Princeton Town

Published By The Town Hist. Ref

"A painful work it is I'll assure you, and more than difficult, wherein what toyle hath been taken, as no man thinketh so no man believeth but he hath made the triall "

ABBOT Isaac, with wife Marah or Mary, came from Pomfret, Connecticut, in November, 1769, with seven children. These were recorded in Princeton, where four others were afterwards born and recorded. The family then disappears from the town records and no further information is obtainable. The children were:

Henry^ Adams of Braintree, Mass., came to New England from Braintree, County of Essex, England, with his wife, eight sons and a daughter, in 1632 or 1633, and settled near Mt. Wollaston, Braintree, now Quincy, where some of his descendants, among whom were the presidents, John and John Quincy Adams, have since continued to reside.

He died in Braintree, Mass., Oct. 6, 1746. Among his eight sons there was one, Lieut. Henry^, born in England, in 1604, who married in 1643 Elizabeth Paine, daughter of Moses Paine Esq., removed to Medfield, Mass., was Lieut, of a Company from that town in the Indian war, and was killed by the Indians while standing in his doorway, Feb. 21, 1671. His wife Elizabeth was accidently shot the same day at Rev. Mr Wilson's and died the 28th of February.

Moses' a son of Lieut Henry^ and Elizabeth, had a son James^^ who married Abigail Hill, and settled in Sherborn. Their son James^, married Rebecca Fairbanks. Samuel^ married Elizabeth Newhall of Lancaster. Their son John^ married Dolly Stewart of Leominster, and two of their six children Nathan- Stewart Adams^ and Eli-Jones Adams^, were of Princeton.

ADAMS Eli-Jones^ {John\ Samuel^ James\ James\ Moses\ Lieut Henry'^, Henry^) son of John^ and brother of the above Nathan-Stewart Adams, born April 17, 1816, died March 21, - 1884. Married Jany. 3, 1857, Fidelia Brown Whitcomb, widow of James Whitcomb, resided in Princeton and later in Leominster. Their children were: i. Genivieve-E. b. May 20, 1858, d. March 25, 1861. ii. Walton-E. b. Oct. 10, 1861, m. (ist) Nov. 6, 1884 Hattie W. Johnson of Leominster, who died Dec. 31. 1897. Their children were: (I) Rodney-Walton b. Aug. 10, 1885. Married July 2, 1906 Bessie F. Spencer and had three children, i Elizabeth Ruth b. July 28, 1907. ii George Rodney b. Oct. 31, 1909. iii Walter Spencer b. Sept. 7, 191 1. Walton-E married (2^) Addie M. Fredenburg, July 12, 1905, and had one child (II) Francis D. b. July 8, 1906. iii. Emma-E. b. Oct. 12, 1866, m. Nov. 23, 1886 George W. Johnson, Leominster, Mass., and had two children: (I) Harry-Everett- JoHNSON b. June i, 1888, m. June 23 1907 Clara Prue and had one son Albert Harry Johnson, (II) RoscoE Ernest Johnson b, . Dec. 22, 1889, m. Aug. 27, 1913, Edith Pratt.

Allen

Several distinct families of this name are recorded in Princeton, the ancestry of only one of which has been determined ; that of Moses, a lineal descendant of Walter^ Allen of Old Newbury, 1640, who with his wife Rebecca and family moved to Watertown prior to April, 1662, at which time he was a proprietor and was one of a Coroner's Jury, July 19, 1663. On Oct. i, 1673, by deed of gift he conveyed lands in Watertown to his sons Daniel and Joseph and soon after moved to Charlestown where he engaged in business as a "haberdasher of hats." Here he Married (2d) Nov. 29, 1678, Abigail Rogers and died July 8, 1681. His oldest son John^ lived in Sudbury and had Benjamin^ whose son Zebediah^ was father of Jonathan^ The latter moved to Barre in 1750, and there died at the age of loi.

ALLEN Moses^ (Jonathan^, Zebediah*, Benjamin^, John?, Walter^), son of Jonathan^ and Hannah, was born in Barre, July 9, 1771. Married Mehitable Oliver, born in Barre, April 29, 1774, and died in Lowell July 17, 1866.

