To show the mixing up of spiritual and temporal
things of that day, we transcribe a letter and bill dated
"CHARLEST'N Dec 31 1759
SR. Yours of Novr 23 and Dec' 12 have receved and
should have answered sooner had it not been for the
afflicting Stroke of Divine Providence in taking away
our Eldest Son I pray God it may be Sanctified unto
us for our everlasting Good have Sent pr. Sears the
Tea. Cups & Saucers and Allspice have neither Brown
Bowles nor Powder Sugar or would have Sent them I
remain yr Most H. Servant         ISAAC FOSTER
20 lbs of Tea at 50s.           50
12 Doz Cups & Saucers at 7s. 6d.   4 10
12 lbs Allspice at 7s. 6d.       4 10
O.d T. nd    59
By Cash of Capt Sears,         50
O.d T.nd      9
To Reverend Mr. Isaiah Dunster at Harwich pr.
Sears. "
He owned a large landed estate, the boundary of one
tract of which, in Yarmouth, began at the "Fox Hole."
He took a large interest in the education of children,
and delighted to assist in imparting personally to them
the benefits of knowledge.
His popularity among the people may perhaps be
measured by the number of marriages he solemnized,
for young people love to be married by a popular minister. He had been ordained but a few days, when Moody
Howe and Hannah Sears presented themselves and were
joined in wedlock, and paid a fee of one pound, lawful
money; and he has recorded three hundred and ninetyfive more couple married during his ministry, with a fee
of six shillings, as a general rule, which is equal to one
dollar. Mr. Samuel Cobb paid ~3 10s. for being united
to Mrs. Sarah Bangs. Many of the marriages in 1776




ISAIAH4 DUNrSTER.             123
12
to 1778 are marked p., which probable means paper"Continental money "-which was then at a large discount, though the nominal fee was not increased. In
the summer of 1778 two are marked " 6 shillings silver."
The lowest fee is two shillings-equal to 33* centspaid by Joseph Robbins and Desire Ham, Indians, of
whom he married several couple, they paying from two
shillings upward, to James Oliver, who married Hope
Ralph, and paid the usual dollar. Mingo Eoney paid
3s. 7d. for the hand of Zilpha Cuffey.
His library, to which that of Rev. Mr. Dennis' was
added, was a large one for those days, and valuable as
historic records. Mr. Barry, a historian of Massachusetts, who had a large part of it,'says he has seen many
specimens of his poetry, and they are creditable evideilces of his skill in that department of literature. He
also mentions many commendable traits in his character.
Yet, there was a scandal. Ministers even now do not
all escape.  A negro servant [there were never any
slaves in Massachusetts!-Anti-Slavery statement] tied
up to a tree in the Bay State and whipped! That convenient myth "Somebody told," - Mehetebel Clark
"sizzled" on Lord's day. Susannah Bangs and Mrs.
Bloomer blowed the story. The good people down on
the Cape were dismayed.  The official report, found
among his old papers, reads:
"Whereas I the Subscriber to diverse Persons have
represented ye Conduct of ye Rev. Mr. Dunster as barbarous & Cruel to his Negro Servant on ye 19th Day of
July last, saying yt I saw sd negro tied up to a tree so yt
she could not touch anything but by ye ends of her Toes;
& represented it yt she was cruelly whipped by her Master (having received this account from others) all of
which I now am fully Convinced was false altho I verily
believed it to be true when I said it and am now fully
convinced yt sd negro was not used or corrected by her
Master with any Undue Severity-Whereas I reported
some or allof these things on ye Lords Day following to
Mrs. Bleamour & Mrs. Susannah Bangs near ye Widow
Bangs' House at Noon im-idiately after I came from ye
12




124   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
12
Lords Table: & to diverse Persons in My own House
between ye Sacriment & ye Afternoon Service & to other
Persons & at other Times without ever informing Mr.
Dunster of any uneasiness on my mind toward him By
which means his character Suffers as I am informed in
this & ye Neighboring Towns.
I am sensible yt my Conduct therein was very unchristian & Injurious to Mr. Dunster & to ye Interest of
Religion & I Sincerely ask ye forgiveness of God, Mr.
Dunster & of all others to wm I have given offence &
hope by the grace of God yt for ye time to come my Conduct will be more agreeable to ye Gospel & particularly
yt I shall never Spread an Evil Report to ye Disadvantage
of any Person before I have in ye first Place taken Pains
to inform them of it.
Harwich Augst 27 1777       MEHETEBEL CLARK
Signed in Presence of us
JOSEPH SNOW
JOSEPH NYE."
In the back end of an old account book, written upside down in a hand not his own, is this entry:
" Received of Mr Isaiah Dunster one Guinney if taken
I the Subscriber are to have the whole of the money Iff
not taken to Deliver the Whole of the Neat Proceeds to
Sd Punster as witness my hand
April 6 1779.              JOSHUA WINSLOW."
We know not what the stake was about, but if it re]ated to the taking of Charleston, S. C., then besieged
by the British army, Joshua lost his " Guinney."
Isaiah4 Dunster was twice married. The record of
his whole family is taken from his Family Bible,
and is written by himself to the birth of his fifth
daughter, inclusive.  The record is introduced by
the statement that "Henry Dunster, President of
Harvard College N. England came from Old England
about ye year 1638. He was ye son of Henry Dunster &
left behind him in Old England his father & two Brothers. The children of this President were I. Henry who
returned to England & as ye family tradition is died




ISAIAH4 DUNSTER.                  125
without Issue, a Lawyer in Greys Inn, and Jonathan
who died at Charlestown about ye year 1727, whose
children were I. Henry ye father of Martha Dixon Mary
Marret Abigail Cutter-Isaiah ye writer, Henry who died
childless & Jason who hath several children now living,
1765."
It was this introduction that misled many who sought
the record of President D. and his posterity, to which
allusion has been made.
He then proceeds:  "Isaiah Dunster born at Cambridge Nov. 1, 1720 N. S. ordained at Harwich Nov. 2,
1748."  "Hannah Dennis born at Yarmouth Oct. 15.
1730 N. S. married at Yarmouth May 26, 1750 N. S."
She, Hannah Dennis, was the daughter of Rev. Josiah
and Abigail? Dennis. He, Josiah Dennis, graduated at
Harvard College, 1723, and though the poorest scholar
of the class became a useful and prominent minister in
Yarmouth. He gave the right hand of fellowship at the
installation of Joseph Green, at which Rev. Isaiah Dunster preached the sermon.
Among Mr. Dennis' classmates were Samuel Mather,
Samuel Willard, John Collender and Habijah Weld.*
* Habijah Weld settled in Attleboro, Mass., 1727. He was
rigidly precise in everything; not a bed was made or a room
swept on the Sabbath, and the food for that day was prepared on
Saturday. He married Mary Fox, of Woburn, by whom he had
fifteen children-eleven daughters, who were not allowed to entertain company after nine o'clock. They mostly married ministers. He had a slave whom he used to send with presents to the
poor of the parish who had entertained him. " Bristol " used to
say on delivering the gifts, " Master always sends the best chicken
to thank folks for a dry crust. " Mr. W. felt the wrong of slavery,
and offered Bristol his freedom, but he indignantly replied that
he "had done nothing to merit such an act from his master, and
if anybody had got to be turned away, the geese and the sheep
and not himself were the ones to go." (Annals Am. Pulpit, p. 353.)
He built the house for a parsonage where the writer now lives.
On removing the chimney (about ten feet square), filled in solid,
having a fire-place eight feet long, and an oven that would have
done for a western barbacue, a fragment of a grave stone, having
the inscription, " Samuel Weld 167-," surmounted by a hideous
face adorned with wings, was found; also a brick having the impression of the foot of a goose. Neither Bristol or the geese were
turned away. The house, large for those days, is framed and




126   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
12
From this marriage, after thirteen years, "their first
child a Daughter named Martha was born Friday 2 of ye
clock A. M. Oct 7, 1763 N. S."
"Hannah (Dennis) Dunster," wife of Rev. I. D.,
"died May 22 1766 after about 4 months languishment
being satisfied with Life and in a Comfortable Hope of
a better."
boarded with oak, filled between the boarding and plastering
with brick laid in mortar, and covered with clapboards split from
the logs, and fastened with wrought nails made in better style
than those Stephen Burroughs says he made while serving out his
time in prison. There is. a tradition that Stephen, in pursuit of
his calling, waited on Mr. Weld, by whom he was asked to
preach. Of course he did not decline. On Monday, Eunice, the
youngest daughter, invited her lady friends to call and be introduced to the brilliant young minister who had captivated her
heart. They came, and were delighted. It was proposed to
visit a pear tree then loaded with ripe fruit. The pears lying on
the ground being exhausted, it was suggested that he climb the
tree for more. He accepted. Removing his well black-balled
boots, Eunice perceived they contained no stockings. He was
not invited to stay that night even till nine o'clock. He left-but
not without stealing some of the old gentleman's sermons to set
up business elsewhere.
Part of a letter found among papers of Isaiah D., no doubt sent
to Mr. Dennis, is introduced to show the " doings " at College.
" BOSTON December 17 1728
REV SIR  After respects I would just manifest to you a sence
of my love & regards by a line or two though you account it not
worth while to write or come to see me or anything of yt nature
wn personally so near as Boston  *  *  *  Give my service to
Col John Paddock & tell him my study of Physick will be no
damage to his brother if he makes a doctor of him and commend
suitable respects to all.  *   *   *  *  Its like you hear of transactions at College yt is. A great though not a good number of
scholars found out to have stole geese & a turkey and roguery
beside, your classmate Bosson is one of the worst its said Mr
Walters son of Roxy is sent home, Sir Lovel Senr and many
under graduates with ym were only some punished 10 s and some
admonished, Frost the head of a class degraded 3rd Iniquity
abounds and the College is full of sin * * *
DAVID HALL."
Frost was restored. He was a classmate of Solomon Page,
who married Dorothy Dunster. "' Sir" Lovel probably relented
his conduct, and graduated 1728. Mr. Walters' son got back,
and graduated 1729, and made a minister.




MARTHA5 DUNSTER.               127
12
MARTHA5 DUNSTER, (Isaiah,4 Henry,3 Jonathan,2
Henry,') lost her mother when about three years old,
but she appears to have been well c(ared for by her stepmother. In addition to the tuition given by her father
and common schools, she was sent to school at Barnstable. The property of her grandfather, Josiah Dennis, who died 1762, went to his daughters, Jane and
Abigail. It was mutually agreed by Isaiah Dunster, his
wife, Hannah, and Abigail and Jane Dennis, who were
then "single women," that the property of their father,
Josiah Dennis, should be equally divided between those
three daughters, without regard to his will. One of
these aunts died before 1767, and by her will her property was given to Martha5 Dunster, and Martha's father
was made her guardian.  He took out letters, Aug. 11,
1767, and then "pd cash to ye Judge 2s. & Do. pd Register 3s" L. M.; and on the 19th, charges "I  a day at
Nobscusset to view ye Library & take delivery thereof
and Patty's Legacy in her Aunt Abigail's will." He
took a minute account of all the goods, and a catalogue
of the library, which was for that time large and valuable, mostly of religious publications, among which was
a copy of the New England Psalm Book. To that item
he has added "worn out by Martha."  In the list of
wearing apparel, which was exceedingly extensive, was
"2 pair Leather Gloves used by Martha 1774 wn at
school in Barnstable."  "1 pr womans Mitts 1773 " "2
pr do. used by sd minor 1775."  "13 shifts (numbered
seriatim of which the 11 & 12 were) used by Martha
1775."
There is also a list of "Things Taken out of the Inventory of the goods of Mrs. Jane Dennis and out of the
acct of ye Legacy of Mrs. Abigail Dennis to Martha
Dunster and put into ye trunk with her mothers Cloathing among which are 3 Gold Rings, 1 pr Gold Buttons,
1 Gold Necklace, old Gold, E Doz large Silver Spoons,
Silver Tea Tongs, Silk Damask Gown, 1 Silver Porringer, Yellow  Silk Quilted Coat, a flowered Apron
(yellow silk), and a Gauze Curtain turned into an apron
for Martha's wear."
There were also "a Brown Taffitee Gown, best Chince
*12




128   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
Gown, another Chince Gown, a Red Calimanco Gown, a
Crape Gown, a plaid Gown, a striped Gown, a Silk
Damask Gown, Best Chince Gown A. D. [Abigail Dennis] a black Crape Gown, a striped Linen Gown, a Red
White & Blue Gown, a pale Blue Camlet Gown, a man's
Gown, and a' Full suit of Black Pady-osway."' Some
of these were " Reserved for Martha," others sold. The
Padyosway suit bringing six dollars. Six yards of Red
Quality were sold to a squaw "for 7 pence 1 farthing;
to Aunt Howe an old tea cup & 2 saucers 1 shilling;
Rev. Nathan Stone an old meet barrell Is 2d 1 farthing;
5 old maps much tattered but sold Jany 7 1773 to Aaron
Crowell for white Leather to ye value of 3 shillings;' a
pillow case & remnants.' N. B. These Remnants were
put & sold with ye Gowns yy belonged to so far as yt
could be known, so yt one way or other ye minor hath
the benefit of ym except remnant of Calimanco used by
& charged to ye child." Thus he accounted for every
article except a few books lent and not returned, and a
"cheese press left at Nobscusset." A receipt was taken
for them.
"HARWICH Sept 22 1785
Then received of Isaiah Dunster by us the subscribers
the sum of Fifty three pounds thirteen shillings & nine
Pence which with what we have formerly received is in
full of all demands from him as guardian to Martha
Foster formerly Martha Dunster.
JAMES FOSTER.
MARTHA FOSTER."
Martha5 Dunster married Dr. James Foster, of
Rochester, Mass.  The date of this marriage has
not been obtained.   Nothing  further was known
of her family, except on a little scrap of paper
was written, "Dr. James Foster Died 1811 30th of
June." "Dr. Josiah Dennis Foster Died Aug. 11th
1812 at Detroit."  " Dr. Isaiah Dunster Foster Died
April 7th 1813 at Montagues on the river Rappahannock, Virginia."
A letter addressed to the " Oldest Physician " in Rochester, Mass., was responded to as follows:




MARTHA5 DUNSTER FOSTER.            129
12
"ROCHESTER, Aug. 2, 1872.
MY DEAR SIR: Dr. James Foster was a teacher of
mine, and I was intimate with the family. The record
in your letter [copied above] of the deaths of his sons I
think is correct. Neither of them were married, and
they have no connections in this town.
Respectfully yours,
JOSEPH HASKELL."
A second letter was also answered:
" ROCHESTER, Aug. 30, 1872.
To SAMIL. DUNSTER,-MY DEAR SIR:  Dr. James
Foster and Martha, his wife, never had but two children,
both born in Rochester, Mass. There was but one Dr.
James Foster.  Dr. Josiah Dennis Foster, their eldest
son, was born Feb. 24, 1784; Dr. Isaiah Dunster Foster, Feb. 2d, 1791. Neither of these sons were ever
married. Dr. James Foster was a good physician, and
well beloved. He was not very well calculated to meet
the trials of this life, and depended very much on the
energy and good judgement of his wife, who was a
Superior Lady. Tilly Foster liked to spend money, but
had but little. He tried all he could to get the funds
from his brother, James, but this Mrs. Foster prevented
in a great measure during her life. After Mrs. Foster's
death, Tilly succeeded in obtaining a good deal of his
brother's property, which Dr. James lost entirely, causing
him to become partially deranged, which ended in his
committing suicide in 1812 or 13, I think. Nathan
Willis, of this town, settled his estate, which was rendered insolvent. The good Doctor never had even a tombstone. *     * *       Very truly yours,
JOS. HASKELL."
Rev. L. R. Paige, D. D., of Cambridgeport, said, Oct.
19, 1872, that when Dr. Foster was buried the funeral
procession was over a mile and a quarter long. He also
remarked that he had a letter from a brother in which
the death of Josiah6 Dennis Foster was announced.
"MARTHA5 DUNSTER FOSTER died Dec. 19, A. D.
1808," leaving only those two sons. Both died unmar



130   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
12
ried. Both were doctors. Were they surgeons in the
war of 1812?  It is understood that Dr. James Foster
erected a suitable monument over his wife's grave prior
to his unhappy end.
The record in Rev. I. Dunster's Bible, after the death
of his first wife, continues:
" Mary Smith born at Yarmouth May 29 1735 N. S.*
married IsAIAH DUNSTER Nov. 13 1766 at Pembroke."
"Their first child a daughter named Hannah born
Priday Feb. 26 at 5 of the clock A. M. 1768."
" Their second daughter Judith Miller born Wednesday Dec. 6 1769 between 12 & 1 of the clock A. M."
"Their third Daughter Mary born Lord's Day May
17 1772 at 3 oclock."
"Their Fourth Daughter Catherine, Born Tuesday
March 1st 1774 between 5 & 6 oclock P. M."
"Their fifth Daughter Abigail, born Monday July 29
3 of ye clock in the morning 1775."
This ends the record written by himself. The precision as to the hour of their birth seems to indicate a
lingering regard for the aspect of the heavens claimed
by Astrology over the destiny of the little one who makes
its advent at that time.
The record, written by other hands, concludes:
"The Revd Isaiah Dunster died Jany 18 —1791 after
a short and distressing sickness."
"Mrs. Mary Dunster died Dec. 23 1796 after 8 days
sickness."
"Martha Foster died December 19 A. D. 1808."
"Catherine Dunster died May 1 A. D. 1811."
"Abigail Dunster died May 13 1816."
"Judith M. Dunster Died March 22 1843."
"Mary Dunster died April 27th 1850."
"Hannah Dunster Died May 9 1853."
* She was the daughter of Rev. Thomas Smith, (H. C., 1720,)
of Pembroke.




ISAIAH 4 DUNSTER.              131
12
Over the grave of Isaiah Dunster was placed a stone
with this inscription:
"To the Memory of the
Revd. ISAIAH DUNS'TER,
the pious and beloved Pastor of the First' Church
in Harwich.
He was educated at the University in Cambridge,
his native town.
Was ordained Nov. 13, 1748.
After a judicious, pertinent and faithful discharge
of relative and ministerial duties,
Satisfied with Life and Confident of Immortality,
He Died Jan. 18th, 1791,
In the 71st year of his Age, and 43d of his Ministry."
In the loose papers is a receipt, dated
"PEMBROKE, June ye 10th, 1797.
Then Received of Miss Hannah Dunster Eleven Dollars in ful for a Pair of Gravestones.
I say Received By Me,
ASAPH SOULE."
These, we take it, were, with filial affection, placed
over her mother's grave. She survived her husband almost seven years, removing to Pembroke, where it is
thought some of her relatives still live. Her five daughters, none of whom were ever married, appear to have
gone with her. Hannah, the oldest, received this certificate, and taught school:
"PEMBROKE, the 28th of May, 1792.
To all whom it may concern, this may Certify that
Hannah Dunster is a Person of Sober Life & Conversation, and well qualified to Instruct Children in the more
Early Stages of Life.
JOSIAH SMITH,    Selectmen of
JosIAH CUSHING,  Pembroke."




132   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
12
Mary also received a similar paper, in which it is certified that "Molly Dunster who proposes to keep School
in the town of Pembroke for the education of Children
in the most early stages of life, is a Person of Sober life
and Conversation, and well qualified for keeping such a
school.
Given under our hands this 2d day of July, 1798.
JOHN TURNER, 1 Selectmen of
NATR. SMITH,   Pembroke."
Here in loneliness they lived. In 1841, when Hannah,
Mary and Judith were living, they gave to Harvard College the "Bible of President Dunster, of which the Old
Testament is in Hebrew and the New Testament is in
Greek."  Mr. Eliot (His. Har. Col., p. 183,) says, "the
Misses Dunster are the only descendants of President
Dunster."  It should have been Rev. Isaiah Dunster.
This Bible is carefully kept in a case made on purpose,
and without a special request few there be that find it.
This gift was remembered, and their scanty means
and grateful hearts were enlarged by a generous donation from the College.
"HARVARD COLLEGE, 31st October, 1848.
To THE MISSES DUNSTER: LADIES,-In conveying
to you a small remittance about this time last year, I
expressed a hope that it would be in our power to continue the payment of a similar sum as a regular annuity.
I have now the pleasure of transmitting to you the sum
of one hundred and fifty dollars, which you will be
pleased to accept as a tribute of veneration for the memory of your honored ancestor, the first President of the
University in this place, and as a token of respectful
interest in the welfare of his descendants.
I remain, Ladies, with high respect,
Your obedient, faithful servant,
EDWARD EVERETT, President."
At this time Judith had gone to the grave, and Mary
followed in about eighteen months, leaving Hannah,
although the oldest, the only one living.
In 1852, Edward' Swift Dunster, who had passed an
unconditional examination and was awaiting active du



HANNAH 5 DUNSTER.              133
12
ties as a student of Harvard College, visited this old lady
at Pembroke, to learn from her own lips the history of
her family. He found her the solitary occupant of a
humble dwelling. Her house, facing the south, was a
little old-fashioned one, a story and a half high, with
gambrel roof, door in the middle of the front, two rooms
only in the main part. She occupied the room which
looked to the east and south, giving sunny exposure.
This was her sleeping and sitting room. The kitchen,
in the rear, she used for her comparatively little cooking, &c. In appearance the old lady was quite stout,
and rather tall, before being bent with age. She was
not very chatty, but communicated freely and, I believe,
without reserve all she knew of her ancestors. Her
affection for her cats was manifested all the time of my
visit. (E. S. D.)
With her, the house and its scanty furniture had
grown old, but the courtesies of her early days had not
departed, nor her sensibilities become impaired.  He
was kindly received.
Denied by fate of a recipient for the, adult affections
of the heart, she had transferred them to her three domostic pets, allowing them the freedom of her bed, and
purchasing for them their favorite food, of which at
times she deprived herself. Their well developed limbs
and glossy fur showed that they realized her care.
On making known his name and the object of his
visit, she was much surprised, for she firmly believed
that she was the only living descendant of the first
President of Harvard, whose name she bore. She gave
him a few books of her father's, some of which had come
down in the family from the earliest time.
He then inquired if she had any old papers which she
would let him see. She replied that she had none of
any interest to any one, but, pointing to a shelf near the
the top of a closet in the hall, said, "there were some
old ones there, but no one can read them." The permission to search the house was gladly received. On
removing some- of her well preserved things, he found
beneath them a pile of old papers, which proved to be
the " Balehoult Letter," and other papers of President




134   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
12
Dunster and her father, some of them in Latin; among
these was the " broadside " Declaration of Independence,
before referred to. Becoming interested in meeting a
relative who bore her name, and probably feeling that
there were no others who could preserve the relics of the
family, she gave him other papers. Among them was a
small package, which she had neatly folded and carefully pinned together.
This little treasure contained both school certificates,
the bill of her mother's grave stones, the love letter before referred to, her father's epitaph, the records of the
death of her sister Martha's husband and his sons, and
other scraps of writing, in which no interest can be now
perceived. Among them was this:
"Elkanah Fauman Lately Returned from Sea Desires
to Return thanks to God for him & again Bound Desires
Prayers."
It can easily be imagined how such a "note" should
be in her father's papers, but what influence should have
prompted its preservation must ever be a mystery. It
will be preserved with the same fastening put there by
her hand.
Hannah5 Dunster died May 9, 1853, aged 85 years,
2 months and 13 days.
With the death of this old lady, that branch of the
family became extinct. Rev. Mr. Allen, of Pembroke,
preached her funeral sermon, which is reported in the
Christian Register of June 11, 1853, from which we
make a few extracts:
"The funeral of a person more than four-score years
old is an occasion that seldom occurs, especially in a
sparse population.
"The person, whose remains are now before us, was
the descendant of one of the early settled and highly
respected families in this community. Henry Dunster,
a minister in England, came to Boston in the year 1640,
and was immediately chosen President of Cambridge College, in which situation he remained, with distinguished
reputation, fourteen years, when, in consequence of dif



HANNAH 5 DUNSTER.               135
12
ferences of opinion between him and the overseers on
the subject of infant baptism, he was dismissed.
"The father of our deceased friend, it appears, was
son of one of the President's grand-sons. He was born
in Cambridge, Nov., 1720.  Was educated and settled
in the ministry. In Nov., 1766; he took for his second
wife Mary Smith, daughter of Rev. Thomas Smith, of
Pembroke.  The person whose funeral we are solemnizing, was the first child of this marriage, born Feb. 26,
1768. We may reasonably suppose, that in early life
Hannah Dunster received all the advice and good instruction which sincere piety would dictate. We are
happy in believing that parental and pious labors for her
good were not fruitless.  As she advanced in life, good
evidence was given of steadfast purpose of walking in
the footsteps of pious friends who had preceded her.
At an early period her name was enrolled among professed believers and followers of Jesus Christ. There
were some peculiarities in her views and manners, but
nothing to justify doubts of the sincerity of her Christian
profession. She embraced the views and took rank with
those called liberal Christians; this was the title given in
her early days, and this she was willing should be applied, but would admit no other. Nothing would sooner
disturb her feelings and provoke resentment than a request to receive a paper or a book with the modern title
commonly given liberal discourses.-   -
" At an early period of life, and when her sisters were
quite young, she lost both of her parents. She assumed
the chief direction of the family, and in her solicitude
to guard younger sisters against error and guide them in
right paths, it is not wonderful if she frequently exposed
herself to the just charge of unreasonable precision,
and too much exactitude in her demands.  Females
when advanced in life, who have not been mothers
of families, generally have some views and plans of life
which look strange to others.    -   We must think,
with some admiration, of her provident care for sisters
and wisdom in keeping them so comfortable on so scanty
means. She cherished a remarkable independence of
temper. This, in a measure, is always praiseworthy, but
13




136   HENRY I)UNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
12
may be carried to an extreme.  We think the deceased
was too averse to receiving aid from friends, able and
disposed to lighten her burdens. It was only after long
and earnest solicitations, that she would consent to participate in the benefaction of charitable institutions, established specially for the relief of persons in precisely
her situation.
" The preceding sketch shows many difficulties which
the deceased was obliged to encounter; yet amid them
all, she was unwavering in her attentions to means of
moral and spiritual improvement.  Till the weaknesses
and infirmities of age had greatly increased, very seldom
was her place in the house of worship or the church
found vacant.
"We have taken from yonder house the last member
of a family, and the only inhabitant of it. We have
come up here to perform the last offices of earthly friendship. Soon shall we return mortal remains to kindred
dust, and thus extinguish among ourselves a name long
known and respected. Can we perform this service?
Can we look at the desolated house, or into the open
grave, without thinking how rapid the approach of the
hour when our houses must be left, and all the places on
earth which once knew us shall know us no more?
"Earnestly let us all inquire what manner of persons
we ought to be. Through the influence of means a wise
Being is employing, may all be induced to walk in holy
conversation and godliness, looking steadfastly for the
second appearance of Jesus Christ. When he shall appear, through mercy, may these vile bodies be changed
and fashioned like unto His glorious body."
13. JASON 4 DUNSTER, (Henry,s Jonathan,2 Henry,')
the eighth child of Henry and Martha (Russell) Dunster, was born in Cambridge, "July ye 14, 0. S., July
24, 1725-6, N. S.," and baptized July 18, 1725, and not
1726, as in Life H. D., p. 238. He married Oct. 26,
1749, Rebecca, daughter of Samuel and Anne (Harrington) Cutter, born March 3, 1731-3 (Charlestown Records).
Her father died when she was about six years old. Nath.
Francis, of Medford, and Joseph Adams, a member of




JASON 4 DUNSTER.               137
13
Mr. Cooke's church, were appointed her guardians, Oct.
12, 1744.  The year before (March 31, 1743), her
mother, who had owned the covenant at the formation
of Cambridge Second Church, was married by Simon
Tufts, Esq., to Mr. Francis.  Mr. F. died Sept. 2,
1764, and she appears to have lived with her daughter
(Mrs. Dunster) afterwards.  In one record of Mr. Cooke,
kept apparently to note his income from marriages, the
entry is, "Jason Dunster and daughter of Mrs. Francis,
1749, of Charlestown precinct-marriage fee X~4." She
appears to have gone to Mason with Mr. D.'s family,
1769.  In Mr. Cooke's record of deaths is " widow Ann
Francis, of Mason, was buried in Menotomy, Jan. 1,
1778, aged 76." Her grave stone is standing in Arlington.  She was baptized March 31, 1700.  (Bond's hIis.
Watertown, p. 274.)  This agrees nearly with her age as
recorded by Cooke. She, Rebecca, was a member of
Menotomy Church June 2, 1749, about five months before her marriage. In the Bible of his father, Henry3
Dunster, in the handwriting of Rev. IsaiahI Dunster,
the record is, "Jason Dunster, born July 24, 1726, New
Stile.  Rebeccah Cutter, born March 19, 1732, New
Stile [altered in a later hand to 1731.] They were married Nov. 6, 1749, New Style."  These discrepancies are
referred to in Isaiah4 Dunster (ante p. 103), and there explained. They have been a source of much trouble.  He,
Jason,4 was a member in full communion of the Second
Church in Cambridge (now Arlington) March 18, 1753.
It is not clear, with present investigation, whether he
united with Cambridge First Church and received letters to Mr. Cooke's, or whether he united with the
Menotomy Church on a profession of faith.  It is certain that they were married by Rev. Mr. Cooke, and his
marriage record is, "1749, Oct. 26, Jason Dunster, of
Cambridge, and Rebecca Cutter of this Precinct, Charlestown."  He lived at the old Dunster homestead, bounded northerly by the "Gilboa road" and easterly on
Concord road. We have seen that he bought the portion of his sister, Abigail4 (Dunster) Cutler, and was
already in possession of the property of Henry, his
brother, given to his widow by his will.




138   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
13
For about eighteen years he lived there, and there all
his children were born.  What should have induced him
to sell that almost sacred place and remove to the wilds
of New Hampshire? January 28, 1769, we find him
taxed in the town of Mason, N. H., for the first time.
His tax was 9s. 6d., the highest being Thomas Tarbell,
~1 lOs. 10d., and the lowest, Widow Mary Jefts, 8d.
2qrs. This land was sold by Timothy Whitney, of
Shrewsbury, in Worcester County, for ~121 6s. 8d."containing 190 acres, in two tracts, lying partly in the
Province of Massachusetts Bay and partly in New Hampshire, beginning at a stake & stones which is on the
southwest corner of the premises being in Townsend, by
a corner of land owned by Jonathan Wallace; from
thence northerly about one hundred and sixty rods to a
pitch Pine by Jos. Herrick's land.
The other tract is meadow, about five acres-southerly
on Hezakiah Richardson's land         to Jason Dunster of Cambridge, Co. Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay.
Signed 23d April, 1767.    TIMOTHY WHITNEY.
Witnessed:
JOSEPH ESTABROOK.
SAM. HOBART.
Acknowledged May 21, 1767, by Samuel Hobert."
This deed was not recorded till April 23, 1769, the
year in which he was taxed. The property (two lots)
was split in two by the survey in 1741, by which New
Hampshire obtained from Massachusetts a strip of land
fourteen miles wide and more tlran fifty miles long.
(Farmer.) It was chicanery on both sides. Governments are applauded for acts that would condemn a man
to infamy. Belcher, who was Governor of both provinces
at the time, was accused of bribing that "Irish Dog of
a Surveyor."  He retorted, that the "People were too
poor to be taxed, and had solicited him to allow them to
issue paper money without any fund for its redemption! "
(Belklnap's History New Hamlpshire.)
The town was incorporated Aug. 26, 1768, and the
tax list referred to was the first under the corporate
authority. Whether he had been here before is not certain. There had been a meeting house erected by the




JASON 4 DUNSTER.               139
13
proprietors before a church was organized, and it was
given to the town in 1769. There was preaching in it,
for we find a vote, passed Jan. 11, 1770, "'To pay John
Swallow two shillings and eight pence for boarding Mr.
Nathan Bond's horse while preaching in 1769." (We
trust it was Mr. Bond, not his horse who preached.)
Soon after his settlement in Mason a church was organized, in which he took an active part. The records
of this church commence:
"A  Book of Records belonging to the Church of
Christ in Mason, began Oct. 13, 1772, when ye Brethren
were incorporated into a distinct Chh. Society by ye advice and Assistance of an Ecclesiastical Council."
Then follows the covenant, in which it is declared:.'As to matter of faith we cordially adhere to the
principles of religion (at least the substance of them)
contained in the Shorter Catechism of the Assembly of
Divines          not as supposing there is any authority much less infallibility in human Creeds or forms
hereby declaring our utter dislike of the Armenian
Principles vulgarly so called."
In a note it is said, " by' the Stubstance of them~' we
intend to govern ourselves by the platform, so far as it
agrees with the word of God."
(Signed)
JONATHAN SEARLE,         OBEDIAH PARKER,
ENOSiH LAWRENCE,         NATHAN COBURN,
NATHAN HALL,             JOSIAH WHEELER,
JOHN ELIOT,              SAMxUEL SMITH,*
JASON DUNSTER,           JOSHUA DAVIS,
AMos DAKIN,              WILLIAM ELIOT.
The church was then declared by the council to be
"now a Visible, distinct Church, regularly and scripturally embodied." The same date, Oct. 13, 1772, they
unanimously "Voted to receive ye hereafter mentioned
sisters as standing in full Chh. membership with ym."
* Samuel Smith was dismissed from the church in Lexington to
Mason, in order to aid the gathering of a church there. (Ilistory
Lex. Gen., 223.)
*13




140   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
13
This is followed by nine names, of which the fourth is
" Rebecca, ye wife of Jason Dunster."
Feb. 8, 1773.  "Voted that Brother Jason Dunster
and Bro. Nathan Hall serve the Table for a time until
the church shall proceed to make choice of Deacons."
Oct. 13, 1789.  "Voted that Dea. Hall, Jason Dunster and Samuel Smith be a committee to wait on Ebenezer Hill and invite him to be their Pastor."
When Mr. Hill (H. C., 1786,) first came to preach at
Mason, provision had been made for him to board at
3Mr. D]unster's. On his way there he was accompanied by
Rev. Mr. Dix, of Townsend. Coming to two obscure roads
in the woods, they doubted which to take.' Soon a man
came along of whom Mr. Dix inquired the way. The
man, either from uncouth manners or studied perverseness, replied, "I have got two sheep, a cow, a pig and a
whole lot of chickens, and hay enough to keep them."
"We wish to go to Mr. Dunster's," says Mr. Dix;"
"will you please direct us which road to take?"  Mr.
Squeer's returned the same answer as before.  " Well,
my friend," said Mr. Dix, who never let the opportunity
slip to make an "application," "you seem to be pretty
well provided for in the things of this world; how is it
with you in the world to come?"  "That is the road to
Mr. Dunster's," replied S., and, turning on his heel, left
the unwelcome question unanswered.
Oct. 14, 1790.  " Voted that Hobart Russel and Jason
Dunster be a committee to wait on the Honlorable Council at the Ordination of Mr. Ebenezer Hill."
July 1, 1802.  "Jason Dunster and wife by virtue of
a letter from  the Chh. in Ashburnham  to which thev
were lately recommended by us and now received back
again."  (Church Records..)
In 1773 he was Surveyor of Highway, and in 1774 was
Constable, i. e.. Collector of Taxes, and in that year his
Province (State) tax was 2 farthings! equal to one-third
of one cent.  Taxes soon increased.  In 1780 his "Beef
Rate "* was ~131 14s. 10d. 3qrs.; and in 1781 his " War
* This was to purchase beef for the Continental army.




JASON4 DUNSTER.               141
13
Rate" was ~2 5s. 5d. 3qrs., and his "Rum  Rate" 3s.
5d. lqr. The same year, the records show that "Jos.
Herrick was paid ~56 Ss. for two and a half bushels of rye
delivered to Jason Dunster for part of his sons hire for
six months service in the year 1781." ($42.67 a bushel!)
There is also recorded an order "to p)ay Nathan Wood
~25 10s. ($83.33) for a pair of overhals delivered to Deacon Dakin for one of the soldiers." These prices were
in Continental money. " Greenbacks " were never so low
as that. New Hampshire tried to remedy this state of
affairs by issuing bills of her own. These went down
one-half.
Light is thrown on these enormous pnices by reference
to a list of prices fixed by law in the next town, where
West India Rum is set down ~6 11s. per gallon, New
England Rum ~4 18s., Men's Shoes ~6, Women's do. ~4,
W. I. Phlip 15 shillings, and New England Phlip 12
shillings (two dollars) " a mug." " In short," says Hon.
John 1B. Hill, (Hist. of Masoni,) "so worthless was the
currency that it would take a sack full of paper notes to
pay for a pipe full of tobacco."
The bubble burst; but not before the town voted, Feb.
12, 1782, that the Selectmen " strain on the Treasurer
amediately." Prices went down so that rye came within
the means of the common people; and the town voted,
May 26, 1783, " To pay Capt. Winm. Chambers 4 shillings
Lawful money, it being for two mugs of Philp (33 cents
a mug) that the arbitrators had that set on the dispute
that the town had with Ens. Joseph Ball, and for two
mugs that the selectmen had when they vendued the
shingles and nails that blew from the meeting house."
An intelligent old gentleman, Thomas B. Wilson, who
belonged to the same church with him, and who married the writer's aunt, and was brother to the Samuel
Wilson from whom the interpretation of U. S. to mean
"Uncle Sam," which so often does duty in print, was
derived, related about twenty-five years ago, that Mr.
Dunster was a devoted Christian, and- a prominent member of Mason Church, and further said: " He was a tall,
slimn man, about six feet high, and wore a white linen
cap under his'three cornered hat,' which he exchanged




142   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
13
for a green one when he went to'meeting.' He was
very amiable and of a uniform temperament, and much
attached to children, especially his grand-children. His
wife also was a church member, but more irritable and
easily excited.  His farm  was in the extreme southeast
corner of Mason, touching Brookline (then Raby) and
Townsend, Mass., then spelled Townshend."*
In 1798 his son Samuel came to Mason and bought
the farm. Soon after (1801?) he removed to Ashburnham, taking the "'old folks " with him.  They were discontented, and returned to Mason, where, as we have
seen, they applied for readmission to their old spiritual
home, and were gladly welcomed back.  They spent the
remnant of their dayvs with their son, Jason5 Dunster,
at the west part of the town, afterwards called Mason
Village.
He died Feb. 19, 1805, and was buried at Mason Centie. A slate stone at his grave is inscribed:
" Sacred-to the Memory of-JASON DUNSTER-W- ho
died Feb. 19, 1805, in the 79th year of his age."  -
"Great God, I own the sentence just,
And yield my body to the dust;
Yet by Thy Grace I hope to rise
And dwell with Christ above the skies."
His wife died Feb. 16, 1806, not 1816, as stated in
I~ist. Mason, p. 182, (the error was on her grave stone,
but is now corrected,) and was buried beside her husband in the Dunster group.  The inscription is:
" Sacred-to the Memory-of-REBECCAH  DUNSTER,
wife of Jason Dunster-who died Feb. 16, 1806-in the
72d year of her age."
"In faith she died, in dust she lies;
But faith foresees that dust shall rise
When Jesus calls; while hope assumes
And boasts her joy among the tombs."
*We think this was a mistake. Shadrachk Whitney was the
original owner of lot No. 1 in the third range, and Mr. Dunster
bought of Timothy W., perhaps his son. The lot in the corner of
the town was No. 1 in range one.




ELIZABETH4 DUNSTER.             143
14
The eight children of Jason4 and Rebecca (Cutter)
Dunster were:
21 ~. i. RUTH5 DUNSTER, born at Cambridge, Aug.
21, 1750, N. S., married Joseph Blood.
ii. REBECCA5 DUNSTER, born Aug. 18, bap.
23, 1752. She died at Cambridge, June 5, 1753, aged
10 months.
22 ~. iii. HENRY5 DUNSTER, born Aug. 4, baptized 11, 1754.
23 ~. iv. REBECCA5 DUNSTER, born June 18, baptized 20, 1756, married John Swallow.
24. v.  MARTHA5 DUNSTER, baptized Sept. 3,
1758, married Oliver Wright.
25 ~. vi. ISAIAH5 DUNSTER, bap. April 12, 1761.
26 ~. vii. JASON5 DUNSTER, born March 27, baptized April 3, 1763.
2'7 ~. viii. SAAMUEL5 CUTTER DUNSTER, baptized
April 27, 1766.
These children were all baptized at Cambridge Second
Church.
14. i. ELIZABETH4 DUNSTER, familiarly known as
Betty, (David,3 Jonathan,2 HenEry,') called in her father's
will "Elizabeth, my eldest daughter," was baptized in
Cambridge First Church, April 25, 1730-31. She married, at Westminster, James Taylor. They both lived
and died there. Very little of their history is known;
Westminster records have not been searched for it.
They had a very large family of children, thirteen or
fourteen in number, most of whom died in infancy.
There is no register of these children to be found, nor
sufficient data to classify them, and they are given as
alluded to in a letter of Mrs. Estabrook:.
RUTH5 TAYLOR, born and died in Westminster, unm.
REBECCA5 TAYLOR, born and died in W., "single."
A daughter,5    -   married.
JONATHAN5 TAYLOR, born in Westminster, married
and lived in Ludlow, Vt.; from thence removed to Chittendon, Vt., afterwards to Ohio. It is believed he had
a family, but nothing further is known of him.




144   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
14
JOSEPH5 TAYLOR, the youngest child of James and
Betty4 (Dunster) Taylor, was born May 7, 1778, in
Westminster. Hie married Betsey Green, of Westminster, Sept., 1802, was a farmer, and resided in Ludlow,
Vt. Ile was a member of the Baptist Church, as was
also his wife. She died of heart disease, and was buried
at Ludlow. tie died Nov. 5, 1869, of "old age and infirmity incident thereto," aged 91 years, 6 months, and
was buried at Ludlow.
" They had nine children, of whom I am the youngest
and only living one. All but three died in infancy or
early childhood."  (Ora J. Taylor.-Letter.)
(i) ARDAIN6 GREEN TAYLOR, the oldest child of
Joseph and Betsey (Green) Taylor, was born in Ludlow,
Vt., July 12, 1803. He graduated at Castleton Medical
College, Vt., and practiced medicine in Ludlow and
Plymouth. He was a self-educated man, and a successful physician; took an active interest in education and
temperance; was Justice of the Peace, and highly respected in the community. He was twice married. 1st,
July 13, 1828, to Ruth Pettigrew, daughter of Deacon
Andrew Pettigrew, of Plymouth. She died June 5,
1839. By her he had four children:
(1) RuTH7 ANN TAYLOR, born Oct. 18, 1829, died
in infancy.
(2) ANN7 ELIZA TAYLOR, born Jan. 29, 1834, now
living in Ludlow.
(3) AMANDA7 B. TAYLOR, born Aug. 7, 1836, living
in Missouri, married?
(4) ORINDA7 L. TAYLOR, born Aug. 22, 1838, living
in New York city, married?
Dr. Ardain6 G. Taylor married 2d, March 29, 1840,
Orinda Elisabeth Walker, daughter of Deacon Rufus
Walker, of Williamstown, Vt. She is still living. He
died at Ludlow, June 3, 1846, aged 43, and was buried
there. By her he had three children:
(5) RUTH7 PETTIGREW TAYLOR, born Aug. 20, 1841,
died March 12, 1855.




THE TAYLOR FAMILY.              145
14
(6) SUSANNA' M. TAYLOR, born Feb. 1, 1845, died
Aug. 27, 1875, in California, married, and believed to
have had children.
(7) EMILY7 M. TAYLOR, born Sept. 8, 1846, about
three months after her father died. She is living in
Rutland, Vt., married?
(ii) AMANDA6 TAYLOR, (Joseph,5 James and Betty4
D., David,3 Jona.2 Henry,1) the second child of Joseph
and Betsey (Green) Taylor, born Oct. 25, 1805, in Ludlow, married John Tyrrell, son of John Tyrrell, of Andover, Vt. He was a farmer. They both died in 1840,
at Andover, Vt. They had six children:
(1) ALMIRA' AMANDA TYRRELL, born Aug. 10, 1828,
now living at Sherberne, Vt., married.
(2) ARDAIN' AUGUSTUS TYRRELL, born March 22,
1830, went to the "far West," married, and died there.
(3) ELISABETH7 ANN TYRRELL, born June 11, 1832,
died unmarried.
(4) LUCINDA7 SMITH TYRRELL, born April 27, 1834,
married, lived and died in Cavendish, Vt.
(5) OSCAR' OLDEN TYRRELL, born Feb. 20, 1836,
"married, went to the Union army in the rebellion, and
died there."
(6) MELINTHA7 TAYLOR TYRRELL, born Feb. 18,
1838, married, and is living in Mount Holly, Vt.
(iii) ORISON6 TAYLOR, born Nov. 27, 1808.
(iv)  REUBEN6 BEMIS, born Nov. 2, 1811.
(v)  MELINTHA6, born Aug. 7, 1814.
(vi)  MERIAH6, born April 22, 1817.
(vii)     -, born Feb. 19, 1820.
(viii), born Jan. 8, 1823.
These six children of Joseph and Betsey (Green) Taylor, all died in infancy or early childhood.
(ix) ORA6 JAMES TAYLOR, (Joseph,5 James and Betty4
Dunster, David,3 Jona.' Henry,l) the ninth and youngest
child of Joseph and Betsey (Green) Taylor, born Aug.
5, 1825, at Ludlow, Vt., married Jan. 1, 1849, Abby
Patience? Taylor, daughter of Nathan Taylor, of Sherberne, Vt. They were not related before marriage. He




146   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDA~NTS.
15
is a farmer, and resides in Ludlow. To him the credit
of most of the history of " Betty " Dunster's descendants
belongs. Being pressed with the inquiry if he had held
official station, he replied: " I have the usual history of
a small farmer, except, perhaps, that I have been Justice
of the Peace for ten or twelve years, and am Deacon of
the Baptist Church to which I belong; but would prefer neither of these should appear." Such modesty, in
these days of official effrontery, ought not to be suppressed.  Disclaiming  any discourtesy, in printers'
phrase, "It must go in."  They had two sons and
two daughters, born in Ludlow:
(1) JASON'7 DANIEL TAYLOR, born July 17, 1852.
He was drowned in the Indian Territory, June 16, 1875.
Unmarried.
(2) LIDA'7 MARIAH TAYLOR, born March 26, 1857.
(3) ARTHUR7 ORISON TAYLOR, born Oct. 28, 1858.
(4) RUBY7 ALMIRA TAYLOR, born July 12, 1860.
15. ii. MOLLY4 DUNSTER, (David,3 Jona.2 Henry,l)
called in the will "Mary Bemis, my 2nd daughter," was
baptized at Cambridge First Church, March 4, 1732-3,
and went with her father's family to Westminster, in
1742. She married, probably at W., David Bemis. He
was deacon of the Baptist Church. " She was a capable
and efficient woman, doing good, and was well beloved."
They settled in Brattleboro', Vt., on a farm. Had nine
children: 1. John. 2. Joseph. 3. Benjamin. 4. Elias.
5. Abner. 6. Levi. 7. Asa. 8. Samuel. 9. Sarah.
1. JOHN5 BEMIS was a soldier in the war of the
Revolution. He married first,     Tubbs, by whom
he had three children: Benjamin, Lucy, Nabby. His
wife died, and he married second, Jemima Whipple,
who had nine more, making twelve. He died in Dummerston, Vt.
(i) BENJAMIN 6 BEMIS, (John,5 David and Miolly4 D.)
married Rebecca Dickinson. Resided at Bath, Vt. Enlisted in the regular service, and died there. No children.
(ii)  LUCY6 BEMIIS, resided in Littleton, N. H.




THE BEMIS FAMILY.             147
15
(iii) NABBY6 BEMIS, married Joseph Hildreth. Reside in Dummerston, Vt. Two children: (1) George7
Hildreth, married Mary Clark, of Dummerston, and
reside there.  (2) Alzina7 Hildreth, married Humphery
Barrett. Have two children.
(iv) JoHN6 BEMIS, (by 2d wife,) married at Dummerston, -    Knight. Two children:
(1) ROXANNA7 BEMIS. (2) BRADLEY7 BEMIS.
(V) MELINDA6 BEMIS, married Nathan Applebee, of
Littleton, N. H.
(vi) AsA6 BEMIS, enlisted in the war of 1812, died
in the service, unmarried.
(vii) DANIELr6 BEMIS, married Melinda Goddard,
reside in Dummerston. Four children: Melinda, Anna,
Orpha, Sumner-all dead.
(viii) KATIE6 BEMIS, mar. Dr. Sewell Walker, of D.
(ix)  EMELINE 6 BEMIS, mar.      Applebee, went
to Littleton, N. H.
(x) DAVID6 BEMIS, married -   Burnham, reside
in Dummerston. Four children:
(1) ERASTUS7 BEMIS, was a physician, died in
Michigan?
(2) DANIEL7 BEMIS, was killed by the falling of a
tree, unmarried.
(3) SAMUEL7 N. BEMIS, is a physician at Dummerston, married Louisa Miller.
(4) HORACE7 BEMIS, is a lawyer in Alleghany Co.,
New York.
(xi) STEPHEN 7 and (xii) WILLIAM 7 BEMIS, both died
in Dummerston, Vt.
The date of the births of this family is not known.
They were mostly Universalists.
2. JOSEPH5 BEMIS, the second child of David and
Molly (Dunster) Bemis, enlisted into the Continental
service when between 16 and 17 years of age. Wintered
at Valley Forge with Washington's army. He stood
guard one night over a house in which General Washington was an inmate. At daybreak, the General came
14




148   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
out and said, "Pretty cold morning, isn't it, soldier?
Do you suppose a little peach brandy would hurt you?"
Mr. Bemis replied, "I think not."  The General returned to the house and sent his servant out with a flask.
At another time, while on guard, General Washington
wished to pass into camp.  He presented his gun, and
called for the countersign. General W. told him that
he could let him pass; he was one of his officers. Mr.
B. told him he must give the password first. The General then said, "You have a fine gun there, soldier."
B. replied, " Guess I can kill an Indian six or eight rods
off. Stand out there; you can tell. The General held
out his hat and showed the countersign in it, which was
obliged to be given in a whisper, or written. As he
passed, the General slapped him on the shoulder, and
said, "I wish I had a whole regiment of soldiers like
you."  He married Jemima Stoddard; was a farmer, in
Dummerston, Vt. The family are Baptists. He died
at Dummerston. Had six children:
(i) POLLY6 BEMIS, married Nathaniel Attridge, a
farmer, reside in Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., N. Y. She
died Dec. 25, 1864, aged 82 years. Had nine children:
(1)  CYNTHIA' ATTRIDGE, married Artemas Halley,
of Ellisburg. Two children: Charles8 Hally, who died
in the late war, and a daughter, who is also dead.
(2)  ANNA7 ATTRIDGE, married Elias Dickinson, died
at Ellisburg.
(3) OSCAR7 ATTRIDGE, married Relief Pratt, res.
Ellisburg, and died there. Had four children, names
unknown.
(4) LAURA7 ATTRIDGE, d. at Springfield, Mass., unm.
(5)  NATHANIEL' ATTRIDGE, mar. Pamelia Marshall.
Is a horticulturist in Wisconsin. Two children, both
dead.
(6) AMANDA7 ATTRIDGE, married Cyrus Taylor, of
Ellisburg. She died in the Insane Asylum in Adams,
Jefferson Co., N. Y. Had five children:
i. DON8 TAYLOR, was in the service in the late war,
has since gone West.




THE BEMIS FAMILY.              149
15
ii. ADELBERT8 TAYLOR, is a merchant in Adams,
Jefferson Co., N. Y.  Three daughters —have no account of them.
(7) POLLY7 ATTRIDGE, married Seth Griggs, of Ellisburg. No children.
(8) Lucy7 ATTRIDGE, married Benjamin Dickinson,
reside in Brookfield, Missouri. He was the son of Paul
Dickinson, who married Sarah Bernis. They have one
daughter, married, and lives with them.
(9) JosEPH7 ATTRIDGE, died in Dummerston, when
about nine years old. Family all Baptists.
(ii) CYNTHIA6 BEMIS, second child of Joseph and
Jemima (Stoddard) Bemis, mar. in 1803, Joel Chandler.
She died Nov., 1864, aged 80. Were Baptists.  Had
three children: Elam, Maria, Jerusha.
(1) ELAM7 CHANDLER, born at Petersham, Mass.,
married first, Maria Foster, of Dummerston. She had:
i. ELIZABETH 8 CHANDLER, who mar. Martin Wiltre,
a farmer, reside at Yorkshire Corners, Cattaraugus Co.,
N. Y. Have two children: Eddie9 and Henry9 Ward
B. Wiltre. Baptists.
He married second, and had: ii. Murreys and iii. Ella8
Chandler.
(2) MARIA7 CHANDLER, married Daniel Babcock, of
Newfane, Vt. Has two children: Maynard8 Babcock,
res. Michigan. Salina8 Babcock, married Hiram Hall,'lives in Springville, Erie Co., N. Y., and has a large
family.  Mrs. Maria Babcock resides in Yorkshire, N.
Y. Baptists.
(3) JERUSHA7 CHANDLER, born in Dummerston,
Vt., Jan. 29, 1818, married June, 1846, C. M. Hadley.
Three children:
i. AMBROSE 8 W. HADLEY, married Emma Holden,
res. Yorkshire, farmer. Two children: Howard9 and
Zelna9 Holden Hadley.
ii. EDWIN8 S. HADLEY, married Elmira Smith, res.
East Ashford, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., farmer. They
have one child: Cornelius9 Hadley.




