Westport Town (part 3 of 3)

George H. Gifford was educated at common school, and attended the select school, which enjoyed high reputation, under the teaching of George W. Baker, fitting himself for an instructor. He began to teach in 1827, and devoted himself to this for several years, part of the time being in charge of a high school- He married, Dec. 3, 1826, Rebeckah, daughter of .loseph and Judith (Briglitman) Davis. She was born at Westport, Sept. 18, 1806, and died Dec. 21, 1879. Their children were (1) Henry T. (deceased), married Mary E. Ramsdell, and had one child, George H.; (2) Julia S., married William Davenport, has two children, George W. and James H., and lives in Fall River; (3) Naiioij H., married Edwin R. Pool, who died in Salisbury prison while serving as a soldier in the Union army during the late civil war; they had two children, Augusta D. (married C. W. Tripp, and has one child, Edwin P.) and Carrie May ; (4) George D., died in infancy. In the family of Mr. Gifford was reared Frank Seymour Davis, a son of Mrs. Giffbrd's brother ,Iohn and his wife, Emily Wilbur, and he has ever been considered by all a member of the family, and was made an heir of Mr. Gifl'ord equally with his children.

After the death of her husband Elihu, the mother of Mr. Gifford returned with her children to her father's home, and for seventy years thereafter, and until his death, this was Mr. Giffbrd's home. He became a farmer, and purchased the place after his grandfather's death, varying this avocation by sailing, Aug. 23, 1837, on brig "Elizabeth," from Westport, on a whaling voyage which lasted nine months. With this exception, this farm was Mr. Gifford's resi- dence for seventy years and until his death. On his return from this voyage he engaged in manufacturing shingles in connection with forming, and also became a carriage-maker. He bought the Moose Mill, in Westport, and made carriage woodwork, and owned the mill at his death.

But it was his long and active career in public affairs and his prominence in temperance work that most deserves perpetuation. He was much in public life. He was commissioned justice of the peace about 1845, and continued in that office until his death. He held every town office, and represented his town in the Legislature. He settled many estates, and also was chief surveyor of this vicinity for many years. He was often called upon to give advice, and was a wise and sagacious counselor. He was a popular auctioneer, and continued to transact some kinds of business till within a few days of his death. May 19, 1882. He acted at various periods of his life with the Democratic, Republican, and Prohibitory political parties. His temperance history was a marked one. At the formation of the Washingtonian Temperance Society, in 1842, he was somewhat dissipated, but such was the interest in him and desire to secure his aid that when organizing the Westport Society the office of vicepresident was left vacant to be given him if he would take the pledge and join them. He did so, became its first vice-president, and held that office, or that of president, so long as the society existed. He took hold of temperance with all the ardor of his positive nature, and fought the rum-demon everywhere and at all times. He was a forcible speaker, and soon received the sobriquet of the " Old Temperance Warhorse." He had the satisfaction of knowing that tangible and permanent results came from his efforts. He was chief officer of Sons of Temperance and Good Templars for a number of terms. In religion he was liberal and independent, inclining, however, to the Friends' belief He was accurate, methodical, and systematic in all things, and correct in all business matters, and successful in the acquisition of property. He was a kind and loving husband and father, covering a warm heart by an appearance of austerity and gruffness. He was an agreeable social companion, full of humor and laughable stories. Honored by the community, his death was deeply regretted.

William Gifford Axd William H. Gifford

From Eli Wodell's genealogical work - a rare and really ingenious and labored production - we glean something of the North Westport Giffords. Ananias (?) Gifford had at least five children, - Benjamin, Recompence, Abigail, Mary, Kezia. Benjamin was a cooper, died in Westport about 1817. (E. W. says he was son or brother of Ananias Gifford.) He had children, - Nathaniel, James, Stephen, John. Oeorge, and Ruth. ("George Gifford, son of Benjamin and

Susan Sherman, daughter of Sampson Sherman, his second wife, was married four times, and barely escaped two other such cal'imlties. He was to marry Miss Andrews, who died bride expectant. He married Elizabeth Wodell, Susan Sherman, Ruth Cottle, and Mercy Bullock, and escaped Miss Andrews and Mrs. Randall, to whom at his death he was contracted. He was a good and .sensible man, and had considerable literary talent." - Eli Wodell.) George, born Feb. 17, 1772, in Freetown, was a farmer, well read, and a good penman. He acted as clerk at auctions, town-meetings, etc. He was also a schoolmaster, and a worthy and deeply-devoted member of I the Baptist Church. He moved in later life to Grafton, N. H., and in that new country was very useful, and by his aid in forming churches and religious societies, made a permanent impress on the place. By his first wife he had Elizabeth, married Samuel Thurston ; by his second wife, Susan, he had William, Stephen, and Charles (who died at Fort Mahon, Aug. 2, 1828, while in the United States naval service) ; and by his third wife he had one daughter, Caroline. He died at an old age.