After residing in Barre and Rutland, they came to Princeton, April 15, 1805, and located in the extreme south part of the town. He died in Princeton, Feb. 10, 1848. Their children were :

ALLEN Capt.-Elisha, son of Ebenezer and Tabitha, was born in Weston, Mass., Dec. 10, 1744. He was taken two years later to Lancaster, the part now Clinton. Married April 15, 1772, Miriam Goodale of Marlboro, Mass. In 1778 he removed to Princeton and lived on the Henry Kelly (formerly Nehemiah Parker) place.

While working in his garden July 16, 1793, he was " Inhumanly Murdered " by Samuel Frost, an insane man who was at that time living in his family. He served as a Serg't. in the Revolutionary war and from 1787 until his death was a captain in the State Militia. His widow married again Jany. 24, 1798, Moses Holbrook of Templeton, and moved to Wardsboro, Vt. The children of Capt. Elisha and Miriam were: vii. Elisha, b. Sept. 5, 1786. Accompanied his mother in 1800 to Wardsboro, in southern Vermont, m. JuHette Holbrook of Sturbridge, Mass. In 1815 located in Jamestown, N. Y., where he died Sept. 30, 1830. viii. Polly, b. May 12, 1788, m. John Mirick, Jr., Apr. 27, 1815.

ALLEN Simeon^, son of DanieF and Lydia (Cutting) Allen, was born at Sutton, Mass. Dec. 21, 1750, resided in Shrewsbury, where he married, July 20, 1772, Candace, daughter of Capt. Nathan, and Hepzibah Howe. Removing from Shrewsbury some time previous to 1794, they settled in what is now the northwest corner of Princeton (then Hubbardston) living in Hubbardston for taxation, schools, military duty, (He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.) and town meetings, For most other purposes they were Princeton people, being so much nearer. " About half as far." They always lived on

1. ALLEN Abner-Holbrook^ {Simeon^, Daniel^) son of Simeon^ and Candace born June 20, 1786, married Nov. 19, 181 1, Lucy Sargent daughter of Amos and Betsey (Livermore) Sargent born in Princeton, May 13, 1787, died in Gardner Jan. 2, 1876. He lived on his father's farm and died Nov. 24 1854. Their children were:

Babcock

The early data of this family are not fully authenticated, but it is a matter of record that the one family of this name in Princeton are descendants of David^ of Dorchester, whose son Robert^ was born at Milton, and died Nov. 12, 1694. Ebenezer' by wife Hannah, had Ebenezer* who married Abigail Leland and had in Sherborn Malachi^ who married Mary Holden. (These families are recorded in Milton and Sherborn as Badcock.)

BABCOCK Amos^ {Malachi^, Ebenezer*, Ebenezer^, Roberf^, David}), son of Malachi and Mary (Holden) Babcock, was born in Sherborn April ii, 1760.

With his wife Betsey (Betty, in v.r.) and four children; Alvin, Amos, Benjamin, and Leonard, came to Princeton in April 1795, from Dublin, N. H. He lived at the Warren Kendall place on the road from Princeton to Sterling and had a blacksmith shop.

His wife Betsey died March 27, 1830, ae. 68. He married (2'') Nov. 21, 1830, Mrs. Polly Richardson, and died Nov. 15, 1835. His widow married (2*^) William Reed of Sterling. The children of Amos and Betsey were:

BAGG Dr-Henry was born in Shutesbury, 1780, graduated from Williams College in 1800. He soon after began practice as a physician in Princeton. Married Nov. 25, 1807 Sukey (Susan) Hartwell, and lived in the Ephraim Wilson House, now owned by Edwin Grimes. He died Oct. 7, 1824 (ae. 44

Baker

The families of this name in Princeton represent as far as is known two distinct lines, although it is possible they belong to the same original stock from which they branched off at some remote period.

The Ancestry of one line begins with John^ Baker and Elizabeth his wife who with two small children came to this country from Bristol England, about the year 1720.

They located first in Charlestown, in which place four more children were born, removing to Concord, still four more were added to the family. Two sons Richard^ and Robert^ located in Westminster, Richard^ married Mary Sawyer of Lancaster Nov. 16, 1758. She was grand daughter of that Thomas Sawyer who was captured by the Indians in 1705, and his wife Mary (Prescott) Sawyer, daughter of JohnPrescott founder of Lancaster and first Settler of Worcester County. Previous to his marriage he was impressed into the ranks of the British army for six months service in the French and Indian War. He was a brickmaker as well as farmer. He died Dec. 13, 1808, ae. 80, and his widow Mary, Aug. i, 18 13, ae. 78. Their son Luke married Priscilla Matheus and resided in Princeton.

