Old Families – The Blaisdells

This contains a transcription of the section about the Blaisdell family from The History of Canaan, New Hampshire by William Allen Wallace, edited by James Burns Wallace, Concord, N.H.: The Rumford Press, 1910.

Part of the following about the Blaisdell family is taken from a manuscript prepared more than half a century ago by Joshua Blaisdell, who died more than forty years ago. Mr. Joshua Blaisdell was the son of Daniel, the early settler of this town. It is a dingy and much worn account and so far as it relates to the origin of the family the credit of it is due to him, as well as the authenticity. Mr. Blaisdell says:

The family originated in Denmark and came to England after the Danes were subdued by Alfred the Great, and his successors, many of whom settled in the northeast part of Wales. From this quarter our family came to this country. They had been forgemen since they settled in Wales. Ralph Blaisdell married into the royal family (but how far “into” the record does not state). “Sir Ralph Blaisdell of Wales” Lord Eldon states, “was a noble generous knight.” Several of the name were members of Parliament. The name should be “Blaisdale,” with a Scripture name before it. We gloried also in a coat of arms, which I cannot describe, only as it had the name “Blaisdel” inscribed on it, and this was the way my father spelled it up to 1808, when he was elected to Congress, and his name was so spelled in his certificate of election, after which he spelled it “Blaisdell.”

Three brothers came from the northeast part of Wales and landed in Newbury, Mass., previous to 1675. Their mother accompanied them, the father died before the family left England. His name was Enoch. Some time after their arrival she married a second husband named Satterlee. About the year 1811 my brother Elijah (of Canaan) visited Newburyport and had an interview with the daughter of a son by this [page 503] marriage. The daughter was over one hundred years old, and was called Granny Satterlee.

Enoch first, was a forgeman. The names of his three sons were Enoch, Abner and Elijah. Enoch settled in Maine, and for most part was ancestor of the Blaisdells in that state and in Strafford and Rockingham Counties in this state. Abner went to New York. Elijah settled at Amesbury, Mass. It is not known how many sons he had, but there were several of the name in Amesbury, and it is not easy to assign them any other origin. There certainly was one named Elijah, and nearly equally as certain there was a Jonathan. Jonathan went to Kingston to a place called Fishing Falls. He had two sons called Jonathan and William. Jonathan, Jr., had two sons, William and Ralph, who settled in Salisbury in 1740. Jonathan, Sr., was a blacksmith and went to Kingston on account of the superior facilities for iron working. His son Jonathan, born July 13, 1723, was also a blacksmith.

Elijah (third of the race) married a widowed woman and remained in possession of the old place in Amesbury. They had born to them four sons and one daughter, Elijah, Jonathan, Enoch, Jacob and Abigail. Jonathan once visited my father (Daniel) in Canaan on his way to search for a western home. Enoch also followed him to Ohio. Jacob was a forgeman as usual. He went to Burton and afterwards to Indiana. The reason for his leaving for the west was that the boundary lines between Burton and Eaton were changed somewhat, and he lost some property thereby. He declared he would stay no longer in a state where property was not protected. Abigail died when young. Elijah the father was a brave soldier, he lost an arm in battle and lived and died in his own home.

Elijah (fourth of the race) married Mrs. Mary Keazer Sargent, widowed daughter of Capt. Timothy Keaser, a sailor out of Newburyport. He lived and died at Amesbury, a schoolmaster. They had three sons born to them, perhaps more, Parrot, Daniel and Sargent. When Daniel was seven years old his father died leaving his family destitute. Some years after the father’s death the widow moved her family to Henniker, N. H., and thence to Hopkinton, where she married Nathaniel Whittier. Daniel was twelve years old when his mother left Amesbury. He lived in Henniker two years and three years in Hopkinton, during which time he served a campaign as a soldier of the Revolution at forty shillings per month and twelve shillings blanket money. He left the army at seventeen years of age and went to Canaan.

