Hudson Town (part 8 of 10)

He married, June 18, 1848, Almira Maria Nichols, born January 23, 1829, died March 8, 1900, daughter of Hilliard and Harriet (Lord) Nichols, of Detroit, Maine. Children: I. Ellen Maria, born July 26, 1849; married February 9, 1868, Collostin J. Davis, of Pittsfield, Maine; children: i. Florence Ella Shaw Davis, born March 28, 1871, married May 15, 1891, Henry O. Taylor, and had Nellie F. Taylor, born November 21, 1892, Floyd E. Taylor, born October 7, 1893, Clara L. Taylor, born January 3, 1900, and Lawrence O. Taylor, born October 16, 1907; ii. Blanche Nutter Davis, born August 27, 1877, married August 23, 1898, Charles Eddinton, and had Esther Eddinton, born January 3, 1900, and Audrey Eddinton, born October 6, 1903; iii. George F. Davis, born November 21, 1881, died July 8, 1899. 2. Hester Ann, born December 28, 1850; married September 4, 1875, George B. Freese, of Lewiston, Maine; children: i. Ralph Edward Freese, born January 24, 1883, died July 22, 1883; ii. LeRoy Edwin Freese, born April 5, 1885. 3. Bina Mary, born June 4, 1853; married December 13, born November 21, 1883; iii. Orin Carl Potter, born August 27, 1896; iv. Mura Merle Potter, born February 26, 1898, died February 13, 1900. 4. Almira Salena, born May 30, 1855; married January 30, 1882, George Sullivan Bailey, of Alexandria, N. H.; children: i. Winifred Violet Bailey, born October 30,1882, married December 4, Igo1, Ernest Demeritt Drake; ii. Howard Scott Bailey, born January 4, 1886, died July 1, 1886; iti. Lester George Bailey, born June 3, 1891, died January 30, 1893. 5. George Ezra, mentioned below. 6. Harriet Frances, born October 12,

(V iL) George Ezra Martin, son of Ezra A. Martin (7), was born in Detroit, Maine, November 27, 1858. He was educated in the public schools, with the addition of a term in a private school, working during vacation in the tannery and saw mill. At. the age of eighteen he came to Belmont and was employ ed by Warren Heustis, a prominent market gardener of that town. He stayed with Mr. Heustis two years as salesman, and then returned to his home in Maine and studied more. He soon went back to Belmont and worked for Leonard Stearns as salesman for eight years. He then entered the produce business with Franklin Wyman and Daniel Wyman, of Arlington, as the firm of Wyman Brothers & Martin, at too to 102 Clinton street, Boston. After six years of successful business the firm was dissolved in 1892, and Mr. Martin continued in the same business at 108 Clinton street, under: the firm name of George E. Martin & Co. He dealt in general produce at this stand until January, 1907, when he gave up this store and consolidated it with one he had established two years before at 47 Commercial street. He is well known as a successful trader in his line throughout all New England. He has invested in several mining properties. He was transferred by letter in 1890 from the Arlington to the Winter Hill Baptist church, and is at present a member of the standing committee, of the music committee, and vice-president of the Bible class. He is a Republican in politics. He is a member of Soley Lodge, F. A. M., Somerville; Paul Revere Lodge, No. 184, I. O. O. F.; the Fruit and Produce Exchange at Boston.

He married first, October 30, 1888, Geneva Ellen Morang, born October 30, 1868, died May 31, 1895, daughter of Alexander and Frances Elizabeth (Remick) Morang. He married second, July 3, 1897, Lewrietta Morang, born January 5, 1865, died January 23, IQOI, a sister of his first wife. He married third, June 25, 1903, Winifred Sheldon Clark, born July 1870, daughter of Thaddeus Sheidon and Susan Frances (Smith) Clark dren of second wife: 4. Abbott Claxton, born August 28, 1898. 5. Lewis Wentworth, October 30, 1899. Child of third wife: 6. Helen Winifred, born December 25, 1904.

Wood or Woods is a surname of ancient English origin, and had its origin in designating some men from their residence near woods. Atwood and Bywood are forms of the same name. The surname Hill is of similar origin, and perhaps quite as generally used. Other surnames formed in this way are Pond, Rivers, Lake, Bridge, ete. The medieval spelling of this surname was Atte Wode, afterwards softened to A'wood. Even since the immigrants came to this country with the early settlers at Plymouth we find Wood and Atwood used interchangeably. Almost every conceivable Wood in England surnamed some family back in the tenth, eleventh or twelfth centuries, and hence the multitude bearing the name. In Domesday Book the name is found in the Latin form De Silva, in county Suffolk. In the Hundred Rolls the forms de la Wode, In le Wode and Ate Wode are found. Many famous men in England and America have belonged to the Wood family. In England and Scotland one hundred different coats-of-arms belong to the various Wood families. A branch of the Scotch Wood family is numerous in Ireland. There is a general similarity of design in the armorials of many of these families that indicate common ancestry at some remote period. The Derbyshire family coatof-arms: Azure three naked Savages proper, each holding in the dexter hand a shield argent charged with a cross gules, and in the sinister a club resting on the naked hand proper. Crest: An oak tree proper acorned or. Many are like this old one. The families bearing arms and the surname Wood are numerous in Devonshire, Gloucestershire, Kent and Middlesex. Thomas Wood, chief justice of the court of common pleas in 1501 had these arms: Gules semée of crosses crosslet fitchée argent three demi-woodmen holding clubs proper. Note the resemblance in design to the other. Viscount Halifax bears: Azure three naked savages ambulant in fess proper, in the dexter hand of each a shield argent charged with a cross gules, in the sinister, a club resting on the shoulder also proper, on a canton ermine three lozenges conjoined fess sable. Crest : a savage as in the arms, the shield sable charged with a griffin's head erased argent. Motto: Perservando. Most of the Scotch and Irish families bearing arms have the following

Wood

(1) Josiah Wood, immigrant ancestor, was one of a score or more by the name of Wood who settled in New England before 1050 or - soon after that date. He was born in England, 1629, and died September 24, 1691, aged sixty-two years. He settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and was a member of the First Church. He bought the rights of a commoner in Charlestown, and was granted the rights of four common shares in 1681. He bought two lots of Elizabeth Checkley, 1675-76, and other lots of Nathaniel Hayward and Samuel Carter in Charlestown. His will, dated May 19, 1691, proved December 29 following, mentions sons Josiah, Samuel and Joseph. The inventory shows estate valued at three hundred seventy-eight pounds. He married, October 28, 1657, Lydia Bacon (by Captain Edward Johnson, magistrate) (see Bacon family). She was admitted to the Charlestown church, June 29, 1662, and died November 25, 1712, aged seventy-four years (from Wyman's "Charlestown," vol. 2, K. Z.) The gravestone of Lydia (Bacon) Wood (1), is still standing (1908) in the old Charlestown burying ground. Children, born at Charlestown: I. Josiah, born October 10, 1658, baptized July 6, 1662, died young. 2. Lydia, born November 23, 1659, died December 20, 1059. 3. Josiah, twin, mentioned below. 4. Lydih, twin, born July, 1662, died September 17, 1681 (gravestone). 5. Samuel, born November 12, 1671, married Hannah Buck. 6. Joseph, born December, 1674, baptized December .27. °7. Ruth, born Jiune,: 1676.4 baptized June 4.

(IL) Josiah Wood, son of Josiah Wood (1), born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, July, 1662, died at Woburn, March 9, 1740. Married, December 13. 1686, Abigail, daughter of Michael Bacon, of Billerica (see Bacon family). She was born March 1, 1666, died December 6, 1743. Michael Bacon, of Woburn, deeded to Josiah Wood Jr., of Charlestown, October 22, 1686, all his real estate in Woburn, consisting of housing and lands, in particular his mansion house, barn and outbuildings. In 1687 Josiah Wood was settled in Woburn. Children, born in Woburn: 1. Josiah, mentioned below. 2. Lydia, born May 1, 1689, married James Simonds. 3. Abigail, born September 10, 1691, married, in 1723, Benjamin Simonds. 4. Samuel, born December. 10, 1693, died May, 1745; married Elizabeth - - - -. 5. Joseph, born April 25, 1696,

(IV) Solomon Wood, son of Josiah Wood (3), was born in Woburn, February 23, 1722. He was a shoemaker. He is known to have lived on a cross-road off of Bedford street, in that portion of Woburn afterward set off as Burlington, near the John Cummings estate, and the cross-road is known even now (1908) by old residents in that region as "Solly Lane," or "Sol's Lane." In the will of John Caldwell, of Burlington, executed July 30, 1872, mention is made of his five acre wood-lot "up to S. Wood." This lot is directly opposite where the house of Solomon Wood stood, and Mr. Caldwell's children call the street "Sol's Lane," while Nahum Jennison called it "Solly