BAKER Joseph!, son of Bennett and Mary (Gilbert) Baker, was born in Wiltshire England Oct. 21, 1755. His father died at Waltham on the Thames, Surrey Co., when his children, Joseph, Bennett, Honora, Margaret, and Mary, were young. After his father's death Joseph went to live with his uncle Henry Baker who was a distinguished surgeon in London, who proposed to educate him in his profession, but receiving severe treatment at the hands of his uncle he ran away and enlisted in the English Army. He embarked for America with Gen, Burgoyne and was taken prisoner, when Burgoyne's whole Army of 8000 at Saratoga, Oct. 19, 1777, was captured.

Five hundred of these prisoners were taken to Massachusetts, and later started for New York, where an exchange was to be made. The first night after starting 300 of the soldiers escaped. Joseph Baker was one of the number, he never wrote home to his relatives lest the English Government should find out where he was and take him for a deserter.

In 1782 he settled in the south-westerly part of Princeton buying a farm south of Capt. Dana's known as the C. S. Mirick place. He married April 15, 1788, Lavinia (Levinah, p.R.) dau. of Cyprian Keyes, who was born in Princeton, March 22, 1765. He lived in Princeton until 1827, at which time he removed to Guilford, N. Y., and there died Jany. - , 1850. She died, April 7, 1859, at Guilford. Their children, all born in Princeton, were:

* All the information regarding this Baker family came from chance writing in 1877, which at last brought a reply from Mrs. Lavinia Gibbs of Norwich, New York; also an inquiry if Mr. Blake was a son of her old-time schoolgirl friend, Sally Dana of Princeton. On learning that he was, Mrs. Gibbs graciously enclosed in her next letter a lock of his mother's hair, which was given her as a token of their intimate friendship when she left Princeton for her new home in New York state, 50 years before.

BAKER Luke^ {Richard}, John^), son of Richard and Mary (Sawyer) Baker, was born in Westminster Aug. 14, 1772. Removed to Princeton in 1800 and located in the west part of the town, where A. J. Brooks afterwards lived. He married Priscilla Matthews daughter of Joel Matthews of Gardner. In 18 14 he sold his place to Samuel Brooks and moved to Rutland where he died Dec. 30, 1846. His widow died July 26, 1857, ae. 80. Children :

2. BAKER Asa^ (Luke,^ Richard,'^ John^), son of Luke^ and Priscilla, m. (int.) March 13, 1830, Nancy Holland, daughter of Wilder Holland, born Petersham, 1808. He removed from Rutland to Princeton and lived where Frank Skinner now lives. He returned to Rutland in 1838, and died March 23, 1885. Their children were :

BAKER Daniel^ {Nathan^, Robert^, John^), son of Nathan^ and Mary, born Nov. 27, 1777, married in Princeton April 9, 1805, Lydia Miller, of Westminster and located in East Princeton

BAKER Elmer^ {Nathan\ Roherf, John^), son of Nathan^ and Mary of Westminster, married (ist.) Lucinda Parker, of Sterling, Dec. 16, 1 8 13, who died in about a year. (2d) Lucinda, dau. of Thomas Conant of Westminster, int. Oct. 28, 1815. He lived several years in Princeton, where most of his children were born, subsequently returned to Westminster, residing at the Narrows. Their children were:

Ball

All attempts to trace this family to its immigrant head have proved fruitless. For lack of reliable data connecting them with earlier generations the record of the principal Princeton families of this name begins with Daniel^ of Shrewsbury and Princeton.

Ball Daniels of Shrewsbury, married (ist) Oct. 25, 1749, Lucy Newton. He was taxed in Princeton in 1771, for 3 polls, sold his estate in 1773. Was in town in 1776, but probably returned to Shrewsbury and married (2d) Lydia Smith, Sept. 18, 1778. He died in Shrewsbury in 1813 ae. 93. Children of Daniel and Lucy.