Parrot Blaisdell, spelled “Parrit,” was born in Amesbury, Mass., November 11, 1759, married on Thursday, May 5, 1785, Mrs. Ruth (Folsom) Ball, daughter of Josiah and Abigail Folsom, born in Haverhill, Mass., March 22, 1759. He lived in Canaan, Orange, Hanover and Montpelier, Vt., and died at Fort Covington, N. Y., August 3, 1836. He no doubt came to Canaan about the time of his brother Daniel, for his name appears on the inventory of 1782, which would show he was here in 1781. They had three sons and seven daughters: [page 504]

1. George H., born the first day of March, 1784.
2. Abigail, born on Wednesday, February 8, 1786, on the old Cochran farm; she died at Stoneham, Mass., at the home of her granddaughter. She married Russell Putnam.
3. Ruth, born December 23, 1787; died December 4, 1836, “at quarter past four.” She married Henry Howe.
4. Polly, born January 7, 1790; died November 20, 1790.
5. Polly, born May 22, 1791; died at Potsdam, N. Y., November 22, 1865; married her cousin, Joshua, son of Daniel Blaisdell.
6. Sally, born on Thursday, January 29, 1793; married Otis Standish.
7. Azurbah, born December 15, 1794, married Pierce B. Smith.
8. Parrit, Jr., born May 4, 1796; died, August 3, 1839, at Fort Covington, N. Y., “of collery also his son Edwin of collery August 4, 1839.” He had one son and one daughter. He was a sailor.
9. Clarissa, born October 4, 1798; married John C. Wolf.
10. Elijah, born May 5, 1801. He was editor and publisher of the Vergennes Vermonter in 1848. His cousin Joshua says of him: “He is hale fellow well met, drinks a glass with a friend and pays the bill, is a tattling bragging man, has one son of good promise and two others and one daughter.”

Another account of the Blaisdells is here given, furnished me by Alfred 0. Blaisdell from investigations made by Dr. W. O. Blaisdell:

The family were from Lancashire, where in Preston, there were at one time fifteen families of that name. Ralph Blaisdell and his wife came to this country in 1635, having embarked at Milford Haven, Wales, on the ship Angel Gabriel. The ship seems to have belied her name, for, arriving on the coast of Maine in a severe storm, she became a total wreck. All on board were saved. Ralph and his wife settled in York, Maine. In 1642 he sold his property as shown by the county records and moved to Salisbury, Mass., that part which was afterwards Amesbury, where for several years he kept an inn. He had but one son, Henry, who married Mary Haddon, and also a second wife, Elizabeth. By the two wives he had nine children, six boys and three girls. He combined the trades of farmer and tailor. One of his sons Jonathan, born October 11, 1676, was a blacksmith and at the age of twenty-two married Hannah Jameson of whom the seventh was Enoch, born July 9, 1714. Enoch married Mary Satterlee, had eight children of whom the third was Elijah, born December 31, 1740. Elijah married Mary Sargent March 14, 1759, and lived in the west parish of Amesbury until a year or two after his marriage when he moved to Warner, N. H. He was the father of Daniel, Parrot and Sargent.

In the town records for 1787, appears a “greeting to Samuel Joslyn, Constable of the town of Canaan.” “You are required [page 505] forthwith to notify and warn to depart from said Town of Canaan, the following-named persons now residing in sd Canaan that they not become chargeable in sd town, viz.: Sargent Blaisdell and his wife Susanna and you are to make due return of this warrant and of your doings unto the selectmen of Canaan.” Samuel read the warrant in the hearing of the persons named, but it does not appear that he caused any of them to “depart from” Canaan. The name of Sargent Blaisdell’s wife does not agree with Joshua Blaisdell’s tale, but there is no doubt that he was Daniel’s brother. Mr. Joshua says: “Sargent Blaisdell married Mary Blue, a woman with a lively tongue. They lived in Canaan, Enfield and Grafton. It was in the latter town he left his wife with three children, Sargent, Peter and Mary, and the last heard of him he was at Cherry Valley under the assumed name of Sargent Johnson. Sargent, Jr., found his father there, and resided there. Peter died in Canaan, was not considered a bright boy. Mary married and lived in New York state. The facts in regard to his elopement were these, which occurred probably about the years 1789-90. Daniel lived near to Samuel Noyes in the southeast corner of the town. Mr. Noyes had lost a horse by a thief. Sargent was at work for Noyes and was sent upon another horse to search for it. He also sent Daniel upon his own horse and charged them not to come back without the thief. Sargent in taking leave of his wife, repeated the order. She told him `Go along and never show your face in this house again, without that thief.’ Daniel went towards Hopkinton and caught the fellow. Sargent took a different route and, finding no trace of the thief, pushed on and was never seen here afterward. He left a good farm, implements and tools and took nothing but his horse, like a true knight.”