(V) Edward Wood, son of Solomon Wood (4), was born at Woburn, afterwards Burlington, Massachusetts, May 10, 1756. He died in Burlington, July 15, 1824. He was a soldier in the Revolution, a private, 1775, in Captain Foster's company, 1777, in 1780 served six months in the Continental army. He was on the roll of Revolutionary pensioners in 1820. He served in Walker's company in the Continental army, 1775, (4,113) under Captain Foster, (5,181,182) drafted from Walker's company, and with two others hired a man to go into service of the Northern army against Burgoyne in August, 1777; the man was paid $100, or £30. Edward Wood paid his share (one-third) of it. He again served in the Continental army from July 10, 1780, to January 15, 1781, and was discharged at West Point, two hundred and twenty miles from home, after six months and sixteen days service; no discharge exhibited, but he had as per preceding documents (4,414) Walker's company, four days time, Lexington Alarm Rolls, Massachusetts Archives, (13,155), Third Foot Company in Woburn, Captain Timothy Winn, May 13, 1775 (Massachusetts Archives 57; 532). Joined Second Parish, 1777, precinct list 1778 and 1783. Edward Wood, private in Massachusetts list in Revolutionary Pensioners, 1820. He received a firearm and bayonet July 8, 1778 (4,200), and again got loan of a gun and bayonet May 15, 1779 (4,224). Receipt for military services July 10, 1780 (5,369); discharge from January 9, 1781 (4,16); receipt for and town order in payment for six months military service 1780, both dated February, 1781 (5,337) (4,254). Receipt for six months service March 25, 1782 (4,28); town orders on same date (5,397), Ninth Massachusetts Regiment, six months, 1780 (4, 6) Second. Parish (4, 14). . After returning from the army he took wp his abode in Burlington (then Lexington), where he followed the occupation of farming and working among his neighbors. During the latter years of his life, owing to inability, James Reed and Calvin Simonds were appointed his guardians by the court at Cambridge, August 31, 1819. On September 13, 1824, his widow, Sarah (Reed) Wood, certified her desire that Sylvanus Wood (of Concord Bridge fame, Revolutionary hero), administer upon the estate of Edward Wood, "my late husband, a pensioner of the Revolution, who died July 15, 1824." Inventory of Edward Wood's estate $34.93, of which $27.58 was for his last sickness an funeral expenses. He married (first) Ann Skilton, March 7, 1782; (second), December 24, 1789, Sarah Reed. Children of second wife, born in Woburn: 1. Henry Wood, born August 24, 1790; married Lydia Farrington, at Lynn, Massachusetts, June 16, 1814; died there August 5, 1852. Lydia Farrington was born in Lynn, October 23, 1794, died there January 29, 1839. When sixteen years of age he went to Lynn, learned the trade of carpenter, and remained in that business in that city until his death. Children, born in Lynn: 1. George Pickering Wood, born April 3, 1816, died there March 29, 1888. ii. Sarah Wood, born March 8, 1819, died there February 13, 1838. ii. Martha Jane Wood, born November 15, 1823, died there August 27, 1838. iv. Henry Wood, Jr., born August 18, 1828; married Sarah Ann Breed, at Lynn, March 17, 1852. He was engaged in the manufacture of shoes during his younger days at Lynn, which business he also followed in New Boston, New Hampshire, where he went in 1858, and which he continued for some years after going in 1861 to Lowell, his present residence. In his later life he had charge of the Odd Fellows' building for some twenty years. Sarah Ann Breed was born in Lynn, October 20, 1826, and died in Lowell, January 28, 1902. Children of Henry and Sarah Ann Wood: a. Charles Edwin Wood, born in Lynn, May 29, 1853; died August 26, 1855. b. Frederick Augustus Wood, born in New Boston, New Hampshire, September 28, 1860; married Mary Woodbury Earl, November 1o, 1896; she was daughter of William D. Earl and Helen Corliss, of Lowell, and was born November 22, 1866. No children. Frederick A. Wood is principal of the Greenhalge School in Lowell. v. Charles Stocker Wood, born in Lynn, March 2, 1831; married, October 3, 1852, at Lynn, Sarah Frances Newhall, born April 9, 1833, daughter of Francis Spinney Newhall, born August 3, 1808, and Mary Ann Skinner, born December 16, 1812, married May Io, 1832. Sarah Frances (Newhall) Wood died February 26, 1904. Children of Charles S. and Sarah (Newhall) Wood, all born in Lynn: a. George Henry Wood, born June 22, 1853; married, February 27, 1884, Leila Pierce Hutchinson. He died August 19, 1885. No children. 0b. Charles Francis Wood, born January to, 1856; died August 5, 1895; unmarried. c. Emma Staten Wood, born March 23, 1862; died August 30, 1882. d. Edwin Wood, born August 27, 1865; died January 25, 1866. e. Mary Southworth Wood, born March 5, 1869; married, September 2, 1891, Henry Warren Hodgdon of Lynn. Children, all born in Lynn: aa. Roland Wood Hodgdon, born July 31, 1893. bb. Donald Henry Hodgdon, twin, born June 9, 1897. cc. Davis May Hodgdon, twin, born June 9, 1897. vi. Daniel Farrington Wood, born in Lynn, weeks. 2. Edward, Jr., born at Woburn, November 22, 1792; married, November 28, 1816, Dolly Walker, of Lexington; died about 1830. 3. Leonard, born 1796, mentioned below. 4. Supply Wood, born probably about 1800. He undoubtedly did not leave Lexington before 1841, as the records of poll taxes show that he was there in 1839 and 1840. He worked out his tax in 1825 on the highway. At one time he worked at farming for Abner P. Wyman of West Cambridge, but it is also known that he spent much of his life in Boston at shoemaking, which trade he learned in~ his youth at his father's home in Burlington. He worked for John Augustus, shoe manufacturer, of Boston, and probably died in that city. (VI) Leonard Wood, son of Edward (5), was born at Burlington, (then Woburn), Massachusetts, about 1796, according to family tradition. The record of birth is missing. He died in Lexington, March 6, 1841, as per record of Jonathan Harrington, whose diary of deaths in Lexington is now in the possession of the Lexington Historical Society. He , attended the public schools and lived at home until sixteen years of age, when he was bound out to his uncle, Stephen Skilton, of Burlington, with whom he lived until he became of age. He then went to Lexington and learned the trade of shoemaker. At the time of his marriage, September 10, 1823, he was following his business in Burlington, at the place on "Solly Lane" where his father, Edward, who was then incapacitated for work, was living, and where his grandfather Solomon lived. In about 1825 he moved to the old Thorning homestead on Wood street, and resumed the combined occupation of farmer and shoemaker, after a very general custom in country towns. He married, in Lexington, September 10, 1823, Mary Thorning, born November 2, 1790, daughter of William Thorning, born January 20, 1758, and Eunice (Phillips) Thorning, born in Littleton in 1756. (See Thorning). Mary Thorning had a daughter, Eliza Butterfield, who was born in Lexington, January 3, 1813. She married, December 3, 1835, Nahum Jennison, born in Burlington, Massachusetts, May 14, 1809, died

Arlington in the burying-ground lot of her half-brother, William T. Wood, who had died the July previous. Nahum Jennison was son of Nahum Jennison, who was born April 2, 1780, married Lucretia Wyman, October 25, 1807. Nahum Jennison, Sr., died at Burlington, July rr, 1866. Nahum Jennison, Jr., was born in the house his father built, on the Cambridge road in Burlington, in which house he died. He was a farmer, and owned one hundred acres of land. Children of Nahum and Eliza Jennison: i. John Edwin Johnson, born in Burlington, June 19, 1836; died September

26, 1836. i. Christiana Wyman Jennison, born in Burlington, December 4, 1837; married, May 30, 1861, Charles Sylvester Adams, of East Cambridge, born in Lowell, July 7, 1837. His father, Charles Johnston Adams, was for many years city marshal at Lowell, and later for a long period was keeper of the house of correction and deputy sheriff at East Cambridge. He married, May 14, 1835, Mary Bent Harrington, daughter of David Harrington, of Lexington. Charles Sylvester Adams died in East Cambridge, February 6, 1868. Christiana Jennison Adams died at her father's house in Burlington, February 23, 1871. Children of Charles S. and Christiana Adams: 1. Charles Jennison Adams, born in East Cambridge, July 27, 1862; died at East Cambridge September 1, 1880. He developed unusual musical ability. i. Henry Sewall Adams, born in East Cambridge, March 16, 1864; married, October 19, 1892, at Cambridge, Bessie L. Tucker, born in Cambridge, July 19, 1871. Mr. Adams is a prominent civil engineer of Boston, and lives in Arlington. He also holds the Nahum Jennison property in Burlington, which he inherited from his grandfather. Children of Henry S. and Bessie Adams: a. Charles Jennison Adams, born at Cambridge, September 26, 1893. 0b. Lawrence Wilder Adams, born at Arlington, July I, 1896. c. Ralph Adams, born at Arlington, August 2, 1g00. d. Henry Sewall Adams, Jr., born at Arlington, December 16, 1902. e. Theodore Davis Adams, born at Arlington, April 14, 1907.

Children of Leonard and Mary (Thorning) Wood: 1. William Thorning Wood. 2. Isaac Wood, born at Lexington, November 12, 1825; died unmarried, November 23, 1886. He worked with his brother-in-law, Nahum Jennison, for a number of years, and was with his brother, William T. Wood, in the ice-tool shop, the last twenty years of his life. He was an honored member of the First Baptist Church in Arlington, and was its sexton for many years. He was universally beloved by his acquaintances. 3. Cyrus Wood, (see sketch). 4. Mary Wood, born at Lexington, April 19, 1827; died in Waltham, February 4, 1900; married, April 20, 1859, John Kirk Hardy, of Waltham, Massachusetts, born at Waltham February 21, 1822. He died September 13, 1905. He was son of Nahum Hardy, and Mary (Smith) Hardy, of Waltham, Massachusetts, and was a_ prosperous farmer in that city. Children, all born at Waltham. i. Nahum Hardy, born May 24, 1853; married, March 1,

16, 1898. 6. Bertha Mabel Hardy, born at Milnerville, lowa, March 16, 1892. c. Edna May Hardy, born at Milnerville, Iowa, April 29, 1893. d. Alfred Kirk Hardy, born at Milnerville, Iowa, April 16, 1897. ii. Mary Smith Hardy, born July 19, 1854; married, January 1, 1879, William D. Ward, born at Cambridgeport, Massachusetts, July 31, 1853. He was son of David Thomson Ward and Mary Frances (Simmons) Pierce, (widow) of Cambridge. He is an optician and jeweller at Hyde Park, Massachusetts. Children: a. Ethel Talbot Ward, born at Waltham, Massachusetts, November 7, 1881, died at Stoughton, Massachusetts, December 29, 1887. b. Eugene Hardy Ward, born at Waltham, Massachusetts, January 19, 1883; died at Taunton, Massachusetts, May 28, 1885. c. Talbot Ward, born at Hyde Park, Massachusetts, June 17, 1890. iii. Edward Kirk Hardy, born November 4, 1855; died January 9, 1872. iv. Cyrus Wood Hardy, born March a1, 1857, married, October 21, 1898, at Waltham, Ada G. Hardy, born in Windham, New Hampshire, July 2, 1870. She was daughter of John Loring Hardy and Rebecca (Witham) Hardy. Cyrus Wood Hardy is a successful farmer in Waltham. v. Susan Bemis Hardy, born April 18, 1858, married May 27, 1887, Elijah Davis. He was born at Birmingham, England, November 29, 1856, and is a machinist. She died January 9, 1897. Children; all born in

Waltham. a. Prescott Linzee Davis, born June 17, 1888. 6. Albion Davis, born May 12, 1891. c. Charlotte Davis, born February 19, 1893. d. Louise Thorning Davis, born