1. Ball Aaron- (2d), son of Daniel^ and Lucy, born 1756 in Shrewsbury, married Rachel Cheever, said to be "the first white child born in Princeton," 1756. He lived on a place subsequently occupied by Samuel Underwood, and died in Princeton July 16, 1841, a. 85. She died June 27, 1840, ae. 84. Eight children are said to have been born to them in Princeton but no official record. Children were:

3. Ball Richard-C.^ {Aaron^, DanieV), son of Aaron^and Rachel, (Cheever), was born Oct. i, 1784. Married (ist) in Dedham April 13, 1808, Abigail Fales, daughter of Eliphalet and Mehitable, born in Dedham, March 15, 1785, died in Princeton Nov. 17, 1845, ae. 60. He married (2d) (int.) Feb. 14, 1846 Mrs. Lucy Roper (ae. 52), of Palmer, daughter of Samuel and Martha Stratton, and widow of Benjamin Roper. He died in Princeton July 7, 1854. She died Nov. 7, 1873. He had by wife Abigail the following named children :

5. Ball William-F." {Amos^, Aaron^, Daniel^), son of Amos^, and Betsey (Stratton) Ball, born Feb. 9, 1824, married Lucy R. Holden. Died June 29, 1905. Children:

6. Ball Martin-V.-B ^ (Amos\ Aaron\ Daniel^), son of Amos' and Betsey (Stratton) Ball, b. Nov. 3, 1837. Married Louisa M. Bryant of Princeton, April 25. 1861. He died in Gardner, March 25, 1906. Children all born in Princeton were:

BANGS Isaiah, who with his family lived in Princeton nearly twenty years, was the son of David and Eunice (Stone) Bangs, who were born in Harwich, Cape Cod in 1709, and 1710 respectively. He was a descendant of the fourth generation from Capt. Edward Bangs, who came to Plymouth in 1623, in the Anne, from Chichester, England.

He Isaiah, was one of a family of thirteen children, the first seven of whom were born at Harwich. He was born Dec. 18, 1748, and married July 30, 1772, in Hingham, Leah Vining, who was born Dec. 10, 1750. He was a shoemaker and lived in the Hardy-Kenny house, its first occupant. They rem. to Princeton about 1775. He afterwards lived in Gerry (Phillipston) and at Warwick, Mass., where he died April 25, 1838. She died Dec. 17, 1828, in Warwick. Their children were:

Barker

BARKER John, son of Ephraim, bought land in Princeton 1769. Married Prudence Gleason, Oct. i, 1769, who died Dec. 5, 1846, ae. 99-9-0. He served in war of 181 2, removed to Leicester, Vt., where he died in 181 8. Their children were:

Bartlett

BARTLETT John, son of David and Martha (Howe) Bartlett, born Nov. 25, 1724. Married Mary Joiner, Dec. 14, 1761 and lived in the west part of the town. He died 1795-6. Their children were:

BARTLETT Samson, son of Luther and Polly Stewart Bartlett, born at Leominster, Mass., Oct. 6, 1828, married June 17, 1857, Mary Brown, dau. of Josiah-C. and Mercy (Whitcomb) Brown of Boylston, born July 2, 1839, in Princeton. Children:

Baxter

The progenitor of this family, Gregory^ Baxter of Braintree, was made a freeman in 1631-2. Married Margaret Paddy, died May 7, 1659. A son John^ born Oct. i, 1639, died in Braintree April 29, 1719. He married June 24, 1660, Hannah White and had a son Joseph^ who was born June 4, 1676. educated at Harvard College and was a minister in Medfield. He died May 2, 1745. By his first of three wives Mary (Fish) he had a son John^ born at Braintree May 2, 1708, who married Rebecca Fisher, and died Nov. 14, 1788.

1. BAXTER Joseph^ (/o/m^ Joseph^, John^, Gregory^) , son of John and Rebecca (Fisher) Baxter. Married in 1760 Mary Partridge of Medway. Their four children were born in Medway. He removed to Princeton with his family May, 1780. Was a soldier in the French and Indian War. He died, Feb. 6, 1820. Children:

Sawin, Nov. 5, 1770. He was a blacksmith, moved to Princeton in 1770 and lived in the west part opposite " Brigham's " where he had a shop. His two chn. were born in Princeton. He died Jan. 3, 1816, she died Dec. 31, 1831, a. 83. Their children were:

The first of this name (spelled Beman by all the earlier generation and in all of the earlier records) in this country was Gamaliel^ who came over from England, in the " Elizabeth and Ann'' in 1635, when twelve years of age, and settled in Dorchester. He married Sarah Clark daughter of William Clark, and in 1659 they removed to Lancaster on the Nashua river. He was one of the incorporators of the town of Lancaster. The Beaman Oak which is now one of the largest white oaks in Massachusetts (measuring twenty-nine feet in circumference) stood near where his log cabin was built.