The mother of these three boys, Mary Keazer, married in Hopkinton a third husband, Nathaniel Whittier, and died in Canaan May 15, 1806, aged seventy-nine years. She had four children by Mr. Whittier: Elijah, Samuel, Nathaniel and Abigail, who became the wife of Thomas Cole. Elijah married Nancy Kenniston, who was afflicted with a trace of insanity, which was transmitted to some of her descendants. Samuel [page 506] married Mehitable Bedel October 23, 1796, who, in her old age, wandered from the Bickford place and was found drowned in Hart Pond. Nathaniel married Polly Sleeper. All had large families in Canaan.

Among the early settlers in Canaan, no one was more distinguished for good sense, for integrity and for uprightness in his relations to society than Daniel Blaisdell. He, with his brother Parrot, had done service in the War of the Revolution, and being honorably discharged about the year 1780, in company with other soldiers, emigrated from Amesbury, Mass., to this town, and here made his home during all the years of his long and honorable life. He was eighteen years old at the time of his arrival, with but little knowledge of books, but possessing a constitution inured to toil and hardship. He came here like many others, because it was reported to be a goodly land, where a man might make himself a home by the labor of his own hands. The soil was rich and fruitful and only needed persevering labor to be made to bring forth abundantly. After looking about among the scattered settlers for a few days, he engaged to work for Joseph Flint for six months at six dollars per month. Mr. Flint had been a merchant in Newburyport. About a year previous to this time he had come here from Hopkinton and began to clear up the farm where George W. Davis now lives. The work was very laborious and the master was hard and exacting upon all who fell under his control. Early and late they toiled, — daylight calling them to breakfast and candle light to supper. He used to tell young Blaisdell if he would remain in his service he would make a man of him and having a large family of girls, he supposed their company to be sufficiently magnetic to make the young man forget the hard labor to which he was subjected. He served his time faithfully and well and then hired himself to Capt. Charles Walworth, who lived on South Road. The captain was strongly religious, having imported his Puritan sentiments with him from Connecticut. He was a man of great natural kindness and often gave his young friend good advice. While employed with Captain Walworth, some of the ungodly young people got up a ball, to which they invited Blaisdell. The captain objected to his going, using all the arguments then in common use, against the sinfulness of [page 507] dancing,— all of which failed to convince the young man. Then the captain told him if he would stay from that wicked gathering of scoffers, he would the next clay, show him something that would be of great advantage to him. Daniel stayed away from the ball, but his heart was there all the evening, because little Sally Springer was to be there, and he had begun to believe that the angels had not all left the earth. The next day the captain took him down into a densely timbered region (the farm where Prescott Clark once lived), and advised him to buy it, build a log house, get married, and make himself a home; in two years he could pay for it with the crops. He bought one hundred acres, agreeing to pay Mr. Walworth $300 therefor, and went to work clearing it up and it is said, the first crop of wheat paid for the land. He built himself a log house, and then wooed and married the little girl (who was an angel to him), January 28, 1782, being scarcely twenty years old, and in due time they had sons and daughters born unto them— a house full. He worked hard and was rewarded with increase in various ways. He became a teacher; he studied politics and was elected to various town offices; he stored his mind with much practical knowledge, which he imparted freely to all his neighbors. He often acted as a justice and his decisions were regarded as just and right. In twenty-one years eleven children were born to him. More than a hundred years ago a tax was levied by the Legislature which was very burdensome to some of the new towns. Caleb Seabury was said to have been the occasion of it. He was sent to Exeter as a representative. He thought he would signalize his term of office by assuring the Legislature of the great wealth of Canaan. Its soil yielded spontaneously and enriched its people. The effect of this speech or talk was the passage of the law which burdened the people with taxes. The next year Mr. Blaisdell was sent to Exeter to ask for the modification of the law. He told them that it was true that the lands of Canaan were exceedingly rich and fruitful. It was like all other new soil upon which the timber forests had been reduced to ashes. If they would make wheat, rye and corn, legal tender for taxes, it would relieve the people greatly, but there was no money and no market for their commodities. Lands, cattle, hogs, ashes, grain, etc., were the circulating [page 508] medium. Nearly all purchases were made by way of exchange. In this way he pleaded with them, until they consented to modify the law, which greatly pleased the people and made him more popular than ever. Before Mr. Baldwin left town, Mr. Blaisdell had passed through the mysterious process which men call “a change of heart, had joined the new Baptist Church and was ever afterward a consistent Baptist, and advocate for the stated preaching of the gospel.” His manner of stating his opinions was somewhat diffuse and like a small piece of butter on a large slice of bread, was a good deal spread out. He sometimes stated it thus: “We believe that the preaching of the gospel was instituted by the all-wise Governor of the universe as a means whereby to communicate his special grace to a ruined world; and we believe, also, that a regular, peaceful gospel, tends to promote good order and strengthen the bonds of society.” He was prominent in all the services of the church, and also in all the connections of his party. As a Christian, the Baptist Church was his strong tower; a belief in its tenets could alone save lost souls. His political faith was as fixed and unalterable as his religion. The Federal party had the immortal Washington for its head, and through that organization alone, could our free institutions be perpetuated. It was the sacred privilege of Federalists to hate Thomas Jefferson, as it was the duty of Baptists to avoid the devil, and flee from the wrath to come. These two principles governed all his actions in religion and politics. His first appearance in public life was as a legislator at Exeter in 1793. He was sent again in 1795 and remained there until 1799, representing the towns of Canaan, Grafton and Orange. He represented Canaan in 1812 and 1813, and in 1824 and 1825, and was a judge in the Court of Common Pleas for Grafton County. His sturdy sense and fearless expression of opinions attracted attention and won the applause of his party. He enjoyed the honors he was winning and had vivid dreams of future greatness. Several years he was elected senator and five times he was elected councilor and one term lie served in Congress from 1809-11. While in Congress he was an active partisan and opposed all measures involving the peace of the country. He was an aggressive politician and many times came in conflict with the leaders of the war party. Being a rough debator [page 509] with few courtesies of speech, he received from John Randolph the sobriquet of “Northern Bear,” a title which clung to him all the days of his life.