William Giffokd was born in Westport, Mass., Feb. 12, 1794. He was reared on the farm, and became a farmer. Married Deborah, daughter of Thomas Freelove, of Troy (now Fall River). She was born Oct. 12, 1791. Their children attaining mature years i were Ruth and William H. Ruth married Jacob Hicks, of Fall River, Mass. Her only surviving [ child, Charles, married Catharine Paine, and had one I son, Charles A., now a practicing physician in Fall j River. Mr. Gifford was an energetic and an industrious man, and possessed good intellect. He taught ! school in early life successfully, and was a farmer the rest of his days. He was one of those earnest and devoted yeomen who did good service in the progress of the better elements of civilization. Quiet and unj demonstrative in manner, he read much, and had clear i and original thoughts and ideas. His judgment was ' sound, and weighed impartially all things, and rarely , was it at fault in its conclusions. He was a Christian, a worthy member of Elder Hicks' (Baptist) Church I at North Dartmouth, where he retained his member- I ship during life. His religion was not the pompous religion that flaunts itself obtrusively in all unseemly places with a Pharisaical pride. It was a portion of his being, and his heart was the prompter of every ! thought, word, and deed, which so worthily adorned this modest child of Christ. It modified all his life. In social, family, and business relations it gave gentleness and kindness, and a sterling love of right for right's sake, and made him the steadfast foe of everything tending to draw men downward. Consequently we find him an active member of the first temperance society (the Washingtonians) organized in this section, and equally as strong and pronounced was he against the monster evil of slavery. He was universally esteemed for his many good qualities, and

William Henry Gifford, son of William and Deborah (Freelove) Gifford, was born Jan. 19, 1827, in Westport, Mass., not much more than forty rod.-* from his present residenise. He had common school education; became a farmer; inherited his father's real estate of about seventy acres, to which by his industry, economy, and thrift he has added largely, owning now about seven hundred acres of land in' this vicinity, beside real estate in Fall River. He has been a worker. From eai'ly morn till late at night he has wrought diligently, and has never eaten the bread of idleness. He has invariably sided with the political and moral forces which promised the elevation of the lower classes and the benefit of humanity. Never caring for nor accepting office, he has done good service in the Republican party, and in the old Washingtonian Temperance Society was one of the most efficient laborers, and secretary of the society in his neighborhood for years. To these principles he still tenaciously adheres. Although lie could realize larger rents for various properties of his in Fall River if he would allow liquor to be sold on the premises, he was true to his principles, refusing to let to such parties, even if they remained vacant. He was at one time somewhat interested in whaling, owning three-fourths of a whaler;, but it did not prove profitable, and he sold out in 1881. He has been stockholder and director of the Barnard Manufacturing Company, of Fall River, from its organization. He married Ruth L., daughter of David and Zilpha (Devoll) Brownell, of Westport. After a short wedded life she died, leaving her infant daughter and namesake, Ruth Louisa, to follow her to the grave in three short months. Although these deaths occurred twenty-five years ago, Mr. Gifford has remained true to his first love and never again married. He is to-day one of the wealthy and -progressive citizens of his town.

Capt. Ben.Tamin Gifford

CAPT. BEN.TAMIN GIFFORD. Capt. Benjamin Gifford, son of Humphrey and Pliebe (Davis) Gifford, was born in Westport, Mass., July 11, 1824. He commenced coasting voyages with his father when but seven years old, so had but little advantages for education except that given by personal application on board of ship, where lie was a diligent student. He sailed on his first whaling voyage on his fifteenth birthday in bark " Hope," his uncle, Capt. Gideon Davis, being master. He returned in November, 1840. He then made three voyages in brig " Mexico," and two in " Dr. Franklin." The last one he commanded the vessel, rising to his position of master by steady promotion. The wages of his first four voyages were taken by his father, for he was under age. He next commanded the bark " Marion," of New Bedford, on a three and one-half years' cruise. His next vessel was the bark " Mattapoisett," of Westport, and the next, in which he made three voyages, was the bark " President," of New Bedford. He afterwards went three voyages as captain in the vessels "Glacier," "Spartan," and "Sunbeam," of New Bedford. He returned from his last voyage Dec. 2, 1879, having accumulated quite a property by his services. He was very conscientious in all things, so much so that an acquaintance remarked once, when the captain was talking of leaving the sea an(i engaging in merchandising, " He never would make a living, for he was too honest." He married, Aug. 14, 1853, Hannah R., daughter of Stephen iind Hannah (Baker) Allen, an estimable and generous lady who survives him.