After the Indian massacre in 1676, the town was abandoned by the settlers, and the Beamans went back to Dorchester, where Gamaliel died March 23, 1678.

John Beaman^ first son of Gamaliel and Sarah married about 1674 Priscilla Thornton daughter of Robert Thornton of Boston, and returned to Lancaster where he died Jan. 15, " 1739-40 " in the 90th year of his age. His wife Priscilla died August 6, 1729 in the 73d year of her age. Their son GamalieP born in Lancaster Feb. 29, 1684-85, was the first settler in the west precinct now Sterling. He married Mary Houghton, daughter of Jonas and Mary (Berbeane) Houghton, and died in Sterling Oct. 26, 1745.

BEAMAN Phineas'* {Gamaliel^, John^, Gamaliel^), son of Gamaliel and Mary (Houghton) Beaman, was born in 1718. He built the first frame house in Sterling that succeeded the old log homestead built by his father. In 1740 he married Joanna, daughter of Josiah White Jr. and Abigail (Whitcomb) White of Lancaster. Her great grandfather was the first John White, one of the original proprietors of that town whose daughter Mary - wife of Rev. Joseph Rowlandson - was the heroine of the well known Indian Captivity. Her uncle Capt. John White was the famous Indian fighter. Phineas Beaman died in Sterling March 16, 1803, his wife Joanna died in 1799. Their children born in Sterling were :

L. BEAMAN Phineas^ {Phineas'^, Gamaliel^, John^, Gamaliel^), son of Phineas and Joanna (White) Beaman, born Apr. 20, 1742., married (int) July 23, 1773, Hannah Buss of Lancaster who died April 10, 1822, ae. 78. He was probably that Phineas who was a revolutionary soldier in Capt. Abner Cranston's company, Col. Asa Whitcomb 's Regiment. Previous to his marriage he settled in 1766, in the northeasterly part of Princeton. He was an industrious and well-to-do farmer and active to the end of his days. It is recorded that when 84 years of age he " bound an acre of stocks." He died Feb. 25 (g.s. 21) 1830, ae. 88. Their children were born in Princeton.

2. BEAMAN Phineas* {Phineas\ Phineas\ Gamaliel^, John^, Gamaliel^), son of Phineas^ and Hannah (Buss) Beaman, born April 6, 1780. Married Phebe Merriam daughter of Amos and Deborah (Brooks) Merriam " at house of Capt. Amos Merriam." He died April 15, 1848, she died Oct. 6, 1874. Their children were:

3. BEAMAN Phineas-Alden^ {Phineas^, Phineas^, Phineas^, Gamaliel^, John^, Gamaliel^), son of Phineas^ and Phebe (Merriam) Beaman, born in Princeton, Jany. 24, 1819; married April 3, 1844, Harriet Thompson, daughter of Isaac and Rhoda (Greenwood) Thompson, born July 8, 1820, Mr. Beaman served in the various town offices and one term in the State Legislature. He did much to develop the hotel interests of the town. The entire Wachusett Mountain was at one time his property. He built the first carriage road up the mountain side and made other improvements in that locality. At the time of his death March i, 1894, his two sons Harry C. and Algernon T. were associated with him in the proprietorship of the Wachusett House and the Summit House, under the firm name of P. A. Beaman & Son. Mrs. Beaman died June 8, 1914. Children:

4. BEAM AN Algernon-Thompson^ {Phineas-Aldeti' , Phineas^, Phineas^, Phineas^, Gamaliel^, John^, Gamaliel^), son of Phineas Alden^ and Harriet (Thompson) Beaman, married (ist) Oct. 15. 1873, Luella Agnes Otis of Watertown, Mass. They Uved in Princeton where she died April 14, 1876, age 28 years. He married (2d) Dec. 14, 1882, Keziah Heckman of Bridgewater, N. S. Children:

5. BEAMAN Haxry-Clayton? (Phineas - Alden' , Phineas^, Phineas^, Phineas'^, Gamaliel^, John-, Gamaliel^) , son of Phineas Alden and Harriet (Thompson) Beaman. Graduated at Harvard College in 1885, married in Chillicothe, O., Nov. 10, 1887, Jennie Hoover Bartlett of that town whose father was a native of Sterling, Mass. She died June 20, 191 1. Their children were:

6. BEAMAN Gamaliel^ (Phineas^, Phineas*, Gamaliel^, John^, Gamaliel^), son of Phineas and Hannah (Buss) Beaman, married Feb. 20, 1806 Susanna Mirick, daughter of John and Lois (Hobbs) Mirick, who died Sept. 22, 1844., married (2**) April 3, 1845, Nabby Waldron and removed to Jaffrey, N. H. He died Nov. - , 1870. His children were:

Princeton and settled in Worcester. viii. JoANNA-B., b. March 12, 1825, m. April 18, 1844 Solomon J. Burpee of Sterling, 2 chn: (i) Sarah Maria Burpee, b. April 27, 1846, and (u) Albert Eugene Burpee, b. June 18, 1848, both died in infancy.

BEAMAN Gamaliel-Sawyer^ (Gideon^, Phineas*, Gamaliel^, John", Gamaliel^), son of Gideon^ and Dolly (Wilder) Beaman, born in Sterling Dec. 8, 1808, married Phebe Diana Gates of Westminster. Children :

Bellows

BELLOWS Capt. Elijah and v^ife Martha came from Southboro, Mass., in May, 1782. He died in Princeton, March 11, 1798, leaving property by will to his " wife Martha and then to Joseph Tuttle (in 43d year of age), who is now married and lives with me."

The first notice of the immigrant head of the Bigelows in America is in the early records of Watertown. "John Biguloh and Mary Warin Joyned in Mariag before Mr. Nowell."

Joshua^, s. of John^ and Mary (Warren) Bigelow had a son Eliezer^. Through his son DanieF he Joshua^ was grandfather of Col. Timothy Bigelow of Revolutionary fame.

BIGELOW Abraham^ {Jahez^, Eliezer^, Joshua^, John}), son of Jabez"* and Deborah (Knowlton) Bigelow of Westminster, born Dec. 21, 1768, married (i^*) Syrena Richardson of Sterling. He died in Princeton, Dec. 8, 1802. She married (2"^) John Moore (int. March 5, 1810 and died Jany. 8, 1862). Children of Abraham and Syrena were:

1. BIGELOW Abraham-G.® {Abraham', Jabez*, Eliezer^, Joshua^, John^), son of Abraham^ and Syrena (Richardson) Bigelow, born Sept. 2, 1798, married (int.) Dec. 4, 1822, Rebecca B. Howe. He died Jany. 27, 1836. She married (2^^) Jany. 25, 1838, William Bartlett of Hubbardston and lived in Bolton. Children of Abraham-G. and Rebecca-B. were: i. Dr-Windsor-Howe, b. Princeton, March 25, 1823, m. Letitia Bell, dau. James Bell of Haverhill, N. H. Grad. Dartmouth took up practice of Medicine and became a very successful physician in Bolton, Mass., where he died in 1875. He enlisted as Assistant Surgeon in the 32^ Reg. Mass. Vols., July 31, 1863. Their children were: (i) James-Gilbert, b. Jany. 10, 1853, d. in Boston, Oct. 31, 1872 while studying to be a physician, (11) Mary-Alice, b. Nov. 24, 1858, (m) Walter-McPherson, b. May 19, i860, d. July 21, i860 and (iv) William Johnson, b. May 19, i860, d. Sept. 11, i860 (twins).

iii. Benjamin-Heywood, b. Nov. 18, 1829, m. Rebecca Kendall. Enlisted in 7th Battery of Artillery M.V.M., died in the service at N. Orleans, July 8, 1864. Their children were: (l) Edson Heywood, (ii) Ada-Maria, (in) Flora Lucy.

BIXBY SamueP (Samuel*, Mephibosheth^, DanieP, Joseph^), son of Samuel^ and Mary of Shrewsbury, was born at Andover, Mass., Aug. 31, 1716. He was a g.s. of Mephiposheth^ g-g-s. of DanieF and g.g.g.s. of JosEPH^ the immigrant head of the family.

He SamueP married in Lancaster, March 4, 1762, Hannah Powers and removed to Guilford, Vt., where he was prominent in the dispute over the boundary line between the states of New York and Vermont. He went in 1789 with the " Verm.ont Sufferers" to Jericho, N. Y., which was incorporated as Bainbridge in 1814. Dismissed to Church in Jerico, N. Y., Samuel and Hannah Feb. 7, 1804. Their children were:

Black

BLACK William- James, son of Adam and Susan (Conley) Black of Westboro, b. Aug. 3, 1853, m. Dec. 12, 1878, Luna Josephine, dau. of Lansford and Almira R. (Everett) Harrington. Resided in Princeton removing later to Westminster. Children:

Blake

Notwithstanding many researches have been made in England to determine the ancestry of William^ Blake the early settler of Dorchester in New England, nothing has been satisfactorily established beyond the fact, that he was baptized in Pitminster a village four miles south of Taunton in Somersetshire, that he was married and four of his children were baptized in the same parish. All this we know, beyond this all at present is conjecture.