150   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
15
iii. FRANK8 C. HADLEY, married Dora Evarts, res.
East Ashford, farmers. The Hadley families are all
Methodists.
(iii) JOSEPH6 BEMIS, the third child of Joseph and
Jemima (Stoddard) Bemis, born at Dummerston, Vt.,
Aug. 5, 1786, married Dec. 3, 1807, Abigail Hadley;
farmer; res. East Ashford, N. Y. Methodists. They
had ten children:
(1) PRISCILLA' BEMIS, married George Dickinson,
farmer, res. Ellisburg, N. Y. He was a son of Sarah7
(Bemis) Dickinson, the ninth child of David and Molly
D. Bemis. Four children:
i. GEORGEs DICKINSON, is a Methodist minister
somewhere out West.
ii. EDWIN8 DICKINSON, lives at Ellisburg.
iii. JOSEPH8 DICKINSON, not living.
iv. WESLEYs   DICKINSON, res. Ellisburg. Served in
the late war.
(2) EDWIN7 BEMIS, married first, Eliza Duncan, of
Dummerston; second, Ann Crossfield; reside in East
Ashford, N. Y.; farmer. Two children:
i. CHARLES  BEMIS, married Lavonia Nemires. Had
three children. He died in the late war from sickness.
ii. JULIA8 BEMIS, married Hudson Chamberlain.
Two children. Res. West Valley, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y.
(3) EMILY7 BEMIS, born at Dummerston, married
Alander Dickinson. She died at Ellisburg, Sept., 1849.
Had six children. Nothing is known of them, except
"Ashell8 Dickinson, who served as a ranger during the
late war; went through thirty or forty engagements, and
came out without injury."
(4) LEWIS7 M. BEMIS, mar. Naomi Cushman. Three
children: i. Harriets Bemis, married, and living at
Pleasant Valley, Oclair Co., Wis. Two others dead.
(5) JESSE' H. BEMIS, born 1818, at Dummerston,
Vt., mar. Pamelia Cole. Res. E. Ashford. Methodists.
(6) MARY ANN7 BEMIS, born at Dummerston, 1824,
married John Emerson, of Ellisburg. Three children:




THE BEMIS FAMILY.             151
15
i. Annette.8 ii. Ossian.8 iii. A son,8 who died at Big
Prairie, Minnesota.
(7) ABIGAIL' BEMIS, unknown.
(8) HARRIET' BEMIS, unknown.
(9) JANE' BEMIS, born 1829, at Dummerston, Vt.,
mar. James Peabody. Res. West Valley, Cattaraugus
Co., N. Y. Three children: James,8 Frank,8 Charles.8
Family are United Brethren.
(10) SARAH 7 BEMIS, born at Dummerston, Sept.,
1834, married Dennison Wilson. She died at Spring
Brook, Erie Co.. N. Y. Two children: i. Ida8 Wilson.
ii. Clara8 Wilson.
(iv) SYBIL 6 BEMIS, (Joseph,5 David and loily 4 Dunster, David,3 Jona.2 Henry,l) born at Dummerston, Vt.,
Nov., 1789, married 1814, Ebenezer Hadley. Res. East
Ashford, N. Y. She died Feb. 17, 1864. Nine children, all born at Dummerston, Vt.:
(1) GEORGE' HADLEY, married first, Nov., 1839,
Sarah A. Wellman; second, Sallie Weast. Two children:
i. MARTHA8 A. HADLEY, mar. Jeremiah Vaughan.
Res. Iowa, about fifty miles from Omaha, Neb. Two
children: Ida9 and Alonzo9 Vaughan.
ii. SARAH8 A. HADLEY, died young.
By second wife he had:
iii.  WILLIE8 HADLEY. iv. HATTIE8 HADLEY. Res.
Yorkshire, N. Y. Farmers. Methodists.
(2) ADALINE7 L. HADLEY, died young.
(3) OSCAR7 HADLEY, born March, 1818, mar. Jan.
1, 1840, Elvira Davenport. Res. East Ashford. Three
children: Marion,8 Fred.,8 Helen8 —two latter dead.
Marion married Ebenezer Sherman, Sept., 1866. Three
children: Fred.,9 Helen,9 (son 9) Sherman.
(4) CORNELIUS' M. HADLEY, born Dec. 10, 1819,
married June, 1846, (3) Jerusha' Chandler, daughter of
ii. Cynthia6 (Bemis) Chandler. Had three children.
See page 150. Methodists.
(5) EBENEZER' BEMIS HADLEY, born Dec. 8, 1822,
married Jan. 2, 1848, Miranda Hill. Reside in East
*14




152   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
15
Ashford. Are Methodists and farmers. From him we
obtained, through Miss J. R. Wilder, this record of the
Bemis family. Have had three children, the youngest,
Luella,s only living.
(6) SELIA7 HADLEY, died young.
(7) HENRY7 HADLEY, no record.
(8) HORACE' HADLEY, born May 17, 1829, married
Oct., 1852, Sarah W. Thomas. Reside in East Ashford.
Farmer. One child: Warren  Hadley.
(9) LESTINA7 S. HADLEY, born April 5, 1832, mar.
Oct., 1852, Andrew Studley, died 1873. Res. Yorkshire, N. Y. Three children: Alice,8 Wilber,s Elmer8
Studley. Alice8 Studlev married Dec. 24, 1874, Edwin
Hammond, a cheesemaker.
(v) ASA6 BEMIS, was the fifth child of Joseph and
Jemima (Stoddard) Bemis. No account of him has
been obtained.
(vi) JOANNA6 BEMIS, the sixth child of Joseph and
Jemima (Stoddard) Bemis, born 1797, mar. Feb., 1824,
Rufus Hadley. She died at Dummerston, Jan. 4, 1840.
Methodists. Seven children, all born at Dummerston:
(1) LAURELLA' J. HADLEY, born May 9, 1825, mar.
E. M. Wiltre. One child: Nettie,8 who died Feb. 25,
1875. Res. East Ashford. Presbyterians.
(2) EDWARD7 L. HADLEY, born April 26, 1827, mar.
Harriette Clark, of Westminster.  Reside near Whitewater, Walworth Co., Wis. Farmer. No children.
(3) CHARLES7 N. HADLEY, born Nov. 2, 1830, mar.
June 21, 1857, Lorancy Wilder. Res. East Ashford.
Farmer. Four children: Agnes,8 Charles8 M., Valentine s R., Laura 8 Hadley.
(4) LAURA' A. HADLEY, born Oct. 1, 1832. Res.
Ypsilanti, Wishtenaw Co., Mich. She is a bookkeeper.
Presbyterian. Unmarried.
(5) HORACE7 W. HADLEY, born Sept. 10, 1835, mar.
Sedelia Boleyn, of Hinsdale, N. H. Res. Ypsilanti.
A druggist. Presbyterian.
(6) WARREN' J. HADLEY, born Dec. 28, 1837.
Methodist. He enlisted in the summer of 1862; was




THE BEMIS FAMILY.              153
15
taken prisoner at Gettysburg, July, 186i3; died on Belle
Island, near Richmond, Va., Jan. 10, 1864. Unm.'
(7) EVALINE' J. HADLEY, born Oct. 19, 1839, mar.
C. W. Sherman, Jan. 1, 1873.  Res. East Ashford.
Methodist.
3. BENJAMIN 5 BEMIS, was the third child of David
and Molly (Dunster) Bemis. Of him we have no knowledge, except that "he went West."
4. ELIAs5 BEMIS, (David and Mfolly' D., David,3
Jonathan,2 Henry,l) born July 15, 1767, mar. Jan. 11,
1789, Experience Hendrick. He owned the best farm
in Brattleboro. He died June 2, 1806, from exposure
after having had the measles. Her grief for his death
made her partially insane. They had six children:
(i) LEMUEL  K. BEMIS, born Oct. 22, 1790, at Dummerston, Vt., married Betsey Buck, of D. He was a
blacksmith. Died at Brattleboro, July 30, 1854. Unitarian.  Had six children:
(1) MANDANA7 BEMIS, married William  Chase, of
Brattleboro. She died, leaving three children:
i. ANNIE 8 CHASE, who married John Whiting, a
merchant, at Waterbury, Conn.
ii. ALICE8 CHASE, married Albert Boyden, hotel
keeper, Brattleboro.
iii. WILLIS8 BEMIS CHASE, who res. in Brattleboro.
(2) BETSEY' BEMIS, mar. Charles Lawrence, hotel
keeper. Two sons:
i. ALBERT8 LAWRENCE, gone to Australia.
ii. FRANK 8 LAWRENCE, is clerk in a dry goods store
at Brattleboro.
(3) MARIA' BEMIS, married Lewis Burdit, of Brattleboro. She died, leaving a daughter.
(4) CYRENE7 BEMIS, is a blacksmith, an excellent
and ingenious workman, in Brattleboro.
(5) WILLIS' BEXIIS, married Eliza Day, of Chesterfield. She died, leaving two children, a son and daughter. The sons is express agent from North Adams to




154  HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
15
Boston. The daughter at home. Willis  B. married
second, the widow of a soldier, an amiable woman. He
(Willis 7) has been for fifteen years express agent at
Brattleboro.
(6) LEMUEL7 BEMIS, the youngest child of Lemuel
K. B., went with seven other young men prospecting
years ago in California, and has not been heard of since.
Family Congregationalists.
(ii) ABNER6 BEMIS, born March 8, 1792, mar. March
5, 1818, Boliva Tracy. He died Jan. 8, 1854. Was a
Congregationalist. Had six children:
(1) JAMES7 BEIXIIS, was a nail maker. A machine
for making nails was invented by him. He married
Mary Chipman, of Shoreliam, Vt., died in Pittsburgh,
Pa., leaving a son and daughter.
(2) ANN ELIzA7 BEMIS, died young.
(3) JUNIETTE7 BEMIS, mar. a custom house officer
at Rouse Point. Have one son and four daughters.
(4) ERSKINE7 BEMIS, is a rich farmer in Norfolk,
New York.
(5) MAKENSIE  BEMIS, is a carriage maker at Saxon
River, Vt. Has two children.
(6) MARY7 BEMIS, married Alfred Wright, a merchant, in Brattleboro. He is deacon of the Congregational Church. Four children.
(iii) CLARISSA6 BEMIS, born March 28, 1794, mar.
Jonathan French, nephew of William French, the first
man killed in the Revolution. Four children:
(1) CLARISSA7 FRENCH, mar. Joel Miller, of Dummerston. They have: i. Henry8 French, who married
Hellen Dutton, of Duminerston, and lives with her
father. They are farmers.
(2) HENRY7 FRENCH, is unmarried, and lives on the
beautiful farm in Dummerston, where his father and
mother died.
(3) WARREN7 FRENCH, went to California, and died
of the cholera soon after.
(4) SARAH7 FRENCH, married John Day, of Chesterfield, N. H., died July 8, 1864. Family Congregationalists. No children.




THE BEMIS FAMILY.              155
(iv)  SALLY6 BEMIS, born March 18, 1796, married
Sept., 1820, Asa Miller, of Dummerston.  He was a carriage maker. Congregationalists. She died Feb. 14,
1870. Two children:
(1) CATHERINE   MILLER, married Orrin Slate, a
merchant.  He sold his store in Brattleboro, and went
to Winstead, Conn., to establish another.  He arrived
on Saturday; went to church three times on Sunday, and
was as well as usual when he went to his room in the
second story of the public house. He was found in the
morning tunder his window dead.  She has two daughters: Genevieve 8 Slate, who lives with her mother, and
Emily8 Slate, who married Henry Thompson, a goldsmith, of Brattleboro.  His widow, after four years'
widowhood, married April, 1876, Alfred Stevens, a Congregational minister for 35 years in Westminster West
Parish, Vt.
(2) SIDNEY' MILLER, is a first rate carriage maker.
He married first, Emily Dickinson, daughter of Asehel
Dickinson; second, a daughter of Rev. W. S. Balch, a
Universalist minister. One son,8 ten years old. Family
Unitarians.
(v) LAVINA6 BEMIS, born Aug. 16, 1798, married
Edward Whitney, hotel keeper in Keene, N. H., Jan.,
1822. She died Aug. 25, 1854. They had seven children-all Unitarians:
(1) ELIAS' WHITNEY, has been twice married, and
now lives in Boston; clerk in Martin, Bates & Son's fur
store, Elm street.
(2) ELIZABETH' WHITNEY, married George Sawyer,
a hatter, Keene, N. H.
(3)  LEMUEL7 WHITNEY, was killed in a building
blown up in Hague street, New York.
(4) CHARLEs7 WHITNEY, married Delia Safford, of
St. Albans, Vt. Reside in LaCrosse, Wis. Is in the
mercantile business.
(5) EDWARD7 WHITNEY, died at Fort Covington
years ago. He left a wife, who has since died. Had
no children.




156   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
(6) MARY7 JANE WHITNEY, married Edward Upham, merchant at Waukegan, Ill.  Has one son,8
Upham, who is about to enter college.
(7) HATTIE7 WHITNEY, married       Robinson. He
is a sealer of weights and measures in New York city.
Have no children.
(vi) ELIZA6 BEMIS, (Elias,5 David and Molly' D.,
David,3 Jona.' Henry,') born Aug. 3, 1804, mar. Dec.
19, 1822, Loran Smith, of Monkton, Vt. In 1848 removed to Illinois.  Presbyterians. From  Mrs. Smith
we had the foregoing record of 4. Elias 5 Bemis' family.
She res. in Galesburg, Ill. They have had six children,
four daughters and two sons-both sons died young.
(1) BETSEY' SMITH, married Milo D. Cooke, a lawyer, of Cornwall, Vt. They had one son,    8 Cooke.
He is a lawyer, and is in business in Galesburg with his
father. He went a three months' man to Cairo, Ill., to
guard that place; was absent six months. He is a graduate of Knox College, Galesburg. He married a lady in
Ogdensburg, N. Y., and has a daughter.8  "So you
see," adds Mrs. Smith, "that I am great-grandmother."
(2) LAURA' S-MITH, mar. Jan., 1852, Henry White,
of Dresden, Ohio, a millwright.  He was with the army
two years, building bridges and mills in Tennessee. Mr.
White has just built the first flouring mill in Galveston,
Texas, a city of 40,000 inhabitants. They reside in
Omaha, Neb., but will soon remove to Texas. They
have one son, Harold 8 White, who is a graduate of the
Business College in Omaha, and three daughters, Annie,8
Helena 8 and Bessie 8 White, who are at school at Omaha.
(3) URSULA' SMITH, married Charles Norton, a farmer, of Addison? Vt. Three children:
i.  HENRYs   TORTON, is a station agent at Duncan,
Ill., on the C. B. & Q. R. R.
ii. JENNIE8 NORTON, is a teacher in the graded
school at Galesburg.
iii.  HERRICK8 NORTON, is at school in Galesburg.
(4) MARY' SMITH, married Lothar Becker, of Henderson, Ill. They reside in Galveston, Texas. He is in




THE BEMIS FAMILY.              157
15
company with Mr. White. They are doing a large business in a flouring mill. He was four years with the
army; stationed at Clarkesville, Tenn.; was Lieutenant
of artillery. His wife, with her children, was with him
two years. Have four children:
i. FRED.8 BECKER, is a pianist. He took the gold
medal at the Chicago College of Music.
ii. FRANK 8 BECKER, works in his father's mill.
iii. Louis,8 and iv. PAULINE 8 BECKER, are at school.
5. ABNER5 BEMIS, the fifth child of David and
Molly' (Dunster) Bemis, was a Baptist minister. He
married Katie Freeman; was settled in Halifax, Vt.
He died at that place, and willed his property to that
church. They now have the benefit of it. He was
much beloved by all. They had no children.
6. LEVI 5 BEMIS, (David and Molly 4 D.) married, and
removed into New York State. No further knowledge
of him. Mrs. Loran Smith thinks he died in Dummerston, Vt.
7. AsA5 BEMIS, the seventh child of David and
Molly4 (Dunster) Bemis, went West, but returned and
died in Dummerston. He was born in Brattleboro.
8. SAMUEL5 BEMIS, (David and Moll y 4 D.,) went
West also. Nothing further known of him.
9. SARAH 5 BEMIS, the youngest child of David and
Molly (Dunster) Bemis, married Paul Dickinson. Res.
Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., N. Y., where she died. They
had six children:
(i) ELIAS 6 DICKINSON, mar. Anna Attridge. Had
six children. " Cannot even tell their names." (E.B.H.)
(ii) GEORGE6 DICKINSON, mar. (1) Priscilla' Bemis,
daughter of Joseph and Jemima (S.) Bemis.  Four
children: George, Edwin, Joseph, Wesley. (See ante.)
(iii) BENJAMIN6 DICKINSON, was formerly a sailor;
was on a whaling vessel some years; visited every seaport
of importance in the world; spent two years in South
America; has visited Greenland and Palestine; was gone
from home seventeen years; is now a farmer; resides in
Brookfield, Missouri. He mar. Lucy Attridge, daugh



158  HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
16
ter of Nath. and Polly (Bemis) Attridge. Have one
daughter, married, and lives at Brookfield.
(iv) ASA6 DICKINSON, d. young, at Dummerston,Vt.
(v)  ALCANDER6 DICKINSON, resides in Bellville, is a
merchant. He married Emily' Bemis, daughter of Jos.
and Abigail (Hadlev) Bemis. (See ante.)
(vi) SALLY6 DICKINSON, mar. Barney Poole. She
became insane, was sent to the almshouse.  She was
drowned in Black River, whether accidental or otherwise was never known. Five children:
(1) ASA7. (2) LIONEL7. (3) ELIZA7. (4)-(5) Names
unknown.  "I think there are none living." (E. B. H.)
16. iii. HUBBARD4 DUNSTER, (David,3 Jonathan,2
Henry,l) the third child of David and Mary (Russel)
Dunster, was born in Cambridge (Menotomy), probably
in 1735. Ite inherited two-thirds of his father's real
estate at the decease of his mother. He bought of Mary
Dunster (probably his mother), for ~10, "a tract of upland and meadow in the easterly part of Westminster,
and is part of the original house lot No. 76, and it begins
at a stake and stones at the corner of Henry' Cartrite'
Dunster's land, containing about thirty acres." This
deed was given May 13, 1772, but was not recorded till
Aug. 26, 1805. He also bought, Aug. 26, 1781, of John
Bailey, of Sterling, and Dudley Bailey, of Westminster,
for A25, one-half of a tract of land in the southeasterly
part of Westminster, containing eighteen acres. This
deed was not recorded till Sept. 14, 1805. "He was
pressed into the army, but refused to go. He concealed
himself at the house of a man named Lyon, and when
inquiry was made for him, the reply was, that if he was
not in the lion's den, they did not know where he was."
(Mrs. Estabrook.) He married Aug. 31, 1769, published Aug. 2, Ruth Bailey, probably a sister of John and
Dudley, of whom he purchased the half tract of land.
They were married by Rev. A. Rice. In the record at
Westminster, her name is "Ruth Baley."  She died
March 19, 1788. He died       —, intestate. The
estate was appraised at $692.07. The inventory was




HUBBARD 5 DUNSTER.              159
16
sworn to Oct. 15. 1805, by Hubbard Dunster, his son,
who was administrator. They had six children:
1. EPHRAIM DUNSTER, born April 18, 1770.
2. HUBBARD DUNSTER, born Oct. 4, 1772 or 3.
3. REBECKAH DUNSTER, born April 3, 1775.
4. JASON DUNSTER, born April 3, 1778.
5. NATHAN DUNSTER, born May 23, 1780.
6. JONATHAN D UNSTER, b. Sept. 19, 1784, d. young.
1. EPHRAIA 5 D)UNSTER, (Hubbard,4 David,3 Jona.,2
Henry,') the first child of Hubbard and Ruth (Bailey)
Dunster, was born at Westminster, April 18, 1770. It
is believed he married and had children. He appears to
have been unsuccessful in the race for riches, and applied to public beneficence, and was provided for. He
was living in Westminster in Aug., 1857.
2. HUBBARD5 DUNSTER, (Hubbard,4 David,3 Jona.,'
Henry,') the second child of Hubbard and Ruth (Bailey)
Dunster, born at Westminster, Oct. 4, 1772, married at
Gardner, May 1, 1797, " Becca " Kendall, of that place,
born Aug. 1, 1774. They were published April 11,
1797.  He went to Gardner as early as 1796, the year
before Ihis marriage. Here he purchased, in 1801, of
Sally and Jonas Eaton, about fifty acres of land, for
which he paid $132. A part of this land lay on "Otter
River."  The turnpike divided the estate; Sally's part
being on the south and Jonas' part on the north side.
It was their portion of their father's (Ebenezer Eaton)
estate. In these deeds he is called a cooper. He was
also a box maker, and tradition says he was a drummer.
At Gardner he accumulated a handsome property, and
occupied a fair position among the wealthy people of
that town. Adversity came.  He lost the whole or a
great part of his careful earnings, which appear to have
gone into the hands of Josiah Howe, of Templeton.
Giving up to despondency, he died at Gardner, Dec. 3,
1818. His widow did the most she could for the children. She died at Melrose, Mass., Aug., 1839. They
left eight children.
The other children of Hubbard and Ruth (Bailey)
Dunster were:
15




160   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
16
3. REBECKAH5 DUNSTER, born April 3, 1775.  We
have no authentic account of her. Among the Dunster
papers we find a manuscript of about seventy pages,writtenl very closely, and in a hand somewhat resembling
President Dunster's.  The first part is gone.  It is a
catechism, with Calvin's views fully stated. The date
of the MS. is not in it, but the use of v for it, and the
peculiarity of the J, indicate a great age. It has the
signature "Richard Harrison," in ink and letters like
the MS. It has also "David Dunster," in a later hand.
In Aug., 1857, this MS. was -given to Edward S. Dunster by "an old lady in Westminster, Mass., whose
maiden name was'Dunster,' as being an old family
r.elic." The tradition of it is not remembered, and we
can refer to Rebeckah' Dunster only. as answering his
description.
4. JAsoN' DUNSTER, born April 3, 1778.  Of him
nothing further is now known.
5. NATHAN5 DUNSTER, (Hubbard,4 David,3 Jona.,2
Henry,') born May 23, 1780, was published July 7, mar.
July 22, 1810, to Hannah Darby, of Fitchburg.  He
died Aug. 18, 1850. (Westminlster Records.) Further
search of the records in Westminster ought to be made
for these families.
6. JONATHAN' DUNSTER, born Sept. 19, 1784, died
when five or six years old.  (lMrs. Estabrook.)
These four children of Hubbard' Dunster are interpolated for convenient reference before the eight children of Hubbard5 and Becca (Kendall) Dunster, who
were:
i.  MARTIN6 DUNSTER, born Jan. 3, 1798.
ii. PRUDA6 DUNSTER, born Jan. 23, 1800.
iii. REBECCA6 DUNSTER, born Feb. 11, 1802.
iv. LOUISA6 DUNSTER, born Feb. 18, 1805.
v.  ASAPH 6 DUNSTER, born July 6, 1807.
vi. MARY6 JANE DUNSTER, born Nov. 12, 1809.
vii. LYDIA6 DUNSTER, born Jan. 24, 1816.
viii. DAPHENY6 LELAND DUNSTER, b. July 18, 1818.
i.  MARTIN 6 DUNSTER, (Hubbard,5 Hubbard,' David,'
JonathaLIb,' Henry,'l)was born in Gardner, Jan. 3, 1798.




MARTIN6 DUNSTER.               161
16
He lived in Gardner,was a physician, and practiced medicine there. He received his medical diploma from the
Electic Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, but at what
date is not ascertained. He bought for $750, Nov. 14,
1821, of Joseph Howe, the estate his father formerly lived
on, and owned other land in the westerly part of Gardner.
He was a prominent citizen, having filled many town
offices. In 1837 he represented the town of Gardner in
the General Court.  He married Feb. 13, 1823, Sarah
Nichols, born Sept. 14, 1800, at Westminster. She died
July 2, 1845, leaving no heirs. After the death of his
wife he went to Boston, and was in a drug store for a
few years.  "In 1850 (his second wife says) he went to
Rochester, Vt., to Asa Whitney's. His mother was sister to my husband's first wife, and Asa Whitney's wife is
my sister, and that is where I became acquainted with
him. We were married in Rochester, Vt., June 9, 1852.
Our union was a happy one."
Emma C. Chamberlain, Martin Dunster's second wife,
was born in Bethel, Vt., Feb. 5, 1820. In 1853 they removed to Quincy, Ill., where he practiced medicine until his death, Dec. 2, 1854, leaving no children by either
wife.  From other sources we learn that he was an
"affectionate husband, and a highly respected citizen,
was a man of sterling integrity, very influential, for
many years a zealous member of the School Committee
in Gardner, and represented the town in the State Legislature for several years."  "He was liberal in religious
sentiments. His religion consisted in dealing justly,
loving mercy, and walking humbly before God. This
he lived up to." After his death his widow, Emma
(Chamberlain) Dunster, married Stephen G. Tyler, of
Quincy, his second wife.  Mr. Tyler was the same who
married Mary6 Jane, sister of Martin Dunster. She has
since deceased, and was buried at Quincy.
ii. PRUDA6 DUNSTER, born Jan. 23, 1800, at Gardner,
married, 1818, Isaac Fitts, Jr.  In a Bible belonging to Mr. Withington, of Mason, N. H., who married
a Miss Fitts, is this record:  "Isaac Fitts, Jr., and
Prudy Dunster married 1818, by Rev. Mr. Osgood."
Mr. S. Osgood was minister at Springfield, Mlass. Mr.




162   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
16
W. says that the Fitts who married Prudy Dunster went
"West" several years ago. She died at Rochester, Vt.,
or N. Y.? about 1830. Had no children.
iii. REBECCA6 DUNSTER, born Feb. 11, 1802, mar.
March 4? 1827, Gilman Robbins, of Leominster, Mass.
He is still living, a farmer and gardener, in Leominster.
She died June 24 or 26, 1854, at Melrose, Mass., and
was buried at the new cemetery in Leominster.  They
had six children:
1. GEORGE7 ROBBINS, (Gilman and Rebecca6 D.,
Hfubbard,5 Hubbard,4 David,3 Jonathan,,2 Henry,l) born
Dec. 5, 1827, in Leominster, is a tin and sheet iron
worker, and dealer in stoves. Resides in Fitchburg,
Mass. He married Charlotte M. Dennis, daughter of
Thomas and Ruth - Dennis, a farmer, of Barre, Mass.
They have three children:
(i)  CHARLES8 ROBBINS, born Nov. 19, 1859, died
Jan. 28, 1860.
(ii)  HENRY8 DENNIS ROBBINS, born Nov. 3, 1864.
(iii) FREDDIE8 ROBBINS, born Jan. 11, 1869, died
Sept. 4, same year.
2. CHARLES7 ROBBINS, born May 9, 1830, at Leominster, by trade is a mason. He mar. May 22, 1851,
Angeline Kinsman Wilson, daughter of John Bucknam
and Mary Goodwin Wilson, both of Bedford, Mass. He
is a mason by trade also. They have two children:
(i) JOSEPH8 ROBBINS, born May 20, 1856.
(ii) CARRIE8 LOUISA ROBBINS, born Jan. 23, 1859.
3. SARAH7 BROWN ROBBINS, born June 8, 1833, at
Leominster, was named for her uncle Asaph Dunster's
wife. She resided some years in Boston. She was mar.
Oct. 5, 1875, to Martin Hatch, son of Isaac and Lavina
(Allen) Hatch, of Pembroke. He had been engaged in
manufacturing for considerable time, but has now retired
to a farm in East Pembroke, Mass. We are much indebted to Mrs. hIatch for memo. of her father's family
and their descendants.
4. JOSEPH   ROBBINS, (Gilman and Rebecca6 D.,
Hubbard,5 Hubbard,4 David,3 Jonathan,2 Henry,') the




JOSEPH7 ROBBINS.                163
16
fourth child of Gilman and Rebecca (Dunster) Robbins,
was born Sept. 12, 1834, at Leominster. He graduated
at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and in
1858 settled at Quincy, Illinois, where he has an extensive practice. He is President of the Adams County
Medical Society, and also President of the Medical
Pathological Society in Quincy, and a member of the
American Medical Society.  Is a prominent politician
in that city, and much engaged in public enterprises;
takes very high rank in Masonic institutions, and is 2ct
officer of the Illinois Grand Lodge. He married at Melrose, Mass., June 4, 1863, Louisa Amelia, daughter of
Henry A. and Elizabeth (Temple) Norris, of Melrose.
In religious views an Unitarian.  Have no children.
5. CAROLINE7 AUGUSTA ROBBINS, born Feb. 16,
1840, at Leominster, married at Fitchburg, Dec. 29,
1863, Reuben Dow, of Nantucket, Mass.  He is a tin
plate worker, and trader in stoves and such materials.
They reside in Fitchburg.  Have two children:
(i)  WALTER8 GILMAN Dow, born Dec. 30, 1869.
(ii) CHARLOTTE8 REBECCA Dow, born April 4, 1873.
6. JEROME7 AUGUSTINE ROBBINS, born Nov. 13,
1844, is a baker by trade, and resides in Charlestown,
Mass., unmarried.
iv.  LOUISA6 DUNSTER, the fourth child of Hubbard
and Becca (Kendall) Dunster, was born at Gardner, Feb.
18, 1805.  She died there, 1875, unmarried.
v. ASAPH 6 DUNSTER, (Hubbard,5 Hubbard,4 David,:
Jona.,2 Henrty,') the fifth child of Hubbard and Becca
(Kendall) Dunster, was born July 6, 1807.  At tile time
of his father's death he was eleven years old.  The family had been kept together until that time; but the loss
of property and his untimely end appear to have broken
it up.  The family struggled on as best they could.  He
learned the trade of a mason, and a trace of him is found
in Acton and Malden, Mass., and soon after at Boston.
In 1837 his name is found in the Boston Directory as a
mason living at 604 Washington street.  This was three
years after his marriage, and two years after the birth of
*15




164  HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
16
their first child. Where he was in the interim is uncertain, possibly at Hingharn, the residence of his fatherin-law. From Boston he went to Quincy, Ill., where he
carried on his business till 1863 or 4, when he removed
to Chicago. He married at Hingham, Mass., Jan. 2,
1834, Sarah Brown Stoddard, daughter of Marshall and
Anna Stoddard. She, Anna, was born June 20, 1781,
and died June 20, 1842. Sarah Brown (Stoddard), wife
of Asaph Dunster, died Dec. 22, 1870, aged 63, having
been born July 13, 1807, at Hingham.  He died in
Chicago, Sept. 1, 1867. They had six children:
1. LYDIA7 ANN DUNSTER, born at, March 30,
1835. She married Dec. 4, 1867, Ambrose Kinley.
They live in Mendota, Illinois. Have had two children:
(i) SARAH8 ANN KINLEY, born Nov. 30, 1868. She
died March 14, 1869.
(ii) MAY8 CORETTA KINLEY, born Feb. 15, 1870.
2.  SARAH' CAROLINE DUNSTER, b. Sept. 12, 1836,
at Gardner? mar. April 28, 1859, Warren M. Brown, of
Quincy, Ill. They went to Chicago in 1861; thence to
Aurora, Ill., two years; thence to Chicago again; thence
to St. Louis; thence back to Chicago again. At these
places he had followed his trade-painting. He is now,
1872, President of the Metalic Roofing Co., Chicago,
and lives at 519 Hubbard street. They are both Universalists in religious belief. Have had four children:
(i) ELMER8 WARREN BROWN, born May 26, 1861,
died Feb. 22, 1870.
(ii) EMMA8 CARRIE BROWN, born Aug. 4, 1863.
(iii) FREEMAN8 EDWIN BROWN, born Sept. 20, 1865.
(iv) SARAH8 GRACIE BROWN, born May 28, 1869.
3.  REBECKAH7 HENRIETTA  DUNSTER, (Asaph,6)
was born Aug. 4, 1838, at Gardner. She married James
Elmore Coe, at Quincy, Oct. 6, 1861. He is a painter,
and worked in Quincy, Aurora, and 1863 in Chicago, at
that business. In 1872 he had billiard rooms and saloon
at his residence, No. 809 West Madison street, Chicago.
They are Universalists. Have had five children:




LUCY7 FRANCES DUNSTER.             165
16
(i) CHARLIE8 C(OE, born April 20, 1863, died Aug.
22, same year.
(ii) WILLIE 8 EARNEST COE, born May 20, 1864, died
Nov. 23, 1866.
(iii) MARY 8 JANE COE, born Dec. 29, 1866.
(iv) LUCY8 FRANCIS COE, born Oct. 21, 1868.
(v)  EDGAR s ANDREW COE, born Jan. 21, 1872.
4. BENJAMIN 7 CURTIS DUNSTER, born April 6, 1842,
died Aug. 19, same year.
5. Infant,' daughter, b. Sept. 20, 1843, d. next day.
6. LUCy7 FRANCES DUNSTER, born in Malden or
Melrose, Dec. 16, 1847. When her father removed to
Quincy she accompanied them, where she attended the
splendid public schools of that city, and was an accomplished scholar of amiable deportment. A young lady
from Providence, R. I., taught in Quincy, and Lucy was
her pupil. This young lady was an intimate friend of
ours, and mentioned that a Lucy Dunster lived in Quincy
and attended her school. This gave us a clue. Being
in Quincy in 1872, and having a spare day, we spent it
in trying to hunt up the family to which she belonged.
We applied to the directory, public records, school departments, an ex-Governor of the State, who had always
lived in Quincy, but no trace of a Dunster was to be
found. Being about to give up the search and abandon
our efforts, we met an elderly lady of whom we inquired
if she had known any such people. She replied that she
had; but they were all gone from Quincy. She added
that Dr. Robbins' mother was a relation of them, and
referred to him. We found him, and he contributed
much information of Hubbard Dunster's family.
Lucy Frances Dunster died in Chicago, Oct. 27, 1865,
unmarried.
vi. MARY6 JANE DUNSTER, the sixth child of Hubbard5 and Becca Dunster, was born in Gardner, Nov.
12, 1809, married Stephen G. Tyler, of Shirley, Mass.
They moved to Quincy, Illinois, about 1830. She died
about 1855. He married second, Emma C. Dunster,
the widow of Dr. Martin Dunster. She died at Quincy,
and was buried there. He is still living at Quincy.




166   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
16
Stephen G. and Mary Jane (Dunster) Tyler had two
children:
1. MARY7 JANE TYLER, born —, married,
Edward WVeisenberger, of Quincy. He died about 1860,
and she has married second,     Blakeslee.  She had
by first husband:
(i) A son,8 born.., at Quincy.  He was drowned
at Quincy, after his mother was widowed.
2. ADALINE7 TYLER, born, married Samuel
Dodd, a machinist, at Quincy. In 1861 or 2, they removed to Denver, Colorado, where they still reside.
They have: (i) ADALINE8 HUBBARD DODD.
vii. LYDIA6 DUNSTER, (Hubbard,5 Hubbard,4) born
in Gardner, Jan. 24, 1816, married Sept., 1838, Joel
Nichols, of Westminster. He was a nephew of Dr. Martin Dunster's first wife, Sarah Nichols. He is living in
Gardner, and is a chair maker. She died April 3, 1863;
buried at Gardner. They have three children:
1. ELIZA7 ANN NICHOLS, born at Gardner, Sept. 26,
1842, married Aug. 8, 1862, Joseph Heywood, a chair
maker. She died Aug. 20, 1867; buried at Gardner.
Had no children.
2. FRANK` EDMUND NICHOLS, (Joel6 and Lydia D.)
born April 26, 1848, at Gardner, is a chair maker. He
married Oct. 10, 1870, Ada L. Sargent, of Brattleboro,
Vt., daughter of Willard and Lavina Sargent.  They
have one child:
(i) BERTHA8 NICHOLS, born March 1, 1875.
3.  EMMA7 PARSON NICHOLS, born at Gardner, Aug.
28, 1850, married Oct. 11, 1872, James E. Newton, of
Phillipston, Mass., a chair maker, resides in Gardner.
He is the son of Ira and Elizabeth Newton.
viii. DAPHENY 6 LELAND DUNSTER, was the youngest child of Hubbard and Becca Dunster. She was born
in Gardner, July 18, 1818, married Sept. 19, 1849, John
Parson, M. D., of Quincy, Ill.  They removed to Denver City, Colorado, several years since. Three children
(history traditional):




THOMAS4 DUNSTER.               167
1.  WARREN7 PARSON, born at Quincy, married.
2. CHARLES7 PARSON, b., d. young, at Colorado..
3. HELLEN 7 MINNIE PARSON, born, 1862, living at Denver, Colorado, 1872, unmarried.
17. iv. THOMAS4 DUNSTER, (David,3 Jonathan,2
Henry,') the fourth child and second son of David and
Molly (Russell) Dunster, born at West Cambridge, now
Arlington, was baptized May 8, 1737, at Medford. With
the rest of the family he went to Westminster in 1742.
Unlike his brother, he went into the army in the French
war, and was taken prisoner in the disastrous campaign
against Canada, then a French province. From the
memory of Mrs. Estabrook it is related that he was held
a prisoner at Rutland, Mass., ("this State.") This is;
improbable. No account of prisoners of war at that
date and place have been found; but in 1777 there were
prisoners of Burgoyne's army held there.  The "Rutland" was probably Vermont. That will reconcile all
the events known of his army life. Here, he was taken
sick of the " camp disorder,"-horrors of too recent date
to need description,-was visited by his father, who, as
we have seen, fell a victim to the disease while on a
mission of affection and kindness to his sick son. He
returned to Westminster, and inherited one-third of his:
father's real estate, as provided in the will. Being a
younger son, the custom of the times and the law re —
quired that his brother should have a double portion. No records of his transactions of a business
kind have been found. He appears to have led a quiet
life. There is a tradition that he was called a " Pigeon.
Catcher." He married Feb., 1768, Lidia Pierce, of'
Fitchburg.  He died July 18, 1819. She died March
22, 1832. In the record of her death she is called;
"Mrs. Lydia Dunster." They had seven children:
i.  DAVID DUNSTER, born March 14, 1770.
ii. KEZIAH DUNSTER, born April 8, 1772.
iii. ANNA DUNSTER, born Aug. 3, 1775.
iv. THOMAS DUNSTER, born Aug. 13, 1780.
v. LYDIA DUNSTER, born July 19, 1784.
vi. PRECILLA DUNSTER, born March 4, 1787.
vii. HENRY DUNSTER, born May 21, 1792.




168   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
i. DAVID 5 DUNSTER, born March 14, 1770, married
Nov. 24, published Nov. 10, 1798, Lucy Mundon, of
Hubbardston. He died at Westminster, July 10, 1839,
(Family Record,) July 24, 1840, ( Westminster Record).
They had two children:
1. Lucy 6 DUNSTER, mar. -   Root, of Hubbardston.
2. HANNAH6 DUNSTER, mar. -  Parker, of H.
David married again, but had no children by his
second wife.
ii. KEZIAH5 DUNSTER, the second child of Thomas
and Lydia (Pierce) Dunster, was born in Westminster,
April 8, 1872, married Daniel Montjoy, of Westminster.
He was the "Montjoy" mentioned in the History of
Westminster.  "In 1738 Philip Beamis, of Cambridge,
moved to the township; was the third family of six or
seven persons. Among them was an infant by the name
of Daniel Montjoy, who died in 1835, in the hundredth
year of his age. He was our father. He was in the
army, under Washington, but never received any pension.
The children were all kind to him. He is buried in
Westminster."  (Myles Wood's Letter.) She died in the
winter of 1838. They had seven children:
1. CHARLOTTE6 MONTJOY, born at Westminster, July
19, 1799.  She married first, Nov. 27, 1819, Asher
Brown Cutler. He died May 22, 1828. They had two
children:
(i) EDMUND7 WINSLOW CUTLER, born May 2, 1821,
married April 7, 1842, Hannah C. P. Higgins, of Dedham, Mass. He died April 27, 1873; interred at Northboro. They had two children:
(1) CHARLOTTE8 E. CUTLER, born at Sterling, Mass.,
Feb. 7, 1843, not married.
(2) JAMES8 E. CUTLER, born at Fitchburg, May 14,
1850, married May 14, 1872, Mrs. Mary J. Austin.
(ii) SILAS7 ALONZO CUTLER, born at Sterling, Dec.
6, 1823, married May 19, 1844, Maria Hale, of Northboro. Had one child:




THE MONTJOY FAMILY.              169
(1)  MARYs J. CUTLER, born March 20, 1849.  She
died April 6, 1854. "A pretty girl; she lives in Heaven,
where I hope we may all find our home when God, our
Heavenly Father, has done with us in these homes we
now enjoy so much."  (Myies Wood.)
Charlotte6 Montjoy, after the death of Mr. Cutler,
married April 11, 1839, Nathan Burfee, of Sterling.
"He dropped down in the door-yard and expired, Sept.
13, 1856." She now, 1875, lives with Myles Wood,
Northboro, having been twice widowed.
2. LUCINDA6 MONTJOY, the second child of Daniel
and Keziah (Dunster) Montjoy, was born at Westminster,
Dec. 1, 1801. She married Lafayette Willard, son of
Joshua Willard, of Sterling.  They had:
(i)  MARTHA' WILLARD, born -, married Barney
Pratt, of Fitchburg, reside there. They have one boy:
(1) - 8 Pratt, born about 1867.
3.  BENJAMIN6 MONTJOY, the third child of Daniel
and Keziah (Dunster) Montjoy, was born in Westminster, June 26, 1804, mar. May 9, 1826, at Westminster,
Dolly Perry, daughter of Joseph and Betsey (Pierce)
Perry, who lived on a tract of land formerly called " No
Town," now Fitchburg.  " Same religious views as my
ancestor; that is, the teaching of God's word as I understand it." They had nine children:
(i) EDfWIN' MONTJOY, born Sept. 17, 1827, at Westminster, married M arch, 1856, Louisa Kelly, daughter
of Daniel Kelly.  Resides in Fitchburg.  They have
one daughter:
(1) HENRIETTA8 MONTJOY, born April 13, 1857.
(ii) FRANCIS7 MONTJOY, the second child of Benjamin and Dolly (P.) Montjoy, was born Nov. 13, 1832,
married     Poole, of —, New York State.  He enlisted in Co. D., 10th Regiment of Infantry, and was
killed at North Anna? River, June 17, 1864.
(iii) CALVIN7 MONTJOY, born at Westminster, Oct.
25, 1835, unmarried.
(iv) SARAH' MONTJOY, born at Westminster, June
25, 1838, unmarried.




170   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
17
(v) DANIEL' PORTER MONTJOY, born March 19,
1842, married June 10, 186S, Melissa Newhall, daughter of Augustus Newhall. Resides in Fitchburg. Have.one child: (1)  CHARLOTTE8 MOINTJOY.
(vi) HARRIET7 E. MONTJOY, born Nov. 20, 1845, in
Westminster, married Jan. 2, 1871, Samuel J. Jewett,
son of Zenas and Claramond (Myrick) Jewett, of Princeton, Mass.; reside there; is a farmer. No children.
In addition to these six children, Benjamin and Dolly
Montjoy had three whose births, names and deaths are
not obtained-they all died young.
4. ELIZA6 MONTJOY, born Aug. 9, 1806, now lives
with her sister, Melinda, unmarried.
5. MELINDA6 MONTJOY, (Daniel and Keziah5 D.,
Thomnas,4 David,3 Jona.2 Henry,') born at Westminster,
Feb. 26, 1809, mar. at W., Dec. 25, 1828, Myles Wood,
born May 11, 1807, son of Robert and Ester Wood, of
Saddleworth, Yorkshire, England. He came to Boston,
Aug. 12, 1824; worked in cotton mills for thirty years.
JHe writes: "When I look back and see the changes in
-manufacturing, it seems as if I ought to be more than:a century old. I know the times when there was not a
power loom, speeder or picker, in England. I have seen,girls winding roping with a spinning-wheel. I tended
the first speeder that came to Ashton,  PI   It was
built at Bolton, near Manchester, Eng." For the last
twenty five years he has lived on a farm in Northboro.
His wife's sisters, Charlotte and Eliza, live with him.
They have had seven children:
(i)  MARY7 MELINDA WOOD, born at Philipston,
Mass., Sept. 26, 1829, married Benjamin Hopkins.
Reside at Newton Upper Falls.  He is a mechanic,
and owns a house near the Railroad Station.  They
have two children:
(1) JOSIE8 MAY HOPKINS, born at Ashland, Oct. 14,
1858.
(2) JAMES  FREDERIC HOPKINS, born at Newton
Upper Falls, Feb. 26, 1868.




THE WOOD FAMILY.               171
(ii) JOHN7 MYLES WOOD, born in Westminster, Sept.
27,1831, mar. April 23, 1857, Listina Plympton,of Craftsbury, Vt. They had: ELLA8 AUGUSTA WOOD, b. Feb. 2,
1861. She died Aug. 16, same year. His wife, Listina,
died Sept. 26, 1861, at Milford, aged 26 years. He mar.
second, Aug. 23, 1865, Mary Johnson, of Clinton, Mass.,
the sister of Joseph P. Johnson, who was mortally
wounded at Antietam. No children by last wife. They
reside at Milford, Mass. He is a cabinet-maker, but for
the last sixteen or eighteen years has worked at burial
caskets, &c.
(iii) GEORGE7 BLODGET WOOD, born at Northboro,
May 6, 1833, married May 6, 1857, Mary S. Warren, of
Northboro, resides near his father.  "Owns a small
farm; works at shoemaking when he can get work. He
can turn his hand at most all kinds of work, same as
many Americans can. Keeps a good cow ant a good
horse.  Has a small grove, near'Solomon's Pond,'
where they hold picnics in summer."
They have two children:
(1) HERBERT8 WARREN WOOD, born May 27, 1859.
(2) AMYs GERTRUDE WOOD, born July 7, 1867.
(iv) KEzIAH7 WOOD, daughter of Myles and Melinda
Wood, was born at Hopkinton, now Ashland, Mass.,
Oct. 17, 1838. She married May 3, 1857, Joseph P.
Johnson, of Clinton, Mass. He was son of Nathaniel
and Almira Johnson. By occupation was a comb maker.
"He served in 9th Co., 15th Mass. Vol., and was one of
those boys who swam across the Potomac, near Balls'
Bluff. He was mortally wounded at Antietam, Sept.17,
1862, was carried to Washington, where the good soldier
died in hospital, Oct. 4, same year. He was buried at
Northboro, with great military honors. He was a good
husband and loved his family much. I took his family
to my house in those dark days, and their mother went
to work in a shoe shop in Marlboro, about four miles
away. She married a second time, June 1, 1870, Charles
H. Brigham, son of Hastings and Nancy Brigham, of
Boston. He is an engineer. He had by his first wife
16




172   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
three boys. Mr. B. is a good man, and very indulgent
father. Owns a nice house, and has a salary of $1200 a
year."  (Myles Wood's Letter.)
Keziah7 IWood had by J. P. Johnson, first husband:
(1) FRANKs MYLES JOHNSON, born Oct. 24, 1858.
(2) MABEL8 NELLIE JOHNSON, born May 18, 1860.
By second husband:
(3)  ELBERT8 IRVING BRIGHAM, born July 12, 1871.
(4) RUTH8 MAY BRIGHAM, born March 28, 1874.
(v) CHARLOTTE7 WOOD, born in Ashland, Dec. 1],
1840, married at Northboro, June 19, 1873, Samuel
Townsend, his second wife. He had four children by
his first wife; was a farmer, but now engaged in the shoe
business. By Charlotte (Wood) he has had no children.
(vi) JAMES7 JACKSON WOOD, (named for James Jackson, of Ashland, formerly of Attleboro, Mass., who was
-the employer of Myles Wood for many years,) was born
fat Westminster, Nov. 11, 1844, at the farm his father
bought at that place when he left the factory business.
This farm is now owned by the town of Westminster, as
a Town Asylum.  "When I was there four years ago,
the town's poor thanked me for setting out those good
fruit trees."  (M. Wood.) He married May 31, 1870,
Hattie L. Litchfield, of Leominster, Mass. Resided in
Berlin, Mass., but now lives on his father's farm at
Northboro. One child:
(1) RALPH8 SAWYER WOOD, born Feb. 25, 1871..(vii) GERTRUDE7 ELLEN WOOD, their youngest child,
was born at Northboro, Jan. 31, 1850. She died June
25, 1865, was interred at Northboro.
6. GEORGE6 WASHINGTON, i Twins, born Oct. 17,
7. MARTHA6 WASHINGTON, 1813, in Westminster.
6i. GEORGE6 WASHINGTON MONTJOY, mar. Catherine
Merryfield, of West Boylston, Mass. They have had
seven children, whose record is very imperfect. Two
only are now living:




ANNA5. DUN STER.             173
17
(i) HENRIETTE7 MONTJOY, born in Westminster,
married Benjamin Bartlett, and resides in Boston.
(ii) HERBERT' MONTJOY, born in Fitchburg.
(?)  "CHARLES7 MONTJOY, a fine young man, was
lost in the last war-son of George W. Montjoy."
7. MARTHA6 WASHINGTON MONTJOY, the twin to
George Washington, born Oct. 17, 1813, married Elias
Blodget. Reside in South Ashburnham, Mass. No
children.
iii. ANNA5 DUNSTER, (Thomas,' David,' Jonathan,'
Henry,') born Aug. 3, 1775, (Westminster Records,)
Aug. 10, 1776, (Mrs. Bennett,) the third child of Thos.
and Lidia (Pierce) Dunster, married Aug. 10, 1803,
Aaron Beard, born May 16, 1778, at Westminster. They
settled at once at Bromly, since called Peru, Vt., where
they spent their days: They lived together sixty-nine
years and four months. She died Dec. 17, 1871, aged
95 years, 4 mo. and 7 days, (Mrs. B.) 96 years, 4 mo.
and 14 days, (West'r.) He died Nov. 22, 1873, aged
95 years and 7 months. "She was a woman of great
moral courage and excellence of mind. She was the
mother of nine children of her own and one adoptedeight daughters and one son. They were all born in
Peru, Vt. All lived to be married, and the youngest
one was thirty-five years old before there was a death in
the family. They were both members of the Congregational Church. Six of their children belong to the same
church, two belong to the Methodist, one died without
uniting with any church, but as we hoped died in the
same faith, trusting in the same Saviour." (Mrs. Bennett's Letter.) They had nine children:
i. BEATRICE6 BYARD (as now written), born Jan. 18,
1804, married Reuben Tarbell, Sept. 8, 1825. He is a
dealer in lumber. They had nine children:
1. ACHSA7 ANN TARBELL, born Jan. 23, 1826. She
married April 3, 1844, Ezekiel Cudworth, born Aug. 8,
1820, son of Ezekiel and Lydia (Lewis) Cudworth, of
Rindge, N. H. They had eight children:
(i) ELIZAs ANN CUDWORTH, born Dec. 27, 1846, died
Sept. 22, 1849, at Rindge.