Capt. Gifford was a Republican in politics, and as such represented Westport two terms in the State Legislature. He died April 18, 1881. He was a remarkably genial man, knowing no difference in his intercourse between the high and the low, the rich and the, poor, and won the love and confidence of all. He was generous to a fault, and never refused to assist any benevolent object. He was dignified in appearance, but with a cheerful courteousness he was a pleasant companion, with many a repartee and ready joke. He was of nervous temperament, and rarely'sat down an hour in his house, but was busy in something he wished to do. He was a devout Christian, belonging to the Friends' Society. When stricken down by paralysis, and forced to leave all active labor by being deprived partially of the use of his right side, he never murmured, but with cheerful content accepted the condition with the remark, " It is all right ; I have already had my share of good health," and during one long year of invalid and suffering life he retained the same cheerfulness, filling the hearts of all who were near him with sunshine, .and when he died a host of friends mourned, and letters of coudolence came to his widow from all quarters of the globe. The New Bedford Mercury, April 19, 1881, contained this short tribute to his memory: "Capt. Benjamin Gifford, of Westport Point, died of paralysis yesterday morning, aged fifty-six. He made quite a number of voyages successfully in whaling, his last one being in the ' Sunbeam,' of this city. He was not a great man ; he was more than that, he was a tjood man. Honest and straightforward in his transactions, and of pleasant disposition, he won the respect of all who knew him. He was a strong advocate of temperance and a Friend. He was a member of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, 1877-78."

Christopher Borden

Christopher Borden, son of Abraham and Phebe (Barker) Borden, was born Oct. 20, 1815, on the lands possessed by four or five generations of his ancestors in Tiverton, R. I., now Westport, Mass. (For ancesp,^ V^(Cj tral history of Borden family see biography of Cook Borden, Fall River.) The line of descent to Christopher from Richard, the emigrant, is Richard', John-, Richard^, Thomas*, Christopher^, Jonathan", Abraham', Christopher'. Thomas Borden (fourth generation) gave the Cranberry Neck property with other , woodlands to his son Christopher, who became a farmer there, and probably built the first saw-mill on i the site where stands the mill of his descendant Christopher. He was a man of respectability and substance, owning much land and many slaves, married Hannah, daughter of Stephen and Penelope Borden, Dec. 24, 1748, and died suddenly, an old man. His son Jonathan, boi'n May 5, 1761, married Elizabeth , Bowen, and had Hannah, Abraham, Phebe, Thomas, [ Rhoda, Isaac, and Elizabeth. He was a farmer and mill-owner, held some offices, and was social, honest, straightforward, and always full of business, which he uniformly conducted to a successful issue. He died May 19, 1848. Abraham was born near the present residence of Chri.stopher, July 20, 1792, and always lived on the farm where he commenced housekeeping. | He was a man of quiet and undemonstrative nature, yet strongly fixed in his opinions. He never cared for office, but steadily kept the even tenor of his way, undisturbed by political turmoil. By purchase and by legacy he received from bis father two hundred and seventy acres of land. He was engaged in lum- ; bering in addition to farming. He married Phebe, daughter of Lemuel and Maria (Tripp) Barker, of Dartmouth, and had three children, - Christopher, Rhoda (Mrs. Abiel Davis), and Maria R., who died one year after her marriage to Capt. Weston Jenney. Mrs. Borden was a Friend, and Mr. Borden attended their meetings regularly, although not a member of the society. He died Oct. 28, 1864.