In the absence of positive evidence it is reasonably certain that he came to New England in the fall of 1635 or the early months of 1636 and not in " 1630 in the ship Mary and John " as has been sometimes stated.

In March, 1637/8 he shared in the division of the lands at Dorchester " Neck " (now South Boston), where for more than two hundred and fifty years some of his descendants were owners and where his son James built a house as early as 1680.

Mr. Blake was made a freeman of the Colony March 14, 1638/9 at which time, to comply with the order of the General Court, he must have been a member of the church. There can be no doubt that he was a man of integrity and above the average intelligence of his neighbors. He served the town in various important capacities, as Constable, selectman, and in many other ways. Soon after his decease Aug. 25, 1663, his widow Agnes (Band) Blake removed to Boston to live with her son John or her only daughter Anne Leager. She died in Dorchester July 22, 1678.

James^ son of William^ bapt. April 27, 1624, came to New England with his father and married about 1651, Elizabeth Clap, daughter of Deacon Edward and Prudence (Clap) Clap. She died Jany. 16, 1693/4, ^^ the 6ist year of her age.

He married (2'^) Sept. 17, 1695 Elizabeth (Smith) Hunt, widow of Peter Hunt and daughter of Henry and Judith Smith from County Norfolk, England.

He married (2*^) July 8, 1684, Ruth Bachellor daughter of Nathaniel and Deborah (Smith) Bachellor of Hampton, N. H. She died in Dorchester Jany. 11, 1752 ae. 90 years. He died Oct. 22, 1732 ae. 80. His son James* born April 29, 1688, best known as the Author of " Blake's Annals " of Dorchester, married Wait Simpson and died Dec. 4, 1750. Their son James^ born Oct. 15, 1 716, married May i, 1739, Mary Pinson daughter of William and Sarah (Dows) Pinson. He died Jany. 5, 1803. His son James^ born Feb. 15, 1740, married (i^O Elizabeth McDaniel and (2'') Lydia Dana (from whom is descended Francis E. Blake the writer of this volume).

BLAKE Pynson^ {James^, James^, lames'^, James^, James^, William^), son of James^ and Lydia (Dana) Blake, born in Boston Oct. 16, 1796. When a young man Mr. Blake went to Orange, Mass., where he carried on business for a few years. In 1824 he removed to Princeton and opened a store in a building at the easterly end of the common. This building was taken down in 1828, and Mr. Blake bought the house formerly occupied by Rev. James Murdock and moved it back from the street twenty feet. He afterwards regretted that he had not moved it fifty feet, as all acknowledged should have been done.

A part of the building he fitted up for a store. For a few years he was associated in business with Jonas B. Allen under the firm name of Blake & Allen. In 1841 he removed to Boston where he died January 7, 1862.

April 18, 1826, Mr. Blake married Sally Dana daughter of Captain John and Lucinda (Mirick) Dana of Princeton. She died in Boston, May 28, 1848.

While living in Princeton Mr. Blake was prominent in town affairs. He was a strong advocate of temperance and believing the use of liquor injurious, he discontinued its sale at his store at a time when the use of spirits was universal throughout New England and a staple commodity in every grocery.

He was also a very active member of the Baptist Church and especially interested in the building of its new meeting house, which now forms a part of the Princeton Inn. Upon Mr. Blake's removal from town his house and store were taken by Mr. David H. Gregory, who had served him as clerk and the business, many times enlarged, is still carried on under the name of The D. H. Gregory Company, Inc., the present head of the company being Mr. Josiah D. Gregory son of the original proprietor.