174  HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
17
(ii) ELLA8 ANNETTE CUDWORTH, born Oct. 1, 1851.
(iii) CHARLIE8 MARSHALL CUDWORTH,  Twins.
(iv) CARRIE8 MARIA CUDWORTH,
Born July 28, 1854.
(v) EMMA8 TARBELL CUDWORTH, born Feb. 7, 1857.
(vi) SARAH8 ANGIE CUDWORTH, born Nov. 21, 1862,
died Jan. 17, 1865, at Rindge.
(vii) ELSIE8 ADDISON CUDWORTH, b. Oct. 23, 1865.
(viii) BEATRICE8 DAY CUDWORTH, b. Aug. 26, 1868.
2. RUSINA7 JUAN TARBELL, born Nov. 4, 1827, mar.
Sept. 24, 1851, at Bellows Falls; Vt., George Sidney
Brewer, born Nov. 18, 1828, son of Asa and Rachel
(Knight) Brewer. She died at Boston, Nov. 20, 1871.
Two children:
(i) ARTHUR8 DUANE BREWER, born April 9, 1854.
(ii) ANDREW8 SIDNEY BREWER, born April 12, 1859.
3.  Twins,' b. June 3, 1829. Both died same day.
5. AARON7 MARSHALL TARBELL, b. April 24, 1830,
died in Royalston, Mass., July 11, 1836.
6. CHARLES' DUANE TARBELL, born July 20, 1832,
mar. Nov. 18, 1856, in Marlboro, N. H., Elmira Frances
Whitney, born Jan. 18, 1836, daughter of Benjamin and
Elmira (Stimson) Whitney. Now living in Littleton,
N. H. A lumber merchant. Four children:
(i) FRANK8 LESLIE TARBELL, born March 20, 1859,
died at South Keene, N. H., Feb. 7, 1867.
(ii) MARY8 EDITH TARBELL, born March 17, 1861.
(iii) ANNE8 MABEL TARBELL, born Sept. 6, 1868.
(iv) FLORA8 ELMIRA TARBELL, born March 6, 1871.
7.  LAURA7 ATN TARBELL, born Dec. 25, 1834, died
Sept. 8, 1837, at Royalston, Mass.
8.  CALISTA7 FAY TARBELL, born May 31, 1837, mar.
at Rindge, N. H., Dec. 1, 1859, Nathan Andrew Fitch,
born Sept. 9, 1835, son of Nathan and Louisa (Burnham) Fitch. Two children:
(i) NELLA8 LOUISA FITCH, born Dec. 23, 1860.
(ii) HENRY8 WARREN FITCH, born Jan. 25, 1866.




THE BYARD FAMILY.               175
17
9.  SARAH7 MARIA TARBELL, born July 3, 1840,
married in Boston, Jan. 28, 1864, George B. Day, born
Jan. 11, 1838, son of Alvin and Anna Maria (Stebbins)
Day. One child:
(i) FLORENCE8 NATHALIE DAY, born Sept. 6, 1869.
ii.  POLLY6 BYARD, (Aaron and Anna5 (Dunster)
Beard,) born April 27, 1805, married Dec. 1, 1825, Parmason Tarbell. He was a carpenter. She died Aug.
28, 1857. They had three children-two sons and one
daughter-one son only now living:
FRANK7 N. TARBELL, born April 6, 1831, mar. Nov.
24, 1856, Mary A. Hasting, born June 14, 1838? He
is Captain of Police at Green Island, N. Y. He is the
youngest of their children. Of the others we have no
record. Four children:
(i)  CHARLES8 F. TARBELL, born Jan. 25, 1859, died
July 16, 1874.
(ii)  WALTER8 F. TARBELL, born Nov. 7, 1860, died
Jan. 14, 1861.
(iii) HERBERT8 F. TARBELL, born Dec. 12, 1864.
(iv) OLEN?8 F. TARBELL, born Dec. 31, 1867.
iii. LYDIA6 BYARD, born Feb. 18, 1807, mar. Nov.
8, 1827, Parker Wyman, a farmer.  They had ten children-three sons and seven daughters-all living, 1874.
"They are so scattered abroad that I cannot tell much
about them. They are in seven different States. Two
of the sons were in the army."  (_Mrs. Beznnett.)
After the above was written; Mrs. B. furnished memo.
of Lydia6 (Byard) Wyman's children.
1. LYDIA7 AMANDA WYMAN, born at Peru, Vt.,
Sept. 24, 1829? 1828, both dates appear. She was mar.
by Rev. Mr. Crowley, Sept. 10, 1848, to Edward A.
Weeks, of Manchester, Vt. They have three children:
(i) ALICE8 GERTRUDE WEEKS, born at Manchester,
Dec. 8, 1849. She was married at Crestline, Ohio, by
Rev. D. I. Foust, Sept. 12, 1869, to Charles Wheeler.
He died at Grand Travarse City, Michigan, Feb. 11,
*16




176   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
1872, of consumption, leaving no children.  She was
married again, by Rev. J. H. Forbes, Aug. 25, 1875, to
M. E. Gaul, of New York.
(ii) IsAAc8 WEBSTER WEEKS, born at Rutland, Vt.,
Nov. 18, 1858.
(iii) JENNIE8 ROANA WEEKS, born at Rutland, Vt.,
Dec. 19, 1864.
2. ALVIN7 W. WYMAN, born April 30, 1830. Resides
at North Adams, Mass.
3. CHARLES7 M. WYMAN, born March 24, 1832,
married April 4, 1853, Adaline T. Smith. Have seven
children, all born at Manchester, Vt.:
(i) ELLA8 A. WYMAN, born March 15, 1854. She
married Dec. 28, 1874, George Romig, in Frenchtown,
Nebraska. Have one child:
(1) MAY9 A. ROMIG, born Nov. 24, 1875.
(ii) MORRILL8 C. WYMAN, born April 27, 1856.
(iii) LEMUEL8 J. WYMAN, born June 5, 1859.
(iv) LYDIA8 A. WYMAN, born Dec. 22, 1861.
(v)  LUCINDA8 A. WYMAN, born April 3, 1865.
(vi) AARON8 DUNSTER WYMAN, born Sept. 6, 1867.
(vii) LORD)8 A. WYMAN, born March 20, 1870.
4.  ABBA7 J. WYMAN, born June 24, 1834, 1835?
(both dates appear,) mar. Jan. 8, 1855, Orlando Bourn,
born Sept. 30, 1834. Have five children:
(i) FLORA8 J. BOURN, born Feb. 5, 1856.
(ii) FRED.8 O. BOURN, born April 29, 1858.
(iii) CHARLES8 W. BOURN, born March 13, 1860, died
March 29, 1864.
(iv) THOMAS8 W. BOURN, born Aug. 25, 1862.
(v) CHARLES8 A. BOURN, born Oct. 22, 1872.
5.  JULIA7 ANN WYMAN, born Oct. 14, 1836. She
married Oct. 19, 1854, John Rising. They have seven
children:
(i) CARRIE8 RISING, born Aug. 29, 1856. She married June 14, 1874, Simeon Willey.
(ii) FRANK8 RISING, born July 16, 1859.




THE WYMAN FAMILY.               l77
(iii) AG(TIE8 RISING, born July 25, 1861.
(iv) ADDA8 RISING, born June 1, 1864.
(v) JENNIE8 RISING, born Oct. 12, 1867.
(vi) FREDDIE8 RISING, born July 20, 1870.
(vii) WALLACE8 RISING, born June 17, 1874.
6.  VERONA' A. WYMAN, born Sept. 20, 1838, mar.
May 22, 1862, Oscar F. Mattison. Reside in North
Barrington, Vt. Two children:
(i) EDMUND8 J. MATTISON, born Aug. 22, 1863.
(ii) CHARLOTTE8 C. MATTISON, born March 6, 1870.
7.  WARREN7 M. WYMAN, born Sept. 20, 1840.
8.  MARIA' L. WYMAN, born Nov. 3, 1842, married
Nov. 2, 1869,     Wells. Have two children:
(i) AURTHER8 E. WELLS, born Nov. 11, 1870.
(ii) FRANK8 A. WELLS, born June 22, 1873.
9. MARY7 R. WYMAN, born Aug. 13, 1845, married
July 30, 1863, Myron C. Raymond. He died Aug. 29,
1871, at Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, aged 31 years. lad
three children:
(i) JAINE8 C. RAYMOND, born July 30, 1864.
(ii) MARY8 A. RAYMOND, born April 8, 1868, died at
Geneva Lake, May 9, 1869.
(iii) MABEL8 L. RAYMOND, born March 7, 1871.
10. FANNY7 A. WYMAN, born March 27, 1849, mar.
June 13, 1869, Plynn A. Vanderlip.  Two children:
(i)  CARRIE8 A. VANDERLIP, born at Manchester,
Vt., Feb. 11, 1870.
(ii) MINNIE 8 E. VANDERLIP, born at Joliet, Illinois,
July 31, 1874.
iv. ANNA6 BYARD, (Aaron and Annac5 Dunster,
Thos.4 David,3 Jona.2 Henry,1) the fourth child of Aaron
and Anna (Dunster) Beard, born May 18, 1809, married
Dec. 1, 1833, Jonas Bennett, joiner and house carpenter. Reside in Manchester, Vt. Almost the whole history of Anna (Dunster) Beard's descendants was given by
Mrs. Anna (Byard) Bennett.
They have had five children:




178   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
1.  GEORGE7 WALTER BENNETT, born Feb. 6, 1835,
is a fresco painter.  He married Oct. 20, 1858, Julia F.
Reynold, of Troy, N. Y. Three children:
(i) WILLARD 8 K. BENNETT, born Jan. 24, 1864.
(ii) OTTO8 R. BENNETT, born Aug. 14, 1866.
(iii) CLAUD8 A. BENNETT, born June 30, 1869.
2.  ELECTA7 M. BENNETT, born Nov. 16, 1836, mar.
June 25, 18,55, William McFarland, of Jackson, N. Y.
Died Dec. 28, 1855.
3. WILLARD7 K. BENNETT, was born Nov. 1, 1838.
He fell in M'Clellan's retreat at Savage Station, June 29,
1862. He was First Sergeant in Co. E., 5th Regiment
Vermont Volunteers. Aged 23 years and 7 months.
4. HARRISON7 T. BENNETT, born Sept. 4, 1840, is a
house painter.  "He was in the navy one year in the
war."  He married Sept. 1, 1864, Caroline A. Crofut.
Three children:
(i) ANNA8 L. BENNETT, born Dec. 17, 1865.
(ii) WILLIAM8V W. BENNETT, born Feb. 17, 1868?
(iii) ALICE8 E. BENNETT, born July 8, 1871.
5.  NANCY7 A. BENNETT, born Aug. 9, 1842, died
June 8, 1849.
v. HEPSEY6 BYARD, born Jan. 11, 1811, married
Feb. -, 1832? Feb. 21, 1831? Charles Childs.  He is a
cooper. Reside in North Fairfield, Huron Co., Ohio.
They had eight children:
1. JAMES7 F. CHILDS, born Dec. 6, 1832, mar. July
4, 1854. He died May 4, 1863, leaving two children.
2. RoENA7 CHILDS, born Oct. 9, 1834, died July
20, 1844.
3. CALVIN  CHILDS, born Sept. 15, 1836, mar. Nov.
9, 1857. They have six children.
4. JOHN 7 CHILDS, born Oct. 10, 1838, married Dec.
24, 1860. Three children.
5. MARY7 A. CHILDS, born Oct. 25, 1841, married
April 15, 1861.
6. MARCUS7 CHILDS, born Dec. 22, 1843, mar.
Have one child.




DORCASANA6 BYARD.              179
(No record of any of Hepsey B. Childs' grand-children.)
7. ELLEN' M. CHILDS, born March 1, 1846, died
Oct. 5, 1866.
8. CYNTHIA' A. CHILDS, born June 6, 1849, died
Aug. 9, 1870.
vi. DORCASANA6 BYARD, the sixth child of Aaron
and Anna (Dunster) Beard, born Sept. 22, 1812, mar.
James Peirce, Feb. 23, 1842. He was connected with
C. A. Peirce & Co., printers and bookbinders, Banner
office, Bennington, Vt. She died Sept. 10, 1875, of
consumption. They have had three children:
I. MARIA' A. PEIRCE, born Feb. 22, 1843, died
May 22, 1865.
2. EVERETT7 W. PEIRCE, born July 9, 1845. He
was in the 5th Regt. Vermont Vols. two or three years.
3. STELLA7 C. PEIRCE, born May 22, 1854, died Aug.
29, 1855.
vii. Lucy6 B. BYARD, (Aaron and Anna5 Dunster,
Thomas,' David,3 Jonathan,2 Henry,') born April 16,
1815, mar. Oct. 27, 1835, John W. Farnum, a farmer.
They had eight children:
" Six sons, two daughters. The sons are all farmers
but one. He is a carpenter. Not one of these six sons
use tea, coffee, tobacco, or ardent spirits: good, honest,
upright men. Three are members of the Congregational
Church. ~ We almost feel proud of them. They are an
honor to the family to whom they belong." (Mrs. B.)
So say we.
1. DAVID  H. FARNUM, born Aug. 1'9, 1837, mar.
Nov. 13, 1862, Frances M. Burton. Two children:
(i) CARRIE 8 A. FARNUM, born Nov. 25, 1863.
(ii) ALBERT8 B. FARNUM, born June 7, 1870.
2.  AARoN7 B. FARNUM, born June 2, 1839. He
was killed Nov. 17, 1867, by the bursting of a millstone,
at Arlington, Vermont.
3. HENRY7 M. FARNUM, born Feb. 29, 1841, mar.
Dec. 13, 1865, Betsey Benedict. One child:
(i) FRED.8 K. FARNUM, born Aug. 4, 1868.




180   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
4.  MARION7 E. FARNUM, born March 8, 1843, mar.
Dec. 5, 1864, Edwin B. Simonds. Two children:
(i) ARTHUR8 E. SIMONDS, born Dec. 5. 1865.
(ii) Lucy 8 BELLE SIMONDS, born Dec. 22, 1867.
5. EDWIN 7 D. FARNUM, born April 29, 1845, mar.
Nov. 29, 1869, Ellen M. Smith. One child:
(i) HENRY8 A. FARNUM, born Feb. 1, 1873.
6.  LYCENNIA7 J. FAINUM, born July 2, 1847.
7.  AMANDIE7 L. FARNUM, born March 22, 1849,
married March 11, 1874, Frank T. Rand. One child:
(i) HATTIE8 L. RAND, born Dec. 12, 1874.
8.  FREDERICK7 M. FARNUM, born Oct. 6, 1857.
viii. LUCINDA6 M. BYARD, born June 18, 1818, mar.
Dexter French, a farmer, March 28, 1849. Two children:
1. JOSIAH 7 A. FRENCH, b. Jan. 24, 1850, is a farmer.
2. MARION7 L. FRENCH, born Nov. 17, 1853, mar.
Jan. 24, 1874, Myron Taylor, of Manchester, Vt.
ix. AARION  T. BYARD, born May 13, 1823, was the
youngest child and only son of Aaron and Anna (Dunster) Beard. He married Jane M. Muller, Nov. 18, 1845.
She was born July 6, 1828. He was a farmer, and lived
on the "old place" in Peru, Vt. lie took care of the
old folks, who lived to see forty-one grand-children and
sixtytwo great grand-children.  They have since increased to fifty-six grand-children, and an "unknown
quantity" of great grand-children.  "They fulfilled
their Maker's command to multiply and replenish the
earth."  (Mrs. Bennett.) He has of late years given up
farming, and devoted his whole attention to the lumber
business, of which he did considerable while farming.
They have six children:
1. ANDREW7 A. BYARD, born Feb. 28, 1847, married
Laura M. Butler. Have two daughters, names unknown.
2. FANNIE7   ANNA BYARD, born Sept. 26, 1850,
married Oct. 15? 1872, John G. Miller, of Williamsburgh, Mass. One child:
(i) FRED.8 MILLER, born Oct. 31, 1873.




THOMAS5 DUNSTER.               181
3. JOHN7 L. BYARD, born Aug. 14, 1853.
4. STELLA7 E. BYARD, born Sept. 29, 1857.
5. WILLARD7 IH. BYARD, born Nov. 2, 1861.
6. MARY7 J. BYARD, born Jan. 30, 1865.
iv. THOMA0S5 DUNSTER, (Thomas,4 David,3 Jona.,'
IHenry,') the fourth child of Thomas and Lidia (Pierce)
Dunster, born in Westminster, Aug. 13, 1780, (West.
Records,) 1772, (Family Bible,) married July 17, 1810,
Rebeccah Harrington, of Dublin, N.H., (West. Records,)
Feb. 25, 1811, (Family Bible).  She was born Feb. 25,
1790. H-e was a farmer, and lived in Windsor, Vt.
He died at Weathersfield Upper Falls, at his son's residence, March 11, 1874, aged, by West. Record, 93 years,
7 months, by Family Record, 101 years and 7 months.
She is living, 1874, at her son's. They had five children:
1. HANNAH6 DUNSTER, born April 18, 1813, mar., 1830, Joel Nason, now living at East Windsor,Vt.
2. AMos6 DUNSTER, born Nov. 1, 1816, died at Londonderry, Vt., Aug. 7, 1838.
3. ESTHER6 DUNSTER, born Sept. 10, 1820, married
1840, Joel Nichols, of Weston, Vt. They had one child:
(i) AMos7 NICHOLS, born June 11, 1842.
John Nichols died. She married second, James
Bryant, of Reading, Vt. Reside there.
4. EMILY6 DUNSTER, born Aug. 15,? married
Dec. 18, 1859, Daniel Bryant, of Weathersfield, Vt.
She died June 12, 1869 or 70? at Windsor Corners, Vt.
This record of Thomas5 Dunster's family was taken
from the " Old Family Bible," by A. B. Dunster.
5. AARON6 B. DUNSTER, (Thomas,5 Thomas,4 David,'
Jona.,2 Henry,') the fifth child of Thomas and Rebeccah
(Harrington) Dunster, born Jan. 23, 1823, married Feb.
6, 1850, Sophia Cory, daughter of Charles and Silinda
Cory, of Danby, Vt. He is a farmer. Resides at Weathersfield Upper Falls, Vt. Family Congregationalists.
They have had eight children:
(i) AMosI P. DUNSTER, born June 2, 1852, a farmer,
resides in Weathersfield, unmarried.




182   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
(ii) LYDIA7 DUNSTER, b. Nov. 5, 1853, d. in infancy.
(iii) EMILY7 DUNSTER, born April 19, 1855, living at
home.
(iv) AARON' W. DUNSTER, born Nov. 2, 1856, a
farmer, lives at Cavendish, Vt.,'unmarried.
(v) ANDRErW DUNSTER, born March 11, 1858, died
when two years old.
(Vi) ESTHER7 DUNSTER, born July 4, 1860, died
when one year old.
(vii) CHARLES7 DUNSTER, born May 2, 1862, died
when three years old.
(viii) EDWIN7 DUNSTER, born Oct. 8, 1864, lives at
home.
This family is the only one by the name of Dunster
descended from David3 Dunster, and also from Jonathan2 and Deborah (Wade) Dunster. All their other
living descendants are in the female line.
v. LYDIA' DUNSTER, (Thomas,4 David,3 Jonathan,2
Henry,l) the fifth child of Thomas and Lidia (Pierce)
Dunster, born July 19, 1784, married about 1805, John
Wood, of Boston. He enlisted in the war of 1812, and
died in the army soon after, on "Boston Island," (Fort
Independence). His wife, Lydia, died July, 1814? leaving three children:
1. JOSEPH6 6WOOD, born Jan., 1807, "married Lucy
Sawyer-first wife. He is a farmer, lives in Holden, six
miles from Worcester. Has no children."
2. PATTY6 (MARTHA) WOOD, born Aug. 10, 1808,
married April 6, 1828, Samuel Shattuck, born April 21,
1804. Had six children:
(i) ELIZA7 P. SHATTUCK, born Dec. 3, 1829, married
William P. Smith.
(ii) LEVI7 L. SHATTUCK, born Aug. 10, 1831, died
Jan. 14, 1865.
(iii) WARREN7 SHATTUCK, born July 13, 1833, mar.
first, Maria Jones, mar. second, Mary McIntire. One
child:
(1) IDA8 JANE SHATTUCK, born Nov. 6, 1864.




PRICILLA 5 DUNSTER.            183
(iv) SARAH7 JANE SHATTUCK, born Jan. 3, 1836,
died May 3, 1854.
(v) CHARLES7 W. SHATTUCK, born May 23, 1838,
married Martha Scott. One child:
(1) Lucius8 EUGENE SHATTUCK, b. Nov. 23, 1862.
(vi) WILLIAM? HENRY HARRISON SHATTUCK, born
Oct. 7, 1841.
Mrs. Martha Shattuck now lives with her two sons in
North street, Fitchburg. "Her husband died in 1860.
She was only four years old when her mother died, and
was taken away from her relatives when very young,
consequently knows but little about them."
3. NANCY6 WOOD, "the youngest child, died when
young. "
vi. PRICILLA' DUNSTER, (Thomas,4 David,3 Jona.,2
Henry,l) the sixth child of Thomas and Lidia (Pierce)
Dunster, born March 4, 1787, at Westminster, married
Sept. 6, 1810, Isaac Estabrook, born Aug. 31, 1778.
He died at Westminster, 1849. She died at Westminster (Wachusett Village), March 6, 1875, at the residence of her son, aged 88 years and 2 days. She was
the last survivor of Thomas' and Lidia (Pierce) Dunster's children. She was a woman of wonderful memory, even to the last.  "She was stricken with paralysis
in June, 1873, but recovered so as to read and sew at
times as well as common." She spent her last days with
her son, Charles6 A. Estabrook.  "She was a very industrious woman. Her husband died many years ago.
All the girls of that family (Thomas') were better workers than the men were; for if the men had done right,
the land in their possession would not all have got out
of it."  (Myles Wood's Letter.)
To Mrs. Estabrook we are indebted for the foundations of the history of David3 Dunster's descendants.
She communicated them twenty years ago to Prof. E. S.
Dunster, M. D., then a student in Harvard College.
They had seven children:
1. ISAAC6 ESTABROOK, born Feb. 11, 1811, died May
11, same year.
17




184   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
2. BETSEY6 ESTABROOR, born June 19, 1812, now
living, unmarried, at Wachusett Village, Westminster.
3. ISAAC6 ESTABROOK, born Feb. 18, 1815.  He
served three years in the Florida war; then volunteered
under Col. Harney three months; returned to Westminster; went about three months afterwards to Savannah,
Georgia, where he died, June 12, 1843. Unmarried.
4. CHARLES6 ASHER ESTABROOK, (Isaac and Pricilla5
Dunster,) born May 24, 1817, married Nov. 23, 1846,
Caroline H. Dow. He adds an s to their name. Resides
at Wachusett Village. They have had seven children:
(i) CAROLINE 7 F. ESTABROOKS, born July 14, 184,7,
died Aug. 6, 1849.
(ii) ISADORE' P. ESTABRQOKS, born May 10. 1851.
(iii) CHARLES7 F. ESTABROOKS, born Oct. 26, 1854.
(iv) AREANNA7 ESTABROOKS, born Oct. 31, 1857.
(v) ISAAC7 L. ESTABROOKS, born Feb. 7, 1860, died
April 29, 1865.
(vi) HENRY7 Dow ESTABROOKS, born Dec. 9, 1863.
(vii) CAROLINE I7 G. ESTABROOKS, born July 10, 1871,
died Sept. 9, same year.
5. SAMUEL 6 ESTABROOK, born Dec. 19, 1821, died,-; 1833.
6. Infant,6 born -, 1823.
7. SARAH6 ANN, born Sept. 13, 1827, died May 14,
1845, unmarried.
vii. HENRY5 DUNSTER, (Thomas,' David,8 Jona.,2
Henry,l) the seventh child of Thomas and Lidia (Pierce)
Dunster, born May 21, 1792, published Sept. 21, married Oct. 7, 1815, Mary Bemis, of Chesterfield, N. H.
He died in the, army, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, prior
to 1823. They had two children:
1. JASON6 DUNSTER, born Aug.? 14, 1816, in Westminster. He was a laborer. Married by Rev. C. Mason,
March 27, (published 4th and 18th), 1839, Sarah Perry.
He died Jan. 19, 1850, of consumption, aged 33 years,
8 months and 5 days. She died Sept., 1861. They had
four children:




MARGARY4 DUNSTER.              185
18
(i) SYLVESTER 7 DUNSTER, born, died when
three years old.
(ii) JASONI7 ADLDBERT    Twins, born July 12, 1844.
(iii) SARAH7 ADALADE,
(ii) JASON7 ALBERT DUNSTER, enlisted as a volunteer, at Worcester, in 1863, died July same year. Taken
sick in the army, but got home to die.
(iii) SARAH'7 ADALADE DUNSTER, married Thomas
Locke, in the fall of 1867. They live in South Saginaw,
Mich. They have one daughter: (1) CARRIE8 LOCKE.
(iv) MARY' CAROLINE DUNSTER, born Aug. 5, 1846,
married first, Nov. -, 1863, Lewis G. Chaffin. He was
killed Oct., 1864, at Pond's Iron Works, in Worcester,
whilst hoisting machinery. The chain gave way and
struck him in the temple. She had a son after her husband's death:
(1) LEWIS8 G. CHAFFIN, born Jan., 1865. He lives
in Worcester, Mass., with his mother, now Mrs. Jones.
Mary7 Caroline married second, May 12, 1867, George
W. Jones, born Jan. 4, 1848, at Norwich, Conn. He is
a carpenter.  Reside at 42 Cutler street, Worcester.
They have had four children:
(2) GERTIE8 CARRIE JONES, born Dec. 22, 1868.
(3) GEORGE8 T. JONES, born 1869, died when five
weeks old. (4) Infant.8
(5) GEORGE8 THOMAS JONES, born Aug. 22, 1875.
2.  SYLVESTER6 DUNSTER, born June 16, 1819, died
May 11, 1842. Not married.
18. v. MARGCARY4 DUNSTER, (David,s Jonathan,2
Henry,') the fifth child of David and Mary (Molly)
(Russell) Dunster, was born at West Cambridge, (Arlington), and was baptized at Cambridge Second Church,
Rev. S. Cooke, Dec. 23, 1739. Mr. Cooke wrote her
name "Magire."  She was the first child by the name
of Dunster baptized at that church, which was organized Sept. 9, 1739. Her parents removed to Westminster in 1742, where she was brought ilp. She married
June 17, 1760, Joshua Wilder. The record of her mar



186   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
18
riage in Westminster Town Records is, " Joshua Wilder
and Margary Dunster, both of Westminster,'was' joined
in marriage June 17, 1760, by Oliver Wilder, Justice
of the Peace." In their Family Bible the record is,
"Joshua Wilder and Margery, his wife, were married in
the year 1760, June the 14th." In a record furnished
by Miss Jane R. Wilder, their marriage is, "June 11th,
1760."  In her father's will, she is called "Marguary,
my third daughter." They resided in Westminster till
the spring of 1765, when they bought a farm in Brattleboro, Vt., about a mile from the village, on which they
lived and died. He was a deacon of the early church in
Brattleboro; bought and lived on the farm now occupied
by George A. and Marshall Wilder, and their sister,
Jane R. Wilder.
Joshua and Margary4 (Dunster) Wilder had twelve
children, whose births we give from the Family Bible,
adding only the generation and surname, and place of
birth:
i. SARAH 5 WILDER, "' was born unto them Saturday,
March 28, 1761," in Westminster. She died Sept. 16,
1764.
ii. MARY  E. WILDER, " was born unto them Thursday, Sept. 9, 1763." She died Sept. 19, 1764, three
days after her sister; both died in Westminster, and no
doubt were buried there.
iii. SARAH5 WILDER, "was born Friday, the 16th of
August, 1765," at Brattleboro.  She married (date not
found) Henry Willard. They lived in Dummerston,
and had eight children, the dates of whose births have
not been found. Seven of them were married, but their
record is not further known to us. Their children were:
1. SALLIE,6 married William Barnes.
2. POLLY,6    "    Isaac Cutler.
3. MARGERY,6 "    John Whipple.
4. EUNICE,6   "    Josiah Goddard.
5. OLIVE,6    "    Nat. Taft.
6. NANCY,6   "    Davis Rand.
7. LEWIS,6 was a bachelor.
8. BEN,6 married Lydia Bennet.




THE WILDER FAMILY.               187
18
Miss Jane R. Wilder, who gave this record, adds:
"These children are all dead. I have not the dates of
their deaths, neither that of Uncle and Aunt Wilder."
iv.  POLLY5 WILDER, was born Friday, the 22d day
of July, 1768, at Brattleboro. She married Luther Sargeant, and lived at Brattleboro.  They had one child,
who died young. "I have no date of its death, but can
find it on the grave stone, about a mile from us." (J.
R. Wilder.) In the Family Bible is this entry:
"ANNA SARGEANT, daughter of Luther and Polly
(Wilder) Sargeant, was born Sunday, Oct. 12, 1788,""gran-child;" and in a memo. by Miss Wilder, is added:
"Married Samuel Duncan, and died at Northfield, N.
Y., Jan. 8, 1875." This record is not very clear, and
may be found erroneous. It is believed she left descendants in Northfield,-perhaps Fay Duncan, and others,
who are referred to in a letter, but we cannot classify
them.
v. JoIN 5 WILDER, (Joshua acId Margary4 Dunster,
David,' Jonathan,' Henry,') was born Thursday, the 4th
of Oct., 1770, married Rebecca Chamberlain, of Chesterfield, N. H., in 1795. They lived in Brattleboro.
Removed to Newfane, in 1802, where she died Nov. 15,
1811. IIe removed, in 1840, to Gill, Mass., where he
died Jan. 31, 1867. They had eight children:
1. HEPSEBAHI6 WILDER, borni 1796, died 1798.
2. LYMIAN 6 WILDER, (John,5 Joshua and Maryary4
(Dunster), David,3 Jona.,' Henry,') the second child of
John and Rebecca (Chamberlain) Wilder, was born in
Brattleboro, Vt., June 28, 1798. He has favored us
with a sketch of his life, from which a few items we
deemed of interest are extracted:  "He commenced life
a poor boy. His mother died when he was thirteen
years of age. He lived with his father, on a small, stony
farm," where he continued till nineteen years of age,
working in summer, and going to school from two to
three months in the winter. He afterward taught winters till of age, in the meantime studying with a view to
a college education. About the time he was beginning
*17




188   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
18
the languages his eyesight failed, by reason of too much
study by the " old candle light." Having no means but
his own earnings, his friends dissuaded him from that
course, which they thought would be his ruin.  He
yielded to their advice, but at the same time resolved
(D. V.) that he would have as good an education, if his
life was spared, as was then given at a college, by applying himself in his spare moments closely to study. These
moments are often flung away; but not so in his case.
He felt that his day labor must be devoted to procuring
a living. He began the study of architecture, under a
Boston architect, and was soon master of the business.
His sight gradually returned, and he continued the study
of the higher mathematics until 1831, when he engaged
in building machinery at Hoosick Falls, N. Y., which
he still carries on. He still pursued Natural Science,
mineralogy, geology, paleontology, conchology, &c. In
each of these he has collected largely, so that his cabinet
numbers forty thousand specimens, mostly of his own
collection.  These he has worked out almost singlehanded. It is one of the best private cabinets in the
country. He is on the most intimate terms with the
officers and faculty of Williams College, which conferred
on him the honory degree of A. M., and belongs to the
Natural History Society at that College. He has done
all this while carrying on a large and perplexing business
without neglecting it.
He has been a member of the Legislature, and helped
through the railroad from Troy to Hoosac Tunnel, in
which he has been a director more than twenty years.
He has been connected with and at the head of many
other enterprises. He adds: "I have spent a very busy
life. Had half I was worth burned in 1860, and many
other reverses in business, but keep along with a comfortable living. I am yet in active life, but cannot endure as much as I could twenty-five years ago." He
was at this time 78 years old.
He united with the Congregational Church in Brattleboro when nineteen years old. In 1832 he removed his
church relations to Hoosick Falls Presbyterian Church,
and was soon after elected elder. He has held that office




THE WILDER FAMILY.               189
18
ever since (44 years).  "I have outlived the elders then
in office, and four others elected since. There are not a
great many clergymen in the Wilder family, but a good
many elders and deacons. There have been two or more
elders all the time since I can remember, from my grandfather down. He and my father both were deacons. I
have a brother-in-law and a cousin who are deacons."
Lyman6 Wilder is descended in the Wilder lineage
from  John,' Joshua,6 Joshua,5 Nathaniel,4 Nathaniel,3
Thomas,' Martha.' He is collecting the family history.
It is hoped he will be able to supply the deficiencies of
Marguary 4 (Dunster) Wilder's descendants which appear
in this sketch. He removed to Hoosick Falls in March,
1826. He married first, at Hoosick Falls, Jan. 15, 1829,
Virtue Ball, of that place, born Aug. 7, 1802. They
had six children:
(i)  JONATHAN7 BALL WILDER, born Dec. 6, 1829,
died June 6, 1834.
(ii) A son,  not named, born May 16, 1832, died
June 16, same year.
(iii) LYiMAN7 CHAMBERLAIN WILDER, born May 17,
1833, is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Is a
civil engineer, and at present, 1876, employed by the
State of New York, surveying and examining the canals.
He is not married.
(iv) MARTHA' LOUISA WILDER, born Sept. 2, 1835,
married March 10, 1859, Edward Clark, of Weston,
Mass. He was a farmer. They moved (from Weston?)
to Malta, Ill., from  there to Seneca, Kansas, where he
died Feb. 1, 1872, leaving three children:
(1) ELLA8 M. CLARK, born Feb. 24, 1860, died Sept.
25, same year.
(2) EDWARD8 W. CLARK, born Dec. 23, 1861.
(3) IRwIN8 M. CLARK, born Sept. 10, 1865, died
March 14, 1875.
(v) JOHN7 JAMES WILDER, born Jan. 10, 1839, was
an elder, with his father, in the Presbyterian Church at
Hoosick. On account of his health, he left there in the
fall of 1875, and resides in Nordhoff, Ventura County,
California, where he is engaged in the bee business. He




190   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
18
married Oct. 24, 1865, Marion R. Renwick, of Trenton,
N. J. They have four children:
(1) LYMAN8 RENWICK WILDER, born Nov. 4, 1866,
died Jan. 30, 1870.
(2) MARION8 LYDIA WILDER, born Sept. 5, 1869.
(3) JOHN 8 ARCHIE WILDER, born Aug. 1, 1871.
(4) CHARLES8 NEWTON WILDER, b. April 29, 1873.
(vi) PHILANDER 7 NEWTON WILDER, (Lyman,6 John,5
Joshua and Margary4 D.,) the sixth child of Lyman and
Virtue (Ball) Wilder, was born June 6, 1841.  le is a
member of the Presbyterian Church, resides at Hoosick
Falls, and is engaged with his father in the business of
manufacturing machinery.  He married Oct. 14, 1868,
Emma E. Hastings, of South Hadley, Mass.  They
have three children:
(1) MARTHA8 VIRTUE WILDER, born March 1, 1871.
(2) MARY 8 EVELINE WILUER, born July 9, 1873.
(3) EDWARD 8 LYMAN WILDER, born Nov. 3, 1875.
Virtue (Ball), wife of Lyman6 Wilder, died Feb. 18,
1850. He married second, C. Elizabeth Haswell, Jan.
29, 1851. She was born at Hoosick, May 19, 1819. By
her he has three children:
(vii) WILLARD'7 HASWELL WILDER, born Nov. 10,
1852, died July 30, 1855.
(viii) ELIZABETH'7 HARPER WILDER, born Aug. 24,
1854, died May 3, 1855.
(ix) CHARLES' TEN BROOCK WILDER, born Oct.,
1856, died March 7, 1857.
3. MARY6 WILDER, the third child of John and Rebecca (Chamberlain) Wilder, born July 16, 1800, married Franklin Cook, of Newfane, June 17, 1824. Mr.
Cook died Jan. 15, 1829!. She married second, William
Lovering, June 11, 1834. He is a farmer. They live
in Gill, Mass. Mary (W.) and Franklin Cook had two
children:
(i) MARIA' A. COOK, born Sept. 17, 1826. She
married Dec. 31, 1846, Asa Stoughton. They are farmers in Gill. Have one child:




THE WILDER FAMILY.              191
18
(1) FRANKLIN8 F. STOUGHTON, born Feb. 3, 1855.
(ii) ELIZA' C. COOK, born Aug. 4, 1828, married
July 17, 1855, Rev. R. Dexter Miller, of Dummerston.
They live in HIartland, Vt. Have had six children:
(1) MARY8 L. MILLER, born Sept. 29, 1856, died
Feb. 28, 1865.
(2) CHARLES8 M. MILLER, born May 2, 1858, died
July 21, 1874.
(3) JOHNS C. MILLER, born April 4, 1861.
(4) STELLA8 M. MILLER,  Twins, born Nov. 21,1863.
(5) ELLAs E. MILLER,
Stella died Aug. 10, 1865; Ella died April 5, 1864.
(6) FLORENCE8 BELL MILLER, born Feb. 11, 1871.
4.  ITHAMER6 C. WILDER, the fourth child of John
and Rebecca (C.) Wilder, born July 19, 1802, married
Marshia Miller, the first Thursday in Dec., 1831. Lived
in Dummerston. Had one child:
(i) ELIZA7 WILDER, born Oct. 5, 1832, married in
1852, Robert Arthur. Six children:
(1) ROBERT.8  (2) GEORGE.8  (3) JENNIE.s (4)
ERNEST.8 (5) FRANK.8 (6) ALICEsARTHUR.
Mr. Arthur died May 3, 1866.
5. JOHN6 WILDER, (John,5 Joshua and Margary'
D., David,3 Jona.,2 Henry,') born June 22, 1805, married Jan. 14, 1835, Sarah Kidder, of Wardsboro, Vt.
He died in Gill, April 26, 1861. Six children:
(i) PASCAL7 P. WILuER, born Dec. 21, 1835, died
March 6, 1837.
(ii) ABBOTT7 P. WILDER, born Jan. 13, 1838, married
July 23, 1862, Adelia Namoi? Brown. Have one child:
(1) ETHELs  MAY WILDER, born at Eau Clair, Wis.,
Jan. 24, 1875.
(iii) SARAH7 CORBIN WILDER, born Aug. 13, 1839,
died July 29, 1857.
(iv) THEODORE7 S. WILDER, born April 15, 1842,
died Dec. 6, 1846.




192   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
18
(V)  SEDGWICK7 PORTER WILDER, born May 28, 1847,
married Oct. 13, 1875, Jennie A. Watson. He is a
Congregational minister, and is now (1876) preaching
at Springfield, Mass.
(vi) ALBAONA7 K. WILDER, born April 4, 1851,
died next day.
6.  REBECCA6 WILDER, (John, 5 Joshua and Margary'
D.,) born June 22, 1807, married Hiram Newell, March
15, 1827. They lived in Townshend, Vt. In 1837 removed to Dudley, Mass. Five children:
(i)  PHILLIP7 W. NEWELL, born Dec. 12, 1827, married Aug. -, 1868, Harriet L. Perry, of Webster, Mass.
One child: (1) GEORGE8 P. NEWELL, b. July, 1869.
(ii) AMANDA7 NEWELL, born May 29, 1830, married
Aug. 1, 1855, Levi Clark. They live in Centralia, Kansas. Four children:
(1)  MARTHA8 E. CLARK.  (2) IDA8 A. CLARK, died
in infancy. (3) LILIAN8 M. CLARK, died in infancy.
(4) LILIAN8 E. CLARK.
(iii) RusSEL7 S. NEWELL, born Aug. 10, 1832, married Nov. 6, 1865, Anna Edwards. They live in Frankford, Kansas. One child:
(1) EFFIE8 F. NEWELL, born Oct. 28, 186i6.
(iv) PASCAL' J. NEWELL, born Aug. 27, 1839, married April 28, 1859, Nancy E. Tenney, of Gill. They
live in Willimanset, Mass. Have had two children:
(1) J. HIRA 8 NEWELL.  (2) EDWARD8 P. NEWELL. Both died in infancy.
(v) ELIZABETH7 NEWELL, born Sept. 25, 1845, died
March 20,- 1855.
vi. SoLoMoN5 WILDER, (Joshua and Margary4 Dunster,) the sixth child of Joshua and Margary (Dunster)
Wilder, was born Sunday, Oct. 11, 1772, at Brattleboro,
Vt. He married Sunday, Feb. 23, 1806, Levinia Miller,
daughter of Vespatian and Abigail (Church) Miller,
born March 5, 1782, in Dummerston, Vt. They lived
on the old place of their father's. He died in Brattle



THE WILDER FAMILY.              193
18
boro, March 16, 1832. She died April 9, 1868. Had
nine children: one account says ten:
1. GEORGE 6 MILLER WILDER, born Jan. 9, 1807,
died Aug. 9, 1811.
2. SUSAN6 WILDER, born Dec. 2, 1808, married in
Brattleboro, April 2i, 1845, Asahel Clapp.  She died
June 18, 1861. They had two children:
(i)  GEORGE7 HUNTINGTON CLAPP, born April 20,
1846. He is a bookseller (Cheney & Clapp), in Brattleboro Village. He married March 24, 1875, Clara A.
Town, of Marlboro, N. H.
(ii) ARTHUR7 BRAINARD CLAPiP, born Jan. 22, 1851.
3.  MARY6 WILDER, born Feb. 5, 1811, died Nov.
29, 1875, unmarried.
4. JosEPH6 WILDER, born Oct. 13, 1812, married in
Newfane, Vt., Dec. 6, 1843, Delia Ann Merrifield. Four
children:
(i) JULIA7 VIRGINIA WILDER, born Nov. 13, 1844,
died Dec. 4, 1861.
(ii) EMMA7 L-EWIs WILDER, born -, died
(iii) ELLA' LOUISA WILDER, born Nov. 30, 1854, died
Jan. 8, 1863.
(iv) JENNIE7 ELLEN WILDER, born July 4, 1863.
5.  SARAH6 WILDER, born April 2, 1815, died Sept.
30, 1818.
6. GEORGE6 ANSON WILDER, b. May 26, 1817, Unm.
7. MARSHALL 6 WILDER, born Oct. 25, 1819, unm.
8. JANE6 REBECCA  WILDER, born May 14, 1823,
lives with her two brothers, George A. and Marshall
Wilder, on the farm settled more than a hundred years
ago by their grandfather. She is unmarried. Much information of the Wilder family came from her.
9. RUSSEL6 KEYES WILDER, born April 27, 1826,
died Aug. 31, 1828.
vii. MARGERY' WILDER, born Thursday, Oct. 20,
1774, was the seventh child of Joshua and Margary
(Dunster) Wilder.  "She married David Harron, and
was living, the last I heard of her (some ten years since),




194   HENRY- DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
18
in Batavia, New York. I know of no one to refer you
to for their record." (Jane R. Wilder.) They lived formerly in Colerain. She died in Pembrook, N. Y. (L.
Wilder.)
viii. CHARISSE5 WILDER, (Joshua and  Margary 4
D)unster, David,' Jonathan,2 Henry,') the eighth child
of Joshua and Margary (Dunster) Wilder, was born Saturday, the 19th of Oct., 1776. She married Oct. 26,
1797, William Farr, Jr., of Brattleboro, a farmer.  She
died at Carthage, Ill., July 15, 1841. He died at the
same place, Dec. 7, same year. They had eleven children:
1. EUNICE 6 FARR, born at Brattleboro, May 3, 1798,
married March 5, 1822, Jacob Boyce, son of Nathan
Boyce. They lived in Fayston, Vt. He was a farmer,
and a member of the Methodist Church. They had
eight children, all born and married in Fayston:
(i)  DANIEL7 BOYCE, born -, mar.. The
family are Methodists. Had three children:
(1) EUGENE8 BOYCE. ) No further record.  There
(2) SARAH8 BOYCE.    is one child of the 9th
(3) ANNA8 BoYCE.              generation.
(ii)  MARIA' BOYCE, born -, married,
Carrol.  He is a farmer, lives in Waitsfield, Vt. The
family are Methodists. They have two children:
(1) FRFrD.8 CARROL. (2) GEORGE8 CARROL.
(iii) MARY7 BOYCE, married, James P. Boyce?
Is a farmer, lives in Fayston. Have seven children (8th
generation), and ten grand-children (9th generation).
No record of them.
(iv) SETH7 BOYCE, married Caroline Hills. Is a farmer. Resides in Fayston. No children.
(v) CARRISSA7 BoYCE, married Walter Porter.  He
is a farmer. The family are Adventists. They have
two children:
(1)  CARRIE8 PORTER. (2)  LLILIAN8 PORTER.
(vi) TARAH? 7 BOYCE, married William Chipman.
Adventists. They have three children.




THE FARR FAMILY.                195
18
(vii) HIRAM7 BOYCE, married Betsey Eaton. Is a
farmer. Six children. Family Methodists.
(viii) Guy 7 BOYCE, married Tamar Porter. No children. Episcopalians. Resides in Giles, N. Y. He enlisted in 1861, in Co. K, 44th Regt. Mass. Vols.
2.  MARGARY6 FARR, born at Dummerston.Vt., Nov.
22, 1800, married March 31, 1S22, Philo Talcott. She
died at Louisville, N. Y., 1870 or 71. Had three children-five grand-children.
3. THOMAS6 GRISWOLD WAIT FARR, born at Fayston,
Vt., Oct. 16, 1802, was the first male child born in that
town.  He married, at Waitsfield, June 7, 1840, Fanny
Hatch. Is a farmer. He furnished the record of the
Farr family.  They have one child.
4. ANNA6 FARR, born Jan. 19, 1805, married May
1, 1824, Peter Drew, a farmer. Universalists. Have
had four children:
(i)  HANNAH7 DREW, married David Belding.  Has
two children:
(1) FRANK8 BELDING. (2) ANNA8 BELDING.
(ii) ANNA7'DREW, dead. (iii) Infant.7 (iv) Infant.'
5. WILLIAM6 FARR, born Feb. 12, 1807, died Nov.
21, 1809.
6.  POLLY6 FARR, born at Williston, Vt., Feb. 16,
1809, married March 30, 1828, Jonas Hobert. He is a
"natural mechanic," lives at Carthage, Ill.  Congregationalists. Have ten children: Harriet, Eliza, Caroline, Emaline, Annette, Pardon, Thomas. Three, names
unknown.
7.  MARTHA6 FARR, born Feb. 14, 1811, at Richmond, Vt., married Jan. 25, 1829, Russell Drew, a farmer. Universalists. Live in Waitsfield. Four children:
(i)  WILLIAM' S. DREW, mar. —   Has four children.
(ii) LAURIA' DREW, mar. -    Holden.  Are Congregationalists.  Had five children —two living.
(iii) ELIZA7 DREW, married      Palmer.  Universalists.  Have five children.
18




196   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
18
(iv) MARIA7 DREW, married   -  Avery.  She is
dead. Had two children.
These four families are all farmers.
8. ELECTA6 FARR, born at Williston, Vt., Jan. 11,
1813, married Feb. 14, 1836, Sidney S. Hills, of Duxbury.  IHe is a farmer. They have five children:
(i)  LEAH7 HILLS. She is dead.  (ii)  CAROLINE7
HILLS.  (iii)  ORIN7 HILLS, dead.  (iv)  ORIN7 W.
HILLS.  (v)  MASTEN7 HILLS.
9. ELIZA6 FARR, born at Williston, May 7, 1815,
died at Fayston, March 30, 1832.
10. LYDIA6'FARR, born at Williston, May 10, 1817,
married March 4, 1841, Peter Comer, of Carthage, Ill.
He is a cooper. The family are Seventh Day Adventists.
They had six children:
(i) JOSEPrH7 COMER. He is a Surveyor and Postmaster. Married. Has three children.
(ii) THOMAS7 COMER, married. Two children.
(iii) MILDRETH7 COMER, dead. (iv) WM.7 COMER.
11. JOSEPH 6 FARR, born June 27, 1820, at Hinesburgh, mar. at Waitsfield, Oct. 9, 1856, Eliza A. Thayer.
Have five children: Lewis, Albert, Marthy and Adda
(twins), Anna Farr.
ix. JOSEPH5 WILDER, the ninth child of Joshua and
Margary (Dunster) Wilder, born Wednesday, Jan. 13th
or 18th, 1779, married Alice Stoddard.  Lived in Chesterfield, N. H. He died of cholera in 1833, at Genesee
or Buffalo.
x. DAxMARIS5 WILDER, (Joshua and Margary4 D.,
David,3 Jona.,2 Henry,l) born March 10, 1781, in Brattleboro, Vt., married Dec. 7, 1797, Samuel Chamberlain,
born in Chesterfield, N. H., Aug. 22, 1773. She died
Sept. 25, 1843. He died March 3, 1852. They had
seven children, all born in Chesterfield:
1. JOSHUA6 WILDER CHAMBERLAIN, born Jan. 29,
1799, married Sept. 20, 1823, Mary Wilson, born May
17, 1807. She died May 5, 1871. Had four children:




THE CHAMBERLAIN FAMILY.            197
18
(i)  MARY7 ANN CHAMBERLAIN, born April 2, 1824.
She married Dec. 17, 1844, John Harris, born Oct. 20,
1820. She died July 23, 1863.
(ii) OLIVE7 CHAMBERLAIN, born June 13, 1826, died
July 6, 1841.
(iii) JOSHUA7 W. CHAMBERLAIN, Jr., born June 24,
1829, married March 26, 1854, Mrs. Harriet M. (Johnson) Swan, born May 4, 1822. Had four children:
(1) ANNA8 CHAMBERLAIN, born April 4, 1855.
(2)  GERTRUDE8 O. CHAMBERLAIN, born March 2,
1858, died March 4, 1862.
(3) D.8 WILDER CHAMBERLAIN, born April 19, 1860.
(4) RICHARD8 J. CHAMBERLAIN, born May 6, 1863,
died Oct. 4, 1873.
(iv) JOSIAH7 CHAMBERLAIN, born Oct. 4, 1831, married first, June 18, 1855, Ellen S. Goodrich, born Feb.
15, 1833. She had:
(1)  CHARLES8 W. CHAMBERLAIN, born April 14,
1856. She (Ellen) died Feb. 12, 1857, and he married
second, Aug. 10, 1858, Lena Bowman, born Sept. 5,
1835. She had three children:
(2) ARTHUR8 B. CHAMBERLAIN, born Jan. 18, 1860.
(3) RALPH8 W. CHAMBERLAIN, born Jan. 5, 1861.
(4) JUDITH8 M. CHAMBERLAIN, born May 20, 1865.
Josiah7 Chamberlain died Jan. 18, 1867.
2. ALrANsoN6 CHAMBERLAIN, the second child of
Samuel and Damaris (Wilder) C., born March 24, 1801,
married first, Nov. 2, 1831, Elizh A. Thompson, born
Jan. 27, 1807. She had three children:
(i) ITHAMAR-' CHAMBERLAIN, born Oct. 20, 1832,
died Sept. 17, 1855.
(ii) ASA7 T. CHAMBERLAIN, born Feb. 26, 1834, died
Jan. 26, 1852.
(iii) WILLIAM7 CHAMBERLAIN, born Oct. 29, 1837.
She (Eliza A.) died Jan. 4, 1839, and Alanson C.
married second, July 7, 1844, Abigail Pierce, born Dec.
12, 1800. She died April 29, 1858.




198   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
18
3. JOSIAH6 CHAMBERLAIN, born Oct. 26, 1803, died
June 5, 1827.
4. ALFRED6 CHAMBERLAIN, born Oct. 14, 1806, married March 20, 1834, Emily H. Farr, born April 25,
1815. Reside in Newark, Vt. Had four children:
(i)  HELEN' E. CHAMBERLAIN, born Feb. 21, 1836,
married Sept. 19, 1854, Frank A. Way, born July 7,
1834. Two children:
(1) ADA8 E. WAY, born May 18, 1859.
(2) WILLIAM8 C. WAY, born May 22, 1862.
(ii) OLIVE' A. CHAMBERLAIN, born Jan. 15, 1844,
married Sept. 16, 1869, Edward A. Turner, born March
6, 1844. Two children:
(1) MABEL8 E. TURNER, born Nov. 1, 1871.
(2) EDWIN8 O. TURNER, born May 30, 1875.
(iii) NORMAN 7 F. CHAMBERLAIN, born Dec. 12, 1846,
died Feb. 21, 1852.
(iv) EMMA' H. CHAMBERLAIN, born Feb. 26, 1851,
died Feb. 28, 1852.
5. GEORGE6 CHAMBERLAIN, (Samuel5 and Damaris
(Wilder), Joshua and Margary' (Dunster), David,3 Jona.2
Henry,') the fifth child of Samuel and Damaris (Wilder)
Chamberlain, was born May 23, 1811, married Dec. 14,
1837, Diantha Thompson, born Jan. 25, 1812. Resides
ire West Chesterfield, Vt. He furnished the facts here
recorded of Damaris (Wilder) Chamberlain's family.
No items of their history, business or profession, were
given, unless the closing sentence of this paragraph furnishes a hint of his.profession: "As to our religious
belief I will say, we all as one, believe in and worship an
unchangeable Being of Love, who punishes the sins of
all his children through love, and for the good of the
punished. We do not believe in creeds, but in one common God of Love; and when his children shall return to
goodness, all will be love and happiness. You may use
what name you think applicable to such a belief. I will
further say, we have a religious meeting one half of the
time in West Chesterfield, whose pastor acknowledges
our frailties, and prays for all mankind as brothers."