Two letters are inserted here which have lain perdue for two generations. The spelling is a little unusual, also the use of capitals, showing defects in his early education. These have been corrected. The first letter might, with propriety, be made to refer to scenes and events of more recent date and both exhibit in strong light the unyielding nature of the man.

WASHINGTON CITY. Jan. 18, 1810.

Dear Sir:

I received yours only last evening, which I read with pleasure. You complain of Democratic orators dealing out falsehood; I thought you knew them better than this, for if I should find them dealing in any other commodity, I should think them insane, or that they had deserted their cause. This I apply to their leaders, and not to all who call themselves Republicans, for there are many among them who are well disposed men, and need only to be here one week, and hear the threats in Congress, to convince them they have been misled. A leader among them, three days since, in Congress, made a war speech, and in reply to a gentleman who had spoken against war, said: “Some gentlemen seem to regret the loss of blood and treasure more than submission to Great Britain. I, also,” said he, “regret the loss of the blood of some of our citizens, but if we go to war with England, Canada must be taken, and we very well know what men must be engaged in taking that country.” And many more such expressions, which would make the blood of our New England Republicans boil. I immediately went to him and required an explanation. He looked beat and paddled off as well as he could.

Let nothing deter you from duty at, and before the second Tuesday of March. For the darkest time is just before day.

I am sir, &c.,
DANIEL BLAISDELL.

To John Currier, Esq.