Christopher Borden (eighth generation) was educated at common schools and the Friends' school at \ Providence, R. I. He remained with his father after | returning from school, and became associated with and finally .succeeded him in charge of the farm and lumbering interests, which latter has been somewhat e-xtensive in the departments of cedar and shingles. He married Lucy H., daughter of Peter and Sarah S. (Hovvland) Davis, Feb. 11, 18.39. She was a native of Westport, Mass., and born Feb. 11, 1818. They have had six children,^ - Jonathan, married Mary M. (Snell) Estes, has seven children, and lives on the old homestead; Alice A., married George H. Hicks, lias five children, and lives in Fall River; Mary E., married Isaac W. Howland, of Little Compton, R. I., and has one child; Othniel T., a youth of bright promise, who was accidentally and fatally shot in his twentieth year, Jan. 22, 1866 ; Edwin, married Mary E. Young, has five children, and lives near his parents ; Phebe S., married Arthur D. Cornell, has two children, and lives in Fall River.

Mr. Borden has been much in public service. He was a member of the Town Council of Tiverton, has been selectman of Westport year after year, has been on auditing committee for several years, and has also held minor offices. He has been called upon to administer on many estates, and in all his range of official duties and trusts he has ever acted with strict integrity, directness of purpose, and rapidity of execution. He is a pleasant, kindly gentleman, whose many good qualities attract numerous friends. Whig and Republican in politics, he has never swerved from support of those principles. He has been prosperous in business, has been a farmer, and, with his sons, has done much in lumbering. He now leaves the principal part of the labor on younger shoulders, and looks merely after the investments which from time to time he has made. He is a stockholder in Metacomet, Pocasset, and Union Banks, Fall River, and Commercial Bank, New Bedford. He is also a stockholder in the Flint, Barnard, and Weetaraoe Mills, Fall River, and is interested in and a director of the Fall River Manuiacturing Company. He is held in high esteem by his fellow-townsmen and entire circle of acquaintance, and is justly considered one of Westport's leading citizens.

Leonard Macomber

Leonard Macomber, son of John and Mary (Slade) Macomber, was born in Westport, Mass., Feb. 8, 1818. He comes on both sides from early settlers of this section, who have given to their descendants not only good estates but honorable records. His grandfather, Nathaniel Macomber, was a native of Westport (then Dartmouth), and was a farmer and nurseryman. He married Susanna Macomber, and had a large family of children, and bequeathed his farm and nursery to his son John, who for many years carried on the same business as his father. John married Mary Slade, of the old Swansea (Somerset) family. (See biographies of William L. and Jonathan Slade, in history of Somerset, in this volume.) They had eight children, of whom Leonard was the fourth. Leonard had common school education, and attended the Friends' school at Providence, R. I. He married Esther A., daughter of Joshua and Diana (Manchester) Austin, of Little Compton, R. I. They had three children, Elizabeths., John A., and Hannah D. (married George E. Tripp, and has two children).

Leonard lived on a farm adjoining the homestead of his father, and never changed his residence. Like his father and grandfather, he enjoyed a high degree of public confidence, which has been in each generation justly deserved. He was a pleasant neighbor, plain and straightforward in business, and a good citizen. He was of irreproachable character, kind- hearted and generous, and a friend to the poor. In all his public and private transactions he manifested sound judgment, strict integrity and ability, and his unostentatious demeanor won him many friends.

He was strictly temperate in all things, and gave his influence and support to all measures which tended to promote the intelligence and welfare of his fellowcitizens. Although not aspiring to political prominence, yet the people of Westport, in their confidence in his integrity, for quite a number of years intrusted to his care the treasury of the town, to the universal satisfaction of all. He was also tax collector several years, and was often called to administer on estates. In these onerous and complicated duties he was uniformly successful in harmoniously adjusting whatever seemed in disorder, and his clear judgment and wise counsels were often asked for others. He was a birth- [ right member of the Society of Friends, and his life was an example of their peaceful creed. He died Jan. 31, 1873.

Mrs. Macomber was born Feb. 23, 1819, and is now residing at Central village) surrounded by her children and grandchildren, and passing a kindly and cheerful old age.

John A. Macomber (2d), son of Leonard and Diana M.acomber, married Esther A., daughter of Stephen and Ann D. Allen, and has two children. He is at the present writing town clerk of Westport, and is I an honored and useful citizen of his native town.