THE CHAMBERLAIN FAMILY.             199
18
6. SAMUEL6 CHAMBERLAIN, Jr., born Jan. 28, 1813,
married Dec. 22, 1841, Elmira Thompson, born Sept.
29, 1813. She died Aug. 28, 1844. He married second,
Aug. 15, 1858, Mrs. Laura T. (Barrett) Atherton, born
May 26, 1826. She had one child:
(i) MARTHA7 E. CHAMBERLAIN, born Sept. 9, 1859,
died Dec. 9, 1860.
Laura T. Chamberlain, second wife of Samuel C., Jr.,
died Nov. 18, 1860. He married third, Nov. 27, 1862,
Mrs. Mary E. (Swan) Holden, born July 22, 1832.
They had two children:
(ii) ALICE'7 E. CHAMBERLAIN, born Sept. 20, 1863,
died Sept. 14, 1865.
(iii) LAURA7 S. CHAMBERLAIN, born Sept. 3, 1866.
7.  ELIZABETH6 DAMARIS CHAMBERLAIN, the youngest child of Samuel and Damaris (Wilder) Chamberlain,
born March 3, 18'23, married April 17, 1849, Shubel H.
Randall, born June 27, 1824. Reside at Bellows Falls,
Vt. Five children:
(i) URBAN7 S. RANDALL, born Oct. 23, 1850, died
Aug. 23, 1853.
(ii) GEORGE7 C. RANDALL, born July 19, 1854, died
Oct. 5, 1862.
(iii) SIDNEY7 S. RANDALL, born June 9, 1856, died
Feb. 22, 1857.
(iv) HENRY  L. RANDALL, born Oct. 30, 1858.
(v) JESSIE7 E. RANDALL, born Aug. 12, 1865.
xi. PHENICA5 WILDER, the eleventh child of Joshua
and Margary' (Dunster) Wilder, born Wednesday, May
5, 1784, married -, James Wait. No farther record.
It is thought she died in Michigan.
xii. EUNICE5 WILDER, the twelfth and last child of
Joshua and Margary (Dunster) Wilder, born July 11,
1788, married Nov. 30, 1806, Simeon Duncan. They
lived in Dummerston, Vt., about two years, then removed to Brattleboro for a short time. In June, 1810,
they removed to Sandy Creek, then called Richland,
*18




200  HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
18-19
Oswego County, N. Y..They were farmers. He was a
deacon of the Congregational (Orthodox) Church. He
died Nov. 21, 1842. She died Feb. 2, 1855, of consumption, brought on by grief for the death of her
daughter Charrissa. They and their deceased children
are buried at Sandy Creek Cemetery. They had five
children:
1. MARY6 ANN DUNCAN, born at Dummerston, Vt.,
Feb. 29, 1808. She resides at Sandy Creek, on the farm
bought by her father in 1810. To her, the credit of this
record of Simeon and Eunice (Wilder) Duncan's family
belongs. She is unmarried.
2. ANSON 6 MALTBY DUNCAN, born at Sandy Creek,
Aug. 28, 1810, married June 10, 1840, Angeline T. Warner; married by Rev. C. B. Pond, at Sandy Creek. They
lived there, then at Pulaski. In Oct., 1855, removed to
Beloit, Wis., where he resides, with a second wife. Had
three children:
(i) MARY7 E. DUNCAN, "died five or six years ago.
She was a graduate of Fox Lake Seminary."
(ii) EUNICE7 R. DUNCAN, "married, and lives in
California."
(iii) ELLEN' B. DUNCAN, "lives with her father, and
attends school."  These daughters, Eunice and Ellen,
are the extent of Eunice (Wilder) Duncan's lineage.
3. ELECTA6 DUNCAN, the third child of Simeon and
Eunice (Wilder) Duncan, was born at Sandy Creek, Jan.
12, 1814. She lives with her sister Mary Ann. Unm.
4. GEORGE6 WASHINGTON DUNCAN, born June 13,
1821, died July 28, 1827.
5. SUSAN6 CHARRISSA DUNCAN, born Nov. 16, 1830,
"was a teacher at Pulaski. She was taken sick with
typhus fever, brought home, and died in two weeks,
Oct. 11, 1854."
The family of S. Duncan "are Calvinists in their
religions views; and all who came to maturity, united
with the Congregational Church at Sandy Creek."
19. vi. RUHAMAH 4 DUNSTER, (David,' Jonathan,'
Henry,') was the sixth child and fourth daughter of




THE BAILEY FAMILY.              201
19
David and Mary (Russell) Dunster.  She was probably
born in Westminster, but the date of her birth has not
been found.  She is called in the will, " Ruhamah, my
fourth daughter."  Had she been born in Cambridge,
her baptism would have been recorded by Mr. Cooke.
She married —, Dudley Bailey.  They appear to have
settled in Dummerston, Vt., and lived on a farm.  He
died in Dummerston, March 8, 1812. She died there,
also, March 8, 1835, having lived a widow just twentythree years. They had five children:
i. POLLY5 BAILEY, born, married Joel French,
born. Both died at Dummerston.  They had six
children:
1. JOEL6 FRENCH.          2. DAVID6 FRENCH.
3. SOLOMON 6 FRENCH.    4. HENRlY6 FRENCH.
5. NATHANIEL6 FRENCH, now living in Pennsylvania.
6. WILLIAM 6 FREN.CH, died young.
ii. LEVI5 BAILEY, born —, died March 13, 1851.
iii. DAVID5 BAILEY, married Lydia Allen, of Marlboro.  Ile died March 19, 1867.  They had twelve
children:
1. ELECTA6 BAILEY, married William Merriam. She
died at Peterboro, N. H., when 21 years and 8 months
old. Her husband died' soon after. They had one son:
(i) JOSEPH7 MERRIAM.
After half of the MS. was printed, and this part was
being reviewed, an interest was felt in the welfare of this
child, bereaved so early of both parents, and the more
so as he had on our record the same name as our own.
maternal grandfather.
Recollecting an old chum, William B. Kimball, residing in Peterboro, with whom, in our apprenticeship, we
became "skillful at sawing planks," with a hand-sawhard wood, well seasoned, and three inches thick-we
wrote, and he replied that:
"There was a William Merriam, who came from Chester, Vt., about 1825, who had one child by his first wife,
whose name was William Henry Merriam.  His first wife




202   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
19
died, and he afterwards married again, but did not live
more than a year or two after his second marriage.  lie
and his first wife were both buried in Peterboro.  His
son, William H. Merriam, is in Boston. He is deacon
of the Berkeley Street Church. I cannot find any other
William M. who lived in P.  His son's name was William H. instead of Joseph."
Following this trail, a response came dated
"No. 172 Washington street,
BOSTON, Feb. 26, 1877. t,"DEAR SIR:-Your favor of 21st inst., came to hand
on Saturday. In reply, I hardly have reason to suppose
that I can be the missing link of your chain. The record
left by my father, William Merriam, states that he married Electa Bailey, Sept. 11, 1825. I (William H. Merriam) was born July 16, 1826, at Peterboro, N. H., and
my own mother, Electa, died 28th of same month, when
I was less than two weeks old. My father married
again, in Peterboro, having a daughter by second marriage, and he died in 1831, when I was only five years
old. I left Peterboro at nine years of age, and have
never been able to trace any relative on my mother's
side, or learn anything whatever of her parentage or her
native place. I was told by my step-mother and her
friends, when I made inquiries in regard to my mother's
family, that they did not know anything further about
her than the simple record of the date of her birth, marriage, and death, written by my father in the Family
Bible. My grandmother, my father's step-mnother, told
me, several years ago, that some gentlemen called on
her, then living at Ware, Mass., to inquire about me,
a few years after my father's death, saying they were
brothers of my mother, their name not being Bailey, but
what it was she could not recollect; and that was the
only time she ever saw or heard from them.
" I never knew that my' father lived in Chester, Vt.;
but one thing struck me strangely, and that was, the
name you bear-' Dunster'-in connection with a mnemory I have of being told by some one, when I was about
fourteen years old, that they had heard that my own




WILLIAM H. MERRIAM.              203
19
mother came from or had relatives in Dummerstoin.  I
wrote to Dummerston, but could find no trace of any
Bailey family ever residing there; and now this information from you that William Merriam (my father, possibly) came from  Chester, and married a Dunster, has
raised a query in my mind if the Dummerston story
could have grown from Chester and the name Dunster,
and the long mystery to me of my mother's parentage
can possibly be solved in this way. I presume it will
hardly be possible to trace this matter out, if it be traceable at all, in season to be printed with the manuscript
you have prepared.
"If there be the slightest probability that my mother'
may have been a Dunster, or a descendant of that family, the difficulties in the way of ascertaining anythingcertain about it, at this late day, would be formidable.
I would feel obliged if you would give me any information of the members of the family into which my father
is supposed to have married.        -
Very respectfully yours,
WILLIAM H. MERRIAM."
Mr. M., by referring to the record above, will fin&
that instead of being without relatives, as he supposed,
his grandfather, David5 Bailey, married Lydia Allen,.
and they had twelve children, ten of whom were married, and seven had children, and that his mother, Electa,6 was the oldest of their family; and he himself has.
announced that his grandfather on the other side had
twenty-three children. These, we have no authority to
hunt up. A subsequent letter said:
"I am both greatly surprised and extremely gratified
to catch a glimpse, through your researches, behind the
cloud that has so long obscured from me any trace of
my maternal kindred. I am most happy to receive such
assuring and agreeable testimony from you of the status
of my mother and her relatives, the subject of so many
imaginings, not to say forebodings, with me in the long
past.
"My father, William Merriam, [the husband of 1.
Electa6 Bailey] was the son of James and Lucy -. Merriam, and was one of a family of twenty-three children.




204   H ENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
19
He was a mechanic and an overseer in a cotton mill at
Peterboro, at the time of my birth.  In religious faith
he was a Unitarian, and in evidence of his faith he desired his pastor, Rev. Mr. Abbot, to baptize his two little
children at his bedside, in his last hours on earth. He
was born April 27, 1802, and died Oct. 28, 1831, aged
29 years and 5 months. My mother, Electa Bailey, was
born Nov. 25, 1804. They were married Sept. 11, 1825.
Slhe died July 28, 1826."
(i) WILLIAM7   HENRY MERRIAM, ( William and Electa6 Bailey, David,5 Dutdley and Ruhamlah4 Dtunster,
David,3 Jona.,' Henry,') the only child'of William and
Electa (Bailey) Merriam, was born in Peterboro, N. H.,
July 16, 1826. After the death of his father, he remained under the care of his step-mother, Betsey (Taplin) Merriam, "a most estimable woman," (married to
Mr. M. Dec. 4, 1829, and by whom she had Elizabeth
Merriam, born Jan. 3, 1831,) until he was nine years
old, "when he was placed on a farm in Lempster, N. H.,
under the care of a family who were what they professed
to be, —Christian people, of the Orthodox Congregational
denomination." At fourteen, he graduated from the
farm to a country store, finding his way to Boston in
1848, at the age of twenty-two. From a clerkship in an
auction house in Boston, he succeeded, in 1854, to the
extensive business of the house on his own account, continuing the same till 1872.  In religious faith he is an
Orthodox Congregationalist.  On removing from the
city proper, in 1873, he resigned his office in the Berkeley
Street Church, and took membership in the Walnut
Avenue Congregational Chllrch. His business is Auctioneer and Real Estate Broker; and as he resides at No.
28 Greenville street, Boston Hlighlands, we take it he
is reckoned among the "solid men" of Boston. He
married, at Boston, Feb. 24, 1851, Maria Antoinette
Buel, daughter of Matthew and Fanny P. Buel, of Newport, N. 1H., who was born June 30, 1830. They have
had three children:
(1)  WILLIAM8 LORING MERRIAMI, born March 25,
1859, died Dec. 7, same year.




THE BAILEY FAMILY.              205
19
(2) FANNIE8 ELISABETH MERRIAM, born in Boston,
July 3, 1864-their only surviving child.
(3) NELLIE8 MARIA MERRIAM, born April 5, 1866,
died Sept. 5, same year.
2.  ANNA6 BAILEY, "married Daniel Baldwin, of
Wardsboro.  She is now a widow, living in Dummerston,
near her grandfather's place. From her I learned this
history of the Bailey family.  She has no children."
(Jane R. f14ilder.)
3. LEVI6 BAILEY, married Elizabeth Bryant.  Resides in Dummerston.  No children.
4. JASoN6 RUSSEL BAILEY, mar.~ Emily Bryant.
Resides in Shoply, Canada East.  Have five children:
(i) RUSSEL' BAILEY.   (iv.) POLLY ANN' BAILEY.
(ii) MELISSA7 BAILEY.  (v.) DAVID7 BAILEY.
(iii) HANNAH 7 BAILEY.
5.  EPHRAIM 6' BAILEY, married Harriet Sibley, of
Newfane, Vt.  Resides at Shoply, Canada East.  Have
five daughters:
(i) LYDIA7 BAILEY.          (iv) BETSEY 7 BAILEY.
(ii) EMILY7 ALMEDAS BAILEY. (v) LUCY 7 BAILEY.
(iii) ANNA' BAILEY.
6. SILAS6 BAILEY, mar.    Arvilla Jackson.  Lives
on the farm settled by his grandfather 75 years ago.
Have one son: (i) DAVID7 BAILEY.
7. CHESTER6 BAILEY, mar. Beulah Gove, of Strafford, Vt. Lives in Brattleboro. Two children:
(i) JULIA7 BAILEY. (ii)  ISAAC' BAILEY.
8.  ABNERt6 BAILEY, mar. Caroline Huntley.  Res.
in West Dummerston.  No children.
9. WILLIAM6 BAILEY, married first, Lois Gould;
married second, Caroline Smith. Resides in Worcester,
Mass. Have had five children, two living:
E]MMA7 EUGENE BAILEY, KATE 7 ANTOINETTE BAILEY.
10. JOHN 6 BAILEY, born, died, aged 20 years.
11. LAWSON6 BAILEY, born —, died, aged 5 years
and 6 months.




206  HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
20-21
12. ORRA6 BAILEY, married Julia Pettee. Reside in
Michigan. Two children:
(i) FRED.7 BAILEY.  (ii) FRANK7 BAILEY.
iv. HENRY5 BAILEY, (son of Dudley and Ruhamah
(Dunster) Bailey,) married Sally Dill, of Plainfield.
Resides in Peterboro, N. Y. Have several children.
v. EPHRAIM 5 BAILEY, born —, died June, 1803.
20. vii. HENRY4 DUNSTER, (David,3 Jonathan,2
Henry,') is called in his father's will, "Carteret Henry,
my youngest son." The date of his birth has not been
found. He certainly was not twenty-one years of age in
1758, the date of the will. He has uniformly been called
the youngest child. We have no data of his history,
except that he married Nov. -, 1778, Anna Peirce, of
Leominster, Mass., and sold his farm, which adjoined
that of Hubbard Dunster, to   Woods.
Mrs. Estabrook said:  "My Uncle Henry died in
Princeton, Mass., in a fit. He was married, but had
no children."
21. i. RUTH5 DUNSTER, (Jason,' Henry,3 Jona.,2
Henry,l) the first child of Jason and Rebecca (Cutter)
Dunster, was born in Cambridge, Aug. 10, (Aug. 21, N.
S.,) and baptized by Rev. Samuel Cooke, Aug. 12, 1750.
She married (probably in Mason, N. H., but we can find
no record of it,) Joseph Blood, the son of Joseph and
Hannah -. Blood, of Groton, Mass. He was born July
29, 1743,.and resided in Mason at the time her father
moved there, and not far from his farm. lie was chosen
Fence Viewer and Surveyor of Highway in 1768. Their
marriage must have been soon after she went to Mason.
He enlisted in Captain Mann's company soon after the
battle at Lexington, and joined the army at Cambridge.
He was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill. Mrs. Imla
Parker, referred to in the record of the Marrett family,
page 72, stated that Joseph Blood, on his way down from
Mason, staid at her Grandfather Marrett's the night before the battle. Her grandfather was Amos Marrett,
who married Mary 4 Dunster. She was aunt to Joseph
Blood's wife. That he started in the morning in high




RUTH 5 DUNSTER.              207
21
spirits, and went by the way of Cambridge.  That he was
killed very early in the battle by a cannon ball striking
him in the neck. She did not know where he was buried.
His wife, Ruth5 (Dunster) Blood, kept the family together as well as she could, on the farm of her husband,
till her death in 1787. On the 3d of May, 1787, her
father took out letters of administration on the estate,
which did not quite pay the debts.  The enumeration of small articles (Probate Records Hillsboro Co.,
May 8, 1787,) is shameful, though "according to law."
Her father, however, stopped a public sale of them by
charging himself with the whole inventory, and enough
besides to pay all the debts. At the end of the inventory
is added, after the footing of the articles, "One gold
ring, 7 shillings."  Was that handed down in the family
for generations, and then wrested "by law" from her
children?  It was their "mother's gold ring."  Jan. 8,
1787, Jason Dunster, her father, was appointed guardian
of Joseph and Sylvanus Blood. July 10, 1790, Jotham
Webber was appointed "guardian of William  Cutter
Blood, of Mason, being upwards of fourteen years old."
The place of her burial is not certainly identified. In
1770, the town " voted to have but one grave yard, and
voted to accept of that piece of ground for a grave yard
which the committee that was appointed to lay out grave
yards have laid out at the west end of lot 6 in 9th range,
on the west side of the road that goeth to Townshend."
In 1776, the town "voted to procure a grave yard for
the use of the town, and that Lieut. Swallow and Mr.
John Whitaker dig the graves that are'reasonably'
needed in said town."  (Mason Records.)  This cemetery is at Mason Centre. There was a more ancient one
in the east part of the town, and as Thomas Tarbell,
who lived near it, and in 1773 gave the land for it, was
paid for digging her grave, it is probable she was buried
there, although two unrecognized graves were to be seen
in the Dunster group. Her unknown grave remained
for almost ninety years, when a plain stone was set up at
Mason Centre, inscribed:
"Ruth Dunster, widow of Joseph Blood, (killed at
19




208   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
21
Bunker Hill,) born in Cambridge, Aug. 21, 1750, N. S.,
died at Mason, 1787, aged 37. Ex dono S. Dunster,
1873."
A Bible is among the Dunster papers, in which is
written: "Joseph Blood, Junr.,-His Bibel, the Price
0 —4-0-Shillings Lawfull money-and it was Given
Him by-His Honored Father-August ye 20th, A. D.
1767."  And on another leaf is written, but in a different
hand, both being bold and plain, and in ink that more
than a century has not faded: "Joseph Blood-His
Book God give-him grace therein-to look that hemay Run that-Blessed Race that-Heaven may beHis Dwelling place.
August ye 28th, 1767."
Was the former written by his father's minister in
Groton, and the latter after he received the gift in
Mason?
The children of JOSEPH and RUTH 5 (DUNSTER) BLOOD
were:
1. JOSEPH 6 BLOOD, (Joseph and Ruth 5 Dunster,
Jason,4 Henry,3 Jona.,2 Henry,') born in Mason, June
17, 1769. He was placed under the guardianship of his
grandfather, Jan. 8, 1787, being then about eighteen
years old. He married Sally Priest, of New Ipswich, N.
H. Thev had four children, all born in Townsend, Mass.
i. RUTHY  BLOOD, born Jan. 12, 1798, married Benjamin Smith, of Townsend, and died there. They had
no children.
ii. JOSEPH  BLOOD, born Feb. 17, 1800, married
Sept. 24, 1825 or 6, Emma Martin, of Mason, N. H.
She was the niece of Samuel C. Dunster's wives, and
daughter of George and Zilpha (Townsend) Martin. He
died about seven months afterwards.  Ite was sick when
he married. No children.
iii. WALTER7 BLOOD, born Jan. 10, 1803, married
Lucy Wadsworth, of Brookline, N. H. She was a niece
of Rev. Mr. Wadsworth. She died, leaving no children.
He married second, Hannah Wadsworth, sister of his
first wife.  "She went off and left him," said our in



THE BLOOD FAMILY.              209
21
formant. Itad no children. Married third, Eliza Wyn,
of Townsend. No children.  "She now (1873) lives in
the same house with him."
iv. ISAIAH7 BLOOD, born May 17, 1805, married Rebecca Jenkins, April 4, 1831. She was born June 14,
1806. He died at West Townsend, Jan. 20, 1847. His
widow is now Mrs. Conant. Her second husband is dead.
She lives at West Townsend. Had seven children:
1. JOSEPH8 PALMER BLOOD, (Isaiah,7 Joseph,6 Ruth5
Dunster,) was born in Townsend, July 23, 1832. He
married Oct. 26, 1857, Emeline C. Blood, born 1836, the
daughter of Calvin and (India) Blood, of Mason. He.las been the Superintendent of the Town Farm  in
Townsend for a long time.  Three children, all born
in Mason:
(i) FRANK9 PALMER BLOOD, born Sept. 27, 1858,
died same day.
(ii) ELVA9 EUGENIA BLOOD, born March 6, 1860,
died Jan. 24, 1864.
(iii) LII)A9 MABELLE BLOOD, born Jan. 9, 1866.
2. SARAH 8 F. BLOOD, born July 24, 1835, in Townsend, married William Amesden, of Mason, by whom
she had:
(i) MARY9 JANE AMESDEN, born June 30, 1850.
She married Frederick Fay, of Westboro, Mass. They
have one child —10th generation-if record be correct.
(ii) An infant.9
3.  CHARLES8 L. BLOOD, born Aug. 9, 1836, married
Betsey Green (?).  Her maiden name was Elizabeth
Shattuck.  They have three children —births, names
and residence not known.
4. DANIEL8 A. BLOOD, born March 8 or 18, 1838,
died April 4, 1838.
5. HARRIET8 A. BLOOD, born Sept. 10, 1840, married first, Andrew J. Fuller, by whom she had one child,
who died in infancy. She married second, Luther A.
Blood, and by him had:
(i) LILLEIAN9 A. BLOOD. (ii) EADER9 M. BLOOD.
(iii) INER9 B. BLOOD. Age and residence not known.




210   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
21
6. MARY8 E. BLOOD, born Oct. 1842, married May
14, 1857, Charles 0. Calester. Two children:
(i) ESTELLA9 M. CALESTER, born July 8, 1860.
(ii) CHARLES9 E. CALESTER, born Dec. 13, 1861,
died June 13, 1862.
"Charles 0. Calester, husband of Mary8 E. Blood,
enlisted a private in the Second N. H. Regt. Volunteers;
was at the first battle of Bull Run, and in every battle
except one in which that regiment was engaged (thirteen, I think), until they had the second Bull Run fight,
in which he was killed, Aug. 29, 1862.
" P. S. Charles 0. Calester lies in Southern soil.
After being wounded, he lay three days before being
taken up or cared for in the least, but died soon after
-being taken up."  (Joseph P. Blood's Letter.)
She, Mary8 E. (Blood) Calester, married second, Oct.
10, 1863, W. W. Greenwood.
7. OLIVE8 A. BLOOD, born Jan. 18, 1846, died Feb.
18, 1855, aged 9 years and 1 month.
2. SYLVANUS6 BLOOD, the second child of Joseph
and Ruth5 (Dunster) Blood, was born May 8, 1771. He
was put under the guardianship of Jason Dunster, his
grandfather, at the same time his brother Joseph was.
When about twenty years old he, with his brothers, Joseph and William Cutter, sold by the consent of their
guardians, the farm belonging to them as the heirs of
Joseph Blood. It was bought by Jason5 Dunster, Jr.,
and is described as Lot No. 4, in the 5th Range. The
deed, now in our possession, is dated April 1, 1791, and
is signed by Joseph Blood, whose signature (a very plain
and good one) was witnessed by Robert Taylor and
"Abijh" Tarbell. Signed also by Sylvanus Blood, whose
witnesses were Thomas Clarke and William Wood. Sylvanus Blood's signature is in very large and crooked letters, and occupies a space two and a half inches long by
one and a half wide, being in two lines. It is also signed
by William Cutter Blood, whose witnesses were Jotham
Webber (his guardian) and Elizabeth Webber (Jotham's
wife). After this transaction we have no knowledge of




THE BLOOD FAMILY.               211
21
Sylvanus. It is noticeable, however, that his acknowledgement of the deed was in Suffolk, ss. Mass., May 14,
1792, and before Thomas Clarke, Justice Peace. There
is a tradition that he married, lived in Cambridge, and
had at least one child, named Samuel Dunster Blobd.
3. WILLIAM6 CUTTER BLOOD, (Ruth5 Dunster, Jason4
Henry,3 Jona.,2 Henry,') was born March 22, 1773, in
Mason, and named for his grandmother's brother, William Cutter, whose epitaph is:
" Come Come, you children, near & view this Stone
For in the Grave God Saith you Must ly Down.
You that do Fear ye Lord & honor Parents too
Christ from his Throne will surely Welcome You
And after Death assuredly you Will
In Heavenly Mensions Praise your Maker Stil."
He was put under the guardianship of Jotham Webber, who was deacon of the First Baptist Church in
Mason. He married March 11, 1800, Sally Townsend,
the sister of his Uncle Samuel5 Dunster's two wives.
She was the daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Lawrence) Townsend, born Sept. 1, 1777, and heir to that
"great estate (?) in England, belonging to the Lawrences!" He removed to Rumney, N. H., where they
had four children. About 1820 they removed to Derby,
Vermont, where they both died "the same winter, very
near each other," about 1867. He is understood to
have been a farmer. In the deed referred to he is called
a laborer. At Derby they had six or seven more children. For the most of the tradition of them we are indebted to Mrs. Lizzie8 R. Bixby, of West Danville, Vt.
She was grand-daughter of William Cutter and Sally
(Sarah) (Townsend) Blood.
Mrs. Bixby thinks that William  C. Blood died in
Derby about 1858, and his wife about 1860.  Four
children:
i. POLLYI BLOOD, born in Rumney, mar. Hezekiah
Ingerson, and had four sons and two daughters. The
parents are both dead, and were buried in Derby.
ii. SAMUEL7 DUNSTER BLOOD, born at Rumney, married, and died about 1864, in Kentucky, says his
*19




212   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
21
Aunt Dunster,-"I think," says Mrs. B., "in Michigan," —leaving a wife and one child —a daughter.  His
Aunt D. says: "They were in Cambridge the last I
heard from  them.  He lived in South Boston, and
owned an hourly coach." The writer has tried to find
this widow and daughter of Samuel Dunster Blood, but
without success, and only conjectures that he left Vermont, came to Boston, was married, perhaps in Cambridge, was engaged in stageing, left that business, went
West and died.
Mrs. Bixby adds that "S. D. Blood married Lydia
Washburn for his first wife, and Mary Ann Grey for hi's
second, by whom he had two children. The son died in
infancy, the daughter still living, so far as I know. She
married G. W. Park."
iii. HANNARH BLOOD, born in Rumney, married William Mansur. She died Sept., 1871; buried in Morgan,
Vt. They had seven children-three sons and four daughters. Husband and three daughters still living, 1874.
iv. ELIZA' Y. BLOOD, born in Rumney, —, 1807,
married Courtland Bovee, in 1825; both died about same
time. They had ten children-five sons and five daughters-" of whom," says Lizzie R. Bixby, "your humble
servant is one;" thus leaving us entirely at a loss for the
further history of her mother's family.
v. HARRIET7 BLOOD, born in Derby, Vt., died when
16( or 17 years of age, buried in Derby.
vi. WILLIAM7 CUTTER BLOOD, born in Derby, Vt.,
" married Sarah Cutter for his first wife, by whom he
had one son; Lucy Harvey for his second wife, and Lucinda Courrier for his third wife; all dead. No children
by any but first? (L. R. B.)
In answer to a letter, John C. Clough, Esq., of Enfield, N. H., wrote: " There was a man by the name of
William C. Blood that lived in the village here, near me,
who died the 24th day of June, 1862, aged, I should
think, 45 or 50 years. He was a traveling physician,
and done quite an extensive business in this State and
Vermont. I was administrator and settled his accounts.




THE BLOOD FAMILY.              213
His first wife I don't know anything about.
I have understood that he lived some twelve years or
more after her death before he was married again. His
second wife was Lucinda W. Courrier, a resident of this
town. They were married in the fall of 1860. After
the death of his first wife, he had no particular residence, but made his stopping place at Wells River, Vt.
At the time of his death he had no children, and I don't
know as he ever had any.
"After the Doctor married his second wife, he and his
family went to Wells River and lived until two months
of his death, when they returned to this place (Enfield,
N. H.), and moved into a house that belonged to his
wife. About five days before his death he told his wife
that he was going to Chelsa, Vt., to attend a court,
where he had  some business to settle.  He went
there, settled his business, started and went to Brownington, in the northern part of the State of Vermont,
about 100 miles from here, tied his team at the side of
the road, and went into a clump of bushes three or four
rods, and there committed suicide."
James8 Kimball, who lived at Enfield at the time,
says that Dr. Blood killed himself by an incision made
with a penknife into the jugular vein.
Dr. Blood was buried at Enfield, N. EH.
His aunt wrote that "he first practiced'Tomsonan,'
and had very good success, but afterwards'homepatha.'
Why he should commit that deed none ever knew."
vii. Lucy7 BLOOD, born at Derby, married Nathaniel
Ruggles. They are both dead. She lived a widow some
years, and left three daughters. She was buried at Derby.
viii. EDWARD7 BLOOI), born at Derby, married Sarah
Leland; dead; buried at Holliston, Mass. They never
had any children.
ix. CAROLINE7 CELESTIA BLOOD, the youngest child
of William C. and Sally (Townsend) Blood, was born in
Derby, Vt., and at an early age "left home to live with
an older brother."  [Was it Samuel7 Dunster Blood?l
She married O. W. Merriam. We have an impression




214  HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
that he was a furniture dealer, near Boston, and accumulated a good property.  They removed to San Francisco,
Cal., where she certainly resided in May, 1874. They
have, it is understood, one daughter, who is married,
and lives in San Francisco.  Mrs. M. can give no records
of her father's family. She is evidently in easy, and,
probably, in wealthy circumstances. Like all ladies, she
ends her letter with a P. S.:  "If you should find it
convenient to visit this lovely State, I should be happy
to see you at my house, 1106 Bush street."
x. There was another child, named Betsey, who died
in infancy.
4. The fourth child of Joseph and Ruth5 Dunster
Blood was born Jan. 8, 1775. She is named RUTH.
We have no further authentic knowledge of her. There
is a tradition that she married-when and whom is not
known-and that she died, but had no children. There
are families who claim  descent from the daughter of
Ruth (Dunster) Blood, but they say her name was
RACHEL. There is no mention of any daughter in the
settlement of the estate. There is one fact that possibly
may have something to do in this matter.
Jason4 Dunster brought up a child by the name of
Rachel Mason. She married a Withington. (Book of
the Lockes.)
If she was the traditional Ruth, and her name became
confounded with the recorded Ruth, it might help us.
We give the tradition as it is related by an intelligent
lady, who is acquainted with some of the later offspring.
She says: "Rachel's mother was a Dunster.  She
was brought up, however, by her Grandmother Dunster,
and inherited the family loom. (In the inventory of
Ruth5 Dunster Blood's estate, is " One Loom and warping bars, 18 shillings.") She married Jonathan Blood, of
Pepperell, a very intemperate man, and his sons followed in his footsteps. They lived.in Sharon, N. II. They,
Jonathan and Rachel,6 had six children-two boys and
four girls: (i) NAHUM.7 (ii) JOSIAH.7 Josiah never
married, and is dead. Nahum married a widow woman,
from Pepperell. They had one son, who is still living."




THE BLOOD FAMILY.               215
21
Another tradition, related by an old lady,says that
the boys were Nahum and Cyrus, (by nicknames then in
common use, easily confounded with Josiah-Cy-rus,
Jo-si-ah,) and that neither of them ever married. The
daughters were:
iii.  REBECAH.7 She was born April 1, 1803, and
married April 20, 1826, Jonathan Russell, of Mason.
They had: (1)  One boy,8 name and birth unknown,
and three girls:
(2)  RACHEL,8 married, and lives in New Ipswich, and
has one or two children.
(3) REBECCA,8 died in the poor house.
(4) JOANNA,8 was an intelligent and worthy member
of Mason Village (Orthodox) Church in 1853, and is believed to have married very respectably, and lives in
Manchester, N. H.
iv. RACHEL7 BLOOD, married Moses Merriam, son of
Ezra Merriam, of Mason.  They had no children. Are
both living in West Boylston.
v. ROXANNA7 BLOOD, married July, 1832, Sargent;
Bohanon, of Peterboro, N. H. She died Jan. 24, 1870,
aged 59 years, 6 months and 20 days. One child:
1. MARY8 ELIZABETH BOHANON. She mar. Giles
T. Larkin, of Hancock, N. H. She died July 24, 1864.
One child, dead.
vi. OLIVE7 BLOOD, the sixth child of Jonathan and
Rachel, was born at Sharon, N. H., Dec. 25, 1823.  She
married Simon H. Ralf, or Rolf, born in Jaffrey, March
30, 1820.  She died at Jaffrev, N. IH., March 4, 1869.
They had four children:
1. JOHN8 S. RALF, born at New Ipswich, N. H.,
Jan. 28, 1840.  "He enlisted in Co. H, Second Regt.
N. H. Vols., and was killed at the second battle of Bull
Run, and buried on the battle field. This was the first
battle in which he was engaged."
2. WILLIAM 8 H. RALF, born at Sharon, Jan. 16,
1842, married —,. His wife is dead.  They had
four children.




216   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
21-22
3. SARAH IE. RALF, born at Jaffrey, March 6, 1845,
died Aug. 25, 1852.
4. ANGELINE7 JOSEPHINE RALF, born at Jaffrey,
Dec. 31, 1853, married Jan. 9, 1873, Edward Felt, of
Peterboro, N. H., born Nov. 27, 1847.  They had a son,
ELMER8 MORRISON FELT, who died an infant.  No
other children.
22. iii. HENRY  DUNSTER, (Jason,4 Henry,3 Jona.2
Henry,') the third child of Jason4 and Rebecca (Cutter)
Dunster, was born in Cambridge (Menotomy), Aug. 4,
baptized by Rev. Samuel Cooke, Aug. 11, 1754. He
came to Mason with his father's family in 1769, being
then 14 years old. No farther record of him is found
till 1774, when he was taxed for the first time, being
then only 20 years old.  With the exception of 1776, he
was taxed every year till 1780, in which year he was
taxed as a non-resident.  This year his " Beef rate " was
~3 10s. 10d. 2qrs., while his father's was ~131 and over.
He is named in the History of Mason as having done
service in the Revolutionary war-probably in 1776,
when he was not taxed. He could not have been the
son of Jason Dunster for whose " hire " Joseph Herrick
was paid for the rye, for at that time he was 27 years
old, and his father would hardly have claimed his " hire "
at that age. It is almost certain that he went from Mason and lived with a Mr. Sharp in Brookline, Mass.,
whose daughter Sally he afterwards married, and by her
he had twins. These were their only children. No further knowledge is had of him till his death in 1794, in
or near Boston, probably in Brookline.
HENRY'6 UNSTER,? the twins, were born in BrookSALLY6 DUNSTER,. line, March 25, 1782.
Their mother, Sally (Sharp) Dunster, appears to have
died soon after their birth.
Abiel Wright,whose genealogy will be found in Martha5
(Dunster) Wright's, says in a letter (1854):  "Henry
Dunster had two children-a son and a daughter-twins.
The son's name was Henry, the girl's name, Sally. Their
parents died when they were quite young.  They died in




HENRY5 DUNSTER.               217
22
Brookline, or Roxbury, Mass. Henry was brought up
by Stephen Sharp, Esq., of Brookline.  My mother
brought up the girl. Henry, when he became of age,
went into Boston and drove a team, and from that went
to work in a distillery. He was married and had some
children, and died near forty years since."
Polly (M.) Dunster, his aunt, said Henry was brought
up by his "grandfather."  A daughter of this twin,
Henry, said he was brought up by his Grandfather Dunster.  We think she was mistaken as to whiich grandfather brought him up. It is almost positive that his
Grandfather Dunster did not. If we substitute " Sharp "
for "Dunster" it confirms all the traditions, and proves
that Henry5 Dunster married Sally Sharp, which we
thought questionable in Life H. D., page 243. Abiel
Wright was only 8 years younger than Henry and Sally
Dunster. She was an adopted sister, lived and died at
his father's.
SALLY6 DUNSTER, twin to Henry, born March 25,
1782, was brought up by her Aunt Martha5 (Dunster)
Wright, and died of consumption, at the age of 26, April
22, 1808, unmarried, was buried at Nelson, N. H., then
Packersfield. She was a member of the Congregationalist Church (Orthodox), and an exemplary woman.
HENRY6 DUNSTER, the other twin, married Rhoda
Jackson, of Bridgewater, Mass., and died July 9, 1818,
not in 1813, as in Life H. D., page 243. They had six
children, all born in Boston:
i. SARAH  DUNSTER, (Henry,6 Henry,5 Jason,4 Henry,' Jona.,2 Henry,l) was born Dec. 28, 1808. She married July 28, 1833, Joseph Ferrin, born Aug. 10, 1808.
He died in California, Aug. 20, 1850, aged 42 years and
10 days. They had four children:
1. JOSEPH8 WILLIAM FERRIN, born,1831, died
Oct. 13, 1834, an infant.
2. SARAH8 JANE FERRIN, born March 19, 1835,
married Aug. 20, 1854, William  O. Sumner; living at
34th street, 8th Avenue, New York. They had:
(i) SARAH' JANE SUMNER, born Oct. 12, 1859, died
Sept. 1, 1860.




218   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
22
(ii) JENNY9 ISADORE SUMINER, born Jan. 20, 1862,
died August same year.
3. CHARLES8 FERRIN, born Sept. 13, 1840, died
"in the war," in 1865, aged 24 years, 8 months. Unm.
4. SUSANs ANN FERRIN, born June 15, 1842, died
Oct. 12, 1842.
ii. HENRY7 JACKSON DUNSTER, was born Sept. 24,
1810. " In childhood he had a fall and injured his hip,
which disabled him for seven years. In 1828 he went
to G. & J. Lorings, Boston, to learn the printers' trade."
In a note to History of Scituate, he is referred to as a
pressman, working on that book. He married May 6,
1834, Mary B. Savery, of Plymouth, Mass. She lived
at the time of his marriage in the next house to his
mother's, in South street, Boston. Being out of health,
he went to Georgetown, South Carolina, in June, 1838,
and there died, July 7, 1839, of consumption? His wife
never went South. She returned to her father's, in Plymouth, where she is now, 1871, living with her fourth
husband. Nothing further was known of this family,
and it was fully believed that this branch became extinct, as it was understood he left no children. In 1871,
a paragraph appeared in the newspapers stating that
Henry Dzunster, of Duxbury, had been injured by the
caving in of his well. This gave a clue to further
knowledge of the family, which will be found in Henry8
Jackson Dunster.
iii. WILLIAI7' DUNSTER, born April 22, 1812, was a
sailor. He was taken sick in Liverpool, attempted a
voyage home, but (died on the passage, and was buried at
sea, when about 18 years old.
iv. "LITTLE RHODNA7," born, 1813, lived only
about two hours.. JANE 7 LYDIA DAMON DUNSTER, was born Jan.
22, 1815. She lived with her mother in South street,
Boston, until she married, July 13, 1834, Charles Johnston, who built the house where she now lives, No. 763
Broadway, South Boston.  Mr. Johnston died Aug. 17,
1864. Seven children:




THE JOHNSTON FAMILY.             219
22
1. EMMIA8 JANE JOHNSTON, born May 7, 1835, died
March 16, 1836.
2. EMIMA8 JANE JOHNSTON, born Sept. 26, 1836,
married John H. Locke, a bookkeeper, and has four
children, all living in Boston:
(i) EMMA9 JANE LOCKE, born July 30, 1860.
(ii) MIiNrIE9 LouISA LOCKE, born Dec. 3, 1861.
(iii) ADDIE9 WnILMAN LOCKE, born June 28, 1864.
(iv) GERTRUDE9 LILLIAN LOCKE, born Jan. 29, 1869.
3.  CHARLES8 HENRY JOHNSTON, the third child of
Jane, L. D. (D.) Johnston, born Feb. 12, 1838, died
Dec. 16, 1839.
4.  ADALINE8 ADELIA JOHNSTON, born May 1, 1840,
is a teacher or bookkeeper, in Boston, not married.
5.  SARAH8 ELIZABETH  JOHNSTON, born Nov. 4,
1842, married June 15, 1871, Benjamin M. Campbell, a
clerk in Boston. Have two children:
(i)  CHARLES9 BENJAMIN CAMPBELL, born Aug. 13,
1872, died June 5, 1873.
(ii) EMMIA9 FLORENCE CAMPBELL, born June 18, 1874.
6.  CHARLES8 WILLIAM  JOHNSTON, born Oct. 13,
1844, is a seaman by occupation.
7.  HENRY8 DUNSTER JOHNSTON, born March 7,
1847, was drowned in South Boston Bay, while bathing,
Aug. 30, 1860.
vi. EPHRAIM7 JACKSON DUNSTER, born May 22,
1817, died Sept. 9, 1818.
In April, 1871, Henry8 Jackson Dunster, who had
been "buried in his well," had so far recovered as to be
able to visit. By an express invitation he called on us, and
we accompanied him to Boston to see his Aunt Johnston,
who, he said, knew more of the family than.any one
else.  We were not introduced by name, which was
rather pleasing, as it gave us opportunity to pass incognito. After talking awhile, we told the object of our
visit. She remarked that her nephew and his boy were
the only " Dunsters " living; and further said that, some
20




220   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
22
thirty-five years ago, there was a Dunster who called on
her mother's family and said he was their relation. He
promised to call again; said he was a calico printer, and
lived away down East, somewhere; but as he had never
called, she presumed he was dead, and they were the
only descendants of President Dunster.  We replied,
much to her surprise, that we now had the pleasure of
making the promised call, although somewhat delayed.
She was very communicative, and, with wonderful memmory, told off-hand and without hesitation, or record,
the particulars of the descendants of Henry6 Dunster,
which we have tabulated above. She added to what is
related of Henry, the twin, her father:
"On the very day that Sarah, his twin-sister, died,
(April 22, 1808,) he was brought home sick, and although he lived near ten years afterwards, he was sick
all the time so as not to be able to work, and died of
consumption, on the 9th day of July, 1818, and was
buried in the cemetery on Roxbury Neck, now nearly all
dug away."  Enlightened nations and Christian communities, only, disturb the ashes of the dead.
The Boston Directory, 1807, has Henry Dunster, laborer, Elliot street; Rhoda Dunster, 1818, South street
Court; Rhoda Dunster, washer, 1820, Hoskins' wharf;
Rhoda Dunster, "widow," 1821 to 1825, same place;
1826 to 1834, Rhoda Dunster, widow, South street Place;
1855, Henry J. Dunster, printer, house South street
Place, and Rhoda at Barry wharf; 1836, Rhoda, South
street Place; also Essex Place.
HENRY7 J. DUNSTER, (the printer,) (Henry,6 twin
HenZry,5 Jasonz,4 Henry,3 Jona.,2 Henry,l) married Mary
B. Savery, of Plymouth, and we cannot improve her history of their children: "My husband was born in Boston, Sept. 24, 1810. We were united in marriage, in
Boston, by Rev. Mr. Streeter, March 6, 1834. My first
child was born in Charlestown, Oct. 7, 1834, named
(i) HENRYS  JACKSON DUNSTER, died Jan. 1, 1835.
The second was also a boy, which we called (ii) ANDREW8 JACKSON DUNSTER, born in Boston, Nov. 30,
1836. The next was another boy, whom we named after




HENRY 8 JACKSON DUNSTER.            221
22
his father, (iii) HENRY8 JACKSON DUNSTER, born in
Plymouth, Aug. 18, 1838, died in the same town, Sept.
5, 1839.  Mr. Dunster (her husband) was in Georgetown, South Carolina, where he died, July 7, 1839, of
yellow fever. After burying my husband and infant,
wishing still to preserve the name (Henry), I changed
my only remaining child's name, (ii) Andrew  Jackson
Dunster to HENRY8 JACKSON DUNSTER.  The only living representative that we know of in the male line,
directly or indirectly.
"My native place was Plymouth; name, Mary B.
Savery; born Aug. 23, 1813. My husband never professed
religion, but we always attended the Methodist Church
together. I remember perfectly well the day, now that
you have brought it to mind, in which you called at his
office, although it had passed entirely from my mind.
MARY B. SAMPSON,
East Marshfield, Mass."
HENRY8 JACKSON DUNSTER, (Henry,7 Henry,6 Henry,5
Jason,4 Henry,3 Jona.,2 iHenry,l) was born in Boston,
Nov. 30, 1836, (Mrs. Sampson's Letter,) 1835, by another
account.  He is employed in the fishing business, for
Boston market.  He married Jan. 1, 1857, Mary Anna
Brewster, a descendant of "Elder Brewster."  She was
born August, 1837. They have four children, all born
in Duxbury, Mass., all living. No death in their family.
i. HENRY9 LOYD DUNSTER, (Henry,sHenry,'Henry,6
Henry,5 Jason,4 Henry,3 Jona.,' Henry,1) was born Dec.
24, 1857. He assists his father at times, but is mainly
employed in getting an education fitted for entrance into
Harvard College, —his most cherished desire.  We trust
he will be remembered as a worthy descendant of their
first President.  To him belongs the distinction of having more Henry Dunsters for ancestors than any other
person.
ii. LOUISA9 ANN DUNSTER, born March 28, 1861,
living at home, being well educated.
iii. ELIZABETH9 WATSON DUNSTER, b. Nov. 30, 1864.
iv. JANE9 JOHNSTON DUNSTER, born Dec. 24, 1866.