1. BLAKE Francis-Everett^ {Pynson', James^, James^, James*, James^, Jamas'^, William^), Author of this Genealogy, and History of Princeton; History of South Baptist Church, Boston; Increase Blake, His Ancestors and his descendants; Early Days in Worcester, two pamphlets; Rutland and the Indian Troubles, 1 727-1 730; Dorchester Neck, Early Inhabitants of; Lucy Keyes, The lost child of Wachusett, etc. Son of Pynson and Sally (Dana) Blake born Aug. 3, 1839, married in Boston, Sept. 27, 1866, Elizabeth Caroline Richardson. In 1856 he entered the employ of the Wheelright Paper Co. in Boston as office boy and was associated with that concern in various capacities for fifty years the latter part of the time as Treasurer of the company. He has been connected with various religious and philanthropic organizations, was secretary and Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of Donations for Education in Liberia,* and a member of the building committee of the Ford Memorial Building, Boston. Is a member of the American Historical Association; The New England Historic Genealogical Society ; and The Worcester Society of Antiquity.

2. BLAKE-Frederic-Dana^ {PynsorO , James^, James^, James*, James^, James^, William^), twin brother of the above Francis- Everett^ born Aug. 3, 1839, graduated from Waterville College (now Colby) 1 86 1. A.M. 1864. Newton Theological Institution 1864. Ordained as a Baptist clergyman at Gardiner, Me., Aug. 3, 1864. He has since been settled over churches in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He is at present Superintendent of Schools in North Kingstown, R. I., residence Wickford, R. I.

Bowman

The early families of this name in Princeton were descendants of Nathaniel^ of Watertown born in England in 1608, who applied to be admitted freeman Oct. 19, 1630. His name is not on the list of those admitted but it is on the earliest list of proprietors (Feb., 1636-7) " then inhabiting Watertown." He moved in 1649 to Cambridge Farms (Lexington) . Here he located permanently and built the Bowman Homestead in East Lexington, which has until lately been occupied by his descendants.

The Bowman family have in the meantime held the leading positions in society, as well as highest offices in the town. His wife Anna the mother of his children, probably died first, as she is not mentioned in his will. He died Jany. 26, 1681-2. Francis^ the oldest son of Nathaniel and Anne, born in 1630, married Sept. 26, 1661, Martha Sherman. Joseph^ son of Francis^ and Martha, born May 18, 1674 by his wife Phebe had a son Thaddeus^ born Sept. 2, 1712, who married (ist) Sarah Loring, Dec. 2, 1736, (2nd) Feb. 8, 1753 Mrs. Sybil (Roper) Woolson of Lexington, widow of Isaac Woolson of Weston.

* Francis E. Blake, of Boston, has received the Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Liberia College, Monrovia, West Africa. He has been a friend and benefactor of the College for many years.

BOWMAN Thaddeus^ {Thaddeus^ Joseph^, Francis^, Nathaniel^), son of Thaddeus'' and Sarah (Loring) Bowman born in Lexington, Mass., Feb. 10, 1743. He died April 14, 1815 at Weathersfield, Windsor Co., Vt. He married Nov. 7, 1764, Elizabeth Lawrence, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Swain) Lawrence, b. Dec. 13, 1741. In Oct. 1767, he bought land in Princeton, but he appears to have gone to Lexington before 1775, as he was then of Capt. Parker's Co. and was the messenger who brought the first reliable intelligence of the near approach of the British on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, also taking part in the conflict on the Green. In 1776 he " with wife dismissed to Winchendon " (ch.r.) He left Winchendon in 1792. They may have returned to Princeton for a while as records have " Thaddeus Bowman Esquire, wife, and dau. Lucy from Lexington, June, 1780." Children: born in Weston, Mass., and died in Princeton, April 26, 1863, ae. 61 y. 2 m. 5 d. The destruction of records in the town of Weston, where Capt. Henry Boyles was born, renders it impossible to get complete and exact data and Mr. Boyles' old family Bible contains no records whatever. His parents died when he was quite young, and at the age of eight years he came to live in Princeton with Captain Benjamin Harrington, who afterwards took Nathan Danforth from Boston and brought the two boys up, with the understanding that they were to have his estate, " share and share alike." After Captain Harrington's death, his widow was cared for by Mr. Boyles for many years. She outlived him by about a year. He was a deacon of the Congregational church for some twenty years. Dec. I, 1 83 1, he married Louisa, daughter of Joshua and Catherine (Mirick) Eveleth, b. in Princeton, April 4, 1805, died in Sterling, June, 1887. Their children were: iv. Frederick-W., b. 1839 in Princeton, served as a private in Co. K. 53rd Mass. Inf. in Civil War, d.of Typhoid Fever at New Orleans, La., April 7, 1863.