The next letter is interesting as showing the hostility of the Federal party to all measures for the defense of the nation at a time when England, supposing us to be weak, had become, day by day, more arrogant in her demands.

WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 27, 1810.

Dear Sir:

I send you Mr. Epps’ war speech, which seems to have originated in a fit of madness, that the Senate had seen fit to cut Mr. Mason’s American [page 510] navigation act of that part which they intended, instead of the Embargo or non-intercourse. It was sent back from the Senate to our House on Thursday, with only three out of thirteen sections left. The two first to interdict the armed ships of England and France from our harbors. And the other to repeal the non-intercourse act. To be sure, sir, it was a curiosity to see the embargo hands, with distorted features, rise in turn, and declare that it was treason against the party that had brought forward and supported commercial restrictions, to thus dispose of it without a substitute. Some of them said they would much rather the hall would fall in and crush them to death, than abandon the system in that way. And after a Sunday evening caucus at the president’s, they (as it would seem) are prepared to plunge the nation into immediate war, for Epps did not deny, but owned it must have that effect. Seventy-four supported the measure and forty-nine opposed it. If so many of their war measures, resolutions and proclamations had not evaporated, all must see that we must have a war with England soon, for France is only mentioned to deceive the people. The president on Saturday, before the caucus, said openly, our affairs with France were in a fair way to be settled. Tell your demos if there is any dependence to be placed upon their leaders they may fix their knapsacks to go to Canada.

From your friend,
DANIEL BLAISELL.

To John Currier, Esq.

At the expiration of his term in 1811, Mr. Blaisdell returned home, firmly believing it to be a Christian virtue to oppose the coming war. Public meetings were called for the purpose of concentrating public opinion. A series of resolutions, longer than one of John Worth’s prayers, and more tiresome, setting forth the iniquities of the Democratic leaders and calling upon good men to defeat them, were passed. The excitement ran fearfully high and continued for years. Many worthy neighbors became estranged and the lives of many of them were too short to outlive the ill-feeling engendered.

For more than twenty years he went in and out among his neighbors and friends, exercising great influence in their affairs, honored and respected by all, even by the Democrats, whom, as a party, he never ceased to denounce as the enemies of his country. The struggles of his early life had given him habits of industry, temperance and economy. He lived first “one hundred and two rods down the road toward Grafton” from the bridge at East Canaan by Mud Pond. He then built a [page 511] modest house on the farm afterward owned by James Doten and since burned, at the top of Doten Hill and readapted himself to the career of a farmer, and about 1818, lived in the Haggett house. His knowledge of law made him a safe counselor. He was sometimes called upon to carry business for his neighbors up to the courts. At one time he was solicited to carry a case to the court at Exeter. He started on horseback, as was the custom then, and on the road was overtaken by Gen. Benjamin Pierce, who was traveling the same way. Personally they were friendly, but very hostile in politics. Blaisdell was a man of even temperament, not easily excited and whom mere words could not offend; but he never yielded a point once settled in his mind. Pierce, in temperament, was the reverse of Blaisdell, but he was equally tenacious of his opinions. Blaisdell believed only Federalism and Baptism. Pierce believed only Democracy. They traveled together, discoursing pleasantly as they rode until they approached the subject of politics. Pierce quite earnestly denounced the Federalists as the enemies of the country and as desiring to destroy the liberties of the people by consolidating all power in the hands of a few families. Blaisdell, very coolly replied by accusing the Democracy of demagogism, of debauching the virtue of the youth of the country and, like Satan, of desiring to lead all things down to himself. This reply infuriated Pierce. He declared that he “would not ride with such a traitor any further” and, jumping off his horse, dared Blaisdell to take his chance of a “thrashing on the spot.” Blaisdell declined to take the chances offered, not only because they were not favorable to him, but because he saw nothing to fight about. He said some soothing words to the governor, who finally remounted his horse and the two jogged on to Exeter as though nothing had occurred; but they talked no more politics on that ride.