222   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
22
The notice before referred to in relation to Henry8
Jackson Dunster was: "Mr. Henry Dunster, of 1)uxbury, had a very narrow escape from death on Monday,
16th Feb., 1871, by the caving in of the walls of a well
in which he was at work. He was not rescued from his
perilous position until six hours after the alarm was
given. At first lie could be distinctly heard beneath the
fallen earth and rocks with which he was covered to the
depth of many feet; but all hopes of rescuing him alive
had vanished many hours before he was finally taken out,
Perseverance at last succeeded in reaching him, when it
was found that he was still alive. Fair hopes are entertained of his recovery. Mr. Dunster is a lineal descendant of the first President of Harvard College."
We cannot better close the sketch of this branch of
the Dunster family than by an article we find in the
Christian Era, of Boston, Jan. 2, 1873. We know not
its author.
1654. HENRY DUNSTER AND HARVARD  1872.
COLLEGE.
How good and how pleasant a thing it would be if
Harvard College could gratefully and gracefully atone
for the martyrdom of the excellent and learned President
DUNSTER by giving to his lineal descendant the benefits
of the institution to whose development and success he
brought his intellectual power and moral influence with
such efficient devotion. And is not the opportunity for
such a felicity, of itself, an obligation to improve it?
That such an opportunity does exist, appears from the
following incident in a wayfarer's note-book:
"April 29, 1872. Duxbury, on the side of'Captain's
Hill.' Off in Plymouth Harbor-in a few minutes she
will be out of sight beyond Clarke's Island-scuds a tiny
sailboat before the morning breeze: a mere speck on the
blue water. D)own the hill, with a leap over the stone
wall, comes a lad of fourteen on his way to the old house
at the foot of the hill, there to pass the summer with his
Grandmother Brewster. His name is Henry Dunster, a
likely boy, and he says,'in that boat are my father,




REBECCA 5 DUNSTER.              223
23
Henry Dunster, my mother, and two of the children.
My father is going to the Gurnett for the summer to
take lobsters for the Boston market.' In his own cottage by the water side, the evening before, Dunster had
told me of his lowly life.' My father,' said he,' was a
printer in Lincoln & Edmond's shop, in Boston.  He
died early, leaving me an orphan boy, two years old.'A while since, his own self-control and calmness in extreme danger saved his life. Buried beneath the falling
walls of the well he was clearing, he coolly directed the
movements of the frightened men above, and to his
words of cheer and caution the bystanders attributed the
care which saved him from  premature burial.  They
both, father and son, showed the aptitude of language
and calm decision amid peril-the story of which is so
well told by Dr. Chaplin. Now, after two centuries of
Dunster's rest in Old Cambridge grave yard-two centuries after the flagrant wrongs which drove him from
the College and the colony —occurs a fitting opportunity
to make the amende honorable by adoption of Ilenry
Dunster, Jr., of Duxbury, as a child of Harvard C(ollege, thereby to give him the education of which he is
capable.  This would be a noble tribute to the public
service and private worth of President Dunster.
J. W. T."
23. iv. REBECCA5 DrUNSTER, (JasonS,4 Henry,3'Jona.'
Henry,l) born June 18, baptized June 20, 1756, was
iamed after Rebecca, her sister, who had died when ten
months old. When about twelve years old, her father
removed to Mason, N. H. She married (date not found)
John Swallow, 3d, born Jan. 3, 1757, the oldest son of
Lieut. John, 2d, and Sarah (Lawrence) Swallow.  He
was the oldest son of John, 1st, and DPeborah (Lawrence)
Swallow, of Groton, Mass.  Of "Lieut." John it is said
(History Mason), while residing in his father's family
in Dunstable, he commenced clearing up his farm  in
Mason, about 1751. At that time there was no road
from  Dunstable to No. 1 (Mason).  He would start on
Monday morning with a pack load of provisions on his
back, and finding his way by marked trees to his clearing, would fill the forest echoes with lusty blows of his
*20




224   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
23
axe, from sun to sun, till his stock of provisions was
exhausted; and then starting a few hours before sunset
he would wend his solitary way through the forest twenty-two miles to his Dunstable home to replenish his
stock, and after a brief resting would again renew his
journey and labors. Thus he subdued the forest, built
his log cabin, and set up his household. In this log
cabin, a house of one small room, he lived till after the
birth of his eleventh child, 1778, when he removed into
a new two-story frame house, in which he spent the remainder of his days, extended to the good old age of 86
years. He never knew what it was to be sick, or even
tasted of anything called medicine, until past his -75th
year. His death was occasioned by a fall and a broken
bone, the pain of which wore out his life, Nov. 23, 1815.
John Swallow, 3d, the husband of Rebecca Dunster,
was the first to bless this log cabin by a birth. After
him followed fourteen more, making fifteen in all. No
wonder that that "house of one small room" needed
colonization. After the marriage of John, 3d, with Rebecca, he built a house near the two-story house of his
father, and in it all their children were born; but they
fell short-in numbers full fifty per cent. The husband
was a hard-working man and the wife was a similar helpmate. He was remembered by some of the little boys of
his wife's brother, whom he used to call his little white
headed "sogers" when, in Indian file, they carried the
dinners to the choppers down in the woods, on the Souhegan River, by the spring beyond the Elliot Pasture.
Time and the Peterboro and Shirley Railroad have taken
all the romance out of that happy locality.
His wife, Rebecca (Dunster) Swallow, died Aug. 3,
1811, aged 56 years, and was buried at Mason Centre, in
the large Swallow group. She was admitted a member.
in full communion, of Mason Congregational Church,
Nov. 1, 1801.
Her husband, in his old age, became totally dependent,
and was long maintained by his brother-in-law, Josiah
Winship. Finding that Winship intended to call on the
town to take care of him, he started on foot, although




THE SWALLOW FAMILY.               225
23
in feeble health, and walked to Ashburnham, fourteen
or sixteen miles, to Samuel C. Dunster's (his wife's
brother), and died there, Jan. -, 1830, aged 73 years.
His remains were interred at Mason Centre.
They had seven children, all born in Mason:
i. JOHN6 SWALLOW, born March 1, 1783, died March
13, same year.
ii. JOHN6 SWALLOW, (Rebecca' D., Jason,4 Henry,3
Jona.,2 Henry,') born Feb. 3, 1785, married Jan. 13,
1811, Sally Wood, the daughter of Joseph and Mary
(Waugh) Wood, who was born April 19, 1790.  She was
a( member of Mason Church.  They lived on the place
with his father until the death of his wife.  He was employed most of the time in teaming to and from Boston.
He then removed to Peterboro, N. H., farming some of
the time, making his home at his son's, John' Swallow
(twin to Sarah).  He died at Peterboro, May 24, 1862,
was brought to Mason Village and buried beside his wife,
who died in that village, Oct. 7, 1852, aged 64 years.
They had ten children:
1. ELMIRA' SWALLOW, born Sept. 2, 1811, in Mason,
married May 7, 1835, Ephraim M. Dudley, son of Ebenezer Dudley, born May 23. 1808, at Roxbury, Mass.,
where they are now living, 1876.  Four children, all
born at West Roxbury:
(i) EZRA8 SWALLOW DUDLEY, born Oct. 7, 1836,
died Jan. 26, 1863, unmarried.
(ii) ELMIRA8 J. DUDLEY, born Nov. 10, 1838, died
Jan. 16, 1839.
(iii) ELLEN' M. DUDLEY, born Aug. 14, 1840.
(iv) EUGENE' B. DUDLEY, born June 3, 1848.
2.  MALINDA7 SWALLOW, b. May 27, 1813, in Mason,
married Sept. 22, 1836, Joseph Pollard Felt, of Temple,
N. IH., his second wife.  She was a member of Mason
Village Church.  She died Aug. 20, 1837, aged 24 years.'They had one child, who diedabout the same time, aged
8 months.
3. CALVIN' SWALLOW, (John,6 John and Rebecca 5
D., Jason,4 Henry,3 Jona.,' Henry,') the third child of




226   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS..3
John and Sally (Wood) Swallow, born at Mason, April
19, 1817, lived with his father till about twelve years old;
afterwards bought his time of his father. In 1835, went
into the West India goods business for two years. In
1837, visited most of the Western country. He bought
at Berwick, Warren Co., Ill., a section of land, which he
still owns. After about a year's residence there he returned to Boston.  In 1841, went into the provision
business, which he continued ten years.  Being out of
health, he retired for a couple of years, and was then appointed Inspector of Transportation in Bond for Canada,
at the U. S. Custom IHouse in Boston. This office he
held during the administration of President Pierce.
From 1856 to 1863 he was engaged in building houses,
for sale, in the southern part of Boston, neai Chester
Park. About 1863 he-engaged in the wholesale pork
business. Since then he has been in the building and
real estate business. He was once robbed of his pocket-.book in New York street cars. Lives at 786 Tremont
street, Boston.  He married March 3, 1842, Sarah Bickford Huff, of Kennebunk Port, Maine. Six children:
(i) SARAH8 MATILDA SWALLOW, born Jan. 2, 1843?
mar. John A. Jones, of Boston. She died June 2, 1872,
leaving two children, who are living with her father:
(1) GERTA9 ADILADE JONES. (2) JOHN9 C. JONES.
(ii) GEORGE8 EZRA SWALLOW, born in Boston, lives
with his father, unmarried.
(iii) EMMA8 ADALADE SWALLOW, born in Boston, lives
with her father, unmarried.
(iv) THOMAS8 JEFFERSON SWALLOW, born in Boston,
went to Buffalo, N. Y., 1872, to learn telegraphy.
(V)) } Twins.8 One died in infancy; one lived 18 mo.
4.  JOHN,   Twins of John and Sally (Wood) Swal5.  SARAH, low, b. in Peterboro, N.H., Jan.28,1820.
4.  JoHN' SWALLOW  (twin), married at Peterboro,
Nov. 14, 1844, Elizabeth Nelson, died Aug. 28, 1869.
Two children:




THE SWALLOW FAMILY.              227
23
(i) JOHN8 CALVIN SWALLOW, born, at Peterboro, married there.
(ii) ELLA8 SWALLOW, born —, at Peterboro, living
with her mother in the house where she was born, unm.
5. SARAH7 SWALLOW (twill), born Jan. 28, 1820,
married April 22, 1838, Joseph Pollard Felt, (his third
wife). She died at Mason Village, Nov. 7, 1841, aged
21 years. Had one child, who died in Mason, Feb.
5, 1840.
6. JOSEPH,  Twins (second pair) of John and Sally
7. MARY,  (Wood) Swallow, born Aug. 24, 1822.
6. JOSEPH7 SWALLOW (twin), married Nov. 24, 1845,
Aderathy Woods, of Brookfield. Have one daughter,
married, 1872, lives at Newton?  Have buried
two children?
7. MARY7 SWALLOW (twin to Joseph), mar. Horace
W. Pierce, (second wife).  Mr. Pierce is the same who
married Louisa H. Swallow, daughter of Ezra6 Swallow.
She resides with her step-children in Brighton. She
had no children.
8. ELIZABETH7 SWALLOW, born at Mason, April 7,.
1825, united with the Baptist Church at Mason Village,
married Seneca Lynch, Aug. 26, 1845. Reside in Berwick, Warren Co., Illinois, on her brother Calvin's land.
Have had four children: Two died young. EDWIN8
LYNCH, WILLIE8 LYNCH, both now living.
9. ADDISON7 SWALLOW, born at Townsend, Mass.,
April 27, 1827, married at Boston, Nov. -, 1852, Sarah
Leavy. Resides in Boston. Have two children:
(i) FRANK8 SWALLOW.  (ii)  WILLIE8 SWALLOW.
10. ELLEN 7 REBECCA SWALLOW, born at Mason, May
31, 1829, died Jan. 31, 1842, aged 13 years, buried at
Mason Village.
iii. ISAIAH6 DUNSTER SWALLOW, (.John and Rebecca5
D., Jason,4 Henry,' Jona.,' Henry,') the third child of
John and Rebecca (Dunster) Swallow, born March 29,
1787, married May 30, 1813, Zibiah Davis, of Roxbury,
daughter of Noah and Elizabeth (Weld) Davis.  Zibiah




'228   HENRY' DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
23
Davis was a sister of Mary Davis, wife of Isaiah5 Dunster. They lived in Roxbury till April, 1816, when they
bought a farm in Templeton, Mass. His wife died May
7, 1848. He died Sept. 6, 1861. They had eight children:
1. ELLEN7 ZIBIAH SWAlLOW, born at Roxbury, Feb.
7, 1814. After the death of her mother, she appears to
have assumed the care of the family, and still resides at
Templeton Centre, unmarried. In furnishing a record
of her father's family she adds: " There is nothing remarkable about the family that would be interesting."
We think the fact that she has lived sixty years and " has
not been sick since she was eight years old," is a very remarkable fact, and one that does not often occur.
2. SARAH7 WOOD SWALLOW, born Oct. 26, 1815, in
Roxbury, married Jan. 21, 1846, Edson Higley, of Templeton. He died there, Feb. 9, 1848. Since then she
has lived with her sister, Ellen Z., at Templeton Centre.
3. ISAIAH' DUNSTER SWALLOW, born Sept. 7, 1817,
married April 22, 1847, Esther J. Gates. He was employed in a factory. Feb. 9, 1848, he went to the mill
to work before any other hand was in, and it is supposed
that he attempted to adjust a belt and was entangled in
it and carried round the drum, killing him instantly.
They had one child:
(i)  LYMANS  A. SWALLOW, born Jan. 1, 1848, died
April 3, 1851.
4.  WILLIA1M7 ALFRED  SWALLOW, born April 12,
1819, married April 13, 1845, Azubah H. Hager; was a
machinist in Worcester many years.  He died April 15,
1866. She died Nov. 1, 1873. Had two children:
(i) ABBIE8 A. SWALLOW, born Oct. 19, 1846, married Dec. 1, 1868, William B. Allyn. Live in Baldwin,
Wisconsin. Have three children:
(1) MARY9 A. ALLYN, born Oct. 16, 1869.
(2)  WILLIAM9 ALFRED ALLYN, born Dec. 18, 1871.
(3) SYBIL9 R. ALLYN, born March 26, 1874, died
Sept. 12, same year.
(ii)  MARTHA8 ZIBIAH SWALLOW, born Aug. 14, 1849,




THE SWALLOW FAMILY.              229
23
mar. Feb. 22, 1876, William F. Scribner.  They are now
in Worcester, but intend to go West this spring (1876).
5. ELIZABETH7 R. SWALLOW, born Jan. 10, 1821,
married Dec. 12, 1861, James H. Bond. They reside in
Leicester, Mass. No children.
6. Infant7 daughter, b. Jan. 18, 1822, died same day.
7. MARY' J. SWALLOW, born April 3, 1823, died
May 1, 1855, unmarried.
8. Lucy7 A. SWALLOW, born May 28, 1826, married
May 22, 1866, Davight McFarland.  Reside in Leicester, Mass.
A part of the family of Isaiah and Zibiah (Davis)
Swallow are Unitarians, the rest are Orthodox Congregationalists.
iv. ABEL6 SWALLOW, (John and Rebecca5 D., Jason,4
Henry,3 Jona.,2 Henry,') the fourth child of John and
Rebecca (Dunster) Swallow, born at Mason, Nov. 3,
1789, went to Sudbury, Mass., where he married June
8, 1814, Dorcas Parmenter, born Jan. 9, 1788, at Sudbury. He lived after his marriage in Roxbury, Brookline, Leominster, Marlboro and Framingham. I-e was
a farmer and fruit grower, selling generally in Boston.
" He died of heart disease, Aug. 26, 1853, at Framingham. He was handing a box of fine plums, which he
had raised, to his market man, when he fell back and
never moved a muscle after." They had five children:
1. GEORGE 7 E. SWALLOW, born at Roxbury, July 11,
died July 23, 1815.
2. ADALINE7 E. SWALLOW, born at Brookline, June
24, 1817, married March 14, 1838, in Framingham, Addison Belknap, born Jan. 20, 1811. They are farmers,
living in the south part of Framingham.  One child:
(i) ADDISON8 COMER BELKNAP, born Oct. 25, 1844,
in Framingham, is a farmer with his father.  He married May 31, 1865, Rebecca Jane Hosmer, born Nov. 17,
1846, in Framingham.  They have one child:
(1) ARTHUR9 T. BELKNAP, born Feb. 8, 1872, at
Framingham.




230   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
23
3. JOSEPH7 HENRY SWALLOW, born at Brookline,
Aug. 9, 18119, is a farmer, and resides in the north part
of Framingham.  Hle married at Danvers, Mass, March
19, 1845, Clarinda J. Ordway, born Dec. 9, 1824, in
Hopkinton, N. H. They have had three children:
(i) HENRY8 CLAY SWALLOW, born at Merrimac, N.
H., June 3, 1846, died at Framingham, Aug. 10, 1850.
(ii) HENRIETTA8 SUSAN SWALLOW, born at Danvers,
Sept. 23, 1849.
(iii) CARRIE8 JANE SWALLOW, born at Framingham,
May 19, 1861.
4. SUSAN7 R. SWALLOW, born Feb. 14, 1823, at Leominster, died July 10, 1844, at Framingham, unm.
5. SARAH7 H. SWALLOW, born at Marlboro, Sept. 19,
1830, married Oct. 19, 1847, at Framingham, Francis
Hosmer, born at Bolton, Mass., June 8, 1826. He is a
farmer in the north part of Framingham.  Have two
children:
(i) FREDERIC8 H. HOSMIER, born Oct. 5, 1854, is a
bookkeeper in Quincy Market, resides in Boston, married Oct. 14, 1875, E. Ella Winch, born June 24, 1855,
in Framingham.
(ii) WILLIE8 T. HOSMER, born Nov. 20, 1860, in
Framingham.
v.  NEHEMIAH6 SWALLOW, the fifth child of John
and Rebecca (Dunster) Swallow, born in Mason, May
22, 1792, went to Western New York, afterwards to
Ohio, where he died of a fever in 1826. Unmarried.
vi. EZRA6 SWALLOW, the sixth child of John and
Rebecca (Dunster) Swallow, born at Mason, Dec. 22,
1794, in early manhood lived with his Uncle Isaiah Dunster in Roxbury, driving his market wagon to Boston,
and attending to the agricultural affairs of the farm generally. After his uncle's death he carried on the tavern
and subsequently bought it. He married May 22, 1820,
Nancy Shortlift, born April 17, 1799, in Sudbury. She
died Sept. 17, 1841. IHe died at Roxbury, Oct. 21, 1832.
They had one child:




THE SWALLOW FAMILY.             231
23-24
1. LouIsA7 H. SWALLOW, born at Roxbury, MarCIh
24, 1821.  She married at Brighton, Dec. 24, 1848,
Horace W. Pearce, or Pierce, son of Horace Pierce.
They had:
(i) WILLIE8 H. PEARCE, born Jan. 3, 1850.
(ii) FRED.8 A. PEARCE, born March 1, 1852.
(iii) CORA8 C. PEARCE, born Nov. 19, 1854.
All reside in Brighton.
His wife (Louisa) died May 24, 1859, and he married
second, Mary Swallow, daughter of John 6 Swallow (twin
to Joseph). Mr. Pearce is dead, and his widow lives
with her step-children, at Brighton.
vii. REBECCA6 SWALLOW, born in Mason, May 3,
1799, lived with the old folks until her mother died
(1811), when her father broke up housekeeping. She
then lived with her brother Ezra, in Roxbury. Here
she married Abram Sanborn, born, in New Hampshire. They lived near the Dunster (Swallow) Tavern.
She died there Feb. 21, 1832. Her husband married
again, and moved to Canada, and took a part or all of
the children with him, some of whom are living. They
had three children:
1. ELIZA' SANBORN. 2. GEORGE7 SANBORN, lives
in Illinois. 3. ELMIRA7 SANBORN, called, after her
mother's death, REBECCA SANBORN. Both daughters
are married in South Roxton, Canada East.
24.  v. MARTHA5 DUNSTER, (Jason,4 Henry,s Jona.2
Henry,1) the fifth child of Jason and Rebecca (Cutter)
Dunster, was born at Cambridge (Precinct), Aug. 28,
baptized Sept. 3, 1758, by Rev. Samuel Cooke, Second
Church. She removed with her father's family, 1769,
to Mason, N. H. She did not live with her father all of
the time, but went "out to service," as we call it now,
which then meant an assistant in the family equal with
the children. She lived at Major Abbot's, in Wilton.
Here she became acquainted with Oliver Wright, the
son of John Wright, of Dunstable, now Nashua. He
was born in Westford, Mass., and died "the year after
21




232   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
24
Martha married," aged 92, consequently he must have
been born in 1692. We give the record of his children
as remarkable instances of longevity in one family.
(W11illiam P. Wright's Bible.)
JOHN, Jr., born May 4, 1748, died March 1, 1836,
aged 88 years, 7 months.
ZEBEDEE, born July 19, 1749, died Jan. 1, 1823, aged
73 years, 5 months.
BENJAMIN, born Oct. 12, 1751, died Aug. 29, 1833,
aged 81 years, 10 months.
ISAAC, born Sept. 4, 1754, died Feb. 11, 1837, aged
82 years, 4 months.
NEHEMIAH, born Oct. 12, 1756, died Feb. 18, 1842,
aged 85 years, 4 months.
OLIVER, born Sept. 14, 1758, died Sept. 3, 1847, aged
89 years.
SARAH, born Sept. 4, 1762, died Dec. 22, 1838, aged
66 years, 3 months.
Oliver, the son, was born in Westford, Sept. 14, 1758.
Martha "fixed her things," as her only living daughter
said, at Major Abbot's, and they were married Sept. 7,
1783. Her husband had not been unmindful of the
responsibilities he was about to assume.  With his
brother, Nehemiah, he had purchased two lots of land
in Monadnock No. 6, then called Packer's field, now
Nelson, lying about forty miles from his father's residence and thirty from her's, among the mountains of
the Monadnock range.  Here he had "fixed his things,"
which consisted of a small house and a little "opening"
in the solitary wilderness. As soon as married they
made their " wedding trip." It was to this little home.
Here they lived, here all their children were born, here
they died.
They were both members of the Orthodox Congregational Church, and maintained a Christian and consistent life, blameless to the end. A visit to their home
in 1837, is vividly remembered. They were alone. Their
children had all been married, or died. They were then
about 80 years old.  That family altar had never been




THE WRIGHT FAMILY.               233
24
neglected;.and kneeling around it seemed almost " Holy
ground.". They were prudent and hard-working. On
the 19th of March, 1821, the house which they had erected and made comfortable in furniture and conveniences
by their united labor of forty years, was burned. Nothing of consequence was saved. It was before the days
of general insurance, and all was lost. A new home was
built by them, assisted by their friends, and again they
were cheerful and happy.
She died Sept. 2, 1838, being 80 years, 5 months, 19
days old. He died Sept. 3, 1847, nine years after his
wife, aged 89 years.  In their Family Bible, at William
P. Wright's, Chicago, his birth is April 14, 1758, and
his death is Sept. 3, 1846, age 88 years, 4 months, 19
days. They were both buried in Nelson. They raised a
large and enterprising family, having had ten children:
i. OLIVER WRIGHT, born June 5, 1786, died Oct. 11,
1850. Twice married.
ii. KENDALL WRIGHT, born March 6, 1788.  When
four years old he was playing about the wood-pile, then
being prepared for burning, when a log rolled from it
killing him instantly, April 19, 1792.
iii. ABIEL WRIGHT, born March 27, 1790, married
Patty Baker, still living,. in Hartland, Vt.
iv. JASON WRIGHT, born April 21, 1792, died Aug.
25, the same year, 4 months old, buried at Nelson.
v. PATTY WRIGHT, born March 28, 1794, mar. Oliver
Heald, (1st wife,) died Aug. 19, 1854, at Milford, N. H.
vi. HENRY WRIGHT, born Sept. 17, 1795, mar. Lois
Kimball, died in Clinton, Mass., Aug. 26, 1852.
vii. ANNA WRIGHT, born July 9, 1797, married Cylrus
Greenwood, died Nov. 12, 1816.
viii. LUCY WRIGHT, born Aug. 28, 1799, mar. Leonard Butterfield, still living, in Dunstable, N. H.
ix. IRA WRIGHT, born Oct. 26, 1801, died Feb. 7,
1802, buried at Nelson.
x. MYRA WRIGHT, born Dec. 30, 1802, mar. Edwin
Jewel, died Oct. 7, 1849.




234   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDIANTS.
24
i.  OLlVEnR6 WRIGHT, (Oliver and Martha' D., Jason,4
Henry,' Jonathan,' Henry,') was the first child of Oliver
and Martha (Dunster) Wright, born June 5, 1786.  He
lived with his father until of suitable age to learn the
trade of cabinet-maker with Col. James Wood, of Mason.
While an apprentice he made the black cherry tree case
to the clock of his Uncle Dunster-about 1803-the
works of which were bought of "Billings, the clock
maker," of Acton.  It is now as good as new, and is
quietly ticking away at the "old parsonage," asking no
favors except to be wound up at the close of the week's
work. After finishing his trade he established himself
at Tyngsboro, N. H.  In Mason he became acquainted
with Hannah Wheeler, the seventh child of Timothy and
and Sarah (Hubbard) Wheeler, who had a fine farm near
that of Col. Wood.  She was born May 7, 1789.  They
were married by Rev. E. Iill, May 25, 1809, and went
at once to Tyngsboro. They staid but a short time
there. He removed to Nelson in 1810, and set up a shop
for cabinet making, &c. Here he had machinery of his
own contrivance propelled by water power. One of his
then little cousins remembers a top turned by him which,
being his first one, he considered a marvel of skill.
As early as 1812, and we think before, he conceived the
idea of sawing shingles from the log. He carried his
plan into practice, and set his mnachine to work. It did
all that was expected of it.  Everything needed to complete its success and consequent remuneration was a suitable person to dispose of the shingles. The country
traders then did most of the business of buying and selling. He applied to them to aid him in selling, and was
assured that they would take the matter into consideration and see him again. The one in whom he had
placed the most confidence did see him. He exhibited
the machine and explained its construction, and showed
its working. After a full examination and clear conception of its arrangements, he saw its ultimate results.
It would interfere with much of the business of his other
customers, and therefore reduce his own profits, so he
began to belittle its utility and discourage the inventor.
This had its intended effect.  He was "talked out of it."




THE WRIGHT FAMILY.              235
24
Modest and confiding, he believed the story. His machine was taken to pieces and stowed away among the
" old lumber in the garret," and he gave up his cherished
desire. Such is the fate of many real inventors.
Sometime afterwards, that very man who had " considered" the plan put a "machine for sawing shingles"
into full operation, for which he obtained a patent, making oath that it was his own invention, although it embraced exactly the same principles in exact detail. He
made a handsome property out of it.  We mention this
at some length on account of the wrong done the real
inventor, and to certify to its priority. We saw it in
operation, and, although a child at that time, can now
remember the automic contrivance by which it was
made to saw the butt and top of shingles alternately..
This only was patentable, as we saw in after years, when
the primnciples of mechanics were better studied.
He also invented a machine for sawing ship timber.
He was at one time an overseer in the Columbian Factories at Mason Village, and spent most of his active life
in making steam and cotton machinery.
He married second, Aug. 16, 1818, Rhoda Taylor, of
Dunstable, the daughter of Samuel and Ruth (Parker)
Taylor, born Aug. 24, 1787. He was the first deacon of
the First Baptist Church in Dunstable.  She (Rhoda)
nnited with that church about 1805, was afterwards an
active member of the first Sabbath School in Dr. Sharpe's
Church, Boston, in 1817.  " She read the Bible through
ainzually for near thirty years."  She died at Nunda, N.
Y., July 11, 1868, aged 80 years and 10 months, and
was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, N. Y.
Oliver6 Wright united with the Congregational Church
in Nelson, on profession of faith, in 1817. I-e removed
to New Ipswich, 1823, and to Mason Village, 1829. Here
he united with the Baptist Church in 1830, and was baptized by immersion. He removed with his family to
Nunda, Livingston Co., N. Y., 1835, thence to Rochester, N. Y., 1846.  " He lived a consistent Christian life,
and died in the hope of a glorious resurrection, Oct. 12,
1850, aged 64 years."  He was buried at Mount Hope
Cemetery, Rochester, N. Y.
*21




236   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
24
Hannah (Wheeler), his first wife, died March 4, 1817,
when Kendall, their fifth child was ten davs old, aged
28 years, was buried at Nelson. She was a woman of
good character and deservedly beloved.  Her eldest
daughter, Caroline, has furnished an interesting sketch
of her life and religious experience which we would gladly insert. For want of space we can only say that on
her death bed she named her infant child, and with an
earnest desire for the conversion of her associates, selected Amos, vi., 3, as a text from which she requested
her pastor, Rev. Gad Newell, to preach her funeral sermon. To her friends she said, I am alive, and shall live
again; old things are done away; all things have become
new. I can now say, "Oh, death, where is thy sting?
Oh, grave, where is thy victory?"
Oliver6 Wright had eight children: By his first wife,
Hannah, five; by his second wife, Rhoda, three:
i. CAROLINE7 WRIGHT, the oldest child, was born in
Tyngsboro, N. H., March 5, 1810. Her father went to
Nelson when she was about six months old. Here she
lived until the death of her mother, when she was
adopted by her Aunt Lucy (Wheeler) Stone, of Townsend. She united with the Orthodox Congregational
Church, when sixteen years old, on recent profession in
Townsend (Rev. Mr. Palmer). Her uncle, Samuel Stone,
who had just erected a new house, died Aug. 29, 1830.
His widow lived at the new residence until her death,
Dec. 28, 1861, aged 77 years, 27 days. By her will, the
property was given to Caroline, on which she livedhousekeeping-till about 1868.  Her history, though a
painful one, is interesting, and we extend it as related
by her letters, which have been numerous, and at times
written by an amanuensis.
She had often, in her childhood, heard of her Aunt
Stone, her mother's sister, but had only seen her in infancy. When her mother died, she felt a desire to go
and live with them. At the funeral she asked her aunt
if she might go home with her. The reply was an encouraging one; and the same month Caroline went to
Townsend as their adopted daughter. For a time she




THE WRIGHT FAMILY.               237
24
was discontented and unhappy at being separated from
father, brothers and sisters. Her uncle and aunt were
very kind, and soon she became attached to them. After
Mr. Stone died she taught school, occasionally, for some
years. In 1842 she was disabled by lameness, hereditary
in the family of her Grandfather Wheeler.  The disability has been so great that she has been unable to walk
for more than twenty-five years; but has been able in
later years, generally, to trundle herself about her room
in a chair. Sometimes she can use her hands for writing, reading, or other things not requiring much physical strength; at others, she is unable to write, or even
feed herself.  Since 1868 she has boarded-most of the
time in the families of her friends and relations-for the
last five or six vears at her cousin's, Samuel H. Wheeler,'
Mason Centre.
She adds that, " in these later years, she views the circumstance of her going to live with her uncle and aunt
as a good Providence, by which a more ample provision
was made for her comfort and happiness than perhaps
would otherwise have been during these years of suffering and disability; and she would most gratefully remember the continued loving kindness of her Heavenly
Father, who has so mercifully sustained her under affliction, and so bountifully provided every needed blessing."
Her last letter, written by another hand, says: "I am
unusually ill, confined to my bed almost entirely, and
have been for the last year. I can generally write five
or six lines in a.day; when I have more to do, I am
obliged to have some one write for me.
ii. The second child of Oliver and Hannah (Wheeler)
Wright was SARAH,' or SALLY WRIGHT, born in Nelson,
Feb. 24, 1812, and died March 16, same year.
iii. ALMIRA7 DUNSTER WRIGHT, their third child,
was born in Nelson, Feb. 8, 1813.  She went to Mason
Village with her father, 1829. Here she professed religion, and joined the Baptist Church there.  She went in
1835 to Nunda, N. Y.  She married, at Warsaw, N. Y.,
May 25, 1837, Mordan Stilman Wright, of Washington
County.  He was a carpenter, resided at Nunda.  He




238   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
24
made a profession of religion there. They were not related to each other. They moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1855, and appear to have lived at Mount Morris.
He sold his place in Ann Arbor, in the spring of 1873,
and removed to Eaton Rapids, to live with their son.
He died there prior to Sept. 17, 1873, and his widow returned to Ann Arbor, and lives on property they owned
there. They had four children:
1. WALTER8 STILMAN  WRIGHT, born at Nunda,
April 22, 1838, married Sept. 8, 1869, Mrs. Louisa C.
Spoor, at Detroit, Mich. She had had three daughters
by her former husband. He is a farmer, and resides at
Eaton Rapids.
2. CARRIE8 ELIZABETH? WRIGHT, was born at Nunda, Sept. 14, 1843. Professed religion at Ann Arbor,
March 17, 1871.
3. ELLA8 S. WRIGHT, (ALTHEA in one record,) born
at Mount Morris, April 9, 1846, professed religion at
Ann Arbor, with her sister.
4. HANNAH8 ELIZABETH TAYLOR WRIGHT, born at
Mount Morris, New York, Oct. 17, 1848.
iv. TIMOTHY7 WHEELER WRIGHT, was born in Nelson, Nov. 29, 1814.  "Possessing an amiable disposition, his affectionate treatment of his younger brothers
and sister left an undying impression on their young
hearts. Previous to his last sickness he had sought the
Lord, and his dying bed was made soft by his Saviour's
sustaining hand. He labored to lead all who visited him
to repentance and faith."  (Caroline Wright.) He died
in New Ipswich, N. H., Dec. 6, 1827, aged 13 years and
1 week; was interred in Nelson.
v. OLIVER7 KENDALL WRIGHT, was born in Nelson,
Feb. 21, 1817. His mother died when he was ten days
old. She named him on her death bed, Oliver, (his own
father) and Kendall, who had been so suddenly killed
while a child. "He possessed a decided talent for mechanical pursuits, and was successful in accomplishing
some, for one so young, difficult pieces of work."  He
died at Nelson, Dec. 2, 1835, aged 18 years, 9 mo. 11 d.




THE WRIGHT FAMILY.               239
24
vi. HANNAH7 ELIZABETH TAYLOR WRIGHT, (Oliver,'
llartha5 D., Jason,4 Henry,3 Jona.,2 Henry,') the sixth
child of Oliver and the first of Rhoda (Taylor) Wright,
was born in Nelson, Sept. 21, 1820.  "In infancy she
was an invalid. Deprived of the ordinary amusements
of children she devoted her time, even at that early age,.
to reading. Imbibing from her mother, who had been
no stranger to sickness and casualties. a love of religious
reading, she made that her pleasure.  When less than
seven years old, and during a sickness in which her life
was despaired of, it pleased God to manifest his converting grace and implant a love for the Bible and religious
literature, and thus shape her after life. At the early
age of nine years, while reading the thrilling stories from
the Missionary Magazine, a conviction of duty to prepare for work among the heathen was felt. To that
object her aim was directed. She had recovered the use
of her limbs. On the 7th of Sept., 1834, she united
with the Baptist Church in Mason Village, and in the
May following removed with her father to Nunda, N. Y.
She taught school in Warsaw, N. Y., some portion of
each year for ten years.
"In 1846, her father having removed to Rochester,
she accepted a situation as teacher in the public schools
of that city. During these passing years, the allurements of society, with the pleasure of teaching, had
chilled the ardor of early consecration to the cause of
Missions.  But chastisements [the death of her father,
probably] awoke the slumbering conviction and led to a
renewed consecration to that work. Induced by the advice of her pastor, Dr. Church, she offered herself to the
Board of American Baptist Mission Union, and was appointed teacher in the Karen Normal School, in charge
of Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Binney, Maulmain, Burmah.
With other missionaries she sailed from Boston, Oct.
18, 1849, in the ship Arab, and arrived March 18, 1850,
and assumed the charge of one of the departments of
the school the following day.
"Mrs. Binney's health having failed, her husband
soon left for America, leaving the school in the charge
of Miss Wright, with Mrs. Miranda Vinton as assistant.




240   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
24
The oft recurring failure in the health of missionaries
prostrated her, and obliged her to leave her much loved
and flourishing school, and she returned to her native
land in 1853. Health was again restored; and she married July 15, 1858, in Rochester, Rev. Lyman Stilson,
formerly Missionary to the Burmans, of Arracan and
Maulmain. IIe was born in Merideth, Delaware Co., N.
Y., Jan. 29, 1815; sailed for Burmah in 1837; labored
in the preparation of books and maps, and teaching,
during his stay of fourteen years.
"In Sept., 1847, while treasurer of the Missions, an
attempt was made by three Burmans to rob him. They
entered his study late in the evening, while he was alone
and unarmed. A struggle ensued, in which he was
severely wounded in his face, head, arm and right hand,
which was badly mutilated. These wounds caused a
failure of health, and a return to America in 1853."
Mrs. Stilson contributed, Jan. 11, 1877, to the Baptist
Beacon, Des Moines, Iowa, an interesting sketch of
President Dunster.
Two children:
1. CHARLIE8 LYMAN STILSON, born at Nunda, N.
Y., Feb. 28, 1860.
2. EDWIN8 PARKER STILSON, born at Nunda, May
4, 1861.
The present (1873) residence of this family is at Jefferson, Greene County, Iowa.
vii. WILLIAM:   PARKER WRIGHT, (Oliver,6 Oliver anld
Martha5 D.,) was the seventh child of Oliver and second
of Rhoda (Taylor) Wright. He was born at Nelson, N.
H., Jan. 6, 1823; went to New Ipswich, thence to Mason
Village, thence followed all the various removals made
by his father till 1852, when he and his brother, Charles
B. Wright, established themselves in the business of
building fire engines, which they continued till 1859.
They then both enlisted in the army. He enlisted as a
private, and went to Washington. Here he was detailed
as nurse in one of the hospitals. Iis attention to the
sick and wounded made him a favorite confidant with




THE WRIGHT FAMILY.             24-1
24
them. Authority at Washington had forbidden these
distressed victims of violence to inform their friends of
their condition, "lest it should discourage enlistments."
Disregarding these orders, and being a ready Writer, he
made glad the heart of many of them, and their consequent hope of recovery, by sending to their friends such
messages as they dictated.
In 1872 he lived at 660 Butterfield street, Chicago,
being in the employ of the Rock Island Engine Works,
as a machinist, but now resides at the works. He married June 14, 1866, at Port Byron, Illinois, Gertrude
E. Simonson. She is descended from the family who
owned the property where "rich" Trinity Church, in
New York, now stands. It is claimed that "Trinity"
never paid for it. They have two children:
1. ABBOT8 LAWRENCE WRIGHT, b. at Chicago, May
18, 1869, named by his father for Abbot Lawrence, of
Boston, Mass., who was a cousin of his " sainted mother."
2. A daughter,8 her name not recollected, born about
1873, at the Rock Island Engine Works, about four
miles from Chicago proper.
viii. CHARLES 7 BATEMAN WRIGHT, was born in New
Ipswich, N. H., Aug. 8, 1828. At Mason Village he
began his education at the common school; removed
with his father to Nunda; removed to Warsaw, N. Y.,
1838; back to Nunda in 1840. Here he carried on a
more extended business of machine building than he had
done at Nunda or Warsaw, till 1846, when he removed
to Rochester, N. Y., but was in no business for himself.
He learned the trade of machinist of his father. In
1852 he and his brother, William7 P. Wright, engaged
in the business of building fire engines at Rochester?
which they continued till 1859.
At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the
army, and on arriving at Washington was transferred
to the navy yard, to work in the ordinance department
as a machinist. In May, 1863, he was appointed an
engineer in the navy, and served two years. At the
close of the war he removed to Rochester, and-from that
place, in 18(i5, established the machine business with




242   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
24
William E. Leard, at Pithole (oil regions), in Pennsylvania. From Pithole they removed to Chattanooga, in
Tennessee, where they now carry on the same business.
He married, in Rochester, Oct. 18, 1854, Mary Littlefield, born Jan. 22, 1838, in that city. They both belong to the Episcopalian Church in Chattanooga.  Four
children:
1. CHARLES8 PARKER WRIGHT, born in Rochester,
N. Y., April 3, 1856.
2. ELLIOT8 OLIVER WRIGHT, born in Rochester,
Jan. 2, 1859.
3. NELLIE" WRIGHT, b. in Rochester, Aug. 12, 1860.
4. GENEVRA8? or GENEVA? LEARD WRIGHT, born at
Pithole, Penn., -, died Sept. 23, 1868, aged 5 months.
iii. ABIEL6 WRIGHT, (Oliver and Martha5 D., Jason,4
Henry,3 Jona.,2 Henry,') was born in Nelson, March 27,
1790. He lived with his father till about the time of his
marriage, June 9, 1818, to Patty (Martha) Baker, daughter of Thomas and Sally (Temple) Baker, of Marlboro,
N. H., and then bought a place at Harrisville, a village
in Nelson, about four miles from his father's. It is now,
we think, a separate town.  He was a much respected
man; was Captain of the Dublin and Nelson Cavalry Co.
for six years; was first Selectman near twenty years, and
did much other town business. He was a social, genial,
and religious man, but not a church member. After
the death of his wife, Dec. 8, 1855, he removed with his
daughter, Julian, to Hartland, Vermont, where he now
resides. Is in his 87th year of age, and as last heard
from, is in good health. His wife was buried in Nelson.
They had seven children, all born in Nelson:
1. FRANCIS7 WALTER WRIGHT, (Abiel,6 Oliver and
Martha 5 Dunster,) born Sept. 27, 1819, lived with his
father till 1839, then went with Melville & Nims, merchants, for about three and a half years. Then traded
for himself, in Marlow, N. H., about six months, when he
removed his goods to Ashby, Mass., April 16, 1844, and
traded there about four years. Since 1848 he has been
trading in stock, real estate, and nearly everything else;




THE WRIGHT FAMILY.              243
24
and now (1874) pays the largest tax of any man in Ashby.  (This we did not learn from  himself.) He has
been an Auctioneer, Assessor, one of the Selectmen and
Treasurer of the town, Overseer of the Poor, and Collector of Taxes for twenty years. He married July 5, 1845,
Caroline Lydia Melville, born Jan. 17, 1823, daughter
of Henry and Caroline Lydia (Whitney) Melville, of
Nelson.  He was born Aug. 27, 1794, and was killed
April 3, 1836, while blasting rocks in his door yard.
She was born July 6, 1795, died Jan. 8, 1864.
Francis W. Wright's wife died Jan. 4, 1864, at Ashby,
was buried at Nelson.  He married second, Augusta H.
Holden, Nov. 24, 1864, daughter of Edward Hosmer
and Dorcas Barrett (Cragin) Holden, of New Ipswich,
N. H. She was born in New Ipswich, July 26, 1811.
He was born March 26, 1811. Augusta Hosmer Holden
was born Sept. 13, 1838, educated at Ashby and Bradford Academy, and Townsend Academy. She taught
school sixteen terms in Ashburham, Townsend and Ashby, and is a member of the Orthodox Congregational
Church, which she and her husband joined at the same
time.  She is prominent in organizing societies, and
other means of supporting the church, one of which was
a newspaper got up by her, giving an address on the
hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of Ashby,
Sept. 4, 1867, with poetical and other compositions of
her own. She has contributed largely to the periodical
literature of the dav.
Frank Walter Wright had three children:
(i)  HENRY8s MELVILLE WRIGHT, born at Ashby, Dec.
15, 1848, died Feb. 27, 1849.
(ii) FRANCIS  DASCOMIB WRIGHT, born March 25,
1848, in Ashby.  He has been well educated, is a member of the church, and was married Jan. 25, 1875, to
Alice M. Haywood, daughter of P. A. and Martha Haywood, of Ashby.
(iii) CARRIEJ AUGUSTA WRIGHT, born Aug. 26, 1867,
was the third child of Francis W. and the first of Augusta
(Holden) Wright.
22




244   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
24
2.  ABBIE7 BAKER WRIGHT, was the second child of
Abiel and Patty (Baker) Wright, born June 19, 1821,
married Luther Cobb, of Nelson, Nov. 16, 1848. Have
no children. Have resided a short time in each of several States, east and west, and finally settled at Big
Rapids, Michigan, where they now reside. Mr. Cobb
has held the office of Supervisor of the township for some
years, also Register of Deeds for the county.
3. WALLACE7 WRIGHT, born April 23, 1823, died
Dec. 23, 1826.
4. JULIA7 ANN WRIGHT, born Dec. 31, 1824, married July 13, 1848, Calvin Rand Greene, of Hillsboro,
N. H. He was born March 30, 1823. They lived at
Harrisville, Peterboro, N. H., and afterwards at Hartland, Vt., where her father and husband purchased a
large farm, on which they now reside. Her father still
lives with them, in good health, but very deaf. Their
children are:
(i) ALICE8 JULIA GREENE, born at Harrisville, Nov.
14, 1853.
(ii) ANNIE8 MARIA GREENE, born March 11, 1863,
at Hartland.
5.  ALMEDA7 WRIGHT, born Feb. 19, 1829, married
June 3, 1856, Benjamin W. Plummer, of Northfield, N.
H. They resided in Bennington, N. H., and had one
child, who died an infant. She died Sept. 7, 1859, aged
30 years and 7 months.
6. DASCOMB7 WALLACE WRIGHT, born Feb. 6, 1834,
died Jan. 30, 1841.
7. MARTHA'7 ELZINA WRIGHT, born July 5, 1838,
married March 3, 1870, Lucian Webster Rice, of Hartland, Vt. They resided a short time in Providence, R.
I., afterward at Vermont, and now reside on a large milk
farm in Lebanon, N. H. They have:
(i) LILLIAN8 EMILY RICE, born June 1, 1871.
v.  MARTHA6 (PATTY) WRIGHT, (Oliver and Martha5
Dunster, Jason,4 Henry,3 Jona.,2 Henry,1) the fifth child
of Oliver and Martha (Dunster) Wright, was born March
28, 1794. She married April 30, 1816, at Nelson, Oliver




THE HEALD FAMILY.               245
24
Heald (Hale in the old Family Bible), of Dublin, N. H.
His occupation was that of a wool carder and clothier.
He was in the war of 1812.  He was a Justice of the
Peace, and was repeatedly honored by his townsmen,
who elected him to places of trust. Moved to Milford
in 1849.  Patty6 died Aug. 19, 1854, at Milford.  He
was married again, to Relief Little, of Peterboro, N. H.,
March, 1857. He died at Peterboro, Oct. 5, 1867. The
ten children of Oliver and Patty (Wright) Heald were
all born in Nelson:
1. ADDISON7 HEALD, born Feb. 25, 1817, married
Jane E. French, daughter of Rev. Daniel French, of
Bedford, N. HI., (Congregationalist.)  She was born
July 25, 1824. He was educated for the ministry, and
licensed to preach, but was never ordained.  He had
charge of a colored school in Mercer Co., Ohio, from
1850, about four years.  He is now (1873) manufacturing furniture, and has planing works, with his son, at
Milford, N. H. They have four children:
(i) DANIEL8 MILTON HEALD, born in Ohio, Jan. 9,
1852, is with his father, manufacturing wood work, at
the establishment of his Uncle David7 Heald.
(ii) MARY8 JANE HEALD, born in Ohio, July 5, 1853,
married June 24, 1872, J. Lewis Merril, a teacher in the
Lake Forest Academy, Illinois. One child:
(1) QUINCY9 MERRIL, born Sept., 1874.
(iii) WILLIAM8 ADDISON HEALD, born Feb. 22, 1857,
died April 9, 1857.
(iv) SARAH8 MARIA HEALD, born June 4, 1858, at
Hudson, N. IH.
2.  ALBERT7 HEALD, (Oliver,6 fMTlChal5 D., Jason,4
Henry,3 Jona.,2 HIenry,') the second child of Oliver and
Patty (Wright) Heald, was born Dec. 14, 1818. He
married Harriet lIMunson, born in Whlately, Mass., Sept.
15, 1820. He was educated for the ministry, and graduated at New Hampton (N. H.) Theological Institution;
was ordained June 15, 1848, at Lyman, ~Maine, as pastor
of the Kennebunk and Lyman Baptist Church; left
Maine in March, 1851, and settled at East Washington,




246   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
24
N. H., May 1, 1851, at which place he preached until
March 1, 1865, when he settled in Warner, N. H., and
continued there until August, 1870. In November of
that year, he settled as pastor of the Baptist Church in
Amherst, N. H. He furnished much of the record of
the Heald family. They had but one child:
(i) HATTIEs G. HEALD, born at Lyman, Maine, June
1, 1850, married George K. Walker, of Amherst, Dec.
25, 1871. He is a druggist, and lives at No. 3 Buckinghamrn Place, Boston. They have a daughter:
(1) GRACIE9 MAY WALKER, born May 6, 1874.
3.  SARAH7 DUNSTER HEALD, born Nov. 14, 1820,
married April 20, 1848, William Crosby, at Milford,
N. H., his second wife.  He was the son of Othni
Crosby, who was the occupant of the Clothiers' Works
at Mason Village, (then called Mason Harbor,) about
1810. They live in Milford. Have no children.
4. Em1LY7 HEALD, born Dec., 1823, was the fourth
child of Oliver and Patty (Wright) Heald. She married
John Quincy Adams Ware, born Dec. 17, 1822, at Gilsum, N. H. He graduated at the New Hampton Theological Institution, 1850; was ordained over the Baptist
Church at Marlboro, N. II., 1852; removed to Sanbornton Bay, where he remained about three years; then removed to Addison, Vt., 1858; thence to Whiting, Vt.,
1860. Died at Derry, N. H., Aug. 29, 1865, while on
(a visit to his friends there. His family all being at
Whiting at the time, and expecting his return, went to
the depot to meet him, when a messenger came announcing his death. They had six children:
(i)  EDWIN8 CHAPIN WARE, born Oct. 8, 1852, at
Marlboro.
(ii) MARTHA8 JANE WARE, born Dec. 25, 1853, at
Sanbornton, N. H. She married Sept. 11, 1874, Willis
K. Emerson, of Cleveland, Ohio. They have removed
and settled there.
(iii) LAVINA8 MARIA WARE, born July 19, 1855, at
Sanbornton.  She has lived since 1866 with her Aunt
Lydia Harris, at HIarrisville.




THE HEALD FAMILY.                247
24
(iv) WALTER8 HENRY WARE, born April 25, 1859,
at Addison, Vt.
(v)  MARY8 FRANCES WARE, born May 30, 1860, at
Whiting, Vt., died at Whiting, May 6, 1862.
(vi) MARY8 E MILY WARE, born March 6, 1866.  Her
mother has resided in Milford, where this child was born,
since her husband's death.
o.  HENtRY7 HEALD, born Dec. 23, 1825, married
May 5, 1852, Frances Marshall, born July 9, 1828.
Their children were:
(i) JOHN8 HENRY HEALD, born Aug. 9, 1861, died
19th same month.
(ii) ARTHER8 CHASE HEALD, born May 14, 1863,
died Dec. 15, 1868.
(iii) ESTELLA8 FRANCES HEALD, born April 27, 1869.
Mrs. Frances (Marshall) Heald died Sept. 28, 1869.
[le married second, Mrs. Lucy Jane (McKean) Hill,
Aug. 24, 1872, born May 31, 1824.
6. LYDIA7 IIEALD, born Feb. 7, 1828, married Sept.
14, 1847, Milan Walter Harris.  He is the son of Milan
Harris, woolen manufacturer at Harrisville, N. H., and
is in company with his father, brother, and Gen. S. G.
Griffin. She, Lydia, died Aug. 24, 1873. They had
three children:
(i)  EDGAR8 CARLTON HARRIS, born July 17, 1849,
at Harrisville.  In 1873 was a clerk in a wholesale dry
goods store in Boston.
(ii)  ARTHER8 LE WELLER HIIARRIS, born Jan. 15,
1857, at South Royalston, Mass., died Aug. 4, 1858,
aged 1 year, 6 months and 19 days.
(iii) KATE8 WINFIELD HARRIS, born July 30, 1863,
at Harrisville.  "She has been very sick for the last ten
months (Feb. 15, 1873), and not expected to live twentyfour hours. A bright and charming little girl; bat'Death loves a shining mark."' (Albert Heald.)  She
died Feb. 25, 1873.
7. WILLIAM7 HEALD, born June 14, 1830, died Feb.
25, 1831.
*22




248   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
24
8. DAVID7 HEALD, the eighth child of Oliver and
Patty (Wright) Heald, was born Oct. 6;, 1832. He married first, at Milford, Nov. 27, 1856, Mary Susan Frost,
born March -, 1833, at Ashburnham.  She died Nov.
9, 1858. They had one child:
(i) ELLAs  FRANCES HEALD, born at Milford, April
15, 1858, died Sept. 21, same year.
He married second, Oct. 22, 1862, Mary Elizabeth
Stone, born June 19, 1840, daughter of Calvin, born
June 10, 1801, and Elvira (Wallingford) Stone, born
Aug. 24, 1804, all born at Marlboro.  She was educated
at Marlboro and Dublin; taught school at Marlboro
when sixteen years old; came to Milford in 1858, and
taught in public school there until her marriage. She
is much devoted to religious interests, and prominent in
efforts for the welfare of the young.  Mr. Heald is largely engaged in the manufacture of furniture, employing
at times 75 or 80 hands.  He sells mostly in Boston,
and is absent a portion of the time for that purpose.
During these times family religion is not neglected at
home. They have had five children:
(ii)  EDWARD8 STONE HEALD, born Jan. 31, 1864, at
Milford.  He was (i) of Mary Elizabeth (Stone) Heald.
(iii) FRANK8 HERBERT HEALD, born June 19, 1866.
(iv) FLORENCE8 MABEL HEALD, born Nov. 11, 1867.
(v)  CLARA8 MAY HEALD, born Dec. 15, 1870, died
Aug. 1, 1871, at Milford, buried there.
(vi) MARY8 SUSAN HEALD, born at Milford, May
20, 1873.
9.  AL-MIRA7 HEALD, the ninth child of Oliver and
Patty Heald, was born Jan. 20, 1835. She married, at
Harrisville, Nov. 24, 1859, Alonzo French, born in
Orange, Mass., Nov. 14, 1831.  One child:
(i)  GERTRUDE8 MIRA FRENCH, born June 2, 1862,
at South Royalston, Mass.  She died June 23, same
year.
10. EDWIN' HEALD, born July 4, 1837, died Aug.
17, 1840.




THE WRIGHT FAMILY.               249
24
vi.  HENRY 6 WRIGHT, (Oliver azd Martha5 D.,) the
sixth child of Oliver and Martha (Dunster) Wright, was
born Sept. 17, 1795, in Nelson, N. H.; lived with his
father on the "old clearing; " was a farmer and carpenter.  He united with the Congregational (Orthodox)
Church about 1817.  He married Lois Kimball, June
5, 1821, at Nelson.  She united with the same church
about two years before their marriage. They carried on
the farm, living in the same house (the new house), but
in separate apartments, until the death of his mother,
1838.  His father lived with him until his death, 1846.
Henry then removed his family-one half of whomn he
had buried in Nelson (three of that half died of scarlatina), to Clinton, Mass. They both removed their
church membership from  Nelson to Clinton when they
went there, 1849.  He died in Clinton, Aug. 26, 1852,
was buried in Clinton Cemetery.  His widow, Lois,
(1872) lives with her daughter, Lura Ann. She gave
the family history.  They had eleven children, all born
in Nelson, only three of whom are now living.  The deceased ones were all, except Ellen and Selena, buried
there.  Unmarried.
1. EMALINE' WRIGHT, born April 6, 1822, died Aug.
6, 1843.
2. SELENA' WRIGHT, born May 19, 1823, died Sept.
5, 1859, in Clinton, buried there, unmarried.
3.  ANNA' WnRIHT, born July 9, 1825, died April 24,
1832, of scarlatina.
4. LouISA7 WRIGHT, born June 9, 1827, died March
6, 1833.
5. HENRY7 DUNSTER WRIGHT, born MNarch 14, 1829,
died April 22, 1832, of scarlatina.
6. JANE' ELIZABETH WRIGHT, born Feb. 13, 1831,
died April 12, 1832, of scarlatina.
7.  LURA7 ANN WRIGHT, born May 28, 1833, when 16
years old united by profession with the Orthodox Church
in Nelson, Rev. Gad Newell. She removed her church
relations to Clinton at the time of her father's removal
there. She taught school in Hlolden. In 1866 and'67
she was connected with the Freedman's School in Washington, being in charge of the boarding department.




250   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
24
8. SAVINA7 WRIGHT, born June 8, 1835, united with
the church in Nelson, with her sister, Lura Ann. She
graduated at the Framingham  Normal School, and
taught at Lancaster and Gloucester (Cape Ann). At the
time of the capture of Vicksburg, she went out there
and taught in the Freedmen's schools in Vicksburg,
Washington, D. C., Alexandria, and Montgomery, Ala.
Returned to Clinton, June, 1872, and in September established with her sister, Lura Ann, a genteel boarding
house.
9. ELLEN7 ALLETTA WRIGHT, bbrn Aug. 6, 1837,
united by profession with the Congregational (Orthodox)
Church in Clinton, graduated with her sister Savina,
and taught in Waltham two or three years; married
Aug. 1, —, Henry Francis Morgan, of Philadelphia,
by whom she had one child,8 who died an infant.
She, Ellen, died in Camden, N. J., was brought to Clinton and buried. Her husband married again, in Gloucester, N. J.
10. GEORGE7 HENRY WRIGHT, born June 25, 1840,
died Feb. 21, 1841.
11. EmIMA7 HANNAH WRIGHT, born Sept. 17, 1843,
united with the Baptist Church in Clinton by profession
of faith, married April 21, 1862, Alonzo Stedman Davidson, of Clinton. He enlisted a private in Co. G, 36th
Mass. Regt.; was promoted to captain; was with Gen.
Burnside in Ninth Corps; was in many battles, but escaped unhurt. At the close of the war he was mustered
out at Readville. His wife visited him when in camp at
Annapolis, and staid ten days. He is now a merchant
at Clinton. They had four children, all born in Clinton:
(i) HATTIES ERMMA DAVIDSON, born April 23, 1863,
died Oct. 3, same year, buried at Clinton.
(ii) NELLA8 LUCRETIA DAVIDSON, born April 4, 1866.
(iii) SUSIE8 SALINA DAVIDSON, born May 30, 1868.
(iv) CoRA8 LUCILLA DAVIDSON, born Aug. 1, 1871.
vii. ANNA6 WRIGHT, Oliver and Martha5 D., Jason,'4
Henry,3 Jona.,2 Henry,') the seventh child of Oliver and
Martha (Dunster) Wright, born July 9, 1797, (July 8 in




THE GREENWOOD FAMILY.             251
24
Family Bible at William P. Wright's,) married Nov. 12,
1816, Cyrus Greenwood, of Dublin, N. H., born June 4,
1792. She was a member of the Congregational Church
in Nelson.  They lived in Nelson about two years, when
they removed to Winchester, N. H., where he carried
on the wooden ware business.  She died Feb. 9, 1826,
and was buried at Winchester. Her remains were disinterred and brought to Nashua afterwards. IIe died at
Nashua, N. H., June 23, 1864, was buried there. They
had five children:
1. NEWELL7 GREENWOOD, (Cyrus, 60Oliver Wright and
Martha5 D.,) born Dec. 10, 1817, at Nelson.  He was
named for Rev. Gad Newell, the pastor of Nelson Church,
and is their only son. When about six months old, his
father removed to Winchester.  He married Sept. 4,
1839, Elvira Scott. She was born in Vernon, Vt., April
19, 1814. In 1845 he went to Lowell, Mass., as an overseer in the weave room  of the Middlesex Corporation.
He removed to Concord, N. H., 1848, and thence to
Nashua, N. H., where he is a pattern maker.  They had
three children:
(i) AVALINE8 LUCINDA GREENWOOD, born March
31, 1841, at Winchester, died at Nashua, Jan. 7, 1861,
unmarried.
(ii) MARY 8 ELVIRA GREENWOOD, born March 14,
1847, at Lowell, and now (1872) lives at her father's, in
Nashua. A letter from her father, Aug. 18, 1875, says:
"In the first place, I must say my daughter, Mary,
was married Jan. 30, 1873, to Mr. Charles WV. Atwood,
of Nashua, born Sept. 7, 1841; occupation a painter;
and now, I am happy to state, they have a little daughter, who wishes to be remembered to you as another
branch of the Dunster descendants."
We are happy to add:
(1)  GRACE9 EDITH ATWOOD, born May 9, 1875, at
Nashua, N. H.
(ii{) CYRUS8 NEWELL GREENWOOD, born Aug. 22,
1850, at Concord, N. H., is their only son, and lives at
his father's.  Is a machinist.  Unmarried.