February 1, 1895. vi. Abby Jane Hardy, born June 2, 1860, second wife of Elijah Davis, married February 22, 1901. No children. vii. Charles Lowell Hardy, born June 18, 1861; now living (1908) in Minnesota. viii. Henry Francis Hardy, born April 4, 1863; married September 2, 1891, Annie Connell, born in Prince Edwards Island, March 9, 1865. She is daughter of James Connell, born in Prince Edwards Island, and Sarah (Gay) Connell, born in England. William Gay; father of Sarah (Gay) Connell, was in the battle of Waterloo, the daughter is in possession of his honorable discharge from the British army. Child of Henry F. and Annie Hardy: a. Gladys, born in Waltham, September 30, 1892. ix. Lewis Smith Hardy, born November 21, 1864; married June, 1891, Sarah Blackall, born at Athnery, Galway county, Ireland, February 12, 1872, daughter of John Francis Blackall and Selendow (Rorke) Blackall. No children. ness in Waltham. x. Isaac Hardy, born October 8, 1866; unmarried. He is a farmer. xi. Martha Eliza Hardy, born August 23, 1868; unmarried. She keeps house on her father's estate. xii. William Thorning Hardy, born November 17, 1870; married, December 16, 1893, Annie M. Carr, born at St. Johns, New srunswick, December 19, 1868, daughter of Peter James Carr and Josephine (Brennan) Carr. Children of William T. and Annie Hardy, all born at Waltham: a. Eunice Augusta Hardy, born March 2, 1896. b. Beatrice Thelma Hardy, born October 3, 1898. c. Nelson Carr Hardy, born April 25, 1901. d. Thorning Wood Hardy, born February 13, 1904. xiii. Mabel Thorning Hardy, born December 30, 1874; unmarried, she is a school teacher. 5. Sarah Jane Wood, born at Lexington, Massachusetts, January 15, 1832; married at Waltham, September 27, 1855, Charles Binford, of Baldwin, Maine. She died January 20, 1904. Charles Binford was born November 7, 1824, at Baldwin, Maine, son of William Binford and Sarah (Davis) Binford. His life occupation has 'been that of a farmer. Children of Charles and Sarah Jane Binford, all born at Baldwin, Maine: i. Charles Sumner Binford, born April 1, 1858; married, October 1, 1885, at Limington, Maine, Emma M. daughter of Charles' A. -and "Lydia. S$: Warren. Child: a. Elsie Adelle Binford, born at Baldwin, Maine, August 10, 1891. ii. Mary Abby Binford, born April 24, 1860; married, July 14, 1898, at Orono, Maine, Frank H. Oliver; child: a. Hazel Binford Oliver, born August 12, 1899, at Orono, Maine. iii. Alice Jane Binford, born June 10, 1862; married October 15, 1887, at Standish, Maine, Fred D., son of Francis and Sarah White. No children. iv. William Leonard Binford, born February 5, 1865; married, June 1, 1892, at Dorchester, Massachusetts, Elsie Corkum, born January 11, 1866, at Canning, Nova Scotia, daughter of George and Mary Corkum. Children: a. Leonard William Binford, born April 7, 1898 at Dorchester. 6. Clarice Eva Binford, born August 31, 1900, at Dorchester. c. Alice White Binford, born July 9, 1903, at Dorchester. v. Eva Estelle Binford, born November 24, 1872. 6. Abby Thorning Wood, born at Lexington, December 22, 1834; married, October 29, 1856, Stephen Palmer Blake, of West Cambridge. She died September 6,

1896. Children, all born in West Cambridge: i. Ellis Gray Blake, born August 16, 1857; married, September 25, 1883, at Harvard, Illinois, Mary Ann Pierce, of Harvard, IIlinois, born at Truxton, New York, October 21, 1857, daughter of Alpha Stone Pierce, born at Truxton, New York, June 4, 1818, died in Harvard, Illinois, December 23, 1882, and Diantha Elizabeth (Bliss) Pierce, born at Truxton, New York, June 27, 1822, died at Harvard, Illinois, October 9, 1899. Child: a. Stephen Pierce Blake, born at Lombard, IIlinois. il. Stephen P. Blake, Jr., born January 15, 1862; died December 10, 1862. iii. John Bidwell Blake, born May 7, 1864; married May 28, 1891, Martha Wadsworth Claflin, of Lombard, Illinois, born at Lombard, Illinois, November 18, 1867, daughter of Isaac Claflin, born at Hopkinton, Massachusetts, June 12, 1826, died at Lombard, Illinois, May 11, 1895, and Mary Watts (Towne) Claflin, born at Troy, New York, April 15, 1834, died at Lombard, Illinois, July 26, 1900; no children. iv. Helen Blake, born August 7, 1866; died January 16, 1868. v. H. Sophia Blake, born' August 18, 1869; died October 25, 1869. vi. Elizabeth Adams Blake, born November 12, 1871; married, July 11, 1896, at Lake Helen, Florida, Albert Baxter Hurst, born at Brownhelm, Ohio, March 4, 1871, son of John R. Hurst, born at New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1837, and Sarah J. (Clough), Hurst, born at Cleveland, Ohio, 1840, died at Lake Helen, Florida, December 4, 1899; children, all born at Lake Helen, Florida: a. Helen Hurst, born January 13, 1897. b. John Blake Hurst, born July 6, 1899. c. Mary Elizabeth Hurst, born July 11, 1903, (see sketch of Stephen P. Blake).

(VIL) William Thorning Wood, son of- Leonard Wood (6), born at Burlington, Massachusetts, June 20, 1824; died at Arlington, July 5, 1871. He moved to Lexington with his parents when an infant, and was brought up on the old William Thorning farm on Wood street, receiving his education in the common schools, and helping his father on the farm. He also worked on the Norcross farm. In 1841 he came to West Cambridge and began an apprenticeship under Abner P. Wyman to learn the blacksmith trade. Mr. Wyman, who succeeded his father, Samuel Wyman, in the blacksmith business, was a pioneer in the business of making and repairing tools used in the harvesting and handling of ice in 1834. Each year this branch of his work increased. Young Wood was set to work making these ice implements, and when Mr. Wy- man retired in 1845, Mr. Wood succeeded to the business and carried it on without a part- _ner until 1858. Then he formed a partnership with his brother Cyrus, who was also a blacksmith and iron-worker, recently returned from California. The brothers built a double house, now numbered 362 and 364 Massachusetts avenue, and William T. Wood occupied his half the remainder of his life. They took down the old shop and built a new one in the rear of the new house, leaving a driveway on the west side of the house. They were able to do with their own labor and a few apprentices and one or two journeymen all the work that came to them at that time. After two years Cyrus Wood retired from the firm in order to take up out-door work and bought the Sprague farm, turning his attention to market gardening, working winters with his brother William. The blacksmith shop was burned December 29, 1865, in the midst of the busiest season while. ice was, being harvested, but Mr. Wood, with the assistance of his brothers Cyrus and Isaac, proved equal to the emergency, and in a few days his men were at work in three other shops in town, filling the orders. In the eatly spring preparations were made for rebuilding, and the new shop was occupied the following July. He built up a flourishing business, gaining and maintaining a high reputation for superior workmanship, and his ice tools became well known throughout the United States and Canada.

He was a popular man, gifted with an amiable disposition, and appreciative of the friendship and esteem of his neighbors. He had a good tenor voice and possessed much musical talent. In his youth he learned to play the violin and piano, and for some years he was pianist at church meetings and Sunday school exercises. He bought his first piano many years before his marriage. For years he was leader of the Baptist church choir, and was a member of the music committee. He joined the Baptist church in 1851 and was active in all its work. For five years next preceding his death, he served in the office of deacon, the only regularly elected deacon at that time being John C. Hobbs. He was also clerk of the Arlington Baptist Society (incorporated), a member of the standing committee, and a member of the music committee at the time of his death.~ He was a reader of good books and literature, and associated himself with various musical societies. In politics he was originally a Whig, and later a Republican.

ter of Ellis Gray and Ann Elizabeth (Wyman) Blake. Her father was a printer by trade. (See sketch). Children of William T. and Sophia (Blake) Wood, all born in Arlington, (West Cambridge before 1867) :

3. Stephen Blake Wood, born April 5, 1854, died at Westborough, Massachusetts, December 31, 1906. Stephen B. Wood entered Harvard University in 1874, and after being with the class of '78 over two years was obliged to take a vacation on account of an affection of the eyes. He graduated in 1879, and graduated from the Harvard Law School in 1882. He was immediately afterwards admitted to the Massachusetts bar, practised law at 30 Court street, Boston, for some years, being associated with Gorham D. Williams during several years of the latter part of his legal career. Mr. Williams has _ recently (1908) died in Greenfield, Massachusetts. After a few years Stephen became interested in a granite business in Vermont and in some coal fields in Nova Scotia, which matters came to his attention in his legal practice. These required considerable traveling and served to interrupt the practice of his profession. As they did not prove profitable he finally accepted a position with his brother and cousin in the ice-tool business, which was then being conducted under the title of Wm. T. Wood & Co., in the factory at Arlington. This work he followed for several years until failing health in 1904 developed into invalidism which resulted in his death, December 31, 1906. He was an unusually well-read man and was a brilliant conversationalist. He wrote numerous editorials on special subjects for the Boston Transcript. As a musical critic he was keen and exact in his judgment, and wrote for the regular newspaper critics as substitute at times. His taste for music developed while he was a young man, and he sang tenor in quartet choirs in various churches. He had filled this position in the First Baptist Church of Arlington at the time he relinquished it in 1901, for many years. He was also chorister of the Sunday school of that church for a long period, and was able in this work and in chorus conducting to develop an_ interest among those under him in the highest grade of music. He was long a member of the Cecilia Society of Boston, and served as its librarian for a number of years. He was also secretary of the Committee of Twenty-One for the Town of Arlington, which position he was obliged to give up on account of ill-health. He married, June 27, 1885 at Dorchester, Massachusetts, Amy Louise Blandy, born at Zanesville, Ohio, March 27, 1861, daughter of Henry Blandy, born at Bristol, England, October 26, 1810, and of Amy A. (Douglass) Blandy, born at Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1828. She is an accomplished pianist and music teacher, and has a broad education in French and German. Children: i. Myra De Normandie Wood, born May 12, 1886; i. Marjorie Wood, born October 4, 1887; iii. Grayson Blandy Wood, born August 25, 1889. 4. Annie Wyman Wood, born December 23, 1856, married first, December 31, 1877, George

Tileson Freeman, of Arlington, Massachusetts, born July 5, 1854, son of John Doane Freeman, born at Boston, January 22, 1800, and Elizabeth (Brown) Freeman, born in Livermore, Maine, September, 1815. George T. Freeman was a watchmaker and jeweller, a member of the firm of Harrington & Freeman with Luther T. Harrington, at 59 Court street, Boston. He learned that business of Hiram W. Smith, a well-known watch-maker of Boston, in 1870. Mr. Freeman was a man of unusual popvuiarity and belonged to many organizations, including the First Baptist Church of Arlington, order of Masons, and the Arlington Boat Club, and he was much engaged in athletics and camping excursions when off duty from business. He owned an attractive home at No. 200 Pleasant Street, Arlington, where he died March 16, 1899. Children of George T. and Annie (Wood) Freeman, all born at Arlington: i. Sophia Wood Freeman, born November 3, 1878; married, December 31, 1901, Harold Locke Frost who was born in Belmont, Massachusetts, August 15, 1875, son of Sylvester C. and Alice (Locke) Frost. Harold L. Frost is a graduate of Amherst Agricultural College and formed the firm of H. L. Frost & Co., forresters, who have an extensive business which covers a large area in Eastern Massachusetts. His office and warehouse are located at Arlington, where he lives. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Arlington, and is superintendent of its Sabbath school at this time (1908). Children, born at Arlington: a. George Freeman Frost, bor May 17, 1903; died October 4, 1907. b. Edmund Locke Frost, born March 12, 1908. it. Warren Eugene Freeman, born November 18, 1880; married, September 20, 1905, Clara May Salisbury, born February 21, 1882, at Allston, Massachusetts, daughter of George Franklin and Fonnie (Mosher) Salisbury. Warren E.