Ezra P. Brownell

Ezra P. Brownell, son of Jireah and Sarah (Kirby) Brownell, was born in Westport, Mass., Aug. 10, 1819. His paternal grandparents were Benjamin and Abigail (Milk) Brownell. His early education was acquired at common schools, which he supplemented by two terms atPierce Academy, Middleborough, Mass. This he accomplished by teaching in the winter, and using the funds thus acquired in attending the summer sessions of the academy. His early life was in no respect one of ease or wealth, but a constant struggle with adverse circumstances to attain a satisfactory position in society. He was imbued with a desire to benefit his fellow-men, and every action of his kind and philanthropic nature had some aim of this nature in view. His desire to aid in relieving the sufferings and misfortunes of others far exceeded his wish for wealth or personal gratification, as many living can testify. His son states that many are the instances where strangers have met him by chance, and, ascertaining that he was the son of Ezra P. Brownell, have with great emotion recalled some act of his which had materially assisted them in some of the difficult places in their pathway.

Mr. Brownell served faithfully in every station of public trust, - as school committee nineteen years (1845 to 1866), auditing committee, selectman ten years, chairman of the board seven years, member years (1857 to 1869),, State senator in 1861. He was appointed county commissioner in 1865, and served three years. As a member of the Legislature, he won the respect and confidence of all his associates, and by force of his integrity exerted a' marked influence. He was modest and unostentatious, rarely addressing the House, never taking the floor e.xcept when impelled by duty, and then speaking with a simplicity and directness which gained attention. Rarely absent from his seat, he entered into the business of the session with conscientious diligence, advocating those measures he deemed best for the public good, and sometimes carrying them to a successful issue almost wholly by his personal efforts.

His love for his country and its free institutions caused him to take a deep interest in aiding the government in its efforts to suppress the Rebellion, and in the capacity of recruiting officer he was one of the most active in the cause of the Union. To this he gave his thought and time night and day. He advocated good pay and large bounties for the enlisting soldiers, guaranteed that their families should be taken care of, and the widows and orphans supported, and his promise was by him fulfilled down to the day of his death. His untiring eflbrts, patriotic labors, and rare discretion attracted the notice and won the hearty commendation of Governor Andrew. He saved the town from draft by placing in service the full quota of men. All this valuable service was done without any compensation.

As a county commissioner, he enjoyed the implicit confidence of his associates, who bear willing testimony to his soundness of judgment, his patience in investigation, his wise economy, and his conscientious fidelity to every trust. He did not escape detraction, and was violently assailed atone time with the charge that he h.ad not accounted for money of the town which had been placed in his hands. His vindication was complete, however, and the assault only served to strengthen him in the regards of his townsmen, who answered the charges by re-electing him the same year to the Legislature, casting for him four hundred and seven votes, the largest number ever given any one in the town. He died Sept. 6, 1870, from shock arising from amputation of his left leg, rendered necessary by a cancer from which he had suffered seventeen years. He was a Universalist in religion, and no stronger proof was needed of the strong hold he had upon all classes than to witness the unanimity with which his townspeople of all parties and creeds attended bis funeral services, which, through the kindness of the Society of Friends, was held in their meeting-house, and which a bereaved community filled with mourners, who seemed to consider his death not only a personal bereavement but a public calamity.

West Port

Benjamin Franklin Tripp, son of John and Beersheba (Potter) Tripp, was born in Westport, Mass., March 23, 1804. He is of English ancestry. The name was early connected with Dartmouth, Joseph j and James Tripp being among those who were named as proprietors in the confirmatory deed of William Bradford, Nov. 13, 1694. The descendants of these ]Honeer settlers are very numerous, and are mostly worthy scions of the sturdy stock from which they sprung. John Tripp, the grandfather of Benjamin F., was born in 1727, in that part of Dartmouth now Westport ; was a farmer on a few acres, a diligent, thoughtful, industrious man, of deep religious principles, which were perhaps too exaggerated. He was a follower of Anna Wilkinson, and, it is said, so injured his health by trying to fast forty days as to fall I a victim to measles, in consequence thereof, in his sixty-fourth year, dying in 1791. He married Penelope Brightuian, and had five children, - Phebe, Mary, Thankful, Peace, and John. His farm of about forty acres was located a short distance north of Central village, near the cemetery where he and his wife lie buried. John, his son, born July 8, 1761, was a farmer, of au exceedingly ingenious mechanical turn of mind. He was a much better educated man thau most of his townsmen, was a great reader, particularly of history, and, in connection with farming, used to make the wooden plows then so much in use. He married, in April, 1786, Beersheba, youngest daughter of Stokes and Phebe (Spooner) Potter. They had eight children attaining maturity, - Amy, Penelope, Cynthia (married Cliristopher Weston), Carmi, Marina (married Hilliard Gifford), Wilkesou, Anna (married William Potter), and Benjamin F. All of these are dead but Marina and Benjamin F.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Tripp were independent in religious thought; were members of no church organization, although regular attendants at the Friends' meeting-house. Mi-. Tripp had imperfect vision in one eye, and was slightly lame from birth. These freed him from military duty. He brought up a large family well, did not, although a hard-working, industrious man, accumulate much property. He was a Whig in politics, but avoided office. His oldest son lived with him in his latter years on his small farm, where he died June 30, 1851, very nearly ninety years old. His wife, born in Westport, Feb. 5, 1765, was youngest daughter of a large family. Her father, Stokes Potter, was a shoemaker, and died about 1809. Mrs. Tripp died in 1854.