252   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
2 4
2. MARY7 ANN GREENWOOD, born Nov. 20, 1819,
at Winchester, married March 5, 1846, John B. Knight,
at Nashua. He was born at Hancock, N. H., Sept. 5,
1821. She died at Nashua, July 9, 1852. They had:
(i)  CHARLES8 NEWELL KNIGHT, born Dec. 22, 1846,
died Aug. 22, 1847, at Nashua.
(ii) CHARLES8 A. KNIGHT, born June 9, 1852, at
Nashua, and died there, July 23, 1854.
3.  AVALINE7 GREENWOOD, born Nov. 9, 1821, at
Winchester, married at Nashua, Nov. 17, 1842, Samuel
Atherton, born at Richmond, N. H., March 26, 1812.
They had:
(i) ALICE8 L. ATHERTON, born at Winchester, May
17, 1852, died there, Sept. 5, 1869.
4. LUANA7 GREENWOOD, born Sept. 21, 1823, at
Winchester, married Sept. (18?) 25, 1845, Henry T.
Chickering, born Jan. 9, 1822, at Concord, N. H. She
died at Concord, July 3, 1849. They had:
(i) ADALADE8 L. CHICKERING, born at Concord,
Sept. 22, 1846. She married at Concord, Nov. 2, 1870,
Frank W. Greenwood, born at Ludlow,Vt., Aug. 11, 1835.
(ii) ANNA8 WRIGHT CHICKERING, born at Concord,
Feb. 10, 1849. Unmarried.
5.  BETSEY7 GREENWOOD, born at Winchestelr, July
26, 1825, died at Nelson, Aug. 23, 1826.
viii. LUTCY6 WRIGHT, (Oliver anld Martha5 D., Jason,4
Henry,' Jona.,' Henry,1) born Aug. 28, 1799, was the
eighth child of Oliver and Martha (Dunster) Wright.
She was the third daughter. She married June 1, 1824,
Leonard Butterfield, born at Dunstable, N. H., very
near Dunstable, Mass., the adjoining town.  (The survey referred to on p. 138, cut Dunstable near the centre.)
His ancestors were all named "Leonard;" and three
generations of them, by that name, lived on the same
farm, and died in the same room. The memoranda of
her family were made in the same apartment. Lucy lived
at her uncle's, Isaac Wright, where she became acquainted with Mr. Butterfield.  Imitating her mother, she




THE BUTTERFIELD FAMILY.           253
24
went home to Nelson and "fixed her things," to use her
own expression, but it took her longer (because, doubtless, she had more of them). After staying a whole
year at Nelson, she was married, and immediately went
to the old farm in Dunstable. It is a splendid one, lying
in the valley of the Merrimac River, and near Salmon
Brook, on which are manufactories to some extent. Her
husband died Nov. 29, 1857. She carried on the place
for eight years afterwards, but "was glad to give it up.
It was too much care for a woman of my years." She
was then 66 years old. The place is now carried on by
her son, Dexter, who is constantly improving it. They
have built a new barn, at the cost of near $3000. She
is now (1875) living in his family, with much comfort.
In the family wanderings, she had become lost to us,
when the accidental mention of her name by a gentleman in the cars, revived the remembrance of her, and
an answer to a letter gave notice of her welfare and enclosed her photograph. They had five children:
1. LEONARD' SYLVESTER BUTTERFIELD, born June
6, 1825. He married Janette Carruth, in Lowell. They
live in Westford, Mass., and have one child, a boy, of
eighth generation.
2. MARTHA7 DUNSTER BUTTERFIELD, born Jan. 4,
1832, mar. Aug. 21, 1856, Adonijah Woodbury Howe,
born in Jaffrey, N. H., Sept. 25, 1825. He was the only
son of Luke Howe, M. 1)D., and Mary (Woodbury), oldest
daughter of Peter Woodbury, of Francestown, N. H.
He graduated at Dartmouth College, 1850, and located
as a physician in Dunstable, 1851. They live in Westford, and have had ten children, all except one, living:
(i) WOODBURY,8 b. May 12, 1857, at Dunstable, Mass.
(ii) HENRY8 DUNSTER, born Sept. 6, 1858, died April
6, 1860.
(iii) MARYs ELIZABETH, b. Feb. 2, 1860, at Dunstable.
(iv) EDWARD8 DEXTER, b. Dec. 27, 1861, at Dunstable.
(v) EDIrA8 ISABEL, born June 27, 1863, at Hollis.
(vi) CHARLES8 LUKE, born Dec. 26, 1865, at Jaffrey.
(vii) HELLEN8 WRIGHT, b. Jan. 3, 1868, at Dunstable.




25 4   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
24
(viii) FANNIEs LOUISA, b. June 11, 1870, at Dunstable.
(ix) FREDERIC8 WTNI., b. Sept. 30, 1872, at Westford.
(x) Son,8 born June 5, 1875, at South Lancaster.
3.  HENRY7 BUTTERFIELD, the third child of Leonard and Lucy (Wright) Butterfield, died in infancy.
4.  GEORGE7 BUTTERFIELD, born March 8, 1839,
worked at the Lawrence Mills, Lowell, several years;
married Oct., 1844, Mary E. Taylor, born at Dunstable.
They live in Westford, and have:
(i)  EMIMA8 GRACE BUTTERFIELD, born Feb. 6, 1869.
(ii) LUCy8 ARDANA BUTTERFIELD, born Feb. 13, 1871.
(iii) IDA8 RACHEL BUTTERFIELD, born April 26, 1875.
5.  DEXTER7 BUTTERFIELD, born March 15, 1842,
assisted his mother on the farm  after his father died.
He enlisted in Co. A, 2d Mass. Regt. Vols., 1860; was
in the battle at Gettysburg, and at the taking of Atlanta;
was sergeant when mustered out, Oct. 14, 1864.  He
married Dec. 7, 1865, Georgiana Kenny, of Leominster,
Mass. She was on a visit to her grand-parents, in Dunstable, and unexpectedly, a short time after, made that
her future home. They live at the old mansion. They
hlave for their first a pair of twins, born Oct. 13, 1870:
(i)  ARTHUR8 DEXTER BUTTERFIELD.
(ii) ALICEs LOUISA BUTTERFIELD.
X.  MYRA6 WRI(GHT, (written in some records "Mira")
was the tenth and youngest child of Oliver and Martha5
(Dunster) Wright, born Dec. 30, 1802, at Nelson.  She
married at Nelson, Dec. 31, 1834, Edwifi Jewell, born
at Winchester, N. H., April 22, 1809. He was second
cousin to Gov. Jewell, of Connecticut.  He was a. wool
carder by trade.  In April, 1838, he lost his right arm
by having it caught in the machinery at the factory at
Harrisville, where he was employed at the time.  It was
amputated just below the elbow.  His general health
suffered from it, but he was able to follow his trade until
a short time before his death.  Myra6 died at Hinsdale,
Oct., 1848, (Oct. 7, 1849, Abiel Wriyqht's Record).  Her
husband married a second time, and died Sept. 8, 1856;
both buried at Winchester.  They had four children:




THE JEWELL FAMILY.               255
24
1.  GUSTAVUS7 ELBRIDGE JEWELL, born Dec. 30,
1835, died July 11, 1838, at Winchester, buried there.
2. SARAH7 ADALINE JEWELL, born Oct. 21, 1836,
died at Winchester, April 5, 1837, buried there.
3.  ELBRIDGE7 ELEXES JEWELL, born May 17, 1838.
4. GUSTAVUS' DUNSTER JEWELL, born April 27,
1840, died Aug. 9, 1847, buried at Harrisville.
3. ELBRIDGE 7 ELEXES JEWELL, (Edwin and Myra,6
Oliver and Martha5 Dunster, Jason,4 Henry,3 Jonathan,'
Henry,l) was born May 17, 1838, at Harrisville, and is
the only one of Myra's children now living.  He gave
the information of this family. In a letter, March 16,
1872, he says:  "My brother, Gustavus Dunster, lived
to be about eight years old, and until the receipt of your
letter, to-night, I had not the faintest idea where his
name came from; and am glad that I can now claim
some relationship to some one on mother's side. Mother
died in October, 1848. Father married again; and, as
is often the case, my step-mother's views did not fully
coincide with mine.  Father died Sept. 8, 1857.  The
widow kept most of the property, except a few things I
bought at auction.  When she died I was in the army,
and her effects were sold by her brother, so that I have
nothing in the shape of records, not even the Family
Bible. That was sold, and I have never been able to get
any trace of it.
"As for me, I have taken care of myself most of the
time since mother died. [He was then ten years old.
S. D.]  When the rebellion broke out I was one of the
first to volunteer. Enlisted April, 1861, in Co. A, 2d
Regt. N. H. Vols.  We went to Washington, and before
we were half drilled or armed, were'On to Richmiond!'
via Bull Run. Of this you have as good a general history as I could give you. I was taken violently ill with
congestion of the lungs, and discharged in August, 1861.
I went home and after a long illness recovered, and tried
to enlist again, but was refused; but in the draft of'63
was accepted, and went in Co. F, 5th N. I. Vols.  Saw
no action at all this time.  We were stationed at Point
Lookout, Maryland, for more than a year, guarding rebel
23




256   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
24-25
prisoners.  While there, was taken ill again with the
old lung trouble. After a long siege in hospital, was
discharged, and came here on trial for three months.
That was nine years ago, 11th Nov., 1872."
The place he referred to was a, situation as steward in
Dr. Barstow's Private Asylum for the Insane-Sanford
Hall-at Flushing, Long Island, where he still remains.
Ite married Jan. -, 1867, Emma M. Thomas, of West
Boylston, Mass.  "She is a descendant on the father's
side from Robert B. Thomas, of almanac fame." Her
father was Aaron M. Thomas, who died the same day
she was born, June 28, 1840. Her mother died Dec.
31, 1846.
"I am said to resemble mother more than father.  I
enclose a photograph of myself and little girl, so that
you may judge what manner of man your cousin may
be. Will only add that I am six feet three inches in my
stockings."
The photographs came safe; also one of his mother
subsequently.
They have one child:
(i) SUSIE8 EMMA JEWELL, born Oct. 29, 1868.
25. vi. ISAIAH5 DUNSTER, (Jason,4 Henry,3 Jona.,'
Henry,l) was born in Cambridge Second Precinct (West
Cambridge), April 10, baptized April 12, 1761, by Rev.
Samuel Cooke. There is no reasonable doubt that he
went to Mason at the time his father moved there, 1769.
We can find no certain trace of him in the records of
that town. In the office of Secretary of State at Concord, N. H., Hon. J. B. Hill, the historian of Mason,
finds his name as a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
We think that he was that person for whom "Jos. Herrick was paid ~56 8s. for two and a half bushels of rye
delivered Jason Dunster, for part of his son's hire for
six months service in the year 1781." In that year he
was 20 years old, and a suitable person to enlist in such
service. In 1782 his father was paid ~I 15s. Od. lqr.,
L. M., "for his son's hire."  We have seen that it was
improbable that it was Henry, his brother. Jason, his




ISAIAH 5 DUNSTER.             257
25
next younger brother, was at that time in the Regular
Continental Army, for whose pay the town of Mason
never assumed the responsibility. His youngest brother,
Samuel, was but 14 years old, and no evidence or tradition exists of his having been in the service. Isaiah was
never taxed in Mason. The presumption is strong that
as soon as he was of age (21), he left Mason to find employment, as many did then and have since, in the
neighborhood of Boston. It is certain that he lived in
Roxbury all his married life.
He owned or built the hotel called the " Punch Bowl,"
between Dedham and Boston, at the junction of the
turnpike with the old road. In addition to the hotel
business he cultivated a farm, and did wagon marketing
steadily at Boston. He accumulated a good property
there. He is remembered as a well-dressed, somewhat
portly, and very genial gentleman, who could well enjoy
a joke. With his brother, and their wives, neither of
whom ever had any children, he used occasionally to
visit their relatives in New Hampshire.  On one of these
happy seasons, his brother gave to one of the little flaxen
haired children a half pistereen. Seeing this he took
from the loose change in his pocket a whole one, and
holding it up, said, " Now, my lad, which of these would
you rather have?"  The boy had sagacity enough to
choose the larger coin. Giving up the other, and not
then comprehending the power of plus and minus, and
amazed at such generosity, he ran to his mother to show
her what a large piece of money "Uncle Isaiah" had
given him, while the uncle for whom he was named had
only given him a little one.
The records of Roxbury would probably give many
items of his history. Want of opportunity, and the fact
that he left no posterity to be interested in his life, must
be the apology for this limited account of him.
He married, in Roxbury, —, Mary Davis, born June
23, 1771, daughter of Deacon Noah and Elizabeth (Weld)
Davis, who lived about half a mile distant.  Her nuptial
ring, when new, inlaid with hair work and engraved M.
D., was given to his niece, Mary6 (Dunster) Kimball,
and by her to her youngest daughter, Abby' (Kimball)




258 HENRY I)UNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
25-26
Lynch.  The date of his marriage is not known.  He
died in 1815, at Roxbury, and was interred there. He
left the larger part of his property to his widow, although
it is understood that he was very generous to the sons of
his sister, Rebecca Swallow, one of whom was employed
in marketing for him. His widow died July 4, 1833.
They never had any children.
26. vii. JASON5 DUNSTER, (Jason,4 Henzry,3 Jonal.,2
Henry,l) the seventh child of Jason 4 and Rebecca (Cutter) Dunster was born at Cambridge (now Arlington),
March 27, baptized April 3, 1763, by Rev. Samuel Cooke.
It is very probable that his father brought him to Mason
in 1769. No evidence is found of his being there until
after the Revolutionary war. There is a well founded
tradition that he was "bound out" to a man in Lexington, Littleton or Groton. His widow, in 1852, stated
this to be so. Her memory was at that time truly wonderful, although she was then 84 years old. It is hardly
credible that when he was only six years old such a disposition was made of him.  This making a " chattel" of
ones own children, though very common in Massachusetts then, did not usually take place till the age of about
ten or twelve. Whatever may have been his leyal conldition, it is certain that he lived there, and that the person
to whom he was given or bound out consented to his enlisting in the Continental Army. The papers, executed
in 1818, to obtain a Revolutionary pension are official
and copied:
"I, Jason Dunster, of the town of Mason, in the
county of Hillsboro, N. H., a Resident Citizen of the
U. S., Husbandman, now in the fiftv-sixth year of my
age, do Solemnly Swear that sometime in the month of
March, A. D. 1781, I was enlisted a private soldier in
the Continental establishment in the Revolutionary war
for the term of three years, and joined my company (tlie
3d), commanded by Capt.. John Hastings, in the ninth
Regt. of the Massachusetts line, commanded by Col.
Henry Jackson, in the month of July of the same year,
at a place called White Plains, having previously served
better then three months after my enlistment at Boston,




JASON5 DUNSTER.                259
96
under a Capt. of Engineers, whose name I do not recollect; which term of three years I faithfully served until
I was discharged after the peace, which discharge is
herewith exhibited, and in the words following, viz:
"By the Hon. Major General Knox, commanding the
American forces on the Hudson River. Jason I)unmter,
Soldier in the fourth Massachusetts Reg., being enlisted
for three years, is hereby Honorably Discharged from
the service of the ITnited States.
"Given in the State of New York, the 31st of December, 1783.       By the Gen'l Command.
J. KNox, M. Gen'l.
" Registered in the Books of the Regiment.
THos. H. CONDY, Adj't., P. S. "
"I further state that I have never been on the Pension
list of Invalids.  I have a small farm, but am embarrassed with debts and am reduced in my circumstances,
and think I need the assistance of my country for my
support. In the year 1780 I served six months in Capt.
Manfield's Co., in Col. Bailey's Regt., in the Mass. Line
in the Continental establisment at West Point, and in
the Jerseys, so called.          JAsoN DUNSTER.
" Sworn to this 15th day of April, A. D. 1818. Before
me.            J. K. SMITH, Associate Justice
of the Court of Comrmon Pleas."
The court omitted from his statement some facts not
necessary to procure the pension. but which rightfully
belong to his revolutionary history.  He enlisted in
April, 1780, for six months, was mustered in at Concord, Mass., and did duty in Boston until his enlistment
into the three years' service.  When dismissed from the
six months' service for that purpose, he received no pay
or clothing.  When the Massachusetts regiments were
reduced he was transferred to the regiment commanded
by Col. Brooks, Capt. Lincoln and Maj. Williamn Hull.
The regiments were again reduced, and he was transferred to the 4th Mass. Regiment, from  which he was
discharged, as stated above.  When Lord Cornwallis
surrendered, 1781, he was in the Northern Department
*23




260   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
26
of the army, under Gen. Heath.  With the army he had
the small-pox, in the winter of their encampment at
Valley Forge.
Many are the stories he used to tell about the march
through the "Jarseys," and the daring exploits with
the marauders about the Hudson, who were designated
"Cow Boys."  They were a horde of "Tories," commanded by Col. Delancy, who made their stronghold at
Morrisania, and scoured the fertile valleys of the Hudson, sweeping off forage and cattle for the British Army
in New York.  He was discharged from  the army at
"Pickskill Hiths" (Peekskill Heights), New York.
His application for a pension was accompanied by a
schedule of his property, appraised by Joseph Sanders
and Dr. Willis Johnson, in which is noted a pew in
Mason Meeting House, and horse stable standing near
by, valued at $33 for both.
This application for pension was unsuccessful. lfe
was deemed by those who held the purse strings of
"Unc'e Sam" at that time, and who were careful of
his "change," to have too much property to be in " Indigent circumstances and need the assistance of their
country for their support," which the law required.
There is abundant evidence, however, that he had
"pretty hard scratching," as they say in New Hampshire, to keep along, and certainly could not educate his
family so well as he desired. After about two years the
law was altered so as to be less equivocal, and he received
a pension for the rest of his life; and his widow, also, by
a more generous law, received a like pension during her
life, to which in her old age she often referred as a
means of comfort.
When he was discharged, his pay was in " Continental
money," a specimen bill of which ($30.00) he kept till
his death, often dryly remarking that when he came
back from the army he could not get a breakfast for it,
else he should have spent it. That bill safely reposes
among other ancestral mementos.
"Congress engaged to make good to the Continental
and independent troops the difference in the value of




JASON 5 DUNSTEH.               261
26
their pay caused by this depreciation."  (Irving's Life
WVashington, Vol. iv., p. 37.)
It is not amiss here, to inquire how poor a man must
have been to get that pension. Happily the means are
not wanting. At the time of trying to obtain his own,
he also tried to get a pension for Jonathan Foster, who
then lived in his house.  The inventory of Foster's estate, appraised by the same Joseph Sanders and Willis
Johnson, was this:
" He has no real estate, but has been a Town Pauper
for a number of years. lie is at present Boarding himself, by the consent of the Town, living with Mr. Jason
Dun ster.
PERSONAL ESTATE.
Farming utensils......................$2 00
Hollow ware.......................... 1 00
1 pine table........... 25
4 old chairs...........................   25
Crockery ware........................   75
$4 25
JOS. SANDERS,      Appraisers.
WILLIS JOHNSON,  I         rs
Even this did not satisfy some of the quibbling lawyers.  They reasoned thus:  "Jonathan Foster is a
pauper of the town of Mason.  The town of Mason is
not in'indigent circumstances;' therefore Jonathan
Foster is not in indigent circumstances."
The papers were sent to Washington, and John C.
Calhoun, who was then Secretary of War, (whatever may
have been his notions of sociology, and who was never
suspected of selling offices,) saw at once the fallacy, and
immediately sent him the certificate.
" WAR DEPARTMENT.  REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I Certify that, in conformity with the Law of the
United States of March 18, 1818, Jonathan Foster, late
a private in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on
the Pension List Roll of the New hIampshire Agency at




262   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
26
the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the
1st day of May, 1818.  Given at the War Office of the
United States, this 5th day of October, 1819.
J. C. CALHOUN, Sec. War."
Mr. D. usually collected Foster's pension and kept his
papers, which are found among his own.
After the disbanding of the army, Jason Dunster returned to Lexington, Mass.  In 1786 he was taxed for
the first time in Mason.  He was then 23 years old.  In
that year he bought of Charles Barrett a lot of ]and in
Hancock, N. H., near his brother-in law, Oliver Wright.
In 1800 he bought of Joseph Meriam, his wife's father,
lot No. 10, in the 18th range of the town of Mason.
This lot of land had been bought of Benj. Knowlton,
May 1, 179?, by Mr. Aleriam, a few months before the
marriage of his daughter, Polly, to Jason Dunster, and
they lived on it from that marriage till their death.  In
1818, the widow of Knowlton, who had not signed the
deed through neglect of the purchaser, made a claim for
dowry. This gave great annoyance to him and the family whom they had raised on the farm, and cost him
almost as much as he paid for the whole.  The thirds
were set off by metes and bounds, which she did not expect or desire; but it produced a settlement, although at
great cost.  It is understood, however, that his fatherin-law assisted him much in this trouble.
He owned several other tracts of land in the vicinity,
most of which was woodland, which he cleared for lumber and cord wood, the best of which then brought $1.50
to $2.00 a cord, and the best of hard wood lunber $4.00
per M. In 1816 he and his son, Jason, bought one
undivided third part of the saw and grist mills at the
NOTE.-Jonathan Foster died in Ashby, March 31, 1821, aged
more than 100 years. For near forty years he was supported by
the town. "He had an inveterate antipathy to work of all kinds,
but was fond of hunting. He would imitate on all fours the running and leaping of a bear. Hence his cognomen,'Old Bear'
Foster." (Mason Cen., 1868, p. 22.)
He had a son who also lived at Dunster's house. His wife was
almost a " giantess," if such a word exists. She could lift a barrel of cider, and, holding it on her knees, drink from the bunghole.




JASON 5 DUNSTER.              263
26
Upper Falls on the Souhegan River, a quarter of a mile
from his residence. This mill privilege was the first in
Mason, and the nucleus around which the village in that
town was built. It was at first called Barrett's Mills,
then Dakin's Mills, then Mason Harbor. About 1812
the name was formally altered, when a liberty pole was
erected on a prominent knoll, to which a signboard was
nailed, lettered " Souhegan Village," and a bottle of New
England rum thrown at it by Bill Russell, the architect.
It missed the mark, but a second attempt was more successful, and the name was instantly changed, amid a
volley of small arms, patriotic toasts, and plenty of Medford rum.  "Soullegan Village," however, did not last
long.  There was a village at the mouth of that river by:the same name. They objected to the assumption, and
the younger sister was quietly named " Mason Village."
This name she bore with dignity till 1872, when an
"unpleasantness" in town matters occurred, and the
village made a successful secession and came out "Greenville."  We are sorry to say that the good old town just
past her centennial became estranged, and hope yet to
see a reunion under the old flag.
This mill privilege commanded the water of the whole
river, although the lot was small, and bounded on the
east "by the stone wall on the line of Timothy Dakin's
hog pasture."  It is now occupied by the Columbian
Factories, a very large and successful corporation; and
we can assure our friends that the recent name of that
village, whatever may have been its origin, has no reference to the colloquial use of that word as sometimes
applied to people..
Jason5 Dunster did a great amount of town business;
was Selectman for three years in succession, looked after
the poor of the town, &c. With his old papers is a bill
against the Factory Company in New Ipswich for the
labor of Susannah Zwears, one of the poor of the town,
for five months in the factory at ten cents a day, which
was paid promptly.  She was then woman grown, and
the town made a profit on her labor.  The town also
through him as their agent, " bound out" two of widow
Fish's daughters till they were eighteen years old. At




264:  HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
26
the time of the small-pox in that town, he had most of
the personal superintendence of the disease, for which
his army vaccination had prepared him.
In 1821 the village was established as a separate school
district, and many plans for building a school house were
proposed.  Among the rest, he suggested that it be done
by subscription. The plan was rather jocularly received,
particularly so by Deacon Dakin, between whom and
himself an opportunity for banter was never missed.
The Deacon, turning to him, said, "Well, Dunster, I
will give as much as you will."  Dunster instantly replied, "I will give one half of the whole cost. Now,
Deacon, don't back out."  The Deacon was not the man
to do that. The district immediately took measures to
legalize the offer, and voted plans to work by, bought
the lot, and chose a committee to inspect the work.
Deacon Dakin gave a bond to pay his half to Dunster.
He gave the district a bond to do the whole.  In these
bonds they are styled "Benefactors."  A splendid (for
that day) brick school house was built, and in it was
learned the rudiments of science so useful to our after
life.  The original papers of this "Benefaction" are in
good preservation and filed away for his descendants.
His early entry into the army taught him more of the
world than literary accomplishments. His handwriting
and orthography would almost defy Champolion, but his
memory supplied the defect.  In his later days his mental powers were somewhat impaired.  Tliey were always
eccentric.  He died March 21, 1828, aged 65, was buried
at Mason Centre, in the Dunster group, and a suitable
stone placed over his grave by his widow.
He married at Mason, April 18, 1793, Mary (Polly in
many records) Meriam.  She was daughter of Joseph
and Mary (Brooks) Meriam,* and born Oct. 28, 1768, at
Concord, Mass.  She was an early member of the Mason
* Mason was classed with Brookline (then Raby) for representation at the General Court. " At a legal meeting held at the public meeting house in Mason, December ye 11th, 1775,
"Voted, that those men that sent their votes by Joseph Merriam to the Moderator of said meeting have the privilege of putting
in their votes for the choice of the above said representative,




JASON 5 DUNSTER.                 265
26
Congregational Orthodox Church, and at the time of her
death the only member (except perhaps one) who belonged to that church when Rev. Mr. Hill was settled, 1790.
Hon. John B. Hill sent us the original certificate of
their publishmellt, which he found among the papers of
his father (Rev. E. Hill). It is copied verbatim:
" This nmay Certify that Jason Dunster Jur. & Polly
Meriamn both of Mason have been Published for marriage
in the Town of Mason aforesaid as the Law Directs.....
Janz. 28th  1793....... Joseph Barrett Town Clark."
She was a woman of kind and candid disposition, and
it is believed that no one ever saw her out of temper.
When over 80 years old she fell and broke her thigh.
namely: Obadiah Parker, Joseph Ball, Jonas Fay, Abel Shed,
Thomas Robbins, Nathan Wheeler, Seth Robbins, John Lawrence. "
These were among the " first families " in Mason. At the same
meeting (perhaps they had heard from Raby),
"Voted, that James Scripture and William and Elias Eliot
have the liberty of putting in a vote for their fathers, their fathers
being absent, whose votes were wrote after the meeting began."
" Voted, that the aforesaid Obadiah Parker, Joseph Ball, Jonas
Fay, Abel Shed, Thomas Robbins, Nathan Wheeler, Seth Robbins, John Lawrence, have their votes thrown out."
A difficulty followed, and March 7, 1776, the town voted "to
send Joseph Barrett to present the proceedings of the town meeting, held Dec. ye 11th, 1775, to the General Court, which the
town look upon it that it was not conducted according to Liberty
and Justice; and that if the Hon'ble Court do not approve of the
proceedings of the town meeting, that the above said Joseph Barrett pray the General Court to set them in some way agreeable to
their pleasure for to have the privilege of representation." (His.
of Mason.)
We are not advised of the result of this commission, and are
interested only in the question: Does history repeat itself? Whatever it may have been, " Grandfather Merriam" did not suffer in
reputation, for as soon as Raby was out of the union and Mason
got big enough to send a representative of her own, he was the
first one chosen, and the historian of that town says of him:
" No citizen of Mason was ever more worthy. of this mark of the
confidence of his townsmen."




266   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
26
From this she never recovered so as to walk, but could
get about the room in her chair with castors on it till
near her death.  Rev. Mr. Austin preached her funeral
sermon, from which a few remarks are copied:
"For more than three-score and ten years was the
church of Christ on earth blessed with her fellowship
and prayers.
"While this event is her gain it is our loss. Several
years since she received a fall by which she was entirely
disabled from walking. Until that time her place was
promptly and punctually filled in the sanctuary. She
loved to meet with the prayerful in social meeting. Her
place was often filled when others nearer the house of
God and younger in years would find excuse for absence.
When she worshipped at the centre of the town it was
her custom to walk [three miles] -,
" She also willed [deeded] to this church and society
her pew here. that by it she might contribute to the support of the gospel after her death.
"In her last days her affections were manifested with
the sweetness and simplicity of childhood.  In my last
interview she grasped my hand with earnestness, and
when told I would call again, she replied,'Yes, if I
should live so that you can see me again.' The next
time I called it was to give the last look to the dead.
She departed without a groan or struggle, in the 90th
year of her age."
The funeral services were at Mason Village.  From
there she was buried at Mason Centre, and placed beside
her husband, which she had repeatedly requested, and a
stone similar to his, which she also desired, is erected
with the inscription:
"Mary Meriam, widow of Jason Dunster, born Oct.
28, 1768, died May 5, 1858, aged 89 years, 6 months, 7
days.  Mother, thou art gone to the grave."
She made no will, but often said that she wished her
property divided equally to her living children, and the
children of those deceased; and always added, "Don't
disagree about it."  We are happy to state that her dying




THE DUNSTER FA-MILY.             267
26-2'
request was fully and literally carried out, and a record
made of that fact in Hillsboro Probate Records. I1er
real estate was sold to her eldest daughter's husband,
whorhad lived on the place and owned the other twothirds, and her personal property is with her heirs exactly
as she desired.
They had seven children, all born at Mason:
28 ~. i.  JASON6 DUN STER, born July 15, 1794.
29 ~. ii.  MARY6 DUNSTER, born Feb. 16, 1796.
30 ~. iii. ISAIAH6 DUNSTER, born Dec. 10, 1798.
31 ~. iv. BETSEY6 DUNSTER, born April 20, 1801.
32 ~. v.  SAMUEL6 DUNSTER, born Aug. 1, 1803.
vi. REBECCA6 DUNSTER, born Sept. 25, 1805, was
baptized June 8, 1806,.and died June 25, 1810, of scarlatina, was buried at Mason Centre.
vii. JULIANNA6 DUNSTER, born Feb. 21, 1808, was
not baptized, although her mother said she was carried
to meeting once. She was a remarkably healthy and
promising babe.  Her mother, as usual, put her into her
own bed, near the middle of it, and left her to go to
sleep.  The babe. crept to the side of the bed and fell off,
striking on the side of her head. She dislocated her
neck, and died almost instantly, uttering only a single
cry, July 26 of the same year; six months old, buried at
Mason Centre.
2T. viii.  SAMUEL5 CUTTER DUNSTER, born April
20, 1766, was the eighth and youngest child of Jason4
and Rebecca (Cutter) Dunster, and was named for his
grandfather, Samuel Cutter, whose genealogy may be
found in " Cutter Family of New England," by William
R. Cutter, page 52. He was baptized April 27, 1766, by
Rev. Mr. Cooke, "privately, being sick."  He was only
three years old when his father removed to Mason. The
proprietors of No. 1, afterwards called Mason, made
provision for schools as early as the incorporation of the
town, 1768. The schools and the church were the objects of solicitude; and in them the children were trained
to the best of the means; so that, though bi'ought up
24




268   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
afar from the privileges at Cambridge, he had an equal
education with the rest of the children, and appears to
have made good use of that little learning which has
been miscalled a "dangerous thing."  That lie worked
in early manhood "down below," as the towns near
Boston were then called, may be true, as tradition intimates. If our memoranda be correct, he was not taxed
in Mason till 1798, being then 32 years old, while his
brother, Henry, was taxed at twenty. His name appears
in the division of school districts in 1791. He bought
his father's farm about 1798, which he sold about 1803.
In 1805 he bought of James Cowee, of Gardner, fiftyfive acres of land in Ashburnham, Mass., which he
divided with Joel Barrett.  The next year he bought of
Caleb Wilder, for $40, about one acre of land in Ashburnham, "lying near said Dunster's mill."
In 1819 he bought of Joseph Jewett other land and
mills, about one mile northeast of the meeting house,
and further down the stream which makes the outlet of
the large ponds forming the head waters of the Nashua
River. On these he established works for spinning cotton yarn. which were among the first of the kind after
its introduction by Slater in Pawtucket.
In addition to the cotton spinning he had a saw mill.
These he continued to carry on with good success for
many years; selling the yarn, done up in five pound
bunches, to the storekeepers and other people in the
neighborhood.  IIe sold the factory and privilege to
Samuel Barrett, and took in exchange Barrett's farm.
Barrett enlarged the works, built a large hotel and other
houses, and soon failed, involving Dunster- to a very
large amount.
Afterwards he bought back the old mill, and recommenced the manufacturing of cotton yarn. The machinery had worn itself nearly out. New inventions to
facilitate the production and cheapen the expense had
been elsewhere made. He had not kept pace with inprovements, and consequently found himself unable to
compete in what at first had been a lucrative business.
He lost again; and finding it useless to go on further,
gave up the business to save what he had not already




SAMUEL5 CUTTER DUNSTER.            269
lost. To one of his nephews he made the sage remark:
"Old men must not begin new business."
He was kind and generous, without hope of reward,
thoroughly honest, positive in opinion, and eccentric in
practice. He made a will giving the interest of his estate to his wife for her support, and directing the principal to be given one-half to Joel Barrett, one-quarter to Abel
Foster, of Brookline, N. H., one-quarter to Lyman Townsend, of —, Vermont, neither of whom were related
to him. In his will he directed that if his wife married
again she should have no income from his estate, but the
legatees should come into immediate possession of his
property. She married again,. "but was sharp enough
to get them to sign a writing to have her still draw the
interest."
In the will he says: "I give to Martha Wright, the
wife of Oliver Wright, living in Nelson, N. H., the sum
of twenty-five dollars."  And adds:  "The reason I
have made this disposition of my property is that I have
no children, and no brothers or sisters, except the said
Martha Wright; and all the relations of myself and wife
are so numerous and scattered about that should I have
given my property to them all, or made a selection of a
portion of them, I fear it would occasion more ill-will
and hard feelings than all of it would be worth."
On his death bed he was dissatisfied with the disposition he had made of his property, and sent for the maker
of the will, who, after ascertaining that his wife, who
supposed he had more property than he really possessed,
would be content with the scanty means and unnatural
condition the will imposed, declined to alter anything,
and let him depart, mind unquiet, will disowned.
He had some crude notions, original with himself, of
what has lately been called "development." He died
April 19, 1839, was entombed at Ashburnham Centre, in
a tomb he owned. His remains were removed to a lot in
the new cemetery at Ashburnham, at which grave stones
were erected and the lot well ornamented by his widow.
He was twice married.  His first wife was Hannah
Townsend, the oldest daughter of Samuel and Hannah
(Lawrence) Townsend. She was born in Northborough,




270   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
2M-28
Mass., Aug. 8, 1770, married by Rev. Mr. Hill, Jan. 12,
1792, at Mason, where her father then lived.  She died
at Ashburnham, Aug. 8, 1826, was entombed, but removed when her husband was. He married second,
Madamoisella Townsend, the youngest daughter of the
same parents, and sister to his first wife.  She was born
in Mason, March 19, 1794.  She took care of her sister
in her last sickness. They were married in Ashburnham, March 1, 1827. Neither of his wives ever had any
children.  After his death she married, Sept. 5, 1851,
Silas Keyes, of Temple, N. H. He died Nov. 25, 1852.
She has since resided with a nephew in Ashby, Mass.
Is in good health, although now (1876) 82 years old, and
25 a widow, having, to use her own expression, "hard
work to make both ends meet."  She contributes to the
ancestral relics a "silver brooch worn by your uncle in
his young days."  It is like a Past Master's jewel, although he was not a Freemason.  On it he engraved
very roughly "S. D."
28. i. JAsoN  DUNSTER, (Jason,5 Jason,' Henry,'
Jonka.,'2 Henry,1) the first child of Jason5 and Mary (Polly
Meriam) Dunster, was born July 15, 1794, and was baptized by Rev. E. Hill, as his mother stated, but we find
no mention of the baptism in Mason Church records.
In early boyhood he had all the advantages of the school
that the town could afford, being about six weeks in
winter and ten in summer, and going nearly two miles for
that scanty education; but he made good use of those
advantages. At an early age he was qualified to instruct
others, and did it with good success, especially in the
government of unruly boys. In a district at New Ipswich those boys had turned a former teacher out of
doors, and were "masters of the situation." He was
solicited to continue the school, to which he consented,
after he had closed the one he was then instructing,
being about a fortnight. At the time appointed he went
to the school house and found all present, to whom he
addressed his inaugural.  "Boys! I have come to keep
this school, and I shall keep it.  First class, take your
places to read in the Bible, beginning where you left off."
There was no more rebellion in that school, but a most




JASON 6 DUNSTER.                 271
28
successful result, especially so in those who hlad made
the disturbance. In the other parts of the year he worked
on his father's farm.  WVhen about twenty-two years old
he bought with his father one-third of the mills at Mason
Village, and attended them. Being a central locality,
there was a large custom of grinding and bolting grain
and sawing lumber, which employed his whole time.
He was popular among the people of Mason, and was
early honored, as it was then called, with military office,
rising in grade till he commanded the company in the
west part of the town, and is still dubbed " Captain "
among his neighbors.*
In the war of 1812 he volunteered as an ensign, and
was stationed at Fort Washington, in Portsmouth, N.
H.  For that service he now receives a pension.  When
the troops were no longer desired he was entrusted with
paying their wages, which was done by Treasury Notes.
He wrote to his father, Nov. 4, 1814:  "There are no
funds on hand for the payment of the troops, and many
think we shall not receive the money; but we are determined not to leave the place till we are paid."
* The military etiquette of those days happily belongs to the
lost arts. We, too, have a paper bearing the broad seal of the
State of New Hampshire, and certifying, nearly after the fashion
of that of a house servant from her last place of employment, to
our fidelity, courage, &c., and promising us " to hold Office during good Behaviour;" signed, David Lawrence Morrill, " Governor of Our State."
The annual training came off, by statute law, on the first Tuesday of May. The enrolled men, living near an officer, made it a
point to call on him before daylight to "wake him up." Their
arrival was announced by the discharge of a musket. The officer
soon made his appearance at the door, pretending surprise when
he was saluted by a volley from the whole squad, in rather uncomfortable proximity to his feet. This done, they were invited
in, and "Egg-nog," for which the hens and New England rum
had been laid under contribution, was furnished, with the request
to "drink just as much as you want to."
At one o'clock, as directed by summons, they appeared on the
common, when the First Sergeant showed his skill by placingthe
men in line according to their height, then by manipulation and
counter-marching he got the small ones in the centre. This being
done, the Captain was informed that the company awaited his
orders. He then drew his sword, marched and exercised them
*24




272   HENRY  DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
28
At the arrival of the treaty of peace in Mason he was
at home; and the people of the village met at the store,
which was illuminated at its two front little windows, to
hear the treaty read, which duty was assigned to him as
being the best reader in the village. He read it. Some
of the more discerning ones asked, Is that all? He replied it was; and read it again.  They rejoined:  There
is nothing said about "Free Trade and Sailors' Rights;"
and wondered, as many have since, " what they had been
fighting about."
He sold his part of the mills about 1818, and engaged
with a brother-in-law in manfacturing satinets in Ashburnham. This was done to assist his partner, who had
become embarrassed.  Like most undertakings of this
kind, it was disastrous to him.  lIe went to Westport,
in the neighborhood of the Adirondack mountains, in
Essex Co., New York, and there purchased wild land,
which he has since made into a good farm.  But it was
by hard labor at chopping, rafting on the lake, attending
awhile, when they were drawn up in line and each soldier irlspected. If any were deficient in equipments they were fined
according to penal code: For priming wire and brush, six cents;
for two spare flints, two cents; all of which was collected by due
process of law.
Then followed various evolutions, among which " whipping
the snake" was a favorite one. This consisted in following the
Captain in single file while he marched in the form of a helix till
near the centre, when he faced about and came out from the apparent snarl at the same point he entered. This, if successfully
done, usually produced the applause of the bystanders. Sometimes, however, some of the company failed to follow their leader,
and the result was a tangle, which again required the manipulation of official skill. The company were then ordered to stand
at ease, which simply meant to sit down on the ground, when
they were served, at the expense of the commissioned officers,
with an abundance of grog made of Medford rum, of which they
partook: ad libitum, being served by the corporals as their part of
the expense. After other maneuvers, followed a sham fight,- not
always true to name, and the company was dismissed with a
patriotic speech.
The whole regiment was called out in the fall, when the town
furnished the provisions of the day, not omitting a quarter of a
pound of powder to a man, plenty of new cider and a bountiful
supply of liquor, all of the best quality. After the close of a
training, we have seen a single soldier drink, on a wager, a pint




JASON 6 DUNSTER.                  273
28
saw mills, and teaching in the winter, that he was enabled to lift his embarrassments and build a comfortable
house and barns. Now, the West Shore Lake Champlain Railroad runs through  that farm.   He writes:
"After 55 years in this place,.we can now get to the rest
of the world without crossing the lake." He is now
(1876) living on that place, with good health, and able
to do considerable work,. although in his 82d year. He,
with his wife, visited his friends in New Hampshire,
Massachusetts and Rhode Island, in the fall of 1875.
He has been twice married; first, to Azubah Felt, Oct.
23, 1816. She was the daughter of Aaron Felt, of Temple, N. H., and born Oct. 31, 1794. They lived at his
father's, in Mason Village. She died there, Oct. 23,
1818, of consumption; was sick most of her married life
of just two years.  She was buried at Mason Centre, and
a suitable stone is erected at her grave in the Dunster
group. They had one son:
of Medford rum withont taking the measure from his lips; and
can add, too, that he appeared afterwards "none the worse for
liquor " [Please understand this in a colloquial sense.]
This custom of drinking was at that day almost universal at
trainings, raisings, huskings, and even at funerals, where, after a
hopeful consolation to the bereaved, a solemn admonition to the
impenitent and a prayer for their conversion, a pail of " toddy "
was carried round, first to the minister, then to the chief mourner,
and following established precedence, to the children of the
neighborhood.
In an old Day Book, 1818, given us by a relative just outside of
the Dunster family, whose husband "kept store," which curiosity
has gathered among the " relics," are found 18 charges for rum
within 25 consecutive entries, which are relieved once by trusting
"' Joseph Noble for i lb. Tobacco, 10 cents," for which he paid
cash 12 days afterwards; and again, " to one hair comb, 10 cents,
and i lb. of Tobacco, 9 cents," charged " Widow Scribner," and
posted into ledger. One cent discrimination in favor of the widow.
With such surroundings many fell. An intimate friend caught
a glimpse of this gulf when just on its edge, and was startled.
Planting himself on "I will!" he wrote in cypher, a habit then
common with him, a little pledge, the first he ever heard of, and
formed a society, "alone, all alone;" and fifty years of faithfulness have secured property, favor, confidence, respect and honor,
of which the blindfolded goddess often gets credit which belongs
not to her.
" Speak but the commanding word, I will, and it is done." —Chaucer.




274   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
28
i.  HENRY7 JASON DUNSTER, born at Mason, Sept.
19, 1817. After the death of his mother he lived with
his grand-parents (Dunster), at Mason Village, until
1823, when his father had married again, and Henry
Jason was carried up by his grandfather' when he removed the goods of Jason6 to Westport.  He lived with
his father the most of the time until he married, Nov.
7, 1840, Martha Jane Persell, born June 21, 1820, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Williams) Persell, of Georgia,
Vermont.  Martha's mother died when she was four
years old.  They lived one year in a house near his
father's, after which they lived in a house on another lot
bought by his father.  He was of a melancholy temperament, but was highly respected. HI-e died June 26, 1857.
Buried at Wadham's Mills Cemetery.
His widow lived in Westport, keeping the family together with the assistance of his father.  She was married second, Nov. 30, 1867, by Rev. E. Marsh, pastor of
the Methodist Episcopal Church at Elizabethtown, N.
Y., to Henry Bateman Lewis, of that town; his second
wife. She had kept his house before her marriage.
Henry7 and Martha had seven children, all born at
Westport:
1. ELIZA8 EULACIA DUNSTER, born Dec. 15, 1841,
lived at Crown Point, Benson, Vt., and at Westport
with Mr. Allen, who had adopted her sister Harriet.  On
her thirtieth birthday, Dec. 15, 1871, she married Oscar
Taylor, of Westport; his second wife. She died, after
a very distressing sickness of a week, Sept. 26, 1872, at
Elizabethtown, and was buried at Wadham's Mills, beside her husband's first wife.  She was a member in full
communion of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
"died in happy confidence of blessed immortality,"
leaving no children.
2. LucIuss FELT DUNSTER, born Aug. 22, 1843, died
Dec. 9, 1848, of scarlatina; buried at Wadham's Mills.
3. WHEATON 8 HENRY DUNSTER, born Nov. 26, 1845,
died Dec. 23, 1848, of scarlatina.
4. MYRON8 NEWELL DUNSTER, born Jan. 9, 1848,
died Dec. 17, 1848, of scarlatina.




THE DUNSTER FAMILY.             275
28
Thus they lost three little children in a fortnight by
that mysterious and apparently uncontrollable disease.
5. HARRIET  MARIA DUNSTER, born Oct. 23, 1849,
was adopted after the death of her father by David Lewis
Allen, of Westport Village, with whom she lived until
her death, June 10, 1865, by consumption; buried at
Wadham's Mills.
6. WHEATON8 HENRY DUNSTER, born Oct. 11, 1852,
lived with his maternal aunt's husband, Deacon Hiram
Hale. of Georgia, Vt.  He married May 31, 1875, Elizabeth Waller, of Georgia, Vt.
7. ATHELIA8 SARAHI DUNSTER, born Jan. 1, 1855,
lived with her mother till about 1865, then with her
grandfather.  She married Nov. 24, 1875, George B.
Mitchel, a sash and blind maker, of Westport, born
1853?
Jason6 Dunster married second, Hannah Hardy, of
Westport.  She was born May 12, 1797. The next year
after he went to Westport he was taken sick with a fever,
and for some days little hopes of his recovery were entertained. During all this sickness she carefully nursed
him till he recovered. Soon after, she was taken down
with the same typhoid fever, which was then at that
place alarmingly prevalent.  She was also dangerously
sick. This acquaintance, begun in sympathy, ripened
into affection, and was consummated by their marriage,
Jan. 19, 1823. Ile had built a house on the clearing he
had mnade, and they commenced housekeeping there.
His father removed most of his goods and furniture to
the new locality, and with them took the little boy of his
former wife, who had in the meantime lived with him.
He was kindly received by his new mother, an event not
always realized.  Her kindness to him  never waned.
They had eight children, all born at that home in
Westport:
ii. AZUBAH 7 FELT DUNSTER, named for his first wife,
was the first child of the second marriage.  She was born
Sept. 14, 1823; lived at her father's till about 20 years
old, and then with her uncle, in Providence, R. I.; returned home afterwards in feeble health, and died of




276  HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
28
consumption, June 2, 1849.  "She was an amiable and
intelligent young woman; a member of the church, and
died in faith;" was buried at Wadham's Mills.
iii. LouIsA7 PHEBE DUNSTER, born Sept. 6, 1825,
united by profession with the Orthodox Congregational
Church, of which she is still a member. She was married May 10, 1849, by Rev. Charles Spooner, at West-.
port, to Morris Sherman, born May 6, 1824, in Essex
(town), Essex Co., N. Y. He was son of Humphrey
and Anna (Reynolds) Sherman; learned the trade of
mason about 1836; worked on the prison at Clinton and
other public buildings. Religious opinions Evangelical.
They boarded with her father's family about five years,
when they bought a house at Wadham's Mills Village, in
which they have since lived, except two years when he
carried on a farm in Westport. They- have had four
children:
1. SARAH8 AZUBAH SHERMAN, born May 1, 1850,
educated at the public schools and at Vergennes (Vermont),High School, taught in 1868 and every year since.
In 1874 she taught in Camanche, Iowa. In the fall of
1875 she was affianced to Frank Henry Stacy, of Clinton, Iowa. He was born at Westport, N. Y., May 29,
1850.  His parents settled in Camanche about 1855,
with the colony from Westport, when it was open prairie.
He was telegraph operator at Low Moor, but is now a
conductor on the Chicago and North Western Railroad.
She went home that fall, and returned to Iowa April 26,
1876. They were married on the 30th, at Camanche.
2. ELLERYs  JAMES SHERAIAN, born Nov. 25, 1852,
educated at Westport public and High School, and at
Elizabethtown High School, where his record stands the
highest in the school. He learned the trade of fancy
painter in Vergennes, Vt. Has marked original design.
Was occupied as accountant and superintending business at Wadham's Mills., In June, 1876, he went to
Camanche, Iowa. He graduated at the Business College, Clinton, Iowa, March 1, 1877.
3. CLARA8 HANNAH SHERMAN, born June 19, 1857,
died Dec. 21, 1862, of scarlatina; buried at Wadham's
Mills.