Freeman is member of the firm of H. L. Frost & Co., forresters, Arlington, and lives in that town. Child: a. Dorothy Wood Freeman, | born.at Arlington, May 3, 1908. it. Ernest Harrington Freeman, born July 11, 1884; unmarried. He is in the employ of a firm of stockbrokers. Annie Wyman (Wood) Freeman married (second), April 17, 1902, Wendell E. Richardson, born August 30, 1853, at Arlington, Massachusetts. He has been a shoe manufacturer since early manhood, and was member of the firm of Chase, Merritt & Co., until it closed out business. He is a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Arlington, and was its Sunday school superintendent for twenty-five years. He is one of the standing committee of the Arlington Baptist Society (incorporated ), and is one of the trustees of its fund. He has been active in all interests of the church and society, and has filled many other positions. In politics he is a Republican. No children by this marriage. .

(VIII) William Ellis Wood, son of William Thorning Wood (7), was born in West Cambridge, now Arlington, Massachusetts, January 27, 1852. He attended the public and high schools of his native town until 1868, when a pistol shot wound, nearly causing the loss of his right hand, interrupted his college preparatory course. From the age of twelve he spent his spare hours working in his father's tool factory and keeping his father's books. While he played the piano and violin at a very early age under the instruction of his father, (his father bought him a violin when he was eight years old), and of Professor Samuel P. Prentiss, of Arlington, it was not until 1868, upon leaving school, that he studied music to any extent. He then began to take piano lessons of George Henry Howard, of Boston. He also studied piano under James M. Tracy, and harmony and composition under Professor Benjamin F. Baker, of Boston. He took part in numerous entertainments of those days, both in Arlington and in other towns, and was pianist for the rehearsals of the Arlington portion of the great chorus of the Boston Peace Jubilees of 1869 and 1872, under command of P. S. Gilmore, as well as other choruses under leadership of Professor Samuel Payson Prentiss. Some years later, (1879) on the occasion of putting a new organ into the Baptist Church, he studied the organ under Professor S. B. Whitney, organist of the Church of the Advent, Boston, for a period of two and a half years, while pursuing his regular business duties. He was appointed organist of the Arlington

Congregational Church in May, 1808. He had previously played a month at the Bapfist church as substitute. He resigned in October, 187i, to take a similar position in the Arlington Baptist Church, a position that he still holds. Mr. Wood is possessed of an unusual aptitude for church organ work and directership which has caused him to achieve a more than local reputation in this field. He was a member of the Handel and Haydn Society, 1868-1872.

He began to work regularly in the tool factory at the age of seventeen, and after the death of his father, in 1871, entered into partnership with his uncle, Cyrus Wood, to continue the business, retaining the old name of William T. Wood & Company. Cy:us Wood superintended the factory, and the junior partner looked after the correspondence and procuring of new business. New and improved machinery was installed, several additions to the original buildings were made, and the business from that time to the present has grown constantly. In 1883, Cyrus and William E. Wood bought a half interest in the firm of Parker & Gannett, seed merchants at 49 North Market street, Boston. This firm sold the goods made by the Woods in Arlington, and later the firm name became Parker & Wood. Cyrus Wood remained in this business only a year, and William E. Wood bought out Mr. Parker's interest, reorganizing the firm and admitting as partners Edward A. Hatch and Joseph B. Robinson under the firm name of Parker & Wood, as before. In 1890 Mr. Robinson sold his interest to his partners, and in August, 1893, Parker & Wood consolidated with Joseph Breck & Son, an old and successful seed house at 51 North Market street, under the name of Joseph Breck & Son Corporation, and Mr. Wood sold his interests to the new company, who immediately converted the two stores into one. Since then he has devoted his entire attention to the tool factory, and has occupied his leisure time with music. His business has caused him to travel extensively throughout the United States since early manhood, as their system of selling ice tools involves the maintenance of selling agencies, where stocks are carried, covering all sections, even to California. In 1893 Mr. Cyrus Wood was obliged to retire from active work on account of failing health, and his only living son, William B. Wood, who had grown up in the business, took his father's place and became superintendent of the factory, and when his father died in 1896 succeeded him in the firm. In December, 1904, the wooden forge shop was practically destroyed by fire, and a new brick structure fully double the size of the old one was erected to take its place. The firm of William T. Wood & Company was consolidated February 1, 1905, with the firm of Gifford Brothers, of Hudson, New York, forming the present corporation of Gifford- Wood Company. Mr. Wood is the president of the new corporation. The firm of Gifford Brothers was established in 1814, as founders and machinists, and had been making ice elevating machinery for half a century. Both firms had the same customers - the ice dealers of the country - one making the elevating machinery, the other the ice cutting tools, etc., and it has proved, as was expected, economical to join forces. The company now employs at the Arlington shop about one hundred hands, and it has floor space in this plant aggregating over thirty thousand square feet.

Mr. Wood is a member of the Arlington Baptist Church; he has been deacon since 1882; he was twice the superintendent of the Sunday school; is a member of the standing committee, the music committee, and the board of trustees of the Arlington Baptist Society, and has been interested in its finances and other important features since early manhood. From 1873 for many years he was clerk of the society. In politics he is a Republican, and has been delegate to state and other conventions of his party. He was a member of the school committee six years from 1882 to 1888. In 1887 he raised by subscription for the committee on building the soldiers' monument the sum of six thousand dollars. He is a trustee of the Pratt school fund, of the Elbridge Farmer memorial fund for the Robbins Library, and is actively interested in other enterprises. He was a member of the Seedsmen National Association ; belongs to the Massachusetts Ice Dealers' Association and similar organizations in Connecticut, Vermont, New York and Iowa; the Middle States Ice Producers' Association; the Western Ice Manufacturers' Association; the Southwestern Ice Manufacturers' Association and the Southern Ice Exchange. He is a citizen of high character, interested in the welfare and progress of the town, and was active in the temperance movement in the days when Arlington was not as strongly in the no-license column as it now is.

He married, May 7, 1874, Susan Tileston Freeman, born at North Bridgton, Maine, January 23, 1851, daughter of John Doane and Elizabeth (Brown) Freeman. John Doane Freeman was born January 22, 1800, and died March 16, 1893; he was a printer in Boston since 1821, and was prominent in Arlington town affairs since 1854, being on the school committee many years and chairman at one time. Children: 1. Elizabeth Freeman Wood, born February 13, 1875; died July 29, 1875. 2. John Freeman Wood, (twin) born June 3, 1876; married, December 26, 1906, Emma Louise Jacobus, born at Matawan, New Jersey, June 16, 1877, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Snow) Jacobus, of Springfield, Massachusetts. J. Freeman Wood is a graduate of Harvard University, class of 1898, and is president of the Plymouth Press Company of Springfield, Massachusetts. Child: i. Carleton Ensworth Wood, born at Springfield, February 29, 1908. 3. William Thorning Wood, (twin) born June 3, 1876; unmarried; graduate of Cambridge Manual Training School; is now (1908) manager of Chicago branch of Gifford-Wood Company at Chicago. 4. Ellis Gray Wood, born September 24, 1877; married August 29, 1905, Margaret Phillips True, born at Waterville, New York, May 19, 1882, daughter of Dr. Richard S. True and Thankful (Jackson) True. Ellis G. Wood studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is now assistant superintendent of Gifford-Wood Co.'s works at Arlington, Massachusetts. Margaret (True) Wood died June 26, 1906. Child: i. Margaret True Wood, born June 4, 1906, at Marblehead, Massachusetts. 5. Harold Blake Wood, born March 14, 1879; married November 5, 1902, Annabel Parker, born at Arlington, September 7, 1878, daughter of Charles S. Parker, editor of Arlington Advocate, and Cornelia Frances (Swaney) Parker, of Arlington. Harold B. Wood finished four years' course at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1901; iS now superintendent of mechanical engineers at Gifford-Wood Co.'s office and works at Hudson, New York. Child: i. William Parker Wood, born at Arlington, Massachusetts, January 22, 1905. 6. Helen Crosby Wood, (twin) born April 12, 1881, now living at Colorado Springs, Colorado. 7. Annie Wyman Wood, (twin) born April 12, 1881; married, January 19, 1907, James Nowell, of Winchester, born August 1, 1876, who graduated at Harvard University, class of 1899, son of Joseph S. and Mary D. (Allen) Nowell, of Winchester. James Nowell is with Lee, Higginson & Co., bankers, Boston. 8. Susan Freeman, born November 9, 1882; died November 14, 1882. 9. Oliver Wiswall Wood, born July 24, 1892.

farm, acquiring the usual education of a farmer's son at that period, attending school until the age of nine years, when he was put out to work, gaining some education during the winter months. In 1845 he came to Arlington, then West Cambridge, where he learned the trade of blacksmith of his brother, William T. Wood, who had just bought out the business, and who was continuing the manufacture of farmers' forks and ice tools in the old blacksmith shop of Abner P. Wyman near the present ice tool factory. He there followed his trade, boarding at the home of Mr. Wyman. When the gold fever awakened the country, Cyrus decided to seek his fortune in the new country of riches, and in October, 1849, started on a voyage around the Horn, arriving in San Francisco after a voyage of one hundred and fifty-six days. He engaged in placer mining for a few months, but soon found that by working at his trade there was a surer profit, - tradesmen in those days receiving large wages. A large portion of his work was the making of iron shutters used in building in San Francisco and Marysville, engine work, mining and blacksmithing. In 1853 he returned east for a visit, going and returning by way of the Isthmus. In the winter of 1857, on his return home, he resumed work with his brother, William T., and soon a partnership was formed for the manufacture of ice tools and forks. His experience with the blacksmith trade while in California was great, and his brother soon saw in him a valuable associate, which fact resulted in the brothers, joining in business. In 1858 they purchased the shop property and additional land of Mary Wyman, mother of Abner P. Wyman, and built a double dwelling house, 362-364 Massachusetts Avenue, now owned by William E. Wood, each occupying it, and also replaced the old blacksmith shop with a new factory, farther removed from the street, and back of the dwelling house. (This new factory was burned December 29, 1865). The partnership continued up to 1860, when Cyrus, wishing to get out-doors, sold his interests to his brother William and purchased a twelve acre farm in Arlington, known as the old Pratt place, corner of Medford and Warren streets. Here he devoted his attention to market gardening, working during the win- ter months at ice tool making for his brother. He was successful in everything he undertook, and his gardening products brought good prices in the Boston market, as produce was not then brought from the South. He continued on the farm up to the death of his brother, William T., in 1871, when he formed a partnership with William E. Wood, July to, 1871, retaining the old firm name of Wm. T. Wood & Company. This connection continued for a quarter of a century, Cyrus Wood taking charge of all the manufacturing, while William E. Wood attended to the office management and traveling.