There was never much poetry in his life. His habits of thought had always been so earnest, so convincing to his reason, that any position he ever assumed, whether in morals, politics or religion, became to him matters of fact. He never yielded a point to an opponent, because he never allowed himself to be in the wrong. It pleased him to see labor rewarded and mean, tricky people punished. But young folks never loved him, because [page 512] he never seemed to see them. He would speak of “the rising generation,” with a look so far away, as if he never expected to give place to them, or as if they were to drop from some distant sphere and slowly approach to greet him as he disappeared. We used to look upon him as the embodiment of dignity and wisdom, — a man with whom we could take no liberties. He was a. willful man, who liked to have his way. Like most men in his day, he ignored the presence of children. I do not remember of any boy who felt proud of his caresses or approving words. He never uttered them and he very seldom saw any boys. His own life from boyhood until long after he thought himself a man, was of hard toil, without school or books and all the way up hill. Did he never yearn for a word of encouragement? I often wonder when the manner of these men’s lives occurs to me, how they could always pass by the children, — the boys who are coming right along to crowd them out of the way? In his day the old judge was a great power in politics, and he had the faculty of keeping his party in office nearly all his life. He never thrust himself forward for office, nor would he allow more than one of his boys to be in office at the same time. This policy made him strong. He did not use his political influence to keep his family in office. In this respect he understood human nature better than some of the leaders in later years. The people respected his advice because they knew him to be unselfish.

It was more than eighty years ago, — just before March election. There had been a sly caucus at Cobb’s tavern in which Wesley Burpee, Daniel Pattee, William Campbell, with a few others figured, and Elijah Blaisdell had been nominated for representative. It was intended for a surprise and only such as were friendly to Elijah were present. Old Bill Wood and Levi Wilson had been there after their daily ruin; going home about sunset, the judge hailed them for “the news up to the street.” “0, 0, nothin’ much,” replies Uncle Bill, “only we had a caukis, and sot up ‘Lijah for representative.” “What!” thundered the old judge, ” ‘Lige Blaisdell for rep ! impossible ! But who’s done it? He ‘aint fit for it, more’n my old hoss, and [page 513] I tell you he shan’t have it.” And he didn’t get it. The judge mounted his old horse and rode up to Wallace’s store, where a crowd had begun to gather. He dismounted, and after saluting them, inquired if anything of importance had transpired. They confirmed his first intelligence with more particulars. Then he smoothed his brow and replied: “Men, this will never do; because I was fit to hold office, it don’t follow that all the Blaisdells are fit for it, and I ought to be pretty well acquainted with them all. And then the way this nomination was made is unfair. A man that plays tricks even in politics, is unworthy of your votes. We must get together, Saturday night at this store and talk it all over, and depend upon it we’ll have a good man nominated.” The other Blaisdells stayed at home that year. That Saturday night was memorable in the annals of Canaan Street. There was a large gathering and they drank rum freely; everybody did, except this matter-of-fact old judge. Asahel Jones, who belonged to the other party, appeared among them. He was accused of being a spy and he was ordered to prepare for instant death. They secured him, placed a rope about his neck and shoulders and drew him up to a beam in the store, several times letting him down hard. Asahel was badly hurt and worse frightened, and begged hard for a reprieve. Finally he was permitted to start for home. He went over the hill, ’round the pond, crying “Murder! help!” On the road the cold air began to freeze the rum out of his skin and he was sorely chilled. He grew mad as he thought how he had been assaulted and battered by those fellows on the Street, no better than he. Next morning he presented himself before his friend, Elijah Blaisdell, and complained of his assailants, three of whom were arrested and made to pay $20 for the wicked sport they had enjoyed. After the election of General Jackson in 1828, Elijah became a Democrat. The old judge was much annoyed at his son’s apostasy from his own faith, but he pretended to be greatly pleased, “because,” said he, “now we shall know where to find him all the time.”