B. F. Tripp had only the very meagre opportunities of book education aflbrded by a few weeks' attendance each winter, from the time he was nine until he wa.s fifteen, at the country schools of that period. Robust in health, he was fond of work, and aided his father ' in his farm-work, the older brothers being away at work for themselves. He remained at home until he was of age, when he engaged one season during haying to mow for a farmer in Little Compton, R. 1. The next year he w^orked eight months for John Macomber, near Central village, on the farm and in the nursery. For nine consecutive seasons he was thus employed. He passed the winters at his father's, chopping cord-wood. He married, Dec. 11, 1834, Patience, daughter of Richard and Rebecca (Cook) Gittbrd, who was born June 2, 1806, in Westport. Her line of ancestors on her father's side is (1) Christopher, (2) William, (3) Richard, (4) Rebecca, (5) Patience. William, son of Christopher, was a man of consideration and inn-keeper at Hicks' Bridge, which he owned and maintained as a toll-bridge. He married Patience Russell, and lived to be old. Of his children, Richard lived just south of Westport Centre, married Rebecca, daughter of Pardon Cook, of Tiverton, R. I. He had five children, of whom Mrs. Tripp was youngest.

The children of B. F. and Patience Tripp are Rebecca Cook, born Dec. 9, 1835 ; Phebe Dwelly, Sept. 19, 1837; Edwin Irving, Nov. 20, 1838; Mary Almy, June 16, 1840; Cook Gifford, Feb. 16, 1844; and John Richard, May 24, 1850. Rebecca married Barney Giflford, lives in Adamsville, E. I., and has four children, - Ella V., Emma C, Frederick B., and Lena G. Mary married Charles H. Brownell, lives in New Bedford, and has two childreji, - Elma W. and Ulysses G. Cook G. married Ellen M. Snell, and has two children, - Anna K. and Benjamin F. Edwin I. married Mary E. Brownell, no children. John R. married Mary E. Mosher, lives on his father's place, and has four children, - Florence D., Clara P., Eddie I., and Lottie E.

Mr. Tripp began housekeeping the summer after marriage, moving to the house he now occupies, which he has changed and repaired and completely altered. From a date found on the planking the house was evidently built in 1727, and it was occupied, if not erected, by Capt. Philip Taber, an officer of the Revolution. Mrs. Tripp died Jan. 23, 1878, aged seventy-one. She was an estimable woman, ruled well her household, and is honored by her descendants. Mr. Tripp has been highway surveyor many years, and was one of the committee of public landing for twenty-five years. He has never sought, but rather avoided oflice of importance, but has merited and enjoyed the confidence of both political parties, so as to receive the full suffrages of the town when he was a candidate. He has been a great reader and thinker, and an inflexibly honest man. He has a very accurate and strong memory, and a wonderful fund of knowledge, which he takes pleasure in giving to others. He is an amiable, pleasant, warm-hearted gentleman, with very many friends. He is independent in politics, and thoroughly independent also in religious thought, with strong tendency to Universalism. He has been a hard-workinoman all his life, but has husbanded his strength and health, and never had to call a physician but twic in his life. He has built a great deal of stone wall, and has stoned about one hundred cellars. He has been prosperous financially, owns seventy-five acres of good land, and has a competency to supply all wants of his declining years. Blest with a cheerful disposition, surrounded by affectionate descendants, and the regards of all who know him, Mr. Tripp is passing with honor to the close of an active and useful life. _