Mr. Wood early learned to play the violin for home amusement and for many years sang bass in the choir of the Arlington Baptist Church. He was a man of great energy, an indefatigable worker, a man of dignified character and stability, very punctual in all his business transactions. He was one of the most fair-minded of men, and was considered an excellent advisor. He was generous and philanthropic, contributing largely to the cause of right and to church work. He was a deacon of the Arlington Baptist Church, serving on its various committees, also treasurer and collector of the society. He was an ardent and active Republican, but never sought or held public office, preferring to devote his time to his family and business. He was interested in the organization of the Reform Club in 1875, and was one of its most prominent supporters. From 1861 to 1865 he was a member of the old State Guard, which performed guard escort duty at home during the civil war. At the time of his death he was an associate member of the Grand Army Republic, Post 36, of Arlington. He was one of the original stockholders and directors of the Arlington First National Bank.

Cyrus Wood married, August 20, 1857, Harriet Morse Blake, born at Lexington, Massachusetts, January 17, 1837, died at Arlington, Massachusetts, April 5, 1878, daughter of Ellis Gray and Ann Elizabeth (Wyman) Blake, of Lexington. Ellis Gray Blake, born in Boston, March 21, 1796, died June 25, 1841, was a printer by trade, and was engaged in business in Petersburg and in Richmond, Virginia, in his early years, returning to Boston. in 1817 or 1818. He was marine reporter for the Boston Journal in the early 30s. (See sketch).

Children of Cyrus and Harriet Morse (Blake) Wood, all born in Arlington; 1. Mattie Blake, born July 28, 1862, died February 22, 1865. 2. Hattie Frances, born December

27, 1864, married, May 12, 1886, Henry Hornblower, of Arlington, Massachusetts, born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, June 8, 1863, son of Edward T. and Isabel (Whiting) Hornblower, of Arlington. Mr. Hornblower is of the banking firm of Hornblower & Weeks, Boston, New York, and other cities. Children, all born in Arlington: i. Ruth, born April 18, 1887, student at Vassar; ii. Helen, born March 25, 1889, student at Vassar; iii. Ralph, born February 26, 1891, student at Harvard University. 3. Cyrus, Jr., born June 26, 1867, died March 14, 1875. 4. William Blake, born July 15, 1869, mentioned below. 5. Charles Adams, born August 24, 1871, died February 1, 1875.

(VIII) William Blake Wood, son of Cyrus Wood (7), was born at Arlington, Massachusetts, July 15, 1869. He received his education in the Arlington public schools, graduating from the Cotting high school at seventeen years of age. During the summer vacations he worked under the tuition of his father in the mechanical department of the ice tool manufacture. After his graduation from the high school he entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston, where he took a course of mechanical engineering of one year, at the expiration of which time, owing to his father's impaired health, he left his studies and entered the machine department of his father's factory, (Wm. T. Wood & Co.), serving for a time in the forge shop. At the expiration of three years his father's health was broken, and he took the position of manager of the mechanical department of the plant, having previously been given one half of his father's interest in the business, and he continued as such until his father's death, July 21, 1896, when he became associate partner with his father's partner, William FE. Wood, under the old firm name of Wm. T. Wood & Co. The partnership of the two cousins continued until February I, 1905, when the business was merged into the Gifford Wood Company, manufacturers of ice elevating machinery and ice tools, with William E. Wood, president; Malcom Gifford, vice-president ; Arthur Gifford, secretary and treasurer ; William B. Wood, general superintendent, - a corporation under New York laws - , the Wood cousins retaining their homes at Arlington, and the Gifford brothers continuing in charge of the foundry and machine shop at Hudson, N. Y., with the general office at that place.

and his wife are members of the Arlington First Baptist Church, he having joined at an early age; he has served the society as treasurer and collector, and at the present time is serving as auditor. He is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Republican Club of Boston; Arlington Boat Club; Massachusetts Ice Dealers' Association and similar organizations in Connecticut, Vermont, New York and Iowa; the Middle States Ice Producers' Association; Western Ice Manufacturers' Association, and the Southern Ice Exchange. He is a director of the Gifford Wood Company.

William B. Wood married, December 3, 1891, Lillie Wright Knowles, born October 24, 1869, died at Arlington, Massachusetts, March 22, 1893, daughter of Alfred H. and Sarah (Mayo) Knowles. Alfred Knowles is a plumber and steam fitter, a civil war veteran, having been a member of Company F, Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.

Children of William B. and Lillie W. (Knowles) Wood, all born in Arlington: 1. Philip, born March 2, 1893. Mr. Wood married (second), December 12, 1894, Mabel Florence Adams of Arlington, born at Nashua, New Hampshire, March 7, 1873, daughter of Prescott Augustus and Adeline Phebe (Hills) Adams. Prescott A. Adams was formerly a railroad man. Children 2. Rosamond, born February 9, 1896. 3. Winthrop Adams, October 24, 1897. 4. Elizabeth, December 15, 1902.

the results of his search were published in 1881, by W. H. Whitmore, Esq., under the title "A Record of the Blakes of Somersetshire, England, especially in the line of William Blake, of Dorchester, Mass., &c." Mr. Somerby endeavored to show an unbroken line running back to the year 1347, locating the family first in Wiltshire, and subsequently at Over Stowey in Somersetshire, and gave many interesting items about the various families. While perhaps a large portion of these statements may be correct, all need to be verified before being fully accepted by us; as to true pedigree, those who are especially interested in these problems are referred to the "Genealogy of the Blake family,' under the title, "Increase Blake, his Ancestors and Descendants," and also to an article published by

Francis E. Blake, in the "New England Historical and Genealogical Register" for January, 1891. For the benefit of those who cannot consult the publications mentioned before, we give a few items relating to the Over Stowey branches of this ancient family.

Humphrey Blake, in the early part of the sixteenth century, is found in Somersetshire. He became lord of the manor of Plainfield, in the parish of Over Stowey. The manor house was standing until recent years, a portion of it evidently as originally built. Humphrey Blake died in 1558. By his wife Agnes he had seven children. The second son Robert was grandfather of the renowned Admiral Blake; the eldest son John Blake, born 1521, succeeded to the manor of Plainfield. His wife was Jane and they had seven children.

William Blake, eldest son of John, by the will of his father, was bequeathed lands in Over Stowey, Bishops Lydiard, and elsewhere. No subsequent trace of him is found upon the parish registers, and he is the mwa who is supposed to have settled in Pitminster, England. The foregoing references were secured by the late Rev. Charles M. Blake, A. S. A., and to him is due the credit for what information has been disclosed concerning the early ancestry of this family.

(1) William Blake, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, son of William Blake. of Pitminster, county Somerset, England, baptized there July to, 1594, died at Dorchester, Massachusetts, October 25, 1663. Married, at Pitminster, September 23, 1617, Mrs. Agnes Band, who died at Dorchester, Massachusetts, July 22, 1678. The maiden name of his wife is not certainly known, and there is no authority for the statement that he came to this country in 1630 in the ship "Mary and John." It is believed that he came to New England in the fall of 1635 or early in 1636, and renaained at Dorchester or Roxbury while the plan of settlement of the country about the Connecticut river was being considered. Whether he went to Springfield in 1636 is not settled, but it is sure that he soon returned if he went to Springfield to Dorchester, where he spent the remaining days of his life, as one of its prominent and leading citizens. In 1656 he was elected to the important office of town clerk, and at the same time was chosen clerk of the writs for the county of Suffolk. His greatgrandson recorded in his "Annals of Dorchester" under date of 1663 the quaint entry regarding his great-grandfather: 'This year Died Mr. William Blake who had been Clerk of ye Writs for ye County of Suffolk, and

Recorder for ye Town near eight years. He was also Clerk of ye Training band. He died ye 25th of ye &th mo. 1663, in ye 69th Year of his Age." He made a gift to the town for the repairing of the burying ground, as a bequest in his will provided the work should be done within a year after his decease. His will was dated September 3, 1661, and probated January 28, 1664. Children: 1. John, baptized at Pitminster, England, August 30, 1618, died at Boston, Massachusetts, January 25, 1088-89; married, August 16, 1654, Mrs. Mary (Souther) Shaw, who died January 7, 1693-94. 2. Anne, baptized at Pitminster, England, August 30, 1618, married (first) Jacob Leager, of Boston, Massachusetts, who died February 24, 1662-63; married (second) Hallowell; she died July 12, 1681. 3. William, baptized at Pitminster, England, September 6, 1620, died at Milton, Massachusetts, September 3, 1703; married (first) Anna ; married (second), November 22, 1693, Mrs. Hannah (Tolman) Lyon, who died at Dorchester, Massachusetts, August 4, 1729. 4. James, see forward. 5. Edward, died at Milton, Massachusetts, September 3, 1692; married Patience Poke, who died August 11, 1690.