His children married and settled in town, and the third generation numbered sixty-nine persons. Of his eleven sons and daughters, Elijah, the lawyer, had twelve children; James, [page 514] the sheriff, six; Daniel, the musician, seventeen; William, the painter, seven; Joshua, the sheriff, six; Parrott, the farmer, twelve ; Jacob, the doctor, none; Jonathan, the trader, three ; Sally, wife of Joseph Dustin, five; Rhoda, third wife of Eben Clark, deacon, who used to manufacture woolen cloth at the village, one ; Timothy, the broker, seven. These families for years all resided in one neighborhood, and it was a common remark that the old folks could visit all their numerous off-spring in one day. The name was once nearly as common as blackberries (Barney at East Canaan), but it has disappeared entirely from among us now, and is found only on old tombs and graveyards.

Blaisdell, Daniel, b. Amesbury, Mass., January 25, 1762; d. January 10, 1833; m. by Thomas Baldwin January 29, 1782, Sally Springer, dau. of Joshua, the ferryman, of Haverhill, Mass., b. October 15, 1761; d. June 10, 1838. Eleven ch.

1. Elijah, b. Canaan, October 28, 1782; d. October 10, 1850; m. November 14, 1802, at Pittsfield, Mary Fogg, dau. Dea. John, b. Hampton, September 6, 1781; d. Twelve ch. He m. 2d, Mrs. Mary Kingsbury of Plainfield.
   1. John, b. Pittsfield, May 13, 1803; d. Vineland, N. J., over 90 years old.
   2. Daniel, 3d, b. Pittsfield, August 25, 1806; d. 1875; m. Charlotte Osgood of Haverhill. Grad. Dartmouth College, 1827. Lawyer in Hanover from 1834-’75. Treasurer of Dartmouth College. Ch.: Alfred, now living in Brooklyn, N. Y., and Charlotte, who m. Professor Ruggles of Dartmouth College.
   3. Hannah, b. Grafton, December 13, 1808; d. June 27, 1811; buried near Ebenezer Hoyt Place in Grafton.
   4. Elijah, b. Danbury, March 11, 1811.
   5. Hannah, b. Canaan, August 5, 1813.
   6. Elizabeth, b. Canaan, May 15, 1815; m. a Morey and in 1892 lived in San Francisco.
   7. Mary Ann, b. Canaan, August 9, 1817; d. September 14, 1817.
      [page 515]
   8. Mary Ann, b. February 24, 1819; d. Beloit, 1905; m. Joseph Tyler of Boston. Ch.: Joseph, sugar manufacturer in Philippines, and Columbus, m. and d. at Seattle.
   9. Rhoda, b. March 27, 1821; single; was teacher in Beloit, Wis.
   10. Sarah, b. January 26, 1823; single; died 1906. Teacher in Beloit, Wis.
   11. James Joshua, b. February 8, 1827; d. October 10, 1896; m. Susan Allen of Lebanon. Lived in Beloit, Wis. Two ch.: James and Philip.
2. James, b. September 20, 1784; m. February 17, 1805; Abigail Tyler, dau. Job. Six ch.: Abigail, Sarah, George, James, Sargent, ___
3. Daniel, Jr., b. December 28, 1786; d. September 17, 1871; m. October 24, 1805, Sally Clark, dau. Josiah and Pernal, b. July 1, 1789; d. March 7, 1866. Seventeen ch.
   1. Elijah, b. March 30, 1806; was a doctor.
   2. Clark, b. January 8, 1809; m., had three ch.: one named Clark.
   3. Daniel, b. June 4, 1811.
   4. Josiah, b. June 4, 1811; d. June 22, 1811.
   5. Sally, b. June 5, 1813; d. single.
   6. Jonathan Homer, b. February 13, 1816; d. San Jose, Cal.; single.
   7. Suel Swett, b. August 28, 1818; single, lived Fairlee, Vt.
   8. Mary, single.
   9. Justin.
   10. Justus, d. San Jose; m. 1st, Clara Tyler; one dau.: m. 2d, a Bruce.
   11. Judge.
   12. Abigail.
   13. Harriet N., d. February 4, 1832, aged 3.
   14. Malvina.
   15. Harriet N., d. June 6, 1856; aged 9.
   16. Nancy, and one d. unnamed.