Samuel T. Sanford

Samuel Tripp Sanford, son of Capt. Thomas Sanford and Charity D. Capron, his wife, was born in Troy, now Fall River, Mass., May 2, 1825. His father was born in Westport, Jan. 1.5, 1772, and from a common sailor rose to be master before he was twentyone. He commanded vessels many years, mostly on trading voyages to South America. At one time he invested all his property in a large brig and cargo, which was almost entirely owned by himself. She was lost, and Capt. Sanford lost everything, not even saving a suit of clothes. There was no insurance on either vessel or cargo, and the labors of years were swept away. Of strong mind and physique, he went to work with a will, and soon more than made good his loss. He married Charity Davis Capron, Oct. 2, 1797. She was born in Freetown, Aug. 18, 1780. They had nineteen children, seventeen of whom lived to maturity. They were Hannah W., married John Bowcock; Ruth Gilford, married John Lindsay; John C, Thomas, Edwin, Rhoda, Samuel R., David, Hope, Almanza, Brunette, married George W.Chase; Emmeline, married Lloyd N. Pierce; Caroline, married David A. Mason ; Hope Ann, Amanda B., Melvina F., married John H. Wady ; Newton F., adopted, and Samuel Tripp. Capt. Sanford built, in 1798, the laro-est house in Troy, now Fall River, and he shrewdly predicted that the water-power here would build up a large city, being one of the very few who were clear-sighted enough to see this. He was a positive man, of much originality of thought. He was skeptical in religion, and his opposition to the creeds of the churches tended to injure him financially. He was a good logician and well read in the Bible. He condensed his religion into this nutshell: "Give sixteen ounces to the pound, keep your pigs and chickens out of your neighbors' yards, help your neighbors when in need without telling everybody you meet about it." He died Jan. 2, 1847, aged seventy-four. His wife died Oct. 24, 1871, aged ninety-one. While in South America he purchased a very valuable recipe for preparing a blood-purifier, and, under the name of "Sanford's Great Spanish Remedy," it won success in this country, and caused him and (after his death) his son Samuel to devote much time to its manufacture.

Samuel T. Sanford, from early boyhood, manifested a great inventive genius. He was always suggesting an easier way of performing work or of lightening household labor. He had a very active brain, which, joined to a not very vigorous body, made his health always delicate. He invented several valuable machines and improvements, among which was a machine for punching copper (for which he received five thousand dollars), a self-opening and closing gate, a shingle-cutting machine, an apple-parer, a shoe-fastener, and an oscillating water-meter, which he patented in April, 1879, only about a month

I before his death. He married, Sept. 10, 1858, Susan, daughter of Rescom and Henrietta (Sanford) Borden. She was born at Westport, Mass., Sept. 10, 1837, and studied medicine two years at the Women's Medical College of Philadelphia. Her family (the Bordens) can trace its ancestry for about one thousand years back through England and the Norman conquest to the village of Bourdonnay, France, where for centuries they were landed proprietors. She is descended from Richard Borden, who came to America in 1635. (See biography of Cook Borden, Fall River, on another page of this work.) This union was blessed with four children, - Bordena ; Charitta L., born April 16, 1863; Threlia D., March 13, 1871 ; and Samuel N. F., Aug. 2, 1872. Mr. Sanford began housekeeping in the same house where his mother resided in Fall River immediately upon his marriage. The house is still standing, yellow in color, on the corner of Bedford and Quarry Streets, on the .same lot as the Staffcrd Mills. Here their oldest child, Bordena, was born, Oct. 28, 1859.

Mrs. Sanford having inherited a large landed property of about one thousand acres from her father (a portion of the purchase made by her ancestors over two hundred years ago), they removed to ^Vestport, both to look after her property and for Mr. Sanford's health, which became very poor. Here they lived about ten years, Mr. Sanford following agriculture in connection with his inventive endeavors. Here also were born the other children. Deeming their children worthy of better education than Westport could give them, in the fall of 1873 they removed to Norton, and for five years gave their children the advantages of the celebrated Wheaton Seminary. They then removed to the present residence of Mrs. Sanford in Fall River, which has since been the family home, and where he died May 8, 1879. Mr. Sanford was a hearty supporter of everything tending to advance, educate, or elevate humanity. He took an active part in agricultural matters, and was a close investigator into the origin and philosophy of the operations of nature, and wanted to demonstrate the i truth of every theory, not by the word of some individual, but by logic, reason, and science. He was of a warm and affectionate nature, fond of society, and with a large fund of vivacity, was the gayest of the gay. He was a devoted husband, and an indulgent and affectionate father. Loyal in his friendships, the closer ties of the family relation were the most firmly attached to his nature, which, sympathetic and loving,