(11) James Blake, son of William Blake (1), baptized at Pitminster, county Somerset, England, April 27, 1624, died June 28, 1700. Married (first), about 1651, Elizabeth Clapp, who died at Dorchester, Massachusetts, January 16, 1693-94, in the sixty-first year of her age, daughter of Deacon Edward and Prudence (Clap) Clapp, of Dorchester, Massachusetts. Married (second), at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, September 17, 1695, Elizabeth (Smith) Hunt, widow of Peter Hunt, and daughter of Henry and Judith Smith. He lived in the north part of Dorchester in a house so good that in 1669 the town voted to build one for its minister like it. This house was retained in his family until 1825, and subsequently remained for many years in the possession of some one else. When ordered removed in 1895 by the city the Dorchester Historical Society acquired possession of it and fitted it up for its uses. Its present location is Richardson Park; pictures of this house are plenty in the local histories of this section. Mr. Blake was a busy man; for thirteen years served as selectman, constable, deputy, recorder, sergeant, deacon, ruling elder for many years, besides numerous other offices. He was an excellent penman, and his judgment and capacity were greatly respected by his neighbors. An account of his life has been prero81 served in which are memoranda now of great value relating to his family and townsmen, and a variety of items of interest to the present generations, but much of it being written in cipher is difficult of translation. Children: I. James, see forward. 2. John, born March 16, 1656-57, died March 2, 1718; married Hannah , who married (second), January 14, 1719-20, Hopestill Humphrey, died May 10, 1729. 3. Elizabeth, born October 3, 1658, died June 5, 1700; married Jeremiah Fuller. 4. Jonathan, born July 12, 1660, died November 10, 1660. 5. Sarah, born February 28, 1665, died May 22, 1666. 6. Joseph, born August 27, 1667, died February 1, 1738-39; married Mehitable Bird, who died April 15, 1751. (IIT) James Blake, son of James Blake (2), born at Dorchester, Massachusetts, August 15, 1652, died October 22, 1732, aged eighty years. Married (first), February 6, 1681, Hannah Macey, who died June 1, 1683, aged twentythree years, daughter of George and Hannah Macey, of Taunton, Massachusetts. Married (second), July 8, 1684, Ruth Bachellor, born at Hampton, New Hampshire, May 9, 1662, died at Dorchester, January I1, 1752, aged ninety years, daughter of Nathaniel and Deborah (Smith) Bachellor. His house was the second house built, about the year 1681, on the peninsula now known as South Boston. It was very near the southeast corner of Broadway and P street. It was followed by a new one about 1721, which was almost entirely destroyed by the British troops in a raid on February 13, 1776. Soon after the Revolution another house was built near this spot and remained until 1835, when the larger house now standing on the spot was erected. This estate remained in the possession of the Blake family umtil 1866. Mr. Blake's attention was given to farming, and he was occasionally elected to some office. His property was divided between his two sons. His funeral, from a bill of expense, was an unusual affair. His epitaph at Dorchester after giving his name and age states: "He was a member in full communion with ye Church of Christ in Dorchester above 55 years, and a Deacon of ye same Church above 23 years." Children, all by second wife, were: 1. Hannah, born September 16, 1685, died October 2, 1686. 2. James, born April 29, 1688, died December 4, 1750; married Wait Simpson, who died May 22, 1753. 3. Increase, born June 8, 1699, see forward,

8, 1699, died Married, at Boston, Massachusetts, July 23, 1724, Ante Gray, born at Boston, March 16, 1704-05, died at Boston, June 20, 1751, daughter of Edward and Susanna (Harrison) Gray, the former of whom was a celebrated rope maker in Boston, and accumulated a large property. Anne Gray was a sister of Harrison Gray, treasurer of the Province. The Rev. Ellis Gray, pastor 'of the Second Church in Boston, was another brother, and for this reason the names of Ellis and Harrison Gray have been retained among the descendants in this group of the Blake family to the present time. Mr. Blake was a tin slate worker, a business which seems to be general in his family. He was not much in public life. In 1740 he was an innholder on Merchants Row, and for a series of years held the office of sealer of weights and measures. He leased of the town of Boston one of the shops at the town dock, in 1737, and also again in 1744. His house in the neighborhood of Milk and Batterymarch streets was destroyed cester, August 23, 1778, Jane Cook. 15. Mary, born August 17, ae married, at Boston, March 1, 1770, Simon Whipple. 16. Sarah, born August 18, 1746, married Josiah Bachelder, of Chelsea, Massachusetts.

(V) Benjamin Blake, son of Increase Blake (4), born at Boston, Massachusetts, May 9, 1739, died October 12, 1809. Married, at Boston, August 17, 1763, Elizabeth Harris, who died September 17, 1813, aged seventyseven years. Benjamin Blake resided at Boston. Children: 1. Ann, born April 12, 1764, died October 17, 1839; married, September 30, 1787, Edward Oliver, of Boston, who died pee 24, 1830. 2. Increase, born July 3,

1765, died in Boston, July to, 1807 ; married Mars Jenkins, of Bristol, England, who died in Boston, January 4, 1808. 3. Elizabeth, born July 3, 1765, died October 3, 1765. 4. Elizabeth, born July 10, 1766, died March, 1801; married, August 6, 1789, Captain William Williams, who died at Calcutta, 1808. 5. Ellis Gray, born May 10, 1768, died at Petersburg, Virginia, January 26, 1816; married Mary Taylor, who died June 3, 1811, daughter of Colonel Henry Taylor, of Southampton tounty, Virginia. 6. Nathaniel, born April 2, 1770, see forward. 7. Ebenezer, born June 924, 1772, died February.2; 1773.) 8. benezer, born October 23, 1773, died August, 1776.

(VI) Nathaniel Blake, son of Benjamin Blake (5), born at Boston, Massachusetts, April 2, 1770, died there June 27, 1803, aged thirty-three years. Married, February 25, 1794, Lucy Parker, born 1772, died in Boston, November 3, 1806, aged thirty-four years, daughter of Nathan and Sally Parker, of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Nathaniel Blake was a sailmaker and lived at Liberty square, Boston. Children: 1. Nathaniel, born January 9, 1795, died at Watertown, Massachusetts, March 9, 1869; married, December 8, 1822, Bridget Shelton, who died at Boston, July 4, 1830. 2. Ellis Gray, born March 21, 1796, see forward. 3. Joseph, born April 4, 1797. 4. Sophia M., born June 30, 1798, died 1803. 5. John Adams, born September 15, 1800, died 1803. 6. Ann Maria, born March 17, 1803, died 1803.

(VII) Ellis Gray Blake, son of Nathaniel and Lucy (Parker) Blake, born March 21, 1796, in Boston; married first, in Boston, May 31, 1818, Sarah Blake Wiswall, daughter of Oliver and Hannah (Blake) Wiswall, born June, 1802, died in Boston, April 16, 1821, aged eighteen years ten months; married second, in "Boston, November 15, 1821, Ann E. Wyman, daughter of Samuel and Mary P Wyman, born November 9, 1804, in Cam- bridge, died June 26, 1881, in Arlington. Ellis G, Blake died in West Cambridge (Arlington) June 25, 1841. Mr. Blake as a boy went to Jonathan Snelling's school, in Boston, according to his own account, written perhaps in 1809: "the last of my writing in Boston previous to my departure from hence for Petersburg in Virginia, where I had only one quarter more schooling, and that at the expense of my uncle; and after whom I was named." After learning his trade as a printer in Petersburg, Virginia, he removed to Richmond, in 1815, and worked in the office of the Richmond Daily Compiler and in the office of the Virginia Argus. Later he was in business there with a partner, and they lost everything in the great Richmond fire. Mr. Blake was a printer in Boston for the greater part of his life (being on Poplar street in 1825), and was also for many years marine reporter for the Boston Mercantile Journal, afterwards Boston Journal during the period when it was conducted by- Captain Sleeper. He was a member of the Howard Benevolent Society, and his certificate of membership, issued 1818, is preserved. He was also a member of the "Winslow Blues," a military company of Boston. He was also connected with the Boston City Guards, and served so long and so faithfully that in 1828 they presented him with a silver cup, which is now in possession of his grandson, Ellis G. Blake, at Lake Helen, Florida. The musket, with which he trained in the Boston City Guards, is in possession of his son, Captain Stephen P. Blake, at Biscayne, Florida. The musket is of French manufacture, inscribed on the lock "Manufacture De Charlotteville,' and is one which was brought over with the French fleet that came to help the American colonists during the revolutionary war. He was a member of the Boston Fire Department, and was hoseman with Engine No. 9. He was clerk of the fire department for many years, and the records are still preserved at the Boston city clerk's office. His home was in West Cambridge antil 1835, in the old Wyman house now standing on Massachusetts avenue, No. 334. In 1835 he moved to Lexington in order to give his children the benefit of instruction in the Lexington Academy: The academy closed in the fall of 1837, and in the spring of 1838 he moved back to West Cambridge, where he 'lived in a house, now gone, which stood where Palmer street now joins Massachusetts avenue, and in which house he died.

rapid walker, and frequently would walk from the boston office to his home in one hour. There was no omnibus line at that time. Even when living in Lexington he would walk from Boston to that place once or twice every week after his work was done, and that would usually be at a late hour.

Mr. John D. Freeman, born in Boston, January 22, 1800, and who died in Arlington, March 16, 1893, was a printer by trade and worked on the New England Palladium, the Boston Journal, and other papers. He knew Mr. Blake, and he frequently told his daughter Susan and her husband, William E. Wood, of Mr. Blake's remarkable agility in getting the latest ship news to the Portland stage by running after it long after it had left its starting-point in Boston. He also testified to his cheerfulness of disposition, his tendency to be humorous, and to his excellent conversational powers. Nathan Robbins of West Cambridge, born September 7, 1803, died September 5, 1888, and who was president of Faneuil Hall National Bank of Boston for a long period of years the latter part of his life, was then in business in Boston, and said that Mir. Blake was the best informed man on all topics he had ever met. He was singularly unselfish and was greatly beloved by his acquaintances, always forward in doing acts of kindness and accommodation. He was a member of the Baptist church, and exerted a strong religious influence. His beautiful handwriting was an indication of his general neatness and sense of order. His tendency to work to the limit of endurance caused his last illness, typhoid fever, to get too great a hold on his constitution, and after a sickness of five days he died at the age of forty-five years. Child by first marriage: i. Oliver Wiswall, born September 25, 1819, at Boston; married August 17, 1842, Sarah J. Warren. Children by second marriage, all born in West Cambridge, except Harriet: ii. Stephen Palmer, born July 30, 1882; married, October 29, 1856, Abby T. Wood. iii. Mary Ann, born January 7, 1825: married, October, 1848, Henry Hart, of Boston, who died January 31, 1856. She died November, 1849. No children. _ iv. Sophia Matilda, born September 7. 1827 ; married, October 17, 1850, William T. Wood. v. Ebenezer Nelson, born February 9, 1831; married September 15, 1858, Annie E. Whitten. vi. Martha Russell, born August 18, 1833; married, October 28, 1855, George E. Richardson. vii. Harriet Morse, born January 17, 1837, at Lexington; married, August 20, 1857, Cyrus Wood. viii. Sarah Prescott, born