THE DUNSTER FAMILY.             277
28
4. CARROL8 MORRIS SHERMAN, born April 15, 1864,
living with his parents at Wadham's Mills.
iv. SARAH7 DODGE DUNSTER, fourth child of Jason,6
named for her Grandmother Hardy, whose surname was
Dodge, born Sept. 8, 1827, was married at Westport, by
Rev. Mr. Spooner, May 30, 1848, to Wait Powers Bristol, born at Panton, Vt., Oct. 28, 1821, son of Aaron
and Irene (Powers) Bristol. She died when Wait was
16 days old. They kept house at Wadham's Mills till
June, 1857, when they removed to Camanche, Iowa,
Twhere they own a quarter section of good land, about
three miles from Camanche Village, and about a mile
and a half west of the Mississippi River. Have a good
stock of cattle and horses, and are in comfortable circumstances. They have had six children:
1. HARRIETs (called HATTIE) MERRICK BRISTOL,
born at Westport, Sept. 29, 1850, died of consumption,
at Camanche, May 4, 1871; unmarried; buried at cemetery near Camanche Village.
2. JULIA8 HANNAH  BRISTOL, born at Westport,
Sept. 19, 1852, died of inflammatory fever, June 9,
1858; buried beside her sister.
3. MARY8 LOUISA BRISTOL, born at Camanche, Nov.
15, 1858, died there of lung fever, Jan. 7, 1862.
4. FRANK8 JASON BRISTOL, born July 17, 1861,
died of dropsy, at Camanche, Feb. 21, 1866; buried at
Camanche.
5. CHARLIE8 SAMUEL ISAIAH BRISTOL, born Sept.
19, 1868, was named for all his uncles.
6. EUGENE8 ELLERY BRISTOL, born Feb. 15, 1871.
v. CHARLES7 CARROL DUNSTER, (Jason,6 Jason,'
Jason,4 Henry,3 Jona.,2 Henry,') the fifth child of Jason
and fourth of Hannah (Hardy) Dunster, was born March
19, 1830. He worked on the farm at home till of age,
and remained in the vicinity until 1853, when he was
employed by the surveying party of the West Shore Lake
Champlain Railroad, from Whitehall to Plattsburg. That
survey being done, he went to Illinois and resided a year
at Niles, twelve miles north of Chicago; afterward went




278   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
28
to Lockport, Ill., and was employed in Norton's shipyard one season; then was engaged in building bridges
and locks on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. In this
employ he continued till 1856; then went to Minnesota,
where he located in the County of Steel a land warrant for 160 acres, which was granted to his father for
services in the war of 1812. He spent that winter in
Illinois, but returned to Steel County and staid till 1859.
Having sold this land, he went back to Westport and
engaged in farming. He now carries on his father's
farm besides his own, and is making a successful business, and improving the place by buildings. He is a1dministrator on the estate of Orrin Hardy, in Westport.
He married March 19, 1860, when just thirty years old,
Rachel Benson, daughter of David Benson, of Elizabethtown, N. Y. Her father was in the war of 1812, and
now receives a pension. Three children:
1. CLARAs LYDIA DUNSTER, born Dec. 23, 1867.
2. ELSIE8 HANNAH DUNSTER, born Oct. 30, 1871.
3. MARY8 ELIZABETH DUNSTER, born Feb. 11, 1875.
vi. SAMUEL7 KIMBALL DUNSTER, (Jason,6 Jason,5
Jason,4 Helnry,3 Jona.,2 Henry,') was born Aug. 14,
1832. He lived with his father till of age, having the
advantages of the common schools only, although early
manifesting an unmistakable desire for a more thorough
education which was beyond his reach. On the 11th of
April, 1853, he left home for the East. After this time
he kept a diary of his experience. A few of the leading
events only are copied for want of space. The journal
ought to be preserved.
After working at various places he settled down at
Andover, Mass., near the Phillips' Academy, and engaged in making shoes for a living, and at the same
time attended the Academy as a student, hiring a room
and boarding himself, living alone, and working all the
time he could spare from his studies. He had worked
awhile at Lowell, and while there or at North Tewksbury, became personally interested in religion, and joined
the open communion Baptist Church there, although
residing at the time at Andover. He was baptized by




SAM~UEL 7 KIMBALL DUNSTER.          279
98
immersion, June 11, 1854. Leaving Andover with regret, he went to Lynn, where he could obtain a better
living at the same business.
At Lynn he became acquainted with Elizabeth Jane
Wallace, daughter of MZoses and Rachel (Hanson) Wallace, of Cohasset.  She was born March 10, 1843, at
Sandwich, N. H1. They were married Oct. 16, 1860, at
her father's, (Beachwood,) Cohasset. They kept house
at Lynn until Nov. 26, 1861, when he felt impelled by
duty-a point he always regarded-to enlist into Co. K,
24th Regt. Mass. Vols. He finished up what work he
had on hand of his employers, J. P. Newhall & C(o., who
urged him to stay with them, offering better inducements, but he declined. He took his wife and babe to
her father's, and then made preparations to join his
company at Readville.  He writes:
"Dec. 1, 1861-Sunday-Remained with my wife at
her father's.  Attended meeting with her.  Donned my
uniform for the first time. It seemed the saddest day of
my whole life.  Lizzie cannot endure the thought of my
leaving.
" Dec. 2-Monday-Was obliged to leave in the morning. If I had fully realized what the separation would
have cost me, I fear my patriotism would have been insufficient to have taken me away.  Neither of us have
been able to rest for several days. It does not seem possible for a person to suffer more than my wife has.  But
the word had.been passed.  I could not turn back without feeling disgraced, although I was not legally holden.
With earnest prayers for our preservation, I had to leave.
I do not wonder that Lizzie fainted."
He staid at Readville a fortnight, then went by Providence to New York, thence by steamer, Eastern Queen,
for Annapolis.  Near here they encamped, and staid till
Jan. 7. Dec. 31st he writes:
"I like as well as I expected, and do not regret enlisting. But I do 0want to see Lizzie and the baby.  What
wouldn't I give to be at home awhile. The month has
seemed almost an age.  Well, live and hope."
25




280   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS I)ESCENDANTS.
28
Jan. 7, 1862, they went on the steamer Admiral for
Roanoke.
"'Jan. 19 —Chaplain held meeting for officers, but
none for us. We had a social meeting on deck.
"'26th —Walked on the beach and enjoyed reading
testament and thinking (underscored in diary).
"Feb. 7-Attempted landing at Roanoke. Steamer
aground about six miles from the battle which was then
raging. When it commenced I could not keep the tears
from starting, but as it progressed I became reconciled
to.it, and felt disappointed that we could not be there
and take our part."
The troops front the abandoned steamer were landed
and marched to take part in the battle. He writes:
"We met a stream of wounded men passing to the
rear. The first had lost an arm. The stump was bandaged, but the blood covered his clothes and the litter
on which he was carried. Then would come one supported by two comrades. Another with one side of his
head shot away, and his brains scattered over' his clothes.
Many followed, some just alive. It was a sad, a sickening sight."
Then follows a most graphic account of the battle,
and the occupation of Newbern, N. C. His diary gives
each day's experience, and some of it is written in a
blank memorandum found at Newbern, a part of which
had been used as an "Express Freight" book, and elegantly lettered as such.
While at Newbern he was a constant correspondent of
the "Bay State," printed at Lynn, over the signature
" D. K. S." His initials reversed. He refers to near a
hundred letters he wrote between June and Dec., 1862.
July 21 of that year, "A man killed by lightning in
camp."  Aug. 13th, Dr. Green gave him the temporary
charge of the hospital, and soon after he was appointed
Steward, which post he held till the close of the war.
Among his diary items is a chronology of events and
battles, sketches of marches, and many very interesting
notes of actual observation. In the pocket of a note



SAMUEL7 KIMBALL DUNSTER.            281
28
book we find a photograph of his child, which appears
to have been with him during his whole army life.
At the close of the war, about 1866, he went to Philadelphia, and was engaged with Mr. Turner in making
and putting up lightning conductors on buildings, which
he carried on till his health failed, in the summer of
1872, when he came to his father's at Westport, and died
there of consumption, Nov. 26, 1872.
His wife staid at her father's and at Mr. Cutting's, a
neighbor of his, for about three years, then with her
Aunt Cutting at Weston, Mass.  In January, 1865, she
removed to his father's, Jason Dunster, of Westport.
Her husband visited her there on furlough about that
time, and then returned to the army again. She died
at Westport, of consumption, Nov. 16, 1866.  They
were both buried at Wadham's Mills Cemetery.
We find in the Essex (N. Y.) Republican of Dec. 12,
1872:  "Died at Wadhan's Mills, Nov. 26, 1872, Mr.
Samuel K. Dunster.            He was amiable, candid
and conscientious.  He died a peaceful death.  His submission was genuine. A few days before he died he
remarked:'I desire to be saved; but am willing to be
lost should it be God's will.' The last few days were
characterized by growing faith. He spoke calmly of his
funeral; requesting his pastor to speak to the living, exhorting Christians to be faithful, and sinners not to
delay to repent and believe in Christ. His last words
were whispered-' I am happy.'            w. H. w."
They had but one child:
1.  CHARLES8 KIMBALL DUNSTER, born at Lvnn,
March 23, 1861.  He lives with his uncle, Charles C.
Dunster, to whom his father specially commended his
only child.- He is being well cared for by his grandfather and uncle both.
vii. ISAIAH'7 HARDY DIUNSTER, (Jason,JCaso, 5Jason,4
Henry,3 Jona.,2 Henry,l) the seventh child of Jason6 and
sixth of Hannah (Hardy) Dunster, was born at Westport, Feb. 28, 1835.  I-He lived at his father's until he
went West, in 1859.  In the summer of 1857 he united




282   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
28
with the Methodist Church at Westport by profession.
Of that church he has been and is still a firm and consistent member.
At the particular request of the writer he put on paper
the subsequent experience of his life, which, in most instances, we have quoted from his manuscript, abridging
in some things, but not altering even his language in
regard to his " war experience." That is given exact.
"Feb. 14, 1859-Left home intending to go to Kansas. Stopped at Camanche, Clinton Co., Iowa, to visit
t sister (Sarah D. Bristol), but have made my home
with her since. Was engaged in farming till I went
into the army.  The destructive tornado of June 3,
1860, passed directly over Camanche. Its width was
about half a mile, but its power seemed unlimited.
Quite a number were killed or injured west of us. At
Camanche (a village of perhaps forty houses) there were
thirty-two persons killed and many severely injured.
Buildings were blown like chaff;. and the statement is
made, on reliable authority, that a log lying at a saw
mill on the cwest bank of the Mississippi, intended for
sawing, was found on the east bank after the tornado
had passed. The river there is not less than half a mile
wide; we think more.
" At the time Fort Sumter's guns echoed through the
land, being busily enigaged in farming, but feeling that
my life work was set for me to do, and with a full understanding of a soldier's hardship and requirement, I
enlisted on the 12th of August, 1861, in Co. A, Sth Iowa
Infantry. The company remained the same during the
war, being filled up from time to time with new recruits.
Went into quarters at Davenport, Iowa, and after being
organized and equipped, went to Benton Barracks, St.
Louis. After a stay there, took cars on railroad west
to Sedalia, and then marched to Springfield, Mo., and
thence back again by railroad to Sedalia, where we spent
the winter, in small cloth tents, upon the prairies.
"This trip was a very hard one for us at the time,
being unused to it, and such a short time doing it, and
wholly uncalled for, with insufficient rations. We lost




ISAIAH7 HARDY DUNSTER.            283
28
twelve men out of Co. A upon this trip by the effects of
it. But what was that when the bet was won- for there
was a bet of $200 between Gen. McKinsly and Col.
[Adjt. Gen.] Steel, marching against time. About first
of March took cars and came to St. Louis again. Boat
down the river to Cairo. Up Ohio and Tennessee to
Pittsburgh Landing, and into camp. Very many sick,
owing to bad water we had and other causes.
" The well remembered Sunday morning of April 6th,
firing commenced between the two armies, and continued to increase till about ten o'clock, when we were
actually engaged at-the front. We had a rise of land
for our position, and held it until four o'clock, after
being charged upon. At this time our forces had been
driven upon the right and left, and we were surrounded
and made prisoners to the number of about 2500.  [He
gave us orally a somewhat amusing account of his capture. In assisting a wounded comrade he had become
separated from his company. After the firing ceased
an officer approached him and ordered him to throw
down his gun. HIe felt indignant at the order, the
thought of being a prisoner not entering his mind; so
he said, " Who are you? to make such a demand."  The
officer said, " They will shoot you if you don't do it."
Not noticing his uniform, and at the moment not able
to recall the word "Confederate," he said, in his blunt
way, "Are you Union or rebel?"  To which the officer
replied, "We are none of your  ~ Lincoln Yankees.
We have beat you; own up and throw down your gun."]
" In the main, at this time, we were well treated. They
gave us much credit for our fighting.' Boys, we've got
you, but you fought well.' They marched us about six
miles that night. Spent the night in mud and rain.
Next day to Corinth.  Took cars thence to Memphis.
Remained there one day. Then cars again to Jackson,
Miss., then to Mobile. Boat on the Alabama, Tombigbee and Black Warrior rivers to Tuscaloosa, where four
hundred of us remained one month in two rooms of an
old tobacco warehouse, fitted up for prison use. Our
situation was not a pleasant one. The filth of the place
and the small amount of food were just enough to keep
*25




284   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
28
soul and body together, if it did not stay too long. To
live in any comfort at all we often had to kill off the lice
known as grey backs, which, by the way, I have no great
love for, especially when I did not get enough to eat and
could not well spare any of myself for them to feed upon.
"After a month's stay we were again on the move
down the river, which we enjoyed much better than at
Tuscaloosa. Up and down in such a climate, and many
things of interest were enjoyed, but the hunger was not
pleasant. Down next to Mobile, and then up to Montgomerj, where we met many of our boys who were taken
with us, but sent to a different place. To this time we
had not known what our destiny was to be. Here, we
were rejoiced at a parole. Parole was that'I promise
upon Honor that I will not again take up Arms in defence of the North, nor aid in any form whatever until
I am regularly exchanged.' This parole we separately
signed.  Went to Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Birdsport
[?], on Tennessee River. Waited a day or two, then
down the river a few miles, where we were received by
our men, and took cars for Huntsville. What a privilege this, after 58 days of a prison's fate, to feel again
that I was in a measure a free man. What a pleasure to
see the Stars and Stripes instead of the one we had been
under. There were about 400 of us, and we left about
the same number at Tennessee River who expected soon
to follow us; but our men refusing to receive them, they
went back for four months more to prison life, and
many still remain in a prisoner's grave. I cannot excuse
our government for it, either.  Perhaps I never did
relish a meal more than the first one at Huntsville of
coffee and hard-tack.
"During my prison life I received favors for which I
felt grateful. One was a pair of new shoes. Marched
from Huntsville to Columbia, 75 miles. Had it not
been we were going north we could not have done it,
many being weak. Cars to Nashville, where we staid
three weeks; thence to Cairo and St. Louis. Here at
St. Louis, I think, we were worse used than we had been
in all our prison life. By order of Gen. Schofield we
were to be furnished with arms [those detailed] and




ISAIAH7 HARDY DUNSTER.            285.
28
should be detailed for guard duty. There was a feeling
of indignation at thus being called upon to violate and
compromise our lhollor. I was among the first to be
detailed. Not going, I was waited upon and marched to
guard-house.  To this I did not object. I was placed
under guard with ball and chain, which I wore one
week. During this time I was called before a court
martial, and told that if I would go upon duty I would
be released. As I did not choose to do so, the trial went
on, and being called to speak for myself, I said that I
was taken prisoner in the discharge of my duty, and
fairly taken. That while a prisoner I was of no use to
the government, and that I had given my word upon
honor that I would not take up arms nor do soldiers'
duty until I was exchanged, and I would not unless the
War Department ordered it, and then I would hold them
responsible, if such a thing could be, and not till then.
Taken back to guard-house. At end of a week we were
called to headquarters to see if we wished to be released
to do duty; but as we did not, they hand-cuffed two
together and sent us back again.  Remained under
guard 40 days. The sentence, being six months labor
on public works, with ball and chain, upon half pay,
was then remitted and I was released. In the meantime, the governors of Iowa and Illinois being informed
of the facts, wrote to Gen. Schofield that with such a
state of affairs and with such indignities heaped upon
the soldiers, enlistments had stopped.  Some of the
paroled prisoners had done duty under protest.
"I was exchanged about the first of January (1862),
and the regiment being reorganized, we were again on
our way down the Mississippi River, and went into camp
at Dicksport, La. We were set to work cutting the
levee to let the water into the much talked of Vicksburg
Canal.  Went on a campaign to Jackson; then to rear
of Vicksburg; then took position in front and rear of
enemy's fortifications. Upon Grant's charge our brigade
was held as a reserve. It being a failure, with great
sadrifice of life, it was given up, and a different plan
gave us Vicksburg.  Went under Gen. Sherman to
Jackson; then came back and went into camp near




286   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
28
Vicksburg to recruit and rest. After spending summer
resting, was again up the river to Memphis.  On my
way, I was presented with a Captain's commission by a
schoolmate who was Lieut.-Colonel of a colored regiment then being organized. From Memphis went to
Pocahontas, where I was honorably discharged. Proceeded to Little Rock, Ark., the headquarters of the
regiment. Remained about three months, and nearly
completed the company, when the Lieut.-Colonel, five
captains and ten lieutenants were dismissed, without any
trial, to give place to others, by order of Gen. Steel.
For this outrage and injustice the War Department
severely reprimanded Gen. Steel, and offered to reinstate
these officers; but we were out of the service, and I, for
one, felt too indignant to accept again, and the War
Department honorably discharged me."
He returned home again with poor health, but soon
improved, and has since made his home at his sister's,
in Camanche, employed in farming and teaming. He is
still unmarried.
viii. MARY7 MERRIAM  DUNSTER, named for her
grandmother, was born Nov. 4, 1837. She was well
educated, and of an affectionate disposition. To her,
her Grandmother Dunster, at her death, gave the gold
necklace she had long worn. She lived at her father's,
with the exception of a few months, during her whole
life. She died of consumption, Dec. 21, 1872, unmarried. From the Essex County Republican we copy:
"This is the third affliction the household has been
called to suffer in as many months —the last of three
heart wounds of which each succeeding one was deeper.
In Elizabethtown, Sept. 26, Mrs. Eliza E. Taylor, a
grand-daughter, died suddenly. Mr. Samuel K. Dunster, a son, who had passed most of his time away, returned in October last and died of consumption, Nov.
26. Now we chronicle the death of a daughter, the
youngest and tenderest of the household, upon whom its
interests and sympathy were centered. For ten years
she suffered with poor health. The last two years were
characterized by gradual but certain decline. For the




THE DUNSTER FAMILY.              287
28-29
last few months it has been apparent to all that she
must soon bid us adieu. She died rejoicing in hope.
During the last few days her mind was calm and peacefu].' [Not my will, but Thine be done' was her prayer.
She desired grace to enable her to wait with patience
until the summons came.'Meet me in Heaven' was
her last message to absent friends. Her passing away
was falling asleep.'Asleep in Jesus!. peaceful rest
Whose waking is supremely blest.'
As shadows, cast by flitting clouds, chase each other
across the fields and out of sight, so have they, the dear
departed, fled, one after another, to the unseen realm.
W. I.' W."
ix. ELLERY7 GARFIELD DUNSTER, the ninth child
of Jason and eighth of Hannah Dunster, was born Jan.
8, 1844. He died Dec. 11, 1848, of scarlatina.
This was the fourth childt who, died in that family
circle in three weeks of that fatal disease.
29. ii. MARY6 D UNSTER, (Jason,5 Jason,' Henry,3
Jona.,2 Henry,') the second child of Jason5 and Mary
(Polly Meriam) Dunster, was born Feb. 16, 1796.  She
was baptized by Rev. E. Hill, Feb. 25. She had all
the advantages of the common school as it was then, but
no other.  She made good use of that, and for the times
was well educated. She lived with her parents, and was
of great service in spinning and weaving by hand. In
that way all the domestic clothing was made.  The
ponderous old loom adorned the attic long after its usefulness had departed. At the time of the great September gale (1815) she was engaged in preparing for her
marriage outfit.  The roof of the then new  house,
strongly framed with ridge-pole and braces, was lifted
so as to show at the top a wide opening, but falling back
into place it remained firm, and she received no injury.
She married Dec. 28, 1815, Benoni Cutter Kimball,
born in Temple, N. H., March 13, 1791. He was the
son of Isaac and Sally (Sarah Cutter) Kimball. They
lived on the second farm in Temple, on the Mason Vil



288   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
29
lage road.  (History Temple.) He was named for his
mother's brother, Dr. Benoni Cutter. He was a house
carpenter; was finishing the inside of Jason Dunster's
new house when he became engaged to his daughter.
He built a new house at Mason Village, in which they
at first lived, and afterwards built another there, in
which they lived until he bought the two-thirds of the
I)unster homestead, about 1835, and the other third at
the death of Widow Mary Dunster, 1858.
He was an influential member of the Congregational
(Orthodox) Church, and took a prominent part in organizing the new church at Mason Village. His wife
was a devoted member of the church tb which thev both
united, in 1826, at the same time by profession, and had
all their children baptized at Mason Centre. In all the
religious enterprises they took an active and leading part.
She died very suddenly of heart disease, May 31, 1864,
and was buried at Mason Village Cemetery. He died
March 29, 1865, of diabetes, which painful sickness he
bore with Christian patience. He was buried beside his
wife. They had fifteen children, all born at Mason Village. To these parents was granted the blessed privilege
of seeing every one of them, except the two who died in
infancy, united with a Christian church by profession,
and all worthy members of society.
1. BENONI7 KIMBALL, (Benoni and Mary6 Dunster,)
the first child of Benoni and Alary (Dunster) Kimball,
was born Dec. 23, 1816. He was a carpenter. Worked
in Boston on Shawmut Avenue Church.  He united
with Mason Centre Church. He had been baptized,
Sept. 16. 1826, on profession of parents, but like his
ancestor, doubted its validity. He was married by Rev.
Mr. French, at Peterboro, N. H., to Jane A. Spring,
who was then living at Mason Village. They lived in
Boston, where he died of small-pox, July 15, 1840.
When his friends told him of his approaching end, after
a moment's silent prayer, he said, "The Lord's will be
done."  He was buried at the strangers' burying ground.
They had no children. His wife returned to Mason,
and after two or three years, married Rev. Mr. Burn



THE KIMBALL FAMILY.             289
29
ham, a Christ-ian minister, and went West.  She had
two children by him.
2. GEORGE7 KIMBALL, (Benoni and Mary6 Dunster,)
born May 30, 1818. School education at village. Worked with his father at carpentry. He married April 6,
1841, Phebe Rideout, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Simonds) Rideout, of Milford, N. H., and built a house
on the Dunster homestead. He had lived at Fitchburg,
where she became a member of the Congregational
Church. They also lived at Springfield, Mass., where
they had a son:
(i) GEORGE8 BENONI KIMBALL, born July 16(, 1849.
He died at Springfield, Sept. 20, 1843, and was brought
to Mason Village.
On the formation of the village church they both removed their church relations to it. She died Feb. 23,
1861, of cancer in the breast, which was once removed
without any benefit. For a large part of her eight or ten
years' sickness she was helpless. She died at Fitchburg,
but was buried at Mason Village. Her husband staid a
short time at Fitchburg, and then went to Springfield
Armory, where he was inspector of guns. Here he married 2d, Aug. 5, 1862, Mary Ann Johnson, daughter of
William and Eliza (Tweedy) Johnson; married by Rev.
Joel Bingham, of Westfield. She was a member of the
Episcopal Church in Springfield.  With that church
both are now connected. About 1871 he bought a farm
about four miles north of Lawrence, Kansas. He now
lives in Lawrence, and works at Kimball Bros. machine
shop. They have had two children:
(ii) HERBERT8 WILBER KIMBALL, born at Springfield, March 8, 1864, died in Reno Township, Kansas,
May 7, 1873, of cerebro-spinal meningitis. He was wonderfully mature in intellect and learning. He suffered
that dreadful disease one hundred and two days, when
death relieved him. We find an extended notice of that
little boy, nine years old, in a Lawrence paper, and think
not a word has been over-drawn. We saw him when
racked with pain and limbs distorted, still he was calm
and patient. " In the school house which had been the




290  HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
29
scene of his little triumphs, the beautiful burial service
of the Episcopal service was pronounced by Rev. J. K.
Dunn, and the wasted and wearied body of little' Bertie'
is now at rest in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Lawrence."
(iii) CORA8 LENA KIMBALL, daughter of George and
Mary Ann (Johnson) Kimball, was born at Lawrence,
Kansas, Jan. 28, 1867.  She possesses much of her
brother's intelligence and tact at learning.
3. MARY7 ANN KIMBALL, born Jan. 19, 1820, died
Sept. 30, 1824, buried at Mason Centre. Removed to
Mason Village Cemetery, 1866, and reinterred there.
4. ELIZA7 ANN KIMBALL, born Sept. 1, 1821, baptized Sept. 16, 1826, joined the Congregational Church
at Mason Centre. Married at her father's, on the Dunster homestead, Oct. 22, 1843, by Rev. Joseph B. Hill,
to George Gardner Amsden, of Springfield, son of Hollis
Amsden, of Mason. Lived in Amherst, N. H., and
Mason Village. She died Sept. 6, 1846, and was buried
there. They had no children.
5. ADDISON' KIMBALL, born Feb. 7, 1823, died
March 5, same year.
6. FRANKLIN' KIMBALL, (Benoni and Mar y6 D.,)
the sixth child of Benoni and Mary (Dunster) Kimball,
was born Jan. 6, 1824, baptized Sept. 16, 1826, united
with Mason Centre Church by recent experience and
profession. Worked with his father as house carpenter.
Worked at Fitchburg as pattern maker. He married
Sept. 8, 1847, at Stoddard, N. H., Elizabeth Davis, born
Nov. 28, 1822, daughter of Asa and Abigail (Hodgeman) Davis, married by Rev. Isaac Robinson. She was
a member of the Congregational (Orthodox) Church at
Fitchburg, where they both lived when married.
In 1857, with his brothers, he removed to Lawrence,
Kansas, where he has resided since. He has been a
member of the City Council of Lawrence. He was there
when Quantrell made his murderous raid on that city,
but was not disturbed, being at a little distance from the
scene of destruction. He is a member of the firm of
"Kimball Brothers," machinists and founders. They
have had three children:




THE KIMBALL FAMILY.             291
29
(i) FRANCES 8 EMOGEN KIMBALL, born at Fitchburg,
July 15, 1850, is very well educated, having graduated
at the Kansas State University in Lawrence.  She lived
with her parents till Nov. 18, 1873, when she was married by Rev. Mr. Cordley, at her father's, corner of
Pinckney and Tennessee streets, to Arthur Carruth, of
Lawrence. They now reside in Topeka, Kansas. He
is in the book business. They have one child:
(1) CHARLES9 ARTHUR CARRUTH, b. Nov. 21, 1875.
(ii)  CHARLES8 FREDERICK  KIMBALL, (Franlklin,
Benoni and Mary6 Dttnster,) was born at Fitchburg,
Mass., Feb. 2, 1857. Is well educated. Resides at his
father's. Is a machinist, employed by Kimball Bros.
(iii) MARY8 ABBIE KIMBALL, born at Lawrence,
Kansas, Dec. 7, 1859, died July 4, 1860, buried at Oak
Hill Cemetery, Lawrence.
7.  ISAAC7 NEWTON KIMBALL, born at Mason Village, Dec. 7, 1825, was baptized Sept. 16, 1826. United
with Mason Centre Church by profession in 1844. He
learned the carpenter's trade of his father; afterwards
worked in Fitchburg; was taken sick with typhoid fever
there; came home, and died at the Dunster homestead,
Sept. 5, 1845; was buried at Mason Village. He had a
splendid intellect, and death only conquered his determination to have a collegiate education.
8.  SAMUEL' DUNSTER KIMBALL, (Benoni and 3Mary6
(Dutnster), Jason,5 Jasonl,4 Henry,3 Jona.,' Henry,') born
at Mason Village, Aug. 27, 1827, was named for his
uncle.  He united with Mason Centre Church by profession in 1844, with his brothers, Isaac Newton and
Frederick. He learned the trade of machinist. Worked
at Clinton and Fitchburg. At both places he kept house.
At the time of the " Kansas-Nebraska" excitement (1854)
he was one of the pioneers to make a settlement at Lawrence, which was then open prairie. In this they had a
double object,-bettering their condition, and making
Kansas a Free State. He, with his brother Frederick,
went out in advance of the colony from Worcester County. Their families soon followed. Two of his brothers,
26




292   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDAN'TS.
29
Franklin and Edward, afterwards joined the colony.
They formed a partnership, "Kimball Brothers," and
did an extensive business as machinists and founders.
He was a member of the City Council six years, three of
which he was President of the Board. He was Mayor
of the city in 1867 and'68. Was a member of the
Board of Education, and Chief Engineer of the Fire
Department.  He married at Mason Village, Nov. 15,
1849, Adaline Amelia Livingston, daughter of Benjamin
and Milly (Sanders) Livingston, of Sharon, N. IIH., then
residing at Mason'Village. They were married by Rev.
William  Olmstead, the first pastor of Mason Village
Congregational Church, to which she united by profession.
At the time of Quantrell's raid on Lawrence, Aug. 21,
1863, he was taken from  his own house, No. 20 Kentncky street, and marched under guard to a sort of
prison, made of the City Hotel, on Massachusetts (?)
street, and there confined. After taking him  (it was
early in the morning and he scarce had time to dress)
they set his house on fire, and piled the furniture, bedding, &c., on the flames to make sure of its destruction,
then left the premises. His wife, brave woman! immediately set about extinguishing the flames, and succeeded in saving the house, although much of the furniture was destroyed.  The parlor, where the fire was
kindled, was badly burned; and in 1872 a table was
shown us with the leaves badly burned and one leg
nearly burned off. To our mind, it was the most interesting ornament of the parlor in which it stood. It will,
we trust, be kept as a memento of that horrid scene at
which fiends might blush.  He was liberated when they
left the city. He still resides in that house, and continues the business of machine making. We might add
he was a delegate to the famous Congregational Council
of Plymouth Church. They have had no children.
9. FREDERICc7 KIMBALL, was born at Mason Village, June 9, 1829. He united with the Congregational
Church at Mason Centre in 1844. He learned the carpenter's trade of his father. Worked at Fitchburg, and
afterwards at St. Johnsburv, Vt., for Fairbanks & Co.,




THE KIMBALL FAMILY.              293
29
on scales for weighing. In 1854 he removed to Lawrence, Kansas, and became a partner with his brothers.
They built a small steamer for lumbering on the Kansas
River.  This department of their business was managed
by him.  He built a residence on Kentucky and Winthrop street, adjoining his brother's.
In Quantrell's raid, Aug. 21, 1863, his house was
sacked.  He concealed himself, and for a timre was safe;
but they set the house on fire, when he attempted to
escape, but was made a prisoner and shot in his own
door-yard. He was unarmed and had made no resistance.  That wound was not fatal, and he was left for a
few moments, when he made his way to a wooded ravine
near his house. Here he was discovered, and again shot,
this time fatally.  He was seen by a colored woman to
raise his hands afterwards. That was his only movement.  He was not found, although in sight of his
house, till the afternoon of that fearful day, when he
was numbered with the one hundred and forty-three who
were killed outright or died of their wounds. Scarce one
of them was armed, and many were shot as if for the
amusement of the murderers.  "It is doubtful if the
world has ever seen such a scene of horror; certainly not
outside of savage warfare." (Rev. R. Cordley.) He was
buried at Oak Hill Cemetery. By the exertions of his
wife and daughter the flames were put out and the house
saved. In that ravaged home they still (1872) live.
Frederick was married by Rev. Mr. Davis, at Fitchburg, Oct. 20, 1852, to Martha Farnsworth, born Oct. 16,
1831, daughter of Levi and Abigail (Matthews) Farnsworth, of Fitchburg.  After the death of her husband
she united with the Congregational Church at Lawrence.
She remained a widow till July 3, 1868, when she married Walter Howell, of Lawrence, by whom  she has
Clarence Howell, born October, 1871.
They had two children:
(i) ELLA8 FREDERIKA KIMBALL, born at St. Johnsbury, Vt., April 15, 1854, was a babe when her parents
went to Lawrence. She was well educated at the public
schools, which were early established there.  She after



294   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
29
wards graduated at the Kansas University, and took
high rank. She united with the Congregational Church
at the time her mother did, and is active in the enterprises of the day. Her education and tact eminently
qualify her for argument. Her quiet and easy deportment give her an uncommon influence in the controversies of the day. She was married at Lawrence, Oct.
6, 1875, to Leland Cooper. HIe is an express messenger
on the Lawrence and Galveston Texas Railroad.
We have been lately informed that Ella8 Frederika, as
well as her cousin Emogen,8 " were in the State University only about three years; but like most young ladies
they followed their natural inclinations and graduated
in the great school of matrimony."
They have one child:
(1) NELLIE9 FARNSWORTH COOPER, born Aug. 20,
1876, —thus by one month snatching away from her
cousin, Grace Warren Landrum, the honor of being the
youngest named in the " Dunster Descendants."
(ii) LILLIAN8 MARIA KIMBALL, born at Lawrence,
June 26, 1861, died at Fitchburg, Dec. 1, 1863.
10. JAMES' KIMBALL, (Benoni and Mar y6 Dunster,
Jason,5 Jason,4  Henry,3 Jona.,2  Henry,') the tenth child
of Benoni and Mary (Dunster) Kimball, was born at
Mason Village, April 18, 1831. United with the Second
Congregational Church at Mason Village, July 1, 1849,
Rev. William Olmstead. He learned carpentry of his
father, and worked at cabinet making and school furniture at Lebanon, N. H., and also at Weston, Mass. He
kept a store for a time at Mason Village. When the
Government put its whole facilities at Springfield to
making guns he went there and was employed in stocking them. Soon became an inspector of the work. That
position he held until the Providence Tool Co. obtained
the large contract for guns of the Turkish Government.
These arms were to be examined by U. S. Inspectors,
and he was detailed for that purpose. He now resides
in Providence, R. I. He married Sept. 1, 1853, Maria
Corbin, born at New Ipswich, N. H., Nov. 20, 1829,
daughter of Stephen and Mary (Squires) Corbin. He




THE KIMBALL FAMILY.               295
29
(Mr. C.) was the first conductor on the Mason Village
Railroad; was afterwards conductor on the Ohio Central
Railroad. He was killed at Spencer's Station, on that
road, April 12, 1862.
They have had but one child:
(i)  JAMES8 NEWTON KIMBALL, (James,7 Benovni6 and
lfary D.,) was born at Weston, Mass., Feb. 26, 1855.
IIe graduated at the Springfield High School, and has
since been engaged in practical engineering.  Was long
employed on the Springfield Water Works.  Since their
completion has been surveying on railroads.
11.  MARSHALL' KIMBALL, (BenoeZi and Mary~ D.,
Jagson,5 Jason,4 HeZnry,3 Jona.,2 Henzry,') born at Mason
Village, Oct. 2, 1832, is a farmer, and owns the Dunster
homestead Lot No. 10, in 18th Range.  He was educated at public schools and Appleton Academy, at New
Ipswich; taught school in Mason three terms; united
with the  Mason Village  Congregational (Orthodox)
Church, May 6, 1849, by profession; was elected deacon of that church Nov. 5, 1858, which office he still
sustains.  He enlisted in Co. C, 16th N. ti. IRegt. Infantry Vols. Oct. 18, 1862; stationed at Louisiana; mustered out at Concord, N. H., Aug. 2, 1863.  In 18;7 he
built himself a large and convenient barn, from  the
cupola of which he fell, striking on the roof and other
portions till he reached the ground, 40 feet in all. He
was severely lamed, from which he has not entirely recovered.  In 1870 he was one of the Selectmen, and has
held other offices in town. Ile was married May 15,
1859, at the village church, by Rev. George E. Fisher,
to Lotuisa Judith Allen, born Oct. 7, 1832, daughter of
Oliver and Harriet (harding) Allen, of Mason.  She
graduated at Appleton Academy, and taught school in
Mason and other towns constantly for ten years, and
until her marriage.  She is gifted as a writer.  She
wrote the "Song of Welcome" for the Mason Centennial Celebration, 1868.  They have six children:
(i)  ELMER8s ALLEN  KIMBALL, born Jan. 18, 1862.
He is now at New Ipswich Academy.
*26




296   HENRY DUNSTER} AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
29
(ii) MARY8 LILLIAN KIMBALL, born June 2, 1864.
Her grandmother was buried from the same house on
the same day.
(iii) FRED.8 BENONI KIMIBALL, born March 18, 1866.
(iv) LENAs HARRIET KIMBALL, born Nov. 22, 1870.
(v)  FLORAs LOUISA KIMBALL, born Feb. 8, 1872.
(vi) EDWARD 8 MARSHALL KIMBALL, b. Sept. 13, 1873.
12.  MARY7 KIMBALL, (Benoni and Mary6 D.,) born
Feb. 10, 1834, united with the Mason Village Church by
profession, July 1, 1849, Rev. William Olmstead.  She
was a tailoress for ten years. Was on a visit to her
brother James, and became affianced to James Madison
Post, of Lebanon, N. H. He was the son of Edwin and
Mrs. Eunice (Gove) Post, of that town. Her maiden
name was Eunice Wells Hall. He is a cabinet and furniture maker. They were married at her father's, on
the Dunster homestead, by Rev. E. Davis, of Fitchburg,
Dec. 3, 1863. Reside at East Lebanon, N. H. They
have four children:
(i) EDWIN8 DUNSTER POST, born Feb. 3, 1866.
(ii) JENNIE8 MARIA POST, born April 7, 1868.
(iii) KATE8 ESTELLE POST, born Oct. 6, 1870.
(iv) ELLA8 LOUISA POST, born Oct. 20, 1873.
13. ELLEN' MARIA KIMBALL, (Begnoni and Mary6
D.,) was born at the Dunster homestead, Mason Village,
June 29, 1835. With her brother James and sister Mary
she united with Mason Village Church, July 1, 1849.
She was a tailoress.  Married Sept. 20, 1858, Jamnes
Henry Ferguson, born at West Boylston, Mass., Jan. 7,
1836, son of James and Sylvia (Stevens, daughter of
Hon. John Stevens) Ferguson. He was a machinist.
Went to Wisconsin and staid a few months, thence removed to Lawrence, Kansas, where he was in company
with Kimball Brothers. In 1862 he came to Springfield,
Mass., and was engineer at the. U. S. Armory. In 1865
he went. into the electrotype business (Lovejoy, Son &
Co., Vanderwater street, New York).  Owns a residence
in Brooklyn. They have had three children:




THE KIMBALL FAMILY.              297
29
(i) FRED.8 IRVING FERGUSON, born at Lawrence,
Kansas, July 8, 1859, died July 18, 1860, buried there.
(ii) JAMES8 WILLIS FERGUSON, born at Brooklyn,
N. Y., April 14, 1866. He died of diphtheria, at Brooklyn, Nov. 18, 1874, was buried in the Kimball group at
Mason Village Cemetery.
(iii) EVA8 MAY FERGUSON, born May 14, 1873, at
Brooklyn, at their new residence, No. 121 St. Mark's
Avenue.
14. EDWARD8 KIMBALL, born at the Dunster homestead, Dec. 26, 1836, learned the machinist's trade at
Putnam's shop, Fitchburg.  Went to Kansas with his
brother Franklin, and became a member of the firm.
He boarded with his brother Samuel at the time of the
raid, and with him was taken from the house and confined at the temporary prison. He was a celebrated
musician.  From his funeral sermon by his pastor, Rev.
Richard Cordley, we add a few items of his life-have
no room for more.
"The life of our Brother Kimball, and the power we
now feel he had over us, suggest important thoughts.
1. It shows the powver of a true life.  There was no pretense about Mr. Kimball.  There was no attempt at
influence-no striving for position.  He was merely
true.  Hlis life made its own mark.  lIe was firm on
all moral subjects, never failing to speak or act when
the occasion came; but he was never obtrusive, never
trying to make himself felt.  Meet him  where you
would he was always the same. On the street, in his
foundry amid the blaze, dust and heat, he was the same
genial, Christian gentleman as when in the concert room
or the church.  2. The example of our brother shows
that a man's power is from his life, not his professions.
Mr. Kimball made few professions.  He never told of
himself. People never would have known him from his
words. 3. Fidelity will always be appreciated.  Our
brother was a marked illustration of this law. During
the twelve years past he has been a great deal more than
a leader of the choir. It is this unselfish fidelity that
has so won our hearts. It has not been merely in gath



298   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
29
ering and leading the choir that he worked, but in
everything that pertained to the music of the church.
"When this church edifice was just above its foundation, and our resources fell far short of its completion,
he suggested the idea of an organ,'to cost at least
$3000.' I told him'it was preposterous to think of it.
The society was already burdened to its utmost endurance. They could scarcely finish their church. It
would only discourage to add more.' He replied:'I
have a plan to reach the organ and not to interfere with
the church.  We will form  the young people into an
Organ Association, and by socials, festivals and concerts, in two years from the dedication of the church,
we shall have an organ and no one feel the poorer for it.'
He carried out his plan vigorously, and we dedicated the
organ with the church, instead of two years later.
"I am amazed to see how his quiet influence has permeated every stage of our growth. But we miss him
most for the personal ties which had grown so strong.
As I look back over the past, a panorama passes before
me. As scene after scene goes by, one familiar face appears prominent in all. I see the city in ruins. A worse
than savage foe has laid it waste.  The bodies of the
dead are strewn here and there.  The houses of the people are in ashes. The'mourners go about the streets.'
Prominent in that picture is the face of our brother,
coming out of peril and threatening and abuse, but coming safe, and helping cheerfully, yet sadly, in the work
of restoration.
"I see a procession of our citizen soldiers marching
up Massachusetts street on their return fromn the border.
It had been a time of peril and painful anxiety. Price
and his army were on the border, and our friends had
been ordered out to repel his attack. They had been
gone from us several weeks. For two days, battle had
been going on almost within hearing. One morning it
was announced that our friends were returning and
victory was assured.  I saw them first as they came up
from the bridge, dusty and worn and weary. The first
face I recognize is that of our brother before us, as he
marched before the rest, with the band playing that




THE DUNSTER FAMILY.             299
29-30.
familiar air, which never sounded so glad before,' When
the boys come marching home again.'
" His place is vacant. His chair and stand are draped
in black. In the delirium of his last sickness he would
often be talking of music. His last words were,'Fading,
still fading.'"'
He died Sept. 23, 1873, of typhoid fever, at his brother
Samuel's house, which had long been his home. The
funeral services were at the Congregational Church, and
were closed by the singing of that hymn which had apparently been the theme of thought as he passed to the
harmony of Heaven. He had never been mnrried. Was
interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence.
15. ABBY7 JANE KIMBALL, was the youngest of that
family of fifteen children, all of whom were singers and
musicians of a high order, and attained that position
mostly by self-culture around the family board. Their
father was never known to even attempt music, and their
mother was an indifferent singer, although, like most
children, she "went to the singing school."
Abby was born at the Dunster homestead, May 23,
1838. She united with Mason Village Church, May 3,
1857. She was a tailoress, and worked at that place
until her marriage, at the residence of her father, by
Rev. S. J. Austin, Dec. 28, 1858, to John Robinson
Lynch, born July 21, 1828. He was the son of George
Henrv and Margaret (Curry) Lynch. He united with
the Mason Village Church by profession, July 4, 1858.
He is a bflacksmith, and doing a good business'at the
shop he has built on a part of the Dunster homestead,
near the railroad station, where he has also built a good
house by his industry and frugality. They are both interested in the welfare of the church and community.
Being without children she takes an active part in Sabbath Schools and other religious objects. She possesses
the wedding ring of Mary Davis Dunster, referred to on
page 257.
30. iii. ISAIAH6 DUNSTER, (Jason,,5 Jason,4 renry,3
Jona.,' Henry,l) the third child of Jason5 and Mary
(Meriam) Dunster, was born Dec. 10, 1798. He re



300  HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
30
ceived the common school education of those days, and
worked on the farm of his father till of age (1819), when
he went to Weston, Mass. Before leaving Mason he was
affianced to Betsey Warren Russell, daughter of Hubbard and Sarah (Warren) Russell, and sister of Moses
Russell, who married Betsey Dunster, his sister. She
died Jan. 31, 1820. While living at Weston, which he
did several seasons, he became acquainted with and married, Feb. 6, 1823, Ruth Sophia Fisk, daughter of Jonas
and Abigail (Pierce) Fisk, of Waltham. (Mrs. Fisk,
afterwards Mrs. Haywood, died at Weston, Oct. 6, 1875,
aged 94 years.) She, Ruth Sophia, was born Sept. 27,
1804. They resided a while at Waltham, then removed
to Mason, N. H., where he bought two-thirds of the
Dunster homestead, and lived on it until about 1830;
thence removed to New Ipswich, N. H., afterwards to
Holliston, Mass.  They also lived at Bustleton, Pa.,
Sanford, Me., and at Providence, R. I.; in these three
places employed in print works. From Providence he
went to Attleboro, Mass., where he carried on a farm
bought by his son. He died of'liver complaint, at that
farm, Aug. 4, 1857; was interred at Mount Hope Cemetery in that town. His widow has' lived most of the
time since at Attleboro. They had two children:
1. ELIZA' SOPHIA DUNSTER, born at Waltham, April
5, 1824, lived with her parents in their repeated removals; employed the latter part of these years in the print
works, sewing calico for printing. At Providence she
married Moses Mason (his second wife), Aug. 29, 1844.
He was the son of John and Hannah (RichardsonCampbell) Mason, and was born at Attleboro, May 29,
1802. When married he was engaged in store keeping
at Providence. In the spring of 1847 they removed to
Attleboro Falls, where he traded seven years. He now
resides on the old homestead, and is engaged in farming.
She died there, Aug. 7, 1866. He has a third wife.
They had eight children:
(i) MOSES8 HENRY MASON, (Moses and Eliza7 Dunster, Isaiah,6 Jason,5 Jason,4 Henry,3 Jonathan,2 Henry,l)
born at Providence, R. I., May 27, 1845. Common




THE MIASON FAMILY.                 301
30
school education.  When 16 years old, learned the machinist's trade, at which lie worked only a year.  Was
then clerk and paymaster for H. AM. Richards and E. I.
Richards & Co., jewelers.  Afterwards attended Bryant,
Stratton & Mason's Commercial College, in Providence.
While there, was kept by them writing in the Quartermaster's office, making out the claims of Rhode Island
against the United States for service of troops in the rebellion. Afterwards went to New York city, as salesman and clerk for G. W. Shepherdson, and Webster &
Gage (a Chicago house). Returned to Attleboro, and
was-clerk, paymaster, &c., for H. M. Daggett, for three
years. Then went into the jewelry business at Attleboro
Falls on his own account, (Mason, Draper & Co.) which
they are still very successfully carrying on.* He was
married at the Second Congregational Church, Rev. H.
Peloubet, Nov. 11, 1869, to Emma Maria Staples, born
April 30, 1850, daughter of Isaac Braman and Frances
Dyer (Penno) Staples, of Attleboro. Have no children.
(ii)  CHARlLES8 EDWARD MASON, (Moses and Eliza7
Dunster,) was born in Providence, R. I., Jan. 25, 1847.
His parents removed to Attleboro Falls same year, where
* At a church fair, held Thanksgiving week, 1876, an easy
chair was among the articles to be disposed of by voting to the
most popular man in Attleboro. On examining the "votes
actually cast," Henry Mason had a plurality of 404, ascertained
by an "honest count." At the close of the fair six stalwart men
bore the chair on their shoulders to his residence, preceded by
the Band, who had in like manner obtained a new flag, followed
by a torchlight procession. (The torches had been used a few
nights before by the bewildered politicians.) The boys on the road
let off fireworks as a side show. Mr. Brady made a set speech, in
which he spoke of the veneration with which the chair would be
looked upon by the recipient's posterity, and made a formal presentation of it. Mr. Mason made an impromptu reply, and invited his guests to a generous entertainment, got up on strict
temperance principles. The voters had paid ten cents each as
"intimidation." The church made $200.00 by the chair. The
Band had a chance to show off their new flag. The audience
were well pleased with their hospitality, and retired without saying a word on the "Presidential muddle," which had been the
only talk for three weeks; and Henry sits quietly in his beautiful
brown silk seat adorned with scarlet puffs, with his unsolicited
title of " The most popular man in Attleboro."




302   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
30
he attended school, and assisted his father in the store.
When 15 years old, went to learn the trade of machinist,
staid about three years; thence went to H. M. Daggett's
braid factory as engineer of the steam and water power.
In 1865 went to the American Screw Co., Providence,
and worked on machines for making screws, where he
staid about three years; then came to East Attleboro and
worked at making jewelers' tools. Went into the jewelry business on his own account in 1871. He married
Oct. 20, 1872, Lydia Carpenter Bliss, born Jan. 4, 1849,
only daughter of Rodolphus and Lydia Short (Carpenter) Bliss. They reside at her father's, where she superintends the housekeeping.
(iii) SAMUEL8 DUNSTER MASON, (Moses and Eliza7
D., Isaiah,6 Jason,5 Jason,4 Henry,3 Jona.,2 Henry,l) born
at Attleboro, Sept. 4, 1848, was named for his greatnucle.  Went to public school, "Falls" district, and
one year at North Attleboro High School. In 1865 he
learned the machinist's trade; staid about a year; was
then employed by H. M. Daggett to do repairs and keep
the machines for making braid in order. When only 18
years old he was sent to Paterson, N. J., to start a braid
establishment there. In 1869 went to R. Blackinton's
jewelry establishment as a tool maker. Jan. 1, 1870, he
went into company with his brother Henry and Charles
Draper, (Mason, Draper & Co.) in the jewelry business.
They have been successful.  He is very ingenious at that
business. Their establishment is at Attleboro Falls. He
married Dec. 10, 1873, Emma Frances Draper, sister to
their partner, and only daughter of Lorenzo and Harriet
Newell (Shaw) Draper, North Attleboro.  She was born
July 23, 1843. They reside at the F' alls."
(iv) CARRIE' (CAROLINE) ELIZA MASON, the fourth
child and eldest daughter of Moses and Eliza7 Sophia
(Dunster) Mason, was born at Attleboro, Feb. 23, 1853.
After her school education she was employed at Daggett's
braid factory, assorting, counting and packing.  At this
she became very dexterous and perfectly correct.  These
qualifications were fully appreciated and rewarded. In
1870 she went to Chicago with a friend, just married,
and has resided with her ever since, prefering that




THE MASON FAMILY.              303
30
locality to her birth-place. They now reside at South
Evanston, about ten miles down the lake from Chicago.
She is unmarried.
(v) EDWARDs S. MASON, (iloses and Eliza7 Dunster,)
born Dec. 21, 1851, was a member of the High School.
Worked at machinery about two years, then went to R.
Blackinton & Co.'s, taking the place left by his brother
Samuel. In July, 1869, he joined the Baptist Church
(Calvinistic) by profession. He married Dec. 7, 1871,
Mary Caroline Pierce, daughter of Wightman and Patience Carr (Kingman) Pierce, from Pennsylvania. She
is a member of the same church. He built a house on
a lot bought of his father, in which they now live. He
is now employed by his brother Charles. They have
two children:
(1) LILLIAN9 ELIZA MASON, born Oct. 9, 1872.
(2) EDWARD9 HENRY MASON, NOV. 1, 1874.
(vi) ADILAID 8 LOUISA MASON, born Jan. 9, 1854,
died Feb. 7, same year.
(vii) MARIETTA8 FRANCES MASON, born Dec. 28, 1854,
received a good common school education. For several
years has been employed in making jewelry at Freeman
& Co.'s.
(viii) FREDERICK8 MASON, (Moses and Eliza7 Dunster,) born at Attleboro, Jan. 22, 1857, had a good education at common and High School. Is learning the
jewelry business at his brother's, (Mason, Draper & Co.)
2.  HENRY7 DUNSTER, (Isaiah,6 Jason,5 Jason,4 Henry,3 Jona.,' Henry,') the second child and only son of
Isaiah and Ruth Sophia (Fisk) Dunster, was born at
New Ipswich, N. H., April 13, 1831. After a common
school education he learned the jewelry business at
North Attleboro, in which he was engaged a number of
years as maker, salesman, and manufacturer on his own
account, in Attleboro, Providence and other places. He
did a variety of other business, in Chicago, St. Louis
and Cincinnati. Was engaged as director of amusements at St. Louis Opera House. Made a voyage to
England and France as director of a Panorama of the
27




304   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
30
Rebellion, but the scenes being mostly Union victories,
it "did not draw," and was a losing concern. On his
return he was made Inspector of the Providence Horse
Car Railroad. For the last three years he has been a
commercial agent for large establishments of ready-made
clothing in Providence and Boston.  He has resided
mostly in Providence. He married at Providence, R. I.,
Oct. 6, 1851, Jane Mellen, born Feb. 3, 1831. They
have two children:
(i) IDA8 LOUISA DUNSTER, (Henry,l Isaiah,6 Jason,5
Jason,4 Henzry,3 Jona.,2 Heanry,') born at Attleboro, Sept.
25, 1852, was educated at Providence. She graduated
in June, 1871, with distinguished honor, at the High:School, after passing through all the grades in lower;schools, and attending the High School the whole four
years. She wrote the valedictory poem, which elicited
much applause. She united with the Fourth Baptist
Church on profession of faith, and was baptized by immersion, May 28, 1871, by Rev. Dr. A. H. Granger.
Was dismissed in October, 1874, by letter to the church
in Shreveport, Louisiana, of which her husband was then
pastor. She was married at her father's, in Providence,
by Rev. Dr. Granger, Dec. 10, 1873, to William Warren
Landrum, eldest son of Rev. Sylvanus and Eliza Jane
(Warren) Landrum. He was born at Macon, Georgia,
Jan. 18, 1853. Was converted at ten years of age, and
united with the First Baptist Church of Savannah, Ga.
when thirteen years of age, his father being at that time
pastor of the church. He was prepared for college at
the Chatham Academy in Savannah, and in his fifteenth
year entered the Freshman class of Mercer University,
then located at Penfield, Georgia. Here he spent two
and a half years.
In February, 1870, he came North, and entered the
Sophomore class of Brown University, Providence, R. I.
He graduated in 1872, being nineteen years of age, and
the youngest member of his class. In September, same
year, he entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Greenville, South Carolina, to prepare for the
ministry of his chosen denomination, in which for four
generations his ancestors had been preachers of the word.