4. William, b. March 11, 1789; m. Hannah Follensbee of Grafton and had seven ch.; Alvah, who m. Margaret Dunbar at Nashua; m. 2d and had three ch. William A., son [page 516] of William, Horace, Harrison, Alzoa, and two nameless. At the funeral of one of them Elder Wheat preached the sermon, and stated his belief that “this infant was unregenerate, and is now writhin’ in burnin’ flames of hell.” William was angry. Left the Baptist Church and joined the Congregationalists, and ever afterwards refused to listen to Elder Wheat’s preaching. He was a painter.
5. Joshua, b. April 20, 1791; in. December 19, 1813, his cousin Polly, daughter of Parrot, b. May 22, 1791; d. at Potsdam, N. Y., November 22, 1865. M. 2d, his cousin, Mrs. Mehitable Springer Frost, and d. Thetford, Vt., September 29, 1872. Was deputy sheriff from 1818 to 1833. Lived in Haverhill, N. H., Fort Covington, N. Y., 1842. Potsdam, N. Y., 1844—66 as a merchant. Ch.: four sons and two dau. His second wife was a daughter of Joshua Springer of Canaan, b. in 1792 in old district No. 8. She was married three times, living all the time in Thetford, Vt., first to Judge Buckingham, second to Deacon Frost, she survived them all and lived nearly helpless for some years, but retained all her faculties. She d. in Thetford, Vt., October 12, 1883.
6. Parrot, b. August 4, 1793; m. June 1, 1814, Rhoda French Currier of Enfield. They had 12 children, two Marys, Theophilus, two Rhodas, Timothy, Emily, James, two nameless and Guilford.
7. Jacob, b. October 20, 1795; m. March 7, 1825, Eliza Harris of Canaan, dau. of Hubbard; b. July 17, 1800. No children. Both died at Keysport, N. Y. Being a seventh son he was advised that it was necessary that he should become a doctor.
8. Jonathan, b. February 19, 1798; m. 1st, Persis Ames; 2d, Hannah, dau: of Dr. Ezra Bartlett of Haverhill. Three children.
9. Sally, b. June 17, 1799; m. November 27, 1818, Joseph Dustin of Canaan; d. March 25, 1885. Five children.
10. Rhoda, b. September 1, 1801; d. January 10, 1891. Was a teacher about town until 1832 when she married Dea. [page 517] Ebenezer Clark April 19, 1832. One daughter. They separated and afterwards were divorced, because of differences of opinion respecting spiritualism.
11. Timothy Keazer, b. May 9, 1804; d. September 24, 1853; m. 1st, September 23, 1824, Phoebe Cobb; d. March 23, 1832; aged 36; m. 2d, Harriet Merrill of Haverhill, b. November, 1813; d. December 20, 1848. Had one child buried in the grave with his first wife, and three sons and two dau. by his second wife. He was a strong Abolitionist and member of the Congregational Church. He was a storekeeper in Haverhill after the second marriage where he failed in the panic of 1837. He afterwards lived in Boston, was agent of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company until his death. Ch.: Sarah, m. a lumberman; Harriet, b. Haverhill, November 11, 1834, m. April 30, 1856, Charles H. Cram of Chicago; b. Hanover, March 22, 1832. Nine ch.: Clara, b. January 19, 1857; d. March 18, 1900. Nathan Dow, b. August 2, 1859; m. Mary Queen, manager for Silver, Burdett & Co. in New York. Charles H., b. November 12, 1863; m. Ysabel Del Valle, a merchant and ranchman. Harriet Blaisdell, b. August 26, 1864; m. 1st, Dr. T. W. Miller; m. 2d, Dr. W. W. Quinlan; lives Chicago. Bessie, b. April 28, 1868; m. W. C. Reynolds, in the paint business. Timothy, b. April 26, 1870; m. Georgie Shores, railroad supplies in Chicago. Rupert, b. February 10, 1872; m. Cora Neidig, merchant and ranchman. Walter, b. January 10, 1874; m. Nina Del Valle, merchant and ranchman in California. Mildred, b. August 11, 1876 ; m. J. V. Paulson; d. March 5, 1900; lives with mother in Haverhill. Timothy, son of Timothy, was in the Rebellion, contracted consumption and d. single. Edward and Frank.