November 9, 1839; married 1863, John S. Crosby. (VIIL) Stephen Palmer Blake, first son of Ellis Gray Blake, who was born March 21, 1796, and Ann (Wyman) Blake, who was born November 9, 1804, was born July 30, 1822, at West Cambridge, Massachusetts. His early education was obtained in West Cambridge schools. In 1835 his father moved to Lexington in order to give his children the benefit of study at the Lexington Academy where Stephen attended with his older halfbrother, Oliver, and the three next youngest children. This academy closed in the fall of 1837 and they attended the North district school that winter. In the spring of 1838 the family returned to West Cambridge. Through acquaintance with Captain John F. Bowers, who attended the Baptist church in Lexington with the Blake family, Stephen was allowed in 1838 to sail with him as cabin-boy, and a seafaring life began which continued till June, 1871. The first voyage in the brig "Mars," from Boston, July 18, 1838, via Richmond, Virginia, to Antwerp, Liverpool, thence to Mobile and to New York, occupied eleven months. The second mate on this voyage, Samuel Sparks, is mentioned in Richard H. Dana's widely-read book "Two Years Before the Mast." Stephen's ardor for the sea was not dampened by the experiences of this first long voyage, for it was followed by three more with Captain Bowers, who died at sea on the fourth of these voyages. Faithful and prompt attention to duty as it presented itself from day to day, and a close observance of the excellent principles taught by his family and by Captain Bowers, who was a God-fearing man and one who never failed to observe Sunday worship on board ship, caused Stephen to rapidly advance in his career. A letter which his father wrote late in the night before the day he sailed on his first voyage has been carried by him from that day to this. From ordinary seaman to second mate and first mate, progress was rapid, for he had no inclination to be content with the average sailor's life. Navigation was carefully studied under the guidance of friendly officers. It was with the instruments of Captain Reuben Hopkins, of West Cambridge, that he learned to take observations of the sun. Captain Gorham P. Low of Gloucester, Massachusetts, of the "Moscow," on a voyage to Sumatra instructed him how to "work out time" at sea. In January, 1849, as mate of the brig "Pauline," a small vessel of 149 tons, Captain Leonard French, master, a perilous and long voyage was taken via Cape Horn to San Francisco. The vessel was much too deeply loaded, in the desire of the owners to get profitable returns from a good-sized cargo on arrival at the land of gold, and it was almost miraculous that the voyage was made in safety, So many narrow escapes from foundering were experienced. The voyage was 204 days in length, to San Diego, California, and © the boisterous weather drove the small craft many hundreds of miles out of her course. Upon his arrival at San Francisco in the summer of 1849, the gold fever and the love of adventure caused him to take a vacation from sea life, and he spent the next six years in California, largely in Sutter county, taking a voyage, however, to the Sandwich Islands, December, 1852, in the brig "Zoe," returning in March, 1853. He was visited in California, among others, by his brother Nelson, by Cyrus Wood, who afterward married his sister Harriet, and by Frank Seth Frost of West Cambridge. He became well acquainted with General John Bidwell of Chico, and named his second son after him. Among other exciting occupations, that of capturing live grizzly bears for menagerie purposes was one of the most interesting, and he secured some uncommonly fine specimens which were sold at good figures. The sea was his chosen life, however, and he returned to New York in 1855 in the clipper ship 'Witchcraft,' Captain Freeman. He soon advanced to be master of vessels, making his first voyage as captain in the bark "Vernon" from Boston to Trieste, thirty-two days, which was owned by Horatio Harris & Co., of Boston. Among other shipowners for whom he sailed were Thomas Curtis, Isaiah Goddard, Daniel Draper, and Alpheus Hardy. The latter controlled the bark "Volunteer" by charter, and Captain Blake made eighteen trips across the Atlantic in her, in the fruit traffic and one voyage to New Orleans. His wife with his sons Ellis and Bidwell accompanied him on four of these Mediterranean voyages, and the New Orleans one.

Captain Blake was a stern disciplinarian at sea, and required the same prompt obedience from his men that he had practiced himself. His voyages caused him to double Cape Horn twice, Cape Good Hope twice, and to sail hundreds of thousands of miles in vessels of all sizes up to a steamer of 3,000 tons. He was master of one steamer 'Andalusia,' owned by Leary Brothers, New York, of 2,200 tons. His narrowest escape from being wrecked was when coming into Boston Harbor in the brig "Montezuma," Captain Ben True, of New- buryport, from Matanzas, Cuba, February 5, 1843: "Northeast snow storm. We passed inside of the rock (Egg Rock) on which Minot's light house now stands. Cohasset light was in sight, and depth seventeen fathoms, perhaps one and one-half miles off shore, when the vessel passed inside of Minot's Ledge, between the large rock on which the light-house now stands, and the line of rocks off the Cohasset shore." A full account of all his-sea experiences. would make an interesting book.

During the Civil War he was in the government transport service for nearly the full period of the great struggle. After the Chicago fire of 1871 he permanently gave up the sea, and for seventeen years was occupied in the business of the Dake bakery, of which his brother Nelson was one of the owners. During this period his home was in Lombard, IIlinois, where he was prominent in the management of the affairs of the town, being for some years one of the town council. In 1888 he removed to Lake Helen, Florida, with his wife, his son Ellis, wife and child, and his daughter Elizabeth, leaving his son Bidwell in Chicago, who was employed in electrical work. There he engaged with his son in orange-growing, in which his brother Nelson, then of Chicago, and later of Arlington, was also interested for a number of years. Since the marriage of his daughter Elizabeth to Mr. Albert B. Hurst, he has made his hime with them, and at the present time (1908) is living at Biscayne, Florida, where Mr. Hurst has recently gone into business. Captain Blake joined the Baptist church in 1859. He was baptized by Rev. Samuel B. Swain, D.D., in Spy Pond at the foot of what is now Linwood street. He has been deacon in the Baptist church at Lake Helen, Florida, for many years. Captain Blake has always been a great reader of good books, is an excellent Bible student, and is a man of positive convictions.

In personal appearance he is of medium stature, sinewy in build, long of stride, and his features, like those of his sister Sophia (Blake) Wood, who died February 1, 1905, resembled those of his father, while the other members of the family partook more of the Wyman features of their mother.

He married, October 29, 1856, Abby Thorning Wood, at West Cambridge, Rev. Dr. Swain officiating. She was born at Lexington, December 22, 1834, and died at Lake Helen September 6, 1896. Children: 1. Ellis Gray Blake, born at West Cambridge, August 16, 1857, married, September 25, 1883, Mary Ann Pierce, born at Truxton, New York, Oc- tober 21, 1857, of Harvard, Illinois, daughter of Alpha Stone Pierce, who was born in Truxton, New York, June 4, 1818, and who died in Harvard, Illinois, December 23, 1882, and Diantha Elizabeth (Bliss) Pierce, born at Truxton, New York, June 27, 1822, and died at Harvard, Illinois, October 9, 1899, and who were married at Truxton, New York, January 6, 1846. Child: i. Stephen Pierce Blake, born at Lombard, Illinois, June 14, 1885. Ellis G. Blake is now growing oranges, grape-fruit and peaches at Lake Helen, Florida, having seventy-five acres under cultivation. His son Stephen is a student in Stetson University at DeLand, Florida, and is also a teacher at this time (1908) in the junior department. 2. Stephen P. Blake, Jr., born at West Cambridge, January 15, 1862; died December 10, 1862. 3. John Bidwell Blake, born May 7, 1864; married, May 28, 1891, Martha Wadsworth Claflin of Lombard, Illinois. No children. John Bidwell Blake is now in the employ of Holabird & Roche, architects, Chicago, as electrical engineer. 4. Helen Blake, born at West Cambridge, August 7, 1866, died January 16, 1868. 5. H. Sophia Blake, born at West Cambridge, August 18, 1869; died October 25, 1869. 6. Elizabeth Adams Blake, born November 12, 1871; married July II, 1896, at Lake Helen, Florida, Albert Baxter Hurst, who was born at Brownhelm, Ohio, March 4, 1871. Children, all born at Lake Helen, Florida: i. Helen Hurst, born January 13, 1897; ii. John Blake Hurst, born July 6, 1899; iii. May Elizabeth Hurst, born July 11,

(VIII) Ebenezer Nelson Blake, son of Ellis Gray Blake (7), was born at West Cambridge, now Arlington, February 9, 1831. His father having died in 1841, he went to work in 1843 on the farm of Albert Winn in West Cambridge. He attended school in winter

Brown, procured for him the appointment of teacher of the school in the Wyman district of the town, where he taught for that winter term. In September, 1850, he started for California, via Isthmus of Panama, never having been twenty miles from home before. He went out on the steamer that carried the news of the admission of the state and the national union. His brother, Stephen P. Blake, and Cyrus Wood had preceded him to California. While in California he made the acquaintance and intimate friendship of General John Bidwell, which relation continued until the death of General Bidwell. In the spring of 1853 . he returned to West Cambridge, in the keep- ing of a promise he had made to his mother and sisters when he left home, although General Bidwell had then offered to give him one thousand acres of land on Chico creek in Sacramento valley if he would remain with him. On his return home he took up his old place of marketman for his uncles Wyman, remaining with them until the summer of 1856, when he went into the flour commission store of Harvey Scudder & Company, Boston, as porter. Within one year of service with them he went into the flour business for himself with Harvey Scudder & Company as. silent partners, under the firm name of E. N. Blake & Company. In January, 1858, this relation was dissolved by him, and with Kilby Page, Jr., of Boston, a new firm was formed under the same title, but later changed to Blake & Page, which continued for twenty years. In 1869 he went to Chicago and bought out a biscuit and cracker business, and he and Mr. Page were partners in business in both places.

The firm in Chicago, of which Mr. Blake was the head, conducted business for twentyone years, when in 1890 he sold out and removed to Arlington, Massachusetts, to reside. The business was interrupted by the Chicago fire of October, 1871, the firm losing nearly one hundred thousand dollars, but within ten days were rebuilding, commencing anew in January, 1872. Messrs. Blake and Page associated with them in the cracker and baking business in Chicago, S. B. Walker and F. M. Herdman, under the firm name of Blake, Herdman & Company. Subsequently Mr. Herdman sold his interest to his partners, who took into the firm W. W. Shaw, and the firm name was changed to Blake, Walker & Company, and later was changed to that of Blake, Shaw & Company.