THE DUNSTER FAMILY.             305
30
His theological course closed April, 1874, and in May,
same year, he was ordained at Jefferson, Texas, where
the Southern Baptist Convention was then in session.
The ordaining Presbytery were:
Rev. Dr. Jno. A. Broadus, Greenville, S. C.
"   b" William Williams,    "     "
"       " H. A. Tupper, Richmond, Virginia.
" William Carey Crane, Independence, Texas.
" "Sylvanus Landrum, Memphis, Tenn.
"   " GG. Daniel, Walthamville, Georgia.
He was installed pastor of the Baptist Church at
Shreveport, Louisiana, the same month, May, 1874.
In the spring of 1876 he was called, to take the pastoral charge of the First Baptist Church at Augusta,
Georgia, where he is now preaching.  While at the
Theological Seminary he spent all his vacations and
spare time in preaching to the colored population at the
rice and cotton plantations, much to their benefit, but a
serious inroad on his health.  His wife is now (June,
1876,) on a visit to her friends in New England. He
came North about the middle of July.
Personating the little one, he writes: " My father
wanted a boy, but since GOD has decided a girl was better, he has not complained. Indeed, he and my mother
are just as happy and proud as any two people ever were.
I have my father's eyes and hair, but my other features
are exactly like my mother. I know my uncle will be
proud of the Dunster blood in his little'great grandchild.'" [Vicariously.]
(1)  GRACE9 WARREN LANDRUM, born at Providence,
R. I., 53 Vernon street, July 18, 1876, at 1 o'clock, P. M.
The story entitled " Grace Warren," published by the
Southern Baptist Publication Society, had its scene at
the old homestead of Gen. Eli Warren, in Houston Co.,
Georgia. He was the great grandfather of the "little
one."  From this she has her name. She is the youngest "descendant" heard from.
(ii) HENRYs  DUNSTER, (Henry,7 Isaiah,76 Jason,5
Jason,4 Henr1,3 Jona.,2 Henry,') the only son of Henry
and Jane (Mellen) Dunster, was born at Providence, R. I.,




306   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
30-31
May 25, 1857. Has passed through all the grades of the
public schools in Providence, and finished last year at
the High School. He entered Brown University, Sept.,
1876. (Harvard by choice, but Brown by convenience.)
He has been much assisted in his education. as was his
sister also, by their Aunt Sophronia (Mellen), Mrs. WVilliam Batchelder.
We forgot to mention in its proper place the receipt
of the photograph of Henryv Dunster, who was "buried
in his well," taken soon after, with his crutches on his
knees, also that of his son Henry,9 and make acknowledgm ent under another Henry8 Dunster, who is drinking
at the "Pierian Spring."  By our neglect, he gets an
extra notice, free of expense, which really belongs to his'' cousin." Their great grandfathers were brothers.
31.  iv. BETSEY 6 DUNSTER, (Jason,'Jason,'4Henry,s
Jona.,2 Henry,') the fourth child and second daughter
of Jason and Polly (Meriam) Dunster, was born April
20, 1801.  Her mother, whose countenance always
brightened at the mention of any incident in her
blameless life, related, when she was 80 years old, that
"her husband had gone down to the east part of Mason
to move his father to Ashburnham, and coming home in
the evening, he saw a light in the'best room,' as he
came out of the woods, and knew something was the
matter, and Betsey was born before he got home." There
was but one glass window in that end and only five in
the whole house, of 12 lights-6 by 8 glass. It was two
stories in front and one in the rear, with a lean-to roof.
The other windows were sawed from the " feather edged"
boards, and held in place by cleats nailed across them,
after the fashion of those days. It stood end to the
road; and the front yard, to which there was no access
except over a fence or through the front door, which
was seldom opened, had no ornament except the old
well, whose "swape" dates back in principle to the days
of Pharaoh, when it was called " Shadoof," and in practice, to the forest trees; and the old cider mill, which
stood close by. The sweet juice, pressed out by ponderous wooden screws, was enticing to the children. The




THE DUNSTER FAMILY.              307
31
youngest boy, just beginning to run about and imitate
the larger children, attempted to " suck cider through a
straw."  Wanting their dexterity, he lost his balance
and was immersed in the foaming liquid which filled the
tub. His eldest sister was near, and drew him out, unconcious. He lived to tell the story to his grand-children.
Mason Village at that time had only four houses, three
of which had similar roofs, but they were ornamented
with additional windows.
The old cider mill long since made room for a larger
and more convenient house. Improvement added a wing
to either end of that. The old house got out of the way
of "progress," its frame enlarged, makes a tenement in
the village. The old well is covered up by the culinary
department.  The centennial year put a French roof in
place of the strong one which withstood the "gale of'15," and saved from death the present owner's mother;
and memory, shocked with the history of individual impiety, social faithlessness, national wrongs and their removal by a greater crime, baptized in blood, revisiting
those early scenes, asks, without hope, for this innocent,
happy, natal home.
In that "best room," the only plastered one in the
house, with its "nicely sanded floor," that mother, sitting in the "great chair," often gathered her ruddy
children in double row about her knee, and with a silent
prayer for its fulfilment, taught them that " Man's chief
end is to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever."
This contrasts strangely with the fashionable presiding
genius of a palatial residence voluntarily turning over
her feeble offspring, deprived of air and light, to the
paid for sympathy of the wet nurse, who vainly strives
to put a bloom on its faded cheek by artificial cosmetics
and the "invisible rays" of blue glass.  In the end followed, perhaps, to its grave by "cunning women, such
as are skillful of lamentation," as the Prophets put it.
Betsey was the pet of her grandfather, who died when
she was four years old. She received a common school
education only.  She married May 27, 1819, Moses Russell, born in Mason, Dec. 2, 1793, son of Hubbard and
Sarah (Warren) Russell, born in Cambridge, and a
*27




308   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
31
nephew or brother of that Jason Russel who was barbarously shot in his own house on the return of Percy's
men from Lexington. They were married at her father's,
by Rev. Ebenezer Hill, and immediately commenced
housekeeping at a residence he had just built on his
father's farm. Here they lived until 1842, when he sold
the place, and bought a farm in the westerly part of
Mason (Lot No. 6 in Range 8), which now makes the
southeast corner of Greenville. His farm, by an error
in an ancient survey, was claimed by both towns, and he
was taxed by both, but was finally given up by Mason,
and no longer resided on " disputed territory." He and
his wife both united by profession to Mason Cen-tre
Church, and remained members of that church till the
church was organized at Mason Village, of which they
are now members. They are in tolerable health for so
old people.
They have had four children:
1. ISAIAH 7 DUNSTER RUSSELL, (Moses and Betsey6 D.,
Jason,5 Jason,4 Henry,3 Jona.,' Henry,1) born at Mason,
Aug. 1, 1820, and named for his uncle, had the scanty
advantages of schools in that part of the town. When
quite a young man, scarce out of boyhood, he was employed by John Boynton, the founder of the common
school fund of ten thousand dollars in Mason, in selling
tinware, of which Mr. B. was a large manufacturer. In
1843 he engaged in the sale of hardware, stoves and
house furnishing materials, carrying on at the same time
a shop for tin, sheet iron and copper work. In business
he has been unusually successful. Has a very pleasant
residence on the hill east side of Worcester, Mass. His
business has all been done in that city. In 1841 he
united with the Mason Centre Congregational Church on
profession. Is now a member of the Union (Orthodox)
Church, Worcester. He married, at Worcester, April 7,
1846, Nancy Maria Wentworth, born at Worcester, Sept.
27, 1825, daughter of Jonathan and Nancy (Fisk) Wentworth. She is a descendant of John Wentworth, Governor of New Hampshire, when the charter of Mason
was obtained (1768). Hon. John Wentworth, of Illinois,
often known by the cognomen of "Long John," was of




THE RUSSELL FAMILY.              309
31
the same family.  She is a member of same church.
They have had three children:
(i) ADDISON8 CHARLES RUSSELL, born Feb. 7, 1847,
died Aug. 10, 1851; buried at Rural Cemetery in Worcester.
(ii) CHARLES8 ADDISON RUSSELL, (Isaiah,7 I Nose&
and Betsey 6 Dunster,) born at Worcester, March 2, 1852,
was educated at Worcester common and High School,
and also took private lessons with a class of young men,
taught by Mr. Harris R. Green, Principal of the Oread
Seminary.  He entered Yale College, and graduated in
class 1873. He was selected as one of the oarsmen in
their boat races, and has several trophies of success, such
as silver oars, &c.  He is now (1876) city editor of the
Worcester Press. Is unmarried, April, 1877.
(iii)  ANNIE8 MARIA RUSSELL, the only daughter of
Isaiah and Maria (Wentworth) Russell, born Aug. 10,
1864, is now receiving her education at the Worcester
schools. She is making rapid advances, (too rapid, we
think,) and excels in drawing. A specimen of her's was
selected by a committee in Boston, from the whole State
samples, to be sent to the Centennial at Philadelphia as
one of the seven only sent for that purpose; and a specimen also was selected for the neatness of an arithmetical
problem for the same purpose.
2. JULIA7 ANN  (JULIANA) RUSSELL, (Moses and
Betsey6 Dunster,) born at Mason, east side, May 7, 1824,
was named from the infant of her grand-parents, who
died by a fall from the bed. She united with the church
at Mason Centre the first Sabbath in January, 1840, by
profession. She was married at her father's, west side,
by Rev. Joseph B. Hill, Sept. 22, 1842, to Henry Hazard
Sawin, born Sept. 15, 1821, at Shelburne, Mass., and
named in honor of Com. Oliver "Hazard'" Perry. He
was son of Bela and Rebecca (Barber) Sawin. In " Notes
of the Sawins," page 34, he is represented as son of Moses
Sawin. This is incorrect.  He is brother of Rev. Theophilus Parsons Sawin, and descended from John Sawin,
of Watertown. They first lived at Mason Centre, then at
the village. In 1852 they removed to Holden, Mass.,




310   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
31
where he carried on the tin plate business, and about
1862 removed to Worcester, where he carries on plumbing and tinware making. He united with the Mason
Centre Church in May, 1840, at which time about thirty
were added to that church. He and his wife are both
members of Plymouth Church in Worcester. They
have had eight children:
(i) ABBlE8 JANE SAWIN, born at Mason, July 10,
1843, married at Worcester, Sept. 3, 1867, Charles Allen,
born in Springfield, Sept. 30, 1843. He is a machinist,
and resides in Worcester. "He enlisted for three months
in April, 1861, from New York city, in the' New York
Zouave Regiment;' served with his regiment four months,
they being kept over time; enlisted for three years from
Worcester, Oct. 5, 18(il, in the 25th Massachusetts Regiment; was with Burnside at the taking of Roanoke,
Newbern, and in other battles in North Carolina; reenlisted, Dec. 17, 1863, in the same regiment for three
years, as a veteran volunteer; was in the different battles
in Virginia, under Gen. B. F. Butler, with his regiment
joined Grant's army in May, 1864; was shot through the
ankle and had his foot smashed by a piece of shell at
Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864; did not recover from wounds
so as to rejoin the regiment and was discharged. He
was but 16 years old when he enlisted in the New York
regiment; had been refused acceptance in Massachusetts
regiments on account of his minority, and'scooted'
over to New York without his parents' permission and
enlisted. When wounded at Cold Harbor he was left
nearly a day lying on the battle field, and it was some
three days before he was removed from the field hospital
to comfortable quarters. He served as private all through
his term." (C. A. Russell.) They have one child:
(1) MAUD9 ADA ALLEN, born Oct. 18, 1868.
(ii) JAMES8 ADISON SAWIN, born Feb. 2, 1845, at
his grandfather's, died there, Feb. 19, 1845; buried at
Mason Centre. After the death of his sister he was reinterred beside her at Mason Village.
(iii) MARY8 ELIZA SAWIN, born Jan. 18, 1846, died
at her grandfather's, March 22, 1848.




THE SAWIN FAMILY.              311
31
(iv)  GEORGE8 HENRY SAWIN, (Henry,' Moses and
Betsey6 D.,) born at Mason Village, April 6, 1849, is a
joiner and house carpenter. He united in 1867 with the
Methodist Church, Park street, Worcester.  He married
Aug. 24, 1868, Amanda Ward Merryfield, born Feb. 3,
1849, daughter of Louis Ward Merryfield, of West Boylston. Mr. M. owned the first cultivated farm in that
town, and his descendants hold the place by possession
only. No deeds were ever passed. They have had two
children, both born at Worcester, where the parents
reside.
(1) BERTHA9 G. SAWIN, born May 10, 1871, died
the next day.
(2) WALDO9 HENRY SAWIN, born Sept. 15, 1872.
(V) WILLIE8 HERBERT SAWIN, the fifth child of II.
H. and Juliana (Russell) Sawin, born at Mason Village,
Sept. 4, 1852, united with the Old South Church (Congregational) at Worcester, July, 1871. He withdrew
from that church and united with Grace Church (Methodist) in that city. He is a partner with his father,plumbing, &c.  He married June 17, 1875, Jennie
Hobbs, adopted daughter of Mrs. William Hobbs, of
Worcester.
(vi) ELIZA8 MARIA SAWIN, born at Holden, May 4,
1855, joined Grace (Methodist) Church in Worcester,
June, 1873. She died at Worcester, Dec. 20, 1874, of
typhoid fever; was buried at Mason Village.
(vii) FLORA8 MARCELLA SAWIN, born at Holden,
Oct. 4, 1857, with her sister united to Grace Church,
June, 1873. She was married at the same time her
brother Willie was, June 17, 1875, to Herbert Eugene
Noyes, son of Samuel and Lucy (Morse) Noyes, of Worcester. He is a member of Grace Church also. They
reside in Worcester.  He is a boot maker.
(viii) LELIA8 GOODHUE SAWIN, born Sept. 4, 1861, at
Holden, resides with her parents. Is a member of the
High School.
3. ADISON7 RUSSELL, the third child of Moses and
Betsey (Dunster) Russell, born at Mason, June 27, 1831,




312   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
31-32
was sorely afflicted with asthma from a child until he
removed to his brother's in Worcester, where he was
nearly free from it.  Whenever he visited his parents at
Mason he had a return of the complaint, which again
subsided at Worcester.  When a boy he did not lie down
for weeks, but slept in an upright chair. He united
by profession to the Mason Village Congregational
Church, July 4, 1852. He was employed by his brother
Isaiah D. as salesman. This trust he discharged with
care and faithfulness. About 1868 he went into the
stove and hardware business on his own account. He
married Sept. 14, 1865, Carrie Elizabeth Carey, of
Shrewsbury, Mass. He was taken sick with typhoid
fever in the fall of 1874, and did not fully recover his
health, but lived till July 11, 1875. He was buried at
Worcester. His widow, who is a member of the same
church, still lives in one of his houses. His brother
settled his estate. They had no children.
4. ELIZA' JANE RUSSELL (Jane not on the town
records), the fourth child of Moses and Betsey6 (Dunster) Russell, born Dec. 16, 1837, was educated at Mason
public schools and five terms at Appleton Academy, New
Ipswich. She taught school twelve terms in Mason,
New Ipswich, Wilton, Holden, and Leominster, each
term being the summer of the year, except in her own
district, where she taught in winter also.  March 1,
1S57, she united by profession to the Orthodox Congregational Church at Mason Village, of which she is still a
member. She married Sept. 28, 1869, Henry Lyman
Newell, born at Pepperhill, Mass., Oct. 31, 1844. His
father was of Mason, and brother to Ezra Newell,
the early blacksmith and scythe maker at Mason " Harbor." He is a member of the same church. They live
on their father's homestead, and take care of the "old
folks" with great kindness. They have no children.
32. v. SAMUrEL6 DUNSTER, (Jason,5 Jason,4 Henry,3
Jona.,2 Henry,') the fifth child of Jason and Mary (Polly)
(Meriam) Dunster, was born Aug. 1, 1803. His early
education was limited to the small district school, two
miles distant, keeping about eight weeks in winter and
ten in summer. At sixteen, he had not begun arithme



SAMUEL 6 DUNSTER.              313
32
tic or geography. He then attended Appleton Academy
six weeks, and received the preceptor's certificate of
being well qualified (?) to teach a common school,
which he did for several winters with success. In the
summer of 1821 he worked with his brother-in-law at
house carpentry, having until that time worked on his
father's farm (what work he did, for that he was not
noted). The next season he was engaged, in his native
village, to learn the trade of machinist.  Here he devoted his spare time to practical self-education; became
a surveyor of land, and did engineering in his own and
the adjacent towns.
In the spring of 1826 he went to Dover, N. H., and
worked as a machinist, most of the time as a pattern
maker. The next year, without any solicitation on his
part, or even knowledge of their wishes, he was selected
by the managers of the Dover (now the Cocheco) Manuf'g
Co. as a suitable person to learn the calico printing business, with a view of its future superintendence. Calico
printing in this country was then in its infancy, and the
operatives were mostly foreigners of not the best habits.
He was engaged in order to remedy troubles which were
of frequent occurrence. Although he knew nothing of
the business he was paid a liberal salary and engaged for
five years. Before the expiration of that time the print
works changed owners, which involved a change of managers. He recovered, however, the salary for the whole
time. Afterward he went to Bustleton, near Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, and there became a partner in a
print works on the Pennypack Creek, and worked at
machine printing. In this business he was successful.
In 1834 he sold out, and soon after bought the
"Province Mill," on the Mousum River, in the village
of Springvale, Sanford, Maine. A stock company was
formed under the name of Franklin Manuf'g Co. He
fitted up the works, and managed them for three years,
when, dissatisfied with the selling agents in Boston, who
got control of the stock, he withdrew from the management, but unwisely held his interest in the company,
which failed soon after, with a total loss of his stock and
nearly all his property.




314  HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
32
In 1838 he bought a large farm in Durham, N. IIH., to
which he removed and staid a year, then went to Rhode
Island, leaving his family in Durham till 1840. He
worked as a machine printer with Gov. Allen, in Providence, and at other places, till 1842, when he went to
Coventry, R. I., to superintend a print works there,
which was removed the next year to Johnston. This
he managed till 1848, when he again went to Gov. Allen's
as a printer.
In 1852 he was offered the situation of Assistant Manager of the Cocheco Print Works, where he had begun
that business. He held that place till 1859, when he
again returned to Rhode Island. He there furnished
cloth for a print works, but the owner of the works was
unable to go on, which left him with a large quantity of
cloth in the hands of New York merchants, who took
another large slice out of his savings. Tired of change,
and disposed to save a competence (estimated by Agur's
standard) for himself and family, and entertain his
friends with "farmers' fare," he bought the Old Parsonage of Rev. Mr. Weld, in West Attleboro, Mass.
Before leaving his native town he was made a Free
Mason. This made him a better man, and gave him an
introduction to many friends in Dover and elsewhere.
He attained a prominent position in that order, and was
at one time presiding officer over Lodge, Chapter and
Council, member of Encampment, &c.
He hates "humbug," (that word expresses it best)
whether in religion, politics, or social life. He early
wished to know more of his ancestors and kindred.
Comparative leisure in later life, with good health, have
favored that desire.
In religious views he is not easily described. Educated
in childhood and taught the Westminster Catechism by
a pious mother, and at her death given a copy of the'New England Primer" as her special bequest, which
he preserves with care, as containing the ground-work
of his mother's faith, he would endorse that system,
divested of some of its rough corners and unfortunate
technicalities. In his younger days the wranglings about
forms of faith kept him aloof from personal attention to




SAMUEL 6 DUNSTER.              315
32
religion. When he bought the Springvale Print Works,
various denominations were holding union religious
meetings in one of the larger buildings-the first he
had ever seen. This gave him interest, which was followed by new views of Divine goodness, human welfare
and personal duty. After the meetings closed, as he
occupied a prominent position in that village, great
efforts were made to gather him into all of the churches.
To this he expostulated with a minister, and was answered that " There was no harm in pushing his ship by
the others." Not choosing to take passage for the sake
of coming out a "length ahead," he has remained free
from sectarian obligations.
He was married at Rochester, N. H., by Rev. Isaac
Willey, Oct. 12, 1828, to Susan Perkins Dow, born July
22, 1806, in Hollis, Maine, and daughter of Jeremiah
and Betsev (Perkins) Dow, descended, on the father's
side, from Henry Dow, of Watertown, and on the
mother's, through Solomon,* from Joshua Perkins, one
of the early settlers of Dover.  They have had five
children:
1. MARY7 SUSAN DUNSTER, born at Dover, N. H.,
Aug. 9, 1830, died at Bustleton (now a part of Philadelphia), Penn., June 27, 1832, of whooping-cough. She
was remarkable for early development-more like an
adult than a child.  She was buried at Pennypack
Cemetery, in Bustleton, near the church. Her headstone is inscribed: "The Grave of MARY SUSAN DUNSTER, born Aug. 9, 1830, at Dover, New Hampshire.
Died June 27, 1832. Premature in Intellect, she was
lovely even in Death.  Let the little stranger rest
among you."
2. MARY' SUSAN DUNSTER (named for her sister),
the second child of Samuel6 and Susan (Dow) Dunster,
born June 27, 1833, at La Grange Village, Bustleton,
Penn., was educated at the schools in Providence. Was
in the High School when her father removed from Prov* Maj. Sol. Perkins was the first to subscribe for the burying
ground at Rochester, N. H., and the first one buried in it. (Johvu
M. Duffee's Oration.)
28




316   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
32
idence to Durham, N. IH.  She was married at Providence, by Rev. J. Leavett, Dec. 25, 1849, to Joseph E.
Smith, then a salesman in William  Hale's hardware
store, in Dover, N. H. They kept house in Dover.
He afterwards went to San Francisco, Cal., where he
was in the hardware business. Expecting that to be
their permanent home, she went in the summer of 1853
via Cape Horn, in the "Water Witch," Capt. Plumer.
The ship sprung a leak off Brazil, and put into Rio
Janeiro, where she spent three or four months, most of
the time (after going through the acclimating fever) in
the mountains, at Bennett's Hotel, Tijuca, amid coffee
plantations, tropical fruits, and in a lovely climate.
The ship was repaired, and reached San Francisco, but
on the next voyage made a total wreck.
Mr. Bennett remembered her, and a few years after
sent her a beautiful suit of photographs of his hotel, and
other views of magnificent Brazilian scenery.
They resided at San Francisco till the great fire in
1854. Being burnt out, with a loss of everything, she
returned to her father's in Dover, by the way of Panama, before the railroad was done, riding across the
Isthmus on mule back. She resided with her father
most of the time until the death of her sister, Sept. 17,
1873. Since that time she has had the care of her sister's children, in Chicago. She is a member of the
Episcopal Church; was confirmed by Rt. Rev. Bishop
C. Chase, Oct. 27, 1861, at Dover, N. H. They had
two children:
(i)  ALICE 8 SMITH, born at Dover, N. H., Dec. 23,
1850, died at Providence, Aug. 15, 1851; carried to
Dover for burial at Pine Hill Cemetery.
(ii) HELEN8 SMITH, born at Dover, April 18, 1855,
died at Dover, Sept. 7, same year, was buried beside
her sister.
3.  EDWARD7 SWIFT DUNSTER, (Sanmuel,6 Jason,5
Jason,4 Henry,' Jonathan,2 Henry,') the third child of
Samuel and Susan (Dow) Dunster, was born at the village of Springvale, Sanford, Me., Sept. 2, 1834. He was
named after Dr. Edward Swift, an eminent physician of




EDWARD7 SWIFT DUNSTER.            317
32
Easton, Penn., who was an intimate and respected friend
of his father. On the removal of his father's family to
Providence, R. I., he was educated at the public schools
there, was admitted to the High School at twelve years
of age, and was there prepared for College. He entered
Harvard University (the collegiate course) in September,
1852, being admitted without conditions. He graduated
with high honors in 1856; the subject of the "part"
assigned to him in the Commencement exercises being
"The first President of Harvard College."  A severe
illness-typhoid fever-prevented him from appearing
at Commencement.  On his recovery, in the fall of
1856, he went to Newburgh, N. Y., and became private
tutor to a son of Henry W. Sargent, Esq., who lived in
Fishkill, just across the Hudson River. At the same
time he began the study of medicine with Dr. M.
Stephenson, of Newburgh.  Young Sargent was admitted to Harvard College in July, 1858.  He then
went to New York and became a student in medicine
with the celebrated Prof. E. R. Peaslee, M. D., with
whom, as pupil and assistant, he remained associated for
some years, and the intimacy thus begun has continued
in other relations ever since. Attended medical lectures
at Dartmouth College in the summer of 1858, and in the
succeeding winter at the "New York College of Medicine and Surgery," where he was graduated M. D. in
March, 1859, having received the highest prize awarded
by the Faculty for general proficiency in his studies.
Entered St. Luke's Hospital as an interne on the day
after his graduation, and remained there until August
following, when he resigned to accept the situation of
Defionstrator of Anatomy in Dartmouth College, Dr.
Peaslee being then the Professor in that department.
Lectures concluded, he returned to New York and established himself there as a physician.
When the war broke out in 1861, he tendered his services to the State authorities, and for a few days acted
as Surgeon of'the "Mozart" regiment of volunteers.
This position he threw up to enter the Regular Army,
into which he was admitted in June, 1861, after a severe
competitive examination, standing second in a class of




318   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
32
twenty-eight. His commission as Assistant Surgeon is
dated Aug. 5, 1861. He was ordered to report for duty
with Gen. McClellan, who was then in the field in
Western Virginia, operating against Gen. Lee.  He
reached the advancing army on Rich Mountain the day
after the engagement there.  This was the first fight of
any magnitude in the rebellion; and here were his first
experiences of the horrors of war; though compared with
the terrible scenes of a few weeks and years later it was
the merest child's play. There were about 30 dead and
150 wounded, most of whom were still lying on the field.
At Beverly, five miles beyond, at the base of the mountain, he established hospitals for the care of the wounded.
This village of thirty or forty houses, which he entered
just at dusk that evening, was absolutely deserted-the
inhabitants having been told that they would all be murdered if the Union Army came into the place.
These scenes were not entirely without the humorous
element. In a letter to a friend he says: "We had a little
war for our own amusement last Friday night. The pickets somehow got frightened, and reported seeing large
bodies of men coming down from the mountains. They
then began to shoot and run. It was really dangerous
to be outside of the house. I slept at the hospital that
night, as the men were badly scared and would not be
assured that I was not going to leave the town." By the
transfer of the Senior Surgeon, Dr. Wirtz, U. S. A., a
few weeks later, the supervision of all the hospitals here
devolved on him.
In the Cincinnati Commercial we find this reference
to these hospitals, where both the Southern and the
Union sick and wounded were cared for alike, though
in separate buildings: "Capt. Zeke Tatem, of Co. D,
is here sick with typhoid fever.  He is at the residence
of a Mrs. Arnold*, a lady who has won the confidence,
* Mrs. Arnold was a sister of the celebrated " Stonewall" Jackson. Dr. D. made his headquarters at her house during the most
of his stay in Beverly. He often spoke in terms of admiration of
her many noble virtues. She made no distinction in caring for
the sick and wounded on either side, but her life was a mission
of mercy to all. Mrs. A. presented to Dr. D. a dirk knife forged
from an old file. The blade is ten inches long, and the scabbard




EDWARD 7 SWIFT DUNSTER.              319
32
admiration and esteem of the troops for unremitting
attention to the sick, night and day. ~ The boys call her
the Florence Nightingale of Western Virginia.    -
Dr. Dunster, U. S. A., an efficient and attentive surgeon, is in charge of five hospitals here." Dr. D. remained three months in Beverly, and was then assigned
to the duty of constructing hospitals at Grafton and
Parkersburgh, and subsequently he was appointed by
Gen. Rosecrans, then commanding the Department,
Medical Inspector for the Southern half of the department.  His associate in the other half was Dr. William
A. Hammond, who afterward became Surgeon-General
of the army.  In the following summer, 1862, he was
ordered East, and again, much to his satisfaction, assigned to duty with his old commander, Gen. McClellan,
who was now operating on the "Peninsula" in Eastern
Virginia.  He was made Medical Director of the hospitals transports, and in this capacity had charge of
shipping the sick and wounded of the army.  His headquarters were located first at the "White House," on the
Pamunkey River, and when this place was abandoned,
at Harrison's Landing,* on the James River. In the
eight days prior to the evacuation of the last place, he
shipped nearly 13,000 sick and wounded soldiers on the
transports under his command.  Some of these were
sent to the hospitals North; others, to the vicinity of
Fortress Monroe.  Gen. McClellan being at this juncture
is of leather fastened with lead rivets. It was left at Mrs. A.'s
house by the Rev. Dr. Atkinson, President of the Hampden
Sydney College, who commanded a company-mostly enlisted
from his own students-in a Virginia Confederate regiment,
which was in the fight of Rich Mountain. This weapon is preserved as a memento of the earnestness with which even good men
can engage in deadly conflict.
* He related to a friend afterwards: "When we were going up
the James, I was charmed by the view of a beautiful plantation
adorned with shrubbery and gardens. When driven from the'White House' we stopped at the spot I had so much admired
when going up. Not a green thing was visible. Contending
armies had blotted out every vestige of vegetation."
Through all these times of strife he went unarmed. The sick
and wounded gave him unbounded confidence, and named him
*28




320   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
32
relieved of the command of the army, Dr. D. found himself, as it were, without an occupation, but the respite
was short, for in a few days he was ordered to Philadelphia to assume charge of the Turner's Lane Hospital,
and at the same time to act as member of the board for
the examination of candidates for the Medical Department of the army. His next army service was in Washington, as an assistant to the Surgeon-General, Dr.
Hammond, his old associate in Western Virginia. From
thence he was transferred to the U. S. Military Academy
at West Point, where he remained until his resignation
from the army, Feb. 1, 1866.  He was brevetted Captain
and Major, U. S. A., and before his resignation, had
passed his examination for promotion to the grade of
full Surgeon.
On resigning from  the army he went to New York
and again established himself in the practice of medicine. In July of that year he became editor of the New
York Medical Journal, and held this position for five
years. At about the same time he was appointed one of
the attending physicians to the " Out Door Department"
of Bellevue Hospital, in the class of diseases of children.
In 1868 he was appointed Professor of Obstetrics and
the Diseases of Women and Children in the medical department of the University of Vermont, at Burlington.
He gave the lectures here but two years, as his many
and exacting duties in New York would not allow him
to be absent for the time required. The authorities of
the College very generously held the place open for him,
and declined his resignation until 1871, having given
him the privilege of appointing a substitute in the work.
In 1869 he was appointed to the same chair in the
the "Little Doctor." One of the wounded whittled from a single
pine stick a pair of pliers and pincers, having all the movements
and parts in one ornamental combination, which he gave to his
surgeon. It was all he had to give. It is preserved as a specimen of West Virginia whittling. A Southern officer, who was
taken prisoner at Rich Mountain, gave the Doctor a fine set of
surgical instruments, in gratitude for his care and kindness to the
Confederate wounded. The ladies of Philadelphia appreciated
his attention to the sick at Turner's Lane, and presented him
with a silver headed cane, with his monogram beautifully intertwined.




EDWARD 7 SWIFT DUNSTER.             321
32
flourishing Medical College of Brooklyn, known as the
"Long Island College Hospital."  He filled this chair
for six years, resigning in 1874. In July, 1869, he assumed the charge-as Resident Physician-of the Infants' Hospital on Randall's Island, New York city, and
also became Physician in Chief of the other hospitals
and institutions on the Island, generally known as the
"Nursery."  In these institutions there were constantly
from 800 to 1000 children, affording an unusually large
field for the observation and study of the diseases of
children.  The mortality in the Infants' Department
had been a " scandal and a reproach to the profession,"
but by the adoption simply of improved hygienic surroundings and securing better nursing and attendance,
Dr. D. had the satisfaction of reducing this mortality to
a point almost equal to the mortality at large, i. e., of
children not living in crowded institutions. For this,
frequent acknowledgments were made in the reports of
the "Commissioners of Charities and Corrections," who
were the officials in charge of all the public institutions.
In 1871 Dr. D. went to Dartmouth College and gave
the course of lectures on Obstetrics for his former preceptor, Prof. Peaslee, who now generously divided his
chair, retaining the portion devoted to Diseases of Women
and assigning to Dr. D. the teaching of Obstetrics. This
chair he still holds, and yearly makes a summer visit to
New Hampshire for the purpose of delivering his lectures.  In 1873 the Professorship of Obstetrics and
Diseases of Women and Children in the University of
Michigan was tendered to him, and after due deliberation was accepted. This involved the resignation of his
positions in the institutions on Randall's Island.  He
removed to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in October of that
year, and now resides there, and is engaged both in
teaching and in the practice of his profession. He has
contributed many papers to various Medical Journals, a
few of which have been published in separate form.
They are: "The Relations of the Medical Profession to
Modern Education; " " The Logic of Medicine; " "The
History of Anesthesia;" "Notes on Double Monsters;"
"The History of Spontaneous Generation." Is a mem



3 22   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
32
ber of various learned societies, mostly medical. Among
them are: The New York Academy of Medicine; The
New York Historical Society; The American Geographical and Statistical Association; The Michigan State Medical Society, &c., &c.
He married Nov. 4, 1863, Rebecca Morgan Sprole,
born at Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 6, 1835, daughter of the
Rev. Dr. Sprole, of Newburgh, N. Y., formerly Chaplain and Professor of Ethics in the U. S. Military Academy, West Point. They have had four children:
(i) CLARA8 BERTRAM DUNSTER, born at West Point,
N. Y., Dec. 19, 1865.
(ii) WILLIAM8 SPROLE DUNSTER, born in New York
city, Nov. 20, 1867, died at Newburgh, N. Y., July 13,
1868, buried there.
(iii) BESSIE8 MORGAN DUNSTER, born in New York
city, (Randall's Island,) July 25, 1870.
(iv) ANNIE8 ELIZA DUNSTER, born in New York city,
(Randall's Island,) Sept. 1,.1873, named for her aunt
who died in Chicago two weeks after her birth.
4. CALEB7 EMERY DUNSTER, the fourth child of
Samuel and Susan (Dow) Dunster, was born at the village of Springvale, Sanford, Me., July 27, 1836. He
died there Oct. 7, same year, and was buried at the
cemetery at Sanford Corner. A suitable stone marks
his grave.
5. ELIZA' ANNIE DUNSTER, (Samuel,6 Jason,5 Jason,'
Henry,3 Jona.,' Henry,') the youngest child of Samuel
and Susan (Dow) Dunster, was born at Durham, N. H.,
Oct. 24, 1838. Upon the removal of her father's family
to Providence, she became a member of the public
schools, and passed through all the grades up to the
High School, to which she was promoted. Her father,
just at this time, removed to Dover, N. H., where she
attended Franklin Academy for a short time, and then
went to Bradford (Mass.) Academy, from which she
graduated, after a full term of four years, with the highest honors, although the youngest in the class of 1856.
She was remarkably fond of Latin and Geometry. She




ELIZA7 ANNIE  I)UNSTER.                      323
32
could demonstrate from memory every theorem in the
first four books of Euclid and draw hie diagram.
At her graduation she wrote the parting hymn, which
was equivalent in that institution to the valedictory of a
college course. After graduation she attended Mrs. Willard's School at Troy, N. Y. Closing her term there she
went to St. Charles, Illinois, as a teacher. While there
she obtained by her own address a situation in the Amite
Female Seminary, at Liberty, Mississippi, as Instructor
in English Literature, and other branches. The troubles of the times broke up that seminary, and she returned and was soon after appointed a teacher in the
public schools at Chicago. In topical subjects, which
are a prominent exercise there, she raised her school to a
higher standard than any other one in the city. She
taught there until her marriage.
Very early in childhood she manifested an aptitude
for rhyme, which she improved or neglected as impulse
prompted. At Bradford she wrote several pieces for the
"Olive Branch." At Chicago she wrote for two years
the New  Year's Address for the' "Chicago Tribune,"
the leading Republican paper of the West, in one of
which she reviewed the political situation with the tact
of an old campaign leader. At New Year's, 1867, the
submarine cable was a success, and the Lake Tunnel
just completed. These she thus notices:
What has last year left as dowry to the hand-maids, Science, Art?
Ah! how rife with grand achievements is the Scientific part!
Buried in the ocean's bosom, down below the mighty deep,'Mid the wrecks of myriad vessels, where their human cargoes sleep,
Darts the lightning, chained and tempered, guided by a single thread,
And from Europe to our own land, instant weal or woe is read.
Wondrous triumph of a genius! Whispered words are eager caught.
Thro' abyss of depth unfathomed, news and rumors now are brought.
Europe bids the States " Good morning;" Liverpool doth New York greet!
Fast Chicago joins the refrain, Commerce asks the price of wheat;
So the " Cable " prates and gossips, spinning out the watery miles,
And the' Mermaids " laugh and listen, laving it with dripping smiles.
Fact! it seems there's nothing left now; Science may her hands but fold,
Wonder if the future ages can excel our doings bold!
At some distant " Happy New Year" will Orion's glittering belt
Gossiped be in star-hung Cables, and his salutations felt?
Shall the growling " Ursa-Major" send dispatches to the earth,
And the " Pleiads " hunt their Sister, telegraphing of her worth?
Nor forget we great Chicago, mighty umpire of the West,
Wreathe for her distinguished honor, for she leadeth all the rest.
Queen she is of all the cities; Commerce, Art, Religion, too,




324   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
32
Here have built their proudest temples; mammoth structures rise to view
As by magic, and, completed, always are the largest, best,
Spite of foreign grunts and envies, spite of Eastern sneers and jest.
Who but she has wrought a "Tunnel" poising lakes upon its back?
Never resting till she brought us crystal waters o'er its track?
Now Farewell! ye slimy waters! fluid of most dubious look!
Henceforth shall our drink be limpid, lucid as the babbling brook.
Here " adieux " we make in parting, to our piscatory friends;
Showers of blessings, not of fishes, haply now the " Tunnel " sends.
She wrote also a reminiscence for the reunion of her
class at her old Bradford teacher's, Miss Gilman, in
Boston, and many productions for literary societies in
Chicago, of which she was a member.  Always wrote
from the impulse of the moment, and never thought of
preserving copies of them.
She was married at Beloit, Wisconsin, by Rev. Dr. H.
N. Brinsmade, July 5, 1862, to William Taylor Baker,
born at Winfield, Herkermer Co., N. Y., Sept. 11, 1841,
son of William and Matilda (Peabody) (Williams) Baker.
He is an extensive dealer in grain and general commission.
" Mrs. Eliza Annie Baker was confirmed in Christ's
Church [Protestant Episcopal], April 14, 1865, by Rt.
Rev. Henry J. Whitehouse, Bishop of the Diocese of
Illinois, and has remained a communicant, in full standing, in the same parish to the date of her decease.
CHAS. EDW'D CHENEY, Rector."
The great Chicago fire commenced Oct. 8, 1871, at 10
o'clock P. M. This was subdued, but another broke
out before morning on the 9th, which, in twenty-four
hours, destroyed almost the whole city.
Mrs. Baker, with two of her children, had returned
from her annual visit to New England the day before,
leaving her two little boys at her father's to come
on with her sister. They returned to Attleboro and
spent the winter, although their house at Chicago was
not burned. Feb. 26, 1872, their youngest child was
born, whom she invited its grandfather to name. He
called him  HENRY  DUNSTERn BAKER, and he was baptized by that name, July 7, 1872, at Christ's Church,
Chicago, by Charles Edward Cheney.*
* Charles Edward Cheney, born at Canandaigua, N. Y., Feb,
12, 1836, educated at Hobert College, Geneva, N. Y., went to
Chicago, in 1860, and commenced preaching in a small edifice in




ELIZA' ANNIE DUNSTER.                325
32
The summer of 1873 was, as usual, spent at the East.
During that summer she called on nearly all the associates of her early days, and returned to Chicago about
the first of September.  A few days after she entered a
public carriage for a ride.  The driver had left the
horses: they became frightened, and ran down Wabash
Avenue. She attempted to get out, but was thrown
against the curbstone, and taken up insensible. Im —
mediate surgical attention was given.  Consciousness
returned, and she was thought to be not dangerously
injured. After a few days she became delirious, and
died Sept. 17, 1873. Her last intelligent request was
that her nurse, who used to sing to her daily, should
sing, from the German, "When the swallows homeward
fly."  Her funeral was appointed for the next Saturday,
but was postponed to the next day to await the arrival
of her friends from the East.
Mr. Cheney, her pastor, made an affectionate address,
and nearly his whole congregation attended her funeral
at the family residence. The services were closed by
singing, "Jesus, lover of my soul"' to the tune she had
asked her nurse to sing to her.
23d street. His zeal in the service of Christ, and his eminent
ability, soon gathered a larger congregation than could be accommodated there. In 1865 a new and larger church was built in
Michigan Avenue by his society.
Conscientiously believing that "regeneration" was a Divine
gift, not bestowed by formality, he determined, in the fall of
1868, to omit that word from the baptismal service. For this he
was soon called to account. He averred that the omission was
not sufficient to separate him from his chosen people. A vindictive trial was had and he was adjudged to be unworthy of Christian communion, and was in set form excommunicated "from
the church of God." An effort was then made to wrest the
church property from the society who had built it, and thereby,
as was said of a similar case of conscience in Massachusetts,
" punish the heretic and drive him out of the colony." By a
sagacious movement of Mr. C.'s friends, made in exact accordance with law and the rules of business, the property was saved
to the society, and Christ's Church at Chicago became the united
centre of the movement which culminated in the organization of
the "Reformed Protestant Episcopal Church," which affiliates
cheerfully with all Evangelical denominations; and Mr. Cheney
is now the Rt. Rev. Presiding Bishop of that Communion.




326   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
32
She was buried at Graceland, a beautiful cemetery
about ten miles down the Lake, in a spot selected by
her and her husband for "Little Willie." Mr. Cheney
read the burial service at her grave.
To a request for a sketch of his remarks, Mr. Cheney
replied: "You speak of gratitude for what I said at
your daughter's funeral. I assure you it was the sincere utterance of my heart. Mrs. Baker was exceedingly dear to Mrs. Cheney and myself. Our acqaintance
began when she was in deep affliction [the death of
Willie, her first born], and the ties thus formed grew
stronger every year. She was universally beloved by all
our church as well as by a large circle of friends outside
its limits. Her fondness for literary pursuits and literary
society rendered her the centre of attraction for a great
many who had similar tastes, while her devotion to her
family and children was her chief charm to those who
knew her best.
" I deeply regret that I am unable to funish the address which I made at her funeral. It was wholly extemporaneous, and I have no sufficient outline preserved
to be a guide in attempting to write it out.
"Besides what I have already alluded to, viz., her
literary culture and her love for her children, the most
marked characteristics of Mrs. Baker's life here were
her cheerfulness under all'circumstances, and her unselfish, gentle, Christian spirit.  These made her beloved
by rich and poor alike; and her memory is cherished
by many who will never forget her words and deeds of
kindness."
They had six children:
(i) WILLIAM8 DUNSTER BAKER, born at Attleboro,
Mass., Sept. 12, 1863, died at Chicago. Inscription on
marble monument:  "Willie Dunster, son of William
T. and Eliza Annie Baker, died July 27, 1864, aged 10
months, 15 days."
(ii)  CHARLES8 HINCKLY BAKER, named after his
father's partner, born at Chicago, Nov. 30, 1864, baptized May 21, 1865.




THE BAKER FAMILY.             327
32
(iii) HOWARD8 WINFIELD BAKER, named after his
father's native town, born at Chicago, March 19, 1866,
baptized Nov. 4, 1866.
(iv) ANNIE8 MERRIAM BAKER, familiarly called by
her mother "Kitty," born at Chicago, March 29, 1868,
baptized June 21, 1868. She had the scarlatina when a
child, which left her deaf. She has partially regained
her hearing, and speaks considerably. She is under
tuition to learn to enunciate.
(v) BERTHA8 COZETTE BAKER, born at Chicago, Nov.
14, 1869, baptized June 12, 1870.
(vi) HENRY'8 DUNSTER BAKER, born at Attleboro,
Feb. 26, 1872, baptized at Chicago, July 7, 1872.
All except Willie baptized at Christ's Church, by Rev.
Mr. Cheney.
29




328   HENRY DUNSTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
And now, my kindred, for your sake, mainly, and to
preserve our names, have these accumulated scraps been
put together. It is a Family Story, and therefore not
open to professional criticism. To claim that it is without error would be preposterous. We have done what
we could; and when " Old Mortality " shall pause before
our slumbering dust, scattered broadcast from the icy
North to the Golden Gate,-on the pathless wild,-beneath the lovely palm,-or in the vasty deep,-marked,
perchance, by a crumbling headstone,-may he rechisel
our names and there inscribe:-and in the unerring
record of the SUPREME ARCHITECT of the universe,
whose NAME the ancient Hebrews never pronounced but
in a most reverential posture and in a low breath, may
we find our names, and against them written that significant word-placed by our Ancestor with his own hand
on the first SEAL OF HARVARD COLLEGE



NOTE.                      329
[NOTE.]
In the gale on Friday morning, March 9th, at half-past nine
o'clock, one of the large elms [noticed on page 97] standing in
front of the house of Samuel Sewell, Esq., was broken and blown
down by the high wind.' Another elm, nearer to the house, lost
two large limbs. It is now impossible to ascertain the exact age
of these trees, but they were placed in their present position
before 1774, and hence must have been growing there on the
memorable morning of the battle of Lexington, April 19th, 1775.
Perhaps John Hancock, or Samuel Adams, or the fair Dorothy
Quincy, observed the young elms budding in the early spring, or
remarked upon their beauty when they found a refuge at the
house of Madam Jones, on the eventful morning of the battle.
And years after they had slept in their graves, and not one witness of the battle of Lexington survived, these trees, beautiful in
their old age, looked upon the citizens of the town, as they rode
in procession to celebrate the anniversary at Lexington, in 1875.
These trees were planted and tended by a negro named Cuff, a
faithful servant of Madam Jones, the widow of Rev. Thomas
Jones, the second minister of Woburn Precinct, now Burlington.
His grave may yet be found in the ancient burial ground at Burlington, but the trees he planted for the adornment of the home
of his mistress and her descendants, have been for years a more
fitting memorial of his faithful service than the grey slate stone
fast sinking into the earth. These trees were both struck by
lightning about fifty-two years ago, and in the same month of
last year, one of them was again visited in like manner. The
marks of the first stroke were plainly to be seen, on the trunks
of both trees. In both instances, being much higher than the
house, they probably saved it from much damage, and possibly
from destruction. These trees have always been highly prized
by the inhabitants and owners of the house they have sheltered,
and they will long be remembered and regretted, by the occupants of the dwelling, which they have ornamented and protected
for more than a hundred years. (Woburn Journal, March 24, 1877.)
We would gladly receive any other facts of family
interest, especially Records, Additional History, correction of errors, etc. They will be carefully preserved
for future reference,"For thee, who, mindful of th' unhonor'd dead,
Dost in these lines their artless tale relate;
If chance, by lonely contemplation led,
Some kindred spirit shall enquire thy fate-"




INDEX.
Adams.......          11, 47, 74, 85  Calester..............210
Allen........ 134, 228, 295, 314   Calhoun................... 261
Amsden............. 209, 290  Campbell.................. 219
Appleton..................104   Carey.....................312
Arnold..................... 318   Carrol.                                    194
Atherton..... 252 Carruth...................291
Attridge...................148   Carteret................30, 43
Atwood...................251   Chaffin....................185
Chandler.................149
Bailey.................vii, 201   Chauncey.........                          13
Baker.................. 324   Chamberlain...... 1..161, 196
Baldwin.................205   Chaplin...............10, 15
Barrett....................265  Chase...................153
Bartlett..................172   Cheney..................324
Bascomb.................119   Chickering..........                          252
Beard..................173   Childs....................178
Becker...................156  Chipman..................194
Belding..............195   Clapp..............193
Belknap..............229  Clark..............123, 189
Bemis.........:,146, 147, 150  Cobb......................244
Bennett...............177, 316  Coe......................164
Billings........... 55, 60  Cooke.      34, 104, 156, 190
Bixby.............. 211   Cooper....................294
Bliss......................302  Comer...............196
Blodget...................173  Conant..............18, 209
Blood.........             62, 206  Corbin....................294
Bohanon..................215  Cordley..................297
Bourn....................176  Cotton..                               104
Bovee...............2....12  Crosby....................246
Bowen....................04  Cudworth.................173
Boyce................... 194  Cutler..........71, 73, 99, 168
Brewer....................174   Cutter.................34, 136
Brewster................... 221
Brigham................ 172  Dakin...............  264
Bristol....................277  Daniels................... 48
Brown.................... 164  Davidson.................. 250
Bryant.................. 181  Davis....................257
Burdit................ 153  Day...................  175
Butterfield................ 252  Dennis........1...........125
Byard....................173  Dickinson..........  150, 157




INDEX.                                       331
Dickson...............53, 58   Farr...................... 194
Dixon................... 53   Fay.......................209
Dow........... 163, 312, 315   Felt...............                        225, 273
Drew.....................195   Ferguson..................296
Dudley.........                       225 Ferrin.................. 217
Duncan.......199 Fiske..................60, 300
Duren..................... 77   Fitch.....................174
Fitts.............161
DUNSTER                                       Foster............122, 128, 261
Aaron.....................181  Folsom.................... 18
Abigail.................40, 98   French...... 154, 180, 201, 248
Asaph....................163
Betsey..............    53, 306   George.................71, 75
Caroline................... 185   Glover.................21, 121
Charles................. 277   Going................... 47
David............. 32, 49, 168   Goddard..................55
Dorothy.................. 26   Green...............v, 244
Edward.....316 Greenwood.............251
Elizabeth.21, 26, 28, 40, 43, 53,
143                                        Hadley............. 149, 152
Ephraim................ 159   Hall.....................    9
Hannah....1...........30, 181   Hammond............. 59, 319
Henry. vii, 1-21, 23, 26, 35, 40,  Hancock..............  85, 104
184, 206, 216, 222, 274, 303               Hardy.................. 275
Hubbard......1...........               58   Harris.....................247
Isaiah....40, 103, 256, 281, 299 Harrington................ 41
Jason.....43, 136, 184, 258, 270   Harron....................193
Jonathan...............21, 23   Haskell................... 129
Keziah......1..............68   Heald.....................245
Lucy....................              165   Higley................... 228
Lydia.................  166   Hill.............9,   1740, 196
Margary.............. 185 Hildreth..................147
Martin..............160   Hobert.................... 195
Martha............40, 53, 231   Holden................... 195
Mary.........40, 64, 146, 287 Hopkins..................170
Nathan....................160   Hosley..................  59
Pricilla................44, 183   Hosmer................. 230
Rebecca............ 160, 223   Howe..2..................253
Ruhamah................ 200   Howell...................293
Ruth................ 43, 206
Samuel...........267, 278, 312   Ingerson................ 211
Sarah.....................185
Thomas.......... 26, 167, 181   Jewell....................254
Jewett................... 70
Ellison...................   5   Johnson............6, 171, 218
Emerson.......                  150, 246 Jones..........86, 96, 185, 226
Estabrook.............51, 183
Everett......1..............32   Kimball....... 201, 287, 297
Kinley.................. 164
Farnsworth............ 2..293   Knight....................252
Farnum........179 Knox.....................259




332                              INDEX.
Knowlton................262   Ray...............   77
Raymond................177
Landrum.................. 304  Rice......................244
Lawrence.................153   Rising.............. 176
Livingston............. 292 Robbins..........                          162
Locke............  39, 74, 219  Romig....................176
Lynch.......              227, 299 Root..........168
Lyon.....................10  Ruggles...............107, 213
Rundle....................56
Marrett....... 64, 69, 77, 80, 96  Russell.45, 215, 308
Martin...                         98
Ma                                            son....................300
MIason...........300   Sampson.................221
Mattison.177 Sanborn.........71, 231
McClellan.....318 Srgeant............                                   187
McFarland......                 229 Savery.........220
Mellen                           304  Sawin..0.........
Melville.                        243 Sawyer... 74
M elv1le..................................... 229
Merryfield......311   Shattuck.................. 82
Montjoy....168 S.............2 56  208
Simonds... 180
Slate.. 155
Nason.................... 181   S.................                  47
Newell.....               192, 312 Springu.288
Nichols...........       166, 181  Spr322
Norton....                      156 Sprole.302....................
Noyes...3                              Staples...................302
Noyes....311 Stilson...240
Nutting...................56   Stone.............,  236, 248
Storer..................104
Page.....................  26  Stoughton.................190
Paige....46, 129   Studley............... 152
Palmer....195 Sullivan................. 61
Parker....72 Sumner...................217
Parson...............          166   Swallow..         223, 230
Peabody....                     151   Swan.................             75
Peaslee.... 317 Swift............316
Perkins....................315
Pierce.......110, 179, 227, 231 Tarbell.173
Poolc........ 158  Taylor...........S 143, 274, 325
Porter...                       194 Thomas...............29
Post..................... 296  Towne...........                         74
Pratt.................. 169   Townsend........... 172, 269
Tufts.11, 47
Quincy.................... 85  Turner...................198
Tyler..165...........16
Ralf............. 215   Tyrrell......145
Rand.....................180
Randall................ 199   Upham............... 101, 156




INDEX.                                  333
Vanderlip................. 177   Whitney................ 138
WVhittemore...............45
Wade..................... 28   Willard..........                      121, 169
Wait......................199   Wilder...........185, 187, 193
Walker................... 246   Williams..................104
Wallace................... 179   Wilson....................141
Ware................... 246   Winship.............234
Way..................... 198   Winslow................. 124
Weeks................             175   Wood.......170,  182, 225, 234
Weld.................125, 314   Wright..............231, 254
Wells.....................177  Wyman.....86, 175