While in Chicago Mr. Blake became identified with the educational work of the Baptist Theological Seminary and the Chicago University, serving on both trustee boards. When the university. was reorganized he was elected president of the board, in which capacity he remained until after his removal to Arlington. In 1872 he became a member of the Board of Trade of Chicago, served three years on its board of directors, and then was elected president, serving for two terms, including the time of completing and dedicating their magnificent building. Upon the dedication of the aforementioned building, April 29, 1885, Mr. Blake made the following address upon the presentation of the keys delivered to him by John R. Bensely: "Chairman Bensely: It gives me great pleasure as the representative of this Board of Trade, and personally to meet you here today for this purpose in this beautiful hall, and as the Board of Managers, for whom you speak and act, thus hand over today the result of your labors for the past five years, you may well feel proud of the efforts you have made, and we believe that every stick and stone, every brick and beam, is a true representative of an honest indebtedness. With foundations rooted deep in the. solid earth, quarried and chiseled from the everlasting rocks, bound and girded with bands of iron and_ steel shaped, beautified, and adorned by man's most skillful fingers, it stands today a noble, elegant monument of business enterprise, and proudly we ask, what other associated body could have gathered, closely nestling to its side, such towering piles of magnificent blocks as here surround us? Not broader and more massive are its walls, not more elevated its tower, not firmer and deeper its foundation, than should be the height and length and breadth and depth and stability of the business principles that actuate this membership; and I do not hesitate to say that less litigation in proportion to the magnitude and the immensity of the transactions, take place. among our members than among other people in any department of business in any place on earth, for no man of questionable business or immoral character can become a member of this body. It would be surprising when one thousand nine hundred and thirty-five selfish human beings meet in the hot strife for gain if there were not a few attempts at fraud, or extortion, or 'that maketh a lie,' but I can assure you, sir, that with this noble company of honorable men to sustain your affairs, the attempts will be futile. The mass of the people give right decision and come to right conclusions, and the growth of this board from infancy to now shows its hold on the business convictions of the world. It is not responsible for the abuses of its system that have grown up all over the land any more than pure and undefiled religion is responsible for hypocrisy. Its prosperity is based upon a sure foundation of right and justice, its present position has grown out of its past life, its future is being made today, and its today is the foundation of its perpetuity. Permit me, sir, and you, gentlemen of the board, all, to congratulate you that for the first time in our history we are at home, under our own roof tree, a wanderer and tenant no more; and we welcome to this, our house warming, our brethren from all over the land, members of kindred organizations, our elder and our younger brothers; and gentlemen from the Gulf, and from the Great Lakes, from the Atlantic and from the Pacific, we pledge you our best endeavors, and we crave yours, in a united effort to suppress all unlawful use of the quotations sent abroad from that telegraph booth. Soon this hall will resound with the strife of buyer and seller, for ever since Joseph stored the abundance of Egypt's years of plenty, to enrich Pharaoh's treasury from the people's wants during years of famine, men have endeavored to forecast the future, and buy or sell as they were moved by their hopes or fears. And now, sir, in behalf of these, my fellow members, I accept this trust, with all its privileges, its duties and responsibilities. Magnificent hall! Splendid temple! Beautiful home! May peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy gates."

Mr. Blake was prominently named by the Chicago Tribune and some of the best citizens as the one man for mayor of the city, also as the congressman from Illinois Fifth District, which office he peremptorily declined to consider. He was elected for the fourth time president of the Western Cracker Bakers' Association at its annual meeting, held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Chicago, February 4, 1885. This is an association numbering one hundred and ten members, and comprises the principal manufacturers in twenty-three states and territories from Colorado to Pennsylvania. Mr. Blake has served them in the present capacity from its organization, and at the last election only reluctantly accepted the position, after having been three times unanimously chosen to fill the office and peremptorily declining twice. At the convention in 1882, which was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, his fellow members signified their appreciation of his character and abilities by presenting him with a Jules Jurgenson gold watch, with chain and seal. Mr. Blake was also a member of the Citizen's Association, and chairman of the executive committee of the American Baptist Education Society which was incorporated in New York to aid denominational schools, and which has distributed more than a million dollars in the entire nation.

While in Chicago Mr. Blake was actively engaged in all the work of the Second Baptist Church, filling many important positions. His contributions to different objects pertaining to university, seminary and church matters, were over one hundred thousand dollars while in Chicago. He served as vice-president and then as president of the American Baptist Home Missionary Society for four years. He was the first president of the Chicago Baptist Social Union, continuing for a number of terms. He also served on the executive committee of the Baptist Missionary Union. He was one of the five incorporators named in the charter of the Columbus Exposition in Chicago in 1892-93. After his return to Arlington, Massachusetts, he served for a number of years as president of the Massachusetts Baptist Convention. He made a public profession of religion when nineteen years of age, and united with a Baptist church. In his christian life he has been prompt and energetic, ready for any service of sacrifice to promote the cause he loves so well, in maintaining the social meetings of a church in Sunday school and mission school service, and as a Bible class teacher has few equals or superiors. He has been especially useful in helping to form the christian character of young men who have come under his influence. While yet a young man he formed distinct opinions of his own obligations for the use of his wordly substance as the Lord prospered him, but unlike many he did not forget them as business increased, but contributed liberally to all good causes. He was also for a number of years a member of the board of trustees of the Robbins Library, Arlington. He was instrumental in organizing the First National Bank of Arlington, and was elected its first president, which position he still holds. He has been active in work of the Grand Army of the Republic in Arlington, and was largely instrumental in the building of their hall and home. He has also been treated with honorable consideration by his fellow citizens in many minor positions in every place where he has resided, including East Boston from 1863 to 1869. With only school privileges of very limited scope he has attained his various positions in church, business and political relations by rigid and faithful application, and by careful study and reading, principally the Bible which has been a life work with him, as all of his addresses or papers show many quotations from the Sacred Word.

Mr. Blake married (first), at West Cambridge, September 15, 1858, Annie Elizabeth Whitten, born December 29, 1839, died July 17, 1902, daughter of Joseph W. and Mary E. Whitten. Children: 1. Mabel Ellsworth, born at West Cambridge, November 12, 1860, married at Chicago, Illinois, March 4, 1880, Herman H. Kohlsaat, of Chicago; children: i. Pauline Blake, born at Chicago, June 10, 1882; ii. Katherine, born at Chicago, September 29, 1889. 2. Laura Elizabeth, born at Chicago, October 24, 1871, died there, November 4, 1871. 3. Ebenezer Nelson, born at Chicago, August 30, 1875, died at Arlington, August 16, 1893. He married (second), February 9, 1905, Lucie A. Tucker, of Chelsea, Massachusetts, born November 5, 1866, daughter of Bevis and Sarah Ellen (Wharrie) Tucker. Bevis Tucker, son of John and Mary Tucker, was born at Biddeford, Wales, February 19, 1832. He came to America at an early age, became an American citizen and served as a private in Company C, Thirty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers in the Civil war. After his honorable discharge he spent the remaining years of his life in the state of Massachusetts, where he died December..19,) »1898.'" Satahy) Bye GwWharrie) Tucker was born in Otley, Yorkshire, England, December 17, 1835, daughter of William and Mary Wharrie. Their children were: 1. George Bevis, born August 12, 1856, died December 17, 1899. 2. Mary Ellen, born December 19, 1860, died April 29, 1904. 3. Lucie A., born November 5, 1866, mentioned above as"wite of Mr) Blake! .4: IL.cirances;) born November 23, 1871. The faithful wife and mother of the aforementioned children survives her worthy husband and resides with her daughter. /

Mr. Blake on the Wyman side (the maternal) is descended from Lieutenant John Wyman, who came to Woburn, Massachusetts, from Westhill, Herts, England, and is best known as a cavalry officer of considerable note in King Philip's war, 1675-76; from Lieutenant Seth Wyman, of Woburn, who was in active service as an officer in the Indian wars before 1715; and his still more famous son, Captain Seth Wyman, the hero of Lovewell's fight with the Indians at present Fryeburg, Maine, in 1725; and of Hezekiah Wyman, the son of the second Captain Seth Wyman, who was called the "White Horseman" for his remarkable prowess in the Concord and Lexington fight in 1775; and of Hezekiah Wyman, Jr., a Revolutionary soldier, and his wife Abigail Frost. Among Mr. Blake's maternal ancestors there are besides the line of descent from the famous Captain Edward Johnson, of Woburn, the early New England historian; from the Nutts and Ross and the Reeds and the Frosts families very intimately connected with the prominent affairs of this section of early New England.

There is a tradition that the ancestors of the Thorning family were Spanish. Some descendants of the family have the tradition that it originated in Portugal, and that the original name was Korning. In either case the spelling must have been anglicized. The surname, if it exists at all in early English records, is very uncommon. It is also known that some descendants by the name of Thornton can be directly traced to the Thorning ancestors.

(1) Anthony Thorning, immigrant ancestor, was probably from the Barbadoes. He makes deposition in Boston, May 23, 1674, that he was in the Barbadoes and witnessed the signature to a power of attorney given by Richard Fowell, March 11, 1673, and another by Thomas Morrice to James Day, March 15, 1673-4. The other witness was William Beall. The evidence indicates that he was a mariner, perhaps a merchant. Later he settled in Boston, where two children were born to Anthony and Sarah. Sarah Thorning, perhaps widow of Anthony, married in Boston, November 30, 1710, Alexander Trotter. The records furnish very little of this family. Children, born at Boston: 1. John, mentioned below. 2. Sarah, born June 14, 1700.

(Il) John Thorning, son of Anthony Thorning (1), born in Boston, May 26, 1695, died about 1747. Among his children was John, mentioned below.

(II1)John Thorning, son of John Thorning (2), was born between the years 1726 and 1736. Jonathan Williams was appointed guardian for him in 1747, he being a minor over fourteen years of age. He settled about the time of his marriage in Lincoln, Massachusetts. He married at Boston, November 109, 1755, Sarah Clarke. Children, born at Lincoln: 1. John, born June 7, 1756; died May 29, 1802, at Concord, Massachusetts; was a soldier in the Revolution, a private in Captain William Smith's company, Colonel Abijah Pierce's regiment, April 19, 1775; also in Captain John Hartwell's company, Colonel Dike's regiment, 1776-7; enlisted in Continental army, but on account of sickness never joined his company; married December 10, 1789, Betsey Russell, of Concord; she died at Concord, November 9, 1837, aged eightysix; children, i. Frederick (according to Lexington vital statistics, adopted son), born December 27, 1790. Family tradition states that his parents were John and Sarah Korning, and that he was born at sea, on the voyage from Portugal. (A complete list of the de- scendants of Frederick, which would include Dr. W. Burton Thorning, of Winchendon, Massachusetts, and Miss Inez Thorning, of Andover, Massachusetts, cannot be furnished in the time allotted for this work). Frederick Thorning died suddenly while on a railroad train between Peterborough and Goffstown, New Hampshire, February, 18606. ii. Thomas, born August 14, 1792. iii. Betsey, born June 28, 1795. iv. Martin, born April 10, 1798. v. Sarah. 2. William, mentioned below. 3. Mary, born May 18, 1760. 4. Abigail, born March 7, 1764. 5. Sally, born February 21, 1769; married at Boston, September 11, 1788, Thomas Read.